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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. N. DOAK, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ETHELBERT STEWART, Commissioner
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1931
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C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lic a tio n is issu e d p u r su a n t to th e
p rovision s o f th e su n d ry c iv il a c t (4 1 S ta ts.
1 4 3 0 ) ap p roved M arch 4, 1921.
C o n ten ts
Special articles:
N atio n al econom ic councils________________________________________
P ublic em p lo y m en t services_______________________________________
U nem ploym ent in Buffalo, N . Y ., in N ovem ber, 1930, a n d com parison
w ith N ovem ber, 1929, b y F rederick E . C ro x to n a n d F red C.
C ro x to n ________________________________________________________
C ooperative housing societies in 1929______________________________
Em ploym ent conditions a n d re lie f:
S tabilization of em p lo y m en t in th e b o o t a n d shoe in d u stry , by E th elb e rt S tew art, U n ited S ta te s C om m issioner of L ab o r S ta tis tic s ____
D ecrease in railro a d em p lo y m en t__________________________________
Six-hour d a y a d o p te d b y larg e fo o d -m an u factu rin g co m p a n y ______
L oans for th e u n em p lo y ed ______________________________________
New Y ork— R e p o rt a n d recom m endations of co m m ittee on stab iliza
tio n of in d u s try ___________________________________________
In d u stria l an d lab o r c o n d itio n s:
A nnual re p o rt of th e S ecretary of L abor, 1930_____________________
Increase of M exican la b o r in certa in in d u stries in th e U n ited S ta te s .
C alifornia L ab o r a n d social conditions of M exicans_______________
F ran ce a n d A u stria— L ab o r tr e a ty __________________________ ______
F ran ce a n d R u m an ia— L abor tr e a ty _______________________________
Old-age p en sio n s:
M innesota— Old-age pension m o v e m e n t____________________________
C anada— Old-age pen sio n s_______________________________________
Women in in d u s try :
W om an w orkers in la u n d rie s_____________________________________
In d u s tria l acciden ts am ong w om en______________________
Child lab o r an d child w e lfa re :
T h ird W hite H ouse C onference on C hild W elfare___________________
T rends in em plo y m en t of children, 1927 to 1929___________________
Syria— C hild lab o r la w _______________________________________
H ealth an d in d u stria l h y g ie n e :
C osts of m edical care am ong different ty p e s of fam ilies_____________
In s titu tio n a l care fo r convalescents_______________________________
C ancer caused b y coal ta r a n d co al-tar p ro d u c ts a n d m ineral oils___
E ffects of exposure of an im als to dioxan g a s________________________
In d u stria l accid en ts an d safety :
M assach u setts R egulations governing com pressed-air w ork_______
N o rth D a k o ta — A ccidents, 1919-20 to 1929-30____________________
Pennsylvania D ep en d en ts of v ictim s of fa ta l in d u stria l accidents,
1929____________________________________
F rance— M ine a n d ra ilro a d acc id e n ts___________________
Mexico— M ine accidents, 1929_________________________
W orkm en’s co m p en satio n :
R ecen t w o rk m en ’s com pensation rep o rts—
Io w a________________________________
N o rth C a ro lin a_____________________________
P ennsylvania— N ew classification of p e rm a n e n t in ju rie s ..
Labor law s an d co u rt d e c is io n s:
R egulations reg ard in g im p o rta tio n of convict-m ade goods.
In definite em p lo y m en t m ay be te rm in a te d a t w ill_______
C om pensation n o t assignable in p a y m e n t of p rio r d e b t . . .
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CONTENTS
tu r n o v e r:
L ab o r tu rn o v e r m A m erican factories, N ovem ber, 1930_____________
In d u s tria l d is p u te s :
S trikes a n d lock o u ts in th e U n ited S tates in N ovem ber, 1930----------C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L abor in N ovem ber, 1930----W ork of U n ited S tates B oard of M ediation, 1929-30----------------------H ousing:
B uilding p erm its in p rin cip al cities, N ovem ber, 1930----------------------P ennsylvania— H ousing situ a tio n in P h ila d e lp h ia---------------------------W ages an d h o u rs:
W ages a n d hou rs in th e hosiery a n d u n derw ear in d u stries, 1928 an d
1930____________________________________________________________
R ecen t changes in wages a n d h o u rs of la b o r-----------------------------------A verage wages a n d ho u rs of m em bers of s ta n d a rd n a tio n a l a n d in te r
n atio n al unions, 1929-----------------------------------------------------------------N ew Y ork— A rb itra tio n a w a rd in th e dress in d u s try of N ew Y ork
C ity ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------T exas— W ages a n d h o u rs in 1929-30----------------------------------------------A ustralia— W ages a n d wage tre n d s ------------------------------------------------G reat B ritain — H o u rs a n d o th e r conditions in factories, 1929----------Ita ly — W age re d u c tio n s .---------------------------------------------------------------Morocco— W ages in T a n g ie r_______________________________________
Spain—
W ages in p rovincial capitals, 1928-------------------------------------------W ages in M adrid, 1927----------------------------------------------------------T rend of em ploym en t:
S um m ary for N ovem ber, 1930-------------------------------------------------------E m p lo y m en t in selected m an u factu rin g in d u stries in N ovem ber,
1930____________________________________________________________
E m p lo y m en t in coal m ining in N ovem ber, 1930----------------------------E m p lo y m en t in m etalliferous m ining in N ovem ber, 1930-----------------E m p lo y m en t in q u arry in g a n d nonm etallic m ining in N ovem ber, 1930.
E m p lo y m en t in crude p etro leu m producing in N ovem ber, 1930-------E m p lo y m en t in public u tilities in N ovem ber, 1930--------------------------E m p lo y m en t in wholesale a n d re ta il tra d e in N ovem ber, 1930---------E m p lo y m en t in h otels in N ovem ber, 1930--------------------------------------E m p lo y m en t in canning a n d p reserving in N ovem ber, 1930------------E m p lo y m en t in lau n d ries in N ovem ber, 1930-------------------------------E m p lo y m en t in dyeing a n d cleaning in N ovem ber, 1930------------------Indexes of em p lo y m en t a n d p ay-roll to ta ls— m ining, q u a rry in g , public
u tilities, tra d e , hotels, a n d c a n n in g ______________________________
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I ste a m railro a d s in th e U n ited S ta te s ----------C hanges in em p lo y m en t a n d p a y rolls in various S ta te s ------------------W holesale and re ta il p ric e s:
R etail prices of food in N ovem ber, 1930-----------------------------------------R etail prices of coal in N ovem ber, 1930-----------------------------------------C om parison of retail-p rice changes in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d in foreign
co u n tries________________________________________________________
Index num bers of w holesale prices in N ovem ber, 1930--------------------Im m igration an d em ig ratio n :
S tatistics of im m ig ratio n fo r O ctober, 1930------------------------------------P ublications relatin g to la b o r:
Official— U n ited S ta te s ------------------------------------------------------------------Official— Foreign co u n trie s------------------------------------------------------------U nofficial_________________________________________________________
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T h is Issu e In B rief
The formation of a national economic council to advise on questions
affecting the social and economic welfare of the people of the country
as a whole has been undertaken in a number of countries in the past
several years. These councils are in close relationship with the chief
officials and the parliaments in the countries in which they are set
up and serve as advisory and investigative bodies as regards proposed
legislation, and also assist in coordinating and rendering efficient
the economic activities of the country. Page 1.
Twenty-four State departments of labor or industrial commissions and
the United States Department of Labor operate 151 free employment
offices permanently as part of their regular duties. The organiza
tion and machinery through which placement work is carried on by
these agencies are shown in an article on page 10.
A sharp increase in unemployment in Buffalo occurred between
November, 1929, and November, 1930, according to a recent survey.
In 1929, for each 1,000 males enumerated, 59 were unable to secure
work as against 165 per 1,000 in 1930. This represents an increase
of over 150 per cent. The proportion of females unable to find work
also increased more than 150 per cent. The least unemployment
among males was found among those from 35 to 45 years of age.
Page 33.
Thus far cooperative housing has had a very limited development in
the United States, there being only some J+5 societies in this field at the
end of 1929. Of these, 43 were organizations owning apartment
buildings, while 2 were operating residential hotels. Two other
housing projects have been inaugurated since the beginning of 1930.
The 25 societies furnishing data for the general study of cooperative
associations recently made by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics control property valued at more than $8,000,000. They
have provided living quarters for 2,300 householders and nearly 650
single persons. Page 47.
The fact that employment may be stabilized is graphically illustrated
in an article which compares over a period of years the experience of
one shoe plant, which maintained almost complete stability, with
that of another plant where employment fluctuated widely and with
the experience of the industry as a whole. Page 52.
Full-time working hours in the hosiery and underwear industries
declined 7.1 per cent between 1913 and 1930 and earnings per hour
increased 173.8 per cent, according to the latest survey of wages and
hours in these industries by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Between
1928, the date of the bureau’s previous survey, and 1930, however,
there was a slight increase in hours, the full-time weekly hours in
1930 being 51.6 as compared with 51.3 in 1928. Average earnings
per hour increased from 44.4 cents in 1928 to 45.5 cents in 1930, and
average full-time weekly earnings from $22.78 in 1928 to $23.48 in
1930. Page 166.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The report of the New York Committee on Stabilization of Industry
includes a recommendation for the adoption by industry of insurance
schemes to help stabilize wage earners’ incomes during periods of
unemployment. Full and impartial investigation of the question by
a properly constituted national body is also recommended to deter
mine what steps can be taken to supplement the efforts of private
industrialists and workers to protect the working people of the
United States against the effects of unemployment too great to be
offset by individual resources. Page 61.
Although railroad employment during the period October, 1929, to
October, 1930, declined almost 17 per cent, the decline was not at all
uniform as between the different classes of employees. Thus, among
the executives, officials, and staff assistants the decline was only 4.6
per cent and among the clerical staff, about 10 per cent; the maintenance-of-way men were reduced by more than 25 per cent and the
maintenance-of-equipment employees by some 17 per cent. Page 54.
The number of Ilf. and 15 year old children entering industry for the
first time showed an increase in 1929 over 1928, according to the annual
report of the Chief of the United States Children’s Bureau, whereas
1928, as compared with 1927, had shown a decrease. The changes
varied from place to place. Page 102.
The power laundry business has increased very greatly within the last
two decades, and this growth has been accompanied by an increased
regularity in hours, according to a report on woman workers in
laundries recently issued by the United States Women’s Bureau.
The age level of the workers is rather high, and women who are or
have been married far exceed the single in number. Page 96.
Certain kinds of coal tar and coal-tar products have strong cancerproducing properties. Studies of the effects of different kinds of coal
tars which differ in their chemical composition have shown that
blast-furnace tar is probably harmless but that gas-works tar, espe
cially the high-temperature, horizontal-retort tar, has strong cancerproducing qualities. Coke-oven tar has caused a number of cases of
cancer, as have also a number of the tar-distillation products such as
creosote oil, green oil, anthracene, and pitch. Pitch is said to be
undoubtedly the most harmful substance among tar products.
Page 111.
The 5-day week gained ground in England during 1929, according
to the report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops, who
states that in general it is approved by employers who have tried it, on
the ground that it means a larger output with lower costs. Page 189.
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MONTHLY F-.< 2 UT1
LABOR REVI EW
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
vol.
32,
n o
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W A S H IN G T O N
Ja n u a r y , 1931
N ation al E con om ic C ou n cils
N SEVERAL countries of Europe attempts have been made in
recent years to provide for the special representation of the varied
interests of the country, as well as to bring into play the specialized
knowledge of various groups and individuals, through the formation
of councils with advisory and consultative powers. These councils,
which are in close relation with the chief officials and the parliaments
of the different countries, serve largely as advisory and investigative
bodies as regards proposed legislation or other questions affecting the
social or economic welfare of the people.
The present article gives a brief description of the national council
system in France, Great Britain, Germany, and Italy. In France
the National Economic Council organized in 1925 has functioned suc
cessfully, particularly in regard to the comprehensive plan for coordi
nating and putting upon an efficient basis all the elements entering
into the economic life of that country. In England and Italy the
establishment of such councils is more recent while in Germany
although a provisional economic council was organized in 1920 a bill
providing for a permanent council which has been pending before
Parliament for several years is not yet enacted into law.
Other countries in which such councils have been formed include
Czechoslovakia, Spain, and Japan. In Czechoslovakia a consulta
tive commission composed of 150 members chosen by the Govern
ment and representing employers7 and workers7 organizations and
economists gives its opinion either on its own initiative or at the
request of the Government, upon questions of general economic
importance. A Council for the National Economy was appointed in
Spain by royal decree in 1924. This organization, which acts entirely
in a consultative capacity, is composed of 24 members representing
the various commercial and producers7 organizations of the country.
In Japan the Imperial Economic Council is presided over by the
Prime Minister and has for vice presidents the Ministers of Finance,
Agriculture, and Commerce, the other members being designated by
the cabinet and chosen among public officials and representatives of
producers’ organizations. The scope of the activities of the council
are very wide, embracing economic subjects, protection of the workers,
and the general industrial development of the country. In still other
countries, notably Norway, Hungary, Poland, and Portugal, some
attempts at the constitution of similar organizations have been made
[1]
I
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
while in Russia the Superior Council of National Economy forms one
of the basic institutions of that Government.
A national economic council was recently established, in Belgium to
study and advise on problems connected with the economic welfare
of the country. Unlike the councils in other countries, however, it
will not have the character of a body representing the various eco
nomic interests of the country. The council will serve to coordinate
the work of existing institutions and will, to a certain extent, be super
imposed on these institutions. The members will be chosen for their
knowledge and personal authority and the Prime Minister and the
governmental departments concerned with the economic policy of
the country will be represented so that contact will be insured with
those departments which will ultimately be required to give effect to
the proposals made by the council.
National Economic Council, France 1
T h e French National Economic Council (Conseil National Écono
mique) was established by a decree dated January 16, 1925. The
organization of such a council, having for its purpose the orientation
of the political and social development of the country, had been
urged by the General Confederation of Labor {Confédération Générale
du Travail) since the close of the war. As a result of this demand by
organized labor for the establishment of an economic council with
executive powers the commission was appointed in 1924 to study the
matter and after a series of meetings in which the scheme for the
organization was drawn up, the cabinet took up the matter, making
such changes in the plan as were necessary to bring it into line with
the constitutional and legislative organization of the country. The
plan adopted provided that the National Economic Council should
not be subordinate to any particular ministry but should be attached
to the Prime Minister’s Department, although the money for its
administration would be paid from the budget of the Ministry of
Labor, it having been found impossible to satisfy the demand of the
committee that the council should be a financially independent office
with its own budget. The practical independence of the council is
secured through its freedom to decide upon questions to be studied
and because its members are not chosen by the Government but are
merely appointed by it on the nomination of the different interests
represented.
Although the proponents of the plan considered that the council
should be given large powers of initiative and the right to lay its
opinions and proposals before the chambers of Parliament, the
Government felt that such a procedure might be unconstitutional
and that the freedom of the Government might be lessened if it were
required to introduce bills dictated by the N ational Economic Coun
cil. The decree, therefore, specified that the recommendations of the
council should be transmitted to the Prime Minister who should,
within one month, inform the council of the action taken or refer the
question back to the council for further consideration. While the
actual power of the council was therefore limited, the risk of rivalry
1 This section is based upon Ministère du Travail, Bulletin, Paris, Jan.-Feb.-M ar., 1925, pp. 30*-33*;
Revue d’Économie Politique, Paris, Juillet-Aôut, 1930, pp. 1172-1191; dan Le Perfectionnement de
L’Outillage National, by Roger Francq.
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NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCILS
3
between the council and Parliament was avoided. But a possible
widening of the scope of the_ activities of the council to include prob
lems touching other nations is found in the provision that the council
may consider questions which are of economic interest either from a
national point ot view or because of their international bearing.
The council, as established by the decree, is composed of 47 mem
bers representing the different economic and social groups of the
country, as follows: Nine representing the consumers and the general
public, selected from consumers’ cooperative societies and consumers’
leagues, mayors’ associations, users of public services, and heads of
families; 30 representing labor and industry, including (a) intellectual
labor and teaching, (6) management in industry, agriculture, com
merce, transportation, the cooperative movement, and the public
utilities, (c) wage-earners, including officials, technical workers, and
general labor in industry, commerce, agriculture, and transportation,
and (a) artisans in city and rural trades; and 8 representing capital,
including (a) industrial and commercial capital, (b) real estate (rural
and city), and (c) banks, the stock exchange, and insurance and
savings funds. The members are chosen in each class by the most
representative organization or organizations, these organizations
being named by the Government on the recommendation of the
Minister of Labor after consultation with the different cabinet
officers concerned.
The term of office of members of the council is two years and mem
bers must be French, at least 25 years of age, and in possession of full
civil and political rights. Women are eligible under the same con
ditions as men.
The council meets regularly four times each year for 10 days, and
extra sessions may be called by the Prime Minister, who is ex officio
president of the National Economic Council. A permanent com
mittee of 10 members is elected by the council to take care of current
business between sessions, to carry out the decisions of the council,
and to prepare the agenda for the meetings of the council. The law
provides that the council shall have a permanent headquarters and
that the general secretary shall be appointed by decree, on the recom
mendation of the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Minister
of Labor and the executive officers of the council. Experts are ap
pointed from a list established by the different Government depart
ments concerned, from the Superior Labor Council and the Council
of National Defense, and also including the French Government
representative at the International Labor Office. When a question
concerns an economic or industrial class not permanently represented
on the council, representatives of such a class may be appointed,
under the rules governing appointments, to share in the investigation.
All the ministerial departments, undersecretaries of State, high
commissioners, and the competent committees of the Chamber and
the Senate are entitled to be represented in the deliberations of the
council and its permanent committee. The council, likewise, has
the right to be heard by the competent committees of either branch
of Parliament as well as by the ministers and members of the Govern
ment and to require them to send representatives to the meetings of
the council and the permanent committee in case no delegates have
been appointed.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
It is provided that the Prime Minister shall consult directly with
the Economic Council, and the proceedings and decisions of the
council in the form of reports or recommendations shall be published
in the Journal Officiel. Decisions reached by the council must re
ceive a two-thirds vote of the members present and are then trans
mitted to the Prime Minister. The Government transmits to the
National Economic Council, for purposes of information, all bills of
economic interest after these have been tabled, and every law of an
economic nature passed may provide for the compulsory consultation
with the council in regard to the framing of the regulations necessary
for its enforcement.
The Prime Minister and the ministers of foreign affairs, labor,
finance, commerce and industry, agriculture, public works, and the
colonies are all associated in the administration of the decree.
The council, since its establishment in 1925, has completed various
studies relating to the “ national equipment” (Voutillage national).
The first study undertaken by the permanent committee' was an in
vestigation of the housing problem. In connection with this study
an advisory committee on rents was appointed, which was empowered
to codify and consolidate existing legislation and measures relating to
rents, to consider the laws relating to cheap housing, and also to
prepare a building program to meet public needs. A complete tech
nical, administrative, and financial plan for the construction of dwel
lings was developed by this committee. After the completion of this
work the council broadened its activities to cover all phases of the
national economy for the purpose of establishing a program of action
and deciding upon methods which appeared to be essential to put the
“ national equipment” into the fullest operation. In this “ equip
ment” are included not only works created by the people as a whole
but also all of the natural resources made use of by human labor
and institutions designed to increase the production, circulation, and
consumption of goods, as well as the basic industries which affect the
entire national economy. Thus the council is concerned in the devel
opment of the means of transport (roads, rivers, seaports, aeronautics)
and of communications (posts, telephones and telegraph, and radio)
as well as the strengthening of power sources (hydraulic power and
power distribution, solid and liquid fuels).
The council has also studied the improvement of agricultural pro
duction, studying successively the development of water power, pro
duction and use of fertilizers, electrification of rural districts, co
operative institutions, mutual associations, and agricultural credits.
It is also interested in the development of these facilities in the
French colonies, in the organization of the colonial markets, and in
the possibility of the immediate utilization of colonial imports.
Finally the council has endeavored to draw up a plan for the financing
of this program and two plans—the Tardieu bill and the plan of the
National Economic Council itself—were introduced into Parliament
during 1930.
English Economic Advisory Council2
O n J a n u a r y 27, 1930, the English Government issued a Treasury
minute, recording its decision to establish a new body, known
2 This section is based upon Economist (London), Feb. 1,1930, and Manchester Guardian, Jan. 30,1930.
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NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCILS
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as the Economic Advisory Council. This is to be a standing body,
reporting to the cabinet. The Prime Minister is to be its chairman,
and otl^er members are to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Lord Privy Seal, the president of the Board of Trade, the Minister
of Agriculture, and other ministers whom the Prime Minister may
from time to time summon. In addition, there are to be other
persons, not cabinet members, chosen by the Prime Minister by
reason of their special knowledge and experience in industry and
economics. Its purposes are thus defined:
T o advise H is M aje sty ’s G overn m en t in econom ic m a tte rs.
T o m ake continuous stu d y of developm ents in tra d e a n d in d u stry a n d in th e
use of n atio n al an d im perial resources, of th e effect of legislation a n d fiscal
policy a t hom e a n d ab ro ad , a n d of all aspects of n atio n al, im perial, a n d in te r
n atio n al econom y w ith a bearing on th e p ro sp e rity of th e co u n try .
The council is to be subject to the general directions of the Prime
Minister, but is not to interfere with the functions or responsi
bilities of any of the ministers or departments, and is to have no
administrative or executive powers. It is to keep in touch with de
partments affected by its work, with a view to the concerted study
of economic problems of national interest. It may set up standing
committees and such special committees as may be required. It
may initiate inquiries into and advise upon any subject falling within
its scope, including proposals for legislation.
T he council shall also cause to be p rep ared a list of persons w ith in d u strial,
com m ercial, financial, a n d w orking-class experience a n d persons who h av e m ade
a special stu d y of social, econom ic, a n d o th e r scientific problem s who m ig h t
assist th e council b y serving on com m ittees or as advisers in m a tte rs of w hich
th e y h av e ex p ert know ledge or in o th e r w ays.
Its reports and its work are to be confidential, unless the council
advises the Prime Minister otherwise. It is to have a secretary and
assistant secretaries, at least two of whom must be economists,
and such other staff as may be found necessary. It is estimated
that it will cost less than £6,000 per annum, for which provision
will be made in the regular budget.
In commenting upon the creation of the new body, the Manchester
Guardian points out that it goes far toward removing the reproach
often brought against the English system of government that “ there
is no regular channel through which men with ideas and experience,
who are not politicians, can get into contact with the Government
of the day.” The Liberals and the Labor Party had both called,
in the official statements of their programs, for the establishment
of some such body as this as a means of formulating “ a consistent
and comprehensive policy for the development of national resources,
and to coordinate the work of the departments on which the executive
duties would fall.” In the opinion of the Manchester Guardian,
“ The council is a step in the direction of more scientific handling
of economic problems—a way of making the economist appreciate
political difficulties and the politician realize economic necessities.”
Since the work and reports of the council are confidential, it is im
possible to give any résumé of its activities. One indication of the
lines along which it is working, however, appears in the fact that
beginning with August, 1930, the Ministry of Labor Gazette has
published a quarterly supplement of economic and industrial informa
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
tion, stating that this is done on the recommendation of the council.
The supplement, which is compiled jointly by the Board of Trade and
the Ministry of Labor, contains charts illustrating the course of trade,
production, prices, wages, finance, and employment from 1924 up to
the date of issuance, together with tables containing the statistics on
which the charts are based. Also, in its issue for July, 1930, the
Gazette discussed a report issued by the Economic Advisory Council,
dealing with conditions in the iron and steel industries of France,
Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, and Czechoslovakia, based upon the
results of a visit of investigation made, at the suggestion of the council,
by a delegation composed of representatives of the leading iron and
steel associations and of the Ministry of Labor.
Provisional Federal Economic Council, Germany '5
A p r o v i s i o n a l Federal economic council was created in Germany
by a Governmental order, dated May 4, 1920. The German con
stitution adopted at Weimar in July, 1919, proposed the establish
ment of district and Federal representative councils among workers
and employers and other groups to be combined into a Federal council
which should deal with economic problems and assist in carrying out
the social laws of the country. The council was to voice the economic
needs of the country and to act as an advisory body to the Reichstag,
which would submit drafts of important laws to it for consideration
and advice. I t was planned also, that the council itself should have
the right to initiate and introduce bills into Parliament. The
Reichstag soon after convening on August 12, 1919, however, decided
to create a provisional council instead of a permanent one as outlined
in the Federal constitution.
The provisional council as constituted by the governmental order
of May 4 consisted of 326 representatives divided as follows among the
different groups: Agriculture and forestry, 68; horticulture and
fishing, 6; industry, 68; commerce, banking, and insurance, 44;
handicrafts, 36; transportation and public works, 34; consumers, 30;
civil service and liberal professions, 16, together with 12 experts
each appointed by the Reichstag and the Government, the repre
sentation being based upon the numerical and the economic impor
tance of the various groups. The representatives in the first six
groups are appointed by the central trade organizations of the various
industries and occupations belonging to each group. The repre
sentatives of the consumers are appointed by the various municipal
councils and associations of the larger cities, three being appointed
by the Federal Council (Reichsrat) to represent rural communities;
by associations of consumers’ societies; and by various associations ol
housewives and of servants. Representatives of civil servants and
the liberal professions are appointed by various national employees’
unions and professional associations. The experts are appointed by
the Federal Council from persons who are especially connected with
the economic life of the country and by the Federal Government from
8 This section is based upon Die Verfassung des Deutschen Reiches, art. 165, Berlin, 1919; Reichsgesetz
blatt, 1920, p. 858 et seq.; International Labor Review, Geneva, June, 1925, pp. 812-813; Der Vorläufige
Reichsverkschaftsrat 1920-1926, Berlin, 1926, p. 3; Reichsarbeitsministerium,,Reichesarbeitsblatt, Amtlicher
Teil, 1926, Beilage zu No. 44, pp. 1-16; and Soziale Praxis, M ay 1929, Col. 4?7.
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7
persons who have, through special services, contributed to the
industrial development of the nation. _ The membership of the
council was regrouped at a general meeting of the council in 1921 to
form three main divisions—employers, wage earners, and a group
embracing consumers, civil servants, members of the professions, etc.
It was anticipated that this realignment would simplify the voting,
but as a matter of fact the first two groups have acted on the basis
of their “ class” interests rather than on the basis of the national
interests which the council was intended to serve.
As the membership of the council proved to be too unwieldy for
efficient and speedy work, much of the work has been carried on
through committees. Up to 1926, 53 different committees had been
created but since that time their number has been considerably
reduced. No plenary sessions of the council have been held since
the fall of 1923.
The work of the council included at first matters of immediate
importance to the people as a result of the war such as the food
supply and measures for the prevention of unemployment. In 1921,
the council gave its attention mainly to financial problems and later
the questions of export, credit, control of foreign trade, etc., were
taken up. The establishment of a sound financial policy and the
stabilization of the mark were dealt with in 1922 and the following
year the tariff problem, measures for defense, finances, and credits
were considered. In the field of social policy the council dealt with
the various labor problems such as hours, wages, conciliation and
arbitration, etc. In 1924 a policy of economy was introduced by the
Government in its various departments and offices with the result
that the work of the council was_ considerably curtailed. The
holding of general meetings was permitted only if authorized by the
Government and only four committees were retained, namely those
on economic, social, financial, and housing problems. Further, the
work of these committees was limited to discussion of the proposals
of the Government, the committees not being permitted to act on
their own initiative unless the chairman of the council obtained
approval of the ministry concerned in each particular case.
The provisional council was concerned in the establishment of a
permanent council and a bill was drawn up by it and introduced in
the Reichstag providing for the establishment of such a council. The
bill provided for division of representation among different important
groups but with a much reduced membership, only 123 permanent
members being provided for. The bill, which was changed to increase
the membership to 144, is still before the Reichstag. _ The delay in
its enactment into law is said to be due not to opposition to such a
council by the major political parties but largely to the difficulty in
the adjustment and apportionment of the representation^©! the
various groups to suit the different interests concerned. The bill
failed of the necessary two-thirds majority when it was voted upon in
July, 1930, but it is expected that it'will eventually be amended and
passed.
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Italian National Council of Corporations 4
A n I t a l i a n law enacted March 20, 1930, which became effective
April 21, 1930, provided for the establishment of a national council
of corporations to serve in an advisory capacity to the Ministry of
Corporations. _The Ministry of Corporations was created in 1926
for the supervision and control of the association of employers and
syndicates of employees into which the people of Italy are divided,
but in the four years since its creation, it appears to have evolved
into a combined ministry for commerce, industry and labor.
The membership of the council, under the presidenc}7 of the head
of the Government is composed of the Minister of Corporations,
Minister of Interior, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and
certain subordinate officials of these organizations, the presidents of
the Workers’ Spare Time Institute, the National Institute for Social
Assistance, the Association of Disabled Soldiers and of the National
ex-Service Association, one member from the national directorate
of the National Fascist Party, and representatives of the seven
occupational divisions of employers and employees, and of the associa
tions of public employees. Ten technical advisers who are parti
cularly competent in matters of law, economics, and syndical organi
zation are appointed by the Minister of Corporations. ' These advisers
may participate in discussions but do not have the right to vote.
All except the ex officio members of the council remain in office for
three years and may be reappointed. The members serve without
pay except for expenses.
The council works through a central corporate commission, a
special permanent commission, and sections and subsections. The
central corporate commission is composed of the special members
of the council representing the various interests and its duties are to
coordinate the activities of the council, deal with matters of urgent
importance which may arise between meetings and with national
problems of production, etc. A special permanent commission
appointed from the regular membership of the council may be created
to consider questions of a general character which may be referred
to it. Questions relating to special groups are dealt with by sections
and subsections, the council being divided into seven sections for this
purpose. The sections represent respectively the professions and
arts, industry, land and waterways transportation, maritime and air
transportation, agriculture, commerce, and banking, and each of the
first four groups is divided into subsections. The employers’ and
workers’ groups have equal representation in all sections and
subsections.
A general assembly of the national council is held twice a year and
special sessions may be called by the president on his own initiative
or on the written demand of one-third of the members. Ten days’
notice is required for all meetings except when the business is urgent,
in which case the notice required is reduced to five days. Meetings
of sections and subsections may be held separately or one or more
4
This section is based upon Bollettino del Lavoro, Rome, January-March, 1930, pp. 139-142; and JulyAugust, 1930, pp. 171-174; International Labor Review, Geneva, July, 1930, pp. 1-22: The act on the
National Council of Corporations in Italy, by Ulrico Ailland; and an account of the Corporative State and
atiorial Council of Corporations, prepared by II. H . Tittm an, second secretary, American Embassy
at Rome, dated Apr. 27, 1930.
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sections may hold joint meetings to discuss matters of common
interest. In general the public may be admitted to sessions of the
council or of the sections but at the order of the president meetings
may be held behind closed doors, in which case all present are pledged
to secrecy.
The functions of the council are consultative, rule making, adminis
trative, and coordinative. It executes and integrates the main pro
visions of the labor charter, examines and renders opinions on pro
posed laws and rules regulating production and labor, and in other
cases as asked by officials of the Government, cares for the interests
of the association, reports on the status and capacity of trade associa
tions, recognizes and revokes recognition of confederations, associa
tions, and delegates to associations of higher grades, watches over
associations of lower grades, constitutes individual corporations,
grants professional associations permission to determine the amount
of fees to be charged for professional services, publishes rules to be
observed by the professional classes, considers propositions of the
sections and subsections, makes rules to coordinate the activities of
trade, supplementary or corporative associations, reports collective
agreements, and makes rules for the regulation of collective economic
relations between the different classes of production represented by
legally recognized associations.
When the request for opinion is obligatory under the law the royal
decree and the ministerial decree following must contain the state
ment “ Heard the opinion of the National Council of Corporations.”
Having received the opinion of a section or subsection or of several
sections the minister who asked for it may request its reference to the
whole council for consideration. The initiative for the making of
rules belongs to the head of the Government on the proposal of the
Minister of Corporations or the associations and he has the right of
absolute veto.
The new organization was described as follows by Premier Mus
solini in his speech at the inauguration of the council on April 21 :
T he N a tio n al C ouncil of C o rp o ratio n s m ay be defined as occupying in relatio n
to Ita lia n n a tio n a l econom y th e p lace t h a t th e G eneral Staff occupies w ith respect
to th e A rm y ; t h a t is, i t is th e fu n ctio n in g b ra in w hich draw s u p p lan s a n d co
o rd in ates all activ ities. Such a com parison is n o t in a p t, because Ita lia n n atio n al
econom y is obliged to w age severe a n d in cessan t w arfare a n d requires for th a t
purpose" a general staff a n d a fully c o m p eten t ra n k a n d file.
Decisions handed down by the National Council of Corporations
may be considered as regulations having the force of public law,
but binding only in so far as they concern the persons, the economic
matters, and the labor questions which they are intended to regulate.
They are in no way laws in the formal sense, or provisions of an
enabling act, or the delegation of powers on the part of the syndicates,
or arbitral judgments, but are instead autonomous regulations of a
technical-professional character.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P u b lic E m p lo y m en t Services
ERIODS of acute unemployment such as the country is now
experiencing bring the public employment offices into general
notice and emphasize the existence of an agency which perhaps receives
too little attention in normal times. During the past few months,
under the impetus given by the President’s Emergency Committee
on Unemployment, many local employment agencies under municipal
or community auspices have organized and are in active operation.
Emergency conditions tend to give to these enterprises publicity
and community support which in large measure promote their success
ful operation.
Past experience has shown, however, that most of these emergency
organizations disappear with the acute conditions that produced
them. Popular interest as a rule dies with them, leaving in the field
of public employment service only such machinery as exists by law
or established custom.
’What this machinery is, and something of the historic background
of the present system of public employment agencies are dealt with
in this article. Neither criticism nor defense of those agencies is
intended. Rather the purpose is to show what is being attempted
through governmental means to bring worker and job together in
normal times as well as in periods of industrial depression, and the
machinery through which that effort is made.
Principally for want of contact in locating them and securing the
desired information, no attempt has been made to treat the numerous
permanent municipal agencies which are independent of State control.
Municipal employment bureaus are found here and there in ali
Parts of the country, from Baltimore to Seattle, and as far as their
functions and machinery of operation are concerned they are no doubt
identical. They differ chiefly in the amount of financial support and
public patronage they receive, which of course determines the amount
of work they are able to do. The specific field of the present article
is placement as a function of State and Federal governments.
Just half of the States—24 1—maintain public employment offices
as a State service. In all of them the department of labor or the
industrial commission is the responsible administering medium.
The normal number of employment offices which these States operate
is 151, a number somewhat increased just now by reason of temporary
expansions to meet an emergency.
State offices are located in the principal cities of the State, the
number of such offices being distributed thus: Illinois, 20; Pennsyl
vania and Ohio, 13; California and New York, 11; Michigan and
Wisconsin, 10; Connecticut and New Jersey, 8; North Carolina, 6;
Arkansas, Indiana, and Kansas, 5; Massachusetts and Oklahoma, 4;
Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia, 3; Iowa, 2; Maine, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, 1.
In 11 additional States2 the United States Employment Service
acts through a State representative. These 11 States are chiefly
P
1 Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma
Pennsylvania, Khode Island, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
2 Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas,
Vermont, Washington.
’
'
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PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
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agricultural and the public employment service concerns itself with
farm labor almost exclusively.
Several States3 have laws directing the establishment of a State
employment system, but have no offices in regular operation. Some
of them have never undertaken the work at all. In some cases the
enabling act has not been accompanied by the necessary appropria
tion. Colorado maintained several offices from 1907 to 1923, but the
legislature of 1923 failed to renew the appropriation for them and they
have never reopened. West Virginia established an office in Febru
ary, 1930, although authority to do so has existed for years. State
laws of Idaho and Montana declare that it shall be the duty of the
municipality to establish employment offices, but no permanent
organization has been effected in either State. Other States—Ohio
and Wisconsin among them—require that the municipality, the
county, or both, in which the State establishes a free employment
office, shall contribute to its maintenance.
In several States the department of labor’s efforts to provide an
employment service are so seriously handicapped by insufficient
money and staff that little is accomplished. The office has to confine
itself to business which can be handled by telephone and correspond
ence, a practice which is sometimes spoken of as the “ mail-order
system ” in the public employment field. In fact, in several instances,
the legislation as well as the appropriation under which placement
work is undertaken makes a more active policy impossible.
On the other hand, other States, by no means confined to those in
the industrial area, are doing such effective work as materially to
affect the employment situation, even for skilled labor and the
professions.
Development of Public Employment Offices
O h io was the first State to attempt placement work as a State
function. A law calling for the creation of public employment offices
in the five principal cities, which was drafted and sponsored by the
Municipal Labor Congress of Cincinnati, was enacted in April, 1890.
The bill as drafted made the employment offices branches of the State
bureau of labor statistics, fixed the salaries of superintendents and
clerks, who were to be appointed by the commissioner of labor, and
placed the entire expense of operation upon the State. The senate,
however, took the position that since the cities in which offices were
established would derive all the benefit, they should pay for the ser
vice. To secure passage, an amendment was accepted which provided
that the compensation of the superintendents and clerks “ shall be
paid out of the city treasury in which such free public employment
office may be located.” The city was also to fix the amount of the
salary to be paid. At the same time it was entirely optional with the
city whether or not it accepted the arrangement.
The five cities involved did, however, pass ordinances providing
for salaries for the employees of the public employment offices,
although Toledo provided only for a superintendent. The question
then arose of responsibility for the equipment and maintenance of
the offices, an expenditure for which no appropriation had been
made by the legislature. As the bill had passed on the last day of
3 Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah.
29334°— 31------2
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the session no legislative action could be had. The commissioner of
labor obtained an opinion from the attorney general to the effect
that “ the spirit of the act requires the State to pay the necessary
expenses connected with the establishment of free public employment
offices” except salaries. The commissioner then proceeded to rent
and equip offices and to appoint superintendents and clerks to man
them, and, armed with the attorney general’s opinion, secured an
emergency deficiency appropriation of $2,000 from the governor.
The law was passed in April. By September offices were in operation
in the five cities covered by the law—Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colum
bus, Dayton, and Toledo. Men were appointed as superintendents
and women as clerks, and the clerks were to act as placement agents
for the women applicants in the belief, as the commissioner explained
it, “ that women and girls out of work would prefer to approach one
of their own sex when in search of employment.” He added, appar
ently in defense, that “the wisdom of this course has since been
demonstrated by the operation of the offices.” 4
One interesting point developed by the first tabulated report of the
service is the fact that in the Toledo, Dayton, and Cleveland offices,
during the first week of operation, more employers than workers
applied for help. That condition continued in Toledo and Cleveland
throughout the entire period covered by the first report, up to Janu
ary 1, 1891.
Although the Ohio offices handled little but common and domestic
labor, they were successful enough to be pretty firmly established
from the first, sufficiently so, at least, that no serious attempt was
made to repeal the legislation or to refuse appropriations. The sys
tem developed in usefulness within its limited field, and even achieved
an impressive record during the panic years of 1893-94.
The connection of the city governments with the system proved an
administrative stumblingblock, however. After severalyears of dif
ficulties growing out of that impractical plan, the State, in 1904, took
over the entire expense of operating the public employment service
and assumed full authority.
The Ohio experiment was watched by other States interested in
the movement, and by the close of the first decade New York and
Illinois had followed Ohio’s lead. The New York law as passed in
1896 was repealed 10 years later, and the legislation under which the
present New York public employment system is conducted is com
paratively recent. Illinois, by a law of 1899, established a system of
State employment offices, providing for one office in each city of
50,000 population and over,5 and three in each city of 1,000,000 and
over. Chicago and Peoria were at the time the only cities involved,
and except for the organization of an office in Chicago the system
existed largely on paper for the next three or four years. The law
contained a clause prohibiting the offices from furnishing any assist
ance to an employer whose workers were on strike or locked out.
As the result of a trial brought to test the legality of that clause, the
whole statute was declared unconstitutional in 4903. The legislature
was in session at the time, and the law, with the disputed feature
modified, was reenacted and strengthened. The clause dealing with
4 Ohio Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fourteenth annual report, 1890, p. 13.
5 This was changed later to cover cities of 25,000 population and over, and contiguous towns with a
combined population of 25,000 and over.
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strikes was changed to read: “ Full information shall be given appli
cants concerning the existence of any strike or lockout in the estab
lishment of any employer securing workers from the Illinois Free
Employment Office.”
That method of handling the strike situation is now dictated by
many of the laws creating public employment offices, and is usually
followed as a policy whether or not the law itself touches upon the
matter.
Missouri established a State employment service in 1899 and opened
offices in St. Louis, Kansas City, and St. Joseph. Connecticut and
Wisconsin followed in 1901 with the establishment of five offices in
Connecticut and four in Wisconsin. During the next decade Michi
gan, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Indiana created State
systems and opened two or more offices, and several other States
instituted the “ mail order” type of labor exchange within the office
of the State bureau of labor.
But while the theory of placement work as a State function was
thus gaining ground steadily, the system in practical operation could
not be credited with conspicuous success. Some individual offices
were efficiently operated and gained reputation and standing; in
others the superintendent made no effort to do more than the mini
mum amount of routine which a political sinecure involved. The
whole system was chaotic and planless, handicapped by political
considerations, public indifference, and more important, wholly inade
quate salaries and appropriations.
U n til 1906 th e largest of a n y of th e S ta te a p p ro p riatio n s fo r public em ploy
m e n t offices w as b u t a drop in th e bu ck et. A t t h a t tim e M assach u setts, enactin g
legislation fo r th e creation of S ta te em p lo y m en t offices, a p p ro p ria te d $25,000 as
a to ta l for th e en tire S tate. Of th is sum , ap p ro x im ately $23,000 w as sp e n t in
establishing a n d m ain tain in g , d u rin g its first y e a r of op eratio n , th e B oston office.
W isconsin in 1912 an d Ohio in 1914 each succeeded in h av in g th e o riginal a p p ro
p riatio n increased, a n d su p p lem en ted i t by d irect o r in d irect co n trib u tio n s from
th e local governm ents in w hich offices w ere situ ated . T h e sum of $54,235 voted
in 1915 fo r th e Illinois public em p lo y m en t offices exceeded b y a considerable
m argin t h a t of a n y o th e r S ta te , even of New Y ork, fo r th e sam e y e a r.6
Salaries were for the most part statutory, generally $ 1,000 or $ 1,200
for superintendents, with $1,500 as the highest salary paid by any
State; $600 to $900 for assistants and clerks, and occasionally an
assistant at $1,000 a year.
In December, 1913, at the instigation of the superintendent of the
Wisconsin State employment offices, a meeting of the officials of the
State employment service in eight States 7 was held in Chicago, at
which the American Association of Public Employment Offices 8 was
organized. The objects of the organization as declared in its consti
tution were:
T o im prove th e efficiency of th e public em plo y m en t offices now in existence;
to w ork fo r th e estab lish m en t of such offices in all S ta te s; to secure cooperation
a n d closer connection betw een th e offices in each S ta te a n d am ong th e S tates;
to p ro m o te u n ifo rm m eth o d s of doing business in all th e public em ploym ent
offices; to secure a reg u la r in terch an g e of in fo rm atio n a n d re p o rts am ong th e
v arious offices; to secure a p ro p e r d istrib u tio n of la b o r th ro u g h o u t th e co u n try
by th e cooperation of m unicipal, S ta te , a n d F ed eral governm ents.
6 Harrison, Shelby, and associates: Public Employment Offices. N ew York, Russell Sage Foundation,
1924, p. 124.
7 Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
8 Name changed later to International Association of Public Employment Services.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The call for this conference expressed the belief that—
If we could hav e a m eeting of th e su p e rin te n d e n ts of all th e offices to read a n d
discuss p ap ers on th e m an ag e m en t of em p lo y m en t offices, w e m ig h t w ork o u t
a m ore uniform m eth o d of doing business w hich w ould m ak e co o p eratio n am ong
th e various S ta te offices easier. A sy stem of in terch an g e of re p o rts m ig h t also
be devised, an d from th ese a c c u ra te in fo rm atio n as to th e con d itio n of th e lab o r
m a rk e t th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try m ig h t be com piled a n d circu lated .9
A paper read at the meeting emphasized the lack of uniformity of
methods and coordination of purposes thus:
T here is little u n ifo rm ity a n d p ractically no co operation am ong th e various
offices, even w ith in a S ta te . H a rd ly in a n y office a re all a p p lican ts registered.
In m an y cases e m p lo y ers’ a p p licatio n s a re n o t ta k e n if th e help th e y w a n t is
n o t available, an d th e re is a general p ractice of n o t reg isterin g a p p lic a n ts for
em ploym ent unless tn e re is som e w ork to w hich th e y can be referred. T his
makes” th e sta tistic s of th e p ublic em p lo y m en t offices v ery unreliable. I t m ak es
th e p ro p o rtio n of ap p lic a n ts fo r w hom w ork is fo u n d a n d th e p ro p o rtio n of v a c a n
cies w hich a re filled v ery high, a n d gives no id e a of th e a c tu a l su p p ly of lab o r
an d dem an d for help. T h e sta tistic s of th e n u m b e r of p o sitio n s filled a re also
n o t v ery reliable. T h e m eth o d s of finding o u t w h e th e r th e m en se n t to em ployers
h ave secured th e p o sitio n a re lax in m a n y cases, a n d in few offices a re th e y alike.
T h e m o st efficient schem e h as been devised in B oston, w here a clerk verifies
every position filled by m eans of th e telep h o n e o r b y m ail.10
Granting, in his address to the next convention of the association,
that in many respects the employment offices were floundering help
lessly, Dr. Royal Meeker, then United States Commissioner of Labor
Statistics, nevertheless maintained that—In view of all th e difficulties th e y h av e h a d to overcom e, th e public em ploym ent
offices of th e U n ited S ta te s h a v e accom plished g re a t things. T hey h av e forced
a re lu c ta n t a n d unbelieving public to recognize p a rtia lly a t least th e fa c t of
u n em ploym ent a n d th e prin cip le of p ublic resp o n sib ility fo r th e existence of
unem p lo y m en t a n d fo r th e fu rnishing of w ork to a ll th e w orkless; th e y h av e
courageously a tta c k e d th e abuses w hich a re in sep arab le from p riv a te em ploy
m e n t offices con d u cted fo r th e sole p u rpose of doing th e g re a te st n u m b e r an d
doing th e m good an d p le n ty ; th e y h ave, w ith gigantically sm all a p p ro p riatio n s,
m e t th e com p etitio n of p riv a te agencies long established a n d deeply e n tren ch ed ;
th e y are overcom ing th e suspicions of th e b o n a fide w orkers a n d th e c o n te m p t
of em ployers. T h eir ta s k s n av e been ren d ered w ell-nigh im possible by th e
niggardliness of ap p ro p ria tio n s a n d th e indifference of th e pub lic.11
Changes in viewpoint and administrative methods brought about
by the reversal of conditions which severe labor shortage produced,
and the entrance of the Federal Government into the placement field
during the war have materially altered the status of the public em
ployment service.
Federal Employment Service
T h e Federal Government made its initial entry into the employ
ment service field in 1907, for the specific purpose of diverting im
migrant labor from the port of entry into less congested areas where
employment opportunities were greater. The immigration act of
1907 created within the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization,
which was then in the Department of Commerce and Labor, a division
of information “ to promote a beneficial distribution of aliens admitted
into the United States among the several States and territories desir
ing immigration.”
8 U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 192, p. 8.
10 Idem, p. 15.
11 Idem, p. 45.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[14]
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
15
This organization did little actual placement work. Its chief func
tion was to disseminate information bearing upon “ the resources,
products, and physical characteristics of each State and territory”
as a means of better distribution. Immigration offices were instructed
to detail one employee to the information and distribution work, and
a special office was established on Ellis Island.
Because it proved quite impractical to impress the newcomers with
the Government’s distribution program while they were at the re
ceiving station, the office of the division of information was soon
moved to New York City. Handbills were printed in many languages
and distributed on the ferries from Ellis Island to the city, calling
attention to the service and directing all interested persons to the
office. The division prepared and published a series of bulletins
dealing with the opportunities to be found in the various geographical
groups of States. The information contained in these bulletins
covered lands available for rent and for sale, soil, climate and market
conditions, and many details of importance to strangers looking for
farms or farm work, and to some extent business and industrial op
portunities as well. The data had been collected by the division
from authoritative sources within the different communities, and the
bulletins were given to everyone requesting them. Some effort was
made to fist openings and to direct applicants to specific jobs, but
while some placement work was done it was not material, and was
limited by the resources of the division itself and the fact that few
newly arrived immigrants could pay their transportation to inland
points where jobs were to be had. While the work of the division was
not limited either by law or by policy to aliens, it did not extend much
beyond them.
The distribution of bulletins and information and the giving of
help and advice so far as feasible continued to be the limited functions
of the New York office, and a secondary activity of the various immi
gration stations throughout the country, until 1914-15, when con
siderable expansion was undertaken. In the meantime, in 1913,the
Federal Department of Commerce and Labor had been reorganized
into two separate departments, and the Bureau of Immigration be
came a bureau of the newly created Department of Labor.
The sharp decrease in immigration after the European War began
left employees of the immigration service with little to do. At the
same time industrial dislocation brought about by the war had
produced serious unemployment in the United States. The country
wide organization of immigration offices was accordingly assigned a
new job—that of serving as an employment medium. Legislative
authority was contained in the organic act establishing the Depart
ment of Labor, which included among the duties of the new body that
of advancing the opportunities of workers “ for profitable employ
ment.”
The country was divided into zones, each zone in charge of a
supervisor delegated from the personnel of the immigration offices
within the zone. A plan of cooperation between the employment
service and local post offices was developed by which applications for
work and for workers were distributed throughout each community
reached by the postal service, and then gathered up by the carriers
and forwarded to the nearest branch of the employment service.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[15]
16
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Later a similar arrangement was made with the Department of
Agriculture, using its county agents as points of contact between
workers and jobs.
This was of course definitely a “ mail order” service, and suffered
from all the handicaps and ills inherent in that system. Nevertheless
it accomplished much, especially in the distribution of farm labor.
And it served as a training ground in employment work which was
of material advantage later. Functioning merely as a clearance
medium, it achieved some notable successes, particularly in the
matter of the Salem, Mass., fire in 1914, when the machinery proved
effective in meeting a serious emergency. The fire destroyed the
manufacturing and tenement sections of Salem and threw about 3,500
workers out of their employment and their homes. Most of them were
textile operatives and boot and shoe workers. Through the division
of information of the Bureau of Immigration, the Secretary of Labor
got in touch with manufacturers in those two industries in all the
States within reasonable distance. With the help of the Massachu
setts State employment service, practically all of the workers who
were willing to leave Salem were placed in other plants.
War Organization of the United States Employment Service
T h e employment service machinery of the Bureau of Immigration
had been in operation about three years when the United States
entered the war, and at that time consisted of offices in 41 cities and
branches in 52 cities, extending over 37 States. In 1917 the Secretary
of Labor asked for an appropriation of $750,000 with which to es
tablish and operate a national employment system which would be
adequate to meet war needs. Congress granted only $250,000 for
employment work, but shortly after the employment bill was passed
the President allotted an additional $825,000 from the security and
defense fund for the reorganization and expansion of the employment
service.
With effective organization thus made possible, the United States
Employment Service was separated from the Immigration Bureau
in January, 1918, and established as a distinct unit, administered by
the Department of Labor through the assistant secretary. The
headquarters office in Washington was organized under a director and
two assistant directors, one for administration and one for the field,
with an auxiliary planning and policies board composed of the chiefs
of the various divisions of the department.
One of th e first th in g s u n d e rta k e n a fte r th e org an izatio n of th e em p lo y m en t
service * * * Was
estab lish offices in th e several S tates. F ifteen
or 20 m en possessing G o v ern m en t experience a n d som e ac q u a in ta n c e w ith em
p lo y m en t business w ere selected a n d d e tailed to th e v arious S ta te s fo r th e p u r
pose of expanding th e existing offices a n d organizing a d d itio n a l ones w herever
necessary. T his w ork w as accom plished w ith such d isp atch t h a t a t th e en d of th e
fiscal y ear th e re w ere in existence m ore th a n 400 em p lo y m en t offices th ro u g h o u t
th e e n tire U n ited S tates.
H a n d in h an d w ith th is u n d e rta k in g w as th e o rganization of th e U n ited S ta te s
in to 13 em ploym en t d istric ts a n d th e selection a n d a p p o in tm e n t of su p erin ten d d en ts of those d istricts, as well as th e a p p o in tm e n t of a F ed eral d irecto r in each
S tate. 12
12
United States Employment Service.
30,1918, p. 6.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Annual report of the director general for fiscal year ending June
[16 ]
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
17
In addition to the State branches, nation-wide divisions were es
tablished—the Public Service Reserve, the Boy’s Working Reserve,
the Farm Service Division, the Women’s Division, and the Negro
Division. Local volunteer advisory bodies known as community
labor boards were also created. These were composed of two men,
one representing employers and one the employees; two women,
one representing working women and the other representing manage
ment, and a fifth member, the local agent of the United States Em
ployment Service, who acted as chairman.
The Public Service Reserve was a recruiting medium which func
tioned locally through 15,000 enrollment agents.
T hese agents, actin g u n d er direction of a F ed eral d irecto r for each S ta te , seek
o u t w orkers in less essential occupations a n d th ro u g h th e em plo y m en t offices
d istrib u te th e m a t th e p o in ts w here th e y are m o st v itally needed to bring a b o u t
m axim um production.
T h e enrollm ent ag en ts of th e Public Service R eserve aid in th e recru itin g of
lab o r for th e em ploym en t d istric ts in w hich th e y operate. T h ey also a c t as
ag en ts of th e com m unity lab o r boards in stim u la tin g a n d supervising th e m oving
of w orkers from less essential to m ore essential occup atio n s; in m oving m ale
w orkers in to w ar w ork from occupations t h a t can be readily filled by wom en, and
in m aking in d u stria l an d m an-pow er surveys. 13
The Boys’ Working Reserve, engaged chiefly in agricultural work,
will be taken up later in discussing the handling of farm labor. The
Women’s Division served two purposes: One was that of making sur
veys to determine where and to what extent the work of women could
be substituted for that of men. The other was actual placement in
essential and related industries of large numbers of women who had
been affected by lessened production in nonessential industries.
War Labor Recruiting
As t h e director of the United States Employment Service expressed
it, the service “ was called upon to perform the very remarkable
feat of building a machine and operating it at the same time.” In
June, 1918, the War Labor Policies Board adopted a resolution de
claring that:
All recruiting of in d u stria l lab o r for public or p riv a te w ork connected w ith th e
w ar shall be conducted th ro u g h or in accordance w ith m eth o d s au th o rized by th e
U n ited S ta te s E m p lo y m en t Service. * * * T h e full pow er of th e G overn
m e n t sh all be exercised th ro u g h such agency to supply all th e lab o r req u irem en ts
of w ar in d u s try a n d b y m eans of v o lu n teer re c ru itm e n t to tra n sfe r m en to such
e x te n t as m ay be necessary from n onw ar to w ar w ork. * * * A n im m ed iate
cam paign to secure th e unskilled lab o r needed in w ar w ork shall be m ade by th e
U n ited S ta te s E m p lo y m en t Service.14
This was followed immediately by a presidential proclamation which
pointed out that “ a central agency must have sole direction of all
recruiting of civilian workers in war work; and in taking over this
great responsibility must at the same time have power to assure to
essential industry an adequate supply of labor, even to the extent
of withdrawing workers from nonessential production.” The Presi
dent therefore urged “ all employers engaged in war work to refrain
after August 1, 1918, from recruiting unskilled labor in any manner
except through this central agency.” 15
13 United States Employm ent Service.
June 30,1918, p. 9.
14 Idem, p. 31.
15 Idem, p. 33.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Annual report of the director general for fiscal year ending
[171
18
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In order to perform the enormous amount of work involved in a
program of controlled recruiting and placement, some reorganization
of the service was necesssary. A policy of centralized administration
and decentralized operation was adopted, by which the district organi
zation was eliminated and the State made the administrative unit,
with full power and responsibility placed upon the Federal director
of employment in each State. Federal directors for the State were
instructed to cooperate with existing State and local employment
services. While such cooperation was greatly desired and was ob
tained in most cases, some friction developed; but the position taken
was that the national interest as interpreted by the United States
Employment Service was paramount and “ must at all times prevail.”
Regulations governing employers engaged in war work were adopted
by the service, which prohibited advertising and the use of private
employment agencies to obtain unskilled labor, but allowed employ
ers to hire workers who applied directly to the plant, and permitted
the use of scouts under the direction of the local employment office.
Interstate transportation of workers was permitted only under regu
lation and control of the service. No restrictions were placed upon
individual recruiting of skilled labor, beyond warning against “ labor
stealing” and practices which might cause “ restlessness among men
who are already engaged in other war work.” Federal directors were
instructed to give every possible assistance in obtaining skilled labor
for employers engaged in essential industries and on war contracts.
Local placement offices were organized and opened as necessity
arose, and reached a maximum of nearly 500. Special services were
developed to handle shipyard, marine, and mine labor. This under
taking, in the case of workers in the Puget Sound shipyards and long
shoremen on the Atlantic seaboard, broke up the practice in those
industries of drawing labor from the waiting lines, or “ shapes”
which congregated at the various shipyard gates and on the docks,
and organized central labor pools from which workers were drawn
as needed. The mining division helped to meet the shortage of mine
labor by establishing contact with practical miners who had left the
mines and were engaged in nonwar work, and inducing them to
return to the mines.
On th e whole th e en tire pro g ram of centralized lab o r recru itin g w as c arried
o u t in a th o ro u g h a n d p ra c tic a l m an n er, a n d th e resu lts accom plished am p ly
ju stify th e w isdom of establishing it. Its benefits w ere seen in th e re d u cin g of
labor tu rn o v er, in th e tra n sferrin g of unskilled lab o r from no n w ar w ork to w ar
work, a n d in th e d irecting of unem ployed or p a rtia lly em ployed w age earn ers
to in d u stries closely allied w ith th e prosecution of th e w ar. All of th ese m easures
were im p o rta n t facto rs in adding to th e n u m b er of laborers steadily engaged in
w ar w ork.16
Farm Labor
O n e of the most difficult tasks, in view of the universal shortage of
common labor, was to find enough men to take care of the harvest
in the western grain fields. The Employment Service opened a field
office in Kansas City, Mo., to recruit and distribute harvest labor,
and to obtain data on acreage, dates of cutting, and the labor demand.
These data were secured through the cooperation of county agents
16 United States Employment Service. Annual report of the director general for 1919, p. 8.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 18 ]
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
19
of the Department of Agriculture, the rural telephone offices, and the
farmers’ organizations. Recruiting was facilitated by publicity
contributed by motion-picture producers, newspaper stories and ad
vertisements, and the distribution of posters to the post offices and
railroad stations.
Field representatives of the service were stationed at various centers
to handle mobilization and distribution to strategic points, from which
allotment to the farmers within the community on the basis of need
or previous requisition was usually made by county agents and local
community boards. Operations started in Oklahoma and Kansas
and moved north as the grain ripened, with representatives of the
service routing and directing the army of harvesters as they were
needed.
The demand for labor on truck and fruit farms was met in large part
by the United States Employment Service through the Boys’ Work
ing Reserve. This body was made up of boys between 16 and 21
years of age, organized primarily to help in maintaining food pro
duction. During 1918 it enrolled approximately 250,000 boys of
high-school age, nearly all of whom went from cities and towns to
work on farms.
Some of th e notable m obilization records are as follows: In Illinois 21,000
boys w orked on th e farm s; in C o n n ecticu t 10,000 boys helped care for th e la rg e st
acreage of food crops in th e h isto ry of th e S ta te ; in N ew Y ork S ta te 12,000
m em bers rendered invalu ab le service on th e farm s; in In d ia n a 15,000 boys were
se n t to th e farm .17
In some States farm training camps or demonstration farms were
established in conjunction with the State agricultural college, where
the boys were given short intensive instruction in farm work before
they were put to work; in other States the boys were sent without
preliminary instruction directly to the farms where their services
were most needed.
Postwar Activities
the armistice, the work o f the United States Employment
Service bearing directly upon war production was immediately dis
continued. Recruiting and distribution of unskilled labor were
stopped, and the regulations concerning the hiring of workers were
withdrawn. Also the special organizations, such as the Public Service
Reserve, Boys’ Working Reserve, and others, were dropped. Very
soon the problem became not one of finding workers but of finding
jobs for the demobilized service men and the workers thrown out of
employment by the sudden stoppage of war production.
A fter
T he W ar D e p a rtm e n t a n d th e W ar In d u strie s B oard called upon th e U nited
S tates E m p lo y m en t Service fo r in fo rm atio n ab so lu tely necessary in ord er th a t
c o n tracts for w ar m aterials m ig h t be c u rtailed o r canceled a n d th e A rm y dem obi
lized w ith th e least possible d an g er of serious u n em p lo y m en t du rin g th e period
of reco n stru ctio n . T o t h a t end, in s tru c tio n s w ere issued on N ovem ber 20, 1918,
to all F ed eral directors of th e em p lo y m en t service, u n d e r th e te rm s of w hich a
survey in a b o u t 122 selected in d u stria l cen ters w as u n d e rta k e n in cooperation
w ith th e com m unity lab o r boards, a n d a sta te m e n t of lab o r conditions in th o se
in d u strial centers teleg rap h ed each w eek to th e W ar In d u strie s B oard. T h e
inform ation contained in th ese telegram s w as of v alue in th e d eterm in a tio n of
questions relatin g to th e effect of cancellation of w ar co n tra c ts upon th e lab o r
m a rk e t.18
17 United States Employment Service. Annual report of the director general for 1918, p. 11.
18 United States Employment Service. Annual report of the director general for 1919, p. 18.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[19]
20
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
To meet the actual problem of placement “ bureaus for returning
soldiers and sailors” were established locally through joint action of
the Federal, State, and municipal employment services, the Federal
Departments of War, Navy, and Agriculture, _the Red Cross, the
Council of National Defense, and the many public service and welfare
agencies. Over 2,000 of these bureaus were founded and through
them placement was carried on locally.
This work was progressing satisfactorily when, in March, 1919, the
failure of a deficiency appropriation bill left the United States Em
ployment Service practically without funds. Immediate reduction to
to a skeleton organization took place, but through private contribu
tions and the cooperation of organized forces _already _engaged in
placement work, most of the offices were maintained until the end of
the fiscal year, on June 30.
The appropriation granted the United States Employment Service
for the fiscal year 1919-20 was insufficient to maintain any field
organization.
A ccordingly, on O ctober 10, th e em plo y m en t offices up to t h a t tim e o p erated
by th e service w ere tu rn e d over to th e several S ta te s a n d m un icip alities in w hich
th e y h ad been m ain ta in e d , or, w here th is w as n o t possible, th e y w ere ab an d o n ed .
T h e system of cooperation w ith th e S ta te s a n d m un icip alities w hich h a d been
established w as, how ever, m a in ta in e d a n d developed. T h e official h ead of th e
S ta te em ploym en t service, or, w here a S ta te service did n o t exist, th e au th o rized
rep resen tativ e of a local em p lo y m en t b u reau , becam e th e F ed eral d irecto r of th e
U n ited S ta te s E m p lo y m en t Service a t th e nom in al salary of a do llar a y ea r; th e
em p loym ent offices successively tu rn e d over to th e co n tro l of th e S ta te or local
a u th o rity carried w ith th e m th e fu rn itu re a n d eq u ip m en t, to g e th e r w ith th e
fran k in g privilege a n d such b lan k s a n d form s as w ere deem ed necessary to facili
ta te th e transm issio n to th e W ashington office of u niform re p o rts; a n d finally, a
sum of m oney w as a llo tte d to each of th e S ta te s in w hich a coo p eratin g service
w as m ain tain ed to pro v id e for th e a d d itio n a l clerical service w hich such coopera
tio n en tailed .19
With the addition of its harvest labor and juvenile placement work,
that statement covers the status of the United States Employment
Service since that time.
Of the significance of the war-time organization in the development
of the public employment office movement, the Russell Sage Founda
tion says:
N o tw ith stan d in g th e gigantic h an d ica p s w hich th e service encountered, it has
n o t been w ith o u t its positive co n trib u tio n s. In th e first place, it h as given to
th e people of th is co u n try som ething of a n in sig h t in to th e fu n ctio n a n d possi
bilities n o t only of local em p lo y m en t offices b u t also of a n ation-w ide service.
* * * P a rtic u la rly to th e em ployees engaged in th e S ta te a n d c ity offices has
th e experience of th e U n ited S ta te s E m p lo y m en t Service given a b ro ad er vision
of th e ir w ork. I t h as in stilled in th e m new ideals a n d asp iratio n s. In th e second
place, th e service h as done m uch to p o in t th e w ay to w ard b e tte r a d m in istra tio n
of public em ploym en t offices.20
Present Organization and Activities of State Services
C o n t r o l and direction of the employment service throughout the
State are lodged in a special bureau administered by a superintendent
or a director in four States: California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Penn
sylvania. Administration of the employment service is assigned to
19 United States Employment Service. Annual report of the director general for 1920, p. 6.
20 Harrison, Shelby, and associates: Public Employment Offices. New York, Russell Sage Foun
dation, 1924, p. 134.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[20 ]
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
21
bureaus which have other duties as well in Massachusetts, New York,
and Ohio, while in Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin direction of the
State service is assigned to one member of the industrial commission.
The work of placing women in Indiana has been transferred to the
department of women and children of the industrial board, and is
regulated by the director of that department. In some instances,
Iowa and Oklahoma for example, there is no central direction, and
in others, as Connecticut and Virginia, supervision of the employment
offices comes directly under the office of the commissioner of labor.
The commissioner of labor of Virginia delegates one of his staff to
supervise employment work.
In the small offices the staff consists usually of a director and a
clerk. The offices in Maine and New Hampshire have only a director,
and in other instances the clerk is a part-time worker who has other
duties in the department of labor. Illinois, Massachusetts, and New
York, all of which have large organizations, average eight employees
per office, although Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin,
which also have an extensive system, operate with much smaller staffs.
The table following shows the number of State offices in each of the
24 States operating a State service; the number of employees in the
service and the minimum and maximum salaries paid; the amount
of State funds appropriated for the support of the State employment
service; the amount of other public funds—city, county, and Federal—
available; and the total annual expenditures for the latest completed
fiscal year. Fiscal years are not uniform throughout the various
States. The commissioner of labor of Missouri was unable to report
the total amount of money used in the operation of the three offices
in that State, because expenditures are met out of the general fund
available for the use of the department of labor and industrial inspec
tion, and a detailed statement of the division of the fund for separate
activities can not be given.
The amount available for State employment offices through city
and county governments represents in some cases only actual money
appropriated; in other cases it covers money and, in addition, the
estimated value of quarters, telephone service, light, and other office
maintenance contributed to or shared with the State employment
bureau by the local government.
The total annual expenditure of a little more than one and a quarter
million dollars covers 148 offices in 23 States, as Missouri is not in
cluded in the total. Since the entire appropriation for the Missouri
Department of Labor and Industrial Inspection is less than $52,000
per year, however, the amount available for the State employment
service probably would not increase the total expenditure materially.
The Portland (Me.) office is operated under the supervision of the
State department of labor and industry,_but without actual money
expense to the State, as the salary of the placement clerk is paid by
the United States Employment Service, and office space, light, and
heat are contributed by the State chamber of commerce. The State
department of labor is, however, the responsible directing medium.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
t2l]
22
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
N U M B E R OF STATE E M P L O Y M E N T OFFICES IN EACH STATE, N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y
EES SALARY R A N GE, A M O U NT OF PU BLIC F U N D S A P P R O P R IA T E D BY ST A T E ,
CITY CO U N TY , A N D F E D E R A L G O V E R N M E N T S, A N D TOTAL A N N U A L E X P E N D I
TU RE S, BY STATES
Num N um
ber of ber of
emoffices
in State ployees
service
State
Arkansas
(dflli forma
(Tnn nppt,ip]11,
Til i noi.S
Indiana_______ Tnwa.
TCansa.s
Mai t ip ,
ATassa eh 11 setts
Mi ehi pan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
N pw Hampshire
New Jersey
New Vnrk
North Carolina.
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pen nsyl va n i a
P h od e Tsi an d
Virginia
\Ve,st Virginia
Wisconsin__
______
Total___
_. -
_
Salary range
5
27
16
109
15
4
7
1
34
15
22
$1, 800-$l, 860
1, 500- 3, 600
1, 000- 2, 500
1. 500- 3, 300
1, 200- 4,000
1, 800
1,200- 1,800
1, 400
960- 2, 820
L 600
1, 620- 2,100
1,200
1, 500
3, 000
4, 250
1, 800
3, 000
1, 500
6,000
li 500
10
3
1
22
96
8
69
5
58
2
8
2
28
151
557
5
H
8
20
5
2
5
1
4
10
3
3
1
8
11
6
13
4
13
1
3
1
1
Other public funds
9609601, 500' 840. 1, 2001, 020li 200*
480- 3, 200
State
funds ap
propriated
$2, 400
90, 835
48,114
266, 080
25, 000
3. 600
9,600
72, 500
i 32, 758
35, 350
City
Total
annual
expendi
tures
County Federal
$600
1,320
2, 760
1, 800
1,400
4,881
1, 620
1, 620
$4, 260
93, 710
50,000
266, 080
32, 608
6, 360
15, 116
1,400
72,159
34, 378
44, 450
638
1.485
960
5, 460
5, 280
2, 580
1, 500
1.440
8, 300
900
1. 680
1, 440
2,640
4, 123
3, 733
95, 844
171, 560
17, 320
156, 824
10, 566
102,800
4, 900
11, 780
3 4, 440
58, 081
50, 926
1, 262, 492
$1, 860
$6. 050
7, 479
2, 000
3,800
36, 680 43, 500
166, 280
9,140 2 5, 600
86, 960 68, 364
600
9, 088
100,000
4,000
2, 500
7, 600
3,000
50,000 2 16,650
1, 059, 685
157,081
1 Estimated—in general departmental appropriation.
2 City and county.
3 Estimated—office recently established; maintenance cost not yet available
4 Part time.
Placement Procedure
S e p a r a t e accomodations for male and female applicants are re
quired by law in most cases, and are furnished in all cases. Usually
separate entrances are provided for women. The kind of quarters
provided for public employment offices and their location have been
matters of discussion and dispute from the beginning of the move
ment. In the early days it was generally felt that the entire project
was threatened by the exceedingly unattractive quarters and loca
tions which the offices occupied. Meager appropriations made it
impossible, usually, to provide more suitable accommodations. This
phase is passing. Assignment to quarters in city halls and county
court houses has frequently solved the problem of accessible location,
although in such quarters the matter of crowding is not always
relieved. Illinois has recently made a special effort to improve the
physical aspects of the employment offices, with the result, as stated
by the director, that—
In Illinois to -d ay we h av e all of our offices on th e ground floor of
located close to th e em p lo y m en t d istricts, a n d we h a v e nice fu rn itu re .
fine q u arters, well d ecorated, a n d th e y are offices t h a t are a cred it to
of Illinois. We h av e fo u n d t h a t by im proving th e conditions we h av e
th e service over 50 p er c en t.21
buildings
W e have
th e S ta te
increased
In Wisconsin, quarters are furnished and maintained by the local
community, whether city, town, or county, in which, by agreement,
21 U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 501, p. 90.
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the State service establishes an office. Quarters must be approved
as suitable by the industrial commission.
In addition to division into men’s and women’s departments, some
offices segregate juvenile workers, and further subdivide their men’s
and women’s departments into skilled and unskilled labor. Large
general offices serving a wide clientele usually subdivide as closely
as the size of the staff permits, creating special sections for common
labor, farm labor, mechanical, manufacturing, clerical, technical, and
professional workers, and so on. Occasionally branch offices are
operated to serve a single class. The Chicago office, for example,
handles unskilled labor chiefly through a branch office, thus leaving
the other offices freer to care for the skilled and semiskilled. Branch
offices in New York City and Chicago take care of negro workers, and
the Philadelphia employment office has a special division for Negroes.
An applicant for work generally is received first at a central desk
where he registers. After it is learned from his registration card
what kind of work he is applying for, he is referred to the proper
division. Sometimes, as in the Massachusetts State employment
office in Boston, an employee is specially designated to act as “ floorman” or reception clerk, to guide and dispatch applicants to the
proper interviewers.
The applicant is then interviewed by the person in charge of the
section handling the kind of work he desires. The interviewer, or
examiner, as he is variously called, learns in detail the applicant’s
experience and qualifications, and all other pertinent information
which will be helpful in placing the applicant successfully.
Methods of establishing contacts with employers depend necessarily
on conditions—the size of the staff, the time available for personal
solicitation on the part of the superintendent or other staff officer, the
amount of money provided for publicity, and other considerations.
Soliciting business by means of personal visits or by telephone is
considered a vital part of employment work by most offices. Dif
ferent plans are adopted. Some superintendents devote the last days
of the week, when work in the office slackens, to promotion activities,
visiting employers in the interest of the public placement agency.
The Chicago office employs a solicitor for that purpose. The
Columbus, Ohio, office makes a point of getting in touch with new
establishments moving into the city, first by letter and later by
personal visits, to offer the service of the organization in furnishing
workers. The Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries
reports an increase of 50 per cent in tne amount of business done by
the mercantile office in Boston in 1928 resulting from special efforts
made to bring the office to the attention of employers.
F rom each of th e offices reg istra rs h av e been sen t o u t reg u larly to call upon
em ployers for th e purpose of a c q u ain tin g th e m w ith th e w ork of th e offices, an d
th ro u g h ad v ertisin g a n d circu lar le tte rs a n en d eav o r has been m ad e to secure
a n increase in th e n u m b er of orders from em ployers.22
The employment services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois issue a
monthly bulletin to employers, listing the number and qualifications
of available workers. New Jersey publishes a similar bulletin every
two weeks. By this means especial emphasis is placed upon the
higher-grade skilled, technical, and professional workers, and reports
22 Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
indicate that the method is successful. The Ohio service finds that
its opportunities are becoming greater each year, as because of its
publicity and promotion efforts “ additional employers each succeed
ing year” turn to the State service to fill their need of workers.
Employers often refer to the local State office the workers whom they
release. It is occasionally necessary for the public employment
offices to find persons to fill specific jobs at their disposal. This is
done through advertising and circularizing other agencies.
Particular effort is being made by the most active offices to expand
beyond the field of common and domestic labor into placement of
higher-grade workers. Boston has a branch office serving mer
cantile interests exclusively, and the New York bureau of employ
ment has recently established in each of its offices a special service for
the placement of teachers. While the New York City offices have
not been very successful in making contacts with employers in the
commercial and professional fields, the “ up-State offices obtain a
comparatively large number of positions for professional and technical
workers at good salaries.” 23 The Ohio service reports that although
employment as a whole was at low ebb during 1927-28, “ the highergrade placements have not only maintained their position but have
shown a decided increase.” 24
Michigan has recently undertaken an experiment “to dissipate the
feeling that our bureaus are a charitable institution for the downand-outs.” Applicants are charged $1 for registration, which en
titles them to help from the bureau at any time over a period of
one year. This plan, it is felt, will attract the patronage of the better
class of clerical and mechanical workers, whose attitude toward the
State service has been that “anything that is given free has something
the matter with it.” 25
Advisory Boards
T h e c it y of Milwaukee, Wis., met an unemployment emergency in
1911 by^ opening a municipal employment agency created by the
joint action and financial support of the city, the county (Milwaukee
County), and organized workers and employers. The committee
selected by these various bodies continued to administer the office
until 1912, when the Milwaukee office merged with the Wisconsin
State employment system. The committee continued, however, in
the capacity of advisory council. Following the example set by
Milwaukee, because of the effectiveness of the plan, the State adopted
the policy of creating advisory councils similarly composed in each
city in which State offices were located.
As at present constituted, the citizens’ committee of Milwaukee
has 20 members, the Milwaukee city council, Milwaukee County, the
Federated Trades Council, and the Association of Commerce, each
being represented by five members of its own choosing. The com
mittee selects its chairman and vice chairman from its membership,
and the superintendent of the Milwaukee employment office serves
as secretary. Meetings are held monthly, at which the office accounts
are audited, current work is discussed and criticized, and plans and
decisions are made.
23 U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 479, p. 15.
24 Ohio Department of Industrial Relations. Seventh annual report, 1928, p. 37.
26 Statement of Eugene J. Brock. (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 478, p. 3.)
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25
By v irtu e of th e interests, th e prestige a n d th e business a b ility rep resen ted in
its personnel, as well as by th e unflagging a p p licatio n of its m em bers to th eir
task , th e citizens’ com m ittee of M ilw aukee h as carried on n o t m erely a n im p a rtia l
b u t also a businesslike a n d confidence-inspiring m an ag e m en t of its p ublic em ploy
m en t office. T he pow er of th e com m ittee to w ith h o ld or secure a p p ro p riatio n s
from th e c ity an d co u n ty h as m ade fo r a n a d m in istra tio n free from p o litical or
o th er p a rtisa n dom inance a n d on th e w hole unassailable. 26
The New York law of 1914 governing public employment offices
made mandatory the creation of local advisory boards in connection
with State offices. That law has since been repealed, but some of
the local committees continue to function. They are advisory bodies
solely, and represent local organizations of employers, workers, and
other persons interested in the movement.
The Illinois law provides for both State and local advisory boards,
but only the State body is active. I t is called the general advisory
board and is composed of five nonsalaried persons appointed by the
governor, two to represent employers, two to represent organized
labor, and one to represent the public. This fifth member is selected
from a list of persons submitted by the other four. The purpose of the
board is to make the Illinois employment offices more effective by
conferring with superintendents on the best methods of operation,
and by acquainting employers and workers with the service. It also
recommends desirable legislation bearing upon the service.
Local advisory committees as provided by law are created in con
nection with the State employment service in Pennsylvania also.
The law provides for six members, to be appointed by the secretary
of labor and industry, one of whom shall be a woman. Of the six
members, one is to represent unorganized employers and one unor
ganized labor. These committees, the department states, “enable
both the bureau and the department to find out the opinion of any
given industry or of persons interested in a given industry with
reference to any projected action. They further enable the depart
ment to secure sound advice on possible methods of extending its
influence.” 27
Ohio, in a less formal way, is using the representative advisory
council plan of making contacts between the employment offices and
the public they are designed to serve. Michigan has recently insti
tuted the same plan in an effort to popularize its public employment
service.
Federal Participation
E x c e p t in connection with seasonal farm labor, in which the United
States Employment Service acts as a placement agency, the relation
of the Federal Government to the various public employment services
is largely by way of subsidies to assist their operation. A skeleton
organization of the United States Employment Service of the Depart
ment of Labor, built up during the war, has been maintained, which
functions under an annual appropriation of about $200,000.
The plan of cooperation which has been developed between the
United States Employment Servioe and the various State systems
involves the appointment of a State official, usually the head of the
28 Harrison, Shelby and associates: Public Employment Offices. N ew York, Kussell Sage Foundation,
1924, p. 214.
27 Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Special bulletin No. 25, p 26.
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State service, to serve as Federal director for the State at a salary
of $1 a year; the use by the State offices of standard record forms
provided by the Federal office; and the grant to the State of the
franking privilege in matters bearing directly upon placement. Where
necessary the service pays, wholly or in part, the salary of employees
needed to carry on its work where State funds are not sufficient.
Thus placement clerks and examiners in offices in Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Iowa, and other States are actually on
the pay roll of the United States Employment Service and are engaged
in work for both the State and the Federal services.
Iowa affords a good illustration of the cooperative make-up of
many public employment office systems. There are two offices in
the State—one at Des Moines and one at Sioux City. The superin
tendent in each case is appointed and paid by the State. Quarters
for the Des Moines office are furnished by the Polk County commis
sioners; for the Sioux City office, by the city council. Each office is
able to add a special examiner to its staff through the allocation of
funds from the United States Employment Service to pay their
salaries.
Similar financial assistance is given municipal agencies, several of
which are operated jointly as Federal-municipal undertakings inde
pendent of the State government. Knoxville, Tenn., Portland and
other Oregon cities, and Atlanta, Ga., are cases in point. In those
States there is no State system. However, Federal cooperation may
be extended to a municipal agency which is not identified with the
organization in its State, as the case of Westfield, Mass., illustrates.
Largely for the purpose of promoting uniformity in records and
reports, standard forms and the franking privilege are given as well
to certain civic and social service organizations which are maintain
ing free employment bureaus.
Within the limits imposed by its construction, the United States
Employment Service acts as a clearing house through and for its
various cooperating agencies, and it issues monthly and distributes
to those agencies the Industrial Employment Information Bulletin.
This Bulletin contains current information on the industrial employ
ment situation gathered from authoritative local sources, and com
ment on “ items which affect employment tendencies, possibilities,
and developments. ”
Farm Labor
T h e United States Employment Service has kept and expanded
the machinery for recruiting and distributing harvest labor which it
built up during the war. There are now 10 permanent field offices
in addition to the original main office at Kansas City, Mo. These
are located at Fort Worth, San Antonio, and El Paso, Tex.; Shreve
port, La.; Denver, Colo.; Sioux City, Iowa; Sioux Falls, S. Dak.;
Fargo, N. Dak.; Spokane, Wash.; and Portland, Oreg.
T he farm lab o r division fu n ctio n s p ractically th e e n tire y ear in order to ta k e
care of th e seasonal dem ands of th e several ag ricu ltu ra l sections of th e co u n try .
Its first field of o p eratio n is in th e 60,000-acre stra w b e rry a re a of M issouri a n d
A rkansas. S traw b erry pickers are rec ru ite d from o u tside th e te rrito ry , as v ery
few pickers are av ailab le locally. In order t h a t th e service m ay fu n ctio n w ith
m axim um efficiency a n d d irect its w ork intellig en tly , special agencies, u n d er
th e direction of th e field director, m ad e a survey of lab o r req u irem en ts for th e
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season. N ew spapers, posters, a n d bulletin s giving in fo rm atio n as to th e needs
of th e are a were of invaluab le assistance in re cru itin g stra w b e rry pickers.
* * * Following th e straw b erry h arv est, th e n ex t field of o p eratio n is th e
w heat h arv est in Texas, O klahom a, a n d K ansas, co n tin u in g n o rth w a rd to N o rth
D akota. T he req u irem en ts of th e w h eat area in th e inlan d te rrito ry of W ash
ington an d Oregon, as well as Id ah o a n d M o n tan a, are ta k e n care of b y th e
a ssistan t director, w ith h e a d q u a rte rs a t Spokane, W ash.
* * * T he gathering of th e c o tto n crop p resen ts m an y com plicated an d
in tric a te problem s for th e farm -lab o r division. * * * T exas being th e m ost
im p o rta n t cotton-grow ing S tate, th e farm -lab o r division h as been developed in
t h a t S ta te to a higher degree of efficiency th a n in a n y of th e o th e r cotton-grow ing
S tates. * * * W here th e farm -labor division is in o p eratio n in c o tto n
grow ing S tates, it is no longer necessary for th e grow ers to leav e th e ir p la n ta tio n s
a n d go to lab o r centers for th e req u ired help, as th e ir req u est b y le tte r o r te le
phone is given im m ediate a tte n tio n . By special a rran g em en ts m ad e w ith a u to
mobile tra n sp o rta tio n com panies, th e pickers a re d isp atch ed to th e p o in ts w here
needed. T he cost of tra n sp o rta tio n is freq u en tly ad v an ced by th e c o tto n grow
ers an d refunded to th em by th e pickers as i t is earned.
* * * T h e director of th e farm -lab o r division m akes th e following re p o rt
for th e y ear u n d er review (1928) :
M en recru ited for seasonal h a rv e stin g ---------------------------- 541, 280
M en directed to general farm w o rk -------------------------------18, 291
T o ta l___________________________________________
559, 571
T he m oney expended to co n d u ct th e farm -lab o r division was approxim ately
$65,000, m aking a per c a p ita cost of a b o u t 12 cents. 28
Placement of farm hands by the Federal service has been incidental
to its primary function of the recruiting and interstate distribution
of seasonal labor. Supplying farmers with permanent help is gen
erally regarded as a local obligation, which is discharged by the State
offices so far as possible. Each State office in Pennsylvania makes a
special effort to furnish farm labor for the farms in its district.
In a nu m b er of th e S ta te offices one d ay of each w eek h as been se t aside as
farm lab o r day, selected according to th e custom s of th e locality, on w hich day
farm ers seeking help an d farm laborers seeking em p lo y m en t can m eet a t th e
S tate em ploym ent offices for interview s an d for th e m aking of w orking agree
m ents. In th is effort to fu rn ish lab o r to th e farm er, th e S ta te em plo y m en t offices
have h a d th e com plete a n d th o ro u g h cooperation of th e local granges of th e
P ennsylvania S ta te G range.29
The agricultural division of the Illinois offices reports a large fol
lowing among the farming interests of the State-, and the latest
available report of the New York Department of Labor (1928)
states that “ although there was a decreased demand for harvest
labor, due to the return to the rural sections of idle factory hands,
a large number of experienced general farm hands and dairymen
were supplied to up-State farmers.” 30
Juvenile Placement
P l a c e m e n t work in its relation to workers between the ages of
14 and 21 years, in so far as it has developed as a separate undertaking,
is closely allied to the vocational guidance movement. For the most
part it is carried on by city school boards through their vocational
guidance departments or their continuation schools. It is, therefore,
28 U . S. Department of Labor.
Annual report of the Secretary of Labor for year ending June 30, 1929
Pennsylvania Department of Labor apd Industry. Special bulletin No. 25, p. 26.
so New York Department of Labor. Annual report,1928, p. 210.
^*29
29334°—31------3
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
a widely scattered movement functioning wholly within the com
munity.
In three States, however—New Jersey, New York, and Wiscon
sin—juvenile placement is an activity of the State labor body;
the Department of Labor of New Jersey and of New York, and the
Industrial Commission of Wisconsin. In New Jersey and New York
the division of employment of the department is the agency doing
that specialized work; in Wisconsin it comes directly under the indus
trial commission but is correlated with the employment service. New
Jersey has only one juvenile placement office, located at Jersey City.
While there are four such organizations in Wisconsin, only one, that
at Milwaukee, is run by the State. The others are municipal enter
prises. New York has five branch offices operating through the con
tinuation schools in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, and
Syracuse.
Juvenile placement officers are frequently, perhaps generally,
vocational counsellors who use vocational-guidance technique in
dealing with young applicants for work. At the office of the bureau
of employment of the New Jersey Department of Labor in Jersey
City, the supervisor of vocational placement of the Jersey City
board of education, acting jointly with the employment service,
serves as vocational counsellor. The department in its annual report
for 1929 points particularly to the fact that through the advice of the
Jersey City office 351 boys and 258 girls who had applied, for jobs
returned to school. Moreover:
As ag ain st th e u su al experience of th e ju n io r, unaid ed in his ap p ro ach to
in d u stry , of changing jo b s th re e or fo u r tim es in th e first y ear, th e b u reau was
required to find m ore th a n one jo b for only 7 p e r cen t of th o se placed. T he
value of th is bu reau is show n p a rtic u la rly by th e record of th e v o catio n al choices
of th e ap p lican ts— 161 h a d no v o catio n al ob jectiv e of a n y k ind, 419 h a d m ade
som e choice b u t changed on th e advice of th e counsellors, a n d 290 w ere placed
a t th e occupatio n th e y h a d selected.
The Milwaukee office also stresses vocational advisement and seeks
to further the child’s schooling wherever possible.
Equal in importance to determining the child’s bent and guiding
him along the lines indicated by it is knowdedge of the nature and
conditions attending the w'ork in which the child is placed. In New
York—
I t is th e p ractice of th e em p lo y m en t division of th e S ta te d e p a rtm e n t of
lab o r n o t only to v isit every place of em p lo y m en t in w hich a jo b h as been ob
tain ed for a boy or a girl, b u t to m ak e a com plete re p o rt of th e visit. T he
em ployer’s record card, as i t is called, co n tain s all of th e in fo rm atio n necessary
a b o u t w orking conditions fo r boys a n d girls to enable th e p lace m en t w orker
to fit th e rig h t child to th e job. E ach juven ile occu p atio n in t h a t p a rtic u la r
place of em ploym en t is described a n d analyzed. 31
The third phase of employment service to young workers, and
one of the most important, is following up the child after he goes
to work. Without this check, as has been said, “ placement of
juniors easily becomes exploitation.” Follow-up work by the
Milwaukee office “ is done through monthly evening office hours
when children who have been placed in jobs are given an opportunity
to report; through visits to employers and parents, and conferences
with representatives of agencies and schools.” 32
31 Statement of Richard A. Flinn. (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 479, p. 108.)
32 Wisconsin Industrial Commission. Biennial report, 1924-1926, p. 29.
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In New York follow-up letters are sent out at regular intervals,
and the child is encouraged to return to the placement office from
time to time for advice and help. Placement officers interview
and visit with the children at the continuation schools on their
school days. If a child complains about his work or working
conditions, the employer is visited with a view to adjusting the
difficulty.
Continued interest in the child after he goes_ to work is further
promoted by the local junior advisory committees consisting ^ of
representatives of the schools, employees, employers, and childwelfare organizations.
Particular care is taken in selecting jobs for young workers to see
that conditions with regard to accident hazards are satisfactory.
The New York division of employment states that “ more than
25,000 positions are obtained annually for boys and girls, and
there are few, if any, cases in which these children have been injured
on the job which our placement workers have selected for them.’’ 33
The junior division of the United States Employment Service
carries on cooperative relations with juvenile placement offices
through the State service in New Jersey and Wisconsin, and through
the school board or other local agency in 14 other States.34 Eleven
cities in California conduct placement offices for young workers;
there are two each in Massachusetts and Minnesota, while the
work in the other States is confined to a single city. The Federal
service, in the interest of uniformity, issues record and report forms
to be used by the cooperating offices. Moreover, it keeps in touch
with the movement throughout the country, disseminates infor
mation concerning it, and tries to stimulate and promote the effort
to secure intelligent placement of young workers in their first jobs.
Cities other than those with which the United States Employment
Service deals, notably Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and
Gary (Ind.) are doing active work in juvenile placement through
their school systems, as part of their vocational-guidance programs.
Placement in these instances is essentially a part of the vocationalguidance movement and is in reality inseparable from it.
Placement of Handicapped Workers
R e s p o n s i b i l i t y for securing work for the handicapped and disabled,
so far as it is met at all by governmental means, is divided between
the public employment offices and the rehabilitation agencies. “ Re
habilitation by placement” and “ employment training” are two
methods used in the return to industry of both veterans and disabled
civilians under the State and Federal rehabilitation programs. Both
methods, of course, involve securing a job for the trainee. To that
extent the rehabilitation services are employment services.
Then, too, after the beneficiary of the rehabilitation service is de
clared. rehabilitated, the responsibility of at least assisting him to find
a job remains. Discharge of this responsibility is attempted in
various ways. The Veterans’ Bureau established an employment
service, but its procedure is largely that of making contacts with
as Statement of Richard A. Flinn. (IT. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 479, p. 110.)
s* California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee.
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other agencies which do the actual placement. In the civilian re
habilitation field, the task of finding a job for the trainee seems to be
assumed to a large extent by the rehabilitation agent who handled
the case, and hence is largely individual effort. Placement after the
course of training is completed is generally conceded to be the weakest
point in the rehabilitation service at present. That does not, how
ever, apply to placement work where the job secured is itself the
means used to rehabilitate the disabled worker.
Close and effective cooperation exists between the rehabilitation
and the employment services in Pennsylvania, where both agencies
are bureaus of the State department of labor and industry; in New
Jersey, where both occupy the same quarters in the principal indus
trial centers of the State and are to some extent under the same
direction; and in Minnesota, where the placement agent of the State
division of reeducation is assigned to the Minneapolis office of the
State employment service and works directly in conjunction with it.
Through the reciprocation of effort practiced in Pennsylvania, not
only are the rehabilitants placed in employment, but applicants for
work who are in need of rehabilitation may be referred to that bureau
for the help it can give in overcoming their handicaps and making
better employment objectives attainable.
Two States have an employment service for persons with a par
ticular kind of disability. The division of the deaf of the Industrial
Commission of Minnesota, and the bureau of labor for the deaf of the
North Carolina Department of Labor and Printing function primarily
as placement agencies for the hard of hearing. Each employs one
full-time worker. Much work is done in Minnesota through the
division of the deaf and the division of reeducation in the way of
retraining deafened employees in vocations in which the disability
will not be an occupational handicap. The division is also constantly
alert to prove the employability of deaf persons and to increase their
opportunities for employment. From information received from em
ployers throughout the State it has compiled a list of occupations
which the deaf can fdl acceptably. Especial attention is given to
follow-up after placement, as the division feels that—
I t is of p a ra m o u n t im p o rtan ce t h a t th e deaf w orker p laced in a position is
securely en tren ch ed before being com pelled to rely upon his or h er ow n in itia tiv e
a n d resources. T herefore i t h as been o u r custom to keep a w atch fu l eye on th e
progress being m ade by su ch em ployees, to advise a n d assist in stim u la tin g con
fidence in case of a n y sign of falterin g , a n d to co n su lt w ith th e em ployer from
tim e to tim e, because th e m a tte r' of lab o r tu rn o v e r am ong such w orkers is of
v ita l im p o rtan ce w hen endeavoring to estab lish a stab le m a rk e t for th e sale of
th is class of labor. W hen we are sure t h a t such a w orker is satisfied w ith his
position a n d th e em ployer is satisfied w ith his w ork, th e n we feel t h a t p a rtic u la r
problem has been solved.35
Before the establishment of the bureau of labor for the deaf in
North Carolina in 1923, deaf persons needing work were wholly at a
loss in making contacts which would help them find jobs. The State
department of labor and printing was unable to assist them, not, it
is pointed out, for lack of interest in them, “ but owing to_ lack of
understanding of their ability and needs.” By emphasizing and
reiterating the capability and employability of persons thus handi35 Minnesota Industrial Commission.
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capped, the bureau has created new opportunities for them and
relieved unemployment among them. The bureau reports that the
"positions in which the deaf have been placed are on the farms, in
building construction, domestic science, tobacco, textile, and furni
ture manufacturing plants, slioemaking establishments, painting,
teaching, printing, and one or two other classifications.” 36
Sections for caring for handicapped applicants are found in the
Chicago and the Milwaukee public employment offices. Generally
speaking, however, the many semipublic social service organizations
are more active and more successful in securing jobs for disabled
workers than are the governmental agencies. These organizations
include the American Legion, the Institute for Crippled and Disabled,
the National Tuberculosis Association, the National Society for the
Prevention of Blindness, etc., with their various local branches and
affiliated agencies.
Emergency Machinery
S e v e r a l times within the past 15 years periods of acute unemploy
ment have called for emergency action by local, State, and national
authorities. The immediate industrial effect in this country in 1 9 1 4 15 of the war in Europe was to slow production down to a point where
unemployment became a problem. The problem at that time was
met locally, chiefly by "mayor’s committees” in the principal indus
trial cities which, through coordination of various measures of dis
tribution, stabilization, and so on, succeeded in tiding over the
temporary depression.
Unemployment following the boom years of the war was far more
widespread than the earlier dislocation, and reached proportions
which resulted in the calling of the President’s Conference on Unem
ployment in September, 1921. Again, in 1928 and 1929, various
cities took local action to meet a growing menace of unemployment,
and governors of several States called conferences to devise plans
for dealing with the problem. By the latter part of 1930 the situation
had once more reached the point where national action was thought
necessary, and the President appointed a committee of Government
officials to formulate plans for nation-wide effort.
Organization, procedure, and plans of both national movements
were essentially the same. The position was taken that the im
mediate relief of the unemployed was a community problem, responsi
bility for which rested with mayors and other local authorities. The
1 9 3 0 committee on unemployment divided the country into districts
and put in charge of the work of coordinating local efforts Col. Arthur
Woods, of New York, who had served in the same capacity in 1 9 2 1 .
In its more general aspect, the work of the committee has run
along lines of prevention of unemployment through stabilization and
education, and of promoting and organizing public works and stimu
lating building on the part of corporations and the public. As ex
pressed by the New York Committee on Employment Planning, in
its preliminary report to the governor, the function of the State and
Federal agencies working on the problem is to deal with it "not
primarily from the standpoint of immediate relief but more from the
26 North Carolina Department of Labor and Printing.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3 1 ]
Twenty-fifth report, 1924-1926, p. 295.
32
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
standpoint of discussing practices that will help to stabilize
employment.”
Steps looking toward immediate relief have included surveys to
determine the extent of unemployment, and the registration of work
ers who are out of work and looking for jobs. Registration has been
accomplished in a number of cities through the cooperation of many
agencies. Police officers have made a direct canvass; in some cities
the schools and the teachers have been used, in others, school build
ings, police and fire stations have been made the place of registration
with social workers and volunteers doing the clerical work. Emer
gency placement committees have been organized in nearly every
city, which undertake to find temporary jobs for the registrants, and
to that end keep up an active campaign for short-time work and
odd jobs.
New York City established a municipal employment bureau in the
summer of 1930 which registered unemployed workers looking for
work, and placed them in temporary or permanent jobs so far as
jobs could be found for them.
One of the functions of both State and Federal emergency com
mittees is to strengthen the public employment offices and to widen
their fields through correlation and centralization of effort. Em
ployer members of the State committees are relied upon to stimulate
interest in the public agencies among employers who have jobs at
their disposal.
Cincinnati, Ohio, anticipated the present emergency by creating,
in 1928, a “permanent committee on stabilizing employment.” Its
program and procedure are practically what has now been adopted
and undertaken by nearly every city in the country affected by the
present depression. Subcommittees into which the Cincinnati com
mittee divided concerned themselves with State-city employment
exchanges; continuous employment; temporary employment; public
work; cooperation of social agencies; budget and finance; State and
national cooperation; transients;fact-finding; publicity and education.
An employment census was taken, and with accurate data as to
where and to what extent unemployment existed, the subcommittee on
temporary employment set about to “take up the slack” as much as
possible pending more constructive action. This subcommittee,
composed of 100 members representing various community groups
and civic organizations, found temporary jobs for a large number of
idle workers.
After two years of coordinated effort through the subcommittee on
State agencies it is reported that “the improvement in and the
increased prestige of the State-city employment bureau have enabled
that agency to have a greater part in the placement of the unem
ployed than they have ever had before.” 37
One of the outstanding consequences of the President’s conference
of 1921 was the movement for a national system of employment
exchanges. This movement has found expression in bills which have
been introduced into each successive Congress since then.
37 National Municipal Review, M ay, 1930, pp. 289-292: How Cincinnati M et the Unemployment Crisis,
by C. O. Sherrill and Fred Hoehler.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3 2 ]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
33
U n em p lo y m en t in B uffalo, N. Y ., in N ovem ber, 1930, and
C om parison W ith N ovem ber, 1929
By F r e d e r i c k E. C r o x t o n , C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y ,
and F red
D e p a r t m e n t o f I n d u s t r ia l R e l a t io n s o f O h io
C. C r o x t o n ,
Introduction
N THE first week of November, 1930, a study of unemployment
was made in Buffalo, N. Y., which was similar to a study made in
the same city a year earlier and to a series of five studies made in
Columbus, Ohio, in the years 1921 to 1925, inclusive. 1 A brief report
giving preliminary results of the 1930 Buffalo study was presented
in the previous issue of the Labor Review. The present article
presents detailed figures for the second Buffalo study and certain
comparisons with the first study in that city.
The 1929 study was under the auspices of the New York Depart
ment of Labor arid the 1930 study was under the joint auspices of
that organization and of the Buffalo Foundation. Drawing upon its
store of knowledge of the various sections of the city of Buffalo, the
Buffalo Foundation selected for enumeration nine areas believed to
be reasonably representative of the city and certainly more satis
factory than any random selection of blocks could be expected to be.
The data were obtained by house-to-house visits within these same
nine areas in each year and the actual enumeration was carried on by
students of the State Teachers’ College at Buffalo and the University
of Buffalo, with the assistance of a number of trained social workers
in 1930 and of students of Canisius College in 1929. The enumerators
were given detailed printed instructions supplemented by oral dis
cussion and their work was closely supervised. In each year the
field work took place during the first week of November. In 1929
the data were gathered as of Monday, November 4, and in 1930 as of
Monday, November 3.
Information concerning employment status was requested for all
males 18 years of age or over (except those in school) and for all females
18 years of age or over who were usually employed in gainful occu
pations. Thus all housewives were omitted as were all women who
worked outside the home, on a part-time basis, in addition to their
housework. In 1929 the inquiries for each person were as to relation
to head of household, sex, nativity, present or last industry in which
employed, whether employed full time, part time, or unemployed,
and, for a number of the unemployed, age. For those employed
part time the fraction of usual full time was requested and for those
unemployed the duration and reason for idleness. Data concerning
age were secured for but part of the unemployed in 1929 as that
inquiry was added after the beginning of the enumeration. In 1930
the same basic schedule form was used but the age inquiry was added
for all persons enumerated. In addition, for each unemployed person
inquiries were added as to whether he was able to work and whether
willing to work. The two last-mentioned questions were added as
an experiment in the hope that, when taken in conjunction with the
I
1 For details of the Columbus studies see IT. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 409. The first Buffalo
study is discussed in Special Bulletin No. 163, of the Bureau of Statistics and Information of the New York
State Department of Labor and in the seventy-second number of the Foundation Forum of the Buffalo
Foundation; the second Buffalo study is treated in Special Bulletin No. 167, of the Bureau of Statistics and
Information and in a forthcoming number of the Foundation Forum. A comparison of the first Buffalo
study and the Columbus studies appeared in the Labor Reveiw, February, 1930.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3 3 ]
34
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
reported reason for idleness some tentative measure might be forth
coming of (1) those able and willing to work, (2) those temporarily
unable to work, (3) those permanently unable to work, and (4) those
not desiring to work. The answers to the questions as to whether
or not an unemployed person was able and willing to work were
based upon the opinion of the informant, modified by queries from
the enumerator, and, in numerous instances, subject to substantiation
by a second visit by a trained social worker.
Summary of Results
b r ie f
compass the findings of the two studies in Buffalo are:
1. In 1929 for each thousand males enumerated, 59 were unable
to find work. In 1930, 165 males per thousand enumerated were
unable to find work. The proportion of males unable to find work
was thus over 2% times as great in 1930 as in 1929.
2. In 1929 there were 68 males per thousand enumerated who were
on part time. In 1930, 178 males per thousand enumerated were on
part time. The proportion of males employed less than full time
was over 2% times as great in 1930 as in 1929.
3. The proportion of females unable to find work and the propor
tion on part time were each over 2% times as great in 1930 as in 1929.
4. In both years the most unemployment and the least full-time
employment were found among the native colored group, while the
least unemployment and the most full-time employment were found
among the native whites.
5. Unemployment had been of decidedly longer duration at the
time of the 1930 study than at the time of the 1929 study.
6. Considering the males by age groups it was found that the least
unemployment was present among those from 35 to 45 years of age,
while the proportion of those unemployed in each group increased
steadily as the groups considered were either younger or older.
7. The greatest proportion of unemployment and underemploy
ment of males was found in the manufacturing and mechanical
industries in both years. Those industry groups which employed
large numbers of males and which showed the most unemployment
and underemployment were the building trades; manufacture and
servicing of automobiles, parts, and tires; and manufacture of iron
and steel and their products. The greatest proportion of full-time
employment was found among those males engaged in professional
service, those self-employed (other than building contractors), and
Government employees.
8. In 1930 those males permanently unable to work constituted
1.5 per cent of all males enumerated and those males unwilling to
work were 2.0 per cent of all males enumerated.
In
Scope of Studies
T a b l e 1 presents the number of persons covered in each of the
studies. In the 1930 study the addresses of the houses visited in
1929 were taken as the basis of assignments for the enumerators.
While this was desirable for the sake of comparability, it is obvious
that the total number of households (and persons) enumerated in
1930 must be smaller than in 1929. There were frequent instances
reported in which the house visited last year was vacant and a number
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[34]
35
UNEMPLOYMENT IN BUFFALO, N . Y.
in which the premises had been demolished. For many of these
cases other houses in the same neighborhood were substituted.
Another, but less important, factor accounting for the smaller cover
age in 1930 was the indisposition of a few enumerators who had de
layed their field work until the latest possible date and who failed
to advise their supervisors that a substitute would be needed. These
omissions, it is believed, introduced no selective error. This con
clusion is supported by the data of Tables 1 and 3 and by the fact
that the number of households (and the number of persons) included
in each of the nine areas constitutes almost exactly the same per
centage of the total in 1930 as in 1929.
T
able
1 .— N U M B E R
A N D PE R C E N T OF PE R SO N S OF EA CH SE X E N U M E R A T E D IN 1929
A N D 1930
Number
Males
Females
12, 331
11,287
Per cent
Both sexes
2,833
2,715
Males
15,164
14,002
81.3
80.6
Females
Both sexes
18.7
19.4
100.0
100.0
It is altogether likely that the proportionally larger number of
females included in 1930 than in 1929, small though it is, is accounted
for by the entrance into the labor market of a number of women
because of the unemployment of their husbands.
In Table 2 is given the nativity distribution of those enumerated
in the 1930 Buffalo study and of the occupied persons shown in the
census of 1920.2 As would be expected there was a smaller proportion
of foreign born among those enumerated in the Buffalo study. Be
cause of restricted immigration, departure of immigrants, and deaths
especially among the older immigrant groups there undoubtedly has
been a decrease in the proportion of foreign born in most cities of the
United States in the 10 years since 1920. The nativity distributions
of the two Buffalo studies are much alike save that the 1930 study
shows a somewhat larger proportion of native colored females than
does the 1929 study.
T
2 .—N A T IV IT Y OF PE R SO N S E N U M E R A T E D IN 1930 S T U D Y A N D OF O C C U PIED
PE R SO N S 18 Y E A R S OF AGE A N D OVER IN B U FFA LO R E P O R T E D B Y U N IT E D
ST A T ES C E NSU S (1920),° BY SE X
able
[This table does not include 31 persons, 24 males and 7 females, not reporting in the Buffalo study as to
nativity]
Number
Males
N ativity
N ative white 6. - .
_ _ ___
N ative colored-.. . ________
Foreign born. ______________
T otal.. . .
Buffalo
study
8,492
240
2,531
Females
Census of
1920
Buffalo
study
100, 250
2,012
56, 654
158, 916
Both sexes
Census of
1920
Buffalo
study
Census of
1920
2,366
91
251
2,708
35,170
612
8,247
44, 029
10, 858
331
2,782
13,971
135, 420
2,624
64, 901
202, 945
87.4
3.3
9.3
100.0
79.9
1.4
18.7
100.0
77.7
2.4
19.9
100.0
66.7
1.3
32.0
100.0
Per cent
N ative white__ . . . __ ______
N ative colored______________
Foreign born. _______ _____ .
Total_________________
75.4
2.1
22.5
100.0
63.1
1.3
35.6
100.0
a Fourteenth census of the United States, vol. 4 (Occupations), p. 458.
h Includes one male native-born Indian.
2 Data of the census of 1930 are not available at this time.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[35]
36
MONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW
Further evidence of the stability of the sample is given in Table 3,
which shows for each industry group, for the two studies, the number
of persons enumerated and the per cent which such number was of
the total enumerated^ The group “ other” under manufacturing
and mechanical pursuits shows a comparatively large number of
persons because of the fact that it includes employees of radio and
aircraft factories. In view of the probable future development of
the aircraft industry, it would doubtless be advisable to segregate
that group if the study is again repeated.
T a b l e 3 . — IN D U S T R Y D IS T R IB U T IO N OF ALL PE R SO N S E N U M E R A T E D , 1929 and 1930
[This table does not include 138 persons in 1929 and 58 persons in 1930 not reporting as to industry group]
1929
1930
Industry group
Number of
persons
Professional______________________________
Clerical (not otherwise specified)___________
Domestic and personal service_____________
Government employees (other than teachers)
Trade and transportation__________________
Retail and wholesale trade_____________
Telephone and telegraph_______________
Railway, express, gas, electric light_____
Water transportation__________________
Other________________________________
Manufacturing and mechanical pursuits____
Building trades, contractors____________
Building trades, wage earners__________
Olay, glass, and stone products_________
Food and kindred products____________
Iron, steel, and their products__________
Metal products, other than iron and" steel
Paper, printing, and publishing___
Wearing apparel and textiles___________
Automobiles, parts, and tires_____
Other________________________________
Labor (not otherwise specified)_________
Self-employed___________________________
Miscellaneous___________________________ ~
Total, all industries_________________
Per cent
of total
Number of
persons
Per cent
of total
562
116
777
919
4,487
1,693
254
1,757
87
696
6,961
347
884
98
627
1,456
211
290
522
1,068
1,458
78
1,063
63
3.7
.8
5.2
6.1
29.9
11.3
1.7
11.7
.6
4.6
46.3
2.3
5.9
.6
4.2
9.7
1.4
1.9
3.5
7.1
9.7
.5
7.1
.4
533
36
912
913
4,304
1,706
251
1,609
100
638
6,181
309
770
116
594
1,299
193
331
433
950
1,186
42
895
128
3.8
.3
6.5
6.6
30.9
12.2
1.8
11.6
.7
4.6
44.3
2.2
5.5
.8
4.3
9.3
1.4
2.4
3.1
6.8
8.5
.3
6.4
.9
15,026
100.0
13,944
100.0
Employment Status
of the addition, in 1930, of inquiries concerning ability
to work and willingness to work, it was possible to make a more
detailed classification of the unemployed than could have been done
in 1929. This involved a very slight sacrifice in comparability, the
extent of which is discussed below. Those persons reported as un
employed in 1930 were classified into the four following groups:
1. Able and willing to work, but unemployed because of—
Slack work;
Forced retirement;
Miscellaneous reasons.
2. Temporarily unable to work, unemployed because of—
Sickness;
Injury.
3. Permanently unable to work, unemployed because of—1
Sickness;
Injury;
Old age;
Miscellaneous reasons.
B
ec au se
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[36]
37
UNEMPLOYMENT IN BUFFALO, N . Y.
4. Unwilling to work, unemployed because of—
Voluntary retirement;
Laziness or indifference;
Miscellaneous reasons.
The cause of unemployment refers to the cause reported as ex
plaining why an individual was out of work at the time of the study
rather than the cause given to account for the loss of his job. Rea
sonably satisfactory results were obtained with the above fourfold
classification when applied to males. When applied to females,
however, satisfactory data could be obtained only for those falling in
the groups “ able and willing to work” and “ temporarily unable to
work.” As the study was designed to include only those females
18 years of age or over who were usually employed in gainful occu
pations, there would be but few females who could logically fall in
the groups “ permanently unable to work” and “ unwilling to work.
Table 4 shows for each sex and for the two combined the employ
ment status of all persons enumerated in the 1930 study.
T
able
4.—E M P L O Y M E N T STATUS OF ALL PER SO N S E N U M E R A T E D , B Y SE X , 1930
Per cent
Number
Employment status
Females
Males
Both
Sexes
Males
Females
Both
sexes
Employed full tim e--------------------- --------Employed part time-----------------------------Two-thirds but less than full tim e----One-half but less than two-thirds tim e.
One-third but less than one-half time_Less than one-third time
-------Fraction not reported---------------------Unemployed------------------------- -------- -----A ble and willing to work— _- - ---Temporarily unable to work. _ - - --Permanently unable to work-----------Unwilling to work-------------------------Classification not reported— ------
6,930
2,007
856
764
261
109
17
2,350
1,863
94
166
226
1
1,958
326
113
139
47
24
3
431
391
18
13
9
8,888
2, 333
969
903
308
133
20
2,781
2, 254
112
179
235
1
61.4
17.8
7.6
6.8
2.3
1.0
.1
20.8
16. 5
.8
1.5
2.0
(>)
72.1
12.0
4.2
5.1
1.7
.9
.1
15.9
14.4
.7
.5
.3
63.5
16.6
6.9
6.5
2.2
.9
.1
19.9
16.1
.8
1.3
1.7
0)
Total____________________________
11, 287
2, 715
14, 002
100.0
100.0
100.0
1 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
Summarizing the data shown in this table for males, it appears that,
per thousand males enumerated;—
614 were employed full time;
178 were employed part time;
165 were able and willing to work but were unable to secure
jobs;
8 were ordinarily at work but were temporarily unable to
work;
15 were permanently unable to work;
20 were unwilling to work.
The data of Table 4 indicate that a smaller proportion of females
than of males was unable to find work, a smaller proportion of females
than of males was on part time, and a larger proportion of females
than of males was employed full time. This is attributable, in part
at least, to the fact that females are more largely engaged in salaried
occupations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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38
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In Table 5 a comparison of the employment status of all males
enumerated in 1929 and in 1930 is presented. Those unemployed
classified in 1930 as able and willing to work are essentially equivalent
to those classified as unemployed because of slack work in 1929.
A very minor qualification is necessary, inasmuch as a few persons
reporting themselves as retired in 1929 may have been forcibly retired.
The number of these, however, would appear to be extremely small,
for in 1930 the males who were reported as forcibly retired constituted
but one-half of 1 per cent of all males enumerated. Those listed
in 1930 as either temporarily or permanently unable to work because
of sickness or injury and those shown as permanently unable to work
because of miscellaneous causes 3 are equivalent to those classified as
unemployed because of sickness or injury in 1929. Those per
manently unable to work because of old age and those voluntarily
retired in 1930 are comparable to those classified as unemployed
because of old age or retirement in 1929.4
T
able
5 —E M P L O Y M E N T STATUS OF ALL M ALES E N U M E R A T E D , 1929 A N D 1930
[This table does not include 13 males in 1929 and 1 male in 1930 not reporting as to cause of unemployment]
Number
Per cent
Employment status
1929
Employed full tim e ._ ____ __ ____ .
Employed part time ___
_______
Unemployed
Able and willing to work 1__ __
Temporarily or permanently sick or injured
.. .
Aged or retired 2____
Miscellaneous_________________
T otal______ _ _____ _________
1930
1929
1930
10,157
833
1, 328
724
282
248
74
6, 930
2,007
2, 349
1,863
218
251
17
82. 4
6. 8
10.8
5. 9
2.3
2.0
.6
61. 4
17. 8
20. 8
16. 5
1. 9
2. 2
.2
12,318
11, 286
100.0
100.0
1 This is the “slack work” classification of 1929; see text above.
2A very few forcibly retired persons may have been included here in 1929; see text above.
Because of the greater numerical importance of males nearly all
comparisons made in this report of employment conditions at the
time of the two studies are restricted to that sex. Comparing em
ployment conditions among males in 1930 with those in 1929 it appears
that while 68 males per thousand enumerated in 1929 were on part
time, 178 per thousand were on part time in 1930, and that while
59 males per thousand enumerated were unable to secure work 5 in
1929, 165 per thousand were able to work but unable to find jobs in
1930. A more detailed comparison of unemployment in 1929 and
1930, by cause, is given in the following section. A further compari
son between the two years in regard to part-time employment among
males shows that in 1929, 86 per cent of those males employed part
time were working one-half time or more and in 1930, 81.4 per cent of
those males employed part time were working one-half time or more.
3 Three cases for which information was not available as to whether the incapacity was due to sickness or
injury,
* This is in contradiction to a statement appearing in the 1929 report, that, “ undoubtedly a few persons
who were reported as ‘retired’ took that step of their own volition.” In the light of the additional infor
mation upon cause of unemployment shown by the more detailed classification of the present study and from
a large number of second visits by enumerators to ascertain the exact cause when it had been shown only
as retired, it would appear that when an individual was reported simply as “ retired” he had almost
invariably retired of his own volition. This is borne out by the fact that the number of persons unemployed
because of old age or retirement is very nearly the same in each of the studies.
5 This is the “ slack work” classification of the 1929 study.
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[38]
UNEMPLOYMENT IN BUFFALO, N . Y.
39
For some purposes it is desirable to consider those unemployed or
those on part time in relation to all persons enumerated, for other
purposes the basis of comparison may be those able and willing to
work. Considering these alternate bases, those males able and willing
to work but unable to locate work in 1930 constituted:
165 per thousand of all males enumerated;
172 per thousand of those males able and willing to work.
In 1929 those unemployed males who were unable to find work
were:
59 per thousand of all males enumerated;
62 per thousand of all those males able and willing to work.
Those males who had part-time employment in 1930 made up:
178 per thousand of all males enumerated;
186 per thousand of those males able and willing to work.
In 1929 the males who were employed part time were:
68 per thousand of all males enumerated;
71 per thousand of those males able and willing to work.
The proportion of males unable to find work and the proportion of
males on part time were each more than 2% times as great in 1930 as
in 1929. This holds true whether we consider those males unable to
locate work in relation to all males enumerated or in relation to all
males able and willing to work.
Those males employed full time in 1930 amounted to:
614 per thousand of all males enumerated;
642 per thousand of those males able and willing to work.
Those males employed full time in 1929 were:
824 per thousand of all males enumerated; _
867 per thousand of all males able and willing to work.
Table 6 indicates the proportion of employment and the proportion
of unemployment among all persons enumerated in 1929 and in 1930
who were able and willing to work, when part-time employment is
expressed in terms of equivalent full time.
T
6.-—E M P L O Y M E N T STA TUS OF ALL PE R SO N S (BOTH SEX ES) E N U M E R A T E D
WHO W ER E A BLE A N D W ILLING TO W ORK, IN T E R M S OF E Q U IV A L E N T FU LL
T IM E ,1 1929 A N D 1930
able
Year
1929_____________
1930_____________
Per cent
of time
employed
92.1
77.1
Per cent of
time un
employed
7.9
22.9
Total
100. 0
100. 0
1 Part time was reduced to full-time equivalent by considering each group employed part time as concen
trated at the mid-point. Thus all those employed “ two-thirds but less than full tim e” have been consid
ered as employed five-sixths of the time and idle one-sixth of the time; those employed “ one-half but less
than two-thirds time ” as employed seven-twelfths of the time and idle five-twelfths of the time, etc._ The
few who were employed part time but did not report the fractional time worked were not included m this
table. A very few forcibly retired persons m ay have been excluded in 1929. (See p. 38.)
Upon the basis of Table 6 those persons enumerated in 1929 who
were able and willing to work showed 92.1 per cent employment and
7.9 per cent unemployment while those enumerated in 1930 showed
77.1 per cent employment and 22.9 per cent unemployment.
No tables are included in this report dealing with the employment
status of heads of households as a group, neither are any tables pre
sented to show employment status by nativity groups or employ
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139]
40
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
ment status in the nine areas studied. Detailed tables covering these
considerations appear in the New York State Department of Labor
Bulletin. In brief compass, the finding concerning heads of house
holds in 1930 were that whether male or female heads be considered
in relation to all males or all females there was a smaller proportion
of heads of households unable to find employment, and a larger
proportion working part time and full time. Comparing the nativity
groups as to employment status it appears that in the case of either
males or females, the greatest proportion employed full time, the
smallest proportion employed part time, and the smallest proportion
unable to find work were among the native white, while the native
colored showed the smallest proportion employed full time, the largest
proportion employed part time, and the largest proportion unable to
find work.
In the 1929 study data of age were obtained for but part of those
persons who were unemployed, as the age inquiry was included after
the enumeration had begun. In the 1930 study the age inquiry was
included for all persons whether employed or unemployed. A de
tailed table showing age and employment status for males and females
is given in the report of the New York State Department of Labor.
Table 7 presents a summary of the employment status of those males
able and willing to work, by age groups, and gives the proportion in
each age group who were employed full time or part time, or were
unemployed.
T
able
7 —E M P L O Y M E N T STATUS OF M ALES A BLE A N D W ILL IN G TO WORK, BY
AGE GROUPS, 1930
[This table does not include 27 males not reporting as to age]
Number
Age (years)
Em
Em
ployed ployed Unem
full time part time ployed
Under 2 0 - ___
_
___
20 and under 25--------- ------25 and under 30___ -----------30 and under 35- - - 35 and under 4 0 ------ -- _ _ - _
40 and under 45 45 and under 50 __ - ____
50 and under 55 - 55 and under 6 0 _____ ______
60 and under 65- 65 and under 70- _ _________
70 and over___ _- - ____ Total___
-
Per cent
-
Total
Em
Em
ployed ployed Unem
full time part time ployed
230
737
776
922
991
921
758
640
396
312
158
67
47
216
209
273
294
309
240
180
99
73
44
20
155
332
226
185
190
183
149
146
102
91
61
41
432
1,285
1,211
1,380
1,475
1,413
1,147
966
597
476
263
128
53.2
57. 4
64. 1
66.8
67.2
65.2
66.1
66.3
66.3
65.6
60. 1
52.4
10.9
16.8
17.2
19.8
19.9
21. 9
20.9
18.6
16.6
15.3
16. 7
15.6
‘ 35.9
25.8
18. 7
13.4
12.9
12. 9
13.0
15. 1
17. 1
19. 1
23.2
32.0
6,908
2,004
1,861
10, 773
64.1
18.6
17.3
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
From the data shown concerning 10,773 males who were able and
willing to work, it appears that the percentage in. each age group who
were unemployed was smallest among those males 35 to 40 and 40
to 45 years of age, while the percentage unemployed increased stead
ily according as the groups considered were either younger or older.
Considering the proportion in each age group who were employed
part time, it appears that the greatest part-time employment was
present in the groups from 30 to 50 years of age, the least part-time
work being in the youngest group and the group 60 and under 65
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DO]
41
UNEMPLOYMENT IN BUFFALO, N. Y.
years. The greatest proportion of those employed full time was
found among the central age groups, while the smallest proportion
of full-time work was found among the youngest and oldest groups.
No comparison is offered of the age distribution of the unemployed
persons enumerated in 1929 and in 1930, since the inquiry concerning
age was made of only part of the unemployed in 1929. No compar
ison of the 1930 age data of this study with the age data of the census
of 1930 can be made at this time as the census data have not yet been
released.
Cause of Unemployment
As s t a t e d above, a rather detailed classification of the unemplojmd
was attempted in the 1930 study. Table 8 presents data of the un
employed, by cause of unemployment. Of all males reported as
unemployed, 79.3 percent were able and willing to work, 76 per cent
were reported as unemployed due to slack work, and 2.4 per cent
were shown as forcibly retired. Those males who were temporarily
unable to work made up 4 per cent of the unemployed and those who
were permanently unable to work were 7.1 per cent, to which figure
sickness and injury contributed 5.3 per cent and old age 1.8 per cent.
Voluntary retirement accounted for 8.9 per cent of the unemployed
males and six-tenths of 1 per cent were returned as lazy or indifferent.
T
able
8
—CAUSE OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T OF ALL U N E M P L O Y E D PE R SO N S E N U M E R
A T E D , B Y SEX , 1930
[This table does not include 1 male not reporting as to cause of unemployment]
Number
Per cent
Cause of unemployment
Males
Females
Both sexes
Able and willing to work ____.
Slack work
__ _ _ _
Forced retirement___ _______ _
Miscellaneous,- ___ _•
___
Temporarily unable to work _
Sickness________ _____ ___ ___
Injury_______________________
Permanently unable to work _
Sickness.-, ______
Injury_______________________
Old age __ __________ _
M iscellaneous___
____
Unwilling to work__ ___ ___
Voluntary retirem ent.. ___
Lazy or indifferent
Miscellaneous________
. .
1, 863
1, 785
57
21
94
66
28
166
96
25
42
3
226
209
15
2
391
375
6
10
18
15
3
13
' 9
3
1
1
2,254
2,160
63
31
112
81
31
179
105
28
43
3
235
217
15
3
Total_________ ___ _____
2,349
431
2,780
9
8
Males
Females
Both sexes
79.3
76. 0
2.4
.9
4.0
2.8
1.2
7.1
4. 1
1. 1
1.8
1
9. 6
8. 9
.6
.1
90. 7
87. 0
1. 4
2. 3
4.2
3. 5
.7
3. 0
2.1
.7
.2
81.1
77. 7
9! 2
1 1
4 0
2. 9
1.1
6. 4
3. 8
1. 0
1. 5
2.1
1. 9
.2
8. 5
7. 8
g
.i
100.0
100.0
100.0
A comparison of the unemployed males in 1929 and 1930 is given
in Table 9. In 1929, 54.5 per cent of the unemployed males were
able and willing to work but unable to find employment, but in 1930,
79.3 per cent were unable to find work. The percentage of males
temporarily or permanently sick or injured and the percentage aged
or retired were smaller in 1930 than in 1929, but this is because the
total number of unemployed males was greater in 1930. The number
of those aged or retired was very nearly the same in the two studies,
while the number temporarily or permanently sick or injured was
somewhat smaller in 1930.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[411
42
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
able
9 .—
CLASSIFIC ATIO N OF ALL U N E M P L O Y E D M A LES E N U M E R A T E D , 1929 A N D
1930
[This table does not include 13 males in 1929 and 1 male in 1930 not reporting as to cause of unemployment]
Number
Per cent
Classes of the unemployed
1929
Able and willing to work 1 _____________ _ . . . _
Temporarily or permanently sick or injured
Aged or retired 2
. _ ___ . . .
....
Miscellaneous. .
. . ______
______ _
Total_____
_ __________________
_____ _
1930
1929
1930
724
282
248
74
1,863
218
251
17
54. 5
21. 2
18. 7
5.6
79.3
9.3
10. 7
.7
1,328
2,349
100.0
100.0
1 This is the “ slack work” classification of 1929; see p. 38.
2 A very few forcibly retired persons may have been included here in 1929; see p. 38.
In_ Table 10 the various classes of the unemployed are shown in
relation to all persons enumerated. Of all males enumerated those
able and willing to work but unemployed because of slack work con
stituted 15.8 per cent; those in forced retirement, five-tenths of 1
per cent; those voluntarily retired, 1.9 per cent.
T
able
1 0 . —E M P L O Y M E N T STA TUS A N D CAUSE OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T OF ALL P E R
SONS E N U M E R A T E D , B Y SE X , 1930
[This table does not include 1 male not reporting as to cause of unemployment]
Number
Per cent
Employment status and cause of
unemployment
Males
Employed:
F u lltim e - __________________
Part tim e_________ . . .
Unemployed_______ _ _ _ _ .
Able and willing to w o r k ____
Slack w ork..
___
Forced retirement____ _
M iscellaneous. . . . _____
Temporarily unable to work___
Sickness.. _______
...
Injury --------------------------Permanently unable to work___
Sickness________________
Injury
_____ __________
Old age ________ . _ _ __
Miscellaneous___
____ _
Unwilling to work
Voluntary retirement ____
Lazv or indifferent
Miscellaneous____________
T otal____ ______ ______
Females
6,930
2,007
2,349
1, 863
1, 785
57
21
94
66
28
166
96
25
42
3
226
209
15
2
1,958
326
431
391
375
6
10
18
15
3
13
9
3
1
11, 286
Both sexes
Males
1
8,888
2,333
2,780
2,254
2,160
63
31
112
81
31
179
105
28
43
3
235
217
15
3
61.4
17.8
20.8
16. 5
15.8
.5
'.2
.8
.6
.2
1.5
.9
.2
.4
(!)
2. 0
1.9
.1
(>)
2,715
14, 001
100.0
9
8
Females
72.1
12.0
15.9
14.4
13. 8
.2
.4
.7
.6
.1
.5
.3
.1
.1
Both sexes
(l)
.3
.3
0)
100. 0
63. 5
16. 6
19. 9
16.1
15.4
.5
.2
.8
.6
.2
1.3
.8
.2
.3
1. 7
1. 6
1
0)
100.0
1 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
A comparison of the unemployed males in 1929 and 1930 in relation
to all males enumerated was given in Table 5. In addition to the
remarks made earlier concerning that table, it may be noted here that
the proportion of males temporarily or permanently unable to work
was much the same in the two years as was also the proportion who
were aged or (voluntarily) retired.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[42]
43
UNEMPLOYMENT IN BUFFALO, N. Y.
Duration of Unemployment
A c o m p a r is o n of the duration of unemployment of those unem
ployed males who were able and willing to work in 1930 and those
reported as unemployed because of slack work in 1929 is given in
Table 11. It is apparent that the unemployment of this class of
males had been of decidedly longer standing at the time of the 1930
study than at the time of the 1929 study. While no figures are shown
here for the duration of unemployment of those unemployed females
who were able and willing to work at the time of the two studies, the
duration of unemployment of this group had also been of longer stand
ing in 1930 than in 1929.
T
able
1 1 .— D U R A T IO N OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T OF ALL U N E M P L O Y E D M A LES ABLE
A N D W ILLING TO W ORK,i 1929 A N D 1930
[This table does not include 14 males in 1929 and 12 males in 1930 not reporting as to duration of unemploy
ment]
Number
Per eent
Duration of unemployment
1929
Under 2 weeks_________ . .
2 and under 4 weeks...... ..........
4 and under 10 weeks___ _
10 and under 20 weeks___ _ .
20 and under 30 weeks__ .
30 and under 40 weeks .
40 and under 52 weeks52 weeks and over-_
Total __________ _ _ ___
1930
1929
1930
112
158
216
87
44
22
5
66
79
147
389
331
264
147
103
391
15. 8
22. 2
30. 4
12. 3
6. 2
3.1
.7
9.3
4. 3
7. 9
21. 0
17. 9
14 3
7.9
5 6
21.1
710
1, 851
100.0
100.0
1 This is the “ slack work” classification of 1929; see p. 38.
Industry and Employment Status
D e t a i l e d data of employment status for males and for females b y
industry groups are shown in the reports of the New York State
Department of Labor. A summary of the employment status of
males in 1929 and in 1930 is given in Table 12.
Of the industry groups for which large numbers of males were
reported, the greatest proportion of males unable to find work in 1930
was in the building trades, which showed 33.5 per cent of the enum
erated wage earners and 30.1 per cent of the enumerated contractors
out of work though able and willing to work. Next in order was the
manufacturing and servicing of automobiles, parts, and tires, with
27 per cent unable to find work; manufacturing of iron and steel and
their products, with 18.1 per cent unable to find work; domestic
and personal service, with 15.8 unable to find work; and retail and
wholesale trade, with 13.5 per cent unable to find work. The groups
professional service, self-employed (other than building contractors),
and Government employees showed the smallest proportions of those
unable to find work.
The greatest proportion of part-time employment among males in
1930 was in the manufacture of iron and steel and their products,
which showed 38.5 per cent of the enumerated males in that industry
on part time. The percentage of males reported as employed part
time was 32.3 per cent in the manufacture and servicing of automo
biles, parts, and tires, 19.7 per cent among building contractors, 17.1
per cent for wage earners in the building trades, and 14.9 per cent in
29334°—-31
4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[43]
44
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the railway, express, gas, and electric light group. The smallest pro
portions of males employed part time were found in the groups
professional service, telephone and telegraph, self-employed (other
than contractors), and Government employees.
Considering the industry groups for which large numbers of males
were reported, full-time employment among males was least in 1930
in the manufacturing and servicing of automobiles, parts, and tires,
which showed 38.2 per cent of all males enumerated in that industry
as fully employed. Following, in order, came building trades, con
tractors, 39.5 per cent; manufacture of iron and steel and their
products, 39.9 per cent; building trades, wage earners, 44.9 per cent;
and railway, express, gas, and electric light, 69.1 per cent. The
greatest proportions of males employed full time were found in the
groups professional service, telephone and telegraph, and self-em
ployed (other than contractors).
Considering the two major industry groups, the data show that in
1930 of the 3,325 males enumerated in trade and transportation 73 per
cent were employed full time, 11 per cent were employed part time,
and 12.3 per cent were unable to find work, while in manufacturing
and mechanical pursuits, for which 5,473 males were reported,
47.9 per cent were working full time, 27.1 per cent were employed
part time, and 21.4 per cent were unable to find work.
No tables are presented in this article showing the employment status
of females by industry groups. However, of the industry groups which
employed large numbers of females, lowest employment was found in
1930 in the manufacture of wearing apparel and textiles with 33.5
per cent of the enumerated females able and willing to work but
unable to find work and 32.4 per cent employed part time. Domestic
and personal service showed 22.9 per cent unable to find work and
19.2 per cent on part time.
Of the 979 females classified in 1930 under trade and transportation,
82.6 per cent were employed full time, 6.6 per cent were employed
part time, and 9.9 per cent were unable to find work. Of the 708
females in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits, 58.9 per cent
were employed full time, 20.8 per cent were employed part time, and
18.8 per cent were unable to find work.
It is not possible to show for 1929 the number of those males in
each industry who were unable to find work. Those shown in Table
12 as unemployed in 1929 were therefore unemployed from all causes.
For 1930, figures are given both of those males unemployed from all
causes and those unemployed who were able and willing to work
but unable to locate work.
For every industry group shown, with the sole exception of pro
fessional service, the proportion of males working full time in relation
to all males enumerated in the industry group was smaller in 1930
than in 1929. In some industry groups the decline was very marked.
The percentage of males in metal products other than iron and steel
(a relatively unimportant industry group) who were employed full
time fell from 72.5 per cent of all males enumerated in that industry
group in 1929 to 24.7 in 1930; those males employed full time in the
manufacture of iron, steel, and their products fell from 79.1 per cent
of all males enumerated in that industry group in 1929 to 39.9 per
cent in 1930; those males working full time in the manufacture and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
45
U N E M PL O Y M E N T IN B U F F A L O , N . Y .
servicing of automobiles, parts, and tires were 66.6 per cent of all
males enumerated in that industry group in 1929 and 38.2 per cent in
1930; those males working full time in the building trades as contrac
tors were 63.7 per cent of all such contractors enumerated in 1929 and
39.5 per cent in 1930; those males working full time as wage earners
in the building trades dropped from 68 per cent of those enumerated
in that industry group in 1929 to 44.9 per cent in 1930.
The percentage of the males enumerated in each industry group
who were working part time was greater in 1930 than in 1929 for
every industry group except professional service.
As stated above, the only possible comparison of the unemployed
in 1929 and 1930 by industry groups must be in terms of those
unemployed from all causes. Comparing these figures (which include
those unable to find work and also those unable and unwilling to
work) reveals that a larger proportion of the males in each industry
group were idle in 1930 than in 1929, except in the group clay, glass,
and stone products. The increase in the percentage of those unem
ployed in each industry group in relation to all males enumerated in
that group was so great that in every group except three those unable
to find work in 1930 equaled or exceeded those unemployed from all
causes in 1929.
T a b l e 1 2 — C O M PA R A TIV E SU M M A R Y OF E M P L O Y M E N T STATUS OF ALL M ALES
E N U M E R A T E D , BY IN D U S T R Y GROUP, 1929 A N D 1930
[This table does not include 127 males in 1929 and 49 males in 1930 not reporting as to industry group]
Number
1929
Industry group
Professional service______ ___
Clerical (not otherwise specified).
Domestic and personal service._
Government employees (other
than teachers)
. .
. . .
Trade and transportation _ . Retail and wholesale trade..
Telephone and telegraph__
Railway, express, gas, electrie lig h t ___
Water transportation.
Other
.. .
Manufacturing and mechanical
pursuits _ _________ _____
Building trades, contractors.
Building trades, wage earners _ ______
_____
Clay, glass, and stone produ c t s . . . ___ ________ .
Food and kindred products.
Iron, steel, and their produ c t s ... ______ . . .
.
M etal products, other than
iron and s te e l... ____ _
Paper, printing, and publishing__________ ____ .
Wearing apparel and textiles.
Automobiles, parts, and
tires_______________ .
Other .
. . . .
Labor (not otherwise specified).
Self-employed. . .
Miscellaneous__ ___ _
Total, all males . . . . .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1930
Unem
Em
Em Unem
Em
Em ployed, Unem
ployed, ployed, ployed,
ployed,
ployed,
able ployed,
Total
Total
full
part
all
full
part
and
all
time
time causes
time
time willing causes
to work
219
21
402
11
15
11
4
48
241
25
465
197
3
349
5
10
40
75
14
i
86
475
216
750
3,080
984
75
22
100
25
66
236
79
4
838
3,416
1,088
79
659
2,428
859
89
48
366
92
3
64
409
153
10
126
531
182
ii
£23
3 325
1 133
10.3
1,519
61
441
45
10
20
115
11
27
1, 679
82
488
1,051
54
375
227
16
28
164
29
53
244
29
65
1 522
99
46£
4, 755
219
632
56
766
69
6,153
344
2,618
122
1,487
61
1,172
93
1, 368
' 126
5, 473
309
580
79
194
853
338
129
252
286
753
61
491
5
31
17
44
83
566
63
373
21
67
12
62
17
76
101
516
1,093
141
147
1,381
497
480
226
270
1,247
140
39
14
193
43
93
33
38
174
207
277
7
22
13
18
227
317
167
no
47
78
28
50
31
57
245
245
647
1,040
38
823
39
185
67
15
33
139
971
1, 218
77
935
54
335
570
7
643
22
283
228
11
45
4
237
179
14
43
50
259
208
23
91
66
877
1, 006
41
779
92
10,127
829
1,248 12, 204
6,926
2,006
1, 837
1
111
24
79
14
[451
2,306 11, 238
46
M ONTHLY
LABOE
R E V IE W
T a b l e 1 2 —C O M PA R A TIV E SU M M A R Y OF E M P L O Y M E N T STA TUS OF ALL M ALES
E N U M E R A T E D , B Y IN D U S T R Y G R OUP, 1929 A N D 1930—Continued
Per cent
1930
1929
Unem
Em
Em ployed, U n em
Em
Em Unem
ployed, ployed, ployed, Total ployed, ployed, able ployed, Total
full
part
and
full
part
all
all
time willing causes
time
time causes
time
to work
Industry group
Professional service Clerical (not otherwise specified)Domestic and personal service-Government employees (other
than teachers)-. . _ -- ---- Trade and transportationRetail and wholesale trade.Telephone and telegraph—
Railway, express, gas, electrie lig h t-..
Water transportation..- . .
O th er______ - . _ -_ -Manufacturing and mechanical
pursuits. -_ . . ----------------Building trades, contractors.
Building trades, wage earners __ __ . _______ --- Clay, glass, and stone products------ -- ------- -- --Food and kindred products.
Iron, steel, and their produ c ts ..
---- --M etal products, other than
iron and steel - - - - - - - -.
Paper, printing, and publishing_______ _____
Wearing apparel and textiles.
Automobiles, parts, and
tires. ------- ------------ -----O th e r ____ _ Labor (not otherwise specified) _
Self-employed__ . . .
------Miscellaneous________________
Total, all males.-
_ _
90.9
(')
86.5
4.5
0)
3.2
4.6
(■)
10.3
100.0
(')
100.0
91.2
0)
73.5
2.3
(0
8.4
4.6
0)
15.8
6.5
0)
18.1
100.0
(>)
100.0
89.5
90.2
90.4
94.9
2.6
2.9
2.3
7.9
6.9
7.3
5.1
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
79.1
73. 0
75.8
86.4
5.8
11.0
8. 1
2.9
7.7
12. 3
13. 5
9.7
15.1
16. 0
16. 1
10.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
90.5
74.4
90.4
2.7
12. 2
4.1
6.8
13.4
5.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
69.1
54.6
80.2
14.9
16.1
5.9
10.8
29.3
11.3
16. 0
29.3
13.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
77.3
63.7
10.3
16.3
12.4
20.0
100.0
100.0
47.9
39.5
27.1
19.7
21.4
30.1
25.0
40.8
100. 0
100.0
68.0
9.3
22.7
100.0
44.9
17.1
33.5
38.0
100.0
73.5
86.7
6.0
5.6
20.5
7.7
100.0
100.0
62.4
72.3
20.8
13.0
11.8
12.0
16.8
14.7
100.0
100.0
79.1
10.2
10.7
100.0
39.9
38.5
18.1
21. 6
100.0
72.5
20.3
7.2
100.0
24.7
53.4
19.0
21.9
100.0
91.2
87.4
3.1
6.9
5.7
5.7
100. 0
100.0
68. 2
44.9
19. 2
31.8
11.4
20.4
12.6
23.3
100.0
100.0
66.6
85.4
49.3
88.0
72.2
19.1
5.5
19.5
3.5
1.9
14.3
9. 1
31. 2
8.5
25.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
38.2
56.7
0)
82. 6
23.9
32.3
22.6
27.0
17.8
29.5
20.7
100.0
100.0
(‘ )
(«)
C1)
5.5
54.3
11.6
71.7
100.0
100.0
82.4
6.7
10.9
100.0
61.4
17.8
16.5
20.8
100.0
5.8
4.4
0)
1 Percentages not calculated because of small numbers involved.
Conclusion
A n e x a m i n a t i o n of the results of this study can not but impress
one with the seriousness of the problem of unemployment and under
employment. The figures here shown relate definitely to certain
areas in Buffalo, but there is no reason to believe that conditions are
greatly dissimilar in industrial areas in other cities of the same
general type. The conditions disclosed by this and other studies
of unemployment ought to command careful consideration with a
view to developing measures for reducing involuntary unemployment
and underemployment to a minimum. To this end there must be
a close and sincere coordination of the forces of government, of
industry, and of the community.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[46]
M ONTHLY
IA B O R R E V IE W
47
C ooperative H ou sin g S o cieties in 1929 1
housing in the United States thus far has had
rather a limited appeal, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics
COOPERATIVE
knows of only 45 cooperative societies in this field. Undoubtedly,
difficulties of financing have had a good deal of influence in deterring
groups of persons from undertaking the provision of their own housing
accommodations.
Of the 45 societies, 43 own apartment buildings, while 2 operate
residential hotels. The 25 societies furnishing data for the general
study made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics control property
valued at more than $8,000,000. They have provided living quarters
for 2,300 householders and nearly 650 single persons.
Apartment Houses
O f t h e 43 cooperative housing societies operating apartment
buildings, reports have been received from 23, all located in Manhattan,
the Bronx, or Brooklyn.
Of the 23 societies reporting, 1 was organized in 1916, 6 were
started in 1920, 2 in 1921, 3 in 1922, 3 in 1923, 2 in 1924, 1 in 1925,
1 in 1926, 2 in 1927, 1 in 1928, and 1 in 1929. Few projects have been
undertaken recently, practically the only new development which has
come to the attention of the bureau being the buildings undertaken
by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers on the East Side in New
York City. Since the beginning of 1930, Consumers’ Cooperative
Services, a cafeteria organization in New York City, has constructed
a building for its members.2
Types of Buildings Provided
The dwellings provided by all of these societies are apartments
exclusively, usually those of the 4-story, walk-up type—the 16dwelling building having 4 apartments per floor. Another, and more
attractive, type is the court building, with a simple archway leading
from the street to a grassy court, from which one or more entrances
(according to the size of the building) lead into the various wings.
Not all of the societies erected a new building for their needs; in a
few cases an old building was purchased and remodeled. The
projects of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers and United Workers
are of the multiple-budding, colony type.3
All but one of the cooperative apartment buildings in Brooklyn
which reported are 4-story buildings; the other is a 5-story structure
the first floor of which is given over to stores. In New York City, 1
society has a 3-story building, 2 have 4-story buildings, 5 have 5story buildings, and 2 have 6-story structures. Only three apartment
buildings have elevators, two of these being the 6-story buildings.
The buildings of the 22 societies reporting on this point contain
2,312 apartments, of which 4 are 1-room apartments, 6 contain 2
1 This is the sixth of a series of articles on the cooperative movement in the United States m 1929. The
previous articles were given in the Labor Review, as follows: Wholesale societies, May, 1930 (pp. 108-110);
gasoline filling stations, September, 1930 (pp. 11-18); consumers’ societies, October, 1930 (pp. 21 to 34);
credit unions, November, 1930 (pp. 1 to 11); and workers’ productive associations, December, 1930 (pp.
2 For a detailed account of this project see Labor Review, M ay, 1930, pp. I ll, 112.
2 These have been described in detail in previous publications—Bulletin No. 465 of this bureau (pp. 115132), and Labor Review, issues of August, 1928 (pp. 1-18) and March, 1930 (p. 144).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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48
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
rooms each, 128 contain 3 rooms, 42 have 3% rooms each, 188 are
of 4 rooms, and 264 contain more than 4 rooms each. (In figuring
the number of rooms, in only 1 case is the bathroom counted as a room
but all the societies reporting count the kitchen as a room. Only
four buildings contain kitchenette apartments; in one of these the
kitchenette is counted as half a room, while in the others it is not
counted.)
As the table following shows, the 23 societies reporting have a
combined membership of 2,306 and paid-in share capital of $1,102,825.
They control property whose original cost aggregated $10,845,386,
but is now assessed at $6,681,088. The cost of the individual build
ings or projects ranged from $16,000 for a 4-story building of 8 apart
ments to $3,450,000 for a group project housing more than 1,000
families.
T a b l e 1.—M E M B E R S H IP ,
C APITAL, A N D V A LUE OF L A N D A N D B U IL D IN G S OF
HO U SIN G SOCIETIES IN 1929
Land and buildings
Number
Number
of so
of
cieties
report members
ing
Location
Share
capital
Original
cost
Present
assessed
value
New York:
Manhattan and Bronx-----------------------Brooklyn___
. -
11
12
1,974
332
1 $550,139
3 552,686
$9,358,166
3 1,487,220
2 $5,207, 794
3 1,473, 294
Total-------- -----------------------------------
23
2, 306
4 1,102, 825
5 10, 845, 386
6 6, 681, 088
1 8 societies.
2 9 societies.
3 11 societies.
4 19 societies.
5 22 societies.
6 20 societies.
The table below shows the classification of the societies according
to the original cost of the building and land.
T a b l e 3 —D IS T R IB U T IO N OF H O U SIN G SO C IETIES A C C O R D IN G TO O R IG IN A L COST
OF B U IL D IN G A N D L A N D
Manhattan
and Bronx
Original cost
Under $25,000
. . . ___ _ _
$25,000 and under $50,000 _ ____ - ..
$50,000 and under $100,000 -, - ____
$100,000 and under $500,000_________
$500,000 and under $1,000,000________
$1,000,000 and over
Total.
.
_____
2
1
4
1
3
11
Brooklyn
2
1
5
2
1
11
Cost to Tenant-M ember
When the individual becomes a member of a housing society he
subscribes for a certain amount of capital stock in the society esti
mated as covering the cost of the apartment or dwelling he will
occupy. This total cost is arrived at after consideration of a number
of factors; the total cost of land, building and other expenses connected
therewith are taken as a basis and the cost of each dwelling is deter
mined according to the number of rooms, floor space, location, and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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49
C O O P E R A T IV E H O U S IN G S O C IE T IE S
other points of advantage or disadvantage. The cost figure so ar
rived at for each individual apartment is the price which the
prospective tenant must pay, and the amount for which he must sub
scribe stock in the society. This stock may be paid for either as a
whole or in installments ^according to the requirements of the by-laws.
In the societies reporting, the average cost per room was as follows:
Number of
societies
$170____________________________
$190___________________________
$250_________________________
$275-400 4_________________
__
$340_____________________
$350________ : ________________
$400__________________
$457________________________
$500_________________________
$587____________________________
Number of
societies
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
$700____________________________
$725____________________________
$835____________________________
$1,080__________________________
$1,200________________________
$1,487__________________________
$1,646_____________________
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
T o ta l_____________________
20
It is seen that in 60 per cent of the societies the average cost per
room is $500 or less, and in only 20 per cent does the cost exceed
$1,000 per room.
When the apartment is taken, the member is required to make a
down payment of varying amount, and the rest is included as part
of the monthly “ rent,” which also covers maintenance costs, interest,
etc. Generally, any redecorating must be done at the tenant’s
expense. The initial payment required is shown in the statement
below:
Number of
societies
$500____________________________
$580 or $670___________________
$665___________________________
$1,000_______________________
$ l,0 0 0 -$ 2 ,4 0 0 _____________
$1,100,$1,300, $1,600, o r $2,000. _
$1,200_______________________
$1,250_________________________
$1,400 or $2,000__________________
$1,500_________________________
$1,700__________________________
Number of
societies
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
$2,000__________________________
1
P e1r room :
$125_____________
$150______
$250_____________________
$300___________________
$350___________________
$375________________________
1
1
2
1
1
1
T o ta l_____________________
20
The average monthly charge pe room is shown below:
Number of
societies
$4.00__________________________
$5.00_________________
$6.00______________________
$6.40_____________________
$6.75____________________________
$7.00______________________
$8.00_________________
$8.60_________________
$9.00______________________
$10.00______________________
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
$10.50_____________________
$10.70_____________________
$11.00_______________________
$11.50____________________
1
$11.97________________
$12.50__________________
$14.00 or $14.50_____
4 According to location of apartment.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r49i
Number of
societies
Total_______________
1
1
2
l
1
3
1
22
50
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
Cooperative Practice
Of the societies reporting, only four give title to the tenant pur
chasing an apartment, while in the rest of the cases the society retains
the title, the tenant being given merely a lease (in one case only a
month-to-month lease). However, 12 societies allow the tenant to
sublet his apartment, though one of these prohibits his receiving any
profit from the transaction. In one building, 7 of the 17 apartments
were rented to nonmembers at the time the report was made. Four
teen societies allow the member to sell his apartment for what he
can get, but in two cases the society must be given first chance to
buy it, and in one case the purchaser must be acceptable to the
society. Two other societies allow the sale of apartments by the
tenant-members, but in one case the society sets the sale price and
in the other the member is prohibited from making a profit on the
sale. In five cases, if the member wishes to give up the apartment he
must turn it over to the society, as he does not own the apartment,
but merely has a lease.
To one comparing this situation with that existing in 1925, it is
evident that many of the societies are backsliding as regards coopera
tive practice. Six societies have even adopted the practice of vote
by shares, instead of one vote per member.
Residential Hotels
T h e r e are in Washington, D. C . , two cooperative residential hotels.
One of these was organized in 1922 by a group of women some of whom
had been residents of the Government Hotels.6 The group and funds
grew slowly but surely and in 1928 the apartment hotel was ready for
occupancy.
The hotel is situated in one section of the Government office district.
It is an 8-story building with 356 bedrooms. The first floor contains
the office, lobby, writing room, small rooms for playing cards or enter
taining guests, a small room with kitchenette attached for parties,
and 20 rooms for transient guests. Male guests are admitted only to
the first floor. The other floors have 48 bedrooms each, 44 of which
have running water but no bath, 3 have private baths, and 1 has no
water. There are two general lavatories on each floor, with bathtub
and showers.
The tenant member must purchase a specified minimum of stock,
which entitles her to the possession of a room. Monthly basic rents-—
for stockholders who take their meals in the hotel—are $25 and $40,
according to whether the room has running water only, or private
bath. Stockholders not taking meals at the hotel pay $2.50 per month
over the basic rent, nonstockholders $7.50 more. Room rates for
transients are higher. The rate for meals is $25 per month for break
fast and dinner.
Elevator service is provided and there is a small assembly hall. A
portico, which can be entered only from the inside hall, runs across
part of the building. In the basement a room is set aside which is
5 Erected by the United States Government to provide living quarters for woman employees of the
Government during the war.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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C O O P E R A T IV E H O U S IN G S O C IE T IE S
51
equipped with stationary tubs, ironing boards, etc., for the use of the
guests who wish to do their own laundry work. On the roof of one
of the two wings to the building there is a roof garden.
The second hotel project may be said to have grown out of the first,
although the personnel of the cooperative group was different. This
association was formed in 1928 and moved into its building on De
cember 1, 1929, after a good many difficulties. This is a 7-story
building having 168 rooms with private bath and 56 suites of 2 rooms
which share one bathroom.
Each member must purchase 5 shares of preferred stock and one
share of common stock. There is no limit to the number of shares of
preferred stock that may be held by any one person but no stockholder
may own more than one share of common stock, and it is only the latter
that carries the voting privilege. Thus it works out that each
member has only one vote.
The cost to the member is $500 per room, of which $50 must be
paid down; the balance may be paid in installments of $10 per month.
Monthly basic rents range from $25 to $36.50; nonstockholders pay
$5 over the basic rate.
The hotel has some 280 tenants, of whom 129 are stockholders.
As this hotel is situated just off the Union Station plaza and in the
neighborhood of the House and Senate office buildings, it attracts
many of the young women employed in that vicinity.
Elevator service, cafeteria, and a laundry room for the use of the
guests are among the conveniences provided. There is an elaborate
lobby, small writing nooks, and parlors for the entertainment of guests,
as well as a ballroom. Meals are charged for at the rate of $25 per
month for breakfast and dinner.
The hotel is managed by a board of five directors, elected by the
members.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[511
EM PLOYM ENT CONDITIONS AND RELIEF
S ta b iliza tio n of E m p lo y m en t in th e B oot and S hoe In d u stry
By E t h e l b e r t S t e w a r t , U
n it e d
S t a t e s C o m m is sio n e r o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s
RREGULARITY of employment is found in all of our productive
industries, though it is very much worse in some than in others,
and varies year by year within the industries themselves. A typical
example of the irregularity of employment in all kinds of industrial
establishments is found in the boot and shoe industry. From data
supplied to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics by the estab
lishments reporting monthly on volume of employment, the accom
panying chart has been prepared, which brings out three points:
The variation in employment in the boot and shoe industry as a whole,
in large reporting plant having the greatest irregularity of employ
ment, and in large plant where employment is the most regular, the
last of these affording an illustration of what has been—hence what
can be—accomplished by the best, that is, the most regular, of the
large plants reporting to the bureau.
If we are to regularize employment we must not forget that this
can not be done if we maintain the present number of establishments
in any industry. That is to say, the 1,329 boot and shoe factories
of the United States can not operate continuously with their present
maximum force. To illustrate: 14.5 per cent of these establishments
now employ 60.4 per cent of the wage earners and are producing 65.6
per cent of the total output, operating on broken time, or the irregular
time of which we are speaking. If, however, these same plants were
to operate full time at their present capacity they would produce
95 per cent of the total output, thus crowding out about 85 per cent
of the present number of establishments.
In other words, in order to operate 200 establishments full time at
present capacity, 1,129 other establishments would have to be closed.
Not only that, but if all of the establishments worked at the same
efficiency attained by the best establishment, 81,811 men would do
the work now being performed by 202,191. To go a little more into
detail, the most efficient boot and shoe factory in the LTnited States,
measured in output per man per day, produces 14 pairs of shoes per
man per day. At this rate of production, 81,811 men working 300
days a year would produce the same number of shoes now produced
by the 203,110 men which the census reports as engaged in the
industry.
I
52
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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E M P L O Y M E N T C O N D IT IO N S A N D R E L IE F
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Or
CO
54
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
D ecrease in R ailroad E m p lo y m en t
HE shrinkage in employment that has been so widespread in
the United States during the last year has been noticeable in
railroad employment as well as in other lines of industry. Each
month the Interstate Commerce Commission reports the number
of persons employed on the fifteenth of the month by Class I rail
roads. Figures are available to October, 1930, the October figures
being preliminary and subject to possible slight revision. The trend
shown by such monthly figures is considered in this article.
On October 15, 1929, Class I railroads had 1,749,859 employees
of all classes. On October 15, 1930 these roads had 1,454,963 em
ployees, making a force reduction of 294,896, or 16.85 per cent, in the
vear’s interval. Every month from October, 1929 to February,
1930 showed a decrease. In March, 1930, there was a slight increase,
and this continued for three successive months. In June the number
began to drop off again and the decrease continued each succeeding
month to October, 1930.
Table 1 shows the changes in numbers employed in each of the
seven main groups into which the Interstate Commerce Commission
classifies the personnel of the railroads. At the head of the list is the
group of executives, officials, and staff assistants. Here the shrink
age of personnel was comparatively small, the number having de
creased during the year only from 17,001 to 16,219—4.60 per cent.
Then followed in order, the professional, clerical, and general em
ployees, with a decrease of 10.06 per cent; the yardmasters, switch
tenders, and hostlers, with a decrease of 10.57 per cent; and the
employees doing transportation work other than train, engine, or yard
service, with a loss of 11.83 per cent. The decline in the number o!
employees engaged on the maintenance of equipment and stores ap
proximated the decrease among the entire railroad force (17.45 as
against 16.85 per cent), while by far the heaviest losses in employ
ment were sustained by the employees engaged in the maintenance ol
way and structures (25.54 per cent).
A continuous though small decrease in numbers employed occurred
month after month throughout the year in three of the seven groups,
viz, the professional, clerical, and general employees, the employees
working on the maintenance of equipment and stores, and the yardmasters, switch tenders, and hostlers. In the other four groups an
increase in personnel occurred in each of three months during the
period covered. The greatest variation in employment month by
month was in the maintenance of ways and structures group,<but
there the changes may have been due partly to seasonal conditions.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[54]
55
E M P L O Y M E N T C O N D IT IO N S A N D R E L IE F
T a b l e 1 . - N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S OF CLASS I R A ILROADS, B Y K IN D OF WORK
Executives, offi
cials, and staff
assistants
Year and month
Professional,
clerical, and
general
Maintenance of
way and struc
tures
Maintenance of
equipment and
stores
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
change N um of change N um of change
of change
N um of
from
pre
from
pre
from
pre
Number
from
pre
ber
ber
ber
ceding
ceding
ceding
ceding
month
month
month
month
1929
October _______________ _
November. _________ . . .
December.. _ _____ . . . .
17,001
17,004
17,009
+0.02
+ .0 3
272,941
271,833
269,014
- 0 . 41
-1 .0 4
452, 681
400, 689
351,390
-1 1 . 49
-12.30
458, 844
456, 271
447, 254
- 0 . 56
-1 .9 8
January_________________
February ____________
M arch. .
April. _
M ay------------------------------J u n e ... ..................................
July------------------------------August__________________
September.
October_________ ____ _
16, 975
16, 931
16, 934
16, 874
16, 842
16, 720
16, 569
16,495
16, 385
16, 219
-.2 0
-.2 6
+ . 02
-.3 5
-.1 9
-.7 2
-.9 0
-.4 5
-.6 7
-1 .0 1
265,857
264,199
263,139
261, 208
260, 033
256, 686
252, 527
249,931
247, 693
245, 494
-1 .1 7
- .6 2
-.4 0
-.7 3
-.4 5
-1 .2 9
-1 .6 2
-1 .0 3
-.9 0
- .8 9
331, 292
322, 327
337,188
376, 604
408, 042
394, 934
383, 985
374, 499
356, 484
337, 056
- 5 . 72
-2 .7 1
+4.61
+ 11.69
+8. 35
-3 .2 1
-2 .7 7
-2 .4 7
-4 .8 1
-5 .4 5
439, 317
435,177
429, 624
424,047
422, 105
410, 674
397, 588
393, 456
387, 879
378, 794
-1 .7 7
- .9 4
-1 .2 8
-1 .3 0
- .4 6
-2 .7 1
-3 .1 9
-1 .0 4
-1 .4 2
- 2 . 34
Decrease October, 1929, to
October, 1930:
Number . . .
....
P ercen t. _____ ____
782
4.60
1930
27, 447
10.06
115, 625
25.54
80,050
17.45
Transportation- Transportation— TransportationYardmasters,
Other than train,
Train and engine
engine, and yard switch tenders,
service
and hostlers
Y ear and month
Total employees
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
of change
of change
of change
of change
Number from pre Number from pre Number from pre Number from, pre
ceding
ceding
ceding
ceding
month
month
month
month
1929
O ctober_______
200, 489
November_______________ 195,597
December . . . __ _ __
191,514
-2 .4 4
-2 .0 9
21, 945
21, 765
21, 535
- 0 . 82
-1 .0 6
325,958
317, 868
307,369
- 2 . 48
-3 .3 0
1, 749,859
1, 681, 027
1, 605,085
- 3 . 93
- 4 . 52
- 2 . 58
+ . 15
+ . 19
- .9 3
- .3 0
-.9 2
-1 .4 3
-1 .1 4
12
-1 .1 0
21,428
21, 293
21, 017
20, 753
20, 622
20, 370
20,148
20, 103
19, 849
19, 625
-.5 0
- .6 3
-1 .3 0
-1 .2 6
- .6 3
-1 .2 2
-1 .0 9
-.2 2
-1 .2 6
-1 .1 3
299, 588
297, 537
291, 551
287, 611
288, 935
281, 683
280, 309
281, 362
278, 874
281,003
- 2 . 53
-.6 8
-2 .0 1
-1 .3 5
+ .4 6
- 2 . 51
-.4 9
+ .3 8
-.8 8
+ . 76
1, 561, 035
1, 544, 317
1, 546, 663
1, 572, 566
1, 601, 485
1, 564, 277
1, 531, 711
1, 514,367
1, 485, 906
1, 454, 963
-2 .7 4
-1 .0 7
+ . 15
+ 1.67
+ 1.84
- 2 . 32
-2 .0 8
-1 .1 3
-1 .8 8
-2 .0 8
1930
January____ _ _____ _ _
February . .
__
March______ __________
April______ _. . ____
M a y ...
Ju n e.. . .
July_____________________
August__ . . . _____
September___ ____
October.. ___________
Decrease October, 1929, to
October, 1930:
Number ____
Percent.
...
186,578
186,853
187;210
185, 469
184, 906
183, 210
180, 585
178, 521
178, 742
176, 772
23, 717
1L83
2,320
10. 57
44,955
13.79
294, 896
16.85
. The Interstate Commerce Commission divides the railroad occupa
tions into 148 groups. Many of these are separate, clear-cut occupa
tions; others are a combination of kindred occupations. Figures for
each of these 148 occupations are available for each month of the
year period under consideration, but for lack of space can not be
given here. Table 2, however, gives the monthly figures for eight
large groups of occupations. In this table locomotive engineers of all
classes are consolidated, but two groups of brakemen and flagmen are
given separately so as to indicate the variation in the decrease in
employment as between passenger and freight service.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[5 5 ]
56
T a b le
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
2.—N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S OF CLASS I R A ILR O A D S IN S P E C IF IE D GROUPS
OF O C CUPATIONS
[Numbers in boxheads refer to occupation numbers in Table 3]
1
Clerks, mechani
cal device opera Laborers, main
tors (office) ste tenance of way
and structures
nographers and
typists (No. 9-10- (No. 51-52 and 53)
11-12-13 and 14)
Carmen (No. 7071-72 and 73)
Laborers and
common laborers
(shops, engine
houses, power
plants, and stores)
(No. 85 and 86)
Year and month
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
of change
of change
of change
of change
Number from pre Number from pre Number from pre Number from pre
ceding
ceding
ceding
ceding
month
month
month
month
1929
188,297
November. ________ _____ 187,104
December^____
. ------ 184,516
1930
January..
. . . . ---February_______ ____ ___
March____________________
A pril... _ ----------- . . . . .
M ay __ ------ -------------------June. .
July______________________
August__ _ ___ _ . -----September ____________ ..
October..
Decrease October, 1929, to
October, 1930:
Year and month
181,902
180,360
179,471
178,062
177,267
174, 603
171,395
169,514
167,984
166, 483
-0 .6 3
-1 .3 8
318,975
271,518
229,031
-14.88
-1 5 .6 5
101,585
100,443
97,043
-1 .1 2
-3 .3 9
90,017
89,619
87,797
-0 .4 4
-2 .0 3
-1 .4 2
-.8 5
-.4 9
-.7 9
-.4 5
-1 .5 0
-1 .8 9
-1 .1 0
- .9 0
- .8 9
214,263
207,297
221,682
257,293
286,021
274, 530
265, 314
256,966
241,201
224, 299
-6 .4 5
-3 .2 5
+6.94
+16.06
+11.17
-4 .0 2
- 3 . 36
-3 .1 5
-6 .1 4
- 7 . 01
93,719
92,438
91,406
90,727
90, 577
87,465
83,768
83,406
81,727
79, 837
-3 .4 3
-1 .3 7
-1 .1 2
-.7 4
- .1 7
- 3 . 44
-4 .2 3
- .4 3
-2 .0 1
- 2 . 31
86,964
85,905
84,035
82, 541
82,100
79,412
77,192
76,121
74,916
73, 078
- .9 5
-1 .2 2
-2 .1 9
-1 .7 8
- .5 3
- 3 . 27
- 2 . 80
- 1 . 39
-1 .5 8
- 2 . 45
94, 676
29.68
21, 814
11. 58
Truckers, labor
ers and common
laborers (stations,
warehouses, plat
forms, grain ele
vators, and ore
docks (No. 106107 and 108)
21,748
21. 41
16, 939
18. 82
Engineers and
motormen (pas Brakemen and
Brakemen and
sengers, freight, flagmen
flagmen (road
pas freight)
(No. 137
and yard) (No. senger) (road
(No.
136)
141-142-143 and
and 138)
144)
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
of
of
of
of
change
change
change
change
Number from pre Number from pre Number from pre Number from
pre
ceding
ceding
ceding
ceding
month
month
month
month
1929
43,844
41,227
38, 509
-5 .9 7
-6 .5 9
66,259
64,514
62,421
-2 .6 3
-3 .2 4
12,844
12,833
13,109
-0 .0 9
+2.15
59,377
57,202
54,537
-3 .6 6
- 4 . 66
January___________________
February_________________
March____________________
April_____________________
M ay_____________________
June_____________________
J u ly_____________________
August___________________
September________________
October___________________
34,969
36,003
36,698
35,914
36,075
34, 551
33,198
32, 748
34, 281
34, 396
-9 .1 9
+2.96
+1.93
-2 .1 4
+ .4 5
- 4 . 22
- 3 . 92
-1 .3 6
+4.68
+ .3 4
60,931
60, 561
59,219
58, 507
58,690
57,186
57,025
57,235
56, 600
56, 893
-2 .3 9
- .6 1
-2 .2 2
-1 .2 0
+.31
-2 .5 6
- .2 8
+ . 37
-1 .1 1
+ . 52
12,993
12,839
12,863
12, 698
12,426
12,668
12,651
12, 472
12,131
11. 828
- .8 8
-1 .1 9
+ . 19
-1 .2 8
-2 .1 4
+1.95
- . 13
-1 .4 1
-2 .7 3
-2 .5 0
52, 571
51,951
51, 242
50, 402
51,007
49,678
49, 278
49, 349
49,293
50,134
-3 .6 0
-1 .1 8
-1 .3 6
-1 .6 4
+1.20
- 2 . 61
- .8 1
+ .1 4
- .1 1
+1. 71
Decrease October, 1929, to
October, 1930:
Num ber______________
Per cent______________
9,448
21. 55
October________
N ovem ber_____
December______
1930
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9, 366
14.14
[56]
1,-016
7.91
9,243
15. 57
57
E M P L O Y M E N T C O N D IT IO N S A N D R E L IE F
Table 3 shows the number of employees in each occupation in
October, 1929 and October, 1930, the difference in these numbers
and the per cent of difference. Of the 148 occupational groups, all
but 4 show a decrease in employment as between October, 1929, and
October, 1930. The greatest decrease in number was in track and
roadway section laborers, in which group the number decreased from
228,267 to 177,721, or 22.14 per cent. The greatest per cent of
decrease occurred among laborers on extra gangs and work trains
where the number decreased from 81,638 to 40,172, or 50.79 per cent!
the number of bridge and building painters employed declined
45.30 per cent, or from 4,049 to 2,215. Teamsters and stablemen, a
very small group, decreased 45.22 per cent, Gang foremen of extra
gang and work-tram laborers decreased 44.75 per cent, or from 5,690
to 3,144. Asbefore stated, the greatest lay-off of railroad labor in
the year was in maintenance of ways and structures.
shrinkage in road freight engineers and motormen on through
freight trains was 18.2/ per cent, and in road freight brakemen and
flagmen on through freights 17.50 per cent.
Road passenger engineers and motormen decreased 6.49 per centload passenger conductors, 7.01 per cent; and road passenger brakemen and flagmen, 7.91 per cent. The yard employees were also
decreased.
The reason for all of these changes in railroad employment is under
stood when traffic figures are inspected. The Interstate Commerce
Commission reports 44,028,662,000 revenue freight ton-miles hauled
in October, 1929, and 36,218,154,000 revenue ton-miles in October,
1930, a decrease of 17.74 per cent. In October, 1929, the railroads
hauled 2,365,374,000 revenue passenger miles, and in October, 1930,
1,958,885,000 revenue passenger miles, a decrease of 17.18 per cent!
T a b le 3 .—N U M B E R OF E M PL O Y EE S OF CLASS I RAILROADS IN OCTOBER 1929 A N D
OCTOBER, 1930, BY OCCUPATIONS
'
’
[There was a decrease in all but 4 occupations which are noted]
October
Division and occupation
Decrease
1929
1930
N um
ber
Per
cent
Executives, officials, and staff assistants
1. Executives, general officers, and assistants_____
2. D ivision officers, assistants, and staff assistants.._
T otal___________________
7, 696
9, 305
7,597
8,622
99
683
1. 29
7. 34
17, 001
16, 219
782
4.60
3, 605
4,922
4, 558
557
4,928
3,379
4,420
3, 611
535
4,799
226
502
947
22
129
627
10.20
20.78
3.95
2.62
12, 984
13, 264
124, 499
17, 384
8, 332
3, 707
12, 686
12, 470
109, 684
14,161
7, 492
3, 622
298
794
14, 815
3,223
840
85
2. 30
5.99
11.90
18.54
10.08
2.29
Professional, clerical, and general
3.
4.
5.
6.
Architectural, chemical, and engineering assistants (A )_________
Architectural, chemical, and engineering assistants (B)
Subprofessional engineering and laboratory assistants
Professional and subprofessional legal assistants___ ____________
7. Su p erviso ry or ch ief clerks (m ajor departm ents)
_
8. Chief clerks (minor departments) and assistant chief clerks and
supervising cashiers___________
9. C lerks and c lerical specialists (A)
. Clerks (B)
i l cierks (C )_____ r r i T i k k i T ’ k - T h A A T h h A k y y
10
12. M echanical device operators (office)
13. Stenographers and secretaries (A )_________________ A A A A !
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[57]
58
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
T a b l e 3 —N U M B E R OF E M PL O Y EE S OF CLASS I RAILROADS IN OCTOBER, 1929, A N D
OCTOBER, 1930, BY OCCU PA TIO N S—Continued
October
Decrease
D ivision and occupation
1929
I
1930
N um
ber
Per
cent
Professional, clerical, and general—Continued
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22
23!
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
21, 111
3,194
1, 626
1, 867
5, 040
6,147
1, 344
2,219
5,322
2,811
1, 804
7,790
19, 054
2, 976
1, 533
1,719
4, 612
5, 457
1,284
2,186
4,681
2,495
1,843
7,795
15
9.74
6. 83
5. 72
7. 93
8. 49
11.22
4. 46
1.49
12. 04
11.24
12.16
1.06
462
1, 726
435
595
738
2, 223
115
7, 632
462
1,614
407
499
649
2,171
63
7,135
112
28
96
89
52
52
497
6. 49
6. 44
16.13
12. 06
2. 34
45. 22
6. 51
272, 941
245, 494
27, 447
10. 06
Roadmasters and general foremen------ . . . ------------------------------Assistant general foremen------------------------ --------------------- ------Supervising maintenance of w ay inspectors and scale inspectors..
Maintenance of w ay inspectors—— . ------------------------------------Bridge and building gang foremen (skilled labor)--------------------Bridge and building ca rp en ters....----------------------------- ------ Bridge and building iron workers---------------- ------------------------Bridge and building painters------------- --------- ----- ------------------Masons, bricklayers, plasterers, and plumbers------------------------Skilled trades helpers------- --------------------------------------------------Regular apprentices________________________________________
Portable steam equipment operators_________________________
Portable steam equipment operator helpers---------------------------Pumping equipment operators---------------------------------------------Gang foremen (extra gang and work-train laborers)___________
Gang foremen (bridge and building signal and telegraph laborers)
Gang or section foremen________________________ ______
Laborers (extra gang and work-train)---- --------- --------------.
Track and roadway section laborers---------- -------- -----------Maintenance of w ay laborers (other than track and roadway) and
gardeners and farmers_____________________________________
General foremen and supervising inspectors (signal, telegraph,
and electrical transmission)-----------------------------------------------Assistant general foremen (signal, telegraph and electrical trans
mission) and signal and telegraph inspectors._______________
Gang foremen (signal and telegraph skilled trades labor)_______
Signalmen and signal maintainers._________ _________________
Linemen and groundmen______ _____ ______________ ____ ____
Assistant signalmen and assistant signal maintainers__________
Signalmen and signal maintenance helpers......................................
3,420
403
347
840
5, 756
23, 856
1, 145
4, 049
2, 339
12, 890
55
3, 012
1,125
4, 296
5, 690
534
39, 944
81, 638
228,267
3,209
382
333
768
4, 803
19,197
1, 047
2, 215
1,976
8,761
59
2,529
831
3, 724
3,144
421
38, 856
40,172
177, 721
211
21
14
72
953
4,659
98
1, 834
363
4,129
6.17
5. 21
4.03
8. 57
16. 56
19.53
8.56
45. 30
15. 52
32. 03
483
294
572
2, 546
113
1,088
41, 466
50, 546
16.04
26. 13
13.31
44. 75
21. 16
2. 72
50. 79
22.14
9, 070
6,406
2,664
29.37
576
575
1
.17
794
1, 600
9, 794
2, 908
3, 340
4,993
746
1,458
8, 993
2,593
2,690
3,447
48
142
801
315
650
1, 546
6. 05
8.88
8. 18
10.83
19. 46
30.96
.
452,681
Stenographers and typists (B )----------------------------------------------Storekeepers, sales agents, and buyers-----------------------------------Ticket agents and assistant ticket agents--------------------------------Traveling auditors or accountants-----------------------------------------Telephone switchboard operators and office assistants--------------Messengers and office boys---------------------------------------------------Elevator operators and other office attendants------------------------Lieutenants and sergeants of police-------------------------------- ------Patrolmen
______ ____ _____ __ __ ____________________
Watchmen "(without police authority)---------- ------------------------Supervising traffic agents------------------ --------- -------------------------Traffic agents, advertising and development agents-----------------Fire-prevention, smoke, and time-service inspectors, and office
building superintendents---------------------- — — —.-----------------Claim agents and claim investigators_________________________
Real estate and tax agents and investigators---------------------------Examiners, instructors and special investigators---------------------Miscellaneous trades workers (other than plumbers)----------------Motor-vehicle and motor-car operators_______________________
Teamsters and stablemen----- ------- ---------------------------------------Janitors and cleaners-----------------------------------------------------------Total _
2,057
218
93
148
428
690
60
33
641
316
13 9
Maintenance of way and structures
Total.
14 17.27
1 337,056 115, 625 25. 54
Maintenance of equipment and stores
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
General foremen (M. E .)_____________________________ _
Assistant general foremen and department foremen (M . E .).
General foremen (stores)------------ ------ ----------------------------Assistant general foremen (stores)________________________
Equipment, shop, and electrical inspectors (M . E .) ..--------Material and supplies inspectors---- --------------------------------Gang foremen and gang leaders (skilled labor)____________
Blacksmiths______ ____________________________________
Boilermakers................................................................................—
1 Increase.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[58]
1,406
10, 460
308
183
1, 555
1,825
9, 857
7,784
16,098
1, 328
9,715
299
158
1,267
1,449
8,641
6,152
13,694
78
745
9
25
288
376
1,216
1,632
2,404
5. 55
7. 12
2. 92
13. 66
18. 52
20.60
12. 34
20.97
14. 93
59
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RELIEF
T a b l e 3 .—N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S O F C L A S S I R A IL R O A D S I N O C T O B E R , 1929, A N D
O C T O B E R , 1930, B Y O C C U P A T IO N S — C o n tin u e d
O ctober
D ecrease
D iv isio n a n d occupation
1929
1930
N um ber
Per
ce n t
Maintenance of equipment and stores—C o n tin u e d
Carmen (A )._________________ ____ ______________
Carmen (B)__________ ____________________________ ’ ’’
Carmen (C )___ _____ ____________________________
Carmen (D )________________________________________ ~
Electrical workers (A )_______________________________ ’
Electrical workers (B )________ __________ ____ ________
Electrical workers (C )____________ ______ ____ _________
M achinists____ _____________________
Molders___________________________________________
Sheet-metal workers_______________________________II
Skilled trades helpers (M. E. and stores)._____________
Helper apprentices (M . E. and stores)_________________
Regular apprentices (M . E. and stores)___________________
Gang foremen laborers (shops, engine houses, power plants, and
sto r es)...________ ___________ _____ ______ _______________
Coach cleaners__________________________________________ ~~
Laborers (shops, engine houses, and power plants")......... I ll
Common laborers (shops, engine houses, power plants, and stores)
Stationary engineers (steam)_______________________
Stationary firemen and oilers (steam and electrical plants)!........
Coal passers and water tenders (steam-station boiler rooms)___
T o t a l . .. . ______________________
19, 361
3, 770
76,445
2, 009
7, 359
2, 854
275
54,836 ~
1,043
10, 942
102, 243
4,463
10,582
15, 473
2,963
60, 049
1,352
6, 839
2,695
284
47, 960
933
9, 399
83,159
3,136
8,032
3,888
807
16, 396
657
520
159
i9
6,876
110
1, 543
19, 084
1,327
2,550
20.08
21.41
21.45
32.70
7. 07
5. 57
13. 27
12.54
10.55
14. 10
18. 67
29. 73
24.10
3, 786
12, 070
37, 383
52, 634
2, 328
4, 539
446
3, 228
10, 977
31,955
41, 123
2,147
4,025
362
558
1, 093
5, 428
11,511
181
514
84
14. 74
9. 06
14. 52
21. 87
7. 77
11. 32
18.83
458, 844
378, 794
80, 050
17. 45
5,279
2,452
5,157
3, 054
18, 590
881
13, 330
23, 351
519
125
693
8,420
4,869
2,427
4, 866
2,944
18, 234
857
11,668
21, 230
475
123
633
7,426
410
25
291
110
356
24
1, 662
2,121
44
2
60
994
7. 77
1. 02
5. 64
3. 60
1. 92
2.72
12.47
9.08
8. 48
1. 60
8. 66
11. 81
Transportation (other than train, engine, and yard)
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
111 .
112 .
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
Chief train dispatchers, train dispatchers and train directors
Station agents (supervisory, major stations, non telegraphers)
Station agents (supervisory, smaller stations, nontelegraphers) __
Station agents (nonsupervisory, smaller stations, nontelegraphers)
Station agents (telegraphers and telephoners)__________
Chief telegraphers and telephoners or wire chiefs...................
Clerk telegraphers and clerk telephoners____________________ '
Telegraphers and telephoners and towermen________________ I
Station masters and assistants___________________________
Supervising baggage agents__________________________I I I I I
Baggage agents and assistants___________________________ ~~~
Baggage, parcel room, and station attendants_____ ____
General foremen (freight station, warehouse, grain elevators, and
docks)__________________ _______ ____________________
Assistant general foremen, (freight stations, warehouses! "grain
elevators, and docks)____ ____ ________________________
Gang foremen (freight station, warehouse, grain elevator, and
dock labor)______________________________________________
Callers, loaders, scalers, sealers, and perishable freight inspectors!
Truckers (stations, warehouses, and platforms)_________ _____
Laborers (coal and ore docks, and grain elevators)_________
Common laborers (stations, warehouses, platforms, and grain
elevators)__________________________________________
Stewards, restaurant and lodging-house managers, and dining-car
supervisors)________________ ____ _______ ___
Chefs and first cooks (dining cars and restaurants)______ I I I I I "
Second and third cooks (dining cars and restaurants)_______
Waiters and lodging-house attendants____________________
Camp and crew cooks and kitchen helpers_______________I I I I I '
Barge, lighter, and gasoline launch officers and workers________
Deck officers (ferry boats and towing vessels)____________
Engine-room officers (ferry boats and towing vessels)____
Deck and engine-room workers (ferry boats and towing vessels).
Deck and engine-room officers and workers (steamers). . _
Floating equipment shore workers and attendants_______
Transportation and dining service inspectors____________
Parlor and sleeping car conductors_____________________
Train attendants_____________________________________
Bridge operators and helpers___________________________
Crossing and bridge flagmen and gatemen_______I I I I I I I I I
Foremen (laundry) and laundry workers________________
T o t a l..._____________________
1In crea se
2 9 3 3 4 ° — 31-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[5 9 ]
520
497
23
4. 42
402
353
49
12.19
3, 538
15, 714
36, 849
1, 590
3,263
13, 023
28, 266
1, 378
275
2,691
8,583
212
7. 77
17.12
23. 29
13. 33
5,405
4, 752
653
12.08
1,846
1,716
2,976
7, 433
4,042
2,049
945
872
4,333
967
887
944
40
3, 349
1, 296
20, 470
455
1, 668
1, 569
2,712
6,547
3, 094
1,643
861
817
3,942
705
855
847
36
2,996
1,275
19, 523
398
178
147
264
886
948
406
84
55
391
262
32
97
4
353
21
947
57
9.64
8. 57
8. 87
11. 92
23. 45
19.81
8.89
6. 31
9.02
27.09
3. 61
10.28
10.00
10.54
1.62
4. 63
12. 53
200, 489
176, 772
23, 717
11.83
60
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 3 —N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S O F C L A S S I R A IL R O A D S I N O C T O B E R , 1929, A N D
O C T O B E R , 1930, B Y O C C U P A T IO N S —C o n tin u e d
O ctober
D ecrease
D iv isio n a n d o ccupation
1929
1930
N um
b er
Per
cent
Transportation ( yardmasters, switch tenders, and hostlers)
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
Y a rd m a s te rs a n d a s s is ta n ts.
S w itch te n d e rs ------------------O u tsid e h o stle rs----------------In s id e h o stle rs-------------------O u tsid e h o stle r h e lp e rs ------T o ta L
7,006
5, 321
2,145
5, 818
1,655
6,126
4, 725
1,906
5, 335
1, 533
880
596
239
483
122
12. 56
21, 945
19, 625
2, 320
10. 57
9,964
1,328
15, 755
9, 642
5, 401
12,844
35, 728
23, 649
22, 895
55, 542
12, 458
21, 305
9, 671
22,825
11, 297
22, 703
9,693
23, 258
9, 266
1, 280
12, 581
8,517
5,127
11, 828
29,474
20, 660
19, 597
47, 758
11, 649
17, 413
8, 594
19, 237
10,434
19, 057
8,748
19, 783
698
48
3,174
1,125
274
1, 016
6,254
2,989
3,298
7,784
809
3,892
1, 077
3, 588
863
3, 646
945
3,475
7.01
3. 61
20.15
11.67
5. 07
7.91
17.50
12. 64
14. 40
14.01
6. 49
18. 27
11.14
15. 72
7.64
16.06
9. 75
14. 94
325,958
281,003
44, 955
13.79
11.20
11.14
8. 30
7. 37
Transportation (train and engine service)
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
Road passenger conductors----------------------------------------------Assistant road passenger conductors and ticket collectors-----Road freight conductors (through freight)--------------------------Road freight conductors (local and w ay freight)------------------Road passenger baggagemen------------------------------------- ------Road passenger brakemen and flagmen-----------------------------Road freight brakemen and flagmen (through freight)---------Road freight brakemen and flagmen (local and w ay freight) - Yard conductors and yard foremen-----------------------------------Yard brakemen and yard helpers_________________________
Road passenger engineers and motormen------ ------ -------------Road freight engineers and motormen (through freight)------Road freight engineers and motormen (local and w ay freight) —
Yard engineers and motormen-----------------------------------------Road passenger firemen and helpers------- -------------------------Road freight firemen and helpers (through freight) - _----------Road freight firemen and helpers (local and w ay freight)-----Yard firemen and helpers________________________________
T o ta l_______ _____________________________________________
G ra n d to t a l___________________________________________________ 1, 749,859 1,454,963 ¡294,896 I 16. 85
Six-H our Day A dopted By Large F ood M a n u fa ctu r in g C o m p a n y
N AN effort to help relieve the unemployment situation, the
Kellogg Co., of Battle Creek, Mich., reduced its working-day from
8 hours to 6, effective December 1, according to a press announce
ment by the president of the company. The plant will continue
operating 24 hours a day, the reduction in hours per shift permitting
the employment of approximately 25 per cent more workers. The
base rate of pay was to be increased 12% per cent, making the new
minimum wage rate for male employees $4 a day and the average daily
wage about $5.40. The reduction in. hours was commented upon as
follows by the president of the Kellogg Co.:
I
T he p la n has been u n d er serious consideration by M r. W. K. K ellogg and
o th er executives for m an y weeks, th e change h av in g been decided upo n only
a fte r long a n d careful stu d y . W e are receiving th e w hole-hearted cooperation
of our em ployees in our desire to give m ore w ork to m ore people.
W hile a c tu a lly reducing th e n u m b er of w orking hours, we will in a d d itio n have
increased th e base ra te p er h o u r of o u r em ployees 12% p er cent, m eaning t h a t
even w ith th e sh o rter w orking period a n d th e g reater o p p o rtu n ity for recreation
an d en jo y m en t— th e a c tu a l p urchasing pow er of our em ployees’ dollar com pared
w ith la s t y ear will be greater.
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L oans for th e U n em p loyed
PLAN to help its employees during the present business depressmn, by means of loans, has been announced by the International
Harvester Co., of Chicago, according to the Iron Age (New York) for
November 20, 1930. It is reported that these loans will be made,
without interest, to the workers who have been or may be laid off
and are expecting to return later to the employ of the company, the
loans to be paid oft in small installments after the employees have
resumed work.
A
R eport and R e c o m m e n d a tio n s of New York C o m m itte e on
S ta b iliza tio n of In d u stry
N NOVEMBER 13, 1930, the Committee on Stabilization of
Industry for the Prevention of Unemployment,1 which was
appointed by the Governor of New York in March, 1930, submitted
its second leport. ^This body has held conferences with employers
and leaders of public opinion in various parts of the State, collected
data on stabilization projects, studied the experience of this and
other countries, and promoted the organization of community groups
to grapple with local unemployment problems. According to the
committee any adequate program for dealing with unemployment
must include the regularization of industry, a thoroughly organized
labor market, and some measure of security for the worker and his
^?l??n(^en^s periods when he finds himself jobless through no fault
ol his own. The full text of Part I 3 of this report follows:
O
Chief Causes of Unemployment
T h e chief types of unemployment are four: Seasonal, cyclical
technological,_ and_ chronic. Seasonal unemployment seems to be
half the principal single cause of the total volume and is caused either
by uneven purchasing by ultimate consumers or by weather condi
tions which affect production. Thus the fact that men tend to buy
their clothes spring and fall means that the retail sales are sharply
peaked at these seasons. Retailers are reluctant to order clothes
greatly in advance and this in turn causes factory sales to fluctuate
irregularly. This affects factory production and causes men to be
laid off in the idle seasons. The fact that most consumers buy their
automobiles in the spring and early summer causes automobile and
accessory factories to diminish their working forces during the last
half of the year. And so with other industries, such as candy mak
ing, book printing, furniture, fertilizer, and farm machinery manu1actuie. Fluctuations in industries producing consumers’ o'oods
create irregular demand for raw materials and spread seasonal unem
ployment through the textile, leather, and other industries.
Most of these irregularities can be traced back to changes in the
weather. These also affect production directly as well as indirectlv
a w i „ ip T f el ° , r the committee is as follows: Henry Bruere (chairman), Ernest G Draner Maxwell
S Wheeler John Sullivan, Henry H. Stebbins, jr.,and Frances Perkins ; Paul H Douglas technical a d v is o r
l gor preliminary report, see Labor Review for August, 1930, p. 26.
g ’teeJ2mcal advlsorf i U U +u pnnted separately, contains detailed description of various stabilization and insurance nrnctices with which industries m the United States are attacking the problem of unemployment.
P
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Canning, for example, is at present largely confined to the season
when crops mature. Building and general construction is greatly
reduced during the winter and this helps create alternate busy and
slack seasons in woodworking, stone, cement and glass.
Business is not regular in its course but moves through cycles of
prosperity, recession, depression, and revival. At the low point in
a major cycle, employment in the industrial lines will range from 12 to
18 per cent less than at corresponding seasons in good years. Despite
the large amount of research into the nature of the business cycle,
causes of depression and boom are complex, changing, and accidental,
and have not been any more definitely isolated than have the pauses
of cancer. We do, however, know far more about ways in which we
might lessen the severity of these cyclical swings than we put into
effect.
Although the menace of unemployment resulting from labor-saving
devices or changes in the art of manufacture may have been ex
aggerated in the minds of the workers affected, it is well known that
improvements in technical production do cause labor displacement.
While ultimately these workers may be absorbed, there frequently
is an intervening period of unemployment which causes much suffer
ing and which must be mitigated.
Chronic unemployment mainly results from the practice of indi
vidual plants maintaining a labor reserve to meet their busiest days
and seasons. This may be expected to continue until a better
organization of the labor market is effected, which, by pooling the
reserves, will release the present duplicate reserve staffs for other
employment.
What Can Be Done?
S u c h being the main causes of unemployment, Iiow can we grapple
with them? We should like first to emphasize the role business can
play in reducing seasonal employment. Because consumer demand
for a product is irregular it does not invariably follow that the volume
of production and of employment at the factory must follow suit.
The example of a large number of firms, including many which we
have studied in this State, shows, on the contrary, that employment
can be regularized for many more products than is commonly believed.
The four chief means of regularization, one or more of which are
employed by many business concerns are: I. Stimulating consumer
and dealer demand during the off season. II. Scheduling production
so that employment will be fairly evenly distributed throughout the
year despite the fluctuations in sales. III. Developing side-line and
filler products for the slack seasons. IV. Using a flexible workingday rather than alternately hiring and laying off workers. Each of
these methods will now be discussed in turn.
I. Stimulating Consumer and Dealer Demand in the Off Season
At first thought, this possible outlet would seem to be diminishing
because of the increased practice of hand-to-mouth buying. While
this is a very real obstacle, some firms have at least in part overcome
it. The International Shoe Co. was in the past able to secure ad
vance orders from its dealers by guaranteeing that if prices later rose,
the prices on such deliveries would not, but that if prices fell, the
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dealers would get the benefit of the reduction. The American
Radiator Co. has stimulated off-season sales by quoting winter
prices 5 per cent below those of the late summer and early fall.
Some large firms which have a dominant position in their industry
have changed consumers’ habits by advertising. The Hills Bros.
Co., who pack Dromedary dates, have extended the holiday demand
for their product by pointing out year-round possibilities for the use
of dates. The Sherwin-Williams Co. has conducted campaigns to
stimulate fall and winter painting. The Coca Cola Co. has made
that drink a year-round product by constant advertising.
Small businesses can not by themselves effect such changes in the
habits of consumers but joint effort through trade associations secures
results. This is shown by the campaigns of the allied paint manu
facturers to build up fall and winter business and bv the successful
way florists have taught us to “ Say it with flowers.”
It may be objected that such efforts merely transfer purchasing
power and thus^ stabilize one industry at the cost of disorganizing
others. But this overlooks the fact (1) that building up seasonal
valleys means at the same time reducing seasonal peaks. This is
clear in the case of price discounts and is probably generally true
even in off-season advertising. If more painting is done in the fall,
it is likely in the long run that less will be done in the spring; (2)
even when the total business of a company or industry is increased
and the sales of other firms diminished, these industries can in part
protect themselves by fighting back with similar tactics to protect
their slack seasons. ^ The result may be a socially wasteful multi
plication of advertising in some instances, but also it may mean a
greater^ stability of operations for both industries, and hence greater
regularity of employment which is the end most desired.
II. Scheduling Production
This is by far the most common device which is now being used to
keep employment fairly evenly distributed through the year. Among
the prominent New York companies which are using this method to
regularize operations are the Eastman Kodak Co., International
Harvester Co., Auto Strop Razor Co., Procter & Gamble, Ithaca
Gun Co., Sterling Engine Co., Remington-Rand Co., Remington
Typewriter Co., Agfa-Ansco Co., Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.,
Spencer Lens Co., Neptune Meter Co., W. & L. E. Gurley Co.,
Sheridan Iron Works, Otis Elevator Co., Richardson-Boynton Co.,
Griffin Manufacturing Co., Oneida Community, Gorham Silver Co.,
Kirkman & Sons, Hickey, Freeman Co., S. S. White Co., Elite Glove
Co., Columbia Mills, Knox H at Co., Hills Bros. Co. In nearly all
of these cases the following steps have been taken: (1) An estimated
sales budget for the year is drawn up in advance based on past records
and the reasonable prospects ahead. (2) As nearly as possible, this
yearly quota is divided into 12 monthly or 52 weekly parts; goods are
produced in this ratio and surpluses over current sales are stored to
meet the demands of the rush seasons. (3) The estimated sales
quota is checked several times during the year against actual sales.
If the budget proves to be above actual sales, production is dimin
ished. If realized sales exceed the budget quotas production is in
creased. If the forecasting has been competently done, however,
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the error from purely seasonal causes should not be large, although
cyclical fluctuations will continue to cause trouble. Even when the
forecasts go somewhat awry, however, production and employment
is in most cases better stabilized than before ^the sales budget was
adopted. In some cases, such as the Eastman Kodak Co. and Bausch
& Bomb, the accuracy of the forecasts has resulted in a curve of
employment almost identical with the planned curve and has been
kept so from season to season in normal years. I t is much more
difficult for a factory producing numerous lines to carry through a
program of planned production than for a concern producing only a
few products. Estimates will have to be made for each product and
the possibilities of error in forecasting will multiply with the number
of different articles to be marketed. It is therefore desirable for
firms when beginning a program of budgeting and regularized em
ployment to attempt to standardize their products. Sometimes they
can reduce the number of kinds with profit. This was done by the
Knox H at Co., when it began to stabilize production, and it has
appreciably helped the business. Despite obvious difficulties great
success in forecasting and in stabilizing has been obtained by some
firms which produce a multiplicity of products. The Eastman Kodak
Co. is an outstanding example of scientific control of production
through sales research and budgeting and is worthy of study by every
business man having a problem of irregular production and fluctuat
ing employment.
Even when a formal budget has not been drawn up, we discovered
many firms which make a practice of manufacturing to stock during
the dull seasons. We have received letters from 36 prominent manu
facturers who follow this custom, in whose plants informal estimates
of probable future sales were made. Doubtless many other concerns
in the State, not brought to pur attention, make a practice of manu
facturing to stock. Regularizing production in this manner involves
the necessity for coordinating sales plans and production and utilizing
past experiences as a guide to future planning. It necessitates tem
pering optimism with caution. The attempt to regularize produc
tion in this fashion becomes, therefore, a part of the general movement
to obtain better management in which every industrial investor and
employee looks to management to participate.
III. Introducing Side Lines and Fillers
The historical partnership of coal and ice—an alliance badly
damaged at present by the illness of the junior partner—is the classic
example of this method of reducing seasonality. The International
Harvester Co. has taken on a varied line to keep its factories busy
the year round at the approximate level of its spring peak. The
Remington Arms Co. has experimented similarly to overcome the
tendency to concentrate production in the fall. The Welch Grape
Juice Co., by adding jelly and a fountain syrup to its line of grape
juice and grape spread, has been able to prolong employment. The
Beechnut Co., by packing peanut butter and other products, has
greatly modified the alternate floods and droughts which normally
characterize most food-packing industries. The New York Quinine
& Chemical Works is also able to produce fairly steadily during the
year because its products have different seasonal peaks. Even in
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the clothing industry seasonal fluctuations have been coped with by
some firms. The Dutchess Manufacturing Co. makes up standard
boys’ garments when the season is slack for other garments, and the
H. A. Dix Comnanufac ures nurses’ dresses and uniforms during the
months when its line of house dresses is in little demand. It is not
enough, however, merely to develop side lines in order to maintain
steady employment. It is also necessary to transfer workers from
the main products to the fillers, and this in many cases requires
additional training. The Michael-Stearns and the Hickey, Freeman
Co., of Rochester, have both developed such flexibility to a very high
degree.
In developing side lines, care is taken to select products which are
adapted to the company’s machinery, fixed capital, its sales policy and
the skill of its workers. It would, for example, be ridiculous for an
ice-cream manufacturer to produce sleds because the seasons for the
two dovetailed. But it would be highly sensible for him to make
candy to take up the slack of the winter months. In other words,
the new product must be such as can in general be made with the
same machinery, marketed by the same selling force, and manu
factured at not too great cost approximately by the same working
force. To determine what new products should thus be taken on
calls for a very high quality of management. Not only must engi
neering knowledge be applied to determine the fitness of the plan for
the product in question but the sales opportunities must be carefully
analyzed as well.
IV. Using the Flexible Working-Day Instead of the Lay-Off
This method of meeting the seasonal peaks is used by the Delaware
& Hudson Railway when the working time is varied between 8 and
10 hours a day, according to the demands of business. In this way
permanent workers put in up to 10 or 12 hours extra a week to handle
the fall increase in traffic, and at other times work only 48 hours, and
sometimes only 32 hours a week. This practice is used in one form
or another by a number of plants, including many canneries and the
National Cloak & Suit Co., and has much to recommend it. If the
total yearly hours are not excessive, it is better for a constant number
of workers to be employed for a flexible number of hours per week
than for a very fluctuating number of workers to be employed for a
constant number of hours per week. The plan has, however, two
dangers: (a) Ability to work employees overtime during the rush
seasons may discourage employers from trying to iron out fluctuations
in production and hence lessen the possibility of evening the number
of man-hours worked and earnings received in the respective months;
(b) overtime in some cases may be excessive and cause undue fatigue.
Such a policy will, therefore, be better for a plant with a 44 or 48 hour
basic week than for one where the standard week is already 54 or 60
hours. It is also desirable that overtime work should not be carried on
for too long a time.
Many firms believe that such policies as we have mapped out, while
socially desirable, would not pay them individually because of the
added storage and interest charges which planned production entails.
I t is the common practice of most business men who have not yet
regularized their employment to use this argument as an excuse for
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their own inertia. The firms, however, which have regularized
production find that such a program has brought economies which
decidedly outweigh the costs. These economies are of four main
kinds:
(1) The costs of hiring and maintaining large numbers of untrained
workers for short periods of time. It is costly to hire new workers
to meet the peak periods, since they are unaccustomed to the work.
In consequence in all save unskilled work, the newly hired employees
will, on the average, have low production and high spoilage. A New
York manufacturing firm has stated to us that it finds “ new em
ployees,” even though they are what is known to the trade as skilled
mechanics, are not even 40 per cent efficient for the first six months.
Another manufacturer who has stabilized production writes that in
his opinion “ it is impossible to produce the goods as fast as they are
sold during the season. If one does, it means overtime, high pressure,
and poor work with the consequent loss of sales by not having the
goods ready when wanted, and also having a loss of customers on
account of poor work due to high pressure and green help. This
surely is not good business, and such a loss amounts to_ more than
the loss of interest on money represented by goods held in store.”
By keeping steady work all the year round, costs^are reduced by
having experienced workers turn out the product. With the stability
of jobs assured, the only part of labor turnover which remains is that
due to the instability of men.
(2) By reducing the fixed capital charge per unit of product, if an
appreciable increase is made in the working force to meet seasonal
peaks, additional capital in the form of machinery and floor space
must be provided. When the busy season passes, men can be laid
off but not capital. Interest and depreciation charges upon this idle
capital will have to be met out of the product of the occupied portion
and unit costs will be higher than if the capital were fully employed
throughout the year. It thus becomes possible through regularization
to turn out the same annual output with a smaller quantity of fixed
capital, and so reduce interest charges for this form of capital. One
New York concern stated this advantage:
If we produce a t th e sam e ra te t h a t our goods a re sold, our fa c to ry w ould h av e
to be equipped to h an d le o u r m ax im u m d em and. D u ring slow periods o u r m a
chinery w ould be idle or w orking a t a sm all p ercen tag e cap acity . O ur fa cto ry
is n o t equipped to h an d le o u r business du rin g p eak seasons. W e know t h a t to
g eth er w ith less space now req u ired we effect considerable saving.
Another firm stated to the commission that it was able to meet
its peak load with a plant which was one-fourth smaller than it would
have been had they [not] produced stock during the months when sales
were slack.
It may be objected to this that, since most firms already have capital
equipment to care for their peak load, regularization of output
would merely mean that a portion of the plant would be idle through
out the year instead of it being entirely used at some periods and
much less at others. Regularization, it is thus claimed, would neither
reduce the total of fixed charges nor the amount for each unit of
output.
But such a contention ignores the fact that a business can contract
its total capacity by not replacing machines which depreciate or
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become obsolete and in many cases by disposing of some of its floor
space to other firms. Even if the volume of business remains con
stant, establishments can through regularization reduce their unit
costs. If their business expands, they can provide for this growth
factor from what would otherwise have been the unused capital
equipment in the slack months. In short, the policy of regulariza
tion will generally mean a decrease in the cost of fixed capital.
While more space will have to be provided in the warehouse, less
space wull have to be provided in the factory; and the savings in the
latter are likely to be appreciably greater than the losses in the
former, since factory space is filled with costly machinery and there
fore has a higher value per cubic foot than warehouse facilities. On
the other hand, there is often a substantial interest loss on highvalue goods, and in such cases there may be no business justification
for regularizing output. No general rules can be framed to apply
to all cases.
(3) Where work is irregular and uncertain, firms find it necessary
to pay an hourly rate above the average in order to attract an ade
quate and fairly competent staff of workers. Workers want security
and assurance of regular work, and all but the reckless or shiftless
generally prefer to work for a firm which gives continuous employ
ment than for others whose hourly rates may be somewhat higher
but where the workers are never sure of next week’s work. Regulari
zation should therefore mean lower unit labor costs as well as lower
fixed capital charges. One company reported to us that because it
gave steady employment it was able to pay an hourly rate which
was 10 to 15 per cent below the market average.
In these gains labor benefits as well as employers. The greater
volume of employment during the year appreciably outbalances the
lower hourly rate. The worker thus obtains an increased annual
income at the same time that the employer reduces his unit costs.
(4) Regularization lessens the conscious and unconscious restriction
of output op the part of the workers. In industries where work is
irregular it is the almost universal tendency for employees to slacken
their efforts as they see off seasons approaching. By reducing their
effectiveness they can make such work as they have last longer and
can postpone the day when they are unemployed. Next to the fear
of having the piece rate cut, the fear of unemployment is probably
the chief cause of withheld effort. The evil effects of unemployment
are therefore only partly visible; like an iceberg they lie mostlv
below the surface.
This tendency to soldier on the job may be partially checked by
efficiency systems and by piece rates, but as long as the workers have
unemployment to fear it will continue. Regularization would mean
the elimination of most of the important causes of unemployment—
namely, the seasonal factor—and by assuring the workers of their
jobs would enable them to work harder without fear of “ working
themselves out of a job.”
There is much reason, therefore, for business to set itself vigor
ously to the task of regularizing production. The social need, the
economic advantages, and the practical methods of stabilization must
be called to the attention of business managers everywhere. Those
who seek to reduce unemployment should seek the cordial interest
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and cooperation of employers. That is one of the chief tasks which
we have set ourselves, and by means of conferences in various cities
of the State we have sought to stir the interest of business men in the
practical achievement of those who come to these conferences to de
scribe the successful methods of stabilization which they follow.
Trade associations and local chambers of commerce might well make
stabilization of operations one of their major concerns. Some have
done so, notably the Rochester chamber. Trade associations par
ticularly should study the problems of their individual industries
with a view to determining how production and employment can best
be regularized. The State could be of service to small businesses
which can not afford a specialized research staff by having two or
more competent industrial engineers or experienced administrators
who will place their knowledge and experience at the disposal of
plants which wish to regularize. Such experts should under no con
ditions be political appointees but should be secured after consulta
tion with well-recognized associations of engineers and managers.
Under such safeguards we believe that a competent advisory staff
could be of great service to industry and labor in the State. We
recommend that it be attached to the department of labor.
All Unemployment Can N ot be Cured by Regularization
W e w o u l d be guilty of false optimism, however, if we were to
conclude that all industries can be regularized by such methods. If
one classifies the industries which have been able to put into effect
production to stock under planned policies, one finds that they fall
into one or more of the following classes: (1) Those producing a
standardized product such as soap, dates, silverware, standard parts,
etc. Soap may be stored during the winter for summer sales with no
fear on the part of the manufacturer that by that time it will be out
of style; (2) those with highly skilled workers where it is very im
portant to retain a steady staff, such as plants manufacturing measur
ing instruments, optical works, etc.; (3) those where the product is
quasimonopolized and where the manufacturer can accordingly resist
pressure from dealers; (4) those where storage costs per dollar of
value are not excessively high. Such industries are important but
there are many others which do not fall into these four categories.
In those which do not, the elimination of seasonal fluctuations is at
present almost impossible.
This is particularly true in industries where styles change rapidly,
as in the manufacture of clothing and shoes and more particularly in
the women’s branches of both of theseindustries. Women’s clothing
stocks are almost as perishable as radishes or celery. A style which
seems good one week may be displaced by another the following
week. In an industry such as this, with small and highly competitive
plants, it is suicide for a firm to manufacture goods to stock. A
manufacturer must instead produce after the orders have been given
him by retailers or jobbers. With the increase of hand-to-mouth
buying, the volume of individual orders is becoming smaller and the
time allowed for delivery shorter. Some relief might be found by
following the H. A. Dix Co., which manufactures standardized
garments during the slack seasons, but as the desire for more indi
vidualized dress on the part of women increases, the practicability ot
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this outlet has steadily diminished. Women’s shoes have become
almost as disorganized in their styles as women’s clothing, and the in
crease of the style factor has compelled the International Shoe Co.
largely to abandon its former program of stabilization.
Weather Changes Will Continue to Cause Unemployment
I t is also true that while we can mitigate we can not entirely re
move the direct influence of the weather in causing unemployment.
More building is now done in the winter than was formerly believed
possible, but even at best the inclemencies of winter weather in this
State will always cause a considerable amount of unemployment.
Such stoppage of work will not only affect workers in the building
trades but will cause irregularities in industries producing building
materials. Such goods are bulky and have high storage costs. This
will continue to serve as a deterrent against large quantities being
produced to stock. The canning of food can be better regularized
than it is to-day but it is idle to hope that in the predictable future
all unevenness can be ironed away.
We must, therefore, face the fact that while good management can
reduce it can not cure seasonal unemployment and that even if in
dustry were to set itself to the task with far more energy than it has
shown in the past a considerable amount of seasonal unemployment
would exist.
Cyclical Unemployment
periods of cyclical unemployment individual firms are to a
large degree helpless to overcome the numerous factors that create
depression. Some business men have argued that by indulging in
more advertising during depressions and by releasing new products,
stabilization can be effected. But such a policy at best can only be
practiced by firms producing specialty goods." It is patently im
practicable for producers of standardized consumers’ goods or of
capital goods who are of course most severely hit by periods of
depression. Furthermore, the increase in business which the specialty
firm may obtain is primarily at the expense of other industries and
hence does not help in the general solution. The ultimate control of
the business cycle is in our opinion still a long way off. It probably
involves some form of international action governing the supply of
money and credit which will stabilize the general price level and so
prevent those fluctuations which encourage business to peak activity
during periods of prosperity and discourage it from production
during periods of depression.
The State and municipal governments are not as helpless in these
emergencies as are private industries. They can time their public
works so that an appreciable volume of additional work can be under
taken as private business slackens. In order to do this adequately,
however, it is necessary for the State and the municipalities to draw
up long-time programs of improvements and to obtain authoriza
tions for the necessary bond issue. Considerable progress has been
made in framing such programs for the State and for certain branches
of the city governments in the State,_but there needs to be a general
adoption ol the idea by all the municipalities. As a depression ap
proaches, the State and local authorities could accelerate construcD u r in g
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tion and thus afford a considerable measure of relief. In order to do
this effectively, however, there should be coordinated action on the
part of the State and municipalities and we suggest that the State
government assume the initiative in setting up a State planning board
which will be headed by the State director of public works and include
the responsible executives of the chief cities and counties of the State.
Added construction by private business during periods of depres
sion will also be of assistance. Because of lower material and labor
costs and the lower rates of interest such a policy will in many cases
prove to be actually economical for the large enterprises.
It has been a common practice during this depression for firms to
work the major portion of their force part time instead of laying off
a large portion completely and having the remainder work full time.
Out of 598 firms with a total force of 180,000 which replied to a ques
tionnaire we addressed to 1,400 manufacturing concerns, 157 employ
ing 61,000 workers explicitly stated that they were following this
policy. This sharing of work during periods of depression we heartily
indorse. Less hardship is occasioned the employed group by having
their incomes somewhat reduced than for some to be totally de
prived of earnings, and employers are enabled to keep their forces
more nearly intact for the period of revival which sooner or later
must follow.
Technological Unemployment
W h il e u lt im a t e ly th e w o r k e r s d is p la c e d b y im p r o v e m e n ts in
m a c h in e r y or in m a n a g e m e n t m a y fin d w o r k , t h e in t e r v e n in g p e r io d
o f u n e m p lo y m e n t is lik e ly to b e o n e r o u s a n d w h e n n e w w o r k is fo u n d
i t is o f t e n a t a s a c r ific e in e a r n in g s .
Ways must be found therefore to lighten the burden which society
now compels the workers to bear alone as the price of industrial
progress. The following methods are now being used by some con
cerns and deserve to be much more widely copied.
1. Technological changes are planned especially with a view to
minimizing the resulting displacement of labor; improvements are
introduced gradually instead of in revolutionary fashion and are
especially furthered during periods of prosperity.
2. When it is necessary to reduce the working force because of
technical changes such reduction is affected by not replacing normal
losses due to death, superannuation, separation, etc., rather than
through outright dismissal. This is the policy followed by the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
3. A dismissal wage is paid to those who are dropped because of
technical and administrative changes. This is done by the John
A. Manning Co., the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, and has been
paid under certain circumstances by Hart, Schaffner & Marx, and
the United States Rubber Co. While these dismissal wage pay
ments should be adequate in amount they need be paid only in cases
of dismissal for lack of work.
In addition, society can and should provide at least three other
services which will help ease the worker’s transition from declining
to expanding industries:
1.
Competent and impartial agencies, preferably governmental,
should issue from time to time forecasts of those industries where, be
cause of impending technical changes and an inelastic demand for
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the commodity, a decline in the number of workers is imminent.
Such information, judiciously distributed, would restrain many young
people from entering industries on the downward trend, and would
lead others to leave them as opportunities arose elsewhere.
2. Displaced workers should be reeducated for work in other lines
and especially for such occupations as they may be fitted for in the
expanding industries.
3. An adequate system of public employment offices to facilitate
finding work for those displaced.
Public Employment Offices and Chronic Unemployment
L o g ic a l l y , an all-inclusive State employment service, by pooling
the labor reserves, should diminish the idle surpluses which tend to
be retained by individual firms and industries. An employment
service could thus help decasualize many workers and diminish un
employment. By centralizing applications for men and for work,
it could also reduce time lost by workers between jobs. It would
free workers from high fees charged by private agencies and would
tend to remove the frequent abuse oi splitting such fees between
foremen and agencies, a practice which induces arbitrary firing. It
would, moreover, give supplementary services to groups such as
juveniles, women, and the older employees who would otherwise
be inadequately aided.
We must be frank to say, however, that the development of the
public employment offices has not in the past been such as to realize
these possibilities. Part of this failure has been due to inadequate
funds, but part has also been caused by a lack of interest and com
petence on the part of the staff which has until recently existed. As
a result of the survey conducted by an advisory committee appointed
by the industrial commissioner, Frances Perkins, the management
of the State public employment offices has been changed and im
proved methods adopted. The improvement which resulted was
evidenced by increase in placements from an average of 4,800 in
January and February, to 8,000 in April, 10,400 in May, and 7,600
in June, 1930. This betterment was effected in the face of a falling
labor market. This committee believes that the public employ
ment service should be furnished with additional funds and that
advisory committees of employers and workers should be created to
cooperate with them in the different cities where there are offices.
The practice of associating industry and employee representatives
in the management of the offices should tend to popularize them
by improving their opportunity to secure openings for competent
workers. The New York labor market is now broader than the
confines of the State itself. Our business establishments draw
workers from all parts of the Atlantic seaboard and from other
regions of the country as well. Our workers in turn frequently
seek work in other States. There is need, therefore, of a vigorous
and effective federated system of State employment offices which
will manage interstate clearance of labor and which will promote
efficient employment work in other States. This is the type of sys
tem contemplated in the bill introduced in Congress by Senator
Wagner of this State which, having passed the Senate, is now before
the House of Representatives.
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We believe that a substantial improvement in the condition of
the unemployed would be effected if, instead of the present chaotic
and ill-supervised way in which private employment agencies are
licensed by the municipalities, a centralized system of State li
censing and inspection were substituted.
Stabilization of Wage Earners’ Incomes During Periods of Depression
W e m u s t face the fact that despite the efforts to minimize it
some unemployment will continue. Good management may re
duce but will not eliminate seasonal unemployment. Good man
agement, in its zest for improvements, may on the other hand, at
times increase technological unemployment. Cyclical fluctuations
may be lessened in part by an intelligent public works policy, but
their control lies outside the power of State and Federal agencies.
Despite all efforts therefore a large number of workers arid their fam
ilies will continue to confront hardships from the effects of business
depressions. Plow then may these workers and their dependents be pro
tected against the hardships and uncertainties of these periods? Society
can not rest until it has satisfactorily answered this question. Charity,
while necessary at present, should not be the final method by which
the worst effects of unemployment are alleviated. Charitable relief is
often inadequate in amount and carries with it a sense of degradation
which causes large groups to suffer greatly before they will ask for aid.
Several courageous plans have been launched by employers and
workers to meet this problem. In the clothing and fur trades of
New York City, employers and employees have set up joint insur
ance funds which give relief to the most needy unemployed. A
similar fund has been established in the men’s clothing industry
of Rochester and New York. In the last few months the General
Electric Co., under the leadership of its president, Mr. Gerard Swope,
has initiated a comprehensive plan which has now been adopted by
virtually all of the constituent works of the company. This plan
calls for the payment of 1 per cent of the earnings of workers who
accept the plan, matched by equal contributions by the company.
While the plan does not provide for workers who are dropped from
the company’s employ because of lack of work, it does propose to
take care of those who are laid off but still retained on the rolls
without pay. After a 2-week waiting period during which no benefit
is given, the unemployed worker is paid 50 per cent of his average
full-time earnings, with a maximum limit of $20 a week, for not
more than 10 weeks during the year.
A further interesting feature of the plan is that when the expendi
tures from the fund are equal to its receipts, the company proposes
to declare a state of emergency and thereafter every employee at
the particular works affected, from the manager down, will con
tribute an added 1 per cent of his full-time earnings, irrespective of
whether he is or is not a member of the plan. At such times the
sales force and general administrative staff, from the president
down, will also contribute to the fund. This practice will put some
pressure on the sales and administrative staffs to get business in
order to keep the plant running. The company will add an extra 1
per cent of the pay roll to match the extra contributions of the
workers. A maximum possible fund of 4 per cent can thus be set up.
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While all of the workers will thus be liable for assessments during
periods of emergency, benefits may only be paid to those who have
previously agreed to have 1 per cent deducted from their earnings.
Since the large majority of employees in the several plants who voted
favorably for the plan automatically become members of the plan
and eligible for its benefits there is a very strong incentive placed
upon the remainder also to join and thus to be able to share the pro
tection which they may be assessed to maintain. It is expected
therefore that nearly all of the 88,000 employees of the company will
in the not distant future come under the plan.
Such attempts as these to protect workers and their families against
one of the greatest causes of misery in modern times are worthy of
all praise. They should be studied by private industry and by labor
and in one form or another, whether as dismissal wages or insurance
against unemployment, should be widely copied. Such payments
are not doles nor are they merely palliatives. In the first place, they
extend to labor the same type of financial protection against depres
sions and bad years which many well-managed companies can now
give to their stockholders. Such systems will also help stabilize in
dustry itself. The very fact that workers will have incomes which
they otherwise would not receive will give them increased purchasing
power in depression periods. If the success in accident prevention
following the adoption of the compensation lawis a criterion of what will
happen when unemployment is made a direct expense to industry, as
it is made in the General Electric Co., there will be added incentive
to reduce it and industry will turn with increased vigor to those regu
latory devices which are designed to lessen seasonal fluctuations.
If reasonable stabilization of the wage earners’ incomes can be
effected by voluntary action of employers and employees for the
majority of the workers, a great boon will result to the State. Per
haps some form of voluntary unemployment insurance can be de
vised and paid for by employers and workers analogous to group
health and life insurance now so extensively supplied by insurance
companies. If management does not bend itself to this task of stabil
izing income, however, then it seems inevitable that the State will
by its own initiative seek relief for the evils of unemployment as
they affect the worker. We are aware that American opinion is by
no means settled on the wisdom of such elaborate systems of unem
ployment insurance as have been adopted in England and European
continental countries. It fears addition to the already extensive
bureaucracies; it hesitates to dampen effort to sustain business activ
ity, and to discourage the provision by individual workers for bad
times out of savings made when times are good. On the other
hand the public conscience is not comfortable when good men anxious
to work are unable to find employment to support themselves and their
families.
The subject needs patient, full, and fair-minded investigation.
There needs to be much public discussion of the matter in the light
not of prejudice nor misunderstanding nor arbitrary solutions, but
of scientific inquiry and a complete searching of the facts and analy
sis of possible plans.
You will best know how to secure wide and thorough inquiry so_as
to ascertain what is most suitable for this State. The commission
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has had impressed upon it the necessity of securing, if possible, the
joint consideration of the question by the leading industrial States
to the end that such solutions as may seem desirable may be designed
to meet the needs of the principal industrial sections of the country.
The problem is one that is wider than the borders of the State and
should, we think, be approached with that fact in mind.
Summary and Recommendations
We
t h e r e f o r e
rec o m m e n d :
1. A serious and determined effort by management to lessen sea
sonal fluctuations in production and in employment through welltested methods of regularization. Trade associations, chambers of
commerce, and the State should facilitate this by supplying informa
tion and a staff which will help private enterprises to reduce season
ality. It would be desirable for the State department of labor to
have one or more competent production engineers or experienced
business men whose services could similarly be placed at the disposal
of the smaller firms who wish to stabilize but who do not have a
sufficiently specialized managerial staff to work out the method of
doing so. In the selection of these experts, the advice of professional
associations of engineers and of managers should be followed.
2. Management should take all possible steps to lessen the tempo
rary unemployment which may be caused by technical and policy
changes. Dismissal wages should be paid to those displaced because
of impersonal forces rather than personal fault.
3. Increased appropriations should be provided for the State em
ployment service and the fullest efforts made to get the working
cooperation of employers and labor in all cities where offices exist.
As these offices increase in strength, an earnest effort should be made
to decasualize industry by eliminating the surplus labor reserves.
State licensing and inspection of private employment agencies should
be substituted for municipal supervisions.
4. Communities should organize committees to consider the prob
lem of local unemployment. These groups can be of service in pro
moting the movement for regularization, in improving the local em
ployment offices, in helping frame a public works policy, and in
stimulating community action to relieve distress and to consider
remedies.
5. There should be set up a State planning board to help frame a
long-time program of public works for State and municipal govern
ments and to accelerate work on this program during periods of busi
ness depression.
6. Sharing of slack time among workers during periods of depres
sion to the fullest degree possible rather than dismissing a portion of
the employees entirely from work is a desirable practice.
7. Adoption by industry of insurance plans which will help to
stabilize the wage earners’ incomes during periods of unemployment.
Full and impartial investigation of this question by a properly con
stituted national body to determine what can be done to supplement
efforts of private industrialists and workers to protect the working
people of the Nation against the effects of unemployment too great
for individual resources to offset.
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A n n u a l R eport of th e Secretary of Labor, 1930
N THE Eighteenth Annual Report of the Secretary of Labor, for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1930, James J. Davis reviews the
activities of the United States Department of Labor during his
administration of nearly 10 years, which terminated December 1,
1930. The accomplishments of various bureaus and services of the
department up to June 30, 1930, are here summarized.
I
Conciliation Service
D u r i n g the administration under review the Federal Conciliation •
Service has handled 4,898 cases involving controversial situations
between men and management. These strikes, threatened strikes,
and lockouts directly and indirectly affected 5,114,484 wage earners.
During the 10-year period there has been a gradual reduction in the
number of disputes affecting the great industries of the country.
The immense effect of the Conciliation Service in “ maintaining peace
and harmony in American industry and the prevention of losses can
not be measured in terms of dollars and cents.”
Employment Service
I n 1921, in the face of what was perhaps one of the worst unem
ployment crises in the history of this country, steps were taken to
reorganize the United States Employment Service, and this agency
in cooperation with the several States proved itself of real value in
that emergency.
As now constituted the Employment Service performs five distinct
functions, two of which are in cooperation with the several States
and municipalities, namely: The operation of public employment
offices, and the junior division (in cooperation with schools in junior
guidance and placement work).
Three functions are maintained as strictly Federal operations:
An information division, a farm-labor division, and a specialized
employment service for veterans.
The Employment Service, in cooperation with the several States
and municipalities, has increased from year to year until at the
present time there are 215 cooperative offices, for which the service
acts as a clearing house. It gives some financial assistance, provides
standard forms for conducting the work of the offices, and extends
such other courtesies and assistance as it can to these cooperating
agencies.
The junior division offers a wonderful field for practical service.
With over 2,000,000 boys and girls leaving school each year to enter
business and industry, it would be well, the Secretary believes, for
29334°—31-----6
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every high school to maintain a junior guidance and placement office
for the purpose of directing those who are leaving school to proper
vocational employment channels.
The industrial employment information division renders a con
spicuous service by developing monthly current industrial informa
tion from approximately 600 industrial centers.
The farm-labor division has been increased from 1 permanent
office in 1921 to 19 permanent offices. During the harvest season
it operates more than 100 temporary offices to meet emergencies that
arise. Before the Federal Government undertook to recruit and
distribute workers to harvest the season’s crops there was no intelli
gent direction of men for this work. Each State was competing
against the others for harvest workers. The supplying of labor to
harvest perishable crops without loss to the farmer is a service that
can not be measured in monetary values. For several years now no
crops have been left unharvested for lack of help in the areas served
by the farm-labor division. During the last calendar year the farmlabor division was responsible for directing more than 600,000 men
for the harvesting of cotton, wheat and other small grains, hay,
berries, fruits, vegetables, legumes, potatoes, corn, and beets, and
for miscellaneous and general farm work.
The placing of more than 3,000 men in jobs within the space of
less than four months demonstrates the value of the recently estab
lished specialized employment activity for all ex-service men. This
has been especially helpful during the present stress of unemploy
ment when thousands of ex-service men were seeking work. Twentytwo of these offices are now operating at strategic points throughout
the country.
Bureau of Immigration
A f t e r analyzing the immigration situation at the present time as
compared with that prior to the passage of the quota-limit acts, the
the Secretary reports in brief that immigration from Europe has been
reduced from an annual average of about 813,000 in the 10 years of
normal unrestricted immigration (1901-1910) to an average of 156,000
at the present time.
Immigration from Canada which averaged about 18,000 from
1901-1910, and that from Mexico which averaged about 5,000 during
the same 10 years, increased to an average of 94,000 and 47,000,
respectively, following the adoption of the European quota system
in 1921. There has never been any considerable volume of immi
gration from other countries of the New World, and though the number
has increased to some extent in recent years, it is still relatively
unimportant. Finally, real immigration from China, Japan, and
other countries of the Orient has been almost stopped.
Referring to his repeated advocacy of the adoption of a more
scientific system of selecting immigrants, the Secretary declares that
the industrial depression during the past years has brought out more
obviously than ever the need for the departure from our existing hap
hazard method of immigrant control.
Among the recommendations made by him for amendments to
immigration legislation are the following: That no consular immigra
tion visas should be issued to unattached applicants except on a
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definite showing that the admission of such applicants would not be
detrimental to employment conditions in the United States; that
Congress consider the feasibility of adjusting the quota system so
that it will prove an acceptable substitute for the laws and parts of
laws that relate only to Chinese and other Oriental immigration;
and that it be made possible to expel from the United States certain
classes of obviously undesirable aliens who are now immune from
deportation—namely, habitual law breakers.
In concluding this section of his report, the Secretary says:
I am firm ly convinced th a t th e law relatin g to th e expulsion of extrem ists
o u ght to be am ended to provide th a t a n y alien who a t a n y tim e a fte r e n try to
th e U n ited S tates becom es affiliated w ith an y o rganization th e p urpose of w hich
is to su p p la n t o u r form of g o vernm ent w ith a to ta lly different system , or who
engages indep en d en tly in a d v o catin g such change, th ro u g h force or violence
an d n o t by th e exercise of th e peaceful m eth o d s p rovided by th e C o n stitu tio n ,
should be d eported from th e U n ited S tates.
Bureau of Naturalization
A t t e n t i o n is called in the report to the marked and most encour
aging change in the public attitude toward United States citizen
ship, and its obligations.
Y ears ago n a tu ralizatio n w as th e football of politics, a n d th e m an n er of its
bestow al prior to F ederal supervision assum ed th e p ro p o rtio n s of a n atio n al
scandal. T he highest gift w hich th is c o u n try could bestow w as conferred upon
th o u san d s of th e unfit in re tu rn for an u n in tellig en t vote. Such proceedings are
now hap p ily a th in g of th e p ast.
Among the beneficial changes put into effect in the Naturalization
Service since 1921 are the redistricting of the field territory, the
reassignment of the field personnel, and the providing for the exam
ination of applicants and their witnesses before the filing of theii peti
tions.
Recommendation is made by the Secretary for (1) a codification
of the naturalization laws; (2) the passage of a law to provide for
the revocation of citizenship in cases in which within 5 years after
its acquisition persons commit felonies or acts of gross immorality;
and (3) the enactment of a law requiring an applicant for citizenship
definitely to establish his or her ability to speak, read, and write
English and to evidence a comprehensive knowledge of the United
States system of government.
Housing Corporation
O n March 4, 1921, when Secretary Davis assumed the duties of
office, the property interest of the Housing Corporation remaining to
be disposed of had a total value in excess of $28,000,000, and consisted
of real-estate sales contracts aggregating $19,500,000; unsold proper
ties appraised at approximately $1,000,000; and transportation loans
in the sum of $7,500,000.
During the past nine years the liquidating program has had for its
object the attaining of the greatest financial return to the Govern
ment, as well as to the communities in which the projects were located.
In liquidating the assets of the Housing Corporation, there has
been covered into the Treasury of the United States $31,009,190.51,
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which was derived from the following sources: Collections from
rentals and sales, $13,546,674.37; interest collected on rental and
sales accounts, $4,912,813.71; liquidation of transportation loans,
$5,203,350.80; interest collected on transportation loans, $1,284,694.17
construction salvage, $163,476.06; operation of Government hotels
and miscellaneous receipts, $5,898,181.40.
The Government hotels, erected to provide housing accommoda
tions for some 2,000 female civilian employees drawn to Washington
by the war emergency, were operated until June 30, 1930, when, in
order to make way for the enlarging of the Capitol grounds, it became
necessary to raze these war-time structures.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
T h i s departmental agency has continued to cover all of the various
subjects of inquiry initiated prior to 1921 and in addition has under
taken many new lines of labor statistics and research.
In 1921 the bureau began the collection of current data on building
permits issued in principal cities. Such permits are particularly
valuable employment indexes. The results of the bureau’s compila
tions and analyses of these permits are published monthly and now
cover 288 cities having a population of over 25,000.
The work of the bureau in the field of accident statistics has also
been greatly improved by the inauguration of a series of annual
reports on accident statistics in the various States. The work is
being done in cooperation with the appropriate State officials, but
the labor of tabulation and analysis falls upon the bureau. The effort
of the bureau to coordinate the work of the State agencies and to act
as a clearing house for this mass of scattered material will no doubt
be greatly helpful in the movement toward better accident statistics.
The bureau began in a small way the collection of monthly data on
employment in 1915. Since then the scope of the work has been
constantly expanded, with the result that in June, 1930, the monthly
reports covered 13 industrial groups, including such important ones
as mining, public utilities, and wholesale and retail trade, and repre
sented 40,000-odd establishments with more than 5,000,000 employees
and pay-roll totals of about $135,000,000 per week. Less spectacu
lar, but also of interest, is the expansion of the wholesale-price reports.
In 1921 the wholesale-price indexes were based on reports covering
404 commodities. They now include 550 commodities.
One of the most important additions of recent years to the bu
reau’s work has been the enlargement of the annual survey of union
wages to include reports from all trade-unions and not merely from
a selected group of organizations, as had previously been done.
In 1921 only three subjects were on a basis of monthly publica
tion; namely, volume of employment, retail prices, and wholesale
prices. In June, 1930, the number of subjects for which monthly
statistics were completed and published had increased to seven, the
additional subjects being labor turnover, building permits, indus
trial disputes, and wage changes. This represents a notable step in
advance. Moreover, the speed of publication has been greatly in
creased through the development of a system of press releases and
printed pamphlets.
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Another significant departure in the policy of the bureau as re
gards its reports has been the making of the Labor Review into the
principal medium of publication for all the research work of the
bureau. Now the Labor Review carries summary data of every
study immediately on completion of the investigation and, neces
sarily, long before the full report can be issued in bulletin form.
Another recent and very important undertaking of the bureau is
that of compiling current statistics on labor turnover. Occasional
studies on this subject were made many years ago by the bureau, but
only in 1929 was this work systematized and arrangements made by
which regular monthly reports were obtained. This work has been
constantly expanded until now the rates are based on reports from
more than 2,000 establishments, representing more than 1,500,000
employees.
Of the new lines of research, part cular mention should be made
of the series of studies of labor productivity in various industries.
The purpose of these studies was to determine scientifically the in
crease in man-hour output as a result of the improved mechanics
and methods of industry. Very thorough studies of this character
have been completed for the glass industry, for newspaper printing,
and for merchant blast furnaces, and similar studies are under way
for other important industries.
Children’s Bureau
C o m m e n t in g on the notable developments within the last decade
in child welfare activities, the Secretary states that the Children’s
Bureau has contributed to many of these developments through
scientific studies, correspondence with individual mothers, prepara
tion and distribution of popular educational material, and financial
aid and technical leadership made possible by the maternity and
infancy act, which was in operation from 1922 until June 30, 1929.
Maternal and child-hygiene studies which have been completed or
are in progress concern causes of death and sickness of infants dur
ing the first month of life, the period in which more than half the
number of deaths during infancy occur; causes of death in child
birth; prevalence and methods of control of rickets, a disease of
growth resulting primarily from lack of sufficient sunlight; and the
effect of posture training on the health of children. Inquiries into
child-labor conditions in various occupations have continued, and
increasing emphasis has been placed upon studies of vocational op
portunities for boys and girls.
Studies of juvenile and domestic relations courts have been fol
lowed by the drafting of comprehensive statements concerning the
fundamental principles that should govern their operation. Coop
eration with State commissions for the study and revision of childwelfare laws and with State departments dealing with dependent and
delinquent children has been greatly extended. A conference of rep
resentatives of State departments dealing with dependent and neg
lected children was called by the Secretary of Labor for February
13 to 15, 1929, and attended by officials from 32 States and partici
pated in by representatives of the Children’s Bureau. Current sta-
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tistics of child labor and of delinquent and dependent children dealt
with by juvenile courts are received from steadily expanding areas.
During the 9-year period from July, 1921, to June, 1930, 5,643,226
free copies of bulletins on prenatal care, infant care, child care, and
child management have been distributed, while 2,000,000 copies
have been sold by the Superintendent of Documents. Over 1,000,000
letters were received, of which about 900,000 represented requests
from individual mothers for bulletins on the care of the mother and
child, or from organizations making requests for the mothers for these
bulletins. Brief folders dealing with various aspects of prenatal and
child care have also been widely distributed, and the bureau’s exhibit
material, which is loaned to national, State, and local agencies, has
been expanded and improved.
With the passage of the maternity and infancy act in 1921 the
oureau was enabled to cooperate with the States in the development
qf an educational program for the promotion of the health of mothers
and babies. Forty-five States and the Territory of Hawaii accepted
the provisions of the act and received Federal funds to carry out plans
approved by the Federal Board of Maternity and Infant Hygiene, of
which the Chief of the Children’s Bureau was chairman. Prior to
the passage of the act only a few States and cities had initiated any
work directed toward lessening the risk of death and illness due to
causes connected with childbirth, and state-wide child-hygiene pro
grams had been little developed in most States. The infant mor
tality rate for the expanding birth-registration area, which now in
cludes 46 States and the District of Columbia, has declined from 76
per 1,000 live births in 1921 to 68 in 1929. The maternal death
rate, long stationary, has at last begun to show indications of a
downward trend, and the reduction is greatest in the rural areas, to
which special attention was given under Federal and State cooperation.
Women’s Bureau
T h e standards formulated by this bureau in its early days remain,
the Secretary reports, the approved dictum for the employment of
women.
Of the 79 bulletins issued by the bureau to date, 64 have been pub
lished within the present administration of the department, as have
10 of the 12 annual reports. These 74 documents comprise more
than 6,200 pages, the findings and conclusions of scientific study by
field investigation or other research.
The bureau’s reports go to 790 libraries, some 500 of which are
connected with educational institutions and supply reading matter
to students of economics and sociology. Furthermore, they are sent
to 500 or more educators—professors, deans, superintendents, teach
ers—scattered over the United States. In addition, the exhibits
that present the bureau’s findings in pictorial or other popular form
are lent to scores of organizations in every State of the Union and on
request have been sent to Panama, Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii, and
18 foreign countries.
The educational effects of the bureau’s work are evident in the
legislation in a number of States; in the increased care in making sani-
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81
tary regulations and commissions’ rulings; and, more than all, in
the voluntary action of employers in correcting undesirable con
ditions disclosed in the surveys.
Some of the most interesting studies ever undertaken by the bureau
are now in progress. For example, unemployment in the cigar in
dustry because of the extended use of machines; in radio manufac
turing because of the seasonal character of the industry; and among
wage earners in general in an industrial city of the Middle West;
output under longer and shorter hours in plants that have worked
for considerable periods under different hour schedules and that
have complete production records; hazards in the use of substances
that contain harmful chemicals, the present survey dealing with
spray painting in the stove industry.
The bureau has not been able as yet to make a scientific study
of the controversial question of the employment of married women
and, of more recent development, the problem of the woman over
30 or 35 who is unable to secure industrial employment on account
of her age, part of the broad subject of the effects on the wage earners
of changed methods in industry and the extent of unemployment
directly traceable to such changes. Nor is it at present equipped to
make a study on piecework, on posture, on fatigue, and a number of
other important matters that await its investigation.
In crease of M exican Labor in C ertain In d u stries in th e
U n ited S ta te s
N AN article on “ Some Aspects of Mexican Immigration,” Paul
S.
Taylor presents two tables for the purpose of measuring the
Ipenetration
of Mexican labor in two widely separated sections of the
United States and in certain units of three outstanding industries—
transportation, the manufacture of steel, and meat packing.1
Although the use of Mexicans for maintenance-of-way work dated
back to the last decades of the preceding century, such laborers were
employed during the war and have been used since by a number of
eastern and western railroads.2
More than 10 years ago the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. brought
2,000 or 3,000 Mexicans from the Southwest, but by August, 1926,
there were only 253 employed on the lines east of Altoona, where
most of the company’s Mexican track labor outside of Chicago is
found. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and possibly other railroads
also brought Mexicans east at approximately the same period as did
the Pennsylvania Railroad, but within a few years most of these
railway workers entered other industries in the East or returned to
the Southwest. At present, however, Mexicans are shipped in
considerable numbers from Chicago for employment on railroads
both east and west, especially for extra gangs in summer. The
principal railroads using Mexican labor are those operating west of
i The Journal of Political Economy, Chicago, October, 1930, pp. 609-615.
3 Journal of the American Statistical Association, June, 1930, p. 206: “ Employment of Mexicans in
Chicago and the Calumet Region,’’ by Paul S. Taylor.
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Chicago with lines tapping the Southwest. The increasing use of
this racial group by these roads is indicated in the table below:
C H ANGES IN RACE AM ONG COM M ON LA BO R ER S IN M A IN T EN A N C E -O P-W A Y
D E P A R T M E N T S OF N IN E W E ST E R N R A ILROADS, B E T W E E N 1909 A N D 1928-29 1
1909
1928-29
Race
Number
American and miscellaneous white
American colored .
.
.. .
American Indian, . _ _ _______ _____ __________ ____ _
Chinese_____ __________________________________ ____
East Indian,.
.
Filipino___________ _____
Greek ________
_____
...
_
_ ____
___
. . . . . . _____ _
............... ...
Italian
Japanese and Korean.
....
...
_ ...
M ex ica n ... ___. . .
_ ________ ____ _ _ ______ _ _
Total
__________________________________ ______
Per cent
Number
Per cent
31.3
1.3
.4
.3
21. 9
17.0
11.2
17.1
12,020
481
149
119
1
287
767
1,337
384
22, 824
100.0
38, 369
100.0
10,944
31. 3
35
406
73
.1
1.2
.2
7, 653
5; 941
3,895
5,972
34,919
.7
2.0
3.5
1.0
59.5
1 The railroads, or portions thereof, and dates of reporting in both 1909 and 1928 or 1929 are: Southern
Pacific, M ay 1; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, west of Albuquerque, M ay 31; San Pedro, Los Angeles &
Salt Lake City, July; Union Pacific, July; Oregon Short Line, M ay 31; Denver & Rio Grande, July 1;
Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co., April; Northern Pacific, west of Paradise, M ont., June 1; Great
Northern, Spokane and Cascade divisions, July.
As the author points out, the principal change disclosed in the
above tabulation is the great increase in the use of Mexican labor,
which in 1909 constituted only 17.1 per cent of the common labor in
the maintenance-of-way departments of the 9 railroads covered,
while in 1928-29 the proportion of Mexican workers was 59.5 per
cent. The statistical record also shows the results of the slowing down
and the restriction of European immigration, the exclusion of Orien
tals, the tendency of older immigrants to take up other occupations,
and the unrestricted Mexican immigration until 1929.
Statistics on the annual employment of Mexicans and Negroes in
two steel plants and two packing plants for specified years are given
in the following table, which is a contribution toward the comparison
of the migration of Mexicans and Negroes to the Chicago-Gary
region. As will be noted, the data on Mexicans in the steel plants
begin with 1916, when such workers were first recorded separately
in the nationality reports of these establishments. The figures for
Mexicans in packing plants commnce with 1917.
One steel plant reported 7 negro employees in 1910 and 8 in 1911,
but the steel plant having approximately all of the 266 negroes in
1912 had no nationality reports on file previous to that date.
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N U M B E R A N D PE R C E N T OF M E X IC A N A N D N EG R O E M PL O Y EE S IN TWO STEEL
PL A N TS A N D TWO M EA T -PA C K IN G PL A N T S OF T H E CHICAGO-GARY REG IO N
Two steel plants
Mexicans
N um
ber
1912.
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
18
33
104
142
283
49
313
1,205
1, 749
1,866
1,895
1,819
2,081
Per
cent
0.1
.1
.5
.7
1.3
.4
1.6
6.0
7.9
8.5
9.1
8.8
9.4
Negroes
N um
ber
266
112
70
196
558
1,274
1, 546
2,699
2.580
1,375
2,901
2, 761
3,438
3,105
2, 678
2, 568
2, 716
Per
cent
Two meat-packing plants
Mexicans
Total
em
ploy Num Per
ees
ber cent
1.5 17, 441
.9 12, 693
.7
9, 964
1.1 17', 265
2.9 19, 490
5.5 23; 140
6.7 23, 073
13.4 20,112
12. 1 21,365
10.0 13, 780
15.0 19, 403
13.8 19, 985
15.5 22,118
14. 1 22, 052
12.9 20, 762
12.4 20, 723
12.3 22, 061
7
78
79
266
82
86
482
711
644
612
596
746
0)
0.3
.3
1.5
.6
.7
3.2
4.8
4.7
4.5
4.5
5.7
Negroes
N um
ber
Per
cent
Total
em
ployees
27.8
20.3
32.7
33.6
32.4
30.6
29.6
29.0
29.5
20, 901
27,254
23, 642
18, 361
14,460
12. 952
15, 311
14,956
13, 851
13, 748
13, 317
13,194
(2)
G)
G)
5,110
2,928
4,236
5,148
4,840
4,244
4,068
3, 864
3,894
1 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
1 Data available for one plant only: 1917, 1,466; 1918, 1,624; 1919, 1,710.
As indicated in the above table, Mexicans appeared later than
Negroes in both the steel and packing plants. Steel manufacturers
brought numbers of Mexicans from the southwest, which explains
the larger proportion in steel manufacture than in meat packing.
By 1928 the Mexicans constituted 9.4 per cent of the labor force of
the two steel plants while Negroes, who in 1924 formed 15.5 per cent
of such force, had declined to 12.3 per cent. The packers, on the
other hand, brought Negroes north, such workers in 1928 making up
almost 30 per cent of the labor force of the two packing plants, and
the Mexicans only 5.7 per cent. Over a 10-year period, both of the
labor groups have expanded substantially, not only in numbers but
in the proportions they constitute of the total workers. It is obvious
that the other classes of employees have been displaced during the
decade 1919-1928.
Labor and S ocial C o n d itio n s of M exicans in C alifornia
HE report of the Mexican Fact-Finding Committee dealing with
Mexicans in California was published in October, 1930. The com
T
mittee was appointed by the Governor of the State, and consisted of
the director of the California Department of Industrial Relations,
acting as chairman of the committee, and the directors respectively of
the California Department of Agriculture and the California Depart
ment of Social Welfare. Some of the principal findings presented in
the report are given below.
Mexican Immigration Before and After Passage of Quota Acts
I t i s conservatively estimated that between 1900 and 1920 ap
proximately 200,000 Mexicans came into the United States illegally.
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The rush of Mexican immigration commenced during the period of
the World War, doubtless as a result of the shortage of labor at that
time. During three fiscal years in which the 3 per cent quota act
of 1921 was operative the reported number of Mexican immigrants
coming into this country rose from 18,246 in 1922 to 87,648 in 1924—
from 5.9 per cent of the total immigration in 1922 to 12.4 per cent
in 1924. In the four fiscal years under the 2 per cent quota act the
reported immigration from Mexico rose from 32,378 in 1925 to 57,765
in 1928, constituting 11.0 per cent of all the immigration to this
country in 1925 and 18.8 per cent in 1928. The decline in Mexican
immigration in 1925 was due to the fact that that year was the first
subsequent to the adoption of visa requirements and the visa charge
of $10.
Mexican immigrants are taking the places of immigrants from
eastern and southern Europe and are entering this country in greater
numbers than any European immigrant race. _ Under the existing
quota act more than 40 per cent of all alien immigrants declaring
California as their intended permanent residence are Mexicans. In
brief, the principal immigrant race now coming to California is the
Mexican.
Neither Mexico’s official statistics on emigration nor the United
States’figures concerning Mexican immigration are complete. Beyond
a doubt, there are now more than 1,000,000 Mexicans in the United
States and under existing immigration legislation, _the committee
declares, unlimited numbers can continue to come in. More than
80 per cent of the Mexicans residing in this country in 1920 were
living in three States—Arizona, California, and Texas. The propor
tion residing in California rose from 7.8 per cent of the total in the
country in 1900 to 15.2 per cent in 1910 and to 18.2 per cent in
1920.
C onsidering only th e to ta l M exicans residing in th e th re e S ta te s of Arizona,
C alifornia, a n d T exas, it is a fa c t t h a t th e p ro p o rtio n of th is to ta l residing in
C alifornia rose from 8.7 in 1900 to 17.9 in 1910, a n d to 22.1 in 1920. D u ring th e
sam e period, th e p ro p o rtio n of th is to ta l residing in T exas declined from 76.1
in 1900 to 66.2 in 1910, a n d to 62.6 in 1920. T h e p ro p o rtio n of th is to ta l residing
in A rizona rem ain ed a b o u t th e sam e from 1900-1920.
W hile of th e to ta l im m ig ra n t alien M exicans a d m itte d during th e th re e years
1909-1912, 3.8 p e r c e n t d esig n ated C alifornia as th e ir S ta te of in ten d ed fu tu re
p e rm an en t residence, du rin g th e th re e y ears 1924-1927, 17.0 p e r c en t desig n ated
C alifornia as th e ir S ta te of in te n d e d fu tu re p e rm a n e n t residence.
The proportion of Mexican immigrant aliens declaring California
as their intended future permanent residence expanded 1305 per cent
from 1909-1912 to 1924-1927. Between the 10-year periods 19001910 and 1910-1920 percentual expansion in the Mexican population
was much greater in California than in either Arizona or Texas. A
comparison of census and immigration statistics indicates that Mexi
can immigrants drift into California from Texas and in the process
of this drifting many settle in Arizona and New Mexico.
Foreign-Born Population of California
O f t h e people of Mexico, approximately 1 0 per cent are of white
stock, 29 per cent pure Indian, and 59 per cent mestizo. It is conserva
tively estimated that the present Mexican population in California is
about 250,000. In 1910 the Mexicans constituted 6.5 per cent of the
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total foreign-born whites in. that State; in 1920 the percentage was 12.7.
Between 1910 and 1920 the number of Mexicans in California increased
more than the numbers of any other foreigners in that State during
the same period.
If the United States immigration laws continue to permit unre
stricted immigration from Mexico, this group of aliens will, the com
mittee thinks, predominate among the foreign-born people in Cali
fornia. Between 1910 and 1920 the number of Mexican-born whites
increased 159 per cent in California as a whole; the increase of
Mexican-born persons in 12 cities of the State combined was 214.8
per cent, the increase running as high as 284.9 per cent in Los An
geles, 312 per cent in Oakland, and 368.9 per cent in Sacramento.
Naturalization of Mexicans
I n 1920 only 4.9 per cent of the Mexican males and females 21 years
and over residing in California were naturalized as compared to the
47.7 per cent naturalized among all foreign-born whites of both sexes
21 years of age and over residing in that State.
Of th e to ta l n um ber of aliens a d m itte d to U n ited S tates citizenship during
five fiscal years ended Ju n e 30, 1928, only o n e-ten th of 1 p er cen t were M exicans.
In 1920 th e alien m ale a n d fem ale M exicans, 21 years of age a n d over, were 6.5
p er cen t of th e to ta l aliens 21 years of age a n d over residing in th e U n ited S tates.
Judging b y th e d a ta presented, it ap p ears certain th a t while th e n u m b er of
n atu ralized M exicans will be som ew hat g re a te r in 1930 th a n in 1920, th e ra tio
of n atu ralized M exicans of tlje to ta l alien M exicans in th e U n ited S tates will be
low er in 1930 th a n it was in 1920.
Attention is drawn to the fact that Mexicans are comparatively
new immigrants in the United States and consequently their average
length of residence here is less than for most of the other foreign
groups. This may explain to some extent the low percentage of
Mexicans naturalized. When an alien petitions for final citizenship
papers, it is necessary for him to prove his legal admission to this
country. As large numbers of Mexicans have come into the United
States illegally, they can not, of course, meet the requirement.
Mexicans in Industries and Nonagricultural Occupations
I n C a l i f o r n i a manufacturing industries there are about 11 Mex
icans in every 100 wage earners. In factories where there are both
Mexicans and other workers, the Mexicans constituted 17 per cent
of all the employees. The proportion of Mexicans in a number of
industries ranged from 2.4 to 66.3 per cent. Over 50 per cent of all
Mexicans in the industries in California are employed in establish
ments in Los Angeles County and only 10 per cent in establishments
in San Francisco County. There are probably about 28,000 Mexicans
in the manufacturing industries of the State, and at the time of the
enumeration there were 2,700 Mexicans in fruit and vegetable
canneries.
Based on reports from 159 building and construction companies
employing 20,650 workers on June 15, 1928, the proportion of Mex
icans in all classes of construction is 16.4 per cent. In May, 1928,
there were 10,706 Mexican laborers on the pay rolls of six large inter
state and interurban railroads in California. In brief, the report
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states, Mexicans have secured a strong foothold in the industries of the
State and are certainly displacing other immigrant races and the
native-born.
Wage Rates of Mexicans in California
T h e follow ing d a ta o n w age ra te s fo r M ex ican s in th e m a n u fa c tu r
in g in d u strie s of C a lifo rn ia are b a se d on th e b e st av ailab le in fo rm a tio n :
Of 255 hourly wage rates reported for Mexicans, 43.6 per cent
were under 50 cents; 24.3 per cent were from 50 to 55 cents; and 32.1
per cent were 55 cents and over, only 3.2 per cent being from 85 cents
to $1.10.
Of the 250 daily wage rates quoted, 26. 8 per cent were under
$4; 32.8 per cent were $4 to $4.50; 13.6 per cent, $4.50 to $5; 12 per
cent $5 to $5.50; and only 14.8 per cent, $5.50 and over.
Of 136 weekly wage rates, 31.6 per cent were under $20, 31.7 per
cent from $20 to $26, 29.3 per cent $26 to $36, and only 7.4 per cent
over $36.
Most of the Mexicans in manufacturing establishments are laborers,
but they are also found in relatively skilled occupations such as those
listed below:
(a) In tlie m etals, m achinery, an d conveyances group of in d u stries: B lack
sm iths, core m akers, fo u n d ry 'm a c h in e m olders, m achinists, m echanics, pipe
m akers, a n d polishers;
(b) In th e w ood m an u fa c tu re s group of in d u stries: F inishers, m achinists,
stickerm an, a n d u p holsterers;
(c) In th e chem ical, oils, a n d p a in ts in d u stries: Jo in t tu rn e rs, m echanics, and
p ain ters;
(d) In th e p rin tin g an d p a p er goods group of in d u stries: B ookbinders, a n d
w orkers in p h oto a n d jo b press d e p a rtm e n ts;
(e) In th e foods, beverages, a n d tobacco group of in d u stries: B akers, butch ers,
m echanics, an d packers.
In vegetable a n d fru it canneries, M exican fem ales a re em ployed m ain ly in th e
c u ttin g d e p a rtm e n ts a n d occasionally in th e canning d e p artm en ts. T hey are
rarely used in th e p acking d ep artm en ts.
In building and construction Mexicans are employed mostly as
common laborers, at pick and shovel work, at digging trenches and in
cesspool work; also at grading. Reports from representative build
ing and construction concerns indicate that the hourly rates of Mexi
cans in the industry run from 40 to 50 cents, and daily wage rates
from $3.50 to $5, the prevailing rates appearing to be 50 cents per
hour and $4 per day.
On railroads Mexicans are used as “ section and extra gang”
laborers, their average rates being 38 cents per hour and $3.06 per
day.
According to reports from 14 private employment offices which in
the calendar year 1928 sent out 14,343 Mexicans to various jobs,
39.6 per cent of these workers were railroad laborers; 24.4 per cent,
agricultural laborers; 5 per cent, building and construction laborers;
26.6 per cent, other laborers; and 4.4 per cent workers in industries,
in restaurants and hotels, in apartments and homes, and in mercan
tile establishments.
The average wage rates of Mexicans other than railroad workers sent
to jobs by employment agencies are as follows: Hourly, with board
38 cents, without board 43 cents; daily, with board $2.61, without
board $3.51; weekly, with board $14.99, without board $16. 60; and
monthly, with board $47.75 and without board $67.86.
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On railroads, in building and construction, and in agriculture, free
camping facilities are frequently provided.
The majority of Mexican alien immigrants who come to this country
are “ laborers” not “ farmers and farm laborers.”
Labor Needs in California in Crop Production
F r o m the detailed evidence brought together in the report under
review, concerning the labor requirements for crop production in
California with special reference to Mexican workers, the fact-finding
committee declares that the Mexicans form an important factor in
such production and at present are one of the main sources of agricul
tural labor in that State. They will undertake work that white labor
will not or can not perform. They toil under excessive heat, dust,
isolation, and on temporary jobs, and can be used in gangs. Mexicans
are preferred by a large majority of farm operators to Japanese, Fil
ipinos, Porto Ricans, Chinese, Negroes, and East Indians. In brief,
“ a material and abrupt reduction in the present available supply of
farm labor will force changes in California agriculture.”
Health Relief and Delinquency Conditions Among Mexicans of California
M e x i c a n s constitute the largest group of unskilled, low-paid labor
in California and they have come into the State willing to occupy the
same economic level as in their own country. They have had little or
no schooling and are unfamiliar with English. Before they came to
this country they lived on a meager diet, paying little attention to
sanitation and hygiene. Their infant mortality rate is high, as is
also the rate for tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. They
have had a feudal relation toward authority, making it difficult for
them to adjust themselves to American traditions. Furthermore,
the committee reports, there is a racial prejudice against them, es
pecially against those of non-European stock who are not white and
whose customs and habits are so different from the American standard.
Mexicans in California have a tendency to live in colonies both in
urban and in rural districts, and this retards their assimilation with
the native population. The housing facilities available to most of the
Mexicans are often poor and do not conform to proper sanitation
standards. Sales agreements frequently prohibit these aliens from
buying property in any but Mexican districts. The existing groundrent system in certain sections results in overcrowding and unhygienic
conditions.
In 1929, births among Mexicans in California constituted 17.7
per cent of all births in the State. In certain cities near the border,
the Mexican births constituted 60 to 70 per cent of all births.
In th e seven years from 1921 to 1927 th e excess of b irth s over d e a th s am ong
th e w hite p o p u latio n of th e u n in co rp o rated a rea of Los Angeles C o u n ty w as only
241, while th e M exican excess of b irth s over d eath s for th e sam e period w as 4,070.
In Los Angeles city for th e 10-year period from 1918 to 1927 th e to ta l excess of
b irth s over d eath s w as 43,066, of w hich n u m b er 10,189, or 23.8 p er cent, were
M exican.
\
.
T he in fa n t m o rta lity ra te in th e u n in co rp o rated a re a of Los Angeles C o u n ty m
1916 w as 70 in 1,000 b irth s for w hite babies a n d 285 am ong M exican babies. In
1929 th e w hite ra te h ad been red u ced to 39.6 b u t th e M exican ra te w as 104.5 in
spite of g re a t efforts on th e p a r t of th e h e a lth d ep artm en t.
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According to the Los Angeles Health Department, the rate of com
municable disease cases among Mexicans is above that of the general
population. The number of deaths per 100 for such cases was de
cidedly higher among the Mexicans. Approximately 23 per cent of
the cases at the Los Angeles County Tuberculosis Sanitarium are Mexi
cans. In 1929 the Mexican deaths from tuberculosis in Los Angeles
County (unincorporated area) constituted 21.25 per cent of the total
deaths from this disease, and in 1928 the proportion of Mexicans in
the clientele of the tuberculosis clinics operated by the City of Los
Angeles was 27 per cent. A study made in 1926 disclosed that 23.8
per cent of all the Mexican cases (families) handled by the Los
Angeles County Charities involved tuberculosis, while only 10.8 per
cent of the non-Mexican cases involved such disease.
In the three years 1925-1927, the Women’s Venereal Clinic of the
Los Angeles City Health Department reported that its Mexican
cases constituted 41.1 per cent of its total cases._ Of all the_ cases
receiving home nursing care in 1929 from the division of nursing of
Los Angeles city, 29 per cent were Mexicans. The proportions of
Mexicans in the State hospitals for the insane and among the admis
sions to State homes for the feeble-minded in 1927-28 were not large,
being respectively 4.3 and 6.9 per cent. In 1929—30 the total of
31,375 patients treated at the Los Angeles County General Hospital
included 5,516 Mexicans.
There is one Mexican among every 10 children receiving State aid
in California. In 1928 the proportion of Mexican children in the
orphanages of the State was 7.8 per cent and in Los Angeles County
over 16 per cent of all the children in institutions were of the race in
question. Five-sixths of the Los Angeles chest agencies give no
assistance to Mexicans. Those organizations which do serve these
people give them a great part of their service. The table following
shows the percentages of Mexican cases reported by various other
agencies and institutions:
PE R C E N T A G E OF M E X IC A N CASES OF TO TAL R E P O R T E D B Y VARIOUS W E LFA R E
A G E N C IE S OR IN S T IT U T IO N S
. , .
Agency or institution
Los Angeles County charities-------------------------------Los Angeles County farm------------------ -----------------Orange County Social Service Department-----------County Welfare and Relief Department of Riverside.
County Welfare Department of San Diego-------------San Quentin Prison---------------------------------------------Folsom Prison----------------------------------------------------Preston Correctional School for B oys--------------------Whittier Correctional Schoolfor B oys---------------------Ventura State Correctional Schoolfor Girls-------------Public and private institutions for delinquent girls- _
Los Angeles County Jail:
M en________________________________________
Women________________ _______________ —
Los Angeles City Jail------------------------------------------Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Department--------------------------Juvenile Bureau of Los Angeles City Police Department (probation cases)
1 Approximate.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[88]
|
Year or
period
Per cent
Mexican
cases are
of total
1923-1928
1928
1926-1928
1923-1928
1923-1927
1908-1929
1929
1928
1928
1928
1928
25.0
3.9
140.0
130.0
1927-1928
1927-1928
1925-26
1926-27
1927-28
1928
1925-26
1926-27
1927-28
17.1
14.8
14.6
16.2
17.5
120.0
10.5
6.6
20.0
10.0
4.1
27.7
22.1
13.4
13.1
12.2
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
89
While the percentage of Mexicans among the probation cases
handled by the juvenile bureau of the Los Angeles city police de
partment shows a decrease in the 3-year period 1925-1928, the per
centage of Mexican juveniles arrested during that period increased
from 15.9 to 17.3.
Size and Income of Mexican Families
A h o u s e - t o - h o u s e investigation of Mexican families in Southern
California disclosed the fact that the majority of the males included
in the survey were unskilled laborers in agricultural pursuits. Many
semiskilled and skilled workers, such as blacksmiths, carpenters,
electricians, and mechanics, were, however, found among these
immigrants.
Of 769 Mexican families covered by the investigation, 40.4 per cent
had 3 children or fewer; 54. 7 per cent, 4 children or fewer; and 45.3
per cent, 5 children or more. The average number of children per
family canvassed was 4.3.
Of the 701 Mexican families for which reports on average monthly
income were obtained, 69.2 per cent averaged less than $100 per
month; 20.5 per cent, $100 but under $150; 5.9 per cent, $150 but
under $200; and only 4.4 per cent, $200 or over.
According to a study of the total incomes for 12 consecutive months
of 435 families, 47.1 per cent had yearly incomes of less than $1,000;
31.5 per cent, $1,000 but under $1,500; and 21.4 per cent $1,500 or
over. The average yearly incomes of these 435 families were $1,156.15.
Of the 403 families with children for whom data were secured in
yearly incomes, 142 (35.2 per cent) reported 250 children on full-time
or part-time work, but mostly on part time.
Labor T reaty B etw een F rance and A u str ia 1
TREATY dated May 27, 1930, concluded between representa
tives of the French and Austrian Governments provides for the
protection of the nationals of either country who enter the other
country in order to engage in work.
The agreement provides that every facility will be offered to work
ers of one country desirous of engaging in work in the other in taking
up their residence in that country as well as to their families who may
accompany them or join them later. Identification cards and pass
ports will be provided them and no special authorization will be
required when these workers or their families return to their own
country.
The contracting parties agree to authorize the recruitment of
workers for the purpose of engaging in work in enterprises in the
metropolitan area of the other country, but the recruitment of labor
for other areas must be agreed upon by representatives of the two
countries. The Government of the country in which labor is being
recruited has the right to specify the localities where such recruitment
is authorized and the other country is entitled to designate the sec
tions to which such labor may be directed. The Governments of
the two countries will agree upon the number and classes of workers
A
1 Data are from Bulletin du Ministère du Travail et de l ’Hygiène, Paris, April-M ay-June, 1930, p. 241,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
to be employed so that the recruitment of labor will not result in
injury to either the economic development of the one country or the
economic condition of the nationals of the other.
Labor contracts proposed by the employers and demands pre
sented by the workers must conform to regulations established by the
qualified administrations of France and Austria and must not contain
any provisions contrary to the present convention. Numerical
recruitment, that is, employment of workers not designated by name,
will be carried out in Austria exclusively through the bureau of mi
gration, and in France through the public employment office at
tached to the Ministry of Labor. Prior to their departure, however,
such workers will either be accepted and classified, or rejected, either
by an official governmental commission appointed by the country of
their destination, or by a representative of their prospective employer
or the representative of an occupational organization who, in either
of the two latter cases, must be accepted by both Governments. In
cases in which a stated number of workers is requested, a copy of the
demand containing the number and class of workers desired and the
name of the person in charge of their acceptance will be transmitted
to the country supplying the workers and the local authorities will
assist representatives of the official commission or of the employers
in the selection of workers having the proper physical and occupa
tional qualifications.
Workers who have been hired in a group or who have an individual
contract must present a properly indorsed contract before they will
be admitted to the country and in addition must have a health cer
tificate issued by an accredited physician. Passports will be issued
to workers at their own expense wdthin four days after the presenta
tion of their identification cards.
Recruited workers will receive the same wages as workers of the
same class in the enterprise in which they are engaged or the normal
and current wage of workers of the same class in the locality in which
they work, and the Government of the country ip which they are
employed agrees to insure the carrying out of this provision.
Workers of either country will enjoy within the territory of the
other the same protection granted to the nationals of the country by
the present and future lawTs regulating working conditions and cover
ing the health and safety of the workers. They are also entitled to
the same assistance, in the event of unemployment, as is granted to
the workers of the country in which they reside. In France this
includes the assistance granted by the municipal and departmental
unemployment funds and in Austria the regular payments under the
unemployment insurance system. The social insurance systems,
covering sickness, invalidity and insanity, in effect in each of the
countries, are also to be applicable to the nationals of the other
country. Costs of assistance furnished by the State will not be repaid
by the country to which the person belongs but in cases of perma
nent disability or of incurable mental disease which has lasted more
than one year, such persons may be returned to their native country
or if not repatriated, the country of origin must pay for their care.
All complaints by workers regarding working and living conditions
imposed upon them by the employers must be transmitted either
directly or through diplomatic or consular channels to the adminis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[90]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
91
trative authority of the country in which they reside, which organi
zation must endeavor to secure an amicable settlement.
The convention will become effective as soon as ratifications are
exchanged. It will remain in force for the period of one year and
will be renewed by tacit consent from year to year unless it is de
nounced, in which case denunciation must be made three months
before the expiration of the year.
Labor T reaty B etw een France and R u m a n ia 1
TREATY concluded between France and Rumania under date
of January 28, 1930, assures equality of treatment for the
nationals of the two countries in regard to the laws on social insurance
and other labor laws.
The convention provides that nationals of either country may
enter the other country without hindrance for the purpose of engaging
in work and that their entrance into the country as well as that of
their families will be facilitated in every way, including the provision
of identification cards and passports. No special authorization will
be required by either country for workers returning to the country
of origin.
Each contracting country agrees to authorize the recruitment of
labor for work in the other country under the following conditions:
Such workers may be recruited only for the metropolitan territory of
the contracting parties. Recruitment for other territories may be
carried out only by special agreement between the two countries, the
country having the right to determine the regions in which recruit
ment will be authorized and the other country the right to designate
the section to which workers may be directed. The Governments
of the two countries will decide upon the number and the classes of
workers to be recruited, in such a way as not to injure the economic
development of the one country or the condition of the workers in
the other. The offices having charge of the exchange of labor will
be the Ministry of Labor in Rumania and the public employment
service of the Ministry of Labor in France.
Emigrant workers will receive the same pay as that of other
workers of the same class employed in the same enterprise or the
nominal rate for the same class of work in the locality. Each country
undertakes to secure equality of treatment as regards the wages of
workers from the other country.
In each country the nationals of the other contracting State will
receive the same protection as that granted to natives of the country
in the application of the present and future laws regulating labor
conditions and assuring the health and safety of the workers. In
the case of unemployment of workers recruited from the other
country, such unemployed workers are entitled to the services of
the employment offices and to assistance from insurance institutions
or unemployment aid under the same conditions as nationals of the
country. Reciprocal rights are also granted for compensation for
industrial accidents or in case of sickness and provision is made for
A
1 Data are from Bulletin du Ministère du Travail et de l ’Hygiène, Paris, April-May-June> 1930, p. 237.
29334°—31------7
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the care of nationals of either country who, while residing in the other
country, become insane or disabled. Costs of assistance provided
by the State in which such workers are residing will not be repaid by
the country of origin. However, if it is considered feasible, workers
who are permenently crippled or disabled or who have been treated
for a mental ailment for at least one year will be returned to their na
tive country if they are able to travel and, if not, the home country of
such persons will pay the costs of their care after a certificate has been
filed notifying the home country of such persons of their disability.
The convention becomes effective, upon ratification, for the period
of a year, and will be renewed by tacit consent from year to year
unless it is denounced by one of the contracting countries, in which
case denunciation must be made three months before the expiration of
the year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
192]
OLD-AGE PENSIONS
O ld-A ge P en sion M ovem en t in M in n eso ta
HE old-age pension law enacted in Minnesota in 1929 (see Labor
Review, May, 1929, p. 109) was upon a county basis and per
missive in its terms. If any county wished to establish the system,
the proposition must first be presented to the legal voters of the
county at a general election and must be approved by a majority
ol those voting at the election. In accordance with this provision
12 counties placed the question of adopting the system upon their
ballots at the recent November elections. The Old Age Security
Herald reports in its issue for December, 1930, that in six counties
the measure was approved, in three it received a plurality but not
the necessary majority of all votes cast, and in the remaining three
the results were not definitely known at the time of writing. An
interesting feature of the election was that the largest and most
populous counties gave the largest majorities in favor of the plan.
T
H ennepin C o u n ty , w hich includes w ith in its te rrito ry th e city of M inneapolis,
th e larg e st in th e S tate, v o ted by a tre m e n d o u s m a jo rity — 84,000 to 11,000
votes- to apply th e law in ju stice to th e aged po o r of th e county. In R am sey
C ounty, w hose chief center of p o p u latio n is th e city of St. P aul, second larg est
in th e C om m onw ealth of M innesota, th e v icto ry of old-age secu rity w as ju s t as
decisive 33,000 to 6,000 votes. St. Louis C o u n ty , w hich co u n ts as one of its
centers th e city of D u lu th , th e th ird larg e st city , also w en t on record in fav o r of
pensions to th e in d ig en t aged b y 40,987 v o tes to 2,968. O u t of m ore th a n 8,000
voters in W ashington C o u n ty only a b o u t 1,000 voted ag a in st th e proposal, w hile
n early 5,000 registered them selves in fav o r of pensions. T he m easu re also carried
in B lue E a rth C o u n ty w ith a handsom e lead— 6,081 to 3,196. T h e v o te in P en
n ington C o u n ty stood 1,696 to 1,082 votes in fav o r of th e m easure.
It is known that in several counties where the measure failed to
win approval, a majority of those voting on the question were in
favor, but the measure was lost because of the failure of a part
of the electorate to give any expression of opinion. In Steele
County, for instance, 3,300 voted for adoption, 1,900 against and
1,700 did not express themselves either way, so that the favorable
ballots did not constitute a majority of all the ballots cast in the
general election, and the measure was lost.
It is stated that in Hennepin County the ballot was so decisive
that the system was put into effect at once; in other counties, owing
to budgetary difficulties, action will not be so prompt, but prepara
tions are being made to put the plan into operation as soon as
possible. St. Louis County will probably begin payments on
January 1, 1931, according to the chairman of the county com
missioners.
The Minnesota law provides for pensions to persons aged 70
or over who have resided in their respective counties at least 15
years and meet certain tests as to character and citizenship. The
maximum pension payable is $1 a day.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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94
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
O ld-A ge P en sio n s in C anada
N ITS issue for October, 1930, the Canadian Labor Gazette gives
a summary of the Canadian experience with the old-age pension
act, which is now in operation in five Provinces and in the Northwest
Territories. The Dominion act was passed early in 1927, but has no
effect in any Province until that Province passes legislation adopting
it. In the Territories, however, it may be put into effect by an order
in council. Under its terms a pension, which may not exceed $240 a
year, is payable to any British subject aged 70 and over whose income
does not amount to as much as $365 a year, and who meets certain
requirements as to character and length of residence in the Dominion
and in the Province. The Dominion pays quarterly to each Province
one-half of the amount disbursed in pensions during^ the preceding
three months, but leaves the administration of the act in the hands of
the provincial authorities. The dates at which the act became effec
tive are as follows: British Columbia, September 1, 1927; Saskatche
wan, May 1, 1928; Manitoba, September 1, 1928; Northwest Terri
tories, March 1, 1929; Alberta, August 1, 1929; Ontario, November 1,
1929. On June 30, 1930, there were 47,291 pensioners. The follow
ing table gives some data as to their distribution:
I
N U M B E R OF P E N SIO N E R S A N D PE R C E N T OF PO PU L A T IO N P E N SIO N E D , JU N E 30,
1930, BY PRO V IN C E
Pensioners
Province
Number
Alhprtq
British nniipmhia
Manitoba
Ontario
Saskatchewan
Northwest Territories
__________________ _________
__ _____ ______ ____
_ __
_
---___
_________ — - —
_
- - _____ ___ _ __ __ __ — -
2, 341
4, 792
5, 283
30, 268
4, 603
4
Per cent of
total
population
0.36
.81
.79
.92
.53
.04
Per cent of
population
over 70 years
of age
30. 97
44.02
47. 21
26. 53
45. 60
3. 66
The figures for Ontario present two points of interest: The percent
age of the total population enrolled on the pension list is larger, and
the proportion of the population aged 70 and over who are pensioned
is smaller than in any other of the five Provinces. The latter fact
is probably due to the recent coming into effect of the act, which had
been in operation in Ontario for less than nine months at the time
these figures were assembled. The former is probably explicable by
the different age levels of the eastern and ^western Provinces, con
cerning which Doctor Jamieson, the administrator of the act in
Ontario, has this to say:
T he p o p ulatio n of people over 70 years of age varies considerably in th e differ
en t Provinces, for exam ple, in th e W est, w here th e settle m e n t h as been of m ore
recent d ate, it is considered m ore of a young m a n ’s co u n try . In B ritish C olum
bia an d th e p rairie Provinces, th e census shows th e re are a b o u t 18 over 70 in
each th o u san d of th e ir p o p u latio n ; in M an ito b a th e p ercentage is so m ew h at
higher, an d in O ntario th e re are 35 in every th o u san d .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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OLD-AGE PENSIONS
The sex division of these pensioners, by Provinces, was as follows:
N U M B E R OF M ALE A N D FE M A LE PE N SIO N E R S, JU N E 30, 1930
Province
Males
Alberta_____
British ColumbiaM anitoba. . . .
Ontario..
Saskatchewan
Northwest Territories
T otal. ___. . .
Females
1, 380
2,776
2, 759
14,149
2,552
4
961
2,016
2,524
16, 119
2,051
23, 620
23, 671
It is the usual experience that there is an excess of women in the
higher age groups, and consequently the number of women receiving
old-age pensions is apt to surpass the number of men. Ontario is
the only one of the five Provinces showing this condition, and this
again is probably due to the fact that it represents a longer period
of settlement than the western Provinces. When a new territory is
opened up, men lead the way, and it is only after a considerable period
that the proportion of women in the population becomes normal.
The amount paid out in pensions in each Province, and the share
borne by the Dominion, is shown for the quarter ending June 30,
1930, and for the total period during which they have been paid, in
the following table:
TOTAL COST OF OLD-AGE PEN SIO N S IN C A N A DA A N D COST TO D O M IN IO N GOV
E R N M E N T , FOR SP E C IF IE D PER IO D S
April 1 to June 30, 1930
Since adoption of old-age
pension act
Province
Total
Alberta.. . . . . .
British Columbia .
M anitoba. __ .
Ontario.
Saskatchewan. . . .
Northwest Territories____
Total___ ___________ .
Dominion’s
share
Total
Dominion’s
share
$152, 475
279, 320
321,263
1, 735, 020
274, 992
261
$76,238
139, 660
160, 631
867, 510
137,496
261
$419, 895
2, 328, 995
1,970, 559
3,990, 708
1,594, 935
818
$209, 948
1,164,478
985, 279
1,995, 354
797, 468
818
2, 763, 331
1,381,796
10, 305, 910
5,153,345
Concerning the figures for Ontario, Doctor Jamieson, already
quoted, speaking in September, had this to say:
T he to ta l n um ber of pensioners on our O ntario list for th e last m o n th was
31,967, an d th e to ta l am o u n t p aid o u t in pensions was $632,069, an d while we
have a d e a th ra te of over 300 each m onth, we have a b o u t 700 or 800 new ap p li
cations, so we estim ate th ere will be, w hen we reach th e peak load, a b o u t 35 000
pensioners, an d a yearly roll in excess of $8,000,000, in ad d itio n to th e cost of
ad m in istratio n .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
• [95]
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
W om an W orkers in L aundries
W
HILE the wages, hours, and working conditions of women
employed in laundries are the main topics of Bulletin No. 78,
recently issued by the Women’s Bureau, some space is also given to
the development of the business itself during the last few decades.
A striking feature has been its rapid growth, accompanied by a marked
increase in the number of employees and a change in the character of
work done. Up to 1915 it was chiefly a shirt-and-collar business with
a slowly growing commercial and family trade. About that time the
home electric washer was introduced, and in order to compete with
this the laundries provided a wet-wash service, with a charge per
pound of clothing washed. As an outgrowth of this came the roughdry and the finished services for families, frequently on a pound
basis of payment. The effect of these changes is shown in the figures
concerning the extent of the business. From 1909 the number of
laundries reporting rose from 3,845 to 5,962, the number of wage
earners from 105,216 to 203,215, and the amount received for work
done from $100,900,182 to $453,877,518; in other words, the number
of laundries increased by 55.1 per cent, the number of wage earners
by 93.1 per cent, and the amount received for work done by 349.8
per cent.
T he figures illu stra te th e re su lt of tw o m ark ed changes in th e la u n d ry in d u stry ,
one in th e c h ara c te r of articles lau n d ered a n d th e o th e r in th e w ay in w hich th e
w ork is done. T h e change in ty p e of w ork, from m en ’s linen, chiefly collars an d
cuffs, to th e inclusion of com m ercial w ork a n d fam ily b undles th a t m ay be re tu rn e d
d am p, rough dried, o r ironed, h as g reatly increased th e volum e of w ork w ith o u t
a p ro p o rtio n a te increase in w age earn ers or p lan ts. T h e second change is
t h a t from a n in d u stry ru n on h a p h a z a rd a n d in d iv id u alistic lines to one o p e ra te d
on scientific an d group m ethods. T hese changes could n o t h a v e ta k e n place
w ith o u t a tra n sitio n in th e social whole. A N ew Y ork S ta te re p o rt briefly en u
m erates th e conditions t h a t h av e p lay ed th e ir p a r t in th e rev o lu tio n of th e lau n d ry
in d u stry : A stead ily increasing n u m b er of w om en a re em ployed ou tsid e th e
hom e; those n o t so em ployed engage o th ers to do th e ir w ashing in g re a te r n u m
bers th a n ever before; se rv a n ts a re becom ing increasingly difficult to o b ta in an d
increasingly expensive; m ore people are living in a p a rtm e n ts _th a n fo rm e rly ;
a p a rtm e n ts are becom ing sm aller, w ith p oorer facilities for w ashing a n d ironing.
Coincidentally with these changes have come various improve
ments in working conditions, especially in the matter of regular hours.
I t used to be taken for granted that the laundry industry, due to the
difficulty of getting the work in regularly and to the insistence upon
its speedy return, must have peak days and slack days each week.
When in 1912 the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics made a
study of women in power laundries in Milwaukee, it was found that
86.8 per cent of the workers had two or more short days in the week,
with others correspondingly long. (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bui. No. 122, p. 74.) This latest investigation shows an almost
complete change in this respect, as there was little variation in the
daily hours except for the Saturday half holiday. This improvement
is ascribed to a campaign of education among housewives, who “ are
being educated to the fact that to insist on the completion of laundry
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
work in the earlier part of the week means long hours for the workers
and fatigue that is not compensated for by shorter hours later in the
week.”
The Workers
T h e study, which was undertaken in the fall of 1927 with the
cooperation of the Laundryowners’ National Association, covered 290
power laundries in 23 cities and 17 States, employing 24,337 workers,
of whom 19,758 (81.2 per cent) were women. The majority of the
women were native born. Negro women were freely employed, but
their numbers and proportion naturally varied according to the
section of the country. The following table shows for the 18,369
reporting as to nativity, the division between foreign born and native,
whether colored or white.
P E R C E N T OF N A T IV E B O R N A N D OF F O R E IG N B O R N A M O N G 18,369 W OM AN
W ORKERS
N ative born
Foreign
born
Section
White
Eastern___ .
_ _ _____ . .
Middle western__ ________
.... _
Western. __ ______ . _ . . . _.
Southern. . . . ___
_ ___
All sections_______________
an l
___ _
Negro
55. 7
64 4
13 2
14 4
29.9
4
86 3
an 5
14. 4
35 2
48.8
32.4
18.7
5
Among the foreign born, Mexicans and Canadians were most
numerous, forming nearly one-third of that group. The Mexicans
were found almost exclusively in the West and the Canadians in the
East and, to a much less degree, in the Middle Western States.
O utside th e so u th ern cities, w here negro w om en were n a tu ra lly in a large
m ajo rity , C hicago a n d C leveland h a d th e g re a te st p ro p o rtio n s of negro women.
In C hicago negroes com prised m ore th a n three-fifths (62.9 p er cent) of all th e
w om an w orkers a n d in C leveland n early one-half (49 p er cent). I t is of in te re st
to no te t h a t th e cities of Jersey C ity a n d N ew ark, com bined, a lth o u g h n o rth an d
n ear th e seaboard, em ployed a m uch larger n u m b er of negro th a n of foreignborn women.
The age distribution of the workers shows a smaller proportion of
young girls and a larger proportion of middle-aged or elderly women
than is general in industry. Those reporting on this item numbered
16,462, thus divided as to age.
D IS T R IB U T IO N OF W H ITE A N D COLORED L A U N D R Y W OR K ER S B Y AGE GROUPS
White
Negro
Age group
Number
16 and under 18 years____ ________ ______ .
18 and under 20 years___
_ .....
________
20 and under 25 years___ .
______ ________
25 and under 30 years_______________________
30 and under 40 years___ _ . __________ __
40 and under 50 years___
....
50 and under 60 years ______
____ ___
60 years and over___ _ _ ______
T otal_______ ____ ______
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[971
Per cent
Number
Per cent
426
1, 211
2,170
1,643
3, 408
2,312
855
235
3.5
9.9
17.7
13.4
27.8
18.9
7.0
1.9
148
485
1,176
925
963
405
87
13
3. 5
11. 5
28.0
22.0
22. 9
9.0
2. 1
.3
12, 260
100.0
4, 202
100.0
98
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
It will be noticed that the age level of the negro women is lower
than that of the whites. The majority of both races were found in
the age group 20 and under 40 years, but only 58.9 per cent of the
white as against 72.9 per cent of the colored women were massed
here. There was not much difference in the proportion under 20
years of age, but among those aged 50 and over, white women out
numbered the colored very largely.
In both races married women were more numerous than the single,
the percentages standing as follows:
PE R C E N T OF M A R R IE D A N D OF SINGLE L A U N D R Y W ORKERS
Colored
White
Conjugal condition
Single
- - _______ ___ ___ _____________________
_____
__ ___ ____ -- -- - - - -- ---------- -Married
Widowed, divorced, or separated----------------------------------------------------------------------
28.9
41. 1
30.0
33.6
43. 1
23.3
Hours, Wage Rates, and Earnings
T h e sc h e d u le d w e e k ly h o u r s r a n g e d fr o m u n d e r 4 4 to 6 0 a n d
T h e m o s t c h a r a c te r is tic w e e k , b y s e c t io n , w a s as fo llo w s :
over.
D IS T R IB U T IO N OF W OR K ER S BY HOURS W O RKED
Hours
Section
Western
Eastern
Middle Western
Southern
_ _ •_
_
_ __ ____________ ____
________ ____ _
____
__ _____ __ ___
48 and under______________
- _ do___ _ -50 and under 54
54 and over_______________
Per cent of
women
97.2
80.2
51.7
48.4
W here th e S ta te reg u latio n set a high sta n d a rd for daily or w eekly hours, as
an 8-hour day or a 48-hour week, th e scheduled hours of th e lau n d ries re p o rted
ten d ed to coincide w ith th e legal lim it; b u t in th e cities w here th e s ta tu to ry
sta n d a rd was less strin g e n t, th e progressive la u n d ry m anagers freq u en tly h ad
ad o p ted schedules below th e legal b o undaries for hours. T h u s th e effect of good
legal regulation in reducing th e general level of hours is a p p a re n t. * * * For
th e progressive lau n d ry m an ag er a high legal s ta n d a rd m eans stabilized com
p etitio n as far as hours are concerned, while in a S ta te w ith no reg u latio n he m u st
com pete w ith th e u n scrupulous who m ake no effort v o lu n tarily to stabilize a n d
lim it th e ir em ployees’ hours of work.
Wage rates and earnings were taken for a specific week, usually in
the fall of 1927, but in a few cases early in 1928. The week selected
was one without holidays or other disturbing factors, which might be
considered as nearly as possible typical of the plant’s routine. As
usual, there -was a considerable difference between wage rates and
earnings, due to undertime or overtime or some special cause. The
following table shows for the races separately the weekly rates and
the weekly earnings, with the number and percentage of women in
each specified group:
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[98]
99
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF W O M E N IN SP E C IF IE D W AGE A N D E A R N IN G S GROUPS,
BY RACE
White
Colored
Wage or earnings group
Number
Weekly rate:
Under $10________________________________
$10 and under $15______________
_____________
$15 and under $ 2 0 __________________
$20 and over_________________ _ ______ ___
Total_________
________________________
Weekly earnings:
Under 10___________ ___
_ _ _ ________
$10 and under $15______________________ ____ ___
$15 and under $20_______
. . . ______
$20 and over_________________________
Total____ _ _ ____ _ _________ _
Per cent
Number
Per cent
63
3,500
5,997
2,110
0.5
30.0
51.4
18.1
2,307
1,535
345
16
54.9
36. 6
8.2
.4
11,670
100.0
4,203
100.0
831
4, 672
6,168
2, 433
5.9
33.1
43.7
17.3
3,005
1,656
366
49
59.2
32. 6
7. 2
1.0
14,104
100.0
5,076
100.0
For the white women the median rates were $16.50 and median
earnings $16.10 per week; for the colored women these figures were,
respectively, $9.25 and $8.85 a week. The median earnings varied
according to locality as follows:
M E D IA N E A R N IN G S OF L A U N D R Y W ORKERS, B Y LOCALITY
Locality
All places________ . . . __ ____
E ast_____________ ______.
Middle West . . . . _ ____
W est____________________
South___________________
White
$16.10
14.50
14. 75
17.90
13. 95
Negro
$8.85
12.50
12.25
17. 50
7.15
The high median for colored women in the West is based upon the
earnings of only 16 workers, colored employees being the exception
in that section; on the other hand, the preponderance of colored
workers in the South, where earnings are low for both races, brings
down the median earnings of the Negro group as a whole.
Working conditions were studied in much detail. Temperatures,
taken by sling psychrometer, dry-bulb and wet-bulb readings, varied
considerably. Of 604 readings, 7 per cent showed cool, 46.7 per cent
comfortable, 29.5 per cent warm, and 16.9 per cent hot temperatures,
as reported by the agents. One-third of the laundries visited lacked
artificial ventilation of any kind. Of 214 laundries for which the
item was reported, 11.2 per cent had hoods with exhausts over all
their flat-work ironers and a number of others had some of their
machines so equipped. Seats for all employees were supplied in 19
laundries, and for some employees by 118 others. First aid was
provided in all but 15 laundries, and a special person to administer
it in all but 58. Lunch rooms were provided in 55 laundries, special
rest rooms in 27, and cloak rooms in about one-half.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In d u stria l A ccid en ts A m on g W om en
HE United States Women’s Bureau has recently published, as
its Bulletin No. 81 the results of a study of industrial accidents,
by sex, for the period 1920 to 1927. The data on which the study is
based were obtained from reports issued in the 21 States thathave
published accident data separately for men and women, principally
by the administration of the workmen’s compensation act in the
respective State.
It is pointed out that comparison of statistics from the various
States is extremely difficult, because differences exist in the provisions
of compensation laws and in administrative practices. It was, how
ever, found from the available data that industrial accidents are in
all cases relatively fewer among female employees than among male
employees. The proportion of females among all gainfully employed
persons, as quoted from the United States Census of Occupations,
1920, ranges from 29.3 to 11.4 per cent, with an arithmetical average
of 20.2 per cent. The proportion of females among the injured per
sons reported ranges from 12.7 per cent in Rhode Island for the year
ending September 30, 1927, to less than 1 per cent in Alabama for
1922, when the last separate tabulation for females was published.
The arithmetical average reaches only 5.3 per cent, indicating an
even smaller proportion of female workers among the injured than
is exhibited by the range.
Distribution of accidents to females by age of injured is shown for
11 of the States, which had supplied information on that point, also
by extent of disability, by industry, and by cause. In five of the six
States reporting industry classifications in standard form more than
one-half of the injuries to female workers occurred in manufacturing.
Examples are presented of programs on accident-prevention work
by several State labor agencies, and some recommendations are
given for further reduction of accidents, together with a strong plea
for publication by the different States of standard and uniform sta
tistics on accidents.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[100 ]
CHILD LABOR AND CHILD W ELFA R E
T hird W h ite H ouse C on feren ce on C hild W elfare
HE White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, for
which plans had been under way for more than a year, met in
Washington, November 20-22, 1930, with an attendance estimated
at several thousand, coming from all parts of the Union. The prepar
atory work, which had been in the hands of 17 major committees,
each with numerous subcommittees, was divided into four general
sections—medical service, public health service and administration,
education and training, and the whole question of the handicapped.
A number of preliminary reports were presented, dealing with various
aspects of these questions, but none of the reports has as yet been
prepared for general distribution. In the address with which he opened
the conference, Secretary of Labor James J. Davis emphasized the
need for translating these studies into practical results. Study of the
situation, he pointed out, was no new thing:
T
If we could p u t in to p ractice w h at is now know n a b o u t safeguarding th e h ealth
of children, p rev en tin g dependency a n d delinquency, p ro viding o p p o rtu n ities for
w holesom e group activities, we could in a single generatio n p rofoundly im prove
th e w hole ch aracter of our n atio n al life. T h e long, u n h a p p y procession of chil
dren w ho e n te r a d u lt life physically, socially, a n d m en tally h an d ica p p ed could
be m ade a m uch sh o rter one a n d th e efficiency of our citizens be correspondingly
increased.
In spite of our knowledge of the subject, however, there are still
lamentable defects in our program of child care. Some of these are
due to economic difficulties and some to social attitudes, but all
present difficulties of solution, calling for united action if they are to
be remedied.
I note t h a t th e com m ittee on th e d ep en d en t child tells us t h a t large num bers
of children still suffer unrelieved in th e ir own hom es, or are sep a ra te d from th e ir
hom es because of p o v erty ; th a t th e re are m an y child-caring agencies w ith o u t
responsible organization, u n d er no in spection rep resen tin g th e en tire com m unity,
w ith inferior, in ad eq u a te staffs; th a t even alm shouses, condem ned a h u n d red
years ago for th e care of children, a re still used in c ertain localities for th is p u r
pose; a n d th a t invalidism , accidents, irreg u la r em ploym ent, u n em ploym ent, a n d
insufficient wages leave h u n d red s of th o u san d s of fam ily hom es w ith o u t t h a t ad e
q u a te incom e w hich is essential to th e m ain ten an ce of a hom e su ita b ly equipped
fo r th e rearin g of citizens.
H ere are problem s fu n d a m e n ta l in a n y pro g ram for th e h e a lth a n d p ro tectio n of
children. I t is a long list of th in g s th a t m u st be done. N o item is m ore im p o rta n t
to th e child nor co n trib u tes m ore to o u r n a tio n a l w elfare th a n th e u n in te rru p te d
em ploym ent of A m erican fath e rs a t a w age w hich will p rovide secu rity a n d a
reasonable sta n d a rd of living for th e ir fam ilies.
N o one w ould say th a t th is is a n easy problem to solve, b u t, w ith P resid en t
H oover, I believe th a t a w ay m u st be fo u n d to p re v e n t th ese cycles of in d u stria l
depression a n d provide ad e q u a te wages for A m erican w orkm en.
N or are th e oth er recom m endations easy to accom plish. W e shall need th e
com bined effort a n d intelligence of all th e in d iv id u als a n d agencies rep resen ted
in th is conference to give to A m erican children th e o p p o rtu n ities th a t should be
theirs.
[101]
101
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
102
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The feature of the proceedings which aroused perhaps more public
interest than any other was a recommendation contained in the major
ity report of the committee on Federal health activities, that the child
health, maternity, and infancy work of the Children’s Bureau should
be shifted to the Public Health Service. Miss Abbott, head of the
Children’s Bureau, presented a minority report opposing this move
and received such strong support that the recommendation, instead
of being accepted, was laid before the conference committee on pro
cedure, and by it held over for consideration by the President’s con
tinuation committee. In defending the retention of these services by
the Children’s Bureau, Miss Abbott emphasized the desirability of a
unified approach on the part of the Federal Government to all the
problems of childhood.
T he conception of th e u n ity of th e child a n d th e value of h av in g th e disciplines
a n d techniques of th e social, m edical, sta tistic a l, a n d o th e r re la te d sciences asso
ciated in th e scientific stu d y w ere ad v o cated by th e conference in 1909 a n d en
th u siastically ap p ro v ed by P re sid e n t R oosevelt and , in tu rn , b y Congress.
T here is am ple evidence th a t th is p la n of unified ap p ro a c h h a s g reatly increased
public in te re st in all th e problem s of children a n d child life. T o rem o v e th e h e a lth
w ork from th e C h ild ren ’s B u reau w ould n o t m erely rem ove one section of th e
b u reau ’s activities, it w ould d estro y it as a child ren ’s b u reau .
I t has been generally recognized th a t, in ad d itio n to sa n ita tio n , co n tro l of com
m unicable diseases, inspection of m ilk a n d o th er p u b lic h e a lth ac tiv itie s fu n d a
m en tal in a h e a lth pro g ram for b o th a d u lts a n d children, th e re m u st be a special
organization for pro m o tio n of th e h e a lth of children.
Any child h e a lth organization, because i t is a special org an izatio n for an age
group, necessarily conflicts w ith a n a tte m p t to organize th e h e a lth activ ities on
a com plete functio n al basis.
In developm ent of its w ork on behalf of children, th e U n ite d S tates C h ild ren ’s
B ureau has carefully avoided d u p licatin g w ork being done b y a n y o th e r agency,
a n d it has endeav o red to b u ild u p agencies whose p ro p er fu n ctio n in g in th e com
m u n ity is im p o rta n t to th e w elfare of b o th a d u lts a n d children.
Finally, if it w ere necessary to choose betw een efficient o rg an izatio n for p ro
m otion of th e general h e a lth a n d th e m ost effective m eth o d of p ro m o tin g th e
h ealth of children, I should consider th e la tte r as of g re a te st im p o rtan ce. F o r
tu n a te ly such a choice is n o t necessary. By n a tio n a l in terlocking co m m ittees
an d local coordination of activ ities, such, a choice has been d em o n stra te d b y ex
perience to be unnecessary.
In summing up the results of the conference, Secretary of the
Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur stressed the need for the establishment
of local child welfare conferences throughout the country to carry on
the work. The greatest danger in trying to carry into action the find
ings of the conference would be to have too scattered a program or
too much centralization.
T rends in E m p lo y m en t of C h ild ren , 1927 to 1929
OR some years past the Federal Children’s Bureau has made a
practice of collecting records of the first certificates given
children authorizing their employment—work certificates, as they
are usually called—and in the annual report of the bureau chief for
1929-30, data are given concerning such certificates issued in 1929.
The child labor laws of most States prescribe that children under
certain ages, differing to some extent with the State, must obtain
these permits before they may be lawfully employed, and also require
that the permits must contain certain definite data as to age, sex,
F
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 102 ]
CHILD LABOR AND CHILD WELFARE
103
school grade reached, and the like. Consequently the records of
these certificates, if accurately kept, furnish information bearing upon
several aspects of the child-labor problem. When the bureau began
a study of this matter several years ago, it found that comparatively
few places had recognized the importance of keeping such records of
the certificates issued as would furnish readily the information
desired, and that even where records were kept, the data preserved
in one State might be on a different basis from that of another, so
that the figures of different States could not be combined. Efforts
were therefore made both to encourage the keeping of such records,
and to promote uniformity in the methods of presenting the data,
with the result that the field covered by the records collected is con
tinually widening and the figures growing in significance. In cases
where statistics of this kind can not be collected on a state-wide
basis, the bureau has tried to secure them from the larger cities of
the State. Comment is made on the increasing volume and value
of the data secured.
F o r 1926, th e first year in w hich p ersonal visits to S ta te a n d local offices were
m ade, th e b u reau received re p o rts from only 12 S tates, 26 cities in 12 o th er
States, a n d th e D istrict of C olum bia, w hereas fo r 1929 it received re p o rts from
19 S tates, 65 cities in 15 o th e r S tates, a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia.
I t is e stim ated on th e basis of th e 1920 census t h a t th e n u m b e r of 14 an d 15
y e a r old children receiving certificates in th e S ta te s a n d cities from w hich rep o rts
a re now being received rep resen ts app ro x im ately 70 p er c en t of th e 14 a n d 15
y e a r old children in th e U n ited S tates going to w ork in occupations for which
certificates are usually req u ired u n d er th e S ta te child lab o r laws. T hese records,
of course, do n o t include th e large n u m b er of children en terin g o ccupations (such
as ag ricu ltu ral p u rsu its a n d dom estic service) for w hich certificates are n o t required
u n d er S ta te laws, nor those going to w ork illegally. I t should be rem em bered
also t h a t th e n u m b er of first re g u lar certificates issued does n o t in d icate th e
to ta l n u m b er of children a t w ork a t a n y given tim e b u t only th e n u m b er b e g i n n i n g
w ork d u ring a single year. T hese figures are, how ever, rep rese n ta tiv e of con
ditions as regards a t least th e legal em ploym ent of children of em ploym entcertificate age in m ost in d u strial a n d com m ercial p u rsu its in th e im p o rta n t
child-em ploying centers.
A tabulation has been made of the figures relating to 137,786
children 14 and 15 years of age and of 82,301 children aged 16 and 17
who received regular certificates for the first time in 1929. The
following table shows the number of those aged 14 and 15 as reported
from 17 States and the District of Columbia, and from cities of 50,000
or over.1 (Two States, Alabama and Oklahoma, are omitted, be
cause they did not show the number of first regular certificates
separately from the number of reissued certificates.)
i
Population according to census estimate of July 1, 1928, or where no estimate was made, according to
census of 1920.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
104
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
N U M B E R OF C H IL D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF AGE R E C E IV IN G T H E IR FIRST
REG U LA R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IFIC A T E S IN 1928 A N D 1929 A N D PE R C E N T OF
CHA N G E FROM PREVIO US Y E A R , BY STA TE A N D C ITY »
1929
1928
State and city
Number
States reporting:
Connecticut,
____
_
-Bridgeport,
H art,ford
__
__
New Britain
New Haven
_
Waterbury
- _
District of Columbia. __
_
_
Indiana
__
-----------------"Fort Wayne
Hammond
Indianapolis
_
South Bend
Towa
_ _
_
Cedar Rapids
__
_____
Davenport
P ps Moines
__ ______
Sioux City
__
_ - _________
Kansas
- ___- ___ ----------Kansas City
__
__ _ _______________
Topeka
Wichita
______
Kentucky
_
____
___
Covington
Tinnisville
Maine
_
_ _
Portland
- __________ -Maryland
- -Baltimore
- __ -- —
Minnesota
_
_ _ _ _ — ---Minneapolis
_ __ __
________
St. Paul
New Hampshire
Man eh ester
_
_ _ _ _ _
New Jersey
____ _ _
---- ------ ----------------Jersey City
_ ______ _______ _ __ Newark
Trenton
_ _
___
____
N pw Ynrk
Albany
Binghamton
_ _ „ _
Buffalo
___
__
___
Klmira
New York
- - ___
__ ____
Niagara Falls
- _
Rochester
fteh en eet ad y
Syracuse
Troy
Utica
Yonkers ________ ___ - ----- ------ - - -
Per cent of
change as
compared
with 19273
5,649
635
453
274
962
363
252
706
46
34
183
75
3707
3 32
-1 1
+9
-2 8
+ 11
-2
-2 4
+35
-1 7
-2 1
-1 1
-8
+33
3 122
3169
3 83
128
80
15
24
647
35
390
398
<13
3 3, 240
52,961
268
+34
+3
+ 11
Number
Per cent of
change as
compared
with 19282
6 ,537
+16
+44
+24
915
560
253
884
374
279
822
78
41
209
61
3 862
330
3157
3184
-8
-8
+3
+ 16
+ 14
-1 9
+22
+29
+9
+35
+33
+55
3112
170
124
21
-18
-2 3
-5 2
-1 5
-1 7
- 14
-9
-9
+9
112
«131
'828
'240
316,788
31,340
3 2, 306
3 786
-2
-7
-1 4
-2
-9
2,414
-7
34,313
266
1,588
-4
+55
- 1
7
798
47
482
4170
4 29
«3, 815
«3, 553
253
93
+23
+24
+73
+18
+20
-6
-1 7
-1 5
+35
+71
+4
112
7 1 ,1 2 0
7 411
317,385
3 1, 371
3 2, 264
3 824
54, 897
361
268
2, 783
174
35,934
63
1,476
470
514
+2
-2
+5
+15
+5
-7 6
-7
200
429
-1 2
671
413
-4
1 Data are from State or local official sources.
2 Per cent not shown where number of children
is less than 50 nor where figures for previous year are not
available.
.,
, , .
3 Includes children to whom regular certificates were issued for work outside school hours and during
vau atum .
.
.
.
,
.
4
Number of 15-year-old children to whom regular certificates were issued; law does not permit the issuance of regular certificates to children under 15. In Grand Rapids, M ich., in 1929 a regular certificate
was issued to one child of 14 years for work on a farm; in Hamtramck, Mich., in 1928 regular certificates
were issued to two children of 14 years and in 1929 to three children of 14 years, after investigation dis
closed necessity for employment; in Lansing, Mich., in 1929 regular certificates were issued to one child of
14 years compelled to support himself and to three children of 14 years enrolled in the high-school indus
trial course and working part time.
.
3 Exclusive of 211 children in 1928 and 213 children in 1929 to whom “ vocational” certificates were issued.
6 Revised figures supplied by State.
,
1 1ncludes in New Hampshire children to whom regular certificates were issued for after-school work,
and in San Diego in 1928 children to whom certificates were issued for work outside school hours which
were not reported separately.
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[104]
105
CHILD LABOR AND CHILD WELFARE
N U M B E R OF C H IL D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF AGE R E C E IV IN G T H E IR FIR ST
R EG U LA R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IFIC A T E S IN 1928 A N D 1929 A N D P E R C E N T OF
C H A N G E FR OM PR E V IO U S Y E A R , B Y ST A T E A N D C IT Y —Continued
1928
State and city
Number
States reporting—Continued.
Pennsylvania_____ _ _________________________
Erie___________________________ ____ _______
Harrisburg. __ ____ _ _ _____________ _
Philadelphia_____________ _______ _________
Pittsburgh_________________________________
Scranton _____ ______ ___ ___ __ _ __
Tennessee. . . . _____
_ _ ...................... _ _ __
Chattanooga _ ________ ____
Knoxville. _____
...........................
Memphis__________ ______ _______ _ ___ _ _
Nashville _
_ _
.............
V erm o n t__
W ashington.._ . . . _. ............
........ ..........
. . .
_______
West Virginia............... .
Charleston
.
______
Huntington. __ _
_ ___
Wheeling
_
_ _. _
Wisconsin.______ ___ ___________________ ______
Milwaukee_____ _ _ _ .................................... __ _
Cities in States not reporting:
California—
Long Beach... _____________________________
Los Angeles. . . .
________
___ _
Oakland. _ _ . . .
_ _ _ _ _
Pasadena. _____
_
__ ______
Sacramento. __ _ _ _____________________ . _
San Diego __ __
San Francisco
............................... _
Colorado: Denver ___
_________
_________
Delaware: W ilmington. ____________ ________
Georgia: Atlanta___________ ____________ _
Illinois—
Chicago___
_ __ . . .
Decatur..
___________ ____ ____ _ _ ___
East St. Louis................................................ __ _
Oak Park. _ _ _ _ _ _
__
_ _
___ _
Peoria___
Rockford__ _ . . .
Springfield _ _ . . . ____ _ ______ _____ ___ _
Louisiana: N ew Orleans. ___ ______ _______ _
Massachusetts—
Boston. ________ . __
Fall River__
_ _ _ _ ...................
Lawrence.- ____
______ .
Lowell__ ______________________________ ___
Lynn___________________ ________________
Somerville....................... ........................... .
_ ___
Springfield_______________ ______________ _.
Michigan—
Detroit__________ _ _________________ ____
Grand Rapids. ___ __ ____ ____ _ __ _____
Hamtramck _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Highland Park_ __ _ __ _
Kalamazoo _
__
_ __
Lansing.... ...................... _ ___
__ _ . . .
•Saginaw___ ________ _ _ ___ __________ __
3 Includes
127
76
9,715
980
694
2,239
59
87
403
45
61
492
1929
Per cent of
change as
compared
with 1927
-5 2
-3 7
-2
-2 9
(8)
-2 2
-46
-8 2
+6
2,162
1 , 282
-1 7
-2 6
21
701
65
30
39
204
134
235
285
46
Number
27, 758
' 138
109
10,455
1,429
757
1, 526
97
9 172
238
36
77
458
403
35
60
57
1, 656
861
(8)
+39
-1 4
857
69
19
56
14
145
+ 12
211
320
-1 2
20
-1 7
3, 486
3 121
3 93
-2 4
98
15
72
50
134
64
-3
66
+4
-3 1
2, 382
307
277
262
398
+32
+3
-5
4 1,003
4 158
4 54
+46
4 34
+9
+43
+8
+46
+9
32
+64
+98
—41
+26
—7
-2 3
-3 3
11
-16
- 17
« 3, 454
140
■° 1.195
Per cent of
change as
compared
with 1928
+2
-1 1
+22
+6
+8
-1 0
+ 12
+ 1
88
+13
—24
-4
i° 1 , 100
-8
2, 847
1,183
441
467
333
299
427
+20
4 1,033
4 193
4 56
0
4 24
4 62
48
+52
+20
+14
+7
+22
+4
49
-9 3
children to whom regular certificates were issued for work outside school hours and during
vacation.
4 Number of 15-year-old children to whom regular certificates were issued; law does not permit the issu
ance of regular certificates to children under 15. In Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1929 a regular certificate
was issued to one child of 14 years for work on a farm; in Hamtramck, Mich., in 1928 regular certificates
were issued to two children of 14 years and in 1929 to three children of 14 years, after investigation disclosed
necessity for employment; in Lansing, Mich., in 1929 regular certificates were issued to one child of 14
years compelled to support himself and to three children of 14 years enrolled in the high-school industrial
course and working part time.
6 Revised figures supplied by State.
7 Includes in New Hampshire children to whom regular certificates were issued for “ after-school” work,
and in San Diego in 1928 children to whom certificates were issued for work outside school hours which
were not reported separately.
8 Less than 1 per cent.
9 M ay include a few children to whom certificates were reissued.
10 Includes children to whom regular certificates were issued for work during vacation.
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106
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
N U M B E R OF C H IL D R E N 14 A N D 15 Y E A R S OF AGE R E C E IV IN G T H E IR FIR ST
R EG U LA R E M P L O Y M E N T C E R T IF IC A T E S IN 1928 A N D 1929 A N D P E R C E N T OF
CHA N G E FR OM PR E V IO U S Y E A R , B Y ST A T E A N D C IT Y —Continued
1928
State and city
Per cent of
change as
compared
with 1927
Number
Cities in States not reporting—Continued.
Missouri—
Kansas City
___ .
________ ____ .
St. Louis ___
. . . . . ___ .
Nebraska—
Lincoln.. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Omaha_____ __
________________________
. Ohio—
Akron _ . . . .
_____ ____ . ___ ____ __
Cincinnati_______ . ____
__
Cleveland. ____ _ _ __
_________ _ ___
Columbus __ . . _ _. ___ . _____
_____
Dayton __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Springfield
_ ...
_
_ _
Toledo ________
_
_ _ _ _ ___ __
Youngstown-. _ _ _ _ _______ _
Oregon: Portland
______ ___ ___ _____ _____
Rhode Island: Providence. __ ___ _ _ _____ ___
Utah: Salt Lake City
Virginia: Richmond_________________ _________
1929
175
1,773
-1 3
3 338
1, 730
-4 1
3
74
-2
6
69
u
Number
Per cent of
change as
compared
with 1928
-2
+7
n3
u3
7
0
11 6
0
n7
u5
ii 2 1
u7
ii 23
0
0
i 1, 704
125
0
+9
+29
265
i 1,943
92
174
+14
-2 6
3 Includes children to whom regular certificates were issued for work outside school hours and during
vacation.
4 Number of 15-year-old children to whom regular certificates were issued; law does not permit the issu
ance of regular certificates to children under 15. In Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1929 a regular certificate
was issued to one child of 14 years for work on a farm; in Hamtramck, Mich., in 1928 regular certificates
were issued to two children of 14 years and in 1929 to three children of 14 years, after investigation disclosed
necessity for employment; in Lansing, M ich., in 1929 regular certificates were issued to one child of 14
years compelled to support himself and to three children of 14 years enrolled in the high-school industrial
course and working part time.
11 Children under 16 adjudged incapable of profiting substantially by further instruction.
In 1928 as compared with 1927, of the States reporting, 9 showed a
decrease in the number of children receiving first certificates, while 3
States and the District of Columbia showed an increase; the followingyear the situation was reversed, 10 States and the District showing
an increase, and only 4 showing a decrease. While the percentage
of increase in 1929 was sometimes considerable, the numbers involved
were generally not large; the increase in Vermont showed the smallest
number, 16, and that in Connecticut the largest, 888. Individual
cities sometimes displayed a movement directly contrary to that of
the State, but as a whole, for the area for which reports were received,
1929 showed an increase, while 1928 had shown a decrease, as com
pared with the preceding year.
T he nu m b er of 14 a n d 15 y ear old children to w hom first reg u lar certificates
were issued increased 5 p er c en t in 1929 over 1928 in th e 14 S tates a n d th e D istric t
of C olum bia an d th e 49 cities in 15 o th er S tates, for w hich co m parable figures are
available. In m an y of th ese places— 7 S ta te s a n d 22 cities in o th e r S ta te s— th e
increases in 1929 followed decreases in 1928 as com pared w ith 1927, b u t in 3
S tates, 6 cities, a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia b o th y ears show ed a n increase.
In th e S tates a n d cities fo r w hich com parable figures a re available for 1927, as
well as 1928 an d 1929, th e n u m b er of 14 a n d 15 y ear old children to w hom reg u lar
certificates w ere issued increased 6 p e r c en t in 1929 over 1928, w hereas in 1928
th ere w as a decrease of 7 p er c en t as com pared w ith 1927.
In localities which reported a decrease in the number of permits
issued in 1929 as compared with 1928, it is suggested that changes in
the laws raising educational standards and more rigid enforcement
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[1061
CHILD LABOR AND CHILD WELFARE
107
labor and compulsory school-attendance laws were prob
ably factors m keeping children in school and thereby reducing; the
numbei of 14 and 15 year old children going to work.
Separate figures for white and colored children aged 14 and 15
were given in the reports from 9 States, 43 cities in 18 other States
and the District of Columbia, showing that colored children were only
1 per cent of the number to whom first regular certificates were issued
though the percentage of colored children in this age group throughout
the Union is 12. This does not show, however, the actual proportions
of unite and colored children going to work, since colored children
are employed perhaps more frequently than white in domestic and
personal service and m agricultural pursuits, for which certificates are
not usually required.
In general the largest number of the 14 and 15 year old children
entered mechanical and manufacturing occupations, though the
proportion varied as between the sexes.
21,971 boys 14 an d 15 years of age for w hom in form ation concerning
occupation was received, 34 p er c en t were first em ployed in m a n u factu rin g a n d
m echanical w ork, 27 per c en t en tered m ercan tile estab lish m en ts, 24 per§ c en t
en tered public m essenger a n d delivery service, a n d th e rem aining 15 per c en t
1ut ? offlCe w ork’ .dom estic a n d personal service, a n d m iscellaneous jobs.
A m uch larger p ro p o rtio n of th e 16,444 girls th a n of th e to ta l n u m b er of boys
(54 p er cen t as com pared w ith 34 p er cent) s ta rte d to w ork in m an u fa c tu rin g aiid
m e c h a n ic a lo c c u p a tio n s; 19 p e r c en t e n tered m ercan tile w ork a n d 18 p er c en t
P h T r i n f domestlC1 ai?d p erso n al service. A slightly larg er p ro p o rtio n of girls
th a n of boys secured jobs m offices, an d a very sm all n u m b er of girls were em ployed
m m essenger service.
F ^ u
C hild Labor Law for Syria
CHILD labor law has been enacted in Syria, according to informa
tion furnished by the American vice consul, Nelle B. Stogsdall
at Beirut, dated September 13, 1930, and giving the provisions of the
law as reported by “ L’Orient” on August 12, 1930. The employment
of children under 11 years of age in factories, quarries, mines, work
shops, etc., is forbidden, and in workshops maintained by charitable
organizations children under 11 years of age “ may not do manual
uu-m
lo1’ Y'°re than four hours-” Night work is prohibited for
all children under 16 years of age except in establishments under the
direction ol their fathers or tutors.
A
29334°—31----- 8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[107]
H EALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
C osts of M edical Care A m on g D ifferent T ypes of F a m ilies
PRELIMINARY report1 has been issued by the Committee
on the Costs of Medical Care on the expenditures for all types of
medical expenses among 4, 560 families in different sections of the
country. The study, which is to provide information as to the
incidence of illness, the expenditures that are made for its preven
tion and care, the individuals or agencies providing the care, and the
distribution of expenditures among families of various economic
levels has been in progress since the spring of 1928, with the col
laboration of the medical societies, health officers, and public-health
nurses of 15 States and 3 cities outside of these States. Fifteen
thousand families, 156 health officers and health departments, and
320 nurses have been cooperating in the study and it is believed
that when it is completed the facts presented will be reasonably
representative of conditions thoughout the country. The study
covers families living in large and small cities, towns, and rural
areas. Hospital facilities are available in some of the towns but in
other cases the towns are dependent for hospital care and other in
stitutional facilities upon cities within a radius of from 20 to 60
miles.
As a preliminary to the investigation a house-to-house canvass
was made by public-health nurses to explain the purposes of the
study and interest the families in keeping systematic records of all
illnesses and expenditures. Visits were made at intervals though
out the year to those families agreeing to cooperate, in order to ob
tain the histories of the illnesses that had occurred and other data
as to charges and expenditures. In most cases there were 6 inter
views with each family during the 12-months period of observation,
representing usually about 10 calls. The data secured cover the
history of each illness in a family during the observation period, the
type and amount of medical care received, and the costs of such
care. All cases of illness which disabled a person for at least one
day or for which any medical service of any kind was rendered were
included, and any disorder for which drugs costing 50 cents or more
were purchased was considered as an illness. Costs are included for
nursing, dental and eye care; treatment by osteopaths, chiropractors,
and Christian Science practitioners; professionally prescribed or
self-prescribed medication; laboratory work; health examinations
and immunizations and other items; and free work of all kinds as
well as minor ailments for which no attention of any kind is secured
are also recorded. It is pointed out that the distribution of families
according to income levels results only from the attempt to secure
as large a statistical sample in each group as possible, without taking
A
i Committee on the Costs of Medical Care. The Costs of Medical Care: Preliminary report, by Nathan
Sinai and Margaret C. Klem. Washington, 910 Seventeenth Street, N . W., 1930.
108
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
into consideration the proportionate number in specified income
groups in the population of the United States. In the present re
port the proportion of families in the lower income group is smaller
than obtains for the country at large. The families have been ar
ranged in four broad income groups, although in the final report
they will be divided into seven groups.
From the data assembled it is shown that the charges for medical
care increase steadily with income. For families with incomes un
der $2,000, the average charge per family was $71.48, while for
families with incomes over $5,000 the average expenditure was
$311. 06 per annum.
The following table shows the average charges for medical care
during a 12-month period among 4,560 familes in 13 States:
AVER A G E CHARGES FOR M ED IC A L CARE PE R FA M ILY A N D P E R IN D IV ID U A L D U R
IN G A 12-MONTH PE R IO D , BY INC O M E GROUPS
Average charges
Average
Number of number of
families persons per
family
Per family Per indi
vidual
Income group
Under $2 ,000 - . _______
$2,000 to $3,000________________
$3,000 to $5 ,0 0 0 _________________
$5,000 and o v e r -______ ________
1,788
1,372
723
677
4.7
4.5
4.5
4.0
$71. 48
102. 76
145. 63
311. 06
$15. 28
22. 77
32. 70
76.86
The uneven distribution of costs is shown in the following table,
which gives the percentage of families in different income groups
incurring expenses for medical care within specified amounts.
P E R C E N T A G E D IS T R IB U T IO N OF FA M ILIE S IN D IF F E R E N T IN C O M E GROUPS
A C C O R D IN G TO CHARGES FOR M ED IC A L CARE PE R FA M ILY FOR A 12-MONTH
Per cent of families with charges in following ranges
Income group
Under $2,000______
$2,000 to $3,000____
$3,000 to $5,000____
$5,000 and over____
N um
ber of
families
1,788
1, 372
723
677
Under
$25
$25-$49
40.2
26. 7
19.8
18.9
13.3
2 2 .1
1 1 .1
1 0 .6
$50-$99 $100-$249 $250-$499 $500-$999 $ 1 ,000$2,499
20.9
23.1
20.5
14. 6
13.8
22. 2
28.4
28.0
4. 1
6. 2
10.5
17.3
1 .0
2. 7
4.4
11.4
$2,500
and over
0. 2
.2
.8
6.4
0 .6
I n s titu tio n a l Care for C on valescen ts
HE first report among the miscellaneous series of contributions
on the costs of medical care issued by the special committee
studying this question deals with the provision of institutional care
for convalescents especially among the wage-earning and low-salaried
classes.1
The problem of convalescence involves both the question of proper
medical care and provision of a suitable place for the care of persons
recovering from a serious operation or illness whose home surroundings
T
1 Committee on the Costs of Medical Care. Institutional Convalescence, by E. H. Lewinski-Corwin.
Washington, 910 Seventeenth Street N W ., 1930.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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110
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
are not conducive to quick recovery. The housing and family condi
tions of a very large number of persons are such that ease, quiet, proper
food, and peac«e of mind can not be secured at home. The housewife
returning from a hospital usually finds it necessary to take up her
household duties at once and the breadwinner feels it necessary to
resume work at the earliest possible moment, so that as a result
many patients discharged from hospitals suffer relapses or setbacks
and in some cases permanent ill effects from the lack of the needful
convalescent care. This is especially true of persons recovering from
pulmonary, cardiac, and other infections after childbirth, and after
certain operations or in certain chronic conditions in which the bene
ficial effects of hospital care are lost if there is too abrupt resumption
of the daily duties.
The provision of convalescent homes for the care of such cases is
the more necessary because the average stay of a patient in a hospital
is gradually being reduced. In the large cities it usually does not
exceed 11 or 12 days, and in case of childbirth the usual period of
hospitalization is 10 days. Comparatively few patients have re
covered sufficiently upon leaving the hospital to be able to resume
their ordinary routine at once, and this shortening of the average
period oil hospitalization renders more imperative the provision of
facilities for convalescence. Aside from the fact that the hospital
beds are needed for the acutely ill, it is far more expensive to care
for convalescent patients in the hospital than in a convalescent in
stitution. The average hospital cost at the present time is $5 per
day, and in the convalescent homes only about $2. This latter
charge may increase when the standard of the convalescent homes is
raised to approximate modern standards of convalescent care but,
the writer says, it should never be more than about half of what it
costs to maintain a patient in a hospital. The convalescent home,
therefore, is the solution for the problem presented by the demands
from the hospitals for the rapid clearance of beds for acute cases,
from the needy sick for help in regaining their health, and from the
community for the use of the most efficient and at the same time the
least costly methods in restoring people to health.
The facilities for institutional care are at the present time in
adequate in most cities. During recent years, however, expendi
tures for hospital accommodations have increased enormously _so
that some communities have almost reached the saturation point
although the demand for hospitalization grows with the increasing
supply. A similar potential demand for convalescent facilities exists
in every community. However, just as not every sick person needs
hospital care, so also not every patient needs institutional care for
convalescence, and adequate studies of the reasonable requirements
are, therefore, needed. According to present information 12 con
valescent beds should be provided for every 100 hospital beds but
data which are now being compiled indicate the need for a possible
upward revision of this standard. There are at the present time
about 300 convalescent homes in the United States which are dis
tributed among 33 States, but the number of beds available in these
institutions and the period during which these homes are open, whether
for one season or for the entire year, will not be known until a study
which is now being made by the American conference on hospital
service is completed.
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
111
Until recently, the writer says, convalescence as a medical problem
has leceived little attention. The question of the kind and amount
of medical supervision needed in convalescence institutions depends
upon the tvpes of cases treated. The best arrangement is believed
to be that in which the convalescent home is definitely linked with
the medical service of a hospital. It is also stated that a certain
degree of specialization is desirable if the best results are to be ob
tained, as about 25 per cent of the patients require a special regimen
or special diet, or special treatment. The need, therefore, for a
thorough analysis of the problem from the social, medical, and
organizational viewpoints is pointed out. Even in communities
which maintain many convalescent institutions it is said that the
adjustment of the accommodations to the needs of the locality has
not been attempted in any serious way, and while many more homes
are needed, there is also needed “ an intelligent policy with regard to
the best fulfillment of their purpose.”
C ancer C aused by Coal Tar and C oal-tar P ro d u cts and M ineral
O ils
STUDT of the cancer incidence among worivers engaged in the
production of the different kinds of coal tar and coal-tar products
and among persons working with mineral oils, published in a recent
issue of the Journal of Industrial Hygiene,1 shows the conditions as
regards the hazard from these products in the United States.
Coal tar is produced by the destructive distillation of coal, but there
are several different kinds of coal tars according to their chemical
composition, the composition depending upon the kind of coal from
which the tar is derived and on the methods of carbonization. The
most important factors are the temperature at which the destructive
distillation is carried out and the length of time during which the coal
is subjected to heat. The classification of coal tars is given in the
report as follows: Gas-works tar from lightly and fully charged
horizontal retorts, inclined retorts, and intermittently and con
tinuously charged vertical retorts; blast-furnace tar; coke-oven by
product tar; producer-gas tar. Water-gas tar, which is a by-product
in manufacturing water gas for illumination, does not belong to the
coal-tar series, but is often mixed with coal tars and is one of the tars
which is principally used for distillation.
. Tar is used as a fuel, in undissolved form, for open-hearth furnaces;
m the construction and repair of roads and for preserving roads and
settling road dust; and dehydrated tar is used for the manufacture of
roofing paper. Pitch is also used as fuel; in road construction; for
roofing; as a protective coating for pipes; insulation of dry batteries;
ingredient in metal paints; for core compounds; in carbon manufac
turing, etc. Naphthalene and anthracene are used mainly in the dye
industry, but crude naphthalene is sometimes mixed with hard pitch
and sold as a liquid fuel. Creosote oil, in which the high boiling tar
acids have been retained, is used principally in the wood-preserving
industry. The constituents of the cresote oils vary widely, but a
A
!M I )*6 l0Lirrial
Industrial Hygiene, M ay, 1930, pp. 169-197: “ Occupational Cancers,” by Imre Heller,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
very extensively used creosote oil consists of 90 per cent oil and 10
per cent straight coal tar.
Previous studies and experimental work have shown_ without
question that tar and tar-distillation products will cause epithelioma
among workers handling these substances. Blast-furnace tar is
considered to be harmless, as it has not been shown either industrially
or experimentally that it has cancer-producing properties; but gas
works tar, especially the high-temperature, horizontal-retort tar,
has strong cancer-producing power. Coke-oven tar has caused a
number of industrial cases of cancer. Of the tar-distillation products,
creosote oil, green oil, anthracene, and pitch have all been responsible
for cases of cancer among workers in different occupations using these
products. Pitch is said to be undoubtedly the most harmful substance
among tar products, 100 cases of cancer among workers handling
pitch having been reported to the British Home Office during the
period 1920 to 1923.
Occurrence of Tar Cancer in the United States
I n t h e present study visits were made to tar producing and dis
tillation plants and to factories where tar products were used. Plant
physicians and private physicians treating workers with skin affec
tions were interviewed and the records of cancer clinics and. hospitals
studied for evidence concerning the occurrence of occupational can
cer. In tar distillation nearly every worker comes in contact with
tar or tar products, but in spite of this exposure, the incidence of cancer
is very low in such plants. Among a number of distillation plants in
different localities no skin cancers had been reported and the writer
found only two cases in hospital records of cancer among tar-distil
lation workers. He also found the incidence of cancer to be very low
among coke-oven workers, and no cases were found among workers in
water-gas plants.
Gas-works tar, however, was found to be responsible for a num
ber of cases. Of 19 cases of cancer among workers in tar reported by
two New York hospitals over a period of several years, 11 were due to
gas-works tar and only 1 to coke-oven tar, in most of the remaining
cases the workers probably using a mixture of coke-oven tar and gas
works tar. In one factory using a great deal of pitch, in which the
workers were exposed to pitch fumes and pitch dust, 21 cases of skin
cancer had occurred among the workers during the last 10 years. In
15 cases the epithelioma was due to contact with gas-house pitch, while
in 2 cases in which there was no exposure to pitch it was thought to
be due to heavy tar oil which was used in making lampblack. In the
4 remaining cases there had been exposure to coke-oven pitch. The
occupational origin of the cases among the workers handling gas-house
pitch was clear, as they showed the characteristic signs of “ pitch irri
tation” before the development of the cancer, but in three of the
workers in coke-oven pitch the site of the lesion was on the lip, and as
the epithelioma developed without warning, these cancers were re
garded as probably not of occupational origin.
The rarity of the occurrence of skin cancers among distillation
workers and workers handling tar products in this country is ex
plained by the greater use of coke-oven tar and water-gas tar and it is
believed also to be partly due to racial immunity. Many Negroes
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[ 112 ]
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HVGIENE
113
are employed in tar-distillation plants, and it is a well-established fact
that Negroes are less susceptible to skin diseases than white men.
Cancer Caused by Mineral Oils
P e t r o l e u m consists of various types of hydrocarbons and many
other nonhydrocarbon constituents, but on the basis of the nature
of the residue of their distillation mineral oils may be divided into
three groups: Paraffin-base oils, asphalt-base oils, and mixed-base
oils containing both paraffin and asphalt.
It has been shown that certain mineral oils have decided carcino
genic activity. In general the experiments have showm that the more
volatile oils were lacking in tumor-producing properties while the
heavier oils were capable of producing cancer. No complaint of skin
cancer has been made among workers in oil refineries using crude oils
with an asphaltic base, and investigation of 15 oil refineries in Penn
sylvania where the oils have a paraffin base failed to show the occur
rence of cancers due to the oils among these workers. The mixedbase mid-continent oils, used in the oil refineries of Indiana and Ohio,
however, seem to be more dangerous, as eight cases are reported for
that locality for the years 1926 to 1929. Five cases, one of them fatal,
occurred during the years 1926 to 1928 among press dumpers in the
paraffin press house. Eleven cases were reported from the records of
two hospitals in New York City. These cases occurred among oil
pumpmen, stillmen, and dumpers, but it was impossible to obtain
information about the kind of oil with which these men had been
working. Altogether, the writer secured data regarding 21 cases of
cancer caused by mineral oils. Sixty-two per cent of the cases oc
curred among workers engaged in paraffin extraction. The location
of the cancer in 43 per cent of the cases was on the hand or arm, and
in 38 per cent, on the scrotum.
The data indicate, it is said, that workers are exposed to the
dangerous effect of the unrefined oil in almost every kind of opera
tion, the factors which appear to influence the frequency of occur
rence of cancer appearing to be personal cleanliness, individual
susceptibility, and the degree of contact with oil.
So far the occurrence of skin cancer from the use of refined lubri
cating and spindle oils is practically unknown in this country and it is
believed that the active substance in the crude oil which is respon
sible for the development of cancer is destroyed during refining.
The sulphuric acid used in the refining process is considered with
reference to the type of oil used in the United States to cause “ pro
nounced changes in the composition of the oil, so that the strongly
irritative or carcinogenic activity of the unrefined product is reduced
in the refined product to a merely irritative but never carcinogenic
activity.” The writer considers therefore that the strong acid treat
ment which evidently removes the dangerous element from spindle
oil accounts for the absence of occupational cancer among mule
spinners in this country, as he was able to find only two cases of scrotal
cancer in mule spinners which could be considered to have been
positively contracted in the United States. Only six cases have been
reported and four of these were probably due to the mule-spinning
occupation in which the men were engaged for a long time in England
prior to arriving in this country.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1131
114
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E ffects of E xposure of A n im a ls to D ioxan G as
STUDY of the effects on guinea pigs of exposure to dioxan gas,
one of the newer chemical products coming into industrial use,
has been made by the United States Bureau of Mines.1
Dioxan gas is a colorless liquid, which can be mixed in all propor
tions with water and ordinary organic solvents. It has a faint and
pleasant odor described as similar to absolute ethyl alcohol.
Suggested uses of dioxan are as a solvent in the manufacture of
lacquers, celluloid, and other products where nitrocellulose, cellulose
acetate, etc., are used; as a wetting agent for materials not easily
wet with water; as a solvent for fats, oils, and greases; in dye baths
and dye or stain compositions; in the preparation of varnishes,
polishing compositions, paint and varnish removers, detergent and
cleaning preparations, toilet preparations and cosmetics, cements,
glues, shoe creams, emulsions; and as a preservative, fumigant, or
deodorant.
The study showed only the acute effects as produced by a single
exposure and the experiments were planned to give information
relative to the concentrations and periods of exposure which produce
slight, moderate, or serious response.
The symptoms exhibited by the animals subjected to the test were
principally those of eye and nasal irritation with signs of lung irrita
tion after long exposure, and narcosis with high concentration of the
gas. The experiments showed that dioxan vapor is a very mild
lung irritant and that this is probably its chief action from the stand
point of producing pathological changes. In animals dying as a
result of exposure to the vapor or killed immediately after exposure
to conditions which did not cause death but produced slight injury,
the principal pathological findings were congestion and edema of the
lungs and hyperemia of the brain. As dioxan has a comparatively
low vapor pressure, however, it was not found possible to obtain
concentrations in the air at 68° F. which would kill the guinea pigs
in less than two to three hours’ exposure. Concentrations of 1 per
cent did not cause death after eight hours’ exposure. The vapor also
possesses warning properties manifested by eye, nose, and throat
irritation. Exposure of persons to 0.16 per cent in air by volume
resulted in immediate slight irritation of the eyes and nose with
lacrimation, while exposure to 0.55 per cent caused a marked and
discomforting degree of the same symptoms with a burning sensation
in the throat. In view of the comparatively low toxicity of dioxan
vapor, therefore, and the warning intensity of concentrations below
those which caused serious effects in guinea pigs, it appears that
health hazards from breathing the vapors are slight under ordinary
conditions of ventilation and reasonable conditions of exposure.
Dioxan presents a hazard to life, however, like all comparatively
nontoxic volatile liquids, when there is exposure to high concentra
tion, such as may accumulate in the air confined over the liquid in
tanks, vats, and similar places.
A
1 U. S. Public Health Service. Public Health Reports, August 29, 1930, pp. 2023-2032: Acute response
of guinea pigs to vapors of some new commercial organic compounds, VI. Dioxan, by W. P. Yant and
others.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[114]
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND S A F E T Y
M a ssa c h u setts R e g u la tio n s G overning C om pressed-A ir Work
N December 1, 1930, the revised rules and regulations of the
Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries, division
of industrial safety, governing compressed-air work, became effective.
These regulations were prepared after an investigation and a public
hearing, as required by law, and apply to all work involving the use
of tunnels, caissons, or other apparatus or means in which compressed
air is employed.
Authority is given to the Massachusetts Department of Labor and
Industries to investigate places of employment and to determine and
prescribe safety devices or other reasonable means for the prevention
of accidents, and the law also provides that no person shall violate
any reasonable rule, regulation, order, or requirement made by the
department.1
The rules and regulations promulgated by the department are
here reproduced in full:2
1.
Notice.—No work in which compressed air is to be used shall be
started until seven days after the firm, corporation, commission, or
person undertaking such work has notified in writing the department
of labor and industries of such contemplated work.
2.
Responsibility.—Whenever the construction work is in progress
there shall be present at all times at least one competent person
representing the employer, who shall in all respects be responsible
for full compliance of these regulations and who shall have authority
to require all employees to comply with such regulations.
3.
Daily inspections.—In every tunnel or section thereof, or other
work requiring the use of compressed air as covered by these regula
tions, there shall be a competent person designated by person in
charge to make a regular inspection once every working-day of all
tunneling appliances, boilers, engines, compressors, magazines, shaft
houses, explosives, locks, lighting circuits, and gauges, and it shall be
his duty to report in writing to the person designating him, on
forms approved by the department of labor and industries the result of
these inspections, which shall remain on file and shall be subject to
the inspection of the department of labor and industries or its
representatives.
4.
Pressure shifts and intervals.—The working time in any 24 hours
shall be divided into two shifts under compressed air with an interval
in open air. The minimum rest interval in open air shall not begin
until the employee has reached the open air. Persons who have not
O
1 N ew Jersey, N ew York, and Pennsylvania have also enacted laws governing employments in which
compressed air is used: N ew Jersey, chapter 121, Acts of 1914 (as amended by ch. 90, Acts of 1929); N ew York,
chapter 31, Consolidated Laws, 1909, Article X V , sections 425 to 437 (as amended by ch. 123, Acts of 1925);
Pennsylvania, Statutes, 1920, sections 5424 to 5436.
2 For the text of the laws of the other States, see Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 370— N ew Jersey,
pp. 717-719; N ew York, pp. 772-774 (also Bui. No. 403, p. 38); Pennsylvania, pp. 906-909.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[115]
115
116
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
previously worked in compressed air shall work therein but one shift
during the first 24 hours. No person shall be subjected to pressure
exceeding 50 pounds per square inch except in emergency. _ The
maximum number of hours to each shift and minimum open-air inter
val between the shifts during any 24 hours for any pressure, as
given in columns 1 and 2 of the following table, shall be that set
opposite such pressure in columns 3, 4, 5, and 6.
PR E SSU R E SH IFTS A N D IN T E R V A L S OF W ORK FOR EACH 24-HOUR PER IO D
Gauge pressure per
square inch
Hours
Maximum Minimum Maximum
Minimum Maximum Maximum first shift rest inter second shift
number of number of
in com
in com
val in
total
pounds
pounds
pressed air open air pressed air
(3)
(2 )
0 )
(6)
(5)
(4)
Normal
18
26
33
38
43
48
18
26
33
38
43
48
50
4
3
8
6
4
3
m
m
i
3
%
4
5
a
6
i
2
4
3
H
1
2
2
2
lt t
.
1
3A
The employer may determine the time of each shift when the pres
sure is less than 18 pounds, provided that the total for the two shifts
does not exceed eight hours.
5. Decompression.—No person employed hi compressed air shall
be permitted to pass from the place in which the work is being done
to normal air, except after decompression in the intermediate lock
as follows:
A stage decompression shall be used in which a drop of one-half of
the maximum gauge pressure shall be at the rate of 5 pounds per
square inch per minute. The remaining decompression shall be at
a uniform rate and the total time of decompression shall equal the
time specified for the original maximum pressure.
(a) Where the air pressure is greater than normal and less than 15
pounds to the square inch, decompression shall be at the minimum
rate of 3 pounds per minute.
(b) Where the air pressure is 15 pounds or over and less than 20
pounds to the square inch, decompression shall be at the minimum
rate of 2 pounds per minute.
(c) Where the air pressure is 20 pounds or over and less than 30
pounds to the square inch, decompression shall be at the minimum
rate of 3 pounds every two minutes.
(d) Where the air pressure is 30 pounds or over to the square
inch, decompression shall be at the minimum rate of 1 pound per
minute.
The time of decompression shall be posted in each man lock.
(See form.)
6. Special attendance employee.—Decompression lock shall be in
charge of a special employee whose duty it shall be to be in attendance
at the lock during the periods of decompression and to regulate the
valves controlling the supply of air and the rate of pressure.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY
117
7. Employment record.—A record of men employed under air pres
sure shall be kept by a special employee who shall remain outside
the lock near the entrance. This record shall show the period of
stay in the air chamber of each employee and the time taken for
decompression.
8. Begulations—temperature, lighting, sanitation.—The followingpro visions shall be observed in the conduct of air-pressure work:
(a) The temperature of all working chambers which are subjected
to air pressure shall, by means of after-coolers or other suitable
devices, be maintained constantly at a temperature not to exceed
85° F.
(b) All lighting in compressed air chambers shall be by electricity
only. In cases of emergency portable electric lamps shall be used,
which shall be provided by the contractor. Lighting in tunnels and
working chambers shall be supplied from a different circuit from that
supplying lights in shafts.
(c) All passages shall be kept clear and properly lighted.
(d) No nuisance shall be tolerated in the air chamber and smoking
shall be strictly prohibited. No animal of any kind for any purpose
shall be permitted in air chambers.
9. Same—air supply, exhaust valve, and telephone communication.—
The air supply pipe shall be carried to and within 100 feet of face of
tunnel. The air shall be analyzed at least once in every 24 hours,
and record of such analysis shall be kept at medical officer’s office.
The amount of C 02 shall never exceed 1 part in 1,000.
Exhaust valves shall be operated at intervals, especially after a
blast. The men shall not be permitted to resume work after a blast
until the smoke and gas have cleared sufficiently.
There shall be means of communicating by telephone at all times
between the working chamber, the outside thereof, and the power
house on the surface.
10. Same—shafts, locks, bulkheads, and screens.—Whenever a shaft
is used, such shaft shall be provided, where space permits, with a
safe, proper, and suitable staircase for its entire length, with landing
platforms not more than 20 feet apart. Where this is impracticable
suitable ladders shall be installed, subject to the approval of the
commissioner of labor and industries or his representative.
Shafts shall be subjected to a hydrostatic pressure of 100 pounds
per square inch, at which pressure they shall be made absolutely
tight and stamped on the outside shell about 12 inches from each
flange, showing the pressure to which they have been subjected.
All man shafts shall be properly lighted, as required by the com
missioner of labor and industries or his representative.
Locks, reducers, and shafting used in connection with caissons shall
be riveted construction throughout. The material used in the
manufacture shall be not less than one-quarter inch steel plate.
All necessary instruments shall be attached to all caisson and air
locks showing the actual air pressure to which men employed therein
are subjected. They shall include pressure gauge, timepiece, and
thermometer, and shall be accessible to and in charge of a competent
person.
All outside caisson air locks shall be provided with a platform not
less than 42 inches wide and provided with a guard rail 42 inches high.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[117]
118
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
All caissons, whether circular, square, or rectangular in form, more
than 10 feet in diameter or length, shall be provided with a man lock
and shaft for the exclusive use of the men; to be equipped with a
timepiece and gauge, to be heated to 70° F. during the months when
heating is necessary, with valves so arranged that the lock can be
operated from within and without.
Locks shall be so located that the distance between the bottom door
and water level shall be no less than three feet.
In addition to the gauge in the locks, an accurate gauge shall be
maintained on the outer and inner side of each bulkhead. These
gauges shall be accessible at all times and shall be kept in accurate
working order.
Wherever space permits, each bulkhead shall have at least two
locks in perfect working order. The man lock shall be large enough
so that employees who use it shall not be obliged to assume a cramped
position. The emergency lock shall be large enough for an entire
working shift. Every lock shall be lighted by electricity, shall
contain a pressure gauge and timepiece, arid have a nonshatterable
bull’s-eye in each door or in each end. Valves must be so arranged
that the locks can be operated from within and without. Each man
lock shall be in charge of a competent lock tender, whose hours of
labor shall be governed by those set down in the schedule governing
compressed-air workers.
Intermediate bulkheads with locks, or intermediate safety screens,
or both, may be required by the commissioner of labor and industries
in tunnels. The distance from such intermediate bulkheads or safety
screens to the heading shall not be greater than that prescribed by
the commissioner.
11.
Medical officers, etc.—Any person or corporation carrying on any
tunnel, caisson, or other work in the prosecution of which men are
employed or permitted to work in compressed air, shall, while such
men are so employed, also employ and keep in employment one or
more duly qualified physicians to act as medical officer or officers,
who shall be in attendance at all times while such work is in progress
so as to guarantee constant medical supervision of men employed in
compressed-air work. Said medical officer shall also be charged with
the duty of enforcing the following regulations:
(a) No person shall be permitted to work in compressed air until
after he has been examined by such medical officer and reported by
such officer to the person in charge thereof as found to be qualified
physically to engage in such work.
(b) No person not having previously worked in compressed air
shall be permitted during the first 24 hours of his employment to
work for longer than one-half day period (as provided in rules for
compressed-air work adopted by the department of labor and indus
tries),and after so working shall be reexamined and not permitted to
work in a place where the gauge pressure is in excess of 15 pounds
unless his physical condition be reported by the medical officer, as
heretofore provided, to be such as to qualify him for such work.
(c) In the event of absence from work, by an employee, for 10 or
more successive days for any cause, he shall not resume work until
he shall have been reexamined by the medical officer, and his physical
condition reported as heretofore provided, to be such as to permit
him to work in compressed air.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 118]
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY
119
(d) No person known to be addicted to the excessive use of intoxi
cants shall be permitted to work in compressed air.
(e) After a person has been employed continuously in compressed
air for a period of two months he shall be reexamined by the medical
officer, and he shall not be allowed, permitted, or compelled to work
until such examination has been made, and he has been reported, as
heretofore provided, as physically qualified to engage in compressedair work.
(/) Such medical officer shall at all times keep a complete and full
record of examinations made by him, which record shall contain dates
on which examinations are made and a clear and full description of the
person examined, his age and physical condition at the time of exami
nation (including height and weight), also the statement as to the
time such person has been engaged in like employment. This medical
officer shall also keep an accurate record of any caisson or other dis
ease incapacitating any person for work that shall occur in the opera
tion of a tunnel, caisson, or other compartment in which compressed
air is used; also a record of all loss of life that shall occur in the opera
tion of a tunnel, caisson, or other compartment in which compressed
air is used. These records shall be open to the inspection of the de
partment of labor and industries or its representatives, and a copy
thereof shall be forwarded to said department within the 48 hours
following the occurrence of the accident, death, injury, or caisson
disease, stating as fully as possible the cause of said death or caisson
or other disease and the place where the injured or sick person has
been taken, and such further information relative thereto as may be
required by said department.
(g) Properly heated, lighted, and ventilated dressing rooms shall
be provided for all employees engaged in compressed-air work. Such
rooms shall contain metal lockers and benches and shall be open and
accessible to men during the intermission between shifts. Bathing
accommodations equipped with running hot and cold water service
shall be provided; also suitable and adequate toilet accommodations,
at the ratio of not less than 1 for every 25 men employed.
(h) Whenever compressed-air work is carried on during the period
from October 1 to April 1, a covered passageway shall be provided
from the opening into the caisson or tunnel to the lockers or dressing
rooms of the employees.
(i) A medical lock at least 6 feet in height shall be established and
maintained in connection with all work in compressed air. Such lock
shall be kept properly heated, lighted, and ventilated, and shall con
tain proper medical and surgical equipment. Such lock shall be in
charge of the medical officer. The patients’ chamber in the medical
air lock shall be so arranged that the patients may be kept under
constant observation through a nonshatterable glass window without
the necessity of the attendant entering the chamber.
(j) A liberal supply of hot coffee and sugar shall be provided and
served to the men during work in compressed air. The coffee must
be heated by means other than direct steam and shall be supplied
to the employees free of charge. It shall be the duty also and the
joint responsibility of the contractor, persons, or corporation employ
ing the medical officers to enforce these rules governing the medical
officer’s duty.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1191
120
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
(k)
Identification badge.—An identification badge, such as approved
by the department of labor and industries, shall be furnished to all
employees, advising police officials that the employee is a compressedair worker, stating the location of medical lock and stating that in
cases of emergency an ambulance surgeon shall remove the patient
to the medical lock and not to the hospital.
12. Fire prevention.—All reasonable precaution shall be taken
against fire hazards and such regulations as may be prescribed by
the commissioner for protection against fire shall be promptly com
plied with.
13. Posting oj labor law.—Copies of such sections of the labor law
as apply shall be furnished by the department of labor and industries
to the person in charge and posted by him in a conspicuous place at
the entrance to each work place.
14. Definition.—Whenever in the foregoing the words “ adequate,”
“ suitable,” “ proper,” or “ safe” are used, they shall be understood
to mean adequate, suitable, proper, or safe in the opinion of the de
partment of labor and industries.
15. Modification or suspension oj regulations.—These regulations
may be modified or suspended hi whole or in part by the department
of labor and industries if good and sufficient reason therefor is pre
sented to the department at a hearing where all parties are given an
opportunity to be present or represented.
16. Violations.—Whoever violates any reasonable rule, regulation,
order, or requirement made by the department of labor and industries
under authority hereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than
$100. (Sec. 180 of ch. 149, General Laws.)
A ccid en ts in N orth D ak ota, 1919-20 to 1929-30
N URGENT plea has been made by the compensation commission
k of North Dakota for press publicity on accident facts, in an at
tempt to combat the large increase in accidents experienced recently.
Legislative limitation upon expenditures prohibits the commission
from adopting other methods of accident prevention.
The continuous increase is shown by the published number of
accidents reported yearly since the establishment of the workmen’s
compensation bureau in July, 1919, as follows:
A
N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S R E P O R T E D IN N O R T H D A K O TA , 1919-20 TO 1929-30
Fiscal year
1919-20
1920-21
1921-22
1922-23_____________
1923-24
1924-25_____________
Number of
accidents
827
1, 296
1,192
1, 654
1, 809
Fiscal year
1925-26_____________
1926-27_____________
1927-28_____________
1928-29_____________
1929-30_____________
Number of
accidents
2,800
3,188
4,096
4,995
5, 773
2, 1 1 0
A detailed tabulation, presenting the number of accidents by
counties, shows accidents ranging as high as 294 per 1,000 population
for one county for the first 10 months of 1930, and it is estimated that
the 1930-31 year will probably show a total of 7,000 accidents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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121
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY
It is pointed out that not only are accidents in the State growing
in number, but the proportion of severe accidents to total accidents
is also increasing at an enormous rate. This, it is said, establishes
rather definitely that the explanation for the increase in number of
accidents is not in anjr increased pay-roll exposure, nor in greater
familiarity with the law, nor in increased reporting of minor cases.
The total pay-roll exposure for the calendar year of 1925 was more
than 20 per cent greater than that of 1929, yet the calendar year of
1929 has an increase of 109 per cent in accidents over 1925.
While the ratio of deaths to total accidents is still less than the
American accident table ratio, it has gradually become more un
favorable. The American accident table ratio is 762 deaths for
every 100,000 accidents. The average North Dakota ratio, for the
10% years up to January 1, 1930, was 495.3 deaths for every 100,000
accidents, about 35 per cent below the American accident table
figures. From January 1, 1930, to October 1, 1930, the ratio was 716.3
for every 100,000 accidents, only 6 per cent below those same figures.
D ep en d en ts of V ictim s of F atal In d u strial A ccid en ts in
P en n sylvan ia, 1929
N ORDER, to give some idea of the number of persons directly
affected socially and economically by the staggering number of
industrial fatalities, the director of the Bureau of Statistics of the
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry analyzes the de
pendency involved in 1,798 such fatalities compensated in his State
in 1929.1
Only 6 of the 1,798 persons killed were women, and 5 of these had
no dependents. The sixth woman had a dependent father. Of the
1,792 male wage earners killed, 434 or 24.2 per cent were single,
1,233 or 68.8 per cent were married, 76 or 4.3 per cent were widowed,
and 49 or 2.7 per cent were divorced.
Only 275 or 49.2 per cent of the 559 single, widowed, and divorced
male wage earners had dependents as defined by the Pennsylvania
workmen’s compensation act. The following table gives the number
and per cent of married men leaving widows and specified numbers of
children :
I
W IDOWS A N D C H IL D R E N (U N D E R 16) OF M A R R IE D M E N K ILL E D IN IN D U ST R IA L
A C C ID E N T S C O M PE N SA T E D IN 1929
Class and number of depend
ents
Married men leav
ing dependents
Number
Widow
Widow
Widow
Widow
Widow
Widow
1
only .
____
and 1 childand 2 childrenand 3 children______
and 4 children______
and 5 children.
Pennsylvania.
387
215
187
149
116
90
Class and number of depend
ents
Per cent
31. 3
17.5
15. 1
12. 1
9. 4
7.3
Number
Widow and 6 children
Widow and 7 children.
Widow and 8 children
Department of Labor and Industry.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Married men leav
ing dependents
[121 ]
Total________________
54
25
Per cent
4.4
2 .0
10
.9
1,233
10 0 .0
Labor and Industry, Harrisburg, August, 1930.
122
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In total these 1,233 married men had 3,762 persons dependent upon
them.
There were 122 children under 16 orphaned by the accidental death
of 64 widowers. Twelve other widowers who were killed had no
child dependents under that age.
Furthermore, 79 of the males killed in industrial accidents had
dependent mothers, 26 had dependent fathers, and 109 were sup
porting wholly or partially both mothers and fathers. There were
also three men who were killed who had brothers or sisters under 16
dependent upon them.
In brief, the 1,798 fatal cases under review show that 284 of the
victims had no dependents and 1,514 or approximately 85 per cent
left 4,213 persons who were dependent upon them. According to
this analysis, for every 2 of the 1,798 persons killed in industrial
accidents, 5 persons became dependent on the State compensation
system.
M in e and R ailroad A ccid en ts in France
HE number of accidents in French coal mines and on the railroads
in 1928 and 1927, respectively, has been reported 1 recently by
the Ministry of Labor. The figures cover all accidents entailing
disability lasting more than four days, employers being required
to report to the mayor’s office all accidents in which disability lasts
longer than that time and to file a medical certificate indicating
the probable results of the injury. The mayor immediately reports
to the Government mining engineer the accidents occurring in coal
and mineral mines, quarries, and allied industries.
The following table shows the total number of employees and the
total number killed or injured in mines and quarries in France in
1928:
T
N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S IN F R E N C H M IN E S A N D Q UARRIES A N D N U M B E R OF
A C C ID E N T S CA U SING D E A T H OR D IS A B IL IT Y LA ST IN G M ORE T H A N FO UR D A Y S,
IN 1928
Number
of work
ers
Industry
Coal raines:
Underground workers.......... . _ _ . . . .
Surface workers- ____
______ _
Other mines (metal and other minerals) :
Underground workers__________________
Surface workers
_ ___ - ______ - Other mining works (recherches des m ines):
Underground workers
_____
Surface workers
__ _ _____ ___ ____
Underground quarries:
Underground w o r k e r s - ...........................
Surface workers___________ ___________
Open quarries_______
------------Total.
............
.
. . .
Number
killed
Number
injured
(disability
lasting
more than
4 days)
Total
killed and
injured
10,000
workers
209, 600
82, 500
243
62
89, 974
11,685
90, 217
11, 747
11.59
7.52
18,600
500
133
23
16, 591
'2, 589
16, 724
2,612
34.45
12.43
18 ,
10
8
8
8
8
400
500
, 000
9,900
81, 100
2,548
1,034
6,683
2,575
1,036
6,787
27.00
104
451,100
594
131,120
131, 714
13.17
27
2
i Bulletin du Ministère du Travail et de l’Hygiene, Paris, April-May-June, 1930, p. 148.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Fatality
rate per
[122]
2.00
12.82
123
IN D U S T K IA L A C C ID E N T S A N D S A F E T Y
The following table, giving the total number of employees and
accidents in all mines and quarries for the years 1923 to 1928, shows
the marked increase in the fatality rate since 1924.
N U M B E R OF W ORKERS IN F R E N C H M IN E S A N D Q U ARRIES, N U M B E R OF K ILL E D
A N D OF IN JU R E D , A N D F A T A L IT Y R A T E S, 1923 TO 1928, BY Y EAR S
Number
of em
ployees
Year
1923___________________
1924 _______________ .
1925 ____ _____________
__ .
1926- ___________________
1927_________________________
1928__________________ _ .
Number
killed
272, 669
345, 058
318,118
459,839
470, 250
451,100
245
311
370
567
580
594
Number
injured
(disability
lasting
more than
4 days)
Total
killed and
injured
72, 623
87,138
94, 157
126, 395
136, 343
131,120
72,868
87,449
94, 527
126,962
136,863
131, 714
Fatality
rate per
10,000
workers
9.00
9.00
11. 63
12.33
12.33
13.17
Serious or fatal accidents to employees on French railroads which
resulted only from train operations and did not include accidents at
the shops or in stations numbered 1,041 in 1927. Of this number,
309 were fatalities and 732 caused disability lasting 20 days or longer.
M in e A ccid en ts in M exico, 1929
INE accident statistics in the year 1929 published by the
Mexican Department of Mines show a marked decrease as
compared with those in previous years, according to a report from
the American consul at Mexico City, Dudley G. Dwyre dated
September 23, 1930.
The following table shows the fatal and ‘‘serious” accidents in the
Mexican mining industry for each of the five years, 1925 to 1929.
By “ serious” accident is meant one causing a loss of more than 15
working-days.
M
N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S A N D N U M B E R OF 8 -HOUR SH IFT S IN M E X IC A N M IN E S
1925 TO 1929
’
Number of accidents
Year
Fatal
1925_______________
1926_________________
1927______ _____
1928_______________________
1929:
Metal mines__ _
Coal m ines.. ___
___
M ills____________________
378
269
227
2 9 3 3 4 ° — 3 1 --------9
[1 2 3 ]
Total
4,195
2 321
221
Total, 1929__________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Serious
178
9
15
1,091
54
20 2
1,311
Number of
individual
shifts
8 -hour
26,865
17,546
25,426,362
25,005,598
22, 942, 044
21,976,216
2,308
16, 211,598
892, 214
6 , 792,580
14,430
23,896,392
W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION
R ecen t W ork m en ’s C o m p en sa tio n R eports
Iowa
HE ninth biennial report of the Workmen’s Compensation
Service of Iowa, covering the period ending June 30, 1930, con
tains recommendations by the industrial commissioner, statistics of
administrative activities, and decisions of the department in disputed
cases.
A partial summary of departmental activities for each of the two
fiscal years follows:
T
W O R K M E N ’S C O M PE N SA T IO N E X P E R IE N C E IN IOWA, 1928-29 A N D 1929-30
July 1, 1928, to
June 30, 1929
Item
Fatal injuries reported
Non fatal injuries reported
Total
_ _
_ ___
______
______ ___ __ ____
_ _ _ _ _ ___
__
_______ ______ - ___
- __ - -
- ___ _
--
Settlements reported _______ __
__ __
_
__
___________ __
r , n m pen Ration paid in reported settlements _ _ _ __
Med ieal and hospital service reported paid___
__ _
- ----Requests for arbitration------------------------- -------- -- --- -----------Expense of administration------ _ . ---------_
-------------- -----
July 1,1929, to
June 30, 1930
143
11, 207
152
11,401
11,350
11, 553
4,902
$671,356. 43
$123, 688 . 75
4, 888
$712, 395. 87
$131, 779. 01
258
$18,126.16
2 10
$18, 013. 20
Recommendations submitted for amendments to the compensation
laws are as follows.:
That the law be extended to include volunteer firemen, who are now
excluded because no contract of employment exists and there is no
showing of weekly earnings upon which to base the weekly payments.
Payments of $15 per week are suggested , to be made by the munici
pality or its insurance carrier.
That farmers or owners of farms, now exempt from the compulsory
application of the act, be permitted to take out compensation in
surance if desired, as the growing use of power machinery on the farm
is increasing the hazards of farm work.
That State farm employees be brought under the compensation act.
That the method of computing weekly earnings for 7-day workers
be changed by using 335 days as a yearly basis for these, in place of
the 300 days now used and which really applies only to 6-day workers.
That a principal employer or contractor be made liable for com
pensation to the employees of a subcontractor, in case the latter does
not carry compensation insurance or is not financially responsible.
In addition, the commissioner states that recommendations pre
viously made but not accepted are still thought desirable, such as
providing coverage for occupational diseases, reduction of the waiting
period, revision of the statute as to dependency, etc.
Attention is called to the benefits of safety prevention, as practiced
by many of the larger plants, though unfortunately neglected by some
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
125
of the smaller employers, who seemingly have a tendency to let the
workers and the insurance carriers take the serious consequences.
A large packing plant is cited, in which a safety campaign had been
conducted for about a year. The report of this plant for June, 1930,
stated that the 839 men had worked 21,045 days without a lost-time
accident.
N o rth C a ro lin a
T h e first annual report of the North Carolina Industrial Com
mission refers briefly to the organization of the commission and its
preparatory work before July 1, 1929, when the new workmen’s
compensation act became effective, and describes the experience
under the act during its first year of administration.
The activity of the commission is shown by the fact that of a total
of 12,571 employers, apparently subject to the act, only 345 had failed
to reject or insure. During the year reports were received of 37,370
accidents, 8,501 voluntary agreements for compensation were approv
ed, and 647 hearings were held by individual commissioners in 749
disputed claims filed. Appeals were made from the decision of the
commissioner to the full commission in 98 cases, and from the com
mission to the superior court in 27 of the 78 cases that were heard,
while 9 cases were appealed direct from the commissioner’s award.
Only 10 of the appeals were heard by the superior court, which sus
tained the commission in 5 of them. Four of the decisions reversing
the award of the commission, and two affirming it, were carried to
the supreme court, which affirmed the original award of the commis
sion in all six.
A detailed statement of claim experience and other administrative
features follows. The compensation cost shown includes total
amounts awarded in cases where a definite period of compensation
is specified in the act.
N um ber of em ployers su b ject to a c t_______________________________
12, 571
Proofs filed of insurance w ith ca rrie rs_________________________
11, 396
P riv a te self-insurers a p p ro v e d ___________ :____________________
98
Public self-insurers___________________________________________
56
R ejections of a c t filed_________________________________________
676
P roof of insurance o r rejectio n of a c t n o t filed_________________
345
N um ber of em ployees su b je c t to a c t ____________________________ ___ 1 1, 250, 000
R ejections of a c t filed_________________________________________
576
T o ta l n um ber of acciden ts re p o rte d ________________________________
37, 370
C om pensable acc id e n ts________________________ _____________ _
9, 681
N oncom pensable accid en ts (involving m edical aid o n ly )________
24, 350
N oncom pensable accid en ts involving no p a y m e n t o r tim e loss__
3, 339
A verage m edical cost, m edical-aid cases___________________________
$7
C om pensable cases:
A verage m edical c o st__________ _____________________________ _
$43. 38
A verage com pensation c o st_______!____________________________
$122. 84
A verage w eekly ra te of co m pensation,;________________________
$11. 69
A verage w eekly w age_________________________________________
$20. 13
T o ta l n um ber of d isp u te d claim s__________ ________ _______________
749
C om pensation a w a rd e d _______________________________________
376
C om pensation d en ie d _________________________________________
182
Decisions p e n d in g __________________________________ _________
89
C laim s w ith d ra w n ______ ____________________ _________________
21
C laim s n o t h e a rd _____________________________________________
81
E xpense of a d m in is tra tio n _________________________________ ___ ____
$93, 330
1
Estimated.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
In addition to tabulating the 37,370 accidents reported, the com
mission has been actively engaged in compiling and tabulating
compensation, medical and hospital costs, to assist the insurance
commissioner in verifying the reasonableness and adequacy of the
premium rates submitted to him for approval. Mention is made
of the provision in the act for study of accident prevention, but it is
stated that insufficient appropriations for administration limited the
commission greatly in that important duty. During the fiscal year
the State collected approximately $142,000 through the premium
tax on insurance carriers and self-insurers, provided in the act, but
lack of available funds forced the commission to discontinue services
of three field men and a surgeon.
Summaries follow of published data on accidents, with compensa
tion and medical costs, by industry and by nature.
N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S R E P O R T E D IN N O R T H C A R OLINA, Y E A R E N D IN G JU N E
30 1930 W ITH C O M PE N SA T IO N A N D M E D IC A L COST, B Y IN D U S T R Y G R OUPS A N D
B Y N A T U R E OF IN JU R Y
Compensa
Number of Number of
tion and
employers accidents medical cost
Industry and nature of injury
Industry:
Agriculture
________________________ — ----Mining fin'd Quarrying
_______________________
VIanufacturing__ __ __ _____ ____ ______________________
Construction an<i prp.c.tion
__ _______ _ __ ----------Transportation and purlin utilities
_ ______ ____ _____
Salesmen and agents
_ ______________ _______
Service--------------------------------- ------------------ ----------------------
3,204
1, 667
446
3, 875
1,808
2 2 , 686
5,023
2,208
4,175
1, 774
$14, 672
48, 360
813, 250
271, 404
157, 692
268, 740
215, 707
Total------------- ------------------------------------- ----------------------
11, 255
37, 370
1, 789, 825
493
1,847
133
218, 316
459,056
57, 828
20, 223
292, 867
126, 062
240, 111
111,578
263, 784
1
Nature of injury:
Stiffness, contraction and other loss of function, partial or total.
Cuts laceration*5 ami punctures
- ________ _____ -
Bruises contusions, and abrasions________ _______ ______
_______ _________
Burns and scalds
107
88
138
760
221
12, 823
3,662
9,118
1, 238
4,496
3,339
37, 370
1, 789, 825
New C la ssification of P er m a n en t In ju ries in P en n sy lv a n ia
HE Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, in the
September, 1930, issue of its official journal, Labor and Industry,
calls attention to a change in the classification of permanent injuries
for compensation purposes. The workmen’s compensation law does
not provide for compensation payments according to percentage of
permanent partial disability, and injuries which did not result in full
permanent partial disability were^ previously classed as temporary
total disabilities or temporary partial disabilities. It was found that
where payments in temporary total disability cases ran close to the
maximum limit of 500 weeks, or where payments in temporary partial
disability cases ran close to the maximum limit of 300 weeks, com
pensation payments were often equal to or exceeded payments which
ordinarily would be made for permanent total or permanent partial
disability cases.
T
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W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION
127
Consequently it was decided to classify all cases previously con
sidered temporary total or temporary partial disability as permanent
total or permanent partial disabilities whenever the compensation
payments in such cases amount to 75 per cent or more of the equiva
lent award for permanent disability. Beginning with July 23, 1930,
a separate column is added to the permanent disability table, desig
nated as miscellaneous permanent partial disability cases and in
cluding all cases which can not properly be placed in the specific
classifications (such as eyes, arms, legs, etc.), and are not severe
enough to warrant classification as miscellaneous permanent total
disability cases.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 2 7 ]
LABOR LA W S AND COURT DECISIONS
R e g u la tio n s R egarding Im p o rta tio n of C on vict-M ad e G oods
Y THE provisions of section 307 of the tariff act of 1930, chapter
497 (46 Stat. 590), approved by the President on June 17, 1930,
the importation of goods made by convict labor or forced or indentured
labor is prohibited.
Section 307 of the 1930 tariff act in part provides that: “All goods,
wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured
wholly or in part in any foreign country by convict labor or/and
forced labor or/and indentured labor under penal sanctions shall not
be entitled to entry at any of the ports of the United States, and the
importation thereof is hereby prohibited, and the Secretary of the
Treasury is authorized and directed to prescribe such regulations as
may be necessary for the enforcement of this provision.”
The provisions of the section relating to goods, wares, articles, and
merchandise mined, manufactured, or produced by forced or inden
tured labor will not become effective until January 1, 1932. There
is also a limitation that the provision will not be applicable if produc
tion of such goods in the United States is not equal to consumptive
demands. Under the terms of the provision “ forced labor” is de
fined to mean “ all work or service which is exacted from any person
under the menace of any penalty for its nonperformance and for
which the worker does not offer himself voluntarily.”
Under date of November 24, 1930, the Treasury Department by
authority granted in section 307 of the tariff act promulgated regu
lations against the importation of convict-made goods. The regula
tions in general provide that all importers and shippers must show
that importations from all countries are not produced by convict
labor. On account of the importance of the subject and of the wide
spread interest to both employer and employee, the regulations pre
scribed by the Treasury Department are herewith reproduced in
full:
B
1.
F in d in g s o f c o m m is s io n e r .— If a fte r in v estig atio n upo n c o m p lain t of A m eri
can m an u factu rers, producers, w holesalers, or im p o rters, rep rese n ta tiv e s of A m eri
can lab o r organizations, o r o th e r in te re ste d persons, o r u p o n his ow n in itia tiv e ,
th e C om m issioner of C ustom s ascertain s th a t con v ict lab o r is used in a n y locality
in a foreign co u n try in th e m ining, pro d u ctio n , or m a n u fa c tu re of a n y class of
m erchandise, he shall, w ith th e a p p ro v al of th e S ecretary of th e T reasu ry , p u b
lish a finding to t h a t effect. A ny m erchandise of th a t class im p o rte d a fte r such
p u b licatio n directly or in d irectly from t h a t lo cality shall be held to be a n im p o r
ta tio n p ro h ib ited by section 307 of th e tariff a c t of 1930 unless th e im p o rte r
establishes by a prep o n d eran ce of evidence t h a t th e m erchandise w as n o t m ined,
produced, or m an u factu red , w holly o r in p a rt, by convict labor.
2.
B o n d in g o f m e r c h a n d is e c o v e r e d h y s u c h f i n d i n g s .— N o m erchandise of th e
class specified in such a finding, im p o rte d a fte r th e p u b licatio n th ereo f d irectly
or in directly from th e locality specified th erein , shall be a d m itte d to e n try or
released from custom s custody (except for ex p o rtatio n ) unless th e im p o rte r files
w ith th e collector a b ond conditioned t h a t he shall re tu rn th e m erchandise to
custom s custody w ith in 30 d ay s a fte r d em an d of th e collector if (1) th e im p o rte r
fails to su b m it to th e com m issioner w ith in th re e m o n th s from th e d a te of e n try
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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
129
th e certificate or certificates req u ired by p a ra g ra p h 4, or (2) th e com m issioner
decides t h a t th e m erchandise was m ined, produced, or m an u factu red , w holly or
in p a rt, by convict labor. Such b ond shall be in a n a m o u n t equal to th e estim a te d
dom estic value (as defined in section 340 of th e tariff a c t of 1930) of such m e r
chandise, th e full am o u n t to be p aid as liq u id a te d dam ages; shall be a single bond
for each im p o rtatio n ; a n d shall be accep tab le only w ith qualified co rp o rate
su rety o r sureties. L iq u id atio n of th e e n try shall be suspended a n d th e facts
re p o rted to th e com m issioner for decision as to th e adm issibility of th e m er
chandise.
3. A c ti o n o f c o lle c to r i n a b s e n c e o f s u c h a f i n d i n g .— W hen th e collector has
reason to believe t h a t con v ict lab o r is used in th e m ining, p ro d u ctio n , o r m a n u
factu re of a n y class of m erchandise in a n y lo cality in a foreign co u n try a n d no
finding to t h a t effect has been m ad e b y th e com m issioner w ith th e ap p ro v a l of th e
secretary, he shall re p o rt to th e com m issioner a n y m erchandise of t h a t class
im p o rted directly or in directly from th a t locality, offered for e n try in his d istrict,
settin g fo rth in d etail th e basis of his belief, an d hold such m erchandise for th e
com m issioner’s in stru ctio n s as to w h eth er th e re is sufficient g round for requiring
th e bond provided for in p a ra g ra p h 2, o r w h eth er th e m erchandise shall be re
leased from custom s custo d y w ith o u t th e giving of such bond.
4. C e r tific a te s o f o r ig in . — T h e im p o rte r of m erchandise bonded u n d er p a ra g ra p h
2 o r 3 or held in custom s custody because of failure to file a bon d u n d er p a ra g ra p h
2 or 3, shall w ithin th re e m o n th s from th e d a te of e n try su b m it to th e com m issioner
a certificate of origin in th e form se t fo rth below, signed by th e foreign seller or
ow ner of th e m erchandise u n d er o a th o r affirm ation before a n A m erican consular
officer, o r if th e place w here th e certificate is executed is so rem o te from a n
A m erican co nsulate as to ren d er im p racticab le its execution before a n A m erican
co nsulate officer, th e n u n d e r a n o a th or affirm ation for falsity of w hich he will be
p unishable u n d er th e law s of th e ju risd ictio n w here it is m ade. If th e m erch an
dise w as m ined, produced, or m an u factu red , w holly or in p a rt, in a co u n try o th e r
th a n t h a t from w hich i t w as exported to th e U n ite d S ta te s a sim ilar certificate so
signed b y th e la s t ow ner or seller in such o th e r c o u n try , su b stitu tin g th e facts of
tra n sp o rta tio n from such o th er c o u n try for th e sta te m e n ts w ith resp ect to ship
m e n t from th e co u n try of ex p o rtatio n , shall be so su b m itted .
C e r tific a te o f o r ig in
I , ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ,
foreign seller or ow ner of th e m erchandise h erein after described, do solem nly
sw ear (affirm) th a t th e sam e, consisting o f ___________________ ________________
-------------------------------------------------------- o f ______________________ _______________
(quantity)
(kind)
i n ___________________________________________________________________________
(number and kind of packages)
bearing th e following m ark s a n d n u m b e r s ____________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- w as m ined, produced, or
m an u factu red b y ____________________________________________________________
(name)
a t or n e a r ________________________ :___________________________________________
(location of mine, mill, or factory)
a n d was laden on b o a r d _______________________________________
(name of vessel or initials and
number of car in which transported to the United States)
a t _____________________________________________________________
(places actually laden)
th a t such vessel or car d e p a rte d f r o m __________________________
(port of such departure in the country of exportation)
(date of departure)
a n d t h a t convict lab o r w as n o t em ployed in a n y stage of th e m ining, producing,
o r m an u factu rin g of th e m erchandise, in cluding th e raw m aterials th erein .
5.
I n v e s tig a tio n b y u l t i m a t e c o n s ig n e e . — T h e u ltim a te consignee of m erchandise
b onded u n d er p arag rap h 2 or 3, o r held in custom s custody because of failure to
file a bond u nder p arag rap h 2 or 3, shall m ake every reasonable effort to determ ine
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
th e source of th e m erchandise, including th e raw m aterials th erein , a n d ascertain
th e ch aracter of lab o r used in its m ining, p roduction, or m an u factu re, a n d shall
w ithin th re e m o n th s from th e d a te of e n try su b m it to th e com m issioner a s ta te
m ent, u n d er o ath , se ttin g fo rth his efforts, th e re su lt thereof, a n d his belief w ith
respect to th e use of convict lab o r in a n y of th e processes of m ining, p roduction,
or m an u factu re of th e m erchandise.
6.
Decision of commissioner— action of collector.— If th e com m issioner’s decision
is in fav o r of th e adm issibility of th e m erchandise a n d th e certificate or certificates
required b y p ara g ra p h 4 are su b m itte d w ith in th e tim e prescribed, th e collector
shall cancel th e bond o r release th e m erchandise. If th e com m issioner’s decision
is ag ain st th e adm issibility of th e m erchandise o r if such certificate or certificates
are n o t su b m itte d w ithin th e tim e prescribed, th e collector shall, in cases w here
th e m erchandise has been released u n d er bond, m ake dem an d upon th e im p o rter
for re tu rn of th e m erchandise to custom s custody for ex p o rtatio n . If th e m e r
chandise is n o t ex p o rted w ith in 60 day s from th e d a te of re tu rn , or, if th e m er
chandise w as held in custom s custody, w ith in 60 days from notice of th e com
m issioner’s decision, th e m erchandise shall, unless th e im p o rte r files a p ro te st
ag ain st th e decision, be tre a te d as a b an d o n ed a n d shall be destroyed.
In d efin ite E m p lo y m en t M ay be T erm in a ted a t W ill
HE Supreme Court of Alabama held, in a recent case involving
the interpretation of the terms of a contract, that unless custom
or the nature of employment shows a different intention, indefinite
employment is presumed to be terminable at the will of either party.
(Peacock v. Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co., 130 So. 411.)
The case involved a contract of employment made by A. J. Peacock
with the Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co. The contract was for a
position as salesman, “ salary to be at the rate of $2,000 per annum,
payable monthly, beginning October 1, 1926.” On May 9, 1927,
Peacock was paid for the first half of May, 1927, and discharged,
although the company said his work was entirely satisfactory.
He filed suit in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County to collect
damages for the alleged breach of the contract. He alleged that until
October 1, 1927, he was able, ready, and willing to continue in the per
formance of his duties under said contract but the company had not
paid him any salary for the period from May 16, 1927, to September
30, 1927.
The Circuit Court rendered a decision in favor of the Virginia-Caro
lina Chemical Co., and Peacock appealed the case to the Alabama
Supreme Court. The latter court said that “ under the early English
decisions, dealing with relations of master and servant under condi
tions then prevailing, an indefinite employment was presumed to con
tinue for a year,” however, “ this general presumption has been gener
ally departed from in America and the opposing presumption in
dulged”—that an indefinite employment is a hiring at will. The
court cited several cases in which the decision showed the distinction
between the phrase “ at a certain salary per month” and the phrase
“ at the rate of a certain salary per month.” In continuing the opinion
the court said:
T
I t can n o t be said th a t m en, in m aking th e ir co n tracts, w ould alw ays observe a
d istinction betw een a salary of a s ta te d am o u n t for a given p eriod a n d a salary of
a fixed ra te p e r period.
B u t w hen co n tra c ts a re couched in v ery brief term s, a n d co u rts come to seek
th e ir m eaning from th ese w ords alone, th e y m u st n o te th e real difference in th e
term s em ployed.
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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
131
H ere we have a c o n tra c t “ a t th e ra te o f ” so m uch p er an n u m , “ pay ab le
m o n th ly .” I t can n o t be an en tire c o n tra c t for th e y ear in th e sense th a t no p ay
w ould be due unless th e em ployee served a full y ear. * * *
t C o n tracts of em ploym ent, p ay ab le only by th e year, are so u n u su al in m odern
tim es a n d conditions, th a t co u rts av o id a c o n stru ctio n leading to such result, a
resu lt a tte m p tin g a definite te rm a t a fixed wage.
“ A t th e ra te of so m uch p er an n u m , p ay ab le m o n th ly ,” m ay obviously m ean
m erely th e fixing of th e ra te , n o t th e d u ra tio n of em ploym ent.
Indu lging th e presu m p tio n heretofore recognized, an d looking to th e w riting
alone, in th e absence of a v e rm e n t of custom or accom panying circum stances in
d icating a different in te n t, it will be so construed.
The decision of the circuit court was therefore affirmed.
C o m p en sa tio n N ot A ssign ab le in P a y m e n t of Prior D ebt
LTHOUGH the Tennessee compensation act does not forbid an
l employer and employee from contracting in good faith, pending
settlement of a claim, for advance payment by the employer to the
employee to be deducted from compensation when awarded, it does
provide that an employee can not assign a portion of the compensa
tion claim to the employer in payment of an antecedent debt, accord
ing to a recent decision of the Tennessee Supreme Court. (Gregg v.
New Careyville Coal Co., 31 S. W. (2d) 693.)
The decision of the court was based upon section 18 of the Ten
nessee workmen’s compensation law (Pub. Acts, 1919, ch. 123) which
provides that, “ No claims for compensation under this act shall be
assignable, and all compensation and claims therefor shall be exempt
from claims of creditors.” The facts, as shown by record, are in
brief as follows:
A
G regg, an em ployee of th e coal com pany, w as in ju red . T h e coal com pany
recognized its liab ility to its in ju re d em ployee b u t expected th e insurance com
p an y t h a t carried its com pensation insurance to se ttle th e claim . G regg u n d er
stood th is a n d understo o d , too, t h a t th e insurance com pany w as delaying th e
settlem en t. Pending se ttle m e n t Gregg needed supplies for him self a n d fam ily
b u t w as un ab le to o b ta in credit. In order to o b ta in th e needed supplies, he
en tered in to a w ritte n ag reem en t w ith his em ployer th a t w hen th e a m o u n t of
his com pensation w as fixed th a t a n y sum th e n due fo r goods p u rch ased by him
from th e d efen d an t should be p aid o u t of th e aw ard , a n d t h a t as m u ch as $12
a w eek should be d educte d if th e a w ard w as se ttle d in p a rtia l p ay m en ts. H e
accordingly executed a w ritte n o rd er to th e d efe n d a n t to th is effect. U pon th e
fa ith of th is agreem ent a n d w ritte n assignm ent, G regg b o u g h t goods a n d was
extended cred it b y th e d efe n d a n t for th e sum of $285.05. H e also agreed th a t
th e com pany should d ed u c t from his com pensation so aw ard ed th e fu rth e r sum
of $28.90 on acco u n t of supplies fu rn ish ed before he w as in ju red .
Gregg, being unable to adjust the claim of compensation with the
insurance company, filed suit against the coal company to obtain an
award under the compensation act. After the suit was commenced
the insurance company agreed to an adjustment of the case and com
pensation was fixed at $900. It appears that $228 was paid Gregg
in weekly installments prior to the date of the award. Therefore a
judgment for the lump sum of $672 was entered in favor of Gregg
against the New Careyville Coal Co. From this award the employer
deducted the amount of $285.05 and also the $28.90 according to
the agreement between the employer and employee. Thereupon the
employee filed suit to recover these amounts, contending that the
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[131]
132
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
company had no authority to retain the money to cover its account
for supplies. The suit was dismissed by the Chancery Court, Camp
bell County, and upon appeal the Court of Appeals, taking the
view that the money could not be retained under the assignment
made by Gregg to his employer because violative of the compensa
tion law, reversed the decree.
On appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court, the court said that
“ the compensation act does not forbid the employer and employee
from contracting in good faith, pending a settlement for the claim
for compensation, for advancement by the employer to the employee
either in money or merchandise, nor does it forbid them contracting
that such advancement shall be deducted from the amount of com
pensation when awarded. But such an agreement and assignment
could _not cover antecedent debts of the employer [sic] without
violating the letter and the spirit of the compensation act.”
The deduction of the employee’s antecedent debt of $28.90 was
declared by the court to be in direct contravention of the compensa
tion law and therefore void. The judgment of the lower court was
therefore modified and affirmed.
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[132]
LABOR TURNOVER
Labor T urnover in A m erican F actories, N ovem ber, 1930
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics presents herewith its labor turn
over indexes for manufacturing as a whole and for eight separate
manufacturing industries in November, 1930. The indexes for manu
facturing as a whole are made up from representative establishments
in over 75 industries employing at this time about 1,250,000 people.
In the eight industries for which separate indexes are presented re
ports were received from representative plants employing more than 25
per cent of the employees in such industries as shown by the Census of
Manufactures of 1927. In the automotive industry schedules were
received from plants employing nearly 200,000 people. Firms report
ing for boots and shoes and cotton manufacturing employed 100,000
people in each industry. The foundry and machine shop firms
reporting had approximately 175,000 people on their pay rolls. The
furniture industry is represented by firms having over 40,000 people,
and iron and steel by firms employing approximately 225,000 people.
Reports were received from representative sawmill and slaughtering
and meat packing firms who had between 65,000 and 75,000 employees
per industry.
The form of average used in the following tables is the unweighted
median of company rates. In determining the median rate the rates
for the several establishments reporting are arranged in order from
lowest to highest. The rate falling in the center of this arrangement
of rates is the median. In other words, it is the rate that has as many
company rates above it as below it. The number of employees used
as a basis for computing these rates is the average number on the
company pay rolls during the month of November.
In addition to the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation, and
accession rates, the bureau presents the net turnover rate. The net
turnover rate means the rate of replacement. It is the number of
jobs that are vacated and filled per 100 employees. In a plant that
is increasing its force the net turnover rate is the same as the separa
tion rate, because while more people are hired than quit the number
hired above those leaving would be due to expansion and could not
justly be charged to turnover. On the other hand, in a plant that is
reducing its number of employees the net turnover rate is the same as
the accession rate, for while more people leave than are hired the excess
of separations over accessions is due to a reduction of force and there
fore can not logically be charged as a turnover expense.
The net turnover rate for manufacturing as a whole has been the
same as the accession rate since November, 1929.
Table 1 shows for all industries the total separation rate subdivided
into quit, discharge, and lay-off rates, together with the accession and
net turnover rates presented on a monthly and an equivalent annual
basis.
133
T
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able
1 .—A V ER A G E
LABOR T U R N O V E R R A TES IN SE L E C T E D FA C T O R IE S IN 75
IN D U S T R IE S
A.—M onthly rates
Separation rates
Accession
rate
Month
Quit
Lay-off
Discharge
1929
1930
1929
1930
1929
1930
1929
January_______
February ____
March________
April________
M ay________ .
June________
July___________
August________
September_____
October.. _
.
November_____
D ecem ber... .
2 . 26
2 . 28
1 .1 1
0. 35
.36
.48
.45
.48
.44
.42
.41
.52
.80
1.26
1.04
1.06
1.03
1.16
1.18
0. 45
.46
.57
.57
.48
.51
.49
.45
.50
.40
.30
0. 24
.25
.30
.27
A verage..
2.71
3.12
3. 56
3. 46
3.25
3. 03
3.26
3.14
2.42
1.59
1.08
1.23
1.38
1.45
1.50
1 .2 2
1 .0 0
.95
1.13
.82
.57
1 .2 1
.2 0
3.06
3. 20
4.17
4.58
4. 42
4.20
3.94
4.12
4.16
3. 62
3.15
2. 49
.60
.45
3. 7G
1 .1 2
1.31
1.30
1.18
1.44
1 .2 1
.2 0
.2 0
.18
.13
.16
.1 0
.08
N et turnover
rate
Total i
1930
2.39
2. 53
2.71
2 . 88
2.94
2. 54
2. 49
2.38
2.47
2. 36
1 .8 6
1929
1930
1929
4.98
4. 36
5.20
5. 77
5.09
5.01
5.21
4.61
4.91
3.91
1.95
1.24
2 .0 1
3.06
3.20
4.17
4.58
4.42
4. 20
3.94
4.12
4.16
3. 62
1.95
1. 24
2.06
1.95
2 .0 0
2 .1 0
1.62
1.48
1.25
1.82
1.49
.84
4.35
1930
2 .0 1
2.06
1.95
2 .0 0
2 .1 0
1.62
1.48
1.25
1.82
1.49
.84
3. 76
B.—Equivalent an n u al rates
J a n u a r y ... . . . .
F e b ru a ry ____
M a rc h ___ ______
A p ril_____ _ _
M a y ___ _____
J u n e _______ . . .
J u ly ____________
A u g u st____
S e p te m b e r___
O c to b e r.. . . .
N o v e m b e r_____
D e c e m b e r...
20.7
31.0
36.8
43.3
40.8
39.5
35.7
38.4
38.2
28.5
19.4
12.7
Average..
32.6
1
13.1
16.0
16.3
17.7
17.7
14.8
11.8
11.2
13.7
9.6
6.9
4.2
4.7
5.7
5.5
5.7
5.4
5.0
4.8
6.3
9.4
15.3
14. 2
7.3
12.2
13.8
12.1
14.1
13.9
13.6
15.4
15.3
14.3
17.0
14.7
5.3
6.0
6.7
6.9
5.6
6.2
5.8
5.3
6.1
4.7
3.7
2. 4
5.1
2.8
3.2
3.5
3.3
3.1
2.4
2.1
1.5
2.0
1.2
1.0
36.2
41.7
49.2
55.7
52.1
51.1
46.5
48.5
50.6
42.8
38.4
29. 3
45.2
28.1
33.0
31.9
35.1
34.7
30.8
29.3
28.0
30.0
27.8
22.6
—
58.6
56.9
61.2
70.2
59.9
60.9
61.4
54.3
59.7
46.0
23.7
14. 6
..52.3
23.7
26.9
23.0
24.3
24.7
19.7
17.4
14.7
22.2
17.6
10.2
—
36.2
41.7
49.2
55.7
52.1
51.1
46.5
48.5
50.0
42.8
23.7
14. 6
23.7
26.9
23.0
24.3
24.7
19.7
17.4
14.7
22.2
17.6
10.2
45.2
Arithmetic sum of quit, lay-off, and discharge rates.
Comparing November, 1930, rates with those for October, 1930,
there is a decrease in the quit, lay-off, discharge, and accession rates.
The quit rate, the discharge rate, and the accession rate are all lower
than for any month since the compilation of these figures by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the lay-off rate is lower than for
October, it is higher than for every other month of this calendar year
except July and August.
The November quit rate, 0.57, was about one-third of the quit rate
for November, 1929. The lay-off rate, 1.21, was a little lower than
the lay-off rate for November, 1929. This is the first month in 1930
showing a lower lay-off rate than the corresponding month of the
previous year. The accession rate is less than one-half the Novem
ber, 1929, accession rate.
1
The charts following show in graphic form the information con
tained in Table 1.
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[134]
LABOR TURNOVER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
co
Oi
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MONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW
[136]
137
LABOR TURNOVER
Turnover Rates by Industries
2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn
over rates for automobiles, boots and shoes, cotton manufacturing,
iron and steel, sawmills, and slaughtering and meat packing for the
months January to November, inclusive; for the foundry and machine
shop industry for the months February to November, inclusive; and
for the furniture industry for the months April to November, in
clusive, presented both on a monthly and equivalent annual basis.
T able
T a b l e 3 .— AVER A G E LABOR T U R N O V E R R A TES IN SP E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S
Separation rates
8 .2
6 .2
1. 51
1.23
1. 56
1.73
1. 45
1. 25
.96
1.32
1.46
17.8
16.0
18.4
2 1. 1
17. 1
15. 2
11.3
15.5
17.8
13.0
5.4
.46
.39
.36
.32
.25
.32
.28
.36
.25
. 15
.08
5.4
5.1
4.2
3.9
2.9
3.9
3.3
4.2
3.0
14.2
15.6
18.7
16.3
16.5
12. 6
11.2
. 11
. 19
.28
.09
1.3
2.5
3.3
1. 1
2.3
1.9
1.3
1 .1 0
.44
1 . 20
1 .2 0
1.59
1.34
1.40
1.04
.95
1 .0 0
.95
.98
. G7
1 1 .8
11.5
11.5
8 .2
.77
1 0 .1
1 . 12
13.2
15.3
14. 5
9.3
6.4
1.26
1. 23
.76
.54
.53
.49
.42
.29
1 . 22
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.76
.39
.42
.62
.35
.43
.29
6 .2
6 .0
5.0
3.5
14.8
8.9
4.7
4.9
7.3
4.2
5.1
3.5
1 .2
1 .8
2 .0
1 .0
1 .2
1 .8
1 .0
.28
.72
.44
1 .0 1
.71
.87
.75
1.33
.81
1. 39
1. 27
26.2
24.3
23.0
32.8
43.3
46. 5
53. 4
36.5
43. 8
30.6
4.08
3.11
3. 93
4.87
5. 34
5.24
5. 63
4.27
4. 90
3. 38
2. 25
48.2
40.5
46.3
59.2
62.9
63.7
66.4
50.3
59.7
39.8
27.4
8 . 20
15.7
9.8
16.4
15.4
2. 25
2.34
2. 36
3. 06
2.41
2.44
1.99
3.01
2. 52
2. 65
1. 79
26.5
30.5
27.8
37.8
28.4
29.7
23. 4
35.4
30.6
16.4
3.4
1 . 60
18.9
19.9
24.9
2 0 .0
3.3
9.4
5.2
12.3
8.4
10 . 6
8 .8
.9
.29
. 14
.25
. 14
.59
.90
.67
.84
.47
.50
.48
.05
. 16
.09
.25
.15
. 16
. 13
.08
.09
.07
.7
1.9
1. 1
2.9
1 .2 1
1 . 12
1 .8 8
2 2 .1
1.99
1.79
21. 1
2 .0 0
2 .0 0
23.6
24.3
1. 85
1.69
2 1 .8
.9
20. 5
2. 57
2. 37
2. 05
. 10
.23
. 13
1 .2
1.29
2.7
2 .0 1
1 .6
2. 38
1. 32
.76
.70
15.7
23.7
28.9
15.5
8.9
8.5
10.4
26.5
2.61
3.00
2.90
1.94
1.60
1.24
1.42
2.56
.2 0
. 16
. 11
. 14
.09
.08
.07
1 .6
1 .1
1 .0
1 .8
1.9
1.5
1 .0
1 .1
.2 0
.2 2
2.4
. 19
.1 0
2.3
1.2
.09
1 .1
2 .6
.80
.8 8
2.18
1137]
1 .8
2.9
5.4
6.9
1. 53
2 .1 2
1. 87
2. 19
1 1 .0
2 . 10
7.9
9.9
5.7
5.9
5.8
1. 73
1.98
1. 50
1. 56
10.4
14.2
13.6
24. 2
1 .2 2
1.62
2.49
2.47
3. 36
2.90
2. 49
2 .6 6
2 1 .8
2 2 .8
25.7
25.5
20.4
23.3
18.3
18.4
14.9
2 1. 2
29.3
30.0
39.5
35.3
29.4
31.3
31.3
27.9
24.9
31.7
35.3
35.2
2 2 .8
18.8
15.0
16.7
31.1
4. 08
3.11
3.93
4. 06
2. 74
1.91
1.39
2. 65
2. 70
2 . 10
1. 50
48.2
40. 5
46.3
49.4
32.3
23. 2
16.4
31.2
32.9
24.7
18.2
5.26
2 . 06
2.79
2. 11
2 . 16
2. 17
2. 50
2. 53
1.98
1. 85
.81
61.9
26.9
27.8
25.7
25. 4
26.4
29.5
29.8
24. 1
2. 25
2 . 06
2.36
26.5
26.9
27.8
25.7
25.4
26.4
23.4
29.8
24. 1
2 1. 8
9.9
2. 40
1 . 62
2. 53
2. 34
2. 25
1. 75
1.44
1. 37
2 . 06
2. 32
1.67
28.3
21. 1
29.8
28.5
26. 5
21.3
17.0
16. 1
25. 1
27.3
20.3
2 . 26
2.33
2. 42
1.83
1. 30
1.23
1.04
29.5
27.4
29.5
3. 40
5.31
4.06
2. 74
1.91
1.39
2. 65
2. 70
2 . 10
1. 50
1 .0 0
1 . 21
.48
1. 33
1. 15
1.07
1.59
2 1 .8
9.9
2 1 .6
15.8
14.5
12. 2
1 2 .2
14.2
5.8
1 .6 6
16. 2
13.5
13.0
18.7
23.7
32.9
19.6
.67
8 .1
2 .0 1
2. 70
2 .1 1
2 . 16
2.17
1.99
2. 53
1. 98
1.85
.81
1.60
1. 53
2 .1 2
1. 87
2.19
1. 75
1.44
1.37
1.50
1.56
1 . 22
1 . 62
2. 33
2. 42
1.83
1. 30
1.23
1.04
1 .0 0
1 . 21
.48
1. 33
1.15
1.07
1. 59
1.60
1. 24
1. 42
.67
Equivalent
annual
96.9
44.3
66 . 6
49.4
32.3
23.2
16.4
31.2
32. 9
24. 7
18. 2
M onthly
M onthly
Equivalent
annual
13.9
1.95
2. 70
3. 68
3. 82
4.53
3. 10
3. 60
2 . 60
1.64
M onthly
1 1 .8
1 2 .0
1. 14
.70
.51
2 . 22
1 .8 6
Net turnover rate
Equivalent
annual
1 .0 0
1 .0 2
7.0
1.9
4.9
4.0
3.2
3.0
0. 59
. 15
.42
.33
.27
.25
. 10
. 15
. 16
.08
. 10
1 .1 0
Equivalent
annual
15.0
14.3
18.4
22.4
16.4
14.2
1.27
Accession
rates
Total
M onthly
1. 56
1. 84
1.39
1. 17
Lay-offs
| Equivalent
annual
Automobiles:
January______________
February____________
M arch_______ ____ _
April. ______
M ay------------------------June . . .
July_________________
August _____ _______
September . _ _____
October
November___________
Boots and shoes:
January______________
February____________
March_______________
April______ _ _____
M ay_____________
June _____ .
July_________________
August. .
_ __
September . . .
_ _
O c to b e r ..._____
November
Cotton manufacturing:
January... __________
February_______ _____
M arch..
April —_ ____________
M a y ...
______ ...
J u n e..
. ._
July-------------------------August_________ . . ..
September . ____
October
November . .
Foundries and machine
shops:
February____
. . _
M arch. _ . . .
April_____________ _
M ay_____
_ . ____
June__ _ .
.....
July_________________
August______________
Septem ber.. _. _____
October_____ _____
November
. . _____
Furniture:
April. . . .
May_
___
______
J u n e ... _____________
July-------------------------August__________ . . .
September___________
October
November___________
Discharges
M onthly
M onthly
Industry, year and month,
1930
Equivalent
annual
Quits
18.9
19.9
24.9
2 2 .8
25.7
21.3
17.0
16. 1
18.3
18.4
14.9
2 1 .2
27.4
29.5
2 1. 6
15.8
14. 5
12. 2
12. 2
14. 2
5.8
16.2
13.5
13.0
18.7
18.8
15.0
16.7
8 .1
138
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 2 — AVER A G E LABOR T U R N O V E R
R A TES IN S P E C IF IE D
IN D U S T R IE S —Con.
Separation rates
Iron and steel:
January___________
February____________
March_______________
April________________
M ay___ _____ ________
Jun’e .._ ________ ____
July_________________
August______________
September___________
October______________
N o v em b er... . ______
Sawmills:
January_____________
February________ ____
March........ ............ .........
April________________
M ay________________
June_________________
July_________________
August_______ ____ _
September___________
October ______ ____
November__ ______ .
Slaughtering and meat
packing:
January_____________
February ___________
March______________
April___ ___________
M ay________________
June__ _ . . . _______
July_________________
August___________
September___________
October ___________
November___________
1.37
1.07
1.35
1.51
1.40
1.36
.90
.95
1.07
.80
.74
13.0
9.4
9.0
1. 57
1.77
1.90
1.62
1.33
1 . 10
.82
.67
1. 52
.87
.25
18.5
23.1
22.4
19.7
15.7
13.4
9.6
7.9
18.5
10.3
3.0
1 .0 0
1. 54
1.89
1.90
2.38
2 . 12
1. 52
1. 32
1.85
.97
.93
16.1
14.0
15.9
18.4
16.5
16.6
1 0 .6
1 1 .2
18.9
2 0 .1
22.3
23.1
28.0
25.8
17.9
15.6
22.5
11.4
11.3
Accession
rates
0.23
. 18
.2 0
. 19
.17
.23
. 15
. 11
.09
.08
.05
.44
. 18
.1 1
. 19
. 11
.23
.24
.26
. 16
1.3
1 .1
1 .0 0
1 2 .2
.9
1.49
.96
17.6
11.7
2. 44
2. 23
1. 78
2.19
2.16
2. 37
1. 75
1. 77
1 . 81
1.46
2.16
2.28
2. 34
2. 67
2.09
3.15
20.9
23.6
13.0
14.7
17.2
26.3
26.9
27.6
32.5
24.6
38.3
1. 52
4. 33
2 . 62
1.91
1. 52
1.13
2.90
1.35
1. 41
1. 57
1.44
17.9
56.5
30.9
23.3
17.9
13.7
34.1
15.9
17.2
18.5
17.5
.6
5.2
2.4
1.3
2.3
1.3
2 .8
2 .8
3.1
2 .0
2.3
1.9
.51
.45
.48
.46
.54
.44
.48
.36
.35
.37
.39
5.9
5. 6
5.6
6.4
5.3
5.7
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.7
6 .0
1 .1 0
1 . 21
8 .6
13.3
3.23
1.99
Equivalent
annual
M onthly
Equivalent
annual
25.8
26.3
27.9
21.3
3. 87
2. 97
2. 54
2.43
2.06
2. 38
1.37
1. 15
1.32
.80
.56
45.6
38.7
29.9
29.6
24.3
28.9
16.1
13.6
16.1
9.4
6 .8
2.06
2.23
1.37
1. 15
1. 32
.80
.56
3. 78
3. 76
3. 11
3.02
2.90
3.49
3. 34
3. 27
4. 35
3.16
3. 55
44.6
49.1
36.7
36.7
34.2
42.5
39.3
38.6
53.0
37.2
43.2
2.54
4.38
4.86
4.46
3. 48
2. 78
3. 65
2.04
3. 07
3. 32
1.27
29.9
57.1
57.2
54.3
41.0
33.8
43.0
24.1
37.4
39.1
15.4
2. 54
3. 76
3.11
3.02
2.90
2. 78
3. 34
2.04
3.07
3.16
1.27
29.9
49.1
36.7
36.7
34.2
33.8
39.3
24.1
37.4
37.2
15.4
3.63
6 . 32
4. 99
4.27
4.44
3. 69
4.90
3.03
3.61
2.91
2. 75
42.8
82.5
58.8
52.0
52.3
44.8
57.7
35.7
44.0
34.3
33.5
4. 08
2. 92
2.84
4.28
6. 10
48.1
38.2
33.5
52.1
71.9
74.4
56.5
43.1
65.5
52.7
58.7
3. 63
2.92
2.84
4. 27
4.44
3.69
4.80
3.03
3. 61
2.91
2.75
42.8
38.1
33.5
52.0
52.3
44.8
56.5
35.7
44.0
34.3
33.5
2 .0 0
2 .0 0
38.1
26.1
23.5
24.4
28.8
27.2
M onthly
Equivalent
annual
Equivalent
annual
M onthly
Equivalent
annual
19.2
9.7
5.3
3.7
10.3
7.8
2 .0
2 .8
1 .8
N et turnover rate
Total
1.63
.74
.45
.30
.87
.64
.73
1.13
2 .8
2.4
2.3
2.3
. 16
.2 0
Lay-offs
M onthly
Discharges
M onthly
M onthly
Industry, year and month,
1930
Equivalent
annual
Quits
2 1 .0
6 .1 2
4.80
3. 66
5. 38
4. 47
4.83
3.23
1.99
2 .0 0
2 .0 0
38.1
26.1
23.5
24.4
24.3
27. 2
16.1
13.6
16.1
9.4
6 .8
The November total separation rate for the automotive industry
was 2.25. The accession rate was 1.50. The November quit, lay-off,
and accession rates were lower than the corresponding rates for
October. There was a slight increase, however, in the discharge rate.
In the boot and shoe industry the November separation rate was
1.79, and the accession rate 0.81. Comparing November rates with
October rates, there was a decrease in the quit, discharge, lay-off,
and accession rates.
The accession rate for the cotton-manufacturing industry was onehalf of 1 per cent higher than the total separation rate for November,
the former rate being 1.67 and the latter 1.22. The quit, discharge,
lay-off, and accession rates were all lower for November than for
October.
The foundry and machine-shop industry had a total separation
rate of 2.05 and an accession rate of only 0.48. The quit, discharge,
lay-off, and accession rates were all lower for November than for
October.
The total separation rate for the furniture industry was 2.56,
while the accession rate was 0.67. The quit, discharge, and acces
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[138]
LABOR TURNOVER
139
sion rates were lower for November than for October. The Novem
ber lay-off rate, however, was nearly two and one-half times as high
as the October rate.
The November separation rate in the iron and steel industry was
1.75. The accession rate was 0.56. There were fewer quits, dis
charges, lay-offs, and accessions in this industry during November
than during October.
Sawmills had a total separation rate of 3.55, and an accession rate
of 1.27. The November quit, discharge, and accession rates were
lower than the corresponding rates for October. The lay-off rate
was 50 per cent higher for November than for October.
In the slaughtering and meat-packing industry the excess of acces
sions over separations was 2.08 per cent, the accession rate being
4.83 and the total separation rate 2.75. Quits and lay-offs were
lower during November than during October. Discharges and acces
sions were higher during the latter month than during the former.
Cotton manufacturing, iron and steel, and slaughtering and meat
packing had a higher quit rate than that shown for manufacturing
as a whole. Automobiles, boots and shoes, foundries and machine
shops, furniture, and sawmills had a lower quit rate than the allindustry quit rate.
The discharge rate for automobiles, furniture, sawmills, and slaugh
tering and meat packing was higher than the all-manufacturing dis
charge rate. Cotton manufacturing, foundries and machine shops,
and iron and steel had a lower discharge rate, and boots and shoes
had the same discharge rate as that shown for all industries.
The following industries had a higher lay-off rate than that shown
for manufacturing as a whole: Automobiles, boots and shoes, foun
dries and machine shops, furniture, and slaughtering and meat pack
ing. The lay-off rate for cotton manufacturing and for iron and
steel was lower than for all manufacturing. The highest quit rate,
0.93, was shown by the slaughtering and meat-packing industry and
the lowest, 0.25, for the sawmill industry. The slaughtering and
meat-packing industry also had the highest discharge rate," 0.39.
The lowest discharge rate, 0.05, was shown in the iron and steel indus
try. The lay-off rate for sawmills was 3.15. It was much higher
than the lay-off rate for any other industry for which separate indexes
are shown. The lowest lay-off rate shown was 0.48 in cotton manu
facturing. The highest accession rate was in the slaughtering and
meat-packing industry. The accession rate for this industry was
4.83. Foundries and machine shops, with 0.48, showed the lowest
accession rate for the month of November.
29334°—31
-10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[139]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
S trik es and L ock ou ts in th e U n ited S ta te s in N ovem ber, 1930
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
November, 1930, with comparable data for preceding months, are
presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and last
ing less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in 1927, 1928, and
1929, number of workers involved, and man-days lost for these years,
the number of industrial disputes for each of the months—January,
1928, to November, 1930, 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. It also shows in the last
column, the economic loss (in man-days) involved. The number of
workdays lost is computed by multiplying the number of workers
affected in each dispute by the length of the dispute measured m
working-days as normally worked by the industry or trade in question.
D
T \ b i e 1 —IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T AT E N D OF EACH
M O N T H JA N U A R Y , 1928, TO N O V E M B E R , 1930, A N D TOTAL N U M B E R OF D ISPU T E S,
W ORKERS, A N D M A N-D A YS LOST IN THE YEAR S 1927, 1928, A N D 1929
Number of workers in
Number of
volved in disputes
man-days
lost during
Beginning In effect at Beginning In effect at month or
end of
in month
end of
in month
year
month
month
or year
or year
Number of disputes
Month and year
1928
January—
February..
March___
April------M ay_____
June_____
July______
August---September.
October.. .
November.
December.
1929
Jan u ary...
February..
March___
April_____
M ay_____
June_____
July______
August___
September.
October__
November.
December.
1930
January-----February__
March_____
April---------M ay_______
June_______
J u ly ...____
August____
September..
October 1 —
November 1.
1
48
52
41
71
80
44
54
59
52
61
44
23
63
58
47
48
56
46
42
42
34
42
38
29
18,850
33, 441
7, 459
143. 700
15, 640
31,381
18, 0 12
8 , 887
8,897
27,866
37,840
5,172
81,880
103,496
76, 069
129, 708
133, 546
143,137
132,187
105, 760
62,862
41, 474
38, 745
35,842
2,128, 028
2,145, 342
2, 291,337
4, 806, 232
3,455,499
3, 670, 878
3, 337,386
3, 553, 750
2, 571,982
1,304,913
1, 300, 362
991,238
48
54
77
117
115
73
80
78
98
69
61
33
36
35
37
53
73
57
53
43
49
31
32
14, 783
22, 858
14,031
32,989
13,668
19,989
36,152
25, 616
20,233
16,315
10, 443
3,386
39,569
40, 306
40, 516
52,445
64, 853
58,152
15, 589
6 , 714
8,132
6,135
6 , 067
2,343
951,914
926, 679
1, 074,468
1, 429,437
1, 727, 694
1, 627, 565
1 , 062,428
358,148
244, 864
272, 018
204,457
95, 541
42
44
49
60
64
54
76
51
69
46
37
21
8 , 879
37, 301
15, 017
5, 814
9,281
13, 791
14, 219
15, 902
15,946
10, 972
4,963
5,316
6,562
5,847
5, 711
4,640
8 ,499
5,039
7,161
13, 409
15, 776
8,464
182, 202
436, 788
289,470
180, 445
192,201
150, 627
148,982
144,530
202, 874
336, 492
313, 649
Preliminary figures subject to change
140
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
37, 799, 394
31, 556, 947
9,975,213
349, 434
357.145
230,463
724
699
903
1927: Total.
1928: Total.
1929: Total.
[140]
21
33
34
41
30
34
31
32
41
34
27
_
141
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 2 gives by industry the number of strikes beginning in
September, October, and November, 1930, and the number of workers
directly involved.
T a b l e 2 .—IN D U S T R IA L
D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN S E P T E M B E R , OC TOBER , A N D
N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number of disputes beginning
in—
Number of workers involved
in disputes beginning in—
Septem
ber
October
Novem
ber
Septem
ber
15
13
7
1
1
10
1
1
2
1
7
16
691
23
19
4,302
400
600
Industry
Building trades.. ________ _ _____
Chauffeurs and teamsters
. ...
Clerks______________ _ _ ____
C lo th in g ..______. . .
. ..
Farm labor _ . . . ._
.. .
Fishermen___________ . . . . . ___
_____
. ...
Food workers
Furniture
. . . .
....
Leather_______________ ________ . .
Light, heat, and power______ _______
L ongshorem en...___ . ____________
M etal trades. . .
______ ____________
Miners____ _ _______ _ _____ ___
Motion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical employee«_______________________
Printing and publishing...
. . . . . ..
Stone___ _____________ ____ _____ . .
Municipal workers___
___ _ . . . ..
Textiles.
___________ _
Tobacco
._ . ________________
Other occupations________ ____ ____ _ .
T otal___ _______________________
1
1
5
4
12 0
257
513
14
3
10
1
1
2
290
27
300
3 000
no
3, 676
??
6,410
965
25
40
85
2, 245
10, 972
4,963
778
13
1
779
100
209
11
Novem
ber
703
43
575
1
2
1
2
2
October
h
1
200
4
2
6
1
1
4, 220
100
30
69
46
37
15, 946
Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 3 gives t h e n u m b e r of industrial disputes beginning in
November, 1930, classified by number of workers and by industries.
T a b l e 3 .—N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D ISPU T E S B E G IN N IN G IN N O V E M B E R , 1930, CLAS-
SIFIE D B Y N U M B E R OF W ORKERS A N D BY IN D U S T R IE S
Number of disputes beginning in November, 1930, involv
ing—
Industry
6 and
under 20
workers
Building trades . ________ _____
Chauffeurs and teamsters__
_____
(.'lothing___ _______ . _______ .
Food workers _______ ______
Miners__ _______
Motion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical employees________ ______
Stone______ ._ __________
Textiles ___________________________
Total__________________ _________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
20 and
under 100
workers
2
1
8
7
1
1
1
12
9
[Ml]
100 and
500 and
1,0 0 0 and
under 500 under 1,0 0 0 under 5,000
workers
workers
workers
4
1
1
1
2
1
4
1
1
13
2
1
142
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
November, 1930, by industries and classified duration.
T a b l e 4 .—N U M B E R
OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN N O V E M B E R , 1930, BY
IN D U S T R IE S A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
Classified duration of strikes ending in
N ovember
One-half
month or
less
Industry
Budding trades
_ _ ___________________
rihRuffin 1*8 and tpamstors
n o th in g
________________
Food workers
__________
Furniture
- __________
Lonffshorernpn
-- ----Miners
______ Motion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical employgpg
__ _ . _ . . . - _- - ....
Stone
___ __
.... =^ =,_ __
Textiles---- ------------ ------------------------ . . . . . . . . . . --------T o t a l........................................ ....................................
Over onehalf and
less than 1
month
month
and less
than 2
months
months
and less
than 3
months
1
2
3
6
1
1
5
9
2
2
2
1
1
2
l
l
2
1
1
3
21
12
7
4
Principal Strikes and Lockouts beginning in November, 1930
Anthracite coal miners, Pennsylvania.—The Bast Colliery of the
Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co., located between Ashland and
Girardville, was, according to reports, affected by a strike of some 570
miners, beginning November 8 and ending November 13, because
of grievances growing out of the refusal of certain employees to obey
instructions of the management.
The men, it is said, returned to work on the same basis as before the
strike.
Textile silk workers, Pennsylvania.—Approximately half of the
2,000 silk workers employed by the Duplan Silk Corporation of
Hazleton refused to work on November 17 because of wage reductions.
The trouble, it is said, began with the walkout Friday evening,
November 14, of the night-shift Jacquard weavers, and these were
joined Monday morning by other operatives. According to press
reports, those reporting for work on the morning of the 17th were
dismissed and the plant closed indefinitely.
Hosiery workers, Pennsylvania.—A “ general strike” of the workers
in the full-fashioned hosiery knitting mills “ throughout all the
shops in Reading and vicinity,” sponsored by the American Federa
tion of Full-Fashioned Hosiery Workers, was called to begin Novem
ber 17. In the affected area in Berks County, which includes Reading,
there are said to be 28 mills, most of which have been operating on
either an open-shop or nonunion basis. When the strike began,
these mills were employing about 14,000 workers, of whom only a
comparatively few are reported to have joined the strike movement.
A number of the smaller mills, however, closed down temporarily
during the disturbance. The purpose of the strike, it is understood,
was to secure recognition of the union by all the mills in the county
and to improve the wage status of the workers, a spokesman for whom
stated that “ within the last year there have been wage cuts of from
20 to 50 per cent. It is our effort to induce employers to revise
wages to within 10 per cent of the level prevailing January 1.” Other
press reports gave the demands as recognition of the union by all
the mills and the adoption of the national agreement on wage scales.
A statement by representatives of the manufacturers on November 18
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[142]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
143
said: “ A survey of the 9 mills in Reading, and of the 10 largest
outside the city limits shows that there are 12,184 persons regularly
employed at the mills, and 495 are on strike.” The number of actual
strikers in all of the 28 mills that were affected directly or indirectly
probably did not exceed 700.
The strike was called off at noon November 28.
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Continuing into November, 1930
Women’s tailors and dressmakers, New York City.-—No report of the
ending of the strike of approximately 2,500 workers which began
September 25 has been received as regards the seven associated Fifth
Avenue firms. According to reports from union sources, the strike
against these firms still continues. The manufacturers, however, have
stated that since the walkout in their plants, the work has been satis
factorily done by others.
On November 15 the attorney for the association issued a state
ment in which he said that the total number of men who left their
employ was 252, that the association had taken on other employees
in place of those who left, and that “ production is now being main
tained on a full basis.”
Textile workers, Virginia.—The strike at the Riverside and Dan River
Cotton Mills (Inc.), which began on September 29, still continues.
Toward the close of the month troops were sent by the governor
to maintain order at the Dan River mill, which is located just across
the Dan River, in the village of Schoolfield, Pittsylvania County. This
mill, it is understood, resumed operations with a partial force of
nonunion workers on November 24. Just how many operatives are
now working in the plants of the company is unknown.
Press reports state that notices of eviction from company houses
were served on the families of 47 strikers on December 5.
Anthracite coal miners, Pennsylvania.—A strike of approximately 1,137
miners affecting the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. of Pottsville began on October 30 and is said to have been the outgrowth of the
refusal of some of the men to obey instructions of the management.
This strike ended on November 17, the miners resuming work on
the same basis as before they went out.
C o n cilia tio n W ork of th e D e p a r tm en t of Labor in N ovem ber, 1930
B y H ugh
L. K
e r w in ,
D ir e c t o r o f C o n c il ia t io n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 34 labor disputes during
November, 1930. These disputes affected a known total of 28,470
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 involved.
On December, 1, 1930, there were 34 strikes before the department
for settlement and in addition 17 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 51.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[143]
LABOR D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D D U R IN G T H E M O N TH OF N O V E M B E R , 1930
(4^
(4^
Workers in
volved
Duration
Company or industry and loca
tion
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of settle
ment
Building,
[144]
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Blaine,
Controversy _ Building.
Ending
1930
Oct. 31
1930
N ov.
N ov.
1
N ov. 13
1 , 200
Oct. 29
N ov. 14
200
N ov. 17
N ov. 28
700
Oct. 15
N ov.
6
Direct Indi
rectly
iy
12
40
10 , 000
N ov.
92
5
1
12
N ov. 9
8
7
Oct. 31
15
75
N ov.
16
500
18
500
1
do_
Oct.
1
N ov.
1
12
N ov. 15
N ov. 10
N ov. 12
N ov.
N ov. 14
-_-do___
7
290
160
750
1 ,0 0 0
1 ,0 0 0
6
30
N ov. 19
125
N ov. 18
11
N ov. 17
N ov.
11
250
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
Asked union wages for laborers. Adjusted. Laborers to receive
union wages; all union employ
ees.
M ine workers, Madisonville, Ky._ Strike______ Miners______________ Asked union wages and rec Pending________________________
ognition.
Wright Aeronautical Corp., Pater Controversy _ Aeronautical workers _ Proposed 10 per cent wage cut. Adjusted. Wage cut accepted___
son, N . J.
Wages cut 80 cents per day___ Adjusted. Compromised on reduc
Miners.
N ew York Coal Co., Crooksville, Strike.
tion of 40 cents per day or 2 cents
Ohio.
per ton.
Tool and die m akers.. Protest 12-hour day without Pending________________________
Grigsby-Grunow Co., Chicago, Lockout.
overtime pay.
111.
Hosiery knitters_____ Wage dispute______________ Adjusted. Strike declared off____
Hosiery Knitting Mills, Reading, Strik e...
Pa., and vicinity.
Building, Elwood, Ind__________ Lockout____ Carpenters and joiners Nonunion carpenters employ Unable to adjust
ed.
Marine Engineering Co., Wil ____do______ Asbestos workers____ Wages cut $ 2 per day________ Pending..______
mington, Calif.
.do
Building, Klamath Falls, Oreg---- Controversy. Laborers____________ Asked prevailing wages for
laborers.
do.
Arctic Creamery, Dairy & Ice
T h reaten ed Engineers and firemen Engineers reduced $2 per week;
firemen, $5.
Cream Co., Detroit, Mich.
strike.
do.
Detroit Creamery, Dairy & Ice ___do______ ___ do_______________ ___ do______________________
Cream Co., Detroit, Mich.
Unclassified. Company’s terms
Wage dispute.
Dress workers.
do.
Palmer Dress Works, Philadel
accepted before arrival of com
phia, Pa.
missioner.
Adjusted.
Some concessions made
Company
refused
to
make
new
Dairy workers
do.
Woodlawn Farm & Dairy Co.,
and agreement concluded.
agreement.
Scranton, Pa.
Adjusted.
Proposal
withdrawn
Proposed
10
per
cent
wage
cut.
Leather
tanners.
M itchell & Pierson, Philadelphia, Controversy .
and no cut made.
Pa.
Weavers____ ■________ W age cut___________________ Pending________________________
Duplan Silk Corp., Hazleton, Pa__ Strike.
Steel workers, pile Ironworkers claimed sheet- Adjusted. All pulling and burning
Building, Pittsburgh, Pa________ ___ do.
on piling to be done by iron
steel piling being done by
drivers, carpenters,
workers.
carpenters.
and sheet-iron work
ers.
Malleable Range Co., South Bend, Controversy. Stove workers_______ Wage cut___________________ Pending. M en w ill make 2-week
test of company’s plan.
Ind.
Asked prevailing wage scale.. . Unclassified. Others e m p l o y e d
Granite workers.
Monoosnoc Granite Quarry Co., Strike.
FRASER
before commissioner’s arrival.
Leominster, Mass.
Immigration
Wash.
Begin
ning
Broadway Theater, Los Angeles, Lockout ___ Operators______
Calif.
Rialto Theater, Los Angeles, CaliL ___d o ______ __ do _ _
Phillips Petroleum
Building, Strike___
Building.
Monsanto, 111.
Sheepskin clothing
N ew York City.
companies,
___d o ____
Clothing workers
Shell Oil Co., Pittsburg, Calif____ Controversy _ Electrical workers
Strike .
Competent Fur Dressers (Inc.),
Mount Vernon, N Y.
Paramount
Theater,
Seattle,
Wash.
Wanamaker Building, Philadel
phia, Pa.
- _ do______
_ . Raincoat makers
Fur workers
Controversy _ Musicians .
___
S tr ik e ._____ Ironworkers
Building, Detroit, Mich_________ ___ do_ .
___ Bricklayers
I. Miller & Sons, Haverhill, Mass. Controversy. Shoe workers__
[145]
Strike. . _. . Miners
AH Loom Mills, Philadelphia,
Strike . . . .
Textile workers
Guyon’s
Paradise
Chicago, 111.
___do______
Musicians, both for
r adi o and dance
music.
Hat makers
_ _
Ballroom,
Baber & Goodman Hat Co., Dan
bury, Conn.
T otal_____________
1
___
Controversy _ Electrical workers
. .. .d o ______
Nov. 17
5
10
---- d o ...
-----d o ...
- do_
N ov. 18
5
250
700
Adjusted. Allowed 49-hour week
and $1.90 per day increase; union
working conditions.
Pending________________________
Company refused to pay union
wages.
Asked union recognition, 44- Adjusted. Allowed 44-hour week,
hour week, and wage
15 per cent increase on piecework,
increase.
and union conditions.
Asked union conditions______ Pending________________________
Musicians discharged and re ____do__________________________
placed by mechanical music.
Dispute relative to union rec Unclassified. All union workers
ognition by certain contrac
em ployed. (C onciliation not
tors.
required.)
Alleged violation of agreement. Adjusted. Conditions restored as
before dispute.
New working conditions_____ Adjusted. Accepted changes pro
posed by company.
Wages cut 20 per c e n t ..._____ Unable to adjust. (Mine closed
indefinitely.)
Objection to electrical work Adjusted. All work to be done by
being done by nonunion
union men in future.
workers.
Wages cut about 25 per cent on Pending________________________
rug weaving; dyers cut from
75 to 60 cents per hour.
Salary rebates______________ Adjusted. Agreed to arbitration
by assistant State’s attorney.
Piece rates.
Adjusted.
Nov.
N ov. 18
56
6
10 0
N ov. 24
10
5
Nov. 19
50
6
Nov.
20
1
Nov. 24
Nov.
1
21
Nov. 24
N ov. 26
4
700
Nov. 17
Dec.
8
75
2,625
Nov.
Nov. 26
800
5,400
195
5
1
N ov. 19
Nov. 29
Nov.
20
Dec.
Nov.
3
Nov.
8
N ov. 25
Satisfactorily arranged.. Nov. 26
N ov. 29
—
...
9 .
0
125
200
0
60
d is p u t e s
Buffalo & Susquehanna Coal Co.,
Tyler, Pa.
C. B. Connelley School, Pitts
burgh, Pa.
Pending.
in d u s t r ia l
English Raincoat Co., N ew York
City.
Reduction in force from 5 to 2
men.
------do______________________
Union or nonunion conditions
in the construction of oil
tanks.
Asked 44-hour week and 10 per
cent increase.
20
15, 537 12,933
N ot reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Oi
146
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
W ork of U n ited S ta te s Board of M ed iation , 1929-30
HE United States Board of Mediation was constituted under the
terms of the railroad labor act of 1926, to handle cases of dispute
which the carriers and employees have been unable to settle in con
ference. When disputes between carriers and their employees can
not be settled through mediation proceedings, the law directs that the
Board of Mediation shall endeavor to induce the parties to submit
their controversy to arbitration. The arbitration board shall be
composed of three or of six members, as the parties may determine,
one-third of whom shall represent the carriers, one-third the employees,
and one-third shall be neutral. If the representatives of the carriers
and employees fail to name the neutral member or members of the
board, it becomes the duty of the Board of Mediation to appoint
such member or members.
The board began operations in July, 1926, since which time 540
cases involving rates of pay, rules, and working conditions have been
submitted to the board. During this period the board has also
received 291 applications for its services in the adjustment of griev
ances which had not been decided by an appropriate adjustment
board by which they had been considered.
The fourth annual report of the board, covering the year July 1,
1929, to June 30, 1930, recently issued, shows that in this period the
board acted upon 65 cases involving rates of pay, rules, and working
conditions. Of these 65 cases, 25 were settled through mediation, 7
were submitted to arbitration, 18 were withdrawn through mediation,
2 were withdrawn without mediation consideration, and 13 were
retired without mediation proceedings by action of the board. At the
end of the year covered by the report, 3 of the 7 cases submitted to
arbitration had been concluded. In the remaining 4 cases the inter
ested parties had not met in an effort to agree upon the appointment
of the remaining arbitrator or arbitrators. During this period the
board also received 222 applications for its services in the adjustment
of grievances involving the interest of employees as affected by the
application of rules or of discipline. Of these cases, 120 were disposed
of during the year, 9 of which were submitted to arbitration, involv
ing two arbitration proceedings.
The accompanying table shows the number of cases handled during
the year for each specified class of workers, and the number of workers
involved.
T
M E D IA T IO N A N D A R B IT R A T IO N CASES, A N D N U M B E R OF W ORKERS IN V O L V E D ,
U N D E R RA ILW A Y LABOR AC T, JU L Y 1, 1929, TO JU N E 30, 1930
_____
Class of employees
Brakcmen, road, train, and yard Bridge and building mechanics,
helpers, and steam-equipment
N um Number
of em
ber
ployees
of
cases involved
2
3,948
1
678
144,983
1
1
1
220, 717
3,903
549
3, 825
3, 600
'952
56, 941
9
Clerical, maintenance of w ay and
signalm en-.
-------------------Engine and train service_________
Engine, train, and yard service----Maintenance of w ay employees----
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3
1
2
h
Class of employees
Maintenance of w ay employees
and signalmen
-- -Masters, mates, and pilots----------Power-house employees__________
Shopmen_______ ____ ____ _____
Signalmen_____ _____
Station, tower, and telegraph service _ __________ ___ ____
Stationary engineers and firemen.Train dispatchers_____________ Y ardm asters________________ Yardmen...............................................
[146]
N um N um ber
ber
of em
ployees
of
cases involved
2
1
1
4
5
306,800
¿0
163
3,795
1, 506
2
64, 642
3
339
427
i
12 0
9
i
7
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
147
In this report the board comments on the changed attitude of car
riers and employees toward each other since the creation of the board,
as follows:
E ach elem ent, as a whole, e n te rta in e d alm o st to a controlling e x te n t d o u b t or
suspicion, or both, in respect of th e b ona fides of th e other.
Such considerations have alm o st d isappeared an d a general a n d p ro p er a p p re
ciation of reasonable a ttitu d e , one side in resp ect of th e oth er, is in evidence— a
highly desirable sta te of affairs.
D iscussions are now carried on an d conclusions are reached, based on th e m erits
of questions u n d er consideration in a te m p e ra te a n d businesslike w ay.
T he public, for w hich th e railw ay lab o r a c t was p rim arily passed by Congress,
has been th e special benficiary of th e ap p licatio n of an d th e splendid results
ob tain ed from th is law.
No d istu rb in g situ atio n s involving carriers a n d em ployees now exist in railroad
in d u stry .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[147]
HOUSING
B u ild in g P er m its in P rin cip al C ities, N ovem ber, 1930
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics has received building permit
reports from 288 identical cities having a population of 25,000
and over for the months of October and November, 1930, and
from 282 identical cities for the months of November, 1929, and
November, 1930. The reports from these cities cover the amount of
building done in the corporate limits of the cities enumerated; hence
the cost figures presented in the following tables cover erection costs
of the buildings for which permits were issued in the specified cities.
No land costs are included.
The States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and
Pennsylvania, through their departments of labor, are cooperating
with the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the collection of these data.
Table 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, and of total building operations in
288 cities of the United States by geographic divisions.
T
T a b l e 1 .— E ST IM A T E D COST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S IN 288 C ITIES AS SHO W N B Y PE R M IT S
ISSU E D IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
New residential buildings
Geographic division
Estimated cost
October,
1930
Families pro
vided for in
new dwell
ings
New nonresidential
buildings, esti
mated cost
Novem Octo Novem October, 1 Novem
ber, 1930 ber, 1930 ber, 1930
ber, 1930
1930
Total construction
(including altera
tions and repairs),
estimated cost
October,
1930
Novem
ber, 1930
$3,947,400 $3, 075, 250
25,421,335 27,922,834
9,427,421 5, 708, 653
1,915, 111 2. 684, 210
2, 392, 752 1,950,190
3, 797,418 2, 898, 677
6 , 239, 770 6 , 078,164
643
5,425
1,861
517
530
1, 063
2,018
576 $4,902, 780 $7,193, 904 $10, 666 , 692 $11,443,127
5,781 11, 024,980 22, 645,925 44, 223, 401 55, 293,381
1,009 16, 850, 461 11, 672,172 29,925, 074 19, 689,193
484 3,983, 623 1, 288, 040 6,980, 745 4, 703, 565
457 3, 176, 155 3, 342,906 7, 243,346 6 , 521, 917
797 6,926, 045 3,973, 519 11, 715, 626 7, 587, 332
1,844 8,249, 372 5,947, 589 16.812,105 13, 710, 564
Total___ _______ 53,141, 207 50, 317,978
Per cent of change. __
- 5 .3
12, 057
10, 948 55,113,416 56, 064, 055 127, 566, 989 118,949, 079
- 6 .8
- 9 .2
+ 1.7
New England., ______
Middle Atlantic______
East North Central___
West North Central___
South A tla n tic -______
South Central___ Mountain and Paciflc.-
Building permits were issued during November, 1930, in these 288
cities for building projects to cost $118,949,079, a decrease of 6.8
per cent from the estimated cost of the building projects for which
permits were issued during October. The estimated cost of new
residential building decreased 5.3 per cent, comparing November
with October. However, the estimated cost of new nonresidential
building increased 1.7 per cent, comparing permits issued in these
two periods. According to permits issued during November 10,743
family dwelling units were provided in new residential buildings.
148
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[148]
149
HOUSING
This is a decrease of 9.2 per cent as compared with the new dwelling
units provided by permits issued during October.
Increases in estimated costs of residential buildings occurred in
the Middle Atlantic States and the West North Central States.
Decreases in residential building were registered in the other geo
graphic divisions.
The following geographic divisions registered increases in new
nonresidential buildings: New England States, Middle Atlantic
States, and the South Atlantic States. The estimated costs of total
building increased in the New England States and in the Middle
Atlantic States, comparing November permits issued with those
issued during October. The other geographic divisions showed de
creases in total building, comparing these two periods.
Table 2 shows the estimated cost of additions, alterations, and re
pairs as shown by permits issued, together with the percentage of
decrease in November, 1930, as compared with October, 1930, in
288 cities, by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 2 — E ST IM A T E D COST OF A D D IT IO N S, A LTE R A TIO N S, A N D
R E PA IR S IN 288
ID E N T IC A L CITIES AS SHO W N B Y PE R M IT S ISSU E D IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M
B ER , 1930, B Y GEOGRAPHIC D IVISIONS
Estimrtied cost
Geographic division
October,
1930
November,
1930
Per cent of
decrease,
November,
compared
with
October
N ew England. ________
Middle Atlantic______ . . . _
East North Central________
West North Central. _____
South Atlantic. _. ________
South Central __ ______
M ountain and Pacific______
$1 , 816, 512
7, 777, 086
3, 647,192
1,082,011
1, 674, 439
992,163
2, 322, 963
$1,173,973
4, 724, 622
2, 308, 368
731, 315
1 , 228, 821
715,136
1, 684, 811
35.4
39.2
36.7
32.4
26.6
27.9
27.5
T otal__________________
19, 312, 366
12, 567, 046
34.9
There was an indicated expenditure of $12,567,046 for additions,
alterations, and repairs according to permits issued during November,
1930. This was a decrease of 34.9 per cent as compared with the esti
mated cost of repairs for which permits were issued during October,
1930. Decreases in estimated expenditures were registered in all
geographic divisions, comparing November permits with October
permits. These decreases ranged from 26.6 per cent in the South
Atlantic States to 39.2 per cent in the Middle Atlantic States.
Table 3 shows the index numbers of families provided for and the
index numbers of indicated expenditures for residential buildings, for
nonresidential buildings, for additions, alterations and repairs, and
for total building operations. These indexes are worked on the chain
system with the monthly average of 1929 equaling 100.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[149]
150
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
T a b l e 3 .— IN D E X N U M B E R S OF FA M ILIE S PR O V ID E D FO R A N D OF T H E E ST IM A T E D
COST OF B U IL D IN G O PER A T IO N S AS SHOW N B Y P E R M IT S ISSU E D IN PR IN C IP A L
C ITIES OF T H E U N IT E D STA TES
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
E s tim a te d costs of—
F am ilie s
p ro v id e d
for
M o n th
1929
1930
F e b r u a r y . _______________________________
M arch
_ ________ _________________ ____
A p ril
_ _ ____________ ___ ______ ____
M a y - - _ ____________________________
Ju n e
- .
- __________________________
J u ly
________ ___________________
A u g u st
_ __________________________
S ep te m b er
______ ___________________
O ctober
_____ _______________________
N ovem ber
_______ ___ _______________
N ew resi
d e n tia l
b u ild in g s
T o ta l
N ew n o n A d d itio n s,
resid e n tial alteratio n s, b u ild in g
b u ild in g s a n d rep airs o p eratio n s
51.7
35.9
44.8
30.2
89.6
74.3
95.2
66.1
68.1
51.7
34.2
43.0
57. 1
62.0
59.6
54.4
49.9
48.7
51.3
58.3
52.9
29.4
34.7
47.2
51.0
48.5
45.1
44.1
43.4
44.4
44.9
42.5
64.3
51.8
87. 1
100. 1
90.7
82.5
86.7
67.2
73.8
53.5
54.4
55.1
57.5
77.5
81.8
84.5
74.6
77.4
58.6
64.2
58. 1
37.8
46.1
44.1
66.4
73.8
69. 3
63.3
64.8
54.4
58.2
49.7
46.3
The index number of families provided for decreased to 52.9, which
is 5.4 points lower than the index number for October, 1930, but
1.2 points higher than for November, 1929. The index number of esti
mated expenditures for new residential building stood at 42.5 for
November, 1930, which is 2.4 points lower than for October, 1930, and
2.3 points lower than for November, 1929.
The November, 1930, index number for expenditures for new
nonresidential buildings was nine-tenths of a point higher than
for October, 1930, but 35.2 points lower than for November, 1929.
The index number for total building operations was 3.4 points
lower than for October, 1930, and 21.8 points lower than for Novem
ber, 1929. The chart on page 152 shows in graphic form the indicated
expenditures for new residential buildings, new nonresidential build
ings, and for total building operations.
Table 4 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings,
new nonresidential buildings, and of total building operations in
282 identical cities having a population of 25,000 or over for Novem
ber, 1929, and November, 1930, by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 4 .—E ST IM A T E D COST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S IN 282 C ITIES AS SHO W N B Y PE R M IT S
ISSU E D IN N O V E M B E R , 1929, A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
New residential buildings
Geographic division
Estimated cost
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
construction
N ew nonresiden Total
(including altera
tial buildings, es
tions
and
repairs),
timated cost
estimated cost
Novem N ovem Novem Novem Novem Novem
ber, 1929 ber, 1930 ber, 1929 ber, 1930 ber, 1929 ber, 1930
Novem
ber, 1929
Novem
ber, 1930
$4,959,850 $3, 0/5, 250
19, 812, 331 27,924, 834
14, 087,065 5, 708, 653
2,696, 075 2, 684, 210
2, 618, 267 1,944,190
2, 725,784 2, 653,103
7, 785, 710 6 , 078,164
706
2, 842
2, 352
766
598
919
2,276
576 $3, 791, 513 $7,193,904 $10, 552, 251 $11,443,127
5, '/ 86 41, 027,903 22, 775.488 74, 278,871 55, 378, 028
1, 009 27, 237, 242 11, 672,172 45, 037, 770 19,689,193
484 4, 406, 243 1, 288, 040 8.711, 295 4, 703, 565
454 2, 899, 828 3, 341,906 7,741,952 6 , 511, 217
730 3, 213, 082 3, 775, 036 6,724,119 6 ,993, 252
1,844 6,969, 258 5,947, 589 17, 258, 657 13, 710,564
T otal..................... 54, 685, 082 50,068, 404
- 8 .4
Per cent of change
10,459
10,883 89, 545,069 55,994,135 170, 304,915 118,428,946
-3 0 . 5
-3 7 .5
+ 4 .1
N ew England________
M iddle Atlantic______
East North Central___
West North Central__
South A tlan tic-......... .
South Central ______
M ountain and Pacific..
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1501
151
HOUSING
Comparing permits issued during November, 1930, with those
issued during November, 1929, there was a decrease in indicated
expenditures for new residential building of 8.4 per cent, and in
indicated expenditures for new nonresidential building of 37.5 per
cent. The estimated cost of total building projects for which permits
were issued in these two periods decreased 30.5 per cent, comparing
November, 1930, with November, 1929. There was an increase of
4.1 per cent in the number of family dwelling units provided during
November, 1930, over those provided during November, 1929.
The Middle Atlantic was the only geographic division showing
an increase in new residential buildings, comparing November, 1930,
with November, 1929. Increases in the estimated costs of new
nonresidential buildings for which permits were issued occurred in
the New England States, the South Atlantic States, and the South
Central States. Permits issued during November, 1930, for total
building projects in the New England States and the South Central
States showed an increase over those issued during November, 1929.
Decreases were registered in all the other geographic divisions in the
estimated costs of total building.
Table 5 shows the estimated cost of additions, alterations, and
repairs as shown by permits issued, together with the per cent of
decrease in November, 1930, as compared with November, 1929.
T a b l e 5.—E ST IM A T E D COST OF A D D IT IO N S, A L T E R A T IO N S, A N D R E PA IR S IN 282
ID E N T IC A L CITIES AS SHO W N B Y PE R M IT S ISSU E D IN N O V E M B E R , 1929, A N D
N O V E M B E R , 1930
Estimated cost
Geographic division
Per cent of
decrease,
November,
1930,
compared
with
November,
1929
November,
1929
November,
1930
New England________ ___
Middle Atlantic___________
East North Central________
West North C entral___ _
South Atlantic_____________
South Central______________
Mountain and Pacific_____
$1,800,888
13,438, 637
3, 713,463
1,608, 977
2,223,857
785,253
2,503,689
1,173,973
4,677, 706
2,308, 368
731, 315
1,225,121
565,113
1,684,811
34.8
65.2
37.8
54.5
44.9
28.0
32.7
T otal_______________
26,074,764
12,366,407
52.6
Permits issued for additions, alterations, and repairs during
November, 1930, showed a decrease of 52.6 per cent as compared
with permits issued for this class of work during November, 1929.
Decreases in the estimated costs of repairs were shown in all geo
graphic districts, comparing November, 1930, with November, 1929.
These decreases ranged from 28.0 per cent in the South Central
division to 65.2 per cent in the Middle Atlantic division.
Table 6 shows the estimated cost of new residential building, new
nonresidential building, and total building operations, together with
the number of families provided for in new dwellings, in 288 identical
cities for November, 1930, and October, 1930. Reports were received
from 48 cities in the New England States; 63 cities in the Middle
Atlantic States; 72 cities in the East North Central States; 23 cities
in the West North Central States; 32 cities in the South Atlantic
States; 24 cities in the South Central States; and 26 cities in the
Mountain and Pacific States.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[151]
152
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
1930 INDEX NUMBERS.
COST OF RESIDENTIAL, NON RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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HOUSING
153
New England States
T h e r e was an increase of 7.3 per cent in the total a,m o u n t of
building for which permits were issued in November as compared
with the buildings for which permits were issued during October in
the New England States. New residential building decreased 22.1
per cent, while new nonresidential building increased 46.7 per cent.
The number of families provided with dwelling places in new build
ings decreased 10.4 per cent, comparing November permits issued
with October permits issued. Increases in total building operations
were registered in 21 cities in this district. Decreases were registered
in 27 cities.
Permits were issued during November for the following large
structures in the New England States: In Lewiston, Me., a permit
was issued for a high-school building to cost $400,000. In Boston
permits were issued for two public-school buildings to cost nearly
$900,000. In Cambridge a permit was issued for a laboratory to
cost $1,500,000. In Somerville permits were issued for two school
buildings to cost over $600,000. In Pawtucket a contract was let
for a new post-office building to cost $153,000.
No report was received from New London, Conn.
Comparing permits issued in November, 1930, with those issued
in November, 1929, there was a decrease of 38.0 per cent in new
residential buildings, but an increase of 89.7 per cent in estimated
expenditures for new nonresidential building. The estimated cost
of total projects for which permits were issued increased 8.4 per cent.
The number of housing units provided in new buildings decreased
18.4 per cent, comparing November, 1930, with November, 1929.
Middle Atlantic States
I n t h e Middle Atlantic States there was an increase of 9.8 per cent
in residential buildings; an increase of 105.4 per cent in nonresidential
buildings; and an increase of 25.0 per cent in total building, comparing
permits issued during November with those issued during October.
The number of family housing units provided for increased 6.6 per cent.
Increases in total building operations were shown in 26 cities, while
decreases were shown in 37 cities. In the Borough of Manhattan
there was an increase of over $17,000,000 in the estimated cost of new
buildings for which permits were issued during November, as compared
with the estimated cost of the new buildings for which permits were
issued during October; over $5,000,000 of this increase was for resi
dential buildings and nearly $12,000,000 for nonresidential buildings.
In Camden, N. J., permits were issued for factory buildings to cost
nearly $400,000. In Newark permits were issued for 6 apartment
houses to cost over $1,175,000. In the Borough of the Bronx applica
tions were filed for 4 school buildings to cost $2,600,000. In the
Borough of Manhattan applications were filed for 13 apartment
houses to cost over $9,000,000; for an institutional building to cost
over $1,500,000, and for an office building to cost over $9,000,000.
A permit was issued for a school building in Syracuse to cost over
$350,000, and for one in Philadelphia to cost nearly $250,000. In
Pittsburgh a permit was issued for an office building to cost $400,000.
No reports were received from Hazleton and Reading, Pa.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1531
154
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Comparing November, 1930, with November, 1929, permits, there
was an increase of 40.9 per cent in the estimated cost of newresidential buildings, a decrease of 44.5 per cent in the estimated cost of new
nonresidential buildings, and a decrease of 25.4 per cent in total
building operations. The number of families provided with dwelling
places in new buildings increased 103.6 per cent.
East North Central States
D e c r e a s e s were registered all along the line in the East North
Central States, comparing November permits issued with October
permits issued. In the case of new residential buildings, the decrease
was 39.4 per cent; new nonresidential building operations decreased
30.7 per cent, while the estimated cost of total building projects de
creased 34.2 per cent, and the number of family dwelling units provided
in new buildings decreased 45.8 per cent. Increases in the estimated
cost of total building projects occurred in 25 cities and decreases
occurred in 47 cities.
In Chicago permits were issued for two public-school buildings to
cost nearly $2,000,000. In Quincy a permit was issued for a new
hotel building to cost $400,000. In Hammond a new public-school
building is to be erected at a cost of over $500,000. In Cleveland
permits were issued for three school buildings to cost nearly $2,000,000,
and in Lima a contract was let for a sewage-disposal plant to cost over
$500,000. In Milwaukee a permit was issued for a public-school
building to cost $360,000.
No reports were received from East Chicago and South Bend,
Ind.; Battle Creek and Port Huron, Mich.; Zanesville, Ohio; and
Superior, Wis.
The estimated cost of the new residential buildings for which per
mits were issued during November, 1930, decreased 59.5 per cent as
compared with the cost of the new residential buildings for which
permits were issued during November, 1929. The estimated cost of
new nonresidential buildings decreased 57.1 per cent, comparing
November, 1930, with November, 1929, while the estimated cost of
all buildings decreased 56.3 per cent, comparing these two periods.
Total families provided with dwelling places decreased 57.1 per
cent, comparing November, 1930, with the same month of 1929.
West North Central States
I n t h e West North Central States permits issued during Novem
ber indicated an increase of 40.2 per cent in the estimated expenditures
for new residential buildings. There was, however, a decrease of 67.7
per cent in the indicated expenditure for new nonresidential building.
Total building, as indicated by permits issued, decreased 32.6 per
cent, comparing November, 1930, with October, 1930. Permits
issued for new residential buildings indicated a decrease of 6.4 per
cent in the number of family dwelling units provided. Increases in
total building operations were shown in 6 cities, while decreases
were shown in 17 cities in this district.
A permit was issued for a bus terminal building in Sioux City to
cost $145,000 and for a school building in Waterloo to cost $140,000.
No report was received from Des Moines, Iowa.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1541
HOUSING
155
Comparing the records for November, 1930, with those for Novem
ber, 1929, it was found that there was a decrease of four-tenths of 1
per cent in the estimated cost of new residential buildings for which
permits were issued; a decrease of 70.8 per cent in the estimated cost
of the new nonresidential buildings for which permits were issued, and
a decrease of 46.0 per cent in the total building operations for which
permits were issued. There was a decrease of 36.8 per cent in the
number of dwelling units provided, comparing November, 1930, per
mits with November, 1929, permits.
South Atlantic States
I n d i c a t e d expenditures for new residential buildings in the South
Atlantic States decreased 18.5 per cent, comparing permits issued
during November, 1930, with those issued during October, 1930.
In contrast, the indicated expenditures for new nonresidential build
ings increased 5.3 per cent during this period. The estimated cost of
the total building projects in this district during November was 10.0
per cent under the estimated cost of total building projects for which
permits were issued during October. The number of family dwelling
units for which permits were issued during November decreased 13.8
per cent as compared with those for which permits were issued during
October. Permits issued showed increases in total building in 16
cities in this district and decreases in 16 cities.
Permits were issued in Baltimore for four school buildings to cost
$625,000, for an office building in Lynchburg to cost $320,000, and for
a store building in Newport News to cost nearly $250,000.
No reports were received from Pensacola, Fla.; Augusta, Ga.;
Spartanburg, S. C.; and Charleston, W. Va.
There was a decrease of 15.9 per cent in the estimated cost of total
building projects for which permits were issued during November,
1930, as compared with the building projects for which permits were
issued during November, 1929. The estimated cost of new resi
dential building decreased 25.8 per cent during this period, but the
estimated cost of new nonresidential building increased 15.2 per cent.
Family dwelling units provided decreased 24.1 per cent.
South Central States
P e r m it s issued in the South Central States indicated decreases in
estimated cost of new residential buildings, new nonresidential build
ings, and total construction comparing November, 1930, with October,
1930. The estimated cost of new residential buildings decreased 23.7
per cent, new nonresidential buildings 42.6 per cent, and total con
struction 35.2 per cent. There was a decrease of 25.0 per cent in the
number of families provided with dwelling places in new buildings,
comparing the permits issued during November with those issued
during October, 1930. There were increases in total construction in
seven cities, and decreases in 17 cities. In New Orleans a permit
was issued for an office building to cost $150,000. In Oklahoma City
permits were issued for 13 oil derricks to cost $1,300,000 and for 2
public utilities buildings to cost nearly $400,000. In Dallas, Tex.,
permits were issued for store buildings to cost over $600,000.
29334°—31----- 11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1551
156
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
No reports were received from Birmingham, Ala.; Fort Smith, Ark.;
Covington and Newport, Ky.; Muskogee, Okla.; Austin, El Paso,
Galveston, and Laredo, Tex.
Comparing November, 1930, with November, 1929, building per
mits issued showed an increase of 4.0 per cent in estimated expendi
tures for total building operations; an increase of 17.5 per cent in
estimated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings; _and a
decrease of 2.7 per cent in estimated expenditures for new residential
building. Families provided for in new dwelling units decreased 20.6
per cent.
Mountain and Pacific States
R e c o r d s of permits issued in the Mountain and Pacific States for
November, 1930, showed a decrease of 2.6 per cent in estimated ex
penditures for new residential buildings; of 27.9 per cent for new non
residential buildings; and of 18.4 per cent for total building operations,
as compared with the records of permits issued during October, 1930.
Family dwelling units in new residential buildings decreased 8.6 per
cent, comparing November permits with October permits. Increases
in total construction occurred in 10 cities, comparing November with
October, while decreases occurred in 16 cities.
In Los Angeles permits were issued for apartments to cost over
$1,200,000. In Seattle a permit was issued for four office buildings
to cost over $2,000,000.
No reports were received from Vallejo, Calif., and Butte, Mont.
There was a decrease of 20.6 per cent in total building operations
for which permits were issued, comparing November, 1930, with
November, 1929. New residential buildings decreased 21.9 per cent
in estimated cost and new nonresidential buildings 14.7 per cent, com
paring these periods. The number of family dwelling units provided
decreased 19.0 per cent, comparing the record of permits issued during
November, 1930, with those issued during November, 1929.
Hawaii
T h e r e was an increase of 40.6 per cent in the estimated expendi
tures for new residential building in Honolulu, comparing permits
issued during November, 1930, with those issued during October,
1930. New nonresidential building increased 4.3 per cent, and total
indicated building operations increased 7.5 per cent, comparing these
two periods. There was an increase of 16.3 per cent in the number
of families provided with dwelling places in new residential buildings,
comparing November permits with October permits.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[156]
157
HOUSING
T a b l e 6.- -E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W ER E ISSU E D
IN PR IN C IP A L CITIES, OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
N e w E n g la n d S ta te s
N ew residential buildings
Stats and city
Estimated cost
October
Connecticut:
Bridgeport............ .
Greenwich______
Hartford________
Meriden________
N ew Britain____
N ew Haven_____ .
Norwalk................
Stamford................
Waterbury______
Maine:
Bangor__________
Lewiston________
Portland.................
Massachusetts:
Boston L ............ .
Brockton________
Brookline_______
Cambridge______
Chelsea...................
C hicopee...............
E verett..............
Fall River..........
Fitchburg..............
Haverhill________
Holyoke_________
Lawrence............
Lowell__________
L ynn___________
M alden_________
Medford________
N ew Bedford____
Newton_________
Pittsfield________
Quincy__________
Revere....................
Salem___________
Somerville........ .
Springfield..............
Taunton________
W altham ........... .
Watertown______
Worcester_______
N ew Hampshire:
Manchester______
Rhode Island:
Central Falls____
Cranston________
East Providence..
N ew p ort.......... .
Pawtucket______
Providence______
Woonsocket.........
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings •
$139,450
265,000
37,300
29,850
1 1 ,1 0 0
362,500
142,000
31,500
74,500
17,700
6,0 0 0
68,400
419,300
52,000
254,500
86,000
0
1,800
7,000
3,200
11,300
1 1 ,2 0 0
9,000
5,000
17,000
89,600
24,000
194,500
35,000
328,700
108, 900
136, 500
14,200
17,500
0
118,350
N o
November Octo
ber vember
$90,200
12 2 .0 0 0
35. 500
36,650
34, 500
135,000
49,000
57,500
47,600
10,500
5,000
37,850
436,000
35
16
12
12
7
2
5
4
39,130
1
12
1
10
14,101
98
107
5
10
0
0
1
2
1
6,0 0 0
3
0
13
5
14,360
2
5
47
12
6
2
7
7
13
16
950
20,900
13,625
25,050
20, 720
119,405
2,925
4
2
1
1
1
6
4
19
5
39
3
29
19
1
1
32
23
31
3
3
46
18
19
4
4
0
24
51, 700
1 2 ,2 0 0
5,500
207,300
36,500
9,500
103,300
199,800
5, 750
12,500
53,500
42,100
59,000
55,300
1 10 ,0 0 0
0
Total__________ 3,947,400
Per cent of change___
3,075,250
- 2 2 .1
2
14
3
9
25
1
6
8
8
19
34
4
643
0
576
-1 0 .4
Applications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2,338,520
76,205
8 ,995
124,300
38
8
2
2
3
4
26,000
45,800
124,400
1
6
6
0
0
6,500
151, 900
13,585
21,675
3. 710
375,150
20, 727
14,595
110, 545
5,150
119, 925
12,925
51,285
151,693
29,655
8,800
10,800
8,835
26,025
12,338
12,285
21,175
460,740
64,100
8,850
46, 500
40,500
261,100
2,0 0 0
October
19
19
4
27
5
6,000
October
$110,433
121,250
20, 920
13.698
8 , 750
S4,450
16,200
43,175
14,700
6 8 ,10 0
5,500
32,800
12,0C0
115,000
110, 500
5,500
443,400
106,600
83, 700
19,500
17,000
T o t a l construction
(including altera
tions and repairs),
estimated cost
26
32
5
9
4
24
7
9
6
85,500
25,000
13,500
26,000
7,800
9,000
13,900
N e w noriresidential
buildin gs, estimâted cost
[1 5 7 ]
4,902,780
November
$21,311
21, 950
332,067
4,200
24,575
31,680
52,850
15,050
9,400
650
400,900
36,150
Novem
ber
$270,463
442,650
230,919
56,893
26,652
477,880
188,110
85,610
108,650
$134,151
187,500
501, 548
63,835
75,358
215; 438
120,850
105', 340
67,650
61,830
98,269
11,300
406,300
89,239
7, 685
29,800
38,225
5,200
31,375
93,450
4,194
22,690
8,440
19,200
12, 920
30, 700
136,165
15,170
8,450
649, 767
1, 762,525
1,025
7, 925
4,320
15,730
3,055,222
141,803
269,355
234,145
9,525
12,800
163,170
22,305
33,715
26,580
395,300
45,477
49,780
234,935
38,100
321,275
62,900
685, 564
271,293
192,077
36,875
113,785
36,835
265,575
24,133
40, 615
68,600
664,742
2,038,911
91,119
130,200
1,610,908
8 , 885
31,225
50, 775
23,100
44, 895
58, 590
11,800
43.170
131,485
47,194
145,565
129,565
37,025
487; 380
152; 090
236,633
42,495
83, 775
675,957
1,864,225
13,837
57,700
52,020
296, 985
7,270
90,674
41,758
1,345,845
10,275
22,400
1,562,205
1,450
17,050
20 ,0 0 0
20 ,0 0 0
14, 750
7,060
11,235
236,350
6,950
64,876
95,310
40,760
162,900
146,390
59, 700 . 480,890
825
15,285
27,650
70,950
68 ; 207
173,135
221,880
254,304
9,225
7,193,904 10,666,692 11,443,127
+46.7
+ 7.3
158
T
a ble
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
6 .—E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W E R E ISSU E D
IN PR IN C IP A L C ITIES, OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930—Continued
M i d d l e A t l a n t i c S ta te s
New residential buildings
State and city
N ew Jersey:
Atlantic C ity-----Bayonne___
Bloomfield______
Camden___
__
Clifton__________
East Orange_____
Elizabeth
Hoboken__ Irvington- - - - - Jersey C ity______
Kearny_________
Montclair_______
Newark- ____ ___
New Brunswick...
Passaic___- ___
Paterson
Perth A m b o y ... _
Plainfield__
Trenton__ . . Union C ity______
West N ew Y o rk ..
New York:
A lbany____ _____
A m sterdam ... .
Auburn _ _____
Binghamton_____
B uffalo.. ______
Elmira. _ _______
Jamestown..
Kingston___ . .
M ount Vernon___
Newburgh. _.
N ew Rochelle.
N ew York City—
B ronx 1 ____
Brooklyn1. .
Manhattan 1 Queens 1 __ _
Richmond
Niagara Falls-----Poughkeepsie ___
Rochester_______
Schnectady______
Syracuse________
Troy______ _____
Utica. __________
Watertown______
White Plains____
Yonkers___ . . .
Pennsylvania:
Allentown ______
Altoona. - _____
B ethlehem .............
B utler. ____ ____
Chester........ ..........
Easton__________
E r i e ____ _______
Harrisburg______
Johnstown______
L a n c a ster .___ __
M cK eesp o rt____
N ew Castle_____
Norristown _____
Philadelphia____
P ittsb u rg h _____
Scranton
_____
Wilkes-Barre____
Wilkinsburg ____
Williamsport____
York_________ . .
Total
1 Applications
Families pro
vided for in
Estimated cost
new dwellings
Octo No
October November ber vember
$6,250
31,000
145,000
27,000
100,400
28,000
78,000
1
12
0
0
0
0
127,000
46,000
107,500
146,500
0
25,500
70,900
19,750
80,475
7,500
0
8,500
31
9
26
18
22
10
6
0
0
0
0
10
31
13
5
14
22
0
443
7
19
38, 500
62, 500
6,500
17,500
1,876, 500
0
10 ,0 0 0
24,000
o37,625
0
8 ,0 0 0
0
2 2 ,0 0 0
86,800
5,000
21,600
61,850
563,800
7,900
39,100
35,000
351,000
18,800
205,500
141,040
8,500
54,900
32,000
577,900
28,050
372,090
565,200
4,000
2 1 ,0 0 0
filed.
1
5
4
31
2
10
2
8,0 0 0
9,000
72, 000
6 , 000
0
6
75
2
22
934
1,268
1,411
1 ,0 2 1
44
19
10
20
6
17
7
36
9
42
12
11
1
6
12
2
21
14
240
41
1
6
3
3
14
1
2
2
1
2
2
13, 444
9,000
10, 300
18, 000
13
5
40
3
16
0
_____ 25, 421, 335 27,922, 834
+ 9 .8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
4
16
168
3
31
4
3
1 0 ,1 0 0
5
9
13, 000
23, 500
83, 000
33, 500
2,500
00 , 000
248, 400
407, 250
14, 400
0
802, 300
424, 000
7
0
72
20
25, 200
0
1
0
1
0
8 , 000
8 8 ,10 0
2,0 0 0
2
1
12
1
0
1
504
1,245
783
1,557
83
23
32, 200
14
4
13
3
2,327,200 3, 300,200
5,181,250 5,161, 550
3,948,000 9, 410,000
6 , 487, 400 3,846, 600
180,600
265,700
72, 229
1 1 0 , 266
54, 800
63, 50§
84, 900
138, 700
53, 500
40, 500
237, 700
191,700
33, 000
69, 500
54, 500
78, 500
4, 500
3, 500
221, 400
228, 000
301, 200
1, 584, 250
140, 500
12, 500
9, 700
3, 500
4,000
31,000
241, 500
24, 800
16, 000
10 , 000
27, 700
21, 500
0
0
$11 2 ,0 0 0
34,200
40,000
28,000
70,000
17
5
1
0
4
5
4
2
8
0
44
78
4
162
79
2
10
1
0
1
1
2
5
3
5,425
N e w nonresidential
buildings, estimat
ed cost
October
November
$4,210
10,350
18,000
154,962
11,775
411,660
28,000
19,775
25,215
44,180
16,031
15,925
208,300
4,050
18, 300
39,804
42,206
32, 355
28,783
1,300
150
$2,925
25,000
7,000
367,850
53,950
41,250
74,500
14,150
21,340
114,925
5,325
18,025
201,277
5,650
11,775
37,114
27,520
36,600
55,543
216,800
41,800
11,500
3,235
27,000
488, 442
17,670
4,800
7,880
8,043
2,740
434,172
157,122
10,800
3,970
1,2 0 0
2 1 ,1 0 1
484, 760
11,929
13,200
4,935
69,108
500
59,947
T o t a l construction
(including altera
tions and repairs,)
estimated cost
October
N ovem
ber
$70, 660
30, 200
$218,491
49,900
164,000
213,307
119,225
516,716
106,000
81,005
35, 675
236,810
64,081
159,139
447,125
16,800
107,912
165,215
85,836
139,656
59,104
17,870
19,350
417, 475
97,480
100, 479
144, 500
54, 590
68 , 465
220, 725
15, 250
59,975
2,168, 490
14,306
38, 473
102,948
40,810
83, 760
69,098
236,230
5,675
657,971
16, 000
26, 530
145,297
1,143,728
49,233
82,830
71, 060
410,808
26,690
672, 427
296, 553
17,100
32,120
68,805
688 , 238
28,376
73, 460
44,095
669,883
29,130
487,372
12 0 ,0 0 0
684,800 2,915,440 3, 627,595 6 ,794,945
570, 465 6,562,205 6,277,619
690,150
552,650 12,251,980 5,112,790 22,870,685
542, 532 10,305,141 4,669,119
3, 237, 444
467,071
226, 720
454,031
115,120
722, 980
163, 631
53, 036
574, 488
63, 580
90, 940
5, 100
13, 840
315, 779
272, 901
1 2 1 , 220
89,141
182, 550
135, 650
45, 550
117, 200
947, 449
457, 530
406, 593
147, 475
118, 735
09, 100
101,105
1 2 , 000
72, 010
98, 711
13, 510
7,276
17,986
4, 520
16, 497
2, 950
776, 054
273, 865
28,620
433, 219
480, 380
159, 855 1, 697,135
63, 460
97, 275
13, 896
4, 425
450
4,200
5, 795
73, 595
179, 295
19, 645
11,375
9,250
4,715
12, 725
1, 339, 205
126, 635
20, 376
83,130
16,175
37, 872
41,120
4,500
14, 956
99, 225
800
9,912
615
27, 940
12, 725
6 , 155
109, 545
6,170
22, 415
3,863
1, 638, 304
678, 065
14, 343
108,127
3,000
4, 158
289, 775
42, 250
244, 525
55, 745
49, 494
194, 975
21,075
5, 800
5, 150
34,112
15, 025
31,103
45, 355
125, 210
356. 860
227, 373
83, 760
43, 855
57, 405
121, 839
39, 09L
45, 445
57, 62(f
39, 265
27, 440
78, 228
20,130
4, 850, 145 2, 257, 099
806, 088 1, 296, 990
39, 615
300, 269
133, 921
129, 028
17, 200
35, 403
80, 468
56, 653
303, 276
75, 313
5,781 11,024,980 22,645, 925 44, 223, 401 55, 293, 381
+25.0
+105. 4
+ 6 .6
[158]
159
HOUSING
T a b l e « .-E S T IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W ERE ISSU E D
IN P R IN C IP A L CITIES, OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930—Continued
E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
N ew residential buildings
State and city
Estimated cost
October
Illinois:
Alton_________
Aurora________
Belleville______
Bloomington___
Chicagdi______
Cicero_________
D anville_______
Decatur_______
East St. L o u is._
E lgin__________
Evanston______
Joliet_______ ___
Moline_________
Oak Park______
Peoria_________
Quincy________
Rockford_______
Rock Island____
Springfield_____
Indiana:
Anderson______
Elkhart________
Evansville_____
Fort Wayne____
Gary___________
Hammond_____
Indianapolis____
Kokom o_______
Marion_________
M uncie________
Richmond______
Terre H aute____
Michigan:
Bay C ity---------Detroit____ ____
Flint___________
Grand Rapids__
Hamtramck.........
Highland Park...
Jackson________
Kalamazoo_____
Lansing________
Muskegon______
Pontiac________
Saginaw________
Ohio:
Akron__________
Ashtabula. ..........
Canton_________
Cincinnati______
Cleveland_______
Columbus______
D ayton_________
East C leveland...
Hamilton_______
Lakewood______
Lima___________
Lorain__________
Mansfield_______
Marion_________
N ewark................
Portsmouth_____
Springfield______
Steubenville_____
Toledo__________
Warren_________
Youngstown..........
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
$3, 000
38,959
49,450
2, 000
1, 698, 300
0
33, 293
17, 300
36, 600
35.400
83, 000
33, 500
36, 800
29, 300
156, 600
15, 800
83.000
37, 800
55, 200
5,750
5,940
68.400
92, 535
48, 000
60, 280
225, 000
3,200
9, 000
14.400
33.000
350
7.000
1, 606, 259
66 , 227
62, 800
0
0
November Octo Nober vembe
$8 , 300
33,020
24.000
15.000
544, 800
0
29, 000
17, 200
1
330
13
3
3
20.000
10
10,000
0
0
6
6
11
16
9
15
49
10
3
4
5
20
3
7
52
0
0
1
2,000
12
1
5
12,000
2
2
1, 259, 250
88,927
47, 500
5.500
0
4
308
12
18
0
0
4.000
72.000
4
0
0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9
2
2
1,600
17, 500
18,150
36, 500
14, 360
52, 700
3
7
11
3
32
7
28, 600
2,600
15, 200
780, 550
194, 500
142, 600
45, 600
100,100
6
22
104, 500
18, 300
34.000
1, 330,980
379, 500
421, 600
137, 734
15.100
27, 500
5.000
1.400
66,800
19, 700
50.000
2
9
6
22
11
13, 300
33.000
3, 500
1,040
20,800
0
0
4
3
32
21,500
44, 400
37, 500
16, 400
15, 800
21,800
0
3
81
4
4
16
7
6 , 350
10 , 800
31.500
164, 650
6
0
31, 500
29, 000
32, 000
50.000
50, 800
69, 000
151, 600
409, 500
109, 000
27, 700
32,900
87, 350
3
5
1
7
14
0
0
12,300
49, 400
4, 500
0
0
11,800
4.000
65, 600
16, 770
69, 375
4
7
8
5
3
6
18
5
5
159
68
83
32
0
6
4
6
2
2
4
7
4
21
5
16
[1 5 9 ]
1
182
19
12
1
0
0
4
8
1
2
6
5
1
3
148
38
24
13
0
1
21
0
4
12
1
0
0
3
1
18
5
15
N e w nonresidential
buildings, estimat
ed cost
T o t a l construction
(including altera
tions and repairs),
estimated cost
October
Novembei
October
Novem
ber
$4, 742
28, 550
8 , 062
10 , 000
4, 798, 750
60, 580
1,800
62, 725
63, 085
7,975
16, 500
15, 680
20, 255
24,635
152, 515
22, 480
13, 515
6,825
13, 357
$1, 850
39, 927
70, 250
13, 000
3, 271, 800
2,965
1, 365
198, 075
2,450
29, 825
9, 500
159, 850
38,800
5,035
7, 700
2,240
29, 000
2,040
12,070
$17, 324
135, 956
60, 952
13, 000
6, 763, 995
67, 900
36, 845
83, 075
100, 835
53, 740
165,950
93, 980
67, 470
71,935
309,115
38, 795
310,405
63,085
92, 305
$22, 735
83,128
95, 800
31,000
4, 099, 500
56,965
39,876
218,175
36, 375
66,600
91, 000
217, 750
98, 368
80,635
175, 550
412,990
184,255
43,157
58,120
1,380
3,310
14,050
75,442
38, 230
17,405
204, 333
1,472
48, 300
23,160
24, 600
8 ,'535
575
2, 250
25, 350
26, 368
30, 250
521,721
110, 690
742
10 , 600
5, 350
3, 200
6,150
7,130
29, 310
124,450
208,195
109, 430
87, 835
513, 861
8,952
114, 600
52,949
61,000
93,415
7,258
20,425
51, 773
129,177
68,650
561, 331
342,410
7,817
11, 300
11,846
25,850
17,490
4,240
1,059,485
48,152
16, 455
7, 950
1,400
10, 420
9, 218
131,500
132,210
32.095
25, 209
824, 505
33, 732
103,195
66,150
1, 400
6, 235
131,913
17. 585
3.110
37, 445
18,845
2 ,2 0 0
48, 750
2,970, 393
184,149
402,110
18, 600
5, 830
47, 565
65,190
202, 435
166, 567
54,970
68 , 034
24,110
2,587,493
146, 424
165, 880
75, 215
10,175
74, 345
152, 596
56, 220
21, 340
40, 425
43, 956
130, 981
21, 150
169, 660
559, 725
2, 057, 800
48. 400
67. 492
1,192
281, 630
25, 098
81, 784
2,964, 430
7,187, 642
949, 000
291,109
12, 685
64, 588
59, 217
9,914
45. 567
51,282
15, 305
2, 725
103, 073
51, 345
64, 275
224, 405
49, 780
273, 937
178,123
30, 700
193,135
1, 491. 065
2,491, 700
275, 500
149, 679
8 , 302
218,180
83, 705
513, 514
17, 595
54,317
7,140
1,900
6,925
27, 540
158, 050
952,831
27, 325
219,100
102, 396
3,130
25,067
1, 495, 770
6,489, 217
218,900
106, 765
7,260
32, 923
16, 672
6, 730
24, 427
5.715
10,055
425
33, 000
3. 425
6 , 950
42, 750
7,970
210, 635
2 1 2 ,0 2 0
7, 535
512,642
3,620
2,905
640
325
4,327
14,350
151, 900
831, 436
3, 685
138,345
160
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
TABLE 6 .— E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W H IC H P E R M IT S W ERE ISSU E D
IN PR IN C IP A L CITIES, OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930—Continued
E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s — C ontinued
N ew residential buildings
State and city
Estimated cost
N o
November Octo
ber vember
October
Wisconsin:
$68,150
Fond du Lac------22, 350
Green B ay______
1 2 , 000
Kenosha________
61,000
M adison________
Milwaukee____ - 1,313, 654
15,100
Oshkosh________
1 2 1 ,1 0 0
Racine--------------69, 300
Sheboygan----------
$5, 200
36. 500
19, 430
75. 700
402,311
24, 785
71,645
52, 800
9, 427, 421
5,708, 653
-3 9 .4
T otal_________
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
4
7
1
11
4
15
79
7
7
2
15
341
3
32
13
11
N ew nonresidential
buildings, estimat
ed cost
November
October
$21,535
78, 572
69, 488
21,940
449. 471
6 , 665
74,313
7, 713
$8, 565
1, 550
4, 800
8 ,0 1 0
778,851
16, 968
14.125
11,870
T o t a l construction
(including altera
tions and repairs),
estimated cost
October
Novem
ber
$96, 385
114, 022
88 , 963
121, 740
2,115, 965
32, 618
217, 668
136, 540
$17, 595
40, 060
29, 330
90, 903
1, 376/830
56, 363
134, 445
71,856
1,009 16, 850,461 11,672,172 29,925,074 19,689,193
-3 4 .2
-3 0 .7
-4 5 .8
1,861
W e s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Iowa:
Burlington---------Cedar Rapids-----Council Bluffs----Davenport-........ .
Dubuque________
Ottumwa_______
Sioux C ity_______
Waterloo________
Kansas:
Hutchinson--------Kansas C ity-------Topeka.................
Wichita_________
Minnesota:
D uluth_________
Minneapolis-------St. Paul——______
Missouri:
Joplin___________
Kansas C ity-------Springfield______
St. Joseph— ____
St. Louis________
Nebraska:
Lincoln--- ----------Omaha__________
South Dakota:
Sioux Falls.............
$7,900
16, 700
5,000
56, 700
9, 661
28, 500
58, 700
2 2 , 800
$2,130
49, 900
5
17
5
2
2
20
11
$241, 685
23, 820
40, 650
2 2 , 628
26, 696
5,000
107, 495
12,150
7
25
2
212, 345
1
2
8
1
14
1 ,0 0 0
765, 300
15
5
6 ,0 0 0
1 2 , 000
2 1 0 , 200
11
35, 200
1
12, 685
150,475
$254, 835
74,857
54,150
106, 777
44, 063
58, 250
172, 895
48, 000
$5, 830
86 , 831
17, 250
793, 018
20, 400
20, 500
232, 535
187, 295
$2, 825
26, 700
12, 250
6,412
2,600
8 ,0 0 0
26,400
100, 900
32,900
116,085
5, 000
33, 300
13, 500
140,150
16
0
8
2
48
37
7, 210
165,725
1,725
32,300
5, 375
115, 733
244, 060
123, 465
46, 765
329, 558
17, 605
71, 625
24,465
287, 246
28, 800
485, 855
196,410
23, 700
403, 600
230, 700
7
125
45
112
33, 500
255,020
279,917
6,865
211,665
104,418
93,525
951,140
597,058
51,907
676, 535
390,053
19,000
136,000
35, 500
30, 250
255,450
11,700
102, 500
10, 400
20,900
446, 530
4
34
14
2 , 200
2,020, 350
66,195
9, 225
296, 206
200
6
8
112
112,691
10, 750
131, 325
228,063
27, 550
2,315,600
109,070
43, 000
765,100
22, 500
361, 991
25,475
155, 520
962,926
15, 700
128, 275
13, 500
50, 600
4
9
71,902
63, 560
81,108
91,167
291, 360
44,675
146, 233
7
42
3
35
12
63
8
29
2 2 ,0 0 0
101,625
96,400
24
33
20,144
1,875
138, 500
101,150
T otal__________ 1,915,111
2,684, 210
+40.2
517
484
-6 .4
3,983,623
1,288,040
-6 7 .7
6,980,745
4,703,565
-3 2 .6
S o u th A t l a n t i c S ta te s
Delaware:
Wilmington— ___
District of Columbia:
W ashington_____
Florida:
Jacksonville------M iam i_____ _ --St. Petersburg, Tampa______ —Georgia:
Atlanta___ ______
Columbus- ____
Macon ______
Savannah- - .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$126, 750
$136,840
29
23
$66 , 049
$15, 651
$240, 770
$190,870
1,562,430
843, 350
956, 500
133
223
909,173
488,825
2,058,425
63,100
13, 200
44, 500
12, 300
23, 250
32, 050
18, 600
7, 800
23
13
11
3
5
62,170
81,195
8 , 700
2,980
18,860
32,240
4, 900
8 ,544
185, 695
158, 524
74,100
39,173
109,385
29, 850
39, 700
25, 800
8 , 850
33, 500
51
28
8
0
11
8
842,102
8 , 225
112, 850
2,350
53,125
482
38,425
400
1,026, 092
42,120
137, 548
20, 575
0
13, 500
6
9
3
[ 160 ]
6
9
78,040
1 1 2 , 288
55, 200
31, 558
154,949
33, 222
71, 070
33,900
161
HOUSING
T a b l e 6 . —E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W ER E ISSU E D
IN PR IN C IP A L CITIES, OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930—Continued
S o u th A t l a n t i c S ta te s — C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
State and city
Estimated cost
October
iar viand:
Baltimore____
Cumberland _ . .
Hagerstown___ _
.sorth Carolina:
A sheville.. . . . .
C h a r lo tt e ...____
Durham
_____
Greensboro. . . . _
W ilm ington... . . .
Winston-Salem__
South Carolina:
Charleston______
Columbia______
Greenville. . . . .
Virginia:
Lynchburg__ .
Newport N ews___
N orfolk.. . ____
Petersburg.. . _ _
P ortsm ou th____
Richmond___
Roanoke______ ..
West Virginia:
Clarksburg.. . .
Huntington______
Wheeling _____
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
$607, 000
6 , 300
19, 500
7,400
61, 560
20, 950
50,400
29,000
32, 700
18, 500
11,825
3, 500
No
November Octo
ber vember
$232, 000
20, 850
22, 500
119
45
5
3
2
5
0
2
66 , 600
130,400
1 1
New nonresidential
buildings, estimat
ed cost
T o t a l construction
(including altera
tions and repairs),
estimated cost
October
October
November
N ovem
ber
$341, 200 $1,024,875 $1, 617,800 $1, 786,175
2, 320
2,015
12, 935
23,540
24,450
3, 840
48, 370
26, 340
1 1 ,0 0 0
6 ,0 0 0
0
2
7
11, 650
6
3
5
6,320
19, 798
47,000
19, 224
300
18,405
5
4
3
175,910
300
14, 795
219,875
89,250
22,345
207, 905
32, 780
29,385
237, 640
115’ 980
35,480
3,630
47, 326
36, 290
1,365
9, 625
232, 943
32, 670
320,350
233,817
269, 270
5, 000
7,150
282, 463
1,990
1 1 0 , 2 10
80,497
119,486
17, 665
34, 575
405, 696
54, 355
331,190
253, 239
316, 502
13, 500
19, 630
448] 649
20, 375
5,440
9, 315
1,795
44, 555
17, 870
21, 500
75, 606
19,115
35| 695
76, 397
3, 342,906
+ 5.3
7, 243, 346
6, 521,917
$65,910
4,015
$69,012
66,258
1 1 ,1 0 0
0
8
5
7
8
17, 800
7, 750
9
4
7,100
17
7
15
3
7
4
4
8
14
3
72,900
18,412
51,100
16,000
17, 700
33,900
14, 670
23, 650
3,000
3,200
47,400
13, 800
9, 500
9, 500
24, 500
16,000
13, 500
3
3
3
4
3
Total___ ____ 2, 392, 752
Per cent of change___
1,950,190
-1 8 . 5
530
457
-13. 8
2 ,0 0 0
0
2
6
1
1
0
10 ,0 0 0
31,050
3,176,155
7, 260
75, 070
51,624
6 , 300
2,295
18, 845
92,431
76,100
83, 710
35, 700
66 , 903
19, 760
158| 753
186, 074
3L 065
10, 700
32, 591
1 ,0 0 0
-10. 0
S o u th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Alabama:
Mobile__________
$36,050
Montgomery____
30,300
Arkansas:
Little Rock_____
49, 375
Kentucky:
Lexington____ . .
8,550
Louisville_______
246,500
Paducah_______
16,150
Louisiana:
Baton Rouge__ _
4,440
New Orleans____
70, 975
Shreveport . . . . . .
24, 725
Oklahoma:
Oklahoma C it y ...
900, 700
O k m u lg e e ...____
0
Tulsa___________
369,340
Tennessee:
Chattanooga_____
28,500
K n o x v ille-____.
27,916
M emphis_______
197, 600
Nashville________
43, 550
I exas:
Beaumont______
39,438
Dallas________• .
203, 850
Fort W orth_____ ' 197,875
Houston____ ____
967, 200
Port Arthur_____
20,650
San Antonio_____
284,400
Waco____ _____
29, 334
Wichita Falls____
0
24,685
146, 600
2 1 1 , 600
690, 500
10,150
111,795
4,333
2 , 200
T otal____ _____ 3, 797,418
Per cent of change. . .
2,898,677
-2 3 . 7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$13,275
16,400
15
18
13
54,000
17
20
2,251
2,968
76, 729
64,548
21,950
141,250
300
4
41
10
6
1
144,060
80,400
950
15, 785
34,490
150
169,906
385,825
17, 725
48, 585
247,490
975
30,224
305, 725
5,675
4
11
588,750
0
271,815
2 0 ,10 0
13,800
155, 350
58,200
11
27
$9,300
8,275
$146,231
29; 070
22
11
18
570
635, 775
8,760
82,575
211, 792
12,922
14,694
786,379
66,516
572 ,621
8
200
0
159
3,112,260
4,107,010
3, 500
490,196
2, 405, 650
4, 500
629, 239
11
10
70, 384
2,0 0 0
9
60, 896
120, 272
39, 650
334,450
78,450
3,850
63,9(0
24, 300
125, 989
158, 144
356, 590
450, 522
103, 196
26,416
289, 900
112, 345
16, 733
282,965
149,904
355,728
2,923
1,414, 360
72, 853
326
4,812
674, 355
44, 796
471,200
275
11,155
43, 767
10, 950
87, 706
C05,872
412, 525
1,340,318
52, 720
1, 754,680
103,754
13,056
58,629
889,604
297, 784
1,182, 850
13,071
150,170
63,167
20; 997
3,973, 519 11, 715, 626
-4 2 .6
7,587, 332
-3 5 .2
49
21
18
73
51
241
11
64
40
142
4
75
3
4
10
117
9
0
1,063
89
8
64
23
797
-2 5 .0
[ 161 ]
45; 448
1, 789,800
4, 500
316,742
0
98
118,846
6 , 926,045
162
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 6 .—E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W ER E ISSU ED
IN P R IN C IP A L C ITIES, OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930—Continued
M o u n t a i n a n d P a c if ic S ta te s
N 3 w residential buildings
State and city
Estimated cost
October
Arizona:
Phoenix_____ . . .
$39, 650
Tucson__________
88,400
California:
Alameda________
38, 200
Berkeley________
49, 750
Fresno.. ___ _ .
31,100
Long B e a c h .........
383, 920
Los Angeles_____ 2, 856, 685
Oakland________
251, 450
Pasadena___ ____
81,191
64, 774
Sacramento______
San Diego_______
258, 050
San Francisco...
680, 250
32. 850
San Jose________
Stockton________
14, 700
Colorado:
Colorado Springs..
25,100
Denver__________
343, 600
Pueblo__________
4,000
Montana:
Great Falls______
22,350
Oregon:
Portland______ .
174, 000
Utah:
Ogden. ________
13, 950
Salt Lake C ity___
117, 750
Washington:
Bellingham______
60,350
Everett_________
13,450
S e a ttle _________
356, 050
Spokane_________
200, 700
Tacoma_________
37, 500
T o t a l_________
Per cent of change__
6 , 239,770
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N o
November Octo
ber vember
$42, 900
27, 000
14
29
12
10
5,000
67,850
35,300
311, 950
2, 531,139
114, 250
64,000
84,750
134, 300
979, 900
42, 525
25, 550
9
13
11
8 , 500
203, 500
14, 500
Novem
ber
$127,130
119, 507
13
1,548
21. 577
11
68 , 095
1,507, 945
2, 989, 609
130,694
15, 015
26,915
82, 290
1,325, 062
11,435
39, 690
4, 500
9. 660
62, 255
231, 060
1, 682,145
118, 440
88 , 844
13, 890
20,190
175, 226
41,330
2,365
63, 255
104, 081
143,762
1, 957, 565
6 , 559,181
478,412
177, 244
185, 051
424, 795
2, 2,54,117
50, 850
68 , 955
16,300
96,199
140, 035
593, 900
4, 784, 444
345,101
209,031
140,454
190,886
1,308,422
100,805
37, 488
31,761
79, 250
6,115
2, 403
55, 050
9, 595
63, 623
574, 500
21, 968
19,673
369, 200
28, 270
5
6
2
79
3
2
October
$69, 950
131,949
8
72
November
$68 . 695
80, 530
132
905
27
14
27
38
188
13
6
October
T o t a l construction
(including altera
tions and repairs),
estimated cost
$16, 062
12, 557
1
157
1,052
84
16
15
62
169
N ew nonresidential
buildings, estimat
ed cost
23,100
7
5
37, 010
5, 903
65, 400
36, 078
572, 850
36
114
128, 270
234,145
604, 310
992,960
27, 000
47, 400
6
30
16
14
500
37, 277
286,118
36,110
28, 600
194, 757
328, 218
117,115
28
S
7
5
172
7, 850
3,095
1, 041, 095
549,875
78, 780
52,610
9,055
2,340, 205
26, 865
290,400
75, 320
21,735
1, 533, 340
800, 000
159,385
76, 718
29,995
3, 024,525
121, 265
356, 845
8 , 249,372
5,947, 589 16,812,105 13,710, 564
—27. 9
-18. 4
19, 200
12,750
584, 550
67, 900
30, 500
6 , 078,164
- 2. 6
111
53
14
20
10
2,018
1,844
- 8 .6
H a w a ii
Hawaii:
Honolulu____
Per cent of change.
$139,984
+40.6
49
57
+ 16.3
$520,116
$542, 302
+ 4.3
$652, 839
$701,881
+ 7 .5
H ou sin g S itu a tio n in P h ila d elp h ia
N ITS annual report for 1929 the Philadelphia Housing Association
calls attention to the fact that there was a marked falling off
during the year in the number of houses and of family accommodations
under permit.
I
F or dw ellings of all ty p e s th is n u m b er was 4,196, as co n tra ste d w ith 7,834 in
1928 a n d 13,067 in 1925, th e peak y ear of building. In 1929 th e re w ere 5,918
fam ily accom m odations pro v id ed as ag ain st 11,192 a n d 15,308, respectively, for
th e o th er tw o years. T h u s in 1929 new houses u n d er p e rm it reach ed only 53.5
per cent of 1928 an d 32.1 p er c en t of 1925. In fam ily accom m odations pro v id ed
th e respective percentages w ere 52.9 a n d 38.6. F am ily accom m odations u n d er
construction p erm its for 257 cities of th e U n ited S tates, as re p o rte d by th e B ureau
of L abor S tatistics, to ta le d 62.8 p e r cent of 1928 co n stru ctio n a n d 49.6 p er c en t of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[162]
HOUSING
163
1925. I t is a p p a re n t th a t dw elling co n stru ctio n in P hilad elp h ia fell off m ore m a rk
edly th a n w as average in cities th ro u g h o u t th e co u n try . B u t on th e o th e r hand,
th e com pletion of th e 1929 co n stru ctio n p ro g ram will close tw o rem ark ab le decades
in dw elling construction in P hilad elp h ia. T he gross a d d itio n in all ty p e s of houses
for th e tw e n ty -y ear period w as a b o u t 160,000 fam ily accom m odations, or housing
for 800,000 persons. Of th ese accom m odations, 84 p er cent were in dwellings.
The single-family type of housing still holds the leading position in
Philadelphia, since 4,057 brick or stone houses under construction
during the year were for one family only, as against 80 two-family
dwellings and 41 apartment houses. Of the family accommodations
provided 68.8 per cent were in 1-family houses, 2.7 per cent in 2-family
houses, and 28.4 per cent in apartment houses. In other words,
practically 7 of every 10 families who occupy the 1929 housing will
live in 1-family dwellings. The average number of family accommoda
tions in the apartment houses was 41 per building. Since 1925 there
has been a falling off in the amount annually spent for housing, and
this has been relative as well as absolute.
W hile th ere was a stead y decline in m oney sp e n t for all con stru ctio n , th e
shrinkage, b o th relativ e a n d actu a l, in housing ex p en d itu res a n d th e expansion
in th e p ro p o rtio n expended for com m ercial building is m o st n o ticeable in 1929.
In 1928, housing expend itu res acco u n ted for 47.9 p er cen t of all construction,
w hereas in 1929 th ey to ta le d only 26.2 p e r cent.
Dwelling Costs
T h e average cost of 1-family dwellings under construction in
Philadelphia during 1929 was $4,459, the average in different sections
ranging from $3,330 to $10,656. A study of sales prices, based on
2,955 one-family brick or stone dwellings showed an average for the
city of $6,339, the average in different sections ranging from $4,895
to $7,937. The lowest price found was $4,500. The average sales
price was 36 per cent in excess of the average construction cost, but
here again there was considerable variation.
In cluding only d istric ts w here sales prices w ere o b tain ed fo r m ore th a n 100
houses, t h a t is, d istricts 4 to 8, a n d d is tric t 11, fo u r show ed a low er p ercen tag e of
sales price abo v e co n stru c tio n cost th a n th e city average. T h u s th e sixth dis
tr ic t show ed 31.6 p er cent, th e e ig h th d istric t 33.1 p e r c en t, th e fifth d is tric t 33.2
p e r cent, a n d th e n in th d is tric t 36.5 p e r cent. T h e excess of sales price over
co nstruction cost does n o t re p re se n t n e t p ro fit b u t is p ro fit p lu s th e la n d a n d
im provem ents a n d th e co st of selling. T h e difference in lan d values in different
sections m ay acco u n t fo r w ide v a ria tio n s betw een estim a te d cost a n d sales
price, as m ay also fa u lty ju d g m e n t in estim a tin g costs. B uilders re p o rt wide
v ariatio n s in cost of im provem ents, arising from differences in s tre e t a n d lo t
w idths, grading, a n d subdividing. In one a re a w here th e p ercen tag e of difference
w as very low, it is alleged th a t th e builders c u t th e ir profits to a m inim um in
order to expedite sales.
Sales were more frequent in the lower range of prices, ranging from
25 per cent of the houses in the $8,000 to $9,000 class to 54.6 per cent
for the group costing $5,000 or under. An analysis of construction
during the past seven years shows a steady decline in the average sales
price of 1-family houses, following a decline in the average estimated
cost, and shows also that the percentage of total construction in the
lower price ranges has increased. In 1923, less than 45 per cent of the
houses were placed on the market at a sales price of $7,000 and
under. In 1929, on the basis of incomplete data, this figure approxi
mated 79 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[163]
164
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Acute Problems in the Housing Fields
T h r e e serious situations have become evident during the year 1929.
First, housing construction fell off sharply, with a prospect that this
decline would continue; second, real estate sales declined; and third,
the number of forced sales of houses reached a peak for the 10-year
period. A study of vacancies, rentals, and population growth makes
it seem probable that the falling_ off in building is not due to an
oversupply of family accommodations.
I t is m uch m ore likely t h a t p re se n t a b n o rm al conditions can be a ttrib u te d to
fa u lty ju d g m en t in th e d istrib u tio n of co n stru ctio n in sales-price ranges beyond
th e reach of th e av erag e b u y er, to un em p lo y m en t, a n d to th e cu lpable practices
reso rted to in forcing sales a n d in calling m ortgages. T h ere is a b u n d a n t proof
th a t these facto rs h av e been operativ e.
During the decade just closed, the report points out, the demand for
houses led many inexperienced builders into the field, who, lacking
technique in mass construction or sales promotion or both and being
without credit rating so that they were unable to secure money at
reasonable rates, built under a heavy handicap as to economical
construction. Many of these houses were placed on the market at a
price beyond the means of the prospective buyers, who were led to
buy through a belief that cheaper houses would not again be built
in Philadelphia and who, in order to secure shelter, took houses which
they could not carry. Heavy building brought down rents and
prices, speculative builders were forced out of the field, and many of
those who had bought found themselves in difficulties. “ Unemploy
ment and part-time employment found many such owners unable to
meet their taxes, interest, and building and loan association dues.
Many mortgagees have not helped the situation. They declined
to renew mortgages when due unless the mortgagors increased their
equity and substantially reduced their first mortgages. Lacking
available funds to meet such demands and faced with added fees
charged for renewals, the mortgagors found themselves trapped.”
Analyzing the situation in detail, the conclusions are reached that
the confidence of the public in dwellings and mortgages for invest
ment purposes has been undermined, and that return to normal
conditions will be delayed until that confidence is restored; that there
is little if any oversupply of dwellings in Philadelphia, as the vacancy
rate is still below 5 per cent; that the difficulties now experienced can
be traced directly to definite factors, such as the faulty practices of
builders and sellers during the past decade, unemployment, and the
like; and that there is much need of a reliable bureau of information.
An o u tstan d in g need in th e co n stru ctio n field is an a d e q u a te ly financed s ta tis ti
cal service to assem ble a n d in te rp re t d a ta p ertain in g to co n stru ctio n , sales,
buying-pow er cap acity , p o p u latio n tren d s, cost-reducing m eth o d s a n d like in
form ation to p u t dw elling con stru ctio n a n d sales on a m ore reliable basis. Such
d a ta w ould enable builders, banks, m ortgagors, buyers, a n d sellers to a c t in th e ir
several capacities w ith m ore intelligence a n d w ould reduce m aterially th e m isin
form ation now dissem inated w ith such inju rio u s results. M ore sales w ould be
m ade, m ore low er p riced dwellings w ould be erected, m ortgage in v e stm e n t w ould
be p rotected, a n d few er losses to hom e ow ners w ould resu lt if such service were
established.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[164]
165
HOUSING
Rental Changes
T h e u su a l a n n u a l su rv e y of r e n ta l ch an g es show ed a m a rk e d
te n d e n c y to w a rd s ta b iliz a tio n . T h e follow ing ta b le gives th e re su lts
of th ese su rv e y s fo r eig h t y e a rs p a s t:
R E N T A L C H ANGES IN PH IL A D E L P H IA D U R IN G A N
8 -Y E A R
PER IO D
Per cent showing—
Year of survey
Number of
properties
Per cent
of change
Increase
1922____ ________________
.
1923______________________ __________
1924___________________________________
1 925...____ ____________________ _____ _
1926___________________________________
1927___________________________________
1928___________________________________
1929___________________________________
1,159
1, 055
1,689
2,082
2,346
2. 665
2,935
2,043
28. 0
64. 45
56. 0
25.8
2 1 .0
1 1 . 22
6 . 45
5.0
Decrease
No change
2 .6 6
72. 0
35. 55
41.3
5.6
7.0
18.8
33.25
29.5
72.0
69. 98
60. 3
65.5
6 8 .6
+5. 3
+20. 99
+ 14. 27
+4. 46
+3. 01
-1 .5 5
- 4 .9
- 3 .9
The percentage of properties showing rental increases, it will be
noticed, has fallen steadily since 1923; the percentage showing
decreases changed very little up to 1927, when it first became impor
tant. There were fewer changes in 1929 than in the preceding year,
and the net change was smaller.
R en ts on th e average are still 104 p er cen t g reater th a n th e y were in 1914,
although for properties occupied by w hite te n a n ts th e ra te above 1914 is 92.7 per
cent as ag ain st 116 p er c en t for those occupied b y negro te n a n ts. T h e low est
increase in re n ts during th e 1914-1929 p eriod am ong w hite te n a n ts a p p ears in
th e so u th east d istrict, w here am ong th e pro p erties stu d ied it is now only 73 p er
cent above th e earlier d ate.
The most pronounced rent decreases during 1929 were found in
the higher rental ranges. However, for the first time since rents
reached their peaks, a decrease appeared in the average rent of
properties in the group letting for less than $20 a month. Fewer
houses were vacated than in the preceding year, and fewer tenants
moved from one dwelling to another. The vacancy rate was higher
than shown in the 1928 study, but an analysis of the vacant houses
showed that they were lacking in modern conveniences. About
62 per cent lacked indoor toilets, 68.5 per cent lacked bathtubs,
72 per cent were without furnaces, and in 16 per cent the artificial
lighting was by means of kerosene lamps. The report strongly urges
bringing such properties up to standard, for the benefit of both
landlords and tenants.
M ost of these dw ellings a re stru c tu ra lly sound a n d are lo cated n ear in d u strial
or com m ercial establishm ents, m aking th e m desirable hom es for w orkingm en
because of th e ir location. O wners of v a c a n t houses w ould benefit from installing
needed eq uipm ent, for by bringing th e ir dw ellings n earer to new housing sta n d a rd s
th ey w ould m ake th e m m ore readily ren tab le. * * *
T he suggestion freq u en tly m ade by th e association th a t landlords should cate r
to th e legitim ate needs of th e ir te n a n ts is p artic u la rly valu ab le a t th e p resen t
tim e in view of th e so-called depression th ro u g h o u t th e real e sta te m ark et.
P ro p erty m ain ten an ce w ould be m ore econom ical, te n a n ts w ould be less likely to
move, a n d n e t re tu rn s w ould be m uch m ore ad v an ta g eo u s for th e ow ners of re n ta l
properties.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[165]
W A G ES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages and H ours of Labor in th e H osiery and U nderw ear
In d u stries, 1928 and 1930
HIS article presents the results of the study of wages and hours of
labor of wage earners in the hosiery and underwear industries
in the United States made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in
1930, together with comparative figures for certain specified years
from 1910 to 1928. The 1930 data in more detail will be published
later in bulletin form.
The wage figures used in compiling the article were taken by agents
of the bureau directly from the records of 122 representative hosiery
mills in 19 States for 33,827 wage earners, and of 74 underwear mills
in 15 States for 15,155 wage earners making a total of 48,982 employees
in the two industries.
T
Trend of Hours and Earnings, 1910 to 1930
T a b l e 1 shows average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour
and full-time earnings per week for each year from 1910 to 1914 and
for 1919, for wage earners in selected occupations only and for wage
earners in all occupations in the two industries combined for 1914
and for each even year from 1922 to 1930. Index numbers of these
averages with the 1913 average taken as a base, or 100 per cent, are
also shown in the table.
The index numbers furnish comparable data, one year with another,
from 1910 to 1930. The averages for employees in selected occupa
tions are of course not comparable with those for employees in all
occupations.
The index numbers for the years from 1910 to 1919 were computed
from the averages of the combined data for selected occupations only,
with the 1913 average as the base. Those for each of the specified
years from 1922 to 1930 were computed by increasing or decreasing
the 1914 index for selected occupations in proportion to the increase
or decrease in the average for each year as compared with the 1914
average for employees in all occupations.
Average full-time hours increased from 51.3 in 1928 to 51.6 per
week in 1930. Average earnings per hour increased from 44.4 cents
in 1928 to 45.5 cents in 1930 and average full-time earnings per week
increased from $22.78 in 1928 to $23.48 in 1930. These changes
expressed in index numbers show an increase in full-time hours from
an index of 92.4 in 1928 to 92.9 in 1930, in earnings per hour from
267.2 in 1928 to 273.8 in 1930, and in full-time earnings per week from
246.1 in 1928 to 253.7 in 1930. Between 1913 and 1930 full-time
hours have been reduced 7.1 per cent, earnings per hour increased
173.8 per cent while the full-time earnings per week increased only
166
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 166]
167
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
153.7 per cent the difference being due to the reduction of full-time
hours.
T a b l e 1 .—A V ER A G E HOURS A N D E A R N IN G S W ITH I N D E X N U M B E R S, 1910 TO 1930
Year
Selected occupations:
1910______________
1911______________
1912______________
1913______________
19141_____________
1919______________
All occupations:
1914 i_____________
1922______________
1924______________
1926______________
1928_____________
1930______________
Index numbers (1913= 100) of—
N um
ber of Number Average Average Average
full-time
full-time
estab of wage
earnings earnings
hours
Full-time Earnings Full-time
lish
earners per
week per hour per week
hours
earnings
ments
per week per hour per week
•
15
62
62
69
82
51
13,132
13, 885
16, 249
18, 198
19, 396
16, 073
57.6
57.4
56.4
55. 3
54.6
52.1
$0. 141
. 144
. 153
. 172
. 178
.315
$8 .1 0
8.28
8 . 62
9. 51
9. 70
16. 44
82
107
143
190
192
196
29, 631
32,178
38, 549
45, 594
43, 501
48, 982
54. 8
51.0
50. 7
51. 3
51.3
51.6
. 172
.354
.409
.443
.444
.455
9. 44
18. 05
20. 74
22. 73
22. 78
23. 48
104. 2
103.8
98. 7
94.2
82.0
83.7
89.0
100. 0
103.5
183.1
91.9
91.3
92.4
92.4
92.9
213.0
246. 1
266. 6
267. 2
273.8
1 0 2 .0
10 0 . 0
85.2
87.1
90.6
10 0 .0
1 0 2 .0
172.9
195.0
224. 1
245.6
246. 1
253.7
1 2 sets of averages are shown for 1914—1 for selected occupations and the other for all occupations in
the hosiery and underwear industries. The averages for selected occupations are not comparable with those
for all occupations.
Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Occupations and Sex
T a b l e 2 s h o w s fo r 1 9 2 8 a n d 1 9 3 0 a v e r a g e fu ll-t im e h o u r s p e r w e e k ,
e a r n in g s p e r h o u r , a n d f u ll-t im e e a r n in g s p e r w e e k b y o c c u p a tio n
a n d se x .
The 1930 average full-time hours of males in the hosiery industry
ranged from 50.6 for knitters, leggers of full-fashioned hose, to 55.5
for automatic knitters, and those of females from 49.9 for boarders
to 53.8 for mock seamers. Average earnings per hour of males
ranged from 26.9 cents for winders to $1,451 for knitters, footers of
full-fashioned hose, and those of females from 27 cents for welters to
54.6 cents for toppers of full-fashioned hose. Average full-time
earnings per week of males ranged from $13.91 for winders to $73.57
for knitters, footers of full-fashioned hose, and those of females from
$14.50 for welters to $27.57 for toppers of full-fashioned hose.
In the underwear industry average full-time hours of males in
1930 ranged from 49.5 for press hands to 52.5 for web or tube knitters,
and of females ranged from 48.6 for press hands to 50.9 for cutters.
Average earnings per hour of males ranged from 42.4 cents for winders
to 70.4 cents for machine fixers and of females from 27 cents for inspec
tors to 45.5 cents for knitters of cuffs and ankles. Average full-time
earnings per week of males ranged from $21.33 for winders and press
hands to $35.69 for machine fixers, and of females from $13.47 for
inspectors to $23.07 for knitters of cuffs and ankles.
The number of establishments was increased in 1930. However,
with but few exceptions the same establishments were canvassed in
1930 as in 1928. In the cases of a few large plants data are used for
only a representative fraction of the employees in the plant, because
the inclusion of all employees in such plants would have tended to
distort the representative character of the averages for the States
in which these large plants are located.
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[167]
168
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 2 .—AVER A G E H OURS A N D E A R N IN G S, 1928 A N D 1930, B Y O C C UPATION A N D
SEX
H o s ie r y in d u s tr y
Occupation
Sex
Number
of estab
lishments
Number of
employees
Average
full-time
hours per
week
Average full
Average earn time
earnings
ings per hour
per week
1928
1930
1928
1930
1928
1930
__ _____ _ _____ M
F
F
F
81
38
76
106
82
38
82
116
1, 433
516
595
1,897
1, 619
639
701
2, 115
53.8
50.0
52. 4
52.3
53. I* $0. 521 $0. 488 $28. 03 $26. 2 1
.498 24.30 24. 85
49.9
.486
.337
.356 17. 66 18. 62
52. 3
.307 16.37 16. 2 1
.313
52.8
M
M
M
F
R ib _____________________ M
39
39
42
30
40
53
53
40
35
38
19
17
54
46
119
117
116
93
55
34
749
1,911
640
291
1,075
2,795
519
541
130
49
50. 1
50. 7
55.8
52. 1
54. 0
51. 5
53.8
53. 1
51. 1
53. 0
53.7
51.4
52. 2
49.8
53. 5
Boarders.
Polders. __
_____
Inspectors________________ .
Knitters:
Footers, full-fashioned . . .
Leggers, full-fashioned___
Automatic . __________ _
b'
20
M
F
Knitters’ helpers, full-fashioned. M
Loopers.
...............
F
Machine fixers . . . . .
M
M enders.. .
. . . _____ F
Pairers or maters___ _________ F
Seamers, full-fashionedF
F
Seamers, mock
. .
Toppers, full-fashioned
M
F
Welters. - - - - - - b'
Winders.
. ___________ M
F
Other e m p l o y e e s _______ _ M
F
18
58
33
105
99
103
82
40
39
39
30
19
84
106
103
All occupations . ______ M
F
Sexes combined..
____
108
108
108
Transfer_____ ____ _ .
12 0
74
205
2,483
1, 231
3,607
810
1,294
1, 219
954
336
221
54
30
15
1, 512
144
86
118
118
691
2,181
3, 431
2, 113
1, 692
4,086
958
1,663
1,438
1,555
288
109
2,071
240
64
658
2 , 956
3,532
12 2
12 2
122
9, 401
19, 044
28, 445
12,138
21, 689
33,827
8
121
50.7
50.6
55.5
52.8
53.7
52. 3
54.8
53.7
51.8
53. 1
53. 6
51.7
52. 1
50.2
53.8
51. 4
49.9 50. 5
53. 4 53.7
53. 1 51.7
51.4 51. 0
52. 6 53. 3
51. 5 52.0
52.4
51.9
52. 1
52.4
52. 1
52.2
1928
1930
1928 1930
1. 546 1.451
1. 329 1 . 2 1 2
.414
.392
.359
.312
.399
.333
.342
.325
. 317
.292
.294
. 273
.340
.346
.385
.386
.760
.775
.387 . .362
.363
.367
.504
.497
.306
.277
.484
.561
.546
.270
.316
.269
.337
.323
.366
.411
.392
.258
.280
.724
.360
.488
.707
. 366
.497
77. 45 73. 57
67. 38 61. 33
23. 10 21. 76
18. 70 16. 47
17.98 21. 43
17. 61 17.00
17. 05 16. 00
15.61 14. 66
17. 68 17. 61
20.41 20.50
40.81 41. 54
19.89 18. 72
19.16 18.91
25. 10 24. 95
16. 37 14. 90
24. 88
27. 99 27. 57
16.87 14. 50
17. 89 13.91
18.81 16. 47
2 1 . 62 20.89
13. 29 14. 56
37. 94
18. 68
25. 42
37.05
19.07
25. 94
U n d erw ea r in d u s tr y
Buttonhole makers. .
______ F
Button sewers______. . .
F
Cutters, hand, layers-up, and
markers . ---- _.
... . M
F
Cutters, p o w e r ___ _ . . . . . . M
F
Finishers___ . . . . . . . _______ F
Finishers:
Edge_____ ______________ F
F a ce... - --- - . ______ F
Neck __ ____________ _ _ F
Miscellaneous
_____ . . . F
F
Folders.. . ______ _______ _
Hemmers
______________ F
Inspectors. .
........................... F
Knitters, cuff and ankle
_. M
F
Knitters, web or tube____ . . . M
F
Machine fixers___ - - - - - - - M
M enders.. ______________
F
P ressers-..------------------ -------- M
F
Press hands__ — — _______ M
F
Seamers__ - _ ____________
F
Winders. _
.
.
M
F
Other em ployees-.
______ M
F
All occupations.
Sexes combined.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. . . . M
F
76
76
69
64
369
376
376
363
50.1
50.7
50.3 $0. 340 $0. 330 $17. 03 $16. 60
50.5
.302
.306 15.31 15.45
48
54
40
46
58
284
455
157
41
3,175
268
447
174
31
3, 520
51. 1
50.4
50.8
50.0
50.2
50. 9
50.4
50.9
50.9
50.5
68
12
84
12
74
69
73
73
71
61
51
72
15
9
61
34
17
84
13
60
83
82
15
74
14
50
74
72
2,425
37
731
1, 503
1,832
770
761
750
1, 239
' 711
325
1, 296
35
16
412
197
243
303
82
287
45
95
2,345
42
537
1,609
1, 396
83
84
84
74
74
74
2,805
12, 251
15, 056
2,910
12, 245
15,155
66
46
83
28
8
73
35
74
65
43
46
10
68
53
38
45
12
488
209
1,314
42
9
446
198
223
282
84
235
29
112
[168]
.448
.344
.510
.356
.341
.452
.364
. 531
.393
.341
22.89
17. 34
25.91
17. 80
17.12
50. 3
48. 9
50. 1
49. 7
49. 7
52. 2
49. 7
50. 1
50. 3
50. 9
50. 3
50. 9
49. 1
50. 2
52. 8
49. 3
50. 1
48. 2
50. 6
50 3
50, 6
50. 5
50. 3
49.4
49.9
50.4
50.7
52. 5
49. 5
50.7
50.4
50.9
50.8
49. 5
48. 6
50. 0
50. 3
48. 8
50. 6
50.5
.343
.376
.278
.538
.469
.490
.378
.728
.298
.401
.376
.408
.294
.355
.365
.354
.396
.282
. 339
.343
. 357
. 331
. 322
.343
.270
.536
.455
. 515
. 406
.704
. 305
.436
.357
.431
.348
.354
.424
.357
.400
.287
17. 25
18. 39
13. 93
26. 74
23. 31
25. 58
18. 79
36. 47
14.99
20. 41
18. 91
20. 77
14. 44
17.82
19. 27
17. 45
19.84
13. 59
18.14
21. 33
16.91
17.71
21. 33
17. 42
20.24
14. 49
50. 6
49.8
50.0
50.9
50. 2
50. 3
.453
.329
.354
.458
.330
. 357
22. 92
16. 38
17. 70
23. 31
16. 57
17.96
23.01
18.35
27.03
2 0 .0 0
17.22
17.15
17. 25
18 06
16 72
16. 20
16. 94
13.47
27. 01
23.07
27.04
2 0 .1 0
35.69
15. 37
2 2 . 96
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
169
Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Sex and State
T a b l e 3 shows for 1928 and 1930 the average full-time hours per
week, earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week by sex and
State, all occupations combined.
The figures for 1928 covered 9,401 males and 19,044 females, or a
total of 28,445 employees in the hosiery industry, while those for
1930 cover 12,138 males and 21,689 females, a total of 33,827 em
ployees. In the underwear industry the figures are: 1928—2,805
males and 12,251 females, total 15,056; 1930—2,910 males and 12,245
females, total 15,155.
To avoid revealing the identity of any one mill, certain combina
tions of data have been made. Thus, in the hosiery industry, com
bined figures are given for Alabama and Louisiana, Maryland and
West Virginia, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and New Hampshire and
Vermont. In the underwear industry, combined figures are given
for Connecticut and Khode Island, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and
New Hampshire and Vermont.
Hosiery industry.—As Table 3 shows, average full-time hours of
males in 1930 ranged in the various States from 47.7 to 55.8, those of
females from 47.8 to 55.8, and those of both sexes combined, from
47.8 to 55.8. The average hours of all males remained unchanged,
at 52.4, from 1928 to 1930, while those of females rose slightly, from
51.9 to 52.1; a slight increase also took place in the average for both
sexes, from 52.1 to 52.2.
The average earnings per hour of males in 1930, by States, ranged
from 33.7 cents to $1,217, those of females from 19.4 to 53 cents, and
those of both sexes from 23.7 to 83.1 cents. The average for the
whole group of males dropped from 72.4 cents in 1928 to 70.7 cents
in 1930, while that of females rose from 36 to 36.6 cents; for the entire
number of employees the average rose from 48.8 to 49.7 cents.
The average full-time earnings of males in 1930 by States ranged
from $17.76 to $58.05, those of females from $10.71 to $25.65, and
those of both sexes from $13.11 to $39.72. The average full-time
weekly earnings of all males fell from $37.94 in 1928 to $37.05 in 1930,
while those of females rose slightly, from $18.68 to $19.07, as did also
the average for both sexes, from $25.42 to $25.94.
The 1930 study has brought out some apparent discrepancies in
several localities. For example, although the average earnings per
hour of males in Alabama and Louisiana show a decrease since 1928
of 2 cents, and those of females a decrease of 1 cent, the average
earnings of both sexes combined show an increase of 1.5 cents. This
is due to the fact that the number of males covered in these States
increased 269 per cent while the number of females increased only 15
per cent. As the men received higher wages than the women the
increased number in this higher-earnings group operated to raise the
average of the whole number of workers.
To the same cause is due the increase in average earnings per hour
for the entire hosiery industry in the face of a decrease for males and
only a small increase for females.
In the hosiery industry the increasing proportion of males seems
to be due to the increasing production of full-fashioned hose. In the
manufacture of full-fashioned hosiery it is an almost universal custom
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[169]
170
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
to employ men and not women in the operation of knitting machines.
These full-fashioned knitters are usually paid higher rates than are
most other occupations in the hosiery industry, and hence any mate
rial increase in their number will affect the averages for both sexes
combined. The number of males covered in the 1930 study was
29.1 per cent greater than in 1928, while the number of females was
only 13.9 per cent greater.
The average earnings per hour of males in the hosiery industry in
Indiana were 21.9 cents higher than in 1928, while the average
earnings in Massachusetts and in New York for males decreased 30
cents and 13.1 cents respectively, between 1928 and 1930. In Indiana
this change was due to an increase of 43 per cent in the number of
males as against an increase of only 27 per cent in females, because
of the increase in full-fashioned manufacture. In Massachusetts,
wage agreements had some effect on the decrease in earnings per
hour, but probably the most important factor was the unusually longperiods of idle time, spent by the pieceworkers in several plants,
waiting for the supplies of work. This had the effect of showing a
greater number of hours at work than would have been the case under
normal conditions and consequently reduced considerably the earn
ings per hour for the time recorded as having been worked.
In New York the sole cause for the reduced earnings appears to
have been wage adjustments made either in individual cases or
throughout the plant. In some plants general decreases of from 4 to
8 per cent have been made which usually applied to the higher-paid
occupations and therefore had a greater effect on the final averages
than the same per cent of change would have had if applied to the
same number of lower-paid workers.
Underwear industry.—Average full-time hours of males in the
underwear industry in 1930 ranged in the various States from 48 to
55.1, those of females from 46.7 to 54.9, and those of both sexes com
bined from 46.9 to 55. The average working time of males in all
occupations rose from 50.6 hours in 1928 to 50.9 hours in 1930, that
of females from 49.8 to 50.2 hours, and that of both sexes from 50 to
50.3 hours.
Average earnings per hour of males in 1930 ranged from 32.6 to
61.5 cents, those of females from 24.1 to 45.9 cents, and of both sexes
combined from 26.4 to 48.8 cents. Average earnings of males in all
occupations increased from 45.3 cents in 1928 to 45.7 in 1930, those
of females from 32.9 to 33 cents, and those of both sexes combined,
from 35.4 to 35.7 cents.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in 1930 ranged from
$17.41 to $29.58, those of females from $12.87 to $21.76, and those of
both sexes combined from $14.10 to $23.18. The averages for males
in all occupations were $22.92 in 1928 and $23.26 in 193‘0, those for
females $16.38 in 1928 and $16.57 in 1930, and those for both sexes
combined $17.70 in 1928 and $17.96 in 1930.
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[170]
171
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 3 . -N U M B E R
OF E ST A B L ISH M E N T S A N D OF W AGE E A R N E R S A N D A V E R
AGE H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S, 1928 A N D 1930, B Y SE X A N D STA TE
H o s ie r y in d u s tr y
State
Number of
establish
ments
Number of
employees
Average
full-time
hours per
week
1928
1930
1928
1930
1928
4
4
5
6
6
85
353
327
267
130
437
62
772
99
382
275
1, 330
3, 846
923
113
298
482
227
383
316
554
32
783
124
534
281
1,562
5,283
1, 075
204
54.4 55.6 $0. 359 $0. 339 $19. 53 $18. 85
55.4 54.3
. 347
.369 19. 22 20. 04
55.9 55.0
.451
.422 25. 21 23. 21
49.9 49.5
. 731
. 950 36. 48 47 03
53.2 55.1
.374
.351 19. 90 19 34
48. 5 49.0 1.152
.852 55. 87 41. 75
53.8 51. 1 .563
.656 30. 29 33 52
50.8 49.7
.745
.793 37. 85 39 41
52.4 51.4
.482
.477 25. 26 24. 52
49. 2 47. 7 1. 184 1. 217 58. 25 58. Ö5
49. 5 49. 7 1.247 1.116 61. 73 55. 47
55.8 55.8
.420
.450 23. 44 25.11
51.4 51.9
.869
.841 44. 67 43. 65
54.6 55.1
.403
.419 2 2 . 00 23.09
53. 1 52.7
.370
.337 19. 65 17. 76
122
9,401
12,138
52.4
52.4
.724
.707
37.94
4
7
4
5
6
6
646
1,055
701
570
527
717
271
1,580
324
615
505
2, 568
6 , 089
2,484
392
744
932
730
724
716
827
147
1,675
350
793
523
2, 409
7, 801
2,737
581
54.6 55.2
55.1 54. 6
54.1 54.8
49. 6 49.7
53.6 55.0
48.0 48.0
50.8 51.0
49. 7 49.5
50.1 49.6
47.4 47.8
48. 1 49. 7
55. 5 55.8
50.5 51.0
54. 1 54.7
52.8 52.1
.204
. 207
.300
.412
.238
.436
.369
.408
.334
.531
.541
.286
.453
.248
.217
. 194
.205
.246
.452
.286
.392
.379
.411
.338
.530
.516
.295
.456
.248
.234
11. 14 10. 71
11. 41 11.19
16.23 13.48
20. 44 22. 46
12. 76 15. 73
20. 93 18. 82
18. 75 19. 33
20 . 28 20. 34
16. 73 16. 76
25.17 25. 33
26.02 25. 65
15. 87 16. 46
2 2 .8 8
23. 26
13. 42 13. 57
11.46 12.19
1930
Average
earnings
per hour
1928
1930
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
1928
1930
M a le s
Alabama and Louisiana _
Georgia___________ _
Illinois___
Indiana______
....
Maryland and West Virginia___
M assachusetts-. . _
M ichigan..
Minnesota and Wisconsin_____
N ew Hampshire and Vermont__
New J e r s e y __ _
New \ ork. __ . . . . .
North Carolina_______
Pennsylvania_____ . . ______
Tennessee____________________
Virginia___________ .
_ ...
4
4
14
24
13
3
T otal____ . . . _________ __
108
3
4
7
3
6
6
3
5
8
3
5
5
5
4
16
36
13
4
37. 05
F em ales
Alabama and Louisiana _ _ . .
Georgia_________________ _
Illinois
_
_______ . . .
Indiana . . . _.
_____ _
Maryland and West Virginia... .
M assachusetts._. ______ _ .
Michigan _______________
Minnesota and Wisconsin______
N ew Hampshire and V erm ont...
N ew Jersey____ _ _. _ . . . ____
N ew Y o r k ... . . . .
North Carolina___ ______
Pennsylvania___ _________ _ _ .
Tennessee_________ _____ ____
Virginia. . . .
_ _____
4
4
14
24
13
3
T otal________________ . . .
108
122
19, 044
21, 689
51.9
52. 1
.360
.366
18.68
19.07
4
7
4
5
54.6
55.1
54.6
49. 7
53.5
48.2
51.4
50.0
50.6
48. 1
48.6
55.6
50.8
54.3
52.8
55.3
54.5
54.9
49.6
55.0
48.4
51.0
49.6
50.0
47.8
49. 7
55.8
51.3
54.8
52.2
.244
.352
.518
.268
.722
.414
.528
.373
.796
.802
.334
. 625
. 292
.252
.237
.265
.292
.624
.309
.594
.439
.542
.377
.831
.748
.359
.624
.302
.264
1 2 .1 2
6
1, 042
1,414
957
1,107
1,032
1,381
179
2,458
474
1, 327
804
3, 971
13, 084
3,812
785
.2 2 2
6
13. 44
19. 22
25. 74
14. 34
34. 80
21.28
26. 40
18. 87
38. 29
38.98
18. 57
31. 75
15.86
13. 31
13.11
14. 44
16.03
30.95
17.00
28. 75
22. 39
26. 88
18. 85
39. 72
37.18
20.03
32.01
16. 55
13. 78
33,827
52.1
52. 2
.488
.497
25.42
25.94
3
4
7
3
6
6
3
5
8
3
5
5
5
4
16
36
13
4
M a le s an d fem a les
Alabama and L o u isia n a ._____
Georgia____________ ______
Illinois___________
_____
Indiana___ . . . . .
________
Maryland and West Virginia__
Massachusetts ._
_ ____
Michigan_______ ________ .
Minnesota and Wisconsin _
N ew Hampshire and V erm ont...
N ew Jersey___________________
N ew Y ork .. ____________ . . ._
North Carolina___________ ____
Pennsylvania________ ______ _
Tennessee____ _____. . . .
Virginia______________ . . . _.
T otal_____ _
_____
29334°—31----- 12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4
4
14
24
13
3
4
16
36
13
4
731
1,408
1,028
837
657
1,154
333
2,352
423
997
780
3,898
9, 935
3, 407
505
108
122
28,445
3
4
7
3
6
6
3
5
8
3
5
5
5
[171]
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 3 .—N U M B E R OF E ST A B L ISH M E N T S A N D OF WAGE E A R N E R S A N D A V E R
AGE H OURS A N D E A R N IN G S, 1928 A N D 1930, B Y SE X A N D STATE^-Continued
U n d e rw e a r in d u s tr y
State
Average
earnings
per hour
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
1928
1928
Number of
establish
ments
Number of
employees
Average
full-time
hours per
week
1928
1930
1928
1930
1928
6
5
3
50.2 51. 0 $0. 539 $0. 509 $27. 06 $25. 96
.615 24. 59 29. 58
46. 4 48. 1 .530
.494
.604 25. 05 28. 99
50. 7 48. 0
.563 28. 03 27. 14
.578
48. 5 48. 2
.520
.511 26. 52 26. 16
51. 0 51. 2
.534
.572 26. 1 1 27. 86
48. 9 48. 7
.508
.533 25. 20 26. 44
49. 6 49. 6
.448
.466 22. 09 22. 93
49. 3 49. 2
.326 19. 01 17.41
54. 3 53.4
.350
.443
.456 23. 57 24. 99
53. 2 54. 8
.352 18. 55 19. 40
55. 2 55. 1 .336
.464 21. 56 24. 17
52.2 52. 1 .413
1930
1930
1930
M a le s
Connecticut and Rhode Island . . .
... ...
Illinois.. .
. ----------Indiana_____
------ _
M assachusetts. . . __________
Michigan------ -- . . -------------Minnesota and W isconsin.. .
New Hampshire and Vermont---N ew York____ . ------------------North Carolina______ ____ _ . . .
Pennsylvania . . . ___ . . .
Tennessee..
.. .
. .. .. .
Virginia__________ . . ------T otal___________ ______
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
4
19
5
3
2
66
4
3
23
3
16
5
3
127
113
1,191
162
323
257
106
117
63
43
198
58
50
184
1, 238
294
270
357
38
84
74
2,805
2, 910
50.6
50.9
.453
.457
22. 92
23. 26
6
5
3
512
358
307
1, 371
461
932
501
4, 111
478
1,869
1,034
317
670
373
333
1,299
627
940
601
3,840
738
1, 390
1,169
265
50.9
45.6
49.4
45. 9
51.4
48. S
49.3
48. 7
54.0
52. 0
54. 8
51. 6
50.9
47.4
46. 7
48.0
51. 9
48. 5
49.4
48. 6
53.4
52. 7
54. 9
52.4
.356
.446
.367
.370
.297
.424
.400
.315
.317
.260
.261
.354
.459
.406
.379
.292
.417
.383
.305
.241
.333
.274
.262
18. 1 2
20. 34
18. 13
16. 98
15. 27
2 0 . 61
19. 72
15. 34
11. 99
16. 48
14. 25
13. 47
18. 02
21. 76
18. 96
18. 19
15. 15
20 . 2 2
18. 92
14. 82
1 2 . 87
17. 55
15.04
13. 73
2
5
97
86
86
191
F em ales
Connecticut and Rhode Island...
Illinois. _______
_____
Indiana._ . -------------- ---------Massachusetts _________
Michigan
------- -Minnesota and Wisconsin------New Hampshire and V erm ont...
N ew York_______________ ____
North Carolina____________
Pennsylvania. . . . .
------Tennessee... . . . ______________
Virginia___________ __________
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
4
19
5
3
4
3
23
3
16
5
3
T otal------------ ---------------
84
74
12, 251
12, 245
49.8
50. 2
.329
.330
16. 38. ■16. 57
5
3
787
436
376
1,497
685
990
785
5,078
1,032
1,660
1, 526
303
50.8
45.8
49. 7
46.2
51. 4
48. 6
49.4
48.8
54. 1
52. 2
54.9
51.8.
50.9
47. 5
46. 9
48. 0
51. 9
48. 5
49.4
48. 7
53.4
53. 1
55.0
52.4
.390
.465
.397
.398
.327
.438
.422
.350
.257
.337
.276
.301
.380
.488
.433
.404
.313
.426
.417
.351
.264
.357
.294
.288
19.81
21. 30
19. 73
18. 39
16.81
21. 29
20. 85
17. 08
13. 90
17. 59
15. 15
15. 59
19. 34
23. 18
20. 31
19. 39
16. 24
20 . 66
20 . 60
17. 09
14. 10
18. 96
16. 17
15.09
15,155
50. 0
50. 3
.354
.357
17. 70
17. 96
2
5
2
.2 2 2
M a le s an d fe m a le s
Connecticut and Rhode Island ..
Illinois ______ ________
Indiana.. ------------------------------Massachusetts--------- -------------Michigan. _ __________________
Minnesota and W isconsin____ _
New Hampshire and Vermont __
N ew York_________
North Carolina__________
Pennsylvania . .
.......
Tennessee.. .
.
. . . ------Virginia.. . . . ------- . . . ----------Total_____________ ______
3
3
4
3
4
3
27
4
19
5
3
4
3
23
3
16
5
3
609
444
393
1, 562
527
1,059
614
5,302
640
2,192
1, 291
423
84
74
15, 056
6
2
5
2
Table 4 presents for each State or group of States, data for 1930—
average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full-time
earnings per week—in six representative occupations in the hosiery
industry and five in the underwear industry.
The purpose of this table is to show the variations in hours and
earnings in the different States. For example, the average full-time
hours of boarders (males), the first occupation in the table, ranged in
the different States from 48 to 55.8, and for all States averaged 53.7.
Average earnings per hour in this occupation ranged from 23.9 cents
to 74.4 cents, and for all States averaged 48.8 cents. Average full
time earnings per week ranged from $12.69 to $38.84, and for all
States averaged $26.21.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[172]
173
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOE
T able 4 . - A V E R A G E
H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN 11 R E P R E S E N T A T IV E
T IO N S , 1930, BY SE X A N D S T A T E
O C C U PA
H o s ie r y in d u s tr y
O ccupation
N u m b e r N u m b e r A verage A verage A verage
fu ll-tim e
of e s ta b
of e m
ea rn in g s fu ll-tim e
lish m en ts ployees h o u rs p er p e r h o u r earn in g s
w eek
p e r w eek
Boarders, male:
Alabama and Louisiana________
Georgia_______________________
Illinois____ ________-___________
Indiana_______________________
Maryland and West Virginia___
Massachusetts................. ..................
Michigan____________:_________
Minnesota and Wisconsin_______
N ew Hampshire and Vermont__
N ew Jersey_______________ ____
N ew York_____________________
North Carolina________________
Pennsylvania__________________
Tennessee_____________________
Virginia_______________________
3
5
89
127
25
72
38
38
3
30
29
2
3
2
5
2
3
5
Total________________________
Boarders, female:
Illinois___ _______ ____ _________
Indiana_______________________
Maryland and West Virginia____
Massachusetts_________________
Michigan______________________
Minnesota and Wisconsin_______
N ew Jersey____________________
N ew York_____________________
North Carolina________________
Pennsylvania___ ______________
Tennessee_____________________
$0. 336
.380
.405
.518
.457
.651
.695
.489
.397
0
0.403
0
022.49
$18. 58
20. 63
22.44
25. 90
25.14
31.25
35. 79
24. 45
20.13
13
1
1
22
12
0
0 399
0
055.8
3
474
229
47
52.2
55.1
53.1
.744
.317
.239
38. 84
17.47
12. 69
82
1,619
53.7
.488
26.21
2
1
1
3
2
6
4
4
1
2
13
Total________________________
55.3
54.3
55.4
50.0
55.0
48.0
51.5
50.0
50.7
29
0
0
.229
13. 08
16
0
0.447
0
021.46
149
77
43
51.1
49.6
48.1
48.4
.425
.502
.549
.558
21.72
24.90
26.41
27.01
11
•
57.1
0
048.0
0 233
049.4
33
55.0
.637
■ .173
639
49.9
.498
24.85
56
049.6
048.0
01.309
01.450
064.93
069. 60
38
0
031.47
,9. 52
Knitters, footers, full-fashioned, male:
Illinois___ ____________________
Indiana_______________________
Maryland and West Virginia____
Massachusetts_________________
Minnesota and W isconsin______
N ew Jersey____________________
N ew York_____________________
North Carolina________________
Pennsylvania__________________
3
5
4
3
26
49
67
628
49.4
47.5
49.8
55.0
51.3
1.168
1.702
1.605
.828
1.558
57.70
80.85
79.93
45.54
79.92
Total________________________
53
1.075
50.7
1.451
73. 57
0 285
049.1
049.5
01,120
0.985
054.99
048.76
1
2
1
8
0
(>)
69
104
88
Knitters, leggers, full-fashioned, male:
Illinois___ ____________________
Indiana_____ __________________
Maryland and West Virginia____
Massachusetts_________________
Minnesota and Wisconsin_______
N ew Jersey____________________
N ew York___ _________________
North Carolina________________
Pennsylvania__________________
3
5
4
3
26
294
275
147
192
1,384
50.1
47.8
49.5
55.0
51. 1
.973
1.412
1.358
.618
1.373
48.75
67.49
67. 22
33.99
70.16
T otal________________________
53
2,795
50.6
1.212
61.33
1
2
1
8
Knitters, transfer, male:
Alabama and Louisiana________
Georgia_______________________
Maryland and West Virginia____
Minnesota and Wisconsin______
North Carolina_________________
Tennessee______________________
Virginia________________________
0
0
0
1
0
17
1D a ta in c lu d e d in to ta l.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
1
1
1
4
7
Total________________________
[1T3]
(>)
175
47
19
111
221
56.4
0
(D
055.5
55.4
0
54.8
.213
0
0
0.204
.320
0
.292
12.01
0
0)
011.32
17.73
0
16. CO
174
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 4 .—AVER A G E
H OURS A N D E A R N IN G S IN 11 R E P R E SE N T A T IV E OCCUPA
TIO N S, 1930, BY SE X A N D ST A T E —Continued
H o s i e r y i n d u s t r y — C o n tin u ed
Average Average Average
Number Number full-time
of estab of em hours per earnings full-time
earnings
per hour» per
ployees
lishments
week
week
Occupation
Knitters, transfer, female:
------Alabama and Louisiana
Georgia---- ------------- - -- ----------- ------- ---- _ ------------- ---------- -- --Illinois
Maryland and W est Virginia
_____
M ichigan..- _____________ - -- - - -----Minnesota and Wisconsin------- ------ - -- ---- New Hampshire and Vermont
- - - -North Carolina . . . ----- -------------Pennsylvania.-.
.. .
...
-------------------Tennessee - _
_____ - - --------Virginia. _____________ _______ ___ _____ _
Total------
--------------------------------- --------
Loopers, female:
Alabama and Louisiana - - - - - - - - - - Georgia__________ _ . - _ --- --------- ------ -Illinois- ---------------- . . . ---- ----------------- - Indiana ____
Maryland and W est Virginia _______
_____
M assachusetts.. - ----------- _ __ ------ ---------Michigan_______ _ ----------------------Minnesota and Wisconsin---- --------- ------------New Hampshire and Vermont---------------N ew Jersey---- ------------------ ------------- - N ew Y ork... --------- _ -------- ------------- -----North Carolina.- . ____ _ . . . ------ - ...
--- -----Pennsylvania__ - Tennessee
_ .
Virginia _______
___
- - --- - ---Total------------------- ------- --------------------- -Menders, female:
Alabama and Louisiana--------- .
_
-----Georgia— ------- --------- - -- -- ------Illinois..- -- - - . - .- --- --------- - -----Indiana _ - ---------...
... - Maryland and West Virginia - ____M assachusetts.. - ----------- - - - - - - Michigan___
. . _ . ------- ------------- -- - -Minnesota and W isconsin--- _
- - ---- -New Hampshire and Vermont. -- --- New Jersey.. - - - - - - - - - ---- - .
------New York_____
- ..
------------ - North Carolina________ . . . --------- ---Pennsylvania —
------- ----Tennessee .
-- - - - - - - ...
Virginia. ------ Total - - - - - -
4
115
73
170
553
577
103
55.2
56.2
52.2
55.0
49. 8
49. 6
49.9
56.8
52.6
54. 3
52. 5
$0 . 216
. 143
.269
.335
.359
.362
.384
. 187
.339
.245
.247
$11. 92
8.04
14.04
18. 43
17.88
17. 96
19.16
10.62
17. 83
13.30
12.97
54
2,113
53.7
. 273
14. 66
4
190
239
170
93
123
35
13
4
23
253
92
117
62
710
1,091
658
154
55.6
54.9
56.0
49.8
55.0
48.0
50.7
49.7
51.0
47.9
49.5
55.9
51. 2
54.9
52.4
. 174
.215
.245
.530
.327
.483
.504
.447
.353
.584
.636
.336
.556
.274
.259
119
4,086
53. 1
.386
20.50
25
. 199
. 225
.230
.451
.271
.367
.388
.409
.335
.522
.645
.248
.447
.225
. 198
10. 03
12 . 22
12. 51
22. 50
14.91
17. 62
19. 63
20.29
17.19
25. 21
30.60
13. 94
2 2 . 62
12. 31
10.14
.362
18. 72
50.9 . $0.391
47.7
.494
47. 6
.392
48.0
.398
,50.8
.293
48.9
.370
.399
49. 5
48. 5
.332
53.4
.228
53. 1
.290
54.8
.249
.377
52.0
$19.90
23. 56
18.66
19. 10
14.88
18. 39
19.75
16.10
12.18
15. 40
13. 65
19.60
.330
16.60
3
3
3
4
2
3
4
6
13
9
4
6
3
4
8
3
5
5
5
. 4
10
129
112
59
2 10
12
111
3
15
36
13
4
33
99
555
224
43
54.9
54.3
54.4
49.9
55.0
48.0
50.6
49.6
51.3
48.3
47.9
56.2
50.6
54. 7
51.2
116
1,663
51.7
3
5
5
3
5
7
3
5
5
4
100
59
92
63
68
10
162
29
10 1
9.67
1 1 . 80
13.72
26.39
17.99
23.18
25.55
2 2 .2 2
18.00
27.97
31. 48
18.78
28.47
15.04
13. 57
U n d e rw e a r in d u s tr y
Buttonhole makers, female:
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Illinois--------------------------------Indiana_______________ _____
Massachusetts_______ .---------Michigan___________________
Minnesota and Wisconsin____
New Hampshire and Vermont.
New York__________________
North Carolina______________
Pennsylvania_______________
Tennessee___________________
V irginia____________________
16
2
10
5
2
4
3
23
3
11
5
3
69
Total.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5
3
[174]
12
39
19
19
21
121
32
30
46
11
376
50. 3
175
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 4 —A V ER A G E HOURS
A N D E A R N IN G S IN 11 R E P R E SE N T A T IV E
TIO N S, 1930, BY SE X A N D ST A T E -C on tinu ed
OCCUPA
U n d e r w e a r i n d u s t r y — C o n tin u ed
Average Average Average
Number Number full-time
of estab of em hourS per earnings full-time
earnings
lishments ployees
per hour per
Week
week
Occupation
Polders, female:
Connecticut and Rhode Island__
Illinois______ _ __________ . . . . .
Indiana
_
. . . . . .......................
—
M assachusetts_____ . . . . . . . . . . _____ . . .
Michigan . . . . . . __ _____ _ .
Minnesota and W iscon sin ... _ ________
..
N ew Hampshire and V erm ont_______ _ _ .
N ew York
North Carolina.................................... .
..........
Pennsylvania......................................... ............... .
Tennessee____________ __________ ___________
V ir g in ia ..................... ............................................
Total_________ . . . . . _____________ . . . . . . . . . . .
Knitters, web or tube, male:
Connecticut and Rhode Island__
_ . ____
I llin o is ..... . . . _______ _ . .
_. _______
__ _____
Inidana _ . .............................. .
M assachusetts______________. . . . ____________
Michigan .
____________ . . . . ._ ...................
Minnesota and Wisconsin__
_____
N ew Hampshire and V erm ont... _ __________
_________
_
_______ _
N ew Y ork...
North Carolina... _ ______ ______ _________
Pennsylvania_________ ___________________ . .
T en n essee.......................................... ........................
V ir g in ia ...................................................................
T o t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................................................
4
3
2
24
27
14
11
51,0
46.7
47.0
48.0
53.2
48.2
49.5
48,8
53.9
51.8
54.7
52.0
5
68
61
711
50.3
,322
16’. 20
3
3
11
2
10
52.5
49. 1
48,2
49.1
.461
.581
.648
,541
24.20
28.53
26.41
26.56
46
34
19
276
33
53
106
2
3
3
23
3
5
5
3
»
3
1
2
31
0
3
13
5
3
48.3
49.7
50.1
54.4
60.1
55.3
52.4
61
412
52.5
8
20
Knitters, web or tube, female:
C onnecticut and Rhode Island _. _____ . . . . . . . .
Illinois________________ __________ _____ . . .
In d ia n a ____ _
__ _______ . .
M assachusetts...
.
_
. . . . _____
Michigan_____________
. .
______ _ . . .
Minnesota and W isconsin.. . . . ______ ____
N ew Y ork... .
______
. . ____. .
North Carolina............. ............
_. __________
Pennsylvania___ ____________________________
Tennessee_____________ ____________ ____ _ .
8
1
6
1
C
D
Total.............................. ................... ............. ............
34
197
Pressers, male:
Connecticut and Rhode Island________________
Illinois .
.
____ . _________________
. ---------- ---------- Indiana. ____________
Massachusetts—. ______________ . .....................
Minnesota and W isconsin
.............
N ew Hampshire and Vermont___________ . . .
N ew York. _ _____________ ______ . . . . . .
North Carolina___________ . 1 ________________
Pennsylvania________ ___________ __________
Tennessee. . . . .
Virginia______________ ____ _________ . . . .
T otal.. _ _ . .
-------------- -------------------------
Pressers, female:
Connecticut and Rhode Island _______ ______
Illinois . . . . . . . . ...... .................................. .
Indiana________ . -------------------- ----------------Massachusetts_______
___ _ . . . . ------- -M ichigan.. ._
.............. . . . ----------- ----------Minnesota and Wisconsin____________________
N ew Hampshire and Vermont------------ ---------N ew York .. _____________
. ---------Pennsylvania---- ------------------------------------------Tennessee. .. . . ----------- ------------------ -----Virginia________________ . . . ---------- . . . . . . . .
Total_____ . . . . ---------- . . .
1 Data included in total.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. -----------------
0
35
147
31
58
57
14
3
5
1
2
42
0
13
30
19
35
4
2
4
2
1
1
1
1
3
16
3
7
2
1
0
22
26
52.3
6
16
28
7
8
8
0
30.62
47. 71
27,20
20.18
27. 59'
21.07
26.25
. 516
27.04
.370
0
.461
.417
.374
.460
.436
0
( ‘1
.377
.406
49.5
.740
50.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
49.8
49.0
55.0
53.9
55.3
0
.960
.543
.371
.459
.381
,501
.0 3 4
0
( ‘1
0
0
0
0
0
0
$18.62
20,41
19.88
18. 53
14, 20
17,50
20 . 05
15. 32
13.48
17. 30
14,93
14.20
50.2
0
44.5
48.0
52.4
48.7
49.2
0
$0.365
,437
,423
.386
.267
.363
.405
.314
,250
,»34
.273
.273
18,57
0
20. 51
2 0 .0 2
19. 60
22.40
21.45
0
19. 72
0
2 0 .1 0
37-00
0
0
0
0
.460
.451
.335
.384
.296
22. 91
2 2 . 10
18. 43
20.70
16.37
0)
38
82
50.9
.436
22.96
2
2
2
13
7
52.6
49.4
45.6
48.0
52.4
49.0
49.0
48.8
52.7
55.9
.408
.396
.489
.351
.313
.391
.395
.326
.370
. 301
21.46
19. 56
22.30
16. 85
16. 40
19. 16
19. 36
15. 91
19. 50
16. 83
11
4
34
22
2
34
3
3
16
52
57
40
11
11
5
1
45
0
287
0
50.8
0
.357
0
18.14
176
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T able
4.—A V ER A G E HOURS A N D E A R N IN G S IN 11 R E P R E SE N T A T IV E
T IO N S, 1930, BY SE X A N D ST A T E —Continued
OCCUPA
Underwear in d u stry— C o n tin u ed
Average Average Average
Number Number full-time
of estab
ofem- . hours per earnings full-time
earnings
per hour per
lishments ployees
week
week
Occupation
Seamers, female:
Connecticut and Rhode Island
______
Illinois. ______
__ ____ ______
. ...
Indiana
___ . . .
..
_ ... ...
Massachusetts. _ _ _ _
_____
M ic h ig a n ..______________ . _
Minnesota and W isconsin..
.
. . .
N ew Hampshire and Verm ont......................... .....
N ew York
____
. .
North Carolina
. . ____
__ ___ ___ _
. __
Pennsylvania . .
. ______
Tennessee
...
.........................
Virginia
______________ . _________ ______
T o t a l.__
__ ____ ____
________________
5
3
5
96
95
55
233
2
12 1
4
3
23
3
16
5
3
139
108
819
177
269
180
53
51.0
46.7
47.1
48. 0
51. 4
48. 7
49.3
48.6
53.3
52. 7
54. 7
52.0
74
2,345
50.0
2
$0. 381
.536
.402
. 397
.298
.452
.411
.339
. 261
.365
.294
.276
$19.43
25. 03
18. 93
19.06
15. 32
.354
17. 71
2 2 .0 1
20 . 26
16. 48
13.91
19.24
16.08
14. 35
R ecen t C h an ges in W ages and H ours of Labor
received by the bureau regarding recent wage
changes is presented below in two distinct groups. Part 1 relates
INFORMATION
to manufacturing establishments that report monthly figures regard
ing volume of employment, while part 2 presents data obtained from
new trade agreements and other miscellaneous sources. Although
the effort is made to avoid duplication of data as between parts 1
and 2 it is not always possible to do so.
Part 1.
Wage Changes in Manufacturing Industries
F o u r e s t a b l i s h m e n t s in three manufacturing industries reported
wage-rate increases during the month ending November 15. These
increases averaged 12 per cent and affected 243 people or 44 per cent
of all employees in the establishments concerned.
One hundred and nineteen establishments in 35 manufacturing
industries reported wage-rate decreases during the same period.
These decreases averaged 10.5 per cent and affected 12,287 employees
or 83 per cent of all employees in the establishments concerned.
Fifteen of the 119 wage-rate decreases were in the textile industries
and affected 2,234 employees; 33 decreases were in the lumber
group of industries and affected 5,255 employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[176]
177
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
WAGE A D JU ST M E N T S OCC U R R IN G B E T W E E N OCTOBER 15 A N D N O V E M B E R 15, 1930
Per cent of increase
or decrease in
wage rate
Establishments
Employees affected
Per cent of employees
Number
Total
reporting
number increase or
report
decrease
ing
in wage
rates
Industry
Range
Average
Total
num
ber
In estab
lishments
In all
reporting establish
increase or ments
decrease in reporting
wage rates
lu cre ases
Lumber, millwork . _ __ _..
Paper boxes___ ..
Printing, new spapers______
335
309
407
1
1
2
33.3
33.3
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
3. 7- 3.8
3.7
65
14
164
50
83
51
100
100
77
10
(')
(>)
(>)
D eer eases
Confectionery______________
Ice cream______________ . . .
Flour______________________
Baking____________________
Cotton goods_______ ______
Hosiery and knit g o o d s _____
Silk goods____ ----Woolen and worsted goods___
Clothing, men’s ___ ____
Millinery and lace goods____
Iron and s t e e l___- - ______
Structural ironwork.. .
Foundry and machine-shop
products..
_____
Machine tools______________
Stoves..
________________
Lumber, sawmills__________
Lumber, millwork.. . .
Furniture-. . __________ ..
L eather_________ ____ . . . .
Boots and shoes__ ____ . . .
Paper and pulp_____ . . . .
Paper boxes . . . . . ___
Printing, book and job______
Fertilizers_______. . .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta.—
Pottery____ _________
Brass, bronze, and copper
products_______ _
Automobiles __ __ ___
Carriages and wagons_______
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad_____ . . . . . . .
Pianos____ _ _____ _______
Automobile tires . . . .
___
Paint and varnish. . . . . .
Rubber goods, other than
rubber boots, shoes, tires,
and tubes__ ______ ____ _
Beverages___ _
_ _ _ _
1
Less than one-half of
Part 2.
1
333
356
350
728
457
359
271
185
348
12 2
199
181
1,099
154
137
618
335
408
134
320
216
309
442
181
719
2
4
1
3
4
2
4
2
1
2
1
1 0 .0
8 . 0 - 10 . 0
1 0 .0
1
1
21
5
7
1
2
1
1
1
9
11
121
3
162
204
48
1
2
1
550
64
41
183
3
72
155
9.6
1 0 .0
11. 1
8 .1
10.0-15.0
5.0-15.0
1.0-25.0
5.0-10.0
14.1
8.4
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
10.0-25.0
15.9
1 .6
1 0 .0
1 .6
1 0 .0
2. 5-15.0
12.5
5.0
3.0-20. 0
8 . 0- 20 . 0
5.0-20.0
9.7
12. 5
5.0
10.9
13.7
10.4
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 1 .0
2 0 .0
8 . 8- 20 . 0
8 . 0-25. 0
10 . 0 - 1 1 . 1
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 1 .0
2 0 .0
4
9
1 0 .0
8 .0
10.9
10 . 1
10.7
10
32
1,420
110
398
53
114
139
42
119
100
25
8
100
1,355
79
10
100
86
360
4,357
336
562
229
236
775
9
6
100
100
100
20
40
82
72
100
100
8 .0
10
24.7
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
278
7
1
1
1
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 2 .0
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 0 .0
1 2 .0
1 0 .0
3
3
1 0 .0
9. 0-29. 0
1 0 .0
(0
(i)
(‘)
0)
1
0)
1
(1)
(0
1
0)
(■)
1
0)
2
97
97
92
190
361
300
3.1-25. 0
18.4
32
41
98
73
64
24
99
47
4
1
1
1
0)
1
(0
(!)
2
1
2
(1)
0)
1
30
94
20
100
(?)
12
20
36
39
0)
0)
124
49
96
62
2
1
1
per cent.
Wage Changes Reported by Trade-Unions since September, 1930
W a g e and hour changes reported in part 2 principally affect union
workers. Since September 1, 1930, changes of wages or hours have
been reported for 10,590 workers, of which number 1,835 were reported
as having adopted the short work week. In one instance, that of
electricians in Philadelphia, the week was shortened from a 5-day
to a 4-day week for the purpose of affording work to more men.
The shortening of the working week was confined entirely to building
trades and municipal workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[177]
178
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Only two wage changes were reported in building trades, one an
increase of 12% cents per hour for electrical workers in Portsmouth,
Ohio, and the other a decrease of the same amount for carpenters
in Havre, Mont.
Slight increases ranging from $1 to $2 per week in the printing
trades occurred in scattered localities but the greatest increases were
received by fur workers in and about New York, N. Y., ranging
from $7.50 to $9 per week, and for teachers in Detroit, from $100
to $2,500 per annum.
R E C E N T WAGE
C HANGES, BY IN D U S T R Y , OCCUPATION, A N D
T E M B E R TO D E C E M B E R , 1930
LOCALITY, SE P
Rate of wages
Industry or occupation, and locality
Building trades:
Carpenters—
Havre, M ont___........ .................. . ..........
Springfield, 111., and vicinity_______
Wilmington, Del.., and vicinity______
Electrical workers—
Philadelphia, Pa., and vicinity________
Portsmouth, Ohio______ _____________
Painters, decorators, and paperhangers, Wil
mington, D el________________________
Plumbers and steamfitters, Wilmington, D el.
Clothing:
Children’s dressmakers, New York, N . Y ___
Fur workers—
Brooklyn, N . Y .—
First class______ . _ _____ ____
Second class.
. . .
Third class .........................
...
Newark, N . J.—
First class_______ _
Second class........ .
Third c l a s s . . __
New York, N . Y .—
First class .
. _____ ____
__
Second class.
Third class..
Furniture: Carpet sewers, Washington, D . C .. .
Motion-picture operators, actors and theatrical
workers:
Operators, Abilene, T e x .. ____ _ ________
Printing and publishing:
Compositors—
Alamogordo, N . Mex.—
Newspaper, day
_____ . ___ _
Newspaper, night_____________
El Paso, Tex.—
Newspaper, day. . ______ _ ______
Newspaper, night . . . . _______
Grand Junction, Colo., Newspaper_____
Henderson, K y., Job work___ _ .
Electrotype finishers, New York, N . Y _____
Stereotypers—
New York, N . Y . . . .
___ .
Pawtucket, R. I.
_
. . . . . . . .
Providence, R. I
Municipal workers:
Public school teachers, Detroit. Mich.—
Kindergarten teachers . . . _ . . .
_ ...
Elementary teachers..
..
_____
Special education teachers.
_____
Intermediate principals_______________
High-school principals.._
College professors________________ ____
Supervisors________ . . . . . ______ _.
Administration department.
______
ui
change
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
After
change
P e r hour
P e r hour
$1.12 H
1.25
1.00
Nov. 26
Oct. 1
1. 37K'
1. 25
N ov. 3
Dec. 1
1.00
1. 10
48
44
44
48
40
40
1.37 H
1.37H
40
40
i 32
40
1.00
1.10
44
44
40
40
42
42
$1. 00
1. 25
1.00
P e r w eek
P e r week
(2)
(3)
Oct. 15
__ _do.
__ do.
55. 00
50. 00
43. 50
64. 00
58. 00
51. 00
40
40
40
40
40
40
_ do
___do_
___do_
55. 00
50. 00
43. 50
64. 00
58. 00
51.00
40
40
40
40
40
40
_ do.
_ do.
_ do.
Oct. 4
55. 00
50.00
43. 50
16. 50-20. 00
64.00
58. 00
51. 00
22. 50-25. 00
40
40
40
48
40
40
40
44
Sept. 1
4 55. 00
4 57. 50
30
30
Oct. 1
__.do_
50.00
53.00
51.00
54.00
46
46
45
45
___do_
___do_
_do_
Dec. i
Oct. 1
50. 00
53. 00
43. 00
34. 00
64.00
51.00
54.00
44. 00
35. 00
66. 00
46
46
48
44
44
45
45
48
44
44
_do_
Dec. 1
do
64. 00
48. 00
49. 00
66. 00
50.00
51. 00
44
45
42
44
45
42
Sept. 1
. .do.
_ _do_
_ _do_
...d o .
...d o .
...d o .
_ .do.
1,400-2, 400
1,400-2,800
1,600-3, 000
3, 750-5, 700
4, 000-6, 500
1,800-4, 500
2, 500-6, 600
4, 200-8, 500
1, 500-2, 500
1, 500-3,000
1, 700-3,100
3,900-5,950
4, 250-6, 750
2,000-4, 750
2, 700-7, 200
4, 800-11, 000
P e r hour
P e r hour
P e r year
Construction workers, Fort Worth, Tex____ Nov. 10
i Emergency measure.
Before After
change change
Before
change
Sept. 16
Nov. 1
Nov. 17
Sept. 1
Hours per week
2 N ot reported.
[178]
P e r year
.40
3 $1 per week increase.
.40
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
48
4 Average.
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2>
(2>
(2)
40
179
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average W ages a n d H ours of M em bers o f S tan dard N a tio n a l
and In ter n a tio n a l U n io n s, 1929
average wages and hours of members of standard national
and international unions for 1929 are given in the following table,
T HE
which also includes data on the 5-day week and vacations with pay
for such membership. These statistics were presented in the report
of the executive council of the American Federation of Labor to the
fiftieth annual convention of that body, which was held in Boston,
October 6 to 17, 1930.
A V ER A G E W AGES A N D W O R K IN G HOURS PE R D A Y A N D P E R W E E K OF M E M B E R S
OF ST A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L U N IO N S, 1929
Average
Aver- work week
Average wage
Number having—•
Organization
Rate
Asbestos Workers, Int. Assn, of H. and
F. I.
Bakery and Confectionery Workers, I.
U. of A.
Bill Posters and Billers of Am., Int.
All. of.
Blacksmiths, Drop Forgers, andH ., Int.
Bro. of.
Boiler Makers, Iron Ship Builders, and
H. of A., 1. B. of:
M echanics...
_ ____ ________
Helpers
Bookbinders, International Brotherhood
of:
Men
_______ . . .
____
Women _
_____
______. . .
Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union___
Brewery, Flour, Cereal, and S. D. W.
of A., I. U. of U.
Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers’ I.
U. of A.
Brick and Clay Workers of Am., The
United.
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers Int.
Assn.
Broom and Whisk Makers’ Union, International.
Carmen of America, Brotherhood Railway.
Carpenters and Joiners of America, U.
B. of.
Carvers’ Assn, of N . A., Int. Wood .
Cigarmakers’ Int. Union of America
Clerks, National Federation of Post
Office.
Clerks, Brotherhood of Railway . . . .
Clerks’ Int. Protective Assn., Retail .
Cloth, Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers’
Int. Union:
Cap makers
. .
Millinery workers.
..
. ___
Conductors, Order of Sleeping Car____
Coopers’ International Union of N . A . .
Diamond Workers’ Protective Union
of Am.
Draftsmen’s Union, I. F. of T. E. A. and.
Electrical Workers of America, Int. Bro.
of.
Elevator Constructors, Int. Union of___
Engineers, Int. Union of Operating. . .
Engravers’ Union, International M etal..
Engravers’ Union, of N . A., Int. Photo.
Fire Fighters, International Assn, of .
Firemen and Oilers, Int. Bro. of Sta
tionary.
Foundry Employees, Int. Bro. o f _____
$1. 25
Hour-..
Hours Days
8
40
8
48
5-day
week
1, 215
W eek--
8
44
VA
.90
Hour.-.
8
44
VA
300
. 80-1. 625 }--d o— .
51-1 525
8
44
va
1,021
8
5H
779
8
44
48
46
VA
VA
8
44
VA
.85 - _do__
m
44
VA
1. 625 - -do__
8
40
5
4 4 .0 0
20. 50 jw ’e e k ..
1. 00 Hour ..
32.00 W eek ..
1. 50
7. 40
Hour.
8
48
6
9. 00 - -do__
8
42
VA
11.00 . ..d o __
(i)
2, 150. 00 Y e a r...
8
8
8
40
48
48
5
6
6
D ay__
W eek ..
8
8
44-48
48
5 K -6
45. 00
do
65. 00 _ do
179. 00 Month
38. 50 Week
75. 00 ---d o __
8
40
9
9
44
5
5
6
8
56
44
44
D a y ....
H our,..
7
8
42
40-44
12.50 D ay—
58. 50 W eek. _
58.00 --_do__
8
8
8
8
12
8
44
44
46
40-44
84
48
8. 00
1. 17
2, 300. 00
.80
8
Y ear,.
H our...
2.51 -_-do__
2
[179]
247
3,000
4,000
45, 735
3,000
10, 000
D a y ...
7. 00 -__do__
2. 34-7. 52
22. 50
Vacation
with pay
6
50.00
1 Piecework.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
per
day
Unit
48
8
Minimum.
15, 533
100, 000
700
32, 000
6
6,000
3, 575
VA
VA
6
1, 000
VVA
39, 952
3 ; 000
VA
VA
VA
5-VA
2, 645
11, 245
40
4,946
2, 500
2,500
7
6
6
20, 000
180
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
AVERAGE W AGES A N D W O R K IN G HO U R S P E R D A Y A N D P E R W E E K OF M E M B E R S
OF ST A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L U N IO N S , 1829—Continued
Average wage
Organization
Unit
Rate
Fur Workers’ Union of the U . S. and
$ 2, 200. 00
Can., Int.
Garment Workers of America, U n ited -,.
Garment Workers’ Union, Int. Ladies’. .
50.00
Glass Bottle Blowers’ Assn, of the U. S.
8. 32
and Can.
50.00
Glass Cutters League of America, Win
dow.
Glass Workers’ Union, American F lint. .
45.00
Glove Workers’ Union of America, Int.:
M en_____________________ .,----------33.00
Women__________________________
22. 50
Granite Cutters’ International Assn,
10.00
of A.
Hod Carriers’, Bldg, and Com. Lab.,
.875
U. of A., Int.
Horse Shoers of U . S. and Can., I. U. of
8.00
Journeymen.
Jewelry Workers’ Union, International:
Platinum workers_________________
1.50
Gold workers_____________________
35. 00
Lathers’, Int. Union of Wood, Wire and
10. 56
Metal.
Laundry Workers International U nion .. 15.00-35. 00
Leather Workers United, Int. Union40.00
Letter Carriers, National Association of—
2,070. 00
Letter Carriers, National Fed. of Rural1.800. 00
Lithographers, I. P. and B. A. of the
35. 00-65. 00
U. S. and Canada.
Longshoremen’s Association, Interna
.85
tional.
Machinists, International Association of.
.90
Maintenance of W ay Employees, Bro. of. 86. 40-175. 00
Marble, Slate and Stone P. R. and S.,
7. 50
T. and M. S. H., I. A.
Masters, Mates and Pilots of Am. Nat. 160. 00-375. 00
Org.
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of
45. 00
N . A., Amal.
Metal Workers, Sheet, International
1.25
Assn.
Mine, M ill and Smelter Workers, Int.
5.50
Union of.
Mine Workers of America, United:
Bitum inous______________________
6.10
Anthracite______ ____ ____________
4.62-5.96
Molders’ Union of N . A., International—
7. 50
Oil Field, Gas Well and Refinery
Workers of America:
In California____________________1.
Elsewhere-----------------------------------Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers
of A., Brotherhood of.
Paper Makers, International Bro. of___
48.00
Pattern Makers’ League of North
1.04
America.
Pavers, Rammermen, F. B. and S. C. S.,
- 12.00
I. U. of.
Paving Cutters Unions of the U. S. of
A .an d Can.
Plasterers International Assn, of the
U. S. and Can., Operative.
Plumbers and Steamfitters of the U. S.
and Can., U. A. of.
Polishers, Metal, International U nion ...
Printers, D . S. and E. Union of N . A .,
45.00
I. Plate.
Printing Pressmen and Assistants U. of
N . A., Int.:
Commercial_________ _______ _____
7.00
N ews____________________________
7.00
Pulp, Sulphite and Paper M ill W. of
the U. S. and Canada., Int. Bro. of.
9,500
Y ear...
W ee k ..
D ay—
W e e k ..
..d o __
..d o __
D a y ....
44
40
44
5%
5
5%
48
6
sy2 46% 5%
44
8
5%
40
5
H o u r ..
W eek __
D a y ...
m
8
8
8
44
42.8
5%
48
44
48
5%
5%
5%
[180]
100
5,000
5%
5%
5%
6
5%
H o u r. .
...d o —
M o n th.
D a y ..
,500
40
53, 000
800
6
3 7, 500
4, 000
10, 000
(4)
M onth
W e e k ..
6
1,000
H o u r-
5%
7,674
5,000
D a y .-.
[■-.do..
D a y ...
48
85,000
40
Week.
Ilour..
D a y .. .
48
40-50
44
44
D a y .. .
43
6
5-6
5%
5%
5%
550
550
200
125
350
225
27, 591
39, 000
5%
5%
Hour_.
Week.
D ay.
__do.
5%
6
-_ -d o -.
3 Temporary on railroads.
4 All foremen on 5 roads and all m onthly rated employees on all Canadian roads.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
75
5%
D a y __
W eek. .
...d o
Y e a r...
...d o ..
W eek. .
5,000
50, 000
365
19, 660
H o u r...
(0
1.oo
Average
Aver work week Number havingage
hours
per
5-day Vacation
day Hours Days
week with pay
100
860
53
181
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
AVER A G E W AGES A N D W OR K IN G HOURS P E R D A Y A N D P E R W E E K OF M E M B E R S
OP ST A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L U N IO N S, 1929—Continued
Average
work week
Average wage
Organization
Rate
Quarry Workers, Int. Union of N . A ___
.63
Railroad Trainmen, Brotherhood of____
Railway Conductors of America, Order
of:
Freight____________ ____________ __
7.14
Passenger__________________ ____
4. 76
Railway Employees of A., A. A. of Street
.65
and Electric.
Railway M ail Association_____________
6 2, 586. 00
Roofers, Damp and Waterproof W. A.
1 .425
U. S. T. and C.
Seamen’s Union of America, International
Siderographers, International Assn. of___
Stage Employees and M. P. M . O. of the
U. S. and Can.
Stereotypers and Electrotypers Union of
N . A., Int.:
Commercial__________ ______ ____ _
N ew s____________________________
Stonecutters Assn, of N . A ., Journey
men.
Stone Mounters’ International Union:
D ay rate____________ ____ ________
.84
Piece rate_________________ _______
1. 03
Switchmen’s Union of North A m erica.-.
6. 62
Tailors’ Union of America, Journeymen. _
1.00
Teachers, American Federation of_____
2.400. 00
Teamsters, Chauffeurs, S. and H. of
42.00
A. I. B. of.
Telegraphers, Order of Railroad________
.667
Telegraphers’ Union of N . A., The Com 145. 00-260. 00
mercialTextile Workers of America, United____ 18. 00-20 00
Tobacco Workers’ International U nion .. 14. 00-30. 00
Typographical Union, International!
N ew s____________________________
Book and job_____________________ }53.00-56.00
Upholsterers’ International Union of N.
A.
Wall Paper Crafts of N. A., U nited____
Weavers’ Protective Assn., American
Wire.
60. 00
52. 50
Unit
Hour..
hours
per
day Hours Days
Number having-
5-day
week
Vacation
with pay
VA
«8
400 mi
Hour..
15,200
Y ea r..
Hour...
8-12
m
48
44
6
5^
56-84
46
56
7
5Its
7
3,000
20,100
5M
6
H our...
■-.do__
D a y .. .
H our...
Y ea r...
W eek __
VA
5J4
- d o __
W eek ..
..d o __
9
{?«
SH
8
9
Total______________________ ____
1300
748
48
48
50
6, 000
100
50
48-56 6-7
42-45 VA-6
H our..M onth.
W eek. ..d o __
1,000
20, 000
7,987
3,800
50
48
45
44
9 4, 585
4,000
6
VA
150
351
514, 67
1» 225, 660
5 Or less.
6 Plus $277 travel allowance.
7 44 hours, 5 A days in summer months.
8 During summer months.
9 5-night week obtains in 18 locals on job work.
10 Not the exact sum of the items, but is as given in the report.
A rb itra tio n Award in th e D ress In d u stry of N ew York C ity
HE Association of Children’s Dress Manufacturers and the
Children’s Dress and Housedress Makers’ Union, Local No. 91,
of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, of New York
City, submitted the following matters to arbitration:
T
F irst. T h e dem and of th e un io n fo r a flat increase of $2 fo r all week w orkers
a n d 10 p e r ce n t for all piecew orkers.
Second. T o determ ine u pon a m inim um w age scale in th e in d u stry , th e e sta b
lish m en t of w hich w as agreed u pon by b o th p a rtie s to th e agreem ent.
No argument was presented by either party on the subject of a
minimum wage scale; therefore, the decision of the arbitrator deals
only with the requested wage increase.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
As an outcome of the first hearing it was agreed that detailed infor
mation be submitted to the arbitrator as to the wages paid in the
association shops and in the independent union shops, which had
recently put into effect an increase of wages of $1 per week for week
workers and of 5 per cent for pieceworkers. A comparison of the wage
rates paid by the association shops with those paid by the independent
shops showed that the wage rates were not far apart.
The representatives of the association contended that the present
is not an opportune time for a wage increase, when the industry is
suffering from the general business depression, and stressed the fact
of the steady employment of the workers in some of their shops.
On examination of the annual earnings the arbitrator found employ
ment unusually steady for a needle industry; however, considerable
part-time employment was found, which had the effect of reducing
the average earnings below the weekly rate paid the worker.
The union stated that it had secured an increase of $1 per week for
week workers and 5 per cent for pieceworkers for its members employed
in the independent union shops, on condition that the workers in the
association shops would be awarded a similar increase under the
proposed arbitration proceedings; and, if no increase is awarded the
members in the association shops by arbitration, the increase secured
for members employed in the independent shops is to be nullified.
This would result in a reduction of wages for more than 600
workers employed in the independent shops.
The findings and award of the arbitrator, N. I. Stone, impartial
chairman of the dress industry, under date of October 23, 1930, are as
follows:
F in d in g s
A fter a careful stu d y of th e facts a n d d a ta suD m itted a n d giving full considera
tio n to th e arg u m en ts p resen ted by b o th sides, th e a rb itra to r m akes th e following
findings a n d aw ard :
1. As ap p ears from th e figures p reviously cited, th e wages of th e w orkers in
th e association shops do n o t, on th e whole, su b sta n tia lly differ from those in th e
in d ep en d e n t union shops. In som e operatio n s, such as o p erato rs, pressers
(fem ale), th e earnings are a little h igher in th e association shops; in oth ers, such
as finishers, c u tte rs, pressers (m ale), th e y are hig h er in th e in d ep e n d e n t shops.
2. T h e a rb itra to r h as no in fo rm atio n as to w h a t th e earn in g s are in th e n o n
union shops. T h e sta te m e n t h as been m ade, how ever, a t th e hearin g s b y th e
rep resen tativ es of th e union a n d n o t denied by th e re p re se n ta tiv e s of th e associa
tion, t h a t nonunion em ployers h av e recen tly red u ced h o u rs a n d in creased w«iges
of th e ir w orkers as a n in d u cem en t to keep th e m from joining th e strik e called by
th e union.
3. O n general principles, th e a rb itra to r is in accord w ith th e c o n ten tio n of th e
em ployers t h a t a depression period is n o t th e tim e fo r an increase of wages an d
th a t ev ery th in g should be done to av o id ad d in g to th e cost of p ro d u ctio n a n d to
th e b urdens of th e m an u factu rer.
4. On th e o th e r h an d , it is equally tru e t h a t leading business m en, h ead s of large
corporations em ploying large n u m b ers of w orkers, econom ists, a n d m en who have
been giving serious stu d y to th e problem s of th e business cycle, of w hom P resid en t
H oover is a n o u tsta n d in g spokesm an, are in accord th a t th e policy p u rsu ed in th e
p ast, of reducing wages in tim es of depression, w as w rong a n d only served to
ag g rav ate a n alread y b a d situ a tio n ; th a t one of th e m o st effective m eth o d s of
overcom ing depression is to stim u la te co nsum ption a n d th a t ev ery th in g th a t
helps to m ain tain a high sta n d a rd of living will stim u la te m ass consum ption.
5. H a d th ere been no increase in w ages g ra n te d by th e in d e p e n d e n t m an u fac
tu rers, th e a rb itra to r, bearing in m ind th e p re se n t business conditions a n d th e
fa c t t h a t m ost of th e w orkers are fairly well paid, alth o u g h th is can n o t be said
of a considerable m in o rity of th e w orkers in th e association shops, w ould be dis
posed to deny th e d em an d of th e unio n for a g eneral increase in wages. B u t w ith
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
th e situ a tio n as it is, to deny en tirely th e union d em an d for a n increase fo r th e
regular em ployees of th e association shops involves a n a c tu a l red u ctio n of p resen t
wages of m ore th a n fo u r tim es t h a t n u m b er of w orkers em ployed in in d ep en d e n t
shops, 60 p er cen t of w hom are em ployed in c o n tra c t shops. T h e w orkers in
those shops can ill afford a red u ctio n from th e ir none to o high earnings, p a rtic u
larly in th e p resen t sta te of p a rt-tim e em ploym ent.
A w a rd
In view of these considerations, th e a rb itra to r, while finding it necessary to
deny th e d em and of th e union for a n increase of wages of $2 p er w eek fo r week
w orkers a n d 10 p er cen t for piecew orkers, feels obliged to g ra n t th e w orkers
em ployed in th e association shops a flat increase of $1 p er week, th e increase to
ap p ly equally to w orkers p aid by th e w eek a n d th o se p aid on a piecew ork basis.
T his decision leaves th e p re se n t piece ra te s u n ch an g ed a n d calls fo r a n a d d itio n of
$1 for a full w eek of 42 h o u rs to th e piecew ork earnings of th e w orkers.
T his aw ard is to ta k e effect th is week, th a t is from M onday, O ctober 20, 1930.
W ages an d H ours in T exas, 1929-30
HE accompanying data concerning the labor force, the wages
paid, and the hours worked in 12,015 establishments in Texas
for the fiscal year ending August 31, 1930, are taken from the eleventh
biennial report of the bureau of labor statistics of the State, covering
that year and the preceding one.
Table 1 shows the distribution of 220,928 workers in various classes
of establishments, by sex and marital status:
T
T a b le 1.—N U M B E R , SE X , A N D M A R IT A L STA TUS OF E M P L O Y E E S IN IN S P E C T E D
IN D U S T R IA L E ST A B L ISH M E N T S, Y E A R E N D IN G A U G U ST 31, 1930
Class of establishment
Barber shops and beauty p a rlors__ . .
Hospitals_______________ ____ _______
Hotels and cafés.. . . . .
. . . . ...
Laundries_______ ___________ . . . . .
Manufacturing and wholesale. .
. . .
Mercantile _________________________
Printing and publishing .
. . . _____
Public utilities______________________
M iscellaneous___. . . _______________
T o ta l... _____ _
______. . .
Number
of estab
lish
ments
Total
number
of em
ployees
Married
496
152
1, 726
670
1,226
5,112
398
428
1,807
2,181
5,856
19, 533
14,114
68,256
49,052
7,669
25,102
29,165
1,117
1,141
6,253
3,628
39, 575
17,461
4, 054
10. 833
17, 357
423
995
5,731
1,404
15,003
9,323
1,728
4,930
6, 714
218
677
2,966
4,624
7.183
7,819
491
3,479
1, 455
407
3,040
4, 369
4,386
5,898
13,117
1,052
5,299
3, 214
16
3
214
72
597
1,332
344
561
425
12,015
220,928
101, 419
46, 251
28,912
40, 782
3,564
Men
Women
Chil
dren 1
Single Married Single
1 Includes boys under 21 and girls under 18.
Of the 220,928 employees reported upon in the above tabulation,
67 per cent were men; 31 per cent, women; and less than 2 per cent,
children. Nearly 69 per cent of the men and about 41 per cent of the
women were married.
The number of men, women, and children in specified wage groups
and the average weekly hours of such workers in various classes of
industrial establishments in Texas for the year ending August 31,
1930, are given in Table 2.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 2 —W E EK LY W AGES A N D A V ER A G E H OURS P E R W E E K OF M E N , W O M EN,
A N D C H IL D R E N IN IN S P E C T E D E ST A B L ISH M E N T S FOR Y E A R E N D IN G A U G U ST
31, 1930
Number receiving each classified amount per week
Average hours per
week
Children
Women
Men
Class of establishment
$10 $15
U n and
Wo Chil
der under and Men men
dren 1
$10
$15 over
$15
and
over
U n
der
$10
$10
and
under
$15
$15
and
over
137
610
2,827
291
1, 362
1.053
6, 768
4,665
65
1,363
2,319
3,283
94
845
3,169
3,714
466
1, 509
1.847
2,013
11
3
136
26
51
22
27
24
63
58
70
54
52
54
53
51
54
42
65
£0
2,817
1,921
51, 441
24, 248
1,727
2,960
4, 781 6,573
5,401 12, 575
112
793
252
438
233
101
56
60
48
52
47
54
153
728
1, 069
5,593
14, 953
22, 671
123
197
397
146
2, 031
1,050
240
294
217
84
152
128
20
115
80
48
56
54
48
47
50
c0
52
46
Total ____ _ -_ 4,363 10, 553 132, 754 12,434 21, 231 36, 029 1,832 1,132
600
58
51
49
$10
U n and
der under
$10
$15
Barber s h o p s a n d
beauty parlors
41
473
Hotels and cafés------- 2, 389
76
Laundries
- Manufacturing and
320
wholesale ----------615
M ercantile..- ------Printing and publish36
ing___________ ____
82
Public utilities_____ _
M iscellaneous---------- 331
1, 274
6,550
3, 222
5
i Includes boys under 21 and girls under 18 years of age.
Of the 147,670 male employees, about 3 per cent received under $10
per week; 7.1 per cent $10 and under $15; and about 89.9 per cent
were paid $15 or more. The women were distributed in the three
wage groups as follows: Approximately 18 per cent received less than
$10; 51.7 per cent, $15 and over; and 30.5 per cent $10 and under $15.
Only 17 per cent of the children were in the group receiving $15 and
over, while more than half were being paid less than $10 per week.
The hours of labor of men averaged 58 per week; those of women, 51;
and those of children, 49.
In Table 3 a comparison is made between the fiscal year 1929-30,
for which the above figures are presented, and the preceding year with
reference to the number of establishments inspected in the various
industrial groups and the number of workers in specified wage groups:
T able 3 .—IN C R E A SE OR D E C R E A SE IN N U M B E R OF IN S P E C T E D E ST A B L ISH M E N T S
A N D IN N U M B E R OF M E N A N D W O M E N IN SP E C IF IE D W E E K L Y W AGE GROUPS
IN 1929-30 AS C O M PA R E D W ITH 1928-29
Increase or decrease from 1928-29 to 1929-30 in—
Class of establishment
Barber shops and beauty parlors _- Hospitals.. ------- -------------- ------Hotels and cafés., - - ----------------Laundries
-_- - ---------Manufacturing and wholesale____ -Mercantile____
- ------ -- Printing and publishing---------- Public utilities............. - ______ Miscellaneous_____________________
Total--
_
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.
___ - _
Number of men receiving
weekly wage of—
Number
of estab
lishments Under $10 and $15 and
under
$10
over
$15
Number of women receiv
ing weekly wage of—■
Under
$10
$10 and
under
$15
$15 and
over
+58
+31
+117
+193
+151
+853
+163
+143
+462
-1 0
+232
+97
+8
-1 0
+89
-7 0
-215
-3
+10
+210
-236
+76
-257
+297
-2 4
+53
-135
+77
+385
+2, 357
+975
+8, 965
+4,251
+1,837
+5,406
+869
+41
+594
-342
+157
-1,417
+1,083
+59
+83
+2
+39
+247
+884
+991
-444
-1,075
-1 1
+1,183
+463
-i
+508
+364
+510
+657
+1,239
+600
+4,108
-5 1
+2,171
+118
-6
+25,122
+260
+2,277
+7,934
[184]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
185
As indicated in Table 3, there was an increase in the number of
industrial establishments in 1929-30 as compared with 1928-29 and
also in the number of workers in all establishments. This would, of
course, to some extent account for the additional numbers in certain
wage groups but it would not explain the decreases in the numbers of
workers in other wage groups. The figures in Table 3 combined with
those in Table 2 are analyzed in some detail in the report under review.
Among the indications shown from such analysis are the following:
Barber and beauty shops.—An apparent tendency to raise the wages
of men and to reduce those of women.
Hospitals.—No improvement in women’s wages.
Hotels and restaurants.—A tendency toward slightly higher wages
for women.
Laundries.—No improvement in women’s wages.
Manufacturing and wholesale establishments.—Increased wages for
men and a tendency to raise women’s wages.
Mercantile establishments.—A definite tendency toward higher
wages for men arid no improvement in wages for women.
Printing and publishing establishments.—Unmistakably higher
wages for men. A general tendency toward higher wages for women,
but not in proportion to the increases for men.
Public utilities.—A trend toward higher wages for men. A similar
trend in women’s wages, despite a slight increase in the number of
women receiving under $10 per week.
_Miscellaneous group.—A tendency to increase men’s wages without
giving equal consideration to women.
All classes of establishments.—Only a very slight advance in wages
for men in all classes of employment, but a large proportion of the
total increase in the number of women occurred in the highest wage
group. This latter development would seem to overthrow the theory
that women have not benefited in equal ratio to men in the matter
of wage advances, but it must be noted that while the number of men
in the lower wage groups has been stationary the total number of
workers has expanded. On the other hand, the number of women
in the lower wage groups has shown a substantial increase.
According to a summary of inspection reports for the biennium
ending August 31, 1930, there were 240,386, or 89 per cent of the men
employed who received $15 or over per week, while only 49 per cent
of the women received as much as $15 per week.
T hese figures prove conclusively th e fa c t so often p o in ted o u t b y th e d e p a rt
m en t t h a t m ore th a n half of th e w om an em ployees in th e in d u stries of th e S ta te
w ork for wages insufficient to m eet th e b are necessities of life. T his is a problem
th a t h as long pressed for solution, a n d th e situ a tio n is rap id ly becom ing acu te
an d th re a te n s incalculable h a rm to th e m o ral fiber of o u r people. Som ething
should be done im m ediately to p rovide fu rth e r p ro tectio n fo r th e w om an w orkers
of T exas, a n d a m inim um wage law carefully a n d pro p erly ad m in istered ap p ears
to be th e only solution.
W ages and W age T rends in A u stralia
HE Australian Labor Report for 1929, issued under date of
September, 1930, is the twentieth of the series published by the
Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics. Considerable space
is devoted to wages, including a survey of the movement of wages
over a period of years, more especially since 1914. The following
T
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
table shows the weighted average rate of wages for a full week’s
work, as of December 31, 1929, for each of the States and for the
Commonwealth, for adult males and females separately, with the
average weekly hours of labor:
T a b l e 1 .—AVER A G E W E EK LY W O R K IN G H OURS A N D W E IG H T E D A V ER A G E W EEK LY
W AGE R A TES IN A U ST R A LIA , D E C . 31, 1929
[Conversions into U. S. currency on basis of shilling=24.33 cents, penny=2.03 cents]
Adult females
Adult males
Wages rate per
week
Wage rates per
week
State
U. S.
cur
rency
English
currency
s
Hours
per
week
English
currency
d
s
$25.04
24.59
24.61
23.64
24.47
23.03
44.14
46. 83
43.96
46. 83
45.58
47.09
53 11
54 1
54 10
51 4
58 10
53 9
2
24.61
45. 34
54
102
101
101
Total______
101
Hours
per
week
d
11
1
2
97 2
7
100
94 8
New South Wales.
Victoria_________
Queensland_____
South AustraliaWest Australia___
Tasmania-----------
U. S.
cur
rency
1
$13.12
13.16
13. 34
12. 49
14. 31
13. 08
43. 93
45.40
44.01
46.03
45. 57
46.07
13.16
44. 79
In calculating the above data as to hours, no account was taken
of shipping, nor of agricultural and pastoral occupations, since hours in
these are usually not fixed by awards and differ so widely according
to seasonal and emergency demands that sufficiently definite particu
lars for the calculation of average working time can not be obtained.
It will be seen that in the case of adult males only one State, New
South Wales, rises above the average weekly wage rate for the Com
monwealth, and that in average weekly hours it sinks below this
standard, while Tasmania, with a weekly wage rate much below the
average, exceeds the average in the length of the wmrking week.
The variations in the average full week’s wage rate at specified
dates is shown for adult males and females in the following table,
together with index numbers of the wage rates.
T a b l e 2 .—W E IG H T E D A V ER A G E W E E K L Y W AGE R A TE S A N D I N D E X N U M B E R S
T H E R E O F , IN A U ST R A LIA , AT SP E C IF IE D D A T E S
[Conversions into U . S. currency on basis of shilling=24.33 cents, penny=2.03 cents]
Adult males
Date
Adult females
Rate
Rate
Index
Index
numbers
numbers
(1911=
(Apr.
30,
English
English
100.0)
currency currency
currency currency 1914=100)
u. s.
u. s.
s. d.
June 30, 1914_________________ ________
Dec. 31, 1914___________________________
Dec. 31, 1925___________________________
Dec. 31, 1926___________________________
Dec. 31, 1927___________________________
Dec. 31, 1928___________________________
Mar. 31, 1929__________________________
June 30, 1929_________ _____ ________
Sept. 30, 1929__________________________
Dec. 31, 1929___________________________
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55
55
96
99
100
100
100
100
101
101
3
7
9
4
2
5
4
4
5
2
[186 ]
s. d.
$13.44
13. 52
23. 54
24. 17
24.37
24. 43
24.41
24. 66
24. 68
24.61
107.9
108.5
188.7
193.8
195.5
195.9
195.8
197.7
197.9
197.4
27
27
50
51
52
53
53
53
54
54
2
5
7
8
10
10
10
10
2
1
$6.61
6. 67
12.31
12. 57
12.86
13. 10
13. 10
13. 10
13. 18
13.16
100.0
100.8
186.1
190.2
194.5
198.0
198.0
198.0
199.2
199.0
187
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
The index numbers in the above table are not comparable as be
tween the-sexes, since those for males are based on the average wage
for the year 1911, while those for females are based on the rates
prevailing April 30, 1914. In both cases, however, the wage rates
show comparatively little change from the end of 1926 onward, and
for both sexes September 30, 1929, showed the highest average wage
rates yet recorded, followed by a slight fall at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, there had been a change in working hours, less marked
than the movement of wage rates. The following table shows the
average weekly hours, by sex of worker, on April 30, 1914, and at the
end of the years 1921 to 1929. In calculating the hours of male
workers, shipping and agricultural and pastoral occupations are not
included.
T a b l e 3 .—A VERAGE W E EK LY HOURS OF LABOR IN A U STR A LIA A PR IL 30, 1914, A N D
1921 TO 1929, B Y YEAR S
Adult
males
Date
April 30, 1914_______________
December 31—
1921_____________ ______
1922____________________
1923____________________
1924___________________
Adult
females
48. 93
49.08
46.22
46. 38
46. 70
46. 66
45.69
45. 82
45. 98
' 46.02
Date
December 31—
1925
____________
1926
1927
1928
1929
Adult
males
46. 44
45.57
45. 46
45. 27
45. 34
Adult
females
45. 78
44.94
44.94
44. 79
44. 79
It will be seen that on the whole the movement has been downward,
but during 1922 and 1923 certain increases in the hours of labor
occurred. In Queensland a 44-hour week became operative in 1925,
and in New South Wales it went into effect in 1926. Slight increases
occurred in hours for adult male employees in 1929 in Victoria,
South Australia, West Australia, and Tasmania, but no changes
were reported in hours for adult females. During 1930, there was a
movement in the direction of longer hours, Queensland and New
South Wales having both reestablished the 48-hour week. (See
Labor Review, September, 1930, p. 165.)
Trend of Wage Rates and Real Wages
A c h a n g e in a wage rate gives no information as to its effect upon
the worker until it is compared with some standard, usually a costof-living figure, by which the purchasing power can be learned and
the real wage determined. Obviously, if prices rise more rapidly
than wage rates, an increase in the latter may be coincident with a
fall in the real wage. Again, changes in the employment situation
may affect the worker quite as seriously as changes in the wage rate;
if wages go up and the chance of employment goes down, his real
position may be worse rather than better. Taking these factors into
consideration, the report gives the following table, showing for speci
fied periods index numbers of nominal wages, index numbers of retail
prices, and index numbers of real wages, first, if full-time work should
be obtained, and secondly, allowing for unemployment, and the per
cent unemployed. This table is based upon the wages of adult
males only. For the years prior to 1914 the nominal wages index
numbers and the percentage unemployed relate to the end of the
29334°—31
13
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
year only, but from 1914 onward these figures and those relating to
retail prices are averages for the whole year. The ye$r 1911 is
taken as the base year throughout.
T a b l e 4 —IN D E X N U M B E R S OF N O M IN A L A N D R E A L W AGES A N D R E T A IL PR IC ES,
A N D PE R C E N T U N E M P L O Y E D , IN A U ST R A LIA , 1901 TO 1929
[1911 = 100.0]
Real wages
Year
1901____
1906____
1907____
1908____
1909____
1910____
1911____
1912____
1913____
1914____
1915____
1916____
1917____
Real wages
Per
Nom i Retail
Allow
cent
nal
For
full
ing
for
prices
unem
wage
time unem ployed
work
ploy
ment
84.8
86.6
89.3
90.0
92.3
95.5
100.0
105.1
107.6
108. 1
109.2
114.4
122.6
88.0
90.2
89.7
95.1
94.8
97.0
100.0
110.1
110.4
114.0
127.8
132.4
131.8
96.4
96.0
99.6
94.6
97.4
98. 5
100.0
95.5
97.5
94.8
85.4
86.4
93.0
94.5
94.0
98.6
93.4
96.3
97.4
100.0
94.6
97.0
91.2
81.3
85.4
90.7
6.6
6.7
5.7
6.0
5.8
5.6
4.7
5.5
5.3
8.3
9.3
5.8
7. 1
Year
1918____
1919____
1920____
1921____
1922____
1923____
1924____
1925____
1926____
1927____
1928____
1929____
Nom i Retail
nal
full
wage prices For
time
work
127.0
137.0
162.7
182.6
180. 1
180.5
184.0
186. 1
191.4
194. 6
196. 3
197.2
136.2
151. 0
178.5
169.7
160.0
170.0
168.1
172.2
178.6
176.6
176.0
182.2
93.2
90. 7
91.1
107.6
112.6
106. 2
109.5
108.1
107.2
110.2
111.5
108.2
Per
Allow cent
ing for unem
unem ployed
ploy
ment
92.1
88.9
89.4
100.2
107.2
103.5
104.6
103.4
104.5
107.5
104.4
100.9
5.8
6.6
6.5
11.2
9.3
7.1
8.9
8.8
7.1
7.0
10.8
11.1
This table shows in striking fashion how the worker’s economic
position may be going down while wage rates are going up. Between
1911 and 1920 the index of the wage rate rose from 100.0 to 162.7,
but the index of the worker’s real wage, even making no allowance
for unemployment, sank from 100.0 to 91.1, and in 1920 he was rela
tively in a worse position even than in 1901. From 1921 onward
his position improved, but to only a relatively small degree.
T he first occasion on w hich th e effective w age w as higher th a n in 1911 w as in
1921, w hen w ages increased considerably w hile prices declined, th e increase in
effective w ages being 7.6 p e r cent, b u t only 0.2 p e r c e n t allow ing fo r unem ploy
m ent. U nem plo y m en t reach ed its p eak du rin g 1921. B o th w ages a n d prices
fell in 1922, b u t th e form er less th a n th e la tte r, resu ltin g in a fu rth e r increase in
th e effective wage. As wages rem ain ed p ractically sta tio n a ry while prices rose,
th e effective w age fo r 1923 show ed a decline. A rise in w ages coincided w ith a
fall in prices d u rin g 1924, a n d th e effective w age increased, b u t as th e average
un em p lo y m en t w as higher th a n in th e previous y ear, th e increase in th e effective
w age w as g reater fo r full w ork th a n allow ing for u n em ploym ent.
W ages an d prices b o th rose d u rin g 1925 a n d 1926, th e la t te r in 1926 reaching
th e ir highest p o in t u p to th a t d ate. U nem p lo y m en t rem ain ed sta tio n a ry in 1925,
b u t, as prices rose m ore rap id ly th a n th e rise in n om inal wages, effective wages
decreased. In 1926, u n em p lo y m en t decreased, an d , a lth o u g h prices ag ain rose
m ore rap id ly th a n nom inal wages, th e effective w age allow ing fo r un em p lo y m en t
increased. E ffective w ages fo r full-tim e w ork, how ever, ag ain decreased. D u r
ing 1927 nom inal w ages rose w h ilst prices fell, a n d as th e p ercen tag e of u n em
p lo y m en t show ed a slight decline th e re su lt w as a rise in th e effective w age index
nu m b er for full w ork, a n d also in th e index n u m b er allow ing fo r u n em ploym ent.
D uring th e y ear 1928 th e re w as a fu rth e r rise in th e effective w age index n u m b er
for full w ork. U nem ploym ent, how ever, increased a n d th e effective w age index
num ber, a fte r allow ing for unem p lo y m en t, show ed a decline as com pared w ith th e
previous year. T h e increase in prices du rin g 1929 w as g re a te r th a n th e increase
in nom inal wages, w ith th e re su lt t h a t th e effective w age index n u m b e r fo r full
w ork declined from 111.5 to 108.2, a n d as u n em p lo y m en t increased also during
th e period th e effective w age index n u m b er allow ing fo r u n em p lo y m en t declined
sharply from 104.4 to 100.9, th e low est p o in t recorded since th e y e a r 1921.
C om parison w ith 1911 show s t h a t th e effective wage for full-tim e w ork was 8.2
p er cent, an d , allowing fo r unem ploym ent, 0.9 p e r c en t higher du rin g 1929.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
189
H ours and O ther C o n d itio n s in E n glish F actories, 1929
HE 1929 report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops
of Great Britain covers 152,453 factories and 108,323 workshops
which were registered with the department at the close of the
year, being an increase of 2,921 factories and a decrease of 3,726
workshops as compared with the figures of the preceding year. Em
ployment generally was unsatisfactory, but varied‘according to in
dustry and locality. Rationalization, as well as trade depression,
had its effect in increasing the number of persons out of work. In an
endeavor to meet the unemployment situation there was a movement
to widen the field of production, to vary the kinds of products turned
out, and generally to adapt plants and workers to the changing condi
tions.
T
F or instance, some em ployers m ade arran g em en ts for changing over from
co tto n to artificial silk; b eet-sugar factories, w hich form erly w orked for a sh o rt
season only during th e w inter, utilized th e ir p la n ts during th e sum m er in refining
im ported sugar; ag ricu ltu ral im p lem en t m akers w idened th e ir scope of pro d u ctio n
by m aking m otor-car p a rts, etc., an d general joinery w orks tu rn e d over to
fu rn itu re.
5-Day Week
S o m e additional firms, it is stated, adopted the 5-day week, and
no reports were received of its having been given up by those who had
in earlier years introduced it, but no comprehensive data are given
as to the number of establishments in which it prevails, nor of the
number of workers affected. Reference is made to an automobile
factory, employing 1,000 persons, in which the plan has been used for
over two years and in which it is regarded as an unqualified success
by workers and employers alike. In general, employers approve it
on the ground that it means a larger output with lower costs.
A m anaging d irecto r of a large firm of c o n stru ctio n al engineers in a n o utlying
suburb of N o rth L ondon sta te d re cen tly th a t th e 5-day w eek h a d been w orked
in th e ir facto ry a t th e m e n ’s re q u e st since th e general strike. H e said th a t in
consequence th e o u tp u t h ad gone u p 22-26 p e r cent, a n d th e overhead charges
were decreased by 6 to 7 p e r cent. On no a c co u n t w ould th e y re tu rn to th e old
arrangem ent.
Another case mentioned is that of a large engineering firm which
a few years ago reduced its working week from 6 days or 47 hours to
5 days or 43 hours, and in which the employers are emphatic in their
approval of the shorter week.
T hey found th a t, afte r a few weeks, p ro d u ctio n definitely w en t up, im p ro v em en t
being show n n o t only in th e o u tp u t p e r hour, b u t also in th e to ta l o u tp u t p er week.
I t has been necessary occasionally to keep th e ir m en a few h o u rs o vertim e or to
bring th em in on S atu rd ay s, in o rd er to deal w ith a n exceptional ru sh of w ork, b u t
th e carefully k e p t figures of p ro d u ctio n show t h a t em p lo y m en t beyond 43 hours
a w eek is n o t economical.
Occasionally employees seemed at first to dislike the system, and
some adroitness was needed to bring them to an approval of the
shorter hours.
A large tu b e w orks em ploying 3,000, of w hich a b o u t 150 are young persons,
experim ented w ith th is m eth o d of w orking for th e la s t tw o m o n th s of 1928. A t th e
end of th e tim e th e y held a secret b allo t a t w hich p ractically ev ery w orker voted,
an d to th e surprise of th e officials th e re w as a large m a jo rity for rev e rtin g to th e
six-day week. T he firm h a d been expecting a n d hoping fo r th e o pposite result.
T hey carefully considered th e m a tte r a n d cam e to th e conclusion th a t th e w inter
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
was th e w rong tim e of th e y ear to ta k e for th e experim ent. T he very sh o rt
am o u n t of dayligh t, a n d th e depressing a n d dism al w eather, u n su itab le for o u t
door p u rsu its, usually experienced here in N ovem ber a n d D ecem ber, w as n o t
a ttra c tiv e enough to th e m en to com pensate fo r th e th re e -q u a rte rs of a n h o u r
e x tra w orking tim e on th e o th e r five days. T h e firm w en t back to th e 6-day
w eek on Ja n u a ry 1st, according to th e ir agreem ent, a n d th e n m ade a n o th e r tria l
of th e 5-day week, sta rtin g on Ju n e 1st. I t has p ro v ed a com plete success an d
is still in force, a n d now th e d a rk e st m o n th is p a s t w ith o u t com plaint, it looks
as if it will becom e q p e rm a n e n t a ll-th e-y ear-ro u n d m eth o d of w orking
Two-Shift System for Women and Minors
T h e two-shift system, under which it is permissible to employ
women and young persons under carefully regulated conditions at
any time between 6 a. m. and 10 p. m. (2 p. m. on Saturday), was
authorized by legislative action in 1920 for a period of five years, but
it has been continued year by year since the expiration of that period.
Before the system may be introduced a special order must be secured
from the Secretary of State and this wdll be given only on joint ap
plication by the employers and workers, with a statement of the
conditions which are felt to justify the appeal. During the year
covered, 113 such orders wTere issued for different classes of factories,
including those carrying on the manufacture of hosiery, silk and
cotton, rubber goods, toys, cake and confectionery, paper making,
brick making, and electrical apparatus. Emphasis is placed on the
care with which such orders are granted.
All ap p licatio n s for perm ission to w ork on th is system have been, as in th e
p ast, very carefully scru tin ized a n d in some cases refused because it w as n o t
proved t h a t th e w orkers were really willing p a rtie s to th e ap p licatio n , or because
th e w elfare conditions were u n satisfacto ry . In factories w here th e system
resu lted in m en being rep laced b y w om en in c e rta in processes it w as m ad e a
condition in g ra n tin g th e o rd er t h a t th e m en should be abso rb ed in o th e r d e p a rt
m ents, w hile in o th e r w orks in w hich som e of th e w orkers lived n ear th e facto ry
an d others a good d istan ce aw ay a condition was a tta c h e d to th e o rd er th a t th e
la tte r should n o t be p u t on shifts.
Apparently there is no great demand for these orders, and quite a
number of those obtained seem to have been desired only for some
temporary use. A survey of the matter showed that from 1921,
when the act permitting this system became effective, up to June 30,
1929, the total number of orders issued was 852. Of these, 168 had
become permanently inoperative, either because the establishment
in respect of which they were issued had closed down, or because
they had been superseded by later orders; 351 were still effective,
but it wras considered improbable that they would be used again;
191 wrere used only occasionally, but it was considered probable that
they would be used in the future; and 142 were used more or less
continuously
W age R e d u ctio n s in Ita ly
NATIONAL deficit of 729,000,000 lire ($38,345,400) caused the
Council of Ministers in Italy, acting on the recommendation of
A Premier
Mussolini, to reduce the wages of all State employees begin
ning December 1, 1930, in order to avoid an increase in the general
taxes of the country. A royal decree, printed in II Lavoro Fascista
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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191
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
for November 19, 1930, but issued the day before, provided for a
reduction of 35 per cent in the wages of Government employees
receiving more than 60,000 lire ($3,156) per year, of 25 per cent for
those receiving 40,000 to 60,000 lire ($2,104 to $3,156), and of 12
per cent for those receiving less than 40,000 lire. The decree covers
the army, navy, air force, police, school teachers and officers, postal
employees, railroad employees, tobacco workers, and all other
government, municipal, and provincial employees.
In taking this action the ministers had in mind that the cost of
living had been slowly decreasing in Italy during the past year and
their expectation was that it could be further reduced so as to balance
the wage reduction. Various efforts have, in fact, been made toward
this end. II Lavoro Fascista reports numerous instances of retail
price reductions. The price of bread, water, gas, and rents has been
very generally reduced throughout Italy. The price of rice, macaroni,
flour, lard, pork, sausage, and cheese has been reduced in Bologna.
The prices of dry goods were reduced at Aquila. The prices of books
were reduced 10 per cent in the book shops in Littorio. Prices in the
city opera house at Lucca have been reduced 15 per cent. Lawyers
in Modena and Trieste have reduced their fees 12 per cent, physicians
at Trieste 15 per cent and at Turin 20 per cent, architects in Trieste
15 per cent, and pharmacists 10 per cent. Naples has reduced the
fares on its street railways and its fees for licenses by 15 per cent.
Parma and other cities have reduced their communal taxes and many
groups have called meetings to discuss lowering their fees and salaries.
W ages in T angier, M orocco
HE following table, taken from a report by Donald F. Bigelow,
American consul at Tangier, Morocco, dated October 27, 1930,
shows the approximate average wages paid in Tangier to the classes
of workers specified. The consul states that there is no oost-of-living
index available to aid in making a comparison of the effective buyingpower, or real wages, at the present time with previous years. Wages
are paid in either French Moroccan francs or Spanish esetas.
T
W AGES IN T A N G IE R , MOROCCO
Occupation
Carpenters.- _____
Masons and brick
layers____________
Painters____
_____
Plumbers___________
Electricians___ ___
Factory hands.- ____
European
workers
Moorish
workers
P e r day
P e r day
Occupation
P e r m onth
$1. 25-$l. 50
$1.00
1. 50
1. 50
2. 00
2. 00
1. 00
1. 00- 1. 50
1. 201. 501. 50. 50-
Chauffeurs__ _
--- $25. 00-$50. 00
Store clerks, male___ 30. 00- 50. 00
Telephone operators.. 25. 00- 30. 00
Shop girls
. _ 11. 76- 31. 36
P er day
H91]
Moorish
workers
P e r m onth
$25. 00-$40. 00
P er day
.59OO
D ock laborers. - ___
D ay laborers.. ........
1
OO
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European
workers
.98
192
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
W ages in Provincial C ap itals of S p ain , 1928
T
HE Spanish Statistical Yearbook 1for 1928 contains a table giving
average daily wage rates for various occupations in the capitals
of the Provinces of Spain in 1928, which is reproduced below.
A VERAGE D A ILY W AGES OF VARIOUS OCC U PA TIO N S IN THE PR O V IN C IA L C A PITA L
OF SPA IN IN 1928
[Conversions on basis of average exchange rate of peseta for 1928=16.6 cents]
Masons
Locality
Albacete_______________
Alicante----------------------Almería.------ ---------------A vila--------------------------Badajoz..............................
Barcelona______________
Bilbao..... ............................
Burgos____________ ____
C aceres------------ -----------Cadiz_________________
Castellón---------------------Ciudad Real----------------Cordoba----------------------C o r a n a ..------ -------------Cuenca________________
Gerona________________
Granada---------------------Guadalajara___________
Huelva-----------------------Huesca-----------------------Jaén__________________
Loen_____________ ____ _
Lérida________________
Logroño----------------------Lugo--------------------------Malaga-----------------------Murcia-----------------------Orense________________
Oviedo_______________
Palencia______________
Palma de Mallorca------Palmas_______________
Pamplona------------------Pontevedra----------------Salamanca_______•-------San Sebastian_________
Santa Cruz de Tenerife..
Santander____________
Segovia_______________
Sevilla..^-------------------Soria---------- ---------------Tarragona____________
Teruel________________
Toledo________________
Valencia______________
Valladolid____ ________
Vitoria________________
Zamora_______________
Zaragoza______________
Carpenters 1 Stonecut
ters
Painters
Shoe
makers
Tailors
$0.83-$1.25 $0.66-$l. 16 $0. 83-$1.33
$0.91-$ 1. 33 j
.66- 1.33
1.49- 1.66 1. 00- 1. 16
1.00- 1.33
. 66- 1.33
.42- .66
$1. 00 1. 16- 1.33
. 58- 1. 16 $0. 58—
.66- .83
.66.83
.831.00
. 79- 1. 74
.79- 1.33
1. 25- 1. 33
.79- .91 1. 00- 1. 16
.83- .91
.83- 1.00
1.
33- 1.99
1.
162.
16
1.492.
32
.66- 1.66
1. 66- 2. 32
1.33- 1.58
1. 49- 1. 91 1. 83- 1.99 1.33- 1.49 1.33- 1.49
.75.91
.66.91
1.
001.16
1. 08- 1. 16 1. 16- 1. 49
.42- .83
. 42- 1.16
.58- .83
.62- 1.49
. 62- 1. 25
.831.66
.831.00
1.161.
25
1. 00- 1. 25
. 50- 1.16
.66- 1.33
.83- 1.49 1. 00- 1. 99
1. 16- 1. 66
. 50- 1. 00
.50- 1. 0C
.66- 1.33
.66- 1.33
.66- 1.33
.83- 1.41
.66- .83
1.00- 1.33 1. 00- 2.10 1.00- 1.49
.58- 1.49
.66- 1.33
.66- 1.33
.83- 1.49
.83- 1.66
.75- .83
.75- 1.74 1. 00- 1. 33 1.00- 1.66
.83- 1.00
1.
00- 1. 33
1.161.66
1.
081.33
1.331.99
1.33- 1. 66
1. 16- 1. 20
1.33- 1.49 1.33- 1.49 1.41- 1. 58 1.0C- 1. 16
.42- 1.33
. 83- 1. 33
. 50- 1. 00
. 91- 1. 66
1. 08- 1. 49
.83- 1.33
.83- 1.33
. 75- 1. 16
.83- 1.33
. 75- 1.16
.83- 1.25
. 75- 1. 08
1. 08- 1. 45 1. 25- 1. 41
.50- .66
.50- 1.00
.66- 1. 16
.83- 1.33
. 66- 1. 16
. 83- 1. 33
.83- 1.33
1. 00- 1. 66 1.00- 1.99 1. 00- 1. 66
1.16- 1.66
1.00- 1.49 1. 16- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 49
.83- 1.33
.83- 1.33
. 66- 1.16
. 83- 1. 16
.83- 1. 16
. 58- 1. 00
. 83- 1. 33
. 66- 1. 16
.83- 1.33
.83- 1.33
1. 66- 1.99
. 91- 1. 25
.83- 1.37 1. 00- 1.33
1.16- 1.33
. 83- 1. 16
. 83- 1. 00
.66- í. 00
. 83- 1. 16
.66- 1.00
.66- 1.00
. 83- 1. 41
.66- 1.41
. 83- 1.41 1.00- 1.41
1. 08- 1.99
.83- 1.99
.83- 1.83
1. 33- 1.83 1.08- 1.83
1. 00- 1. 16
.75- .83 1. 16- 1. 49 1. 08- 1.33
1.16- 1.33
. 83- 1. 00
.83- 1.33
.83- 1.25
.83- 1.25
.83- 1.66
. 66- 1. 49
1.33- 1. 83
1 33 1 99 1.33- 1.99
.42- 1.00
.50- 1.33
. 50- 1. 49
.66- 1.49
. 50- 1. 66
.66- 1.33
. 83- 1. 16
.50- .83
.83- 1.33
.83- 1.33
. 83- 1. 33
.66- 1.33
.58- 1.00
.42- .83
. 75- 2. 49
.91- 1.66 1. 00- 1.99
.91- 1.66
1.49- 1.99
1.41- 1.49 1.41- 1.49 1.49- 1.83 1.33- 1.58 1. 16- 1. 66
1.16- 2.49
.91- 1-33
1. 66 1. 25- 2. 66
1. 25- 2.49 1. 16- 2. 32
1.33- 1.99
1.58- 1.83 1. 49- 1. 66 1.58- 1.83 1.33- 1.66 1.16- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 16
.66- 1.00
.83- 1.41 1. 16- 1.33 1. 16- 1.33 1. 00- 1. 33
1.33- 1.83
.91- 1.99 1. OS- 1. 58 1.00- 1.25 1. 08- 1. 49 1.16- 1.83
1. 00- 1.16
1. 16- 1.66 1. 16- 1.33 1.49- 1.99 1.33- 1.66 1. 00- 1.16
1.49- 1.66
1.66- 1.99 1. 66- 1. S3 1. 66- 1. 83 1. 66- 1.99 1.49- 1.66
1. 00- 1.49
. 75- 1. 00
1.66- 1.99 1. 00- 1. 33 1.66- 2.32 1. 16- 1.66
1. 00- 1.33
. 83- 1. 25 1.66- 1.99 1.00- 1.33 1. 00- 1. 16
1. 16- 1. 25
.83- 1.33
. 66- 1. 16
. 91- 1. 58 1. 16- 1. 66 1. 58- 1. 74
1. 00- 1. 58
1. 00- 1. 25
. 75- 1. 16
.83- 1.33
.87- 1.29
. 83- 1. 25
.91- 1.28
. 66- 1. 00
.66- .91
.66- 1.00
. 83- 1. 25
. 83- 1. 25 1. 00- 1. 33
.75- 1.00
. 83- 1.16
.71- .91
. 83- 1. 16
1. 00- 1.33 1. 16- 1.66
1.
00- 1. 49
.831.49
1. 33- 1.99 1. 08- 1. 66 1.41- 1.99 1.33- 1.83
$0. 66-$ 1. 25
1.00- 1.49
.58- 1.33
.79- 1.25
. 83- 1.12
1. 66- 2. 32
1.49- 1.83
1. 08- 1. 16
. 66- 1. 25
.91- 1.25
1.49- 1.66
. 58- 1. 16
.75- 1.33
1. 00- 1.49
1. 16- 1. 66
1.33- 1.66
.58- 1.29
1. 04- 1. 41
. 75- 1. 16
1.08- 1.49
.75- 1.20
1. 00- 1.99
1. 00- 1. 66
1. 16- 1. 49
.83- 1.33
.91- 1.49
.75- 1.25
. 71- 1. 41
1. 16- 1. 99
1. 16- 1. 49
_
.
„
_
.
.
.
_
.
_
1 Spain. Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión, Servicio General de Estadística. Anuario Estadístico de
España, Í928. Madrid, 1930, pp. 537, 538.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1921
193
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
AVER A G E D A IL Y W AGES OP VARIOUS O C CUPATIONS IN T H E PR O V IN C IA L C APITALS
OF SPA IN IN 1928—Continued
Locality
Albacete_____________
Alicante_____________
Almería______________
A vila________________
Badajoz______________
Barcelona____________
Bilbao_______________
Burgos_______________
Caceres______________
Cadiz________________
Castellón____________
Ciudad R eal_________
Cordoba_____________
Corana______________
Cuenca______________
Gerona______________
Granada_____________
Guadalajara__________
Huelva____________. . .
Huesca.______________
Jaén_________________
Leon________________
Lérida_______________
Logroño______________
Lugo____________ ____
Malaga______________
M urcia.._____________
Orense_______________
Oviedo_________ _____
Palencia_____________
Palma de Mallorca___
Palmas______________
Pamplona____________
Pontevedra____ ______
Salamanca___________
San Sebastian________
Santa Cruz de TenerifeSantander____________
Segó via______________
Sevilla______ _________
Soria_________ ______ _
Tarragona____________
Teruel_______________
Toledo_______________
Valencia_____________
Valladolid....... ..............
Vitoria_______ ______ _
Zamora______________
Zaragoza...... ....................
Seam
stresses and
modistes
Agricultural workers
Black
smiths
Men
[193]
Miners
Children
*0. 25-*n 33
$0. 83-$ 1. 33
. 83- 1.16
. 33- . 65 $0. 75-$ 1. 00
. 66- 1. 00
. 75- 1. 00
17- .42
. 75- 1. 08
.04- . 50
1.00- 1. 08
. 17- . 21
.58- . 91
.50- 1.49 1.16- 1.49 $0. 33-$ 1. 00 $0. 25-$0. 66 1. 33- 1. 99
1.49- 2. 08
. 58- . 83 1. 00- 1. 16
.50- 66
.25- .50 1.00- 1. 33
.75- .91
.33- .50
.50- .83
. 17- .50
. 83- 1. 33
. 17- .25
. 83- 1. 00
. 17- .83
. 83- 1.16
.33- 50
.25- .75
.33- .66
. 66- 1. 99
.12- .42
. 58- 1.16
.42- 1.33
.25- 66
.33- .50
. 17- 33
.08- . 17
. 66- 1. 22
. 33- 1. 25
.33- .75
. 83- 1. 49
.42- 58
. 17- .29
. 75- 1. 08
.50- 1.00
. 83- 1. 33
. 12- .25
.08- . 17
.66- .83
. 17- .33
. 83- 1. 33
. 50- 1.00
. 83- 1. 33
. 12- . 17 1. 16- 1. 25
.62- .75
.25- 29
.33- .50
. 83- 1. 33
. 42- 1. 00
. 17- .33
. 17- .66
. 17- .33 1. 00- 1. 33
.33- .83
.66- .91
.25- 58
.21- .33
.91- 1.33
.37- 58
. 66- 1. 25
.46- .75
. 58- 1. 16
. 17- 42
. 17- .33
.08- .42
. 58- 1.16
1 50
1.00- 1. 49
.25- .66 i . 50- . 75
. 83- 1. 49
. 17- 1.00
. 66- 2.49
.50- .83
. 83- 1. 33
.42- 66
.25- .50
.33- .66
. 83- 1.16
.08- .25
. 66- 1.16
.33- .58
. 66- 1. 16
.25- 66
.29- 50
.12- .21 1.00- 1. 25
.33- .50
.58- .91
. 17- .33
.66- 1.00
.33- .58
.58- 1.00
. 12- .33
. 83- 1. 33
.33- .50
.66- .91
. 17- .50 1. 00- 1. 83
.66- 1.41
. 75- 1.49
.50- 1 00
1.16- 1. 33
.42- . 50
. 12- . 75
. 29- 42
. 17- .25
. 83- 1.99
. 66- 1. 00
. 17- .25 1. 33- 1. 99
.33- .66
. 66- 1. 00
.29- .58
. 66- 1.16
. 12- .50
. 91- 1. 66
.29- 58
. 33- 1. 33
.33- 42
. 17 ,33 2.50- .66
. 75- 1. 66
.42- .66
. 17- 29
.08- .12
.33- .50
1. 33- 1. 58
.42- 1. 16
.62- . 95
. 12- .37 1. 25- 2. 49
.42- .83
.50- .83
.33- 50
1.16- 1. 66
.25- 1.08
. 87- 1.16
.29- .42
. 83- 1. 00
.33- .42
. 17- .33 1. 04- 1. 49
.42- .66
. 83- 1. 33
1. 33- 1. 66
. 50- . 58
.83- 1. 00
.42- 66
.42- .66 1. 66- 1. 83
.83- 1.33 1. 00- 1. 33
. 83- 1. 49
. 33- .83
. 66- 1. 00
25
. 17- .33
.50- .66
. 17
. 66- 1.16
.42- 1.00
. 83- 1.16
.33- 42
.25- .42
.66- .83
.04- .42 ä.54- .79
.08- 33
.08
. 75- 1. 33
.33- .58
.42- 58
. 17- .25
. 66- 1. 00
.66- .83
. 21- . 25
.42- . 58
. 66- . 83
. 83- 2. 49
.25- .66
.33- .83 1.16- 1. 83
1 And sustenance.
2 And breakfast and lunch.
3 During harvest, 8 pesetas ($1.33) and sustenance.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Women
$0. 91—$1. 33
. 50- 1. 41
1.16- 1.99
1.00- 1.16
. 42- 1. 33
1.16- I1.83
.83- I1.33
. 66- 1. 49
1. 58- 1. 91
1.49- 1. 91
. 75- 1. 00
194
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
AVERAGE D A IL Y W AGES OE VARIOUS O C CUPATIONS IN T H E PR O V IN C IA L CAPITALS
OF SP A IN IN 19 28 —Continued
Locality
Alicante
. __ ___________
\ 1rp0i'i a
Badajoz
- ____
Barcelona
_ _
Bilbao
____ ___ _____
Burgos
____ __
(4acoras
_______ _____
ad i 7.
Castellón
_ _ _ _ _
Olvidad "Rpal
Onrdoba
í4omrifl,
_________ ______
fiaron a,
______ _____ Granada----------------------------Huelva
- .Ta.pTi
_____ _____ — —
T,p.on
_ __
Tveri da
____ _____ Togrono
__- M alaga
Murcia
- - --- -- --------Oron sp
Oviedo
______
Palencia___________________
Palma do Mallorca
Palman
- -____
]Pam p i n n a
Pontevedra
- - __
Palamane«
Pan Sebastian
Santander
Segovia
- Sevilla
_ _ _ _
Tarragona
Toledo
V al pnpi a
_____
Vaiiadolid
Vitoria ___- ___
— -Zamora___________________
Zaragoza----------------------------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Metal
workers
Textile
workers
Sawyers
Cabinet
makers
to. 83-$l. 25 t0. 75-$l. 25
. 83- 1. 33 ;0. 83-$ 1.16
1. 33- 1. 49
. 54- 1. 33
.66- .83
. 91 1. 08
1. 00- 1. 25
1.
49- 2. 32
1.
332.16
1. 16- 1. 99
1.16- 1. 49 1. 99- 2. 32 1. 58- 1. 99
. 91- 1. 16 1. 08- 1. 16
. 66- 1. 00
. 83- 1. 25
. 50- 1. 66
.17- .83
. 50- 1. 08
.75- .91 1. 00- 1. 49
. 91- 1. 41
. 83- 1. 33
.42- .66 1. 00- 1. 66
1. 16- 1. 49
. 83- 1. 33
. 83- 1. 33
. 33- 1. 33
. 66- 1. 33
. 75- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 66
. 66- 1.16
. 73- 1. 08
. 83- 1. 58
. 83- 1. 33
1. 33- 1. 66
1.
16- 1. 83
1.
001.
49
1.
081.
41
1. 08- 1. 49
1. 00- 1. 83 1. 49- 1. 66 1. 16- 1. 33 1. 41- 1. 66
1. 08- 1. 49
1. 00- 1. 99
1. 00- 1. 41 1. 08- 1. 49
1. 00- 1. 49
. 66- 1. 49
. 83- 1. 66
. 58- 1. 00
. 66- 1. 33
. 91- 1. 08 1. 33- 1. 49
1. 33
1.16- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 99
. 83- 1. 66 1. 00- 1. 66 1.16- 1. 99
. 83- 1. 33
. 83- 1. 00 1. 00- 1. 66
1. 00- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 33
. 58- 1. 00
1. 49- 1. 66 1.16- 1. 41
1. 00- 1. 45
. 66- 1. 00
. 66- 1. 00
. 66- 1. 00
. 66- 1. 16
. 71- 1. 41
. 58- 1. 16
. 83- 1. 66
1. 33- 1. 83 1. 33- 1. 99
1. 49- 1. 99
. 83- 1. 00 1. 33- 1. 49
. 83- 1.16
1. 49- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 33
. 83- 1.16
. 83- 1. 49
1. 49- 1. 99
1. 33- 1. 99 1. 33- 2. 49
1. 33- 1. 99
. 50- 1. 33
. 50- 1. 00
. 91- 1. 49
. 50- 1. 33
. 75- 1.16
. 75- 1. 49
. 62- 1. 41
. 75- 1. 41
. 58- 1.16
1. 41- 1. 58 1. 33- 1. 49
1. 41- 1. 49
1. 25- 1. 99 1. 49- 1. 83
1. 25- 2. 08
. 91- 1. 33 1. 00- 1. 41
. 91- 1. 33
1. 54- 2. 08 1. 04- 1. 41 1. 45- 1. 91 1. 08- 1. 83
.75- 1.00 1. 33- 1. 66 1. 49- 1. 66
1. 66- 1. 83
1. 66- 1. 83
1.49- 1. 66 1. 33- 1. 49
. 83- 1. 64
. 83- 1. 33
. 91- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 66
. 75- 1. 33
1. 41- 1. 66
.75- 1.33
. 83- 1. 08 1. 00- 1. 33 1.16- 1.49
. 83- 1. 58
. 66- 1. 33
1.
49
1. 33- 1. 66
1. 33- 1. 99 1.16- 1. 91 1. 00- 1. 49 1. 08- 1. 66
>1. 33—
$1. 99
1. 16- 1. 66
1. 00- 1. 08
1. 49- 2. 32
1. 49- 1. 99
[194]
Paper
makers
Ceramic
workers
$0. 75—$1. 00
.42- .83
;l. 16-$2. 32
1. 25- 1. 74
. 83- 1.16
. 50- 1.16
. 83- 1. 08
1. 16- 1. 99
1. 25- 1. 49
.42- .66
. 42- 1. 00
. 66- 1.16
. 66- 1.16
1. 00- 1. 33
1.08- 1.16
. 83- 1. 33
1. 33- 1. 49
1. 08- 1.16
. 58- 1. 00
. 75- 1. 00
. 83- 1. 66
. 66- 1. 25
1. 33- 1. 99
. 83- 1.16
. 50- 1. 33
. 75- 1. 00
. 66- 1. 49
1. 00- 1.40
. 581. 001. 251. 001. 451. 33-
.58
1. 00
1. 41
1. 49
1. 33
1. 99
1. 66
~Í.’ 6(U"Í. 99
. 83- 1. 66
. 83- 1. 49
1.00- 1.49
195
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages in M adrid, S pain , 1927
VERAGE daily and hourly wages and hours of labor in Madrid,
L Spain, for the year 1927, for specified occupations, are shown in
the following table, which is taken from the Spanish Statistical Year
book.“ .
A
A VERAGE D A IL Y W AGES A N D H OURS OF LABOR IN M A D R ID , SPA IN , 1927, BY
OCCUPATION
[Conversions on basis of average exchange rate of peseta for 1927=17.1 cents]
Occupation
Hours
per
day
D aily wages
8
$1. 28-$l. 71
Masons ............__ .......8
1.03- 1. 71
Potters.
.... ............
8
. 68- 2. 57
Power-saw operators
8
2.20
Copyholders* (printing). . .
Candy m akers...
_ _
8
. 34- 1. 71
8
. 13- 1. 03
Embroiderers _____ ____
Cruller and waffle makers.
8
1. 28- 1. 71
Compositors___ _
8
2.20
8
. 26- 2. 05
Upholsterers____________
1. 54- 2.16
Stone cutters. . .
8
1. 08- 1. 27
Railroad conductors. . . . .
8
Caramel makers. . . ___
8
. 51- 1. 54
8
Carpenters, m ill.... ............ .
1. 85
(i)
Postmen.
. .
1.11
8
Locksm iths...
_
_ _
2. 05
10-12
Mat tress makers____
. 86- 1. 57
8
Conductors, street railway.
1. 20- 1. 54
8
. 73- 2. 31
Confectioners, pastry cooks
8
1.03- 1. 54
Cart builders
8
. 43- 2.14
Carriage builders.
8
Mosaic makers__
1. 28- 1. 75
8
Proofreaders . .
2. 48
8
. 77- 1. 71
Cutters, boots and shoes.
Tanners___ .
.
. ..
8
1.03- 1.41
Chauffeurs, private______
2 25.65-85. 50
(>)
8
. 34- 1. 03
Chocolate makers________
8
2 34. 20-68. 40
Clerks, sh o e..
.
__
8
Clerks, coal yards____
. 86- 1. 20
8 3 205.20-1,197.00
Clerks, commercial
8
4 .77- 1. 03
Clerks, barber shops ___
8
. 68- 1. 54
Clerks, fish market_____ .
Clerks, undertaking firms.
1.40
(>)
Clerks, dairy__
_ . _
10-12
1. 20- 1. 54
8
Clerks^ wine stores . .
. 86- 1. 03
8
Gilders. .
. 34- 2.14
8
Cabinetmakers.
. 26- 2. 22
8
Floor tilers.. . .
1. 54- 2.14
8
Stone pavers.............
. 77- 1. 97
8
Bookbinders___. . . . . . .
2.39
8
Coffee-cake makers.
. 73- 2. 01
8
2. 57- 3.08
Sculptors, ornamental
8
Stereotypers .................
1.69- 3. 29
8
Stucco plasterers.
. .
1.54- 2.14
(>)
Firemen, railroad.. .
1.32- 1..55
8
Pipe layers__________ _
1.41- 1. 84
8
Plumbers.__________ . .
. 26- 2. 05
8
Type founders__________
. 34- 4. 62
8
Biscuit makers_____ . . . _
. 34- 1. 28
8
Gas fitters__________ . . .
. 77- 2. 14
1 Hours vary.
2 Per month.
Cap makers, female______
Cap makers! m ale..
Engravers........ .....................
Switchmen_________ ____
Gatekeepers, m ale.. '
Gatekeepers, female__
Brakemen.
___________
Harness makers________
Horseshoers_______
Pressmen _ _______ ____
Electricians, installation...
Jewelers_____ _________
Footmen . .
Linotype operators
Lithographers. . .
Housekeepers
Machinists, railroad______
Sculptors . . ............... .
Metal workers.. _______
M iners..
Molders, iron...
Molders, metal.
Porters, train___________
Iron workers.........
Artificial-stone workers___
___
Photographers . .
Shovelers . . .
Bakers
Pavers, wood
Furriers.. __ . . .
R e in f o r c e d - c o n c r e t e
workers__ ___________
Unskilled workers
Painters . . . .
Silversmiths
Sewermen
Pharmacists, experienced..
Watchmakers
Distributors of periodicals..
Butlers. .
Tailors, military ..
Engravers . .
T ile makers Telephone operators
Stage machinists
Tramway workers
W atchm en--------------------Tapestry makers, female.
Tapestry makers, male___
Hours
per
day
8
8
8
8
8
8
(9
(i)
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
0)
(>)
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8-9
8
0)
8
8
8
8
8
(l)
8
8
8
8
D aily wages
$0.17-$0.86
.17- 1.37
.17- 2 05
.97
.88
. 56
1.07- 1.13
1. 71- 2 57
. 77- 1 71
1. 28- 2 44
2.05- 2. 57
.77- 9 74
1 03
1 37
1. 54- 9. 57
60
1.94- 2.37
1.88- 2.39
.26- 2.05
1 45
_26- 2 05
.26- 1 71
.91
. 26- 2 05
1. 54- 2 ! 22
1 71
1 37
1. 20- 2 3Q
1 97- 9
. an
1.20- 1. 71
1. 44
16- 1 28
. 34- 2 14
68- 2 74
1 45- 1 88
2 25.65-85! 50
86- 3 42
. 34- l! 15
2 17.00-51 30
68
1.37- 9 57
.86- 1 03
. 51- 2 57
68- 1 88
t68- 2 05
1 .3 7
. 86- 1. 20
1. 37- 2. 57
3 Per year.
4 Plus 15 per cent on the services performed.
“ Spain. Ministerio de Trabajo y Prevision.
España, 1928. Madrid, 1930, pp. 535, 536.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Occupation
Servicio General de Estadística.
A.auario Estadístico de
TREND OF EM PLOYM ENT
S u m m a ry for N ovem ber, 1930
MPLOYMENT decreased 2.5 per cent in November, 1930, as
compared with October, and pay-roll totals decreased 5.1 per
cent, according to reports made to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The industrial groups surveyed, the number of establishments
reporting in each group, the number of employees covered, and the
total pay rolls for one week, for both October and November, together
with the per cent of change in November, are shown in the following
summary :
E
SU M M A R Y OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS, O C TOBER A N D N O V E M B E R .
1930
\
Industrial group
Establishments
Employment
October,
1930
Per
Novem cent of
ber, 1930 change
Pay roll in 1 week
October,
1930
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
1. M a n u fa c tu r in g ____________ 14,008 3,006,250 2,993,337 1 -2 .7 $75,362,531 $71,017,068
7,931, 705
8,565, 748
321,092 _(2)
321,163
2. Coal m in in g _______________ 1,481
3,149, 583
3, 765,449
100,236
102,072
- 1 .8
147
Anthracite................ .
4, 782,122
4,800,
299
220,856
+
0
.8
219,
091
1,334
Bitum inous___
_______
1,328,581
1,227, 399
46,621
- 5 .7
49,431
331
3. M etalliferous m in in g --------4. Q uarrying a n d n o n m e ta llic
761,172
902,510
- 7 .5
33,967
36,725
771
m in in g __________________
5. C rude p etro leu m p ro d u c778,411
804,536
- 1 .9
22,418
22,002
568
in g
_ -719,848
- 1 . 6 22,055,681 21,561,684
731,246
(i. P u b lic u tilitie s _____________ 11,523
9,404,806
9,697,414
328,934
- 1 .6
334, 262
7,934
Telephone and telegraph—
7, 605, 755
7, 742,153
243,
343
- 1 .3
246,
593
3,118
Power, light, and water___
Electric railroad operation
and maintenance, exclu4, 551,123
4, 616,114
147, 571
-1 .9
150,391
470
sive of car sh o p s..
-----8,955,107
8,869,547
358, 709
351,375
+ 2.1
9,044
7. Trade. _____ ____ ___ .
1,961, 572
2,001, 751
63, 634
- 1 .7
64,761
1,983
W holesale.. .
....
6, 993, 535
6,
867,
796
295,135
+
3
.0
286,
614
7,661
R eta il..
_
..
144,575
- 2 .4 3 2,489,217 3 2,440,613
148,118
1,979
8. Hotels .
. .
___ . ..
812,620
1,371,667
51,339 -4 1 .3
87,399
1,002
9. Canning and preserving__
366,679
371,406
18,322
-1 .8
too
18,649
10. L aundries.. . . .
--------52,772
56,285
2,220
- 4 .5
2,325
53
11. Dyeing and cleaning_____
- 2 .5 122, 177, 709 115,905,230
T otal__________________ 41,525 14,835,099 4,712,082
1-6.1
- 7 .4
—16. 4
- 0 .4
- 7 .6
-1 5 .7
- 3 .2
-2 .2
- 3 .0
-1 . 8
- 1 .4
+1.0
- 2 .0
+ 1.8
- 2 .0
-4 0 .8
—1.3
- 6 .2
- 5 .1
R e c a p it u l a t io n b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGEAPHIC DIVISION
439, 753
450, 224
3,176
7,198 1,470, 270 1,443 291
9, 786 1, 336, 751 1, 297, 630
307, 852
314, 831
4,580
483, 881
477, 426
4, 544
203, 079
196, 865
2,348
175, 190
170, 254
3,168
105, 613
1,634
108, 362
273, 398
292, 511
5,091
All divisions____________ 41,525 4,835,099 4,712,082
New England L- --- - -Middle Atlantic L
East North C entral6. . ---------West North C entral7---- ------South Atlantic 8-_
--------------East South C entral6--------West South C entral10------- -Mountain u __ _____
- - -Pacific I2---- --------- ------- ------ --
- 2 .3 $10, 670, 533 $10,144, 541
- 1 . 8 40, 533,988 38, 293, 796
- 2 .9 34, 841, 551 33, 081 469
7,401, 516
- 2 .2
7, 734, 538
9, 528,119
9, 812, 726
- 1 .3
3, 547,187
- 3 .1
3, 740, 563
3, 919, 585
- 2 .8
4,126, 777
2, 807, 259
2, 881, 608
-2 .5
7, 835, 425
7,181, 758
- 6 .5
- 2 .5 122,177,709 115,905,230
- 4 .9
—5. 5
- 5 .1
-4 . 3
- 2 .9
- 5 .2
—5.0
—2. 6
- 8 .3
- 5 .1
1 Weighted per cent of change for the combined 54 manufacturing industries, repeated from Table 2,
p. 202; the remaining per cents of change, including total, are unweighted.
2 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 Cash payments only; see text, p. 217.
* Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
2 New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.
6 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin.
1 1owa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota,
s Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, West Virginia.
2 Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee.
id Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.
n Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming,
in California, Oregon, Washington.
196
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 196]
(
197
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
The combined totals of these 15 industrial groups showed a de
crease of 2.5 per cent in employment from October to November
and a decrease of 5.1 per cent in employees’ earnings. Excluding
manufacturing, the remaining 14 groups in November showed a drop
in employment of 2.8 per cent and a drop in employees’ earnings of
4.1 per cent.
It should be noted that while the per cent of decrease in employ
ment in manufacturing industries in November is given in the sum
mary table as 2.7, this is a weighted per cent of change. The un
weighted per cent of change based upon the actual numbers of
employees reported in October and November is 2.4 per cent.
The per cents of change shown for the total figures represent only
the changes in the establishments reporting, as the figures of the
several groups are not weighted according to the relative importance
of each industry.
Increased employment was shown in November in 2 of the 15 in
dustrial groups; bituminous coal mining gained 0.8 per cent and retail
trade gained 3.0 per cent.
Decreased employment was shown in November in 13 of the 15
industrial groups: Manufacturing, 2.7 per cent; anthracite mining,
1.8 per cent; metalliferous mining, 5.7 per cent; quarrying, 7.5 per
cent; crude petroleum producing, 1.9 per cent; telephone-telegraph,
1.6 per cent; power-light-water, 1.3 per cent; electric railroads, 1.9
per cent; wholesale trade, 1.7 per cent; hotels, 2.4 per cent, canning,
41.3 per cent; laundries, 1.8 per cent; dyeing and cleaning, 4.5 per
cent.
Decreased employment and decreased pay roll totals in Novem
ber as compared with October were shown in each of the 9 geographic
divisions, the decreases in employment ranging from 1.3 per cent in
the South Atlantic division to 6.5 per cent in the Pacific division.
PE R CAPITA E A R N IN G S IN N O V E M B E R , 1930, A N D C O M PARISON W ITH OCTOBER,
1930, A N D N O V E M B E R , 1929
Actual per
capita
weekly
Industrial group
November,
1930
1. Manufacturing________________ ________ . .
2. Coal mining:
Anthracite_______ __________________
Bitum inous_________________________ .
3. Metalliferous mining_________________ ______
4. Quarrying and nonmetallic mining_______ _____ ______________
5. Crude petroleum producing______ ______
________ __
6. Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph______ ____________ __________
Power, light, and water_____________ ____ ___ _____ _
.
Electric railroads..____________________ __________ ______
7. Trade:
Wholesale.......................... ............................................................
R e ta il............ ..............................................................................
8. Hotels (cash payments o n ly )2................................................................
9. Canning and preserving............................................................ .............
10. Laundries.............. ............................................................................
11. Dyeing and cleaning....................................................
Total............. .................................................................................
Per c en t of change
November, 1930, com
pared with—
October,
1930
November,
1929
23. 69
- 3 .5
-1 1 .0
31. 42
21. 65
26. 33
22. 41
35. 38
-1 4 .8
- 1 .2
- 2 .0
—8. 8
—1.4
+ 4.3
-1 8 .6
-1 2 .2
—12.4
28. 59
31. 26
30.84
—1.4
—0.4
+ 0.5
+ 6 .0
+ 0 .9
—0. 8
30.83
23. 70
16.88
15.83
20. 01
23. 77
—0. 3
—1. 1
+ 0.4
+ 0.9
+ 0.5
- 1 .8
—0. 7
—0. 2
- 1 .5
—11.0
0
0
24.60
- 2 .7
0
1Data not available.
2The additional value of board, room, tips, and other perquisites can not be computed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[197]
0
198
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Per capita earnings for November, 1930, given in the preceding
table must not be confused with full-time weekly rates of wages; they
are actual jper capita weekly earnings computed by dividing the total
number of employees reported into the total amount of pay roll in
the week reported, and the “ number of employees” includes all per
sons who worked any part of the period reported, that is, part-time
workers as well as full-time workers.
Comparisons are made with per capita earnings in October, 1930,
and with November, 1929, where data are available.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown in
the following statement. These reports are for the months of Septem
ber and October instead of for October and November, consequently
the figures can not be combined with those presented in the foregoing
table.
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS, CLASS I RAILROADS
Employment
Industry
] Sept. 15,
1930
Class I railroads_____________
1, 469, 521
Oct. 15,
1930
1, 438, 744
Per
cent of
change
—2.1
Amount of pay roll in entire
month
September,
1930
October,
1930
$200, 817,972
$206,065,981
Per
cent of
change
+ 2 .6
The total number of employees included in this summary is approxi
mately 6,150,000 whose combined earnings in one week amounted to
about $162,000,000.
1. E m p lo y m en t
Com parison
of
in
S elected M a n u fa ctu rin g
N ovem ber, 1930
Em ploym ent and Pay-R oll T o tals in
Industries, October and November, 1930
In d u stries
in
M an u factu rin g
MPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries decreased 2.7 per
cent in November as compared with October, and pay-roll totals
decreased 6.1 per cent. These changes are based upon returns made
by 13,280 establishments in 54 of the principal manufacturing in
dustries of the United States. These establishments in November
had 2,837,854 employees whose combined earnings in one week were
$67,242,656.
The bureau’s weighted index of employment for November, 1930, is
76.5, as compared with 78.6 for October, 79.7 for September, and 94.8
for November, 1929; the index of pay-roll totals for November, 1930,
is 68.3, as compared with 72.7 for October, 74.2 for September, and
95.1 for November, 1929. The monthly average for 1926 equals 100.
Each of the 12 groups of industries had fewer employees in Novem
ber than in October, the notable decreases being 7.3 per cent in leather,
4.2 per cent in lumber, and 3.8 per cent in stone-clay-glass; the smallest
decrease was 0.3 per cent in the paper group.
Twelve of the 54 separate industries, upon which the manufacturing
index is based, reported more employees in November than in Oc
tober. Silk goods employees increased 4.5 per cent, slaughtering and
meat packing and dyeing and finishing textiles each increased 1.5
per cent, and cotton goods employees increased 1.3 per cent; each of
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[198]
TREND
OF
199
EM PLO YM ENT
the increases in the remaining 8 industries reporting increases was
less than 1 per cent.
Outstanding decreases in employment in November as compared
with October, most of which were largely seasonal, were 16.8 per cent
in carriages and wagons, 9.9 per cent in millinery, 8.7 per cent in
fertilizers, 8.3 per cent each in boots and shoes and women’s clothing,
7.8 per cent each in men’s clothing and cement, 7.3 per cent each in
ice cream and cast-iron pipe. Employment was 1.9 per cent lower in
November in the iron and steel industry, 2.4 per cent lower in the
automobile industry, 5.1 per cent lower in automobile tires, 5.8 per
cent lower in shipbuilding, 5.6 per cent lower in machine tools, 4 per
cent in petroleum refining, 3.3 per cent in woolen and worsted goods,
2.8 per cent in electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies, and 3.3
per cent lower in foundry and machine-shop products.
Nine additional industries have been taken up during 1929 and 1930
and are not included in the bureau’s indexes of employment or pay
rolls, no data for 1926, the index-base year, being available. Increases
in employment in these industries were reported in November as
follows: Aircraft, 2.1 per cent; beet sugar, 26.7. Decreased employ
ment was reported in the remaining 7 industries as follows: 0.6 per
cent in rayon, 10.3 per cent in radio, 3.5 per cent in jewelry, 1.8 per
cent in paint and varnish, 1.2 per cent in rubber goods, 7.4 per cent
in beverages, and 0.2 per cent in cash registers, adding machines, and
calculating machines.
Decreased employment and pay rolls were shown in each of nine
geographic divisions except the Mountain division, which again
showed increased employment, due to the inclusion of the beet sugar
industry. This industry’s refining season begins in October and
requires considerable numbers of additional employees while it lasts.
Omitting beet sugar there would have been a decrease of 1.7 per cent
in employment and a decrease of 4.4 per cent in pay-roll totals in the
Mountain division.
T able 1.—COM PA R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
MANUFACTURING E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930, BY
IN D U S T R IE S
Industry
Food and kindred products..
Slaughtering and meat
packing________________
Confectionery______ ______
Ice cream.. ______________
Flour____________________
Baking................. ....................
Sugar refining, cane-----------
Textiles and their products
Cotton goods...........................
Hosiery and knit goods........
Silk goods..............................
Woolen and worsted goods..
Carpets and rugs. ................
Dyeing and finishing tex
tiles...................._ .................
Clothing, men’s . .. . _______
Shirts and collars___ . . . . . . .
Clothing, women’s____ . . . .
Millinery and lace goods—
Seefootnotesat eudoftable,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Number on pay roll
Per
Estab
cent of
lish
ments October, November, change
1930
1930
1,990
236,127
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
233,680
(>)
$6,079,832
$5,968,654
2, 291, 393
726,100
461, 296
424, 616
1,875, 257
301,170
2, 321,079
682,110
432. 796
399,938
1,837,978
294, 753
+ 1 .3
- 6 .1
-6 . 2
—5. 8
- 2 .0
- 2 .1
(>)
207
333
356
350
728
16
86,687
39, 653
14, 036
15,909
69,632
10, 210
88, 013
38, 464
13,013
15,376
68, 520
10, 294
+ 1.5
- 3 .0
- 7 .3
- 3 .4
- 1 .6
+ 0 .8
2,396
457
359
271
185
30
539,242
165, 005
92,014
55, 340
51,633
17, 841
533,340
167,110
92,373
57, 854
49,921
17, 222
(')
+ 1 .3
+ 0 .4
+ 4 .5
- 3 .3
- 3 .5
9,945,480
2, 382, 262
1, 689,131
1, 084,437
1, 056,473
386, 773
9,455,926
2, 381,188
1, 674,458
1,091, 940
991,844
367, 350
«
_(2)
—0. 9
+0. 7
—6.1
—5. 0
109
348
112
403
122
31,632
61,112
18,442
32,052
14,171
32,098
56, 374
18, 224
29, 398
12, 766
+ 1 .5
- 7 .8
- 1 .2
- 8 .3
- 9 ,9
767, 067
1,132, 073
267,579
873, 232
306,453
776,906
956, 585
256,605
706,955
252, 095
+ 1 .3
—15. 5
—4.1
—19. 0
-1 7 ,7
[199]
200
T
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
1 — COM PA R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
MANUFACTURING E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930, BY
IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
able
Industry
Number on pay roll
Per
Estab
lish
cent of
ments October, November, change
1930
1930
Iron and steel and their
__
- products
1,994
199
41
181
585,549
569,674
Iron and steel
_ -Cast-iron pipe_
Structural ironwork_______
Foundry and machine-shop
p ro d u cts____ ----- -.
Hardware . . ____
Machine tools____________
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-water heating
apparatus______ ____ ___
Stoves______ ___________
234, 732
10,464
28, 204
230, 365
9,699
27, 245
- 1 .9
- 7 .3
- 3 .4
1,099
72
154
210, 656
25,531
27, 777
203, 649
25,012
26, 210
111
137
28,158
20, 027
28,196
19, 298
Lum ber and its products__
1,3G1
178,603
171,138
Lumber, sawmills, ______
Lumber, mill work____ . . .
Furniture _________ ____
618
335
408
103,105
25,421
50, 077
98,043
24, 909
48,186
Leather and its products___
454
127,055
117,665
Leather_________________
Boots and shoes__ ____ . .
134
320
24, 668
102, 387
23, 753
93,912
(>)
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
$15,381,964 $13,950,059
5,797,436
207,339
729, 581
- 9 .7
-1 1 .5
-9 . 1
- 3 .3
- 2 .0
- 5 .6
5, 407, 655
540,076
718,039
4,896,058
519, 828
636,426
- 3 .7
-1 1 .4
+ 0.1
- 3 .6
739, 790
521,033
706, 590
456,801
- 4 .5
-1 2 .3
0)
3,639,606
3,298,372
0
2,428,392
587,188
1,841, 204
552,471
1, 359, 010
- 4 .9
- 2 .0
- 3 .8
- 3 .7
- 8 .3
1,976, 254
561, 642
1,101,710
1, 792, 012
529, 261
977, 099
1,911,481
Paper and printing________
1,374
216,754
216,109
57, 346
26, 694
53, 001
79, 713
55,994
26, 494
53,187
80, 434
0)
6,971,851
216
309
442
407
- 2 .4
- 0 .7
+ 0.4
+ 0.9
6,993,999
Paper and pulp _________
Paper boxes___________
Printing, book and job____
Printing, newspapers___
1,452,678
606, 713
1, 754, 771
3,179,837
1,400, 910
592,153
1, 768, 376
3, 210, 412
Chemicals and allied prod
u cts______ ______ ____
414
102,844
99,382
2,841,089
149
181
84
39, 248
10,310
53, 286
38,804
9,414
51,164
0
- 1 .1
- 8 .7
- 4 .0
2,977,739
Chemicals________ _______
Fertilizers.......... ......................
Petroleum refining__ _ . .
1, 064, 356
189, 542
1, 723,832
1,044,048
170,184
1, 626,857
112,003
0
- 7 .8
- 5 .4
+ 0.3
- 2 .3
2,816,526
2,578,921
658,451
806, 587
408, 727
942, 761
550,431
715, 232
412,489
900, 769
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u cts ____ _____ _________
0)
6,418, 601
234, 230
802, 540
-9 .5
(!)
- 9 .3
- 5 .8
-1 1 .3
(>)
- 5 .9
-26. 2
0)
- 3 .6
- 2 .4
+ 0 .8
+ 1.0
0
- 1 .9
-10. 2
- 5 .6
1,098
116,585
Cement ___ ________ .
Brick, tile and terra cotta..
Pottery _______ _____ ___
Glass____________________
118
719
121
140
22, 989
36,449
18,174
38, 973
21, 202
34,490
18, 225
38, 086
Metal products other than
iron and steel____________
239
44,628
44,249
0)
1,043,387
1,004,186
Stamped and enameled
ware___________________
Brass, bronze, and copper
products_______________
77
16, 537
16,444
- 0 .6
367, 280
352, 362
162
28,091
27,805
-1 .0
676,107
651, 824
- 3 .6
Tobacco P roducts_________
225
61, 714
61,161
947,391
934, 170
Chewing and smoking to
bacco and snuff
. ... .
Cigars and cigarettes . . .
0)
27
198
8,832
52, 882
8, 744
52, 417
-1 .0
-0 .9
132,180
815,211
134, 383
799,787
+ 1 .7
- 1 .9
Vehicles for land transpor
tation __________________
1,242
407,012
396,560
0
- 2 .4
-1 6 .8
10,990,372
10,719,968
264, 461
848
6, 966, 704
18,146
0
- 1 .5
-1 5 .6
-0 . 1
Automobiles__________ . . .
Carriages and wagons ___
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad. . . . . _
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad__________
204
48
270,848
1,019
0
7, 073,871
21, 512
440
29, 470
29,180
- 1 .0
886,113
885, 332
550
105, 675
102,071
- 3 .4
3,008, 876
2,849, 786
493
292,063
282,893
8,030,860
7,607,979
17, 817
17,950
0
+ 0 .7
414,166
411, 911
211
64
10
173, 2Q5
6, 428
15,195
168, 362
6,262
15,225
- 2 .8
- 2 .6
+ 0 .2
4,983, 769
176,963
304, 856
4,727,872
171, 396
295,564
41
85
40,282
39,136
38,234
36,860
- 5 .1
- 5 .8
1,045,955
1,105,151
910,406
1,090, 830
T otals________________ 13,280 2,908,176
2,837,854
0)
71,275,539
67,242,656
Miscellaneous industries___
Agricultural implements. _ _
Electrical machinery, appa
ratus, and supplies______
Pianos and organs___ . . . _
Rubber boots and shoes___
Automobile tires and inner
tubes_______ _________
Shipbuilding_____ _______
82
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
L200]
0
-1 6 .4
-1 1 .3
+ 0.9
- 4 .5
0
-4 . 1
- 5 .3
0
- 0 .5
-5 . 1
-3 . 1
- 3 .0
-1 3 .0
- 1 .3
0
TREND
T
201
OF EM PLO YM ENT
1 —C O M PA R ISO N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O LL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
MANUFACTURING E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN O C TOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930, BY
able
IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
Number on pay roll
Estab
Per
lish
cent of
ments October,
November, change
1930
1930
Industry
Industries added in 1929 and
1930, for which data for the
index-base year (1926) are
n ot available______ _
Ravon___________________
Radio.. _______________ .
Aircraft___ ___ _____ .
Jewelry______ __ .
Paint and varnish _ _ ___
Rubber goods, other than
boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tubes __ . ___ . _
Beet sugar
. _ . ____
_______
Beverages ___
Cash registers, adding rnachines, and calculating
____________
machines
All industries
..
.
728
17
45
45
119
183
158,074
155,473
21, 703
46,013
8, 322
13,514
12, 588
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
21, 572
41, 257
8,495
13, 043
12,365
(4)
-0 .6
-1 0 .3
+ 2.1
- 3 .5
- 1 .8
$4,086,992
14,007
17,916
9,495
-1 . 2
+26.7
- 7 .4
350, 501
308,840
318, 440
-0 .2
72
63
155
14,181
14,137
10, 250
29
17,366
17,323
14,008 3,066,250
2,993,327
«
432, 862
1.231,928
276,021
322, 234
342,535
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
$3,774,412
429, 730
906, 533
272,484
299,104
328, 686
330, 250
435,966
290,002
«
- 0 .7
—26.4
- 1 .3
-7 . 2
- 4 .0
- 5 .8
+41.2
- 8 .9
503, 631
481,657
75,362,531
71,017,068
(4)
- 5 .7
—6.1
-5 .7
-4 .9
-4 .4
R e c a p it u l a t io n b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION 5
New England
Middle Atlantic.. . .
East North Ventral . . . - . . .
West North Central . .
South Atlantic .....................
East South Central
West South Central
M ou n tain ... ____ . . . _
Pacific __________________
All divisions_________
1,557
3,556
3,475
1,254
1,641
630
741
290
864
346,377
923, 880
964, 466
168, 483
315, 698
108, 269
86, 729
36, 630
115, 718
339, 713
900, 647
938,616
165, 230
311,529
104,377
83, 293
38, 628
111,294
14,008 3,066,250
2,993,327
- 1 .9
-2 .5
- 2 .7
- 1 .9
- 1 .3
- 3 .6
- 4 .0
+ 5 .5
- 3 .8
$7, 707,978
24, 575, 078
24, 975, 648
4, 064,917
6,009, 401
1, 960,053
1, 978,969
950, 925
3,139, 562
$7, 271,619
23, 078, 832
23, 543,915
3, 865,846
5,786,614
1,797,771
1, 839, 512
965; 694
2, 867,265
(4)
75,362,531
71,017,068
-3 .7
-8 .3
-7 .0
+ 1 .6
-8 .7
(4)
1 The per cent of change has not 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.
2Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 Total—54 industries upon which indexes of employment and pay rolls are based.
4 The per cent of change has not been computed for the reason that the figures in the preceding columns
are unweighted and refer only to the establishments reporting.
5 See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 196.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[201]
202
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 2 . - P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E , OCTOBER TO N O V E M B E R 193^ 12 GROUPS OF
M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S A N D T O TAL OF ALL IN D U S T R IE S
[Computed 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 m the industries]
Per cent of change
October to No
vember, 1930
Per cent of change
October to No
vember, 1930
Group
Group
N um Amount
of pay
ber on
roll
pay roll
Food and kindred products --Textiles and their products -- .
Iron and steel and their products
Lumber and its products------ -Leather and its products, , ,
Paper and printing _ , , , . . . -,
Chemicals and allied products.
Stone, clay, and glass products. _
Com parison
- 1 .3
- 1 .7
- 2 .8
- 4 .2
- 7 .3
-0 . 3
- 3 .2
- 3 .8
- 2 .0
- 6 .4
- 9 .3
—y. 3
—20. 9
-0 . 4
—4. 2
- 8 .1
N um
ber on
Amount
of pay
roll
- 0 .8
- 1 .0
- 2 .9
-3 .2
- 3 .7
- 1 .5
- 3 .4
- 5 .4
-2.7
-6.1
pay roll
Metal products, other than iron
steed
_ _ _
_ _
Vehicles for land transportation.
ATisnellivneoiis industries - _
'T'ofaflP'Ni prod nets
411 in d u stries
of Em ploym ent and P ay-R oll T o ta ls in M an u factu rin g
Industries, November, 1930, w ith November, 1929
T h e level of employment in manufacturing industries in November,
1930, was 19.3 per cent below the level of November, 1929, and pay
roll totals were 28.2 per cent lower.
Both employment and pay rolls were lower in November, 1930,
than in November, 1929, in each of the 54 separate manufacturing
industries upon which the indexes are based.
Among the 12 groups of industries the smallest decreases in em
ployment over this 12-month interval—7.7 per cent, 8 per cent, and
9.3 per cent—were in the paper, food, and tobacco groups, and the
greatest decrease—29 per cent—was in the lumber group. The tex
tile group reported a falling off in employment of 17.8 per cent, the
iron and steel group of 21.9 per cent, the leather group of 18.5 per
cent, the chemical group of 14.4 per cent, the stone-clay-glass group
of 20.8 per cent, the other metals group of 21.5 per cent, the vehicles
group of 22.7 per cent, and the group of miscellaneous industries of
22.8 per cent.
.
.
Decreased employment was reported in each of the nine geographic
divisions ranging from 14.4 per cent in the South Atlantic division to
27.2 per cent in the West South Central division; 5 of the 9 divisions
reported curtailments of more than 20 per cent each.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T2021
203
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 3 .— COM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN MANUFAC
TURING IN D U S T R IE S , N O V E M B E R , 1930, W ITH N O V E M B E R , 1929
[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, 1930,
compared with
November, 1929
Per cent of change
November, 1930,
compared with
November, 1929
Industry
Industry
Number Amount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
Food and kindred products.
Slaughtering and meat
packing . .
Confectionery___ . . . . . _
Ice cream.. ___________ _
Flour____________________
Baking__________________
Sugar refining, cane. . . . .
Textiles and their products..
Cotton goods.
. .. . .. ..
Hosiery and knit goods____
Silk goods.._ _
Woolen and worsted goods..
Carpets and rugs. _ ______
Dyeing and finishing textile s .. . ........................ .......
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 machineshop products_______ . . .
Hardware . .
...............
Machine to o ls.. ________
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-water heating
apparatus______________
Stoves___________________
Lumber and its products....
Lumber, saw m ills.. _____
Lumber, millwork _. . . .
Furniture.
. . . ___
Leather and its products
Leather__________________
Boots and shoes__________
-8 .0
-8 .5
-6 . 2
-12.8
-5 .3
-9 .4
-7 .7
-3 . 1
-5 .3
-16.9
-6 .1
-11.2
-8 .8
-3 .8
-17.8 • -25.5
-25.4
-19.6
-14.8
-23.1
-13.8
-20.0
-23.4
-29.2
-45.7
-33.9
-7 .9
-21.3
-18.2
-12.2
-12.2
-8 .7
-35. 2
-30.6
-22.4
-21.8
-21. »
-16.8
-18.6
-18.4
-30.1
-31.2
-23.9
-28.0
-25. 3
-18.7
-38.5
-40.6
-33.7
-53.6
-19.7
-23.1
-29.8
-34.8
-29.0
-29.8
-22.6
-29.9
-38.4
-39.0
-28.8
-42. 0
18 5
—15! 0
- 19.4
Paper and printing_______
Paper and pulp___________
Paper boxes ______ ___ .
Printing, book and job____
Printing, new spapers____
-
- 7 .7
11.6
12.7
- 7 .8
- 1.8
Number Amount
on pay of pay
roll
roll
Chemicals and allied prodnets_____________________
Chemicals.Fertilizers
Petroleum refining
Stone, clay, and glass products
Cement_________ ______
Brick, tile, and terra cotta.
Pottery...
Glass.
. __________
Metal products, other than
iron and steel
Stamped andenameled ware
Brass, bronze, and copper
products
Tobacco products
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff______ .
Cigars and cigarettes_____
Vehicles for land transportation
Automobiles
Carriages and wagons_____
Car building and repairing,
-14.4
-9 . 2
-16.9
-19. 2
-17.1
-15. 6
—20 4
-18.3
—20.8
-12.2
-25.4
—13.9
-22. 7
-29 5
-22.2
-35.4
-2 2 5
-30.1
-21 5
-18.5
—29 3
- 21.1
—22. 8
• - 9 .3
0 .8
10.3
-3 .9
-19.8
22 7
—18* 9
-42.4
—33 6
—31* 8
- 44 .0
-
-
—32 2
-18.4
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad.. . . .
_
-9 .4
-13.0
-27.1
-36.6
Miscellaneous industries___
-22.8
-36.0
—28. 7
-48.5
Agricultural implements__
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies.. . . . .
Pianos and organs
Rubber boots and shoes. .
Automobile tires
Shipbuilding_____________
-21.' 4
-38.9
All industries
-24.9
-29.7
-23.4
-
—2fi 0
—IQ 9.
-
6 .0
—3fi 1
39.5
2Q 0
-
8 .2
-19.3
-28.2
West South Central___ _ . . .
Mountain_______ _ ________
Pacific_______ ______ ____ _
-2 7 .2
-2 2 .3
-2 0 .7
-3 0 .4
-26. 7
-2 7 .8
All d iv is io n s ____________
- 1 9 .3
- 2 8 .2
-10.3
-19.0
-17.2
-9 .2
-4 .1
R e c a p it u l a t io n b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION 1
New England____________
Middle Atlantic__________
East North Central_______
West North Central______
South Atlantic___________
East South Central_______
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION—COnt’d.
-1 7 .8
-1 5 .4
-2 1 .4
-1 4 .9
-1 4 .4
-2 3 .8
-2 6 .4
-24. 7
-3 1 .7
-2 1 .5
-2 0 .5
-3 0 .6
1 See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 196.
29334°—31
14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[203]
204
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Per Capita Earnings in M an u factu rin g Industries
A c t u a l per capita weekly earnings in November, 1930, for each
of the 63 manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, together with per cents of change in November, 1930, as com
pared with October, 1930, and November, 1929, are shown in Table 4.
Per capita earnings in November, 1930, for the combined 54 chief
manufacturing industries of the United States, upon which the
bureau’s indexes of employment and pay rolls are based, were 3.5
per cent lower than in October, 1930, and 11.0 per cent lower than in
November, 1929.
The actual average per capita weekly earnings in November, 1930,
for the 54 manufacturing industries were $23.69; the average per
capita earnings for all of the 63 manufacturing industries combined
were $23.73.
T a ble 4.—PE R CAPITA E A R N IN G S IN MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S IN N O V E M B E R ,
1930, A N D C O M PARISON W ITH OCTOBER, 1930, A N D N O V E M B E R , 1929
Per cent of change
Actual per
November, 1930, com
capita
pared with—
weekly
earnings
in
November, October, November,
1929
1930
1930
Industry
Food and kindred products:
Slaughtering and meat packing
_ ____
Cnn feetinner y
___________________
—
Tce cream
_
___ _ _ _
______ _
Flour
__________ _____________
Baking
__ ____ ___ _ ____
Sugar refining, cane
________ ______________
Textiles and their products:
flot ton goods
_ ___________ ________
Hosiery and knit goods
_ _ ___________________
Silk goods
__ ___ ______ _______ _
Woolen and worsted goods
_________________ -Far pets and rugs
_ _____________________
Ttyeing and finishing textiles
_______ -- -- - - -Clothing men’s
_____________________
Shirts and collars
__ __ __ - - ____________________
Clothing women’s
Millinerv and lace goods
______ __________ ______
Iron and steel and their products:
1ron an d steel
____
_ _ -----Cast-iron pipe
_ __________
______
Structural ironwork
__ __ _ __ __ - -- - -Foundry and machine-shop products
______ ___ _____
Hardware
_____ _______ - __ Machine tools
__ _______ - - —
Stoves
-- -- - -- ______ _____ _____
Lumber and its products:
Ttimber sawmills
____
_____ - __
timber, mill work
__________________________
Furniture
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____- - - ----Leather and its products:
Feather
__ _______________ __________
Boots and shoes
_________________________
Paper and printing:
Paper and pulp
- _______________________
Paper boxes
____- ______________________
Printing hook and jnb
_______ ________
Printing, newspapers
_ _________________________
Chemicals and allied products:
Chemicals
______ ____________________ ___
Fertilizers
_
___ ________________________ —
Petroleum refining
____________________ —
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Cement
- - ______________
Brick tile and terra, cotta
________ - -Pottery
- ______ ___
____
Glass. I ________________________________________ ____ —
1
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r204]
$26. 37
17. 73
33. 26
26.01
26. 82
28.63
+
-
0.2
3.2
1-2
2.5
0.4
2.9
+
-
1.3
4.9
0.9
1.9
1.2
1.0
14. 25
18.13
18. 87
19. 87
21.33
24.20
16.97
14.08
24. 05
19. 75
- 1.3
- 1.3
-3 .7
- 2.9
- 1.6
- 0.2
- 8.4
- 3.0
-1 1 .7
-8 .7
-7 .2
- 9.8
- 7.1
- 7.2
-18.1
- 1.1
-1 7 .8
-1 5 .2
-1 1 . 6
-1 0 .9
25.17
21.38
26. 78
24. 04
20. 78
24. 28
25. 06
23. 67
- 7.9
-4 .5
- 5.9
- 6.3
- 1.7
- 6.1
-4 .6
- 9.0
-1 7 .3
- 6.3
-12. 1
-20.4
-1 8 .5
-2 4 .5
-1 2 .6
-1 4 .8
18.28
21. 25
20.28
- 4.6
- 3.8
- 7.8
-1 2 .9
- 7.8
-1 7 .3
23.26
14.47
- 19. 5
- 2 .3
-7 .8
-2 4 .2
25. 02
22. 35
33. 25
39.91
-1 . 2
- 1 .7
+ 0.4
+0.1
- 8 .8
- 4 .8
- 1 .7
- 2 .2
26. 91
18.08
31.80
- 0 .8
- 1 .6
- 1 .7
+ 1.0
25. 96
20. 74
22.63
23.65
- 9 .4
- 6 .3
+ 0.6
- 2 .2
-1 1 .3
-1 3 .3
- 9 .8
- 9 .3
- 6 .8
- 4 .2
205
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 4.—PE R CAPITA E A R N IN G S IN MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S IN N O V E M B E R ,
1930, A N D C O M PA R ISO N W ITH OCTOBER, 1930, A N D N O V E M B E R , 1929—Continued
Per cent of change
Actual per
November, 1930, com
capita
pared with—
weekly
earnings
in
November, October, November,
1930
1930
1929
Industry
M etal products, other than iron and steel:
Stamped and enameled ware _ _______ _ . . . . . . .
Brass, bronze, and copper products. . . . ________ ..
Tobacco products:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff. _______ . ______
Cigars and cigarettes
______ _________.
_______ .
Vehicles for land transportation:
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 and inner t u b e s ____ . .
. ______
Shipbuilding
.
........
_ ___
Industries added in 1929 and 1930, for which data for the index-base
year (1926) are not available:
....
. . .
R ayon... ................... ......................................
Radio
___________ . .
. . . . .
...... ................ ..... ...
Aircraft________________________________________
Jewelry
.......................... .......................................... .
.................
______
____ ____.
Paint and varnish .
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires, and inner tubes..
Beet sugar
. .
.
.
._
___
.
__
. .
Beverages
___ . . .
. . . .
______
_____
_ ... .
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating machines___
$21.43
23. 44
- 3 .5
—2.6
- 3 .0
—12.4
15. 37
15. 20
+ 2 .7
—1.0
—2. 7
—10. 8
26.34
21.40
30. 34
27.92
+ 0 .8
+ 1 .4
+ 0 .9
—1.9
—15. 6
—2. 6
-3 . 7
-1 2 .8
22.95
28.08
27. 37
19.41
23.81
29. 59
—1.3
—2.4
—0.6
—3.2
—8.3
+ 4 .8
—19 8
—6. 2
—12. 8
—21. 2
—12. 2
—2. 3
19.92
21.97
32.08
22.93
26. 58
23.58
24. 33
30. 54
27.80
- 0 .1
—17.9
- 3 .3
—3.8
—2.3
- 4 .6
+11.4
- 1 .7
- 4 .1
-4 . 4
+ 7.6
0)
(9
W
«
0)
0)
«
1 Data not available.
Index Num bers of Em plo ym en t and P ay-R oll Totals in M anufacturing
Industries
T a b l e 5 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals, by months, from
January, 1923, to November, 1930, together with average indexes for
each of the years 1923 to 1929, inclusive.
T a b l e 5 —G E N E R A L IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN
MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO N O V E M B E R , 1930
[Monthly average, 1926=100]
Employment
Pay-roll totals
Month
January____
February___
M arch______
April_______
M ay................
June_______
J u ly ..............
August_____
Septem ber...
October_____
November__
December___
1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
106.6
108.4
110.8
100.8
110.8
110.9
109.2
108.5
108.6
108.1
107.4
105.4
95.8 98.6
99.4 103.8
104.7 103.3
105.7 101.1
109.4 96.5
109.3 90.8
104.3 84.3
103.7 87.2
104.4 89.8
106.8 92.4
105. 4 91.4
103.2 95.7
103.8 97.9 100.4
105. 1 99.7 101.5
104.9 100.4 102.0
102.8 100.2 101.0
98.8 98.9 99.8
95.6 98.0 99.3
92.3 97.2 97.7
92.5 97.8 98.7
94.3 98.9 100.3
95.6 100.4 100.7
95.5 100. 7 99.5
97.3 100.8 98.9
97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6
91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93.1
92.2
93.6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5
95.2
97.4
98.6
99.1
99.2
98.8
98.2
98.6
99.3
98.3
94.8
91.9
90.2
90.3
89.8
89.1
87.7
85.5
81.6
79.9
79.7
78.6
76.5
93.9 98.0
99.3 102.2
100.8 103.4
98.3 101.5
98.5 99.8
95.7 99.7
93.5 95.2
95.4 98.7
94.4 99.3
100.4 102.9
100.4 99.6
101.6 99.8
94.9
100.6
102.0
100.8
99.8
97.4
93.0
95.0
94.1
95.2
91.6
93.2
89.6 94.5
93.9 101.8
95.2 103.9
93.8 104.6
94. 1 104.8
94.2 102.8
91.2 98.2
94.2 102. 1
95.4 102.6
99.6 102.3
96. 1 95.1
97.7 92.0
1930
87.6
90.7
90.8
89.8
87.6
84.1
75.9
73.9
74.2
72.7
68.3
A verage... 108.8 98.3 99.2 100.0 96.4 93.8 97.5 1 84.4 104.3 94.6 97.7 100.0 96.5 94.5 100.4 1 81.4
1 Average for 11 months.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2051
206
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Index numbers showing relatively the variation in number of per
sons employed and in pay-roll totals in each of the 54 manufacturing
industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and in each
of the 12 groups of industries, and also general indexes for the com
bined 12 groups of industries, are shown in Table 6 for November,
1929, and for September, October, and November, 1930.
In computing the general indexes and the group indexes the in
dex numbers of separate industries are weighted according to the rel
ative importance of the industries.
Following Table 6 are two charts which represent the 54 separate
industries combined and show the course of pay-roll totals as well
as the course of employment for each month of the years 1926 to
1929, inclusive, and for the months of January to November, inclu
sive, in 1930.
•
T a b l e 6.— IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN MANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , N O V E M B E R , 1929, A N D SE P T E M B E R , OCTOBER, A N D N O V E M B E R ,
19.30
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
Employment
Industry
1929
Pay-roll totals
1930
Novem Septem Octo
ber
ber
ber
1929
1930
Novem Novem Septem Octo
ber
ber
ber
ber
Novem
ber
General index________
91.8
79.7
78.6
76.5
95.1
74.2
72.7
68.3
Food and kindred products.
101.4
94.9
94.5
93.3
102.7
98.1
95.9
94.0
101.8
106.1
82. 3
103.5
102.5
90.8
94.3
91.2
92.0
97.0
97.1
91.3
94. 1
95.3
84. 1
97. 1
96. 1
87.3
95.5
92.5
77.9
93.8
94.6
88.0
104.4
105.4
83.7
105.4
104.3
90.5
98.9
93.9
92.0
101.0
99.2
95.5
97.6
93.3
83.8
99.4
97.0
89.0
98.9
87. 6
78.6
93.6
95.1
87.1
95.8
93.8
102.6
96.7
93.6
108.3
79.9
74.5
84. 1
76.2
78.1
71,3
80.1
74.5
87.0
79.8
74.1
74.2
78.7
75.4
87.4
83.4
71.7
71.6
92.6
89.6
111.2
95.5
89.8
106.7
73.6
64.6
79.0
70.2
73.4
55.2
73.7
66.8
86.3
75.9
67.7
60.9
69.0
66.8
85. 5
76.4
63.6
57.9
100.8
90.1
94.3
101.1
85.2
85.5
81.3
77.0
95.4
85.7
91.4
77.0
78.1
96.9
83.1
92.8
70.9
77.1
88.8
74.8
96.5
78.3
94.3
98.1
78.3
79.9
69.2
65.5
93.6
85.0
86.9
60.0
68.2
94.0
74.4
88.1
50.7
65.4
76. 1
61.2
96.6
92.3
74.1
103.8
79.4
79.0
67. 1
91.0
77.6
78.3
65. 1
87.7
75.4
76.8
60.3
84.7
97.3
92.3
72.7
105.4
69.7
70.0
65.5
85.7
68.5
70.3
62.5
83.5
62,1
63.5
55.3
75.9
101.2
88.8
132.0
81.3
74.1
88.8
78.2
73.7
86.0
75.6
72.2
81.2
102.5
88.8
137.4
70.5
60.2
74.9
67.3
61.2
71.9
60.9
58.9
63.7
78.5
92.6
62.4
72.7
62.9
73.9
63.0
71.2
76.5
87.4
53.8
63.1
56.2
65.0
53.7
57.0
86.3
83.8
74.5
99.9
64.3
62.7
58.2
71.9
64.0
61.8
58.9
72.8-
61.3
58.8
57.7
70.0
87.4
85.6
72.3
101. 1
59.8
59.0
55.2
64. 5
59.3
57. 5
54.7
66.0
53.8
52.2
51.5
58. 6
Slaughtering and meat
packing________________
Confectionery. _ _____. . .
Icecream ___ ______
Flour___________________
Baking__________________
Sugar refining, cane______
Textiles and their products..
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
p r o d u cts............................
Hardware_______________
Machine tools........................
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-water heating
apparatus... ........... .........
Stoves..................................
Lumber and its p rod u cts.. .
Lumber, sawmills.................
Lumber, m illw o r k ,.... . . .
Furniture_____________ . . .
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[206]
207
T R E N D OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 6 —IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN MANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , N O V E M B E R , 1929, A N D SE P T E M B E R , OCTOBER, A N D N O V E M B E R
1930—Continued
Employment
Industry
1929
Pay-roll totals
1930
Novem Septem Octo
ber
ber
ber
1929
1930
Novem Novem Septem- Octo Novem
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
Leather and its products ___
93.5
94.2
93.3
85.1
84.1
85.4
82.2
83.2
82.0
76.3
80.1
75.2
81.1
94.9
77.2
73.6
81.5
71.4
67.4
79.3
64.0
53.3
74.6
47.2
Paper and printing___ ____
103.7
96.0
104.1
104.0
111.2
95.9
88.0
90.6
95.3
107.5
96.0
87.0
91.5
95.6
108.2
95.7
84.9
90.9
95.9
109.2
108.5
98.8
112.2
106.8
116.4
98.5
83.6
93.6
98.4
110.8
97.7
82.9
95. 2
96.3
110.5
97.3
80.0
92.9
97.0
111.6
100.9
103. 0
91.0
92.2
90.3
86.5
L eather.,. _______ . . . _
Boots and shoes___ ______
Paper and pulp__________
Paper boxes.____
...
Printing, book and job ___
Printing, newspapers. __ . .
Chem icals and allied prodn e ts ____________________
Chemicals____________ ..
Fertilizers___ ______ . .
Petroleum refining_______
Stone, clay, and glass prodn e ts ____________ _______
88.6
102.4
86.0
93.9
84.4
89.9
89.3
86.4
94.5
80.6
86.2
104.4
93.5
73.6
82.7
107.8
87.4
104.1
72.1
70.8
91.5
86.3
93.8
92.8
77. 5
90.1
91.0
69. 6
85.1
Cement_____ ___ _______
Brick, tile, and terra cotta..
P o t t e r y ..____ . . . . . . .
Glass____ ___________ . . .
77.9
78.5
95.3
96.6
77.6
64.8
80.4
75.4
74. 1
61.9
81.8
76.4
68.1
84.8
68.4
58.6
82.1
74.7
77.6
74.6
93.8
99.4
75.1
57.0
65.8
70. 1
72. 2
54.4
72.1
72.7
48.2
Metal products, other than
iron and steel_________ _.
93.4
74.4
73.9
73.3
91.1
65.9
66.9
64.4
90.6
73.9
74.2
73.8
84. 2
64.6
69. 2
06.4
94.7
74.6
73.8
73.1
93.8
66. 4
66.0
63.6
98.3
89.8
90.0
89.1
99.6
84.7
82.5
81.3
88.2
99.5
88.6
89.9
88.4
90.2
87.5
89.3
84.3
101.4
87.2
84.4
79.7
82.8
81.0
81.3
71.9
68.4
66.4
88.8
64.2
61.1
59.0
Stamped and enameled
ware__________ _ _
Brass, bronze, and copper
products..............................
Tobacco products_________
Chewing and smoking tobaceo and snuff________
Cigars and cigarettes...........
Vehicles for land transportation. _____________
A utom obiles.._ _________
Carriages and wagons_____
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad_________
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad__________
M iscellaneous industries. _ _
Agricultural im plem ents....
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies___
Pianos and organs___ . . .
Rubber boots and shoes___
Automobile tires and inner
tubes__________________
Shipbuilding...................... ...
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
85.9
85.7
76.4
75.0
53.8
71.2
52.9
69. 5
44.0
82.0
83.0
65.0
60.7
55.7
65.1
56.8
55.1
59.8
60.4
72.7
69.5
55.9
46. 5
92.7
85.5
84.8
84.0
94.5
83.2
82.3
82.2
85.7
68.3
64.7
62.5
95.5
66.4
63.9
60.5
108.9
88.0
86.9
69.8
70.7
84.1
107.9
83.8
81.3
122.3
66.8
99.1
95.5
47.0
72.7
94.4
50.1
75.7
91.8
48.8
75.9
123.8
66.5
103.0
82.2
110.9
73.4
113. 3
69.9
110.6
66.4
104.2
72.5
114.1
111.2
71.2
111.1
56.0
76.9
57.5
57.2
93.3
39.9
63.1
91.7
43.8
64.2
87.0
42.5
62.3
66.1
111.6
59.2
106.1
51.5
104.7
208
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
MANUFACTURING
INDU5TR1E5.
MONTHLY INDEXES 1926- 1930.
MONTHLY
AVERAGE
19X6 = 1 0 0 .
EMPLOYMENT.
I OS
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
JAM.
FEB.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MAR. APR. MAY JUN.
JUL.
[2081
AUG. SEPT. OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
MANUFACTURING
209
INDUSTRIES.
MONTHLY INDEXES, 19^6 - 1930.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY
AVERAGE
I92.6-IO O .
105
100
95
90
85
80
73
70
[209]
210
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
Force Em ployed and T im e Worked in M an u factu rin g Industries in
November, 1930
R e p o r t s as to force employed in November and working time of
employees were received from 10,677 establishments in 54 manufac
turing industries. Twenty-three per cent of the establishments had
a full normal force of employees, 76 per cent were working with
reduced forces, and 1 per cent were idle; employees in 58 per cent of
the establishments were working full time and employees in 41 per
cent were working part time.
The establishments in operation had an average of 76 per cent ol a
full normal force of employees, who were working an average ol 90
per cent of full time; the percentages for October were 77 and 92,
respectively.
The 41 per cent of the establishments working part time in Novem
ber averaged 76 per cent of full time.
7 —PR O PO R TIO N o f f u l l n o r m a l f o r c e e m p l o y e d i n m a n u f a c t u r i n g
IN D U S T R IE S IN N O V E M B E R , 1930, A N D PR O PO R TIO N OF FU LL T IM E W O R K ED BY
EM PL O Y EE S
Establish
ments re
porting
Industry
Total Per
num cent
idle
ber
Food and kindred products---------
1,649
Textiles and their products----
1,874
Slaughtering and meat packing—
Confectionery--------------------------Ice cream______________________
Flour_________________________
Baking--------------------------------- -Sugar refining, cane------------------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------
169
267
225
318
657
13
437
304
256
174
23
96
230
82
197
75
Average
Per cent of
per cent
establishments
of full
operating
time
with—
worked
by em
ployees
in estab
Part
Full
lish
Full Part
ments normal normal
time time operating force
force
Per cent of
establish
ments in
which
employees
worked—
Average
per cent
of full
normal
force em
ployed in
establish
ments
operating
88
90
81
67
85
92
93
(l)
78
«
93
95
87
84
87
90
94
95
92
76
84
85
69
63
85
76
92
82
75
80
73
Iron and steel and their products.
1,725
Iron and steel------------- --------------Cast-iron pipe--------------------------Structural ironwork------------------Foundry and machine-shop prod
ucts_______________________
H ardware.------------------------------Machine tools--------------------------Steam fittings and steam and hotwater heating apparatus---------Stoves_________________________
124
38
165
83
65
91
79
61
82
985
53
142
80
77
74
64
76
102
116
80
80
74
79
66
1,030
86
Lumber, saw m ills.:-----Lumber, millwork-------F u r n it u r e .__________
453
259
318
87
86
84
66
68
Leather and its products.
382
84
83
Lumber and its products.
Leather_______________
Boots and shoes-----------
92
80
115
267
1 Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[230]
65
81
83
211
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 7 —PR O PO R T IO N OF FULL N O R M AL FORCE E M PL O Y ED IN MANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S IN N O V E M B E R , 1930, A N D PR O PO R TIO N OF FU L L T IM E W O R K ED BY
E M P L O Y E E S—Continued
Establish
ments re
porting
Industry
Total Per
num cent
ber
idle
Paper and printing______________ 1,023
Paper and pulp___ _ ___ ______
Paper boxes___ ___________
.
____
Printing, book and jobPrinting, newspapers____
. ...
135
168
368
352
Chemicals and allied products____
300
Chemicals.............................. ..............
Fertilizers___
______________
Petroleum refining_____ _______
126
131
43
Stone, clay, and glass products___
Cement___ ______
_____
Brick, tile, and terra cotta_______
Pottery________ _______________
G la s s..._______________________
Metal products, other th an iron
and steel___ ____ ..
Average
Per cent of
per cent
Average
of full
establishments per cent
time
operating
of full
worked
with—
normal
by em
force em
ployees
ployed in
establish
in estab
lish
Part
Full
ments
Full Part
ments
normal operating
time time operating normal
force
force
Per cent of
establish
ments in
which
employees
worked—
1
2
1
(•)
74
25
96
45
54
94
63
61
66
93
35
38
33
7
92
94
94
99
27
34
37
65
70
65
63
35
87
87
93
101
95
18
94
95
100
28
6
26
82
71
94
74
88
47
77
23
69
78
98
30
22
2
770
6
60
34
91
14
81
98
459
102
111
9
7
1
3
84
54
49
76
7
39
50
22
98
89
88
95
6
8
31
28
85
85
68
69
71
63
91
82
45
54
41
46
59
86
82
88
75
81
71
214
87
14
18
12
55
89
38
61
96
54
55
89
89
35
38
. 62
61
96
96
60
40
64
54
91
82
87
17
15
10
83
35
46
64
61
46
71
143
Tobacco products_____ _________
206
1
44
26
180
4
1
42
44
Vehicles for land tran sp ortation ... 1,102
Automobiles________ ___________
Carriages and wagons
_.
_.
Car building and repairing, electrie-railroad
. . . .
Car building and repairing, steamrailroad_______________________
Miscellaneous industries________
____
Agricultural im plem ents...
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies.
. . .
Pianos and organs
. . ___
Rubber boots and shoes.
__
Automobile tires and inner tu b es..
Shipbuilding.......... .............. ..............
All in d u stries... _____
169
39
C1)
1
395
499
(>)
402
i1)
75
1
159
52
7
34
75
____ 10,677
1
75
88
87
Stamped and enameled w a r e _____
Brass, bronze, and copper products.
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
snuff_______________ __________
Cigars and cigarettes........................
75
77
1
(>)
55
.
85
90
91
9
99
36
64
90
44
56
89
4
96
65
51
49
68
88
81
18
31
9
82
89
76
64
52
42
43
26
85
48
58
57
74
15
89
88
90
82
97
20
12
57
6
29
80
88
43
94
71
79
74
81
68
84
58
41
90
23
76
76
1 Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
2. E m p lo y m en t in Coal M in in g in N ovem ber, 1930
MPLOYMENT in coal mining—anthracite and bituminous coal
combined—remained practically the same in November as in
October, and pay-roll totals decreased 7.4 per cent. The pronounced
decrease in employees’ earnings in November was due largely to the
observance of Armistice Day and Election Day.
The 1,481 mines reported in November had 321,092 employees
whose combined earnings in one week were $7,931,705.
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
L211]
212
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
A n th r a c ite
I n a n t h r a c it e mining in November there was a decrease in employ
ment of 1.8 per cent, as compared with October, and a decrease of
16.4 per cent in pay-roll totals.
Employment in November, 1930, was 6.6 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 2.5 per cent less.
All anthracite mines reported are in Pennsylvania—the Middle
Atlantic geographic division. The details for October and Novem
ber are shown in Table 1.
T a b l e 1 — COM PA R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
ANTHRACITE MINES IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
Mines
Geographic division
October,
1930
Middle Atlantic
.
_
147
100,236
102,072
-1 .8
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
$3,765,449 $3, 149,583
-16.4
B itu m in o u s C oal
E m p l o y m e n t in bituminous coal mining increased 0.8 per cent
in November as compared with October, and pay-roll totals
decreased 0.4 per cent, as shown by reports from 1,334 mines in
which there were in November 220,856 employees whose com
bined earnings in one week were $4,782,122.
Employment in November, 1930, was 8.4 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 25.4 per cent lower.
Details for each geographic division except the New England divi
sion, for which no coal mining is reported, are shown in Table 2.
T a b l e 2 — COM PA R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
BITUMINOUS COAL MINES IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
Mines
October,
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
Middle Atlantic____________
East North Central ___ . . .
West North Central________
South Atlantic_____________
East South Central_________
West South C entral-.. .
M ountain.______ __________
Pacific_______ _____________
393
158
55
341
229
26
122
10
62,881
29, 618
5, 506
54,792
45, 733
2,495
16, 661
1,405
63, 837
29, 516
5,507
55,172
45,423
2,357
17, 605
1,439
+ 1.5
- 0 .3
+ 0)
+ 0.7
- 0 .7
- 5 .5
+ 5.7
+ 2.4
$1,377, 939
705,493
124,987
1,157,824
804, 037
51,428
535, 368
43, 223
$1,356, 737
708,961
116, 265
1,155,062
810, 970
47, 630
539, 371
47, 126
- 1 .5
+ 0.5
- 7 .0
-0 . 2
+ 0.9
- 7 .4
+ 0.7
+ 9 .0
All divisions_______ _
1,334
219,091
220,856
+ 0 .8
4,800,299
4,782,122
- 0 .4
1Less than one-tenth of l per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 212 ]
213
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
3. E m p lo y m en t in M etalliferou s M in in g in N ovem ber, 1930
ETALLIFEROUS mines in November showed a decrease in
employment of 5.7 per cent as compared with October, and a
decrease of 7.6 per cent in pay-roll totals. The 331 mines covered
had in November 46,621 employees whose combined earnings in one
week were $1,227,399.
Employment in November, 1930, was 29.3 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 38.0 per cent lower.
Details for each geographic division from which metalliferous
mining is reported are shown in the following table:
M
C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L METAL- *
LIFEROUS MINES IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Mines
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
Middle A tla n tic,.. ________
East North C entral,- . . . .
West North Central . . . .
East South Central______ .
West South Central
M ountain... ___
Pacific. _____ _
7
43
50
14
64
118
35
1,402
11, 566
7,628
. 3, 436
2,848
20,176
2,375
1.382
11, 444
7,014
3,465
2.383
18, 625
2,308
- 1 .4
- 1 .1
- 8 .0
+0.8
-1 6 .3
- 7 .7
- 2 .8
$36, 671
268, 258
229, 476
66, 671
65, 891
590,465
71, 149
$36,120
252, 670
196, 968
67, 506
55, 909
549, 752
68, 474
- 1 .5
- 5 .8
-1 4 .2
+ 1.3
-1 5 .1
- 6 .9
- 3 .8
All divisions____
331
49,431
46,621
- 5 .7
1,328,581
1,227,399
- 7 .6
4. E m p lo y m en t in Q uarrying and N o n m eta llic M in in g in
N ovem ber, 1930
DECREASE of 7.5 per cent in employment and a decrease in
earnings of 15.7 per cent from October to November were shown
by reports received from 771 establishments in this industrial group.
These establishments had in November 33,967 employees whose
combined pay roll in one week was $761,172.
Employment in November, 1930, was 20.6 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 30.4 per cent lower.
Details for each geographic division are shown in the following table:
A
C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L QUARRIES
AND NONMETALLIC MINES IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
Number on pay roll
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
October,
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
N ew England. _______
M iddle Atlantic .
East North C entral..
West North Central
South A t la n t ic ._____
East South Central.. .
West South Central. .
Mountain_________
Pacific..................
105
130
227
73
96
59
40
5
36
4, 713
7,075
9,683
2,356
5,603
3,012
2,713
76
1, 494
4, 509
6,429
8,773
1,993
5,416
2,710
2, 673
65
1, 399
- 4 .3
- 9 .1
- 9 .4
-1 5 .4
- 3 .3
-1 0 .0
- 1 .5
-1 4 .5
- 6 .4
$133, 239
191,112
272, 056
52,807
101,196
48,164
60,099
2,219
41, 618
$122, 856
146, 559
216,817
45, 422
91, 594
38,137
59, 001
2,589
38,197
- 7 .8
-2 3 .3
-2 0 .3
-1 4 .0
- 9 .5
-2 0 .8
- 1 .8
+16.7
- 8 .2
in d iv isio n s
771
36, 725
33,967
- 7 .5
902,510
761,172
- 1 5 .7
_ .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1213]
214
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
5. E m p lo y m en t in Crude P etro leu m P rod u cin g in N ovem ber,
1930
EPORTS received from 568 crude petroleum producing estab
lishments in November showed a decrease of 1.9 per cent in
employment with a decrease of 3.2 per cent in pay-roll totals as
compared with October. The establishments reporting had in No
vember 22,002 employees whose combined earnings in one week
were $778,411.
As data for this industry were not collected for the months prior to
January, 1930, no comparison with November, 1929, can be made at
this time.
Details for each geographic division except New England, for
which no production is reported, are shown in the following table:
R
C O M PARISON OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L CRUDE
PETROLEUM PRODUCING C O M PA N IE S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
Per
cent
of
November, change
1930
October,
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent
of
November, change
1930
Middle Atlantic______ _____
East North C entral... _____
West North Central________
South A tlantic. ___
___
East South Central
West South Central . .
...
Mountain . . . ____
P a cific.................... _. _. . . .
42
5
22
13
4
388
18
76
691
63
125
577
518
12,125
351
7,968
677
61
189
574
233
12, 106
324
7,838
- 2 .0
- 3 .2
+51.2
- 0 .5
-5 5 .0
- 0 .2
- 7 .7
- 1 .6
$19,446
1, 516
3,445
15, 930
8,473
411,199
12,832
331, 695
$19,188
1,420
3,547
15.476
5, 686
399, 348
12,154
321, 592
-1 . 3
- 6 .3
+ 3.0
- 2 .8
-3 2 .9
- 2 .9
- 5 .3
- 3 .0
All divisions ________
568
22,418
22,002
- 1 .9
804,536
778,411
- 3 .2
6. E m p lo y m en t in P u b lic U tilitie s in N ovem ber, 1930
MPLOYMENT in 11,522 establishments—telephone and tele
graph companies, power, light, and water companies, and
electric railroads, combined—decreased 1.6 per cent in November
as compared with October, and pay-roll totals decreased 2.2 per cent.
These establishments had in November 719,848 employees whose
combined earnings in one week were $21,561,684.
Employment in public utilities was 6.7 per cent lower in Novem
ber, 1930, than in November, 1929, while pay-roll totals were 4.3 per
cent lower.
Data for the three groups into which public utilities have been
separated follow.
E
Telephone and Telegraph
E m p l o y m e n t in telephone and telegraph companies was 1.6 per
cent lower in November than in October, and earnings were 3 per
cent lower. The 7,934 establishments reporting had in November
328,934 employees whose combined earnings in one week were
$9,404,806.
Employment in November, 1930, was 8.7 per cent below the level
of November, 1929, and pay-roll totals w'ere 3.3 per cent lower.
Details for each geographic division are shown in Table 1.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[214]
215
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 1 — C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R ,
1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
October,
1930
Per
cent
of
November, change
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent
of
November, change
1930
N ew England______________
Middle Atlantic
_ _ __ ___
East North Central _ _____
West North Central________
South \tla n tic __ _
.....
East South Central_________
West South Central. _
M ountain__________________
Pacific___________ ________
726
1,224
1,434
1,315
561
593
688
482
911
29, 573
106, 685
75, 664
31, 253
21, 669
10, 710
18, 659
8,134
31,915
29, 066
104,811
74, 777
30, 554
21, 523
10, 656
18, 189
8,018
31, 340
- 1 .7
- 1 .8
- 1 .2
- 2 .2
-0 . 7
- 0 .5
- 2 .5
- 1 .4
- 1 .8
$909, 702
3,445, 662
2, 111, 218
771, 490
587,376
237, 088
428, 206
198, 684
1, 007,988
$883,443
3, 370,927
2, 039,949
746,834
574, 834
231,114
407, 277
192, 060
958, 368
- 2 .9
-2 . 2
- 3 .4
- 3 .2
- 2 .1
-2 . 5
-4 9
-3 3
-4 . 9
All d iv isio n s___ ____
7,934
334,262
328,934
-1 .6
9,697,414
9,404,806
- 3 .0
Power, Ligh t, and W ater
E m p l o y m e n t in power, light, and water plants was 1.3 per cent
lower in November than in October, and pay-roll totals were 1.8
per cent lower. The 3,118 establishments reporting had in Novem
ber 243,343 employees whose combined earnings in one week were
$7,605,755.
Employment in November, 1930, was 1.2 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 0.4 per cent lower.
Details for each geographic division are shown in Table 2.
T a b le 2.—C O M PARISON OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
POWER, LIGHT, AND WATER COM PA N IES IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
New England . . ___
Middle A tlantic.. . . . .
East North C e n t r a l___
Wrest North Central..
South Atlantic_____ . . . . .
East South C entral____ ._
West South Central __
M ountain. _ ___ . _
Pacific___
_______
All divisions________
Estab
lish
ments
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
October,
1930
254
351
648
425
262
169
543
126
340
22, 268
67,163
57, 721
30, 548
24,755
7,692
15,454
6, 546
14, 446
21, 922
66, 756
56, 257
30, 348
24, 062
7, 377
15, 420
6,508
14, 693
3.118
246,593
243,343
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
- 1 .6
- 0 .6
- 2 .5
-0 . 7
- 2 .8
-4 . 1
-0 .2
- 0 .6
+ 1 .7
$720, 969
2,186,920
1, 911, 328
889, 698
739,854
193,125
435,525
200, 525
464, 209
$706, 866
2,147, 203
1, 882,147
879,087
723, 736
182, 656
426,558
194, 361
463,141
- 2 .0
- 1 .8
-1 . 5
-1 . 2
- 2 .2
- 5 .4
-2 . 1
-3 . 1
- 0 .2
-1 .3
7S742,153
7,605,755
- 1 .8
Electric Railroads
E m p l o y m e n t in the operation and maintenance of electric railroads,
exclusive of car shops, decreased 1.9 per cent from October to Novem
ber, and pay-rolls totals decreased 1.4 per cent. The 470 establish
ments reporting had in November 147,571 employees, whose com
bined earnings in one week were $4,551,123.
Employment in November, 1930, was 10.2 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 10.9 per cent lower.
Details for each geographic division are shown in Table 3.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[215]
216
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 3 —C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN TH E OPERA
TIO N A N D M A IN T E N A N C E OF ID E N T IC A L ELECTRIC RAILROADS IN OCTOBER
A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Estab
lish
ments
Geographic division
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
New England__________ _
Middle A t l a n t i c . _ ______
East North Central... .
V est North Central.
_ .
South Atlantic
East South Central _ _____
West South Central___
___
Mountain __ ___
Pacific________________ _ _
49
111
110
06
48
11
30
14
31
14,455
39,424
46,317
14, 350
11,006
3, 650
5, 515
2,181
13, 493
14,411
39,014
45,047
14,040
10,716
3, 667
5,162
2,112
13, 402
- 0 .3
- 1 .0
- 2 .7
- 2 .2
- 2 .6
+ 0.5
- 6 .4
- 3 .2
- 0 .7
$515,057
1,171,101
1,479,985
435, 387
297, 231
99, 853
140, 664
60. 997
415,839
$510,414
1,182, 579
1,448, Oil
420, 482
287,527
97,404
134; 289
58, 680
411,737
- 0 .9
+ 1.0
-2 . 2
- 3 .4
- 3 .3
-2 . 5
-4 . 5
- 3 .8
- 1 .0
All divisions_____
470
150,391
147,571
-1 .9
4,016,114
4,551,123
- 1 .4
__
7. E m p lo y m en t in W h olesale and R etail T rade in N ovem ber,
1930
MPLOYMENT in 9,644 establishments—wholesale and retail
trade combined—increased 2.1 per cent in November as com
pared with October, and pay-roll totals increased 1.0 per cent.
These establishments had in November 358,769 employees whose
combined earnings in one week were $8,955,107.
E
Wholesale Trade
E m p l o y m e n t in wholesale trade decreased 1.7 per cent in Novem
ber as compared with October, and pay-roll totals decreased 2.0 per
cent. The 1,983 establishments reporting had in November 63,634
employees and pay-rolls totals in one week of $1,961,572.
Employment in November, 1930, was 10.0 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 10.7 per cent lower.
Details for each geographic division are shown in Table 1.
T a ble 1.— C OM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
WHOLESALE TRADE E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
New England ______
Middle Atlantic________
East North Central, ___
West North Central____
South Atlantic____ ______
East South Central___ .
West South Central______
M ountain..............
........
Pacific . . .
All divisions. ______
Estab
lish
ments
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
October,
1930
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
175
320
273
267
196
64
246
83
359
4,114
10, 369
11, 764
14,135
4,112
1,823
5, 598
1,965
10, 881
3, 972
10,010
11,417
14,129
4,147
1, 784
5,534
1,951
10, 690
- 3 .5
- 3 .5
- 2 .9
-(* )
+ 0.9
- 2 .1
- 1 .1
- 0 .7
- 1 .8
$114, 014
332,459
365, 952
422, 727
117, 409
51,465
166, 962
66,423
364, 340
$111,812
327,873
355, 604
416, 237
116, 315
49, 610
162, 869
65, 524
355, 728
- 1 .9
- 1 .4
- 2 .8
- 1 .5
-0 .9
- 3 .6
-2 .5
- 1 .4
- 2 .4
1,983
64,761
63,634
-1 .7
2,001, 751
1,961,572
-2 .0
1 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)'
[ 216 ]
217
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
R e ta il T rade
E m p l o y m e n t in retail trade establishments increased 3.0 per cent
in November and pay-roll totals increased 1.8 per cent. These
changes are in continuation of the regular autumn increases which
began in September.
The 7,661 establishments from which reports were received in
November had 295,135 employees whose combined earnings in one
week were $6,993,535.
Employment in November, 1930, was 7.8 per cent lower than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 8.0 per cent lower.
Details by geographic divisions are shown in Table 2.
T a b l e 2.—C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
RETAIL TRADE E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
New England. __ _ ________
M iddle A tlan tic.. . . . . _____
East North Central_______
West North Central . . . . _ .
South A tlantic________. . . .
East South C entral...
____
West South Central. _ ..........
Mountain
Pacific . . .
All divisions ..
__ _
Estab
lish
ments
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
115
398
2,737
688
1,057
429
203
191
1,843
14, 596
80,109
79, 513
20,939
22, 003
9, 395
11,972
5,047
43,040
14,960
83,825
82, 052
21, 591
22,452
8,985
12,519
4, 991
43, 760
+ 2 .5
+ 4 .6
+ 3 .2
+ 3.1
+ 2 .0
- 4 .4
+ 4 .6
- 1 .1
+ 1 .7
$338, 891
2,160,458
1, 919,106
452,070
470, 769
167, 047
246,868
110,808
1,001, 779
$352, 700
2, 253, 736
1, 934,895
451, 749
481, 058
166, 820
249, 779
107, 523
995, 275
+ 4.1
+ 4 .3
+ 0 .8
- 0 .1
+ 2 .2
- 0 .1
+ 1 .2
- 3 .0
- 0 .6
7,001
286,614
295,135
+3.0
6,867,796
6,993,535
+1.8
8. E m p lo y m en t in H otels in N ovem ber, 1930
in hotels decreased 2.4 per cent in November as
compared with October, and pay-roll totals decreased 2 per
EMPLOYMENT
cent. The 1,979 hotels reporting had in November 144,575 employees
whose earnings in one week were $2,440,613.
Slight gains were reported by the South Atlantic and East South
Central geographic divisions, both in employment and in pay-roll
totals, while the greatest decreases again occurred in the New Eng
land and Mountain divisions. The remaining five districts reported
small decreases.
Employment in November, 1930, was 4.8 per cent lower than in
November 1929, and pay-roll totals were 6.2 per cent lower.
Per capita earnings, obtained by dividing the total number of
employees into the total amount of pay roll, should not be interpreted
as being the entire earnings of hotel employees. The pay-roll totals
here reported are cash payments only, with no regard to the value of
room or board furnished employees, and of course no satisfactory
estimate can be made of additional recompense in the way of tips.
The additions to the money wages granted vary greatly, not only
among localities but among hotels in one locality and among employees
in one hotel. Some employees are furnished board and room, others
are given board only for 1, 2, or 3 meals, while the division of tips is
made in many ways. Per capita earnings are further reduced by
the considerable amount of part-time employment in hotels caused
by conventions and banquets or other functions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1217]
218
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
The details for each geographic division are shown in the table
following.
COM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L H O T E LS IN
OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
Hotels
Geographic division
October,
1930
New England
Middle Atlantic- __ _______
East North C ential...
West North Central
South Atlantic _ _ __ __
East South Central-.
_
_
West South CentralMountain
__ ___
Pacific_______
- ------All divisions
.. . .
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
96
358
381
282
168
91
140
114
359
8,451
47, 643
31,410
13,975
11,940
5, 641
8,543
3,721
16, 794
8,005
46, 339
30, 440
13 961
12,055
5, 656
8, 286
3, 428
16,405
- 5 .3
- 2 .7
-3 . 1
- 0 .1
+ 1.0
+ 0.3
- 3 .0
- 7 .9
- 2 .3
$140,161
846, 095
550, 216
205. 335
178, 129
70, 598
112, 939
63, 920
321,824
$130,694
831, 413
537, 863
202, 095
179, 650
70,936
110, 635
59, 448
317,879
- 6 .8
-1 . 7
- 2 .2
- 1 .6
+0.9
+ 0.5
- 2 .0
- 7 .0
-1 . 2
1,979
148,118
144,575
—2.4
2,489,217
2,440, G13
- 2 .0
9. E m p lo y m en t in C an n in g and Preserving in N ovem ber, 1930
ANNING and preserving establishments reported a decrease of
41.3
per cent in employment in November as compared with
C
October and a decrease of 40.8 per cent in pay-roll totals. This
seasonal decrease is general throughout the country, and five geo
graphic divisions, namely—New England, East North Central, West
North Central, Mountain, and Pacific—show decreases in both
employees and pay-roll totals of approximately 50 per cent each.
Reports were received from 1,002 establishments having in Novem
ber 51,339 employees and pay-roll totals in one week of $812,620.
One hundred and twenty of these establishments were closed in Novem
ber, while nine other plants which were closed in October reopened in
November. Sixty plants not included in this tabulation were closed
in both October and November.
Employment in November, 1930, was 1.7 per cent higher than in
November, 1929, and pay-roll totals were 9.5 per cent lower.
Details by geographic divisions are shown in the following table :
COM PA R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L CANNING
AND PRESERVING E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
EstabGeographic division
ments
New England. _ __ _
__
Middle Atlantic_________
East North Central__ -- _
West North Central-.
South A tla n tic __ ______ - East South Central _
__
West South Central___ _____
Mountain
- - __________
Pacific---- ------------- ------ -4ii divisions
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
___
Number on pay roll
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
October,
1930
Amount of pay roil
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent f
November, change
1930
88
89
266
74
143
43
41
54
204
5, 064
11, 688
17, 732
3,507
9, 749
2,611
1,410
5,782
29, 856
2,594 -4 8 .8
10, 369 -1 1 .3
8,010 -54. 8
1,324 -6 2 . 2
7,822 -1 9 .8
1,947 . -25. 4
- 9 .4
1,277
2,282 -6 0 .5
15, 714 -4 7 .4
$74, 683
226, 426
256, 660
46, 857
103, 357
24, 678
9, 217
68, 761.
561, 028
$38, 981
197, 920
135, 506
23,112
82, 257
19, 464
8,706
40, 472
266, 202
-4 7 .8
-1 2 .6
-4 7 .2
-5 0 .7
-2 0 .4
-2 1 .1
- 5 .5
-4 1 .1
-5 2 .6
1,002
87,399
51,339
-41.3
1,371,607
812,020
-40.8
[218 ]
219
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
10. E m p lo y m en t in L aundries in N ovem ber, 1930
MPLOYMENT in laundries decreased 1.8 per cent in November
and pay-roll totals decreased 1.3 per cent, as shown by reports
from 166 establishments which had in November 18,322 employees
whose earnings in one week were $366,679.
There were slight increases in employment in the New England
and Pacific geographic divisions and decreases in each of the remain
ing 7 divisions.
As data for November, 1929, are not available no comparison of
employment over the 12-month period can be made.1
Details for each geographic division appear in the table following.
E
COM PA R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
L A U N D R I E S IN OCTOBER A N D N O V E M B E R , 1930
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Laun
dries
October,
1930
New England_____ _______
Middle Atlantic____________
East North Central- ___
West North Central____
South Atlantic _ ________
East South Central______
West South Central________
Mountain ___________
Pacific_________________
All divisions _____ - -
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
9
52
24
18
14
8
12
10
19
455
8,460
1,023
1,661
1,835
418
973
1,004
2,820
456
8,251
1,001
1,645
1,830
414
901
996
2,828
+ 0.2
- 2 .5
- 2 .2
- 1 .0
- 0 .3
- 1 .0
- 7 .4
- 0 .8
+ 0.3
$10, 781
179, 594
19,144
27,422
31, 398
6,193
15, 707
17, 482
63, 685
$10,820
176,467
18, 805
26,921
31, 389
6,147
14,790
17,626
63,714
+ 0.4
- 1 .7
- 1 .8
- 1 .8
-(>)
- 0 .7
- 5 .8
+ 0.8
+(>)
166
18,649
18,322
-1 .8
371,406
366,679
-1 .3
1 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
11. E m p lo y m en t in D yein g and C lean in g in N ovem ber, 1930
MPLOYMENT in dyeing and cleaning establishments decreased
4.5
per cent in November as compared with October and pay-roll
totals decreased 6.2 per cent, as shown by reports from 53 establish
ments, having in November 2,220 employees whose combined earnings
in one week were $52,772.
As data for November, 1929, are not available no comparison of
employment over the 12-month period can be made.1
Details for each geographic division appear in the table following.
E
i This is the first comparison of employment and pay rolls which the bureau has published for this
industry.
2 9 3 3 4 ° — 3 1 --------- 1 5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1219]
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
October,
1930
Per
cent of
change
November,
1930
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
October,
1930
Per
cent of
November, change
1930
New England. ------- ------Middle Atlantic---- --------- East North Central . . . . . .
West North Central-.- . . .
South Atlantic
East South Central______ . .
West South Central
. .
Mountain ________________
Pacific........... ...........
. . . -----
2
10
5
11
4
4
6
7
4
158
728
211
365
142
171
156
88
306
145
708
219
327
128
171
154
80
288
- 8 .2
- 2 .7
+ 3.8
-1 0 .4
- 9 .8
(')
- 1 .3
- 9 .1
- 5 .9
$5,058
19, 578
4,971
7,920
2,852
3,118
3,103
2,199
7,486
$4, 336
18,659
4,906
6,951
2,607
2,966
3,282
2,005
7,060
-1 4 .3
-4 . 7
-1 . 3
-1 2 .2
-8 . 6
- 4 .9
+5. 8
- 8 .8
-5 . 7
.411 divisions ________
53
2,325
2, 220
- 4 .5
56,285
52,772
- 6 .2
i No change.
Indexes of E m p lo y m en t and P ay-R oll T o ta ls— M in ing,
Q uarrying, P u b lic U tilitie s, T rade, H otels, and C an n in g
following table shows the index numbers of employment and
pay-roll totals for anthracite, bituminous coal, and metalliferous
T HE
mining, quarrying, telephone and telegraph, power-light-water,
electric railroads, wholesale and retail trade, hotels, and canning and
preserving, from January, 1929, to November, 1930, with the monthly
average for 1929 as 100,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 220 ]
IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS, JA N U A R Y , 1929, TO N O V E M B E R , 1930-M IN IN G , Q U A R R Y IN G , PU B L IC U T IL IT IE S , T R A D E ,
HOTELS, A N D C A N N IN G
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
Bituminous
coal mining
Metalliferous
mining
Quarrying
and nonmetallic
mining
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
1929
January_____
February____
March_______
April________
M ay------------June. ______
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
105.7
106.0
98.0
100.7
103.7
92.9
83.2
91.1
101.9
106.1
104.0
107.1
100.7
122.1
90.8
88.3
99.0
80.7
64.7
78.4
103.8
133.9
100.5
137.2
106.4
107.7
106.8
100.2
96.6
94.7
94.1
95.7
97.2
98.8
101.0
101.3
106.1
116.6
108.6
89.2
91.9
90.0
85.6
92.8
98.6
106.8
106.0
108.2
93.1
94.6
97.0
100.6
100.8
103.8
101.5
103. 2
101.2
101.9
103.0
98.5
88.0
91.8
99.1
104.6
104.6
105.6
99.0
100. 1
102.0
103.1
102.2
99.7
91.6
91.9
96.0
99.6
104. 1
106.6
104.7
106. 7
106.6
103. 6
98.6
90.1
85.9
88.9
95.0
100.5
107.1
110.5
104.7
110.3
109.8
105.8
96.0
85.4
94.3
95.3
96.5
97.8
100.4
101.5
102.6
103.7
102.5
101.9
101.9
101.8
Average___
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1930
January_____ 102.1
F e b r u a r y -.... 106.9
March
___ 82.6
April________ 84.1
M ay------------- 93.8
June________
90.8
July_________ 91.6
80.2
August______
September___ 93.8
October______ 99.0
November___ 97.2
105.8
121. 5
78.5
75.0
98.8
94.3
84.0
78.8
91. 6
117.2
98.0
102.5
102.4
98.6
94.4
90.4
88.4
88.0
89.2
90.5
91.8
92.5
101.4
102.1
86.4
81.7
77.5
75.6
68.9
71.1
74.9
79.4
79.1
95.7
92.3
90.9
89.3
87.5
84.6
80.5
79.0
78.1
77.2
72.8
92.7
92. 5
90.8
88.3
85.6
81.6
71.9
71.0
69.9
68.6
63.4
79.6
79.8
83.0
87.4
90.8
90.3
89.9
89.3
87.7
84.7
78.3
71.9
73.5
80.0
85.4
90. 2
90.9
85.5
85.8
82.5
79.3
66.8
Year and
month
[ 221 ]
Operation and
maintenance
of electric
railroads 1
Wholesale
trade
Retail trade
Hotels
Canning and
preserving
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
Em Pay
ploy roll
ment totals
94. 5
93.0
98.7
98.3
99.4
100.0
104.1
101.8
100.4
105.1
101.2
103.9
92.9
92. 6
92.8
95.9
98.4
100.7
103.2
105. 4
105.5
105.7
104.7
102.5
91.7
91.8
94.5
95.5
98. 1
100.4
102.3
103.8
106.6
106.0
104. 1
105.8
99. 7
99.1
97.0
98.5
100.4
101.2
102.2
102.2
101.4
100.5
99.4
98.3
98.7
97.6
98.0
99.5
101.0
101.7
101.9
102.0
101.5
100.0
98.4
99.8
97.7
96.9
97.3
97.9
99.0
99.2
100.4
101.3
101.9
102.9
102.9
102. 6
96.7
96.4
98.5
97.8
99.0
98.6
100. 5
100.0
103.3
102.7
101.9
104.7
99. 2
94. 6
96.2
95. 5
97.3
97.4
93.6
93.6
97. 6
101.7
106.7
126.2
99.0
94.5
96. 1
96.0
97. 1
98.6
95.9
95. 2
99.2
102.6
105. 2
120.6
97.1
99.8
100.9
99.7
98.1
99.3
101. 1
102.6
102.8
100.6
100.0
97.7
98.5
102.0
103.4
100.6
98.9
98.7
99.8
99.4
102.2
100.2
99.8
98.9
50.8
48.9
49.4
90.6
62.0
76.6
126.8
184.8
210.1
143.3
95.1
61.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.6
100.2
99.4
98.9
99.7
99.8
100.0
98.8
96.8
94.5
93.0
105.1
101.9
105.8
103.4
103. 2
103.4
106.6
102.5
102. 2
100.9
97.9
99.6
98.8
99.7
100.7
103.4
104.6
105. 9
106.4
105. 2
104.8
103.4
99.7
100.4
102.1
102.6
104. 5
107.8
106.7
106.6
106. 1
105.6
103.7
97.1
95.1
94.4
95.2
95.2
94.8
95.3
92.9
91.8
91.0
89.3
97.8
95.7
95.4
97. 1
96.0
97.0
95.6
92.1
90.5
88.9
87.7
100.0
98.5
97.7
97.3
96.8
96.5
96.0
95.0
94.8
94.2
92.6
100.0
98.3
99.7
97.9
97.4
98.6
96.0
93.6
93.6
92.9
91.0
98.9
94.4
93.9
97.3
96.7
93.9
89.0
85. 6
92.0
95.5
98.4
99.7
96.0
95.5
97.5
97.3
96.8
91.7
87.6
92.4
95.1
96.8
100.4
102.4
102.4
100.1
98.0
98.0
101.3
101.5
100.1
97.5
95.2
100.3
103.8
104.4
100.3
98.4
98.1
99.8
98.6
97.1
95.5
93.6
46. 1
45.7
49.7
74.8
65. 7
83.0
126.3
185.7
246.6
164.7
96.7
Telephone
Power, light,
and telegraph
and water
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100.0
W
M
o
Q
g
^
H
g
t
g
g
g
^
50.3
51.5
50.8
72.6
66.9
81.5
112.7
172.0
214.8
140.0
82.9
221
1 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see vehicles group, manufacturing industries, page 200, et seq.
57.3
59.2
54.9
98.9
71.2
71.9
109.2
180.1
207.9
134.5
91.6
63.4
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Anthracite
mining
222
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I S tea m R ailroads in th e U n ited S ta tes
HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to Octo
ber, 1930, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having operating
revenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index numbers pub
lished in Table 1. These index numbers are constructed from
monthly reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission, using the
monthly average for 1926 as 100.
T
T a b l e 1 —IN D E X OF E M P L O Y M E N T ON C L A S S I S T E A M R A IL R O A D S IN T H E U N IT E D
STATES, JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO OCTOBER, 1930
[M onthly average, 1926= 100]
Month
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
January------------ _ February-- - --- ....
March . __ ______
April----- ---------------M ay---- ----------------June____
July_______________
August..... ...................
September.- ---------October. -. ____
November
December____ _____
98.3
93.6
100. 5
102. 0
105.0
107. 1
108.2
109.4
107.8
107.3
105. 2
99.4
96.9
97.0
97.4
98.9
99.2
98.0
98. 1
99.0
99.7
100.8
99. 0
96.0
95.6
95.4
95.2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99.7
99.9
100.7
99. 1
97.1
95.8
96.0
96.7
98.9
100. 2
101.6
102.9
102. 7
102.8
103.4
101. 2
98.2
95.5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101.0
99.5
99. 1
98.9
95. 7
91.9
89.3
89.0
89.9
91.7
94.5
95.9
95.6
95.7
95.3
95.3
92. 9
89.7
88.2
88.9
90.1
92.2
94.9
96.1
96.6
97.4
96.8
96.9
93.0
88.8
86.3
85.4
85.5
87.0
88.6
86.5
84.7
83.7
82. 2
80.4
Average______
104.1
98.3
97.9
100.0
97.5
92.9
93.3
i 85.0
i Average for 10 months.
Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day each
of October, 1929, and September and October, 1930, and pay-roll
totals for the entire months.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
222
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 222 ]
223
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T a b l e 2 —E M P L O Y M E N T A N D EA R N IN G S OF RAILROAD E M PL O Y EE S—OCTOBER,
1929, A N D SE P T E M B E R A N D OCTOBER, 1930
[From monthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission. As data for only the more important oc
cupations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sum of the items under the respective
groups]
Number of employees at mid
dle of month
Total earnings
Occupation
October, Septem October,
1930
1929
ber, 1930
Professional, clerical, and general
October,
1929
September, October,
1930
1930
245,494 $40, 709,515 $36,350,646 $36,779, 737
272, 941
247,693
Clerks ___ ---------------- Stenographers and typists----------
155,147
24,818
137, 595
22,892
136, 315
22, 676
22,085, 797
3,292, 332
19, 009,186
2,986, 240
19, 364,157
3,018, 560
M aintenance of way and structures.. ____ _____--- ------------
452,681
356,484
337,056
44,182,951
32,581,625
32,438,959
81,638
48,409
40,172
6, 707, 698
3,463,891
3, 085,104
228, 267
186,028
177, 721
17,441,311
12, 741,144
12, 888,869
458, 844
387,879
378, 794 67,407,210
49, 789,665
50,689,803
Laborers, extra gang and work
tra in .-. __________________ Laborers, track, and roadway section--------------------------------------
M aintenance o f equipm ent and
stores____________________ --
Carmen______________ - - -----Machinists____ ______ _____
Skilled trades h e lp e r s ----------- -Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power plants, and stores)—-----Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power plants, and
stores)----------------------------------
Transportation, other th a n train.
engine and yard______________
Station agents.. .
. Telegraphers, telephoners, and
tow erm en.-. ______ . . . ---Truckers (stations, warehouses,
and platforms)--------------------Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatem en.. ________________
101,585
54,836
102, 243
81, 727
49,175
85, 235
79, 837
47,960
83,159
17, 221, 723
9,851,455
13, 035, 641
11,865,142
7,428,103
9,178,943
37, 383
32, 235
31,955
3, 722,157
3, 010, 561
3,103, 577
52, 634
42, 681
41,123
4, 555,917
3,173,414
3, 227, 648
200,489
178, 742
176,772 26,128,121
28,471
22,388,733
28, 580
4,821, 716
4,534, 547
22,872,298
23, 351
21,345
21, 230
3, 731, 051
3, 291, 761
3,381, 008
36, 849
28,236
28, 266
3, 766, 873
2, 620, 781
2, 721,366
20, 470
19,830
19, 523
1, 595,565
1,539,232
1, 530, 320
29,253
12,109, 023
7, 568, 749
9, 430,801
4, 658. 003
Transportation (y a rd m a ster s,
switch tenders, and hostlers)-..
21,945
19,849
19,625
4,406, 704
3,851,844
3,883,912
Transportation, train and engine
325,958
278,874
281,003
72, 782,614
55, 855,459
31, 503
61, 424
47, 047
37, 576
38, 286
31, 644
61,962
47, 758
37, 656
38, 239
59,401,272
Road conductors___________ . . .
Road brakemen and flagmen____
Yard brakemen, and yard helpers.
Road engineers and m otorm en.._
Road firemen and helpers ..........
36, 689
72, 221
55, 542
43,434
43, 693
9, 604,812
14,123, 331
10, 800, 526
13, 028, 731
9, 583, 407
7, 581, 038
10, 699,123
8, 047,184
10,101, 657
7, 370, 256
7,989,179
11, 419,115
8, 623,134
10, 732,101
7, 830, 631
All em ployees_____________ 1,732,858 1,469,521 1,438, 744 255,617,115 200,817,972 206,065,981
C hanges in E m p lo y m en t and Pay R olls in V arious S ta tes
T
HE following data as to changes in employment and pay rolls
have been compiled from reports received from the various
State labor offices:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[223]
224
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W
PE R C E N T OF CHA N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D STA TES
M o n th ly p e r io d
Per cent of change,
September to Octo
ber, 1930
Per cent of change,
October to November, 1930
State, and industry group
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
Illinois—Continued
Arkansas
Auto dealers, garages-----Auto bodies, wood parts. Bakeries and cafés--------Beverages______________
Brick and tile---------------Candy and confections.-.
Cooperage, h ead in g.... . . .
Cotton compresses, gins,
and products-------------Coal mines_____________
Furniture manufactures.. .
Flour, grain, feed, fertilizer.
Glass factories----------------Handles, hubs, spokes----Hotels__________________
Laundries______________
Lumber m ills------------. . . .
Machinery, foundries, parti
Newspapers and printers..
Packing houses--------------Petroleum products-------Sand, gravel, sto n e.-------Textile mills, garments—
Public utilities--------------Wholesale and retail-------Miscellaneous__________
All industries_____
California
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts-------------- ------- -----Metals, machinery, and
conveyances...... ................
Wood manufactures_____
Leather and rubber goods..
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Printing and paper goods..
Textiles_________________
Clothing, millinery, and
laundering____________
Foods, beverages, and
tobacco----------------------Motion pictures_________
Miscellaneous---------------All industries...........
- 5 .6
- 5 .6
—9.5
- 2 .0
- 5 .4
+ 1.0
.0
- 9 .9
-2 3 .7
—7.1
-2 8 .0
- 6 .9
+12. 1
+ 10.2
+ 3.4
-.4
-6 . 1
+ 1.0
-4 3 .5
- 1 .3
+ 3 .9
+ .7
- 1 .4
-1 8 .7
.0
-2 . 1
-1 6 .4
-2 . 0
- 2 .4
+5.7
- 1 .0
+ 5.1
- 5 .4
- 1 .3
-1 5 .4
- 4 .4
+6.1
-4 6 .0
-1 1 .7
+ 2.8
- 1 .8
- 4 .6
-1 7 .7
- 3 .2
+2. 5
-2 1 .5
-2 1 .4
-12. 2
+ .5
.0
+ 3 .7
-1 0 .8
September to October 1930
+ 2 .1
- 4 .0
-.3
- 2 .1
- .9
+ 1.3
+ 3 .8
- 4 .8
- 3 .6
+ .2
-4 . 2
+ .5
+ 6 .8
-.9
-3 2 .4
+ 4 .7
+ 9 .2
-1 1 .4
+ .7
-3 1 .2
+. 7
+ 7 .2
- 9 .9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 1 .7
+ 0 .3
-1 . 5
-.9
- 4 .8
-3 . 1
-.6
+ 9 .0
-10. 1
-.0
+ 1 .8
9.4
+ 2 .5
- 1 .4
+10.5
-2 5 .8
-10. 0
-2 9 .2
- 3 .3
-1 3 .1
-3 0 .6
- 3 .4
+ 3.4
Trade, wholesale and retail
Services________________
Public utilities__________
Coal mining___ ________
Building and contracting..
- . 4
- 2 .5
+ 5 .8
-7 . 7
All nonmanufactur
ing—
Iowa
Food and kindred products
Textiles____ ____________
Iron and steel works_____
Lumber products________
Leather products________
Paper products, printing
and publishing________
Patent medicines, chemi
cals, and compounds.......
Stone and clay products__
Tobacco and cigars____
Railway-car shops____
Various industries..........
+ 1 .7
+ 3 .9
- 1 .5
+14.6
-1 7 .3
-.8
-2.4
All industries..........
All industries.
+ 1.7
Illinois
Stone, clay, and glass
products-----------Metals, machinery, and
conveyances_____
Wood products-----Furs and leather goods
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc
Printing and paper goods.
Textiles__________
Clothing and millinery—
Food,
beverages, and
tobacco_________
Miscellaneous------All manufacturing - .
Pay roll
-
2.2
October to November,
1930
+ 2 .4
- 1.0
+ 2.2
- 3 .6
+ 2 .0
+ 1.9
-
2.2
10.8
+ 3 .7
+70.0
+.7
+ 3.0
Maryland
-6 . 3
- 5 .2
- 3 .7
- 8 .8
- 4 .9
- 5 .0
- 5 .5
- 4 .5
+ .6
- 8 .1
- 9 .5
-2 6 .2
-1 6 .8
- 2 .3
-11. 3
-1 3 .1
- 2 .5
- 5 .9
- 3 .6
+ 7 .6
- 7 .3
-. 8
+ 1.8
- 3 .6
+ 3.7
+ 1 .8
-2 .3
- 3 .2
All manufacturing. . .
- 4 .5
- 6 .7
Retail establishments____
Wholesale establishments .
Public u tilities.. --------Coal mines. _ ___________
Hotels__________________
Quarries................... ..............
- 3 .4
- 1 .2
- 3 .2
+ 1.6
+ .3
-1 8 .5
+ .3
- 3 .7
+ 1.8
+ .4
+ 1.8
-1 8 .8
Food products___________
Textiles____ ____________
Iron and steel, and their
products________ _____
Lumber and its products...
Leather andits products. . .
Rubber tires_____________
Paper and printing._____
Chemicals and allied prod
ucts_________ ______
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts________ _______
Metal products other than
iron and steel.. _ _____
Tobacco products__
Transportation equipment.
Car building and repairing.
Miscellaneous___________
f224]
225
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
PE R C E N T OF CHA N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A T ES—
Continued
M o n t h l y p e r io d — C ontinued
E m p lo y m e n t —index numbers (1925—
1927=100)
State, and industry group
Per cent of change,
September to Octo
ber, 1930
State, and industry group
September, 1930
October,
1930
Employ
ment
M assachusetts
New Jersey—Continued
Boot and shoe cut stock
and findings__________
Boots and shoes_________
Bread and other bakery
products______ ____ ___
Clothing, men’s _________
Clothing, women’s ______
Confectionery___________
Cotton goods________ ___
Dyeing and finishing tex
tiles________________ ...
Electrical machinery, appa
ratus, and supplies_____
Foundry and machineshop products_________
Furniture_______________
Hosiery and knit goods___
Leather, tanned, curried,
and finished___________
Paper and wood pulp_____
Printing and p ublishing...
Rubber footwear________
Rubber goods, tires, and
tubes_________________
Silk goods_______________
Textile machinery and
parts_________________
Woolen and worsted goods.
Leather and its products. _.
Tobacco products________
Paper and printing__ ____
Chemicals and allied prod
ucts_____ __ . . . _____
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts__________
. ____
Metal products other than
iron and steel__________
Vehicles for land transpor
tation________ _______
Miscellaneous___________
All industries. ............
All industries______
M ichigan
Paper and printing_______
Chemicals and allied prod
ucts__________________
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts__________________
Metal products, not iron
and steel_______ r. ...........
Iron, steel products.......... .
Lumber and its products...
Leather and its products
Food and kindred prod
ucts________ __________
Textiles and their products.
Tobacco products................
Vehicles for land transpor
tation_________________
M iscellaneous._____ _____
All industries______
New Jersey
Food and kindred prod
ucts__________________
Textiles and their products.
Iron and steel and their
products______________
Lumber and its products.. .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101.5
82.9
97.6
75.2
106.4
87.4
103. 9
97.9
49.1
105.6
87.6
106.8
108.8
51.2
86.5
86.7
68.3
70.0
100.1
80.1
72.4
97.5
82.6
73.0
94.9
86.8
103.0
74.9
92.7
88.4
103.5
75.7
- 4 .5
+ 3.2
+ .4
- 7 .0
+ .7
+ 2.4
- 1 .3
- 2 .8
+ .3
-.6
+ 1 .7
+ 3.6
+ 1.5
+13.2
- 7 .5
+16.1
+ .3
+ .5
October to November,
1930
New York
Stone, clay, and glass___ _
- 1 .2
Miscellaneous stone
57.6
55.6
and
m
inerals..
_
_
.
+
1.6
55.5
56.7
Lime, cement, and
p
la
ster___
.
._
-1
0
.2
56.8
56.1
Brick, tile, and pottery.
- .9
71.0
65.4
Glass _____________
+ 3 .4
and machinery___
-2 .1
73.3
72.5 Metals
Silver and jewelry____
+ .7
Brass, copper, and
alum inum ... _____
- 1 .4
Per cent of change,
Iron and steel________
+ .9
September to Octo
Structural and archi
ber, 1930
tectural i r o n .______
- 7 .2
Sheet metal and hard
Employ Pay roll 1
ware___ _ ________
-2 . 1
ment
Firearms, tools, and
cutlery____________
- 3 .7
Cooking, heating, and
ventilating appara
- 2 .0
- 1 .0
t u s . .. . _____ ____
- 2 .6
Machinery, including
+ 7.3
+ 6 .5
electrical apparatus.
- 2 .6
Automobiles, carriages,
-. 5
- 1 .1
and airplanes______
- 4 .3
Railroad equipment
- 3 .9
and repair _ . . . . .
+• 2
- 3 .0
+ 2 .9
+ 8 .5
Boat and ship build
- 3 .6
- 3 .6
ing—
+ 9.2
-.5
Instruments and appli
+ 1 .2
ances_________ ____
-.8
- 5 .7
+ .3
Wood manufactures _ . . .
-3 . 1
+17.0
+ 11.6
Saw and planing mills
- 6 .7
-1 3 .4
- 6 .2
Furnit ure and cabinet
work ...........................
- 3 .3
- 2 .4
- 3 .3
Pianos and other mu
- 5 .8
- 6 .3
sical instruments___
- 3 .2
Miscellaneous w ood. _ _
+ .4
- 1 .8
- 1 .9
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods_________________
- 4 .0
Leather___ _____ ..
- .9
Furs aud fur goods___
- 3 .8
Shoes_______________
- 4 .8
-3 0 .7
-2 5 .8
Other leather and
+ 1 .4
+ 3 .3
-3 .2
canvas goods_______
Rubber and gutta
- 2 .7
- 3 .9
percha ____________ ‘ - 6 .9
+ 4 .2
+ 3 .2
+ 4.4
Pearl, horn, bone, etc.
[225]
Pay roll
+ 1.7
+11.4
-9 . 0
- .6
+ 2.4
- 4 .2
+ 2.4
- 2 .4
-1 5 .3
- 9 .1
- 3 .5
- 7 .8
-1 2 .4
- 2 .3
- 7 .6
- 3 .9
+23.4
- 3 .3
- 4 .2
- 2 .0
-8 . 1
- 4 .0
+ .8
-1 2 .9
- 7 .3
- .7
-1 8 .6
-1 1 .4
- 7 .0
+ 4.7
226
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P E R C E N T OP C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A TESContinued
M o n t h l y p e r io d ,— C o n tin u ed
Per cent of change,
October to N ovem
ber, 1930
Per cent of change,
October to Novem
ber, 1930
State, and industry group
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
N ew Y ork—Continued
O klahom a —Continued
Chemicals, oils, paints,
etc____________________
Drugs and chemicals..
Paints and colors------Oil products........... .......
Miscellaneous chemi
cals.. - ------- -----------Paper___________________
Printing and paper goods.
Paper boxes and tubes.
Miscellaneous paper
goods______ _______
Printing and book
making____________
Textiles_________________
Silk and silk goods---Wool manufactures___
Cotton goods------------Knit goods (excluding
silk)______________
Other textiles________
Clothing and millinery___
M en’s clothing______
M en’s furnishings........
Women’s clothing-----W omen’s underwear...
W omen’s headwear—
Miscellaneous sewing..
Laundering and clean
ing............ ................ .
Food and tobacco________
Flour, feed, and ce
r ea ls...------- ---------Canning and preserv
ing---------- -----------Other groceries______
Meat and dairy prod
ucts______________
Bakery products------Candy............................
Beverages__________
Tobacco____________
Water, light, and pow er..
Oil industry:
Producing and gaso
line manufacture___
Refineries-------- --------Printing: Job work______
Public utilities:
Steam-railway shops..
Street railways______
Water, light,
and
power_____________
Stone, clay, and glass:
Brick and tile----------Cement and plaster...
Crushed stone_______
Glass manufacture__
Textiles and cleaning:
Textile manufacture. .
Laundries, etc_______
Woodworking:
Sawmills___________
Millwork, etc_______
All industries_____
- 0 .4
-.1
+ 1 .9
+ .4
- 0 .2
- 1 .5
+ 7 .9
+ .8
- 2 .0
- 6 .6
- .7
+ .3
- 1 .8
- 6 .2
+3.1
+ .4
-1 .2
- .4
-.7
- 1 .4
+ 3 .3
- 4 .4
+ 1 .7
+ 3 .7
- 4 .8
+ 1 .4
-1 1 .7
-.4
- 1 .9
- 1 .3
- 7 .8
- 8 .4
- 1 .6
-1 3 .4
0)
-1 4 .2
- 5 .8
-.5
-4 .9
-1 5 .9
-1 6 .9
+• 1
-2 3 .9
- 1 .9
-2 3 . 4
- 7 .9
- 2 .2
- 5 .5
- 1 .7
- 5 .3
- 2 .6
-6 .4
- -2 5 .9
- 3 .1
-3 1 .4
-.4
- 1 .9
- 1 .7
-1 .2
-1 9 .8
- .3
(0
- 3 .9
- 1 .3
- 1 .8
-2 0 .7
+4.1
+ .2
- 3 .1
- 5 .3
All industries_____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 0 .3
- 1 .3
- 5 .7
- 0 .9
+31.8
- 3 .2
+ 7.1
+ 4.6
+11.6
+10.7
- 5 .3
- 4 .8
-1 7 .4
- 4 .9
- 8 .1
- 3 .7
-1 4 .7
- 5 .0
-1 2 .0
- 1 .7
-.2
+ 2.3
-3 .6
- 3 .5
- 4 .4
- 2 .7
- 5 .0
- 9 .7
+ 3.9
-. 1
Index numbers (19231925= 100)—em ploy
ment
October,
1930
November,
1930
M etal products________ _
Transportation equipment.
Textile products_________
Foods and tob acco...____
Stone, clay, and glass
products----- --------------Lumber products________
Chemical products---------Leather and rubber prod
ucts__________ ____ —
Paper and printing............
84.9
68.0
94.6
106.7
82.3
2 61.5
96.6
106.4
67.1
72.7
88.2
63.9
67.1
85.5
99.8
98.0
97.0
96.9
All manufacturing...
87.7
85.6
Pennsylvania
O kla h o m a
+51.5
+38.9
Cottonseed-oil m ills_____
Food production:
+ .6
+■ 7
Bakeries____________
+16.0
+ 7 .3
Confections_________
- 5 .3
-1 2 .6
Creameries and dairies
- 9 .0
-.2
Flour mills_________
-2 9 .2
-3 0 .9
Ice and ice cream-----6
.4
+
1 .2
Meat and poultry----Lead and zinc:
-1
3
.3
4
.7
Mines and m ills_____
-1 1 .6
-1 2 .0
Smelters____________
Metals and machinery:
- 1 .4
-.2
Auto repairs, etc........Machine shops and
-1 2 .7
- 1 .4
foundries________
Tank construction
2
+ 1 .8
and erection_____
1 Change of less than one-tenth of 1 per
Pay roll
Pay roll
M etal products....................
Transportation equipment.
Textile products_________
Foods and tobacco_______
Stone, clay, and glass
products....................... .
Lumber products________
Chemical products....... ......
Leather and rubber prod
ucts__________________
Paper and printing---------All manufacturing...
cent.
[ 226 ]
Preliminary figures.
70.3
2 50.4
92.0
99.8
50.3
60.0
87.3
91.0
100.6
227
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
PE R C E N T OF C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A T ESContinued
M o n t h l y p e r io d — C ontinued
Per cent oí change,
October to Novem
ber, 1930
State and industry group
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
Texas
Auto and body works____
Bakeries______ _________
Confectioneries__________
Pure food products............
Ice cream factories............
Flour m ills______________
Ice factories___ _________
M eat packing and slaugh
tering_________________
Cotton-oil m ills..................
Cotton compresses_______
M en’s clothing manufac
ture___ ____ __________
Women’s clothing manu
facture ___ _________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta
Foundries and machine
shops_________________
Structural-iron works........
Railroad car shops_______
Electric-railway car shops.
Petroleum refining______
Sawmills________ ______
Lumber m ills___________
Furniture manufacture__
Paper-box manufacture__
Cotton textile mills______
Cement plants__________
Commercial printing____
Newspaper publishing___
Quarrying__________ ____
Public utilities__________
Retail stores____________
Wholesale stores_________
Hotels__________________
Miscellaneous - .................
All industries______
Per cent of change,
September to Octo
ber, 1930
/
Pay roll
W isco n sin —Continued
- 6 .9
- 1 .5
+ 5 .6
- 2 .2
-1 3 .5
- 1 .6
- 8 .9
M a n u a l —C ontinued
- 5 .2
-1 3 .0
-1 5 .4
-3 1 .3
-3 .8
+ 1 .8
-3 .2
-1 1 .7
-1 0 .3
-3 .4
-.7
-4 .2
-4 .2
- 1 .9
+12.3
+10.8
- 6 .6
+ 3 .5
+1.3
+45.3
-1 . 1
+ 1 .4
-2 .4
-.3
- 6 .6
Stone crushing and quarrying--------------------------Manufacturing:
Stone and allied industries.- _______ ___
M etal________ - ___
W ood_______________
R u b b er............. .
_
L eather_______ _
Paper______ ______
Textiles
_________
Foods__________ - -Printing and publishing-----------------------Chemicals (including
soap, glue, and ex
plosives) ___________
- 3 .3
-1 2 .9
-9 .4
- 5 .3
+ 2.3
+ 4 .2
- 1 .4
- 1 .4
+ 2.5
- 3 .9
-1 2 .9
-.5
+4.1
+ 4.0
+ 2.9
+ 1 .4
+ 3 .7
-1 . 5
-1 . 1
- 3 .4
+ .3
+ 4.3
All manufacturing-.-
- 2 .3
+ .8
-2 . 2
-8 .2
- 1 .8
-.7
- 6 .9
- 3 .9
Construction:
Building___________
Highway________ --Railroad- _______
Marine dredging, sewer digging--------------Communication:
Steam railways---------Electric railways___ E xpress, telep h o n e,
and telegraph----- _
Light and power___ . -.
Wholesale trade___ - -Hotels and restaurants__
Laundering and dyeing___
- 2 .4
- 2 .9
- 3 .5
- 8 .1
+ .2
- 6 .4
+ 1 .5
-7 .0
- 4 .5
—3! 0
- 3 .4
+ 2 .8
+2. 5
- 1 .6
- 2 .8
N onm anual
September to October, 1930
Wisconsin
Manual
Logging--------------Mining:
Lead and zinc.
Iron_________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+11.3
-3 7 .1
- 1 .0
- 8 .7
M an u fa ctu rin g , m in es,
and quarries________ .
Construction.________
Communication..
__ _
Wholesale trade. _
____
Retail trade, sales force
only---------------------------Miscellaneous professional
services............... ................
-2 2 .3
+ 2.3
[227]
- 1 .6
- 1 .9
- 2 .6
-.3
- .5
- 1 .8
- 2 .4
- 2 .3
- 2 .2
+ .6
- 3 .7
+ 6.7
228
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
P E R C E N T OF CHA N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN S P E C IF IE D ST A TES—
Continued
Y e a r l y p e r io d
Employment—i n d e x
numbers (1925-1927
Per cent of change, Oc
tober, 1929, to Octo
ber, 1930
= 100)
State, and industry group
State, |md industry group
Employ
ment
October
1929
Pay roll
October,
1930
M assachusetts—Con.
California
Stone, clay, and glass
products---------------------Metals,, machinery, and
conveyances___________
Wood manufactures___
Leather and rubber goods.
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Printing and paper goods.
Textiles_________________
Clothing, millinery, and
laundering____________
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco_________________
Miscellaneous 3__________
All industries.
Public utilities_____
Wholesale and retail-
-2 0 .8
-2 4 .7
-2 1 .8
-22. 7
-3 0 .5
-2 4 .0
- 3 .9
- 5 .3
-29. 2
-2 9 .2
-2 7 .5
-2 6 .4
-5 . 0
-1 1 .0
- 9 .5
-1 1 .2
-4 . 2
-4 8 .3
-8 .8
-3 9 .1
-18. 7
-2 3 .8
- 6 .4
-3 .0
- 5 .9
- 3 .8
Electrical machinery, appa
ratus, and supplies_____
Foundry and machineshop products_________
Furniture_______________
Hosiery and knit goods__
Leather, tanned, curried,
and finished___________
Paper and wood pulp____
Printing and publishing-..
Rubber footwear____ ____
Rubber goods, tires, and
tubes________ _____ . . . .
Silk goods_______________
Textile machinery and
parts_________________
Woolen and worsted goods
All industries______
70.0
114.4
102.8
82.6
97.5
82.6
73.0
109.8
97.0
110.2
99.0
92.7
88.4
103.5
75.7
79.9
82.8
55.6
56.7
83.7
81.7
56.1
65.4
90.8
72.5
Per cent of change,
November, 1929, to
November, 1930
Employment—i n d e x
numbers (1925-1927
= 100)
October,
1929
101.3
Employ
ment
October,
1930
Pay roll
New York
Illinois
Stone, clay, and glass
products______________
Metals, machinery, and
conveyances___________
Wood products__________
Furs and leather goods—
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Printing and paper goods.
Textiles________________
Clothing and millinery.
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco________________
89.3
79.3
115.4
77.6
104.6
99.9
99.2
101. 4
78.9
81.0
58.3
81.8
84.6
95.4
88.7
68.0
96.2
83. 5
All manufacturing...
103. 8
80. 2
Trade, wholesale and re
tail __________________
Public utilities__________
Coal mining____________
Building and contracting.
All industries_____
90.6
106. 9
79. 1
93.4
70.2
97. 7
85.0
66.8
102. 5
83.4
M assachusetts
Boot and shoe cut stock
and findings_____
Boots and shoes----Bread and other bakery
products_____________
Clothing, m en’s ________
Clothing, women’s --------Confectionery__________
Cotton g o o d s . _______
Dyeing and finishing tex
tiles_______________ _
120.8
92.2
97.6
75.2
111. 1
105.5
117.5
108. 6
73.9
105.6
87.6
106.8
108.8
51.2
97.4
86.7
Stone, clay, and glass____
M iscellaneous stone
and minerals______
Lime, cement, and
plaster____________
Brick, tile, and pot
tery........... ...................
Glass_______________
Metals and machinery___
Silver and jewelry____
Brass, copper, and
alum inum .......... ......
Iron and steel________
Structural and archi
tectural iron_______
Sheet metal and hard
ware.............................
Firearms, tools, and
cutlery____________
Cooking, heating, and
ventilating appara
tu s_______________
Machinery, including
electrical apparatus..
Automobiles, carriages,
and airplanes______
Railroad equipm ent
and repair------------Boat and shipbuilding
Instruments and ap
pliances__________
Wood manufactures_____
Saw and planing mills
Furniture and cabi
network__________
Pianos and other m u
sical instrum ents.. .
Miscellaneous w ood ..
1Includes motion pictures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[228 ]
-1 4 .4
-1 9 .6
-1 6 .4
-1 5 .8
-1 4 .6
-1 7 .3
- 5 .4
-2 1 .1
-2 4 .9
-1 9 .4
-1 6 .1
-2 8 .3
-3 2 .1
-3 2 .9
-1 9 .2
-2 5 .3
-2 7 .0
-2 9 .1
-2 0 .7
-2 8 .9
-1 8 .9
-2 2 .1
-1 2 .1
-2 2 .1
-3 0 .1
-4 1 .9
-2 8 .3
-3 4 .3
-3 1 .2
-3 7 .4
-2 5 .0
-2 6 .6
-3 4 .6
-3 3 .7
-1 8 .1
-1 9 .3
-1 9 .1
-2 4 .6
-2 9 .4
-2 4 .3
-2 3 .1
-3 6 .6
-1 9 .0
-1 2 .4
-2 9 .5
-1 8 .1
229
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
P E R C E N T OF CHA N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A T ES—
Continued
Y e a r l y p e r io d — C o n tin u ed
--------Per cent of change,
November, 1929, to
November, 1930
State, and industry group
Other groceries_____
Meat and dairy prod
ucts________ ___
Bakery products____
Candy._____ _____
Beverages................
Tobacco__________
Water, light, and power...
All industries_____
- 8 .9
- 4 .2
+ 8 .5
- 8 .7
-1 9 .6
- 7 .0
+20.3
-2 7 .4
. - 7 .5
-1 3 .8
-2 7 .3
-1 4 .3
-5 .9
- 4 .9
-1 6 .9
- 8 .7
-3 4 .4
-2 2 .4
- 7 .7
-5 .6
-1 7 .2
-1 6 .1
- 7 .7
- 9 .6
1.6
- 6 .3
-2 5 .6
- 8 .9
-1 3 .7
- 9 .7
-1 1 .4
- 7 .2
-2 5 .2
-1 3 .4
-3 6 .0
-1 9 .5
-3 5 .3
-2 1 .5
-5 0 .4
-
-
-
8.8
8.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
O klahom a—Continued
Metals and machinery:
Auto repairs, e tc ...
Machine shops and
foundries___ . . . . . .
Tank construction and
erection _. _______
Oil industry:
Producing and gaso
line manufacture___
Refineries .
_ ...
Printing: Job w ork.. . . .
Public utilities:
Steam-railway shops..
Street railways_______
Water, light, and power
Stone, clay, and glass:
Brick and tile________
Cement and plaster__
Crashed stone
. . ..
Glass manufacture. _. .
Textiles and cleaning:
Textile manufacture...
Laundries, etc. . . .
Woodworking:
Sawmills__ .
Millwork, e t c ___ ___
22.2
-
-1 6 .4
-2 6 .0
-1 4 .9
-1 8 .1
-2 3 .4
-1 1 .3
- 6 .9
-1 6 .1
-1 9 .9
-2 3 .9
-2 3 .1
- 4 .4
-1 3 .4
- 9 .6
-4 .8
-1 6 .4
-1 4 .6
- 7 .6
-1 9 .1
-1 9 .5
-1 6 .0
- 9 .9
-1 3 .4
-1 0 .3
- 9 .8
-2 7 .6
+ 2 .3
-1 2 .3
-1 5 .0
-1 8 .4
-8 .9
-3 3 .4
+ 2 .5
-1 7 .9
-2 4 .1
All industries . .
. _
-2 3 .5
-3 0 .6
-2 0 .9
-3 4 .3
-3 2 .0
-1 2 .4
-
-2 5 .2
-3 4 .0
- 9 .1
+33.3
+36.0
-1 0 .9
-8 .6
-1 6 .9
- 9 .8
+37. 2
+34.2
- 8 .6
-1 1 .3
-1 9 .9
-4 4 .0
-3 1 .1
-4 9 .9
-4 7 ,6
Pay roll
—25.9
-3 4 .3
-2 9 .9
-4 0 .9
+ 1 .5
+17.4
.0
+ 5 .0
.0
-.1
+ 6 .2
- 4 .2
-2 3 .8
+ 6 .0
-1 9 .4
-2 4 .6
+ 1 .0
-1 8 .1
-6 4 .0
-1 4 .3
+ 8 .2
-2 3 .9
-6 9 .9
-2 0 .5
+19.1
-3 0 .1
-2 8 .3
- .3
-3 2 .9
+ .7
—29. 5
-3 1 .1
-4 1 .7
-4 6 .0
-1 3 .9
-1 5 .7
Index numbers (1923—
1925 = 100)—employ
ment
Novem
ber, 1929
8.2
Oklahoma
Cottonseed-oil mills_____
Food production:
Bakeries.....................
Confections................
Creameries and dairies.
Flour mills— ...........
Ice and ice cream. -....
Meat and poultry.......
Lead and zinc:
Mines and mills........
Smelters............... ..I
t Preliminary figures,
Employ
ment
Pay roll
New York—Continued
Food and tobacco________
Flour, feed, and cereals.
Canning and preserv
ing—
rr~+:
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods_________________
Leather_____________
Furs and fur goods___
Shoes_______________
Other leather and can
vas goods__________
Rubber and gutta-per
cha________________
Pearl, horn, bone, e tc ..
Chemicals, oils, paints, etcDrugs and chem icals...
Paints and colors_____
Oil products_________
Miscellaneous chemi
cals_______________
Paper___________________
Printing and paper goods..
Paper boxes and tubes.
Miscellaneous paper
goods...........................
Printing and book
making____________
Textiles_________________
Silk and silk goods.......
Wool manufactures___
Cotton goods________
Knit goods (excluding
silk)........ ......................
Other textiles.................
Clothing and millinery___
M en’s clothing_______
M en’s furnishings____
Women’s clothing........
Women’s underwear...
Women’s headwear___
Miscellaneous sew ing..
Laundering and clean-
---- -
Per cent of change,
November, 1929, to
November, 1930
Novem
ber, 1930
Pennsylvania
Metal products___
____
Transportation equipment.
Textile produ cts___ . ..
Foods and tobacco_______
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts.. . . . . .
Lumber p r o d u c ts..___. .
Chemical products_______
Leather and rubber prod
ucts__ _ ___________
Paper and printing. . .
All manufacturing...
99.3
82.2
109.9
112.8
82.3
2 61.5
96.6
106.4
85.4
96.8
99.1
63.9
67.1
85.5
105. 3
102.9
99.9
97.0
96.9
85.6
Metal products__________
Transportation equipment.
Textile products_________
Foods and tobacco_______
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts..................... ................
Lumber products.................
Chemical products. _____
Leather and rubber prod
ucts......................................
Paper and printing______
All manufacturing........
103.1
86.7
116.5
109.6
70.3
2 50.4
92.0
99.8
85.3
101.2
104.6
50.3
60.0
87.3
105.6
113.3
103.0
91.0
100.6
75.4
Pay roll
[229]'
230
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
P E R C E N T OP C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A TES—
Continued
Y e a r l y 'p e rio d — C o n tin u ed
Per cent of change,
November, 1929, to
November, 1930
State, and industry group
Per cent of change,
November, 1929, to
November, 1930
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
Texas—Continued
Texas
Auto and body works____
Bakeries._______________
Confectioneries__________
Pure food products---------Ice cream factories_______
Flour mills______________
Ice factories_____________
Meat packing and slaugh
tering_________________
Cotton-oil m ills_________
Cotton compresses---------M en’s clothing manufac
ture__________________
Women’s clothing manu
facture______________ _
Brick, tile, and terra cotta
Foundries and machine
shops________________...
Structural-iron works____
-4 6 .4
-2 1 .4
-2 1 .7
-3 6 . 1
-1 1 .0
-1 3 . 1
-2 6 .0
-1 0 .9
-2 5 .7
+ 2 .9
-3 1 .2
-3 0 .2
-3 4 .3
-3 6 .0
-1 8 .7
Railroad car shops...... .........
Electric-railway car shops.
Petroleum refining_______
Sawmills________________
Lumber m ills................... .
Furniture manufacture___
Paper-box manufacture___
Cotton textile m ills.......... .
Cement p la n ts .......... .........
Commerical printing_____
Newspaper publishing........
Quarrying_______________
Public utilities__________
Retail stores_____________
Wholesale stores........ ...........
Hotels__________________
Miscellaneous...................
-3 4 .1
- 6 .9
-1 7 .9
-4 6 . 7
-3 0 . 1
-2 4 .3
All industries.............
-1 9 .5
«
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
' [230]
-.4
-3 6 .0
-2 5 .4
+ 2 .7
.0
-1 1 .7
- 9 .3
-8 .4
-
6.6
- 6 .9
-2 7 .5
Pay roll
W H O LESALE AND R ETAIL PRICES
R etail Prices of Food in N ovem ber, 1930
HE following tables are compiled from simple averages of the
actual selling prices 1 received monthly by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from retail dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food November
15, 1929, and October 15 and November 15, 1930, as well as the
percentage changes in the year and in the month. For example, the
retail price per pound of butter was 53.5 cents on November 15, 1929;
47.8 cents on October 15, 1930; and 45.4 cents on November 15, 1930.
These figures show decreases of 15 per cent in the year and 5 per cent
in the month.
The cost of various articles of food combined shows a decrease of
11.4 per cent November 15, 1930, as compared with November 15,
1929, and a decrease of 2.0 per cent November 15, 1930, as compared
with October 15, 1930.
T
T a b l e 1.—AVER A G E R E TA IL PRIC ES OF SP E C IF IE D FOOD A R TIC L ES A N D PE R C E N T
OF IN C R E A SE OR D E C R E A SE N O V E M B E R 15, 1930, C O M PA R ED W ITH OCTOBER 15,
1930, A N D N O V E M B E R 15, 1929
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
Article
Unit
Nov. 15,
1929
Oct. 15,
1930
N ov. 15,
1930
C ents
C ents
C ents
Sirloin steak_________
____ Pound
__do
Round steak________ ____ . ___
Rib roast....... ....... ............ . _ ____ ___do
Chuck roast_________
....
__do
Plate beef_____________ ____ _____ ____ do___
49. 3
43.8
3(3. 3
29.4
20. 7
44. 5
39. 3
32. 5
25. 4
17. 2
43. 3
38 1
31 9
24 7
16. 9
Pork chops..... ................... .
. . . . ___do
Bacon, sliced____________
_____ ___do
Ham, s lic e d ...........
. _ ... _
_ do
Lamb, leg of____________________
__do
Hens_____ __________________
do
35. 8
43. 0
53. 9
37. 9
37. 7
37. 9
42. 6
53.1
32. 8
33 8
32 8
42 1
52 1
31. 4
32 6
Salmon, red, canned______________
Milk, fresh____________ _________
Milk, evaporated____ ____
B utter...*.__________ ___________
Oleomargarine (all butter substitutes]
Cheese................... ......... .....................
L a r d ...________ ______________
Vegetable lard substitute__________
Eggs, strictly fresh........ ...............
Bread_______________ . _
_ -_.do___
Quart
16-oz. can
Pound
------do_______
____do.
___do
........do_______
Dozen
Pound
31.9
14. 4
10. 5
53. 5
26.9
37. 8
18.0
24. 6
63. 3
8 .9
34.0
14. 0
9. 9
47. 8
25.0
34. 2
17. 7
24.1
44.8
8 fi
34. 3
14 0
9 9
45 4
24.6
33. 8
17. 5
24.0
48.4
8 5
Flour____ _________ _____________
Corn m eal...................................... .........
Rolled oats........... ..................................
Corn flakes....... .....................................
Wheat cereal_____________________
____do.
____do_
____ do.........
8 -oz. package..
28-oz. package.
5.2
5.3
4. 3
5. 3
8 .8
8 .6
9.5
25.5
9.3
25.4
4. 2
5. 2
8. 6
9.3
25.3
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) N ov. 15,1930,
compared with—
N ov. 15,
1929
Oct. 15,
1930
3
12
13
3
2
3
2
12
16
18
8
2
13
\
2
3
17
14
4
4
+8
4-1
o
0
5
3
6
15
-9
—1 1
—3
-2
—2
—24
—5
—19
1
1
—0 4
4-8
1
—2
—2
0
0
—2
-2
-2
- 1
- 0 .4
1
In addition to monthly retail prices of food and coal, the bureau publishes periodically the prices of
gas and electricity for household use in each of 51 cities. At present this information is being collected in
June and December of each year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[231]
231
232
T
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
1.—A V ER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES OF S P E C IF IE D FOOD A R TIC L ES A N D PE R C E N T
OF IN C R E A SE OR D E C R E A SE N O V E M B E R 15, 1930, C O M PA R E D W ITH OCTOBER 15,
1930, A N D N O V E M B E R 15, 1929—Continued-
able
Average retail price on—
Article
Macaroni___
_ _
Rice
Beans, navy_____ _ _
Potatoes. _ . . _ _
Onions.
_ _______
Unit
N ov. 15,
1929
Oct. 15,
1930
N ov. 15,
1930
C ents
C ents
C ents
Pound
- do
_______
do
__
_ __ __
do.
__ _
. do_._•____
—1
—2
—10
—6
—7
3. 6
10. 8
15. 2
16.0
3. 4
10 7
15. 1
15.9
-19
—9
—4
—4
—6
—1
—1
—1
12. 6
6. 7
77.4
48. 3
12.1
5. 8
77. 2
39.1
11. 6
59
76 8
38 7
—8
—12
—1
—20
—4
4-2
—1
—1
17. 9
12.4
32. 7
43. 0
14. 5
11 7
29. 4
66. 8
13. 6
11 5
29 3
51 1
—24
—7
—10
-f19
—6
2
0 3
—24
4.2
11. 7
15. 7
16. 6
Tomatoes, canned__________
do
...........................
Sugar.....
Pound
Tea.
_
___
_______ _ __ do
Coffee..
_
_ _
_ ___
do__ _
Prunes . _
___________ ___ - __do
Raisins __ _ _ _________ .
. _ . ~. do
Bananas............................
__ __ Dozen
Oranges. .
. ______ . . .
- __do
Weighted food ind ex..
_________
i
Oct. 15,
1930
—4
—4
—26
—24
—22
19. 1
9. 5
11. 3
3.1
4.2
- do
_
No. 2 can_
_do_______
__ _ do___ _ _
N ov. 15,
1929
18 9
9. 3
10. 2
2. 9
3. 9
19. 7
9. 7
13. 7
3. 8
5.0
Cabbage
....
..............
Pork and beans. _
_______
Corn, canned_______________ _ _
Peas, canned. _ ___________
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) N ov. 15,1930,
compared with—
11 4
- 2 .0
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of specified
food articles on November 15, 1913, and on November 15 of each year
from 1924 to 1930, together with percentage changes in November of
each of these specified years compared with November, 1913. For
example, the retail price per pound of lard was 15.9 cents in Novem
ber, 1913; 22.4 cents in November, 1924; 23.3 cents in November,
1925; 21.1 cents in November, 1926; 19.5 cents in November, 1927;
19.1 cents in November, 1928; 18.0 cents in November, 1929; and
17.5 cents in November, 1930.
As compared with November, 1913, these figures show increases of
41 per cent in November, 1924; 47 per cent in November, 1925; 33
per cent in November, 1926; 23 per cent in November, 1927; 20 per
cent in November, 1928; 13 per cent in November, 1929; and 10 per
cent in November, 1930.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an increase
of 34.9 per cent in November, 1930, as compared with November,
1913.
Table 3 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years,
from 1913 to 1929, and by months for 1928, 1929, and 1930." The
articles within these groups are as follows :
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes,
wheat cereal, and macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[232]
233
WHOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
TABLE 2 .—A V ER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IF IE D FOOD A R TIC LES A N D P E R C E N T
OF IN C R E A SE N O V E M B E R 15 OF C E R T A IN SP E C IF IE D Y E A R S C O M PA R E D W ITH
N O V E M B E R 15, 1913
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Per cent of increase N ov. 15 of each
specified year compared with N ov.
15, 1913
Average retail prices on N ov. 15—
Article
V
Sirloin steak__.pound._
Round steak___do___
Rib roast______ do___
Chuck roast___ do___
Plate beef______do___
Pork chops____ do___
Bacon, sliced___do___
Ham, sliced -.—.d o___
Lamb, leg of___ do___
Hens__________ do___
1913 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as.
25.1 38.7 40. c 40.1 43.5 49.1 49. £ 43. £
52
71 9£ 94 70
5£
61
22.8
19.8
16. £
12.4
32.9
28.2
20.1
13.2
34.1
29.5
21.6
14.1
35.5
30.2
22.7
14.7
37.8
31.1
24.5
16.2
43.4
36. £
29.7
20.8
43.8
36. £
29.4
20.7
38. 1
31. £
24.7
16.9
44
42
25
6
51
49
3£
14
56
5£
38
19
66
61
50
31
90
83
82
68
92
83
8(
67
67
61
52
36
21.5
27.2
26.1
18.5
20.6
31.6
40.1
47. C
35.1
34.5
37.5
49.2
53.5
38.1
35.8
39.3
51. C
58.1
37.9
37.1
36.3
46. £
53. (
37.6
35.6
35.7
44.5
54.6
38.0
38.0
35.8
43.0
53. £
37.9
37.7
32.8
42. 1
52.1
31.4
32.6
47
47
75
91
67
74
81
99
108
74
83
88
117
105
80
69
70
97
103
73
66
64
103
105
84
67
58
100
105
83
53
55
94
70
58
31.7 36.4 34.7 34.8 32.3 31.9 34.3
9.1 13.8 14.3 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.0
52
57
55
56
57
58
54
U.C 11.6 11.4 11.5 11.4 10.5 9.8
38.7 48.9 59.7 55.7 56.4 58.3 53.5 45.4
26
54
44
46
51
38
17
30.2 31.2 30.1 27.1 27.6 26.9 24.6
22. 5 34.7 37.4 36.9 38.6 38.5 37.8 33.8
15.9 22.4 23.3 21.1 19.5 19.1 18.0 17.5
54
41
66
47
64
33
72
23
71
20
68
13
50
10
37
59
64
65
40
68
82
71
33
68
73
65
24
66
64
68
19
63
55
71
27
59
58
71
23
52
27
68
21
31
30
20
13
11
7
22
189
122
67
22
111
61
63
35
64
22
39
72
31
41
70
33
42
60
26
42
67
24
42
62
9
41
30
Salmon, red, canned
____ ______pound __
Milk, fresh___ quart
Milk, evaporated
10-ounce can.
B u tter.. ____pound _
O le o m a r g a r in e (all
butter subst itutes)
_____
__ .pound ..
Cheese________ do___
Lard__________ do___
Vegetable lard substitute ___ . . .pound
Eggs, strictly fresh
____________dozen __
Bread _____ pound,_
Flour_________ do___
Corn meal_____ do___
Rolled oats___ do . . .
49.7 68.1 69.4 66.0 61.7 59.3 63.3 48.4
5.6 8.9 9.4 9.4 9.3 9.1 8.9 8.5
3.3 5.4 6.0 5.7 5.4 5.1 5.2 4.2
3.1 5.1 5.3 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.2
9. 1 9.2 9.1 9.0 8.9 8.8 8.6
Corn flakes
--8-ounce package..
Wheat cereal
.28-ounce package..
Macaroni____ pound.
R ic e ................_.do___
Beans, n a v y . . do___
24.4 25.2 25.4 25.5 25. 5 25. 5 25.3
19.6 20.5 20.1 20.0 19. 7 19.7 18.9
8.7 10.5 11.4 11.3 10.4 9.8 9.7 9.3
10.1 9.9 9.3 9.5 12.5 13.7 10.2
25.5 25.8 25.6 25.1 24.8 24.6 24.0
10.7 11.0 10.9
Potatoes _____do___
1.8 2.2 5.2
Onions___ . .d o ___
5. 1 5.7
Cabbage
__ do _ _
3.7 4.2
Pork and beans
. . . .N o. 2 can
12.6 12.3
Corn, canned ..d o
16.6 17.1
Peas, canned __ d o .. _
18.3 18.1
Tomatoes, canned
. ...
.N o. 2 can .
13.6 12.9
Sugar, granulated
..p o u n d .. 5.4 8.8 6.6
Tea___________ do___ 54.5 73.5 75.7
Coffee_________ do___ 29.8 49.0 51.2
Prunes________ do___
17.2 17.2
Raisins________ do . . .
Bananas_____ dozen. _
Oranges.......... ..d o ___
4.0
5.0
4.0
9.7
3.0
4.8
3.7
9.5
2.2
6.5
4.3
9.5
3.8
5.0
4.2
9.3
2.9
3.9
3.4
11.7 11.5 11. 7 11. 7 10.7
16.3 15.7 15.9 15. 7 15.1
17.3 16.6 16.7 16.6 15.9
12.1 11.8 11.9 12.6 11.6
7.1 7.2 6.8 6.7 5.9
77.1 77.5 77.4 77.4 76.8
50.8 47.8 49.7 48.3 38.7
16.5 14.1 14.0 17.9 13.6
14.8 14.2 14.6 13.8 12.0 12.4 11.5
37.3 34.7 34.9 34.4 33.7 32.7 29.3
48.9 65.5 55.1 53.2 56.5 43.0 51.1
All articles combined L
43.1 59.3 54.2 49.1 50.0 52.3 34.9
1 Beginning with January, 1921, 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.
2 Decrease,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[233]
234
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
[Average cost in 1913=100.0]
Year and month
1913: Average for year—
1914: Average for year—
1915: Average for year —
1916: Average for year—
1917: Average for year---1918: Average for year---1919: Average for year—
1920: Average for year---1921: Average for year---1922: Average for year---1923: Average for year---1924: Average for year---1925: Average for year---1926: Average for year---1927: Average for year---1928: Average for year---Janu ary---------------February . .
.- -. March______- - --April______________
M ay____________ -June___________ —
July— ----------------August- ----------- -September-------------October-..
Novem ber. - ----December
_ - --
Cereals Meats
100.0
106.7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
160.4
176.2
175.5
170.7
167. 2
168.0
168.0
166.8
167. 2
168.3
169.8
169.3
168. 2
166.7
165.9
165.3
164. 2
100.0
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149.0
150.2
163.0
171.3
169.9
179.2
168.3
167.8
167.1
170.3
175.4
177.7
184.4
189.5
195.8
188. 9
184.9
179.1
Dairy
prod
ucts
100.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127. 6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135.9
147.6
142.8
147. 1
145.5
148.7
150.0
152.2
150.7
150.7
147.8
147.3
146.1
147.1
148.3
151.2
151.1
152. 5
153.5
Year and month
Cereals Meats
1929: Average for year---- 164.1
January__________ - 164.1
February ---------- -- 164.1
164.1
March, . . - -April--- -- - --------- 164.1
M ay_______________ 163. 5
163.0
Jun e---- --- - ------163.5
July_______________
164.7
August---- ------ -----165.2
September--------- —
163.5
October.-_ -----------163.6
November- - 162.9
December., .
-1930:
162.9
January___________
February- . ---------- 161.6
160.9
M arch.. -------------April__________ --- 160. 3
M ay_______________ 159.8
100.1
J u n e.. -. -.
July----- ----------------- 158.6
August—
. . ------ 156.9
156.4
September-------------October-. ----------- - 154. 4
Novem ber-------------- 152.4
Dairy
prod
ucts
188.4
180.9
180.3
182.8
187. 5
191.2
192.4
195.9
196.0
194.2
189.2
184.1
181.8
148.6
151.9
152.6
152.4
148.9
147.5
146.8
146.8
147.1
148.1
149.3
147.0
144.9
183.6
183.1
183.0
183.3
181.5
179.9
175.2
169.9
173.3
171.1
164.1
138.9
138.5
137.6
138.9
137.0
133.7
133.9
137.4
138.8
137.8
137.4
In d e x N u m b e r s o f R e ta il P rice s o f F o o d in t h e U n ite d S ta te s
4 index numbers are given which show the changes
in the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and
1920 to 1929,2 by months for 1929 and for January through Novem
ber 1930. 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 yeai by the a\ ei
age price of that commodity for 1913. These figures must be used
with caution. For example, the relative price of sirloin steak for
the year 1929 was 196.9, which means that the average money price
for the year 1929 was 96.9 per cent higher than the average money
price for the year 1913. As compared with the relative price, 188.2
in 1928, the figures for 1929 show an increase of 8.7 points, but an
increase of 4.6 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 to the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
of food articles varied, these index numbers have been so computed
as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index num
bers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100.0 are 144.4 lor
October, 1930, and 141.4 for November, 1930.
The curve shown in the chart on next page pictures more readily
to the eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the
index numbers given in the table.
In
T able
2 For index numbers of each month, January, 1913 to December, 1928, see Bulletin N o. 396, pp. 44 to
61; and Bulletin No. 495, pp. 32 to 45.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
235
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
i&o
160
14-0
JAM. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUN. OUL. AUÛ. SEP OCT. MOV. DEC.
T a b l e 4 —IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E TA IL PR IC ES OF PR IN C IP A L A R TIC LES OF FOOD
BY Y EAR S, 1913, 1920 TO 1929, A N D BY M ON TH S FOR 1929 A N D 1930
[Average for year 1913=100.0]
Year and
month
1913__________
1920________
1921__________
1922__________
1923__________
1924__________
1925__________
1926__________
1927__________
1928__________
1929__________
1929: January...
February .
March___
April____
M ay_____
J u n e ...
July_____
August___
September
O ctober...
November
December.
1930: January...
February _
March___
April_____
M a y ..
June_____
July-------August__
September
October.. .
November
Sirloin Round Rib Chuck Plate
steak steak roast roast beef
Pork
chops Bacon Ham
Hens
Milk Butter Cheese
100.0 100.0
172.1 177.1
152.8 154.3
147.2 144.8
153.9 150.2
155.9 151.6
159.8 155.6
162.6 159.6
167.7 166.4
188.2 188.3
196.9 199.1
190.6 191.0
188.2 188.8
188.6 189.2
192.9 194.6
198.4 201.3
201. 6 205.4
206.7 210.8
206.3 210.8
202.8 206. 7
198.0 199.6
194.1 196.4
192.5 194.6
192.9 195.5
191.3 194. 2
190.6 192.8
190.2 193.3
190.2 192.8
188.6 191.5
182.3 184.3
175.6 176.7
177.2 178.0
175.2 176. 2
170.5 170.9
100.0
201.4
166. 2
157.1
144.8
146.7
174.3
188.1
175. 2
165.7
175. 7
153.8
157.1
167.6
176.7
179.5
179.0
188.1
192.4
193.8
185.2
170.5
163.3
168.1
167.6
171.9
176.7
171.9
174. 3
173.8
174.8
186. 2
180. 5
156. 2
100.0
209.9
186.4
169.0
164.3
165.7
171.8
182.2
173. 2
175.6
186.4
184.0
186.4
190.1
196.2
198.1
193.9
187.3
185.0
184.0
180.3
177.0
174.2
178.4
179.3
179.8
179.3
175.6
167.6
161.5
158.7
159.6
158.7
153.1
100.0
187. 6
164.0
147.2
155.1
155.1
157.3
157.3
158.4
159.6
160.7
160. 7
160.7
160.7
159. 6
159.6
159.6
160. 7
160.7
160.7
161. 8
161.8
161.8
159.6
158.4
157.3
157. 3
157.3
157. 3
157. 3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
100.0 100.0
167. 7 163.8
147.0 132.5
139.4 123.1
143.4 126.3
145. 5 130.0
149. 5 135.0
153.0 140.6
158.1 148.1
176. 8 174.4
185.4 186.9
180.8 181.3
178. 8 179.4
179.3 180.0
183.8 184.4
187.9 190.0
189.9 191.9
192.9 195. 6
191.9 194.0
189.4 191. 9
186.9 187.5
183.3 183.8
181.8 183.1
183.3 184.4
181.8 184.4
181.3 182.5
181.3 182.5
179.8 179.4
177.3 175.6
171.7 166.3
163.1 155. 6
166.7 160.0
164. 1 158. 7
161. 1 154.4
100.0
151. 2
118.2
105.8
106. 6
109.1
114.1
120.7
127.3
157.0
172.7
170.2
167.8
167.8
170.2
174.4
176.0
177.7
176.0
175.2
173. 6
171.1
170.2
172.7
171.9
170.2
168.6
164.5
160. 3
149.6
138.8
142.1
142.1
139.7
29334°—31----- 16
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2,351
100.0
193.7
158.2
147.4
144.8
139. 6
173.0
186.3
174.8
163.0
161.1
159. 3
158.2
158.9
160.4
160. 7
162.2
164.1
165.6
164.4
161.9
159.3
157. 4
157.0
157.8
157.8
157.4
156. 7
156.7
156.7
155.6
158.1
157.8
155.9
100.0
206.3
181.4
181.4
169.1
168.4
195.5
213.4
204. 5
196.7
204. 1
200.0
199.6
201.9
203.3
204.8
205. 6
209. 7
211.2
209. 7
204.8
200.4
198.5
199.3
200.7
201. 1
200.4
200.7
200.7
200.0
198. 1
198.9
197.4
193.7
100.0
183.0
135.0
125.1
144.7
135.0
143. 1
138.6
145.2
147.5
143.9
150.7
152.7
152.5
145.7
142.3
140. 5
139.4
140.5
143.1
145.4
139.7
134.7
121.9
122.7
121.9
125. 6
120.9
113.1
114.1
123.8
127.2
124.8
118.5
100.0
188.2
153.9
148.9
167.0
159.7
166.1
165.9
170.1
174.2
171.9
173.8
172.9
172.9
172.4
171.9
171.9
171.5
171.0
171.9
171.5
171.0
170.6
169. 2
167.0
164. 7
162.9
162.0
157.9
155. 2
153. 4
154.8
154.8
152. 9
236
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 4 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S OP R E TA IL PR IC E S OF P R IN C IP A L A R TIC L ES OF FO OD
BY Y EARS, 1913, 1920 TO 1929, A N D BY M O N T H S FOR 1929 A N D 1930—Continued
| Lard
Year ai)d month
1913
__________
1920
___________
1921
- ____----'
1922
_______
1923
_________
1924
. _______
1925
_________
1926
--- ______
1927
1928
_-- _____
1929
1929: J a n u a ry _____
February.. . . _
March . .
A p r il_______
M ay
____
June______ July
________
August
September__. _
O ctober._____
November. ____
December___
1930: Januarv __ . .
February___
March
......
April
May _
______
June
. . - -July
________
August.
September . . .
October __ .
November .
100.0
186.7
113.9
107.6
112.0
120.3
147.5
138.6
122.2
117.7
115. 8
117. 1
116.5
116.5
117.1
116.5
115.8
115.8
116.5
117.1
115.8
113.9
111.4
108.9
108.2
107.0
106.3
105. 7
105.1
103.2
104.4
110.8
112.0
110.8
Eggs
Bread Flour
100.0
197.4
147.5
128.7
134.8
138.6
151.0
140.6
131.0
134. 5
142.0
146. 7
142.3
122.0
106.4
112. 2
120.0
127.8
140.0
153.6
1C8.1
183. 5
182.0
160. 6
136.8
102.3
100. 0=
97.7
97.4
101.7
112.5
124.9
129.9
140.3
100.0
205.4
176.8
155.4
155.4
157.1
167.9
167.9
166.1
162.5
160. 7
160. 7
160.7
ICO. 7
160. 7
ICO. 7
ICO. 7
1( 0. 7
160. 7
106.7
158.9
158.9
158.9
158. 9
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
155.4
155.4
153. 6
151.8
100.0
245.5
175.8
154.5
142.4
148.5
184.8
181.8
166. 7
163.6
154. 5
154.5
154.5
154.5
154. 5
151.5
148.5
151.5
157.6
160.6
157.6
157.6
154. 5
154.5
154. 5
151. 5
148.5
145.5
145.5
139.4
136.4
133.3
130.3
127.3
Corn
meal
Rice
Pota Sugar
toes
100.0
216. 7
150. 0
130.0
136.7
156. 7
180.0
170.0
173.3
176. 7
176. 7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176. 7
176.7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
180.0
180.0
176.7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
170. 7
176.7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
173.3
100.0
200. 0
109.2
109. 2
109.2
116.1
127.6
133.3
123.0
114.9
111.5
112.6
112.6
112.6
112.6
111.5
111.5
111. 5
112.6
111.5
111.5
111.5
110.3
110.3
110.3
109. 2
110.3
109.2
109.2
109.2
109.2
110.3
109.2
106.9
100.0
370.6
182.4
1G4. 7
170. 6
158. 8
211.8
288.2
223. 5
158.8
188.2
135.3
135. 3
135.3
135.3
158.8
182.4
229.4
235.3
229.4
223.5
223.5
223.5
229.4
229.4
229.4
241. 2
252.9
247.1
194.1
182.4
188.2
182.4
170.6
100.0
352.7
145. 5
132.7
183. 6
167.3
130.9
125.5
132. 7
129. 1
120.0
121.8
120.0
118.2
116.4
116.4
116. 4
116.4
120.0
121.8
121.8
121.8
120.0
120.0
118.2
116.4
114.5
114.5
110.9
110.9
110.9
107.3
105.5
107.3
Tea
Coffee
100.0
134.7
128.1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138.8
141.0
142.5
142.3
142.6
142. 5
142.6
142.6
142.6
142. 6
142.5
142.3
142.5
142.6
142.6
142.3
142.8
143.4
143.2
142.8
142.5
142.5
143.0
142.6
142.3
142.1
141.9
141. 2
100.0
157.7
121.8
121.1
126. 5
145.3
172.8
171.1
162. 1
165. 1
164. 8
166. 1
166.1
166.4
166. 4
106.1
165.8
165.8
165.4
165.1
164.8
162.1
155. 4
147.0
143.3
140.6
138. 9
137. 2
136.2
135.6
134. 6
132.6
131. 2
129.9
All
arti
cles 1
100.0
203.4
153.3
141.6
146. 2
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156. 7
154. 6
154. 4
153. U
151. 6
153.3
154.8
158. 5
160.2
160. 8
160. 5
159. 7
158.0
155. 4
153. 0
150.1
151. 2
150.1
147. 9
144. 0
143. 7
145. 6
144. 4
141. 4
1 22 articles in 1913-1920; 42 articles in 1921-1930.
Comparison of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities
T a b l e 5 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food3 November, 1930, compared with the aver
age cost in the year 1913, in November, 1929, and October, 1930.
For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the 1-year and the
1-month periods; these cities have been scheduled by the bureau at
different dates since 1913. The percentage changes are based on
actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers and on the
average consumption of these articles in each city.4
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched
ules for each city included in th'e average prices. For the month of
November, 99.4 per cent of all the firms supplying retail prices in the
51 cities sent in a report promptly. The following-named 44 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, Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte, Chicago,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston,
Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Little Rock, Louisville,
Manchester, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Newark, New
Haven, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria, Pittsburgh,
3 For list of articles see note 1, p. 233.
,. , . „ .
„„
4 The consumption figures used for January, 3913, 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.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[236]
237
WHOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
Portland (Me.), Portland (Oreg.), Providence, Richmond, Rochester,
St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Savannah, Scran
ton, Seattle, Springfield (111.), and Washington.
T
5 .—P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL COST O F FO O D IN N O V E M B E R ,
1930, C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E C O ST IN O C T O B E R , 1930, N O V E M B E R , 1929, A N D W IT H
T H E A V E R A G E CO ST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, BY C IT IE S
able
C ity
Percent Percentage decrease
N ovember, 1930,
age in
compared w ith—
crease
N ovem
ber, 1930,
com
N ovem October,
pared
1930
w ith 1913 ber, 1929
C ity
Percent Percentage decrease
Novem ber, 1930,
age in
compared w ith—
crease
N ovem
ber, 1930,
com
N ovem October,
pared
1930
w ith 1913 ber, 1929
A tlanta
Raltimorp,
Birmingham
Boston
Bridgeport
41. 4
46. 0
43 7
47. 3
11. 8
10. 8
11. 5
9. 4
10. 2
2.8
2. 3
2. 5
1.1
1.8
M inneapolis- ____
M o b ile .-------N ew ark. _ New H aven______
New Orleans_____
43.3
Buffalo
B utte
Charleston, S. C __
nhieago
Dineinnati
46. 4
11.1
14.6
10.4
10. 6
10. 0
2. 1
2. 1
2.5
2. 6
2.0
New Y ork . - _
N o rfo lk .. - O m aha______ Peoria _. P hiladelphia. -_ -
47.1
Cleveland
Dnliimhns
Dallas
Denver
D etroit
37.1
11. 2
10. 4
9. 7
11.4
15. 3
1. 6
1.9
0.2
1. 8
4. 5
Pittsburgh _____
Portland, M e. __
Portland, Oreg . _
Providence ..
R ichm ond. _____
41.5
Fall River
Houston
Indianapolis
Jacksonville______
Kansas City__
41. 6
39. 0
34. 7
37. 1
10. 5
11.9
11. 8
8.5
12. 7
1. 2
2.9
1.9
2. 1
1.9
R o c h e s te r___ .- .
St. Louis. ----------St. Paul .
.
Salt Lake C ity ____
San F ra n c is c o ____
Riffle Rook
Kos Angeles
Ron is ville
lVfa n eh eater
M em phis
M ilw aukee__ ____
36. 0
28. 2
36.1
40. 6
33.9
43. 1
11. 8
14.4
13. 2
10. 7
12.1
11.9
2. 6
2.8
2.0
1. 8
2. 7
2.4
Savannah . .
S c ra n to n ..........
Seattle
Springfield, 111__
W ashington______
45.5
52 5
49.9
42.4
26. 3
39. 4
39. 7
48.0
39.4
34.6
45.5
24.2
45.3
46.5
42. 2
21. 3
43. 1
48.3
33.9
49.9
10.5
7.9
9.8
9.7
12.2
1. 7
2.1
2.5
0.7
2.5
10.1
11.3
11.3
11.5
11.2
1.4
0.9
1.5
2.3
1. 1
11.9
10.3
16.3
10.7
11.0
3.4
1.2
3.2
1.1
2.5
12.0
12. 7
11.5
13.1
9.9
3.0
3.0
2.8
2.9
0.9
12.4
12.2
12.7
9.7
9.2
3.1
1.8
1.7
1.3
3.6
R etail Prices of Coal in N ovem ber, 1930 1
following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
November 15, 1929, and October 15 and November 15, 1930, for
THE
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.
1 Prices of coal were formerly secured sem iannually and published in the M arch and September issues
of the Labor Review, Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published m onthly.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
238
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
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.
AVER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES OF COAL PE R T O N OF 2,000 PO U N D S, FOR H O USEHOLD
USE, ON N O V E M B E R 15, 1929, A N D OCTOBER 15 A N D N O V E M B E R 15, 1930
1929
City, and kind of coal
City, and kind of coal
Nov.
15
Oct.
15
Nov.
15
United States:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove—
Average price------------ $15. 31 $15.13 $15.14
Index (1913=100)_____ 198.2 195.8 196.0
C h e stn u tAverage price------------ $14.98 $14.87 $14.90
189.3 187.9 188.2
Index (1913=100)____
Bituminous—
$9.00 $8.88 $8.94
Average price-------------165.6 163.3 164.6
Index (1913=100)______
Atlanta, Ga.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. $7.80
Baltimore, Md.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove------ -------------------- 14.25
13.75
Chestnut_____________
Bituminous, run of mine—
7.82
High volatile__________
Birmingham, Ala.:
7.62
Bituminous, prepared sizes
Boston, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_________________ 16.00
Chestnut-------- ------------ 15.50
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite'—
Stove------ ------ ------------ 15.50
C hestnut.-------- ----------- 15.50
Buffalo, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_________________ 13.77
13.32
Chestnut_____________
Butte, Mont.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes 11.17
Charleston, S. C.:
9.67
Bituminous, prepared sizes
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthraclteStove--------- ------------- _ 16.85
. 16.40
Chestnut_____ ____
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
. 8.45
High volatile_____
Low volatile---------- . 12.35
Run of mine—
Low volatile_______ . 8.25
Cincinnati, Ohio:
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile______ . 6.20
Low volatile_______ . 8.63
Cleveland, Ohio:
Stove...................
Chestnut.........—
Bituminous—
Prepared .sizes-r
High volatile..
Low volatile..
Columbus, Ohio:
B itu m in o u sPrepared sizes—
High volatile..
Low volatile..
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1929
1930
$7.47
14.25
13.75
7.89
7. 51
16.25
15. 75
14.75
14. 75
13.79
13.29
10.70
9.67
16.38
16.28
8.09
11.96
8.00
6.30
8. 53
. 15.22
. 14.80
14.50
14.25
.
7.05
9.97
6.86
9.80
..
5.95
8.31
6.02
7.75
Nov.
15
1930
Oct.
15
Nov.
15
Arkansas anthracite—E g g .. $15.75 $15.00 $15.00
Bituminous, prepared sizes _| 12.83 12.58 12.58
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 mixed—
Stove, 3 and 5 mixed------Bituminous, prepared sizes.
ictroit, Mich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________
Chestnut.-------- -----------Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
$7.60
High volatile_________
Low volatile_________
Run of mine—
14.25
Low volatile_________
13.75
Fall River, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
7.96
S to v e.--------- ---------------Chestnut---------------------7. 45
Houston, Tex.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
16.25 Indianapolis, Ind.:
Bituminous—
15.75
Prepared sizes—
High volatile______ . . .
Low volatile______ . . .
14.75
Run of mine—
14.75
Low volatile_________
Jacksonville, Fla.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
13. 81
13. 31 Kansas City, Mo.:
Arkansas anthracite—
Furnace........... - ..................
10.71
Stove No. 4------------------Bituminous, prepared sizes.
9.67
Little Rock, Ark.:
Arkansas anthracite—E gg..
Bituminous, prepared sizes
16. 38
Los Angeles, Calif.:
16.28
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
Louisville, Ky.:
B itu m in ou s8.09
Prepared sizes—
11.96
High volatile.................
Low volatile_________
8.00
Manchester, N . H.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove...................................
Chestnut............ ........- - 6.30
8.53 Memphis, Tenn.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
Milwaukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
14.56
Stove.............. ...................
14.31
Chestnut....... ....................
B itu m in ou sPrepared sizes—
6.61
High v o la tile ..............
9.86
Low volatile-----. . . . . .
Minneapolis, Minn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove________ ________
6.13
Chestnut.............- ............
S. 13
[238]
14. 75
14.75
10. 34
15.25
15.25
10.29
15.25
15. 25
10. 27
16.00
15.50
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
8.39
10.36
8.00
9.77
7.96
9.96
.00
7.83
7.92
16.50
16. 25
16.50
16.25
16.50
16.25
12.20
12.20
12.00
9.04
6 . 20
5.90
8. 75
5.98
9.13
7.05
7.05
14.00
10.00
10.75
12.45
13.58
7.23
12. 44
13.58
6.93
12.44
13.50
13.50
10.00
13.00
9. 70
13.00
10.05
16.50
16.50
16.50
6.66
9.00
6.37
8.75
6.27
8.75
17.00
17.00
16.83
16.83
16.83
16.83
7.39
7.87
7.85
16.30
15.85
15.75
15.41
15.75
15.50
7.68
10.99
7.68
10.63
7.68
10.68
18.30
17.85
16.92
16.83
17.05
17.05
6.86
239
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
A V ERAGE R E TA IL PR IC ES OF COAL PE R TON OF 2,000 PO U N D S, FOR HOUSEH O LD
USE, ON N O V E M B E R 15, 1929, A N D OCTOBER 15 A N D N O V E M B E R 15, 1930—Continued
1929
1930
1929
City, and kind of coal
1930
City, and kind of coal
Nov.
15
Oct.
15
Nov.
15
Minneapolis, M inn.—Contd.
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile...................... $10. 52 $9.81 $10.01
Low volatile .
13.65 12. 63 12.63
Mobile, Ala.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9.50
9.60
9.23
Newark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
13.96 13.90 13. 90
Chestnut...........................
13.46 13.40 13. 40
N ew Haven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—■
Stove
14.96 14.90 14.90
Chestnut.. . .
14.96 14.90 14.90
New Orleans, La.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 10. 96 10. 43 10.93
N ew York, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
14. 54 14.08 14.17
Stove
Chestnut___ __________ 14.08 13.58 13.67
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite-—
14.00 15.00 15.00
Stove
Chestnut______________ 14.00 15.00 15.00
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile____ . . _ 7.25
7.38
7.38
Low volatile
9.00 10.00 10. 00
Run of mine—
7.00
6.83
7 00
Low volatile
Omaha, Nebr.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9. 61
9.68
9.79
Peoria, 111.:
6. 39
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 6.72
6.44
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
215 00 13. 96 14.00
Chestnut________ _____ 214. 50 13.46 13.50
Pittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Chestnut---- ------------15.00 14.50 14.50
5. 00
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 5.29
4.91
Portland, Me.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16. 80 16. 80 16. 80
Stove
. .
Chestnut. ____ ______ 16. 80 16.80 16.80
Portland, Oreg.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 13.46 13. 27 13.18
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
316. 00 316. 00 3 16. 00
Chestnut______________ 316.00 3 16.00 316.00
Richmond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 15.00 15.00 15.00
Chestnut. ____________ 15.00 15.00 15.00
Richmond, Va.—Contd.
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile—. ___—
Low volatile__
Run of mine—
»
Low volatile_________
Rochester, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove . ______________
Chestnut- ___________
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__ _______________
Chestnut- _ . . .
-_
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
St. Paul, Minn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e.. ............... -.
Chestnut_____
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile... — — .
Low volatile..................
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg
.
. . .
Colorado anthrachite—
Egg ___ _____
.
.
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
Savannah, Ga.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove. ________ _____
Chestnut.
...................
Seattle, Wash.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
Springfield, 111.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
Washington, D . C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________ ______
Chestnut. ______
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile— . . . . .
Low volatile . ___ .
Run of mine—
M ixed. ................. .........
Nov.
15
Oct.
15
Nov.
15
$8.38
9. 11
$8. 75
9. 37
$8. 75
9.87
7.25
7.25
7. 50
14.75
14.25
14.75
14. 25
14. 75
14. 25
16. 70
16.45
6. 75
16. 23
15.98
6.29
16. 20
15.95
6. 36
18. 30
17.85
16.90
16. 90
16.90
16.90
10.26
13. 65
9. 75
12.80
9.58
12.65
7. 93
8.41
8. 49
26. 00
26.00
26.00
25.50
17.13
25.50
16.88
25. 50
17.00
410. 44
4 9.87 410. 53
10.28
9.92
10.18
9.88
10.18
9. 88
10.68
10.68
10.68
4. 34
4. 34
4. 34
215. 73 215.73 215. 73
215. 23 215.23 215. 23
2 8. 63 28.63 2 8.63
211.42 211.43 211.43
2 7. 75
2 7. 81
2 7.81
2 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
3 The average price of coal delivered in bin is 50 cents higher than here shown. Practically all coal is
delivered in bin.
4 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.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[289]
240
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
C om p arison of R eta il-P rice C h an ges in th e U n ited S ta te s and
in F oreign C ou n tries
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 satisfactory
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 residts, 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,
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1240]
241
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
IN D E X N U M B E R S OP R E T A IL PR IC ES IN TH E U N IT E D ST A TES A N D IN OTHER
C O U N TR IES
Country____
United
States
Number of
localities...
51
C o m m o d i
t i e s i n 42 foods
cluded____
Canada Belgium
60
59
Czecho
slovakia
Den
mark
Finland
France
(except
Paris)
France
(Paris)
Entire
country
100
21
320
1
53 foods
•
36 foods
13 (11
foods)
13 (11
foods)
(foods,
29 foods 56 etc.)
29 foods
Govern Central
C o m p u t Bureau Depart Ministry
ment
Bureau Ministry Ministry
ing agen of Labor ment of of Indus Office of Statis
try and Statistics
of
of Labor of Labor
cy—
Statistics Labor
tical
D e
Labor
partment Statistics
Base=100___ July, 1914 July, 1914
April,
1914
January- August,
July, 1914 July, 1914 June,
1914
1914
1924
January____
April______
July_______
October . . .
146
138
140
145
145
137
134
139
480
498
493
513
836
829
837
877
200
1925
January____
April______
July----------October__
151
148
156
158
145
142
141
147
521
506
509
533
899
901
916
875
210
1926
Jan u ary... _
April______
July_______
October. _.
161
159
154
157
157
153
149
147
527
529
637
705
854
832
876
888
1927
January____
April _ ____
July_______
October____
156
150
150
153
153
146
147
148
755
774
790
804
1928
J a n u a ry ___
April
. .
July. _____
October.. .
152
149
150
153
151
146
146
152
1929
January ___
February___
March. ____
April _____
M ay_______
June__ . . .
July_______
August _ . . .
Septem ber...
O ctob er___
N ovem ber...
December. .
151
151
150
148
150
151
155
157
157
157
156
155
1930
January____
February___
March_____
April
......
M’ay_______
June___ . . .
July_______
August_____
Septem ber...
152
150
147
148
147
145
141
141
142
194
July, 1914
Germany
Foods
Federal
Statis
tical
Bureau
October,
1913July, 1914
1089
1035
1052
1156
1401
1 395
l 401
i 428
376
aan
360
383
127
123
126
134
1130
1137
1145
1165
i 442
1 435
1451
i 471
408
409
421
433
137
144
154
151
159
1090
1085
1105
1126
i
i
i
i
503
523
610
647
480
503
574
624
143
142
145
145
914
923
962
907
156
152
153
152
1092
1069
1102
1156
i
i
i
i
586
572
553
526
592
580
557
520
151
150
157
152
813
807
811
834
913
905
943
907
152
152
153
146
1126
1119
1155
1183
i 522
i 530
i 536
i 562
530
532
2 111
2 115
152
151
154
152
152
150
151
148
147
147
148
157
157
157
158
159
856
859
862
860
864
867
874
879
889
894
897
897
900
911
913
901
906
907
925
900
886
879
880
880
147
1156
1141
1135
1118
1104
1103
1116
1131
1128
1137
1123
1090
2 122
2 122
2 123
2 125
2 127
2 12 7
2 123
2 123
2 122
2 124
2 125
2 125
153
156
159
154
154
154
156
155
154
154
153
152
160
159
157
151
151
150
147
144
140
895
890
879
870
867
866
869
872
872
865
853
851
852
865
886
857
839
2 124
2 121
2 120
2 119
2 120
2 120
2 122
2 127
2 129
150
148
145
143
142
143
146
145
142
215
177
150
149
146
145
140
137
—
1 For succeeding month.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1048
1022
1006
975
945
937
969
995
976
2 117
2 118
2 118
2 120
2 118
2 116
2 127
2 In gold.
[241 ]
242
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E TA IL PR IC ES IN T H E U N IT E D ST A TES A N D IN OTHER
C O U N T R IE S—Continued
Nether
lands N orw ay Sweden Switzer United
King
land
(The
dom
Hague)
C o u n try ...
Italy
Number of
localities-
47
1
C om m od
ities in
cluded . . .
20
foods
and
char
coal
Foods
31
Foods
M in
Central Central
C o m p u t ofistry
N a Bureau Bureau
ing agen tional
Sta of Sta
cy............. Econ of
tistics
tistics
omy
Base=100_.
1913
1921
July,
1914
49
33
50 (43
foods, 7
fuel and
light)
Foods
Social
Board
July,
1914
630
India
(Bom
bay)
Aus
tralia
New
Zealand
9
1
30
25
21 foods 24 foods 17 foods
Labor
Minis
try of
Office
(revised) Labor
July,
1914
South
Africa
July,
1919
46 foods
and
59 foods
groceries
Bureau Census
Office
of Cen Labor of Cen
and
sus and Office sus and Statis
tics
Statis (revised) Statis
tics
Office
tics
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
1924
January___
April _. ..
July______
October----
527
527
538
556
8 82. 5
3 81. 7
3 80. 8
3 82. 3
230
240
248
264
163
159
159
172
173
169
170
174
175
167
162
172
120
122
117
120
154
143
151
156
155
150
148
146
150
150
148
145
1925
January___
April_____
July______
October___
609
606
005
645
3 80. 2
3 86. 7
381.3
3 79.3
277
276
260
228
170
170
169
166
172
169
169
168
178
170
167
172
120
324
120
119
152
153
152
148
148
152
156
157
147
149
151
155
658
633
645
662
3 76. 6
3 80.1
3 73. 5
3 75.7
216
198
198
191
162
158
156
157
165
161
159
160
171
159
161
163
116
119
117
120
151
150
155
153
155
163
159
153
154
151
149
147
629
606
540
530
3 76.3
3 77.0
3 76.5
3 79. 5
180
169
175
173
156
151
151
155
158
156
157
159
167
155
159
161
116
119
119
119
155
151
154
148
158
151
152
159
148
145
144
143
531
522
516
536
3 81. 6
3 79.4
3 76.2
3 75.5
170
171
173
163
153
154
157
153
159
156
157
158
162
155
157
157
119
119
116
115
151
140
143
142
154
154
152
150
147
144
147
149
565
565
571
76. 0
158
157
158
156
156
156
157
161
160
160
159
157
150
151
152
150
149
149
151
151
151
150
148
147
157
157
156
154
154
155
155
156
158
158
157
157
159
156
157
150
149
147
149
153
154
156
159
159
115
115
117
119
119
118
116
115
114
113
112
112
146
146
146
145
143
144
145
146
146
147
147
148
161
161
160
162
160
161
160
161
162
165
164
155
149
148
146
147
148
147
146
146
147
147
147
147
156
154
152
152
151
151
151
151
151
145
144
142
140
140
140
140
139
139
155
154
153
152
150
151
152
152
152
157
154
150
143
140
138
141
144
144
112
111
111
113
113
112
109
108
107
145
143
139
138
137
137
136
133
134
153
151
151
151
150
149
147
146
146
145
144
144
144
143
143
141
140
1926
January___
April_____
July______
October___
1927
January—
April_____
July--------October___
1928
January___
April _ . .
July--------October___
1929
January___
February _.
March____
A p r il___ .
M ay___ .
June.
July______
August___
September.
October___
November.
December..
1930
January___
February. _
March____
April
M ay______
Jun e.. . .
July______
August
September.
563
564
558
553
547
546
551
554
548
536
525
522
510
509
73.2
74.5
73. I
69. 7
68.8
506
508
8 Second month following.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[2421
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
243
Index N u m b ers of W holesale Prices in N ovem ber, 1930
HE course of wholesale prices was downward in November, ac
cording to the index number computed by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. This index
number, which includes 550 price quotations weighted according to
the importance of each article and based on prices in 1926 as 100.0,
declined from 82.6 in October to 80.4 in November, a decrease of over
2% per cent. The purchasing power of the 1926 dollar was $1.244.
Farm products as a group decreased 4 per cent from the October
level, due to lower prices for all grains, beef cows, calves, hogs, poul
try, beans, flaxseed, oranges, and potatoes. Beef steers, sheep and
lambs, cotton, eggs, alfalfa hay, and onions, on the other hand,
averaged higher.
Foods were 3)i per cent lower than in October, with declines in
butter, fresh pork, dressed poultry, veal, coffee, flour, corn meal, and
most canned vegetables. Raw and granulated sugar were somewhat
higher than in the month before. Practically no change in price was
reported for fresh beef, cured pork, cured fish, canned and dried fruits,
and bakery products.
T
Hides and skins showed a further pronounced price drop, while
leather also declined. No change was reported for boots and shoes
and other leather products.
In the group of textile products there was a slight increase among
cotton goods. Silk and rayon, woolen and worsted goods, and other
textile products, on the contrary, were downward.
Anthracite and bituminous coal and coke showed no change in the
general price level while petroleum products moved sharply down
ward, resulting in a decrease for fuel and lighting materials as a whole.
Among metals and metal products there was a slight decrease in
iron and steel, also automobiles, while nonferrous metals advanced.
Building materials showed little change, as lumber, brick, cement,
and certain paint materials declined slightly and other materials
advanced.
Chemicals and drugs, including fertilizer materials and mixed ferti
lizers, were somewhat cheaper than in October.
House-furnishing goods were practically unchanged in price, but
with a downward tendency.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[243]
244
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
In the group of miscellaneous commodities cattle feed moved
sharply downward and crude rubber reacted upward from its recent
low prices. Automobile tires were lower than in the preceding month,
while paper and pulp were unchanged in price.
Raw materials as a whole averaged lower in November than in
October, as did also finished products. Semimanufactured commodi
ties, on the other hand, showed advancing tendency.
In the large group of nonagricultural commodities, including all
articles other than farm products, and among all commodities other
than farm products and foods November prices averaged lower than
those of the month before.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W HOLESALE PR IC ES BY GROUPS A N D SU B G R O U PS OF COM
M O D IT IES (1926=100.0)
November,; October,
1930
1929
Groups and subgroups
All commodities-------- ------------------------- -----Farm products_______________________________ _____
G r a in s ,,------- -- ------ - ---------------------------------Livestock and poultry------------ --------------------------Other farm products
---------------------- ------------------------Foods, ---------------------------Butter, cheese, and m ilk------- _ ----------- ---------M eats-------- ------ ------------ --------- --------- ------ -------Other fo o d s ------ ---------- --------- ------------- -----Hides and leather products—
_ -- - ----------Hides and skins.-- --- ------------------------- -- - —
L e a th e r .------ ------ -- ------------ --- --- - - - - - Boots and shoes.. ------------- - --------- - - - - - - Other leather products_____
_____ _ _ - - Textile products___________________________________
Cotton goods___________________________________
Silk and rayon . _ --------- ------ --------- ----------Woolen and worsted goods. . . . . .
---- ------------Other textile products - - ---- - . -----Fuel and lighting materials.. . . --------- . ----------- Anthracite coal__ . . .
- - ------ ----------------Bituminous coal---------- ---------------- - -------------C oke... _______
. . . - ........
.................
Petroleum products---------------------- - - -- Metals and metal products------------------------------------ ------------- . . . ------Iron and steel----- ------Nonferrous metals---------------------------------- . .
Agricultural i m p l e m e n t s . ----------------Autom obiles.. ________________________________
Other metal products_________________ __ ------Building m a te r ia ls .-___—. - -- ---------------- . . .
Lumber___ __________________________________
B r ic k __ ___
___ _
. ........
Cement
__ ____
------ ------Structural steel - . . ------ - - - - -------------- Paint materials___ - - ---- -...
. .
Other building materials._ ------------... . - ...... ....................
Chemicals and drugs ......
Chemicals__ . . . . . . .
-.. ... . .. ..
Drugs and pharmaceuticals________ . . . . .
Fertilizer materials-------- ---------------- - - ------- -Mixed fertilizers. _ . .
__ ----------- - - - ----House furnishing goods----------------------------- ------------Furniture-______
-.- - ------ ---------------------Furnishings...... ...... .............
- - ---- -Miscellaneous. ____. . .
..
- ----Cattle feed
-- - - - - - - ..
---Paper and pulp____ ____ _ _ ---------------------------Rubber________
__________________________
Automobile tires....................................- ----- -Other miscellaneous....................................................
Raw materials____________________
______ - ------Semimanufactured articles. . _____ . ----------- - - Finished products
_____________________ ___
Nonagricultural commodities____
_____
_
All commodities less farm products and foods-----------1 Data not yet available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[244]
94.4
101.1
94.9
93.7
108.1
98.8
103. 7
102. 5
94.5
108.4
109.3
113.3
106.1
106.1
91.5
98. 1
77.0
95.7
76. 1
81.7
91. 2
92.0
84.4
92. 4
70.9
102.3
96.5
102.4
96.1
108.0
98.6
96.0
92.4
90. 5
86.6
97.0
97.8
105.4
94.0
100.0
70.6
89.9
97.4
97.1
96. 7
97.4
80.1
124. 1
87.9
34.5
55.0
108.6
94.8
95.6
94.2
92.6
91. 7
82.6
82.6
72.1
82.4
86.3
88. 6
98. 7
96.7
79.8
96.5
83.6
96.7
100.3
104.2
73.8
81.6
52. 1
83.6
59.0
75.1
89. 6
89. 2
83.9
69.7
59.4
90.4
88.6
67.8
94.9
100.2
98.4
85.8
80.2
82.5
91.7
81.7
75.9
97.3
86.0
89.6
66.8
83.6
92.9
95.3
96.5
94. 2
68.8
89.6
83.5
16.9
52.0
91.5
80.0
75.5
85. 6
82.8
81.5
Purchasing
power of
November, the
dollar
1930
N ovember,
1930
80.4
79.3
64.0
77.7
85.4
85.7
95.8
91.4
78.4
94.0
75.1
93.3
100.3
104. 2
73.3
81.9
50.7
83.2
57.9
71.8
89.6
89.1
83.9
(■)
53.3
90.2
88.3
68.4
94.9
99.8
98.0
85.6
80.1
81.8
91.1
81.7
74.4
97.8
85.2
89.2
66.3
82.1
91.1
95.2
96.5
94.0
67.8
83.0
83.5
18.6
51.3
88.9
76.8
75.6
83.7
80.9
80. 1
$1. 224
1. 261
1. 5(53
1.287
1.171
1.167
1.044
1. 094
1. 276
1.064
1. 332
1. 072
.997
.960
1. 364
1. 221
1. 972
1. 202
1. 727
1. 393
1.116
1.122
1.192
1. 876
1.109
1.133
1.462
1.054
1.002
1.020
1.168
1.248
1.222
1.098
1.224
J. 344
1.022
1. 174
1.121
1.508
1. 218
1.098
1.050
1.036
1.064
1.475
1.205
1.198
5.376
1. 949
1.125
1.302
1.323
1.195
1.236
1.248
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
S ta tis tic s of Im m ig r a tio n for O ctober, 1930
By J. J. K t j n n a , C h i e f S t a t i s t i c i a n U n i t e d S t a t e s B u r e a u
of
I m m ig r a t io n
URING October, 1930, 13,942 immigrant aliens were admitted
to the United States, a decrease of 3,850, or 21.6 per cent, as
compared with the preceding month, and 12,798, or 47.9 per cent,
less than the number for October, 1929. The number of emigrant
aliens leaving the country during October last to make their homes
abroad again was 5,352, an increase of 252 over the previous month.
Immigration during the first four months of the current fiscal year
shows a decline of 37,733, or 38.7 per cent, from that for the corre
sponding period of last year, the number of immigrants dropping from
97,606 admitted from July 1 to October 31, 1929, to 59,873 entering
from July 1 to October 31, 1930. The drop for Europe was 16,447,
or 30.8 per cent, while that from Canada was 14,725, or nearly 50 per
cent, with a still larger proportionate decrease of 73 per cent in the
case of Mexico. Immigration from the latter country has been
reduced so drastically since the fiscal year 1929 that it is no longer a
problem, the number of immigrant aliens admitted from Mexico
dropping from an average of 3,346 a month during that year to 346
for the month of October, 1930. Canadian immigration is also rapidly
declining., the monthly average number of immigrants coming from
Canada dropping from 5,370 for the fiscal year 1929 and 5,292 for 1930
to 3,768 for the first four months of the present fiscal year. In October
last, only 2,731 immigrant aliens were admitted who gave Canada as
their last permanent residence. Over two-thirds of the immigrants
now admitted from Canada and Mexico, as well as from Europe, are
women and children under 16 years of age, and only 1 out of every 4
immigrants is a laborer or skilled worker.
About 87 per cent of the arrivals by water came in at New York,
37,830 immigrants having been admitted at that port during the four
months from July to October last and 5,849 entered via the other sea
ports, while 14,558 entered oyer the international land border from
Canada, and 1,636 from Mexico. Nearly two-thirds of these immi
grants settled in the North Atlantic States, New York receiving the
largest number by far, 22,307 immigrant aliens, or over one-third of
the total for the said four months, giving that State as their intended
future permanent residence.
As to the sex of the 59,873 immigrants admitted during the four
months from July to October, 1930, about 5 females arrived for every
4 males, the numbers being 26,115 and 33,758, respectively, while
9,811 were under 16 years of age, 14,545 ranged in age from 16 to 21
years, 16,762 from 22 to 29 years, 8,454 from 30 to 37 years, 3,483 from
D
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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245
246
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
38 to 44 years, and 6,818 from 45 to 55 years and over. The single
immigrants numbered 38,032, while 19,308 were married at the time
of arrival, 2,365 were widowed, and 168 were divorced.
IN W A R D A N D OUTW ARD PA SSE N G E R M O V E M E N T FROM JULY 1 TO OCTOBER 31,1930
Outward
Inward
Period
1930
July_________
August______
September___
October_____
Aliens
Aliens
de
de
Aliens departed
Aliens admitted
United
ported
barred
States
United
after
from
citi
States
land
enterzens Total ing 2
citizens Total ing i Em i NonNon
Immi immi
emi
Total
de
grant grant
grant grant Total arrived
parted
13,323
14.816
17, 792
13,942
16,466
19, 724
29, 359
23, 304
29, 789
34, 540
47.151
37. 246
38,822
69,957
80,900
40,702
55, 366 82, 772
88, 372 122,783
56, 526 86, 230
32,988 61, 278
1,440
1,208
1, 552
1,526
3, 501 20, 515 99, 296 119,811'233, 252 353, 063
1
1
5,726
68. 611
104,497
128,051
77. 948
T otal__ 59, 873 88, 853 148, 726 230, 381 379,107
881
837
929
854
4.818
5,245
5,100
5, 352
22, 588
29,166
24, 604
22, 938
27,406
34,411
29, 704
28, 290
1 These aliens are not included among arrivals, as they were not permitted to enter the United States.
2 These aliens are included among aliens departed, they having entered the United States, legally or
illegally, and later being deported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[246]
PUBLICATIONS RELATIN G TO LABOR
Official— United States
C a l i f o r n i a . — M exican F act-F in d in g C om m ittee.
R e p o r t: M e x ic a n s
fo r n ia .
S a n F r a n c is c o , O c to b er, 1 9 3 0 .
2 1 4 PP-', m a p s , c h a r ts .
in
C a li
R eview ed in th is issue.
I o w a .— W orkm en’s C om pensation Service.
N i n t h b ie n n ia l r e p o r t, f o r th e p e r io d
e n d in g J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 , a n d r e p o r t o f d e c is io n s b y th e d e p a r tm e n t a n d S ta te
c o u rts .
D e s M o in e s , 1 9 3 0 .
175 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
Y o r k C i t y .— D e p a rtm e n t of H ealth .
Noise A b atem e n t Comm ission.
C i t y n o is e .
R e p o r t o f th e c o m m is s io n a p p o i n t e d to s t u d y n o is e i n N e w Y o r k
C i t y a n d to d e v e lo p m e a n s o f a b a tin g i t .
N e w Y o rk , 1 9 3 0 .
3 0 8 p p .; d ia
g r a m s , U lu s.
N ew
T he re p o rt includes a general discussion of th e noise problem a n d of th e effects
of noise on hum an beings a n d a re p o rt of th e m easu rem en t of various kinds of
noises in th e streets an d indoors in N ew Y ork C ity, an d suggests p ractical rem e
dies. T he appendix contains articles b y several au th o rities on th e subject.
N o r t h C a r o l i n a .— In d u s tria l
R a le ig h , 1 9 3 0 .
43 pp.
Com m ission.
F ir s t
annual
r e p o r t,
1 9 2 9 -3 0 .
R eview ed in th is issue.
O h i o .— D e p a rtm e n t of In d u s tria l R elations.
D ivision of L abor S tatistics.
R e p o r t N o . 2 3 : S t a t i s t i c s o f m in e s a n d q u a r r ie s i n O h io , 1 9 2 9 .
C o lu m b u s ,1 9 3 0 .
5 7 p p . ; c h a rt.
T he rep o rt includes d a ta for coal, fire-clay, a n d gypsum mines, a n d for lim estone
an d sandstone quarries, on p roduction, n u m b er of employees, a n d wages, a n d for
coal m ines, on fa ta l accidents.
------------ — D ivision of Safety a n d H ygiene.
g e s tio n s .
C o lu m b u s , 1 9 3 0 .
T e x a s .— B ureau
A u s tin , 1 9 3 0 .
of L abor
A c c id e n t p r e v e n tio n a n d f i r s t - a i d s u g
6 7 p p . ; d ia g r a m s , i l lu s .
S tatistics.
E le v e n th
b ie n n ia l
r e p o r t,
1 9 2 9 -1 9 3 0 .
60 p p .
C ertain d a ta on wages a n d hours, ta k e n from th is rep o rt, are given in th is issue
of th e L ab o r Review.
U n i t e d S t a t e s .— B oard of M ediation.
J u n e SO, 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e f is c a l y e a r e n d e d
26 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
------ Congress.
H ouse of R ep resen tativ es. R e p o r t N o . 1 9 7 1 : T o p r o v id e f o r
th e a d v a n c e p l a n n i n g a n d r e g u la te d c o n s tr u c tio n o f c e r ta in p u b lic w o r k s , f o r th e
s t a b i l i z a ti o n o f i n d u s t r y , a n d f o r a i d i n g i n th e p r e v e n tio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t
d u r in g p e r io d s o f b u s in e s s d e p r e s s io n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
I n tw o p a r t s , 5
a n d 4 PP( 7 1 s t C o n g ., 2 d s e s s .)
---------------------- R e p o r t N o . 1594'- R e s tr ic tio n o f im m i g r a t i o n f r o m
M e x ic o .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
12 p p .
( 7 1 s t C o n g ., 2 d s e s s .)
R e p u b lic o f
------------------— C om m ittee on Im m ig ratio n a n d N atu ralizatio n .
I m m i g r a t io n
f r o m M e x ic o . H e a r in g N o . 7 1 .2 .1 3 ( 7 1 s t C o n g ., 2 d s e s s .) , M a y 1 5 , 1 9 3 0 , o n
H . R . 12382.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
13 p p .
----------------------------- Q u o ta p r e fe r e n c e s f o r c e r ta in i m m i g r a n t s . H e a r in g N o .
7 1 .2 .3 ( 7 1 s t C o n g ., 2 d s e s s .) , J a n u a r y 2 1 , 1 9 3 0 , o n H . R . 7 2 5 8 .
W a s h in g to n .
1930.
6 0 p p .; S u p p le m e n t, 8 p p .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[247]
247
248
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
U n i t e d S t a t e s . — D e p a rtm e n t of C om m erce.
E ig h te e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e
S e c r e ta r y o f C o m m e r c e , f o r th e f is c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n ,
1 9 3 0 ., x l i i i , 3 5 1 p p . ; m a p , c h a r ts .
-------------- B ureau of F oreign a n d D om estic Com m erce.
U n ite d S ta te s , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
S t a t i s t i c a l a b s tr a c t o f th e
876 pp.
------ D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
E ig h te e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e S e c r e ta r y o f L a b o r
f o r th e f i s c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
134- PP-
R eview ed in th is issue.
---------------B ureau of Im m ig ratio n .
1930.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f is c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 ,
267 pp.
---------------B ureau of L abor S tatistics.
1930.
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f is c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 ,
29 pp.
------ ■
— — ------ B u l l e t i n N o . 5 2 2 : W a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r i n f o u n d r i e s a n d
m a c h in e s h o p s , 1 9 2 9 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
153 pp.
Sum m ary figures from th is stu d y were published in th e L ab o r R eview for
F eb ru ary , 1930 (pp. 146-154).
------ ------ ------ B u l l e t i n N o . 5 2 4 : B u i l d i n g p e r m it s i n th e p r i n c i p a l c itie s o f th e
U n ite d S ta te s i n 1 9 2 9 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
109 pp.
---------------------- B u lle tin N o . 5 3 0 : P r o c e e d in g s o f th e s e v e n te e n th a n n u a l c o n v e n tio n
o f th e A s s o c i a t i o n o f G o v e r n m e n ta l O ffic ia ls i n I n d u s t r y o f th e U n ite d S ta te s
a n d C a n a d a , L o u is v ille . K y ., M a y 2 0 - 2 3 , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
129 pp.
---------------B u reau of N a tu ra liz a tio n .
1930.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
---------------C hildren ’s B ureau.
1930.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f i s c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e SO,
40 pp.
E ig h te e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t, f is c a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 ,
38 pp.
---------------W om en’s B ureau.
B u lle tin N o . 7 8 : A s u r v e y o f la u n d r ie s
w o m e n w o r k e r s i n 2 3 c itie s , b y E th e l L . B e s t a n d E th e l E r ic k s o n .
to n , 1 9 3 0 .
1 6 4 P P -i c h a r ts , i l l u s .
a n d th e ir
W a s h in g
R eview ed in th is issue.
----------------------- B u l l e t i n N o . 8 1 : I n d u s t r i a l a c c id e n ts to m e n a n d w o m e n , b y
E m ily C. B ro w n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
46 pp
R eview ed in th is issue.
----------------------- T w e lf th a n n u a l r e p o r t, fisc a l y e a r e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g
to n , 1 9 3 0 .---- 3 7 p p .
T he rep o rts of th e several b u reau s of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r for th e year
ended Ju n e 30, 1930, are covered in th e review of th e S e c re ta ry ’s re p o rt in th is
issue. In addition , d a ta on tre n d s in th e em p lo y m en t of children, 1927 to 1929,
ta k e n from th e re p o rt of th e C h ild ren ’s B u reau , are given in a se p a ra te article.
------ F ederal F arm B oard.
B u l l e t i n N o . 1: F r u its a n d v e g e ta b le s— g u id e f o r
s e ttin g u p lo c a l c o o p e r a tiv e m a r k e tin g a s s o c ia tio n s , b y H a r r y C . H e n s le y .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
28 pp.
C ontains m odels for m ark etin g agreem ents, articles of inco rp o ratio n , an d
by-law s, as well as in stru c tio n s as to how to go a b o u t organizing a n association in
th is field.
------ T reasu ry D e p a rtm e n t. P ublic H e a lth Service. P u b l i c h e a lth b u lle tin
N o . 1 8 5 : P h y s io lo g ic a l r e s p o n s e a tte n d in g e x p o s u r e to v a p o r s o f m e th y l b r o m id e ,
m e th y l c h lo r id e , e th y l b r o m id e , a n d e th y l c h lo r id e .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 2 9 .
5 6 p p .;
c h a r ts , i l lu s .
O fficial— F oreign C ou n tries
A m s t e r d a m ( N e t h e r l a n d s ) . — B ureau v an S tatistiek .
S ta tis tis c h ja a rb o e k der
g e m e e n te A m s te r d a m , 1 9 2 9 .
A m s te r d a m , 1 9 3 0 .
358 pp.
( I n D u tc h a n d
F r e n c h .)
C ontains sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n in reg ard to th e city of A m sterdam for 1929,
including housing, sa n ita ry conditions, em plo y m en t service, un em p lo y m en t,
public w orks, hours of labor, in d u stria l accidents, social insurance, etc.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[248]
249
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
A u s t r a l i a .— B ureau o f C ensus
C a n b erra , 1 9 3 0 .
180 pp.
a n d S tatistics.
L a b o r r e p o r t,
1929
{N o . 2 0 ).
Some d a ta on wages a n d w age tren d s, ta k e n from th is rep o rt, are given in
th is issue of th e L abor Review.
C om m issioner of M a te rn ity Allowances. M a t e r n i t y a llo w a n c e s . S ta te m e n t
s h o w in g n u m b e r o f c la im s g r a n te d a n d r e je c te d , e x p e n d itu r e , a n d c o s t o f a d
m i n i s t r a t i o n d u r in g th e 1 2 m o n th s e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
C an berra, 1930.
3 pp.
D uring th e y ear 128,598 claim s were g ra n te d and 821 refused. M ore th a n
half of th e refusals were due to th e fa c t t h a t th e m others, being aliens, were n o t
eligible for th e benefit. T he to ta l am o u n t p aid in allow ances du rin g th e y ear
was £642,990 ($3,129,111), and th e cost of a d m in istra tio n was £15,157 ($73,762),
or £ 2 7s. 2d. ($11.45) to each £100 ($487) p aid in allowances.
------ C om m issioner of Pensions.
I n v a l i d a n d o ld - a g e p e n s io n s .
1 2 m o n th s e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
C a n b erra , 1 9 3 0 .
10 pp.
S ta te m e n t f o r th e
D uring th e y ear covered, 22,575 old-age pensions were g ran ted , a n d th e n u m
b er c u rre n t rose from 145,393 on Ju n e 30, 1929, to 155,196 on Ju n e 30, 1930,
an increase of 9,803 for th e year. Of th e pensions g ra n ted during th e year, 11,215
w ere to m en an d 11,360 to wom en. On Ju n e 30, to each 10,000 of th e p opulation,
as estim ated a t th e close of 1929, th e re were 239.54 old-age a n d 97.70 invalid
pensioners. T he m axim um pension in b o th cases is £ 5 2 ($253) a y ear, or 40s.
($9.73) a fo rtn ig h t; th e average pension received was, for old-age pensioners,
38s. 2.03d. ($9.29) a n d for invalids, 39s. 0.07d. ($9.49) p er fo rtn ig h t. T h e to ta l
expenditure during th e y ear in pensions was £10,791,325 ($52,515,983), a n d th e
cost of a d m in istratio n was £89,201 ($434,097), or 16s. 6d. ($4.01) for each
£100 ($487) p aid in pensions. T here has been a continuous fall in th e p ro p o r
tio n a te cost of a d m in istra tio n since 1922, th e aliove figure being th e low est
y e t reached.
B r i t i s h G u i a n a .— Econom ic
1930.
35 pp.
In v estig atio n C om m ittee.
R e p o r t.
G e o r g e to w n ,
R ep o rt of a com m ittee ap p o in ted in M arch, 1930, “ to in v estig ate a n d rep o rt
upon th e e x te n t of u nem p lo y m en t in th e Colony [B ritish G uiana], th e causes of
such unem ploym ent, a n d to advise as to an y m easure by w hich it m ig h t be pos
sible to find em ploym en t for those seeking i t . ”
C h i n a .— M inistry of In d u stry , Com m erce, a n d L abor.
T h r e e o f th e r e c e n t
la b o r la w s p r o m u lg a te d b y th e N a t i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t.
N a n k in g , 1 9 3 0 .
24 pp.
Two of these acts have alread y been published in th e L abor Review , th e one
on lab o r unions in th e F eb ru ary , 1930, issue, an d th e facto ry law in th e June,
1930, issue. T he th ird a c t, on lab o r disputes, is an am en d m en t to th e concili
atio n an d a rb itra tio n a c t w hich was published in th e S eptem ber, 1929, Review.
In th a t nu m b er of th e Review th e d ate of th e pro m u lg atio n of th e original
a c t was erroneously given as Ju n e 9, 1929, th e correct d a te being Ju n e 9, 1928.
G e r m a n y .— S tatistisches R eichsam t. J a h r b u c h d e r B e r u fs v e r b a n d e i m D e u ts c h e n
R e ic h e , 1 9 3 0 .
B e r lin ,
R e ic h s a r b e its b la tt.)
1930.
64*,
288
p p .;
c h a r ts .
{5 2 . S o n d e r h e f t
zu m
T he yearbook contains in form ation in reg ard to th e in d u strial organizations in
G erm any, including b o th em ployers’ associations a n d lab o r unions. T he first
p a r t contains histories of th ese organizations, a n d sum m ary, ch arts, a n d s ta tis
tical tab les; a n d th e second p a rt review s th e organizations in detail.
G r e a t B r i t a i n .— In d u stria l H e a lth R esearch B oard.
R e p o r t N o . 5 9 : S ic k n e s s
a m o n g s t o p e r a tiv e s i n L a n c a s h ir e c o tto n s p i n n i n g m i l l s { w ith s p e c i a l r e fe r e n c e
to th e c a r d r o o m ) , b y A . B r a d f o r d H i l l . L o n d o n , 1 9 3 0 . 81 p p .
T his stu d y w as u n d erta k e n because of th e com p lain t th a t card-room operatives
in th e cotton-spinning mills suffered excessively from resp ira to ry diseases, b u t
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
no definite conclusion was reached as to w h eth er p resen t or earlier conditions
were to blam e. W hile th e stu d y show ed th a t am ong th e older w orkers th e re was
an excessive n um b er of cases of re s p ira to ry disease, i t could n o t be show n th a t
present w orking conditions were d e trim e n ta l to h ealth . W orking conditions w ere
m aterially altered in 1912 w hen localized e x h a u st v e n tila tio n fo r strip p in g was
introduced a n d it w as th o u g h t t h a t th e excess of resp ira to ry disease fo u n d a t th e
older ages m ig h t be due to th e very d u sty conditions in w hich th ese older o p erativ es
once worked.
G r e a t e r S h a n g h a i ( C h i n a ) . — B ureau of Social Affairs. S t r i k e s a n d lo c k o u ts i n
G r e a te r S h a n g h a i, 1 9 2 9 . S h a n g h a i, 1 9 8 0 . 1 8 3 p p . (i n C h in e s e ) a n d 71 p p .
( in E n g lis h ) .
H u n g a r y .— Office C en tra l R oyal H ongrois de
H o n g r o is , 1 9 2 8 . B u d a p e s t, 1 9 3 0 . 3 7 4 p p .
S tatistiq u e.
A n n u a i r e s ta t i s t iq u e
C ontains sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n in reg ard to H u n g a ry for 1928, th e to p ics
covered including education, unem p lo y m en t, etc.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O f f i c e .— H o u r s o f w o r k i n c o a l m in e s ( q u e s tio n n a ir e ) .
( I t e m I I o n a g e n d a o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r C o n fe r e n c e , 1 5 th s e s s io n , G e n e v a ,
M a y , 1 9 3 1 .)
G en eva, 1 9 3 0 .
91 p p .
------ S tu d ie s a n d r e p o r ts , S e r ie s N ( s t a t i s t i c s ) , N o . 1 6 :
m e a s u r in g o c c u p a tio n a l m o r b i d i t y a n d m o r ta lity .
S t a t i s t i c a l m e th o d s f o r
G e n e v a , 1 9 8 0 . 2 0 8 p p . ; c h a r ts .
T his re p o rt deals w ith th e problem s p resen ted in developing a d e q u a te sta tistic s
of occupational diseases, a n d suggests possible m eth o d s to be followed. A v ariety
of sta tistic a l tab les on different diseases a re used in illu stratio n .
N e t h e r l a n d s .— R ijksverzekeringsbank.
O n g e v a lle n s ta tis tie k , 1 9 2 5 , 1 9 2 6 .
Am
s te r d a m , 1 9 3 0 .
138 pp.
A re p o rt on accid en t experience in th e N e th erlan d s in 1925 a n d 1926, un d er
th e com pulsory a n d v o lu n ta ry accid en t insurance law s of 1921 a n d 1922, covering,
respectively, in d u stria l w orkers a n d a g ric u ltu ra l w orkers.
——---------- O n g e v a lle n s ta tis tie k . B e tr e f fe n d e h et k a le n d e r ja a r 1 9 2 8 . I . S t a t i s t i e k
d e r O n d e r n e m in g e n .
A m s t e r d a m [1 9 8 0 1 ].
C o n tain s statistic s of accidents a n d
N eth erlan d s in 1928.
55*, 103 p p .
insurance
ag ain st accidents
Q u e e n s l a n d ( A u s t r a l i a ) .— In su ran ce Office.
F o u r te e n th
th e y e a r e n d e d J u n e 8 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
B r is b a n e , 1 9 3 0 .
41 p p .
annual
in
th e
r e p o r t, f o r
C overs th e y e a r’s w ork in th e field of w orkm en’s com pensation, a n d in life,
fire, m arine, a n d m iscellaneous accid en t insurance.
S o u t h A u s t r a l i a ( A u s t r a l i a ) .— S ta tistic a l
A d e la id e , 1 9 8 0 .
[ V a r i o u s p a g i n g .]
Office.
S t a t i s t i c a l r e g is te r , 1 9 2 8 - 2 9 .
Includes d a ta relatin g to accidents, prices, p roduction, a n d wages.
S p a i n .— M inisterio de T ra b a jo y P revision.
Servicio G eneral de
A n u a r i o e s ta d ís tic o d e E s p a ñ a , 1 9 2 8 .
M a d r id , 1 9 3 0 .
711 p p .
E stad ística.
C ertain w age d a ta , ta k e n from th is a n n u al, are given in th is issue of th e L abor
Review.
S tockholm
( S w e d e n ).- —S ta tistisk a
K o n to r. S to c k h o lm s S t a d s S t a t i s t i s k a
K o n to r , 1 9 0 5 - 1 9 3 0 .
N á g r a M i n n e s o r d a v J . G u in c h a r á . S to c k h o lm , 1 9 3 0 .
8 5 p p . , i l lu s .
C ontains a review of th e h isto ry a n d activ ities of th e sta tistic a l office of th e
c ity of Stockholm , Sweden, from 1905 to 1930.
U k r a i n e ( S o v i e t U n i o n (U. S. S. R .)).— S ta tistic a l Office.
B u d g e ts o f w a g e
e a r n e r s a n d s a l a r i e d e m p lo y e e s i n 1 9 2 8 - 2 9 .
K h a rk o f, 1980.
pp.
(In
U k r a in ia n ) .
41
C ontains a sta tistic a l review of th e b u d g ets (earnings an d living expenses) of
258 fam ilies.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[250]
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
V i c t o r i a ( A u s t r a l i a ) . — D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
R e p o r t o f th e c h ie f i n s p e c to r o f
f a c to r ie s a n d s h o p s f o r th e y e a r e n d e d D e c e m b e r 8 1 , 1 9 2 9 .
M e lb o u r n e 1 9 3 0
47 pp.
T ables are included show ing accidents, wages, etc.
U nofficial
A ll g em e in er
D eutscher
1929.
Deutschland, Ende
schafts-Zeitung.)
G ew erkschaftsbund.
1930.
67 pp.
( 1.
Berlin,
Die Tarifverträge in
Sonderheft der Gewerk
C on tains inform ation in regard to th e tra d e agreem ents in force a t th e end of
1929 in G erm any, classified by trad es a n d occupations an d by d istricts.
A n d r e w s , J o h n B.
M a j o r is s u e s i n la b o r la w a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
N ew
A m e r ic a n A s s o c ia tio n f o r L a b o r L e g is la tio n , 1 3 1 E a s t 2 3 d S tr e e t, 1 9 3 0 .
R ay.
Unemployment insurance in Germany.
The Brookings Institution, 1 9 3 0 . I j O pp.
C a r r o l l , M o llie
Y o rk ,
7 pp.
Washington,
This is a second edition of th e stu d y of th e G erm an unem p lo y m en t insurance
system w hich has been revised to include am en d m en ts an d executive orders w hich
have been enacted or issued during th e y ear following th e p u b licatio n of th e
original study.
C a s o l a n i , H e n r y . A w a k e M a lta , o r T h e h a r d le s s o n
G o v e r n m e n t P r i n t i n g O ffice, 1 9 3 0 .
S j pp.
o f e m ig r a tio n .
M a lta ,
T he au th o r, who was form erly su p e rin te n d e n t of em igration in M alta, is con
vinced t h a t th e only solution for th e m an y com plex problem s confronting th a t
island is a sound system of n a tio n al organized em igration.
C i v i l - S e r v i c e A s s e m b l y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a . R e p o r t o f te c h
n ic a l c o m m itte e o n r u le s f o r th e i n s t a l l a t i o n a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f c la s s if ic a tio n
a n d c o m p e n s a tio n p la n s .
[C h ic a g o , F r e d T e lfo r d , s e c r e ta r y , 9 2 3 E a s t 6 0 th
S tr e e t, 1 9 3 0 .]
pp.
( M i m e o g r a p h e d .)
40
C o m m ittee o n t h e C osts of M edical C a r e .
M is c e lla n e o u s c o n tr ib u tio n s on
th e c o s ts o f m e d ic a l c a r e , N o . 1 : I n s t i t u t i o n a l c o n v a le s c e n c e , b y E . I I . L e w i n s k i
C o r w in .
W a s h in g to n , 9 1 0 S e v e n te e n th S tr e e t N W . , 1 9 3 0 .
8 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
— M is c e lla n e o u s c o n tr ib u tio n s o n th e c o s ts o f m e d ic a l c a r e , N o . 2 : T h e c o s ts o f
m e d ic a l c a r e ; P r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t, b y N a th a n S i n a i a n d M a r g a r e t C . K le m .
W a s h in g to n , 9 1 0 S e v e n te e n th S tr e e t N W . , 1 9 3 0 .
8 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
C ommons, J ohn R.
R e p r e s e n ta tiv e a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s i n la b o r la w a d m i n i s t r a
tio n .
N e w Y o r k , A m e r ic a n A s s o c ia tio n f o r L a b o r L e g is la tio n , 1 3 1 E a s t 2 3 d
S tr e e t, 1 9 3 0 .
7 pp.
D e u t s c h e G e s e l l s c h a f t f ü r G e w e r b e h y g i e n e . S c h r if te n a u s d e m G e s a m tg e
b ie t d e r G e w e r b e h y g ie n e , N e u e F o lg e , H e f t 1 8 : D ie B e s e itig u n g d e r b e im T a u c h u n d S p r i t z l a c k i e r e n e n ts te h e n d e n D ä m p f e , v o n W e n z e l, A lv e n s le b e n , u n d W itt.
B e r lin , 1930. 4'7 PP-', d ia g r a m s , i l l u s .
C ontains results of an inv estig atio n of a n d experim ents in elim ination of v apors
an d fum es in painting.
G r a n t, M adiso n , and D avison, C harles Ste w a r t , edito rs.
T h e a lie n i n o u r
m id s t.
N e w Y o r k , G a lio n P u b lis h in g C o . { I n c .) , 1 9 3 0 .
238 pp.
A com pilation of ex tra c ts from th e w ritings of a n u m b er of A m ericans on
im m igration an d its results.
• 29334°—31----- IT
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
252
MONTHLY TABOR REVIEW
H a m m o n d , J. L. a n d B a r b a r a . T h e a g e o f th e C h a r tis ts , 1 8 8 2 -1 8 5 1 + : A s t u d y o f
d is c o n te n t. N e w Y o r k , L o n g m a n s , G r e e n & C o ., 1 9 3 0 . 3 8 6 p p .
In tw o earlier w orks, dealing w ith th e to w n lab o rer a n d th e skilled laborer,
th e w riters m ade a stu d y of th e social life, from 1760 to 1832, in th e p a rts of
E ngland m ost affected b y th e first in d u stria l revolution. T h e p re se n t volum e
carries on th is stu d y from th e passage of th e reform bill to th e o u tb re a k of th e
C rim ean W ar. T he a u th o rs em phasize th a t th is is by no m eans in te n d e d as a
histo ry of th e C h a rtist m ovem ent, b u t is a n a tte m p t “ to describe th e society
th a t w as b ro u g h t to life by th e g re a t changes of th e tim e ; th e s p irit of th a t
society; th e first efforts to reg u late its life, an d th e d isco n ten t th a t distinguished
th is phase of E nglish h is to ry .”
H e w e s , A m y . T h e c o n tr ib u tio n o f e c o n o m ic s to s o c ia l w o r k . P u b lis h e d f o r N e w
Y o r k S c h o o l o f S o c ia l W o r k b y C o lu m b ia U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , 1 9 3 0 .
135 p p .
H o b s o n , J. A. R a t i o n a l i z a t i o n a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t— a n e c o n o m ic d ile m m a .
d o n , G e o rg e A l l e n & U n w i n { L t d . ) , 1 9 3 0 . 1 2 6 p p .
L on
R ecent im provem en ts in te ch n iq u e a n d o rganization have m ad e it possible,
th e a u th o r holds, to p roduce m o st k in d s of goods a n d devices req u ired for h u m an
consum ption a t a ra te w hich is fa r o u tru n n in g th e p re se n t pow er to p u rch ase
an d consum e them . T he failure of th e m a rk e ts to expand in p ro p o rtio n to p ro
du ctiv e cap acity is th e crux of th e situ atio n , an d th e rem edy m u st be sought
th ro u g h such an expansion.
“ Living, as we do, in in tim a te c o n ta c t w ith w orld in d u stry a n d w orld m a r
kets, th e only satisfa c to ry escape from o u r p re se n t p lig h t can be achieved by
such im provem ents in th e general d istrib u tio n of incom e here a n d th ro u g h o u t
th e econom ic system as will p lace a n increased p ro p o rtio n of th e purch asin g
pow er in th e h an d s of those who will use th e m in a general raising of th e sta n d
a rd of life of th e com m u n ity . A b e tte r d istrib u tio n a n d u tiliz a tio n of incom e is
th e only rem edy fo r th is failu re of m ark e ts, or und erco n su m p tio n , w hich shows
itself as th e d irect cause of u n d erp ro d u ctio n a n d u n em p lo y m en t.”
I o w a , U n i v e r s i t y o f . B u re a u of B usiness R esearch. I o w a s t u d i e s i n b u s in e s s ,
N o . V I I : I n d u s t r i a l m i g r a tio n i n th e U n ite d S ta te s , 1 9 1 7 + -1 9 2 7 , b y H . I I .
M c C a r t y . I o w a C i t y , 1 9 3 0 . 7 9 p p . ; m a p , c h a r ts .
K id d ie r , W illia m .
T h e o ld t r a d e - u n io n s , f r o m u n p r i n t e d r e c o r d s o f th e b r u s h m a k e r s . L o n d o n , G eo rg e A l l e n & U n w in { L t d . ) , 1 9 3 0 . 21+5 p p .
An inform al discussion of th e doings of th e b ru sh m a k e rs’ associations in th e
days w hen trad e-u n io n s w ere illegal associations, th e ir fu n d s w ere o utside th e
p ro tectio n of th e law , a n d th e ir m em bers h ad need to w alk circum spectly or
in cu r serious penalties.
K i r s c h b a u m , L o u i s . J u s t i c e f o r o r g a n iz e d w o r k e r s .
2 0 0 , S t a t i o n A , [ 1 9 3 0 ? ]. 9 6 p p .
B r o o k ly n , N . Y ., P . 0 . B o x
M arsh, C harles F r a n k l in .
T r a d e - u n io n is m i n th e e le c tr ic lig h t a n d p o w e r
in d u s tr y .
U r b a n a , III., U n i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s P r e s s , [1 9 2 8 ? ].
20J+ p p .
{ R e p r in te d f r o m U n iv e r s ity o f I l l i n o i s s tu d ie s i n th e s o c ia l s c ie n c e s , V o l. X V I ,
N o . 2 , p p . 1 1 5 - 3 1 8 .)
M itch ell, B r o a d u s, and M it c h el l, G eorge S in c la ir .
T h e i n d u s t r i a l r e v o lu
tio n i n th e S o u th . B a ltim o r e , J o h n s H o p k i n s P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 .
298 pp.
V arious papers, p u b lish ed a t in te rv a ls from 1919 to 1930, dealing w ith different
asp ects of th e problem s p resen ted by th e change of th e S o u th to a new in d u stria l
a n d m a n u factu rin g econom y.
P h i l a d e l p h i a H o u s i n g A s s o c i a t i o n . A n n u a l r e p o r t: H o u s in g i n P h i l a d e l p h i a ,
by B e rn a rd J . N ew m a n .
P h i l a d e l p h i a , 3 1 1 S . J u n i p e r S tr e e t, [1 9 3 0 ? ].
7+8 p p .
R eview ed in th is issue.
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
253
P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y . In d u s tria l R elatio n s Section. M e m o r a n d u m : E m p lo y e e
r a tin g s c a le s . P r in c e to n , N o v e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 . 2 3 p p . ( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
~ .
S e le c te d b o o k l i s t f o r th e office l i b r a r y o f a n i n d u s t r i a l r e la tio n s e x e c u tiv e
P r in c e to n , 1 9 3 0 .
2/+ p p .
S ocîal W o r k Y e à r B o o k , 1929.
N ew
Y o r k , R u s s e ll
Sage
F o u n d a tio n , 1 9 3 0 .
600 pp.
T his first issue of th e Social W ork Y ear Book, w hich th e R ussell Sage F o u n d a
tio n plans to publish biennially, is a record of organized efforts in th e U nited
S tates to deal w ith social problem s, th e problem s them selves, in th e w ords of
th e preface, being discussed only to th e e x te n t th a t is necessary for an u n d er
stan d in g of th e form s of social w ork re la te d to them . No problem dr social
condition is described unless some agency exists for its control, p revention, or
stu d y .” T h e volum e includes a d irectory of n a tio n a l social Avork agencies.
S pa h r , W alter E arl, and S w e n s o n , R in e h a r t J o h n .
M e th o d s a n d s ta tu s o f
s c ie n tif ic r e se a r c h , w ith p a r t i c u l a r a p p l i c a t i o n to th e s o c ia l sc ie n c e s .
N ew
Y o r k , H a r p e r & B r o s ., 1 9 3 0 .
533 pp.
U n i o n S u i s s e d e s P a y s a n s . R a p p o r t d u s e c r é ta r ia t d e s p a y s a n s s u is s e s .
R e
ch erch es r e la tiv e s à la r e n ta b ilité d e V a g r ic u ltu r e p e n d a n t l ’e x e rc ic e 1 9 2 8 - 2 9
P a rt I.
B ru gg, 1929.
77 p p .
T he an n u a l rep o rt of th e Swiss A gricultural U nion for th e y ear M arch 1, 1928,
to F eb ru ary 28, 1929. I t covers th e various conditions affecting Swiss' ag ri
cu ltu re an d contains sta tistic s of p roduction, costs, a n d incom e from different
ag ricu ltu ral projects.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
o
[253]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
@FedFRASER