Full text of Monthly Labor Review : July 1915, Volume I, Number 1

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HEW MEXICO STATE - UNfVf RJ ilTV
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ROYAL MEEKER, Commissioner

ONTHLY REVIEW
OF THE

U. S . BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

VOLUME I—JULY, 1915—NUMBER 1


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SERIES OF BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
T h e p u b lic a tio n o f th e A n n u a l a n d S p e c ia l R e p o r ts a n d o f th e b im o n th ly B u l le ti n h a s
b e e n d is c o n tin u e d , a n d s in c e J u ly , 1912, a B u l le ti n h a s b e en p u b lis h e d a t irre g u la r in te r v a ls .
E a c h n u m b e r c o n ta in s m a tte r d e v o te d to o n e o f a series o f g e n e r a l s u b je c ts . T h e s e B u lle ­
tin s are n u m b e r e d c o n se c u tiv e ly in e a ch serie s a n d also ca rry a c o n s e c u tiv e w h o le n u m b e r ,
b e g in n in g w ith N o . 101. A lis t o f th e series, to g e th e r w ith th e in d iv id u a l B u lle tin s fa llin g
u n d e r e a c h , is g iv e n b elo w . A lis t o f th e R e p o r ts a n d B u lle tin s o f th e B u r e a u is s u e d p rio r
to J u ly 1, 1912, w ill be fu r n is h e d o n a p p lic a tio n .

Wholesale Prices.
No. 1. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1912. (B ui. No. 114.)
No. 2. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1913. (B ui. No. 149.)
No. 3. In d ex num bers of wholesales prices in th e U nited States and foreign countries.
173.)

(B ui. No.

Retail Prices and Cost of Living.
No. 1. R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a rt I. (B ui. No. 105: P a rt I.)
R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a rt I I —General tables. (B ui. No. 105: P a rt II.)
No. 2. R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: P a rt I. (B ui. No. 106: P a rt I.)
R etail prices, 1890 to Ju n e, 1912: P a rt I I —General tables. (B ui. No. 106: P a rt II.)
No. 3. R etail prices, 1890do A ugust, 1912. (B ui. No. 108.)
No. 4. R etail prices, 1890 to October, 1912. (B ui. No. 110.)
No. 5. R etail prices, 1890 to December, 1912. (B ui. No. 113.)
No. 6. R etail prices, 1890 to F eb ru ary , 1913. (B ui. No. 115.)
No. 7. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer. (B ui. No. 121.)
No. 8. R etail prices, 1890 to A pril, 1913. (B ui. No. 125.)
No. 9. W h eat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer. (B ui. No. 130.)
No. 10. R etail prices, 1890 to Ju n e, 1913. (B ui. No. 132.)
No. 11. R etail prices, 1890 to A ugust, 1913. (B ui. No. 136.)
No. 12. R etail prices, 1890 to October, 1913. (B ui. No. 138.)
No. 13. R etail prices, 1890 to December, 1913. (B ui. No. 140.)
No. 14. R etail prices, 1907 to December, 1914. (B ui. No. 156.)
No. 15. B u tte r prices, from producer to consumer. (B ui. No. 164.)

Wages and Hours of Labor.
No. 1. Wages and hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, a n d silk industries, 1890 to 1912. (B ui. No. 128.)
No. 2. Wages and hours of labor in th e lum ber, millwork, and fu rn iture Industries, 1890 to 1912. (B ui.
No. 129.)
No. 3. Union scale of wages a n d hours of labor, 1907 to 1912. (B ui. No. 131.)
No. 4. Wages and hours of labor in th e boot and shoo and hosiery and k n it goods industries, 1890 to
1912. (B ui. No. 134.)
No. 5. Wages and hours of labor in th e cigar and clothing industries, 1911 and 1912. (B ui. No. 135.)
No. 6. Wages and hours of labor in th e building and repairing of steam railroad cars, 1890 to 1912.
(B ui. No. 137.)
No. 7. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1913. (Bui. No. 143.)
No. 8. Wages and regularity of em ploym ent in the dress and w aist in dustry of New \ ork City. (B ui.
No. 146.)
No. 9. Wages and regularity of em ploym ent in th e cloak, su it, and skirt industry. (B ui. No. 147.)
No. 10. Wages and hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, a n d silk industries, 1907 to 1913. (B ui. No.
150.)
No. 11. Wages and hours of labor in th e iron a n d steel in d u stry in the U nited States, 1907 to 1912.
(B ui. No. 151.)
No. 12. Wages and hours of labor in th e lum ber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1907 to 1913.
(B u i. No. 153.)
No. 13. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e boot and shoe and hosiery and underw ear industries, 1907 to
1913. (B ui. No. 154.)
No. 14. Wages and hours of labor in th e clothing and cigar industries, 1911 to 1913. (B ui. No. 161.)
No. 15. Wages and hours of labor in the building and repairing of steam railroad cars, 1907 to 1913.
(B ui. No. 163.)
No. 16. Wages and hours of labor in th e iron and steel in d u stry in the U nited States, 1907 to 1913.
(B ui. No. 168.)
No. 17. U nion scale of wages and hours of labor, May 1,1914. (B ui. No. 171.)
No. 18. Wages and hours of labor in th e hosiery and underw ear in dustry, 1907 to 1914. (B ui. No. 177.)
No. 19. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e boot and shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1914. (B ui. No. 178.)
[See also th ir d p a g e o f cover.


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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ROYAL M E E K E R , C om m issioner

MONTHLY REVIEW
OP T H E

U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

VOLUME I—JULY, 1915—NUMBER 1


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W A SH IN G T O N
G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G O FFICE

1915


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CONTENTS.
Page.

5, 6
Introductory..........................................................................................................
7
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor....................................................
Federal employment work of the Department of Labor...................................... 8-13
Labor legislation of 1915........................................................................................ 14-19
Strikes and lockouts in the United States in 1914............................................... 20-32
Laws regulating the employment of women, January 1, 1915............................. 33-38
39
Conditions surrounding street railway employment in the United States..........
New investigations of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.......................................... 39, 40
Overtime in the fruit and vegetable canning and packing industry of Oregon.. 40, 41
Administration of the child-labor laws of Connecticut........................................ 41, 42
Foreign food prices as affected by the war........................................................... 42-44
Increase in retail prices of coal in Great Britain.................................................. 45-56
Organization in coal mines to increase output in Great Britain......................... 56-58
Increases in wages in Great Britain during 1915.................................................. 58, 59
E m pannent in various countries........................................................................ 60-80
Australia........................................................................................................ 60, 61
61, 62
Canada.......................................................................................................
Denmark........................................ ................................................................ 62, 63
Finland........................................................................................................... 63, 64
France............................................................................... ............................. 64-66
Germany......................................................................................................... 66-68
Great Britain.................................................................................................. 63-73
Netherlands...........................................- ........................................................ 73-75
Norway................................................................................... - ...................... 75-77
Sweden............................................................................................................ 78, 79
80
Switzerland.....................................................................................................
Strikes and lockouts in various foreign countries................................................ 80-82
80
France............................................................................................................
Germany..................- ..................................................................................... 80,81
Great Britain............................................................................... ................... 81, 82
Bureaus of labor, industrial commissions, etc., and their chief officials............. 83, 84
State bureaus charged with enforcement of factory inspection laws and chief
inspection officials.............................................................................................. 84, 85
86
Minimum wage boards...........................................................................................
Workmen’s compensation and insurance commissions........................................ 87-89
Bureaus of labor in foreign countries.................................................................... 89, 90
3


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MONTHLY REVIEW
OF

THE

U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
VOL. I—N O . 1

WASHINGTON

JULY, 1 9 15

INTRODUCTORY.

With this issue the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States
Department of Labor begins the publication of its M o n t h l y R e ­
v ie w .
Since the suspension of the bimonthly bulletin in July, 1912,
the bureau has felt the need of some medium which it could use for
the presentation of important material which accumulates but which
in its separate items may not be sufficiently voluminous to warrant
presentation in a separate monograph bulletin in any of our estab­
lished bulletin series.
The M o n t h l y R e v i e w will be from henceforth the medium
through which the Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish the results
of original investigations too brief for bulletin purposes, notices of
labor legislation by the States or by Congress, and Federal court de­
cisions affecting labor, which from their importance should be given
attention before they could ordinarily appear in the bulletins devoted
to these subjects.
Through the M o n t h l y R e v i e w the Bureau of Labor Statistics
will deal with such news items of labor as may officially come to its
notice. Attention will be given to the current work of this bureau,
the other bureaus of the Department of Labor, or any other Govern­
ment agencies dealing directly with labor matters. The bureau will
aim to keep in touch with the current work of the various State labor
bureaus, or State activities by whomsoever conducted, within the field
of its purview. There are at the present time 37 of the States, and
in addition Hawaii, the Philippine Islands, and Porto Rico, which
have bureaus or departments of labor. Similar bureaus exist in 31
foreign countries. In addition to these there are the State industrial
and workmen’s compensation commissions, the minimum wage com­
missions, factory and mine inspection offices, the State and municipal
employment agencies, and a number of other offices regularly en­
gaged in the study of questions and the publication of reports of special
interest to labor. Temporary commissions are appointed with in-


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5

6

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

creasing frequency to serve but a short time and investigate some
single phase of the industrial problem. Most of this material is
entirely inaccessible in any form to the general reader. A special
purpose of the M o n t h l y R e v i e w will be to make available regularly
and promptly notices and summaries of American and foreign
official reports of all bureaus, offices, and commissions of the charac­
ter indicated above. An attempt will be made to keep in touch
with the more important current movements and methods for the
reporting of industrial accidents and occupational or industrial
diseases and for the prevention of these; to report industrial and
vocational surveys, the better housing of workingmen, and any other
activities, public or private, that have for their object the better­
ment ol industrial conditions. Summaries of sickness and out-ofwork or old-age benefit funds maintained by large employing cor­
porations, national trade-unions, etc., will receive attention.
It is hoped that through the M o n t h l y R e v i e w the Bureau of
Labor Statistics can come in closer touch with current labor activities
and by means of this publication give wider publicity and deeper
significance to such activities. In the furtherance of this object it is
sincerely hoped that the officials in charge of Federal, State, munic­
ipal, and private activities along the lines indicated will cooperate
by transmitting to the United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics
the earliest copies of any plans, outlines, or reports of work in which
they are severally engaged.
The M o n t h l y R e v i e w will be issued on the 29tli day of each month.


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CONCILIATION WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

The Secretary of Labor is empowered to mediate in labor disputes,
and in his discretion to appoint commissioners of conciliation, his
authority coming from section 8 of the organic act of the department,
the precise terms of which in this respect are as follows:
That the Secretary of Labor shall have power to act as mediator and to appoint
commissioners of conciliation in labor disputes whenever in his judgment the interests
of industrial peace may require it to be done.

In the exercise of the powers granted in the above section of the
law, the department, through its commissioners of conciliation,
during the year ending June 30, 1915, exercised its good offices in
32 labor disputes, in which a total of 94,289 workmen were involved.
The employees involved in these controversies, the numbers affected,
and the results secured, are shown in the following statement:
W orkm en affected.
Subject.
Directly.


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12,000
10,000
323
250
310

Amicable adjustm ent.
Do.
Do.
U nable to adjust.
Amicable adjustm ent.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Settled b y solicitor.

65
186
250
10,000

114
5,000
20,000

200
40
138
400
345
1,000

255

5,023

M ediation refused.
U nable to adjust.
Amicable adjustm ent.
Pending.
Do.
Amicable adjustm ent.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Amicable adjustm ent.
Pending.
Strike averted.
Amicable adjustm ent.

1,800

Do.
Do.

300
750

Do.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Amicable adjustm ent.
Do.

O
otp

T otal.................................................................

675
18,000
51
29
50
4.000
60
1.000
475

O O
O
o co
o co
o
cq

Southern R ailw ay clerks.................................................
Eastern Ohio coal s trik e .........................................
M achinists, Lansford, P a ....................................... ”
Controversy, car builders, .u ch m o n d , Va . . . . . . 2 .
M achinists’ controversy, H artford, C onn...............
B uilding tradesm en, Buffalo, N . Y ..............................]
Lockout, C entral Locomotive Co.............................
Boiler m akers’ strike, O klahom a and Texas..........
Strike, iron, steel, and tin workers, Canton and Mas­
sillon, Ohio.
Controversy, Seaboard A ir L ine R y. Co., in terp reta­
tion of contract.
Strike of k nitters, Reading, P a .............................
Typographical strike, New Orleans, L a .............
Lockout, D erby Silver Co., D erby, C onn................... [
Strike of longshoremen, Pacific coast............................. ’
Strike of tex tile workers, Philadelphia, P a ....................
Strike of coal m iners, H azleton, P a ..................................
W estern U nion controversy, St. Louis, Mo .. .
Coopers’ strike, Paragould, A rk........................................
Textile strike, Lenoir City, Tenn., and other points in
South.
W ilkes-Barre Street R ailw ay Co......................................
Indianapolis Term inal Co. controversy.......................
Strike in paper mills, H am ilton, Ohio, an d other
points.
Threatened strike, In tern atio n al Paper Co., New York
and New E ngland points.
T hreatened strike, clerks, New Y ork, New H aven &
H artford R. R. Co.
Textile w orkers’ controversy, D obson’s mills, Ger­
m antow n, Pa.
Strike, Bessemer Iron W orks, Grove City, P a ..............
Tie c u tte rs’ strike, New Y ork C ity...................................
Plum bers’ strike, Salem, Mass...........................................
O verbrook Carpet Mills, Philadelphia, P a ........
Strike at mills of C. H . M asland & Sons, Philadelphia,
Pa.
Machinists and boiler makers of L a France Fire E n ­
gine Co., E lm ira, N. Y.
Clerks’ controversy, Chicago & Eastern Illinois R. R ..

R esult.

In d i­
rectly.

Do.

45,287
1

49,002

7

FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR.

The immigration act of February 20, 1907, created aiid defined the
functions of a special division of information within the Bureau of
Immigration and Naturalization (now two separate bureaus) in the
terms following:
It shall be the duty of said division to promote a beneficial distri­
bution of aliens admitted into the United States among the several
States and Territories desiring immigration. Correspondence shall be
had with the proper officials of the States and Territories, and said
division shall gather from all available sources useful information
regarding the resources, products, and physical characteristics of each
State and Territory, and shall publish such information in different
languages and distribute the publications among all admitted aliens
who may ask for such information at the immigrant stations of the
United States and to such other persons as may desire the same.
By the act of March 4, 1913, creating the Department of Labor, the
Bureau of Immigration, and with it the Division of Information, was
transferred to that department. By this transfer the scope of the
work of the division was considerably enlarged on account of the
larger powers given to the department, as is plainly indicated by these
words of the act:
The purpose of the Department of Labor shall be to foster, pro­
mote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United
States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their
opportunities for profitable employment.
Prior to this the work of the Division of Information had been
almost entirely limited to securing positions for aliens; lack of a clear
understanding of its purposes, and misapprehension caused by that
lack of understanding, hampered its work at the start. In 1909 the
chief of the division proposed certain changes in its work aiming to
enlarge its scope. These changes were discussed by a conference of
labor leaders with the then Secretary of Commerce and Labor,1 but
as no results flowed from this conference the project was dropped,
and the division had to wait until the creation of the Department of
Labor for a fresh start in its work. The division has further strength­
ened itself by cooperating through the department with the other
departments of the Government, namely, the Departments of Agri­
culture, Inteiior, Commerce, and the Post Office.
i
Labor conference. Proceedings of th e conference w ith th e representatives of labor, held in th e office
of th e Secretary of Commerce and Labor. Feb. 10 and 11, 1909. W ashington, G overnm ent Printing Office,
1909.

8

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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

9

The actual work of placing the applicants for positions is, of course,
mainly (lone away from Washington. The work is divided among
18 principal headquarters, subordinate to some of which are branch
offices. Each headquarters is the center of a larger geographical
zone; the arrangement is as follows:
Zone 1.—Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Headquarters, Boston; sub­
branches, Portland, Providence, and New Bedford.
Zone 2.—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Headquarters, New York City; subbranches, Buffalo and Matawan (N. J.).
Zone 3.—Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. Headquarters, Philadel­
phia; subbranch. Pittsburgh.
Zone 4.—Maryland. Headquarters, Baltimore.
Zone 5.—Virginia and North Carolina. Headquarters, Norfolk.
Zone 6 .—Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. Headquarters, Jackson­
ville; subbranches, Savannah, Mobile, Birmingham, and Charleston.
Zone 7 .—Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Headquarters, New
Orleans; subbranches, Gulfport and Memphis.
Zone 8 .—Texas and New Mexico. Headquarters, Galveston; subbranches, Albu­
querque (N. Mex.), Big Spring, Brownsville, Laredo, Eagle Pass, San Antonio, Del
Rio, El Paso, San Angelo, Amarillo (Tex.), Tucumcari and Deming (N. Mex.).
Zone 9 .—Ohio and Kentucky. Headquarters. Cleveland.
Zone 10.—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Headquarters, Chicago;
subbranches, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie (Mich.), and Indianapolis.
Zone 11.—Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Headquarters, Minne­
apolis.
Zone 12.—Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Headquarters, St. Louis; sub­
branch, Kansas City.
Zone Id.—Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Utah. Headquarters, Denver; sub­
branch, Sait Lake City.
Zone 14.—Montana and Idaho. Headquarters, Helena; subbranch, Moscow
(Idaho).
Zone 15.—Washington. Headquarters, Seattle; subbranches, Spokane, Walla
Walla, Tacoma, Aberdeen, Everett, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Custer,
Lynden, Nooksack, and Friday Harbor.
Zone 16.—Oregon. Headquarters, Portland; subbranch, Astoria.
Zone 17.—California (north of the northern boundary of San Luis Obispo, Kern, and
San Bernardino Counties) and Nevada. Headquarters, San Francisco; subbranches,
Sacramento, Fresno, Eureka, and Monterey (Cal.).
Zone 18.—California (south of the northern boundary of San Luis Obispo, Kern,
and San Bernardino counties) and Arizona. Headquarters, Los Angeles; subbranches,
San Diego (Cal.), Tucson, Douglas, Naco, Nogales, Phoenix (Ariz.), Santa Ana,
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, San Bernardino (Cal.), Yuma (Ariz.),
Calexico and Indio, (Cal.).

All immigrant inspector is in charge of each headquarters, with
an assistant ready to take his place if necessary.
Through the assistance of the local post office placards are posted
informing the reader of the work and purpose of the division, direct­
ing him how to proceed if information is desired concerning a position.


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10

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OE LABOR STATISTICS.

All the services of the division are rendered free, both to em­
ployer and employee, and the form postal cards requesting infor­
mation when properly transmitted through the Post Office Department
require no postage.
The form of application which the employer is required to fill out
must give references, state the kind of work, length of employment,
hours of labor, wages, frequency of wage payments, and how paid,
whether by check or cash, living accommodations and cost, store
accommodations and prices, whether strikes or other labor disputes
are in progress, and such other facts as the department may need.
The forms which the applicant for work is required to use give the
necessary facts, such as his age, physical capacity, occupation, wages
desired, etc., required for finding him a suitable position.
A series of tables follow, which throw some light on the extent of
the work of the division. In studying this statistical survey an
impression may be left that the results obtained are not quite so
significant as they might be. However, it should be borne in mind
that the territory which the service of the division has to cover is
extremely large; that it has to meet the competition of already
existing agencies, over which it has no control, and with which it
finds itself unable to cooperate, because of the inadequate grant of
authority from the law; furthermore, the work is new and still in a
somewhat experimental stage.
The first table which follows shows the number of applications
for positions, the places filled, and the number of applications per
100 places filled. It should be explained that the column headed
Applicants for positions ’ includes a few who merely ask for infor­
mation, as, for instance, the jiossibility of obtaining land for settle­
ment; but for all practical purposes the number represents pretty
closely the actual number of calls for jobs. Relatively the largest
number of positions filled seems to have been during the year 1913,
in which year the proportion between the applicants for positions
and the places filled is the lowest, or 396 ajiplicants for each 100
places filled.
There is a marked increase in the number of applicants for whom
positions were found between 1914 and 1915, the number for 10
months of the fiscal year 1915 being greater than that for the entire
year preceding.
The large number of applicants for each 100 positions filled would
seem to indicate perhaps further need of organization in order to get
in touch with the employers who have vacancies to fill; and the large
proportion should not be attributed to a large amount of unemploy­
ment, as the operations of the division comprehend only a small
fraction of the general movement of the supply and demand of labor.
The table follows:

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11

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

T O T A L A P P L IC A T IO N S M AD E TO T H E D IV IS IO N O F IN F O R M A T IO N O F T H E B U R E A U
O F IM M IG R A T IO N SIN C E IT S O R G A N IZA TIO N , S E P T E M B E R , 1907, PL A C E S F IL L E D ,
AN D N U M B E R OF A P P L IC A T IO N S P E R 100 PLA CES F IL L E D .
[Source: A nnual R eports oi th e Chief of th e Division of Inform ation, W ashington, 1908-1914.]

A pplicants
for
positions.

Fiscal year ending June 30—

1908......................................................................................................................
1909...............................................................................................................
1910...................................................................................................................
1911
...........................................................................................
1912...................................................................................................................
1913.............................................................................................................
1914...................................................................................................................
1915......................................................................................................................

(9

26,477
18,239
30,657
26,213
19,891
19,393
2 87,929

Places
filled.

N um ber of
applica­
tions per
100 places
filled.

840
4,168
4,283
5,176
5,807
5,025
3,368
3 3,624

635.2
425.8
592.3
451.4
395.8
575. 8

1 N ot reported.
2 R eports from one zone (Chicago headquarters) not received for June, 1915.
3 Ten m onths.

The next table classifies the number of persons for whom positions
were secured from 1908 to 1914. The per cent columns of this table
show very clearly that the Division of Information has been most
largely instrumental in securing positions for the aliens, the purpose
for which it was originally established. The last three years seem
to indicate an increase in the proportion of positions secured for
American citizens.
C IT IZ E N S H IP O F P E R S O N S SE C U R IN G EM PL O Y M E N T T H R O U G H T H E D IV IS IO N O F
IN FO R M A T IO N O F T H E B U R E A U OF IM M IG RA TIO N , 1908-1914.
[Source: A nnual R eports of th e Chief of the D ivision of Inform ation, W ashington, 1908 to 1914.]
N um ber.
Fiscal year ending Ju n e 30—

1908 and 1909......................................................
1910.......................................................................
1911.......................................................................
1912.......................................................................
1913.......................................................................
1914.......................................................................

Foreign
U nited
born or
States not
n a tu r­
citizens.
alized.
517
562
500
923
964
533

4,491
3,721
4,676
4,884
4,061
2,835

Per cent.

Total.

5,008
4,283
5,176
5,807
5,025
3,368

Foreign
U nited
born or
States not n a tu r­
citizens. alized.
10.32
13.12
9.66
15.89
19.18
15.83

89.68
86.88
90.34
84.11
80. 82
84.17

Total.

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00

The third table classifies by occupations persons for whom posi­
tions were secured during the 5 fiscal years 1910 to 1914 and during
the first 10 months of 1915. This table shows that in 1910 by far
the largest number of positions were secured for farm laborers, but
the proportion of farm laborers gradually decreased until 1913, and
increased again in 1914 and 1915. There was a general increase in
the proportion of positions secured for ordinary laborers from 1910
to 1913, and for the five years and 10 months about one-third (32 per
cent) of the positions secured have been for common laborers. All
other occupations form a small proportion of the total positions secured.

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12

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

PE R S O N S O F S P E C IF IE D O CCUPATIONS O B T A IN IN G EM PL O Y M E N T T H R O U G H T H E
D IV IS IO N O F IN F O R M A T IO N O F T H E B U R E A U O F IM M IG R A T IO N , 1910-1914.
[Source: A nnual R eports of th e Chief of th e D ivision of Inform ation, W ashington, 1910 to 1914.]
NUM BER.

O ccupation.

Domestic h e lp .................................................
F atm laborers i ......................................
O rdinary laborers.............................................
O ther occupations............................................
T o ta l...................................................

1909-10

1910-11

1911-12

1912-13

1913-14

1914-15(10
m onths).

314
2,747
1,047
175

360
3,083
1,215
518

245
2,813
2,167
582

90
1,920
2,482
533

73
1,870
1,022
403

132
1,811
i;070
'611

4,283

5,176

5,807

5,025

3,368

3,024

2.17

PE R CENT.
Domestic h e lp ...................................................
Farm laborers1.................................................
O rdinary laborers.............................................
O ther occupations............................................

7.33
64.14
24.44
4.09

6.96
59.56
23.47
10.01

4.22
48.44
37.32
10.02

1.79
38.21
49.39
10.61

30.34
11.97

3.64
49.97
29.53
16.86

T o tal.........................................................

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

1 N ot including gardeners.

The fourth and final table shows the distribution, by States, of the
persons distributed during the period 1910-1915 (five years and
10 months). According to this table the largest number of persons
applying for positions have been distributed in New York (11,001);
the States next in order have been New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Connecticut, Illinois, and Texas.
D IS T R IB U T IO N B Y ST A T E S O F P E R S O N S S E C U R IN G E M PL O Y M E N T T H R O U G H T H E
D IV ISIO N O F IN FO R M A T IO N O F T H E B U R E A U O F IM M IG R A T IO N , 1910 TO 1915.
[Source: A nnual R eports of th e Chief of th e Division of Inform ation, W ashington, 1910, 1914.]

State.

A lab am a..........................................
Arizona............................................
A rkansas.........................................
California.........................................
Colorado.................... .....................
C onnecticut.....................................
D elaw are.........................................
D istrict of Columbia.....................
Florida.............................................
Georgia.............................................
H aw aii.............................................
Id ah o ................................................
Illinois..............................................
In d ia n a ............................................
Iow a..................................................
K an sas.............................................
K e n tu ck y .......................................
L ouisiana........................................
M aine...............................................

Maryland.....................................

M assachusetts................................
M ichigan.........................................
M innesota.......................................
M ississippi......................................
M issouri...........................................
M ontana..........................................
N ebraska.........................................
N ev ad a............................................
New H am pshire............................
N ew Jersey......................................


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1909-10

1910-11

1911-12

27

136

68

10

23
1
1
252
4
1
1

2

1
202
3
15

253
3

1912-13

9
.................
220

54
13
58
97
6

22
61
43
85
43

6
13
19
38
44

38

15

i

38
4

20

5

8
2

948

1,236

1,654

1,114

1

103
74
11
2

101
3
22
7
199
6
IS
112
75
20
25
52

Total.

5

7
15

248
2
35
214
33
1,172
56
17
ß
30
1
9
660
98
495
205
14
93O
87
358
327
535
350
37
223
16
85

800

436

6,188

183
7
12
5

52
15
140
30
6

52
15

1
2

1

4
7
i
13
8
25
5

1913-14 1914-15(10
m onths).

35
29
16
1
2
79
10
40
128
26
9
7

31
62
39
i

1
2
1
1
405
30
234
65
28
10
135
206
110

2

4

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OP T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

13

D IS T R IB U T IO N B Y ST A T E S O F P E R S O N S L E C U R IN G E M PL O Y M E N T T H R O U G H T H E
D IV IS IO N O F IN F O R M A T IO N O F T H E B U R E A U O F IM M IG R A T IO N , 1910 TO 1915—
Concluded.

State.
Wew "Mexico
New Y o r k .....................................
Worth Carolina,
N orth D ak o ta................................
O h io ................................................
Oklahoma.
......................
Oregon
...............
P e n n s y lv a n ia .................- .............
Rhode Island ..............................
South Carolina
Smith D a k o ta ................................
Tennessee
T e x a s ..............................................
.................
U tah
V erm o n t..........................................
V irginia...........................................
W ashington
........... ......
W est Virginia
W isconsin.......................................
\V yoming
U nited States......................


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1909-10

1910-11

1911-12

3,013
14
5
82
1

1,707

40
5

978
4

3

1
23
27

2,139
1
34
27
15

2,545

23
8
17
14
133

42
2
11
7
233
211

132

5
39

21
18

98
43

17
27

22

4,283

5,176

11
U
2

1912-13

5
134

1913-14 1914-15(10
m onths).

“

968
4
5
176
10
340
7
53
7
34
58
55
133

41
7

99
4
1
22
18

5,807

5,025

3,368

5
77
2

10
629
7
51
26
4
19
82
14
29
14
4
24
135
101
6
176
3,624

Total.

10
11,001
26
111
456
32
19
1,505
40
81
61
290
575
4
302
372
102
91
327
2
27*283

LABOR LEGISLATION OF 1915.

Year by year lgibor legislation more and more occupies the time
of the various legislative bodies of the United States. During the
current year, including Congress and the legislatures of the island
possessions, 49 legislative bodies have met, some of them in more
than a single session.1 Although the material is not at hand for a
complete account of the labor laws passed, it is possible to enumerate
the principal new laws which have been enacted.
The present survey is not intended to take the place of the annual
review with accompanying text of labor laws. Also, it does not take
note of the amendments unless of prime importance, the purpose
being rather to indicate the extensions or recognitions in new fields
of the various forms of labor legislation. The subject is taken up
by States in alphabetical order rather than by topics, since the
material is not available to summarize fully the operations for the
year in any field, and for most of the States but part of the facts are
known. Eight States and the Territories of Alaska and Hawaii
have been added to the list of those having workmen’s compensation
laws, while in other States important amendments have been made.
The result of the year’s additions is that 31 States, besides Alaska,
the Philippine Islands, and Hawaii, now have such laws, all enacted
since 1909. The subject of employment agencies, also, lias received
an unusual amount of attention during the present year.
The Alabama Legislature enacted a more effective law relating to
child labor, covering all occupations, including street trades. Four­
teen years is fixed as the minimum age for industrial employments
after 1916, and the provisions for enforcement of the law are
strengthened.
The Alaska compensation law already referred to is elective in
form and applies only to mining and related operations. Another
law of this Territory prescribes an 8-hour day for placer miners, thus
putting them on the same basis as already provided for other miners.
An Arkansas statute regulates the employment of women, estab­
lishing a 9-hour day and a 54-hour week, forbidding nightwork below
the age of 18, and fixing a minimum wage of SI per day for learners
and $1.25 for those of six months’ experience.
Free public employment offices under the State labor commissioner
are provided for the larger cities of California, and the sum of $2,000
1 Tile only States whose legislatures did no t m eet during th e present year were K entucky, M aryland,
a nd Mississippi.

14

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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

15

is appropriated to investigate the subject of unemployment. An
enactment relating to child labor fixes 10 years as the minimum age
for street trades, other amending acts relating to the subjects of
minimum wages and workmen’s compensation.
The compensation law of Colorado, elective as to private employers
but compulsory as to the State and its municipalities, provides for
benefits on a basis of 50 per cent of the wages, $8 weekly maximum,
for not more than 6 years, the total benefits not to exceed $2,500.
The workmen’s compensation law of Connecticut is amended so as
to exclude farm labor and employers of not more than 5 workmen.
The bureau of labor statistics and the office of the State factory inspec­
tor in this State are merged into a State department of labor and
factory inspection.
The Delaware Legislature established an unpaid labor commission
to have charge of the appointment of the woman-and-child-labor
inspectors.
The Florida Legislature enacted a compulsory education law,
operative when adopted locally, strengthened the child-labor law of
the State and provided for a commission on the subject of mothers’
pensions.
The Hawaii Legislature enacted a compulsory compensation law
for that Territory of general application to industrial employment
and public service, with a maximum benefit of $5,000.
The law of Illinois providing for free public employment offices was
amended, and a commission to investigate unemployment was pro­
vided for. Benefits under the workmen’s compensation act were
increased.
A workmen’s compensation law was enacted in Indiana, elective in
form, and to be administered by an industrial board. Benefits are
to be 55 per cent of the weekly wages for not more than 300 weeks,
with a maximum of $5,000.
Free public employment offices are provided for in the Iowa bureau
of statistics and information; another law authorizes the commis­
sioner of labor to inspect all mills and factories instead of only those
employing 5 or more persons. A new child-labor law for this State
limits the hours of labor of children under 16 to 8 per day and
regulates street trades, messenger service, etc. Railroad companies
in this State must henceforth pay their workmen twice a month.
Contractors on public works in the State of Maine are required by a
law of that State to pay their employees semimonthly. The legis­
lature also enacted an elective compensation law, benefits being 50
per cent of the wages for 500 weeks in cases of total disability, the
maximum amount being $3,000. New laws relating to the hours of
labor of women and children and the employment of children generally
were also passed. The provision as to hours of labor applies to

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16

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

children under 16 and all females, and fixes a 9-hour day and 54-hour
week, canneries being excepted.
The labor legislation of Massachusetts was chiefly amendatory, no
law of prime importance being enacted in this field. Two acts
provide for the examination and licensing of electricians and of
engineers and firemen, respectively, while another provides a new
mechanics’ lien law for cases in which real property is affected. A
resolve of this legislature directs the State forester to give employ­
ment to worthy needy persons, preferably citizens of Massachusetts.
Considerable amendments to the workmen’s compensation law of
the State were made by the Michigan Legislature. Another act makes
provision for the mediation of labor disputes.
The Minnesota Legislature requires public utility corporations to
pay wages twice a month. It also passed a law prescribing penalties
in cases of the nonpayment by contractors of the wages due their
workmen out of current installments paid by owners for improve­
ments on real estate, such withholding being punishable as for larceny.
Domestic products and materials are to be preferred for use in the
construction of public buildings in this State. The compensation
law of this State was amended in a number of respects, among others
by exempting railroads from the application of the law, and enacting
a liability law for railroad employees of practically the same effect as
the Federal statute on this subject.
The only action of the Missouri Legislature of which account has
been received is the appointment of a commission by the senate to
draft a code of laws relating to children. The third commission of
this State on workmen’s compensation presented drafts of bills for
compensation legislation and an industrial commission, but they
failed of passage.
The Legislature of Montana enacted an elective compensation law,
compulsory as to public employees and public contractors, provid­
ing for payment of 50 per cent of weekly wages for disability of 400
weeks, and a flat rate of $5 weekly thereafter if disability continues.
The Nebraska Legislature enacted a new and more workable
mothers’ pension law, provided that the 9-hour law for women should
not be applicable except in cities of 5,000 or more, and provided for
the licensing and general regulation of private employment offices
Free public employment offices are established under the depart­
ment of labor by an act of the New Jersey Legislature; another act
merges the bureau of industrial statistics with this department.
Street and water commissioners in cities of the first class are author­
ized to establish contributory pension systems for employees in their
departments. The common councils and boards of cities in which
there is a committee for the relief of unemployment are authorized to
employ needy persons as unskilled laborers without full compliance
with civil-service requirements.

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M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

17

The New York Legislature abolished the industrial board and the
workmen’s compensation commission, and established an industrial
commission to have in charge the various matters administered by
these bodies; a new function of this commission is the giving of aid
to employees in the prosecution of claims against their employers,
and the protection of employees against frauds and extortion gen­
erally. The office of fire marshal was also abolished, and his duties
as to the enforcement of labor laws were transferred to the commis­
sioner of labor (now the industrial commission). The law forbidding
the employment of aliens on public works in this State was amended
so as to make such employment not unlawful, though citizens are to
be preferred when available. The hours of labor of employees in
grocery stores are limited to 70 per week for persons above the age of
16 years, 11 hours on 5 days and 15 on Saturdays. A law was enacted
providing assistance for needy widows with children under 16 years
of age, the amount being about $11 per month for each child. The
workmen’s compensation act was amended so as to allow direct settle­
ments between employers and their injured workmen, such settle­
ments to be approved by the industrial commission. Advance
payments may also be made, the amounts to be deducted when final
determinations of awards is made. The law relating to manufacture,
use, and storage of explosives was also amended.
The Legislature of North Carolina enacted a law requiring railroads
to pay their employees semimonthly, one limiting the hours of labor
of women and minors in factories to 60 per week, and one providing
for the organization of industrial cooperative societies.
A mothers’ pension law was passed by the Legislature of North
Dakota providing lor children up to the age of 14 years, the maximum
allowance being $15 per month for each child.
A compulsory compensation law applicable only in cases of nonfatal accidents was adopted in Oklahoma, the benefits amounting to
50 per cent of the weekly wages for not more than 500 weeks, with a
$10 weekly maximum.
An Oregon statute fixes fees and provides for the licensing and reg­
ulation of private employment offices. Another law requires annual
reports to the commissioner of labor statistics of all deductions of
wages made by employers for hospital and relief funds. State prod­
ucts are to be preferred for use on public works of the State unless
the cost is more than 5 per cent greater. A house joint resolution
directs that operations on public works shall be so conducted as to
furnish employment in seasons of unemployment. Other laws of
this State relate to the inspection and regulation of bakeries and the
like, and to the reporting of accidents by all employers of more than
3 persons.
2119°—15----- 2

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18

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

The Pennsylvania Legislature passed an elective workmen’s com­
pensation act, benefits being 50 per cent of the wages, not more than
$10 weekly, for not more than 400 weeks. A State administrative
board is provided, and an amendment to the constitution providing
for a compulsory statute is to be voted upon at the time of the
November election. Tire law relating to the employment of certified
foremen, etc., in mines was amended so as to make them the em­
ployees and agents of the operators, for whose negligence the operators
are to be held liable. Free public employment offices in the depart­
ment of labor and industry are provided for, while private employ­
ment offices are subjected to regulations to be enforced by the com­
missioner. A new child-labor law was passed in this State, involving
a number of changes, one of the most interesting of which is the
provision that for children’s employment between the ages of 14
(the minimum age for employment) and 16 a 51-hour week is to be
the maximum, and of this 8 hours must be devoted to vocational
instruction in a day school where facilities exist. The sum of
$1,000,000 was appropriated to provide suitable schools.
The legislature of the Philippine Islands proposes a tax of $500 for
each Province on immigrant agents contracting or otherwise provid­
ing for the shipment of laborers. A supplement to the employers’
liability act of the islands makes the negligence of the employer a
presumption in cases of personal injury or death of an employee
while at work. The examination and licensing of watch officers and
engineers of vessels in coastwise trade on the high seas is provided for.
Amendments to the Rhode Island compensation law provide for
insurance for the security of payments, and for the reporting of
accidents. A separate act requires reports of occupational diseases.
A South Carolina statute provides a penalty for failure to pay
wages due employees at the time of their discharge. Another for­
bids the discounting of laborers’ pay or trade checks. The segre­
gation of races in textile factories is required by another statute;
while a fourth prohibits tips.
Private employment offices are regulated by a Texas statute.
Another act of the Texas legislature requires wash rooms to be pro­
vided for miners, while others relate to compulsory school attendance
of children and to the hours of labor of their employment. A 54-liour
week is established, with permission for extra work at double pay
for time over 9 hours per day in cotton mills and in laundries.
A novel statute was enacted in Utah fixing 6 p. m. as the hour of
closing for all commercial and mercantile houses except drug stores
and purveyors of perishable articles of food. Another statute forbids
the employment of children under the age of 14 in or about places
where tobacco is sold or in any pool room. A commission was created
in this State to investigate and report on the subject of workmen’s
compensation.

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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OP T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

19

The Vermont Legislature enacted an elective compensation law
providing 50 per cent of the wages as benefits for 260 weeks, the
maximum for disability being $4,000, and for death $3,500. Other
laws provide for seats for female employees in all places of employ­
ment, for vocational education, and for the regulation of barber
shops.
Amendments to the Washington compensation law look toward
increased effectiveness of administration, while the mothers’ pension
law of the State was made the subject of amendments of a restric­
tive nature. An act was passed forbidding the use of banners,
transparencies, or written or printed matter in calling attention to
labor disputes, thus restricting picketing and similar activities.
The compensation law of West Virginia was amended by abolishing
the administrative commission and substituting therefor a single com­
missioner. Self-insurance by financially responsible employers is
authorized, and the expenses of administration are to be charged on
the compensation fund instead of on the general funds of the State
treasury. The number of mine inspectors in this State was increased,
and the powers of the department enlarged.
The Wyoming constitution was amended in 1914 so as to authorize
the enactment of a compulsory compensation statute. The resultant
act provides for State insurance, and benefit payments of lump sums
without regard to the earning capacity of the injured workmen.
Dependent widows having children under 14 years of age are to re­
ceive assistance in an amount equal to $20 for one child, with $10
additional for others. The hours of labor of women is fixed at 10
per day, within 12 consecutive hours, with a maximum of 56 hours’
service per week. Children under 18 years of age may not be em­
ployed in breweries, saloons, or concert halls, or under 14 as messen­
gers to such places. Other provisions of this act establish a 9-hour
day for children under 14 years of age, and require seats for females
under 18. The incorporation of cooperative associations for manu­
facturing, mechanical, or industrial businesses is provided for.
The Federal Congress enacted a law regulating the conditions of
the employment of seamen, abolishing arrest and imprisonment for
desertion, and providing for safety. Appropriation bills contained
measures prohibiting the use of stop watches or other time-measuring
devices for the time study of jobs, or the giving of bonuses or cash
awards in addition to regular wages except for suggestions as to im­
provements or economy in operations; these provisions are found in
the bills providing for the naval service and for arsenals, etc., for the
Army. In the fortifications appropriations bill a provision was in­
corporated directing a preference to be given to articles of domestic
manufacture in the manufacture of ordnance, etc.


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STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1914.

The statistics of strikes and lockouts in the United States covering
the period from 1881 to 1905, inclusive, have been the subject of four
annual reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, published in 1887,
1894, 1901, and 1906. The data for these years were secured by the
investigations of trained field agents, and with such a method it is
probable that few strikes and lockouts were omitted from the enumer­
ation. Because of the time and expense involved the bureau has not
considered it possible to continue to attempt to secure complete records
of strikes and lockouts by this method, although it is probably the
only one likely to secure complete returns.
In 1914, for the first time, an attempt was made to compile a record
of strikes and lockouts entirely from printed sources—newspapers,
labor journals, trade-union periodicals, manufacturers, and trade
papers, and other sources. The greater part of the information was
obtained from trade-union periodicals.
By this method the bureau secured records of 1,080 strikes and
lockouts that began or were pending in the calendar year 1914.
Whether strikes and lockouts have increased in number in the United
States since 1905, the last year covered by the bureau’s investigation,
it is not possible to say from these figures. It would be manifestly
incorrect to compare the incomplete data collected in this manner
with the more comprehensive reports secured by the investigations of
trained field agents. In spite of the incompleteness of the data for
1914, however, the figures give considerable information of value in
regard to the labor disturbances which occurred in that year.
The table in which strikes and lockouts are classified by occupations
and by States shows that of the 1,080 strikes and lockouts, 275 were
in the building trades, 129 in the metal trades, 78 in the clothing
industry, and 54 in textile work. The number of strikes reported
north of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi was 742; south of the
Ohio and east of the Mississippi, 90; west of the Mississippi, 248.
Sixty-six per cent occurred in 10 States and 46 per cent in five
States, the leading States being New York, 148; Pennsylvania,
104; Massachusetts, 90; Ohio, 80; and Illinois, 75.
Of the number of disturbances reported, 979 were strikes and 101
were lockouts. It was sometimes difficult to determine from the
printed accounts whether the disturbance should be classed as a
strike or lockout.
The record of establishments involved is incomplete; it could be
determined, however, with approximate accuracy for 595 disturbances.
For such the figures are as follows:
20

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21

N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S OR LO C K O U TS, B Y N U M B E R OP E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN V O L V E D ,
1914.

Establishm ents involved.

1 establish m en t. . .......................................
2 establishm ents .............................. ...........
3 establishm ents............................................
4 establish m en ts............................................
5 establish m en ts............................................
6 establishm ents............................................
8 establish m en ts...........................................
9 pstahl ish m pn ts
11 establishm ents..........................................
14 establishm ents..........................................
20 establishm ents..........................................

Strikes
or
lockouts.
538
26
9
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
3

Establishm ents involved.

Strikes
or
lockouts.
2
1
1
1
1
1
1

26 establishm ents................
30 establishm ents
32 establishm ents................
38 establishm ents
........
...........
50 establishm ents
202 establishment s
250 establishm ents...........................
T otal..........................
N 0 reco rd ........................

595
485

When several establishments were involved in a common disturb­
ance, with a common cause, such disturbance has been counted as
a single strike or lockout, even though the establishments became
involved at different dates. The same ruling has obtained when
different trades have been involved in one common disturbance.
A purely sympathetic strike or lockout, however, has been counted
as a separate disturbance. The number of such sympathetic strikes
or lockouts identified as such was 25. Nearly all of the strikes
and lockouts were by or against trades that are generally organized,
as will be seen by examination of the general table.
The causes of strikes and lockouts were not always reported and
when reported were sometimes stated in an indefinite way. The
principal causes appear to be wages, hours of labor, working conditions,
or recognition of the union, and often severed causes were assigned.
Lockouts occurred frequently to prevent organization or to force an
open shop. The number of strikes and lockouts arising from the
several causes, as nearly as could be determined from the data, was as
follows:
Number of strikes, by causes, 1914.

Wages (of which. 80 are reductions)..................................................
Hours.................................................................................................
Wages and hours...............................................................................
General conditions............................................................................
Conditions and wages.......................................................................
Conditions and hours...............................
Conditions, wages, and hours...........................................................
Recognition of the union..................................................................
Recognition and wages.....................................................................
Recognition and hours.......................................................
Recognition, wages, and hours.........................................................
Conditions, including recognition....................................................
Sympathetic......................................................................................
For right to organize.........................................................................
To prevent change to open shop......................................................
Because of discharge of union men..................................................
Because of employment of nonunion employees.............................
Jurisdictional....................................................................................
Discrimination..................................................................................

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

267
44
34

63
25
3
6
57

18
3
8
3

25
9
21
45

13
14
10

22

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OE T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

For nonpayment of wages.................................................................
Relative to the agreement................................................................
Miscellaneous....................................................................................

10
33
26

Total........................................................................................

737

Number of lockouts, by causes, 1914Wages................................................................................................
Wage reduction.................................................................................
Hours...........................................................
Hours and wages.........„....................................................................
Because of organizing or joining a union.........................................
Recognition.......................................................................................
Conditions.........................................................................................
Conditions and hours................................. 1....................................
Open or nonunion shop planned......................................................
Union rules........................................................................................
Protest against discharges.................................................................
Jurisdictional.......... ..........................................................................
Relative to agreement............ . ........................................................
Misunderstanding..............................................................................
Because of a strike by a few.............................................................
About shot firing in mines................................................................

Total........................................................................................

5
12

4
2

13
6

9
1

7
1

2
2
4
1
1
1

71

The results of strikes and lockouts were reported with a greater or
less degree of certainty in 336 cases, as follows:
Results of strikes and, lockouts, so far as reported, 1914-

In favor of employees.......................................................................
In favor of employers........................................................................
Compromised.................................................................
Satisfactorily settled..............
Improved conditions.........................................................................
Returned, pending arbitration.........................................................

198
37
46
27
8
20

Total.......................................................................................

336

These figures should be accepted as showing a proportion of success
and failure in labor disturbances with considerable reservation, since
the papers from which the information was obtained appear to be
much more apt to report strikes and lockouts resulting favorably to
the employees than to report results unfavorable to employees.
The number of persons involved in strikes and lockouts in 1914
was stated approximately for only 293 disturbances, as follows:
N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S A N D LO C K O U TS, SO F A R AS R E P O R T E D , B Y G R O U P S O F
P E R S O N S IN V O L V E D , 1914.
Groups of persons involved.

5 and u n d e r.....................................................
6 to 10...............................................................
11 to 20.............................................................
21 to 30.............................................................
31 to 40.............................................................
4,1 to 60.............................................................
Cl to 80.............................................................
81 to 100.....................................
101 to 150.....................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N um ber
of
strikes.
9
13
17
17
26
26
14
24
18

Groups of persons involved.

151 to 200
201 to 350
351 to 500
501 to 999
1,000 to 1,500
1,501 to 5 000
Over 5,000
Total

N um ber
of
strikes.
10
22
23
18
21
13
13
293

23

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

The disturbances in which over 5,000 persons were involved were
the Westinghouse strike in Pittsburgh, strikes in the clothing indus­
try and the building trades in New York, and various coal strikes,
the coal strike in Ohio being reported to involve at least 50,000 people.
For only 228 strikes and lockouts is it possible to state the dura­
tion, as follows:
Duration of strikes and lockouts, so far as reported, 1914Dess than 1 hour...............................................................................

I hour and less than 1 day..............................................................
1 day.....................................................................................................
More than 1 and less than 3 days.....................................................
3 days and less than 1 week.............................................................
1 week...................................................................................................
More than 1 week and less than 2 weeks.........................................
2 weeks..................................................................................................
More than 2 weeks and less than 1 month.......................................
1 month and less than 2 months......................................................
2 months and less than 3 months.....................................................
3 months and less than 6 months.....................................................
6 months and less than 1 year..........................................................
1 year and less than 2 years..............................................................
Over 2 years..........................................................................................
T o ta l..........................................................................................................

3
10

17
15
18
13
18
19
22
27
11
18
17
8

12
228

The length of time of the 12 strikes which lasted over 2 years is
approximately as follows: 2 \ years, 3 years, 3£ years (2), 4 years,
A.\ years, 5 years, 6 years, 8 years, 10 years, 12 years, and 16 years.
The strike that lasted 16 years was one of photo-engravers in New
York City, and the one that lasted 12 years was against a paving
brick company in Illinois.
The following table shows the number and per cent of strikes in 10
groups of industries in which the largest number of strikes occurred.
Over one-fourth of all the strikes reported were found in the build­
ing trades, the number being greater than the total of the three
industries which immediately follow—-metal trades, clothing, and
transportation:
N U M B E R AN D P E R C EN T O F S T R IK E S IN T H E 10 G R O U PS O F IN D U S T R IE S IN W H IC H
T H E L A R G E S T N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S O C CU R R ED , 1914.
Industries.
Building tra d e s...............................................
Metal tra d e s.....................................................
Clothing industries.........................................
T ransportation................................................
Mining in d u s try ..............................................
Baking in d u s try .............................................
Textile w o rk ....................................................
L um ber.............................................................
Team sters....... .................................................
Prin tin g a n d publishing...............................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N umber. P er cent.
275
129
78
52
51
47
54
40
34
20

26.5
12.7
7.4
5.0
4.8
4.7
4.4
3.8
3.1
2.0

24

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

The number and per cent of strikes in the 11 individual occupa­
tions in which the largest number of strikes occurred are shown in
the table following:
N U M B E R AND P E R C EN T O F S T R IK E S IN T H E 11 IN D IV ID U A L O CCU PA TIO N S IN
W H IC H T H E L A R G E S T N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S O C C U R R ED , 1914.
Occupations.

Num ber. Per cent.

Plum bers a n d steam fitters..........................
P ain ters.............................................................
B akers...............................................................
Coal m iners......................................................
M achinists........................................................
L um ber w orkers.............................................
C arpenters........................................................
Teamsters.........................................................
M olders.............................................................
Street railw ay employees..............................
Metal polishers................................................

83
61
47
48
44
40
35
30
27
27
26

7 7
5.6
4.4
4.4
4.1
3.7
3.2
2.8
2.5
2.5
2.4

N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C CU PA TIO N S, B Y ST A TES, 1914.

States, etc.

Building trades.
Boot Brew­
Broom
and
Brickand
B ak­ B ar­ shoe
ery
ak­ whisk B rick­ Car­ Ce­ Elec­ La­ Mar­
ers. bers. m ak­ work­ mers.
m ak­
m ent trical bor­ ble P a in t­
ers.
lay­ pen­ w
ers.
ers.
ork­ w ork­ ers. w ork­ ers.
ters. ers.
ers.
ers.
ers.

A labam a..................
A rizona......................
California...................
Colorado....................
C onnecticut..............
D istrict of Columbia
Illinois........................
In d ia n a ......................
Iow a...........................
K ansas.......................
K e n tu ck y .................
Louisiana..................
M aine.........................
M aryland...................
M assachusetts..........
M ichigan...................
M innesota.................
Missouri.....................
M ontana....................
New H am pshire___
New Jersey...............
New Y ork.................
O hio...........................
Pennsylvania...........
Porto R ico................
Rhode Island...........
Tennessee..................
Texas.........................
U ta h ..........................
V irginia.....................
W ashington..............
West V irginia..........
W isconsin.................

1
1

1


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2
1
1

1

5

2

1
2

1

2
2
2
1
1
1

1

1

1
1

5

i
i

1
1

1

1
2
1

1

5

1

1
3
4

3
10
3
3
1

1

1

1
1
6
1

2
1

i
1

2
3

1
1

1

2 1

4
1
1

1

1

1

3
2

1
4

1

1

1

1
1

1

1
3

1

1

2

3
1
3
1

1

2

1

IS

29

4

4

2

3

10

3 35

9

2
1
1
2
6
6

1

3
4
7

1

T o tal............... i 47
1 Including
2 Including
’ Including
< Including
e Including

1

6

1
1
1
4

1

9

«6

2 of bakery drivers.
1 of brew ery drivers.
1 of ship carpenters.
3 of hod carriers.
2 of glaziers, 2 of paper hangers, and 2 of painters and paper hangers.

2

3 61

25

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U PA TIO N S, B Y ST& TES, 1914—Continued.
Building trades—Concluded.

States, etc.

b­
Plas­ Plum
and
ter­ ers
steamers. fitters.

\ lahamai

Sheet
m etal
work
ers.

Ce­
ent Coop­
Oc­
Cloth­ m
Slate Struc­
mill
cupa­
and tu ra l Tile tio n To­ ing. work­ ers.
tile iron lay­ no t tal.
ers.
work­ work­ ers. speci­
ers. ers.
fied.

1

A rizrvn a
Ar k q r i s a s

California...................
Colora d ^
Orniti p e ti cut
p)jst Qf C o l u m b i a

1

C c n r g ia

Irtaho
Tllinois
Tndiari a

2
1
3
1
3
1
8
8
4

1
2

1
1

1
3

1
1
1

TC ari^as

TCentueky

1

1

1 ouisiana

2
1

Maina
M a ry la n d
Ai a s sa e h 11<sP.tt
M ic h i g a n

TVTirm p.sotaMissouri

1
1
1

6

3
1

2

6

M o n ta n a

1

AJphraska
pvad a'

1

1

2
12
1

N ew Y ork............. . -

A J o r th Opro l i n a
"NTorth TAakoi'a
O h io
O k la h n m a
p p n n s y l v a n ia

2
3

i
1

■Rhodp Tsland
T'pnn ossee
Texas.........................

1

1

3
9
34
1
1
20
1
20
1
8
13
4
2
2
3
15

31

275

1
4
1
2

1
2

3

4
2

4
2

1
1

TTtah

V irginia

3

1

2
4

1
1

A\r a ^ h i n g t o n
W p q f V irg in ia
W i t? cnn9Ìn

1
4
4

i 83

4
7

2

1

2

1
1
1

2
1

1

1
1
7
9
1

1

2

1

1

1

TsTp w TTn m p s h i r p.
AJ p w Tp rq p y

T o tal...............

4
15
1
2

4

1

2
1
1
13
3
8
1
3
1
19
14
8
1
3
4
2
1
23

Ele­
vator Food
con­ hand­
struc­ lers.
tors.

1

2h

1

« 13

45

1

4
31

4

1
2

2

1

1
1

1
1

3

1

2
1
2
6 78

1
3-

6 12

2

7 10

1 Including 12 of plum bers, 11 of steam fitters, 1 of m arine steam fitters, 2 of sprinkler fitters, 1 of steam
fitters and sprinkler fitters, 1 of fixture hangers, and 1 of chandelier workers.
2 Including 1 of coppersm iths and 1 of tinsm iths.
s Including 1 of pile drivers, 1 of iron an d bronze workers, and 1 of iron workers and pile drivers.
4 Including 1 of bricklayers and terra cotta workers.
6 Comprising 1 of basters, 1 of b ath in g su it and sweater makers, 1 of b u tto n sawyers, 4 of cap makers,
2 of clothing workers, 1 of corset workers, 1 of custom cutters, 3 of cutters and trim m ers, 2 of em broidery
workers, 1 of fur dressers a n d fur floor w alkers, 1 of fur workers, 1 of garter m akers, 4 of glove m akers, 9 of
ladies’ garm ent workers, 2 of ladies’ tailors, 1 of misses’ and children’s dressmakers, 1 of m un bed workers,
1 of neckwear cutters a n d makers, 4 of p an ts m akers, 1 of shaw l makers, 3 of s k irt factory employees, 12 of
tailors, 1 of tailors a n d cutters, 1 of tailors and retail clerks, 2 of vest makers, 1 of w aist and w hite goods
workers, 16 of occupations n o t specified.

e Including 1 of coopers in breweries, 1 of refinery bag makers.

,, . ,

,

,.

7 Comprising 1 of canners, n o t specified, 1 of fru it canners, 1 of sardine canners, o of butchers, 1 of hop
pickers,"and 1 of egg candlers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

26

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.
N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C CU PA TIO N S, B Y ST A TES, 1914—Continued.
Metal trades.

States, etc.

Iron
F u r­
Leath­ L um ­
n i­ Glass- Horse- and Laun­
d ry
er
b er
Boit
steel work­
tu re work­ shoers.
work­ Black­ Boil­
and Ma­
er
work­ ers. work­
work­ ers.
ers.
n u t chin­
ers.
m
ak­
smiths.
ers.
ers.
m
ak­ ists.
ers.
ers.
i

California .
Colorado
C onnecticut..............
D elaw are..
frP .org ia
I ll in o is .....................
In d ian a
Iow a
K en tu ck y ........
Louisiana,
Maine
M aryland
M assachusetts..........
Michigan
M innesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Jersey ..
N ew Y ork
O h i o .........................
Oklahom a
Oregon. . .
P en n sylvan i a.
R ho d e Island...........
Tennessee
. . ..
Texas
Virginia
W ashington
W est V i r g i n i a ______
W isconsin.................
T o tal...............

Met­
al
pol­ Moldish­ ers.
ers.

1

2

i

3

3

i

1
5
2
1
1

1
1
1

2

1
1
4

2
2

1
2
1
1

1
3
5
2

2
3
3
3

2
3
S

1
2

3

5

1
1
2

1
1

1
1

1
1
1
5

1
1
1

i
i

1
2
1

1
i
1

1

i

1

1
1
1
2

i
1

i
1
3
2

1

1

1
6

i
2

1
1

2

1

i
2
1
1

1
1
28
1
4

14

5

6

40

1

3
3
1
3

5

2

14

1

i

1

i 18

i

1
1

1
2

13

2

44

26

27

1
1
Comprising 3 of cabinetm akers, 1 of carpet and cu rtain workers, 1 of coffin m akers, 2 of furniture work­
ers, 1 of m attress workers, 3 of ra tta n workers, 1 of um brella-handle workers, 2 of upholsterers, 1 of willow
w orkm en, 2 of woodworkers, a n d 1 of furniture handlers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

27

M O N T H L Y KEVIEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C CU PA TIO N S, B Y ST A T E S , 1914—Continued.
Musicians and theater employees.

Metal trades—Concluded.

States, etc.

Occu­
P a t­ Stove pa­
tern m o u n t­ tion To­
m ak­ ers.
no t tal.
speci­
ers.
fied.

2

A ln .h o n i o
A r k n n s o ,q
f i n i i t o r n io
Cío] n r j y i o
C ío n n p o tio n t

Florido

1

f l o o r g in,
I llin o is

1
1

2

TContnoky
2

1

Minnesofn
M is s is s i p p i
ATi s s o n r i
A I o n tn .n o
TsTp.w .Tor,soy
N o w Y o r k _.
O h io
O k l n h o m o,
O reg o n
P e n n s y l y n n in.
If h odo T s ln n d
S o n f.h "Dn.kotn.
T en n essee
T evos
V i r g i n in.
AV n.sh in g t.o n
W o s t V i r g i n in.
W i s o o n s in . . . _

T o tal.................

2
6

3

1
9
6
2
1
1
2
8
9
1
1
4
8
15
12
1
11
1

X
1

2

2

11

4
8
2
4
1
2
129

Pa­
Musi­
per
cal
Stage
m
ak­
in­ Or­ em- Ush­ To­
stru ­ ches­ ploy- ers. tal. ers.
m en t tras. ees.
m ak­
ers.

1

1

2

1

1

2

1

1
1

2

T ow o
TCnnsOiS
T /o n is io n n .
ATn ry lo T id
M n.ssn.oh 11 s e t t s
M i o h igor*

2

Mo­
tion
pic­
ture
op­
era­
tors.

1

7
..........

In d i on 0

Min­
ers. B ands­
men.

i

1

3
2
1
2
3

1

1

1

2
2

i

2

1

i
3

1
1
1
5
3

1
i

14

1

1
3
1

i
i

1

1

2

2
2
7
i 51

i

8

1
1

1

1

6

i

1

i

1

1

22

8

5

i

l Comprising 1 of clay diggers, 1 of copper m iners, 1 of iron m iners, and 48 of coal m iners.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

i

28

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.
N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C CU PA TIO N S, B Y ST A T E S , 1914—Continued.
Printing and publishing.

S tates,etc.

A rk an sas.....................
California.....................
C onnecticut................
Georgia........................
Illinois.........................
In d ia n a ........................
Io w a .............................
K e n tu c k y ...................
L ouisiana....................
Maine
.....................
M aryland....................
M assachusetts............
M ichigan.....................
M innesota...................
N ev ad a........................
New Jersey.................
N ew Y o rk...................
N orth Carolina..........
Ohio.............................
O klahom a...................
Pen n sy lv an ia.............
South Carolina...........
Tennessee...................
U tah ........................
W ash in g to n ...............
W est V irginia............
W isconsin...................
N ot specified...
T o tal.................

Pub­
Occu­
lic
P o t­ Job News­ Book­
w
ays
pa­
tion To­ work­
Fold­
ters. p rin t­ paper b in d ­ Elec­
News­
Press­
trom
en.
p
rin
t­
ers.
no
t
boys.
ers.
tal.
ers. ers. ers. typers.
speci­
fied.

R ail­
road R u b ­
shop ber
em ­ w ork­
ploy- ers.
ees.

i
i

1
1

1
1
1

1

1
1
1

i

1
i

1

1
2
1

1
i
i

3

1
1

1
2

1
2

4
1
1

1

1
i

3
1

2

1
1
1
1

..........
1
i

i
i
2
1

2
1

1
1

4
1

i

1

1
i
i
3

1
2
1

6

3

3

4

1

i

2

4

2

20

i 17

2 16

32

1Comprising 1 of street cleaners, 1 of paving brick com pany employees, 10 of paving cutters, a nd 5 of
pavers.
2 Including 5 of m etal w orkers.
s Including 1 of tire workers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

29

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C CU PA TIO N S, B Y ST A T E S , 1914—Continued.
Stone workers.
Sta­
tion­
Ship­ ary
Team ­
build­ engi­ G ran­ Q u ar­ Stonesters.
ite
To­
ers. neers
ry
and c u t­ w o rk ­ cu t­ tal.
fire­ ters.
ters.
ers.
men.

States, etc.

California.............................
Colorado_________
C onnecticut............
Georgia.....................
Illinois.....................
In d ian a....................
Louisiana.................
M aine............... .......
M aryland.................
3
M assachusetts
M ichigan.................
M in n e s o ta .............
M isso u ri..........
M ontana..................
New H a m p sh ire...
New Jersey.............
New Y ork__
Ohio
Pennsylvania
R hode Island
South Carolina
U tah
__
Verm ont
W ashington..........
W est Virginia
Wisconsin
N ot specified
T o tal.............

13

1

1

1
1

2

1

5
1
1

Textile Workers.
Tele­
graph
and
tele­
phone
Cot­
opera­
tors Spin­ W eav­ ton Lace Silk
w
ork- weav­ w ork­
(in­
clud­ ners. ers.
ars.
ers.
ers.
ing
line­
men).

i

1
3

1
1

1
1

1

4

I
5
1
3
1
1

i
1
3
i

3

1

1
2

1
3

2
1
1
1

3
6
3

2
2
2

1
2

2 12

2

1

1

2
2
2

1
2

1

1
2

1

6

4

6

2
1

2

3 I

9

2
2
3
16

1
1
3 34

14

1
2

4

1 Including 2 of sail makers.
2 Comprising 6 of engineers, 4 of firemen, and 2 of engineers and firemen.
3 Including 4 of chauffeurs.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4
1

11

30

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS,

N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C CU PA TIO N S, B Y ST A T E S , 1914-C oncluded.
T extile workers—Concluded.

States, etc.

Wool­ Dyers
and
en
w o rk ­ color
ix­
ers. m
ers.

A rizona..................
A rk a n sa s..............
California...............
Colorado.................
C onnecticut_____
D elaw are............... 1...........
F lorida_________ 1_____
Georgia...................
Illinois....................
In d ian a..................
Iow a.......................
Kansas .................
K entucky ..........
Louisiana ..........
M aine.....................
M aryland...............
M assachusetts___
M ichigan................
M innesota.............
Missouri.................
N ebraska...............
i
New H am pshire..
New Jersey............
New Y o rk .............
5
Ohio........................
Oregon...................
Pennsylvania.......
1
P orto R ico............
R hode Islan d ........
2
South C aro lin a...
T ex as.....................
V erm o n t................
W isconsin.............
N ot specified........

2

T o tal...........

3

9

Transportation.

To­
Occu­
bacco
pa­
P rin t tions
w o rk ­ B oat­
To­
c u t­
tal. ers. men.
no t
ters. speci­
fied.

i
1

2
1

..........

4
2
3

1
3

1
1

1

1
1

1

1
1

1
1

1

3

12

1
1
3
2

i
2
1
3

1
1
2
1
31
i
i

1

1
1
1

3
2

3
2
1

1

2

1
8

2
5
1
1
12

1

4
i

i
1

1
7
8
2

i
i
i
i

1
1
2
1

2
3

2

1
2

2

4

4
1

1

2

19

54

2 12

3 1.5

4 10

2-

1

1

83

i

4

i

1

1
2

i
27

52

1
1
1

1

1

1
4

1
1
2
2

1

8
2
1

Mis­
cella­
neous
w o rk ­
ers.

...........
1

1

i

1

R ail­
road
em­
ploy­
ees.

W aiters,
T runk cooks,
Street
and
rail­
and
bag
w ay To­
barem­ tal. makers. te n d ­
ploy­
ers.
ees.

4

39

32

1 Including 3 of m achine printers and color mixers—1 each in Delaw are, New Y ork, and Ohio.
2 Including 1 of tobacco p la n t sorters.
3 Comprising 1 of bargem en, 1 of barge captains, 1 of scow captains, 1 of firemen, 1 of lighterm en, 8 of
longshoremen, and 2 of occupations n o t specified.
4 Comprising 1 of construction workers, 1 of trackm en, 5 of trainm en, and 3 of occupations n o t specified.
5 Comprising 2 of bartenders, 1 of bartenders, cooks, and waiters; 1 of cooks and butchers, 3 of cooks
and w aiters, and 2 of w aiters.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

31

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

STRIKES REPORTED BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, 1913-14.

At the American Federation of Labor meeting in November, 1914,
a statement was presented of the strikes occurring in the year pre­
ceding the meeting. The total number reported was 957. The
result of these disturbances was reported as follows:
Won...................................................................................................
543
Compromised.......................................................................................................................
118
Pending.............................................................................................
236
Completely lost.....................................................................................
60
Total.......................................................................................

957

These figures include a few strikes in Canada. The strikes here
reported include only those in which members -of affiliated trade-union
bodies were involved. For purpose of comparison, the list of strikes
presented by the American Federation of Labor in November is here
given. It will be noticed that in many cases there is marked variance
between the figures in this statement and the figures in the table
prepared by the bureau. It must be remembered, however, that
there is some difference in the period covered by the two tables.
R E S U L T O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D T R A D E S AS R E P O R T E D B Y T H E A M E R IC A N
F E D E R A T IO N O F L A B O R , 1913-14.
N um ber of strikes—
Trades.
Compro­ Pending.
mised.

W on.
Am erican Federation of L abor locals.................................................
B akers........................................................................................................
B arbers......................................................................................................
B illp o sters................................................................................................
B lacksm iths..............................................................................................
Boiler m akers...........................................................................................
Boot an d shoe w orkers...........................................................................
Brewery w orkers.....................................................................................
Brick, tile, an d te rra c o tta ....................................................................
Broom m ak ers..........................................................................................
C arpenters.................................................................................
Carriage a n d wagon w orkers................................................................
Carvers, w ood..........................................................................................
Cigar m akers............................................................................................
Clerks, re ta il..............................................................................................
Cloth h a t an d cap m ak ers.....................................................................
Coopers.......................................................................................................
C utting die an d cu tte r m ak ers.............................................................
D iam ond w orkers............................ ......................................................
Electrical w orkers...................................................................................
E levator constructors.............................................................................
Engineers, stea m ..................... _.............................................................
Firem en, statio n ary ................................................................................
F oundry em ployees................................................................................
Glassworkers A m alg am ated ...............................................................
Glassworkers, F li n t." .............................................................................
Glove w orkers..........................................................................................
G ranite c u tte rs.........................................................................................
H od carriers..............................................................................................
Horseshoers...............................................................................................
H otel and restau ran t em ployees..........................................................
Iron and steel w orkers............................................................................
Lace operators..........................................................................................
L aundry w orkers.....................................................................................
L eather workers on horse goods..........................................................
Longshorem en................... V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M achine prin ters and color m ix ers......................................................
M achinists.................................................................................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

13
£

5

7
2

Lost.

3

1

5

1

3
6

1

2

3
18
5

4

6

6

1

12
i

11

13
21

1

4

22

1

2
28
1

4
1

2

i

1
1

I
20

1

1

7
5

4

4

1
0

1
1

6

i

13

i

1

2
3
2

2
u
27
2
71
2
9
4

]
5
19

34

12

6

1

2

3
14

1
3
1
3
18

5

2
3
3

32

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

R E S U L T O F S T R IK E S IN S P E C IF IE D T R A D E S AS R E P O R T E D B Y
F E D E R A T IO N O F L A B O R , 1913-14—Concluded.

T H E A M E R IC A N

N um ber of strikes—
Trades.
Compro­ Pending.
mised.

Won.
M arb lew o rk ers.........................................................................................
M eat c u tters an d bu tch er w orkm en...................................................
M etal polishers.........................................................................................
M etal w orkers, sh e e t...............................................................................
M ine W orkers , U n ite d ..........................................................................
H olders.......................................................................................................
P a tte rn m akers........................................................................................
P aving c u tte rs ..........................................................................................
Photo-engravers.......................................................................................
Piano an d organ w orkers.......................................................................
P lu m b ers...................................................................................................
P o tte rs ........................................................................................................
P rin t c u tte rs.............................................................................................
P rin tin g pressm en...................................................................................
P u lp a n d sulphite w orkers....................................................................
Q uarry w orkers........................................................................................
R ailw ay carm en.......................................................................................
R ailw ay employees, s tre e t....................................................................
Roofers, com position..............................................................................
Slate a n d tile roofers.................................... .........................................
Spinners.....................................................................................................
Stage employees, th e a tric a l..................................................................
Stereotypers a n d electrotypers.............................................................
Sto n ecu tters..............................................................................................
Tailors.............................................................................- .........................
T eam sters................................................................................................
T extile w orkers........................................................................................
Tile lay ers..................................................................................................
T im b er w orkers.......................................................................................
Travelers’ goods an d leather novelty w o rk ers.................................
T u n n el a n d subw ay contractors..........................................................
Typographical.........................................................................................
U pholsterers..............................................................................................
T o ta l................................................................................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1

7

22
6
2

4
9

1

3

i

12
6
2

7
4

3

11
2

38

4

4

2

3

1

8

Lost.

3

1

9

4
1

12
1

2

3
3

i

3
6
2

3
9

3
2

4

2

4

1
6

6
2

36

15
i
3

2

i
5

1

3

2

2
2

1

6

1

3

1

3

3

5

10

10
1
1

1
1
2

543

118

236

60

2

LAWS REGULATING THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN, JANUARY
1, 1915.

The following analysis of the laws regulating employment of women
16 years of age and over existing on January 1, 1915, has recently
been prepared by the bureau for the information of a number of correspondents. In order to make it more widely available it seems
worth while to reproduce it here.
The large amount of legislation of the present year has naturally
resulted in some changes in the laws affecting the employment of
women and these changes are not included in this analysis. Some of
the changes are shown in the article on the legislation of the year 1915
on another page in this Review. Five States, it will be noticed—
Arkansas, Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Wyoming—have all
made changes in regard to the hours of labor of women. Probably
further additions to this list will be made when full information, is
available in regard to the legislation of the year. At that time it is
the purpose of the bureau to reprint this analysis with such changes
as may be called for by the action of the legislatures.
2 1 1 9 '1 5 ----- 3


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

33

34

L E G IS L A T IO N R E G U L A T IN G T H E E M PL O Y M E N T O F W O M E N 16 Y E A R S O F A G E AN D O V ER , JA N . 1, 1915.

State.
In —

Per
week.

Per
day.

Time
for
meals.

Nightw ork pro­
hibited
from—

A riz..................... L aundries, bakeries, mer­
cantile establishm ents, ho­
tels, and restau ran ts .1

8

2 56

60

7 p. m. to
7 a. m .3

i>ll

8

48

60

10 p. m. to
5 a. m .3

Conn
Dol

D r,

F la ......................

M anufacturing, mechanical,
and mercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, offices,
etc .6
M anufacturing, mechanical,
a n d m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, hotels,
and restaurants.
M anufacturing and mechan­
ical establishm ents.
Mercantile establishm ents...
M ercantile, mechanical, and
m anufacturing establish­
m ents, laundries, baker­
ies, and offices.6
M anufacturing, mechanical,
a n d m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, hotels,
restau ran ts, a n d offices.

Mechanical and m ercantile
establishm ents, laundries,
hotels, and restau ran ts .6


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

10 p. m __

10

55

10
6 10

58
55

45

8

48

45

10

60

9

Sepa­
rate
toilets.

M ines.........................................

Stores and shops..................... Y e s ...

Mines, quarries, coal break­
ers, barroom s, and any
occupation requiring con­
s tan t standing .4
M ines.........................................

Mills, factories, mercantile
establishm ents, bakeries,
and offices.
Factories, stores, etc..............
M anufacturing, mechanical,
and mercantile establish­
ments.

Coal mines and coke o v e n s.. M anufacturing, mechanical,
and mercantile establish­
ments.

8

H awaii

Seats to be furnished in—

Mini­
m um
wages.

Em­
ploym ent
pro­
h ib it­
ed a t
child­
birth .
Weeks.

M in .

Ain,

Colo. . .

Em ploym ent prohibited
in—

Mo til­
ers’
pen­
sions.

B arroom s.................................. M anufacturing, mechanical,
and mercantile establish­
m ents.
M anufacturing, mechanical,
Barroom'! ~
and mercantile establish­
ments.

Ÿ e s. . .

Y e s ...

Y e s ... Y e s ...

Y e s ...

8

Y e s ...

Y e s ...

Barroom';

Stores, shops, offices, and
factories.

Barroom s ,7 and in cleaning
moving m achinery .3

Mercantile establishm ents... Yes

Rarroom'!. breweries, etc.7. . .

M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents.
Y e s ...

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OE T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

Hours of labor—

Ill

Mines

10

10 p. m. to
6 a. m ,8

Iow a.
K ans
K y ..

La.

Me.
Md

Mass.

Mich

Minn.

L aundries, bakeries, fac­
tories, w orkshops, stores,
m ercantile, m anufactur­
ing, an d mechanical estab­
lishm ents, hotels, restau­
ran ts, and offices.
Mills, factories, packing
houses, m ercantile and
m anufacturing establish­
m ents, workshops, laun­
dries, etc.
M anufacturing and m echan­
ical establishm ents .8
M anufacturing, mechanical,
m ercantile, and printing
establishm ents, bakeries,
and laundries .5

Factories; workshops, m an­
ufacturing,
m ercantile,
and mechanical establish­
m ents, offices, and gar­
m ent repairing workshops.
Factories, mills, warehouses,
w o r k s h o p s , laundries,
stores, shops, etc .8
Mechanical and m anufactur­
ing establishm ents .6
Mercantile establishm ents,
restaurants, lunch rooms,
etc.

10

60

o 60

10

7 p. m. to
6 a. m .3

Barrooms and cleaning mov­
ing machinery.

Mines, serving drinks in
theaters, etc., oiling or
cleaning moving m achin­
ery, em ploym ents requir­
ing constant standing, cer­
ta in hazardous m anufac­
turing .3
Barrooms 7 and certain haz­
ardous m anufacturing .3

■30

10

54

10 p. m. to
6 a. m.ii

10

54

6 p. m. to
6 a. m .3

54
10

60

58


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Y e s ...

.do

Stores, shops, hotels, res­
ta u ra n ts, etc.
Stores, m ercantile, a nd m an­
ufacturing establishm ents
in Baltim ore.

M anufacturing, m ercantile,
and mechanical establish­
m ents.

Barrooms, cleaning moving Stores, shops, offices, and
m achinery ,7 in manufac­
factories.
ture of liquor, or a ny haz­
ardous em ploym ent.
Oiling or cleaning moving M ercantile, m anufacturing,
and hotel or restau ran t
m achinery; mendicancy
or as street m usicians ;3
business.
messenger service .7

Y e s ... Y e s ... Y e s ...

Y e s ...

Y e s ...

Y e s ... Y e s ... Y e s ...

7 For females under 21.
8 In m anufacturing establishm ents.
9 May be reduced to no t less th a n 30 if tw o-thirds of the employees desire.
10 8 if a n y work is done betw een 10 p. m. a n d 6 a. m.
11 From 6 p. m. to 6 a. m. in textile factories; no lim itation in m ercantile establishm ents.

6

35

1 Also telegraph and telephone offices in which more than 3 women are employed.
2 48 for females under 18.
3 For females under 18.
4 Also certain hazardous m anufacturing, etc., em ploym ents for females under 18.
6 Canneries excepted.
6 8 if a n y work is done betw een 11 p. m. and 7 a. m.

Y e s ...

Mines, cleaning moving A ny business........................... Y e s ...
m achinery, m endicancy,
and as street m usicians .3
Barrooms and cleaning mov­ M ercantile a n d m anufactur­ Y e s ...
ing business.
ing m achinery .3
Stores, shops, hotels, res­
ta u ra n ts, etc.
Occupations requiring con­ All places of e m ploym ent___ Y e s ...
stan t stan d in g 7 and clean­
ing moving m achinery .3

10

io io

Factories, m ercantile estab­
lishm ents,
m ills,
and
w orkshops.

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

In d ..

Mechanical and mercantile
establishm ents, factories,
laundries, hotels, restau­
ran ts, offices, etc.

36

L E G IS L A T IO N R E G U L A T IN G T H E E M PL O Y M E N T O F W O M E N 16 Y E A R S O F A G E AN D O V ER , JA N . 1,1915—C ontinued.

State.
In —

Miss.

Mo.

M ont.

N ebr.

M anufacturing an d repair­
ing, la u n d ry , m illinery,
dressmaking, a n d m ercan­
tile establishm ents, offices,
and other occupations.
M anufacturing, mechanical,
a n d m ercantile establish­
m ents, factories, laundries,
bakeries, restau ran ts, cler­
ical w ork, e tc .4
M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents, offices, laundries,
hotels, and restaurants.
M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, hotels,
restaurants, offices, etc.

N e v ..
N. H .

N. J .

N . Mex.
N. Y .. .

M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, restaur­
ants, etc.
M anufacturing an d mercan­
tile establishm ents, baker­
ies, laundries, an d restau­
ra n ts .4
Factories.

Per
day.

410

Per
week.

Time
for
meals.

Nightwork pro­
hibited
from—

Seats to be furnished in -

Sepa­
rate
toilets.

Mini­
m um
wages.

7 p. m. to
6 a. m .3

Mines, barrooms, and clean­
ing moving machinery.

54

3 48

2 101

2 55

60

60

30

Barrooms ,5 m endicancy ,3 or
as street musicians.
7 p. m. to B a rro o m s .,............................
6.30 a.m.3

10 p. m. to
6 a. m.
10 p. m. to

Canning and preserving per­
ishable products.

10 p. m. to
6 a. m.

7 a. m.

M anufacturing, mechanical,
mercantile, and other es­
tablishm ents.
M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, hotels,
restaurants, a nd other
establishm ents.
M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, hotels,
restaurants, offices, ecc.

10 p. m. to
6 a. m.

38

Em­
ploy­
m ent
pro­
h ib it­
ed a t
child­
birth .
Weeks.

M in .
2 60

Mercantile e stab lish m en ts...


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

E m ploym ent prohibited

M oth­
ers’
pen­
sions.

Y es.

Y e s ..

Y es.

Y e s ... Y es.

Y es.
Y es.

M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents.

M endicancy or as street m usi­
cians .3

M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents.

Y es.

Mines; barrooms; a t emery
wheels, etc.; polishing or
buffing in rooms where
cores are baked.

Factories, hotels, restau­
rants, a nd m ercantile es­
tablishm ents.

Y es.

Y es.

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

H ours of labor—

Ohio__

M echanical and m anufac­
tu rin g establishm ents.
Factories, workshops, offices,
m illinery, dressmaking,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents in any c ity .4

10

110

8 54

30

Okla.
Oreg.

P a.
P. ! ..
P. R.
R. I . .. .
S.

M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, hotels,
restaurants, and offices.
A ny e sta b lish m e n t 4.............

All em ploym ent, except cer­
tain clerical w ork, nursing,
and domestic w ork.
Factories, m anufacturing,
mechanical, business, and
m ercantile establishm ents.
C . . . . Cotton and woolen m ills___
M ercantile establishm ents...

60

10

118

54

45

Factories, w orkshops, offices, Y e s__
restaurants, bakeries, m er­
quarries, coal breakers,
cantile establishm ents,etc.
and oiling or cleaning
moving m achinery .9
6 p. m. to M ines......................................... M ercantile establishm ents, Y e s ...
stores, shops, restaurants,
7 a. m .3
hotels, etc.
Y e s ...
M anufacturing, mechanical
establishm ents, laundries,
hotels, restaurants, and
other establishm ents.
10 p. m. to Mines; m endicancy or as A ny establishm ent............... . Y e s ...
street m usicians ;3 certain
6 a. m. io
hazardous m anufacturing .3
6 p. m. to O perating em ery wheels,
7 a. m .8
etc.; barroom s ,6 mines,

Barrooms,

M anufacturing, mechanical, Y e s ...
and m ercantile establish­
m ents.
M ercantile e stablishm ents... Y e s ...

Barrooms 6.

M ercantile, m anufacturing, Y e s ...
hotel, a nd re sta u ra n t
business.
Factories, m ercantile estab­
lishm ents, mills, and work­
shops.
M anufacturing, m echanical,
a nd m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, restau­
ran ts, hotels, etc.

10 p. m ___

T e n n ...

W orkshops and factories___

10Î

T e x ___

M anufacturing and m ercan­
tile establishm ents, hotels,
restaurants, and offices.

10

Y e s__

Y e s ...
Y e s ...

Y e s__

A ll establishm ents.

10 p. m. to
6 a. m.

10

S. D ak .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Y e s ..

Barrooms

1 8 for females u n d er 18.
2 8 per d ay and 48 per week if an y work is done betw een 8 p. m. and 6 a, m.
3 For females under 18.
* Canneries excepted.
6 For females un d er 21.
6 From June 15 to Oct. 15; 12 hours per day a nd 66 per week, from June 25 to Aug. 5 u n d e r special rules issuable b y industrial board.
7 No more m ay be required for females u n d er 18.
8 48 for females un d er 18.
9 Also certain hazardous m anufacturing, etc., em ploym ents for females under 18.
10 9 and 6 for females u n d er 21, except telephone operators over 18.
11 9 on condition of double p a y for overtim e.

Y e s ...

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OP T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

N . D ak.

Stores, shops, offices, and
m anufacturing establish­
m ents.

9 p. m. to
6 a. m .3

7 60

N. C ....

03

38

L E G IS L A T IO N R E G U L A T IN G T H E E M PL O Y M E N T O F W O M EN 16 Y E A R S O F A G E AN D O V ER , JA N . 1, 1915—Concluded.

State.
In —

Tim e
for
meals.

Nightwork pro­
hibited
from—

E m ploym ent prohibited
in—

Per
week.

9

54

Mines and barroom s.

Stores, shops, hotels, restau­
rants, and other places.

11

58

Barrooms a nd occupations
requiring constant stan d ­
ing .2
Coal mines and barroom s. . .

All establishm ents 2.

Mines, barrooms, messenger
service ,3 and m endicancy
or as street m usicians .2
Coal mines, cleaning m ov­
ing m achinery, m endican­
cy, or as street m usicians .2
Mines and quarries, any
dangerous em ploym ent,
using em ery, etc., wheels
in certain establishm ents,
acting as messengers .2
Coal, iron, and other d a n ­
gerous mines.

All establishm ents.

Factories, workshops, mer­
cantile
establishm ents,
laundries .1
W ash .................. Mechanical an d m ercantile
establishm ents, laundries,
hotels, a n d restau ran ts .1
W . V a ................

10

All em ploym ent.....................

4 10

Va


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1 Canneries excepted.
2 For females under 18.

4 55

60

Sepa­ Mini­
m um
rate
toilets. wages.

Em­
ploy­
m ent
pro­
h ib it­
ed a t
child­
birth.
Weeks.

M in .

M anufacturing, mechanical,
an d m ercantile establish­
m ents, laundries, hotels,
restau ran ts, offices, etc .1
v t ...................... M anufacturing and m echan­
ical establishm ents.

U tah

W is.....................

Seats to be furnished in—

Per
day.

Moth­
ers’
pen­
sions.

Y e s ... Y es.

M ercantile establishm ents... Y es.

M anufacturing, mechanical,
mercantile, and other es­
tablishm ents.
M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
ments.

Y e s ... Y es.
Y es.
Y es.

M anufacturing, mechanical,
and m ercantile establish­
ments.

3 For females under 19 in cities of th e first class.
4 8 per day a nd 48 per w eek if any w ork is done betw een 8 p. m. a nd 6 a. m .

Y e s ... Y es.

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

H ours of labor-

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

39

CONDITIONS SURROUNDING STREET RAILWAY EMPLOYMENT
IN THE UNITED STATES.

The investigation of street railway employment which the bureau
has been carrying on for the past year has been completed so far as
the field work is concerned, and the tabulation of the data secured
is now going on. The material collected relates to the wages, hours,
and conditions of employment. The more detailed study covers 81
cities, with 98 different companies, while 375 cities have been covered
with a shorter and less detailed schedule. The employees included
in the inquiry are approximately 94,000 motormen and conductors.
NEW INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

Among the new subjects upon which the bureau is now engaged are
studies of profit sharing, administration of labor and compensation
laws, employment bureaus of industrial and mercantile establish­
ments, and labor conditions in Hawaii. The plans for studies relating
to women in industry and several other subjects are under consid­
eration, but have not yet been completed.
The study of profit sharing is intended to cover the various forms
of profit sharing proper (distribution among employees of a fixed pro­
portion of net profits, determined in advance), as well as other forms
of gain sharing, such as distribution of bonuses for long service or for
other cause, premiums or dividends on wages, and sale of stock to
employees on specially favorable terms. The study will include de­
tailed descriptive as well as statistical analysis of the various schemes,
together with their experience over as long a period as is possible.
Investigation of the administration of labor laws in the various
States has for its purpose the securing of detailed information in
regard to the powers and duties of the various State agencies having
to do with the administration of any of the labor laws, the way in
which these agencies are organized, their methods of work, and what
they are accomplishing.
In studying this question the labor laws will be considered in the
broadest sense, including the enforcement of labor laws, the making of
labor investigations, the administration of public employment
offices, the work of minimum wage commissions and of workmen’s
compensation commissions. The study is at present being carried
on in the Pacific Coast States.
Another investigation that promises to be of interest and of
decided value is the study of the work of organized employment
bureaus of industrial and mercantile establishments, or, as it might be
termed, a study of organized methods of “ hiring and firing.” These
bureaus have been organized in many establishments with the purpose
of doing away with the old methods, so wasteful alike to employers
and workers, where men were hired and dismissed according to the

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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

daily demands of one department, sometimes entirely without regard
to the needs of the morrow in other departments.
In some establishments where the work of these bureaus has been
perfected, large savings have been reported because of the much
greater stability of the force. Estimates have been made of the cost
of hiring a man, ranging from $50 to several hundred dollars per man.
It is obvious, even if the lowest figure is at all fair, that enormous
savings are possible in the great establishments which hire several
thousand men each year.
The purpose of the study will be to learn in detail all the methods
which have proved most successful and the results which have been
secured, both as affecting the employer and the men.
The investigation of labor conditions in Hawaii is the regular
investigation required by law to be made once in five years. The
study will, in general, cover the ground and follow the method of
previous studies, the results of which were published in reports of
the bureau in 1901, 1902, 1905, and 1910.
OVERTIME IN THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CANNING AND
PACKING INDUSTRY OF OREGON.

The Oregon Industrial Welfare Commission, under date of May 26,
1915, published an order providing for the issuance of emergency
overtime permits for fruit and vegetable canning and packing estab­
lishments. Provision is made that such overtime shall not be per­
mitted for more than six calendar weeks, and that the working time,
including overtime, shall not exceed 60 hours in any calendar week
nor 10 hours in any one day. The order is quoted in full below.
T a k e N o t i c e : That pursuant to the authority granted by chapter 35, General Laws
of Oregon, 1915, the industrial welfare commission has investigated the emergency
overtime requirements of the fruit and vegetable canning and packing industry of
Oregon and finds that for six (6) weeks of each year the aforesaid industry requires
emergency overtime beyond the fifty-four (54) hours a week prescribed as maximum
hours for women workers in such industry in I. W. C. Orders No. 2 and No. 5.
W h e r e f o r e , the industrial welfare commission authorizes and permits the employ­
ment of adult women in fruit and vegetable canning and packing establishments m
the State of Oregon for more than fifty-four (54) hours a week under the following con­
ditions and rules which the aforesaid commission hereby to-day determines and
prescribes:
1. Such emergency overtime shall not be permitted for more than six (6) calendar
weeks, from May 1 to December 1 in any year.
2. The emergency overtime shall not exceed the fifty-four (54) hours a week now
prescribed by 1. W. C. Orders No. 2 and No. 5 by more than six (6) hours for any
calendar week.
3. Nothing in this permit or order shall be interpreted as authorizing the employ­
ment of any woman for more than ten (10) hours in any day.
4. Such emergency overtime shall be paid for at a rate of not less than twenty-five
cents (25c) an hour; and the earnings for emergency overtime shall in no case be included
in the weekly minimum wage prescribed by the rulings of the commission, hut shall
in every case be over and above the weekly minimum wage prescribed by I. W. 0.
Orders No. 2 and No. 5 for adult women workers.

5. T h e ow ner or m anager of e v ery fru it an d v e g etab le c an n e ry or p a ck in g e sta b lish ­
m e n t in Oregon em ploying w om en u n d e r th is em ergency o v ertim e p e rm it shall fu r­
n ish th e in d u stria l Avelfare com m ission on or before th e 5 th d a y of each m o n th a tran-


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

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script, duly verified as hereinafter provided, of the weekly time and pay roll of each
woman who has worked more than fifty-four (54) hours in any one week of the pre­
ceding month. Said transcript shall furnish the name and employee number of each
woman employee.
6. Said transcript shall he verified by said owner or manager or some person in his
behalf having knowledge of the facts by subscribing and swearing to a statement
that said transcript is a full, true, and accurate statement of the overtime worked by
and wages paid to each and every woman who has worked overtime.

ADMINISTRATION

OF THE CHILD-LABOR LAWS OF
CONNECTICUT.

The Children’s Bureau of the Department of Labor has recently
published a bulletin on the above subject, taking up specifically
the effect of the employment certificate system as an enforcement
agency. The bulletin contains 69 pages and presents the result
of field work in text form, with copies of the laws, and graphs
showing the administrative agencies provided for and the methods
in use for procuring employment certificates. Forms of certificates
and sample educational tests add to the completeness of this initial
study by the bureau in this particular field. Studies of other States,
taking up legislation of different types, are to follow.
An outstanding feature of the law of Connecticut is the com­
pleteness with which the matter of the issue of employment certifi­
cates and the following up of employment under them is placed in the
hands of the State board of education and worked as a part of the
compulsory education law of the State, instead of connecting it with
the work of factory inspection, thus securing a strong centralization
of control, which makes for efficiency. The law permits no employ­
ment in mechanical, mercantile, or manufacturing establishments
of children under the age of 14 years, and requires employment certifi­
cates until the age of 16. These certificates cover the points of age,
education, and physical condition, and are issued only to children
holding an employer’s declaration of intention to employ the child
if a certificate is issued to him or her. The employer retains the
certificate and is required to report the child’s entrance on employ­
ment and also the termination of such employment. On such
termination the child is to return to school unless new employment
is obtained, for which also a new certificate is required. Besides
issuing certificates, the board of education, through its agents, inspects
places where children are employed for the purpose of detecting viola­
tions of the law in regard to children under 14, children 14 to 16
without certificates, and children between those ages who are physi­
cally unfit for labor. Inspectors have the legal right of seeing the
list of certificates on file, but not of going through the establish­
ment, though employers generally permit this. Inspectors of the
department of factory inspection have a right to go through the
establishments, but not to inspect the register of children employed,

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M O N T H L Y E EY IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

though this is done occasionally. While, therefore, there is a dis­
position on the part of the two agencies to cooperate, and it is done
to some extent, the amount of cooperation is much lessened by
reason of these divergent powers. There is also a natural coopera­
tion between the inspectors and local attendance officers and school
authorities, a weakness in this respect being the lack of complete
cooperation as regards parochial schools.
A prime difficulty discovered was with reference to the return to
school of children becoming unemployed after a time. They have
lost their places in their classes and are often looked upon by their
teachers as undesirables, both on account of thus becoming ungraded
and because of loss of interest. So great and evident are the diffi­
culties attendant upon the return to school of a child after a period
of employment that efforts in this direction are found to be rather
perfunctory, and the inspector’s activities are frequently directed
toward securing new places of employment rather than enforcing a
probably fruitless school attendance, especially if the family is known
to be in need of the child’s earnings. In any case there is apt to be
delay in getting results in any effort in this direction. This adds to
the difficulties, since habits of idleness quickly develop during unem­
ployment and the more or less active avoidance of the inspector
by the child while the latter is perhaps nominally looking for a new
position.
With many excellencies both of substance and of administration,
the above apparent weaknesses were noted, together with others,
which are, in brief, allowing the reading and writing of any language
instead of requiring English, and the acceptance of too low an educa­
tional standard generally, especially where school records were taken
in lieu of examinations; inadequacy in the matter of physical exami­
nations, which are apparently quite infrequently required; and the
imperfection of any methods adopted to prevent the employment
outside of school hours of children not legally employable.
The issue of future studies in this field, which will afford a basis of
comparison, will be awaited with interest, the avowed purpose of the
undertaking as a whole being to bring out a standard method of
administration in this important field.
FOREIGN FOOD PRICES AS AFFECTED BY THE WAR.

To show something of the effect of the European war upon cost of
living following the outbreak of hostilities in August, 1914, the bureau
has just issued Bulletin No. 170 under the title “ Foreign food prices
as affected by the war.” Much of the information of the report was
obtained through the consular service of the Department of State,
and, in the main, covers the period from August to December, 1914.
Prices are given for 18 countries and represented by reports from
over 100 cities, towns, and consular districts.

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M O N T H L Y E EY IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

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The report shows that the first effect of the war was the same prac­
tically throughout Europe. Its outbreak was followed by a sharp
rise in prices due mainly to panic and uncertainty. In some coun­
tries legislative measures were at once taken to check this rise. In
others the Governments strictly adhered to a hands-off policy and
trusted to the natural course of events for readjustment. Within a
fortnight the first panic was over and except in the actual war zone
prices began to fall. In most places, however, prices did not drop
to the July level and after an interval again took an upward turn,
which has probably not yet reached its climax.
The price figures available are somewhat incomplete, but almost
everywhere the upward tendency of prices appears. Potatoes were
among the few articles which showed a fall in prices in most of the
more important countries. Meat, also, was another important
article which in many places increased but little in price.
Flour, on the other hand, showed decided changes. Russia is the
greatest wheat exporting country of Europe, and the war practically
shut off its foreign markets. It is not surprising, therefore, to find
that the price of wheat flour had actually fallen in Moscow. In
Germany and Austria the rise was marked, prices compared with the
July level, in Germany, showing an increase of 25 per cent by Decem­
ber and 34 per cent by January. In Vienna the increase by December
was 73 per cent and by January 82 per cent. In Switzerland, the
Netherlands, and Great Britain, flour prices in December were 13 or
14 per cent above the July level, but later figures show a continued
increase in February, reaching 24 per cent in the Netherlands and 33
per cent in Great Britain. Bread prices in most cases followed those
of wheat flour. In Germany and Austria, however, the increases in
the prices of bread were somewhat less than those in the price of
wheat flour.
Sugar prices showed marked differences, resulting from the war, in
different localities. In France the best sugar-beet fields lie in the
northern parts, which were early invaded, and as a result the price
of sugar rose sharply. Germany and Russia are sugar exporting
countries, and in Berlin and Moscow sugar showed little change in
price. England imports its entire supply, and in London the price
rose 70 per cent. Turkey usually imports her sugar from Russia and
from Austria. The Russian supply was shut off altogether when
Turkey entered the war, and the Austrian supply was reduced to what
could be brought through by rail, a very uncertain dependence.
Administrative and legislative measures to check the rise in cost of
necessaries were very generally taken. Denmark, Egypt, Great
Britain, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Turkey prohibited the export of
practically all foodstuffs. France, Norway, and Sweden listed cer­
tain articles which must not be exported, and Holland placed an
embargo on butter and cheese.

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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

Fixing maximum prices, especially for foodstuffs, by some Govern­
ment agency was a very common measure. To some extent it was
used by every country included in the bureau’s report, although in
Great Britain and Sweden so little of the sort was done that these
countries might almost be excepted.
The methods adopted for fixing prices differed considerably. In
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and parts
of Turkey the municipal authorities, either alone or in cooperation
with the central or military authorities, might fix maximum rates
if they thought best. In most cases this right was of long stand­
ing. In all of these countries the municipal authorities have very
generally made use of this right. In Bulgaria a special law was passed
early in August authorizing local authorities, with the participation
of financial authorities, to fix prices, both wholesale and retail.
In Egypt a commission was appointed by the central Government
with power to fix maximum prices. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
also resorted to commissions for this purpose. In Servia the minister
of the interior was charged with the duty of fixing maximum prices.
Some Governments, while allowing the local authorities to fix
prices on most things, issued decrees applicable to their whole terri­
tory concerning a few highly important articles. Thus, Austria and
Germany both prescribed the proportion of wheat or r}Te flour that
should be used in making bread. Later both Austria and Germany
fixed the wholesale price of cereals, and brought the distribution and
consumption of flour and bread under strict control. Turkey fixed
prices for petroleum, sugar, and flour. In Italy salt, tobacco, and
matches are Government monopolies, so that their prices were fixed
by the central authority. Denmark, Holland, and Switzerland limited
themselves to controlling the most important breadstuff of each country.
The importance and full significance of the increases in prices
which occurred would not be fairly presented without reference to
the fact that increased cost of living, and especially the increase in
food prices, has for several years been a question of serious concern
in practically all of the European countries. The upward movement
in prices prior to the war had in fact been world wide. An inquiry
‘of the British Board of Trade in 1912 showed increases in food prices
in various countries, over prices in 1900, ranging from 15 per cent in
Great Britain and France, to 16 per cent in Australia, to 30 per cent
in Germany, to 32 per cent in Belgium, and 35 per cent in Austria.
In Canada and in the United States the increase shown was even
greater than the highest of these figures. Thus, it will be seen that
the increased prices directly due to the war, coming as the culmina­
tion of a long period of increases, are much more serious to the masses
of the population than the mere figures indicate. It is obvious, too,
that the increases of the first four to six months represented only the
beginning of the war’s effect on the cost of living.

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INCREASE IN RETAIL PRICES OF COAL IN GREAT BRITAIN.

A recent British report1 on the causes in the rise of retail prices
of coal suggests comparison with a report dealing with practically the
same subject, issued by the Bureau of Labor »Statistics early in 1913.2
When, in 1912, in this country the price of anthracite coal, following a
new agreement between the coal operators and the mine workers, was
increased 25 cents per ton over the winter rates of the preceding year,
the public protest led to a congressional resolution and investigation
into the causes of the increase. It is not difficult to understand, then,
with increases in the prices of coal in London reaching in February
last from 7 to 11s. ($1.70 to $2.68) above the usual winter prices, that
the public demand for an investigation of the causes made itself felt
in official action. The result was the appointment on February 25
of a departmental committee to inquire into the causes of the rise in
the retail prices of coal sold for domestic use, especially to the poorer
classes of consumers in London and other centers. A committee of
eight members was appointed, three being members of Parliament,
one of them a labor member, and two being well-known professors of
political economy.
The committee submitted its report under date of March 24. The
committee found that the cost of production at the mine had increased
only slightly, certainly by less than Is. (24.3 cents) a ton. The wages
of miners had not been changed, the railway rates were unchanged,
and increased cost of wagon hire, horses, fodder, etc., and increased
wages of carters and loaders, and distribution were found to amount
to not more than 2s. (48.7 cents) per ton. The total rise in the cost
of production and distribution was, therefore, at most 3s. (73 cents)
per ton, while the price to the consumer in London had risen above
normal winter rates by an amount varying, according to the quality of
the coal, from 7s. to 11s. ($1.70 to $2.68) per ton.
The committee also found that the increase in price was due to a
deficiency of supply as compared to the demand and that the fear of a
coal famine increased the demand beyond actual need.
The mechanism by which prices are fixed was found to be an im­
portant feature in causing the increase. The mine price corresponds
to a fixed retail price in London. When the retail price in London
increases above the sum mentioned in the contract, the coal-mine
1 Board of Trade. R eport of dep artm en tal com m ittee to inquire in to the causes of th e present rise in
retail price of coal sold for domestic use. London, 1915. (Cd. 7866.)
2 Increase in Prices of A n thracite Coal Following th e W age Agreement of May 20, 1912. 62d Cong., 3d
sess., H . Doc. No. 1442. W ashington, 1913.


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

owner receives half of the increase. The committee concluded that
the high prices were not attributable to the existence of a definitely
constituted ring among coal merchants or mine owners. They
found, however, that, as in some other trades, “ there are evidently
opportunities of conference among those chiefly concerned which do
in effect commonly lead to concerted action with respect to prices.”
The committee’s recommendations covered five points:
1. Exports to neutral countries should be restricted.
2. Steps should at once be taken to consider, in consultation with
the public bodies concerned, the question of the accumulation, by such
bodies, of reserves of coal in or near London, for the use of small con­
sumers during next winter.
3. The rates of freight on the interned steamers should be further
reduced.
4. Suitable enemy ships condemned by the prize court should be
taken over by the Government and used for coal transport.
5. If prices do not shortly return to a reasonable level, the Govern­
ment should consider a scheme for assuming control of the output of
collieries during the continuance of the war.
The report of the committee seems of sufficient importance to jus­
tify its quotation, and it is given in the following pages:
2. We have held 15 meetings. In addition to obtaining informa­
tion from other sources, wo have heard evidence from 33 witnesses
including representatives of the Government departments concerned’
the railway companies, the London coal merchants, colliery owners’
cooperative societies, the gas companies, and the London trolley
tiade. While within the limits of time at our disposal we have taken
account of prices generally throughout the country, we have concen­
trated our attention mainly on London. With some exceptions, the
noi t h and the midlands have not suffered from any very remarkable rise
m the price of household coal. In the southern counties, and apart
Irom the additional charges due to the railway rates on a longer haul
prices are governed so largely by London conditions that it is unneces­
sary lor the purposes of this inquiry to deal with them separately,
opcakmg generally we have no doubt that the causes which have
operated to raise prices m London are also those mainly responsible
lor the increases m the southern counties and elsewhere.' There may
ot course be local reasons for a quite unusual rise, but it would be im­
possible lor this committee to consider in detail sporadic variations
without unduly prolonging their inquiry.
3. We feel it necessary to say at the outset that our inquiry has
been conducted under one considerable difficulty. In order to settle
(lehmtely and precisely some important questions which have come
belore us, it would be necessary to have statistics which so far have
ne\er been collected and could not now be obtained without much
delay. We have therefore been forced, at various point's in our in­
vestigations, to rely on the estimates given by witnesses, from their
personal experience, where we should have preferred to use the re­
sults ot statistical inquiry. But we do not think that any corrections

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in particular figures which might be made if such results were availa­
ble would materially affect the broad general conclusions at which we
have arrived.
4. The amount and dates of the increases in London appear to be
as follows for a typical coal of good quality (“ Best Derbyshire ”). On
June 16, 1914, the lowest summer price was fixed, 26s. ($6.33) per ton.
On September 26 the price rose to 27s. ($6.57); on November 21 to 28s.
($6.81); and on December 12 to 29s. ($7.06). On December 19, Janu­
ary 7, January 28, and January 29 prices rose to the extent of Is. (24.3
cents) on each date, making the price on January 29, 33s. ($8.03) per
ton. On February 17 it rose 2s. (48.7 cents) to 35s. ($8.52) per ton. It
may be noted that in the winter of 1913-14 the price of this coal rose
from 26s. ($6.33) to 27s. ($6.57) per ton on September 6, 1913, and to
28s. ($6.81) on December 30. In the winter of 1912-13 it rose on
September 14, 1912, from 25s. ($6.08) to 27s. ($6.57); this price was
maintained until, on May 18, 1913, the usual summer reduction
occurred.
5. The prices for other descriptions of house coal during the past
winter have mov’ed in almost exact correspondence with those speci­
fied above, with one important exception. The prices of the lower
qualities were steadily leveled up until on January 29 the price of all
coal below “ Best Derbyshire” was 32s. ($7.79), and on February 20,
34s. ($8.27) per ton. The difference in price between “ Best Derby­
shire” and “ Stove nuts” in June, 1914, was 6s. ($1.46) per ton; on
December 12, 4s. 6d. ($1.10) per ton; on February 20, Is. (24.3 cents)
per ton. To put it in another way, the rise from summer prices was
9s. ($2.19) per ton for good coal and 14s. ($3.41) per ton for the
cheapest quality; the increase above normal winter prices was 7s.
($1.70) per ton for good coal and 11s. ($2.68) for the cheapest.
6. It may be as well, however, to explain here that this phenomenon
is not unusual. It has been represented to us that in times of high
prices the cheaper kinds of coal tend to rise in price more than the bet­
ter qualities. We have also reason to believe that recently large
quantities of inferior coal which in ordinary times would find no
market in London have been supplied to the consumer under one
designation or another at very profitable prices.
7. We have had it given in evidence that those who are compelled
to buy their coal in small quantities are anxious to secure the best
quality. They can not without serious inconvenience use the inferior
qualities, because the poor man’s fire has to serve all purposes, and
above all it must light quickly. One witness gave evidence to the
effect that the coal now being sold from trolleys is worse in quality
than usual, as well as higher in price; but the evidence of other wit­
nesses, including the representative of a leading London firm doing
a trolley business, was to the opposite effect. Moreover, a general
rise in prices weighs more heavily on the poor and causes more suf­
fering, because the greater cost of distribution by trolley in small
quantities is sufficient by itself to keep the price of such coal above
the general level. Lip to November 23 last the trolley price of a
high-class coal sold by a leading firm was Is. 4d. (32.4 cents) per
hundredweight, or at the rate of 26s. 8d. ($6.49) per ton. On Novem­
ber 24 it rose to Is. 5d. (34.5 cents) per hundredweight, or 28s. 4d.
($6.89) per ton; on December 8 to Is. 6d. (36.5 cents) per hundred
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weight, or 30s. ($7.30) a ton; on December 19 to Is. 7cl. (38.5 cents)
per hundredweight, or 31s. 8d. ($7.71) per ton; on January 5 to
Is. 8d. (40.6 cents) per hundredweight, or 33s. 4d. ($8.11) per ton;
on January 26 to Is. 9d. (42.6 cents) per hundredweight, or 35s($8.52) per ton; on February 1 to Is. lOd. (44.6 cents) per hundred­
weight, or 36s. 8d. ($8.92) per ton; on February 22 to Is. lid . (46.6
cents) per hundredweight, or 38s. 4d. ($9.33) per ton. In certain
cases even higher prices were paid, as is proved by the information
which we have obtained from university settlements and similar
institutions working in poor districts.
8. Reverting to the main question before us, we have to report
that, in our opinion, the initial cause of the increase of recent prices,
ranging from 7s. ($1.70) to 11s. ($2.68) per ton, above the winter
prices of 1913-14 was a deficiency of supply as compared with de­
mand; and in particular, a deficiency of supply in London. The
evidence before us showed that in August there was a large and unusual
demand for coal, which considerably depleted the stocks accumulated
by merchants, in accordance with usual practice, to meet the winter
demand. It was stated by the merchants' representatives that in
the middle of December these stocks had been reduced almost to
vanishing point; and although this statement is difficult to reconcile
fully with the returns furnished to the Board of Trade by the mer­
chants themselves, the stocks were no doubt below the normal. It
was stated further that at the same time the railways were bringinoup less than the usual quantity for household consumption, and the
apprehension of a coal famine caused orders to pour in from con­
sumers who had any storage accommodations.
9. The effect of a temporary failure in the supply of any com­
modity is normally that the price rises, and rises without relation to
the cost of production and distribution. In theory at least such an
increase, though apparently arbitrary, may be expected to perform
three functions; it acts as a danger signal, warning consumers to be
careful of their stores; it insures the distribution of the available
supplies to those who are willing to pay most—i. e., presumably to
those who have the greatest need; and it automatically attracts
further supplies, thus providing its own remedy. This system may
work satisfactorily in normal tinies, but the plain fact is that it has
broken down in the extraordinary circumstances of the present
winter so far as household coal is concerned. It has no doubt
enforced economy among consumers, but it has not insured distribu­
tion where supply was most needed, because the poor could not afford
to pay the prices demanded; and it has not attracted additional sup­
plies with enough speed to prevent much inconvenience and suffering,
because either normal supplies were not available or they could not
be brought up.
10. The mechanism by which prices are fixed and the sum paid by
the purchaser is divided between the merchant and the colliery owner,
presents one curious feature peculiar to London. Some of the best
kinds of household coal coming from the midlands (Derbyshire and
Nottinghamshire) are largely sold by the collieries to the London
merchants on what is known as a sliding-scale contract. A pit-head
price is fixed corresponding to a fixed retail price in London; the colliery owner never gets less than the fixed pit-head price, but when
the retail price in London rises above that mentioned in the contract.

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he receives half the increase. For instance, a contract is made at
10s. 9d. ($2.62) pit-head price corresponding to a retail price of 25s.
($6.08). If the latter falls to 24s. ($5.84) the colliery owner still
receives his 10s. 9d ($2.62) per ton; but he will receive 11s. 3d. ($2.74)
if it rises to 26s. ($6.33), 11s. 9d. ($2.86) if it rises to 27s. ($6.57), and
so on. The colliery owner has, during the past winter, automatically
received 4s. 6d. ($1.10) per ton out of the rise of 9s. ($2.19) from the
summer price of coals sold under this kind of contract. It is obvious
that this arrangement gives coal owners and merchants a common
interest in high prices, while there is no sharing of the loss if prices
are low. The merchant is not assisted to reduce prices to the con­
sumer when supplies are abundant by any reduction in the price he
pays to the colliery for his contract coal. The arrangement has,
moreover, an important effect on the amount by which London
prices must be raised to recoup either colliery owner or merchant for
an increase in his costs. If they rise 6d. (12.2 cents) per ton, the
consumer must be charged Is. (24.3 cents) per ton extra; for the party
whose costs have risen receives only half the increased price. Such
a system appears to us indefensible.
11. We have come to the conclusion on the evidence before us that
the high prices of household coal are not attributable to the existence
of definitely constituted “ rings” or'close corporations among either
coal merchants or colliery owners; but, as in some other trades, there
are evidently opportunities of conference among those chiefly con­
cerned which do, in effect, commonly lead to concerted action with
respect to prices. In the case of prices under the sliding-scale sys­
tem of contract (which a leading witness has told us is practically
universal for the best kinds of household coal in London), such con­
ference appears from the evidence to work out in practice on the
London Coal Exchange as follows: A few leading firms decide upon
increased prices, which, without more ado, become the “ public
prices” of the day, and are advertised next day in the newspapers.
Sliding-scale contracts are made on the basis that the price to be paid
to the colliery owner varies, not with the retail price actually received
by the merchant to whom he supplies the coal, but with these “ pub­
lic prices,” as advertised. The pit-head price rises 6d. (12.2 cents)
per ton on each Is. (24.3 cents) advance of the “ public price,” for
all buyers alike, and does not fall for any buyer until the “ public
price ” falls. Thus, without any system of penalties on undercutting,
the leading merchants in fixing prices are secured pro tanto against
competition by the fact that any reduction made by an outside com­
petitor in his retail price gives him no corresponding reduction in
the price which he pays to the colliery owner under the sliding-scale
contract.
12. We have stated that in our opinion the initial cause of the
increased prices was a deficiency of supply; but our inquiry would
clearly be incomplete without some investigation of the causes of
this deficiency. The chief is the general reduction of output, due
mainly to the large number of miners who have joined the colors,
estimated on good authority at 130,000.
13. The reduction during February, as shown in the returns made
to the Board of Trade, was about 12 per cent of the output of Feb­
ruary, 1914. Some of the evidence given before the committee indi­
cated that the reduction in January had been greater than this per2119°—15---- 4


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centage, but it appears doubtful whether it was so large in earlier
months. The output in and previous to November last probably
fell off as much owing to the reduced industrial and export demand
for coal as to the lack of capacity for production. In any event, the
reduced output would not by itself account for the abnormal prices
in London and some other centers of population, for there had been,
for a time at least, a decrease of consumption, and in most centers
of the north the rise above normal winter prices has been a relatively
small one. Even after allowing for exceptional local causes, such as
the powerful cooperative organizations of consumers in some of the
northern towns, we do not think that the great difference in favor of
some large towns as compared with others could have appeared if
the only cause of the increase of prices had been so obviously uni­
versal as a general reduction of output.
14. The shortage of supplies actually available or “ within sight”
for London (and the same remark is equally applicable to other
centers, and perhaps even more to many towns on the southern rail­
ways) can not be measured by the shortage of output at the collieries.
During November and December last the scarcity of shipping and
consequent rise of freights began to cut off the supply of sea-borne
coal. Comparatively little household coal comes to London by sea;
but the result of the reduction in the sea-borne supply of—e. g., gas—coal was that it was largely thrown on the railways, which at the
same time were congested owing to military requirements. Further,
the number of wagons usually available for the transport of coal
was seriously reduced by the same cause, and the period which
wagons took to accomplish their journeys and return to the colliery
was often considerably increased.
15. Moreover, London occupies a peculiar position as a market for
coal. As a general rule, a colliery chooses to rely, if possible, on its
local market (the nearest big town or towns) as the backbone of its
business—for one reason, its wagons make so many more journeys
and carry so much more coal in a month or year than they do if they
are sent to London. Accordingly, when supplies of coal are abundant
and the local market has taken all it can, the surplus is sent to London
and sold for what it will fetch; when supplies are deficient, London
has to bid high in order to attract coal from the local market which
has the first claim on the colliery. London prices tend to be lower
than elsewhere in times of abundance, but in times of scarcity they
tend to rise above the level of the north and midlands. It need
hardly be pointed out that this tendency is aggravated when the
scarcity is partly due to congestion on the railways, for a colliery
owner is more unwilling than ever to send wagons to London if he is
uncertain that they will return within a normal time.
16. London is peculiar, too, in another respect—its lack of adequate
storage accommodation. Owing to the number of small houses and
flats possessing only coal cupboards, and to the high price of land, it
is in practice impossible to store coal in large quantities. The result
is that in time of pressure there are inadequate reserves, and unless
the railways are known to be working with their usual efficiency the
scarcity of the visible supply is instantly felt and reflected in rising
prices.
17. We have had conflicting evidence submitted to us on the
question whether the arrangements for distribution from the depots

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in London to the consumer have been adequate. It has been stated,
on the one hand, that the enlistment of carters, a shortage of horses,
and similar causes have rendered it hard to maintain proper dis­
tribution even when coal has been available. On the other hand,
the opinion has been expressed that if the supply of coal at the depots
had been adequate there would have been no serious difficulty in
delivering it; and this view is supported by the figures of daily
clearances from the depots since the beginning of February, with
which some railway companies have furnished us. On the whole,
we do not regard the difficulties of distribution as a serious con­
tributory cause of the prevailing high prices.
18. It is due to the railway companies to say that we have satisfied
ourselves by personal inspection and other means that they are now,
under difficult circumstances, bringing regular and increased supplies
of coal to the London market, and the returns submitted to us go to
show that the daily arrivals of rail-borne coal are equal to the usual
supplies available at this time of the year. Further, the employment
in the sea-borne coal trade of the interned steamers has sensibly
relieved the pressure on the railways.
19. To sum up this part of our inquiry, we think that a temporary
scarcity of supply in and after November has provided the occasion
for the rise in the price of household coal in London, and that that
scarcity has been due, first, to the general reduction of output arising
mainly from the enlistment of miners; secondly, to the decrease of
sea-borne supplies of nonhousehold coal, resulting in abnormal pres­
sure on the railways; thirdly, to congestion on the railways and to
shortage of wagons arising from military requirements; and, fourthly,
to lack of storage accommodation at the depots and among consumers.
The demand in London has been at certain periods, if not greater
than usual, at least greater than it need have been, by reason of
“ panic” orders.
20. Although the terms of our reference direct us only to inquire
into the causes of the high prices of household coal, we understand
that we are free to offer advice on the appropriate steps for dealing
with those causes; but before we turn to this question we desire to
make some remarks on an aspect of the whole subject which has
naturally attracted much attention.
21. We have pointed out that prices have risen owing to the
temporary lack of equilibrium between supply and demand; that they
have risen without relation to the cost of production; and that such
a rise brings its own remedy in normal times, but in the present
exceptional circumstances is largely deprived of economic justifica­
tion. We have no doubt that the rise is considerably above the
increase in cost of production and distribution, which can reasonably
be put down to the war. The cost of production at the mine has not,
on a high estimate, risen more than Is. (24.3 cents) per ton—one
eminent authority has stated to us that that figure is preposterously
high. The railway rates remain the same, and we see no reason to
think that the rise in wagon hire, wages of carters and loaders, the
cost of horses and of fodder, and similar charges in London amounts
to more than 2s. (48.7 cents) per ton, the figure given to us by a
representative merchant. Even accepting the above estimates, the
total rise in the cost of production and distribution has been at most
3s. (73 cents) per ton, whereas the price to the consumer has risen

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above normal winter prices by an amount varying according to the
quality of the coal from 7s. ($1.70) to 11s. ($2.68) per ton. &
22. Had the public been convinced that the rise in the price of
coal corresponded with the increase in the cost of production and
distribution due to the war, we believe that they would have accepted
the situation without complaint. We have stated the facts in the
preceding paragraph. The net result is that the sums recently paid
and now being paid for coal by London consumers include a laro-e
surplus above ordinary profits, after making full allowance for the
increased cost of production and distribution.
23. TTe have attempted in vam to apportion the surplus between
the different interests concerned. The case of the merchants, which
we can not accept without large modifications, is substantially that
the whole or a large part of the supplies which they have obtained
fiom the collieries under contract has been passed on to consumers
with whom they in their turn had contracts made at summer prices"
and that on the coal which they bought at current prices and are
selling at current prices they make little or no profit. The case of
the collieries is that their gains on coal sold at current prices do little
more than offset their increased expenses on the getting of the coal
which they have to supply at prices fixed by contracts "made in the
summer. In order to decide on these contentions, it would be
obviously necessary to ascertain what proportion of the coal sold
by each particular colliery is sold on contract, sliding scale or fixed
and similarly what proportion of the coal sold by each particular
merchant is purchased and sold by him under contract Such
figures we have been unable to obtain.
24. Our information with regard to the time at which pit-head
prices advanced is not conclusive, but it appears probable from a
consideration of dates that it was the rising prices in London which
first stimulated colliery owners to secure a share of the increases
paid by the consumer. Advances in pit-head prices served as an
occasion for further raising retail prices in London, and this again
induced colliery owners to demand higher prices for coal not already
sold or only partially delivered under contract.
25. We may add that certain coal owners have, during recent
months, made a practice of reducing their deliveries under contract
on the ground of reduction of output at their collieries. Putting
on one side the question whether these abatements on deliveries
were not actually greater in many cases than the diminution of sup­
ply, we have grave doubts concerning the legality of makino- any
abatement at all so long as the output is sufficient to satisfy the
contract; and we can not but regard such a transaction as highly
questionabie when it enables the coal owner to sell a larger quantity
of 4 free coaH at the greatly enhanced prices due to . a national
emergency. The reduction of deliveries from the colliery has com­
pelled the merchants to adopt a similar policy in the execution of
their own contracts with consumers. In some cases they have
required an increase of price on deliveries under contract.
26. The question whether any steps can and should be taxen, by
special taxation or other means, to draw for the benefit of the State
on exceptional profits made out of war conditions and not justified
by exceptional services, is a question of national policy outside
the scope of our reference. Such profits as have been made out of

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the high prices of coal would presumably be dealt with under any
general plan applicable to all cases of this nature.
27. The impression left upon our minds by the evidence and
information before us is that the conduct of an industry on which
such great national interests depend can not safely be left in a time
of crisis to the working of an unregulated system of supply and
demand. We may add that we know of no reason why prices of
household coal in London should remain at their present high level,
in view of the regular and increased supplies 1 now arriving by rail
(of which we have convinced ourselves by personal inspection) and
we consider that the situation as regards prices relatively to supplies
should be closely and continuously watched, with the aid of the
returns now being periodically received by the Board of Trade from
the colliery owners and the coal merchants.
28. We turn now to the question of the remedies to be proposed
for the present state of affairs in the household coal trade. In
approaching this question we desire to point out that it will not,
as might be supposed, solve itself by the arrival of spring and sum­
mer; unless remedial action is taken promptly the large contracts
for a year’s supply, which are usually made between April and
June, will be made at a considerably higher range of prices than
last year, and these contracts will form the basis of prices to the
consumer during next winter. In spite, therefore, of the relief
which may shortly be expected, the outlook for the winter of 1915-16
is serious and requires immediate consideration.
29. For the purposes of the rough analysis already given it is
possible to separate household from gas and industrial coal, but
for purposes of regulation and control we have come to the con­
clusion that it is impracticable to draw a hard and fast line between
them. As a matter of fact the two are largely interchangeable.
Obviously, therefore, any action affecting the price or distribution
of household coal would have an immediate effect upon other coal,
which is often drawn from the same pits, is selling at the same enhanced
price, and is obtained, we understand (though our terms of reference
have prevented us from pressing our inquiries into the matter),
with even greater difficulty than coal used for domestic purposes.
Only by measures taking account of the coal industry as a whole
can relief be brought to the domestic consumer.
R E C O M M E N D A T IO N S.

30. We have considered the question whether the adoption of
maximum prices, either by legal enactment or by the method of
“ recommended prices,” which was applied to provisions in August
last, would be calculated to solve the problems before us. In view
of the difficulties incident to fixing pit-head and retail prices for
all parts of the country and for all kinds of coal, and of securing
an even and adequate distribution of coal supplies under such a
system, we prefer to turn to remedies which in our opinion are at
once simpler and more immediately practicable.
i For instance, during last February, 8,059 coal wagons arrived a t th e chief depots of the M idland R ailw ay,
in London, as compared w ith 8,304 during February, 1914; and 2,187 wagons arrived from Mar. 1-6 last
(inclusive) as compared w ith 2,084 from Mar. 2-7, 1914. R eturns from other companies are to a similar
effect.


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31. The question of output at the mines is now engaging the
attention of a home office committee under the chairmanship of
Sir It. Redmayne, His Majesty’s chief inspector of mines, and we
need not refer to it beyond expressing our hope that colliery owners
and miners alike will realize that in the present emergency any
sacrifices which they make to increase production are a mark and
sign of the truest patriotism.
32. We would suggest that the immediate remedy is to be found
only by adopting and applying the principle that at a time like this
the nation should have the first call upon its own coal supplies.
We are not thinking alone of the comfort and convenience of the
consumer, but of the vital importance to the safety, credit, and
well-being of the country, of securing that its coal supply should,
as regards quantity and price, be maintained at a level commen­
surate with national requirements. We have seen that a slight
deficiency may create a situation which is a hardship to the consumer
and a danger to industry, and we are of opinion that, in the absence
of any regulating measures, these hardships and dangers are likely
to be indefinitely increased. On the other hand, if an adequate
supply of coal could be guaranteed, the argument of scarcity could
no longer be alleged, and it might be anticipated that new contracts
would be concluded at prices that bore a reasonable relation to the
increased cost of production.
33. Pending an actual increase in output we have no alternative
but to recommend that, subject to considerations of policy which lie
outside the province of the committee, some restriction should be
placed upon exports to neutral countries with a view to putting an
adequate supply of coal at the disposition of the home market. If
and when this supply has been secured, and the necessary steps taken
for maintaining it, the flow of exports would be resumed.
34. From the information at our disposal we have been unable to
form an estimate of the present home deficiency for all purposes as com­
pared with the demand, but we believe that with the smaller summer
demand for household coal and the adoption of measures for an increased
output (whichmayreasonablybe expected), the occasionfortherestric­
tion which we recommend would tend to disappear. We are well aware
that any interference with exports must be attended by a certain
dislocation of trade ; but, on the other hand, we are convinced that of
the two evils this is less than the loss inflicted by a chronic condition
of scarcity and inflated prices at home.
35. It is not for us to suggest the precise methods by which the
principle we recommend for adoption should be applied. It is ob­
vious, however, that under any system of licenses or voluntary agree­
ments which may be adopted to give effect to our proposal the sug­
gested restraints should be applied rather to those areas where coal
is sold both for domestic and export purposes than to exporting dis­
tricts pure and simple.
36. We need hardly say that we do not contemplate a restriction
of the export of coal to our allies, but only to neutral countries.
37. Turning from the general problem to the particular case of
London and the south, we have considered the suggestion that sup­
ply might be increased if all coal wagons were “ pooled” and worked
as though they belonged to one company. We are informed that the
full adoption of this suggestion is impracticable for technical reasons

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of railway administration, and that the railway executive committee
have already made arrangements to enable companies possessing
surplus wagons to help those whose supply is inadequate. At the
same time, and while we are aware of the great strain thrown upon
the railways at present by the movements of troops and military
stores, we feel bound to urge that the committee should adopt every
practicable expedient which can be devised for insuring the rapid
and regular transport of coal to London and the south.
38. We also recommend that the Government should at once
consider the question of inviting the London County Council to
arrange that the council itself and any other public bodies which
already possess or can secure the necessary facilities should during the
coming summer acquire, and so far as possible store within easy
reach of London, large stocks of household coal, to be sold during the
winter at prices and under conditions to be fixed in consultation with
the Government, to traders engaged in supplying small consumers.
Such a step would, we believe, have a salutary effect in steadying
prices.
39. There is one further suggestion which we have to make. A
cheap supply of gasps of the greatest importance to the poorer classes
of consumers. A rise of Is. (24.3 cents) per ton in the price of gas
coal or the cost of transport means an addition of Id. (2 cents) per
thousand feet to the price of gas. The Gas Light and Coke Co.
alone supplies a population of perhaps 3,500,000. The consumers
served by this company use 500,000 automatic meters, and the con­
sumers obtaining gas by these meters use 400,000 gas stoves. The
addition of Id. (2 cents) per thousand feet to the price of gas involves
an additional charge of £110,000 ($535,315) per annum to the con­
sumer m North London alone, and of over £200,000 ($973,300) per
annum through all London; the Gas Light and Coke Co. within
the last few days have raised their price 4d. (8.1 cents) and the South
Metropolitan Gas Co. 6d. (12.2 cents) per thousand feet in addi­
tion to a previous increase of 2d. (4.1 cents) in each case since the
beginning of the war. The very high rates of freight for gas coal
from the north compel the gas companies to charge more to the con­
sumer, and may also lead contractors to bring gas coal south by railway, thereby reducing the usual facilities for the transport of house­
hold coal. We are informed that the interned ships now in the hands
of the Government and occupied in transporting coal for public
utility companies in London are employed, so far as practicable, at
rates tending to reduce the high freights now charged, which during
recent months have stood at 10s. ($2.43) a ton or more above the
normal rates. We suggest that this policy should be extended in the
direction of lowering the rates of freight on these steamers. The
difficulty of deciding what purpose the ships are to serve, and to what
ports they are to go (which has been already faced and overcome),
would apparently not be enhanced by widening the difference between
the rates of freight for those interned ships and current rates. It
would, of course, be advisable to insure that the benefit of low freights
on the coal brought by these steamers should go to the consumers,
not to the shareholders in public companies or to private firms; and
we understand that this object is already attained to a considerable
degree in the case of coal required for making gas in London. We
suggest that the London coal advisory committee, which is already

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advising the Government on the employment of these ships, should be
asked to draw up, for the consideration of the Board of Trade, a de­
tailed scheme for insuring that the benefit of the cheap carriage
which we suggest should go to the public. It may be impossible to
carry out this principle completely; but if so, we understand that any
small gains which may accrue to private individuals will pass only to
persons who have suffered by the previous action of the Government
in taking over the ships which they have chartered.
40. We understand that certain enemy ships condemned by the
prize court will shortly be or are already put up for sale. For the
reasons indicated in the preceding paragraph, we suggest that the
Government should consider the desirability of taking over such ships,
when suitable, and devoting them to the conveyance to London of coal
for public purposes.
41. We trust that the measures which we have recommended above
will prove practicable and efficacious in reducing the price of coal;
but in the event of prices not shortly returning to a reasonable level,
we think that the national interests involved are such as to justify
the Government in considering a scheme for assuming control of the
output of the collieries of the United Kingdom, with a view to regu­
lating prices and distribution in accordance with national require­
ments during the continuance of the war.
42. We may sum up our recommendations as follows:
(1) Exports to neutral countries should be restricted. (Para­
graphs 33-36.)
(2) Steps should at once be taken to consider, in consultation with
the public bodies concerned, the question of the accumulation
by such bodies of reserves of coal in or near London, for the
use of small consumers during next winter. (Paragraph 38.)
(3) The rates of freight on the interned steamers should be further
reduced. (Paragraph 39.)
(4) Suitable enemy ships condemned by the prize court should be
taken over by the Government and used for coal transport.
(Paragraph 40.)
(5) If prices do not shortly return to a reasonable level, the Gov­
ernment should consider a scheme for assuming control of
the output of collieries during the continuance of the war.
(Paragraph 41.)
We wish to call particular attention to our remarks in paragraph 11
of this report concerning the operation of the sliding scale in contracts
for the supply of coal, and to the observations in paragraph 25 con­
cerning the nonfulfillment by colliery owners of contracts made before
last winter.
ORGANIZATION IN COAL MINES TO INCREASE OUTPUT IN
GREAT BRITAIN.

A second departmental report in regard to the coal-mining industry
and of some importance in relation to the questions involved in the
report on the causes of rise in the retail prices of coal above referred
to is that on organization in coal mines to increase output. The
report was only recently issued and no copy is available for reference.


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57

The official summary from the Board of Trade Labor Gazette for
June, 1915, is therefore quoted.
On the 23d February, the home secretary appointed a depart­
mental committee 1 to inquire into the conditions prevailing in the
coal-mining industry with a view to promoting such organization of
work and such cooperation between employers and workmen as,
having regard to the large numbers of miners who were enlisting for
naval and military service, would secure the necessary production of
coal during the war. This committee has now issued its report.2
The committee found that the number of persons from coal mines
who had joined His Majesty’s forces up to the end of February was
191,170, or at the rate of 27,310 persons a month. The rate of enlist­
ment has since declined somewhat, and the estimated number at the
end of May was about 220,000. The number in February (191,170)
was 17.1 per cent of the total number of persons of all ages employed
in coal mines at the beginning of the war (1,116,648); but the pro­
portion of persons between the ages of 19 and 38, i. e., of those most
physically fit to undertake arduous work, is estimated at approxi­
mately 40 per cent. Moreover, all the witnesses agreed that the
recruits had, for the most part, been drawn from the underground
labor, and very largely from those engaged in the actual work of
getting and moving the coal. The withdrawal of labor has been
especially heavy in Scotland (average of 21.3 per cent, rising to 25
or 30 per cent, in some counties), in South Wales and Monmouth­
shire (18.9 per cent), in Northumberland and Durham (24.3 and 19.9
per cent, respectively), and in Lancashire (21.3 per cent).
There has been a certain amount of replenishment of labor in coal
mines from outside sources; but the net reduction of labor at the
end of February in mines representing 89 per cent of the total labor
employed was 134,186 persons, or 13£ per cent of the number em­
ployed in July, 1914. The average fall in output during the seven
months, August-February, inclusive, as compared with the correspondiim months of 1913-14, was also 13^ per cent. On this basis
the total reduction in output for the year commencing from the out­
break of war would probably amount to 36,000,000 tons, against
which can be put a probable reduction in the quantity exported of
24,000,000 tons, leaving a net shortage of 12,000,000 tons. In these
circumstances the committee’s conclusion is that if labor is further
withdrawn from the collieries the output will be so reduced, not­
withstanding all ameliorative measures, as seriously to affect the
industrial position of the country.
One measure for increasing production recommended by the com­
mittee was the reduction of voluntary absenteeism. Since the out­
break of war, the average percentage of mine workers absent on the
days when the mines were open for work was 9.8, as compared with
10.7 per cent in the seven months immediately preceding the war;
and the committee consider that fully 4.8 per cent of this is avoid­
able absence. Wrero there no avoidable absenteeism the output would
be increased to the extent of between 13,000,000 and 14,000,000 tons.
The committee consider that the case has only to be put before the
1 This committee is distinct from th a t appointed b y th e president of th e B oard of Trade to inquire into
the causes of the rise in retail coal prices.
2 R eport of com m ittee to inquire into th e conditions prevailing in th e coal-mining industry. London,
1915. (Cd. 7939.)


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E B U R EA U OP LABOR STATISTICS.

miners in order to secure a great response, and they recommend that
this should be done by the executive of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain, as the body best fitted for the purpose. They also
suggest that the same body might give attention to the question of
the curtailment of holidays and “ stop days” during the war.
As regards the eight-hour act, the committee suggest that the
owners and workmen should confer together and determine to what
extent, if at all, the act should be suspended in individual districts
for certain classes of labor and for what period of time such suspen­
sion should last. Any extension of hours should meet with special
consideration in respect of remuneration. Some advantage has
already been taken of the provision in section 3 (1) of the eighthour act enabling owners to extend the hours of work by 1 hour
a day for 60 days in the calendar year; but the committee consider
that, generally speaking, there remains little advantage obtainable
from this source.
The committee suggest that additional men might be drawn into
the coal-mining industry from trades that are working slack time,
but not from agriculture, or from munition, or engineering works,
all of which are already extremely short of labor. Belgian refugees
might also bo employed to a larger extent under the conditions and
safeguards arranged by the homo office. The committee do not
recommend the more general employment of women, or the reduc­
tion of the age limit for boys.
The committee found that much had already been done in the way
of internal reorganization, with a view to economizing labor and
concentrating on the work of coal getting; but they draw the atten­
tion of coal owners and managers to various suggestions which have
been put before them with this end in view, in case any further
improvements may be possible.
In conclusion, the committee recommend that the importance of
economy in the use of coal should be brought before the public as a
patriotic duty. As regards the suggestions made for the curtail­
ment of holidays and stop days, the extension of hours, etc., the
committee remark:
The basis of all the proposals and suggestions made by the committee is harmonious
cooperation between employers and employed through the medium of the organiza­
tions on both sides thoroughly representative of the parties. Unless the organizations
possess this power and are able to act with authority for both owners and workmen,
friction may arise and stoppages of work take place which ought to be avoided at the
present time to the utmost extent possible.

INCREASES IN WAGES IN GREAT BRITAIN DURING 1915.

The increases in cost of living in Great Britain have been accom­
panied by many changes in the rates of wages, although it is not
possible to place the figures in direct comparison.
The Board of Trade Labor Gazette shows that during the five
months ending with May 31, 1914, 1,987,444 working people were
reported to have had their wages increased by £343,374
($1,671,029.57) per week, or an average of nearly 3s. 6d. (85 cents)
per capita. These amounts are stated to be exclusive of increased


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

59

earnings due to overtime and exclusive of wages of agricultural
laborers, seamen, railway employees, police, and Government
employees. It is known, however, that considerable numbers of
working people in each of these occupations did receive bonuses.
The coal-mine industry accounted for about half of the total
increase, and the engineering and shipbuilding trades for a little
less than half the remainder. Next in importance as regards both
the number of working people affected and the amount of increase
per week are the transportation and textdc groups.
The increases in the coal-mining industry are of special interest in
view of the discussion of increase in prices and the organization of
the industry for purposes of production. Thus, the Labor Gazette
shows war bonuses allowed during May of 18f per cent for 93,000
miners in Scotland, of 17£ per cent for 180,000 in South Wales and
Monmouthshire, of 15 per cent for 120,000 in the Durham district,
and of 15^ per cent for approximately 190,000 in other districts.


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EMPLOYMENT IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES.
AUSTRALIA, JULY TO SEPTEMBER, 1914.

The Labour Bulletin of the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and
Statistics comments as follows 1 on industrial conditions for the latter
half of the year 1914:
The improvement in the condition of the labor market reported for
the second quarter of the current year was not maintained during the
quarter under review, the effect of the war and the drought having
resulted in a considerable increase in the percentage of unemploy­
ment. Before the outbreak of war, and while hope was still enter­
tained that rain would come to minimize the effects of the drought,
the reports received indicate that the improvement in employment
in the preceding quarter continued during the early part of the
quarter under review. * * * The percentage of unemployment
increased since the preceding quarter (April to June) from 5.7 to 10.7
per cent, while the percentage unemployed in the corresponding
quarter (July to September) of 1913 was 7 per cent. The percent­
age of unemployment was greater than for either the immediately
preceding quarter or the corresponding quarter of last year in all the
States and in all industrial groups, with the exception of groups VII
(building) and VIII (mining, quarrying, etc.). In both these groups,
however, the returns for September show a relatively large increase
on the figures for the quarter under review. The percentage of
unemployment in September for all States and industrial groups
increased to 12.7, a rise of 2 per cent, on the figures for the preceding
month, but at the end of October the returns show that some im­
provement had taken place, the percentage having decreased to 11.2,
a fall of 1.5 per cent on the September returns.
Returns from 466 trade-unions with membership of 283,584 at the
end of September 30, 1914, indicated the number of unemployed as
30,367, or 10.7 per cent compared with 5.7 per cent for the end of the
preceding quarter (April to June, 1914) and 7 per cent for the end of
the corresponding quarter, July to September, 1913.
The following table shows the number of unions reporting as to
unemployment, their membership, and the number and percentage
unemployed for indicated years. These returns do not include
persons out of work on account of strikes or lockouts.
i Commonwealth B ureau of Census and Statistics. Labour and In d u strial B ranch, Melbourne, A ustralia,
L abour B ulletin, M elbourne, 1914, No. 7 (July-Septem ber), p p . 61,62.

60


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OE T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS,

61

N U M B ER O F U N IO N S AND M E M B E R S R E P O R T IN G , AND N U M B ER AN D P E R C E N T A G E
U N E M P L O Y E D , 1891 TO 1914 (T H IR D Q U A R T E R ).

U nem ployed.
Years.

U nions.

M ember­
ship.
N um ber.

1891i..........................
1896 i .......................
190 U ............
1906 i ..................
19071......................
19081...........................
19091........................
19101....................
19111........................
19121................
1913:
F irst q u arter 2......................
Second q u arter 2..........
T hird q u arter 2.........
F o u rth q u a rte r 2...................
1914:
F irst q u arter 2....................
Second q u a rte r 2....................
T hird q u a rte r 2....................

25
25
47

...............

.................

6,445
4 227
8 710
11 2Q9
13 179
18 685

21 122
39 995

oyy
AK 7
C7 A
0/4
7/ O
x9
o
7r;7
/O/
1 , 11
117/
-L
11, Z999
Z6
I, oO
0CL/7
A
9
71
0, 1
1/1
19 A A t
i Z , 441

109
160
464

67 961
994 093

451
458
472
465

237,216
243 523
9^9 99^
251,207

19 49/1
lo,4oU

462
467
466

262,133
279,318
OCI KG4

15 541
15,856
30,367

1Z 994
lo,
ZiO4
G544
117i , 00
17, A
DC
11
uyo

Percent­
age.
9.3
10.8
6.6
6. 7

5. 7
6.0

5 .8
5.6
4. 7
5.5
6.4
/ .

6

/. U
5.3
r y
0
0.

5.7
10.7

1 The figures refer to th e end of th e year only, and no t to separate quarters
2 The q uarterly figures show th e nu m b er of persons w ho were ou t of work for three days or more durum
a specified week m each q u arter.
6

CANADA, MAY, 1915.

The Department of Labor of Canada summarizes monthly, in text
form, in its Labor Gazette industrial and labor conditions prevailing
in the country. Usually a tabular statement is also presented, by
means of which conditions in the different industries are characterized
ill general terms as active, quiet, fair, etc.
The following is quoted from the issue of the Labor Gazette of
June, 1915, and characterizes conditions generally prevailing in May
of this year:
General labor conditions in May remained about the same as in
the previous month, with some slight improvement in eastern Canada
in the building trades. The unemployment situation showed little
change from that of April. There were still large numbers of un­
skilled workingmen out of employment, particularly in the west.
Skilled trades outside of the building trades were fairly well employed.
The situation so far as machinists were concerned was good, the
greater number of this trade being actively engaged in shops and
factories manufacturing munitions of war, while many of those out
of employment were seeking work in Great Britain also on war
munitions, opportunities in regard to which were being presented by
agents of the British Government who were in Canada for the pur­
pose of recruiting members of the engineering or machinist trade.
Agricultural operations continued to give employment to many
men, though the demand was mostly for experienced help. Activity
continued in the lumbering industry, in the driving of logs and
operation of sawmills. Fishing was fairly active on the Atlantic
coast and in the northern waters of British Columbia. Coal mining
continued fairly active in Nova Scotia, but was dull in the west.

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M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

Metal mining showed improvement, the strong demand and high
prices obtaining for copper and nickel occasioning activity in mines
producing these metals. Manufacturing showed improvement.
Railway construction outside of some construction work in the west
was confined principally to maintenance work. Transport conditions
were fairly active in river and lake navigation, also at some ocean
ports, but railway traffic was quieter. Domestic trade was improved
slightly in some lines.
DENMARK.

The statistical office regularly publishes returns from the tradeunions regarding the amount of unemployment among their members.
Besides this source of information four special unemployment inves­
tigations have been made to ascertain the effects of the war in causing
maladjustments in the labor market. A recent number of the
Statistical Journal1 summarizes the results of these investigations.
The investigations were made August 22 and October 24, 1914, and
January 23 and March 20, 1915.
At the first investigation the membership of the trade-unions
reporting was approximately 120,000, at the second and third about
130,000, and at the most recent one about 138,000. The extent of
unemployment, judging by these trade-union returns, does not appear
to be any greater than what is normal at this time of the year.
The results of the various investigations may be summarized as fol­
lows:
PERCENTAGE

OF

U N E M PL O Y M E N T AMONG T R A D E -U N IO N
D E N M A R K AT IN D IC A T E D P E R IO D S .

M E M B E R S H IP

IN

[Source: Statistiske Efterretninger u dgivet af d e t Statistiske departem ent. Copenhagen, 1915. No. 7
(Mar. 31), p . 48, No. 12 (June 11), p . 81.]
1913

1914

1915

Industries.
Jan u ary .

March.

Jan u ary .

March.

10.3

16.2
4.1

B uilding tra d e s..........
Independent tra d e s. .
F actory tra d e s............

37.1
23.7
5.3

12.6
3.8

37.0
27.1
5.3

Average.............

16.8

7.4

17.5

11.2
8.8

May.

January.

March.

May.

3.0
7.9
3.1

43.2
23.2
6.3

22.6
4.3

6.2
2.6

4.1

17.6

14.8

4.0

34.5

5.1

The per cent of unemployment in trade-union membership over
a series of years by certain classified periods is shown in the following
table, compiled from previous numbers of the statistical office j ournal
already cited, and is reprinted from the organ of the Danish State
Insurance Council (Arbejderforsikrings-Raadet).
1

Statistiske efterretninger udgivet af d et Statistiske d epartem ent. Copenhagen, 1915. No. 7 (Mar. 31),
p p . 47, 48.


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63

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.
PERCENTAGE

OF

U N E M PL O Y M E N T AMONG T R A D E -U N IO N
D E N M A R K , 1910 TO 1914.

M E M B E R S H IP

IN

[Source: Social Forsorg, Copenhagen, 1915, No. 3 (June), p . 91.]
1910
F irst q u a rte r...................................................
A pril to J u ly .............................................
A ugust and Septem ber..................................
F o u rth q u a rte r.............................................
Average for y ear..................................

1911

1912

15.9
7.5
7.4
13.0

15.5
6.4
4.5

11.0

1913

1914

9.6

14.1
4.0
3.7
8.4

12.3
4.0
3.7
9.0

13.0
4.3
10.4
12.5

9.2

7.5

7.3

9.5

FINLAND, 1914.

Reports irom the public municipal employment offices are periodi­
cally received by the industrial board of the Finnish Senate and
published in its journal (ArbetsstatistisJc Tidskrift). This summary
of employment conditions, as shown by the activities of the public
employment offices in seven cities in Finland, is compiled from the
second issue of 1915 of the journal referred to. From Helsingfors,
the capital, it is reported that after the outbreak of the war a con­
siderable renewed activity took place in employment, particularly
in the metal industry. Employment upon public works was extended
to meet the increasing amount of unemployment. This seems also
to have been the condition of affairs in all the centers of employment.
The first table which follows shows the number of applicants for
positions reported by the employment offices, the number of vacan­
cies, and the number of places filled each month of the years 1913
and 1914. The second table is a summary of the work of the employ­
ment offices from 1910 to 1914.
W O R K O F PU B L IC E M PL O Y M E N T O FFIC E S IN F IN L A N D IN 1913 AN D 1914.
[Source: A rbetsstatistisk tidskrift utgiven af Industristyrelsen i Finland. Helsingfors, 1913,1914.]

A pplicants.

Vacancies.

Places filled

Month.

Jan u ary ........................
F e b ru a ry .....................
M arch............................
A pril..............................
M~av...............................
J u n e ..............................
F ' y - v .........................
A ugust..........................
Septem ber...................
O ctober........................
N ovem ber...................
D ecember.....................

1913

1914

1913

1914

1913

1914

3,134
2,164
2,021
1 1,984
i 2,002
1 1, 699
1 1,329
1 1,674
1 2,478
12,231
2,895
2,400

8,618
3,198
3,017
2,798
1 2,288
1 1,168
1 1,555
1 3,453
1 5,326
4,362
3,469
7,524

1,641
867
1,028
2 1,271
1 1,412
1 1,070
1 982
1 1,286
1 1,587
1 1,131
1,314
1,284

2,113
1,650
1,340
1,553
1,518
1 1,275
1 1,348
1 1,364
2 2,772
2,855
1,885
7,336

1,249
681
819
2 969
1 1,068
1 836
1 744
1 978
1 1,184
1 907
1,056
1,102

1,893
1,410
t, 162
1,246
1 1,137
i 994
i 873
1 1,135
2 2,388
2,429
1,680
6,355

1 No report for 2 agencies.


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A pplicants per 100
vacancies.

2No report for 1 agency.

1913
191
250
197
156
142
158
135
130
197
220
186

1914
408
193
225
180
151
147
115
253
192
152
184
103

64

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.
W O R K O F P U B L IC EM PL O Y M E N T O F F IC E S IN F IN L A N D , 1910-1914.
[Source: A rbetsstatistisk tidskrift utgiven af Industristyrelsen i Finland. Helsingfors, 1913,1914.]
Num ber.
Year.
A ppli­
cants.

1910.................................
1911.......................................
1912.......................................
19131....................
19142.....................

23,218
22,784
22,086
26,092
47,476

Vacancies.

11,664
11,764
12,611
14,986
27,009

Places
filled.

Applicants Vacancies A pplicants
per 100
per 100
per 100
vacancies. places filled. places filled.

9,036
9,386
9,388
11,652
22,702

199
194
175
174
176

129
125
134
129
119

257
243
235
224
209

1 D ata for 1913 in this table differs in a small degree w ith detail table by m onths
2 D ata for 1914 probably subject to slight correction.

FRANCE, DURING THE WAR.1

The results of a special investigation directed by the Minister of
Labor as to conditions of employment in France during the war may
not be without interest at the present time. The inquiry was some­
what limited in its scope, including 6.56 per cent of the total number
of establishments and 25.77 per cent of the employees ordinarily sub­
ject to inspection. The investigation covered 31,676 establishments
of individual employers of labor, which before the war employed
1,070,093 employees. The dates covered by the investigation were
August 1 and October 1, 1914, and January 1, 1915. By reason of
data collected prior to the outbreak of the wai it was possible to make
comparison, first, as to the number of establishments in operation,
and, second, as to the number of persons employed at that time and
during the course of the war.
The number of persons employed in the establishments under
investigation on January 1, 1915, formed 56 per cent of the number
of employees under normal conditions. This, however, would not
mean that 44 per cent of the employees were unemployed, as the
effect ol mobilization must be taken intoc onsideration; and, as a
matter of fact, 24 per cent of all those employed were subject to
military duty.
The following table shows the per cent of decrease in number of
persons employed on January 1, 1915, as compared with the number
employed under normal conditions, the part of this percentage who
were called to military duty, and the part unemployed, as shown by
the reports received from the establishments reporting.
1 B ulletin du M inistère d u Travail et d e là Prévoyance Sociale, Paris, 1915.


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

65

P E R C E N T O F D E C R E A S E IN T H E N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D ON JA N U A R Y 1,
1915, AS C O M PA R ED W IT H T H E N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S U N D E R N O RM A L CO N D I­
T IO N S , A N D P O R T IO N O F T H IS P E R C E N T A G E C A LLE D TO M IL IT A R Y D U T Y A N D
P O R T IO N U N E M P L O Y E D , B Y IN D U S T R IE S .
P e r cent of decrease Jan u a ry 1,1915,
as com pared w ith norm al n u m ­
b er employed.
Industries.
T otal.

Called to
m ilitary
d u ty .

U nem ­
ployed.

Food products................................................
Chemical in d u strie s......................................
R u b b er, p ap er, an d c a rd b o a rd .................
P rin tin g a nd bookbinding..........................
T extile in d u strie s..........................................
Clothing, m illinery, e tc ................................
H ides a nd le a th e r..........................................
L u m b e r............................................................
Metal industries, b ase..................................
F ine m etals a n d precious sto n es................
B uilding tra d e s ............................. . ..............
Stoneware, earthenw are, glassware, e t c . .
Transportation, loading, unloading, e tc ...
Miscellaneous commercial establishm ents

29
41
50
62
31
49
36
69
39
88
78
63
37
44

26
27
19
24
15
6
26
30
32
23
33
28
32
25

3
14
31
38
16
43
10
39
7
65
45
35
5
19

A ll ind u stries........................................

44

24

20

The following table presents data showing the number of establish­
ments reported, and number and per cent in operation on August 1
and October 1, 1914, and January 1, 1915:
N U M B E R O F E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G , N U M B E R IN O P E R A T IO N , A N D P E R C E N T
O F R E P O R T IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN O P E R A T IO N , A U G U ST A N D O C TO B ER , 1914,
A N D JA N U A R Y , 1915.
N um ber of establishm ents in
operation.
N um ber
of establishments
Jan. 1,
reporting. Aug. 1,
Oct. 1,
1914.
1914.
1915.
4,396
704
553
958
1,921
6,111
1,694
3,385
6,551
569
41
1,978
449

3,948
401
255
534
606
2,959
652
895
3,176
6
8
218
136

P er cent in operation.

Aug. 1, Oct. 1, Jan. 1,
1914.
1914.
1915.

4,099
586
360
676
1,565
4,283
1,117
1,472
4,705
27
9
1,251
243

90
57
46
56
31
49
36
26
48
1
20
18
30

91
68
55
65
61
64
55
35
59
3
17
20
38

43

45

72

86

90

1,977

2,049

79

85

88

22,487

50

60

71

4,013
483
305
621
1, ISO
3,943
938
1,178
3,8S3
18
7
383
170

Food p ro d u c ts..........................................
Chemical in d u strie s.................................
R u b b er, pap er, an d c a rd b o a rd ............
P rin tin g an d bookbinding.....................
Textile in d u strie s....................................
Clothing, m illinery, e tc ..........................
H ides a nd le a th e r....................................
L u m b e r......................................................
M etal industries, b a se .............................
Fine m e ta ls...............................................
Precious ston es.........................................
B uilding tra d e s.........................................
Stoneware, earthenw are, glassware,etc
Transportation, loading an d unloadm g ............................................................
Miscellaneous commercial establishm e n ts......................................................

50

36

2,316

1,822

A ll industries.................................

31,676

15,685

19,142

93
83
65
71
81
70
66
44
72
5
22
65
54

The number of persons employed in these establishments under
normal conditions, the number employed in August 1 and October 1,
1914, and January 1, 1915, with the percentage of the number of j
2119°—15— 5

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66

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OP T H E BU REA U OP LABOR STATISTICS.

employees on these dates as compared with normal conditions are
shown in the following table :
N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D U N D E R N O R M A L C O N D ITIO N S, AN D N U M B E R
AN D P E R C EN T E M P L O Y E D ON A UG. 1 AN D OCT. 1, 1914, A N D JA N 1 1915 BY
IN D U S T R IE S .
N um ber of persons employed
on—

Per cent of norm al num ­
ber employed on—

Aug. 1,
1914.

Oct. 1,
1914.

Jan. 1,
1915.

Aug. 1,
1914.

Oct. 1,
1914.

68,836
61,647
41,124
36,354
185,135
117,422
50,908
59,086
292,508
8,674
1,529
40,195

37,935
20,877
13,404
11,570
53,457
33,126
13,836
8,481
89,992
479
382
7,113

43,209
26,619
16,146
12,500
87,065
47,809
21,952
12,971
122,172
505
335
7,948

48,889
36,549
20,592
13,964
127,135
59,870
32,539
18,404
179,429
850
412
8,976

55
34
33
32
29
28
27
14
31
5
25
18

63
43
39
34
47
41
43
22
42
6
22
20

45,835

10,540

13,898

17,116

23

30

37

11,207

3,137

5,874

7,016

28

52

63

N um ber
of per­
sons employed
under
norm al
conditions.

Industries.

Food p ro d u cts.........................................
Chemical industries...............................
R ubber, paper, and c ard b o ard ..........
Printin g a n d bookbinding...................
Textile industries...................................
Clothing, m illinery, e tc ........................
Hides a n d le a th e r..................................
L um b er................................................... .
Metal industries, base........................... .
Fine m etals...............................................
Precious stones.........................................
Building trad es........................................
Stoneware, earthenware, an d glass­
w are.........................................................
Transportation, loading, and unload­
in g ........ ................ ..................................
Miscellaneous commercial establish­
m ents. ....................................................

Jan. 1,
1915.

71
59
50
38
69
51
64
31
61
9
27
22

50,233

23,935

25,112

28,349

48

50

56

All industries................................. 1,070,793

328,264

444,115

600,090

31

41

56

GERMANY, APRIL, 1915.

The Imperial Labor Gazette (Reichs-Arbeitsblatt) for April reports
on the condition of the labor market as follows:
There is no considerable change in the situation of the labor market
to be reported for April. The somewhat high degree of activity
which prevailed during the preceding month among a large number
of industries has not only suffered no diminution but has increased
to a considerable extent. Frequently the question is asked whether
the burden on industry has not reached its extreme limit.
According to reports from individual concerns and from employers’
associations the demand in the coal-mining industry in April has been
as great in almost all the districts as during the preceding month.
The pig-iron industry profited by increased demand, which brought
up the daily average production considerably over that of the pre­
ceding month. Metal and machine industries worked at as great a
strain as during the preceding month, while some further improve­
ment has been noted in those branches of these industries primarily
supplying the war demand. The electrical industries, also, as in the
preceding month, showed a heavy demand in war materials and found
overtime work necessary. The clothing industry, according to
reports, showed further improvement, while in the building trades no
considerable revival in private work had as yet set in.
R E T U R N S FR O M EM PL O Y E R S.

Returns from 337 employers of labor showed 289,861 persons
employed as compared with 369,228 during the corresponding month
of 1914, reported from 306 employers, or a decrease of 21.5 per cent.

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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

67

The decrease for the month of March preceding as compared with the
number employed in March, 1914, showed a decrease of 15.3 per cent.
The decrease is attributed to the withdrawal of men to the war,
shown by the fact that the decrease is almost entirely among male
workers. The relative decline in different industries in April, 1915,
as compared with April, 1914, was as follows:
Mining and smelting........................................................................ 26. 64
Iron and steel industry..................................................................... 17. 34
Machine industry.............................................................................. 15. 36
Electrical industry........................................................................... 18. 73
Chemical industry............................................................................ 33. 62
Spinning and weaving..............................................................................13
Wood and cabinet industries........................................................... 26. 97
Food and drinks................................................................................ 2. 69
Clothing industry..... ....................................................................... 15.18
Glass and porcelain industry............................................................ 41.10
Paper-making and printing industry............................................... 31.46
Miscellaneous (including building materials and shipping)........... 56. 88
R E T U R N S FR O M S IC K N E S S IN SU R A N C E SO C IE T IE S.

Monthly returns of the membership of local sick relief funds are
obtained by the Imperial Office of Labor Statistics. These returns
are in a way a measure of the amount of employment existing in any
month as the sickness insurance law requires practically all wage
earners to enroll on a sick register, exempting them only if out of
employment.
Returns for May 1 from 5,904 sick benefit societies showed a
registration (persons employed) of 8,234,285, while returns for
April 1, from 5,977 funds showed a membership of 8,053,667. Among
male members there was an increase from the preceding month of
1.30 per cent, while among the female workers there was an increase
of 3.66; the average increase for both sexes was 2.26 per cent.
R E T U R N S FR O M T R A D E -U N IO N S .

Thirty-three trade-unions sent in returns regarding the amount of
unemployment among their members on April 30. These had a
membership of 1,122,580, although the information received per­
tained to only 1,045,589 members; of these 30,292, or 2.9 per cent,
were unemployed, compared with 3.4 for the previous month, and
2.8 per cent for April, 1914. Since the outbreak of the war the ratio
of the unemployed to total membership reported stands thus:
August, 1914........................................................................................ 22.4
September, 1914................................................................................... 15.7
October, 1914....................................................................................... 10.9
November, 1914.................................................................................... 8.2
December, 1914.................................................................................... 7.2
January, 1915........................................................................................ 6.5
February, 1915.................................................................................... 5 .1
March, 1915......................................................................................... 3.3
April, 1915............................
2.9

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68

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

The percentage of unemployed in individual trade-unions appears
as follows:
PERC EN TA G E

OF U N EM PLO Y ED

IN G ER M A N T R A D E -U N IO N S , A U G U ST, 1914, TO
A P R IL , 1915.

[Source: R eichs-A rbeitsblatt, May, 1915, p p . 399, 401.]

Member­
ship re­
ported as
of end of
A pril, 1915.

In d u strial union.

Percentage of unem ploym ent a t the end of the la st week,
each specified m onth.
1914
Aug.

H a t and lelt goods m ak ers1. ..
Porcelain w orkers 1 ...................
Glaziers 1 ......................................
B o o k b in d e rs 1 ............................
Lithographers 1 ..........................
W oodworkers 1 ...........................
L eather w orkers 1 ......................
Textile w orkers 1 ........................
Shoem akers 1 .............................
B uilding tra d e s 1 ............ ..........
P rin te rs 1 ......................................
W oodworkers 2...........................
Shoemakers
and
leather
workers 3..................................
W oodw orkers3. ................; ___
F acto ry w orkers 2......................
M etal w orkers 1 ..........................
M etal w orkers 2..........................
Factory w orkers 1 ......................
T ransp o rt w orkers 1 ..................
Tobacco w orkers 1 .....................
S tate and m unicipal w orkers1.
T otal re p o rtin g 1 .............
T otal reporting a t end of
M arch.......................................

1915
Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

8,796
8,974
1,583
20,815
9,216
95,137
10,134
86,822
23,947
123,836
39,000
6,268

62.2
54.0
19.4
39.9
54.8
33.0
22.8
28.2
35. 7
16.4
41.2
20.7

3,816
4,613
4,833
292,710
21,015
111,192
104,902
18,873
31,122

18.2

.6

18.0
21.5
18.2
16.3
10.8
32.5
1.8

3.7
4.1
2.7
5.2
3.9
1.7
1.3

1,122,580

22.4

7.2

6.5

5.1

15.4
33.0
15. 5
13.8
18.2
17. 7
5.1
7.0
3.5
11.6
15.4
10.9

13.8
16. 7
18.7
12.8
12. 1
13.4
7.8
5.3
2.7
13.9
12.4
7.7

Apr.

14.1
15.1
21.4
9.6
10.5
9.6
3.5
5.1
2.3
11.5
9.0
4.5

16.9
12.8
12.6
8.2
6.5
6.5
4.4
4.1
2.5
7.3
2.6
3.3

23.6
12.8
11.6
10.0
6.1
5.6
5.0
4.8
3.5
2.8
2.1
1.9

.8

1.1

5.2
3.0
2.5
4.8
3.9
1.1
1.2

3.0
2.3
2.1
3.9
2.9
1.1
.9

1.1
1. 4
1.5
1.8
1.6
2.5
1.4
.7

1.8
1 R
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.3
.9
.3

3.3

2.9

1.0

1,213,630
1

1 Social-Democratic unions.
2 C hristian trade-unions.

3 H irsch-D uncker unions.
1 Including 13 unions no t shown in this table.

R E T U R N S FR O M T H E LABOR E X C H A N G E S.

Of the 1,120 exchanges in Germany regularly in touch with the
labor office, reports as to adjustments in employment were received
from 890 exchanges ; compared with reports from the same exchanges
for the corresponding month (April) of the preceding year, there was
a decline in the number of applicants for positions of 155,000 in round
numbers. For every 100 situations registered as vacant the num­
ber of applicants during each of the indicated months stood as follows:
Males. Females.

April, 1914.
March, 1915
April, 1915..

161
98
100

94
152
165

GREAT BRITAIN, 1914-15.

Conditions in the labor market in Great Britain are the subject of
monthly reports by the Board of Trade in its Labor Gazette. A high
level of employment, was reported in May 1 in such industries as coal
1 Board of Trade.


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Labour Gazette, London, 1915 (June).

69

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

mining, iron and steel, woolen and hosiery, and in the hoot and shoe
trade. “ The food preparation trades were very active, but the fish­
ing industry continued to be seriously affected by the war.” In gen­
eral there was reported a scarcity of male labor, due to the draft of
enlistments; this shortage was beginning to extend to female and boy
labor. The building trades seem to have suffered relatively heavily
from enlistments.
The following tables give the usual statistics compiled from the
January to June issue of the Labor Gazette for 1914 and 1915.
U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN T R A D E -U N IO N S .

In May, 1915, reports as to unemployment in trade-unions included
925,655 members, of whom 11,474, or 1.2 per cent, were unemployed.
The table which follows shows the per cent of unemployment in cer­
tain unions for the months of November and December of 1914 and of
January to May, 1915, compared with unemployment for the same
months of the preceding year:
P E R C EN T O F U N E M PL O Y M E N T IN C E R T A IN T R A D E -U N IO N S IN N O V E M B E R A N D
D E C E M B E R , 1913 A N D 1914, A N D JA N U A R Y TO MAY, 1914 A N D 1915.
[Source: B oard of Trade L abour G azette, London.]
N ovem­
ber.

Decem­
ber.

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

Unions.
1913 1914 1913 1914 1914 1915 1914 1915 1914 1915 1914 1915 1914 1915
3.5 1.8 ■4.8
.4 1.6
.6
3.5 1.9 4.7
2. 1 1.8 2. 7
2.8 2.8 3.3
1.5 1.5 1.8

2. 1 6.3
1.4
.6
3.0 3. 7
1.4 2. 4
1.9 2.8
1.4 1.7

2.2
.9
2.1
1.0
.7
1. 1

5.9
.5
4.0
2. 4
2.2
1.6

2.6
.9
2.2
.7
.8
.8

5.1
.5
2.9
2. 4
1.9
1.6

2.7
.3
1.6
.6
.6
.6

3.4
.5
4.8
2.5
2. 4
1. 5

2.8
.2
2.2
.5
.6
.4

2.7
.5
5.4
2.7
3.9
1.3

3.2
.1
1.9
.6
.5
.4

1.7
6.5
1.7

6.3
5.1
6. 5

l.S
7.0
1.9

5.2 2.0
3. 7 3.8
5.2 1.8

3.0
1. 7
3.9

2.1
2.5
1.7

2.2
.9
2.2

2.3
2.6
1.6

2.5
.7
1.1

2.0
2.7
1.4

2.5
1.1
.9

2.1
2.6
1.8

2.7
2.8
.8

2.3
}2.3
2.2
4.3
.4
.6
2. 7

4.7
4.5
1.3
2.1
2.0
1. 4
6.5

3.6
3.6 4. 5 3.7 5.0 3.1 4.2 2.8 3.7 3.1 3.4 3.2
/ 8.1 }3.4 /". 4 j j . 6 ; 6.5 } , 7 fi. 6 }L7 13.9 }L7 / 3.0
3.3 12.2
\1.0
\ l. 9
\1.6
ji.l
i -8
.5 2. 1 .3 1.6
.3
.7 2.2
. 7 2.2
2.7 1.1 2.4
.8
.7 5.0
1.8 6.0 1.3 7.0 1.3 6.7
5.1 2. 4
. 4 2.3
.5 2. 2 1. 1 2.3
.5 1.8
. 5 2.0
.6 1.9
Q
.1
.9
.2
.5
.7
.6
.5
.7
1.0
.8 1.3
2.4
3.2 6.3 2.3 4.9 2.9 3.7 3.6 3.6 4.0 2. 8 4.1

T o ta l............ .'................ 2.0

2.9

2.6

Building 1.................................
Coal m ining .............................
Iron and steel..........................
E ngineering.............................
Shipbuilding............................
Miscellaneous m etal...............
Textiles:
C otton................................
Woolen a n d w orsted___
0 th e r..................................
Printing, bookbinding, pap e r ..........................................
F u rn itu re ..................................
W oodw orking..........................
Clothing....................................
L e a th e r.....................................
G lass..........................................
P o tte ry ......................................
Tobacco.....................................

2.5

2.6

1.9

2.3

1.6

2.2

1.3

2.1

1.2

2.3

1.2

1 R eturns relate m ainly to carpenters and plum bers.
U N E M P L O Y M E N T A M O N G IN S U R E D P E R S O N S .

The percentage of insured persons under the unemployment insur­
ance act of 1911 reported unemployed at the close of May, 1915, was
0.9 per cent compared with 3.2 per cent at the close of the same
month in 1914. These returns were based on reports from 2,077,725
insured persons exclusive of those serving in the military forces.

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70

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOB STATISTICS.

The table which follows shows the percentage of unemployment
among insured persons at the close of each of the months, November
and December, 1914, and January to May, 1915, compared with the
corresponding per cent for the same months in the year preceding.
P E R C EN T O P U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E IN S U R E D T R A D E S AS O P T IIE E N D O P
EA C H IN D IC A T E D M O N T H , N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1914, A N D JA N U A R Y TO
M AY, 1915.
[Source: B oard of T rade L ab o u r G azette, London, 1913-1915.]
N ovem­
ber.

Decem­
ber.

Jan u ary . February.

March.

A pril.

May.

In d u stry .
1913 1914 1913 1914 1914 1915 1914 1915 1914 1915 1914 1915 1914 1915
B uild in g ....................................
Engineering and iron foundta g ...........................................
Shipbuilding............................
Vehicle construction..............
Saw m illing................
N ot specified............................

5.9

5.4

6.9

5.0

8.6

4.5

6.3

3.5

4.6

2.2

3.8

1.7

3.5

1.4

2.7
3.4
2.9
2.9
1.5

2.3
2. 7
3.3
2.3
1.3

3.0 1.8
3.9 2.1
2.9 2.9
3.3 1.8
1. 7 1.0

3.1
4.0
2.8
4.0
2.0

1.0

1.2
1.8
1.4
.9

3.2
3.7
2.6
4.0
2.0

.9
1.1
1.4
1.5
.7

3.0
3.5
2.5
3.5
1.7

.7
.9
1.0

1.4
.6

3.1
3.2
2.5
3.8
1.9

.7
-9
.8
1.4
.4

3.1
4. 0
2. 4
3. 7
1.6

J>
.7
.5
1J2
.4

T o tal...............................

4.1

3.7

4.6

5. 5

2.6

4.4

2.0

3.0

1.4

3.3

1.1

3.2

.9

3.3

R E PO R T S P R O M E M P L O Y E R S.

Reports were received in May, 1915, from firms employing 1,217,199
workmen, of whom 288,614 were in the textile industry, 508,260 in
coal mining, 103,131 in iron and steel, and 64,760 in the hoot and shoe
industry. The following tables summarize conditions for May, 1915:
E M PL O Y M E N T IN MAY", 1915, M IN IN G AND M ETA L T R A D E S , G R E A T B R IT A IN .
[Source: B oard of T rade L ab o u r G azette, June, 1915, p . 196.]

Increase ( + ) or de
crease ( —) in day
worked per wee
a s co m p a re i
w ith—

May, 1915.
Trade.
N um ber of
D ays
persons
worked
em ployed. p e r week,

Coal m in in g ..
Iron m in in g ..
Shale mining

508,200
13,464
3,208

5.64
5.88
6.00

Trade.
N um ber of
Furnaces
persons
employed. in blast.


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24,082

-0.05
- .07

May,
1914.
+0.25
+ .17
+ .08

Increase ( + ) or dec r e a s e ( —) in
num ber of fur­
naces a s c o m ­
pared w ith—

May, 1915.

Pig iron .

A pril,
1915.

271

A pril,
1915.

May,
1914.
+3

71

M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

EM PL O Y M E N T IN MAY, 1915, M IN IN G AND M E T A L T R A D E S , G R E A T B R IT A IN —Con­
cluded.
Increase ( + ) or dec r e a s e ( —) in
num ber of mills
as c o m p a r e d
w ith —

May, 1915.

Trade.

Tin p late and steal sheets

N um ber of
Mills
persons
employed. working.

..........................................................

464

25,056

N um ber of Shifts
persons
employed. p e r week.

Tron and steal, ....................................................................................

103,131

+23

May,
1914.
-143

Per cent of increase
( + ) .or decrease
( —) in num ber of
shifts per. week as
com pared w ith—-

May, 1915.

Trade.

A pril,
1915.

591,509

April,
1915.
+ 0.3

May,
1914.
+ 7.2

E M PL O Y M E N T IN MAY, 1915, IN T E X T IL E S AN D O T H E R T R A D E S , G R E A T B R IT A IN .
[Source: B oard of T rade L abor Gazette, June, 1915, p . 196.]
N um ber of persons employed.

Wages paid.

Per cent of increase
P er cent of increase
( + ) or decrease
( + ) or decrease
( —) c o m p a r e d
( —) compared
w ith correspond­
w
ith
correspond­
W eekend­
W eek end­
ing week in—
ing week in—
ing May 22,
ing May 22,
1915.
1915.

Trade.

A pril,
1915.
Textiles:
C otton..................................................
W oolen.................................................
W orsted...............................................
L inen....................................................
Jute
.................................................
TTosiary
...................................
I,ace ..................................................
O ther
...........................................
Bleaching, dyeing, e tc .....................

103,995
25,047
34,845
40,021
13,186
23,448
7,903
14,054
25,515

-0 .2
- .1
- .0
-2 .8
+ -4
+ .3

T otal tex tiles..................................

288,614

"Roots and shoes........................................
Shirt and collar.........................................
C l o t h i n g (ready-m ade)............................
P rinting and b o o k b in d in g .....................
P o tte ry ........................................................
Class ..........................................................
B ric k ............................................................
Food p ro d u cts...........................................

64,760
22,179
39,843
28,615
17,278
7,121
8,806
62,782

T otal, all trades..............................

539,998

April,
1915.

May,
1914.

- 3.0
+ 19.2
+ 5.5
-1 2 .7
+ 14.6
+ 12.1
-1 3 .4
- 7.4
- 1.8

-1 .2
+ 1.2

- 5.7
+ •9
- 2.9
-1 0 .1
-4.7
+ 3.6
-1 6 .4
-1 1 .9
-1 0 .5

$523,927
138,583
151,538
125, 784
64,199
104,674
38,600
59,308
174,192

-

- 5.8

1,380,811

+ 1 .6

+

+ 2 .8
-1 .5
+ .3
-2 .2
- .6
+ .6

- 3.0
- 2.1
+18.4
-1 7 .6
-1 3 .0
-1 3 .4
-2 8 .4
+ 1.4

382,229
80,316
186,027
165,578
87,738
50,305
55,562
309,621

+ 1.5
+ •4
+ 3 .0
+ .2
+ 5 .9
- .9
-2 .2
+ 3 .3

+ 11.8
+ 1 .3
+29.2
-1 6 .8
- 6.0
— 8.1
—27.4
+ 17.4

-

- 4.7

2,698,187

+ 1.8

+ 2.5

.4

-1 .2

.2

1 Comparisons are affected b y th e p ay m en t of w ar bonuses.


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+ 1.5
+ 2 .2
+ .1
- .8
+ 1.5
+ 4.3
+ 2.1
+ 2.4
+ 3 .0

May,
1914.1

-1

72

M O N T H L Y PE Y IE W OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.
R E PO R T S FR O M T H E LABOR EX C H A N G E S.

These national labor exchanges have been organized since 1909.
By the act of September 20 of that year the board of trade was per­
mitted to establish public employment offices at such places as it
deemed necessary or to take over, with the consent of those concerned,
any existing employment office, whether private or established by
the local authorities. A recent report by the board 1 shows that 401
exchanges were in active operation on January 15, 1915, which would
indicate a fairly steady growth for a period of about 5 years.
The current operations of these exchanges (reported in the British
Labor Gazette) are a partial index of the supply and demand of
labor. The effects of the war upon the labor market are easily read
in their returns, as disclosed in the following statement compiled
from a somewhat long, though interesting summary for the year 1914,
in the issue of the Labor Gazette of February, 1915.
The total number of workpeople who made applications on the
general register of these exchanges during 1914 numbered 3,442,452;
the number of individuals who wore listed on the separate register for
casual workers numbered 7,222 during the same period.
The number of vacancies filled by the exchanges during the year
was 1,116,909, and in addition 154,967 jobs were secured for dock
laborers and others. The number of individuals given work was
814,071 on the general register, and 5,730 on the register for casual
workers; but as some of these workmen were listed on both registers,
it is necessary in order to find the net number to deduct the number
of workmen listed on both, which would reduce the net number
securing positions during 1914 to 819,039. In addition to the above
figures 14,749 men were given employment through a separate em­
ployment office for dock laborers at Liverpool.
Under normal conditions, the report states, the register of the
exchanges would show the seasonal fluctuations of trade, with a
large amount of unemployment at the beginning of the year, a decline
to the middle of July, and an increasing amount to the end of the
year; but this seasonal fluctuation during 1914 was concealed by the
employment following the outbreak of the war and the increased
industrial activity in the later months of the year. Thus unemploy­
ment reached its maximum on September 11, when the numbers of men
and women on the register were respectively 75 per cent and 120
per cent greater than on the preceding July 17; while thereafter the
number of men on the register declined until January 15, 1915, when
the number was slightly more than one-half of the number on the
register at January 16, 1914. This decrease, of course, is due to
enlistment and the increased opportunities for work on naval and
military contracts.
1 B oard of Trade Labour G azette, London, 1915, No. 2 (F ebruary), p. 43.


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

Applications for positions and vacancies filled showed a general
increase in 1914, as compared with 1913, the per cent of a relative
increase in registrations for men, women, boys, and girls being 10.9,
32.9, 13.6, 30.9, respectively, and in vacancies filled 24.8, 16.8, 14.3,
12.6. The following table summarizes conditions for 1913 and 1914,
and for each of the months of January to May, 1915, compared with
the same months of the preceding year:
N UM BER

O F A PP L IC A T IO N S F O R EM PL O Y M E N T AND N U M B E R O F VACANCIES
R E P O R T E D AN D N U M B E R F IL L E D , G R E A T B R IT A IN , 1913 A N D 1914.
[Source: B oard of Trade Labour Gazette, F eb ru ary , 1915, p . 44.]
1913

N um ber of applications for em ploym ent.........................................................................
Per cent of increase in 1914 over 1913..........................................................................
N um ber of vacancies r e p o r te d ...........................................................................................
Per cent of increase in 1914 over 1913 . .
........................................................
N um ber of vacancies filled................... ........................................................ ......................
Per C^nt of increase in 1914 over 1913 .
............................................................................................
N um ber of applications per 100 vacancies filled........................................................- - N um ber of vacancies reported per 100 vacancies filled.................................................

2,965,893
1,222,828
921,853
321.7
132.6

1914
3,442,452
16.1
1,479,024
21.0
1,116,909
24.9
308.2
132.4

There was a considerable unsatisfied demand for labor in the ship­
building industry and in coal mining during the latter portion of the
year; agricultural laborers, and both men and women workers in the
tailoring, boot-making, and woolen trades were also in great demand.
One of the means by which the Government assists the workmen
consists in advancing him money for his fare from his home locality
to the place of work. During the year 1914 fares were advanced in
20,800 cases, necessitating an expense up to September 30, 1914, of
£7,600 ($36,985). The total amount advanced from the time this
scheme was put into operation in 1910 up to September 30, 1914,
was in round numbers £18,000 ($87,597) and the number of cases
in which assistance was given was 54,800. It is, of course, under­
stood that all advances to the workmen are to be repaid at some time.
NETHERLANDS.

The Dutch statistical office through its monthly journal1 has pub­
lished regularly since September, 1906, current returns of the labor
market and conditions of employment in the Netherlands. The
source of its information is, first, returns from the different employ­
ment offices, both municipal offices and those maintained by employ­
ers or trade-unions, and from other private exchanges. Deports of
these bureaus are gathered through the councils of labor (Earners van
Arbeid). These councils are established by law in certain localities,
or with jurisdiction over certain trades, to further and harmonize
the interests of employers and employees, who compose these councils
1 M aandschrift van h e t C entraal bureau voor de statistiek. The H ague.


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74

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OP LABOR STATISTICS.

in equal numbers. A second source consists of the monthly reports—
also compiled semiannually—from the trade unions which maintain
unemployment benefit funds as well as those who do not, while as a
third source of information there are the reports of local sick bene­
fit funds subsidized by the municipalities.
The brief summary which follows is compiled from the most
recently received number of the journal1 already referred to, and
relates to conditions in March and April of this year.1
The larger proportion of unemployed persons in March seeking
work through the employment offices was found in the building trades
(3,743), metallurgy and machine construction (1,847), transportation
(2,431), domestic and personal service (5,275), and unskilled laborers
(2,277). Of the total persons (19,535) seeking work, 15,573, or 79.7
per cent, were of these occupations. Of all occupational groups the
largest per cent (27) of applications for employment was made by
domestic servants.
An analysis of the data by occupations for April shows but little
variation in per cent from that presented for March.
A summary of the results of the reports received by the statistical
office regarding the amount of unemployment among persons subject
to unemployment insurance is presented in the table which follows,
showing the index of unemployment for each of the months of 1914.
By the index of unemployment is meant the ratio between the num­
ber of man-days of work actually lost through unemployment and the
total maximum number of man-days of work which could have
been lost. Therefore an increasing index number shows an increasing
amount of unemployment. It is to be noted also that Dutch figures
are based on weekly and not monthly averages.
IN D E X N U M B E R OP U N E M PL O Y M E N T F O R EA C H M ON TH OF 1913 AND 1914 IN T H E
N ETH ERLA N D S.
[Source: M aandschrift v an h e t Centraal bureau voor de statis'tiek.
1913
Ja n u a ry ..
February.
M arch__
A p ril........
M ay.........
Ju n e.........

7.5
5.4
3.2
3.3
4.2
3.8

The Hague, A pril, 1915, p. 387.]

1914
10.4
6.6
4.9
4.7
5.8
6.7

1913
J u ly .......................................
A u g u st..................................
Septem ber............................
O ctober................................
N ovem ber............................
D ecem ber.............................

3.6
4.7
4.7
4.7
0.3
8.8

1914
7.4
22.2
27.2
24.5
21.7
20.7

The effects of the war in increasing unemployment is quite apparent
from this table.
The comparative amount of unemployment in the different tradeunions in March and April, 1915, is shown in the table which follows.
Percentages, as in all cases in the Dutch statistics of unemployment,


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1 Issue of May 31,1915 (Vol. 10, No. 5), p p . 442-466.

75

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

are based on weekly averages of the number employed and out of
work during the month; nor do the figures include as unemployed
those out of work by reason of strike, lockout, sickness, accident, or
imprisonment. According to the table the largest proportion of
unemployment prevails among the diamond workers, while no
unemployment is reported among clay and coal miners and peat dig­
gers ; and agriculture shows less than 1 per cent of unemployment in
eacli month.
P E R C EN T O F U N E M PL O Y M E N T IN C E R T A IN T R A D E -U N IO N S IN T H E N E T H E R L A N D S
IN M ARCH AND A P R IL , 1915.
[Source: M aandschrift v an h e t Centraal bureau voor de statistiek. T he H ague, 1915, A pril, p. 379: May,
p. 456.]

Trade-union.

P o ttery , glass, lim e, a n d stone
workers.....................................
D iam ond w o rk ers.....................
B uilding trad es..........................
P rin tin g a n d lith o g ra p h y . . . .
W oodworkers, straw workers,
etc..............................................
C lothing and cleaning...............
Leather" oilcloth, e tc " .............
Clay arid coal m ining, p e at
digging......................................

March,
1915.

A pril,
1915.

33.6
78.2
21.3
17.7

31.1
74.7
14.9
16.4

15.7
12.0
2.6

12.0
2.3
3.3

0)

March,
1915.

Trade-union.

M etal and machine tools, shipb u ild in g................................
T extile tra d e s__
Food preparation
A griculture..................................
Packing, storing, hauling, etc.
T ran sp o rtatio n .........................
In d ep en d en t professions___
M iscellaneous2...........................

13.5
14. 7
3.1
4.3
32.8
3.2
11.8

10 8
10.1
3 1
.4
4.1
14.0
3.0
7.2

18.8

15.7

.6

T o tal..........................

(')

April,
1915.

1 No unem ploym ent.
2 Includes those unions whose m em bership consists of workm en of different trades.

A survey of the amount of unemployment over a period of years is
shown for the building trades in the following table. Here the effect
of the war is quite apparent.
P E R C E N T A G E O F U N E M PL O Y M E N T IN T H E B U IL D IN G T R A D E S , JA N U A R Y , 1911, TO
A P R IL , 1915, B Y M ONTHS.
[Source: M aandschrift v an h e t Centraal B ureau voor de S tatistiek, vol. 10, No. 5, May 31,1915, p. 459.]

Month.

1911

J a n u a ry ................................................................
F eb ru ary .............................................................
M arch...................................................................
A p ril.....................................................................
M ay.......................................................................
June......................................................................
J u ly .......................................................................
A ugust ...............................................................
Septem ber...........................................................
O ctober................................................................
Novem ber............................................................
D ecem ber............................................................

15.4
10.9
4.2
2.5
1. 9
2.1
2. 7
2.8
3.3
4.0
7.0
10.2

1912
14.4
13.2
3.9
1.4
1.0
1.1
1.7
1.5
1.8
2.0
4.8
7.5

1913
10.6
8.3
3.2
1.4
1. 7
2.2
2.8
3.3
3.9
3. 9
5.8
10.3

1914
19.1
7.9
3. 7
2.9
2. 3
3.1
2. 7
12. 7
16. 9
21. 7
23.8
27.0

1915
27.8
25.8
21.3
14.9

NORWAY, 1914.

For ascertaining the state of the labor market the Norwegian labor
office has for some time made use of five sources of information: (1)
Reports from trade-unions, dating from 1903, upon the amount of un
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76

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E B U REA U OE LABOR STATISTICS.

employment among their membership; (2) reports from employers
(200 to 300) as to the number of their employees at certain periods
of time. (These reports also date from 1903); (3) reports from the
public employment exchanges since 1898; (4) special unemployment
censuses, 1905, 1906, and 1910; (5) re turns from unemployment bene­
fit funds, ascertaining thereby the number of such funds, their mem­
bership and changes therein, and their financial condition.
The labor office, in the second issue of its journal for 1915, summa­
rizes conditions in the labor market in 1914 as follows:1
The first seven months of 1914 continued the activity of the pros­
perous years by which we had benefited since 1910. 'The year did
not begin with quite such favorable indications as the preceding year,
as the amount of unemployment in certain trades, e. g., the building
trade, was relatively very considerable; yet in the course of the spring
months the situation in this particular trade became so favorable as
to cause the average of unemployment for the year among tradesunion members in general to decline for the months of May, June, and
July to that of the specially prosperous years of 1912 and 1913. For
these same months the public employment offices reported more va­
cancies than there were applicants for jobs, not merely in the women’s
division, as is usually the case, but also in the men’s division, where
there is regularly an oversupply of applicants.
Returns from 200 employers indicated a labor force of 34,352 hands
at the close of 1912, and 33,913 at the close of 1913, while during the
period from January to May, 1914, this average number increased
to 34,786 among 208 employers (practically the same individuals who
reported in 1913). A decline began, however, even in June; in July
the same 208 employers had a labor force of 34,189 hands, a decline
which is accounted for by the occurrence of a strike. From both
sources of information, namely, reports from trade-unions and from
the public employment offices, the effect of the outbreak of the war is
manifested. According to reports from the national trade-union fed­
eration (Arbeidernes faglige Tandsorgenisation) 10 per cent out of a
total membership in round numbers of 68,000 were unemployed on
August 31, 1914, while 7\ per cent were unemployed on September
30, 1914. The number of applicants at the unemployment offices
increased greatly as between July and August, 1914, rising from 3,028
to 5,312, while the number of vacancies decreased as between these
same months from 3,150 to 2,874. As the year advanced, however,
the labor market tended very generally to return to a normal.
The amount of unemployment in the membership of certain unions
at periods indicated is disclosed in the table following.
1 Sociale Meddelelser u tg iv et av socialavdelingen under D epartem entet for sociale saker, handel, in d u stri
og fiskeri. Christiania, 1915, No. 2-3.


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

77

P E R CEN T O F U M E M PLO Y M EN T IN T R A D E -U N IO N M E M B E R S H IP IN N O R W A Y A T T H E
CLOSE OF IN D IC A T E D M ON TH S IN 1913 AND 1914.
[Source: Sociale Meddelelser, u tg iv et av socialavdelingen u n d e r D epartem entet for sociale saker, handel,
in d u stri og hskeri, Copenhagen, 1915, Nos. 2-3, page 97.]
1914

1913
Name of trade-union.

Septem ber

W orkingm en’s federation......................
Bakers and confectioners’ union..........
C entral association of book p rin ters...
H arbor and transport workers’ u n io n 1
Iron and m etal w orkers’ u n io n ............
P ainters’ u n io n ........................................
Seamen and steam ship m en’s u n io n ..
Bricklayers and m asons’ u n io n ..........
F u rn itu re w orkers’ u n io n .....................
Paperm akers’ unio n 2................- ...........
L um ber and planing m illm en’s union.
Shoe w orkers’ u n io n...............................
W oodworkers’ u n io n ..............................

Octo- Novem- Decern- Sepber. tem ber
ber.
ber.

2.5
6.9
1.9

2.5
4.3
1.1

3.0
5.3
.8

5.9
7.6
1.0

.8
4.1

.8
3.1

.9
9.8

1.4
19.5

4.9
.4
(2)
1.5
.4
2.5

6.8
(2)
2.0
.2
5.2

12.5
1.4
(2)
.3
.4
6.9

19.6
2.3
(2)
13.3
1.9
10.4

1.0

8.2
16.2
5. 6
13.2
2.6
17.6
17.5
4.9
7. 1
15.7
1.5
2.2
7.6

Octo- Novem- Decernber.
ber.
ber.
6.4
16.2
5.0
8.1
2.4
13.7
9.9
5.9
3.7
9.9
1.8
1.3
9.8

6.6
12.2
2.6
5.0
2.0
19.2
5.3
9.3
3.0
3.0
3.1
1.0
9.5

7.3
13.1
3.8
1. 1
2.0
35.1
3.6
16.4
4.8
12.8
14.4
1.6
13.7

1 U nem ploym ent for less th a n 14 days no t reported.
2 Members of th e w orkingm en’s federation during 1913.

The table which follows may serve as a very adequate summary
of labor market conditions in Norway during the year 1914. It
shows for each month the per cent of applicants for jobs to jobs
available, the per cent of unemployment in trade-union membership,
and the number of employed workmen (as reported from 200 to 300
employers) for every 100 workmen employed at the close of 1908.
The last part of the lable is in reality an index number of the number
employed, the number employed on December 31, 1908, being taken
as the base or 100.
N U M B E R OF A P PL IC A T IO N S F O R E M PL O Y M E N T P E R 100 VACANCIES R E P O R T E D , P E R
C EN T O F U N E M PL O Y M E N T , AN D N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D P E R 100 EM ­
P L O Y E D D EC. 31, 1908, 1909-1913 AN D 1914.
TSource: Sociale Meddelelser utgivet av socialavdelingen u n d er D epartem entet for sociale saker, handel,
in d u stri og fiskeri, 1915, Nos. 2-3, p. 98. J

A pplicants per 100 va­
cancies.

P er cent of unem ploy­
m ent in trade-unions.

19091913 2

19091913

N um ber employed for
each 100 Workers em­
ployed on Dec. 31,
1908.1

Month.

J a n u a ry ...
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch........
A p ril..........
M ay...........
Jun e...........
J u ly ............
A u g u st___
September.
O ctober. . .
Novem ber.
D ecem ber.

251
193
162
133
119
118
112
127
123
136
172
164

1913

163
149
128
112
106
106
106
119
117
129
158
146

i R eports from 200 to 300 employers.


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1914

164
155
145
111
97
95
96
185
179
169
181
156

6.1
6.1
4.5
2.8
1.8
1.4
1.5
1. 6
2.2
2. 4
3.2
5.1

1913

3.1
2.8
2.1
1.5
1.0
1.0
.9
.9
1.7
1.7
2.5
4.7

2 M onthly average.

1914

4.2
3.2
2.2
1.3
.8
.7
.9
3.6
4.3
2.9
3. 6
4.4

19091913 3

1913

103.7

111.2

111.8

106.9

112.8

111.8

106.3

113.4

107.2

104.4

108.4

103.9

s Q uarterly average.

1914

78

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS.

SWEDEN, 1914.

Reports are published by the Swedish labor office in its monthly
journal1 concerning the state of the labor market on the basis of
(1) returns by schedule from leading employers located in 40 different
centers, (2) from the trade unions, the latter of whom report the
amount of unemployment among their membership as of the first of
each month, and (3) from the returns of the public employment offices.
Returns from 30 trade unions for the first quarter of 1915 showed
an average membership of 59,195, 56,397, and 57,476, respectively,
on the first day of each of the months of January, February, and
March, with an unployment percentage of 15, 14.8, and 12, respec­
tively. How this compares with the corresponding months of each
of the years 1911 to 1914 is shown in the table which follows:
P E R C E N T OE U N E M PL O Y M E N T IN S W E D IS H T R A D E U N IO N S ON T H E F IR S T O F
EA C H IN D IC A T E D M O N TH F O R T H E Y E A R S 1911 TO 1915.
[Source: Sociale M eddelanden utgivna av K . Socialstyrelsen, Stockholm, 1915, No. 5, p. 511.]
Jan u ary .
Year.
N um ber
reporting.
1911.............................................
1912.................................................
1913.................................................
1914.................................................
1915................................................

43,067
54,340
60,535
59,195

February.

Per cent
unem ­
ployed.

8.5
8.4
7.5
15.0

N um ber
reporting.

50,972
52,774
61,468
56,788

M arch.

Per cent
unem ­
ployed.

N um ber
reporting.

11.1
8.9
10.4
14.8

61,550
53,122
50,392
58,354
57,476

Per cent
unem ­
ployed.
12 n

8! 4
7.1
7.5
12.0

Judging from this table conditions as to unemployment were con­
siderably worse in 1915 than in the corresponding months of the years
1911 to 1914, with the exception that in March, 1911, the per cent
of unemployment was the same as in March, 1915.
The largest amount of unemployment in March was found among
the bricklayers and masons’ union (58.1 per cent) and in January
and February among the members of the plasters’ union, the per
cent being 80 and 84.2, respectively; the latter union was also
second in the amount of unemployment in March, 1915. In January
the lowest per cent of unemployment was found among the members
of the shoe and leather workers’ union, in February in the miners’
union, and in March in the ironworkers’ union. In general the
building trades workers suffered most heavily, while among metal
workers unemployment was relatively at a minimum.
The increase in the activities of the public employment offioes in
Sweden during 1914 was very marked. During each of the years
1912, 1913, and 1914, the increase in the number of applications for
jobs over each preceding year was 15.4, 5.7, and 25.1 per cent,
1 Sociale M eddelanden utg iv n a av K . Socialstyrelsen, Stockholm.


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M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS.

79

respectively; but the increase in the number of vacancies and the
relative number of places filled did not keep pace with this increase
in the number of applicants; the increase in vacancies in 1912, 1913,
and 1914 was 22, 13.2, and 11 per cent, respectively; in places fdled,
23.9, 12.3, and 17.2 per cent, respectively.
The following table shows the relation between the applications
for positions and the vacancies available and the actual places filled.
The effect of the early war months (August to December) in increas­
ing the number of applicants per 100 vacancies as compared with
the same number for the year 1913 is quite apparent. The greatest
amount of unemployment in 1914 was found among male workers,
judging from the fact that the largest proportion of applicants for
each 100 vacancies was found among that class of employees. On
the same basis agriculture showed the least amount of unemployment.
N U M B E R O F A P P L IC A T IO N S AND N U M B E R O F PL A C E S F IL L E D F O R EA C H 100
V ACANCIES F O R EA C H O F T H E M O N TH S OF T H E Y E A R S 1913, 1914, AND 1915.
[Source: Sociale M eddelanden u tgivna av K . Socialstyrelsen, 1915, No. 3-5.]
A pplications per 100 vacancies.
1914

1913
J a n u a ry ........................................
F e b ru a ry ......................................
M arch............................................
A p ril..............................................
Tutt *“
In ly
An
st,
^ p p te m h e r
O c to b e r
n y f im h e r
T) o c e in h e r
^y

£»•(» f o r y e a r

153
133
110
97
99
112
107
96
S9
98
129
117
116

1915
125
127
107
91
93
104
99
133
121
128
192
182

202
181
147
125

Places filled per 100 vacancies.
1914

1913

1915

64
62
58
60
62
66
61
61
60
67
71
74

64
62
59
60
62
67
65
69
70
75
77
76

68

72

71
72
67
67

Reports were received from 2,160 employers in 40 centers of
employment, during the first quarter of the year 1915, employing
258,764 workmen. Of this number 2,138 employers, employing
249,403 workmen, were engaged in industry, the handworking trades,
and transportation. After a compilation of their reports, it appeared
that 384 employers, who employed 26 per cent of the total labor force,
reported conditions of employment as improved as compared with
the first quarter of 1914; 1,108 employing 49 per cent of the labor
force reported conditions as unchanged, and 646 employing 25 per
cent of the labor force reported conditions as worse.


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80

M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

SWITZERLAND (ZURICH), JANUARY TO MARCH, 1914 AND 1915.

The table presented, here may serve to show from a limited angle
the state of employment in one of the principal industrial centers of
Switzerland during the first quarter of the years 1914 and 1915.
As shown, the number of applications for each 100 vacancies and
for each 100 positions filled was greater in each of the three months
of the first quarter of 1915 than for the same months of 1914.
N U M B E R O P A PP L IC A T IO N S F O R EM PL O Y M E N T AND O F VACA N CIES R E P O R T E D ,
CO M PA R ED W IT H PO S IT IO N S F IL L E D , F IR S T Q U A R T E R , 1914 AND 1915, Z U R IC H ,
S W IT Z E R L A N D .
[Source: M onats-Berichte des Statistischen A m tes der S ta d t Zurich, Nos. 1, 2, a n d 3, 1915, p. 25.]

Period.

January, 1914........................ ............................
January, 1915......................................................
F ebruary, 1914.:...............................................
February, 1915....................... ...........................
March, 1914.........................................................
March, 1915.........................................................


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Applicatic ms for employm ent per 100— -

A pplica­
tions for
employ­
m ent.

Vacancies
reported.

1,581
2,143
1.397
1,817
1,499
1,850

684
647
755
848
1,380
1,279

Positions
filled.
Vacancies
reported.

.

484
4.50
524
662
975
988

231.1
331.2
185.0
226.1
108. 6
144.6

Positions
filled.
326.7
466.9
266.6
274.5
153. 7
187.2

STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES.
FRANCE, JANUARY TO APRIL, 1915.1

Fifteen strikes and 3 lockouts were reported to the French labor
office during the period from January to April, 1915. Six occurred
in January, 5 in February, 2 in March, and 5 in April, and involved in
all 842 employees. Ten of the disputes arose from a demand for
increased wages. The industries affected were: Preparation of food,
in 4 instances; weaving, 4; boots and shoes, 3; dock workers, 2;
clothing, 2; and 1 in each of 3 miscellaneous occupations. The aver­
age number of days lost was 5.61 days; the longest dispute lasted 54
days, the shortest 1 day. As to results, 4 succeeded, 5 were compro­
mised, and 9 failed.
GERMANY, DURING THE WAR.

Since the outbreak of the war to the end of March, 1915, according
to the report of the imperial office of labor statistics2 there occurred
52 labor disputes directly involving 4,029 workmen; the total em­
ployed force in the establishments involved was, however, 10,218.
The average duration of the disputes was 4.77 days as compared with
27.99 days, the average for all disputes occurring during the five-year
period 1909-1913. The strikes occurring during the war were not
largely supported by trade-unions. The question of wages was in­
volved in 43 of the labor disputes. Of the 52 disputes, 26 were
settled by conciliation. As to results obtained, the strikes were
wholly successful in 11 cases, involving 41 per cent of the men affected;
and partially successful in 12 instances, involving 16.6 per cent of all
employees affected, while no results followed from the other 29 dis­
putes, which involved 42.4 per cent of the total number of persons
affected.
GREAT BRITAIN, 1914 AND 1915.

Based on returns from employers and employees, reports are pub­
lished monthly by the Board of Trade in its Labor Gazette concerning
trade disputes which occur in the course of each month. The follow­
ing brief statement summarizes conditions as to strikes from January
to May, 1915, as compared with the corresponding months of 1914.
The first table shows the number of disputes arising in each particular
month and the number of workpeople affected thereby, together with
1 B ulletin d u Ministère du Travail, January-A pril, 1915, p p. 18, 19.
2 R eichs-A rbeitsblatt. Ursg. vom K aiserlichen Statistisclien A m tc, Albteilung fur A rbeiterstatistik.
Berlin, 1915 (M ay), pp. 413-416.

2119°—15— 6

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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

the distribution of the strikes of each month according to their causes.
During the five-month period, January to May, 1915, 185 out of a
total of 258 disputes were caused by demand for increased wages.
LA B O R D IS P U T E S IN G R EA T. B R IT A IN , JA N U A R Y TO MAY, 1915, B Y M ONTHS.

1 The totals do no t agree w ith th e table following, because “ In m aking up total for several m onths figures
have been am ended in accordance w ith th e latest inform ation.”

The following table presents a comparative summary statement, by
trade groups, of strikes in Great Britain between January 1 and May
31, 1915, both dates inclusive, and the corresponding period in 1914,
with aggregate number of persons involved and duration in working
days of all disputes in progress.
The number of strikes during the period in 1915 was 55 per cent of
the number for a like period in 1914, and the number of persons
affected in 1915 was only 35 pci- cent of the number in 1914, and the
days of work lost because of strikes in 1915 was only 11.4 per cent
of the number so lost in 1914.
LA B O R D IS P U T E S IN G R E A T B R IT A IN IN T H E F IR S T F IV E M ONTHS O F 1914
AN D O F 1915.
. [Source: B oard of Trade L abour Gazette, June, 1915, p. 222.]
Jan u ary to May, 1914.

Groups of trades.

B uild in g .................................
Coal m ining...................
O ther m ining and q u arry in g ...........
Engineering................
Shipbuilding..............................
O ther m etal............................
Textile..........................
C lothing.............................
T ransport............... ...............
O ther tra d e s................................
T o ta l 1 .....................

N um ­
ber of
dis­
putes.

N um ber
of work­
people
involved.

Aggregate
duration
in workingdays of all
disputes in
progress.

110

44
52
32
60
26
26
81

34,161
216,545
814
6,369
13,190
8,041
13,496
2,390
8,563
11,434

2,040,500
3,070,400
28,600
383,900
65, 400
126, 500
366,500
42,500
32,900
306, 200

519

315,003

2 6,663,400

SO
8

January to May, 1915.
Aggregate
duration
in woruingdays of all
disputes in
progress.

N um ­
ber of
dis­
putes.

N um ber
of work­
people
involved.

21
20
1

32
16
45
59

9,460
22,193
33
16,295
2,848
9,699
20,672
2,005
14,525
11,963

88,900
121,600

286

109,693

762,900

46
25
21

74,000
86,300
1,100

170,900
24, 200
43, 400
142, 400
10,100

J Fotals for 1915 do no t agree w ith detail table. E xplanation given in note on th a t table.
,, f . aggregate duration in 1914 of th e general dispute a t D ublin (200,000 w orking-days), is included in
the total b u t no t m th e separate groups of trades.
o r / ,


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M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

83

BUREAUS OF LABOR, INDUSTRIAL COMMISSIONS, ETC., AND THEIR
CHIEF OFFICIALS.
N am e and title of chief official.
State.

U nited States.
A rkansas.........

Nam e of bureau.

B ureau of L abor Sta- R oyal Meeker,
tistics.
C. C lary............
/B u reau of labor and sta- /J . <
\ tistics.
\M . J. M cM ahon. .

Colorado..........

Bureau of labor sta­
tistics.
___ do .............................. .

C onnecticut...
Georgia............

.do.
/D e p artm e n t of com\ merce a n d labor.

California........

H aw aii.............
Id a h o ..
Illinois.
In d ia n a .
Iow a___
K a n sa s....
K entucky.
L ouisiana........
M aine...............
M aryland........
Massachusetts.

Location of bureau.
Name.

D epartm ent of im m i­
gration, labor, and
statistics.
Bureau of imm igration,
labor, and statistics.
B ureau of labor sta­
tistics.
B ureau of statistics........
Bureau of labor sta­
tistics.
D epartm ent of labor
and industry.
D ep artm en t of agricul­
ture, labor, and sta­
tistics.
B ureau of labor and in­
dustrial statistics.
D ep artm en t of labor
and in dustry.
B ureau of statistics and
information.
B ureau of statistics___

Title.
Commissioner.

W ashington, D. C.

___d o ...................... L ittle Rock.
Do.
D eputy commis­
sioner.
John P. M cLaugh­ Commissioner........ 948 M arket Street,
San Francisco.
lin.
Axel Sw anson....... D ep u ty commis­ Denver.
sioner.
P. II. C onnolley.. Commissioner___ H artford.
A tlanta.
do.
/ H . M. Stanley.
Do.
A ssistant commis­
\J . T. D erry.
sioner.
R alp h A. K earn s. Acting commis­ Honolulu.
sioner.
S. J. R ich .............

Commissioner.

Boise.

L. D. McCoy........

Secretary.........

Springfield.

T. W . Brolley.
A. L. U ric k ...

Chief.................
Commissioner.

Indianapolis.
Des Momes.

P . J. M cB ride..

.do.

Topeka.

J. W . N ew m an.

.d o .

Frankfort.

f f m . McGilvray

___ do.

N ew Orleans.

Roscoe A. E d d y .

....... do.

A ugusta.

F ran k A. W h ite .. Chief..

C. F . G ettem y ___
Alfred W . Donovan
M rs.MaryH.Dewey
/S tate board of labor and Selskar M. G unn
\ industries(5 m embers) Dr.AlfredH.Quessy
E dw ard F.W allace
E dw in M ulready..

Baltimore.

D irector...
C hairm an.

Boston.
721A New Albion
•
Building, No. 1
D o.............
Beacon Street,
Boston.
Counsel...................
Commissioner of
labor.
fj. V. Cunningham . Commissioner........ Lansing.
D epartm ent of labor___ (0. E . H o g ad o n e.. D ep u ty commis­
M ichigan..
Do.
sioner.
D epartm ent of labor W . F . H o u k .......... Commissioner....... St. Paul.
M innesota.
and industries.
___d o ...................... Jefferson City.
J. T. F itzp atrick .
Do.
D ep u ty commis­
H . P . R eed s........
sioner.
/B u reau of labor sta­
M issouri. .
Do.
John L. B ra d le y .. ___do......................
tistics.
Do.
A. T. E d m onston.. Supervisor of sta­
tistics.
D epartm ent of labor W . J. Swindle- Commissioner........ Helena.
M ontana..
h u rst.
and in dustry.
B ureau of labor a n d in­ Chas. W . P ool---- D ep u ty commis­ Lincoln.
N ebraska.
sioner.
d u strial statistics.
New H a m p sh ire .. B ureau of l a b o r ............ J. S. B. D avie___ Commissioner----- Concord.
T renton.
Chief........................
George
C.
L
o
w
e
..
B ureau of statistics of
New Jersey ___
labor and industries.
Do.
/L ew is T. B ry a n t.. Commissioner___
D epartm ent of labor___ /Jo h n I. H o l t . . .
Do.
Do.
A ssistant commis­
sioner.
[John M itchell........ C hairm an............. A lbany.
Address of board,
Jas. M. L y n c h ----381 F o u rth Ave­
/S ta te industrial com- W m . H . H . Rogers
N ew Y o rk .
nue, N ew York
Louis W ia rd ..........
\ mission.
City.
(.Edward P. L yons.
N orth Carolina.
N orth D akota. .
O hio.
O klahom a.
Oregon___

D epartm ent of labor
and printing.
D epartm ent of agricul­
tu re and labor.

M. L. Shipm an —

Commissioner.

Raleigh.

W . C. G ilbreath

___ do ...............

Fargo.

C hairm an.........
Vice chairm an.

Columbus.
Do.
Do.
Do.
O klahoma City.
Salem.

(W allace D . Yaple
/In d u strial commission IH erbert L. E lio t.
T. J. D uffy...........
\ (3 commissioners).
111. II. H a m m ___
D epartm ent of labor___ C. L . D a u g h erty ...
B ureau of labor statis­ O. P . Ilo ff........
tics and inspection of
factories and work­
shops.


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Secretary...........
Commissioner..
....... do .................

84

M O N T H L Y R E V IE W O F T H E B U R E A U O F LABOR S T A T IS T IC S .

Bureaus of labor, industrial commissions, etc., and their chief officials—Concluded.
Name and title of chief officer.
State.

N am e of bureau.
Name.

P en n sy lv an ia........ D ep artm en t of labor
and industry.

Title.

Location of bureau.

John P. J a c k s o n .. Commissioner........ H arrisburg.

John P. Ja c k so n ... Commissioner o f
labor and industry.
D o ..................... / I n d u s t r i a l board
Mrs.SamuelSemple
\ (5 members).
Jam esC. C ro n in ...
Geo. S. Comstock..
Maj.Jolm P. Wood.
Philippine Islands Bureau of la b o r.............. Manuel T in io ........ D irector _
Porto R ico............. ........do ................................ J. Clark Bills
Chief
R hode Is la n d ........ Bureau of industrial sta- G. H . W e b b ...
Com m issirmer
tistics.
South Carolina___ D epartm ent of agricul- E . J. W atson......... ........d o __ _
ture, commerce, and
industries.
Texas....................... B ureau of labor sta- C. W . W oodm an.
do
tistics.
U ta h ........................ Bureau of im m igration, II. T. H ain es...
do
labor, and statistics.
Virginia................... B ureau of labor and in- J. B. D o h erty........
do
dustrial statistics.
W ashington........... B ureau of la b o r.............. Edw . W. O lso n ..
.. do
W est Virginia........ ........do................................ Jack H . N ightin­
do
gale.
1C. H. C ro w n h a rt.. C hairm an...............
flnd u strial commission |J. D. B eck..............
\ (3 commissioners).
IFred M. W ilc o x ...
[P. J. W atrous........ Secretary............

______________

Address of board.
H arrisburg.
Manila.
San Juan.
Providence.
Columbia.
A ustin.
Salt Lake City.
R ichm ond.
Olympia.
Charleston.
Madison.
Do.
Do.
Do.

STATE BUREAUS CHARGED WITH ENFORCEMENT OF FACTORY INSPEC­
TION LAWS, AND CHIEF INSPECTION OFFICIALS.
N am e and title of chief official.
State.

N am e of bureau.
Name.

A labam a.................

A rkansas................. B ureau of labor and
statistics.
D o..................... D epartm ent of h e a lth ..
California..............

Bureau of labor sta­
tistics.
D o..................... In d u strial
accident
board.

Colorado............

B ureau of labor sta­
tistics.

C onnecticut...........

Factory inspector’s of­
fice.

D elaw are................

F lo rid a.................... Office of State labor inspector.

Location of bureau.
Title.

W . H . Oates, M. D . Inspector of jails,
almshouses, cot­
ton mills, or fac­
tories.
,T. C. C lary__

Box 282, Mont­
gomery.
L ittle Rock.

Commissioner of
health.
John P . M cLaugh­ Commissioner........ 948 M arket Street,
lin.
San Francisco.
A. J. P illsb u ry ___
U nderwood B uild­
ing, 525 M arket
Street, San F ran­
cisco.
Alex. Sw anson___ D eputy commis­ Denver.
sioner of labor
and chief factory
inspector.
J. J. M cP artlan d .. Factory inspector. H artford.
W m . G ibbons........ Child labor in­
spector.
Miss M ary S. Ma­ Inspector for 10lone.
Dr. W m. R . Messick.

Inspector of can­
neries.
State labor inspec­
tor.

F ord B u i l d i n g ,
W ilmington.
507 W ashington
Street, W ilming­
ton.
R ehoboth Beach.

Room 6, B aldwin
B uilding, Jack­
sonville.
Illinois..................... D epartm ent of factory Oscar F . N elso n ... Chief
608 South D earborn
inspection.
Street, Chicago.
[Room 120, State
In d ia n a ........... ....... Bureau of in spection... /E d g ar A. P erkins. Chief inspector___
Capitol, Indian­
/Jo h n J. W alsh___ D eputy inspector.
apolis.
Iow a........................ B ureau of labor star
Des Moines.
tistics.
K ansas.................... D epartm ent of labor P . J. M cBride........ Commissioner of Topeka.
and industry.
labor and indus­
try and ex officio
State factory in­
spector.


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85

State bureaus charged with enforcement of factory inspection laws, and chief inspection
officials-—Concluded.
N am e and title of chief official.
State.

Location of bureau.

Nam e of bureau.

Name.

Title.

Frankfort.
307 K entucky Title
B uilding, Louis­
ville.
New Orleans.
W m. M cG ilv ray .. Com m issioner..
Mrs. M artha D. Factories inspector Room 11 , City Hall,
New Orleans.
of Orleans P ar­
Gould.
ish.
Roscoe A. E d d y ... Commissioner of A ugusta.
labor and State
factory inspector,
F ran k A. W h ite .. C h ie f .................... Baltimore.

K entucky.

B ureau of agriculture, JJ. W . N ew m an__ Commissioner----labor, and statistics. \H a rry M. Leslie... Labor inspector..

Louisiana.

B ureau of statistics of
labor.

Maine.

D epartm ent of labor
and industry.

B ureau of statistics and
information.
W om en’s 10-hour bu­ Miss Sarah F. Mar­ Chief inspector---- E quitable B uild­
ing, Baltimore.
tin.
reau.
Alfred W . Dono- C hairm an............... 721A New Albion
State board of labor and s van.
Building.
Massachusetts.
industries.
1
Beacon
[E dw in M u lread y .. Commissioner of No.
Street, Boston.
labor.
Lansing.
Commissioner
of
D epartm ent of labor---- J. V. Cunningham
Michigan.
labor a n d chief
factory inspector,
Commi
s s i o n e r ; St. Paul.
W
.
F.
H
o
n
k
..........
D
epartm
ent
of
labor
M innesota.
chief inspector.
and industries.
F ullerton B u i l d ­
Chief
inspector---A.
S.
Jo
h
n
sto
n
---D
epartm
ent
of
factory
M issouri. .
ing, St. Louis.
inspection.
Lincoln.
D
ep
u
ty
commis­
Chas.
W
.
Po
o
l----Bureau
of
labor
and
in­
N e b ra sk a ..
sioner
of
labor
dustrial statistics.
and factory in­
spector.
commis­
New H a m p sh ire .. B ureau of lab o r............ J. S. B. Davie........ Labor
sioner and fac­ Concord.
tory inspector.
Irving A. W atson, S ecretary ...............
Board of h ealth .
M. D.
D epartm ent of l a b o r .. Lewis T. B ry an t. Commissioner---- Trenton.
New Jersey..........
Albany.
New Y o rk ............ State industrial com­ John M itchell---- 1 C hairm an i ...........
mission.
[Wallace D. Yaple C hairm an............. Columbus.
In d u strial commission.. IT. P . K earns.......
Ohio.
Chief d e p u ty , di­
vision of work­
shops, factories,
and public
buildings.
G uthrie.
D epartm ent of labor— C. L. D augherty. Commissioner---O klahom a.
Commission
of la­ Salem.
O.
P
.
H
off............
B
ureau
of
labor
statis­
Oregon___
bor and factory
tics and inspection of
inspector.
factories and work­
shops.
Board
of
inspectors
of
D o.............
child labor.
B ureau of inspection, John Price Jackson Commissioner.
P ennsylvania.
dep artm en t of labor Lew R . P a lm e r... Chief inspector.---- jH arrisburg.
and industry.
Room 306, State
Office of factory inspec­ J. Ellery H udson ....... do ..
Rhode Is la n d .
House,
Provi­
tors.
dence.
Commissioner........ Columbia.
South C arolina... D epartm ent of agricul­ E . J. W a ts o n ..
ture, commerce, and
industries.
D epartm ent of work­ W . L. M itchell---- Chief inspector---- Nashville.
Tennessee.
shop and factory in­
spection.
State board of health . ..
Do.
Bureau of labor statis­ C. W . W oodm an.. Commissioner........ A ustin.
T exas..
tics.
d o ...................... Salt, Lake City.
B ureau of imm igration, H . T. H ain es.........
U ta h .................
labor, and statistics.
Factory
inspector. Middleburg.
A
llan
C
alhoun----Office of factory inspec­
V erm ont..........
tor.
R ichm ond.
Commissioner........
J.
B.
D
o
h
erty........
B ureau of labor and in­
Virginia...........
d ustrial statistics.
Olympia.
Commissioner
of
E
dw
ard
W
.
Olson.
B ureau of la b o r............
W ashington...
labor.
W heeling.
Commissioner........
Jack
H
.
N
ightin­
.d o .
W est Virginia.
gale.
/C. H . C row nhart.. Chairm an ............. ]
In
d
u strial commission . \C. W . P rice............ A ssistant to com­ ¡•Madison.
Wisconsin.
mission.

M aryland.
D o ....

I

i The first d ep u ty commissioner of labor is inspector general of th e State. The State
divided into 2
factory inspection districts w ith a chief factory inspector u nder th e commissioner of labor m charge of each.


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OF T H E B U R E A U

OF LABOR S T A T IS T IC S .

M INIMUM WAGE BOARDS.
C a l i f o r n i a . —Industrial

Welfare Commission (5 members):
Hon. Frank J. Murasky, judge of superior court, chairman.
Mrs. Katherine Philips Edson.
A. B. C. Dohrmann.
A. Bonnheim.
Walter G. Matthewson.
H. A. Scheel, secretary.
Address of commission: San Francisco.

C o l o r a d o .— State

Wage Board (3 members):
W. H. Kistler, president.
Mrs. Martha Slothower.
Mary C. Porter.
Address of board: Capitol Building, Denver.

M a s s a c h u s e t t s .— Minimum

Wage Commission (3 commissioners):
Rev. Robert Bisbee, chairman.
Arthur N. Holcombe.
Mabel Gillespie.
Amy Hewes, secretary.
Address of commission: Rooms 720-721, New Albion Building, 1 Beacon Street,
Boston.

M i n n e s o t a . —Minimum

Wage Commission (3 members):
W. F. Houk, commissioner of labor, chairman.
A. H. Lindeke.
Eliza P. Evans, secretary.
Address of commission: St. Paul.

N e b r a s k a . —Minimum

Wage Commission:

Not yet appointed.
O r e g o n . — Industrial

Welfare Commission (3 members):
Edwin V. O’Hara, chairman.
Bertha Moores.
Amedee M. Smith.
Miss Caroline J. Gleason, secretary.
Address of commission: 610 Commercial Block, Portland.

U t a h . —No

board. Commissioner of immigration, labor, and statistics charged with
enforcement of law.

W a s h i n g t o n . — Industrial

Welfare Commission (5 members):
Edw. W. Olson, commissioner of labor, chairman.
Mrs. Jackson Silbaugh, secretary.
M. H. Marvin.
Mrs. Florence H. Swanson.
Mrs. W. H. Udall.
Address of commission: Olympia.

W i s c o n s i n .— Industrial

Commission (3 commissioners):
C. H. Crownhart, chairman.
J. D. Beck.
Fred M. Wilcox.
P. J. Watrous, secretary.
Address of commission: Madison.


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O F T H E B U R E A U OF LABOR S T A T IS T IC S .

87

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND INSURANCE COMMISSIONS.
C a lifo rn ia . —Industrial

Accident Commission (3 commissioners):
A. J. Pillsbury, chairman, Piedmont.
Will J. French, San Francisco.
Harris Weinstock, San Francisco.
Ira B. Cross, secretary.
Address of commission: Underwood Building, 525 Market Street, San Francisco.
C o lo r a d o . —Industrial Commission :
Gov. George A. Carlson, chairman.
E. E. McLaughlin.
W. C. Williams.
F. P. Lennon.
John E. Rainer, secretary of state, secretary ex offlcio.
C o n n e c tic u t.— Workmen’s Compensation Commission (5 commissioners):
Talcott H. Russell, chairman, New Haven.
Edward T. Buckingham, secretary, Bridgeport.
George B. Chandler, 209 Pearl Street, Hartford.
Dr. James J. Donohue, Willimantic.
Frederic M. Williams, Waterbury.
I llin o is .— Industrial Board (3 members):
J. B. Vaughn, chairman.
P. J. Angsten.
Robert Eadie.
W. V. Conley, secretary.
Address of board: 1003-1004 City Hall Square Building, Chicago.
I o w a . —Iowa Industrial Commission:
Warren Garst, commissioner.
Welker Given, secretary.
Address: Des Moines.
M a ry la n d .— Workmen’s Compensation Board:
John B. Hanna, chairman.
Charles D. Wagaman.
James Higgins.
Howard C. Hill, secretary.
Address: Baltimore.
M a s s a c h u s e t t s . —Industrial Accident Board (5 members):
Frank J. Donahue, chairman.
Dudley M. Holman.
David T. Dickinson.
Thomas F. Boyle.
Joseph A. Parks.
Robert E. Grand field, secretary and executive officer.
Address of board: New Albion Building, 1 Beacon Street, Boston.
M ic h ig a n .— Industrial Accident Board (3 members):
John E. Kinnane, chairman, Bay City.
J. A. Kennedy, Sault Ste. Marie.
Thos. B. Gloster, Detroit.
Gilbert N. Dickson, secretary.
Address of board: Oakland Building, Lansing.
M o n ta n a . —Industrial Accident Board:
William Keating.
W. J. Swindlehurst.
A. E. Spriggs.


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88

M O N T H L Y R E V IE W

N e v a d a . —Industrial

O F T H E B U R E A U OF LABOR S T A T IS T IC S .

Commission (5 members):
Tasker L. Oddie, governor, chairman.
Edward -Ryan, State mine inspector.
George B. Thatcher, attorney general.
H. A. Lemmon.
William E. Wallace.
John J. Mullin, secretary.
Address of commission: Carson City.
N e w J e r s e y . — Employers’ Liability Commission (G members):
Wm. B. Dickson, president, Montclair.
Samuel Botterill, East Orange.
J. Wm. Clark, Newark.
John T. Cosgrove, Elizabeth.
Walter E. Edge, Atlantic City.
Edward K. Mills, Morristown.
Wm. E. Stubbs, secretary.
Address of commission : Trenton.
N e w Y o r k . — State Industrial Commission:
John Mitchell, chairman.
Jas. M. Lynch.
Wm. H. H. Rogers.
Louis Wiard.
Edward P. Lyons.
Address of commission : Capitol Building, Albany.
O h i o . — Industrial Commission (3 commissioners):
Wallace D. Yaple, chairman.
M. B. Hammond, vice chairman.
T. J. Duffy.
H. H. Hamm, secretary.
Address of commission : Columbus.
O r e g o n . State Industrial Accident Commission (3 commissioners):
Harvey Beckwith, chairman.
Wm. A. Marshall.
C. D. Babcock.
E. W. Hinsdale, secretary.
Address of commission: Salem.
T e x a s . Industrial Accident Board (3 members) :
Joseph D. Sayers.
O. P. Pyle.
William J. Moran.
W. L. Ilartung, secretary.
Address of board: Austin.
V e r m o n t . — Industrial Accident Board :
Robert W. Simonds, chairman.
Sanford Daniels.
Fred T. Pease.
W a s h i n g t o n . Industrial Insurance Commission (3 commissioners) :
Floyd L. Daggett, chairman.
Clarence Parker.
Ambrose B. Ernst.
P. Gilbert, secretary.
Address of commission: Olympia.


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O F T H E B U R E A U OF LABOR S T A T IS T IC S .

89

W est V irgin ia.— Compensation Commissioner:

Lee Ott, commissioner.
C. L. Topping, secretary.
W isconsin.— Industrial Commission (3 commissioners) :
C. II. Crownhart, chairman.
J. D. Beck.
Fred M. Wilcox.
P. J. Watrous, secretary.
Address of commission : Madison.
BUREAUS OF LABOR IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Country.

Name of bureau.

A rgentina----- D epartam ento
del Trabajo.

Nacional

A ustralia........ Labor and Industrial
B ranch
(B ureau
of
Census and Statistics,
D epartm ent of Home
Affairs).
New South D epartm ent of L abor and
In d u stry .
Wales.
Queensland
A ustria...........
Belgium .........
C anada...........
O n ta rio ___
Chile..............
Den marie........
F in la n d ..........
F ran ce............

D epartm ent of L ab o r........
K . K. Arbeitsstatistisches
A m t im H andelsm inis­
terium .
Office d u Travail (Minis­
tère de l ’In d u strie e t du
Travail).
D epartm ent of L ab o r........
B ureau of L abor (D epart­
m ent of Public W orks).
Oficina de E stadística del
Trabajo.
D irecktoratet for arbejds,
og fabriktilsynet.
Industristyrelsen (Kejserliga Senaten).
Office d u Travail (Minis­
tère d u Travail et de la
Prévoyance Sociale).

Chief official.


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Title of publi­
cation.

Frequency
of issue.

Boletín del De­ M onthly.
partam ento
nacional
d e1
Trabajo.
L
abour
Bulletin
.. Q uarterly.
M elbourne. .

P re s id e n te .. B u e n o s
Aires.
Commonw ealth
Statisti­
cian.
Minister of
L a b o rapd
In d u stry .
V orstand__
Directeur
General.

S y d n ey ........ New South W ales Monthly.
In dustrial Ga­
zette.
■RrishanA
Do.
V ienna......... Soziale R undschau
Brussels.......

R evue d u T ravail.

Do.

O ttaw a........

L abour G azette__

Do.

Boletín de la Ofi­
cina del Trabajo.

Do.

Minister of
Labor.
Secretary__

T oronto........

Jefe...............

Santiago___

D irek to r___ Copenhagen.
___d o ........... Helsingfors.. A r b e ts s ta tis tis k
T idskrift.
D ire c te u r... P a ris............. B ulletin d u Minis­
tère d u T ravail
e t de la Prévoy­
ance Sociale.
P räsid e n t. . . B erlin........... R eichsarbeitsblatt

G erm any........ A bteilung fu r A rbeitersta­
tistik, Kaiserliches Sta­
tistisches A m t (Minis­
terium des Innern).
Great B ritain. D epartm ent of L abor Sta­ D irector.......
tistics (B oard of Trade).
Greece............. Division of L abor and
Social Welfare (D epart­
m ent of I n d u s t r y )
(Tm em a Ergasias K ai
Koinonkes Pronoias—
Upourgeio tes E thnikes
Oikonomias).
I ta ly ................ Ufficio del Lavoro (Minis­ D i r e t t o r e
Generale.
tern d i Agricoltura, In ­
d u stria e Commercio).
Mexico............ D epartam ento del Trabajo
N etherlands.. Directie van den A rbeid
(D epartem ent
van
Landbouw , N ijverheid
en H andel).
New Zealand D epartm ent of L a b o r .. . .

Location of
bureau.

Directeur
Generaal.
M inister of
Labor.

L ondon........ Board of Trade
L abour Gazette.

B im onthly.
M onthly.

Do.

Do.

A thens.........

Romo............ B o l l e t t i n o
dell’ Ufficio del
Lavoro.
Mexico City B oletín del De­
partam ento del
Trabajo.
The Hague. M aandshrift van
h et Centraal Bu­
reau voor de Statistiek.
W ellington.. Jo u rnal of the
D epartm ent of
Labour.

Monthly
s e m im o nthly.
M onthly.
Do.

Do.

90

M O N T H L Y R E V IE W O F T H E B U R E A U O F LABOR S T A T IS T IC S .

Bureaus of labor in foreign countries—Concluded.
Country.

N orw ay..........

P e rn ................
Porto R ic o ...
Portugal.........

R oum ania___
R ussia...........
Servia.............

South A frica..
Spain.............

Name of bureau.

Chief official.

Socialavdelingen
(De- D irektor___
p artem en tet for sociale
saker, handel, in d u stri
og fiskeri).
(0 ............................................
Negociado del T r a b a jo .. . Jefe...............
R ep art igào do traballio ind u strial (Direccao geral
do comrécio e in d ù stria)
M inistério do fomento.
(2) ............................................
Division of In d u stry (Min­ D irector.......
istry of Commerce and
In d u stry ).
Section for In d u stry ,
Trade, and Social Legis­
lation (M inistry of Po­
litical Economy) (Minis­
ta r N arodne Privrede).
(8) ...........................................
In stitu to de Reformas S e c r e t a r i o
Sociales.
General

D o ............ Dirección General de Commercio, In d u stria y
Trabajo.
Sw eden........... K . K. Socia,lstvrelsen

Location of
bureau.

Title of publication.

C h ristiania.. Sociale Meddelelser Bim onthly.

San Ju a n __
Lisbon

Boletín
Boletim do T ra­
ballio Industrial.

P e tro g rad ..

Swoddi Otehetovi
Fabrichiù Inspectorovi.

Sofia.

M adrid.........

Boletín del In sti­
tu to de Refor­
mas Sociales.
D irector...
do
Boletin Oficial de
Commercio, In ­
dustria y T ra­
bajo.
D irek to r___ Stockholm . . Sodala Meddelanden.
Secretaire. . . Z u rich ..........

Sw itzerland. . , Secretariat O uvrier Suisse
(semiofficial).
U ru g u ay ........ Oficina del T r a b a j o
(Ministero de Industrias,
Trabajo e Instrucción
Publica).
In te rn a tio n a l. International L abor Office. Director___

Frequency
of issue.

M ontevideo. Boletín de la Ofi­
cina del Trabajo.
Basel, Swit­
zerland.

B u lle tta .........

Irregular.
Do.

M onthly.
Do.

Do.

Q uarterly.

Irregular.

1 Special labor division in th e police departm ent created in 1913 b u t its scope of investigation etc
lim ited to th e cities of L im a and Callao.6
’
’
2 A general m inistry of commerce and industry.
8 Only a public em ploym ent office (labor departm ent) in th e m in istry of mines and industry.


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