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C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lica tio n is issu ed p u rsu a n t to th e
p ro v isio n s o f th e su n d ry c iv il a c t (41 S ta ts.
1430) ap p roved M arch 4, 1921.

C o n ten ts
Special articles:
O peration of public old-age pension system s in th e U n ited S ta te s in
1931____________________________________
P ro d u c tiv ity a n d d isplacem ent of lab o r in tic k e r teleg rap h w o rk -----R eview of th e W h ite H ouse C onference re p o rt on child labor, by E lla
A rvilla M e r ritt___________________ r_____________________________
E m ploym ent conditions a n d unem p lo y m en t relief:
F am ily u n em ploym en t in Syracuse, N .Y ., N ovem ber, 1931, by Jo h n
N ye W ebb a n d F red erick E . C ro x to n ----- --------------------------------S ta te legislation fo r th e relief of u n e m p lo y m e n t____________________
P enn sy lv an ia— E m ergency lab o r c am p s____________________________
U nem ploym ent in foreign c o u n trie s________________________________
U nem ploym ent relief proposals of In te rn a tio n a l F ed eratio n of T rad e
U n io n s_________________________________________________________
G erm any— P ublic w orks fo r th e u n em p lo y ed _______________________
In d u stria l and lab o r c o n d itio n s:
Sm aller p la n t u n its as a m eans of stim u latin g w orkers’ in te re s t------Child lab o r:
N ew Jersey— M ig rato ry child w o rk ers-----------. _ -----------------------------In s u ra n c e and th rift p la n s:
In v e s tm e n t by in d u stria l em ployees in building a n d loan a sso ciatio n s.
A m ount of life insu ran ce in th e U n ited S ta te s _______________________
H ealth and in d u strial h y g ie n e :
M o rta lity experience of In te rn a tio n a l T y p o g rap h ic al U nion, 1931, by
F rederick L. H o ffm a n ____________________________________________
C ost of m edical serv ices____________________________________________
R e p o rt of th re e cases of a cu te silicosis. ------------------------------------------In d u s tria l accid en ts:
C oke-oven accidents in th e U nited S tates, 1930------------------------------L ouisiana— In d u s tria l accidents in N ew O rleans, 1931---------------- *—
N ew Y ork— B uilding co n stru ctio n accid en ts in New Y ork C ity in
1931___________________
Ohio— A nnual safety congress, 1932-----------------------------------------------la b o r law s and court d ecisio n s:
Sufficient evidence m u st be established to hold railro a d for lia b ility ._
U ta h — H an d -lab o r provisions in public c o n tra c t held illegal-----------W orkm en’s com p en satio n :
Provisions for “ second in ju rie s ” u n d er w orkm en’s com pensation law s.
R ecent w orkm en’s co m pensation re p o rts—
A lb e rta ______________________________________________________
N ova S c o tia _____________________________
C o o p eratio n :
C red it unions on th e R ock Islan d L in e s-----------------------------------------G erm any— P resen t condition of th e co operative m o v e m e n t-------------N orw ay— A greem ent fo r se ttle m e n t of d isp u tes in cooperative em ­
p lo y m e n t_______________________________________________________
Soviet R ussia— T he lab o r “ a r t e l” ---------------------------------------------------


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IV

CONTENTS

Labor ag reem en ts, aw ards, and d e c is io n s:
A greem ent in th e m illinery in d u stry of New Y ork, C ity ___________
R ecen t decisions of th e Colorado In d u s tria l C om m ission____________
In d u stria l d isp u te s:
R eview of in d u stria l disp u tes in th e U n ited S tates from 1916 to 1931__
S trikes a n d lockouts in th e U n ited S ta te s in April, 1932____________
C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L abor in April, 1932_______
R ecreatio n :
C om m unity recreatio n in th e U n ited S ta te s in 1931________________
H ousing:
B uilding p erm its in p rin cip al cities of th e U n ited S tates, A pril, 1 9 3 2 ..
N ew ty p e of m odern low -cost h o u sin g _____________________________
Wages and ho u rs of la b o r:
W ages a n d ho u rs of la b o r in gasoline filling statio n s, 1931__________
W ages a n d h o u rs of la b o r in m etalliferous m ining, 1924 a n d 1931___
W ages a n d h o u rs of la b o r in th e slau g h terin g a n d m eat-p ack in g in d u s­
tr y , 1931___________________________________ r __________________
W age-rate changes in A m erican in d u strie s_________________________
W age changes re p o rte d by trad e-u n io n s since F e b ru a ry , 1932_______
C an ad a— A gricu ltu ral wages, 1929 to 1931_________________________
F rance— W ages in O ctober, 1931__________________________________
G erm any— G eneral su rv ey of wages, 1931__________________________
T rend of em ploym en t:
S um m ary for April, 1932__________________________________________
E m p lo y m en t in selected m an u fa c tu rin g in d u stries in April, 1932____
E m p lo y m en t in n o n m an u factu rin g in d u stries in April, 1932________
T ren d of em plo y m en t in A pril, 1932, b y S ta te s _____________________
E m p lo y m en t a n d p a y roll in A pril, 1932, in cities of o v er 500,000
p o p u la tio n ______________________________________________________
E m p lo y m e n t in executive civil service of th e U n ite d S ta te s, A pril,
1932___________________________________________________________
E m p lo y m en t in b uilding co n stru ctio n in April, 1932________________
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I steam railro a d s in th e U n ited S ta te s _______
R etail p rices:
R etail prices of food in April, 1932________________________________
R e ta il prices of coal in A pril, 1932_____________________________
R e ta il prices of food in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d in foreign co u n trie s___
G erm any— Price fixing u n d er em ergency d ecree___________________
W holesale p r ic e s :
Index num bers of w holesale prices, A pril, 1932_____________________
W holesale prices in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d in foreign co u n trie s______
Im m igration an d em igration:
S tatistics of im m ig ratio n for M arch, 1932__________________________
P ublications relatin g to lab o r:
Official— U n ited S ta te s ________________________
Official— F oreign c o u n trie s________________________________________
U nofficial_________


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T h is Issu e in B rief

More than 76,000 needy old people were being cared for by public
pensions at the end of 1931. This was disclosed by a survey just made
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While 17 States had pension
lawson their statute books at the end of 1931, the law had not been
put into actual operation in two of these. About two-fifths of the
counties in the other 15 States had adopted the system, and these
spent more than $16,000,000 for the support of their needy aged in 1931.
In 4 of the States the system is practically state-wide, while in
the remaining 11 States the protection afforded by the law ranges
from less than 1 per cent of the State population (in Kentucky) to
80 per cent (in Montana). As would be expected, the spread of the
system has been much greater in the States with “ mandatory” than
in those with “ voluntary” systems. Page 1259.
Technological changes in ticker systems for handling market quotations
have had an important effect on the employment of telegraphers. There
has been a greater indirect displacement of Morse operators than a
direct displacement of ticker operators. This is shown in a study
made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because of automatic recep­
tion by tickers, the number of ticker operators has never been large.
But the country-wide extension of ticker service has eliminated large
numbers of telegraphers (mainly Morse operators) formerly employed
and has made unnecessary the employment of even larger numbers
which would have been required to meet the growing demand for
market news. Page 1269.
Large numbers of children in the United States are still engaged in
taxing, disagreeable, and even dangerous occupations. This is made
evident in a report of the subcommittee on child labor of the White
House Conference on Child Health and Protection recently issued,
which brings together all the available data on child labor in this
country. Employment in agricultural and nonagricultural work,
hazardous occupations, industrial accidents to minors, and adminis­
tration of laws affecting the employment of minors are all covered in
the report, which is reviewed on page 1278.
The question of unemployment relief received special attention by the
State legislatures in session during 1931. Many States had special
sessions to cope with this problem. The form of relief has varied
in the several States. Some States have provided direct relief,
while others have provided for a public construction program and
a few have delegated to local governments or political subdivisions
the power to provide relief. Page 1287.
The mortality experience of the International Typographical Union
for 1931 showed a slight increase over the previous year in the number
of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis and cancer and a marked
increase in mortality from diabetes. The number of deaths from
nephritis, which is often held to mask deaths from lead poisoning,
has decreased during recent years, and during the past three years


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VI

TH IS ISSU E IN B R IE F

no deaths have occurred from lead poisoning. This notable improve­
ment in a former serious hazard of the printing industry is the result
of better sanitation and ventilation of printing plants throughout
the country. Page 1310.
Liability for “second injuries ” has become a live question in workmen’s
compensation administration. The question involved is whether the
employer shall be held liable for the total disability of the combined
injuries or only for the injury suffered while in his employment.
Some States have provided “ second-injury funds” to pay the com­
pensation for the disability due to the prior accident. The provisions
for second injuries under the workmen’s compensation laws are dis­
cussed and the text of the legislation quoted, beginning on page 1329.
Earnings of employees of gasoline filling stations averaged 39.3 cents
per hour in i 931, according to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the first made by the bureau for these workers. The range in hourly
earnings in the different occupations was from 19.3 cents for porters
to 63.1 cents for managers. Full-time weekly earnings averaged
$23.58, the range being from $12.56 for porters to $36.16 for managers.
Average full-time working hours per week ranged from 48.3 for relief
men to 67.9 for tire men, while the hours actually worked ranged from
46.6 for relief men to 67.8 for tire men. Page 1388.
Hourly earnings in metalliferous mining in 1931 averaged the same
as in 1934—55.9 cents—although full-time earnings per week showed
a reduction from $29.63 in 1924 to $28.84 in 1931. Nominal full-time
hours per week averaged 51.6 in 1931 as compared with 53 in 1924.
These and other data from the 1924 and 1931 surveys by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of wages and hours of labor in this industry are given
on page 1394.
Average hourly earnings in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry
in 1931 were 47 cents for males and 32.1 cents for females, as compared
with 52.5 cents for males and 36.9 cents for females in 1929, the date of
the last previous study of wages and hours of labor in this industry by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Full-time weekly earnings of males in
1931 averaged $23.12 and'of females $15.70, as compared with $25.88
and $18.04, respectively, in 1929. Average full-time hours per week
of males in 1931 were 49.2 as compared with 49.3 in 1929; for females
they averaged the same in 1929 and 1931—48.9. Page 1401.


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MONTHLY

LABOR R E VI E W
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
VOL. 34, N O . 6

W A S H IN G T O N

JU N E , 1932

O peration of P u b lic O ld-A ge P en sion S y stem s in th e U n ited
S ta te s in 1931

THE end of 1931 old-age pension legislation had been enacted
in 17 States.1 The year 1931 marked the greatest progress in
ATLpension
legislation thus far, five States (Delaware, Idaho, New

Hampshire, New Jersey, and West Virginia) having legislated on the
subject during the year. However, although 17 States had old-age
pension laws, in not all of them had the system actually been put
into effect. Pensions were being paid in some or all of the counties
of 15 States. In New Jersey the law did not become operative until
January 1, 1932, and pensions will not be paid until July 1, 1932.
The West Virginia act went into effect June 11, 1931; but as it pro­
vides that the matter of adoption by the individual counties must be
voted upon at an election, no action toward acceptance of the system
will be taken in that State until November, 1932.
In the States of California, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New
York, the operation of the old-age pension system is practically
state-wide.
The Colorado law became mandatory January 1, 1932 ; but while
one or two counties anticipated this and put the system into effect
in the latter part of 1931, reports from many counties in the State
indicate that no action will be taken to provide funds until the fall of
1932. Both the adoption of the plan and payment of pensions under
it in this State have also been delayed pending the outcome of a suit
in the Denver district court attacking the constitutionality of the act.
The court upheld the act, but reports indicate that the case will be
carried to the Colorado Supreme Court.
In Idaho and New Hampshire, two States in which the act was
passed in 1931, the old-age pension plan has gotten off to a very good
start, although the reports indicate that actual payment of pensions
in most of the counties of Idaho did not begin until January, 1932.
Payments began in New Hampshire about October 1, 1931.
Montana and Wisconsin each show a gain of pne county since 1930.
The Kentucky act remains, as before, practically inoperative, due
in large part, it would seem, to the poverty of the counties._ Balti­
more city was the only part of Maryland in which the pension plan
was effective in 1931; in the remainder of the State the counties con­
tinue to care for needy aged under the poor-relief system.
l California, Colorado, D elaware, Idaho, K entucky, M aryland, M assachusetts, M innesota, M ontana,
N evada, N ew H am pshire, N ew Jersey, New Y ork, U tah , W est Virginia, W isconsin, and W yoming.


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1260

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Minnesota is like West Virginia in that its law provides that before
the adoption of the plan the matter must be placed before the voters
at a general election. In 1930 the old-age pension measure passed
by a majority vote in four counties, and in three of these pensions
are being paid. As no general election took place in the State in
1931, no further progress was made and none can be made until
November, 1932, when the matter may be voted upon and possibly
adopted by other counties.
In Nevada in 1931, as in 1930, only two counties were paying
pensions.
Wyoming, whose legislature in 1931 amended its act so as to
permit a special tax levy for the raising of funds for pensions, shows a
gain of 8'counties in 1931 over 1930.
The above data and those shown in the following pages were
obtained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its third survey, just
completed, of the operations under the State old-age pension laws.
This survey covered the year 1931, the other two having covered 1930
and 1928, respectively. Where possible the data were obtained from
State officials, covering the whole State; this was done in the case of
California, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana,
New York, and Wisconsin. In the other States the information was
obtained directly from the counties.
In all but two States (Delaware and Massachusetts) the primary
pension agency is the county. In Massachusetts the primary agency
is the town or city, and in Delaware the whole system is conducted by
a State commission; for statistical purposes, however, the data for all
States are shown on a county basis.
Of 681 counties in the 15 States in which the pension system was in
operation in some measure at the end of 1931, reports were received
for 645, or 95 per cent. The data given can therefore be accepted as
representative of the pension situation as of the end of 1931. Of
these 645 counties, 268, or about 42 per cent, had adopted the system.
At the end of 1931 they were caring for 76,349 needy old people and
had spent during the 12 months preceding $16,173,207.
Of the 15 States represented, 75 per cent of the total number of
pensioners and almost 90 per cent of the total expenditure were
accounted for in the two States of California and New York.
From 1930 to 1931 the number of aged receiving assistance under
the old-age security laws increased from 10,307 to 76,349, while the
annual amount spent for their support increased from $1,714,388 to
$16,173,207. How much of this was a normal increase and how
much due to unusual circumstances created by the depression, it is
difficult to say. The administrative authorities in New York and
Massachusetts estimate, however, that the number of pensioners has
been increased by 30 and 35 per cent, respectively, by this cause
alone. It is pointed out that a new type of dependent has been
created, a “class of people who have never asked us for any kind of
assistance before.” 2 Many old people formerly able to earn their
livelihood are now unemployed. A certain proportion of these, how­
ever, are merely temporary pensioners; when better times come they
will be returned to the care of relatives who at present, because of
2 American Association for Old Age Security. Old-age security in the U nited States, 1932: A record
of th e fifth n atio n al conference on old-age security, N ew Y ork C ity, M ar. 30,1932, pp. 39. 56.


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1261

PUBLIC OLD-AGE PENSION SYSTEMS

loss of employment or greatly decreased earnings, are not able to
support them.
Summary data as to the 1931 operations in the various States are
given in Table 1.
T able

1 .—

SU M M A R Y O F O P E R A T IO N S U N D E R S T A T E O LD -A G E P E N S IO N LA W S, 1931
Counties in State Counties having pension system
State

California_________________ ____________
Colorado___________ _ - -------------D elaw are___ ______________ ___________
Id a h o _______________ ________ ____ _____
K e n tu c k y __________ ____ _ _________
M arylan d ___ ______ ______ _
. - ---- _
M a s sa c h u se tts ___ _ - -------------- -- --------M innesota_____ - _ - - ------------M o n ta n a - .------------------- - - - - - N evada
_______ - ---------- -- -N ew H a m p sh ire.-- - ----------- -------------N ew Y o rk ____ -----U ta h ____ -_ --------- ---------- ------------- --_
W isconsin___ __ -_ _ _________ ________
W yom ing___________________ _______ _ . .
T o ta l______________________________

Year of
passage
of law

1929
1927
1931
1931
1926
1927
1930
1929
1923
1925
1931
1930
1929
1925
1929

Total

N um ber
N um ber A m ount
reported N um ber of pen­ paid in pen­
sioners sions, 1931
for

58
63
3
44
120
24
5 14
87
56
17
10
62
29
71
23

58
54
3
38
120
24
th
87
56
13
6
62
22
71
17

57
7
3
4 31
1
1
i 14
4
45
2
5
62
12
9
15

i 9,887 2 $2,460,000
2,190
50
1,497
3 66, 568
4, 224
4 698
10
1,000
50, 000
150
3 904,939
11,076
« 94, 068
61,227
1,130
178,934
34
7, 360
7 3, 614
246
12, 007, 352
47, 585
92,305
873
1,597
283,848
289
16,805

681

645

268

76,349

16,173,207

1 As of Jan. 31, 1932.
2 E stim ate, based on reports for June, 1931, and January, 1932.
3 6 m onths.
4 B ut only 2 of these counties, w ith 143 pensioners, actually paid any pensions during 1931.
8 System is not, however, a county system, b u t a city-and-tow n system; of 355 cities and tow ns in the
State all were reported for, b u t 22 (of which only 1 was large enough to have its population figures shown
separately in th e population census) h ad not p u t th e pension system into eflect.
6 3 counties.
7 3 m onths.

Development of Pension System Under “ V oluntary” and “ M andatory” Laws
I n T a b l e 2 the States are classified according to the type of law in
effect. For States in which the law was not clearly mandatory or
clearly voluntary the classification was made by the bureau on the
authority of the officials of the State concerned.
The early old-age pension laws in the United States were nearly
all of the type which left the adoption of the system to the option of
the counties. A definite trend toward the mandatory form is discerni­
ble of late years, however. Of the 12 laws on the books at the end of
1930, 5 were mandatory. Of the five laws passed in 1931, four were
mandatory, while the 1931 legislatures of Colorado and Wisconsin
changed their laws from the optional to the mandatory form.
Another definite trend is toward State aid in increasing proportions.
At the end of 1928, of the six States with pension legislation, only
Wisconsin provided for State aid (to the extent of one-third of the cost).
At the end of 1930, of the 12 States with such laws, 4 provided for
State aid; one-half of the total cost was at that time the maximum
proportion met from State funds. In 1931, of the 5 States passing
new pension laws, 2 provided for State participation in cost, 1 to the
extent of three-fourths and the other the entire cost. Of the 17 States
now having such laws, 6 have the State-aid plan, 2 bearing one-third,
2 one-half, 1 three-fourths, and 1 all of the cost.


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1262

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Among the “ voluntary” or “ optional” States it is seen that the
greatest proportion of adopting counties occurs in Montana and Wis­
consin, in the order named. That the larger and more populous
counties are the ones which have seen the value of the pension system
is also shown. Thus, although in Minnesota only 4 of the 87 counties
have adopted the system, these contain over two-fifths of the entire
population of the State. Baltimore, the only part of Maryland which
is paying old-age pensions, contains nearly half of the State popula­
tion. In Wisconsin, the nine counties (one-eighth of the whole num­
ber) which have accepted the pension system contain some threeeighths of the State population. Four-fifths of Montana’s popula­
tion have the protection of the old-age pension law.
At the other end of the scale is Kentucky, where the law is practically
a dead letter, only 1 of the 120 counties (with 0.3 per cent of the State
population) having paid pensions in 1931. The report for that State,
by the State bureau of agriculture, labor and statistics (which made a
survey of the pension system there, on behalf of the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics), indicates that many counties favor the
system and even in those counties in which opinion is unfavorable
the opposition rests mainly on the poverty of the county and the
resultant lack of funds; there is also some dissatisfaction with certain
features of the law as now written. In lieu of the pensions, a certain
amount of poor relief is being carried on in the State.
As would be expected, a much wider use of the pension system is
shown in the “ mandatory” States, particularly those in which the
State bears some part of the cost. In California, Delaware, Mas­
sachusetts, and New York the system is practically state-wide.
California had only one county (whose population was 241) in which
no pensions were being paid at the end of 1931. In Massachusetts,
where the system is a town-and-city, not county, plan, in only 22 out
of 355 cities and towns in the State were no pensions being paid;
that these form a very small part of the State is shown by the fact
that only one of the nonpaying communities was large enough to
warrant separate presentation in the census statistics of population.
It is significant that in California and New York the State pays half
of the cost of the pensions, and in Delaware the whole cost. In
Massachusetts the law provides in general for State aid to the extent
of one-third of the cost, but under a ruling of the State attorney
general on a 1931 amendment to the act the State must bear the
whole cost during the years 1931 and 1932. In the other five man­
datory States the entire cost must be met by the counties. It is
seen that the coverage (i. e., the proportion of the population in the
adopting counties) in these States ranges from 10 per cent in Colorado
to nearly 80 per cent in Wyoming. The mandatory feature of the
Colorado law became operative only on January 1, 1932, and is now
being questioned in the courts, this tending to delay the adoption
of the system. In New Hampshire the law became effective only on
September 1, 1931, but already the accepting counties afford protec­
tion _to two-thirds of the State population. Idaho, another new
pension State, has also shown a remarkable degree of favor toward
the system.


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1263

PUBLIC OLD-AGE PEN SIO N SYSTEMS

T abie 2 .—E X T E N T A N D C O V E R A G E OF P E N S IO N S Y S T E M IN S P E C IF IE D ST A T E S ,
B Y T Y P E OF L A W 1
Counties having pension system 2
N um ber
Popula­ of coun­
tion of
ties in
State, 1930 State N um ber

State, and type of law

Population

Per cent
of State
popula­
tion

Voluntary
2, 614, 589
1, 631, 526
2, 563, 953
537, 606
91,058
2,939, 006

120
24
87
56
17
71

1
1
4
45
2
9

8, 584
804,874
1,033, 855
431, 342
9,199
1,097, 277

0.3
49.3
40.3
80.2
10.1
37.3

California_____ - ---------------- 5, 677, 251
C o lo ra d o __ -- ------------------- 1,035, 791
238, 380
D elaw are. _____
..
----------445, 032
Id a h o .
_________ - _
-4, 249, 614
M assachusetts
--------------------------------465, 293
N ew H am pshire . _ _ _ _ ------—- - 12, 588, 066
..
.
----N ew Y o r k ___
507, 847
U ta h . __ _225, 565
W yom ing_______________________________---

58
63
3
44
14
10
62
29
23

57
7
3
31
14
5
62
12
15

5, 677,010
104, 374
238, 380
278, 421
4, 234, 530
311, 398
12, 588, 066
315, 365
176, 019

2 100. 0
10.1
100.0
62.6
99.6
66.9
100.0
62.1
78.0

K e n tu ck y ____ _
. . ~ - ------------------------M aryland------------------------M innesota
-------------M o n ta n a .----------------N e v a d a .- - -—
- — - ------ W isconsin----------------------------------- ------ --------

Mandatory

1 N ew Jersey and W est Virginia are n o t shown in this table because in neither are pensions being paid;
th e N ew Jersey law is m an d ato ry and th a t of W est Virginia voluntary.
2 Includes also those w hich, although th ey have adopted th e system, have not yet p u t it into eflect.
3 Actual percentage is 99.99+.

Cost of Pensions

T able 3 shows the proportion of pensioners in the population and
the cost of pensions in those counties which were paying pensions in
1931.
It is seen that the highest percentage of pensioners is in Delaware,
surpassing in this respect even such industrial States as Massachusetts
and New York.
The average annual amount disbursed per pensioner is, of course,
affected by a number of factors, such as the limitations set by the
various State laws, the pensioners’ circumstances, the number of
deaths during the year, the funds available, etc. The largest average
amounts spent were those of California, Maryland, and New York.
In Maryland, however, the figure shown in the table is based upon the
sum of $50,000 reported as having been appropriated and spent;
the validity of the average in this case is open to question.
The average annual cost of the pensions per inhabitant, in the
counties having the pension plan, ranged from 7 cents in New Hamp­
shire to 95 cents in New York.


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1264

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 3 .—CO ST O F O LD -A G E P E N S IO N S IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S IN 1931

State

Per cent pen­
sioners form of A nnual am ount
total population disbursed per
in counties w ith
pensioner 2
system i

California___ _____ ___
C o lo ra d o __ _
D elaw are____
_____ _
Idah o ________ ____
K entucky __ __ __
M ary lan d . . . . ___ .
M assachusetts
_____ . . . .
M in n e s o ta _____ _
M ontana . . .
N ev ad a_______ . . .
N ew H am pshire
____
...
N ew York _____
U ta h _________________
W i s c o n s i n ...
...
W yom ing______________

. 05
.63
.25
. 12
.02
.26
. 12
.26
.37
.08
.38
. 15
. 19

T o tal___

«pZ4:0. Ol
”~oo"n^
56. y-4
oa
nn
HO. U
U

Average annual
cost per capita
of population,
in counties w ith
system
$0.43
.56

OOO. 00
163. 41
71a
aj
0. 0/
mo. oo
91R
-210. A7
11n O
q^O
1IU.
occ qq
109. 76
1177
/ i. 7/i
Iet
C9.10

. 12
.06
.43
.09
.41
.80
.07
.95
.30
.26
.16

997 “A9
ZZ/.
1Z

.64

qq q qq

1 Based on counties reporting num ber of pensioners.
2 In counties reporting bo th n um ber of pensioners and am ount disbursed.

In general it may be said that most of the objections to the pension
system are based either on the cost to the taxpayer or on the charge
that the pension discourages thrift and decreases the sense of family
responsibility.
Some of the county reports call attention to the fact that the county
has a large sum of money invested in the almshouse and does not
feel it can incur additional expense, since as long as there are any
inmates at all at the poor farm the plant there must be maintained.
Many of the reports from counties in States having purely county
systems indicate that lack of resources is the chief factor in keeping
the county from adopting the plan. Many favor a State system
which would distribute the cost of plan over the whole State, pointing
out that those counties which have the greatest proportion of aged
poor and which therefore need the pension system most are pre­
cisely the counties whose resources are least. Thus of 120 counties
m the State of Kentucky, only 1 county is paying pensions; 66 have
almshouses, while others are supporting certain needy cases in private
homes. Others apparently have no form of relief. One of these
reports that it is “ miserably in debt” and has “ no poor farm or
institution of any sort and can not support one.”
Average Pensions Paid

T a^ le 4 shows, where available, the lowest, highest, and average
monthly pensions in the various pension States in 1928 (the year of
the bureau s first study), in 1930, and in 1931. The “ average pen­
sion” here shown is the average of amounts paid in individual cases, as
distinguished from the average amount disbursed (obtained by
dividing the amount spent in pensions by the number of pensioners)
4 he difference may be illustrated by the following case: In California
m 1930 the amount of monthly pension reported in individual counties
was as low as $10 in some cases and as high as $27.76 in others; by
weighting the amount of individual pensions by the number receiving
them an average pension for all was obtained of $22.69. This takes no
consideration of the period during the year for which the pension may

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1265

PUBLIC OLD-AGE PEN SIO N SYSTEMS

have been paid, a pension of $25 paid for one month having as much
weight as one of the same amount paid for 12 months. On the other
hand, on the basis of the total number of pensioners and the total
amount paid out in pensions, the average amount disbursed per pen­
sioner in this State for 1930 was $15.63. In the latter case the amount
is affected, of course, by the period for which the pension was paid
in each case.
It is seen that in most of the States there is a considerable margin
between the average pension actually granted and the maximum
possible under the law.
T able 4 .—L O W E S T , H IG H E S T , A N D A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y P E N S IO N S P A ID IN S P E C I­
F IE D S T A T E S , 1928, 1930, A N D 1931

State

1931

1930

1928

Low­ H igh­ Aver­ Low­ H igh­ A ver­ Low­ H igh­
est
est
est
age
est
est
age
est

M axi­
m um
payable
under
Aver­ State
age
law

20.00
K e n tu ck y .. __________
ATary land
_ ______ _
M innesota
9.00
M o n tan a______ _____
15.00
N e v ad a ____ __________
No W T1 a.mpsh irp
N p.w York
U tah
_______________
17.40
W i soon sin
W yom ing..................................

20.00

20.00

5.00
12.00

12.00
12.00

25.66
15.00

16. 46
15.00

7.00
25. 00

25.00
25.00

21.81

18. 25

4.00
5.00
13.50

15.00
30.00
15.50

2$23.16
0)
(>)
$15. 00 $26. 00
19.35
10.53 15.00
10. 62
8.00
8. 00
8.00
5.39
30. 00
12.00
0)
(0
16.89
16. 75 17.00
15. 46
(0
0)
0)
17.63
25.00 16. 65 25.00
20. 83
19. 63 22.50
26. 80
(>)
C1)
8. 62
3.00 11.35
9.68
19. 67
19. 71
12.80
14.31 10.00 18.00

9.00

25.00

17.10

4. 00

30. 00

20.04

California_______________ -

T o ta l_______________
i No d ata.

$10.00 $27. 76 $22.69
$10.00 $10.00 $10.66

2 E stim ated.

3.00

26.00

$30. 00
30.00
25.00
20.83
30. 00
30.00
25.00
30.00
32.50
(3)
25.00
30. 00
30.00

25.45

3 No lim it.

As the table shows, the smallest average monthly pensions in 1931
were those of Kentucky and Utah. Several reports from Utah express
the opinion that the amounts awarded in pensions are too small, but
state that they are all that the county, by itself, can afford; one of
these takes the position that the State should pay a like_ amount.
Delaware, which is not shown in the table because no pensions were
paid in 1930, was, at the end of 1931, paying an average pension of
$9.54 per month. As regards this point, it is pointed out that the
amounts are limited by the appropriations available; also, that many
of the pensioners live on farms in the southern part of the State,
where living costs are very low.
Progress of Old-Age Pension Movement
T a b l e 5 shows in summary form the spread of the pension system
since 1928. In that time the number of States with old-age pension
laws has tripled.
Whereas in 1928 financial assistance in old age was secured to only
about one-twelfth of the population in those States having pension
laws, by the end of 1930 over half, and in 1931 more than threefourths, were so protected.


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1266

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T able 5 .—P R O G R E S S IN O LD -A G E P E N S IO N M O V E M E N T , 1928 TO 1931
Item

1928

N u m b er of States having law a t end of year....... .............. ...........
N um ber in which benefits were being p a i d __
___ _
Counties in States w ith pension law:
T o tal___. . . ____________ _______ _ ________ _____ _
N um ber paying benefits _ . ___
. . . _________
Population of States w ith law in operation:
Whole State_____________________ ____________ ____
Counties w ith system —
N um ber of in h a b ita n ts..
______________________
Per cent of S tate population.
_________________
N um ber of pensioners______ ________________________
A m ount paid in pensions________ ____ ____

1930

1931

6
5

12
9

17
15

327
52

461
137

681
267

7, 218, 050

15, 260, 239

35, 810, 577

629, 986
8.7
1,003
$208, 624

8, 482,092
55.6
10, 307
$1, 714, 388

27, 308, 694
76.3
76, 349
$16,173, 207

Table 6 shows the situation in those States in which the pension
system was in operation in both 1930 and 1931. Some gains and some
losses are shown, the greatest gains in number of adopting counties
being in Colorado and Wyoming. The number of pensioners rose
from 10,000 to 14,000, but the outlay for the purpose nearly doubled.
T able 6 .—N U M B E R

OF A D O P T IN G C O U N T IE S , N U M B E R O F P E N S IO N E R S , A N D
A M O U N T S P E N T IN P E N S IO N S IN ID E N T IC A L S T A T E S , 1930 A N D 1931
N um ber of
counties
w ith sys­
tem

State

1930

1931

California_________________ . . .
Colorado
. _
_
K e n tu c k y _____________ _ _
M aryland
____
...
M ontana_________ . ________
N e v a d a ... . . .
_ . _____ _
______
U t a h _________
W isconsin_________________
W yom ing................................... .......

57
1
2
2
44
2
13
8
7

T o tal_____ _____________

136

1 E stim ated.

N um ber of
pensioners

1930

1931

57
7
1
1
45
2
12
9
15

7,205
18
12
889
5
1,107
989
82

9,887
50
10
150
1,130
34
873
1, 597
289

149

10, 307

14, 020

A m ount spent in
pensions

Average pen­
sion

1930

1930

1931

$1, 296, 455 >$2,460,000 $22.69
2 190
1,164
1,000
5. 39
1,800
50, 000
12.00
149,100
178, 934
15. 46
900
7, 360
25.00
95, 780
92, 305
9.68
156, 510
283, 848
19.71
12,679
16,805
14.31
1, 714, 388

3, 092,442

20.00

1931
i $23.16
8.00
30.00
(2)
17. 63
8. 62
19. 67
12. 80
20.99

2 N o data.

The development of the pension system in the various States since
the passage of the laws is shown in Table 7.
The results of the 1931 amendment to the Colorado law, making the
adoption of the system mandatory upon the counties, is shown by the
figures for that State, although, as already indicated, the progress was
not so great as had been expected, due to the feeling of uncertainty as
to the constitutionality of the law.


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1267

PUBLIC OLD-AGE PEN SIO N SYSTEMS

T able 7 —D E V E L O P M E N T OF P E N S IO N S Y S T E M IN S P E C IF IE D ST A T E S S IN C E PA S.
SA G E OF LAW
N um ber of
counties

S tate and year of act

Year

California (1929)_____________________ 1930
1931
Colorado (1927)
- _________ 1928
1930
1931
1931
D elaware (1931)___ _____ . -_Idaho (1931)
_ .
1931
1928
K entuck y (1926) _______ _____________
1930
1931
1928
M aryland (1927)
1930
1931
M assachusetts (1930)_._ _ _ ______- - 1931
M innesota (1929)_, _ _
______ - 1931
M ontana (1923)____________________ - 1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
N evada (1925)_________ __________ _ 1928
1930
1931
N ew H am pshire (1931)-.- _______ .-- 1931
N ew York (1930)-_- _____ . . 1931
U tah (1929)_______________ _____ ____ 1930
1931
Wisconsin (1925)
_____________ 1925
1926
1927
1928
1930
1931
W yom ing (1929) _________ _____ ____
1930
1931

N um ber
of pen­
sioners
A
dopt­
Total
ing
58
58
63
63
63
3
44
120
120
120
24
24
24
14
87
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
56
17
17
17
10
62
29
29
71
71
71
71
71
71
23
23

57
57
1
1
7
3
31
3
2
1
2
1
14
4
29
37
39
39
42
42
44
44
45
2
2
2
5
62
13
12
1
5
4
4
8
9
7
15

A m ount
spent

7,205 $1, 296, 455
9,887 3 2,460, 000
1
120

Average
annual
am ount
spent per
pensioner

$187. 56
2 248.81
120. 00

Cover­
age of
sys­
tem 1

50
1,497
698
30
18
10

2,190
66, 568
4, 224
8,064
1, 164
1,000

240. 00
64. 68
96. 00

100.0
100.0
.9
3. 5
10.1
100.0
62.6
1.9
1.0
.3

12
150
11, 076
1, 227
349
521
583
584
693
884
875
889
1,130
11
5
34
246
47, 585
1,107
873
8
352
295
295
989
1,597
82
289

1,800
50, 000
3 904, 939
94, 068
22, 870
78,158
100, 369
104, 863
115, 400
146, 510
146, 746
149, 100
178, 934
1,680
900
7, 360
4 3, 614
12,007, 352
95, 780
92, 305
180
67, 926
49, 638
66,185
156, 510
283, 848
12, 679
16,805

144.00
333. 33
163.41
76. 67
65. 53
150. 02
172. 14
179. 56
166. 52
165. 73
167. 71
169. 08
158. 35
180.00
300.00
216.47
110. 35
255. 33
84.44
109. 76
22. 50
192.97
168. 26
230. 40
158. 28
177. 74
158. 52
69.16

50.5
49.3
99.6
40.3
54.9
63.5
62.7
64.8
78.1
78.4
79.7
76.6
80.2
17.3
5. 1
10.1
66.9
100.0
73.6
62.1
1.3
8.0
5.6
5.6
35.7
37.3
35.0
78.0

88. 94

1 I. e., proportion of State population living in counties which have adopted system .
2 E stim ated.
3 6 m onths.
4 3 m onths.

Table 8 shows in summary form the provisions of the old-age pension
laws of the 17 States which have legislated in this field.


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Old-age pension act
(original act)

State

Year
of
pas­
sage

E ligibility requirem ents

T y p e of law

R equired period of—

M axim um
pension

D ate effec­
tive

F u n d s furnished b y —
Age
C itizen­
ship

Residence
C ounty

Years

Years

Years

15

10
20

1929
1927
1931
1931
1926

Jan. 1,1930 M a n d a to ry .
M ar. 19,1927 ____do.1____
Ju ly 1,1931 ____do_
Feb. 12, 1931 ____ do __
M ar. 25; 1926 V o lu n ta ry . .

$1 a d ay...........
____ d o . _____
$25 a m o n th ...
__ __do ______
$250 a y ear___

70
65
65
65
70

M aryland_____
M assach u setts..

1927
1930

Apr. 26, 1927 ____do ___ $1 a d a y _____
Ju ly 1,1931 M an d a to ry . N o lim it...........

65
70

M in n eso ta.____

1929

M ar.

$1 a d a y _____

70

2 15

15

M ontana______
N e v a d a ._______
N ew Ham pshire.

1923
1925
1931

M ar. 5,1923 ........d o _____ $25 a m o n th __
M ar. 18, 1925 ____do __ _ $1 a d a y . . . __
Sept. 1, 1931 M an d a to ry . $7.50 a w e ek ...

70
65
70

15
15
15

15
10
15

V o lu n tary -

15
15
2 15
15
15

(3)

15
15
5
10
10

N ew Jersey.........

1931

Jan.

$1 a d a y _____

70

(3)

15

N ew Y ork_____
U ta h ___ ______

1930
1929

Apr. 10,1930 ____do_ ___ N o lim it.. .
M ay 1L 1929 -------do -------- $25 a m o n th ...

70
65

( 3)

15

10
15

W est Virginia__
Wisconsin______

1931
1925

June 11, 1931 V o lu n ta ry . _ $1 a d ay _____
M ay 12,1925 ____ do.5____ ____ do _______

65
70

15
15

10
15

W yoming______

1929

June

65

15

15

2,1932 ____d o _____

1,1930

M a n d a to ry . $30 a m o n th ...

M axim um property lim it

1 Assets, $3,000 _________
C ounty or city, half; State, half.
15 ____ do_ _______ ____ ____ _ C ounty.
State.
3 Income, $300 a vear
C ounty.
10 Income, $400 a year; assets,
Do.
$2,500.
10
C ounty (or c ity of B altim ore).
C ity or county, tw o-thirds; State,
one-third.4
15 Assets, $3,000 __________
Paym ents b y county; reim bursed
b y cities, tow ns, etc.
Income, $300 a year .
C ounty.
Assets, $3,000
Do'.
15 Assets, $2,000___ __________ Paym ents b y county; reim bursed
b y cities and towns.
1 Assets, $3,000
C ounty, one-fourth; State, three___ . .
fourths.
1 U nable to support self
C ity or countv, half; State, half.
5 Incom e during past year, C ounty.
$300.
10 A ny property or income
Do.
15 Assets, $3,000 ________ ___ C ounty, tw o-thirds (reim bursed by
cities, tow ns, etc.); State, one-third.
5 Income, $360______________ C ounty.

1 Became m an d ato ry Jan. 1, 1932.
2 Required period of residence in U nited States.
8 Citizenship required b u t no period specified.
4 Provision of original law, b u t S tate bears whole cost during 1931 and 1932, by ruling of S tate attorney general on 1931 am endm ent.
6 Becomes m an d ato ry Ju ly 1, 1933.


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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

State

California______
Colorado______
Delaw are______
Id a h o _________
K entucky_____

1, 1929

1268

T able 8 .—PR O V ISIO N S O P O LD -A G E P E N S IO N L A W S

P ro d u ctiv ity and D isp la c em e n t of Labor in T icker T elegraph
Work

HE new high-speed ticker for handling stock-market quotations
is a most remarkable labor-saving mechanism. On Septem­
ber 2, 1930, for example, it automatically printed the New York Stock
Exchange quotations on 8,623 stock tickers in 43 States and Terri­
tories and in Canada, with circuits in 377 cities. The 17 operators
in charge also handled the transmission of bond quotations, which
were automatically received on 928 bond_ tickers. The average
number of market quotation tickers in use increased from 3,706 in
1921, to 13,736 in 1929 (falling to 11,178 in 1931). The number of
exchanges equipped with ticker service in 1931 was more than 30.
A single company engaged in handling business news maintains news
tickers in more than 100 cities.
Increasing efficiency of ticker transmission has resulted in a direct
loss of employment opportunities for operators of ticker systems.
But the principal effect on employment is in the encroachment of
automatic ticker systems in fields of telegraphic communication
formerly affording numerous opportunities to Morse telegraphers.
The ticker services are thus contributing to the decline and near
extinction of the Morse telegrapher except in a few relatively insig­
nificant fields where either the inertia of tradition or the value of
extreme specialization affords protection.

T

Evolution of High-Speed Ticker

T he forerunner of the stock ticker was a gold indicator devised by
S. S. Laws, president of the Gold Exchange. The fluctuations in the
value of money during the period of the Civil War led to the estab­
lishment of the Gold Exchange and to the use of a disk indicator on
display in the window of the exchange. Hundreds of members of the
exchange, merchants, and others sent their messengers to the exchange
to note the readings on the indicator. This prompted the idea of
installing electrically controlled indicators in the offices of members.
The idea of printing the characters on a ribbon of paper was contrib­
uted by Edward A. Callahan in 1866. By Black Friday, September
24, 1869, when the attempted corner of the gold market by Fisk and
Gould collapsed and price fluctuations became less violent, indicators
had been installed in 300 offices.
During and following the Civil War there was a vast increase in
the quantity of securities, due in part to bonded operations in public
finance and in part to the financing of railroads and other enterprises
on an. unprecedented scale by the sale of stocks and bonds. In con­
sequence, the gold indicator was soon improved by E. W. Andrews,
Thomas A. Edison, and others and adapted to the recording of market
quotations. The Gold & Stock Telegraph Co. was organized in 1867,
and a rival company, using Charles T. Chester’s Manhattan ticker,
was founded in 1871. The ticker services originated by these two
companies were the beginnings of the later country-wide networks of
market quotation circuits.
The vast expansion of stock-exchange operations, previous to 1929,
led to demand for a ticker service capable of handling the enlarged
120148°— 32------2

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1269

1270

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

volume of quotations with a minimum of delay and error. The result
was the high-speed stock ticker introduced in 1929 and installed in
1930 throughout the country.
The ticker is a form of the printer telegraph which commonly uses
the type wheel instead of the type bar. The type are placed, that is
to say, not at the ends of bars, as on a typewriter, but at the circum­
ference of a wheel. The type wheel and a gear wheel are attached to
the same shaft. Corresponding to the type of the type wheel are the
teeth or notches of the gear wheel. The gear wheel is operated by an
electromagnet, and the movement of the armature steps up the gear
wheel and with it, the type wheel. Another magnet controls the
movement of the tape across the printing position or point of contact
between tape and type wheel.
. The wheel revolves once for the printing of each character, and
since it is geared at a speed of 500 characters per minute, there are
500 revolutions per minute. As no one person could possibly prepare
quotations and feed them into the transmitter at so high a rate of
speed, one of the principal changes in the new system is an arrange­
ment for the alternate feeding of the transmitter by several operators.
Reporters on the floor of the exchange note changes in quotations as
sales are made. These changes are written out carefully and checked,
and put in pneumatic tubes which converge at an operating platform!
Here the quotations are typed on teletypes, or ordinary printer
telegraphs, which put the quotations into code on perforated tapes.
There are as many of these teletype operators as are necessary for
taking care at once of all quotations reported from the floor of the
exchange. As the perforated tapes emerge from the teletypes, “ com­
parers ” check them to see that they conform to the reports as received
from the floor, and errors are eliminated. The several tapes are per­
forated at a speed very much below 500 characters per minute. On
the platform there is an automatic reperforating device operating so
rapidly that the perforated tapes emerging from the teletypes are fed
into it alternately.
The quotations are thus reduced to code and consolidated in the
form of a single perforated tape. On the platform near the reper­
forator is a tape transmitter. The tape transmitter is connected by
circuit with the sending apparatus, or master transmitter, which is
located in another room. This master transmitter has already been
described as having a speed of 500 characters per minute. For send­
ing each character over the wire, eight so-called impulses are necessary:
(1) The start impulse, for initiating the revolution of the tvpe
wheel.
(2)
-(6) The selection of the character to be printed, that is, the
position on the_ type wheel where the character selected is located.
(A 5-unit code is used, the characters being represented on the per­
forated tape by perforations running in number from 1 to 5, which
m turn set up combinations or permutations of 5 positive-negative
impulses.)
(7) An impulse for selecting between letters and figures (corresponding
to the operation of the shift key on a typewriter, except that in this case
the operation is from neutral to letter or figure as the case mav be).
(8) Stop impulse.
Although the type wheel revolves 500 times per minute, there is a
stop after each revolution. This is for the purpose of synchronizing

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1271

PRODUCTIVITY IN TICKER TELEGRAPH W ORK

the action of the master transmitter with that of each of the several
thousand receiving tickers throughout the country. The network of
circuits connecting the master transmitter and the receiving tickers
is handled by an elaborate system of relay switches and by repeaters
on the longer circuits. Relays are also used for locating trouble.
Market quotations are expressed by characters or symbols, mainly
letters and figures. Each ticker receives the same characters, just as
each subscriber to a periodical receives the same periodical. The
total output of the operators of the ticker system may be_ expressed
in the form of the number of characters printed by each ticker mul­
tiplied by the average number of tickers. In Morse operation,
reception of standardized data such as market quotations requires
more operators than transmission requires, for one transmitting oper­
ator can send over several circuits but every circuit must be manned
by a receiving operator. Reception by ticker is entirely automatic
over all circuits connected with the transmitting mechanism, and only
one transmission is now necessary, no matter how numerous the
circuits may be.
Productivity of Labor in Ticker Service
I n f o r m a t i o n regarding the exchange ticker service as operated
locally in the central financial district of New York City is available
as far back as 1890. Changes in the productivity^ of labor in handling
the ticker service in this limited area are shown in Table 1.
T able 1.—C H A N G E S IN T H E P R O D U C T IV IT Y O F L A B O R , N E W Y O R K ST O C K
E X C H A N G E T IC K E R S E R V IC E i
O perators of ticker service

Y ear

D aily
aver­
age of
tick­
ers in
use 2

N um ­
ber
Index
of
neces­
E stim ated
changes
in
sary
on
total n u m ­
basis of
ber of
Aver­ o uaverage
o
u
tp
ut
tp
u
t
per
characters
age
per op­
p rin ted on n u m ­ operator
erator
all tickers 2 ber
in—

All employees, ticker service

A ddi­
tional
Index of
num ­
changes in
ber
average
neces­
o u tp u t per
sary on
basis Aver­ per em ­
of o u t­ age
ployee
p u t per n u m ­
opera­ ber
tor in —

1890= 1920= 1890 1920 1890
1920
100
100

1890= 1920= 1890 1920 1890 1920
100
100
1890
1895__
1900__
1905__
1910.-1915--1916...
1917—
1918-.1919.-_
1920--1921...
1922.__
1923-.1924-.1925--1926...
1927--1928--1929___
1930--.

395 2, 686, 000, 000
611 4,163, 354,000
837 8, 551, 629, 000
1,176 12, 254, 390, 400
1,355 11,192,435, 500
1,120 12, 589, 248, 000
1,349 17, 283,118, 200
1,434 16, 237, 325,400
1, 337 14, 625,977,800
1,441 20,470, 413, 700
2,068 23, 783, 654, 400
1,993 20,162, 583,100
2,030 26,991, 286, 000
2,112 26, 081, 299, 200
2,045 30, 948, 621, 000
2,249 41, 290, 965, 300
2,424 46, 488, 684,000
2,643 58,448, 887, 800
2,957 73, 987, 688, 400
3, 572 93, 587,114, 400
3,812 96, 733, 693, 200

8
6
9
10
10
11
11
11
11
13
13
13
13
12
20
18
18
18
17
li
17

100
207
283
365
333
341
468
440
396
469
545
462
618
648
461
683
769
967
1296
154Ç
1695

18
38
52
67
61
63
86
81
73
86
10C
85
113
119
85
125
141
177
238

8
12
25
37
33
38
51
48
44
61
71
60
80
78
92
123
138
174
220
284 279
311 288

2
2
5
7
6
7
9
8
8
11
13
11
15
14
17
23
25
32
4C
51
53

6
16
27 —
23
27
40
37 —
33
48
58
47 3 2
2
67
2
66
72 33
105
5
120
7
156 14
203 23
261 33
271 36

A ddi­
N um ­
tional
ber
num ­
neces­
ber
sary on
neces­
basis of sary on
o u tp u t
basis
per em ­ of o ut­
ployee p u t per
in— employee
in —

20
26
33
43
42
40
49
57
57
60
56
50
54
59
67
68
75
87
10C
128
157

100
119
193
212
198
234
263
212
191
254
316
300
372
329
344
452
462
500
551
544
459

32
38
61
67
63
74
83
67
60
80
100
95
118
104
109
143
146
158
174
172
145

20
31
64
91
83
94
129
121
109
152
177
150
201
194
230
307
347
435
551
696
721

6
10
20
29
26
30
41
38
34
48
56
48
64
61
73
97
110
137
174
220
228

5
31
48 —
41
54
80
64 —
52
92
121
100 3 2
147 10
135
2
163
6
239 29
272 35
348 50
451 74
568 92
564 71

1 Figures ap p ly only to central financial district of N ew Y ork. T h e same service is now tran sm itted to
several thousand additional tickers w ithout additional operators except a few for emergency use.
2 Figures derived from tables in New Y ork Stock Exchange Yearbook.
3 Fewer th an in 1920,


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1272

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

On the basis of the daily average, there were 395 tickers in use in
1890 and 3,812 in 1930. The average number of characters printed
per ticker was 6,800,000 in 1890 and 25,376,100 in 1930. The
total number of characters received by all subscribers on their tickers
increased from 2,686,000,000 in 1890 to 96,733,693,200 in 1930.
These vast numbers, of course, mean little except as a basis for
indicating relative productivity. The number of operators increased
from 8 in 1890 to 17 in 1930, while the total number of employees
rose from 20 to 157. Taking 1890 as the base or 100, the index of
changes in output per operator runs from 100 to 1695, practically a
1,600 per cent increase, while the productivity of all employees com­
bined runs from 100 in 1890 to 459 in 1930, more than a 350 per cent
increase. Taking 1920 as the base or 100, the index of productivity
of operators more than tripled, running from 100 in 1920 to 311 in
1930; while the index for all employees runs from 100 in 1920 to 145
in 1930.
Table 1 also gives estimates of the number of workers that would
be necessary in successive years on the basis of the productivity of
workers in 1890 and in 1930. On the basis of the productivity of
operators in 1890, 288 operators instead of 17 would be required for
the output of 1930; and on the basis of the productivity of 1920, 53
operators instead of 17 would be required for the output of 1930.
If we should base the estimates on the productivity of the Morse
telegrapher^ and assume the sending of exchange quotations over
Morse circuits, several thousand Morse operators would be required.
At least three Morse operators with separate circuits, each taking a
portion of the quotations, would be required for one transmission;
and since the number of drop circuits on a Morse circuit is limited, a
considerable number of transmissions would be necessary. In place
of every receiving ticker position there would be required at least
three Morse telegraphers to receive and write out the quotations.
In place of the tickers given in Table 1 alone, considerably more than
10,000 Morse receiving operators would be necessary.
Such estimates are too hypothetical, however, to have great prac­
tical significance. The telegraphic handling of market quotations
was never done exclusively by Morse, and would never have reached
its present extent by means of Morse circuits.
But the extension of the ticker system beyond the local limits of
the New Pork financial district has been accompanied not by a
mere hypothetical loss of opportunities for employment but rather
by.the actual displacement of large numbers of Morse operators.
This will be apparent to anyone who is acquainted with the methods
used before the introduction of ticker service for handling market
quotations. Before recalling these methods and explaining their
effects in displacing telegraph operators, it is desirable to describe
the process by which the various ticker services have been extended
and made available in virtually all sections of the country.
It was not till March 15, 1926, that stock-exchange ticker service
was inaugurated west of Kansas City. It was not till 1927 that service
was extended to such important cities as Atlanta, Birmingham,
Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, and Los Angeles,
hour years later, by 1931, the high-speed ticker circuits extended to
all but three of the States of the Union, and tickers in Canada and
Cuba as well as 45 States and the District of Columbia received

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1273

PRODUCTIVITY IN TICKER TELEGRAPH W ORK

quotations from one master transmitter. The number of cities in
the United States with ticker circuits direct from the New York
Stock Exchange was only 121 in 1926 as compared with 369 in 1930
(including Canada and Cuba, 377). The rapid extension of the
service since 1926 is shown in Table 2.
T able 2 —E X T E N S IO N OF T IC K E R S E R V IC E F O R S T O C K -E X C H A N G E Q U O T A T IO N S ,
1926 TO 19311

N um ber N um ber
of States of cities
receiving receiving
service
service

Year

24
26
36
41
43
46

1926_____________________________
1927_____________________________
1928_____________________________
1929_____________________________
1930______
.
.
________
1931_____________________________

121
157
230
336
369
318

N um ber of tickers in service
Stock

Bond

4, 368
5,408
6,963
9,437
8, 372
5,824

899
889
953
1,068
928
628

Total

Average n u m ­
ber of characters
printed per
ticker

5,267
6, 297
7,916
10, 505
9,300
6,452

19,178, 500
22,114, 600
25, 021, 200
26, 200, 200
25, 376, 100
2 18,277,100

1 Basic d ata from New Y ork Stock Exchange Yearbooks; figures for C anada and C uba excluded.
2 F irst 9 m onths only.

There are two main exchanges in New York City for handling
securities, and their quotations are now sent out by direct ticker
service to virtually all parts of the country. In each case bond
quotations are handled by a separate ticker system. In addition,
there are many local or sectional exchanges for handling securities,
and many commodity exchanges, equipped with ticker services. In
1930 there were more than 30 exchange ticker systems. The quota­
tions of about 20 additional exchanges were handled by ordinary tele­
graphic methods.
For most of the exchanges there is no available record of output in
terms of characters printed, such as was used in Table 1, but a less
adequate indication of increased productivity is afforded by changes
in the number of tickers without taking into account the increasing
average capacity of the tickers. On this basis, Table 3 affords an
estimate of the changes in productivity of operators of the principal
market-quotation ticker services from 1921 to 1931.
T able 3.—C H A N G E S IN P R O D U C T IV IT Y OF O P E R A T O R S O F P R IN C IP A L M A R K E T Q U O T A T IO N S E R V IC E S AS IN D IC A T E D B Y C H A N G E S IN N U M B E R OF T IC K E R S P E R
O P E R A T O R , 1921 TO 1931

N um ber of
operators
necessary
on basis of
Index num ­ productiv­
ity per
bers
(1921=100) operator in
1921

Additional
num ber of
operators
necessary
on basis of
productiv­
ity per
operator in
1921

68
123
252
205

39
99
88

Tickers per operator

Y ear

1915
1921
1925________________________
1929________________________
1931________________________

Average
Average
num ber of num
ber of
tickers
operators
in use

3,706
6| 705
13, 736
11,178

140
68
84
1 153
117

A ctual
num ber

54.5
79.8
89.8
95.5

i N um ber abnorm ally large during transition to new high-speed ticker.


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100.0
146.4
164.8
175.2

1274

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

The average number of tickers in daily use for the direct handling
of the quotations of exchanges increased from 3,706 in 1921 to 13,736
in 1929, and then declined by 1931 to 11,178. During the transition
to the new high-speed ticker, the number of operators increased to 153,
and the number in 1931 (117) is also probably abnormal due to the
desire to test the new system throughly and guard against breakdowns.
But in spite of the transition, and in the face of a large decline in the
total number of tickers, the average number of tickers per operator
continued to increase consistently from 54.5 in 1921 to 95.5 in 1931.
Table 3 also gives estimates of the number of operators necessary if
their average productivity had remained the same as in 1921—
estimates having little significance aside from a theoretical interest.
The number of operators actually employed was never large. In
1915, when ticker services were limited to a few large cities, the number
of operators was 140, as compared with 117 in 1931, when there were
many new services, many thousands of additional tickers, and circuits
extending not only to virtually all parts of the United States but to
Canada and Cuba as well.
Closely related to the market-quotation ticker services are the
ticker systems operated by various companies for furnishing stand­
ardized business news. But it is not practicable to send out business
news in a form as highly standardized as are exchange quotations, for
the varying ideas and needs of different groups and sections make
necessary a process of selecting and editing the news to fit the different
conditions.
In keeping with this idea of adaptation of service to needs of
clients, one of the principal companies engaged in providing a finan­
cial-news ticker service has several circuits. On the New York
metropolitan circuit, the tickers furnish news adapted to the condi­
tions prevailing there. Circuits running to adjacent cities, to New
England, to the South, and to the West have separate transmissions
with similar adaptations of the newrs. A single company maintains
business-news tickers in more than 100 cities.
Effects of Ticker on Employment of Telegraph Operators

I n c o n s i d e r i n g the effects of the extension of ticker systems on the
numbers and status of telegraph operators, there are three principal
modes of approach.
(1)
We may inquire, in the first place, merely as to the number of
ticker operators at different periods and compute the decline, if any,
in the number of operators actually engaged in handling the tickers.
But the system is, and always has been, so largely mechanical, due
to the perfecting of drop circuits and the automatic operation of
receiving tickers, that the number of operators directly engaged in
the handling of tickers has never been large enough to justify any
considerable attention. The numbers given in Table 3, although
not complete, include most of the ticker systems, and reveal the
slight importance, from the point of view of number directly affected,
of this mode of approach. In 1915 the number w'as 140; in 1931 it
was 117. As compared with 1925, there was an increase in number
of ticker operators from 84 to_ 117. Obviously, from the point of
view of direct displacement of ticker operators, the improvement and
extension of ticker systems are without significance.

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PRODUCTIVITY IN TICKER TELEGRAPH W ORK

1275

(2) A second mode of approach is to compute the changes in num­
ber of employment opportunities on the basis of the changing pro­
ductivity of employees. This method is used in Tables 1 and 3,
which are accompanied by comments relating to the results attained.
There are various bases for computing changes in productivity, as the
dates 1890 and 1920, for example, in Table 1. In Table 3, because of
lack of basic data as to output, it was necessary to limit the computa­
tion to the changes in the average number of tickers handled per
operator. The validity of the assumption that the increasing pro­
ductivity per employee means loss of employment opportunities
depends on the further assumption that demand for the increased
output was not dependent on the higher rate of productivity per
employee. In the case of the ticker systems, there is no way of testing
adequately the validity of the second assumption, though undoubtedly
the general expansion of business in recent years would have been
accompanied by a considerable increase in demand for ticker service
without any material Improvement in the rate of productivity. But
in any event, this mode of approach, in connection with ticker sys­
tems, has a hypothetical quality which gives to the results a degree of
unreality.
(3) The third method of getting at the effects of the improvement
and extension of ticker service on telegraph operators takes into
account the earlier and alternative systems of transmitting informa­
tion now handled by ticker.
Outside of a few great centers, particularly the financial district
of New York, market quotations were formerly handled by Morse
operators. The principal users of information concerning market
changes were brokers’ offices and newspapers. The newspapers
received their market news as well as general news largely over
Morse circuits. The larger brokers employed skilled Morse operators
to quote the market changes to their branch offices and correspondents.
In these offices, Morse operators received the quotations by ear from
the sounder and as they translated the quotations, frequently marked
them on the boards for the information of customers. Orders and
reports were also handled by Morse operators.
Newspapers now almost without exception depend either on
quotation service sent out by the ordinary printer telegraph (tele­
type) or on intermittent ticker service, or on both. Brokers, except
in remoter places, now depend on tickers, and the printed ticker tape
is copied by assistants who are merely board markers. In many
offices, even the board markers are now being displaced by tele­
registers for automatically displaying market changes in customers’
rooms, and by a magnified and illuminated projection of the moving
ticker tape on a screen. By August, 1931, teleregisters had^ been
installed in more than 200 brokers’ offices, as far west as Chicago,
with remoter installations planned, all handled by a single operating
center in New York. The extent of displacement as a result of these
various innovations can not be measured statistically, but in the
aggregate it is very large. Nor are the problems of displacement of a
highly skilled and specialized group such as Morse telegraphers
materially lessened by the fact that the innovations, in spite of their
exceptionally automatic .nature, have themselves afforded some
additional jobs for mechanics.

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1276

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

T able 4 .-E V 0 L U T I0 N OF T IC K E R SYSTEM OF ONE OF T H E EXCHANGES FROM

SEM IAUTOM ATIC TO AUTOM ATIC OPERATION
Average num ber of tickers
in use in—

Average num ber of operators

Year
M etro­
politan
circuits

Other
circuits

1921_________
1922________
1923______
1924___________

399
369
394
361

55
63

449
424

5
6

5
6

3
3
IB
12

1925___________
1926________ .
1927.. ___ ____
1 9 2 8 --____ __

525
700
734
1, 150

123
217
252
398

648
917
986
1, 548

7
8
10
12

7
8
10
12

14
16
20
24

1929_________
1930
1931__________

1, 585
1, 568
1,191

755
900
699

2,340

13

14

1,890

27
4
4

Total

Morse

Ticker

3

T otal

. An illustration of one phase of the displacement of operators is
given in Table 4. Before 1921, information concerning the activities
of the exchange represented in Table 4 was sent to brokers and others
m different parts of the country by ordinary telegraphic means,
usually on Morse circuits. It was not till 1921 that members and
others in the immediate vicinity were served by tickers. Between
1923 and 1929 the ticker service was extended to several important
cities, but not by direct ticker circuits. Quotations were sent by
Morse opeiators to each city, and there put on local ticker circuits
ticker operators. In 1929 the intermediate Morse circuits were
eliminated, as were also the transmitting tickers in the several cities
and all tickers received quotations from one station over direct
circuits. The table shows the displacement of the intermediate
Morse operators, and also the displacement of the local ticker opera­
tors; but the number of telegraphers who had been employed by news
bureaus, brokers, or others to transmit the quotations, and who were
actually displaced by the tickers, can not be shown, even approxi­
mately I nor is it possible to estimate satisfactorily the number of
telegraphers who would be employed to-day to handle the quotations
if the ticker system had never been introduced. If only a small
fraction of the 2,468 subscribers to this one ticker service in 1930
were now depending on Morse telegraphers for market quotations,
the added employment opportunities would be considerable.
Another illustration of the effects of the ticker system is to be
found in one of the commodity exchanges which still combines, in its
quotation service, the use of Morse operators and automatic tickers.
In this case, quotations originate in two cities. On the floor of the
exchange m each city there are two Morse operators, one to send
and one to receive quotations. Ticker service is provided in six cities,
n each of these there are two Morse operators to receive quotations
irom the two originating offices, and one ticker operator to put the
quotations^ on the local ticker circuits. Thus there are 4 operators
connected immediately with the exchange, and 18 connected with the
b ticker offices in the 6 cities in which there is enough demand to
justify the maintenance of the service. Direct ticker circuits are
expected to eliminate all of the 16 Morse operators and most of the

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PRODUCTIVITY IN TICKER TELEGRAPH W ORK

1277

8 ticker operators, just as in similar cases eliminations have already
been made.
In the case of financial news, a somewhat similar intermediate stage
of joint Morse and ticker operation is observable. A single company
which now has tickers in more than a hundred cities formerly trans­
mitted the news over Morse circuits to the principal cities which it
served, and in each city it maintained a separate transmitting office
for putting the news on local ticker circuits. There is now direct
transmission by ticker on all except one Morse circuit. Again, in the
case of this company’s news ticker system, as well as in the case of
other ticker systems, there has been a large but incalculable displace­
ment by virtue of the fact that many of those who subscribe to ticker
services formerly gave employment to telegraph operators. In this
case, also, as well as in the others, it is apparent that the extension
of ticker service has not only eliminated many telegraphers but
has forestalled a rapid increase in the number of operators which
would have been required to meet the growing demand for immediate
information in an age of ever-quickening tempo.


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R eview of th e W h ite H ou se C on feren ce R ep ort on C hild Labor
B y E lla A r v il l a M e r r it t , U n it e d S t a t e s C h il d r e n ’s B u r e a u

HE White House Conference on Child Health and Protection,
organized in 1930 under the auspices of President Hoover, divided
its work among various committees. The report of the subcommittee
on child labor has just been published.1
The concept of child labor upon which this report is based includes
any work of those not physically mature which deprives the individual
of the opportunity to<achieve “ normal development” in the highest
and most comprehensive sense of that term. The children’s charter
adopted by the conference sets up as a standard that for every child
there must be “ protection against labor that stunts growth, either
physical or mental, that limits education, that deprives children of the
right of comradeship, of play, and of joy.” The Subcommittee on
Child Labor has given in this report a comprehensive and well-rounded
picture of child labor in this country, its extent and distribution, its
causes and effects, its conditions and hazards, and its problems in
special fields, as well as of the legal regulation of all phases of child
labor and its administration. On the basis of these findings and of the
accumulated experience of the specialists in the different fields of child
labor who made up the subcommittee, a series of recommendations is
presented which should serve as a guide to legislators and child wel­
fare workers everywhere in surveying the needs of the individual situa­
tions with which they must deal and in meeting them adequately.
It was found that the subcommittee’s field had such varying tech­
nical aspects that an adequate survey required the services of special­
ists in dealing with the different phases of the problems involved.
Four groups were therefore organized, as follows: (1) Employment of
children in nonagricultural occupations, with Julia C. Lathrop as
chairman; (2) employment of children in agriculture, with Dr. Samuel
McCune Lindsay, chairman of the National Child Labor Committee,
at its head; (3) hazardous occupations, industrial accidents, and work­
men’s compensation for injured minors, under the leadership of Fred
M. Wilcox, chairman of the Industrial Commission of Wisconsin; and
(4) administrative problems with reference to laws affecting the em­
ployment of minors, with Frances Perkins, industrial commissioner,
New York State Department of Labor, as chairman. Ellen Nathalie
Matthews, then director of the industrial division of the Children’s
Bureau of the United States Department of Labor, was chairman of
the subcommittee.
In preparing the report, all available material on child labor was
searched, and information from widely scattered sources, both pub­
lished and unpublished, has been collected for the first time. It was
assembled primarily from published articles, reports of child labor
studies and surveys, reports of State labor, education, and other public
agencies, as well as from surveys made by the numerous private
agencies in this field. Important sources of information were the

T

1 W hite H ouse Conference on C hild H ealth and Protection. Com m ittee on Vocational Guidance and
C h ild L ab o i. C h ild L ab o r. R eport of the subcom m ittee on child labor. N ew York, T he C entury Co., 1932.

1278


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publications of the Children’s Bureau of the United States Depart­
ment of Labor and the unpublished material in its files which was
placed at the disposal of the conference. The committee was also
greatly indebted for material to the National Child Labor Committee.
A canvass of all interested organizations was made as to pending
research and unpublished material, and such of this as could be
obtained and was of value to this study was analyzed and included in
the report. In addition, the committee had the assistance of several
special inquiries pertaining to the employment of children in noilagricultural occupations, made by outside agencies. Certain infor­
mation on wages and hours of work was furnished through the cooper­
ation of continuation schools in a number of communities in several
States. An inquiry also into the administration of State laws relating
to the employment of children on the stage and in theatrical exhibi­
tions was conducted by the United States Children’s Bureau through
correspondence, and was supplemented by a more detailed field
inquiry into the administration of the law regulating such employ­
ment in New York State, made by the New York Child Labor Com­
mittee. In the field of administration, the report makes use of a study
of the physical examinations of children entering industry, conducted
by the National Tuberculosis Association, and a study of the issuance
of employment certificates, made for the subcommittee on health and
education of the Illinois Commission on Child Welfare Legislation
which was surveying the Illinois needs at that time.2
It is recognized, both in the factual sections of the report and in its
recommendations, that any rightly conceived program of protection
of the young worker has two aspects—one, legal, concerning itself
largely with prohibitions, restrictions, and administrative methods;
the other, more general in scope, having to do with education, guid­
ance, recreation, and hygiene, and with all those social and economic
forces and institutions that affect not only the working child but all
children. These various problems affecting the health and welfare of
children were made the subject of special study by other sections and
subcommittees of the conference. The Subcommittee on Child Labor
therefore confined its study largely to the legal and factual aspects of
child labor, with only brief reference to the more fundamental prob­
lems and the more constructive programs. The report, however,
points out the paramount importance of these problems and programs
in any consideration of child labor and employed youth.
A study of this report brings home to the reader a realization that
child labor means different ^things at different times in different places
and that, although the United States has no child-labor problems of
the kind that are common in China and India to-day, or that character­
ized the early stages of development of the textile industry in New
England, nevertheless large numbers of children are still engaged in
taxing, disagreeable and even dangerous occupations, or while still
immature are assuming burdens of industrial life which exclude them
from the activities of play and education essential if they are to reach
maturity with physical vigor unimpaired and with the mental training
and social equipment necessary for good citizenship.
The latest statistics available for the use of the committee as to the
total number of children employed in the United States, their ages,
2 T he reports made by the New York C hild Labor C om m ittee and th e N ational Tuberculosis Association
are published in full as P a rt V of the volume.


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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

geographical distribution, and the industries and occupations in which
they work, were those of the 1920 census, since the figures for the 1930
census were not yet compiled. So far as possible, evaluations of the
trend between 1920 and 1930 were made on the basis of available
material. The lack of these statistics for the last decennial census,
however, does not in fact detract from the usefulness of the report, as
it appears from the 1930 census data so far published that both the
number and distribution of children employed were so affected by the
unemployment situation at the census date that they would not
accurately reflect conditions in a normal period .
Special attention has been paid to the presentation of the laws
regulating child labor in the different fields covered by the report.
Though analysis of these laws is difficult because of the fact that they
differ widely from State to State in their application, their exceptions,
and their administrative measures, summaries are presented which
give a general picture of their standards, supplemented by surveys of
the more important details necessary for the understanding of the
problems to be met by regulatory and administrative methods.
A survey of the information made available by this report falls
naturally into a discussion of its four main sections: Nonagricultural
occupations; Employment in agriculture; Hazardous occupations,
industrial accidents, and workmen’s compensation; and Administra­
tion of laws affecting the employment of minors.
Employment of Children in Nonagricultural Occupations

A g e n e r a l summary of the field of child employment in nonagri­
cultural occupations gives the available information as to the trend
from 1920 to 1930 and the increase in school attendance during the
decade, and presents information as to kinds and conditions of work
in which children engage, their hours of labor, their wages, and the
type and extent of legal regulation. The usually recognized causes
which influence children to go to work—poverty and dissatisfaction
with school—are evaluated as far as possible. As to the demand for
child labor, it is stated that the proportion which children form of
the total number of workers in any industry is so small as to appear
negligible from the point of view of the industry, and that the testi­
mony of persons in direct contact with child workers bears out this
conclusion. Evidence is presented as to the undesirable effects of
employment at an early age, due to the child’s physical and mental
immaturity, to the fact that it cuts short the child’s education and
leaves scant time for needed play during »daylight hours.
Though proportionately the number of children in industry is
small, the fact is brought out that children are employed by hundreds
and thousands in a great variety of nonagricultural occupations.
Various as the jobs are, almost all of them have this in common, that
they are unskilled, mechanical, and monotonous, offering the child
little opportunity to acquire either experience or skill likely to be of
value to the adult worker, and most of the children go from their
children’s jobs into work that requires only greater physical strength
or maturity and can be learned at the most in a few weeks’ time.
Many _children, it is shown, work in badly ventilated, poorly
lighted, insanitary places. Many work long hours; many are em­
ployed in connection with machinery that offers a high degree of

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hazard for the immature; and many are in occupations in which dusty
or lint-laden air, fumes, and poisonous substances create conditions
favorable to tuberculosis and to industrial poisoning, to both of which
children and young persons are especially susceptible; others do tax­
ing and exhausting work. Although the majority of regularly em­
ployed children under 16 at the present time are 14 and 15 years old,
certain kinds of work, such as work in canneries, industrial home
work, and newspaper selling, employ large numbers of very young
children. Perhaps one of the most demoralizing conditions of the
work of children is the fact they are frequently unemployed and
subject during their most plastic years to the deteriorating effects
of idleness.
Weekly wages for children under 16 in any kind of work almost
invariably average under $15 and generally under $10.
This brief survey of the field is followed by an analysis giving the
factual basis for these general conclusions and for the committee’s
recommendations. Here is collated and summarized material from
literally hundreds of reports and surveys, each covering perhaps only
a small phase of the subject or dealing with a special group of child
workers. Special attention is given to types of work offering special
problems, including the canning industry, industrial home work,
street trades, work outside school hours, and appearance of children
in theatrical exhibitions and motion pictures. The conditions and
surroundings which make these kinds of child employment require a
different form of regulation and different machinery for enforcement
from that practicable in regulation of work in factories and stores,
as well as the community and social problems involved in such
regulation, are set iorth in detail.
In the recommendations of the committee it is recognized that
certain economic, social, and educational measures are needed in
addition to adequate legislative restrictions and safeguards in order
to protect young workers from the dangers of employment at too
early an age or under adverse conditions. It is therefore urged that
special attention be given to the solution of the problems of adult
unemployment, farm economics, and a living wage, ‘¡since an income
earned by the chief wage earner of the family sufficient to maintain
a decent standard of living is basic to a normal solution of the problem
of child labor as it is to other problems of child welfare.” It is also
pointed out that numerous studies of working children have shown
that for large proportions of young workers causes connected with
school have furnished the chief motive for leaving school to go to
work, especially for pupils of somewhat limited mental ability, arid
it is urged that as a child-labor measure some content of education
be found and provided for these children which will mean real develop­
ment for them, since the early years of adolescence when they are
likely to leave school for employment are the very years when they
are most in need of guidance. In the field of legal regulation it is
recommended that standards be set up for all kinds of gainful em­
ployment of children, but that special consideration be given to
proper types of control in certain employments, such as industrial
home work and street trades, now largely unregulated._ Specifically
it is proposed that no child under 16 should be permitted to leave
school for work; that school attendance be required for children up
to 16 years of age; that higher age minima should be set for occu
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MONTHLY LAHOR R EV IEW

pations physically or morally hazardous; that no minor under 18
should work more than 8 hours a day or 44 hours a week, or at night;
and that all children under 18 should be required to obtain employ­
ment certificates before going to work and be required to have a
certificate of physical fitness from a public physician. Special regu­
lation of street work, with the consideration of a minimum age of 16
for newspaper selling, the prohibition of industrial home work, and
the consistent application of provisions of the general child-labor law
to canneries, work outside school hours, and work in theatrical
exhibitions and moving pictures are recommended. It is also
pointed out that among the child-labor problems are those involving
interstate relations, as for example, the problem of the migrant
worker, and that the general progress toward the goal of establishing
adequate standards for the health and protection of all working
children would be enormously facilitated by a national minimum
standard.
Employment of Children in Agriculture
T h i s section of the report, prepared by the National Child Labor
Committee, was based primarily upon a study of all the investigations
of the employment of children in agriculture which have been made by
public and private agencies since 1920, including rural educational
surveys. In view of the extensive research already existing on this
subject and of the vast territory to be covered if a further check-up
were attempted, no new field studies were conducted. It is pointed
out that in several respects agriculture presents the most serious
child-labor problem in the United States at the present time. It
involves more child workers than all other occupations together, 61
per cent of the total number of working children 10 to 16 years old;
it includes a large number of younger children, 87 per cent of all
working children 10 to 14 years old; it employs thousands of children
as migratory workers; it presents difficult problems of control and,
even more than industrial work, it interferes seriously with school
attendance. The development of agriculture into a large-scale
industry has led to the employment of thousands of children, some­
times on their parents’ farms but often among strangers or in migra­
tory camps, under conditions almost as undesirable as any found in
unregulated industrial employment. Much of this employment is
characterized by long hours, repetitive processes, unsuitable and
sometimes hazardous conditions, interference with school attendance,
and absence of supervision. Special attention in the report is given
to the nature and conditions of the work performed by children,
including detailed descriptions of the kinds of work children do in the
most important farming operations—general farming, beet culture,
tobacco and onion raising, the cultivation of small fruits, berries, and
orchard fruits, truck farming, and grain farms. Information is given
as to hours of work, the duration of the season, wages, housing of
migratory workers, and health and accident hazards. The difficulties
which confront attempts to curb child labor in agriculture are the
public view of farm work for children as being healthful work; the
economic status of the general farming population; the sentiment
against interfering with the parent’s control over the child; the
seasonal nature of the work; the administrative difficulties involved
in enforcing legislation for children working in scattered rural dis-


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tricts, and to a considerable extent outside school hours; the limita­
tions of State jurisdiction; and the local prejudice against furnishing
school facilities for migratory children.
For all these reasons, the approach to the regulation of employment
is made by the committee through recommendations looking to the
extension of more adequate school-attendance requirements and
facilities to rural children and their efficient enforcement. The
changes in rural educational organization and administration recom­
mended by the subcommittee on rural schools of the committee on
the school child of the White House Conference are indorsed.
I t is insisted that rural children should be afforded educational
opportunities equivalent to those afforded city children, that the age
and attendance standards for schooling should be the same for both
groups, and that districts should be responsible for the schooling of
migratory children. For children hired out or working under some
form of family wage or contract system other safeguards are recom­
mended, including a minimum age of 16 for agricultural work during
school hours and of 14 outside school hours, except that children
12 to 14 years may be employed outside of school hours in fight
agricultural tasks a few hours a day during a short season. Recom­
mendation is made that permits be required for agricultural work of
children under 16 not working on the home farm, that special atten­
tion be given to employment of children about dangerous agricultural
machinery, and that the daily hours of work or of work and school be
limited to eight. It is also recommended that the regulation of
sanitary conditions of labor camps for migratory workers should be
placed under a State department, such as that of labor or health.
Hazardous Occupations, Industrial Accidents, and Workmen’s Compensation
T h e material for this section was prepared by the Children’s
Bureau of the United States Department of Labor and is based to a
large extent upon information obtained in connection with an inquiry
into the operation of workmen’s compensation laws as they affect
minor workers, at that time under way in the bureau. The provisions
of these laws and the court decisions relating to the extent to which
illegally employed minors are entitled to compensation, and those
relating to the basis on which compensation to injured minors is
computed, are summarized, and information is given as to the ad­
ministration of these provisions, particularly those awarding addi­
tional compensation in the case of injuries to minors illegally em­
ployed . The legal regulations affecting the employment of minors in
hazardous occupations are also analyzed. In addition, a review,
supplemented by a tabular summary, is given of available statistics
of accidents to minor workers.
The fact is emphasized that some risk of accident and injury must
be assumed by the adult worker even though technical improvements
in industry continue, but that this is a risk which the child or young
person can not afford to assume, nor can society afford to permit
him to do so. All investigators have emphasized the extreme liability
of young workers to accident, partly the result of the natural curiosity,
irresponsibility, and carelessness of youth, and of their peculiar sus­
ceptibility to injury from poisons, vitiated air, and other unfavorable
conditions in industry.

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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

The scarcity of information on industrial accidents to minors is
pointed out and it is urged that the States develop a program for con­
tinuous study of all industrial injuries to minors under 18. In this
connection the recommendation is made that the States compile their
statistics of accidents on a comparable basis and that the Federal
Government, through the Children’s Bureau, cooperate with them by
compiling and publishing annual statistics of industrial accidents to
minors. _ The present legislation on employment in hazardous occu­
pations is reviewed and it is pointed out that although existing legis­
lation, taking the States as a whole, shows that attention has been
directed toward many of the known dangerous occupations, the laws
of the States show great inequality and in many respects inadequately
protect minor workers, particularly those 16 and 17 years of age.
It is recommended, both because the present body of knowledge of
industrial hazards is incomplete and because State legislation is
inadequate, that such legislation be revised on the basis of a careful
and comprehensive study of the hazards of occupations in which
minors are engaged, as well as of possible safeguards in such occu­
pations and any special susceptibility of immature workers to in­
dustrial poisons and other harmful substances. Since the problem
affects working minors throughout the entire country, it is recom­
mended that a permanent committee be appointed to work in cooper­
ation with the Children’s Bureau in studying all phases of the
problem.
In the light, however, even of present knowledge it is recommended
that the employment of such children under 16 as may be permitted
to work in a restricted list of occupations should be prohibited on or
in connection with machinery of any kind, and that minors of 16
and 17 should be prohibited from employment on dangerous machin­
ery not guarded at the point of operation, or in the operation of ele­
vators, or in other occupations proved by accident records to be
hazardous to them. Power should be given to State labor boards to
determine what occupations are dangerous and to prohibit employ­
ment of minors therein. In regard to provisions relating especially
to minors in workmen’s compensation laws, it is urged that in all
States not yet having such laws legislation be passed providing (1 )
that the employee’s future earning capacity be considered as the
basis for computing compensation to minors for permanent disability,
and (2) that minors injured while illegally employed should be brought
under the workmen’s compensation law, and that, in addition, pro­
vision should be made for the payment of extra compensation in such
cases.
Administration of Laws Affecting the Employment of Minors
A l t h o u g h one or another of the aspects of administration of childlabor laws has been treated in various studies and surveys, this report
for the first time brings together in brief compass and in one place the
accumulated experience, under different laws and in different places,
in dealing with all the different phases of administration and enforce­
ment. The necessary correlation between the issuance of employ­
ment certificates, the proper enforcement of school-attendance laws,
and the inspection of establishments and imposition of penalties for
violation, is clearly indicated. The report consists in great part of a
discussion and criticism of administrative procedure and methods

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W H ITE HOUSE CONFERENCE REPO RT ON CHILD LABOR

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possible under different types of law, illustrated by such examples of
actual practice as could be found. The extent of the problem is
shown by the unevenness of enforcement, so great that in many places
one or another provision of the law is probably being violated for a
majority of the children at work. The discovery, adoption, and
improvement of the methods of putting into effect administrative
standards for enforcement has at all times followed long after the
establishment of the standards themselves by legislative fiat, and
examples of inadequate enforcement, often extreme, have been found
wherever investigations have been made and have extended to all
phases of child-labor legislation.
The section of the report dealing with employment-certificate sys­
tems not only gives a summary of methods of administration and
information in regard to the machinery of issuing certificates but also
points out the standards as to evidence of age, physical examinations,
educational requirements, and supervision of certificate issuance
which have been found effective. The careful enforcement of school
attendance of minors of school-attendance age up to the age when they
may legally go to work, and after that time if they are not actually
and legally employed, is shown to be basic to child-labor law enforce­
ment, since it automatically prevents employment during school hours
of underage children and of children of certificate age who have failed
to obtain legal authorization to work, and insures the educational
training which the law contemplates as a prerequisite for employment.
It is also shown that in so far as the enforcement of school attendance
of minors and effective employment certificate systems do not auto­
matically prevent the illegal employment of minors, inspection of
places of employment must be relied upon to accomplish that end and
that, moreover, such inspection is practically the only method of
enforcing regulations applying to children at work. Inspection has
an important function also in educating employers both to understand
and to obey the law, and in obtaining evidence to be used in the
prosecution of employers in cases where such prosecution is deemed
necessary.
Administrative recommendations include: Adequate legal provi­
sions as to employment-certificate issuance, including standards for
evidence of age and proof of physical fitness; the enforcement of
school attendance, with special attention to the problems of school
attendance of children in rural districts and of the education of the
so-called migratory child workers; methods of inspection adapted to
good enforcement; provision of official personnel qualified by educa­
tion, experience, and training, adequately compensated and appointed
under the merit system; such personnel to be sufficient in number for
effective certificate issuance, school-attendance enforcement, and
inspection; and supervision by State agencies in the development of
effective administration of each of these activities.
1 2 0 1 4 8 °— 3 2 -------3


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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND UNEM­
PLOYMENT RELIEF
F a m ily U n e m p lo y m e n t in S yracu se, N. Y ., N ovem ber, 1931
By J o h n N y e W e b b a n d F r e d e r ic k E. C r o x t o n , C o l u m b ia U n iv e r s it y

N THE Labor Review for April, data were presented from an
unemployment study made in Syracuse, N. Y., in November, 1931.1
From the schedules used in that study additional facts have been
tabulated in order to analyze employment and unemployment in
respect to family groups. The results of this study are strictly com­
parable with those for Buffalo, N. Y., shown in the May issue of the
Labor Review. As in the case of the Buffalo data, the Syracuse
figures include all males 18 years of age or over (except students) and
all females 18 years of age or over who were usually employed. Thus
the following groups were not included: (1) Males and females under
18 years of age, some of whom were undoubtedly employed full or
part time, (2) males 18 years of age or over who were students, some of
whom were certainly employed part time and a very few full time, and
(3) females 18 years of age or over who were working part time by
choice. In making this analysis of family groups, roomers have not
been included as part of the family.
The first section of the accompanying table shows data concerning
4,637.family groups of which 634, or 13.7 per cent, reported no one
employed. Of these 634 families, however, there were 55 which,
while reporting no one employed, also reported that those persons
unemployed were voluntarily so. These 55 family groups have been
eliminated from the data shown in the second part of the table.
Of the 4,582 family groups with one or more members desiring
work, 579, or 12.6 per cent, were families in which no one was employed,
and 766, or 16.7 per cent, were families with but one member working
and that person working only part time. Just under 30 per cent of
the 4,582 families had either no member employed or but one member
working part time. In 833, or 18.1 per cent, of the family groups,
either no one was employed or only one member was employed and
that one was working less than half of usual full time.
Data were collected on the schedules of the employment status of
roomers, but not of persons furnished meals only. Of the families
which reported no member employed, approximately 1 in 13 had one or
more roomers, and of the families reporting only one member working
part time almost exactly 1 in 20 had one or more roomers.
Included in the present analysis are 55 family groups of related
persons sharing living arrangements but not having a definite head.
Because of the small number of such groups they were not segregated
for separate study.

I

1 See also special B ulletin 173 of the Division of Statistics and Inform ation of the N ew Y ork S tat« D epartlent of JLabor.
1

1286

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Among the 579 family groups reporting no one employed there were
11 which had no head. There were also four families which reported
involuntary unemployment of one or more members, but in which
the head of the family was unemployed of his own volition. Deduct­
ing these 15 family groups leaves 564 families in which the head of
the family was involuntarily unemployed and in which no one else
was working.
The family groups having one person employed part time numbered
766. Of these there were two families which had no head. Of the
remaining 764 family groups the head was employed part time and
was the only person employed in 649 families, while in 115 families
the head was unemployed and some other member of the family was
employed part time.
Combining two classifications reveals 1,213 family groups in which
the head was either, (a) involuntarily unemployed (and no one else
was working) or (b) the sole worker and employed only part time.
These 1,213 families amounted to a little over one-fourth of the
families having a head and having one or more members desiring
work.
Following is the table showing family employment status for the
families enumerated in the seven selected areas in Syracuse:
F A M IL Y E M P L O Y M E N T ST A TU S IN SY R A C U S E , N O V E M B E R , 1931

All fam ily groups
Fam ily groups having—
N um ber

Per cent

F am ily groups w ith 1
or more members de­
siring work
N um ber

Per cent

N o one em ployed.
.
. _______ _____ _
1 person w orking p a rt time__ _ - ____ _
Less th a n one-half tim e _____ _
_________
One-half tim e or m ore.
_ ______ _ _
F raction not re p o rte d --.
____
2 or more persons working p a rt tim e
1 person w orking full tim e___
----_ _
2 or more persons w orking full tim e
- _
2 or more persons w orking full and p a rt tim e .--

634
766
254
493
19
95
2,318
512
312

13. 7
16. 5
5.5
10.6
.4
2.0
50.0
11.0
6. 7

579
766
254
493
19
95
2,318
512
312

12.6
16. 7
5.5
10. 8
.4
2. 1
50.6
11. 2
6.8

T o ta l________________________________________

4,637

100.0

4,582

100.0

S ta te L eg isla tio n for th e R elief of U n em p lo y m e n t

URING the legislative year of 1931, 44 States met in regular
session, and of these, 16 States1 also met in extra or special
session. The legislatures of Louisiana and Mississippi had no regular
session but were called into special sessions by their governors. While
some of the State legislatures, especially those in the South and
Southwest, were called to relieve the situation in the cotton and oil
industries, most of them were called to provide some measure of
relief due to the widespread unemployment conditions. Some of the
State legislatures called in 1931 did not meet until late in the year
and hence did not adjourn until early in 1932.
Due to the increased need for relief, and the fact that many locali­
ties were unable to provide any further help to their citizenry, the de-

D

1 Arizona, A rkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, M assachusetts, N ebraska, N ew Jersey, N ew
York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.


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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

mand for the State to aid the local governments has increased during
the past year.
The form of relief has varied in the several States. Some have
provided relief directly to the people while others have appropriated
large sums in building-construction projects in order to alleviate the
unemployment emergency. Some of the States have met the problem
by extending to the local governments or political subdivisions powers
permitting them to raise additional revenue for aiding families in need.
Provision for Direct Aid
Illin o is .—Many emergency bills for the relief of unemployment
were passed in Illinois. _Among the measures was one appropriating
$20,000,000 for the relief of the needy residents of the State; the
Illinois Emergency Commission was formed to handle the fund.
The money is^ to be raised by a tax assessment on property, unless
the voters decide at the next State election in November to approve
a bond issue for $20,000,000.
N e w J e rse y .—The special session of 1931 created (ch. 394) an emer­
gency relief administration and appropriated approximately $10,000,000. The_ State director of this administration (appointed by
the governor) is authorized to appoint a county director of relief in
each county. Funds for poor relief are to be granted on a population
basis, and local political subdivisions are to be reimbursed for 40 per
cent of the cost of dependency relief.
Other acts passed authorize local authorities to issue bonds, and
provide for the institution of public works to relieve the emergency.
N e w Y o r k .—In its special session of 1931 the Legislature of New
York created (ch. 798)2 a temporary emergency relief administration
and appropriated $20,000,000. Home relief (defined as food, fuel,
shelter, clothing, light, medicine, and medical attendance at home)
and work relief are provided.
Ohio .—-House bill No. 102 (p. 11), Session Laws of 1931, author­
ized municipal corporations, township or county, to borrow money
and to issue bonds to cover deficiencies in poor relief funds caused
by the abnormal unemployment conditions. Proceeds from the sale
of the bonds are to be paid into an emergency poor relief fund.
O klahom a .—The Legislature of Oklahoma (by senate bill No. 23,
p. 354) appropriated the sum of $300,000 for the purpose of providing
food, clothing, fuel, and shelter for the destitute and suffering citizens
of the State. The same act created an emergency relief board.
P e n n sy lv a n ia .—In the special session of 1931 (act No. 7E, p. 1503)
the Pennsylvania Legislature appropriated $10,000,000 to the depart­
ment of welfare for the various political subdivisions charged with
the care of the poor. According to the preamble of the act, “ present
conditions of unemployment aggravate the normal situation facing
public authorities charged with the care of the poor, impose a burden
which local government is unable to bear, and demand the exercise of
the police power of the Commonwealth for the protection of public
health, safety, murals and welfare, and the assumption by the Com­
monwealth of its governmental duty to care for the poor.”
Rhode Is la n d .—An unemployment relief commission was created
during the special session of 1931 (by ch. 1855). The law authorized
2 See Labor Review, N ovem ber, 1931, pp. 59-61, for analysis of act.


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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F

1289

cities and towns to borrow money for unemployment relief and to
issue notes, and appropriated $1,500,000 to be used for the purchase
of the notes by the State.
Provision for Public Works, Etc.

I n a d d i t i o n to the direct aid afforded by several States, other
States have appropriated money to help relieve the unemployment
situation by the employment of additional persons and by the con­
struction of public works. In Massachusetts, over $3,000,000 was
appropriated for the employment of additional persons as a measure
of relief during the emergency. For such purposes the following
appropriations were authorized by the legislature in 1931: Chapter 1,
$330,700; chapter 14, $106,440; chapter 112, $270,000; chapter 268,
$2,759,000; chapter 465 (extra session), $245,000. In addition to
these amounts, $8,500,000 was provided for by a bond issue, of which
amount the department of public works was authorized to expend
$7,000,000 for the acceleration of work on State highways and
$1,500,000 for the erection of a State building.
Wisconsin (by ch. 187, Acts of 1931) authorized direct relief to the
poor by the towns, villages, and cities. Several other States (Arkansas,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina, and West Virginia)
made provision for emergenc}7 relief caused by disasters and unem­
ployment.
Certain other States provided for the appointment of investigative
commissions: California (ch. 61), Maryland (J. Res. No. 19, p. 1428),
Minnesota (ch. 5), Tennessee (H. J. Res. No. 14, p. 431), and Wiscon­
sin (ch. 67, sec. 110).
E m ergen cy Labor C am ps in P en n sylvan ia

cooperation of the various State departments of Pennsyl­
vania was an outstanding feature in connection with the emer­
T HE
gency labor camps organized last winter by the governor. The
operation of these camps is described in a report by the director of
these camps in the March, 1932, issue of Labor and Industry, the
monthly publication of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and
Industry.
As soon as authorization for a camp in a certain county was received
by the State highway department, the department of military affairs
was notified in order that it might deliver camp equipment and plan
the camp layout. The water supply of the prospective site was
inspected by the department of health, which in addition supervised
the engineering in connection with camp construction, furnished medi­
cal supervision for examining the campers, and medical treatment for
them during their stay in these emergency quarters.
The department of labor registered the thousands of applicants who
were eager to get work on the State highways and live in the camps,
and selected those who were to be employed.
Rural road construction was, of course, directly supervised by the
State highway department and the camp became a project of the high­
way department of the particular county in which such camp was set
up. The Pymatuning Reservoir clearing work is under the super
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1290

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

vision of the department of forest and waters. Other departments,
however, rendered assistance as in the case of the highway camps.
T here w ere six cam ps a u th o rized in six different co u n ties fo r th e S ta te highw ay
d e p artm en t. T he first tw o cam p s were opened on N ovem ber 16,1931, a t N orm alsville, in F a y e tte C o u n ty , a n d C laysville, in W ashington C o u n ty . N orm alsville
is a ty p ical m o u n ta in cam p located som e 10 m iles from C onnelsville, on a n im ­
p roved highw ay b u t q u ite a d istan ce from a n y village o r tow n. T h e cam p a t
C laysville w as ju s t o u tside th e borough lim its a n d w as im m ed iately a d o p te d by
th e people of C laysville as a p a r t of th e ir c o m m u n ity life. T h e m en a t th e C lays­
ville cam p sp e n t som e of tn e ir evenings in th e to w n a n d in th e th re e m o n th s of
operation, n o t a single case of m isb eh av io r h as been re p o rte d to th e ca m p a u ­
thorities. T h e th ird cam p w as lo cated a t K itta n n in g P o in t, in B lair C o u n ty , ju s t
outside th e c ity of A ltoona, se t in a valley su rro u n d ed by m o u n tain s. T h is w as
th e only cam p located w ith in a few m iles of a large c ity a n d w hile th e re w as som e
fear expressed t h a t th e m en of a large c o m m u n ity w ould n o t w a n t to sta y in th e
cam ps, th is cam p o p erated as sm oothly a n d successfully as a n y of th e others.
T he fo u rth cam p w as opened a t P le a sa n t U n ity som e 10 m iles so u th of G reensb u rg in rolling farm co u n try ju s t o u tside of M o u n t P leasan t. T h e fifth a n d sixth
cam ps were th e only cam ps lo cated in th e n o rth e rn p a r t of th e S ta te , th e fifth a t
Curw ensville, in Clearfield C o u n ty , a n d tn e six th a t C ram er, in Jefferson C o u n ty .
T he m en stay in g in th e C urw ensville cam p h a d th e a d v a n ta g e of being n e a r a
tow n, th e cam p being located only a m ile from C urw ensville. T h e C ram er cam p
w as located on th e p ro p e rty of a coal-m ine o p e ra to r a t C ram er a n d only a few m iles
from Sykesville.

Each camp had regular National Guard equipment and had accom­
modations for from 70 to 90 men. A captain of the National Guard
was assigned to live at each camp and was responsible both for the
equipment and the men’s welfare. He was aided in each instance by
a State police officer, who also resided at the camp. The floors of the
tents were boarded and also their side walls, approximately 3 feet in
height. In each tent a pyramid stove furnished ample heat even in
severe weather. The mess tent also had a wooden floor and wooden
tables and benches, and was heated by a large stove. The regular
army kitchen of each camp was under the direction of a National Guard
cook. Three good substantial meals were served daily and there was
no limit on second helpings.
Up to February 18, 1932, the registrars of the department of labor
and industry had accepted 14,728 applications. When a camp first
opened all that department’s bureaus were called on for assistance and
department employees stationed within 50 miles of the camp were
ordered to report and remain there as long as their services were
required. Registration was begun before dawn and frequently was
not completed before 9 or 10 o’clock at night. Before daylight hun­
dreds of men would be waiting at the registration tent. Many of the
men left home the afternoon before and walked from 10 to 50 miles so
that they would be among the first applicants. Others arrived in cars,
which were lined up for blocks along the highway. Trucks were hired
by certain towns to carry their unemployed to register, and a few
applicants from the mountain counties came by horseback. Among
the approximately 15,000 registered candidates for highway employ­
ment were white and colored, native and foreign born. The majority
were laborers, but every profession was represented. The director of
camps reports that in the taking of this large number of applications
there was not a semblance of disorder among the men.
Each camp had a chief registrar whose duty was to select, from
the file of registered men, those who were apparently most in need
and to place them in the camp. No political pressure was allowed
in the selection of workers and letters of recommendation from

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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F

1291

political leaders were absolutely ignored. After consultation with
relief groups, men in receipt of relief were given consideration.
However, men who had been able to carry on with small savings
accumulated while they had jobs were also considered for camp
employment, as it was felt that if such men did not secure work
they would soon have to seek charity and that they should be en­
couraged for having been able to maintain themselves.
Registrars needed both tact and diplomacy to select those who
could be accommodated at the camps_from the large number of
applicants, some of whom had to be pacified in their disappointment
at not securing work. It was difficult to explain to an unsuccessful
candidate why his family was not in as dire need as that of John
Jones, who was selected for camp employment. Often men broke
down when they tried to tell their troubles. Some of those who
came to register brought their children with them to show how
sorely they needed clothing and shoes. Many a family has been
given a warm meal at the camp when it was not possible to give
the father employment.
The physical condition of many applicants constituted a problem
for the registrars. Some of the men were so undernourished that
it was frequently found necessary for them to remain in the camp
three or four days on light employment before they were physically
fit to do road-building work. Many of the men did not have shoes
of proper weight to work out of doors \ others lacked heavy clothing.
The governor met this problem by purchasing an immense stock of
clothing from the United States Government, which was distributed
among the campers who were most in need of it.
T he lab o r tu rn o v e r of th e em ergency cam ps is v ery in terestin g ^ as it shows
t h a t very few m en com plained a b o u t living in cam ps a n d w ere in th e m ost
p a rt well satisfied w ith th e food t h a t w as given to th em . M ost of th e m en
who did leave fou n d t h a t th e y w ere physically u n ab le to w ork o u t in th e open
in th e w in ter w eather. E ach m an w as allow ed 30 d a y s’ em p lo y m en t in cam p
a n d th e m a jo rity w an ted to sta y a n ad d itio n a l period. T h e lab o r tu rn o v e r fo r th e
second m o n th of op eratio n show s t h a t th e larg est tu rn o v e r was a t K itta n n in g
P o in t, w here th e w age ra te w as lowest.

The director of the camps reports that practically every man who
remained the full 30-day period weighed 5 to 15 pounds more than
when he was admitted to the camp. Pale complexions indicative
of undernourishment were replaced by the ruddy wind tan which
characterizes out-door workers. The improvement in their physical
condition gave the men more energy to go home and make greater
efforts to secure other work.
When the emergency camps were first projected it was thought by
many people that it would not be possible for men to live in the
open during the winter season and that little work would be done.
According to the director of these camps, their three months opera­
tion has proved successful in providing employment. _ Many men
through their camp work were able to provide for their own loved
ones, and, as noted above, to improve_their physical condition.
On the other hand, “ the State accomplished a great deal in the
building of rural roads out in farm communities, which under normal
conditions might not have been built, and the various departments
that have had a part in this worth-while project have shown what
real cooperation means. The camps are a pleasing example of
employment versus charity.”

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1292

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

U n e m p lo y m e n t in Foreign C ou n tries

T

HE following table gives detailed monthly statistics of unem­
ployment in foreign countries, as shown in official reports, from
April, 1930, to the latest available date.
S T A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S 1
A ustralia

A ustria

Trade-unionists
unemDloved

Compul-

D ate (end of m onth)
N um ber

1930
April_________
M ay___ _____
June_________
July_________
August_______
September____
October______
November____
December____
1931
January______
February_____
March_______
April_________
M ay_________
Ju n e..................
July--------------August_______
September____
October______
November____
December____
1932
January______
February_____
M arch_______
April_________

0
0
80, 595
0
0
90, 379
0
0
104,951

20.5
23.4

Per cent

N um ber

192, 477
162, 678
150, 075
153,188
156,145
163, 894
192, 778
237, 745
294, 845

13, 715
12,119
12, 226
15, 302
17, 747
23, 693
27, 322
38, 973
63, 585

2.2
1.9
1.9
2.4
2.8
3.8
4.3
6. 1
9.3

36, 065
38, 761
41, 336
48, 580
51, 649
61, 623
54, 804
76, 043
117,167

5.8
6.1
6.5
7.7
8.2
9. 9
8.5
12.0
17.0

77,181
81, 750
81,305
70, 377
56, 250
62, 642
64, 644
70, 893
74,175
82, 811
93, 487
128,884

11.1
11.7
11.3
10.0
7.9
8.9
9.1
9.9
10.3
11.3
13.3
17.0

112, 734
121,906
125, 972
110,139
97, 755
101, 616
116, 747
120, 669
119, 433
122, 733
134, 799
159, 941

16.2
19.4
17.7
15.6
13.8
14.4
16.3
16.8
16.6
16.8
19.2
21.1

153, 920
168, 204
155, 653
152,530

20.0
21.3
19.4
18.8

179, 560
180, 079

23.2
22.8

28.0

0
0
120,366
0

28.3
------

358,114
361, 948
352, 444
303,888

27.6
28.3

D anzig
(Free
C ity of)

Czechoslovakia

N um ber

P er cent
11 .8

42, 664
41, 098
37, 853
46, 800
52, 694
57, 542
61,213
65, 904
93, 476

313, 511
343, 972
339, 505
296, 756
249, 686
220, 038
209, 233
214, 520
228, 383
253, 518
336, 874
480, 775

104, 580
117, 450
119, 350
107, 238
93, 941
82, 534
82, 759
86, 261
84, 660
88, 600
106,015
146, 325

11.3

583,138
631, 736
633, 907
5 547, 507

186,308
197,612

14.0
14.8

See footnotes a t end of table,

10 .8

16.0
15.6
15.5
14. 9
16.2
16.3
16. 2
15.8
18.1
18.3
18.6
2 1 .1
2 2 .0
20.6

20. 4

D enm ark

N u m b er

79, 721
77, 069
73, 464
77, 309
88, 005
104, 534
122, 379
155, 203
239, 564

13.8
17.0

—

T rade-union unem ­
ploym ent funds—
unem ployed

9.0
10.3
9.2
9.3
9.4

Per cent

T rade-union insur­
ance funds—u n ­
em ployed in re­
ceipt of benefit

N u m b er
of u n em ­
ployed
on live
register

10 .6

P artially unemployed

N um ber

331, 239
334, 041
304, 084
246, 845
208, 852
191,150
194,364
196, 321
202,130
228,101
273, 658
329, 627

25.8

Wholly unem ployed

Per cent
of tradeunionists
unem ­
ployed

1930
A p ril_____ _______ _.
M a y _____ _____ . . . ___
June
_ ..
...
J u ly ____________________
A u g u s t... _ .
Septem ber . . . . .
October .
N o v e m b er... .
. . . . __
D ecem b er.. _
_____
1931
J a n u a ry . . _ ____ . . . .
F e b ru a ry ... _ ____ _ _ _
M a r c h _______ .
A p ril. . _______
_ _ .
M a y ___ . . . ____
J u n e ..
J u ly ____________________
A u g u st.. _____ _ . ___
Septem ber
___
O ctober. _.
_
N o v e m b e r___
D ecem ber______
. .
1932
Jan u a ry .
F eb ru ary . _ . . . . . .
M arch ___ . . . . . .
A p ril_____ ______


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18.5

surance,
num ber
unemployed
in receipt
of benefit

0
0
113,614
0
0
118, 424
0
0
120, 694
0
0
118, 732

C anada
D ate (end of m onth)

Per cent

Belgium
U nem ploym ent insurance societies

N um ber
of unem ­
ployed
Per cent registered
3.7
3.8
3.4
4.1
4.7
5.3
5.5
5.9
8.3

18, 371
16, 232
14, 975
15, 330
15, 687
16, 073
17, 307
20, 272
24, 429

33, 471
27, 966
24, 807
26, 200
26, 232
27, 700
32| 880
44, 200
71,100

9.5

27, 081
28,192
27, 070
24,186
20 , 686
19, 855
20, 420
21, 509
22, 922
24, 932
28, 966
32, 956

70, 961
73, 427
67, 725
45, 688
37, 856
34, 030
36, 369
35, 060
35, 871
47,196
66, 526
91, 216

22.3
30.4

34, 912
36, 258
36, 481

106, 464
112, 346
113 378
90! 704

35. 1
37.3
37 5
29 ! 9

10 .0
10 .0

8.9
7.6

6.6
6.6

6.9
6.7
6.9
8 .2

9.4

8. 7

9.3
9.0
9. 0
11.4
15. 3
24.6
24. 2
26.0
22 . 1
15.3
12.3
11.3
1 1 .8
11. 8
12 . 1
16. 0

1293

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— -UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F
STA T E M E N T OF U N E M PL O Y M E N T IN FO R EIG N COUNTRIES—Continued
Estonia

Finland

N um ber
unem ­
ber
ployed N um
unem ­
rem ain­ ofployed
ing on registered
live
register

D ate (end of m onth)

1930
April __ - _____________
M ay . __________________
June ____ _______ _______
__________________
Ju ly
A u g u s t_________________
Septem ber_______________
O ctober.
_____________
N ovem ber
- ________
D ecem ber____
_______
1931
___ ____
Jan u ary ..
February
_ _________
M arch
__ ___
April .
. __ ___ -M ay . ________ ____ ____
June _ _ _
___
______
Ju ly
_ __________ _____
A ugust
___________
Septem ber
___ _ -October
___________
N o vem ber
___________
D ecem ber________________
1932
J a n u a r y __ ____________
February
________ M arch. .
________ ___
April

G erm any

France

Trade-unionists
N um ber N um ber
of unem ­ of
un em ­
ployed
ployed
in receipt registered
of benefit

P er cent P er cent
wholly partially
unem ­
unem ­
ployed
ployed

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
in receipt
of benefit

2,227
2,065
910
762
1,039
1,414
3,282
5,675
6,163

7,274
4,666
3, 553
4,026
5,288
7,157
10, 279
10, 740
9,336

1,023
859
1,019
856
964
988
1,663
4,893
11,952

2,786, 912
2,634,718
2, 640, 681
2, 765, 258
2, 883, 000
3,004, 000
3, 252, 000
3, 683, 000
4, 384, 000

20.3
19.5
19.6
20.5
21.7
22.5
23.6
26.0
31.7

12.1
12.0
12.6
13.9
14.8
15.1
15.4
16.1
16.9

2, 081,068
1, 889, 240
1,834, 662
1, 900, 961
1,947, 811
1, 965, 348
2, 071, 730
2, 353,980
2,822, 598

5, 364
4,070
2, 765
2,424
1,368
931
634
933
2,096
5,425
7, 554
9, 055

11,706
11, 557
11,491
12,663
7, 342
6,320
6,790
9,160
12,176
14,824
18, 095
17,223

28, 536
40, 766
50, 815
49, 958
41. 339
36,237
35,916
37, 673
38, 524
51,654
92,157
147, 009

4, 887, 000
4,972, 000
4, 756, 000
4,358, 000
4,053, 000
3,954, 000
3, 976, 000
4, 215, 000
4, 355, 000
4, 623,480
5, 059, 773
5,668,187

34.2
34.5
33.6
31.2
29.9
29.7
31.0
33.6
35.0
36.6
38.9
42.2

19.2
19.5
18.9
18.0
17.4
17.7
19.1
21.4
22 2
22.0
21.8
22.3

3, 364,770
3,496,979
3,240. 523
2, 789,627
2, 507, 732
2, 353,657
2,231,513
2,376, 589
2,483,364
2, 534,952
2,771,985
3,147, 867

9,318
9,180
8, 397

20,944
18, 856
16,723

241,487
293,198
303, 218
3 290, 224

6, 041, 910
6,128,429
6,034,100
5,934, 202

43.6
44.1
44.6

22.6
22.7
22.6

3,481,418
3, 525,486
3,323,109

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Great
Britain

Hungary

Trade-unionists un­
Number
employed
of persons
Social-Demo­
Wholly unem­
Temporary stop­ registered
Chris­
with em­
cratic
ployed
pages
tian
ployment
(B
uda­
exchanges
pest) Number Percent
Number Percent Number Per cent
Compulsory insurance

Date (end of month)

1930
April..... ...........
M a y ................
June_________
July_________
August-............
September____
October______
November........
December____
1931
January....... .
February_____
M arch..............
April________
M ay_________
June____ ____
July_________
August_______
September........
O ctober-.........
November____
December____
1932
January______
February_____
M arch_______
April_____ ___

12.4
13.1
13.9
14.8
14.9

451, 506
516, 303
569,931
664,107
618, 658
608, 692
593. 223
532,518
646, 205

3.8
4.2
4. 7
5. 5
5.1
5.0
4. 8
4. 3
5.3

1,698, 386
1, 770, 051
1, 890, 575
2,011, 467
2,039, 702
1,114,955
2, 200,413
2, 274,338
2,392, 738

906
875
829
920
847
874
999
975
935

20,139
19, 875
18, 960
19, 081
21,013
22, 252
22, 914
23, 333
24,648

13.7
13.6
13.0
13.2
14.5
16.0
16.7
17.0
17.9

2, 044, 209
2, 073, 578
2, 052, 826
2,027,896
2,019, 533
2, 037, 480
2, 073, 892
2,142. 821
2, 217,080
2, 305, 388
2, 294, 902
2, 262, 700

16.5
16.7
16.5
16.3
16.3
16.4
16.7
17.3
17.9
18.1
18.0
17.7

618,633
623,844
612, 821
564, 884
558, 383
669, 315
732, 583
670, 342
663, 466
487, 591
439,952
408,117

5.0
5. 0
5.0
4. 6
4. 5
5.4
5.9
5. 4
5.3
3. 8
3.4
3. 2

2,613, 749
2, 627, 559
2, 581, 030
2, 531, 674
2, 596, 431
2,629, 215
2,662,765
2, 732,434
2, 879,466
2, 755, 559
2, 656, 088
2, 569, 949

953
965
996
1,042
843
751
876
941
932

19.1
19.8

1,169
1,240

26,191
27, 089
27,092
27,129
26,131
23, 660
26,329
28,471
28, 716
28, 998
29, 907
31,906

2, 354, 044
2, 317,784
2, 233,425
2,204, 740

18.4
18.2
17.5
17.3

500, 746
491, 319
426, 989
521,705

4.0
3.8
3.3
4.1

2, 728,411
2, 701,173
2, 567,332
2, 652,181

1,182
1,083
1,024

32, 711
32,645
31,340

1, 309, 014
1,339, 595
1,341, 818
1, 405, 981
1, 500, 990
1, 579, 708
1, 725, 731
1, 836, 280
1, 853, 575

10.8

See footnotes at end of table.


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

11.1
11.1
11.6

1,020

( 2)

(2)
( 2)

(2)
( 2)

(2)

1294

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

ST A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN FO R E IG N COU NTRIES—Continued

D ate (end of m onth)

1930
A pril. . ______ ________ _____
M‘a y _________________________
J u n e. .
. . . ______________
J u ly _________________________
. . ________
A ugust___ . . .
September
_____
October. _.
_
. . .
N ovem ber. _
________
December____ ______________
1931
. ______ _
J a n u a ry ... _____
F e b ru a ry . . . . _____ _____ _ _
M a r c h ______________________
April . . . _________________
M ay . . . _ _______
______
___ _____________
June _
J u ly _________________________
A ugust __ . . ________________
S ep tem b er.. ______ . ____
October_____ _ __________ .
N ovem ber______
_________
D ecem ber___ _____. . . . . .
1932
Jan u a ry ----------------------- . ---F e b ru a ry _. ------- -- -------------. . . . ____
M arch ___
______ ____
A pril_____

Irish Free
S tate

Italy

L atvia

C om pul­
sory in su r­
ancenum ber
unem ­
ployed

N um ber of u n e m ­
ployed registered

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
rem aining
on live
register

W holly
unem ­
ployed

April_____
M ay_____
June_____
July______
August___
September.
October___
November.
December.
January__
February..
March___
April_____
M ay_____
June.........
July_____
August___
September.
October__
November.
December..
January...
February.
M arch__
April____

U nem ploym ent in ­
surance societies—
unem ployed
N um ber

Per cent

19,146
0
0
20,775
22, 990
25, 622
26,167

372, 236
367,183
322, 291
342, 061
375, 548
394, 630
446, 496
534, 356
642,169

24, 305
22,825
21, 887
24, 209
24, 056
22, 734
19, 081
22,125
21, 788

3, 683
1,421
779
607
573
1,470
6, 058
8, 60S
10, 022

28,421
26, 211
23, 678
29, 075
32, 755
35, 532
41, 088
46, 807
81, 204

6.9
6.3
5. 5
6.7
7.6
8.2
9.6
11.8
18.2

28,681
26, 825
25, 413
23,970
23, 016
21,427
21, 647
21,897
23,427
26,353
30,865
30, 918

722, 612
765, 325
707, 486
670, 353
635,183
573, 593
637, 531
693, 273
747, 764
799, 744
878, 267
982, 321

27,924
27,110
27, 545
28, 780
26, 059
24, 206
25,821
30, 636
29,822
32,828
30, 967
32,949

9,207
8,303
8,450
6,390
1,871
1,584
2,169
4, 827
7,470
13, 605
18,377
21,935

100, 340
109,235
102, 743
68,860
60,189
59, 573
69,026
70, 479
72, 738
84, 548
107, 372
3 157,933

23.2
23.5
21. 8
14.3
12.2
11.7
13.3
15.3
15.7
18.0
18.5
29.7

31, 958
31,162
30, 866

1, 051, 321
1,147,945
1, 053, 016
1,000,025

33, 277
26, 321
31,636

26,163
21,836
22, 912

145,124
139,956
119, 423
121,378

27.0
25.4
21. 6
21.7

(2)
0

New
Zealand
Date (end of month)

Partially
unem ­
ployed

N etherlands

Tradeunionists,
number
unem­
ployed

0

5,884

0
( 2)

7,197

( 2)
( 2)

8,119

( 2)

Norway

Poland

Rumania

Number
unem­
ployed
remaining
on live
Per cent
register

Number
unem­
ployed
registered
with em­
ployment
offices

Number
unem­
ployed
remaining
on live
register

19,829
16,376
13,939
11, 997
12,923
17, 053
20, 363
24, 544
27,157

271, 225
224, 914
204,982
193, 687
173, 627
170, 467
165,154
209, 912
299, 797

13, 412
25,096
22,960
23,236
24, 209
39,110
36,147
42, 689
36,212

28, 596
29,107
29, 095
28,477
25, 206
22, 736
20, 869
22, 431
27, 012
29, 340
32, 078
34, 789

340, 718
358,925
372, 536
351, 679
313, 104
274, 942
255,179
246, 380
246, 426
255, 622
266, 027
312, 487

38,804
43, 270
48, 226
41,519
33, 484
28,093
29,250
22, 708
22,969
28,800
43,917
49,393

34, 636
37, 796
38, 952
36,993

338,434
350,145
352, 754
328,700

51,612
57, 606

Trade-unionists (10
u n io n s ) u n e m ­
ployed
Number

6,701
5,239
4,700
4, 723
5,897
7,010
8,031
9,396
11,265

15.8
12.2
10.8
10.8

13.4
15.7
18.0
21.4
25.5

1931
(2)
( 2)

11, 692
( 2)

26.3

4 38, 028
4 36,981
4 40, 607
4 45, 264
4 47, 772
4 50, 033
4 51, 375
4 50, 266
4 47, 535
4 45,140

s 9, 048
10, 577
12, 633

5 19.6

4 45,539
4 45, 487

14,160
14,354

30.4
30.6

11, 213

24. 9

(2)

22.8

27.2

1932

See footnotes at end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1295

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —Continued
Saar T er­
ritory

Yugo­
slavia

Sw itzerland

Sweden

U nem ploym ent funds
D ate (end of m onth)

N um ber
unem ­
ployed
registered

Trade-unionists
unem ployed

N um ber

1930
ApriL --------------------M a y ___ _____________
J u n e ______- - -- -------J u ly ___________________
A ugust------- S e p te m b e r___ - - .- --O c to b e r ----------- -- --- N ovem ber- - ________
D ecem ber.................... .......

7, 522
7,362
, 330
7,095
7,099
7, 527
9, 013
, 110
15, 245

1931
J a n u a ry _______________
F eb ru ary .............. ..............
M arch_________________
April . . ------ ------------M a y __________ ____
Ju n e ------ -------------------Ju ly ___________________
A ugust________________Septem ber_____________
October - --------- ---------N ovem b er-. ________ _
D e ce m b e r___________

18, 921
20, 139
18, 292
18,102
14,886
15, 413
17, 685
20, 205
21, 741
24, 685
28,659
35, 045
38, 790
42, 394
44, 883

1932
Jan u a ry _______ ______ _
F e b ru a ry .--------------------

6

12

38, 347
28,112
28, 956
27,170
28, 539
34,963
43, 927
57, 070
, 042

Per
cent

11.1
8.3
8.1
7.8
8.1
9.8
12.2

W holly un em ­
ployed

N um ber

5, 203
5,356
5, 368
4, 751
5, 703
7, 792
7, 399

11,666

86

15.3
22.9

69, 437

72, 944
64, 534
49, 807
45, 839
46, 180
48, 590
54, 405
65,469
79, 484
110,149

19.8
18.4
19.3
17.5
13.2
.1
12.4
12.7
13.7
16. 4
19.9
27.2

20, 081

93, 272
93, 900
98,772

24.5
23.0
24. 4

44, 600
48. 600
40,423

66, 923

12

Per
cent

2.1
2.2
1.7
1.9
2.3
2.5
3.0
4.7

P artially unem ­
ployed

N um ber

12, 755
13,129
17, 688
15, 112
19, 441
26, 111
23, 309
25, 793
33, 483

Per
cent

5.3
5.4
5.7

6.2

7.9
8.3
9.4
10.5
10.4

21, 400

6.6

20,551

8.3
7.9
5.4
4.0
3.5
3.6
3.3
3.6
4.0
4.8

30, 977
30,879
41,880
27, 726
26, 058
34,266
39, 000
33, 346
42, 998
47, 200
51, 900
61, 256

12.5

10.6

67, 600
70,100

14.8
15.0

18, 991
10, 389
9, 174
12, 577
, 200
9,754
15,188
18, 000
25, 200
41,611

12

6.6
10.1
11.3
9.0

N um ber
of unem ­
ployed
registered

12.2
12.4
10.6
9.9
9.7
11.3
12.4

11.2
13.2
14.4
14.9

12, 052
8,704
6,991
7, 236
, 111
5,973
, 609
7,219
9,989

6
6

11, 903
14, 424
12, 029
11,391
, 929
4, 431
, 672
7,466
7,753
10, 070
10, 349
14, 502

6
6

19, 665
21,435
23,251

1

Sources: League of N ations—M onthly B ulletin of Statistics; Intern ational L abor Office—International
Labor Review; C anada—L abor Gazette; G reat B ritain —M in istry of L abor G azette; A ustria—Statistische N achrichten; A ustralia—Q uarterly Sum m ary of A ustralian Statistics; G erm any—Reichsarbeitsb la tt, Reichs A rbeitsroarkt Anzeiger; Switzerland—W irt. u . Social, M itteilungen, La Vie Econom ique;
Poland—Wiedemosci Statystyczne; N orw ay—Statistiske M eddelelser; N etherlands—M aandschrift ;
Sweden—Sociala M eddelanden; D enm ark—Statistiske Efterretninger; F in lan d —B ank of F inland
M onthly Bulletin; France—B ulletin d u M arché d u T ravail; H ungary—M agyar Statisztikai Szemle;
Belgium—Revue d u Travail; New Zealand—M onthly A bstract of Statistics; U. S. D epartm ent of
Commerce—Commerce Reports; and U. S. Consular Reports.
2 N ot reported.
Provisional figure.
i N ew series of statistics showing unem ployed registered b y th e em ploym ent exchanges. Includes not
only workers w holly unem ployed b u t also those in term itten tly em ployed.
Strike ended. Provisional figure.

3
6

U n em p lo y m e n t R elief P roposals of In ter n a tio n a l F ed eration of
T rade U n io n s

A T BERNE, March 16 to 18, 1932, the general council of the International Federation of Trade Unions held a conference which
was attended by delegates from central trade-union organizations of
15 countries and from 26 international trade secretariats. At this
meeting a resolution was adopted, without opposition, dealing with
the general economic situation, of which the concluding sections pre­
sented the following proposals regarding unemployment:1
In th e forefront of im m ed iate m easures needed for th e m itig atio n of th e crisis
is th e creation of w ork for th e m illions of unem ployed. T h e I. F. T . U. urges
i in tern atio n al L abor Office.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

In d u strial and L abor Inform ation, Geneva, A pr. 4, 1932, pp. 26-28.

1296

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

strongly t h a t cred it shall no longer be squ an d ered on a rm a m e n ts a n d on th e
bolstering u p of b a n k ru p t concerns, w hich h av e ratio n alized on irra tio n a l lines,
b u t shall be used for th e financing of large-scale schem es for th e c reatio n of work.
T he n a tu ra l conclusion m u s t also be d raw n from th e insufficiency of th e w ork
a t p resen t availab le in th e w orld to su p p ly full em p lo y m en t fo r ali w orkers a n d
salaried em ployees. R a tio n alizatio n a n d crisis m ak e it im p erativ ely necessary
th a t th e 40-hour w eek (five days) shall be estab lish ed by law as th e m axim um
hours of w ork in all concerns a n d all countries.
W hile these im m ed iate step s are being ta k e n to m itig a te th e crisis, a beginning
m u st also be m ade w ith th e tra n sfo rm a tio n of th e econom ic system . T h e expe­
rience of th e la s t few years shows very p lainly t h a t th e ten d en c y of th e w orld is
to form large econom ic u n its. I t is especially u rg e n t t h a t E u ro p e shall be organ­
ized as a n econom ic u n it, irresp ectiv e of th e adoption, now o r later, of sim ilar
system s in o th er p a rts of th e world.
T hese g re a t econom ic regions m u st n o t be co n v erted in to new strongholds of
m onopolistic capitalism . I t is th e d u ty of th e w orking class to use th e ir whole
influence for th e creatio n of carefully p lan n ed spheres of re g u lated p roduction, of
w hich th e ruling purpose shall be th e covering of needs. P arallel w ith th e com ­
p lete tra n sfo rm atio n of th e w orld econom ic system , changing th e whole face of
th e w orld, th e re m u s t th erefo re be a n extension of public en terp rise in all th e
im p o rta n t spheres of econom ic life.
T he I. F. T . U. reaffirm s in th e stro n g est term s th e m o st im p o rta n t in te rn a ­
tio n al dem ands of th e d a y : P lan n ed p ro d u ctio n of raw m ate ria ls; p lan n ed dis­
trib u tio n of goods; a p lan n ed system of credit, to be secured by u n ifo rm ity of th e
cen tral b an k s; reg u latio n of financial policy by th e creatio n of a uniform in te r­
n a tio n al cu rrency ; th e s tric te st control of bank s a n d sto ck exchanges by
dem ocratic controlling bodies, a n d th e d estru ctio n of c a p ita list m onopolistic
pow er b y m eans of th e stric te st co n tro l of m onopolies.
T o-day m ore th a n ever it is th e d u ty of all lab o r organizations to sta n d solidly
to g eth er for these ab so lu tely necessary dem ands in th e in te re sts of w orld eco­
nomic salvation, regardless of th e te m p o rarily narrow er in te re sts of any
in dividual country.

P u b lic W orks for th e U n em p loyed in G e r m a n y 1

N GERMANY unemployed persons may be utilized for road work
as “ compulsory workers” (Pflichtarbeiter), as “ emergency work­
ers” _(Notstandsarbeiter), or as “ voluntary workers” (Freiwilliger
Arbeitsdienst).

I

Compulsory Labor
T h e arrangement for “ compulsory labor” is based on paragraph
91 of the law on employment agencies and unemployment insurance.
It stipulates that unemployed persons under 21 years of age receiving
the unemployment benefit and all recipients of emergency unemploy­
ment relief are to be required to work in return for the allowances
paid them. Compulsory labor may be instituted only when the
work is such as would not otherwise be performed, is productive in
nature, temporary in character, and of public value. In addition to
that, the work assigned to an unemployed person must to a certain
extent correspond to his former occupation or profession, and he can
not be asked to do work which will be of disadvantage to his future
well-being.
Under the compulsory labor system an unemployed person works
only the number of hours corresponding to the amount of benefit
received. He does not work a regular 48-hour week. This means
that an unskilled laborer, for instance, would be employed for from
2K to 3 days a week. The financial supporters of this kind of work
i

D a ta are from report of O. W . G ray, A merican vice consul a t Berlin, dated Feb. 29, 1932.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLOYM ENT R E L IE F

1297

are the communes, districts, or Provinces, which are entitled to make
use of these unemployed persons without charge, the Federal Bureau
of Employment Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance continuing
to pay the unemployment benefits directly to the individual persons.
In practice, very little use is being made of such compulsory labor,
for several reasons. One reason is that the public bodies designated
to carry out such compulsory-labor projects are not in a position to
bear the costs involved, as considerable funds would be required for
material, tools, machinery, supervision, and technical planning; also,
certain allowances have to be paid to the workers for working clothes
and shoes and any other expenses which they may have as a direct
consequence of their being compelled to work. Another reason is
that practically all work suitable for execution under the system of
compulsory labor has already been done during the past few years.
A third reason for the impracticability of the plan on a wide scale is
the fact that the communes prefer to award contracts to local con­
tractors rather than undertake public works themselves; it may be
and usually is stipulated in the contracts that as high as 80 per cent
of the workers employed by the contractors are to be taken from the
municipal welfare register. Naturally, this means the saying of
considerable sums for the communes, owing to the fact that in case
these persons subsequently become unemployed they are again
entitled to the regular and extended unemployment benefit paid under
the Federal insurance system.
Although in former years a considerable part of the work instituted
as compulsory labor was road work, it never served to relieve unem­
ployment to any appreciable extent. The unemployed utilized under
the system never formed much more than 1 per cent of the total
unemployed, and of these not more than 50 per cent were used for
road work. The latter usually consisted of the widening, improve­
ment, or extension of already existing roads of little importance, such
as park roads and roads leading to sport fields and playgrounds.
Emergency Work

P aragraph 139 of the revised law on employment agencies anp
unemployment insurance, dated October 12, 1929, deals with what is
known in Germany as “ productive unemployment relief” (wertschaffende Arbeitslosenfürsorge). _This takes the form of “ emergency
work,” which legally is of two distinct kinds, namely, “ basic promo­
tion ” work (Grundförderung) and “ additional promotion” work
(verstärkte Förderung).
To carry out the “ basic promotion” work the regional employment
bureaus are authorized to promote any measures for reducing unem­
ployment by the provision of work. They have been vested with
the right to grant loans or subsidies for this purpose out of the funds
of the Federal bureau or the emergency allowance system (financed
to the extent of four-fifths by the Federal Government and one-fifth
by the communes). These grants are to be made only in the amount
expected to be saved, in unemployment benefits, as a result of the
ensuing relief of unemployment. The measures subsidized must be
of general economic value to the entire population of the respective
district and must be carried out by a public body or by a public
service organization. In no case may the funds be granted to private
companies.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1298

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Labor is authorized by the same
law to grant loans or subsidies out of budgetary funds of the Federal
Government for the institution of “ emergency labor” on public
works of special economic value and of special importance as regards
the number of workers employed in proportion to the funds involved.
This is the so-called “ additional promotion” work. In general it is
stipulated that the State in whose territory the work is being under­
taken must contribute to the financing equally with the Federal
Government.
The German Government some time ago intrusted the task of
furnishing funds for the “ additional promotion” work to the German
Company for Public Works, formed on August 1 , 1930, with the
Federal Government as the sole stockholder. All grants previously
made by the Government to subsidize public works were transferred
to this company on that date. Due to the unfavorable condition
of the Federal finances, no additional loans have been given to the
company by the Government, so that at present the company relies
for its operating capital entirely on incoming installment payments
and interest. During the fiscal year ending March 31, 1932, it will
probably have available for “ additional promotion” work a sum of
approximately 50,000,000 marks ($11,900,000).
The construction of a very simple road costing 80,000 marks
($19,040) would,under the system of emergency work,be financed in the
following way: Provided that 125 emergency workers were employed
one month, the Federal bureau would pay a subsidy of 10,000 marks
($2,380) to the commune or other body acting as executor of the
project, which sum would correspond to the unemployment benefits
which would otherwise be due to these persons. If this prjoect were
one of especially great public value, an “ additional promotion” loan
of 20,000 marks ($4,760) would probably be granted by the German
Company for Public Works, and a further loan of the same amount
would be made by the respective State. The remaining 30,000
marks ($7,140) would have to be furnished by the commune or some
other public body.
The calculation for the commune is entirely different if a highergrade road is to be built, 60 per cent of the cost of which is made of
materials, tools, and supervision, leaving only 40 per cent for wages.
Of the amount payable for wages, only about 30 per cent can be paid
to emergency workers, owing to the necessity of employing a large
number of skilled men. Of the wages for the emergency workers,
only one-third (10 per cent of the total amount of wages) would be
advanced by the Federal bureau as a subsidy and a further 20 per
cent might be given as a loan by the respective State, leaving 70 per
cent of the wages still to be paid by the commune in addition to the
remaining 60 per cent of the total costs. This example illustrates
the comparatively small financial advantage of employing “ emer­
gency workers” in certain cases.
At the end of September, 1931, there were 39,270 workers employed
in emergency work (35 per cent from the regular unemployment benefit
list, 55 per cent from the emergency allowance list, and 10 per cent
from the welfare relief register). Some 15,000 or 16,000 of these were
utilized in road work. The period for which they had already been
employed varied from 6 to 13 weeks.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EM PLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F

1299

As a rule, the wage rate established by collective agreement in the
respective trade is paid, although the regional employment bureaus
are entitled to fix the maximum wages. On an average an emer­
gency worker is not employed for more than three months.
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 1931, workers employed under
the emergency system performed 2,536,289 days of road work—•
1,582,192 days under the basic promotion plan and 944,097 days
under both basic and additional promotion plans. Almost 50 per
cent of all work carried out under the emergency system had to do
with roads.
Funds amounting to 9,521,000 marks ($2,265,998) were granted by
the Federal Bureau of Unemployment Insurance, under the basic
promotion scheme, for road work during the above fiscal year, which
represents 37.3 per cent of the total contribution of that organization
for public works during that period. _ Under the additional promo­
tion scheme the Government appropriated 9,236,000 marks ($2,198,168) for projects having to do with road work, which represents some
32 per cent of total funds set aside for work of all kinds enjoying this
status. This gives a total of 18,757,000 marks ($4,464,166), which
supplemented by some seven or eight million marks ($1,666,000 to
$1,904,000), given by the States, etc., amounts to about $6,250,000
for the fiscal year 1930-31 on road work under the emergency system.
During thè first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 1932,
597,621 days of work were provided by road projects enjoying only
basic promotion grants and 980,456 by road projects enjoying both
forms of grants. The Federal bureau granted loans and subsidies for
road work to the extent of 1,237,000 marks ($294,406). The growing
importance of road work as a means of productive unemployment
relief is illustrated by the fact that 42.3 per cent of the total workingdays financed under the basic promotion scheme alone and 47.7 per
cent of those financed by both types of promotion were spent on road
projects. Since April 1, 1931, only the German Company for Public
Works has made the additional promotion grants; this type of grant
has been discontinued by the regional employment bureaus. _
Among the more important projects for road work enjoying both
forms of grant which were begun during the fiscal year 1930-31
under the emergency work plan may be mentioned: (1) The con­
struction of various Bavarian State roads using the services of 13,000
emergency workers for a total of 160,000 working-days; and (2) the
improvement of provincial roads in Rhineland and Westphalia
employing 1,211 emergency workers for 406,400 working-days.
During the first quarter of the current fiscal year the largest project
undertaken was the widening of several provincial roads in East
Prussia; this gave employment to 1,500 workers for 210,000 workingdays.
Voluntary Labor Service

T he third method of utilizing unemployed persons for road work
is known as the “ voluntary labor service.” This_ system may be
called a modification of the compulsory labor service as advocated
by various political parties and other organizations in Germany.
The present form of voluntary labor service is based on paragraph
139a of the law on employment agencies and unemployment insurance,
which is an amendment to the original text and is contained in the

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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Government’s emergency decree of June 6, 1931. This paragraph
authorizes the Federal Bureau for Employment Agencies and Unem­
ployment Insurance to grant funds or subsidies for certain projects,
in an amount not to exceed that expected to be saved in unemploy­
ment benefits as a result of decreasing the number of beneficiaries.
The^ projects aided under this system must have a public value (as
for instance, the upkeep, improvement, and construction of roads,
the reclaiming and improvement of land, and the laying out of lots
for settlements and vegetable gardens for unemployed) and must be
work that would otherwise under no circumstances be carried out,
even under the system of emergency labor. Grants may be made for
this purpose only to public authorities, such as States, Provinces,
districts, and communes, to federations of communes, or to associa­
tions founded for the express purpose of instituting work under the
voluntary labor service. In no case may funds be granted to private
companies.
Voluntary workers receive as a maximum wage only the amount of
unemployment relief which would ordinarily be paid. In general, the
benefits which are normally paid directly to the unemployed person
are transmitted to the body acting as the financial backer of the
project. It is left to the latter to make use of these funds in any
appropriate way. However, the workers’ standard of living must be
maintained at a level at least as high as would be possible in case he
received his benefit in cash. In most cases only a part of the benefit
is paid him directly, the other part being used for his board, lodging,
clothing or any other personal needs, the actual procedure varying
according to the way the service is organized in each case; that is,
whether the workers are lodged and given their meals in camps or
barracks (in which case only a small allowance is paid them as pocket
money) or whether they continue to provide for their own upkeep.
The Federal Minister of Labor can authorize the district employment
bureau to credit the worker with the difference between the benefit
which is paid the backer of the project and the standard wages paid
in the respective trade and section of Germany. After a certain
amount has accumulated, this credit is transferred to the Federal
Book of Debts (Reichsschuldbuch), but can be used only for the build­
ing of a dwelling house for the worker’s own use, or for buying a home
site, i. e., a plot of ground with a small house, the whole costing about
2,500 marks ($595).
In the opinion of the respective authorities, the voluntary labor
service is especially suitable for the building of roads which are not
absolutely necessary but, nevertheless, of considerable value as a
supplement to the existing highway system. Other projects con­
sidered suitable for execution under this system have to do with the
construction of approaches to newly founded unemployment “ settle­
ments.” The latter are small colonies for unemployed on the out­
skirts of the large cities.
Attention must be drawn to the fact that the costs of the service
are relatively high in spite of the fact that wages do not have to be
paid. It is estimated that each worker costs at least 80 marks ($19)
per month, this amount being accounted for by various items, such
as tools, supervision, planning, and insurance charges.
The voluntary service was first legally provided for in June, 1931.
The first few months were largely taken up in getting the service

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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F

1301

started. Up to the end of January, 1932, about 750 projects have
been carried out, but only a very small part of them had anything to
do with road work. For instance, in the last quarter of 1931 there
were 197 projects begun under this system but only 27 were con­
nected with road building. Trade-unions, as a rule, are in principle
opposed to the plan, as tending to develop a sort of compulsory labor
service.
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4

INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR

CONDITIONS

S m aller P la n t U n its as a M eans of S tim u la tin g W orkers’
In te r e st

ORDER that the average worker may have some sense of per­
responsibility for his department’s success, the subdivision
INofsonal
an industrial enterprise into relatively self-contained units is
suggested in an article by H . Dubreuil in the April, 1932, issue of
The Human Factor, the journal of the National Institute of Industrial
Psychology (London). While a modern industrial undertaking is
operated on the principle of the subdivision of labor, the outcome of
the work—“ the real motive force of the whole enterprise—is not sub­
divided as are the processes of production. For the rank and file the
result of their work is represented by a salary, more or less fixed in
advance and mostly independent of the profits of the enterprise.
Only for a few individuals at the top of the hierarchy is there any
exception to this rule; hence the absence among the rank and file of
that urge to activity characteristic of those at the head.”
Referring to the distribution of profits among employees according
to their position in the industrial concern in which they are placed, the
writer declares that this apparently obvious remedy for lack of
personal interest on the part of the workers has not been successful.
In the judgment of this author, the average man is unable to take a
long view and consider the success of the enterprise as a whole as
necessary to his personal welfare. The same man, however, if he
happens to have an opportunity to start some small undertaking of
his own, goes into it whole-heartedly without begrudging either labor
or time. In the present day the great majority of men can not
reasonably hope to establish an individual business. On the other
hand, many industrial concerns, even the most up to date, notwith­
standing their seeming machinelike set-up and functional inter­
dependence, could readily be divided into more or less self-governing
units.
In th e sam e w ay one could conceive a so rt of in d u stria l fed eratio n , in w hich
each different “ d e p a rtm e n t” m ig h t h av e in d e p e n d e n t in te rn a l a c tiv ity as long as
it harm onized w ith t h a t of th e d e p a rtm e n ts p laced in d irect relatio n to it. E ven
th o u g h i t is essential t h a t d e p a rtm e n t B sh o u ld receive its w ork a t a specific tim e
an d in a given condition from d e p a rtm e n t A a n d tra n sfe r i t in a n o th e r ap p o in ted
tim e a n d condition to d e p a rtm e n t C, th e re rem ain s betw een th ese tw o points
considerable scope fo r p erso n al in itia tiv e . T h is is th e a ll-im p o rta n t fa c to r if we
wish an in d u stria l concern to be ru n in th e sam e sp irit as a n in d iv id u al enterprise.
I t is only necessary to b u d g e t fo r each process sep a ra te ly for it to p resen t th e
essential featu res of a n in d e p e n d e n t business.

Up to the present time little study has been given to this problem.
Such a development, however, seems “ to be little more than a logical
extension of the processes of subdivision.” Industrial employers
have for a long time found it necessary to delegate to their subordi­
nates duties which formerly they could have carried on themselves.
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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS

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It is not unreasonable to visualize that such a process might go on
until some functions become comparatively autonomous..
Attention is called in the article to the following, question asked by
Malcolm C. Rorty, vice president of the International Telephone &
Telegraph Corporation, New York, in the April, 1930, number of the
Bulletin of the Taylor Society: “ To what extent can large groups be
organized and managed to realize the abilities, capacities, and ener­
getic efforts of an individual as though he were in a small business of
his own?” Although the writer in The Human Factor considers that
the propounder of this question does not go far enough, suggesting
merely a subdivision in which only the chiefs of the various services
would be able to act like independent managers, he nevertheless
considers Mr. Rorty’s study particularly important.
I t only rem ains to ex ten d to th e w orkers th e a rg u m en ts w hich M r. R o rty
applies to th e heads of d e p a rtm e n ts. I t is n o t only am o n g th e la tte r t h a t we find
m en of in d ep en d e n t th o u g h t a n d n a tu ra l abilities. T hese are h u m a n q u alities
w hich are also to be fo u n d am ong th e w orkers, in w hom th e re is even g reater
dan g er of th e ir rem ainin g unused. I shall p ro b ab ly be ask ed if I hope to find
posts of responsibility for all th o se who possess a sp a rk of in itia tiv e . B u t I do
n o t suggest th is. I hav e alread y m en tio n ed th e im possibility of m ak in g an
in te re st in th e general success of th e en terp rise p e n e tra te th ro u g h all ran k s, a n d
I h av e s ta te d th e re g re tta b le fa c t th a t m o st m en are in cap ab le of long views a n d
t h a t it is necessary to ta k e th is m yo p ia in to acco u n t. I t is fo r th is reason th a t I
urge th e possibilitv of subd iv id in g th e en terp rise so as to red u ce th e scope of
en d eav o r w ith in th e com prehension of th e av erage w orker. An o rd in a ry m an s
outlook can n o t em brace th e firm as a whole, b u t it m ay well ex ten d to th e lim ited
field of a d e p a rtm e n t.

Dubreuil also cites, as valuable evidence in behalf of the scheme
he proposes, the practice which existed in certain h rench firms of
having the workers share in the benefits resulting from the economy
of raw material. A report on this system is given in the findings of
an investigation published by the Union des Industries métallurgiques
et minières. Furthermore, the workers in France have long since
organized such groups (“ commandites”) in some of the industries. .
Referring to the suggestion made in the above-mentioned bulletin
of the Taylor Society that the head of a department should be given
a certain financial independence to enable him to feel the business is
his own, Dubreuil declares that if such chief retains the profit of the
department for himself there will be no change in the condition 01
spirit of the workers. If, however, the profits of the department are
distributed among all the workers in it according to the value of their
respective services, the motives actuating the department head will
be extended in a measure to all his personnel. The arguments against
profit sharing in a large corporation do not apply to such a plan, as is
here outlined. A worker who is not able to grasp the financial inti 1cacies of a whole business nor see how he can be affected by its profits
or losses may readily comprehend the balance, sheet of a .single small
department. Workers once placed in the position in which they are
to some extent sharers in the spirit of the undertaking will no. longei
need elaborate methods of payment to spur them to more vigorous
action. Under this new scheme, Dubreuil contends, the same motives
that animate the leaders will be found, though less dominant, among
the workers, who will show energy, inventiveness, and all the virile
characteristics of the man of independent life, but which are quiescent
as soon as he is relegated to a state of subjection.

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CHILD LABOR
M igratory C hild W orkers in New Jersey

February, 1931, the New Jersey Commission to Investigate the
Employment of Migratory Children in that State submitted the
INresults
of its detailed study of migrant children in agricultural labor.1
At the request of welfare agencies and other bodies interested in
improving the conditions of migrant child workers and in supplying
educational facilities for them, the commission has prepared a supple­
ment to its report, giving detailed information relative to the loss of
schooling.
This supplement, published January, 1932, shows the number of
migrant children employed in each county and township, classified
as to age, school grade, and the number of actual school days lost
during the period of employment. It also shows the number and
per cent of boys and girls of all ages who work more than 8 hours per
day and 8 or less hours per day, arranged according to occupation.
T h e com m ission believes th a t th e S ta te of N ew Jersey is u n d er obligation to
m ak e good th e loss in ed u catio n suffered by m ig rato ry children w ho w ork in an
essential N ew Jersey in d u stry ; t h a t is, ag ricu ltu re. T h e head s of m ig ra n t fam ilies
share th is view. Pressed by long u n em p lo y m en t a n d a scarcity of jobs, m ig ra n t
fam ilies are glad to have w ork on farm s du rin g th e sum m er. T h e w ork gives
th em shelter, food, a n d cash. C ash is used to p ay b u tch er, grocer, coal, clothes,
a n d re n t bills accu m u lated d u rin g th e w in ter m o n th s of u n em p lo y m en t in
P hilad elp h ia a n d o th er cities from w hich th e fam ilies come. Y et it is re m ark ­
able th a t u nder such distress th e g re a t m a jo rity of th e head s of fam ilies are willing
to sacrifice earnings a n d send th e ir children to school. O ur second survey, con­
d u cted during th e su m m er of 1931, revealed th a t o u t of 146 fa th e rs of fam ilies
only 22 w ere n o t w illing to send th e ir children to school while th e y w ere on th e
farm s. T h e reason for th is unw illingness w as n o t a lack of u n d e rsta n d in g of th e
value of education. S ta rv a tio n a n d long suffering w as th e re a l cause of th e ir
unw illingness. T h e fath ers, h a p p y to h av e a te m p o ra ry su m m er job, tr y to earn
as m uch as th e y can, using every av ailab le h a n d of th e fam ily in o rd er to have
som e m oney to m eet th e h ard sh ip s of th e com ing w inter.

As a result of its studies, the commission recommended the enact­
ment of legislation to regulate the employment and to provide school­
ing of migrant children. It further recommended that the commis­
sioner of labor be given authority to enforce a housing code designed
to safeguard the health of the migrant families.
1 See L abor Review , June, 1931, p. 64.

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INSURANCE AND THRIFT PLANS
In v e stm e n t by In d u strial E m p loyees in B u ild in g and Loan
A ssociation s

RECENT study by tlie industrial relations section of Princeton
University on the use of building and loan associations in com­
pany programs for employee savings and investment discusses these
systems from the standpoint of the need for financial security among
American workmen. The long-continued period of ^unemployment
through which we are passing has shown the necessity for assisting
employees to provide reserves sufficient to meet protracted curtail­
ment or entire loss of earnings. “ During the past two decades,
the report states, “ workmen’s compensation and minimum wages
have been definitely allocated to the fields of legislation and private
initiative, respectively. The next decade will probably see the test
whether the financial security of the individual employee can remain
outside the field of legislative action. The results of that test, while
much influenced by the length of the present depression, are largely
in the hands of American employers.”
>
. . .
The various company plans for savings and investment, it is stated
in the report, have been fairly successful from the employees’ stand­
point in assisting them to obtain some degree of financial security,
while employers have found that such plans have had the tendency
to develop individual initiative and responsibility among employees
while securing the advantages of cooperative group action. _
Company thrift plans are of two general types: (1) Those m which
the savings are invested for short terms and are planned, therefore,
to provide the means to meet unusual expenses which can not be
paid for out of current earnings, and (2) long-term investments,
such as are exemplified in building and loan associations, in which
the plan provides for systematic saving over a period of years. The
possibility of the successful participation by employees in such a
plan depends in the main upon a fairly assured income through
stable employment. Building and loan associations are well adapted
to the needs of employees earning a moderate salary or wage, as
payments for association shares may be made in small amounts,
which, however, amount to substantial sums when carried out over a
long period. Assistance to employees in keeping up their payments
is rendered by many companies through pay-roll deductions. The
earnings on shares which are automatically credited and compounded
on dividend dates in the majority of building and loan associations
add materially, over a period of years, to the value of the investment.
A twofold service may be offered to employees by the building and
loan association, as it provides opportunity to accumulate a substantial
reserve and it makes loans to members for the purchase or construc­
tion of homes which may be repaid in small but regular amounts.
The association thus assists in the solution of two problems m which
the employer has an interest—the promotion of habits of thrift
among employees and home ownership.

A


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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Even in cases where the company took the initiative in the organ­
ization of the building and loan association, membership is ordinarily
open to others than the company’s employees. This is an advantage,
however, since it makes for stability by; diversifying the risk and
brings increased association business and income. There are several
types of building and loan association plans, and those established
in connection with individual enterprises follow the same general
plans as those of independent associations. All types of associations
include, as their basic operation, the sale of shares of the association
at a fixed par value, for which the subscribers make regular payments,
called “ dues. ” The associations’ earnings are derived from member­
ship fees, fines for failure to pay dues on time, and interest on invest­
ments, and in some cases from premiums charged on loans.
While the main features of the different plans are similar, the details
vary considerably. The plans may be divided into the serial plan,
in which stock is issued in series at regular intervals and in which all
the dues are pooled and loans made from the common fund; the
permanent plan, in which subscriptions to shares may be made at
any time and^ the earnings are credited and accounts kept on an
individual basis instead of in series; the Dayton plan, which differs
from the permanent plan in the provision for optional payment of
dues, no fines or forfeitures, and the introduction of paid-up shares;
the permanent capital plan, which provides for issuance of a special
type of share, subscribed and paid for by the founders of the associa­
tion, which guarantees a definite stipulated return upon the regular
shares of the association.
The associations, whatever the type of plan, usually sell one or more
of the following types of shares: (1) Instilm ent shares, which are
paid for in regular installments as in the serial and permanent plans,
or varying amounts as in the Dayton plan. (2) Prepaid shares’
sometimes called single payment shares, in which the investor pays
a lump sum for each share considerably less than its par value and
allows the money to remain with the association until the earnings
bring it up to its par value. (3) Paid-up or full-paid shares, which
were originally shares upon which all payments had been made and
which were left with the association; from this developed the sale of
shares for a single cash payment, upon which dividends are paid, but
commonly at a lower rate than on installment shares. (4) Juvenile
shares, which are sold to minors in a large number of States. (5)
Guaranty stock or permanent contingent-reserve stock on which no
dividends are paid until the stipulated rate is paid on the regular
shares.
While the provisions in regard to withdrawal of funds before the
end of the investment period vary in the different types of plans, in
general there is some limitation on the right of withdrawal either
through the practice (authorized by law) of requiring varying
periods of notice of the intention to withdraw deposits or through the
imposition of a fee or forfeiture of some share of the earnings of the
fund. Early withdrawals, therefore, have two principal effects—■
a loss to the investor and the difficulty which the association may have
in paying withdrawal requests during a period of depression. In
associations having a large proportion of members exposed to the
risks of unemployment, part time, or reduction in wages, the members
may need their savings badly, but the associations may be in no

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IN SURA NCE AND TH R IFT PLANS

1307

position to meet wholesale withdrawal requests, since their regular
income from dues is likely to be greatly reduced.
“ Those interested in building and loan associations as a medium
for employee savings should recognize the fact,” the report states,
“ that during a time of financial strain dues paid on installment
shares may be unavailable for some time. This is not to argue th at
building and loan associations are not exceedingly safe institutions,
but to conclude that they are better suited to the savings needs ol
those employees who are in a position to make long-term rather than
demand deposits.
In conclusion it is stated:
A fu n d a m e n ta l service w hich com panies h av e in th e ir pow er to re n d e r in som e
degree a n d w hich w ould rem o v e m an y of th e obstacles to lo n g -term in v e s tm e n t
on th e p a r t of th e ir em ployees is increased stab iliz a tio n of e m p lo y m e n t a n d
th erefo re of earnings. T h is w ould pro d u ce re su lts fa r m ore im p o rta n t t an
th r ift encouragem ent, b u t i t w ould g reatly aid th a t, to o . I t w ould allow em ployees
w ho h av e th e courage a n d w ill pow er to p u t b y definite am o u n ts reg u lar y over
a period of y ears to ta s te th e fru its of th e ir lab o rs in ste a d of h av in g to w ith d raw
deposits a t a sacrifice to liv e th ro u g h u n e m p lo y m en t a n d begin ag ain w ith every
th in g gone. I t w ould encourage th o se ju s t reaching th e y e ars of th e ir best
earning pow er to consider p lan n ed in stead of u n reg u lated a n d h a p h a z a rd expendi­
tu re , since i t w ould hold o u t to th e m a n assurance of a degree of independence
an d security as th e rew ard of th e ir efforts.

A m o u n t of L ife In su ran ce in th e U n ited S ta te s

issued recently by the committee on the costs of medi­
cal care 1 gives data on the extent of life insurance protection
A inREPORT
the United States. The study was undertaken in order to show the
extent to which American families are attempting to protect them­
selves from uncertain financial burdens through the various forms of
life insurance and by means of Christmas savings plans. _ #
At the close of 1929, the latest year for which information is avail­
able, the report states the face value of policies in force totaled almost
$113,000,000,000, which was approximately three times the total
amount carried in all other countries. The premiums^ collected on
these policies by the life insurance companies from their 67,00 0,000
policyholders amounted to about $3,500,000,000 or 4 per cent of the
national income, while more than $2,000,000,000 was paid m that
year to policyholders and their beneficiaries. In 1926, payments
were made on account of the deaths of about 500,000 policyholders,
which was about one-third of the total deaths in the United States.
Life insurance is primarily a measure of family protection by means
of which the family hopes to bridge over the period of adjustment
following the loss of earnings of the holder of the policy. There are
many forms of life-insurance policies which combine this basic prin­
ciple with various provisions^ covering other contingencies, but in
most cases family protection is the basic motive in the purchase of
the insurance. The three main types of life insurance policies—
ordinary, group, and industrial—in their different variations account
for approximately 90 per cent of the total insurance in force. Tim
major part of this insurance is written by commercial old-line
i C om m ittee on th e costs of medical care. T he extent and adequacy of life insurance protection in the
U nited States, b y M ary D ublin. W ashington, 910 Seventeenth Street N W „ Jan . 15, 1932.


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1308

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

companies, less than 9 per cent being carried by fraternal and assess­
ment companies.
Ordinary insurance includes term, endowment, and whole-life
policies. This type of insurance forms only about 24 per cent of the
total number of policies, but the value of the policies amounts to
67 per cent of the total of all policies. Group insurance which pro­
vides for blanket coverage of an industrial group, is in force for ap­
proximately 5,500,000 workers, and its value amounts to about 9 per
cent of the value of all the insurance in force. Industrial insurance is
sold in small amounts and the premiums are paid in small weekly
or monthly installments. Such policies form 68 per cent of all the
policies issued, but their value is only about 16 per cent of the face
value of all insurance. All these types of insurance carried by the
commercial companies are organized on a legal reserve basis; that is,
in conformity with the State laws, which require such companies to
maintain an adequate reserve fund at all times. Much of the fra­
ternal insurance, also, is now reorganized on a legal-reserve basis.
This insurance amounts to about 8 per cent of the face value of all
policies, while assessment insurance constitutes less than 1 per cent.
There is considerable variation in the cost of selling and administer­
ing these three types of insurance. Industrial insurance is the most
expensive, on account of the many small sums of money which must
be handled individually, ordinary insurance is second in cost, and
group insurance is the least expensive because of its blanket coverage.
Group insurance can not be regarded, however, as a complete substi­
tute for ordinary or industrial insurance, since if an employee loses or
leaves his position he must assume the cost of carrying the insurance
on an individual basis if the policy is continued. As individual pre­
miums are computed upon the then attained age of the employee,
this is often too great a burden to be assumed, particularly by the
older employees and by those whose incomes have stopped through
the loss of their usual earnings.
The average face value of all types of policies in 1929 was $1,685,
the averages ranging from $200 for industrial policies to $2,431 for
ordinary policies. These figures, however, have little meaning, since
they make no distinction between the policies held by heads of families
and those held by children and other dependents, nor do they show
the extent to which they are affected by extremely large individual
policies. For example, there were included among the policyholders
16,000 persons with policies of $50,000 and over, of whom 364 were
insured for more than $1,000,000 each. I t is evident, therefore, that
the average figures are too high to apply to policyholders generally,
and an idea of the adequacy of the insurance provisions can be ob­
tained only by ascertaining the amount of insurance purchased by
individual families of different income classes.
Few such studies have been made, but one made by the Metropoli­
tan Life Insurance Co. in 1924 covered 11,649 families, averaging 4.6
persons, in which industrial insurance was carried by some member of
the family. These families were considered fairly representative of
the insured working classes of the country. In this group the average
coverage on the head of the family, including nearly 1,400 fathers who
carried no insurance, was $1,276, and excluding the heads of families
not carrying insurance the average was $1,450. Of the total number
carrying insurance, 20.9 per cent had less than $500 of insurance; 37.7

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INSURANCE AND TH R IFT PLANS

1309

per cent, less than $1,000; and 88.6 per cent less than $3,000. Ap­
proximately one-third of the insured fathers carried only industrial
insurance, amounting to an average coverage of $485. From these
figures it is seen that these families had very small amounts of insurance
to substitute for the earnings of the father in the event of his death.
In discussing the adequacy of the insurance carried, as disclosed by
the average amounts of policies, the writer quotes Dublin and Lotka
in The Money Value of a Man, in which they state: “ Where the
insured is a breadwinner, it is the value of the future income to the
family that is lost, and life insurance is intended in a measure to
compensate this loss. * * * Under ideal conditions, the amount
of the insurance should be equivalent to the value to his family of the
man’s net future earnings; that is, the sum of money which, invested
at current rates of interest, would be sufficient, by the use of part of
the principal, as well as the interest each year, to keep his family on
the same, or nearly the same, level after his death as it would have
been during his normal lifetime. In actual practice it is quite impos­
sible to have such complete coverage.” A table computed by the
same authors, taking into account the changes in earning power with
the passage of time, the relative percentage of persons gainfully
occupied, the expectation of life, the cost of the man’s own support,
and other factors, shows that a normally healthy man of 50 years of
age whose annual earnings during his period of greatest earning were
$1,000 should be worth $5,700 to his family exclusive of his living
expenses for the rest of his life. On the same basis a man whose
maximum earning capacity was $1,500 should be worth $9,900 at the
age of 50; one whose earning capacity was $2,000 should be worth
$13,800, and $2,500, $17,450. These figures show how inadequate
the insurance protection is in most cases.
Although Christmas savings plans would not appear to have much
relationship to investment in life insurance, as a matter of fact very
large sums are accumulated in this way, a large part of which is
invested in permanent savings or insurance. In December, 1930,
8,000 banking institutions distributed $632,000,000 to about
11,000,000 members of the Christmas savings clubs, of which it is
estimated only 38 per cent was used for Christmas purchases, most
of the remainder being used in the payment of debts, taxes, etc., or
invested in insurance or savings funds.
In conclusion, the writer compares the amounts invested each year
in life insurance or saved through Christmas savings funds, totaling
more than $4,000,000,000, with the payment of approximately
$3,000,000,000 for medical care. The insurance and savings pay­
ments are made voluntarily and at regular intervals and it has been
suggested, the writer states, that the present complaints about the
excessive cost of medical care might be met in a measure by a similar
system of regular and orderly payments designed to prepare for the
contingencies of sickness.


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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
M o rtality E xperience of In ter n a tio n a l T ypograph ical U n io n ,
1931
B y F r e d e r i c k L. H

offm a n

N CONTINUATION of the annual reports of the mortality ex­
perience of the International Typographical Union, the following
statistics for the year 1931 are presented.1 The average dues-paying
membership for 1931 was 77,757, showing a slight increase over the
previous year. The total number of deaths during the fiscal year
1931 was 1,193, so that the average official death rate for the year
was 1,534.3 per 100,000 against 1,456.6 for the year 1930. The
average age at death for the fiscal year 1931 was 59.6 years, which
may be compared with 1921, when it was 54.3 years, and 1911, when
it was 49.1 years. The range in ages at death during the fiscal year
1931 was from 21 to 92 years.
Table 1, following, gives the membership, the total number of
deaths, and the mortality rate per 100,000 members, 1925 to 1931.

I

T able 1

—

G E N E R A L M O R T A L IT Y A M O N G M E M B E R S OF IN T E R N A T IO N A L T Y P O ­
G R A P H IC A L U N IO N , 1925 TO 1931
D eaths
Year

M em bership
N um ber

1925____________________
1926____________________
1927____________________
1928____________________
1929____________________
1930____________________
1931_____________________

71,372
72, 704
74, 829
75, 738
76, 015
77, 507
77, 757

880
913
1,002
913
1,090
1, 129
1,193

R ate per
100,000 members
1, 233. 0
1, 255. 8
1, 339.1
1, 205. 5
1, 433. 9
1, 456. 6
1, 534. 3

Table 2 shows the mortality from certain specified causes, for each
of the years 1925 to 1931.
1 D a ta for previous years were presented in B ulletin No. 427, and in L abor Review, issues of Ju ly , 1927,
April, 1928, M arch, 1929, M ay, 1930, and Ju ly , 1931.

1310


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1311

HEALTH AND IN DUSTRIAL H Y G IEN E

T able 2.—M O R T A L IT Y F R O M S P E C IF IE D C A USES P E R 100,000 M E M B E R S O F I N T E R ­
N A T IO N A L T Y P O G R A P H IC A L U N IO N , 1925 TO 1931
Pulm onary
tuberculosis
Year
D eaths

R ate
per

D eaths

1925
_______________
1926 ______________________
1927
_____________
1928
___________
1929
______________
1930
__________________
1931 ................................ ...........

87
87
56
74
90
79
82

121.9
119.7
74.8
97.7
118. 4
101.9
105.5

Pernicious
anemia
1926
1Q9.7
1928
1Q29
1930
1931

..................................
_______________

8
6
7
3
3
5

11.0
8.0
9.2
3.9
3.9
6.4

Pneumonia
1926 ____________________
1927
- ______________
1928
____________
1929
_____________
1930 _ _ _________________
1931
________________

83
85
67
105
72
108

114.2
113.6
88.5
138.1
92.9
138.9

R ate
per

D eaths

66
64
83
79
94
90
96

92.5
88.0
110.9
104.3
123.7
116. 1
123.5

Lead poisoning

2
2
1

2.8
2.7
1.3

Ulcer of stomach
5
4
4
15
8
5

6.9
5.3
5.3
19.7
10.3
6.4

R ate
per

D eaths

12
15
14
16
12
8
16

16.8
20.6
18.7
21.1
15.8
10. 3
20.6

56
38
47
38
46
44
43

78.5
52.3
62.8
50.2
60.5
56.8
55.3

Cirrhosis of liver

Alcoholism

1

1.4

1
1

1.3
1.3

Appendicitis
15
9
12
14
11
10

R ate
per
100, 000

100,000

100,000

100,000

N ephritis

D iabetes

Cancer

20.6
12.0
15.8
18.4
14.2
12.9

5
8
5
5
8
3

6.9
10.7
6.6
6.6
10.3
3.9

H ernia
4
3
4
8
1
5

5.5
4.0
5.3
10.5
1.3
6. 4

As the first section of the table shows, pulmonary tuberculosis
increased slightly over the previous year, and the same is true for
cancer. There was a marked increase in diabetes, from 8 deaths in
1930 to 16 deaths in 1931. Nephritis cases show almost the same
mortality as in 1930; compared with 1925, the mortality from this
important cause, often held to mask deaths from lead poisoning, is
now markedly lower and has been for a, number of years.
The number of deaths from pernicious anemia is small and this
insidious affection is shown to have been less frequent during the last
three years than during the preceding three years. From lead poison­
ing there were five deaths during the three years 1926 to 1928, as against
none during the three years ending with 1931. This must be looked
upon as a notable improvement, due unquestionably to the high regard
paid to sanitary conditions and ventilation of printing plants through­
out the country. A like decline has been observed in the United
Kingdom, where there were four deaths from lead poisoning reported
to the factory inspection department during 1919 to 1924, as against
only two deaths during the five years ending with 1930. There were
only 3 deaths from alcoholism during the 6-year period, 2 during the
first three years, and 1 during the last half of the period. From
cirrhosis of the liver, there were only three deaths in 1931, the lowest
on record since 1926.
>
_
.
Pneumonia shows a considerable increase, from 72 deaths m 1930
to 108 deaths during the current year, while ulcers of the stomach
declined from 8 to 5. With the exception of 1927, the mortality from

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1312

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

appendicitis was the lowest on record since 1926. The mortality
from hernia increased from 1 death in 1930 to 5 deaths in 1931, there
haying been 14 deaths during the last three years as against 11 deaths
during the first three years.
_The details of the mortality from certain nervous diseases and
diseases of the cardiovascular system are shown in Table 3.
T able 3. —M O R T A L IT Y

FRO M
S P E C IF IE D
NERVOUS AND
C A R D IO V A SC U L A R
D IS E A S E ^ P E R 100,000 M E M B E R S OF IN T E R N A T IO N A L T Y P O G R A P H IC A L U N IO N ,

Cerebral
hemorrhage

General
paralysis

Paralysis of
the insane

Angina
pectoris

O ther heart
disease

Em bolism and
thrombosis

Year
D eaths

1926_____
1927_____
1928_____
1929_____
1930_____
1931_____

47
59
55
85
83
73

R ate
R ate
R ate
R ate
R ate
R ate
per D eaths per D eaths per D eaths per D eaths per D eaths per
100,000
100,000
100, 000
100,000
100,000
100, 000
64.6
78.6
72.6
111. 8
107.1
93.9

20
53
30
30
36
32

27.5
70.8
39.6
39. 5
46.4
41.2

15
7
3
1

7
4

20.6
9.4
4.0
1.3
9.0
5.1

25
16
15
17
17
13

34.4
21.4
19.8
22.4
21.9
16.7

197
164
173
211
221
265

271.0
219.2
228.4
277.6
285.1
340.8

3
12
8
10
13
22

4.1
16.0
10.6
13. 2
16.8
28.0

While there was a decline in the mortality rate from cerebral
hemorrhage, or apoplexy, the deaths from this cause during the last
three years are markedly in excess of the preceding three years. There
were no important changes in the mortality from general paralysis and
paralysis of the insane, but the deaths during the last three years
from paralysis of the insane numbered only 12 as against 25 during 1926
to 1928. Deaths from angina pectoris declined during 1931 to the
lowest figure during the six years under review, but deaths from other
affections of the heart continued to increase over the earlier years.
Deaths from embolism and thrombosis, other than cerebral, show a
decided increase, there having been 45 deaths during the last three
years compared with 23 deaths during the first three years.
Among other interesting causes of death, attention may be directed
to three suicides in 1931 as against three during the preceding fi ve years
combined. This increase is also reflected in the general increase in
suicide throughout the country during the years under review. There
were no deaths from homicide during 1931, as against three during the
preceding five years. Automobile accidents caused nine deaths during
1931 and the same number during 1930. Other details are given in
the general mortality table compiled in accordance with the rules of
the international classification of causes of death.
It is regrettable that the proportion of ill-defined or unknown causes
of death should be as large as it is. The deficiency in this respect is
about the same from year to year and can only be improved by an effort
on the part of the union to ascertain in each and every case the cause
of death and the age at death of deceased members. The value of
the tabulation, of course, is proportionate to its completeness, but
for the time being the figures have to be accepted as they are.


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1313

HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYG IENE

11, b
23
31
34
38
41
43
44
45
47
49
50
51
57
58, a
58, b
60
63
65, a
65, b
70
71
72
73
74, a
74, b
75, a
75, b
76
77
82
84
87
89
90
91, a
91, b
91, c
92
93
94
95
96
99
100
101, a
101, b
102
103
105
107
109
111, a
112
117
118, a
118, b
119
122, b
123
124
126
128
129
131
133
135
151
154

Influenza w ith o u t pulm onary com­
plications specified
Lethargic encephalitis _ .
Tuberculosis of th e respiratory sys­
tem
Tuberculosis of th e vertebral column.
Syphilis
_____
P u ru len t infection, s e p tic e m ia ..___
Cancer of th e buccal c a v i t y _____ .
Cancer of th e stom ach, liv er. . ___
Cancer of th e peritoneum , intes­
tines, re c tu m .. ______ __________
Cancer of the b r e a s t . . ___
_____
C ancer of other or unspecified organs.
Benign tum ors an d tum ors n o t re­
_______
tu rn ed as m alignant
A cute rheum atic fever . . ._ _____
D iabetes m ellitis__________ _______
Pernicious anem ia__
. _______
O ther anemias a n d chlorosis .
E xophthalm ic g o ite r.. _
Diseases of th e adrenals______
Leukem ia________________________
H odgkin’s disease________________
Encephalitis_____ ________________
M eningitis ___________ ________
Tabes dorsalis (locomotor-ataxia)__
O ther diseases of th e spinal cord. . . .
Cerebral h e m o rrh a g e .____________
Cerebral embolism an d throm bosis..
Paralysis w ith o u t specified cause,
hemiplegia ______________ ______
Others un d er th is title
_• . .
General paralysis of th e insane . ~
Other forms of m ental alienation . . .
N euralgia a n d n e u r itis __
O ther diseases of th e nervous system .
P ericarditis.
______ __________
Angina pectoris. _____ . . . .
O ther diseases of th e h e a rt. ______
A neurysm ___________________
Arteriosclerosis_____ _____________
Other diseases of th e arteries. ___
Em bolism a n d throm bosis___ _____
Diseases of th e veins
. ..
.....
Diseases of th e lym phatic sy stem __
Hem orrhage w ith o u t specified cause.
O ther diseases of th e circulatory
system
. ________________
B ronchitis.
_____________
B ronchopneum onia______ ____ ____
Pneum onia, lobar.......... .....................
Pneum onia, unspecified__________
P leu risy .. . 1. . ___________________ _______
Congestion an d hemorrhagic infarct
of the lu n g___ ________________
A sth m a.. __________________ ____
O ther diseases of th e respiratory
system
______________ ._ . _
Diseases of the pharynx and tonsils.
Ulcer of th e stom ach______________
O ther diseases of th e s to m a c h ..........
A ppendicitis a n d ty p h litis_________
H e r n ia ___
_________ _________
Intestinal obstruction _ . _______
O ther diseases of th e in testin es_____
Cirrhosis of th e liver, n o t specified
as alco h o lic____________________
B iliary calculi____________________
O ther diseases of th e liv e r........ ...........
Peritonitis w ith o u t specified cause. .
Acute nephritis
____________
Chronic n e p h ritis .. ______ ____ _
O ther diseases of th e kidneys and
annexa _____ _ _______ ______
Diseases of th e bladder
. ____
Diseases of th e prostate
___
Gangrene .
O ther diseases of th e skin and annexa


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30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
All 20 25
to to to to to to to to to to to to to
ages to
24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74 79 84 89

5
1
82
1
2
5
2
12

1

7

7 12
1

9

1

1
1
85
5
2
16
6
3
1
1
2
1
3
5
1
4
74
5

2
1

1

2

2

4

5 10 16

1
1

1

1

3

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

2
1

4

2
3
1

2
1

3

1

3

3
1

1

1

4

1
i

1
1
1

1
6 11 16

3
9 17
2

5

4

5
1

1

8
1
1
1

1
1

1

4
3

4

2

1

2
1

3

G

1

2
1

1
1 5 3 1 3
8 19 31 40 44 35 45 23
2
1
3 4
8 6 10
J
1 2 3 3 3 2 5 2
1

1
9

2

4

2

1

l
l

1

1

1

3

4

2
5

1

9

1
1

2
1

1

1
1
1

1 2
1 2
2
6 12 15 10 14 12
1
1

1

1

2
2
6

3

1

1

4
1

1

1
1
4

1
1
2

1
2
2

1

2

1
1

1
1

1

1

1

7
10
5
6
1

7
4
1
3

2

6

1
1
1

1
2

2
3

1

5

1
44

2

1

7
3

8

1

1

1

3
2
2

1

1
1
9 13 15 11 12

1

6

2
1

8

1
1

7

2

4
3
6
8
101
1

7

2

1
1

34
4
1
3
4
1
13
266
2
47
1
22
1

2

1
1
1

1

1
1
2

| U nknow n II

Cause of death

| 90 and over j|

In te rn a ­
tio n a l
list No.

T able 4 .—N U M B E R O F D E A T H S O F M E M B E R S OF T Y P O G R A P H IC A L U N IO N , BY
C A U SE A N D A G E G R O U P , 1931

1

1

2

1

1

4

1

1

2
2

1

1
2

1

1

1

8

7

1

1

1
2

1

1
1
1

1
4

2
2
1

4
3

1
1
6

6

4
1

1
1

1

1

1

2

1314

MONTHLY l a b o r r e v i e w

155
164
170
174
179
180
181
182
183
188, c
188, d
194
201
202
205, a
205, b

Diseases of th e bones. .................
Senility___ _______________ .
Suicide b y firearm s______ _
O ther su icid es.. ___________
Accidental burns . . . ____
Accidental mechanical suffocation..
Accidental absorption of irrespirable,
irritatin g , or poisonous gas_______
Accidental drow ning___
A ccidental trau m atism b y firearms..
Autom obile a cc id e n ts.. . . .
___
A irplane and balloon accidents_____
Excessive heat . .
Fractu re (cause n o t specified) _____
O ther external violence. ____ . _
Cause of death, ill-defined___
Cause of death, no t specified or u n ­
k n o w n ..________ __________ _
T o ta l_____________

2
14
1
2
2
1
2
3
3
10
1
5
6
27
74
55
1,193

1

4

1
9

5

|j
U nknow n

All 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
to to to to to to to to to to to to to
ages to
24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74 79 84 89

Cause of death

BY

90 a nd over ||

In t e r n a tio n a l
list No.

T able 4 . —N U M B E R O F D E A T H S O F M E M B E R S OF T Y P O G R A P H IC A L U N IO N
C A U SE A N D A G E G R O U P , 1931—C ontinued

8

1

1
1

1
1
1

1

1

1
1
1
1
1

1

1

1
2

1
1
2
1

l

2

2

7

2

4

4

9

1

i

4
2

1
1
3
2

4
1

1
5

2
1
1

2
1
2
4 5 4
9 14 16 12

2

5

2

6

4

6 11

8

i

6 17 36 47 58 74 115 174 191 167 160 85 32 15

13

C ost of M edical Services

N ARTICLE by Dr. Michael M. Davis in The New England
Journal of Medicine, April 14,1932, discusses the expenditures on
the part of the public for physicians’ services and for hospitalization.
It has been estimated on the basis of various studies made by the
committee on the costs of medical care, of which Doctor Davis is a
member, that the total annual expenditure in the United States for
the care and prevention of disease amounts to about $3,250,000,000.
But while this figure seems large, it is pointed out by the writer that it
amounts to less than 4 per cent of our estimated total annual income.
The complaints from both the public and the medical and allied
professions regarding the economic aspects of medical service, Doctor
Davis says, are caused not so much by the total amount of all sick­
ness bills as by certain characteristics of these expenditures. The
expenditures for sickness, for example, differ in important respects
from other items in the family budget, as it is impossible to plan with
any degree of certainty for the cost of sickness since no family can
tell in advance how much sickness is going to occur and what the
requirements are going to be.
An analysis of the expenditure for different types of medical care
shows that the amount spent for organized preventive work is less than
$100,000,000, or only $1 for prevention to nearly $35 spent for cure.
It is considered that a better development of preventive services would
materially reduce the total of suffering and of expenditure resulting
from disease. Drugs, medicines, and appliances account for from
20 to 25 per cent of the total amount spent, of which approximately
$500,000,000 is spent for worthless or harmful materials. The pay­
ments for physicians’ services amount to less than 30 per cent of the
total, while about 10 per cent more is paid for dentists’ services.
The bills of physicians and dentists together form the largest single
item, but constitute less than half the annual outlay for the care of
sickness. The cost of maintenance of hospitals amounting to about
$730,000,000 is met by taxes, income from endowments and current

A


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HEALTH AND IN DUSTRIAL H YGIENE

1315

charitable gifts, and from the payment by individuals for hospital
service rendered, the latter payments amounting to about $350,000,000 annually.
Among the various items of the health bill there is found to be a
fairly even distribution of expenditures among families for drugs and
medicines but the amounts spent for professional services—doctors,
dentists, and nurses—have a very uneven distribution, more than
half of such costs being borne by less than 15 per cent of the families.
This inequality in expenditure is even greater in respect to the costs
of hospitalization. The total charges to paying hospital patients for
institutional services, professional fees, and special nursing amount
to about $750,000,000 per year, and this amount falls upon only
about 4 per cent of the population. “ No family of moderate means/'
Doctor Davis says, “ can tell in advance whether or not one of its
members will fall next year, within that unlucky 4 per cent. >These
face a bill which on the average runs about $150 for each hospitalized
illness and which may run to several times that figure. If a family
could only know in advance that this emergency would befall them,
they might be able to budget against the expenditure. But sickness
is not predictable."
It is said to be a matter of some dispute whether or not hospital
charges are too high in relation to the cost of good service but there
can be no question that the cost is too high in relation to the ability
to pay of a large proportion of the persons who have to incur such
expenses each year.
That the costs of hospital care are a burden has been recognized in
all countries having well-developed hospital systems. In most
European countries the majority of the hospitals are government
institutions and the cost of maintenance is in part paid by the general
public through taxation, while much of the remainder of the expense
is paid from the insurance funds to which generally both workers
and employers contribute. Denmark, which has one of the best
hospital systems in the world, supports the hospitals almost entirely
out of taxes. The largest part of hospital care in Great Britain is
also provided by the government, and the famous “ voluntary”
hospitals of London and other large cities are maintained for the
most part by endowments and gifts. In the United States nearly
all of the hospitals for mental disease and for tuberculosis are main­
tained through taxation, as well as about a third of the general
hospital beds. Distribution of the expense of hospital care so that
it is borne by the community as a whole and does not fall so heavily
on the individual, can be obtained therefore, by means of taxation
and insurance, in the latter case the individual retaining more direct
responsibility.
The cost of hospital care weighs especially heavily on the so-called
middle classes—the persons of moderate means^ who_ are not willing
to receive charity from either government or individuals and who
constitute a large proportion of the patients paying for the services
they receive from hospitals, physicians, and ^surgeons. Although
the cost of hospitalization falls heavily on the individual who needs
extended medical and hospital care, various studies have shown that
the average incomes of physicians are not large. Two measures have
been proposed which aim at stabilizing and increasing the physicians’
income from his paying hospital patients and at the same time assist
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1316

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

ing persons of moderate means to budget against the expense of
hospitalized illness. The first plan, called the “ middle-rate plan/’
is designed to stabilize professional fees and^ hospital charges so that
the patient and his family can learn approximately the total cost of
his hospital illness at the time he is admitted. To do this it is neces­
sary for the medical staff of the hospital to reach an agreement with
the hospital administration so that professional fees and hospital
charges will be handled by the admitting office in accordance with
agreed schedules. The second plan, that of hospital insurance,
implies the first but goes beyond it by conserving and increasing the
patient’s paying power. A group of persons paying regularly into a
common fund operated on sound insurance principles will always be
assured of the means to meet the expenses incidental to hospitaliza­
tion and the expenses of medical and surgical care.
The middle-rate plan, the writer says, “ may help the patient to
plan to meet his bill, and the doctor and the hospital to collect their
shares. But it does not place in tlm patient’s hands money wherewith
to meet it. The application of the insurance principle to the costs of
hospitalized illness would be more deep-reaching in its advantages to
the patient’s budget, and more wide-reaching in the economic groups
which might be benefited. Wage earners as well as persons of
moderate means might find it within their incomes to insure against
hospitalized illness and thus insure definite payment to the physicians
and the hospitals. Such insurance must be developed by organized
groups. It can not be successfully sold by hospitals or by commercial
companies to individuals, for their selling and maintenance costs
will be much higher and what is even more important, there will be
adverse selection of risks. The more sickly will tend to insure. These
difficulties can be avoided if insurance is developed among such
groups as the employees of a business establishment, the teachers of a
school system, the faculty of a college, or a group of ‘civil servants’ in
a government department. Experimentation in such hospital insur­
ance is desirable. It will be advantageous alike for doctor, hospital,
and public to participate in such experiments.”

R eport of T hree C ases of A cu te S ilico sis

the danger of the development of chronic silicosis
L after long-continued exposure to silica dust has been known for
ALTHOUGH
many years, it is only within a very recent period that the hazard of
short exposure to dusts containing silica has been recognized. Cases
of acute silicosis after comparatively brief exposure or of delayed
silicosis, also after a short exposure, have been reported 1 in the past
two years in The Lancet and the British Medical Journal and in the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
The most recent report2 concerns three cases of acute silicosis
which developed in a factory manufacturing scouring soaps or
powders.
1 See Labor Review, December, 1930, pp. 93-95; July, 1931, p. 99.
. .
2 Journal of the A merican M edical Association, Apr. 23, 1932, pp. 1439, 1441: “ Acute Silicosis,
M . Chapm an, M . D .


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by Earle

HEALTH AND IN DUSTRIAL H YGIENE

1317

The first case reported is that of a young man who was employed
in November, 1928, to mix dry silica and soap in an open machine.
No protective measures were taken and he worked, therefore, in a
very dusty atmosphere. He continued at this work without protec­
tion and in the summer of 1930 an irritative dry cough and difficult,
labored breathing developed. These symptoms became rapidly
worse, and in January, 1931, 26 months after beginning employment
in this plant, he was incapacitated for work. An X ray of the chest
at that time showed advanced silicosis. The case was reported to the
authorities and in March the machines in the plant were condemned
and production stopped. Upon admission of the patient to the
hospital in October, 1931, tests for the presence of tubercle bacilli
were negative but the Roentgenograms showed that the middle fourfifths of both lung fields were obliterated and that only the apexes
of the lungs and the portions just above the diaphragm were re­
ceiving air. The patient was placed in an oxygen tent to relieve
the labored breathing but lived only 18 days after entering the
hospital. At autopsy the lungs were found to be about half the nor­
mal size, the middle portions of the lungs being shrunken and fibrotic
and of almost the hardness of stone. Upon being cut, these parts
of the lung were found to be very firm and gritty.
The second case was that of a middle-aged workman who had been
employed for 10 years as a foreman in the same plant prior to being
placed in charge, in December, 1926, of two new machines used to
mix silica and soap. He assisted in the operation of these machines
but spent several hours daily in other parts of the plant. Eight
months later difficult breathing and a cough developed, which pro­
gressed until he was capable of only a limited amount of work. In
June, 1930, he was seriously ill with pneumonia, his case requiring a
long period of convalescence, and in December, 1931, after contracting
an ordinary cold he was admitted to the hospital. No tubercle bacilli
were found in the sputum, but an X ray of the chest showed that the
upper two-thirds of the right lung were dense and slightly mottled,
and that there were also areas of denseness in the left lung. The find­
ings of the examination indicated advanced silicosis. Death occurred
about a week after admission to the hospital but an autopsy was not
obtained.
The third case, that of a man aged 27, was first seen in November,
1931. This man had worked at the same mixing machines as the
other two for about nine months in 1927, and from March, 1928,
until the latter part of 1930. During the last year that he worked in
the plant he suffered from dyspnea and a cough with mucopurulent
sputum which was profuse in damp weather. The clinical examina­
tion indicated that the patient had acute silicosis although the X-ray
picture failed to establish a positive diagnosis. Hypertrophy of the
heart was revealed, however, by the radiograph and this was con­
sidered to be due to the increased resistance and loss of elasticity in
the pulmonary vascular bed. This finding was important in arriving
at a diagnosis of the disease in this patient.
In commenting upon the three cases, Doctor Chapman says that
the appearance of respiratory symptoms after 8, 21, and 29 months'
exposure to an alkaline dust of high silica content shows a more rapidly
severe silicosis than is usual, although a fully developed case of the
120148°— 32----- 5

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1318

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

disease after 8 months’ exposure has been reported in a lens grinder
who was exposed to pure quartz dust for this length of time. The
rapidly fatal cases of two young girls who were employed in England
in packing a similar cleaning powder are also cited.3 The severity
of the respiratory symptoms is said to be shown by the marked de­
crease in the vital capacity in the three cases, in the first of which the
loss was greater than is usually seen in cases of uncomplicated cardiac
failure.
No determination of the silica content of the dust or soap to which
these men were exposed was made, but extimates were made of the
silica contents of the lungs in the first case. In comparison with the
amounts present in cases of chronic silicosis, the data suggest that
the reaction in the lungs is not a direct quantitative one but that the
rapid development of fibrosis was the result of the reaction arising
from the silica in the presence of the alkaline soap dust. In indus­
tries in which there is exposure to silica dust but without the presence
of alkaline dust, this reaction progresses slowly in the faintly alkaline
fluids of the tissues and may be so prolonged that symptoms do not
appear until years after a worker has left a hazardous industry.
3 See Labor Review, December, 1930, pp. 93-95.


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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
C oke-O ven A ccid en ts in th e U n ited S ta te s, 1930

HE number of workers killed and injured in proportion to the
number employed in the coke-oven industry in the United States,
was smaller in 1930 than in any other year for which statistics are
available, according to a report of the United States Bureau of Mines.1
The frequency rate for combined fatal and lost-time nonfatal in­
juries was reduced from 110 per thousand 300-day workers in 1913
to 46 in 1930, a decrease of 58 per cent. The reduction, however,
was principally in the nonfatal injury rate, which dropped from 107.73
in 1913 to 44.56 in 1930, while the fatality rate decreased only from
1.97 in 1913 to 1.22 in 1930, when it was higher than in any of the
three preceding years.
The actual amount of time lost on account of accidents is not
known, but the Bureau of Mines estimates that the 28 deaths and
1,022 nonfatal injuries reported in 1930 represent a loss of 206,950
days, or an average time loss of 197 days. The estimated time lost
in 1929 from 22 deaths and 1,329 nonfatal injuries was 183,638 days,
an average of 136 days.
There were 2,604 fewer workers employed in the industry in 1930
than in 1929, and there was a decrease of 836,411 in the number of
days of labor performed, attributed to industrial conditions prevailingin 1930. A gradual change in production methods is shown by the
report. There has for a number of years been a steady decline in
the operation of beehive ovens, and a corresponding increase in by­
product ovens. The number of workers employed at beehive ovens
decreased from 18,570 in 1916 to 2,176 in 1930, and the number of
days of labor performed from 5,577,341 to 439,296, while the number
of workers employed at by-product ovens increased from 13,033 in
1916 to 17,679 in 1930, and the number of days of labor performed
from 4,658,333 to 6,441,599.
During 1930, 48 per cent of all employees at beehive ovens worked
at plants where 8 hours was the established workday, 39 per cent
where the workday was 9 hours, and less than 2 per cent were em­
ployed at 10-hour plants. At by-product ovens 87 per cent of the
employees worked an 8-hour shift, 1 per cent a 10-hour shift, and 2
per cent a 12-hour shift.
The main causes of fatal accidents were railway cars, burns, coke
cars and motors, and suffocation from gases. The largest number of
nonfatal injuries was caused by falls of persons, with burns, handling
of objects, hand tools, and falling objects as other principal causes,
in the order named.

T

i U. S. D epartm ent of Commerce. Bureau of Mines. Technical Paper 508: Coke-oven accidents in the
U nited States during th e calendar year 1930, b y W. W. A dam s and L. Chenow eth. W ashington, 1931.


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1319

1320

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Tlie following table shows the number of employees, days worked,
fatalities, and lost-time nonfatal injuries at all coke ovens in the
United States, by years, from 1916 to 1930:
N U M B E R OP E M P L O Y E E S , D A Y S OF LA B O R P E R F O R M E D , F A T A L IT IE S , A N D L O S T
T IM E N O N F A T A L IN J U R IE S A T C O K E O V EN S IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , 1916 TO 1930
M en employed
Average
days of
operation

Year

Actual
num ber

E q u iv a­
lent in
300-day
workers

Fatalities
D ays of
labor per­
formed

Total

N onfatal injuries

Per 1,000
300-day
workers

Total

P er 1,000
300-day
workers

1916______________
1917______________
1918______________
1919______________
1920______________

324
329
329
289
319

31, 603
32,417
32, 389
28, 741
28,139

34,119
35, 595
35,476
27, 674
29,921

10, 235, 674
10, 678, 429
10, 642, 688
8, 302, 059
8, 976, 214

45
76
73
53
49

1. 32
2.14
2. 06
1.92
1.64

5,237
6, 713
7, 792
4, 031
3,415

153. 49
188. 59
219. 64
145. 66
114.13

A verage____

319

30, 658

32, 557

9, 767,013

59

1.82

5,438

167. 02

1921______________
1922______________
1923______________
1924______________
1925______________

257
284
324
303
310

16, 204
19, 278
23, 729
20, 451
23, 254

13, 868
18, 236
25, 627
20, 681
24,054

4,160, 298
5, 470, 939
7, 688,160
6, 204, 448
7, 216, 239

17
29
45
24
28

1.23
1.59
1.76
1.16
1.16

1, 853
1,710
2, 593
1,645
1,696

133. 62
93. 77
101.18
79. 54
70. 51

299

20, 583

20, 493

6,148,017

29

1.40

1, 899

92. 68

315
337
336
344
347

23,115
20, 667
19, 390
22,459
19, 855

24, 288
23, 223
21,710
25, 724
22,936

7, 286, 605
6,967, 035
6, 512,929
7, 717, 306
6, 880,895

51
25
17
22
28

2.10
1.08
.78
.86
1.22

1, 922
1,285
1,012
1,329
1,022

79.13
55.33
46. 61
51.66
44. 56

335

21,097

23, 576

7, 072, 954

29

1.23

1,314

55. 73

A verage___
1926______________
1927______________
1928______________
1929 _____________
1930............................
Average____

In d u stria l A ccid en ts in N ew O rleans, 1931

to the report of the Factories Inspection Department of the Parish of Orleans, La., for the calendar year 1931,
ACCORDING
one out of every 22 workers in the industries of New Orleans was
l

injured during the year. Over 30,000 workers were employed, and
1,351 w~ere injured. The injured consisted of 966 males over 16 years
of age, 33 males between the ages of 14 and 16, 346 females over 18
years of age, and 6 females from 16 to 18 years.
The table following showrs a summary of the total number of workers
employed during the year, the number injured, and the number of
days lost as a result of the injuries, in the various industries or
businesses.


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1321

In d u s t r ia l a c c id e n t s

N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S E M P L O Y E D IN N E W O R L E A N S IN D U S T R IE S , N U M B E R
IN J U R E D , A N D T IM E LOSS F R O M IN JU R IE S , 1931
N u m b er of
workers—

In d u stry or business

N um ­
ber of
days
lost
on ac­
E m ­ In ­ count
ployed jured of in ­
juries

Aw rings and shutlifts
70
684
Dags
Bakp.rip.s qrifi r.akfts
1,088
B ottling
’ 203
414
Boxas
586
Dans
D andy
266
114
Da^k^tS anrj ooffins
Daps anrl hats
16
1,219
Digars
2,287
D1nthing
77
Dot ton gins
Dot ton mills
803
251
Doffftp,
526
Condim ents and food products.
404
D a irie s
5,153
D epartm ent stores
1, 090
D rug storps
291
Fipptrical supplies
372
Furniture ami m attress
59
Furs
807
Hosiery

0
200
44
4
21
25
23
16
0
24
32
0

57
0
71
74
115
25
17
10
0
14

o
342
132
60
18
360
55
70
0
137
286
0
601
0
101
459
202
43
118
8
0
79

In d u stry or business

1,402
108
1, 592
143
274
104
45
408
3,406
973
46
576
383
626
643
1,377
303
292
737
16

i 86
0
22
1
28
25
0
22
200
36
0
28
23
0
46
31
0
2
29
0

620
0
20
0
130
26
0
75
2, 111
535
0
58
0
0
56
79
0
46
228
0

------- ----------- 30, 234 1,351

7,055

H otels___ _____ ____________
Ice cream .
__________ L aundries.. . .................
M acaroni__ _
______ - Molasses and s iru p __________
M ops and broom s._. ---------M iscellaneous-------- ---------Oil refining.
. . . .
_ ...
Public service____
Sugar refinery____
. . . . ..
Perfumes ______
Printing ____
. .
Pecans
.
. .
....
P u b lish e rs._. . ._ . .
-R estau ran t. . . ------ ---------Telephone ___ . . . .
Theater
.
. ...
___
Tw ine
. .
.
.
. . ..
T e le g ra p h ___ .. . ___ . . .
U m brellas. ___ ____ __
T otal

N um ber of N u m ­
workers— ber of
days
lost
on ac­
E m ­ In ­ count
ployed jured of in­
juries

i Includes 1 fatality.

B u ild in g C o n stru ctio n A ccid en ts in New York C ity in 1931

frequency and severity rates in the building construcL tion industry of New York were appreciably reduced during
ACCIDENT
1931, according to a recent bulletin of the Building Trades Employers’
Association of that city.1
The records for 1931 cover 300 firms in 27 different trade organiza­
tions, with 14,136 employees who worked 28,051,058 man-hours.
The combined frequency rate for 1931 is 40.99, while the combined
frequencj^ rate for all reporting employers in 1930 was 42.50. The
combined severity rate for 1931 is 3.03, as against a combined severity
rate for all reporting employers in 1930 of 3.82. The entire year’s
work was completed without a lost-time accident by 163 firms in 26
different groups with 2,237 employees who worked 4,333,742 man­
hours.
Table 1 shows the average number of employees m each trade group
in 1931, with accident frequency and severity rates for 1929, 1930,
and 1931.
i Building T rades Em ployers’ Association of th e C ity of N ew York. C om m ittee on accident prevention.
B ulletin No. 13: In d u strial accident facts, 1932 edition. N ew Y ork, 2 P ark A venue, April, 1932.


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1322
T able

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

1 . — A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y R A T E S IN B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C ­

T IO N IN N E W Y O R K C IT Y , 1929, 1930, A N D 1931

T rade group

Allied Building M etal Industries- _
Asbestos C ontractors’ Association- ______
C arpenters’ Association, M aster. . . .
Cem ent W orkers, M asters’ League of
Composition Roofers and W aterproofers___
C u t Stone Contractors’ Association_______
Elevator M anufacturers' A ssociation. __
General contractors-. . . .
.....
Glass Association, T h e Stained and Leaded
Glass D ealers’ Association, T h e W indow and Plate
H eating and Piping Contractors.
Lighting Fixture M anufacturers’ C o uncil... .
M arble In d u stry Em ployers’ Association. . .
M etal Door and W indow Association
M etallic F urring and L athing Association_____
Mosaic and Terrazzo E m ployers’ Association
Painters and Decorators, Association of M aster
Parq u et Flooring Association of B rooklyn_____
P arquet Flooring Association of N ew York
P lasterers’ Association, Contracting
Plum bers (Division No. 1), Association of M aster
Refrigerator M anufacturers’ Association
Rigging C ontractors’ Association_____
Roofers and Sheet M etal W o rk ers.. .
Stone S etters’ Association, Contracting ..
Tile C ontractors’ Association
Individual m em bers. . . . . ___
All groups

..

. ...

A ver­ Frequency r a t e s
(per 1,000,000 manage
hours’ exposure)
num ­
ber of
em­
ploy­
ees,
1929
1930
1931
1931

Severity rates (per
1,000 m an-hours’
exposure)

1929

1930

1, 303 35. 78 38.56 32.97
328 64.10 55. 99 56. 40
365 38. 03 41.69 34. 87
663 102. 79 107. 72 71. 16
154 37. 69 94. 03 135. 69
290 30. 03 18. 58 32.13
962 55. 07 85. 93 49. 73
4, 960 59. 63 42. 53 45. 30
36
.00
.00
.00
89 32. 29 38. 60 59. 42
694 22. 88 12. 92 43.97
101
9.20 10. 73
4. 24
730 20. 02 16. 64 24. 62
115 35.19
5. 93 16. 72
191 35. 75 32.18 21. 70
184
8. 65
.00
2.61
349 21. 51 14. 33 14. 41
2
.00
. 00
127
5. 26
5.06
4. 60
479 35. 83 64.48 65. 37
607 24. 53 60. 70 56. 50
36 13.17 11. 46
. 00
50 12.12 27.81 21. 30
703 37. 78 40. 23 17.16
120 31.57 149. 89 64.10
253 34. 43 23. 70
2. 16
245 43.48 55.44 29. 29

0. 77
. 54
7.16
13. 24
.57
1.09
7. 83
5.17
.00
. 79
.58
.68
.30
.32
. 18
. 18
1.23
. 14
5.00
. 56
.55
1. 30
. 90
.60
. 38
3. 68

2.00
1. 29
1.28
18. 05
1.65
. 22
12. 00
3. 62
.00
.85
. 15
.20
5.60
.23
.51
.00
1. 26
00
.01
6. 35
1. 27
. 34
4.17
5. 89
17.08
. 58
2. 33

2. 68
. 87
20. 88
13. 45
11. 75
1. 22
4. 06
1. 70
. 00
1 20
5. 41
.00
2.12
. 05
. 11
. 15
. 66
00
. 01
1. 44
. 55
. 00
2 54
4. 74
1. 07'
. 01
.48

3. 49

3. 82

3.03

14,136

42. 36

42. 50

40.99

1931

Another tabulation shown in the report covers data from 162 firms
in 22 different trade groups, which reported for all three years. In
1929 they had 12,174 employees who worked 26,668,391 man-hours;
in 1930 their 10,802 employees worked 22,702,835 man-hours; and in
1931 their 7,673 employees worked 15,154,339 man-hours. The
combined frequency rate for this group for 1931 is 46.65, as against
47.08 for 1930, a decrease of about 1 per cent. The combined severity
rate for 1931 is 3.95, as against 4.82 for 1930, a decrease of 18 per
cent. Forty-seven of these firms, in 18 different trade groups (with
2,176 employees who worked 4,182,689 man-hours), completed the
3 years without a lost-time injury.
Data relating to the group of identical establishments are given in
Table 2, which shows the average number of employees for 1931, by
trade groups, with accident frequency and severity rates for 1929,
1930, and 1931.


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1323

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

T able 2.— A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y R A T E S IN B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C ­
T IO N IN N E W Y O R K C IT Y , F O R F IR M S R E P O R T IN G F O R A L L T H R E E Y E A R S, 1929,
1930, A N D 1931

T rade group

A ver­
age Frequency rates (per Severity rates (per
n u m ­ 1,000,000 m an-hours’ 1,000 m an-hours’
exposure)
ber of exposure)
em ­
ployees,
1929
1930
1931
1929
1930
1931
1931

Allied Building M etal In d u stries--------------------------939
Asbestos C ontractors’ A ssociation.. __________ _ _
10
C arpenters’ Association, M aster_________________
254
C em ent W orkers, M asters’ League of . ___________
410
Composition Roofers and W aterproofers.. .
_ . ..
141
C ut Stone C ontractors’ A ssociation.. . _ _____ . . .
283
E levator M anufacturers’ Association____ . . . . . .
942
General C ontractors__________ ________ ____ ____ 1,969
Glass Association, T h e Stained and Leaded________
24
H eating and Piping C ontractors_______________ .
223
Lighting F ix tu re M anufacturers’ Council__ _______
101
M arble In d u stry E m ployers’ Association__________
667
M etallic F u rrin g and L athing A ssociation. _ _____
160
P ainters a n d Decorators, Association of M aster____
177
P arquet Flooring Association of N ew Y o rk------------9
Plasterers’ Association, C ontracting___ . . _
.
268
Plum bers (D ivision N o. 1), Association of M a ste r...
408
Refrigerator M anufacturers’ Association___________
18
Rigging C ontractors’ A ssociation.. . ___________ .
4
Roofers and Sheet M etal W orkers_____. . . . . ____
334
Tile C ontractors’ Association__________ _
.
134
Individual m em bers_______ _______ ______________
198

38. 35
64.10
44.31
111.89
31. 08
29. 20
55. 05
59. 53
.00
30.93
.00
15.17
37. 72
20.57
.00
38.84
18. 89
13. 17
.00
29. 29
34.43
56. 42

38. 86 40. 61
157. 34 336. 53
53.27 40. 70
114.95 88.47
109. 99 139.14
15. 59 32.94
83.24 50. 27
40. 27 57. 26
.00
.00
19. 93 31.65
21. 69
4.24
15.41 23.34
34. 25 18.02
14. 36 20. 49
26. 96
.00
64. 58 68. 76
45.38 59.93
28. 39
.00
.00
.00
47. 33 24. 51
8. 63
4. 66
47. 96 23. 93

All groups_________________________________ 7, 673 144. 73 247. 08
i Average num ber of employees in 1929, 12,174.

46. 65

0.84
.54
9. 09
13.70
.49
1.09
7.99
7. 24
.00
1.15
.00
.27
.20
.49
.00
5. 84
.31
.55
.00
.58
.38
1. 98

2.29
3.40
1.85
14.65
1. 74
.17
12.72
4. 44
.00
.21
.03
6.32
.54
2.67
.08
.91
.38
.86
.00
.40
. 17
2. 48

3. 67
9. 27
30. 57
19. 90
13. 34
1. 25
4.14
2.41
.00
.49
.04
2.15
.09
.51
.00
.95
.60
.00
.00
.40
.03
.57

4.43

4. 82

3.95

2 Average n u m b er of employees in 1930, 10,802.

The 1,150 injuries to workers in all reporting establishments during
1931 included 8 deaths, 35 cases resulting in permanent disability,
and 1,107 in temporary disability. The frequency of injuries shows
that 347 cases were caused through handling objects, 187 through
falls of persons, 167 through stepping on or striking against objects,
162 through falling objects, 105 through using hand tools, 64 through
machinery, 17 through explosives, and 10 through poisonous sub­
stances, while the other 91 were due to miscellaneous causes. The
greatest severity rate is for falls of persons, which accounted for 45
per cent of the time loss. Handling objects was responsible for 19
per cent, and falling objects for 15 per cent.
Tables in the bulletin show both group and individual comparisons,
with complete data on each trade and on each firm reporting. A
comparison is also given of compensation awards in New York State
for all industries, all construction industries, and building erection
and demolition, by years, for the 6-year period 1926 to 1931.
A n n u a l O hio S a fety C ongress, 1932

HE fifth annual all-Ohio safety congress was held on April 19,
20, and 21, 1932, at Columbus, Ohio, under the auspices of the
Industrial Commission of Ohio. In spite of the drastic reduction in
industrial activities, the general attendance was nearly as large as
during the previous session in 1931, proving the interest taken in
accident prevention. Twenty-five sectional meetings were held by
the various industrial groups, in addition to the daily general sessions.

T


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1324

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

In opening the congress the chairman, Thomas P. Kearns, super­
intendent of the division of safety and hygiene, emphasized the need
of being constantly alert to detect not only the known hazards but
the unseen and unexpected dangers. He pointed to the recent tragedy
in the Ohio State office building, where 10 lives were lost in an
explosion of undetermined origin, although up to the time of the
disaster there had not been a major injury in the erection of the
building.
Dr. Stephen K. Mahon, of the Toledo Edison Co., told the congress
that progress is continually adding new hazards, so that we are to-day
dealing with new speed, new power, new and unfamiliar devices,
and with a new kind of fatigue, which affects mental alertness
and mental judgment, and therefore affects action. He contended
that most hazards are preventable, and that new forces of danger,
or accident, must be met by new forces of control.
Cyrus S. Ching, director of industrial relations, United States
Rubber Co., who addressed the executives’ dinner meeting, declared
that industrial accidents are a disgrace, and are due to inefficiency in
management. He pointed out that accident prevention is often
approached from an evangelistic instead of a business standpoint,
but that it is a straight business problem involving dollars and cents.
Responsibility for industrial accidents was likewise placed upon
the employers by Frank Morrison, secretary, American Federation of
Labor, especially those who refuse to adopt up-to-date prevention
devices and methods, but he placed some of the blame on State
legislatures that refuse to enact compulsory legislation for safety
measures. He emphasized that industrial accidents primarily concern
the workers, who suffer to a degree for which the benefits of the work­
men’s compensation laws do not at all compensate.
While the so-called industrial safety was the main subject, part of
the time was devoted to the related topics of fire hazards and highway
hazards, which also affect both industry and workers strongly. Many
able and interesting addresses on both general and special safety
problems were delivered at the sectional meetings.
At the closing session of the congress, an urgent and touching plea
for safety precautions was presented by Walter E. Darling, a victim
of an industrial accident in Ohio which resulted in the loss of his
eyesight. A splendid practical demonstration was given of teaching
fundamental factors of safety in operating abrasive wheels.


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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
S u fficien t E vidence M u st be E stab lish ed to H old R ailroad for
L ia b ility

VIDENCE that a brakeman, while running along the side of a
train, fell by stepping into a slight depression was held insuffi­
cient to establish the railway’s liability under the Federal employers’
liability act, according to a recent decision of the United States
Supreme Court. (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. Saxon,
52 Sup. Ct. 229.)
J. W. Moore, while employed as head brakeman by the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway and engaged in interstate commerce,
sustained fatal injuries at a railroad station in New Mexico.
The personal representative of Moore filed suit finder the Federal
employers’ liability act and obtained a judgment for damages. Upon
appeal by the railroad the court of civil appeals at El Paso reversed
the judgment, holding that the evidence failed to show the accident
resulted from negligence of the railroad. The Texas Supreme Court
reversed this decision, holding that there was enough evidence to
show negligence and a causal connection. The case was thereupon
appealed to the United States Supreme Court. In delivering the
opinion of the court, Mr. Justice McReynolds stated that the case
under consideration was of a class in which the court was frequently
obliged “ to give special consideration to the facts in order to protect
interstate carriers against unwarranted judgments and enforce
observance of the liability act as here interpreted.”

E

E x am in atio n of th e reco rd convinces us th a t th e c o u rt of civil app eals reached
th e pro p er conclusion. We can find no evidence from w hich it m ay be pro p erly
concluded t h a t M oore’s tra g ic d e a th w as th e re su lt of negligence by th e railw ay
com pany. As often p o in ted o u t, one who claim s u n d er th e F ed eral a c t m u st in
som e ad eq u a te w ay estab lish negligence a n d causal connection betw een th is a n d
th e in ju ry .

The court reviewed the language of the State supreme court and
also the facts relative to the accident and said that—
W h at occasioned th is distressing accid en t can only be surm ised. I t was
necessary to show causal negligence in o rd er to establish th e resp o n d e n t’s rig h t to
re c o v e r / T he evidence fails to m eet th is requirem ent.

The judgment of the State court was therefore reversed.
H and-L abor P rovision in P u b lic C on tract H eld Illegal in U tah

ESTRICTIVE provisions as to labor and wages in municipal
contracts for the construction of sewers, which increased the
cost without enhancing thé value, for the purpose of relieving unem­
ployment were held to be void by the Utah Supreme Court as an
unlawful diversion of funds and against the public policy of the State.
(Bohn v. Salt Lake City et ah, 8 Pac. (2d) 591.)

R


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1325

1326

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Salt Lake City, in an attempt to relieve the uneniployment situa­
tion, undertook to construct a system of storm sewers. It was esti­
mated that the improvement would cost about $600,000; and at a
special bond election held in October, 1931, Salt Lake City was
authorized to create a bonded indebtedness of $600,000 for the purpose
of making this improvement. In the election this was the sole issue
submitted to the voters.
Public bids were received by the city board of commissioners and
four separate contracts were awarded for a part of the work. The
commissioners inserted in these contracts certain provisions regarding
labor and wages and they intended to insert the same provision in the
other contracts for the work. Certain citizens and taxpayers began
legal action to prevent the insertion of these provisions, which were
alleged to be illegal and wasteful. The provisions in question are, in
brief, as follows:
T he co ntractors agree (1) so fa r as possible, th e re being no su b s ta n tia l and
m a terial difference in price to th em , t h a t all m aterials shall be S a lt L ake C ity
p ro d u cts an d m an u factu re, an d if n o t p ro cu rab le in S alt L ake C ity , th e n U ta h
p ro d u cts an d m an u factu re, a n d if n o t p ro cu rab le in U ta h , th e c o n tra c to r shall
have th e rig h t of selection; (2) t h a t all excavating, loading, an d back filling shall
be done w ith h an d labor, except t h a t te a m s a n d tra c to rs m ay be used for plow ing
an d loosening th e m ate ria ls to be m oved; (3) t h a t c o n tra c to rs shall ro ta te all
com m on labor, an d , so fa r as practicab le, all o th e r lab o r once each w eek a n d shall
n o t em ploy an y w orkm en m ore th a n tw o w eeks in an y m o n th , n o r shall th e y
em ploy an y w orkm an in an y m o n th w ho h as h ad tw o w eeks’ w ork from an y
source d u ring a n y given m o n th if th e re are o th e r m en w ho are unem ployed an d
available. An agency is se t up by th e com m issioners to reg ister all lab o rers w ith
reference to such desired info rm atio n , such agency shall n o t refuse re g istra tio n
to an y able-bodied citizen of th e U n ited S ta te s w ho h a s been a bona-fide re sid en t
of S alt L ake C ity fo r th e p a s t y ea r; (4) preference in em p lo y m en t shall be given
to citizens of th e U n ited S ta te s or th o se h av in g declared th e ir in te n tio n to becom e
such, and p articu la rly residents an d head s of fam ilies of S alt L ak e C ity ; (5)
eight hours shall c o n stitu te a d a y ’s labor; (6) th a t $3.50 p er d ay shall be p aid as a
m inim um wage.

It was alleged that the cost of the proposed improvement would be
increased to the extent of $55,000 by reason of insertion of the pro­
visions calling for hand labor and for rotation of labor, and that labor
could be secured for $3 per day, although it was shown that substan­
tially all the contractors were paying $3.50 per day for labor in Salt
Lake City.
After reviewing the facts the court considered the object and pur­
pose of the improvement. Mr. Justice Ephraim Hanson, speaking
for the court, said: “ the direct and primary commitment resting
with the city and its commissioners by law is the construction of the
storm sewers in order to provide a much-needed public improvement.
It should be needless to say that the unemployment situation is some­
thing collateral to the object and purpose sought to be accomplished
by the construction of the storm sewers.” Continuing, he said:
I t is n o t only obvious, b u t it is specifically a d m itte d , as well, t h a t th e very
u nusual specifications in resp ect to th e em p lo y m en t a n d ro ta tio n of h a n d lab o r
were in serted in th e proposed c o n tra c ts on th e c ity ’s in stan ce fo r th e p urpose of
creating em ploym ent. W e th e n h av e a situ a tio n before us w here th e city a n d
its com m issioners, in discharging th e obligation restin g on th e m by law to b u ild
an d co n stru ct th e proposed sto rm sewers, a re insisting t h a t th e u n u su a l a n d
restrictiv e specifications be m ad e a condition to th e p roposed co n tracts, w hich
they fran k ly a d m it will enlarge th e cost th ereo f to th e e x te n t of $55,000. I t is
n o t urged t h a t th is e x tra ex p en d itu re ad d s a n y th in g to th e valu e o r to th e m e rit
of th e w ork to be accom plished. I t is fran k ly a d m itte d t h a t i t does no t. T h e

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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

1327

decision to m ake th is ex tra expenditure w as n o t th e resu lt of a n y consideration
ten d in g to ad vance or pro m o te th e in te re st of th e sto rm sewers, b u t w as m o tiv a te d
en tirely by considerations affecting th e un em p lo y m en t situ atio n .

In considering the city’s authority to undertake construction in this
manner, the court cited the general law providing for the organization
and classification of cities, in which Salt Lake City is given express
authority to construct and keep in repair drains and sewers and to
regulate their use and construction. These powers, the court agreed,
carried with them all implied powers necessary to carry into effect
the powers expressly granted. But, the court said, the insertion of
these provisions into contracts for public improvement for the sole
purpose of alleviating the unemployment situation “ carries it far
beyond the orbit of the power it is ostensibly asserting,” and—
* * * W e should be com pelled b y th e a d m itte d facts to say t h a t it was
b u t a th in ly veiled effort to do by indirectio n w h a t can n o t be done directly.
W e h av e no difficulty in com ing to th e conclusion t h a t th e re is a plain diversion
to th e e x te n t of $55,000 from a fu n d specifically c reated b y th e sale of bonds for
th e purpose of constructin g a system of sto rm sewers for th e p u rpose of affording
em p lo y m en t for th e unem ployed. T his can n o t m eet th e san ctio n of th e law .

The minimum-wage provision was likewise challenged. The court
cited cases holding that “ the power to fix a minimum wage and to
prescribe the hours that shall constitute a day’s labor are quite
generally regarded as an exercise of the police power,” but “ this
power is inherent in the State.” Continuing along this line, the
court said:
I t is, how ever, contended by w ay of a rg u m en t th a t th e city m ig h t have done
th e w ork w ith o u t le ttin g i t o u t on com petitive bids a n d could th e n fix a w age of
$3.50 a day. Assum ing, of course, t h a t $3.50 is a fair wage th a t m ig h t be tru e ,
b u t t h a t is n o t th e case before us. B u t even so, we do n o t th in k i t a tru e analogy
to assum e t h a t i t has th e like rig h t to d ic ta te to its co n tra c to rs th e wages th e y
m u st p ay th e ir w orkm en. In th is ju risdiction, in asm u ch as m unicipalities have
none of th e elem ents of sovereignty in exerting th e ir given pow ers, we th in k th e
provision in th e proposed c o n tracts w ith respect to th e m inim um w age m u st be
ru led out.

The provision giving preference in employment to residents and
heads of families of Salt Lake City was also declared void as being in
conflict with the State statute (Comp. Laws, 1917, sec. 4865) giving
preference on public works to United States citizens or those having
declared their intention to become citizens. The order preventing
the insertion of these provisions into the contracts was therefore
allowed.
Justices Straup and Elias Hansen delivered concurring opinions and
Mr. Justice Folland delivered a dissenting opinion in which Mr. Chief
Justice Cherry concurred. The dissent maintained that, as the State
had placed no limitations upon this power of the city, the city could
therefore exercise all powers which the State might exercise. He
pointed out that—
In its cap acity as ow ner a n d p ro p rieto r th e city is n o t ham pered, w here th ere
are no s ta tu to ry or co n stitu tio n a l restrictio n s, as to th e m an n er or m eans to be
em ployed in th e co n stru ctio n of its pu b lic w orks. T h e conditions w hich an
em ployer m u n icip ality m ay im pose as to th e m an n er of doing its w ork involves
questions of policy w hich a re w ith in th e discretion of th e b o ard of com m issioners
to decide. W ith respect to questions of policy th e co u rts have n o th in g to do.

In determining its policy, the dissent contends, the city has the
right to consider the welfare of the public even though the conditions
imposed do not exclusively promote the efficiency of the work.

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1328

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

After citing cases and arguments in support of this theory, Mr.
Justice Folland concludes the dissenting opinion by saying:
I do n o t p reten d to say th a t th e re q u irem en t of h an d lab o r in stead of m achinery
in th e excavation a n d back filling fo r th e sew ers is o rdinarily a n econom ical or
sound policy. T h a t is for th e b o ard of com m issioners to say in th e lig h t of th e
conditions now existing. Society m u s t solve th e problem s w hich arise from th e
use of m odern m achinery a n d efficient m eth o d s of p ro d u ctio n , n o t b y discarding
such in stru m en talities, b u t by m aking use of th e m for th e benefit of all. In view
of th e p ie s e n t em ergency, th e req u irem en ts fo r ro ta tio n of la b o r a n d th a t certain
w ork be done by m an u al lab o r w ere p rescribed in th e exercise of a sound discretion.
In view of th is situ a tio n , we can n o t say t h a t th e b o ard ab u sed its discretion, or
th a t its action w as a rb itra ry or capricious in a n y resp ect w hatsoever. * * *
T he people do n o t w a n t c h a rity b u t do desire to su p p o rt them selves a n d th e ir
fam ilies by h o n est labor. I t w ould be a n in d ic tm e n t of o u r civilization if public
officers u n d er such circum stances have no m eans of m eeting th e situ a tio n a n d
p articu larly w here, as here, th e city a u th o ritie s h av e pioceeded only w ith in th e
pow ers g ran ted th e m by th e legislature a n d are n o t violatin g a n y law e n acted to
place a lim it upon th e ir powers.


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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
P rovision s for “S econ d In ju r ie s” u n d er W ork m en ’s
C o m p en sa tio n Laws

F THE 44 States which have enacted workmen’s compensation
laws, all but 5 (Louisiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania,1 Ver­
mont, and West Virginia) have specific provisions regarding the pay­
ment of compensation in second-injury cases. The Federal law
extending workmen’s compensation benefits to longshoremen and
harbor workers, and applicable also to private employees in the Dis­
trict of Columbia, provides specially for second injuries. The work­
men’s compensation laws of the several territories (Alaska, Hawaii,
Porto Rico, and the Philippine Islands) do not specifically provide
for such cases.
The question of second injuries involves the employment of physi­
cally defective workmen. An employee who has lost a member of
the body is handicapped, and is usually at a disadvantage in obtain­
ing industrial employment. Among the factors which contribute to
this discrimination is the fear among employers that the hiring or the
retention of an industrial cripple will increase the cost of accident
insurance.
Whenever an employee loses a member of the body, such as an
eye, hand, foot, etc., and subsequently loses another member in an
industrial accident, he becomes permanently and totally disabled.
Employers of labor therefore hesitate to_ employ an employee pre­
viously injured. In order to meet this situation many States have
acted to relieve the employer of the extra liability, by the creation,
under the compensation law, of a special or “ second-injury” fund.
Plence, in the case of a second major disability, the employer is liable
only for the second injury, yet the employee is compensated for the
injury resulting from the combined injuries, the balance of the award
being paid from the second-injury fund.
The method of raising revenue to sustain the second-injury fund
differs in the several States. One method which appears popular and
satisfactory is to place in the fund the amounts awarded in fatal cases
in which it has been determined that there is no person under the law
entitled to compensation. In Idaho an industrial special indemnity
fund is created, supported by an assessment upon both the employer
and employee. The Idaho plan w~as described by Lawrence E.
Worstell, chairman of the industrial accident board of that State, as
follows: 2

O

T he problem of ta k in g care of to ta l-d isa b ility cases resu ltin g a fte r a p erm an en t
p a rtia l disability has been freed from perplexing difficulties in our S tate, th ro u g h
th e en a c tm e n t of a special s ta tu te , b y th e creatio n of a special fu n d know n as
th e in d u stria l special in d em n ity fu n d . T he S ta te tre a su re r is th e cu sto d ian of
1 T he Suprem e C ourt of Pennsylvania, however, in th e case of Lente v. Lucci (275 P a. 217,119 A tl. 132)
has held th a t where a claim ant lost one of his eyes before he entered a subsequent em ploym ent, was not
entitled to compensation for to tal disability upon the loss of the second eye
. . . .
.. ,
2 Paper read a t sixteenth annual meeting of International Association of Industrial Accident Boards
and Commissions, Buflalo, N . Y „ October, 1929. (See Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 511, pp. 226,
227.)
-. o o n


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1330

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

th is fu n d a n d all disb u rsem en ts th erefro m are m ade u pon orders of th e in d u strial
accident b o ard . The fu n d is cre a te d by assessing th e em ployee 1 p er cen t of th e
a m o u n t of every specific in d e m n ity a w ard a n d req u irin g th e em ployer to p a y 1
p e r ce n t of th e to ta l a m o u n t of th e specific in d e m n ity a w ard . T h is fu n d is to be
used in cases w here a n em ployee h as suffered th e loss of a leg, a n arm , or a n eye,
in a previous accid en t a n d la te r h as becom e to ta lly d isab led th ro u g h th e loss of
th e o th er leg, arm , o r eye, as th e case m ay be. T h is s ta tu te w as en a c te d to m eet
a condition w hich arose in o u r S ta te as a re s u lt of a decision of o u r su p rem e co u rt.
A 1-eyed m a n lo st th e sig h t of his rem ain in g ey e a n d th e su p rem e c o u rt h eld th a t
th e em ployer w as liab le a n d should assum e th e lia b ility of a to ta l d isa b ility case.
T his seem ed to be a n u n fa ir discrim in atio n p lace d upo n th e em ployer or insurance
com pany a n d m ad e i t difficult fo r p a rtia lly d isabled m en to o b ta in em ploym ent.
T he s ta tu te w as e n a c te d to p e rm it th ese u n fo rtu n a te in d iv id u als to o b ta in e m ­
p lo y m en t w ith o u t penalizin g th e em ployer w ho h ires th e m . T h u s, if a n em ­
ployee who h as lo st a n eye in a prev io u s accid en t sh o u ld lose th e rem ain in g eye,
th e la s t em ployer w ould be liab le fo r o nly th e loss of th e one m em b er. T h e to ta l
d isab ility p a y m e n ts w ould be ta k e n care of o u t of th e special in d e m n ity fu n d .

The problem of discrimination against physically handicapped em­
ployees is met in some States by permitting an employee to enter
into an agreement with the employer by which the former waives
any right to compensation for injuries due to any physical disability.
Under this plan an employee who is physically defective is given
employment which he could not obtain were the employer obliged to
assume the second-injury liability. In such cases the employee is
unprotected by workmen’s compensation. The second-injury fund
therefore appears to solve the problem, both by relieving the employer
of the added risk, and by compensating the injured employee.
Employers who hire a physically disabled employee are in some
States protected against the charging by insurance companies of a
higher rate of premium. Self-insured employers, however, are not
covered by this provision, and it is readily seen that because of the
direct relationship between accidents and costs, the self-insured
employer might more readily be guilty of discrimination against the
injured employee than the insured employer.
In the following pages are given the principal provisions of the work­
men’s compensation laws relative to the procedure and method of
treating cases of second injuries.
Alabama
C O D E , 1923
S e c t io n 7551.

* * * (e) 1. If a n em ployee has a p e rm a n e n t disab ility
or has previously su sta in e d a n o th e r in ju ry th a n t h a t in w hich he received a su b ­
seq u en t p e rm a n e n t in ju ry b y accid en t such as is specified in th e sections herein
defining p e rm a n e n t in ju ry he shall be e n title d to com pensation o nly fo r th e degree
of in ju ry t h a t w ould h a v e re su lte d from th e la tte r accid en t if th e earlier d isa­
b ility or in ju ry h a d n o t existed. * * *
(e) 3. If a n em ployee received a n in ju ry fo r w hich com p en satio n is p ay ab le
while he is still receiving or e n title d to com p en satio n fo r a previous in ju rv in
th e sam e em ploym en t, he sh all n o t a t th e sam e tim e be e n title d to com pensation
for b o th injuries, unless th e la tte r in ju ry be a p e rm a n e n t in ju ry , such as specified
m th is section; b u t h e sh all be e n title d to co m pensation fo r t h a t in ju ry a n d from
th e tim e of t h a t in ju ry w hich will cover th e longest p eriod a n d th e larg est a m o u n t
p ay ab le u n d er articles 1 a n d 2 of th is c h ap te r.

Arizona
R E V IS E D C O D E , 1928
C h a p t e r 24, A r t i c l e 5
* * * ( Q — (w) _ * * * In d eterm in in g th e p ercen tage of disability, consideration shall be given, am ong o th e r thin g s, to a n y previous
S e c t io n 1438.


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W O RK M EN'S COMPENSATION

1331

d isability, th e occupation of th e in ju red em ployee, th e n a tu re of th e physical
in ju ry , a n d th e age of th e em ployee a t th e tim e of th e in ju ry . W here th e re is a
previous d isability, as th e loss of 1 eye, 1 h an d , 1 fo o t, o r a n y o th e r p revious dis­
a b ility , th e percentage of d isab ility for a su b seq u en t in ju ry shall be d eterm in ed by
co m p u tin g th e percentage of th e e n tire d isab ility an d d ed u ctin g th erefro m th e p e r­
centage of th e previous d isab ility as it existed a t th e tim e of th e su b seq u en t
in ju ry .

California
A C T S O F 1917
C h a pt er 586

S e c t io n 11 (as am end ed b y A cts of 1931, ch. 1121). * * * (f) T h e fa c t
t h a t an em ployee has suffered a previous disab ility , * * * shall n o t preclude
him from com pensation fo r a la te r in ju ry , * * * b u t in d eterm in in g com ­
pen satio n for th e la te r in ju ry , * * * his average a n n u a l earnings shall be
fixed a t such sum as will reaso n ab ly rep resen t his a n n u a l earning c a p acity a t
th e tim e of th e la te r in ju ry .

Colorado
C O M P IL E D LAW S, 1921
C hapter 80
S e c t io n 4422. T he fa c t t h a t a n em ployee h as suffered a p revious d isab ility
* * * shall n o t preclude com pensation for a la te r in ju ry o r fo r d e a th ; b u t in
d eterm ining com pensation fo r th e la te r in ju ry o r d e a th his av erag e w eekly e a rn ­
ings shall be such sum as will reasonably rep resen t his av erage w eekly earning
cap acity a t th e tim e of th e la te r in ju ry , * * * .

Connecticut
R E V IS E D G E N E R A L S T A T U T E S , 1930
T it l e

56, C h a p t e r 280

S e c t io n 5236. * * * (f) * * * B u t a n em ployee who shall have
suffered th e loss or loss of use of one of th e m em bers of his body, or of p a r t of
one of th e m em bers of his body, or th e red u ctio n of vision in one eye to onete n th or less of norm al vision w ith glasses, shall n o t receive com pensation for a
la te r in ju ry in excess of th e com pensation allow ed fo r such in ju ry w hen con­
sidered by itself a n d n o t in co njunction w ith th e previous in cap a city .

Delaware
A CTS O F 1917
C h a p t e r 233

3193 j. S e c t io n 103 (as la s t am ended 1927, ch. 192). If an em ployee, having
previously sustained a p e rm a n e n t in ju ry from a n y cause w h eth er in line of em ­
p lo y m en t or otherw ise, shall su sta in a n y o th e r p e rm a n e n t in ju ry , he shall be
e n titled to com pensation fo r th e su b seq u en t in ju ry in th e sam e a m o u n t, a n d
only in th e sam e am o u n t, as th o u g h th e previous in ju ry h a d n o t occurred: P r o ­
v id e d , T h a t if th e subseq u en t in ju ry shall be su stain ed in th e em plo y m en t of
th e sam e em ployer a n d in th e course of w ork of th e sam e classification as th e
previous in ju ry , th e n th e a m o u n t of com pensation to w hich th e em ployee shall
be e n title d shall be th e a m o u n t w hich w ould be p ay ab le if b o th such in ju ries
were th e resu lt of one accident, less a n a m o u n t eq u al to th e com pensation fixed
in th is a c t fo r th e previous in ju ry .
3193 n n. S e c . 133. * * * If a n em ployee receives a n in ju ry for w hich
com pensation is payable , a fte r h aving received a n in ju ry in a n o th e r em ploym ent,
he shall be e n titled to com pensation by th e su b seq u en t em ployer, * * * as
if th e previous in ju ry h ad n o t occurred.

District of Columbia
(See provisions u n d er F ed eral longshorem en’s a n d h a rb o r w orkers’ com pensation
act, p. 1338.)

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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Georgia
A C T S O F 1920
(Page 167)
S e c t i o n 3 4 . If a n em ployee who suffers a n in ju ry in his em p lo y m en t has a
p erm an en t d isab ility * * * suffered elsewhere, he shall be e n title d to com ­
pensation only for th e degree of in cap a city w nich w ould have resu lted from th e
la te r accident if th e earlier d isab ility o r in ju ry h ad n o t existed.

Idaho
C O M P IL E D S T A T U T E S , 1919
C h a p t e r 236
6234 (a) (added by A cts of 1927, ch. 106). [C reated a fu n d know n a s
special in d em n ity fu n d fo r th e p a y m e n t of second injuries.]
S e c . 6234 (b) (added by A cts of 1927, ch. 106). If a n em ployee who has p re ­
viously in cu rred a p a rtia l p e rm a n e n t d isab ility * * * receives a personal
in ju ry by accident * * * th e em ployer shall only be liable for th e p erm a n e n t
p a rtia l d isab ility caused by th e su b seq u en t in ju ry * * *.
S e c t io n

Illinois
R E V IS E D S T A T U T E S , 1931 (S M IT H -H U R D )
C hapter

48

S e c t io n 145. * * * (e) * * * 18 * * * T h a t a n y em ployee
who h as previously suffered th e loss * * * of said m em bers a n d in a sub­
seq u en t in d ep en d e n t accid en t loses a n o th e r * * * th e em ployer fo r whom
th e in ju red em ployee is w orking a t th e tim e of said la st in d ep en d e n t accident
shall be liable to p a y co m pensation only for th e loss or p e rm a n e n t a n d com plete
loss of th e use of th e m em b er occasioned by said last in d ep en d e n t accident.

Indiana
A CTS O F 1915
C h a p t e r 106
S e c t i o n 3 3 . If a n e m p l o y e e h a s s u s t a i n e d a p e r m a n e n t i n j u r y i n a n o t h e r
e m p lo y m e n t t h a n t h a t in w h ic h h e re c e iv e d a s u b s e q u e n t p e r m a n e n t in ju r y b y
a c c id e n t,
*
*
* h e s h a ll b e e n title d to c o m p e n s a tio n fo r th e s u b s e q u e n t
in ju r y in t h e s a m e a m o u n t a s if th e p r e v io u s i n ju r y h a d n o t o c c u r re d .

Iowa
C O D E , 1931
C h a p t e r 70
S e c t io n 1397.

* * * 8. In c o m p u tin g th e co m pensation to be p aid to
a n y em ployee who,_ * * * w as d isabled a n d d raw in g co m pensation under
th e provisions of th is c h a p te r th e com pensation fo r each su b seq u en t in ju ry shall
be ap p o rtio n ed according to th e p ro p o rtio n of d isab ility caused by th e respective
injuries w hich he shall h av e suffered.

Kansas
A CTS O F 1927
C h a p t e r 232
S e c t io n 10 (as am ended by Acts of 1931, ch. 217).

* * * (24) If a
w orkm an has suffered a previous d isab ility a n d receives a la te r in ju ry , * * *
th e n * * * th e com p en satio n due said w orkm an sh all be th e difference
betw een th e am o u n t pro v id ed in th e schedule of th is section fo r his p rio r in ju ry
an d th e to ta l sum w hich w ould be due said em ployee fo r such to ta l disab ility ,
* * b u t in no case less th a n $6 p e r week n o r m ore th a n $18 p e r week.

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W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION

1333

Kentucky
C A R R O L L ’S S T A T U T E S , 1930
C hapter

137

4901. If a previously in ju re d em ployee su stain s a su b seq u en t in ju ry
w hich resu lts in a condition to w hich b o th injuries or th e ir effects co n trib u te , th e
em ployer in whose em plo y m en t th e su b seq u en t in ju ry is su sta in e d sh all be liable
only for th e com pensation to w hich such resu ltin g co ndition e n title d th e em ployee,
less all com pensation w hich th e provisions of th is law w ould h av e afforded on
account of th e prior in ju ry or injuries h ad th e y been com pensated for th e re u n d e r.
S e c t io n

Maine
R E V IS E D S T A T U T E S , 1930
C h a p t e r 55
S e c t io n 2.
*
*
* IX .
* * * (f) T h e fa c t t h a t an em ployee has
suffered a previous in ju ry * * * shall n o t preclude com p en satio n for a
la te r in ju ry * * * b u t in d eterm in in g th e com pensation fo r th e la te r in ju ry
or d eath , "his "a v e ra g e weekly w ag es” shall be such sum as will reasonably
represent his weekly earning cap acity a t th e tim e of th e la te r in ju ry * * *.

Maryland
A N N O T A T E D C O D E , 1924
A r t ic l e

101

Should a fu rth e r accid en t occur to a n em ployee alre a d y receiving
p a y m e n t u n d er th is article for a d isab ility * * * his fu tu re com pensation
shall be a d ju ste d according to th e o th e r provisions of th is a rticle a n d w ith reg ard
to th e com bined effect of his in ju ries an d his p a st receip t of com p en satio n u n d er
th is article * * *.
S e c t io n 4 3 .

Massachusetts
G E N E R A L LAW S, 1921
C h apter

152

S e c t i o n 37. W henever a n em ployee who has previously suffered a personal
in ju ry * * * incurs fu rth e r d isab ility * * * by reason of a personal
in ju ry for w hich com pensation is re q u ired b y th is ch ap te r, he, or his d ep en d en t,
if d e a th resu lts from th e in ju ry , shall be p a id th e com pensation p ro v id ed fo r by
sections 31, 32, 34, or 35 in th e follow ing m an n er:
O ne-half of such com pensation shall be p aid by th e S ta te trea su re r, from th e
fu n d established b y section 65 a n d th e o th e r h alf by th e in su rer, b u t th e a d d i­
tional com pensation req u ired by section 36 shall be p aid by th e insurer.

Michigan
C O M P IL E D LAW S, 1929
C h a p t e r 150
S e c t io n 8427. * * * (d) T he fa c t th a t an em ployee h as suffered a previous
disability * * * shall n o t preclude com pensation for th e la te r in ju ry * * *
b u t in determ ining com pensation for th e la te r in ju ry or d e a th his av erag e a n n u a l
earnings shall be held to be such sum as will reaso n ab ly re p re se n t his a n n u a l
earning cap acity a t th e tim e of th e la te r in ju ry in th e em p lo y m en t in w hich he
was w orking a t such tim e * * *.
120148°— 32— 6


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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Minnesota
G E N E R A L S T A T U T E S , 1923
C h a p t e r 23A
S e c t io n 4276. If a n em ployee receive a n in ju ry , w hich of itself w ould only
cause p erm an en t p a rtia l d isab ility , b u t w hich com bined w ith a previous dis­
ability does in fa c t cause p e rm a n e n t to ta l d isab ility th e em ployer shall only be
liable for th e p erm a n e n t p a rtia l d isab ility caused by th e su b seq u en t in ju ry * * *.

Missouri
R E V IS E D S T A T U T E S , 1929
C h a p t e r 28
S e c t io n 3317. (a) All cases of p e rm a n e n t d isab ility w here th e re h as been a p re­
vious disability shall be com pensated on th e basis of th e average a n n u a l earnings
a t th e tim e of th e la s t in ju ry . * * *
(b) If m ore th a n one in ju ry in th e sam e em p lo y m en t causes co n cu rren t te m ­
p o rary disabilities, com pensation shall be p ay ab le only for th e longest a n d largest
pay in g disability.
(c) _If m ore th a n one in ju ry in th e sam e em p lo y m en t causes c o n cu rren t a n d con­
secutive p erm an en t d isability, com pensation p a y m e n ts for each su b seq u en t dis­
ab ility shall n o t begin u n til th e end of th e com pensation period of th e p rior
disability.

Montana
R E V IS E D C O D E S, P O L IT IC A L C O D E , 1921
C h a p t e r 213
S e c t io n 2923. Should a fu rth e r accid en t occur to a w orkm an who is already
receiving com pensation hereunder, * * * his fu rth e r com pensation shall be
a d ju ste d according to th e o th e r provisions of th is a c t, a n d w ith reg ard to th e com ­
bined effect of his in ju ries an d his p a st receip t of com pensation.

Nebraska
C O M P IL E D S T A T U T E S , 1929
C h a p t e r 48
S e c t io n 48-128. If a n em ployee receives a n in ju ry w hich of itself w ould only
cause p a rtia l disability, b u t w hich, com bined w ith a previous d isab ility does in
fact cause to ta l disability, th e em ployer shall only be liable as for th e p a rtia l dis­
ability, so far as th e su b seq u en t in ju ry is concerned.

Nevada
C O M P IL E D LAW S, 1929
S e c t io n 2706.

* * * 25c * * * (x) W here th e re is a previous
d isab ility * * * th e percen tag e of d isab ility for a su b seq u en t in ju ry shall
be d eterm ined by co m p u tin g th e p ercen tag e of th e e n tire d isab ility a n d ded u ctin g
therefro m th e p ercen tag e of th e p revious d isab ility as it existed a t th e tim e of th e
su bsequent in ju ry .

New Jersey
A CTS O F 1923
C h a p t e r 81 (as a m e n d e d b y A cts of 1931, ch. 108)

(E m ployee in second in ju ry case is p aid o u t of special fund, th e difference
betw een com pensation p aid in to ta l d isab ility cases an d th a t w hich is p aid for th e
tw o disabilities separately.)

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W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION

1335

New Mexico
S T A T U T E S , 1929
C hapter

156

156-117. * * * 8 * * * ( b ) : * * * P r o v id e d , T h a t th e
em ployer shall n o t be liable fo r com pensation fo r to ta l d isab ility if th e loss of one
arm , foot, leg, or eye occurred p rio r to such accid en t, b u t in t h a t e v e n t com pensa­
tio n shall be p aid only in accordance w ith th e schedule h erein fo r p a rtia l d is­
abilities, * * *.
S e c t io n

New York
C A H IL L ’S C O N S O L ID A T E D LAW S, 1930
C h a p t e r 66
S e c t i o n 15.
* * * 7. T h e fa c t t h a t a n em ployee h as suffered previous
d isab ility * * * shall n o t preclude him from com pensation fo r a la te r in ju ry
n o r preclude com pensation fo r d e a th resu ltin g th erefro m ; b u t in d eterm in in g
com pensation for th e la te r in ju ry o r d e a th his av erag e w eekly w ages sh all be such
sum as w ill reasonably re p re se n t his earn in g c a p a c ity a t th e tim e of th e la te r
in ju ry : P r o v id e d h ow ever, T h a t a n em ployee who is suffering from a previous
d isab ility shall n o t receive com p en satio n fo r a la te r in ju ry in excess of th e com ­
pen satio n allow ed for such in ju ry w hen considered by itself a n d n o t in con ju n ctio n
w ith th e previous disability .

North Carolina
P U B L IC LAW S, 1929
C hapter

120

If an em ployee h as a p erm a n e n t d isab ility or h as su stain ed a p er­
m a n e n t in ju ry in service in th e A rm y o r N av y of th e U n ited S ta te s o r in a n o th e r
em ploym ent o th er th a n t h a t in w hich he received a su b seq u en t p e rm a n e n t in ju ry
by accident, * * * he shall be e n title d to com p en satio n only fo r th e degree
of d isab ility w hich w ould h av e re su lted from th e la te r acc id e n t if th e earlier
disability o r in ju ry h ad n o t existed.
S e c . 34. If a n em ployee receives a n in ju ry fo r w hich com pensation is pay ab le,
w hile he is still receiving o r e n title d to com pensation fo r a p rev io u s injury_ in
th e sam e em ploym ent, he shall n o t a t th e sam e tim e be e n title d to com pensation
for b o th injuries, unless th e la te r in ju ry be a p e rm a n e n t in ju ry such a s specified
in section 31; b u t he shall be en title d to com pensation fo r t h a t in ju ry a n d from
th e tim e of th a t in ju ry w hich will cover th e longest period an d th e larg est a m o u n t
p ay ab le u n d e r th is a ct.
,
S e c . 35. * * * If an em ployee h a s previously in curred p e rm a n e n t p a rtia l
d isab ility , * * * a n d by su b seq u en t ac c id e n t incu rs to ta l p erm a n e n t
d isab ility th ro u g h th e loss of a n o th e r m em ber, th e em p lo y er’s lia b ility is fo r th e
su b seq u en t in ju ry only.
S e c t io n 3 3.

North Dakota
C O M P IL E D LAW S, S U P P L E M E N T , 1925
C hapter 5

S e c t io n 396a7 (as la s t am en d ed b y A cts of 1931, ch. 312). * * * W henever a su b seq u en t in ju ry occurs to a n em ployee who h as been in ju re d previously
in a different em ploym en t, th e risk of th e em ployer fo r w hom such in ju re d person
w as w orking a t th e tim e of such su b seq u en t in ju ry shall be charged only w ith
th e a m o u n t of th e aw ard s resu ltin g from su ch su b seq u en t in ju ry . *

Ohio
P A G E ’S G E N E R A L C O D E , 1932
T it l e I I I , C h a p t e r 28b
S e c t io n 1465-69. *

* * except w hen a n em ployee of such em ployer, who
h as suffered th e loss of a h a n d * * * p rio r to th e in ju ry fo r w hich com pensa
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1336

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

tio n is to be p aid , a n d th e re a fte r suffers th e loss of a n y o th e r of said m em bers
* * * th e com pensation to be p aid by such em ployer shall be lim ited to
th e disability suffered in th e su b seq u en t in ju ry , * * *.

Oklahoma
S T A T U T E S , 1931
C h a p t e r 72
S e c t io n 13356. * * * 6. T h e fa c t t h a t a n em ployee h as suffered
previous d isab ility * * * sh all n o t p reclude him from com pensation fo r a
la te r in ju ry ; b u t in d eterm in in g com pensation fo r th e la te r in ju ry h is av erage
w eekly w ages shall be su ch sum as will reaso n ab ly re p resen t h is earn in g cap acity
a t th e tim e of tn e la te r in ju ry .

Oregon
C O D E , 1930
C h a p t e r 49

S e c t io n 49-1825.

* * * If a n em ployee who h as prev io u sly in cu rred
p erm a n e n t p a rtia l d isab ility in cu rs a su b seq u en t p e rm a n e n t p a rtia l d isa b ility such
th a t _the_ com pensation p a y ab le fo r th e d isab ility resu ltin g from th e com bined
injuries is g reater th a n th e com p en satio n w hich, ex cep t fo r th e p reexisting d isa­
b ility w ould have been p a y ab le fo r th e la tte r in ju ry , th e em ployee sh all receive
com pensation on th e basis of th e com bined in ju ries, b u t th e charge ag a in st th e
ra tin g of his em ployer shall be fo r th e la tte r in ju ry only. * * *
S e c . 49-1827. * * * (h) S hould a fu rth e r a c cid en t o ccur to a w orkm an
alread y receiving a m o n th ly p a y m e n t u n d e r th is section fo r a d isab ility * * *
his fu tu re com pensation sh all be a d ju s te d according to th e o th e r provisions of th is
section a n d w ith reg ard to th e com bined effect of his in ju ries a n d his p a s t receipt
of m oney u n d er th is act.

Rhode Island
G E N E R A L LAW S, 1923
C h a p t e r 831

(1224) S e c t io n 13. * * * (d) T he fa c t t h a t a n em ployee h as suffered a
previous in ju ry * * * sh all n o t preclude com p en satio n fo r a la te r inju ry * * _ * b u t in d eterm in in g th e com pensation for th e la te r in ju ry
* * * his average w eekly w ages sh all be sued sum a s w ill reaso n ab ly rep resen t
his w eekly earnin g c a p acity a t tn e tim e of th e la te r in ju ry in th e em p lo y m en t
in w hich he w as w orking a t such tim e, * * *.

South Dakota
C O M P IL E D LAW S, 1929
P a r t 19, C h a p t e r 5 , A r t ic l e 4

S e c t io n 9461.

* * * 8. In co m p u tin g th e co m pensation to be p aid to an y
em ployee w ho before th e a c cid en t fo r w hich he claim s com p en satio n w as dis­
ab led a n d draw ing com p en satio n u n d e r th e te rm s of th is article, th e com pensa­
tio n for each su b seq u en t in ju ry sh all be a p p o rtio n ed according to th e p ro p o rtio n
of in cap a city a n d d isab ility caused by th e respective in ju ries w hich he m ay have
suffered.

Tennessee
C O D E , 1932
T it l e 14, C h a p t e r 43
S e c t io n 6 8 7 1 . If a n em ployee h as p reviously su stain ed a p e rm a n e n t i n j u r y

* * * he shall be e n title d to com pensation only fo r th e d isab ility t h a t w ould
h av e resu lted from th e la tte r ac c id e n t if th e earlier in ju ry h a d n o t existed, a n d
such earlier in ju ry shall n o t be considered in e stim a tin g th e com p en satio n on th e
basis of e ith e r a to ta l o r p a rtia l d isab ility to whicfi th e em ployee m ay be en title d
u n d er th is ch ap ter.
'
: v.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION

1337

Texas
R E V IS E D C IV IL S T A T U T E S , 1925
T it l e 1 3 0 , A r t ic l e 8 3 0 6
S e c t io n 1 2 c . If a n em ployee who h as suffered a p rev io u s in ju ry shall suffer a
su b seq u en t in ju ry w hich resu lts in a co n d itio n of in cap a city to w hich b o th in ­
ju ries o r th e ir effects h av e co n trib u te d , th e association sh all be liable^ because of
such in ju ry only for th e com pensation to w hich th e su b seq u en t in ju ry w ould
h ave e n title d th e in ju red em ployee h ad th e re been no p revious in ju ry .

Utah
C O M P IL E D LAW S, 1917
T it l e 49
S e c t io n 3140 (as la s t am ended by A cts of 1921, ch. 6 7 ) . * * * (6 ) If an y
em ployee who has previously in cu rred p e rm a n e n t p a rtia l d isab ility in cu rs a su b ­
seq u en t p erm an en t p a rtia l d isab ility such th a t th e com pensation p a y a b le for th e
disability resulting from th e com bined in ju ries is g reater th a n th e com pensation
w hich except for th e preexisting d isab ility w ould h av e been p a y ab le fo r th e la tte r
in ju ry , th e em ployee shall receive com pensation on th e basis of th e com bined
injuries, b u t th e liab ility of his em ployer shall be for th e la tte r in ju ry only a n d
th e rem ainder shall be p a id o u t of th e special fu n d * * *.

Virginia
A CTS O F 1918
C h a pt e r 400

S e c t io n 34. If an em ployee has a p e rm a n e n t disab ility or h as su stain ed a p er­
m an en t in ju ry * * * in a n o th e r em p lo y m en t o th e r th a n t h a t in w hich he
received a subsequent p e rm a n e n t in ju ry b y accid en t
* * he shall be
e n title d to com pensation only for th e degree of in c a p a c ity w hich w ould have
resu lted from th e la te r accid en t if th e earlier d isability or in ju ry h ad n o t existed.

Washington
R E M IN G T O N ’S C O M P IL E D S T A T U T E S , 1910
T it l e 1, C h a p t e r 7
S e c t io n 7679 (as am en d ed b y A cts of 1923, ch. 136). _ * * * (g) Should a
fu rth e r accid en t occur to a w orkm an who has been p reviously th e recip ien t of a
lum p-sum p a y m e n t u n d e r th is a c t, his fu tu re com pensation shall be a d ju d g ed
according to th e o th er provisions of th is section a n d w ith re g a rd to th e com bined
effect of his injuries, a n d his p a st receip t of m oney u n d er th is a c t.

Wisconsin
S T A T U T E S , 1931
C h a p t e r 102
S e c t i o n 1 0 2 .1 1 .
*
*
*
(4 ) T he fa c t th a t a n em ployee h as suffered a
previous d isab ility or received com pensation th erefo r shall n o t preclude com ­
pen satio n for a la te r in ju ry or fo r d eath , b u t in determ in in g com pensation for a
la te r in ju ry or d e a th his av erag e a n n u a l earnings shall be such sum as will reason­
ably rep resen t his average a n n u a l earn in g cap acity a t th e tim e of th e la te r
in ju ry in th e em ploym en t in w hich he w as w orking a t such tim e, * * *.


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1338

MONTHLY LABOE E E V IEW

Wyoming
R E V IS E D S T A T U T E S , 1931
C h apter

124

124-120. * * * (b ) * * * W here th e re h as been a previous
disability * * * th e p ercen tag e of d isab ility fo r a su b seq u en t in ju ry shall
be determ ined b y d ed u ctin g th erefro m th e p ercen tag e of th e prev io u s disability,
as i t existed a t th e tim e of th e su b seq u en t in ju ry * * *
S e c t io n

United States
S IX T Y -N IN T H C O N G R E S S (2d SESS., 1926-27), 44 S T A T . 1424
C hapter

509 8

S e c t i o n 8. * * * (f) (1) If an em ployee receive a n in ju ry w hich of itself
w ould only cause p erm a n e n t p a rtia l disab ility b u t which, com bined w ith a p re ­
vious disability, does in fa c t cause p e rm a n e n t to ta l d isab ility , th e em ployer shall
provide com pensation only fo r th e d isab ility caused b y th e su b se q u e n t inju ry : * * *
^
(2) In all o th er cases in which, following a prev io u s disability, a n em ployee
receives an in ju ry w hich is n o t covered by (1) of th is subdivision th e em p lo y er
shall provide com pensation only fo r th e d isab ility caused b y th e su b seq u en t
in ju ry . In determ ining com pensation fo r th e su b se q u e n t in ju ry o r fo r d e a th
resulting therefroin, th e average w eekly wages shall be such sum as will reaso n ab ly
represent th e earning cap acity of th e em plovee a t th e tim e of th e su b se q u e n t
injury.

R ecen t W ork m en ’s C o m p en sa tio n R eports
A lb e r t a

HE fourteenth annual report of the Workmen’s Compensation
Board, of the Province of Alberta, covering the experience under
the act in the calendar year 1931, shows that during the year reports
were received of 10,049 industrial injuries, of which 33 were fatal,
while 123 resulted in permanent disability and 9,893 in temporary
disability.
There were 3,795 employers under the scope of the act at the end
of the year, with a total number of employees estimated by the board
at 69,863. Payment of compensation or award of pension was made
m 4,878 cases, and payment for medical aid only in 3,065 cases. No
compensation was applied for in 107 cases, and in 2,090 cases none
was due. Further payments were due in 591 cases, and 738 cases
were carried over to the following year, as against 1,420 not disposed
of during 1930.
Compensation payments amounted to $452,643.01, including reserve
for outstanding liability on December 31, 1930, of $163,105; continu­
ing disability benefits (pensions) totaled $430,129.81; and payments
for medical service $216,211.91. Administration expense, including
accident-prevention and mine rescue work, was $126,360.94.
The report shows rates of assessments for 1932 in the various classi­
fications under the act, pay rolls and estimated number of employees
for 1931, and an analysis of injuries reported during 1931. A tabula-

T

e Applies to longshoremen and harbor workers and private employees in the D istrict of Columbia


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W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION

tion, showing causes of the injuries, by extent of disability, is presented
as Table 1.
T able

1 .— CA U SES

OF IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S R E P O R T E D IN A L B E R T A , 1931, BY
E X T E N T OF D IS A B IL IT Y
N um ber of injuries
R esulting in—
Cause
Perm a­ em porary
n ent dis­ Tdisability
ability

D eath

B urns and scalds . _______ _______ ________________
B urst bottles and broken glass_________ ______________ __
Electrical shock an d b u rn s _________________ ____________
Explosions
_________ ____ _ .
- .................
Falling tim b ers an d poles________________ _ ___________
Falling an d trip p in g
______________
_ _ ___ . _
Falling rock, coal, a n d clay _________ ______ ____________
Flying a nd falling objects
_____
_______ _ ____
H eavy lifting, loading wagons an d trucks
______ _______
Infection from handling m eat an d m aterials__
- ______
Inhalation of gas fumes
_____________________ - ______
M achinery, tools, a n d e q u ip m e n t__________ ____ ____ _____
Injured b y horse a n d in runaw ays___________ ____________
Protruding nails and spikes
_ _ _______ _______
Injuiies b y autom obiles an d trucks __________ _________
In d u strial disease
____ ________________
Splashing of m ix tu r e s - _
__________ - - ____
R un over, stru ck b y, or caught betw een cars_______________
D erailm ent of m ine cars
_____ ___ __ _______________
Slivers an d splinters
______
______ _____ ___
C ru sh e d -_
_ _________
___________
Striking against objects. ________
__
____ __
___
Frostbites
_ ________
_____
_
____ ___
D row ned
_ __ _______ _____
M iscellaneous _ ______________________ _____ ____ ________
T otal _

__

_ ________________________________

T otal

2
3

6

561

265
126
23
25
346
1,365
844
1,862
750
341
69
1,740
157
202
124
5
43
156
34
180
465
335
20
2
570

33

123

9, 893

10, 049

1
1
3
5
9
1
1
1

2
1
3
1
5
11
18
3
1
43
1
1

2
2

2
5

2

1
16
2
1

265
124
21
21
342
1,355
824
1,844
750
337
67
1,696
156
201
122
5
41
149
34
179
447
333
19

N o v a S c o tia

report of the Workmen’s Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
for 1931 presents briefly the experience under the workmen’s com­
pensation act during its 15 years of existence and during 1931 and an
analysis of the accidents compensated in 1930.
The total number of accidents reported to the board in 1931 was
6,775, or 2,743 less than reported in 1929. They consisted of 67
compensable and 4 noncompensable fatal accidents, 204 causing
permanent partial disability, 4,290 causing temporary disability for
seven days or over, 1,635 medical-aid cases, 259 accidents pending
adjustment, and 316 nonfatal noncompensable cases.
It is estimated that the total cost of compensation and of the
medical aid furnished by the board for the 1931 accidents is nearly
$1,160,400. The greater portion of medical aid for two of the indus­
trial groups—mining and iron and steel—is provided under medicalaid schemes and consequently is nob furnished by the board. The
estimated cost does not include administration expense or the cost of
the safety associations, almost another $100,000.
Table 2 shows the number of accidents compensated in 1931, by
industry and by extent of disability.
T he


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1340

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 3. -N U M B E R O F C O M P E N S A T E D IN D U S T R IA L A C C ID E N T S IN N O V A SC O TIA
IN 1931, B Y IN D U S T R Y A N D E X T E N T O F D IS A B IL IT Y

A b u u iiA

Cases closed
Tem porary dis­
ability
In d u stry class

P e rm a ­
nent
D eath
v o lv ­ In v o lv ­ Total
dis­ In ing
ability com­
ing
pensa­ medical
aid
tion

Cases
partly
closed

Total

M ining______________ ____________________
L um bering and woodw orking__________
Iro h and steel___ ________________________
M anufacturipg a n d operating n o t otherwise
specified__________ _____________________
Building and construction_______ _______ ~
Public utilities__________________________
T ransportation___________________________
Provincial highw ays d ep artm en t_________ 7
D om inion governm ent employees___________
N ova Scotia Liquor Commission___________

28
7
4

113
35
20

1,159
626
176

174
129
286

1,474
797
486

262
160
37

1,736
957
523

2
3
2
2
5
2
o

11
0
3
13
3
6
0

367
150
270
436
176
183
1

223
149
185
399
23
37
3

603
302
460
850
207
228
4

60
45
106
148
64
144
2

663
347
566
998
271
372
6

T o tal___________________________

55

204

3,544

1,608

5,411

i 1, 028

6, 439

1 Includes 4 fatalities.


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COOPERATION
C redit U n io n s on th e Rock Island L ines

A N ARTICLE in the March, 1932, issue of Industrial Relations
XTL(Chicago), by the supervisor of personnel of the Rock Island
Railroad Co., describes the growth of the credit-union movement
among the employees of the company.
The first credit union formed among the Rock Island employees
was started in August, 1926. To-day the society has 334 members
(out of a total of 450 persons eligible to membership), has made
loans aggregating $95,632, and at the beginning of 1932 had assets
of $18,836, “ after paying dividends of 7 per cent regularly each 12
months since its inception.”
The writer states that this first organization was regarded with
considerable skepticism by the company officials when it was launched.
W e were skeptical w hen we were to ld t h a t we w ould find m an y persons am ong
our em ployees who could a n d w ould o p erate successfully th ese cooperative
ban k s; a tte n d to th e d etail; h andle th e savings of em ployees, a n d w ith th e m
m ake loans to em ployees in need of cred it; t h a t we w ould find m em bers of th e
groups who could an d w ould, as m em bers of th e c re d it com m ittees, use sound
ju d g m en t in passing on loans; a n d th a t i t w ould be possible fo r w hoever m ig h t
develop th e cap acity to do th ese th in g s to accom plish th e m in th e lim ited a m o u n t
of tim e w hich th ey could devote to th e purpose. H ow ever, th e ex trem ely dili­
g en t w atch w hich we m ain ta in e d upon th e o p eratio n of th e cred it union, during
th e first y ear of its existence on th e R ock Isla n d lines, rew ard ed u s w ith th e
inform ation t h a t n o t only could people be found who could a n d w ould con d u ct
it successfully b u t also t h a t th e c red it union as a n in s titu tio n w as v ery necessary
a n d t h a t i t produced resu lts of am azing value.
Several very noticeable effects from th e o p eratio n of th is o rganization becam e
a p p a re n t: E m ployees seem ed m ore c o n ten ted a n d confident, a n d m a n y who h ad
been borne dow n u n d er g re a t b u rdens of d e b t h a d been given th e ir first real aid
in th e direction of financial a d ju s tm e n t a n d seem ed to be becom ing b u o y an t.
G arnishm ents an d assignm ents of wages a g a in st em ployees a t t h a t p o in t on our
lines stead ily dim inished. A nd th e g re a t v alue of th e c red it union, to th e em ployer
a n d to th e em ployee, quickly cam e to be generally recognized.

As the success of the primary organization became apparent, other
associations were organized and the employees of the Rock Island lines
now have 28 credit unions scattered through the States of Arkansas,
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee. These
organizations are limited in their membership to the Rock Island
employees of the particular locality where the credit union operates.
Of a total of 10,620 persons eligible to membership in these 28 credit
unions, 4,461, or 42 per cent, have joined.
Their assets at the beginning of 1932 aggregated $194,402, an
increase of 25.2 per cent over 1930. The writer characterizes this as
“ highly commendable,” considering the depression conditions existing


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1342

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

and the lost time suffered by the members.
article comments as follows:

In this connection the

A ny financial in s titu tio n — w h eth er i t be a n a tio n a l o r a S ta te bank, a recog­
nized lending concern, a bon d house, or a c re d it union— regards as its m ost
valuable asset th e confidence of its depositors. B anks th a t h ad w eath ered m an y
a crisis in th e p a s t failed in th e la s t tw o years p ro b ab ly because th e y no longer
enjoyed th is confidence. _I t is in te re stin g to n o te t h a t n o t a single c re d it union
has failed during th is p eriod a n d t h a t all, except for a v ery few cases, h av e p aid
su b sta n tia l dividends reg u larly a n d h av e increased th e ir assets. T his confidence
in cred it unions b y th e ir m em bers h as n o t been forced, a n d i t is n o t u n n a tu ra l
a t all for th e m em bers to tr u s t a n d h av e confidence in th o se w hom th e y elect
to th e m an ag em en t of th e ir c re d it unions. M em bers know , c o n stan tly , th e
financial condition of th e cred it union to w hich th e y belong; th e y ap p re c ia te t h a t
no favoritism is show n in th e m a tte r of m ak in g loans; a n d th e y know t h a t th e
loans, alw ays m ad e for p ro v id e n t purposes— purposes t h a t prom ise to be of real
benefit to th e borrow er— are m ad e a t th e estab lish ed a n d very fair ra te of
in te re st of 1 p er c e n t p e r m o n th on th e u n p a id balance, w ith o u t a n y ad d itio n al
costs or charges, such as in v estig atio n fees a n d th e like.
As a n illu stratio n of th e confidence w hich th e m em bers h av e in cred it unions,
we have th e c re d it union w hich op erates am ong th e em ployees a t one of our large
shops w here w ork h as been on g re a tly dim inished hours fo r th e p a s t tw o years.
In sp ite of th is condition, m ore th a n 50 p er c e n t of th e eligible em ployees are
m em bers of t h a t cred it union— it has 773 m em bers a t th e p re se n t tim e — an d in
th e year 1931 it m ad e 1,015 loans to ta lin g $66,351.41, a n d h a d assets of $45,509.70
on D ecem ber 31. I t seem s little sh o rt of rem ark ab le to us t h a t b u t $183.07—
w hich was th e u n p a id b alance on nine sm all loans— was charged off, as uncol­
lectible, to th e g u a ra n ty fu n d a t th e close of th e year.

Data given in the article show that the membership in the 28
credit unions ranged from 28 to 733, and that the average loans
made in 1931 ranged from $24 in the organization at Muscatine,
Iowa, to $107 in Burr Oak, 111. These societies loaned money to
2,553 members in 1931, in an aggregate amount of $316,963, and
nearly a million dollars has been loaned since 1926. Four associa­
tions paid no dividends on the 1931 operations, 2 paid a dividend of
5 per cent, 3 of 6 per cent, 8 of 7 per cent, 1 of 7.4 per cent, 1 of 7.8
per cent, 7 of 8 per cent, and 2 of 10 per cent. Only 7 credit unions
reported any losses due to bad debts, the amounts involved ranging
from 77 cents to $183.
The article concludes with the following opinion as to the future of
the credit-union movement:
I believe th a t, as tim e goes on, th e cred it union will occupy a broadening field
as a n atio n al in stitu tio n , enab lin g w orking folks to solve cred it problem s of th e ir
own, w ith th e ir ow n m oney a n d u n d e r th e ir ow n m an ag em en t, a n d w ith a n y
profit resulting from th e o p eratio n re tu rn e d to th e m em bers of th e group. If th e
c red it union accom plishes n o th in g m ore th a n th e p ro m o tio n a n d d ev elopm ent of
th rift, th is, in m y e stim a tio n will m ak e i t v e ry m uch w o rth while. O nly somew here betw een 7 p er c e n t a n d 15 p er c en t of th e A m erican people, we are to ld , h av e
established b an k credit, a n d th e cred it unio n addresses itself to th e problem s of th e
85 p er ce n t to 93 p er c e n t who do n o t h a v e such credit, a n d who freq u e n tly need
i t to tid e th e m over ro u g h sp o ts in th e road. B an k s m ak e loans on secu rity con­
siderably in excess of th e a m o u n t lo an ed , a n d as a ru le a re n o t g reatly concerned
w ith th e purpose of th e loan. T h e c re d it union m akes lo an s w ith c h a ra c te r as th e
real basis of its secu rity , a n d fo r p ro v id e n t purposes, t h a t will be of benefit to th e
borrow er. F u rth e r, th e p ro sp ectiv e borrow er m u s t becom e a m em b er before
he can o b tain a lo an , a n d h e is req u ired to save som ething while his lo an is being
repaid. T h e cred it union n o t only “ pulls a fellow o u t of th e h o le ” b u t i t also
fills th e hole up a fte r he is o u t of it. T h a t th is position is justified seem s borne
o u t by th e h isto ry of cred it unions in th e ir e n tire ty —re g u la r dividends to m em bers,
few losses an d ever-increasing assets, a n d n ever a one t h a t w ent th ro u g h in ­
v o lu n ta ry liquidation.


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COOPERATION

1343

P resen t C o n d itio n of G erm an C ooperative M ovem en t

HE general condition of the German cooperative movement as of
January 1, 1932, is discussed in an article in Cooperative In­
formation (Geneva), No. 5, 1932.
The article points out that the economic depression which continued
through 1931 in Germany, as elsewhere, resulted in “ a number of
serious crises, particularly in the sphere of banking, and reduced all
the previous difficulties experienced by every kind of undertaking to
comparative insignificance.” The cooperative movement was, nat­
urally, also affected. As to this the article comments:

T

If th e effects of th e general econom ic depression h a v e exten d e d to th e cooperativ e societies also, th is is d u e to th e ir long association w ith th e econom ic life a n d
struggles of G erm any, a n association w hich is all to th e h o n o r of th e cooperative
m ovem ent. T h e econom ic life of G erm any is no lo n g er conceivable w ith o u t th e
ac tiv itie s of cooperative societies of a ll kinds. P roof of th is w as given b y th e
ra p id recovery m ad e b y th e co o p erativ e societies a fte r th e in flatio n period, a n d th e
pow ers of resistance springing fro m a so u n d financial basis show n b y th e societies
w hen in th e m iddle of la s t y ear, a t a blow t h a t fell as su d d en ly as a th u n d e r b o lt
th o u g h n o t p erh ap s from a clear sk y , th e confidence of th e w hole G erm an people
w as shaken an d th e ho ard in g of m oney began. O bserv atio n s m ad e in a u th o rita ­
tiv e q u a rte rs a n d s ta tis tic a l d a ta b o th agree t h a t even d u rin g th e se difficult
m o n th s th e sections of th e p o p u latio n organized in co o p erativ e in stitu tio n s
re ta in e d g reater e q u an im ity a n d good sense. On calm _co n sid eratio n th e ir
consciousness of th e necessity to p reserv e th e u n d e rta k in g in w hich th e y h ad a
sh are in m o st cases forced in to th e back g ro u n d th e fear of p ersonal loss.
T he serious blow s from w hich ev en th e cooperative societies w ere n o t im m une
arose n early alw ays o u t of som e u niversal h u m a n w eakness. A m bition, b ack ­
sliding, in c o m p e te n t m an ag e m en t in difficult circu m stan ces cam e to lig h t h ere too,
since th e re is no perfection in h u m a n w orks. T h e re p o rt fo r th is y e a r ag ain
reveals th e existence of a n u m b er of qu estio n ab le u n d e rta k in g s organized on a
cooperative basis. U nscrupulous p ro m o ters u n fo rtu n a te ly c an n o t be e n tirely
elim inated, b u t w herever irreg u la rities w ere discovered in tim e a n d could be p u t
rig h t, i t becam e clearly ev id en t, a n d can be s ta te d as a general conclusion, t h a t
th e ce n tra l principle of th e co o p erativ e m o v em en t a n d th e econom ic fo rm i t h as
re ta in e d th ro u g h o u t e ig h t decades a re th o ro u g h ly sound. T h e d espondency
resu ltin g fro m th e econom ic situ a tio n has, how ever, also affected co o p erativ e
societies, a n d th e general in sta b ility of conditions h as been responsible fo r th e
ad o p tio n of a Avaiting a ttitu d e in reg ard to th e lau n ch in g of new co o p erativ e e n te r­
prises, w hile th e progress of ra tio n alizatio n , especially in th e sphere of a g ric u ltu ra l
cooperative societies, h a s severely affected th e n u m b er of societies in existence
a n d caused a larg er n u m b er to be dissolved.

Data collected by the German Cooperative Union show that from
1913 to 1929 there were only two years (1926 and 1927) in which the
number of new societies formed did not exceed the number of dis­
solutions. In 1930, however, the number of societies which went out
of business exceeded those newly formed by 56, while the excess in
1931 was 476.
Of the total number of societies dissolved in 1931, bankruptcy was
the cause in 187 cases. The writer points out in this connection,
however, that—
C om pared w ith th e to ta l n u m b er of b a n k ru p tcies in th e w hole of G erm an
in d u stry th e fractio n rep resen ted by th e cooperative societies is sm all. T h eir
figures are fa r below th o se fo r th e o th e r form s of in d u stria l u n d ertak in g s, for
Avhich th e to ta l is a b o u t 13,400 b an k ru p tcies. Sim ilarly, th e cooperative societies
h av e a very sm all sh are in th e to ta l n u m b er of com positions w ith cred ito rs fo r
th e w hole of in d u stry , w ith a figure of 80 o u t of 8,500.

It is pointed out that the credit societies have been particularly
hard hit, especially the agricultural credit associations. There has
been an extremely active movement for the formation of new societies,

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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

but “ this has been accompanied, by the spread of a definite movement
of an extremely undesirable kind.”
. In th e guise of savings societies fo r p a rtic u la r purposes, a b o u t 25 so-called fu r­

nishing, savings, a n d loan societies h av e recen tly sp ru n g u p , especially in th e w est
an d so u th of G erm any, fo r th e p u rpose of g ra n tin g lo an s w ith o u t in te re st fo r th e
purchase of fu rn itu re , m o to r cars, pianos, etc. T h is uneconom ic form of th r ift
is q u ite u n w o rth y of a n d p reju d icial to th e w ork of th e co o p erativ e m o vem ent.
* * * T h e p ra c tic e of ad v an cin g loans w ith o u t in te re st h as also p lay ed som e
p a rt in th e fo rm atio n of equ alizatio n fu n d s, w hich h a v e sp ru n g u p in N o rto rf,
Schleswig, M unich, S tu ttg a r t, N u rem b u rg , K arlsru h e, a n d R en d sb u rg fo r th e
purpose of issuing em ergency m oney, a n d w hose a c tiv ity h as been to som e e x te n t
paralyzed by th e au th o rities. T hese tw o new m o v em en ts sh are th e undesirable
p ractice of ad v an cin g m oney w ith o u t in te re st w ith th e so m ew h at o ld er groups of
savings fu n d s fo r th e pu rch ase of p a rtic u la r goods a n d b uilding a n d th r if t societies.
L ittle h a s been h e ard of la te of th e sp read of th e form er, w hich w ere once so widely
advertised; On th e co n tra ry , such savings fu n d s h av e been dissolved in 16 places.

Except in the credit branch, agricultural cooperation showed a
growth in 1931.
The “ miscellaneous” group of societies formed in 1931 cover the
most varied fields of activity and include the following: Water-supply
societies; societies for the breeding of valuable fur-bearing animals;
radio societies; societies for the blind, the cultivation of medicinal
herbs, house repairs, note reform; an emergency association of Berlin
stockbrokers; a light, water and road-making society; a rifle range
society,^ a society for the sale of German books and writings; an
apprentice school for the Leipzig metal industry; home schools;
sanatoriums, convalescent homes and old people’s homes; a series of
motor-transport societies, especially for goods, long-distance and over­
land transport; a few publishing societies; a silk culture society; an
emergency association for securing “ productive work and a decent
livelihood” ; a society for hiring out beach chairs; a bulb culture
society; mutual society of stage artists (in Hanover); an association of
gatemen, cashiers, _and superintendents for exhibitions, sporting
events, etc. Especially novel is the “ Ask me” Society founded in
Berlin, an information society and agency for everything connected
with transport, amusement, and intellectual life.
The table following shows the development of certain of the more
important types of societies during 1931.
D E V E L O P M E N T OF S P E C IF IE D T Y P E S OF C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S IN G E R M A N Y
IN 1931
M ovem ent during 1931

T y p e of society

C redit so c ie tie s ...__________ __________________________
Craft societies(raw m aterials, warehousing, service, delivery)
W orkers’ productive associations_______________________
Dealers’ purchasing associations1______________________
Consum ers’ societies._______________________________
Housing societies____ ______________________________
A gricultural associations________ _____________________ '

N um ber
of socie­
ties, Jan.
1, 1931

22,160
1,770
722
1,274
1,727
4,065
18, 736

Dissolutions
New
socie­
ties
formed

T otal

B ank­
ru p t­
cies

163
48
14
57
38
43
631

443
92
14
35
70
169
567

58
14
6
7
7
21
21

1 Associations of p riv ate retailers for cooperative purchase of goods sold in their business.


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N um ber
of socie­
ties, Jan.
1, 1932

21,880
1,726
722
1,296
1,695
3,939
18, 800

COOPERATION

1345

A g reem en t for S e ttle m e n t of D isp u tes in C ooperative E m p loy­
m e n t in Norway

GENERAL agreement has recently been entered into between the
Norwegian Confederation of Trade-Unions and the Norwegian
Cooperative Union, providing, among other things, for the peaceful
settlement of any disputes between the consumers’ cooperative socie­
ties and their employees, according to an account in the March 7, 1932,
issue of Industrial and Labor Information, published by the Interna­
tional Labor Office.
The agreement provides that all collective agreements between
cooperative societies and their employees are to be based upon the
principle that “ conditions of employment in cooperative undertakings
are to be at least as favorable as in private undertakings of the same
kind and in the same locality.”
Wages are to remain, as heretofore, “ somewhat higher” in coopera­
tive employment than are paid by private employers in the same line
of business, “ provided that the position of the cooperative undertaking
is such as to make this a reasonable demand.”
As to the procedure in cases of industrial disputes between the
societies and their employees, the agreement provides as follows:

A

If agreem ent is n o t reach ed by d irect negotiation, th ere shall be no giving of
notice or stoppages of w ork, b u t th e disp u te is to be referred to a co m m ittee con­
sisting of tw o rep resen tativ es of each p a rty . T his com m ittee m ay p u t forw ard
proposals for a settlem en t. If it is u nable to do so, or if th e p a rtie s do n o t accep t
th e proposal, th e m a tte r is to be referred to a bo ard consisting of five m em bers,
th e p arties electing tw o each, who to g e th e r choose th e fifth. T h e decision of th e
b oard will be binding on th e parties.

T h e Labor “ A rtel” in S oviet R u ssia

HE workers’ productive societies have attained considerable im­
portance in Russia. Now called “ artels” (a term coined from
the Tartar words “ artak,” meaning comradeship, and “ artakle,”
meaning common people), these associations can be traced under dif­
ferent names as far back as the twelfth century. They developed out
of the need, in primitive communities, for concerted effort in clearing
the land, building shelters, fishing, hunting, cultivating the soil, and
even in warfare.
To-day they are found in agriculture, fishery, and in many branches
of industry. It may be said, however, that the artels have not been
able to undertake, to any marked extent, production on a large scale,
i. e., factory production. Their main field is still that of unskilled
labor, temporary and seasonal labor, production on a small scale, and
handicrafts known in Russian villages as “ kustar” industries.
The Russian artel differs fundamentally from the business partner­
ships which hire outside laborers instead of admitting them to member­
ship or partnership on the basis of equal duties and rights. The artel,
as an organization, has no social, political, or revolutionary purposes.
It has nothing to do either with politics or with social or economic
philosophy. It is a self-employing cooperative organization of wage
earners, a collective labor body or force, for the purpose of making
collective bargaining directly with employers, or of producing goods,
by the labor of the members, directly for the market.

T


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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

The chief features of the artel, namely, close cooperation, collective
bargaining, and reduction of middlemen between the wage earners
and their employers result, as a rule, in higher earnings for the mem­
bers of the artel than for outside individual wage earners of the same
grade engaged in the same kind of work either in open or closed shops.
No member is permitted to accept employment outside of the artel
unless authorized by the latter. No outside help is hired, except in
cases where special skill or technical knowledge, not possessed by the
members themselves, is required.
In the Russian artels the general meeting of the members (sobrdnie)
elects a board of directors and a manager (starosta). The manager
looks for opportunities of work, makes contracts, collects money for
finished work, and, in fact, directs all activities of the artel.
The work contracted for by him is done by the members. They
receive from the treasury of their artel weekly or monthly allowances
for living expenses. A comparatively recent development is the pay­
ment of some extra compensation or premium, or bonus, to those
members who are especially skillful, or efficient, or who perform
hazardous work. But the distribution of net earnings (“ dividends,”
so to speak) is based upon the principle of equality; each member gets
an equal share for each equal time or piece unit of labor performed
by him in general work for the artel. Under the Soviet system the
authorities have introduced an individual productivity or piece-rate
plan in order to quicken production and lower the cost.
The artels in their structure and methods vary from each other
considerably, but all represent a number of wage earners more or less
closely bound together into one collective body, something like a
family, whose membership may grow sometimes into the thousands.
Artels in Imperial Russia
T h e Czar’s Government was long suspicious of the artels, as their
close cooperation and equal sharing in labor and profit made them
appear to be rather socialistic enterprises. The more developed and
prosperous artels not only carried on their business enterprise but also
provided for the education of their members by organizing and main­
taining schools and courses, especially for training in the trade in
which the artel was engaged, and contributed to the general progress
of the nation by increasing the efficiency and upbuilding the char­
acter of the members. Even though the artels, as such, had
nothing to do with the propagation of social philosopliies and reforms
in a direct way, every member was at liberty to join any philosophical
school and any reform movement or political party outside of his artel.
Many attempts—all unsuccessful—were made to do away with the
artels. Close observation revealed that their ultimate aim was merely
to improve the living conditions of their own members by commonsense business methods, not by any political or revolutionary action.
The failure to close them and the acquisition of more accurate in­
formation concerning them changed the attitude of the Czar’s Gov­
ernment, so that finally they received recognition by the Government
and a standard constitution was worked out for them.
Paragraph 2198 of the constitution enacted and promulgated by the
Czar’s Government in 19021 set forth general requirements to which
1 Collection of th e Laws of th e Russian Em pire, Vol. X , p t. 1, Civil Laws, Petrograd, 1914, pp. 334-338.


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COOPERATION

1347

all organizations in this class were required to conform, including
equality of voting, absentee voting, distribution of earnings on the
basis of labor performed, liability of members, etc.
Artels in Soviet Russia

A l a r g e number of the artels existing in former Imperial Russia
went to pieces during the World War and especially during the
revolutionary struggles and civil wars following in the wake of the war.
At the beginning of its authority the Communist Soviet Govern­
ment, like the Czar’s Government, fought the artels, believing them
to be “ reactionary, bourgeois exploiters, working for profits and
individual benefits of their members.” But again the struggle ended
with victory for the artels, and they were finally recognized, under
certain conditions, by the Soviet Government. They were given
various special privileges in regard to taxation and credit, and a
uniform constitution for them was issued by the Soviet Government
on January 1, 1928, for R. S. F. S. R. (Russia proper).2 The Soviet
constitution for the artels varies from that of the Czar’s Government
mainly in the following particulars:
1. The formation of an artel is open only to voters.
2. Contracts undertaken by the artels are limited to jobs on which
the value of the material needed for the work does not exceed 10,000
rubles ($5,150).
3. Contracts are to be carried out by the members only, but the artel
may hire outside persons (nonmembers) for tasks which can not be
performed by the members, such as office work, bookkeeping, business
correspondence, highly technical work, etc.; the number of the hired
workers, however, must not exceed 10 per cent of the entire member­
ship of the artel.
4. The management may consist only of persons who have the
voting right in R. S. F. S. R. (Russia proper).
5. The artel must meet all labor conditions prescribed by the Soviet
labor code. The local labor office supervises the activities of the local
artels.
6. Persons desiring to enter an artel are to be selected by a secret
vote. They are to serve as candidates no longer than one month.
The number of the candidates should not exceed 20 per cent of the
number of the members of the artel. The candidates receive the
same share of earnings and work under exactly the same conditions
as the members themselves.
7. Contributions to social insurance must be made by the artel for
its members in the amount of 6 per cent of nine-tenths of the earnings
of the artel. However, these contributions may vary to some extent.
Artels in agriculture.—To-day the artels are most numerous in the
northern part of European Russia. In that region, owing to the poor
fertility of the soil, the peasant has always depended, more or less,
upon income from “ kustar” or cottage industries. The formation
by the Soviet authorities of the so-called “ giant” farms out of the
peasant communal and individual land holdings has also given a
considerable impetus to the development of the artel movement in
2 Collection of Law s relating to In d u strial Cooperation and Cottage Industries in th e U . S. S. R , and in
th e Separate Republics, S tate P ublication (in R ussian), Moscow, 1930, pp. 213-218,


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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

Soviet agriculture, especially on the so-called collective farm s3
(JcolJchozy). The Soviet authorities prefer the artel form of organi­
zation of work on the collective farms to that of the partnership or
commune; the communist farm is regarded by them as the ideal or
final form of production in agriculture, but the artel is considered as
a logical preliminary or transitory form of production.
Under the artel form of organization in agriculture, the tools are
the property of the artel and do not belong to individual members.
The members of the artel may have their individual dwelling
house, possess a little plot of land for a home garden, and small hand
tools, and raise small animals, such as goats, chickens, pigs, e tc —in
short, they may have their own individual or private household and
conduct private housekeeping.
All “ kulaks” (rich peasants) and disfranchised persons are ex­
cluded from membership in the agricultural artels, as are also those
who kill or sell their cattle or dispose of seeds and implements before
entering the artel on a collective farm.
The entrance fee of salaried members is set at not to exceed 10 per
cent of their yearly salary, and that of farm hands without property
at not to exceed 5 rubles ($2.50). Members who work outside of
the artel pay a yearly fee amounting to 3 per cent of their yearly
earnings.
The management gives out work to the members, and no one has
the right to refuse to accept the work so assigned. The management
keeps account of the amount and quality of the work done by each
individual member, for the purpose of fixing his wages. Piece work
and rates are used to the fullest possible extent.
During the fiscal year allowances in kind and money are made to
each member up to 50 per cent of his actual earnings for board and
other living expenses. At the end of the year the final settlement
of accounts is made.
_Fishery artels.—The normal constitution of fishing artels is quite
similar to that of agricultural artels in Soviet Russia.
The members of a fishing artel work in groups. When a group
delivers the fish to the artel office the latter pays to the group 75
per cent of the actual value of the fish delivered in case of sea fishing
and 65 per cent in case of river fishing. Each group divides its pro­
ceeds among its members on the basis of a mutual agreement.
Growth of the artel movement—As the following table shows, both
the number and membership of the artels have been growing at a
much faster rate than credit, industrial, and agricultural partner­
ships since 1927.
As distinct from th e soviet or com m unist farms, or communes (sovkhozy).


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COOPERATION

G R O W T H O F C O O P E R A T IV E P A R T N E R S H IP S (A R T E L S) IN R U SSIA S IN C E 1927 AS
C O M P A R E D W IT H O T H E R T Y P E S O F P A R T N E R S H IP S 1
N u m b er of organizations
T y p e of organization
1930 2

1933 2

1927

1928

1929

Partnerships of producers___________________
Artels ____ ______________________________
In dustrial credit partnerships_______________
M ixed industrial and agricultural partnerships

7,290
233
447
103

12,053
707
664
75

15,124
810
750
43

17,336
924

26,107
3,231
1,162

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

8,073

13,499

16, 727

19,948

30, 500

1,688

M em bership
Partnerships of producers.......................................
A rtels_____________________________________
Industrial credit partnerships_______ ____ ___
M ixed industrial and agricultural partnerships.

427, 560
10, 367
144, 669
21,927

705,659
54,883
226, 032
12,445

1,069, 447
113, 532
269, 817
7,890

1,678,089
176,355
353,040

2,573, 000
807, 800
418,400

T o tal____________________ ____ _______

604, 523

999,019

1, 460, 686

2,207,484

3, 799, 200

1 D ata are from Soviet Russia, K ooperativnaia Shizn’, Vsia Kooperatsia U . S. S. R ., Moscow, 1930, pp.
339, 400.
2 Estim ated.

On October 1, 1927, more than half of the members of the artels
resided in the villages, being engaged either in agriculture on the
collective farms, or in the kustar or cottage industries, producing
implements, tools, furniture, utensils, toys, etc.
The year 1931 showed a very considerable growth of artels in
Soviet Russia. During the last quarter of that year, in the Ivanovsk
district alone there were formed 60 new artels, with a combined
membership of about 2,300, for the production of furniture, utensils,
baskets, etc.
The Artel as a Means of Self-Help for Unemployed
T h e spontaneous appearance of new artels in Soviet Russia has in
many instances been connected with the unemployment situation.
Looking over histories of individual artels one often finds a statement
that this or that artel was originally formed by a group of unemployed
workers of the same trade and practically of the same grade of skill.
The Vsia Kooperatsia U. S. S. R. for 1930 gives short histories of
a number of artels in Soviet Russia, of which the two following may
serve as samples:
The artel, “ Proletarii,” was founded in 1924 by 32 workers who
had gone on strike against their employer, a manufacturer of iron
and brass beds in Leningrad. By 1930 the members numbered 300;
of these 85 per cent were skilled factory workers, 4 per cent were
clerks, 6 per cent were kustari (workers skilled in some cottage
industry), and 3 per cent were peasants direct from the villages. In
the same year the artel produced iron and brass beds to the total
value of 2,020,000 rubles ($1,010,000).
In 1928 an industrial artel, called “ Krasnyi Rabochii,” was founded
by a number of unemployed skilled workers in Leningrad for the pro­
duction of various small mechanical devices and accessories, such as
those of automobiles, tractors, sewing machines, textile machines,
120148°— 32------7

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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

etc. At the end of the first year it had a membership of 50, mostly
skilled workers. Its product during 1929-30 was valued at 900,000
rubles (about $450,000). The average monthly earnings per worker
were about 160 rubles ($80) and the average production value per
worker per month amounted to about 400 rubles ($200). This artel
does not use hired, that is, outside labor, at all. During the first
three years it trained 12 skilled workers for various occupations, and
the same number were in training in 1929-30.
In the Russian boundary countries, especially in the Baltic States,
there is an extensive development of the artels. In 1931 there were
40 artels in operation in Estonia, and practically all harbor work,
such as loading and unloading, was done by them.
There is a movement on foot in these States to utilize the artel form
of labor cooperation as a means of self-help for the unemployed
workers. Help for securing contracts, expert advice, and credit are
to be extended to these artels of unemployed workers by the public.
This idea is susceptible of adoption, with some modification, in
other countries^ including the United States. Thus a number of
casual laborers, including odd job men, could organize a cooperative
labor association. The organization would select officials and open
an office. This office would solicit business (work) for the organiza­
tion and make contracts with house owners and other employers for
various odd jobs, such as mopping floors, cleaning windows, beating
carpets, cleaning sidewalks and back yards, etc. The members of
the organization would be sent out by their office to do the jobs, and
the office would collect the pay for work done, paying off the members
who did the jobs, and retaining a certain sum, part for office expenses,
and part for a reserve fund. If, after a certain period of time, the
sum of money retained reached a specified amount, it would be
divided among the members of the organization on whatever basis
had been chosen. Such an organization might be formed among the
unemployed workers of any other trade, occupation, or degree of
skill, for instance, accountants, stenographers, stage artists, and
others.


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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AW ARDS, AND
DECISIONS
A g reem en t in th e M illin ery In d u stry of N ew York C ity

N MARCH 1, 1932, a 2-year agreement was entered into between
the Women’s Headgear Group (Inc.), New York City, and the
Cloth Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers’ Union. This is the first
agreement in which the union has dealt with the employers collec­
tively, only individual agreements having been made previously.
Elimination of contract shops, for many years a source of trouble
and disorganization in the hat, cap, and millinery industry, is pro­
vided for. The agreement establishes a 40-hour, 5-day week, and a
minimum wage scale of from $35 to $75 a week, and provides for a
strictly union shop. Time and one-half is to be paid for overtime,
but overtime is to be permitted only when all members are employed
full time, Dr when all available seats or benches are fully occupied.
Week workers are to have seven holidays, with pay.
The agreement also provides for an adjustment board, with an
impartial chairman, to which all disputes not settled by direct nego­
tiations shall be referred. It is also provided that “ Each party to
this agreement shall have the right to call upon the other to designate
a special committee to confer upon matters of mutual concern, in­
cluding the question of establishing an unemployment fund for the
workers in the millinery industry.”

O

R ecen t D ecisio n s of C olorado In d u strial C o m m issio n
Bakery Workers—Denver, Colo.

APRIL 1, 1932, the managers of six baking companies of
Denver presented to the Industrial Commission of Colorado a
ONcopy
of their contract with Bakery and Confectionery Workers’
* Union No. 26, which was to expire May 1, 1932; also a copy of a
proposed new contract containing a wage scale 20 per cent lower than
the scale of the expiring contract, the new contract to be effective
May 1, 1932.
On April 5, 1932, the representative of the bakery workers’ union
filed an objection to the proposed new contract and the new wage
scale.
.
.
The employers contended that business conditions made it neces­
sary to reduce the wages of their employees; and that they could not
meet the competition of the chain-store bakeries if they continued to
pay the present scale. They also pointed out that the cost of living
has decreased since the scale was established.

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1352

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The employees contended that the wage paid in Denver was front
$6 to $10 per week less than that paid to union bakers in other cities
of the size of Denver; that 20 per cent of the bakers in Denver were
out of employment; that the chain-store bakeries were paying the
union scale and that there was no reason why the independent bakeries
could not do the same. The employees offered to accept a 5-day
week, pointing out that under such a plan more bakers could be put
to work; it would, therefore, help to relieve the unemployment situa­
tion. It was their belief, however, that by this sacrifice of one day’s
work and one day’s pay the bakers would be doing their part to
relieve unemployment conditions.
The decision of the industrial commission, rendered April 20, 1932,
was that the wage scale should remain unchanged, and that the
expiring contract with the union should be renewed for another year.
Building Trades—Pueblo
T h e Pueblo General Contractors’ Association and 13 other buildingtrades employers served notice on the Industrial Commission of Colo­
rado of their intention to reduce the wages of their employees, in
accordance with a schedule submitted in their notices. Among the
trades involved were the plasterers, cement finishers, carpenters and
joiners, painters, decorators and paperhangers, and bricklayers and
masons.
The respective unions in these trades filed a protest against the
proposed reductions, claiming that the amounts of reduction were too
large, were not justified at this time, and should not be approved.
After a member of the commission had endeavored to effect a
settlement between the parties, and had failed, the commission held a
hearing on April 18, 1932. The painters’ union, by mutual consent of
parties to the dispute, withdrew before the hearing was held.
T he em ployers co n ten d e d t h a t i t w as necessary to reduce th e w ages of th e ir
em ployees in th e h ope t h a t th e decrease w ould stim u la te b u ild in g a n d t h a t as a
re s u lt em p lo y m en t w ould b e in creased ; t h a t i t is necessary to reduce th e p re se n t
high co st of la b o r in co n fo rm ity w ith th e red u c tio n alre a d y m ad e in b uilding
m a terials a n d c o n tra c to rs’ p ro fits; t h a t a red u c tio n in w ages is n o t in co n sisten t
w ith th e red u ced co st of liv in g ; t h a t th e p roposed re d u ctio n is n o t in co n sisten t
w ith th e w age p a id th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try , a n d t h a t i t is a n h o n e st a tte m p t
to m eet econom ic co n d itio n s as th e y a t p re se n t exist a n d is in a m easure conducive
to th e benefit of th o se to w hom i t applies.
T he em ployees c o n ten d e d t h a t th e a m o u n t of th e re d u ctio n p roposed b y th e
em ployers is T o t ju stified ; t h a t a red u c tio n of a n y k in d w ould n o t stim u la te
building, a n d from th e experience in o th e r cities, w ould n o t in crease em p lo y m en t;
t h a t w hen th e n u m b e r of d a y s w o rk ed u n d e r th e p re se n t scale is considered th e y
do n o t receive a living w age according to th e A m erican sta n d a rd of living, a n d
t h a t red u ctio n s in w ages d e stro y th e p u rch asin g pow er of th e people a n d will
in a larg e m easure d elay th e re tu rn of b e tte r tim es; t h a t depressions can not a n d
nev er w ill be cured b y red u cin g wages.

The decision and award of the commission, rendered April 25,1932,
was that the following wages be paid for an 8-hour day. Carpenters,
$8; bricklayers, $10.50; plasterers, $10.50; lathers, $8; cement fin­
ishers, $9; and bricklayers’ tenders and plasterers’ tenders, 75 cents
per hour.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Review of In d u stria l D isp u tes in th e U n ited S ta te s from
1916 to 1931
Summary

W

ITH the exception of the year 1929, the year 1931 had the
greatest number of strikes since 1926, there having been 894
reported for 1931 as against 903 for the year 1929 and 1,035 in 1926.
The relative number of disputes and the relative number of workers
involved for each year, 1916 to 1931, are shown in Table 1.
T able 1.—R E L A T IV E N U M B E R OF D IS P U T E S A N D O F E M P L O Y E E S IN V O L V E D , 1916
TO 1931
R elative num ber of—

Relative num ber of—
Y ear

Year
D isputes
IQIfi
1Q17
1Q1K
1Q1Q
1Q20
1Q21
1Q29
1Q22

100

117
88

96
90
63
29
41

100

77
78
260
91
69
10 1

47

Employees

D isputes

Employees
1924____________________
1925 ___________________
1926____________________
1927 ___________________
1928 ___________________
1929____________________
1930 ........ ............ ............... 1931____________________

33
34
27
19
17
24
17
24

41
27
21
22
22

15
10

17

From the standpoint of the number of workers involved, by indus­
try, there was little change in 1931 from the year 1930 with the excep­
tion of coal mining, where more than double the number of workers
were on strike, and in textiles, where the figure reached five times the
number of 1930.
Disputes continue to involve principally questions of wages, hours
of employment, or recognition of the union.
Results of settlement of strikes in favor of employers is higher for
1931, being 47 per cent as against 44 per cent in 1930 and 40 per cent
in 1929. The number of strikes in which a compromise settlement
was effected in 1931 was 21 per cent as against 24 per cent in 1930
and 25 per cent in 1929.
Forty-five per cent of all strikes ending in 1931 were settled within
6 days and 67 per cent within 14 days. (See Table 19.)
Month of Occurrence

T able 2 shows the number of disputes beginning in each month
and the number in effect at the end of each month together with the
total number of workers and the man-days’ loss involved from the
jobs where the strikes occurred. No attempt is made to allow for
time that employees may have worked on other jobs.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1353

1354

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

T able 2 .—IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN , A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D O P, E A C H
M O N T H IN 1931

N u m b er of disputes
M onth

effect at
Beginning In end
of
in m onth
m onth
57
52
49
73
115
90
73
79
117
77
62
50

________ _________________
Jan u ary
F eb ru ary .
______ _ _________________
M a r c h ..________
____ ______________
April
_______
____
- _____
M ay _______ _____
. ______ _______
June
______ . _____
___________
Ju ly
________ ____________________
August ________________ ____________
September . __________________________
October . . ______________ ___________
___
__ _______
N o v e m b e r._______
D ecem ber_____________________________

N um ber of workers in ­
volved in disputes

Beginning
in m onth

N um ber of
m an-days
during
In effect at lost
m onth
end of
m onth

10,150
20, 473
26, 453
27,135
28, 000
18,795
49, 434
11,019
36, 092
34, 384
13, 219
4,145

19
29
26
39
46
47
51
36
65
45
39
21

2,905
10, 677
28, 012
22,687
15, 603
15, 223
56, 683
14, 759
37, 427
29, 380
13,690
1,318

181,169
223, 660
476,904
770, 512
400, 509
511, 926
612, 864
1,157, 013
493, 649
1, 052, 095
355,818
150,064

Table 3 gives the number of strikes beginning in each month for
the years 1916 to 1931. The usual period of unrest falls within the
months of April, May, and June. However, in the year 1931 the
month of September showed greater strike activity than any other
month.
T able 3.—N U M B E R O P D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN E A C H M O N T H
N u m b er of disputes beginning in—
Y ear
Jan.

1916_______
1917_______
1918_______
1919_______
1920 ______
1921_______
1922_______
1923_______
1924_______
1925_______
1926_______
1927
1928
1929
1930
. .
1931_______

188
288
191
199
280
238
131
69
102

94
62
37
48
48
45
57

Peb. M ar. Apr. M ay June Ju ly Aug. Sept.

206
2 11

223
198
214
172
96
72
70
89
74
65
52
54
52
52

294
318
312
192
288
194
75
123
118
83
84
74
41
77
49
49

434
445
321
270
427
292
109
2 12

144
161
127
87
71
117
64
73

617
463
392
431
422
575
104
246
155
161
141
107
80
115
66

115

354
323
296
322
317
152
64
133
98
108
73
80
44
73
59
90

313
448
288
381
298
167
101

146
89
103
84
65
54
80
78
73

326
360
278
417
264
143
95
106
81
123
98
57
59
78
51
79

Oct. Nov. Dec.

252
349
2 12

425
231
124
85
93
71
104
85
57
52
98
72
117

261
322
145
334
192
90
64
117
74
77
60
50
61
69
47
77

197
257
208
165
106
92
64
66

61
63
48
27
44
61
44
62

149
197
250
140
108
76
43
59
40
45
33
28
23
33
26
50

M onth Total
not
stated
198
469
237
156
264
70
81

3,789
4, 450
3, 353
3, 630
3,411
2, 385

111

1,553
1,249
1,301
1,035
734
629
903
653
894

146
90
66

1 ,1 1 2

Place of Occurrence of Disputes

I n T able 4 is shown the number of disputes by States and geo­
graphical groups for the 16-year period, 1916 to 1931. The table
shows that 715, or 80 per cent of the strikes of 1931 occurred in the
group of States lying north of the Ohio River and east of the Mis­
sissippi River and that nearly 60 per cent occurred in the States of
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1355

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

T able 4 .—N U M B E R OF D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN E A C H Y E A R , B Y S T A T E A N D
S E C T IO N OF C O U N T R Y

S tate and section
____
A labam a
.
Alaska
A r iz o n a .___ _ .
A rkansas _____
C alifornia________ __
Colorado____________
C onnecticut_______ .
D elaware _
D istrict of C o lu m b ia..
F lo rid a_____________
G eorgia___________ _
Idaho
Illinois. . ___________
In d ia n a _____________
Io w a .. _____________
K ansas_____________
K e n tu ck y ___________
Louisiana__________
M ain e______________
M aryland . . . . . . .
M assachusetts_____
M ichigan___________
M innesota__________
M ississippi
M issouri__________
M o n tan a ___________
N ebraska _
N evada
N ew H am p sh ire------N ew Jersey-------------N ew Mexico
N ew Y o rk ________ _
N o rth C arolina______
N o rth D akota
O h io .. _____________
O klahom a. . . . ____
Oregon______ _____
Pennsylvan ia. . . . .
R hode Is la n d _______
South Carolina
South D akota
Tennessee. . . . . . . .
T exas_____ ________
U tah
Vermont
V irginia.. _________
W ashington.__ . . . ._
W est V irginia_______
W isconsin________
W yoming
In te rs ta te -----------------

1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
15
3
7

20

5

20

36

20

55
17
326
12
8

9
8

5
159
75
26
15
13
8

30
48
383
71
30
4
97
15

112

48
178
17
14
16
28
32
282
73
65
53
38
39
40
59
353
64
53
13
12 2

77
28

21

29
417
592

2
20

227
4

8

7

279
35
58
494
105
7
3
42
56

2

10

18
3
7
7

25

94
32
92
14
13

102

120
22

20

40

30
39

10

10

248
76
41
41
19
23
36
72
347
60
40
5
105
33

267
106
57
45
26
51
40
41
396
84
49

11

11

7
17
138
2

Vn 689

290
24
23
574
77
5
26
28
3

13
3
4

21
8

16
58
40
63

35
294
64
57

4

25

2

31
135
11
10

2

69
23
17
5
34
183
4
536

14
22
3
197 237
19
32
18
38
311 280
53
78
11
3
3
3
40
26
41
56
14
22
9
13
28
37
130 113
63
50
54
77
4
5
4
21

15

1

1

9
15

4
7
99
27
61
4
5
19

128
10

14
9
29
5
254
99
47
14
22

37
22

57
377
63
50
4
63
16
12

4
32
145

21

3
164
61
42

5

4
4

21
11
1
6

125

8

167
29
23

2

42
12

3
28
64
5
14
63
28
41
4
19

5

1

4
40
10

46
4
11
10

34
5
29

20

5
27

1

2

16
5

28

11

13
3

2
6
1

2
2
1

6
2

44
16

40
13

52
34
5
5
7

4

5

80
28
15

84
45

72
32
14

16
7
19
217
19
14

6
12

12
12
2

2
12

3

6

10

1

17
162
14
5

7
113

11
1
2

9
4

14
3

1

2
1

8

4
59

10

4

12

9

1

26
2

3
3
30
71

27
7
1
1
6

6
1
12
2

7
25
97

5

35
1
2
1
8

1

1

1

2
2

3
9
70
7
11
2

8
2

4
3
5

3

8

95
7
3

7
13
77
16
9

8
2

17
4

8

14

1

8
6

16
9

2

1

3

1

1

139
18
9

12

6

1
6

1

4
5
3

201

222

10

3
29
5
26

11

250
89
5
5
27
73
14

68

47
3
52

10
8
11
12

2

31
69
49

37
7
30

17
29
24
27
71
45
9
54

3
2

21

384
26

22

1
2

72
35
14
5

1
21

6

1
2

63
15
15
4

600
4
206
24

4

1

13
3
4
3
2
2

37
20

5
1

4

10

8

45
14
6
1
11

2

1

3
77

2
1

301
7

216 181 131 179 149 237
1
2
5
2
7
17

1
68
6

73

41 33 54
3
1
6
7
2
7
162 123 113 184 113 149
9 17 10 20
28 23
1
1
16
2

6
1
2

2

1

7
15

27

2

17

7

281
4

8

22
8
21

61
9
9

403

15
234
25

1

2

3

92

8
10 1

13
5

1

38
18
13

78

65

1C

4
3

5
92

73
9

37

1
6

29
5
7

84

4
46

3
76

55

1
202
6
2

23
4
18

13
261
5

1

68
2
8

21

3

27
3

10

6

7
4

4
9

7
5

4

1

1

3
5

1
1
1

20

10

5
184
25

1
10

3

1

2

11
2

3
36
28

4
15
23
15

14

11
8

1
10

1
12

8

10
1

23

16

1

15

1

1

6

5
1
1

1

1
6

6
12

1

5

3

2

9
3 __
3
8
3

10
2
6

6

13
9

17
32
13

10

7

1
1

2

6

3
13

U nited States L . 3,758 4,443 3, 347 3,571 3,291 2,381 1,088 1,553 1,240 1,300 1,032 734 629 903 653 894
N o rth of th e Ohio and
east of th e Mississip p i--------------- ----- 3,186 3,034 2,466 2,678 2,431 1,607
South of the Ohio and
east of th e Mississip p i______________ 147 309 243 278 227 186
W est of th e Mississip p i______________ 421 1,075 634 594 623 569
4
10
19
25
21
4
In te rs ta te .

840 1,249 1,007 1,091

869 587 520 728 524 715

66 49 18 60 60 57

66

71

60

51

155
27

210

163

146

89

10

12

8

23

1 Does not include strikes in Hawaii, P uerto Rico, Canal Zone, and Virgin Islands.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

92

6

81 108
10
7

68 120
1
2

1356

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

New York City continues to show a greater number of strikes than
any other city, it alone accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the total
number of strikes reported. Newark, N. J., strikes were reduced onehalf while Pittsburgh’s strikes were slightly more than doubled.
T a ble 5 .—N U M B E R OF D IS P U T E S IN C IT IE S IN W H IC H 25 OR M O R E D IS P U T E S OC­

C U R R E D IN A N Y Y E A R
i
1
1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 192711928 1929 1930 1931

C ity

i

1

Baltim ore, M d __ . . . . . . . .
Boston, M a s s .. ______________
Bridgeport, C o n n .. . . . .
Buffalo, N . Y__ _____. . . _
Chicago, 111__________ __ . . . . .
C incinnati, Ohio . . . .................
Cleveland, Ohio__
. . . . . .
D enver, Colo . . . . . . _____
D etroit, M ich ___
Fall R iver, M ass._______ . . . . . .
H artford, Conn
Holyoke, M ass
_ _____ . .
Jersey C ity , N . J _____ . . . . .
K ansas C ity , M o ____________
L ynn, M a ss... . ______________
M ilw aukee, W is_____________
N ew ark, N . J . . . ................... . .
N ew Orleans, L a ... ______ _ .
New Y ork, N . Y ______________
Paterson, N . J . . . . . . _______
Philadelphia, P a ..
. . . _____
P ittsb u rg h , P a _ _ _______ _ .
Providence, R . I . __________ .
Rochester, N . Y
________ ____
San Francisco, Calif_______ . . .
St. Louis, M o ______________
Seattle, W ash .. _ ____________
Springfield, M ass___ __________
Toledo, Ohio______ ____ _______
T renton, N . J . . . . ______ .
W ilkes-Barre, P a . __________ _
W orcester, M ass_______________
Youngstown, Ohio_____________

39 36 47 26 34 22
9 15 23 15
4
7
62 87 68 98 51 43 22 43 31 49 39 22
38 30 13 25 10
2
3
2
1
4
5
5
41 28 24 20 47 20
8
8 11
8
6
3
73 123 100 126 125 89 26 44 29 58 39 29
29 33 26 39 31 18 10 10
5
3
5
60 76 39 47 41 26 22 13 16 20 15
5
8 26 19 22 15 16
2
2
2
6
3
2
31 19 18 40 24 39 12 14
9
9
7
5
20 13 18 28 22 10
3
4
8
2 10
8
28 21
8 17 19
2
1
1
3
2
3
1
1
1
26
9 17 18 15
3
8
3
5
28 24
9
7 25 14
9
5
7 6
7
2
20 36 20 16 13 17
9
6 10
2
3
2
8
27 12 14 10
8 22 1 1
6 12
15
3
30 14 1 1 27 28
9 11
4
6
2
8
55 50 36 33 16 23
6 13 1 1
15
4
7
7 23 20 40 29 23
7 11
5
2
5
1
363 484 484 370 341 193 140 296 204 228 133 127
18 27 20 15 12 17 14 16 21 12
7
5
74 89 80 60 59 61 2 1 32 54 37 30 23
M 37 19 19 15 23
1
5 1 2 . 11
8
8
21 46 18 31 32 17
6
5 2
9
8 14
16 27 35 13 37 36 17 12 13
5
1
11
23 37 30 34 26 22
7 14
4 11
7
7
58 53 70 39 40 26 1 1 19 21
4 10
8
15 49 29 24 26 21
5 14
6
4
1
2
31 27 12 20 27
6
6 10
4
7
2
16 16 27 24 20 15
3
8
3
2
3
25 15 1 1
4 21
5
1
3
3
4
2
2
4
6 25
8
9 10
4
7 12
7
2
8
18 12 1 1 28 18 12
9
4
2
7
3
2
4
27
1
5 14
4
6
5
1
4
6 — -

7
24
3
8
11
1
10

3
3
17
1

10

19

18
3

11
1
10
2
2

11

4

9
2

90
10
22
6
2
2
2

5
4

1
1
8
2
1

3

21

4
3
3

10

2

5
3

3
3

7
4
3
4
16
4
89
7
33
9
5

2
8
1

15

11
2

2

3ß

1

2

9

1
8

3

7

8

13
5
113
23
73
11

4
5
5

4
2
6
2

3
7
8
1

167
12

36
19
3
5
4

2

3
4

12
2
2
2
6

10
6

1
2
2

3

3
3

1
1

5

3
1
2

1

5

Sex of Workers Involved

T able 6 shows the number of disputes involving males, females, or
both sexes, by years, 1916 to 1931.
T able 6 .—N U M B E R

OF D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G
EM PLO YEES

IN

EACH

Y E A R , BY

SE X

OF

N um ber of disputes beginning in—
Sex of persons
involved

1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931

M ales only_____ 3,121 3,611 2,467 2,818 2,347 1,750
12 2
158
90
88
78
Females only
30
B oth sexes. . _ 269 190 278 521 343 558
47
N o t rep o rted .. . . 277 491 518 203 643

676
22

357
57

983
31
445
94

877
23
280
69

891
31
338
41

831
33
150

450
15
164

291

488
15
150

634
14
246

734

629

903

653

894

590
22

21

T o tal_____ 3, 789 4, 450 3, 353 3,630 3,411 2, 385 1 , 11 2 1,553 1,249 1,301 1,035


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

587
15
132

1357

INDUSTRIAL d i s p u t e s

Relation of Workers to Unions

I n T able 7 it is shown that 700 or about 78 per cent of workers
involved in disputes were connected with some labor organization.
T a ble 7 .— R E L A T IO N OF W O R K E R S TO LA B O R U N IO N S

N um ber of disputes
R elation of workers to
union

1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931

C onnected w ith unions 2, 458 2, 392 1,903 2,033 2, 506 2,038
N ot connected w ith
62
446 209 362 143 137
unions____________
Organized after dis5
8
55
26
30
71
p u te began________
U nion a nd nonunion
workers _
N ot reported............... . 814 1, 794 1,062 1,424 760 280

844 1,265 1,063 1,018

823 614 534 711 539 700

77

69

142

93

67

5

18

14

16

19

16

4

20

15

2

12

29
164

31
72

38
87

15
85

5
32

4

15

6

9

214

66 157

93 183

37

21

T o ta l_________ 3, 789 4, 450 3, 353 3,630 3,411 2, 385 1 , 11 2 1,553 1,249 1,301 1,035 734 629 903 653 894

Causes of Disputes
M a n y causes are shown as being productive of industrial strife but
the chief among all of these is that of wages. Nearly 30 per cent of
all strikes for the year 1931 were reported to have been brought about
because of a reduction in wages. If the question of wages be studied
both as a major and a minor factor in strikes it may be seen from the
table following that 546 or 61 per cent of all disputes in the year 1931
contained some wage dispute element.
T able 8 .—P R IN C IP A L C A USES O F D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN E A C H Y E A R
N um ber of disputes beginning in—
Cause of dispute
1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
Increase of wages _ - - 1,301 1,571 1.397 1,115 1,429
86 147
36
36
35
Decrease of wages____
Increase of wages and
decrease of hours___ 481 378 256 578 269
Decrease of wages and
O ther causes involving
w ages_____________
Decrease of ho u rs-----Increase of h o u rs____
O ther causes involving
hours
Recognition of u nionsR e c o g n itio n
and
wTages_____________
R e c o g n itio n
and
hours ___________
Recognition, w a g e s ,
and hours -. - - - - Recognition and other
conditions _ _____
General conditions---Discharge of employees
U nfair products_____
Sym pathy-..
---- -Jurisdiction an d protest -- __
Other conditions___N ot rep o rted ..........

120

896

255
125

277
117

58

30

29

39

43

27

/5

53

10

7

4

1

1

1

2

4

7

96
18
5

97
7

101

22
12

144
16
5

34

16

77

40

55
294
18

76

115
132
18

93
79

3
404

18
333

2

5
522

2

241

308

7
191

137

4
153

152

109

93

132

79

78

87

106

10

37

21

30

20

27

16

16

6

14

3

6

1

1

56

48

49

76

45

11

8

25

7

4

4

13
116

7
93

14
123

83

72

8

116

80

9
79

i
89

192
35

163
5
108

170
30
67

45
27
36

44
18
33

79
7
31

54

33

246
9
71

74
4
39

19
274
631

374
792

21

16
294
461

16
223
250

2(
213
305

R
1C
1C
192 125 310
83
63
163

23
228
108

68

144

6

1

117
25

12 1

62
8

6

6

98 101 62 52
53 72 122 264

445
49

96
113
7

110

260 142
52 57

156
261

6

1

8
22

6

59
254
100

19
4

85 113 125
6 16
20
3 ____
3

62 157
5
6
i
2

5
71

23
8
6
92 120 116

20

22

50

24

2

2

1

3

3

13

7

14

26

18

20

4
66

23
47

16 100
17 95

5
30

37
18

61
16
29

50
3
23

58
7

41

46
3

42

17 13
175 —
48 67

33
75

2
9
117 119
11

8

2
20
21

41

36

12

1
21

28
47

19
77

T otal- _______ 3,789 4, 450 3, 353|3,630 3,411 2,385 1 , 1 1 2 1,553 1,249 1,301 1,035 734 629 903 653 894


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1358

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Size of Disputes

T he number of disputes classified according to the number of
workers involved is shown in Table 9 by years.
T able 9 .—N U M B E R

O F D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN E A C H Y E A R , B Y C L A S S IF IE D
N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S IN V O L V E D
N u m b er of disputes beginning in—

N um ber involved
1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
1 to 10 ______________
210
171 152
11 to 25______________ 355 304 279
26 to 50_____________
427 350 343
51 to 100_____________ 420 361 357
101 to 250____________ 399 368 384
251 to 500____________ 354 287 287
501 to 1,000__________
241 194 143
1,001 to 10,000 ________
238 223 204
Over 10,000_____ ____
23
68
17
N o t reported________ 1 , 1 2 2 2,124 1,187

186 161
297 322
353 349
404 367
494 381
356 289
217 145
332 184
54
19
937 1,194

257
336
287
352
245
164
103
133
15
593

80
128
156
159
144
91
61
61
16
216

128
182
206
157
161
135
78
119
5
382

125
120

145
114
119
93
81
78
13
361

142
167
195
166
147
97
52
43
3
289

60
153
105
124
119
96

83 61 63 64 116
158 155 188 146 181
137 126 160 135 169
112
82 156 88 151
106 71 151 107 137
60 47 86 60 73
66 45 34 46 27 29
58 31 49 52 25 34
2
2
1
1
4
4
252

T o ta l__________ 3,789 4, 450 3, 353 3, 630 3,411 2, 385 1 , 1 1 2 1, 553 1, 249 1,301 1,035 734 629 903 653 894

Table 10 shows the average number of workers involved in disputes
in 1931 to be slightly higher than for the years 1929 and 1930.
T able 1 0 .—N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN E A C H Y E A R F O R W H IC H N U M B E R
O F E M P L O Y E E S IS R E P O R T E D , A N D T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E N U M B E R IN V O L V E D ,
1916 TO 1931
D isputes in w hich num ber of
employees is reported
Y ear
N um ber N um ber of
of dis­ employees
putes

1916___________
1917___________
1918___________
1919___________
1920___________
1921................
1922......................
1923.......................

2, 667
2,325
2,151
2, 665
2 , 226
1,785
899
1,199

1, 599, 917
1, 227, 254
1, 239, 989
4,160, 348
1, 463, 054
1,099, 247
1, 612, 562
756, 584

Average
num ber
of em­
ployees
per dis­
pute
600
528
576
1, 561
657
616
1, 794
631

D isputes in which num ber of
employees is reported
Y ear
N um ber N um ber of
of dis­
employees
putes

1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931....................

898
1 ,0 1 2

783
734
629
903
653
894

654, 641
428, 416
329, 592
349, 434
357,145
230, 463
158,114
279, 299

Average
num ber
of em­
ployees
per dis­
pute
729
423
421
476
568
255
242
312

The bureau has defined “ establishment’’ as a working place and
not as a company, since the term “ company ” frequently involves sev­
eral separate and^distinct units. Even on this basis, it is difficult to
obtain accurate^ information on this point, but the best obtainable
data are shown in Table 11.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1359

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T able 1 1 —N U M B E R O F E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN V O L V E D
N um ber of disputes
involved
1917

1918

1920

1919

1921

1923

1924

1925

1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931

745 1,133
56
28
35
17
15
17
10
9
104
103
201
192

820
34
23
16
17
84
255

898
60
25
24

649 453 427 639 460 686
41
26 36 24 38 42
24
23 18 20 37 12
9 10
13
10 16 18
19
14 14 17 46 20
94 163 95 134 109 1 1 1
. __
219 34 28

1922

...... ............. 3, 078 2,541 2,136 1,989 1,071
113
142
86
70
143
___________
94
99
59
42
73
3
___________
62
40
59
41
23
4
________
43
52
35
90
18
5
_________
584
426
910
327
403
Over 5 __ ___ .
418
776
232
260
N o t reported------ 694

1
2

12

98
184

894

T o tal--------- 4, 450 3, 353 3,630 3, 411 2, 385 1 , 1 1 2 1, 553 1,249 1,301 1, 035 734 629 903 653

Industries Involved in Labor Disputes

T able 12 shows that the four principal industries involved in labor
troubles are building, clothing, mining, and textiles. Of these, there
are but slight differences in the number of workers involved in 1931 as
against 1930 in either building trades or clothing. There is, however,
a great difference in the case of mining and textiles; the former has more
than doubled, while textiles involved a number of workers five times as
great as for the year 1930.
T able 1 3 .—N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S D IR E C T L Y IN V O L V E D IN IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S ,
1930 A N D 1931, BY S E L E C T E D IN D U S T R IE S
In d u stry

1930

Building trad es_________________ 25, 529
54,177
891
--- --F u rn itu re -----------------940
130
T/Pflthpr
452
Tviimhp.r
trad p,s
2, 142
M ining, coal-. ---------- ---------- 35,403
58
Paper m a n u fa c tu rin g ----------------

22, 555
54, 524
1,168
1,855
3,438
1,257
1, 548
87, 423
14

1930

In d u stry

1931

1931

160
Prin tin g and publishing-----Shipbuilding_________ .
Slaughtering, m eat c u tting and
packing______________________
338
Stone w ork____________________
- 11, 553
Textiles______ _____ _
114
Tobacco ........... ............ .
T ransportation, steam and electric.
767

285

515
58, 449
8,224

Table 13 gives the number of disputes in selected industry or trade
groups, by years, 1916 to 1931.
T able 1 3 .—N U M B E R OF D IS P U T E S IN S E L E C T E D IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S
N um ber of disputes
In d u stry
1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
394
227
50
72
34
44
547
373
43
Paper m anufacturing---------------- 54
Printing an d p u b lis h in g ----------- 27
31
Slaughtering, m eat c u ttin g and
7C
61
Stone _______ . . . .
261
T extiles......... . -- - --- ----Tobacco------------ --------------- . 63
T ransportation, steam a n d elec228
trie_______
- ____. . .

Building trades _. ------ C lothing_________________
- F u rn itu re ------------------------ -----Iron and steel------------------------ L eather_______________________
L u m b e r--------------------- --M etal tra d e s. ------------------------M ining, coal__________________


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

468
495
43
56
19
299
515
355
94
41
41
106

434
436
26
74
16
76
441
162
46
40
40
14C

473
322
35
76
27
46
581
148
28
47
71
109

521 583 113 208 270 349 272 194 134 2 12 186 215
336 240 240 395 238 231 194 129 124 169 103 162
4 12 35 56 46 41 25 32 19 31
26 17
7
3
2
2
2
3
5
7
25 25 10 10
5 11
5 14
5
5 1 1 12
32 26 17 17
3
3
3 11
3
7
6
9
38 25 10 19
452 194 83 113 58 48 75 19 28 53 28 24
161 87 44 158 177 100 78 60 83 77 76 119
1
1
4
8
5
22
2
1
i
2
3
6
6 10
39 42 12 16
14
8 11
9 22 10
83 506 56 19 12 14
1
2
1
45 2C 4
6

6 11
38 42 74 42 3C
26 14 13 29 34 61 15
247 2 12 273 2 1 1 114 115 134
47 50 58 38 19 13 16

343 227 191 241

37

67

31

14
2
15 17
80 139
12
4

90
14

5
4
80
3

7

8

1

18

5
h

4

3

8

2

3

5

65 130
2
5

5
6
67 106
2

10

3 ....

1360

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The number of disputes, by selected occupations, for the years
1916 to 1931, is shown in Table 14.
T able 1 4 .—NU M BER OF DISPU TES IN S P E C IF IE D OCCUPATIONS, BY YEARS

Number of disputes
Occupation
1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
Bakers
_____
B oilerm akers... _______ .
Boot and shoe w orkers______
Brewery workers___________ . .
B rick a n d tile w orkers. . ___
Building laborers an d hod carriers.
C arpenters.. . . . . . . ________
Chauffeurs and team sters ____
Freight handlers a n d longshorem en____
Glass workers _____ ___
H a t an d cap an d fu r w orkers . . _
Inside w irem en. . .
. . . ____
M achinists . . .......... ................
M etal polishers_______ ____ _
Miners', coal___________
M olders__________ _ _____
P ainters a n d paper hangers__ _
Plum bers a n d steam fitters____
R u b b er w o r k e r s ..__________
Sheet-metal workers__________
Street-railw ay employees______
Structural-iron workers______ .
Tailors____________________ .

81 106
23 44
45 38
23
9
54 74
75 101
108 164

47
28
50
27
5
27
81
129

158
41
26
32
257
43
373
145
46
53
38
23
56
23
38

89 58 68
13
9 11
38 38 51
45 33 51
207 202 127
29 61 78
162 148 161
110 181 145
61 81 46
72 55 81
15 15 14
45 19 14
117 110 81
20 15 32
51 70 42

21

22

194
23
52
33
204
25
355
156
45
53
19
33
118
16
59

75 99
31 22 16
54 63 28
23 25 24
16 21 12
49 90 '10
96 73 49
95 130 43

24
4
55

88

12

14
7
20
20

36

18
4
40
7

2

25
29
29

8

3
44
38

8

87
93
62
82
3
82

10
21

12

19

3

8

5
58

6

19

35
9
53
4

72
3
27

55
5
31

14
4
25

8

10

7

7

14

13

24

53

21

29

6

8

39

19
34
39

13
35
50
44

7
26
27

1
22
22

22

25

18
35
16

4
27
48
62

24
39
40

22

51

23 12
14
7
25 34
9 18
13
6
4 10
158 177
54 29
20 25
25 42
7
2
13 18
21
14
18 13
32 1 1

10
8

7
6

25
16

32
17
15

8

10

99
13
29
55
6

78
21
22

38
2

9
5
16

8
12

22

16

18

3
10

19
12

3
60
12

23
28
2
6
2
10

14

i
4

4

12
10
1
6

17
46
5
7
53
14
39
57
4
19

83
15
10

23
2

3
3
13
6

2

6

2

2

28
3

13
23
3
8

4
62
66
43
11

5
29
37
1
2

76 119
9 8
16 44
36 57
7

30

2
21
2

47
5

Months in Which Disputes Ended

T able 15 shows the number of disputes ending each month, by
years, 1916 to 1931.
T able 1 5 .—N U M B E R OF D ISPU TES E N D IN G IN EACH M ONTH
N u m b er of disputes ending inYear
Jan.

1916_______
1917_______
1918_______
1919_______
1920_______
1921_______
1922_______
1923_______
1924.. . . . .
1925_______
1926_______
1927_______
1928_______
1929_______
1930_______
1931_______

117

Feb. M ar. A pr. M ay June Ju ly Aug. Sept.

84
64
42
32
69

132
94
125
113
85
61
39
54
78

68

66

111

105
12 2

33
19
41
43
45
45


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

46
38
57
55
33
42

176
159
168
128
129
106
37
78
92
65
62
51
52
75
51
52

292
198
208
144
197
102

37
144
90
110

76
64
70

10 1

61
60

337
223
261
226
200
222

77
182
129
131
111

80
72
95
78
108

216
172
223
195
188
171
52
114
109
93
73
82
54
89
54
89

200

157

2 11

207
191
144
58
12 1

83
71
60
88

58
84
82
69

217
156
207
252
157
141
65
85
62
111

77
65
59
88

48
94

223
201

175
239
155
91
70
85
55
81
77
54
60
92
61
88

Oct. Nov. Dec.

173
177
147
194
117
81
58
95
69
92
59
37
53
87
55
97

156
12 2

117
147
72
65
61
57
47
57
51
35
48
60
51
68

78
132
166
120

60
46
53
36
43
34
37
26
32
44
48
68

M onth Total
not
stated
131
172
85
133
237
232
92
62
33
10

18

2, 448
2, 074
2 , 198
2 , 220
l' 872
1, 526
741
1, 145
959
989
780
639
656
913
667
880

1361

INDUSTRIAL D ISPU TES

Termination of Disputes, by Result

I n T able 16 the number of disputes is classified by results for each
year, 1916 to 1931. I t will be noted that 410, or 47 per cent, of the
disputes were settled in favor of employers while 241, or 27 per cent,
were in favor of employees and 186, or 21 per cent, were compromised,
in which case both the employer and employees gained some points.
Jurisdictional and protest strikes have increased to such an extent
in recent years that it is felt that the number of such disputes may
prove interesting, and for this reason such strikes have been segre­
gated in this table. A jurisdictional dispute is one in which trades
or occupations are directly involved, one against another. As far as
the employer is concerned, they are often more disastrous than the
dispute in which he is immediately affected. A protest strike is one
which, as its name indicates, pimply expresses dislike for some rule,
executive, or condition. It is usually of very short duration and
frequently is officially unauthorized.
T able 1 6 .—R E S U L T S OF D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN E A C H Y E A R
N um ber of disputes ending in—■
Result
1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
748
749
777

In favor of employers----I n favor of em ployees----C om prom ise----------- -E m p lo y e e s r e t u r n e d
pending arb itratio n ----Jurisdictional and protest.
N ot reported

395
631
720

465
627
691

687
627
797

677
472
448

701
256
291

248
259
105

73

137

204

50

61

80

16

10 1

191

2 11

59

214

198

113

T o tal______ ______ 2,448 2,074 2,198 2 ,22 0 1,872 1, 526
1 R esults of 7 strikes undeterm ined.
2 R esults of 16 strikes undeterm ined.

368 283 253 226 169 272 367 294 410
403 354 349 288 235 197 267 167 241
168 138 138 147 129 160 226 159 186
51

36

160 139 19»

83

46

45

3
3
14 33 27 2 1
77 1 10 2 17 3 20 4 22

29

741 1,145 959 989 780 639 656 913 667 880

3 Results of 20 strikes undeterm ined.
4 R esults of 22 strikes undeterm ined.

Duration of Disputes

T able 17 shows the number of disputes and the total duration
and average duration of disputes, 1916 to 1931.
T able 1 7 .—N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S F O R W H IC H D U R A T IO N IS K N O W N , A N D T O T A L
A N D A V E R A G E D U R A T IO N

Y ear in which dis­
putes ended

1916______________
1917
___________
1918 ____________
1919
___________
1920
_________
1921 ____________
1922 ____________
1923 ____________

N um ber
of dis­
T otal
putes for
duration
which
(days)
duration
is re­
ported

l

2,116
1,435
1, 709
1,855
1,321
1,258
580
968


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

49,680
26, 981
29, 895
62, 930
51, 893
64, 231
21,436
23,177

A ver­
age
dura­
tion
(days)

23
19
17
34
39
51
37
24

Y ear in which dis­
putes ended

1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931

________
_________
_________
_________
_______
_________
_________
___________

N um ber
of dis­
Total
putes for
duration
which
(days)
duration
is re­
ported
957
879
738
669
656
913
667
880

28, 588
23, 809
18, 805
15,865
17,997
18, 507
12,292
14,154

Aver­
age
dura­
tion
(days)

30
27
25
24
27
20

18
16

1362

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

The classified period of duration of disputes by years is shown in
table 18, following:
T able 18.

DISPU TES E N D IN G IN EACH YEAR, BY CLASSIFIED PER IO D S OF

Number of disputes ending in—
D uration
1916
Less th a n 1 day_.
1 day__________
2 days__________

3 days__________
4 days__________
5 d a y s._________
6 days__________
7 days__________
8 days__________
9 days__________
10 days_________
1 1 days_________
1 2 days_________
13 days_________
14 days_________
15 to 18 d a y s____
19 to 21 d a y s____
22 to 24 d a y s ____
25 to 28 d a y s____
29 to 31 d a y s __
32 to 35 d a y s ____
36 to 42 d a y s____
43 to 49 d a y s ____
50 to 63 d a y s____
64 to 77 d a y s____
78 to 91 d a y s____
92 to 200 d a y s___
Over 200 days___
N o t reported____

38
141
185
147
125
131
112

93
86

50
108
41
42
27
64
148
83
40
61
53
25
50
24
53
40
27
99
23
332

1922

196
113
105
82
56
65
95
29
31
43
24
39
13
40
75
46
23
35
28
27
38
29
37
22

12

55

84
145
171
127
111

72
67
115
60
38
58
24
26
16
49
88

72
40
32
65
31
39
36
48
18
17
35
24
489

29
76
70
80
78
74
45
69
72
33
57
30
28
30
42
113
95
51
65
74
61
81
78
124
72
57
149
22

365

31
57
64
54
51
36
44
66

45
30
31
28
24
21

18
48
39
27
23
26
13
34
19

12

6
10

14
25
76
49
16
31
43
36
54
40

40
83
25
41
56
47
21

46
48
69
51
41
125
46
551

32
27
44
44
47
35
32
45
30
19
44
19

86

60
61
186
51
268

T o tal--------¡2,448 2,074 2,198 2,220 1,872 1, 526

1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
26
82
74
68
66

36
44
62
29
26

10

15
5
9
41
27
15
9
9
13
14
14
29
18
14
51
15
165

20

16
17
32
36
54
39
12

33
40
20

14
13
24
24
16
25
19
178

23
42
46
31
46
27
30
47
21

14
17
17

6
12

42
55 51
52 47
62 42
39 32
34 34
26 30
47 48
24 13
27 2 1
23 25
19 12
21

14
26 33
39 60
23 47
17 36
39 28
27 23
23 17
26
2
26 18
43 32
27 12
12
9
55 39
23 15
174 114

10
6

19
34
20
20

25
25
25
24
22
21

15
8

25
5
93

61
38
49
22

29
45
17
18
19
18
24
29
16
10

30
21

18
23
22

26
19
20

28
16
5
15
1

95 139 66
56 72 53
50 67 54
39 46 39
27 44 27
44 48 32
14 37 36
13 29 36
11
25 19
21

15
21
12

7
36
13
12
21

14
9

21
11

23
12

14
30
15

21

20

19 15
43 14
17 10
15 17
42 43
29 14
19 18
28 22
17 14
19 15
26 18
28 14
19 25
19 18
13 14
25 12
7
2

741 1,145 159 189 752 639 656 913 667

99
75
74
47
52
52
27
28
28
27
25
21

13
13
45
37
39
43
17
14
24
16
32
12

5
14

880

Termination of Disputes as Related to Length

Of the 880 disputes terminated in 1931, 399, or 45 per cent, were
settled within 6 days, and 581, or 67 per cent, within 14 days.
T able 19.—N U M B E R O F S T R IK E S T E R M IN A T E D IN 1931, B Y P E R IO D O F D U R A T IO N

D uration

1 to 6 days .
7 to 14 days_________
15 to 28 d a y s . . ___
29 days and over___

T o tal____ _

In favor of In favor of
em ploy­
em ploy­
ers
ees

Compro­
mised

Otherwise
settled

80
42
32
32

11

74

124
59
39
19

10

399
182
164
135

410

241

186

43

880

180
70
86

15
7

Total

. Since 1926 it has been the policy of the bureau to omit from tabula­
tion all strikes involving less than six workers and also those lasting
less than one day.
A general summary of these strikes for the past year shows that
16 such strikes occurred in the clothing trades, 23 in the building
trades, 18 in the bakery trades, and 9 among motion-picture operators,
actors, and theatrical workers, leaving 39 other disputes scattered
among 13 other trade groups.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1363

INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES

S trik es and L ock outs in th e U n ited S ta te s in April, 1932

ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
April, 1932, with comparable data for preceding months are
presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in 1927, 1928, 1929,
1930, and 1931, the number of workers involved and man-days lost
for these years and for each of the months, January, 1930, to April,
1932, inclusive, as well as the number of disputes in effect at the end
of each month and the number of workers involved. The number of
man-days lost, as given in the last column of the table, refers to the
estimated number of working days lost by workers involved in dis­
putes which were in progress during the month or year specified.

D

rpABTF 1 —IN D U S T R IA L d i s p u t e s b e g i n n i n g i n a n d i n e f f e c t a t e n d o f e a c h
M O N T H JA N U A R Y ,1930, TO A P R IL . 1932, A N D T O T A L N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S , W O R K ­
E R S, A N D M A N -D A Y S LO ST IN T H E Y E A R S, 1927 TO 1931
N u m ber of w orkers in ­ N um ber of
volved in disputes
m an-days
lost in disputes exist­
ing in
In effect
Beginning
In effect
m onth or
a t end of
a t end of in m onth
m onth
year
or year
m onth

N um ber of disputes
M onth and year

1Q97*
1928*
192Q1930'
1QQ1-

T o tsl
Total
T otal
T otal
'Tritai

Beginning
in m onth
or year
__
_______
______

1930
“February
______________________
ATpprb
_______ ______________
April
__ ____________ - -- --------ATay
__________________ _________
.T11 n o
--------------- -- ------------.Tilly
_______________________
August
__________ ____________
Septum her
_ __________ ___
October
____- ___ _______ _______
N ovem ber
______________________
T)ADATTIhp.r
________
1931
February
________________ ___
M arch
____________ ___ ___ _______
April
_____
-- _____ — —
M ay
_______________________ _____
.TilTIP
____________________ ____
July
_________________________
August,
____ _____ - - - - September
_ _ ------ ------ ----- ----- --------October
____________ _____ ____
N ovem ber
__ __ _________
Dpcpmhpr
_ _______
1932
February
__ _ _ _ _____________
ATarch 1
_____ __ _ ______ ______
April 1 _ _____ _____________________
i Prelim inary figures subject to change.


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

37,799, 394
31, 556, 947
9,975,213
2, 730, 368
6, 386,183

349, 434
357,145
230, 463
158,114
279, 299

734
629
903
653
894

40
38
41
29
34
30
33
44
36
29
7

9, 240
37, 480
15,017
6, 379
9,329
14, 011
14, 308
15, 902
16, 337
10, 858
4, 390
4,863

5,957
5,840
4, 386
8,311
4,815
7,131
13,778
16, 007
7, 759
5,144

184, 730
438, 570
291,127
189, 828
185, 448
144,117
141, 647
142, 738
208,184
335, 916
273, 608
184,455

57
52
49
73
115
90
73
79
117
77
62
50

19
29
26
39
46
47
51
36
65
45
39
21

10,150
20, 473
26, 453
27, 135
28, 000
18, 795
49, 434
11,019
36, 092
34, 384
13, 219
4,145

2,905
10, 677
28, 012
22, 687
15, 603
15, 223
56, 683
14, 759
37,427
29, 380
13, 690
1,318

181,169
223, 660
476, 904
770, 512
400, 509
511, 926
612, 864
1,157, 013
493, 649
1, 052, 095
355, 818
150, 064

79
50
54
67

37
30
31
47

11,105
31, 140
32, 386
18, 950

4,648
28, 691
1 2 , 081
22, 114

117, 298
417, 966
690, 021
617, 010

45
52
49
64
66

59
78
51
72
47
44
26

21

5, 316
6, 683

1364

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 2 gives, by industry, the number of strikes beginning in
February, March, and April, 1932, and the number of workers
directly involved.
T able 2 . - I N D U S T R I A L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN F E B R U A R Y , M A R C H , A N D A P R IL
1932

In d u strial group

N um ber of disputes beginrung m —
Feb ru ary

B akers__________
B arbers_________ __
B rew ery and soft d rin k workers
Building trades
__________
Chauffeurs an d team sters--C lothing, ___________
F arm labor- _. _______
Food w orkers___________
F u rn itu re _________ ____
Glass w orkers_______
H ospital w orkers-.
_________
H otel a n d re stau ran t w orkers_______
L a u n d ry workers _____ _
L eather - ________
Longshoremen and freight handlers ___
Lum ber, tim ber, and millwork ______ _
M etal trades___________
M iners--- _________
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical workers-- ___ . . . . .
P aper and paper-goods w orkers. . .
P rin tin g an d publishing___________
Stone___________
M unicipal w orkers__________
Textiles____________
Tobacco___ ______
O ther occupations ..
T o ta l______________

M arch

A pril

F e b ru a ry
3
i

1
1

13
1

21

13

g

1
1

2

N um ber of workers involved
in disputes beginning in—

18
4

M arch

39

1,0 00

1,000

17
2,048

85
19,486

10, 929

75

75
57

1
1

i

i
3

3,387
586
745
100

i

i

April

25
29

41

g
37
125
150

10

1
1

1

2

2

g

10

8, 335

17, 531

i

i
i
i
i

2

6

38
18
14

116

1,116

23

838
14
425

31,140

32, 386

18, 950

4

2
1

3

2
2

i

2

23

2,500
23
70
7, 596

80

60

i

7
1
2

i

50

54

67

22

1,475

Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
April, 1932, classified by number of workers and by industries.
T able 3 .—N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A P R IL 1932 CUASST
F I E D B Y N U M B E R O F W O R K E R S A N D B Y IN D U S T R IA L G R O U P S C LA SSI
N um ber of disputes beginning in April, 1932, involving—
In d u stria l group

B a k e rs ... . _____ _
B a rb e rs ...
B uilding tra d e s .. . Chaffeurs a n d team sters.
Clothing __
F a rm lab o r__________
Food w orkers________
F u r n itu r e ________
H ospital workers____
Longshorem en. .
Lum ber, tim ber, a n d m ill work .
M etal trades
M in ers..
M otion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical workers __
Stone
T extiles..
Tobacco____ .
O ther occupations.. .
T o tal

__________ .


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

500 and
6 and
20 and
100 and
u nder 20 under 100 under 500 under
1,000
workers w orkers workers
w orkers

1,000 and 5,000 and

under
5,000
workers

under
10,000

workers

3
2

8

3
2

7
i
3

1

1
1
1
1
2
1

4
2
2

4

3

1

1

1

1

1
2

2

1

8

32

18

3

1

1

5|

1

1365

IN DU STRIAL D ISPU TES

In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
April, 1932, by industries and classified duration.
T able 4 .—N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN A P R IL , 1932, B Y IN D U S ­
T R IA L G R O U P S A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
Classified d uration of strikes ending in A pril,
1932
In d u strial group

One-half
m onth or
less

"Rakers
- ______
Barbers
_ ___________ ________________
Building trad es____________________________________
C hauffeurs and team sters
Clothing
_
_
_____________
Food workers
F u rn itu re
__
_ _ _____
TTospital workers
_____
Tiongshoremen end freight, handlers
T/limber tim her and mill work
M etal trades
- - _______
M iners
- _______
Printing and publishing
Stone
_ ___________
Textiles
Tobacco
O ther occupations
_ ________________
T otal

-- _________ ______________ -- -

2
1

7
4
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2

Over onehalf and
less th a n
1 m onth

1 m onth

2 m onths

and less
th a n 2
m onths

and less
th a n 3
m onths

5

1

1

1

3
1
1

6
1
2

1

1

36

11

3

1

C o n cilia tio n W ork of th e D e p a r tm en t of Labor in A pril, 1932
By H ugh L. K e r w in , D irector

of

C onciliation

HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer­
cised his good offices in connection with 54 labor disputes during
April, 1932. These disputes affected a known total of 26,469 em­
ployees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature
of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement, the
date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly
and indirectly involved.
There were 17 cases involving the prevailing rate of wages law.
In these cases it is not always possible to show the number involved,
due to lack of information as to total number required before com­
pletion of construction.
On May 1, 1932, there were 37 strikes before the department for
settlement and, in addition, 57 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 94.

T

120148°— 32------ 8


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

W orkers in ­
volved

D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and
location

N atu re of
controversy

C raftsm en con­
cerned

Cause of dispute

Present statu s and term s of
settlem ent


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

D i­ In d i­
rectly rect­
ly

B egin­
ning

Ending

1932
Apr. 1

1932
Apr. 26

400

M ar. 20

A pr. 22

(>)

Apr.

1

A pr.

6

27

100

A pr.
A pr.

A pr.

6

1, 300
70

2,000

5

6

_ _do___

Apr. 12

16

A pr.

1

750

A pr.

2

2,20 0

M ar. 29
Apr.

4

100

30
Apr. 15

M ar. 29

50

250

0)

16

Apr.

6

5

A pr.

1

320

5

150

150

A pr.

Apr. 24

6

A pr.

1

Apr. 26

275

Apr.

9

Apr. 12

28

24

200

100

A pr. 13
- ..d o ___

M ay

4

Apr. 27

(0

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Plum bers and s t e a m fitters, Lockout___ Plum bers and steam Wages c u t $4 per d ay___ _______ A djusted. Allowed $9.40 per day;
R ochester, N . Y.
former rate $ 1 2 .
fitters.
V eterans’ hospital, Coatesville, P a . C ontroversy. Plum bers,
A djusted. B ricklayers $1.12J4;
steam Prevailing-wage discussion.
plum bers and steam fitters 95c;
fitters, an d bricklaborers 30 to 70 cents per hour.
layers.
Rochester Ice & Cold Storage U til- Strike______ D rivers a n d helpers. Wage cut proposed; renewal of A djusted. U nion wages and
ities, Rochester, N . Y.
agreem ent.
agreem ent; drivers $33, helpers
$24 per week.
Painters, Pittsburgh, Pa
P a in te r s __
Proposed wage cut of 25 per cent . Pending________
__do__
H en ry D isston & Sons, Tacony,
A djusted. Allowed to retain rate
__do__
Tool m ak in g _______ Wage cuts. _____ ____ ___ ___
Philadelphia, Pa.
in effect before strike.
Sam uel Kapl'in, Philadelphia, P a.. ____ do___
Proposed wage cut; one discharged Unclassified. A rbitrated m atters
B akery__
in dispute.
B uilding, Cedar R apids, Iow a___
_ do
B u ild in g - ___ ____
Proposed wage cut; refusal to rec- Pending
__ _______ _____
ognize union.
P ittsb u rg h R y. Co., P ittsburgh, Controversy Em ployees
Proposed wage cut; changes in A djusted. Accepted 73-4 per cent
Pa.
reduction; 2 -year agreement.
conditions.
B. & 0 . Storage House, P itts__ do _
B uilding_________
Refusal of contractor to pay union A djusted
_______ _________ burgh, Pa.
wage.
R ed B ird Baseball Park, Colum- ____do______ C a rp e n te rs _______ Use of organized labor except car- A djusted. All union crafts embus, 0 .
penters.
ployed.
D am N o. 35, Ohio R iv er______ . __ __do _ ___ Building w ork on Prevailing wage not p aid ________ P en d in g .. _______
__ .
dam.
Post-office building, Lawrence, __ __do___
C a rp e n te rs _______ Wages not paid for labor performed. ___d o _______________________
Mass.
John Conlon Coal Co., H udson, Strike__
M in e r s ._______ _ Wage cut; w orking conditions___ A djusted. W ithdrew cut. ConPa.
ditions im proved.
M em orial C raftsm en’s Associa- Controversy. Stone an d granite Proposed wage cut from $1.25 to P ending_______________
tion, Philadelphia, Pa.
cutters.
$ 1 per hour.
Geo. F . Lee Coal Co., Plym outh, Strike . .
M iners ____
Wage cut; working conditions
A djusted. C ut w ithdraw n. Men
Pa.
reinstated.
Post-office building, T au n to n , Controversy. B uilding__________ Wages c u t; contended work should A djusted. Agreed to pay prevailM ass.
be finished a t contract rates.
ing rate and use local labor mainly.
Electrical workers, Rochester, Strike.
E lectrical__________ Wages cut 20 per cent___ ________ A djusted. Accepted 20 per cent
N . Y.
cut to $1.1534.
V eterans’ hospital, Biloxi, M iss__ C ontroversy. B uilding__________ Prevailing-wage discussion............. P ending____ ___________________

1366

LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H OF A P R IL , 1932

H angar, Sunnyvale, Calif----------- ........ do...........
Post-office building, Elizabethton, T enn.
Post-office building, Ironwood,
M ich.
Post-office building, Long Beach,
Calif.
Post-office building, H igh Point,
N . C.
V eterans’ hospital, R u tlan d M ass.
Pox H ill Coal Co., Plains T ow n­
ship, Pa.
B uilding, Boston, M ass-------------Post-office building, La Fayette,
Ind.

B uilding__________

____do.........

Common la b o re rs... Fixing of prevailing rate_________

Unclassified. N o t a case for con­
ciliation.
A djusted. Local labor employed
a t prevailing wage rates.
A djusted. Allowed 40 cents per
hour.
________________
P e n d in g ___

60

A pr. 15

40

A pr. 11 . .. d o ___

20

Apr. 13
. d o ____
. __________
do
______
____d o ........... B uilding__________
Strike........... M iners............. ........... Wage c u t_____________ _________ A djusted. Agreed to pay old rate. M ar. 28
___ do_____ B uilding.
C ontroversy. ____d o ...
S tr ik e _____ Longshorem en___
d o _____

B uilding________

Pending
__ _
N onresident plasterers---------------- A djusted. Agreed to use local
plasterers, 5-day w eek and closed
shop; 25 per cent cu t Ju ly 1,1932.
Wages cut from 75 cents to 67 cents A djusted. Strike lost; perishable
goods saved.
per hour.
Pending . . .
day, in alleged violation of agreem ent.

__________________

A pr.

A pr. 15

A pr. 29

A pr.

4

1
A pr. 22

___do___

M ay

Apr.

Apr.

6

A pr. 25

1

Apr. 19

800

900
50

Apr. 28

«
45
12

(')

A pr.

1

Apr. 26

50

A pr.

6

Apr. 13

190

M ar.

1

M ay 10

(0

M ay

2

20

75
1,000

__ do___
A pr. 27

A pr. 27
M ar. 31

20

45
Apr. 21

1 ___do___

Apr. 25

78 10,000
300
75

300

___do__

Apr. 20

2

Apr. 13

A pr. 15
Apr. 1

1,500

1367


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

A pr. 29

8

Apr. 7
____d o .......... Iron w orkers.............. Prevailing wage rates not being
paid.
____do__________________________ A pr. 12
____do......... Electrical w o rk ers...

A djusted. (R eport not y e t re_ do___
C arpenters________
Forest products laboratory, M ad i­
ceived).
son, W is.
C hester Q uarry Co., Chester
C ontroversy. Q uarry w orkers____ Wages cut 10 per cent; ag reem en t.. U nable to a d ju st. Parties came to
no agreem ent.
M ass.
B uilding__________ Prevailing-wage investigation— . A djusted. R ates for various crafts
do
Post-office building, Monroe, W is.
fixed.
Jolliff Coal Co., Flushing, O h io ... Strike_____ M iners___________ Asked contract w ith union recog- Unclassified. Conciliation not engaged. Strike continues.
nition.
Asked th a t company p ay for gaso- A djusted. Allowed 30 per cent
T erm inal T o w n Checker Taxicab ____do_____ D rivers__________
commission and com pany to
line.
Co., Rochester, N . Y.
b u y gasoline.
Controversy. W a ite rs .................... Wages cut from $60 to $45 per A djusted. Allowed $55 per m onth.
A m bassador H otel, W ashington,
m onth.
D. C.
Failure to employ union mechanic. A djusted. Strikers returned w ithM unicipal A uditorium , Worces­ Strike_____ Engineers________
o u t m aster mechanic.
ter, M ass.
Pending
_________ __ _
B arbers__________
do__
B arbers, N ew Y ork C ity________
do _ _____ - ___ _____ - -Alleged
violation
of
working
rules.
M otion-picture theater, Union- ____do......... O perators-.............
tow n, Pa.
Post-office building, South Bend, C ontroversy. Bricklayers, stone- Prevailing wage rates___________ A djusted. Allowed $1.50 per ho u r.
masons.
Ind.
Post-office building, K ansas C ity, Threatened B uilding................... M isunderstanding as to num ber A djusted. Satisfactory agreem ent.
to be emploved.
strike.
Mo.
Prevailing-wage discussion---------- A djusted. B ricklayers 90 cents
.d o .
V eterans’hospital, Columbia, S .C . Controversy.
and carpenters 65 cents per hour.
P ending___
____
_______
C arpenters________
do.
Post-office building, Braddock, P a .
Sculptors and m od­ W ages--- --------- ------------------------ Unclassified. W ages readjusted.
.do.
A m erican T erra C otta Co., Chica­
Conciliator
not
engaged.
elers.
go, 111 .
1 N o t reported.

M ar. 29
Apr.

INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES

C lyde-M allory Co., Savannah
Line & M organ Line Steamship
Cos., N ew Y ork piers.
All crafts, San Francisco, Calif__

Structural iro n ......... Wages for men working on fabri­
cated steel.
N onresident la b o r.. ___________

........ do_____

D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and
location

Strike_____

C raftsm en con­
cerned

Textile w orkers____

------ do........... M arble setters_____
Controversy. Building and moving m en.

Cause of dispute

Wage c u t______________________

Present statu s and term s of
settlem ent ■

Pending__________________ . .

___ do_____

Ending

1932
M ar. 25

1932

Wages cut from $10 to $8 per d a y .. A djusted. R eturned a t $10 per
Apr. 1
day.
Prevailing wage_________ ____ _
Pending________________ _______ A pr. 12

____do_____ ____do_____________ ____do__________________________ A djusted _______________

___ _ d o ____

B egin­
ning

Building, repair, and ____ do............... .................................... ___do_______________________
moving.
L athers a n d laborers ____do_________________ _________ P ending______________________

do
A pr. 10

1 N o t reported.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

58

1 54^

6

70

A pr. 27

124
Apr. 25
do

40
40
(l)

Apr. 16

____do_____

Pile drivers and Wages for different kinds of w ork. _ ___do_............... .................................. A pr. 23
w harf carpenters.
T h reaten ed Building . . . . . Alleged refusal of contractor to A djusted. Satisfactory agreement
A pr. 25
strike.
pay men.
C ontroversy. Q uarry w orkers. . . . R enew al of wage and working A djusted. Wages and conditions A pr. 15
agreem ent.
fixed in 1 -year agreement.
____do_____ Electricians_______ Prevailing-wage discussion and A djusted. C om pany agreed to A pr. 12
em ploym ent of union men.
em ploy union m en a t prevailing
rates.
N arcotic F arm H ospital, Lexing­ __ __do_____ B uilding__ ________ Prevailing wages____________ . A djusted.
Bricklayers $1.12)4, A pr. 17
ton, Ky.
electricians, plum bers and steam
fitters $1, carpenters 75 cents, and
laborers 25 cents per hour.
Total.

D i­ In d i­
rectly rect­
ly

35
Apr. 27

10

A pr. 25

50

A pr. 20

3

5

M ay 11

150

50

25

10, 395 16, 074

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Textile mills, Langley, B ath, and
Clearwater, S. C.
Post-office building, Oakland,
Calif.
A dm inistration B uilding, N aval
Base, N orfolk, Va., Virginia
Engineering Co.
Officers’ quarters, N av al Base,
N orfolk, V a., Palm er Construc­
tio n Co.
N a v al Base, Norfolk, V a., K illian
C onstruction Co.
V eteran s’ hospital, F o rt Harrison,
M ont.
B uilding of wharf, San Francisco,
Calif.
P o st office a n d court house,
Y oungstown, Ohio.
W esterly Pin k G ranite Co. (Inc.),
W esterly, R. I.
Post office, B ay C ity, M ich______

N atu re of
controversy

W orkers in ­
volved

1368

LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H OF A P R IL , 1932—C ontinued

RECREATION
C o m m u n ity R ecrea tio n in th e U n ited S ta te s in 1931

HE annual report of the National Recreation Association for the
year 1932 1 shows that, for the first time in the history of the
recreation movement, the number of cities in which organized recre­
ation service and facilities are reported exceeds one thousand. The
number of cities reporting one or more playgrounds or indoor recrea­
tion centers conducted under leadership or a major recreation activity
requiring regular supervision or leadership, such as a golf course,
swimming pool, or bathing beach, was 1,010 in 1931 as compared
with 502 ten years earlier. It is considered encouraging that during
the past year when there has been a tendency to curtail public
services the organized recreation movement has held its own. Al­
though there has been no material increase in expenditures, the figures
presented in the report indicate that the recreation movement has
responded to the need presented by the great amount of leisure time
resulting from unemployment by providing the^ added facilities,
activities, and leadership without a corresponding increase in public
expenditures.
The number of workers employed to give leadership for community
recreation activities was reported by 834 cities to be 25,508. Of this
total 13,053 were men and 12,455 women, the number of men exceeding
the number of woman workers for the first time. Recreation workers
were reported to be employed the year round by 258 cities, the number
of full-time workers in these cities being 2,686. The salaries and
wages for leadership and other services as reported by 793 cities
amounted to $15,668,137.71 and the total expenditures for recreation
purposes reported by 917 cities was $36,078,585.37.
A total of 13,324 separate play areas and centers under leadership
was reported, of which 840 were opened in 1931 for the first time.
The recreation facilities provided, for the cities furnishing the informa­
tion, include 7,685 outdoor playgrounds, 639 recreation_buildings,
and 2,048 indoor recreation centers, part of these facilities being
provided for colored residents. The total yearly or seasonal attend­
ance of participants and spectators at outdoor playgrounds as reported
by 565 cities was 222,619,926, while the attendance at indoor recrea­
tion centers in 144 cities was 13,769,039. These figures do not include
the millions of persons using the athletic fields, bathing beaches, swim­
ming pools, golf courses, summer camps, and other recreation areas.
The sources of support of the community recreation activities and
facilities are mainly municipal and county funds, fees and charges,
and private funds. The proportion supplied from municipal funds
was larger than in any previous year for which reports are available,

T

J R ecreation (New Y ork), M ay , 1932, pp. 63-62,


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1369

1370

MONTHLY LABOE E E V IE W

approximately 90 per cent of the total amount for which the source
was reported being derived from taxation. There has been a relative
decrease in the past 10 years in the privately-supported programs
A marked falling off recently in the amounts received from fees and
charges is considered to be due to the generally reduced incomes of the
people. Bond issues for recreation purposes, totaling more than
$4,000,000, were reported by 27 cities.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

HOUSING
B u ild in g P er m its in P rin cip al C ities of th e U n ited S ta te s,
April, 1932

HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor has received building permit reports from 351 identical
cities of the United States having a population of 25,000 or over for
the months of March and April, 1932, and from 343 identical cities
having a population of 25,000 or over for the months of April, 1931,
and April, 1932.
The cost figures as shown in the following tables apply to the cost
of the buildings as estimated by the prospective builder on applying
for his permit to build. No land costs are included. Only building
projects within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are shown.
The States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania, through their departments of labor, are cooperating
with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in the collection of
these data.
Table 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in 351 identical cities of the United
States, by geographic divisions.

T

T a b ie 1.—e s t i m a t e d c o s t o f n e w b u i l d i n g s , o f a d d i t i o n s , a l t e r a t i o n s , a n d
R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 351 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S ,
AS SH O W N BY P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, BY G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
New residential buildings (estim ated N ew nonresidential buildings (esti­
m ated cost)
cost)
Geographic division
M arch, 1932

Per
cent of M arch, 1932
change

April, 1932

A pril, 1932

P er
cent of
change

N ew E ng lan d----------M iddle A tlan tic......... .
E a st N o rth C en tra l,..
W est N o rth C en tra l..
South A tlan tic______
South C en tral_______
M ountain and Pacific

$1,011,173
4,995,488
1,566, 066
916,100
1,674, 484
837, 907
2,917,357

$1,411,099
3,416,189
2,178,313
1,079,198
1,194, 720
886, 545
2,417,873

+39.6
-3 1 .6
+39. 1
+ 17.8
-2 8 . 7
+ 5 .8
-1 7 . 1

$851, 845
3,814, 569
5,466,130
1,065,463
2,254,164
4, 247, 673
4,134, 047

$1,187, 766
11,808,233
4,184, 797
1,374,241
6 , 664,684
2,942, 421
1,986, 684

+39.4
+209. 6
-2 3 .4
+29.0
+195. 7
-3 0 .7
-5 1 .9

T o ta l........... ......

13,918, 575

12, 583, 937

-9 .6

21,833,891

30,148, 826

+38.1

A dditions, alterations, an d re­
pairs (estim ated cost)
Geographic division

N um ­
ber of
P
er
Per
cities
M arch, 1932 A pril, 1932 cent of M arch, 1932 April, 1932 cent of
change
change

N ew England ________ ___ $1,189, 332
M iddle A tla n tic ..___________ 3,148, 476
E a st N o rth C en tral________ . 1,558,510
610,887
W est N orth C en tral_________
1,142, 332
South A tlan tic______________
715, 172
South C en tral_______________
M ou n tain a n d Pacific............... 1, 550,940
T o ta l._____________ . . .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

T o tal construction (estim ated
cost)

9,915, 649

$1,939, 386
3, 796, 744
1,923, 473
685, 698
1, 353, 818
690, 261
1,367,144

+63.1 $3, 052, 350
+ 20.6 11, 958, 533
+23. 4 8,590, 706
+ 12 .2
2, 592, 450
+18. 5 5, 070,980
- 3 . 5 5, 800, 752
-1 1 .9
8 , 602, 344

$4, 538, 251
19, 021,166
8 , 286, 583
3,139,137
9, 213, 222
4, 519, 227
5, 771, 701

+48.7
+59.1
-3 . 5
+ 2 1. 1
+81. 7
- 22 . 1
-3 2 . 9

53
70
92
25
38
35
38

11, 756, 524

+18.6

54,489,287

+ 19.3

351

45, 668,115

1371

1372

m onthly

labor

r e v ie w

The total cost of building operations for which permits were issued
during the month of April, 1932, in these 351 cities, was $54,489,287
or 19.3 per cent greater than the estimated cost of the total building
operations for which permits were issued during March. Increases
in indicated expenditures for total construction were shown in four of
the geographic divisions. These increases ranged from a low of 21.1
per cent in the West North Central States to a high of 81.7 per cent
in the South Atlantic States. Decreases were shown in three geo­
graphic divisions.
. There was a decrease of 9.6 per cent in the estimated cost of residen­
tial buildings, comparing permits issued in these 351 cities during the
months of March and April. Increases were shown in four geographic
divisions and decreases in three.
Indicated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings increased
38.1 per cent comparing April permits with March permits. The
increase in the Middle Atlantic Division for this class of structure
was 209.6 per cent.
Indicated expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs during
April were 18.6 per cent greater than during March. Five of the seven
geographic divisions registered increases in this class of building.
Table 2 shows the number pf new residential buildings, of new
nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building operations in 351 identical cities of the United States,
by geographic divisions.
T T \LtE„
b J 9 I. N E W B U ttD iN G S , O P A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E P A n i ? ’ A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 351 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS
D IV IS IO N S ^ P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y G E O G R A P H IC

N ew residential
buildings

N ew nonresidential
buildings

A dditions, altera­
tions, a nd repairs

T otal construction

M arch,
1932

M arch,
1932

Geographic division
M arch,
1932
N ew E n g lan d______ _
M iddle A tlan tic_____
E a st N o rth C en tra l___
W est N o rth C en tral__
South A tlan tic.South C en tral____
M ou n tain a n d Pacific..
T o ta l_____
Per cent of change..

April,
1932

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

April,
1932

April,
1932

187
643
272
225
387
320
777

253
501
372
285
267
357
651

434
1,139
939
490
559
535
1,371

701
1,687
1,865
1,093
661
511
1,191

1,584
3, 429
2,295
937
2, 478
1,830
3,832

2, 392
4,891
3,655
1,708
2, 953
2, 067
3,574

2,205
5, 211
3,506
1,652
3,424
2,685
5, 980

3, 346
7, 079
5,892
3,086
3, 881
2,935
5,416

2,811

2,686

5,467

7,709
+41.0

16,385

21,240
+29.6

24, 663

31,635
+28.3

- 4 .4

In these 351 cities permits were issued for 31,635 building projects
of all kinds during the month of April. This is an increase of 28.3
per cent over the number of projects for which permits were issued
during March. Increases in the total number of building operations
were shown in all geographic divisions except the Mountain and
Facific. The number of new residential buildings for which permits
were issued in these 351 cities decreased 4.4 per cent comparing April
permits with March permits. Four geographic divisions registered
increases in the number of new residential buildings and three, de­
creases. The number of new nonresidential buildings increased 41.0
per cent comparing April permits with March permits. Increases
were shown in all geographic divisions except the South Central and

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1373

HOUSING

the Mountain and Pacific. The number of additions, alterations,
and repairs increased 29.6 per cent in April as compared with March,,
Six of the seven geographic divisions registered increases in the num­
ber of repairs.
Table 3 shows the number of families provided for in the different
kinds of housekeeping dwellings, together with the estimated cost of
such dwellings for which permits were issued in 351 identical cities
during March and April, 1932, by geographic divisions.
T able 3 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST A N D N U M B E R O F F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R IN T H E
D IF F E R E N T K IN D S OF H O U S E K E E P IN G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E
IS SU E D IN 351 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, BY G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
2 -family dwellings

1 -family dwellings

Geographic division

E stim ated cost

April,
1932

M arch,
1932
N ew E ngland----------M iddle A tla n tic _____
E a st N o rth C en tral--W estN o rth C e n tra l--South A tlan tic---------South C entral_______
M ountain and PacificT o tal_________

Fam ilies provided
for
M arch,
1932

T o ta l_________

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

Families provided
for
M arch,
1932

$850, 323 $1,128,499
2, 441,963 2, 246, 818
1,116, 999 1, 560,329
754,680
976,048
1, 625, 924 1,052,970
750, 229
710, 693
2,295,095 2,049, 847

166
493
238
207
373
292
695

221

431
351
273
246
333
597

$115, 850
1,038, 525
118, 800
91,420
15, 560
88, 214
215,912

$200, 800
425, 871
100 , 200
73,150
48,100
68, 975
212,376

32
263
35
28
17
41

9, 795, 677 9, 764,740
—0. 3

2,464

2,452
-0 . 5

1, 684,281

1,129,472
-32. 9

504

M ultifam ily dwellings
N ew E n g l a n d ---------M iddle A tlan tic. --E a st N o rth C en tral--W estN o rth C e n tra l- South A tlan tic_____
South C entral___ ___
M ountain and Pacific.

April,
1932

E stim ated cost

$45,000
1,215,00C
323, 500
24, 00C
33, 00C
39,000
406, 350

$81,800
637, 500
22,000

30, 000
77,000
35,100
155, 650

2,085, 850 1,039,050
-50. 2

19
353
89
9
16
26
202

714

88

A pril,
1932
59
10 1

31
22
22

39
80
354
—29. 8

Total, all kinds of housekeeping dwellings
44 $1,011,173 $1,411,099
197 4, 695,488 3, 310,189
14 1, 559, 299 1, 682, 529
8
870,100 1,079,198
39 1, 674, 484 1,178,070
854, 304
14
837, 907
89 2, 917,357 2, 417, 873

217
1,109
362
244
406
369
985

324
729
396
303
307
386
766

405 13, 565, 808 11,933,262
-2 2 . C
—43. 3

3, 682

3,211
—12 . 8

During April, 1932, there was a decrease of 22 per cent in the
indicated expenditures for housekeeping dwellings comparing permits
issued in these 351 identical cities. The number of families provided
for in these dwellings decreased 12.8 per cent as compared with
March. Four of the seven geographic divisions showed increases in
the total number of families provided for comparing April permits
with March permits.
There was a decrease of three-tenths of 1 per cent in the estimated
cost of 1-family dwellings and a decrease of one-half of 1 per cent
in the number of families provided for in 1-family dwellings. Four
of the seven geographic divisions showed increases in expenditures
for 1-family dwellings and three showed decreases in the number of
families provided for in this class of dwelling.
Indicated expenditures for 2-family dwellings decreased 32.9 per
cent and the number of family dwelling units provided decreased 29.8
per cent comparing April permits with March permits. Decreases
in expenditures for 2-family dwellings were shown in all divisions
except the New England and the South Atlantic. These two divi
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1374

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

sions were also the only ones showing an increase in the number of
families provided for in 2-family dwellings.
Indicated expenditures for apartment houses decreased 50.2 per
cent and the number of family dwelling units provided for in apart­
ment houses decreased 43.3 per cent in these 351 cities, comparing
April permits with March permits.
Table 4 shows the index number of families provided for and the
index numbers of indicated expenditures for new residential buildings,
for new nonresidential buildings, for additions, alterations, and re­
pairs, and for total building operations.
T able 4.—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R A N D O F T H E E S T IM A T E D
CO ST O F B U IL D IN G O P E R A T IO N S AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN P R IN C IP A L
C IT IE S O F T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , A P R IL , 1930, A P R IL , 1931, A N D JA N U A R Y , F E B R U A R Y .
M A R C H , A N D A P R IL , 1932
’
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
E stim ated cost of—
Families
provided
for

M o n th

N ew resi­
dential
buildings

N ew non­
residential
buildings

Additions,
alterations,
and repairs

Total
building
operations

1930
A p ril......... —................................. ............

62.0

51.0

10 0 .1

81.8

73.8

1931
A p ril____________ _____ ________ ____

64.6

48. 6

73.9

65.2

60.6

1932
J a n u a ry ____________ ______ _________
F eb ru ary __________________________
M arch________________________
A pril_________________________

14.4
13.0
15.4
13.4

10 .2

25.0
16.5
18.1
25.0

25.8
26.7
27.0
32.0

18.2
14. 3
15. 7
18.8

9.1
10. 7
9.7

There was a slight increase in the index number of total building
operations in April, 1932, as compared with March, 1932, but a large
decrease as compared with April, 1931. The index number of families
provided for and the index number of new residential buildings were
lower than for March. The index number of new nonresidential
buildings, while higher than for March, 1932, was much lower than
for April, 1931.
The charts on pages 1378 and 1379 show in graphic form the infor­
mation contained in Table 4.
Table 5 shows the number and value of contracts awarded for
public buildings by the different agencies of the United States Gov­
ernment during the months of April, 1931, and March and April, 1932
T able 5 .—C O N T R A C T S L E T F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y D IF F E R E N T A G E N C IE S OF
T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S G O V E R N M E N T D U R IN G A P R IL , 1931, A N D M A R C H A N D
A P R IL , 1932, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
April, 1931

M arch, 1932

Geographic division
N um ber
New E n g la n d ... ________________
M iddle A tlan tic_____ _____ ______
E ast N o rth C en tral______________
V e s t N o rth C en tral_______
South A tlan tic___________________
South C en tral____ _____________
M ountain and Pacific________ ____
T o ta l. ____________________
1 Subject to revision.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Cost

N um ber

Cost

23
18
19

$582, 288
1,168, 840
199, 958
511, 464
1,873, 931
2, 718, 846
1,144, 497

24

$341, 858
799, 339
4, 632, 359
741, 040
1, 399, 063
1, 850, 839
1,490, 842

98

8,199, 824

132

11,255,340

8

15
9
6

6

17
22
11

32
20

A pril, 1932 1
N um ber
14

Cost
$545,711

20

26
5
41
19

1, 640| 395
209, 050
6. 294, 785

22

1, 535,156

147

11,738, 335

1 ,0 9 6

578

1375

HOUSING

During April, 1932, contracts were awarded by various Federal
agencies for 147 building operations to cost $11,738,335. This ex­
penditure was higher than for either March, 1932, or April, 1931.
Table 6 shows the value of contracts awarded by the different State
governments for public buildings during the months of April, 1931,
and March and April, 1932, by geographic divisions.
T able 6 —C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y T H E D IF F E R E N T
S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S D U R IN G A P R IL , 1931, A N D M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
April, 1932 1

A pril, 1931

M arch, 1932

N ew E n g lan d ...............................---M iddle A tlan tic________________
E ast N o rth C en tral_____________
W est N o rth C e n t r a l----------------South A tlantic- ________________
South C en tral__________________
M ountain and Pacific------ ----------

$743, 304
10, 658, 763
135, 448
10,141
166, 292
15,053
459,421

$219, 794
1, 043, 741
373, 438
44, 277
448, 391
354, 294
2 2 1 , 280

$192, 037
762, 943
587,066
124,666
121,703
686, 580
214,118

T o tal_____________________

12,188,422

2, 705, 215

2,689,113

Geographic division

1 Subject to revision.

Contracts awarded by various State governments during April,
1932, totaled $2,689,113. This was slightly less than the value of
contracts awarded during March, 1932, and slightly more than onefifth of the value of contracts awarded by the State governments
during April, 1931.
Table 7 shows the estimated cost of new residential building, of new
nonresidential building, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building construction in 343 identical cities of the United States
having a population of 25,000 or over for the months of April, 1931,
and April, 1932, by geographic divisions.
T able 7.—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , O P A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D
R E P A IR S ,'A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 343 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S , AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN A P R IL , 1931, A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings (esti­
m ated cost)
Geographic division
April, 1931

April, 1932

Per
cent of
change

N ew nonresidential buildings (es­
tim ated cost)

April, 1931

A pril, 1932

Per
cent of
change

N ew E n g lan d .. -----------------M iddle A tlan tic____________
E a st N orth C en tral-------------W est N o rth C entral------------South A tlan tic--------------- ----South C entral-------------------M ountain and Pacific...............

$4,115, 520
28,807, 325
7, 719, 048
2. 740,187
6, 384, 645
3, 439, 068
7,064,859

$1, 303,187
3, 380, 289
2,177, 313
1,079,198
1,191, 320
886, 545
2,396,623

-6 8 .3
-8 8 .3
-7 1 .8
-6 0 .6
-8 1 .3
-7 4 .2
- 6 6 .1

$3, 289, 394
44, 511,832
11,386,922
8 , 494, 267
1,849, 034
6 , 545, 872
4, 503, 053

$1,179, 551
11,790,898
4,184,352
1,374,241
6,660, 514
2,942, 421
1,985, 644

-6 4 .1
-7 3 .5
-6 3 .3
-8 3 .8
+260.2
-5 5 .0
-5 5 .9

T o tal------ -------------------

60, 270, 652

12,414,475

-7 9 .4

80, 580, 374

30,117,621

-6 2 .6


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1376

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

T able 7.—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D
R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 343 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S , AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN A P R IL , 1931, A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S —C ontinued
A dditions, alterations, and
repairs (estim ated cost)

N um her of
Per
P er
cities
April, 1931 April, 1932 cent of A pril, 1931 A pril, 1932 cent of
change
change

Geographic division

'New E n g lan d ___________ ___ $1,850, 052
M iddle A tlan tic________ ____ 8 ,799, 709
E ast N o rth C entral. _______
4, 598,153
943, 537
W est N o rth C entral__
South A tla n tic ____ _
1,960, 897
South C e n t r a l , __ ___ _ __
1,095, 539
M o u n tain an d Pacific________ 2,255, 515
T o t a l ____

_

T o tal construction (estim ated
cost)

___ 21, 503,402

$1,926, 290
3, 779, 267
1,922, 378
685, 698
1,353, 818
690, 361
1, 356,199

+ 4 .1
-5 7 .1
-5 8 .2
-2 7 . 3
-3 1 . 0
-3 7 . 0
-3 9 .9

$9, 254, 966
82,118,866
23, 704,123
12,177,991
10,194, 576
11,080, 479
13,823,427

$4, 409,028
18,950, 454
8 , 284, 043
3,139,137
9, 205, 652
4, 519, 327
5, 738, 466

-5 2 .4
-7 6 .9
—65.1
-7 4 .2
-9 . 7
—59. 2
-5 8 .5

91
25
37
35
36

11,714, Oil

-4 5 .5 162,354,428

54,246,107

- 66.6

343

51
68

New residential buildings decreased 79.4 per cent in estimated costs
comparing permits issued in 343 identical cities in April, 1932, with
April, 1931. All geographic divisions showed decreases in residential
building comparing these two periods. The decreases ranged from
60.6 per cent in the West North Central States to 88.3 per cent in
the Middle Atlantic States.
Indicated expenditures for new nonresidential building decreased
62.6 per cent comparing April, 1932, with April, 1931. Six of the seven
geographic divisions showed decreases in expenditures for this class
of structure. In the South Atlantic States, however, there was an
increase of 260.2 per cent.
Indicated expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs de­
creased 45.5 per cent in April, 1932, as compared with April, 1931.
The one geographic division showing an increase in the expenditures
for repairs was New England.
Total construction decreased 66.6 per cent, comparing April, 1932,
with April, 1931. All geographic divisions showed decreases in indi­
cated expenditure for total building construction.
Table 8 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new non­
residential buildings,( of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building operations in 343 identical cities having a population
of 25,000 or over for April, 1931, and for April, 1932.
T able 8 .—N U M B E R O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E ­
P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 343 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S , AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN A P R IL , 1931, A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential
buildings

N ew nonresiden­
tial buildings

April,
1931

A pril,
1931

A dditions, altera­
tions, a nd repairs

T o tal construction

Geographic division
April,
1932

April,
1932

N ew E n g la n d ______
M iddle A tlan tic__ E a st N o rth C e n tra l..
W est N o rth C e n tra lSouth A tlan tic______
South Central
M o u n tain and Pacific.

546
2,352
1,303
602
1,227
828
1,475

240
495
371
285
265
357
641

1,177
3, 324
3, 511
1,371
1, 574
826
1,752

678
1,664
1,861
1,093
657
511
1,186

T o ta l________
P e r cent of change__

8, 333

2, 654
- 68.2

13, 535

7, 650
-4 3 .5


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

A pril,
1931
2, 679
6, 035
5, 447
2 ,111

3, 431
2, 307
4,069
26, 079

April,
1932

April,
1931

A pril,
1932

2, 359
4, 860
3, 649
1,708
2,953
2, 067
3, 540

4,402
11,711
10 , 261
4,084
6, 232
3, 961
7,296

3, 277
7,019
5,881
3,086
3, 875
2, 935
5, 367

21,136
-1 9 .0

47,947

31, 440
-3 4 .4

1377

HOUSING

Decreases were shown in the number of new residential buildings,
of new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in these 343 cities, comparing April,
1932, with April, 1931.
Table 9 shows the number of families provided for in the different
kinds of housekeeping dwellings, together with the cost of such dwell­
ings for which permits were issued in 343 identical cities during April,
1931, and April, 1932, by geographic divisions.
T able 9 .— E S T IM A T E D C O ST A N D N U M B E R OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R IN T H E
D IF F E R E N T R IN D S OF H O U S E K E E P IN G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E
IS SU E D IN 343 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S IN A P R IL , 1931, A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
l-fam ily dwellings

Geographic division

E stim ated cost

April,
1932

April,
1931
N ew E ngland__________
M iddle A tlantic - --------E a st N o rth C en tral___W est N o rth C en tral------South A tlan tic_________
South C entral__________
M ountain and Pacific----

$2, 687,120 $1,020, 987
10,918, 428 2,210, 918
6,216,198 1,559, 329
2,192, 587
976,048
5, 423, 395 1,049, 570
2, 712,278
750,229
5,216, 459 2,028, 597

Total ----------------- 35, 366,465
Pp.r cent of change ____

9, 595, 678
-7 2 .9

Fam ilies pro­
vided for

$81, 800
637, 500

T o ta l------------------- 18, 540, 747
Per cent of change
___

1,039,050
-4 4 .0

22,000

30.000
77.000
35,100
155, 650

E stim ated cost

April,
1931

April,
1932

438
1,830
1,185
560
1,175
721
1,337

208
425
350
273
244
333
587

$704,400
2,767, 235
749, 850
180,100
94, 750
482,955
551,150

$200, 800
425, 871

7,246

2,420
- 66.6

5, 530, 440

1,129,472
-79. 6

M ultifam ily dwellings

N ew E nglan d__________ $639,000
M iddle A tlan tic- ------ 14, 736,662
E a st N o rth C e n t r a l___
753,000
322, 500
West N orth Central _..
604, 500
South A tlan tic_________
243,835
South C entral__________
1,
241, 250
M ountain and Pacific----

2 -family dwellings

195
4,089
156
135
222

125
531
5, 453

April,
1931

April,
1932

100,200

73,150
48,100
68, 975
212,376

Fam ilies pro­
vided for
April,
1931

April,
1932

182
782
171
43
39
162
173
1,552

59
10 1

31
22
22

39
80
354
-7 7 .2

T otal, all kinds of housekeeping
dwellings
44 $4,030, 520 $1,303, 587
197 28,422, 325 3,274,289
14 7, 719,048 1,681, 529
8 2, 695,187 1,079,198
39 6,122, 645 1,174,670
854, 304
14 3, 439,068
89 7,008, 859 2,396, 623

815
6,701
1, 512
738
1,436
1,008
2,041

311
723
395
303
305
386
756

405 59,437, 652 11, 764,200
-8 0 .2
-9 2 . 6

14, 251

3,179
-7 7 .7

There were decreases in the estimated cost and in the number of
family dwelling units provided for in each class of housekeeping
dwellings, comparing April, 1932, with April, 1931, in these 343 cities.
The total number of families provided for in new housekeeping
dwellings in April, 1932, was 3,179, which is 77.7 per cent less than
the number provided for during April, 1931.
Table 10 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of total building operations, together
with the number of family dwelling units provided for in new buildings
for the 351 identical cities from which reports were received for
March, 1932, and April, 1932.
No reports were received from New London (Conn.), Bangor (Me.),
Burlington (Vt.), Atlantic City (N. J.), Butler (Pa.), Anderson (Ind.),
Pontiac and Port Huron (Mich.), Newark (Ohio), West Palm Beach
(Fla.), Savannah (Ga.), Lynchburg (Va.), Fort Smith (Ark.), Ash­
land (Ky.), Meridian (Miss.), Muskogee (Okla.), Brownsville and
Port Arthur (Tex.), and San Bernardino (Calif.).

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1378

MONTHLY LABOE R EV IEW

IN D E X E S OF COST OF BUILDING O P E R A T IO N S .
MONTHLY AVERAGE.
NEW

100

192.9 = IOO.

R E S ID E N T IA L .

100

15

75
19. 10

50

.—.^
\ s

\

N

\

131

ZS

50
n

^ —" s \

25

\ ^

193 2

0

o
NEW

10 0

N O N R E S ID E N T IA L .

100

10N

IS
50

75

/ /
//
//

\

\

\1

if

V
\—

\

/ l 92 a

V
\
~ v

o' /
\

\✓

50
>

N>

25

_—

—

25

132

ft

0

T O T A L -IN C L U D IN G ALTER ATIO N S 25-REPAIRS..
100
1 oo

19 : ^0

75
s.

/ *
JLjl.

50

\

50

V
'i9 :> i

—

75

\

\

—

\

25

25
193 2

'

0
O r
cö
Q- 3U- .


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

0
^

<r

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£

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HOUSING

1379

Permits were issued for the following important building projects
during the month of April, 1932: In the Borough of Manhattan for a
theater to cost $4,500,000; in Philadelphia for two schools to cost
nearly $3,500,000; in Grand Rapids, Mich., for a public library to
cost nearly $900,000; in Baltimore for a gas holder for a public
utilities corporation to cost $440,000; in Austin, Tex., for an office
building for the State Highway Department to cost over $400,000;
in Dallas for a school building to cost $300,000; in San Francisco
for two school buildings to cost $325,000.

Contracts were awarded by the Supervising Architect, Treasury
Department, for a post office at Terre Haute to cost $439,000; for
a building at the marine hospital in Detroit to cost nearly $400,000;
in Washington, D. C., for an addition to the Library of Congress to
cost $1,123,000 and for an extension and remodeling the post-office
building to cost nearly $3,000,000; in Louisville, Ky., for a marine
hospital to cost nearly $300,000; and in Baton Rouge, La., for a
post office to cost over $300,000.


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

1380

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 1 0 —E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932

New England, States
New residential buildings
üw

State and city

E stim ated cost

M arch,
1932
Connecticut:
B ridgeport______
B ristol.
______
G reenwich______
H artfo rd_______
M eriden________
N ew B rita in ____
N ew H av en____
N orw alk. ______
Stam ford_______
Torrington_____
W aterb u ry_____
W est H artfo rd .
M aine:
L ew iston.. _____
P o rtlan d _______
M assachusetts:
A rlington_______
B everly........ .........
B o sto n 1 ________
B rockton__ ____
Brookline_______
Cam bridge_____
C h e lse a .............
Chicopee_______
E v e re tt________
Fall R iv er______
F it c h b u r g ...___
n a v e rh ill_______
H olyoke________
Law rence_______
Lowell. _______
L y n n ___ _______
M ald en ________
M edford________
N ew Bedford___
N e w to n .. _____
Pittsfield_____ .
Q uincy___ _____
R evere_________
Salem_________
Somerville______
Springfield____
T a u n to n _______
W alth am ____ _
W a te rto w n .. . .
W orcester______
N ew H am pshire:
Concord................
M anchester_____
R hode Island:
C entral Falls____
C ranston_______
E a st Providence.
N ew port_______
P aw tu ck et............
Providence...........
W oonsocket.........

Fam ilies pro­
vided for in
new dwellings

April,
1932

$64,450
0

3, 000
29, 500
8, 000
0

33, 300
82, 700
7,500
0

4,000
65, 023
1 2 , 000

12, 500
60, 400
0

142, 000
15, 300
■27, 500
8,000
0

2,500

0
0
0
0
0
0

2, 500
14,300
11, 300
25,800
0

58, 300
10, 0 0 0

10, 400
0

17, 500
0

13, 600
4,500
13, 000
10 , 000
49,100
7, 000
8 , 500
0

M arch, April,
1932
1932

$67, 600
9, 500
67, 500
20,150
3, 400
37, 000
48, 500
39,900

18
0
1
8
2
0

5

67, 412

12
1
0
1
10

5,300
24,800

5
3

6,000
12 , 000
11,0 0 0

40,100
10, 500
231, 000
4,000
29, 500
80, 000
7,000
8, 800
7, 500
5. 300
12 , 000
0
6, 500
8, 500

9,000
9, 000
5,000
26, 500
0

62, 300
19,400
24, 600
8,000

14, 000
9, 700
51, 750
1, 750
8,400
11, 500
83,600
16, 737
20, 550
0

20
2

4
4
1

5
9
8
1

4
3
6

u u u r e M u e i i L ia i

b u ild in g s ( e s ti­
m ated cost)

M arch,
1932

$6, 210

April,
1932

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

M arch,
1932

4,005

3,485

13, 265
14, 800
73, 746

$100, 287
17,494
95,524
62, 745
12,320
50,249
114,420
67,195
86,870
17,190
21,435
81,078

45, 400
18, 235
6,463
12,975
27, 210
4, 760
5, 900
235

$19, 569
600
17, 750
12,142
1, 450
635
7, 850
10, 250
55, 425
1,315

2,000

1,20 0

0

$82, 025
2,476
81, 415
110,709
19,138
20, 745
85,495
100, 503

April,
1932

2 1 ,1 2 0

7

435

200

900
11,400

24, 200
59, 067

7, 200
48, 718

11
0

7

28
3
3

53

2,600
2,975
331,114
1,825
1,700
1,175
400
1,500
4, 600
2, 942
1,181
2, 500

4, 730
1,125
304, 025
3,265
3,495
1,250
173, 000
2,510
490
4,680
1,128
2,065
7, 600
2, 425
1,160
11, 745
425

68, 800
13, 775
863, 243
22, 380
36, 905
28, 285
5, 981
8,150

2
0
2
0
0
0

0
0
0
2

3
3
6
0
8
2

3
0

3

2

2
1

3
42
2

3
3
2
2
0
1
2
2

3
1
8
0
10

8,200

1,535
85
550
1,415
1,800
4,150
1,700
1,725
19, 425
3, 850
1,1 0 0

3

1,262
3,985

9, 500
24, 215

22,499
40,842

100

18

2

5
9

600
1,130

0
6

6,000

2
8
2

3
0

12
2

3
2

33, 600
16,100
5, 500
23, 650
98,850

24, 400
14, 500
21,500
4, 350
92, 800

19

0

1,000

0

1

T o ta l_________ 1, Oil, 173
Per cent of change__

1,411, 099
+39.6

217

324
+49.3

9
4
1
8

6,200

19, 050
10,935
8,635
61, 785
16, 880
36, 565

2

5
7
3

9

5

89,540
16, 375
48, 387
23,100
66, 960
54, 970
64, 880
183, 629
14,400
11,840
82, 949

8,000

52, 927
2, 931

30,100
6,965
7,250
10,813
1, 835
13, 975
178,902
14, 350
18, 700
15, 925
49, 525
28, 250

49, 575
20, 875
176, 635
850
665
3, 725

0

2,000

48,145
22, 935
1, 509, 574
24,907
50, 090
272,081
182,215
19,160
20, 890
21,169
27,593
11,760
34,850
28, 925
21, 760
50,810
13,310
42, 825
42,175
83,345
37,625
59, 757
57,885
49, 890
212,512
75,161
25, 320
30, 622
69, 225
131,785

4
4
2

13

11,0 0 0

4, 945
1,750
21,480
12,510
16, 975
55

7,290
6,490
5, 550
5,100
109,435
875

10, 870
42, 045
22, 204
30, 295
45, 330
214, 840
4, 890

2,775
33,935
28,177
34,177
14, 520
294, 385
5, 935

851, 845

1,187, 766
+39.4

3,052, 350

4, 538,251
+48.7

$12,180
2,600
2,500

$9,845
13,435
148, 500

$29, 843
10,005
5,000

Middle Atlantic States
New Jersey:
B ayonne_______
Belleville_______
Bloomfield
. .
i Applications filed.


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

0

$0,500
140,000

$3,000

0

0
2

0

30

0
1
0

$1, 425
3,450
7,000

1381

HOUSING

T able 10.—E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932—Continued

Middle Atlantic States—Continued
New residential buildings

State and city

Families pro­
vided for in
new dwellings

E stim ated cost

M arch,
1932
N ew Jersey—Contd.
0
C a m d e n __ ____
Clifton_____ _
$50,500
8,000
E ast Orange . . .
E lizabeth ______
31, 000
G a rfie ld _____ _
12, 500
H ackensack, _ _ .
4, 500
0
Hoboken .............
Irvington.
11,0 0 0
45, 500
Jersey C ity . ___
0
K earny. _____
M ontclair___. . .
36,350
N ew ark________
142, 500
New B runsw ick..
0
Orange. ______
10,000
4,500
P a s s a ic ________
P aterso n . ______
17, 500
P e rth A m boy___
0
Plainfield______
76,100
Trenton _____
9,000
U nion C ity . . .
0
0
AVest New York. _
W est O ra n g e ___
41,000
New York:
A lbany . ______
52,800
A m sterdam ____
9, 900
A u b u r n . . ............
0
B ingham ton. . .
10,225
Buffalo _ _____
73,900
E lm ira. . . . . . .
3,350
J a m e s to w n ____
5, 500
Kingston
____
11,800
0
L ockpo rt...
M ount V ernon. .
0
N ew burgh . . .
9, 500
New Rochelle___
30,900
New York C ity—
The Bronx L _ 536,600
B rooklyn 1__
615,800
M an h attan L. 1 , 000,000
Queens *____
965,250
Richm ond L_
69, 215
N iagara Falls. .
19,378
Poughkeepsie___
14,500
R ochester______
54,550
Schenectady. . . .
14, 000
Syracuse. _____
2 1 , 000
T roy___________
0
U tic a .. ______
0
,
AVatertown.. . . .
AVhite Plains___
0
Y onkers________
154,300
Pennsylvania:
A llentow n. ____
30, 000
6.000
Altoona ________
B eth leh e m ... . . .
0
C hester____ ____
0
Easton. _________
0
E rie _______ ____
21,00 0
H arrisb u rg .. . . .
10,800
0
H azleton. . . . . . .
6,000
Johnsto w n _____
L ancaster______
7, 000
0
M cK eesport- . .
N anticoke. ____
5,000
New C astle..........
0
N orristow n. ._ _
0
P hiladelphia____
402,370

0

1 Applications filed.

120148°— 32
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

M arch, April,
1932
1932

April,
1932

0
0

$17, 500
13,000
2, 500
11,0 0 0
0

17,800
45, 200
7, 500
7,000
27,500
5,000
5,000
4,800
19,575
3,600
10 , 000
9,000
0
0

13

0
0

2

0

3

2
1
0

2
1
2
0

4

4
17
0

4
24
0
2
1

5

0
10
1
0
0

24,900

5

139,500
5, 500
8,300
26, 700
63, 540
7,000

7
3
0

3

5
11
1
1

5
1
1
1
6
1
2
2
0
0

N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s ( e s ti­
m ated cost)

M arch,
1932

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

4,865

$81,345
6,825
15,100
9,500
2,075
14, 695

0

200,000

$15,075
3, 225
154,656
17,600
10 ,10 0

8,600
70,360
4,700
4, 450
93, 500
0
2,000
0

11,090
129, 215
9, 775
38,150
500
0

8,090
33,337
3,350
4, 325
278,814
395
177, 480
2,930
18,844
625
1,400
71,515
58,450
0

4

5,035

2, 640

10
2
2

7,000
875
850
3,905
213,819
905
650
2,363

13,100

7

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

6 ,010
6 , 200

7,116
42, 505
4,120
11,075
17,825

April,
1932

$22, 562
59, 675
186, 623
48, 600
24, 200
17,821
15, 990
25, 412
138,085
7,600
49,020
338, 775
8 , 505
18, 643
43, 244
59,152
130,365
98, 297
62,095
18, 212
6, 535
49,410

$81,345
15,155
61,705
22, 500
10,175
39, 630
210,149
36, 440
147,112
1 2 , 800
39, 527
389, 489
22, 056
189, 795
27, 582
107, 280
11,550
17, 528
80, 515
72, 600
13, 575
31,080

116,890
11,775
5, 700
36, 591
333,692
6,438
13,870
18,483

188,335
1 2 , 210
21, 400
110,952
176, 059
45, 933
41,375
43, 520

18
1
2

10
2

16,400

4

0
10 , 000
0

0
0
1

0

3

10,123

68,500

5

0

5

12 ,10 0

109,200

2,830
5,300
61, 758

26,330
43,100
143, 219

30,566
20, 900
140, 074

334, 500
232, 000
250,000
779,800
127,040
11,900

132
151
192
243
29
4

72
54
72
164
30
3

2
8

0
20

53, 200
747, 460
323, 200
216, 589
400, 920
120,310
3,180
150,035
1,275
11,835
21, 535
300
390
3,825
11,275

195, 450
736,355
4,643, 550
697, 643
48, 960
32, 403
5,130
22,899
4,480
12, 650
36, 225
14, 575
1,025
11,900
22,395

1,018,125
1,880,677
1,846, 965
1,416, 093
523, 080
159,181
31,130
293, 325
48,273
94,447
22, 545
8 , 550
1 , 865
12, 225
232,970

769, 880
1,590, 075
5,559, 555
1,939, 919
239, 638
61, 733
20,118
279, 817
50, 806
73,180
129, 660
42, 375
34, 592
29, 243
210, 495

8,825
1,879
2, 250
1,775

1 1 ,1 0 0

50, 460
14, 794
2, 500
1, 775
17, 735
40, 860
47, 850
14, 025
10, 770
188, 760
41,680
5,500
2,135
14, 694
1,028,990

20, 485
21, 774
19,435
5,315
91,695
79, 675
262, 726
58, 369
18, 775
25, 730
30, 794
19, 000
8,365
6,912
3,987, 040

8,000

0

141,800
21,800
45,000
67,340
17, 500
17, 600
7,000
163,200
3,200
0

16,300

0

89,200
28, 050
66, 500
21,609
5, 500
19, 000
5, 000
19,000
0
0

154,435

3
4
0
0
0
0

23
4
4

3
5

4
9
14
3
5
1

33
1
0

5

0
0
0

15

7

6

2
0

13
5

2
0
1
0
0

4

1

89

0

1

1
6
0
0

47

0

11 ,0 1 0

5,710
6,275
3,725
795
177,100
37,375
0

1,835
12,285
424,305

0

14,918
1,710
600
760
27,560
5,845
26,819
3,920
1 , 250
14,345
0

1,990
1,663
3,621, 550

0

0

1382

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T able 1 0 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932—Continued

Middle Atlantic States—Continued
New residential buildings

State and city

E stim ated cost

M arch,
1932
Pennsylvania—Con.
P ittsb u rg h _____
R eading. ______
Scranton_______
W ilkes-Barre___
W ilkinsburg____
W illia m sp o rt___
Y ork............... .
T otal _______
Per cent of change. .

Fam ilies pro­
vided for in
new dwellings
M arch, April,
1932
1932

April,
1932

$84,800
75,000
13,100
6, 700
5,000

$67,900
60,000
16,500

21

15
5

12

0

2,000

0

2
1
1
1

0
1
0
6

7,000

1,800

33, 200

4,995,488

3,416,189
-3 1 .6

1,109

18
5

New nonresidential
b u ild in g s ( e s ti­
m ated cost)

M arch,
1932

$73, 270
9,825
6,560
2, 790
1,2 0 0

640
3,250

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

April,
1932

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

$56,919

$309,447
108, 950
39,845
21,625
6 ,557
15, 380
28,061

$241,458
85,310
370,843
31,435
10,075
35,186
43,923

8 ,2 10

309, 963
4, 755
250
18,376
3,236

729 3,814, 569 11,808,233 11,958,533 19,021,166
+209. 6
-3 4 .3
+59.1

East North Central States
Illinois:
A lton__________
A urora_________
Belleville—...........
B erw yn________
Bloomington____
Chicago________
Cicero__________
D anville_______
D ecatur________
E ast St. Louis__
E lg in ____ ____
E v a n sto n _______
G ranite C ity ____
Joliet____ ______
M ayw ood.............
M oline_________
Oak P a rk ______
Peoria__________
Q uincy..............
Rockford_______
Rock Islan d____
Springfield______
W au k e g a n ..........
Indiana:
E ast Chicago___
E lk h a rt________
E v ansville______
F o rt W ay n e.........
G ary_____ _____
H am m o n d ______
Indianapolis____
K okom o................
L afayette.......... .
M ario n _________
M ichigan C ity ...
M ishaw aka_____
M uncie________
R ichm ond______
South B end_____
Terre H a u te .........
M ichigan:
A nn A rbor_____
B attle C reek____
B ay C ity ..............
D earborn_______
D e tro it..................
F lin t___________
G rand R ap id s__
H am tram ck____
H ighland P a rk ...
J a c k s o n ...............


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

$7, 500
7,900
19, 200
0

4,000
176, 000
7,000
7, 767
6,000

14, 250
0
0
0
0
0

$10 , 880
16, 505
28, 600
0

6, 000
136, 900
0

22, 300
7,000
2 , 600
11, 500
0
0
0

36,800
3,000

0

4, 800
3,150
10,400
37, 000
12, 500

0

0

9,000

3,000
8,059
2,000

0

3, 500
8,000

4, 950
5,000
1,000

89, 550
0

7,600

0

2,800

0
1,000
0

13, 000
2,000
1 2 , 600
0

5,000
23, 900
131, 300

15, 350
44, 500
19, 000
0

3

$2,875

6
11
0
1

1,10 0

30

30

250
659
65,000
398,025

1
1
1

0

0

4
0
0
0
0
0
2
0

9

1
0
1
2
1

0

0
1
2
1
2
1
20
0

0
0

0
1
0
1
0

9, 450
6,500
0
0

800
74, 650
4,450
1, 750
25,400
2, 650

3

13
2
1

3
0
0
0
1
2
2

9
3
0
6

15
3
0

4
3
0
0
1

18
0
2
2

5

3

1
0
0
1

1

3

4,000

3

0

0
2
6

1
0

7,000
9, 900

7, 800

18, 000
42,000
690, 384
1,244
25, 500

0
0
0

0
0
0

0

2
1
6
0
1

5

6

28

44

0
2
0
0
0

0
0
0

1

5

1,850
12,975
2, 850
720
2,000
0

14,000
150
165
8, 775
13, 300
350
534, 750
1, 225
3,109
500
0

625
7, 061
50, 800
1,360
1,250
161, 000
1,085
0

3, 500
1,835
275
490
200

1,405
3, 500
135,190
1,300
1,105
3,885
3, 345, 620
3,021
55, 980
250
6,150
9,891

$600
11, 798
0

3, 339
2,000

348, 565
1,450
1,300
8, 205
5,350
3, 250
6, 500
0
200

$17,886
14, 755
20 , 600
5,294
71,000
893, 716
7,875
20, 427
32,450
22,860
9, 349
82, 500
0

$20, 380
32, 608
31,200
6 , 719
17, 000
653,031
4, 550
28, 943
17, 450
11, 760
30, 221
74, 500
0

130, 350
6, 665
11, 250
9,143
1, 525
22, 966
2,105
2,725
13, 500

18, 200
2,090
13, 542
16,150
59, 551
3, 350
539, 500
8, 247
33, 789
3,000

14, 400
143, 572
19, 250
26,125
61,143
14, 660
30,136
26,170
208, 693
35, 750

30,150
3,025
13,488
21,040
525
7,135
33, 250
2,065
17,000
915
300
383
33, 442
1,800
5,795
443, 230

2,700
7,105
34,988
69, 799
6, 360
6,050
325, 951
1, 525
8,600
4, 810
5, 360
8,325
6,811
3, 200
19, 285
14, 642

35, 535
14, 971
45, 678
50, 851
2,125
9, 365
158, 401
3,167
21,450
6 , 732
27,085
4,133
37,125
6, 700
25, 045
459,373

5,545
3,975
12, 665
2. 650
501, 568
7,964
975, 885

151, 831
8 , 825
9, 730
35, 335
3, 651, 652
19, 761
70, 995
2. 850
9.190
10, 991

75, 821
10, 795
38, 725
55,185
1,406, 919
34,108
1,019, 755
3, 765
2, 970
9, 372

0

535
1,802

1383

HOUSING

T able 1 0 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST O P B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932—C ontinued

East North Central States—Continued
N ew residential buildings

S tate and city

E stim ated cost

M arch,
1932
M ichigan—Contd.
K alam azoo...
L a n s in g ..............
M uskegon______
Royal O ak_____
Saginaw ________
W yandotte...........
Ohio:
A kron__________
A shtabu la______
C anton ..................
C in c in n a ti..____
Cleveland______
ClevelandHeights
C olum bus______
D ay to n ________
E ast C lev elan d ..
E ly ria _________
H am ilton_______
Lakewood______
L im a .....................
L orain_________
M ansfield______
M arion_________
M assillon_______
M iddletow n____
N orw ood______
Portsm outh____
Springfield_____
Steubenville.
Toledo_________
W arren. ______
Y oungstow n____
Wisconsin:
A ppleton_____ .
E au Claire______
Fond du L ac___
Green B a y _____
K enosha_____ _
M adison...... .........
M ilw aukee_____
Oshkosh________
Racine-------------Sheboygan_____
Superior _____
W est Allis _____

Fam ilies pro­
vided for in
new dwellings

$22,000
5. 000
1,900
0

11, 865

April,
1932

M arch, A pril,
1932
1932

$4, 000
2,700
2 , 800
1,000
10 ,100

0

12, 950

15,000

7,400
2,500
4, 800
233, 650
125,100
44, 200
41, 800
14, 800

0
0

290,495
242, 500
27, 380
34, 000
49, 000
0
0
6,100

46, 200
4,000
0
8,000
0
0
0
0
0

0

5
1
1
0

3
0

4
3

2
0
0

6
1
2

61
46
3

7
4

0

37

0
0

1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

0
0

5, 000
0
0
0

14, 500
6, 600
26,750

28, 500

5

0
0

0
11,0 0 0

0
0

15, 200
7,500
2,300
2,900

13,100
13,000
7,200
31,900
3,000
38,600
104,750
3,100
38,000
28,100

4
4

0
12,000

70,400
3,500
0

5,200
0

0

5,300

3,000

T o ta l. . . . . . . 1,566,066
Per cent of change.

2,178,313
+39.1

6
0
1
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
6
0
2

16,000
9,000
1,500

41
23

6

9
0
0
2

3,100

2
1
2
1

3
2

1
2
0
2

18
1
0
1
0
1

362

3
5
3
12
1
11
22

3

N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti­
m ated cost)

M arch,
1932

$5, 060
4,125
250
3, 400
38,469
200

66,312
12,125
755
279, 670
36, 400
1, 575
17,000
21,860
2, 750
225
750
6, 870
5,250
1,400
2 , 600
20, 450
20

1 , 600
5. 500
1,10 0

4, 500
0

0
1

396
+ 9 .4

M arch,
1932

$1, 769
7,800
0

445
4,104
970
189, 515
8,400
268,985
185,932
42, 275
6, 225
68,100

47, 278
17, 520
58, 545
2,085
48,105
1, 545
900
3,695
660
789
1.450
7,000
2, 270
1, 331
8 ,100

April,
1932

$31, 912
10, 525
3,915
5,375
62. 769
7,975

$15, 634
22, 295
2,800
2, 540
27, 259
16, 655

101, 587
17, 600
1,680
644, 045
500, 700
30, 630
80, 000
89, 565
4,420
900
12, 295
56,905

207,485
14, 740
278, 950
469, 597
512, 850
55,170
211,650
84, 512
18, 295
65, 560
10, 230
74. 545
4,925
1,585
15, 271
2,310
939
4, 976
12, 995
3,820
2,396
9,590
62,056
3,780
26,180

12,0 20

1,600
11, 450
20,895
1, 300
14,148
6, 215
6, 375
20, 230
7,350
50, 970
3,545
11,800

9,870
140
3,225

11,813
1,380
5,585

655
5,700
160
8,925
250

5,190
2,050
1,550
87, 685
1,495
10, 535
235,749
2,995
925
6,250
104, 309
2, 575

24,655
17, 000
3,700
15,855
5, 090
45,115
195,624

4,184,797
-23. 4

8,590,706

$450
16,008
2 , 600
7,823

$1,025
38,696
25,900
394, 504
84,065
18,084
10, 500
69,025
33,605

44,069
118,672
26,354
21, 850
36, 550
45,940

18, 660
21,230
75,183
27,751

18,395
22, 705
30, 550
65,168

2,200

27,845
3,718

1

4

April,
1932

Total construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

0

705
620
495
5,466,130

8,668

7,605
14, 211
21,860
8,825

25, 011
16, 920
11, 650
124,760
7, 565
66,335
484, 565
12,148
45,695
50,698
107,549
19, 685
8,286,583
—3 5

West North Central States
Iowa:

B urlington____
Cedar R ap id s..
Council B luffs.
D avenport____
Des M oines___
D u buqu e_____
O ttum w a_____
Sioux C ity ........
W aterloo............
Kansas:
H utchinson___
Kansas C ity __
T opeka..............
W ichita.............

0

$20,550
6,500
3,300
37,400
10,000
0

17,300
6,000

14,000
9,100
56,400
12,500


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

$2,500
16,850
6,000

13,600
70,700
14,200
15,000
26,900
17,100
10,000

10,950
19,800
27,700

0
6
2
1
10
1
0

5
1

6
11

16
3

5

$450
4,630
4,400
382,473
4, 535
1,515

2
10
11

50,375
1,145

2

7
2

5
22

4
8
6

7

0

520
9,880
13,820
4, 546

2 2 ,1 2 2

3,643
4,850
7,935
18,390
5,225
5, 680
6, 500

26,745

$5,450
72, 419
2 1 , 600

1384

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T abi .e 1 0 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932—C ontinued

West North Central States—Continued
New residential buildings

State and city

E stim ated cost

M arch,
1932
M innesota:
D u lu th _____
M inneapolisSt. P a u l-_______
M issouri:
Joplin---- ----------Kansas C ity .........
Springfield
-.
St. J o s e p h _____
St. Louis_______
Nebraska:
L i n c o l n ..--------O m a h a _____. . .
N o rth D akota: Fargo.
South D akota: Sioux
Falls___________
T otal

----------

Fam ilies pro­
vided for in
new dwellings
M arch, April,
1932
1932

A pril,
1932

N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti­
m ated cost)

M arch,
1932

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

April,
1932

$10,500
113,325
101,400

$12,000
189,650
119,988

3
31

5
44

21

20

$6,475
117,523
256,209

$23,485
98,615
438,356

$56,038
340,998
470,986

$63,615
380,525
700, 083

75,000
1,400
3,750
311,650

0

5,000
60, 500
12, 500
13,000
252, 700

0
21
2

4
18
4
4
67

2 , 225
10,800
4, 525
1,060
119,350

800
339,800
3,750
9,745
53,176

9,025
107, 000
21, 525
19,160
519,277

10,750
443, 500
32,726
30,867
443,481

6,600
. 73,050

8,900
111,650
12,950

4
18

5
27
3

18,702
18, 230
3,825

3,665
178,448
1,995

42, 303
129,160
4,125

43,085
306,368
29,795

0

3
75

0

26,375

29,060

4

11

28,250

94,435

54,625

124,620

916,100

1,079,198
+17. 8

244

303
+24.2

1,065,463

1,374,241
+29.0

2,592,450

3,139,137
+ 2 1 .1

South Atlantic States
Delaware:
W ilm ington____
D istrict of Columbia:
W ashington ___
Florida:
Jacksonville____
M iam i_________
O rla n d o _______
Pensacola_______
St. Petersburg _.
T am p a............... .
Georgia:
A tla n ta ____ ____
A ugusta________
C olum bus______
M acon...... ..........
M aryland:
B altim ore_____
C um berland____
H agerstow n____
N o rth Carolina:
Asheville_______
C h a rlo tte ......... .
D u rh a m ________
G reen sb o ro ____
H igh P o in t_____
R aleigh_______
W ilm ington.. . .
W inston-Salem ...
South Carolina:
C h a rle sto n _____
C olum bia______
G reenville...
S p artan b u rg -. . .
Virginia:
N ew port N e w s...
N orfolk________
Petersburg_____
Portsm outh____
R ichm ond______
R oanoke. .............


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

$8,800

$20, 000

1

4

$ 10 , 110

$6, 698

$35,229

$62,219

983, 900

537, 250

168

90

648, 905

4, 440, 875

1, 800, 687

5,195, 747

29, 700
25, 500

40, 900
10, 190

14

13
6
0
2

17, 045
10, 525
400
2, 300
3,100
4,940

88, 050

0

12
0

3,920
254, 966

0

60, 681
10, 900
115, 044
36, 700
30,152

90, 385
305, 357
4,920
7,570
16,900
47,353

341, 576
400
1,265
318,148

19,505
500
60,150

455, 544
17, 642
4,310
331, 275

154, 271
34,064
13, 431
93, 200

419, 300
9,475
708

1, 391,700
5,655
5, 010

1, 041, 800
20, 825
708

2,046, 800
7, 605
10, 785

1, 590
588

3, 440
5, 943
190
3,100
21, 130

3, 471
94, 733
64, 430
13, 580
236, 825
6, 352
11, 750
26, 464

10, 480
26, 517
31, 350
11, 237
14, 643
21, 999
9, 450
39,125

62, 137
2, 500
1, 900

0

775
14, 595
1,050
950

9,749
86, 561
27,445
5, 122

32,167
76, 847
12 , 660
6,410

1,229
54, 688
460
1,790
9,540
6,247

2, 017
229, 420
700
1 , 120
9, 905
695

18, 623
181, 945
12, 345
25, 442
91, 233
34, 300

25,889
347,495
8, 550
15, 387
110, 190
44,023

6, 075
20, 900
1 , 100

3, 400
3,700
16, 300

5
3
4

6

61, 950
12, 571
500
1, 650

57,800
3,600
3, 000
16, 000

31
7

23
3

1
2

1
1

189, 000
8, 200

1 1 2 , 000
1 . 200

49
4

24

4,500

0

0

0
10

0
0

49, 500
9,110
1,800

14, 600
19, 300
0

9
1
0
0
1
2

5

2
1
0

4
8
0

3

0
0

8 , 700
10, 350

2, 500
8, 700

2,000
8, 650

3, 750
14, 900
6, 000

15, 350
15, 125
3, 800
1,600

3
9
2
0

4

16, 200
94, 800
1 , 000
7, 800
51, 850
32, 130

5

5
25

0
1 1 , 200

75, 700
8, 485
17, 650
64, 050
19, 743

22
2
6

16
5

6

3
5
3
10
1

1

3
21

4

236
35,460
31, 500
1, 940
236, 025
2 , 202
300
4,675

0

4,170
6,700
11, 900
0

6, 700

1385

HOUSING

T able 1 0 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R WHICH P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932—Continued

South Atlantic States—Continued
N ew residential buildings

State and city

E stim ated cost

M arch,
1932
W est Virginia:
C harleston_____
( 'larksburg_____
H u n tin g to n _____
Parkersburg____
W heeling_______

Fam ilies pro­
vided for in
new dwellings

April,
1932

M arch, April,
1932
1932

$15,100

$45, 500

4

0

1,200
8, 275

0

12
1

3

3

5, 700
5, 750
5, 000

4, 000
2,650

2

1

3

3

T o ta l___ _____ 1, 674, 484
Per cent of ch an g e-..

1, 194, 720
-28. 7

406

307
-2 4 .4

New nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti­
m ated cost)

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

M arch,
1932

A pril,
1932

$6, 350
700
2, 263
425
3, 400

$123, 397
1, 320
7, 470
940
15, 900

$29, 065
3,545
13, 238
8, 015
17, 200

$182, 639
6, 220
37, 928
6, 805
44, 574

2, 254,164

6,664, 684
+195. 7

5, 070, 980

9, 213, 222
+81.7

South Central Stales
A labam a:
B irm ingham ____
M obile____ ____
M ontgom ery___
A rkansas:
L ittle R o ck ------K entucky:
C ovington______
Lexington____
Louisville_____
N ew port ______
P a d u c ah _______
Louisiana:
B aton R ouge___
M onroe
N ew Orleans____
S hreveport_____
M ississippi:
Jackson ________
O klahoma:
E n id . ______ . .
O klahoma C ity ..
O k m u lg e e _____
T u lsa . ........ .........
Tennessee:
C h a tta n o o g a ___
Johnson C ity ___
K noxville. _____
M e m p h is.. ____
N ashville_______
Texas:
A m arillo_____
A u s tin ... . .
B eaum ont ._ . . .
D a lla s _________
El P aso________
Fort W o r t h . ___
G alveston______
H o u sto n ___ _
San Angelo__
San Antonio _
W aco__________
W ichita F alls___
T o ta l. . . ____
Per cent of change__

$5, 000
7, 200
(2)

$3, 600
6 , 500
21, 290

1,000

2, 375

1

8,000

0

2
2

3, 000
74, 750
0
0

8,639
0

1
6
(0

$22 , 200
9, 975
770,179

•
$54, 370
16, 400
26, 950

$61,800
25,202
770,179

$85,2
40, 7
61,8

3

725

4,004

43,477

20,4

950
2,183
7,450

1,000

7,3
30, 2
390; 1
7, 2
9(

5
8
10

0

0
0

0
2
12
1
0

4, 600

4

5

4, 750
58, 000
4,800

0

13

0

0

0

15, 600
295,986
800

4,000

0

18,950
30, 039
119,845
600
4,150

2, 389
4, 600
43, 275
1,490

309,128
22, 750
309, 778
5, 545

32,632
8, 825
131, 314
35, 616

329,1
27, 7
452,8
48, 2

38, 750
18, 650

90, 536
17, 300

24

31

11

11

11,0 0 0

23, 600

5

6

0

0

18, 625

38,6

4,000
59, 500

1,750
90, 000

2

19

2

18

11, 300
1, 728,225

0

17, 575

0
8

0

7

0

13, 585

0

51,853

17, 300
1,802,175
3,350
54,395

4, 9
566,1

28,150

0

235
447,875

6, 350
8,000

3,000

2
2
6

2
0

42, 400

5, 330
450
38,112
31, 720
14, 730

84, 619

35,3

8,000

8(
64, 0<
162, 2‘

0

21,920
24,180
36, 200

15, 960
28, 600
78, 550

14
15

33

12, 850
30, 300

8 , 535

5

50, 485

1,000

0

20
1

13
27

96, 550
8,400
70, 500
17, 750
179, 400
1,500
37, 468
17, 900

55, 694
6, 650
47, 500
41,300
145, 730

64

0

1

50,865
7,000

0

46
3
34

35

10

16
61

2
21

0

27

31

6
0

386
+ 7 .5

0

0

11
0

837, 907

886, 545

359

+ 5 .8

7

11

0

13, 970
44, 850
8 , 555
23,045
444, 853
32, 540
45, 565
42, 015
20 , 600
299,828
162,100
7,875
421, 875
6, 265
8,811

18,815
506,174
20, 735
330, 060
4, 585
33, 900
17,132
167, 350

4, 247, 673

2,942,421
—30 7

0

184, 681
2,533
3,840

41,940
143,260
64, 339
43, 965
495, 634
45, 687
218, 038
55, 074
124, 800
356, 722
368, 900
14, 300
501,174
35,132
20,694
5,800, 752

77,’"8

110 ,8

33,9
566,4
37,5
465, 6<
24, 7,
127,9(
69, 2i
333, 7i
19, 0i
254,114, 9f
8 , SC
4, 519, 2
- 22 .

2 Building inspector’s records for M arch destroyed b y fire. T he nonresidential building shown is a
post-office building, contract for w hich was aw arded by the Supervising A rchitect of the Treasury D ep art­
m ent.


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

1386

MONTHLY LABOE REV IEW

T able 1 0 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932—C ontinued

Mountain and Pacific States
N ew residential buildings
Fam ilies pro­
vided for in
new dwellings

E stim ated cost

S tate and city

M arch,
1932
Arizona:
Phoenix________
Tucson_________
California:
A lam eda_______
A lh a m b ra ______
Bakersfield.—
Berkeley_______
Fresno_________
G lendale--. _ . . .
H untin g to n P ark .
Long B each.. __
Los A n g e les____
O akland_______
P asad en a_____ R iverside. _____
S a c ra m e n to .___
San D iego. ____
San Francisco___
San Jose.
...
Santa A n a ______
Santa B arb ara__
Santa M onica___
Stockton_______
Vallejo_________
Colorado:
Colorado Springs.
D enver . . . . . .
Pueblo_________
M ontana:
B u tte . . .- . . .
G reat Falls_____
N ew Mexico:
A lbuquerque___
Oregon:
P ortland . . . .
Salem . . . ____
U tah:
A lgden..________
Salt Lake C ity _ ..
W ashington:
Bellingham . . . _
E v e re tt_____ _.
Seattle_________
Spokane________
Tacom a. ______

April,
1932

M arch, April,
1932
1932

T otal construction,
including altera­
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)

N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s ( e s ti­
m ated cost)

M arch,
1932

A pril,
1932

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

$18, 500
15,400

$30,150
24,400

3
5

7
7

$10 ,10 0
13,165

$27,090
4,557

$53,955
36,704

$91,750
56,695

18,600
42,650
4,300
30,500
35,700
135,850
35,100
90,400
953,757
109,950
10,250
5,000
33,200
87,225
577, 525
34, 550
19, 500
49,750
61,975
41,200
11,300

3,850
34,000
5,700
28,050
16,100
50, 590
4,500
117,885
692,990
85, 826
40,070
13, 500
99, 932
89, 675
448, 000
9,000
8,800
16,750
52, 000
22, 300
5,400

5
16

1
11
1
8
6
12

1,325
16,725
8,823
2,260
276,750
20,290
3,100
96,765
1,989,808
36,573
7,978
7,691
884,775
31,775 .
323,769
40,970
2,700
8,370
20,320
11,980
12,235

17,640
5, 225
4,550
50,812
17,510
34,180
50,330
527, 320
35,075
43, 228
1,290
11, 420
113,575
407,005
2,965
24,199
1,040
15,775
120, 504
13,977

28,828
64,450
22,838
46,397
335,187
163, 640
43, 675
231, 665
3,486, 622
210,104
51, 784
22,887
1, 015, 517
177, 695
1,071,250
96, 305
27', 972
77,508
87', 279
63,231
27,680

29,408
42; 725
24,820
107', 267
49,099
9L 320
4, 500
213, 925
1,531,814
183,920
111, 427
22,059
172, 056
244,618
1,037,012
23,245
38,959
28,735
78,820
176,129

8,250
163, 500
5, 500

1,000

53,200
4,110

1,945
40,475
1,795

33,807
271,650
18, 545

47,355
269; 855
11, 052

0
2,000

5,100

1,400
400

9,670
4,795

1,895
4,650

10, 530
19,545

2

7
14
29
13
32
372
33
2
2

14
30
174

3
46
246
27
11

3
19
32
114

11

2
2

5
16
25

7
29

10

12

3

3

38,950
167,100
1,800

3
35
3

8

0

0
1

41
1
0

4

0

2 1,2 0 0

21, 500

24, 550

5

6

8,125

1,775

39,190

47,376

128,150
5,600

87, 630
0

29
3

20
0

158,980
440

242,630
13,025

375,190
10,849

404, 395
43,735

5,000
15,900

1,250
24,800

1
6

2

5

1,150
5,090

1,600
15,907

7,450
33,965

10,600
71,222

8,500
0

4,600
0

12
0

63,025
41,750
26, 500

64, 575
68,050
30,000

35
15
14

T o ta l..
___ 2,917,357
Per cent of change.

2,417,873
-1 7 .1

985

2
0

0

21
12

3,515
48, 440
10, 555
9,195

1,495
81,880
25,280
15,145

9, 695
9,700
202, 635
89; 195
50i 755

28, 325
e ;8 i 8
240; 645
119; 980
58; 765

766

4,134,047

1,986, 684
—51.9

8,602,344

5,771,701
-3 2 .9

35

1- .

22 2

200

New T ype of M odern L ow -C ost H ou sin g

HE Constructor^ a publication of the Associated General Con­
tractors of America, in its April issue contains an article under
the heading “ Revolutionary Type of Modern Housing to Sell Below
$2,000.” According to this article, designs for modern high-type
housing^which, including the land, can be sold profitably at a maxi­
mum price of $2,000 for approximately 1,000 square feet of floor space,
have been perfected by the Allied Construction Industries Standard­
ized House Conference of Los Angeles.
This organization is composed of outstanding architects, structural
and mechanical engineers, and production executives, who have been

T


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

HOUSING

1387

working on the problem of producing such housing for several years.
At the present time the major technical and production problems
appear to have been solved, according to a statement by Zara Witkin,
chief engineer of the Herbert M. Baruch Corporation of Los Angeles,
and chairman of the conference.
The plans developed call for factory-made units of wall sections,
flexible in design and appearance and suitable for application in both
detached houses and in large-scale apartment construction.
This new type of housing, as described by Mr. Witkin, is designed
with hollow walls and framed with standard 3 and 4 inch I-beams.
The webs of the steel are punched with elliptical holes through which
pipes, conduits, and other mechanical service devices are passed.
The steel framing is designed on new lines which constitute a con­
siderable departure from traditional designs based on wood framing.
The steel is fabricated at factory plants in room-side units with door
and window frames hung before shipment and with piping and con­
duits inserted in place in the framing.
The exterior of the structure consists of high strength, reinforced
concrete masonry plates which are rolled of dense concrete on steel
beds. The plates are provided with color and texture and may range
in thickness from % inch to 1% inches. They may be made selfinsulating through use of Haydite aggregate or be backed with special
insulating material. In general, the exterior masonry plates are
about one-quarter of a story in height and span across two steel
upright members, being about 8 feet in length. All plates are tongued
and grooved all around.
A special system of attaching the plates to the steel framing has
been devised which constitutes an essential feature of the entire
system. Several alternate fastening devices have also been worked
out.
Interior plates are of gypsum or concrete masonry. They are cast
or rolled up to room height and a few standard sizes take care of all
requirements. All joints between floor and wall, wall to wall, and
between wall and ceiling are coved. Ceilings are also of gypsum
plate attached to special steel truss joists designed with continuous
depth between chords. Roof deck is of lK inch rolled concrete plate
with waterproofed surface.
Detached houses are designed with rooms all on one floor and with
the roof arranged for use as a sun garden or sleeping porch. The
basement is eliminated, the first floor being of concrete poured directly
on bituminized insulation carried direct on the ground. The com­
plete and thorough water-proofing of the floor slab and its insulation
successfully provides against damp or cold floors, in this respect the
house being like a ship, thoroughly isolated from the elements.
Designs for wall covering and other decorative material have been
worked out far beyond current practice as to range of choice, serv­
iceability, and economy. Another feature of the design having a
great effect on economy consists of the unification of mechanical
facilities for the mechanical service room, bathroom, and kitchen,
which are designed as a concentrated unified group. Both detached
and multiple housing can be erected of these standard units with­
out there being any close similarity in appearance or shape, it is
claimed. Monotonous similarity will therefore be avoided.

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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages an d H ours of Labor in G asolin e F illin g S ta tio n s, 1931

ILLING-STATION employees earned an average of 39.3 cents
per hour and $23.39 in a representative week during the months
of April to July in 1931, as shown by a study made by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics covering 2,960 employees of 736 filling stations in 43
representative cities.1 These employees worked, on an average, 6.5
days during^ the week (counting as a day each whole or part day
worked). The full-time hours per week for the employees covered in
the study averaged 60, while the time actually worked averaged 59.5
hours, or 99.2 per cent of full time. At full time, the weekly earnings
averaged $23.58.
These data are shown in Table 1, as are also averages for 8 of the
most important occupations in the industry and for a group, designated as “ other employees,” including the employees in occupations
in which the number of employees was too small to warrant separate
occupational tabulation. The averages in this and other tables in
this report are for males only; but 8 females were employed at the
136 stations included in the study. There were 198 Negroes, em­
ployed mostly by stations in cities in Southern States and working
principally as car washers, greasers, or tire men. Operators and oper­
ators’ helpers were the most important occupations, in point of num­
bers employed, forming approximately 75 per cent of the total number
of employees.
The fewest days (5.3) in one week were worked by relief men, and
the largest number of days (6.9) by porters.
Average full-time hours per week in the various occupations ranged
from 48.3 for relief men to 67.9 for tire men, while hours actually
worked ranged from 46.6 for relief men to 67.8 for tire men.
The figures in the column headed “ Per cent of full time worked in
week show that car washers worked a smaller per cent of average
full-time hours per week (92.5) than the employees in any other occu­
pation in the table. Average hours in excess of full time are shown
for porters and for operators. _ Although some employees in these
occupations worked only part time, others worked overtime, and the
overtime more than counterbalanced the time lost.
The average earnings per hour ranged from 19.3 cents for porters to
63.1 cents for managers; full-time earnings per week ranged from
$12.56 for porters to $36.16 for managers; and actual earnings in one
week ranged from $12.65 for porters to $36.09 for managers.
In addition to earnings at regular basic wage rates, employees at a
few stations had other earnings or income, or were given certain advan­
tages or privileges, but data as to the amounts involved were not of
record. Jhese amounts, however, were probably small and so would

F

1 More detailed inform ation w ill be published later in b ulletin form.

1388

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1389

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

not have affected the averages materially. It was reported at one
station that extra money was received for tire-patching jobs. Em­
ployees of another station could have three meals a day without
expense to them at a hotel owned by the employing company. The
operator at a third station obtained his living quarters at the nominal
rental of $10 per month. At other stations employees could buy
gasoline and oil for their own use at a discount.
The study included filling-station employees in 2 cities in each of 8
States and in 1 city in each of 26 States and in the District of Columbia.
(See Table 2, p. 1390.) In 1 city data were obtained for 9 filling
stations; in each of 4 cities, 14 stations; in each of 2 cities, 15 stations;
in each of 11 cities, 16 stations; in 1 city, 17 stations; in each of 16
cities, 18 stations; and in each of 8 cities, 20 stations. A greater
number of stations and employees was covered in large than in small
cities.
Data were obtained as to the individual hours of labor and earnings
of employees for a representative pay-roll period (one week, nine
days, a half month, or one month) during April, May, June, or July,
1931; the average hours and earnings, therefore, are as of those
months. The wage figures for the stations with a pay period of more
than one week were recomputed so that averages for all employees
covered in the study could be shown on a uniform basis of one week.
The principal business of a filling station is the selling of gasoline
and lubricating oil. Tire service, the washing and greasing of cars,
the sale of accessories and supplies, and the minor adjustment or
repair of cars are generally incidental. In selecting stations for
inclusion in the report, the effort was made to include only typical
idling stations in each city. Some of the 736 stations included were
privately owned and operated; some belonged to small companies
with a group of stations in one city; and others were those of large
refining companies operating stations in practically all the large cities
in the United States. In this report the stations of 239 different
companies are represented.
T able 1.— A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S OF F IL L IN G -S T A T IO N E M P L O Y E E S IN
1931, B Y O C C U P A T IO N

O ccupation

C ar w ashers-- _____ __ _____
Greasers
- - -_ _____
M a n a g e rs ___ _
_________
O perators___ ____
O perators’ helpers-- _ ______
P o rters.
_______ .
Relief m en______
T ire men ____
O ther employees- . .
.
T o tal_____ ____________


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N um ­
ber
of
sta­
tions

A ver­ AverN u m ­ nage
age
um ­
fullber of ber
of
em­
tim
e
days
ploy­ worked
hours
ees
per
in 1
week
week

151
280

61.9
59.6
57.2
61.3
57.2
65.7
46.6
67. 8
58.5

92. 5
99.5
99.8
100. 5
99.1
100. 9
96. 5
99.9
97.5

$0. 248
. 393
.631
.441
. 362
. 193
.409
.300
.404

$16. 59
23. 54
36.16
26. 90
20. 89
12. 56
19. 75
20. 37
24. 24

$15. 36
23.41
36. 09
27.01
20. 71
12. 65
19. 07
20. 36
23. 65

59.5

99.2

.393

23. 58

23. 39

. 6.4

736

2 , £60

6.5

60.0

6.6

6.6

Aver­
age
actual
earn­
ings
in 1
week

66. 9

1,182
1,039
72
52
56
60

6.4
6.9
5.3

A ver­
age
full­
tim e
earn­
ings
per
week

Per
cent of
full
time

59.9
57.3
61.0
57. 7
65.1
48.3
67.9
60.0

6.5
6.4
6.4

Aver­
age
earn­
ings
per
hour

A ver­
age
num ­
ber

84
164
60
683
475
55
51
35
28

68

H ours actually
worked in 1
week

1390

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Average Hours and Earnings, by Cities
T a b l e 2 shows, for each of 43 cities, the average days, hours, and
earnings of the 2,960 employees included in the study.
The number of stations covered ranged from 9 in Burlington, Vt.,
to 20 each in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland,
Detroit, St. Louis, and New York. The number of employees ranged
from 23 in Burlington to 151 in Chicago.
Average full-time hours per week ranged, by cities, from a low of
51.8 to a high of 72.7, the average for all cities combined being 60 per
week.
Average hours actually worked in one week ranged in the various
cities from 51.3 to 72.7, while the average for all cities combined was
59.5. The per cent of full time actually worked in one week ranged
from 94.0 to 101.9. In 14 cities the percentage of full time worked
was over 100, showing that there was considerable overtime work
in this industry.
Average earnings per hour ranged by cities from 22.6 to 60.3 cents,
while the average for all cities combined was 39.3 cents.
Average full-time earnings per week ranged by cities from $15.82 to
$32.92 and for all cities combined averaged $23.58, while average
actual earnings ranged from $15.82 to $30.94, with a general average
of $23.39.
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S O F F IL L IN G -S T A T IO N E M P L O Y E E S IN
1931, BY C IT Y

A ver­
u m ­ age
N u m ­ Nber
num
ber
ber
days
of sta­ of em­ woforked
tions ployees
in 1
week

City

Altoona, Pa ,
_____________
Philadelphia, P a ____ _____________

20

16

69
95

6.3
6.3

Hours actuA ver­
A ver­ ally w orked A ver­ age
in 1 veek
full­
age
age
tim e
full­
earn­ earn­
tim e
ings
ings
hours A ver­ Per
per
per
cent hour
age
per
week
week num ­ of full
ber
tim e
53.7
53.9

53. 5
53.2

99.6 $0. 388 $20.84
98. 7 .418 22. 53

Aver­
age
actual
earn­
ings
in 1
week

$20.74
22. 27

36

164

6.3

53.8

53.3

99. 1

.405

21.79

_______

18

100

6.7

64.6

60.7

94.0

.285

18.41

17. 30

_________ ____
_____________

16
18

53
85

6 .8

6.7

62. 3
57.3

62. 7
57.3

10 0.6
10 0.0

.335
.351

20. 87

2 1.0 2
2 0 .1 1

A ustin and H ouston, __ , ,

34

138

6. 7

59.2

59.4

100.3

.345

20. 42

20. 47

Baltimore, M d
Birm ingham , Ala________ _ _ ___ ,_

20

123
67

6 .2

6.9

56.4
64.4

56.4
64.4

10 0.0
100. 0

.438
.284

24.70
18. 29

24.70
18. 29

Boston, M ass,
Holyoke, M ass

20

14

94
41

6.5
6.7

55.3
59. 9

55. 2
60.8

99.8
101.5

.491
.457

27. 15
27. 37

27.11
27. 77

_

34

135

6 .6

56. 7

56.9

100.4

.480

27. 22

27.31

23
58
57

6.3
6.5

6.6

65. 1
62.4
68.4

64.9
62.4
67. 5

99. 7

_____
_ ___

9
16
16

10 0.0

98.7

.315
.354
.296

20. 51
22.09
20. 25

20.45
22.09
20 . 01

20

16

151
50

6.4
6.7

54. 6
63. 7

51.3
63.2

94.0
99.2

.603
.392

32. 92
24.97

30.94
24. 75

Chicago and D anville___

36

201

6.4

56.9

54.2

95.3

.542

30.84

29.40

Cleveland, O h io ,--..........- ______ .
H am ilton, O hio,
_ _ _ ______

20

16

96
47

6. 5
6 .8

57.9
56.6

57. 2
56. 6

98.8
10 0.0

.470
.413

27. 21
23. 38

26.91
23.38

36

143

6.6

57.5

57.0

99.1

.451

25. 93

25. 74

Altoona and Philadelphia _ , , ,
A tlanta, Ga , ,
A ustin, T e x ____ ,
H ouston, Tex_____

,

_

_____

Boston and H olyoke . . .
B urlington, V t ________
Charleston, S. C ________ _
C harlotte, N . C ____ __ _ _
Chicago, 111
D anville, 111_____

, ...

. _____

Cleveland and H am ilto n ___


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

18

2 0 .1 1

21.63

1391

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 2 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S OF F IL L IN G -S T A T IO N E M P L O Y E E S IN
1931, BY C IT Y —C ontinued

A ver­
um ­ age
N um ­ Nber
ber
ber of em- num
of days
of sta­
w orked
tions ployees
in 1
week

City

Des M oines, Iow a ________________
D etroit, M ich ______ _______ _____
H artford, Conn
___ --------H untington, W . V a --------- --------- -- Indianapolis, In d ________ ___ _ -Jacksonville, F la -------------- ------ ----Joplin, M o_St. Louis, M o

- ___

---

--

_

18
20

49
114

18
16
18
18

42
62
78

16
20

38
72

68

H ours actu­
A ver­ ally worked
in 1 week
age
fulltim e
hours Aver­ Per
cent
per
age
week num ­ of full­
tim e
ber

A ver­
A ver­ age
full­
age
earn­ tim e
ings earn­
ings
per
hour
per
week

63.2
57.8
53.0
64.2
60. 2
72.7

63.3
57.7
53.1
63.7
60.7
72.7

10 0 .2 $0.371 $23.45

6 .8

64. 1
62.5

6.8

6.3
6.3

6.6
6.6

7.0

6.9

Aver­
age
actual
earn­
ings
in 1
week

100.8
10 0.0

.469
.494
.319
.412
.254

27.11
26.18
20.48
24.80
18.47

$23.47
27.07
26. 25
20.30
25. 01
18.47

64.4
62.3

100. 5
99. 7

.303
.396

19.42
24.75

19.54
24. 65

99.8
10 0 .2

99. 2

Joplin and St. Louis_ --------------

36

110

6 .8

63.1

63.0

99.8

.363

22.91

22.88

K ansas C ity, Kans__
-------- ---- -Lincoln, N e b r_________
L ittle Rock, A rk ____
____
___
Louisville, K y ___ __ ------ -M anchester, N . U ------------ -----M em phis, T e n n ------------ -- ------ -- --M eridian, M iss------------- -- -----------

18
14
16
18
14
18
16

51
50
77

6.5
5.8

37
71

60.0
65. 2
62.1
56.4
56. 3

6.7

66.8

99.2
101.9
100 . 6
98.9
99.3
99.7

66

6.8

70.0

100.0

.371
.329
.337
.332
.405
.304
.226

22. 45
21.06
20. 79
18.92
22. 96
20. 37
15. 82

2 2 . 26

66

60.5
64.0
61.7
57.0
56. 7
67.0
70.0

M ilw aukee, Wis._-- ---- -Superior, W is________ _______ ______

15
16

59
28

6.5
6.4

61.1

60. 7

68.0

66.6

99.3
97.9

.399
.365

24.38
24. 82

24.20
24.31

6.8
6.8
6.6

21.48
20. 92
18.75
22 . 80
20. 32
15.82

31

87

6.4

63.3

62.6

98.9

.387

24. 50

24.24

M inneapolis, M in n _________________
N ew Orleans, L a ------ --------------------

18
18

49

6 .2

68

6.9

58.8
60.9

59.5
60.9

1 0 1 .2
100.0

.380
.348

22. 34
21.19

22.63
21.19

N ew Y ork, N . Y _ . .
__
Rochester, N . Y _ ---- --

20

92
73

5.9
6 .1

59.9
52.0

59. 8
52.3

99.8

18

100.6

. 503
.484

30. 13
25.17

30. 05
25.31

N ew York and Rochester__ - .

38

165

6 .0

56.4

56.5

10 0 .2

.495

27.92

27.96

Oklahoma C ity, O k la .--------- -- --- Portland, M e. _ _____ - Providence, R . I _
R ichm ond, V a__
------ ------------T renton, N. J
W ashington, D . C__
--------------------

18
15
18
14
18
17

66

6.5
6.9
6.4
6.3

65.8
58. 7
54.4
62. 5
52. 8
57.8

10 0 .2
10 0 .2

6.3

65.7
58.4
54.3
62.8
51.8
60.6

99.5
101.9
95.4

.352
.432
.443
.354
.439
.449

23.13
25. 23
24. 05
22. 23
22.74
27. 21

23.19
25. 35
24.08
22.15
23.19
25.94

6. 5

60.0

59.5

99.2

.393

23. 58

23. 39

M ilw aukee and Superior

T o tal___

._

- -

_ _________ _____

53
73
71
63
115

736 2, 960

6 .2

100. 5

Average and Classified Earnings per Hour
A v e r a g e and classified earnings per hour are presented in Table
3 for the employees in each of the eight important occupations in the
industry; for the group of “ other employees” ; and for all occupa­
tions combined. Average earnings per hour were computed for each
employee by dividing the amount earned in one week by the number
of hours actually worked in that week.
Each occupation group except that of the managers had a small
number of employees earning an average of less than 10 cents per
hour. Only three occupation groups (managers, operators, and
operators’ helpers) included any employees earning as much as 80
cents per hour. Among the managers, none earned less than 35
cents per hour, while 14 per cent earned an average of 80 cents or
more per hour. At the other end of the scale were the porters, 8
per cent of whom earned less than 10 cents per hour and none of whom
earned as much as 45 cents per hour.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1392

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Fourteen per cent of all the employees covered earned, on the
average, less than 25 cents per hour and only about 8 per cent earned
an average of 60 cents per hour or more.
T able 3.—A V E R A G E A N D C L A S S IF IE D H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S O F F IL L IN G ST A T IO N
E M P L O Y E E S IN 1931, B Y O C C U P A T IO N
Per cent of employees whose average earnings per hour were—
N um ­ N u m ­
ber
ber
of
Occupation
of
em­
sta­ ploy­
tions ees

C ar w ashers.
Greasers____
M anagers__
O perators__
O p e r a to r s ’
helpers___
Porters_____
Relief m e n ,._
Tire m en ___
O th e r e m ­
ployees___
T o tal_____

A ver­
age
earn­ U n­
ings der
per 10
hour cts.

15
and
un­
der

20

25
and
un­
der
30
cts.

14

24
3

12

and
un­
der
20 25
cts. cts.

30
and
un­
der
35
cts.

35
and
un­
der
40
cts.

40
and
un­
der
45
cts.

13

12
11
1

15
1

16

9

12

12

45
and
un­
der
50
cts.

50
and
un­
der
55
cts.

55
and
un­
der
60
cts.

60
and
un­
der
65
cts.

65
and
un­
der
70
cts.

6

1
12

70
and
un­
der
75
cts.

75
and 80
u n ­ cts.
der and
80 over
cts.

Cts.

84
151
164
280
60
68
683 1,182

24. 8
39.3
63. 1
44.1

475 1,039
55
72
51
52
35
56

36.2
19.3
40.9
30.0

28

10

and
un­
der
15
cts.

60

40.4

736 2, 960

39.3

1
1

13
3

6

7

11

8

1

1

1
8

(2)

(2)

1

2

5

11

15

19

15

13

24
7

(2)

1
10
2

7
38
4
18

13

21

3
13
14

9

7

4

8
6
2

17
4
15
14

14

9

5
28
4
16

17
5

12

6

3

7

10

15

2

20

3

13

10

3

2

5

6

8

14

15

15

12

9

6

8
2

4
—

1

1
8

.5

4

7

y
4

i 14

5

12
2

2

1

(2)

2
2

4

6

7

2

3

2

3

3

1

(2)

1
____

1

(2)

1

1 Includes 6 per cent earning 85 and u n d er 90 cents, and 1 per cent earning 90 cents and over
' 3*-Loss th a n one-half of 1 per cent.

Table 4 shows the number and per cent of employees in each
classified group of average earnings per hour. At one end of the scale
are three employees earning 5 but less than 6 cents and at the other
extreme one employee earning $1 or more per hour. The greatest
number of employees were in the groups receiving from 25 cents to
65 cents an hour.
T able 4. -N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF F IL L IN G -S T A T IO N E M P L O Y E E S IN E A C H
C L A S S IF IE D G R O U P OF E A R N IN G S P E R H O U R , 1931
Employees
in all occu­
pations
Classified earnings per hour

Classified earnings per hour
N um ­
ber

5 and un d er 6 cents___
6 and u n d er 7 cents
_
7 a n d u n d e r 8 cents
8 a n d u n d e r 9 c en ts..
9 a n d u n d er 10 cents. _ .
10 and u n d e r 1 1 cents.
1 1 and u n d e r 1 2 cents
12 a n d u n d er 13 cents
13 and u n d e r 14 cents
14 and u n d er 15 cents _ .
15 an d u n d er 16 cents .
16 an d u n d er 17 cents.
17 an d u n d er 18 cents .
18 an d u n d er 19 cents.
19 an d u n d er 20 cents .
20 an d u n d er 2 1 cents. . .
2 1 an d u n d er 2 2 cen ts..
22 an d u n d er 23 cents
23 and un d er 24 c en ts._ _.
24 and u n d er 25 cents
25 and u n d e r 27R cents
273^ and under 30 c e n t s ____
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per centi


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Employees
in all occu­
pations

Per
cent

3

(i)

2
2
6

(0

5
5
9
12

9
17
13
31
40
37
23
62
33
29
34
29
103
148

(')
(J)
(!)
( 1)
(1)
0)
(!)

1

(!)
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1

3
5

N um ­ Per
ber
cent
30 and under 321A rents
32>^ and under 35 cents______
35 a n d un d er 373^ cents.
37!^ and un der 40 rents
40 and u n d er 42Vo rents
421A an d un der 45 cents
45 and u n d er 4704 cents
47h^ and un der .fid rents
50 an d u n d e r 55 cents
55 a n d u n d er 60 cents
60 an d u n d e r 65 cents
65 a n d u n d e r 70 cents
70 an d u n d er 75 cents
75 a n d u n d e r 80 cents
80 a n d u n d e r 85 cents
85 and u n d e r 90 cents
90 a n d u n d er 95 rents
95 cents and under 81
$ 1 and under $ 1.10
T o tal_____

7

209
203
197
235
261
168

7
7
8

yQ

0
7

201

141
27 r>
165

5

g
6
3
3
1

100

49
10
12
Q

1
1
2, 960

0)
Ò)
ni
ni
ni
0)
100

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1393

Regular Full-Time Hours per Week
T h e regular full-time hours per week of filling-station employees
are not the same as the regular hours of operation of the establish­
ment a t which they are employed. A filling station could be, and
many stations are, in operation 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and
thus the regular hours of operation would be 168 hours per week. It
was found in the bureau’s study that the employees usually worked
in two or more shifts, each employee haying his own specified time of
beginning and quitting work on each day of the week. No employee
was supposed to work any but his own regular shift except in case of
emergency.
•
The study showed that there is no uniformity in the regular daily
or weekly hours of operation or of work in the stations in the different
cities or even in the same city. Stations were generally in operation
seven days each week, but the hours per day varied to a considerable
extent with the location in the city of the individual station. A few
stations did not conform to their schedule of regular hours, but
remained open each night as long as there was profitable business.
Others, located where there was much night traffic, were in operation
24 hours each day.
.
The full-time hours of labor, shown in Table 5 and m the preceding
tables, are the regular scheduled shifts of employees; they include
neither overtime nor time for meals.
Average full-time hours per week in each occupation were com­
puted bv dividing the total of the full-time hours oI all employees
in the occupation by the number of employees therein. In this com­
putation no account was taken of overtime or part time.
The table shows for the employees in each occupation, and for the
employees in all occupations combined, average full-time horns per
week, also the per cent that the employees in each classified hours
group formed of the total for all groups.
.
The full-time hours of 3 per cent of the employees m all occupations
were less than 40 per week; those of 10 per cent were 48 per week;
those of 7 per cent were 54 per week; those of 17 per cent were 56 per
week; those of 6 per cent were 70 per week; and those of 2 per cent
were 84 hours per week. Of the porters only 16 per cent had a lulltime week of less than 56 hours; 18 per cent had one of 70 hours, and
10 per cent one of 84 hours. Of the relief men, 23 per cent had a lull­
time week of less than 40 hours and 25 per cent a 48-hour week.
Among the managers the largest groups were those having a lull-time
week of 54 or 56^hours (31 and 26 per cent, respectively). Among
the operators, the occupation most important numerically, 21 per cent
had a 56-hour week and 12 per cent a full-time week of more than 56
but less than 60 hours.
,
The study revealed that 58 per cent of the 2,960 employees covered
in this report had a nominal 7-day week; 6 per cent worked /days one
week and 6 days the next; 32 per cent worked a 6-day week; 3 per cent
had a nominal week of less than 6 days; and 1 per cent had a 7-day
week with 1, 2, or 3 days off each month or every third or fourth
Sunday off. Fart of those on a schedule of less than 6 days per week
alternated, working 5 days for two weeks and 4 days the third week,
or 4 days one week and 3 days the next week, or 3 days one week and
2 days the next week.

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1394

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 5 .—A V E R A G E A N D C L A S S IF IE D F U L L -T IM E W E E K L Y H O U R S OF F IL L IN G S T A T IO N E M P L O Y E E S IN 1931, BY O C C U P A T IO N
Per cent of employees whose full-time
hours per week were—•
A ver­
N
u
m
­
age
N um ­
of full­
ber of ber
em ­ tim e
Over
Over
sta­
40
48
54
tions ploy- hours U n d e r and
ees
per
48
and
54
and
56
40
under
week
under
under
48
54
56

Occupation

Car w ashers______
G reasers_________
M anagers_____ l__
O perators________
O perators’ helpers.
P orters__________
Relief m en _______
Tire m en________
O ther employees.
T o tal______

84
164
60
683
475
55
51
35
28

1 , 182
1, 039
72
52
56
60

66.9
59.9
57.3
61. 0
57.7
65.1
48. 3
67.9
60.0

736

2,960

60.0

151
280
68

0)

1

2

3
8

6

9
9
9
14

1
2
1

3
23

8

3

1

8
12

25
2

7

2

5

3

1

10

5

7
16
31
4
6

3

3

4

12

26

4

21

16
15
4
5

(l)

10
2
2

2

7

2

8

17

Per cent of employees whose full-time hours per week were—
Over
56
and
under
60

O ccupation

C ar washers. __ ________ _____
Greasers . .
_ ...
_ ...
M anagers___ . . . _______ . _
O perators_____ . . .
______ _
Operators’ helpers.
... _
Porters____ . . . _
Relief m en__________ . . .
Tire m en. . . . . _.
O ther employees______ __ _
T o tal.

_____

. ...

8

5
4
12
8
10

60

6

9
7
3
6

Over
60
and
under
63
8
2

3
3
5
2

63

Over
63
and
under

Over
66

66

66

4
2

4
7
8

10

3

6
2
2
1

8

4
4
i
6
6

and
under
70

70

1

7
5

1

1
6

7
4
4
3

5
18

2

2

5
5

8
2
12

18

4
3

18
5

18
17

7
7

5
3

9

5

4

6

3

4

4

6

Over
70
and
under
84
25
10

9
6
21
8
97

84

Over
84

g
9
1
2
2
10

4

2

2

1

4

7
10

1 Less th an one-half of 1 per cent.

W ages and H ours of Labor in M etalliferou s M in in g, 1924 and 1931

HIS report is a summary of the results of studies by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of wages and hours of labor in the metalliferous
mining industry in the United States in 1924 and 1931U The 1924
study covered 137 mines and 38,196 wage earners, and the 1931
study 139 mines and 32,195 wage earners. The 137 mines covered
in the 1924 survey included 117 underground and 20 open-pit mines;
the same number of underground mines were studied in 1931, but 2
more _open-pit mines were added. The basic wage data used in
compiling this report were, except for a few mines, for a representative
pay period in August, September, or October, 1924, and June, July,
August, September, or October^ 1931. The mines studied produced
copper, gold, iron, lead, silver, zinc, and minor metals.
Table 1 shows the average full-time hours per week, earnings per
hour, and average full-time earnings per week, in 1924 and 1931, in
the mixed-ore mines of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Mon­
tana, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah; the Michigan

T

1 A more detailed report showing th e results of th e 1931 survey w ill be published later in bulletin form.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR

1395

copper mines; the northern (Michigan and Minnesota) iron mines;
the Alabama iron mines; and the Tri-State (Kansas, Missouri, and
Oklahoma) lead and zinc mines. Averages are also given for all of
these districts combined.
The average full-time hours per week of wage earners in this in­
dustry were 53.0 in 1924 and 51.6 in 1931. The average hourly earn­
ings—55.9 cents—shown in 1924, remained unchanged in 1931.
Average full-time weekly earnings, however, dropped frorn $29.63 in
1924 to $28.84 in 1931, due to the smaller average full-time hours
per week in the latter year. These averages are for males only.
Females were not employed in any of the mines.
Examination of the data for the various kinds of mines shows that,
with the exception of the northern ore mines, the full-time hours in
all groups decreased somewhat between 1924 and 1931, and in all
but one group, the western mixed-ore mines, average earnings per
hour also declined. Because of an increase in average full-time
hours, the northern iron mines showed an increase in average full­
time weekly earnings, although average hourly earnings decreased.
The other four groups of mines showed decreases in such weekly
earnings, in varying amounts.
In the Western mixed-ore mines average full-time hours per week
were 53.8 in 1924 and 50.7 in 1931; average earnings per hour were
59.9 cents in 1924 and 60.8 cents in 1931; and full-time earnings per
week were $32.23 in 1924 and $30.83 in 1931.
In the Michigan copper mines average full-time hours per week
were 49.6 in 1924 and 49.4 in 1931; earnings per hour were 49.8
cents in 1924 and 44.3 cents in 1931; and full-time earnings per
week were $24.70 in 1924 and $21.88 in 1931.
In the Northern iron mines average full-time hours per week were
52.8 in 1924 and 54.3 in 1931; earnings per hour were 56.8 cents in
1924 and 56.0 cents in 1931; and full-time earnings per week were
$29.99 in 1924 and $30.41 in 1931.
In the Alabama iron mines average full-time hours per week were
60.6 in 1924 and 58.4 in 1931; average earnings per hour were 39.3
cents in 1924 and 37.2 cents in 1931; and full-time earnings per
week were $23.82 in 1924 and $21.72 in 1931.
In the Tri-State lead and zinc mines average full-time hours per
week were 48.6 in 1924 and 48.2 in 1931; earnings per hour were
55.2 cents in 1924 and 47.7 cents in 1931; and full-time earnings per
week were $26.83 in 1924 and $22.99 in 1931.


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1396
T able 1

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
—

A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S O F E M P L O Y E E S IN M E T A L L IF E R O U S
M IN E S , 1924 A N D 1931, B Y K IN D O F M IN E , D IS T R IC T , A N D ST A T E
N um ber of—

K in d of m ine or district and State E stablish­
m ents

1924
W estern mixed ores:
A rizona_____________ . .
California_____________
Colorado _ _________
Id ah o .
______
M o n tan a ___________ ____
N ev ad a. . . .
_______ _
N ew Mexico _________
South D akota
_ __ . . .
U ta h __________ ______

4

T o tal__ _______ ____ _____
M ichigan copper_________ . . .
N orthern iron:
M ichigan _____. . . _____
M innesota_______
T o tal____________
A labam a iro n .

_

_ ___

....

Kansas _
M issouri________________
Oklahoma . . . ___
Total

_________

G rand to ta l_____

____
_ .

8
0

9
4
5

1931

9
8
10

Average

Wage earners

Full-tim e
hours per
week

1924

1931

1924

1931

3, 662
1,397

3, 969

1 ,2 1 0

52.4
51.7
52. 8
54.4
52.7
56. 5
54.2
56.0

48.8 $0.595 $0.679 $31.18 $33.14
50.2
.594
.593 30.71 29.77
51.7
.592
.597 31. 26 30. 86
47. 5
.693
.581 37.70 27.60
48. 2
.681 35.10 32.82
.666
55. 6
.636
.625 35. 93 34. 75
53.9
.459
. 459 24. 88 24. 74
(!)
(i)
0)
52?5 .560
.515 31.36 27.04

1,688

Earnings per
hour

1924

1931

Full-tim e
earnings
per week
1924

1931

9

2,853

983
1,621
2, 495
1,146
1,442
(!)
2,214

50

61

16,811

16, 494

53.8

50. 7

.599

.608

32. 23

30.83

6

6

4,689

3, 734

49.6

49.4

.498

.443

24.70

2 1.8 8

24
23

29

6 ,10 2

4,983

2,244
4, 577

50. 3
55.5

50.8
56. 0

.566
.570

.602
.545

28.47
31. 64

30.58
30. 52

47

39

11, 085

6 , 821

52.8

54.3

.568

.560

29. 99

30.41

8

8

2,678

2,132

60.6

58. 4

. 393

.372

23. 82

21. 72

3
5
18

5
7
13

311
1,301
1,321

325
1,671
1 , 018

49.4
48. 5
48. 7

48.7
48. 1
48. 3

.520
. 581
.521

.405
.541
.398

25. 69
28.18
25. 37

19.72
26. 02
19. 22

4
5
9

8
6

6
0)

10

1,386
3,084
1,616
1, 603

26

25

2, 933

3,014

48. 6

48. 2

.552

.477

26.83

22.99

137

139

38, 196

32, 195

53. 0

51. 6

. 559

. 559

29. 63

28.84

1 D ata included in total.

Average Hours and Earnings, 1924 and 1931, by Kind of Work and Occupation
T a b l e 2 sh o w s th e a v e r a g e fu ll- tim e h o u r s p e r w e e k , e a r n in g s p e r
h o u r , a n d f u ll- tim e e a r n in g s p e r w e e k o f s u r fa c e w o rk e rs , u n d e r g r o u n d
w o rk e rs , a n d th o s e d o in g b o t h u n d e r g r o u n d a n d s u r fa c e w o rk .

_ For the underground mines are shown data for 22 important occupa­
tions in underground work; 11 occupations in surface work; and 12
other occupations the workers in which worked underground in some
mines, on the surface in other mines, and in still other mines spent
part of their working time underground and part on the surface.
For the open-pit mines are shown data for each of 28 occupations.
The group of other employees,” shown for both the undergroimd
and open-pit mines, includes occupations in which the number of
wage earners in no occupation was sufficient to warrant separate
tabulation.
In the underground occupations, which form the most important
group in point of numbers employed, average full-time hours per week
ranged by occupation in 1924 from 48.6 for contract drilling-machine
operators to 56.5 for pump men, and in 1931 from 48.2 for roof
trimmers to 56.5 for trackmen’s helpers. In 4 occupations weekly
hours were longer and in the other 18 shorter in 1931 than in 1924. '
In the various underground occupations, average earnings per hour
ranged in 1924 from 42.0 cents for trackmen’s helpers to 72.9 cents
for contract drilling-machine operators; in 1931 the range was from

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1397

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

40.3 cents for drilling-machine operators’ helpers to 69.5 cents for
contract drilling-machine operators. Comparing 1931 with 1924, it
is seen that in 7 occupations the average hourly earnings had increased,
and in the other 15 occupations had decreased.^
Average full-time earnings per week ranged in 1924 from $23.23
for trackmen’s helpers to $35.43 for contract drilling-machine opera­
tors; in 1931 the range was from $20.63 for drilling-machine operators’
helpers to $34.08 for contract drilling-machine operators. Six occu­
pations showed greater average full-time weekly earnings in 1931 than
in 1924, while in the other 16 occupations such weekly earnings were
less than in 1924.
T able 2.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S O F E M P L O Y E E S IN M E T A L L IF E R O U S
M IN E S , 1924 A N D 1931, B Y K IN D O F W O R K A N D O C C U P A T IO N

K ind of work and occupation

N um ber
N um ber of
of estab­ wage earners
lishm ents

Average
full-time
hours per
week

Average
earnings per
hour

1924

1931

Average
full-time
earnings
per week
1924

1931

1924 1931

1924

1931

1924

1931

35
37

42
31

118
596

157
195

51.6
49.1

50.1 $0. 627 $0.570 $32.35 $28.56
.563 26.42 28. 43
.538
50.5

10C

95

5, 327

3, 684

51.4

49.5

.594

.646

30.53

31.98

3, 945

48.6

49.1

.729

.694

35. 43

34. 08

559
349
185
175
749
4,110
288
115
335
176
229
153
2, 055
715
667
248
2 , 028
395

497
247
197
227
833
4,656
188
371
75
242
135
2,926
607
355
196
635
417

52.1
51.5
53.7
51.4
50.9
52.7
51.9
52. 1
56. 5
52.3
50.8
51. 1
51. 5
52. 8
49. 4
55. 3
50.9
50.8

51.2
48. 4
51.0
50.6
49.6
50.2
48.8
50.1
52.8
48.2
49.8
52.5
48.7
50.6
49. 1
56.5
48.9
49.9

.447
.474
.593
.588
.575
.554
.496
.573
.526
.553
.572
.569
.604
.551
.542
.420
.550
.517

.403
. 500
.538
.616
.574
. 505
. 537
. 510
. 530
.470
. 563
. 566
.602
. 512
. 529
. 410
.524
.537

23.29
24. 41
31.84
30. 22
29. 27
29. 20
25. 74
29. 85
29. 72
28. 92
29. 06
29. 08
31. i 1
29. 09
26. 77
23. 23
28. 00
26. 26

20.63
24. 20
27. 44
31.17
28. 47
25. 35
26. 21
25. 55
27.98
22. 65
28. 04
29. 72
29. 32
25.91
25. 97
23.17
25. 62
26. 80

104
179
58
79
277
483
138

48
134
119
61
206
490
119
158
815
115
245

57.3
58.9
55.5
57.5
60. 5
56. 4
55. 6
53.8
55. 3
55. 1
64.8

57.2
55.2
55.3
53. 2
50.6
53.4
54.4
51.8
54.9
54.5
58.2

.406
.410
.508
.515
.455
.560
. 536
.584
.428
.514
.452

.369
.404
.458
.579
.441
.586
. 532
.553
. 400
. 484
.464

23. 26
24.15
28. 19
29. 61
27. 53
31. 58
29. 80
31.42
23. 67
28. 32
29. 29

22. 30
25. 33
30.80
22.31
31.29
28. 94
28. 65
2 1 . 96
26. 38
27. 00

239
170
231
123
136
308
104
360
131
123
70
264

54.4
54.5
54.9
56. 4
59.9
54.7
53. 5
54. 2
54. 1
54.7
52.7
52. 0
53.1

53.8
53.3
54.2
56.6
52.9
53.1
53.8
52.4
53.4
52.6
49. 2
51. 7
51.5

.593
.462
.571
. 426
.556
.622
.521
.600
.479
. 445
. 528
. 562
. 590

.563
.463
. 557
. 430
.527
. 629
. 512
.603
. 496
.443
. 482
. 559
. 587

32. 26
25. 18
31. 35
24. 03
33. 30
34. 02
27. 87
32. 52
25. 91
24. 34
27. 83
29. 22
¿1. 33

30.29
24. 68
30.19
24. 34
27. 88
33. 40
l ì . 55
31. 60
26. 49
23. 30
23.71
28.90
30.23

Underground mines
U nderground w ork:
Cagers
___________________
( ’hi ito, loaders
___________
Drilling-machine operators, compan y ______________________
Drilling-m achine operators, contra c t _ _ _ __________
Drilling-m achine operators' helpers
_______________
D rivers, mule
_ __ _____ H oistm en
_
_ __
Toading-machine o p e ra to rs .-__
________ ___
M otorm en
M uckers.
____ _______
N ippers
. . - - _____
Pow der men
. _____ _ ___
P u m p men
___ . __
Roof trim m ers
____________
Skippers
________________
Station men
_______
Tim berm en
T im herm en’s helpers ________
Trackm en
_ __ _
------ -T rackm en’s helpers
Tram m ers - - --- ----------------T rip rid ers.-- _______________
Surface work:
D r iv e r s ____ - --------------- -- --D ry h o u sem en . _ ---------- -----D um pers
. ________________
Engineers, statio n ary ---------------"Firemen, statio n ary _ _________
H oistm en __ _ ______________
Tim ber fram e rs.. -------------------Tool d re s se rs ____________ ___
Topm en
.
_________
T ruck operators ___ ______
W atchm en
____
Surface and underground w ork:
Blacksm iths
_ ________
B lacksm iths’ helpers__________
C arpenters
_____- ____
C arpenters’ helpers ___ ______
Compressor men
________
"Rientrici an s
_____ _
Electricians’ helpers _______ __
M achinists
____________
M achinists’ helpers ______ __
Oilers
__ _____ -- -Ore sorters
_____ - - __
Pipem en
__- - - O ther em ployees._ . . --------- --120148°— 32-


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-10

61
33
38
47
14
78
82
48
47
73
26
54
18
92
44
86

27
97
55
42
67
14
27
50
103
54
50
113
40
74

53
32
31
49
18
75
104
38
56
81
26
63
12
86

38
78
27
62
45
11

51
32
16
25
100

42
46
81
59
68

no 107
90
88

46
59
78
41
89
63
41
24
89
117

74
78
26
52
82
31
82
39
33
12

67
111

5,916

110

1,742
73
190
292
295
362
153
154
194
95
375
231
148
141
328
2,139

111

2 ,10 2

2 1 .1 1

1398

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 2 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S OF E M P L O Y E E S IN M E T A L L IF E R O U S
M IN E S , 1924 A N D 1931, B Y K IN D OF W O R K A N D O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued

K ind of work and occupation

N um ber
of estab­ N um ber of
lishm ents wage earners

Average
full-time
hours per
week

Average
earnings per
hour

Average
full-time
earnings
per week

1924 1931

1924

1924

1924

1931

1924

140
124
79
63

56
43
57
42
26
181

57. 7
57.4
58. 7
57.8

1931

1931

1931

Open-pit mines
B lacksm iths---------------------------- __
Blacksm iths’ helpers__________ ____
C arpenters-----------------------------------C arpenters’ helpers
- . . . ..
Drillers, hand _____
_ ___ . .
Drilling-machine operators.
__
Drilling-machine operators’ helpers. _
D um pers____________________ . . .
E lectricians. . _ .
. . ____
Laborers . . .
--------- . .
Locomotive engineers ___ - ------Locomotive firem en, _______ .
M achinists_________
- -----M achinists’ helpers_______
O ile r s .___
.- . .
Pipem en
. . .
P itm en ________ ________________
P u m p m en. .
_ .
___
____
R epair men . .
_
Shotfirers______ - . --------- --------Shovel cranem en.. .
. _ . . .
Shovel engineers-- --Shovel firem en.
.
_
S w itch m en ... .
. . . .
............
T rack m en________________________
T rip riders. ______________________
T ruck operators
-----_
_ ._
W atchm en_____
O ther employees__________________
All em ployees.. -

-- - - - - -

17

22

12

13

12

20
8

14

17

7
18
15
16
17
17

20

22

18
17
9

20
10

372
319
406
192
231

20

10
22

573

20

54
150
157
231
216

17
12
12

19

229
146
192

13

12
20
20
20

15

15
17
15
15
16

20

12
21

17

18
15
18

20

21

15

__ 137

1,686

332
148
776

101
68

78
423
234
230
125
49
47
24
171
37
168
42
62
79
67
142
874
190
33
65
714

139 38,196 32,195

58.5 $0. 619 $0. 603 $35.72 $35.28
57. 1 .498
.475 28.59 27.12
58.5
.570
.587 33.46 34. 34
56.4
.470
.547 27.17 30. 85
60. 0
.464
27. 84
58. 5 58.3
.544
.526 31.82 30.67
58.0 57.3
29.46
.508
.507
29.05
58.2 59.8
.385
.400 22.41 23. 92
58. 2
.641
37. 31
58. 1 57.4
.352
.379 20. 45 21. 75
58.3 58.7
.675
.671 39.35 39. 39
58.7 57.8
.515
.488 30. 23 28. 2 1
57. 7 58.1
.604
.628 34. 85 36.49
57.7 57.1
.499
.511 28. 79 29.18
60. 3
.478
28. 82
57. 7
. 539
31.10
58.4 58. 7 .426
.425 24.88 24. 95
59. 2
. 536
31. 73
57. 7
. 507
29. 25
.475
59.7 57.8
.507 28. 36 i29. 30
58.0 58.1
.666
.680 38. 63 39. 51
.917
.945 53. 37 55.76
58.2 59.0
.504
60.2 62.2
.464 30. 34 28. 86
57.6 56.7
.446
.452 25.69 25. 63
57.9 58.4
.393
.397 22. 75 23.18
58.2 58.5
.510
.509 29. 68 29. 78
57. 7
.479
27. 64
.451
.444 28. 73 28. 55
63.7 64.3
58.9 58.5
.514
.550 30. 27 32.18
53.0

51. 6

.559

.559

29. 63

28.84

Average Hours and Earnings in Six Specified Occupations, 1931, by Kind of
Mine and State
A v e r a g e hours and earnings for 1931 are presented in Table 3 for
the wage earners in each of six of the more important occupations—
five underground and one surface—in underground mines.
The full-time hours per week for the 3,143 company drilling-machine
operators in the 58 Western mixed ore mines studied in 1931 averaged
49.6 and ranged by States from a low of 46.5 to a high of 55.5. These
operators earned an average of 65.8 cents per hour, the average in the
various States ranging from 44.5 to 77.4 cents per hour. Their
average full-time earnings per week were $32.64, the average in the
different States ranging from $23.14 to $38.41.


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1399

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 3.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN SIX O C C U P A T IO N S IN M E T A L L IF ­
E R O U S M IN E S , 1931, B Y K IN D O F M IN E A N D S T A T E

Average
Average
N um ber N um ber full-time Average full-time
of estab­ of wage hours per earnings earnings
per hour per'w eek
lishments earners
week

Occupation, kind of mine, and State

Drilling-machine operators, com pany (under­
ground) :
W estern mixed ores—
---------------------------------A riz o n a ----California_______________________________
Colorado________________________ ______
Idaho
________ - - ............... .
M o n tan a. ------------------ -- ---------- --------N evada------------------ -----------------------------N ew Mexico. . ------- _ -----South D ak o ta___________________________
U ta h ____________________________________
T o tal_____

_____ _ - ---------- --------- --

9
8
10

4
5

1,138
471
142
299
201

251
142

8

5
1
8

' 0

315

47.3
50.3
51.4
46.5
48.7
55.5
52.0
0

50.5

$0. 774
.600
.613
.601
.608
.692
.445
(0

.534

$36. 61
30.18
31. 51
27. 95
29.61
38.41
23.14
0

26. 97

58

3,143

49.6

.658

32.64

M ichigan copper. -------------- -----------------------

3

69

48.0

.433

20. 78

N orthern iron—
M ichigan - . ------------- --------M innesota----------------------------------------------

3
7

145
53

41.9
49.5

.806
.646

33. 77
31.98

T o tal___________________ _____________

10

198

44.0

.765

33. 66

A labam a iro n ..
---- ----------- ------T ri-State lead and zinc---------------- -----------------

5
19

95
179

59. 7
48.0

.486
.403

29. 01
19. 34

All d istricts_____ 1-------------------------------D rilling-m achine operators, contract (underground):
W estern mixed ores—
A riz o n a _______ _____
______
California . ------------------ ----------C olorado--. ---- -------------- -----M ontana ____ _ ---------N ew Mexico_____________ ________ _____
South D ak o ta-------------------U tah ____ _______________________________

95

3,684

49.5

.646

31.98

8

52.5
48.0
54.0
48. 1
53.8

.792
.894
.826
.760
.520

41.58
42.91
44. 60
36. 56
27.98

1
1

60
55
483
60

5
5
2
1
2

0

27

0

48.0

0

.738

0

35. 42

51. 2

.791

40. 50

- - ---

17

1,004

M ichigan copper........... ........................................... —
N orthern iron—
M ichigan.. . . _______________________ -M innesota------- ------ ---------------------- ---------

5

618

48.0

.572

27. 46

9
13

848
948

48.0
48.8

.714
.709

34. 27
34. 60

T o t a l - _____ . _ -------- ----------

22

1, 796

48.4

.711

34.41

Alabam a iron. ------------------------T ri-State lead and zinc_______________________

3
6

38
489

54.2
48.0

.512
.575

27.75
27.60

All d istricts_________________ ____ _________
M uckers (underground):
W estern m ixed ores—
Arizona______________ ______ _________ --California__________ ___ _____ _______
Colorado
__________ - ----------------- --Id a h o .. .
___ ___ - -------------------- -M o n tan a ____________ _____ ___________
N evada . ______________ __________
N ew Mexico_____________ _____________
South D a k o ta _____ ________________ ______
U ta h ____ _______________________________

53

3,945

49.1

.695

34.12

9

329
357

47.7
48.7
50.7
46.3
48.0
54.6
53.8

.611
.532
.552
.536
.699
.589
.374
0)
.472

29.14
25.91
27. 99
24. 82
33. 55
32.16

T o tal_______________

______________

-

8
10

2 12

4
5

318
491
125
282

8

5

1
8

(0

367

0

49.8

2 0 .12
0

23. 51

_________________________ -

58

2, 579

49. 6

. 553

27. 43

M ichigan copper-------- ------------------------ -N orther n iron—
M ich ig an ... -------------- ------------------------M innesota-----------------------------------------------

5

508

48.0

. 456

21.89

7
4

19
32

48.0
48.0

.530
. 566

25.44
27.17

T o tal_______________ - ------------------------

11

51

48.0

.552

26. 50

A labam a iron_______________________________
T ri-State lead and zinc__________ _______ _ ---

5
25

687
831

57.1
48.0

.365
.447

20.84
21.46

All districts_____ _____ _____________ _______

104

4. 656

50.2

.505

25. 35

T o tal_____

1 D ata included in total.


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1400

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a ble 3 .— A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN S IX O C C U P A T IO N S IN M E T A L L IF ­

E R O U S M IN E S , 1931, B Y K IN D O F M IN E A N D S T A T E —C ontinued

Occupation, kind of mine, and State

Tim berm en (underground):
W estern mixed ores:
A riz o n a _____ ___ __
C alifornia.. . . . ___________ _
Colorado___
___
Id a h o .. . .
M o n tan a ______ ______________________
N ev ad a______
____
______ . _
N ew M exico___ _______ _______
South D a k o t a _____ ____ _
U ta h ________________ _ ______
T o ta l______ _________ _________
M ichigan copper_______

____

N um ber N um ber Average Average Average
of estab­ of wage full-time earnings full-time
lishm ents earners hours per per hour earnings
week
per week

9
7
10
4
5
7
4
1
6

T o tal. ________________________________

All d istricts_______________________________

T o t a l . ___

_____ _______

M ichigan copper___________

_______ ______

N orthern iron—
M ichigan.. _ __ . . _________ . .
M innesota__________________
T o tal______ ___

__________

123

0
51.3

$0. 736
.617
.622
.554
.721
.652
.517
0)
.504

$36. 43
30. 29
31. 54
26.15
34.61
35.93
26. 63
0
25.86

1,665

49.1

.655

32,16

6

834

48.0

.446

21.41

10
11

138
270

47.8
48.1

.591
.629

28. 25
30. 25

21

408

48.0

.615

29. 52

5
1

17
2

57.3
48.0

.415
.375

23. 78
18.00

86

2, 926

48.7

.602

29. 32

9
8
7
3
4
6
4
1
3

117
44
62
22
27
20
29

.355
.510
.547
.503
.529
.525
.337

17. 68
26. 32
29. 70
23. 94
25. 55
28.93
18.03

11

49.8
51.6
54.3
47.6
48.3
55.1
53.5
0
51.6

.436

0
22.50

45

338

51.4

.449

23.08

6

128

54.0

.359

19. 39

10
12

101
90

58.3
60.0

.414
.411

24 14
24.66

A labam a iro n .. .
... .. . ...
T ri-State lead and zinc. _________ _____

Topm en (surface):
W estern mixed ores—
A rizo n a... .
. . . . . _________
_ .
C alifornia_____ _ _______ ________ ______
Colorado_________________________ _ _ _
Id a h o _______
_ _____
_
_ .
M o n tan a ___ _ _____ ________ __ ___
N ev ad a____________ _ . . . ______ _____
N ew M exico__ _ __
South D a k o ta ...
___ _ . .
U ta h __________ _ _ _________

49.5
49.1
50.7
47.2
48.0
55.1
51.5

53

_________

N o rth ern iron—
M ichigan.
. __
M innesota_________ ______ _

0

376
117
89
262
556
42
71

0

0

22

191

59.1

.412

24. 35

A labam a iro n ...
...
T ri-State lead and z in c .______________

5
3

148
10

58. 7
49. 2

. 264
.277

15 50
13. 63

All d istric ts__________________________
Tram m ers (underground):
W estern m ixed ores—
Arizona___
______ _ . .
California__________ ___ ______
Colorado__________ ._ __
Id a h o _________________ . _
M o n ta n a .. _______________ . . .
N evada___
. . . .
N ew M exico... . . .
U ta h ____________ _____ _____

81

815

54.9

.400

21.96

3
6

29
72
53
23
213

49.4
50. 2
50.7
47.3
48.1
55. 2
49.0
48.0

.555
. 546
.572
.531
.595
. 590
.392
.471

27. 42
27. 41
29. 00
25.12
28. 62
32 57
19. 21
22 . 61

T o tal_______ __________ _ .
M ichigan copper____________________
N orthern iron—
M ichigan________ ____
M in n e s o ta _________ ______
T o tal__________ ____ _________
T ri-S tate lead and zinc . ____
All d is tr ic ts ___. . .
1 D ata included in total.


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_.

____________

_____

6

3
5
3
5
4

21

49
23

35

483

49.1

.554

27.20

2

65

48.0

.407

19. 54

3

21

8

27

48. 0
48.9

.517
.499

24 82
24. 40
24. 59

11

48

48.5

. 507

13 |

39

48. 0 |

.332

15. 94

48.9

.524

25.62

61

635

1401

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Classified Average Earnings per Hour, 1931
T a b l e 4 gives the number and the per cent of laborers and of wage
earners in all occupations combined, in each classified group of
average earnings per hour. As the table shows, nearly half (48 per
cent) of the laborers were in the groups earning 37K but less than
42)2 cents per hour; none earned as much as 55 cents per hour. _ Con­
sidering the whole group of wage earners in this industry, it is seen
that 49 per cent earned between 50 and 70 cents per hour. Thirteen
per cent of the laborers and 2 per cent of all the wage earners in all
occupations earned less than 30 cents an hour.
T able 4 .—N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OP L A B O R E R S A N D OF W A G E E A R N E R S IN A L L
O C C U P A T IO N S IN M E T A L L IF E R O U S M IN IN G , E A R N IN G E A C H C L A S S IF IE D
A M O U N T P E R H O U R , 1931

Laborers
Classified earnings

W age earn­
ers in all
occupations

Laborers
Classified earnings

N um ­ Per N u m ­ Per
ber cent ber cent

N um ­ P er N u m ­ Per
cent
ber cent ber
13 and u nd er 14 c en ts..
15 and u nd er 16 cen ts__
16 and und er 17 cents17 and und er 18 cen ts____
18 and u n d e r 19 cents -_
19 and u n d e r 20 cents. ..
20 and u n d e r 21 cen ts____
21 and und er 22 cen ts. _
22 and u n d e r 23 cents____
23 and u n d e r 24 cents
24 and u n d e r 25 cen ts___
25 and u n d e r 27H c e n ts ...
271/? and u n d er 30 cents__
30 and u n d e r 32Yi c e n ts ...
321/Ì! and u n d e r 35 c e n ts ...
35 and u n d e r 37H c e n ts.. .
37ti and u n d er 4 0 c en ts.-.
40 and u n d e r 42l i c e n ts.__
42}i and u n d e r 45 c e n ts ...
45 and und er 47J-Ì c e n ts ...
47ii and u n d e r 50 c e n ts .._
50 and u nd er 55 c e n ts.. .
55 and u nd er 60 cents

34
3
13

8
1
3

6

1

63
10
15
96
107
7
24
36
9

15
2
4
23
25
2
6
9
2

1
1
1
1
5
3
72
24
54
50
59
127
272
580
518
901
1,778
2, 871
1,425
1, 952
857
5, 067
4, 868

(i)
(i)
(i)
0)
(i)
(G
(>)
0)
p>
(1)
(‘)
(’)

1
2
2
3
6
9
4
6
3
16
15

Wage earn­
ers in all
occupations

2, 709
3,059
1, 721
970
762
491
247
146
328
90
80
38
8
32
11
1
1
4
8
1
1

60 and u n d er 65 cents___
65 and u n d e r 70 cents___
70 and u n d er 75 cents
75 a n d un d er 80 cents .
80 a n d u n d e r 85 cents
85 a n d un d er 90 c e n t s __
90 and u n d e r 95 c e n t s ___
95 cents and under $1 _ .
$1 and u n d e r $1.10
$1.10 and u n d er $1.20
$1.20 and u n d er $1.30
$1.30 and u n d er $1.40.
$1.40 a n d u n d er $1.50
$1.50 and u n d er $1.60
$1.60 and u n d er $1.70 .
$1.70 and u n d er jjd.80
$1.80 a.nd u n d er $1.90
$2 and u n d er $2.25 _ _ _
$2.50 and un d er $2.75____
$2.75 and un d er $ 3 _____
$3 and u nder $3.50______
Total-

423

8
10
5
3
2
2
1

(0

1

(>)
(i)
(!)

(1)
(1)
P)
P)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

(9

32,195

1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.

W ages and H ours of Labor in th e S la u g h ter in g and M eat-P ack ­
in g In d u stry, 1931

in 1931 the Bureau of Labor Statistics made a study of earnj ings and hours of labor of wage earners in the slaughtering and
I ATE
meat-packing industry in the United States, summary data for which
are here given.1 Wage figures covering 53,555 wage earners of 90
representative meat-packing establishments in 26 States were collected
from the records of the establishments by agents of the bureau, for a
weekly pay period in October, November, or December. Averages
were computed from these figures and are presented in Table 1 along
with averages for studies by the bureau in 1917 and in each of the
odd years from 1921 to 1931 inclusive, for the wage earners of each
sex separately and for both sexes combined, in 13 of the more impor­
tant departments in the industry, i. e., cattle killing, hog killing,
sheep and calf killing, offal (other than hides and casings), hide, casing,
fresh-beef cutting, fresh-pork cutting, lard and oleo-oil, sausage, cured1 M ore detailed inform ation will be published later in bulletin form.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1402

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

meat, canning, and maintenance and repair departments. The
number of wage earners covered in 1931 is 43.7 per cent of the 122,505
reported in the industry in the United States by Census of Manufac­
tures in 1929.
In 1931, the male employees in this industry earned an average of
47 cents per hour and $21.57 per week, as compared with 52.5 cents and
$25.45 in 1929. Average earnings per hour of males were 5.5 cents or
10.5 per cent less in 1931 than in 1929. In 1931 the female employees
earned an average of 32.1 cents per hour and $13.61 per week, as
compared with 36.9 cents and $16.54 in 1929. Average earnings per
hour of females were 4.8 cents or 13 per cent less in 1931 than in 1929.
In 1931 both sexes combined earned an average of 44.9 cents per
hour and $20.38 in one week, while in 1929 the figures were 50.4 cents
and $24.18, respectively. Average earnings per hour for both sexes
combined or for the industry were 5.5 cents or 10.9 per cent less in
1931 than in 1929.
The 53,555 males and females who were employed in the 90 estab­
lishments during the weekly pay period covered by the study in 1931
worked an average of 5.5 days in the week. (In computing average
days for the week, each day or part of a day worked during the week
was counted as a day and the total of such days in the week was
divided by the total number of wage earners on the pay roll during
the week.) The average full-time hours per week were 49.2, but the
employees actually worked an average of 45.4 hours in the week or
92.3 per cent of full time. At full time, at the hourly earnings shown
above—44.9 cents—they would have earned an average of $22.09
or $1.71 more than they actually earned in the week. A smaller
percentage of full time was worked in 1931 than in any other year
studied except 1921 (when 89 per cent of full time was worked).
The highest proportion of full-time operation was reached in 1929
(97.6 per cent).
T able

1 .— A V E R A G E

H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T
P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , B Y SE X , IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S, 1917 TO 1931

Sex and year

M ales:
1917________________ _
1921__________________
1923____ ______________
1925___________________
1927___________________
1929___________________
1931_______________ _
Females:
1917___________________
1921___________________
1923___________________
1925___________________
1927___________________
1929___________________
1931___________________
M ales and females:
1917___________________
1921___________________
1923___________________
1925___________________
1927_____________ _____
1929. ________ _________
1931._____ ____________


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Aver­ AverN um ­ N um ­
age
age
ber of ber of n u m b er fullestab­ wage of days tim e
lish­
worked hours
m ents earners in 1
per
week
week

H ours actually
w orked in 1
week
Aver­
age
num ­
ber

Aver­
age
earn­
Per
ings
per
cent of hour
full
tim e

Aver­
age full­
tim e
earn­
ings per
week

Aver­
age
actual
earn­
ings in
1 week

66
34
38
86
86
90
90

55, 089
30, 075
45, 083
52, 702
50, 207
52, 796
45, 523

5.5
5.6
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.5

48.4
52.2
50. 2
49.5
49.3
49.2

54. 3
43.2
49.1
48. 2
47.7
48.5
45.9

89.3
94.1
96.0
96.4
98.4
93.3

$0. 271
.511
.499
.507
.517
.525
.470

$24. 73
26.05
25. 45
25. 59
25. 88
23.12

$14 73
22.10
24.55
24.45
24. 68
25. 45
21.57

51
31
37
78
78
83
82

6,576
3, 329
6,112
6, 595
7,156
8,803
8, 032

5.7
5.5
5.6
5.6
5.6
5.4

48.3
52.8
49. 4
49. 1
48.9
48.9

53. 4
44. 3
45. 1
44. 7
44. 5
44.9
42. 4

91. 7
85.4
90.5
90.6
91.8
86. 7

178
.365
.361
.359
.363
.369
.321

17. 63
19. 06
17. 73
17. 82
18.04
15.70

16. 28
16.04
16.16
16. 54
13.61

66
34
38
86
86
90
90

61, 665
33, 404
51,195
59, 297
57, 363
61, 599
53, 555

5.5
5.6
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.5

48.4
52.3
50. 1
49.4
49. 2
49. 2

54 2
43. 1
48. 7
47.8
47.3
48.0
45.4

89.0
93. 1
95. 4
95. 7
97.6
92.3

262
.497
.484
.492
.499
.504
.449

24. 05
25.31
24. 65
24. 65
24.80
22. 09

23.55
23. 52
23.62
24.18
20. 38

8 60

15'. 57

14 07
2 1.4 5

1403

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Time Worked and Earnings, 1929 and 1931, by Department
T a b l e 2 shows average number of days on which wage earners
worked, average full-time and actual hours and earnings in one week,
average earnings per hour, and per cent of full time worked in week,
1929 and 1931, by department and sex, for the wage earners in all
occupations combined except a very few in each of the 13 major
departments of the industry, for the group of “ miscellaneous wage
earners” of all departments, and for the industry as a whole so far as
covered in this report. The figures for each department include all
wage earners in the occupations distinctive of the several depart­
ments. The group of “ miscellaneous employees” includes a few
occupations, such as branders and stampers, scalers and weighers,
doormen, elevator men, and door and other boys, who were employed
in various departments. They were grouped because of the limited
number in each occupation and department.
Among the male employees in the cattle-killing department, from
1929 to 1931 the average number of days worked in one week fell
from 5.4 to 5.2; full-time hours per week rose from 48.8 to 48.9; hours
actually worked in one week fell from 44.1 to 41.8; earnings per hour
declined from 59.9 to 53.2 cents; full-time earnings per week fell from
$29.23 to $26.01; and actual earnings in one week declined from
$26.38 to $22.24. Thus it is seen that in all cases, except that of full­
time hours per week, the averages for the males employed were less
in 1931 than in 1929. All the averages for females in this department
were less in 1931 than in 1929. Males worked 90.4 per cent of full
time in 1929 and 85.5 per cent in 1931, while females worked 84.4 per
cent of full time in 1929 and only 60.9 per cent in 1931.
The figures for this department fairly represent the trend in the
other departments in the table.
T able 2 . —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T ­

P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, BY D E P A R T M E N T A N D SE X

D epartm ent and sex

C attle-killing departm ent:
M ales _
_ _____

Aver­
N um ­ N um ­
age
num ber
ber
of
of
ber
Year estab­ wage of days
lish­ earn­ w orked
ments ers
in 1
week

A ver­
age
full­
tim e
hours
per
week

H ours actu­
ally worked Aver­ Aver­
age
in 1 week
age fullearn­
tim
e
Per ings earn­
Aver­ cent
per ings
age
of hour per
n u m ­ full
week
ber tim e

Aver­
age
actual
earn­
ings
in 1
week

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

78
77
7
5
78
78

3, 649
3,087
19
16
3, 668
3,103

5.4
5.2
5.3
3.9
5.4
5.2

48.8
48.9
50.0
48.8
48.8
48.9

44. 1
41.8
42. 2
29. 7
44.0
41.8

90.4 $0. 599 $29. 23 $26. 38
85.5 .532 26. 01 22.24
84.4 .406 20. 30 17.12
60.9 .283 13. 81 8.42
90.2 .598 29. 18 26. 33
85.5 .531 25.97 22.17

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

73
76
15
19
73
76

3, 286
3, 211
46
47
3, 332
3, 258

5.6
5.5
5.5
5.2
5.6
5.5

49.9
50.0
49.5
48.6
49.9
50.0

46.7
44.9
43.6
43.2
46.7
44.9

93.6
89.8
8 8 .1

88.9
93.6
89.8

.529
.478
.357
.296
.527
.475

1929
1931
Offal departm ent (other th an hides
and casings):
M ales. __
_ ________ _ _ 1929
1931
Fem ale___
_ _ ______
_ _ 1929
1931
M ales and females____________ 1929
1931

42
5C

1,311
1 , 602

5.5
5.4

48.4
48.7

43.4
43.2

89.7
88.7

.580 28.07 25.14
.489 23.81 21.13

3,181
2,855
527
392
3, 708
3, 248

5.6
5.4
5.4
5. 2
5.5
5.4

49. 2
49. 3
49. 2
49. C
49. 2
49.3

46.5
44. 9
41. 8
41. C
45.9
44.4

94.5
91.1
85.0
83.7

. 51C
.452
.363
.314
. 491
.436

Females __

..

______

M ale and females________

_

Hog-killing departm ent:
M a le s _____ __ __________
Females -

_ ________

M ales and females___

______

Sheep and calf killing departm ent:
M ales
___ ______ -


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

86

85
46
48
86
86

93. a

90.1

26. 40
23. 90
17. 67
14. 39
26. 30
23. 75

24.71
21.46
15.56
12.78
24. 59
21.33

25.09 23. 73

2 2 . 28 20. 29
17. 86 15.16

15. 3£ 12.87
24.16 22.51
21.49 19.39

1404

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 2 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T '
P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, BY D E P A R T M E N T A N D S E X —C ontinued

D epartm ent and sex

H ide departm ent:
M ales________________ _____
Casing departm ent:
M ales______________________
Fem ales____________________
M ales and females___________
C utting or fresh beef departm ent:
M ales________________1_____
Fem ales___ _____ __________
M ales and females__________
C utting or fresh pork departm ent:
. M ales______________________
Fem ales____________________
M ales and females___________
Lard and oleo-oil departm ent:
M ales____________________ __
Fem ales____________________
M ales and females__________
Sausage departm ent:
M ales______________________
Fem ales_______________ ____
M ales and females___________
Cured-m eat departm ent:
M ales______________________
Females_____________________
M ales and females____________
C anning departm ent:
M ales________ ____ ______ ____
Fem ales_____________________
M ales and females____________
M aintenance and repair d ep art­
ment:
M ales______ ____ ____________
Miscellaneous wage earners, all de­
partm ents:
M ales_______________________
Fem ales___1_________________
M ales and fem ales.___________
T otal, all departm ents:
M ales____________
Fem ales__________
M ales and females.


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

A ver­
N um ­ N um ­
age
ber
ber
num ­
of
Year
of
ber
estab­ wage of days
lish­ earn­ w orked
ments ers
in 1
week

Average
fulltim e
hours
per
week

H our actually v, orked
in 1 week Aver­
age
earn­
Per ings
Aver­ cent
per
age
hour
of
num ­ full
ber tim e

A ver­
age
full­
tim e
earn­
ings
per
week

Aver­
age
ac­
tual
earn­
ings
in 1
week

1929
1931

75
68

1, 200
1,136

5.2
4.8

48.4
48.7

42.4
38.9

87.6 $0. 502 $24. 30 $21. 29
79.9 .433 21.09 16.84

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

79
83
49
45
80
83

3,126
2,748
825
673
3, 951
3,421

5.5
5.4
5.6
5.4
5.6
5.4

49. 1
49.3
48.7
48.7
49.0
49.2

46.8
45.3
45.6
43.4
46.5
44.9

95.3
91.9
93.6
89. 1
94.9
91.3

.524
.464
.386
.309
.496
.435

25.73
22. 88
18. 80
15. 05
24. 30
21.40

24.51
21. 02
17. 59
13.43
23. 07
19. 53

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

79
75
11
9
79
75

4, 998
4, 308
50
30
5, 048
4, 338

5.7
5.6
5.4
5.2
5.7
5.6

48.9
49.0
47. 2
48.4
48.9
49.0

50. 1 102.5
46.5 94.9
41. 2 87.3
39.0 80.6
50.0 102.2
46.5 94.9

.537
.473
.328
.295
.535
.472

26.26
23. 18
15. 48
14.28
26. 16
23.13

26.88
22.00
13.52
11. 50
26. 75
21.93

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

79
79
55
54
79
79

5, 684
5, 654
1, 319
1,286
7,003
6, 940

5.7
5.6
5.6
5.3
5.7
5.5

49.8
49.5
49.3
48. €
49.7
49.4

47.6
46.7
42.5
40. 1
46.6
45.5

95.6
94.3
86.2
82.0
93.8
92. 1

.514
. 466
.395
.349
.494
.447

25. 60
23.07
19. 47
17.07
24. 55
22. 08

24. 47
21. 76
16. 78
14. 02
23. 02
20. 33

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

86
83
49
53
86
83

2, 431
1, 819
27C
291
2, 701
2. 110

5.8
5.6
5.5
5.6
5.8
5.6

49.2
49.4
49.4
49.3
49. 2
49.4

51.0 103.7
48.8 98.8
45.4 91.9
44. 6 90.5
50. 4 102.4
48.2 97.6

.486
.442
. 345
.295
.474
.423

23.91
21.83
17. 04
14. 54
23. 32
20. 90

24. 79
21. 54
15. 68
13. 16
23. 88
20. 38

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

83
82
81
79
83
82

3, 262
2, 656
2, 844
2, 412
6, 106
5,068

5.8
5.6
5.6
5.5
' 5.7
5.5

49.5
49.7
48.8
49. C
49.2
49.4

52. 2
47.8
46. C
43. 4
49.3
45. 7

105. 5
96.2
94.3
88.6
100. 2
92.5

.507
.458
. 366
. 319
.446
.395

25.10
22. 76
17. 86
15. 63
21. 94
19.51

26. 47
21. 90
16. 83
13. 83
21.98
18. 06

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

83
84
61
62
83
84

8,198
6, 686
684
519
8, 882
7,205

5.8
5.7
5.7
5.6
5.8
5.7

49.9
49.5
49.4
49.0
49.9
49.5

49.9 100.0
47.5 96. t
46. 1 93.3
42.2 86. 1
49.6 99.4
47. 1 95.2

.477
.432
. 352
. 304
.468
.424

23. 81
21. 38
17. 39
14. 90
23. 35
20. 99

23.81
20. 52
16.23
12. 84
23. 23
19. 97

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

57
62
63
70
65
74

1, 378
939
2, 166
2, 141
3, 544
3,080

5.6
5.5
5.6
5.4
5.6
5.4

48.3
48. 9
48.4
48.9
48.4
48.9

49.0
47. C
45.0
42. 5
46.8
43.8

102.7
96.1
93.0
86.9
96.7
89.6

.478
.433
.360
.322
.409
.358

23.09
21. 17
17. 42
15. 75
19. 80
17.51

23. 68
20. 32
16. 21
13. 67
19. 12
15. 69

1929
1931

90
89

8, 787
6,414

5.8
5.7

49.0
48.7

49.0 100.0
45. 4 93.2

.583 28. 59 28. 59
.535 26.05 24. 29

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

87
86
29
51
87
86

2,305
2,408
53
224
2, 358
2, 632

5.9
5.7
5.5
5.5
5.9
5. 7

49.4
49. 2
51. 2
48.9
49. 4
49. 1

52. 1 105.5
48.8 99.2
45.2 88.3
42.5 86.9
51. 9 105.1
48. 3 98.4

.471
.412
.378
.318
.469
.405

23. 27
20. 27
19. 35
15. 55
23. 17
19. 89

24. 50
20. 11
17.07
13.51
24. 33
19. 55

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

90
90
83
82
90
90

52, 796
45, 523
8, 803
8, 032
61, 599
53, 555

5.7
5.5
5.6
5.4
5.7
5.5

49.3
49.2
48. 9
48.9
49. 2
49. 2

48.5
45.9
44. 9
42. 4
48.0
45. 4

.525
.470
. 369
.321
.504
.449

25. 88
23. 12
18.04
15. 70
24. 80
22. 09

25. 45
21.57
16. 14
13. 61
24. 58
20. 38

98.4
93.3
91. 8
86. 7
97.6
92.3

1405

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Time Worked and Earnings, 1929 and 1931, by Department and Occupation
A v e r a g e d a y s , hours, and earnings in 1929 and 1931 and the per
cent that average hours actually worked in one week was of average
full-time hours per week are shown in Table 3 for each of the various
occupations in, the cattle-killing, hog-killing, casing, sausage, and
canning departments of the industry. The other eight departments
and the group of “ miscellaneous wage earners” of all departments
were omitted for lack of space, but will appear later in a bulletin of
the bureau.
The table shows that in 1931 washers and wipers and laborers,
males, with an average of 40.8 cents, earned less, and doormen or
siders, males, with an average of 80 cents, earned more per hour
than was earned by males in any of the other 32 occupations in the
cattle-killing department. In 1929 washers and wipers earned an
average of 47.6 cents per hour, laborers an average of 46.6 cents, and
doormen or siders an average of 88.2 cents per hour. The average
earnings per hour of males in each of the 35 occupations in this de­
partment were less in 1931 than in 1929. Females were employed
in this department as carcass wipers, bruise and tail trimmers,
neck rag inserters or laborers. They, as a group, earned an average
of 28.3 cents an hour in 1931 and 40.6 cents in 1929.
T able 3.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN

F IV E D E P A R T M E N T S OF T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, B Y SE X A N D
O C C U P A T IO N

Cattle-killing department

Sex and occupation

N um - Num- Average
days
Year estab- wage worked
lish- earn­ in 1
week
ments ers

Aver­
age
fulltim e
hours
per
week

H ours actu­
ally worked Aver­ Aver­
age Aver­
age
in 1 week
full­ actual
age
tim e earn­
earn­
mgs
Aver­ Per
per
ings ings
in 1
age cent
per
num ­ of full hour week week
ber tim e

Males
1929
1931
K nockers________ . . - ----------- - 1929
1931
Shacklers or slingers___ _______ 1929
1931
H ead holders -- _____________ --- 1929
1931
Stickers____________________ ____ 1929
1931
H eaders------------------ - ------------- 1929
1931
D roppers and pritchers-up----------- 1929
1931
Foot skinners----- ------- ------------ 1929
1931
1929
Leg breakers___________________
1931
1929
Rippers-open____________________
1931
G ullet raisers________ - ________ - 1929
1931
1929
C aul pullers-.. _________ . . . .
1931
1929
Floormen or siders. . . . ---- -- . . .
1931
B reast or brisket breakers and
saw yers_______ _______________ 1929
1931
Crotch breakers_________________ 1929
1931
D rivers and penners. __________


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

53
47
04
58
37
35
3
5
25
29
51
59
36
37
38
42
57
63
13
15
10
13
25
20
66
70

161
89
85
71
62
56
3
7
36
40
106
95
59
55
85
80
144
143
15
17
12
16
41
25
254
234

5.8
5.8
5.5
5.4
5. 5
5.0
4.7
4.6
5.7
5.4
5.5
5.3
5.3
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.4
5. 1
5.8
5.6
5.7
5. 1
5. 1
5.3
5. 5
5.2

49. 5
49. 0
49.0
48.9
48.4
49. 1
49. 3
49. 3
48. 8
49.4
48.8
49. 1
48. 4
48. 7
48. 4
48. 6
48. 7
48. 7
49. 9
48. 9
48. 5
49. 3
48.9
48. 6
48. 7
48.9

47.8
49. 5
45.0
43. 6
43.3
39. 4
35. 7
35. 3
43. 7
43. 9
44. 8
41. 9
42. 4
39. 5
44. 6
40. 4
43. 1
40.7
48.3
46. 2
44. 1
39. 7
42. 3
43. 9
44. 1
41. 2

41
43
21
21

56
62
29
30

5.6
5.0
5.4
5.1

49.2
48. 9
48. 1
48.2

46.4
39.0
41.3
41.7

96. 6 $0. 528 $26. 14 $25. 26
101.0
.465 22. 79 23.01
. 568 27.83 25.57
91. 8
89.2
.496 24. 25 21.63
89.5
.557 26. 96 24. 14
80.2
.479 23. 52 18.90
72.4
.753 37. 12 26. 87
71.6
.601 29. 63 21.2J
89. 5
.670 32. 70 29. 28
88.9
.542 26. 77 23.80
91.8
.644 31.43 28. 89
.592 29. 07 24. 83
85.3
.532 25. 75 22. 57
87.6
81. 1 .461 22. 45 18. 24
92.1
.568 27. 49 25. 32
83. 1 .479 23. 28 19. 34
88. 5
.580 28. 25 24. 98
.512 24. 93 20. 85
83.6
.582 29. 04 28.14
96. 8
.533 26. 06 24. 65
94.5
.506 24. 54 22. 32
90.9
80. 5 .412 20. 31 16. 38
86. 5 .574 28. 07 24. 26
.470 22. 84 20. 60
90. 3
.882 42. 95 38. 87
90.6
84.3
.800 39.12 32.98
94.3
79.8
85.9
86.5

.544
.499
.536
.488

26. 76
24. 40
25. 78
23. 52

25. 27
19. 47
22.15
20. 34

1406

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 3. —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN

F IV E D E P A R T M E N T S OF T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, BY SE X A N D
O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued

Cattle-killing department—Continued

Sex and occupation

N um ­
ber of
Year estab­
lish­
ments

N u m ­ Average
ber of days
wage worked
earn­ in 1
week
ers

Average
fulltim e
hours
per
week

H our s actually mrked A ver­
in 1 week
age
earn­
ings
Aver­ Per
per
age cent
n u m ­ of full hour
ber tim e

Aver­
age
full­
tim e
earn­
ings
per
week

Aver­
age
actual
earn­
ings
in 1
week

41.6
40.0
43.7
37.1
44. 9
41.8
43. 2
41. 5
42.3
41. 5
43. 1
40.7
44.6
41.4
44.6
39.3
43. 4
41.2
43.6
41. 9
45.8
42. 1
46.8
42. 9
44. 6
42.4

$26. 25
22.14
27.15
24. 16
37. 07
33. 58
33. 19
28. 99
25. 56
22. 93
38. 42
34. 72
29.24
25.38
29. 27
25. 28
34. 62
30. 17
29.16
25. 85
42.81
38. 14
30.67
27. 64
26. 92
22. 32

$22. 40
17. 99
24.15
18. 30
33. 87
28. 58
29.84
24. 61
22. 26
19. 45
34. 03
28.88
26. 72
21. 40
26. 56
20. 24
30. 71
25. 43
25. 97
22.31
40. 25
32. 85
29. 25
24. 50
24. 76
19.15

Males—C ontinued
Hoisters________________________
Tail rippers and p u lle rs -.________
R um pers_______________________
Fell cu tters_____________________
Fell pullers and beaters_________
Backers________________________
G utters and bung droppers______
Shank skinners_________________
H ide droppers__________________
T ail saw yers___________________
Splitters______________ _____ ____
C huck sp litters_________________
Scribers________________________
Trim m ers of bruises, rounds, necks,
skirts, and tails_______________
U tility men 1___________________
W ashers and w ipers_____________
B utchers, g en eral2______________
Tonguers_______________________
Laborers 3______________________
T ru c k e rs.._____________________

Females
Carcass wipers, bruise and tail
trim m ers, neck rag inserters, and
laborers_______________________

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

37
34
33
35
57
59
31
30
22
23
60
55
61
62
19
13
59
65
48
46
65
66
36
37
39
37

97
71
40
44
100
100
75
68
54
42
109
82
112
114
34
25
139
119
82
61
145
123
49
47
52
48

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

41
42
52
47
54
55
(2)
20
33
27
73
67
32
31

145
129
150
77
180
169
(2)
49
41
34
830
603
67
62

5.4
5.1
5.7
5.5
5.4
5.1
(2)
5.6
5.5
5.1
5.3
5.2
5.2
5.3

48.3
48.6
49. 7
48.6
48.8
48.6
(2)
50.4
49.3
48. 3
48.6
49. 0
49. 5
49.6

43.6 90.3
42.0 86.4
47. 4 95. 4
43. 5 89. 5
43.8 89.8
41. 0 84.4
C)
(2)
47. 3 93.8
46. 5 94.3
40. 3 83.4
42. 9 88.3
42.3 86.3
43. 2 87.3
42.2 85.1

.537
.452
.693
.634
.476
.408
(2)
.676
.552
.440
.466
.408
.483
.417

25.94
21.97
34. 44
30. 81
23.23
19. 83
(2)
34. 07
27. 21
21. 25
22. 65
19. 99
23. 91
20. 68

23.40
19.02
32.84
27. 60
20.81
16. 73
(2)
32. 02
25. 70
17. 74
20. 00
17.24
20.86
17.58

1929
1931

7
5

19
16

5.3
3.9

50.0
48.8

42.2
29. 7

.406
.283

20. 30
13.81

17. 12
8. 42

5.2 48.8
5.0 49.2
5.4 49. 1
4.9 48.9
5.6 49. 1
5.3 49. 1
5.5 48. 1
5.3 48.8
5.4 48. 6
5.2 48. 9
5.3 48. 7
5.2 48. 9
5.5 48.9
5.2 49. 1
5.4 49.2
5.0 49.0
5. 4 48. 9
5.2 48. 9
5. 5 49.0
5.3 48. 5
5.6 48. 7
5.3 48.9
5.6 49.0
5. 1 48.4
5.5 48. 5
5.4 49.5

85.2 $0. 538
81. 3
.450
89.0
.553
75.9
.494
91.4
.755
85. 1 .684
89.8
.690
85.0
.594
87.0
.526
84.9
.469
88.5
.789
83.2
.710
91.2
.598
84.3
,517
90. 7
.595
80. 2
.516
88.8
.708
84.3
.617
89.0
.595
86.4
.533
94. 0
.879
86.1
.780
95. 5
.626
88.6
.571
92. 0
.555
85. 7
.451

84.4
60.9

Hog-killing department
Males
Laborers 4.
Shacklers.
Stickers.
Scalders 6.

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

70
70
65
65
64
66
70
66

841
702
145
139
75
80
314
277

5.6
5.5
5.6
5.5
5.8
5.6
5. 7
5.6

49.8 46.4
49.6 44.8
49. 7 44.9
50.7 46. 3
50. 0 48. 2
50. 0 44. 8
50. 2 47. 7
50.4 46.4

93.2 $0. 443 $22. 06 $20. 56
90.3
.400 19. 84 17. 90
90.3
.571 28. 38 25. 62
91.3
.493 25. 00 22.82
96.4
.645 32. 25 31. 08
89. 6
.565 28. 25 25. 31
95. 0
.516 25. 90 24.63
92. 1 .475 23.94 22. 07

1 Included general butchers in 1929.
2 Included as u tility m en in 1929.
3 Includes floor cleaners, m ark heads, spread cattle, tie guts, lau n d ry m en, taggers etc
Includes drivers, penners, steamers, singers, washers, aitchbone breakers, and toe pullers.
6 Includes tubm en, droppers, gamb cutters, polemen, and duckers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1407

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 3.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN

F IV E D E P A R T M E N T S O F T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, BY SE X A N D
O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued

Hog-killing department—Continued

Sex and occupation

N um ­
ber of
Year estab­
lish­
ments

N u m ­ Average
ber of days
wage worked
earn­ in 1
ers
week

H ours actu­
Aver­ ally worked
age
in 1 week
fulltim e
hours Aver­ Per
per
age cent
week num ­ of full
ber tim e

Aver­
Aver­ age Aver­
age
age
full­
earn­ tim e actual
earn­
ings earn­ ings
per
ings
in 1
hour
per
week week

Males—C ontinued
1929
1931
Shavers and scrapers—................... — 1929
1931
1929
Headers .
. . . . ____________
1931
G utters, bung droppers, and rippers-open _______ ____ _____ _ 1929
1931
H am facers......... . . . . _________ 1929
1931
Splitters _______________________ 1929
1931
Leaf lard pullers__________ _____ _ 1929
1931
Leaf lard scrapers________ _____ _ 1929
1931
Bruise trim m ers, head removers,
and kidney pullers_____________ 1929
1931
U tility m en_________ ___________ 1929
1931
Truckers_____________ _______ ___ 1929
1931

55
60
70
70
65
64

137
178
583
645
123
115

5.6
5.5
5.6
5.4
5.8
5.5

50.2 46.1
50.0 43.7
49.9 45.2
50. 1 43. 1
49.8 46.3
50. 1 45.8

70
70
55
64
68
67
60
67
37
37

246
267
65
78
178
182
112
107
69
59

5.8
5.6
5.7
5.6
5.8
5.6
5.6
5.6
5.4
5.3

50.0
50.3
49.9
50. 1
49.9
49.8
49.7
50.0
49.6
49.7

47.7 95.4
45.6 90.7
45.6 91.4
44. 7 89.2
50. 1 100.4
46.5 93.4
45.4 91.3
45.6 91.2
44.3 89.3
41.6 83.7

.602
.527
.580
.533
.654
.583
.525
.470
.468
.412

30. 10
26. 51
28. 94
26. 70
32. 63
29.03
26. 09
23. 50
23.21
20. 48

28. 71
24.03
26. 43
23.81
32. 75
27. 10
23.83
21.47
20. 73
17. 14

50
55
63
56
29
31

112
133
235
193
51
56

5.6
5.6
5.6
5.6
5.4
5.4

50.4
50.5
49.8
49.2
51.0
50.4

46.2
44.4
49.4
47.2
47.4
45.9

91.7
87.9
99.2
95.9
92.9
91. 1

.521
.472
.615
.557
.453
.399

26. 26
23. 84
30.63
27. 40
23.10
20. 11

24. 06
20. 95
30. 38
26. 28
21.46
18.31

K idney pullers, shavers, singers,
neck brushers, and spreaders__ _ 1929
1931

15
19

46
47

5.5
5.2

49.5
48.6

43.6
43.2

88.1
88.9

.357
.296

17. 67
14. 39

15. 56
12. 78

Hookers-on ®____________________

Females

91.8 $0. 500 $25.10 $23. 08
87.4
.444 22. 20 19. 38
90.6
.528 26. 35 23.89
86.0
.480 24.05 20. 68
93.0
.598 29. 78 27. 69
91.4
.538 26. 95 24. 62

Casing department
Males
1929
1931
Strippers______ ________________ 1929
1931
Fatters and slim ers.— ................... - 1929
1931
T urners_______________ _______ _ 1929
1931
Blowers, graders, and inspectors___ 1929
1931
M easurers and bunchers...............
1929
1931
Salters and p a c k e rs _____________ 1929
1931
Trim m ers of casings______________ 1929
1931
Blowers and tiers of bladders and
weasands__ _________________ 1929
1931
General w orkers_________________ 1929
1931
Laborers 7_______________________ 1929
1931
Cleaners and washers of bladders,
weasands, and chitterlings____ _ 1929
1931
Truckers___________ ______ ______ 1929
1931
Casing pullers or runners_________

74
76
61
69
71
72
54
46
58
61
36
38
52
58
59
65

686
714
312
289
598
526
157
98
238
220
88
86
215
177
224
258

5.6
5.5
5.5
5.4
5.5
5.3
5.4
5.3
5.5
5.4
5.7
5.5
5.7
5.7
5.5
5.4

49.2
49.6
49.3
49.1
48.9
49. 1
48.5
48.8
48.9
49. 3
48.8
50. 2
48.8
48.9
49.6
49.0

46.8 95.1 $0. 532 $26.17 $24.89
44.5 89.7
.476 23. 61 21. 16
.498 24. 55 23. 56
47.3 95.9
45. 7 93.1
.429 21. 06 19.58
46.0 94.1
.548 26. 80 25. 25
44.3 90.2
.486 23. 86 21.53
.518 25.12 23. 53
45. 4 93.6
.441 21. 52 19.19
43. 5 89.1
.517 25. 28 24.26
46.9 95.9
.463 22. 83 21.36
46.1 93.5
.512 24. 99 24.48
47.9 98. 2
.440 22. 09 20. 92
47. 5 94.6
48.7 99.8
. 529 25. 82 25. 74
.474 23.18 23.24
49.1 100.4
.538 26. 68 25. 11
46. 7 94.2
44.9 91.6
.469 22.98 21.04

17
11
51
48
39
44

28
17
142
82
154
128

5.4
5.6
5.7
5.7
5.5
5.2

48.3
48.4
49.3
49.2
49. 1
49.3

48.3 100.0
44.8 92.6
50.5 102.4
50.9 103. 5
46.0 93.7
43.3 87.8

.537
.456
.597
.568
.442
.394

25. 97
22. 07
29.43
27. 95
21. 70
19. 42

25.97
20. 41
30.13
28. 92
20. 30
17. 09

53
45
21
22

222
105
62
48

5.4
5.7
5.0
5.5

49. 5
49. 7
49.0
50.4

45.7 92.3
45.2 90.9
43. 1 88.0
46. 5 92.3

.492
.412
.446
.404

24. 35
20.48
21.85
20.36

22. 51
18.61
19. 20
18.78

6 Includes hookers-off, hangers-off, straighteners, and chain feeders.
7 Includes carriers, roustabouts, passers to fatters, barrel rollers, etc.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1408

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 3. —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN

F IV E D E P A R T M E N T S O F T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, B Y SE X A N D
O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued .

Casing department—Continued

Sex and occupation

N um ­
ber of
Y ear estab­
lish­
m ents

N u m ­ Average
ber of days
wage Worked
earn­ in 1
week
ers

Aver­
age
fulltim e
hours
per
week

H ours actu­
ally worked Aver­
in 1 week
age
ear ii_
ings
Aver­ Per
per
age cent
num ­ of full hour
ber tim e

Aver­
age
full­
tim e
earn­
ings
per
week

Aveiage
actual
earn­
ings
in 1
week

Females
1929
1931
S tr ip e r s ------------------- --------------- 1929
1931
T urners_____ _________ _______ 1929
1931
Blowers, graders, and inspectors— 1929
1931
1929
Measurers and bunchers. ______
1931
Salters and packers______________ 1929
1931
Trim m ers of casings ............... ......... 1929
1931
Blowers and tiers of bladders and
weasands
----------------- 1929
1931
General workers 8. ______________ 1929
1931
Cleaners and washers of bladders,
weasands, and chitterlings______ 1929
1931
Casing pullers or runners____

16
13
8
7
7
C
42
38
18
24
9
9
18
13

66
33
38
17
38
11
280
347
49
67
25
14
72
53

5.5
5.2
5.6
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.6
5.5
5.8
5.7
5.7
5.1
5.7
5.2

50.0
48.6
48.8
49.1
48.2
48.2
48.6
48.7
48.5
48. 4
48.6
47.7
48.4
48.6

43.9 87.8 $0. 397 $19. 85 $17.43
.312 15.16 12.37
39.7 81.7
48. 0 98.4
.412 20.11 19. 74
42.1 85.7
.303 14. 88 12. 75
43. 6 90.5
.347 16. 73 15.13
43.7 90.7
.311 14. 99 13. 58
.384 18. 66 17. 62
45.9 94.4
44.9 92. 2
.318 15. 49 14. 27
48. 3 99.6
.394 19.11 19. 01
46. 3 95. 7
.320 15. 49 14. 84
48.0 98.8
.410 19.93 19. 70
45.0 94.3
.299 14.26 13.45
46.6 96.3
.419 20. 28 19.54
43.0 88.5
.296 14.39 12.74

7
4
12
12

24
4
48
38

5.8
6.0
5.7
5.1

48.0
49.5
48.3
48.7

47.6 99.2
49.5 100.0
45.6 94.4
40.8 83.8

.412
.332
.411
.276

19.78
16. 43
19.85
13.44

19.60
16.43
18. 70
11. 25

20
15

185
89

5.5
5.3

48.9
48.7

44.0
37.8

.357
.285

17.46
13.88

15.70
10.78

90.0
77.6

Sausage department
Males
1929
1931
M achine tenders * __________ ____ 1929
1931
Casing workers 10______ __________ 1929
1931
Staffers__ ______________________ 1929
1931
Linkers, tw isters, tiers, and hangers- 1929
1931
Ropers (wrappers and tiers)___
1929
1931
Laborers 11______________________ 1929
1931
Cooks__________________ ________ 1929
1931
Smokers________________________ 1929
1931
Inspectors, packers, scalers, shippers, nailers, and box makers .
1929
1931
U tility m en, assistant foremen,
straw bosses, sub-foremen, h andy
men, small-order m en, and allaround r n e n ........ ................ ............ 1929
1931

40
37
79
78
42
37
81
78
24
22
3
5
75
77
69
71
72
72

195
140
449
382
98
103
447
391
116
70
6
9
977
703
192
204
158
160

5.7
5. 6
5.8
5.6
5.6
5.6
5.8
5.6
5.7
5.6
6.0
6.0
5.7
5.5
5.9
5.7
5.9
5.7

49.2
49.6
50.0
49.4
49.6
49. 2
49.8
49.6
48.8
49.1
51.3
50. 0
49.2
49.7
49.6
49.8
50. 1
52.2

50.2
46.1
52.9
47.8
52.1
45.3
52. 0
46. 1
48.7
45.7
56.8
47.6
51.3
47.0
55.5
51.1
57.5
52.5

66
58

405
313

5.9
5.7

49.0
49.3

51.9 105.9
47.9 97.2

.485
.441

23. 77
21. 74

25. 16
21. 11

67
63

219
181

5.9
5.9

50.2
49.9

52.9 105.4
50.5 101.2

.603
.542

30. 27
27.05

31.85
27. 39

M achine tenders 8_______________

29
24
63
64

42
29
511
483

5.7
5.5
5.6
5.4

48.6 47.8
47. 9 44.3
48.7 45. 5
49. 1 42.3

.354
.306
. 372
.320

17. 20
14. 66
18. 12
15.17

16. 91
13. 58
16. 92
13.53

Truckers and forkers____________

Females

Casing w o rk ers10

...

_________

1929
1931
1929
1931

102.0 $0.452 $22. 24 $22.72
92.9
.416 20. 63 19.19
105. 8
.531 26.55 28.05
96.8
.476 23. 51 22.77
105.0
.475 23. 56 24.72
92. 1 .421 20.71 19.08
104.4
.578 28.78 30.03
92.9
.522 25. 89 24.02
99.8
.500 24.40 24.38
93.1
.447 21.95 20.44
110.7
.602 30.88 34.16
95.2
.472 23.60 22.44
104.3
.456 22.44 23.42
94.6
.400 19.88 18.77
111.9
.515 25.54 28.59
102.6
.468 23.31 23.91
114.8
. 540 27.05 31.02
100.6
.493 25. 73 25.89

98.4
92.5
93.4
86.2

8 Includes fatters, slimers, and laborers.
9 Includes cutters, choppers, grinders, mixers, curers, feeders, spicers, and rockers.
10 Includes washers, turners, re-turners, measurers, cutters, tiers, and fatters.
11 Includes roustabouts, ham -cylinder washers, cleaners-up, ham pressers, hangers, cooks’ helpers,
smokers’ helpers, truckers of cages or bikes, etc.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1409

WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR
m ,nTlr q _A V ER A G E h o u r s a n d e a r n i n g s i n f i v e d e p a r t m e n t s o f
S l a u g h t e r i n g a n d m e a t - p a c k i n g i n d u s t r y , 1929 a n d 19 3 1 , b y s e x
O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued

the
and

Sausage department—Continued

Sex and occupation

N um ­
ber of
Year estab­
lish­
ments

H ours actu­
Aver­
ally worked Aver­ age Aver­
in 1 week
age
full­ age
earn­ tim e actual
ings earn­ earn­
Aver­ Per
per
ings ings
in 1
age cent hour
per
n u m ­ of full
week week
ber tim e

N u m ­ Average
ber of days
wage w orked
earn­ in 1
week
ers

Aveiage
full­
tim e
hours
per
week

5.7
5.4
5.6
5.4
5.6
5.5
5.3
5.0
5.6
5.6
5.5
5.3

48.7
50. 7
49. 0
49. 0
48.6
49. 5
49.0
50. 1
48.8
48.8
48. 3
48.4

45.5
41.0
46.6
42.8
46. 2
41.8
45. 1
42. 0
45. 6
45.8
44. 9
44. 1

Females—Continued
1929
1931
Linkers, tw isters, tiers, and hangers. 1929
1931
1929
Ropers (wrappers and tiers)........
1931
1929
Cooks_______________________
1931
1929
Packers 12____________________
1931
1929
G eneral workers 13------------------1931

Stuffers______________________

96
20
50
■17
81 1,170
79 1,100
129
12
118
15
6
5
4
6
642
02
62
547
43
248
79
30

93.4 $0.378 $18.41 $17. 24
80. 9 .361 18. 30 14.81
95. 1 .377 18. 47 17. 56
87. 3 .327 16. 02 14. 00
95. 1 .383 18. 61 17. 73
.343 16. 98 14. 34
84.4
.345 16. 91 15.57
92.0
.281 14.08 11. 80
83.8
.342 16. 69 15.60
93.4
.299 14.59 13.71
93.9
.351 16. 95 15.78
93.0
91.1
.296 14.33 13.03

Canning department
Males
15
13

62
26

5.9
5.2

48.4
47.8

57.4 118.6 $0. 512 $24. 78 $29. 40
. 461 22.04 20.41
44.3 92. 7

7
13
7
6
6
4

15
26
30
19
16
18

5.7
5.5
5.6
5.5
5.4
3.8

48.4
48.7
48.4
48.6
49.7
49.0

52.0
50. 1
47.3
48.6
56.4
27.7

107.4
102. 9
97. 7
100.0
113. 5
56.5

.479
.455
.471
.425
.500
.452

23. 18
22. 16
22. 80
20. 64
24.85
22.15

24. 95
22.80
22. 27
20. 64
28.20
12.53

52
55
8
13
23
24
16
17

200
169
14
37
132
141
68
84

5.8
5.7
5.9
5.5
5.8
5. 6
5.6
5.1

49.0
49. 6
51.0
49. 9
48.8
49.4
49.0
49.1

51.0
49. 7
51.3
45. 7
48.6
46. 4
50.6
41.3

104.1
100. 2
100.6
91.6
99.6
93.9
103. 3
84.1

.502
.430
.450
.449
.461
.426
.484
.444

24. 60
21. 33
22. 95
22. 41
22. 50
21. 04
23. 72
21.80

25. 61
21.37
23. 11
20.51
22. 42
19. 75
24. 50
18. 35

2
3
19
22
9
9
16
19
27
27

2
7
130
74
42
44
291
128
376
166

5.0 46.5
5.4 46. 3
5.8 46.8
5.8 48.8
6.0 49. 1
5.4 47. 9
5.2 48. 2
5. 4 47. 6
5.6 48. 1
5.4 49. 1

42.3
46.6
51. 2
51. 0
53. 7
47. 4
45.5
46.0
49.6
48.5

91.0
100. 7
109.4
104.5
109.4
99. 0
94. 4
96.6
103. 1
98.8

.456
.423
.522
.502
.500
.477
.465
.410
.453
.398

21. 20
19. 58
24. 43
24. 50
24. 55
22. 85
22. 41
19. 52
21. 79
19. 54

19.28
19. 72
26. 74
25. 58
26.86
22.61
21.14
18.89
22.48
19. 29

1929
1931
1929
1931

3
6
5
8

30
32
41
126

5.4
4.4
5. 0
5.3

48.4
46.9
47.2
49.4

44.0
33.5
45.2
41. 6

90.9
71. 4
95. 8
84.2

.363
.329
.392
.306

17. 57
15. 43
18. 50
15.12

1929
1931
Stuffers (meat in to cans by h a n d ).. 1929
1931
Packers (sliced bacon and chipped
dried beef in cans, glass jars, or
cartons, by h a n d )------- ------------- 1929
1931

17
21
7
8

63
75
53
101

5.7
. 5.0
5.8
5.0

49.0
47. 5
47.3
49.2

46.2
39.8
44. 8
39.4

94.3
83.8
94. 7
80.1

.360
.325
. 375
.316

17. 64
15. 44
17. 74
15. 55

16. 63
12.92
16.80
12.45

60 1,341
66 1,286

5. 6
5. 5

48.8
48.9

44. 8 91. 8
43. 1 88.1

.354
.325

17. 28
15.89

15. 87
13.98

1929
1931
Steam tenders, process m en, and
retort m en_____________________ 1929
1931
Passers and pilers, cans---------------- 1929
1931
Trim m ers, m eat (by h a n d )----------- 1929
1931
M achine tenders (preparing and
stuffing m eat into cans)________ 1929
1931
Stuffers (meat into cans b y hand)__ 1929
1931
Packers and nailers— ------ ----------- 1929
1931
C appers______________ ____ - ......... 1929
1931
M achine tenders, w ashing and
painting--------------- ------------------ 1929
1931
1929
General w orkers-------- ------------1931
Inspectors_______________________ 1929
1931
T ruckers and forkers-------------------- 1929
1931
Laborers 14______________________ 1929
1931

Cooks---- ----------------------------------

Females
Passers and pilers, cans---------------Trim m ers, m eat (by h a n d )_______
M achine tenders (preparing and
stuffing m eat into cans)--------

16.00
11.01

17.71
12. 74

n Includes w rappers, inspectors, taggers, tiers, and packers’ helpers.
13 Includes labelers, laborers, box m akers, sorters, and u tility women.
h Includes roustabouts, clean-up m en, cooler m en, cook’s helpers, shovers, and washing m achine helpers.


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1410

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Table 3 . —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN

F IV E D E P A R T M E N T S O P T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, B Y S E X A N D
O C C U P A T IO N —Continued

Canning department—Continued

Sex and occupation

N um bei of
Year estab­
lish­
m ents

N u m ­ Average
ber of days
wage worked
earn­ in 1
ers
week

Aver­
age
full­
tim e
hours
per
week

H our s actuAver­
ally vmrked
A ver­
in 1 week Aver­ age
age
age
full­
earn­ tim e actual
earn­
ings earn­
Aver­ Per
per
ings ings
age cent hour
in 1
per
n u m ­ of full
week
week
ber tim e

48.9
49.2
49. 5
49. 1
48. 0
49.5
48. 0
48.5
47.1
48. 9

46.4
43.3
39.6
35.1
44.3
45.6
45.1
41.3
45. 1
43. 8

Females—Continued
W eighers (filled cans)_____
W ipers (filled cans)_______
Cappers__________________
Labelers and w rappers_____
General workers 15_________

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

135
238
4
11
28
8
163
102
308
102

5.8
5.6
5.3
4.8
5. 7
5.8
5.6
5.4
5.6
5.5

94.9 $0.358 $17. 51 $16. 60
88.0
.314 15. 45 13. 58
80. 0 .349 17. 28 13. 81
71.5
.362 17. 77 12.71
92.3
.325 15. 60 14.42
92.1
.339 16. 78 15.45
94.0
.381 18. 29 17. 21
85.2
.309 14. 99 12. 76
95. 8 .374 17. 62 16. 84
89.6
.342 16. 72 14. 98

15 Includes cooks, inspectors, and laborers.

Time Worked and Earnings, 1929 and 1931, by Sex and State

T able 4 shows for the wage earners of each sex and State, or group
of two States, and of both sexes combined in each State or group of
two States, average days, hours, and earnings, and the per cent of
full time worked in one week in 1929 and 1931. Averages are shown
for groups of two States to avoid presenting figures for one establish­
ment only, thus possibly revealing its identity.
Average hours actually worked by males in one week in 1931 were
more in California and Pennsylvania, and less in all other States and
groups of States than in 1929. Such averages ranged bv States and
groups of States from 46.0 to 55.9 in 1929 and from 39.5 to 53.7 in 1931,
and for all States combined averaged 48.5 in 1929 and 45.9 in 193L
Average hours actually worked by females in one week in 1931 were
more in California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and the
group of Florida and Georgia, and less in all other States and groups
of States than in 1929. Averages ranged by States from 41.3 to 52 9
in 1929 and from 36.7 to 49.9 per week in 1931, and for all States
combined averaged 44.9 hours per week in 1929 and 42.4 in 1931.
Average earnings per hour of males ranged by States and groups of
States from 32.5 to 58.8 cents in 1929 and from 28.6 to 52.5 cents in
1931, and for all States combined averaged 52.5 cents in 1929 and
47.0 cents in 1931. Average earnings per hour of females ranged by
States from 21.4 to 40.5 cents in 1929 and from 16.1 to 37.2 cents in
1931, and for all States combined averaged 36.9 cents in 1929 and 32.1
cents in 1931.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1411

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 4.—A V E R A G E H O U R S, A N D E A R N IN G S , IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T ­
P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, BY SE X A N D S T A T E

A ver­
N u m ­ N u m ­ nage
um ­
ber of
of ber of
Y ear estab­ ber
wage
days
lish­
m ents earners worked
in 1
week

Sex and State

A ver­
age
fulltim e
hours
per
week

H ours
actually
w orked in
1 week

A ver­
Aver­ age
full­
age
earn­ tim e
ings earn­
ings
per
per
hour
week

A ver­ Per
cent
age
n u m ­ of
full
ber
tim e

A ver­
age
actual
ings
in
1
week

Males
- ----

California____________

Colorado___________ ________
C onnecticut and M assachusetts1
Florida and Georgia 1 ___
Illinois____ ______
In d ia n a .

- ..

. .
.. - _

Iow a____________ ___________
K ansas______________ _
M aryland____

_ _______

M ichigan - -

______

_ __
_____

M innesota and South D a k o ta 1__
M issouri________________ ____
N ebraska-

_______

_____

.-

N ew Jersey and New York >____
Ohio and W est Virginia L . . . .
O klahoma

_____

_________

Oregon and W ash in g to n 1-.

--.

P e n n s y lv a n ia ________________
Texas___ _____________________
W isconsin- . . . .

..

______

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

T o tal__________________ 1929
1931

4
4
2
2
4
4
3
3
14
14
2
2
7
7
8
8
3
3
3
2
5
5
4
5
4
4

947

7
4
4
2
2
4
4
3
3
5
5
2
2

930
401
504
1,275
908
232
190
14, 264
11,252
1,733
1,513
4,879
5, 279
6,309
4,859
668
504
1,012
583
5,342
5,493
2,643
2,444
3, 723
3,586
2 2,190
2,293
1, 293
864
1,123
740
645
550
742
466
2,064
1,400
1,311
1,165

90
90

52,796
45,523

27

98.1 $0.553 $26.49 $25.98
105. 2
.498 23.80 25.06
101.2
.537 27. 66 28.02
.525 25. 36 26. 05
102.7
98.3
.535 28. 09 27. 62
87.4
.496 26. 78 23. 44
.325 18. 01 15.72
87.2
79.1
.286 15. 87 12. 56
.553 26.54 27.27
102.7
97.3
.488 23.81 23.19
.459 22. 03 21.24
96.5
.392 18. 74 15.50
82.6
.463 24.08 21.94
91.0
.438 21.51 20.01
93.1
.518 24. 86 24.54
98.5
.448 21.55 19.82
92.1
102.4
.478 26.10 26. 72
.489 26.31 25.90
98.3
91.8
.537 32. 22 29. 61
82.1
.465 26.97 22.15
.517 24. 82 24. 26
97.7
92.8
.475 23. 66 21.98
.517 24. 87 24. 64
99.2
.471 23.08 22.19
96.3
.533 25.58 24. 55
95.8
87.7
.456 21.89 19. 22
2 93.7 2 .588 229.05 227. 20
.519 27.14 22. 72
83.7
93.9
.509 27.44 25.75
96.3
.494 25. 29 24.34
99.6
.479 23.04 22.93
90.9
. 416 19. 22 17. 48
.583 28.63 28. 94
101.0
.498 24.35 23.41
96.1
98.3
.556 30.08 29.58
102. 7
.473 24. 74 25.36
99.0
.481 23.62 23.39
87.1
.444 21.36 18.63
104.1
.566 29.21 30. 39
103 3
.498 23. 95 24. 71

5.7 47.9
5.8 47.8
5.8 51.5
5.9 48.3
5.8 52.5
5.8 54.0
5.7 55.4
4.9 55.5
5.7 48.0
5.7 48.8
5.8 48.0
5.6 47.8
5.8 52.0
5.6 49.1
5.7 48.0
5.4 48.1
5.8 54.6
5.8 53.8
5.7 60.0
5.5 58.0
5.7 48.0
5.6 49.8
5.8 48.1
5.6 49.0
5.6 48.0
5.3 48.0
2 5.3 249.4
' 5.3 52.3
5.7 53.9
5.8 51. 2
5.6 48.1
5.1 46.2
5.8 49.1
5.4 48.9
5.8 54.1
5.7 52.3
5.7 49.1
5.2 48.1
5.8 51.6
5.7 48.1

47.0
50.3
52.1
49.6
51. 6
47.2
48.3
43.9
49.3
47.5
46.3
39.5
47.3
45.7
47.3
44.3
55.9
52.9
55.1
47.6
46.9
46.2
47.7
47.2
46.0
42.1
246.3
43.8
50.6
49.3
47.9
42.0
49.6
47.0
53.2
53.7
48.6
41.9
53.7
49.7

5.7
5.5

49.3
49.2

48.5
45.9

98.4
93.3

.525
.470

25.88
23.12

25.47
21.57

5.7
5.8
5.6
5.5
5.4
5.7
4.3
4.8
5.6
5.5
5.7
5.6
5.7
5.5
5.6
5.3
5.8
5.8
5.2
5. 5
5.6
5.3

47.8
47.7
48.1
48.0
49.2
49. 1
55.8
55.9
47.7
48.9
48.0
47.9
52.6
49. 7
48.0
48.0
55.0
47.8
54.3
54.0
48.0
49.4

45.1
46.2
43.4
39.9
41.3
40.5
42. 7
43.4
46.3
43.4
43.6
36.7
45.4
44.5
44. 1
41.7
52.9
49.9
44.0
44. 7
44.3
40.8

94.4
96.9
90.2
83.1
83.9
82.5
76.5
77.6
97.1
88.8
90.8
76.6
86.3
89.5
91.9
86.9
96. 2
104.4
81.0
82.8
92.3
82.6

.373
.372
.328
.332
.339
.319
.214
. 161
.405
.359
.275
.257
.319
.293
.395
.318
.290
.286
.329
.293
.365
.307

17.83
17.74
15.78
15.94
16. 68
15. 66
11.94
9.00
19. 32
17.56
13. 20
12.31
16. 78
14. 56
18. 96
15. 26
15. 95
13. 67
17. 86
15. 82
17. 52
15.17

16. 82
17.16
14. 22
13. 25
14. 01
12.93
9.14
6. 99
18. 73
15. 60
12. 00
9. 44
14. 51
13. 05
17. 40
13.24
15. 34
14. 30
14. 49
13. 11
16. 18
12.54

Females
California_____

_____________

Colorado______ ______ ______
C onnecticut and M assachusetts1
Florida and Georgia 1 _________
Illinois__________ _________ _
In d ia n a .............................. ..............
Iow a_____________ _____
K ansas- .

- -

__________________

M ary lan d ____________________
M ichigan----------------------- . . .
M innesota and South D akota 1

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

4
4
2
2
4
4
2
2
12
10
2
2
7
7
8
8
2
2
3
2
5
5

171
216
74
105
267
205
24
23
2, 538
2, 214
328
312
769
973
1,045
922
141
114
332
189
815
818 1

• Shown together to avoid presenting d ata for 1 establishm ent in 1 State.


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2 New' York only.

1412

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 4.—A V E R A G E H O U R S , A N D E A R N IN G S , IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T ­
P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1929 A N D 1931, BY S E X A N D S T A T E —C ontinued

Sex and State

A ver­
age
N um ­ N um ­
ber of ber of n u m ­
b
er of
Y ear estab­
wage
days
lish­ earners
worked
m ents
in 1
week

A ver­
age
full­
tim e
hours
per
week

Hours
actually
worked in
1 week
Per
Aver cent
age
of
n u m ­ full
ber tim e

A ver­
A ver­ age
age
full­
earn­ tim e
ings earn­
per
ings
hour
per
week

A ver­
age
actual
earn­
ings
in
1

week

Females—C ontinued
M issouri____________________
N eb rask a___________________
N ew Jersey and New York L__
Ohio and W est Virginia 1_____
O klahom a___________________
Oregon and W ashington 1_____
Pen n sy lv an ia________________
Texas_______________________
W isconsin_______ ____________
T o ta l__________________

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

4
5
4
4
24
5
4
4

2
2

563
539
2 300
324
230
160
154
125
85
63
93
107
366
214
259
188

1929
1931

83
82

8 , 803
8 , 032

5. 6
5.4

48.9
48.9

44.9
42.4

91.8
86.7

.369
.321

38.04
15. 70

16. 54
13.61

4
4

1,118
1,146
475
609
1,542
1, 113
256
213
16, 802
13, 466
2,061
1,825
5, 648
6, 252
7, 354
5,781
809
618
1,344
772
6,157
6,311
2,892
2,665
4, 286
4,125
2 2, 490
2, 617
1,523
1, 024
1,277
865
730
613
835
573
2, 430
1,614
1,570
1,353

5.7
5.8'
5.7
5.8
5. 7
5.8
5.6
4.9
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.6
5.8
5.6
5.7
5.4
5.8
5.8
5.6

5.6
5.5
5.8
5.6
5.6
5.2
2 5.3
5.3
5.7
5.8
5.5
5. 1
5.8
5.4
5.7
5. 7
5.6
5.2
5.8
5.7

47.9
47. 7
50.9
48. 2
52. 0
53. 1
55. 5
55. 5
48.0
48.8
48. 0
47.8
52. 1
49. 2
48. 0
48. 1
54. 7
52. 7
58.6
57.0
48.0
49.7
48. 1
49.0
48.0
48.0
2 49. 2
52. 1
53. 2
50.9
48. 1
46. 2
49.0
48. 6
53. 9
51.8
49. 0
48. 1
51. 2
48. 1

46. 7
49.6
50. 8
48. 0
49.8
46. 0
47.8
43.8
48.9
46. 8
45.9
39.0
47. 1
45. 5
46.9
43.9
55. 3
52.4
52.4
46.9
46.6
45.5
47.4
46.8
45. 7
41. 7
45. 7
43.4
49.9
48. 3
47. 5
41. 7
48.9
46. 3
52.0
52. 3
48. 0
41. 7
52. 2
49.1

97. 5
104. 0
99.8
99. 6
95.8
86. 6
86. 1
78.9
101. 9
95. 9
95.6
81.6
90.4
92.5
97.7
91.3
10 1 . 1
99.4
89.4
82. 3
97.1
91.5
98. 5
95. 5
95. 2
86. 9
2 92. 9
83.3
93.8
94.9
98.8
90.3
99.8
95. 3
96. 5
86. 7
102 . 0
10 2 . 1

.527
.476
. 509
.497
.507
.467
.316
.273
.532
.468
.431
.370
.445
.416
. 502
.428
.447
.454
.494
.425
.498
. 456
.507
.460
.513
. 439
2. 564
. 494
.485
.468
.459
.394
. 561
. 484
. 541
. 443
.459
.423
.543
.475

25. 24
22.71
25.91
23. 96
26. 36
24.80
17. 54
15. 15
25. 54
22. 84
20. 69
17. 69
23. 18
20. 47
24.10
20. 59
24. 45
23. 93
28. 95
24.23
23. 90
2 2 . 66
24. 39
22. 54
24. 62
21.07
2 27. 75
25. 74
25. 80
23. 82
22.08
18. 20
27. 49
23. 52
23. 16
22. 95
22. 49
20. 35
27. 80
22. 85

24. 58
23. 57
25. 87
23. 84
25. 27
21. 50
15.10
11.96
25. 98
21. 94
19. 77
14. 46
20. 92
18. 93
23. 52
18. 77
24. 74
23. 76
25. 87
19. 94
23.19
20. 75
24. 03
21. 53
23. 47
18. 32
25.81
21. 45
24. 22
22 . 63
21. 78
16. 45
27.43
22. 38
28. 09
23.16
22 . 02
17. 64
28. 36
23. 33

61, 599
53, 555

5.7
5.5

49. 2
49. 2

48.0
45.4

97.6
92.3

.504
. 449

24. 80
22. 09

24. 18
20. 38

249
221

2
2

4
4
3
3
5
5

5.8 48.0 44.8
93.3 $0. 395 $18.96 $17. 67
5.4 49. 2 42.8
87.0
.331 16. 29 14.18
5.5 48.0 43.5
90.6
.374 17. 95 16. 28
5.1 48.0 39. 1 81.5
.314 15. 07 1 2 . 28
2 5. 3 2 47. 7 241. 7 2 87.4
2. 375 217. 89 215. 63
5. 2 50. 3 40.3
80. 1
.309 15. 54 12. 46
5.6 49.6 46.0
92. 7
.338 16. 76 15. 58
5.7 49. 1 43.3
8 8.2
.310 15. 22 13.44
5.4 48.0 44. 3
92.3
.302 14. 50 13. 38
5.0 46.3 40. 1 86.6
.258 11. 95 10. 36
5.8 47.9 43. 2
90.2
.371 17. 77 16. 04
5.0 46. 6 39.8
85.4
.335 15. 61 13. 34
5.3 51.8 42. 1 81.3
.386 19. 99 16. 24
5.7 50.0 46.5
93.0
.292 14. 60 13. 56
5.4 48.4 44. 5
91.9
.322 15. 58 14. 32
5. 1 48. 3 40.3
83.4
.277 13. 38 11.18
5.8 49.4 44.8
90. 7
.404 19. 96 18.10
5.7 48.0 45. 4
94.6
.325 15. 60 14.76

Males and females
California____________________
Colorado___________ _________
C onnecticut and M assachusetts!
Florida and Georgia 1_________
Illinois_______________________
In d ia n a ______________________
Iow a____________________ ____
K ansas________ ______________
M ary lan d____________________
M ichigan____________________
M innesota and South D akota L
M isso u ri-.____ _______________
N ebraska____________________
New Jersey and New Y ork 1___
Ohio and W est Virginia 1______
O klahom a____________________
Oregon and W ashington 1______
Pennsylvania_________________
Texas________________________
W isconsin_____________
TotaL

1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931

2
2

4
4
3
3
14
14
2
2

7
7
8
8

3
3
3
2

5
5
4
5
4
4

27

7
4
4
2
2

4
4
3
3
5
5
2

90
90

-

5. 5

1 Shown together to avoid presenting d ata for 1 establishm ent in 1 State,


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

10 1.0

98.0

2 N ew Y ork only.

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1413

Time Worked and Earnings in Selected Occupations and Departments, by
Districts

T able 5 shows average days, hours, and earnings, and the per cent
of full time worked in one week in 1931, by department, district, and
sex for wage earners in four representative occupations in the cattle­
killing, hog-killing, and casing departments, for three in the sausage
department, and for two in the canning department The table is
abridged to conserve space. Similar figures will be published later
in a bulletin of the bureau for each of the occupations in each of the
13 departments covered in the study of the industry. The districts
are eight in number, as follows:
District 1 includes 11 plants in Chicago, 111.
District 2 includes 17 plants in East St. Louis, 111.; Kansas City,
Kans.; St. Joseph and St. Louis, Mo.; and Omaha, Nebr.
District 3 includes 17 plants in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, South
Dakota, and Wisconsin.
District 4 includes 7 plants in Oklahoma and Texas.
District 5 includes 13 plants in Indiana, Michigan, western New
York, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
District 6 includes 9 plants in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, eastern New York, and eastern Pennsylvania.
District 7 includes 6 plants in Florida, Georgia, and Maryland.
District 8 includes 10 plants in California, Colorado, Oregon, and
Washington.
Leading part of the figures for leg breakers, male, in the cattle­
killing department, in explanation of the table, it is seen that—
Days worked in one week for all districts combined averaged 5.1
and the average of 3.9 for district 6 was less and of 5.8 for district 1
was more than the average for any of the other 6 districts.
Hours actually worked in one week for all districts combined
averaged 40.7 and that the average of 25.1 for district 6 was less and
of 50.4 for district 1 was more than the average for any other district.
The per cent of full time actually worked in one week was 83.6 for
all districts combined and the 51 per cent for district 6 was less and of
103.5 for district 1 was more than the per cent of full time worked in
any other district. It is seen that in districts 2, 4, 5, and 6, there was
considerable part-time work. On the other hand there was some
overtime in district 1.
Earnings per hour for all districts combined were 51.2 cents and
the average of 44.6 cents for district 4 was less and of 92.1 cents for
district 6 was more than the average for any other district.
120148°— 32—-—11


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1414

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 5 . —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN 17 S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1931, B Y D E P A R T M E N T SE X
A N D D IS T R IC T
’

Cattle-killing department
Leg breakers, male

N um ­
ber of N u m ­
estab­ ber of
wage
lish­
m ents earners

D istrict

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Total.

H ours ictually
Average Average worke d in 1
Average
num ber full­
we ek
Average full­
of days tim e
earn­
tim e
worked hours
ings per earn­
in 1
per Average Per cent hour ings per
week
week
week
num ber of full
tim e

Average
actual
earn­
ings in
1 week

7
14
14
6
9
3
3
7

24
. 38
30
12
16
10
4
9

5.8
5.0
5.7
4.7
4.1
3.9
5.0
5.6

48.7
48.0
49.1
47.3
50.3
49.2
52.0
48.0

50.4
39.0
45.1
37.4
29.2
25.1
49.2
46.3

103.5
81.3
91.9
79.1
58.1
51.0
94.6
96. 5

$0. 508
.478
.493
.446
.503
.921
.502
.544

$24. 74
22.94
24. 21
21.10
25. 30
45.31
26. 10
26.11

$25. 61
18. 62
22. 25
16. 68
14. 67
23. 07
24.69
25. 21

63

143

5.1

48.7

40. 7

83.6

.512

24. 93

20.85

Floorm en or siders, male
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Total.

7
15
16
6
10
3
4
9

46
72
44
18
21
13
6
14

5.4
5.1
5.4
5.0
4.9
4.2
5.8
5.9

48. 7
48.2
49.0
47. 7
51.2
49.4
53.7
48.0

45.9
39.5
42.1
39.9
35.2
27.8
53.0
50.1

94.3
82.0
85.9
83. 6
68.8
56.3
98.7
104.4

$0. 852
.761
.793
.752
.741
1. 238
.674
.765

$41. 49
36. 68
38.86
35. 87
37. 94
61.16
36.19
36. 72

$39.13
30.04
33. 36
30. 02
26. 05
34.48
35.69
38. 32

70

234

5.2

48.9

41.2

84.3

.800

39.12

32.98

Splitters, male
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

1_____________________
2__________ _ _______
3 _ -------------------_
4_-_ _________________
5___ _____ ______ _
6 . _____ ____________
7_____________________
8 __
_____ ____.

6
15
16
7
7
3
4
8

18
41
25
11
8
6
5
9

5.7
5.1
5.3
5.1
5.0
4.0
5.6
6.0

49.3
48.1
49.0
47.8
50.5
51.0
53.8
47.7

48.8
40.5
42.7
38.9
35.5
27.2
49. 1
50.2

99.0
84.2
87. 1
81.4
70.3
53.3
91.3
105.2

$0. 825
.764
.746
.699
.815
1.345
.515
.826

$40. 67
36. 75
36. 55
33. 41
41.16
68.60
27. 71
39.40

$40. 24
30. 95
31. 90
27. 21
28. 96
36. 54
25. 26
41.49

T o tal________________

66

123

5.3

48.9

42.1

86.1

.780

38.14

32.85

Laborers, male 1
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

1_____________________
2 _____________ _______
3 ___ __________ . . . . .
4 .
.
.......
5 _
...
. . . .
6__________________
7 . ..
____________
8_______ _____ ____ . .
T o t a l . _____

____

7
14
14
6
8
3
6
9

105
186
130
49
49
30
20
34

5.6
5.0
5.5
4. 9
4.7
4.4
5.4
5.6

49.5
48.0
49.0
47.4
51.3
49. 2
55.0
47.7

49.1
40.6
43.4
41. 2
30.2
31.0
48.6
51.5

99. 2
84.6
88.6
86.9
58.9
63.0
88.4
108.0

$0. 436
.402
.401
.358
.375
.608
.284
.419

$21. 58
19.30
19. 65
16.97
19. 24
29.91
15.62
19.99

$21. 39
16. 29
17.43
14. 74
11. 33
18. 82
13.83
21.56

67

603

5.2

49.0

42.3

86.3

.408

19. 99

17.24

1 Includes floor cleaners, m ark heads, spread cattle, tie guts, laundrym en, taggers, etc.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1415

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 5.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN 17 S P E C IF I E D O C C U P A T IO N S IN T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1931, B Y D E P A R T M E N T , SE X ,
A N D D IS T R IC T —C ontinued

Hog-killing department
Laborers, male 2

D istrict

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

N um ­ N um ­
ber of
of
estab ­ ber
wage
lish­ earners
m ents

H ours ictually
Average Average worke d in 1
Average
Average full­
num ber full­
we ek
earn­
tim e
of days tim e
ings per earn­
worked hours
per Average Per cent hour ings per
in 1
week
week num ber of full
week
tim e

Average
actual
earn­
ings in
1 week

1________ ____________
2___________ _ ---------3_____________________
4_____________________
5_____________________
6_______ ____________
7_____________________
8___________ __________

7
17
17
2
12
6
2
7

85
156
305
3
91
40
8
14

5.6
5.4
5.4
6.0
5.6
5.8
6.1
5.6

50.7
48.3
48.6
46.0
51.4
55.7
54.3
47.8

50.8
42.9
43.6
48. 7
41.3
53.7
49.0
47.7

100.2
88.8
89.7
105.9
80.4
96.4
90.2
99.8

$0.418
.416
.388
.355
.390
.409
.337
.430

$21.19
20.09
18.86
16. 33
20. 05
22.78
18. 30
20. 55

$21. 23
17. 84
16. 93
17. 29
16. 09
21.96
16. 49
20. 52

T o ta l_______ ________

70

702

5. 5

49.6

44.8

90.3

.400

19. 84

17. 90

Shavers and scrapers, male
N o. 1 . . . ________ _________
N o .2____________
N o. 3_____________________
N o. 4________________ ____
N o. 5___- ___________ - N o. 6_____________________
N o. 7_____________________
N o. 8_______ _____________

7
17
17
4
12
5
2
6

61
139
235
5
143
31
14
17

5.6
5.4
5.5
5.4
5.2
5.4
5.9
5.8

49.2
48.4
49. 1
46.4
52.4
55.9
54.2
48. 0

46. 1
42.0
44.4
47.7
37.8
47.7
52. 1
48.7

93.7
86.8
90.4
102.8
72.1
85.3
96.1
101.5

$0. 505
.484
.464
.461
.486
.478
.501
.534

$24.85
23. 43
22.78
21.39
25.47
26.72
27.15
25.63

$23. 28
20.32
20.60
22. 01
18. 37
22. 78
26.09
26.00

T o tal_______________

70

645

5.4

50.1

43.1

86.0

.480

24.05

20.68

G utters, b ra g droppers, and rippers-open, male
N o. 1_____________________
N o. 2_____________________
N o. 3_____________________
N o. 4_____________________
No.5_ .........................
No.6__ _______ _ ___ ____
No. 7_____________________
No. 8_____________________
T o ta l_______________

6

33
58
89
4
43
28
4
8

5.8
5.4
5.6
5. 0
5.5
5.6
5.3
5.6

50.4
48.2
49. 0
47. 0
52.3
55.9
54.5
48. 0

48.1
42. 8
47. 2
45.9
42.2
48.8
39.3
47.9

95.4
88.8
96.3
97.7
80.7
87.3
72.1
99.8

$0. 538
.521
.520
.481
.523
.542
.595
.551

$27. 12
25. 11
25. 48
22.61
27. 35
30.30
32. 43
26. 45

$25. 85
22. 30
24. 57
22. 06
22.05
26. 46
23. 39
26. 38

70

267

5.6

50.3

45.6

90.7

.527

26.51

24.03

95.0 $0. 622
.562
95.9
.571
97. 1
94.8
.543
80.3
.581
.599
91. 3
.643
108. 5
. 628
92.7

$31. 16
27. 26
28.04
26.06
29.75
33. 12
34.91
30. 14

$29. 63
26. 16
27.27
24.72
23. 88
30.25
37. 84
27.92

29.03

27.10

7
16
17
3
13
5

3

Splitters, male
N o. 1________ * ___________
N o. 2____________ - ___ _
N o. 3_____________________
N o .4_________________ . . .
N o .5______ _______ _______
N o .6
______________
N o. 7________________: ____
No. 8_____________________
T o ta l_______________

7
17
16
3
12
5
2
5

28
45
59
3
30
9
3
5

5.6
5.6
5.6
5.3
5.6
5. 7
6. 0
5. 4

50. 1
48.5
49. 1
48. 0
51.2
55.3
54.3
48.0

47.6
46.5
47.7
45.5
41. 1
50.5
58.9
44.5

67

182

5.6

49.8

46.5

93.4

.583

2Includes drivers, penners, steam ers, singers, w ashers, aitchbone breakers, and toe pullers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1416

MONTHLY LABOE REV IEW

T able 5 —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN 17 S P E C IF I E D O C C U P A T IO N S IN T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1931, BY D E P A R T M E N T , S E X ,
A N D D IS T R IC T —C ontinued

C a sin g s d e p a r tm e n t
Casing pullers or runners, male

D istrict

No.
N o.
N o.
N o.
N o.
N o.
N o.
No.

N um ­ N um ­
ber of
of
estab ­ ber
wage
lish­ earners
m ents

H ours actually
Average Average worked in 1
Average
week
Average full­
num ber full­
earn­
tim e
of days tim e
ings per earn­
w orked hours
in 1
per Average Per cent hour ings per
week
week
week num ber of full
tim e

Average
actual
earn­
ings in
1 week

1_____________________
2- ..............................
3_____________________
4_____________________
—
5____ -- -6_____________________
7_____________________
8_____________________

8
17
16
7
11
7
3
7

109
177
216
26
88
56
18
24

5.7
5.4
5.7
5.0
5.4
5.3
5.1
5.4

49.3
48.3
49.0
47.5
51.5
53.6
54.7
47.8

47. 2
42. 5
47.4
40. 1
37.8
43.7
49. 1
47. 0

95.7
88.0
96.7
84.4
73.4
81.5
89.8
98.3

$0. 483
.462
.484
.453
.435
.537
.415
.520

$23. 81
22.31
23.72
21.52
22. 40
28. 78
22.70
24. 86

$22.82
19. 65
22. 96
18.16
16. 44
23. 49
20.38
24. 40

T otal ______________

76

714

5.5

49.6

44. 5

89.7

.476

23.61

21.16

Strippers, male

N o. 7_____________________
N o. 8_____________________

6
15
16
5
10
6
3
8

55
73
89
10
29
16
3
14

5.8
5.2
5.5
4.9
5.1
5.5
5.3
5.9

49.7
48. 2
48.7
46.4
50.2
52.9
53.0
47.6

48.9
42. 3
47.5
41.0
39.3
48.3
49.6
51.5

98.4
87.8
97.5
88.4
78.3
91.3
93.6
108.2

$0.440
.432
.411
.399
.421
.462
.362
.483

$21.87
20. 82
20.02
18.51
21.13
24. 44
19.19
22. 99

$21. 51
18. 27
19. 53
16. 36
16. 56
22. 30
17. 97
24. 85

T o t a l _______________

69

289

5.4

49.1

45.7

93.1

.429

21.06

19. 58

N o. 1____________________ N o .2 _
No. 3_____________________
N o. 4
N o. 5 -

F a tte rs and slimers, male
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

1_____________________
2_____________________
3_____________________
4_____________________
5_____________________
6_____________________
7____________________
8 --------- - ----------------

6
17
14
6
12
5
3
9

91
163
122
29
44
43
9
25

5.4
5.3
5.6
4.9
5.1
4.7
5. 1
5.6

48.9
48.1
49.2
47.5
52.6
50.4
52.9
47.8

46.8
42.5
47.9
39.4
42.6
37.2
44. 9
50.1

95.7
88.4
97.4
82.9
81.0
73.8
84.9
104.8

$0. 509
.477
.476
.461
.458
.548
.437
.507

$24.89
22.94
23.42
21.90
24.09
27. 62
23.12
24. 23

$23.81
20. 30
22.77
18. 18
19. 54
20. 34
19.63
25.42

T o tal________________

72

526

5.3

49.1

44.3

90.2

.486

23.86

21.53

•
$18.56
14. 83
14. 35

$17. 02
13.70
13.86

Blowers, graders, and inspectors, female
No.
No.
No.
N o.
N o.
No.
No.

1_____________________
2_____________________
3_____________________
4_____________________
5_____________________
6_____________________
8_____ _______________
T o tal. '

__________

8 D ata included in total.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4
13
11
1
5
2
2
38

81
66
145

0

32
18
4

347

5.6
5.5
5.6

49.1
48.0
48.8

5.3
5.5
6.0

49.9
48.0
47.3

0

5. 5

45.1
44.3
47. 1

91.9
92.3
96.5

0

0

38.7
40.3
47.3

0

77.6
84.0
100. 0

0

.272
.335
.401

13. 57
16.08
18.97

48.7

44.9

92.2

.318

15.49

$0. 378
.309
.294

0

0

10. 52
13.49
18.97
14. 27

1417

WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR

T able 5 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN 17 S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1931, BY D E P A R T M E N T , SE X ,
A N D D IS T R IC T —C ontinued

S a u s a g e d e p a rtm e n t
M achine tenders, male 4

D istrict

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

N um ­ N um ­
ber of
of
estab­ ber
wage
lish­
earners
m ents

H ours actually
Average Average w orked in 1
Average
week
num bei full­
Average full­
earn­
of days tim e
tim e
worked hours
ings pei earn­
in 1
per Average Per cent hour ings per
week
week
full
week
num bei of
tim e

Average
actual
earn­
ings in
1 week

1________________ ____
2- 3_____________________
4_____________________
5-._
0_______________ . . . _
7_____________________
8_____________________

7
16
17
7
13
6
3
10

67
89
97
32
44
19
10
24

5.7
5.3
5.8
5.4
5.5
6.0
5.8
5.8

49.1
48.3
48.9
47.2
51.6
54.0
54.3
49.3

46.7
45.4
46.8
49. 1
50.2
51.8
57.8
50.6

95.1
94.0
95.7
104.0
97.3
95.9
106.4
102.6

$0.475
.478
.452
.392
.509
.582
.545
.492

$23.32
23.09
22.10
18.50
26.26
31.43
29. 59
24.26

$22. 20
21.70
21.15
19.25
25. 57
30.17
31. 51
24.87

T o t a l _____________

78

382

5.6

49.4

47.8

96.8

.476

23.51

22. 77

90.9 $0. 566
94.2
.509
92.8
.490
96.6
.500
100.8
.512
82. 2
.558
96.3
.451
99.0
.548

$27.45
24.48
24. 35
23.80
25. 24
30. 47
24. 53
26. 58

$25. 00
23.04
22. 60
22. 99
25.46
25.03
23.66
26. 32

25. 89

24. 02

Stuffers, male
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

1_____________________
2____________ _______
3_____________________
-------4___
5_. __
. .
... .
6-__ ___ ______ ----7_____________________
8- ________________ _ _
T otal

_____________

7
16
17
6
12
6
4
10

74
92
83
19
40
48
12
23

5.4
5.3
5.8
5.5
5.5
5.9
5.6
5.8

48.5
48. 1
49.7
47.6
49.3
54.6
54.4
48. 5

44. 1
45.3
46. 1
46.0
49.7
44.9
52.4
48.0

78

391

5.6

49.6

46. 1

92.9

.522

Linkers, tw isters tiers, and hangers, male
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

1_____________________
2_________ _ _____ __
3_____________________
_______
5 ---_____
6_____________________
7_____________________
8 ___________________

3
5
3
6
2
2
1

13
28
6
12
7
3
(3)

5.6
5. 5
6.0
5.3
6.0
5.3
0

47.5
48.4
49.0
48.6
54.0
54.7
0

45.2
46.8
45.4
44. 1
44. 7
49.7
0

95.2
96.7
92. 7
90.7
82.8
90.9
0

$0.454
.475
.382
.419
.471
.364
0

$21. 57
22. 99
18. 72
20.36
25.43
19.91
0

$20. 55
22.24
17.34
18.49
21.05
18. 12
0

T otal- ______________

22

70

5.6

49. 1

45.7

93.1

.447

21.95

20.44

$18. 73
16.76
14. 67
14.85
14. 56
16. 97
15. 56
16.47

$16. 82
14.88
12.14
12. 80
13.15
13.92
13.06
15.10

16. 02

14. 00

Linkers, twisters, tiers, and hangers, female
N o.
N o.
No.
N o.
N o.
N o.
No.
No.

1_____________________
2_____________________
3_____________________
4_____ ______ - ___
5__________ ____ _
_
6_ _ _ 7_____________________
8____________________
Total-

_

7
15
17
7
13
6
4
10

166
242
284
61
141
77
48
81

5.6
5.3
5. 5
5. 1
5.3
5.8
5.6
5.6

49.3
48.3
49.4
47.9
49.2
50.8
49.3
47.6

44.2
42. 9
40.8
41.2
44.4
41.6
47.4
43.6

79

1,100

5.4

49. 0

42.8

89.7 $0. 380
88.8
.347
82. 6
.297
86.0
.310
90.2
.296
' 81.9
.334
96. 1
.275
91. 6
.346
87.3

3 D ata included in total.
4 Includes cutters, choppers, grinders, mixers, curers, feeders, spicers, and rockers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

.327

1418

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 5 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN 17 S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN T H E
S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1931, B Y D E P A R T M E N T , SE X ,
A N D D IS T R IC T —C ontinued

Canning department
Packers, female 5

N um ­ N um ­
ber of ber of
estab­ wagelish­
ments earners

D istrict

N o.
N o.
N o.
No.
N o.
No.
N o.
N o.

Hours actually
Average Average work« d in 1
num ber full­
w ek
Average
earn­
of days tim e
worked hours
ings per
in 1
Per cent hour
per
week
week Average
full
num ber of
tim e

Average
full­
tim e
earn­
ings per
week

Average
actual
earn­
ings in
in 1
1 week

1_____________________
2_____________________
3_____________________
4_____________________
5 -,
_ ____________
6_______________ _____
7_____________________
8________ _________. . .

7
13
17
7
9
4
3
6

302
314
290
119
84
70
17
90

5.7
5.2
5.6
5.0
5.7
5.8
5.7
5.7

48.9
48.0
50.0
47. 5
50.4
50.3
49. 5
47.7

46. 5
42.9
41.2
38. 5
43.4
41. 6
51.9
43.7

95.1
89.4
82.4
81. 1
86. 1
82.7
104. 8
91. 6

$0. 385
.315
.295
.261
.272
.301
.236
.392

$18. 83
15.12
14. 75
12.40
13.71
15.14
11.58
18. 70

$17.90
13.49
12.16
10.07
11.08
12. 52
12. 26
17.12

T o tal_______________

66

1,286

5.5

48.9

43.1

88.1

.325

15.89

13.98

Labelers and wrappers, female
No.
No.
No.
No.
N o.
No.

1____________ _____ _
2._
_______________
3____________ _____ ____
4_____________________
5_____________________
6 ............. ..........
T otal

_________ .

.

4
5
6
5
7
3

60
18
21
6
52
5

5.1
5.5
6.0
5.2
5.4
5.2

47.8
48.0
50. 3
48. 0
48. 6
50.4

39.6
45.3
46. 1
40. 5
40.3
37.7

82.8
94.4
91.7
84.4
82.9
74. 8

$0. 366
.361
.262
.266
.253
.289

$17. 49
17. 33
13. 18
12. 77
12. 30
14. 57

$14.48
16. 34
12. 09
10. 76
10. 20
10.88

30

162

5.4

48.5

41.3

85.2

.309

14. 99

12.76

5 Includes sliced bacon and chipped dried beef in cans, glass jars, or cartons, b y hand.

Regular Full-Time Hours Per Week and Day, 1931
T a b l e 6 shows regular or customary full-time hours per week and
per day (Monday to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), by States, for
all departments covered in the 1931 study. Data are given in this
table by departments rather than by establishments for the reason
that the regular hours differ as between the several departments in a
number of establishments. The 90 establishments canvassed had an
aggregate of 1,007 departments.
Full-time hours per week ranged from 40 in 1 department to 60 in
35 departments. Hours per day ranged from 8 to 11 on Monday to
Friday and from 4 to 11 on Saturday. The hours of 679 departments
were 8 per day, Monday to Saturday, or 48 per week, and of 1 depart­
ment were 8 per day, Monday to Friday, with no work on Saturday,
or 40 per week.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

O F D E P A R T M E N T S IN E A C H S T A T E W IT H S P E C IF IE D N U M B E R OF F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E E K A N D P E R D A Y , 1931

55______________
45______________
55______________
54______________
57A -----------------58---------------------

8
8
8
8
8
28
38
9
9
29
39

9Yi
*9A

9A
29A

39
9
29
38
29
39
10
10
2 10
38
2 10
3 10
10
10
10
11
2 10
39
2 10
39
2 10
3 10

60______________
49‘A ____________
60______________
54______________
60______________
54_________ ____
T o tal ___
i W ork 8 hours on T hursday.


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

4A
5

25

2

\

W isconsin

Texas

Pennsylvania

O re g o n a n d
W ashington

Oklahoma

Ohio and W est
Virginia

N ew Jersey and
N ew York

N ebraska

M issouri

M innesota and
South D akota

M ichigan

Kansas

Iowa

1
72

52

95

50

52

29

8

1
8
3

1

-

>
Ì

13

13

13

5
7

13

46

25

11

2

13

3
1

13
1

1

3

7
2
8
15
2
6

4

4

7
2
8

6

3

1
2

2

6

1

-

r— 45

8

8

ì

25
2 Females.

34

16

138

24

85

95

32

25

1
35
33
679
1
1
1
33
3
12
9
95
20
4
16
10
2

4

2

h —

2 Males.

45

4
9

3
10

ì

12

12
9
22
10

•

22

11
1
12
1

7A

34A

1
11
13

3

25
35
9
29
38
29
38
5
45
25
35
25
34

2 10
39
2 10
34

Indiana

11
10
92
1

1
J — -■
Ì

8
10
5
2 10

Illinois

F lo rid a and
Georgia

C onnecticut and
M assachusetts

1
10
34

25

4A
5

Colorado

California

0
4
5
8
5
28
35

65

63

52

72

47

25

49

32

58

25

4 W ork 10 hours on Saturday for 6 m onths, the rem aining 6 m onths no Saturday work; yearly average, 5 hours.

1,007

1419

39
9
29
38
29
39
10
10
2 10
38
2 10
310
10
10
10
11
2 10
39
2 10
39
2 10
310

S aturday

F riday

8
8
8
8
19
28
38
9
9
29
39

WAGES AND HOURS OE LABOR

_____
44
45
_____
48______________
48______________
48______________
45______________
49A ____________
50______________
50______________
49H____________
52A ____________
52A ________
50______________
54______________
54______________
48______________
54______________
53______________

M o n d a y to
T hursday

F ull-tim e hours
per week

M aryland

N um ber of departm ents in—

Full-tim e hours per day

T otal departm ents

|

T able 6 .—N U M B E R

1420

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

W a ge-R ate C h an ges in A m erican In d u strie s
Manufacturing Industries

ATA concerning wage-rate changes in 89 manufacturing indus­
tries included in the monthly employment survey of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics are presented in the following table.
Of the 18,254 manufacturing establishments furnishing employment
data in April, 17,625 establishments, or 96.6 per cent of the total,
reported no change in wage rates during the month ending April 15,
1932. The employees whose wage rates were reported unchanged
over the month interval totaled 2,709,502, comprising 97.1 per cent
of the total number of employees included in this survey of manufac­
turing industries.
Decreases in rates of wages were reported by 628 establishments, or
3.4 per cent of the total number of establishments reporting. These
decreases, averaging 10.8 per cent, affected 82,063 employees, or
2.9 per cent of all employees in the establishments reporting. An
increase in wage rates, averaging 10 per cent and affecting all em­
ployees was reported by one establishment in the bolt and nut
industry.

D

T able 1.—W A G E

C H A N G E S IN

In d u stry

All m anufacturing industries___
Per cent of to tal______
Slaughtering and m eat packing - - .
C o n fe ctio n ery .______ _____
__
Ice cream _______________ _ __ .
F lo u r__
_ _
. _
B ak in g ...
Sugar refining, cane. . . ._ _______
B eet sugar__
Beverages..
. .
....
_ .
B u tte r ..
_.
..
_
C otton goods . . . .
.
__
Hosiery and k n it goods___ .
....
Silk goods. . . .
.. .
_____
Woolen and w orsted goods. . . .
Carpets and r u g s ... . . . . .
D yeing and finishing textiles.
Clothing, m en’s . ____
__
Shirts and collars____
C lothing, wom en’s ________
M illinery. .
________
_ ...
Corsets and allied garm ents.
C otton sm all wares___. . . .
___
H ats, fur-felt.
___ _ .
M en’s furnishings_____
Iron and steel.
...
. . .
Cast-iron p ip e ...
Structural and ornam ental ironw ork.
H ardw are.
_.
_
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating ap p aratu s__ _
Stoves__ _ 5 ..* '..- . .
. .. .. .
Bolts, nuts, washers, a n d riv e ts .. . . .
C utlery (not including silver and
plated cutlery) and edge t o o l s . __
Forgings, iron and steel. . .
P lum bers’ supplies____
_____ . .
1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
E N D IN G A P R IL 15, 1932

E stab ­
Total
lish­
ber
m ents num
of
em­
report­ ployees
ing

N um ber of establish­
m ents reporting—•

D U R IN G

M ONTH

N um ber of employees
having—

W age W age No wage Wage Wage
No
in­
de­
in­
wage
de­
changes creases creases changes creases creases

18,254 2,791,626
100.0
100.0

17,625
96. 6

231
343
395
456
937
16
48
343
270
613
448
270
252
36
151
379
112
407
144
32
114
38
75
221
43
193
] 13

81,979
31, 701
12,160
16,506
63’ 220
7,957
2, 254
10,132
5,331
194,901
100, 783
39.665
42,068
14.274
35, 587
55,460
13,890
28,522
10,269
5,893
10, 709
4,710
5, 746
202j 075
6, 863
18, 563
24,060

225
333
389
451
916
16
48
341
261
592
433
284
239
36
145
373
108
403
140
30
107
38
74
216
40
182
104

113
160
69

18, 051
15| 484
8,872

111
149
67

130
62
66

10,577
5,815
4,590

128
62
61

i
(>)

628 2,709,502
97.1
3.4
6
10
6
5
21

9

80,457
30,623
11,994
A 365
61,438
7,957
2,254
10i 069
5,181
188j 234
96,782
39,392
40,041
14,274
34,372
54,601
13,656
28,166
9,732
5, 599
10, 518
4,710
5, 734
197,985
6,423
17, 681
23,032

2
11
1

18.032
14,482
8,768

2

10,461
5,815
4,417

2
9
21
15
6
13
6
6
4
4
4
2
7
1
5
3
h

i

5

61
(>)

82,063
2.9
1, 522
1, 078
166
141
1,782
63
150
6, 667
4¡ 001
273
2, 027
1, 215
859
234
356
537
294
191
12
4,090
440
882
1,028

61

19
1,002
43
116
173

1421

WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
T able 1.—W A G E

C H A N G E S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
E N D IN G A P R IL 15, 1932—Continued

In d u stry

T in cans and other tinw are........... .......
Tools (not including edge tools, ma­
chine tools, files, or saw s)_________
W irew ork________________________
L um ber, saw m ills____ ____________
Lum ber, m illw ork_________________
F u rn itu re _________________________
T urpentin e an d ro s in ._____ ________
L eather___________________________
Boots a nd shoes___________________
P aper and p u lp ___________________
Paper boxes_______________________
P rinting, book and jo b_____________
Printing, new spapers a n d periodicals.
Chemicals________________________
Fertilizers_________________________
Petroleum refining_________________
C ottonseed oil, cake, a n d m eal______
D ruggists’ preparations____________
Explosives________________________
P aints a n d v a rn is h e s ...................... .
R ay o n ___________________________
Soap___________ __________________
C em ent_______ _____ _____________
Brick, tile, a n d terra cotta__________
P o tte ry ___________________________
Glass_____________________________
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone
products________________________
Stam ped an d enam eled w are_______
Brass, bronze, an d copper p ro d u c ts...
A lum inum m anufactures___________
Clocks, time-recording devices, and
clock m ovem ents________________
Gas a nd electric fixtures, lam ps, lan ­
terns, a n d reflectors______________
P lated w are_______________________
Sm elting an d refining—copper, lead,
and zinc________________________
Jew elry___________________________
Chewing a n d smoking tobacco and
snuff_________ __________________
Cigars a nd c ig a re tte s ...____________
A utom obiles______ _______ ____ ____
A ircraft___________________________
Cars, electric a n d steam railroad____
Locomotives_____________ ____ ____
Shipbuilding______________________
R ubber tires an d inner tu b es_______
R ubber boots and shoes____________
R ubber goods, other th a n boots,
shoes, tires, and inner tu b e s______
A gricultural im plem ents_____ _____ _
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and
supplies_________________________
Engines, turbines, tractors, and w ater
wheels_______________ __________
Cash registers, adding m achines, and
calculating m achines____________ _
F ou n d ry an d m achine-shop products.
M achine tools_____________________
Textile m achinery an d p a rts ______
T ypew riters an d supplies__________
R adio__________________ __________
Electric-railroad repair shops_______
Steam-railroad repair shops_________


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

E stab ­
Total
lish­
ber
ments num
of em ­
report­ ployees
ing

N um ber of establish­
m ents reporting—

D U R IN G

M ONTH

N um ber of employees
having—

No
W age Wage No wage Wage Wage
in­
wage
de­
in ­
de­
changes creases creases changes creases creases

56

7,603

51

5

127
71
667
463
492
21
174
328
420
325
760
467
111
204
123
54
40
22
371
22
82
126
704
121
190

7,822
5,329
61,335
20,232
45,237
!, 051
25,291
109,204
81,239
22,116
55, 583
71, 940
20, 697
12, 390
49, 545
2, 377
7, 648
2, 832
15, 994
26, 757
12, 981
14, 642
20, 382
15,183
35, 549

120
69
613
448
470
21
165
322
406
321
726
451
110
199
114
53
37
11
349
22
79
116
688
109
186

7
2
54
15
22
9
6
14
4
34
16
1
5
9
1
3
11
22

235
89
203
25

6, 245
13, 795
29,315
5, 253

225
80
193
25

10
9
10

22

4, 532

22

55
55

5,197
7,677

54
54

1
1

5,128 _____
7,665 _____

69

25
158

8,134
8, 668

23
153

2
5

7,728 _____
8,595 _____

406
73

37
224
246
31
34
15
92
40
10

10, 038
46,924
224, 508
5, 721
5,235
3, 668
33, 704
45,170
10,931

37
222
236
30
32
15
89
39
10

99
69

18,494
7,242

92
65

7
4

17,870 _____
7,038 _____

624
204

287

136,935

274

13

134,593 ...........

2, 342

77

16,102

74

3

15,135 _____

967

48
1,089
155
36
18
44
406
509

15, 502
115, 756
13, 634
6, 858
10, 756
15, 049
22.901
78, 056

46
1, 045
150
35
18
43
399
507

2
44
5
1

3
10
16
12
4

7,503 _____
6,653
5,256
54,023
18,832
44,148
1,051
24.532
108,011
77,339
21,950
53,496
70, 575
20,629
12,028
41,102
2,364
6,196
1,802
14,308
26,757
12,917
13,537
19,804
13,895
35,199

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

5,978
12,867
28,281
5,253

_____
_____
_____
_____

100

1,169
73
7,312
1,400
1,089
759
1,193
3,900
166
2,087
1,365
68

362
8,443
13
1,452
1,030

1,686
64
1,105
578
1,288
350

267
928
1,034

4.532 _____

2
10
1
2
3
1

1
7
2

10,038
46,818
222,627
5,698
4,906
3,668
33,071
44,642
10,931

15,321
111,994
13,488
6,846
10,756
14,499
22,448
77,936

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

_____
_____
_____
_____
____ _
_____
_____
_____

12

106
1, 881
23
329
033
528

181
3,762
146
12

550
453
120

1422

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Nonmanufacturing Industries

I n t h e following table are presented data concerning wage-rate
changes, occurring between March 15 and April 15, 1932, reported
by establishments in 14 nonmanufacturing groups included in the
bureau’s monthly survey of employment.
Increases in rates of wages were reported in only 1 of the 14 groups
shown in the following table, one establishment in the retail trade
group reporting an increase in wage rates over the month interval.
Decreases in wage rates were reported in each of the 14 groups, with
the exception of anthracite mining in which no change in wage rates
was shown. The lowest average per cent of decrease in wage rates,
4.1, was reported in the telephone and telegraph group, while the
highest average per cent of decrease, 15.7, was reported in the dyeing
and cleaning group. The average per cent of decrease in the remain­
ing groups ranged from 7.4 per cent in crude petroelum producing
to 13.5 per cent in the canning and preserving.
T able 3 .—W A G E C H A N G E S IN N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S D U R IN G M O N T H
E N D IN G A P R IL 15, 1932

In d u stry

E sta b ­ Total
num ­
lish­
m ents ber of
em ­
report­
ployees
ing

160
Anthracite m ining................ ...........
Per cent of total_____________ 100. 0
Bituminous coal mining-------------- 1, 237
Per cent of total_____________ 100. 0
262
Metalliferous m ining.......................
Per cent of total_____________ 100. 0
619
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining.
Per cent of total_____________ 100. 0
Crude petroleum producing--------266
Per cent of total_____________ 100.0
Telephone and telegraph_________ 8, 215
100.0
Per cent of total....... ................
Power and light________________ 3, 541
Per cent of total_____ _______ 100.0
Electric railroad operation and
maintenance, exclusive of car
491
shops.................. ............................
Per cent of total_____________ 100.0
Wholesale trade............................. — 2,786
Per cent of total_____________ 100. 0
Retail trade____________________ 13, 223
Per cent of total_____________ 100.0
2, 264
Hotels_____ __________________
Per cent of total—-------- --------- 100.0
820
Canning and preserving_________
Per cent of total_____________ 100.0
Laundries_____________________ 1,004
Per cent of total_____________ 100. 0
404
Dyeing and cleaning____________
Per cent of total.------------------ 100.0

N um ber of establish­
m ents reporting

N um ber of employees
having

No
Wage Wage
No
WTage Wage
in ­
de­
inwage
wage
de­
changes creases creases changes creases creases

95,851
100. 0
162, 745
100.0
27, 714
100. 0
21, 866
100. 0
21, 735
100.0
287, 876
100.0
223, 200
100.0

160
100.0
1,166
94.3
237
90.5
587
94.8
264
99.2
7, 821
95.2
3,486
98.4

71
5.7
25
9.5
32
5.2
2
0.8
394
4.8
55
1.6

149, 616
91.9
25, 638
92.5
20,871
95.4
21,714
99.9
283, 564
98.5
216, 639
97.1

13,129

132, 645
100. 0
73, 253
100. 0
347, 094
100.0
136, 646
100. 0
32, 977
100.0
60, 785
100.0
12, 337
100.0

479
97.6
2,714
97.4
13, 160
99.5
2,246
99.2
772
94. 1
989
98.5
400
99.0

12
2.4
72
2.6
62
0.5
18
0.8
46
5.6
15
1.5
4
1.0

129,494
97.6
71, 756
98.0
345, 762
99.6
134, 979
98.8
31, 224
94.7
60,110
98.9
12, 261
99.4

3,151
2.4
1, 497

95, 851

i
0

100. 0

8.1

2,076
7.5
995
4.6
21

0.1

4,312
1.5
6, 561
2.9

2.0

1,323
0. 4
1,667

1.2

1, 751
5.3
675

1. 1
76
0.6

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

W age C h an ges R eported b y T rad e-U n ion s S in ce February, 1932

and municipal wage changes reported to the bureau
during the past month and covering the months of February to
U NION
May are presented in the table following.
The number of workers covered is 38,264, of whom 19,289 were
reported to have gone on the 5-day week.
No renewals of wage agreements were reported.

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

1423

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S, B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , F E B R U A R Y
TO M A Y , 1932
H ours per week

R ate of wages
In d u stry or occupation, and locality

D ate of
change

Before
change

Before After
After change change change

Per week
Bakers, M iddletow n, C o n n ............................B arbers:
Cleveland, O h io ..------ --------------E ast G rand Forks, M in n ---------------------Quincy, M ass.............................
—
B uilding trades:
Bricklayers—
Centralia, 111-------------------------------Elizabeth, N . J., a n d v ic in ity --------Evansville, In d ., and v ic in ity --------Fostoria, Ohio------- --------- ............ .
Geneva, N . Y --------- ----------- --------N ew ark, N . J ., a n d v ic in ity --............St. Louis, M o., and v icin ity----------Schenectady, N . Y ., and v ic in ity —
Stockton, Calif--------- --------- ----------Carpenters—
C entralia, 111------- -----------------------Colorado Springs, Colo-----------------Evansville, I n d ........... .............. .............
Geneva, N . Y . . . ------- ------------------Lenox, M ass--------------------------------Lindsay, Calif------- ------ — ---------M orristow n, N . J ., a n d vic in ity -----Norw ich, C onn----------------------------P ittsfield, M ass---------------------------Rochester, N . Y ., a n d v ic in ity-------Schenectady, N . Y -----------------------C em ent finishers, N ew ark, N . J -----------Electrical workers—
A lbany, N . Y ........................... ..............
Geneva, N . Y ------ -----------------------M adison, W is............ ................ ............
Schenectady, N . Y ------ ----------------T roy, N . Y -----------------------Elevator constructors, C incinnati, O hio.
H elpers---------------------------------------H od carriers and laborers—

Christopher, 111------------------- -----------Geneva, N. Y ............. ...............- --........Lathers, Madison, Wis------------------ ------Painters, decorators, and paperhangers—
Centralia, 111................----------- -------- Denver, Colo., and vicinity, sign and
pictorial painters— ..............................
Geneva, N .Y --------------------- - --....... Hannibal, Mo....... ...... 7 -.--.----------------Jacksonville, 111., and vicinity-----------Palo Alto, Calif-----------------------------St. Louis, Mo., and vicinity...................
San Mateo, Calif-....................................
Worcester, M ass.........- ...........................
Plasterers—
Centralia, 111— ......... ----------------------Cincinnati, Ohio, and vicinity-----------Elizabeth, N . J., and v icinity...............
Geneva, N. Y ------------ -------------------Madison, W is-----------------------------—
Newark, N . J., and vicinity--------------San Francisco, Calif------------------ -----Schenectady, N . Y -------------------------Plumbers and steamfitters—
Aurora, 111., and v icinity.----------------Centralia, 111______________________
Chicago, 111., sprinkler fitters...............
Geneva, N .Y _____________________
Lockport, N .Y -----------------------------Minneapolis, M inn------------- -----------1 A nd
2 A nd
2 A nd
i A nd

60 per cent
60 per cent
60 per cent
60 per cent

of receipts
of receipts
of receipts
of receipts


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

over $38.
over $37.
over $35.
over $32.75.

Per week

8

$40.00

$30.00

48

M ar. 31
M ar. 1
...d o ___

128.00
3 25.00
« 30.00

2 26.00

54
58
62

Apr.

Per hour
A pr.
M ar.
M ar.
A pr.
A pr.
M ar.
A pr.
A pr.
A pr.

1
25
22
4
1
15
22
1
8

1.50
1.93%
1.50
1. 50

1.37}4
1.93%
1. 75
1.65
1.50

« 22.75
6 25.00

Per hour

1.00

1. 25
1.23%
1. 68r
1. 50
1.37%
1. 25

1.00

1.25
1. 26%
1.37%
1.93%

1. 00

A pr. 11
A pr. 1
...d o ___
A pr. 11
...d o ___
M ay 1
...d o ___

1.35

1. 20

1. 12%

1. 01%
1.20
1.20
1.20

M ar. 1
A pr. 1
...d o ___

1.00

1.00

1.12%
1.00
1.50
1. 10

1.40
1.37%
1.25
1.49
1.04

40
44
40
40
40

.90

Apr. 1
A pr. 14
A pr. 1
..d o ___
M ar. 1
M ar. 15
A pr. 1
M ar. 21
A pr. 1
..d o ----A pr. 5
M ar. 15

1.12%
1.25

44
40
44
44
40
40
40
40
44

1.35
1.68%

1.00

.85
.95
1.00

. 87}/
1. 25
.95

(7) 40

(7)

40
40
40
40
40

1.00

1. 25
1.685-

40
40
40
40
40
40
40

1.33%
.93

.65
1.50

• 62%
.85
.60
1. 37%

40
40

.75

.d o -----

1- 12%

1.01

40

..d o ___
..d o ___
Feb. 22
A pr. 1
M ar. 1
A pr. 15
M ar. 1
...d o —

1.37%
.87%

1. 25
.90
.80
.75

1. 12%

1.00

1.50

1.25
1.00
.95

40
40
44
44
40
40
40
40

Apr. 1
M ar. 1
M ar. 25
A pr. 1
...d o ___
M ar. 15
Apr. 11
A pr. 1

1.50
1. 62%
1.93%
1.37%
1. 37%
1.93%
1. 37%
1.65

1.35
1.37%

1.50
1.25
1.70

1.25
1.12%
1. 37%
1. 01%

M ar.
Apr.
M ar.
A pr.
Feb.
M ar.

1
1
11
1
24
15

1.00
1.00

1-12%
1.12%

1.12%
1.18%
1.12%

1. '
1. 23%
1. 25
1.68‘
1.10

1.37%

1.00

1.00

44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40

44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40

40
44
44
40
44
40

40
44
40
40
44
40

5 A nd 50 per cent of receipts over $40.

6 A nd 50 per cent of receipts over $32.
7 N o t reported.

40
40
44
44
40
40
40
40

1424

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S, BY IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , F E B R U A R Y
TO M A Y , 1932—C ontinued
R ate of wages
In d u stry or occupation, and locality

B uilding trades—C ontinued.
Roofers—
E lm ira, N . Y ___________ _____
St. Louis, M o ________________
Sheet-m etal workers, Geneva, N . Y.
Structural-iron workers—
C incinnati, Ohio, and v ic in ity ..
E lm ira, N . Y ., and v ic in ity___
Chauffeurs and team sters:
H am m ond, I n d ._____ ___________
M onterey, Calif.

D ate of
change

Apr. 1
- Apr. 15
Apr. 1
M ay
Apr.

Per hour

40
44
44

40
40
40

1.40
1. 374

1.25
1. 25

40
40

40
40

.70

Feb. 10
Apr. 10

Per day
5. 55

Per week

39. 53
0

M ar. 1
___do_
-__do_

M ay
Feb.
M ay
M ar.

2
1
1
1

Per hour
'•l1ì5

' N o t reported.


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

30.00
30.00
25.00

0

Per week

M ar. 1
-__do_

45. 00
48. 00

Per month
Per week

24.50
50 00
51 00
50.00

0

48

48

48
0

48
0

44,4
44,4
44,4

44.4
44,4
444

Per hour

0

55. 00
59. 00

150 cents a day reduction.

35. 58
(8)

Per week

M ay 8
___do_

Feb. 1
do
__ do
. . . d o ___

5. 00

.60
. 65
.35

30. 25
33.00
(r)
27.50

0

Per week

.45

__ do
loo oo-fioo no
Apr. 15 75.00-300. 00

Sacramento, Calif., State-printing p la n tB indery w om en__________________
Bookbinders______________________
Compositors______________________
Pressm en_____________________

.58

Per day

33.00
33. 00
27. 00

R ailw ay workers, N ewark, Ohio:
Per hour
f
.73
Carm en and helpers, car cleaners, and pre­
.57
parers____ ____________________________ Feb. 1
[
.44
Pipe fitters______________________________ Apr. 1
.80
Street railw ay workers, 1-man car and coach
operators:
Toledo, Ohio—
F irst 6 m onths_________________ ______ M ar. 16
.57
N ext 6 m onths____ _________________ ___do__
.59
Thereafter___________________________ ___do__
.62
Youngstown, Ohio_______________________ Apr.
.65
1
M unicipal:
Los Angeles, C alif.
O ttaw a, 111_______

Per hour
$1.00
1.17 4 -1 . 30
.90

----- do.

St. Louis, M o., furniture and piano movers.. Apr. 14 {
l
Salem, Oreg_______________________
Feb. 17
San Francisco, Calif________________
Apr. 4
Clothing:
Boot and shoe workers, W hitm an, M ass.
F u r workers, Brooklyn, N . Y __________
H a t makers, New York, N . Y _________
F u rniture, upholsterers, Chicago, 111_______
Prin tin g and publishing:
Compositors and machine operators—
Columbus, Ohio—■
N ewspaper, d a y _______________
Newspaper, n ig h t_____________
H untington, W . Va.—
D ayw ork_____________________
N ightw ork____________________

Before After
After change change
change

$1. 25
1. 374-1. 50
.95

1
1

M ar. 15

N ew Y ork, N . Y ., railway-express drivers.
O akland, Calif_________________________
Sacramento, Calif.—
B uilding-m aterial team sters_________
L um ber clerks______________________
L um ber pilers______________________

Before
change

H ours per week

51
51
60
0

17.01
30. 00
0

54
54
60
0

22. 00

48
44
44
44

30
40
40
44

55.00
59. 00

48
48

45
45

48
48

48
48

.72

32
32
32
32

40
40
40
40

.50
.52
. 55
• 584

54
54
54
70

54
54
54
70

0
0

Per hour
0
0
0

Per month
65. 00-275. 00

0

0

Per week

25. 00

44

44

51. 00 j

44

44

9 10 per cent reduction.

1425

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

A gricu ltu ral W ages in C anada, 1929 to 1931

N CANADA in 1931 the wages of farm help were very much lower
than they were in 1930, in which there was also a considerable
decline from the preceding year. During the summer season of 1931
for the Dominion as a whole, the average monthly wages of male
helpers were $25, as compared with $34 in the corresponding season
of 1930 and $40 in the summer of 1929. The value of board per
month for male agricultural workers was also less last summer, being
$18, as against $22 in 1930. By the year, wages and board together
for male farm workers amounted in 1931 to $439 ($240 wages and
$199 board), and in 1930 to $559 ($326 wages and $233 board). _
Average wages for male agricultural labor in the various Provinces
of Canada in 1929, 1930, and 1931 are given in the following table,
compiled from the February, 1932, issue of the Monthly Bulletin of
Agricultural Statistics, published by the Dominion Bureau of
Statistics:

I

A V E R A G E W A G ES OF M A L E F A R M W O R K E R S IN C A N A D A , 1929, 1930, A N D 1931
Per year

Per m onth, sum m er season
Province and year

Canada:
1929
_____ _ ___ ______ 1930
-- - -- - ____
1931_______________________________
Prince E dw ard Island:
1929
______ ______ - --1930
_ _ ________________
1931
_______ _______
N o^a Scotia:
1929
____________ -1930
--_ ___
1931
______ ___________
New B runsw ick:
1929
_______ _
- - ____
1930
_______
1931
______ ____________ _
Quebec:
1929
_ _ _______ - ______
1930
_ _
--- _____ 1931
_ ________ __________ _
O ntario:
1929
_ ___ _______ _____1930
--- --- --- --- --- --- _______________________
1931
M anitob a:
1929
_ _ _ _ ______________
1930
_ __________________
1931
_ ___ _________ -_
Saskatchew an:
1929
____________________
1930
_____ _____________ 1931
...................... .................
A lberta:
1Q99
________ _________
1930
_ _ __ ________ _____
1931
______________________
B ritish Colum bia:
1929
_______ _____________
1930
_____ _____________
1931
_________ ___________

Cash
wage

Value of
board

T otal

Value of
board

T o tal

$40
34
25

$23
22
18

$63
56
43

$373
326
240

$254
233
199

$627
559
439

34
32
25

18
18
14

52
50
39

327
308
250

207
205
163

534
513
413

38
34
27

19
20
17

57
54
44

383
353
269

222
209
196

605
562
465

40
34
27

20
20
16

60
54
43

375
335
276

214
215
184

589
550
460

41
33
26

20
19
15

61
52
41

369
316
244

208
194
162

577
510
406

35
31
25

22
20
28

57
51
43

341
304
237

254
228
203

595
532
440

38
32
22

23
21
17

61
53
39

352
298
213

256
238
197

608
536
410

44
37
23

25
23
19

69
60
42

398
340
215

287
253
203

685
593
418

43
37
25

25
23
19

68
60
44

404
342
232

274
256
215

678
598
447

49
46
35

27
26
23

76
72
58

482
450
358

310
291
275

792
741
633

1 As given in original table; probably should be $18, as th e total is $43.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Cash
wage

1

1426

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

W ages in F ran ce in O ctober, 1931

HE annual wage study made by the General Statistical Bureau
of France 1 gives the average wages of certain classes of workers
who are represented in nearly all localities and which furnish, there­
fore, uniform elements of comparison. The information is furnished
by officers of trade councils, employers’ organizations, and mayors or
other competent persons. The wage rates for 1931 show little varia­
tion from those of the preceding year, in many of the occupations the
average hourly rate remaining unchanged. It should be pointed out,
however, that the rates given in the following tables do not reflect
the partial unemployment prevailing in many of the industries, which
results in reduced earnings.
Table 1 gives the hourly wages in different occupations in October,
1930 and 1931, in Paris and other cities:

T

T able 1 .—A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E S IN F R E N C H C IT IE S IN O C T O B E R , 1930 A N D 1931
B Y O C C U P A T IO N
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of franc=3.92 cents]
Average hourly wages in —
Paris and its environs
1930

O ccupation

Cities other th a n Paris

1931

1930

1931

French U nited French U nited French U nited French U nited
States
States
States
States
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency
rency
rency rency rency rency rency

Males
B re w ers..............
P rin ters, compositors____
B ookbinders__________
T ann ers_____ . . .
Saddlers, harness m akers. .
Shoem akers___. . . .
T a ilo r s ._____ _____
D yers, s c o u re rs ________
W eavers_____ _
Rope m akers________
W heelw rights_________
W o o d tu rn e rs .. . . . . .
C oopers.. . . .
.. . ..
C abinetm akers______
U pholsterers___ _ . .
P it saw y ers______ ____
C arpenters_______ . . _
J o in e rs...
___
C o p p e rsm ith s______ _
T insm ith s_______ _
P l u m b e r s . . . _____
B lacksm iths_____
F a rriers.. . .
Stove m a k e r s _________
L ocksm iths____
____
M etal tu rn e rs
. .
W atchm akers.....................
Q u a rry m e n .. ____
S tonecutters__________
M asons__________ .
N a v v ie s _____
Roofers__________ . .
House pain ters. . . .
Ornam ental-stone cutters
Brickm akers
P o tters______________
Glaziers_______
Laborers_________
Average, all occupations______
ioQ<f'ranCoQn M inistère du Travail.

looZf p p . 2«j0“242.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Francs

Cents

Francs

Cents

Francs

Cents

7.20
5. 35

28.2

6.95
5. 35

27.2

4.45

14 1
17.4

6.50

2 1 .0

25.5

6. 50

25.5

6. 75

26.5

6. 75

26.5

6. 75

26.5

6. 75

26.5

6. 25
6. 25
6. 25

24. 5
24.5
24.5

6. 50
6. 50
6. 25

25.5
25.5
24. 5

6. 50
6.45

25.5
25.3

6. 50
6.10

25.5
23.9

6. 50
6. 45

25.5
25.3

6. 50
6.10

25.5
23.9

6. 50
9 25
6 50
6. 25
6 50
6 50
7. 50
6.50

25.5
36.3
25.5
24. 5
25. 5
25. 5
29 4
25. 5

6.50
9.25
6. 50
6.25
6. 50
6. 50
7.50
6. 50

25.5
36.3
25.5
24.5
25. 5
25. 5
29. 4
25.5

6.65

26.1

6.65

26.1

6. 64

26.0

6.61

25.9 |

3. 77
3.27
3.48
4. 00
4.' 50
4 ?0
4." 10

Cents
13.8
17.4
16.7

ffi 5

4.45
4. 27
q fin
3 80
3 65
4.10
3 77
3 23
3 48
4 06
4.17
A n7
4. 30
4 27

1C* C

4 .1 0
4 .3 9

16.1
17.2
16.3

6Z
4. 29

16.9
16.8

2 1 .0

3! 80
3. 65

Francs

14 9
14 Q
14 3

iti
1 2 .8

p} fi
15! 7
16.5
15 s

17 1
15 Q

4.16
A A7
4 17

lc" r
15 7
Ifi 1

a nn

4. 37
4. 05
4. 20
4. 22
4. 00
4.10
4.10
4. 37
4. 47
4.07
4. 67
4. 42
3. 75
4. 32
4.17
5. 27
4.00
3. 87
4.15
3.18

18.3
17.3
14.7
16.9
16.3
20.7
15.7
15.2
16.3
12.5

3 15

4.08 |

16.0

4. 08

17. 1
17.5

16.1

16.3
16.9

4 20
4?37
4 47
4. u/
o' n?
90

‘x. if

5. 21
3. 87
3 83

16.3
17.1
16.0
18.3
17.3
14.7
17.2
16.3
20.4
15.2
16. 0
16.0

B ulletin de la Statistiq u e Générale de la France, Jan u a ry -M a rc h ,

1427

W AGES AND H O U ES OF LABOR

T able 1.—A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E S IN F R E N C H C IT IE S IN O C T O B E R , 1930 A N D 1931,
B Y O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued
Average hourly wages in—
Cities other th a n Paris

Paris and its environs
1930

O ccupation

1931

1931

1930

French U nited French U nited French U nited French U nited
States
States
States
States
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency
rency rency
rency rency
rency rency

Females
Ir o n e r s ___________ ________ . _
D ressm akers___________ _
Seamstresses.
___ _ _____. . .
W aistcoat m akers____
Lace m akers . . .
_____ _
E m broiderers_______ . . . _______ .
M illiners_________________________
Average, all occupations...

Francs

Cents

Francs

Cents

Francs

...

2.48
2. 45
2. 29
2. 43
2. 47
2. 39
2. 46

Cents

2.42

9.7
9. 6
9.0
9 5
9 7
9 4
9 6
9.5

Francs
2 48
2 45
2 29
2 45
2 49
2 43
2.38
2.42

Cents

9 7
9 6
9 0
9 6
9 8
9 5
9.3
9.5

Table 2, which shows the average weekly wages paid to female
workers in dressmaking and lingerie shops and the average monthly
wages paid in fashionable dressmaking shops in 1931, was furnished
for the study by the employment service of the clothing industries.
The rates are in all instances the same as those prevailing in 1930.
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E W E E K L Y A N D M O N T H L Y W A G ES IN F R E N C H D R E S S M A K IN G
SH O PS, O C T O B E R , 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of franc=3.92 cents]
October, 1931

Occupation

French
currency

U nited
States cur­
rency

Weekly rates
D ressm aking and lingerie shops:
F irst hands, female
Second hands, female. ___________
Helpers, female____
_________
A pprentices, female. ............. ............

Francs

218.40
163.20
115.20
52.80-82.80

$8. 56
6.40
4.52
2. 07-3.25

Monthly rates
Fashionable dressmaking shops:
Francs
Skilled fitters. . ___
__________
936. 00
W orkers of m edium skill_________ ..
748.40
H elpers. _____ _
. . . . .
520. 00
A pprentices..
____
208.00-260.00

$36.69
29.34
20.38
8.15-10.19

A comparison of wages and cost of living (Table 3) as represented
by the cost of board and lodging for an unmarried worker in the same
localities for which data for wages were secured shows practically no
change during the year in the purchasing power of wages, since there
was only a very slight reduction in the average wages and no change

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1428

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

in living costs. The retail price index (13 articles), however, de­
creased about 13 per cent from November, 1930, to November, 1931.
T able 3 . —A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G ES A N D CO ST OF B O A R D A N D L O D G IN G IN F R A N C E
?N N O V E M B E R A1930
IN D E X N U M B E R S T H E R E O F A N D O F R E T A IL p r i c e s ’
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of franc=3.92 cents]

October, 1930

October, 1931

Index num ­
bers (1911 =
100)

Item
French U nited French U nited Octo­ Octo­
ber,
ber,
currency States currency States
currency
currency 1930
1931
D aily wages:
M en ____ ________
W om en. ___ .
Cost of board and lodging per m onth .
R etail price of 13 articles i .

____________

1 F o r Novem ber, 1930 and 1931, respectively.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Francs

33.66
19. 79
537. 00

$1. 32
.78
21.05

Francs

33.60
19. 73
537. 00

$1.32
.77
21.05

/ zy
767
641

767
558

G eneral Survey of W ages in G erm an y in 1931 1

W

AGES in most German industries are fixed by agreement be­
tween employees and employers, or, if they can not agree, by
Government arbitrators. Tlie wage rates thus fixed are very detailed,
there being in most cases separate rates according to occupation, sex,
marital condition, and age; the rates also vary from place to place,
generally according to the relative cost of living. The wage rates
for various industries hereafter presented are generally for adult
workers. The agreement wage rates do not necessarily or even in
the majority of cases represent actual earnings. In most instances
wages are higher than those quoted, which are for the most part
basic hourly wages, i. e., minimum wages which a worker must
receive.
The emergency decree of December 8, 1931, provided that wages
should be reduced to the level of the scale of wages of January, 1927.2
There was a proviso that, in cases in which the increase since Janu­
ary, 1927, amounted to more than 10 per cent, the reduction should
amount to only 10 per cent, except that in case there had been no
reduction since Juty 1, 1931, the reduction should amount to 15 per
cent. Instances of such reductions in specific industries are noted
hereafter.
Hours of labor.—The working time specified in wage agreements is
generally 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week, though in some in­
stances, noted hereafter, the hours are slightly different. _In some
industries having a 48-hour week the daily hours may be distributed
as desired. Working hours may be reduced by the industry, and it
is said that on account of the depression the 5-day week or the 6-hour
day has been introduced by many manufacturers.
Payments supplementary to wages.—Supplements to wages, such as
family allowances, housing, board, production bonuses, allowances
in kind, etc., are made in some industries. Instances thereof, where
reported, are noted under the separate industries.
Deductions from wages.—Deductions from wages for social insurance
are, in general, provided for by national laws, which provide for in­
surance against sickness, disability and old age, and unemployment.
The contributions for sickness insurance average about 6 per cent of
the worker’s wages or earnings, two-thirds being deducted from the
worker’s wages and one-third being paid by the employer. The con­
tributions for invalidity and old-age insurance, 50 per cent of which
i Except where otherwise noted, this article was prepared from reports from American consular officers
in G erm any, as follows: M aurice W . Altaffer, D resden (Nov. 7, 1931); R obert R . Bradford, Breslau (Oct.
16,1931); R alp h C. Busser, Leipzig (Feb. 6, 1932); R aym ond H . Geist, B erlin (Nov. 23, 1931); C. W . G ray,
B erlin (Nov. 17,1931); Charles M . H athaw ay, jr., M unich (Nov. 16, 1931); W . A. Leonard, B rem en (Oct.
19, 1931); R obert D . Longyear, M unich (Oct. 16. 1931); D onn P. M edalie, S tu ttg art (Oct. 15, 1931); Lester
L. Schnare, H am burg (Oct. 8, 1931); Jam es H . W right, Cologne (Oct. 14, 1931); and Lloyd D . Yates,

i For a sum m ary of th e provisions of this decree see Labor Review for M arch, 1932 (pp. 588-593).
1 2 0 1 4 8 ° — 3 2 ------- 1 2


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1429

1430

MONTHLY

LABOR R EV IE W

is deducted from the worker’s wages and 50 per cent paid by the
employer, are based on the weekly wages, as follows:
W eekly w ages:
U p to 6 m ark s.
6 to 12 m a rk s.
12 to 18 m arks
18 to 24 m arks
24 to 30 m arks
30 to 36 m arks.
O ver 36 m ark s.

C ontribution

0.30
0.60
0.90
1.20
1.50
1.80
2.00

m a rk (7.1 cents) “
m a rk (14.3 cents)
m a rk (21.4 cents)
m a rk s (28.6 cents)
m a rk s (35.7 cents)
m ark s (42.8 c e n ts ).
m ark s (47.6 cents)

The contribution for the unemployment insurance is at the rate of
6K per cent of the gross earnings, half being deducted from the wages
of the worker and half being paid by the employer.
Manufacturing Industries
Artificial-Flower Industry, Dresden
T h e Dresden district produces 67.1 per cent of the total German
output of artificial flowers. The industry is predominantly of the
household type. In 1925 there were 3,606 plants with 10,734 workers,
while in 1929, the last year for which complete statistics are available,
there were only 172 plants with 5,400 workers, many small household
industrieshaving apparently been abandoned, leaving only the stronger
enterprises in the field. There is no general wage agreement between
the various employers and their workers at the present time, the one
formerly in effect having been abrogated. This enables each em­
ployer to enter into individual contracts with his workers.
Male and female workers over 21 years of age receive an actual
gross wage of 65 pfennigs (15.5 cents) and 42 pfennigs (10.0 cents)
per hour, respectively. Piecework earnings are from 12K to 15 per
cent higher than those for time work.
For overtime work between the forty-ninth and fifty-third hour,
inclusive, 20 per cent over the regular wage rate is paid. Actually,
however, the matter of overtime does not arise, because night shifts
are employed when there is urgent work to be done.
Boot and Shoe Industry 3

An investigation of the actual earnings of adult workers in the boot
and shoe industry was made by the Federal Statistical Office of Ger­
many in March, 1929. Table 1 shows the average actual hourly and
weekly earnings as shown by that study and also the wages established
by agreements in effect at that time. The locality groups shown are
those established, by the collective agreements for wage-making pur­
poses, the localities being classified on the basis of the cost of living.
“ Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent
3 D ata are from Germany, Statistisches Reichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich. 1931
Berlin, 1931, pp. 277, 292.
’


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1431

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 1.—A G R E E M E N T W A G E R A T E S A N D A C T U A L E A R N IN G S A N D H O U R S IN T H E
B O O T A N D SH O E IN D U S T R Y OF G E R M A N Y , M A R C H , 1929
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m a rk =23.3 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]

Locality groups, and sex of workers

G roup I:
M ale workers—
Tim e w ork_________________
Piece w o r k _________________
Fem ale workers—
T i m e w o r k .___- - - - - - Piece w o rk .. ---------------------G roup II:
M ale workers—
Tim e w o r k ________________
Piece w o r k _________________
Female workers—
Tim e w o r k ________________
Piece w ork---------- -------------G roup III:
M ale workers—
T im ew o rk ___ ___ .
Piece w ork. ________________
Fem ale workers—
Tim e w ork---------- -------------Piecew ork________________ .
G roup IV :
M ale w orkers—
Tim e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_________________
Fem ale workers—
Tim e w ork_______________ .
Piece w ork________________ G roup V :
M ale workers—
Tim e w ork_________________
Piece work _ . . . _________
Female w orkers—
Tim e w ork_________ _______
Piece w ork. -----------------------1 Including overtim e.

Agreement
hourly wage or
wage on piecerate basis

Aver­ Average hourly
earnings
N u m ­ age
ber of work­
ing
work­
hours
Ger­ U nited
ers
m an
per
States
week 1 cu r­
cur­
rency
rency

4,127
8,220

43.3
42.8

3, 568
7,927

Pfennigs Cents
105.2
124.4

25.0
29.6

43.1
42.1

71.9
83.1

1,630
2,923

44.8
43.9

1,145
2, 322

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Average
weekly
earnings 2

U nited Ger­ U nited
States m an States
cur­
c u r­
cur­
rency rency rency

Pfennigs Cents Marks
87.0
97.9

20.7
23.3

45. 73
53.29

$10.88
12.68

17.1
19.8

65.3
73.4

15.5
17.5

31.13
35.00

7.41
8.33

93.4
110.5

22.2
26.3

83.5
94.0

19.9
22.4

41.95
48. 56

9.98
11.56

42.9
44.5

67.4
75.9

16.0
18.1

62:6
70.5

14.9
16.8

29.05
33.82

6.91
8.05

2,771
3,717

42.4
41.1

90.8
101.7

21.6
24.2

80.0
90.1

19.0
21.4

38.59
41.85

9.18
9.96

1, 552
2,694

43.2
41.9

63.6
70.9

15.1
16.9

60.0
67.5

14.3
16.1

27.61
29.71

6. 57
7.07

396
517

38.9
40.0

81.8
93.5

19.5
22.3

76.6
86.1

18.2
20.5

31.97
37.43

7.61
8.91

162
378

37.6
40.0

58.0
67.3

13.8
16.0

57.4
64.6

13.7
15.4

21.89
27.03

5. 21
6.43

167
440

42.7
40.0

82.3
85.0

19.6
20.2

73.1
82.2

17.4
19.6

35.30
34.13

8. 40
8.12

39
224

40.5
39.8

58.8
61.4

14.0
14.6

54.8
61.7

13.0
14.7

23.84
24.46

5. 67
5.82

2 Including overtim e and family allowances.

Average wage rates, fixed, by collective agreements, as of April 1
of the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, are given in Table 2.
T able 2.—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E B O O T A N D SH O E
IN D U S T R Y O F G E R M A N Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1, 1929
Locality groups and sex of workers

G roup I:
Pfennigs
M ale w orkers____________________ .
93.96
Fem ale w orkers___________________
70.61
G roup II:
M ale w orkers_____________________
89. 77
Female w orkers____________________
67.31
G roup III:
M ale w orkers______________________
85. 75
Fem ale w orkers.........................................
64.42
G roup IV :
M ale w o rk e rs.. . . ________________
81.58
Fem ale w o r k e r s .______ ___________
61.66
G roup V:
M ale w orkers______________________
78.46
Female w orkers____________________
59.39
Average, all groups:
M ale w orkers____________ ____ _____
90. 05
Female workers...... ..................................
68.1/


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Apr. 1, 1930

A pr. 1, 1931

nited German U nited G erman U nited
German UStates
States currency
States
currency currency
currency currency
currency

Cents

22.4
16.8

Pfennigs
102.60
77.10

Cents

24.4
18.3

Pfennigs
97. 20
73.05

Cents
23.1
17.4

21.4
16.0

98.03
73.50

23.3
17.5

92.87
69.64

22.1
16.6

20.4
15.3

93.63
70.35

22.3
16.7

88.70
66.64

21.1
15.9

19.4
14.7

89.09
67, 33

21.2
16.0

84. 40
63.79

20.1
15.2

18.7
14.1

85.68
64.86

20.4
15.4

81.17
61.44

19.3
14.6

21.4
16.2

98. 33
74.44

23.4
17.7

93.16
70. 52

22.2
16.8

1432

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W

Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, wage
rates in this industry in central Germany were reduced 12% per cent
effective January 1, 1932.
Brick Industry, Cologne District

Both clay brick and fire brick are made in the Cologne district.
Clay brick.—The basic hourly wage rates paid to adult workers are
shown below. Younger workers are paid lower rates, according to
age. groups. Wage rates for piecework must be fixed so that the
earnings are at least 25 per cent over the basic wage rate.
Skilled w orkers (forem en, press m asters (p re ss m e is te r ) , m olders,
burners, carters, kiln setters, clam p setters, sorters, engine m en,
stockers, an d h a n d w o rk ers)_________________________________ gg (20.9 cents)
Sem iskilled w orkers (w orkers in clay, slate, o r loam p it, rolling
an d crushing m ill o p erato rs, w agon fillers, packers, c u tte rs, an d
b a n k s m e n (A b n e h m e r ) ) -------------------------------------------------------- 83 (ig .g cen ts)
O ther w orkers (h a u lers)-------------------------------------------------------76 (18 1 cen ts)

Living quarters are furnished free of charge to itinerant workers.
Lost time due to climatic conditions or similar difficulties may be
made up by overtime without extra pay. For other overtime work,
wage rates must be agreed upon. Night and Sunday work, except
regular shift work, is paid for at the rate of 50 per cent over the basic
rate. Work on Easter, Whitsuntide, and Christmas is paid for at
double rates.
Vacation with pay is granted as follows: For regular employees,
after 1 year of continuous employment, leave of 3 days is given;
after 2 years, 4 days; after 3 years, 5 days; after 4 years, 6 days; and
after 5 or more years, 8 days. For seasonal workers, after 6 months
of seasonal work, the period of leave is 2 days; after 7 months, 3 daysafter 9 months, 4 days; and after 12 months, 5 days.
Fire brick.—The following are the basic wage rates per hour paid
to adult workers, younger workers being paid lower rates according
to age groups:
Pfennigs

U nskilled la b o re rs ._
------- --------------------------------- — ------------oem iskiued w orkers (silica m ixers, ch am o tte-b rick form ers, p a in ters, burners, brick setters, loaders, m ixers, and sh u n te rs)_____
Skilled w o rk ers----------------------------------------------------------------------F em ale w orkers-----------------------------------------------------------------------

72 (17.1 cents)
74 (17 6 cents)
85 (20-2 cents
52 (i 2.4 cents)

Burners stoking for daily wages receive a 10 per cent bonus for each
good batch.
Piecework hourly earnings must be at least 15 per cent in excess of
the basic hourly wage. Married workers are entitled to a family
allowance of 2 pfennigs (0.48 cent) per hour for wife and each child
under 14 years of age.
The regular working time is 48 hours per week for all employees
except burners, whose working time is 60 hours per wTeek.
4 or the first 4 hours of overtime per week the wage is increased by
20 per cent, and for all time thereafter by 25 per cent. Sunday and
holiday work is paid for at the rate of 50 per cent over the basic wage.
Light-shift work is paid for at regular rates, but irregular night work
within, the 48-hour working week calls for 15 per cent over the basic
wage. Regular Sunday shift work is paid for at the rate of time and
a quarter, but if the working week exceeds 60 hours by reason of the
Sunday work, time and a half is paid. Janitors, watchmen, tool

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1433

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

keepers, stokers, machinists, and engine drivers are not entitled to
overtime pay, but their wages are adjusted for necessary overtime
work. For work on Easter, Whitsuntide, and Christmas double time
is paid.
Leave of absence with pay is granted to all workers as follows:
After 1 year of service, 3 days; after 2 years, 4 days; after 3 years,
5 days; after 4 years, 6 days; after 6 years, 7 days; after 8 years, 8
days; and after 10 years, 9 days.
Building Trades 4

The Federal Statistical Office investigation, already referred to,
showed the following average actual hourly and daily earnings, union
rates, and hours of labor of building-trades workers in August, 1929:
T a b l e 3 .—A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D

D A IL Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E B U IL D IN G
IN D U S T R Y OF G E R M A N Y , A U G U ST , 1929

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark —23.8 cents; pfennig—0.238 cent]
Agreement
Average
A verage'hourly hourly wage or
daily
Aver­
wage on pieceearnings
earnings
N um ­
age
rate basis
workber
ing
of
work­ hours
U nited Ger­ U nited
U nited
per German States German States m an States
ers
cur­
day
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency
rency rency rency
rency

Occupation

Pfennigs
M asons
___________ _ - - C a rp e n te rs _____- _ _ _
(Annoroto workers, skilled
__ __ __
M ixers, concrete works ___ __ _ _
Concrete workers
____ ______
B lllining helpers
____ ___ ___
TTn<iergrmmii workers
____
P ain ters’ helpers
__
__ _ _
B nnfers
____
___

69, 239
25,457
3,439
2,823
1,817
60, 968
41, 275
21, 038
2,048

145. 5
138.6
143.6
149.7
131.1
113.4
95. 5
133.6
144.2

8.00
8.06
8. 58
8.33
8. 52
8.18
8.51
8.07
8.08

Cents Pfennigs
34. 6
33. 0
34. 2
35.6
31. 2
27. 0
22. 7
31. 8
34.3

130.4
132.8
136.5
139. 1
125.1
110.0
91. 5
131. 5
142. 8

Cents Marks
31.0
31.6
32.5
33.1
29.8
26. 2
21. 8
31. 3
34.0

11. 72
11.27
12. 58
12. 66
11. 38
9. 38
8.26
10. 82
11.68

$2. 79
2. 68
2. 99
3.01
2. 71
2. 23
1.97
2. 58
2. 78

Average hourly wage rates of masons and building-trades helpers
under agreements in effect on April 1, 1929, 1930, and 1931 are
shown in Table 4.
T a b l e 4 .—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S O F M A SO N S A N D H E L P l able 4 .
IN G E R M A N Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Building helpers

Masons
D ate

A pr 1 1999
Apr 1 1921

_____ _

_______

--

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pfennigs

Cents

Pfennigs

Cents

119.5
125.2
118.8

28.4
29.8
28.3

94.0
98.5
92.7

22.4
23.4
22.1

4 D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches R eichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich, 1931,
B erlin, 1931, pp. 278, 286


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1434

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Cement Industry, Westphalia

Wages in this industry are paid according to the age and sex of the
worker and the type of the work to be performed. The following are
the basic hourly wages paid to adult cement workers, younger workers
being paid lower wage rates:
Pfennigs

Skilled w o rk ers______________________________________________ 85 (20.2 cen ts).
Sem iskilled w orkers:
M achinists, firem en, locom otive drivers, dredge operators,
dredge firem en, a n d electricians_______________________ 77 (18.3 cents).
Q uarry w orkers, o ven w orkers, pack ers a n d b u rn ers, m illers,
coal unloaders, cru sh ers w orking w ith shovel___________ 75 (18 cents).
G reasers, pressers, d ru m h eate rs, u n lo ad ers a n d ro p e ra il­
w ay w orkers, cru sh ers n o t w orking w ith shovel, helpers
in b lacksm ith a n d m echanics’ shops, a n d o th e r u n ­
skilled w orkers________________________________________ 73 (17.4 cen ts).

Female workers receive 75 per cent of the basic wage rates for male
workers of their respective age and class of work.
Overtime is paid for at 25 per cent over the basic rate, and Sunday
and holiday work at 50 per cent more. Regular Sunday shift work
calls for 25 per cent extra, unless Sunday work causes the total for the
week to exceed 48 hours, when all time over 48 hours is paid for at the
rate of 50 per cent extra. For work on Christmas, Easter, and
Whitsuntide double time is paid. Night work does not call for an
increased wage when part of a regular shift.
All workers over 17 years of age are entitled to leave with pay
according to the following schedule: After 1 year of service, 4 days;
after 2 years, 4 days; after 3 years, 5 days; after 4 years, 6 days;
after 5 years, 7 days; after 6 years, 8 days; and after 7 years, 9 days.
Ceramic Industry

Average hourly wage rates under collective agreements in effect
in the fine ceramic industry on April 1, 1929, 1930, and 1931 are
shown in Table 5.
T able 5.—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E F IN E C E R A M IC
IN D U S T R Y O F G E R M A N Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 19311

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1, 1929
Class of workers

Skilled workers, male ________________ .
Skilled workers, female_______________
H elpers, m ale- _ _
---___
Helpers, female________________________

A pr. 1, 1930

Apr. 1, 1931

nited German U nited German U nited
Germ an UStates
States currency
States
currency currency
currency currency
currency

Pfennigs

82. 3
50.0
68.1
42. 2

Cents

19. 6
11.9
16.2
10.0

Pfennigs
87.4
54. 0
72.5
44.5

Cents

20.8
12.9
17. 3
10.6

Pfennigs
82.1
50. 4
68. 2
42.0

Cents

19. 5
12.0
16. 2
10.0

1 D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches R eichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich, 1931,
Berlin, 1931, p. 290.

In Upper and Lower Silesia an increase of 25 per cent over the
regular rate is paid for time worked in excess of 48 hours, and for
Sunday and holiday work an increase of 50 per cent.

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1435

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

All workers in Upper and Lower Silesia are granted, after 1 year’s
employment, a vacation of 3 days with, full pay and 1 additional day
for each year of service up to eight years. After 10 years service,
10 days and after 15 years’ service 12 days vacation is allowed.
Chemical Industry

The actual hourly and weekly earnings, in June, 1931, of adult
workers in the chemical industry are shown in Table 6. The agree­
ment wage rates effective at that time are also shown.
T a b i e 6 _A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E C H E M IC A L

IN D U S T R Y OF G E R M A N Y , BY O C C U P A T IO N A N D S E X , J U N E , 19311

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m a rk -2 3 .8 cents; pfennig-0.238 cent]

B ranch of industry, occupation,
and sex

Average hourly
earnings includ­
A ver­ ing supplem en­
age
ta ry paym ents
N um - working
ber of
workers hours
U nited
per German States
week currency cur­
rency

A greem ent hour­
ly wage or wage Average week­
ly earnings
on piece-rate
basis
U nited G er­ U nited
German States m an States
cur­
cur­
currency cur­
rency rency rency

Dyes
Skilled workers:
______
Tim e work
■Rnmis w ork 2 _______________
P iecew ork
__ _____________
F actory workers, male:
__ _ _______
T im e w ork
Bonus w o r k _______ _ _______
P iecew o rk __ __ ___________ Factory workers, female:
T im e w ork
_______________
Boons work ______ ___ - ___ Piece w ork___________ _________

Pfennigs Cents Pfennigs

Cents Marks

529
1,096
2,926

42.8
40.3
39.6

108.2
121. 7
130.4

25.8
29.0
31. 0

96.8
98. 1
108.1

23.0
23. 3
25. 7

46. 30
49. 00
51.65

$11.02
11. 66
12.29

2,110
5, 741
1, 182

42.8
40.8
41. 0

88.4
103.5
107.7

21.0
24.6
25.6

79.5
79.9
89. 8

18.9
19. 0
21. 4

37.86
42.17
44.12

9.11
10. 04
10. 50

185
192
409

43.3
46.7
41. 2

61.7
60.3
66.2

14.7
14.4
15.8

51.3
51. 9
59. 6

12. 2
12. 4
14. 2

26. 71
28.16
27.24

6. 36
6. 70
6.48

711
2,476
1,446

44.9
39.3
41.0

105.4
136.4
135.6

25.1
32. 5
32.3

93.7
101. 2
106. 7

22.3 47. 35
24. 1 53. 65
25. 4 55. 57

11.27
12. 77
13. 23

2, 556
5, 722
1,599

45.2
38.9
42. 1

89.4
108.4
118.5

21.3
25.8
28.2

76.6
81. 3
90. 2

18.2
19.3
21. 5

40.44
42. 21
49.91

9. 62
10. 05
11.88

412
94

45.3
40.8

98.0
112.8

23.3
26.8

90.4
102. 0

21.5
24. 3

44. 34
46. 05

10.55
10.96

1,519
104
137

44.9
42.6
40.6

85.7
113.1
46.6

20.4
26.9
11.1

75.8
82. 6
47.1

18.0
19. 7
11.2

38.48
48.20
18. 94

9.16
11.47
4.51

26.5
28.0
26.8

95.2
94. 2
107.1

22.7
22. 4
25. 5

48. 90
50. 83
48.97

11.64
12.10
11.65

21. 3
23.8
25. 6

79.6
79. 3
96. 8

18.9
18. 9
23.0

39. 00
44. 78
52. 07

9.28
10. 66

14.1
15.9
17.4
x‘

55.9
55. 2
66. 6

13.3
13.1
15.9

26.12
29.07
32. 78

6. 21

Nitrogen and artificial fertilizers
Skilled workers:
T im e work
_________________
B onus work
___ _______
Piece work
______ ___
F actory w orkers, male:
T im e work _
___________ _______ Bonus work __ _
Piece w o r k __________ ______

Tar distillation
Skilled workers:
T im ew o rk
_____ ______
Piece work
_____________ F actory workers, male:
T im e work __________________
Piece work
_ __
F actory workers, female: T im e w ork.

Drugs
Skilled w orkers:
111.4
43.9
_____________ 1,260
T im e work
117.5
43.3
112
_______________
Bon its work
112.4
43.6
169
Piece w ork
_________ _____
F actory workers, male:
89.7
43. 5
T im ew o rk
---------- -------- 3, 306
100.0
44.8
1,134
B onus work ____ ____ _ —
107.5
48.4
132
Piece w ork
_______________
Factory workers, female:
59.4
44.0
723
Tim e work
_____ ______
66.7
43.6
169
_________ _____
Bnyins work
73.
44.7
467
Piecew
rk ____________________
1
lo-°3
Piece w oork------------------------------1 D a ta are from G erm any, Statistisches Reichsam t, W irtschaft
2 Tim e w ork, including a production bonus.


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u n d S tatistik, M ar. 2,1932, pp. 177-181.

1436

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T a ble 6.—A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E C H E M IC A L

IN D U S T R Y OF G E R M A N Y , BY O C C U P A T IO N A N D S E X , J U N E , 3931—C ontinued

Average hourly Agreement hour

B ranch of in d u stry , occupation,
and sex

earnings includ­ ly wage or wage Average week­
A ver­ ing supplemen­
on piece-rate
ly earnings
age
tary payments
basis
N u m ­ w ork­
ber of
ing
workers hours
United Ger­ United
per German United
States German States man States
week
currency

cur­ currency cur­
rency
rency

cur­
rency

cur­
rency

Photochemicals
Skilled workers:
Tim e work . _ __
Bonus w ork____ . .
Factory workers, male:
Tim e w ork__________
Bonus w ork_________
Factory workers, female:
Tim e w ork____ _____
Bonus w ork____ _ .
Piece w ork______

180
375

42.4
40.8

575
707

Pfennigs Cents Pfennigs
120.7
131.2

28.7
31.2

104.9
100.7

45. 7
40. 3

89.6
104. 1

21. 3
24.8

768
827
62

44. 2
41. 9
43.2

60.4
67.0
67.4

87
314
71

41. 3
42. 1
47.4

320
396
298

Cents Marks
25. 0
24.0

51. 23
53. 54

$12.19
12.74

83.0
81. 2

19.8
19.3

40. 96
41. 95

9. 75
9. 98

14.4
15.9
16. 0

54. 4
54. 3
61. 4

12.9
12.9
14. 6

26.68
28. 08
29. 08

6. 35
6. 68
6. 92

117.2
90. 2
53.5

27.9
21.5
12.7

90.6
80.7
51.9

21.6
19. 2
12.4

48.38
38. 01
25. 35

11. 51
9.06
6. 03

46. 4
46. 4
40.6

110.3
119. 4
112. 3

26.3
28.4
26.7

96.6
94.2
102.2

23.0
22.4
24. 3

51. 20
55. 37
45. 64

12.19
13. 18
10.86

1, 915
2’ 426
76

47 3
40.7

87. 1
95.3
96.5

20.7
22.7
23.0

76.7
76.0
86.9

18. 3 41. 18
18. 1 43. 74
20. 7 39. 25

9. 80
10. 41
9. 34

504
2,373
2,276

43.8
43. 8
43.2

56.0
60. 3
64.5

13.3
14.4
15.4

52.8
48.9
58.3

12. 6
11.6
13.9

24. 53
26. 43
27. 86

5. 84
6. 29
6. 63

261
304
24

43.5
41. 1
46.5

93.8
121.1
123.0

22.3
28.8
29.3

85.8
98.3
107.5

20.4
23.4
25.6

40. 83
49. 76
57.13

9. 72
11.84
13. 60

1,003
776
211

39. 7
45. 7
32.4

78.4
107.0
115.4

18.7
25. 5
27.5

71.4
78.9
86.8

17.0
18.8
20.7

31.14
48.89
37.40

7.41
11. 64
8. 90

618
377
32

41.0
42. 2
39.6

51.2
64.9
63. 2

12.2
15.4
15.0

49.4
50. 6
57.7

11.8
12.0
13.7

21.01
27. 41
25.00

5.00
6. 52
5. 95

Essential oils
Skilled workers: Tim e work
Factory workers, male: T im e work
Factory workers, female: Tim e work.

Artificial silk (rayon)
Skilled workers:
T im ew o rk ____
Bonus w ork .. . . .
Piece w o rk ..
Factory workers, male:
Tim e w ork___ . .
Bonus w ork___. . .
Piece work .
F acto ry workers, female:
T im ew o rk ____ . . .
Bonus w ork_____
Piecew o rk ____ . . .

45.9

Explosives
Skilled workers:
Tim e work
...
Bonus w o rk .. __
Piece work _
F actory workers, male:
Tim e work
Bonus work _ .
Piece w ork___
Factory workers, female:
Tim e w o rk ... .
Bonus w ork.
Piecew o rk ______ . . .

Average agreement hourly wage rates in the industry in effect
April 1, 1929, 1930, and 1931 are shown in Table 7.
T able 7 .—A V E R A G E

A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E
C H E M IC A L IN D U S T R Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931 i

GERM AN

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1, 1929
Class of workers
German
currency

Skilled workers ______
M ale workers __ ____
F emale workers - ___

Pfennigs
102.3
82.2
55.2

Apr. 1, 1930

A pr. 1, 1931

U nited German
U nited
German U nited
States
States
States
currency currency currency currency currency

Cents
24.3
19.6
13.1

Pfennigs
107.5
86.4
57.9

Cents
25.6
20.6
13.8

Pfennigs
106. 5
85.3
56.9

Cents
25.3
20.3
13.5

i D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches R eichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich, 1931
-Deriin, lycsl, p. ¿00.


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1437

While the normal working hours in the chemical industry are 8 per
day or 48 per week, in some districts—Cologne, for instance—in case
of necessity the hours can be increased to 9 per day or 54 per week.
The following practices as regards overtime, vacations, etc., in effect
in Cologne, seem to be typical of this industry: For overtime, 25 per
cent extra compensation; for Sunday work, 50 per cent extra; and for
work on Christmas, Easter, and the Pentecostal holidays, 100 per cent
extra. Workers are entitled to leave of absence with pay as follows:
After 1 and 2 years of service, 4 days, and 1 additional day for each
succeeding year of service, up to a maximum of 12 days.
As illustrative of family allowances supplementary to the wages
paid in the industry, the following are presented : Berlin, 80 pfennigs
(19 cents) for each dependent; Cologne, 114 pfennigs (27.1 cents) for
wife and each child; Rhine Province, 74 to 103 pfennigs (17.6 to 24.5
cents) for wife and each child; Wuppertal, 70 pfennigs (16.7 cents) for
wife and each dependent child.
Chocolate Industry, Dresden District

In 1930 the chocolate industry of the Dresden district included
120 factories and employed some 8,200 workers. This was 18.6 per
cent of the entire German chocolate industry. All of the large
chocolate factories in the district are located in Dresden itself, the
city being known as the chief center of the industry in Germany.
From 1925 to 1928 wage rates increased by about 30.3 per cent.
In 1929 they increased a further 4 per cent, but from January 1 to
November, 1931, they decreased 5 per cent, making the rates in
November, 1931, about 1 per cent lower than in 1928.
According to data furnished by the largest local chocolate manu­
facturer average full-time wages for the principal class of adult
workers in the industry are as follows:
T a b l e 8.—W A G E R A T E S IN T H E C H O C O L A T E IN D U S T R Y O P D R E S D E N , G E R M A N Y

N O V E M B E R , 1931

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents]
Piecework earnings per—

Basic rates per—
H our

48-hour week

H our

48-hour week

Class of workers
Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Skilled w orkers. ____________ . . . .
Helpers ____
.
. . . .
. ...
Fem ale w o r k e r s .____. . . _____ _

Marks
1.00
.86
.56

U nited
States
cur­
rency

$0.24
.20
.13

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Marks

47. 76
41.04
26. 64

U nited
States
cur­
rency

$11. 37
9. 77
6.34

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Marks

1. 22
1.05
.67

U nited
States
cur­
rency

$0.29
.25
.16

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Marks

58. 56
50. 40
32. 16

U nited
States
cur­
rency

$13. 94
12. 00
7. 65

Due to the reduced working schedule made necessary by slack
business the above can not be considered the actual earnings of
workers at the present time. During 1931 up to the middle of
September the plant to which these statistics apply furnished, on the
average, 37 hours’ employment per week for its employees.
Rates for piecework are fixed so that hourly earnings are at least
15 per cent more than the basic wages per hour. Piece rates are the
same for workers of all ages.

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1438

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Overtime is paid for at the rate of 20 per cent additional per hour.
For Sunday, holiday, and night work employees receive 50 per cent
additional per hour.
Cigars, Tobacco, etc., Industry

Smoking-tobacco and snuff works.—The basic hourly wage rates
paid to skilled and unskilled workers in smoking-tobacco and snuff
works in the district of Bavaria are shown in the following table:
T able 9 .—B A SIC H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN S M O K IN G -T O B A C C O A N D S N U F F W O R K S
IN B A V A R IA , G E R M A N Y
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig =0.238 cent]
U nskilled workers,
female

Skilled workers, male
Locality group

G roup
G roup
G roup
G roup

I-- ________ .
_ . ...
I I ___
. . . . .
I I I ________
_ ______
IV _______ ___________ . . . ______

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

Germ an
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pfennigs

Cents

Pfennigs

Cents

84.1
74.7
71.6
68.5

20.0
17.8
17.0
16.3

58.4
51.9
49.7
47.6

13.9
12.4
11.8
11.3

Cigar manufacture— There is a considerable manufacture of cigars
in the Hamburg district, particularly in the free port of Hamburg
where the cigars produced can be exported without the high import
duty and monopoly taxes on tobacco.
The wage agreement in effect provides for four geographical classes,
in which wages vary apparently according to the cost of living in the
different localities. The basic hourly wage rates for adult workers
provided in the agreement are as follows, younger workers being paid
lower rates according to age groups:
T able 1 0 .—BA SIC H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E C IG A R IN D U S T R Y OF H A M B U R G
GERM ANY
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
M ale workers
Fem ale workers
Locality class

Single

M arried

Germ an U nited G erman U nited German U nited
States currency
States
States
currency currency
currency currency currency

Class
Class
Class
Class

I _____________________
I I . __ _______ ________
I I I _________________
IV __________________

Pfennigs
59.0
66.5
72.5
76.0

Cents
14.0
15.8
17.3
18.1

Pfennigs
67.0
72.0
77.5
84.0

Cents
15.9
17.1
18.4
20.0

Pfennigs
42. 5
45.5
49.5
53.0

Cents
10.1
10.8
11.8
12.6

Additional wages are paid for length of service at the rate of 2
pfennigs per hour after 1 year, 4 pfennigs after 2 years, 5.5 pfennigs
after 3 years, 7.5 pfennigs after 5 years, and 9.5 pfennigs after 10 years.
Mothers having children under 14 years of age and female workers
having disabled husbands receive an additional payment of 5 per cent
of the agreement rates.

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1439

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

A large amount of piecework—in fact, the greater part of the
work—is done in the homes of the workers, and payment therefor is
according to kind of tobacco, style, shape, and size of cigars, etc.
I t is practically impossible to determine how the payments for such
piecework compare with the hourly wage rates given above.
No vacation is provided for in the wage agreement.
Cigarette manufacture.—The basic wage rates for adult workers in
effect in the Hamburg and Dresden districts are as follows, younger
workers being paid lower rates according to age groups:
T able 11.—BA SIC H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E C IG A R E T T E IN D U S ­
T R Y OF G E R M A N Y
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents]
Wage rates per week
Occupation and sex of w orker

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

Wage rates per hour
nited
G erman UStates
currency currency

Hamburg district

Marks
Marks
Males:
85. 85-90. 95 $20. 43-$21.65 2. 02-2.14
TVTa.ehipi e npp.ra.tors
_______________
1 76
17. 80
74. 80
Skilled workers and bookbinders
_ ____
1. 52
15. 37
64.60
Tobacco cutters
__ _________ ____ ___
1. 38
13. 96
58.65
Knife sharpeners
_ ____ _ __
1.28
12.
95
54. 40
Helpers
_ _____________ - ______
Females:
Workers in tobacco-working sections and machine
.82
8.29
34. 85
shops
- ________
.88
8.90
37. 40
A<?«?pmhlin£f arwi paeking-ma,ehine operators____. 78
7. 89
33.15
Other workers
_____ ___ ________ - --

Cents
48.1-50. 9
41.9
36. 2
32.8
30.5
19. 5
20. 9
18.6

Dresden district
Males:
M achine operators
_______ ___________ 79. 90-90. 95
Olltters knifo sharpeners, etc
____________ 35. 55-54. 40
Females:
33.15
__ ___________ ________ M achine operators
17. 85-38. 25
O ther workers
____ ________ ____ _

19. 02-21. 65 1. 88-2.14
8. 46-12. 95 . 86-1. 28

44. 7-50. 9
20. 5-30. 5

.78
. 42-, 90

18.6
10. 0-21.4

7. 89
4. 25-9.10

In the Hamburg district payment for piecework must be so arranged
that the workers can earn on an average 15 per cent more than the
weeklv or hourly wages stipulated. Forewomen are paid 30 per cent
more than the regular rate and, in the case of piecework, 35 per cent
additional.
_
.
The working week in both Dresden and Hamburg consists of 5
days of 8K hours each, or 42%hours.
For overtime after 8 p. m. and before 6 a. m. during the summer
and 7 a. m. during the winter, time and a half is paid; work on Sun­
days and legal holidays must be paid for at double the regular rates.
A vacation of from 4 to 15 working days per annum, depending on
length of service, with pay, is provided for in Hamburg.
Clock and Watch Industry, Stuttgart District

This industry claims to be suffering from the loss of the United
States markets. Wages have been reduced continuously. Watch­
makers receive 90 to 120 pfennigs (21.4 to 28.6 cents) per hour if over
20'years of age and 60 to 90 pfennigs (14.3 to 21.4 cents) per hour if
under 20 years of age.


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1440

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Confectionery, Baking, and Pastry Trades

Table 12 shows the average actual hourly and weekly earnings and
weekly hours of labor of adult workers in the German confectionery
baking and pastry trades in March, 1931, disclosed by a study made
by the I ederal Statistical Office and covering 299 establishments with
33,405 workers in 137 localities.
T able

12.-A V E R A G E

A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN TU r c m v F i r r
T IO N E R Y , B A K IN G , A N D P A S T R Y T R A D E S OF GERM A NY M A R C H ,1931?

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark = 23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]

Class and sex of workers

Skilled workers, male:
Tim e w ork____
Piece work
Unskilled workers, male:
Tim e work
P ie c e w o r k __ _
Female workers:
T im ew o rk . _______
P iecew o rk ___ _

Average
weekly
working
hours

47.0
44. 5

Average hourly
earnings

German
currency

Pfennigs
109.3
129.2

Agreement hourly
wage or wage on
piece-rate basis

W eekly earnings

U nited G erman U nited
G erman U nited
States
States
States
currency currency currency currency currency

Cents
26.0
30.7

Pfennigs
101.1 ,
119.1

Cents

24.1
28.3

Marks
51.35
57. 48

$12. 22
13. 68

46.4
47.4

89.3
104.1

21.3
24.8

85.8
97.8

20.4
23.3

41.44
49.31

9. 86
11. 74

44.8
14.5

58.0
67.7

13.8
16. 1

56.0
65.6

13. 3
15.6

25.97
30.08

6.18
7.16

1 D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches Reichsam t, W irtschaft und S tatistik, Nov. 1, 19 3 1 , pp. 767-770.

The wage rates paid under agreements in effect on April 1 1929
1930, and 1931, are given in the following table:
T able

13. A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E C O N F E P T T n x n r rjv
B A K IN G , A N D P A S T R Y T R A D E S IN G E R M A N Y , A P R I L T l f 29? ? 4 A N D m i 1 Y ’
[Conversions into U nited States currency on bas.'s of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1, 1929
Class of workers
German
currency

Skilled workers
H elpers.
Female workers

Pfennigs
96.9
82. 7
55.5

A pr. 1, 1930

A pr. 1, 1931

United German U nited
G erman United
States
States
States
currency currency currency currency currency
Cents

23.1
19. 7
13. 2

Pfennigs
101.0
86. 2
57.8

Cents
24.0
20. 5
13.8

Pfennigs
96.0
81. 9
54. 9

Cents

22.8
19.5
13.1

B e r h n ^ f s i fp0129 ? erm ally’ Statistisches R eichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich, 19 3 1 ,

Flour-Milling Industry

Bavaria.—In the milling industry in Bavaria, overtime on week
days is paid for at the rate of time and a quarter and Sunday work at
the rate of time and a half.
Table 14 shows the basic weekly wage rates and overtime rates in
• Gi I a?°-US occllPational groups in this industry. Occupations
included m these groups are as follows: Group A includes skilled
millers, helpers on shift work, steam engineers, stokers, and truck
helpers; Group B includes helpers and night watchmen; and Group
L includes female workers. Milling-machine tenders, grinders,

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1441

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

drivers of horses and auto trucks, and hand workers receive a wage 5
per cent higher than that shown in Group A. Workers, male and
female, under 20 years of age receive 10 per cent less wages than
adult workers, according to their class.
T able

14.—B A SIC

W E E K L Y W A G E B A T E S A N D O V E B T IM E B A T E S P E B H O U R IN
T H E M IL L IN G IN D U S T B Y OF B A V A B IA , G E B M A N Y

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents]
Overtim e rate per hour for—
W eek days

Sunday

Locality class, and occupational group

nited G erman U nited German U nited
German UStates
States currency
States
currency currency
currency currency
currency
Large cities:
G roup A ______________________
G roup B _____
G roup C__---_- __________ __
Class I establishm ents:
G roup A _____
G roup B ____
______
G roup C
.
_ _________________
Class I I establishm ents:
G roup A _
G roup B
_ ..
G roup C
_ _ _ ______ ______
Class I I I establishm ents:
G roup A _
____________
G roup B __________________________
G roup C ____
_ _ _ _ _
Class IV establishm ents:
G roup A
__
_______
G roup B
__ __________ ____ _
G roup C
_
_
_____ _
Aichach (Class I I I plus 3 p er cent) :
G roup A
_____ _
G roup B
__
G roup C ____________________ ______

Marks

Marks

Cents

29.8
27.4
20.2

Marks

1. 50
1. 40
1. 00

Cents

48. 00
44.20
31.70

$11.42
10.52
7.54

1.25
1.15
.85

45.10
41. 50
29. 80

10.73
9. 88
7. 09

1.20
1. 10
.75

28. 6
26. 2
17.9

1.45
1.30
.90

34. 5
30. 9
21. 4

42.20
38. 90
27. 90

10. 04
9.26
6.64

1.10
1.00
. 70

26.2
23.8
16.7

1.30
1.25
.85

30. 9
29. 8
20. 2

39. 40
36. 20
26.00

9. 38
8. 62
6.19

1.00
.95
.65

23.8
22. 6
15. 5

1.25
1.15
.80

29. 8
27.4
19. 0

37. 40
34. 50
24. 70

8. 90
8.21
5. 88

.95
.90
.65

22. 6
21.4
15. 5

1.15
1.10
.80

27. 4
26. 2
19. 0

40. 60
37. 40
26.80

9. 66
8.90
6.38

1.05
.98
.69

25.0
23.3
16.4

1.26
1.18
.83

30. 0
28.1
19.8

35. 7
33. 3
23. 8

Rhineland and Westphalia.—The basic weekly wage rates paid in
this district are shown in the following table. The group classifica­
tions are residential, based on the relative cost of living.
T able

15.—W E E K L Y

W A G E B A T E S IN T H E M IL L IN G IN D U S T B Y O F B H IN E L A N D A N D
W E S T P H A L IA , G E B M A N Y

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark = 23.8 cents]
G roup I
Class of workers

Skilled workers, roller operators, millers,
enginemen, and stokers________ _ _ __
W orkers in sacking d ep artm e n t___ _ _ __
O ther workers- __
__ __ _
Fem ale w o rk e rs ________ _ ._ _ _ _ _

G roup II

G roup I I I

nited German U nited
nited
G erman UStates
German UStates
States
currency currency
currency currency
currency currency

Marks

52. 50
49.88
47. 25
30.71

$12. 50
11.87
11.25
7.31

Marks

51.50
48. 93
46. 35
30.13

$12. 26
11. 65
11.03
7. 17

Marks

50. 50
47. 98
45. 45
29.54

$12. 02
11.42
10.82
7.03

The regular working .time and overtime pay in Rhineland and
Westphalia are the same as in Bavaria. Work on a regular night
shift is paid 5 per cent more than the basic hourly wage. Regular
workers doing occasional dirty work, i. e., cleaning boilers, etc., re
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1442

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

ceive an increase of 33% per cent of the basic hourly wage for such
work.
Leave of absence with pay is granted to all workers as follows:
After 1 year of service in the same employ, 3 days; after 2 years, 4
days; after 3 years, 6 days; after 4 years, 7 days; after 5 years, 8
days; after 6 years, 10 days; and after 8 years, 12 days.
A family allowance of 5 per cent of the worker’s hourly wage is
granted to married male workers, widows having their own house­
holds, single workers supporting destitute, unemployed or sick rela­
tives, and female workers whose husbands are unemployed or who
have been prevented from working by sickness for more than 17 days.
Workers receiving family allowances are entitled to a free supply"of
3 pounds of flour per week. If both husband and wife are employed
in the same mill, the wife receives an additional supply of 3 pounds
of flour per week.
Fur Tailoring Industry, Central Germany

T'he following basic hourly wage rates were being paid in the furtailoring industry of central Germany in September, 1931. Under
the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, however, the
wage rates in this industry were reduced 10 per cent, effective Jan­
uary, 1, 1932.
T able

16.—B A SIC

H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E F U R -T A IL O R IN G IN D U S T R Y OF
C E N T R A L G E R M A N Y , S E P T E M B E R , 1931

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig= 0.238 cent]
Wage rates per hour
Occupation and period

Furriers, male:
F irst year after a p p ren ticesh ip .................................
Second year after apprenticeship___________ .........................
T h ird year after apprenticeship__________
Over 3 years after apprenticeship______
F u r seamstresses, sewing-machine workers (2 years’ apprenticeship)"-'
F irst year after apprenticeship_____________
Second year after apprenticeship____
T h ird year after apprenticeship____________ 7 " "
Over 3 years after apprenticeship.
Sewing-machine workers, female (6 weeks’ apprenticeship) I" ~

From 6 weeks to 6 months’ work at trade. _

From 6 m onths to 1 year’s work a t trade
Second year of w ork a t tra d e _________________
Over 3 years’ w ork a t tra d e _____
O ther seamstresses, unskilled_________
Piece selectors_______________

G erman
currency

U nited
States cur­
rency

Pfennigs

Cents

67
78
94
111

15.9
18.6
22.4
26.4

37
46
56
65

8.8
10.9
13.3
15.5

33
37
56
65
65
42

7.9
8.8
13.3
15.5
15.5
10.0

Glass Industry

Hollow glass. As an example of the basic wage rates in the hollowglass industry, the following data are given showing the hourly wage
rates paid to skilled workers under the agreement effective in i928 in
the hollow-glass works in Thuringia:


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1443

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 1 7 .—BASIC H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E H O LL O W -G L A SS IN D U S T R Y IN
T H U R IN G IA , G E R M A N Y , E F F E C T IV E 1928
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Perfume bottles
Occupation

Forem en:
S m e lte rs
P a tt.firn m a k e rs
Pot, m a k e r s
fU a s s m a k e rs
T u b e m ak e rs
P i rash e rs
TV Tarblem akers

nited G erman U nited
German UStates
States
currency currency
currency currency

G erman
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pfennigs
77-96

Pfennigs
107
85
17. 6-19. 8
85
98

74-83

(Afaerbelviacher)

Chemical and tech­ M iscellaneous glass
articles
nical glassware

88

20.9

Journeym en:
S m e lte rs
P o t m ak e rs
G r in d e r s
O la s sm a k e rs
P 1o w e rs
T u b e d r a w e rs

50-55
70

Furnace firemen

_ _ ___

70

16.7
14.8-15. 7

Carriers

__

_____

G la s s in s p e c to rs
F m p tie rs

23-32
50-55
50-55
50-55
50-55
36-40
36-40

5. 5-7. 6
11. 9-13.1
11.9-13.1
11. 9-13. 1
11.9-13.1
8. 6-9. 5
8. 6-9. 5

Y ardm en
Packers

.
-

__
-- ___

G r in d e r s fe m a le
fe m a le

66
34-37
26-32
60
55
55
55
40
40

Cents

21.8

66.0

15.7

74.5
66.0
15.7
8.1-8. 8
6.2-7. 6 26. 0-32. 0
14.3
13.1
13. 1
55.0
13.1
55.0
9.5
9.5

17.7
15.7

15.7
13.1
18.3
18.3

66
55
77
77

11. 9-13.1
16.7

62-66

M a t r i x m ix e rs

Pfennigs
Cents
25.5
20.2
20.2
23.3
91.5

Cents
18. 3-22.8

6. 2-7.6
13.1
13.1

Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, agree­
ment wage rates were reduced 12.5 per cent for skilled male workers
and 15 per cent for helpers and female workers, effective January 1,
1932.
Plate glass.—The following wages are paid for a 48-hour week in the
plate-glass industry in Silesia :
T able 1 8 .—W E E K L Y W A G E S IN T H E P L A T E -G L A SS IN D U S T R Y IN SIL E S IA , G E R M A N Y
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of mark= =23.8 cents]
Wages per 48-hour week
Occupation, class of worker, and m arital condition

Foremen:
Smelters on 10-pot furnaces—
M arried
Smelters on 12-pot furnaces—
M arried
M ^ld makers, married
M old m akers sin pie

Germ an cur- U nited States
currency
rency

Marks

_ __________ _______ - -------- --------------- ------- -------------

M old m akers w ith 6 years’ experience—
M arried
__ ______________ -- — ---------—
_____ ___ - __________

P o t m akers w ith 6 years’ experience—
M arried
______________ - --------------i Per 54-hour w eek.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$10. 68
9. 47

46. 02
40.92
49.01
38.84
49.01
38.84

10.95
9.74
111.66
i 9. 24
i 11.67
1 9.24

30.20
27.93

7.19
6.65

33.58
30.20
i 21.32-30.36

7. 99
7.19
i 5.07-7.23

1 39.97
i 32. 06
1 34. 04
1 28.09

i 9. 51
17. 63
18.10
1 6. 69

137.15
1 30.92

18.84
17.36

_______ ________ _______ _______ _

Journeym en:
Smelters (2 to a furnace)—
M arried
____________ -- -------------- -----Rinple
_______________________ -----Smeiters (only 1 to a furnace)—
M arried
_ _____- ----- ---------- ---------------------

P o t makers married

44. 89
39.80

- _____________________ _______ —

- - - -

-----------------

i
i
i
i

1444
T able

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
18.—W E E K L Y

W A G ES IN T H E PL A T E -G L A SS IN D U S T R Y
M A N Y —C ontinued

IN

SIL E S IA , G E R ­

Wages per 48-hour week
Occupation, class of worker, and m arital condition
G erman cur­ U nited States
rency
currency

Marks

Glassmakers a t furnaces, single or m arried ___________. . . .
Stokers, m arried__________________________________ ___
Stokers, single_______________ _______________________ "
E m ptiers, single or m arried____________________________
E m ptiers a n d block carriers, m arried___________________
E m ptiers and block carriers, single_____________________
Glass examiners, m arried______________________________
Glass examiners, single________________________________
Glass sorters, m arried _________________________________
Glass sorters, single____________ ______________________
Packers, m arried______________________________________
Packers, single________________________________________
A djusters and sand blowers, m arried (over 23 years of age)
A djusters and sand blowers, single (20 to 23 years of age)
Polishers, single or m arried_______________
D ecorators and engravers, m arried _____________________
Decorators a n d engravers, single________________________
E tchers, m arried ______________________________________
Etchers, single________________________________________
Laborers, yard, m arried_______________________________
Laborers, yard, single_________________________________
Fem ale w orkers______________________________________

30.62-35. 41
35.28
31.99
27. 36
30. 24
29. 28
i 35.45-37.15
1 28. 66-33.18
i 33.18
i 26. 41
27. 84-30. 24
24.48-27.36
31.68
28.32
29. 63-34. 29
39. 97
36.02
35.53
32.01
26. 88-30. 24
24. 00-26.88
14. 64

$7.29-$8.43
8. 40
7.61
6.51
7. 20
6.97
1 8.44-8. 80
1 6.82-7. 90
1 7. 90
1 6. 29
6. 63-7. 20
5.83-6. 51
7.54
6. 74
7.05-8.16
9.51
8.57
8.46
7.62
6.40-7. 20
5.71-6. 40
3.48

1 P er 54-hour week.

Iron and Steel Industry

The Federal Statistical Office made a study of the actual earnings of
adult workers in the iron and steel industry in October, 1928; the
hourly and weekly earnings of such workers and also the agreement
wage rates shown in the following table are taken from the published
results of its study.5
T able

19.—A V E R A G E

A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E IR O N A N D
S T E E L IN D U S T R Y O F G E R M A N Y , B Y D E P A R T M E N T S , O C T O B E R , 1928

[Conversions in to U n ited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]

D epartm ent, occupation, and sex

s*
Average hourly
Averearnings
age
N um ber of work­
ing
work­
hours
ers
GerU nited
per
man
States
week
curcurrency
rency

Agreement
hourly wage or
wage on piecerate basis
Germ an
currency

Average
weekly
earnings

U nited Ger- U nited
States m an States
curcurcurrency rency rency

Blast furnaces
Smelters: Piece w ork__
Other workers:
T im ew o rk _ . _ . . .
Piece w o rk ...

484
1, 419
5,780

53

Pfennigs
107.2

Cents Pfennigs
25.5

57K
56M

87. 3
102.0

1,088

50M

121.2

28.8

687
9,215

51M
50J4

86. 4
104.2

20.6
24.8

3, 056

483^

136.3

32.4

1. 509
16, 930

53
50M

82 9
107.2

19.7
25.5

81.1

Cents

19.3

20.8
24. 3

Marks
58.85

$14.01

51.78
58. 92

12. 32
14. 02

Steel works
Smelters: Piece w o rk ..
O ther workers:
Tim e w ork.
Piece w ork.

81.9

19.5

62. 48

14.87

45. 92
54.19

10. 93
12.90

67.49

16.06

Rolling mills
Rollers: Piece w ork.
O ther workers:
T im e w ork.
P iecew ork . .

79.8

19.0

45.18
55. 77

10. 75
13. 27
B erhnM gsi^p11^ ^ 6™ 8115^ Statis,:isclles Reichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reichs, 1931,


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1445

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T a b l e 1 9 . — A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E IR O N A N D

S T E E L IN D U S T R Y OF G E R M A N Y , B Y D E P A R T M E N T S , O C T O B E R , 1928—C ontinued

D epartm ent, occupation, and sex

Aver­
age
N u m ­ workber of
ing
work­ hours
ers
per
week

Average hourly
earnings

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Agreement
hourly wage or
wage on piecerate basis
Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Average
weekly
earnings

U nited Ger­ U nited
States man States
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency

Foundries
Skilled workers:
Tim e w ork---- ------ ----------------Piece w ork____________________
Semiskilled workers:
Tim e w ork____________________
Piece w ork____________________
Unskilled workers:
Tim e w ork__________________ _
Piece w ork____________________

Pfennigs

Cents Pfennigs

Cents Marks

77
1,149

55M
5224

92.0
109.4

21.9
26.0

74.5
85.7

17. 7
20.4

52. 82
58.92

$12. 57
14.02

473
1,981

5224
5224

84. 1
100.9

20.0
24.0

70.1
76.1

16.7
18.1

45.66
54. 39

10. 87
12. 94

483
450

5114
5214

74.5
95.7

17.7
22.8

63.7
67.1

15.2
16.0

39. 30
51.42

9. 35
12. 24

2, 180
5, 354

5514
5514

90.3
98.3

21.5
23.4

75.6
82.8

18.0
19.7

51.39
56.49

12. 23
13. 44

838
1, 328

5514
5424

78.3
89.5

18.6
21.3

66.7
74.7

15.9
17.8

44. 87
50.48

10. 68
12. 01

322
538

5414
5314

69.0
90.0

16.4
21.4

61.6
67.8

14.7
16.1

39.15
50.13

19.3
13. 92

Mechanical and electrical repair shops
Skilled woikers:
T im ew o rk ___ __________
P iecew ork _______________
Semiskilled workers:
Tim e w ork. ------- ------------P iecew o rk .. _________________
Unskilled workers:
Tim e w ork.. _________ _____
P ie c e w o rk ... ._ ________ _____

Jewelry Industry, Stuttgart

There is a concentration of the jewelry industry in the vicinity of
Pforzheim and Gmiind. Employment in the industry was poor
during the year 1931, but increased toward the end of autumn due
to stimulation in buying for the Christmas trade.
Employers are paying from 10 to 20 per cent below the agreement
wage rates. Below are shown the hourly wages which were being
paid in the jewelry industry late in 1931.
U nskilled w orkers:
Pfennigs
M ales, over 23 years of a g e -------------------------------70
M ales, u n d er 23 years of a g e ----------------------------- 50-60
Fem ales, u n d er 23 years of a g e --------------------------- 45-55
Polishers, skilled, over 23 years of a g e -----------------------55-65
G oldsm iths, skilled:
O ver 23 years of ag e_________________________ j. 85-100
U nder 23 years of a g e __________________________ 60-85

(16.7 cents)
(11.9-14.3 cents)
(10.7-13.1 cents)
(13.1-15.5 cents)
(20.2-23.8 cents)
(14.5-20.2 cents)

Lingerie, Wash Wear, and Corset Industry, Cologne

Hourly wage rates in this industry for adult workers are as follows,
younger workers being paid less according to age groups:
Pfennigs

Seam stresses an d ironers, fem ale---------------------------- 56
H elpers, fem ale___________________________________ 49
Packers, m ales ironers, a n d c u tte rs ---------------88
Ironers w ho a re skilled ta ilo rs ____________________ 96
C u tte rs _________________________________________ 98
C orset c u tte rs ______ -------------------------------------------- 96

(13.3 cents)
(11.7 cents)
(21.0 cents)
(22.9 cents)
(23.3 cents)
(22.8 cents)

The wage of the chief cutter is fixed by free agreement. Female
cutters receive 15 per cent more than seamstresses and ironers, and
120148°— 32—

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13

1446

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

forewomen and cutters designing patterns independently receive 25
per cent more.
Rates for piecework must be so fixed as to enable a normally efficient
worker to earn at least 56 pfennigs (13.3 cents) per hour.
In this industry, 6 hours’ overtime per week must be worked if re­
quired by the employers; this overtime is paid for as follows: For the
first 2 hours, 10 per cent increase over the regular rates; for the third
and fourth hours, 25 per cent increase; and for the fifth and sixth
hours, 30 per cent increase. Night ancl Sunday work is paid for at
the rate of 50 per cent extra.
Leave of absence with pay varies with the period of continuous
employment of the worker, as follows: After 9 months, 4 days; after
21 months, 5 days; after 33 months, 6 days; and after 45 months, 7
days.
Lumber Industry

Forestry (lumbering) in Germany includes the planting of trees and
their care during growth until they are large enough to cut, as well as
the felling of trees and hauling the logs. The logs are not usually cut
into lumber on the spot but shipped to sawmills, which are generally
located in or near the larger centers of population, where the cut lum­
ber is in demand. The industry is not, therefore, to be likened to
American logging and lumbering activities. The logs produced are
comparatively small and easily handled, and little or no equipment
especially made for the logging industry is required.
Employment in the industry in the Stuttgart district was poor in
the fall of 1931. The national conservation policy is strictly upheld
by the various States regardless of repeated requests for extensions of
quotas. Timber cutters and woodchoppers earn about 80 pfennigs
(19 cents) per hour and manage to work three or four days a week.
Foremen earn 1.20 marks (28.6 cents) per hour, and factory hands,
84 to 89 pfennings (20.0-21.2 cents) per hour.
The sawmill operators are attempting to cancel the wage agreement
now in existence which, under the terms of the contract, can not be
terminated until May 31, 1932.
In the district of Bavaria, workers in sawmills are paid the following
basic hourly<wage rates: Sawyers, male, 76-92 pfennigs (18.1-21.9
cents); unskilled workers, male, 68-85 pfennigs (16.2-20.2 cents);
unskilled workers, female, 50-59 pfennigs (11.9-14.0 cents).
Margarine Industry

Basic wage rates in this industry are fixed according to the age and
sex of the worker and the type of work performed, and also according
to residential classifications based on the relative cost of living.
Piece rates must be such as to yield minimum earnings per hour 20
per cent over the basic hourly rate. Regular night-shift work is paid
10 per cent more than day work.
The following^ table indicates the basic wage rates in force in the
German margarine industry for adults over 20 years of age, lower
wage rates being paid for younger workers. It should be noted, how­
ever, that, effective November 1, 1931, an average reduction of about
4.5 per cent in all wages was scheduled.


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1447

WAGES AND HOTJKS OF LABOR
T able

20.—BA SIC

H O U R L Y W A G ES IN T H E M A R G A R IN E IN D U S T R Y O F G E R M A N Y

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Males
Locality group

G roup
G roup
G roup
G roup
G roup

L _____________ _____ __________________
I I ________________________________ __
I I I _______________________________________
IV _______________________________________
V ____________________________ ______ ______

Females

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

G erman
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pfennigs

Cents

Pfennigs

Cents

110.0
97.5
85.5
76.5
69.0

26.2
23.2
20.3
18.2
16.4

73.5
65.0
57.0
51.0
46.0

17.5
15.5
13.6
12.1
10.9

Overtime work in the margarine industry is paid for at the rate of
25 per cent extra and Sunday work 50 per cent extra. For work on
Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, and New Year’s Day double rates
are paid and for work on other legal holidays time and a half.
Four days’ leave with pay, each year, is granted to workers under
20 years of age. Workers over 20 years of age are given a number of
working-days off with pay each year, the number varying according
to the period of service, as follows: For from 1 to 4 years’ service, 6
days; for 5 to 7 years’ service, 9 days; for 8 to 9 years’ service, 10
days; for 9 to 10 years’'service, 11 days; after 10 years’ service, 12
days. Sick leave with pay is granted as follows: For 3 months’
service, 1 day; for 3 months to 1 year of service, 3 days; from 1 to 2
years’ service, 6 days; from 2 to 5 years’ service, 9 days; and over 5
years’ service, 12 days.
Metal-Working Industry

Table 21 shown the actual earnings of adult metal workers in Octo­
ber, 1928, as shown by a study made by the Federal Statistical
Office of Germany.
T able

21.—A V E R A G E

A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S O F M E T A L
W O R K E R S IN G E R M A N Y , O C T O B E R , 1928 1

[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of m a rk =23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]

Branch of in d u stry and class of
workers

Agreement
Average
Average hourly hourly wage or
weekly
A ver­
earnings
wage on pieceearnings
age
rate basis
N u m ­ w ork­
ber of
ing
workers hours
nited German U nited Ger­ U nited
per German UStates
States m an States
week
cur­
cur­
cu
r­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency
rency
rency rency rency

Iron and steel goods
Skilled workers:
Tim e w o rk ____________________
Piece work _ ______ ____ ___
Semiskilled workers:
T im e w o rk ___
_______ _ ___
P iecew o rk ______________ . . . __
Helpers:
T im e w ork____________ _ _____
Piece w ork____________________
Fem ale workers:
T im e w o rk s
. ...............
Piece w o r k ___ ___ _ . - - __ _„

5, 739
6,690

50%
48

2,230
4,150
2, 540
1,411
1,247
2, 731

Pfennigs Cents Pfennigs Cents Marks
98.0
117.8

23.3
28.0

79.3
89.8

18.9
21.4

49. 79
56.71

$11.85
13.50

49%
47%

87.7
108.1

20.9
25.7

71.7
83.8

17.1
19.9

44.15
52.18

10.51
12.42

49%
47%

82.0
104.3

19.5
24.8

68.6
79.9

16.3
19.0

40.98
50.38

9. 75
11.99

53.1
44%
12.6
46.8
11.1 23.89
5. 69
63.2
45%
15.0
52.8
12.6 28.60
6.81
1 D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches R eichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich,
1931, Berlin, 1931, p. 276.


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1448

MONTHLY LAHOR REVIEW

T able

31.—A V E R A G E

A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S O F
W O R K E R S IN G E R M A N Y , O C T O B E R , 1928—C ontinued

Branch of in d u stry and class of
workers

METAL

Agreement
Average
Average hourly hourly wage or
Aver­
weekly
earnings
wage on pieceage
earnings
rate basis
N u m ­ workber of
workers hours
per German U nited G erman U nited Ger­ U nited
States
States m an States
week
cu r­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency
rency
rency rency rency

Metal goods
Skilled workers:
Tim e w ork__________ , _____
Piece w ork________________
Semiskilled workers:
Tim e w ork________________
Piece w ork_______ _________
Helpers:
Tim e w ork________________
Piece w ork________________
Fem ale workers:
Tim e w ork________________
Piece w ork________________

4 8^

Pfennigs Cents Pfennig

2, 377
2, 779

47%

103.9
118.0

24. 7
28.1

82. 2
92. 0

1, 785
2, 341

50
48

82.4
100.8

19.6
24.0

1, 553
553

m

46%

73.6
96.8

1,650
1, 768

46%
46%

11,302
26, 748

Cents Mark
19. 6
21.9

51.01
56.09

$12.14
13.35

71. 3
80.9

17.0
19.3

41.78
48.79

9.94
11.61

17.5
23.0

68.0
76.9

16.2
18.3

35.81
45.19

8. 52
10.76

50.8
62.5

12.1
14.9

46.7
55.9

11.1
13.3

23.96
28. 90

5.70
6.88

41%

105. 6
116.8

25. 1
27.8

'83.5
93.3

19.9
22.2

52. 75
56.00

12. 55
13.33

6, 659
11,165

48%
47%2

85.5
106.3

20.3
25.3

74.7
85.0

17.8
20.2

42. 50
51.23

10.12
12.19

7, 641
1,444

48%
47M

76.6
92.7

18.2
22.1

67.6
79.1

16.1
18.8

37. 94
45.02

9.03
10.71

1, 683
1, 338

46

45%

51.1
65.5

12.2
15.6

44.3
57.2

10.5
13.6

23.57
29. 82

5,61
7.10

2, 213
5, 509

50
46^

109.3
121.3

26.0
28.9

89.8
103.4

21.4
24.6

55.61
57.20

13.24
13.61

1,346
2, 585

4Q%2
47%

88.1
111.4

21.0
26.5

78.2
88.0

18.6
20.9

44. 21
53. 60

10. 52
12. 76

1, 468
211

49
48M

78.5
91.9

18.7
21.9

72.4
77.8

17.2
18.5

39.11
44.89

9.31
10.68

253
524

42
47

50.8
65.2

12.1
15.5

48.5
57.0

11.5
13.6

21.41
30. 88

5.10
7.35

1, 813
1, 153

51
48

99.2
112.7

23.6
26.8

83.1
96.8

19.8
23.0

51.93
54. 74

12.36
13.03

50

87.0
101.6

20.7
24.2

73.7
87.4

17.5
20.8

44. 53
48.52

10.60
11. 55

81.7
91.3

19.4
21.7

73.6
84.3

17.5
20.1

41.55
43.23

9.89
10.29

Machine construction
Skilled workers:
Tim e w ork________________
Piece w ork________________
Semiskilled workers:
Tim e w ork_____ ; __________
Piece w ork________________
Helpers:
Tim e w ork________________
Piece w ork________________
Fem ale workers:
Tim e w ork________________
Piece w ork________________

49

Boilers, heating apparatus, etc.
Skilled workers:
Tim e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_________________
Semiskilled workers:
Tim e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_________________
Helpers:
Tim e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_________________
Fem ale workers:
T im e w ork..................................
Piece w ork_________________

Steel construction
Skilled workers:
Tim e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_________________
Semiskilled workers:
T im e w ork_________________
Piece w o r k ...______________
Helpers:
T im e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_________________

998
757

47%
49%

1,088
423

47

1, 054
5, 925

50%
47%

108.7
110.3

25.9
26.3

85.8
101.0

20.4
24.0

56.31
53.09

13.40
12.64

442
866

48%
46%

89.1
96.7

21.2
23.0

80.3
92.7

19.1
22.1

44. 80
46. 21

10. 66
11.00

466
624

47%
43%

78.8
81.8

18.8
19.5

72.2
82.4

17.2
19.6

37.83
36. 40

9. 00
8.66

Shipbuilding
Skilled workers:
T im e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_________________
Semiskilled workers:
T im e w ork_________________
Piece w ork_______ _________
Helpers:
T im e work_................. ............. .
Piece w ork....................................


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1449

W A G E S A N D H O U R S OF LABO R

T able 2 1 .—A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S O F M E T A L
W O R K E R S IN G E R M A N Y , O C T O B E R , 1928—C ontinued

Branch of in d u stiy and class of
workers

Agreement
Average
Average hourly hourly wage or
weekly
Aver­
earnings
wage on pieceearnings
age
rate basis
N u m ­ workber of
ing
workers hours
United
nited Ger­ U nited
per German States German UStates
m an States
week
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency
rency
rency rency rency

Vehicles, aircraft, etc.
Skilled workers:
T im e w ork__________________ . 5,158
Piecew ork__. _ ___________ . _ 12, 486
Semiskilled workers:
T im ew o rk _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _______ _ 2,124
Piece w ork_____ ____ ____ _____ 4,733
Helpers:
T im e w ork_______ _ _ _ _ _ :
1,939
Piece work_ ___ _
___ _
850
Fem ale workers:
T im e work _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
499
Piece w ork____________________
551

47
46

Pfennigs Cents Pfennigs Cents Marks
' 112. 5
84. 5
26.8
20.1 53. 55
126.8

30.2

96.1

22.9

58. 86

$12. 74
14. 01

94.3
113.7

22.4
27.1

75.3
86.3

17.9
20.5

44. 82
51. 22

10. 67
12.19

48
45

79.6
99.7

18.9
23.7

69.6
79.3

16.6
18.9

38. 70
45.17

9. 21
10.75

43
43%

57.5
72.6

13.7
17.3

49.0
55.3

11.7
13.2

24. 92
31.47

5. 93
7.49

969
5,410

49
47%

104.6
115.4

24.9
27.5

82.9
96.5

19. 7
23.0

52. 28
54. 97

12. 44
13.08

521
1,317

48%
47%

83.4
100.2

19.8
23.8

74.0
86.3

17.6
20.5

41.20
48. 04

9. 81
11.43

908
200

49%
47

74.3
84.5

17.7
20.1

67.8
75.5

16.1
18.0

37. 36
40.18

8. 89
9.56

47
197

45
45%

48. 5
59. 1

11. 5
14. 1

43. 7
49. 7

10.4
11.8

21.86
27. 11

5. 20
6. 45

49%
47%

113.2
124.0

26.9
29.5

96. 2
109.8

22.9
26.1

56. 76
59.23

13. 51
14.10

49%
46%

89.3
108.3

21.3
25.8

79.9
92.9

19.0
22.1

44. 99
51.02

10. 71
12.14

49
47%

81.5
95.3

19.4
22.7

77.8
89.6

18.5
21.3

40.31
45.31

9.59
10.78

45%
46%

59.3
66.8

14.1
15.9

55. 2
63.0

13. 1
15.0

27. 14
30. 96

6. 46
7. 37

3, 119
4,974

48%
47%

112.4
126.2

26.8
30.0

82.3
102.3

19.6
24.3

55. 06
60. 60

13.10
14. 42

703
1,877

49
46%

94.4
117.7

22.5
28.0

71.3
89.0

17.0
21.2

46. 82
54. 62

11.14
13.00

1,166
302

49
47%

83.6
104.3

19.9
24.8

69.4
93.2

16.5
22.2

41. 50
49.69

9. 88
11.83

1,988
3,468

47
45%

55.6
71.8

13.2
17. 1

50.1
59.1

11.9
14.1

26. 22
32. 84

6. 24
7.82

43, 440
93, 063

49%
47%

107.4
120.1

25.6
28.6

86. 1
99.0

20. 5
23.6

53. 61
57.24

12. 76
13. 62

21, 530
39, 645

49
47

87. 7
107.9

20.9
25. 7

75.5
87.4

18.0
20.8

43. 74
51. 21

10. 41
12.19

28, 243
10, 594

48%
47

79.1
95.7

18.8
22.8

71.9
84.3

17.1
20.1

39.19
45. 34

9. 33
10.79

12, 831
32, 573

45%
46

55. 7
66. 7

13.3
15. 9

50.7
60. 7

12. 1 25. 58
14.4 30. 78

6. 09
7. 33

47
44%

Railway rolling stock
Skilled workers:
T im e w o r k _______ _
__ _
Piecew ork _ ___ _________
Semiskilled workers:
T im ew o rk _____ _ _ ____
Piece w ork___________________
Helpers:
Tim e w ork____________________
P iecew ork
_ ______________
Fem ale workers:
Tim e work
_
_______
Piece work_ _
_ _ ________

Electrical apparatus
Skilled workers:
T im e w ork____________________ 9, 696
Piece w ork____________________ 21, 389
Semiskilled workers:
Timework___ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ __ 4, 722
P iecew o rk -._ ________ _ 9, 854
H elpers:
Tim ew ork__. _ _ _ _ _____ ___ 9, 474
P iecew o rk _____ ___
____
4, 576
Fem ale workers:
T im e w o rk .. _ ____ _ _ _ _ 5, 449
Piecew o rk ____ _______ _______ 21, 984

Scientific and optical instruments
Skilled workers:
T im ew o rk _ __ _ __
__ __
P iecew o rk . _ ______ _ ______
Semiskilled workers:
T im ew o rk
Piecew o rk ______ _______ __ _
H elpers:
T im e w o rk ...
___
____ __
P ie c e w o r k ______ ______ __
Fem ale workers:
T im e w o rk ... ______ _ ______
___
Piecew o rk _______ _ __

A ll branches
Skilled workers:
T im ew o rk . ____________ __
Piece work
______ _______ _
Semiskilled workers:
T im e w o rk _____ _ _ _ _ _ __
Piecew o rk ______ ____
H elpers:
T im ew o rk _______ __ ________
Piecew o rk ___________ ____ _ _
Fem ale w orkers:
T im ew o rk
_
_____
P ie c e w o rk ... _ _____ _______


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1450

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

In Table 22 are shown average wage rates, established by collective
agreement, for metal workers on April 1, 1929, 1930, and 1931.
T able 2 2 .—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E M E T A L -W O R K IN G
IN D U S T R Y , IN G E R M A N Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931 i
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1, 1929
Class of workers

Skilled w orkers _______________________
Semiskilled workers __ _________________
Helpers, male . . . . . . . . . . . ____
Helpers, fem ale____________ _________

Apr. 1, 1930

Apr. 1, 1931

nited G erman U nited German U nited
G erman UStates
States currency
States
currency currency
currency currency
currency

Pfennigs
93.4
84.9
74.7
54.3

Cents

22.2
20.2
17.8
12.9

Pfennigs
95.4
87.1
76.5
56.0

Cents

22.7
20.7
18.2
13.3

Pfennigs
90.9
82.5
72.8
52.8

Cents

21.6
19.6
17.3
12.6

1 D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches Reichsam t, Statistisches] Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich,
1931, Berlin, 1931, p. 284.

A special allowance is frequently given for especially dirty or
dangerous work.
Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, wage
rates in this industry in central Germany were reduced 10 per cent,
effective January 1, 1932.
The usual increases in rates for overtime work and work on holidays
are as follows: Overtime, 25 per cent; Sundays and legal holidays, 50
per cent; and work on Easter, Christmas, and Whitsuntide, 100 per
cent. In some districts a higher rate (usually 30 or 50 per cent) is
paid after the first two hours of overtime. Leave of absence with pay
is generally granted after one year’s service, beginning with 3 days’
leave and increasing 1 day with each year of service up to from 6 to 11
days, according to locality.
Family allowances, ranging from 1 to 3.3 pfennigs (0.24 to 0.78
cent) per hour for wife and each dependent child, according to locality,
are usual.
Paper Industry

Table 23 shows the results of an investigation of wages and hours
of labor in the paper industry in May, 1930, made by the German
Federal Statistical Office and covering 27,499 workers in 327 estab­
lishments manufacturing paper, cardboard, cellulose, and wood pulp;
this was about one-third of the adult workers engaged in the paper
industry in Germany. The table shows the average hourly earnings,
excluding overtime and family allowances, the agreement hourly
wage rates or wages on the piece-rate basis, the average weekly hours,
including overtime ; and the average gross weekly earnings, including
overtime. About three-fourths of the workers covered in the study
were paid on a time-rate basis and about one-fourth on a piece-rate
basis.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1451

W AG ES AND H O U R S OF LABO R
T able

23.—A V E R A G E

A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E P A P E R
IN D U S T R Y OF G E R M A N Y , M A Y , 1930, BY O C C U P A T IO N S 1

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents, pfennig=0.238 cent]

Occupation

Agreement
Average hourly hourly rates on
Aver­
earnings
tim e or piece­
age
work basis
N u m ­ work­
ber of ing
work­
hours
ers
Ger­ U nited Ger­ U nited
per
an
States
m an
States
w eek 2 m
cur­
cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency rency

Time rates (including production bonus)
Paper-m achine operators___________
F irst paper-machine assistants. ______
B eater men, p a p e r __ _______
Calender m en a n d cutting-m achine
operators_______________
______
C ardboard-m achine o p e r a t o r s .
Takers-off, cardboard. __________
B eater men, cardboard
. . . ._
A ssistant beater m en____ . . .
Boiler men, cellulose__________
M achine operators, cellulose__________
Chopper m e n .
_____ _ . _____
Takers-off, wood pulp _ _______
W ood peelers. . . . . ______
Assistants, unskilled, m a le ...
Fem ale em ployees.. .................

1,022
1, 333
1,275

47.7
46.9
46.2

1, 690
208
456
199
285
201
225
897
635
604
6,616
4,221

45.3
49. 0
46.0
47. 5
45.6
51. 1
50. 7
48.8
47.5
46.4
46. 9
43.0

Pfen­
nigs

Cents

109.6
90. 0
92.1

26. 1
21.9
21.9

86.9
90.5
74.2
81. 2
77. 2
98. 2
93.4
81.8
77.8
82. 5
79.2
53.5

20. 7
21.5
17.7
19.3
18.4
23.4
22. 2
19.5
18. 5
19.6
18.8
12. 7

Pfen­
nigs
96.2
83.2
84.3

Cents
22.9
19.8
20. 1

82.6
19. 7
81. 9
19. 5
71.3 ' 17.0
76. 5
18.2
73.8
17. 6
86. 0
20. 5
84. 5
20. 1
77.4
18. 4
76. 2
18. 1
76.4
18. 2
75. 1
17. 9
50.3
12.0

Average gross
weekly earn­
ings 2

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Marks

53. 94
43. 57
43. 68

$12. 84
10. 37
10.40

40. 04
46. 18
34. 92
39. 87
36. 25
54. 00
50. 83
41. 59
38. 14
39. 01
38. 34
23. 07

9. 53
10. 98
8.31
9. 49
8. 63
12. 85
12. 10
9. 90
9. 08
9. 28
9. 12
5. 49

Piece rates
F irst paper-machine assistants . ___
Calender m en a n d cutting-m achine
operators______ ______ _______
Takers-off, cardboard
______
M achine operators, cellulose.. ___. .
... .
Wood peelers. _____
Assistants, unskilled, m ale_______
Fem ale employees. _________

21

40.7

103.7

24.7

102. 0

24.3

42.81

10. 19

91
16
22
1, 650
2. 132
3,275

44. 6
45.6
48. 6
44. 8
44. 8
41. 7

110. 0
93. 1
96.6
101.4
106. 4
62. 7

26.2
22.2
23. 0
24. 1
25.3
14. 9

99.1
91.8
99.2
90.2
87. 5
59. 1

23. 6
21. 8
23. 6
21. 5
20. 8
14. 1

49. 35
42. 44
48. 28
46. 26
48. 90
26. 19

11. 75
10. 10
11. 49
11. 01
11. 64
6.23

1 D ata are from Germany, Statistisches Reichsamt, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das Deutsche Reich 1931
Berlin, 1931, p. 279.
’
2 Including overtime.

In Table 24 are presented the average agreement hourly wage rates
for workers in the paper-making and paper-goods branches of the
industry which were in effect on April 1, 1929, 1930, and 1931.
T able 2 4 .—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E P A P E R IN D U S T R Y
O F G E R M A N Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 19312
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of p fe n n ig s 0.238 cent]
A pr. 1, 1929
O ccupation or class of workers
German
currency

Paper-m achine o p erato rs....................... .
Y ard w orkers____ ___________
Fem ale w orkers. ______________
Account books and envelopes:
Skilled workers, male
Skilled workers, female__ _
Semiskilled w o r k e r s ..______
H elpers_____________ _____

Pfennigs
89.4
69.9
47.2

110.6
63. 5
99.2
79.0

Apr. 1, 1930

Apr. 1, 1931

U nited German U nited
U nited
G erman
States
States
States
currency currency currency currency currency

Cents
21.3
16.6
11.2
26.3
15. 1
23. 6
18.8

Pfennigs

93. 5
73. 2
49.6

Cents

22. 3
17. 4
11.8

Pfennigs
87. 8
68. 8
46.4

Cents

115. 7
27. 5
108. 4
66.6
15. 9
62. 4
103.9
24.7
97. 1
82.5
19.6
77.4
i D ata are from Germ any, Statistisches Reichsamt, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich,
erlm, 1931, p. 288.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

20. 9
16 4
11.0

25 8
14. 9
23. 1
18.4
1931,

1452

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T able 2 4 .—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E P A P E R
IN D U S T R Y O F G E R M A N Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931—C ontinued
Apr. 1, 1929
Occupation or class of workers
G erman
currency
B ookbinding on a large scale:
Skilled workers, m a l e _______
Skilled workers, female . . .
Prin tin g a n d binding:
Skilled workers, male
Skilled workers, fem ale.. __
C ardboard boxes:
Skilled workers, m ale________
Skilled workers, female
Helpers, m ale________
Helpers, female__________ .
All branches:
Skilled workers, male
. ..
Skilled workers, female.
Helpers, m ale. ______
Helpers, female________

Pfennigs
119.8
72.0

Apr. 1, 1930

A pr. 1, 1931

U nited
nited
German U
Germ an U nited
States
States
States
currency currency currency currency currency

Cents

28.5
17.1

Pfennigs
125.4
75.4

Cents

29.8
17.9

Pfennigs
117.9
70.7

Cents

28 1
16.8

108.7
64.6

25.9
15.4

112.7
66.8

26.8
15.9

105.7
62.7

25.2
14.9

100.0
62.6
84.4
51.5

23.8
14.9
20.1
12.3

105. 1
66. 1
89.4
54.7

25.0
15. 7
21.3
13.0

97.6
61.4
83.0
50.8

23.2
14.6
19.8
12. 1

110.5
64.9
82.2
51.5

26.3
15.4
19.6
12.3

115.5
68.0
86.7
54.7

27.5
16.2
20.6
13.0

108.2
63.7
80.8
50.8

25.8
15.2
19.2
12.1

In western Rhineland rag cutters, rag thrashers, straw-cooker
chargers, and rag sorters are paid 2 pfennigs (0.48 cent) per hour
extra because of the disagreeable nature of the work. Married workers
having to support more than one child are entitled to an increase of 10
per cent of their hourly wage.
Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, the
wage rates in this industry in central Germany were reduced 15 per
cent, effective January 1, 1932.
In western Rhineland overtime is compensated by an increase in
wages as follows: 20 per cent from the forty-ninth to the fifty-fourth
hour and 25 per cent after the fifty-fourth hour. Sunday work is paid
50 per cent extra, and work on Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide
100 per cent extra.
All workers in this district are granted leave of absence as follows:
After 1 year of service, 3 days; after 2 years, 4 days; after 3 years, 5
days; after 4 years, 6 days; after 5 years, 7 days; after 8 years,'8 days;
and after 10 years, 9 days.
Printing Trades 6

Table 25 shows the actual earnings and hours of labor of 46,212
workers in the printing trades in Germany in June, 1929, as shown
by an investigation made by the Federal Statistical Office.
iQQiDu ta J reio fim rieU f a o b Statistisches Reichsamt, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich,

ludij ±>eriin, lyoi, pp. 277» 289,


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1453

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able

2 5 —A V E R A G E

A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E P R IN T ­
IN G T R A D E S IN G E R M A N Y , J U N E , 1929

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]
Agreement
Average
Average hourly hourly wage or
w eekly earn­
Aver­
earnings
wage on pieceings
age
rate
basis
N u m ­ work­
ber of ing
w ork­
hours
ers
U nited
U nited Ger­ U nited
per
German States German States m an States
week currency
cur­ currency cur­
cur­
cur­
rency
rency rency rency

Occupation

H and compositors ______________
13, 806
M achine compositors____________ . . . 5, 103
Pressmen
_
_ _ . . _ _
5, 569
N ew spaper pressm en___________ . _ 1,493
Stereotypers'_________
....
_____ 1,447
H elpers____ _____ _____ __________ 6, 193
Helpers, female............ ............................. 2, 536
Feeders, female____ _
____________ 4, 177

47.6
47.9
47.7
49.8
48. 7
48.3
46. 2
46.8

Pfennigs Cents Pfennigs Cents Marks
133. 7
170.4
139.2
155.8
164.0
114. 5
63.4
73.4

31.8
40.6
33. 1
37. 1
39.0
27. 3
15. 1
17.5

118.3
141. 1
119.0
119.9
119.5
103.7
57.5
69.7

28.2
33.6
28.3
28. 5
28.4
24. 7
13. 7
16.6

65. 69
89. 79
68.13
95. 00
89.81
63. 35
29. 76
34. 65

$15. 63
21.37
16.21
22.61
21.37
15.08
7.08
8. 25

An investigation of actual earnings and hours of labor of workers
engaged in lithographic work in Germany in July, 1929, covering
14,251 workers, gave the following results:
T able

26—A V E R A G E

A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN L IT H O G R A P H IC
W O R K IN G E R M A N Y , JU L Y , 1929

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]

Occupation

W orkers on flat-bed press___________
W orkers on offset press____ _______
Lithographers., _ _______________ _
Stone polishers.. _ ____ _
O ther workers, m ale_____ _ ______
Feeders, female_________ . ______
D elivery tenders, female________ . . .
O ther workers, female_______________

Agreement hour­
Average hourly ly wage or wage Average week­
Aver­
earnings
on piece-rate
ly earnings
age
basis
N u m ­ work­
ber of ing
work­ hours
ers
U nited Ger- United
per German United
German States man- States
week currency States
cur­ currency cur­
curcur­
rency
rency rency rency

2,647
1,214
1,542
'582
887
1, 597
1, 094
1, 366

47.4
47. 9
47. 0
48. 1
49.2
46. 6
46. 8
46. 6

Pfennigs
131. 3
156. 1
138. 3
107. 1
101. 6
67.6
60. 4
55.9

Cents Pfennigs
31. 2
37. 2
32. 9
25. 5
24. 2
16. 1
14. 4
13. 3

Cents Marks

102. 3
95. 5
66. 0
59. 0
53.1

63 03
76 86
65 56
52. 01
51. 67
31. 90
28.69
27. 01

24. 3
22.7
15.7
14. 0
12.6

$15 00
18 90
15 60
12. 38
12. 30
7. 59
6. 83
6. 43

Agreement wage rates in effect in the printing trades on April 1,
1929, 1930, and 1931, were, on the average, as shown in Table 27.
T able 2 7 .—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E 'R A T E S IN T H E
T R A D E S IN G E R M A N Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931

P R IN T IN G

[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1, 1929
Occupation

H and compositors______________________
Helpers
_______________ _. ________
Feeders and other helpers, female__ _____


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Apr. 1, 1930

Apr. 1, 1931

German U nited G erman U nited G erm an U nited
States currency
States
States
currency currency
currency currency currency

Pfennigs
117.3
103.3
64.2

Cents
27.9
24.6
15.3

Pfennigs
117.3
103.3
64.2

Cents

27.9
24.6
15. 3

Pfennigs
110.3
96.7
60.4

Cents
26.3
23.0
14.4

1454

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, wage
rates in the printing industry were reduced 15 per cent, effective
January 1, 1932.
Rubber Industry, Cologne

Wages in this industry are paid according to the age and sex of
the worker and the type of the work performed. Where piecework
rates are used actual earnings must be 15 per cent greater than the
wages set forth herein. The following are the basic hourly wage
rates for adult workers:
Male workers:
Unskilled workers___
Semiskilled workers- _.
Semiskilled specialists.
Specialists__________
Female workers:
Unskilled workers___
Semiskilled workers- _
Semiskilled specialists
Specialists_________

Pfennigs

_
_
_

77.0
78.5
79.5
80.0

(18.3
(18.7
(18.9
(19.0

cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)

_
.
_
_

50.5
51.5
52.5
56.0

(12.0
(12.3
(12.5
(13.3

cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)

Wages must be paid each week, and in no case later than on Friday.
Special allowances of from 1 to 2 pfennigs (0.24 to 0.48 cent) per
hour are made for work detrimental to the health of the worker.
Married workers are entitled to a family allowance of 114 pfennigs
(27.1 cents) per week for wife and each child. Female workers who
are self-supporting are entitled to an hourly allowance of 4 pfennigs
(1 cent). Foremen, in their first year of service as such, receive
an allowance of 4.5 pfennigs (1.1 cents) per hour, in their second year
of service, 5.5 pfennigs (1.3 cents) per hour, and after two years’
service, 7.5 pfennigs (1.8 cents) per hour.
The normal working time in the rubber industry—8 hours per day
or 48 hours per week—may, in case of necessity, be increased to 9
hours per day or 54 hours per week.
Overtime—i. e., all time over 8 hours per day—is paid for at the
rate of time and a quarter and Sunday work at the rate of time and
a half. Double time is paid for work done on Christmas, Easter,
and the Pentecostal holidays.
All workers under 20 years of age are entitled to four days’ leave
of absence with pay during a calendar year. Workers over 20 years
of age are entitled to leave of absence with pay according to the
following schedule: 1 and 2 years’ service, 4 days; 3 years’ sendee,
5 days; 4 years’ service, 6 days; 5 years’ service, 7 days; 6 years’
service, 8 days; 7 years’ service, 9 days; 8 years’ service, 10 days;
9 years’ service, 11 days; 10 years’ service, 12 days.
Shipbuilding, Hamburg District

The general basic hourly rates in the Hamburg district for adult
workers in the shipbuilding industry are as follows, lower wages being
paid, by age groups, to workers under 20 years of age:


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1455

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 2 8 .—BA SIC H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E S H IP B U IL D IN G IN D U S T R Y IN T H E
H A M B U R G D IS T R IC T O F G E R M A N Y
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of p fen n ig= 0.238 cent]

Class of workers

German
cur­
rency

Pfennigs
U nskilled laborers— ------ ---------------------P a rtly skilled w orkers.................. ..................
Skilled w orkers------------------------------------

72-76
81-85
88-92

B altic Sea ship­
yards

N orth Sea ship­
yards

H am burg

U nited
States
currency

German
cu r­
rency

Cents

Pfennigs
66-69
74-78
81-85

17.1-18.1
19. 3-20. 2
20.9-21. 9

U nited
States
currency

German
cur­
rency

Cents

Pfennigs

15. 7-16. 4
17.6-18. 6
19. 3-20. 2

66-69
73-77
80-84

U nited
States
currency

Cents

15.7-16.4
17. 4-18. 3
19. 0-20. 0

Skilled workers in Hamburg shipyards receive an additional “ pro­
duction payment” (bonus) of 3 pfennigs (0.7 cent) per hour. Only
male workers are employed.
All married workers receive 1 pfennig (0.24 cent) extra per hour and
2 pfennigs (0.48 cent) extra per hour for each minor child until it has
finished public school.
Piecework is paid for at rates which permit the workers to earn from
20 to 25 per cent more than the hourly time rate. It is said that 95
per cent of all work in the shipyards is piecework.
Overtime is paid for at the regular rate plus 25 per cent for the first
two hours and 40 per cent thereafter. All overtime on Sundays or
holidays is paid for at 50 per cent over the regular rates.
A vacation of six days per annum is granted each worker and is
paid for in advance.
Soap Industry, Rhenish Westphalia

The wage rates vary according to the age and sex of the worker,
and according to locality groups based on relative cost of living.
When piecework is done, the minimum earnings per hour must be at
least 20 per cent in excess of the normal basic time rate per hour.
The following are the basic wage rates per hour paid to adult
workers:
T able 2 9 .—BA SIC H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E SO A P IN D U S T R Y O F R H E N IS H
W E S T P H A L IA , G E R M A N Y
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Female workers

M ale workers
Locality group

G roup
G roup
G roup
G roup

T
TT
ITT
TV

_ __________________________
______________________________
___________ ____ _____ ______ —
__________________________

G erman
currency

U nited
States
currency

G erman
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pfennigs

Cents

Pfennigs

Cents

80
75
65
64

19. 0
17.9
15. 5
15.2

56
53
46
45

13.3
12.6
10.9
10.7

The normal working time in the soap industry in this district is 8
hours per day and 48 hours per week. However, with the consent
of the labor unions, employers may increase this working time to
9 or 10 hours per day.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1456

MONTHLY LABOE E E V IE W

Overtime, i. e., all work in excess of 8 hours per day, is paid for at
the rate of time and a quarter. Sunday work is paid for at the rate
of time and a half, work on Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide at
the rate of double time, and work on other holidays at the rate of
time and a half.
Leave of absence with pay is granted to all employees on the fol­
lowing basis: All workers under 20 years of age are entitled to 4
days’ leave with pay per year. Workers over 20 years of age are
entitled to a certain number of working days off, with pay, each
year, the number varying with the period of service, as follows:
1 year of service, 4 days; 2 years, 4 days; 3 years, 5 days; 4 years,
6 days; 5 years, 7 days; 6 years, 8 days; 7 years, 9 days; 8 years, 10
days; 9 years, 11 days; and 10 years, 12 days.
Each married worker is entitled to a family allowance of 2 pfennigs
per hour (0.5 cent) for his wife and each minor dependent child.
Sugar Industry

The following basic hourly wage rates are paid to adult workers in
the sugar industry; younger workers are paid lower rates according
to age groups:
Pfennigs
( 1 7 .1 cents)
( 1 9 . 3 - 2 0 . 2 cents)
( i o . 7 cents)

Unskilled workers--------------------------------------------- 7 2
Hand workers--------------------------------------------- 8 1 - 8 5
Female workers------------------------------------------------ 4 5

Foremen are paid 10 per cent more than the regular wage rates of
their respective groups.
Family allowances are paid to heads of households of 1 mark
(23.8 cents) per week for every child under 14 years of age and 1
mark per week for wife or invalid husband.
Allowances in kind are granted to regular workers of at least one
year’s continuous service as follows: Unmarried workers, 10 pounds
of sugar per month; married workers, 20 pounds of sugar per month.
For overtime work an additional 25 per cent of the wage rate is
paid on week days and for work on Sundays and holidays 50 per cent
additional.
Leave of absence with pay is granted to all employees over 18 years
of age who have served for at least 1 year under the same management,
according to the following schedule: From 1 to 2 years’ service,
3 days; from 3 to 4 years’ service, 5 days; after 4 years’ service, 6 days.
Textile Industry

Table 30 shows the results of an investigation of wages and hours
in the textile industry in Germany, made by the German Federal
Statistical Office, covering 55,795 textile workers employed in 466
establishments in 121 localities in September, 1930.7
7 G erm any. Statistisches R eichsam t. W irtschaft u n d S tatistik, Berlin, June 2, 1931, pp. 459-462. See
Labor Review for October, 1931 (p. 189), for report of investigation b y the G erm an U nion of Textile W orkers
of actual earnings of workers in th e in d u stry from D ecember, 1929, to M ay, 1931.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1457

W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T a b l e 3 0 .— A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S O P S P IN N E R S A N D

W E A V E R S IN G E R M A N Y , 1930
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark = 23.8 cents, pfennig=0.238 cent]

Excluding al­
lowances

Agreement
hourly wage
or wage on
piece-rate
basis

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Average hourly earnings

O ccupations, sex, and age

Spinners:
M ale _ ___________ -Fem ale______________
W eav ers:1
M ale
- ---Fem ale___- ____
A ssistants:
M ale, over 20 years__ _
Female, over 20 y ears-----

A ver­
age
N u m ­ work­
ber of ing
w ork­ hours
ers
per
week

Including al­
lowances
Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

u. s.

cur­
rency

u. s.

cur­
rency

Average
weekly
earnings

u. s.

Ger­
an cur­
cur­ m
cur­ rency
rency rency

u. s.

Pfennigs Cents Pfennigs Cents Pfennigs Cents Marks
92.1
60.7

21.9
14.4

90.9
60.3

21. 6
14.4

80. 5
53.3

19.2
12.7

39.14
24. 73

$9. 32
5.89

43.60
41.59

93.9
71.7

22.3
17.1

92.3
70.5

22.0
16.8

73.1
60.7

17.4
14.4

40. 94
29.57

9.74
7.04

45.41
43.04

70.0
51.3

16.7
12.2

68.9
50. 9

16.4
12.1

62.8
46.8

14.9
11.1

31.80
22.06

7.57
5.25

2,002
7,400

42. 51
40.74

22,182
13,423
5,321
5,467

1 Including frame w orkers and tw ist hands.

Table 31, from the same study, shows the number of workers
covered, the average number of hours worked per week, the average
hourly earnings, the average agreement wages per hour, and the
average weekly earnings in each of the 10 branches of the textile
industry investigated.
T a b l e 3 1 ..— A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E T E X T IL E

IN D U S T R Y IN G E R M A N Y , S E P T E M B E R , 1930

[Conversions into U nited States ,currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents, pfennig=0.238 cent]

B ranch of in dustry, occupation,
and sex

Average hourly
A ver­
earnings
age
N u m ­ workber of ing
w ork­ hours
U nited
ers
per German States
week currency cur­
rency

Cotton
Spinners:
M ale___ _________________ ____
Fem ale___ ___________________ Weavers:
M a le ...
- --------- ------- --------Fem ale_____ _________________
Assistants:
M ale, over 20 years____
----Female, over 20 years------ . . . -

942
4, 782

40.14
40. 53

6,766
6, 574

41.92
41.39

2,738
2,139

44.13
42.55

Pfennigs

Agreement hour­
ly wage or wage
on piece-rate basis

U nited Ger­ U nited
German States m an States
currency cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency

Cents Pfennigs

Cents Marks
18.6
12.9

35. 75
25. 26

$8. 51
6.01

69. 7
61. 2

16.6
14.6

34. 29
28. 42

8. 16
6. 76

15.8
11.6

61.3
45.6

14. 6
10.9

29.69
20.98

7. 07
4. 99

22.9
13.6

87.2
53.1

20.8
12.6

44.18
24. 50

10. 51
5. 83

20.9
14. 7

78.2
54.4

80.6
68.2

19.2
16.2

66.4
48.9

87.9
61.9

Average
weekly
earnings

Worsted spinning
Spinners:
673
M ale__________________________
1,174
F e m a le ___
___ . ..
Assistants:
646
M ale, over 20 years______ 403
Female, over 20 years------------------

45.58
42.39

: : 96. 2 .
57.3

48.92
46. 98

70.7
46.6

16.8
11.1

63.2
43.9

15.0
10.4

35. 03
22.15

8. 34
5. 27

42. 93
45. 64

88.0
54. 2

20.9
12.9

73.4
49.7

17.5
11.8

38.61
24. 98

9.19
5. 95

44. 73
43.98

93.7
77.0

22.3
18.3

73.0
63.0

17.4
15.0

42. 26
34.01

10.06
8. 09

49. 07
45. 84

73.3
55.0

17.4
13. 1

66.9
50.5

15.9
12.0

36. 73
25. 38

8. 74
6.04

Wool

Spinners:
387
M a le ... ____ _ ---------------721
Fem ale______________________ W eavers:
M ale__________________________ 9,085
Fem ale------------- -------------------- 2, 788
A ssistants:
930
M ale, over 20 years_____ _ _ -. 1,137
Female, over 20 years...................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1458

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

T a b l e 3 1 .- -A V E R A G E A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E T F T T T T

IN D U S T R Y IN G E R M A N Y , S E P T E M B E R , 19W—C ontinued

B ranch of in d u stry , occupation,
and sex

Average hourly
Aver­
earnings
age
N um ­
ber of workw ork­ ing
hours
U nited
ers
per German States
week currency cur­
rency

Agreement hour
ly wage or wage
on piece-rate basis

E X T IL E

Average
weekly
earnings

U nited Ger­ U nited
G erman States m an States
currency cur­
cur­
cur­
rency rency rency

Linen
Spinners, fe m a le --..............
W eavers:
M ale________________
Fem ale_________ ____
Assistants:
M ale, over 20 years___
Fem ale, over 20 years..

723

34. 57

733
. 1,270

36. 64
36. 89

446
425

Pfennigs
61.3

Cents Pfennigs

Cents Marks

14.6

50.0

11.9

21.31

$5. 07

74.6
59.3

17.8
14.1

66.8
54.2

15.9
12.9

27. 41
21.92

6. 52
5. 22

41.18
35. 67

67.3
49.4

16.0
11.8

60.1
44.1

14.3
10.5

28.18
17. 70

6. 71
4. 21

990
26

45. 99
45.12

101.0
74.8

24.0
17.8

79.6
60.5

18.9
14.4

48. 77
34.18

11.61
8. 13

46
328

43. 75
45.68

72.5
50.3

17. 3
12. 0

63.4
48.3

15. 1
11.5

32. 56
23.15

7. 75
5.51

1,554
288

47. 32
43. 46

113.7
63.4

27. 1
15.1

74.7
44.8

17.8
10.7

55.13
27.66

13. 12
6.58

17
99

49.90
43. 53

67.3
49.1

16.0
11.7

58.4
41.0

13.9
9.8

33. 68
21.51

8.02
5. 12

591
596

43. 93
40.90

107.7
64.6

25.6
15.4

73. 7
50.7

17.5
12.1

47. 65
27.28

11. 34
6. 49

284
535

46. 51
41. 44

74.2
53.1

17. 7
12. 6

64.2
46.9

15.3
11. 2

34.81
22.21

8. 28
5.29

430
116

29.02
29.05

124.3
65.1

29.6
15.5

85.6
56.2

20.4
13.4

36. 47
18.90

8.68
4.50

60
220

40. 38
36.92

67.2
47.7

16.0
11.4

63.5
44.6

15.1
10.6

20. 69
17. 65

4. 92
4.20

1,031

45.44

106.1

25.3

87.0

20.7

50. 58

12.04

30
11

42. 67
44. 43

62.2
54.0

14.8
12.9

66.0
53.5

15.7
12.7

27.00
24.18

6. 43
5.75

1,002
1,765

45.89
42.67

89.2
78.7

21.2
18.7

71.6
65.3

17.0
15.5

42.06
34.03

10. 01
8.10

124
170

48. 56
47.03

72.7
58.0

17.3
13.8

65.0
50.7

15.5
12. 1

36.74
27. 67

8.74
6. 59

Ribbon weaving

Weavers:
M ale________________
Fem ale______________
Assistants:
M ale, over 20 years___
Fem ale, over 20 y e ars..

Hosiery
Fram e workers:
M ale________________
Fem ale___ __________
Assistants:
M ale, over 20 years___
Fem ale, over 20 y e ars..

Knit goods
Fram e workers:
M ale________________
Fem ale______________
A ssistants:
M ale, over 20 years___
Fem ale, over 20 y e ars..

Lace making
T w ist hands:
M ale_______________
F e m a le ...___________
A ssistants:
M ale, over 20 years__
Female, over 20 years.

Velvet weaving
Weavers, m ale__________
Assistants:
M ale, over 20 years__
Fem ale, over 20 years.

Silk weaving

Weavers:
M ale_______________
Fem ale_____________
Assistants:
M ale, over 20 years__
Fem ale, over 20 y e a rs..


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1459

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

In the textile industry the average hourly wage rates paid under
agreements in effect on April 1, 1929, 1930, and 1931 were as follows:
T able 3 2 .—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E T E X T IL E IN D U S ­
T R Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931 '
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1 1929
Branch of in dustry, occupation, and sex of
w orker

German
currency

W orsted spinning:
Pfennigs
Spinners, m ale________________ _________
78.8
Spinners, female________________
51.3
W eavers, m ale________________ ________
77.9
W eavers, female___ ______ ____ _
59.9
Assistants, m ale_____________ .
62.6
A ssistants female________________________
44.5
Wool:
Spinners, m ale-- - ____________
77.7
Spinners, female______________
51.2
W eavers, m ale___ _______________________
70.9
W eavers, female______________ . _
61.9
A ssistants, m ale_________________________
62. 7
A ssistants, female___________ ____________
48.4
Cotton:
Spinners, m a le .. _______________________
79.9
Spinners, female___ _______________ ______
53.8
W eavers, m ale___ __________ _
74.3
W eavers, female______________
62.4
Assistants, m ale____ ____
61.9
Assistants, fem ale.................. ...........................
46.7
Linen:
Spinners, fem ale._______ ___ ____ _________
53.4
Hacklers and weavers, m ale_____
69.7
Hacklers a n d weavers, fe m a le ... . . . ______
53.4
Assistants, male
_____ .
57.8
Assistants, fem ale......................................
42.8
Silk weaving:
W eavers, m ale_________________________
72.2
W eavers, female . . ____________ .
63.3
Assistants, m ale_____ _______ .
67.2
Assistants, female__________________
51. 1
V elvet weaving:
Weavers, male ___ _
_________
94. 7
_______________
W eavers, female.
66.7
H elpers, m ale.
. ... ...
_ .
76.8
Helpers, female ______ i ______________
50.9
R ibbon weaving:
W eavers, male . . . . . . . . . _____ . . . .
78.9
W eavers, female....... ...................... . ______
59.6
Assistants, m a le ........... .
____________
66.8
A ssistants, female______ _______________
50.1
Lace m aking:
W eavers, m a le -. . . . . . .
__________
85.6
Assistants, m a le ... _ _ _____ ____ ______
63.5
Assistants, female. ______________________
44.6
Hosiery:
K nitters, m a le ._ ________________________
76.4
K nitters, female_____________ _ _________
52.8
Assistants, m ale___ . . .
__________
63.1
A ssistants, female________________________
45.6
All branches:
Spinners a n d weavers, m ale_______________
74.6
Spinners and weavers, fem ale___ __________
57.5
Assistants, m ale_______ _ . _____________
62.1
A ssistants, fem ale.. . . . _________ ____ ___
46.5

A pr. 1 1930

Apr. 1 1931

U nited
U nited
U nited
States G erm an States G erm an States
cu r­ currency
cur­ currency
cur­
rency
rency
rency

Cents
18.8
12.2
18.5
14.3
14.9
10.6

Pfennigs
86. 2
55.9
80.9
62.3
66.0
48.0

Cents

20. 5
13.3
19.3
14.8
15.7
11.4

Pfennigs

83.0
53.9
76.3
58. 5
63.3
46.3

Cents

19.8
12.8
18.2
13.9
15.1
11.0

18.5
12.2
16.9
14.7
14.9
11.5

79.6
52. 6
72. 6
63. 1
64.0
49.5

18.9
12.5
17.3
15.0
15.2
11.8

75.0
49.9
68.7
59.8
61.0
46.9

17.9
11.9
16. 4
14.2
14.5
11.2

19.0
12.8
17.7
14.9
14.7
11. 1

80.9
54.4
75.2
63.3
62.6
47.2

19.3
12.9
17.9
15.1
14.9
11.2

76. 1
51.2
70.6
59.6
59. 1
44.7

18.1
12. 2
16.8
14.2
14.1
10.6

12.7
16.6
12.7
13.8
10.2

55.0
72.7
55.7
60.0
54.5

13.1
17.3
13.3
14.3
13.0

51. 2
68. 1
52. 4
56.2
42.0

12.2
16.2
12. 5
13.4
10.0

17.2
15.1
16.0
12.2

73.1
64. 1
63.0
51.7

17.4
15.3
15.0
12.3

69.0
60.3
64.2
48.7

16.4
14.4
15.3
11.6

22.5
15.9
18.3
12.1

98.9
66.7
80.5
53.1

23.5
15.9
19.2
12.6

87.0
62.8
75.6
51.5

20. 7
14.9
18.0
12.3

18.8
14.2
15.9
11.9

79.8
60.6
67.6
51.1

19.0
14.4
16.1
12.2

75.4
56.7
63.8
47.6

17.9
13.5
15.2
11.3

20.4
15.1
10.6

85.6
63.5
44.6

20.4
15.1
10.6

80.5
59.7
42.4

19.2
14.2
10.1

18.2
12.6
15.0
10.9

76.7
53.1
63.4
45.8

18.3
12.6
15.1
10.9

72.7
50.8
60.1
43.8

17.3
12.1
14.3
10.4

17.8
13.7
14.8
11.1

76.0
58.7
63.5
47.4

18.1
14.0
15.1
11.3

71.8
55.6
60.2
45.0

17.1
13.2
14.3
10.7

1
D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches Reichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich, 1931,
Berlin, 1931, p. 290.

Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1932, wage
rates in the textile industry in central Germany were reduced 15 per
cent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1460

MONTHLY l a b o r r e v i e w

l'101 overtime, 2o per cent extra and for Sunday and holiday work
50 per cent extra are generally paid, while in some districts work on
Christmas, Easter, and Whitsunday is paid for at the rate of 100 per
cent extra. In some places six days’ leave of absence per year with
pay is granted to workers.
Vegetable Oil Mills, Hamburg

These oil mills are located in Harburg, across the Elbe River from
the city of Hamburg and are actually located within the Bremen
consular district, but they are generally regarded as a part of the
industries of the port of Hamburg.
The basic hourly wage rates in effect in these mills are as follows:
Y ard la b o re rs_________
F a cto ry la b o re rs______
O perators of presses___
M achinists a n d firemen
Fem ale w o rk ers_______
Skilled w o rk ers________
Sem iskilled w o rk ers___

M arks

0.97
0.98
0.99
1.07
0.65
1.28
1.11

(23.1
(23.3
(23.6
(25.5
(15.5
(30.5
(26.4

cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)
cents)

In some cases firemen also receive an additional payment up to 5 4
per cent of the amount stated. Machinists’ wages, including bonuses
amount to 1.34 marks (31.9 cents) per hour for first-class machinists
and, 1.28 marks (30.5 cents) for second-class machinists.
Piecework is paid for at about 5.4 per cent above the time-work
rate. For dangerous, unhealthful, or particularly dirty work extra
wages are paid by agreement.
Overtime is paid for at a 25 per cent increase over the regular
rates Work on Sundays and holidays (except Christmas, Easter
and Ascension Day) is paid for at 50 per cent increase, and work on
C iris tin as, Easter, and Ascension Day double the regular rates.
A vacation of from 4 to 12 days, according to length of service, is
granted each worker, with payment of 50 per cent in advance.
Woodworking Industry

Table 33 shows the actual hourly and weekly earnings, and the
ol labor of adult workers in the woodworking industry in Germany as shown by a study made by the Federal Statistical Office
I his study covered 23 752 workers in 1,262 establishments: among
these were 1,195 establishments, with 21,442 male workers, engaged
1I^ f f ! f AWOO( WOrkmg and furniture making, and 67 establishments,
with 2,310 workers, engaged m musical-instrument manufacture
io u is


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1461

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T a ble 3 3 .—A V E R A G E A C T U A L E A R N IN G S IN T H E W O O D W O R K IN G IN D U S T R Y OF

G E R M A N Y , M A R C H , 1931 i
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark = 23.8 cents; pfennig=0.238 cent]
H ourly earnings 2 W eekly net earnings
Average
working
hours per German U nited G erman U nited
States
week
States currency
currency currency
currency

In d u stry group and class of workers

Woodworking and furniture
Skilled workers:
Tim e work . . .
._ _ -------- -------------Piece w o rk ___________ _ ---------------------- . . .
Semiskilled workers:
T im e w o rk ........ .
. . ________ . ----------Piece w o rk _______ __________________________
U nskilled workers, tim e work -------------------- . .

Pfennigs

Cents

Marks

27.9
28.8

46.49
48.85

$11.06
11.63

91.9
90.6
89.1

21.9
21.6
21.2

37.34
36. 89
36. 59

8.89
8.78
8. 71

122.6
126.0
95.9
98.0

29.2
30.0
22.8
23.3

48. 83
43. 70
36. 59
39. 39

11. 62
10. 40
8. 71
9. 37

39.63
40. 43

117.3
120.8

40. 62
40. 70
41.08

39.8
34.7
38.2
40.2

Musical instruments
M ale workers:
Skilled workers—
T im e w o rk ___ . .... . . . ------------- ------- .
Piece w o rk . .
. . --------- . . . --------- . . .
Semiskilled workers, tim e w o rk — ---------- . . .
------ -----U nskilled workers, tim e w ork-------Fem ale workers:
Skilled workers, piece w ork________ _________
Semiskilled workers—
T im e w o rk -------------- ------ -- . . . . . ------ -Piece w o rk . . .
------- ---------

29.2

74.9

17.8

21.88

5.20

38.5
34. 7

65.8
67.6

15.7
16. 1

35.34
23. 48

6.03
5. 59

1 D ata are from Germ any, Statistisches Reichsam t, W irtschaft u n d S tatistik, Oct. 2, 1931, pp. 734-736.
2 Includes additional pay for overtim e, night, Sunday, and holiday work, and for installation and repair
work.

Table 34 shows average agreement wage rates in effect in the
industry on April 1, 1929, 1930, and 1931.8
T able 3 4 .—A V E R A G E A G R E E M E N T n O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E W O O D W O R K IN G
IN D U S T R Y , A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Apr. 1, 1929
Class of workers

Apr. 1, 1931

nited G erman U nited German U nited
German UStates
States currency
States
currency currency
currency currency
currency

Pfennigs
Skilled workers
____ ________ ____
---Semiskilled workers
Helpers
- __ -__ ___ ___

Apr. 1, 1930

111.4
101.3
91. 4

Cents

26.5
24.1
21.8

Pfennigs
117.3
104.9
96.1

Cents

27.9
25.0
22.9

Pfennigs
114.6
102. 5
93.9

Cents

27.3
24.4
22. 3

Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, wage
rates in this industry in central Germany were reduced 10 per cent,
effective January 1, 1932.
In the woodworking industry in and around Cologne 25 per cent
extra is paid for overtime work, 50 per cent extra for night work,
and 100 per cent extra for Sunday and holiday work. Leave with
pay is granted to all employees on the following basis: During first
year of service and after at least 4 months’ service, 4 days; after 2
years’ service, 5 days; after 3 years’ service, 7 days; after 4 years’
service, 8 days.
* Germ any. Statistisches Reichsam t. Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich, 1931, Berlin, 1931,
p. 289.
1 2 0 1 4 8 ° — 3214


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1462

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

Mining and Quarrying
Coal Mining
T h e following two tables show the actual earnings of coal miners
and lignite miners in Germany in January and July, 1930 and 1931,
as reported by the mine operators’ associations to the German Federal
Statistical Office.9
T able 3 5 .—A C T U A L E A R N IN G S O F C O A L M IN E R S , JA N U A R Y A N D JU L Y , 1930 A N D 1931
[W eighted averages for W est U pper Silesia, Lower Silesia, R u h r D istrict, Aachen, and Saxony.
versions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark = 23.8 cents]

Con­

Earnings per shift
U nderground workers
Y ear and m onth

Pick miners

G er­
man
cu r­
rency
1930:
Marks
January__ .
9. 97
J u ly ___________
9. 91
1931:
Jan u ary ___
9. 25
J u ly ,, _______
9. 14

Surface workers

All others (ex­
cluding haulers)
Ger­
m an
cu r­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Marks

$2. 37
2. 36
2.20
2.18

7. 42
7.55

$1. 77
1.80

7. 17
7.09

1. 71
1.69

Young workers,
male

A dults, male

G er­
m an
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

G er­
m an
cur­
rency

Marks
7.63
7.64

$1. 82
1. 82

7.24
7. 15

1. 72
1. 70

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Marks

2. 41
2. 39

$0. 57
.57

2.28
2. 22

.54
.53

Female
workers
G er­
m an
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Marks

3. 45
3.47

$0. 82
.83

3. 29
3. 45

. 78
.82

T a b l e 3 6 .— A C T U A L E A R N IN G S OF L IG N IT E M IN E R S IN G E R M A N Y , JA N U A R Y A N D

JU L Y , 1930 A N D 1931
[W eighted averages for M iddle-G erm an K ernreviere I, Lower Lausitz, M iddle-G erm an Rondreviere, and
E ast-E lba Rondreviere I and II. Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m a rk = 23.8 cents]
Earnings per shift
Coal miners
Laborers
Y ear and m onth

Surface
Ger­
m an
cu r­
rency

1930:
Marks
Jan u a ry _______
8. 43
Ju ly ___________
8.15
1931:
Jan u a ry _______
8. 04
J u ly ., _______
7. 80

U nited
States
cu r­
rency

$2.01
1. 94

U nderground
Ger­
m an
cu r­
rency

U nited
States
cu r­
rency

Marks

1.91
1.86

9. 14
9. 09

$2. 18
2.16

8. 72
8.46

2. 08
2. 01

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Marks
8. 01
8.11

$1. 91
1.93

7.98
7.44

1.90
1. 77

Y oung workers,
male

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

U nited
States
c u r­
rency

Marks
3.93
3. 84

$0.94
.91

3. 71
3.47

.88
.83

Female
workers

G er­
m an
cur­
rency

U nited
States
cur­
rency

Marks
4.16
4.12

$0. 99
.98

4.15
3.89

. 99
.93

The hourly wage rates shown in Table 37 are average agreement
rates in the coal-mining industry in effect on April 1, 1929, 1930, and
1931.
9 G erm any.

Statistisches Reichsam t.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

W irtschaft u n d S tatistik , Oct. 1,1931, p p . 698-700.

1463

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 3 7 .—A V E R A G E

A G R E E M E N T H OURLY W AGE RA TES
A P R IL 1, 1929, 1930, A N D 19311

IN

C O AL M IN IN G ,

[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]
Surface workers,
male 2

Pick miners
D ate

A pr. 1,1929_______________________________________
Apr. 1, 1930
_____________________________
_______ ____________ _________
A pr. 1^ 1931

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

Pfennigs

Cents

Pfennigs

Cents

118.3
120.8
113.9

28.2
28.8
27.1

74.3
75.7
71.5

17.7
18.0
17.0

1 D ata are from G erm any, Statistisches Reichsam t, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das D eutsche Reich,
1931, Berlin, 1931, p. 284.
2 Excluding skilled workers.

Under the national emergency decree of December 8, 1931, the
agreement wage rates in this industry in central Germany were
reduced 15 per cent, effective January 1, 1932.
The general working hours for miners are 7 or 7% per day, including
the time required for entering and leaving the mine, and for surface
workers, 8 per day. In some districts'—for example, in Rhenish
Westphalia and Upper Silesia—in mines where the temperature is 28°
C. (82.4° F.) the shift period is 6 hours.
For work outside of regular working hours the following increases
over the regular rate are generally paid: Overtime, 25 per cent;
Sunday and holiday work, 50 per cent; work on Easter, Christmas,
and Whitsuntide, 100 per cent.
After 1 year’s service, 3 days’ leave of absence with pay is usually
granted, with an additional day for each succeeding year of service
up to 9 days. In many cases underground workers are granted
additional leave as follows: After 10 years’ service, 10 days; after
15 years’ service, 11 days; and after 20 years’ service, 12 days.
An annual allowance of coal is given in many mines to workers who
are married or the heads of households, while explosives to be used by
miners in blasting are furnished at cost, and light, tools, and repairs
to tools are furnished free. Family allowances are frequently paid,
generally of 9 or 10 pfennigs per shift for wife and each dependent
child.
Iron Mining, Siegerland

The average wage rate per shift for pickmen {Hauer) is 6.20 marks
($1.48). The following are the basic wage rates per shift for various
other workers over 23 years of age, lower rates being paid to younger
workers according to their age groups:
Boiler a tte n d a n ts , elevato r m achinists, tim b e r m en, a n d locom otive M arks
d riv ers______________________________________________________ 5. 96 ($1. 42)
M achinists a n d firem en_________________________________________ 5. 61 ($1. 34)
U nskilled la b o re rs______________________________________________ 515 ($1. 23)
F em ale w o rk e rs. _______________________________________________ 3 .6 0 ($0.86)

Foremen are entitled to an increase of 11 pfennigs (2.6 cents) per
shift over the rates for workers of their respective groups.
Main elevator machinists {Ilauptfordermaschinisten) are entitled
to an increase of 11 pfennigs (2.6 cents) per shift over the rates for
skilled workers.
A family allowance of 12 pfennigs (2.9 cents) per shift is paid to
workers maintaining households for wife or head of household and for

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1464

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

each dependent child. Piecework rates must be so fixed that the worker
of normal efficiency can earn a wage 5 per cent over the shift rate for
his class.
The normal working time for underground mine workers is 7%
hours per day or shift, including time required for entering and leav­
ing the mine and a half-hour lunch period. The normal working time
for surface workers is 8 hours per day or shift.
Overtime work calls for increased pay as follows: On week days,
20 per cent increase for the first two hours and 30 per cent increase
thereafter; on Sundays and legal holidays, 50 per cent increase.
Leave with pay is granted according to the following schedule:
All employees having 1 year of service, 2 days; 2 years, 2 days; 3
years, 3 days; 4 years, 3 daj^s; 5 years, 4 days; i o years, 5 days. Mine
workers only, after 10 years of service, receive a paid vacation of
6 days; after 15 years, 7 days; after 20 years, 8 days.
Copper Mining

Wages in copper mines in the Prussian Province of Saxony under
the agreement of October 14, 1931, are shown in the following table.
These wages were reduced 9 per cent commencing January 1, 1932.
T able 3 8 .—BA SIC W A G E R A T E P E R S H IF T IN C O P P E R M IN E S IN SA X O N Y , O C T O B E R
14, 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents]
Wage rate per shift
Occupation

German
currency

U nited
States
currency

8-hour day
M iners (ore getters in opening of m in e)........... ..............................................................
M iners (preparatory and m ining a nd tim ber w ork)_______________ _ !III!I!!I2
C ar pushers an d loaders, u n derground__________________________
Hangers-on, unloaders, and clinchers:
In m ain pits a t draw ing sh aft_____ _____ ____ _________________
In m ain pits a t side lodes a n d side deposits_____ ____________ - - ---—
Hangers-on, hoisters, unloaders, shunters and others doing underground hauling
a t inclined planes, a t flat an d blind pits:
A t m ain hoisting points___ ____ _______ ____________________
A t subsidiary hoisting p o in ts____ _______ ______ _____________
W orkers a t p it head a n d in y ard s_______________ _____________ ""
H elpers, underground_________ ______ _________________________
Operators of m ain hoisting engines___________ . . . _____________
Pum p m en a t large pum ping stations an d stokers a t m ain boilers____ Ü I 2 2 Ü 2
Locomotive drivers__ ____________________________________________________
Operators oflarge underground conveying and hoisting m achinery___________
P u m p m en an d operators of sm aller m achinery_______________________
Ore weighers______ ____________ _______ _____ _______________________
Chief a n d first sorters................... ...........1............ ........! 2 ! ! ! I ! I I I I ! I H
Sorters a n d carriers__________________. . . . . . I ! I I ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I "".........
Supervisors of m ining a n d hoisting w o rk.....................
Tim ekeepers__________ _________________ _____________
D istributors of dynam ite_____________ , ____ _____. . . . _____
R oundsm en, trappers, and helpers..........................___________ 2 2 2 2 2 !

Marks
6.15
5.15
4.80

$1.46
1.23
1.14

4. 80
4. 35

1.14
1. 04

4. 55
4. 35
4. 45
4. 35
6. 10
5. 65
5. 15
4. 70
4. 35
5.15
4. 50
4.35
5. 65
5. 15
5. 05
4.35

1.08
1. 04
1. 06
1. 04
1. 45
1. 34
1. 23
1. 12
1. 04
1. 23
1. 07
1.04
1. 34
1. 23
1. 20
1. 04

9-hour day
T ran sp o rt and cable operators in side lodes, m achine operators at auxiliary hoists
and m ain compressor p lan ts, sw itchboard operators and coal and ash carriers
Engine and boiler m en:
Stokers a t auxiliary s ta t io n s ....______________. . . . . . . . . . ___ ______
T ru ck drivers............... ..... .................................... .........................._____
Coal unloaders ______ __________ ____ ______________________ !!!!!!!!"
Operators a t sm all engines . . . . . . : ___ A
' . .____ ____ _____ _ 22
M e c h a n ic s ..................... ................. ________________________________________ 2
Ore loaders, tip-car operators______ _____________ ___________I ! . ! . . . . ! ! ! . . ! ! . .
W ork testers and weighers___________________________________________ ! ____
Samplers a n d crushers, m aterial distributors, w atchm en, and p o rters__________
M ine w atchm en, messengers) car oilers, and other h e lp e rs.... . . .1 ___ _.............. __
Fem ale w orkers_______ ______ ______ ______ ____ ___________ . ___ . . . . .
.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4. 65-4. 85

1.11-1.15

5.15
4. 65-4:85
4. 40
4. 40
4. 95-6. .10
5.05
4.75
4. 35
4.35
2.65

1. 23
1.11-1. 15
1.05
1.05
1.18-1. 45
1.20
1. 13
1.04
1.04
.63

1465

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Potash Industry, Central Germany

The following basic wage rates are paid in the potash industry in
central Germany under an agreement effective from February 1, 1929 :
T able 3 9 .—BA SIC W A G E R A T E P E R S H IF T IN T H E PO T A S H IN D U S T R Y OF C E N T R A L
G E R M A N Y , E F F E C T IV E F E B R U A R Y 1, 1929
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents]
Wage rate per
shift
O ccupation

Ger­
m an
cur­
rency

Underground workers 1
M iners, hangers-on a t m ain p its, hoisting engineers, carpenters, potash removers, blasting Marks
7.00
miners, grubbers, mechanics, rem overs_____________ _____ __ _______ ______________
T ranspo rt workers, other hangers-on, tram m ers, carriers, rope and chain railw ay oper­
ators, m achine operators, locomotive drivers, w indlass operators, m otor operators,
brakem en, shunters, selectors, m ill workers, w ashers and han d coggers, slide operators,
electric tru ck drivers, line sweepers, track layers, distributors of explosives, railw ay and
6. 20
tip-car drivers...................................................................................................................................

U nited
States
cur­
rency

$1. 67

1.48

Surface workers
H oisting machine engineers and hangers-on.
T ram m ers and carrieis and tru ck oilers__

7. 00
5. 80

1.67
1.38

M ill and factory 3
“ M o nito r” w orkers w ashing residue, w orkers a t appliances for dissolving crude potash,
dissolvers in Epsom and G lauber salt works, w orkers a t brom ide towers, and a t potashmagnesia and sulphate boilers, and box cleaneis____________________________________
M ill and factory workers, bolting millers, workers a t preheaters a n d vacuum apparatus,
a t suction filter a n d centrifugal machines, a t clearing apparatus, a t pum ps, a t residue
w ashing plants, an d a t m ud-preparing plants, chim ney coolers, workers a t decomposi­
tion plan ts a n d a t evaporation plants, conveyor and elevator m en, w orkers a t dryingdrum heaters, in kieserite preparation, a t Epsom salt m anufacture, a t magnesium of
chloride tu b s, in G lauber salt works, in acid works, a t lime kilns, in other chemical
sections, a t th e scrapers, a t cooling towers, and a t drying drum s, weighers, bag fillers,
sewing-machine operators, bag m arkers, packers a n d loaders of brom ide, operators of
autom atic punches and licking-stone presses, box cleaners, an d workers in kieserite
stone m anufacture_____________________________________ _________ ______________
Weighers a t pits, carters, rope and chain car operators, car-service operators, w hipper
operators, loaders, workers in refrigerating room, case fillers an d drawers, licking-stone
m akers, em ptiers of Epsom salt tu b s, sam ple takers, workers a t mixing stations, u n ­
loaders, crude salt conveyor operators, spout cleaners, and car cleaners................ ..........

6. 20

1.48

6 . 00

1.43

5. 80

1.38

7. 00

1.67

6.20

1.48

6.00

1. 43

5.80

1.38

3. 70

.88

Auxiliary works 3
Skilled han d w o rk ers...^------------------------------------ --------- --------------------------------------- Engineers a t m ain engines, m ain switchboard m en, locomotive drivers, truck drivers, and
hoisting crane operators_________________________ ____ __________________________
Semiskilled han d workers, stokers, boiler feeders, boiler m en, gang foremen, shunters,
other engine operators, accum ulator men, m otorm en, electric-car drivers, storekeepers,
w atchm en, gas-generator atten d an ts, workers in ta r purifying works, constructionwork helpers, coal grinders, and gate k eep ers.------ ------------------------------------------------C arters, coal unloaders, boiler cleaners, assistant m achine operators, oilers, locomotive
stokers, brakem en, track workers, safety-gate m en, storeroom workers, laboratory
assistants, yard workers, timekeepers, messengers, telephone operators, and p um p m en.

Females
W orkers over 20 years of age.

1 25 per cent increase for sinking a shaft and necessary construction work; 15 per cent increase for tim bering
and walling a shaft and laying cable in hoisting shafts.
2 20 per cent increase for work dangerous to health.
3 5 per cent increase for heavy yard work.

Workers under 20 years are paid lower wages according to age
groups.
For extraordinary and especially dirty work, such as cleaning of
boilers, furnace flues, deep basins, and the like, but not box-cleaning,
carrying of wet residues, etc., 10 per cent increase is paid.
Superintendents receive 15 per cent in addition, and foremen and
chief firemen, 10 per cent.

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1466

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Beside the shift wage there is granted a family allowance, including
coal allowance, amounting to 30 pfennigs (7.14 cents) per shift and a
children’s allowance, amounting to 10 pfennigs (2.38 cents) per shift.
Under the emergency decree of December 8, 1931, the rates shown
in the table were reduced 15 per cent, effective February 1, 1932.
Pumice-Stone Industry, Rhineland

Wages in this industry vary according to the age and sex of the
worker and the type of work performed. When piecework is possible
the minimum earnings per hour must be 20 per cent in excess of the
basic hourly time rate.
Below are given the basic hourly wages for male workers in this
industry:
Pfennigs

T eam sters a n d tru c k m e n ________________________ 78 (18.6 cents)
O ther m ale w orkers, aged—
14 to 15 y e a rs ----------------------------------------------- 30 (7.1 cents)
15 to 16 y e a rs------------------------------------------------ 33 (7.9 cents)
16 to 17 y e a rs-----------37 (8.8 cents)
17 to 18 y e a rs------------------------------------------------ 48
(11.4 cents)
18 to 19 y e a rs------------------------------------------------ 59
(14.0 cents)
19 to 20 y e a rs---------------------------------------------- 67
(15.9 cents)
O ver 20 y e a rs----------------------------------------------- 74 (17.6 cents)

Female workers are entitled to 80 per cent of the above wages for
the respective age classes.
Skilled workers receive 92 pfennigs (21.9 cents) per hour.
For overtime, time and a quarter is paid; for work on Sundays and
legal holidays, time and a half; and for work on Easter, Whitsuntide,
and the Christmas holidays, double time.
Regular employees are entitled to leave with pay, after specified
periods of continuous service, as follows: After 1 year, 3 days; after
4 years, 5 days; after 6 years, 7 days; after 8 years, 8 days; and after
10 years, 9 days. Seasonal workers employed more than one season
in the same enterprise are entitled, after 50 shifts in the second season,
to half the leave for regular workers with the same period of service,
while after 75 shifts they are entitled to three-quarters of the full
leave.
Married workers are entitled to a family allowance of 1 pfennig (2.4
cents) per hour for wife and each child under 14 years of age.
Mineral Oil Industry
Producing and Drilling Plants, Bremen District

T h e following wage rates (per working-day of 7 hours for under­
ground workers and 8 hours for surface workers) have been in force
for the Bremen district since October 1, 1928:
M arks

P ick m en ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C rew fo rem en -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Skilled w orkm en_________________________________________________
E ngineers-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------D rillers, cable w orkm en, lab o rers o p e ra tin g ch ain a n d cab le cars,
a n d sto k e rs______________________________________________

6.60
6.50
6.50
5.65

($1.57)
($1.55)
($1.55)
($1.34)

5.55 ($1.32)

Semiskilled laborers, unskilled laborers assisting engineers and
oilers----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.45 ($1.30)
Pum ping crew s (other laborers, cleaning crew s a n d lab o rers o p e ra t­
ing e le v a to rs )___________________________________________________5.20 ($1.24)

Crews working above ground, pump watchmen, porters, watchmen,
telephone o perators, m essengers a n d d riv e rs___________________ 5.15 ($1.23)

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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1467

The wages for contract and piece work are fixed on an average of
15 per cent minimum above the usual shift wages. The contract
and piecework laborers are guaranteed full shift wages provided they
do a normal day’s work.
An extra allowance is given for each household and for each child
of 10 pfennigs (2.4 cents) per working-day.
For overtime, Sunday, and holiday work, time and a quarter is
paid and for work on Christmas, Easter, or Whitsuntide, double time
is paid.
Workers are given the following vacation: After 1 year of continu­
ous work in the industry, 3 days; after 3 years, 4 days; after 4 years,
5 days; and after 5 years, 6 days. Underground workers, after 6
years of continuous work in the industry, receive 7 days’ vacation and
after 7 years, 8 days’ vacation.
Refineries, Hamburg District

The oil refineries in the Hamburg district are all located in the free
port of Hamburg. The basic hourly wage rates in effect in October,
1931, in these refineries were as follows:
M ales:
Marks
Skilled labor in all d e p a rtm e n ts__________________________ 1.16
P a rtly tra in e d labor, during first six m o n th s______________ 1.03
P a rtly tra in e d labor, a fte r six m o n th s____________________ 1.04
M achinists an d firemen, a fte r one y e a r’s tra in in g __________ 1.16
M achinists and firemen, du rin g first y e a r of tra in in g ______ 1.03 (24.5
C ranem en, a fte r one y e a r’s tra in in g _______________________ 1.16
C ranem en, during first y e a r’s tra in in g ____________________ 1.03
W orkers ten d in g m achines a n d b o ilers____________________ 1.03
Skilled w orkers on responsible jo b s _______________________ 1.16
O ther skilled la b o r_______________________________________ 1.03
U nskilled w o rk ers_______________________________________ 1.00
F em ales:
.68
Skilled w orkers w ith experience__________________________
U nskilled w orkers_______________________________________
.60

(27.6 cents)
(24.5 cents)
(24.8 cents)
(27.6 cents)
cents)
(27.6 cents)
(24.5 cents)
(24.5 cents)
(27.6 cents)
(24.5 cents)
(23.8 cents)
(16.2 cents)
(14.3 cents)

The hours of labor are 8 per day and 48 per week, but may be
extended for sufficient reasons by one hour per day upon agreement
with the workers’ representatives.
In concerns which, for technical reasons employ three shifts per
day, a week’s work consists of 56 hours. In these concerns the worker
is entitled to 36 hours’ rest every three weeks.
Overtime is paid for by an additional 20 per cent for the ninth
hour, and 25 per cent for each succeeding hour of overtime during the
day. Work at night and on Sundays entitles the worker to a 50 per
cent increase.
A vacation with full pay is granted each employee of from 3 workingdays (after having been employed one year) to 10 working-days (after
10 years of employment).
Agriculture
T h e following schedule of wages has been published by the Asso­
ciation of Trade Unions in Germany for farm labor throughout the
country, and includes not only the rate of pay but also the value of
payments in kind to the various workers, effective at the end of
June, 1931:


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1468

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

T able 4 0 .—H O U R L Y W A G ES OP F U L L -T IM E A G R IC U L T U R A L W O R K E R S IN
G E R M A N Y , J U N E , 1931
[Conversions into U n ited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.238 cent]

Cash
Sex of workers, and Province
G erm an
currency

Males
Pom erania_______________
M ecklenburg____________
B randenburg____________
Silesia_______________ ___
H annover________________
S chleswig-Holstein_____
Saxony__________________
A n h a lt.____ _____________
D resden zone____________
T hu rin g ia_______________
Hessen-N assau___________
R heinhessen_____________
W estfalen_________ ______
W ü rttem b erg_____ _______
B avaria....................................

Pfennigs
16. 00
8. 70
16. 50
12. 50
28. 50
16. 00
29. 50
26. 00
29. 00
22. 50
29. 50
40. 00
27. 00
47. 00
35. 00

Deliveries in kind

Total rem unera­
tion

U nited
U nited
U nited
States G erm an States G erm an States
curcurrency
curcurrency
currency
rency
rency

Cents

3. 81
2. 07
3. 93
2. 98
6. 78
3. 81
7. 02
6.19
6. 90
5. 36
7. 02
9. 52
6.43
11. 19
8. 33

Pfennigs

24. 80
29. 10
24.61
24. 96
14.43
24. 78
13. 04
14. 17
14. 39
11.25
10. 32

Cents

5. 90
6. 93
5. 86
5. 94
3. 43
5. 90
3. 10
3.37
3. 42
2. 68
2. 46

21.02

5. 00

7. 84

1.87

3. 71
5. 30

.88
1.26

3. 71

.88

3. 80
8.48
4. 07
5. 65

.90
2. 02
.97
1.34

6. 87

1.64

Pfennigs
40. 80
37. 80
41. 11
37. 46
42. 93
40. 78
42.54
40. 17
43. 39
33. 75
39. 82
40. 00
48. 02
47. 00
42. 84

Cents

9. 71
9. 00
9. 78
8. 92
10. 21
9. 71
10.12
9. 56
10. 33
8.03
9. 48
9 52
11.43
11 19
10.20

Females
Pom erania...............................
M ecklenburg_____________
B randenburg______ _____
Silesia____________________
H annover________________
Schleswig-Holstein________
Saxony___________________
A n h a lt___________________
D resden zone_____________
T hu rin g ia________________
H essen-N assau____________
R heinhessen______________
W estfalen________________
W ü rttem b erg _____________
B avaria__________________

26. 00
23. 00
16. 00
20. 00
20.00
26. 00
28. 00
18. 50
21.50
18. 00
24. 00
24. 00
35. 00
33. 00
26. 27

6.19
5.47
3. 81
4. 76
4. 76
6. 19
6. 66
4. 40
5. 12
4. 28
5.71
5. 71
8. 33
7.85
6.25

26. 00
26. 71
21.30
20 00
23. 71
26. 00
28. 00
22. 30
29. 98
22. 07
• 29.65
24. 00
35. 00
33. 00
33. 14

6.19
' 6.36
5. 07
4. 76
5. 64
6.19
6 fifi
5.31
7. 14
5. 25
7. 06
5 71
8 23
7. 85
7. 89

The working hours in this industry vary from 8 to 10 hours per
day, according to the season, a common schedule being 8 hours per
day during 4 months, 9 hours during 2 months, and 10 hours during
6 months of the year.
Most agreements seem to provide for extra pay for overtime and
holidays, the common rate for overtime being 25 per cent and for
Sundays and holidays 50 per cent over the usual rate.
\ acations of from 1 to 6 days, depending on length of service, are
provided for in some agreements.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a ry for April, 1932

MPLOYMENT decreased 2.7 per cent in April, 1932, as com­
pared with March, 1932, and earnings decreased 5.1 per cent.
The industrial groups surveyed, the number of establishments re­
porting in each group, the number of employees covered, and the
earnings for one week, for both March and April, 1932, together with
the per cents of change in April, are shown in the following summary :

E

S U M M A R Y OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932
Earnings in 1 week

Em ploym ent
Per
cent of
April, 1932 change

Industrial group

E stab ­
lish­
m ents

1. M a n u f a c t u r in g ___________
2. C o a l m i n i n g ______________

18,254
1,397

2,900, 901
287,681

2, 791,626
258,596

1 - 3 .6
-1 0 . 1

A nthracite_____ - B itum inous______ ____

160
1,237

100, 749
186, 932

95, 851
162, 745

- 4 .9
-12. 9

3. M e ta llife r o u s m in in g
4. Q u a r r y in g a n d n o n m e ta llic m i n i n g ------------------5. C ru d e p e tr o le u m p ro d u c i n g ----------------------------------6. P u b lic u t ili t ie s _____ _____

202

28,807

27,714

019

20,729

Telephone and telegraph.
Power, light, and w a ter..
Electric railroad operation and maintenance
exclusive of car shops. __

M arch,
1932

M arch,
1932

Per
cent of
April, 1932 change

56, 734, 275 $52, 771,568
5,071,846
5,483,579

1 - 7 .3
-7 .5

2, 430, 613
3,052, 966

2, 861, 565
2, 210,281

- 3 .8

532,713

502,676

-5 -6

21,866

+ 5 .5

348,226

363,659

+ 4 .4

+17. 7
-2 7 .6

260
12,247

20,358
646, 623

21,735
643,721

+ 6 .8
- 0 .4

643,784
19,438,763

663,076
18,631,667

+ 3 .0
- 4 .2

8,215
3,541

289, 510
225,091

287,876
223, 200

- 0 .6
- 0 .8

8,418,962
7, 061, 683

7,955,314
6,811, 614

- 5 .5
- 3 .5
- 2 .4

491

132,022

132,645

3,864, 739

420,379

420,347

9, 674, 954

9,533,458

- 1 .5

2, 786
13, 223

74,066
346,313

73, 253
347,094

+ 0 .5
-0 0
-1 .1
+ 0 .2

3,958,118

16, 009

-------------

2,132, 404
7, 542, 550

2, 061, 211
7, 472, 247

- 3 .3
- 0 .9

8. H o t e ls ___ ___________ ____

9. C a n n in g a n d p reserv in g
in. L a u n d r ie s ____ ____ ______
11. D y e in g a n d c l e a n in g ____
12. B u ild in g c o n s t r u c t io n ___

2,264
820
1,004
404
9,875

138,877
25,446
60, 758
11,947
77,205

136,646
32,977
60, 785
12,337
85,503

- 1 .6
+ 2 9 .6
+ (2)
+ 3 .3
+ 1 0 .7

3 2,077,542
389,376
1,037,913
234,701
2,059,769

3 1,997,490
462,554
1,033,815
251,Oil
2,387,133

-3 . »
+ 1 8 .8
- 0 .4
+ 6 .9
+ 1 5 .9

T o t a l___________________

63,421

4,639, 711

4,513,853

- 2 .7

98,655,595

93,669,953

—5.1

7. T r a d e ______________________

Wholesale
R etail . . . .

1 W eighted per cent of change for the combined 89 m anufacturing industries, repeated from Table 1,
m anufacturing industries; the remaining per cents of change, including total, are unweighted.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 The am ount of pay roll given represents cash paym ents only; the additional value of board, room, and
tips can not be computed.

Data are not yet available concerning railroad employment for
April, 1932. Reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission for
Class I railroads show that the number of employees (exclusive of
executives and officials) increased from 1,078,926 on February 15,
1932, to 1,082,276 on March 15, 1932, or 0.3 per cent; the amount
of pay roll increased from $125,697,573 in February to $13.3,651,340
in March, or 6.3 per cent,

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1469

1470

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

E m p lo y m en t in S elected M a n u fa ctu rin g In d u stries in April,
1932
Comparison of Employment and Earnings in April, 1932, with March, 1932,
and April, 1931

MPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries decreased 3.6 per
cent in April, 1932, as compared with March, 1932, and e a r n i n g s
decreased 7.3 per cent over the month interval. Comparing April,
1932, with April, 1931, decreases of 17.8 per cent in employment and
34.7 per cent in earnings are shown over the 12-month period.
The per cents of change in employment and earnings in April,
1932, as compared with March, 1932, are based on returns made by
18,254 establishments in 89 of the principal manuacturing industries
in the United States, having in April 2, 791,626 employees whose
earnings in one week were $52,771,568.
The index of employment in April, 1932, was 62.2 as compared with
64.5 in March, 1932, 65.6 in February, 1932, and 75.7 in April, 1931.
The earnings index in April, 1932, was 44.7 as compared with 48.2 in
March, 1932, 49.6 in February, and 68.5 in April, 1931. The 12month average for 1926 equals 100.
A statement relative to the expansion of the bureau’s indexes to
cover 89 manufacturing industries, instead of 54 as previously re­
ported, has been published in each of the three preceding issues of
this pamphlet.
In Table 1, which follows, are shown the number of identical estab­
lishments reporting in both March and April, 1932, in the 89 manu­
facturing industries, together with the total number of employees on
the pay rolls of these establishments during the pay period ending
nearest April 15, and the amount of their weekly earnings in April,
the per cents of change over the month and the year intervals, and
the index numbers of employment and’earnings in April, 1932.
The monthly per cents of change for each of the 89 separate
industries are computed by direct comparison of the total number of
employees and of the amount of weekly earnings reported in identical
establishments for the two months considered. The per cents of
change-over the month interval in the several groups and in the total
of the 89 manufacturing industries are computed from the index
numbers of these groups, which are obtained by weighting the index
numbers of the several industries in the groups by the number of em­
ployees or wages paid in the industries. The per cents of change over
the year interval in the separate industries, in the groups, and in the
totals are computed from the index numbers of employment and
earnings.

E


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

I
1
1

1

1
I
1
I
I
1
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1
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I

TREND

OF

1471

EM PLO YM EN T

T able. 1 .—C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, A N D A P R IL , 1931

In d u stry

Earnings
E m ploym ent
E stab ­
lish­
ments
Per cent
Per cent
rep o rt­
of change
of change
A m ount
ing in N um ber
of pay
both
roll
M arch
roll
arch April, (1 week) M arch April,
and
April, M to
1931,to
to
1931, to April,
April,
1932
April, April,
1932
April, April,
1932
1932
1932
1932
1932

F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c t s . 3,039

Slaughtering and meat
packing... __ . . .
Confectionery_________
Ice cream.
.
. . ..
F lour__________ _______
B aking_____ . ______ . . .
Sugar refining, cane__ . . .
Beet sugar_______ _____.
Beverages________
____
B u tte r__________________
T e x tile s a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts .

C otton goods____________
Hosiery and k n it goods___
Silk goods_______________
W oolen and worsted goods.
C arpets and rugs.......... .......
D yeing and finishing tex­
tiles. _. ________ _____
Clothing, m en’s _________
Shirts and c o lla rs _______
Clothing, w om en’s _______
M illinery. _ _ . . . . . .
Corsets and allied garm ents.
C otton small wares .1 ____
H ats, fur felt____ . . . _ .
M en ’s furn ish in g s.._ . . .
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d th e ir
p r o d u c ts , n o t in c l u d in g
m a c h in e r y ________________

___ _
Iron and steel__
Cast-iron pipe
.
. „
Structural and ornamental
iro n w o rk .. _____ . .
H ard w are_______________
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-w ater heating
ap p aratu s---------------. . .
Stoves_______ __________
Bolts, nuts, washers, and
riv e ts..
____ .
C utlery (not including
silver and plated cut­
lery) and edge tools____
Forgings, iron and steel...
Plum bers’ su p p lie s.______
T in cans and other tinw are.
Tools (not including edge
tools, machine tools, files,
or saw s).
. . . _____
W ire w ork_______ _______

231
343
395
456
937
16
48
343
270
3,071
613
448
270
252
36
151
379
112
407
144
32
114
38
75

231,240
81,979
31, 701
12,160
16, 506
63,220
7, 957
2,254
10,132
5,331

- 0 .5

- 1 .4 -1 7 .5

79.8

70.3

-1 7 .4
-2 2 .8
-1 9 .0
-1 3 .9
-1 6 .6
-1 9 .3
-1 2 .1
-2 1 .4
-1 5 .9

84.7
68.6
71.0
84.7
82.9
74.4
29.1
76.2
97.3

74.3
56.5
64.3
72.7
73.0
67.4
29.8
65.1
85.9

-1 5 .8 7, 617, 023
-10. 3 2,176,300
- 1 .6 1,363, 348
-3 4 .4
519,974
-2 4 .7 . 644,777
-2 4 .7
235, 663

-1 6 .5
-1 4 .9
- 9 .2
-1 0 .8
-2 9 .4
-1 2 .0

-3 5 .7
-32. 1
-22. 1
-52. 2
-4 2 .4
-4 3 .8

67.9
69.3
79.3
52.9
54.0
58. 1

46.2
48.5
56.8
34.4
37.7
36.3

-1 7 .5
-2 3 .5
-10. 5
-12. 5
-13. 1
- 8 .9
-15. 2
-2 9 .5
-2 0 .7

-34.1
-3 7 .8
-4 1 .4
-3 5 .2
-24. 8
-2 8 .8
-4 0 .5
-4 2 .7
-3 9 .0

80.7
65.5
57. 1
76.2
75.8
105.2
81.8
62.2
61.7

59.7
36.2
36.8
54.2
58.4
86. 7
59.3
29.2
40.5

5,323,043 - 9 .1
49.5
3,005, 714 -10. 5 -5 6 .3
108, 689 - 9 .7 -6 0 .7

59.1
59.8
35.0

32.0
29.4
22.9

359,173 - 5 .7 -4 6 .6
357, 347 -1 0 .4 -4 1 .8

51.9
55.9

32.4
31.2

317, 827
267, 880

- 9 .0 -4 7 .0
- 4 .0 -4 1 .2

39.2
51.6

23.7
29.4

143, 693

- 7 .9

-4 4 .7

66.3

39.2

210, 819 + 0.8 -1 5 .4
95, 766 -1 9 .7 -46. 3
72, 023 - 4 .4 -3 6 . 7
155, 298 - 1 .6 -2 7 .3

75.2
58.6
64.7
73.7

55.5
32.0
37.5
46.0

129, 312 - 6 .6 -34.1
99, 502 -1 3 .3 -1 7 .2

71.8
95.2

44.3
70.9

-4 8 .2
-50.1
-49. 5
-4 4 .7
-4 2 .7

39.6
36.1
38.5
48.4
44.8

23.0
20.0
24.1
27.5
37.2

77.8
70.3
79.7

53.8
54.8
53.5

1,424
221
43

335, 704
202,075
6,863

193
113

18,563
24, 060

113
160

18,051 -1 0 .2 -3 2 .1
15,484 + 0.5 -21. 1

69
130
62
66
56

8,872

- 3 .1 -2 0 .9
- 2 .8 -21. 5
- 8 . 1 -4 2 .2

- 2 .5

E arn­
ings

- 0 .0
- 4 .6
+ 2.4
+2.1
- 3 .7
- 3 .3
+5.1
+ 5.8
+ 1.2

35, 587 - 6 .0 -1 3 .7
55,460 - 8 .0 -13. 9
13,890 - 5 .3 -24. 0
28, 522 - 1 .7 -2 2 .5
10, 269 -1 0 .0 -1 0 .2
5, 893 - 2 .7 - 3 .6
10, 709 - 5 .6 -2 1 .3
4,710 - 7 .2 -2 9 .2
5, 746 - 6 .6 -2 0 .6

- 4 .4
- 3 .0

Em­
ploy­
m ent

1,856, 339
493,406
363, 498
372, 829
1, 490,180
209,047
64,996
272, 590
125, 739

- 7 .9 $5,248,624

- 1 .4 - 5 .3
- 3 .6 -1 2 .2
+ 3 .9 - 9 .6
- 0 .1 - 3 .6
- 0 .7 - 8 .0
- 2 .8 -1 0 .9
+ 9 .7 - 1 .4
+ 5 .3 -1 1 .7
+ 3 .8 - 8 .9

562,477 - 7 .5
194,901 - 7 .5
100, 783 - 2 .9
39, 665 - 8 .8
42, 068 -1 8 .8
14,274 - 6 .8

Index num ­
bers, April,
1932,
(average
1926=100)

-3 0 .0
-1 8 .7

-1 9 .8

10, 577 + 0 .4 - 4 .8
5,815 -1 3 .4 -1 1 .1
4,590 - 1 .2 -1 5 .6
7, 603 + 0 .3 -1 9 .1

127
71

7, 822
5,329

L u m b e r a n d a llied p r o d u c ts . 1, 043

667
463
492
21

127, 855
61, 335
20, 232
45,237
1,051

- 1 .2
+ 2 .2
- 4 .7
- 6 .7
- 0 .6

-2 7 .5
-2 9 .4
-3 0 .3
-2 2 .2
-2 6 .8

502
174
328

134, 495
25, 291
109,204

- 3 .0
- 0 .6
- 3 .6

- 4 .5
- 9 .4
- 3 .4

2, 204, 331 -10. 6 -2 1 .1
492, 608 - 5 .0 -25. 2
1,711,723 -1 2 .2 -19. 9

P a p er a n d p r in t in g _________ 1,972

230,878

- 1 .3

- 9 .7

6, 252, 551

- 3 .1

- 2 0 .7

83.1

74.1

420
325
760

81,239
22,116
55, 583

- 1 .8 - 6 .8
- 1 .1 -1 1 .6
- 1 .8 -1 4 .4

1,611,715
420,188
1,598, 736

- 6 .3
- 3 .8
- 4 .1

-2 4 .2
-2 2 .8
-25. 5

76.4
72.5
78.7

57.2
63.4
69.0

467

71,940

- 0 .7

2,621,912

- 0 .9

-1 4 .3

100.4

94.4

Lum ber, saw m ills_______
Lum ber, m illw o r k ...____
F u rn itu re __________ ____
T urpentine and rosin____
L e a th e r a n d its m a n u f a c ­
t u r e s _____________ ________

L eather_____ __________
Boots and shoes_________
Paper and p u lp __________
Paper boxes ______
Printing, book and jo b___
Printing, newspapers and
periodicals_____________


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

- 1 .9 -1 8 .9
- 3 .0 +2.1

667, 762
733, 589
147,870
546,157
194, 972
91, 723
164, 340
62, 910
67,638

- 6 .7

1, 725,142 - 4 .6
751,891 + 0.3
312,914 - 4 .0
645,910 -1 2 .2
14,427 + 4.9

1472

M ONTHLY

LABOR

R E V IE W

T able 1.—C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, A N D A P R IL , 1931—Continued

In d u stry

E m ploym ent
Earnings
1ndex num ­
E stab­
bers, April,
lish­
1932,
ments
Per
cent
Per
cent
(average
rep o rt­
of
change
of
change
1926=
100.)
A
m
ount
ing in N um ber
of pay
both
on Day
roll
M arch
roll
and
April, M arch April, (1 week) M arch April, E m ­
April,
to
1931,to
to
1931,to ploy­ E arn­
April,
1932
April, April,
ings
1932
April, April, m
1932
ent
1932
1932
1932
1932

C h e m ic a ls a n d a llied p r o d -

u c ts ____________________ . 1,029
111
Chemicals__________ _
204
F ertilizers.. . . . . . ____
Petroleum refining
____
123
Cottonseed oil, cake, and
meal______ __________
54
D ruggists’ preparations___
40
22
Explosives. . __________
371
Paints and varnishes_____
R ayon.
____
_____
22
Soap___ ._ ______ . .
82
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la ss p ro d u c t s ______ ________________

Cem ent ___________ .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta.
P o ttery _________________
..
G la s s .____
M arble, granite, slate, and
other stone products____
N o n fe r r o u s
m e ta ls
and
t h e ir p r o d u c t s ___________

Stam ped and enameled
w a r e ___________ _____
Brass, bronze, and copper
products____
. . ...
A lum inum m anufactures..
Clocks, tim e recording devices, and clock movem en ts_________ ______
Gas and electric fixtures,
lamps, lanterns, and reHectors________________
Plated w are. _____
Smelting and refining—
copper, lead, and z in c ...
Jew elry________ ______ _

151,221 + 0.9 -1 3 .1 $3,536,579 - 2 .2
20, 697 - 1 .4 - 8 .8
530,120 - 4 .0
12,390 +40.8 -2 2 .7
148, 829 +36. 5
49, 545 - 0 .2 -1 6 .4 1,411,098 - 2 .4
2, 377 -1 1 .7 -24. 6
7,648 - 6 .8 - 9 .4
2, 832 - 3 .2 -2 7 .5
15,994 - 1 .9 -13. 5
26, 757 - 3 .4 - 6 .2
12,981 - 0 .3 - 5 .0

-2 3 .8
-19. 1
-4 4 .8
-2 6 .3

80.6
87.7
90.0
65.1

68.2
68. 0
58. 2
58.7

29, 615 -1 0 .8 -2 3 .2
158, 037 - 6 .5 -2 0 .0
56, 241 - 8 .6 -3 9 .0
383,223 - 3 .4 -2 5 .9
490, 367 - 5 .6 -1 6 .2
329, 049 + 1.2 -1 7 .0

41.1
74.2
75.4
72.8
138. 8.
96.5

40. 1
74. 5
51. 5
62. 8
125. 6
90. 5

-4 5 .6
-51. 6
-6 1 .3
-3 6 .1
-2 6 .6

48.1
43.4
30.9
67.7
63.2

32. 9
27. 0
14. 0
45. 1
50. 0

+ 2.7 -5 4 .5

53.4

41.4

1,370
126
704
121
190

92,001
14,642
20,382
15,183
35, 549

235

6,245

032

82,571

- 4 .3

-1 9 .2

1,488,627

- 7 .4

-4 0 .3

58.0

39.9

89

13, 795

- 2 .8

-1 1 .7

249, 687

- 5 .7

-3 0 .8

65.2

46. 6

203
25

29,315
5,253

- 5 .4
- 5 .0

-19. 2
-3 4 .7

513, 095 -10. 7 -4 1 .6
82,466 - 4 .7 -5 7 .8

56.3
52.7

35. 9
31. 5

22

4, 532

- 8 .2 -2 2 .8

55
55

5,197
7, 677

- 2 .5
- 1 .5

25
158

8,134
8,668

-2 8 .7
-32. 1
-3 9 .5
-1 6 .0
-1 3 .3

1,670,082
278, 777
265,344
257,942
722, 312

+ 1 .9 -4 3 .0

151, 707

(')
+ 0 .7
+ 4 .7
- 2 .3
- 2 .7

- 0 .9
- 1 .6
+ 5.0
- 6 .9
- 1 .7

67,974

- 2 .1

-39. 2

47. 7

32.4

-2 1 .6
-1 6 .4

112,442
155, 809

- 7 .3
- 6 .9

-3 5 .0
-33. 9

72.8
63.7

53. 6
43. 4

- 3 .2
- 6 .2

-16. 7
-22. 1

145,828 - 3 .8 -4 6 .9
161,326 -1 2 .5 -3 6 .3

64.7
40.6

-14. 1
27. 9

201

Chewing and smoking
tobacco and s n u f f . . ____
Cigars and c ig a re tte s ___

56,902

- 2 .8

-1 4 .1

718,699

- 5 .6

-2 4 . 6

70.5

52.4

37
224

10,038
46,924

- 2 .2 + 9 .0
- 2 .9 -1 7 .0

139,973
578, 726

- 0 .6
- 6 .4

-2 . 3
-2 7 .5

87.0
68.4

72. 2
50. 0

T r a n s p o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t .

418

272,836

Automobiles . .
______
A irc ra ft____
_______
Cars, electric and steam
railroad_______________
Locomotives___ ________
Shipbuilding____________

246
31

224,508
5, 721

- 5 .7

- 3 1 .6

59.4

-3 3 .4
-29. 2

60. 2
214.3

45. 8
218. S

34
15
92

5,235
3,668
33,704

- 4 .8 -4 2 .7
+ 1.1 -4 2 .0
+ 9.0 -1 5 .3

22.0
21.4
91.1

14. 1
18. 4
80.4

T o b a c c o m a n u f a c t u r e s ___

R u b b e r p r o d u c ts __________

R ubber tires and inner
tubes
. _______
R ubber boots and sh o es.._
R ubber goods, other th an
boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tu b e s .. . ________
M a c h in e r y , n o t in c lu d in g
t r a n s p o r t a t io n e q u ip n ic n i

A gricultural im plem ents.__
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies___
Engines, turbines, tractors,
and w ater w heels.............
'N o change.


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

- 6 .2

- 2 0 .9

6,285,422

- 7 .7
- 6 .8

-2 1 .6
-2 6 .8

5,046,979
185, 806

- 3 .5 -3 3 .7
+4. 1 -3 8 .2
+ 2 .8 - 9 .2

97, 435
89, 651
865, 551

- 8 .2
- 6 .7

46.2

149

74,595

-1 .5

- 7 .2

- 2 7 .1

67.5

46. 7

40
10

45,170
10, 931

- 0 .3
- 4 .2

- 5 .9
- 7 .1

968, 632 - 4 .9 -3 0 .3
172,629 -1 1 .8 -1 2 .8

64.9
57.3

45. 4
38. 3

99

18,494

- 2 .7

- 9 .6

340, 336

- 7 .1

-2 4 .9

81.1

56. 1

1, 823
69

337,834

- 4 .8

- 2 7 .4

6,750,471

- 7 .8

- 4 3 .1

55.3

36.7
28. 2

287

136, 935

- 5 .2

-2 3 .8

2, 980,914

77

16,102

- 5 .6

-3 6 .4

339,079

7,242 -1 0 .6 -3 9 .2

1,481,597

- 6 .2

123,937 -1 7 .0 -3 5 .3

36.4

- 8 .2 -3 8 .0

65.7

48.9

- 5 .1

48.5

32, 1

-5 1 .4

TREND

1473

OF EM PLOY M ENT

T able 1 — C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, A N D A P R IL , 1931—C ontinued
Earnings
E m ploym ent
E sta b ­
lish­
m ents
Per cent
Per cent
re p o rt­
of change
of change
A m ount
ing in N um ber
of pay
both
on pay
roll
AI arch
roll
(1 week) M arch April,
M
arch
April,
and
April,
1931+0
April,
to
to
1931.to
April,
1932
April, April,
1932
April, April,
1932
1932
1932
1932
1932

Ind u stry

Index num ­
bers, April,
1932,
(average
1926=100)

E m ­ E a rn ­
ploy­ ings
m ent

M a c h in e r y , n o t in c l u d in g
t r a n s p o r t a t io n e q u i p m e n t — C ontinued.

Cash registers, adding m a­
chines, and calculating
48
m achines________ ___
F oun d ry and machineshop products......... ........... 1,089
155
M achine tools_______ _
Textile m achinery and
36
p a rts_____ _____ _______
18
T ypew riters and supplies. _
44
R adio............ ................. .......

115,756
13,634

R a ilr o a d rep air s h o p s _______

915

100,957

Electric railroad_________
Steam railroad____ ______

406
509

22, 901
78,056

Total, 89 industries____ 18,254

- 4 .1 -2 8 .6

73.7

52.3

- 3 . 7 -2 8 .3
- 9 .2 -4 2 .8

2,083, 513 - 6 .9 -4 6 .7
272,968 -1 1 .8 -5 2 .6

51.2
40.5

30.8
26.6

6,858 - 7 .2 -2 0 .3
10,756 - 1 .1 -1 6 .2
15,049 -1 0 .7 -3 0 .0

133,332 -1 3 .6 -3 2 .6
168, 555 - 5 .0 -3 5 .1
292, 970 —9.5 -4 2 .8

61.3
70.6
57.3

43.7
43.5
46.3

15,502

- 2 .2

-1 1 .8

$355,203

- 1 9 .0

2,463,377

+ 0 .9

- 3 4 .4

52.9

43.3

- 0 .1 -1 2 .6
+ 1 .0 -1 9 .5

646,939
1,816,438

- 1 .8 -1 9 .5
+ 1.3 -3 5 .9

71.3
51.5

64.6
41. 6

- 7 .3

62.2

44.7

+ 0 .8

2, 791,626 - 3 . 6

- 1 7 .8

52,771,568

- 3 4 .7

Per Capita Weekly Earnings
I n t h e following tables are shown the actual per capita weekly
earnings in April, 1932, for each of the 16 industrial groups and each
of the 89 separate manufacturing industries included in the bureau’s
monthly trend of employment survey, together with per cents of
change in April, 1932, as compared with March, 1932, and April, 1932.
T able 2.—P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN A P R IL , 1932, IN 16 IN D U S T R IA L G R O U PS
A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H M A R C H , 1932, A N D A P R IL , 1931

In d u strial group

1. M anufacturing (89 industries) - __________________
2. Coal m ining:
A nthracite
_
___
_ ___
B itum inous
_................................
3. M etalliferous m in in g_____________
- -4. Q uarrying and nonm etallic m ining
5. C rude petroleum producing ___ ________ _______
6. Public "utilities:
Telephone and telegraph. .
Power and light
______ _____
_ _____
Electric railroads. _________
. . _________
7. Trade:
W h o lesale______ _________ ____________ ___
R etail
_________ ______ _ .
. .
8. Hotels (cash paym ents only)1. _________ ________
9. Canning and preserving____
_ __
.
__
10. Laundries .
___
.
_____
11. D yeing and cleaning
______ . _________
12. B uilding construction _______ _______________ _
T otal . ______ ________ _________ - __

P er capita
weekly
earnings in
A pril, 1932


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

M arch, 1932
'

April, 1931

- 3 .7

-2 0 .6

29.85
13. 58
18. 14
16.63
30.51

+23.7
-1 6 .8
- 1 .9
- 1 .0
-3 .5

+ 16.3
-2 4 .0
-2 8 .2
-2 5 .0
-1 4 .6

27. 63
30. 52
29.14

- 5 .0
- 2 .7
- 2 .8

- 4 .7
- 3 .3
- 9 .2

28. 14
21.53
14. 62
14. 03
17.01
20.35
27.92

- 2 .3
- 1 .1
- 2 .3
- 8 .3
- 0 .4
+ 3 .6
+ 4 .6

-1 0 .5
- 9 .1
-1 0 .1
-1 5 .9
- 9 .5
-1 2 .0

3 20. 61

3 -2 .6

$18.90

1 The additional value of board, room, and tips can not be computed.
2 D ata no t available.
3 Does not include building construction.

P er cent of change April, 1932,
compared w ith—

(2)
3 -1 5 .2

1474

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

Per capita earnings given in the foregoing table and in Table 3
following must not be confused with full-time weekly rates of wages.
They are actual per capita weekly earnings, computed by dividing'the
total amount of pay roll for the week by the total number of employees
reported which includes part-time as well as full-time workers.
T able 3 .— P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S IN
A P R IL , 1932, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H M A R C H , 1932, A N D A P R IL , 1931

In d u stry

Food and kindred products:
Slaughtering and meat packing......................
Confectionery_______________________
Ice cream___________________
F lour.._______ ____________________
Baking_________________________
Sugar refining, cane_______________ IIIIIIIII
Beet sugar________________________” ””11111111
Beverages_____ _________________
____"
B utter______________________
Textiles and their products:
Cotton goods._________ ____________________
Hosiery and k nit goods______________
Silk goods_______________________________
Woolen and worsted goods ______ _____
Carpets and rugs________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles__________II
Clothing, men’s . _______ ______________
Shirts and collars____________________ IIIIIII"
Clothing, women’s___________________ IIII I
Millinery____________________________ IIIII
Corsets and ailied garments__________
Cotton small wares________________ I "
Hats, fur-felt___ ____ _____________
Men’s furnishings_______________ IIIII
Iron and steel and their products, not including ma­
chinery:
Iron and s te e l..___ ________________
Cast-iron pipe____________________IIIIIIIIIIIII!
Structural and ornamental ironwork______
Hardware_______ ____________________II
Steam fittings and steam and hot-water heating
apparatus_________ _________
Stoves________________________
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets-IIIIIIIIIIII
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery)",
and edge tools____________________
Forgings, iron and steel_____________I I
Plumbers’ supplies___________________ I
Tin cans and other tinware________ I
....... ...
Tools (not including edge tools, machine toolsl filesl
or saws)___ ___________ _____
W irew ork..____ ________
_____ ________
Lumber and allied products:
Lumber, sawmills____ __________
Lumber, millwork____________
Furniture____________________ IIIIIIII
Turpentine and ro sin ____________ IIIII.IIIIIIIII
Leather and its manufactures:
Leather____________________________
Boots and shoes______ __________IIIIIIIII
Paper and printing:
Paper and pulp_________________
Paper boxes____________________IIIIIII
Printing, book and job____________
I
Printing, newspapers and periodicals.
Chemicals and allied products:
Chemicals___ ________________________
Fertilizers.___ ________________IIIIIIIIIII..........
Petroleum refining___________________ IIIIIIIIII
Cottonseed oil, cake, and meal________
Druggists’ preparations______________
Explosives__________________________________
Paints and varnishes_________________
I"
Rayon_______________________
Soap.................................. ...... II


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

Per capita
weekly earn­
ings in A pril,
1932

Per cent of change compared
w ith—
M arch, 1932

$22.64

+0.8

15.56
29.89
22.59
23.57
26.27
28. 84
26.90
23.59

- 1 .1
- 1 .5
+ 2.3
- 3 .1
- 0 .5
- 4 .2
+ 0.4
- 2 .4

A pril, 1931

-1 2 .9
-1 2 .3
10.6

-

-1 0 .5
- 9 .3
- 9 .3
10.8
11.0

-

- 7 .5

11.17
13.53
13.11
15.33
16.51
18. 76
13.23
10.65
19.15
18.99
15.56
15.35
13.36
11.77

-2 4 .0
-1 5 .1

14.87
15.84
19.35
14.85

- 1 .7
- 1 .4
- 7 .6

-4 4 .6
-3 1 .8
-2 3 .9
-2 8 .5

17.61
17.30
16.20

+ 1.4
- 4 .5
- 5 .4

-2 5 .8
-3 1 .0

19.93
16. 47
15. 69
20. 43

+ 0.5
- 7 .3
- 3 .2

16.53
18.67

- 4 .8
-1 0 . 7

-1 8 .8
-1 8 .9

12. 26
15.47
14.28
13.73

1.8

+ 0.7
- 5 .9
+ 5.5

-2 9 .1
-2 7 .6
-2 8 .8
-2 1 .7

19.48
15.67

- 4 .4
- 8 .9

-1 7 .6
-1 7 .0

19.84
19.00
28.76
36. 45

- 4 .6
-

0.2

-1 8 .5
-1 2 .7
-1 3 .0

25.61

-

2.6

12. 01

28. 48
12. 46
20.66

19.86
23. 96
18. 33
25. 35

-

8.0

-2 4 .1

2.2

-2 7 .4
-2 3 .7
-2 5 .3
-2 3 .7
-2 7 .7
-2 2 .7
-1 6 .5
-16.1
-26.3
-2 4 .3
-1 9 .0
-2 3 .2

- 6 .5
-

-

-1 3 .0
- 5 .6
- L i. 3
-1 6 .8
- 5 .4
11.0

-

- 3 .4
- 6 .4
10.1

-

-

-

-

-

8.0

1.8

2.8

- 2 .4

-3 . 1
-

2.2

+ 1. 1

+ 0.3
- 5 .6
- 1 .4
- 2 .3
+ 1 .5

-

20.8

22.0

10.8

-

-3 9 .6
-2 9 .5
10.1

-

-

8.0
11.0

-2 8 .6
-

11.8

+ 1.9
-1 1 .7
-16. 1
-1 4 .3
-

10.6
12.8

TREND

1475

OF EM PLOY M ENT

T able 3 .— P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S IN

A P R IL , 1932, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H M A R C H , 1932, A N D A P R IL , 1931—C ontinued

In d u stry

Stone, clay, and glass products:
Cem ent
___
_______________________
Brif'k tile and terra cotta
___________________
Pottery
-- - ___________________________
Glass
____________ ___ __________________
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone products----N onferrous m etals an d th e ir products:
Stamped and enam eled ware _____ _ __
__
Press bronze, and copper p r o d u c ts ______ ______
A lum inum m anufactures___ _______ __ ______
Clocks, tim e recording devices, a n d clock movem ents - -- -- ______ ______________________
Gas and electric fixtures, lam ps, lanterns, and reflec­
tors
________________ ____________ ______
Plated ware
__
_ __ _____ ___
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and zinc______
Jew elry
_________________________________
Tobacco m anufactures:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff__ ____
Cigars and cigaretteg
_______________
T ransportation equipm ent:
Automobiles
_______________________________
__________ _______________________
Aircraft
Cars electric and steam ra ilr o a d ___________ ____
Locomotives
-- - ____ - - -- _______
Shipbuilding _______________________________ -R ubber products:
R ubber tires and inner tu b e s___ _______ _ __ __
R ubber boots and shoes__ _ __ __ _____ ____
R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tubes
_ __ ________ ___ _
____
M achinery, no t including transportation e q u ip m en t:
A gricultural im plem ents.. .
_ .
_ _______
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and supplies............
"Engines, turbines, tractors, and w ater w h e e ls ___
Cash registers, adding m achines, and calculating
m a c h in e s .__ ___ _
__- ________
Foun d ry and m achine-shop p roducts_____________
M achine tools
_________
__________________
Textile m achinery and p a rts______ ______________
T ypew riters a n d supplies_____ __ ____ ______
Radio
_______________________________
Railroad repair shops:
Electric-railroad repair s h o p s __ _______ _____
Steam -railroad repair shops. _ _________ _______

Per capita
weekly earn­
ings in April,
1932

Per cent of change compared
w ith—
M arch, 1932

April, 1931

$19. 04
13. 02
16. 99
20. 32
24. 29

- 2 .3
+ 0.3
- 4 .7
+ 1.0
+ 0.7

-2 8 .6
-3 6 .0
-2 3 .5
-15. 5
-2 0 .5

18. 10
17.50
15. 70

-3 . 1
- 5 .6
+ 0.3

-2 1 .5
-2 8 .4
-3 5 .3

15.00

+6. 7

-2 1 .2

21. 64
20. 30
17. 93
18. 61

- 4 .9
- 5 .4
- 0 .7
- 6 .7

-1 7 . 1
-2 0 .8
-36. 2
-1 8 .3

13. 94
12. 33

+ 1.6
- 3 .7

-1 0 .4
-1 2 .8

22.48
32. 48
18. 61
24. 44
25. 68

-0 . 5
+0. 1
- 1 .3
- 2 .9
+ 6 .0

-1 5 .3
-2 .8
-13. 6
-6 . 5
-7 . 1

21.44
15. 79

- 4 .7
- 7 /9

-2 6 .2
-6 . 2

18. 40

- 4 .6

-1 7 . 0

17. 11
21. 77
21.06

-7 . 1
-3 .1
+0. 5

+ 6.5
-1 8 .4
- 5 .8

22. 91
18. 00
20. 02
19. 44
15. 67
19. 47

-2 .0
- 3 .3
-3 .0
- 6 .9
- 3 .9
+ 1.4

-1 8 .9
-25. 6
-17. 2
-1 5 .4
-2 2 .5
-1 8 .5

28. 25
23. 27

-1 .7
+ 0 .3

- 7 .9
-20. 2

General Index Numbers of Employment and Earnings in Manufacturing
Industries
G e n e r a l index numbers of employment and earnings in manufac­
turing industries by months from January, 1926, to December, 1931,
inclusive, are shown in the following table for the 54 industries which
were formerly used in constructing indexes of employment and earn­
ings. In addition, similar indexes computed from the 89 industries
listed in Table 1 are presented for each of the 12 months of 1931 and
for January, February, March, and April, 1932.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1476

M ONTHLY

L A B O R R E V IE W

4 —G E N E R A L IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN M A N U ­
F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1926, TO D E C E M B E R , 1931, B A SED ON 54 IN ­
D U S T R IE S , A N D F R O M JA N U A R Y , 1931, TO A P R IL , 1932, B A SED ON 89 IN D U S T R IE S

T able

112-month average, 1926=100]
E m ploym ent
M onth

Earnings
Based on
89 industries

Based on 54 industries

Based on
89 industries

Based on 54 industries

1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1931 1932 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1931 1932
J an u a ry ... . . _ 100.4
F eb ru ary _______ 101.5
M arch_________ 102.0
A pril..
___ 101.0
M ay ----------------- 99.8
Ju n e. _ _ . . . __ 99. 3
Ju ly ____________ 97.7
A ugust_________ 98.7
September ___ _ 100. 3
October
___
100. 7
N ovem ber______ 99.5
D ecember______ 98.9

97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97. 6
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6

91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93. 1
92.2
93.6
95. C
95.9
95.4
95.5

95.2
97.4
98.6
99. 1
99.2
98.8
98.2
98.6
99.3
98.3
94.8
91.9

90.2
90.3
89.8
89.1
87.7
85.5
81.6
79.9
79. 7
78.6
76.5
75. 1

73.1
74. 1
74.8
74.5
74. 1
72. 2
70.4
70.0
69. 6
67. 3
65.4
65.3

74.6 64.8
75.3 65.6
75.9 64.5
75. 7 62.2
75.2
73.4
71.7
71.2
70. 9
68.9
67.1
66.7 —

98.0 94.9
102.2 100. 6
103.4 102.0
101.5 100.8
99.8 99.8
99. 7 97. 4
95.2 93.0
98.7 95.0
99. 3 94 1
102. 9 95. 2
99.6 91.6
99.8 93.2

89.6 95.5
93.9 101.8
95.2 103.9
93.8 104. 6
94. I 104.8
94. 2 102. 8
91.2 98.2
94.2 102. 1
95. 4 102 6
99. 0 102. 3
96.1 95.1
97.7 92.0

87.6
90.7
90.8
89. 8
87.6
84.1
75.9
73.9
74 2
72 7
68.3
67.4

62.3
67.0
68.5
67.1
66. 6
62 5
59.1
58.5
55, 4
53 7
51.0
50.9

63.7 48.6
68.1 49.6
69.6 48.2
68.5 44. 7
67.7
63. 8
60.3
59.7
56 7
55 3
52.5
52.2 —

A v e r a g e ... 100.0 96.4 93.8 97.5 83.7 70.9 72.2 164.3 100.0 96.5 94.5 100.4 80.3 60.2 61.5 147.8

1 Average for 4 months.

Time Worked in M anufacturing Industries in April, 1932
R e p o r ts as to working time in April were received from 12,662
establishments in 89 manufacturing industries. Two per cent of
these establishments were idle, 45 per cent operated on a full-time
basis, and 52 per cent worked on a part-time schedule.
An average of 85 per cent of full-time operation in April was shown
by reports received from all the operating establishments included in
this tabulation. The establishments working part time in March
averaged 72 per cent of full-time operation.
T a b l e 5 .—P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S

B Y E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN A P R IL , 1932

Establishm ents
reporting

Per cent of estab­
Average per cent
lishm ents in
of full tim e re­
which employees
ported by—
w orked—

In d u stry
Total Per cent
num ber
idle

Food and kindred pro d u cts_______
Slaughtering and m eat packing.
Confectionery________________
Ice cream ____ ____ __________
F lo u r .______________________
B aking_____ ____ ___________
Sugar refining, cane__________
Beet su g ar___________________
Beverages___________________
B u tte r______________________
Textiles and th e ir products_______
C otton goods________________
Hosiery and k n it goods_______
Silk goods.__________ ________
Woolen and worsted goods____
C arpets and rugs_____________
D yeing and finishing textiles__
i Less th an one-half of 1 per cent,


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2,291
181
257
311
357
647
8
48
296
186
2, 150
517
348
229
185
24
128

(<)
(>)

1

1
5
3
3
17
4
4

Full
tim e

72
77
33
65
76
85
63
67
74
84
49
39
55
44
44
29
38

P a rt
tim e

27
23
67
35
23
15
38
33
24
16
46
57
42
40
52
67
62

E stab­
All operlishating es- ments
tablish- operat­
m ents ing part
tim e
94
97
84
95
94
96
93
95
93
98
87
83
88
86
83
79
87

78
87
76
86
72
77
81
86
73
85
73
71
73
72
69
70
78

TREN D

1477

OF EM PLOY M ENT

T able 5.—P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
BY E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN A P R IL , 1932—Continued

Per cent of estab­ Average per cent
lishm ents in
of full tim e re­
which employees
ported by—
w orked—

Establishm ents
reporting

In d u stry
Total Per cent
idle
num ber

Textiles and th eir products—C ontinued.
Clothing, m en’s . ___________ - - ________
Shirts and collars _______________________
Clothing, w om en’s _ _______ __ _______
M illinery
______ ________________
____________
Corsets and allied garm ents
C otton sm all wares
_______
- - - - H ats, fnr-felt
_________ ________
M en’s furnishings
_______
_____
Iron and steel and th e ir products, n o t including
m achinery
_ _ ______________ . _____
Iron and steel
- __________________
Cast-iron pipe _
______________________
Structural gnd ornam ental ironwork
_ __
H ardw are
_ _ __________________
Steam fittings a n d steam and hot-w ater
heating ap p aratu s. _ __________________
Stoves
. . . __________________
Polls n u ts washers, and rivets _ _______
C utlery (not including silver a n d plated
cutlery) and edge tools_________________
Forgings, iron and steel
_______________
Plum bers’ supplies
_ ___________
T in cans and other tinw are
_______ ___
Tools (not including edge tools, m achine
tools, files, or saw s)_____________________
W ire work
__ __ __ _____
___________
Taim her and allied p ro d u c ts __
Taim her, sawmills
_____ _ _________
L um ber, mill work
_ __ _ _ . ______
F u rn itu re ______ ______
T urp en tin e and rosin
__ _ ___ _
Lea,ther and its m anufactures _______ _______
Leather
_________ __ _____ - ___
Boots and shoes ___________ ___________
__________ ________
Paper and printing
Paper an d pulp
____________ ___ ____
_____________ ____
Pa per boxes
P rinting book- and job
_ _ ____ ___
P rinting new spapers and periodicals
Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts ___ ________
Chemicals
____________ _ .
Fertilizers
____________________ - Petroleum refining
_ _____ _ _
Cottonseed oil ca,ke, and meal
D ruggists’ preparations _________ ___ _ .
Explosives
_________ ___ - - Paints and v a rn is h e s _______ . - - - - B.ayon
______ ___ _____
Soap
_____ ____________
Stone clay and glass p r o d u c ts ______________
C em ent
_ ______ _______ _ — . —
Prick file, and terra cotta
__________
______________
- --------P ottery
Glass
____________ - ----------M arble, granite, slate, a n d other stone products
__________________ ___________
N onferrous m etals a n d th e ir products---------- —
»Stamped and enameled ware
Brass bronze and copper p ro d u cts.. _____
\lu rn in uni m anufactures
Clocks, tim e recording devices, an d clock
m ovem ents
_______ ___ Gas and electric fixtures, lam ps, lanterns,
and reflectors
__________ __________
Plated ware .
. . ________ ____
Smelting a n d refining—copper, lead, and
zinc
____________________ —
Jew elry_______________ _____________ ____

120148°— 32------ 15

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

Full
tim e

P a rt
tim e

E sta b ­
All oper­ lish­
ating es­ m ents
tablish­ operat­
m ents ing part
tim e

55
50
74
61
43
54
21
56

38
41
23
39
57
45
79
44

92
91
95
92
85
90
65
88

80
79
78
79
74
77
56
74

2
6
19

19
15
8
12
21

79
79
73
88
79

72
68
63
76
70

65
62
58
72
63

89
100
49

1
1

8
9
22

91
90
78

62
67
73

59
64
65

65
26
39
44

2
4

40
15
26
39

58
81
74
61

79
65
74
88

65
58
65
80

90
44
1,032
453
264
306
9
368
120
248
1,515
303
267
558
387
741
63
152
67
25
22
17
335
13
47
745
69
307
91
129

2

28
23
27
25
20
35
56
43
41
44
46
37
19
35
89
67
84
70
79
76
55
59
62
54
62
36
75
13
24
71

70
77
71
72
79
62
44
56
58
55
53
61
81
65
11
32
16
30
21
24
45
35
37
46
38
51
13
65
74
23

74
82
76
74
76
78
93
85
88
84
88
82
79
88
99
94
96
94
98
96
93
87
92
94
94
81
97
69
75
94

64
76
67
66
70
66
85
73
79
71
77
71
75
81
90
80
76
80
89
82
86
65
79
87
85
67
81
63
67
75

44
30
13
32
31

48
69
87
66
69

86
78
79
77
80

74
68
76
66
71

31

69

73

60

35
28

62
71

81
76

69
67

35

62

76

63
76

226
64
191
83
14
83
19
39

7
9
3

894
133
37
125
53

149
425
60
120
13

1

3
3
1
3
1
1
2
4
2

1
1

6
1
13
12
22
2
5
7
2
3

16
34
138

3
1

26
18

4

67

33

92

1478

M O N TH L Y L A B O R R E V IE W

T able 5 .—P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
B Y E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN A P R IL , 1932-C ontinuM
Ub lR IE S

Establishm ents
reporting

Per cent of estab­
Average per cent
lishm ents in
of full tim e re­
which employees
ported by—
worked—

In d u stry
Total Pei cent
num ber
idle

Tobacco m anufactures.............................................
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff. ~
Cigars and cigarettes________________
T ransportation eq u ip m en t______________
A utom obiles__________ ____________
A ircraft__________________________
Cars, electric and steam railro ad _________
Locomotives____________________________
Shipbuilding_______________________
R ubber products__________________
R ubber tires and inner tu b e s................ .......
R ubber boots and shoes_______________
R u b b er goods, other th a n boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tu b e s_____________________
M achinery, n o t including transportation equip­
m en t............... .................................. ................... .
A gricultural im plem ents_____________
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and su p ­
plies____ _____________________________
Engines, turbines, tractors, and w ater wheelsCash registers, adding machines, a n d calcu­
lating m achines________________________
F o u n d ry and machine-shop products____
M achine tools__________________ _______
Textile m achinery and p a rts_____ . ! . ' ] ! " ’
Typew riters and supplies______________
R adio____________________________
Railroad repair shops__________
Electric-railroad repair shops...... .............. .
Steam-railroad repair shops_____________
Total, 89 industries_____________________

1

Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.


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

194
27
167
300
164
26
25
13
72
133
33
9

4
4
1
12

1

Full
tim e

20
19
20
31
14
69
12
38
63
35
15
44

P a rt
tim e

77
81
76
68
86
19
88
62
38
65
85
56

EstabAll operlishating es- m ents
tablish- operatm ents ing part
tim e
78
80
78
79
71
94
72
84
93
83
78
86

73
76
72
69
66
71
69
75
81
75
74
75

91

1

41

58

85

75

1,210
57

1

23
25

76
75

74
78

66
71

24
19

76
79

79
74

73
68

1

48
22
16
38
42
38
53
68
34

77
82
62
58
62
47
32
65

72
71
79
77
85
91
95
86

64
65
66
60
75
81
85
78

2

45

52

85

72

139
52
42
737
116
29
12
26
664
360
304
12, 662

2
1
2

4

TREND

1479

O F EM PLOY M ENT

MANUFACTURING

INDUSTRIES.

MONTHLY INDEXES 1926 -1931.
M O N TH LY

AVERAG E

192.6=100.

EMPLOYMENT

105

105

1 926
10 0

100
192.7

\
\

s'

95

___ s '

****•••

192.9

95
s.

1 9 2 8 —----90

—

\

—

90

' S , __

193^

as

v

65

V
80

ao

75

75
\

V.
*>

’v * '
1931

\
70

70
s.

\

*N%

as

65
1932,

60

60

55

55

50

50
JA N .

FEB .

MAR.


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

APR.

M AY

JU N E JU L Y

AUG. SEPT

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

1480

M O N TH L Y L A B O R R E V IE W

MANUFACTURING

INDUSTRIES.

MONTHLY INDEXES 1926-1931.
MONTHLY AVERA G E.

132 .6 = IOO.

PAY-ROLL TOTALS

105

I 00

95

90
193 0

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

45
JA N

FEB


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

MAR.

APR

MAY

JUN E

JU LY

AUG.

SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC.

TREND

1481

ÖF EM PLOY M ENT

E m p lo y m e n t in N o n m a n u fa ctu rin g In d u stries in April, 1932

N THE following table are presented employment and earnings
data for 14 groups of nonmanufacturing industries the totals of
which also appear in the summary table of employment and earnings.

I

T able 1 —C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN N O N M A N U F A C T U R ­
IN G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, A N D A P R IL , 1931

In d u strial group

A nthracite m ining----------------B itum inous coal m ining______
Metalliferous m ining
_.
Q uarrying and nonmetallic
m ining_______ _ _ ------ Crude petroleum producing___
Telephone and telegraph___ _
Power, light, and w ater___ __
Electric railroad operation and
m aintenance, exclusive of car
shops. __
_____ . _____
Wholesale tra d e ____ _______ _
R etail tra d e ______ . . . _____
H otels______________________
C anning and preserving . . . .
L a u n d ries..
. _ ______ _
D ying and c le a n in g ______ _

Em ploym ent
E stab­
lish­
Per cent of
ments
change
report­
ing
N um ber
in
on pay
M arch
rolls,
M arch April,
and
1931,
April,
to
April,
to
1932
April, April,
1932
1932
1932

Earnings
Per cent of
change

A m ount
of pay
roll
(1 week) M arch April,
1931, E m ­ E arn­
to
April,
to
ploy­
April, April,
1932
m ent ings
1932
1932
70.1
65.5
43.3

72.0
33.9
25.0

-5 2 .1
-3 2 .9
-12. 2
-1 5 .6

48.6
54.9
81.2
84.8

30.0
44.5
83.4
82. 4

132, 645 + 0 .5 -1 0 .1 3, 864, 739 - 2 .4 -1 8 .4
73, 253 - 1. 1 - 9 .7 2,061, 211 - 3 .3 -19. 1
347, 094 + 0 .2 - 9 .4 7, 472, 247 - 0 .9 -1 7 .7
136, 646 - 1 .6 -1 3 .8 1, 997, 490 - 3 .9 -2 2 .6
462, 554 +18.8 -3 3 .6
32, 977 +29.6 -2 1 . 1
- 9 .3 1,033, 815 - 0 .4 -1 7 .8
60, 785
(')
251,011 + 6.9 -2 3 .7
12, 337 + 3 .3 -1 3 .2

78.0
78.9
81.6
82.7
47.0
(2)
(2)

70.7
68.9
72.7
69.6
37.9
(2)
(2)

160
1,237
262

95, 851 - 4 .9 -1 7 .7 $2,861, 565 + 17.7 - 4 .3
162, 745 -1 2 .9 -2 3 .7 2, 210, 281 -2 7 .6 -4 2 .2
502, 676 - 5 .6 -5 1 .4
27, 714 - 3 .8 -3 2 .2

619
260
8, 215
3, 541

21, 866
21, 735
287,876
223, 200

491
2, 786
13, 223
2,264
820
1,004
404

Index num ­
bers April,
1932 (average
1929=100)

+ 5 .5 -3 6 .1
+ 6 .8 -2 1 .3
- 0 .6 - 7 .8
- 0 .8 -1 2 .7

1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.

363, 659
663, 076
7,955, 314
6,811, 614

+ 4.4
+ 3.0
- 5 .5
- 3 .5

2 D ata not available.

Indexes of Employment and Earnings for Nonmanufacturing Industries
I n d e x numbers of employment and earnings for the years 1929,
1930, and 1931, and by months, January, 1931, to April, 1932, for 12 of
the 14 nonmanufacturing industries appearing in the preceding table
are shown in Table 2. Index numbers for the laundering and the
dyeing and cleaning groups are not presented as data for the index
base year (1929) are not available.


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1482

T able 2 —IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , 1929 TO A P R IL , 1932
[12-month average, 1929=100]

Year and m onth

Q uarrying
and nonmetallic
mining

Crude
petroleum
producing

Telephone
and tele­
graph

Power,
light, and
water

Operation
and m ain­
tenance
of electric
railroads 1

Wholesale
trade

Retail
trade

Hotels

C anning
and pre­
serving

95.3

93.4

81.3

83.2

78.0

84.3

79.3

87.4

85.9

97.9 102.9 103.0 104.3

93.4

93.5

96.0

95.9

95.9

96.3

99.2

98.5 103.9

96.1

1931
Jan u ary . . . . . . . . _ 90.6 89.3
February
_ _.
89.5 101.9
M arch_____ ______ _ 82.0 71.3

93.9
91.5
88.8

73.3
68.3
65.2

68.3
65.3
63.5

55.0
54.6
52.8

64.4
66.6
70.0

50.4
54.4
58.2

74.8
73.2
72.2

71.5
70.0
73.2

90.5
89.2
88.6

96.3
94.8
97.9

99.2 98.6
97.8 99.7
96.7 102.4

86.9
86.6
86.4

85.6
87.1
88.1

89.5
88.2
87.4

87.5
88.4
89.1

90.0
87.1
87.8

89.4
86.7
87.5

95.0
96.8
96.8

91.0
93.7
93.4

48.9
48.3
53.0

46.1
48.6
50.3

April___________ _ _ _ 85.2
M ay . _ _______ . . . 80.3
Ju n e.
______ .
76.1

75.2
76.1
66.7

85.9
82.4
78.4

58.6
54.4
52.4

63.9
62.4
60.0

51.4
49.3
46.1

76.1
75.0
72.3

62.6
62.3
60.1

69.8
67.8
65.0

66.3
64.7
62.7

88.1
87.4
86.9

95.0
94.1
95.0

97.1
97.6
97.2

97.6
98.7
98.3

86.8
85.9
85.3

86.6
85.1
84.8

87.4
87.1
87.1

85.2
84.7
84.1

90.1
89.9
89.1

88.3
88.0
87.6

95.9 89.9
92.5. 87.7
91.6 85.4

59.6
56.0
70.6

57.1
56.0
58.6

J u ly _________________ 65.1
A ugust___ ______ _ . 67.3
Septem ber. _ . . . .
80.0

53.7
56.4
64.9

76.4
77.0
80.4

50.4
50.6
53.6

56.2
55.8
55.5

41.3
40.2
40.0

71.0
68.9
66.6

57.3
55.1
51.2

65.3
62.4
61.2

59.2
56.3
55.2

86.6
85.9
85.0

93.3
92.3
92.1

96.7
95.9
94.7

97.4
96.2
94.3

85.6
84.8
84.0

83.3
81.9
81.2

86.8
86.5
86.1

83.3
82.1
81.4

83.9
81.8
86.6

83.3
80.3
83.5

93.3
92.8
90.6

85.2 102.2
83.8 142.9
81.9 180.1

74.2
104.7
129.4

O ctober____ ________ 86.8
N o v e m b e r... _____
83.5
D ecem ber..
79.8

91.1
79.5
78.4

81.3
81.1
81.2

56.2
54.6
52.3

53.8
52.8
51.2

37.4
35.1
34.3

64.5
59.3
53.9

48.7
43.3
36.9

60.4
57.6
58.2

54.4
52.0
54.9

84.1
83.5
83.1

91.6
89.7
92.7

92.7
91.3
90.3

93.2
93.3
91.2

82.7
81.5
79.9

79.0
79.7
77.8

85.2
84.1
83.7

79.9 89.8
79.7 90.9
77.8 106.2

84.6 287.4
85.4 284.9
94.1 283.1

79.7 108.1
77. 1 60.8
75.4 40.7

77.6
48.1
36.9

1931 a v e ra g e ____ 80.5

75.4

83.2

57.5

59.1

44.8

67.4

53.4

65.7

61.7

86.6

93.7

95.6

96.7

84.7

83.4

86.6

83.6

89.4

86.6 291. 7

85.4

80.9

65.6

61.5
57.3
61.2
72.0

80.8
77.4
75.2
65.5

47.0
47.0
46.8
33.9

49.3
46.9
45.0
43.3

29.7
27.8
26.5
25.0

48.9
47.4
46.0
48.6

30.2
29.6
28.7
30.0

54.9
54.4
51. 4
54.9

46.5
46.9
43.2
44.5

83.0
82.0
81.7
81.2

89.1
89.6
88.2
83.4

89.3
87.2
85.5
84.8

88.4
86.0
85.4
82.4

79.5
78.9
77.6
78.0

74.3
73.6
72.4
70.7

81.1
80.9
79.8
78.9

74.1
72.5
71.3
68.9

84.3
80.5
81.4
81.6

78.0
73.7
73.4
72.7

283.2 73.9
284.3 273.9
284.0 272.4
282.7 69.6

35.0
37.1
36.3
47. 0

31.8
32.7
31.9
37.9

1930 a v e ra g e ____ 93.4

1933
Jan u a ry . ._ . . . ______
February . . . . _ . . .
M arch
. . . . . . ._
A pril_____ _________

76.2
71.2
73.7
70.1

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

E m ­ a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­ E m ­ E a rn ­
ploy­ Eings
ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings ploy­ ings
m ent
m ent
m ent
ment
m ent
m ent
m ent
ment
m ent
ment
m ent
ment

*

A nthracite B itum inous M etallifer­
mining
coal mining ous mining

1 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see transportation equipm ent and railroad repair shop groups, m anufacturing industries, T able 1
2 Revised.


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I

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1483

T rend of E m p lo y m en t in April, 1932, by S ta te s

following table are shown the fluctuations in employment
and earnings in April, as compared with March, 1932, in certain
industrial groups, by States. These tabulations have been prepared
from information secured directly from reporting establishments and
from data supplied by cooperating State agencies. The fluctuations
in employment and earnings over the month interval in the combined
total of all groups included in this monthly survey, with the excep­
tion of the building construction group, are presented, together with
the changes in the manufacturing, public utility, hotel, wholesale
trade, retail trade, bituminous-coal mining, crude petroleum produc­
ing, quarrying and nonmetallic mining, metalliferous mining, laun­
dries, and dyeing and cleaning groups. Information available con­
cerning employment in the building construction industry in certain
cities and State localities is presented in a separate table following
these State tabulations. In publishing data concerning the public
utility group, the totals of the telephone and telegraph, power and
light, and electric-railroad operation groups have been combined and
are presented as one group in this State compilation. Due to the
extreme seasonal fluctuations in the canning and preserving industry,
and the fact that during certain months the activity in this industry
in a number of States is negligible, data for this industry are not pre­
sented separately. The number of employees and the amount of
weekly earnings in March and April as reported by identical estab­
lishments in this industry are included, ho\xever, in the combined
total of “ all groups.”
As the anthracite mining industry is confined entirely to the State
of Pennsylvania, the changes reported in this industry in the sum­
mary table are the fluctuations in this industry by State total.
Where the identity of any reporting company would be disclosed
by the publication of a State total for any industrial group, figures for
the group do not appear in the separate industrial group tabulation
but have been included in the State totals for “ all groups.” Data
are not presented for any industrial group where the representation
in the State covers less than three establishments.
N THE

I


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1484

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN I D E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, BY ST A T E S
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the B ureau of Labor Statistics, bu t are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
T o tal—all groups

State

N um ­
ber of
estab­
lish­
ments

N um ­
A m ount
um ­
ber on
Per
Per N
of pay
ber of
cent
pay
roll
cent estab­
roll,
(1 week)
of
of
lish­
April, change
April,
change ments
1932
1932

Alabam a _ ___
527
53,022
A rkansas ___
44® 14,U4
Arizona375
11, 002
California
1,407 m , 359
Colorado. _ ___
790
29, 688
C onnecticut_____
D elaware
___
D istrict of Columb i a ___ _______
F l o r i d a .,.______
G eorgia_________
Id ah o . _ ____ __
Illinois____ _____
In d ia n a . _
Iowa
_____
K ansas___ _ __

1,087
132
225
560
648

M anufacturing

135, 353
9,184

- 1 .8

$613, 481

- 1 .2

251, 162

-3 .6
+4-2
- 2 .6

- 3 .5
+ 1.1

28,284 + 1.4
24,466 -1 3 .2
71, 582 - 2 .0

195
6,903
11,342 276,344
1,284 120, 092
1, 170
43, 906
2 64 O 41, 778

213, 499

5,282,365

639, 796

2, 546, 705
181,051

- 4 .8

218

- 0 .3

66

-6 .9
+0.9
- 7 .4

234, 257

+2.7
- 0 .1

+ 0.1
- 6 .8
- 2 .1

147, 145
211, 477
634, 236

- 2 .8
—7.0
- 5.4

22, 634 + 0.3
524, 359 - 1 .5
1, 627 - 0 .9
44, 679 - 2 .7
28, 954 -1 0 .5
512, 059 -1 4 .3
188, 292 - 2 . 1 4, 362, 920 - 4 .9
4,542 - 2 .3
78, 209 - 7 .1

New Y ork.
3,335
N orth C arolina__ 1,075
N orth D akota
320
Ohio____________ 4,448
Oklahoma
654

498,098
85,861
3, 723
368, 745
25, 032

- 2 .2 12, 291, 988
- 1 .3 1, 044, 790
+ 1 .5
83, 905
- 3 .9 7, 313, 958
- 0 .4
558, 567

Oregon___ __ __
752
Pen n sy lv an ia___ 4,104
R hode Islan d ____
553
South Carolina___
396
South D akota. _ _ 234

26, 778
609, 249
51, 754
46, 778
5, 576

+ 3 .4
548, 553 - 0 .5
- 3 .0 12,113,457 - 1 .4
- 7 .0
979,427 -1 1 .6
- 5 .3
492, 083 - 9 .3
+0.1
130, 527 - 5 .1

43

1,027
588
465

- 12. 4
- 11.3
- 2.3

350, 992
269, 203
510, 643

- 3.2
+ 2 .5
-13. 0

+1.6
+ 1 .0
+ 4.6
- 8 .3

- 4 .8
- 3 .3
- 3 .1
- 1 .7
- 1 .8

6, 379, 738 - 6 .2
1, 364, 344 -3 . 1
122, 921 - 7 .3
2, 264, 212 - 3 .7
174,312 -1 2 .0

430
290
77
525
50

133
26
167
3735
26

- 5 .3 3 1,660
- 6 .3
466
+ 0 .i
59
- 8 .4 1,959
- 2 .9
128

-0 .2

50, 748

1, 696,472
455,091

- 4 .O 3,384,247

22, 739
18, 687
29, 805

473
1,065

- 4 .3

- 7 .9

- 4 .4
- 3 .0

23,4 8 6

-0.1
-5 .0

888, 597

90, 673
23, 323

219
219
188

1,635,542
7,430,115

1,376,234

3, 070

174, 607

430

-0 .3
-3 .4

+0.1
- 2 .6
- 2 .2
- 7 .1

3, 091,256

- 0 .7

4,127
13, 758
58,481

933, 791 - 7 .0
477, 975 - 0 .3
662, 514 -1 1 .1

49, 006
82, 068
95, 743
6,068

+7.4

- 3 .7

-7 .8

+5.4

57
138
316

N ebraska . . .
627
N e v a d a .-. ___ _ _
141
New H am p sh ire. _ 425
New Jersey___ . 1,453
New Mexico____
177

W ashington_____ 1, 160
W est Virginia. _.
724
W isconsin4_____
1,471
W yoming ______
169

52, 485

712, 808 - 0 .5
424, 575 -1 2 .9
926, 317 - 5 .4

- 0.9
+ 3.1
- 6 .8

- 2 .9
+0. 8
- 6 .2
-5 . 1
- 0 .6

116,539

- 8 .8
- 6 .1

129, 510 - 9 .3
6,256, 449 - 7.7
2, 312, 760 -1 2 .6
878, 293 - 5 .2
930,735 + 0 .7

11, 832
9, 510
77, 035

10, 965

$409, 857

2, 008, 750
125, 078

284, 529
61, 521
9, 481
105, 316
7,170

62, 094

127,098

-2 , 3

- 4 .2
- 1 .1

M ichigan_______ 1,783
M innesota . ____ 1, 104
M ississippi
401
M issouri. _____ 1,120
M ontana.
293

59,097

+ 3 .9

115, 670
6,290

82, 607
329,625

Tennessee „ . .
777
T e x a s.. _____ .
747
U ta h ____ ______
264
Vermont
363
Virginia. _ _____ 1,168

123

-2 . 1

2,110

9, 196

686
53

K entucky______
1,006
Louisiana.
502
M aine . ______
552
M aryland . ____ 1 885
M assachusetts___ '7 , 648

61,438
30, 380
36, 543

1,143

35, 664

- 7 .4
- 4 .6

3.5
6 .0
5.6
2 .5
+ 1 .9

-

181

N um ­
A m ount
ber on
Per
of pay
Per
cent
pay
roll
cent
roll,
of
(1 week),
of
April, change
April,
change
1932
1932

178

1,750

282
176
48
293

351

229, 385 -1 3 .9
198, 707 - 3 .0
1, 280, 368 - 2 .5

83
124
420

1,081,176 - 2 .7
1,405, 548 - 7 .3
1,850,769 - 5 .3
150, 238 -1 2 .2

278
190
441
28

57,357
150,107

531, 811

-1 .3
-8 .9

1,044 , 638
2,819,639

191,241 -10.6

4,363,543

31, 080
5, 296
59, 952
2, 205

-0 . 5
- 3 .9
-2 . 6
+ 2.1

10, 873 + 0.9
295 + 0.3
25, 334 -11. 8

175,102
352

326,594

-3 .8

14, 907

+ 5 .2

336, 878
40, 075
42, 956
1, 953

44, 725

31,704

-

4 .1

-8 . 5
-5 . 5
- 1 .3
- 3 .4

+0.7

3,035 - 1 .3
4,989 -1 1 .4
57,102 - 0 .7
23, 832
33, 069
64,464
1,335

+ 1 .0
-2 . 6
- 4 .5
- 6 .0

+ 1 .7

-2 .1
-12.7

—3. 0

—2. 3
—6. 7
—2.4
- 3.3

257, 221
8, 737
422, 691

+ 1.4
4-1. 2
—16.4

-3 .0 13,902,395
6, 298

- 1 .4
+ 2.7
-4 . 1
+ 0 .8

7 .3

651, 331
58, 670
1,193/464
45; 410

+ 5 .7

79, 098
1, 159
274, 753
8,613

-

7,628, 957
' 935’ 128
28,857
5, 303, 774
' 190; 309

—5.9

+ 0.7

-

6 .9

—6. 9
+ 1.5
- 9.4
+ 1. 8

262, 335

+ 3.5

692, 000
423,104
35; 842

—14. 5
—10.5
- 6 .8

608,952

-4 . 7

60,088
100i 040
927j 897

-3 . 2
- 8 .3
- 2 .3

460, 016
634, 900
1,115,163
42, 742

-1 . 2
-7 . 7
- 8 .5
- 8 .7

5,459,276

665,177

—9.1

-0 .8

1 Includes building construction.
2 Includes transportation and financial institutions.
3 Includes laundries and d ry cleaning.
4 B ureau of L abor Statistics figures; report compiled by State bureaus no t received in tim e for inclu­
sion m this table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1485

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN I D E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y ST A T E S—C ontinued
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the B ureau of Labor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
Wholesale trade

State

Alabama_________
A rkansas__ . . . .
Arizona__________
California________
C o lo ra d o -_____
C onnecticut_____
Delaware
_____
D istrict of Columbia_____ ______
Florida___________
G eorgia.. ______
Idaho ______ _____
Illinois___________
In d ia n a __________
Iow a_____________
K a n sa s.. . . . ___

R etail trade

A m ount
N um ­
A m ount
N um ­ N um ­
N u m ­ ber
Per
of pay
Per
on
Per
of pay
Per
ber of ber on
ber of
roll
(1
cent
cent
cent
roll (1
pay
pay
cent
estab­
estab­
week)
roll
of
of
roll
of
week)
of
lish­
change April, change lish­
change April,
change
ments April,
m ents April,
1932
1932
1932
1932

21

17

596
477
195

- 1 .5
- 0 .4
+ 0.5

27

4, 443
706

- 1 .3

62
10

1,272
179

30
55
31

375
852
358

17

62

7

113

13

526

66
34

1,307
1,023

24
30
17

642
707
456

23

755

$16, 006 -12. 1

13,979

+ 0. 1

72

135

5,502

+0. 1

21, 874

-1 . 6

312

- 1 .4
+ 5 .9

38, 284
4,936

-3 . 8
-0 . 3

127
14

+ 1. 1
+ 0 .5
+0 3

12, 262
21, 934
10,437

-2 . 3
+0. 5
-3 . 8

39
82
42

-0 .3

- 0 .9

135,835

3,375

-5 .9

13,295

- 0 .8
- 0 .6

36, 373
30, 274

-

-

1.

6

181

91

-2 . 2

55

-1 . 8
-2 . 0

260
128

-5 . 7

64

2,083

1,590
1,540

21,280

8,508 - 0 .7
1, 076 -1 5 .7
2,062 - 4 .5

197, 390
23, 582
36,164

- 0 .2
-1 5 .1
- 3 .2

587

17, 731

11, 559

- 3 .9

128,333
65, 286

+ 1.5
- 1 .2

451,406

-2 .9

23, 069

+2. 8

41

2,407

+6.4

50,44 I

+3.7

13, 275
15, 626
10, 561
19, 754

-2 . 7
-3 . 5
-3 . 3

204
55
84

2,112
3,100
1,347

+ 1.2
+ 0.4

+2.0
-0 .3

39, 321
48, 589
25,469

93,511
1,282,111

- 1 .0
- 3 .3
+ (5)
+ 1 .8

12, 951 + 0 .5
7,698 -1 7 .8
471 - 2 .5
6,425 + 0.7
766 - 0 .1

283,216
147, 604
5,709
132,437
17,326

- 2 .3
- 8 .2
- 6 .9
+ 0.6
- 2 .5

+ 1 .0
+ 3.6
-3 . 1
+ 0.2
+ 1.6

26, 751
7,700
11,235
181,054
6,339

+0.1
+ 0.6
- 4 .2
-2 .8 .
- 5 .5

+ 2.3
- 0 .1
- 7 .2
+ 3.6
+ 2.8

1,169, 063
31, 947
7,316
634, 602
30, 950

+ 0.4
- 0 .4
+ 4.8
+ 0.5
- 0 .5

2,509 - 1 .2
26, 976 +2. 4
5,034 - 2 .4
755
342 +22.1

53, 986
558,453
112,804
10, 372
5,347

- 3 .1
-0 . 1
- 3 .0
- 1 .4
- 2 .7

+ 0.2
- 2 .8
- 3 .1
- 1 .0
- 2 .4

59, 764 - 1 . 7
115,402 -3 . 7
2,312 -12. 4
129,204 - 4 . 6
7,566 - 9 . 2

480
341
77
137
43

N ebrask a____ _ _
N ev ad a. ________
N ew H am pshire__
N ew Jersey_______
N ew M exico______

44
7
15
33
10

1,279
86
167
694
114

-0 .6
(«)
+ 0 .6
- 0 .6
- 3 .4

37, 006
3,276
4,678
21, 887
4,240

-3 .
-8 .
-1 .
-2 .
-4 .

1
0
6
2
3

94
35
64
415
42

1,371
288
596
7,779
258

N ew Y ork _
N orth Carolina----N o rth D ak o ta____
Ohio______ . . . ..
O klahom a___ . .

189
21
16
225
45

5, 670
484
226
4, 971
858

+ 0 .9
+ 0 .2
+ 1.3
- 1 .3
- 6 .5

188, 091
12, 068
6,724
137, 237
25,161

-1 .
-0 .
-1 .
-4 .
-2 .

7
9
6
1
9

366
437
41
1,311
74

48,301
1,987
433
31, 932
1,555

Oregon. ________
Pennsylvania ____
Rhode Islan d_____
South C arolina___
South D ak o ta____

61
140
46
19
11

1,414
3,513
1, 075
275
138

- 2 .8
+0.3
-0 . 1
- 3 .2
(6)

41,891
96,848
27,514
6,468
4,299

-1 .
-2 .
-4 .
-2 .
-3 .

4
9
3
2
1

250
345
150
92
21

718

+ 1.4

14,697

-4 . 3

87

-

1 .0

-3 .9

500 - 1 .4
109 + 1.9
1,284 -10. 0
+2. 0
- 3 .0
+ 0.6
- 4 .3

79,676

- 0. 6
-2 . 6

-

1.

6

38 5,219
3,879 57,931

78

12, 257 -7 . 3
2,883
3
26,442 -10. 6

14
51
415

70,062
18, 751
42, 756
3,255

424
52
576
21

5 Less th an one-tenth of 1 per cent.


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

2 .8

1 .0

1,811
4, 012
126
5,128
248

2,342
622
1,594
88

-

-3 .2

- 0 .8

+ 2 .6
- 2 .8
- 0 .7

66
61
5
57
15

95
42
45
10

+ 4.3

6,625 .+ 2 .1
3,445 + 0.2

M ichigan________
M in n eso ta .. _____
M ississippi____ _
M issouri________
M o n ta n a .. _____

W ashington ___
W est Virginia.
W isconsin________
W yom ing.. _

- 2 .2

+ 0.3
- 3 .2

403,791

2, 770

- 2 .7

+1.5

115, 582
2, 881

- 1 .4

16
5
41

-1 .5

30,417

+ 1.5
- 4 .7

5,392
184

832
14, 310

37

31,120

459,430
97,493

n
679

132

$33, 373

- 5 .0
- 2 .1

4,364

K entuck y _____ . .
Louisiana________
M aine___________
M arylan d............. ...
M assachusetts____

Tennessee___ ___
Texas____________
U ta h ___________ .
V erm ont.
_____
V irginia.. . . . . . .

+0.1

+ 2 .1

- 1. 7
-4 . 7
-2 . 5
- 0. 9

3,634

6,996

- 0 .7

+5.3

345
530
3,911

+ 4.5
+ 3.5
- 0 .7

6,528
975
9,433
177

- 2 .8
+ 1.6
+ 4 .0
- 1 .7

6 N o change.

61, 274

140,307

5,985
9,649
76,440

141,882
18, 938
205, 509
4,856

-1 .3

- 0 .5

+1.2
- 2 .0
- 0 .4
- 0 .3

+ 2 .2
+ 0.7
+ 2.6
- 2 .2

1486

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN ID E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y S T A T E S —C ontinued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating State organizations]
Q uarrying and nonm etailic m ining
State

Metalliferous mining

N um ­ N um ber
A m ount
N um ­ N um ber
A m ount
Per
Per
ber of on pay
pay roll Per ber of on pay
pay roll Per
cent of
cent of
estabroll,
(1 week), cent estabroll,
(1
week), cent
of
of
of
lishApril, change
April,
lishApril,
April,
change
change
change
ments
1932
1932
ments
1932
1932

A labam a________
A rkansas_______
Arizona. _______
California _______
Colorado_____. . .
C onnecticut____
D elaware .
D istrict of Columb i a ___________
F lorida_____ ____
Georgia____ _____
Id a h o ___________
Illinois__________
In d ia n a _________
Iow a___________
K ansas........... ........
K en tu ck y _______
L o u i s ia n a .._____
M ain e__________
M a r y la n d ____
M assachusetts___

6
9

274 - 7 .4
195 +13.4

$3,223 -1 3 .3
2,290 + 4 .8

30

782

- 3 .0

17,422

- 4 .3

10

273 +13.7

4,338

-6 .3

7
16

418
751

+ 0 .7
+0.4

5,89t -0 .8
7,912 -1 2 .6

556 +21.9
1,613 + 4 .5
255 + 19.7

9,134 +8.1
28,955 + 11.4
4,448 +31.7

27
34
18

+5.9

20

866

26
3
5

622 + 17.6
248 + 3 .8
82 -4 1 .8

19,996

6,691 +49.0

M ichigan________
M innesota_______
M ississippi______
M issouri _ _____
M o n tan a________

17
5
3
15
3

848 - 5 .0
135 +50.0
44 -3 5 .3
296 + 5 .0
32 +220. 0

9,877 -3 6 .5
2,839 +38.1
346 -4 5 .0
3,878 + 8 .5
411 + 105.5

N eb rask a________
N evada __ _____
N ew H a m p sh ire..
N ew Jersey______
N ew Mexico_____

3

101 +90.6

1,718 +260.9

9
3

88 +37.5
53 +55.9

1, 577 + 9 .9
1,186 +30.6

42
8

1,781 +17.2
108 -1 1 . 5

37, 089 +14.5
1,477 - 1 .7

56
4

1, 558
73

+ 7 .6
+ 1.4

29,987 + 11.9
995 -1 2 .6

60

2,810

+ 5 .7

33,850

T ennessee...
Texas______ . . .
U ta h ___ ___ . . .
V erm ont. _ _____
Virginia____ ____
W ashington _ _
W est V irg in ia...
W isconsin...
W y o m in g ...
6 No change.


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

- 1 .1

$11, 376 -1 4 .5

- 2 .1
- 3 .3
- 3 .7

107, 915
45, 875
18' 741

12

2,071

+ 1 .0

U5 +29.0

Oregon____ _ .
Pennsylvania__
Rhode Isla n d ___
South Carolina__
South D akota___

1,101
4,658
1, 680
693

99 +10.0

21

1,019 -1 2 .6

22

39
18
7
7
10

67^ + 11 .2

2,350
995

+ 5 .6
+ 6 .0

117 - 6 .4
423 - 8 .8
289 +68.0

43,664

+7.3

5,282 +30.2

43
33

7,957 - 3 .9
839 -1 1 .0

85, 590 —6 8
12, 065 -2 6 .8

11
13

1,051 - 6 .7
37 -5 1 .9

21, 287 —6 7
'841 -2 8 .6

16

340

3
4

112
786

+ 6.4

768

+ 1 .6

14, 331

- 4 .4

12,993 + 12 .3
54, 401
9, 872

+ 7 .0
+ 6.6

2, 476 - 8 .7
5,073 - 4 .8
4, 784 +38.7

9, 332
(6)

- 8 .0

1, 745 -2 9 .1
13, 733 - 5 .7

—
28
4

5

+ 1 .2
—3.4
- 2 .1

5,126 +29.8
2, 842 + 18.9
2,579 -4 8 .7

18

N ew Y o rk _______
N o rth C arolina__
N orth D akota___
Ohio____________
Oklahom a_______

6
14
21
15

605 -1 6 .0
77

10, 655 -1 8 .8
1,566

- 0 .2
- -- __

4
13

308

-3 . 1

3,449

- 8 .9
- 6 .9

1487

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN I D E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, BY S T A T E S —Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y the B ureau of Labor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued
b y cooperating State organizations]
C rude petroleum producing

B itum inous coal mining

State

A1abaui a.
A rk a n sa s ._____
Arizona
______
California
Colorado

A m ount
A m ount
N um ­ N um ber Per
Per N u m ­ N um ber Per
Per
ber of on pay cent of pay roll cent ber of on pay cent of pay roll cent
estab­
(1 week)
(1
week)
roll
roll
estab­
of
of
of
of
lish­
April,
April,
April, change April,
lish­
change ments
change
1932 change
1932
1932
1932
ments
44

9,153

-1 . 8

136 -47.2

5

$73, 780 -1 1 .2

992 -57.0

7
40

44

4,571 -1 1 .6

+ 4.0

$4,900

- 1 .8

5,380 +23.0

209

182, 568

+14.9

-4 . 8
+ 3.2

65,562 -3 9 .7

Conn eot.i ci i t
Del awaro
D istrict of Columpi a
Florida
______
Georgia
Idaho
Illin o is ___ ______
In d ia n a _________

1,73 -95. 7

33

2,840 -5 2 .8
2, 529 - 8 .6

46
23

8
3

199
13

- 1 .0
+ 8.3

3, 815
161

1,137

+ 3.6

29,284

+ 6 .7

179 - 3 .2
142 +22.4

3,162
4,071

-1 0 .4
+31.4

1,215

-7 .8

K ansas ________

21

5 .4

27,047 -25.6

30

Kan tn ok v ______
T,nnisi ana
M aina,
M aryland
JVTassa^hnsftt.ts

152

24, 313

- 3 .9

303, 624 -1 5 .9

7
7

n

1,413

+0.4

16, 635 -12.0

909 -2 4 .9
960 - 5 .0

16,061 -3 9 .2
20, 523 -36. 7

- 3 .1

26,276 -13. Ï

M ichigan
"Minnasota
M ississippi
M issonri
M o n tan a________

18
10

^ ehraska
Nov fid a
TTa m psh ira,
N"aw -Tarsay
N ew M exico____

13

N CW "Y”ork
N nrth Carolina
N orth "Dakota
Ohio __________
Oklahoma.
Oragon
P ennsylvan ia----Fhnda. Island
South Carolina,
South D akota
Tannassaa
Tava-s
U tah
Varm on t,
Virginia
W a sh in gton
W est V irginia.- . .
Wisconsin
W yom ing_____ .

1,825

1,886

-

14,082 -95.4

63,181 -6 3 .5
37,932 -4 4 .4

4,652 -4 5 .9
309 -3 8 .3

54
16

1,552

- 0 .7

4,637

- 5 .2

46, 854 -6 8 .6
4,753 -3 1 .9

6
62

71
4, 770

+ 9.2
+ 5.0

1,185
126,052

- 5 .7
- 2 .1

18

359

+ 0.3

8,973

- 5 .5

3

6,250

-0 .2

229,4 2 4

-2 .9

751,643

- 2 .6

17

2,758

- 2 .7

27,392

- 4 .5

14

1,790 -2 2 .5

35, 341 -4 4 .4

24

3,934

-3 . 6

38, 707 -11. 6

h

1,491
38, 498

-1 . 9
- 3 .1


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

45 -19. 6
+ 4.4

- 0 .4

3,470 -1 0 .0

+4.1

189

54, 597

32

4

51

5

391

251

5

-6 . 8
- 8 .0

9

341 -1 1 .7

8,288

-1 5 .0

76,166 -1 7 .5

7

163

+ 1.9

4,932

- 0 .2

32,187
528,139

1488

MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN ID E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, B Y S T A T E S —C ontinued
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the B ureau of Labor Statistics, bu t are taken from reports issued
by cooperating State organizations]
Public utilities
State

Hotels

N u m ­ N um be
Per Amount o Per N um ­ N um be
Per A m ount o Per
ber of on pay
pay roll
ber of on pay
pay roll
cent (1
cent
estab­
roll,
week), cent estab­
roll,
(1 week), cent
of
of
of
lish­
of
April, change
April,
lish­
April, change
April,
change
ments
change
1932
1932
ments
1932
1932

A labam a..
A rkansas..
A rizona__
California.
Colorado. _

123

198

+5. 4
49, 478 + (5)
5,891 - 0 . 7

C onnecticut____
D elaw are_______
D istrict of Colum­
b ia ___________
Florida_________
Georgia_________

134
28

10, 260
1,102

22
183
184

8,479
4, 357
7,474

Id a h o .. .
Illinois. .
Ind ian a.
Iow a___
K ansas..

46

64

40

57

61

135
427

2,069

- 1 .3

1,170 —15. U
1, 547

742

72,307

10, 642
10, 325

N ebraska_______
N ev ad a________
New H am pshire.
N ew Jersey_____
N ew Mexico____

300
40
145
277
56

N ew Y o rk _____
N orth C aro lin a..
N o rth D ak o ta__
Ohio___________
O klahom a______

—17 4
—4. 8
- 0.3

—1 3

1,220
270

+ 1.2
(6)

17, 036
3; 595

- 1.3

+ 1 .4
-1 . 7
- 1 .3

246, 466
117, 266
214, 020

- 0 .9
- 8 .7
- 5 .9

51
60
32

4, 550 + 6.4
2,765 -33. 0
1,539 + 0.3

70, 986
33; 319
14, 256

+ 4.3
—41 4
- 4 .2

+ 1 .5

+1.2

-1 . 7
-1 . 0

15, 019

2,199, 894
270, 122
250, 248

- 6 .0

+2.2
- 5 .2
- 2 .1

15

254

- 0 .4

59
55

2, 896
2,402

636

+8. 9
-5 . 4
+ 5 .8

2,062
2, 009
499

+ 4.5
- 3 .3
- 5 .1

750

187,686

+1.8

21

173, 751
111,032
87, 533

- 1 .1
- 5 .3
- 3 .4

37
21
7

368,609
1,447,253

8,376

1,573
5,395

- 0 .2
-0 . 9
-3 . 2
+ 0 .4
—4. 6

717, 978 - 5 .1
368,260 - 1 .8
44, 070 - 8 .8
651, 240 - 5 .6
67, 098 -1 1 .5

71
59
23
78
19

6,298
403
2, 291
24, 489
564

- 0 .8
+5. 2
- 0 .9
-(5 )
- 3 .3

162, 774
11, 470
64, 812
770, 454
12, 496

919
97
171
480
245

109, 817
1, 947
1, 235
33, 452
6, 483

-0 .9
- 1 .6
-1 . 8
- 0 .6
-0 . 9

3, 483, 174
39, 640
31,885
886, 735
148, 771

Oregon_______
P en n sy lv an ia-.
Rhode Is la n d ..
South CarolinaSouth D a k o ta..

184
704
35
70
128

5,842
54, 151
3, 751
1, 766
1,076

+ 1.7
- 0 .9
- 1 .3
—4. 5
- 1 .8

156, 584
1,620, 492
114, 266
42, 194
28, 691

Tennessee_____
Texas_________
U ta h __________
V erm ont______
Virginia_______

251

5, 242

- 0 .5

69
117
178

1,898
1, 038
6, 291

- 3 .2
- 0 .1
+ 0 .7

W ashington___
W est V irginia...
W isconsin_____
W yom ing_____

204
123
275
47

10,232
6, 462
16, 007
447

-1 .0
+ 1 .2
+2.1
- 0 .4

—1.6

-0 .9

5 Less th an one-tenth of 1 per cent,


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

+0. 7

7, 417
191,254
18; 243

11,810

30
6

24
99

7,435

$12, 481

- 4 .3

157,035

449 -16. 9
10, 904 - 3 .1
1,154 + 2.5

+4-0
-2 .3

112

+ 0.3

-0 .6

- 2 .3
+ 0 .5

- 0 .1
—1. 8
+ 0 .6
-0 .1

24, 993
13, 262
2, 227
23,340
2,136

981

337,381
30, 538

+3.2

416
267
202
218
113

1,279

+ 0 .3
-j-2. 5

7,555

M ich ig an ..
M innesota.
M ississippi.
M isso u ri...
M o n tan a __

29

17

-1 .0

7,385
4, 649
3,101

12,119
47,980

- 5 .2

1, 47%, 072

H

92
138

+ 0.1

38, 181

30, 864 -12.7

15
235
32

303
153
172

K en tu ck y ______
Louisiana______
M aine_________
M ary lan d______
M assach u setts.. .

$45, 294

122,142

215, 685

-2 .5

—0 9

3, 741

48

36^ 737
26, 188

-{-6 fi
5 0

24, 552
23’ 523
7, 762

+ 5. 0
3 7
10

142,520
7,267

—2 0

-

0 .3

+0.2
- 0 .6

22,075
86,265

—2. 0
+ 2 .9

4,004
2,958
722
4,612
294

+ 0.4
- 1 .4
+ 0 .4
+ 0.6
+ 1.4

57, 628
40, 905
6,908
60, 272
4,840

03
93
- 2 .7
—1 8
- 1.0

36
12
8
56
15

1,656
146
196
3, 914
285

-4 . 3
(6)
- 1 .0
+ 0.2
- 5 .6

20,110
2, 541
2,560
55,203
3, 400

—11 3
0 7
- 0.2
- 2. 5
- 5.9

- 4 .6
- 2 .2
- 1 .4
- 2 .6
- 7 .0

209
28
20
174
38

28, 663
1, 354
408
9,612
901

-2 .2
+ 2.4
+ 3 .3
-0 . 7
+ 0 .6

484, 624
14, 263
4, 487
137, 790
8,869

—3 9
11
- 3 .6
14
- 3.0

- 5 .4
-4 . 0
- 4 .7
+ 0 .4
- 7 .3

41
139
14
17
15

1, 078
9,415
387
401
318

-1 . 4
+0.1
- 0 .5
- 7 .2
(6)

17 nos
132’ 750
5 803
3,817
4,064

- 4 .2
4 1
- 11.8
- 2.8

2,509

+ 1.7

- 5 .8
-2 . 7
- 2 .8
- 3 .2
- 3 .1

- 4 .2

-1 .6

41, 003
25, 334
157, 330

- 5 .5
- 1 .8
- 2 .3

299, 532
168,489
419, 401
11,040

- 6 .6
- 5 .4
- 1 .0
- 5 .4

6 No change.

41

23, 939

- 2.8

13
17
37

542
376
2, 308

-2 . 9
- 2 .6
+ 6.8

8 301
i, 627
28, 458

- 2 .3
+ 2.6

61
16
30
14

2, 199
654
1, 597
201

+ 0.5
+ 0.5
- 3 .3
+ 0.5

30, 479
7,958
22,121
3, 273

- 3 .1
- 2 .9
- 4 .8
- 4 .0

49

3,368

+0.2

42,972

7 Includes restaurants.

-3 .5

TREND

OF

1489

EM PLO YM EN T

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN ID E N T I C A L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
IN M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932, BY ST A T E S—Continued
[Figures in italics are not compiled b y th e B ureau of Labor Statistics, b u t are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
D yeing a nd cleaning

Laundries

A m ount
N um ­
A m ount
N um ­
N u m ­ ber
N u m ­ ber
Per
of pay
on
Per
of pay
Per
on
ber of
ber of
roll (1
cent
pay
cent estab­
roll (1
cent
pay
estab­
week)
of
roll
of
week)
of
roll
lish­
lish­
April, change April, change ments April, change April,
ments
1932
1932
1932
1932

State

A la b a m a ----- ----A rkansas_____ _
Arizona- ______ California
-- Colorado_________

5

19
10

871

11

478

+ 1 .9

512

+ 1 .2

6,061

-1 .4

459

889

- 3 .6
- 0 .7

$4, 839

5,264
7,613

123,772
14, 261

- 3 .8

-

1 .8

4
3

161
34

- 4 .2
+ 3 .0

Per
cent
of
change

$1,965
447

- 3 .7
+ 2 .8

- 4 .7

-3.1

+ 0 .3

12

165 + 10.7

3,379

+ 6.9

+ 1.4
+ 2 .9

5,434
573

+ 2.9
+ 3.6

C onnecticut______
D elaw are________
D istrict of Columbia-- - -Florida---- ------- -Georgia------ ------ --

28
4

1, 036
316

- 1 .1
(6)

19, 645
5,154

- 1 .5
- 1 .9

9
3

215
35

19
9
14

2,098
428
673

+ 1 .9
- 2 .3
+ 2 .7

35, 444
5,081
6, 911

+ 0 .3
- 4 .0
+ 2 .0

6
6
4

141
50
133

+ 4.4
+ 6.4
- 2 .2

2,999
845
1, 659

+ 9 .2
+ 10.5

Illinois.__ . . .
I n d ia n a ... . . . --Iow a______
-- -K ansas_____ ____

8 21
21
4
24

1,506

-0 .9

25,012

-

13

216

+ 2 .9

3,983

+ 3 .0

+ 0 .2

13,604

+2.9

3

21

(6)

11, 046

+ 0 .2

5

237
35
119

+ 3.5
+9. 4
+ 4.4

K e n tu ck y ..

...

M aine___ . . . .
M arylan d________
M assachusetts— _

19
23

1, 732
236

- 0 .3
+ 5 .8

821

+ 2 .2

1,032

481

+ 0 .2

25, 765
4, 033

7,629

0 .8

-0 . 1
+ 4 .8

+ 1.0

3
4

-

1. 1

302

-1 .9

3,900
495
2,216

+ 8.2
+ 7.6
+ 4.6

0.1

30,373
48,141

+ 1 .2
- 1 .4

13
116

185
1, 284

+8.2
+3.0

3,290
27, 465

+3.2
+14.5

1,730
811
235
2,867
402

- 0 .7
+ 1 .1
- 3 .3
-0 . 3
- 1 .2

26, 897
14, 442
2, 228
42. 098
8,233

- 0 .8
+ 2 .6
- 5 .2
- 0 .9
- 0 .4

18
12

518
345

+ 9.5
+ 6.8

11, 324
7,007

+19.4
+ 12.5

15
3

449
17

+6. 1
(6)

8, 291
433

+ 13.1
- 3 .8

9
4
15
28
6

777
60
258
3,024
246

+ 3 .7
+ 1.7
+ 0 .4
+ 0 .2
- 2 .0

13, 458
1, 399
4,112
65, 260
3,718

+ 3.6
+ 0 .9
+0. 3
+ 1. 1
-1 . 0

5

155

+ 9 .9

3, 554

+ 7.7

9

351

+ 2 .9

10, 727

+ 16.0

New Y o r k ... -----N orth Carolina___
N o rth D akota - __
Ohio______ - -----O klahom a________

70
13
11
77
7

7,112
794
238
4,590
619

+ 1.6
+ 0 .9
+ 0 .8

+ 1 .3
- 0 .3
+ 0 .2
+ 1.1
- 2 .3

21
4

666
63

+3.1
- 4 .5

14, 940
812

+ 13.0
+ 11.5

- 1 .6

133, 375
9, 255
4,177
79, 962
8,457

42
6

1,772
235

+4.1
- 0 .4

35, 017
3, 453

+ 12.3
- 2 .0

Oregon______ - . .
Pennsylvania___
Rhode Island . _
South Carolina___
South D ak o ta___

4
49
19
9
7

272
3, 703
1,126
341
156

(6)
+ 1.5
+ 0 .4
- 1 .2
- 1 .9

4, 735
61, 290
21, 017
3, 490
2,476

+ 3.6
+ 0 .4
- 0 .4
-2 . 2
-2 . 2

5
26
5

46
1, 139
277

- 4 .2
+ 2.6
+ 1.5

1,186
22, 846
5, 450

+ 1.2
+ 4.8
+ 3.0

Tennessee________
T exas. __________
U tah _____________
V erm ont_________
Virginia__________

14
21
7
6
11

1,002
940
568
77
799

- 2 .2
- 1 .6
-0 . 2
(«)
+ 0 .9

9,719
11, 543
8, 644
1,058
9,531

- 2 .8
- 3 .5
+ 0.4
- 0 .9
—5. 4

7
17
7
3
18

67
333
127
26
277

- 5 .6
- 0 .3
+ 3.3
(«)
+ 1.8

999
5, 966
2, 662
470
4, 180

-11. 6
+ 4 .0
+ 11.1
+ 3.3
+ 4.8

W ashington.. ---W est Virginia------Wisconsin
W yom ing_____

16
23
19
6

783
792
611
123

- 2 .5
- 2 .5
- 3 .2
+ 1 .7

18, 238
11,281
9, 012
2, 507

- 0.8
- 1.1
- 3.1
+ 5. 3

11
11
5

121
232
193

+ 3.5
+ 0.4
+ 3 .2

2, 475
3,731
3,914

+ 11.3
- 0 .2
+ 9.9

28
77

1,931
2,639

+2.5

M ich ig an .. . -----M innesota . .
M ississippi____ .M isso u ri...
-----M ontan a--------

25

15
5
37
17

N ebrask a______ _
N evada___
...
New H a m p sh ire ...
New Jersey---------New M exico__ -.

-

_ ( 5)

• Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

e No change.

•

8 Includes dyeing and cleaning

1490

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

E m p lo y m en t and Pay R oll in April, 1932, in C ities of Over
500,000 P o p u la tio n

N THE following table are presented the fluctuations in employ­
ment and earnings in April, 1932, as compared with March, 1932,
m 13 cities of the United States having a population of 500,000 or
over. ^These fluctuations are based on reports received from identical
establishments in each of the months considered.
These city tabulations include all establishments reporting in all
of the industrial groups, except building construction in these 13
cities, and also additional employment information secured from banks,
insurance companies, garages, and other establishments in these 13
cities. Building construction data are not included in these totals,
as information is not available for all cities at this time.

I

C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L IN C IT IE S OF O V ER 500 000 P O P U ­
L A T IO N , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932
’

Cities

New York C ity ____
Chicago, 111________
Philadelphia, P a ___
D etroit, M ich ........ .
Los Angeles, Calif,
Cleveland, Ohio___
St. Louis, M o _____
Baltimore, M d ____
Boston, M ass______
P ittsburgh, P a _____
San Francisco, Calif.
Buffalo, N . Y ______
M ilwaukee, W is___

N um ber of
establish­
ments
reporting
in both
m onths
1,711
1,846
651
563
434
993
488
549
2, 46d
312
885
262
453

----- __

N um ber on pay roll
M arch,
1932
296, 649
210, 394
116, 445
193, 008
53, 815
82, 865
69,494
49, 213
87, 920
49, 902
. 40, 550
41, 546
39, 315

April,
1932
292,885
203, 992
111,979
183, 708
53, 666
79, 578
68, 027
48, 738
86,018
49, 343
39, 883
41, 470
38, 361

Percent
of
change

- 1 .3
- 3 .0
- 3 .8
- 4 .8
- 0 .3
- 4 .0
- 2 .1
- 1 .0
- 2 .2
-1 . 1
- 1 .6
- 0 .2
- 2 .4

A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
M arch,
1932

April,
1932

$8, 773, 847
5, 500, 791
2, 731, 166
4, 847, 269
1, 379, 154
1, 864, 088
1, 562,997
1,028, 998
2, 313, 667
1, 070, 461
1,070, 661
1, 003, 636
838, 659

$8, 341, 833
5, 214, 985
2, 487, 525
4, 649, 720
1, 339, 525
1, 736, 060
1, 502, 603
991, 878
2, 217, 069
1,041, 384
1, 018, 840
999,044
798, 047

Percent
of
change

- 4 .9
- 5 .2
- 8 .9
- 4 .1
- 2 .9
- 6 .9
- 3 .9
- 3 .6
- 4 .2
- 2 .7
- 4 .8
-0 . 5
- 4 .8

1

E m p lo y m en t in E xecu tive C ivil S ervice o f th e U n ited S ta te s,
A p ril, 1932

HE table following shows for the months of April, 1931, and
March and April, 1932, the number of officers and employees of
the executive civil service of the United States Government. The
figures are complete except for temporary employees in the field
service of the Post Office Department. The number of temporary
employees in this department varies greatly, mainly because of
seasonal demand. The principal demand for such workers is during
the Christmas mail rush. Their term of service is usually quite brief.
As indicated by the title of this article, the figures do not include
the legislative, judicial, or Army and Navy services. The data are
compiled by the various Federal departments and offices and sent to
Uie United States Civil Service Commission where they are assembled.
They are published here by courtesy of the commission and in
compliance with the direction of Congress. No information has yet
been collected relative to the amounts of pay rolls. Because of the
importance of Washington as a Government center the figures for
the District of Columbia are shown separately and included in the
total for the entire service.
At the end of April, 1932, there were 575,338 employees in the
executive civil service of the United States. Of this number, 544,986

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1491

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

were permanent employees and 30,352 were temporary employees.
In the interval between April, 1931, and April, 1932, there was a
eain of 2,709 employees, or 0.44 per cent. Comparing the number
on the pay roll on April 30, 1932, with the March 31, 1932, figure there
were was a gain of 519, or 0.09 per cent. _
. ,
The number of employees in the District of Columbia, however,
showed a decrease of 2,774, or 3.84 per cent comparing April, 1932,
with April, 1931, and a decrease of 28 or less than one-tenth ol 1 per
cent comparing April, 1932, with March, 1932.
.
.
During the month of April, 1932, 14,490 employees were hired in
the entire Federal service and_ 13,971 employees were separated from
the service because of resignation, termination of employment, death,
retirement, or other causes. This gives a net turnover rate ol —43
during the month.
.
The turnover rate for the District of Columbia was less than onehalf that for the entire service, this being only 0.98 per cent. There
were 69,454 employees on the Government pay roll m the District ol
Columbia at the end of April, 1932.
E M P L O Y E E S IN T H E E X E C U T IV E C IV IL S E R V IC E OF T H E U N IT E D ST A TES, A P R IL ,
1931; M A R C H , A P R IL , 1932
:-------- — =----------------------

E ntire service

D istrict of Columbia

Class

April,
1931

Tem porary employees (not including
those in th e field service of th e Post
Office D ep artm en t-----------------------------

M arch,
1932

April,
1932

April,
1931

M arch,
1932

April,
1932
i 544, 986

63,875

66,163

66, 262

568,947

i 545,591

8,353

2,906

3,192

44, 900

28,097

30, 352

i 573,688

i 575, 338

72,228

69,069

69,454

613,847

D istrict of Columbia

E ntire service

Gain or loss
N um ber

M nvoh

1Q Q 9 t n

A

r\ril 1Q29

___

__________ -

Labor turnover

- 2 , 774
- 2 28

Per cent N um ber
-3 .8 4
(3)

+2,709
+ 4 519
D istrict
of Co­
lum bia
2 677

705
0.98

Per cent
+0.44
+ . 09

E ntire
service

4 14, 490
13, 971
2.43

i 3=5 800 star-route and other contractors, clerics in cnarge oi m an cumracu
post offices, and special-delivery messengers, who were previously included in these totals have been
^ D o e ^ i i o t include 413 employes of th e Reconstruction Finance Corporation reported for the first time.
(These employees are included in th e totals for the D istrict of Columbia.)
! D o ^ n o ? include*L 131Em ployees of the R econstruction. Finance Corporation reported for the first
tim e. (These employees are included in the total for th e entire service.)


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1492

M O N TH L Y L A B O R R E V IE W

E m p lo y m en t in B u ild in g C o n stru ctio n in April, 1932

MPLOYMENT in building construction increased 10.7 per cent
m April as compared with March, and earnings increased 15.9
per cent during the same period. This information is based on reports
received from 7,344 firms engaged on building operations in 50 cities
covered by the Federal bureau and 2,531 additional firms in various
localities in Pennsylvania, California, Massachusetts, New York
State, Wisconsin, and the city of Baltimore, Aid. Information re­
garding employment in the building industry in New York State is
piesented foi the first time in these reports. This is possible through
the cooperation of the bureau of statistics and information of the New
York State Department of Labor. All information other than for the
50 cities covered by the Federal bureau in the first section of the table
is supplied by cooperating State labor departments which collect this
information within their respective jurisdictions.

E

C O M P A R K O N OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN T H E B U IL D IN G C O N S T R IJC .
r iO N IN D U S T R Y IN ID E N T IC A L F IR M S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932

Locality

N um ­
ber of
firms
report­
ing

N um ber on pay roll
week ending near—■
M ar. 15

A pr. 15

Per
cent of
change

A m ount of pay roll
week ending near—
M ar. 15

A pr. 15

Per
cent of
change

A kron____________
A tlan ta___________
B irm ingham ______
B ridgeport________
C harlotte...................

71
123
79
136
37

338
1,222
435
570
208

321
1,149
414
597
217

- 5 .0
-6 .0
- 4 .8
+ 4.7
+ 4.3

$6, 808
18, 716
6,544
15, 057
3,372

$6, 382
18, 361
5,818
15,893
3, 374

—6. 3
- 1 .9
—11. 1
+5. 6
+ 0.1

C in c in n a ti1_______
Cleveland________
D allas........................
D ay to n ___________
D enver___________

511
418
130
110
211

2,802
1,894
666
470
860

3,400
2,414
818
534
898

+21.3
+27. 5
+22.8
+13.6
+ 4.4

72, 651
49, 826
12,414
10, 539
22,408

96,821
63, 224
14,951
11,744
23,912

+33.3
+26.9
+20.4
4-11.4
+ 6.7

Des M oines_______
D etro it___________
D u lu th ___________
F l i n t .. ____ _______
Fort W ayne______

101
. 429
53
31
105

499
2,962
208
138
531

508
2,904
273
139
651

+ 1.8
- 2 .0
+31.3
+ 0.7
+22.6

11,353
76,952
3,881
3, 334
10,269

12, 099
74, 540
5, 305
2,468
13, 510

+ 6.6
-3 .1
+36.7
-2 6 .0
+31.6

G rand R apids_____
H artford__________
H ouston__________
Indianapolis______
Jacksonville_______

98
257
113
147
56

307
1,044
742
833
241

333
1,501
686
837
228

+ 8.5
+43.8
- 7 .5
+ 0.5
- 5 .4

6, 235
28, 504
12, 040
20, 270
3, 744

6, 807
39,481
12,464
20, 618
3, 408

+ 9.2
+38.5
+ 3.5
4-1.7
-9 .0

Kansas C ity 2___ __
Knoxville_________
L o u is v ille ........... .
M em phis__________
M ia m i...__________

229
31
133
93
83

1,477
364
1,042
672
624

1,673
493
1,088
737
560

+13.3
+35.4
+ 4.4
+ 9.7
-1 0 .3

43, 043
4,984
19, 820
12,079
14, 873

49,846
7,087
23, 104
15, 405
12, 291

+15.8
4-42.2
4-16.6
4-27.5
-1 7 .4

M inneapolis_______
N ashville__________
New H a v en _______
New Orleans______
N orfolk-Portsmouth.

243
77
208
126
87

1,466
1, 035
1,943
1,174
454

1, 675
1,059
2,146
1,311
516

+14.3
+ 2.3
+10.4
+11.7
+13.0

36,130
17, 381
66, 873
20, 801
9,007

42, 978
19, 654
67,786
22, 972
10,293

+19.0
4-13.1
+ 1.4
+ 10.4
4-14.3

Oklahoma C ity____
O m aha____________
Portland, M e______
Portland, Oreg_____
Providence________

100
137
85
193
221

557
688
409
1,146
1,346

647
887
444
1,072
1, 761

+16.2
+28.9
+ 8.6
- 6 .5
+30.8

11, 364
14, 651
10,822
27,149
32, 700

12,121
22,240
10,951
24,158
43,657

+ 6.7
+51.8
+ 1 .2
-11. 0
+33.5

R ichm ond____ ____
St. Louis_________
St. P a u l___________
Salt Lake C ity _____
San A ntonio_______

151
436
138 |

1,219
1,991
937
483
527

1.176
2,068
1,110
546
609

- 3 .5
+ 3.9
+18.5
+13.0
+15.6

24,196
58, 599
21,189
10, 249
7, 877

25, 624
63,147
29,667
12,294
9, 210

+40. 0
4-20.0
+16.9

81J

68 1
1 Includes Covington and N ewport, Ky.
Includes both Kansas City, K ans., and K ansas City, Mo.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

+ 5 .9

4-7.8

TREND

OF

1493

EM PLOY M ENT

C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S IN T H E B U IL D IN G C O N ST R U C ­
T IO N IN D U S T R Y IN ID E N T IC A L F IR M S , M A R C H A N D A P R IL , 1932—C ontinued
N um ­
ber of
firms
report­
ing

Locality

Seattle
____________
South B end______________
Spokane. _______________
Tacoma _________________
T ulsa____________________
W ashington, D .C __ _____
W heeling.. ______
____
_______
W ichita . . .
W ilmington, D el_________
Youngstown . . .
--------Total, 50 cities ___ .
Erie 3_____ ______________
Philadelphia 3____________
P ittsburg h 3_ ____________
Reading 3________________
Scranton 3___
________ _
N ine additional cities over
50,000, u n d er 100,000 3____
T otal, 14 cities______
Los Angeles 3. _
---------San Francisco-Oakland 3___
California (including all lo­
calities) 3_______________
Baltimore, M d .3 _________
M assachusetts 3______ ____
New Y ork S ta te 3_________
W isconsin 3_______________
G rand total, all local­
ities. . _

N u m b er on p ay roll
week ending near—

Per
cent of
change

Apr. 15

M ar. 15

A m ount of pay roll
week ending near—
M ar. 15

Apr. 15

P er
cent of
change

189
44
44
64
59
551
52
63
98
44
7, 344
24
478
240
63
36

952
302
161
211
295
7,391
213
227
1,102
229
47, 607
128
3, 525
1,320
372
165

994
297
166
130
247
8,496
227
236
1,512
140
52,845
196
3,643
1,748
398
187

+ 4 .4
- 1 .7
+3.1
-3 8 .4
-1 6 .3
+15.0
+ 6 .6
+ 4 .0
+37.2
-3 8 .9
+11.0
+53.1
+ 3.3
+32.4
+ 7 .0
+13.3

$23,220
6,528
3,539
4,925
5,924
188,652
4, 329
4,069
24,827
4, 749
1,129, 466
2,859
85, 543
43,674
7, 580
3,900

$22,113
6, 639
3,705
2,881
4,826
239,413
4, 622
3,960
32,065
3, 063
1, 298,952
4,114
92, 226
54, 315
8,414
3,885

-4 .8
+ 1.7
+ 4 .7
-4 1 .5
-1 8 .5
+26.9
+ 6.8
- 2 .7
+29.2
—35. 5
+15.0
+43.9
+ 7.8
+24.4
+11.0
- 0 .4

189
1, 030
25
38

1, 021
6, 531
737
901

1,202
7,374
715
979

+17.7
+12.9
- 3 .0
+ 8 .7

18,956
162, 512
16,928
19, 518

22, 539
185,493
15,874
25, 219

+18.9
+14.1
- 6 .2
+29.2

89
140
760
447
65

2, 213
1,138
5, 774
12,645
1,297

2, 250
1,416
6,663
13, 683
1, 272

+ 1.7
+24.4
+15. 4
+ 8 .2
- 1 .9

50,187
23, 447
165,930
496, 526
31,701

54, 543
27,996
184, 889
604,286
30,974

+ 8 .7
+ 19.4
+11.4
+21.7
- 2 .3

9,875

77, 205

85, 503

+10.7

2,059, 769

2, 387,133

+15.9

3 D ata supplied by cooperating State bureaus.
0*

E m p lo y m en t on C lass I S tea m R ailroads in th e U n ited S ta te s

monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to March,
1932, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having operating
T HE
revenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index numbers
published in Table 1. These index numbers are constructed from
monthly reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission, using the
12-month average for 1926 as 100.
T able 1.—IN D E X OF E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I ST E A M R A IL R O A D S IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO M A R C H , 1932
[12-month average, 1926=100]
1932

M onth

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

J a n u a ry ..
. ...
___
F ebruary _________
______
M arch ________ . . ___ ----April
M ay
June
Ju ly
August

98.3
98.6
100.5
102.0
105.0
107.1
108.2
109.4
107.8
107.3
105.2
99.4

96.9
97.0
97.4
98.9
99.2
98.0
98.1
99.0
99.7
100.8
99.0
96.0

95.6
95.4
95.2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99. 7
99.9
100. 7
99. 1
97.1

95.8
96.0
96.7
98.9
100.2
101.6
102. 9
102.7
102.8
103.4
101.2
98. 2

95.5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101.0
99.5
99. 1
98.9
95.7
91.9

89.3
89.0
89.9
91.7
94.5
95.9
95.6
95.7
95.3
95.3
92.9
89.7

88.2
88.9
90.1
92.2
94.9
96.1
96.6
97.4
96.8
96. 9
93.0

73.7
72.7
72.9
73.5
73.9
72.8
72.4
71.2
69.3
67. 7
64.5
62.6

61.2
60.3
60.5

8 8 .8

86.3
85.4
85.5
87.0
88.6
86.5
84.7
83.7
82. 2
80.4
77.0
74.9

Average_______ _______ 104.1

98.3

97.9

100.0

97.5

92.9

93.3

83.5

70.6

1 60.7

Sppt.pm h p r
O p.tnhpr
N nvpm bpr
D pppm bpr

1 Average for 3 m onths.

120148°—32----- 16

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1494

M O N TH L Y LA B O R R E V IE W

Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day each
of March, 1931, and February and March, 1932, and pay-roll totals
for the entire months.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
T able

2 .— E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S O F R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , M A R C H , 1931,
A N D F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1932

[From m onthly reports of In terstate Commerce Commission. As d ata for only the more im portant occu­
pations are shown separately, th e group totals are not th e sum of the items under the respective groups]
N um ber of employees a t m id ­
dle of m onth

T o tal earnings

O ccupation
Feb. 15,
1932

Professional, clerical, and general-----C lerks___ . . ___ _ . ______
Stenographers and ty p ists______

232, 325
127, Oil
21,703

198, 721
106, 284
18, 719

197, 049 $34, 512, 272 $26, 360, 210 $26, 992,117
105,267 17, 791, 296 13,178,957 13, 649, 048
2, 221, 214
2, 271,947
18, 536
2, 867, 003

M aintenance of way and stru c tu re s..
Laborers, extra gang and worktrain..... _ . __ ______________
Laborers, track and roadw ay sec­
tio n __________________ ______

269, 047

208,905

210, 004

25, 492, 320

15, 810, 444

24,708

12, 313

13, 415

1, 754,802

650,963

780, 384

140, 287

113,922

113,413

9, 593, 712

5, 721, 358

6, 421, 656

M aintenance of equipm ent and stores.
C arm en_______ _______ ________
M achinists____ _____________
Skilled trades helpers__________
Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power plants, and sto res)... . . .
Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power plants, and
stores)______________________

367, 593
76, 358
47,988
80, 763

302, 254
61, 312
41,474
65, 890

307,146
62, 359
42, 427
67, 021

47, 455, 024
11,016,008
7, 286, 742
8, 754,144

31, 072, 558
6,946, 863
4,909,497
5, 513, 638

33,446, 735
7, 558, 704
5, 350, 669
5,976,245

30,170

24,994

25, 080

2,843,957

1,906,133

2, 020, 674

39, 358

31,644

32,044

2,985,670

1,850, 788

2,043, 077

164, 788
27,960

141, 551
26, 338

140, 491
26, 234

20,909, 629
4,452, 211

15, 436, 359
3, 631, 649

16, 204, 960
3, 826, 751

20, 255

17, 792

17, 634

3,198, 288

2,376,071

2, 520, 480

24, 744

19,489

19,419

2, 288,523

1,451,674

1, 567, 758

19,063

18, 222

18, 205

1,480, 658

1, 261, 888

1, 264, 942

15,418

3, 616, 242

2, 537, 001

2, 618,187

212,168 49,759, 270
24, 285 6, 785, 540
46, 087 9, 235,939
36, 144 7,177, 387
28, 740 9, 035. 912
29, 481
6, 540, 947

34,481,001
4, 849,927
6,399,139
4, 769, 154
6, 424, 258
4, 616,986

37,151, 440
5,186, 902
6,888, 225
5,179, 072
6, 895, 901
4, 959, 494

Transportation, other th a n train, en­
gine and y a rd ___________________
Station agents__________ ______
Telegraphers, telephoners, and
towerinen
_____ _
T ruckers (stations, warehouses,
and p la tfo rm s)........................
Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatem en_____________________
Transportation (yard masters, switch
tenders, and hostlers)____________

18, 520

15,445

T ransportation, train and engine____ 251,195
Road conductors_______________
28, 526
Road brakem en and flagmen. __
54,874
Y ard brakem en and yard helpers.
42, 592
Road engineers and m otorm en. __ 33, 719
34, 652
Road firemen and helpers______

212, 050
24, 202
46, 174
36, 032
28, 841
29, 663

M ar. 15,
1932

M arch,
1931

February,
1932

M arch,
1932

M ar. 15,
1931

17, 237, 901

All employees_____ ____ _____ 1, 303, 468 1,078,926 1,082, 276 181, 744, 757 125, 697, 573 133, 651, 340


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RETAIL PRICES
R e ta il P rices of Food in A pril, 1932

W

ITH the March, 1932, issue the Bureau of Labor Statistics
began the publication of the data relating to retail prices and
wholesale prices in separate pamphlets each month. Heretofore this
material has been incorporated in the same publication.
It has been the custom of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to publish
each month certain information in regard to the retail prices of food
by cities and articles. In the interest of economy in the cost of print­
ing some of these detailed statistics are temporarily eliminated from
current publications. Information comparable to that shown in pre­
vious publications is on record in the hies of the bureau and available
to those desiring to make use of it.
Rates of electricity for household use and price per 1,000 cubic feet
of gas, by cities, are published in June and December of each year.
Table 1 shows for 51 cities of the United States, retail prices and
index numbers of food on April 15, 1931, and March 15 and April 15,
1932. Tnese prices are simple averages of actual selling prices reported
monthly by retail dealers in 51 cities. The index numbers are based on
the average prices in the year 1913.
T able 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S O F FO O D IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S , A P R IL 15 A N D M A R C H 15, 1932, A N D A P R IL 15, 1931

Average retail price on
Article

Index num bers
[1913=100]

U nit
Apr. 15, M ar. 15, A pr. 15, A pr. 15, M ar. 15, Apr. 15,
1931
1932
1932
1931
1932
1932

Sirloin s t e a k _______________ . Pound
R ound stea k ________________ _ __ do _____
R ib roast
- ______________
__ do.
C huck ro ast_________________
__ do .
__do
P late beef
- _____ _______

Cents

40.0
34.9
29.7
22.3
15.1

Cents

33.0
28.5
24.4
17.3
11.6

Cents

33.4
28.6
24.3
17.4
11.7

157.5
156. 5
150.0
139.4
124.8

129.9
127.8
123.2
108. 1
95.9

131.5
128.3
122.7
108.8
96.7

141.4
141.1
175.5
165.6
153.1

102.4
95.2
136.1
131.7
128.2

102.4
92.2
134.9
135.4
124.4

141.6

127.0

123.6

91.9

77.0

70.0

132.6
89.9

107.7
57.0

105.4
55.1

79.4
137.5

61.2
125.0

58.0
123.2

115.2
163.3

97.0
130.0

97.0
130.0

__do
Pork chops
______________
__do
Bacon, sliced ______________
H am , .sliced _______________
_ do __
Lam b, leg of _______________ __do
H en s________________________ ____ do _____

29.7
38.1
47.2
31.3
32.6

21.5
25.7
36.6
24.9
27.3

21.5
24.9
36.3
25.6
26.5

Salmon, red, canned . _ __ _
M ilk, fresh. ___ _
__ . .
M ilk, evaporated __
_____
B u tte r................ . .. ______
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r su b­
stitutes) .
C h eese.. ............
.......
L ard . . ___________ .
Vegetable lard su b stitu te. . .
Eggs, strictly fresh _________
B read______ _______
___

_ _ _do _ __
Q u a r t ______
14^-oz. can__
P o u n d _______
__do _____

34.0
12.6
9.4
35.2
21.2

28.5
11.3
7.6
29.5
15.9

28.1
11.0
7.5
26.8
15.4

__do _____
__do ___
____ do _ .
D ozen_______
P o u n d _____

29.3
14.2
23.4
27.4
7.7

23.8
9.0
21.5
21. 1
7.0

23.3
8.7
21.4
20.0
6.9

Flour . . . _________________
Corn m eal. _________________
Rolled oats_________________
Corn flakes. ________________
W heat cereal..................................

__ .d o ____
___d o _______
____do . ___
8-oz. pkg.
28-oz.‘p k g ........

3.8
4.8
8.2
9.1
24.5

3.2
3.9
7.7
8.7
22.7

3.2
3.9
7.6
8.7
22.6


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1495

1496

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF FO O D IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S , A P R IL 15 A N D M A R C H 15, 1932, A N D A P R IL 15, 1931—Continued

Average retail price on—
Article

Index num bers
[1913=100]

U nit
Apr. 15, M ar. 15, Apr. 15, Apr. 15, M ar. 15, Apr. 15,
1931
1932
1932
1931
1932
1932

Centn

Cents

Cents

M acaroni_______
Rice____________
Beans, n a v y _____
Potatoes________
O nions_________

P o u n d __
------do___
___ d o __
----- do—
----- d o __

Cabbage________
Pork and b eans. _.
Com , canned____
Peas, canned____

----- do —
No. 2 can.
----- do —
----- do -----

4.1
9.7
13.9
14.6

5.6
8.0
11.1
13.1

6.4
7.9
10. S
13.1

Tomatoes, canned
Sugar___________
T e a -------------------Coffee___________

----- do ___
P o u n d __
----- do ___
----- d o ___

10.5
5.7
75.2
34.6

9.6
5.2
73.3
30.8

9.5
5. 1
72.3
30.5

P runes____________
R aisins____________
B ananas___________
O ranges,__________

----- do ___
----- d o ----D ozen___
----- d o ___

12.1
11.2
27.8
33.1

9.9
11.5
23. 5
30.7

9.6
11.5
22.8
31.9

17.4
8.4
8.4
2.8
3.6

15.6
7.1
5.3
1.7
8.6

15.5
6.9
5.2
1.7
10.3

W eighted food index

96.6

81.6

79.3

164.7

100.0

100.0

103.6
138.2
116.1

94.5
134. 7
103.4

92.7
132.9
102.3

124.0

105.0

103.7

Table 2 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years
for 1913, 1920, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and by months for 1931 and
1932. The articles within these groups are as follows:
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes, wheat
cereal, macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
^ T v i i k d r i n k ? ' n u m b e r s o f r e t a i l CO ST o f C E R E A L S , m e a t s a n d d a i r y
B Y °M O N T h I '° i93l'' A N D m ™ D S T A T E S >BY Y E A R S FO R 1913,1920, 1928, 1929, 1930,1931, A N D
[Average cost in 1913=100]

Y ear and m onth

1913_______
1920_______
1928
___________
1929
__
1930
_
1931: Average for year___
Jan u a ry .. . .
F e b ru a ry .. _
M arch . _ .
April .. . .
M a y .. . . . .
J u n e ________ .


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Cereals M eats

100.0
232.1
167.2
164. 1
158.0
135.9
147.1
144.6
142.4
138.9
137.7
136.3

100.0
185. 7
179.2
188.4
175.8
147.0
159.5
153.4
152. 5
151.4
149.3
145.7

D airy
prod­
ucts
100.0
185.1
150.0
148.6
136.5
114.6
123.6
120.2
120.5
116.5
110.3
108. 3

Y ear and m onth

1931—Continued.
Ju ly _______________
A ugust___ _____ .
Septem ber___.
O ctober. _____
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber... . . .
1932:
Jan u ary _______
F e b ru a ry __ . .
M arch _____
A pril_______

Cereals M eats

D airy
prod­
ucts

134.3
132.0
130. 2
129.8
129.1
127.8

147.8
149.1
147.7
142.7
135.4
129.3

109.6
111.9
114.3
117.0
114.4
111.4

126.4
125.0
124.3
122.9

123.4
117.3
118.9
118.6

106.5
102.9
101.9
97.4

RETAIL PRICES

1497

Index Numbers of Retail Prices of Food in the United States

I n T a b l e 3 index numbers are given which show the changes in
the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913, 1920,
1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and by months for 1931 and 1932.1 These
index numbers, or relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100.0
and are computed by dividing the average price of each commodity for
each month and each vear by the average price of that commodity for
1913.
In the last column are given index numbers showing changes in the
retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since January, 1921,
these index numbers have been computed from the average prices of
the articles of food shown in Table 1, weighted according to the aver­
age family consumption in 1918. (See March, 1921, issue, p. 25.)
Although previous to January, 1921, the number of food articles
varied, these index numbers have been so computed as to be strictly
comparable for the entire period. The index numbers based on the
average for the year 1913 as 100.0 are 105.0 for March, 1932, and
103.7 for April, 1932.
The accompanying chart shows the trend in the cost of the food
budget in 51 cities of the United States by months, January 15, 1930,
to date.

The. curve pictures more readily to the eye the changes in the cost
of all articles of food than do the index numbers given in Table 3.
1 For index num bers of each m onth, Jan u ary , 1913, to December, 1928, see B ulletin No. 396, pp. 44 to
61; and B ulletin No. 495, pp. 32 to 45. Index num bers for 1929 are published in each Labor Review, i ebruary, 1930, to February, 1931.


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1498

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 3 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L F R OF FO O D
B \ 1 EA R S, 1913, 1920, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, A N D BY M O N T H S F O R 1931 A N D 1932
[Average for year 1913=100.0]
Y ear and
m onth

Sirloii Rounc
steak steak

R ib
roast

Chucl
roast

1913_________
100.0 100.0
1920______
172.1 177.1
1928
___________
188. 2 188.3
1929
_
196.9 199.1
1930
___________
182.7 184.8
1931
___________
155.1 154. 3
Jan u ary ___ 167.3 168. 2
F eb ru ary . _ 161.4 161. 0
M arch __
158. 7 157.8
A pril__
157.5 156.5
M a y ..
155.5 154. 7
Ju n e.
152.4 151. 1
Ju ly ______ 154.3 154.3
A ugust__
155.5 155. 2
September _ 155. 1 154.3
October___ 152.0 150. 7
N o v em b er. 146.9 144.8
Decem ber.. 142.9 140.4
1932:
Jan u ary ___ 137.4 135. 0
F e b ru a ry .. 130. 7 127.4
M arch .
129.9 127.8
A pril_____ 131.5 128.3

100.0
167. 7
176.8
185.4
172.7
146.0
159.1
154.0
153. 0
150.0
147.0
142.9
142.9
143.9
142.9
141.4
137.9
134.8

100.0 100.0 100.0
163.8 151.2 201.4
174.4 157.0 165.7
186.9 172.7 175. 7
170.0 155.4 171.0
134.4 118.2 138. 6
152.5 138.0 141.9
145. 6 131. 4 131.4
141.9 128.1 140.0
139.4 124.8 141.4
135.6 119.8 143. 3
130.6 112.4 140.0
130.0 110. 7 151. 4
130.0 109.9 158. 6
130. 6 111. 6 153.3
129.4 111. 6 139.5
126.3 109.9 119.0
122.5 108.3 103.8

100.0
193. 7
163.0
161.1
156.7
134.8
148.9
145. 2
143.0
141. 1
139. 3
136.7
137.0
135. 6
134. 1
127.0
118.9
112.2

129.8
123.2
123.2
122.7

115. 6
108. 1
108. 1
108.8

Y ear and
m onth
1913_______
1920_______
1928
_
1929
_
1930
__
1931
_
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ._
M arch ___
A pril____
M a y _____
J u n e ... _.
Ju ly ______
A ugust___
Septem ber.
October___
N o v em b er.
D ecem ber..
1932:
J an uary___
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ____
A pril_____

Plate
beef

Pork
chops Bacon

H am

Lamb
leg of

Hens

M ilk

B utter

100.0 100.0
206.3 207.9
196.7 208.5
204.1 212.2
198.5 185.7
170. 6 156.1
188. 1 166.1
183.3 164. 6
178.4 164.0
175.5 165. 6
172.9 165. 1
170.6 161.9
171.4 158. 7
171.4 156.6
169. 5 152.4
164. 3 145.5
155.4 138. 1
147.6 131. 7

100.0 100.0
209.9 187.6
175.6 159.6
186.4 160.7
166.7 157.3
145.5 138.2
153.5 149.4
148.8 146.1
150.2 144.9
153. 1 141.6
148.8 138.2
146.0 134.8
144.6 136.0
145.1 136.0
145.1 136.0
140.4 134.8
137. 1 134.8
134.3 130.3

100.0
183.0
147.5
143.9
120.4
92.4
98.4
94.8
97.4
91.9
81.5
80.7
82.8
89.8
96.1
104.2
97.4
95.3

131.0
127.2
128.2
124.4

129.2
128.1
127.0
123.6

All ar­
Coffee ticles
1

101.7
96.7
95.9
96.7

99.5
91.0
102.4
102.4

101.5
96.7
95.2
92.2

139.8
136.4
136.1
134.9

Bread Flour

Corn
meal

Rice

Pota­
toes Sugar

Tea

100.0
188.2
174.2
171.9
158.8
127. 1
145.2
141.2
137. 1
132. 6
124.0
119.9
118. 6
119.9
122.2
122.6
121.3
118.6

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
186. 7 197.4 205.4 245. 5
117. 7 134.5 162.5 163.6
115.8 142.0 160.7 154.5
107.6 118.8 155.4 142.4
84.2
91.9 135.7 109.1
99.4 104. 6 146.4 121.2
91.8
78.8 142.9 121.2
89.9
82.6 141.1 118.2
89.9
79.4 137.5 115.2
85.4
71.9 137.5 112.1
82.3
74.8 135.7 112.1
82.3
82.9 133.9 109.1
81.0
92.5 132.1 103.0
79.8
98.0- 130.4 100.0
74.5 109.9 130.4 100.0
77.2 115.1 130.4 100.0
70.9 111.6 128.6 100.0

100.0
216.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
153.3
170.0
166.7
166.7
163.3
153.3
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
146.7
140.0
136.7

100.0
200.0
114.9
111. 5
109.2
94.3
102.3
102. 3
98.9
96. 6
95.4
94.3
93. 1
93. 1
92.0
89.7
86.2
85. 1

100.0 100.0
370.6 352.7
158.8 129. 1
188.2 120.0
211.8 112. 7
135.3 103. 6
170.6 107.3
158.8 107.3
158.8 105.5
164.7 103.6
164.7 101.8
141.2 101.8
135.3 101.8
129.4 103.6
117.6 103.6
105.9 101.8
100.0 101.8
105.9 100.0

100.0
134.7
142.3
142.6
142. 5
138.6
141.0
140.6
139.7
138.2
136.9
136.8
137.3
138.6
139.3
139.0
138. 1
138.1

100.0
157.7
165.1
164.8
136.2
113.4
126.8
125.2
121.8
116.1
112.4
111. 1
109. 1
108.7
108.7
107.7
106.7
105.7

100.0
203.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
121.3
132.8
127.0
126.4
124.0
121.0
118.3
119.0
119.7
119.4
119.1
116.7
114.3

115.4
110.4
107.7
105.4

63.9
59.5
57.0
55.1

133.3
133.3
130.0
130.0

85.1
82.8
81.6
79.3

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

136.2
135.3
134.7
132.9

104.4
104.0
103.4
102.3

109.3
105.3
105.0
103.7

Cheese L ard

Eggs

86.1
70. 1
61.2
58.0

126.8
125.0
125.0
123.2

100.0
100.0
97.0
97.0

127.5
125.4
131.7
135.4

98.2
96.4
94.5
92.7

84.3
77.0
77.0
70.0

i 22 articles in 1913-1920; 42 articles in 1921-1932.

Comparison of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities

• ^ BLE 4 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
m the retail cost of food in the United States in April, 1932, com­
pared with the average cost in the year 1913, in April, 1931, and
•March, 1932. For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the
Uyear and the 1-month periods; these cities have been scheduled by
the bureau at different dates since 1913. The percentage changes
are based on actual retail prices secured each month from retail
dealers and on the average consumption of these articles in each city.
The consumption figures which have been used since January, 1921,
are given m the Labor Review for March, 1921 (p. 26). Those used

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1499

RETAIL PRICES

for prior dates are given in the Labor Review for November, 1918
(pp. 94 and 95).
T a ble 4 . —P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL CO ST O F FO O D , IN A P R IL , 1932, C O M ­
P A R E D W IT H T H E CO ST IN M A R C H , 1932, A P R IL , 1932, A N D W IT H T H E CO ST IN T H E
Y E A R 1913, BY C IT IE S

C ity

Percent­ Percentage decrease
April, 1932, com­
age in­
pared w ith—
crease
April,
1932,
com­
M arch,
April,
pared
1932
1931
w ith
1913

Percent­ Percentage decrease
April, 1932, com­
age in­
pared w ith—
crease
April,
1932,
com­
M arch,
April,
pared
1932
1931
w ith
1913

C ity

M inneapolis-

----

16.4

1.3

14
64
4 4
3.3

19. 3
17.8
14 6
17.3
13.7

0.9
0.7
2 1.4
1.0
2.8

10.8

12 1
15.0
16.2
15.7
23.5

2 3.1
2.0
1. 1
2.1
4.2

17.7
19.0
16.0
14.5

0.6
2. 1
2 0.6
2.1

i 0.9

23. 6
15 3
18.2
16.5

3.0
1. 3
3.3
0.1

Los Angeles----------

13
i78
i 7.4

18 1
19. 6
21 5
16.7

0 4
1. 2
0.8
3. 6

Savannah .
Scranton -Seattle______
Springfield, 111
.
W a s h in g to n .- ----

Louisville M anchester___
M em phis------------M ilw aukee____ --

i 3.0
2.8
l3 0
5.3

16.1
15.9
15 7
13.3

1.7
1. 1
1. 5
0.8

Hawaii:
H onolulu-------Other localities.

U nited S tates---.Atlanta
Baltimore
Birm ingham
Boston - __
Bridgeport

Charleston, S. C ._ C hicago.. - __C incinnati
Cleveland ___Crolli m hns
"piallai
D enver................
T ie frn it

r t i l l x v i v t j i -------------------H ouston
Indianapolis -- - --

3.7

8.5
13.4
0. 4
i 2.4
0 7
i 4.6
l39
2.8

•111 6 ------- --------J ü C k b O l i V Ì1

1 Decrease.

2.5

N ew ark_______ New H aven____ New Orleans.- ---

7.5
12. 2
3.9

N ew York
Norfolk
O m aha_______ -Peoria. _________
P h ilad elp h ia..

i 1.7

P ittsburgh -. . . .
Portland, M e __
Portland, Oreg-- Providence - - R ich m o n d ..
Rochester
St. Louis____ -- St. Paul -_ _____
Salt Lake C ity .. -San Francisco .

11. 2

7.0
2.0
i 2.9
5. 4
6.2
4.8
i 10. 7
9.0
11.0
4.3
9.8

17.2
17.8
13.9
12.8
13.8

2.5
0.4
2 0.7
1.4
1.4

13.7
16.2
16.2
17.6
17.4

0.2

18.5
12.1
11.5
14.3
16.6

1.0
0.0

15.8
17.9
16.4
16.2
11.9

1. 1

1.9
1.8
1.7
0.9

19.0
14.7
12.3
16. 1
18.2

2 0. 4
0.2
0. 7
0.6

6.8
7.9

1.1
0.0

1.1

2.0
1.3
1.4

0.3
0.4
0.9

0. 1

2 Increase.

Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched­
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
April schedules were received from 99 per cent of the firms in the 51
cities from which retail prices of food are collected.
Out of about 1,238 food reports 13 were not received—1 each in
Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Mobile, Phila­
delphia, Portland (Me.), Portland (Oreg.), San Francisco, and 3 m
Seattle.
. .
Out of about 350 bread reports 3 were missing—1 each m Jack­
sonville, Los Angeles, and Portland (Oreg.).
.
A perfect record is shown for the following-named cities: Atlanta,
Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte, Charleston (S. C.), Chicago, Cincinnati,
Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Kan­
sas City, Little Rock, Louisville, Manchester, Memphis, Milwaukee,
Minneapolis, Newark, New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Nor­
folk, Omaha, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Providence, Richmond, Rochester
St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake City, Savannah, Scranton, Springfield
(111.), and Washington.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1500

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

R e ta il P rices o f Coal in A pril, 19321

ETAIL prices of coal are secured in each of the 51 cities in which
retail food prices are obtained. The prices quoted are for coal
delivered to consumers but do not include charges for storing the coal
in cellar or bins where an extra handling is necessary.
Average prices for the United States for bituminous coal and for
stove and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite are computed
from the quotations received from retail dealers in all cities where
these coals are sold for household use.
The table shows the average prices of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds
and index numbers for the United States on April 15, 1932, in com­
parison with the average prices on April 15, 1931, and March 15,
1932, together with the percentage change in the year and in the
month.

R

T able 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E P E R 2,000 PO U N D S O P C O AL F O R T H E U N IT E D
iK
Ä
ch
0 F 0 H A N G E 0 N A P R IL 15, 1932/C O M P A R E D W IT H A P M L 1?,

Average retail price on—
Article
A pr. 15,
1931
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove—
Average price per 2,000 pounds
Index (1913=100.0)___________
C hestnut—
Average price per 2,000 pounds
Index (1913=100.0)___________
Bitum inous:
Average price per 2,000 pounds.
Index (1913=100.0)___________

M ar. 15,
1932

Apr. 15,
1932

Per cent of decrease
Apr. 15, 1932,
compared w ith—
Apr. 15,
1931

M ar. 15,
1932
*

$14.45
187.0

$14. 54
188.2

$13. 62
176.3

5.7

6.3

$14. 39
181.8

$14. 45
182.6

$13. 46
170.0

6.5

6.9

$8.46
155.8

$8.01
147.3

$7.85
144.5

7.2

2.0

Table 2 shows average retail prices of coal by cities. In addition
to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are shown for
Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those cities where
these coals form any considerable portion of the sales for household
use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds sold for household use.
n fth lip w
f° ™ eily secured sem iannually and published in the M arch and Septem ber issues
of the Labor Review. Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published m onthly.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1501

R E T A IL P R IC E S

T able 2.—A V ER A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF C O AL P E R T O N OF 2,000 PO U N D S, FO R H O U S E ­
H O LD U SE , ON A P R IL 15, 1931, A N D M A R C H 15 A N D A P R IL 15, 1932
1931
C ity, and kind of coal

A tlanta, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
B altim ore, M d.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__ _______________
C h e stn u t__ . . . - B itum inous, ru n of mine—
H igh volatile___________
B irm ingham , Ala.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Boston, M ass.:
P ennsylvania anthracite—
Stov e____ _ ________
C h estn u t _ . . . --------B ridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S tove------ ------ ------------C h estn u t ______ _ . . .
Buffalo, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove______________ . . .
C h estn u t. ---------- -----B utte, M ont.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
C harleston, S. C.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________
C h estn u t ___________
B itu m in o u s Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile_________
R un of mine—
Low volatile_____ . . .
C incinnati, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile____ _
.
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_____________ . . .
C h e s tn u t______________
B itum inous—
P rep ared sizes—
H igh volatile_________
Low v o la tile _____ . . .
Colum bus, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile_________
Dallas, Tex.:
A rkansas anthracite—E g g ..
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Denver, Colo.:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ix e d ..
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed.
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
D etroit, M ich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove ________________
C h estn u t ____________
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh v o la tile ________
Low volatile_________
R u n of mine—
Low volatile_________
F all River, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove______ ____
____
C hestn u t
-----


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1931

1932
C ity, and kind of coal

Apr.
15

M ar.
15

Apr.
15

$6.66

$6. 54

$5. 73

14. 00
13. 50

14. 00
13. 75

11.50
11. 25

7.82

7. 18

6. 93

6. 54

6.26

5.33

14. 75
14. 75

15. 00
15.00

13. 35
13. 10

14.00
14. 00

13. 25
13.25

13. 00
13. 00

12. 40
12.40

12. 25
12. 00

11.75
11.50

10.49

9.74

9. 73

9.67

9.50

9. 50

16. 40
16. 30

16. 75
16. 75

16. 75
16. 75

7.93
11.46

7. 83
10.41

7. 86
10.41

7.75

7. 23

7. 23

5.05
7.03

5. 75
8.00

4. 75
6.50

14. 56
14.44

14. 38
14.31

14. 44
14.31

6. 67
9. 25

6. 56
9.14

6.56
9.21

5. 43
7.17

5. 25
6. 75

5. 25
6. 67

15.00
12. 58

14. 00
10. 25

14. 00
10.00

15. 25
15. 25
9. 57

15. 00
15. 00
8. 00

14. 88
14.88
7. 87

14.50
14. 50

14.17
14.17

13.67
13. 58

6. 94
8.16

6.13
6. 63

6.04
6.61

7.13

6.13

6. 25

15.00
15.00

16.00
16. 00

14.00
13.75

Apr.
15

1932
M ar.
15

Apr.
15

Houston, Tex.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. $11. 40 $10.60 $10.20
Indianapolis, Ind.:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—5.54
5.00
H igh volatile.. --------- 5.93
7.96
7.96
9.17
Low volatile_________
R u n of m ine—
6.55
6. 55
Low volatile_________ 7.00
Jacksonville, Fla.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10. 00 10.00 10.00
Kansas C ity, Mo.:
Arkansas anthracite—
F urance----- --------------- 12.44 11. 38 11. 38
Stove No. 4 . . .
_ . . 13. 50 12. 67 12. 67
6.12
6. 06
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 6. 71
L ittle Rock, Ark.:
A rkansas anthracite—Egg.. 13. 00 12.25 12.25
9. 17
8. 72
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 9. 90
Los Angeles, Calif.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 16. 50 16. 25 16.25
Louisville, K y.:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
4. 73
4.93
5.18
H igh volatile . _____
6.75
7.50
Low volatile--- ----------- 7. 50
M anchester, N . H.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 15. 50 15.50 14. 50
C h estn u t. ___________ 15. 50 15. 50 14. 50
M emphis, Tenn.:
6. 72
6.82
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7.66
M ilwaukee, Wls.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_________________ 15. 75 15.05 15.05
C hestnut --------------- -- 15.50 14. 80 14. 80
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
7. 48
7. 45
7. 70
High volatile_____ . .
10. 60 10. 01 10.01
Low volatile__ . . .
M inneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove. . . ---------- . . .. 16.90 18. 05 16.60
16. 90 18.05 16. 35
C h estn u t. ______ . . .
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
9. 34
9. 32
H igh volatile______ . . 9.61
Low volatile_________ 12. 63 12.04 12.04
Mobile, Ala.:
8.13
8. 75
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 8. 38
Newark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__ _______________ 12.70 12.50 11.75
12. 70 12. 25 11. 50
C h estn u t. __ _ . .
New H aven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 14. 90 14. 90 13. 75
C hestnut . . . ------------- 14. 90 14. 90 13. 75
New Orleans, La.:
9.93
9.93
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 8.07
New York, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove------ ---------------- _. 12.92 13.38 11.67
12.92 13. 38 11.42
C h estn u t. __________
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove _____ _ _____ 15. 00 14. 50 14. 50
C hestnut ____________ 15. 00 14. 50 14. 50
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
6.94
7. 00
7. 38
High volatile . _____
9.00
9. 00
Low volatile__ _______ 9.00
R u n of mine—
7.00
7.00
7.00
Low volatile_________
Omaha, Nebr.:
8.74
8.74
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9.45

1502

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

T able !8.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF C O AL P E R T O N OF 2,000 PO U N D S, F O R H O U SE ­
H O L D U SE , ON A P R IL 15, 1931, A N D M A R C H 15 A N D A P R IL 15, 1932-C ontinued
1931

1932

C ity, and kind of coal

Peoria, 111.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove________
C h estn u t_________
P ittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
C h estn u t________ .
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
Portland, M e.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ . . .
C h e s tn u t... . . .
Portland, Oreg.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove. ______ .
C h estn u t________
R ichm ond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove. _______
C h estn u t....... ..............
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile________
Low volatile________
R u n of mine—
Low volatile............ .
Rochester, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove....................
C h e s tn u t....................
St. Louis, M o.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e .. . . .
C h estn u t. . . .
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
delivered in bin

Apr.
15

M ar.
15

Apr.
15

$6.33

$6.12

$6.10

12.25
12.25

11.75
11.54

11.00
10.75

14.50
4.73

14.00
4. 47

13.75
4.46

15.84
15.80

16.80
16.80

14.88
14. 64

13.21

12.09

11.98

114. 75 t 15.75 1 14.00
114. 75 1 15.75 1 13.75
15.00
15.00

14.38
14.38

14.00
14.00

8.75
9.83

7. 42
8.57

7.25
8.05

7.50

7.11

6. 75

13.38
13.38

13.38
13.38

12.50
12.25

16.20
15.95
5.86

16.60
16. 60
5.76

16. 47
16.47
5.61

u' “ relw l lu

1931

1932

C ity, and kind of coal
Apr.
15
St. Paul, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........................... .......
C h estn u t...........................
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High v o la tile ................
Low volatile............ .
Salt Lake C ity, U tah:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg____________
Colorado anthracite—
Egg-------------- --------------Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Savannah, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e ..____ _____ ______
C h e s tn u t.._____ _______
Seattle, W ash.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Springfield, 111.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
W ashington, D . C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove........ .............. ............
C h e s tn u t............... ............
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________
Low volatile............ .......
R u n of mine—
M ixed........................... .

li5 00 cents nif?ner tnan nere shown.

M ar.
15

$16.90 $18.15 $16. 60
16.90 18.15 16.35
9.70
12.80

9.32
12.06

9.36
12.06

7.58

7.58

7. 54

26.00

26.00

26.00

25.50
17.00

25.50
17.00

25. 50
17.00

3 9.62

2 8. 45

2 8.53

9.30
9.28

9.05
8.78

8.55
8.28

10.88

10.24

10.24

4.34

4.34

4.34

12.76 3 14.36 3 13.36
12.76 3 14.06 3 13.06
7.39
9.32

38.46
10.21

3 8.29
3 9.86

6.98

3 7.50

3 7.50

Practically all coal is

oruA- coai'
in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made
additional charge has been included in the above priced
3 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Apr.
15

This
s

1503

R E T A IL P R IC E S

R eta il P rices of Food in th e U n ited S ta te s and in Foreign
C ou n tries

HE index numbers of retail prices of food published by certain
foreign countries have been brought together with those of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor
in the subjoined table, the base years in all cases being as given in the
original reports. As stated in the table, the number of articles in­
cluded in the index numbers for the different countries differs widely.
These results, which are designed merely to show price trends and not
actual differences in prices in the several countries, should not, there­
fore, be considered as closely comparable with one another. In
certain instances, also, the figures are not absolutely comparable
from month to month over the entire period, owing to slight changes
in the list of commodities and the localities included on successive
dates. Indexes are shown for July of each year from 1926 to 1930,
inclusive, and by months since January, 1931.

T

IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E T A IL FO O D P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN F O R ­
E IG N C O U N T R IE S
Czecho­ D en­
slovakia m ark

C ountry -_________

U nited
States

C anada

Belgium

N um ber of localities.

51

60

59

Prague

Foods

Foods

1921

July,
1914

Commodities
in ­ 42 foods 29 foods
cluded
___

Base=100.

______

1913

1913

100

Finland

21

53 foods 36 foods

July,
1914

Janu a ry June,
1914

France France G erm any

Except
Paris

Paris

72

13 (11
foods)

Foods

Foods

JanuAugust, ary1914
June,
1914

October,
1913July, 1914

1926
J u l y .........................

157.0

151

184.9

117.8

159

1,105

1610

507

145.3

1927
J u ly ............................

153.4

149

209.6

126.2

153

1,102

i 553

559

156.8

1928
J u ly ______________

152.8

147

203.8

125.5

153

1,155

1 536

544

154.1

1929
J u ly ............................

158.5

150

212.3

123.1

149

1,116

2 118

590

155.7

144.0

149

205.5

116.7

137

969

2 127

132.8
127.0
126 4
124 0
121 0
118. 3
119 0
119.7
119.4
119.1
116.7
114.3

134
129
124
121
116
111
110
112
109
107
107
107

195.1
186.8
183. 1
180.1
176.6
176.5
174.8
171.5
172.9
170.2
167.9
160.7

105.1
103.8
102.2
104. 5
106.3
109.2
108. 2
102.8
104.8
103.4
100.6
99.6

126

893
883
879
870
849
842
846
870
844
848
885
919

109.3
105. 3
105.0

105
100
99

156. 5
151. 3
148.2

98.3
94.6
98.6

117

.Tilly

1930
1931

TVTflfph
Tnnp.
Tnly
Septem ber

1932

i For succeeding m onth.


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123
119
119

916
908
911

3 In gold; for succeeding m onth.

a 131
3 128
3 124

145.9

641
642
607

3 115

133.5
131.0
129.6
129.2
129.9
130.9
130.4
126.1
124.9
123.4
121.8
119.9
116.1
113.9
114. 4

3 112

3 In gold.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1504

IN D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL FO O D P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
Sw it­
zer­
land

U nited
King­
dom

South
Africa

India

New
Zea­
land

Aus­
tralia

49

34

630

9

Bom­
bay

25

30

Foods

Foods

Foods

21
foods

24
foods

17
foods

59
foods

46
foods
and
grocer­
ies

July,
1914

July,
1914

June,
1914

July,
1914

1914

July,
1914

19261930
(1,000)

19231927
(1,000)

N eth er­
lands Norway Sweden

C ountry

Italy

N u m b er of localities

47

The
Hague

31

Commodities in­
cluded

20
foods
and
char­
coal

Foods

Base=100

1913

1921

1926
Ju ly ......... —.............. .

645.2

4 73.5

198

156

159

161

117

155 51,026

1927
Ju ly ........... ..................

540.2

* 76.5

175

148

157

159

119

154

1928
Ju ly ______________

516.1

* 76.2

173

156

157

157

116

143 s 1,004

1929
Ju ly ______________

557.8

^74.5

158

148

155

149

116

145 51,013

1930
Ju ly ______________

506.6

4 71.6

151

138

152

141

109

136

981

1931
J a n u a ry ., _______
F eb ru ary_______ .
M a r c h _____ ____
April . _______
M ay- ___________
June - __________
J u ly ______________
A u g u s t._______ _
S e p te m b e r_______
October
_ . ..
N ovem ber________
December _____

462.9
450.0
446.1
446.1
448.6
447.7
442.1
438.0
438.4
441. 4
444.6
443. 6

146
144
143
141
139
138
140
138
136
136
136
136

132

148
146
144
142
141
141
140
139
139
138
137
134

138
136
134

108
107
107

111
103

129

129
127
130
128
128
128
130
132

107
108
106
104

910
879
866
861
«47
839
894
890
819

132
129
128

131
131
129

1932
J a n u a r y ._________
F eb ru ary __________
M arch .........................


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440. 9
435.8

66.8
68. 7
62.6
61.0

135
135
135

130

/
127
128

127

i F o r second m onth following.

106
104

103
102
103
102
100

102
101
100
100
100
100
100
101

QQ

103

99

102
103

5 Year.

6 983

834
839

835
897
810

1,041
958
876
864
864

840
833
811
806
804

805
812
809
814

RETAIL PRICES

1505

P rice F ixing U nder E m ergen cy D ecree in G erm an y 1

HE fourth emergency decree of the German Government of
December 8, 1931, created the office of Federal price commis­
sioner and provided in general for a reduction of salaries and wages to
the level of January, 1927. I t was the task of the price commissioner
to adjust retail prices to the present economic situation and to the new
lowered standard of wages and salaries above mentioned. As a basis
upon which to work, retail prices of commodities of vital importance
were not later than January 1, 1932, to be reduced by at least 10 per
cent as compared with the price level existing on June 30, 1931.
Likewise, the commissioner was charged with the duty of controlling
margins of profits and surcharges.'
In addition to this the decree aimed at a general reduction of the
wholesale price level in Germany. Prices fixed by cartels, syndicates,
and agreements among large enterprises, as is the case in Germany
in the iron producing industry, the iron and metal consuming industry,
the building trades, the chemical, paper, glass, ceramic, textile, and
fertilizers industries were, not later than January 1, 1932, to be re­
duced by at least 10 per cent as compared with the level existing on
June 30, 1931. If the Federal minister considered a further reduction
of such fixed prices essential for commodities of vital importance he
was authorized to adopt appropriate measures. If the cartels, syndi­
cates, etc., failed to comply with the provisions of the decree or the
ministerial instructions, the pertinent pro visions of the cartel or syn­
dicate agreement and contracts for delivery were to become inopera­
tive as of January 1, 1932. The foregoing provisions were also to
apply to prices of so-called trade-marked commodities where the retail
price is fixed by the seller of the article and not by the retailer. They
were to apply also to potash and nitrogenous products.
The commissioner was under the direct supervision of the chan­
cellor and was vested with very extensive powers. He was authorized
to take forcible measures, if necessary, and was assured of the assist­
ance of the Federal and State Governments. In carrying out his
work, however, the commissioner did not resort to the law nor to public
forces to gain the desired end. He relied entirely on personal negoti­
ations with the interested parties and by vigorous persuasive methods
was able to accomplish his purpose.
Although a downward tendency had been noted as far back as
the beginning of 1930, prices fixed by cartels, syndicates, and sale
agreements came in for particular attention on the part of the
commissioner.
The index figure for wholesale prices as published by the Federal
Statistical Office for the beginning of January, 1932, was 10 per cent
lower than the figure for June 30, 1931, indicating that in the main the
provisions of the emergency decree had actually been carried out.
It is well to note that wholesale prices had been voluntarily reduced
by 6 per cent by the first of December, 1931, so that the January
index figure was only 4 per cent less than that of the previous Decem­
ber. The wholesale-price index figure of 101.4 on January 1, 1932,
was almost at the pre-war level, since 1913 is taken as 100.
The following are some of the results of the activities of the price
commissioner:

T

1 R eport of C. W . G ray, Am erican vice consul a t B erlin, G erm any, dated Apr. 1, 1932.


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1506

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Bread. There was a general reduction of the bakers’ profits, which,
with a decrease in the price of flour, led to a reduction of 10 per cent
in the price of bread.
M ilk . The price of milk was reduced from 6% to 6}i cents per quart.
M e a t. —A maximum margin of profit was established for retail
butchers, which in the case of pork must not exceed 3}^ cents per
pound; beef, 4}i cents per pound; veal and mutton, 5% cents per pound.
In Berlin the price of pork was reduced about 10 per cent; beef, about
17 per cent; veal and mutton, about 13 per cent.
Fish.- It is reported that retail prices of fish were reduced 10 per
cent in all parts of Germany on January 1.
C o a l— Prices of hard coal and lignite, as listed in the official
publication of the Government, were reduced 10 per cent at the
beginning of January.
Gas.—The municipal gas works of Berlin reduced the price of gas
10 per cent.
E lectricity. —It is reported that most of the electrical companies
throughout Germany have reduced prices of electricity by from 8 to
10 per cent.
T ransportation. —In Berlin the cost of transportation was reduced
an average of about 9 per cent on the subway, street car, and omnibus
service, and a slight reduction was made in taxi charges.
The association of German forwarding agents and companies
reduced its charges on January 1, 1932, by 10 per cent, and on Febru­
ary 15 rates were further reduced by 10 per cent on shipments of raw
materials, coal, building material, and foodstuffs, and by 5 per cent
on semifinished products.
B eer. —After a reduction of the tax on beer the price was reduced
10 per cent.
R en ts. —Rents on old buildings were reduced 10 per cent on the
first of January and on new buildings the reduction was in proportion
to the amount saved by the forced reduction of interest on mortgages.


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WHOLESALE PRICES
Index N u m b ers of W h olesale P rices, April, 1932

the March, 1932, issue the Bureau of Labor Statistics
began the publication of all data relating to wholesale prices
W ITH
of commodities in a separate pamphlet. Heretofore a general sum­
mary of wholesale price movements has been included in the monthly
separate devoted to prices. In the future a pamphlet will deal with
retail prices, while this one will treat only of wholesale prices.
The following table presents the index numbers of wholesale prices
by groups of commodities, for specified years, and by months, from
January, 1931, to date.
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S
[1926=100.0]

Y ear and m onth

1913_________________
1920_________________
1926.................................1927_________________
1928..................... ............
1929__________ ______
1930_________________
1931 - ...........................
1931:
Jan u a ry _________
F eb ru ary .................
M arch
................
A pril____________
M a y ........................
June_____________
J u ly ..........................
A u g u s t.-................
Septem ber_______
October..... .............N ovem ber_____
D ecem ber...............
1932:
J anuary__________
F eb ru ary .................
M arch______ ____
A pril.........................

Hides
etals B uild­ C hem ­ House- Misand
Tex­ Fuel Mand
furFarm
leath
­ tile
and metal
ing
celicals nishprod­ Foods
laneprod­ light­ prod­ m ate­ and
er
ing
ucts
drugs
prod­ ucts
ing
rials
goods ous
ucts
ucts

Ail
com­
modi­
ties

71.5
150. 7
100.0
99.4
105.9
104.9
88.3
64.8

64.2
137.4
100.0
96.7
101.0
99.9
90.5
74.6

68.1
171.3
100.0
107.7
121.4
109.1
100.0
86.1

57.3
164.8
100.0
95.6
95.5
90.4
80.3
66.3

61.3
163.7
100.0
88.3
84.3
83.0
78.5
67.5

90.8
149.4
100.0
96.3
97.0
100.5
92.1
84.5

56.7
150.1
100.0
94.7
94.1
95.4
89.9
79.2

80.2
164.7
100.0
96.8
95.6
94.2
89.1
79.3

56.3
141.8
100.0
97.5
95.1
94.3
92.7
84.9

93.1
167.5
100.0
91.0
85.4
82.6
77.7
69.8

69.8
154. 4
100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0

73.1
70.1
70.6
70.1
67.1
65.4
64.9
63.5
60.5
58.8
58.7
55.7

80.7
78.0
77.6
76.3
73.8
73.3
74.0
74.6
73.7
73.3
71.0
69.1

88.7
86.9
87.6
87.5
87.6
88.0
89.4
88.7
85.0
82.5
81.6
79.8

71.3
70.9
70.0
68.2
67.4
66.6
66.5
65.5
64.5
63.0
62.2
60.8

73.3
72.5
68.3
65.4
65.3
62.9
62.9
66.5
67.4
67.8
69.4
68.3

86.9
86.5
86.4
85.7
85.0
84.4
84.3
83.9
83.9
82.8
82.6
82.2

83.8
82.5
82.5
81.5
80.0
79.3
78.1
77.6
77.0
76.1
76.2
75.7

84.5
83.3
82.9
81.3
80.5
79.4
78.9
76.9
76.3
75.6
76.1
76.1

88.3
88.1
88.0
87.9
86.8
86.4
85.7
84.9
82.7
81.0
80.9
78.5

72.2
71.5
72.0
71. 5
70.5
69.7
69.7
68.3
68.2
66.6
68.7
66.8

78.2
76.8
76.0
74.8
73.2
72.1
72.0
72. 1
71.2
70. 3
70.2
68.6

52.8
50.6
50.2
49. 2

64.7
62.5
62.3
61.0

79.3
78.3
77.3
75.0

59.9
59.8
58.7
57.0

67.9
68.3
67.9
70.2

81.8
80.9
80.8
80.3

74.8
73.4
73.2
72.5

75.7
75.5
75.3
74.4

77.7
77.5
77.1
76.3

65.6
64.7
64.7
64.7

67.3
66.3
66.0
65.5

IN D E X N U M B E R S OF S P E C IF IE D G R O U P S OF C O M M O D IT IE S

Group

R aw m a t e r i a l s ____________________________________________________
Semimanufactured articles
_______________________________________
Finished products__________________________________________________
Nnnftgricultural commodities
__
________________________________
A]1 commo<iit,ios other th an farm products and foods _________________


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April,
1931
68.3
71.5
78.3
75.7
75.9

M arch,
1932
56.1
60.8
71.5
69.3
70.9

1507

April,
1932
55.5
59.6
71. 1
68.9
70.6

1508

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices

A s u m m a r iz a t io n of the weekly index numbers for th e 10 major
groups of commodities as issued during the month of April will be
found in the following statement:
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S F O R T H E W E E K S O F A P R IL , 1932
W eek ending—
G roup
Apr. 2

Apr. 9

A pr. 16

Apr. 23

All commodities_________________________________

65.9

65.7

66.0

65.8

65.5

Farm products__ ...._____ _________________ ____
Foods______________ ________ ___________ _____
Hides and leather p roducts______ _____________ . .
Textile products -______ _ _____
Fuel and lighting
_________________________
M etals a n d m etal products_______________ . . . ___
B uilding m aterials_______
___________________
Chemicals and drugs_____________________________
House-furnishing goods
______
__________
M iscellaneous____ _________ __________________

49.5
61.7
75.8
58.4
69.5
80.8
73.1
74.4
78.3
64. 7

49. 7
61.4
75.6
57.7
69.8
80.2
72.9
74.3
78.2
64.6

50. 1
61.3
75.6
57.2
71.7
80.1
72.4
74.5
78.2
64.8

49. 7
61.0
74.4
56.8
71. 7
80.2
72.2
74.5
78.2
64.8

48.8
61.0
73.9
56.5
72.0
80.2
72.4
74.4
76.3
64. 6

A pr. 30

Wholesale Price Trends During Month
T h e index number of wholesale prices as computed by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor shows
a slight decrease from March, 1932, to April, 1932. This index
number, which includes 784 commodities or price series weighted
according to the importance of each article, and based on the average
prices for the year 1926 as 100.0, stands at 65.5 for April as compared
with 66.0 for March, showing a decrease of approximately threefourths of 1 per cent between the two months. When compared
with April, 1931, with an index number of 74.8, a decrease of about
12% per cent has been recorded.
In the group of farm products, decreases in the average prices of
barley, corn, calves, steers, hogs, live poultry, cotton, lemons, oranges,
peanuts, tobacco, and wool caused the group as a whole to decline
2 per cent from the previous month. Increases in prices during the
month were shown for oats, rye, wheat, cows, lambs, hay, onions,
and sweetpotatoes.
Among foods, price decreases were reported for butter, cheese,
evaporated milk, most meats, lard, bread, canned fruits, and raw
and granulated sugar. _On the other hand, flour, bananas, and coffee
averaged higher than in the month before. The group as a whole
declined 2 per cent in April when compared with March.
The hides and leather products group decreased approximately 3
per cent during the month, with all the subgroups except other
leather products sharing in the decline. The group of textile prod­
ucts as a whole decreased nearly 3 per cent from March to April, due
to marked declines for cotton goods, knit goods, silk and rayon,
woolen and worsted goods, and other textile products. The sub­
group of clothing declined slightly.
In the group of fuel and lighting materials increases in the prices
of fuel oil, gasoline, and crude petroleum more than offset decreases
in the prices of anthracite coal, bituminous coal, coke, electricity,
and gas. Due to the sharp advance in the prices of petroleum prod­
ucts the fuel and lighting group increased nearly 3% per cent over
the March level.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1509

W HOLESALE PR IC ES

Metals and metal products showed a slight downward tendency
for April. Increases in iron and steel were offset by decreases in
motor vehicles and nonferrous metals. Agricultural implements and
plumbing and heating fixtures showed practically no change between
March and April. In the group of building materials, cement showed
no change in average prices. Structural steel moved upward, while
average prices for brick and tile, paint and paint materials, and other
building materials continued their downward movement, forcing the
group as a whole to decline approximately 1 per cent.
Mixed fertilizers showed further recession during April, as did also
chemicals and drugs and pharmaceuticals. Fertilizer materials, on

TREND OF W HOLESALE PRICES.
784

P R IC E

S E R IE S .

90

80

70

60
DEC. JAM. FEB.

MAR. APR. MAY

JUME JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT

NOV.

DEC.

the other hand, increased slightly in the month. The group as a
whole decreased more than 1 per cent from the March level.
Furniture averaged 2 per cent lower in April than in March, while
furnishings showed practically no change. As a whole the housefurnishing goods group declined about 1 per cent from the month
before.
The general average of the miscellaneous commodity group for
April remained at the March level. Increases in the prices of cattle
feed, paper and pulp, and other miscellaneous items counterbalanced
the further price recessions in crude rubber. Automobile tires and
tubes showed no change between the two months.
120148°—32-----17

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1510

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The average for the group of all commodities other than farm prod­
ucts and foods remained unchanged for the two months. The April
average for all of the other special groups showed decreases from the
previous month, ranging from one-half of 1 per cent for finished prod­
ucts to 2 per cent for semimanufactured articles.
Between March and April, price decreases took place in 271 in­
stances and increases in 79 instances, while in 434 instances no change
in price occurred.
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y G R O U P S A N D S U B G R O U P S O F C O M ­
M O D IT IE S
[1926=100.0]

Com m odity groups and subgroups

All commodities.
F arm products___________________________
G rains_______________________________
Livestock a n d p o u ltry _________________
O ther farm p ro d u cts__________________
Foods___________________________________
B u tter, cheese, a n d m ilk _______________
Cereal p roducts_______________________
F ru its and vegetables_________________
M eats____________________ ___________
O ther foods___________________________
H ides and leather p roducts_____ __________
Boots a n d shoes_______________________
Hides and sk in s_______________________
L eath er________________________ ______
O ther leath er p ro d u cts________________
Textile products____ _____________________
C lothing____________ _________________
C otton goods_________________________
K n it goods___________________________
Silk and ra y o n _____________ __________
Woolen a n d worsted goods_____________
O ther textile p roducts_________________
Fuel and lighting m aterials________________
A n thracite coal_______________________
B itum inous coal______________________
Coke_________________________________
E lectricity___________________________
G as__________________________________
Petroleum p ro d u cts_______ ___________
M etals and m etal products________________
A gricultural im plem ents______________ _
Iron and steel_________________________
M otor vehicles_______________________ „
N onferrous m etals_____________________
P lum bing and heatin g____ ____________
B uilding m aterials________________________
B rick and tile _________________________
C em ent______________________________
L um ber______________________________
P a in t m aterials. . . __________ - _________
P lum bing and heatin g_________________
S tru ctu ral steel_______________________
O ther building m aterials_______________
Chemicals and drugs______________________
Chemicals____________________________
D rugs and pharm aceuticals____________
Fertilizer m aterials____________________
M ixed fertilizers______________________
House-furnishing goods___________________
Furnishings__________________________
F u rn itu re ____________________________
M iscellaneous____________________________
Autom obile tires an d tu b es_____________
C attle feed____________________________
P ap er a n d p u lp _________ ____ _________
R ubber, c ru d e ,_____ __________________
O ther miscellaneous___________________
R aw m aterials____________________________
Sem im anufactured articles_________________
Finished products____ ____________________
N onagricultural com m odities______________
All commodities less farm products and foods.
1 D ata no t y et available.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

April, 1931 M arch, 1932 April, 1932
74. 8
70. 1
59.5
70.3
73.4
76.3
80.6
74.3
76. 2
79.9
69. 9
87. 5
94.8
62.0
88.4
101.6
68.2
76.9
71.4
60.7
43.4
69.0
76.2
65.4
86.4
84.4
83.7
93.7
96.1
37.4
85.7
94.3
84. 1
94.5
67.5
86.6
81.5
83.9
81. 0
73.4
81. 2
86. 6
84.3
86.9
81.3
85. 1
63.4
80.6
83. 5
87.9
84. 2
91.9
71. 5
46.9
81. 2
82.1
13.3
89.3
68.3
71. 5
78.3
75.7
75.9

66.0
50. 2
43. 5
51.4
52. 1
62.3
64.2
68.3
62.3
61.4
57. 1
77.3
88.5
44. 7
73.4
98.8
58.7
69.0
56. 2
54.9
33.5
62.7
69.5
67.9
89.9
83.5
80.4
104.4
97.5
39.8
80.8
85.0
79.7
95.3
50.5
64.4
73. 2
79.3
75. 0
61. 5
75.4
64.4
79.7
80.6
75.3
80.9
59.7
68.6
73. 2
77. 1
75.4
79.1
64.7
39. 2
52.4
76.8
7. 2
84.5
56. 1
60.8
71.5
69.3
70.9

0)
0)

Purchasing
power of
the dollar
A pril, 1932

65.5
49.2
44.5
49.2
51.2
61.0
61.6
68.2
62.3
59.8
55.8
75.0
88.4
40.8
67. 2
98.0
57.0
68.7
55.1
51.9
31.3
59.7
68. 2
70.2
85.7
82.7
79.8

$1. 527
2.033
2. 247
2.033
1. 953
1. 639
1.623
1.466
1. 605
1. 672
1. 792
1. 333
1. 131
2.451
1.488
1. 020
1. 754
1.456
1. 815
1.927
3.195
1.675
1.466
1.425
1. 167
1.209
1.253

45.5
80.3
85.0
80.1
93.8
49.3
64.4
72.5
78.4
75. 0
60. 0
74. 7
64.4
81.7
80.2
74.4
79. 7
58.9
70. 1
71.1
76.3
75.4
77.4
64. 7
39. 2
53.4
76.8
6.6
84. 5
55. 5
59.6
71.1
68.9
70.9

2.198
1. 245
1. 176
1.248
1. 066
2.028
1.553
1.379
1. 276
1.333
1.667
1.339
1.553
1.224
1. 247
1.344
1. 255
1. 698
1.427
1.406
1.311
1. 326
1.292
1. 546
2. 551
1.873
1.302
15.152
1. 183
1. 802
1.678
1.406
1.451
1.410

1511

WHOLESALE PRICES

W h olesale P rices in th e U n ited S ta te s and in F oreign C ou n tries

N THE following table the index numbers of wholesale prices
in certain foreign countries and those of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the United States Department of Labor have been brought
together in order that the trend of prices in the several countries may­
be compared. The base periods here shown are those appearing in
the sources from which the information has been drawn, in certain
cases being the year 1913 or some other pre-war period. Only
general comparisons can be made from these figures, since, in addition
to differences in the base periods, there are important differences in
the composition of the index numbers themselves. Indexes are shown
for the vears 1926 to 1931, inclusive, and by months since January,
1931.

I

IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S

C anada

A ustria

Czecho­ D en­
Belgium slovakia
m ark

Bureau D om in­
ion B u­
of
C om puting
Labor reau of
agency----- Statis­
Statis­
tics
tics

Federal
Statis­
tical
Bureau

M inis­
try of
In d u s­
try and
Labor

nited
C o u n try ___ UStates

.Tanuary- April,
June, 1914 1914
(100)
(100)

C entral
Bureau
of
Statis­
tics

Finland France

July,
1914
(100)

1913
(100)

1926
(100)

1913
(100)

1913
(100)

1913
(100)

69

118

139

126

400

140

134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
124.6

602.0
495.3
461.6
445.3
383.0

541
538
539
540
520
518
500
488
473
457
447
442

115.2
114.0
113.9
113. 7
113.3
112.3
111.7
108. 6
107.1
106.6
103.7

341.7
338.1
339.3
337.0
331.7
326.5
324.3
321.6
319. 1
322.2
320.4
318.9

439
446

100.0
99.8
99.8

316.6
314.4
315.0

1926
(100)

1926
(100)

Commodi­
ties______

784

502

100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0

100.0
97.6
96.4
95.6
86.6
72.2

123
133
130
130
117
109

744
847
843
851
744
626

955
979
979
923
1118.5
i 107. 5

163
153
153
150
130
114

100
101
102
98
90
84

695
642
645
627
554

78.2
76.8
76.0
74.8
73.2
72. 1
72.0
72.1
71.2
70.3
70.2
68.6

76.7
76.0
75.1
74.5
73.0
72.2
71.7
70.9
70.0
70.4
70.6
70.3

105
107
107
108
107
110
114

i 110.1
i 108.9
i 108. 8
i 110. 5
i 110.3
i 108. 7
i 112.1
i 107.8
1 105. 2
i 104. 6
i 104. 3
i 103. 8

118
117
116
115
113
110

108
109
112
112

661
658
660
652
640
642
635
616
597
591
584
573

109
109
113
117
119

86
86
86
85
84
83
82
81
79
82
87
92

67.3
66.3
66.0

69.4
69.2
69.1

114
112
113

557
554
548

i 102. 3
i 101.4
i 101.4

118
119
117

94
93
92

1926_______
1927_______
1928_______
1929_______
1930_______
1931_______

126

Italy

Statis­ Central
Federal
tical
B ureau General
S tatis­ Statis­ Ricof
D e­
cardo
tical
tical
Statis­ Bureau
p a rt­
Bureau Bachi
tics
m ent

Base period-

47

Ger­
m any

no. 9

1931
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry .
M arch _____
A pril______
M a y . _____
J u n e _______
Ju ly _______
A u g u st...
S ep tem b er..
O ctober____
N o v e m b er..
D ecem b er...

no

no

no. 2

1932
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry ._.
M arch ____
1 In gold.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1512

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

I N D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued

C o u n try ___

N e th ­ N or­
Spain
er­
lands w ay 2

Cen­
tral
C om puting
B u­
agency----- reau of
S ta tis ­
tics

Swe­
den

Sw it­ U nited
King­
zer­
land
dom

Aus­
tralia

N ew South
Japan C hina India
Zea­
land 2 Africa

N a­
Cen­
Office
B u reau
tional
in is­ C ham ­ F e d e r­
tral M
of
Census
B
ank
Tariff
try
of
al
of
Cen­
and
Cen­
B u­
ber Labor Board
of
Com ­
sus
reau Labor
of
of
tis ­ sus
Japan m is­
and Com­
and S ta
D e­ T rade
and Tokyo
of
tics
p a rt­
sion,
Statis­ Office Statis­
S ta tis ­ Previ­
merce
sion
m ent
tics
Shang­
tics
tics
hai

D e­
p a rt­
m ent,
etc.,3
C al­
cutta

Octo­
ber,
1900
(100)

1926
(100)

July,
1914
GOO)

188

56

155

72

1620
1541
1555
1552
1511
1394

1387
1395
1354
1305
1155
1119

237
225
226
220
181
153

100. 0
104. 4
101. 7
104.5
114.8
126.4

148
148
145
141
116
96

1454
1448
1456
1447
1440
1425
1428
1399
1391
1402
1428
1425

1475
1441
1432
1416
1399
1392
1377
1381
1381
1385
1394
1392

1148

159
158
158
158
154
151
153
152
150
147
147
151

119.7
127.4
126.1
126.2
127. 5
129. 2
127.4
130. 3
129.2
126.9
124.8
121.8

98
99
100
98
97
93
93
92
91
96
97
98

1414

1393

1083

159
161
158

119.9

97
97
94

Base period.

1913
(100)

1913
(100)

1913
(100)

1913
(100)

Ju ly ,
1914
(100)

1924
(100)

C o m m o d i­
ties..........

48

95

74

160

121

150

92

180

1926...... .........
1927...... .........
1928...... .........
1929_______
1 9 3 0 ............
1931...............

145
148
149
142
117
97

157
148
137
122

181
172
167
171
172
174

149
146
148
140
122
111

145
142
145
141
126
110

89.1
85.2
84.4
82.1
71.9
62. 6

1832
1817
1792
1803
1596
1429

105
104
103
102
102
100
97
94
91
89
89
85

128
126
124
123
121
120
120
120
117
119
119
122

173
175
174
172
169
169
175
177
178
175
176
177

115
114
113
112
111
110
110
109
107
108
110
111

115
115
114
112
111
110
109
108
106
106
106
103

64.3
63.9
63. 7
63.6
62. 8
62.1
61.5
59. 9
59.7
62.8
64.0
63. 7

84
83
82

123
123
122

176
178

109
110
109

101
100
99

63.7
63.4
63.0

1911 1909-13 1910
(1,000) (1,000) (1,000)

1931
Jan u a ry ____
F eb ru ary __
M arch _____
A p ril............
M a y ...........
J u n e _______
J u ly ............
A ugust____
S ep tem b er..
October........
N o v e m b er..
D ecem ber...

1115
1104
1109

1932
Jan u a ry ____
F eb ru ary __
M arch _____

s Revised figures.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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

D ep artm en t of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics.

IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
S ta tis tic s of Im m ig r a tio n for M arch, 1932
By J. J . K u n n a , C h ie f S t a t is t ic ia n , U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u

of

I m m ig r a t io n

MMIGRATION during March continued at a low level, with 2,103
immigrant aliens admitted, as against an average of 3,242 for the
preceding eight months of the current fiscal year, and 3,577 for the
corresponding month a year ago. The number for March, 1932, was
74 per cent below the monthly average of 8,095 for the last fiscal
year, and 90 per cent below the 20,142 monthly admissions during
1930, the last full year of normal immigration.
Since 1930 German immigrants have dropped off 92 per cent,
Irish 98 per cent, Hebrew 80 per cent, Italian 68 per cent, and Mexican
87 per cent.
During March, 1,408 Europeans came to this country for intended
future permanent residence. Italy led the list with 604, about 70
per cent of whom were admitted as wives and unmarried children
of American citizens. Germany contributed 145, Poland 137, and
Great Britain 86. Other European countries sent less than 50 each.
There were 309 immigrants from Canada, 147 from Mexico, 96 from
Asia, and 143' from other countries.
In the same month, 6,239 resident aliens of the United States
left for intended future permanent residence in a foreign country,
2,932 going to Europe, 360 to Asia, 2,399 to Mexico, and 548 to
Canada and other countries.
For the first time in the history of the immigration service, deporta­
tions during a single month outnumbered the immigrants admitted.
A record number of 2,112 aliens were deported from the United
States during March, 1932, which is more than twice the number
for the same month in 1928 and larger than the total for the entire
fiscal year 1918. Of the March, 1932, deportees, 697 were sent to
Mexico, 613 to Asia (mostly Chinese to China), 545 to Europe, 183
to Canada, and 74 to other countries. The principal causes for their
deportation were: Entered without proper visa (974), remained
longer than permitted (361), criminal and immoral classes (259),
and mentally or physically defective (149). Less than 8 per cent
of these deportees were females and about three-fifths of the total
were Mexicans and Chinese.
Indigent aliens returned to their native land at their own request
numbered 299 during March, 1932, the bulk of whom were bound for
European countries, principally Scotland, England, Germany, Italy,
and Sweden.
During the month of March, 1932, a total of 11,351 aliens of all
classes were admitted to the United^ States. Of the total, including
2,103 immigrants and 9,248 nonimmigrants, 4,168 came in under the
1513

I


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1514

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

immigration act of 1924 as returning residents, 2,705 were persons
passing through the country on their way elsewhere, 2,175 entered
as temporary visitors for business or pleasure, 833 as quota immi­
grants, 717 as husbands, wives, and unmarried children of American
citizens, and 391 as natives of nonquota countries, principally Canada
and Mexico. The remaining 362 aliens entered as Government
officials, ministers, professors, and other miscellaneous classes.
Seven thousand seven hundred and forty-nine gave European countries
as their place of birth, principally Great Britain, Italy, Germany,
Scandinavia, France, and Poland, in the order given; 1,539 were
born in Canada, 375 in Mexico, 684 in Asia, 549 in the West Indies,
93 in Central America, 172 in South America, and 190 in other
countries.
IN W A R D A N D O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T , JU L Y 1, 1931, TO M A R C H 31, 1932
Inw ard

Period

O utw ard

Aliens
Aliens
de­
de­
Aliens adm itted
Aliens departed
ported
barred
U nited
U nited
after
from
States
States
citizens T otal enter­
N on­
citizens T o tal enter­
ing 2
ing i E m i­ N on­
Im m i­ im
de­
m
i­
arrived
em
i­
T
otal
T
otal
grant grant
grant grant
parted

1931
J u ly ________
A u g u st.. . . .
S ep tem b er..
O ctober____
N ovem ber__
December___

3,174
4, 090
5, 017
3,913
2,899
2,642

12, 361
16, 580
20, 940
17, 096
9, 832
8,086

15, 535
20, 670
25, 957
21, 009
12, 731
10,728

30, 944
59, 372
62, 581
32, 427
16, 823
16, 932

46,479
80, 042
88, 538
53, 436
29, 554
27, 660

761 7, 428
657 9, 541
684 8, 733
806 10, 857
573 11,318
485 10, 727

20, 450
23, 009
20, 393
16, 525
14,271
17, 370

27, 878
32, 550
29, 126
27, 382
25, 589
28,097

46,961
65,895
42, 247
35, 016
23, 224
24, 351

74, 839
98, 445
71, 373
62, 398
48,813
52,448

1, 681
1,584
1, 446
1, 663
1, 524
1,336

25, 016 48, 259
22,920 38, 799
24, 718 41,054

1, 537
1, 505
2, 112

1932
Jan u ary . _ _
F e b ru a ry ...
M a r c h . . ___

2,220
1, 984
2, 103

7,242 9, 462
7, 346 9, 330
9,248 11, 351

17,158 26, 620
19,829 29,159
22,012 33, 363

T o tal. _ 28,042 108, 731 136, 773 278, 078 414, 851

577
392
445

8, 550 14, 693 23, 243
6, 188 9,691 15, 879
6,239 10, 097 16, 336

5,380 79, 581 146, 499 226, 080 310, 348 536,428 14, 388

1 These aliens are not included among arrivals, as th e y were not perm itted to enter th e U nited States.
2 These aliens are included among aliens departed, th e y having entered the U nited States, legally or
illegally, and later being deported.


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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
O fficial—U n ited S ta te s
M in n e s o t a .— C om pensation In su ran ce B oard.

;period, ending December 31, 1930.

Fourth biennial bulletin, covering
St. Paul, 1931. 24 pp., charts.

A discussion of th e supervision of com pensation insurance p rem iu m ra te
changes in M innesota. T ables show th e experience of insurance com panies
o p eratin g in th e S tate, com parison of com pensation benefits in various S tates,
a n d o th e r d a ta »relating to ra te m aking.
N e w J e r s e y .— Com m ission to In v e stig a te th e E m p lo y m en t of M ig rato ry Chil­

dren. Supplement to the report of the commission. Trenton, 1932. 64 pp.
R eview ed briefly in th is issue of th e L ab o r Review.
N ew Y o r k .— C om ptroller. Eleventh report on the operation of the State Employees’

Retirement System, together with the report of the actuary on the eleventh valua­
tion of its assets and liabilities, as of June 30, 1931. New York, 1932. 50 pp.
Legislative Document (1932), No. 12.
------ D e p a rtm e n t of L abor. Special Bulletin No. 173: Unemployment in Syra­
cuse, November, 1931. Issued by Division of Statistics and Information.
New York, 1932. 45 VV-, charts.
A digest of th e d a ta o b tain ed in th is survey was published in th e L ab o r Review
for April, 1932.
O h io .— C om m ission on U n em ploym ent Insurance. Questions to consider with

respect to an unemployment insurance law suitable to conditions in the State of
Ohio. Columbus, 1932. 11 pp.

Q uestions are raised as to th e pro p er scope of u n em p lo y m en t insurance, th e
a m o u n t of prem ium s a n d con trib u tio n s, benefits to be p aid, insurance carrier,
a n d ad m in istratio n .
O r l e a n s P a r is h (L o u is ia n a ). — F actories Inspection D e p a rtm e n t. Twenty-

fourth report, year ending December 31, 1931.

New Orleans, 1932.

8 pp.

D a ta on accidents, ta k e n from th e rep o rt, are given in th is issue of th e L a b o r
Review.
on H o m e B u il d in g and H om e O w n e r s h ip .—Plan­
ning for residential districts. Reports of the committees on city planning and
zoning, subdivision, layout, utilities for houses, and landscape planning and
planting. Washington, Commerce Building, 1932. 227 pp., plans, illus.
P r e s id e n t ’s O r g a n iz a t io n o n U n e m p l o y m e n t R e l i e f .— Spreading work—
methods and plans in use, by William J. Barrett. Washington, Department of
Commerce, 1932. 27 pp.

P r e s id e n t ’s C o n f e r e n c e

V ir g in ia .— League of V irginia M unicipalities a n d S ta te D e p a rtm e n t of P ublic

W elfare. Plans of unemployment relief in Virginia cities and towns.
mond, 1932. 20 pp.

Rich­

T his p am p h le t contain s sta tistic s as to u n em p lo y m en t in V irginia, o utlines
various relief plan s being carried th ro u g h , a n d shows copies of a p p licatio n b lan k s
a n d d ie t lists t h a t are used in th e a d m in istra tio n of relief.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1515

1516

MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW

W h it e H o u s e C o n f e r e n c e

on

C h il d H e a l t h

and

P r o t e c t io n .— C om m ittee

Report of the subcommittee on
592 pp.

on V ocational G uidance a n d C hild L abor.

child labor.

New York, Century Co., 1932.

Review ed in th is issue.

________ Report of the subcommittee on vocational guidance.
Co., 1932. 396 pp., illus.

New York, Century

T he recom m endations of th e vocational guidance com m ittee were published
in th e Ja n u a ry , 1932, issue of th e L ab o r R eview (pp. 80-89).
B ureau of M ines. List of publi­
cations, Bureau of Mines, complete from establishment of bureau, 1910 to
June 30, 1931, with an index by subjects and authors. Washington, 1932.
241 PP--------------------Technical Paper 507: Explosions in Washington coal mines, by
S. H. Ash. Washington, 1931. 52 pp., charts.
U n it e d S t a t e s .— D e p a rtm e n t of Com m erce.

C ontains d a ta on conditions bearing directly on th e p rev en tio n of explosions,
an d discussion of m ining conditions a n d p ractices re la tin g to v en tilatio n , gas, an d
d u st a t th e coal m ines in th e S ta te of W ashington, w here th e n u m b er of explosions
has been fa r higher th a n th e av erage fo r th e country.

_____________Technical Paper 508: Coke-oven accidents in the United States
during the calendar year 1930, by W. W. Adams and L. Chenoweth. Wash­
ington, 1931. 33 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
____ D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.

B ureau of L abor S tatistics. Bulletin No. 560:
Wages and hours of labor in the lumber industry in the United States, 1930.
Washington, 1932. 86 pp.

An ad vance su m m ary of th e d a ta o b tain ed in th is survey was published in th e
L abor R eview for April, 1931 (pp. 177-182).

_____________Bulletin No. 561: Public old-age pensions and insurance in the
United States and in foreign countries. Washington, 1932. 367 pp.
P a rt 1 review s th e h isto ry of old-age pension legislation in th e U n ited S tates,
analyzes th e various S ta te law s (giving also th e ir te x t) , a n d gives d a ta as to th e
a c tu a l o p eratio n of th ese law s u p to th e en d of 1930. (D a ta as to th e 1931 o p era­
tio n , supplem entin g th is re p o rt, a re given in th is issue of th e L ab o r Review .)
P a rt 2 gives a d escription a n d th e la te s t av ailab le figures of o p eratio n of th e
old-age pension sy stem s in each of 39 foreign countries.

______________ Bulletin No. 564: Proceedings of the eighteenth annual meeting of
the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions,
held at Richmond, Va., October 5-8, 1931. Washington, 1932. 309 pp.
A sh o rt acco u n t of th e proceedings a t th is m eetin g w as p u blished in th e L ab o r
Review fo r N ovem ber, 1931 (pp. 93-96).
_________ C h ild ren ’s B ureau. Family welfare: Summary of expenditures for relief,

general family welfare and relief, mothers’ aid, veterans’ aid, by Glenn Steele.
Washington, 1932. 62 pp., charts. (Separate from Publication No. 209,
Social statistics in child welfare and related fields— annual report for the regis­
tration area for the year 1930.)
_________ W om en’s B ureau. Bulletin No. 88: The employment of women in
slaughtering and meat packing, by Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon. Washington,
1932. 208 pp., charts, illus.
In a d d itio n to th e em p lo y m en t d a ta , in fo rm atio n is given on earnings, w orking
hours, a n d econom ic s ta tu s of th e fam ilies of th e w orkers stu d ied . T h e survey
covered over 6,000 w om en in 34 p lan ts.
------ D e p a rtm e n t of th e In te rio r. Office of E d u catio n . Pamphlet No. U , No­

vember, 1931: Salaries in land-grant universities and colleges, by John H.
McNeeley. Washington, 1932. 27 pp.

T he salaries rep o rte d u p o n are for th e academ ic y ear 1927-28 a n d for teac h ers
in selected fields of stu d y .

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1517

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
U n it e d S t a t e s .

Federal F a rm B oard.

June SO, 1981.
1st sess.)

Washington, 1931.

Second annual report, for the year ending
95 pp. (H . Doc. No. 124, 72d Cong.,

R ep o rt show s t h a t up to Ju n e 30, 1931, th e b o ard m ad e loans from th e revolving
fu n d to 150 co operativ e associations w ith w hich w ere affiliated ap p ro x im ately
3,375 regional o r local associations h av in g 1,100,000 farm e r m em bers.
------ F ederal

T rad e

Com m ission.

Washington, 1932.
-------In te rs ta te

199 pp.

C om m erce

Chain stores: Cooperative grocery chains.
(S. Doc. No. 12, 72d Cong., 1st sess.)

Com m ission.

B ureau

of S tatistics.

F o r ty -fo u r th

annual report on the statistics of railways in the United States, for the year
ended December 31, 1930, including also selected data relating to other common
carriers subject to the interstate commerce act for the year 1930. Washington,
1982. 152; 276 pp.

O fficial— Foreign C ou n tries
Fourteenth annual re­
Edmonton, 1932. 45 PP•

A l b e r t a (C a n a d a ). — W orkm en’s C om pensation B oard.

port, for the year ended December 31, 1931.
R eview ed in th is issue.

A u s t r a l ia .— B ureau of C ensus a n d S tatistics.

Canberra, 1931.

Labor report, 1980 (No. 21).

180 pp.

Includes d a ta on w holesale a n d re ta il prices, ren ts, wages, em ploym ent, acci­
d en ts, a n d w orkers’ a n d em ployers’ organizations.

-------------Production (Bulletin No. 24): Summary of Australian production statis­
tics for the years 1919—20 to 1929—30. Canberra, [1931?]. 112 pp.
C ontains sta tistic s on em p lo y m en t in m ines, factories, a n d slau g h terin g e sta b ­
lishm ents, w ages in factories, a n d accidents in mines.
A u s t r ia .— B u n d esam t f ü r S ta tistik . Gewerbliche Betriebszählung in der Republic

Österreich vom 14. Juni 1930. Ergebnisse für Wien.

Vienna, 1932.

56 pp.

A n in d u stria l census w as ta k e n in A ustria as of Ju n e 14, 1930. T he p u b licatio n
n o ted above contains sta tistic a l d a ta o b tain ed in th is census fo r th e city of V ienna
an d includes inform atio n on em plo y m en t of wage earners a n d salaried em ployees
by in d u stries an d occupations, aside from ag ric u ltu ra l p u rsu its, w hich are covered
in sep arate rep o rts. S im ilar re p o rts will be published fo r th e o th e r d istric ts of
A ustria.

-------------Landwirtschaftliche Betriebszählung in der Republic Österreich vom 14.
Juni 1930. Ergebnisse fü r Niederösterreich. Vienna, 1932. 55 pp.
Includes sta tistic a l d a ta on em plo y m en t of w orkers in a g ricu ltu re in Lower
A ustria, collected in th e in d u stria l census of A u stria on Ju n e 14, 1930. Sim ilar
rep o rts will be published fo r th e o th e r d istric ts of A ustria.
G énérale de la S ta tistiq u e .
Annuaire statistique du
Royaume de Bulgarie, 1931. Sofia, 1931. 650 pp. (In Bulgarian and French.)

B u l g a r ia .— D irection

C ontains th e resu lts of a n in d u stria l census m ad e a t th e en d of 1926, show ing
n u m b er of em ployees, wages, strikes, in d u stria l accidents, e tc .; a n d d a ta on
prices, cost of living, fam ily b udgets, o p eratio n s of C e n tra l C o o p erativ e B ank
of B ulgaria an d o th er co operative societies, re tire m e n t funds, a n d w orkm en’s
com pensation.
C z e c h o s l o v a k ia .— In s titu t Social. Publication No. 55: Les assurances sociales

en Tchécoslovaquie.

Prague, 1931.

187 pp.

P resen ts a n u m b er of articles by different a u th o rs on various phases of social
in su ran ce in C zechoslovakia, including old age a n d in v alid ity in surance, insurance
a g a in st accidents a n d sickness, p ublic insurance for salaried em ployees, financial
difficulties of public insurance, a n d m easures for p rev en tio n of accid en ts a n d
sickness.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1518

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

F in l a n d .— [Sosialim inisterio. Sosialinen T u tk im u s- ja T ilasto to im isto .] T a p a tu r m a tila s to a : T y o s s a sa ttu n e e t i a p a lu r m a t v u o s in a 1 9 2 6 j a 1 9 2 7 , u u s i s a r ja 1.
H e ls in g fo r s , 1 9 3 2 . 8 5 p p .
(S u o m e n V ir a ll i n e n T ila s to X X V I , A .)

S tatistics of in d u stria l accid en ts in F in la n d in 1926 a n d 1927.
includes a ta b le of c o n te n ts in F rench.

T h e re p o rt

■—— T ilastollisessa P aato im isto ssa.

H e ls in g fo r s ,

1932.

135 p p .

T e o llis u u s tila s to a v u o n n a 1 9 3 0 .
(S u o m e n V ir a ll i n e n T ila s to X V I I I , A 4 7 .)

C ontains in d u stria l sta tistic s of F in la n d fo r th e y e a r 1930, including n u m b er of
w orkers, v alu e of p ro d u c t, in d u stria l disputes, etc. T h e re p o rt includes ta b le of
contents, ta b le heads, a n d resu m e in F ren ch .
G r e a t B r i t a i n .— -Home Office. S a f e t y P a m p h le t N o . 14• S a f e t y o r g a n iz a tio n i n
fa c to r ie s . L o n d o n , 1 9 3 1 . 1 3 p p .

In fo rm atio n rela tin g to th e essen tial featu res of a safety organization, th e e sta b ­
lishm ent a n d d uties of sa fe ty com m ittees, d u ties of th e safety m an , safety ed u ca­
tio n for th e w orkers, ac c id e n t records, a n d p ersonal or im personal fa cto rs in th e
prevention of accidents.
------ M in istry of L abor.

S u p p l e m e n t to th e a n a ly tic a l g u id e to d e c isio n s given
by th e u m p i r e re sp e c tin g c la im s f o r [u n e m p lo y m e n t ] b en efit: C h a p te r X I ,
D e p e n d a n ts ’ b e n efit; C h a p te r X I I , T r a n s itio n a l c o n d itio n s . L o n d o n , 193 2 .
67 p p .
(S u p p l e m e n t N o . 1 to U . I . C ode 7.)

T his su p p lem en t cancels a n d replaces C h a p te rs X I a n d X I I of th e original
p rin ts of U nem plo y m en t In su ran ce C ode 7.
------ R oyal C om m ission on L ab o r in India.
1931.

E vid en c e .

11 v o lu m es.

London,

[ V a r io u s p a g in g .]

T hese volum es include d a ta on wages a n d h o u rs of labor, housing, h e a lth a n d
sa n ita ry conditions, in d u stria l accid en ts a n d th e ir p rev en tio n , lab o r legislation,
in d u strial disputes, efficiency of w orkers, etc.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O f f i c e .— I n te r n a tio n a l L a b o r C on feren ce, six te e n th
se ss io n , G eneva, 1 9 3 2 . R e p o r t o f th e d irecto r [of the I n te r n a tio n a l L a b o r
Office to th e C onference].
G eneva, 19 3 2 . 111 p p .
{ W o r ld P ea c e F o u n d a tio n ,
A m e r ic a n a g en t.)
G eneva, 1 9 3 2 .

402 p p .

S c o t ia ( C a n a d a ) . — D e p a rtm e n t of P ublic W orks a n d Mines.
re p o rt o n m in e s , 1 9 3 1 . H a lifa x , 1 9 3 2 . 2 9 6 p p ., d ia g r a m s , illu s .

Annual

------ ------- - S u m m a r y o f a n n u a l re p o rts u n d e r a rticle 4 0 8 .
( W o r ld P ea c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r ic a n ag en t.)
N

ova

In th e fiscal y ea r u n d e r review , 4,745,005 to n s of coal were p roduced from th e
m ines of N ova Scotia— a decrease of 1,009,497 as com pared w ith 1930.
------ W o rk m en ’s C om pensation B oard.
R eview ed in th is issue.

R e p o r t f o r 19 3 1 .

H a lifa x , 1932.

32 pp.

S o u t h A u s t r a l ia (A u s t r a l ia ) . — F actories a n d S team Boilers D ep a rtm e n t.
A n n u a l re p o rt, f o r th e y e a r e n d in g D ecem ber 3 1 , 193 0 . A d e la id e , 19 3 1 .
20 pp.

T he re p o rt show s n u m b er of w orkers em ployed, by sex a n d age; av erage w eekly
w ages; w orking ho u rs p e r week fixed by in d u stria l bo ard s; a n d accidents, in
various industries.
S o v ie t U n io n (U . S. S. R .).— C e n tra l Office of A ccountancy. P e o p le ’s e c o n o m y
o f U . S . S . R .: S ta tis tic a l h a n d b o o k f o r 19 3 2 .
M o sc o w , 19 3 2 . x lv iii, 6 7 0 p p .
( I n R u s s ia n .)

Gives sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n in reg ard to th e econom ic ac tiv itie s a n d develop­
m ents in Soviet R ussia, including d a ta on w orkers, wages, hours of labor, social
insurance, etc., up to a n d including 1930.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

P U B L IC A T IO N S

R E L A T IN G

1519

TO LA BO R

S t o c k h o l m (S w e d e n ) . — S ta tistisk a K o n to r. S t a ti s t i s k â rsb o k f o r S to c k h o lm s
s ta d , 1 9 3 1 . S to c k h o lm , 193 1 . 2 9 0 p p ., m a p s , ch a rts. ( I n S w e d is h a n d
F r e n c h .)

C ontains d a ta on housing a n d housing conditions (including dw ellings con­
stru c te d by cooperative housing societies), re ta il prices, cost of living a n d fam ily
budgets, m u tu al aid societies, cooperative societies, a n d wages in various in d u stries
a n d professions.
T u r k e y .— Is ta tis tik U m um M üdürlügû. I s t a t is ti k y i l l i g i , 1 9 3 0 - 3 1 . A n k a r a ,
1931.

f 3 3 p p ., c h a rts.

( I n T u r k i s h a n d F re n c h .)

T his T u rk ish sta tistic a l y earbook fo r 1930 a n d 1931 includes re p o rts covering
th e educational system of th e co u n try , hygiene, social assistance, n u m b er of
in d u strial estab lish m en ts a n d n u m b er of w orkers, a n d cost-of-living figures.

U nofficial
B u i l d i n g T r a d e s E m p l o y e r s ’ A s s o c ia t io n o f t h e C it y o f N e w Y o r k . Com ­
m ittee on A ccident P revention. B u lle tin N o . 13: I n d u s t r i a l a c cid en t ja c ts ,
1 9 3 2 e d itio n . N e w Y o r k , 2 P a r k A v e n u e , 1 9 3 2 . 12 p p .

R eview ed in th is issue.
B urgy, J. H erbert.
tr ia l g e o g ra p h y.
ch a rts, illu s .

T h e N e w E n g la n d cotton textile i n d u s tr y : A s tu d y i n i n d u s ­
B a ltim o r e , W a v e rly P re ss ( I n c .) , 19 3 2 . 24-0 pp-> m a p s ,

T races th e grow th of th e co tto n -tex tile in d u stry in New E ngland, show ing th e
influence of geographic fa cto rs on th e d ev elopm ent of th e in d u stry , te m p e ra tu re
a n d h u m id ity readings a n d av erag e m o n th ly rain fall in various localities o ver
varying periods, consum ption of raw m aterials a n d of pow er, n u m b er of w orkers,
wages a n d hours of labor, housing of w orkers, source of labor, etc.
B u r n s , R o b e r t E. I a m a fu g itiv e f r o m a G eorgia c h a in ga n g !
V a n g u a rd P ress, 1932. 257 pp.

N ew

Y ork,

C a r s o n , W il l ia m J . S a v in g s a n d e m p lo ye e sa v in g s p la n s i n P h ila d e lp h ia .
P h ila d e lp h ia , U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n s y lv a n ia P re ss, 1 9 3 2 . 1 1 2 PP-i c h a rts.
(R esea rc h S t u d ie s X V I I , I n d u s t r i a l R esea rch D e p a r tm e n t, W h a r to n S c h o o l o f
F in a n c e a n d C o m m erce.)

T his stu d y of savings a n d th r ift p lan s am ong wage earn ers in P h ilad elp h ia
deals w ith th e a m o u n t a n d g row th of savings in re c e n t years, th e ty p e s of p lan s
followed, a n d th e channels th ro u g h w hich th e savings h av e been accu m u lated .
T h e d etails of a large n u m b er of com pany p lan s are given a n d th e seasonal a n d
cyclical v ariatio n s in receipts a n d p ay m e n ts of m u tu a l savings societies are
analyzed.
C o h e n , P e r c y . T h e B r itis h s y ste m o f so cia l in s u r a n c e .
1932. 278 p p .

L o n d o n , P h i l i p A ll a n ,

T his acco u n t of th e B ritish social-insurance sy stem covers h e a lth in su ran ce,
w idow s’, o rp h an s’, a n d old-age c o n trib u to ry pensions, n o n c o n trib u to ry old-age
pensions, w orkm en’s com pensation, in d u stria l insurance, a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t
insurance. T h e princip al provisions of each ty p e of in su ran ce are given, in cluding
th e coverage a n d th e rig h ts a n d obligations of th e insured, as well as th e h isto ry
of th e developm ent of th e different system s.
C o m it é C e n t r a l d e s H o u i l l è r e s d e F r a n c e . R a p p o r t p ré se n té a l a ssem blée
gén éra le o r d in a ir e d u 18 M a r s 1 9 3 2 . P a r is , 1 9 3 2 . 19 p p .

T he an n u a l re p o rt of th e C e n tra l C o m m ittee of C oal O p erato rs in F ra n c e for
th e y ear 1931. I t contain s sta tistic s of pro d u ctio n , wages, a n d th e av erag e o u tp u t
of w orkers in th e different coal-m ining sections.
C o m m it t e e o n t h e C o s t s o f M e d i c a l C a r e . M is c e lla n e o u s C o n tr ib u tio n s o n
th e C osts o f M e d ic a l C are, N o . 11: T h e e x te n t a n d a d e q u a c y o f life in s u r a n c e
p ro te c tio n i n th e U n ite d S ta te s , b y M a r y D u b lin .
W a s h in g to n , 9 1 0 S e v e n te e n th
S tre e t ATE., 1 9 3 2 .
1 4 PP-

R eview ed in th is issue.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1520
D e n n is , L a w r e n c e .
1932. 328 p p .
D

M O N TH L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Is

c a p ita lis m

doom ed?

R o b e r t W. S p y i n g o n w o rkers. N e w
(N o . 1 7 ), 7 9 9 B r o a d w a y , 1 9 3 2 . 31 p p .

unn,

N ew
Y ork,

G i r a u d , R e n é . V e r s u n e in te r n a tio n a le é c o n o m iq u e .
1931. 239 p p .

Y ork,

H arper

&

B r o s .,

I n te r n a ti o n a l P a m p h le ts
P a r is , L i b r a ir ie V a lo is ,

A discussion of in te rn a tio n a l econom ic problem s. T h e first p a rt deals w ith th e
search for a new econom ic b alance as evidenced by th e m o v em en t to w a rd
scientific lab o r organization, th e R ussian experim ent, a n d th e proposed U n ited
S ta te s of E urope. T h e second a n d th ird p a rts tre a t, respectively, of reg u lated
p roduction a n d th e politics of to-m orrow .
G o r s e l i n e , D o n a l d E u g e n e . T h e effect o f sc h o o lin g u p o n in c o m e .
G r a d u a te C o u n c il o f I n d i a n a U n iv e r s ity , 1 9 3 2 . 2 8 f p p .
G r a h a m , F r a n k D.
T h e a b o litio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t.
W i lk i n s C o., 1 9 3 2 . 16 p p .

B a ltim o r e ,

B lo o m in g to n ,
W i ll i a m s &

L T n s t i t u t I n t e r n a t i o n a l d e S t a t i s t i q u e . A p e r ç u de la d é m o g r a p h ie des
d ivers p a y s d u m o n d e 1 9 3 1 .
T h e H a g u e , 1 9 3 2 . x x x v i, J+69 p p . ( I n F re n c h .)

C ontains sta tistic a l d a ta on th e condition of th e p o p u latio n a n d its m o v em en t
in various countries of th e w orld fo r th e y e a r 1931, including b irth s a n d d eath s,
racial a tta c h m e n t, m arriages, divorces, religion, edu catio n , etc.
-------B u lle tin , T o m e X X V —2 ème liv r a is o n . T o k io , 1 9 3 1 .
392; 282* pp.
A collection of re p o rts on J a p a n a n d C h in a p resen ted to th e n in e te e n th session
■of th e In te rn a tio n a l I n s titu te of S tatistics, T okyo, 1930. T h e Jap a n e se fam ilyb u d g et in q u iry of 1926-27, included in th e section of th is volum e w hich deals w ith
social statistics, w as su m m arized in th e M ay, 1931, issue of th e L ab o r R eview .
I n t e r n a t io n a l I n d u s t r ia l R e l a t io n s A s s o c ia t io n . E m p lo y m e n t a n d u n e m ­
p lo y m e n t i n p re -w a r a n d S o v ie t R u s s ia . R e p o r t s u b m itte d to th e W o r ld S o c ia l
E c o n o m ic C o n g ress, A m s te r d a m , A u g u s t 2 3 - 2 9 , 1 9 3 1 , b y S u s a n M . K in g s b u r y
a n d M ild r e d F a ir c h ild . T h e H a g u e , 1932. 1 3 2 p p ., ch a rts. ( N e w Y o r k office,
R o o m 6 0 0 , 1 3 0 E a s t T w e n ty -s e c o n d S tre e t.)

------ S o c ia l e co n o m ic p l a n n in g i n the U n io n o f S o v ie t S o c ia lis t R e p u b lic s .

R eport
o f d e le g a tio n f r o m the U. S . S . R . to the W o r ld S o c ia l E c o n o m ic C on g ress,
A m s te r d a m , A u g u s t 2 3 - 2 9 , 19 3 1 . T h e H a g u e , [1932?]. 1 6 8 p p . ( N e w Y o r k
office, R o o m 6 0 0 , 1 3 0 E a s t T w e n ty -s e c o n d S tre e t.)

I n t e r n a t io n a l I n d u s t r ia l R e l a t io n s I n s t i t u t e . I n te r n a ti o n a l u n e m p lo y m e n t:
A s tu d y o f flu c tu a tio n s i n e m p lo y m e n t a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t i n several c o u n tr ie s,
1 9 1 0 —1 9 3 0 . C o n trib u te d to th e W o r ld S o c ia l E c o n o m ic C on g ress, A m s te r d a m ,
A u g u s t, 1 9 3 1 . T h e H a g u e , 1 9 3 2 . Jf96 p p ., c h a rts.
( N e w Y o r k office, R o o m
6 0 0 , 1 3 0 E a s t T w e n ty -s e c o n d S tre e t.)

Includes ch ap te rs on flu ctu atio n s in u n em p lo y m en t in A u stralia, em p lo y m en t
a n d incom e of lab o r in C an ad a, in d u stry a n d lab o r in C hina, u n em p lo y m en t in
G erm an y , flu ctu atio n s in u n e m p lo y m en t in F ran ce, flu ctu atio n s in u n em p lo y m en t
in G reat B ritain , em p lo y m en t a n d incom e of la b o r in th e U n ited S ta te s, a n d
em p lo y m en t a n d un em p lo y m en t in p re-w ar a n d Soviet R ussia. T h e In te rn a tio n a l
In d u s tria l R elation s In s titu te w as form erly th e In te rn a tio n a l In d u s tria l R elatio n s
A ssociation, th e n am e h av in g been changed in M arch, 1932.
J a n s o n , F l o r e n c e E d i t h . T h e b a c k g r o u n d o f S w e d is h im m ig r a tio n , 184 0 —19 3 0 .
C hica g o , 1 9 3 1 . 5 1 7 p p ., m a p s , c h a rts. ( U n iv e r s ity o f C hicago S o c ia l S e rv ic e
M o n o g r a p h s N o . 15.)

D iscusses th e econom ic, social, religious, an d p olitical conditions in Sw eden in
th e preceding cen tu ry in connection w ith th e exodus of th e people of t h a t co u n try
to th e U n ited S tates. T h e forces on th is side of th e A tla n tic te n d in g to stim u la te
Sw edish im m igratio n a re also tra c e d th ro u g h U n ited S ta te s d ip lo m atic a n d con­
su lar rep o rts a n d th ro u g h a d v ertise m en ts a n d articles in th e Sw edish press.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

P U B L IC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G T O L A B O R
L e n n o x , J o h n S. T h e c a u se a n d cu re o f u n e m p lo y m e n t.
P r i n ti n g a n d B i n d i n g C o., 1 9 3 2 . 6 8 p p .

1521

P itts fie ld , M a s s ., E a g le

T he w riter believes th e cause of u n em p lo y m en t lies in th e financial system
w hich adheres to a fixed m o n e ta ry sta n d a rd , a n d t h a t in place of a m etallic
sta n d a rd of m oney a cred it sy stem should be su b s titu te d in w hich th e value of
m oney w ould rem ain “ indefinitely c o n sta n t in term s of th e av erag e price of all
com m odities.’'
M

L i f e I n s u r a n c e C o . M o n o g r a p h 4 , S o c ia l I n s u r a n c e S e r ie s .S o c ia l in s u r a n c e le g isla tio n . N e w Y o r k , 193 2 . 70 p p .

e t r o p o l it a n

This re p o rt p resen ts th e original a n d p resen t provisions of th e unem ploym ent,
in su ran ce, h e a lth insu ran ce, a n d pension system s in G re a t B ritain , G erm any,
Belgium , D enm ark, Ita ly , a n d Sw itzerland.
------ M o n o g r a p h 5 , S o c ia l I n s u r a n c e S e r ie s : T h e a d m in is tr a tio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t
in s u r a n c e .

N e w Y o rk, 1932.

2 7 p p ., chart.

T his re p o rt describes briefly th e a d m in istra tiv e o rg anization a n d procedure of
th e unem ploym ent-insu ran ce system s in 11 E u ro p ean countries.
N

a t io n a l

C o n f e r e n c e o n C it y P l a n n i n g . P la n n i n g p ro b lem s o f to w n , city,,
a n d reg io n . P a p e r s a n d d is c u s s io n s a t th e T w e n ty - th ir d N a tio n a l C o n feren ce
o n C ity P la n n in g , h e ld a t R o ch ester, N . Y ., J u n e 2 2 - 2 4 , 193 1 . P h ila d e lp h ia ,
W m . F . F ell C o., 1 9 3 1 . 2 2 8 p p ., illu s .

N

a t io n a l

I n d u s t r ia l C o n f e r e n c e B o a r d ( I n c .).
T h e cost o f liv in g i n th e
U n ite d S ta te s i n 1 9 3 1 . N e w Y o r k , 2 4 7 P a r k A v e n u e , 19 3 2 . 5 2 p p ., ch a rts.

O ’R

o c k ie ,

J o h n . W h a t m e a n s th is u n e m p lo y m e n tf or W h a t’s w ro n g w ith the
w o r ld f b ein g a n eco n o m ic i n q u ir y in to th e p re se n t so c ia l d isc o n te n t. M e lb o u r n e ,
A u s tr a lia , F ra se r & J e n k in s o n P ty . { L td .) , 1 9 3 1 . 5 8 7 p p .

O ud eg eest, J.
D e g e sc h ie d en is der ze lfs ta n d ig e v a k b e w eg in g i n N e d e r la n d .
V o l.
I , 1 9 2 6 , 5 0 4 PP-', V o l. I I , 1 9 3 2 , 4 0 2 p p . I l lu s . A m s te r d a m .
U itqave v a n
het N . V . V .

C ontains a h isto ry of th e in d ep en d e n t labor-union m o v em en t in th e N e th e r­
lands, including inform atio n on cooperative organizations, social legislation,
unem ploym ent, tra d e agreem ents, in su ran ce a g a in st u n em ploym ent, cost of
living, in d u strial disputes, y o u th m o v em en t am ong w age earners, etc.
P

C o a s t M a r i n e S a f e t y C o d e C o m m it t e e . P a c ific C oast m a r in e s a fe ty
code: S te v e d o r in g o p e ra tio n s o n board s h ip . S a n F ra n c is c o , 1 9 3 1 . 47 p p .
{R ev ised N o v em b er 6 , 1 931.)

a c if ic

Safety rules based on safe p ractices ad o p te d by p ro m in en t op erato rs an d
ap p ro v ed by shipow ners, w a ter-fro n t em ployers, a n d longshorem en from th e
m ajo r p o rts on th e Pacific C oast, superseding sectional safety rules issued in 1928
in San Francisco, Los Angeles, a n d S eattle.
P e f f e r , N a t h a n ie l .
m i l la n C o., 1 9 3 2 .

E d u c a tio n a l e x p e r im e n ts i n i n d u s tr y .
207 pp.

N e w Y ork, M ac­

T he w riter declares t h a t in d u strial ed u catio n u n d er p riv a te auspices a n d
vocational ed u cation u n d er p ublic a d m in istra tio n are “ b o th groping, som etim es
b lin d ly .” H e suggests t h a t little progress will be m ad e w ith o u t m ore know ledge
of th e goal to be a tta in e d a n d m ore d aring in th e ex ploration for p a th s to t h a t goal.
P e g r u m , D . F . R a te th eo ries a n d th e C a lifo r n ia R a ilr o a d C o m m is s io n . B e r k e le y ,
U n iv e r s ity o f C a lifo r n ia P r e s s , 19 3 2 . 1 6 5 p p .
{ U n iv e r s ity o f C a lifo r n ia
P u b lic a tio n s i n E c o n o m ic s, vol. 10.)
P e r m a n e n t I n t e r n a t io n a l C o n f e r e n c e o f P r iv a t e O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r
t h e P r o t e c t io n a n d W e l f a r e o f M ig r a n t s (C . P . P . M .) .
D ocum ent
N o . 6 : T h e in te r n a tio n a l c o n feren ce f o r th e p ro te c tio n o f m ig r a n ts , i ts w ork,
a n d p ro g ra m . G eneva, 1 0 , R u e de la B o u rse , 1 9 3 2 . 7 p p .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1522

M ONTHLY

L A B O R R E V IE W

[D e p a rtm e n t of E conom ics a n d Social In s titu tio n s.]
In d u stria l R elations Section. T h e u se o f b u ild in g a n d lo a n a s s o c ia tio n s i n

P r in c e t o n U n iv e r s it y .

c o m p a n y p ro g r a m s f o r e m p lo y e e sa v in g s a n d in v e s tm e n t.
48 pp .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)

P r in c e to n , 19 3 2 .

R eview ed in th is issue.
L. A h is to r y o f labor le g is la tio n i n
U n iv e r s ity o f O k la h o m a P re ss, 1 9 3 2 . 1 4 4 PP-

R y a n , F r e d e r ic k

O k la h o m a .

N orm an,

G. T. P r o te c tio n o f e m p lo y e e s a g a in s t a b r u p t d isch a rg e. R e p r in te d
f r o m M i c h ig a n L a w R ev ie w , A n n A rb o r , M a r c h , 1 9 3 2 , p p . 6 6 6 - 6 9 8 .

S c h w e n n in g ,

A review of plan s fo r p a y m e n t of dism issal w ages e ith e r th ro u g h p riv a te in itia ­
tiv e or as a resu lt of legislative en a c tm e n ts in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d foreign
contries.
V a n V l e c k , W i l l i a m C.
T h e a d m in is tr a tiv e co n tro l o f a lie n s . A s tu d y i n
a d m in is tr a tiv e la w a n d pro ced u re.
260 pp.

N ew

Y o r k , C o m m o n w e a lth F u n d , 19 3 2 .

Among th e m ajo r su b jects of th is volum e a re . T h e g row th of im m igration
legislation, th e exclusion process, th e expulsion jirocess, a n d th e judicial review.
ZEN TR A L VERB AND

DER

H O T E L -,

RESTAU RA NT-

B e r ic h t der H a u p tv e r w a ltu n g , 1 9 3 1 .
1 5 8 p p ., ch a rts, illu s .

UND

C a F É -A n G ESTELLTEN .

B e r lin N 2 4 , E ls a s s e r S tr á s s e 8 6 - 8 8 , 19 3 2 .

A nnual re p o rt on th e activ ities of th e unions of th e salaried em ployees of
hotels, re s ta u ra n ts, a n d cafés in G erm any for th e y ear 1931, p u blished by th e
cen tral office of th ese unions, including in fo rm atio n on salaries, tra d e agreem en ts,
hours of labor, em p lo y m en t service, disputes, w orks councils, etc.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis