The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
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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) appro\*ed M arch 4 , 1921.
A D D IT IO N A L C O P IE S
O F TH IS PUBLICATION M A T B E PRO CU R ED FRO M
T H E S U P E R IN T E N D E N T O F DOCUM ENTS
U .S .G O V E R N M E N T PRIN T IN G OFFICE
W A SH IN G TO N , D . C.
AT
15 C E N T S P E R C O PY
S u b s c r ip t io n P
U
n it e d
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S
ta tes,
C
anada
, M
r ic e
e x ic o
,
P
er
$1.50;
O
Y
ear
ther
C
o u n t r ie s ,
$2.25
C o n ten ts
Special articles:
p age
Care of the aged in the United States___________________________
1; 2
Homes for the aged, operated by fraternal organizations__ ;________ 3-11
Homes for the aged, maintained by religious organizations_________ 12-30
Public pensions for aged dependent citizens______________________ 31-40
Stability of employment in the leather and boot and shoe industries- 41-45
Productivity of labor and industry:
Ultimate effects of automatic machine production________________ 46-49
Displacement of railroad labor_________________________________ 49-52
A basis for evaluating manufacturing efficiency__________________ 52, 53
Effects of rest periods on production____________________________ 53-55
Effect of mass production upon skill in an English factory_________ 55-58
New alloy for cutting tools____________________________________
53
Industrial relations and labor conditions:
California—-Mexican labor in the Imperial Valley________________ 59-65
Great Britain—
Governmental help to industrial transference________________ 65, 66
Reorganization and amalgamations hi the cotton-spinning
industry----------------------------------------------------------------------- 66-68
Mexico—Agreement in the textile industry______________________ 68, 69
Rumania—Labor conditions___________________________________ 69-72
Minimum wage:
Minimum wage legislation in various countries___________________ 73-80
Child labor:
New Jersey—Industrial home work of children___________________ 81, 82
Pennsylvania—Employment of Philadelphia children at farm labor, _ 82, 83
Health and industrial hygiene:
Mortality experience of International Typographical Union, 1928__ 84-86
Industrial accidents:
Accidents in selected manufacturing industries, 1925, 1926, and 1927_ 87-97
Death claims due to automobile accidents______________________ 97-100
Illinois—Industrial accidents in 1926_________________________ 100, 101
South Dakota—Industrial accidents in 1927-28__________________
101
Spain—Industrial accidents, 1922 to 1924 and 1926_______________
102
Safety codes:
Status of industrial safety regulations_________________________ 103-115
Workmen’s compensation and social insurance:
Convicts under workmen’s compensation laws_________________ 116-118
Recent workmen’s compensation reports—
Connecticut_____________________________________________
118
Nebraska_____________________________________________ 118-120
New York_____________________________________________ 120, 121
North Dakota___________________________________________
121
Pennsylvania---------------------------------------------------------------- 122, 123
West Virginia__________________________________________ 123; 124
Great Britain—Extension of national health and pensions insurance 124, 125
Labor laws:
Federal convict labor act of 1929_______________________________
126
State convict labor legislation_________
126-137
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h i
IV
CONTENTS
Housing:
Page
New housing activities of Amalgamated Clothing Workers_______
138
Expenditures for different classes of work in residential and nonresidential buildings in three selected cities__________________ 138-140
Cooperation:
Belgium—League of Belgian Peasants_________________________ 141-143
Great Britain—-Condition of cooperative movement, 1927_______ 143-145
Family allowances:
Progress of family endowment movement in Australia and New
Zealand_________________________________________________ 146-155
Industrial disputes:
Strikes and lockouts in the United States in January, 1929______ 156-159
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in January, 1929___ 159-161
Wages and hours of labor:
162
Earnings of members of International Typographical Union_____
Wage increase for railway terminal employees established by recent
arbitration award_________________________________________
162
Wage rates in the Government Printing Office_________________
163
Adoption of 5-day week in large eastern plant__________________
163
Massachusetts—Earnings in manufacturing industries___________
164
North Carolina—Prices and earnings in the scallop industry__ :__ 164, 165
International comparison of real wages, October, 1928__________ 165, 166
Belgium—Wages in the Brussels district______________________ 166, 167
Germany— WTages in the tool industry________________________ 167-170
Great Britain—Changes in employment and wage rates_________ 171-174
Mexico—Wages of railway workers, 1926 and 1927_____________ 174, 175
Trend of employment:
Summary for January, 1929_________________________________
176
Employment in selected manufacturing industries, Januarj^, 1929__ 177-212
Employment in coal mining in January, 1929__________________ 212, 213
Employment in metalliferous mining in January, 1929_________ _ 213, 214
Employment in public utilities in January, 1929________________
214
Employment in wholesale and retail trade in January, 1929______ 215, 216
Employment in hotels in January, 1929_______________________ 216, 217
Employment on steam railroads in the United States___________ 217, 218
Changes in emploj^ment and pay rolls in various States_________ 218-222
Massachusetts—Unemployment of organized building-trades work
ers---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 222, 223
Canada—Work of the Employment Service____________________ 224-226
Wholesale and retail prices:
Retail prices of food in the United States______________________ 227-243
Retail prices of coal in the United States______________________ 244, 245
Index numbers of wholesale prices in January, 1929____________ 246, 247
Wholesale prices in the United States and in foreign countries, 1923
to December, 1928_______________________________________ 248-251
Cost of living:
India—Family budgets of Burmese wage earners_________ ______ 252-256
Immigration and emigration:
Statistics of immigration for December, 1928__________________ 257-259.
Bibliography:
Public old-age pensions in Australia and New Zealand: A list of
references, compiled by Laura A. Thompson, librarian, United
States Department of Labor_______________________________ 260-265
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United States______________________________________ 266-268
Official—Foreign countries___________________________________ 268, 269
Unofficial_________________________________________________ 269-271
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T h is Issu e in B rief
Existing provisions for the care of the aged in the United States have
been recently surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
results of the survey are presented in this issue of the Review for
three types of provisions—homes supported by fraternal organiza
tions, homes supported by religious organizations, and public pensions.
The findings are briefly as follows:
There are at least 111 fraternal homes for the aged. Data obtained
show the capacity of such homes to be more than 10,000 and the
average number of residents in excess of 7,000. Membership in the
order is essential to admission, but the charging of an admission fee
is very uncommon. The cost of operation for the homes reporting
on this point averages $457.03 per inmate per year. Page 3.
Homes for the aged supported by religious and religious philan
thropic organizations number at least 475. The bureau obtained
reports from 408, the total capacity of these being about 31,000 and
the total number of inmates in residence in excess of 27,000. More
than one-half of the homes require no admission fee. The cost of
operation of the homes reporting on this point averages $392.99 per
inmate per year. Page 12.
Public pensions for aged dependent citizens are now authorized
by legislation in 6 States (Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana,
Nevada, and Wisconsin) and in Alaska. In each of the 6 States the
legislation is merely permissive to the counties. So far as the bureau
could ascertain, only 52 of the 351 counties in these States have
adopted the pension system. About 1,000 persons are receiving
pensions, the average pension being $17.37 per month. Page 31.
Accident rates for various industries showed no definite trend during
the three years i 925 to 1927 inclusive, for which the Bureau of Labor
Statistics has compiled data. In a few industries the severity rate
has improved—such as in the manufacture of agricultural implements
and in slaughtering and meat packing. On the other hand, the
severity rates in the manufacture of electrical machinery, furniture,
glass, and machine tools, and in lumber-planing mills have steadily
risen during the period studied. Page 87.
There would be no problem of the displacement of railroad labor
if the railroads adopted the policy of not taking on new men unless
absolutely necessary, according to the Commissioner of Labor Statis
tics (p. 49). The worst that can be anticipated regarding railroad
employment is that it will decrease very slowly, and this decrease will
probably be much less rapid than the normal dropping off of old
employees.
The Federal convict labor law of 1929 divests convict-made goods of
their interstate character and thus permits the laws of any State to
become operative with respect to the sale and distribution of convictmade goods within that State (p. 126). An article beginning on the
same page gives a digest of all existing State legislation on the subject
of systems of convict employment.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
VI
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The average yearly earnings per worker in the manufacturing indus
tries of Massachusetts are reported to have been $1,220.83 in 1927, as
compared with $1,280.74 in 1920 and with $569.43 in 1913. Page 164.
Death claims due to automobile accidents, paid by fraternal benefit
societies, showed an increase of 16 per cent in the 5-vear period 19231928. Page 97.
The employment of city children at farm labor exists on a considerable
scale in Philadelphia and results in serious loss of time from school.
An investigation of this subject by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Women
and Children in 1928 showed that nearly 2,000 children had entered
school late in the fall of 1927 because they or their families were
migratory agricultural laborers. Page 82.
The death rate from tuberculosis among members of the International
Typographical Union increased in 1928, as compared with 1927. On
the other hand, the death rate from cancer decreased considerably over
the same period. Page 84.
Minimum-wage legislation in all countries having such legislation is
reviewed in an article on page 73. In the United States such legisla
tion has been attempted only in the case of women and minors, and
recent court decisions have invalidated most of it. In many other
countries, however, the legal fixation of wages exists for men as well
as for women in at least certain industries where labor is not well
organized.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY
LABOR REVI EW
OF U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
WASHINGTON
VOL. 28, N O . 3
M A R C H , 1929
Care of th e Aged in th e U n ited S ta te s
ECAUSE of the growing interest in the subject of the care of the
dependent aged in the United States, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics has recently been making a survey of the various
means by which wage earners and others are provided for in their
old age._ Earlier studies of the bureau have dealt with the subject
of American almshouses, retirement systems for public employees of
various classes (Federal, State, and municipal employees, teachers,
policemen and firemen, etc.), and pension plans for employees in
private industry. The present study rounds out and supplements
these earlier studies, bringing together in summary form the material
already collected, and adding new data on homes for the aged, on
the present status of public old-age pensions in the United States,
and on the ministers’ pension plans of religious denominations.
As is well known, the Federal Government operates a number of
homes for disabled soldiers in various parts of the country, some of
whose inmates are aged. Also, the majority of the States have
established homes for soldiers of the Civil War (admitting also, in
many cases, their wives or widows), of which a number have also
begun to admit soldiers of the later wars—Indian, Spanish, and
Mexican—and even of the World War. There are still, however,
many residents of these homes who come properly within this study
of the aged. In addition to these homes there are many homes for
the aged maintained by organizations of various types. Thus a
number of the fraternal organizations have such homes, as have also
a very large number of churches and other religious organizations,
and a third large group of homes is run by private philanthropy.
In addition there are a number of homes for the aged supported by
groups of various nationalities—German, Scandinavian, English,
Scottish, etc.—for the benefit of their fellow countrymen. All of
these types of homes have been included in the bureau’s study.
From all possible sources of information the bureau was able to
ascertain the existence of some 1,200 homes for the aged in this
country. Thus far, data have been obtained for 988. These include
9 Federal soldiers’ or sailors’ homes, 46 State homes, 101 fraternal
homes, 408 homes maintained by religious organizations of various
sorts, 35 homes of miscellaneous organizations, 34 homes of nation
ality groups, 5 trade-union homes, and 350 private homes. Follow
ing this article are presented statistics dealing with two classes of
B
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 419 ]
1
2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
homes—those of fraternal organizations and those of religious or
ganizations—and one relating to the present status of public pensions
for aged wage earners and others who are without income sufficient
for their full support. Similar summary articles on the other types
of homes will appear later in the Labor Review. It is hoped to follow
these purely statistical articles by others showing the actual condi
tions in the homes as disclosed b}^ personal visits of agents of the
bureau. All the data in detail will be printed later in bulletin form.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H o m es for th e Aged, O perated by F ratern al O rg a n iza tio n s
NQl IR1 was made of 71 national fraternal organizations (which
could not be classified as organizations of either religious or
national groups) as to what, if any, provision was made by the
organization for the aged members, through pensions, homes, or relief.
Replies were received from 61 of these. Seventeen issue beneficial
certificates which can be surrendered for cash benefit, 4 have a pension
plan, and 17 operate one or more homes for the aged.
Of the 111 homes for aged known to be operated by fraternal
organizations which are neither of a religious character nor composed
of national groups, the bureau has already secured data for 101. Three
organizations stand out in respect to their provision for aged mem
bers. These are the Knights of Pythias (including Pythian Sisters),
the Masons (including the Eastern Star), and the Odd Fellows (in
cluding the Rebekahs).1 These three organizations together account
for 97 of the 111 homes and for 87 of the 101 for which data were
secured. The Odd Fellows lead with 47 homes (42 reporting), the
Masons follow with 38 (34 reporting), and the Knights of Pythias
are third with 12 (11 reporting). The other 14 organizations operate
one home each.
Some of the fraternal organizations also operate orphanages,
sanatoriums, etc., but these, of course, do not fall within the scope of
the present study. Where aged and orphans are cared for in the same
institution the home was included here.
Table 1 shows the distribution, by States, of the homes of the three
leading organizations.
I
T a b l e 1 .— D IS T R IB U T IO N O F P Y T H IA N , M A S O N IC , A N D O D D F E L L O W S ’ H O M E S F O R
A G ED , BY STA TES
K nights of
P y th ias
M asons
Odd Fellows
State
T o tal N umober
o tal N um ber T otal N um ber
rt n T
n um ber rep
um ber report
num ber report
ing
ing
ing
A labam a___________
Arizona __ ______ _
C alifornia-. _____
C olorado.. _______
C o n n e c tic u t____ _ ...................
D istrict of C olum bia. ________
Florida ___________ ________
Idaho . . __________ ______
I llin o is _______________ ...
Indiana ____________ .
Io w a ..
________
K ansas__ _______ _______ _
K e n tu c k y ..........................
L ouisiana___________________
M ary lan d _______________
M assachusetts__ ______________
M ichigan_______ __ ______ .
M inneso ta.......... ........................ .................
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
a
2
«2
1
1
1
b
1
1
b
3
l
b
3
b
1
1
61
« Including 1 E astern Star home.
h Including 1 M asonic and E astern Star combined.
I
o1
]
l
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
i
1
1
1
1
1
2
c
e
1
2
1
1
a
1
]
i
1
2
i
l
l
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
c2
c2
1
2
2
2
i
»1 Odd Fellows and R ebekahs combined.
d P y th ia n Sisters’ home.
1 T he homes of th e w om en’s auxiliaries had to be included w ith those of th e m en because m any of the
homes are operated jointly.
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3
4
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
able
1.—D IS T R IB U T IO N O F P Y T H IA N , M A S O N IC , A N D O D D F E L L O W S ’ H O M E S F O R
A G E D , B Y S T A T E S —C ontinued
K nights of
P y th ias
S tate
T otal
num ber
M issouri
__ ______________________
M ontan a __ ________________________________
N eb rask a___________ ______________________
N ew H am pshire _
_ _ ____
N ew Jersey__ _____________ __ _____ ________
N ew Y o rk __ ________
_ ____
____
N o rth Carolina _
_
________ ___ ____
N o rth D akota
_ ______ _____
Ohio
_____
___ _
_____
_______
Oklahom a
_
_ ______ ________
_____
_
_
_______
Oregon
Pennsylvania - _ ____- _____ _______ _______
R hode Is la n d -_
South D akota
__ _ _ _ ___ _ _______
Tennessee
____
____
Texas______ __ ______
___
V erm ont __________ . . __
______ _
Virginia
_
W ashington
__
_
_
_
___
______ __________________ __
W est Virginia
W isconsin.
______
__ _______ ______
T o t a l..
in c lu d in g
2Inclu d in g
« Including
6 Including
1 Including
2 Including
...... ................
1
N um ber T otal N um ber T otal N um ber
rep o rt n um ber report num ber rep o rt
ing
ing
ing
1
1
i
1
1
1
1
1
O dd Fellows
M asons
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
i3
i3
5
5
1
1
i
i
1
1
21
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
i 2
i 2
55
2
1 2
1
i 2
1
1
i
1 1
i 1
i 1
i 1
1
1
1
1
1
12
1
11
i
i
i
5 4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
«38
‘ 34
847
8 42
1
1 E astern S ta r home.
1 M asonic a n d E a ste rn S ta r com bined.
1 Odd Fellow s’ and R ebekahs’ home, and 1 R ebekahs’ home.
7 E astern Star homes and 4 E astern Star and M asonic homes.
7 E astern Star homes, and 3 E astern Star and M asonic homes.
1 R ebekahs’ home, and 3 O dd Fellows’ and R ebekahs’ homes.
The location of the single homes of the other fraternal organizations
is shown below.
State
Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur_____________________ Indiana.
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks_________ Virginia.
Foresters of America__________________________ New York.
Knights of Damon____________________________ Virginia.
Knights of the Golden Eagle___________________ Pennsylvania.
Knights of Malta_____________________________
Do.
Maccabees___________________________________
Do.
Loyal Order of Moose_________________________ Florida.
Neighbors of Woodcraft________________________ California.
Orangemen___________________________________ Pennsylvania.
Patriotic Order of Sons of America______________
Do.
Improved Order of Red Men___________________
Do.
Security Benefit Association____________________ Kansas'.
Sons of Hermann______________________________ Texas.
The 99 homes from which data as to number of residents were
secured together provide for more than 7,000 old people. More than
$3,000,000 was spent by the fraternal organizations reporting for
this purpose last year.
The table following shows for the, various orders the number of
old people provided for and the cost of such provision during the
last fiscal year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[422]
5
HOMES FOR THE AGED— FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
T
able
3 .—N U M B E R O F A G E D IN H O M E S O F F R A T E R N A L O R G A N IZ A T IO N S A N D C O ST
O F O P E R A T IO N F O R O N E Y E A R
Inm ates
Organization
B en -H u r. __________ ____________ ________ . .
E lk s____________________ _____ _________
K nights of D am on __ _____ . . . _ . . . _ _____
K nights of M alta ______________ ___________
K nights of P y th ia s .. _ . ._ __________ .
M accabees..... ........ .............. __ _ _____
M asons......... .
_.
........... . . .
M oose__________________________
N eighbors of W oodcraft________
Odd F e llo w s ....____. . . __ ....................
O rangem en_____ ________
. . . ____ ._
Patriotic Order of Sons of A m erica... .......................
R ed M en .......... ....................... .
Security Benefit Association
. . _____
Foresters of A m e ric a ____________ _____ _
K nights of th e Golden Eagle. ...............
Sons of H erm an n ________ _ _ _________
T o ta l..________ ______________________
Total N um num ber
ber
of
report
ing
homes
C apacity
of home
1
1
1
1
12
f
38
1
1
47
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
11
1
34
1
1
42
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
21
300
35
35
623
100
4 4, 726
200
125
7 4,116
60
85
20
80
16
111
101
10 10, 542
0
0
Average
num ber in
residence
Cost of
operation
last fiscal
year
9
244
25
35
2 362
20
5 3, 267
167
67
2,927
30
73
10
65
16
9
0
0
$112, 000
5, 054
37,317
3 184, 442
5,000
« 1, 252, 413
84,966
0
8 1,330,440
55,194
16, 256
7,162
9 150,000
0
7, 332
0
a 7,326
42 3, 247, 576
1 No data.
2 10 homes.
3 9 homes.
4 32 homes; d a ta include children also in 3 cases.
6 33 homes.
6 27 homes; d ata include children also in 2 cases.
7 D ata include children also in 1 case.
8 40 homes; data include children also in 2 cases.
9 Includes also cost of hospital.
10 97 homes; d ata include children also in 4 cases.
11 98 homes; aged only.
12 86 homes; d ata include children also in 4 cases and hospital in 1 case.
Only 12 of these homes are filled to capacity.
Nearly half of these homes care for an average of fewer than 50
old people each, about one-fifth care for from 100 to 200 persons,
and 8 care for 200 or more. The distribution of homes, according
to number of aged who are sheltered there, is as follows:
N um ber
Homes caring for—
of homes
Fewer than 25 persons______________________________ 28
25 and under 50 persons____________________________
19
50 and under 100 persons___________________________
24
100 and under 200 persons__________________________
18
8
200 persons and over_______________________________
Not reported__________________________________________
4
Total___________________________________________ 101
The German Masonic Home of New York was the first fraternal
home to be opened, it having started in 1867, but 33 of the 96 homes
for which data on this point were obtained were opened before 1900.
The distribution of the 97 homes reporting, according to number of
years of operation, is shown below:
N um ber
Homes in operation—
of homes
1 year or less______________________________________
4
2 and under 5 years________________________________
7
5 and under 10 years_______________________________
11
10 and under 25 years______________________________
31
25 and under 50 years___________________
41
50 years and over__________________________________
3
Total___________________________________________
[423]
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97
6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Terms of Admission
A/IEMBERSHIP in the order is the first requisite in all fraternal
1V-*- homes. In those cases in which there is a required period of
membership this varies from 1 to 25 years, the most common period
being 5 years.
In the majority of cases wives and widows of members 2 are also
admitted, subject to the same requirements, and in a number of cases
the mother of a resident or of a deceased member who would have
been eligible for admission may also be admitted. The Masonic Home
of California also admits adult daughters of deceased members eligible
for admission at the time of death, and a number of the other Masonic
homes also admit the adult daughter or sister.
In order that the benefits of the home may be as equitably distrib
uted as possible many of the fraternal organizations establish a quota
of admission to the institution. In such cases the lodges have the
privilege of sending to the home one resident for every specified
number of members in the lodge.
- In the majority of cases admission to the homes of the fraternal
organizations is limited to those who are indigent and “ unable to
support themselves by reason of age _and indigence, sickness, or
infirmity.” In a few cases, however, it is provided that persons with
private means may be admitted upon terms mutually agreeable to
home and applicant.
The Illinois Pythian Home specifies^ that it will not admit any
member “ whose affliction, disability, or indigency has been caused by
his own misconduct, dissipation, or improper mode of living” ; and,
further, that should any resident, after being admitted, become able
to support himself or cease to be indigent, he shall be discharged
from the home.
Almost without exception it is required that the applicant be of
good moral character, of temperate habits, and free from mental,
infectious, or contagious diseases. Persons unable to dress and care
for themselves are usually specifically excluded, but the Masonic
Home of California, the Odd Fellows’ Home of Kentucky, and the
Pythian Home of California provide that provision may be made for
the maintenance of such persons in sanatoriums or other appropriate
institutions.
The following is a common provision in this connection:
The home is a home for aged and indigent, who can care for their daily necessary
wants, and not a hospital or sanitarium for the care of the sick or disabled, or
those who are suffering with incurable, infectious, or contagious diseases, or from
any other causes which have already rendered them unable to care for their
daily wants.
Hospital facilities are provided for those who are taken sick or become disabled
after they have become residents of the home, but no provision is made in the
law to accept applicants who are already too sick or too disabled to take care of
their physical wants.
Age.—Of the 101 homes reporting 63 have no age limit on admit
tance. Of the remaining 38 which do have an age requirement, 5
place the age at 50, 2 at 55, 18 at 60, 9 at 65, 1 at 67, and 1 at 70,
while 2 require merely that the applicant be “ old.”
2 O rphans or half orphans, as well, in m an y cases.
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[424]
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FIGURE 2.— BEN-HUR HOME, AT C RAW FORDS VI LLE, I N D.
HOMES FOR THE AGED----FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
7
Admission fee.—The charging of an admission fee to the home is
very uncommon among fraternal organizations. The Maccabees’
Home admits without fee beneficial members in the order; social
members who carry no insurance in the order must, however, pay
$200 per year if admitted to residence. Lodges of other States than
Pennsylvania must also pay $200 per year for each of their members
who is at the home. An admission fee of $500 is required at the
Orangemen’s Home.
Property.—Fifty-six homes have no property requirement, 40
require that any property or income possessed must be turned over to
the home, 1 requisitions two-thirds of such property, 1 requires the
forfeiture of all income over $20 per month and 1 of all over $60 per
year, and 2 admit indigents only.
Other requirements.—Only 27 homes have any nationality or racial
requirements. Of these, 13 require that the applicant be white, 10
that he be “ American,” 1 that he be an Anglo-Saxon, 1 that he be
colored, 1 that he be German, and 1 that he be a native of the State
in which the home is located.
Six homes require that the applicant be a Protestant.
Clothing.—Almost without exception the local lodges are required
to provide all aged members seeking admittance to the home from
their lodge with suitable clothing—usually for one or two years.' (In
some cases a detailed list of the articles required is given.) Generally
the home furnishes any clothing needed thereafter, but in some cases
the local lodge must continue to bear the clothing expense and see to
it that its residents are “ decently and properly clothed” as long as
they continue in residence at the home.
Benefits Provided
1V/IEDICAL care is provided in all of the 97 fraternal homes reporting on this point. Of these, 26 have a resident physician, 69
have one or more resident nurses, and 10 have either a hospital or
infirmary in the institution. Of those who have resident nurses, 6
have 2 nurses, 5 have 3, 1 has 4, 1 has 6, 1 has 11, and 1 has 24 nurses.
In a number of cases physician members of the order donate their
services to the home.
The Iowa Odd Fellows’ and Orphans’ Home has a hospital building
which cost $47,000 (see fig. 1), and the Masonic Home of California a
hospital building with accommodations for 20 patients, which was
presented to the organization by one of the officers. The Masonic
Home of Ohio (fig. 5) has on its extensive grounds a hospital building
containing 140 bedrooms, an isolation ward with 14 beds, diet kitchen
on each of the three floors, a dental laboratory, consulting rooms, 11
solariums, an auditorium, and a large dining room and kitchen.
Recreation and amusements are provided for the old people in 75
homes. The recreations so provided range from those characterized
as “ limited,” “ ordinary,” “ usual” to those which represent the
result of a good deal of time and thought. Among the recreations
specified are radio, motion pictures, entertainments of various sorts,
concerts, rides, games, etc.
In addition to providing for all the wants of the residents, six homes
(three Masonic, three Odd Fellows’) pay interest on property made
over to the home at the time of admission. Twenty-one homes make
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[425]
8
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
allowances to the residents to cover their small needs and for spending
money. Of these one allows each resident $1 per month, one $2 per
month, one $3 to $10 per month, according to the circumstances,
and in one each resident receives $1 per month from his local lodge.
B u r ia l .—A number of organizations provide that when a resident
of the home dies he shall be buried in the home cemetery at the ex
pense of the home (in some cases this is subject to a fixed maximum);
in case relatives or the local lodge desire that other disposition be
made of the body it is often specified that the expense of removal and
burial must be met by the relatives or lodge. Other organizations
require the resident’s local lodge to defray all funeral expenses.
Duties of Inmates
are expected to cooperate with the management in
RESIDENTS
every way possible, to be friendly and courteous, prompt, and
neat, and to do everything possible to make the home atmosphere
pleasant.
_
.
In many homes the residents are also required to do such light chores
and perform such services as their age and physical condition will
permit; 61 of 90 homes reporting on this point make this requirement.
These duties include making beds, washing and wiping dishes, setting
the tables, etc. In 30 homes there is no requirement in this respect,
but 12 of these permit the old people to assist around the place if they
care to.
Among the services performed by the inmates of one home, as
reported by the matron, are: “ The care of the poultry, tending the
cows in pasture, firing the boilers and keeping the basements clean, a
quantity of carpenter work and painting work, preparing fruits for
canning and vegetables for the tables, helping in the garden and
picking fruits, mending and darning and making of all new material
into sheets, pillow cases, table linen, etc., assisting in office errands for
hospital, washing of dishes and dining-room work, cleaning of parlors
every day, washing windows, etc. All hives have some drones, but
we find that these are not our happy and contented residents. _ I am
telling you these facts, as I am often asked whether the residents,
who are able, do any work in the home.”
Support and Administration of Home
CRATERNAL homes for the aged receive support in a number of
* ways. The most common is through a per capita tax levied
upon the general membership. Many homes have established an
endowment fund or are endeavoring to do so,3 this being built up
from voluntary assessments, gifts, bequests, etc. Also, in many cases
the home is run by a separate association which the local lodges are
expected to join and which individual members may join for varying
fees, as annual, honorary, life, etc., members. The Masonic Home of
California requires each new member to pay a fee of $25, which goes to
the support of the home, and although a small per capita tax is
levied upon the membership, so great has been the number of acces
sions to the order that the fees have been sufficient not only to pay the
cost of operation but also to pay for the construction of new buildings.
?T he endow m ent fund of th e M asonic C h arity F o undation of C onnecticut am ounts to $316,489.
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HOMES FOR THE AGED— FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
Donations of furnishings, household supplies, as well as canned ana
other foods form a considerable item in the operation of many of these
homes.
Usually a separate board of trustees manages the home, these
trustees being so appointed or elected as to be representative of
various districts of the fraternal jurisdiction.
Cost of Operation of Homes
HTHE per capita cost of operation varies according to the size of the
home, the service given, etc. Naturally those homes which
furnish such items as burial, clothing, medical and nursing service,
etc., cost more per resident than those which furnish only board and
lodging. The per capita cost in the various homes studied ranged
from $33.33 to $911.24, the average for this group of homes being
$457.03. In some instances where the home is run in connection with
a hospital or orphanage, it was impossible to segregate the cost
chargeable to the old people’s home. The range and average per
capita cost for those homes for which such information was available
in usable form are shown in the following table:
T a b l e 3 . — P E R C A P IT A CO ST OF O P E R A T IO N O F H O M E S O F F R A T E R N A L O R G A N I
ZA T IO N S
Cost of operation per inm ate per year
Sponsoring organization
E lks i__________________________________
K nights of D am on 1 _______________ . ____ _______ _______
K nights of M alta L __ ____ _______________ ____ ____ ___ . . .
K nights of P y th ia s .
___ __ _ __________________ . . . . . . ___ _
M accab ees'- __
.....................
M asons _____ _
M o o se 1 . ___ . .
_
O dd Fellows______________
.
________ _____
R ed M en 1
_ _
.
_____
P atriotic Order of Sons of America 1 __ ____________ _________
All hom es__________ _______
_ ._ _________________ _
i 1 home only.
Low
High
$459. 02
202.16
2 731. 71
288. 88
250. 00
200. 00
508. 78
33. 33
716. 20
222. 68
$459. 02
202. 16
2 731. 71
911. 24
250. 00
796. 57
508. 78
908. 25
716. 20
222. 68
$459.02
202.16
2 731. 71
517. 22
250. 00
474. 68
508. 78
438. 03
716. 20
222. 68
33. 33
911. 24
457. 03
Average
2 Includes orphans also.
The bureau has data showing detailed figures of operating expenses
of four fraternal homes, two of which are Masonic homes and two
those of the Odd Fellows. The itemized expenditures of each of
these four homes are given in the table below. In the last line of
the table is shown the annual cost of operation per inmate. It is
seen in this connection that this average cost is much higher for the
Masonic Home of Illinois than for the others, but this is due to the
unusually large expenditure for repairs in that home. In each case
expenditures (where made) for permanent additions to the home
plant were omitted, as it was felt that such costs are not properly
chargeable to the current operating expenses of any one year.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 4 .—O P E R A T IN G E X P E N S E S OF F R A T E R N A L H O M E S F O R O N E Y E A R
Item
Salaries and wages. _ _______________________________
_________________________
Groceries and m eats __
Clothing
_
_
________________
L au n d ry and supplies
_
_______________
Telephone a n d te leg rap h ..
_______ _________ ___
H eat, light, a n d pow er.
_ . ___________
W ater and ice
____________ ____________
D rugs an d m edical supplies_________
___________
M edical a n d hospital care
_ _
_ _ _
Prin tin g and office supplies ___ _ . _______ _____
Repairs to equ ip m en t an d structures
...................
R eplacem ents____________ . __________ . _ __ _____
T ran sp o rta tio n ...
________
. . __
Recreation
____ ___ _______________________ ___
Insurance
_ ___________________ _____ _
Taxes
_
________ _______ _
M iscellaneous. ____________________________________
T otal
..
Cost per in m ate___ _
1 Includes
2 Includes
3 Includes
4 Includes
5 Includes
_________________________
__ _
_
___________
M asonic
Home of
California,
Decoto,
Calif.
M asonic
H om e of
Illinois,
Sullivan,
111.
$11, 926. 30
27, 912. 66
1, 978.13
4,101. 86
394. 93
1 7,360. 68
$22, 794. 50
30, 075. 87
1, 688. 67
3,183. 83
425. 02
2 8, 719. 38
234. 04
1, 499. 88
1, 385.11
Odd
Odd
Fellow s’
Fellows’
Home,
Home,
Stuyvesant, Grove C ity,
N . Y.
Pa.
8, 971. 21
12, 236. 85
16, 935. 89
9, 742. 22
1,100. 69
5, 042. 14
762. 05
$1, 805.00
3, 204. 69
40.16
1,116.65
79. 20
121.47
165.89
291. 70
6.10
$12, 310. 34
5,403. 97
607. 38
940.92
33.15
2, 298.49
646. 55
344. 55
449. 50
880. 32
1, 653. 40
186. 88
2.25
25.00
3 23,194. 66
4 7, 060. 22
345. 45
55. 92
957.56
4 3, 086. 76
89,132. 65
119, 594. 14
5 8,189. 79
28, 869. 46
353. 27
778.12
282.44
246. 75
w ater.
dental expense.
$6,133.11 for farm expenditures, freight, and certain expenses of kitchen and dining room.
burial expense.
farm expenses.
A number of fraternal homes have extensive land holdings in
connection with the home, some of which in a number of cases is
used for farming purposes. The farm does not always prove an
asset in dollars and cents—in some cases the cost of operation is
greater than the value of the crops produced—but the residents
are in this way supplied with fresh fruits and vegetables that they
might not otherwise have.
The 42 Odd Fellows’ Homes for which the bureau has data relating
to the land holdings have a combined acreage of 5,007 acres. In 2
cases the grounds are less than 5 acres, 9 homes have from 5 to 25
acres, 11 have from 25 to 100 acres, 11 from 100 to 200 acres, and 9
have 200 acres or more. Of the last group, one home has 316 acres,
one 350 acres, and one 476 acres of land.
Six Masonic homes report farms, but there are undoubtedly
many more which also have farms but did not think to mention
this feature. Of these six, one has holdings of 150 acres, one of slightly
over 267 acres, one of 271 acres, and one of 400 acres.
The Pythian Home of Indiana has land amounting to 135 acres,
and the Kinkora Pythian Home of Pennsylvania (fig. 6), 2,700 acres.
The Security Benefit Association Home in Topeka, Ivans., has 404
acres of ground.
Homes Proposed or in Process of Building
'“THE Woodmen’s Circle reports that that society has acquired a
A tract of 214 acres in Sherman, Tex., upon which a home for
aged members will be built “ at an early date.” Two needy members
are now being assisted by the payment of a small monthly allowance
until such time as the home is ready.
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FIGURE 6 — GARDEN AT KINKORA PYTHIAN HOME, DUNCANNON,
PA.
FIGURE 7.— ENTRANCE TO MONTEFIORE (JEWISH) HOME, CLEVE
LAND, OHIO
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HOMES FOR THE AGED— FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
11
The Daughters of America is building a home for aged at Tiffin,
Ohio. It is expected that the cost will reach $250,000, and that it
will be two years before the building is ready for occupancy. Only
members in good standing who have belonged to the order for 20
years and have reached the age of 65 years will be eligible for
admission.
The Workmen’s Circle reports that it has for the past seven years
been accumulating funds which will ultimately be used for the
erection of a home for aged members. The secretary states that as
few of the members have as yet reached their sixtieth year, the
problem has not become urgent. The few who need aid now re
ceive it from a relief fund. By the time there is a sufficient number
of old people to make a home necessary it is thought that sufficient
funds will be available to start one.
Other organizations which are accumulating funds for this purpose
are the Ancient Order of Gleaners, and the Eastern Star grand lodges
of Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina.
The Virginia grand lodge of the Knights of Pythias expects to
have a home for the aged “ at some future time.”
35895°—29-----2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[429]
H o m es for th e Aged, M a in ta in ed by R e lig io u s O rg a n iza tio n s
HERE are known to be some 475 homes for the aged arid infirm
run by religious organizations. These include 406 homes
established and supported by churches of individual denomina
tions, 13 homes which churches of several denominations cooperate
in maintaining, and 55 homes which are run by philanthropic organiza
tions of a religious aspect or connection, and 1 which is the home of a
religious fraternal society. The church home may be a national
home, such as the National Lutheran Home for the Aged, which is
supported by the whole Lutheran body, it may be maintained by a
State or district conference of a specified denomination, or it may be
a purely local affair supported by one or more local churches. Homes
which are operated through the joint support of several denomina
tions—say, the various Protestant churches, or the Methodist and
Presbyterian churches of a city, have been classified as “ joint church”
homes. In the classification, “ religious philanthropic organizations,”
have been included organizations which, while undenominational, have
a distinctly religious aspect, such as the King’s Daughters’ and the
Jewish homes. The latter were not included with the “ church ” organ
izations because it is understood that seldom, if at all, are these homes
supported by any specified Jewish congregation. The Salvation Army
and the Volunteers of America are also included in this group because,
while distinctly religious bodies, they nevertheless are essentially social
service and philanthropic rather than denominational organizations.
Of the 47 5 homes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has thus far obtained
data for 408, distributed by States as follows:
T
T able 1 .— D IS T R IB U T IO N OF H O M E S F O R A G E D R U N B Y R E L IG IO U S B O D IE S
State
A labam a . .
_______ _
C alifornia. _________________
Colorado____ _
_______ . .
C onnecticut. . .
D elaw are..
. . . ____
D istrict of C olum bia___ ___ _
F lorid a_________ _____
Georgia_____ . ___
Idaho. _____ _______
Illinois
____
In d ia n a ____ _______
Iowa ____________
K a n sa s.. . . . . . _
K e n tu c k y ........ ....................
Louisiana ______
M aine_____
M a ry la n d ____ .
M assachusetts____ .
M ichigan___________
M innesota___________
M ississippi________ ____
Total N u m
n u m ber re
ber of p o rt
ing
homes
1
23
2
12
2
11
1
4
1
■ 42
14
10
7
7
6
2
17
22
15
22
1
1
19
2
11
2
11
1
4
1
39
13
10
3
5
1
11
15
15
21
State
M issouri
N ebraska
N ew H am pshire
N ew Jersey
N ew York
N o rth Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
R hode Island
S outh Carolina
South D akota
Tennessee
Texas
V erm o n t__
Virginia
W ashington
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13
5
6
13
1 83
2
2fi
2
50
5
ID
4
3
10
i 73
1
22
2
47
5
3
1
3
8
2
1
2
8
W is c o n s in . .
16
4
5
16
T o tal.
1475
i 408
1 Includes 1 religious fraternal home.
12
T otal N u m
num ber re
ber of p o rt
homes
ing
[ 43 0 ]
6
5
13
HOMES FOR THE AGED— RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
Table 2 which follows shows the total number of homes and the
number reporting, the capacity and average number in residence,
and the total and per capita cost of operation, classified by type of
organization supporting the home.
T a ble 2 .— N U M B E R OF A G E D IN H O M E S O F R E L IG IO U S G R O U P S, A N D A N N U A L C O ST
OF O P E R A T IO N
um
Total N
ber of
n u m homes
ber of
homes report
ing
Sponsoring organization
Religious denom inations:
A dventist, Seventh D a y __ - ______________
Apostolic C h ris tia n _______ _________ _ ___
B ap tist______ ____ ______ _ _ _____ _ . . . .
C hristian
............................ ......
............
..............................
C hristian S c ie n c e ......
Congregational__________ ____ _______ __ . . .
Disciples of C h rist........... ................ .......... . .
____
...
.
___
Evangelical___
Evangelical S y n o d ... ________ _____________
F rien d s.. . ____ . .
.
.. . . . .
_
G erm an B ap tist _
... .
. . ___ .
L atter D ay Saints___ __________ _____. .
L utheran . . . . .
.
......
M ennonite
. _
__________________
M eth o d ist_____ ______ ___ . . ___ _ ______
M o ra v ian .. ________________ ______ ________
P resbyterian ______________ _____
_____
P rotestant E piscopal__________ . . . . . . . . _
Reformed Church in the U nited S tates_____
R iver B re th re n ._ _________________ _ _____
Rom an C atholic . . .
.............
.
Scandinavian E v an g elical.. . ____________ ._
U nited B reth ren ____ . . .
__
__ _
U niveralist_____ . . . _______
. . . . . . ._
Unclassified.
.
. . .
...
Join t church_______ _____ ____________ ____
Total
_ ____ . . . _ ____ .
.
. . .
T otal
...
.
___
1
1
4 16
46
1
5
1
5
5
4
13
2
46
2
42
4
4 16
37
2
2
127
i4
4
14
13
44
4
3
13
50
20
2 845
221
85
178
22
275
410
154
8 472
115
2,254
48
2, 844
44 72
843
1,168
60
125
15, 687
132
187
154
93
576
47 419
42 364
42
11
1
1
55 I
2
48 27,090
49 23, 718
29 6, 266, 523
31
10
1
1
3, 714
296
24
30
3, 267
263
20
30
24 1, 734, 563
7 46,420
8,270
14, 221
3, 580
22 1,803, 474
4, 064
1
125
47 475
42 408
23 31, 279
45
18
788
198
85
163
A nnual
cost of
operation
536
2
43
1 Includes 1 home for ministers.
2 15 homes.
,
3 13 homes.
4 N o data.
8 11 homes.
3 12 homes.
7 9 homes.
8 1 home.
9 43 homes; includes cost of orphanage in 2 cases.
10 41 homes.
11 3 homes.
12 Includes 4 homes for m inisters.
13 36 homes.
Average
num ber in
residence
$11, 335
3,307
3 223, 473
61, 131
108, 074
80,969
7,500
67, 459
141, 014
102,431
7 113, 552
8 8, 190
9 717, 543
8 8,000
49 1,158, 793
8 7, 875
« 296, 533
44 526,985
19, 844
31, 763
48 2,195, 766
44, 159
44 33, 500
71,855
27,310
19$, 162
1
.....
____________
G rand to ta l__ ______ __________________ _
C apacity
of homes
1
1
i 20
i6
1
5
1
5
5
4
3
2
47
3
45
4
12 20
39
2
2
156
Religious philanthropic organizations:
Jewish
___ _
. . .
______
K ing’s D aughters _ . . . .
.
._ ______
Salvation A rm y _____
_
. . ______
Volunteers of A m erica__________________ __ _
Religious fraternal
Inm ates
0
195
400
139
«442
90
2,062
46
49 2, 406
44 51
2 619
43 999
49
115
48 13, 749
131
158
146
88
0
0
24 27, 298
28 8, 069, 997
14 24 homes.
15124 homes.
18 74 homes.
17 Includes 7 homes for m inisters.
18 360 homes.
19 355 homes.
20 277 homes.
21 28 homes.
22 39 homes.
23 404 homes.
24 398 homes.
23 316 homes.
As is seen, the various Catholic organizations operate the largest
number of homes. There are in that church certain orders, such as
the Little Sisters of the Poor, Sisters of St. Francis, etc., whose
members devote their lives to the care of the poor, sick, and aged,
and many of these homes are carried on by those orders. It will be
noted that only 74 of the 127 Catholic homes reporting gave data as
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 431 ]
14
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
to cost. Failure to report on this point was, in most cases, due to the
fact that these homes are almost entirely supported by contributions
and donations in kind upon which it is impossible to place a value.
Other denominations or organizations which are especially active in
the care of the aged are the Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians,
and Jews.
As Table 2 shows, these 408 homes have accommodations for more
than 30,000 persons. The total average number actually living there,
however, falls below capacity by some 4,000. This is due in part to
failure to reply on the second point; but it is also true that in many
cases the home is not full. One home which has a much smaller
number of residents than can be accommodated reports that this is
due to the fact that one part of it is closed because of lack of funds to
keep it in operation. Of the 394 homes which reported both capacity
and number in residence, only 126 are full. In a few instances this is
because the home has just been enlarged and the new section is not
open for residence.
On the other hand, some homes are not only full but have waiting
lists of applicants for admission as soon as a place can be made for
them. One Methodist home which accommodates 195 persons re
ports that the home is always full and at present has a Waiting list of
81. Another home which has 62 residents always has “ a long waiting
list.” One Jewish home now has a waiting list for the first time. A
Lutheran home which has 70 residents reports that although there
have been several deaths at the home, “ as soon as there is a vacancy,
caused by death, there is always someone on the waiting list, anxious
to get into the home. And in such cases the board always gives room
for the most needy. We have at the present time a long waiting list,
but the home is filled, and no one can come in until there is a vacancy.
We are always happy when we can open our doors to new ones, some
of whom have been waiting for years to come in, but it is also very
hard when some of these poor old folks come to our door asking for
admittance, and we must tell them there is no room.” No fee is
charged for admission to this home.
Some 28 per cent of these homes shelter fewer than 25 persons each,
and 54 per cent have fewer than 50 persons. The largest homes are
run by Catholic and Jewish groups; 22 homes of the Catholic and 5
of the Jewish groups have more than 200 people each. The average
sized home shelters 68 persons. Table 3 shows the distribution, by
size of home.
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FIGURE 8 . — MEMORIAL PERGOLA AT MONTEFIORE (JEWISH) HOME,
CLEVELAND, OHIO
FIGURE 9.— CORRIDOR OF METHODIST HOME FOR AGED, CINCIN
NATI, OHIO.
IN THIS ROOM ARE HELD CONCERTS AND
“ SINGS”
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15
HOMES FOR THE AGED----RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
T able 3 .— SIZE OF H O M E S F O R A G E D O P S P E C IF IE D R E L IG IO U S G R O U P S
N um ber of homes w ith inm ates
num bering—
Sponsoring organization
Less
th a n
25
Religious denom inations:
A dventist, Seventh D a y ......................... ...............
Apostolic C hristian- _
....
........ .......
B aptist
_____ _ _______
_______________
Christian __
__ _ _ __ ___________
C hristian Science
__
. . - ______
Congregational __
-- - _____
Evangelical -__- ____ ________
Evangelical Synod. __
__
_ _________
Friends
__________ __________________
German B ap tist. _
__
_ _________
L a tte r D ay Saints. _
_ __ _
___________
_____________
L utheran
_. _ .. _ _ _____
M ennonite
.
________
M ethodist
______ - __________________
M oravian
..
______________
Presbyterian
_ . . ______________
___
P ro testan t Episcopal
_ _ . ..
Reformed Church in the U nited S ta te s ._ ______
R iver B rethren
_ _ _ _______ _
Roman Catholic _
____________________
Scandinavian Evangelical
________
U nited B rethren
_. ._ . . _________ ___
U niversalist
_______________
Unclassified
. ______ ____________
Join t church
_______________
T otal
_______________
Religious philanthropic organizations:
Jewish
_ ___________________
K ing’s D aughters
________________
Salvation A rm y
_________________________
V olunteers of A m erica_____________ ___________
Total
25
50
75
100
200
and
and
and
and
and
under under under under under
75
50
200
500
100
1
1
4
2
2
1
1
1
7
11
1
12
3
7
18
1
19
1
3
1
5
2
4
2
2
1
i
1
2
2
2
3
2
2
1
19
1
9
1
1
1
9
4
3
6
6
8
5
14
1
1
2
1
2
1
2
13
9
41
1
20
1
1
1
2
22
2
1
Total
1
1
16
6
1
5
5
5
4
l 12
2
46
2
i 41
i3
i 15
■36
2
2
2 124
2
4
4
3
13
1
4
1
2
1
1
101
96
50
28
57
23
3 355
3
8
2
6
4
5
1
5
31
10
1
1
1
1
__________________________ - .........
11
11
6
4
6
5
43
_______________________
112
107
56
32
63
28
4 398
G rand total
1 N o t including 1 home which did not report on this point.
2 N ot including 3 homes which did no t report on th is point.
* N ot including 1 home of Disciples of C hrist and 8 homes above noted, w hich did not report on this point.
* N ot including 1 religious fraternal home and 9 homes above noted, which did not report on this point.
Fifty-nine homes have been established during the past decade,
but 2 i 2 have been in existence twenty-five years or more, and 75
fifty years or more. The oldest is the Lafon’s Asylum of the Holy
Family, at New Orleans, La., which was established in 1848.
The Baptist, Congregational, Episcopalian, and Catholic homes
are the oldest. Of the Episcopal homes, 23 of the 36 covered are
more than 50 years old, as are 25 of the 123 Catholic homes, 4 of the
16 Baptist homes, and 2 of the 5 Congregational homes.
Terms of Admission
IS IN D and character of persons admitted.—Sound mind and good
health are a general requisite for admission to the church homes,
as to other homes for the aged. One Baptist home requires “ fairly
sound mind and reasonably good health,” and a Catholic home that
the applicant be “ respectable, of sound mind, and free of contagious
disease.” Some homes require that the applicant submit to a physi
cal examination.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
“ Good character” or “ Christian character” is often specified as a
requisite. “ Good reputation” is required by one home.
One home accepts only deaf mutes, while another admits only
“childless women” of good health and sound mind, and a third
“ aged women of the better sort, i. e., women of education and refine
ment, who have very small means or no relatives.”
The Salvation Army home, “ Eventide Home,” has as its residents
principally men whom the army has aided through its social service
institutions and who are incapacitated and unable to provide for
themselves.
There is one home in New York City which, as far as the knowledge
of this bureau goes, is unique of its ldnd. It is a “ waitingvhome,”
maintained by the Protestant Unity League. This home has been in
operation since April, 1925. No permanent guests are admitted; the
home is operated simply for the benefit of persons who are on the
waiting lists of the benevolent homes of the city. The period of
“ waiting” in the home averages about two years. If the aged resi
dent is able to pay, a nominal board is charged; otherwise the service
is free. This home is mainly for poor people who have painfully
managed to hoard the entrance fee required by the home on whose
waiting list their names are entered, but who are unable to maintain
themselves until a vacancy occurs. Up to the present the waiting
home has had accommodations for only 11 old ladies, but the league
is now negotiating for the purchase of a larger house which will
enable it to care for five men, for married couples if occasion arises,
and also for a larger number of women.
There are 5 so-called “ widows’ homes” conducted by religious
denominations. One is a Catholic home, 1 a Congregational home,
1 an Episcopal home, and 2 are Moravian homes. One home gives
preference to widows of ministers, but ministers’ unmarried daughters,
teachers in church boarding schools, and others, are also admitted.
These homes furnish living quarters either free or at a nominal rental,
the light, heat, water, and janitor service being supplied free. The
residents are otherwise self-sustaining. Together, these homes have
a capacity of 80 persons; the average number in residence is only 67.
A number of homes are maintained solely or principally for ministers
and their wives or widows, or for other workers in the church (mis
sionaries, deaconesses, etc.). Thus, the Baptists of Ohio, Indiana,
Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin have a home at Fenton, Mich., for
“ aged, infirm, and destitute” ministers and missionaries of that
faith who have served 5 years in that capacity. The home also
admits their wives, widows, and orphans. A fee of $100 is required
at entrance. There are 14 residents at the home.
A home for ministers of the Christian Church is provided at Lakemont, N. Y. This home admits ministers who have served 20 years
in the Christian church or some other Evangelical denomination, and
their wives and widows. Men are admitted at 70 years (unless
unable to preach, in which case at 50) and women at 60. The
nominal entrance fee is $100, but this may be waived in the dis
cretion of the home board of trustees. The home can accommodate
13 persons, but the average number of residents is 6.
Although there are some 45 homes for the aged conducted by
Methodists, none of these are exclusively ministers’ homes. One
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HOMES FOR THE AGED— RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
17
such home which takes only “ Christian people/’ is open to ministers
a n d their widows, missionaries, deaconesses, and other workers in the
church. Another, an African Methodist home, was started to care
“ for W o r n - o u t ministers and their wives or widows,” but in practice
the home has taken in “ any worthy person of good repute.”
The Presbyterian Board of Ministerial Relief conducts four homes
for retired Presbyterian ministers, one of which is in Indiana, one in
New Jersey, one in New York, and one in Pennsylvania. The bureau
has data only for the Thornton Home, at Newburgh, Ind. Each of
these homes has an average family of 15 persons. Twenty years’
service in the church is required, but there is no admission fee. The
Thornton Home accepts retired ministers and their widows, and
missionaries of the church. No fee is required. The home at present
has 24 residents, but the board announces that enlargement to a
colony is contemplated, so as to “ care for the large number of aged
or disabled ministers and missionaries whose afflictions have made it
impossible for them to be cared for at one of our homes.” The
original tract of 50 acres owned by the board has been added to by
a gift of 25 acres with six houses “ and attractive building sites for
many more.” Cottages will be erected for the use of the residents,
and a sanitarium or hospital is also contemplated.1
The church of the United Brethren in Christ has a home for retired
ministers of that church and their wives, in Puente, Calif. The home
is run on the cottage plan. The superannuated ministers, of whom
there are now 25 in residence, are assigned to a cottage where they
keep house as if in their own homes. No fee is required. The home
association provides the cottage, electric lights, water, and garden,
free, and in needy cases, makes an allowance of from $20 to $30 per
month. This home also takes residents with means, on an annuity
basis, paying 7 per cent interest on all property transferred to the
home. In this way, considerable property has been acquired by the
home.
Sex.-—The great majority of these homes (305) admit not only
individuals of either sex but also take in married couples. In 78
homes, however, only old ladies are taken, and in 5 homes only old
men. Eighteen homes take individuals of either sex but do not admit
married couples.
Age.—Sixty-five of the homes have no fixed minimum age of admis
sion, and 6 did not report on this point. All of the remaining 337
homes have an age below which admission is refused, this age varying
from 50 to 75 years.
The most common ages of admission are 60 and 65 years, these
being set by 163 and 145 homes, respectively, while 65 homes admit
only persons of 70 years or over. The superintendent of one Method
ist home, in which the age of admission is 60 years, reports in this
connection that in his opinion 60 years is too low by at least 5 years;
“ great care should be taken that homes like this be not made a refuge
for lazy folks. I have found them here and elsewhere.”
Admission fee and other monetary requirements.—Over half of these
homes require no entrance fee. The other 203 reporting have an
admission fee, but in 38 of these admittance is not refused, as long as
1 There is also a Presbyterian rest home in M ilw aukee, established to provide a tem porary hom e for
P ro testan t clergymen and th eir wives (b u t Presbyterians are given preference). T he length of residence
varies from 2 to 6 m onths.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the resources of the home permit, to those who are unable to pay the
fee. Many of the homes which require a fee in most cases, neverthe
less accept persons who are unable to pay it. Thus, one Methodist
home in Illinois, which has 140 residents, reports that 50 of these have
paid nothing whatever to the home. Another, a Catholic home with
accommodations for 50 persons, reports that about half of the resi
dents are charity cases or have paid only part of the regular fees; in
fact the great majority of Catholic homes, especially those of the
Little Sisters of the Poor, require no fees of any soit from the aged for
whom they are caring. A larger proportion of the homes of this
denomination than of any other have no entrance fee.
The size of the minimum fee demanded varies considerably, ranging
from $5 for one home for colored women to $5,000. In most cases
where there is a range, the fee varies according to the financial means
of the applicant.
Of the homes which require no entrance fee, 75 are boarding homes
which do not take life members, but charge a specified rate per week
as long as the resident is at the home. Thirteen homes take both
life members and those who come in on a temporary (i. e., boarding)
basis. One Catholic home reports that from 1880 (when the home was
established) until 1913 life members were accepted for a fee of $1,000.
Under this arrangement, however, it was impossible to meet expenses,
and so the system was changed. The home now takes boarders only,
the rates being $10, $12, and $15 per week, according to the location
of the room chosen.
The rates of admission and of board are shown in the table below.
T a ble 4 .—M O N E T A R Y R E Q U IR E M E N T S OF H O M E S T A K IN G L IF E M E M B E R S A N D OF
B O A R D IN G H O M E S OF R E L IG IO U S G R O U P S
L ife mem bers
Hate
'
$5____________________________________
$15
.
___________
$100
_ _________ _
$200__________________________________
$250__________________________________
U p to $300 __________________________
$300 _
. ..
______________
$300-$500_________ _______ ___________
. ...
$300-$600 ...................
$365__________________________________
U p to $400
................... ... ....... ...
$400
_________
$400-$500______________________________
$500 . _____
. . ________________
$500-$l,000
$600. ________________ _____ __________
$700
$700-$900
U p to $800
N um ber
of homes
1
2
9
10
2
i1
12
22
1
1
1
11
31
1
4 37
31
58
2
21
1
R ate
$800...
.
______________________
U p to $1,000
.
_________________
$1,000
.
_______________
$1,000 or $2,000________________________
$1,000-$3,000__________________________
$1,200. ________ ____________________
$l,200-$3,750___________________________
$1,500
.
___ _______
. .
.
$1,800
.
.
____
$2^000
______________________________
$2,000-$3,500___________________________
$2,000-$4,000 . ..
. .
_______________
$2,500_________________________________
$3,000
____
____
U p to $4,000 . . .
..
... .
$4]000
......................... . . .
U p to $5,000..
. . . . .
...
According to means, e t c ____________ . .
Total
. . . ._ _________________
N um ber
of homes
« 10
1
7 18
1
32
1
31
3
2
2
1
31
s1
2
1
1
1
49
203
'P e r year.
2According to age in 1 case.
3According to age.
4$800 for nonresidents in 1 case; plus funeral expenses (am ount not specified) in 1 case; plus funeral
expenses of $100 in 1 case.
6$1,000 in 1 case if nursing is required.
6 Plus funeral expenses in 1 case.
2 Or $100 and $75 per year in 1 case; plus $200 for funeral expenses in 1 case.
* Or $300 and $8 per week.
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HOMES FOR THE AGED— RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
T a ble
4
19
.—M O N E T A R Y R E Q U IR E M E N T S OF H O M E S T A K IN G L I F E M E M B E R S A N D
OF B O A R D IN G H O M E S O F R E L IG IO U S G R O U P S — C ontinued
B oarders
R ate
N u m b er
of homes
Per day:
$3___________________
$1.15.......................... .................................
Per week:
$2-$10_________________________
$3_________________________
$5_____________________________
$5-$6___________ _____ _________
$5-$8____________________________
$5. 50____________________
.
$7______________________________
$8-$10_____________________
$10—
$18 >_________________
N ot r e p o rte d ...................................
Per m onth:
2______________________
__________________________
$12.50 2______________________
$16-30_________________________
$18-$22_____________ ____________
_____________________________
$20-$35__________________
$2
$10
$20
8J
11
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
6!
2
3
11 !
l
2
1!
R ate
Per m o n th —C ontinued.
$20-$40____________
$20.50____________
$21________________
$25
$2B—$35IIIZIZIIIIIIII
$25-$40___________
$30________________
$30~$100___________
$35______________
$35-$40____________
$35-$50___________
$35-$60____________
$40________________
$45________________
$50______________
$65________________
$65 and $75________
N ot reported______
N o t reported__________
1 N ot including medical care.
T o tal___________
N um ber
of homes
1
1
1
6
2
2
12
1
1
1
1
4
3
2
1
1
1
7
2
88
2 Widows; covers re n t only.
The incoming life resident is required by 133 of these homes to
transfer to the home, either at entrance or at death, all or part of
such property, insurance, pensions, and other income as he is or may
thereafter be in possession; in one of these he is required to make over
one-half of his property up to $10,000, in one all up to $1,500, and in
a third all up to $5,000. In 66 of these cases the home pays to the
resident who has made such transfer of property either all or part of
the income from it or a fixed rate of interest upon it. Many homes
accept only persons in destitute circumstances and therefore require
no admission fee; in such cases, of course, the applicant has no
property and. the property-transfer clause would mean nothing.
Nationality.—One hundred and fifteen homes make requirements as
to race, nationality, or color. Of these 1 takes only citizens of the
United States, 29 Americans only, 4 only persons speaking English,
5 Germans only, 4 German-Americans only, 1 Germans or Americans,
2 French only, 6 Swedes only, 2 Norwegians only, 6 Scandinavians
only, 24 Jews only, 20 whites only, 8 negroes only, and 3 homes any
but negroes. One home takes all nationalities but gives preference
to Swedes, 2 give preference to Germans, and 4 to Scandinavians.
Religion.—Of the 364 homes maintained by specified religious
denominations, 173 take only (or give preference to) applicants who
are members of the denomination sponsoring the home.
Of the religious philanthropic organizations, 13 require that appli
cants belong to a Jewish congregation (in 4 cases an orthodox con
gregation) and 3 that they be Protestants.
Personal property.—The regulations as regards furniture and
personal effects vary. Some homes require that the applicant have
a supply of clothing sufficient to last one or two years. Others
furnish this from the time the person enters the home. In some
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
instances the home requires that the resident furnish his own room
or that he supply his own bed linen. Others go to the opposite
extreme, and prohibit the resident from bringing any furniture with
him, except possibly a favorite chair.
One home, each of whose residents has a private room comfortably
furnished, allows the members to keep their personal belongings,
“ those little trinkets and mementoes, those precious links to the
unforgettable past. And with what loving care these residents look
after their own little possessions!”
A Methodist home in New Jersey requires that an incoming resident
bring with him the following: “ One single iron bed, one bureau, one
washstand, one mattress, six sheets, six pillowcases, three counter
panes, six napkins, two pairs blankets, one washbowl, pitcher, and
soap dish, one rocking-chair, one straight chair, three rugs 36 by 72,
one commode, one small table, some family pictures, books, small
clock, six bath towels, six face towels.”
Another, in its prospectus and report, writes as follows:
It is the purpose of the institution to afford comfort and care to the aged
fathers and mothers who make this their home. They are-provided with care
fully prepared food, and their rooms are kept clean and comfortable. The rooms
are nicely furnished, but if those coming into the home desire to bring, say, a
rug, or rocker, or clock, or nice, clean bedding, as good as new, or some other
small things that would help to make their room more homelike, they should
write the superintendent about it, who would be glad to advise in the matter.
Residence.—Residence requirements are very infrequent among
these church and religious homes. Only 14 homes make regulations
on this point. Five require residence in the city where the home is
located (one for three years and one for one year), one six months’
residence in the county, and five residence in the State (one for two
years, one for three years, and one for five years); while one home
gives preference to residents of the State. One home accepts only
persons who have been resident in the United States for five years.
Another, while accepting nonresidents, charges them a higher fee at
admission.
Rules and Regulations Governing Home
rT H E strict regulations governing some of the homes undoubtedly
detract from the attractiveness of the prospect of spending the
rest of one’s life there. One home, for instance, reports that “ Inmates
are not permitted to leave the grounds without the permission of the
superior” ; in this home the residents are permitted to receive visitors
only on two days a week from 2 to 5 p. m.
The following extracts from the rules of another home illustrate
another case in point:
4. Rooms must be kept in a neat, orderly condition, and ready for the inspec
tion of managers at any time after 10 o’clock in the morning.
5. Inmates will not be allowed to bring furniture to the home for storage, and
only such articles as approved by the house committee will be allowed in the
rooms. Position of the furniture in the rooms shall not be changed without
asking members of the house committee. One trunk can be kept in closet of
each room. The matron will store any extra trunks belonging to inmates, not
exceeding two to each person.
7. Driving tacks or nails in the walls of the rooms, closets, or halls forbidden.
8. Inmates are not allowed to go to the kitchen, the pantries, storerooms,
linen closets, laundry, or cellars without permission of the matron. This rule
must be enforced.
[438]
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HOMES FOR THE AGED----RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
21
11. Each inmate will be allowed eight plain pieces in the wash weekly. All
articles must be plainly marked with the owner’s name. The assistant matron
will advise as to the care of all soiled linen.
12. Food and crumbs for birds or animals must not be thrown from windows
or left on window sills. Clothing shall not be left out to air from either windows
or verandas. Only six potted or growing plants allowed in a room with permission.
13. Keys of bedrooms must not be taken out of the home. Any inmate lock
ing her door when about to leave the house shall leave the key in her letter box
on first floor. Bedroom doors must not be locked at night except by permission
of the matron.
Quite otherwise is a home which “ relies more upon the good sense
and character of its members for the orderly and happy ongoings of
the family life than it does on formal rules.”
A Cleveland home reports its attitude as regards “ institutionalism”
thus:
T h e---------Home is in no sense a place of isolation. Friends and relatives of
residents are welcome at any time. There is a complete absence of the “ visiting
hours” which characterize the routine of so many institutions.
Residents may leave the grounds when they desire and are accorded all reason
able privileges consistent with their safety and welfare.
When the home was built every detail of its design and arrangement was de
cided upon with a view to eliminating every trace of the institutional. The
paramount object was to make this a real home for our aged and infirm people.
The present building and grounds are striking evidence of the attainment of that
objective.
Everything is done to promote a “ family” spirit, to provide recreation and
entertainment for the residents as a group, yet to preserve for each resident the
privacy so essential to peace and comfort.
One unusual requirement found was that of a home which forbids
marriage of residents. If a resident does marry while in the home
this action “ shall forfeit such person’s place and rights in the home.”
Duties of Residents
A S TO what is expected of the residents, as regards conduct, the
following is typical:
In order to maintain a cheerful home atmosphere, all members are expected to
keep their rooms in order, and to be neat in their personal appearance, to be kind
and obliging to other members of the home, and to those in charge; to be prompt
at meals and give reverent attention upon Divine worship conducted in the
home; to make all criticisms to the matron or members of the board of managers
and to no one else.
The 408 homes reporting are divided in the matter of requiring
service of the residents; 182 require the performance of such light
tasks as the old people are able to do, while 226 require no assistance
(though 54 of these latter accept volunteer assistance from the
residents).
Generally the service required is the care of the resident’s own room,
if physically able. In other instances the inmates are expected to
help with the housework (setting the tables, helping with the ironing,
sewing, etc., washing dishes), or (in the case of men) to assist around
the grounds, help in the garden, with the poultry, etc. One Lutheran
home reports that about half of the members help, the men in the
garden and on the lawns and flower beds and the women washing the
dishes, doing mending etc.; “ just a little to keep them more spry,
bodily and mentally.” In another home the old ladies “ knit, patch,
darn, or do any little handwork at which they are proficient. They
have for themselves whatever they earn in such work.”
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
One or two homes have the cottage system, and in such cases the
residents are expected to do the housework connected therewith. In
the “ widows’ homes,” where light, heat, janitor service, and quarters
are provided, the inmates are in all other respects independent and
self-supporting, each doing her own housework, cooking her own
meals, etc., as if in her own home.
Occupational therapy is practiced in several homes in the belief
that those who are busy are happiest. One Methodist home of this
class reports that some of the articles so made are sold and the resi
dents who made them receive all the money realized by the sale over
the cost of the materials used. The report of this home states:
In this connection we can lay special emphasis on the fine value of our carried
on occupational therapy. More and more is it evidencing a great mental stimulus,
inestimable in its effect on health, as well as according days of delightful busy
ness. Our pride in the artists we are discovering and developing in this house
hold is very great. While the changes in coming and going have to be many,
there is no abating in evidence. Homes of this kind now in existence are far
insufficient.
One Catholic home has a special committee whose duty it is “ to
provide work of an agreeable nature for the entertainment^ and
employment of the members of the home.” Another committee,
called the “ pricing committee,” places a value upon articles so made
for sale by the home.
A Congregational home which holds a yearly “ fair” exhibits
articles made by the members.
One of the most beautiful of the homes studied, an endowed Jewish
home, reports its position as regards the activities of the residents
as follows:
The dominant thought in the management of the --------- Home is that each
resident shall take an active part in its conduct, since it is natural that old people
are infinitely happier when they know that their efforts are helping to make
life easier for themselves and for those about them.
Morning finds them at their simple tasks—putting their rooms in order,, doing
their bit around the grounds’ and gardens, helping with the meals—doing all
those things that make for normal life and remove from their minds all thought
of institutional routine.
Evening finds them in cheerful groups in the reading or recreation rooms,
where the men and women residents may find amusement to their tastes, or
enjoying the peace and quiet of their own individual rooms, ivhere they are as
undisturbed as they would be in a private home.
Benefits Provided
EKSONS taken into these homes receive board, lodging, and
laundry for the remainder of their lives. The individual ac
commodations vary. In some of the larger homes the sleeping
quarters are on the dormitory plan, with many beds in a room. In
others, however, each individual (or couple) has a private room.
One home describes the benefits as follows:
Each person is given a cheerful, well-furnished private room, with furnace
heat and electric lights. Also, the use of the pleasant living rooms, freedom of
the grounds, and every privilege that goes with real family life. Each member
is guaranteed comfortable support, wholesome food, competent medical care and
nursing, and at death, Christian burial * * * unless interment is other
wise provided.
The president of the home association of another large institution
reports: “ It would take an entire day to tell you the benefits our
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[440]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FIGURE 11.— BUNGALOW AT PACIFIC OLD PEOPLE’ S HOME (METHODIST), LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
FIGURE 12.— KITCHENETTE APARTMENT FOR MARRIED COUPLE AT BETHANY (SWEDISH METHODIST)
HOME FOR THE AGED, CHICAGO, ILL.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HOMES FOR THE AGED— RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
23
old people enjoy. Food of the best, fine rooms, plenty of heat and
light, a beautiful chapel, Sunday services of a high order, etc.”
A Methodist home on the Pacific coast, operated on the cottage
plan, has five “ units,” each with from 4 to 12 rooms. (See fig. 11.)
It describes the rooms and their furnishings as follows:
The bungalow building plan decided on has proven very satisfactory. Five
units, containing 4 to 12 rooms each, have been constructed, a stucco finish of
the soft, yellow color so frequently found in California homes being used, and
another 10-room structure is in process of erection. Each unit is well equipped
with modern features for the convenience and comfort of old people—hot and
cold water, electrical lighting, and gas radiators for heating rooms and halls.
Rooms are large, with recess lavatories, clothes closets, and at least two windows
in each room for light and ventilation.
Furnishings are suitable and attractive. Beds, dressers and chiffoniers,
tables and book shelves are chiefly of ivory finish, and chairs are selected with
ease of the occupant in mind. Good rugs on floors help to establish a feeling
of adequate comfort and gratification, particularly after the personal touch of
the occupant is given. A central corridor or lobby with excellent lighting and
furnished with a large table gives a cheerful and inviting entrance and an at
tractive assembling place for tenants, when so desired.
Another home of the same denomination in the Middle West has
for its married couples “ kitchenette apartments,” consisting of living
room (with kitchenette), bedroom, and bathroom. (See fig. 12.)
_Medical care.—Of the 389 homes reporting on this subject, 370 fur
nish medical care. Generally a physician is retained who comes on
call or makes periodic visits, but 57 homes have a resident physician
and 256 have one or more resident nurses (30 have two nurses, 16
have three, 3 have four, 4 have five, and 2 have six nurses each),
borne of the Catholic homes are conducted by nursing orders, and in
such cases the nursing care is given by the sisters.
Some of the larger church homes have a hospital or infirmary in
connection with the home. No specific request was made for infor
mation on this point, but 18 homes report having a hospital or in
firmary, and it is likely that others which did not think to report
this feature also have one. One home has a 12-bed infirmary, an
other accommodations for 35 patients, with male and female nurses
in attendance, another a 5-bed hospital with dispensary.
In a number of cases medical service is given free by one or more
of the local doctors, and in some instances there is a regular panel
of physicians and specialists upon whom the home may call. Other
homes retain their physician on a yearly basis.
Where medical and nursing care is given and the home pays for
this, such care constitutes an important item of expense for the home,
especially where a considerable proportion of the members are ill or
infirm. Thus a Methodist home for negroes in Louisiana reports
that of its 50 residents 12 are blind, 8 are paralyzed, 4 are feeble
minded, and 18 are over 95 years of age.
Another home reports: “ Twelve of our inmates are totally blind
and 27 partially blind. We have many inmates of very advanced
years, who are exceedingly infirm and either partially or almost
totally helpless. We have now 18 chair cases, a greater number than
we ever had before.”
Recreation.—The provision made for recreation for the old people
who are living at these homes varies greatly. In 294 homes some
attempt is made to furnish recreation. In some instances the old
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1441]
24
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
people amuse themselves with the radios, pianos, victrolas, etc., at
the home, or by walks through the grounds; in other cases the church
or supporting organization has a committee whose business it is to
arrange for the entertainment of the residents. As would be expected,
most of these recreations are of the passive sort, requiring little or
no exertion on the part of the aged inmates. Entertainments given
at the home are very frequently reported, followed by the radio as a
close second. Motion pictures are reported by a number of homes.
Other recreations reported include automobile and bus rides, “ out
ings,” picnics, birthday and other parties, musical programs or con
certs, games of various sorts (such as cards, billiards, quoits, etc.),
teas, etc. One home gives theater parties for its old people, and
another, located in a city which has a municipal opera company,
takes its residents to the opera. A great number of homes, especially
the larger ones, have libraries, smoking and game rooms, sun parlors,
etc., where the residents may enjoy themselves.
Several homes report that birthdays of members are fittingly ob
served, with parties, programs, etc. In one home “ once a week
moving pictures are thrown on the screen by our own projector which
is the gift of a kind donor. Films are supplied each week through
the generosity of other friends of the home.”
One home which has a large hospital in connection with it has a
traveling library which visits all the wards and rooms every day,
supplying reading matter to the residents. Last year 4,837 books
were issued in this way.
In many places there appears to be a good deal of local interest
in the home and its old people and considerable effort is expended
for their pleasure.
Money benefits.—As already noted, 66 homes pay to the resident
who has property to turn over to the home either the income from
it or a fixed rate of interest upon it. One home pays interest at the
rate of 2 per cent, 7 homes at the rate of 3 per cent, 12 homes at the
rate of 4 per cent (1 only on property in excess of $1,000), 3 homes
at the rate of 5 per cent, 1 home at the rate of 5.9 per cent, and 1
at the rate of 7 per cent.
One home makes each inmate an allowance of 75 cents a month,
one home of $1 a month and $5 at Christmas, one of $1.50 a month,
one of $2 a month, one of $10 per year, and one of $20 to $30 per
month.2 One gives each resident $1 on his birthday and $5 at
Christmas. Twenty-two others, which do not state amounts, allow
car fare and occasional small amounts, “ pin money,” spending
money, etc. Four homes pay the residents for any work done around
the institution.
One Methodist home which pays a small allowance to its residents
explains its attitude thus:
. The home is not a poorhouse, but is the home where the church entertains,
as its guests, its worthy men and women of ripe age whose own family circle is
broken up. To contribute to the feeling of independence and self-respect, the
home pays quarterly a certain amount of pocket money to such members as have
no other income; it is sufficient to get the few articles of personal need and of
gratification.
2T his is a hom e for retired m inisters, th e allowance being for m aintenance.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 44 2 ]
(See p. 17.)
FIGURE 13.— ONE O F T H E SIX SUN ROOMS AT KIRKLEIGH VILLA (ROMAN CATHOLIC), BALTIMORE, MD
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HOMES FOR THE AGED— RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
25
R eligious services .—Religious services, as would be expected, are
an almost universal feature of the homes in this group, and many of
the homes have their own chapel where the residents assemble. (See
fig . 1 4 .)
One home reports on this point:
The management does not stop with looking after the mere physical welfare
of the members of the home. In all possible ways their religious life is cultivated
and their spirits sustained by a living faith.
Perhaps there is no service that so unites the family as the Sunday service. In
the beautiful chapel they gather every Sunday afternoon for the preaching service.
Attendance is not compulsory, but most of those who are able attend regularly
and greatly enjoy the meetings.
Support and Cost of Home
HrHE main support of these church homes is, naturally, the churches
1 of the denomination which sponsors the home. One home reports
that it receives its support from the following sources, which are prob
ably typical of a majority of the church homes: Monthly dues of
members of the home association; voluntary contributions, gifts,
legacies, compensation from local churches for care of their members;
annual collections in all the participating churches; interest on endow
ments; admission fees; and gifts in kind.
Some of the homes have good-sized permanent or endowment
funds, the income from which helps considerably to defray the operat
ing expenses of the home. One endowed home, which does not report
the amount of its endowment fund, states that the income from the
fund pays for about one-half the cost of operation of the home, the
institution being dependent for the remainder “ upon gifts from
friends, contributions from our churches, associate memberships,
and funds raised in various ways by the board of managers, one of
their greatest efforts being to see that each year we close our books
without a deficit.”
One home reports that it receives financial support from the church
es of the denomination in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, and South
Dakota. Another states that its funds are raised by direct levies
laid on the membership of the supporting synods and by personal
gifts of many friends throughout the church; “ quite a few annuity
bonds have been issued and legacies not a few have come to the
home.”
One home reports that in addition to the support received through
“ pledges” from the various parishes in the diocese it has an endow
ment fund of about $165,000. Another has an endowment of more
than $218,000, another one of more than $400,000, and a fourth one
of more than $181,000. One Chicago home reports permanent
funds of $537,000.
Cost of Operation
Of the homes which furnished data from which per capita cost of
operation could be computed, the Friends’ homes are the group having
the largest average per capita expenditure (considering only those
denominations more than one of which reported). The next highest
average is that of the Episcopal homes, with the Jewish and Congrega
tional homes following. The average for the whole group is $392.99
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[443]
26
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
per person per year. Details for the various denominations and organ
izations are shown in the table following.
T able 5 .—P E R C A P IT A C O ST O F O P E R A T IO N
O F H O M E S O F R E L IG IO U S G R O U P S
A nnual per capita cost
Sponsoring organization
Religious denom inations:
A dventists, Seventh D a y 1......................
Apostolic C hristian 1_______ ____ _____
B ap tist_____________________________
C hristian___________________________
C hristian ScienceJ___________________
Congregational--------------------------------Evangelical_________________________
Evangelical Synod---------------------------Frien d s_________ ____ ___ _____ _____
G erm an B a p t i s t --------- ------------------L atter D ay Saints 1_________________
L u th eran ---------- --------- -------------------M ennonite 1________________________
M eth o d ist__________________________
M oravian 1_________________________
P resb y terian ______________ _________
P ro testan t E piscopal--- -------------------Reformed C hurch in th e U n ited States
R iver B reth ren ________ ____ ________
R om an C atholic___ _____ ___________
Scandinavian Evangelical___________
U nited B r e th r e n ,.....................................
U niversalist___ ____ ________________
Unclassified------------ -----------------------Jo in t church...............................................
Low
H igh
$251.
183.
151.
245.
, 271.
264.
198.
300.
474.
152.
204.
187.
285.
214.
393.
$251.89
183. 72
697. 64
500.00
1,271. 46
634. 96
928. 57
325.00
111 .
83.
342.
250.
100.
234.
200.
271.
230.
161.
All denom inational homes------- -------
Average
600.00
204. 75
846. 90
285. 71
1, 279. 85
393. 75
775. 55
1,154. 96
444. 83
304. 78
953. 75
368. 89
700. 00
775. 08
571. 43
714. 30
$251. 89
183. 72
401. 93
308. 74
1, 271. 46
529. 60
345. 94
303. 35
736. 91
295. 71
204. 75
365.07
285. 71
486. 21
393. 75
455. 71
649. 30
404. 98
276.20
277. 21
337. 09
360. 22
492. 16
310. 34
381. 08
1, 279. 85
362. 36
1, 000. 00
Religious philanthropic organizations:
Jew ish----------------------- -------------------K ing’s D au g h ters___________________
Salvation A rm y 1___________________
Volunteers of America 1______________
181.82
136. 14
413. 50
474.03
3,402. 30
583. 29
413. 50
474. 03
560. 26
313. 65
413. 50
474. 03
All philanthropic homes-----------------
136. 14
3, 402. 30
547. 50
G rand to ta l______________ ____ ____
83. 33
3,402. 30
11hom e only.
Some 25 homes of various denominations have furnished the
bureau detailed figures as to cost of operation of the home for their
latest fiscal year. This information is shown in the table below.
In compiling these data certain combinations of items have been
necessary in order to make the information comparable. Also,
expenditures for permanent additions to the building and interest
on mortgages have been omitted, since these are not properly charge
able to the current upkeep of the home.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[444 ]
HOMES FOR THE AGED— RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
T able
27
6.—D E T A IL E D O P E R A T IN G COSTS, F O R O N E Y E A R , O F S P E C IF I E D HOMES
Episcopal
B aptist
Item
G allaudet
Church St. Jo h n ’s C hurch
H
om
e
for
Home
M ission
B ,°
Aged
for Old
H om e A,° Home
to Deaf
n sy l Persons,
N ew York P en
Ladies,
M utes,
vania
Chicago, M ilw au W apping111.
kee, Wis. ers Falls,
N . Y.
Salaries and w ages._ _________________________ $14, 096. 36 $14, 841. 52 $12, 522. 75
3, 519. 87
8, 923. 33
Groceries and m eats_____ ____ ___ ________ ___ 11,704. 86
Clothing ______
. . _____________________
287. 53
206. 24
L au n d ry _
___________________________
85.20
178. 79
Telephone an d telegraph .............._
4, 248.48
3, 512. 26
928. 37
H eat, light, a n d pow er__________ ____ _ _____
235.14
78.20
89. 72
W ater a n d ice. _______
_______ _ _______
404. 99
612. 03
410. 89
Drugs a n d medical supplies__________________
88. 62
M edical an d hospital care ______
868. 71
Printing and office supplies.
_
__________
16. 79
180. 92
1, 590. 28
333. 30
Repairs to equ ip m en t a n d s tru c tu re s.__ ---------R eplacem ents
_
__________________ 1,881.38
1, 591. 38
T ransportation
_ ______ ____ ___________
R ecreation___________________ ______________
383. 82
446. 80
Insurance
________________________
Taxes
____________ - _________________
903. 67
1, 551. 58
1,184. 87
M iscellaneous_______________ ________________
$7, 807.04
6,132.18
2, 716. 78
211. 44
201. 24
1, 794. 80
$6, 957. 31
2, 748. 58
153. 71
2, 476. 81
589. 78
191. 27
434. 00
9. 00
1, 456.44
574. 45
316. 61
1, 048. 43
1 175. 00
T o ta l__________ _ ...... ................................... 34,511. 38
24,443. 88
28, 953. 39
19, 911. 91
16, 082. 96
884. 21
431. 39
181.07
413. 62
538.16
502. 59
Allowances or interest to inm ates _ _ _______
Cost per inm ate (excluding allowances)________
German B aptist
W estern
Germ an
B aptist
Old
People’s
Home.
Chicago,
111.
Old Folks’
Home of
B rethren,
M arshall
town,
Iowa
-------------------------------- $18,152.12
Salaries and wages---Groceries and m eats_______________ __________ 19, 876. 23
Clothing
______________________________
L a u n d ry .- _______ _______________________
Telephone a n d telegraph __________ ________
329. 23
H eat, light, and pow er________________________ 7, 361.40
_ ________________
W ater an d ice ................
D rugs a n d medical supplies___
____________
623. 26
11,521. 70
M edical a n d hospital c a r e .. _ _
L 931. 51
Printing a n d office s u p p lie s ..... .............. ........ „
509. 25
Repairs~to equipm ent and stru ctu res__________
4, 079. 72
R eplacem ents_____ _______________ ________
586.27
T ran sp o rtatio n .
_ __
_________
2 392. 78
Recreation
___
_________________
2, 526. 70
Insurance_______________ _____ _________ _____
76. 82
Taxes
________
__________ _____
727. 53
M iscellaneous.............. .................... ..............................
$6, 376. 00
6, 784. 97
$1, 772.12
708. 14
25. 52
249. 23
22. 70
211. 30
349. 92
T o ta l__________________________________
58, 694. 52
19,147. 65
3, 565.19
Allowances or interest to inm ates
__ ___
Cost per inm ate (excluding allowances). _______
217. 39
2,196.99
' 227.95
297.10
Item
Evangel
ical:
Home A ,“
New York
222. 01
2, 442. 96
i 628. 98
140.10
1, 766. 26
88. 79
88. 00
180. 00
180. 35
236. 97
28. 50
71.68
73. 34
65.00
Jewish:
Home for
and
G erm an Aged
B aptist HInfirm
ebrews,
Home
New
for Aged,
York
P hiladel
C ity
phia, Pa.
$3,419. 75 $52, 509. 95
4, 062. 34 44, 549. 99
2, 668. 12
1, 562.15
' 323. 56
2, 337. 93 11, 951.87
163. 96
110. 36
90. 73
4, 371.18
812. 75
241.41
1, 776.49
312. 81 11,971. 35
234. 56
8,130. 74
184. 84
345. 16
9.00
82. 97
22. 72
1, 263. 79
i 1,331.37
° D esignation adopted, a t request of home, to avoid identification,
i Includes cost of burials.
2 C hristm as gifts.
35895°—29-----3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[445]
i 3,102. 28
13, 224. 17 144, 719. 96
198. 25
330. 60
1, 200. 00
' 425. 65
28
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 6 .—D E T A IL E D O P E R A T IN G C O STS, F O R O N E Y E A R , O F S P E C IF I E D H O M E S —
C ontinued
L utheran
M ethodist
Norwegian W artburg
L utheran L utheran
B ethesda
H om e A,°
Home, N
Home,
ew York
Chicago, Brooklyn,
N . Y.
111.
Item
$6, 294. 45
. ___________
Salaries and wages_ ______
7,125. 05
Groceries and m eats___ ____ _ _ ____________
451. 40
C lo th in g ___ ____
_
_ ______
538. 24
L au n d ry
.
_
__ _
96.13
Telephone an d telegraph ___
__ __ __ __ _
H eat, light, a n d power ______ . __ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 550. 83
W ater an d ice
47.99
D rugs a n d m edical supplies _____________ __
M edical a n d hospital care _
.......................
170. 00
P rinting and office supplies ______
_________
1, 829. 62
Repairs to equipm ent a n d structures _
394.16
R eplacem ents_________
_ _ _______
. __
120. 36
T ran sp o rtatio n .
_ _ _____________ ______
R e c re a tio n __
Insurance _ ___
Taxes
i 1, 421. 87
M iscellaneous.......................................... ........... . . .
T o tal________________________ ___ _____
Allowances or interest to in m ates___ _ _______
Cost per inm ate (excluding allowances)- __ _ _
M ethodist
Episcopal
Home for
Aged of
P hiladel
phia, Pa.
$6,622. 32 $12, 777. 80 $19, 273. 99
8, 791. 45 15,157.65 22, 585. 45
338. 96
644. 42
104. 58
103. 53
2, 460. 69
6, 796.92
6, 643. 49
357. 50
273. 10
149.11
358. 01
(3)
4 313. 44
583. 49
591. 20
301.15
100. 16
457. 66
1, 592. 22
1,313.10
694. 51
1, 220. 53
1, 330. 50
190. 63
M ethod
ist
Home for
Aged,
C entral
P ennsyl
vania
A nnual
' Confer
ence,
Tyrone,
Pa. $9, 249. 45
8,103.03
1, 229.90
159. 34
2,985. 42
4, 247.29
671.40
1, 080. 22
810. 44
603.18
47.50
594. 89
2, 237. 70
i 1, 596. 46
i 2, 919. 25
426. 44
6.05
i 2, 852. 89
21, 040. 10
22, 721. 06
39, 779. 65
57,022. 65
32, 425.05
5,083.18
300. 57
336. 90
302. 95
1, 049. 39
442. 00
2, 291. 30
292. 42
341. 32
M ethodist—C ontinued
M ethodist
Crowell
C hurch
em orial
H om e B ,a MHome,
Home,
Illinois
W est
Blair,
H aven,
N ebr.
Conn.
Item
Salaries and wages _______________ _ _ ___ _ _ $2, 788. 85 $13,131. 95
Groceries and m eats__________________________ 1, 684. 89 16, 343.16
Clothing ________
__
______ _
17. 50
L aundry __ __ __ ___________________
332. 79
550. 40
164. 43
49.15
Telephone a n d telegraph ________________
H eat, light, an d power _____ __________ ____
1, 078. 96
5, 005. 03
W ater and ice___________________ _________
122. 77
Drugs and m edical supplies
__ _
225.14
2,303. 86
M edical a n d hospital care_
322. 25
550. 75
Printing a n d office su p p lies._ _______ _____
295. 85
813. 54
Repairs to eq u ip m en t a n d stru c tu re s___ ___
480. 01
2, 601. 74
R eplacem ents_________________________ __ _
34. 21
_________
T ran sp o rtatio n .
35. 00
R ecreation. __ _
1,134. 94
Insurance
226. 50
Taxes
182. 50 1 2, 908.14
M iscellaneous______________________________ _
T o tal__________
_______
__ _________
Allowances or interest to in m ates. _ __ _
Cost per inm ate (excluding allowances).
20. 05
91. 60
2,921. 50
322. 09
146. 81
75.00
181. 07
681. 44
891. 84
952. 54
50. 00
68. 51
i 2, 923.99
Home C,“
N ew
York
$2, 833. 00
1,881. 58
16.19
$5, 398.96
1, 719. 40
1,142. 96
78.31
839. 74
46.50
211. 89
4. 262. 49
84. 24
149. 27
151. 50
593. 59
465.12
1, 416. 40 1 1, 474. 34
7,615. 66
45, 768. 65
18,859. 21
12,044. 52
10, 720.96
179. 50
380. 78
3, 880. 00
339. 03
187. 00
304.18
334.57
428. 84
° D esignation adopted, a t req u est of home, to avoid identification.
1 Includes cost of burials.
3 Included in m edical and hospital care.
4 Includes medicines.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$5, 752. 51
3, 780. 26
Gerry
Homes,
G erry,
N . Y.
[446]
29
HOMES FOR THE AGED----RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
T a b l e 6 .— D E T A IL E D O P E R A T IN G C O STS, F O R O N E Y E A R , O F S P E C IF IE D H O M E S —
C ontinued
U niversalist
Reformed:
Phoebe
Chapin
Home,
Allen
Home,
town,
Jam aica,
L. I.,
Pa.
N . Y.
Item
$5, 669. 64 $16, 799. 31
Salaries and wages
__ _ ______ _ _ _ _______
Groceries and m eats.
_ _ _ _______ ____ ___ ____
2, 348. 76 18, 310.43
Clothing
_
_ _
_ _________________________
L a u n d ry ___
Telephone and telegraph__
...
__ ______
201. 42
79. 25
6, 547. 33
H eat, light, and power
_ _ _ __ _ 1,402. 97
W ater and ice
_
-____
421. 20
168. 34
D rugs a nd m edical supplies.
_
_ ________
212. 50
__
_ ____ . ___
M edical and hospital care .
622. 58
_ _ --------1, 323.14
P rinting a nd office supplies--- ____ . . __
2,415. 08
Repairs to eq u ip m en t a n d structures
_ ---- - - - 1,122.15
1, 206. 38
169. 00
R eplacem ents .............................
.... ___ T ransp o rtatio n .
_ _____________ _____________
145. 94
Recreation _____ _____ .
- _ - ___ _
432. 38
355. 00
Insurance_________________
_____
_ _ _____ _
Taxes ________ ___ . . . ____________ _
M is c e l l a n e o u s .. .. .. .. .. . ________ - _____ _ . . . ___
230. 36 l 1, 460. 00
T o t a l - _____ _________ ___
_ ,
__
--
5 Includes ice.
$1, 842. 29
4, 393. 99
$4, 075. 72
5, 727.30
70.96
548. 39
70. 13
* 1, 465. 22
(6)
102. 03
546. 00
116.16
245. 35
51.96
1,142. 28
3,458. 65
313. 80
52. 55
118. 78
i 610. 00
13, 344. 79
48, 298. 37
7, 867. 65
17, 083. 91
444. 83
1, 662.12
473. 51
393. 38
262.83
Allowances or interest to in m ates-_
__
_______
Cost per inm ate (excluding allowances)_ _____
1 Includes cost of burials.
Joint
church:
M essiah Norwegian
U niver C hristian
salist
Home,
Brooklyn,
Home,
N . Y.
P hiladel
phia, Pa.
6 Included in heat, light, and power.
Land Holdings
IN MANY cases the homes have extensive grounds, some of which
A are used for gardening purposes, and a few homes have good-sized
farms whose crops help considerably in supplying the home with
fresh foodstuffs and in keeping down the food expense. One such
home has a farm of 704 acres and several tracts of timber, one tract
of which covers 84 acres. Another home, whose holdings in farm
land are the most extensive of all the homes studied, last year had
1,100 acres planted to corn alone, in addition to 25,500 strawberry
plants, about 2 acres planted to raspberries, gooseberries, and currants,
and a large orchard. Altogether 1,725 acres are in cultivation.
A large part of the expenses of this home is met by the proceeds from
the farming operations. The farm superintendent’s report contained
the following statement:
We gathered something over 5,000 quarts of strawberries, about 1,000 quarts
of raspberries, and several gallons of blackberries and gooseberries. Mr. S.
harvested a fine crop of 2,125 pounds of excellent honey, which affords us a very
wholesome and tasty food for old and young. We have served fruits and honey
generously throughout the year, but still the sales from these sources amounted
to nearly $500. We have butchered all our own meat, buying the cattle and
hogs from the farm. We feed a small bunch of hogs on the garbage, thus pro
ducing pork at a very low cost. Our milk is purchased from the farm. We use
60 gallons a day, almost twice the amount used a year ago. This increase w’as
made so that the whole milk might be served twice daily as per instructions of
the executive committee and the home’s physician.
Other instances in which ownership of considerable land (usually
used for farming) was reported included two Methodist homes owning
125 and 358 acres, respectively; two Episcopal homes owning 500 and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[447]
30
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
100 acres; a Jewish home with a truck farm whose acreage was not
reported; a Presbyterian home with 294 acres of land; a United
Brethren home with holdings of about 490 acres; and three Lutheran
homes with 103^, 50, and 40 acres, respectively.
Value of Home Property
{CONSIDERABLE sums are represented in the property of some
^
of these church homes for the aged for which the bureau has
data. One Lutheran home in Chicago has buildings, grounds, and
furnishings valued at over $500,000; another in Los Angeles has
building and grounds valued at $32,500, and two United Brethren
homes have land and buildings worth $929,680 and $91,586, re
spectively, while those of an Evangelical home are valued at $140,000
and those of a home of the Reformed Church at $115,000. A large
Jewish home which has 400 residents values its holdings at $1,104,962,
and another Jewish home has a million-dollar building facing Central
Park in New York City.
Six Methodist homes for which the bureau lias data on this point
own property valued, respectively, at $47,780, $102,500, $219,000,
$220,000, $347,599, and more than $2,000,000. The quadrennial
report of the board of hospitals and homes of the Methodist Church
(north), rendered at the 1928 general conference of that church, stated
that the value of property owned by 44 Methodist homes at that
time aggregated $6,639,132 and their endowment funds amounted to
$3,863,761.
New buildings are being planned or built in several instances.
One such home has just completed a new wing costing $50,000, and
another a new 18-room wing, and a third during the fall of 1928 in
creased its capacity from 27 to 42. Another has accumulated $5,000
toward an extension to the building.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
f448]
Public Pensions for Aged Dependent Citizens
NE phase of the bureau’s study of old-age care has dealt with
the subject of State pensions for the aged.
There appears to be a growing tendency by commissions
appointed to study the subject of old-age dependency to recommend
some form of public pension, to be regarded not as charity but rather
as a recognition of service, to be paid under careful supervision, but
to be sufficient to enable the recipient to remain with his family or
friends instead of obliging him to become a resident in an institution.
There are at present six States (and Alaska) which have adopted
some form of pension legislation designed to provide for aged depend
ents, and measures on the subject are pending or being studied in
many other States and in the Congress of the United States. It may
be of interest, therefore, to review briefly the progress in such legisla
tion.
Progress of the Movement in the United States
ITTLE attention was paid to this question in the United States
until the present century. The first active step in connection
therewith seems to have been the appointment of a commission by
Massachusetts in 1907 to investigate and report on the subject. No
action resulted from that report. In the report of an investigation
of the subject eight years later by another Massachusetts commission
occurs this statement:
No general system of old-age insurance or pensions has been established by the
United States Government or by any of the individual States, although there are
in operation special pension systems covering certain classes of public employees
such as veterans, retired Army and Navy officers, State employees (in Massa
chusetts), and certain other municipal employees. * * * No very consider
able portion of the population of this country, or of any of the States, is yet
covered by any system of old-age insurance or pensions.1
A year earlier, however, Arizona had made an attempt to provide
such a system. In 1914 an initiative act was passed (Acts of 1915,
initiative measures, p. 10) abolishing almshouses and establishing oldage and mothers’ pensions. The act was so loosely worded that before
it could come into effect it was pronounced unconstitutional on the
ground of its vagueness, the constitutionality of its pension provisions,
if properly expressed, being left undiscussed. Alaska followed suit
with a law, passed in 1915, providing a pension of $12.50 a month to
those aged 65 and upward who met certain requirements as to resi
dence, need, and character. This law has been amended several
times, but is still in operation.
The effects of the war renewed interest in the idea of provision for
the aged, and within the last decade a number of State commissions
have been appointed and in some cases action has followed their re
ports. In 1923 Nevada, Montana, and Pennsylvania enacted oldage pension laws. In Ohio in the same year the question of establish! R eport of special in q u iry relative to aged and dependent persons in M assachusetts, 1915, p. 94.
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32
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
ing an old-age pension system was submitted to a referendum vote,
and was decided adversely by a vote of almost 2 to 1. In 1924
the Pennsylvania law was declared unconstitutional, the decision beingbased largely on a clause in the constitution which prohibits the legis
lature from making appropriations for charitable, benevolent, and
educational purposes.
The year 1925 saw much activity in regard to old-age pensions,
with varying results in different States. In both Nevada and Mon
tana bills were introduced repealing the old-age pension laws, and in
Nevada the repeal was accomplished. A number of State commis
sions brought in favorable reports, and by the middle of the year
bills were pending in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Maine,
New Jersey, and Indiana. In Texas and Kansas bills were reported
favorably, but failed to pass either house of the legislature. In New
Jersey and Indiana they passed the lower house, but were not acted
upon by the upper chamber. In Colorado, Minnesota, and Utah
commissions to study the subject were appointed. In Pennsylvania
the legislature created a new commission to study the question further,
and passed a resolution providing for a constitutional amendment to
permit appropriations for old-age pensions. In Nevada a new law
was enacted, differing in some respects from the former one. Wiscon
sin passed an old-age pension law, which was signed by the governor,
and California passed one, which was vetoed.
In January, 1926, the Legislature of Washington passed an old-age
pension act, but this was vetoed by the governor. Early in 1926 the
Virginia State Commission brought in a favorable report recommend
ing the adoption of an old-age pension system, and a bill to that effect
was introduced into the Virginia Legislature. In Massachusetts a
commission on the subject handed in a divided report. The majority
recommended a bill establishing a pension not to exceed $1 a day to
needy citizens aged 70 or over, but the legislature adjourned without
taking any action. In the spring of 1926 the Legislature of Kentucky
passed an old-age pension law which became effective June 24 of that
year, Maryland and Colorado each passed one in 1927, and a year
later a law was passed in Massachusetts. Mention has been made
above of the report of the Massachusetts commission and its recom
mendation. In the law which was finally passed, the report of the
majority of the commission was ignored and a suggestion made in one
section of the minority report was adopted instead. This law, which
can hardly be termed an old-age pension law but might more accu
rately be called a “ public bequest law,” was approved June 12, 1928.
A joint legislative committee was appointed in New York in 1926
to make a survey and report upon the condition of the aged poor
in the State, with a view to legislative action. The California State
Department of Social Welfare was delegated to make a study of the
aged in the State and it has been carrying on an extensive survey.
Many of the State federations of labor and a number of the inter
national craft unions have expressed themselves in favor of public
old-age pensions.
Thus, the close of 1928 found old-age pension laws in effect in six
States (Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, and
Wisconsin) and Alaska, with bills pending in the legislatures of a
number of other States.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[450]
PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR AGED DEPENDENT CITIZENS
33
Provisions of Pension Laws
A LL of the pension laws except that of Massachusetts provide for
an optional county system. Any county may adopt the plan
and after one year’s trial may discontinue it. In general, applicants
for the pension must be at least 70 years of age (65 years in Nevada
and Maryland), be citizens of the United States for 15 years, and
residents of the State or county at least 15 years (10 years in Nevada).
Montana limits the benefits payable to $25 per month and Kentucky
to $250 per year, while in the other States, the total income of a
person aided with a pension may not exceed $1 per day from all
sources (including pension).
Only persons are eligible to benefit who have not been imprisoned
for a specified period, who have not within the past 10 years deserted
their family, who are not professional beggars or tramps, and who
have no relatives responsible for their support.
The whole cost of the plan in all the States except Wisconsin is borne
by the individual county. In Wisconsin one-third of the cost of the
plan up to a total of $200,000 per year, is borne by the State. If this
amount is not sufficient it is pro rated among them according to the
amounts paid out.
The Massachusetts act (Acts of 1928, ch. 383), which as before
stated can hardly be termed an old-age pension act, provides merely
for the creation of a public bequest commission consisting of the
secretary of state, the State treasurer, and the commissioner of
State aid and pensions. No additional compensation is allowed
the officials for their service on the commission. A “ public bequest
fund” is provided for, to be under the control of the commissioners.
It is to be made up of gifts to the fund or to the commission for the
use of the fund. (No State contribution was provided for.) The
State treasurer is to be the custodian of the fund. When, and so
long as, the principal of said fund amounts to $500,000 the commission,
with the approval of the governor and council, may distribute, in
accordance with its rules and regulations relative thereto, the income
from said fund to such worthy citizens of the Commonwealth, as, in
its opinion, by reason of old age and need, are entitled thereto. No
man under 65 and no woman under 60 is entitled to assistance from
such fund. The commission, subject to the approval of the governor
and council, may make, and from time to time may alter and amend,
rules and regulations governing payments.
Old-Age Pension Laws in Operation
TN THE attempt to ascertain to what extent the counties were
availing themselves of these old-age pension laws and how many
aged were actually being assisted under their provisions, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics addressed an inquiry to each of the 280 counties
of Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, and Nevada, and to the
State Board of Control in Wisconsin (reporting for 71 counties).2 The
replies, covering 262 counties in these States, show that only 52 of the
2 N o in q u iry was addressed to M assachusetts, for it w ill be some tim e before an y pensions w ill be
payable in th a t State. In fact, press reports from th a t State, dated Feb. 8,1929, state th a t u p to th e present
only $1,000 has been given to th e fund.
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34
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
counties reporting have adopted the pension system provided by the
law. The greatest proportion of adopting counties was found in
Montana, as would be expected, since this was the first State to pass
old-age pension legislation which is still in effect. The replies from
some of the counties which have not yet adopted the plan indicate
that they would have done so, but were financially unable. _ Others
replied that they already had a considerable amount of money invested
in a county infirmary or almshouse and therefore felt that operation
of the almshouse should be continued.
Only two of the counties reporting in Nevada have adopted the
county pension plan. Since its adoption in one of these, the county
commissioner reports, the tax income has been insufficient to pay any
pensions, though some poor relief has been given.
The table below shows, for each State, the status of pensions for
aged dependents and the actual cost to the counties.
N U M B E R O F P E N S IO N E R S A N D C O ST O F P E N S IO N P L A N S IN SIX S T A T E S
State
Colorado_______________ - - K en tu ck y .......................... .............
M o n tan a __________ _______
N e v ad a _____________________
W isconsin _ _____________
Y ear
of law
1927
1926
1927
1923
1925
1925
T o ta l_________________
N um
ber of
coun
ties
Pensions
um
N u m Nber
ber re w ith
Average
p o rt pension N u m pension Average
cost per
ber re
ing
per
system ceiving
m onth
m onth
1
3
0
42
2
63
120
24
56
17
71
52
63
3 12
51
13
71
54
351
262
52
3
T otal
cost per
year
1 30
1
$10.00
120.00
2672
28, 064
666
4 11
295
16. 59
4 15.00
19. 20
11,048
4 175
5, 515
132, 575
4 1, 680
« 66,185
1,003
17.37
17,420
208, 624
$10
$120
*1 county only; 1 has system b u t has paid no pensions; 1 did not report on th is point.
2 2 counties only.
3Including B altim ore C ity.
41 county only; th e other has m ade no paym ents as yet.
*1 additional county has adopted system since report was made.
' O ne-third paid b y State.
As the above table shows, 1,003 aged persons are being cared for
through the old-age pension plans of 52 counties, an average of about
20 per county. (Many of these counties also have aged people at
the county poor farm or infirmary.) The largest average pension is
being paid in Kentucky. A greater number of persons per county are
receiving pensions in Wisconsin than in any of the other States, and
in its four counties nearly half as much is being spent for pensions as
in the 42 pension counties of Montana, which has the largest total
annual expenditure. In Wisconsin, however, as already stated, onethird of the expense is borne by the State.
A recent report by the Wisconsin Board of Control3 contains some
interesting data as to the pensioners in that State. Of the 295 per
sons on the county pension rolls in 1927, 178 were men and 117 were
women; 164 were widowed, 84 were married, 31 were single, 9 were
separated from husband or wife, and 7 were divorced. The ages of
the pensioners ranged from 70 to 94 years, 75 per cent being between
70 and 80 years old. Approximately 60 per cent were native-born
8 W isconsin.
S tate B oard of C ontrol.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Old-age pensions in W isconsin, 1927.
[452]
(M adison), 1928;
35
PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR AGED DEPENDENT CITIZENS
Americans. The following statement shows the causes of dependency
of the pensioners:
Old a g e----------------------------------------------------------------------------Disease_____________________________________________
Number of
pensioners
159
21
C rip p le d __________________________________________________
18
Deformity or loss of limb______________________________
Partial disability________________
Total disability______________________________________
Blindness______
Deaf and dumb_____________________________________
Other_______________________________________________
Not reported__________
17
10
8
2
l
21
38
It is seen that the chief cause of dependency was old age itself,
followed by disease, crippling conditions, and deformities.
Eighty per cent were unable to work, but 50 pensioners were still
able to follow occasional occupations of one sort or another, of whom
20 were in domestic service.
About three-eighths were living with relatives, principally children,
and 24 per cent owned their own homes which the pension enabled
them to keep. There was no other source of income than the pension
for 64 per cent; the others had some income but in no case was this
sufficient^ for their support. “ The occupations of the pensioners’
children indicate that they are not any more than making a living
for themselves and their family.”
Criticisms of Old-Age Pension Systems Now in Force
T H E opponents of old-age pension legislation base their objections
1 upon several grounds. They claim that a noncontributory sys
tem, the only kind which has been adopted in this country, decreases
self-reliance, discourages thrift and energy, and promotes pauperism
by relieving it of some of its more unpleasant features. They object
because of the expense, and because pensions may weaken the sense
of responsibility for their own aged relatives which decent people
should feel. They fear a tendency toward increasing reliance upon
Government aid rather than on private resources, and they claim that
wherever the system has been tried there has been a disposition to
make pensions increasingly large, and the conditions of granting them
increasingly easy.
The friends of such legislation look with apprehension upon the
present situation from entirely different motives. The real purpose
of old-age pensions, they say, is to make it possible for those reduced
to_ poverty by age to spend their declining years in self-respecting
privacy, free from the anxieties of want and the stigma of pauperism,
living independently in their own surroundings instead of being
massed together in an institution. The mere substitution of outdoor
for indoor relief, although perhaps a step in the right direction, is far
from accomplishing this end. At present, they say, the pension is
not sufficiently differentiated from poor relief, and the laws are
usually administered by the same authorities who have charge of the
poor relief. Consequently their tendency is to look upon the pension
merely as an extension of the principle of poor relief.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Appraisal of Pension System by Counties
TN EACH case in the present study inquiry was made as to the
1 opinion of the administering officer as to the relative value of the
pension system as compared with the old almshouse system (though
in many instances the two systems are being practiced jointly).
The replies indicate that, in general, those counties which have
adopted the pension plan like it and feel that it is superior to the
almshouse as a means of caring for aged poor. As would be expected,
the majority of counties which have not accepted the pension plan
cling to the almshouse as preferable.
The main objections raised against the county old-age pensions by
those who are administering them are:
(1) That they are inadequate for full support and are feasible only
where the pensioner has some means of his own or where friends or
relatives are willing to receive him into their homes or contribute to
his support.
(2) That pensions are too expensive to be considered by counties
which cover poor districts or which are only sparsely settled. _
(3) That dependent aged people find themselves^in a position in
which assistance is necessary mainly because of mismanagement in
money matters, lack of thrift, etc._
(4)
" That persons apply for pensions who would not apply for relief
if this meant being sent to the poorhouse, and the cost to the county
is therefore greater under the pension system.
It is seen that these objections are based_ upon purely utilitarian
reasons—mainly financial. In only two replies was the matter given
consideration from the point of view of the pensioner, i. e., whether
considering the self-respect and human feelings of the aged applicant
for public assistance, the pension is preferable to the almshoyse.
As regards the comparative annual per capita cost of pensions and
almshouses, the following statement is of interest, i t shows the
average annual per capita cost of operation of almshouses, as dis
closed in a previous study of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,1and the
annual amount of the average old-age pensions now being paid in
these States.
Almshouse
$228. 40
216. 40
269. 49
518. 91
865. 10
290. 46
Colorado-.
Kentucky.
Maryland
Montana-.
Nevada__.
Wisconsin
Pension
$10. 00
240. 00
199. 08
230. 40
The above figures show that as regards actual per capita expendi
ture for these two purposes, in only one State does the annual pension
per person exceed the amount spent per year to maintain a person
in the county almshouse.
It is true, indeed, as some critics point out, that the present pen
sions are inadequate for full support. Of interest in this connection,
however, is the report from a county of Maryland—one of the two
cases in which the question was considered from a humanitarian
standpoint.
*
See B ureau of L abor Statistics Bui. No. 386.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR AGED DEPENDENT CITIZENS
37
(A) We do not have a sufficient number of homeless pensioners to justify
maintenance of such an institution.
(B) It seldom happens that our applicants for county aid are entirely depend
ent. This is evidenced by the fact that most of them receive not more than $60
annually. Some get $30, others $40 and $50.
(C) In rural communities there is usually some kind neighbor who is willing
to shelter an old or infirm friend with a little help from neighbors and the county.
This, I find, applies to negroes as well as the whites.
(D) Occasionally w^e have a case of an old man or woman without a home.
These I have succeeded in placing in almshouses belonging to either Frederick,
Baltimore, or Montgomery counties. At this time we have one such patient who
is in Montevue Hospital, Frederick. We pay them $300 a year for his maintenance
which includes medical attention and nursing.
(E) _My experience has taught me that old folks prefer to spend their final
years in familiar surroundings, rather than enter an institution of any kind.
(F) In cases of emergency I have used our county jail with very satisfactory
results. All of the wives of our jailors have been exceedingly kind. Mrs. C. is
always ready to take in an unfortunate on my recommendation and in a short
time, with good food and a warm bed, she puts them on their feet. Such cases are
not confined to cells, but sleep in the hospital room and go out in the sunshine
when they feel like doing so. Sometimes I have the magistrate commit them as
vagrants for a short time, but I seldom do this with white people as preservation
of self-respect helps many a poor person to start to climb again.
(G) For larger communities I consider almshouses necessary.
The trend of opinion disclosed in the various pension States is
shown below:
Colorado.—The Colorado law is very recent, having been passed
only in 1927, and the reports thus far received from counties of that
State indicate that only one county has availed itself of the pension
law;and that county reports that it does not believe the system to be
any improvement on the almshouse system. Thirteen other counties
reporting are flatly opposed to the pension system, while five believe
the pension to be preferable to the poorhouse. Several replies indi
cate that while they have no general criticism to make of the idea of
old-age pensions, they can see no advantage in the adoption of the
present law. Thus, the report from one county runs as follows:
We can see no advantage in the Colorado old-age pension law and therefore
have never accepted or put it into use. It is more binding than our law governing
expenditures for care of paupers and anyone requiring assistance can be taken
care of from the poor fund. The old-age pension law limits any person receiving
benefits from it to a total maximum income of $1 per day from all sources and
requires the making of a separate levy, distribution of another fund from taxes
collected, and in all is of no benefit, except that possibly the person receiving it
may not feel that he is receiving charity if called an old-age pension rather than
poor or pauper support. It comes as a direct county tax if adopted by a county
and therefore only adds to the red tape of administration.
Four counties have a system of providing outdoor poor relief. Of
those who have poor relief, one is aiding 8 aged persons at an average
cost of $18.12 each per month, while another is assisting “ a very
large number in this way.” One of the poor-relief counties expresses
the opinion that “ the pension system is not preferable [to the alms
house] unless the State makes some provision for funds. As long as
the county must supply the funds, we prefer to handle the cases under
the poor fund.”
Three counties prefer the almshouse system because, in their opinion,
it is cheaper. One of these states: “ Pension system induces people
to apply who under the old system would not do so.” Another
expresses practically the same idea thus: “ People will apply for a
pension, but will avoid going to the county poorhouse as long as
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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38
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
possible.” The third reports: “ I think we have gotten along cheaper
this way as many would have been helped by a pension [whom] we
are not now helping.”
Kentucky.—Tn Kentucky, where only 3 of the 120 counties have
adopted the pension system, the county judge (who administers the
system) in one prefers the almshouse system but without giving rea
sons, one prefers the pension system, and one failed to reply on this
point,
Of the remaining counties the majority who expressed an opinion
were unfavorable to it, quite generally on the ground of expense.
One of these states:
We have spent quite a lot of money on our county infirmary and it is costing
$20,000 to $25,000 every year to operate the infirmary in addition to the invest
ment which we have in the farm. We have approximately 100 inmates in the
home.
Others frown upon the pension system because of the inadequacy
of the pension to cover the full support of the pensioner who has no
funds or relatives, because the majority of the pensioners are incapable
of handling money wisely, etc. One county judge, in a county which
had a pension system but discontinued it, gives his reasons for pre
ferring the almshouse to the pension as follows:
There are too many people who can not take care of money given to support
them and many swear falsely to secure same. If they are in need they would
prefer a comfortable infirmary to a poor living allowance given them.
Another expresses his opinion as follows: “ If the person lived with
relatives who would assist him, the pension would be preferable. If
destitute or wholly dependent the almshouse system is preferred.”
Another states:
In some cases I would prefer the pension system but in many cases it would
cost much more to care for them with a pension. We care for old or helpless
persons who are without means of support and have no one to support them, either
at our almshouse or by an amount allowed by the court per month for their aid
and support when it costs less than the cost of the almshouse.
Another county which has no regular pension system and dis
approves of it, but which practices something very like that system
in an informal way, reports as follows:
We have several old people who are too old to help themselves and too poor to
live without some assistance whom we help by making small monthly allowances
and let them stay at home or remain with some member of the family. We have
been doing this for years and find it gives satisfaction. Our county is not able
to have a general old-age pension system and merely help these who are needy.
Of course we have the usual Kentucky “ p°orh°use” but usually have but three
or four there. Have five now.
One county gives aid to aged poor in certain cases, one is paying
$10 per month to 12 old people, and a third pays $5 per month in
certain cases where the old person can live with relatives.
“ We
find it cheaper to keep charity claims other than blind with relatives
if possible. But we can not do without the almshouse for we find
cases that no one will keep in their families.”
The reporting officer in a fourth county, which has no pension sys
tem but has four persons who are each receiving $20, is inclined to
favor a pension system.
Maryland.—None of the counties in Maryland have adopted the
State pension plan, although opinion is quite favorable to old-age
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PUBLIC PENSIONS FOR AGED DEPENDENT CITIZENS
"39
pensions among those counties which reported. Many of the counties
which have not adopted the plan offered by the State law nevertheless
grant allowances (really poor relief) under an informal plan and have
done so for years. One county has abandoned its almshouse entirely
in favor of such relief; in a few instances, former inmates of the alms
house are boarded in private families. One county reports that this
allowance system has been practiced for at least"40 years; in 1927
there were 76 old people who each received the sum of $15, the county
paying out .$1,140 during the year. Another such county makes
allowances of from $10 to $25 a year to some 140 persons, the total
costing from $1,600 to $1,800 per year. A third, which has an
almshouse, nevertheless has for many years been granting small
yearly sums—from $7.50 to $30 to persons able with this help to
get a ong at home. The number of persons aided and the total
amount paid, it is reported, remains nearly constant from year to
year; during the year ending May 31, 1928, 140 persons received
assistance, at a total cost of $2,265. Another county which has its
own (not the State) system is aiding some 70 aged persons at a cost
of about $7,500 a year; in this county the relief system is regarded
as “ much better than the almshouse but not nearly so good as a home
for the aged [who are chronic invalids or incurablel, which the Eastern *
Shore counties are working to get at the coming session of the legis
lature.” Another county aids about 150 persons with an allowance
of $5 per month, another 6 persons at the rate of $1 per month each,
and a third 25 at the same rate.
M ontana. In Montana, among the auditors of the counties which
have the pension system, 21 are unqualifiedly favorable to it, and
7 unqualifiedly opposed. Of those opposed, one county auditor
states that he favors the almshouse plan because the pension is not
adequate for the pensioner’s entire support and the latter could live
better at the county poor farm. Another expresses the opinion
that the county should have a “ home” large enough to care for the
aged dependents in the county. Another states that the prevailing
opinion in his county is' that the almshouse would be more economical,
and another prefers_the almshouse system because fewer persons
would make application for admission to a poor farm than apply for
the pension. A fifth replies that the pension system “ is not as
economical as an almshouse, and the fact that mismanagement has
been the cause of a pensioner’s plight, so the habit of mismanagement
does not help him in his status as a pensioner. Many of the inhabi
tants of our county farm seem to be much more satisfied with their
present conditions than they were when receiving their pensions.”
Other opinions are that the pension plan is “ very satisfactory in our
county as we have been able to care for many of our people at a less
expense than at the farm and our farm is full at the present tim e” ;
that the pension is preferable to the almshouse “ from the viewpoint
of saving to the county” ; preferable “ both for the people and the
county’ ; preferable “ because the majority [of the pensioners] are
partially self-supporting or are aided by their children” ; or that the
“ pension is by far the best.”
One auditor thinks the results are about the same under either
pension or almshouse plan, and two others think the pension plan is
better in small counties and the almshouse in larger ones (in one case
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40
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
because of the expense in large counties). One report states that the
county in question “ is going to try out the home system when they
get it fixed up for that purpose; put them in the home and have a
caretaker.”
In the eight counties reporting which have not adopted the pension
plan, four think the almshouse preferable to the pension plan; and one
auditor states that “ neither is the proper way to care for paupers,”
but does not state what, in his opinion, would be the proper way to
handle the problem.
Nevada.—Only two counties reporting in Nevada have formally
adopted the pension plan and in one of these it is as yet inoperative
because of lack of funds.
The commissioner of one county which has no pension plan but
does give “ aid” at the rate of $17.50 per month each to 24 persons
states that in his opinion, the pension plan is impracticable for the
reason that “ many indigents in this county are not capable of han
dling their money and our county gives orders for groceries, etc.,
instead of cash.” Another county has a monthly allowance system
through which 100 persons are now receiving aid at the rate of $15
per month.
Wisconsin.—In the three years’ operation of the law, five counties
have put the pension plan into effect. Taking advantage of the
provision of the law which permits a county to discontinue the pension
plan after it has been in effect one year, Wood County, which had
adopted the plan in 1925, discontinued it a year and a half afterward,
but six months later adopted it again. Another of the original five
counties revoked its acceptance, but its place was taken by another
county which has recently accepted the plan but is not covered by the
table on page 34.
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S ta b ility of E m p lo y m e n t in th e L eath er and B oot and S h o e
In d u stries
TUDIES were made of the leather industry and of the boot and
shoe industry for the purpose of measuring the degree of regu
larity of employment and to ascertain whether regularity of
employment has improved, during recent years. The plan of analysis
is the same as that employed in similar studies of various industries
previously published in the Labor Review, as follows: Railroad in
dustry, in August, 1928; iron and steel industry, in November, 1928;
men’s clothing industry, in January, 1929; automobile industry, in
February, 1929.
For the sake of clearness, the explanations as to method or plan
of analysis given before are repeated.
The basic data for the study are derived from the monthly reports
made to the Bureau of Labor Statistics by most of the important
leather and boot and shoe factories, as part of the general employ
ment survey made monthly by the bureau and covering almost 12,000
manufacturing plants in various lines of industry. As these reports
give only the number of employees of all kinds without separation by
occupational groups, the present analysis must disregard occupa
tional differences and treat the employees of a plant as a unit.
The method here employed for the measurement of stability is
that of the relationship of average monthly employment during the
year to the number of employees in the month of maximum employ
ment. Thus, if during 1927 a particular plant had a monthly aver
age of 90 employees and the maximum number in any month was
100, then the stability of employment may be fairly said to be 90
per cent. In other words, if the 100 men needed to fill the posi
tions at the busiest season had no other opportunity for work, then
each man would have an opportunity of 90 per cent of full-time
employment. Of course, this is rarely quite true, but it is often sub
stantially true; and, in any case, the method offers a fairly accurate
measure of the degree in which a particular establishment has at
tained a condition of stable employment. On the other hand, failure
of an establishment to obtain a good level of stability in one or all
occupations must not necessarily be attributed to faulty management.
Many factors over which the management has little or no control
may affect the stability of employment. Nevertheless, an employ
ment stability of or very near to 100 per cent is the desirable goal.
The method of measuring employment stability just described has
been used in this study because it is simple and clear. Somewhat
more accurate measures of a mathematical character could be em
ployed, but what they gain in accuracy is more than overbalanced
by complexity in computation and explanation.
In this connection it is important to bear in mind that regularity
of employment is an entirely different matter from volume of employ
ment. Thus, the total number of employees in a plant may steadily
decline from year to year with improving productive efficiency, while
within each year the fluctuations in the number of employees, whether
due to seasonal or other causes, may progressively diminish, with
the result that the employees, though fewer in number, may have
more steady work.
S
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41
42
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Leather Industry
rT‘HE percentages of full-time employment, computed as described
above, have been worked out for 70 leather plants for each of the
years from 1923 to 1927 and for the 12-montli period ending Novem
ber, 1928. The plants included ten various kinds of leathers.
The average full-time employment in the leather industry, as shown
at the end of Table 1, is not good, but it appears that conditions
regarding stability are showing slight improvement. Stability rates
of over 90 were found in 44.3 per cent of the plants in 1928 and in
55.8 per cent in 1927; before 1927 considerabty fewer plants were
included in this group.
It will be also noted that the individual plants as a rule follow the
general averages in the same manner and in about the same propor
tions. Some plants with consistently bad stability rates are included
and they are not as a rule showing the improvement that the plants
with the higher stability rates are, while a few plants fluctuate widely
from year to year.
Table 1 shows the per cent of full-time employment in the leather
industry, arranged in descending order according to the favorable
ness of the showing in 1928.
T able 1.— P E R C E N T OE F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E L E A T H E R IN D U S T R Y
P lan t
No.
L o catio n 1
1923
1924
89.0
i Philadelphia, P a __ . - ____
93. 3
2 Pennsylvania_________________
98.2
3 Philadelphia, P a
__________
95.3
4 Chicago, ill___________________
80.7
5 Philadelphia, P a . ____________
91.0
6 ____do_ _
__________ ______
97. 7
7 ____d o _ _ _ ___ _______________
83.4
8 ____d o ______________________ _
82.9
9 C onnecticut _________________
93. 2
10 P e n n s y lv a n ia ____
________
83.6
11 ____d o _________________ ______
96.9
12 Philadelphia, P a _
- ______
92.5
13 W isconsin _ _____
14 Peabody, M ass__________ _____
90.7
95.9
15 Chicago, 111_____ - ________ *
90.4
16 Peabody, M ass-----------------------84.5
17 Illinois. .............................. ... . . .
85.1
18 Pennsylvania--------------------------82.
3
19 Salem, M ass__________________
93.6
_______ _________
20 K e n tu ck y .
64.6
21 Boston, M ass__________ ______
81.8
22 California. _______ _________
87.0
23 M assachusetts___________ _____
91. 2
24 Chicago, 111 _______
. . . .
75.0
25 P e n n s y lv a n ia ____ ___________
91.7
26 M assachusetts_________ ______
94.6
27 Pennsylvania........... .......
82. 5
28 Chicago, 111.__________________
94. 1
29 C incinnati, O h io ... ___________
88.0
30 ____d o _______ ________________
89. 7
31 San Francisco, Calif _______
92. 2
_____
. ____ .
32 M ichigan.
83.4
33 Pennsylvania_______ _
... _
83.4
34 ____d o ________________________
80.0
35 V irginia. _ ______
______ _
96.4
36 Chicago, 111. . .
. . . .. . . .
83.4
37 W ilm ington, D e l_____ . . . . . . .
80. 3
38 M in n e s o ta _______ . . . ____
91. 7
_________
39 W isconsin___ _
U n cases where th e nam e of th e c ity m ig h t id en tify th e
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[460]
84. 3
57.0
80. 5
83.6
88. 3
72.9
86. 1
80.2
75.4
96. 3
89. 1
87. 1
89.0
80.2
84.0
88. 3
64. 7
87. 5
47.7
92.8
85. 7
87.5
92.6
88.0
76.2
93.0
94.0
82. 7
85.0
86.6
87.9
73. 7
62.8
27.6
92.0
90. 0
77. 2
74.0
86.8
1925
97.7
88.8
97.8
91. 2
95. 2
92. 5
86. 1
86. 8
94. 1
91. 7
89.3
96. 1
86.9
91. 1
89. 1
87. 5
87.5
87.7
60. 7
92. 0
82. 9
90. 3
93.5
89.3
90.4
88. 5
93. 1
89.4
88.9
90.0
71. 2
86.6
84. 0
44. 4
92. 3
93. 3
86. 3
82. 4
96.0
1926
1927
92.2
93.4
100. 0
95. 1
85.9
78.6
91.0
75.8
91.4
93.4
82.8
80.4
84. 1
81.0
96.5
82. 7
84. 1
81.2
59.3
90.4
86. 3
74. 8
91.0
89.5
87.6
92. 9
97. 0
83.2
95.9
94.8
72. 1
86. 1
83.0
20. 0
95.0
85. 7
92. 1
90. 7
86.7
p la n t, only th e S ta te is given.
96.9
91.4
92.6
91.6
91.2
80.7
95.2
76.4
87.9
92.2
72.2
90. 6
95.0
81.8
90.9
90.8
84.7
92.6
67.9
99. 1
91.5
97. 7
93.8
92.0
93.8
95.3
96.6
95.7
92.2
84. 8
84.9
90.9
90. 2
76.7
97. 1
92.9
88.9
83. 7
95.6
12 m onths
ending
N ovem
ber, 1928
99.3
97.8
97.6
96.4
96.4
95.2
95. 1
94.8
94.6
93.7
93.7
93.6
93.4
93.2
93.1
93. 1
93.1
93.0
93.0
92.8
92.5
92.4
92.4
92.4
92.0
91.8
91.3
90.7
90.5
90.5
90.2
89.8
89.7
89.3
88.9
88.9
88.4
88.0
87.2
43
EMPLOYMENT IN THE BOOT AND SHOE INDUSTRY
T able 1.—P E R
P lan t
No.
40
41
42
43
44«
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
(¡1
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
C E N T OF F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E L E A T H E R
IN D U S T R Y —C ontinued
1924
1923
Location
1925
1926
1927
12 m onths
ending
N ovem
ber, 1928
M ich ig an .------------------------------Peabody, M ass________________
California ________ __________
Salem, M ass---------------------------M ain e___ ______ . . ---------- -St. Louis, M o ------ . . . . . . . . .
M ilw aukee, Wis__ -----------------M assachusetts. . . . . -------------Illinois__
...
------- -- . . .
W ilm ington, D e l___ _ . . . . . . .
W hitm an, M ass___________ _
Pen n sy lv an ia-------- . ------- .
M ilw aukee, W is---------------------Peabody, M ass------- -------------M ary lan d ____________ ____ _
Peabody, M ass-----------------------Salem, M ass . ----------- ------ . . .
Peabody, M ass----- . . . --------California. — _
-------------- ------------- Ohio . . ____
Virginia -------- --------- -----------Salem, M a s s __________________
M ichigan---------- -------------------M assachusetts________________
W ilm ington, D e l. -----------------L ynn, M ass __________________
Philadelphia, P a . ------------------____d o ______________ ________
L ynn, M a s s ----- ------------------San Francisco, C alif_______ . . .
Chicago, 111________ _______
89.0
81.2
96.0
91.7
82. 1
78.9
82. 5
84. 5
91. 7
85.6
100. 0
86. 2
87.6
70.6
100.0
81. 2
74. 2
76.8
82.9
96.4
68.8
80. 8
92.7
67.6
93. 8
57.8
89.7
51.9
90. 1
87.9
89.0
72.4
89.2
70.4
96.4
76. 3
80.0
91. 1
85.2
79.4
84. 4
100. 0
86. 3
95. 3
73.9
92. 8
83.9
58.8
91. 6
84. 2
96.4
84. 5
87. 7
89. 1
55. 8
86.9
78.0
70.4
63. 4
73.0
97.0
66.3
84.9
67. 8
84.7
82. 2
87.4
80.0
90. 1
93.3
87.8
84.1
90.0
82. 0
90. 7
73.3
83. 3
67.3
62.9
78.2
92.7
86.0
87.7
91. 5
96. 5
74. 7
93. 3
72.9
77.6
63.4
69. 1
90.2
92. 5
86.7
88.9
60.4
71.6
88.9
81.0
89.4
89.2
74.6
85.4
76.9
84. 4
79.2
78.5
100. 0
71. 1
85. 7
71.8
69.2
85.4
78. 1
89.5
84.8
66. 1
74.0
62.0
84.6
37.6
65. 1
95. 1
77. 7
86.2
80. 5
77.5
95.8
97. 1
90. 5
91.8
93.4
90.6
78.0
95.0
85. 1
89.0
66. 2
100.0
82.8
89.9
79. 5
86.3
89.7
79.7
71.6
92.4
86. 5
95.0
71.4
90.0
83. 1
75.8
95.8
89.9
87.2
86.5
86.2
85.9
85.7
85. 7
85.4
84.6
84.2
83.8
83. 3
82.5
81.6
80.4
80.0
80.0
79.4
78.9
78. 7
78.4
78.1
77.8
77.5
75.0
74.5
73.3
68.9
67. 3
67.3
63. 5
59.3
A verage. . . — . ____
H ighest___ ____________
Lowest
____ . . . . .
86. 0
100. 0
51. 9
81.4
100. 0
27.6
85.4
97.8
44. 4
82. 2
100.0
20.0
88.2
100.0
66.2
86.4
99.3
59. 3
Per cent of p lants w ith employm en t stab ility of—
95 per cent and over
90 to 94.9 per c e n t.. . . . -----85 to 89.9 per cen t---- -------- -80 to 84.9 per c en t.. . . . . . .
U nder 80 per cent_______ _
14.3
25. 7
17. 1
28. 6
14.3
8.6
12. 9
28. 6
17. 1
32.9
8.6
31.4
27. 1
14.3
18.6
11.4
15. 7
22.9
18. 6
31.4
22.9
32.9
14.3
12.9
17. 1
10.0
34.3
21.4
12. 9
21.4
Boot and Shoe Industry
ETOR the boot and shoe industry 99 plants were studied. These
* plants make various kinds of leather shoes. An inspection of
the averages at the end of Table 2 discloses that this industry shows
a consistently poor average, with little improvement apparent.
With the exception of 1927, every year showed a lower average than
1923—the initial year for which data are presented. It will be noted
however, that taking the industry as a whole the average from year
to year is fairly steady.
I t will also "be noted that plants with stability rates of 90 to 100
were more numerous in 1928 than in any of the other five years
shown; on the other hand, the number of plants with stability rates
under 80 were almost twice as great in 1928 as in 1927.
A few* plants (notably Nos. 2, 4, and 17) maintained a fairly good
average stability rate throughout the period studied. The individual
plants as a rule maintain a fairly even rate. However, employment
stability in those plants with the lower rates seems to be decreasing.
Table 2 shows the per cent of full-time employment in the boot
and shoe industry for the years 1923 to 1927 and for the 12-month
35895°—29----- 4
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
period ending November, 1928, arranged in descending order according
to the favorableness of the showing in 1928.
T able 3 .—P E R C E N T O F F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E B O O T A N D SH O E
IN D U S T R Y
12 m onths
P lan t
No.
L o catio n 1
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
ending
N ovem
ber,
1928
1 Brooklyn, N . Y _____ . .
2 Philadelphia, P a ______
____
3 M ilw aukee, Wis . ___ _______
4 N ew Y ork (State) _. . . . . . . . .
5 St. Louis, M o
...
6 M arlboro, M ass ____________ 7 Pen n sy lv an ia_____ _____
8 Chicago, 111. ,
. . _______ _
9 G ardiner, M e - .
_______ ____
10 St. Louis, M o _____________ . . .
11 Pontiac, 111. . . .- - . . . ____
12 M ilw aukee, W i s . . ______ _____
13 M anchester, N . H - . ______ __
14 Rochester, N . Y ------- ------ -------15 Carlisle, P a ____ . . . ____ _____
16 St. Louis, M o ___ ________
.
17 N ew Y ork (S tate). . .
___ ____
18 C incinnati, Ohio . ___
19 M ichigan_____ ____ ____ . . . _20 Lynchburg, V a __________
21 St. Louis, M o ___
_ . ______
22 Illinois_______________________
23 Portsm outh, O hio-------------------24 W hitm an, M a s s ________ . . .
25 M assachusetts— ______________
26 L ynchburg, V a _______ ______
27 ____do________ _______________
28 M issouri________________
29 St. Louis, M o . _ - _________
30 P hiladelphia, P a ___ ___ ■____
31 ____do________________________
32 Boston, M ass. _____________ _
33 M iddleboro, M ass.
______. . .
34 Rochester, N . Y ________ _____
__________
35 Brooklyn, N . Y - .
36 Lynchburg, V a . . . ____
_ .
37 D over, N . H __________________
38 Brockton, M ass ___________
39 Pontiac, 111___________________________
40 B rockton, M ass.
___________
41 St. Louis, M o . __________
42 Lowell, M a s s __________ . . . . .
43 St. Louis, M o __ _
44 ____do___ _____ ______ _________
45 C olum bus, Ohio_______________
46 G ardiner, M e _________________
47 M ilw aukee, Wis ____. . . . . . .
48 C olum bus, O hio.
._ . . .
49 St. Louis, M o _________________
50 P hiladelphia, P a . . . . . ______
51 St. Louis, M o 52 Brooklyn, N . Y __
53 M anchester, N . H .
54 M ichigan_____________________
55 N ew Jersey.. . . . . ._ _ . . . ___
56 Belleville, 111_____
____
57 A uburn, N . Y _____ __________
58 C olum bus, O h io ... _ ____. . .
59 Rochester, N . Y__ __ _______ _
60 L ynchburg, V a_____ _ _ _ _ _ _
61 Pennsylvania.
62 Belleville, 111______
63 M aine________________________
64 C incinnati, O hio___ ____ ___
65 M anchester, N . H -_.
.
. .
66 H arrisburg, P a ________________
_______ .
67 M issouri__ _
68 W hitm an, M ass ............
. ..
..
...
69 M anchester, N . II
70 St. Paul, M in n ________________
71 C incinnati, Ohio . ____ . . .
72 M anchester, N . H ____
76.8
96.3
89.3
96.9
96.0
73.2
87. 2
92. 1
89.2
83.0
94.3
93. 1
97. 2
87.4
72. 7
85. 4
94. 1
89. 2
90. 4
85.4
87.2
91.0
86. 7
93. 1
87. 1
83.3
77.2
93.6
89.9
92.3
96. 4
88.9
94. 4
89.0
93.9
82. 2
76. 7
83. 7
93.0
80. 0
84.8
88. 1
91.8
79. 5
90.3
90.6
85.4
84.6
89. 5
87. 1
90.9
90.3
88. 2
76.8
92. 4
95.8
93. 1
92.4
84. 5
84. 1
91.9
58.7
88. 5
91.0
91. 6
87.4
80. 6
90. 2
89.6
94. 1
92. 7
96.6
79.5
95. 7
88. 1
94.0
88.6
80.9
91.6
93.9
94. 1
88.9
87. 5
80.0
90.6
95. 0
91.9
95.0
96. 7
91.9
81.4
90.5
89.6
87.8
92. 2
88. 3
90. 1
77.5
95. 4
79. 6
79. 2
92. 7
96. 5
82.0
91.0
86. 6
86. 6
94.2
79.5
78.7
90. 5
76.9
85.4
90. 7
90.6
79.4
83.4
82.9
75.3
92.3
96.2
90.6
94.0
91.6
70.3
68.6
74.0
94.3
98.0
91.8
84. 5
96.0
89.4
81.9
90.5
93.4
83.2
91.7
90.0
87.2
84. 5
87.0
87.0
73.4
79.4
95. 4
94.6
97.3
96. 1
64.4
64.9
96.0
86. 1
96.8
91. 7
83.2
92.8
88.3
88.4
95. 7
98.0
91. 5
81.3
86. 1
88. 7
92.3
93.3
92. 1
96. 4
83. 9
93.3
79. 5
91.4
93. 1
88.4
91. 0
95. 5
92. 2
90.8
77.5
85. 1
90.8
90.4
76. 5
87. 3
89. 2
92.5
80.5
92.9
87.5
76.6
89.3
92. 2
87.4
78.8
85. 2
87.4
53. 2
84. 2
95.8
89. 5
89.3
90.8
88. 1
90. 1
95.0
88.0
92.0
91.6
84.9
95.4
84.4
95. 1
93.8
89.4
90.3
48.4
94. 1
96. 2
91. 3
94.9
95. 7
81.9
91. 7
90. 1
91. 5
87. 6
81.3
89. 1
91. 9
97. 4
94. 6
95. 6
90. 7
95.4
91.5
85.8
92.8
87.6
94.8
94. 6
85. 6
91.9
74. 5
85.6
89. 1
92. 7
89. 1
94. 7
90. 7
94. 3
93.3
74. 5
82. 5
87. 7
83. 7
88.9
90.6
90. 7
90.0
94.4
90. 5
79.4
93.9
93.4
87. 2
79.4
83. 4
89.6
73.8
82.6
89. 2
83. 1
83.3
90. 2
87.2
90. 5
90.3
85.8
93. 2
83.8
75. 7
84. 7
56.6
87.3
89.1
88.3
83. 2
O n cases w here th e nam e of th e city m ig h t identify th e p lan t, only th e State is given.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 462 ]
94.9
91. 2
97.7
97.2
96. 0
88. 7
91. 4
91.2
95. 4
93.5
90.9
93.5
89.5
92.6
86. 2
94.0
96.8
93.9
87.9
94. 1
81.2
95.3
91.7
88.6
94. 5
85.3
84.4
93. 7
93.2
91. 7
94.0
78. 1
85.8
89.9
86.8
88.5
84.0
90.4
95.3
84. 5
89.3
91.6
80.9
87.4
88.0
95.7
75.0
•87.6
89.8
89. 7
88.5
89.3
95.0
82. 1
93. 7
88.7
85. 1
93. 1
91. 8
89.3
87.4
94.0
89.9
84.6
88.3
88. 5
89.1
84.7
88. 1
92.8
87.7
88.3
* 100. 0
98.2
98.1
97.9
97.6
97.3
97.1
96.5
96.5
96.0
95. 7
95.6
95.2
94.9
94.6
94.4
94.0
93.9
93.8
93.8
93.7
93.4
93.4
93.1
93.0
93.0
92.7
92.4
92.4
92.4
92.3
92.3
92. 1
91.8
91.2
90.9
90.9
90.8
90.6
90.6
90.5
90.5
90.4
90.3
90.1
89.8
89.5
89.4
89.0
88.9
88.9
88.8
88.4
88.3
88.3
88.2
88.2
87.0
86.9
86.9
86.4
85.7
85.0
84.9
84. 684.4
84.0
83.2
83.1
82.4
82.3
82.3
45
EMPLOYMENT IN THE BOOT AND SHOE INDUSTRY
T able
P lant
No.
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
2 —PER
CENT
OF F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y M E N T IN
IN D U S T R Y —C ontinued
Location
M a in e .................................. ............
Brooklyn, N . Y _______________
L ynn , M ass______ _______
_
Texas __ ..................... ....................
M ichigan_____________________
L ynn, M ass____ _____________
Brockton, M ass
. ______
Pennsylvania ____
_____
N ew H a m p s h ire ______________
Brockton, M ass_______________
M anchester, N . H___............ __
D erry, N . H __________ ____ _
M anchester, N . H ____
. .
D erry, N . H ...... ... ..........
M issouri_________________ ____
M ichigan _____ _ _____ ______
Boston, M ass. ________ _______
M aine.
.
_ _____ . .
M innesota____________________
St. Paul, M in n ______ ______
St. Louis, M o _____ _ ______
W eym outh, M ass__________ __
Chicago, 111......................
..........
M anchester, N . 11_____________
W est V irginia____________
L ynn, M a s s ..._______________
Philadelphia, P a ________ _____
1923
1924
91. 2
92. 7
87. 5
84.1
88.4
84.0
63.7
93.8
73.2
83. 5
85.4
76.8
84. 5
82.8
93.4
90. 1
76.7
84.6
94. 4
84.6
86.3
94.3
86.6
70.3
81.5
69.3
89.0
42.4
89.0
76. 2
80.4
86.2
90.7
85.8
66.1
64.0
80.9
84.4
76. 7
81.4
74.3
79. 7
91.4
78.6
83. 1
73.8
73.9
78.0
84.8
76.9
79.0
70.2
77.0
49.8
A v e ra g e ... . . . . _ ____
H ighest______ ____ ____
Low est. .
87.0
97. 2
58. 7
Per cent of plants w ith employm en t stab ility of—
95 per cent and over _„
90 to 94.9 per cen t.. _ _
85 to 89.9 per cent.
_ _ .
80 to 84.9 per cent.
U nder 80 per cent.
7. 1
33.3
27.3
18. 2
14. 1
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[463]
1925
THE
BOOT AND
1926
1927
SH O E
12 m onths
ending
N ovem
ber,
1928
80.0
72.4
91. 4
87.0
65.9
89.0
73.9
79.0
81.3
81.1
88.9
93. 5
76.4
73.7
84.8
64.8
81.3
87.0
89.5
75.3
90. 2
90.6
73.0
85. 7
89. 1
82.0
86.6
88.0
72.9
90.5
88.3
69.1
86.0
78.7
92.8
85.6
74.4
72.9
90.0
83. 7
78. 7
75.4
68. 1
70.8
79.5
93. 7
85.8
86.2
91. 1
94. 3
89.8
83.1
84.0
78.3
81.2
73.1
89.0
69.8
74.2
82.1
87.4
90.6
87.6
92.3
81.5
85.3
79.4
74.9
80.6
78.8
87.2
81.8
81.3
81.0
81.0
80.5
80.2
80.2
80.0
79.6
78.4
78.3
78. 1
77.4
77.4
75.6
75.4
74.4
71.7
71.5
71.4
69.1
64.9
62.5
59.6
56.9
44.4
41.4
84.6
98.0
42.4
86.0
98.0
53. 2
86. 1
97.4
48.4
88.2
97. 7
69.8
85.9
100. 0
41.4
9.1
28.3
17. 2
16. 2
29. 3
13. 1
28.3
23. 2
12. 1
23. 2
5.1
35.4
27. 3
13. 1
19.2
9.1
29.3
37.4
14.1
10. 1
13.1
32.3
18.2
17. 2
19.2
90.6
87.5
68.0
73.8
76.8
91.8
68. 5
79.3
77.8
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR AND
INDUSTRY
U ltim a te E ffects of A u to m a tic M a ch in e P ro d u ctio n 1
B y E t h e l b e r t S t e w a r t , U . S . C o m m is s io n e r o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s
NEW device has been perfected in Rochester, N. Y., by which
the Mergen thaler machines can be run by electricity from a
central station, any number of them operated by one person
and any distance apart. It appears to be practically on the idea of
a piano player. One person can sit in Rochester, punch holes in a
tape 500 miles away, and set up exactly the same article on any
number of papers. It has already been developed on 12 papers at
one time, and there is no reason to suppose that it can not be done
on 25 papers.
The annual manufacture of combination harvester-threshing ma
chines, which will harvest from 20 to 48 acres of wheat in a day,
according to the length of cut, increased from 5,131 in 1925 to 18,307
in 1927. These machines are operated by from one to two men. On
the authority of ex-Governor Allen, of Kansas, there were 8,000 of
these combined machines in use in Kansas in 1926, with an estimation
that the number had been increased to 13,000 in the year 1927.
There can be no doubt that this machine will solve the problem of
wheat harvesting. On the other hand, there can be no doubt,
except among those who insist on doubting, that it has shifted the
problem to the hundreds of thousands of men who depended upon the
wheat-harvesting season for a considerable percentage of their total
employment.
Looking a little bit into the future, you are each of you doubtless
aware of the experiments that are being made by the Department of
Agriculture in the use of mulch paper in the raising of all types of
agricultural products which are planted in rows. This has become
an established success with the pineapple growers of Hawaii, who
last year bought half a million dollars worth of paper, where 90 per
cent of the total crop is grown by this method. It is a black paper
not so heavy as that used for roofing, strongly impregnated with
asphalt, and while it has not been used to any great extent as yet
except in the pineapple fields of Hawaii, it has there raised the per
centage of output by 30 per cent and has accomplished another result,
that it makes for practical certainty of a crop each year. It holds
the moisture in the ground, it holds the warmth in the ground, keeps
down weeds, and entirely dispenses with the necessity for human
labor aside from planting and harvesting. The percentage of increase
in yield as shown in the experiments of the Department of Agri-
A
1 E xtracts from an address delivered a t Cornell U niversity, Jan. 21, 1929.
46
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[464]
EFFECTS OF AUTOMATIC MACHINE PRODUCTION
47
culture conducted at its experimental farms at Arlington, Va., were
as follows:
Per cent of
increase
Per cent of
increase
White potatoes__________
Cotton_________________
Sweet potatoes___________
Celery__________________
Peppers_________________
Eggplant________________
73
91
122
123
146
150
Green beans_____________ 153
Beets____________________ 409
Carrots_________________ 507
Cucumbers_______________ 512
Sweet corn______________ 691
This list leaves out some of the most startling experiments in the
field of truck gardening, where tomatoes not only increased their
yield 44 per cent but shortened the time between planting and bearing
by several weeks. It has proved a success with carrots, radishes,
spinach, onions, and in each instance the increase in production and
saving of labor has been sufficient to pay for the paper in one year,
whereas the paper will last practically four years, during which time
there is no necessity for cultivation nor any of that class of labor
which relates to the elimination of weeds or the stirring up of the
ground, the retention of moisture and various chemical properties
making cultivation unnecessary. How many men this will throw out
of work I leave you to guess.
There may be some silver lining to this cloud. I refer particularly
to truck farming in the neighborhood of cities, where armies of children
are employed at the most back-breaking work any human being ever
attempted to do. The extent to which the use of this paper will
eliminate child labor can be forecast from a study made of 501 boys
and girls working on truck farming in Cook County, 111. Of the total
number of children employed, 404 were boys and 97 were girls. Of
these, 292 boys and 65 girls were engaged in the occupation of weed
ing, a total of 357 out of the 501 children included in the study.
The elimination of weeding is one of the principal results of the use
of mulch paper.
The subdivision of labor has gone to an extent in the United States
which is not only amazing but beyond the comprehension of most
industrialists of Europe and, indeed, of all foreign countries. That
239 separate operations and 239 different people are employed in
making a pair of shoes seems utterly incomprehensible. To tell a
foreign workman or industrial manager that in the manufacture of a
needle used in one type of sewing machine 44 different people are
required—and this does not include the packing and shipping depart
ments—is to be met with a vacant and almost incredulous stare.
But it is this specialization that has made the application of machin
ery possible. A machine that does more than one thing is as a general
proposition too expensive in its construction and is too liable to get
out of working order frequently. For instance, there are two grooves,
one on each side of the sewing machine needle. Now it pays better
to put these needles through two machines that are absolutely auto
matic and cut these grooves separately than it does to construct a
machine which will cut both grooves at once. While the invention of
such a machine is entirely practicable, it does not pay from a mass pro
duction point of view. The eye is punched in the needle after these
grooves are made. At first an eye-ponching machine was constructed
which punched one needle at a time, and was operated b^7 a girl.
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14651
48
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Now they have an automatic machine, in which you pour the needles
into a hopper, which does twenty-five times as much as this girl could
do on the original eye-punching machine; and the original machine
is now used only in the manufacture of special needles or when the
demand is outrunning the productive capacity of the automatic
machine.
In passing the needle through so many machines and processes,
naturally a number of them become bent. Originally girls inspected
for crooked needles, and a few experts are still retained to do this hand
inspection. Now a girl inspecting for crooked needles by hand will
handle 3,000 needles an hour, while an automatic machine has been
invented to inspect for crooked needles which does 27,000 per hour.
It is admitted by the manager that the hand inspection, however, is
a trifle more efficient; that is to say, there are girls whose eyes have
been trained to a point where they can detect a crooked needle more
accurately than it has been possible to do by automatic machinery.
The question is very frequently asked whether we have not carried
specialized machinery to a point where it does not pay. Another
question is frequently presented as to where this is going to end and
what will be the effect upon human employment if we keep on invent
ing machines that take the place of from 10 to 25 persons and even
in some instances as many as 100 persons. It used to be said that just
as many people were needed to build the labor-saving machines, and
that this was a higher grade of labor, hence from the worker’s point
of view it was all to the good. The answer to that is that if it requires
as many people to make the machines as the difference between hand
production and machine production then there has been no labor
saved and the higher wage rates of the machine constructors would
make machine production more expensive than hand production,
which shows the absurdity of the whole proposition. The answer to
those questions, if there is one, is the absorption of labor by new
industries and the shortening of the hours of labor for machine
attendants.
It is, however, doubtless true that a study should be made by com
petent persons, if there are any such, as to whether or not we are
carrying specialized machinery too far. Perhaps it had better be
put this way: Is there an ascertainable point in production along any
line beyond which specialized machinery is not profitable?
It seems to me that it is time for us to begin to try to answer the
question of “ What are you going to do about it? ” The objection of
William Morris, of Tolstoi, of Mahatma Gandhi—in fact, of the
whole eastern and European culture as opposed to the American cul
ture—is that you are going to make men slaves of machinery, you
are going to faetoryize mankind, and that sooner or later our very
souls will rebel against the whole process.
Unless American culture finds some way to answer this, then
Gandhi, Tolstoi, and William Morris are right. But is there no
answer to it? Already the 5-day week can be mentioned without
serious danger of arrest. Already the 10-hour day is becoming an
exception rather than the rule. If American culture will be willing
to compromise with the views of the Orient, less radically held in
Europe, that the purpose of mankind is to develop mankind, then this
very machinery which the Orient so dreads, which Tolstoi and William
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[466]
DISPLACEMENT OF RAILROAD LABOR
49
Morris rail at with such venom, will be the instrument of accomplish
ing the very thing that the oriental point of view values most. In
fact, in my opinion, it is the only way in which to accomplish it. I
venture to say that there is not an industry in the United States to-day
that could not produce all that it can sell with the present equipment
working 30 hours a week. I am willing to leave room for one or two
exceptions to this, though I do not know what they are. If we progress
as we have in most industries, four days of six hours each would accom
plish all that is necessary even at the present t i m e a n d as things go
on, instead of working men to pile up overproduction let machinery
be our slaves, let machinery operate to give us the leisure for the con
templation that Gandhi considers the sole purpose of life.
Let us change our point of view as to the object of existence. At
present it is work, work, work; produce, produce, produce; and sell,
sell, sell. We have no education along any other lines. We do not
know what to do with our leisure. We do not know what Mahatma
Gandhi means by contemplation. The whole machinery of education
should be turned at once toward a study of leisure, and toward teach
ing the coming generation the use and purpose of leisure, for, take it
from me, they will have plenty of it.
D isp la c e m e n t of R ailroad Labor 1
B y E t h e l b e r t S t e w a r t , U . S . C o m m is s io n e r o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s
D
URING the past several years the average number of railroad
employees of all classes has remained fairly constant, the total
being somewhat larger in 1928 than in 1922 and somewhat
smaller in 1928 than in 1924. This was also the general situation as
regards most of the occupations, although a few, such as carmen and
telegraphers, have shown such a steady decline of recent years as to
indicate that this may be a permanent movement, and others, such
as electrical workers and maintenance-of-way employees, have shown
a definite trend upward.
Of course, no one can forecast the future, but from the tendencies
indicated above, it seems that the worst that can be apprehended
regarding railway employment is that it will either not decrease at
all or will decrease very slowly, as regards both total employees and
as regards practically all the individual occupations.
This being so, it seems to me that the real problem is not so much
the making of provisions for displaced workers as it is of not taking
on new employees unless they are absolutely needed. _
In every group of workers there is a certain proportion which drops
out each year. If the average industrial life of railroad workers is
40 years (and this is probably much too high an estimate), there
would be an automatic decrease, through death, retirement, etc.,’ of
2y2 per cent a year. In other words, if no new employees were taken
on, the working force would automatically decrease 25 per cent in 10
years.
Such a decrease would be much greater than any indicated decrease
in the demand for railroad labor, and thus there would arise no neces1 E xtracts from address before R ailroad Labor Conference, Baltim ore, M d., Jan. 19, 1929.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[467]
50
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
sity for ever considering the problem of displaced labor. The matter
would take care of itself.
Thus, to repeat, it seems evident that a railroad, by a careful
policy of not taking on any new employees except to fill actual gaps
in the ranks in its labor force, could give substantially continuous
employment to all its old employees and prevent the occurrence of the
problem of what to do with displaced workers, except in the case of a
comparatively few occupations.
To carry out such a policy in an effective manner would require
two things:
First, there must be no arbitrary age limits on employment.
Second, railroad employment must be stabilized throughout the
year much more effectively than it has been in the past.
As regards the placing of arbitrary age limits on employment, it is
probable that no road discharges a regular worker just because he
has reached a certain age limit such as 40 or 45. It is possible, how
ever, that some of them do refuse to employ new men who have
passed a certain age, and this would prevent the rehiring of the old
railroad men who had once been dropped.
As regards the second point—stabilizing employment throughout
the year—such stability is in itself, of course, an immensely important
thing to the worker. Men must live upon their earnings, not upon
their wage rates, and a fair wage rate loses its value if work is not
regular.
In addition, however, stability of employment is an essential pro
tection to the older employees. If a man is dropped because of lack
of Iwork, he may on occasion be carried on the pay roll and be taken
back when work is available. But, very often, this is not the case.
He is simply dropped and endures all the vicissitudes of a new man
seeking work, such as being rejected because of “ old age” without
even a chance to demonstrate his efficiency.
At present on many railroads there are enormous variations in
employment from month to month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
last year made a study of employment on certain railroads to discover
to what extent employment actually did fluctuate throughout the year
on 'different roads, and whether there had been any improvement as
regards employment stability in recent years. The full details of the
study were published in the Labor Review for August, 1928. I can
here touch only upon the high spots:
The study covered 10 representative railroads and 6 representative
occupations. The roads were located in various sections of the
country. The method of measuring employment stability used was
that of the relationship of average monthly employment during the
year to the number of employees in the month of maximum employ
ment. Thus, if during 1927 a particular occupation of a particular
road had a monthly average of 80 employees and the maximum num
ber in any month was 100, then the stability of employment for that
year may be fairly said to be 80 per cent. In other words, if the 100
men needed to fill the position at the busiest season had no other
opportunity for work, then each man would have an opportunity of
80 per cent of full-time employment. Of course, this is rarely quite
true, but it is often substantially true; and, in any case, the method
offers a fairly accurate measure of the degree in which a particular
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[468J
DISPLACEMENT OF RAILROAD LABOR
51
railroad or establishment has attained a condition of stable em
ployment.
The results show:
Telegraphers had an excellent percentage of full-time employment,
the average for all 10 roads in 1927 being 95.7. But the best road in
this respect had a percentage of 98.3, while the percentage for the
road with the lowest rate was 89.1.
Section laborers, as was to be expected, made the worst showing, the
average of full-time employment for all 10 roads in 1927 being only
81.8. But the best showing for this occupation made by any road—the
Louisville & Nashville—was 92.6 per cent, and the worst showing
was 66.8 per cent. Climatic conditions, of course, had something to
do with these differences in the case of section work, but this is not
the sole explanation, as roads operating in substantially the same
conditions of climate showed considerable variation in the extent in
which employment was regularized over the year.
Similar contrasts exist for other occupations. Of two northwestern
roads, covering about the same territory, one had a stability per
centage of 90.5 for road-freight firemen and the other a rate of only
72.9 for the same occupation.
Comparing conditions over a period of years—from 1922 to 1927—
this study further shows that, on the whole, employment stability
had considerably improved in the case of most occupations covered.
Thus, in 1922 only 1 of the 10 roads had an employment stability
rate for road-freight firemen of 90 or over, whereas, in 1927, 4 roads
had attained this level. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul had the
best record for this occupation among the 10 roads studied, it having
a percentage of 90 or over in five of the six years studied.
These figures are cited to show that certain progressive railroads
are steadily improving the stability of employment among their
workers. In a few occupations on certain roads such stability is not
far from 100 per cent perfect. In even the most difficult occupations
to stabilize—such as section laborers—much can be accomplished,
and, while a 100 per cent record seems rather far off, an average of
90 per cent or more of full-time employment has been attained by
certain roads in recent years.
Railroads as Part of the Entire Transportation System
T r iE R E is another aspect of the problem of the railroad labor dis
placement to be considered—namely, that the railroads are, after
all merely a part, although still the largest part, of the country’s
transportation system._ During the past decade or so motor trucks
and mo tor buses (running on the public highways) have come to con
stitute an important part of the transportation system regarded as a
whole. These trucks and buses, very often run in rather close con
nection with railroad systems, have created new forms of employ
ment, some of them not very different, if at all different, from certain
railroad occupations.
To cite but one phase of this subject: According to the National
Automobile Chamber of Commerce,2 there were, on January 1, 1927,
some 80,000 motor buses in use in the United States. Assuming that
each one of these gives employment to only one driver (and many
2F acts and Figures of th e A utom obile In d u stry , 1927, p. 78.
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bus services have both drivers and conductors, and some work on
more than one shift), here is the creation of at least 80,000 new jobs
of a highly responsible character. In addition, each of these buses
has to be kept in repair and serviced. A recent study of this subject3
estimates that for every three motor coaches in operation two men
are needed for repair and service. Many of these men are unskilled,
but many are skilled mechanics. I t probably requires as much skill
to build, repair, and service a motor coach as it does to build, repair,
and service a railroad car.
These examples might be increased to show how the development
of motor transportation has created work (not dissimilar from rail
road work) for large groups of workers, both skilled and unskilled.
There are as yet no very accurate statistics on the subject, but such
scattered data as are available, as well as common _observation,
indicate that the newly created jobs growing out of this new phase
of the transportation industry must run into the hundreds of thou
sands.
A B asis for E v a lu a tin g M a n u fa ctu r in g E fficiency
HE use of labor time as a measure of various factors in industrial
operating efficiency is proposed in a recent paper by L. P.
Alford and J. E. Hannum.4 The essential idea is that as all
industrial processes involve labor, the proportion that labor-time cost
bears to output and to other industrial factors constitutes a useful
guide to the comparative efficiency of operation. Thus, as applied
to production, if plant A uses twice as much labor time as plant B
to produce the identical product, then the presumption is that
plant B is more efficiently operated than plant A.
The unit of measurement proposed is 1,000 man-hours, the name
“ kilo man-hour” being suggested as a convenient designating term.
This, it may be noted, is the same basis as that which has long been
used in industrial accident statistics, accident frequency being now
universally expressed by the number of lost-time accidents per 1,000
man-hours.
From this base, the kilo man-hour, the authors point out that
numerous factors can be developed (including accident frequency
and severity as is now done), and the following list is suggested as
probably the most important:
T
Factor
Productivity. _i ________
Labor permanence_____
Fixed capital investment:
Buildings.________
Machinery________
Primary power_________
How expressed
Physical volume of product per kilo man
hour.
Number of workers employed per kilo man
hour.
Investment in dollars per kilo man-hour, or
square feet of floor area per kilo man-hour.
Investment in dollars per kilo man-hour.
Horsepower utilized per kilo man-hour.
3 Railw ay Age, N ov. 24, 1928, sec. 2, p. 1066.
4 Paper presented at th e annual m eeting of th e Am erican Society of M echanical Engineers, Dec. 3-7,1928.
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EFFECT OF BEST PEBIODS ON PRODUCTION
F acto r
Industrial accidents:
Frequency_______
Severity_________
Costs:
Wages___________
Material cost_____
Prime cost_______
Overhead charges __
Manufacturing cost
Profit:
Manufacturing____
Net_____________
Selling price__________
53
H ow expressed
Number of lost-time accidents per kilo man
hour.
Number of working hours lost per 1,000 kilo
man-hours.
»Dollars per kilo man-hour.
Dollars per kilo man-hour.
Dollars per kilo man-hour.
Application of the method proposed is made by the authors to the
output of various industries, use being made of the reports of the
United States Census Bureau, the United States Bureau of Alines,
the American Engineering Council, etc. The results show wide
differences in the output per 1,000 man-hours as between different
industries and between different establishments in the same industry.
Two conclusions are of particular interest:
First, that low manufacturing costs seem to accompany high wages.
Second, that on the whole the small plants are more efficient than
the larger ones when measured solely by the amount of labor time
per unit of output.
E ffect of R est Periods on P rod u ction
HE results of a series of tests carried out under carefully con
trolled conditions which show the effect of rest periods on
production were reported by George H. Shepard in the Per
sonnel Journal, October, 1928.
For the experiments “ light-heavy” muscular work was chosen,
the subjects of the experiments being university students who worked
in the tests, lifting weights on a gymnasium chest-weight machine.
Light-heavy muscular work is defined as “ work in which the muscular
system is continually under load during the operation, the load not
being heavy enough to produce a sensation of muscular strain, but
repeated so many times that the worker becomes sensibly fatigued
by the end of the day’s work.”
At the outset the writer points out that operations differ greatly
and that it is_ hardly possible, therefore, to predict an optimum
working day without an analysis of the work itself. A working day
approximating eight hours, with a half day on Saturday, has been
quite generally accepted, however, as giving greater production
than the old working day with its long hours, and the question to
be determined then is whether with the present length of the working
day production can be increased by the judicious use of rest periods.
While it is obviously impossible, owing to the variation between
individuals and in industrial conditions, to obtain a general result
as to the proportion of rest periods to total working hours which
will give a maximum output, it was considered possible to decide
upon a minimum standard of rest, any diminution of which would
T
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
result in a decrease of output. It was believed that such a minimum,
applied to a given industrial situation, would give a manager a start
ing point in the institution of rest periods from which he could grad
ually increase them until he had reached the point which would
give him the maximum output.
The students submitting to the tests were all young men of superior
physique and in vigorous health, so that they could be expected to
have more endurance than the average worker, and the point at
which they reached the maximum output could be accepted, therefore,
as the very least amount of rest upon which an industrial worker
using approximately the same energy could be expected to give his
best production. The operators were required to_ raise and lower
the weights in such a manner as to cause general fatigue of the whole
bodv and not of any particular muscle or group of muscles, and they
were also stimulated to give their best production by the fact that
as they were ail dependent, in part at least, on their own work for
support while attending the university, they were paid an additional
bonus in addition to their time rates. During the rest periods, with
a few exceptions, the men were required to lie down and relax com
pletely and they were covered with blankets_enough to keep them
warm-—a complete use of rest periods which is rarely approximated
in industry.
. . . .
.
.
A series of tests carried out on four individuals at different periods
showed that the average proportion of rest time to rest time plus
work time was 18.2 per cent, the lowest being
and the highest
20 per cent. The average work period at maximum production
varied from 29.1 to 40 minutes and the rest period from 7.07 to 10
minutes, respectively. These results indicate, therefore, that a
worker on light-heavy muscular work and an 8-hour day can not
give his maximum output unless he rests at least one-sixth of the
time. This is in practical agreement with the practice in the Tinted
States Army, which has adopted, as a result of experience, tho prac
tice of marching infantry 45 minutes during the first hour with 15
minutes for rest, to adjust packs, etc., and thereafter to march 50
minutes and rest 10 minutes. It is expected that seasoned infantry
can keep this up for six days a week for as long as necessary. As
in the tests under consideration, this represents a minimum per
centage of rest to work for an industrial worker for the reason that
men in the Army are selected by strict physical examination and
also they are kept in condition by what amounts to mild athletic
training, they are encouraged to lie down during the rest periods,
and the total daily marching time is only six hours.
Other studies similar to this one confirm these findings. Thus a
study showing the rest pauses necessary to give maximum production
on the light-heavy muscular work of filing metal by hand showed
that the best production was obtained where the operation lasted
five minutes and was followed by one minute of complete rest, giving
a ratio of rest time to rest time plus work time of 16% ~per cent.
This study showed that there was a rather sharp break in output
when the rest periods extended beyond this point, indicating that
caution must be observed in increasing rest periods beyond the mini
mum. The possible need of more rest where workers are not of
superior physique was shown, however, in a study of girls folding
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EFFECT OF MASS PRODUCTION- UPON SKILL
55
handkerchiefs, where the best output was secured when the girls
rested 21 per cent of the total working time.
In several of the tests in the present study the workers were allowed
to select their work and rest periods to find out whether by following
their natural feelings they could arrive at an efficient selection of
voik and rest periods. Although the data on this point were too
limited to be conclusive, it was found that they were able to make the
selection almost as well as it could have been made for them.
Anothei investigation has shown the advantage of short frequent
rests by use of the ergograph—an instrument registering on a moving
drum the movement of a finger in lifting a weight. It was found
that a rest of 10 seconds allowed between successive contractions of a
hnger permitted the work to be continued indefinitely without fatigue
or discomfort, but that working the finger to exhaustion required
a long pause ol two hours between working periods in order to main
tain a constant output throughout the day. “ When nature ” the
writer says, _ desires long-sustained and undiminished performance
on work ol this kind she arranges work and rest periods in this fashion
as m the case of the beating of the heart.”
Effect
of M ass P ro d u ctio n U p on S k ill in an E n glish F actory
S MASS production eliminating the skilled worker and substituting
lor him the man who is only an adjunct of the machine and who
makes a better hand if he has not mind enough to rebel against
the monotony of repetitive work? Is skill to "be discarded and
industry mechanized until it offers neither stimulus nor satisfaction
to an intelligent worker? And if so, what will be the social conse
quences ol such a change?
C. G. Kenold of the manufacturing firm of Hans Renold (Ltd.)
Manchester, England, discusses these questions at some length in the
issue o i the Economic Journal for December, 1928. The answers
<epend in pai t, he thinks, on the definition of skill. According to a
physehological definition of the word, skill is “ an integration of welladjusted responses to external situations.” This, the writer holds, is
lealiy dexterity, and its loss, if it should disappear, is not of great
importance, since it is by no means the only source of satisfaction in
vork He prefers the following definition: “Any combination, useful
to industry, ol mental and physical qualities which requires considerable training to acquire.” This, of course, includes dexterity, but
adds to it conscious knowledge, and thereby increases greatly the
held ol possible satisfaction in work. Such satisfaction involves two
elements—the doing well something which is difficult and a certain
Ireedom ol choice. If skill means merely dexterity, the difficult thin«“lusJtnecessanly be physical, but if the second definition be accepted*
t le difficulty may be mental as well as physical; much satisfaction may
be derived from work m which the main requirement is the correct
Ube ol knowledge, so that the field of possible stimulus and enjoyment
m work is largely increased. Bearing these considerations in mind, is
it true that the demand for skilled workers is diminishing? There is
a general impression that this is so.
I
It is common knowledge that many kinds of skill, which formerly were neces
sary, are being eliminated from industry. This is true, whichever definition is
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
adopted. Jobs are being split up so that a composite operation which required
long training for its performance is broken down into elementary jobs, each so
simple that it can be done with very little training. The proud boast of Mr.
Ford may be quoted, that 85 per cent of the jobs in his works do not need more
than two weeks’ training. From this, the conclusion has been drawn that the
industry of the future will only find employment for the feeble-minded, and the
question is naturally asked, “ What are we going to do about it?”
The author believes that the picture thus presented is misleading,
because it neglects to take into account two tendencies. In the first
place, Ford confines himself to a highly specialized product. To keep
liis works going there must be numerous other plants producing
machines and tools for him, and much of this work, since it requires
a considerable amount both of designing skill and of the machine
craftsman’s skill, can not be reduced to a basis of mass production.
Furthermore, the reduction of manufacture to mass production, as in
the Ford works, involves an organization of control, a systematization
of supply, and the development of modern selling methods which open
up large new fields for skill. The need for manual dexterity may be
diminished, but the need for skill in the wider sense of the word is
increased.
What is happening is that skill which used to be applied to the production of
articles of direct consumption is being eliminated and replaced by skill applied
to the design and construction of the machinery and tools for making those
articles, to a more refined control of the raw material out of which they are
made, to the finding of markets for them, and to the control of complex
organizations.
A second consideration is the changing demand for skill as an
industry goes through the process of mechanization. ^ At f i r s t the
work is dependent on a skilled craftsman, then machinery is intro
duced, and the job is split up into single operations, each performed
by a machine which requires only an unskilled operator. This stage
involves an uneconomic amount of intermediate handling of the
material, and to avoid this more elaborate machines are devised
which combine several elementary operations and are mainly or fully
automatic. At this stage it is possible that the machine might still
be operated by an unskilled workman, but usually it is not.
It is much more likely that it will have become so complicated and the cost
of a mishap be so great that highly skilled operators will be employed who have
not only to work the machines but to keep them in adjustment. Such work
may well call for a very high degree of skill in the form of judgment, alertness
to recognize the first signs of the hundred and one things that may go wrong,
and a real understanding of the principles on which the machine works.
On the other hand, if an unskilled operator is still employed, the work which
is intrusted to him is so simple that he will look after a whole battery of machines,
and the number of such men will be greatly reduced compared with the increased
numbers engaged on the more skilled ancillary services.
How far these two tendencies will correct the balance of skill in
industry can not be determined without exhaustive research, but the
author’s view is that this balance is not being seriously upset. He
believes that as fast as one type of skill is eliminated other types are
called into action and that the problem thus becomes personal
rather than general. To the particular individuals whose skill is no
longer required the situation is serious enough, but from the social
standpoint it presents a less gloomy outlook than the view that
industry will ultimately dispense with all kinds of skill.
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EFFECT OF MASS PRODUCTION UPON SKILL
The author is confirmed in his view by the experience of his own
plant, an engineering- factory making repetition articles which during
the last 15 years has been going through a process of development
along the lines of scientific management. He presents tables showing
the number and proportion of skilled and unskilled workers before
and after the introduction of specialized methods. The basis of
classification is the degree of skill which requires for its acquisition
about two or three years under ordinary industrial conditions, and
by this test the following groups are ranked as skilled: Craftsmen,
craftsmen apprentices, all male staff workers, and of the woman
staff workers, the upper staff, the forewomen, and the clerical over
21 years of age. The apprentices are included because, although not
yet fully skilled, they serve as a measure of the plant’s need for
skilled workers.
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF E M P L O Y E E S O F R E N O L D P L A N T , B Y SE X IN D
D E G R E E OP S K IL L , A T T H R E E S P E C IF IE D P E R IO D S
1913
Jan uary, 1927
August, 1928
Class of w orker
N u m b er
Per cent
of total
N um ber
Per cent
of total
N um ber
130
36
215
273
10.3
2.9
17.0
21.8
193
30
180
85
14.3
2.2
13.3
6.3
287
35
210
196
15.9
1. 9
11. 6
10.8
654
52.0
488
36.1
728
40. 2
71
23
17
150
5. 7
1.8
1.4
11.9
62
39
17
76
4.6
2.9
1. 3
5.6
59
39
18
78
3.3
2. 2
1. 0
4.3
261
20.8
194
14.4
194
10.8
34
307
2. 7
24. 5
112
556
8.3
41. 2
115
770
6. 4
42.6
341
27.2
668
49. 5
885
49.0
461
795
36.7
63.3
529
821
39. 1
60.9
631
1,176
34.9
65. 1
1, 256
100.0
1, 350
100.0
1,807
100.0
Per cent
of total
M en
Factory workers:
Craftsm en . .
Craftsm en apprentices___ .
Semiskilled machine operators
U nskilled laborers
Total _ ___
_____
Staff workers:
U pper staff. __ _______
Foremen
- _ _
D ra ftsm e n -.. . _____ .
C le ric al.-. ______
Total
___
W om en
Skilled ___
U nskilled--
______
T o t a l __ _____ _
B o th sex es
Skilled_______
Unskilled
T o ta l.
________
January, 1927, it is explained, was a time of slack trade which
affected chiefly the unskilled, so that the percentage of skilled workers
is unduly high; August, 1928, on the other hand, was a period of
extreme activity, affecting first the unskilled workers. “ Conse
quential increases in managerial and other skilled grades are due but
not yet effected. Hence momentary drop in percentage of skilled cate
gories.” Allowing for these transitional conditions, it will be seen
that the percentage of skilled workers has been remarkably steady,
that there has been a decided increase in both the number and per
centage of skilled craftsmen, and that among the men there has been
a marked decrease in the number and proportion of unskilled and
semiskilled workers. This last the writer attributes to the introduc
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
tion of elaborate machines and the growing use of skilled men upon
them. The author anticipates one possible criticism of his results.
It may be asked, on examining these figures, whether the development of scien
tific management based on the elimination of skill has not been a failure, since by
my own showing it has left the proportion of skill nearly constant. This can
only be answered by an examination of the production at the three dates in
question.
Such an examination shows that the selling value of the_ output
per employee at the prices current at each date was £161 in 1913,
that in January, 1927, it had risen to £303, and in August, 1928,
to £383.
The 1,807 people in 1928 containing 34.9 per cent of skill produced in value
nearly two and a half times as much per individual as the group of 1,256 people
in 1913, which contained much the same proportion of skill, viz, 36.7 per cent.
As the price of the product has now, in 1928, just got back to the 1913 level, no
correction on this score is needed.
These results, the writer feels, show that the modern developments
of industrial methods require just as high a proportion of skill of one
kind or another, and at some point in the complex, as was needed
previously. The point at which the skill must be applied changes,
but the need for it remains constant, or nearly so.
N ew A lloy for C u ttin g T ools
NEW alloy, much harder than the finest steels and as a result
possibly destined to be used for the edges of cutting tools, is
described in recent press articles. A description of the new
alloy and its uses is given in a recent article in the New York Herald
Tribune quoted in the Literary Digest of February 2, 1929:
A
Tests at Bridgeport, Conn., of a new metal produced by Krupps indicate that
a revolution in manufacturing processes is at hand which will make it possible
to speed up greatly the machines used in making hundreds of different automo
bile parts and in practically all processes involving the cutting, grinding, or drill
ing of metals in quantity production.
The Krupp metal, used in a high-speed machine, cuts through steel at the rate
of 230 feet a second, or nearly twice the speed which the finest cutting steels now
in use achieve. The new metal cuts through cast iron at 600 feet a second, or
more than four times the speed which could be achieved with the finest high
speed steels.
The metal is the hardest thing known next to diamond. Krupp has christened
it “ widia,” a contraction of “ wie diamant” or “ like diamond.” It cuts glass or
porcelain as a steel knife whittles wood. It takes a keener edge than any steel
and holds it longer.
The great drawback of widia is the price. Krupp is selling it at $500 a pound,
or more than double the value of gold, although the materials of which widia is
composed are comparatively cheap. It is an alloy of tungsten, carbon, and cobalt.
The process of manufacture is expensive, but the chief reason for the staggering
price is the fact that the Krupp Steel Works now holds a monopoly. Krupp has
licensed the General Electric Co., the Ludlum Steel Co., and the Firth Sterling
Steel Co. to manufacture the tungsten-carbon-cobalt metal for heavy royalties.
The General Electric Co. has begun to place its product on the market under the
name of carboloy, but the other companies have not yet achieved a commercial
output.
_
_
.
Beginning nearly 30 years ago, the introduction of Taylor- \\ hite steei, a steel
mixed with tungsten, which could be used in manufacturing processes at vastly
higher speeds than ordinary steels, caused nearly every machine shop in the
country to adopt new machinery capable of taking advantage of the higher
speeds.
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR
CONDITIONS
M exican Labor in th e Im p erial V alley, C alif.
BOUT 20,000, or more than a third of the people in Imperial
County, Calif., are Mexicans and they constitute an inextri
cable part of the social and economic life of this agricultural
community. An investigation of Mexican labor in this section of the
country was made in the spring and early summer of 1927. The
results of this inquiry and the conclusions based thereon are brought
together by Paul S. Taylor in volume 6 of the University of California
publications in economics/ which is the first of a series of studies
being conducted “ as a project of the committee on scientific aspects
of human migration of the Social Science Research Council.” Some
of the findings of this initial study are presented here.
A table showing race distribution of the elementary school children
in Imperial County lists 54.7 per cent of the Mexican children en
rolled in such schools as born in the United States, which fact is
indicative of the “ increasing stabilization '’ of the Mexican population
in that section of the country. Mr. Taylor declares that this per
manent group is immensely “ more important numerically than the
group which crosses the line for seasonal work in the valley and
returns to _Mexico when the season ends, and of infinitely greater
social significance to the United States, for these are becoming a
permanent part of the culture of the valley.”
About 50 per cent of the Mexicans of the Imperial Valley are town
residents; however, most of those who reside in the towns are
agricultural laborers whose homes are located near the ranches on
which they work. During fruit and grape-picking seasons, from
July through September or even longer, probably a majority of the
Mexicans close their town homes and migrate to the San Joaquin
Aalley and other parts of California. Also, the rural Mexican
populations shift their location according to crop conditions, the
harvest labor group leading in mobility. Such labor may not be in
the same section for more than two months at a time. Individuals
in this group migrate even more rapidly. Another group is con
stituted of semipermanent rural residents whose stability depends
upon the somewhat constant labor requirements of certain crops.
Alfalfa, on account of its eight or nine cuttings per annum and the
fact that dairying is dependent upon it, contributes more to the
labor stability of the valley than any other crop.
A
The distribution of Mexicans in the valley, then, is a shifting phenomenon.
Its explanation is principally in terms of crops, both at present and historically
in the formative years of town building. Towns located in the center of the
valley have generally had the advantage of location and of a larger tributary
area, and so have drawn heavy Mexican labor populations. But location within
an area of intensive agriculture is the most important condition for building up
a Mexican colony.
1 T aylor, Paul S.: M exican L abor in th e U nited States Im perial Valley.
fornia Press, 1928.
35S95°—29-
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Berkeley, U niversity of C a li-;
59
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Economic Side of the Valley’s Agriculture
A LTHOUGH the valley soil is rich and the money returns on the
crops are high in good years, absentee ownership, tenant farm
ing, and generally unstable conditions characterize agriculture in
this part of California. According to the United States census,
tenant farming in the State of California decreased between 1910 and
1925 from 20.6 to 14.7 per cent, while in Imperial County m the
same period it increased from 31.8 to 46.7 per cent. The majority
of melon and lettuce growers are companies which came into the
valley as commission merchants. Recently these companies have
leased the land themselves to grow truck crops, subleasing it in small
tracts or turning over small acreages to foremen or managers or
operating their own holdings.
The housing, machinery, labor, and other farm requirements under
intensive cultivation are entirely different from those under exten
sive agriculture. Considerable dislocation is caused at the beginning
and close of vegetable leases. The crop-lease rotation system followed
in the valley, which in many cases is practically crop-lease farm
rotation, “ adds one more shifting element to the general instability.”
Mexicans are employed mainly to meet the highly seasonal calls for
hand-labor gangs. Present conditions are not favorable for estab
lishing a class of either white or Mexican resident working farm
owners, and there is considerable difference of opinion as to the
desirability of building up such a class of residents. Urban interests,
especially financial and mercantile, are strongly in favor of doing so,
while the large growers stress the economy of production on a large
scale.
The Labor Market and Wages
1927 Mexican laborers were being used to some extent in nearly
* all the agricultural operations in the valley.
IN
It is in the truck crops, however, that Mexicans predominate heavily—melon
and lettuce harvesting and picking tomatoes and peas. They pick cotton, they
harvest nearly all the milo maize by hand labor, and they pick grapefruit. The
grapefruit crop is not at present a cause of heavy demand for Mexicans, but its
importance is increasing as new trees come into bearing. Cleaning the heavy
silt deposits from irrigating ditches is done by Mexican hand labor throughout
most of the year. August, otherwise a slack month, marks considerable activity
in ditch cleaning. The larger ditches are of course dredged by machinery. The
importance of ditch cleaning is indicated by the fact that the annual cost of this
work is estimated at $3 per acre.
It is not at all easy to determine the labor requirements for a given
crop or for all cro^s at a particular period. The heaviest demands for
Mexican workers in the valley are in January and February, at the
time of the lettuce harvest, and from May to mid-July, when melons
are harvested.
The current daily wage rate in the valley_ for Mexican general ranch
workers is from $2.50 to $3, usually for nine hours of labor. These
rates are exclusive of board and vary with the employer, the worker,
and the proximity of a labor market.
Rates per hour are ordinarily from 30 to 35 cents, but in certain
years at harvest time they have been as high as 45 cents. One large
ranch, which employs Mexican workers the year round, pays $50 a
month with board and $80 a month without board. White ranch
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MEXICAN LABOR IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIF.
61
laborers are usually paid 50 cents or $1 a day more than Mexicans.
Housing is sometimes provided for Mexican workers.
The following are the rates of pay for different kinds of agricultural
work in the valley: For irrigating the usual rate is $3 per day; for
asparagus harvesting, principally by Filipinos, $2.75 per day; cotton
picking, 134 to 2 cents per pound; grapefruit picking, 40 cents per
hour; lettuce harvesting, 30 cents per hour; cantaloupe harvesting, 13
to 15 cents per crate.
In the valley and also in other localities the statement is frequently
made that “ Mexican labor is not good on hour work, only on piece
work.7’ It is usual for certain crops to use Mexican labor under con
tract at so much per acre, per ton, or per crate, in order to get the
results by this method of payment that are secured under hour work
by “ driving” or “ supervision.” Nearly all the large vegetable and
melon growers, however, prefer to pay their labor by the hour. Each
worker is assigned to a row and when a whole gang is operating
together in this way under a supervisor the individual laborer’s pace
becomes conspicuous if he does not conform to that of the gang.
When the men are hired for piecework close inspection is more neces
sary.
In the cantaloupe season earnings per day are often high; amounts
as high as $5 to $7 are ordinarily reported by both the Mexicans and
the growers. In exceptional cases, with long hours, daily earnings
have been reported as high as $12 to $14. It is evident, however,
according to the author, that “ high daily earnings are not a very
reliable index of seasonal earnings.”
It is extremely difficult to determine with any approach to exactitude the
annual earnings of Mexican laborers. The varying bases of payment, the irregu
larity of employment, the lack of uniformity in rates paid in different portions of
the vallejr and by different employers, the migrations of the Mexicans over the
State and into Arizona^ make any exact computation exceptionally difficult.
Barring that small minority of Mexicans regularly employed by the same employ
ers the year round, a fair estimate of the annual earnings of a Mexican laborer of
Imperial Valley is from $600 to a possible $800. In some cases his housing is
furnished, or he can construct his own, rent free, on a ditch bank, or he may own
or rent a small “ shack” in a town, or during the course of a single year he may
live in all of these ways.
A detailed study of Mexican migration is to be embodied in another
report. In the monograph under review, however, some little space
is given to this subject. Among the statements made in this con
nection the following is of special interest:
The major portion of the migratory Mexicans, and these constitute probably
half or more of the Mexicans of the valley, join in the great migration to the San
Joaquin Valley to work in grapes, cotton, apricots, peaches, and prunes. This
tide of Mexican labor moves north principally by automobile on the State high
ways. It flows not only over the San Joaquin Valley, which absorbs the major
number, but over all the valleys of the State as far north as San Francisco and
even beyond. At the close of the season most of it flows again southward.
Viewpoints on Mexican Labor
^'APINIONS vary on the matter of the desirability of Mexican labor.
Among those quoted as representative of the range of opinion
is that of a man who has been familiar for years with agriculture in
the valley, who states that “ Mexican labor is good labor, and we
couldn’t get any other class of labor for anything like the same
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money. * * * About 30 per cent of Mexican labor is first class
and makes good gang pushers. Mexican gang pushers are better
than whites, and are paid 25 cents per day extra.”
A large grower declares! “ Mexicans are much to be preferred to
whites. Once fixed, they are permanent and reliable. I do not
think they are good for other types of labor.”
A field man for a large-scale grower of lettuce and cantaloupes
says: “ Mexicans are very satisfactory. They offer no disciplinary
problem, but require constant supervision and driving.” On the
other hand, a young rancher from Wisconsin who employs white
labor “ can’t understand why some ranchers are able to say M y
Mexicans are good.’” A foreman with steady year-round Mexican
workers on a large alfalfa and cattle ranch reported that his men
when teaming, “ fresnoing” (leveling land), or irrigating, worked
“ best if left alone,” and that they kept up “ a steady gait.”
Not all Mexican labor in Imperial Valley agriculture is gang labor, although
the heaviest demands are for this type. This is the chief «explanation of the
frequency with which one is told of the necessity for driving. Some^ Mexicans
are used'for general ranch labor, for irrigating, teaming, "fresnoing” (leveling
land). In Imperial Valley Mexicans are less often spoken well of as teamsters
than in San Joaquin Valley. In very few cases do Mexicans drive tractors.
The consensus of opinion of ranchers large and small, however, is that only the
small minority of Mexicans are fitted for these types of labor at the present time.
Wage Claims
1926 in the San Diego Imperial district almost all the complaints
made by the Mexicans to the California labor commissioner were
wage complaints. The inability of employers to pay is the principal
reason for the nonpayment of wages. These enrployers for the most
part are contractors or lessees. A lessee’s position is a precarious one,
as often he has no property and if his crop fails he has no assets to
attach. The owner is not responsible for a lessee’s debts and the
worker gets nothing. “ Probably nothing short of a bond for the
payment of wages would fully protect the wage earners.”
IN
A Valley Labor Union
IN APRIL, 1928, less than 12 months after the field survey of the
present study was closed, a Mexican union was formed under the
name of Union of United Workers of the Imperial Valley (Inc.).
This title was shortly afterwards changed^ to Mexican Mutual Aid
Society of Imperial Valley. The organization, however, is primarily
a union. Its formation was suggested by the former Mexican Consul
at Calexico, who had been called upon by the Mexicans to settle so
many labor claims that he had come to the conclusion that the
organization of a union niight remedy the situation. A very interest
ing account of an incipient strike following the refusal of certain
demands of the union is included in Mr. Taylor’s monograph.
The upshot of the situation was that the "strike,” which was never really a
strike, was broken up; the pickers generally found their demands for better
wages, for ice and sacks, acceded to, cases against practically all of the sixty-odd
Mexicans arrested were dismissed, only four or five who pleaded guilty to technical
violations on minor charges being given suspended sentences. One of these, a
Mexican born in Arizona, agreed to leave the county for the period of his sus
pended sentence as a result of an agreement with the district attorney. The
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MEXICAN LABOR IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIF.
63
Mexicans in the union came out of the affair with a sense of unjust treatment,
but with optimism for the future. The resentment against the sheriff seems in
no way to have become attached to the growers, many of whom, particularly the
large companies, the Mexicans hold in high esteem.
Careful inquiry has failed to disclose the slightest evidence of violence 01
‘‘uprising,” or to yield the least support to the charge that the union is “ red”
or communistic.
With a few exceptions, Mexican labor is not found in trades which
ordinarily come within the scope of unionized labor.
Housing of Agricultural Laborers
'T H E State Housing Commission’s inspectors try to enforce certain
1 minimum standards in the housing of agricultural labor in the
valley; for example, the flooring of tents for workers in the lettuce
season, the provision of beds, screened cook houses and toilets, baking
facilities, and garbage disposal. Up to the time the study was made
(1927) the inspectors had had a good deal of difficulty in attempting
to maintain such standards, which were far from being “ universally
observed.” Among the factors militating against good housing con
ditions are “ the atmosphere of impermanence which characterizes
the valley,” the desert climate which does not call for the same kind
of construction as in other sections of the State, the highly seasonal
nature of the valley’s agricultural work on which Mexican labor is
used, and the fact that Mexican families are unusually large, which
makes for overcrowding unless additional space is provided.
# A man familiar with the condition of the valley outlines the situa
tion as follows:
The Mexicans are satisfied to live anywhere. It is hard to get white labor to
do the work and live as they do. Our intensive labor and short seasons make
standard housing prohibitive for the Mexicans with their large families. We
couldn’t employ Mexicans at the housing standards of others. Nevertheless,
we must make some improvements to meet the better housing which other sec
tions of the State are beginning to offer to Mexicans.
The growers’ attitudes toward the housing inspectors’ activities
range from indifference to unmistakable opposition. Nevertheless,
in some cases a genuine attempt has been made, especially by two or
three large companies, to raise their housing standards.
From the standpoint of health, however, the dependence on ditch
water for drinking purposes is even more of a menace than the char
acter of the housing. According to the health officer of the county,
the use of such water is accountable for gastrointestinal complaints
and some typhoid fever.
Mexicans as Social Charges
UANE of the outstanding objections to the immigration of Mexican
w manual workers is that many of them become public charges.
Whatever may be the situation in other sections of the country, the
support of poverty-stricken Mexicans does not seem to be a heavy
burden on the Imperial Valley community. Indeed, an appreciable
part of Mexican relief is provided by the Mexicans themselves
through organizations and also through unorganized means of assist
ance which Mexican workers commonly extend to each other in times
of need.
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The chief reasons why Imperial Valley Mexicans do not become objects of
charity in the same measure as in some other places are these: The community
is almost entirely rural or dependent upon agriculture. It is not difficult to find
some place to live rent free, if not with friends, then along some ditch bank.
Mexicans who live in ranch camps are commonly allowed to continue to live there
without charge during the dull season.
Ownership of Property
i the towns is
IILE the rapid development of home ownership in
one of the most significant aspects of the Mexican labor situation
in the Imperial Valley, there was no indication in 1927 of any move
ment among the Mexicans in the valley toward the ownership of the
land which they were cultivating.
Mexicans in Independent Business
A S YET there is no evidence that Mexican immigrants whose
parents belong to the working class are competing with Americans
in independent business or even establishing substantial business
undertakings for their own race. Almost all of the Mexican mer
chants who are successful in conducting their stores on modern
American business lines are middle or upper class Mexicans.
Education
ARLY all of the Mexican children of school age in the Imperial
Galley attend school. Up to the present, however, merely a
handful have gone on to high schools. In the past public education
in the valley has made very little change in the occupational status
of the Mexicans living there, but there are indications of a gradually
increasing appreciation of schools by the Mexican children, resulting
mainly from contact with these institutions. Furthermore, parents
and growers are showing “ a greater willingness to cooperate in enforce
ment of the law” in regard to school attendance.
Isolation
IN THE valley towns, with the exception of Calexico, Mexicans live
* in colonies entirely apart from Americans.
The reasons for this separation are several. In the first place, most of the
Mexicans outside of Calexico are poor, and poverty leaves them little choice of
residence outside of the cheapest quarters. Furthermore, there is the natural
tendency to gravitate toward the places where, in a strange land, others of one’s
language, class, and culture may be found. Finally, there is the social pressure
from the American community, which generally does not desire Mexicans as
neighbors. A symptom of this pressure is the race restriction sometimes included
in the deeds to property.
Socially the line of demarcation between Americans and Mexicans
is as sharply defined as the segregation of their homes. More or less
separation of American and Mexican school children is found in half
a dozen schools in valley towns, and in certain rural schools separate
rooms are assigned for “ Americanization” or “ opportunity” classes
which are almost wholly Mexican.
The segregation of school children upon a racial basis is illegal.
It may be done, however, by making a school district coincide with
a Mexican colony and establishing a school in that section. The
rigidity of the practice of separation varies in different localities. In
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GOVERNMENTAL HELP TO INDUSTRIAL TRANSFERENCE
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one town at least, Mexicans with high American social and educa
tional standards are sometimes allowed to transfer to American
schools. In another town even upper-class Mexicans were refused
transfers.
. For the most part Mexicans raise “ no serious objection to separa
tion.” It is reported, however, that “ the belief that they would be
obliged to continue in the east-side school was deterring some Mexicans
above the age limit of compulsory attendance from prolonging their
education.”
Among the factors contributing to the segregation of Mexican
children in the schools are: The difference between the American and
Mexican standards of personal cleanliness, dread of diseases resulting
from uncleanliness, race consciousness, and violent fluctuations in
the number of children of migratory workers attending school. The
migratory group being principally Mexicans, it is convenient to
isolate the problem on a racial basis. Moreover, educational author
ities have pointed out that this segregation of the Mexican children
shields them from American social prejudice and also from discourage
ment arising from the realization of their slower progress in school
as a result of language or other handicaps.
There is almost no social intercourse between Americans and
Mexicans, even in the town of Calexico, and the isolation of rural
Mexicans from the American population is even greater than that of
the Mexicans in the towns.
Mexicans are proud and sensitive to the prejudice against them. They keep
to themselves the more because of consciousness of social ostracism instead of
hurling themselves aggressively against it. In some cases, particularly, but not
exclusively, among those who are above or are trying to rise above the lower
levels of the Mexican population, there are defense reactions to the American
prejudices in the form of sensitiveness to the American-made stigma of being
“ Mexican” or not being “ white.”
On the whole, the Mexican laborers of the Imperial Valley constitute
a class apart with a culture of its own. Social ostracism is maintained
by the combination of racial class and cultural differences, and this
social ostracism in turn fortifies and renders more stable the differ
ences upon which it is built up. The early immigrants from Europe
to the United States who formed colonies in our large industrial cen
ters and the Mexican migration to the Imperial Valley are both
working-class migrations. The Mexican migration differs from the
European mainly “ in that it is rural and in that it involves a strong
consciousness of racial difference.” These differences tend to heighten
“ the domiciliary and social isolation” of the Mexicans of the Im
perial Valley, retard the convergence of the two cultures (or the
elimination of one), and delay “ the blurring of the class line.”
G o v ern m en ta l H elp to In d u stria l T ran sferen ce in E nglan d
ISi DECEMBER, 1928, the English Parliament approved certain
money resolutions planned to carry out the. steps the Govern
ment wished to take for the relief of the distressed areas, among
them being a plan for meeting the difficulty of men with families in
moving to a place where they may have obtained employment. The
I
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Ministry of Labor Gazette, in its issue for January, 1929, gives the
following details as to the measures adopted:
The Government have therefore arranged, in order to help genuinely unem
ployed married men to move from the depressed mining areas to approved em
ployment in another area which has been found for them by an employment
exchange, or which they have found for themselves, at the discretion of the Min
istry of Labor, to pay both
(A) A free grant toward lodging allowance and incidental expenses of removal;
and
(B) The reasonable costs of the removal of the family and household effects
to the place where regular work and accômmodation have been obtained.
Under grant (A) a man whose wife is living with him, or who has one dependent
in respect of whom dependents’ benefit would be payable under the unemploy
ment insurance acts, can obtain £6 [$29.20] in all, and £1 [$4.87] for every such
additional dependent up to a limit of £12 [$58.40] in all.
If the dependents accompany the workman to the new area, the grant can be
paid in a lump sum as soon as the workman takes up his employment; but if
he comes up before his family, it will be paid as lodging allowance at a rate not
exceeding 12s. [$2.92] per week for a limited period, while he seeks accommoda
tion for his family, the balance being paid over in a lump sum immediately upon
the removal of the household effects.
Various restrictions are imposed, intended to prevent any abuse
of the offered assistance, and it is provided that the railway fare of
the workman himself, if advanced, will be regarded as a loan, repay
able by installments under the ordinary procedure.
R eo rg a n iza tio n and A m a lg a m a tio n s in th e E n glish
C o tto n -S p in n in g In d u stry
INCE the commencement of the industrial depression which
followed the World War the English cotton industry has had
a particularly difficult time, and the greatest stress was felt in
the section spinning American cotton. Working short time as a
remedy was tried for several years, but proved ineffectual. In 1928
the employers made an effort to reduce wages, but the employees,
who are strongly organized, refused to agree, and as the employers
themselves were divided as to the wisdom of the plan no decisive
action was taken. For some time a reorganization of the industry
has been urged, on the grounds that the conditions of production were
changing while Lancashire methods were not; that the mills had been
overcapitalized at the close of the war and that it was impossible to
make a fair return upon their nominal capital; that competition was
developing in countries like India and Japan which had formerly
been good customers; and that the new era demanded a new attitude
toward the problems of the trade. A subcommittee appointed in
1928 by the Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organizations to con
sider the situation has recently issued a report recommending largescale amalgamations of the cotton-spinning mills in Lancashire. The
report is given in full in the Manchester Guardian for December 5,
1928.
The committee first summarize the factors which have told against
the Lancashire cotton trade as a whole. It has suffered from the
rise of cotton industries in countries which formerly depended on
Lancashire for their supplies and from increased production on the
part of former competitors. The interruption to English produc-
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tion during the war enabled some of these competitors to establish
themselves in the world market, wide fluctuations in the price of
American cotton affected the cost of production, the reduction of
purchasing power following the war led to a demand for low-priced
goods, whereas Lancashire excelled in the production of high-grade
cottons, and the high local and national taxation prevailing in Eng
land added to the trade’s difficulties. As special difficulties affecting
the cotton-spinning branch of the industry the committee mentions
the heavy fixed interest and depreciation charges on most of the mills
owing to the recapitalization which followed the war, increased cost
•of supplies, insufficient production for the higher costs, and uneco
nomic competition within the trade itself. The most important of
these causes, the committee found, was.the capitalization of the mills
at the artificial values created by the boom of 1919. This cause, it
held, will continue to militate against profitable operation until one
of two alternatives becomes effective:
Either (1) the present process of slow liquidation and closing of mills by
bankruptcy has contracted the industry to the point at which the remaining
mills can just supply the existing demand at prices that show a bare margin of
profit;
Or (2) the financial conditions of the industry are so reorganized as to reduce
or extinguish the burden of fixed interest, and the book values of fixed assets
are written down to an economic figure.
The committee recommends the second alternative, although it is
recognized that it involves heavy sacrifices in the matter of writing
down capital. The best basis for financial reorganization and for the
other economies which may follow is the grouping of the companies
under large-scale amalgamations. The groups should be so arranged
as not to be unwieldy, but must be large in order to secure the full
benefits of amalgamation. It is essential that they should cooperate
in a common policy, since competition between them might be as
disastrous to the trade as the present competition between independ
ent units. The whole object of the amalgamations would be to
secure cheapness and quality of production, not to restrict output or
secure high prices, so that there could be no ground for a complaint
against monopolistic control. The benefits to be secured by amalga
mation are thus summed up:
(1) Saving in fixed interest charges; (2) better use and disposal of waste
products; (3) bulk buying of cotton in whichever market offers the best possibil
ities; (4) bulk buying and centralization of stores; (5) specialization and central
ization of production; (6) saving in management expenses; (7) saving in direc
tors’ fees; (8) central control of policy; (9) elimination of intermediaries
wherever possible; (10) centralization and control of selling; (11) cooperation
with succeeding sections of the trade, directed toward better marketing.
Following the publication of this report a plan was prepared for the
amalgamation of a number of mills under the title of the Lancashire
Cotton Corporation. There was some delay about organizing the
new company, the principal difficulty apparently being to obtain the
consent of the banks interested, without which nothing could be done.
In its issue of January 12, the Economist (London) announced that
“ the promoters and banks have reached an agreement and arrange
ments have also been made for the finding of a substantial sum of
money for the purpose of working capital,” and that the new com
pany would be registered shortly. Another company, however, suc
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ceeded in organizing more promptly. On January 15 the Manchester
Guardian carried the following announcement:
The scheme for the amalgamation of mills in the American spinning section
of the Lancashire cotton trade, one of the provisions of which is that a 5-year
moratorium in regard to uncalled capital will be granted to shareholders, has now
been registered as a company under the title of Combined (American) Spinners
(Ltd.).
This is the first of the amalgamation schemes designed for the mills spinning
American cotton to reach the stage of registration, but it is expected that the
much larger scheme for the Lancashire Cotton Corporation, which has been
formed by the Cotton Yarn Association, will be registered before many days are
over.
The Combined (American) Spinners (Ltd.) is stated to have the backing of .
men connected with mills owning several million spindles. Its main object is to
secure control of the mills in order to effect economies, eliminate weak selling,
and strengthen the whole organization. For that purpose a holding company has
been formed to which each of the companies which join the amalgamation will
transfer its shares and receive other shares in exchange. The present capital of
the combine is the purely nominal one of £100, which will be increased as and
when individual companies join up. Each company will trade separately, though
under control.
The scheme provides for compensating mills that are stopped in order that
others may work full time. The aim of the promoters is to get over a hundred
mills in the combine.
By January 23 the Lancashire Cotton Corporation (Ltd.) had
accomplished its organization and was registered as ready for business.
Like the Combined (American) Spinners, it took form as a holding
company with a nominal capital of £100, to be increased when and as
the company’s needs should determine. Apparently the purpose of
the corporation is to extend the benefits of united action to the whole
cotton textile industry, not merely to the spinning branch.
The objects enumerated include purchasing, growing, preparing, and selling
all textile raw materials; the manufacture of dyeing and finishing materials; the
production, finishing, and sale of all kinds of textile yarns and fabrics; the manu
facture and sale of textile machinery; the proprietorship of collieries; and the
businesses of brickmaking, timber merchanting, joinering, building, and con
tracting.
A g reem en t in th e M exican T ex tile In d u stry
N SEPTEMBER 7, 1928, a collective agreement was concluded
between employers and workers in the Mexican textile industry
to regulate their relations in the future, according to a recent
article.1
The agreement includes the principle of the 48-hour week and the
compulsory weekly rest. It fixes the time for entering and leaving
work places, as well as the rest periods which must be granted during
each working-day.
The employment of women and children under 16 years of age in
unhealthful or dangerous work is forbidden in the agreement. Work
ing women are given a compulsory rest period three months before
and two months after childbirth and an allowance of one month’s
wages. Nursing mothers shall be entitled to two rest periods each
day.
Workers’ unions organized under provisions of article 123 of the
Federal constitution may be established within the enterprises.
O
1 In tern atio n al L abor Office.
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LABOR CONDITIONS IN RUMANIA
69
The workers shall designate an official representative with the duty
of discussing with the management the questions which may arise in
the working of the agreement. Internal organization of the unions
shall be effected without interference of the management.
An agreement between the management and the union shall regu
late the admission of new workers into any enterprise. Before being
definitely employed the workers must submit to a medical examina
tion, the results of which must show them to be free from tuberculosis,
syphilis, or leprosy; then after a probationary period of 30 days they
shall join the union.
The wages received by each class of workers is established in the
agreements. Wages are to be paid weekly without deduction, and
other remuneration is to include sanitary and healthful quarters, a
paid holiday of six days each year, and where possible courses of
vocational training are to be instituted.
Any difficulties arising between workers and employers shall be
submitted for settlement to joint works committees consisting of
representatives of the management and the union. Decisions of
these committees shall be binding on the parties, and no strikes may
be called until the committee has reached a decision. When the
committee fails to settle a disagreement the matter is to be submitted
to a district joint committee created for the purpose. Enforcement
of the agreement is carried out by a national joint committee of
the textile industry.
Labor C o n d itio n s in R u m a n ia
HE following description of present labor conditions in Rumania is
taken from a report by J. Rives Childs, American consul at
Bucharest, made December 10, 1928.
Rumania is essentially an agricultural nation. Of its population of
17,000,000 inhabitants, 80 per cent are engaged in pursuits essentially
agricultural. The old Kingdom was purely agricultural. The coal,
iron, woodworking, textile, sugar, chemical, and other industries of
Transylvania and Bukovina and the iron and steel works of the
Banat were added to the industries of Rumania on the acquisition of
those Provinces as a result of the World War, though in these Prov
inces, as well as in the old Kingdom, agriculture continues to be the
chief occupation.
T
Importance and Location of Industries
T 216,000 people are engaged in the industries, as follows:
number industry, 47,000; metallurgical industry, 41,000; food
industries, 31,000; textile industries, 28,000; oil industry, 25,000;
building industry, 14,000 ; paper and printing industry, 9,000; leather
industry, 8,000; chemical industry, 7,000; glass industry, 4,000; miscel
laneous, 2,000. Of these, 70 per cent are in Transylvania and the Banat.
In the lumber industry, in which the largest number of workmen are
employed, the proportion of unskilled labor is large, as the industry
includes the furniture, box, and barrel factories, mostly sawmills,
where the process of manufacture is simple. The woodworking
industries are located mainly in Transylvania, while the sawmills
are in Transylvania, Bukovina, and the old Kingdom.
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The metallurgical industries center largely in the Ban at, with a few
in Transylvania and Bucharest. They include principally foundries,
repair shops, machine shops, wire, nail, and sheet-iron factories, and
those where iron furniture and metal containers are made. This
industry contains more skilled workmen than any of the others.
The food industry, with about 300 flour mills and 13 large sugar
plants, besides breweries, is scattered throughout the country. The
textile industry is centered in the Banat, Transylvania, and Bucha
rest, the oil industry about Bucharest, and the leather, glass, and
chemical industries mainly in Transylvania; while the building,
paper, and printing industries are scattered throughout the country.
The largest proportion of female workers is to be found in the textile
industry.
Labor Supply
labor supply in Rumania is cheap and abundant and, generally
THEspeaking,
there is little unemployment at any time. Before the
war (in the old Kingdom) there was no industrial class, while the
agricultural workers generally appeared to be contented. It was not
until the annexation of Transylvania and the Banat that a labor
problem arose in Rumania and even now this is not a serious one.
In the old Kingdom industry is an appendage to agriculture and sub
ordinate thereto, but in the new Provinces it is an important and
independent economic factor. Furthermore, the proportion of
skilled workers in the Provinces is larger and it is mainly_from them
that skilled workmen are supplied to meet the needs of industry in
the less developed industrial parts of Rumania.
Due to the relatively short time since Rumania obtained political
and economic independence and to the fact that until recently labor in
Rumania had a semioriental character, its efficiency is not on a level
with labor in the more developed countries. The industries of the
Provinces have been greatly stimulated since their annexation to
the less developed old Kingdom, from which they were formerly
separated by tariff walls, and likewise in the old Kingdom, particularly
in Bucharest, a noteworthy industrial development has begun to
attract many laborers from the industrial districts of Rumania,
thereby reacting upon the labor supply in those districts. _Thus the
establishment of new industries or the extension of existing plants
often necessitates the importation of skilled labor, particularly
specialists and technicians.
Wages
'"THE supply of ordinary laborers and even of nonspecialist skilled
1 workmen in the existing industrial branches is abundant
and the relatively lower quality of the work is offset by lower wages.
laborers in Transylvania and the Banat
industries are as follows: 1
Conversions in U nited States currency on basis of leu=0.625 cent.
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th e
Skilled
workers
_$0.
_ .
.
_ .
Leather._
Chemical.
i
in
17
19
17
16
m o st im p o rta n t
Factory
laborers
$0.
.
.
.
08
08
07
06
LABOR CONDITIONS IN RUMANIA
71
In Bucharest the maximum wage of carpenters and of metallurgical
skilled workmen, such as mechanics, locksmiths, and erectors, is
31 cents per hour, while the minimum wage of unskilled workmen is
12 cents per hour.
Collective Bargaining
and working conditions in many industrial plants are
esiuhlished by collective bargaining. Probably one-half of the
industrial workers are covered by collective labor contracts. Such
agreements generally provide for the recognition of the union, the
8-hour day, the 48-hour week, a regular wage scale, an overtime scale,
a revision of the agreement after two months on the request of either
employer or employees on the basis of changes in the cost of living,
arbitration of controversies by direct negotiation between employer
and employees if possible, and if not then between their respective
organizations, or through the Ministry of Labor; in case of strike or
lockout the workingmen agree to complete work where an interruption
would cause damage to the employer and the employers agree not to
evict workmen from company houses or deprive them of light, food,
or anything else to which they may have been entitled as a part of
their wages—provisions varying but little from those to which we are
accustomed to find in agreements made in this country.
According to statistics published by the Ministry of Labor, 148
collective agreements affecting 41,505 workmen were made in 1927
and 133 agreements affecting 46,288 workmen continued over from
the preceding year.
Labor Legislation
to the wrar there was no labor legislation in Rumania. The
iv±imstry of Labor was established in 1920 and it is only since that
time that any attempt has been made to coordinate labor legislation
into a systematic whole. The first labor act passed by the Rumanian
Parliament in 1920 referred to the obligatory settlement of labor
disputes in public utilities and in other cases where more than 10
employees are involved. Conciliation commissions were to be
composed of delegates of employers and employees presided oyer by
a government labor inspector or, in case of arbitration, by a judge.
Strikes are punishable only if no previous recourse has been had to
conciliation.
In 1921, employees were granted the right to organize unions.
Subsequent legislation has tended to restrict their organization;
now, before organization a union must file a copy of its by-laws with,
and obtain a permit from, the Ministry of the Interior, thus prevent
ing the unionization of small groups of workmen without the means
of meeting the expenses of formal organization.
Free employment bureaus were organized in 1921, and in 1925 a law
was passed providing for Sunday rest and 11 religious or national
holidays yearly. In the latter year was also passed an act to protect
domestic labor against the importation of foreign skilled labor,
providing that a manufacturer desirous of importing foreign labor
must file an application with the district bureau of the Ministry of
Labor in which his plant is located. This application, with an
opinion as to the necessity for the request, is transmitted by the
bureau to the ministry, which on approval notifies the respective
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Rumanian legation abroad that a visa for the applicant may be
granted. The foreign employee entering with this visa receives a
permit to stay for a stipulated time, which may be extended by the
Ministry of Labor.
Labor Disputes
CTRIKES and lockouts are not frequent in Rumania and seldom
^ assume a serious character. There has been but one general
industrial strike in Rumania, that of 1920, which was a failure due to
the few industries existing in the country. Since 1920, the number of
workmen involved in labor disputes year by year has been as follows:
In 1920, 125,745; in 1921, 58,220; in 1922, 83,610; in 1923, 99,252;
in 1924, 74,777; in 1925, 80,243; in 1926, 93,121; in 1927, 61,036.
During 1927, there were 199 labor disputes, of which 109 occurred in
Transylvania and the Banat, 61 in the old Kingdom, 18 in Bukovina,
and 11 in Bessarabia. The number of labor conflicts is generally
greater in Transylvania, largely because labor is better organized
there. Fifty-one per cent of the disputes had reference to wages, and
21 per cent to working regulations. Of the 199 disputes, 48 resulted
in strikes, involving 5,535 workmen, 3 in lockouts involving 969 work
men and 148 were latent disputes affecting 54,532. Of these 199
disputes 95 resulted in compromise, 68 were settled in favor of the
employer, and 36 in favor of the employees. Sixty-seven per cent
of all the settlements were brought about through the efforts of con
ciliators under the direction of the Ministry of Labor, 16 per cent
by direct negotiation, 14 per cent by arbitration, and 3 per cent by
the dismissal or resignation of the workmen.
Conclusions
'W/'HILE the supply of unskilled labor is abundant and cheap and
vv the supply of skilled labor satisfactory and cheap in Rumania,
the economic and social aspect of the labor problem is regarded as
satisfactory and favorable, as the great majority of the population
are agricultural workers, many owning the land they cultivate, and
for the industrial workman the questions of wages and hours of labor,
which are distinctly more favorable than in agriculture, are not so
vexing as to lead to significant labor disputes.
The new Rumanian Government includes in its general legislative
program the institution of a labor code and the establishment of
chambers of labor with a view to further improving labor conditions
in order to keep pace with the industrial development of Rumania.
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MINIMUM WAGE
M in im u m W age L eg isla tio n in V arious C o u n tries 1
By
B u d o l f B r o d a , A n t io c h
C ollege
Principle of Wage Fixation
USTRALIA and New Zealand, starting from various opportu
nistic considerations, have applied more and more the principle
of the “ living wage.” The United States (for females and
minors, and with some modifications in Massachusetts), Canada,
South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, and Hungary apply, with varying
precision, the same principle.
In France (somewhat similarly in Spain and Norway) and in the
British coal mines mere equalization of certain classes of wages are
sought for specific reasons, which does not make for general results.
The ability of the trade to bear wage increases is a secondary consid
eration in Massachusetts (next to the main principle of the living
wage); it seems to have decreased opposition and contributed to the
stabilization of the law. This consideration seems preponderant in
A ustria and of strong im portance in G erm any.
Political considerations seem to be decisive in Uruguay and Tucuman (Argentina). The wish to increase the efficiency of the workers
is embodied in the rules for British agriculture, and obviously in
spires the Russian provisions for wages rising with the productivity
of the enterprise.
The historic starting point of minimum wage legislation was the
wish to abolish sweating. Its basic justification remains the guar
anty of a minimum of existence to all workers. This goal is attain
able, by its very definition, only through fixation of a living wage.
Australia and New Zealand, in their systematic analysis of the
principle of the living wage, have ascertained the fact of its rela
tivity. Higher standards are legitimate in calculating the minimum
of existence if the nation is prosperous.
The general productive power of the community must be one of
the bases for determining a reasonable living wage. Is it indis
pensable also to take into account in determining the basic wage the
particular prosperity of the industry for which a specific wage is to
be fixed? Australia does not find it so, considering that industries
which can not pay the basic living wage had better go out of business
or depend on State aid.2 But to allow for the different strength of
the industries, a basic living wage for all industries, calculated with
greatest prudence, may be supplemented by a secondary wage for
prosperous industries.
A
1 A bstract from U. S. B ureau of L abor Statistics Bui. No. 467: M inim um wage legislation in
countries. W ashington, 1928.
,
,
. , .
,,
2 Richardson, J. F .: T h e M inim um Wage. London, 1927, p. 81. M r. Richardson, weighing the
factors of th e problem , arrives a t th e conclusion th a t th e general p ro d u ctiv ity of in d u stry (but
particular conditions of a given industry) should be tak en in to account as a basic principle for the
of the m inim um wage.
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various
various
not the
fixation
74
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Machinery of Wage Fixation
\Y7AGES boards administer the laws in Victoria, Great Britain,
Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Hungary, most
Provinces of Canada, most States of the United States of America,
Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa. Sometimes they are replaced
or supplemented by central commissions with state-wide jurisdic
tion to make possible the application of national policies. They have
proved to be a really efficient method for the abolition of sweating in all
unorganized trades (particularly home work and female work).
Where strong unions can take care of the sweating problem through
their own strength, and preservation of industrial peace is the pur
pose of the laws, industrial arbitration is preferred. New South
Wales and several other Australian States, New Zealand, Italy, and
Rumania have chosen that method. The example of Australia and
New Zealand shows that this way also is practicable. But the pur
pose of elimination of strikes has been better attained by the wages
boards of Victoria, which settle all matters prior to a conflict.3
Direct fixation of minimum wages by the central State authorities
is or has been the rule in the American States of Arizona, South
Dakota, and Utah, in the Canadian Province of Alberta, in Uruguay,
in Tucuman (Argentina), and in a particular way in the State trusts
of Russia. It can be done that way in uniform communities, but
useful flexibility is excluded by the method. It is less suitable
for advanced industrial States than for a more primitive economy.
No State which has reached high differentiation of its industries
applies it.
Enforcement
ETRANCE (for home workers) and Norway (for commercial
1 employees) have relied on civil suits for enforcement of
minimum wage decisions, but this method has practically failed.
All other States rely on their regular inspection forces and empower
them to impose fines for violations. Enforcement has been very
efficient in the various nations of the British Commonwealth.
Enforcement has been good in the United States and reasonably
good on the Continent of Europe. The particular experience of
Massachusetts, relying on the disapproval of public opinion only as
punishment for violations of the law (ascertained by inspectors),
seems to have worked very well. The method can be recommended,
for a transition period, in particular cases where political or legal
difficulties render the regular way impracticable. Otherwise, en
forcement of minimum-wage laws by the same methods by which
other laws are enforced is the obvious method.
Results
Abolition of “ Sweating ”
A LL reports from Australia, New Zealand, and England are posi-
tive on the point that sweating, among home workers par
ticularly, has been eliminated. Reasonably good results have been
3
In a subsidiary w ay (w ith courts or boards), collective agreem ents betw een organizations of employers
and employees are sometimes declared binding (by S tate au th o rity ) for the whole in d u stry . T h is m ethod
is applied in some A ustralian States, in G erm any, A ustria, an d South Africa. In G reat B ritain also
proposals have been p u t forward to a p p ly th a t procedure.
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MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION
75
obtained also in the home-work trades of Norway and Argentina.
There was no “ sweating,” to a similar extent, in the United States
and Canada, since home work as the sole means of livelihood is rare
in these countries, but the rather difficult economic status of female
workers in shops and stores who do not five with their families has
been much relieved.
#The abolition of sweating depends, experience has shown, on effi
cient application of the laws; strict enforcement of awards has even
more practical importance than generous determination of the amount
to be paid.
General Increase in Wages
J. W. Macmillan, chairman of the Wages Board of Ontario, states
that in that Province “ the whole pillar of wage structure rises,
although the top less than the bottom.” Reports from Great Britain
and the United States show that the minimum does not become the
maximum. It is to the interest of the employer to attract more highly
skilled workers to his shop, and for that reason he offers wages above
the minimum to people who produce more than the less efficient
workers in these unorganized trades do.
Reports from Australia and New Zealand give us a picture of a
far-reaching standardization of wages; of slow increases, but stabili
zation, even in the face of industrial depression and falling prices,
preventing thereby decreases of purchasing power of the laboring
classes and further stringency of the crisis.
Australia and New Zealand offer, of course, minimum wages to
a much wider range of workers—not only to women, as in the United
States, or to unorganized trades, as in Great Britain, but to all trades.
As in the case of collective bargaining generally, uniformity of wages
seems to be favored by minimum Wage legislation applied to highly
organized trades, particularly where arbitration courts render deci
sions of a general binding character. The main factor on which the
wage depends is not the importance the employer attaches to the
hiring of an individual worker but the agreement between collective
groups fixing wage scales valid for all. It remains, however, in the
logic of the situation that foremen and workers of particular skill are
compensated by higher wages.
Piecework achieves that frequently, in a quite automatic way.
With the home-work legislation of France, Norway, Germany,
Austria, and others, piecework also dominates and clever workers
earn more than others. The statement that the minimum does not
become the maximum remains therefore true for all these countries.
Legitimacy of Such Increase in Wages
As to whether the increase in wages resulting from minimum wage
fixation is legitimate the problem is of course relative, and the answer
depends on our standards. On the basis, however, of the prevalent
Christian and humanitarian standards of our civilization, increase
of “ sweated” wages (mainly of home workers) to living wages
is imperative, and minimum wage legislation is highly valuable in
that respect. The interests of public health and of the upbringing
of healthy children influence public opinion in the same direction.
In Great Britain the increase of wages in the unorganized trades
and in agriculture has been accepted by public opinion, i. e., by the
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
mass of the consumers, although they have ultimately to pay the
costs (increase of wages minus economies by more efficient work) in
the form of higher prices. Even on the Continent of Europe, im
poverished by the war, no objection has been raised to the ultimate
ratio—higher wages of home workers and slightly increased cost
of living of the mass of the population, which buys the goods pro
duced by home workers.
In Australasia, as in Russia, the problem is of another order—the
proper proportion of incomes of the wage-earning classes (protected
by minimum wage) to those of the other economic classes—the farm
ers and business men in Australasia and the peasants in Russia.
Influence on Discharge of Slow Workers and Unemployment
Slow workers are sometimes discharged; the system of licenses,
authorizing handicapped workers to accept wages below* the mini
mum does not cover everywhere cases where defects are not of a
tangible nature.
How important is the number of these cases in proportion to the
number of workers benefiting by the laws? Reports from the United
States and from Canada do not indicate that any great hardships
have resulted for the women employed in stores and shops. The
general situation of the labor market, the proportion of material
resources to the human material, are so favorable to the workers that
practically all are absorbed by the needs of industry.
The problem is different in Great Britain and in Australasia.
Some homework trades, the competitive strength of which was based
on low wages, have been replaced by factories. Not all home workers
have been absorbed in industry. No serious hardship, however, has
resulted in Australasia, the general conditions of the labor market
being favorable. Great Britain suffers from general unemployment,
but most of the reports do not indicate a serious increase due to the
shifting from home work to factory work.
The slowness of the individual worker plays even a smaller role in
the honie-work trades of Australasia, Great Britain, and continental
countries than with the shop and store workers in the United States and
in Canada. Piece rates alone are possible for home wrork. The slow
worker earns less, automatically, so there is no reason for the employer
to discharge him.
The collective-employment problem of the home workers on the
Continent is more serious. The increase of the French rates was too
small to endanger the competitive strength of the home-work trades,
blit in Germany feeling prevailed that employment of home workers
might be restricted by high minimum wages, and the home workers
themselves do not insist thereon, for fear of unemployment.4 In
Silesia the rates have been kept low intentionally by the wages board.
Actual loss of means of subsistence, however, is not reported—only
prudent application of the law. Overprudent enforcement of the
laws, for the same reasons, is reported from Austria.
The increase of unemployment through minimum wage legislation
is not serious in most countries, though there is such a problem in
Central Europe.
4
Sociale Praxis, B erlin, N o. 49, 1926.
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MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION
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Efficiency of Workers and Employers Under Minimum Wage Legislation
From Great Britain it is reported that workers are compelled to,
and do, work harder in order not to be discharged. The Bureau of
Labor of the State of Washington reports similar instances. The
tendency is natural, but overemphasis would be out of place. The
British minimum wage board for agriculture, in its explanation of
the goal to be realized, recognizes that better nourished workers can
also work harder.
More important yet is the European and Australasian situation as
regards the shift from home work to factory work. The same worker
is frequently put to work at an efficient machine, after having
worked before without such a machine in his or her home. Obviously
the worker is thereby enabled to produce more. The same applies
also to the employer, who becomes more efficient by running a factory
than by relying on home work.
The evidence of the British Cave Committee and the reports of
the Minimum Wage Board of British Columbia show the tendency
of some employers to make up for the higher wages by better super
vision and application of better technique. The point has its im
portance because reducing the net cost of minimum wage to the
industries.
Protection of Fair Employers
The report of the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission
(1919), the standpoint of the employers of the Pacific Coast States,
the attitude of the employers of Victoria, Australia, the stand taken
by the British employers (as described in the testimony of Miss B. M.
Power, chief inspector, before the Cave Committee), all testify that
the fair employers are grateful for the elimination of competition by
“ sweaters.”
The delegates of the British employers at the recent Geneva con
ference favored to a certain extent an international convention for
minimum wage legislation. Great Britain has abolished sweating and
wants to exclude competition from nations which have neglected to do
so. From the same motives, employers who have abolished “ sweat
ing” in their own business welcome that protection against others who
have not done so.
Effect on Industries
The British and American experience furnishes no instance of any
manufacturing industry or any mercantile trade hurt in any per
ceptible way by the minimum wage, as the increase in cost of produc
tion which these limited laws bring about is too small proportionately.
The prosperity of the women-employing industries of Massachusetts
has grown since the introduction of the minimum wage.
Australia applies far more general laws and is ready, on principle,
to suppress an industry if it is unable to pay a living wage. In
practice accommodations have been found and the country continues
to prosper. The same is true of New Zealand.
While home industries have been frequently put out of business
through the application of minimum wage laws, that is the natural
course of industrial progress.
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Influence Toward Industrial Peace
There are three different situations covered by the laws, to be
distinguished carefully in order to avoid confusion:
(a) Home-work trades and women’s trades (as covered by the
laws of the United States, Canada, and most countries on the Euro
pean Continent, and by the British trade boards act of 1909) are
practically immune against strikes; the industrial “ peace of the
cemetery ” prevails. The minimum wage was introduced against
sweating, not against strikes. In passing, reference will be made
only to the statement of the chairman of the wages board of Ontario
that the boards educate employers in a way favorable to industrial
peace.
(b) The insufficiently organized trades covered by the British trade
boards act of 1918 (protecting also men in factories) and by the
British agricultural wages boards are more liable to be disturbed,
but the danger has never been very great. The evidence before the
Cave Committee shows that industrial relations have been bettered.
In Victoria, boards were established first for unorganized and then
for organized trades; the questions of both are settled before they
grow into conflicts.
(c) The highly organized trades of New Zealand, of most States
of Australia, and in Russia and Italy, are covered by compulsory
arbitration. In the experience of Australasia the fixation of basic
wages of general application by the arbitration courts of New Zea
land and of the Commonwealth of Australia has proved to be more
practical than specific settlements of specific disputes between
workers’ and employers’ unions.
The arbitration courts settle wages as Parliament settles general
problems, without waiting for disputes. Victoria, however, gives
autonomy to the different trades; the representatives of employers
and workers feel that they have made the laws they will have to
obey. Strikes have been practically eliminated. The preventive
and autonomous system of the wages boards of Victoria practically
guarantees industrial peace.
Historical Aspects of Legal Fixation of Wages
FYETERMINATION of wages by the free bargaining of the interested parties is of comparatively recent date. The guilds of
the Middle Ages had great powers over the fixation of wages. The
State later took over part of their functions. An Elizabethan statute
enacted in 15635 instructed justices of the peace in England to
determine laborers’ wages and to take into account, as the basis of
their decisions, the fluctuations of food prices. Contrary to the
earlier custom of prescribing maxima only, in the interests of the
employing class, protection of the laborers was specifically stated as
the main objective of the law. That the justices of the peace, them
selves belonging to the ruling class, were reasonably impartial is
denied by most authorities on the subject;6 also, the determinations
frequently remained unapplied.
5 Act V I Eliz., eh. 4 (1563); see G ibbins, H . de B .: In d u s try in E ngland, N ew Y ork, Chas. Scribners
Sons, 1920, p. 253.
6 Idem , p. 255.
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MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION
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The law was in force, however, for over 150 years, and records of
numerous decisions thereunder are preserved. "They show a steady
increase in the amounts of wages to be paid, although not in suffi
cient proportion to the rise of food prices. Different rulings were
made for urban artisans and agricultural laborers for summer, winter,
and harvest time.7
The application of the law ceased WTith the beginning of the indus
trial revolution in the early part of the eighteenth century. All
governmental interference in industrial matters was swept aWay for
a while by the new productive forces. When exploitation of labor,
particularly of children and women, again brought intervention by
public authorities (since 1802), such intervention was restricted to
problems of child labor, sanitary conditions, and working hours.
Wages in the British Empire remained unaffected until 1896—in
England until 1909. Since that time minimum-wage legislation has
become a more and more important part of protective labor legis
lation generally.
In 1896 wages boards were established in the Australian State of
Victoria. They were empowered to fix minimum wages in order to
abolish the sweating of home workers and to fix reasonable rates in
unorganized trades as the trade-unions do in organized trades.
Two years earlier New Zealand had adopted compulsory arbitra
tion, starting at the opposite end of the industrial ladder in the
endeavor to substitute methods of industrial peace for the strike
weapon of powerful trade-unions.
Canadian legislation for compulsory inquiry into disputes in public
utilities services, in order to prevent stoppage of indispensable
branches of national activity, dates from 1907. At about the same
time Victoria, inspired by the success of minimum wage legislation
for home workers, extended this method of wage fixing more and
more to its whole industrial life. In 1909 Great Britain, doing what
^ ictoria had done in 1896, established wages boards for home workers.
In 1912 she took a step somewhat similar to the one Canada had taken
in 1907, wages boards for a semipublic service indispensable in the
industrial life of the nation—coal mines—being established. Since
that time the extension of minimum wage legislation from home
workers to other insufficiently organized trades has made great prog
ress in the British Isles, particularly since the new wages boards act
of 1918. Minimum wages for agricultural laborers have been fixed
in Great Britain, Hungary, and Uruguay. Home workers have been
protected after the Anglo-Saxon model in Norway, Austria, and
Czechoslovakia.
Canada has continued its endeavors for preserving industrial peace
through compulsory arbitration, after the New Zealand model, but
has also been inspired by the American laws to apply the benefits of
minimum wage to female workers generally. But while the Ameri
can legislation has been hampered by the veto power of the courts,
Canada has become the standard bearer of the principle on the North
American Continent.
South of the United States, Mexico, in its Federal constitution,
has endeavored to introduce minimum wages into its whole indus7
Idem , p. 257, giving a table of some of these assessments compiled from Rogers, Jam es E . T .: Six Cen
turies of W ork a n d Wages, N ew Y ork, 1884, p p . 387, 398.
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trial life, and Argentina has adopted the minimum wage both for
home workers and for shop and factory workers.
In Norway for a short time commercial employees generally bene
fited by legal minimum wages. France has applied a prudent
minimum wage law to female home workers since 1915, while Ger
many, since her revolution, has established wages boards for men
and women in the home-work trades.
In 1925 South Africa applied minimum wages to all unorganized
trades, both for white and colored workers, excepting only domestic
service, agriculture, and allied activities.
The International Labor Organization, through its labor confer
ence of 1927, endeavored to promote uniform and systematic mini
mum-wage legislation, and at the conference of 1928 it considered
the adoption of a general convention to establish minimum wage
fixing machinery in the States.
The timid Australasian experiments of the nineteenth century have
spread far and wide. A superficial view might induce one to believe
that the new principle has been applied in rather a haphazard way.
More careful observation, however, shows that its application has pro
ceeded not so much along the lines of least resistance but rather
along the line of greatest need. Wherever the basic principle of
fixation of wages through the free play of the law of supply and de
mand has led to the greatest inconvenience, the legislature has begun
to replace it by fixation of wages by competent authorities, after
examination of workers’ needs and of industrial possibilities.
That necessity appeared clearest in the home-work trades, where
the workers, because of being so scattered, seemed to be helpless, and
in public services which could not be left to unrestricted industrial
war. From these two extremes minimum-wage legislation, from the
bottom of the unorganized trades, and compulsory arbitration, from
the top of the highly organized trades, have spread toward the cen
tral spheres of industrial life, sometimes combining, sometimes over
lapping.
To the question as to whether legal fixation of wages will ever
supersede entirely the principle of free play of economic forces, the
experience of these 30 years does not yet allow a decisive and un
qualified answer. In Victoria wages are fixed everywhere by wages
boards. In the other States of Australasia and in Great Britain a
trend toward the same goal is clearly marked. Canada, South
Africa, and Mexico follow along the same way, while Italy and
Russia advance by different roads in a similar direction. Elsewhere,
' however, the movement toward legal wage fixation is slow.
The principle of legal fixation of wages seems to be particularly
in keeping with the British tradition of continuous legal progress,
of endeavor for harmony between the various branches of national
life. Australasia, perhaps more purely British than Great Britain
itself, has shown the way. Great Britain follows Australasia and
Canada fofiows Great Britain. In the other countries there are
more cross-currents, more diversity, less continuous development.
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CHILD LABOR
In d u stria l H om e W ork of C h ild ren in N ew Jersey
HE Children’s Bureau has recently published the results of an
investigation, made in 1925, into the home work of children
in New Jersey. The study covered 1,131 children, represent
ing 628 families in 7 cities. The great majority (98.2 per cent) of
these families were white, and in 90.6 per cent of the cases the
fathers were foreign born. The study was confined to children who
had been engaged on home work for at least 26 days during the pre
ceding year though the days need not have been consecutive.
The children interviewed had been engaged in about 50 different
kinds of work, ranging from finishing men’s garments to carding safety
pins, embroidering and beading dresses, making powder puffs, string
ing tags, cutting out lace and embroidery, carding buttons, working
on bead jewelry, and the like. Home work is usually a family
activity, and persons of all ages and all degrees of skill made up the
working group. Mothers and children under 16 made up a large
proportion.
T
The 628 families visited in the course of the study included 4,353 persons,
of whom 1,902 were home workers. Of these, 63 per cent were children under 16
years of age, and 27 per cent were married women, mothers of the children.
Eighty-five per cent of all the mothers in the families represented in the study
were home workers.1
One outstanding feature of home work is the fact that it can be
done by very young children.
Of the 1,131 regular workers, almost one-fourth were under 10 years of age,
and more than half were 10 to 13 years of age, inclusive. Only a little more than
one-fifth had reached or advanced beyond their fourteenth birthday. Nineteen
children only 6 years of age and 6 even younger were in the group.
Three out of four of the working children were girls, yet boys were
found doing ah the kinds of work represented in the study, “ even
acquiring some skill with the needle, such as sewing powder puffs,
embroidering French knots on dresses, etc.” The age distribution of
the sexes showed some difference:
On the whole, the boys included among the home workers were younger than
the girls. Of the boys, 33 per cent were 6 to 9 years of age, 52 per cent 10 to 13,
and 14 per cent, 14 or 15; of the girls 20 per cent were 6 to 9, 56 per cent 10 to
13, and 23 per cent 14 or 15.
Generally speaking, the children’s work was irregular, depending
upon the steadiness with which work could be secured from the factory.
During the vacation months they worked irregularly all through the
1 U nited States. D ep artm en t of Labor. C hildren’s B ureau. Publication No. 185: C hild L abor in
New Jersey—P a rt 2, C hildren Engaged in In d u strial Home W ork. W ashington, 1928.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[499]
81
82
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
day, but when school was in session the majority were accustomed to
spend two or three hours a day, and a few four or more hours a day
at home work whenever it was available. This usually meant night
work. Reliable information as to the hours worked at night could
be secured from only 336 children, but of these 46 per cent reported
that they usually worked two hours or more, while 20 per cent worked
three hours or more, the majority of these having been employed at
least five days a week, more often six.
Economic necessity was the chief reason for undertaking home work.
Information as to the annual earnings of the family from sources other
than home work was secured in 475 cases. This showed that 33
families, with a membership of from four to nine, had incomes under
$650; 96 families, with a membership of from four to 10, had incomes
of $650 but under $1,050 a year, and 128 with the same membership
had incomes of $1,050 but under $1,450. The earnings from home
work, though much needed, did not help the situation materially.
The earnings derived from home work were very small, since the rates of pay
were low and much of the work irregular. Of 356 children who were able to
give any information as to their individual earnings, 67 per cent earned less than
15 cents an hour, 40 per cent less than 10 cents, and 12 per cent less than 5 cents
when working at their best speed. Group earnings were similarly low, only 22
per cent of 368 families reporting their hourly earnings having made as much as
40 cents an hour, although the number of workers in the family ranged from two
to six and with a few exceptions included one adult and frequently two. Of 334
families who kept an account of their yearly earnings from home work almost
half reported that they had made less than $100 in the 12 months.
E m p lo y m e n t of P h ila d e lp h ia C h ild ren a t Farm Labor
T THE beginning of 1928 the Pennsylvania Bureau of Women
and Children made an investigation as to the employment of
Philadelphia children at farm labor during the season of 1927.1
Nearly two thousand (1,920) elementary school children, it was
found, had entered school late in the fall of 1927 because they or their
families were migratory agricultural workers. Practically all came
from school districts in South Philadelphia, and while they were in
the main native born, in 97.5 per cent of the cases they had foreignborn fathers. No children under 6 were included, and only a few
over 16 were found. Almost invariably the children were with their
parents; less than 1 per cent were with persons other than members
of their own family.
New Jersey was the field of work for 95 per cent of these children.
To a large extent they were employed on fruit and truck farms.
A
T h e c ity ch ild ren com ing to these farm s sta rt w ith th e p ick in g of th e e a rly
berries and con tin u e th roug h th e season, gath ering each succeeding crop of fru it
and vegetables, and o ccasio n ally so rtin g and packin g th e produce. T h e season
u su a lly ends Avith th e p ick in g of cran berries * * *. W o rk in g in canneries,
th e one occupation g iven w h ich is ille g a l fo r m inors u n der 14 years, w as reported
as a m ajo r occupation b y o n ly 31 ch ild ren , 25 of w hom , h ow ever, w ere less th an
14 years of age. A few ch ild ren Avhose reg u lar jo b w as p ick in g , also reported
occasional AA7ork in th e canneries. A A7a rie ty of occupations \\7as liste d b y ch ild ren
w hose Avork w as classified under m iscellaneous, such as hoeing, p lan tin g , Aveeding,
d rivin g horses, and ca rryin g Avater.
P e n n s y lv a n ia . D e p artm e n t of L abor and In d u s try . Special B ulletin N o. 26: M igratory child
w orkers and school atten d an ce, prepared b y th e B ureau of W om en and C hildren. H arrisb u rg , Pa.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[500]
PHILADELPHIA CHILDREN EMPLOYED AT FARM LABOR
83
More than three-fourths reported that they had worked regularly,
their hours being approximately the same as those worked by their
parents.
Loss of time from school was inevitable for these children. The
work in which they are employed may cover an extended season,
beginning as early as May, and closing late in November.
This means that the children going to the country leave before school closes
in the spring as well as return after the school term is well under way in the fall.
Practically all of the 1,920 children, who returned late to school in the fall of 1927
because their families had been working in the country, had for the same reason
left school before the close of the term the preceding year.
The time thus lost from school, spring and fall, was often consid
erable, as shown by the following statement:
Time loss of—
N um ber
Under 1 month 2____________________________________
291
1 month and under 2 months_______________________
583
2 months and under 3 months________________________
353
3 months and under 4 months________________________
169
61
4 months and under 5 months____________________ ^___
5 months and under 6 months______________ __________
26
3
6 months and over__________________________________
Total reporting___________________________________
1, 486
Per cent
19. 6
39. 2
23. 8
11. 4
4. 1
1.7
.2
100. 0
Very few of these children had attended school in the country
while absent from Philadelphia, and the natural result of the time
lost from schooling was retardation. Some two-thirds of these
migratory children were over age for their grade, a much larger pro
portion than obtained for all Philadelphia school children. More
over, many of these children had been going to the country for several
years, and the cumulative result of their irregular school attendance
was evident in the extent to which they were behind.
Approximately 90 per cent of the 12 and 13 year old children had not reached
the normal school grade for their age. Of the 230 children 14 and 15 years of
age, 225, or 98 per cent, were over age for their school grade. There were 9
children 16 years of age or over included in this group of migratory children, all
of whom were in the over age class. Most of the older children had been going
to the country for several seasons.
The effect of the irregular attendance of these migratory children is not con
fined to the migrants alone. In the schools in some of the Philadelphia districts
more than half the pupils join this yearly migration to the country. The pupils
who remain in school suffer from the disorganization caused, first, by the exodus
of these children, and even more from their tardy return in the fall. It is mani
festly impossible to organize an entirely new set of classes, and children in regular
attendance are inevitably held back to accommodate late comers. The effect
of migratory farm work on Philadelphia school children can not therefore be
considered in terms of the 2,000 migrant children alone; the children, regular in
school attendance, sustain an educational loss from a situation for which they are
in no wise responsible.
2
20 school days are considered as 1 m onth.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[501]
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
M o rta lity E xperience of In te r n a tio n a l T yp ograp h ical U n io n ,
1928
By
F r e d e r ic k
L.
H o f f m a n £ C o n s u l t in g
ance
S t a t is t ic ia n , P r u d e n t ia l I n s u r
Co.
HE following statistics for 1928 supplementing those already
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,1will be of interest
and value to those concerned with health conditions in the
printing trades and in American industries generally.
The experience for 1928 represents 913 deaths, against 1,002
deaths for the previous year. I t should have been explained in the
earlier articles that the annual review does not coincide exactly with
the calendar year in that the records have been obtained from the
monthly Typographical Journal, reporting deaths for previous
months, and in some cases, deaths long delayed, just as in the present
article the 913 deaths include 789 which occurred in 1928, 123 in
1927, and 1 in 1926, but as this same method has been followed for
so many years there would seem to be no advantage in changing the
arrangement now.
The marked decline in pulmonary tuberculosis reported for 1927
has not continued. For that year out of a total of 1,002 deaths from
all causes, 56 or 5.6 per cent were from pulmonary tuberculosis,
while in 1928 out of 913 deaths from all causes, 74 or 8.1 per cent were
from this particular disease. Curiously, the number of deaths from
all causes for 1928 was precisely the same as for 1926, or 913. While
in that year the number of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis was
87, the number in 1928 was 74. The decline, therefore, for the year
under review is not so marked as for the previous year, which was
possibly exceptional.
In contrast to the increase in mortality from pulmonary tubercu
losis, the mortality from cancer during the year under review de
creased from 96 to 79. Cancer, next to diseases of the heart, is the
second highest mortality factor in the experience of the International
Typographical Union. The mortality from pneumonia declined
from 85 deaths in 1927 to 75 deaths in 1928. Diseases of the heart
increased slightly, from 181 in 1927 to 188 in 1928, but Bright’s
disease or chronic nephritis decreased from 47 deaths to 38 deaths.
Chronic lead poisoning caused only one death during the year against
two deaths each during 1926 and 1927. The relative significance of
chronic lead poisoning in the experience of the International Typo
graphical Union is best illustrated by the statement that out of
T
i H ealth survey of th e p rin tin g trades (Bui. N o. 427), and an n u al figures for 1926 and 1927 (published in
L abor R eview for Ju ly , 1927, and A pril, 1928).
84
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[502]
85
MORTALITY EXPERIENCE OF I. T. U.
2,828 deaths during the three years, 1926 to 1928, only 5 deaths were
from this strictly occupational affliction. Recent experiences in this
respect fully confirm the conclusions arrived at in the health survey
of the printing trades. Details of the mortality for 1928 are given in
the usual form in the table following.
M O R T A L IT Y E X P E R IE N C E 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 , 1928, BY
C A U SE A N D B Y A G E G R O U P
In te r
na
tion
al
list
No.
la
lib
21
23
24
31
37
41
43
44
45
49
50
52
57
58a
60b
65a
65b
67a
69
70
74a
74b
75b
76
82
84
89
90a
90b
91b
92
95
96
99b
100a
101a
101b
102
103
105
106
109
I li a
112
117
118a
118b
119
122b
123
124
126
129
131
133
134b
151
Cause of death
30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 CO
90
All 20 25
to to to to to to to to to to to to to an d
ages to
24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74 79 84 89 over
T yph o id fever_________________ . .
i
Influenza________ __________ _____
6
E rysip elas.-- ... _______ _________
1
L ethargic encephalitis_______________
1
M eningococcus m eningitis___________
1
Tuberculosis of th e respiratory system
74 1
D issem inated tuberculosis- .................
1
P u ru len t infection, septicem ia_______
6 1
1
C ancer of th e buccal c a v ity .____
C ancer of th e stom ach, liv e r. .
7
C ancer of th e peritoneum , intestines,
re c tu m .. __ _______ ______ ___
3
C ancer of o th er or unspecified organs 68 1
B enign tu m o rs a n d tu m o rs n o t re
tu rn e d as m a lig n a n t_____ __________
5
C hronic rh eu m atism , osteoarthritis,
g o u t____________ ______________
3
D iabetes m e llitu s ._______ ________
16
P ernicious a n em ia ____. . .
7
O ther diseases of th e th y ro id g lan d . _.
1
L eukem ia______ ______
1
H odgkin’s disease
........ .........
2
C hronic lead poisoning_______
1
O ther general diseases.____ _____ ____
1
E ncephalitis . . . . . . ...... .........
2
C erebral h e m o rrh a g e .________ _ _ . .
55
C erebral em bolism a n d th ro m b o sis___
3
P aralysis w ith o u t specified cause____
30
G eneral paralysis of th e in s a n e ______
3
N euralgia an d n e u r itis ___
1
O ther diseases of th e nervous system .
2
A ngina p e c to r is ._____ _
15
E ndo card itis a n d m yocarditis (over
45 years) _____________
56
O ther diseases of th e h eart
117
Arteriosclerosis.
40
Em bolism a n d throm bosis ______ ____
8
H em orrhage w ith o u t specified c a u s e ...
7
O ther diseases of th e circulatory system .
1
C hronic b ro n ch itis ________
1
B roncho-pneum onia_____
L obar pneum onia ______
2
Pneu m o n ia unspecified .
65
P leurisy . ___ .
1 1
C ongestion an d hem orrhagic infarct
of th e lu n g ... . . __ ________
2
A sthm a _____
.....
3
P u lm o n ary em p h y sem a......................
1
Diseases of th e 'p h a ry n x a n d tonsils___
2
U lcer of th e stom ach_______
4
O ther diseases of th e stom ach.
10
A ppendicitis an d ty p h litis _. .
12
H e rn ia ___________ _____ _
4
In te stin a l o b s tru c tio n ________
9
O ther diseases of th e intestines
4
Cirrhosis of th e liver . . .
5
B iliary calculi______ . . . . .
2
O ther diseases of th e liver . . .
2
P erito n itis w ith o u t specified cause
C hronic n e p h ritis____________
137 1
O ther diseases of th e k id n ey s and
4'
annexa
_ _ _______
Diseases of th e b la d d e r___
2 ...
Diseases of th e u reth ra, u rin ary abscess
3'__
G angrene___________ . . .
!. . .
1
1 N ot including 1 case in w hich age was n o t reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[503]
1
1
8
7
6 14 i i
1
1
5 14
1
1
1
1
3
1 1
2 10
1
7 11 10 12
7
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
1
1
5
1
2
2
1
1
1
5
1
1
2
3 5 14 11 8
1
4 3 7 4 5
1
1
1
2 4 1 3 1
4
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
4 10 6
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
6
5
1
1
2
1
4
1
1
2
4 1 3
4 4 1
7 1 1
1
7
2
1
3 2
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
4 1 1
7 4 8
1
1
3
2
3
1
2
6 10
1
1
1
1 1 1
3 4 1
3
1 1
1
1
1
1
2 2
1 1
1
2 2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
3
1
2
1
1 2 3 13 12 9 8
5 10 17 16 20 17 14
1 4 7 8 10
5
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
i
1
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
8
10
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
i
4 5
1
1
1
1
1
1
86
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
M O R T A L IT Y E X P E R IE N C E O F 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 , 1928, B Y
C A U SE A N D BY A G E G R O U P —C ontinued
international
list
No.
153
154
164
180
181
182
188c
193
201
202
205a
205b
Cause of death
A cute abscess __ __________________
O ther diseases of th e skin and an n ex a..
Senility _______ - - - . . _______
A ccidental m echanical suffocation. __
A ccidental absorption of irrespirable,
irritatin g , or poisonous gas ________
A ccidental drow ning
A utom obile accidents _____________
Excessive cold
F ractu re (cause n o t sp ecified )_______
O ther external violence
__ ________
Ill-defined _
. . __________________
N o t specified or u n k n o w n ___________
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
All 20
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to a nd
ages 24
29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74 79 84 89 over
1
2
1
3
3
1
1
6
29
165
39 . . .
T o ta l__________ _ _ _________ 2 911
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
i
1
1
1
1
3
2
3
4
5
3
3
3
2
5
2
1
5
[504]
1
1
i
2
1
3
1
5
5
5
1 1
5 1 3
3 14 16
2 6 8
2
2
3
7
1
7
1
1
1
1
1....
5 23 34 36 58 78 83130 137 128 100 56 26 14
1 N o t including 1 case in w hich age w as no t reported.
2 N o t including 2 cases in which age was not reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
i
4
1?
4
3
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
A c cid e n ts in S elected M a n u fa ctu r in g In d u strie s, 1925, 1926,
1927 1
N 1926 the Bureau of Labor Statistics began, on a comprehensive
scale, the collection of industrial accident statistics in selected
manufacturing industries, covering the calendar year 1925.
Prior to that time no attempt had been made by any Government
agency to gather data of this kind that could be considered in any
sense complete, except the experience in the iron and steel industry
which this bureau has been assembling and publishing for many
years.2 The record of 1925 included 1,282 establishments employing
555,996 full-year workers, representing 24 industry groups and located
in 11 States. In the following year the bureau was able to extend
its investigation by the addition of 927 establishments (an increase of
72.3 per cent), employing 991,082 full-year workers (an increase of
78.3 per cent), covering 30 industry groups and located in 25 States.
A further increase was made in 1927 when 2,676 establishments em
ploying 1,075,282 full-year workers were covered. This was an
increase over 1926 of 21.1 per cent in establishments and of 8.5 per
cent in workers, although the number of industry groups was de
creased by one, the carriages and wagons group being omitted.
While three States—Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas—were added,
reports were not received from Montana and South Dakota, which
were included in 1926, thus making a net gain of only one State.
In view of the apparent lack of progress in the number of industry
groups and States covered, it should be stated that all the industry
groups for which the bureau expects, at the present time at least,
to obtain records have been covered, and nearly every State of
sufficient industrial importance to furnish figures that may be con
sidered adequate has been included in the 1927 report. Attention,
therefore, will hereafter be directed more particularly to increasing
the number of establishments and full-year workers included, in an
effort to make the resulting data, which at best is only a sample of
manufacturing activities throughout the country, as representative as
possible. An attempt also will be made to cover several additional
States. Efforts along this line will be continued from year to year as
facilities of the bureau allow. With the cooperation of industry
itself, and of the State authorities having in charge the collection of
accident statistics, which help heretofore has been cordially given,
it is hoped to render this annual survey of accidents in manufacturing
I
i D ata from th e bu reau ’s forthcom ing b ulletin on statistics of in d u strial accidents in the U nited States
to th e end of 1927.
T h e latest published report giving th e accident experience of th e iron and steel in dustry appeared m a
pam phlet entitled, “ In d u strial accidents,” reprinted from th e Labor Review for O ctober and N ovem ber,
1927. T h is in d u stry is not included in th e tables w hich follow.
*
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[505]
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88
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
industries of increasing value to those responsible for the application
of safety programs.
From the safety and accident-prevention standpoint, which con
stitutes the real purpose of the bureau in presenting accident statistics
and in developing the scope of the work as rapidly as possible, the
chief value of the data lies in the determination of accident rates
and their classification by industry and by State, thus affording the
only valid means of comparison. These rates, known as frequency
and severity rates, are determined, respectively, by dividing the
number of accidents by the number of man-hours’ exposure and the
number of days lost by the number of man-hours’ exposure. The
first expresses the incidence of occurrence, while the second gives a
more accurate picture of the hazard involved because the element of
time loss is introduced. Neither, however, is in itself sufficient as a
correct measure of the accident hazard. What is needed is a method
of combining the two into what might be accurately termed an
“ accident rate,” but the factors are so essentially different that the
determination of a combination rate which will stand statistical in
spection appears at present unlikely.
The tables which follow include a brief summary of the accident
experience data gathered by the bureau for the years 1925, 1926, and
1927. They present the record in two ways—for each industry
group covering all States and for each State covering all industries.
In both cases, however, the record is classified according to the extent
to which accidents are reported in the various States covered. Thus,
we find 18 States reporting all accidents in 1927, six States reporting
accidents in which the temporary disabilities extended beyond one
week, and so on. This arrangement renders the data more nearly
comparable. In 1925 the number of full-year workers covered in
States reporting all accidents was only 17.2 per cent of the whole
number, while in 1927 the percentage was 57.1. It is hoped to
increase this proportion from year to year.
As has been suggested, severity rates are considered a more accurate
measure of accident hazard than frequency rates. An inspection of
severity rates throughout the table shows considerable fluctuation
from year to year, there being no consistent improvement. However,
there are cases where the improvement in 1927 over both 1925 and
1926 is considerable. For example, considering only the group of
States reporting all disabilities extending beyond the day of injury,
it will be noted that in the manufacture of agricultural implements the
rate declined each year from 4.39 in 1925 to 3.21 in 1927, and in
slaughtering and meat packing there was a steady drop from 3.32 in
1925 to 2.30 in 1927. These are the only industries in this group
showing a decline in each year. Several others declined in 1927 as
compared with 1926.
On the other hand, the rates in the manufacture of electrical ma
chinery, furniture, glass, and machine tools, and in planing mills, have
steadily risen from year to year—from 0.62 to 1.74 in electrical
machinery, from 1.84 to 2.18 in furniture, from 1.11 to 2.24 in glass,
from 0.83 to 1.53 in machine tools, and from 2.09 to 5.12 in planing
mills.
Turning to the record by States, the same general situation is
found to exist. The following States show declining severity rates
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[506]
89
ACCIDENTS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
from 1926 to 1927: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska,
North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin;
while increasing rates are shown in the same period in Alabama,
California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massa
chusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. Declines may be noted
in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, but they are not included
in the list because the 1927 accidents in these States were reported on
a different basis from those occurring in preceding years. In Illinois,
Maryland, and New Jersey increases in rates are noted both in 1926
and in 1927, while Pennsylvania is the only State showing a decrease
in each year. This, however, may be due to the fact that temporary
disabilities were not reported in 1925 and 1926.
Generally speaking, the States showing declines in severity rates
in 1927 as compared with 1926 also show declines in frequency rates.
Of the States showing increases in severity rates in this period, Cali
fornia, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Massachusetts also show
increases in frequency rates, while Alabama, Kentucky, Maine,
New Hampshire, and New Jersey show declining frequency rates.
With few exceptions, the figures in the table do not justify a state
ment that the accident situation is improving in any industry group
or in any State, nor can it definitely be stated that the situation is
growing worse. Variations in methods of reporting accidents and in
the completeness of reports necessarily prevent exact comparability
from year to year. But those States in which rates appear to be
increasing may find here an opportunity to take note of that fact
and to make every effort to enlarge upon their safety measures and
accident-prevention activities through more specific legislative pro
visions or more liberal interpretation and more energetic applica
tion of factory inspection and other laws that now exist for the
protection of workers.
T a ble 1. — N U M B E R O F A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 F O R S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927
S tates reportin g all d isa b ilitie s extending beyond d a y of in ju r y
F atal
In d u stry and year
A gricultural im plem ents:
1925
_________
1926
_________
1927_________________
A utomobiles:
1925._______ _________
1926________________
1927....................... .........
A utom obile tires:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927.................................
N onfatal
Total
Fre
Fre
Fre
Fullquency Sever
quency Sever
quency Sever
ity
ity
ity
year
rate
rate
rate N u m
rate N u m rate
rate
w ork N u m (per
(per
(per
ers
ber of 1,000,- (per ber of 1,000,- (per ber of 1,000,- (per
1,000 cases
1,000 cases
1,000
cases
000
000
000
hours’ hours’
hours’ hours’
hours’ hours’
expo
expo
expo
expo sure)
expo sure)
expo sure)
sure)
sure)
sure)
6,113
5,126
7,282
7
0. 38
2. 29
6
27
1. 65
755
593
626
41.17
38. 57
28. 65
2.10
3. 66
1.56
762
593
632
41. 55
38. 57
28. 92
4. 39
3. 66
3.21
4,441
28, 360
48, 886
10
7
.12
.05
.71
.29
327
2,325
1,994
24 54
27. 33
13. 60
1. 28
5. 54
1.50
327
2,335
2,001
24. 54
27. 45
13. 65
1.28
6.25
1. 79
14,888
17, 951
30, 696
3
3
7
.07
.06
.08
.40
.33
.46
3,014
2, 945
3,832
67.48
54. 66
41.61
1.80
1.18
1.24
3,017
2,948
3,839
67. 55
54. 72
41.69
2.20
1.51
1.70
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[507]
90
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 1.—N U M B E R
O F A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 F O R S P E C IF I E D IN D U S T R IE S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927—C ontinued
S ta tes reportin g all d isa b ilitie s extending beyond d a y of in ju r y —Continued
N onfatal
F a ta l
In d u stry and year
Total
Fre
F re
F re
quency Sever
Fullquency Sever
quency Sever
ity
ity
ity
rate
year
rate
rate N u m rate
rate
rate N u m (per
w ork N u m (per
(per
(per
(per
(per
ers
ber of 1,000,- 1,000 ber of 1,000,- 1,000 ber of 1,000,- 1,000
000
000
cases
000
hours’ cases hours’
u rs’ cases hours’
hours’
hours’ ho
expo expo
expo expo
expo expo
sure)
sure)
sure)
sure)
sure)
sure)
Boots and shoes:
1925_________________
850
1926_________________ 14. 779
1927_________________ 39, 763
Brick:
1925_________________ 4,778
1926_________________ 4, 703
1927 i_______________ 13, 660
C arpets:
1926_________________ 1,482
1927_________________ 15, 321
Carriages and wagons: 3
1926 ________________
679
Chemicals:
1925_________________ 1,330
1926_________________ 3,117
1927 i______________ _ 8,540
C otton goods:
1926 ________________ 44,194
1927_________________ 56,903
Electrical m achinery:
1925
____________
7,499
1926_________________ 18; 137
1927_________________ 60, 927
Fertilizers:
1926_________________ 1,309
1927_________________ 2,498
Flour:
1925_________________ 3, 615
1926_________________ 3,889
1927 i _______________
7. 308
F oun d ry and machineshop products:
1925_________________ 14, 902
1926_________________ 27,069
1927 i _______________ 73,183
F urniture:
1925_________________ 9. 467
1926_________________ 11. 726
1927 i _______________ 21, 980
Glass:
1925_________________ 2, 603
1926_________________ 6, 717
1927_________________ 19,923
H ardw are:
1926_________________
886
1927_________________ 3, 764
Leather:
1926_________________ 5, 530
1927_________________ 11,521
L um ber—planing mills:
1925_________________ 3, 562
1926_________________ 5,242
1927_________________ 9,416
L um ber—sawmills:
1925_________________ 2,248
1926_________________ 5, 302
1927_________________ 14, 754
M achine tools:
I
1925_________________ 1,887
1926_________________ 9,303
1927_________________ 12,207
1
1
0.02
.01
0.14
.05
54
321
961
21. 14
7. 24
8. 06
0. 44
. 14
.61
54
322
962
21.14
7. 26
8.07
0.44
.28
.66
3
3
39
.21
.21
.22
1.26
1.28
1.32
729
820
1,497
50. 86
58. 12
36. 53
1. 12
2.59
1.29
732
823
1, 506
51.07
58. 33
36. 75
2. 38
3.87
2. 61
1
.02
. 13
19
226
4.31
4. 92
.08
.36
19
227
4.31
4. 94
.08
.49
93
45. 65
7. 56
93
45. 63
7.56
11.28
13. 47
12. 68
.33
.31
.90
45
126
330
11.28
13.47
12. 88
.33
.31
2.07
5
.20
1.17
45
126
325
6
.04
.21
1, 194
2, 315
9.00
13. 56
. 32
.60
1,194
2, 321
9. 00
13.60
.32
.81
2
11
.04
.06
.22
.36
530
1,151
2.821
23. 55
22.16
15. 43
. 62
1.01
1.38
530
1.153
2,832
23. 55
22. 20
15. 49
.62
1.23
1.74
1
3
.26
.40
1. 54
2. 40
176
268
45.05
35.76
1.16
2. 45
177
271
45.31
36.16
2.70
4.85
4
4
25
.37
.34
.23
2. 21
2. 06
1.37
210
325
523
19. 37
27. 86
23. 85
.84
2. 44
1.31
214
329
528
19.74
28. 20
24.08
3.05
4. 50
2. 68
5
17
2 38
. 11
.21
. 17
.67
1.26
1.04
2, 327
3, 278
6, 741
52. 05
40.37
30. 66
1.43
1.63
1.84
2, 332
3,295
6, 779
52.16
40. 58
30. 83
2. 10
2. 89
2.88
25
.08
.45
666
855
1,421
49. 69
24. 31
21.55
1.84
1. 97
1. 73
666
855
1,426
49. 69
24. 31
21. 63
1.84
1.97
2.18
1
2 14
.05
.23
30
1.40
483
814
2,274
61.85
40. 39
38.04
1.11
1.53
.84
483
815
2,288
61.85
40.44
38. 27
1.11
1.83
2.24
1
.09
.53
80
345
30.10
30. 55
1.31
1.46
80
346
30.10
30.64
1.31
1.99
2
3
.12
.09
.72
.52
194
967
11.69
27.98
.88
.84
196
970
11.81
28.07
1.60
1.36
1
3
9
.09
.19
.32
. 56
1.14
1.91
215
514
706
20.11
32. 69
24. 99
1.53
2.80
3.21
216
517
715
20. 20
32.88
25.31
2.09
3.94
5.12
1
15
2 22
.15
.94
.50
.89
5. 66
2.98
130
1,045
2, 575
19. 27
65. 69
58.17
1.46
4.87
4. 72
131
1,060
2, 597
19.42
66.63
58. 67
2.35
10.51
7.70
45.04
45.04
255
.83
255
.64
638
22.86
641
3
.57
22.97
.11
811
22.14
.08
.49 1 808
22.06 ! 1.04
3
1 The record for K ansas included here covers 6 m o n th s only.
1 F a ta l accidents not reported in Oklahom a, w hich State is included for th e first tim e in 1927.
3 This in d u stry group has been discontinued.
.83
1.21
1.53
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[5081
ACCIDENTS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
91
T a b l e 1.— N U M B E R O F A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 F O R S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927—C ontinued
S tates reporting all d isa b ilitie s extending beyond day of in ju r y —Continued
Fatal
Total
FreFre
F re
Fullquency Sever
quency Sever
quency Sever
ity
ity
ity
year
rate
rate
rate N u m
rate N u m rate
rate
w ork N u m (per
(per
(per
(per
ers
ber of 1,000,- 1,000
ber of 1,000,- (per ber of 1,000,- (per
1,000 cases
1,000
cases
000
cases
000
000
hours’ hours’
hours’ hours’
hours’ hours’
expo
expo
expo
expo sure)
expo sure)
expo sure)
sure)
sure)
sure)
In d u stry and year
Paper and pulp:
1925..................................
1926_________________
1927 i________ _______
P etroleum refining:
1926_____________ _
1927 i„______________
Pottery:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________ ______
Shipbuilding, steel:
1926_________________
1927_________
Slaughtering and m eat
packing:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927 i_______________
Stam ped and enameled
ware:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Steam fittings, apparatus,
and supplies:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Stoves:
1925_________________
1926________ ____ ___
1927___________ _____
Structural-iron work:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927 i___ ____ _______
Woolen goods:
1926_ _____ ___________
1927______ _____ ____
N onfatal
1,814
16, 770
26,074
1
7
18
0.18
.14
.23
1.10
.83
1.38
228
1,598
2,350
41.89
31.77
30.04
3.41
1.34
1.22
229
1,605
2,368
42. 07
31.91
30.27
4.51
2.17
3.60
3, 783
21, 730
2.30
9 25
33.15
.52
.38
105
2,165
1.68
105
2,190
9 25
2 25
33.53
52
3.98
1,206
3; 946
6,053
1
2
.08
.11
.5 i
.66
81
144
235
22 40
12.17
12.94
.81
.61
.35
81
145
237
22 40
12.25
13.05
1.12
1.01
745
6,011
5
.28
1.66
125
834
55. 92
46.25
2 88
3.34
125
839
55 92
46. 53
2 88
7,488
19,809
37,362
3
8
2 15
.13
.13
.13
.80
.81
.80
918
3,028
4,006
40. 87
50. 95
35.74
2. 52
2.16
1.50
921
3,036
4,021
41.00
51.08
35. 87
3.32
2.97
2. 30
1,473
2,848
6'260
.73
2. 32
l . (39
17 65
73
.64
17.65
23. 41
14.27
78
.11
78
200
268
200
2
270
14. 38
2.03
936
5,897
19,396
2
.03
.21
167
973
1,657
59 47
55. 00
28.47
1. 11
1.34
.63
167
973
1,659
59 47
55 00
28.50
1 11
1. 34
.84
2, 724
4,379
7 , 515
43 45
42 10
355
553
1,028
80
2 55
.27
1.66
43 45
42 10
.04
355
553
1,027
.80
2 55
1
1,992
1,737
8, 979
3
12
2 23
.50
2.30
.85
3.01
13.82
5.12
472
370
1,081
78.98
71.00
40.13
2.06
5.10
1.11
475
382
1,104
79.48
73. 30
40.98
5.07
18.92
6. 23
7,757
15,796
1
1
.04
.02
.26
.13
255
454
10. 96
9.58
.36
.32
256
455
11.00
9.60
.62
.45
All in d u stry groups:
1925___________ ____ _ 95, 816
1926_________________ 283,172
1927_________________ 613, 708
31
94
250
45.55
12, 039
24' 857
45,302
45.59
81
5.00
1.93
12, 070
24, 951
45, 552
States reporting only d isa b ilities extending beyond one week
A gricultural im plem ents:
1925_______
1926______
1927______
Automobiles:
1925___________ _____
1926_________________
1927_______ ______
A utom obile tires:
1925_________________
1926_________ ______ _
1927_________________
Boots and shoes:
1925_________ ____ _
1926_________________
1927___ _____ ________
8,899
9,881
8, 931
2
3
1
0.07
.10
.04
0.45
.61
.22
370
553
393
13.86
18. 65
14. 67
1.52
1.98
1.80
372
556
394
13. 93
18. 75
14. 71
1.97
2.59
2.02
177, 092
213,978
179, 064
51
49
61
.10
.08
.11
.58
.46
.68
4,583
6,471
5,140
8. 63
10. 08
9. 57
1.17
1.35
1.12
4,634
6, 520
5,201
8. 73
10.16
9. 68
1. 75
1.81
1.80
2,749
4, 875
3, 697
1
2
.12
.14
.73
.82
107
219
12. 97
14. 97
6.94
2. 40
1. 53
1.01
108
221
77
13. 09
15.11
6.94
3.13
2.35
1.01
7, 653
8.88
204
8. 88
204
.35
25, 942
4
.05
.31
510
6. 55
.73
514
6. 60
6, 735
148
7. 32
.77
148
7. 32
1 T h e record for K ansas included here covers 6 m o n th s only.
2 F a ta l accidents no t reported in O klahom a, which State is included for th e first tim e in 1927.
.35
1.04
.77
35895°—29----- 7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[509]
92
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 1. — N U M B E R O F A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 F O R S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927—C ontinued
, S tates reporting only d isa b ilitie s extending beyond one week —Continued
F atal
In d u stry and year
Brick:
1925................. ................
1926_________________
1927_________________
Carpets:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Carriages and w a gons:3
1926_________________
Chemicals:
1925_________________
1926____________ ____
1927...... .............. .............
C otton goods:
1926_________________
1927________ ________
Electrical m achinery:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927-.-._____________
Fertilizers:
1926_________________
1927_________________
Flour:
1926 _________________
1927.________________
F ound ry and machineshop products:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
F urnitu re:
1925.............................. .
1926_________________
1927....................... ...........
Glass:
1925_________________
1927.................................
H ardw are:
1926_________________
1927___________ ____ _
Leather:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927-...............................
L um ber—p laning:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927___________ _____
L um ber—sawmills:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________ _____
M achine tools:
1925_________________
1926-___________ ____
1927___________ _____
P aper and pulp:
1 9 2 5 - ______________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Petroleum refining:
1926-________________
1927.________________
8T his in d u stry group has
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N onfatal
Total
Fre
F re
F re
quency Sever
Fullquency Sever
quency Sever
ity
ity
ity
year
rate
rate
rate N u m (per
rate
rate N u m rate
w ork N u m (per
(per
(per
(per
(per
ers * ber of 1,000,of 1,000,1,000 ber
1,000 ber of 1,000,1,000
000
cases
cases
000
000
hours’ cases hours’
hours’
hours’ hours’
hours’
expo
expo
expo
expo sure)
expo sure)
expo sure)
sure)
sure)
sure)
6, 710
8, 000
6, 427
3
1
1
0.15
.04
.05
0. 89
.25
.31
347
473
286
17. 23
19. 71
14. 83
1.66
2. 82
1.68
350
474
287
17. 38
19. 75
14. 88
2. 55
3.07
1.99
6, 428
8, 704
923
3
1
. 16
.04
.93
.23
124
163
31
6. 43
6. 25
11. 19
2. 58
.89
1. 58
127
164
31
6. 59
6. 29
11. 19
3. 51
1. 12
1. 58
10
28. 73
9. 07
10
28. 73
9. 07
10, 014
11, 523
8, 804
3
6
12
. 10
.17
.45
.60
1.04
2. 73
182
428
442
6. 06
12. 38
16. 73
1.89
2.15
2. 26
185
434
454
6. 16
12.55
17.18
2. 49
3.19
4. 99
24, 360
32, 389
1
7
.01
.07
.08
.43
385
539
5. 27
5. 55
.44
.61
386
546
5.28
5. 62
.52
1.04
33, 727
36, 106
18, 984
6
5
1
.06
.05
.02
.36
.28
.11
800
1,185
432
7. 90
10.94
7. 58
1. 72
2. 23
1.25
806
1,190
433
7.96
10. 99
7. 60
2.08
2.51
1.36
1,087
2, 764
1
4
.31
.48
1.84
2. 89
48
190
14. 72
22.91
2. 90
3. 45
49
194
15.03
23. 39
4.74
6. 34
2,042
953
1
.05
.27
114
46
18. 61
2.10
2. 65
. 10
114
47
18. 61
2.15
2.65
.37
33, 379
44, 932
27, 295
8
29
8
.08
.22
.10
.48
1. 29
.59
1, 371
3, 263
1, 815
13. 69
24. 21
22.16
2. 36
3. 38
3. 27
1, 379
3,292
1,823
13.77
24.43
22. 26
2. 84
4. 67
3. 86
10, 659
20, 745
20, 225
3
1
.05
.02
.29
. 10
300
736
546
9. 39
11.83
9. 00
1. 20
1.95
1.05
300
739
547
9. 39
11.88
9. 02
1. 20
2.24
1.15
4, 632
2,588
1
.07
.43
57
73
4.10
9. 40
.86
2 04
58
73
4.17
9.40
1.29
2.04
121
122
13. 34
11. 34
2. 36
3. 46
121
122
13. 34
11. 34
2. 36
3.46
116
3, 023
3, 586
5,431
9, 775
8,181
2
2
1
. 12
.07
.04
.74
.41
.24
210
464
269
12. 89
15. 83
10. 96
1. 65
2. 49
2. 18
212
466
270
13. 01
15.90
11.00
2. 39
2.90
2. 42
5, 555
8, 463
5, 215
5
11
3
.30
.43
.19
1.80
2.60
1.15
382
773
407
22. 92
30.44
26. 01
4. 22
4. 68
3. 45
387
784
410
23. 22
30. 87
26. 20
6. 02
7.28
4.60
7, 975
7, 121
9,400
10
9
16
.42
.42
.57
2.51
2. 53
3.40
461
901
1,087
19. 26
42. 17
38. 54
1.05
3.00
2. 37
471
910
1,103
19. 68
42.59
39.11
3. 56
5.53
5.77
3, 027
5,635
3, 793
1
1
2
.11
.06
.18
.66
.35
1.05
94
300
153
10. 35
17. 75
13. 44
1.49
3. 14
1.97
95
301
155
10. 46
17.81
13. 62
2.15
3.49
3.02
7, 796
17, 649
8,630
3
12
10
.13
.23
.39
.77
1. 36
2.32
439
1, 389
415
18. 77
26.23
16.03
4. 65
3. 37
1.12
442
1,401
425
18.90
26.46
16. 42
5. 42
4. 73
3.44
13, 320
9
.23
9, 579
1
.03
been discontinued.
1.35
.21
385
209
9.63
7. 27
3. 27
3.01
394
210
9.86
7. 30
4. 62
3.2
[ 510 ]
ACCIDENTS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
93
T a ble 1. — N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 F O R S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927—C ontinued
S tates reportin g on ly d isa b ilitie s extending beyond one week —Continued
Fatal
In d u stry and year
P ottery:
1925.._______________
1926________________
1927_________ _______
Shipbuilding, steel:
1926_________________
1927.________________
Slaughtering and m eat
packing:
1925................................
1926_______________
1927________________
Stam ped and enameled
ware:
1926______________
1927__________
Steam fittings, apparatus,
and supplies:
1925________________
1926_________________
1927_______________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Structural-iron work:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Woolen goods:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Fre
Fullquency
year
rate
w ork N u m (per
ers
ber of 1,000,cases
000
hours’
expo
sure)
N onfatal
Total
Fre
Fre
Sever
quency Sever
quency Sever
ity
ity
ity
rate
rate N u m
rate N u m rate
rate
(per
(per
(per
(per ber of
(per
ber
of
1,000,1,000,1,000
1,000 cases
1,000
000
000
hours’ cases
hours’ hours’
hours’ hours’
expo
expo
expo
expo sure)
expo
sure)
sure)
sure) sure)
1, 943
3,948
2,450
1
1
0.17
.08
1.03
.51
78
140
105
13. 38
11. 82
14.29
1. 51
1.00
1.33
79
141
105
13. 55
11. 90
14. 29
2.54
1. 51
1.33
5,196
5,765
4
5
.26
.29
1. 54
1.73
219
260
14. 05
15.03
2.04
1.10
223
265
14.31
15. 32
3.58
2. 83
16, 412
25,088
20, 868
12
7
11
.24
.09
.18
1. 46
.56
1.05
808
1, 413
1,356
16. 41
18.79
21.66
.83
1.96
2.95
820
1, 420
1,367
16. 65
18. 88
21. 84
2.29
2.52
4.00
10, 204
3, 985
3
. 10
.59
233
82
7.61
6. 86
1. 33
80
236
82
7.71
6.86
1. 92
.89
2,607
5,813
3,411
1
1
.06
. 10
.34
.59
200
428
217
25 58
24.54
21. 21
4 84
3. 21
3. 57
200
429
218
25 58
24.60
21.31
4 84
a 55
4.16
3,160
2, 079
1
1
. 11
. 16
.63
.95
158
69
16. 67
10. 89
1.68
2.17
159
70
16. 78
11.05
2.31
3.12
1,850
2,428
2, 274
2
7
2
.36
.96
.29
2.16
5. 77
1.76
119
243
316
21. 44
33. 36
46. 32
5. 54
4. 02
5.24
121
250
318
21.80
34. 32
46.61
7.70
9.79
7.00
42
98
85
2 02
5 71
4.12
28
1 70
1.02
42
98
85
2 02
5 71
4. 12
1 70
6,910
5,722
6,876
All indu stry groups:
1925_________________ 361, 448
1926_________________ 538,836
1927.________________ 415,871
114
173
150
11, 278
823
15, 310
28
1.02
11, 392
21, 996
15, 460
21,
S tate reporting on ly d isa b ilities extending beyond 10 days
Boots and shoes: 1926____
Brick: 1926_________ ____
Chemicals: 1926_________
C otton goods: 1926_ ____
Fertilizers: 1926
_____
Flour: 1926______________
F oundry and machineshop products: 1926__
F urniture: 1926___ _____
Leather: 1926 . . . . __ . .
L um ber—planing mills:
1926__________________
L um ber—sawmills: 1926 __
Paper and pulp: 1926____
Pottery: 1926 _____ — __
Shipbuilding, steel: 1926-.
Slaughtering and m eat
packing: Í926 _______
Stoves: 1926____ ____
Structural-iron work: 1926.
Woolen goods: 1926 ___
1,664
274
851
5, 999
517
78
2
0. 77
4. 70
4
2. 50
15.48
717
559
113
1
480
3,288
388
167
4, 233
1
2
. 71
4.16
.2 0
1. 21
2
.16
.94
2.79
53
73
43
446
All in d u stry groups: 1926- 19, 943
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.45
12
5
3 60
10 00
33.46
4 84
25.01
25.00
0 92
1 14
8. 36
1 00
1.04
3.53
18
8
89
87
44
5
3 60
10 00
34’ 23
4 84
27.51
25.00
16.52
3. 53
86
19
11
39.09
11 18
36. 67
5. 55
1 61
1. 30
87
19
39.54
11 18
36. 67
8.34
1 61
1. 30
34
212
14
2
143
24.29
21.42
11. 67
35
214
14
2
145
25.00
21.62
11 67
7.86
3.12
33
4 00
05
11.26
3. 70
1. 91
. 33
05
¿3 4
11.42
3.28
7
9
3
35. 00
90. 00
2. 30
. 02
27. 21
.06
7
9
3
35 00
90. 00
2. 30
62
27 21
18
8
87
87
40
785
[511]
4 00
il
797
0 Q2
13.06
1 on
.06
94
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 1.— N U M B E R O F A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 F O R S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927—C ontinued
State reporting on ly disa b ilities extending beyond two weeks
F atal
In d u stry and year
Total
N onfatal
F re
Fre
Fre
Fullquency Sever
quency Sever
quency Sever
ity
ity
ity
year
rate
rate
rate N u m (per
rate
rate N u m rate
w ork N u m (per
(per
(per
(per
(per
ber of 1,000,- 1,000 ber of 1,000,- 1,000 ber of 1,000,ers
1,000
cases
cases
000
000
cases
000
hours’ hours’
hours’ hours’
hours’ hours’
expo
expo
expo
expo sure)
expo sure)
expo sure)
sure)
sure)
sure)
C otton goods:
1926 ________________ 5,917
1927.
. _________
6,353
Fertilizers: 1927_________
196
F ou n d ry and machineshop products:
1926_________________ 2,092
1927_________________ 1,888
L um her—sawm ill s:
_____
2,312
1926
1927_________________ 2,182
Shipbuilding, steel: 1927-_
250
Slaughtering and m eat
packing:
47
1926 ________________
1927_________________
186
All ind u stry groups:
1926_________________ 10,368
1927_________________ 11,055
67
70
3
3. 76
3. 67
5.10
0. 41
. 18
.28
67
70
3
3. 76
3. 67
5.10
0.41
. 18
. 28
1
6.18
1.06
108
61
17.14
10. 57
1.29
1.00
108
62
17.14
10. 75
1.29
2.06
1
l
. 14
.15
.86
.92
52
86
24
7. 54
13.14
32.05
. 57
1.93
8. 67
53
87
24
7. 68
13. 29
32. 05
1.43
2.85
8.67
1
4
10.00
7.16
. 15
.27
1
4
10.00
7.16
. 15
.27
l
2
228
248
229
250
States reporting on ly fa ta litie s an d perm anent d isa b ilities
A gricultural im plem ents:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Automobiles:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
A utom obile tires:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Boots and shoes:
1925_________________
1926...... .................... .......
Brick:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
C arpets:
1925_________________
1926_________________
Carriages and wagons:
1926_________________
Chemicals:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
C otton goods: 1926- _____
Electrical m achinery:
1925_________________
1926_________________
1927_________________
Fertilizers:
1926_________________
1927_________________
Flour: 1926______________
F ound ry and machineshop products:
1925............... ..................
1926...... ............................
1927........ ..........................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,282
1,019
614
3
5
6
0. 78
1.64
3.26
0. 34
.93
2.61
3
5
6
0. 78
1.64
3. 26
0. 34
.93
2.61
7,851
9, 555
915
5
6
0. 21
.21
1.27
1.26
41
46
3
1. 74
1.60
1.09
1.22
1.37
.51
46
52
3
1.95
1.81
1.09
2. 49
2. 63
.51
2, 459
4,246
2,165
2
1
.16
.15
.94
.92
9
12
4
1. 22
.94
.62
i. 13
.63
.57
9
14
5
1. 22
1.10
.77
1.13
1.57
1.49
4,106
6,037
2,567
2
3
2
.16
. 17
.26
.97
.99
1. 56
3
17
.24
.94
.30
. 67
5
20
2
.40
1.11
.26
1. 27
1.66
1. 56
4, 571
2,440
2
.15
.88
3
4
.22
.55
.08
.41
5
4
.37
.55
.96
.41
1
1
.29
.89
1.72
5. 36
1
1
3
.29
.89
. 39
.09
.45
. 20
2
2
3
.58
1. 78
.39
1.81
5. 81
.20
7
4
.12
.06
.72
.38
69
21
1.18
.33
. .80
.22
76
25
1.30
.39
1. 52
.60
5
17
2
.06
. 19
.32
.37
1. 12
1.95
47
123
14
.58
1. 35
2. 27
.53
1. 10
1.92
52
140
16
.64
1. 54
2.59
.90
2.22
3.87
2, 697
3,539
53
266
1,166
373
2,539
19, 441
21,146
201
142
68
93
27, 121
30, 483
2,056
[512]
ACCIDENTS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
95
T a b l e 1.— N U M B E R O F A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 F O R S P E C IF I E D IN D U S T R IE S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927—C ontinued
S tates reportin g only fa ta litie s an d 'permanent d isa b ilitie s —Continued
Fatal
In d u stry and year
Fullyear
workers
Furniture:
1925_________
4, 393
1926_______
3,839
1927 .................
1 ,108
Glass:
1925__________
4, 903
1926_________
4,833
1927______
653
H ardw are: 1926................
2,337
Leather:
1925___________
3,870
1926_________
4, 510
1927________
554
Lum ber—planing mills:
1925______
735
1926_______
3,038
1927_________
6 , 371
L um ber—saw m ills:
1926_______
13, 520
1927______
6, 958
M achine tools:
1925_______
1,119
1926_______
196
P aper and pulp:
1925_____________
1, 532
1926______
2, 501
Petroleum refining:
1926____
6,072
1927 ______
3,927
P ottery:
1926__________
277
1927_________
249
Shipbuilding, steel:
1926______
3, 563
1927 ___
2, 924
Slaughtering and m eat
packing:
1926______
1,102
1927_____
1,424
Stam ped and enameled
ware:
1926______
108
1927_______
410
Steam fittings, apparatus, and supplies:
1925.
2,669
1926__________
2,173
1927_____
43
Stoves:
1925__________
1,264
1926___________
821
1927_________
280
Structural-iron work:
1925_______
2,681
1926_______
3, 374
1927_________
647
V oolen goods:
1925_______________
5, 772
1926___________
4, 041
1927_______ _
141
All in d u stry groups:
1925______
98, 732
1926____
138, 763
1927__________
34, 648
G rand total:
1925_______
555, 996
1926_______
991, 082
1927______
, 075, 282
----------------------------------L
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N onfatal
Fre
quency
rate
N u m (per
ber of 1,000,cases
000
hours’
expo
sure)
1
Fre
Sever
quency
ity
rate
rate N u m
(per
(per
of 1,000,1,000 ber
cases
000
hours’
hours’
expo
expo
sure)
sure)
0. 30
1.81
Total
Fre
Sever
quency Sever
ity
ity
rate N u m rate
rate
(per
(per ber of
(per
1,000,1,000
1,000
000
hours’ cases
hours’
hours’
expo
expo
expo
sure)
sure)
sure)
1 29
17
12
8
1. 29
1 04
2.41
0. 76
64
1. 10
17
12
9
2.
71
2. 91
48
.97
.51
1. 57
. 59
.97
. 15
.53
7
18
2
11
1.25
1.02
1.57
2.63
3. 21
.53
.72
2.41
1.41
4.39
4
1
.28
.51
1.66
3. 06
7
14
1
11
2
1
.15
.61
.89
3. 61
2
9
3
17
.67
1.80
05
.52
.78
h
10
.53
3.13
2
15
23
91
1 65
1.20
1 91
99
1.10
2
15
33
1. 73
4.23
27
15
.67
.72
3.99
4. 31
88
47
2.17
2.25
1. 70
1.36
115
62
2.84
2.97
5.69
5. 67
1
1.67
10.18
1
1. 67
.50
2
3. 34
10. 68
1
2
. 22
.27
1.31
1.59
3
4
.65
.53
.30
.24
4
6
.87
.80
1.61
1. 83
12
15
.66
1.27
3. 95
7. 64
9
30
.49
2. 55
.22
1.44
21
45
1.15
3.82
4.17
9.08
2
4
1
1. 34
8.03
2
2.67
1.07
3
4.01
9.10
3
3
.28
.34
1. 68
2.05
12
8
1.12
.91
.48
.46
15
11
1.40
1.25
2.16
2.51
2
.47
2.81
4
.94
.48
6
1. 41
3.29
1
.33
2.31
J
.33
2.31
6
2
.75
.31
.26
. 16
7
3
.87
.46
1.01
1.08
1
3
.40
3. 58
.30
1.85
1
2
3
26
.80
3.58
1 58
2. 73
1.85
25
6
1.36
2.47
3.09
1.20
3.45
7.17
.29
.49
.61
1
1
. 12
. 15
.75
.92
1
1
.26
.40
1. 58
2.43
1
4
2
. 12
.40
1.03
.75
2.37
6. 19
10
21
4
1.24
2. 07
2.06
.45
1.08
. 98
1
.06
.35
4
.23
.49
.26
26
90
57
226
438
161
—
171
370
459
[513]
h
5
0 1
252
528
218
—
— -----------
23, 543
18,131
31,021
23, 714
18, 501
31,480
96
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 2 .—N U M B E R O F A C C I D E N T S A N D A C C I D E N T F R E Q U E N C Y Æ N D S E V E R I T Y
R A T E S , B Y S T A T E S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927
States reporting all d isa b ilitie s extending beyond d a y of in ju r y
S ta te a n d y ea r
F re S ever
q u en c y
ity
F ullrates N u m
ra te s
yea r
N um
(p er 1,- (per b e r of
w orkers
b e r of 000,000 1,000
cases
cases
h o u rs ’ h o u rs ’
expo expo
sure)
sure)
In d ia n a :
........................ .
1925
1926
. . . ........................
1927 ...............................Io w a:
1925
______________
1926
.........- ......... ..
1927 ________________
K e n tu c k y :
1Q26
1927
............................
M a in e :
1926
...........................
1927 ................................ M a r y la n d :
1925 .................................1926 ________________
1927 ..............................
M a s sa c h u s e tts:
1926 ________________
1927 ..................................
M in n e s o ta :
1925 __________ ______
1926
.............................
1927 _________________
M o n ta n a : 1926___________
N e b ra sk a :
1926 ................................
1927 ..................................
N e w H a m p s h ire :
1926
...................... ..
...............................
1927
N e w Y o rk : 1927__________
N o r th D a k o ta :
1926
____ _____
1927
O hio:
1925
...............- ........... 1926 __________ ____
1927 ________________
T o ta l
N o n fa ta l
F a ta l
F re S ev er
q u en c y
ity
ra te s N u m
ra te s
(per 1,- (per b e r of
000,000 1,000 cases
h o u rs ’ h o u rs ’
expo expo
sure)
sure)
F re
S ever
quency
ity
ra te s
ra te s
(p er
(p er 1,000,000 1,000
h o u rs ’ h o u rs ’
expo expo
sure)
sure)
20, 587
39, 907
47,110
i
12
16
0. 02
.10
.11
0.10
.60
.68
2, 270
3, 555
3, 329
36. 76
29. 50
23. 55
0.96
4. 99
1.07
2, 271
3,567
3, 345
36. 78
29.60
23.66
1.06
5.59
1. 75
11,073
12,105
12, 437
11,281
2
6
6
3
.06
.17
.16
.09
.36
.99
.97
.53
920
1,063
1, 229
823
27. 69
29. 28
32.94
24.32
1.41
1. 44
1. 26
.42
922
1, 069
1,235
826
27. 75
29. 45
33. 10
24.41
1.77
2. 43
2. 22
. 95
7,181
6,671
2
.10
.60
1, 314
962
61. 12
48.06
2. 49
2.18
1,314
964
61. 12
48. 16
2.49
2. 78
12, 389
13, 318
1
5
. 13
0
.75
1,026
739
27.61
18. 50
.98
1.17
1,027
744
27. 61
18. 63
.98
1.92
7,198
13,864
15, 310
1
5
8
.05
.12
.17
.28
.72
1.05
490
861
1,077
22. 69
20. 70
23.45
1.29
1.08
1.93
491
866
1,085
22.74
20. 82
23. 62
1.57
1.80
2. 98
76, 568
80, 205
7
3
.03
.01
. 18
.07
2,040
3, 571
8. 84
14. 84
.36
.53
2,047
3,574
8. 87
14.85
.54
.60
13, 744
14,048
14,857
934
14
16
16
2
.34
.38
.36
.07
2. 04
2.28
2.15
4.28
1, 196
2,749
1,862
64
29.00
65. 30
41. 77
2.29
1.95
3. 94
2. 67
.37
1,210
2, 765
1,878
66
29. 34
65.68
42.13
2. 36
3.99
6. 22
4. 82
4. 65
6,078
6,080
3
1
. 16
.05
.99
.33
727
726
39.87
39.80
1.81
.82
730
727
40.03
39. 85
2.80
1.15
15,253
15, 679
103, 638
1
2
40
.02
.04
.13
.13
.26
.77
655
569
4, 675
14. 30
12. 10
15.04
.36
.49
2. 86
656
571
4, 715
14. 32
12. 14
15.17
.49
.75
3.63
61
44
152. 50
94.62
17.18
9. 55
61
44
152. 50
94. 62
17.18
9. 55
55. 25
43. 14
30. 30
22. 52
25.29
82.19
1. 49 7,176
1. 39 8,568
1.22 10, 535
3 369
1.41
.61 9, 100
264
2.06
55.35
43. 32
30.45
22. 52
25. 44
82.50
2.09
2.42
2.12
1.41
1.52
3.91
0
137
154
43, 214
64, 208
115, 303
5,461
P e n n s y lv a n ia : 1927_______ 119, 254
1. 080
S o u th D a k o ta : 1926______
T en n essee:
1926
______________ 10,171
9, 771
1927_________ ______
T ex as: 1927______________ 26, 357
W e st V irg in ia:
9,249
1926 _________________
1927___ ____ _________ 10, 822
0
13
35
52
.10
.18
.15
54
1
.15
.31
.60 7,163
1.08 8,533
.90 10, 483
369
.91 9,046
263
1.85
3
2
32
.10
.07
.40
.59
.41
2.43
1,005
759
4,171
32.94
25. 89
52. 75
1.88
1.12
3.29
1,008
761
4,203
33.04
25.96
53.15
2.47
1. 53
5. 72
2
8
.07
.25
.43
1.48
941
868
33. 97
26. 74
2.55
.87
943
876
34. 04
26.99
2.98
2. 35
S tates reporting on ly d isa b ilities extending beyond one week
Georgia:
1926................................... 23, 322
1927 ................................... 25,868
Illinois:
1925....................................
1926
______ _____
1927.............- ............. ...
1 C overs 6 m o n th s o n ly
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
51,329
80, 033
74, 644
4
7
0.06
.09
0. 34
.54
516
705
7. 37
9. 08
0.75
.76
520
712
7. 43
9.17
1.09
1.30
21
24
20
. 14
. 10
.09
.82
.60
.54
1,871
3, 581
3,575
12. 15
14.91
15. 97
.96
1.82
2. 57
1,892
3, 605
3,595
12.29
15. 01
16.06
1.78
2.42
3 . 11
(J u ly -D e c e m b e r).
2 L ess th a n 0.005.
[ 514 ]
3 F a ta l ac cid en ts n o t rep o rted .
97
DEATH CLAIMS DUE TO AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
T a b l e 2 .— N U M B E R
O F A C C ID E N T S A N D 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 , B Y S T A T E S , 1925, 1926, A N D 1927—C o n tin u e d
States reportin g on ly d isa b ilitie s extending beyond one week —Continued
F a ta l
S ta te a n d y e a r
M ic h ig a n :
1925 ...................................
1926__________________
1927__________________
N e w J ersey : ‘
1925__________________
1926__________________
1927________ _____ _
N e w Y o rk :
1925__________________
1926__________________
V irg in ia: 1927____________
W isco n sin:
1925__________________
1926__________________
1927....................................
F re
F u llq u en c y
y ea r
ra
te s
w orkers N u m (p er 1,b e r of
000.000
cases
h o u rs ’
expo
sure)
N o n fa ta l
S ever
ity
ra te s N u m
(p er
b e r of
1,000 cases
h o u rs ’
expo
sure)
T o ta l
F re S ever
quency
ity
ra te s
ra te s
(p er 1,- (p er N u m
ber of
000,000 1,000 cases
h o u rs ’ h o u rs ’
expo expo
sure)
sure)
F re
q u en c y
ra te s
(p er 1,000,000
h o u rs ’
expo
sure)
S ev er
ity
ra te s
(p er
1,000
h o u rs ’
expo
sure)
165,918
227, 350
200. 895
48
75
78
0.10
. 11
.13
0.58
.65
.78
4, 204
7, 737
6,428
8.45
11. 35
10.66
1.06
1. 17
1.03
4,252
7,812
6,506
8. 55
11. 46
10.79
1.64
1.82
1.81
46,064
50,102
53, 601
7
3
6
.03
.02
.04
.30
. 12
.22
1, 233
1, 581
1,485
5. 68
10. 52
9.24
1. 78
2. 72
3.15
1,240
1,584
1,491
5.71
10.54
9. 28
2. 08
2.84
3. 37
70, 055
112,942
17, 880
26
48
10
.12
.14
.19
.74
.85
1.12
2,244
5,483
777
10. 68
16. 18
14. 48
3.16
3. 38
1.03
2,270
5,531
787
10. 80
16. 32
14. 67
3.90
4. 23
2.15
28.082
45,087
42,983
12
19
29
.14
. 14
.22
.85
.84
1. 35
1,726
2,925
2, 340
20.49
21. 62
18. 15
.96
1.66
1.14
1,738
2,944
2, 369
20.63
21. 76
18. 37
1. 81
2.50
2.49
13. 32
3.20
10.61
7. 53
1.07
1.23
S tate reporting on ly disa b ilities extending beyond 10 days
I
V irg in ia: 1 9 2 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19,943
12
0.20
1. 20
785
13. 12
2.00
797
S tate reporting on ly d isa b ilitie s extending beyond tw o weeks
A la b a m a :
1926____ _____________
1927_______ _______ _
10, 368
11,055
1
2
0.03
.06
0.19
.36
228
248
10.58
7.47
0.88
.87
229
250
S tates reporting only fa ta litie s and perm anent d isa b ilities
C alifo rn ia:
1 9 2 6 ........................
30, 703
41
2. 67
0. 45
1927..................................
34, 648
3. 29
57
.55
P e n n s y lv a n ia :
1925
________
98, 732
26
1. 54
.26
1926
........................................................................
108,060
49
. 16
.95
G ra n d to ta l:
1925___________ 555,996
1926___________ 991, 082
1927___________ 1,075,282
171
370
459
147
161
1.60
1. 55
1. 18
1.00
188
218
2.05
2. 10
3.85
4.29
226
291
2. 23
.94
1.66
.7 0
252
340
2.49
1. 10
3.20
1.65
23,543
48,131
61,021
23, 714
48, 501
61, 480
‘C losed cases o n ly a re re p o rte d .
D ea th C la im s D u e to A u to m o b ile A ccid en ts
SURVEY has recently been made by the Fraternal Monitor
(Rochester, N. Y.) among fraternal benefit societies to ascertain
the increase, if any, in benefit claims resulting from auto
mobile accidents, the work having been undertaken at the suggestion
of Hon. James J. Davis, Secretary of Labor.
A
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
15151
98
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
This survey, which is the first of its kind ever made, covers the
period from i923 through the first 10 months of 1928. The inquiry
covered over 5,000,000 members and $5,567,711,484 insurance in
force in the fraternal benefit field. The combined membership of the
societies reporting on the subject was over 53- per cent of the total
membership in the fraternal benefit field.
Difficulty was experienced in many instances in gathering the in
formation owing to the fact that some of the societies could not supply
data on death claims resulting from motor accidents in the first part
of the period, other societies were new in the matter of handling
insurance benefits, and others kept no separate records on claims
resulting from automobile accidents. In some of the larger societies,
branches handle these matters themselves and the central organiza
tion has no record.
Where comparative data on the period from 1923 through the first
10 months in 1928 were available, the hazard is shown to have in
creased per million from 0.000184 in 1923 to 0.000214 in 1928. The
increase in the 5-year period was 16 per cent. Some societies reported
as high as 200 per cent increase, and one reported 500 per cent. How
ever, some societies report no increase, others state that figures are
indefinite, and several find a decrease.
Of the societies reporting on death claims due to motor accidents,
17 showed an increase and 18 showed either no increase or a decrease,
especially in rural communities. It is interesting to compare the
membership of these two groups. The societies showing an increase
comprise a membership of 3,069,973; those showing no increase or a
decrease, 1,349,666.
Notes concerning some of the societies are here given.
The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (172,326 members; reports
that automobile fatalities show an increase of almost one-third in 1928
as compared with 1923. In 1923 there were 31 death claims from this
source, and in 1928, 40 death claims.
The Foresters of America (200,000 members) reports a 25 per cent
increase in death claims resulting from automobile accidents, 5 per
cent of the total deaths resulting from this source. Increased city
traffic is believed to be the leading cause.
The Modern Woodmen of America (1,121,097 members) states that
there has been a small increase in the number of claims each year due
to automobile accidents. In 1927 the average number of deaths per
month from this cause was 26.8, while for the first 10 months of 1928
it was 27.3. The following figures were given for the years 1923 and
1928:
1923
T o ta l n u m b er of d e a th s __________________________________
11, 368
A ccidental d e a th s ________________________________________
742
A ccidental d e a th s du e to au to m o b iles:
N u m b e r_____________________________________________
208
P er ce n t of all acc id e n ta l d e a th s _____________________ 28. 0300
P er cen t of all d e a th s ________________________________
. 0183
1928
(first 10 m o n th s)
12, 141
736
272
36. 9500
. 0224
The Neighbors of Woodcraft (75,419 adult and 5,829 juvenile
members) states that the increase in fatalities has been slight, but
that the order has had several juvenile deaths from automobile acci
dents in large cities.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[516]
DEATH CLAIMS DUE TO AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
99
The United American Mechanics (23,150 members) reports that
increased traffic brings increased hazard and consequently more acci
dents and deaths due to the increasing number of automobiles in use.
Claims for the 6-month period ending December 1, 1928, showed an
increase of 133 per cent, as compared with 1923.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen of Kansas (24,836 mem
bers) reports 5 death claims resulting from automobile accidents in
1923 and 6 claims in 1928. “ At least two-thirds of accidents are
result of collision with or being struck by trains at grade crossings in
the country.”
The Woodmen’s Circle (130,560 members) is of the opinion that
accidents mainly can be traced to grade crossings and speeding on
country highways. There were 12 death claims directly or indirectly
resulting from automobile accidents in this society during the six
months ending December 1, 1928, or an increase of 500 per cent over
1923.
On the other hand, the Loyal Orange Institution (32,686 members)
reports that there has been no noticeable increase in accident or death
claims during the last five years. There have been 115 deaths in the
society in the last 27 months, none of which was the result of an auto
mobile accident.
The report from the Royal Arcanum (104,375 members) shows 32
deaths in 1923, as compared with 29 in the first 11 months of 1928.
The Supreme Tribe of Ben-Hur (60,341 members) reports a decrease
in 1928, as compared with 1923. In 1928 the claims amounted to
$4,092 (1 per cent of the total), as compared with $7,000
per
cent of the total) in 1923.
The Woman’s Benefit Association (224,008 members) states that
apparently traffic signals have done good work, as its records show
a decrease from 17 deaths in the first 11 months of 1923, to 14 for the
same period in 1928.
In addition to the fraternal benefit societies, information was
obtained from the Commercial Travelers Mutual Accident Associa
tion. A study of these data shows that for the past several years
there has been a gradual increase in the number of accidental injuries
and deaths, resulting in greater pro-rata claim payments. While
there was a slight increase in all kinds of accidents, the principal
cause was the increase in the number of automobile accidents, as
shown in the table below.
E X P E R IE N C E
O P C O M M E R C IA L T R A V E L E R S M U T U A L A C C ID E N T A S S O C IA T IO N ,
1924 T O 1927
A u to m o b ile ac cid en ts
T o ta l
claim
p a y m e n ts
P e r c a p ita
to ta l claim
p a y m e n ts
_____________________________ $2, 029, 240
_________ ____________________________ 2, 259,307
2, 487, 964
_____________ _________________________
________ _____________________________ 2, 850, 956
$8.09
8.13
8. 24
8. 74
Y ear
1924
1925
1926
1927
T o ta l
claim s
p aid
$605, 032
689, 953
845, 265
968, 840
C laim s
p a id p er
c a p ita
$2.41
2. 51
2.79
2. 97
The above table shows that in four years automobile claims in
creased 56 cents per member, compared with a total claim increase
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 517 ]
100
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
of 65 cents per member. If the per capita claim payments for auto
accidents had shown no increase during this period the general
increase would have been only 9 cents per member.
It is not contended that the hazard from motor cars has to any
great extent increased the death claims from all causes, even in the
societies where there has been a marked increase in deaths from this
cause. A greater knowledge of health rules, better sanitation, and
gradual control of diseases have been making for better mortality
records during the past few years. It would seem that the auto
mobile hazard is now arising to nullify these gains in part.
Comments on the conditions which, the societies believe, have
brought about this situation present an enlightening summary and
point to measures which can help to solve this great casualty hazard
problem.
Three principal causes given for the increase in the hazard are:
(1) Increased city and country driving; (2) grade crossings; (3) night
driving.
Measures which have tended to lower the hazard or have been of
a decided beneficial nature in this respect are: (1) Block signals and
traffic officers; (2) abolishment of hand cranking and substitution of
self-starters; (3) greater rural membership of the reporting societies.
The survey shows a great opportunity for work toward the elimina
tion of grade crossings, which rank next to increased traffic as the
cause of deaths from automobile accidents. It also brings home to
the membership of the societies represented the need of greater indi
vidual coverage. The amount of insurance carried by the average
member of a fraternal benefit society has long been considered woe
fully inadequate. This greater hazard which every man, woman, and
child who walks or drives on the streets to-day is facing makes insur
ance provision almost a necessity.
In d u stria l A c cid e n ts in Illin o is in 1926
HE Illinois Department of Labor, in its tenth annual report,
covering the year ending June 30, 1927, contains rather limited
statistics on industrial accidents for the calendar year 1926.
There are only four tables, which classify the 57,535 accidents by
month and cause, by industry and cause, by nature and cause, and
by age, wage, and sex. The largest proportion of the accidents
occurred in manufacturing industries, 24,792, or 43.1 per cent, being
so classified, and of this total the largest per cent (29.3) were due to
handling objects, the number being 7,261. Mining and quarrying
(petroleum) claimed the second largest total, with 11,472, or 19.9
per cent, and here the most prolific cause was vehicles, the percentage
being 23.8. Fifteen per cent of the accidents were in the construction
industry.
In the cause classification, handling objects stands first, with 15,288,
or 26.6 per cent, and vehicles stands second, with 8,257, or 14.4 per
cent. By nature of injury, the classification “bruises, contusions,
and abrasions” is most important, causing 15,586, or 27.1 per cent.
Cuts and lacerations came, second, claiming 21.5 per cent of all the
accidents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
] 518 ]
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS— SOUTH DAKOTA
101
About thirty-five per cent of those injured were earning $25 to
$34 per week, most of these being males, there being in this group
only 227 of the 1,934 females who wTere injured. About 40 per cent
of the injured females were receiving from $15 to $19 per week, the
number being 773.
The age classification shows 8,179, or 14.2 per cent of the injured
males in the 25 to 29 age group, and 281, the largest proportion
(14.5 per cent) of the injured females, in the 21 to 24 age group.
The report does not show how many of these accidents resulted in
death, permanent disability, or temporary disability, nor is there any
attempt to compute accident rates.
in d u str ia l A ccid en ts in S o u th D ak ota, 1927-28
rT 'H E eleventh annual report of the South Dakota IndustrialCom-
missioner for the 12 months ending June 30, 1928, containing a
discussion of the administration of the workmen’s compensation law,
includes a table showing the classification of labor and the number of
injuries reported for each class. This table is as follows:
N u m b e r of
in ju ries
N u m b e r of
in ju ries
S a le s m e n _________________________
60
S a w m ill m e n _____________________
75
R a ilr o a d la b o re rs _________________ 130
Q u a rr y a n d sto n e w o r k e r s ________
81
P ro d u c e w o rk e rs __________________
40
P r in t e r s ________________________ __
62
P lu m b e r s _________________________
22
P o lic e _____________________________
8
49
S e rv ic e -s ta tio n w o rk e rs ___________
N u rs e r ie s _________________________
7
M is c e lla n e o u s ______________________ 290
M ille r s a n d g r a in b u y e rs _________
22
M e c h a n ic s ________________________ 148
M a c h in is t s ________________________ 47
J a n it o r s __________________________
31
L a u n d r y a n d d r y c le a n in g ________ 35
L a b o r e r s __________________________ 192
Ic e -c re a m a n d c a n d y m a n u f a c t u r
in g _____________________________
39
I m p le m e n t d e a le rs ________________ 45
________________________
9
G la z ie rs
E le v a t o r s _________________________
32
F ir e m e n __________________________
10
P a c k in g - p la n t w o rk e rs _____________ 484
T h re s h e rs __________________________ 218
B r ic k m a s o n s _____________________
18
E le c t r ic ia n s _______________________
16
C re a m e rie s a n d d a ir ie s _____________ 112
C o a l a n d lu m b e r w o rk e rs _________ 78
C e m e n t-m a n u fa c tu rin g w o rk e rs. _ 52
B u tc h e rs________________________
32
9
B o ttle rs_________________________
B lack sm ith s_____________________
11
B iscuit m a k e rs __________________
36
B akeries_________________________ 29
A m u sem en ts____________________
18
W oodw orkers____________________ 35
W areh o u sem en __________________
60
T elephone w ork ers_______________ 55
C a rp e n te rs______________________ 131
C lerks___________________________ 173
C o n stru ctio n la b o re rs_____________ 192
F a rm la b o re rs_____________________ 225
G arage a n d au to m o b ile w o rk e rs. _ 255
H ig h w ay a n d brid g e c o n stru c to rs. 213
H otels a n d re s ta u ra n ts ____________ 156
Icem en________________________
100
Public u tilitie s ___________________ 194
M in ers___________________________ 555
T ra n sp o rta tio n a n d tru c k d riv in g . 226
T in n ers__________________________ 35
Well d rillers_____________________
10
11
C asing w o rk ers__________________
Steel w orkers____________________
22
Bus d riv e rs______________________
6
T e a m ste rs_______________________ 47
T ra c to r o p e ra to rs________________ 35
S ugar refineries__________________ 110
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[519]
102
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In d u stria l A ccid en ts in S p ain , 1922 to 1924 and 1926 1
NDUSTRIAL accident statistics in Spain have been published
recently by the Minister of Labor, Commerce, and Industry for
the years 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1926. Those occurring in 1925
are not given in the report, due to incomplete data for that year. The
following tables taken from this report give the number of accidents,
by industry and by result:
I
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF A C C ID E N T S , B Y IN D U S T R IE S , 1922, 1923, 1924, A N D
In d u stry
1924
1923
1922
1926
1926
N u m b er P er cen t N u m b er P er cen t N u m b e r P e r cen t N u m b e r P er cent
1,018
1.20 1,164 1.27
1.03
.20 157 . 18 210 .23
8. 36 8, 708 10. 26 10. 061 11.01
761
General S tate services___ ____ _ _
143
Industries carried on b y th e State
6,177
M ines, salt mines, and q u arries__ _
2, 825
M etallurgical- _ ______ ___ ____
10, 034
Iron and other m etal works _
Chemical ___________ ________ - 1,837
364
Tobacco - ________ ______
2, 349
Textile_____
__ _ ________
541
A griculture an d forestry ______ _ 11, 254
C o n stru c tio n --_____ - 1,169
E lectrical_________________________
4, 651
Food______________________ -339
Book .
____________
651
Paper, cardboard, e tc ___ _
571
C lothin g __________________________
526
H ides a n d skins____________ .L um ber___ _______ - __ ______ 3,042
16,
914
T ransp o rtatio n_________ . . - - ---392
O rnam entation
____
659
F u rn itu re _____
____ 194
P o ttery a n d ceramics
_ ...
697
Glass a n d cry stal___ . .
__ ____
Public shows
O t h e r s . _ . ___________________ 4, 583
U nknow n
_ . _________ . . .
3,176
T otal
__ _ __ . . . . . ______
73, 926
6
3, 229
13, 178
1,728
697
2, 944
939
14,130
1,440
5,123
486
705
697
880
3, 963
16, 872
367
690
714
729
44
3, 578
100. 00
84, 904
3. 82
13. 57
2. 48
.49
3. 18
. 73
15. 22
1.58
. 29
.46
6
.88
. 77
.71
4. 12
22. 87
.54
.89
.26
.94
. 12
. 20
4.29
3. 80
15. 53
2.04
.82
3. 47
1.10
16. 64
1.69
6.04
.57
.83
.82
1.03
467
19. 88
.43
.81
.84
.86
1,888
.05
4. 22
. 22
2
100. 00
4, 316
519
665
679
479
5, 577
17,889
293
743
746
889
19. 55
.32
.81
.82
.97
3,306
1,315
3. 62
1.44
1, 506
434
11,321
5, 141
16, 798
4, 250
825
4, 372
2,482
, 166
1,924
7,502
530
755
626
599
5,128
23, 765
848
1.367
, 080
1, 192
27
2,800
835
91,481
100.00
116,313
3. 374
14. 570
1,978
757
3, 070
1,661
15, 548
3. 69
19. 53
2.16
.83
3. 35
1.81
16.99
1.82
4. 72
.57
. 72
.74
.52
1,666
6.11
6
20
1
1.29
.37
9: 77
4. 42
14. 44
3. 55
.71
3. 76
2.13
17.34
1.65
. 45
.46
.65
. 54
.51
4. 41
20.44
.73
1.18
.93
100.00
6
1.02
.02
2.41
.72
N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF A C C ID E N T S , B Y R E S U L T O F IN JU R Y , 1922, 1923, 1924, A N D
1926
A ccidents resulting in—
1922
1923
1924
1926
N u m b e r P e r cen t N u m b e r P er cen t N u m b e r P e r cen t N u m b e r P e r cen t
Total
66, 545
239
122
6,717
303
90.01
.33
. 16
9. 08
.42
________________ ____ 73, 926
100.00
T em porary d isab ility .
__________
P erm anent to tal disability _______
P erm anent p artial d isab ility _______
______ __________
U nknow n
___________ _____
D e ath .
...
I
82, 387
550
97.04
.65
89, 082
427
1, 575
392
1.85
.46
1, 535
437
84,904
100. 00
91, 481
97. 38 113, 772
.46
105
2, 037
1.68
.48
399
97. 82
.09
1.75
.34
100.00 116, 313 100.00
1
1Spain.
M inisterio de Trabajo, Comercio e In d u stria .
M adrid, 1928, p p. 23 and 29; 1926, p . 25.
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E stadística de los accidentes del trabajo.
SAFETY CODES
S ta tu s of In d u stria l S a fety R e g u la tio n s
N AN effort to obtain from the various States a statement as to
the specific safety codes, orders, rules, or regulations in force
January 1, 1928, issued by the State industrial commission, the
department of labor, the utility commission, or other agency charged
with the protection of workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics com
municated with each State and received replies from all but two.
For those States for which definite data were not received the infor
mation published in the Labor Review for October, 1926, has been
used, supplemented by data compiled from other sources, including
a careful research of State reports and statutory enactments. Each
State has thus been given credit so far as possible, for whatever
may have been done along this line, and the record here published is
believed to be reasonably complete.
Lists of the codes approved or in process of development by the
American Standards Association, known as the “ National Safety
Codes,” were sent to each State, with the request that all subjects
covered by law, by board order, or by rules or regulations be checked,
and that kindred subjects not included in the lists be reported. While
the replies indicate that most of the States have not formally adopted
the codes as such, many of the States have issued rules and regula
tions covering the same or other subjects, under authority of specific
or general statutory provisions.
It was not intended that the lists should be interpreted by the
States as exclusive, and it is assumed that no rules or regulations
exist on subjects not included, except as specifically noted in the
supplemental list on page 107. If the State authorities omitted to
specify subjects on which they have safety regulations, this report is
to that extent incomplete. The appearance of the name of a State
may mean that it has formally adopted the national safety code
indicated or that, in the absence of a definite code, it has issued
general or specific orders covering the subjects noted. The omission
of the name of a State does not necessarily mean that it has made
no provision covering any particular subject, but may indicate that
the authorities made no reply to the bureau’s communication, or
that the information received is indefinite. In some cases this point
is clarified by explanation to be found under the name of the State
in the classification by States.
After the data were all assembled and this article prepared a copy
was forwarded to each State, with the request that the pertinent
portions be carefully checked. All but a few States responded and it
is therefore assumed that their record as given herein is correct.
Because of special requirements in the mining industry and the
absence of complete data from any State regarding safety provisions
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
covering mines and mine operations, this branch of industry has
been purposely omitted.
The following lists include: (1) The codes approved by the American
Standards Association as of January 1, 1928; (2) the codes in process
of development; and (3) subjects not included in (1) and (2) but on
which certain States have specifically noted the existence of safety
rules or regulations. This information is classified by subject and
State.
Safety Provisions Adopted, by Subject
Subjects Covered by Approved National Safety Codes
States in the following list have adopted rules, regulations,
ur orders covering the subjects indicated, which have been ap
proved as codes by the American Standards Association. This does
not mean that the codes themselves have been adopted or even
approved by the State named.
A brasive wheels. —Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsyl
vania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wis
consin, Wyoming.
A eron au tics. — Kansas (in part), Wyoming.
A utom obile brakes an d brake testin g. —Alabama, Kansas (in part), Michigan,
New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah (in part),
Wyoming.
D u st explosions, prevention of. —Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,
New Jersey, New York, Utah, Wyoming.
E lectrical in sta lla tio n s. —Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsyvania,
Utah, Washington, Wisconsin.
E levators a n d escalators. —Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland (Baltimore only), Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
E x its, b u ildin g. —Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland (Baltimore only),
Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire
(in part), New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
F oundries, protection o f workers in .— Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri (in part) , New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, LTtah (in part), Washington
(in part), Wisconsin (in part), Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming.
Forging an d hot-m etal sta m p in g . —Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah, Wisconsin (in part), Wyoming.
G as in sta lla tio n s. —Alabama, California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland (Baltimore
only), Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania.
H eads a n d eyes, protection of. —Alabama, Iowa, Kansas (in part), Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan (in part), Missouri (in part), New Hampshire (in part),
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah (in part), Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
(in part).
L adders. — California, Colorado, Illinois (in part), Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma
(in part), Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah (in part),Washington, Wis
consin, Wyoming.
L a u n d ry m achinery an d operation. —Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Washington,
Wisconsin, Wyoming.
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STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS
105
L igh tin g factories, m ills, etc,—Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas,
Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont,
Wisconsin, Wyoming.
L igh tin g of school buildin gs. —Alabama, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
Logging and sa w m ill m ach in ery.—Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Minne
sota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah (in part), Vermont, Washington,
Wisconsin (in part), Wyoming.
P a p e r a n d p u lp m ills. — Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Hampshire, New York (factory rules), Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont,
Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Pow er presses an d foot and hand presses. —Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah (in part), Wisconsin, Wyoming.
P o w er-tran sm ission a p p a ra tu s. —Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Con
necticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Rubber m achinery. —Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Wisconsin
(in part), Wyoming.
T extiles. —Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
W oodw orking p lan ts.— Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsyl
vania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin,
Wyoming.
Subjects Covered by National Safety Codes in Process of Development
The following States have adopted rules, regulations, or orders
covering the subjects indicated, which are at present in process of
development as codes by the American Standards Association:
A m u sem en t p a rks. — Kansas.
A u tom obile headlighting. —Alabama, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota,
Utah (in part), Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Colors fo r traffic sign als. —Alabama, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wyoming.
C om pressed-air m ach in ery. —California (in part), Colorado, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming.
C onstruction work.- —Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois (structural iron),
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland (Baltimore only), Massachusetts,
Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Conveyors a n d conveying m achinery. —California (in part), Colorado, Massa
chusetts, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming.
C ranes, derricks, an d hoists. —California, Illinois (in part), Kansas, Mass
achusetts, Nebraska (in part), New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
E xhaust system s. —-California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah (in part), Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Floor and w all openings, railin gs, toe boards. —Alabama (in part), California
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New
Hampshire (in part), New Jersey, New York, Ohio (in part), Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin (in part), Wyoming.
G as-m ask canisters, code fo r colors fo r.— Alabama, Kansas, Tennessee, Utah.
L igh tn in g, protection again st. — Massachusetts, North Carolina.
P late a n d sheet m etal w orking. —Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee,
Utah, Wyoming.
P ow er control, electrical. —California, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan,
New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin,
Wyoming.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Pow er control, m echanical. — California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
R efrigeration, m echanical. — M assach u setts, M innesota, New H am p sh ire, New
Jersey, Ohio, T ennessee, U ta h , W isconsin.
S a n ita tio n , in d u stria l. —Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois,
Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland (Baltimore only), Massachusetts, Michi
gan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
T an n eries. — Alabama, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania (in part),
Tennessee, Vermont, Wyoming.
Tools, m achine. — Colorado, Kansas, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsyl
vania, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
V en tilation . —Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee,
Utah (in part), Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
W a lk -w a y surfaces. —California (in part), Colorado, Kansas, New Hampshire,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming.
W in dow w ash in g. —California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Wiscon
sin, Wyoming.
Subjects Not Included in National Safety Codes
States in the following list have definitely stated that they have
rules, regulations or orders covering the subjects indicated. These
subjects, however, are not at present under consideration by the
American Standards Association with a view to forming definite
codes. This classification probably is more or less incomplete, for
it is safe to assume that some of the States have safety regulations
on subjects not noted herein which they did not specify in their
replies to the bureau. For example, most of the States have boiler
regulations, and yet this list includes just half of them. The explan
ation is that some which have such regulations did not so state and
their names could not therefore be included in the boiler group.
A ir pressure tan ks.— California.
B oilers. — Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas (in
part), Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.
C eram ics. —Ohio.
Chemicals.- —New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
Dredges.— California, Wisconsin.
D ry-clean in g an d dyein g establishm ents. — California, Colorado, Kansas, Ken
tucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin.
E n gin es .— C alifornia, "Pennsylvania (steam ), Tennessee, U ta h , W isconsin
(steam).
E xplosives. —Alabama, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, Oklahoma (in part), Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin.
M etal w orking. —Ohio, Tennessee, Utah.
O il d rillin g . — California, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah.
Painting.- —Massachusetts.
P lu m bin g. —Alabama, Iowa, Maine, Utah, Wisconsin.
P otteries. — New Jersey, Ohio.
P rin tin g . — New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah.
Q uarries.— California, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Wis
consin.
Scaffolds an d staging. — California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma (in part),
Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin.
S hipbuilding.- —California.
S p ra y coating. —Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin.
S team shovels. —California.
Steel m ills. — Ohio, Utah.
T unn els. — California.
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STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS
107
Safety Provisions Adopted, by States
IN THE following classification brief explanatory notes, derived
from correspondence, are included, followed by the subjects
covered by safety orders. In some instances these orders are author
ized specifically by statute and in others they are promulgated under
authority of the industrial commission or department of labor to
carry out the general provisions of law which authorizes safety
measures, without definite specification.
A la b a m a .— None of the national safety codes have been adopted and there are
no industrial safety laws in force. “ The safety rules and codes of the National
Safety Council are mainly used,” and the following subjects are covered:
Abrasive wheels.
Automobile brakes and brake testing.
Automobile headlighting.
Building exits.
Colors for traffic signals.
Construction work.
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Electrical installations.
Elevators and escalators.
Explosives.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe
boards.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Gas installations.
Gas-mask canisters, code.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Lighting of school buildings.
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Plumbing.
Power presses and foot and hand
presses.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Sanitation, industrial.
Textiles.
Ventilation.
Woodworking plants.
A r iz o n a .—Safety provisions cover the following subjects, conforming to the
national safety codes: Abrasive wheels, electrical installations, power-transmission
apparatus.
A rk a n sa s .—The only codes observed are those promulgated by electrical and
American engineering associations. In general, whatever safety measures are
enforced are largely voluntary. Some proprietors of laundries, woodworking
plants, printing plants, etc., provide safety appliances in conformity with recom
mendations of companies manufacturing such appliances. A statutory provision
covers boilers.
C a lifo rn ia .— Safety orders concerning most of the subjects have been adopted,
but they are not statutory nor are they codes that have been approved by the
American Standards Association. The following subjects are covered:
Abrasive wheels.
Air-pressure tanks.
Boilers.
Compressed-air machinery (in part).
Construction work.
Conveyors and conveying machinery
(in part).
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Dredges.
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish
ments.
Electrical installations.
Elevators and escalators.
Engines.
Exhaust systems.
Explosives.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe
boards.
35895°—29-----8
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Gas installations.
Ladders.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Oil drilling.
Power control, electrical.
Power control, mechanical.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Quarries.
Sanitation, industrial.
Scaffolds and staging.
Shipbuilding.
Steam shovels.
Ventilation.
Walk-way surfaces (in part).
Window washing.
Woodworking plants.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Colorado .— None of the codes have been adopted, but they are used by the
State factory inspectors wherever practicable. Safety provisions cover the
following subjects:
Laundry machinery and operation.
Abrasive wheels.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Boilers.
Lighting of school buildings.
Building exits.
Paper and pulp mills.
Construction work.
Plate and sheet-metal working.
Compressed-air machinery.
Power presses and foot and hand
Conveyors and conveying machinery.
presses.
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish
Sanitation, industrial.
ments.
Scaffolds and staging.
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Spray coating.
Electrical installations.
E levators and escalators.
Tools, machine.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Ventilation.
Walk-way surfaces.
boards.
Woodworking plants.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Ladders.
C onnecticut .—None of the codes adopted. However, the following subjects
are otherwise covered:
Exhaust systems.
Boilers.
Power transmission.
Building exits.
Sanitation, industrial.
Electrical installations.
Elevators and escalators.
D elaw are .—State
has no official safety code, but uses the Pennsylvania provi
However, a legislative act covers building exits.
F lo rid a .—Latest information available indicates that no safety codes of any
kind have been adopted. The child-labor law contains safety features applicable
to children under 16.
G eorgia .—None of the codes adopted. "Neither the department of commerce
and labor nor the industrial commission has authority under the law to promul
gate safety codes and none has been approved by either department.” A statu
tory provision covers building exits.
Id a h o .— None of the codes adopted. "However, we recommend all of them as
standards for employers of labor to work toward.” Safety provisions cover the
following subjects: Building exits, and electrical installations.
I llin o is .— None of the codes adopted. The division of factory inspection of
the State labor department plans to bring the matter to the attention of the
general assembly. Safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Laundry machinery and operation.
Abrasive wheels.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Building exits.
Power control, electrical.
Construction work (structural iron).
Power control, mechanical.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists (limited).
Power-transmission apparatus.
Electrical installations.
Sanitation, industrial.
Exhaust systems.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Scaffolds and staging.
Spray coating.
boards.
Ventilation.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Woodworking plants.
Gas installations.
Ladders (in part).
sions.
I n d ia n a .—None of the codes adopted, and the State law contains only general
provisions as to safety. However, safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe
Abrasive wheels.
boards.
Boilers.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Building exits.
Woodworking plants.
Elevators and escalators.
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STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS
109
Io w a .—None of the codes adopted, but those indicated below are used as a
standard by the State bureau of labor in issuing its safety orders:
Laundry machinery and operation.
Abrasive wheels.
Building exits.
Paper and pulp.
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Plumbing.
Electrical installations.
Power presses and foot and hand
Elevators and escalators.
presses.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Rubber machinery.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Woodworking plants.
Ladders.
K a n s a s .—None of the codes adopted, but inspectors are instructed to use them
as a standard in issuing orders. Considerable authority in this connection is
given by statute and the following subjects are covered:
Aeronautics (in part).
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Abrasive wheels.
Gas installations.
Amusement parks.
Gas-mask canisters, code for colors for.
Automobile brakes.
Heads and eyes, protection of (in part).
Automobile headlighting.
Ladders.
Boilers (in part).
Laundry machinery and operation.
Building exits.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Colors for traffic signals.
Oil drilling.
Construction work.
Power control, electrical.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Power presses and foot and hand presses.
Dry-cleaning and
dyeing estab Power-transmission apparatus.
lishments.
Quarries.
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Sanitation, industrial.
Electrical installations.
Scaffolds and staging.
Elevators and esculators.
Tools, machine.
Explosives.
Ventilation.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Walk-way surfaces.
boards.
Woodworking plants.
K e n tu c k y .—None of the codes adopted. “ Kentucky has not adopted any
regulations whatever for the safeguarding of places of employment except in coal
mines.” However, safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Construction work (building).
Exhaust systems.
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish
ments.
L o u isia n a .—None of the codes adopted. Statutory provisions cover—
Building exits.
Exhaust systems.
Construction work.
Sanitation, industrial.
Elevators and escalators.
M a in e .— None of the codes adopted. The department of labor and industry
is permitted by law “ to order changes in ways, works, and machinery where
same are necessary, in our estimation, for the protection of life, limb, and health
of employees.” Safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Automobile headlighting.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Building exits.
Sanitation, industrial.
Plumbing.
M a ry la n d .— No power to formulate codes. However, safety provisions cover
the following subjects:
Automobile headlighting.
Elevators and escalators (Baltimore
Boilers.
only).
Building exits (Baltimore only).
Gas installations (Baltimore only).
Construction work (Baltimore only).
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Electrical installations (Baltimore Sanitation, industrial (Baltimore only).
only).
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
M assachusetts .— None of the codes adopted. However, the following subjects are otherwise covered:
Lighting of school buildings.
Abrasive wheels.
Lightning, protection against.
Boilers.
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Building exits.
Painting.
Compressed-air machinery.
Paper and pulp mills.
Construction work.
Conveyors and conveying machinery. Plate and sheet-metal working.
Power control, electrical.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Power control, mechanical.
Electrical installations.
Power presses and foot and hand
Elevators and escalators.
presses.
Exhaust systems.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Explosives.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Power-transmission apparatus.
Rubber machinery.
boards.
Sanitation, industrial.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Scaffolds and staging.
Gas installations.
Tanneries,
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Textiles.
Ladders.
Ventilation.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Woodworking plants.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
M ich ig a n .—Safety regulations cover the following subjects:
Automobile brakes and brake testing. Ladders.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Automobile headlighting.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Abrasive wheels.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Building exits.
Lighting of school buildings.
Boilers.
Paper and pulp mills.
Colors for traffic signals.
Power control, electrical.
Construction work.
Conveyors and conveying machinery. Power control, mechanical.
Power presses and foot and hand
Dust explosions, prevention of.
presses.
Electrical installations.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
Rubber machinery.
Exhaust system.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Sanitation, industrial.
Spray coating.
boards.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Textiles.
Ventilation.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Woodworking plants.
Gas installations.
M in n eso ta .—The following codes (except that pertaining to mechanical
refrigeration), while not formally adopted by statute or in the form of rules or
regulations of the industrial commission, are being used as supplemental to the
safety laws in force in Minnesota. “ The statutes relating to industrial safety
are very general in their application, wffiich leaves it largely to the discretion of
the industrial commission to formulate rules and regulations relative thereto.”
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Abrasive wheels.
Power presses and foot and hand
Boilers.
presses.
Electrical installations.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Woodworking plants.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
M is s is s ip p i .— None of the codes adopted. “ We have no special code in this
State upon safety devices.” There are statutory provisions covering building
exits, power transmission, and sanitation, industrial.
M isso u ri .—None of the codes adopted, but the following subjects are other
wise covered:
Colors for traffic signals.
Abrasive wheels.
Construction work.
Automobile headlighting.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe
Boilers.
boards.
Building exits.
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STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS
Foundries, protection of workers in (in
part).
Heads and eyes, protection of.
111
Sanitation, industrial.
Scaffolds and staging.
Woodworking plants.
M o n ta n a .— No codes adopted, but the State requirements are substantially
the same as those of the codes, although the subjects covered are not specifically
mentioned. There are provisions covering boilers and electrical installations.
N ebraska. None of the codes adopted. Provision for the issuance of rules
and regulations is made by the health and safety regulations of the State labor
law. Safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Abrasive wheels.
Exhaust systems.
Boilers.
Ladders.
Building exits.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Construction work.
Sanitation, industrial.
Cranes, derricks, hoists (in part).
Scaffolds and staging.
Electrical installations.
Woodworking plants.
Elevators and escalators.
N eva d a .— None of the codes adopted, Some of the State requirements are
said to be substantially the same, however and the following subjects are covered:
Abrasive wheels.
Ladders.
Building exits.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Electrical installations.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe
boards.
N ew H a m p sh ire .—None of the codes adopted, but where rules are issued they
are substantially the same as those of the national codes. The factory inspection
law permits issuance of orders covering “ any condition that is dangerous to the
life and limb of workers, and we have in our work covered most of the subjects.”
Abrasive wheels.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Automobile brakes and brake testing. Logging and sawmill machinery.
Automobile headlights.
Paper and pulp mills.
Boilers.
Power presses and foot and hand
Building exits (in part).
presses.
Compressed-air machinery.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Exhaust systems.
Sanitation, industrial.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Tanneries.
boards (in part).
Textiles.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Tools, machine.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Ventilation'.
Ladders.
Walk-way surfaces.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Woodworking plants.
N ew J e rse y .—Some of the national safety codes have been adopted. Including
These, safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Abrasive wdieels.
Ladders.
Boilers.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Building exits.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Chemicals.
Potteries.
Construction work.
Power control, electrical.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Power control, mechanical.
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Power presses and foot and hand
Electrical installations.
presses.
Elevators and escalators.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Exhaust systems.
Printing.
Explosives.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Rubber machinery.
boards.
Sanitation, industrial.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Ventilation.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Window washing.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Woodworking plants.
N ew M exico .—Latest available information indicates that no safety codes of
any kind have been adopted.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
N ew Y o rk .—“ The New York State Legislature has authorized this department
(of labor) to formulate and adopt rules which have the same force and effect
as the statutes proper which are enacted by the legislature.” Safety provisions
exist covering the following subjects:
Ladders.
Abrasive wheels.
Laundry machinery and operations.
Boilers.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Building exits.
Paper and pulp mills (factory rules).
Construction work.
Plate and sheet-metal working.
Compressed-air machinery.
Power presses and foot and hand
Conveyors and conveying machinery.
presses.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish Power-transmission apparatus.
Quarries.
ments.
Sanitation, industrial.
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Scaffolds and staging.
Elevators and escalators.
Textiles.
Exhaust systems.
Tools, machine.
Explosives.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Ventilation.
Window washing.
boards.
Woodworking plants.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Gas installations.
N orth C a rolin a .—The following national safety codes and proposed codes have
been adopted:
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Automobile brakes and brake testing.
Lighting of school buildings.
Automobile headlighting.
Lightning, protection against.
Colors for traffic signals.
Power control, electrical.
Electrical installations.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
N orth D akota .— None of the codes adopted. However, the following subject
is covered: Building exits.
O hio .—None of the codes adopted. Practically all the codes in force in Ohio
were formulated prior to the publication of the national codes. The following
subjects are covered:
Ladders.
Abrasive wheels.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Boilers.
Metal working.
Building exits.
Potteries.
Ceramics.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Construction work.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
Scaffolds and staging.
Exhaust systems.
Steel mills.
Explosives.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Ventilation.
Woodworking plants.
boards.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
O klahom a .— Most of the codes adopted are those sponsored by the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers. Safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Ladders and stairways (in part).
Abrasive wheels.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Boilers.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Building exits.
Oil drilling.
Construction work.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
Textiles.
Explosives (in part).
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Walk-way surfaces.
Woodworking plants.
boards.
Oregon .—Only one of the codes adopted. Safety provisions cover the follow
ing subjects:
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe
Abrasive wheels.
boards (limited).
Construction work.
Ladders.
Boilers.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Electrical installations.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
Woodworking plants.
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STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS
113
P e n n sy lv a n ia .—The policy of the State department of labor and industry is
to adopt the national safety codes wherever the provisions are applicable to
conditions in the State. Safety rules or orders have been issued covering the
following subjects:
Abrasive wheels.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Automobile headlighting.
Ladders.
Automobile brakes and brake testing.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Boilers.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Building exits.
Lighting of school buildings.
Chemicals.
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Colors for traffic signals.
Paper and pulp mills.
Construction work.
Power control, electrical.
Compressed-air machinery.
Power control, mechanical.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Power presses and foot and hand
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish
presses.
ments.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Printing.
Electrical installations.
Elevators and escalators.
Quarries.
Engines (steam).
Sanitation, industrial.
Exhaust systems.
Scaffolds and staging.
Explosives.
Tanneries (in part).
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Textiles.
boards.
Tools, machine.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Window washing.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Woodworking plants.
Gas installations.
Rhode I s la n d .— None of the codes adopted. Statutory provisions cover build
ing exits and elevators and escalators.
South C arolin a .—Latest available information indicates that no safety codes of
any kind have been adopted. There is no State labor organization.
South D akota .—Safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Automobile brakes and brake testing.
Building exits.
Automobile headlighting.
Lighting of school buildings.
Boilers.
Tennessee .—The following subjects are covered:
Metal working.
Abrasive wheels.
Building exits.
Paper and pulp mills.
Compressed-air machinery.
Plate and sheet-metal working.
Power control, mechanical.
Conveyors and conveying machinery.
Power presses and foot and hand
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
presses.
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish
Power-transmission apparatus.
ments.
Printing.
Elevators and escalators.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Engines.
Sanitation, industrial.
Exhaust systems.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Spray coating.
Tanneries.
boards.
Textiles.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Gas-mask canisters, code for colors for. Tools, machine.
Ventilation.
Ladders.
Walk-way surfaces.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Woodworking plants.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
T exas .—None of the codes adopted “ but wherever possible American Engi
neering Standards Committee standard is enforced.” There appears to be a
statutory provision covering building exits.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
U tah .—Several of the codes have been adopted in full and several others in
part. Safety provisions cover the following subjects:
Laundry machinery and operation.
Abrasive wheels.
Automobile brakes and brake testing Lighting factories, mills, etc. (in part).
Logging and sawmill machinery (in
(in part).
part).
Automobile headlighting (in part).
Metal working.
Boilers.
Oil drilling.
Building exits.
Plate and sheet-metal working.
Compressed-air machinery.
Plumbing.
Construction work.
Power control, electrical.
Conveyors and conveying machinery.
Power control, mechanical.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish Power presses and foot and hand
presses (in part).
ments.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Printing.
Electrical installations.
Quarries.
Elevators and escalators.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Engines.
Sanitation, industrial.
Exhaust systems (in part).
Scaffolds and staging.
Explosives.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Spray coating.
Steel mills.
boards.
Textiles.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Foundries, protection of workers in Tools, machine.
Ventilation (in part).
(in part).
Gas-mask canisters, code for colors for. Walk-way surfaces.
Heads and eyes, protection of (in part). Woodworking plants.
Ladders (in part).
V erm on t .—None of the codes adopted but “ this department has attempted to
make suggestions and orders when ordt rs are necessary to fit the situations as
they arise.” Safety provisions cover th 3 following:
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Abrasive wheels.
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Building exits.
Paper and pulp mills.
Compressed-air machinery.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Construction work.
Quarries.
Conveyors and conveying machinery.
Sanitation, industrial.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Scaffolds and staging.
Elevators and escalators.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Tanneries.
Textiles.
boards.
Ventilation.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Walk-way surfaces.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Woodworking plants.
Laundry machinery and operation.
V irg in ia .—State laws do not permit the department of labor and industry to
adopt safety codes, but national codes are “ used in an educational way ” among
the various' industrial plants. Safety provisions cover the following: Abrasive
wheels, building exits, and power-transmission apparatus.
W ash in gton .—General safety standards of the State, adopted January 1, 1924,
“ partially cover most of the industries” covered by national codes. Specifically
noted as covered by the general safety standards are—•
Ladders.
Abrasive wheels.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Boilers.
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Construction work.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Electrical installations.
Woodworking plants.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
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STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS
115
W est V irg in ia .—No rules, but the State bureau of labor “looks with favor”
upon the national codes, and factory inspectors are governed by these codes.
There are statutory provisions covering—
Power control, mechanical.
Abrasive wheels.
Boilers.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Building exits.
Sanitation, industrial.
Ventilation.
Elevators and escalators.
Woodworking plants.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Power control, electrical.
W isco n sin .—None of the codes adopted, However, safety provisions cover
the following subjects:
Abrasive rvheels.
Lighting of school buildings.
Automobile headlighting.
Logging and sawmill machinery (in
Boilers.
part).
Building exits.
Paper and pulp mills.
Construction work.
Plumbing.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Power control, electrical.
Dredges.
Power control, mechanical.
Dry-cleaning and dyeing establish Power presses and foot and hand
ments.
presses.
Electrical installations.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Elevators and escalators.
Quarries.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Engines (steam).
Exhaust systems.
Rubber machinery (in part).
Explosives.
Sanitation, industrial.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Scaffolds and staging.
boards (in part).
Spray coating.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Textiles.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Tools, machine.
Ventilation.
Heads and eyes, protection of.
Window washing.
Ladders.
Woodworking plants.
Laundry machinery and operation.
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
W yo m in g .—Such safety orders as seem necessary are issued by the commissioner
of labor under the authority of the act creating the department of labor. Sub
jects covered include—
Lighting factories, mills, etc.
Abrasive wheels.
Logging and sawmill machinery.
Aeronautics.
Automobile brakes and brake testing. Paper and pulp mills.
Automobile headlighting.
Plate and sheet-metal working.
Power control, electrical.
Building exits.
Power control, mechanical.
Colors for traffic signals.
Power presses and foot and hand
Compressed-air machinery.
Construction work.
presses.
Conveyors and conveying machinery.
Power-transmission apparatus.
Refrigeration, mechanical.
Cranes, derricks, and hoists.
Rubber machinerju
Dust explosions, prevention of.
Sanitation, industrial.
Elevators and escalators.
T anneries.
Exhaust systems.
Floor and wall openings, railings, toe Textiles.
Tools, machine.
boards.
Ventilation.
Forging and hot-metal stamping.
Walk-way surfaces.
Foundries, protection of workers in.
Window washing.
Ladders.
Woodworking plants.
Laundry machinery and operation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[533 ]
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AND
SOCIAL INSURANCE
C o n v icts U n d er W ork m en ’s C o m p e n sa tio n Laws
N 1927, two State legislatures (those of Maryland and Wisconsin)
passed legislation extending the benefits of the workmen’s compen
sation laws to convicts injured while engaged in prison industries,
while another (that of California) passed a law excluding certain
convicts from awards under the compensation act after the courts
of that State had affirmed an award in favor of a convict injured
while engaged in working on the State highway.
The use of convicts in prison industries has subjected prisoners to
dangers that affect health, safety, and even life, and in some cases to
greater hazards than free labor is subject to, as the labor is forced and
there is less incentive to protect the workmen against injury. Several
cases have arisen in which convicts engaged in prison manufacture
have received permanent injuries for which no relief “was granted.
In 1925, a bill was introduced in the New York Legislature with a
view to extending certain benefits of the workmen’s compensation
act to convicts receiving injuries of a permanent nature. This bill
provided as follows:1
I
Every convict, except a convict serving life sentence, who, while in the per
formance of his work in connection with the maintenance of the institution or of
any industry maintained therein, suffers the loss of a foot, a leg, a hand, an arm,
or an eye, except where the injury is occasioned by the willful intention of the
injured convict to bring about the injury of himself or of another, shall upon
his discharge from such institution, be paid workmen’s compensation in an
amount to be determined by the prison-industries board and approved by the
State industrial board. Such compensation shall not exceed $500, may be paid
in such installments and at such times as the prison-industries board may recom
mend, and shall be paid out of the net earnings of the prison industries.
On December 18, 1926, the Supreme Court of California held, in
the case of California Highway Commission v. Industrial Accident
Commission (251 Pac. 808), that a convict injured while engaged in
working on the highways, under the direction of the California High
way Commission, was entitled to compensation under the workmen’s
compensation act, reasoning that the convict road camp bill (Acts
of 1923, ch. 667) made the convict an employee within the meaning
of the compensation act. The following year, the Legislature of the
State of California passed an act (Acts of 1927, ch. 653) concerning
the use of convict labor on State highways and in it provided as
follows:
S e c t io n 9. This act is not intended to restore, in whole or in part, the civil rights
of any convict used hereunder and said act shall not be so construed. No con
vict so used on the State highway or roads shall be considered as an employee
1A m erican L ab o r Legislation R eview , voi. 15, 1925, p. 132.
116
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117
or be employed by the State highway commission, nor shall any such convict come
within any of the provisions of the workmen’s compensation, insurance, and
safety act of 1917 or be entitled to any benefits thereunder whether on behalf of
himself or that of any other person.
During the same year the Legislatures of Maryland (Acts of 1927,
ch. 660) and Wisconsin (Acts of 1927, ch. 241) passed legislation ex
tending to convicts the benefits of the workmen’s compensation laws.
Because of the peculiar situation of convicts, in that they are forced
to labor, no matter how dangerous the employment, and seldom
receive wages, which makes difficult the problem of finding a basis
for the computation of a compensation award, the two acts extending
the benefits of the compensation laws to convicts are quoted in full.
The Maryland Act (Acts of 1927, ch. 660) reads as follows:
35-A. Whenever any prisoner in the Maryland Penitentiary or the Maryland
House of Correction shall be engaged in any extra hazardous employment within
the meaning of this article for which wages or a stipulated sum are paid either
to the institution or to the prisoner, this article shall be applicable thereto.
The average weekly wages of any such prisoner shall be the average weekly
wages or remuneration which the employer pays for the labor of said prisoner,
whether to the institution or the prisoner, or both; and the State industrial acci
dent commission in awarding compensation in cases of injuries to prisoners in
the course of their employment, shall direct that all of the compensation for which
the employer of said prisoner is liable hereunder, shall be paid to the institution
in which the said prisoner is confined at the time of his injury, and out of the
compensation paid to any such institution under the provisions of this article,
the institution shall retain a sum equal to the average weekly amount received
by said institution (if the compensation shall amount to so much) for the labor
of said prisoner over and above any bonus received by or for the use of said
prisoner, and the surplus of any such compensation, if any, shall be credited to
and belong to the injured prisoner. The disposition of the compensation as
above provided shall continue until the prisoner shall resume work or until his
death or discharge from the institution. When such prisoner shall resume work
any compensation to which he may still be entitled by reason of partial disability,
temporary or permanent, shall be payable to the institution and first applied
toward reimbursement to the institution for any loss which it may sustain in the
earnings of said prisoner by reason of his injuries, and the balance, if any, shall
belong to and be credited to the amount [sfc] of such prisoner. Upon the discharge
of the prisoner, whether by reason of the expiration of the term, or, by reason of
a pardon or parole, the remainder of the compensation for which the employer
may be liable hereunder shall be paid directly to the prisoner, and it shall be the
duty of the institution in which any prisoner, who is receiving compensation
under the provisions of this article, is confined, to promptly notify the State indus
trial accident commission of the discharge of any such prisoner in order that an
amended award may be made directing the payment to the said prisoner of any
future compensation to which the prisoner may be entitled.
Whenever any prisoner in the Maryland Penitentiary or the Maryland House
of Correction shall be engaged in any extrahazardous work within the meaning
of this article for which wages or a stipulated sum are paid by said institution
this article shall be applicable thereto, and the average weekly wages of any such
prisoner injured in the course of his or her employment shall be the average
weekly wages paid by the institution to such prisoner, and in addition thereto
a fair and reasonable sum to be determined by the State industrial accident com
mission for the board and maintenance of such prisoner not to exceed the amount
customarily received by the institution for its own use for prisoners engaged in
extrahazardous employments for private employers. The State industrial acci
dent commission in making awards to such prisoners so injured m the course of
their employment, shall direct the institution employing such prisoner to deduct
from its award the sum found by it to be reasonable for the board and mainte
nance of such prisoner, in determining the average weekly wages, and the balance,
if any, shall belong to and be credited to the account of such prisoner. Upon the
discharge of such prisoner whether by reason of the expiration of the sentence or
by parole or pardon, the said institution shall pay the remainder of the compensa
tion to which any said prisoner shall be entitled, to the prisoner, and shall
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118
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
promptly notify the State industrial accident commission of the discharge of any
such prisoner in order that its award may be modified accordingly.
Upon the death of any prisoner resulting from accidental injuries arising out
of and in the course of his employment within the meaning of this article his
dependents shall be entitled to compensation as determined by this article and
based upon average weekly wages as hereinabove defined.
S ec . 2. This act shall take effect on the 1st day of June, 1927.
Approved April 26, 1927.
The Wisconsin act (act of 1927, ch. 241) reads as follows:
new section is added to the statutes to read: (56.21) (1) if an
inmate of a State institution shall in the performance of his work in connection
with the maintenance of such institution, or of any industry maintained therein,
be injured in such a way as to permanently incapacitate such inmate or materially
reduce his earning power, he may, upon his discharge from such institution, be
allowed and paid such compensation therefor as he shall be found entitled to by
the industrial commission. Such loss shall be compensated for on the same basis
as though such injury had been covered by the workmen’s compensation act,
except that the total of the sum paid to any such inmate shall not exceed $1,000,
and such sum may be paid to such inmate in partial payments.
(2) In the case of penal institutions, where injury results from employment
in a prison industry, such payment shall be made from the revolving appropria
tion for the operation of such industry.
S e c . 2. Subsection (8) of section 20.57 of the statutes is amended to read:
(20.57) (8) Annually, such sums as may be necessary, for compensation of persons
injured while in the State service, as provided in sections 102.01 to 102.34 and
for compensation to inmates of State institutions injured in the performance of
work in such institutions, except persons injured in prison industries, as provided
in section 56.21.
S ec . 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and publication.
Approved June 16, 1927.
S e c t io n 1. A
R ecen t W ork m en ’s C o m p en sa tio n R eports
C o n n e c tic u t
HE ninth report of the Board of Compensation Commissioners of
Connecticut, covering the 2-year period from November 1,
1926, to November 1, 1928, summarizes the experience under
the act of that State. The report contains some interesting state
ments concerning the ratio between direct compensation payments
and statutory aid (medical, surgical, and hospital service). These
are in part as follows:
T
The direct compensation payments, either to injured workmen or their
dependents, made through the insurance companies doing business in the State
in the period covered by this report was $3,514,028.23. The amounts expended
by the insurance companies for statutory aid during the same period was $2,462,833. During the same period the self-insurers paid out for direct compensation
payments $715,496.10, and for statutory aid payments $614,374.57. Anyone
sufficiently interested to compare these figures with our previous reports will at
once be impressed with the fact that the ratio between compensation payments
and statutory aid by the insurance carrier has been and now is rapidly rising and
that it remains nearly a stationary ratio as to the self-insurer. This means that
the great insurance interests are more and more realizing that they can minimize
their compensation payments by giving a constantly better medical, surgical, and
hospital service. These figures also indicate that the large self-insurers are
reducing their compensation payments by an increase in medical, surgical, and
hospital care.
N eb rask a
1927 session of the Legislature of Nebraska authorized the
T HEgovernor
to appoint a commission of seven members to make a
study and a survey of the Nebraska compensation law.
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The report
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION— NEBRASKA
119
of the commission, dated December 1, 1928, contains recommenda
tions reprinted below and upon which comment was made in the
report. The recommendations are such that they will be of wide
interest to other States interested in the subjects covered.
L u m p -su m settlem ents
«
1. That the power of the district court to approve lump-sum settlements be
abolished, and that the compensation commissioner be given the power to order
lump-sum settlements when such settlements are deemed advisable by him.
Appeals from such order of the commissioner are to be taken to the courts as in
other cases.
2. That the amount or amounts payable in lump sums must equal the total
sum of the probable future payments, capitalized at their present value calculated
at 5 per cent per annum with annual rests, and that no other method of com
mutation be permitted.
M edical aid
1. That the compensation commissioner, with the advice and assistance of
such experts as he may deem necessary, be authorized to establish a medical
and hospital fee schedule which may be changed and adjusted from time to time,
as circumstances may warrant.
2. That the compensation commissioner be given the power to determine the
necessity for all disassociated operations and treatments which are not usual
by the nature of the injury involved.
3. That the physicians, surgeons, and hospitals be made a party at interest
before the courts and the commissioner in order that they may secure payment
for their services without relying upon the willingness of the injured man to
bring the action.
4. That the compensation commissioner be given full authority to approve all
bills for medical, surgical, and hospital services and medicines in cases arising
under the workmen’s compensation law.
A ccident prevention
1. That the Nebraska safety act be amended to give the secretary of labor a
broad power to formulate safety codes for the various industries of the State
and that the secretary of labor be permitted to establish advisory committees
of workers and employers to assist in the formation of such codes.
2. That an appropriation be made for the department of labor, for maintaining
a competent factory inspector and to enable the department to conduct a cam
paign of safety education and to publish statistics and information on accident
prevention.
A d m in istra tio n of com pensation law
1. That the compensation department be supplied with sufficient deputies to
enable the deputies to hear all contested cases.
2. That appeals be taken from the deputies to the compensation commissioner;
that the hearing before the compensation commissioner be made a matter of
record. However, the compensation commissioner may, in his discretion, order
that a record be made of the hearing before the deputy, such record shall be the
evidence submitted to the compensation commissioner, if appealed.
3. That appeals from the commissioner be taken direct to the supreme court,
based on the record before the commissioner.
4. That the staff of the department of labor be sufficiently enlarged that the
division of compensation will not be required to participate in the administration
of any of the other labor laws.
Technical im provem ent in phraseology and m inor changes
1. That the wording of sections 3029, 3038, 3044, 3048, 3049, 3053, and 3080
be slightly altered so as to clarify the meaning of the law, and to make such
minor changes as are indicated below.
2. That section 3057 be changed so as to permit the commissioner to modify
awards for total and permanent disabilitj^ when the earning power of the injured
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
employee has been restored, and after all payments for specific losses have been
made.
3. That section 3074 be amended so as to make an order of the compensation
commissioner a judgment enforceable for collection upon filing the same in the
district court.
4. In case the recommendations of the commission with respect to the taking
of appeals direct to the supreme court is not incorporated into law, that the time
limit for notices of appeals be increased to 14 days.
A ltern ate proposals
The adoption of the following proposals is recommended in case the legislature
does not deem it advisable to adopt the complete recommendations of the com
mission with reference to the administrative organization of the compensation
law.
P roposed law
3060. A rb itra tio n . All disputed claims for compensation or for
benefits under this article must be submitted to the compensation commissioner
for an award. If either party at interest is dissatisfied with the award of the
compensation commissioner, then the matter may be submitted to the district
court of the county in which the accident occurred, either at or during the regular
term of the district court of said county or during any period of time between
the regular term time of the district court of said county, which court shall have
authority to hear and determine the cause as in equity and enter final judgment
therein determining all questions of law and fact in accordance with the pro
visions of this article, which judgment shall be final and conclusive unless reversed,
dismissed, or modified on appeal or otherwise modified pursuant to the provisions
of this act. In case the accident occurred outside the boundaries of the State
of Nebraska, the appeal shall be taken to the district court of the county which
would have jurisdiction over a civil action between the parties: P rovided , how
ever, If either party appeals from the award of the compensation commissioner,
notice of the appeal shall be given to the commissioner and the petition on appeal
filed in the district court within 14 days from the date of the award.
S e c t io n
N ew Y ork
IN THE December, 1928, issue of the Industrial Bulletin, published
* by the New York Department of Labor, there is presented an
article entitled “ Occupational dermatitis and compensation.” In
explanation of the investigation the article contains the following in
troductory remarks:
The New York State compensation law gives compensation for occupational
diseases caused by 19 specified substances. Dermatitis, per se, is not recognized
as an occupational disease unless the substances from which the worker contracts
the dermatitis is mentioned among the 19. A worker suffering from dermatitis,
therefore, has an advantage if he contracts the disease from a substance men
tioned under the law. If the substance is not mentioned under the law he does
not receive compensation although he is just as much disabled—loses just as
much time and wages.
From the worker’s standpoint, dermatitis is a serious handicap. Although it
may attack any part of the body, the hands are most frequently affected. In
addition to this local effect, in many cases there is a general constitutional reac
tion in an endeavor on the part of the body to get rid of the irritant. There is
also in some cases a severe nervous reaction due to constant itching of the affected
parts, which often causes loss of sleep, etc.
A representative of the bureau of women in industry has analyzed the cases
which appear on the occupational disease calendar each week in an effort to
determine what proportion of the dermatitis cases are eligible for compensation
and what proportion are not. The present study, therefore, is concerned with a
group of 134 cases of occupational dermatitis which came up for hearing on the
occupational disease calendar in the Workmen’s Compensation Bureau of the
New York State Department of Labor, between July 1, 1927, and June 30, 1928.
The dermatitis cases, classified according to causative agent and
occupation, are as follows:
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N U M B E R O F C A SES OF D E R M A T IT IS BY C A U S A T IV E A G E N T A N D BY O C C U P A T IO N
C ausative agent or occupation
Dis
allowed
Awards
21
15
10
3
1
8
6
8
C ausative agent:
D y e s,.
__________________________
Soaps and clean ers., ........ ..... . . .
_
_____
Volatile hydrocarbons____ ___ ____ . . . . . .
Chromic acid. _
...
. . . ___________
M ethyl alcohol.
. . . . . . . ..............
Acid _____ . . . . . . ........ ..............
Oil and g rease..
______
_
_
____ ____
Lead _ _____ ._
T raum a
.
................. ............ ............. _
In k .
______ . . . .
_
_ ...
_ _ _ _ .
Flour, sugar, cinnam on___
_ ..
_____
.................
Form aldehyde___
F r u i t . . . ___________________________________
Polish.
L otions..
..
_.
....
P lants .
___ ______ ________ ______ ______
M iscellaneous
________________________
U nknow n ____ _________ ________ . . . _. ..
T o ta l_________________ ___________________
Occupation:
F ur, le a th er......... .......... .................................. . . .
D om estic and personal service. .
_ ____
P rinting and. paper
___ _ _ . .
. . . _____
C lothing.
_____ _ . .
..................... .
W ood__~____________________________________
M e ta ls .. _______ _______ _______ __________
Food __ _ . . . . _ _ ........................................
.
_____ . ______
C hem ical. __________
Textiles
. _____ .
. .
M iscellaneous . .
_ _______ ___
_.
U nknow n ___ . __ ___________ . .
...
T o tal.
_______ . _____ _
_.
Pending No claim
4
2
1
1
6
4
1
3
2
1
3
2
1
2
2
3
1
1
1
1
4
1
23
21
2
7
3
3
4
3
3
2
11
3
1
88
19
16
5
8
6
8
7
6
2
10
1
3
1
2
3
2
1
88
1
1
4
3
23
21
2
T otal
cases
33
17
12
10
8
8
6
4
4
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
16
4
134
29
19
14
12
11
11
10
8
2
17
1
134
N o rth D a k o ta
rT'HE ninth annual report of the North Dakota Workmen’s ComA pensation Bureau for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1928,
presents a statement of assets and liabilities and receipts and dis
bursements of the State fund. The report also contains a table, a
summary of which is given below, including all claims which occurred
during this period and on which final awards had been made on June
30. Medical cases are not included.
D IS T R IB U T IO N O F C L A IM S B Y G E N E R A L C A U SES
N u m b er of claims
General cause
M achinery.
.
..
_________
Boiler and steam pressure a p p a r a t u s ___ ____
Vehicles___ .
___ _ . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Explosive, electricity, fires, corrosive substances. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
__ ._ _____
__ _
Poisonous substances
Falls of persons. .
. . . . _______________
Stepping on or striking against objects.
Falling o b je c ts..
. . _ __________ ____
Objects being h an d led__ _ ____ . . . _____ _
H an d tools _________ _____________________
A nim als_________________ ________________
M iscellaneous_______ ______________________
T o tal............................................................ .
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T otal aw ards
D eaths
and
D eaths
perm a P erm a T em and per
n ent
nent porary m anent
total disa
total partial
disa
bilities
bilities
2
20
3
3
3
5
4
1
1
2
1
2
6
4
4
2
20
43
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P erm a
nent
partial
T em po
ra ry com
pensation
$11, 625. 36 $12, 649.84
151
314. 43
7
333 $26, 622. 92
960. 00 26,904. 79
84
10
262
135
53
590
165
47
69
35, 036. 45
3, 220.10
20, 799. 97
12, 737. 50
1,450. 00
2, 000. 00
6,194. 53
2, 256.18
1, 689. 08
14, 928. 39
1,906 116, 319. 76
292. 92
6, 714. 69
662. 07
20, 611.17
7, 257. 97
3, 534. 09
35, 989. 73
8, 470.14
3, 109. 27
3, 578.14
23, 493. 64 129, 796. 33
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P e n n s y lv a n ia
annual report of the Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation of
uhe Department of Labor and Industry of Pennsylvania, for the
calendar year 1928, contains some interesting figures showing the
result of the experience of Pennsylvania under the workmen’s com
pensation law. The report contains the table below, covering 152,513
accidents involving a time loss of two days or more. There was a
decrease of 5.1 per cent in the number of accidents reported during
the year 1928 as compared with 1927.
N U M B E R O F F A T A L A N D N O N F A T A L A C C ID E N T S IN P E N N S Y L V A N IA IN 1928, BY
IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S
F atal
In d u stry group
C onstruction a n d contracting----------------------M anu factu rin g ____________________________
M ining, an th racite coal------------------------------M ining, bitum inous coal---------------------- ----Q uarrying and m ining other th a n coal m ining
T ran sp o rtatio n a n d public u tilities--------------R etail tra d e ____________________i --------------W holesale tra d e ___________________________
S tate and m unicipal___________________ ___
M iscellaneous..................................... ...............
Total.
N onfatal
Total
227
356
474
544
32
213
50
11
101
72
18,355
52,501
25,417
22,580
2,295
- 9,441
6,584
1,696
3,778
7,786
18,582
52,857
25,891
23,124
2,327
9,654
6,634
1,707
3,879
7,858
2,080
150,433
152,513
Compensation payments were authorized during the year in 80,906
cases, either upon the approval of agreements executed by the
interested parties or upon awards made by the referees or the work
men’s compensation board, the amounts of liability being, in fatal
cases, $6,238,121; in permanent disability cases, $3,579,530; and in
temporary disability cases, $5,466,361. These figures do not include
the amount paid for medical, surgical and hospital service, and
medicines and supplies as required by law, which it was estimated
amounted to about one-third of the compensation liability. There
were 1,827 fatal cases in which compensation was authorized, either
by agreement or award during the year.
Widows who were receiving compensation payments remarried in
229 cases. In 617 fatal cases in 1928 there were no minor dependents.
The sole beneficiaries in 387 of these cases were widows; in 22 cases,
fathers; in 80 cases, mothers; and in 128 cases, fathers and mothers.
Of the 1,827 fatal cases, 1,553 were dependency cases in which the
compensation incurred amounted to $6,202,338 or an average of
$3,993.78; 274 were nondependency cases involving payments of
$35,783 or an average of $130.59 per case for funeral expenses.
With regard to reporting accidents the report stated the following:
In order that the workmen’s compensation law may be satisfactorily admin
istered, it is of the utmost importance that accidents be reported promptly to
the bureau and compensation agreements filed for approval with the least possible
delay.
During the year 1927 a study of the records in the bureau disclosed that the
average time required for reporting accidents was 18 and a fraction days while
the average time required for filing agreements for the payment of compensation
was 48 days.
Using these figures as a basis, a campaign was inaugurated during the latter
part of the year 1927 for the purpose of securing a reduction in these figures
during the year 1928. The records of the first nine months of the year 1928
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION— WEST VIRGINIA
123
show that the average time for reporting accidents has been reduced to 17 and a
fraction days while the average time for filing agreements for the payment of
compensation has been reduced from 48 to 44 days. The 1928 record for the
insurance companies is 19 days for reporting accidents and 44 days for filing
agreements while the 1928 record of companies operating as self-insurers is 15
days for reporting accidents and 43 days for filing agreements for the payment of
compensation.
While this improvement is commendable, the elapsed time can be further
decreased by proper effort on the part of the companies whose record is above
the average.
W e s t V ir g in ia
' I HE State Compensation Commissioner of West Virginia has issued
an official preliminary report covering the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1928. Concerning the ascertaining of the correct financial
conditions of the State insurance fund the report contains the
following:
After determining the incurred liability of the department * * * it was
found that the actual deficit outstanding as of June 30, 1927, was $5,067,667.82.
This deficit has all practically accrued since July 1, 1923, at which time, you
will recall, the legislature increased the benefits payable by the fund to a large
degree: Widows from $20 to $30 per month; age limit of children from 15 to
16 years, and the maximum rate of compensation to injured workmen and
total disabilities to $16 per week, at the same time, increased the base of calcu
lation for the minimum and maximum from an average of 50 per cent of the
former earnings to 66% per cent of the former earnings. The premium rates in
effect at that time were not changed or increased until October 1, 1926, and
then in a less percentage than was contained in the legislative increase of benefits.
The survey that we have completed shows the department with 94 classifi
cations, 5 of which are obsolete. To project the m a n u a l rates in effect July 1,
1927, to the present level of benefits paid, it was necessary to increase the base
rate of 64 classifications, the increase varying from 10 cents in one classification
to $3.50 as the maximum increase in another. At the same time, the analyzation
shows that a decrease should be made in 8 classifications, varying from 5 cents
in one classification to 40 cents in another. These manual rate changes will
not reduce the deficit but are calculated as sufficient to take care of all liability
incurred by the department beginning October 1, 1928, at which time they are
effective.
In providing for the retirement of the _department’s deficit, it was deemed
advisable to assess a specific loading against each classification in relation to
their shown loss ratio in each schedule as the total amount of deficit shown in
each schedule bears to the total deficit. This loading varies from 2 cents on
the $100 of pay roll against one classification to 40 cents on the $100 in others.
The catastrophe loading was determined in like manner, ranging from 2 cents
specific loading for catastrophe in one classification to 20 cents in others. The
deficit loading is calculated against the total average premium income of the
department to retire the deficit in a period of five years. The continuance of the
catastrophe loading from year to year will depend, of course, on the catastrophes
that occur in the State, if any. If none occur, the loading will be dropped.
If the cost of catastrophes continues to increase, the loading for that purpose
will have to be proportionately increased.
The administrative cost is provided by charging 10 cents for each $100 of
pay roll reported. No change has been made in the experience or merit rating
plan. The base rate of a subscriber can fluctuate according to his own loss
ratio 100 per cent up or 40 per cent down. An employer’s adjusted rate is
determined by arriving at his individual merit rate to which then is added the
deficit and catastrophe loadings applicable to his classification.
Under the heading “ Why the deficit” the report contained the
following :
We find on July 1, 1927, that we have 2,215 widows, 5,537 children, 282
permanently disabled, 279 dependent parents and others, 2,090 permanently
maimed claimants known as permanent partial disabilities, that the commuted
35895°—29-----9
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
value of these claims as of July 1, 1927, amounts to $16,074,978. The fund as
of that date had total liabilities as follows:
Reserve for fatal claims with which to pay the future liability
to widows and children-------------------------------------------------- $11, 478, 961. 00
Permanent total reserve liability with which to pay the per
2, 834, 399. 00
manent totals for the remainder of their lives-------------------1, 761, 618. 00
Permanent partial claim reserve----------------------------------------3, 284, 455. 00
Indeterminate liabilities__________________________________
50, 000 . 00
Medical claims outstanding______________________________
Advanced deposits on employer’s account or premium guar
545, 685. 00
anty_________________________________________________
38, 830. 35
Uncanceled and outstanding compensation claim vouchers----19, 993, 948. 35
Total liability
We find on July 1, 1927, the assets of the compensation fund made up of the
following items:
$749, 185. 85
Cash balance__________
13, 817, 900. 00
Invested in securities___
280, 567. 00
Accrued interest_______
42, 873. 50
Furniture and equipment
5, 332. 38
Supplies and stationery __
30, 421. 80
Past-due premium______
14, 926, 280. 53
Total assets
Leaving a deficit balance of________________________________ 5, 067, 667. 82
In the face of the fact that the past loss ratio of the department made a general
increase in rates necessary, the department still stands in the undisputed position
of furnishing workmen’s compensation insurance to the industries of West
Virginia at a net cost in premiums far below that which it would be necessary
for them to pay if the same protection were furnished through any other insur
ance carrier. The department has long since justified its organization and its
operation by a saving to the industries of the State of West Virginia, from its
organization in 1913 up to the present time, of at least twenty millions of dollars
in insurance premiums, by reason of the fact that it has always operated at a
premium cost of approximately 50 per cent less than insurance company carriers
were charging for the same class of protection.
E x ten sio n of N a tio n a l H ea lth and P e n sio n s In su r a n c e in
G reat B rita in
B
Y AN act passed in 1928 and effective January 1, 1929, certain
classes of workers who were not previously insurable either for
compulsory health insurance or for unemployment insurance
are brought within the scope of the acts relating to health insurance
and the contributory old-age pension plan. The Ministry of Labor
Gazette for January, 1929, gives a summary of the new act.
The classes of employment affected by the new provisions, which do not apply
to unemployment insurance, are:
(1) Employment by way of manual labor under a contract for the performance
of such labor for the purposes of any trade or business, except in so far as such
employment is excluded by a special order.
(2) "Employment as a master or member of the crew of any fishing or other
vessel registered in the United Kingdom, or of any other British vessel of which
the owner, or if there be more than one owner the managing owner or manager,
resides or has his principal place of business in the United Kingdom, when the
person so employed is remunerated by a share in the profits or gross earnings of
the vessel, except in so far as such employment is excluded by special order.
As regards (1) it is stated by the Ministry of Health that the effect, in general,
is to bring into compulsory insurance persons engaged to perform manual labor,
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INSURANCE IN GREAT BRITAIN
125
although they may be engaged as independent contractors or subcontractors
and not under a contract of service. It is to be noted, however, that the provision
only applies (a) where the person undertaking the manual work takes an active
part in it himself and (b) where the work is performed for the purposes of the
employer s trade or business. Thus, it does not apply to a contractor or subcon
tractor who only supervises the work of his assistants, without taking any sub
stantial part in the manual work himself or who is carrying out work not for the
purposes of the trade or business of the person with whom he contracts_e. g
private domestic work where the person employed contracts directly with the
householder.
. As regards (2)—share fishermen—it is stated that the effect of the new provi
sions is to bring into compulsory health and pensions insurance share fishermen
who work as coadventurers and are not already insured as being employed under
a contract of service. The new clause applies irrespectively of whether the
fisherman has any share in the ownership of the boat or gear or whether he is
only contributing his labor to the venture.
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LABOR LAWS
F ederal C on vict Labor A ct of 1929
N JANUARY 19, 1929, the President signed the Cooper-Hawes
convict labor bill, technically known as H. R. 7729 and S.
1940, passed by the House of Representatives at the first
session of the Seventieth Congress on May 15, 1928, and amended
and passed by the Senate at the second session of the same Congress
on December 19, 1928. The act divests convict-made goods of their
interstate character, and reads as follows:
O
S e c t io n 1. All goods, wares, and merchandise manufactured, produced, or
mined, wholly or in part, by convicts or prisoners, except convicts or prisoners
on parole or probation, or in any penal and/or reformatory institutions, except
commodities manufactured in Federal penal and correctional institutions for use
by the Federal Government, transported into any State or Territory of the
United States and remaining therein for use, consumption, sale, or storage, shall
upon arrival and delivery in such State or Territory be subject to the operation
and effect of the laws of such State or Territory to the same extent and in the
same manner as though such goods, wares, and merchandise had been manu
factured, produced, or mined in such State or Territory, and shall not be exempt
therefrom by reason of being introduced in the original package or otherwise.
S e c . 2. This act shall take effect five years after the date of its approval.
S ta te C on vict Labor L eg isla tio n
HE United States, all the States, and Alaska, Hawaii, Porto
Rico, and the Philippines, have enacted legislation concerning
the employment of convicts during the term of their detention.
The systems of employment under which the convicts are employed
are six in number and have been defined as follows:
Contract system: Under this system the State feeds, clothes, houses,
and guards the convict. To do this the State maintains an institution
and a force of guards and other employees. A contractor engages
with the State for the labor of the convict, which is performed within
or near the institution. The contractor pays the State a stipulated
amount per capita for the services of the convict, supplies his own
raw material, and superintends the work.
Piece-price system: This system differs from the contract system
mainly in method of payment for the labor of convicts. The State
maintains the institution and feeds, clothes, and guards the convicts.
The contractor supplies the raw material and pays the State an agreed
amount for the work done on each piece or article manufactured by
the convicts. The supervision of the work is generally performed by a
prison official, although sometimes by the contractors. The officials
of the prison not only maintain discipline but also dictate daily
quantity of work required.
Public-account system: So far as the convict is concerned, this
system does not differ from the piece-price system, but for the insti
tution it is entirely different. In the piece-price system the contractor
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STATE CONVICT LABOR LEGISLATION
127
finances the business and assumes all the chances of profit or loss.
In the public-account system the State enters the field of manufac
turing on its own account. I t buys the raw material, manufactures
and puts the product on the market, and assumes all the risk of con
ducting a manufacturing business. The State has the entire care and
control of the convicts and with them conducts an ordinary factory.
The institution may sell the product direct or through an agent.
State-use system: Under this system the State conducts a business
of manufacture or production, as in the public-account system, but
the use or sale of goods produced is limited to the same institution or
to other State institutions. The principle of the system is that the
State shall produce articles of merchandise for governmental supply
requirements only and shall not compete in the open market with
the business of manufacturers employing free labor.
Public works and ways system: This system is very nearly like the
State-use system. Under this system the labor is applied not to the
manufacture of articles of consumption but to the construction and
repair of the prison or of other public buildings, roads, parks, break
waters, and permanent public structures.
.Lease system: Under this system the State enters into a contract
with a lessee, who agrees to receive the convict, to feed, clothe, house,
and guard him, to keep him at work, and to pay the State a specified
amount, for his labor. The State reserves the right to make rules for
the care of the convict and to inspect the convict’s quarters and place
of v ork. ^No institution is maintained by the State other than a place
r qe^,e1ri^lon7where the convicts can be held until placed in the hands
ol the lessee and in which to confine convicts who are unable to work.
In other words, the prisoners themselves are leased to the contractor.
In the analysis of the Federal, State, and Territorial legislation
below, the system of employment is given, with the kinds of work
done and regulations as to the marking of convict-made goods, the
licensing of persons handling convict-made goods, or other regulations
concerning their sale and disposition, together with the legal sources
from which the analysis has been made.
S ystem s of em ploym ent.
ALABAMA
State use; public account; public works and wavs
ALASKA
S ystem of em ploym ent.
The public-works-and-ways S37stem is apparently the
only system authorized.
Source: C. L. 1913, sec. 2082.
ARIZONA
S ystem s of e m p lo y m e n t— Public
works and ways. Other forms of emplovment are apparently authorized, but on what system is not indicated.
K in d s o f w o r k — On public roads, highways and bridges, streets and
III o n w o r k n m vn Hnrl frvT» e n n n F r
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128
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
ARKANSAS
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —Public works and ways; public account; State use.
Leasing of State convicts is forbidden, but apparently not of county convicts.
K in d s of work. —On public roads; in preparing road materials; crushing lime
stone for sale to farmers; on convict farms; in manufacture of cotton goods,
furniture, brick, and twine as the penitentiary board may provide, apparently
for sale in the open market. County convicts may be hired out; also State
convicts on road and farm labor.
Sources: Digest of 1921, secs. 2046, 2048, 2060, 2061, 2081, 5213—5217, 5362,
5395, 9658, 9693-9695; Acts of 1923, Nos. 128, 328, 759; Acts of 1925, No. 152;
Acts of 1927, No. 170.
CALIFORNIA
System s of em ploym ent.- —State use; public account; public works and ways.
The letting of convict labor by contract is forbidden by the constitution.
K in d s of work. —In manufacture of articles for the State and its municipalities;
on roads and highways; in preparation of road materials; in manufacture of
hemp and jute products and other articles, manufacture of which is permitted
by law; and wrork on industrial farms. Women at San Quentin may make
and sell needlework.
R egulations. —Only articles designated by law may be offered for sale. Articles
of apparel offered for sale within the State must be marked so as to show in what
institution they were manufactured; dealers must post notices stating the fact.
Sources: Const., Art. X, sec. 6; Penal Code, secs., 679a, 1586 (as amended
1923, ch. 158), 1613; pp. 710, 716, 719; Acts of 1911, ch. 570; Acts of 1915, ch.
13; Acts of 1917, ch. 164; Acts of 1919, ch. 316; Acts of 1921, ch. 843; Acts of 1923,
ch. 316; Acts of 1927, chs. 479, 637, 653.
COLORADO
System s of em ploym en t. —State
use; public works and ways; and, apparently,
Leasing is forbidden.
K in d s o f work. — On highways; in quarries; in manufacture of clothing, shoes,
etc., for inmates of public institutions, and furniture, supplies, etc., for such
institutions; in propagation of fish; and in manufacture of automobile license
plates. County convicts may be employed on highways, but not on bridges
where skilled labor is required.
R egulations.— Goods made for other institutions are to be furnished at prices
corresponding to the market value. Products shall be those that least conflict
with free labor. Dealers in convict-made goods must be licensed, and the goods
marked. Prohibits competition with free labor.
Sources: C. L. 1921, secs. 766, 768, 780-796, 3745-3755, 7138-7140, 88788886; Acts of 1923, ch. 88; Acts of 1925, ch. 141; Acts of 1927, chs. 63, 142.
public account.
CONNECTICUT
S ystem s of em ploym en t. — Contract or piece price; public works and ways; and,
apparently, public account and State use.
K in d s of work. —In such manufacturing as board of prison directors may
provide; on highways, bridges, public property, etc.co u n ty convicts in workhouses; work on tobacco or any article which comes in contact with the mouth
of a human being is forbidden, unless provided for by regulations of the State
department of health.
Sources: G. S. 1918, secs. 1932, 1935, 1936, 1969; Acts of 1919, ch. 341; Acts
of 1925, ch. 263; Acts of 1927, ch. 88.
DELAWARE
S ystem s of em ploym en t. — Public works and ways; leasing; apparently contract
and public account; State use.
K in d s o f w ork. —On roads and highways; on farms; “suitable employment ’
in workhouses.
Sources: R. C. 1915, secs. 3605, 3606, 3608a-3608k (all added 1917, ch. 241),
3613, 3613a (added 1921, ch. 202), 3615a (added 1923, ch. 222), 4811.
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
S ystem s o f em ploym en t. —The public-account system is used, but products
are sold only to contractors on public works of the District; State use.
K in d s o f w ork. —Employment is at such labor and under such regulations
as prescribed by the Supreme Court of the District; farming and the manu
facture of brick and of brooms are provided for; also work pertaining to the
maintenance of the institutions in which prisoners are confined,*
Source: Code, sec. 1192.
FLORIDA
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —Public
works and ways; State use; apparently public
Leasing is forbidden, all contracts null and void on December 31, 1923.
K in d s of work. — On farms; on public roads, bridges, and other public works.
Sources: G. S. 1920, secs. 6113, 6217, 6218 (two latter amended 1923, ch.
9203), 6225, 6226, 6248, 6290, 6294; Acts of 1919, ch. 7833 (as amended 1923,
ch. 9126); Acts of 1923, ch. 9203; Acts of 1925, ch. 10271.
account.
GEORGIA
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —Public
works and ways; State use; public account.
Leasing county convicts is forbidden.
K in d s of work. —On farms, public roads, bridges, and other public works;
in industrial enterprises deemed advisable by the prison commission; in manu
facture of implements and other articles needed on the State farm, shoes and
clothing for the use of inmates of other State institutions, etc., but no article so
manufactured may be offered for sale to the public; surplus products of the
penitentiary are authorized to be sold.
Sources: Pol. Code, 1911, secs. 429, 697; Penal Code, secs. 1065, 1201-1218,
1280, 1282; Acts of 1924, p. 119.
HAWAII
S ystem s of e m p lo y m e n t—
public account.
Public works and ways; State use; and, apparently
K in d s of w o r k — Sanitation; on public works; all employment to be for the
Territory or a political or other subdivision thereof. Female prisoners are to
be employed in making mats, sewing, laundry work, and “ such other suitable
occupations as the high sheriff shall direct.”
Sources: R. L. 1915, secs. 934, 1463-1467, 2220; Acts of 1925, chs. 22, 100, 250.
IDAHO
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —Public works and ways; leasing; public account.
K in d s of work. — On highways; in manufactures as provided, no article to
be
produced which is extensively manufactured in the State of Idaho.
Sources: C. S. secs. 1572, 9356, 9392 (as amended 1923, ch. 35), 9431; Acts of
1927, ch. 74.
ILLINOIS
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —Public
account, in limited measure; State use; public
Leasing and the contract system are forbidden.
K in d s of w ork. —In manufacture of supplies for State and public institutions,
schools, and road districts; in production of crushed rock and road material; in
manufacture of articles and supplies needed and used in State and other public
institutions; on highways and the improvement of river channels; county con
victs, in workhouses.
R egulations. —Goods manufactured for sale are not to enter into conflict with
the established industries of the State in excess of the production of 40 per
cent of the prisoners in penal and reformatory institutions. Convicts are to
be divided into three classes, the first to be employed chiefly in occupations
that will give them industrial training and instruction, the second in the pro
duction of useful articles and supplies, the third in such occupations as will
secure needed exercise and the preservation of health, or articles for State
use. Crushed rock to be furnished free to the State highway department or
sold at cost to cities, counties, and villages for highway use, or else to railroads
at an agreed price in exchange for transportation service.
Sources: Constitution, separate sec. adopted 1886; R. S. 1917, ch. 34, sec.
25; ch. 38, sec. 168a; ch. 108, secs. 76-90, 103-106; Acts of 1927, p. 208.
works and ways.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
INDIANA
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —Public works and ways; public account, State use.
Contract system prohibited. Piece price apparently permitted.
K in d s of w ork. —On farms; on public highways; in manufacture of binder
twine and cordage and the production of articles needed by the State, its insti
tutions, and political divisions, including brick, paving, and road materials;
in the care and development of State parks and other public reservations;
county convicts in workhouses.
,
R egu lation s.— Dealers in convict-made goods must have a license and goods
must be marked "convict made.” No printing machinery or material may be
purchased, except that a trade school may be established in the reformatory,
in which books or blanks may be printed for the use of the reformatory only
Sources: A. S. 1914, secs. 8262-8272, 9846 (as amended 1917, ch. 152),
9847-9854, 9918-9926k, 10029; Acts of 1917, ch. 83; Acts of 1919, ch. o3, sec.
30; ch. 60, sec. 18; Acts of 1925, ch. 113.
IOWA
Syste?ns of em ploym en t. —Public
account; State use; public works and ways.
Leasing is forbidden.
, „
..
,
, . , ,
K in d s of w ork. —In employments conducive to the teaching of useful trades
and callings; on highways or public works; in preparation of stone for road
material and other uses; in operation of quarries, on or about public buildings
or grounds. Trusties may be employed in State parks.
Sources: Code, 1907, Supp. 1913, 1915, secs. 5652-5654, 5707, 5708, 5< 18-all,
5718-a28a; Acts of 1927, ch. 78.
KANSAS
System s of em ploym en t. — Contract, but no work for private citizens may be
done outside the penitentiary grounds, except on highways; State use; public
works and wavs; public account.
K in d s o f work. —lin in g coal; in manufacture of twine, automobile license
plates, and bricks; on highways, streets, and alleys; in preparation of stone for
road material, but not on bridges or like structures which require the employment
of skilled labor; county convicts may be employed on public roads, streets, poor
fa Sour0cesTc.%U'i9157seis. 8286-8289, 10003, 10007-10026, 10029-10035, 10066;
Acts of 1920, ch. 65; Acts of 1923, ch. 45; Acts of 1925, chs. 27, 28, 30, 65, 253;
Acts of 1927, chs. 46, 238, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315.
KENTUCKY
S ystem s of em ploym en t. — Contract; public works and ways; State use and
apparently public account; county convicts may be leased.
K in d s of work. —On public works; on highways; in preparation of road and
bridge material; in quarries; on capitol grounds and on farms; county convicts,
in workhouses.
, , . , T_ , . ,
R e g u la tio n s— AW convict-made goods brought into Kentucky from any other
State for sale must be plainly marked “ convict made ”
Sources: Const., secs. 253, 254; Stats. 1915, secs. 524—526a, 1377, 1379, 3811,
4867, 4869-4871; Acts of 1920, ch. 159; Acts of 1922, ch. 34; Acts of 1926, chs.
150, ’ 151, 153.
LOUISIANA
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —State use; public works and ways; public account.
Leasing or hiring of State convicts is prohibited, but county convicts may be
K in d s of w ork. —On highways, streets, and levees; on faims, in^ manufac
tories established by the State, and workhouses for county convicts. 1 re
duction of brooms is mentioned, and the erection and equipment of a sugar
refinery authorized.
.
,
Regulations. —Brooms made in the State penitentiary by convicts must be
olainlv stamped “ convict made” if offered for sale in the State of Louisiana.
Sources: Const., arts. 196, 292; R. L. 1897, p. 249; Acts of 1894, No. 132,
p. 668; Acts of 1879, No. 38; Acts of 1898, No. 136; Acts of 1900, No. 70; Acts
of 190S, No. 204; Acts of 1910, No. 34; Acts of 1918, No. 235; Acts of 1926,
Nos. 200, 203, 290; Acts of 1928, Nos. 189, 293.
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STATE CONVICT LABOR LEGISLATION
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MAINE
S ystem s of em ploym ent. — Contract;
and ways.
public account; State use; public works
K in d s of work.-—In preparation of road material; on highways; in workhouses; in manufactories as established.
R egulations. — Not more than 20 per cent of the male convicts in the prison
shall be employed in the manufacture of any one kind of goods, and as far as
practicable competition in the manufacture of articles made elsewhere in the
State must be avoided. Products are to be distinctly labeled “ Manufactured
at the Maine State Prison.”
Sources: R. S. 1916, ch. S3, secs. 12-14; ch. 130, sec. 32; ch. 142, secs. 34, 35.
MARYLAND
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —State use; public works and ways; apparently,
public account and contract.
K in d s of w ork. —On farms; on highways, streets, and bridges; in the prep
aration of road material; at such employments (presumably manufacturing)
as will give employment to supersede the former system of contract labor.
Sources: A. C., art. 27, sec. 522; secs. 629a-629;j (all as amended 1917, ch. 15);
sec. 630 (as amended 1918, ch. 354); Acts of 1917, extra sess., ch. 4; Acts of 1927,
chs. 655, 660.
MASSACHUSETTS
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —State
use; public account; piece price; public works
The contract system is forbidden.
K in d s of work. —On farms; on highways; on public lands and buildings; in
clearing waste lands; in forestry; in manufacture of furniture and other articles
for State offices and institutions; in production of manufactured articles, such
as brushes, chairs, clothing, mats, harnesses, shoes, shoe heels, trunks, umbrellas;
stonecutting; and laundry work.
Regulations. —The number of convicts who may be employed in manufac
turing the various specified articles is fixed by statute. Goods may not be sold
at less than the current wholesale market price.
Sources: G. L., ch. 126, secs. 35-37; ch. 127, secs. 50-85; Acts of 1927, ch. 289;
Acts of 1928, ch. 387.
MICHIGAN
and ways.
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —State use; public works and ways; public account.
K in d s of w ork. —On farms; on highways; in manufacture of articles for State
institutions, of twine and cordage, of brick and tile, and of goods, wares, and
merchandise as provided for.
R egu lation s. —Binder twine and cordage must be sold at a price fixed by the
warden and board of control as may be found for the best interest of the State.
No mechanical trades are to be taught except the manufacture of articles chiefly
produced outside the State. Convicts may not be employed on the building
of bridges or other structures which require the employment of skilled labor.
Sources: Const., art. 18, sec. 3; C. L., secs. 1700, 1708, 1730, 1733, 1781,
1786, 1798-1815, 2531; Acts of 1917, Nos. 57, 78; Acts of 1927, Nos. 64, 175,
316, 323.
MINNESOTA
S ystem s of em ploym en t. — Public
account; State use; public works and ways;
Contract system and leasing are forbidden.
K in d s of work. —In manufacture of binder twine, agricultural machinery; in
preparing road material; on highways, streets, public places, and grounds; and
on farms.
R e g u la tio n s— The number of prisoners employed in a single industry may
not exceed 10 per cent of the total number of persons employed in such indus
try in the State unless a greater number is needed to produce machinery or
articles for State use. Binder twine and agricultural machinery and other
manufactured products may be sold through agencies at a price to cover costs
of production plus a fixed percentage.
Sources: G. S., secs. 9311-9316, 9328-9330, 9340, 9374, 9377; Acts of 1915,
ch. 212; Acts of 1927, chs. 142, 172.
piece price.
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MISSISSIPPI
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —Public works and ways; State use; public account.
Leasing or hiring of convicts is forbidden.
K in d s of w ork. —On public roads; on highways and levees; on farms; in
manufacture of agricultural implements, shoes, harness; in operation of saw
mills, gristmills; in manufacture of clothing, brick, and tile; in grinding lime
stone for agricultural use; in production of foodstuffs; in care of public buildings
and grounds.
R egulations. — Products are to be sold as the trustees may deem most advan
tageous to the State.
Sources: Const., secs. 85, 223-226; Code, secs. 3606-3610, 3621, 3622; Acts
of 1908, ch. 109; Acts of 1910, chs. 167, 371; Acts of 1912, ch. 146; Acts of
1914, chs. 132, 205.; Acts of 1916, chs. 575, 576; Acts of 1928, ch. 45.
MISSOURI
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —State use; public account; public works and ways.
Leasing and contracting forbidden.
K in d s of work.-—A wide range of manufactured products is suggested, includ
ing road material, binder twine, lime for agricultural and other purposes, furniture,
clothing, farm implements, fertilizer, brick, etc.; on farms and highways; in
quarries, gravel pits; on streets and alleys; and on public grounds.
R egu lation s. —The prices of products are fixed by the prison board, those
offered in the open market to be sold at the market price. The State retains a
contingent interest in twine sold to secure its disposition according to the provi
sions of the law.
Sources: R. S., secs. 3704, 3705, 8648, 12415-12420, 12473, 12482, 12526,
12532; Acts of 1927, pp. 363-365, 382.
MONTANA
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —Public
works and ways; State use or public account,
The contract system is forbidden.
K in d s of w ork. —In improvement of public grounds or buildings, or public
works or ways of counties, and such mechanical pursuits as the prison board
may decide upon, automobile license plates, wearing apparel.
R egulations. —Convict-made goods offered for sale must be plainly marked
“ Prison made.”
Sources: Const., art. 18, sec. 2; R. C., secs. 11572, 11573, 12446, 12447, 12484;
Acts of 1927, ch. 152, H. B. No. 124, p. 526.
either or both.
NEBRASKA
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —State use; public works and ways; public account
and apparently piece price. Contracts may be made for the labor of county
convicts.
K in d s of work.-—On roads and other public works; in manufacture of twine;
of supplies for State institutions; on farms; in workhouses for county convicts;
and in such industrial enterprises as the board of control may deem advisable,
“having in mind a minimum of competition with free labor.”
R egu lation s.—Products shall be sold at not less than a fair market price.
Sources: C. S., secs. 986, 992-997, 2996, 3016, 3017, 6973-6976, 6983, 7016,
7029, 7057, 10209, 10210.
NEVADA
S ystem s of em ploym en t. —Public
contract.
works and ways; State use; public account;
On public highways, farms, public works, buildings, or grounds;
in such mechanical pursuits as the board of prison commissioners may determine.
Prisoners of good record may be given permission to manufacture goods on their
account to be sold for them by the State; competition with free labor to be
avoided.
R egulations. —Bales of surplus products are to be at reasonable market value.
Sources: R. L., secs. 6623, 7569 (as amended 1921, ch. 226), 7570, 7598, 7609,
7619; Acts of 1913, chs. 115, 187; Acts of 1927, ch. 104.
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K in d s of work.—
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
System s of em ploym ent. — Contract;
and ways.
public account; State use; public works
K in d s of work. —-On articles for the use of the public institutions within the
State; on highways; in preparation of road material; in forestry.
Sources: P. S., ch. 282, sec. 14; ch. 285, secs. 5, 7 (both as amended 1917,
ch. 45); Acts of 1917, ch. 119; Acts of 1921, ch. 135; Acts of 1927, ch. 112.
NEW JERSEY
System s of em ploym ent. —State use; public account; public works and ways.
The contract system is forbidden.
K i n d s of work. —in manufacture of articles for State institutions, departments,
and agencies; in such manufactures as the State board provides; on highways;
on farms; county convicts, in workhouses.
Regulations. —Surplus products are to be sold so as not to compete unfairly
with the product of free labor. All articles must be marked “ convict made.”
Sources: Acts of 1915, ch. 119; Acts of 1917, chs. 157, 271; Acts of 1918, ch.
147; Acts of 1926, ch. 83; Acts of 1927, ch. 319.
NEW MEXICO
System s of em ploym ent. —Public works and ways; public account; State use,
to a limited extent. Leasing is prohibited.
K i n d s of work. —On highways, streets, and alleys; in such manufacturing as
the board provides; in production of electricity to be furnished certain public
institutions.
Sources: Const., art. 20, secs. 15, 18; Stats., secs. 2641, 2708, 3052, 5041, 5050,
5051, 5069 (as amended 1921, ch. 58).
NEW YORK
S ystem s of em plo ym ent. —State use; public works and ways. The contract
system is prohibited.
K i n d s of work. —In production of supplies for State institutions, public build
ings and offices; on farms; at quarrying and stone crushing; on highways; in
forestry; building sea walls to protect public property; on public buildings and
grounds; county convicts, in workhouses.
Regulations. — Convict-made goods may not be sold within the State without
being marked “ Convict-made.” Convicts are required to be classified; those
in class 1 are to be given such training and instruction as will fit them for em
ployment after discharge as a primary aim, but otherwise their labor shall be
so directed as to produce the greatest amount of useful products and supplies
for the State and its institutions. The labor of those in class 2 is primarily
i'or the production of articles and supplies required; while in class 3 the preserva
tion of health is a prime consideration, but manufactures of the above classes
are to be kept in view. Vendors must be registered.
No printing or photo-engraving may be done in any printing establishment
except such printing as may be required by the penal and charitable institutions
of the State, etc., official reports, and the printing required for official use.
Sources: Const., sec. 53; C. L. ch. 11, sec. 93; ch. 31, secs. 193-195; ch. 43,
secs. 75 (as amended 1917, ch. 391), 170-178, 179 (as amended 1919, ch. 420),
181, secs. 182, 184 (both as amended 1924, ch. 601); ch. 65, sec. 50 (as amended
1914, ch. 451), 184-a (added 1915, ch. 457); Acts of 1901, ch. 466, secs. 700, 701;
Acts of 1925, chs. 457, 496; Acts of 1926, ch. 606; Acts of 1927, chs. 87, 285;
Acts of 1928, chs. 146, 167, 805.
NORTH CAROLINA
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —Public
account.
works and ways; contract; State use; public
K i n d s of work. —On public works, streets and highways; on farms; county
convicts, in workhouses.
Sources: Const., art. 11, sec. 1; C. S., secs. 1297, 1356, 1359, 3591, 3678, 38123816, 4409, 7707, 7712, 7758-7763; Acts of 1925, ch. 163; Acts of 1927, ch. 219.
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MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
NORTH DAKOTA
S ystem s of em plo ym ent. —Public
account; public works and ways; State use.
The contract system is prohibited.
K i n d s of work. —In manufacture of twine and cordage and brick; in industries
established at the penitentiary; on highways.
Regulations. —The price of twine is regulated by the board of trustees and
may be sold only for use in the State up to May 1. Rope may be sold outside
the State at any time.
Sources: R. Ch, secs. 10376, 10381 (as amended 1911, ch. 203), 10390 (as
amended 1913, ch. 190), 10394, 10442; Acts of 1909, ch. 228; Acts of 1913,
ch. 217 (as amended 1915, ch. 191); Acts of 1927, ch. 119.
OHIO
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —State
use; public works and ways; apparently public
Leasing, contract, and piece-price systems are forbidden.
K i n d s of work. —In preparation of road material; in manufacture of brick,
tile, and pipe, and articles for the use of the State, its institutions, and politi
cal divisions; in production of electric current for State institutions; on streets
and highways; county convicts, in workhouses.
Regulations. —Goods offered for sale within the State must be conspicuously
marked “ Prison made.” The number of prisoners employed in the manufac
ture of any one kind of goods may not exceed 10 per cent of the number of free
laborers employed in the same industry; this provision does not apply to industries
in which not more than 50 free laborers are employed.
Sources: Const., Art. II, sec. 41; G. C., sec., 1224-1 (added 1917, p. 134),
sec. 2183 (as amended 1915, p. 65), secs. 2227-1-2227-4 (all added 1913, p.725),
2228, 2230, 2230-1 (added 1911, p. 418), 2231-2235, 2135-1 (added 1911, p. 106),
2243, 2244, 6213-6217, 7496-7505, 7513 (all as amended 1915, p. 574); Acts of
1927, pp. 474, 502.
OKLAHOMA
account.
S ystem s of employment.- —State use; public works and ways; public account
and apparently piece price. The contract system is forbidden.
K i n d s of work. —In mining coal; in fabricating structural steel for bridges,
public buildings, etc.; on highways; in manufacture of binder twine, cordage,
cotton, or jute bagging, and ties; on farming; in such manufacturing as the
State board may provide for.
Sources: Const., art. 23, sec. 2; C. L., secs. 4596, 4608; Acts of 1913, chs. 112,
215; Acts of 1915, ch. 57; Acts of 1916, ex. sess., chs., 29, 40; Acts of 1917, ch.
234; Acts of 1925, chs. 195, 277; Acts of 1927, chs. 64, 115, 234.
OREGON
System s of em plo ym ent. —Public
works and ways; public account; and ap
parently State use. The contract system is forbidden.
K i n d s of work. —On public highways; on or about any State institution; in
manufacture of such products as may be provided for (flax industry and wood
working are mentioned).
Regulations. — Convict-made goods offered for sale in the State must be con
spicuously marked or labeled.
Sources: Laws, secs. 2909-2915, 3542-3544, 4435; Acts of 1921, ch. 224; Acts
of 1923, ch. 232; Acts of 1927, chs. 7, 8, 10.
PENNSYLVANIA
S ystem s of em ploym ent. — Public
account.
works and ways; State use; apparently public
K i n d s of work. —On roads, streets, and highways, not including bridges or
structures of like character requiring the employment of skilled labor; in pro
duction of road material, brick, tile, and pipe, and supplies for public institutions
and other institutions, educational or charitable, receiving aid from the Com
monwealth; forestry; on farms; in workhouses; printing.
Regulations. —Convict-made goods must be marked or labeled before being
offered for sale. Road material, brick, tile, and concrete not needed for the
institution at which made is to be offered for sale at a price fixed by the board
of trustees, preference being given to the public authorities of the area in which
the institution is located.
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Sources: Stats., secs. 7535, 7541, 7542, 12703, 12712, 12722, 12724, 1273012734; Acts of 1923. No. 172, No. 274, sec. 2012; Acts of 1925, Nos. 182, 167;
Acts of 1927, Nos. 13, 164, 399, 440.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
System s of em ploym ent. —Public works and ways; presumably public account.
K in d s of work.- —On higlrwaj^s and other public works; the manufacture and
sale of carts and cart wheels and axles is mentioned.
Sources: Acts of U. S. Philippine Com. Nos. 413, 1361, 1407, 1703, 3711
(sec. 2239).
PORTO RICO
System s of em ploym ent. —Public works and ways.
K in d s of work. —On public roads and other public works.
Sources: R. S. & C., secs. 2292-2296, 6358, 6359.
RHODE ISLAND
works and ways; contract; and apparently
State use, public account, piece price.
K in d s of work. —On farms and highways.
Sources: G. L., ch. 411, sec. 14; ch. 413, Art. I, secs. 3, 18; Art. V, sec. 32.
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —Public
SOUTH CAROLINA
works and ways; leasing; contract; and ap
parently public account and State use.
K i n d s of work. —On public highways and sanitary drainage; on farms; in quar
ries for procuring road material; on streets and other public works, including
bridges, ferries, and public buildings.
Regulations. — No leasing or hiring may be made of convicts to work in phos
phate mines.
Sources: Const., art. 12, sec. 6; Civil Code, secs. 956-972, 2276, 3057; Crim.
Code, sec. 104 (as amended 1914, No. 291), 943, 944, 966-972, 981, 982, 985;
Acts of 1914, No. 366; Acts of 1924, No. 552; Acts of 1928, No. 892.
System s of em ploym ent. — Public
SOUTH DAKOTA
works and ways; public account; and appar
System s of em plo ym ent. —Public
ently State use.
K i n d s of work. —On highways, streets, and public buildings and grounds; on
farms; on quarrying stone; in manufacture of binder twine and cordage.
Regulations. —Sales of twine and cordage are made at fixed prices and up to
May 1 only to farmers or actual consumers resident in the State.
Sources:” R. C., secs. 5378-5383, 5454 (as amended 1920, second extra sess.,
ch. 90), 10221; Acts of 1919, ch. 333, sec. 58 (as amended 1920, second extra
sess., ch. 89); Acts of 1927, ch. 203.
TENNESSEE
works and ways; public account; contract;
apparently State use and piece price.
K i n d s of work. — On public roads and highways; on farms; in mining coal;
in burning coke; in manufacture of such articles as the board of control ap
proves, having in view a minimum of competition with free labor, either under
the direction of the board or on contract; in cutting of timber; in manufacture
of automobile number plates; county convicts, in workhouses; printing.
Sources: Code, secs. 1628a-8, 2577a-60, 7405, 7516a-l-7516a-ll; Acts of 1919,
chs. 40, 53, 60, 64; Acts of 1923, ch. 94; Acts of 1927, ch. 48.
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —Public
TEXAS
works and ways; public account; and appar
ently State use. The contract system is forbidden.
K i n d s of work.— On public roads, streets, and bridges; on farms; in factories
such as the prison commission may establish; county convicts, in workhouses.
Regulations. — No sale of convict-made goods in intrastate commerce valid un
less marked “ Prison-made merchandise.”
Sources: Const., Art. XVI, sec. 24; R, C. S., arts. 836, 6174 (as amended 1917,
first extra sess., ch. 32), 6183-6187, 6232, 6238, 6281, 6967; Acts of 1927, chs.
212, 251.
[553]
System s of em plo ym ent.— Public
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
136
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
S y ste m s oj em plo ym ent. —Public
UTAH
works and ways; public account; State use.
The contract system is forbidden.
K i n d s of work. —On highways, bridges and culverts, public buildings and
grounds; in industries established by the prison board, conflict with local
industries to be avoided; on irrigation works.
Sources: Const., Art. XVI, sec. 3; C. L., secs. 1400, 1400-15, 5455, 5472, 5475—
5477, 5508, 5514.
VERMONT
System s of em ploym ent. —Contract; public account; public works and ways;
and apparently State use and piece price.
K in d s of work. —On farms; on public highways; in such industries as may be
provided.
Sources: G. L., secs. 7136-7138, 7165, 7168, 7258, 7259.
System s of em ploym ent. —Public
VIRGINIA
works and ways; public account; State use;
apparently contract.
K i n d s of work. —On roads and highways but no females on road work; in
quarries and gravel pits; in preparation of road material; in grinding of limestone,
oyster shells or marl; in manufacture of articles required by the State depart
ments; also automobile license plates.
Regulations. —Surplus of manufactured articles not required by the State
may be sold as may be deemed for the best interest of the State; ground lime
stone, oyster shells, and marls are to be disposed of at a price to cover cost of
production, wear and tear, upkeep, etc.
Sources: Code, secs. 1267, 1268, 1971, 2073 (as amended 1924, ch. 88), 2075,
3061, 4993, 5014; Acts of 1918, ch. 9 (as amended 1924, ch. 43); Acts of 1926,
chs. 65, 426; Acts of 1928, chs. 150, 153, 154, 487, 511, 525, 526.
WASHINGTON
use; public account; public works and ways
The contract system is forbidden.
K in d s of work. —On public roads and public works; in quarries and rock-crushing
plants; in manufacture of articles for the State, jute fabrics, and brick; in
workhouses, for county convicts.
Regulations. —Jute grain sacks and other products are to be sold only to con
sumers in the State until June 1. The output of factories, rock crushers, etc.,
not needed by the State is to be sold at not less than the cost of production,
prior right of purchase being given citizens of the State. Prohibits the sale of
convict-made goods unless disinfected and labeled “ Convict made.”
Sources: Const., Art. II, sec. 29; C. and S., secs. 3895, 3896, secs. 5910-5912
(all as amended 1911, ch. 114), 8494, 8519, 8570-8575, 8586; Acts of 1911, ch. 132
(amended 1913, ch. 38; 1917, ch. 56); Acts of 1913, chs. 114, 132 (as amended
1917, ch. 121); Acts of 1917, ch. 103, sec. 3; Acts of 1927, chs. 27, 125, 212, 249,
294, 305.
WEST VIRGINIA
System s of em ploym ent. —Contract; State use; public works and ways; piece
price; apparently public account.
K i n d s of work. —In manufacture of articles for use in State institutions; on
streets and highways; in stone quarries, gravel pits, sand banks, crushers,
brick kilns. The board may designate what articles or classes of articles shall
be manufactured by contractors for the labor of convicts.
Sources: Code, secs. 1508, 5670, 5671, 5686, 5687; Acts of 1921, ch. 112, secs.
34, 35, 44, 48; Acts of 1925, chs. 12, 17.
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —State
System s of em ploym ent. —State
WISCONSIN
use; public account; public works and ways;
contract; apparently piece price.
K i n d s of work. —In manufacture of articles for State and municipalities in
workhouses; on farms; on roads and highways; in quarries; in procuring road
building material and limestone for agricultural use; in manufacture of binder
twine and cordage, and automobile license plates.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[554]
STATE CONVICT LABOR LEGISLATION
137
Regulations. —Goods made outside the State and brought into it for sale must
be plainly marked “ Convict made.” Binder twine and cordage are to be sold
a,t prices fixed by the authorities, citizens to have preference in purchase. Arti
cles not required for State use are to be sold in the open market at as near the
market price as possible.
Sources: Stats., secs. 33.04, 56.01-56.19, 59.19, 132.13; Acts of 1925, ch. 386;
Acts of 1927, ch. 34.
WYOMING
System s of em ploym ent. —State use; public account; public works and ways;
apparently piece price.
K in d s of work. —In production of articles for use of State institutions; on
highways, streets, alleys, and parks.
Regulations. —Goods not required by the State or its subdivisions may be
sold at open market or disposed of as shall be deemed advisable, but no building
material shall be sold in competition with established local industry.
Sources: C. S., secs. 6398, 6399, 6401; Acts of 1911, ch. 61 (sec. 4 amended
1917, ch. 109); Acts of 1927, ch. 74.
UNITED STATES
S ystem s of em ploym ent. —State use.
K in d s of work. —In manufacture of
The contract system is forbidden.
cotton fabrics, cotton duck, and canvas
for the War and Navy Departments, mail service, etc., of shoes, brooms, and
brushes to supply the requirements of the various departments of the United
States Government; on farms.
Regulations. —The importation of convict-made goods is forbidden. Products
of the factories and farms are to be sold at current market prices only to the
Government of the United States for the use of its various services.
Sources: C. S., secs. 5304, 10524, 10563a-10563c; Acts of 1924, ch. 17; Acts
of 1925, ch. 32 (43 Stat. 724).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[5551
HOUSING
New H o u sin g A c tiv itie s of A m a lg a m a ted C lo th in g W orkers 1
N JANUARY 13, 1929, ground was broken for another coopera
tive apartment building to be built by the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers of America. This is the seventh of such
buildings erected in N*ew York City by the union.2 The first group
of six provided housing accommodations for 303 families; this new
building will contain 3, 4, and 5 room apartments for 192 more
families, and will cost about $1,500,000.
As in the former group, the preference will be given to members of
the union, but other unionists will also be admitted to ownership.
Stock will be bought by the prospective tenant to the amount of
$500 for each room of his apartment, besides which he will pay “ rent”
(covering cost of upkeep, interest on mortgages, etc.) of $i2.50 per
room. This is $1.50 more than was charged in the first group of
buildings, but the additional charge, it is explained, is to cover the
cost of elevator service which the first buildings did not have.
It is now announced that the rents for apartments on the upper
floors of the original group will be reduced to $9.50 per room. This
was made possible by the unexpectedly good results of last year’s
operation, the year having been closed “ with a surplus, above all
operating expenses and interest and amortization payments.”
O
E x p en d itu res for D ifferen t C lasses of W ork in R e sid e n tia l and
N o n re sid en tia l B u ild in g s in T h ree S elected C ities
ARLY in 1928 the Bureau of Labor Statistics collected informa
tion showing the percentage that each class of work formed of
the total cost of building, not including overhead. This infor
mation was compiled by the agents of the bureau in the cities of
Cincinnati, Ohio, Decatur, 111., and Washington, D. C., and was
published in the January, 1929, Labor Review.
The bureau has recently received from the building commissioners
of these three cities reports of building operations as shown by building
permits issued during 1928.
The data shown in the tables below were obtained by applying the
percentage that each class of work formed of the total cost of the
building to the total amount spent in each city for residential buildings
and to the total amount spent for nonresidential buildings.
E
1 T h e Advance, N ew Y ork C ity, Jan . 18, and Feb. 1, 1929.
2 For a detailed account of th e housing work of this union see L abor Review, A ugust, 1928, p. 1, or B ulletin
N o. 465, C h. V II.
138
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[556]
139
EXPENDITURES FOR HOUSING IN THREE CITIES
Table 1 shows the amount of money spent for each class of work in
residential buildings in each of the three selected cities.
T
1 .—E S T I M A T E D A M O U N T S P E N T F O R E A C H C L A S S O F W O R K I N R E S I D E N T IA L
B U I L D I N G S F O R W H I C H P E R M I T S W E R E I S S U E D I N 1928 I N 3 S E L E C T E D C I T I E S
able
A m ount spent for each specified class
of w ork in 1928
Class of work
C incinnati,
Ohio
Excavating and grading__
___
__ ___
B ric k w o rk
__-- -C arpenter w ork (including lum ber, m illw ork and hardw are).
Tile w ork
____________
Concrete w ork
__ _ __ _____ . . _____
Electric w iring a n d fixtures
______
______
H eating
___ _ _ ___ _ __- ___
Plum bing
.
..........................................
......
Plastering a n d lathing
_____________
T'ainting
__________ ___ ______
I ’apering
__________ ____ ________ . .
Roofing
______ . .
_ _ ___ _
M iscellaneous__________ ______________ ________________
T o ta l.. ________________
. . __________ _______
D ecatur,
111.
W ashington,
D . C.
$523, 000
2, 888, 000
7,141, 000
637, 000
2, 570, 000
819, 000
1, 274. 000
2, 502, 000
2, 047, 000
637, 000
182,000
364, 000
1,160, 000
$39, 000
232, 000
885, 000
20, 000
140, 000
49, 000
126, 000
153, 000
116,000
108, 000
14, 000
82, 000
2,000
$633, 000
6,134, 000
11, 001, 000
533,000
2, 800, 000
767, 000
1, 767, 000
2, 767, 000
, 800, 000
1, 800, 000
333, 000
833, 000
1,167,000
22, 744, 000
1,966, 000
33, 335, 000
2
These figures include labor, material, and overhead costs on each
item shown.
Carpenter work accounts for the largest expenditure of money in
each of these three cities. In Washington over $11,000,000 was spent
for carpenter work during 1928, over $7,000,000 in Cincinnati, and in
Decatur nearly $1,000,000.
The total amount spent for residential buildings in Cincinnati
during 1928 was $22,744,000. Of this amount, $2,888,000 was
spent for brick work and $2,570,000 for concrete work.
Other items accounting for the expenditure of over $1,000,000
in Cincinnati were plumbing, plastering and lathing, heating, and
miscellaneous.
In Decatur the total expenditure for new residential buildings was
$1,966,000. Here too, brickwork accounted for the second largest
proportion of the total cost of building, $232,000 being expended for
this item during the year 1928. Plumbing, concrete work, heating,
plastering and lathing, and painting each accounted for an expendi
ture of over $100,000.
In Washington, brickwork also ranked next to carpenter work in
recorded expenditure. An outlay of $6,134,000 was made in Wash
ington for the brickwork on residential buildings. Concrete work,
and plastering and lathing each accounted for an expenditure of
$2,800,000; $2,767,000 was spent for plumbing and over a million
dollars each for heating and painting. The total expenditure for
new residential buildings was $33,335,000.
Table 2 shows the estimated amount spent for nonresidential build
ings in each of the three selected cities.
35895°—29-
10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[557]
140
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 2 .—E S T I M A T E D A M O U N T S P E N T F O R E A C H C L A S S O F W O R K I N N O N R E S ID E N T IA L B U I L D I N G S F O R W H I C H P E R M I T S W E R E I S S U E D D U R I N G T H E Y E A R
1928 I N 3 S E L E C T E D C I T I E S
A m ount spent for each specified class of
w ork in 1928
Class of work
C incinnati,
Ohio
D ecatur,
111,
W ashington,
D . C.
Excavating and grading__ ____ ___ _______ _ ____________
B rickw ork
_ _ _
_____ _____ _____________________
C arpenter w ork (including lum ber, millwork, and hardw are) _.
Tile w ork __ _______ _______ _ _______________________
_______
_____ . _
_ _ _______
Concrete w o rk ______
S tructu ral steel
_ ________________________________
Electric w iring a n d fixtures
____________________ _____
H eating a n d v e n tila tin g .. _ _______ _____________ _____
P lum b in g__
_______ ___________ _______________
Plastering and lathing
__
______ _____
Painting
__________________ . _______________
Roofing
_ ____________________ ____________
Glass and glazing,
_______________________________ ____
M iscellaneous__ ____________________________ ________
$95, 000
881, 000
1, 024, 000
579, 000
1, 452, 000
738,000
294, 000
571, 000
452, 000
579, 000
127, 000
24, 000
127, 000
1, 000, 000
$43, 000
248, 000
306,000
17, 000
621, 000
130, 000
124, 000
120, 000
114, 000
45, 000
52,000
47, 000
45,000
27, 000
$390, 000
3, 779, 000
2, 508, 000
1,169,000
2, 017, 000
1, 695, 000
542, 000
966, 000
712,000
915,000
390,000
220, 000
237, 000
1,424,000
T o tal_________ ________ ____________________________
7, 943, 000
1, 939, 000
16,964, 000
In Cincinnati the largest expenditure for any single item in nonresidential building during 1928 was the $1,452,000 spent for concrete
work. This was followed by $1,024,000 for carpenter work. The
total expenditure for nonresidential building was $7,943,000.
In Decatur also the largest amount expended for any part of non
residential building was $621,000 for concrete work. The amount
expended for carpenter work was $306,000 and for brickwork $248,000.
No other item accounted for an expenditure of as much as $200,000.
In Washington $16,964,000 was spent for nonresidential buildings
according to permits issued during 1928. The largest part of this
amount that was expended for any one item was the $3,779,000
which went for brickwork. Carpenter work and concrete work each
accounted for an expenditure of over $2,000,000 and structural steel
and tile work for over $1,000,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[558]
COOPERATION
L eagu e of B elgian P ea sa n ts
REPORT from William C. Burdett, American consul at Brus
sels, gives a detailed account of the Boerenbond, or League of
Belgian Peasants, and its work.
The Boerenbond was established in 1890 and is one of the most
influential organizations in Belgium. It is a close federation of some
1,200 local guilds whose membership of 112,918 1 persons is drawn
from the ranks of small farmers and farm laborers of the Flemish or
northern part of the country. The local societies are concerned with
the general welfare of the members along moral, social, and economic
lines. The Boerenbond is the central organization of these local socie
ties and its executive departments correspond to the sections in the
guilds themselves.
The whole structure is Roman Catholic and closely connected with
the church, its direction being largely in the hands of the priests of
the church. “ While the primary object of the Boerenbond is the
material improvement of the lot of the peasant, the religious aspect
is always present. * * * The parish priest is the spiritual
director of each of the guilds and in his position as chaplain he has
great influence over the members and can intensify the work for the
general uplift of the peasant. It must be said parenthetically that
this system has worked very well both from the standpoint of the
religious worker and from that of the agricultural expert.”
Anyone interested in farming may join a guild, but one of the strict
requirements is “ that prospective members fulfill their church obli
gations.” Only the head of the family is enrolled as a member but
all the family is considered as affiliated and any member of it may
take advantage of any of the services of the Boerenbond.
The central organization is directed by a committee composed of
seven members, three of whom are priests and four are laymen. This
committee is “ appointed by and under the guidance of a council com
posed of 40 prominent citizens from the arrondissements or districts.
Approximately half of this council are priests.”
Agricultural activities.—One of the departments of the Boerenbond
is that devoted to stock raising. This section endeavors to improve
the strain, carries on experimental and educational work, animal
hygiene and care, etc.
Other agricultural services include a plant experimental work, study
of soils and the crops adapted to them, study of plant and animal dis
eases, insurance service, and purchase of farm supplies.
Some 166 dairies are affiliated with the Boerenbond, ranging from
primitive dairies where all the work is done by hand to the large steamoperated dairies.
A
1 1,184 guilds reporting.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[559]
141
142
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The league owns a flour and feed null and acts as distiibutoi foi the
products of several other mills. It also carries on an inspection
service for the local guilds and keeps in touch with developments m
the import and export trade, taxation, legislation affecting agriculjBusiness activities.—Members may buy through their local guild
all the raw materials and supplies necessary for operation ol the farm,
the orders so given being pooled. In 1927 the supplies so purchased
amounted to $10,122,057, in addition to agricultural and dairy
machinery valued at $136,838.
Some marketing is also done through the guilds, mainly ol butter,
eggs, fruit, and vegetables.
. .. .
There are 111 regional warehouses through which this business is
^°The league does not itself operate retail stores but does, jointly
with the League of Christian ’Workers, control an enterprise opeiatmg
235 retail stores. The business so done amounts to about $1,400,000
^ T h e Central Credit Bank is the financial branch of the league and
acts as the central bank for 949 rural savings and loan banks (“ peo
ple’s banks”).
.
,
, ,
,
Educational and other activities.—Much vocational education work
is done by the league, During 1927 it arranged 5,103 lectures by
specialists, inspectors of farms, agricultural engineers, etc. Ihese
covered a wide range of subjects, such as; Religion, explanation of
the organization and operation of the Boerenbond itself; botany and
plant culture; theory of fertilization; vegetable growing; fruitgrow
ing; plant diseases; cattle raising; poultry raising, goat raising,
dairying; drainage; elementary hydraulics; electricity; road build
ing-" rural economy; domestic economy; taxes; pensions; farm
leases; farm insurance; civic affairs; hygiene; and proper raising of
children.
Its courses for boys include primary school work where the children
receive elementary instruction in agriculture and horticulture, agri
cultural courses held after school and in regional schools, intermediate
courses for children between 13 and 17, and institutes wheie engineeis
and agricultural experts are trained. For the girls the courses cover
gardening, home economics, and teacher training.
The women’s branch carries on work among the farm women ‘ to
improve the religious and social conditions of its members while
directing general education in preparation for their roles as motheis,
housekeepers, and farm workers.” There are at present enrolled
59,536 housewives and 19,124 others. Courses are given lor these
women also.
Societies are formed for the young people, and there are now some
354 such societies for young men with 12,925 members.
The league publishes a weekly and monthly periodical m blemish
and French. In this connection the consul states.
The weeklies are read by all the members of the family and their influence is
considerable. This farm journal with a religious background would seem rather
incongruous in other settings, but works extremely well m Belgium. The echtors
are priests who have deep understanding of the viewpoint of the peasant and
who write in a simple style that profoundly influences the readers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[560]
COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN
143
Other publications include technical manuals on various agricul
tural subjects, booklets on matters of current interest, a cook book,
a farm almanac, etc.
C o n d itio n of th e C oop erative M o v em en t in G reat B rita in , 1927
ONSIDER ABLE progress in the cooperative movement in Great
Britain is shown by statistics compiled by the Chief Registrar
of Friendly Societies and published in the Ministry of Labor
Gazette for November, 1927, and November, 1928. The data include
those societies registered under the industrial and provident societies
act and do not include agricultural societies.
The figures show an increase in membership during the year of
392,000, or 7.6 per cent; increase in capital of £7,794,000 ($37,930,000), or 5 per cent; and an increase in business of £28,300,000
($137,721,950), or 10 per cent.
During the past three years the consumers’ cooperative move
ment has gained nearly 900,000 new members. This increase is
attributed to intensive membership campaigns, increased adver
tising, and the adoption of credit trading by many societies.1 From
1925 to 1926 the business fell about £800,000 ($3,893,200), due largely
to the prolonged coal strike; as already shown, business showed a
large increase in 1927, even in spite of falling prices. Two of the
largest retail societies in the south of England gained new members
at the rate of 2,000 a week during 1927 and their business increased
nearly 40 per cent.
The following statement shows comparative data for 1926 and 1927,
conversions being made into United States currency on the par
basis; i. e., pound sterling = $4.8665.
C
Retail societies:
Number__________________
Membership______________
Sales____________________
Capital___________________
Value of goods manufactured
Dividends on sales_______
Wholesale societies:
Number__________________
Affiliated societies__________
Sales_____________________
Capital___________________
Value of goods manufactured.
Workers' societies:
Number__________________
Membership_______________
Sales_____________________
Capital___________________
Value of goods manufactured.
All types:
Number__________________
Membership_______________
Sales_____________________
Net surplus___________ ___
1926
1927
1, 318
5, 129, 000
$894, 560, 643
$531, 358, 535
$160, 353, 837
(2)
1, 314
5, 520, 000
$964, 408, 175
$561, 973, 687
$184, 475, 160
$87, 499, 670
32
2, 034
$447, 806, 478
$210, 816, 780
$165, 522, 688
2,
$509, 096,
$216, 802,
$174, 855,
87
293
800
745
306
89
29, 658
$17, 509, 667
5 $9, 976, 325
$16, 646, 433
1, 473
5, 177, 000
$1, 378, 192, 800
$112, 805, 470
1, 472
5, 569, 000
$1, 515, 914, 800
$128, 120, 346
4 29,
4 $15, 572,
4 $7, 445,
$14, 017,
1 T here is considerable controversy w ith in the m ovem ent itself as to th e advisability of this step.
2 N o data.
3 N ot including the joint society which adm inisters th e tea estates.
4 80 associations.
6 Includes reserve also.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[561]
32
007
410
575
369
144
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Progress Since 1913
"THE Cooperative Union has recently issued a report analyzing the
1 progress made by the movement in that country from 1913 to
1926,6 from which the following data are taken:
Retail societies.—Cooperative members and their families form
from 40 to 45 per cent of the total population in Great Britain, and
in Scotland alone from 45 to 50 per cent. During the period since
the war, the membership has risen from 3,264,811 (in 1915) to 5,186,728 (in 1926), the greatest expansion having taken place, not in the
manufacturing and industrial areas, but in the rural (southern)
portions of the country. The distribution by geographical sections
is shown below:
1913
1926
18, 746
432, 048
334, 229
459, 202
695, 686
369, 973
361,811
109, 149
97, 804
Irish s e c tio n .-----------S co ttish se c tio n -------N o rth e rn sectio n ----N o rth e a ste rn sectio n .
N o rth w estern section
M idland se c tio n ------S outhern se c tio n -----S ou th w estern section.
W estern sectio n ------T o ta l________
47, 549
677, 258
540, 956
766, 928
1, 138, 553
728, 068
867,051
240, 497
179, 868
2, 878, 648
5, 186, 728
The tendency during the past decade has been toward the creation
of larger societies. In 1914 the largest retail society was that of
Leeds, with 47,967 members; but by the end of 1926 the largest was
that of London, with 177,339 members, while the Royal Arsenal
Society at Woolwich and the Birmingham society had 140,988 and
106,993 members, respectively. The smallest societies are chiefly in
northern Scotland and the moorland villages of Lancashire and
Yorkshire. The changes in size of society since 1914 are shown in
the following table:
N U M B E R A N D M E M B E R S H IP O F R E T A IL C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S O F C L A S S IF IE D
S I Z E , 1914 A N D 1926
N u m b e r o f so c ie
ti e s w i t h c la s s i
fie d n u m b e r of
m e m b e rs
S ize o f s o c ie ty
1914
821
1*001 t n ? HOB m pmhp.rs
______________ ______ ___________
222
189
70
48
21
1,371
T o ta l m e m
b e r s h ip i n
ea ch g ro u p ,
1926
1926
594
232
225
105
74
40
10
259,338
330,353
695,818
729,942
1 ,0 4 0 ,2 6 5
1 ,1 9 9 ,4 7 6
931, 536
1,2 8 0
5,186, 728
The trading operations of the retail societies cover not only the
distributive trading but also such services as hairdressing and painting
and productive operations. More than 80 per cent of their total
business, however, is in the sale of foodstuffs, while the sale of coal,
a rapidly increasing line of business, accounts for 7.8 per cent. Since
1913 the average sales per member (at 1913 values) has declined
from £29.1 ($141.62) to £ 21.2 ($103.17), or about 30 per cent. This
“ disconcerting tendency,” as the author characterizes it, is explained
6
T w ig g , H . J . : T h e e c o n o m ic a d v a n c e o f B r i t i s h c o o p e ra tio n , 1913 t o 1926. M a n c h e s t e r , T h e C o o p e r a tiv e
U n io n ( L t d . ) , 1928.
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145
by the decreased purchasing power of the membership, due to unem
ployment and underemployment, the tendency to take into membership
all members of the family, the development of service departments,
and the intensified competition from private businesses. “ Never
theless, this falling off in individual loyalty (which, it may be noted, is a
phenomenon dating farther back than 1913) is a matter for serious con
cern to cooperators, and should influence the movement in the determi
nation of its business policy as to prices, range of service offered, etc.”
Trading surpluses have also fallen off, attributable “ in large p a rt”
to “ the growing realization that cooperative societies must seek the
trade of the poorest classes of workers, and thus maintain low price
levels,” and to the increasingly severe competition already noted.
As regards actual money surpluses, “ cooperative capital (only part
of which is invested in trading assets) earned in 1913 about 30 per
cent per annum, and in 1926 about 20 per cent per annum—results
which, judged by ordinary commercial standards, would be regarded
as exceptionally good.”
D u rin g th e w ar years 1914 to 1918, w hen prices w ere ra p id ly rising, m o st coop
era tiv e societies w ere re lu c ta n t to ad v an ce re ta il prices as ra p id ly as th e rise of
w holesale prices w ould hav e justified. H a d societies, in th is p erio d of rising prices,
a d o p te d th e policy of selling a t rep lacem en t costs, supluses could h av e been con
sid erab ly enlarged. As th in g s were, co o p erativ e consum ers gained a d v a n ta g e s
in th e form of low prices ra th e r th a n in th e form of h igh dividends.
Wholesale societies.—There are three wholesale societies, the
(English) Cooperative Wholesale Society, the Scottish Cooperative
Wholesale Society, and the Irish Agricultural Wholesale Society;
and a society, owned jointly by the English and Scottish societies.
The English society’s activities include:
(a) Wholesale distribution of food, clothing, and furniture on a
very large scale, involving the handling of a very wide range of com
modities.
(b) A steadily increasing business with agricultural cooperative
societies in the supply of agricultural requisites, etc. Incidentally,
part of its purchases of produce are made through these agricultural
cooperative societies.
(c) Operation of a very large number of factories, mills, and work
shops, and the marketing of its own productions from these centers.
(d) Ownership and operation of a coal mine.
(e) Operation of a number of farms concerned in most branches
of agricultural production.
(/) Its own banking department.
(g) A variety of special departments rendering miscellaneous serv
ices to the cooperative movement (e. g., auditing department,
excursion department, health insurance section, architects’ depart
ment, building department, solicitors’ department, etc.).
The productive enterprises of the English Society include 2 biscuit
works, 5 preserve works, 3 soap works, 10 flour mills, 1 tobacco
factory, 1 lard refinery, 1 margarine works, 1 oil and cake mill, 4
printing works, 1 rope mill, 1 colliery, 3 flannel mills, 1 hosiery factory,
2 corset factories, 4 shirt factories, 3 underclothing factories, 4 woolen
factories, 4 weaving sheds, 6 clothing factories, 10 boot and shoe
works, 1 cannery, 4 cabinet factories, 1 brush works, 1 iron works
1 bucket and fender works, 1 tin plate works, 1 paint and varnish works,
1 pottery, and a cycle and jewelery establishment, and several farms.
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FAMILY ALLOWANCES
Progress of F a m ily E n d o w m en t M o v em en t in A u stralia and
New Z ealand 1
HE pioneering of Australia and New Zealand with governmental
regulation of wages has attracted world-wide attention among
economists and other students of labor problems. This fact
naturally leads to an international interest in the passage in the
last two years of family endowment acts in both of these countries
(although the Australian law is confined to New South Wales).2
This interest deepens when a study of the genesis of these laws shows
that they are a direct development of the long experience of these
two countries in attempting to fix a minimum wage based on the
cost of the support of an average family.
In the discussion which preceded the enactment of family endow
ment legislation in New South Wales and New Z'ealand, emphasis
w as put upon the drawbacks to the practice of providing in the basic
wage for family responsibilities which many of the workers did not
have. Yet neither of these new measures offers a complete escape
from such practice by clearing the way at once for a basic wage for
a single male adult, as the New Zealand act grants no allowance for
the vrife and the first two children and the New South Wales child
endowment law is tied up with a basic wTage supposed to provide for
a man and his wife.
Although family endowment, generally speaking, has had the sup
port of labor in Australia and New Zealand, the workers in both
countries seem to be greatly disappointed in the present acts not only
because of the inadequacy of the allowances but because they fear
the repercussion of such legislation upon their minimum basic wmge.
A brief survey of the immediate background of these measures and
of the present status of family endowment in Australia and New
Zealand follows:
T
i T h i s a r t ic l e is b a s e d o n d a t a fr o m U n i t e d S ta t e s B u r e a u of L a b o r S ta t is tic s B u i. N o . 401, F a m i l y A llo w
a n c e s i n F o r e ig n C o u n tr i e s , W a s h i n g to n , 1926, p p . 1 1 4 ,1 1 9 ,1 2 2 ,1 2 3 ,1 2 9 ; L a b o r R e v i e w , A p r il ( p p . 102-103),
J u n e ( p . 127), N o v e m b e r (p . 114), 1927; A u s t r a l i a , R o y a l C o m m is s i o n o n t h e B a s ic W a g e , R e p o r t , M e l
b o u r n e , 1920, p . 13; A u s t r a l i a ( W e s t e r n A u s t r a l i a ) , [ C o u r t of A r b i t r a t i o n ] , B a s ic w a g e d e c la r a t io n fo r t h e
v e a r 1927-28 [ u n d e r i n d u s t r i a l a r b r i t r a t i o n a c t , 1912-1925] a n d r e a s o n s o f t h e c o u r t , P e r t h , 1927; B r i t i s h
M i n i s t r y o f L a b o r G a z e t te , L o n d o n , J u l y , 1927, p . 253; I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O ffice, I n d u s t r i a l a n d L a b o r I n
f o r m a tio n , G e n e v a , F e b . 1 6 ,1 9 2 5 (p . 2 2 ), M a y 9, 1927 (p . 229); I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O ffic e , L e g is la t iv e
g e r jes— n . Z . 5, A c t— F a m i l y a llo w a n c e s , G e n e v a ; Q u e e n s la n d I n d u s t r i a l G a z e t te , B r i s b a n e , A p r il, 1924
f p p . 190, 213), A p r i l , 1927 (p . 267); N e w S o u th W a le s I n d u s t r i a l G a z e t te , S y d n e y , D e c . 31, 1927 ( p . 1371),
J u n e 30, 1928 ( p p . 843-845); N e w Z e a la n d D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r , P r o n o u n c e m e n ts o f t h e c o u r t r e c o s t of
liv in g , W e lli n g to n , 1922, p . 23; A u s t r a l i a n W o r k e r , S y d n e y , A u g . 3, S e p t. 14, D e c . 7 a n d 1 4 ,1 9 2 7 , S e p t. 19,
1928- E c o n o m ic J o u r n a l , L o n d o n , S e p te m b e r , 1927, p p . 369-383; F a m i l y E n d o w m e n t S o c ie ty , M o n t h l y
N o te s , L o n d o n , A u g u s t - S e p t e m b e r , D e c e m b e r , 1927, J a n u a r y M a y , J u n e J
t ?(,,: .ctf ) b e r ’d 9? o k o h a
M a g a z i n e , L o n d o n , M a y , 1924, p . 44; N e w Z e a la n d W o r k e r , W e lli n g to n , J u n e 1 7 ,1 9 2 5 , A p r . 2 7 ,1 9 2 7 , I h e
n e x t s te p — A f a m ily b a s ic in c o m e , b y A . B . P i d d i n g t o n , L o n d o n , 1922, p p . 11, 22, 66, S e c o n d im p r e s s i o n ;
T h e P r o s p e r i t y o f A u s t r a l i a — A n E c o n o m ic A n a ly s is , b y F r e d r i c k C . B e n h a m , L o n d o n , 1928, p p . 240-241.
i F a m i l y a llo w a n c e s h a v e , h o w e v e r , b e e n p a i d in t h e C o m m o n w e a lt h c i v i l s e r v ic e s in c e 1920.
146
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New Zealand Experience
T H E passage of the family allowance act in September, 1926,
had been preceded by considerable discussion on the principle
of child endowment and by several efforts to enact legislation
embodying this principle. In 1922 a bill for “ child sustenance”
was introduced into Parliament providing that “ all payments for
wages or salaries for adult male workers by way of a basic wage shall
in future be based on a family of two (man and wife),” and that “ every
employer of adult workers shall pay into the child sustenance fund
such amount as shall be assessed for each day or part day worked
by each employee.” The same year Judge L. V. Frazer of the New
Zealand Court of Arbitration declared “ that justice to all can not be
attained by working on the basis of an average family.” He agreed
that if all adult males were paid the same basic wage some would
have more than a fair living wage, others would have the proper
amount to meet their needs, and others would not have sufficient.
He presented statistics showing that, of 375,000 adult males in the
New Zealand population, 150,000 were unmarried, 70,000 were mar
ried without children under 14, and 53,500 had only 1 child under 14.
The New Zealand Industrial Bulletin (official organ of the New
Zealand Employers’ Federation) of November 10, 1924, states that
although it is widely conceded that the present wage payment system
results in injustice to the man who is attempting to educate a young
family, the question is fraught with difficulties and New Zealand
statistics supply no adequate basis “ upon which to make such a
plunge.”
At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Associated Chambers
of Commerce which was held at Wanganui, November 19-21, 1924,
it was urged in a unanimous recommendation that Parliament insist
upon the establishment of a “ more equitable standard” for the legal
minimum wage, as such wage is now “ based upon the estimated
requirements of a married man with two children or equivalent
dependents,” while the responsibilities of 75 per cent of the wage
earners are acknowledged to be less.
Prior to July, 1925, the New Zealand Labor Party had twice intro
duced bills for motherhood endowment, providing 10 shillings per
week for each child after the second until such child completed his or
her fourteenth year.
Proposal of the New Zealand Labor Department
In the report of the New Zealand Department of Labor for 1925
it was suggested that without increasing the total wages “ paid by any
employer or in industry generally, the amounts ordinarily due to
the workers would be adjusted, through a central fund, according to
the number of dependents (if any) on each worker. It is ascertained
that there is approximately one child under 14 years of age to every
adult male worker; if, therefore, the sum that it is desired to allow
for each child—say 7s. 6d. per week—was deducted from each
worker’s wages or salary, the amounts so deducted would in the
aggregate provide approximately that sum for each child less an
allowance for administrative expenses; in actual practice each em
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ployer would be required to deduct the sum decided on from the
wages of each of his employees and to pay that amount to the central
fund in the locality.”
Provisions of the Family Allowance Act
The family allowance act of September 9, 1926, which came into
force April 1, 1927, is somewhat different from the proposal of the
labor department, as the allowances are paid out of public funds and
borne by the general taxpayer and the grants are made beginning
with the third child. It will be noted, however, that the amounts of
the allowances are very much lower than those suggested in the labor
department report, being 2 shillings (49 cents) per week per child in
excess of two. Moreover, in order to benefit under the act, the aver
age weekly income of the family, including allowance, must not exceed
£4 ($19.47) plus 2 shillings (49 cents) for each child in excess of two.
The term “ child” under the law means a child under 15 years of age
who is a son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of the father applying
for the allowance. An allowance will also be granted for a child
legally adopted by either the applicant or his wife. A child who is
not actually supported as a member of the family or for whom a public
pension is already being received is excluded from the benefits of the
act. Under certain circumstances, however, allowances may be paid
after a child has completed his or her fifteenth year.
In computing the income in connection with decisions as to the
eligibility of an applicant for such benefit the following items are
considered:
(a) All money or money’s worth received within the period of one year imme
diately preceding the date of the application from all sources by any member of
the family for his own use or benefit or for the use or benefit of any member of the
family, exclusive of any payment by way of sick allowance or funeral benefit
received from a registered friendly society.
(b) In te re s t a t th e ra te of 5 p er c en t p e r an n u m (or such hig h er ra te as m ay
a ctu a lly be received) on th e v alu e of th e beneficial in te re st of a n y m em b er of th e
fam ily in a n y real o r perso n al p ro p e rty (o th er th a n p ro p e rty on w hich th e fam ily
resides, o r fu rn itu re a n d perso n al effects in th e possession of th e fa m ily ).
In special cases expected increases or reductions in income may be
taken into consideration. Expenditures in the production of income
are to be deducted from income as computed above.
The father is designated as the proper applicant for an allowance.
The allowance itself, however, is usually paid to the mother, although
in some exceptional cases it may be paid to the father.
Aside from conditions as to children and income, the applicant
(except when the benefit is not payable to the mother) and his wife
must have lived in New Zealand for at least a year, and the children
for whom the allowance is payable must either have been born in
the Dominion or resided therein one year. Neither aliens nor
Asiatics, whether British subjects or not, may benefit under the act
except with the direction of the minister in charge of the pension
department.
.
Bad character or dishonest action for the purpose of benefiting by
the allowances may be regarded as a basis for refusal to make such
grants.
Allowances must be applied toward the maintenance or education
of the children for whom they are granted and may be withheld
unless it be shown that such payments will be so used.
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Mr. R. M. Campbell, in the Economic Journal (London) Septem
ber, 1927, declares that the strongest argument for this remedial
legislation was “ the present plight of an immense number of children.”
The quinquennial census was taken a short time before the Govern
ment’s family allowance bill was introduced and it was found that
50,000 children, or not less than 12 y2per cent of the total child popula
tion of New Zealand, were dangerously near destitution. The minister
in charge of the bill quoted figures showing that 32,762 bread-winners
with 80,265 dependent children had incomes below £4 a week, and
that 50,989 of these children belonged to families which had three or
more children.
Experience Under the New Legislation
The annual report of the New Zealand Pension Department for the
year ended March 31, 1928, states that the estimate of the number of
applications which would be made for family allowances under the act
effective April 1 , 1927, has so far not been realized. At the close of
the first year these grants had been made for nearly 10,000 children
beginning with the third child, representing in round figures 3,000
families whose total children numbered 16,000. It is pointed out that
early experience with old-age pensions and widows’ pensions was some
what similar. Certain classes of people either were unacquainted
with the provisions passed for their benefit or were diffident about
availing themselves of such advantages. It is thought that at least
another full year’s operation of this act will be required before a
reliable estimate can be made.
Of the 3,980 claims made during the year 411 were rejected because
the family income exceeded the fixed limit and 74 others because the
required evidence was not presented. The total amount paid in
allowances was £37,652 ($183,233).
The principal occupations of the fathers of the children receiving
allowances were: Laborers, 1,350; farm hands, 298; farmers, 290;
public servants, 122; waterside workers, 101. The number in other
occupations was below 100.
T he num ber receiving specified rates of allow ances were
Number
of families Weeklv rate of—
Weekly rate of—
Is______________ ______
17
11s
2s__________
______
583
12s________
3s__
______
36
14s________
4s__________
______
749
15s_______________
5s _ _
______
22
16s____________
6s _ _
______
712
18s_____________
7 s _ __ __
______
20
20s___________
8s________
488
9s____________
______
8
Total______
10s_____________ ______
302
as follow s:
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
of families
1
144
43
1
21
6
1
____ 3, 154
The weekly incomes of families receiving allowances are given
below:
£1 a n d
N um ber
of families
u n d e r__________________________________________________________
O ver £ 1 a n d u p to £ 2 _________________ ________________________________
O ver £ 2 a n d up to £ 3 __________________________________________________
110
342
789
Over £3 and up to £ 4 ____________________________________________
1; ¿91
O ver £ 4 a n d up to £ 5 _____ ____________________________________________
’ 222
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The numbers of families having specified numbers of children in
excess of two are shown in the following statement:
N um ber
of families
N um ber
of families
1 child______________________
2 children___________________
3 children___________________
4 children___________________
5 children___________________
6 children___________________
549
751
706
542
343
178
7 children___________________
8 children___________________
9 children___________________
10 children__________________
51
26
7
1
3, 154
The cost of administration of the act for the period under review
was £70,843 ($344,757), nearly half of which was for salaries, including
those of medical officers. .
Attitude of Labor
Commenting upon the 1926 measure, the New Zealand Worker of
August 25, 1926, declares that the Labor Party considers the bill “ as
an admission of the justice of the claims it has made for several years
past and as far as it goes as a humane and praiseworthy departure in
law.” It was further stated that labor would strive energetically
“ to make the allowance square with the parents’ needs.”
At the first conference of woman members of the New Zealand
Labor Party at Wellington on April 15, 1927, a resolution was adopted,
expressing satisfaction at the passage of the family allowance act as a
result of the “ sustained demand of the Labor Party for the endowment
of motherhood” and at the same time emphasizing the necessity of
constantly pressing for a higher scale of payments.
At the time of the passage of the bill labor seemed somewhat
optimistic over the possibilities of securing in the future a higher
allowance. The fact that more than a year after the act went into
force the amount still remains 2 shillings per child seems to have
had a discouraging effect on the workers.
Trend Toward Family Endowment in Australia
"VY/HILE in actual practice family allowances in Australia from 1920
** to 1927 were entirely restricted to persons in the service of
the Commonwealth, important proposals had been made for such
allowances for private wage earners before the New South Wales
Legislature and by governmental commissions and at national and
State trade-union conferences. The growing dissatisfaction with the
decisions of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitra
tion led in 1919 to the appointment of the Royal Basic Wage Com
mission. As soon as the report of this body was submitted the
Prime Minister secured from the Commonwealth Statistician a state
ment as to the practicability of paying every male adult a wage of
£5 16s. ($28.23) per week. In this statement the latter official de
clared that such a wage could not be paid to all adult employees
because the whole produced wealth of the country did not yield the
required amount. Whereupon Mr. H. B. Piddington, the chairman
of the commission, advanced his much-quoted statement that Aus
tralian industries in 1920 were paying for 450,000 nonexistent wives
and 2,100,000 nonexistent children and suggested a redistribution of
wages based on the number of children of the wage earners or as an
alternative scheme the raising of a fund for children’s allowances by
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a tax on employers. Shortly afterwards the Federal Government
established a system of family endowment for its employees.2
In 1921 the All-Australian Congress of Trade-Unions at Melbourne
unanimously resolved “ to indorse the principle of the endowment of
motherhood and childhood” as a charge on the whole community.
The Victorian section of the Labor Party at its Easter conference
in 1924 backed a proposal approving the principle of universal
endowment for mothers and children. A special committee had con
sidered the problem and recommended, as a preliminary to full
maintenance by the State, that a labor government upon assuming
office should “ pay from State funds 5s. per week for each child until
it reaches the school-leaving age.” The question of the manner in
which financial provision should be made for family allowances was
to be referred to the Federal Labor Party.
It was reported early in 1924 that the Melbourne Trades Hall
Council had adopted the statement of the committee appointed to
promote the principle of equal pay for men and Women, that “ the
dual standard, if allowed to remain, is bound to become an evil of
the first magnitude” and “ that the only measures that deal effec
tively with the situation are the uniform basic wage for the sexes,
and child and motherhood endowment by the State.”
Some years ago Hon. Thomas H. McCawley, president of the court
of arbitration of Queensland and chief justice of the Supreme Court
of that State, reached the conclusion that the next move should be
the establishment of children’s allowances on a national scale, as he
could “ see no other way of substantially raising the standard of
living of those who are at present the most unfairly treated—married
men with young dependent children, who now receive the basic wage
or a little more.”
The Economic Commission on the Queensland Basic Wage
appointed December 30, 1924, declared the chief advantage in family
allowances was the possibility such grants offer of securing to every
family with more than one dependent child a higher standard of
comfort without placing further burdens on industry or without
infringement upon the “ Harvester equivalent” for single childless
men.3 Family allowances, according to the commission, are not
only likely to increase efficiency but to add to the general welfare in
other ways. For example, an effective demand from the married
would, on the whole, be “ more likely to increase the production of
the necessities and of goods and services leading to the welfare of the
community” than if such demand were to a greater extent from men
without children.
In Western Australia the question of family allowances was quietly
under discussion even before 1925.
Justice Dwyer of the Arbitration Court at Perth, in connection
with his declaration of the basic wage for 1927-28, suggested that the
proper way of providing for children under 14 years of age in excess
of two in the family was through child endowment. Furthermore
the Perth conference of trade-unions in July, 1927, indorsed the
child endowment policy of the Western Australian Labor Party and
decided to back a Commonwealth endowment scheme providing for
2T his system w as referred to in an article in th e D ecem ber, 1928, L ab or R eview , p p . 20-27.
« T h e term “ H arv ester eq u iv a len t” was used to express th e nom inal wage a t an y given tim e, which
represented 7s. per d ay in 1907—th e “ basic w age” fixed in th e H arvester case. (B ui. N o. 401, p . 121.)
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10s. 6d. per week per child in excess of two, together with endowment
for all dependent children of widows, deserted wives, and unmarried
mothers.
New South Wales Plan
YJT/HILE the question of family endowment has, as noted above,
** aroused considerable interest in all the Australian States,
New South Wales was the first of these States to enact legislation
on this matter. This measure came into effect in June, 1927.
As far back as 1916 the possibility of instituting family allow
ances was being considered. In 1919 the State Government intro
duced a child maintenance bill which failed to become a law. In
April, 1921, the New South Wales State Conference of the Australian
Labor Party submitted to the Federal Labor Party for its considera
tion a motion which included among other matters a recommendation
that the latter party adopt a “ national comprehensive scheme
* * * for the maintenance of all children of the nation by a
direct charge on the whole community by means of a graduated tax
on incomes.” The same year another unsuccessful attempt was
made to put through a child endowment bill.
On December 15, 1926, the New South Wales industrial commis
sioner announced that there would be no change in the basic wage
for adult males that had been fixed August, 1925, at £4 4s. ($20.34).
At the same time he recommended to the Government that a family
allowance scheme be established in connection with the living
wage.
The workers, however, took the position that living had advanced
since that date and that it was an injustice to them to fix such a low
basic wage with the promise of compensating for it by child endow
ment. The following March a movement was made by a committee
created by the South Wales Trades Union Congress to persuade all
unions to demand a basic wage of £5 16s,. a week.
A measure was finally enacted of which the following is a summary:
The family endowment act, 1927, which was passed at the end of March last,
provides for the payment to mothers in certain circumstances of an allowance at
the rate of 5 shillings a week for each child, for the maintenance, training and
advancement of children under 14 years of age. Allowances may be continued
up to the age of 16 years in the case of children incapacitated from earning a
living by reason of a physical or mental defect.
Various conditions must be satisfied before the allowance becomes payable,
the chief of which are:
(а) At the date on which the claim to an allowance is made the mother must
be resident in New South Wales and have had her home there for the two years
immediately preceding the date of the claim.
(б) Claims can be considered only in respect of children who have been resident
for not less than two years in New South Wales, or, if below the age of 2 years,
were born in that State.
(c) Allowances are not generally payable in respect of illegitimate children,
nor in cases where the mother is already in receipt of a pension under the widows’
pension act, 1925.
(d ) Children of an alien father, an Asiatic father, or of an aboriginal native
of Africa, the Pacific Islands, or New Zealand, are excluded from benefit, unless
born in Australia.
(e) Where the total family income, as defined in the act, in the 12 months
preceding the date of the claim exceeds the amount of the living wage for one
year based on the requirement of a man and wife without children plus £13 for
each child under 14 years, no allowance is payable.
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[570]
FAMILY ENDOWMENT IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
153
(/) In cases where the payment of the full endowment would increase the
family income beyond the limiting qualifying income, such part of the endowment
shall be paid as will bring the total family income up to the qualifying limit.
A further act, the finance (family endowment tax) act, 1927, provides that
employers shall pay into a newly constituted family endowment fund amounts
equal to 3 per cent of their total wages bill, and from this fund the family allow
ances will be paid.
The family endowment act will come into operation on a date to be fixed by
the governor, but in any case not until after the declaration of the living wage
for a man and wife without children has been made by the Industrial Commission
of New South Wales. This declaration, according to the provisions of the indus
trial arbitration (living wage declaration) act, 1927, must be made not later than
the end. of September, 1927. Previously the living wage has been based on a
man, wife, and two children.
The income limit under which children’s allowances are granted is
very much lower in the law than in the original proposals made by
the government.
New Basic Wage
r
On June 27, 1927, the basic wage was declared to be £4 5s. ($20.68)
per week for men and £2 6s. ($11.19) for women—an increase of
Is. (24.3 cents) for the former and of 3s. 6d. (85 cents) for the latter
over the previous rate. The basic wage for men, however, was now to
provide for an ian and wife without children instead of a family of
four. Following this declaration the family endowment act became
effective June 30, 1927.
Amendments to Child Endowment Act
The next December several amendments were made to the family
endowment legislation, among them a provision for the discontinu
ance “ for a certain period the imposition of the contributions by
employers to the family endowment fund and to enable the governor
to extend such period by proclamation;” and to provide “ for the
assessment and collection of the tax imposed by the finance (family
endowment tax) act, 1927, by the commissioner of taxation and to
confer on him certain additional powers for this purpose.”
Another amendatory act, assented to June 16, 1928, eliminated
certain anomalies in the original law. Under the new provisions
the pensions of children of ex-soldiers are not to be considered in
computing the income of a family. Temporary absence from home
because of sickness, on account of education or other special cir
cumstances is not a disqualification for endowment. Allowances
will be paid for children born outside of New South Wales to mothers
temporarily absent from the State. In computing the family income
the following items will be excluded: Endowment, payments for
medical and hospital treatment under the workmen’s compensation
act and payments by the education department for bursaries, and
similar grants. When the incomes of the spouse and children under
14 years of age can not after proper investigation be ascertained,
such incomes may be disregarded in calculating the family income.
In cases where a child was under 14 at the time the claim was lodged,
endowment may be aliowed_even though this child may have reached
that age or died at or previous to the commissioner’s determination
of such claim.
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[ 571 ]
154
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Financing Endowment
Up to March 31, 1928, there were 40,567 claims received, of which
23,310 were granted, 5,245 rejected, 371 withdrawn, and 7,364 pend
ing. The families endowed number 23,310 and the child benefici
aries 58,375. The amount of endowment paid was £513,368 ($2,498,305) and the administration costs were £42,147 ($205,108). I t is
estimated by the Government that the cost for endowment for 1928-29
will be abolit £1,750,000. The alternatives for raising the fund are
a l ^ per cent tax on the wages bill and a super tax. “ It is prophesied
that the Government will adopt the latter method, as it is a tax upon
profits ; while the wages bill tax hits the employer whose business is a
losing proposition.”
Application for Another Cost of Living Inquiry
According to the Australian Worker of September 26, 1928, the
Employers’ Federation and others have applied to the New South
Wales Industrial Commission to investigate the standard of living
and “ to declare a living wage based on such standard for other than
rural workers.” Two of the justices agreed that such application
should be granted, but Justice Piddington dissented, holding in a
separate judgment “ that the application was an attempt to spell out
from the living wage declaration act a meaning which would make the
commission the spear-head of a general attempt to reduce the stand
ard of living throughout the Commonwealth.”
The application should be refused in the public interest, because no facts had
been offered to show that the settlement of rights and obligations effected by the
legislature and the judgment of 1927 had been injurious to the community or to
the applicants. A reduction of the living wage to £3 14s. [$18] a week would
mean a contemplated general reduction of £5,500,000 of the amount obtained
by employees under State awards. The application aimed at the reduction of
all award wages under State law, the declared living wage being the pivot of
that law.
In reference to the press statements forecasting a reduction of the
basic wage the secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union said: “ We
are going to fight hard to prevent any reduction. There_ should be
no decrease, because, on Mr. Justice Piddington’s admission, the
wage would have been £4 15s. ($23.12) if it had not been for child
endowment. We say that child endowment and the basic wage are
separate and distinct matters.”
Conference of Commonwealth Premiers
IN JUNE, 1927, several months after the passage of the family
*■ endowment act in New South Wales, a conference of State premiers
was held at the call of the Commonwealth Government to discuss the
problem of family endowment from a national viewpoint. Such
action was the outcome of the realization that matters could not be
dealt with by the individual States without disturbing the foundations
of interstate trade.
At this conference the Prime Minister presented various estimates
of the cost of endowment for dependent children under 14 years of
age at 5 shillings a week. These estimates ran from £24,437,000 per
annum for all such children to £7,578,000 a year if the first and second
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[572]
F A M IL Y
ENDOW M ENT
IN
A U S T R A L IA
AND
NEW
ZEALAN D
155
children in a family were excluded. These amounts were in addition
to the basic wage and were subject to modification if wage limits were
applied. For example, it was estimated that if the income limit was
£500 there would be a reduction of 2 per cent in the above estimated
costs of endowment, and if the income limit were £300 the reduction
would be equivalent to 8 per cent
It was suggested by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth that
the States might take uniform legislative action to generalize child
endowment, but in the opinion of the Federal Government there is
no way in which “ to impose the cost of child endowment on the general
revenue, or to add it to the existing obligations of industry, without
having the most detrimental effect upon the general development of
the country, the expansion of our industries, and the cost of living.”
Royal Federal Commission on Child Endowment
A T THE above-mentioned interstate conference of prime ministers
a decision was reached to appoint a Royal Commission on Child
Endowment to consider the matter from the viewpoint of the Common
wealth as a whole. One of the five members of this body is a woman.
This commission began its investigations in Queensland and has been
holding extended hearings. Published excerpts from these hearings
indicate a bewildering variety of opinion on the question at issue,
especially with regard to the ways and means of operating a child
endowment scheme.
An examination of these statements and declarations by representa
tives of differing interests before the commission discloses that even
employers’ federations do not think alike on the subject. For example
the Chamber of Manufacturers of New South Wales and several
employers’ associations in Queensland are in favor of child endowment,
while a member of the Employers’ Federation of Victoria listed what
he felt would be the dire effects of child endowment, and announced
that “ Australia was heading straight for bankruptcy and was demor
alized by doles.”
Another fact shown in these summarized hearings is the substantial
number of representatives of women’s organizations who approve
child endowment. On the other hand, there are representatives of
other women’s organizations who are definitely opposed to the scheme.
It is also disclosed in the evidence before the Royal Commission that
the Australian Council of Trade Unions “ considered child endowment
imperative if Australia was to be assured in the future of healthy,
well-educated, efficient, producing and service-giving population.”
35895°—29-
11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[573]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
S trik es an d L o ck ou ts in th e U n ite d S ta te s in J an u ary, 1929
D
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
January, 1929, with comparable data for preceding months,
are presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six
workers and lasting less than one day have been omitted.
The bureau is dependent upon trade journals, newspapers and
labor periodicals for notices of strikes. These reports are followed up
by correspondence and when necessary by personal visits of represen
tatives of the Conciliation Service or of this bureau.
Table 1 is a summary table showing for each of the months—Janu
ary, 1927, to January, 1929, inclusive—the number of disputes which
began in those months, the number in effect at the end of each month,
and the number of workers involved. It also shows, in the last
column, the economic loss in man-days. The number of workdays
lost is computed by multiplying the number of workers affected in
each dispute by the length of the dispute measured in working-days
as normally worked by the industry or trade in question.
T a ble
1
.—
IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D O F E A C H
M O N T H , J A N U A R Y , 1927, T O J A N U A R Y , 1929
N u m b e r of d is p u te s
M o n th a n d yea r
B eg in
n in g in
m o n th
1927
N u m b e r of w o rk ers
in v o lv e d in d is p u te s
I n effect
a t e n d of
m o n th
B eg in n in g
in m o n th
I n effect
a t e n d of
m o n th
N u m b e r of
lo st d u rin g
m o n th
F e b r u a ry
____________ ___________ —
M a rc h ______________________________________
37
65
74
18
45
67
5,915
9, 756
13,142
2,287
5,717
8,182
58,125
115, 229
214, 283
A p r il.
__ - __________ _______
M ay.
- ___
__ ________
J u n e — - ____________________________ ___ ____
87
107
80
88
116
88
202, 406
22, 245
18, 957
199, 701
200, 702
196, 323
5, 265, 420
5,136,006
4, 863, 345
J u ly
A u g u s t.
S e p te m b e r
___________________________
___
___
_
----__ _____________ ___________
65
57
57
63
53
58
33, 994
8,150
12, 282
199, 287
198, 444
196, 829
5, 308,123
4,999, 751
4, 945, 702
O cto b er
N ovem ber
_ ________________________
__________________________
50
27
28
58
51
54
13, 024
5, 282
4,281
82,095
82, 607
81, 229
2, 724,117
2,040,140
2,129,153
43
47
34
62
61
63
18, 263
33,602
7,145
81, 676
104, 883
78, 362
2,135,092
2,155, 559
2, 343, 415
_______ ____________
___________________________
62
72
40
70
74
64
143, 834
15, 138
20, 941
134, 382
136, 094
134, 406
4, 884, 430
3, 526, 608
3, 580, 719
A u g u st
S e p te m b e r
_______________________
- - __ _____ ______________
_______________________
53
57
48
60
59
48
17, 232
8,279
8,041
134,102
129, 210
63, 650
3, 365, 803
3, 577, 599
2, 605, 713
O cto b er
N ovem ber
________________ _______
- ___ ______________
49
43
23
43
39
33
26, 615
37, 650
5,729
41, 420
38, 553
36, 276
1, 304, 647
1, 295,134
1, 002, 630
42
44
13,975
40, 317
967, 822
Dp.nfimhftr
___________
1928
F e b r u a ry
M a rc h
________________________
_ __ __ _________________
Ap ril
M ay
June -
__ ______________________
July
D ecember i
__ _____________
1929
1 P r e l i m i n a r y fig u re s s u b je c t t o re v is io n .
156
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157
S T R IK E S AND L O C K O U TS
Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
'"TABLE 2 gives by industry the number of strikes beginning in
November and December, 1928, and January, 1929, and the
number of workers directly involved.
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 N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R
1928, A N D JA N U A R Y , 1929
N u m b er of disputes begin
ning in—
N um ber of workers involved
in disputes beginning in—
In d u stry
N ovem
ber
Decem
ber
Jan u ary
7
2
5
1
8
Autom obile, carriage, and wagon workers.
B uilding tra d e s_______________________
C hauffeurs and team sters______________
Clothing w orkers______________________
F arm labor___________________________
F u rn itu re w orkers__ ____ ______________
Glass w orkers_________ _________ ______
H ospital em ployees____________________
L a u n d ry w orkers______________________
M etal tra d e s_________ _____________ . . . .
M ine w orkers_________________________
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical w orkers____________________
P o ttery w orkers_______________________
P rin tin g and publishing________________
R ubber w orkers_______________________
Stationary engineers___________________
Teachers_____________ ____ ____________
Textile w orkers__ _________ ____________
M iscellaneous-__________ ______________
1
1
2
1
1
1
8
1
T o t a l.____________ ______________
43
2
1
9
3
1
2
3
9
2
r
1
5
1
1
1
7
1
1
3
15
23
42
N ovem
ber
Decem
ber
279
359
990
80
520
361
20
100
no
875
110
150
90
4,136
22
8, 753
157
36
33, 760
8
250
213
800
13
11
665
29
37, 650
Jan u ary
20
45
467
910
5,729
13, 975
Size; and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
f ABLE 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
January, 1929, classified by number of workers and by
industries:
T able 3 .
N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN JA N U A R Y , 1929 C LA S
S IF IE 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 IE S
N um ber of disputes beginning in January, 1929, involving—
In d u stry
A utom obile, carriage, and wagon w orkers.
B uilding trad es_____ ________ ____
Chauffeurs and team sters___ _
C lothing w orkers____ _______
F u rn itu re w orkers___
H ospital em ployees_________
L au n d ry w orkers__________
M etal trad es___ ___________
M ine w orkers______________
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical workers____________
Textile w orkers__ ___ _______ _
T o ta l.....................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
500 and
6 and
20 and
100 and
under 20 under 100 under 500 under
1,000
workers workers workers
workers
1
1
2
2
7
1
2
1
1
1
4
1
10
6
24
1575]
1,000 and
under
5,000 and
5,000
over
workers
4
2
7
3
i
1
1
i
158
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
January, 1929, by industries and classified duration:
T u u e 4 .—N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN JA N U A R Y , 1929, BY
IN D U S T R IE S A N D B Y C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
Classified d uration of strikes ending in January,
1929
In d u stry
one- 1 m onth
One-half Over
half and and less
m onth less
th a n 2
th
an
or less
1 m onth m onths
"Building trades
Team sters and chauffeurs
C lothing workers
_____ _ _______
F u rn itu re workers
_ __________
M etal trades
M ine workers
M otion-picture operators and theatrical w orkers. _
Textile w orkers
_ _ _____________________
T otal
______________ ________________
2
1
4
1
1
5
1
11
26
1
2 m onths 3 m onths
and less and less
than 4'
th a n 3
m onths m onths
1
1
2
2
1
2
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in January, 1929
LfU RN ITU RE workers, Michigan.—The Johnson-Randall Co., of
*
Traverse City, manufacturers of fiber furniture, was affected by a
strike of 150 furniture workers from January 10 to January 14 for
the reestablishment of the old piece-work rates, which had been
reduced about 10 per cent in the weaving department on November
26, 1928. The old rates were restored.
Textile workers, Rhode Island.—A strike of about 500 employees of
the Lonsdale Co., Berkeley, began on January 21 because the com
pany discharged four men. The company agreed to restore the
discharged men and the workers returned on January 24.
Shoe workers, Massachusetts.-—About 300 shoe workers, members
of Wood Heel Makers’ Local 11 of the Shoe Workers’ Protective
Union, went out on strike in the afternoon of January 21 against
five firms because it was alleged that crews of the firms where strike
was called made independent agreements with them which cut the
prices agreed upon, making it unfair for the firms paying the regu
lation prices. Moreover, such independent agreements constituted
a violation on the part of both worker and employer of the agreement
with the union.
The strike practically ended with the return of most of the workers
on January 23, the union having concluded negotiations with the
manufacturers and obtained their assurance that they will observe
union prices and conditions.
Anthracite miners, Pennsylvania.—A 1-day strike of 5,814 miners
against the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., at Lansford, occurred
on January 29. This followed a 1-day ‘ ’button” strike of 799
miners at the company’s No. 6 shaft on January 25, where the men
returned to work on the previous basis. Following the button
strike, the Lansford Colliery (No. 6 shaft) was suspended for one
day by the company and all other collieries remained idle on Janu
ary 29 on sympathy strike as a protest against the suspension of
No. 6 shaft.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[576]
C O N C IL IA T IO N W O R K
OF T H E
D EPA RTM EN T
159
Laundry workers, Calijornia.—According to press reports some
3,000 Chinese laundry workers in San Francisco conducted a success
ful strike from January 30 to February 4 for a workday of 10 hours
instead of 15 on Saturdays, with Sundays, or occasional Sundays, off,
the main point of contention being the shorter workday on Saturdays.
The new work schedule, it is understood, calls for 15 hours a day for
5 days, 10 hours on Saturday, and 12 hours on alternate Sundays.
The strike involved about 50 owners of Chinese laundries.
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Continuing in January, 1929
1DITUMINO US coal strike.—The suspension of April 1, 1927, has
not been reported as over in the States of Pennsylvania and
Ohio, but according to press reports the union is steadily losing
ground in those States and the miners have been drifting back to
work.
Central Pennsylvania is now, it is said, to all intents and pur
poses a nonunion district, conditions being normal at all mines.
Technically the strike still continues in the Pittsburgh district,
but there is said to be no production difficulty, the only difficulty
being to sell coal.
C o n c ilia tio n W ork of th e D e p a r tm en t of Labor in Ja n u a ry ,
1929
B y H ugh L . K er w in , D irector of C onciliation
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 46 labor disputes
during January, 1929, These disputes affected a known total
of 12,611 employees. The table following shows the name and loca
tion 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 con
cerned, the cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of set
tlement, the date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers
directly and indirectly involved.
On February 1, 1929, there were 33 strikes before the department
for settlement and in addition 19 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 52.
T
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[577]
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 D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R T H R O U G H IT S C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E , JA N U A R Y , 1929
C om pany or in d u stry and location
Oriental U pholstering Co., L ynn,
Mass.
Lehigh Coal Co., Exeter, P a _____
Beacon M ills, New Bedford, M ass.
Photo-engravers, Philadelphia, P a.
[578]
P hiladelphia Storage B attery Co.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
K upfer, Schlassberg & Co. (Inc.),
N ew Y ork C ity.
U nited Electric Coal Co., D uquoin,
111.
L. B rayton F o u n d ry Co., W est
W arwick, R. I.
S tandard Sanitary M anufacturing
Co., Louisville, K y.
P ark Silk Co., Paterson, N . J ____
C raftsm en concerned
Strike..
U pholsterers___
___ do.
___ d o .
M iners________
W eavers_______
___ d o .
B uilding crafts. .
___ d o.
Textile w orkers.
._do__
..d o ..
N a p p ers. .
E ngravers.
Controversy. Tool m ak ers.
W orking conditions______
___ do ___________________
Objection to nonunion elec
trical workers.
Wages and working condi
tions.
.d o .
C om pany refused to renew
union agreement.
W orking conditions________
C oat m akers.
Discharges, in alleged viola
tion of contract.
-d o .
Laborers____
Asked 35 cents per hour in
crease (to 75 cents per
h our).
Wages cut 10 per cen t______
___ do __
M olders___________
Controversy. M etal polishers_____
Strike___
W eavers and warpers.
Controversy. Textile w orkers.
S trike___
M in ers________
Gulf Production Co., F t. W orth,
Tex.
C ontract shops, Ozone P ark , N . Y.
C ontroversy
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
V alidity of union contract..
S trike___
G uarantee Silk Co., Paterson, N . J.
Glen A lden Coal Co., W est N an ticoke, Pa.
Goss G ranite Q uarry Corp., Stonington, Me.
M ax Weiss Silk Co., Paterson,
N . J.
J. M eyerson (Inc.), Greenpoint, L.
I., N . Y.
State hospital building, A llentown,
FRASER
Pa.
Cause of dispute
Strike___
Oil w orkers____
D ressm akers___
Controversy. G ranite workers.
Threatened
strike.
S trike_____
Silk w orkers___
Threatened
strike.
B uilding_______
F u r dyers______
Asked 10 per cent increase...
Present status and term s of settle
m ent
A djusted.
A djusted. R eturned: district com
m ittee to fix term s.
A djusted. Satisfactory agreement
concluded.
P ending_________________________
Dec. 12
A djusted. Allowed 8-hour d ay and
increase of 1 and 2 cents per yard.
Oct. 16
Proposed 10 per cent wage cut,
etc.
D ispute relative nonunion
ironworkers.
1929
Feb. 2
Jan.
3
Dec. 28 ___do_ —
-
A djusted. R etu rn ed ; accepted 10 Jan.
per cent wage cut.
A djusted. Signed agreem ent w ith Jan.
out increase.
A djusted. M an rein stated ------------- Jan.
Jan.
_do_
20
840
50
10
6
39
Dec. 29
1929
A djusted. Satisfactory settlem e n t.. Jan. 2
1
Jan.
Unclassified. Open shop effective
before commissioner’s arrival.
Jan.
10
U nable to adjust. C om pany estab
lished open-shop conditions.
A djusted.
W ork resum ed; dis Jan. 1
charged employees to be reinstated
later.
_do_
Pending.
P en d in g ____ ____________________
In d i
D i
rectly rectly
E nding
1928
W ill abide b y co n tract.. Sept. 30
M an discharged; alleged im
perfect work.
D ispute w ith shop chairm an. P ending _________________________
D isagreem ent on am ount of A djusted. R eturned; d istrict offi
cers to fix term s.
wages paid; deductions.
Discharges; alleged discrimi
nation for union activity.
Change from week to piece
work.
D ispute relative union or non
union conditions.
Proposed 10-hour d a y ______
Begin
ning
o
Jan. 28
60
Jan.
Jan.
3
14
50
16
Jan. 27
28
9
4
41
2
149
Jan.
7
7
36
1 ___do_ _ _ _
300
3, 000
11
1
44
Jan. 11
24
490
10
3
5
Jan.
Jan.
11
Jan. 15
A djusted. Agreed on 6 m onths’ Jan. 1 Jan. 8
trial of w orking conditions.
A djusted. Satisfactory union agree Jan. 9 Jan. 12
m ent concluded.
A djusted. Eight-hour day contin ___do_ — _Jan. 11
ued.
Adjusted. R eturned. No wage cut Jan. 15 Jan. 23
and no change in conditions.
A djusted. Satisfactory agreement; Jan. 2 Jan. 12
no trouble w ith ironw orkers.
3
50
277
101
75
3, 000
39
4
30
20
75
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
H am let Textile Co., Paw tucket,
R. I.
Broadway-Stevens Building, C am
den, N . J.
M oon Silk Co., Sum m it, N . J ____
N a tu re of
controversy
Ci
W orkers
involved
D uration
G ilb ert Shoe Co., H averhill, M ass S t r i k e . . ___
N ew E ngland W ood Heel Co., H av _ ___do_____
erhill, M ass.
W illiam son-D ickey
Co.,
Fort Lockout
W orth, Tex.
A rrow Silk Co., M cAdoo, P a ____ S trik e.. . . .
Shoe w orkers. ____
Heel makers
Discharge of cutter.
E m ployer refused to sign
union agreement.
G arm ent w orkers___ Wage cut and discontinuance
of union label.
W eavers
Proposed cut in wages of loom
fixers.
Shafran Silk Co., Paterson, N . J__ _ _ _ d o ___ _ W eavers and w arpers Proposed 9M_hour day
Building trades, W ashington, D . C . Controversy. C arpenters and iron
workers.
Berkeley M ills, P aw tucket, R. I___ Strike_____ Textile w orkers__ _
Kroger B uilding, Indianapolis, In d . ____do_____
B uilding trades
Pending__________________________ .
[579]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9
2
Jan.
Feb.
do_
A djusted. N o cut in wages; regular Jan.
conferences to be held.
A djusted. E ight-hour day contin Jan.
ued.
Asked 8-hour d a y . _ ____ A djusted. E ight-hour day allow ed. -__do_
Proposed 14 per cent wage cut Pending_________________________
do
(from 8 to 7 cents per y a rd ).
Wages for new work
Unclassified. P a rt of w orkers re Jan.
tu rn ed on com pany’s term s; others
m ay be reinstated later.
Jurisdiction of m etal door T em porary a d ju stm en t. W ork pro Jan.
frames.
ceeding.
Discharge of 4 workers
A djusted. W orkers reinstated; mill Jan.
resum ed w ork w ith 48-hour week
instead of 54.
Jurisdiction of brick and as- Pending .................................................... Jan.
bestos work on baking
ovens.
N um ber of men em ployed__ A djusted. Signed agreem ent for one Jan.
year.
Asked wage increase; num ber ___ d o ................................................... __ d o .
of m en employed.
Indiana, A m erican, and B roadw ay Controversy. . Stage h a n d s..............
theaters, In d ian a H arbor, Ind.
Indiana, Am erican, Broadw ay, and ____do......... .. Film operators______
G arden theaters, In d ian a H arbor,
Ind.
Sovereign Silk Co., Paterson, N . J . Strike_____ Textile w orkers__
Poor material, causing breaks. A djusted. Allowed 2H cents per
yard increase in wages.
Seneca Iro n <fe Steel Co., Blasdell, ____do_____ Steel w orkers_______ R ates of pay; schedules
A djusted. R eturned. C ontinued
N . Y.
system in use.
Palace and Tivoli theaters, Gary, T h reaten ed Stage hands________ N um ber employed; rates of A djusted. N o change in wages.
In d .
strike.
pay.
Signed agreem ent for tw o years.
D o__________________________ ___do_____
Film operators
do
____do ___________________________
Shirley Shoe Co., N ew Y ork C ity . S trik e.. . . . Shoe w orkers__ __
A sked restoration of 7)4 per A djusted. Allowed restoration of
cent wage cut.
wage c u t a nd union recognition.
Rogat Shirt Co., N ew York C i t y .. __do____
Shirt makers _ _
Wage c u t.
A djusted. R eturned; no cut in
wages.
Shelbourne Shirt Co., N ew York ____do _____ ____do __________ _
Protested overtime work Pending. C om pany m ay move
C ity.
w ithout extra compensa
plant.
tion.
Glen A lden Coal Co., Plym outh, _ ___do____
M iners_________ . . . R ates of p a y __
A djusted. R eturned; district com
Pa.
m ittee to fix term s.
Otis Co., T hree Rivers, M ass_____ __ __do _ __ Spool-room w orkers.. W orking conditions
A djusted. Satisfactory modification
of conditions.
Feifer Bros. Slipper Co., New York ____do......... . Slipper w orkers___
Violation of agreem ent______ A djusted. C om pany agreed to com
C ity.
p ly w ith agreement.
M adison Shoe Co., M arlboro, Mass
do _____ Shoe workers . . .
Asked increase
U nable to a d ju s t ..________________
Pennsylvania Textile M ills (Inc.), Controversy. Textile workers _ _. _ Discharge of beamers; wage A djusted. Beam ers agreed to accept
Clifton, N . J..
dispute.
80 cents per hour; reinstated.
T o ta l______ _______________
8
1
70
70
185
18
15
8
Jan. 21
Jan.
19
15
3
Jan .
15
22
47
9
8
Jan . 24
45
11
83
385
Jan . 23
500
11
21
15
50
24
15
110
23
Jan. 31
5
29
...
. —do -
20
14
Jan. 21
Jan. 26
54
12
Jan.
28
Jan.
29
10
25
Jan. 30
Feb.
1
10
128
_ do_
Jan. 29
___do
Feb. ÏÏ
28
45
110
11
Feb.
36
___do_ . . .
7
__ do
85
Jan. 30
Feb.
5
610
15
Jan. 23
Jan. 30
100
300
Jan. 22
Jan. 28
40
10
Jan. 2
Jan. 29
Feb. 2
Feb. 13
20
3
347
4,627
7,984
CONCILIATION WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT
Providence Silk Co., Paterson, N . J_ ____ do_____ ____do______________
Wolf & O pper Silk Co., Paterson, _ _ do _ _ ___ do______
N . J.
V incent H orow itz Slipper Co., New ___d o _____ Slipper w orkers. . . .
Y ork C ity.
A djusted. C u tte r rein stated ______ [J a n .
U nable to a d ju st__________________ Jan.
OÏ
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
E arn ings of M em b ers of In te r n a tio n a l T yp ograp h ical U n io n
T
HE following data regarding average annual earnings of members
of the International Typographical Union from 1909 to 1927
are taken from a publication of that organization.1
A V E R A G E A N N U A L E A R N IN G S O F M E M B E R S O F 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 , 1909 TO 1927
Y ear ending M ay 31—
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
Average
annual
earnings
Year ending M ay 31—
Average
annual
earnings
$897. 00
953. 00
974. 00
992. 00
1,023. 00
1, 042. 00
1, 026. 51
1916 . .
_______
____________
1917
1918 _
__________
1919- . ___________
1920 - ________
1921________________
1922________________
$1, 041.18
1, 086. 43
1,145.15
1, 264. 88
1, 615. 25
1,909. 03
1, 795. 44
Year ending M ay 31—
Average
annual
earnings
1923__________ _____ _ $1, 919. 23
2, 093. 69
1924- _____________
2,172.03
1925________________
1926___ ____ ________ 2,325. 41
2,328.71
1927________________
W age In crea se for R ailw ay T erm in a l E m p lo y ees E sta b lish ed
by R e cen t A rb itr a tio n Award
HE Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Express and Station Employees requested of the
Kansas City Terminal Co. an increase of $1 per day for the
mail and baggage handlers, checkmen, gatemen, and others, which
the carrier refused. Under the railway labor act, a board of arbitra
tion was created by an agreement dated. May 5, 1928.
The Kansas City Terminal Co. selected W. M. Corbett, and the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks selected J. H. Sylvester, as arbi
trators. These two being unable to select the third arbitrator, the
United States Board of Mediation appointed F. H. Kreismann as the
neutral arbitrator.
On January 17 the majority of the board made the following
award:
T
1. Add to the rates of pay of all daily rated positions 25 cents per day.
2. Add to the rates of all hourly rated positions 3.125 cents per hour.
3. Add to the rates of all monthly rated positions $6,375 per month. _
4.
The foregoing specified increases shall not apply to those certain twelve
positions designated as assistant foreman and/or mail dispatchers whose rates of
pay were voluntarily increased or readjusted by the carrier on September 1, 1927;
but such increases shall apply to all positions covered by this arbitration occupied
by employees who are now or may hereafter be found to have been in the
service of the carrier for a period of one year or longer.
5.
This award shall become effective January 16, 1929; shall continue in force
for the period of one year from the effective date thereof, and thereafter subject
to 30 days’ notice by or to the company.
W. M. Corbett, representing the carrier, dissented from the findings
of the majority of the board.
i International Typographical Union. F acts concerning th e In ternational Typographical
Indianapolis, 1928.
162
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[580]
Union.
163
ADOPTION OF 5-DAY WEEK
W age R a tes in th e G o v ern m en t P rin tin g O ffice
HE principal rates of wages paid to employees of the Govern
ment Printing Office in 1913, 1921, and 1928 are listed in the
following table, taken from the annual report of the Public
Printer for 1928.
The report states that the average annual compensation for each
employee, including skilled, unskilled, and clerical, for the eight years
1913-1920 was $1,264.47 and for the eight years 1921-1928, $1,836.25,
an increase of $571.78 or 45 per cent.
T
P R IN C IP A L H O U R L Y
R A T E S O F W A G E S O F E M P L O Y E E S IN T H E
P R I N T I N G O F F I C E I N 1913, 1921, A N D 1928
O ccupation
1913
C om positor. . . . . . . .
L inotype and m onotype operator. ___________________ _
P roofread er . .
Im poser______
M ak e r-u p ___________
C opy editor _______
___ ______ . .
T ype m ach in ist_______________
M onotype casterm an_________________
T ype-m achine h e lp e r ________
_ _ _____ .
S te re o ty p e r... ___________ ______
E lectrotype finisher and m older__ . . .
Photo-engraver __ ________
Pressm an, c y lin d e r..............
Pressm an, p laten . _______
Press feeder, cylinder______________ _ _ ______
Press feeder, p laten ______ ____________
B a n d e r __________ ____ _ _______
B ookbinder
_ _
B ookbinder m achine o perator..................
B indery operative:
. .
Folder . ______ . __ _________ __ . . .
Folding-m achine operator
. ...
Signature pressm an
...
Perforator
.......
_
_ ___ _
Sewing-machine operator. _ _ ........................ _
R uling-m achine feeder.. _ _ _
________ _____ _
S u p e rv is o r_____________
. ___
Stock k e e p e r.__ _ ________________
C arpenter
P a in te r.. . . . .
Electrician . ________ ____ _ _ _ _______ .
M ach in ist. ______________ .
Pipe fitter (steam fitter and p lu m b e r)__ . . . .
_ ______ .
Skilled laborer_________________________
$0. 50
. 00
. 00
. 60
. 60
. 65
. 60
. 35
. 35-. 40
. 60
.60
GOVERNM ENT
1921 1
$0. 85
. 85
. 85
. 85
85
85
. 90
. 65
. 65
90
.90
1928
. 85
.85
$1. 00-$l. 05
1. 05-1.10-1. 15
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1. 10
. 70
. 60-, 85
1. 10
1.10
1 20
1.10
1. 00
. 70
.65
.70
1. 00
1.05
>. 25-, 40
. 45-, 70
. 55-1.05
‘. 30-, 55
.50
. 50
.55-. 80
. 85
. 85
. 90
. 90
. 85
.45
. 70-1. 00
1. 10
1. 10
1.10
1.10
1 10
. 55
.55
.55
.27%
• 27%
. 2712
. 50 “
. 55
. 55
. 50
.25
. 85
.85
. 55
.55
1 In c lu d in g th e $240 b o n u s , a m o u n tin g to 10 ce n ts a n h o u r, g ra n te d b y C ongress in 1921.
A d o p tio n of 5-day W eek in Large E astern P la n t
*
LARGE manufacturer of check-writing machinery and adding
machines in the East is reported to have placed its 600 em
ployees on the 5-day week basis without a reduction in wages,
according to Domestic Commerce for January 7, 1929, published by
the United States Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. A
check will be kept on all departments of the plant, it is stated, in an
effort “ to bear out the conviction of the company’s officers that the
longer recreation period will produce more satisfied and efficient
workers.”
A
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[581]
164
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E arn in gs in M a ssa c h u se tts M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u strie s
HE average yearly earnings of employees in manufacturing indus
tries in Massachusetts from 1913 to 1927, together with the total
wages bill and the average number of wage earners employed,
are shown in the following figures taken from a recent press release
of the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries:
T
A V E R A G E N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S , A V E R A G E Y E A R L Y E A R N IN G S , A N D T O T A L
W A G E S B IL L IN M A S S A C H U S E T T S M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , 1913 TO 1927
Year
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.
1918
1919
1920.
Average
num ber of
employees
616, 927
606, 698
596 348
682, 621
708, 421
719, 210
713, 836
695, 832
A m ount of
wages paid
$351, 299, 706
341, 309, 517
346, 243,472
447,957, 731
537,144, 629
679, 401, 273
766, 623, 337
891,176, 822
Average
yearly
earnings
$569. 43
562. 57
580. 61
656. 23
758. 23
944. 65
1,073. 95
1, 280. 74
Year
1921 _______
1922 ______
1923________
1924________
1925________
1926________
1927________
Average
n um ber of
employees
579, 071
612, 682
667,443
589, 364
591,438
602, 343
577, 463
A m ount of
wages paid
Average
yearly
earnings
$641, 360,936
678, 073, 968
799,363, 111
711,812,104
716,155, 593
738, 208, 510
704, 983, 988
$1,107. 57
1,106. 73
1,197. 65
1, 207. 76
1, 210. 87
1, 225. 56
1, 220. 83
P rices and E arn in gs in th e S callop In d u stry of N orth C arolina
BRIEF discussion of prices and earnings in the scallop industry
of North Carolina is contained in a report of the United States
Bureau of Fisheries.1 The information on these points is
summarized in the following paragraphs.
In early days scallop fishermen sold their catches to dealers by the
bushel, the price received, it is said, being as low as 25 cents. Later
the catches were sold by the gallon, and for the year 1897 the price is
given as 40 to 45 cents. Wholesale prices in recent years are reported
to have been as high as $5 or $5.50. During the season of 1927-28,
up to mid-February, prices ranged about as follows, according to the
report: Mediums, $1.50 to $2.25 (chiefly $1.75 to $2.25); large
mediums, $2.50 to $3.25 (chiefly $2.50 to $3); and large, $3.50 to $4.
Prices increased somewhat after this time.
The report states that at the beginning of the season a raker might
take enough scallops to shuck 4 to 6 gallons, which would bring him
from $6 to $15, “ depending upon the percentage of large mediums or
of large meats, the current price, and the quantity. The charge for
shucking would be $4 to $6. The wage return for a day’s scallop
fishing thus figured would be $4 to $12.” According to varying
information, the catch per man per day had dropped by mid-February
of 1928 to about 1 gallon, which brought $2.25 to $2.50. By midMarch, or even earlier, catches as small as half a gallon are said to be
not unusual.
When a dredge boat is used, a catch of 40 bushels is considered a
good day’s work, although catches up to about 60 bushels a day
may be obtained. The report states that small scallops, from dredg
ing areas, shucked by the investigator about the time the season
opened, yielded from 2% to a little over 3 pints per bushel, but that
in areas where scallops giving the best yield of meats are to be found
A
i U nited States. D ep artm en t of Commerce. B ureau of Fisheries.
try of N o rth Carolina, b y Jam es S. Gutsell. W ashington, 1928.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[582]
D ocum ent No. 1043: Scallop indus
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF REAL WAGES
165
“ doubtless many large catches of scallops that yield half a gallon to
the bushel are taken early m the season.” Later in the season
the yield per bushel, the size, and the price improve, but the
catch becomes much smaller. Sample catches made by Marshallberg
dredgers on February 27, 1928, were sold there for $2.50 a gallon,
the gross return per man varying from $5 to $18.75 per day. The
cost of shucking reduced these figures to $4 and $15, respectively,
“ to cover expenses, wear and tear, overhead, and wage.”
The standard pay for opening scallops in the season of 1927-28
is reported to have been 50 cents per gallon of meats, which was
“ an increase of 10 cents a gallon over the rate prevalent a few years
ago and of 37 % to 40 cents over that reported for the seventies and
eighties.” An expert can open a bushel or more of scallops per hour
if they are large, and these may yield as much as a gallon per bushel
or only 2% pints and perhaps less.
The demand for hired shuckers occurs principally early in the season when
catches are large, and from the dredgers, who make much larger catches than
do the rakers.^ At this time a bushel yields less than it does later in the season.
The average size of scallops taken by dredgers is small, so that, even if they give a
good yield per bushel, many must be opened in order to make a gallon. There
fore, the role of the professional shucker can scarcely be a well-paying one;
although he or she might make $5 a day, probably $2 to $3 would be more
representative.
I n te r n a tio n a l C om p arison of Real W ages, O ctober, 1928
COMPARISON of real wages in various large cities of the world
in October, 1928, is contained in the International Labor
Review (Geneva) for January, 1929, in continuation of similar
figures compiled periodically by the International Labor Office,
The table given below presents the more important points in the
comparison. The figures are in the form of index numbers, London
being used as the base, or 100. It should be noted that the wage
data relate only to a few classes of Workers, namely, those in the
building, metal, furniture, and printing and publishing trades, and
that the price data are limited to certain articles of food and to rent.
Thus, the index numbers can be taken only as a very rough indication
of the relative levels of real wages of adult male workers in certain
occupations and cities. In many instances, however, the figures
shown indicate such wide differences between cities that they may be
accepted as reflecting real differences in the level of well-being of the
workers in different countries.
It will be seen that Philadelphia had the highest real wage level
of any of the 17 cities included, its index number, based on food only,
being 189, or 89 per cent higher than that of London. Ottawa had
the next highest figure, with Copenhagen, the highest of the European
cities, coming next, while the wage level in Rome was less than onefourth that of Philadelphia. However, the International Labor
Office points out that the low level of Rome may be accounted for in
part by the differences in the items of food consumption in the
southern European countries from those ordinarily consumed in
most of the other countries represented in the table.
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166
IN D E X
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW
NUM BERS
OF
C O M P A R A T IV E R E A L
O C T O B E R , 1928
W AGES
IN
C IT IE S ,
V A R IO U S
[L o n d o n , O ctober, 1928=100]
General average
index num bers
General average
index num bers
C ity
C ity
W ith
Based on
food only allowance
for rent
P h ilad elp h ia. __________ _
Ottawa
Copenhagen _ ____ . . —
___
London
_
D ublin
. . . ________
Stockholm 1
Amsterdam
_ _ _ __
Berlin
. . . . _ _____
P aris______ . . . ___________
189
154
108
100
98
88
83
70
58
189
152
107
100
107
86
83
65
Based on
food only
M adrid _
_
_. ___ _
Brussels ____ . . . . . .
M ilan _____ _______________
Lodz __ __
_ _
__
Prague. ___ . . .
Rome .
V ienna .
.
.
W arsaw ________ _
W ith
allow
ance for
rent
52
51
49
48
47
46
43
42
i T h e figures are b a se d on w ages in th e b u ild in g , fu rn itu re -m a k in g , a n d p r in tin g in d u s trie s o n ly .
o th e r cities, th e m e ta l in d u s tr y is also in c lu d e d .
55
48
53
41
48
43
For
W ages in th e B ru ssels D istr ic t, B elg iu m
REPORT received from William C. Burdett, American consul
at Brussels, reviews the economic situation in Belgium and
gives the average hourly wages in force in representative
industries.
Since the stabilization of the Belgian franc at approximately 36 to
the dollar the wage trend has been consistently upward and it is
predicted that wages will continue to rise for several years.
At the present time the country is said to be extremely prosperous
and there is practically no unemployment. Production in most
industries now exceeds that of pre-war years and, with the exception
of coal mining, all the major industries are working full time. The
lace-making industry and the manufacture of firearms are two minor
exceptions to the general industrial prosperity.
The following table shows the average wages paid in representa
tive trades in the region of Brussels, or in some cases the minimum
wages fixed by collective agreements between operators and unions,
on January 1, 1928, and November 1, 1928. The wages, which have
been converted into United States currency on the basis of the stab
ilized franc (2.78 cents), show the wage increases which had come
into effect during the 10-month period.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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167
WAGES IN THE TOOL INDUSTRY IN GERMANY
AVERAGE
H O U R L Y W A G E S IN T H E B R U SS E L S D IS T R IC T IN R E P R E S E N T A T IV E
I N D U S T R I E S , J A N U A R Y 1, 1928, A N D N O V E M B E R 1, 1928
[C onversions to U n ite d S ta te s cu rre n c y m a d e on th e basis of th e sta b iliz e d fr a n c = 2.78 cents]
Average hourly
wages
Average hourly
wages
O ccupation
L athe han d s________________
M achinists _ ___________
Iron fo u n d e rs __________ ___
M olders - ___________ - __
B lacksm iths
- ... ______
Sheet-m etal w orkers___
Boiler m akers__
________
R iveters________________
Solderers
______________
E nam el w orkers____________
Plum bers ___ ________ _ __
A rm ature w inders__________
Electricians
. ___________
C opper founders __________
B iscuit m a k e rs.. __________
Bakers
________________
Chocolate m akers
O ccupation
Jan. 1
1928
N ov. 1,
1928
C e n ts
C e n ts
13. 2
13. 2
12.5
13. 9
14. 7
14. 7
13. 2
11.2
14. 7
11.2
11.9
11.3
11.9
16.4
12.0
13. 7
14. 5
14. 5
13.3
15. 4
16. 2
16. 2
14. 5
12. 3
16. 2
12.3
16.3
12. 6
15. 4
17.6
12 5
15. 4
11.8
13.3
Jan. 1,
1928
N ov. 1,
1928
C e n ts
C e n ts
Tailors
Concrete workers
M illw rights
M asons
M arble workers
P ainters
___
Plasterers
Glazers.
Coach makers
W heelw rights C a r p e n te r s ____ ______
Coopers ___
Jewelers
___________
Silversm iths
G a rd e n e rs _______
U nskilled labor, male
Fem ale m ill hands ____
13.3
8 9
12 1
13.3
11 2
11 4
10 7
10 4
15.0
11. 4
14 0
10. 9
12. 5
11. 2
9. 0
9. 0
4.9
16.1
13.4
17.0
16.8
16.1
14.4
16.3
14 9
16.3
14 4
16.8
14. 9
12. 5
11 2
11 9
10.7
6.5
W ages in th e T ool In d u stry in G erm an y
NDER date of January 19, 1929, J. Klahr Huddle, the Ameri
can consul at Cologne, Germany, transmits the following
data on the wages and hours of labor in Solingen and Remscheid, Germany, in tool making, including edge tools and cutlery.
U
Solingen District
F-PH E following table, based upon the collective agreement between
A the employers and the Deutscher Metallarbeiter Verband at
Solingen, shows the wage rates of certain classes of male workers
in that district. The minimum rate is the agreed basic rate on which
time rates and piece rates actually paid are founded. Piece rates
are fixed with the intent to make earnings on piecework 25 per cent
or more above the minimum basic time rate.
The “ skilled workers” are those in possession of a certificate of
past apprenticeship, those who have received an extensive practical
training or have had practical working experience considered as
equal to a term of apprenticeship, and those qualified to perform
all kinds of work in their line without outside assistance. As is
seen, the agreement establishes two classes of “ special workmen,”
all skilled workers, Class la includes hand and machine formers,
metal melters, Martin furnace melters, crucible melters (with the
exception of mold placers) wet grinders, hammersmiths, hot rollers,
and operators of hammers of 1,000 kilograms driving weight and
more. Class lb includes those who have received regular training,
hold an apprentice’s certificate, and belong to one of the following
trades: Locksmiths, turners, and related trades, hand grinders, hand
smiths, plumbers, electricians, model joiners, damask workers, galvanizers, engravers, shear controllers, machine operators, boiler at
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[585]
168
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
tendants, steam-boiler firemen, fitters, when engaged in making
patterns or acting as skilled foremen. Since these classes of workers
are not enabled to engage in piecework they receive higher hourly
rates—those of the first group 35 per cent above the wages of the
ordinary skilled workmen, and those of the second group 20 per cent
more. Semiskilled workmen are those who have worked for a consid
erable time in their respective trades and are engaged in simple work.
TABLE 1 __ H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S 0.F S P E C IF IE D C LA SSES OF M A L E W O R K E R S IN
S O L 1N G E N D IS T R IC T ■
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.2382 cent]
Skilled workers
Age
M ini
m um
rate
T im e
w ork rate
(10 per
cent ex
tra)
Special w orkm en
Class la
(35 per
cent ex
tra)
Class lb
(20 per
cent ex
tra)
Semiskilled workers
M in i
m um
rate
T im e
work rate
(10 per
cent ex
tra)
A ssistants
M ini
m um
rate
T im e
w ork rate
(10 per
cent ex
tra)
Pfgs. Cts. Pfgs. Cts. Pfgs. Cts. Pfgs. Cts. Pfgs. Cts. Pfgs. Cts. Pfgs. Cts. Pfgs. Cts.
14 y e a r s . _______
15 years________
16 y e a r s _____
17 years________
18 years. ______
19 a nd 20 years.
21 and 22 y e a r s ...
23 years. .
. _
24 years and over.
39
46
55
62
65
70
9.3
11.0
13.1
14.8
15.5
16.7
43
51
61
68
72
77
10.2
12. 1
14.5
16.2
17.2
18.3
54
63
73
84
89
94
12.9
15.0
17.4
20.0
21. 2
22.4
48
56
66
74
78
84
11.4
13.3
15.7
17.6
18.6
20.0
35
44
50
59
62
65
8.3
10.5
11.9
14.1
14.8
15.5
39
48
55
65
68
72
9.3
11.4
13.1
15.5
16.2
17.2
19
23
28
35
39
46
54
57
61
4.5
5. 5
6.7
8.3
9.3
11.0
12.9
13.6
14. 5
21
25
31
39
43
51
59
63
67
5.0
6.0
7.4
9.3
10.2
12. 1
14. 1
15.0
16.0
1 In th e tables furnished th e bureau th e extra com pensation for time-workers was not in all cases exactly
10 per cent, although closely approxim ate.
W age rates per hour (including additional com pensation) of male
apprentices in Solingen are as show n below :
Pfennigs
Cents
Metallurgical work:
First year____ ;___________________
23
5. 5
Second year______________________
6. 9
__ -2 9
34
Third year_______________________
8. 1
Fourth year______________________
40
9. 5
Tool work:
19
4. 5
First year________________________
23
5. 5
Second year______________________
31
7. 4
Third year_______________________
Fourth year______________________
8. 8
37
led ages in Solinge
T he hourly rates of fem ale workers of sp
as follow s:
Pfennigs
Cents
Minimum rate:
4. 5
19
14 years_________________________
21
5. 0
15 years_________________________
6. 0
16 years_________________________
25
29
17 years_________________________
6. 9
35
8. 3
18 and 19 years. __________________
39
9. 3
20 years_________________________
45
10. 7
21 years_________________________
Time-work rate (10 per cent extra) :
21
5. 0
14 years_________________________
23
5. 5
15 years_________________________
28
6. 7
16 years_________________________
32
7. 6
17 years_________________________
39
9. 3
18 and 19 years___________________
43
10. 2
20 years_________________________
50
11. 9
21 years_________________________
[586]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES IN THE TOOL INDUSTRY IN GERMANY
169
Male and female workers of the groups of skilled workers, semi
skilled workers, assistants, women and girls, all receive the additional
compensation of 10 per cent if they are engaged in time-work.
All operators receive an additional payment of 10 per cent for the
time they are engaged in furnace work and working in abnormal heat.
The rate for piecework is calculated in such a way that an addi
tional payment above the basic minimum rate is reckoned on the
average of hourly wages according to the agreed rates of all work
men belonging to the same group, and the result thus obtained con
stitutes the minimum piecework basic rate. In any case, however,
the highest scheduled wage of the group should be reached. An
additional payment of 25 per cent is made on piecework.
For skilled hand and machine molders, hammersmiths, hot rollers,
wet grinders, and operators of hammers with a driving force of 1,000
kilograms and more, the supplementary payment is 35 per cent.
For the calculation of piecework rate the hourly wages of the “ spe
cial” workers are not taken into consideration as a piecework basis.
The hours of labor for the above workers are set at 8 or 9 hours
daily or 48 to 52 hours per week.
Wage Rates of Home workers
For home workers of all trades the wages obtained are shown in
Table 2. The rates shown are called “ gross wages,” and the second
column shows the percentage which should be deducted for material.
For these workers the working time averages 9 hours per day and
52 hours per week.
T a b l e 3 .— W E E K L Y W A G E R A T E S O F H O M E W O R K E R S A T S O L IN G E N
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.82 cents.]
Gross wages per week
Occupation
M arks
Razor-blade grinders......... ................._......................
Razor-blade piece w orkers__________ ____ ____
Razor-blade stroppers________________________
Knife grind ers______________________________
F ork and handle grinders____________________
Pliers_______________________________________
F itte rs ______________________________________
B u tc h er’s, bread, a n d vegetable knives grinders
Scissor filers_________ ____ ____ ______________
Scissor tem p erers_______ ______ ______________
Shear finishers_______________________________
Shear grinders___________ ___________________
Shear nailers___________________ ____ ________
Blade tem p erers_____________________________
Corkscrew grinders__________________________
P en-nib w orkers_____________________________
Pocketknife grinders_______ ___________________
Pocketknife stroppers________________________
Pocketknife finishers_________________________
Bicycle grin d ers_____________________________
M anicure an d n ip p er grinders________________
G rinders of various articles. ............ .......................
Clipper-blade grinders________________________
Clipper-handle grinders_______________________
In stru m e n t an d nail-tweezer grinders__________
Fruit-knife finishers........................................ ............
Pruning-shears grinders_______________________
Pruning-shears assem blers_____________ _____
N ickel polishers. __________ ___________________
Penknife scissors grinders__________ __________
In s tru m e n t m ak ers__________________________
70
16. 67
53
12. 62
53
12. 62
75
17. 87
68
16. 20
68
16.20
53
12.62
46-53
10. 96-12. 62
35
8. 34
40-45
9. 53-10. 72
70
16. 67
60
14.29
50
11.91
56
13.34
56
13. 34
57
13. 58
60
14.29
45
10.72
60
14.29
80
19.06
60
14.29
65-70
15.48-16. 67
80-85
19. 06-20. 25
70-72
16. 67-17.15
55-60
13. 10-14. 29
i 85-90 1 20. 25-21. 44
75
17. 87
30-60
7.15-14. 29
60-70
14. 29-16. 67
60-65
14. 29-15. 48
1 In plant; one-fifteenth of 1 per cent less for home work.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Dollars
[587]
Percent
age de
ducted
for m a
terial
30
12^
33M
25
25
20
25
12^
16%
25
25
12H
16X
25
25
25
20
25
33X
25
25
20
25
25
30
3 3^
15
33H
20
170
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Remscheid District
IN THE Remscheid district, wet grinders work 8 hours per day or
* 48 hours per week, while the other grinders and polishers as well
as all other laborers are employed 52 hours per week. The distri
bution of the weekly working hours is left to the discretion of the
employers and the laborers assisted by the legal labor representa
tives. The weekly working hours per year vary considerably and can
not be estimated because of the changing conditions that occur in
the various factories.
From information furnished to the consul by the Deutscher Metall
arbeiter Verband at Remscheid, the following table is drawn. The
report, however, gives no explanation of what types of workers are
included in the wage classes specified.
T a b l e 3 .—M IN IM U M W A G E R A T E S P E R H O U R O P S K IL L E D M A L E W O R K E R S IN T H E
R E M S C H E ID D IS T R IC T
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of pfennig=0.2382 cent]
W age class
Age
B
A
P fen n ig s
14 years____ - _______________
15 years______________ _____
16 years__________ _______ __
17 y e a r s ______ . _________
18-19 years .......... _ . . . . .
20-21 years__________________
22-23 y ears____. . . . ______
24 and ov er.
.... . . .
42
54
63
77
82
C
P fen C e n ts
10. 0
12. 9
15. 0
18. 3
19.5
n ig s
40
50
61
74
80
C e n ts
9.5
11.9
14. 5
17. 6
19. 1
P fen n ig s
39
48
59
71
75
D
E
P fen C e n ts
9.3
11. 4
14. 1
16.9
17.9
n ig s
21
24
30
35
45
56
65
71
C e n ts
P fen n ig s
5. 0
5. 7
7.1
8. 3
10. 7
13. 3
15.5
16.9
20
22
28
33
43
51
61
66
C e n ts
4.S
5.2
6.7
7.9
10.2
12.1
14.5
15.7
It is stated that about 80 per cent of the toolmakers are engaged
in piecework and present wages average between 1 and 1.10 marks
per hour. Polishers and wet grinders in the tool industry receive
average wages of 1.20 to 1.40 marks per hour. Widows who are
employed and who operate their own households are paid 20 per
cent additional.
The minimum hourly wage rates for female workers of specified
ages in Remscheid are as follows:
nnigs
19
20
22
28
34
37
49
14 years________
15 years________
16 years________
17 years_______
18 and 19 years. _
20 and 21 years-..
22 years and over
Cents
4. 5
4. 8
5. 2
6. 7
8. 0
8. 8
11. 7
The minimum hourly wage rates for apprentices in Remscheid
are shown below:
Wage class A:
First year_______
Second year_____
Third year______
Fourth year_____
Wage classes B and C:
First year_______
Second year_____
Third year______
Fourth year_____
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pfennigs
[588]
Cents
20
22
28
42
4. 8
5. 2
6. 7
10. 0
19
21
27
40
4 .5
5. 0
6. 4
9. 5
M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W
171
C h a n g es in E m p lo y m en t and W age R ates in E n glan d
HE English Ministry of Labor Gazette in its issue for January,
1929, gives a resume of the fluctuation in employment in the
principal English industries during 1928. Employment was not
maintained at the level of the preceding year. The average percent
ages of insured persons unemployed in Great Britain and Northern
Ireland from 1921 onward have been as follows:
T
1921
1922
1923
1924
_____________ i 17. 0
_____________ 14. 3
_____________
11.7
_____________
10. 3
1925_________ ________ 11.3
1926_________
1 12. 5
1927_________ ________
9. 7
1928_________ ________ 10. 9
1 Exclusive of persons in th e coal-mining in d u stry disqualified for unem ploym ent benefit by reason of
trade disputes.
A study of the figures by months, or 1928, shows that during the
first quarter of the year the percentage of unemployment among the
insured workers was not so high as "in 1927, but that thereafter it
became progressively worse. This decrease did not show itself
uniformly.
The setback which occurred between the end of April and the'end of June
was confined almost entirely to six industries, viz, coal mining; shipbuilding
and ship repairing; the cotton, woolen and worsted, and linen textile industries;
and the boot and shoe industry. Out of a total increase of 145,612 in the num
bers unemployed in all industries between these two dates, the wholly unemployed
represented only 19,707 and the temporarily stopped, 125,905. Coal mining
alone accounted for an increase of 9,368 in the wholly unemployed and 81,188
in the numbers temporarily stopped, while the other five industries mentioned
accounted for an increase of 21,666 in the numbers wholly unemployed and of
32,747 in the numbers temporarily stopped. By the end of Noveniber there
had been some improvement in the coal-mining, cotton, and linen industries,
but this was almost entirely offset by a further decline in the shipbuilding,
woolen and worsted, and boot and shoe industries. By the middle of December
each of these six industries had shown some improvement as compared with
the end of November, but in the case of the boot and shoe industry the improve
ment was negligible.
The statistics thus show that the apparent decline in employment in 1928,
as compared with 1927, was not the result of a general and uniform decline in
industry as a whole, but was very largely accounted for by the decline in the six
industries already named. These industries included at July, 1928, 2,330,640
insured workers (1,714,760 males and 615,880 females), or about one-fifth of the
numbers insured.
Changes in Rates of Wages
rT'HE figures concerning wage rates do not include changes affecting
1 agricultural laborers, Government employees, domestic servants,
shop assistants, and clerks. Table 1 shows the changes in wage rates
reported for 1927 and for 1928 and the net amount of change in the
weekly rates for each of the principal groups of industries.
35895°—29-
12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[5S9]
172
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 1 . — N U M B E R A F F E C T E D BY IN C R E A S E A N D B Y D E C R E A S E IN
W AGE RA TES
A N D C H A N G E IN T O T A L A M O U N T OF W A G E S P A ID , 1927 A N D 1928
[Conversion to U. S. currency m ade on basis of par value of pound=$4.87]
N um ber affected by changes in
wage rates
In d u stry group
N e t weekly increase or
decrease in am ount of
wages paid
1928
1927
1927
M ining and quarrying - - ---------- --------Brick, potterv, glass, chemicals, e tc -------Engineering and sh ipbuilding___________
Iron and steel____________________
O ther m etal _________________________
Textile
_ _______ - ________
_____________________
C lothing____
Food, drin k , a n d tobacco_______________
W oodworking, furniture, e tc ______ ____
Paper, printing, filo,
Building a n d allied in d u stries------ ----------Gas, w ater, a n d electricity ______ ______
T ran sp o rt___
____________ ______ ___
Public adm inistration services______ . . .
O ther
_________________________
T otal
- ----------- -- --------
1928
In
creases
D e
creases
In
creases
D e
creases
18, 000
1,350
185, 000
6, 500
33, 000
1,800
200
650
800
792, 000
4, 750
1, 200
200
55, 000
39, 250
2,400
56, 500
1,000
300
3,200
100
7,100
31, 350
1,500
12, 650
250
402, 000 —$1, 349, 721
-3,506
4, 250
106, 000
+90, 582
-119, 072
45, 500
- 4 , 383
49, 250
-112,010
71,000
-9 1 , 848
900
- 9 , 253
1, 250
-10,422
4,000
- 9 , 497
-13,636
422, 000
-1 4 , 756
900
-56,979
488, 000
-2 4 , 594
10, 250
-1 3 , 393
2,700
-$297, 801
- 3 , 336
-12,297
-22,402
-14,902
+11,688
+73
-438
-974
+49
-185,791
+27,881
-190, 661
- 1 , 218
-925
- 1 , 742,488
-691,054
15, 000
2,800
8,600
7,400
900
135, 000
43, 500
232, 000
196, 000
21,000
17, 500
26, 000
57, 250
37,000
188, 000
66, 500
38, 500
---------- 282, 000 1,855,000 212, 000 1, 608, 000
The Labor Gazette calls attention to the fact that this table deals
only with full-time wmge rates, and shows nothing as to the effect
of unemployment upon the worker’s earnings. It is also to be noted
that the changes reported to the department and embodied in this
table are mainly those arranged between organized groups of workers
and employers, and that many changes affecting unorganized workers,
especially where only the employees of a single corporation are
concerned, are not reported.
Mining and quarrying, the building, and the transport industries
account for the greater part of the net decrease during the year.
In the coal-mining industry rates of wages were reduced in January in York
shire to the minimum percentage on basis rates permissible under the district
agreement; in March there were reductions in Northumberland and Durham
consequent on the lowering of the minimum. In the building industry there
was a general reduction in February, under a cost-of-living sliding scale, of
}id . (1 cent) per hour in the rates agreed upon by the National Joint Council
for the Building Industry. In the transport group the principal reduction took
the form of a temporary deduction, in August, of 2% per cent from the earnings
of railway workers. This deduction also accounted for most of the net decrease
in the engineering and shipbuilding group, in which the railway shopmen are
classified for the purpose of these statistics. The reductions in the textile group,
which were small in amount, affected mainly pieceworkers and certain other
classes in the bleaching, dyeing, etc., industry.
The most important increase in wages during the year took place
in the federated shipyards, resulting from the restoration of the bonus
paid to adult plain time workers to 10s. ($2.43) a week, involving an
increase of 3s. (73 cents) a week for most classes of skilled workers
and increases varying up to that figure for many unskilled and semi
skilled men. Increases were received also in the electricity supply
industry, and in some branches of the textile industry.
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[5901
CHANGES
IN
W AGE
RATES
IN
ENGLAND
173
Methods by Which Changes Were Arranged
YY/’HILE some workers received increases and some suffered reducvv tions during 1928, in a number of cases the same workpeople
obtained increases and sustained reductions at different times in the
year. The total of all the reductions was equivalent to £182,000
($886,340) a week, and the total of all the increases to £40,100
($195.287) a week, the net effect being a decrease of £141,900
($691,053) a week.
Of the total reduction of £ 182,000 ($886,340) a week, about £57,700($280,999)
took effect under sliding scales based on the cost of living, including over £47,100
($229,377) under scales arranged by joint industrial councils or other joint
standing bodies of employers and workpeople, and £2,150 ($10,471) under
scales^ embodied in trade board orders. Other reductions arranged by joint
standing bodies accounted for £16,000 ($77,920) and those by trade boards for
about £150 ($731). Under arbitration or conciliation proceedings there were
reductions amounting to about £42,300 ($206,501). Sliding scales based on sell
ing prices of manufactured iron, steel, etc., accounted for £7,250 ($35,308).
The remaining sum of £58,600 ($285,382) was the result of direct negotiation
between employers and workpeople. Reductions preceded by disputes causing
stoppage of work accounted for about £2,200 ($10,714) of the above amounts.
Of the total increase of £40,100 ($195,287) a week, about £17,000 ($82,790)
took effect under sliding scales based on the cost of living, including £8,900
($43,343) under scales arranged by joint industrial councils or other joint stand
ing bodies of employers and workpeople, and £2,150 ($10,471) under scales embod
ied in trade board orders. Other increases arranged by joint standing bodies
accounted for £5,900 ($28,733) and those by trade boards for £2,800 ($13,636).
Sliding scales based on selling prices accounted for £1,700 ($8,279). Of the
remaining sum, about £200 ($974) took effect under arbitration and £12,500
($60,875) was the result of direct negotiations between employers and work
people. Increases preceded by disputes causing stoppage of work accounted
for less than £500 ($2,435) of the above amounts.
Changes in Wages Since 1919
'T'H E Gazette gives the following table, showing the number of
1 workers in the services for which statistics are received whose rates
of wages were increased or reduced in each of the specified years and
also the net amount of increase or decrease in the weekly wage rates:
T
2 .—N U M B E R O F W O R K E R S A F F E C T E D B Y IN C R E A S E A N D B Y D E C R E A S E IN
W A G E R A T E S A N D C H A N G E IN T O T A L A M O U N T OF W A G E S P A ID , 1919 T O 1928
able
[Conversion to U. S. currency m ade on basis of p ar value of pound=$4.87]
N um ber of workers
affected—by
N et weekly am ount of
change in rates of wages
Year
1919 _
1920 _
1921 _
1922 _
1923 _
1 9 2 4 ....
1925 _
1926 _
1927 _
1928 _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Increases
Decreases
Increases
6, 240, 000
7,867, 000
78, 000
73, 700
1, 202, 000
3, 019, 000
873, 000
420, 000
282, 000
212, 000
100
500
7, 244, 000
7,633, 000
3,079, 000
481, 500
851, 000
740, 000
1,855, 000
1, 608, 000
$12,404, 864
23, 342,884
66, 232
55, 762
823, 030
2, 999, 920
393,983
647, 710
149, 509
103, 000
1591]
Decreases
$292
877
2,958, 330
20, 558, 705
2, 366, 820
302, 427
774, 330
407, 619
1, 891, 995
794, 054
N et weekly
increase or
decrease in
am ount of
wages paid
workers af
fected
+$12, 404, 804
+23, 342,007
- 2 , 892, 098
-2 0 , 502, 943
- 1 , 543, 790
+2, 697,493
-380, 347
+240, 091
- 1 , 742,486
-691, 054
174
M O N TH LY
LABO R
R E V IE W
In view of the limitations to which attention has been drawn above, and par
ticularly of the fact that certain large groups of workpeople (notably agricul
tural laborers) are not covered by these statistics, the figures given in this table
should not be regarded as affording more than a general indication of the move
ment of wages in any year and a very rough measure of the extent of such move
ment in comparison with that of other years; and special significance should
not be attached to small differences in the amount of change as between one
year and another.
Changes in Hours of Labor
(CHANGES in normal hours of labor during 1928, as reported to
^
the department, affected only 2,400 workers. Of these, 1,500
had an average reduction of nearly 3 hours per week, and 900 an
increase of about 3% hours per week. The principal change was a
reduction of 4 hours per week in the working hours of tramway and
omnibus workers at Cardiff.
The following table shows the number of workers whose hours
were reported as changed in each of the years 1919 to 1928, together
with the aggregate amount of the change in the weekly hours:
T
able
3 . —N U M B E R
OF W O R K E R S W HOSE HO U RS W E R E C H A N G E D A ND A G G R E
G A T E IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E IN W E E K L Y H O U R S , 1919 TO 1928
N u m b er of workers
whose hours of la Aggregate net
bor were—
increase or
decrease in
weekly hours
Reduced
Increased
Y ear
1919
1920
1921______
1922
1923______
1,150
2,000
31, 500
10, 000
325, 000
6, 305,000
570, 000
12, 900
302, 700
9, 600
-4 0 , 651, 000
-2,114, 000
+14, 500
-9 3 , 000
+ 108, 750
Year
1924______
1925_______
1926______
1927______
1928______
N u m ber of workers
whose hours of la Aggregate net
bor were—
increase or
decrease in
weekly hours
Reduced
Increased
13,150
1,300
934, 200
18, 700
900
16,150
3,925
340
1,700
1,500
+12, 500
-1 1 , 750
+3, 985, 000
+59, 000
-1,150
The great increase in 1926 was almost entirely due to the longer
hours for the coal miners established in that year.
W ages of M exican R ailw ay W orkers, 1926 and 1927
HE average daily wages of railway workers for the 18 months’
period from July 1, 1926, to December 31, 1927, are published
in the nineteenth annual report of the National Railways of
Mexico (Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México). The following table is
taken from this report and from the eighteenth annual report, issued
in 1927:
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[592]
W AGES
OF M E X IC A N
R A IL W A Y
175
W ORKERS
A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S O F W O R K E R S O N M E X IC A N R A IL W A Y S IN 1926 A N D 1927,
BY O C C U P A T IO N
[Conversions into U. S. currency m ade on basis of average exchange rate of peso=48.31 cents for 1926, 47.2
cents for 1927]
D ep artm en t and occupation
Jan u
ary 1
to
June
30,
1926
Ju ly 1,
1926,
to
Decem
ber 31,
1927
D ep artm en t and occupation
T r a n s p o r ta tio n
M a in te n a n c e o f w a y
Section foremen________________
Laborers
Telegraph linemen
Civil engineers
Q narrvm en and masons
$0. 93
. 70
2. 35
3.38
1. 31
$1. 55
.93
1.94
3. 46
1. 43
3. 00
2. 45
3. 76
1.61
2. 33
1.87
3.48
1.94
3.99
2. 26
2.52
2. 25
4. 38
1.94
3. 76
2.08
M a in te n a n c e o f e q u ip m e n t
M echanics_____________________
Carpenters
Boiler m akers__________________
F oundry m en ______ _ . .
___
T insm iths and coppersm iths____
Blacksm iths
T r a n s p o r ta tio n
Station agents
L oaders,,. _____ ____________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ja n u Ju ly 1,
1926,
ary 1
to
to
June Decem
ber 31,
30,
1926
1927
—C ontinued
Locomotive engineers_____ . . .
Conductors . .
. _________ .
B rakem en. . . .
. . .
F irem en .__ ___________________
Coal passers
__________ _____
Y ard w orkers.. ___________ ____
D ispatchers ..........
Telegraph operators __________
Flagm en, w atchm en, sw itchm en..
Storehouse employees___ . . . . . .
$7. 90
7. 44
4.15
4. 06
2. 37
3.01
7. 56
4.00
1.05
2. 27
$10.16
8.18
4.04
5.26
2.28
2.83
10. 59
3.94
1. 15
1.60
5. 93
7.20
3. 29
1.35
2. 98
1.29
4. 45
5. 21
2.39
1.87
2.71
1. 18
E xpress
Express agents___ ___________
Traveling inspectors. __________
M essengers_________ ______ ..
D ay and night w’atchm en_______
C h a u ffe u rs __ ___________ . . .
Loaders, cleaners, messenger boys.
[5931
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a ry for J an u ary, 1929
MPLOYMENT decreased 0.6 per cent in January, 1929, as
compared with December, 1928, and pay-roll totals decreased
2.9
per cent, according to reports made to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Inventory-taking, weather conditions, and reaction from the trade
activities of December make such decreases customary in January.
The classes of employment surveyed, the number of establishments
reporting in each class, the number of employees covered, and total
pay rolls for one week, for both December and January, together
with the per cents of change in January, are shown in the following
statement.
E
P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E IN E A C H L IN E O F E M P L O Y M E N T
JA N U A R Y , 1929
E m ploym ent
Line of em ploym ent
E sta b
lish
m ents
1. M a n u f a c t u r in g ... _ . . . 12,138
2. Coal m in in g ____ _____ __
919
A nth racite______________
91
B itum inous . . _________
858
3. M etalliferous m in in g ___
290
1. P u b lic u tilitie s.
_____ 6,101
5. T ra d e __________________________ _
2,913
W holesale _____________
1,146
R etail _______________________ _ . 1,767
6. H otels _______________ . ______
1,011
T o ta l
______________ 23, 735
D E C E M B E R , 1928, TO
P a y roll in 1 week
Per
cent of
change
Decem
ber, 1928
Jan u ary ,
1929
3,302,531
215,951
68, 232
147, 719
16,591
191,219
217,253
34, 737
182, 516
n o , 5 ii
3,321,227
216,220
67, 220
149, 000
16, 751
183,948
179,236
33, 888
145,348
111,913
1,387,092
1,359,328
Per
cent of
change
December,
1928
January,
1929
- 0 .3
+ 0.1
- 1 .5
+ 0 .9
+ 0.3
- 2 .1
-1 7 .5
- 2 .4
-2 0 .4
+ 1 .3
$89, 979,691
6, Oil, 993
2, 215, 231
3, 799, 762
1,391, 791
11,276,770
5,017,509
1,013, 601
4,033,908
2 1, 921,365
$87,561,382
5, 710,561
1,977, 808
3, 732, 756
1,339, 611
11,162,259
1,139,879
997, 576
3,442, 303
2 1,921,973
1 - 3 .3
- 5 .1
-1 0 .7
- 1 .8
- 1 .0
- 0 .8
-1 2 .0
- 1 .6
-1 4 .7
+ 0 .2
- 0 .6
118, 635,125
115,111,698
- 2 .9
1
1W eighted per cent of change; th e rem aining per cents of change, including total, are unw eighted.
2Cash paym ents only; see text, p. 216.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown in
the following statement. These reports are for the months of
November and December instead of for December and January, con
sequently, the figures can not be combined with the industries pre
sented in the foregoing statement.1
E m ploym ent
Line of e m p lo y m e n t1
Class I railroads_____
N ov. 15,
1928
Dec. 15,
1928
1, 663, 608
1, 605, 038
w
Per
cent of
change
- 3 .5
- -
A m ount of p ay roll in entire
m onth
N ovem ber,
1928
December,
1928
$230, 379, 569
$223, 098, 606
Per
cent of
change
- 3 .2
----------------- --------- ■
The total number of employees included in this summary is more
than 6,000,000, with pay-roll totals, in one week, of approximately
$169,000,000.
1F or fu rth er details, see p p . 217 and 218.
176
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[594]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
177
1. E m p lo y m e n t in S elected M a n u fa ctu r in g In d u strie s in
Jan u ary, 1929
MPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries decreased 0.3 per
cent in January, 1929, as compared with December, 1928, and
pay-roll totals decreased 3.3 per cent, as shown by reports made
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics by 12,138 establishments in 54 of
the principal manufacturing industries of the United States. These
establishments in January had nearly 33^ millions of employees
whose combined earnings in one week were more than 873^2 millions
of dollars. These employees represent 51 per cent of all employees
in the 54 industries considered and 40 per cent of the total number of
employees in all manufacturing industries of the United States.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ weighted index of employment in
manufacturing industries for January, 1929, is 95.2, as compared with
95.5 for December, 1928, 95.4 for November, 1928, and 91.6 for
January, 1928; the weighted index of pay-roll totals in January, 1929,
is 94.5, as compared with 97.7 for December, 1928, 96.1 for November,
1928, and 89.6 for January, 1928. The monthly average for 1926
equals 100.
Twenty-one of the fifty-four separate industries had more employees
in January, 1929, than in December, 1928, the outstanding increases
having been 11.5 per cent in steam fittings and 10.1 per cent in
automobiles, the increases in both industries having followed a period
of several months of declining employment. Millinery and lace
goods, shipbuilding, boots and shoes, automobile tires, and agricul
tural implements also reported notable increases in employment, the
increases ranging from 5.6 per cent to 4 per cent, while much smaller
increases were reported in the cotton goods, carpet, women’s clothing,
iron and steel, foundry and machine shop, hardware, machine tools,
millwork, leather, paper and pulp, fertilizer, chewing tobacco, electriccar building, and electrical machinery industries.
Part-time work in January was evidenced by reports for pay-roll
totals; only 8 of the 21 industries reporthig increased employment
showed increased pay-roll totals as well. Moreover, four of these
eight industries—steam fittings, automobiles, agricultural implements,
and shipbuilding—reported a much smaller percentage of gain in pay
rolls than in employment. Always inventory-takmg and repairs
during the early part of January, in a large number of industries, have
a depressing effect upon the pay-roll totals of such industries, this
effect as a rule considerably exceeding the decrease in employment.
The notable decreases in employment and pay-roll totals in Jan
uary were from 10.1 to 13.5 per cent each in the first item and from
10.9 to 21.1 per cent each in the second item, and were in the confec
tionery, stove, brick, cigar, and carriage and wagon industries. These
decreases were all seasonal.
The East North Central geographic division reported a gain in
employment of 2.7 per cent in January, and the East South Central
division a gain of 0.8 per cent, while all other changes in geographic
divisions, both in employment and pay-roll totals, were decreases, the
Pacific division having shown the greatest of these in each item, and
the West North Central the smallest; the Middle Atlantic division
reported the same decrease in employment as the West North Central
division, but with a much greater decrease in pay-roll totals.
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[595]
178
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1 —C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S D U R IN G ON E W EEK E A C H IN D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y ,
1929
able
A m ount of p ay roll
Per
cent of
Decem Jan u ary , change December, January,
1929
1928
1929
ber, 1928
N u m b er on pay roll
In d u stry
lishm ents
Per
cent of
change
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts —
Slaughtering a n d m eat p ack
in g ......................... ...................
C onfectionery.. ___________
Ice cream __________________
Flour
___________
Baking __ _ ________________
Sugar refining, cane_________
1,80«
233,967
226,893
(0
$6,052,065
$5,823,496
199
302
312
330
641
16
92, 632
36,495
10, 451
16, 550
67,038
10,801
92, 593
31,890
10, 322
16, 243
65, 235
10, 610
- ( 2)
-1 2 .6
- 1 .2
-1 .9
-2 . 7
- 1 .8
2, 477,334
676,007
350, 884
435,110
1, 780,978
331, 752
2,435,196
586, 289
337,326
424, 817
1, 724, 936
314, 932
T extiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts —
C otton goods
___ _____ _
H osiery'and k n it g o o d s .-----Silk goods _________________
Woolen an d w orsted goods
C arpets a n d ru g s______
D yeing a n d finishing textiles.
C lothing, m en’s .........................
Shirts an d collars___________
Clothing, w om en’s . .
------M illinery a n d lace goods-------
2,113
465
332
287
191
29
102
309
121
204
72
620,638
220, 394
91,992
66,402
65, 304
25,169
32, 685
63,357
22, 572
22, 832
9, 931
616,372
220,969
89, 788
64, 516
64, 569
25, 508
32, 265
63, 343
21,999
22,931
10,484
0
+ 0 .3
- 2 .4
- 2 .8
-1 . 1
+ 1.3
- 1 .3
-0 0
-2 .5
+ 0 .4
+ 5 .6
12,392,187
3, 569, 737
1,778, 697
1, 428, 518
1,492, 848
657, 296
834,194
1, 503, 682
365, 309
537, 595
224,311
11,895,119
3,491, 734
1, 637, 621
1, 292,091
1, 440, 691
641, 015
792, 785
1,467, 216
337, 725
557, 946
236, 295
0
1,809
203
37
164
681, 784
272, 886
11,060
25, 757
688,112
274,864
10, 925
24, 866
0)
+ 0 .7
-1 .2
-3 .5
20,991,608
8, 652,405
263, 630
773, 700
20,697,489
8, 624, 546
236,149
710, 249
0)
- 0 .3
—10.4
-8 .2
971
65
146
253,637
31,464
36, 794
257,035
31,477
37, 385
+ 1 .3
+ (0
+ 1 .6
7, 771,388
827, 286
1, 261, 462
7, 672,802
803,130
1, 225,900
1.3
- 2 .9
—2.8
111
112
30, 816
19,370
34,359
17, 201
+11.5
-1 1 . 2
892,000
549, 737
968,854
455,859
+8. 6
—17.1
L u m b er a n d its p ro d u cts
Lum ber, saw m ills___ _______
L um ber, m illw ork ________
F u rn itu re ____________ . .
1,416
660
337
419
244,375
143, 606
33,973
66, 796
237,182
138, 460
34, 215
64, 507
0)
- 3 .6
+0. 7
- 3 .4
5,416,004
2, 950, 216
818, 786
1,647,002
4,979,033
2, 681, 889
778, 355
1, 518, 789
0
L eather a n d its p r o d u c ts _____
L eather
____ _ _______ .
Boots and shoes____________
367
132
235
117,560
25, 281
92, 279
121,855
25, 685
96,170
0)
+ 1 .6
+ 4 .2
2,567,966
634, 668
1, 933, 298
2,692,059
624, 468
2,067, 591
(')
—1.6
+ 6 .9
Paper a n d p r in tin g . _ ______
Paper a n d p u lp ___ _____ . . .
P aper boxes _ _______ _ .
P rinting, book an d jo b . -----Prin tin g , new spapers____
1,169
213
181
318
457
206,687
59,003
20, 391
47, 298
79,995
204,667
59, 253
19, 207
47, 270
78,937
0)
-f-0. 4
-5 .8
- 0 .1
- 1 .3
6,950,399
1,618, 411
472,160
1, 673, 366
3,186, 462
6,805,482
1, 598,150
434, 699
1,660, 092
3,112, 541
0
—1. 3
—7. 9
—U. 8
—2.3
C h em ica l a n d allied p ro d u cts
Chemicals . _______
. .
Fertilizers------------ ------------P etroleum refining -------------
345
140
152
53
92,490
37,012
9, 959
45, 519
92,239
37,011
10,008
45, 220
0
-0 0
+ 0 .5
- 0 .7
2, 733,362
1,040, 766
191, 956
1, 500, 640
2,686,413
1,025, 349
188,371
1,472, 693
0
—1. 5
- 1 .9
—1.9
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p ro d u cts
C em ent _ . . . _____
Brick, tile, a n d te rra co tta---P o ttery .
________________
G la ss ............................. ..............
942
113
579
123
127
122,375
24, 719
37, 208
20, 594
39, 854
116,126
23,427
33, 443
20,180
39,076
(0
-5 .2
-1 0 . 1
- 2 .0
- 2 .0
3,168,829
704, 622
922,377
502,148
1,039, 682
2,848,687
625, 890
779, 868
458, 520
984,409
0
—11. 2
—15. 5
- 8 .7
—5.3
218
74
52,610
19, 897
51,937
19, 259
0)
-3 .2
1,463, 813
496,066
1,382,499
444,032
0
-1 0 .5
144
32, 713
32, 678
- 0 .1
260
66,656
58,996
(0
Iron an d steel a n d th eir prod___ _________ ___
u c ts
Iron an d steel. ____________ Cast-iron p i p e ------ -- ----------S tru ctu ral ironw ork--------. . .
F o un d ry a n d m achine shop
products. ______ _____
H ardw are
________ ___
M achine tools ____________
Steam fittings and steam and
hot-w ater heating apparatus
Stoves_____________________
M etal p r o d u cts, o th er th a n
iron a n d steel
..
______
Stam ped and enam eled w are.
Brass, bronze, a n d copper
products------ . . . . ------ -T ob acco p r o d u cts. . . .
Chewing and smoking tobacco
and s n u f f ________________
Cigars and cigarettes................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 1 .2
9,032
8, 922
29
49,964 -1 3 .5
57, 734
231
(See footnotes at end of table)
[596]
0
- 1 .7
-1 3 .3
—3. 9
—2. 4
- 3 .1
—5.1
—2. 2
—7. 9
—9. 6
—3. 5
—2. 5
—5. 0
—2.4
—7. 6
+3. 8
+ 5 .3
—9.1
—4.9
-7 .8
967,747
938,467
—3.0
1,150,008
943,469
0
143, 500
1,006, 508
149,146
794, 323
+ 3 .9
-2 1 .1
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
179
T a b l e 1 — C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S D U R IN G ON E W EEK E A C H IN D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y ,
1929—C ontinued
N u m b er on pay roll
E stablishm ents
In d u stry
V ehicles for la n d tr a n sp o r ta
tio n _________ ______ _________
A utom obiles...............................
Carriages and w agons_______
C ar building and repairing,
electric-railroad___
. ...
C ar building a n d repairing,
steam -railroad____________
M iscella n eo u s in d u s tr ie s ... . _
A gricultural im plem ents____
Electrical m achinery, app a
ratus, and supplies________
Pianos and organs__________
R ubb er boots and shoes_____
A utom obile tire s . .
______
Shipb u ild in g ...............................
All in d u s tr ie s . _________
1,239
214
53
A m ount of p ay roll
Per
cent of
Decem Jan u ary , change D ecember, January,
ber, 1928
1929
1928
1929
559,451
396, 373
1, 529
597, 723
436,332
1,368
$17,857, 645 $17, 764,009
0)
+ 10.1 12, 902, 620 13,146, 111
-1 0 .5
33,887
30, 202
Per
cent of
change
i1)
+ 1 .9
-1 0 .9
407
24, 206
24, 209
+ (2)
758,345
746, 902
- 1 .5
565
137, 343
135,814
- 1 .1
4,162, 793
3, 840, 794
- 7 .7
461
82
303,941
24, 620
309,125
25, 598
(>)
+ 4 .0
9.235,808
708,004
9,046,627
713, 787
(0
+ 0 .8
176
71
12
43
77
166, 561
8. 748
18,870
55, 595
29, 547
168,105
8,477
18, 231
57, 887
30,827
+ 0 .9
-3 . 1
- 3 .4
+ 4.1
+ 4 .3
5,179, 095
282, 603
466, 083
1, 704,824
895,199
5,065, 434
246,014
421, 281
1, 702, 834
897, 277
- 2 .2
-1 2 .9
-9 .6
- 0 .1
+ 0 .2
89,979,694
87,564,382
(0
12,138 3,302,534 3,321,227
«
R ecapitu lation by G eographic D ivision s
GEO GRA PHIC DIVISION
N ew E n g la n d 3. . ..............................
M id d le A tla n tic 4________________
E a s t N o rth C e n tra l 8
. _______
WTest N o rth C e n tra l 6____________
S o u th A tla n tic _____________ . . .
E a s t S o u th C e n t r a l 8______ ______
W est S o u th C e n tra l 8____________
M o u n ta in 10_. __________________
P acific u . _______________________
7
All d iv isio n s _______ ____ _
1 ,4 5 6
2, 799
3, 093
1 ,1 0 8
1 ,5 3 4
626
539
221
762
402, 516
862, 209
1 ,1 4 9 , 495
1 7 1 ,0 8 9
338, 284
124, 665
89, 760
32. 516
1 3 2 ,0 0 0
4 0 0 ,4 3 1
860, 842
1, 1 8 0 ,8 1 9
170, 736
334, 987
125, 615
88, 006
31, 597
1 2 8 ,1 9 4
- 0 .5
- 0 .2
+2. 7
- 0 .2
- 1 .0
+ 0 .8
- 2 .0
- 2 .8
- 2 .9
$ 1 0 ,1 6 7 ,4 6 4
24, 989, 689
34, 8 4 6 ,1 0 6
4, 290, 834
6, 697, 823
2, 439, 601
1, 993, 512
8 9 9 ,1 7 9
3 ,6 5 5 , 486
$9, 861, 735
2 4 ,3 3 9 ,8 7 3
3 4 ,1 6 2 ,2 8 7
4, 256, 714
6, 397, 762
2, 3 2 9 ,1 8 6
1, 909, 495
867, 771
3 ,4 3 9 , 559
-3
-2
-2
-0
-4
-4
-4
-3
-5
1 2 ,1 3 8
3 ,3 0 2 , 534
3 ,3 2 1 ,2 2 7
(>)
8 9 ,9 7 9 ,6 9 4
8 7 ,5 6 4 ,3 8 2
(>)
.0
.6
.0
.8
.5
.5
.2
.5
.9
1 T he per cent of change has not been com puted for th e reason th a t th e figures in the preceding columns
are unw eighted and. refer only to th e establishm ents reporting; for th e w eighted per cent of change, w herein
proper allowance is m ade for th e relative im portance of th e several industries, so th a t the figures m ay
represent all establishm ents of th e country in th e industries here represented, see Table 2.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 Connecticut, M aine, M assachusetts, N ew H am pshire, R hode Island, V erm ont.
4 N ew Jersey, N ew Y ork, Pennsylvania,
8 Illinois, In diana, M ichigan, Ohio, W isconsin.
6 Iowa, Kansas, M innesota, M issouri, N ebraska, N o rth D akota, South D akota.
7 Delaw are, D istrict of Colum bia, Florida, Georgia, M aryland, N o rth Carolina, South Carolina, V ir
ginia, W est Virginia.
8 A labam a, K entucky, M ississippi, Tennessee.
* A rkansas, Louisiana, Oklahom a, Texas.
i° Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, M ontana, N ew Mexico, N evada, U tah , W yom ing.
u California, Oregon, W ashington.
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[597]
180
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 3 .—P E R C E N T S OF C H A N G E , D E C E M B E R , 1928, TO JA N U A R Y , 1929—12 G R O U P S
OF IN D U S T R IE S A N D T O T A L OF A L L IN D U S T R IE S
[C om puted from the index num bers of each group, w hich are obtained by w eighting the index num bers
of the several industries of the group, by th e n um ber of employees, or wages paid, in the industries]
Per cent of change,
D ecember, 1928,
to January, 1929
Per cent of change,
D ecember, 1928,
to January, 1929
G roup
G roup
N u m b er
on pay
roll
Food and k indred p ro d u c ts..
Textiles a n d th eir p ro d u c ts. . .
Iro n an d steel an d th eir pro
d u c ts_____________ ______
L um ber an d its p ro d u c ts____
L eather a n d its p r o d u c ts ___
P aper and p rin tin g _________
Chem icals an d allied products.
Stone, clay, a n d glass products
C o m p a r is o n
A m ount
of pay
roll
- 3 .6
- 0 .8
- 4 .6
-3 . 2
- 0 .2
- 2 .7
+ 3 .6
- 1 .6
- 0 .7
-6 .5
- 2 .6
- 7 .2
+ 4 .2
- 1 .8
- 2 .2
-1 2 .3
M etal products, other th a n
iron and s t e e l .........................
Tobacco pro d u cts___________
Vehicles for land tran sp o rta
tion ._
... . .
M iscellaneous industries_____
All in d u s tr ie s ______
o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls in
J a n u a r y , 1928
N um ber
on pay
roll
A m ount
of pay
roll
-1 . 4
-1 1 .9
- 5 .4
-1 8 .6
+ 5 .5
+ 5 .0
- 0 .9
+ 1 .6
- 0 .3
- 3 ,3
January,
1929, a n d
’’’THE level of employment in manufacturing industries in January,
1929, was 3.9 per cent higher than in January, 1928, and pay
roll totals were 5.5 per cent higher.
Enormous gains in employment were made, in this comparison
over a 12-month period, in the following industries: Machine tools,
36 per cent; automobiles, 31.9 per cent; agricultural implements,
21.3 per cent; brass products, 15.6 per cent; electrical machinery,
14.3 per cent; foundry and machine-shop products and automobile
tires, 13.1 per cent each; and stoves, 11.1 per cent. The iron and
steel industry, structural ironwork, stamped ware, and cane-sugar
refining gained from 7.5 to 9.8 per cent each; slaughtering, carpets,
chemicals, carriages, and shipbuilding gained from 5.1 to 6 per
cent each.
The outstanding decreases between January, 1929, and January,
1928, were in cotton goods, hosiery, men’s clothing, shirts and collars,
cast-iron pipe, leather, cement, brick, the two tobacco industries, elec
tric-car repairing, and rubber boots and shoes.
Thirty-one of the 54 industries had more employees in January,
1929, than in 1928, and in one other industry there was no change.
The East North Central geographic division stands out notably in
improved employment and pay-roll totals in January, 1929, over
January, 1928, the percentage increases having been 14.7 and 15.9,
respectively, due largely to increased activities in the automobile
industry and consequent increases in allied industries.
The Middle Atlantic, West North Central, East South Central,
Mountain, and Pacific divisions also showed gains in employment,
while the losses in the three remaining divisions were each less than 1
per cent; the West South Central division, alone showed a lower
level of pay-roll totals in January, 1929.
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181
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T a b l e 3 .—C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S, JA N U A R Y , 1929,
W IT H JA N U A R Y , 1928
[The per cents of change for each of th e 12 groups of in d u stries an d for the to ta l of all industries are
w eighted in th e same m an n er as are the p er cents of change in Table 2]
Per cent of change
January, 1929,
compared w ith
January, 1928
¡Per c e n t of change
J a n u a r y , 1929,
co m p ared w ith
J a n u a r y , 1928
In d u stry
In d u s tr y
N um ber A m ount
on pay
of p a y
ro ll
ro ll
Food a n d k in d red p ro d u cts
Slaughtering a n d m eat pack
ing-------------- --------- ------C onfectionery........................
Ice cream ........ .........................
F lo u r.......................... ...........
B ak in g ...... ...............................
Sugar refining, cane_______
T extiles a n d th eir p ro d u cts.
C otton goods........................
H osiery and k n it goods___
Silk goods____________ _
W oolen and w orsted goods.
C arpets a n d ru g s_________
D yeing a n d finishing tex
tiles____ _____ _________
C lothing, m en’s __________
Shirts a n d collars_______. ..
C lothing, wom en’s . ..............
M illinery and lace goods__
Iron a n d s t e e l a n d th eir
p r o d u c ts __________________
Iron and stee l.........................
Cast-iron p ip e ________ ___
S tru ctu ral iro n w o rk ..............
F ou n d ry and machine-shop
products...............................
H ard w are________________
M achine tools____________
Steam fittings a n d steam
and hot-w ater heating ap
p a ra tu s________________
Stoves........ ...............................
L u m b er a n d its p r o d u cts.
Lum ber, saw m ills______
Lum ber, m illw ork............
F u rn itu re ...........................
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .6
+ 5 .5
- 1 .2
+ 1 -0
+ 1 -4
+ 0 .1
+ 8 .5
+ 6 .8
- 0 .2
- 2 .7
- 0 .8
- 0 .4
+ 7 .8
- 3 .0
- 3 .1
- 3 .7
- 5 .0
- 1 .9
+ 0 .3
+ 5 .4
-2 . 2
- 6 .3
-1 . 7
+ 0 .1
+ 0 .7
0
N um ber A m ount
on p a y
of p a y
roll
roll
Paper a n d p r in tin g —C o n td .
P rin tin g , bo o k a n d jo b . . .
P rin tin g , n e w s p a p e r s _____
- 1 .4
+ 2 .4
- 1 .9
+ 3 .6
+ 3 .3
+5. 1
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .1
+ 3 .0
- 2 .8
+ 1 .3
C e m e n t _______ _________
B rick , title , a n d te rra c o tta .
P o tte r y ____________________
G lass_______________ _____
-2 .5
- 5 .8
- 5 .0
+ 0 .6
+ 3 .1
- 5 .3
- 1 3 .4
- 6 .5
- 9 .1
+ 7 .4
+ 1 3 .6
+ 2 0 .5
C h em icals a n d allied produ c ts __ _______
_______
C h em ica ls_________________
F e rtiliz e rs _________________
P e tro le u m re f in in g .. ____
S to n e , clay, a n d glass produ c ts __ _ _____________ .
)
- 6 .7
- 5 .9
+ 0 .3
- 2 .3
+ 3 .6
- 8 .8
- 6 .4
- 2 .0
- 1 .9
M etal p rod u cts, o th er th a n
iron a n d s te e l_____________
S t a m p e d a n d en a m ele d
w a re _____________________
B rass, b ro n ze, a n d co p p er
p ro d u c ts ________________
+ 9 .8
+ 1 0 .6
+ 1 5 .6
+ 2 4 .6
+10.1
+15.8
T ob acco p r o d u c ts ___________
+ 7 .5
-8 . 1
+ 8 .9
+14. 4
+ 0 .6
+10. 1
—5.4
C h ew in g a n d sm o k in g tobaceo a n d sn u ff _________
C igars a n d c ig a re tte s . .........
- 1 0 .3
-7 .2
- 4 .8
- 4 .7
- 1 0 .7
+ 1 3 .1
+ 4 .5
+ 3 6 .0
+ 1 8 .6
+ 1 1 .2
+ 4 6 .0
+ 1 5 .0
+ 3 1 .9
+ 6 .0
+ 1 4 .3
+ 2 9 .8
+ 1 0 .9
+0. 5
+ 1 1 .1
+ 3 .8
+ 1 0 .1
+ 0 .5
+ 0 .6
- 0 .6
+ 0 .7
+ 1 .9
-2 . 5
+ 3 .3
+ 3 .3
L eath er a n d its p r o d u cts.
L e a th e r______________ _
Boots a n d shoes________
- 4 .8
- 5 .9
- 8 .4
- 3 .5
-1 0 . 2
- 3 .9
Paper a n d p r in tin g .
Paper and p u lp __
P aper boxes_____
- 0 .6
+ 1.1
-
1.0
-2 .7
V ehicles for la n d tra n sp o rtat io n _________ __________
A u to m o b ile s_______________
C arriages a n d w ag o n s ____
C ar b u ild in g a n d rep airin g ,
e le c tr ic - r a ilr o a d .____ __ .
C a r b u ild in g a n d rep airin g ,
s te a m -ra ilro a d ___________
M iscella n eo u s in d u s tr ie s ____
A gricultural im plem ents___
Electrical m achinery, ap
paratus, and supplies____
Pianos and organs________
R u b b er boots and shoes___
Autom obile tire s ....... .............
S hipbuilding........ .............. .
All in d u s tr ie s _____ ____
+0. 7
(>)
- 7 .7
- 8 .9
- 1 .3
-2 .2
+11,7
+ 9 .0
+21. 3
+20. 6
+ 1 4 .3
- 2. 1
+ 1 3 .1
+5. 3
+ 1 4 .4
+ 0.6
- 1 7 .3
+ 7 .8
+ 1 .4
+ 3 .9
+ 5 .5
- 0 .9
+ 4.6
+ 2 .5
- 1 .7
+ 5 .3
+ 1 .2
+ 3.9
+ 5 .5
-
10.1
R eca p itu la tio n by G eographic D ivisio n s
G EO G R A PH IC D IV ISIO N
3
N ew "England- ______________
M iddle A tlan tic______________
E ast N orth C entral
_______
W est N o rth C entral.
South A tlantic _____
E ast South C entral . _______
GEO GRA PHIC D IV ISIO N — C O n td .
- 0 .3
+ 2 .5
+14.7
+ 3 .6
- 0 .2
+ 1 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 5 .0
+15,9
+ 4 .1
+ 1 .7
+ 2 .6
W est South C e n t r a l . ........ .........
M ountain . . _ _____________
Pacific
1 N o change.
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All d iv isio n s.... . . . ___
3 See footnotes 3 to 11 p. 179.
[599]
182
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Per Capita Earnings
CAPITA earnings of employees in the combined 54 manufac
PERturing
industries in January, 1929, were 2.9 per cent lower than
in December, 1928, and 1.5 per cent higher than in January, 1928.
In January, 1929, only 3 of the 54 separate industries—women’s
clothing, chewing and smoking tobacco, and boots and shoes showed
increased per capita earnings as compared with December, 1928,
while 24 industries reported higher per capita earnings than in Janu
ary, 1928.
The outstanding increases over the 12-month period were from 9.3
per cent to 6.1 per cent and were in the following industries: Cast-iron
pipe, machine tools, iron and steel, brass products, and hardware; the
outstanding decreases over this period were equally large and were in
the pottery, rubber boot and shoe, cement, and cigar industries.
T a b l e 4 .—C O M P A R IS O N
O F P E R C A P IT A E A R N IN G S , JA N U A R Y , 1929, W IT H
D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y , 1928
P er cent of
change January,
1929. compared
w ith—
Per cent of
change Jan u ary ,
1929, compared
w ith—
In d u stry
In d u stry
Decem
ber,
1928
C lothing, womp.n’s ____ _____
Chew ing and sm oking tobacco,
and snuff _________________
_____________
Boots and shoos
ATillinerv and lace goods ______
Carriages and w agons___________
B a k i n g _______________________
Flour
_ - _____ _____ _
Printing, book and job _______
Confectionery _________________
Iron and steel
_________ _____
Printing, new spapers________ Petroleum refining
_ _ _ _
Car building and repairing, electrie-railroad
_ _____________
C hem icals__________ _____ - -Slaughtering and m eat p a ck in g ...
Paper and pulp ______________
F e rtiliz e rs .!___________ ______
Paper bo x es._ _______ ______ _
Clothing, m en ’s
____ ________
Woolen and worsted goods____
C otton goods
_____________
F oundry and m achine-shop prod
ucts
__
___
___
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating a p p aratu s.
___
Ice cream ____________________
Brass, bronze, and copper prod
ucts
_________________ ___
H ardw are
______________
A gricultural im plem ents________
Decem Ja n u
ber,
ary,
1928
1928
Jan u
ary,
1928
+ 3 .3
-2 .6
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .6
-0 .2
- 0 .4
- 0 .5
- 0 .5
- 0 .7
- 0 .8
- 1 .0
- 1 .0
-1 . 2
+ 3 .0
- 0 .7
+ 0 .3
+ 4 .7
-0 .6
-2 .2
-0 .5
+1. 1
+ 6 .6
+ 1 .0
- 1 .3
- 1 .5
- 1 .5
- 1 .6
- 1 .7
- 2 .3
- 2 .3
-2 . 4
- 2 .4
-2 .5
- 1 .4
-1 .9
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .6
- 4 .2
+ 3.1
- 2 .5
- 0 .3
+ 1 .6
- 2 .6
+ 4 .8
- 2 .6
- 2 .7
+ 3 .3
- 3 .7
-2 .9
-3 .0
-3 . 1
Electrical m achinery, apparatus,
and supplies—. .......... - ..................
L eather________ ________ _______
Glass..................... .............................
Sugar refining, cane........... ..............
D yeing and finishing textiles-----C arpets and rugs..............................
Shipbuilding__________________
A utomobile tires_______ ________
M achine tools------ -------- -----------F u rn itu re __ ____ ______________
Structural ironw ork____________
Shirts and collars______________
Lum ber, m illw ork_____________
Hosiery and k n it goods-------------Lum ber, saw m ills______________
Brick, tile, and terra co tta--------C em en t________________ —..........
R ubber boots and shoes________
Stoves_________________________
Car building and repairing,
steam -railroad_______________
P o ttery _________ ______ _______
Silk goods_____________________
A utom obiles___________________
Stam ped and enam eled w are-----Cigars and c ig a re ttes--...............
Cast-iron p ip e_________________
Pianos a n d organs...........................
+ 7 .9
+6. 1
- 0 .5
All i n d u s tr ie s ----------------
- 3 .1
-3 . 1
-3 .4
-3 .4
- 3 .7
- 3 .8
- 3 .9
-4 . 1
- 4 .3
- 4 .5
- 4 .9
-5 . 1
- 5 .6
- 5 .7
- 5 .7
- 5 .9
- 6 .3
- 6 .4
-
6.6
- 6 .7
-
6.8
-6 .9
- 7 .4
- 7 .5
-
8.8
- 9 .3
-
10.2
- 1 .9
+ 3 .8
-
1.0
+ 3 .5
- 4 .6
- 3 .7
- 4 .7
+ 7.1
+ 1.6
+ 1.0
- 0 .5
+ 2.6
- 1 .7
- 1 .9
- 1 .7
- 7 .7
- 8.0
-0 .5
-
1.0
- 9 .4
+ 0.3
- 1 .5
+ 0.8
-
6.2
+ 9 .3
+ 2.3
+ 1 .5
iN o change.
W age C h a n g e s
UriGHTY establishments in 16 industries reported wage-rate increases made during the month ending January 15, 1929. These
increases averaged 2.5 per cent and affected 10,121 employees, or 21
per cent of all employees in the establishments concerned.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 600]
183
E M PL O Y M E N T IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
Twenty-six establishments in 14 industries reported wage-rate
decreases during the same period. These decreases averaged 6.9 per
cent and affected 4,723 employees, or 78 per cent of all employees in
the establishments concerned.
Thirty-seven establishments in the two printing industries reported
increases in wage rates affecting 1,960 employees, or 19 per cent of
the total number employed by these firms; 7 establishments in the
electrical machinery industry reported increases affecting 6,374 em
ployees, or 21 per cent of their total number of employees; 8 estab
lishments in the cotton goods industry reported decreases in wage
rates affecting 3,737 employees, or 99 per cent of the total number
employed by them. No especial significance can be attached to the
wage-rate changes in any other industry.
T a ble 5 .—W A G E A D JU S T M E N T S
O C C U R R IN G B E T W E E N D E C E M B E R IS, 1928, A N D
JA N U A R Y 15, 1929
E stablishm ents
In d u stry
T otal
num
ber re
porting
N um
ber re
porting
increase
or de
crease
in wage
rates
Per cent of increase
or decrease in
wage rate
Em ployees affected
Per cent of
employees
Range
A ver
age
Total
num
ber
In estab In all
lishm ents estab
reporting
increase mlish
ents
or de
crease in report
ing
wage rates
In crea ses
Confectionery. .............................. __ __
Baking . _______ _________ . . .
Hosiery and k n it goods__________ __
Silk goods___
____ ____ __________
C lothing, m en’s___ _ ______________
M illinery and lace goods_____________
Iron and steel. ____
_____ . . .
F oundry and machine-shop products
M achine to o ls .. _ ______ ______ ____
Lum ber, saw m ills___________ _______
Printing, book and job. . . . . . . . . . . .
.
P rinting, new spapers_____ . . . .
C h e m ic a ls _____________ _____ _ . . .
Petroleum refining___ . . . . . . . . .
G lass.. _ .
. .. .
. . . . . . .
C ar building and repairing, electricrailro ad ..
...
____________ _ .
Electrical m achinery, ap p aratu s and
supplies__________________________
302
641
332
287
309
72
203
971
146
660
318
457
140
53
127
4
1
3
1
1
1
5
6
2
2
15
22
2
2
I
5. 0-10. 0
6.4
3.0- 8. 0
11.0
10.0
10.0
1. 3- 2. 5
4. 0-16. 7
3. 5- 5. 0
12. 5-14. 0
1. 7-10. 6
1. 0-13. 0
5. 0-10. 0
5. 0
0.1
8.8
6.4
5.3
11.0
10.0
10.0
1.9
8.4
4.3
13.0
2.2
3.4
8. 7
5. 0
0.1
407
6
2. 8-11. 2
9.5
7
1.0-10.0
1.6
176
28
45
53
58
18
15
1,034
62
22
171
901
1, 059
158
77
29
17
7
11
11
7
27
36
9
7
98
19
19
8
86
9
0
0)
0
0)
0
0
(')
0
0)
(0
46
35
0
6,374
21
1
1
(>)
0)
(0
4
D ecrea ses
B aking_____________________________
C otton goods______________________
Silk g oods.. ______________ _______
Woolen and worsted goods . . . . . . . . .
Clothing, m en’s ___ _________________
Shirts and collars___________________
Iron and steel__ ___________ _____
Steam fittings and steam and hot-w ater
heating ap p aratu s . __________
Boots and shoes_____________ _______
C em ent. _________________________
Brick, tile, and terra c o t t a __________
Cigars and cigarettes________ .
...
A utom obile tires. . . . . . _____. . .
641
465
287
191
309
121
203
2
8
1
1
1
3
2
10. 0-15. 0
5. 0-20. 0
12. 5
20.0
10.0
10. 0-11. 0
5.0
11. 7
6.0
12. 5
20.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
9
3, 737
34
55
14
380
32
31
99
44
100
13
94
9
0
111
235
113
579
231
43
1
1
1
2
2
1
15.0
10. 0
8.0
5. 0-16. 0
5. 0-10. 0
10. 0
15.0
10.0
8.0
6.4
9.0
10. 0
28
116
34
114
150
20
8
58
24
67
37
100
0
0
0
0
0)
(0
i Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
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0)
0
0
2
2
184
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In d e x e s o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls in
M a n u fa c tu r in g In d u s tr ie s
INDEX numbers for January, November, and December, 1928, and
* for January, 1929, showing relatively the variation in number of
persons employed and in pay-roll totals in each of the 54 industries
surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, together with general
index for the combined 12 groups of industries, appear in Table 6.
T a b l e 6 .— IN D E X E S
O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , N O V E M B E R , A N D D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y ,
1929
[M o n th ly average 1926=100]
Pay-roll totals
E m ploym ent
1928
In d u stry
Jan.
N ov.
Dec.
Jan.
1929
1928
1929
Jan.
N ov.
Dec.
Jan.
G eneral in d ex __------- ---------
91.6
95.4
95.5
95.2
89.6
96.1
97.7
94.5
Food a n d k in d red p r o d u cts_____
Slaughtering a n d m eat p a ck in g ...
C onfectionery.____ ____________
Ice cream . ___________________
F lo u r_________________ _____ _
B a k in g ___________ ____ _______
Sugar refining, c a n e ........................
96.8
100.4
92.0
79.1
99.7
98.6
83,3
101.9
100.9
108.4
83.5
103.5
102.4
95.9
102.1
105.9
104.0
80.9
103. 1
101.4
92.1
98.4
105.9
90.9
79.9
101.1
98.7
90.4
98.0
101.5
92. 1
81. 1
102.3
98.9
86.1
102.3
103.3
106.4
84.0
104.2
103.0
96.9
104.4
110.3
106.0
82. 1
104.0
101.7
97.8
99.6
108.4
91.9
78.9
101.5
98.5
92.8
Textiles a n d th eir p r o d u cts_____
C otton goods _________ _____ _
Hosiery an d k n it goods_________
Silk goods.____________ ________
W oolen and w orsted goods______
C arpets an d r u g s . _____________
D yeing and finishing textiles____
Clothing, m en’s . . _____ _________
Shirts an d c o lla rs ______________
Clothing, w om en’s _____________
M illinery and lace goods.............
99.9
102.4
97.8
97.0
98.0
102.4
102.0
95.7
97.3
105.3
94.8
97.3
97.0
95.6
96.9
99.8
104.9
101.9
89.0
94. 1
106.2
88.7
97.7
98.3
95.2
97.9
99.4
106.5
103.3
89.3
93.9
105.2
87.7
96.9
98.6
92.9
95.2
98.3
107.9
102.0
89.3
91.6
105.6
92. 6
99.4
99.8
100. 1
94.4
98. 5
101.3
100.6
95.3
92.0
109.6
91.6
96.5
96.3
101.0
97.6
99.9
101.7
106.7
81.3
94.4
102.9
86.6
99.5
99.8
101.9
102.7
102.2
104.6
109.7
89.0
93.2
103.5
85.4
96.3
97.6
93.8
92.8
98.6
102.0
104.2
86.9
86.1
107.4
89.9
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p r o d u cts.
Iro n and steel____________ _____
Cast-iron pipe ________________
Structural ironw ork____________
F o u n d ry and m achine shop produ c t s ________________________
H ardw are_____________________
M achine tools_________________
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating a p p a r a tu s ...........
Stoves________________ ________
86.1
86.9
79.8
89.7
94.8
93.1
75.9
98.5
95.0
92.8
74.2
101.2
94.8
93.4
73.3
97.7
82.5
83.5
66.6
87.5
97.7
97.6
73.5
104.3
98.0
95.8
74.8
104.9
95.5
95.5
67.0
96.3
86.3
88.2
88.3
95.6
91.5
114.2
96.3
92.2
118.2
97.6
92.2
120.1
82.4
83.6
88.4
96.8
94.3
125.6
99.0
95.8
132.8
97.7
93.0
129.1
80.8
73.0
79.4
95.2
72.8
91.3
81.2
81. 1
75.5
67.0
78.1
94.2
72.2
89.0
78.4
73.8
L u m b er a n d its p r o d u cts_______
Lum ber, s a w m ills..........................
Lum ber, m ill work
.................
F u rn itu re ............................................
84.8
82.7
82.7
92.4
90.0
88. 1
85.4
98.4
87.6
85.3
82.7
97.5
85.2
82.2
83.3
94.2
81.4
79.9
76.6
89.1
92.0
89.7
85.2
103.6
88.3
85. 7
83.2
99.8
81.9
77.9
79.1
92.0
L eather a n d its p r o d u c ts ......... .
_______ ________
L e a th e r..
Boots an d shoes. ______________
95.6
99.1
94.3
88.6
90.9
87.8
87.8
89.4
87.3
91.0
90.8
91.0
92.6
97.6
90.4
78.6
87.8
74. 5
83.6
89.0
81.3
87.1
87.6
86.9
Paper a n d p r in t in g ______________
P aper a n d p u l p . . ............................
P aper boxes___________________
Printing, book and jo b . . ........ .......
P rinting, new spapers___________
100.2
95.5
94. 8
102.2
104.6
101.2
95.5
101.4
99.5
107.4
101.2
94.1
97. 7
100.9
108.5
99.6
94.5
92.2
100.8
107.1
102.1
95.0
97.4
105.2
106.3
103.4
97.0
111.2
99.4
110.2
105.1
97.0
105. 8
104.0
112.7
103.2
95.7
97.4
103.2
110.1
C h em ica ls a n d allied p r o d u cts___
C hem icals. _ ________ _______
F e rtiliz e rs __________ ____ _____
P etroleum refining. __ _______
91.4
97.7
90.2
83.7
94.4
102.7
88.9
86.1
95.1
102.7
91.5
86.7
94.4
102.7
92.0
86.1
94.1
101.7
93.0
85.7
97.2
106.8
91.0
88.4
97.2
106.4
92.2
88.5
95.1
104.8
90.4
86.8
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p r o d u c t s ...
C em en t..............................................
Brick, tile, and terra co tta______
P o tte ry _______________________
G lass. _ _______________ _____ _
83.7
83.3
76.5
93.7
87.0
89.2
86.6
84.3
96.6
92.0
87.3
82.8
80.9
96.2
91.5
81.6
78.5
72.7
94.3
89.7
81.8
83.1
72.3
93.7
84.9
90.6
85.4
82.5
92.5
98.5
88.4
81.1
80.0
93.3
96.3
77.5
72.0
67.6
85.2
91.2
M eta l p r o d u cts, o th er t h a n iron
a n d ste el. _ _________________ _ .
1 Stam ped and enam eled w are____
Brass, bronze, and copper produ cts...............................................
85.6
80.0
97.8
90.6
98.6
90.7
97.2
87.8
85.0
76.7
106.2
94.0
108.2
94.8
102.4
84.8
100.8
101.8 1 101.7
[6 0 2 ]
87.7
110.2
112.7
109.3
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185
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T a b l e 6 .— IN D E X E S
OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , N O V E M B E R , A N D D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y ,
1929—C ontinued
E m ploym ent
In d u stry
1928
Jan.
T ob acco p r o d u c ts________
Chew ing and sm oking tobacco
and sn u ff______________
Cigars a n d cigarettes___________
V ehicles for la n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n ..
A utom obiles. _________________
Carriages a n d w agons_______
C ar building a n d repairing, electrie-ra ilro a d ......... .................. .......
C ar building an d repairing,
steam -railroad..............................
M iscella n eo u s in d u s tr ie s ___ _ . . .
A gricultural im plem ents ______
Electrical m achinery, apparatus,
and supplies_________________
Pianos and organs_____________
R ubber boots a n d shoes_______
A utom obile tire s __________
S hipbuilding______ _____
Pay-roll totals
1929
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
1928
Jan.
1929
N ov.
Dec.
Jan.
91.2
101.2
98.0
86.3
90.2
99.3
99.5
81.0
102.5
89.5
93.7
102.1
94.0
98. 5
95.1
85.2
101.6
88.6
88.7
100.7
93. 2
100.3
96.8
79.1
86.8
91.8
65.3
95.5
111.5
80.6
94.6
110.0
77.3
99.8
121. 1
69.2
83.6
85.8
67.0
97.5
111.4
86.7
96.4
109.3
83.4
95.5
111.4
74.3
98.0
92.2
90.5
90.5
99.4
93.4
92.0
90.6
82.7
82.7
82.5
81.6
81.4
86.5
86.2
79.6
92.»
100.0
94.0
111.7
97.9
116.6
102.8
121.3
93.3
102.9
91.9
116.0
100.1
123. 1
101.7
124.1
90.5
77.9
111.0
95.7
89.4
100.6
80.6
104.0
103. 9
82. 6
102.5
78.7
103.3
103.9
90.2
103.4
76.3
99.8
108. 2
94. 1
90.7
71.4
116.2
95.9
92.3
101.6
83. 1
104.3
102. 1
80.2
106.1
82.4
106.3
103.5
93.4
103.8
71. 8
96.1
103.4
93.6
Table 7 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals, by months, from
January, 1923, to January, 1929.
T a b l e 7 . -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 P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO JA N U A R Y , 1929
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
Em ploym ent
Pay-roll totals
M onth
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___
O ctober_____
N o v em b er___
D ecem ber____
Average.
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
106. 6
108.4
110. 8
110. 8
110. 8
110. 9
109. 2
108. 5
108.6
108. 1
107.4
105.4
103.8
105. 1
104.9
102.8
98.8
95.6
92. 3
92. 5
94.3
95.6
95.5
97.3
97.9
99.7
100.4
100. 2
98.9
98.0
97. 2
97.8
98.9
100.4
100. 7
100.8
100.4
101. 5
102.0
101.0
99.8
99. 3
97. 7
98. 7
100.3
100. 7
99. 5
98.9
97.3
99.0
99. 5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95. 1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6
91.6 95.2
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93. 1
92. 2
93.6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95. 5 —
108.8
98.2
99.2 100.0
96.4
93.8 .......... 104.3
1929
1923
1924
1925
95.8 98.6 93.9
99. 4 103. 8 99.3
104. 7 103. 3 100.8
105. 7 101. 1 98.3
109.4 96.5 98. 5
109.3 90.8 95. 7
104.3 84.3 93.5
103.7 87. 2 95.4
104.4 89. 8 94.4
106.8 92.4 100.4
105.4 91.4 100. 4
103. 2 95. 7 101.6
94.6
1926
1927
1928
1929
98.0 94. 9 89. 6
94. 5
102. 2 100. 6 93. 9
103.4 102.0 95. 2
101. 5 100.8 93. 8
99.8 99.8 94. 1
99. 7 97. 4 94. 2
95. 2 93.0 91. 2
98. 7 95. 0 94. 2
99. 3 94. 1 95. 4
102.9 95. 2 99. 0
99.6 91.6 96. 1
99.8 93.2 97. 7 —
97.7 100.0
96.5
94.5 ..........
Index numbers of employment and of pay-roll totals for each of
the 54 manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics and for each of the 12 groups of industries, and also general
indexes for the combined 12 groups of industries are shown in Tables
8 and 9 for each month of 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928.
In these tables, as in Tables 6 and 7, the monthly average for 1926
is the base, or 100 per cent, the previously published indexes of the
bureau, in which the monthly average for 1923 was the base, or 100
per cent, having been turned over to the 1926 base.
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M O N TH LY
LABO R
R E V IE W
In computing the general index and the group indexes the index
numbers of separate industries are weighted according to the impor
tance of the industries.
Following Table 9 is a chart, made from the index numbers of
Table 7, showing clearly the trend of employment and the trend of
pay-roll totals for the 54 industries combined, month by month,
from January, 1926, to January, 1929.
T a ble 8 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S
[M o n th ly average, 1926 = 100]
F ood a n d kin dred p rod u cts
Y ear and m o n th
uenerai
index
1923
A pril------- -------------M a y ________________
June- _____________
Ju ly ________________
A ugust
---------------Septem ber__________
O c to b e r________
N ovem ber__ ________
D ecem ber___________
A v e ra g e ______
1924
Ja n u a ry .........................Febru ary ..................—
M arch ______________
A pril_____
------M a y ________________
J u n e ________________
Ju ly ________________
A ugust______________
Septem ber__________
O c to b e r____________
N ovem ber__________
D ecem ber......................
Average.
1925
J a n u a r y . . ...... ..........
Febru ary --------- -----M arch ______________
A pril. - . ---------------M a y . . ------- ------------Ju n e ___________ ____
Ju ly ________________
A ugust______________
Septem ber ______ . . .
October
__________
N ovem ber__________
D ecem ber___________
G roup
index
Slaugh
tering
Confec
tionery
me. c
108.4
110.8
110.8
110.8
110.9
109.2
108.5
108. C
108.1
10). 4
105.4
106. 6
106.2
10G.G
105.3
106.5
109.8
111.7
113.1
116.4
119.3
117.8
113.4
121. 5
116.2
114.7
114.3
118.2
121. 5
124. 6
125.6
126.2
128.1
131.0
132.6
105.3
101.0
103.3
100.0
107.9
127.4
140.9
140.0
120.8
108.8
111.1
122.9
103.8
105.1
104.9
102.8
98.8
95. G
92.3
92.5
94.3
95. G
95.5
97.3
108.8
109.9
107.7
103.8
102.7
104.9
105.1
105.3
108.1
108.2
106.0
106.5
98.2
Ice
cream
Flour
Baking
Sugar
81.3
103.7
120.9
122. 3
115.3
108.2
99.2
93.0
91.6
113. 2
112.0
112.2
110.2
107.5
106.6
109. 0
121.6
121.6
122.9
118.7
114.4
90. 2
94. 5
97. 5
96.0
96.6
100.5
104.7
103.3
102.7
104.7
100.4
99.5
128.2
125.1
119.0
111.0
97.0
100.9
102.7
101.4
76.4
116.3
103.9
114.2
99.2
106.8
129.1
124.0
118. 6
113.1
111.0
111. 8
113. 1
111. 2
110.4
108.8
112.0
118.6
105.1
103.5
103.7
94.4
89.4
93.3
90.6
99.1
115.0
123.8
111. 2
109.1
89.4
89.9
92.8
100.0
107.8
110.7
118.3
116.8
108.7
96.5
88.0
84.5
112.3
113.4
109.0
105.5
101.7
102.6
104.9
108.3
111.2
112.0
109.8
106.6
97.4
101.3
101.4
99.2
99.5
102.0
101.5
100.0
101.1
101.8
101.3
99.7
78.4
110.8
111.0
108.2
116. 0
117. 2
115.9
110.4
113.4
100. 5
89.7
83.7
106.4
115. 1
103.2
100.3
108. 1
100.5
104. 6
97. 9
99.7
100.4
100.2
98.9
98.0
97.2
97.8
98.9
100.4
100.7
100.8
103.3
103. 3
100.3
96.3
96.4
99.4
99.6
100.1
102.8
105.6
104.3
103.0
116.8
110.8
104.7
98.3
98.5
101. 4
102.5
102.3
102. 3
102.9
105. 8
106.4
96.7
99.0
96.3
88.6
87.3
87. 2
83.5
93.4
106. 2
116.2
114.0
109.3
82.6
84.9
87.8
94.8
103.5
126. 2
123.2
116.9
113.7
100.1
92.0
89.9
107.9
109.2
103.4
98.3
94.5
96.8
101. 9
102.4
106.6
108.1
105.3
103.3
97.5
98.8
97.5
96.3
96.6
99.5
99.1
97.5
98.9
103.4
100.7
99.1
85.3
105.0
112. 6
108.2
111. 1
109. 1
110.1
107.3
105.1
102. 2
98.2
99.5
99.2
101.2
104.4
98.1
101.3
103.1
98.7
104.5
1926
Jan u a ry _____________
F ebruary
________
M arch __ _________
April ______________
M a y -----------------------J u n e -----------------------Ju ly ............. ....................
A ugust ........................
S e p te m b e r..............
O c to b e r____________
N ovem ber__ ________
D ecem ber___________
100.4
101. 5
102. 0
101.0
99.8
99.3
97.7
98.7
100.3
100.7
99.5
98.9
100.6
99.6
98.3
95.3
96.7
98.8
99.3
100.0
102.9
105. 0
102.9
100.7
106.5
102.3
97.5
93.6
95.6
97.9
98.8
99.8
100.4
101.5
102.0
103.7
100.5
101.3
98.3
91.0
90.5
89.0
88.0
92.4
109.7
119.8
113.7
105.2
87.1
88.5
90.0
94.6
108.2
118.1
119.6
117.5
105.2
97.1
87.8
85.7
101.5
98.6
97.9
93.8
92.7
93.9
99.2
105.6
105.6
106.2
104.9
100.3
96.8
96.6
99.0
98.0
99.1
102.4
102.2
100.0
101.7
103.4
101.1
99.3
98.2
108.9
107.3
106.0
103.1
103.8
99.6
99.8
97.5
94. 3
95.0
86.1
A v e ra g e .._____
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Average............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[604]
187
EM PLOYM ENT IN M ANUFACTURING IN D U STR IES
T able 8 .—M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
Food a n d kindred p rod u cts—C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
in d e x
G roup
in d e x
Slaugh
tering
Confec
tionery
97.3
99. (1
99. 5
9s. 8
97. (i
97.0
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.0
98.6
98.1
97.1
95.8
96.4
101.0
100.1
99. 2
102, 6
103.1
101.2
100.1
103.7
101.6
97.3
95.2
96.3
102. 7
102. 7
98.5
98.4
97.8
98.9
101.2
96.5
94.7
92.2
88.3
87.2
90.1
85.0
90.6
108.3
113.4
108.1
104.1
83.5
84.1
86.7
91.4
99.6
107.6
111.9
108.3
99.5
90.1
84.4
81.1
98.3
97.9
97.6
94.1
96.2
97.4
100.0
101.1
103.8
104.1
101.9
99.5
97.9
99.2
100.3
100. 2
99.7
104.0
102.2
101.3
103.9
104.8
102.8
101.0
88.8
90.1
95.0
99.4
103.0
105.4
106.8
105.4
101.6
102.5
96.3
90.5
Average_______
90.4
99.4
99.5
96.5
94.0
99.3
101.4
98.8
1928
Jan u a ry - --------F ebruary
—_______
M arch _
A pril___
_______
M a y -----------------------June ...................
Ju ly ________________
A ugust____________ .
Septem ber . . . . . . .
O c to b er-..
___ N ovem b er__________
D ecem ber _________
91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93.1
92.2
93.0
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5
96.8
97.9
97.3
95.3
95. 5
96.9
97.3
96.9
100. 0
102.3
101.9
102.1
100.4
103.1
100. 7
96.8
95.8
99.0
99.4
97.2
96.6
97.8
100.9
105.9
92. 0
92.4
90.3
85.8
84.8
83.5
80.3
83.3
99.0
111.7
108.4
104.0
79.1
79.3
82.8
89.4
96.3
103.6
112. 9
110.7
100.7
90.0
83.5
80.9
99.7
99.9
100. 1
96.7
96.6
94.5
97.5
101.3
102.7
104. 3
103.5
103.1
98.6
98.6
99.4
98.9
100.7
102.1
101. 3
100.0
103.4
103.9
102.4
101.4
83.3
87.7
89.5
92.2
86.6
85.0
95.0
95.8
93.4
96. 3
95.9
92.1
Average_______
93.8
98.4
99.5
93.0
92.4
100.0
100.9
91.1
1927
J an u a ry -. ___________
F ebruary -----f ___ _
M a rc h .. ___________
A pril-— ____________
M a y --------------------—.
J u n e ________________
J u ly ........... ......................
A ugust—. __________
S eptem ber__________
October
__________
N o v e m b e r___ ______
D e c e m b e r-.________
Ice
cream
Flour
Baking
Sugar
T extiles a n d th eir produ cts
Y ear and
m onth
C loth
ing,
wom
en’s
G ro u p
in d e x
C ot
ton
goods
Ho
siery
Silk
goods
Wool
en
goods
C ar
pets
D ye
ing
C loth
ing, Shirts
m en’s
1923
Ja n u a ry _______
F e b ru a ry -.. - —
M arch ________
A p ril_________
M ay --------------June -. _____
J u ly __________
A ugust __ - - Septem ber____
October _____
N o v e m b e r__
D ecem ber___ .
118.8
120.4
122.3
120.9
119. 4
117.2
113.8
112.9
113.4
112. 0
110.9
111.4
126.2
126. 7
128. 2
127.8
127. 7
125. 5
115. 6
113.0
114. 4
111. 0
112. 8
115.2
101.8
103.1
104. 7
105.3
105. 2
104.0
99.9
100. 3
99.3
100.3
101.3
100.5
98.3
100.5
102. 2
102.5
102. 1
100. 5
98.9
99. 3
99.2
98.8
97.8
97. 6
122.9
124. 7
126.0
127.4
127.6
126.4
125.0
123.8
121.9
122. 2
123.7
122.7
107.2
105. 4
106. 4
106.0
106. 1
106. 2
106. 7
106. 6
106. 2
106.9
107. 2
107.0
105.9
104. 6
105.5
106. 1
104.8
100.7
101.0
95.1
96. 6
101.2
101.0
103.0
121. 5
124.3
126. 6
118. 1
117.2
119.9
120. 0
119. 6
119. 1
115. 5
110.4
111. 2
121.3
122. 8
123.2
123.7
121. 3
119.1
117.8
112.2
114. 1
117. 2
117.4
116.6
129.8
136.1
140.4
135.6
126.0
117. 4
122.1
124.4
128.7
126.1
115.5
112.9
143.4
148.8
151.2
149.2
142. 7
133.8
134.0
137.0
136.6
132.2
123.3
125.4
A verage. -
116.1
120. 3
102. 1
99.8
124. 5
106. 5
102.1
118. 6
118.9
126.3
138. 1
1924
J a n u a ry _______
F ebruary ____
M arch.
April _ _
M ay __________
June___ ...........
J u ly __________
A u g u st_______
Septem ber____
O ctober_______
N ovem b er.. _
D ecem ber____
111.4
113.2
111.5
106. 4
101. 7
98.4
91.5
94. 0
97.2
100. 6
99. 7
103.0
112.4
112. 0
108. 1
103. 5
99.8
97.0
87.8
89.7
91. 8
96.5
96.6
103.4
99.8
101. 2
102.5
100.7
96.6
91.9
78. 7
81.5
85. 7
88. 7
91. 1
93.2
96.8
98.8
98. 2
95.1
92. 5
90. 5
87. 5
91.0
93. 3
95. 8
95.0
94.9
120. 5
120. 3
119.4
113. 1
110. 1
106. 1
101. 1
102. 5
109. 2
116.8
119. 2
120.9
106. 2
107. 1
109.7
103. 5
98.4
89.7
85. 3
88.9
91. 4
95. 3
99.0
102.8
92.3
97. 7
96.8
96.0
93.0
90.3
88.7
86.4
92.3
96. 1
98.0
100. 7
117.2
120. 8
116.4
103. 1
99.9
108.3
107.1
105. 9
103.9
102.3
97. 5
99.9
114.7
113.4
112. 7
109. 4
104.6
98.7
90.8
82.9
91.6
95. 1
95.7
97.6
124. 2
131. 1
131. 6
126. 1
112. 1
96.8
90.0
103.4
108.1
111. 2
102. 7
105.9
128.6
131.9
129.0
126.0
121.1
113.4
112. 2
113.7
121. 1
118. 2
113. 1
114.9
A v erag e..
102.4
99.9
92.6
94. 1
113.3
98. 1
94.0
106.9
100. 6
111.9
120.3
35S95°—29
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
13
[605]
M illi
nery
188
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 8 .— M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
T e x tile s a n d t h e ir p r o d u c t s —C ontinued
Y ear and
m onth
G roup
in d e x
C ot
ton
goods
H o
siery
Silk
goods
W ool
en
goods
C ar
pets
D ye
ing
C loth
ing, Shirts
m en’s
C loth
ing,
wom
e n ’s
M illi
nery
>
1925
J a n u a r y . . ____
F eb ru ary ______
____
M arch
A pril. ______
M ay
______
June
_______
July
August ______
Septem ber____
O ctober. _____
N o v e m b e r____
D ecem ber_____
104.4
107.1
107. 3
too. i
103.3
102.0
99.9
100. 8
100.9
103.9
104.3
104.1
105.1
106.1
105. 7
105. 8
104. 0
101.9
93.4
93.7
92.4
100.0
102.3
102.8
94. 4
98. 6
100. 5
101. 0
100. 5
99. 7
98. 1
98. 4
100. 2
103.3
104.4
103.8
95.9
98. 4
100. 2
100. 7
101. 5
102. 5
103. 8
105. 5
106.4
107.4
107. 5
107.9
118. 4
117.1
114. 4
112. 8
109. 3
108. 3
106. 8
107. 1
107.5
108. 7
109. 6
108.8
103.5
104.0
104.9
105. 2
104.0
100.4
94.8
96. 3
96.7
97. 1
100.6
101.3
102.0
104.0
105.0
105. 2
102.8
97.7
98. 1
97. 2
99.0
102.9
103.4
103.0
102.6
107.5
105.6
100. 0
95. 6
102. 6
103. 7
106.0
105.6
103. 9
102.0
102.1
98. 1
101.8
102.7
104. 4
105. 1
103.3
102.7
99. 6
102.3
104. 2
107.4
108.0
108.2
114.8
117.4
112.2
102.3
94.6
100.8
104.2
105.3
106.6
101.5
98.9
122.4
128.2
130.9
129.0
119.5
113.8
112.3
114.5
111.0
108.4
106.6
108.1
A v erag e..
103. 7
101.1
100. 2
103.1
110.7
100. 7
101.7
103.1
103.3
105.6
117.1
1926
January _____
F e b ru a ry _____
M arch .. ___ _
A p ril____ _
M ay _________
June__________
J u l y . . . .......... .
A ugust ______
Septem ber __
October
N ovem ber_____
D ecem ber_____
104.3
104.6
104.5
102.1
99.5
97.6
93.1
94.7
97.8
100. 3
100.0
101.9
103. 0
103. 5
104. 5
103. 5
100. 8
98. 3
91. 9
91. 7
100. 4
101. 3
103.0
102. 8
103. 8
103. 9
102. 3
100. 5
99. 2
93. 2
95. 6
97. 0
100. 1
100. 9
100.9
107. 8
107.0
103. 8
100.4
97.4
95. 2
94. 3
96. 1
97. 7
100. 1
100. 0
99. 7
107. 2
99. 8
97. 3
96. 4
95. 6
95. 1
94. 9
95. 0
99. 5
105.4
107.2
106.4
102. 0
101. 8
103. 6
103. 3
99. 9
95. 5
92.8
96. 3
97. 6
100. 5
102. 9
103. 5
103. 6
103. 6
103.8
101.8
99.4
98.0
93.8
96.2
98. 1
99. 7
100. 9
100.8
102. 7
105. 2
103. 7
97. 6
95. 1
100.0
97.4
100.9
100. 1
99.8
96.9
100. 5
106.8
107.5
106.3
102. 1
100.4
98.2
96. 1
91.8
95.5
98. 5
99.0
97. 7
102.9
107.7
110. 5
106. 7
102.4
95.5
87.2
94. 1
97.2
99. 6
93.4
102.0
108.8
113.0
113.3
111.3
106.4
93.0
89.0
89.9
94.3
92.0
92.5
96.0
A v e ra g e..
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1927
J a n u a ry _______
F e b ru a ry ______
M arch ________
______
April
M a y __________
J u n e . ________
J u ly __________
A ug u st________
Septem ber____
O ctober.
. ..
N ovem ber_____
D ecem ber_____
102.3
104.2
104. 2
102.6
100.8
99.9
97.8
99.1
100,9
101. 7
101.2
100.6
103. 7
105. 2
105. 7
105. 4
105. 1
105. 4
104. 9
104. 2
105. 3
105. 8
105.8
103.7
99. 8
100. 4
100. 3
100. 4
99. 7
99. 3
93. 0
94. 6
98. 6
100. 2
101. 6
99. 9
98. 7
99. 2
101. 1
101. 0
100. 1
97. 6
96. 5
97. 5
97. 9
97.0
95. 9
98.0
105. 9
106. 1
102. 2
99. 3
96. 9
97. 4
93.0
97. 3
98. 3
99. 4
100. 5
99. 8
104. 6
104. 8
104. 8
104. 2
102. 8
102. 2
101. 2
100.4
100. 3
100. 1
100. 6
104.0
100. 3
101. 5
102. 1
102. 2
100. 4
99. 3
97. 3
98. 6
100.4
102. 2
103. 2
102. 9
99. 4
102. 8
100. 9
94.4
93. 1
97. 9
98. 1
100. 6
99. 5
98. 6
94. 3
94.4
96. 8
97. 7
95. 5
93. 9
93. 1
92. 4
91. 2
91. 0
93. 9
96. 6
99. 0
98. 5
107.7
113. 9
117. 8
114. 4
107. 8
97. 6
94. 9
97.0
102. 0
106. 2
102. 7
103.2
99.4
103. 2
102.8
101. 5
96.4
89.6
86.2
92.3
96. 7
92. 5
92.5
93.8
A verage. .
101.3
105.0
99.0
98.4
99. 7
102. 5
108.7
97.8
95.0
105.4
95.6
1928
J a n u a r y __ _ .
F e b ru a ry ______
M arch _______
A pril.
_____
M ay _________
J u n e ...
____
J u ly __________
August _______
Septem ber____
___
October
N o v e m b e r .___
D ecem ber_____
99.9
101.2
100.3
97.2
94.7
94.1
90.9
91.9
93.6
96.5
97.2
97.7
102.4
101. 3
99. 5
97. 1
92. 4
91. 7
89. 9
88. 6
90. 4
94. 1
97. 0
98. 3
97.8
99. 1
98. 3
96. 1
94. 8
94. 0
88. 9
89. 8
92. 5
94. 3
95. 6
95.2
97.0
100. 5
101. 6
96. 8
96. 9
96. 0
92. 7
93. 5
95. 0
98. 1
96. 9
97.9
98. 0
97. 3
93. 9
91. 9
93. 2
94. 8
91. 0
93. 2
91. 2
96. 4
99. 8
99. 4
102. 4
103. 6
103. 2
102. 0
100. 5
97. 1
95.4
96. 2
96. 6
103. 0
104. 9
106. 5
102.0
103. 3
102. 2
99. 8
98. 5
96. 5
94. 8
95. 5
96. 6
99. 4
101. 9
103. 3
95. 7
98. 0
96. 3
89. 4
87. 3
92. 3
90. 5
93. 4
93. 1
91. 8
89. 0
89.3
97. 3
97. 1
96. 6
93.0
90. 7
88. 3
86. 9
85. 6
89. 7
93. 5
94. 1
93.9
105. 3
110. 6
113. 3
110. 7
105. 4
100. 1
95. 5
98. 5
104. 3
109. 1
106. 2
105. 2
94.8
101.4
102.9
102. 9
97.7
91.4
82.9
87. 7
93. 4
90. 6
88. 7
87.7
A v erag e..
96.3
95. 2
94. 7
96. 9
95.0
101.0
99. 5
92.2
92.2
105.4
93.5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
189
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T a ble 8.—M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts
Year and m onth
G ro u p
in d e x
Iron
and
steel
Castiron
pipe
1923
J a n u a ry ___________
F e b ru a ry __________
M arch_____________
A pril- ______ ____ _
M ay ______________
J u n e ______________
J u ly ---------- --------A ugust ___________
Septem ber_________
October _________
N ovem ber.. ______
D ecem ber_________
102. 4
105. 8
108.6
109.8
111.2
112.9
111.3
111. 2
110.7
108.9
106.6
102.7
96.5
99.3
101.0
101.3
103.3
105.9
102.8
105.4
104.5
104. 2
102. 2
98.3
85.5
87.8
90. 5
92.3
93.4
97.2
99.3
98.5
96.6
97.3
97. 1
96.6
Average______
108.5
102. 1
100.9
102.3
102.8
102.1
96. G
92.5
87.4
85.8
86.8
88.3
88.8
91.8
Average______
1925
Ja n u a ry ____ ____
F e b r u a r y _________
M arch ___ _ ______
A pril______________
M a y ______________
June
- ..
J u ly _______________
A ugust
_ . . . _.
Septem ber_________
O ctober. ________
N ovem ber . . . ___
D ecem ber____ ___
Foundry
and
H a rd M achine Steam
Struc machinetural
ware
tools
fittings
shop
products
Stoves
96. 2
101.1
98.6
104.9
104.3
102.8
101.0
97.5
107. 7
112.0
115.8
118. 0
118. 7
119.8
120. 5
120.0
118.0
114.3
111.5
107.7
111. 0
112. 8
114. 7
116. 6
114. 2
114. 5
115. 8
115.4
113.4
113.0
109.4
109.8
107.9
107.0
104.2
80. 2
98.9
98.4
94.2
94.2
106.2
106. 0
105.3
105.6
104.8
103.4
99.3
96.0
117 8
11Q 7
122 4
121 0
120. 1
119.7
109.7
110.0
113.6
115.1
115. 5
110.8
94.3
100.8
115.3
113.4
98.1
103.3
116.3
101.0
105.8
108.5
107.8
98.3
91. 4
86.1
83.8
86.3
89.9
90.3
95.4
97.7
100.1
101.4
102.6
102.6
100. 2
98.9
99. 1
95.4
96.8
93.7
90.1
95.3
95.3
92.9
91.9
92.6
92.7
92.2
92.6
92.3
88.0
86. 2
88.6
102.4
100. 7
100.5
99.4
95.3
92. 7
88.5
87.0
85.9
86. 2
87.2
90.0
110. 8
113.8
111.6
111.6
107.8
103.9
96.4
94.2
97.6
99.9
101. 0
102. 2
90.8
92.2
92.3
89.8
86.3
83. 7
77.3
66.9
75.4
75.3
76.3
78.3
97.8
99.6
102. 6
104.5
102. 1
100. 1
96.6
97.5
97.9
98. 1
96. 0
90. 1
93.3
107.6
107.6
104.4
103.5
100.7
83.1
94.5
99.4
104.9
104.1
100.9
93.8
95.4
98.2
91.7
93.0
104. 2
82.0
98.6
100.3
93.7
95.9
9G.5
95.7
94.9
94.1
92.9
92.9
93.9
95.4
96.4
97.9
100.2
102.0
102.7
100.4
98.2
95.4
94.0
94.0
94.5
95.8
97. 2
100. 1
90.8
93.6
95.3
94.8
96.2
95.1
96.0
97.5
97. 5
97. 5
95.7
96.6
88.4
88.6
89. 1
89.2
91.4
93.5
96.6
95.7
94.8
95.9
93.6
93.2
90.4
92. 5
93.4
93.8
93.4
93.8
92.6
92.0
92.4
93.3
94. 1
95.4
103.3
104.6
105.3
104. 5
104. 1
103. 5
99. 1
102.4
102.8
104.0
104.4
105. 1
80.7
81.9
81.4
81.6
82.1
83. 5
84.9
79.0
88.3
92.0
95.7
98.8
96.5
98.6
98.6
97. 5
97.0
96.9
97.2
99.7
101.9
105.8
105.8
105. 2
87.6
101.5
101.7
95.0
96.4
96.9
82.6
95.0
100.3
105.5
107.8
102.8
Average _____
95.0
97.9
95.6
92.5
93.1
103. 6
85.8
100.1
97.8
1926
Ja n u a ry ___________
F e b r u a r y ___ ______
M arch ._ _____ .
April
_______
M ay__
____ ____
J u n e ..
________
J u ly _________ _____
A ugust __________
Septem ber . . . _____
October . . . ______
N ovem ber _______
D ecem ber_________
98.4
100.7
101.2
101. 5
100. 7
100. 9
99.7
99.8
100. 7
100.2
98.4
97.6
100.5
102.0
101.7
102.3
101.0
99.3
97.8
98.8
100.3
100. 2
99. 1
96.7
95.8
98.0
99. 3
100.6
100.6
102.0
105.4
103.5
103. 2
100.7
97.3
93.4
92.5
94.2
94.4
97.1
98.8
100.6
105.9
105.7
106. 1
103.9
100.9
99.3
96.9
99.7
101.2
101.2
100. 6
102.4
101.4
101.2
100. 6
99.7
97.0
98.4
105. 6
106. 0
104. 5
103.6
100.9
98. 2
96. 5
97.3
98.0
97.7
97.3
94.7
100.2
100.6
102.0
101. 5
- 100. 2
99.6
99.4
90.7
100.4
101.8
102.3
101.9
103.0
105.0
103.4
102.6
100.8
101.3
97.9
100.2
100.4
99.0
95.5
90.5
91.4
99.2
100. 6
102.1
100.0
99.3
91.6
99.3
102.7
106.7
106.5
100.5
Average______
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1924
Ja n u a ry -.....................
F e b ru a ry ........ .............
M arch ..........................
April .
_ _______
M ay ______________
J u n e .— _________
J u l y -------------- -----A ugust____________
Septem ber_________
October
______
N ovem ber_________
D ecem ber__
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[607]
190
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 8 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts—C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
Iron
and
steel
G ro u p
in d ex
Castiron
pipe
Foundry
and
Struc machinetu ral
shop
products
H a rd M achine Steam
ware
tools
fittings
Stoves
1927
Ja n u a ry ___________
F e b ru a ry ., _____ _
M a rc h ... __________
A pril______________
M a y ---------------------J u n e ...
___
J u ly ----------------------A ugust _____ _____
S e p te m b e r________
October . _______
N ovem ber _______
D ecem ber_________
95.8
97.
98.2
97.2
95.8
94.5
92.5
91.7
91.3
89.8
87.6
86.6
95.0
9G. 4
97. 7
97.3
96.4
94.3
92. 3
91. 2
90.6
89.5
87.8
86. 5
91.7
91. 1
93.8
94.2
95.9
94.2
92.5
90. 2
86.3
83.8
81.9
82.4
94.9
94.9
94.3
95. 0
95.3
96.5
96.3
97.9
96.8
93.9
92. 1
91. 3
97.1
99.4
99.5
98. 0
96.0
94.9
93.7
93.2
91.1
89.3
86.6
86.4
95.1
96.0
96.3
95.4
94.0
93.0
90.0
87.1
91. 0
90.4
89. 5
89. 1
100.9
100.1
98.8
97.0
94. 4
93.3
90.6
81. 1
90.4
90. 2
88.6
88.5
90.8
94.9
93.9
94.0
92.9
93.6
94.1
94. 5
96. 1
93.7
88.3
83.4
87.0
93.0
95.5
93. 5
94.0
93.6
78.3
89.4
93.7
95.5
93. 3
87.7
A verage______
93.2
92.9
89.8
94. 9
93.8
92.2
92.8
92. 5
91.2
1928
J a n u a ry .. _________
F e b ru a ry . __ _______
M arch _____ . . . _
April . . .
M a y ______________
Ju n e _____
__ _ _
J u ly _______________
A ugu st____________
S eptem ber...
O ctober
. _
N ovem ber_____
D e c e m b e r______ _
86.1
88.6
9ft. 0
9«. 5
91.6
91. 7
91. ft
92.1
93.2
93.9
94.8
95.0
86.9
89.8
91. 5
91.4
91. 2
90. 5
89.6
90.7
91. 2
91. 5
93. 1
92.8
79.8
77.8
80.8
81.8
84.3
84.5
80.8
80. 7
81. 1
79. 7
75.9
74. 2
89.7
90. 2
89.4
89.9
93. 2
95.9
95.7
99.6
99.2
98.2
98.5
101. 2
86.3
88.4
89.9
90.7
92.4
92.8
92.7
93.2
94.2
94.9
95. 6
96.3
88. 2
89.0
89. 1
87. 5
87. 6
88.2
84.8
88. 1
90.2
90. 1
91. 5
92. 2
88.3
90. 7
92.6
95. 1
97.7
99.4
100.9
95.4
106.8
110. 2
114. 2
118. 2
80.8
83. 1
84.3
84.3
84.4
84. 1
80. 7
86.8
83.0
83.0
79.4
72.8
73.0
83.1
84.8
86.7
88.4
89.1
81.9
88.6
92.2
96.7
95.2
91.3
A v erag e.. _ _
91.5
90. 9
80. 1
95.0
92. 3
88.9
100.8
82. 2
87.6
L u m b er a n d its p ro d u cts
L eather a n d its produ cts
Y ear an d m onth
G roup
in d ex
1923
Jan u a ry
_______
F e b ru a ry ________
M a rc h ...
... _
A pril
________
M a y ___________ _
J u n e __________ _
J u ly _____________
A ugu st__________
Septem ber_______
O c to b e r __ _.
N ovem b er.. _
D e ce m b e r.. ____
A v e ra g e ___
1924
J a n u a ry _________
F e b ru a ry .
___
M a rc h ...
... _ _
A p r i l ____
M a y ____ ______
June
___
J u ly -------------------A ugust _____ . _.
Septem ber _______
O ctober__________
N ovem ber .
D ecem ber__ _ . .
A verage____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
G roup
in dex
M illw ork
F u rn itu re
108.4
107.0
109.8
110. 7
113.3
115.8
119. 1
120.0
119. 1
119.3
117.7
116.2
112.8
96.8
97.9
100.5
102. 2
102.8
104. 7
104.9
104. 2
101.5
100.8
100. 7
101.3
99.8
101.4
101.8
101.1
100.4
99. 2
99.4
100.5
99.4
100.8
101.1
99.6
115. 5
116.6
116.6
114.4
110.7
108.0
106. 3
100. 1
108.9
108.0
108. 3
106.6
115. 1
116.8
115.7
113. 9
109.5
108.9
108.2
106.8
105.7
105.4
106.2
103.5
115.4
116.4
116.4
113.9
111.6
107.9
105. 7
110.6
110. 2
109.2
108.8
107.3
110.0
115.1
101. 5
100.4
110.7
109.6
111.1
104.5
107. ft
106.6
107.8
106.8
104.2
102.1
102. 0
102.9
103. 6
102.6
102.1
108.5
110. 5
109. 7
111. 3
112.0
109.0
107. 2
106. 7
106. 7
106.8
104.9
102.8
99.8
102.8
104. 2
105. 7
104. 2
102.0
99. 3
99.3
99.6
99.5
98. 1
99.8
96.5
99.0
99. 1
97.2
93.7
89.8
88.3
89.5
93.1
96.7
98.5
101.2
106.9
106.9
107.4
101.3
96. 0
91.0
92.1
96.7
100.3
101.7
101.2
100.6
103.8
104.3
103.4
99.2
94.4
91.6
88.9
89.9
94.7
95.9
97.3
99.1
107.7
108.2
108.8
102.7
98.1
92.3
93.2
98.9
102. 2
103.6
102.6
101.0
104.4
108.0
101. 2
95.2
100.3
96.9
101.6
104. ft
106.1
107.3
109.7
111.0
112. 6
113.3
112.8
112.9
111.5
111.0
Sawmills
[ 608]
L eather
Shoes
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T
191
a b l e 8 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O P E M P L O Y M E N T IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
J A N U A R Y , 1923, T O D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
L u m b er a nd its p ro d u cts—C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
G ro u p
in d e x
Sawmills
M illw ork
F u rn itu re
L eather an d its p rod u cts—Con.
G ro u p
in d e x
L eather
Shoes
1925
J a n u a ry _________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch .................. .
A p ril____________
M a y ........................
Ju n e ______ _____
J u ly -------------------A ugust _ _______
S e p te m b e r.............
October ________
N ovem ber_______
D ecem ber________
101.2
102. 8
101.9
103. 2
102.8
103.2
102.2
102.1
103. 7
103.9
102. 6
100.9
101.8
103. 2
101. 8
104.5
105.3
106.9
105.3
104.4
105.3
104.0
101.5
99.1
99.1
101.0
101.4
103.2
101.7
101.4
103.4
104.2
105.0
105. 6
104.8
105. 2
100.4
102.1
102.0
99.2
95.4
93.1
92.3
95.3
98.3
102.2
104.8
103. 7
103. 9
105.6
105.6
101. 6
99.2
95.1
98.0
102.9
105.0
104.8
101.8
98.8
100.3
101.6
101.5
98.9
96.4
96.1
94.8
96.5
98.8
99.6
100.2
100.0
105.0
107.0
107.0
102.4
100.1
94.8
99.0
105.0
107.0
106.4
102.3
98.3
A verage____
102.5
103.6
103.0
99.1
101.9
98.7
102.9
98.2
98. C
98.8
102.4
102. 7
103. 7
101.5
100.4
100. 2
98.9
98. 6
97.2
94.0
100.9
102.6
102.4
100.3
96.3
94.4
93.9
96.8
101.0
104. 7
104. 1
102. 6
100.8
102. 5
101. 2
96.5
94.9
94.5
98.0
102.3
104. 0
103. 5
101. 9
99.9
101.5
102.3
102.4
99.9
97.9
95.1
96.8
99.5
101.2
101.0
101.1
101.3
100.6
102.7
100. 9
95.3
93.9
94.2
98.3
103.3
104.9
104.4
102.2
99.4
1926
Ja n u a ry --------------F e b ru a ry ...... ...........
M arch _ _______
A pril____________
M ay _____________
Ju n e ___ _____
J u ly _____________
A u g u st______ . .
Septem ber . ___
O ctober. _ . ____
___
N ovem ber
D ecem ber_______
101.2
101.1
100.9
101. 8
101.1
100.8
99.3
97.1
96.5
96.3
96. 7
101.0
103.0
103.9
103.3
103. 8
101.6
99.9
98.3
96.0
Average____
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
1927
Jan u a ry . _______
F e b r u a r y .______
M arch ___________
A pril. __________
M a y ------------------Ju n e _____________
J u ly ________ ____
A ugust _________
S eptem ber.— ___
O ctober__________
N ovem ber_______
D ecem ber...............
92.5
91.6
91.3
91.2
92.3
92.5
92.2
93.1
93.7
93.1
91.1
87.9
91.0
89.9
89.6
90.1
92.5
92.9
92.5
93. 1
93.4
91.8
89.8
85.8
91.5
90. 2
89.5
90.4
90.4
91.3
90. 7
90.8
89.0
87.4
85. 3
84. 2
97.4
97.7
97.3
94.8
92.7
92.0
92.0
94. 5
97.5
96.6
101.4
102.0
101.4
96.5
94.7
94.4
97.7
100.8
101.1
99. 0
93.7
91.8
102.0
103.8
101.9
97.4
95.8
95.9
96.7
97.1
97.8
97.4
97.5
97.4
101.2
101.4
101.3
96.2
94.3
93.8
98.0
102.0
102.2
99.6
92.4
90.0
Average____
91.9
91.0
89.2
96. 1
97.9
98.4
97.7
1928
Ja n u a ry ...............
F eb ru ary ________
M arch....................
A p ril___________
M ay ......... ................
Ju n e.
................
J u ly _____________
A ugust. ________
S e p te m b e r ...____
O ctober. _ _______
N o v e m b er... . . . .
D ecem ber________
81.8
84.8
86.2
87.3
87.3
88.3
87.3
89.3
90.1
90. 2
90.0
87.6
82.7
82.4
84. 5
86. 5
87.2
88.8
87.2
89.1
89.4
88.8
88. 1
85.3
82.7
S3.1
83.4
85.5
87.0
87.7
87.9
88.9
87.2
84.6
85.4
82.7
92.4
93.2
93. 5
90. 7
87.7
87.1
87.3
90.5
94.1
97.7
98.4
97.5
95.6
97.1
96.5
91.8
89.5
89.3
93.1
94. 9
95.1
93.7
88.6
87.8
99.1
99.9
99.1
95.8
95.8
94.5
95.1
95.5
95.3
94.0
90.9
89.4
94.3
96.2
95.6
90.4
87.3
87.6
92.6
94.8
95.1
93.6
87.8
87.3
A verage____
87.8
86.7
85.5
92.5
92.8
95.4
91.9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101. 0
100. 0
100. 1
[609]
100. 1
100.1
192
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 8 — M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
Paper a n d p r in tin g
Y ear and m onth
1923
Ja n u a ry _________
F eb ru ary ...... ..........
M arch___________
A p ril____________
M ay ______ _____ _
June____________
Ju ly ------------------ A ugust__________
Septem ber_______
O ctober_________
N ovem ber_______
D ecem ber_______
G roup
index
Paper
Boxes
C h em icals a n d allied produ cts
Book
and job
N ews
papers
G roup
ind ex
C hem i
cals
F e rti
lizers
Petroleum
refin
ing
94.4
94. 7
9«. 8
96. 9
96. 3
96. 7
96.2
96.0
96.6
97. 3
98.1
98.3
100.0
101.6
107.0
108.8
107. 6
108.4
105.8
106.4
103. 2
102. 4
101. 7
102. 3
92.9
93.5
97. 1
96. 2
95. 7
97.3
98. 5
99.8
101.6
105.2
105.8
103.2
96.1
96.3
96.6
96. 1
93. 8
94.9
95.8
94.6
95.8
96.3
97.5
99. 1
88.8
88.2
88.6
88.3
89. 6
89.0
87.9
87.9
89.4
91. 0
92. 2
92.6
99.3
193. 5
101. 3
105. 6
103. 4
ieo. «
99.1
100.5
101. 3
100. 9
190.0
99.0
104.7
106.8
108.0
103. 5
100. 9
106. 0
103.3
102.9
102. 8
103.4
105.2
105.6
93.3
109. 3
125.1
116.1
85.4
72.8
79.9
87.0
98. 5
98.9
95.7
92.3
94.5
95.7
97.6
102. 4
106.4
105.2
104.5
103.3
100.8
97.7
95.2
93.0
96. 5
104. 6
98.9
96. 1
89.5
101.8
104. 9
96.2
99.7
1924
J a n u a ry _________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch __________
A p ril____________
M ay ____________
Ju n e ____________
J u ly _____________
A ug u st__________
Septem ber_______
O ctober_________
N ovem ber_______
D ecem ber_______
98.0
97. 4
97. 7
97. 3
96. 5
95.9
94. 1
94. 1
96. 3
97.0
97.6
98.3
100. 9
101. 9
101. 3
101.0
100. 3
99.3
95.4
95.4
96. 2
97.4
97.4
96.9
99.0
98.4
99.8
98. 1
94.4
94.2
92. 1
95. 1
99.4
103. 5
103.6
101.4
100. 1
98.8
98.8
96.8
97.3
96.8
96. 1
95. 1
98.0
97.9
98. 5
101.2
92.8
92.5
92.8
93.6
93. 5
92. 7
91.9
91. 7
93.6
93. 2
94.4
95.0
98.3
100. Ì
104. 3
103. 8
93. «
86.0
85.1
85.1
89.4
90.1
90.4
91.7
104.6
104. 4
103.3
101. 7
97.5
89.8
89. 1
89.3
90.9
93.4
94.3
96.2
93.6
105.5
132. 7
124.3
81.5
57. 1
55.2
60.3
82.8
82.6
82.0
84.8
92.2
92.8
92.8
93.5
93.5
93.5
93.4
92.3
90.5
89.3
89.2
88.9
A verage___
96.7
98.6
98. 2
97.9
93. 1
93.1
96.2
86.9
91.8
1925
Ja n u a ry _________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch__________
A pril___________
M ay ____________
Tune____________
Ju ly ____________
A ugust__________
Septem ber_______
October_________
N ovem ber_______
D ecem ber_______
97.4
97.3
98. 0
97. 1
96. 2
95. 9
95.9
95.7
96.7
98.4
99.4
100.0
96.7
98. 5
101.0
100. 7
99. 5
97. 6
98.5
97.9
97.0
99. 3
98. 8
99.2
97.4
98. 7
97.3
97.0
95.5
94.5
94. 7
95.4
100. 3
104.5
106.3
104.4
101.4
99. 6
99.3
97. 1
95.6
95.7
95.6
95. 1
96.3
96.6
98.3
99.3
94. 1
93. 5
94. 5
94.1
94. 5
95.5
94.6
94.5
95. 5
96.9
98.2
99.5
92.0
93.8
100.8
103.5
90.4
88.5
90. 3
92.9
98.9
99.6
99.3
99.6
96.1
97. 1
98. 1
98.0
95.2
94.8
94.9
94.4
98.0
99.4
100.5
100.8
87.6.
94.3
132.2
147.3
75.9
60.0
65.1
78. 7
101.8
103.3
97.3
97.8
88.5
89.3
89.1
90.3
90.8
93.4
96.0
97. 1
98.6
98.1
98.3
98.8
A verage___
97.3
98.7
98.8
97.5
95. 4
95.8
97.3
95. 1
94.0
1926
J a n u a ry _________
F e b ru a ry _______
M arch __________
A pril___________
M ay ____________
June____________
J u ly ____________
A ugust __________
Septem ber______
O ctober................
N ovem ber______
D ecem ber_______
99.6
98.8
99.5
98.9
99.0
98.9
98.6
98.7
100, 4
101. 7
102. 9
102. 4
99.5
99. 7
100.0
100. 5
100.8
100. 3
99.3
99. 6
100.3
100. 6
100. 2
98. 7
100.2
98. 9
98.7
97.3
96.5
96.6
97.9
99.0
101.3
104. 5
106. 0
102. 9
101.0
98.8
99.8
98.4
98.0
98.8
98.6
98.4
100.8
100. 9
102. 9
103.9
98.2
98.4
99. 1
99.0
99.6
99.0
98.2
98.5
99.7
102. 2
103. 7
103.' 8
99.8
102.1
106.9
105.1
96.8
95.3
94.7
96.3
101.9
101.8
100.8
98.6
100.0
100.0
100.4
98.7
99.3
97.6
98.2
100.6
101. 7
101.6
101.2
103.4
117. 6
147.4
132.3
87.8
72.0
71.5
79. 5
104.5
101.0
97.0
86.0
97.3
97.7
97.1
98.6
98.5
100.6
101.5
101.3
102.4
102.4
101.4
100.8
A verage___
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
A verage___
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 610]
100. 1
193
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T a ble 8 .— M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
C h em ica ls a n d allied p rod u cts—
C ontinued
Paper a n d p r in tin g —C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
G roup
index
1927
Ja n u a ry __________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch ___ _______
A p ril-.- _________
M a y ..- . ________
June - ___________
J u ly ______________
A ug u st... _____ . _
Septem ber - ______
October __________
N o v e m b e r_______
D ecem ber______ _
Paper
Book
and job
Boxes
N ews
papers
G roup
index
C hem i
cals
F e rti
lizers
P etro
leum
refin
ing
100.7
100.8
100.8
100.0
99.3
98.8
98.3
98.8
99.8
100. 6
101. 4
101.7
98.7
98.8
98.6
98.5
96.4
96.2
96.4
97.5
97. 6
97.6
97.4
96. 5
97.8
95.9
94.9
94.3
93.4
93. 5
94.0
95.3
98.5
101.8
102.7
99. 5
101.3
101.7
102.3
100.0
99.5
99.1
97.6
98.8
99.9
98. 8
101.3
103.0
103.0
103.6
103.6
103.8
103. 7
103. 1
102.3
101.5
102.0
104. 1
104.5
105.8
99.9
101.6
106. 7
106.9
95.8
91.8
90.9
91.5
95.3
94.1
93.2
91.9
100.8
101.0
101. 7
101.5
97.8
98.6
97.5
97.9
100.0
101. 0
102.0
100.2
93.4
101. 7
129.5
137.0
86.5
63.1
62.1
69.0
91.6
88.4
86.0
85.7
101.6
102.1
102.7
100.0
97.3
95.9
95.4
93.2
90.8
87.6
84.9
83.8
100.1
97.5
96.8
100.3
103.4
96.6
100.0
91.2
94.6
1928
Jan u a ry - - --------F e b ru a ry ...... .............
M a rch .____ _____
April
___
M a y _____ -- _ -_
June - _ _
-----J u ly --------------------A ugust-- _______
Septem ber____
O ctober__________
N o v e m b e r_______
D ecem ber__ - --_
100.3
99.7
98.8
97.9
98.3
98.0
98. 0
98.2
98.6
99.9
101.2
101.2
95.5
94.6
94.6
93.9
93.5
94.0
93.5
94.4
94.7
94.7
95.5
94. 1
94.8
93.3
93.2
91. 1
90.4
90.8
90.2
90.7
94.5
99.4
101.4
97.7
102.2
102.3
99. 1
96.5
98.3
97.4
98.8
99. 2
97. 7
98.3
99. 5
100.9
104.6
104.3
104.5
105. 3
105.2
104.9
104.0
103.5
104.4
106. 0
107. 4
108.5
91.4
95.1
101.7
101.5
89.2
87.5
87.1
88.3
94.7
94.9
94.4
95, 1
97.7
100.4
100.0
99.7
96.9
97.7
96. 1
96.0
100. 1
102.0
102. 7
102.7
90.2
105. 1
146.1
148.4
83.3
65.8
66.1
71.3
94.5
93.5
88. 9
91.5
83.7
83.5
83.6
82.4
82.2
84.0
84.9
86.0
87.6
86.4
86. 1
86.7
Average_____
99.2
. 94.4
94.0
99.2
105. 2
93.4
99.3
95.4
84.8
Average __
M etal p r o d u cts, oth er
th a n iron a n d steel
S to n e , clay, a n d glass produ cts
Y ear and m onth
G roup
index
1923
J a n u a ry ______ _____
F e b ru a ry ------------- ■
—
M a r c h ,- .- -------------A pril_______________
M a y _______________
J u n e ------- --------------J u ly _______________
A ugust_____________
Septem ber_________
O ctober____________
N ovem ber_________
D ecem ber__________
Average______
1924
J a n u a ry .----------F e b ru a ry ---------------M arch . - . __________
A pril_______________
M a y _______________
J u n e _______________
J u ly _______________
A ugust_____________
Septem ber...... ............
O ctober____________
N ovem ber_________
D ecem ber__________
Average______
C em ent
92.3
93.7
90.8
101.1
103.3
106.5
108.1
Brick
83.8
83.3
90.1
101.0
101. 5
100.3
98.5
111. 2
109.6
105.3
107.1
108.5
108.5
106.9
103. 7
98.9
94.5
100.3
109.0
99.3
93.8
95.1
99.4
103.4
107.4
106.3
108.0
109.9
102. 6
112.0
99.7
94.0
96.2
95.3
95.6
95.1
94.6
111.0
88.5
86.9
93.4
101.4
105. 1
104.3
111.3
111.5
109.8
107.9
108.2
104.0
101.6
102. 2
97.0
108.9
97.4
104. t
105.5
103.1
102. 4
102.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111.2
110.4
110.9
110. 1
P o ttery
98.9
97.6
95.5
93.4
[611]
Glass
G roup
ind ex
Stam ped
ware
98.6
102.9
104.9
106.4
104.8
104.2
Brass
86.4
88.9
90.4
91.2
93.2
94.4
90.7
97.2
97.7
98.2
96.9
98.8
101.4
103. 1
102.9
103.8
107.4
107.3
99.7
95.7
95.8
97.9
99.4
98.8
102.3
105.9
108.5
108.9
107.2
105.4
103.3
97.8
97.0
90.2
97.6
110.3
112.4
116.3
114.9
112.5
108. 1
105.9
97.8
96.5
96.8
93.7
96.7
93.7
101.1
102. G
105. 2
101.3
93.0
97.3
98.4
103.4
104.2
103.5
99.0
93.6
87.6
86.3
87.2
91.1
92.4
95.8
98.8
107.2
101.6
99.0
100.0
104.0
104.7
101.9
101. 1
85.6
104.0
103.8
101. 1
100.7
101.6
101.0
100.4
97. 1
91.5
84.1
82.3
83.7
87.7
88.5
90.1
100.8
95.1
101.8
102.0
98.3
97.0
97.2
98.0
98.1
110.8
101.4
105. 2
98.8
91.3
85.5
85.2
83.3
89.5
89.3
91.6
101.2
98.9
94.4
88.6
86.6
88.8
91.7
93.7
97.5
95.2
194
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 8 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la s s p r o d u c t s — C ontinued
M e ta l p r o d u c t s , o t h e r t h a n
ir o n a n d s t e e l— C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
G roup
in d e x
1925
Ja n u a ry .. _________
F e b ru a ry __________
M arch . __________
April
M a y ______ ._
June
_________ . . .
J u ly _______________
A ugust______
Septem ber. . . . ___
O ctober____ ______
N ovem ber .
....
D ecem ber__________
C em ent
Brick
P o ttery
Glass
G ro u p
in d e x
Stam ped
ware
Brass
00.4
91.9
95.8
100. (1
10ft. 7
101. 0
90.8
99. 1
100. 1
100. 8
100. 0
98.6
97.9
95. 3
99. 1
105. 1
107. 7
109.8
110. 5
110.9
110. 8
108. 8
105. 6
102. 5
86.3
86.1
93.8
101. 3
105. 9
106. 1
106. 1
104. 1
102.9
100.0
98.4
96.4
97.5
103.3
103. 0
104. 7
102. 5
100. 9
73.9
97.5
98.9
100.4
98. 7
97.9
89.2
92.1
93. 7
95.1
92. 6
93.0
92. 1
91. 1
94.3
99. 2
100.4
99. 7
96.0
91.9
99.8
91.9
98.4
98.4
91.8
91.9
98.8
10«. 8
102.8
104.1
91.5
95.6
99.9
97. 7
96.5
96. 6
94.4
95. 7
98.8
104. 2
108. 3
109. 1
97.9
98.9
99.6
98.0
99. 1
99.0
99.3
98.9
98.7
99.3
100.3
101.7
Average___ . . .
97.9
105. 3
98.9
98.3
94. 4
99.3
99.0
99.2
1926
January . . . _____
F ebruary
_____
M arch . . .
____
April
... _ ...
M a y ----------------------June
.
_. .
Ju ly _______________
A ugust . . .
Septem ber _______
October . . . .
N ovem ber .
December . . . _____
93.8
94. 6
90. 6
99.5
102. 6
104.3
101.1
103.2
103. 9
102. 7
101.2
96.7
94. 2
92.9
92. 5
96.2
101. 2
104.3
105.5
106.0
105.3
103.9
101.3
96.1
90.3
89.2
91. 1
97. 7
105. 6
107. 7
108. 7
109.3
106. 7
102.4
98.3
92.5
96.3
100. 3
100. 7
102.6
101.4
101. 7
91. 7
100.8
101. 7
100. 6
101.8
100.4
96.2
98.3
101.7
101. 1
100. 5
101.9
95. 7
97.0
101. 6
103. 1
103. 7
99. 7
102.8
104.4
105. 5
103. 6
101.0
98.8
96. 1
96.9
98.3
98.5
91.8
96.0
104. 5
106. 7
108.3
106.6
101.3
98. 1
96.2
96.0
95.9
98.8
96. 1
90.9
101.8
103.3
104.2
102.1
100.8
99.0
96.9
97.3
99.1
98.3
98.5
98.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
89.7
91.4
95.1
98.1
99.2
99.3
94.7
95.1
95.3
93.7
93.3
89.1
89.4
87.4
92.5
96.2
98.6
100. 7
101.7
101.6
100.8
98. 1
94.5
88.1
85.8
83.9
90.7
99.0
103. 3
103.4
102. 8
100.2
97. 1
92.2
89.5
83.7
97.2
102.2
101.9
99.0
97.1
96.1
76.4
88.8
90. 5
92.3
94.6
97.3
90.7
95.8
97.7
97.5
96.0
96.0
91.3
90.4
93. 5
94.3
96.3
91.4
94.8
94.9
91.0
96. 3
95.9
93.0
91.8
92.3
91.3
90. 2
88.1
88.2
88.0
90.5
94.2
92. 7
90.5
88.5
87.1
86.8
87.2
87.7
87.8
86.0
97.7
96.7
98.1
97.8
98.1
94.9
93.7
94.6
92.8
91.1
89.1
89.1
94.5
95.8
94.3
94.5
94.2
92.9
88.9
94.5
83.7
84.3
87.3
89.4
92.7
93.4
90.6
93. 7
93.4
91.6
89.2
87.3
83.3
81.2
83.5
86.2
89.7
92.1
92.6
94.0
91.2
89. 6
86.6
82.8
76.5
76.2
79.8
83.9
89. 1
90.2
90.9
91. 1
89.2
86.4
84.3
80.9
93.7
98. 2
97.0
95.6
95.8
96.2
87.2
94.7
95.3
97.4
96.6
96.2
87.0
88.0
91. 9
93.4
96.0
95. 9
91.0
95.8
97.6
95.0
92.0
91.5
85.6
89.0
90.1
92.5
92.5
92.0
91.7
93.1
94.2
95.8
91.8
98.6
80.0
86.3
89.8
92.0
92.0
89.4
87.2
88.6
89.0
89.5
90.6
90.7
88.0
90.2
90.9
92.6
92.6
93.1
93.6
94.9
96.3
98.4
100.8
101.8
89.7
87.7
84.9
95.3
92.9
92.8
88.8
94.4
A verage____
1927
Jan u ary __________
F e b ru a ry .
_. . . . _
M arch
_____. . .
April _____________
M a y ..
______ _ .
June ______________
J u ly _______________
A u g u s t ___
... _
Septem ber . . . _____
October. __________
N ovem ber
_
December ___ . . .
A verage______
1928
J a n u a r y ______ ____
F e b ru a ry ___________
M arch __________
A p r i l ____ _. ______
M a y ... ________ . .
J u n e ___ ___________
J u ly _______________
A ugust
. . . . . . .
S e p te m b e r .___
October ____ _____
N o v e m b er.. . . ._
D ecem ber____
A verage______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[612]
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
195
T a ble 8 .— M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, T O D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
T o b a c c o p r o d u c ts
Y ear an d m onth
G ro u p
in d e x
V e h ic le s fo r l a n d t r a n s p o r t a t io n
Chewing Cigars
and
and
smoking cigarettes
G ro u p
in d ex
A uto
mobiles
Carriages
Car
Car
building building
and
and
repairing repairing,
electric
steam
1923
J a n u a r y ___________
F e b ru a ry ___________
M arch ___________
April ____________
M a y _______________
June ______________
J u ly _______________
A ugust ___
Septem ber _
October
_ ____
N ovem ber.
December __
... .
120.3
119. 3
120.4
116.2
117.1
117.1
114.3
110.4
115. 7
117.1
118.0
117.3
108.5
108. 4
100. 9
101.1
107.1
107.5
109.2
103.0
103.9
107.4
106.8
100.9
121.5
120. 7
123.0
118.8
117. 9
117.8
114.4
111. 1
117.3
118.3
119.9
119.3
104.8
105.0
109.4
109. 9
111. 0
112.5
110.0
111.6
111.3
111.5
110.0
100.5
80.5
87.8
91. 7
95.7
97.0
96.6
93.5
92. 7
93. S
95.3
95. 7
95. 2
108.4
112.8
116.6
123.0
121.8
118.6
110.9
108.4
101. 7
93.4
94.8
95.5
105.5
111.0
113. 5
116.0
115.0
115.6
112.6
124.6
121.5
123.6
121.8
122.8
126. 2
125. 2
127.5
125.6
126.1
123. 6
116.5
Average ___ _
116.9
105.4
118.3
109. 6
93.0
108.8
112. 7
123.8
1924
Jan u ary __________
F ebruary ____ _ .
M arch
...
April __ __
M ay --------------------June .
. . . . . ...
J u ly ----------------------A ugust . . . _____
Septem ber . ___ _
O ctober.. _ _
N ovem ber
._ . .
D ecem ber___
112.1
113.8
111.4
108.1
107.7
107.7
108.8
108.1
110.9
193.2
113. 3
112.5
109.4
113.6
111.8
110.0
106.0
99.3
102.4
99. 9
103. 7
103.5
102. 6
100.4
113.0
113.4
111.8
107.7
107.9
108.5
109.6
109.1
111.8
103.0
114. 8
114. 1
104.8
104. 8
105.2
103.7
98.9
93.5
91.7
91.8
92.3
93.5
92.3
93.6
99.6
101.8
103. 7
99.3
90.0
80.4
76.6
77. 7
78.3
79.4
77. 6
79.9
88.2
95.0
102.9
101.4
93.4
84.7
83.1
80.2
86.1
90.8
93.0
91. 2
103. 9
101.2
100.5
99.9
100.2
99.7
99.0
98.6
98.3
100.1
99. 8
98.6
110. 3
107.1
100.3
107. 3
106.8
105.1
104. 5
103.7
104.1
105. 3
104. 5
105.1
.
109.8
105.2
110.4
97.2
87.0
90.8
100.0
105.8
1925
Jan u a ry ___ . .
____
F ebruary
M arch ____ _
A pril. . __ . . .
M ay --------------------June ______ ____
J u ly ----------------------A ugust
.. _
Septem ber ___ _
October
. . __
N ovem ber
D ecember
107. 4
108.4
109.3
100.9
107.4
105.8
100. 0
195.0
107.5
111.1
110.5
111.0
98.7
104.6
98.2
94.1
95. 2
93. 7
96.6
97.9
96.4
98. 8
95. 2
94. 4
108.5
108.9
110.8
101.8
109.0
107.5
107. 2
105.9
109.0
112. 8
112. 7
113.3
94.7
95.7
98.6
101.3
101.2
99.0
98.«
99.5
101. 0
103. 7
102. 7
101.6
83.6
84.7
90. 7
98.0
103.5
99.0
98.4
100.0
104.3
110.9
109. 8
104.5
83.2
89.9
96.4
103. 3
99.0
91.3
91.1
103.4
110.3
118.7
108.5
107.3
96.7
98.0
100. 6
100.7
100.5
101.0
98.9
96.7
99.3
100. 5
101. 2
101.5
104.7
ip5. 3
105. 3
104. 1
99.5
99.3
99.0
99.0
98.0
97.3
96.8
99.1
Average
107.5
97.0
109.0
99.8
99.0
100.2
99.6
100.6
1926
J a n u a ry ____________
F e b ru a ry __ _____
M arch _
April ..
M a y . . _ ________
June.
____ . . .
J u ly ----------------------A ugust . . . .
___
Septem ber .
...
October .
. .
N o v e m b er..
___
D ecem ber_________
99.3
104.0
103.0
98.0
98.1
101.3
97.8
94.9
99.4
192.0
101. 4
100.8
95.2
103.2
107.0
101.9
98.7
98.9
99.8
101.8
98.5
99.8
98.2
96.6
99.8
104.0
102.4
98.0
97.9
101. 6
97.4
93.7
99.4
102.1
101.8
101.3
101.6
103.4
105.4
104.5
102. 5
101.0
99. 6
100.2
100.1
97.0
93.3
90.6
104.8
107.2
109. 9
106,4
102.4
100.8
98.2
100. 7
100.4
96.6
88.8
83.7
101.4
106.1
103. 0
102.5
98.5
95.2
110.8
113.5
113.1
100.4
79.7
75.4
100.7
100.3
100. 7
101.8
101.5
99. 1
99.3
98.9
99.0
99.4
99.1
100.1
99.0
100. 5
102.1
103.2
102.8
101.5
100.4
99.4
99.6
98.3
97.3
96.4
100.0 1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Average
Average______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 613 ]
196
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 8 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
V e h ic le s f o r l a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n — C ontinued
T o b a c c o p r o d u c t s —C ontd.
Y ear a n d m o n th
G ro u p
in d e x
Chewing Cigars
and
and
smoking cigarettes
G ro u p
in d e x
Car
Car
building
A uto Carriages building
and
and
mobiles
repairing, repairing,
steam
electric
1927
J a n u a r y ___________
F eb ru ary _____ _
M a r c h ..
___ _ _
A p r il_________ .
M a y ___________ . . .
J u n e . ..
______ _
Ju ly _______________
A u g u s t .. . _________
Septem ber_________
O ctober. _ _ ______
N ovem ber___ ______
December . . . _____
90.9
97.7
97. 5
95.3
96.3
98.8
98.8
91.7
102.6
104. 9
104.1
98.7
97.3
104. 2
103. 1
95.5
93.8
94.0
92.0
96.0
96.2
100.8
100.0
99.3
89.8
96.6
96. 6
95. 1
96.6
99.4
99.8
91.0
103.4
105.3
104. 5
98.6
89.0
93.5
94.6
95.2
95.3
93.3
90.2
91.0
89.6
88.7
84.2
85.0
83.9
94.5
98. 6
99.3
99.6
94.4
88.6
92. 1
89.4
88. 5
.81.0
84.6
68.1
79.9
81.1
79.8
80.6
76.7
73.6
78.9
82.9
81.4
80.0
81.4
99.3
100.5
100.9
100.9
99.7
101.2
101.8
102.4
102.4
101.5
100. 2
99.7
93.4
92.8
91.5
91.8
92.0
92.5
91.6
89.9
89.1
88.4
86.0
84.4
A verage______
98.1
97.7
98.1
90.8
91. 2
78.7
100.9
90.3
1928
Ja n u a ry .. -------------F e b ru a ry ___________
M arch _____________
A pril............. ................
M a y _______ ____ _
J u n e _______________
J u ly _______________
A ugust ___________
S e p te m b e r.. ______
O ctober____________
N ovem ber_________
D ecem ber__________
91.2
95.1
96.0
93.5
94.5
95.3
90.2
96.8
98.9
101. 3
101.2
98.0
102.5
104.6
100.8
96.8
92.9
92.9
86.7
91.8
92.6
92. 7
93.7
94.0
89.5
93.6
95.1
92.9
94.6
95.5
90.5
97.5
99.8
102.4
102. 1
98.5
86.8
90.7
93.2
94.7
97.6
97.7
97.0
100.2
101.5
100. 3
95.5
94.6
91.8
100. 6
104. 9
107.6
113.8
113.8
113.7
120.8
124.3
122.6
111.5
110.0
65.3
73.1
74.9
76.6
70. 2
73.8
74.9
82.8
89.0
82.4
80.6
77.3
98.0
98.2
98.3
97.3
96.3
95.5
94.1
93.3
92.8
92.7
92.2
90.5
82.7
82.4
83.5
84.4
85.0
85.3
84.0
83.9
83.4
82.7
82.7
82.5
A verage______
96.0
95.2
96.0
95.8
111.3
76.7
94.9
83.5
M is c e l la n e o u s i n d u s t r i e s
Y e a r a n d m o n th
G ro u p
in d e x
A g ricu l
tu ra l im
p le m en ts
E le c tric a l
m a c h in e ry
1923
P ian o s
123.2
126.5
126.0
122.3
114.5
107.7
108. 6
111.3
110.2
105.3
116.7
91.1
108.6
104.0
102.9
103.4
102.2
97.4
92.6
88.3
88.6
89.7
91.1
89.8
90.7
109.7
107.6
106.8
102.5
93.5
89.6
85.2
94.8
97.5
100.8
104.2
106.7
104.6
99.9
93.2
89.4
87.0
83.0
73.0
51.7
61.6
62.7
92.2
94.5
82.2
85.2
87.0
86.8
86.3
84.1
82.0
89.4
97.7
96.6
92.6
93.7
103.1
101.4
99.1
89.1
88.8
86.9
80.6
80.0
82. 5
83.8
87.3
95. 1
99.9
82.7
88.6
90.2
94.3
96.8
99.8
101.2
101.2
100.7
102.2
102.0
103.7
103.9
105.4
104.9
100.2
101.1
104.0
103.6
103.1
103.8
105.1
106.1
108.5
108. 2
109.7
110.2
103. 3
101.3
101.3
F e b ru a ry ...... ...........
M arch ___________
A pril____ ________
M ay . __________
June -.
______
J u ly _____________
A ugust__________
Septem ber___
O ctober.. ______
N ovem ber
___
D ecem ber.- ..........
98.2
99.8
98.9
98.9
90.5
87.6
84.4
82.9
84.9
86.6
87.6
90.1
95.0
97.0
97.3
90.6
81.7
71.4
65.6
67.7
69.4
74.5
78.9
84.9
Average.........
90.7
81.2
A p ril._ ---------------M a y ______________
J u n e - - - _________
J u ly ______________
A u g u s t.- ----------S e p te m b e r _____
O c to b e r.,- N o v e m b e r...............
D e c e m b e r_________
A v erag e.
1924
J a n u a r y . -----------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
S h ip
b u ild in g
109.1
109.0
116.7
116.6
112.9
113.6
109.7
104.5
101.2
102.9
104.7
102.0
98.6
110.6
115. 4
115.1
112.7
107.6
99.8
95.3
91.0
88.0
90. 1
91.6
_
A u to m o
bile tires
102.6
107.5
108.4
106.9
105.3
99.0
88.8
76.7
73.0
71.8
73.9
79.1
103.5
105.6
110. 6
110.3
108.7
107.4
103.8
98.8
96.6
97.2
98.8
98.6
F eb ru ary
R ubber
bo o ts
[ 614 ]
99.5
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
197
T a ble 8 .— M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S OP E M P L O Y M E N T 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —Con.
M isc e lla n e o u s in d u s tr ie s —C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
G ro u p
¡índex
Agricul
tu ral im
plem ents
Electrical
m achinery
Pianos
R u b b er
boots
A utom o
bile tires
Ship
building
1925
J an u a ry . ____ _
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch______ ____
A pril. .
_______
M ay _____ . . .
J u n e .. __________
Ju ly _____________
A ugust
Septem ber . ____
October________
N ovem ber
.
D ecem ber________
92.9
95.1
98.3
97.4
98.1
93.9
93.9
93.2
93.1
92.1
94. 9
97.3
86. 5
91.6
94.8
95.6
93. 1
89.9
86.5
91. 5
93.4
96.3
100.4
103.5
91.1
91.2
90.8
91.3
89.5
87. 7
87.6
88. 7
91.8
95.8
99.3
100.7
104.2
102.7
102.3
100.4
97.1
96.7
89. 5
81. 5
99.1
103.8
104. 4
105.6
98.6
102.9
100.8
98.8
95.9
94.6
93.2
87.9
93.8
94.3
99.4
105.4
93.7
96.6
98.3
100. 5
105. 6
107.2
108.4
110.7
107. 5
99. 5
97.4
100.8
93.4
96.3
98.3
100.1
96.9
92.8
93.6
90.6
87.3
84.8
86.6
91.1
A v e r a g e .__
94.6
93.6
92. 1
98.9
97. 1
102.2
92.6
1926
Ja n u a ry _________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch .. __ _ . . .
A pril. __________
M a y ____________
Ju n e ____ _____ _
J u ly _____________
A ugust ___ _ .
Septem ber . . . . .
October
____
N ovem ber _ . . .
D ecem ber.. _. _.
100.2
101.7
101.5
99.8
98.7
97.9
98.5
97.7
99.6
100.7
101.9
104.3
107. 5
109.0
107. 5
106. 5
102.3
99.5
93.3
95.2
94.4
94.3
95.0
94.9
100.8
100. 5
100.2
98.3
98.0
98.0
97.7
98.8
100.7
104.1
102. 6
100.3
103.7
101.7
101.1
100.1
98.5
98.7
92.4
97.2
99.4
102.2
102.8
102.2
108.2
105.5
107.9
106. 3
103.7
100.6
74.8
93.7
97.3
98.2
101.3
102.9
102.6
103.6
101.8
101.6
98.2
97.3
98.9
101.2
104.6
102. 6
94.3
92.8
96.6
100.0
100.8
98.3
98.0
97.5
97.4
96.2
97.8
98.9
105. 5
113.5
Average
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1927
J a n u a ry .. --------F eb ru ary ________
M arch.
A p ril..
. . .
M a y . -------------June
._ . .
J u ly _____________
A ugust
. ______
Septem ber ______
October _______
N ovem ber_______
D ecem ber. ______
104.0
105.9
105.9
105.2
103.5
102.0
97.3
95. 7
94.4
93.8
92.7
93.4
95.0
97.9
97.9
95.0
92.4
90.7
86.4
87.7
85.1
88.8
89.8
95.9
97.6
96.4
95.0
94.7
93.9
96.0
93.2
93.6
95.1
96.4
95.6
93.2
98.2
94.9
92.0
88.9
87.3
87.3
83.4
88.2
90.0
92.4
93.1
89.5
104.4
104.3
102.2
100.8
101.5
100.9
94.0
94.2
104.3
107.4
110.2
115. 1
93.3
95.0
96.4
101.8
105. 6
103.6
101.5
100.5
97.2
93.0
88.6
90.8
114.5
119.0
119.5
116.6
112. 1
108.3
101.3
97.0
93.7
92.2
91.1
92.4
99.5
91.9
95.1
90.4
103.3
97.3
104.8
92.0
90.6
89.7
90.0
89.8
90.0
89.8
90.4
91.7
93.2
94.0
97.9
100.0
103.5
106.8
106.9
106. 9
107. 5
104.9
104.3
103. 5
109.0
111.7
116.6
90.5
89.4
90.0
89.4
90.1
91.3
90.7
94.4
98.0
99.9
100.6
102.5
77.9
80.3
78.0
79.2
76.7
75.6
68.0
75.7
76.6
78.0
80.6
78.7
111.0
108.4
99.1
102.3
99.8
91.7
97.8
93.8
99.4
102. 3
104.0
103.3
95.7
99.6
100.7
99.2
99.7
102.4
106.9
109.4
109.8
108. 6
103.9
103.9
89.4
84.6
82.0
83.3
82.6
81.9
80.2
78.2
78.4
79.8
82.6
90.2
91.6
106. 8
93.9
77.1
101.1
103.3
82.8
Average . _
1928
Jan u a ry .
. _ .
F ebruary . _____
M arch
A p ril___ __ __ _ _
M av
June __ . . . . . . .
J u ly -------------------A ugust ________
Septem ber _ . . .
October _ _____
N ovem ber_______
D ecem ber________
A verage..
.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
•
[ 615 ]
198
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
T a ble 9 .—M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F PA Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S
[M onthly average, 1926 = 100]
Food a n d kin dred p rod u cts
G eneral
index
Y ear and m onth
1923
Jan u ary ___________
F e b ru a ry _______ ____
M arch
April
M a y -----------------------June _ _ ___ ____
J u ly ________________
A ugust ___________
Septem ber _______ _
O ctober________ ____
N ovem ber____ _
__
D ecem ber _________
G roup
índex
Slaugh
tering
Confec
tionery
95.8
99.4
104.7
105. 7
109.4
109. 3
104.3
103.7
104.4
106.8
105.4
103.2
100.6
98.8
101.1
101.6
103.3
106. 6
107.2
106.0
111.3
113.4
114.0
111.6
117.2
108.8
110.4
112. 3
114.0
119.3
120. 1
118. 1
120. 5
121.7
128.4
129.7
101. 5
91. 7
88.7
84.5
91.3
120.4
137.5
129.1
118.0
Ice
cream
Flour
B aking
Sugar
86.9
94. 7
105. 9
109. 1
105.0
96. 6
91.2
86.9
85.7
105.4
104.0
107. 0
104.9
104. 2
104. 8
106.9
116.9
119.0
124.2
118.3
115.1
83. 6
88. 6
91. 3
89.2
94. 2
98.2
100.9
96.7
100.3
98.5
98.8
97.3
118.3
120.6
116.4
103.7
92.5
101.6
106.8
99.9
81.8
104.3
106.3
118. 4
107.0
95.8
110.9
94.8
104.6
1924
Jan u ary __________
F e b ru a ry __ ________
M arch _____________
A pril_______________
M a y -----------------------June . . _
J u ly ------------------------A ugust _ _
Septem ber ______ _
__ _ _
O ctober____
N ovem ber
D ecem ber______ _
98.6
103.8
103. 3
101.1
96. 5
90.8
84.3
87.2
89.8
92.4
91.4
95.7
106. 0
107.0
105.1
101.1
101.8
104.2
104.5
102.2
106.2
103.8
103. 6
106.7
122.4
118.2
113.0
106.7
108.2
109. 8
111.6
106.0
106. 2
105. 6
111. 5
121.9
101.3
99.8
100.6
91.0
87.2
90.8
88.1
94.4
113.2
117.9
105.8
108.9
82. 1
84. 0
87. 2
93.3
98.9
104.9
112. 5
108.4
98.0
87.5
81.3
79.3
111.9
112. 1
110. 2
103. 9
101.2
103.0
104. 2
109. 1
114.7
113.4
108.1
106.3
95.5
98.6
98.6
97.5
98.1
100.0
99.9
96.6
102.1
98.1
98. 6
96.8
77.9
112.3
110.9
107.6
117.4
123.1
113.3
113.3
113.6
99.9
89.5
86.5
Average___
_ _
94.6
104.4
111. 8
99.9
93. 1
108.2
98.4
105.4
1925
Jan u a ry __ _______
Febru ary
_____
M arch . _
_ __
A pril __ _
M ay ----------------------June __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
J u ly ________________
A ugust .
Septem ber
_ _
O ctober.
___ _ __
N ovem ber_______ __
December . . . ___
93.9
99. 3
100. 8
98.3
98.5
95.7
93.5
95.4
94.4
100. 4
100.4
101.6
102.3
100.9
98.7
93.4
96.4
99.5
98.9
98.9
99.1
103. 9
103. 5
103.1
115.5
107.9
100.7
94.3
97.2
100. 8
100.8
100. 2
96.9
102.8
107.2
106.9
95.7
97.9
98.0
83.7
87.8
86.3
80.7
91.0
100.5
113.3
110.8
110.8
77.5
79.7
84. 6
90.2
98.9
122.6
123.1
114.8
111.9
96.2
91.4
88.3
106.3
109.4
102.3
94. 1
93.5
95.7
102. 1
102. 1
103.5
111. 1
105.9
104.1
94.9
94.6
95.6
93.9
96.9
98. 8
97.3
95.6
97.4
102.1
99.0
98.9
86.9
104.2
115.3
107.0
110.6
109.0
107.2
108.8
105.6
98.7
100.6
100.9
97.7
99.9
102.6
96.4
98.3
102.5
97.1
104.6
98.0
102.2
103. 4
101.5
99.8
99.7
95.2
98. 7
99.3
102.9
99.6
99.8
100.3
99.0
98.0
94. 5
97.9
100.1
99. 7
99.7
102. 7
104.4
102.1
101.5
106.6
100.6
96.8
92.4
96.3
98.9
98.8
97.9
102.0
101. 7
103.2
105.2
98.4
100.1
98.7
90.9
91.6
91.3
87.2
92.4
107.5
120.0
112.7
109.3
86.8
88.0
91.2
94.4
107.9
116.8
120. 8
118. 7
106. 6
98.9
86.3
84.2
101.1
97.9
96.8
92. 6
92.6
94.1
99.6
107.0
106.0
109.1
104.4
98.9
96.7
97.5
99. 1
96.8
100.6
103.0
102.1
99.2
101.5
103.0
100.8
100.1
95.0
109.5
109.1
106.4
105.0
104.1
97.3
100.3
94.4
98.0
91.9
88.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Average ........ .
Average ____
1926
Jan u a ry . . .
Febru ary ____ _____
M arch
A pril_________ _ ___
M a y -----------------------J u n e _______ _______
J u ly ________________
A ugust ___
_ _ _
S eptem ber. . . . _____
October. ._ _ __
N ovem ber
._ _____
D e c e m b e r________ .
Average______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 616]
199
EM PLOYM ENT IN M ANUFACTURING IN D U STRIES
T able 9 . - -M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S
T R IE S ,. A N U A R Y , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S -
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts —C ontinued
Y ear a n d m o n th
G e n e ra l
in d e x
G ro u p
in d e x
Slaugh
tering
Confec
tionery
94.9
100. 6
102.0
100. 8
99.8
97.4
93. 0
95.0
94.1
95.2
91.6
93.2
98.8
98.2
97.0
95.9
98.8
102. 8
101.8
99.9
102.2
102. 7
101.1
100.9
103.8
99.4
95.4
94.7
98.3
103.7
104.4
99. 1
99. 2
98. 1
99.6
102.7
97.9
96.9
95.2
87.9
90.3
93.7
86. 3
91.6
108.1
111.8
107.1
107.6
82.5
82.4
86.3
91. 1
98. 5
106.0
111. 7
107.2
100.0
90.0
S4. 0
80.9
97.5
96. 9
95.8
92.6
96.9
98.6
98.1
100.3
102. 5
108. 3
103. 7
102.0
98.1
100 7
101. 5
100. 9
101.8
104. 6
103.0
101.8
104. 4
105. 0
103 4
100. 9
87 4
91 7
95 7
98 8
105. 4
109. 2
105 6
104.8
99 6
101 8
95 1
90.1
A verage_______
96.5
100.0
99.9
97.9
93.4
99.4
102.2
98.8
1128
Jan u a ry . _________
F ebruary _______ __
M a r c h .. ______ _
April . ____
M ay . . . __________
June ___ ___ _
J u ly ------------------------A ugust . . . _______
Septem ber. ______
O ctober_____
_
N ovem ber. . . .
December. _______
89.6
93.9
95.2
93.8
94.1
94.2
91.2
94.2
95.4
99.0
96.1
97. 7
98.0
99.9
98.9
94.8
97.0
99.5
99. 9
98.3
101.2
103. 2
102.3
104.4
101.5
105.4
95.5
96.4
101.5
101.4
96.8
98. 8
99.5
103.3
110.3
92.1
93.3
91.9
82.5
98 9
99 9
100. 7
98. 1
102. 0
103. 2
89.9
84.0
82. 1
102. 3
100. 3
101.4
96. 6
98.1
96. 1
100. 6
104. 2
106. 0
111.4
104. 2
104.0
91
96
95
89
79.9
84.0
98. 2
112.7
106. 4
106.0
81. 1
79.5
82.9
89. 5
95.9
103.3
116.2
111.9
100 7
104 0
104 2
103. 0
101.7
101 7
94.5
99.8
101.0
93.3
93.1
102.1
101. 6
94.9
1! 27
Ja n u a ry _____________
F ebruary __________
M arch __ ___
A p ril____________ _
M a y -----------------------June _______________
J u ly . ______________
A ugust____________ _
Septem ber . . . . . _
October
____
N o v e m b er. ______
D ecem ber________
A v e ra g e ______
101.1
86.0
86.8
Ice
cream
Flour
101.0
Baking
102.2
Sugar
86.1
4
9
1
0
88 3
98 8
100 0
9fi 4
90 9
97.8
T extiles a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts
Y e a ra n d m o n th
G ro u p
in d e x
C o tt o n
goods
H o
s ie r y
S ilk
goods
W o o le n
goods
C ar
p e ts
D ye
in g
8 4 .0
89. 5
9 4 .0
9 6 .4
9 8 .4
9 5 .0
8 5 .8
.7
8 7 .3
91 .4
92. 5
94. 0
8 5 .4
91. 0
9 4 .9
9 5 .7
9 9 .8
9 8 .2
92. 6
93 .9
9 5 .2
96. 3
92. 1
9 1 .6
118.1
120. 3
122.3
124. 3
138. 1
136.2
130.0
123. 6
125.6
128. 5
126. 1
127.8
110.4
104.6
107.4
104.6
113.2
.8
108. 3
109.0
112. 3
115. 6
115.2
108.1
101.8
9 1 .3
9 3 .9
126. 7
110.1
8 9 .2
9 4 .0
9 4 .5
9 2 .4
8 9 .9
96 .3
93 .4
9 0 .4
.6
83. 5
76 .5
8 4 .8
8 7 .0
9 3 .4
.2
9 2 .6
121. 3
124.3
119.8
1923
J a n u a r y ________
F e b ru a ry .. M a r c h __________
A p r il _ ......... ...........
M a y _____ ______
June ..
J u l y ------------------A u g u s t - . _____
S e p te m b e r ___ .
O c t o b e r - . _____
N o v e m b e r _____
D ecem ber _ _
113. 7
114.9
109. 3
112.0
120.5
120. 7
123. 3
127. 2
135.9
130. 0
119.0
120.9
125.2
116.0
116. 2
126. 5
A v e r a g e ..
116.4
123. 5
1924
J a n u a r y ________
F e b ru a ry 7 . . . .
M arch . . . .
A p r i l . ________
M a y ..
_
J u n e . ___ __ _
J u l y ------------------A u g u s t ________
S e p te m b e r . . _.
O c t o b e r . . _____
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r ______
113.3
117.2
112.8
104. 5
90. 7
91.9
83.8
91.3
97.2
101. 4
96. 6
105.1
122.6
120.0
111. 0
A v e 'a g e . .
114. 8
119. 1
123.6
119. 4
122.1
119.1
114.8
114.1
101.0
104.8
9 7 .8
90. 1
79. 1
83. 7
8 8 .4
9 5 .8
94. 1
107.9
j
99. 6 J
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
86
8 2 .9
9 8 .3
103.8
129.4
136. 7
143.0
125. 7
129.4
138. 5
135. 8
128.6
123. 7
.8
113.2
114. 5
9 9 .9
128.4
9 1 .2
9 8 .0
94. 2
9 3 .0
126.2
130.3
123. 5
103 .0
9 9 .2
114 .0
113.1
103. 7
104.5
108. 0
100.2
96 .1
8 7 .5
9 3 .0
88
122.4
124.8
130. 9
8 3 .2
79. 7
8 2 .5
9 2 .3
9 6 .3
9 6 .6
105. 9
88.6
114. 1
9 5 .2
9 1 .8
110.1
107. 0
100. 6
9 4 .8
102.3
111.2
[617]
100
88.8
117. 7
117.3
123. 1
124. 7
123.4
119.9
117.1
103.4
112.5
121. 7
133 0
137 0
152. 9
145 8
137.9
132.4
128. 9
131 2
133. 8
126 6
116 0
113.1
136. 2
148. 6
155. 6
133.1
115. 7
106. 6
119. 0
126. 7
113.1
129. 6
107. 6
100.7
117.1
124.4
133.1
129. 7
132.4
130.1
126. 2
116. 2
105.1
104.1
102. 9
.2
104.5
92. 7
103. 0
9 3 .3
8 4 .4
7 3 .9
.5
9 3 .2
9 3 .8
9 9 .3
121. 3
133. 8
132. 5
.1
98. 1
84. 3
76 .1
105. 8
116.4
116. 5
9 5 .3
102. 9
110. 3
113.3
111. 0
9 7 .5
108.6
117.1
100.0 121
104.4
112.9
118.3
103.7
93. 5
77. 1
71 .7
76 .5
8 5 .4
9 5 .0
.2
103. 1
86.6 86
79. 7
6 2 .6
68 .5
73. 2
80. 7
8 3 .9
8 9 .4
112
101.3
C lo th
C lo th
M ill i
in g ,
S h ir ts
in g ,
n ery
m e n ’s
w o m e n ’s
111.1
110.0
110.8
111.0
108.9
102.8
112.2
110.0 88
120
122.2
122
112.1
200
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 9 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
C ontinued
T extiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts —C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
i
G ro u p Cottoni H o
in d e x goods | siery
Silk Woolen
goods goods
C ar
pets
D y e
ing
C loth M illi
C loth
ing, Shirts | ing,
w omen’s nery
m en’s
1925
J anuary - - ___
February ___
M arch . _____
April __ _ _
M a y __
___
June
______
J u ly ---------------A ugust
- Septem ber .
October
N ovem ber __
D e ce m b e r.. . .
106. 9
111.9
112.9
106.1
103.3
98.7
98.8
101. 5
96.9
105.1
101.3
101.8
107.9
108.9
109.6
108. 8
106.0
99.3
91. 0
91.5
84. 1
98. 6
101.5
105. 8
88.0
95.0
98. 1
95. 6
97. 1
94.1
90. 1
94.8
92.9
102.4
104. 2
104. 3
92.8
99. 2
102.8
101. 5
103.4
98.8
101.5
106.8
100.0
109.0
107.4
109. 1
126.5
123. 2
117.4
112. 7
109.8
105.3
105.3
102.8
100.4
106. 5
108.6
108.2
107.5
107.2
108.7
105.8
105.0
98.9
92.3
94.4
93. 1
97.9
101. 8
101.3
105.9
107.8
110.0
105.4
102.2
94.3
94. 1
93.9
94.5
107.8
105.4
106. 3
107.1
116. 8
115.5
96. 5
93.7
106.4
109. 5
114.8
106. 3
102.2
98.8
102.3
95.9
102.3
106.3
105.3
108.2
101.4
100.9
96.7
94.7
106.0
109.1
112.1
113.1
127.0
130.3
111. 2
95.3
86.6
103.6
110.9
109. 5
118.5
107.7
98.3
124.6
128.6
136.4
132.2
120.0
112.8
105.3
109.2
102.9
105.6
106.0
106. 5
A v erag e..
101.3
101. 1
96.4
102. 7
110. 6
101.2
102. 3
105.8
103.2
109.3
115.8
1926
J a n u a ry .
F e b r u a r y __. .
M arch
__
April
M ay ______ -June
J u ly ------ --------A ugust_______
Septem ber...
October
N ovem ber ._
D ecem ber-------
105.7
108.3
108.3
101.5
96.7
91.8
88.7
93.8
96.5
102.6
98.7
103. 8
105.4
106.7
108.0
106. 3
98. 5
95.6
85.2
88. 1
96.4
101.0
102. 3
106.9
98.7
104. 4
104. 9
101. 4
101.5
98.5
89. 5
95.3
94. 6
103.7
103.9
103.6
107.9
108.9
105. 1
98.8
97.7
93.0
91. 5
97. 1
96. 6
104. 0
99. 7
99. 7
107. 4
98. 7
96.4
93.8
93.9
94. 7
94.3
94. 7
97.7
110.5
108.0
110.4
104.0
100.9
102.0
100.9
94. 5
94. 1
88.7
95. 5
98. 1
101.9
109.5
109. 6
104. 5
106. 5
106. 3
102.5
97.8
94. 1
89.0
93. 1
98.0
102. 7
102.2
102.8
105.9
110. 1
107. 6
93. 1
88.7
99.9
98.8
105.9
99.6
98. 7
90.9
101.3
109.6
109.4
108.7
107.4
101.4
97.2
90.9
87.4
90.3
99. 6
100.7
97.5
108.1
120. 1
123.5
105.0
96. 1
88. 2
78.6
91.8
95.9
104. 2
86.4
101.7
109.7
116.0
119.4
116.6
103.3
88.3
84.4
87.6
95.6
92.3
90.1
95.9
A v erag e..
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1927
Ja n u a ry . . . . . .
F eb ru ary . . . . .
M arch .
A p ril-------------M ay ________
Ju n e. .
. . ..
J u ly __________
A ugust
.. . .
Septem ber .. ..
October
. .
N ovem ber..
D ecem ber .
103.1
109.1
109.1
103.5
101. 3
100. 3
97.2
100.7
103.1
105.0
100.5
102.3
106.0
109.9
111.6
110.0
109. 6
109. 3
106. 3
107.2
108.8
110. 2
107.4
106. 2
99.8
105.0
106. 3
104. 7
105.6
102.2
90.2
95.5
98.8
106.8
106. 1
105.7
95. 7
102.8
104.7
99. 5
101. 7
99. 2
95. 1
98.3
98. 1
98.9
94. 7
101. 2
107.7
108. 5
102.3
98.1
97.0
98.2
93.0
98.4
99.6
101.9
100.9
102.0
106.4
109. 5
109. 1
104. 6
106.4
104.8
97. 2
102.6
100.0
99.7
101.4
107.3
101. 5
106.3
107.0
105. 7
101. 2
99.6
94.9
98. 5
103. 2
106.2
104. 2
105.3
101.3
108.0
104. 5
86.5
86. 5
99.2
101. 8
104.0
100.9
96.8
86.0
91.8
94.7
97.7
97.9
95. 6
94.8
93.2
92.9
92.4
94. 1
100.5
100. 5
100.9
109.2
124.3
127.7
115.5
102.4
90.0
93.5
98.6
108.6
112.3
101.7
104.6
100. 5
106.8
105. 1
104.5
96.8
90.8
82.6
92.9
100. 1
97.3
90.7
93.6
A v erag e..
103.0
108.5
102. 2
99.2
100.6
104. 1-
102.8
97.3
96.3
107.4
96.8
1928
Ja n u a ry ----- .
F e b ru a ry .. . .
M arch. ---------April . . ---- . .
M ay --------------J u n e _________
J u ly __________
A ugust
. ___
Septem ber ___
October
N ovem ber . ..
D ecem ber_____
99.1
102.6
101.2
93.7
91.9
91.6
87.1
90. 3
93.2
99.5
96.5
99.5
99. 8
98.0
95.4
91.4
87.5
85.7
84.8
82.7
86.4
93. 1
96.3
99.8
100.1
102.4
101. 5
95.9
96.4
96. 2
85.1
90.0
94.1
102.4
101.0
101.9
94.4
104.3
106. 6
100. 1
100. 5
100.9
93.4
98.3
99.2
104.3
97.6
102.7
98.5
98.0
91.4
87.7
93.2
94.4
88.5
91.0
89.2
99. 1
99.9
102. 2
101.3
100. 1
101.3
93.5
93. 2
87.0
85.7
89.6
93.3
100.0
101.7
104.6
100.6
105.6
105.7
100.5
100.2
95. 6
91.6
94. 1
97.3
104.0
106.7
109. 7
95.3
99.0
94. 7
77.7
78. 7
90.4
89.2
92.6
90.8
88.7
81.3
89.0
92.0
95. 7
95.4
89.9
88.9
86.3
79.7
82.6
85.8
95.0
94.4
93.2
109.6
118.3
120.3
108. 1
97.9
91.5
89.9
96.8
105.7
117.8
102.9
103. 5
91.6
101.9
104.5
105. 1
94.3
89.3
77.6
88.3
97.3
90.4
86.6
85.4
95.6
91.7
97.3
100.2
94.4
95.9
101.0
89.0
89.9
105. 2
92.7
Average.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 618]
201
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T a ble 9 .—M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R \ G E S C ontm ued
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts
Y ear and m o n th
index
Iron
and
steel
Castiron
pipe
Struc
tural
Foundry
and m a
chineshop
products
H ard M achine Steam
ware
tools
fittings
Stoves
1923
J a n u a ry __________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch ___________
A p ril____________
M a y _____________
J u n e _____________
J u ly _____________
A ug u st__________
Septem ber________
O ctober__________
N ovem ber________
D ecem ber________
90.2
95.7
102.7
105.3
105.0
107.3
103.7
101.3
87.1
92. 1
94.5
92.0
104. 1
105. 6
91.1
101. 2
98. 8
103. 8
101. 0
96. 0
76.8
79.2
85.7
93. 3
94.4
100.6
98.3
99.9
98. 7
100.8
96.3
90. 1
102.7
97.3
Ja n u a ry __________
F e b ru a ry _________
M arch...................... .
A p ril_____________
M a y -------------------Ju n e _____________
J u ly ______________
A ug u st___________
Septem ber________
O ctober__________
N ovem ber________
D ecem ber_____ . . . .
95.5
100.9
102.4
100.7
93.8
84.5
74.6
77.8
79.3
83.8
84.3
91.0
Average_____
90.6
95. 7
94.4
95.5
93. 6
96.7
93.7
91.0
94.8
100. 7
107.1
112.8
116.8
118.8
116. 8
115.0
114.4
113.8
109. 3
108. 6
88.1
95. 5
98. 4
99. 2
104. 8
106. 2
101.9
105.4
104.7
108.7
105.3
105.4
95.5
97.3
91.5
73. 5
88.8
88.6
85.0
87.4
102.7
102.4
98.7
93.8
97.8
99.9
94. 6
94.4
10ft 8
114 8
129 7
121 1
121. 1
119.5
99.2
101. 7
111.5
116.5
115.4
114.8
92.8
93.9
110.7
102.0
88.5
98.0
113.9
97.5
107. 8
110. 2
107. 3
96. 3
80. 1
69. 7
77.2
79. 8
86.4
87. 3
96. 2
96.8
101.9
102.0
100.3
101.9
100.7
93.0
97.0
105.2
98.4
91. 8
84.8
86.9
89.3
87. 1
87.9
87. 6
89.8
83.9
86.5
85. 1
85. 1
79.5
86.6
95.9
96.0
96.6
96. 1
91.7
87.0
78.2
78.2
77.5
80.4
81.7
87.6
104.0
106.9
108.5
105.3
102.4
93.9
82.3
80.9
84. 7
90. 5
93.8
95. 1
83.6
85.8
86. 1
84.4
80.9
77.5
66.9
57.8
65.3
67. 2
69. 1
74.4
92.7
100. 5
105.0
104. 8
102.2
97.8
90.9
91.6
94.4
97. 4
83.0
84. 2
88.4
110. 7
115.1
110.4
106.0
99. 7
75.6
88.0
99. 1
110. 0
103. 6
105.6
89.1
91. 3
97.8
86.3
87.2
95.7
74.9
95.4
101.0
Ja n u a ry __________
F e b ru a ry _________
M arch ____________
A p ril_____________
M ay _____________
J u n e _____________
J u ly ______________
A u g u st___________
Septem ber______ _
O ctober___________
N ovem ber________
D ecem ber_________
92.3
95.8
96.7
93.8
94.3
91.3
87.1
89.5
87.9
95.1
95.6
99.7
101. 1
102. 4
102. 9
100. 1
98. 2
91. 9
85. 8
90. 6
89. 2
96. 4
96. 0
102. 2
88.9
95.4
96.0
96. 5
97.8
97.7
95.8
99.4
95.5
101.6
98.8
91.5
83. 1
87.3
88.0
86.9
92.7
94. 5
94. 6
93.8
90.9
96.3
93.2
96.2
86.6
91.0
92. 6
90.6
91.9
91.0
88.2
87.9
85.5
91.7
93.4
96.5
96.5
100.6
101. 1
94.2
99. 9
96. 2
92.6
98.3
92.8
101.2
102. 1
105.7
76.2
78.3
77.5
78.0
79.6
81.1
82.4
77.9
81.3
91. 9
95.8
101. 1
94.3
101. 1
100.7
92.3
95. 1
91.4
92.0
97.0
93.2
106.2
102.0
103.0
81.1
103.3
104.6
90.8
97.5
95.4
77.0
92.3
97.8
112.4
114.0
107. 5
Average ...___
93.3
96.4
96.2
91. 5
90. 6
98.4
83.4
97.4
97.8
97.5
96.6
100.4
101.8
102.4
102.6
103.6
104.9
99.2
101. 1
99.7
97.8
90. 1
88.0
95.8
96.3
97.7
100.0
102. 7
102. 5
105.8
102.0
105. 5
100.6
102.9
95.7
100.9
103.4
102.3
102.0
103.7
98.2
100.0
97.8
100.2
96.3
99.6
103.9
104.8
108. 1
102.2
101.2
97.2
92.0
98.1
96.9
100. 1
99.0
96.1
100.4
101.0
102. 1
101. 9
99,4
99. 1
96.8
90. 1
98.2
102.8
103. 6
104. 5
102.4
104.9
105.0
102.5
100.7
103. 7
96.3
99. 8
100.8
101.1
93.1
89. 6
89. 5
99.4
102.1
105.1
100.1
97.5
83.6
94. 6
102. 7
112.4
110. 9
102.3
100. 0 |
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Average____
100.0
101. 5
108.8
110.6
1924
1925
1926
Ja n u a ry __________
F e b ru a ry _________
M arch ____________
A p ril_____________
M a y _____________
Ju n e ______________
J u ly --------------------A ug u st___________
Septem ber________
O ctober__________
N ovem ber________
D ecem ber_________
95.7
97.5
98.8
102. 3
98.8
99.1
99.8
102. 7
104. 4
103.4
100. 3
99. 2
93. 3
95.1
99. 2
103. 7
100. 2
98. 5
Average_____
100.0
100.0
101.6
103.6
102.7
101.0
101.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[819]
202
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
v b l e 9 .—M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, T O D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
C ontinued
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p rod u cts—C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
Iron
and
steel
G ro u p
in d ex
1927
J a n u a ry ___________
F e b r u a r y ---- -------M arch
___ April . .
____
M ay- _ __________
June___ ____ ____
Ju ly _______________
A ugust----------S e p te m b e r________
October
N ovem ber-. _ . . -D ecem ber_______ __
Castiron
pipe
Struc
tu ra l
Fou n d ry
and m a
chineshop
products
H a rd
ware
M achine Steam
Uttings
tools
Stoves
93.5
99.2
10(1.6
99.2
96.2
94.4
87.0
89.6
87.1
86.8
84.0
85.2
92.3
98. 2
101.2
102.0
96. 5
94.4
83.9
88.0
85.8
85.9
83.8
84.5
84.5
89.7
94. 6
96.1
96. 7
92.8
93.4
90.4
85.9
81.0
73.8
78. 1
92.1
94.4
94.3
91.9
95.7
98.6
95.1
101.4
94. 6
95.5
91. 2
94.7
95.2
101. 4
101. 7
98.2
96.6
94. 6
90. 1
91.0
86.9
85.9
82.7
84.9
94. 5
97.9
98. 2
95.8
93.6
92.2
84.7
84. 7
87.2
88.4
86.3
87.2
100.1
99.6
99. 1
95.3
94.7
93.3
87. 1
80.6
89.6
S9. 3
88.2
90.0
89.1
97.4
96. 2
94.3
94.1
94.5
90.9
95.7
94.8
93.5
82. 0
80.2
84.1
94.6
96.4
94.6
93.7
93.1
73.8
89.4
92.1
95.8
91.3
86.3
91.9
91.4
88. 1
95.0
92.4
90.9
92. 2
91.9
90.4
J u ly _______________
A ugust. _ ________
S e p te m b e r___
October . . . . _ .
N ovem ber.
___
D ecem b er.______ _
82.5
90. 4
92.5
91.8
94.1
93.3
89.1
92.8
92.9
97.9
97.7
98.0
83.5
93.4
95.3
93. 1
95.3
91. 7
86. 5
92. 2
91. 0
96. 7
97. 6
95. 8
66.6
74.6
80.5
80.6
83.1
76. 9
76.0
74. 0
73. 5
76. 3
73. 5
74. 8
87.5
91.4
91. 0
92. 2
97.8
99. 5
97.2
102. 5
100. 8
105.7
104.3
104.9
82.4
88.2
90.8
91. 1
93. 6
94. 8
91.8
93.6
93. 7
97.9
96.8
99.0
83.6
90.9
89.0
85.9
85.6
87.4
81.9
85.6
88. 1
92. 6
94.3
95.8
88.4
94. 1
98. 2
101. 5
104.0
106. 3
103.5
100.8
113.4
120.9
125.6
132.8
75.5
84.9
84.9
82.2
86. 1
85.5
80.4
87.8
82.4
82. 8
78. 1
72.2
67.0
82.7
82.1
84.7
85.3
85.8
74.7
81.1
89.3
100.2
94.2
89.0
Average
92.8
92.7
75.9
97.9
92. 8
88.4
107. 5
81.9
84.7
Average_____
1928
Jan u ary - __ ______
F eb ru ary . . . . ------M arch_____ _______
April ______
. ..
M ay ______________
___
L eather a n d its produ cts
L u m b er a n d its p ro d u cts
Y ear and m onth
1923
Jan u ary - __ __
F eb ru ary
____
M arch . ______
A p r i l . ________ _
M ay . _ ____ J u n e.
______
J u ly . __________
A ugust ________
Septem ber _____
October ________
N ovem ber ______
D ecember . . __
G ro u p
in d e x
Sawmills
M illw ork
F u rn itu re
G ro u p
in d e x
Leather
Shoes
10«. 0
104.6
107.8
106. 8
106. 0
106. 6
107.9
108.0
105.4
89.1
91.9
96.8
102. 3
109. 2
114.1
113.3
112. 6
112.9
113.1
113. 1
109.8
84.5
86.3
90.4
96.4
98.5
100.9
98.8
97.1
96.5
98.6
98.9
99. 5
89.7
92.4
94.8
95. 1
.94.8
93.1
92.1
92.1
93.5
98.0
98.1
96.1
118.3
120.6
123.2
119.7
118. «
113.2
106.5
110.6
110.5
110. 0
106.7
109.2
104.2
108.0
109.7
108.6
110.2
108.9
105.6
103.7
104.7
107.6
106.5
105.8
124.6
126.2
129.2
124.6
121.4
115.2
106.9
113.7
113.1
111. 1
106.8
110.8
Average
102.4
106.5
95. 5
94.2
113.9
107.0
117.0
1924
Ja n u a ry ________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch
_____
A p ril____________
M a y ____________
J u n e ..
_____
J u ly . __________
A ugust
- -_
Septem ber.
___
October
.
N ovem ber ______
D ecem ber
____
96.0
102.6
103.2
104. 3
103.4
101.2
94.1
95.3
97.9
99.9
98. 1
99.0
99.0
105.4
106. 3
107. 9
108. 5
106. 9
99.4
98.5
101. 6
101. 7
99. 6
98. 9
92.9
98.9
101.4
103. 8
102. 3
101.5
94.9
97.3
94.7
98.0
94.0
96.8
88.6
96.0
95. 0
93.5
88.2
83.9
77.4
84.4
88.5
95. 6
96.3
100.8
109.5
110.6
109. 5
100.0
94.5
90.1
88.4
98.9
103.9
104. 7
96.6
100.6
104.8
106.3
104.3
98.8
92.6
90.9
83.7
87.6
90.5
94. 7
94.5
99. 3
111.5
112.5
111.7
100.6
95.4
89.8
90.4
103.7
109.8
109.0
97.4
101.2
Average ____
89. 6
102. 8
98.0
90. 7
100.6
95.7
102. 8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
88.6
91.2
[ 620 ]
EMPLOYM ENT IN M ANUFACTURING IN D U STRIES
203
T a b l e 9 .—M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S OF P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
Continued
L u m b e r a n d its p ro d u c ts —C ontinued
L e a th e r a n d its p r o d u c ts —Con.
Y ear and m o n th
G ro u p
in d e x
1925
J a n u a ry -.- --------F e b ru a ry ______
M arch ------A pril____________
M a y .- _____
June
J u ly -------------------A ugust ________
Septem ber_______
O ctober.-- _
N ovem ber._
___
D ecem ber
A verage..
1926
Ja n u a ry ___ __ . .
F e b ru a ry .___
M a rc h ... ._ _
A pril. __________
M a y ------------------J une
____
J u ly _____________
A ugust- - - -S e p te m b e r.._____
O ctober_________
N ovem ber.
_
D ecem b er.. _____
Average .
Sawmills
M ill work
Fu rn itu re
G ro u p
in d e x
L eather
Shoes
92.3
98.7
190.2
99. G
100.7
102. G
98.9
99. 4
102. 0
104. 8
103.3
102.1
91. 6
98.6
100. 7
101.5
103.9
107.6
103. 1
101.0
104.9
104. 7
101.9
100.4
93.6
99.1
99.0
100.6
101.8
102.5
102.3
104.8
100.8
107.3
104.8
105.5
93.4
98.5
99.5
93.4
90.4
87.6
83.9
91.0
94.3
103.7
106.4
105.4
104.2
109.1
109. 3
100.1
99. 1
93.7
97.0
107.3
103.2
104. 8
97.3
96.0
99.4
103.4
103.2
95.3
95.9
93.4
89.7
94.8
94. 1
99.6
100.3
100.9
106.4
111. 6
112.0
102. 2
100.5
93.9
100.2
112.7
107.1
107.1
96.0
93.9
100.4
101.7
101.8
95.6
101.8
97.5
103.6
93.0
98.0
98.6
99.4
100. 6
102.4
97. G
101.9
102. G
104.4
102.4
98.7
90.8
95.7
96.2
99.3
102. 7
105.4
100.8
103. 7
103.6
103.8
100. 9
96. 5
98.0
101.7
103.8
100. 5
101. 1
102.0
97. 7
101. 8
98.8
100.8
98.5
95.4
96.8
102.4
102.5
99.2
94. 1
93. 1
88.4
96.6
101. 7
108.4
109. 8
107.3
99.0
103.8
102. 7
93.6
90.4
94.2
98.9
106.7
106. 6
106. 6
99. 5
97.9
100. 1
103.0
103. 5
100.3
98.0
95.2
94.9
99.8
100. 5
102. 7
99.8
101.7
98.5
104. 1
102.5
90.8
87. 1
93.8
100.7
109.7
109.2
108.3
99.5
96.4
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
1927
Jan u a ry .
F e b ru a ry .. . . . . . .
M arch __ _
A p ril____ _
M a y ------------------June
.
J u ly _____________
A ugust. .-_ _ _ _.
Septem ber...
October- .........
N ovem ber.. . . . _
D ecem ber. _____
89.2
91.4
92. 7
91. G
94.9
94. 9
91.5
94.7
95.9
9G. 7
94.3
90.1
87.2
89. 1
90. 7
89. 7
95.3
96.0
92.3
94. 5
96. 2
95.8
93.4
88.3
87.4
87.6
88. 5
90.7
92. 5
93.1
89.9
93.4
89. 1
88.9
84.9.
84.2
96.1
101.0
101. 5
98.3
95.0
93.0
90.1
96.3
99.5
104. 6
103. 1
99.5
99.4
105.1
102. 5
95.9
93.2
94.0
98.7
106.3
103. 6
97.3
85. S
87.1
102.0
104. 0
100.9
96. 1
94. 5
95.3
93.9
96. 7
95.0
95.2
94.9
97.8
98.4
105. 7
103.3
95.8
92.6
93.5
100.9
110.4
107.5
98. 1
81.9
82.5
A v e ra g e ... .
93.1
92.4
89.2
98. 2
97.4
97.2
97.6
81.4
84.9
87. G
88.3
89.6
90.2
87.4
90. 1
91. 7
93.6
92.0
88.3
79.9
82. 1
86. 2
88.5
91. 1
91.2
88.6
90.2
91.3
91.8
89. 7
85. 7
76.6
81.4
83.2
86.5
88.8
90.7
87.7
89.2
86.9
87.2
85.2
83. 2
89.1
95. 5
94.8
88.9
85.6
87. 1
83.4
90.4
96.3
103. 3
103.6
99.8
97.6
99.6
99.7
93.2
93.9
91.8
92. 5
92.8
92.8
93.2
87.8
89.0
90.4
97.4
95.6
80.2
76.3
82.0
90. 6
98.0
97.0
92.4
74.5
81.3
88.8
88.0
85.6
93.2
92. G
98.1
96.8
84.2
81.7
85.0
91.2
96.5
95.7
92.6
78. G
83.6
89.7
93.7
88.0
1928
Jan u a ry
______
F e b r u a r y .______
M arch _____ _ . . .
A pril. ____ ____
M a y . . ___ _____
June
J u ly _____________
A ugust .
. _
Septem ber_______
October
__ __ __
N ovem ber . . . . .
D ecem ber____ . . .
A verage____
35895°—29— 14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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204
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 9 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
Continued
P a p e r a n d p r in tin g
C h e m ic a ls a n d a llied p ro d u c ts
Y ear and m onth
G ro u p
in d e x
Paper
Boxes
Book
and job
News
papers
G ro u p
in d e x
C hem
icals
F e rti
lizers
Petro
leum
refining
1923
Jan u ary _________
F eb ru ary ........ ...........
M a rc h ... ________
A p ril_____________
M ay __ _ _______
J u n e . . . _________ _
J u ly ______________
A ugust ______ ____
Septem ber . ___
O c to b e r __
____
N o v e m b e r_______
D e ce m b e r..............
85.9
86.7
89.6
90. 3
91. 1
99.9
90.0
86.8
89.1
91.3
91.2
93.2
90.8
93.1
98.6
100. 9
103.0
103. 1
100.0
98.1
96.5
96.0
94.6
96.0
82.3
83.3
88.5
89. 6
90.3
92. 1
91.9
90.8
93.2
97.4
98.2
98.5
87.0
87.2
88.6
87.9
87.2
86.5
87.5
81.2
87.4
90.2
90.1
92.7
81.7
82. 1
83.4
84.2
85.4
84.8
83.3
81.8
83.6
86.8
87.5
89.8
91.3
93.0
98.7
101.1
101.0
99.0
101. 0
97.3
100.0
101.4
97.0
96.8
89.5
91.2
94.6
95.2
99.0
97.4
96.6
95.2
96.1
102.0
101.5
101.0
80.8
88.2
105.4
108.2
88.2
77.7
87.2
85.1
100.6
96.3
91.0
93.2
96.5
96.6
101.5
105.8
108.8
109.1
110.3
103.8
104.4
102.1
93.7
93.1
A verage_____
89.7
97.6
91.3
87.8
84.5
98.2
96.6
91.8
102.1
1924
Ja n u a ry __ ______
F eb ru ary _________
M arch____________
A p ril_____________
M ay ______________
Ju n e ______________
J u ly ______________
A ugust _________
Septem ber .. . . . . .
O ctober_______ . . .
N ovem ber
D ecem ber. . .
___
92.6
92.9
93.5
93.2
92.1
90.6
86.7
87.1
96.8
92.6
92.7
95.2
94.5
98.6
98.7
97.2
95.8
92.9
86. 1
89.5
91.9
96.0
94. 7
96.8
92.8
93.2
96.0
93.8
90.5
89.1
83.8
88.0
95. 1
98.9
99.7
98.8
95.2
92. 5
92.4
91.7
90.9
89.3
86.0
85.8
89.9
90. 7
90.9
94.8
88.3
88.6
89.5
91.0
90.5
90.3
88.5
86.1
89.3
89.9
91.0
93.2
93.1
95.4
99.6
98.3
92.6
87.0
84.0
85.6
87.4
88.4
90.6
90.3
97.9
99. 2
100.0
98.4
94.3
86.7
84. 1
86.0
87.1
91.2
91.4
93.9
91.0
94.9
117.6
114.7
79.7
60. 1
58.0
62.4
81.1
80.6
80.3
82.3
88.4
91.2
93.7
93.3
94.8
95.9
92.0
92.2
89.7
87.6
92.7
88.7
91.7
94.4
93.3
90.8
89.7
91.0
92. 5
83.6
91.7
93.9
93.6
95.1
93.5
93.0
92.0
90.9
91. 1
91.9
96.9
99.0
100.9
96.0
98.2
100.5
98.7
96.5
94.0
93.2
94.5
90. 5
98.6
100.2
100.8
94. 1
93.3
94. 5
92.0
92.3
90.8
91.2
93.4
94.0
101.9
106. 0
104. 2
95.8
93.2
94.7
90.7
90.6
90.3
89.5
88.8
91.7
94.3
97.4
100.2
90.2
90.4
91.0
92. 2
92.6
92.3
90.4
89.9
92.8
96.4
97.5
100.6
89.3
92.3
98.5
97.0
92.2
89.4
90. 0
92.2
93.9
98.0
98.7
98.8
92.9
95.4
97.1
93.3
94.1
91.6
91.5
89.1
90.8
96.7
99.1
100.4
83.5
85.3
117.8
130.3
76.1
61.7
69.3
79.1
98.3
96.9
91.5
96.8
87.0
91.1
94.2
90.8
95.2
95.5
94.6
99.9
96.2
100.1
100.5
97.7
Average ._ . .
94.3
96.8
95.6
93. 1
93.0
94.2
94.3
90.6
95.2
1926
Ja n u a ry ------ -----F e b ru a ry _____. . .
M arch . ____ _.
A p ril_______ ____
M ay --------------------Ju n e ..
. ______.
J u ly --------------------A ugust _ . . _____
Septem ber
___
O c to b e r___ ___
_____
N ovem ber.
D ecem b er.. ______
98.7
98.4
100.2
99. 6
99.6
99.4
97.3
97.9
99.4
102.4
103. 1
104.3
99.4
100.8
101.0
100.6
100.2
100.4
95.9
99.4
99. 1
102.0
101.0
100.3
98.7
98.4
98.8
97.5
97. 1
95.8
96.5
97.2
99.7
107.9
107.7
104.2
99.6
97.2
101. 1
99.0
98.5
99.5
98. 1
97.7
99.8
100. 7
102.4
106.3
97.2
97.5
98.9
99.8
100.6
99.5
97.9
97.0
99.1
103.0
104.3
105.6
98.4
99.0
103.9
102.9
98.2
98.2
95.2
97.2
100.7
102.8
101.8
101.7
97.8
98.4
99.9
100.4
99.2
100.4
97.3
96.7
97.9
104.3
104.0
104.3
101.9
111.1
138.8
126.6
89.2
76.2
77.2
82.6
107.4
100.6
96.6
91.8
98.3
96.1
97.9
98.7
99.9
102.6
98.5
102.1
101.9
101.8
101.0
101.7
Average_____
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
A verage__ . .
1925
J a n u a ry .. _______
February . ______
M arch
. ... ...
A pril______ _____
M a v ___ _______
______
June
J u ly ______________
A ugust. . . . ____
Septem ber.
_ _
O ctober.
_. ._ . .
N ovem ber_____ _.
D e c e m b e r ... ___ .
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205
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T a b l e 9 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S OF P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
C ontinued
C h em icals an d allied p rod u cts—
C ontinued
Paper a n d p rin tin g —C ontinued
Y ear and m o n th
1927
Ja n u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry .. _
M arch ____
A p ril_____
M ay ______
Ju n e ______
J u ly ______
A ugust____
Septem ber..
O ctober___
N ovem ber..
D ecem b er..
A verage.
1928
J a n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch _____
A p ril______
M a y _______
Ju n e _______
J u ly _______
A ugust_____
S eptem ber...
O ctober____
N o v e m b er...
D e c e m b e r__
A verage.
G roup
index
Paper
101.1
101.6
102.1
101.3
101.0
99.6
97.8
99.2
100. 2
102.0
102.9
104.9
97.6
99.6
99.5
97.8
96.3
94.6
93.0
95.6
94.3
97.1
96.6
97.5
101.2
P etro
leum
refining
Book
and job
News
papers
G roup
index
C hem
icals
96.6
97.1
96.8
95.9
95.2
93.9
94.8
97.9
101. 2
107.4
107.3
103.5
104.0
103.4
105.0
101.8
101.1
100.4
98.0
100.0
100.9
100.4
102.5
107.2
102. 3
102.7
103.9
105.3
106.2
104.2
102.3
101.6
103.9
105.9
107. 1
109.2
106.1
104.1
108.1
107.6
98.4
98.2
93.4
94.7
96.8
96. 6
95.2
96.5
102.4
104.3
106.9
105. 1
102.4
104.4
99.1
100.7
101. 1
105.2
104.9
107.5
94.9
101.6
121. 0
133.1
87.4
69.8
70.2
77.0
101.7
90.9
88.9
91.0
99.1
104.8
105.5
102.6
97.2
100.0
94.2
93.5
90.4
88.5
86.0
85.4
96.6
99.0
102.1
104.6
99.1
103.7
94.0
95.6
102.1
101.3
101.4
100. 7
100. 6
100.8
99. 0
99.3
100.9
103.2
103.4
105.1
95.0
95.8
95.9
94.7
94. 0
93.7
91.1
94.0
93.9
96.8
97.0
97. 0
97.4
95.2
97.3
94.5
95.2
98.4
94.0
95.5
100.8
107.9
111.2
105.8
105.2
102.9
102.2
100.5
100.8
100.4
100.8
94.1
96.5
100. 7
101.5
101.3
99.4
104.0
106.3
106.0
106.3
107.5
107.5
107.5
105.2
103.9
106.2
108. 9
110.2
112. 7
93.1
91.7
91.6
92.8
96.6
98.5
97.2
97.2
101.7
104.6
105.4
104.2
102.0
101.5
98.9
99.5
101.2
107.5
106.8
106.4
93.0
102.2
133.2
138.0
90.8
74.5
74.7
78.5
100.6
96.3
91.0
92. 2
85.7
85.4
85.3
85.9
83.8
85.9
88.4
89.6
90.1
89.0
88.4
88.5
101.5
94. 9
99.4
101.6
107.4
95.9
103.3
97.1
87.2
Boxes
100. 1
101. 0
F e rti
lizers
M etal p rod u cts, o th er th a n
iron a n d steel
S to n e , clay , a n d glass produ cts
Y ear and m onth
G roup
index
1923
J a n u a ry ____________
F ebruary ________
M arch _ __________
A pril___ . _ _______
M a y _______________
J u n e ________ ______
J u ly _______________
A ugust . _________
Septem ber
_____
O ctober____ . __ _
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber___ ______
80.5
81.3
86.5
93.5
98.6
99.3
93.6
97.0
97.3
100. 0
99.1
96.2
C em ent
Brick
P o ttery
Glass
G roup
index
Stam ped
ware
Brass
94.7
98.8
101.3
103.8
107.2
108.9
109.3
108.1
105.6
70.6
69. 6
79.9
93.3
103.9
106. 1
104.5
106.7
106.1
105.6
100.1
94.2
73.2
78.0
78. 5
84.3
85.8
85.0
78.9
89.1
90. 1
94.3
95.2
96.9
88.8
89.6
91. 9
96.6
98.6
98.1
86.2
88. 1
88.3
94.2
96.4
94.4
95.4
10«. 5
107.5
111.2
111.1
108.1
103.2
97.0
94.9
95.3
95.3
98.2
113. 2
116.4
125. 5
123.7
122.3
117.7
106.6
98.8
94.5
97.5
96.3
98.7
89 4
95 2
101 5
107.0
107.3
104.9
102.1
97.0
95.1
94.6
95.1
97.9
93.5
104.2
95.1
85.8
92.6
101.5
109.3
98.9
1924
J a n u a ry .......................
F ebruary ______
M arch . . . . .
April ____________
M a y . . _ _______
June . ___
___
J u ly ----------------------A ugust_____________
S e p te m b e r.-. ______
O ctober_________ . .
N ovem ber____ _____
D ecem ber__________
90.8
95.3
98.9
102. 0
101.7
99.6
88.4
92.2
91.7
95.1
92.9
94.3
100.3
104.4
106.8
110.0
109.6
114. 5
108.5
111.0
110.6
109.2
106.5
103.5
86.6
87.5
93.3
102. 9
108.7
108.6
102.1
102.9
97.9
100.0
96.5
94.9
95.5
101.2
104.3
104. 1
102.2
96.7
71.5
92.8
94.0
95.2
86.0
97.8
89.4
96.9
99.1
97.5
92.6
87.9
76.1
76.5
79.3
86.1
87.6
89.3
90. 5
104.2
100.9
102.1
90.2
88.0
79.4
81.2
84.9
87.9
91.2
97.0
95.6
111.7
116.8
110. 1
97.3
85.9
77.9
78.6
80.5
84.4
87.3
91.9
96.8
101.7
103.6
99.5
95.8
88.7
79.9
82.1
86.4
89.0
92.5
98.6
Average.............
95.2
107.9
98.5
95. 1
88.2
93.0
93.2
92.9
Average______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[623]
206
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a ble 9 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -B O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
C ontinued
S to n e , c la y , a n d g lass p r o d u c ts —C ontinued
^ ¡ ^ j n ^ a ñ ^ s t e é l —C o n t d ^
G ro u p
ín d e x
G ro u p
Index
Y ear a n d m onth
1925
Ja n u a ry ____
- F e b ru a ry _ ________
M arch _ -----_ _
A p r il__ - - ____
M a y _______________
J u n e ..
- __
J u ly ----------------------A ugust_____________
Septem berOctober ..........
N ovem ber - - - - - D e c e m b e r-,______
C em ent
Brick
P o ttery
Glass
Stam ped
ware
Brass
86.5
92. 1
95.8
98.6
100. 5
99.6
93.1
99.1
97.2
102.5
102.3
99.9
88.0
93. 5
98.3
102.8
107. 0
109.9
109.4
113.3
112.0
110.7
110. 5
103. 2
82.7
86.0
93.5
101.3
107.4
107.5
105.5
105.9
100.8
101.5
99. 1
97.5
92.5
101.5
102.2
100.3
99. 5
94.9
67.2
96.9
96.2
103. 0
100. 2
100. 9
86.9
93.4
94.3
94. 2
92. 5
91. 0
86.4
89. 1
89.4
100. 5
102.8
100.3
»6.4
ino. o
1(11.4
»6. 3
99.4
»8.5
»5. 5
«9.8
94.(1
100.7
103.9
107.3
87.0
96.3
103.3
100. 3
98.5
98. 1
88.0
96.7
94.9
110.9
113.0
115.0
99.6
100. 7
100.8
95.0
99.7
98.5
98.0
100.8
93.7
97.3
100.8
104.7
97.3
104.9
99. 1
96.3
93.4
99.4
100. 2
99.1
91.8
91.7
97. 6
98.7
103.5
105.6
97.7
103.9
101.6
101.5
102. 3
98.5
86.8
88.4
91. 3
94.9
102.3
108. 1
104. 1
111. 9
107.3
107. 2
102.8
95.3
88.0
87.9
91.0
94. 3
106. 8
110.8
107.0
111. 0
105.4
104.1
99.5
93.6
93.0
102.0
103.3
104. 7
102.5
101.3
86.3
100. 2
98.3
104. 5
100. 9
103.5
96.4
100.0
103.1
101.5
101.2
101.9
91.8
96.3
97.4
103.9
105.0
101.8
102.8
105. (i
108.5
105.2
101.4
»9. 0
93.3
95.4
95.0
««. 5
97.2
»7.1
104.8
112. 4
115.4
110.0
98.9
97.2
88.1
92.2
93.4
101.0
94. 5
91.5
102.2
103.3
106.2
103.6
102.2
99.6
95.0
96.5
95. 5
98.9
98.0
98.9
.
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1927
J a n u a r y _________
F eb ru ary — _ _____
M arch
_
.....
A pril_____
_ ____
M a y ----------------------J une
. _Ju ly ----------------------A ugust___ _______
Septem ber.
O ctober______ ____
N ovem ber
D ecem ber.. ___ _
86.3
92.3
96.6
99.1
101.1
99.2
91. 1
91.6
93.1
94.5
92.7
89. 0
83.8
84.9
91. 7
98.8
106.0
104.2
101.6
103. 2
101. 6
100. 1
94.8
87.0
82.4
85.3
92.3
99.0
106.7
105.3
101. 6
100.4
95.6
91. 5
87.9
81.6
89.5
105.4
106.8
103.2
95.5
90.4
69. 7
88.5
89. 5
95.3
95.9
100.6
89.3
96.0
98.1
98.4
97.4
95. 5
86. 1
89. 1
90.1
94. 9
94. 7
91.7
93.3
96. 6
99.4
92. 7
96.5
92.9
88.2
89.6
87.3
88.0
86.4
88.4
83.7
94.4
99.7
94.8
93.9
90.9
85.7
89.7
86. 1
90. 4
90.5
86.8
96.4
97.4
99.2
92.0
97.4
93.6
89.0
89.6
87.7
87 2
85.1
89.0
91.2
96.5
94.1
94.2
93.4
91.6
90.6
92.0
81.8
81.2
87.1
89. 9
92.9
92.8
87.8
93. 7
91.8
93.6
90.6
88.1
83.1
78.8
81.0
88. 1
92. 5
93.3
95.4
96.3
92. 0
92.0
85.4
81.1
72. 3
72.5
76. 7
81. 6
87.9
89. 1
88.0
89.8
86.9
85.9
82. 5
80.0
93. 7
102.2
102.0
96. 5
95.9
91. 7
76.5
91.8
90.4
94.4
92.5
93.3
S4. 9
89.4
92. 5
95.2
96.0
96.0
89.2
96.9
96.6
100.3
98.5
96.3
85.0
91. 1
»2.1
92. 8
94.8
93.7
»0.3
96.6
98.2
104.6
106.2
108.2
76.7
91.8
93.9
93.8
94.3
90.3
82.8
90.3
88.7
93.4
94.0
94.8
87.7
90.8
91.4
92.4
95.0
94.9
92.7
98.8
101.3
108.3
110.2
112.7
89.6
88.3
82.8
93.4
94.3
96.1
90.4
98.0
Average_____
1926
Ja n u a ry .- ____
F ebruary
------ -M arch .,
__ . . .
A pril______________
M a y ___ _______
Ju n e ..
..........
Ju ly _______________
A ugust _____ ____ _
Septem ber._____
O ctober_______ _ _
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber____ ____
A verage____
Average______
1928
J a n u a ry ... ______ _
F e b ru a ry . _______
M arch .. . . . . ____
A pril. -_- . _
.
M a y ----------------------J u n e .. . __________
J u l y __________ ____
A ugust . . .
___
____
Septem ber
O ctober____________
N ovem ber
D ecem ber__________
Average . . . . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[624]
EM PLO YM EN T
IN
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
207
IN D U S T R IE S
T a ble 9 .—M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
Continued
T ob acco produ cts
Y ear and m o n th
G roup
index
V ehicles for la n d tr a n sp o r ta tio n
Chewing Cigars
and
and
smoking cigarettes
G roup
index
A uto
mobiles
Carriages
j
1923
J a n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry ----M a r c h ..:___
A pril_______
M a y ----------J u n e _______
Ju ly ________
A ugust_____
Septem ber.
O ctober_____
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber___
Car
building
and re
pairing,
electric
Car
building
and re
pairing,
steam
118.9
114. ft
118.0
112.8
111.4
114. 5
110.1
99.4
110.0
118. 6
118.6
121.3
104.3
97. 6
93.6
95.6
100. 6
100.7
104.3
96.1
98.5
106. 7
102.4
100. 8
120.9
116.2
121.3
115.1
112. 9
116.3
110.9
99.9
112.2
120. 2
120.7
124. 1
93.2
99.5
106.9
109.1
112.1
111.6
108.1
110.7
107. 5
115.3
113.3
105. 5
69.5
84. 0
91.7
96. 5
98. 3
93. 2
90.8
93.3
90.6
100.9
100.8
94.4
104.0
.1
112. 0
125.1
127. 5
122. 2
108. 3
107.7
99.6
93.5
92.8
97.3
104.8
105. 7
.1
109.8
113.1
115.0
112.3
112.7
112.1
119.3
119.0
123. 2
127.4
122.9
125. 4
122.0
128.2
124.3
114.6
Average-
114.0
100. 1
115.9
107. 7
92. 0
108.3
110. 1
120.9
1924
Jan u a ry _____
F e b ru a ry -----M a r c h ............
A pril________
M a y ________
J u n e ________
Ju ly _________
A ugust______
Septem ber___
O ctober______
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber____
113.5
112.4
111.7
102.5
105.2
108.8
105.9
105. 7
110.1
1Oft. 2
114.4
lift. 9
106.6
114.3
98.6
95.4
96.0
92.7
96.8
103.3
101. 1
94.4
103.9
114.4
112.2
111.8
103.0
106.5
110.4
107.6
106.8
.1
117. 0
118. 5
94.0
104. 7
104. 0
104. 2
98.1
90.9
83.3
87.3
87.9
93.5
90.3
92.8
84.6
105.8
104.2
100.8
89.5
73.9
67.5
72.7
75.5
78.9
75.3
77.4
92.2
105.1
109. 8
110.2
104.0
90.0
82.8
81.8
90.5
92.5
88.8
92. 1
101.8
99.2
99.4
97.8
97.5
97.5
92.3
96.8
95.5
97.1
98.7
99. 9
101.3
104. 2
104.0
107.4
105. 2
105.1
96.0
99.3
97.8
105.7
102. 5
105.4
Average-
108.9
101.2
109.9
94.3
83.8
95. 0
97.8
102.8
109.2
101.8
103.1
86.8
105.8
105. 2
103. 0
104. 8
104.8
112.9
114. 7
115.4
104.4
106.4
98.4
92. 1
97.4
98. 1
97.7
99. 1
99.0
99.9
92. 2
95.4
109.8
101.2
103.7
86.0
107.0
106. 1
104.4
105.6
105.6
114. 6
117.7
118. 1
85.0
99. 5
103. 0
104. 3
104. 3
99.8
97.2
96.9
98. 0
107.2
108.8
104. 4
67.5
89.2
96.6
105. 5
110.7
102. 2
101.4
98.7
105. 0
120.2
120. 9
110.5
84.0
94.6
104. 3
108. 1
99. 8
93.4
87. 2
97.6
105. 9
115. 1
106. 5
107.7
96.4
99.9
103. 5
102. 1
101.9
100.9
98.6
97.4
95.7
100.0
105. 1
104.8
99.2
108.2
108.5
103.3
99.3
97.9
94.0
95.3
91.9
96.6
99.0
99.3
Average..
105. 7
98.3
106.7
100.7
102.4
100.4
100.5
99.4
1926
J a n u a ry ______
F e b ru a ry _____
M arch ...............
A pril................
M a y _________
Ju n e __ _______
J u ly --------------A ugust..............
Septem ber____
O ctober............
N ovem ber____
D ecem ber____
100.0
97.9
102. 7
95. 7
95.0
.0
97.1
96.2
101. 6
105.9
104. 8
102.4
95.2
109.9
107.2
101.3
98.8
101.8
101.5
97.7
99.2
101. 7
91.3
94. 7
100.6
96.3
102. 1
94.9
94.4
100.9
96.5
95.9
101. 9
106. 5
106.6
103.4
92.7
105.2
108. 0
107.1
104. 3
102.0
95.2
102. 0
98.4
101. 5
94.7
88.7
91.9
112.3
115. 4
111.8
106. 3
99.8
92.4
103. 1
100.6
102. 1
88. 7
75.3
96.5
104.1
102.3
103.4
101.3
98.4
103.8
113.8
112. 0
101.5
84.4
78.7
97.9
101.9
101. 7
102.3
101.5
100. 6
97.5
99.4
97.2
97.9
99.7
102.0
93.0
99.5
102.3
103.6
103.0
104.2
97.1
101.0
96.3
101.2
99.8
99.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
1925
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 ovem ber___
D ecem ber.........
Average____
.
101
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111.0
111.0
100
[625]
110
110
208
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 9 —M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S O F P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
Continued
V ehicles for la n d tr a n sp o r ta tio n —C ontinued
T ob acco produ cts —Contd.
Y ear and m o n th
1927
Jan u a ry ____________
F e b ru a ry __ . ______
M arch __________ . .
April_---M ay ________
June_-_ ____ _ - .
Ju ly _______________
A ugust_____
__
Septem ber...............
O ctober. __________
N ovem ber
_______
D ecem ber__________
G roup
ind ex
88.5
91.9
93. (Ì
90.1
96.5
100.1
98.9
92.1
104.2
105.2
104.1
100.2
Chewing Cigars
and
and
smoking cigarettes
G roup
index
A uto
mobiles
Carriages
Car
building
a nd re
pairing,
electric
Car
building
and re
pairing,
steam
102.6
105. 2
100. 1
91. 4
94. 5
99.0
96.5
95.4
93.2
102.3
94. 6
97.3
86.6
90.0
92. 7
89.9
96.8
100.2
99.2
91.7
105.7
105. 6
105.3
100.6
79.3
95.7
98.4
100.3
101.5
92.5
87.7
92.5
87.9
90.7
85.1
87.1
63. 5
94. 7
103. 6
106.5
107.2
88. 7
84.5
92. 1
86.9
90.2
79.4
86.3
71.9
83.4
86. 3
87.5
87.1
82. 7
79. 7
85.4
88.0
88.3
81. 6
81.3
98.7
99.8
101. 9
101.2
102.0
102.5
99.6
101.7
100.8
100.4
101.4
102.8
91.7
90.7
94.2
95.4
97.2
95.3
89.8
92.5
88.0
90.6
89.1
86.9
A verage...
1928
Jan u a ry ___
______
F ebruary- ________
M arch ____________
April - - - - - _ _ M a y ___________ --_
J u n e ________ .
Ju ly _______________
A ugust_______ _____
Septem ber
O ctober.. . .
N ovem ber_________
D ecem ber__________
97.1
97.7
97.0
91.6
90.3
83. 6
101.1
92.3
90.2
90.4
91.4
85.1
88.9
94.9
89.7
93.8
98.2
100.6
99.3
99.5
101.6
104.7
96.3
91.2
90.7
95.3
87.0
91.8
93.6
95.6
88. 7
93.2
88.6
88.4
90.7
84.2
88.6
94.8
90.0
94.1
98.7
101.3
100. 7
100.3
83.6
95.2
99. 1
100.4
102.2
99.8
96.0
101.8
101.4
106. 1
97.5
96.4
85.8
108.0
114. 1
116.0
120.8
114.4
112. 1
124.8
125.5
130.5
111.4
109.3
67.0
77.6
78.9
79.7
74. 1
82.3
82.4
87.5
95.7
90.0
86.7
83.4
99.4
97.9
101.2
99.8
99.3
96.9
94.7
94.5
91.3
94.5
93.4
92.0
81.4
84.8
87.1
88.0
87.4
88.1
83.0
83.4
82.0
86.9
86.5
86.2
Average—. ___
93.5
94.1
93.4
98.3
114.4
82. 1
96. 2
85.4
M iscella n eo u s in d u str ies
Y ear and m onth
1923
January
February
M arch
A pril.............
M ay ___ . ______
J une_____ _ ___
Ju ly _____________
A u g u st.. --------S e p te m b e r____
October
__ _ _
N ovem ber.. - . _
December _______
G ro u p
in d e x
Agricul
tu ral im
plem ents
E lectrical
m achinery
Pianos
90.9
93.8
103. 0
106.0
110. 1
108.0
97. 3
89.5
93.3
93.9
98.4
94.4
81. 2
93. 5
101.0
102. 1
102.9
95.0
86.8
84.0
80.3
80.3
83.4
86.8
81.9
85.0
91.0
94.8
98.9
100.4
98.5
99.6
99.6
102.8
105.0
106.5
83.0
87.7
92.2
94.9
93.8
94. 1
88.7
90. 1
97.6
104.6
105. 1
106.8
R ubber
shoes
A utom o
bile tires
Ship
building
107.1
111.8
115.1
104.0
97.5
106.3
108. 7
107.9
106.3
93.2
101.5
107.1
110.6
107.3
100. 6
81.2
72.0
69.2
68.0
70.8
76.6
95.7
95.3
107,7
110.8
118.1
116.4
103.8
91.1
99.5
97.1
106.0
94.5
Average____
1924
J a n u a ry .. ---------F ebruary
M a rc h ... ________
A pril.
______
M ay _____________
Ju n e __
_______
J u ly _____________
A ugust
_______
Septem ber _____
October ________
N ovem ber______
D ecem ber_______
98.1
89.8
97.0
94.9
107.2
88.7
103.0
94.3
98.8
97.4
97.0
93.3
84.5
81.9
80.7
83.9
83.3
85.8
88.7
88.8
91. 7
92.3
84.9
78.6
66.7
57.2
61.0
62.1
67.5
71.5
80.6
104.5
104. 8
105.1
103.9
98.6
94.3
85.7
85. 1
86.9
89.6
87.2
90.9
98.5
100.5
99.4
95.2
85.0
81.2
80.4
89.5
97.7
103.3
113.2
114.9
96.7
86.1
81.0
76.8
77.4
74.4
70.4
47.4
55.9
60.2
94.4
98.4
80.5
86.4
87.4
88.2
87.7
81.4
78.0
86.2
97.5
98.2
92.0
93. 1
94.7
101.9
98.6
99.6
96.1
84.2
85.9
80.9
79.7
75.5
83.1
85.4
Average____
89.0
75.2
94.7
96.6
76.6
88.1
88.8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 626 ]
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
209
T able 9 — M O N T H L Y IN D E X E S OF P A Y -R O L L T O T A L 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 , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1928, IN C L U S IV E , A N D Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S —
Continued
M is c e lla n e o u s in d u s t r ie s —C ontinued
Y ear and m onth
1925
Jan u a ry - _ ____
F e b r u a r y _______
M arch .. _ _ _____
A p ril._ - .................
M ay ____________
June__
. _
J u ly _____________
___
A ugust __
S eptem b er...
__
O ctober_____
N o v e m b e r ..____
D ecem ber_____ . .
G ro u p
in d e x
Agricul
tu ral im
plem ents
Electrical
m achinery
Pianos
R ubber
shoes
A utom o
bile tires
S hip
building
90.2
91.3
96.3
95.2
97.3
91.1
89.5
91.4
88.9
91.5
91.3
97.1
79. 4
87.9
92.1
92.8
90.8
86.4
82. 3
88. 5
85.5
95. 6
100.9
106.8
90. 2
91.9
91.6
89.8
91.3
88.4
86.9
86.6
88.8
95.9
100. 9
103.8
99. 3
98.9
100.9
93. 7
94.9
94.8
81. 6
75.2
97. 7
107. 2
113.8
115.9
101.8
103.6
100. 2
97.0
96. 6
95.3
91.3
87.8
88. 9
96.9
102.8
110.4
90. 8
96. 8
99.4
101. 6
107. 3
104. 6
107.1
108.4
103.2
94.5
92.3
99. 2
90.3
94.9
97.2
96.0
97.7
88.0
86.1
89.4
84.1
86.6
83.1
90.1
92.8
90.8
92. 2
97.8
97.7
100.4
90.3
1926
Jan u a ry
______
F e b ru a ry ________
M a r c h . _______
A p ril________ . .
M a y __ __________
Ju n e. . . . ___
J u ly _____________
A ugust. . .............
Septem ber ...........
O ctober___
N ovem ber _ _ _
D ecem ber.
98.5
100.1
101.0
101.0
98.3
98.4
95.2
97.6
97.4
103.3
101.0
107.7
107.8
110.9
109. 4
108. 4
103. 9
100.4
91.9
96. 5
88. 5
92.8
92. 4
97.1
100.0
101. 4
101. 7
98. 8
97.8
100. 1
95.0
98.4
97.2
105. 0
102. 4
102. 2
98.1
99. 3
100. 2
99. 9
97. 2
85. 1
95. 7
100.9
109.8
110. 6
108. 1
112. 2
103. 2
107. 9
107. 9
104. 6
95.9
74.3
88.3
93.9
98.9
101. 8
110.9
100. 5
106. 2
102. 3
102. 4
98.0
97.0
98.7
99. 9
107.8
103. 0
92. 0
92. 2
95.2
95.9
98.7
100.2
97. 7
98.1
96. 4
97.4
95. 5
104.0
104. 0
116.9
Average____
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1927
Jan u a ry .
F e b r u a r y _______
M arch __________
A pril.
________
M a y ____________
J u n e.
.................
J u ly _____________
A ugust. ________
Septem ber. _____
O ctober. . _____
N ovem ber _____
D ecem ber________
105.2
107.2
109.3
111.2
107.3
102.9
97.6
94.8
91.5
94.7
90.7
97.9
93.4
100. 7
98. 3
96.8
95. 3
90. 8
83. 6
88. 9
81.4
88. 3
89. 5
98. 8
98.1
97. 1
97. 4
97. 2
97. 2
98. 6
90. 8
94.8
91. 5
97.4
93. 1
95.2
93.0
88.9
87. 6
82.9
83. 6
81. 6
75. 0
84. 6
91. 1
94.9
93. 1
92.3
110.3
107. 2
104. 5
104. 5
107. 8
104. 4
96. 7
97. 9
109. 6
112. 6
117. 5
119.8
91. 5
98. 9
100. 6
107. 1
109. 8
106. 0
100. 7
100. 5
96. 7
92. 0
83. 0
91.4
115. 3
116.6
121.0
123.1
114. 2
106.8
103.1
94.1
90.1
94.3
90. 7
100.4
Average____
100.9
92. 2
95.7
87.4
107. 7
98. 2
105.8
1928
J a n u a ry . . _______
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch _________
April __________
M ay . _________
June
. . ______
Ju ly .
A ugust. _______
S e p te m b e r______
O ctober_____ ____
N o v e m b e r.............
D ecem ber ______
93.3
90.3
90.4
92.1
89.5
92.0
89.2
89.4
91.8
93.3
91.9
100.1
102. 9
108. 8
113.8
112. 7
112. 9
113. 3
108. 0
110. 3
105. 0
114. 2
116. 0
123. 1
90. 7
90. 6
92. 3
91. 0
93. 0
95. 7
92. 3
96.2
98. 3
103.4
101.6
106.1
71.4
72. 2
74. 0
73. 6
72. 2
70. 9
63. 8
72.0
76. 3
79.7
83. 1
82.4
116. 2
108. 9
98. 5
101. 2
98.0
91. 4
93.9
90. 4
100. 9
102. 1
104. 3
106. 3
95. 9
104. 8
106. 0
103. 6
100. 2
105. 4
107. 4
111.8
116. 0
111. 7
102. 1
103. 5
92.3
82. 5
81.4
86. 2
81. 5
83. 7
80.0
76.4
78.9
79.7
80. 2
93.4
Average____
91.9
111. 8
95.9
74.3
101.0
105.7
83.0
Average.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[627]
210
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
M ANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S .
MONTHLY INDEXES,
MONTHLY
AVERAGE.
EM PLO YM EN T
105
1920
•
105
>. t
¡00
** • .
.,
100
*
192 7
95
1926-1929.
192.0 = 1 0 0 .
•*
’ V* . .
*
^
J 9 29
✓
--------- —
1928
- ' -----—
-
95
—7 ^ —
y
Vy
.^
90
90
85
85
PAY-ROLL
105
TOTALS
¡05
1926
...
•
1927
too
100
/ \
v
/
\
\
V"
/
, ^ 'l
\
95
s
1 9 2 8 " •»
1929
^
" A
/
\
/
f
90
.•
V 7
90
V '
65
85
UAN.
FEB.
MAR. APR.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MAY
JUN.
JUL .
AUG. SEP.
OCT.
NOV. DEC.
w
[628]
EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
211
P r o p o r t i o n o f T im e W o rk e d a n d F o rc e E m p lo y e d i n S e le c te d M a n u f a c t u r i n g
I n d u s t r i e s i n J a n u a r y , 1929
O EPORTS as to time worked and force employed in January, 1929,
were made by 9,666 establishments in the 54 separate industries.
Employees in 80 per cent of these establishments were working full
time and employees in 18 per cent were working part time, while 1
per cent were idle; 32 per cent of the establishments had a full normal
force of employees and 67 per cent were operating with reduced forces.
The establishments in operation had an average of 91 per cent of a
full normal force of employees who were working an average of 97
per cent of full time.
T a ble
10.—P R O P O R T IO N O F T IM E W O R K E D A N D F O R C E E M P L O Y E D IN S E L E C T E D
M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN JA N U A R Y , 1929
O perating establishm ents only
E stablish
m ents
reporting
In d u stry
T otal Per
n u m cent
ber
idle
Foe«i a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts _______ 1,418
Slaughtering a n d m eat packing___
155
Confectionery_____________ _____
251
Ice cream .................... ........................
207
F lo u r .....................................................
271
B aking ...... ................................ ...........
523
Sugar refining, can e...........................
11
I r o n a n d ste e l a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts .. 1.593
Iron and steel___________ ____ ___
159
C ast-iron p ip e _________ _________
34
Structural ironw ork_____________
153
F ou n d ry an d machine-shop prod
u c ts .......... ................................. .........
872
H a rd w are________ ______________
49
M achine tools___________________
126
Steam fittings a n d steam an d hotw ater heating a p p aratu s_______
101
Stoves_________ _______ ____ ____
99
F ull
tim e
0)
1
0)
W
T extiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts _______ 1, 745
C otton goods____________ _______
416
Hosiery and k n it goods__________
265
Silk goods____________ ____ _____
263
W oolen and w orsted goods_______
174
C arpets and ru g s________________
21
D yeing an d finishing.........................
91
Clothing, m en’s _________________
232
Shirts a nd collars................. ..............
95
C lothing, w om en’s ____________ _
142
M illinery and lace goods_________
46
1
l
2
1
3
1
1
(>)
2
4
L u m b e r , a n d its p r o d u c t s ________
Lum ber, saw m ills_______________
L um ber, m illw ork_________ _____
F u r n itu r e ..____________________
997
420
228
349
2
4
L e a th e r , a n d its p r o d u c ts ..................
L eather_________________________
Boots and s h o e s ................................
330
119
211
1
1
P a p e r a n d p r i n t i n g ................................
P aper and p u lp _______ ________ _
P aper boxes........................................
Printing, book a n d jo b ___________
Printing, n ew sp ap ers....................
798
169
156
280
193
1
(9
1Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I
P er cent of
establish
m ents
in which
employees
worked—
[629]
Average
Per cent of
per cent establishm ents Average
per cent
of full
operating
of full
tim e
w ith—
norm al
worked
force
b y em
employed
ployees
in estab
in estab Full
P a rt lishm ents
P a rt lishm ents
tim e operating norm al norm al operating
force
force
85
92
71
91
72
93
73
15
8
28
9
28
7
27
97
100
95
99
93
99
91
33
57
12
5
41
42
9
67
43
87
95
59
57
91
88
98
73
63
92
92
84
84
88
81
90
83
86
63
81
77
85
91
15
12
18
10
17
14
37
16
22
14
9
97
98
97
98
96
96
94
96
93
98
99
37
39
42
43
32
43
37
24
35
38
24
62
60
56
57
67
57
63
73
64
61
76
S9
88
91
92
85
98
91
84
90
92
85
76
75
71
84
24
23
29
16
97
95
93
98
33
35
18
33
67
64
82
67
88
88
72
88
75
76
89
25
24
11
97
97
101
31
18
60
69
82
40
87
87
114
72
60
28
36
95
93
28
23
72
73
80
82
72
73
63
78
26
23
37
21
95
94
93
97
25
23
18
32
73
73
82
68
82
80
75
89
86
90
83
14
9
16
98
99
97
32
25
36
68
74
64
87
81
88
89
89
70
95
95
11
11
30
5
5
99
98
96
100
100
45
34
24
46
70
55
66
76
54
30
96
92
83
100
103
212
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1 0 .—P R O P O R T IO N O F T I M E W O R K E D A N D F O R C E E M P L O Y E D IN S E L E C T E D
M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN JA N U A R Y , 1929—C ontinued
Op(jrating est iblishm ents only
Per cent of
establish
m ents
in which
employees
w orked—
E stab lish
m ents
reporting
In d u s try
T otal Per
n u m cent
idle
ber
Chemicals and allied products. ..
C h e m ic a ls _____________________
Fertilizers ____________________
387
111
138
38
Stone, clay, and glass products----
699
Brick, tile an d terra c o t t a . . ______
P o tte ry .-----------------------------------Glass-----------------------------------------
Metal products, other than iron
(0
1
82
87
73
100
9
92
397
107
103
14
5
1
58
123
Tobacco products. ----- ------ -----
236
73
87
65
72
93
81
181
•Ptfvmpp.il and enameled ware
Brass, bronze, and copper products.
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
snuff
_____________
Cigars an d cigarettes ---------- ------
Full
tim e
27
209
Vehicles for land transportation... 1. 021
Average
Per cent of
Average
per cent establishm ents per cent
of full
operating
of full
tim e
w ith—
norm al
w orked
force
b y em
employed
ployees
in estab
in estab F ull
P a rt lishm ents
P a rt lishm ents norm al norm al operating
operating
tim e
force
force
17
13
26
18
13
21
23
6
19
17
35
3
18
96
22
98
95
96
99
98
16
16
41
27
39
82
65
96
82
70
79
95
54
79
82
84
70
54
72
73
77
92
88
61
9?
59
63
85
96
98
?7
41
37
28
94
29
61
88
26
29
97
94
44
27
56
61
90
88
15
99
27
73
47
16
53
82
105
99
94
88
77
12
23
11
61
12
74
59
85
89
65
0)
98
98
98
100
a
33
119
66
Antnmnbiles
____________
Carriages a n d w agons. -------------C ar building and repairing,electricrailroad
________________
C ar building and repairing, steam railroad
_________________
297
86
14
99
29
71
87
490
85
15
98
18
82
79
Miscellaneous industries________
361
81
98
40
67
78
19
22
98
40
59
60
103
136
57
12
38
51
87
68
75
71
92
13
32
25
24
8
99
93
97
96
100
49
28
25
43
31
51
72
75
53
69
96
83
92
103
78
80
18
97
32
67
91
A gricultural im plem ents-------------Electrical m achinery, apparatus,
and supplies
_____________
Pianos and organs
________
R u b b er boots and shoes
A utom obile tires ______________
Shipbuilding--------- ------- -----------
Total
185
49
2
1
5
_______ . .. .. ___ 9.666
1
95
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
2. E m p lo y m en t in Coal M in in g in Jan u ary, 1929
E
MPLOYMENT in coal mining—anthracite and bituminous coal
combined—increased 0.1 per cent in January, 1929, as com
pared with December, 1928, while pay-roll totals decreased
5.1 per cent.
The 949 mines for which reports were received had 216,220 em
ployees in December with pay-roll totals in one week of $5,710,564.
A n th r a c ite
EM PLOYM ENT in anthracite mines alone was 1.5 per cent lower
-*-4 in January, 1929, than in December, 1928, and pay-roll totals
were 10.7 per cent lower.
The considerable decrease in pay-roll totals in January was largely
due to the part-time work reported by a number of collieries.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[630]
213
EMPLOYMENT IN METALLIFEROUS MINING
Returns were received from 91 collieries having 67,220 employees
in January and pay-roll totals in one week of $1,977,808; the same
mines reported for December 68,232 employees and pay-roll totals of
$2,215,231 in one week. All anthracite mines reported are in Penn
sylvania—the Middle Atlantic geographic division.
B itu m in o u s C oal
ETMPLOYMENT in bituminous coal mines increased 0.9 per cent
in January, 1929, as compared with December, 1928, while pay
roll totals decreased 1.8 per cent.
The end of the disagreement over a new wage scale in one region
of the Mountain geographic division, which was noted in the report
for December, is shown in the increase in pay-roll totals in that
division; reports from two States in the East North Central division
showed that several mines, which were idle in December, had re
sumed work in January; a number of mines in the West North
Central division reported more employees and steadier operating
time in January. The remaining 5 divisions, in which bituminous
coal mines are represented, reported a considerable amount of irregu
lar operating time.
C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L B I T U M I
N O U S C O A L M IN E S D U R IN G O N E W E E K E A C H IN D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y ,
1929
N um ber on p ay roll
Geographic division 1
N ew E n g lan d ______ . - ____
M iddle A t l a n t i c ., ___ _______
E ast N o rth C en tral__ ________
W est N o rth C en tral__________
South A tlantic _________ . . .
E ast South C en tra l..
_ ...
___ _
W est South Central
M ountain _____. . . _____
Pacific _
- ___
All
divisions___ _____
M ines
A m ount of pay roll
Percent
of
December, January, change December, January,
1928
1929
1928
1929
245
130
47
208
155
25
40
8
47,883
22, 834
4, 509
31,500
30,943
1,830
6, 735
1,485
47,200
25, 281
4,642
31,096
30,487
1,876
6,952
1,466
—1. 4
+10.7
+ 2 .9
—1. 3
—1. 5
+ 2 .5
+ 3 .2
- 1 .3
$1, 279, 743
674,016
115, 286
789, 007
646, 998
50, 742
196, 908
47,062
$1, 214,464
692, 535
123, 275
747, 696
634, 428
50,079
225,868
44,411
858
147, 719
149,000
+ 0 .9
3, 799,762
3, 732, 756
of
change
-5 . 1
+ 2 .7
+ 6 .9
- 5 .2
1Q
-1 .3
+14.7
- 5 .6
-
1.8
1 See footnotes 3 to 11, p. 179.
3. E m p lo y m en t in M eta llifero u s M in in g in Jan u ary, 1929
MPLOYMENT in metalliferous mining in January, 1929, was
0.3 per cent greater than in December, 1928, wdiile pay-roll
totals were 4 per cent low^er, as shown by returns from 290
establishments having 46,754 employees with pay-roll totals of
$1,339,641.
The large decreases in both items in both the Pacific and the West
North Central divisions were due mainly to a considerable shuttingdown of mines for the wdnter season, wdiile in the East North Central
division, with an increase in employment, there was a considerable
amount of broken operating time during the period reported. The
South Central States took on additional employees, but in the East
South Central division broken operating time was reported.
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[631]
214
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
The details for each geographic division are shown in the table
following:
C O M P A R I S O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S I N I D E N T I C A L M E T A L ~ L IF E R O U S M I N E S D U R I N G ONE W EEK E A C H I N D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D J A N U A R Y ,
1929
N u m b e r on p a y roll
M in e s
G eo g rap h ic d iv isio n i
D ecem b er, J a n u a ry ,
1929
1928
E a s t N o r th C e n tra i________
W e st N o rth C e n tra l-- _______
S m ith Atlantic*
E a s t S o u th C e n tra l_________ -_
W e st S o u th C e n tra l
---------___
M o u n ta in . . - ____
P acific___________ - ----------------
All divisions
-
___
A m o u n t of p a y roll
Per
cen t
of
D ecem b er, J a n u a ry ,
chan g e
1929
1928
Per
cen t
of
change
24
34
7, 592
5, 696
7, 768
5,293
+ 2 .3
- 7 .1
$201, 340
176, 583
$170, 235
150, 569
-1 5 .4
- 1 4 .7
10
62
137
23
2, 827
4, 453
23, 768
2, 255
3,034
4, 782
23, 833
2, 044
+ 7 .3
+7. 4
+ 0 .3
- 9 .4
57, 804
114,211
774, 649
70, 207
55, 956
120, 674
776, 376
65,831
- 3 .2
+ 5 .7
+ 0 .2
- 6 .2
290
4 6 ,5 9 1
4 6 , 754 |
+ 0 .3
1 ,3 9 4 , 794
1 ,3 3 9 ,6 4 1
-4 .0
1 See fo otnotes 3 to 11, p . 179.
4. Em ploym ent in Public Utilities in January, 1929
MPLOYMENT in public utilities decreased 2.1 per cent in
January, 1929, as compared with December, 1928, and pay-roll
totals decreased 0.8 per cent, as shown by returns^ from 6,404
establishments having in January 483,948 employees, with pay-roll
totals in one week of $14,162,259.
The only increases in employment or in amount of pay roll were,
in the South Atlantic division, in both items, and in the East South
Central division, in pay-roll totals alone. In both these localities the
winter season does not necessarily restrict out-of-door construction,
while the decreases in the remaining divisions were largely due to
severe weather conditions.
The establishments reporting include electric railway, electric
power and light, gas, water, telephone, and telegraph companies.
The details for each geographic division are shown in the table
following :
E
C O M P A R I S O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S I N I D E N T I C A L PU B L IC
U T IL IT IE S E S T A B L I S H M E N T S D U R I N G ONE WTEEK E A C H I N D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D
J A N U A R Y , 1929
N u m b e r on p a y roll
G eo g rap h ic d iv isio n 1
E s ta b
lish
m e n ts
N e w E n g l a n d _________________
M id d le A tla n tic _______________
E a s t N o r th C e n tra l------------W e st N o r th C e n tr a l___________
S o u th A tla n tic - . ___________
E a s t S o u th C e n tra l
- ...
W e st S o u th C e n tr a l____ ____
M o u n ta in - ___________ _
P acific__________ ____ ____
All d iv isio n s_______
Per
ce n t of
change
D ecem
b e r, 1928
J a n u a ry ,
1929
294
956
1,392
1,021
772
658
425
534
352
32, 552
115, 969
158, 845
49, 944
50, 550
19, 356
20, 102
15, 621
31, 280
31,045
113, 492
155, 572
48, 703
50, 791
19, 169
19, 650
15,024
30, 502
- 4 .6
-2 . 1
-2 . 1
-2 . 5
+ 0 .5
- 1 .0
-2 . 2
- 3 .8
- 2 .5
$1,076, 398
3, 544, 524
4, 690, 547
1,329,172
1,348, 058
435, 723
515,310
390, 822
946, 216
$1,043, 891
3, 522, 657
4, 625,166
1,310,842
1, 401, 557
440, 850
507, 945
379, 772
929,579
- 3 .0
- 0 .6
- 1 .4
-1 .4
+ 4 .0
+ 1 .2
- 1 .4
- 2 .8
- 1 .8
6,404
494,219
483,948
- 2 .1
14,276,770
14,162,259
- 0 .8
1 See footnotes 3 to 11, p . 179.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A m o u n t of p a y roll
Per
ce n t of
change D ecem b er, J a n u a r y ,
1929
1928
[632]
215
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
5. E m p lo y m en t in W h olesale and R etail T rade in J a n u ary, 1929
MPLOYMENT in 2,913 establishments—wholesale and retail
trade combined—decreased 17.5 per cent in January, 1929, as
compared with December, 1928, and pay-roll totals decreased
12 per cent. These establishments in January had 179,236 employees,
with total pay rolls in one week of $4,439,879.
1 he establishments reporting are so carefully selected, from every
State and from nearly every class of wholesale and retail trade, as
to be reasonably representative of general conditions in each geo
graphic division and, consequently, in the United States as a whole.
E
W h o le s a le T r a d e
EM PLOYM ENT in wholesale trade decreased 2.4 per cent in
January, 1929, as compared with December, 1928, and pay-roll
totals _ decreased 1.6 per cent, as shown b}^ returns from 1,146
establishments having in January 33,888 employees and pay-roll
totals of $997,576.
These decreases were largely of a seasonal character, the three
small increases being negligible.
The details for each geographic division are shown in Table 1.
T i 5 b EA - v £ ? N P A R I S 0 N 0 F E M P L O Y M E N T a n d p a y - r o l l t o t a l s i n i d e n t i c a l
W H O LESA LE T R A D E E S T A B L I S H M E N T S D U R I N G ON E W EEK E A C H I N D E C E M B E R
1928, A N D J A N U A R Y , 1929
•
’
G eo g rap h ic d iv isio n i
N e w E n g la n d . _ _________ _
M id d le A tla n tic __________ _
E a s t N o r th C e n tra l____________
W e st N o r th C e n tr a l___________
S o u th A tla n tic _______________
E a s t S o u th C e n tra l............ ............
W e st S o u th C e n tr a l. ______
M o u n ta i n . ......
...........
P acific. ________________
All d iv isio n s _________
N u m b e r o n p a y roll
E s ta b
lish
m e n ts D ecem b er, J a n u a ry ,
1928
1929
A m o u n t of p a y roll
P e rc e n t
of
change D ecem b er, J a n u a r y ,
1928
1929
P erc e n t
of
change
68
109
179
119
101
229
73
35
173
1,039
6,506
6, 693
6, 786
2,626
1,949
3,081
827
4,630
1,636
6,288
6, 621
6,563
2,584
1,918
2, 854
835
4,589
-0 .2
- 3 .4
- 1 .1
- 3 .3
-1 .6
-1 .6
- 7 .4
+ 1.0
- 0 .9
$47, 589
198,269
195, 326
185,841
74,288
56, 254
83, 480
28, 718
143,836
$46,433
191, 895
193^ 449
181, 945
74, 305
, 688
81, 639
27, 729
144, 493
-2 . 4
-3 . 2
-1 . 0
-2 .1
+ (2)
-1 .0
—2. 2
- 3 .4
+0. 5
1 ,14«
34, 737
33,888
- 2 .4
1,013,601
997,576
- 1 .6
1 See footnotes 3 to 11, p . 179.
2
55
L ess th a n o n e -te n th of 1 p e r cen t.
R e ta il T r a d e
EM PLOYM ENT in retail trade decreased 20.4 per cent in January,
■
“* 1929, as compared with December and pay-roll totals decreased
14.7 per cent, as shown by reports from 1,767 establishments having
in January 145,348 employees with pay-roll totals of $3,442,303.
These are natural decreases following the large temporary employ
ment conditions of December.
Details for each geographic division are shown in Table 2.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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216
M O N TH LY
LABO R
R E V IE W
rri4-pT *>__n o M P A R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
T B E T A IL T R A D E E S T A B L IS H M E N T S D U R IN G O N E W EEK E A C H IN D E C E M B E R , 1928,
A N D JA N U A R Y , 1929
N u m b er on p ay roll
Geographic division 1
New E n g lan d .......... .................
M iddle A tla n tic ....................... .
E ast N o rth C en tra l. . . ---------W est N o rth C en tral---------------South A tla n tic . . -----------------E ast South C en tra l.. . ----------W est South C en tra l---------------M o u n tain ___________________
Pacific.......................... ....................
AH division s
_________
E sta b
lish
m ents December, Jan u ary ,
1929
1928
A m ount of p ay roll
Per
cent of
change December, January,
1929
1928
»
Per
cent of
change
23
143
191
67
508
152
41
18
624
11,412
41,451
52, 725
10, 696
17, 631
5,122
7,093
2,017
34,369
8,999
30,841
41,843
10, 660
13, 649
4,087
5,753
1,492
28,024
- 21.1
-2 5 .6
- 20.6
- 0 .3
- 22.6
- 20.2
-1 8 .9
-2 6 .0
-1 8 .5
$249,042
932, 592
1, 290, 719
216, 781
341,175
94, 214
120, 908
32, 810
755, 667
$211,144
754,951
1,114,999
229, 750
276, 527
82,845
102, 566
25, 613
643,908
-1 5 .2
-1 9 .0
-1 3 .6
+ 6 .0
-1 8 .9
- 12.1
-1 5 .2
-2 1 .9
-1 4 .8
1,767
182, 516
145,348
-2 0 .4
4,033,908
3,442,303
-1 4 .1
i See footnotes 3 to 11, p. 179.
6. E m p lo y m en t in H o tels in J an u ary, 1929
MPLOYMENT in hotels was 1.3 per cent greater in January,
1929, than in December, 1928, and pay-roll totals were 0.2
per cent higher, as shown by reports from 1,041 hotels having
in January 111,943 employees with pay-roll totals in one week of
$1 924 973.
The’increase of 13.7 per cent in employment in the South Atlantic
geographic division, and the smaller increases in the Pacific and the
West South Central divisions, due to the height of the season for
southern resort hotels, were sufficient not only to overcome the de
creases in the remaining six divisions but to result in a net increase
for the country as a whole.
Per capita earnings obtained by dividing the total number of
employees into the total amount of pay roll should not be interpreted
as being the entire earnings of hotel employees. The pay-roll totals
here reported are cash payments only with no regard to the value
of board or room furnished employees, and of course no satisfactory
estimate can be made of additional recompense in the way of tips.
The additions to the money wages granted vary greatly, not only
among localities but among hotels in one locality and among employees
in one hotel. Some employees are furnished board and room,
others are given board only, for one, two, or three meals, while the
division of tips is made in many ways.
_
Per capita earnings are further reduced by the considerable amount
of part-time employment in hotels caused by conventions and
banquets or other functions.
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[634]
EM PLO YM EN T
ON
STEAM
217
R A IL R O A D S
The details for each geographic division are shown in the table
following:
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 T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L H O T E L S
D U R IN G O N E W EEK E A C H IN D E C E M B E R , 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y , 1929
N um ber on pay roll
Hotels
Geographic d iv isio n 1
December, January,
1928
1929
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 en tra l-. _______
South A tlan tic _ _________
E ast South C e n tr a l__________
W est South C en tra l__________
M o u n ta in ___________________
Pacific.--.........................
All d iv isio n s______
A m ount of pay roll
Per
cent of
change December, January,
1928
. 1929
Per
cent of
change
73
186
185
140
122
37
47
44
207
7,143
37,083
21,890
10, 534
10, 251
3,851
4, 701
2,666
12,425
7,128
36, 578
21, 765
10, 507
11,651
3,828
4,780
2, 577
13,129
- 0 .2
- 1 .4
- 0 .6
- ..3
+ 13.7
- 0 .6
+ 1.7
- 3 .3
+ 5 .7
$121,093
692,404
384, 588
157, 626
159,809
52,083
65,197
45,396
243,169
$120, 722
682,018
377, 245
157,136
173, 812
50, 520
66, 756
' 43,482
253,282
- 0 .3
- 1 .5
- 1 .9
- 0 .3
+ 8 .8
-3 .0
+ 2 .4
-4 .2
+ 4 .2
1,041
110, 544
111, 943
+ 1.3
1,921,365
1, 924, 973
+ 0 ,2
1 See footnotes 3 to 11, p. 179.
E m p lo y m e n t on S tea m R ailroads in th e U n ited S ta te s
HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to Decem
ber, 1928, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having oper
ating 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 monthly average for 1926 as 100.
T
T a b l e 1 .— IN D E X O F E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I 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 D E C E M B E R , 1928
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
M onth
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
J a n u a ry ..
_
....................................
February ___ _____ __________
___________
M a r c h . ............
..........
A pril______________________ .
M a y ______________________________
June __________________________
Ju ly -------------------------------------------------------------------A ugust_____ _________ ______ _
_ _ _______
Septem ber____ _ __ _ _______ _ __________
O ctober..
__
- .....................
_ ______
N ovem ber
_ ____ ____ ___
..............
_______.
Decem ber___________ __ .
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
A verage______________ . . . _ _ ______ _
104. 1
98. 3
97.9
100.0
97.5
92.9
1928
Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day
each of December, 1927, and November and December, 1928, and
pay-roll totals for the entire month of each month considered, by
principal occupational groups and various important occupations.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted from the totals.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 635 ]
218
T a ble
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
2
.—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S OF R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S —D E C E M B E R ,
1927, A N D N O V E M B E R A N D D E C E M B E R , 1928
[From m onthly reports of In te rsta te Commerce Commission. As d ata for only th e more im portant occu
pations are shown separately th e group totals are no t th e sum of th e item s u nder th e respective groups]
N um ber of employees at
m iddle of m onth
O ccupation
Professional, clerical, an d general.
C lerks________________________
Stenographers and ty p is ts --------Maintenance of w a y a n d struc
tures ________________________
Laborers, extra gang and work
tra in -----------------------------------Laborers, track and roadw ay
section--------------------------------Maintenance of equipment a n d
stores-----------------------C arm en----------------------------------A lachinists____________________
Skilled trades helpers__________
Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power plants, and stores)-------Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power plants, and
stores)---------- ----------------------Transportation, other than train
engine, a n d yard------------Station agents----------- -------------Telegraphers, te le p h o n es, and
tow erm en___________________
Truckers (stations, warehouses,
and platform s)---------------------Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatem en..... ...................... ..............
Transportation (yardm aster s,
switch tenders, a n d hostlers)...
R oad conductors----------------R oad brakem en and flagmen.
R oad engineers and m oto rm en .. .
Road firemen and helpers---------
■
Decem N ovem Decem
ber, 1927 ber, 1928 ber, 1928
T o tal earnings
D ecem
ber, 1927
N ovem
ber, 1928
Decem
ber, 1928
275, 361
158,632
24,914
270, 693
154,975
24, 673
268,972 $39, 605, 470 $39,015,113 $38,909,010
153,455 21, 645,341 21,152,629 21, 021, 276
3, 170, 174
3,177, 774
3, 207, 228
24, 621
358,153
393, 552
350,412
33, 667, «19
35, 919, 554
45, 563
3, 596, 744
4, 210,502
3, 200, 959
14,150, 537
12, 232,334
60, 859,219
15,092,082
8, 748,538
11,398,392
59, 795, 225
14, 649,997
8, 622, 410
11,140,188
48, 752
57,615
31,940, 795
180, 058
202, 393
177, 235
12,987,233
474, 711
101,140
57, 701
104, 281
459, 415
100,880
55,153
101,175
456, 344
99, 530
54, 896
100, 432
61, 803, 788
14, 733,986
8,953,477
11,445,419
40,054
37, 626
37,369
3,895,493
3, 560, 880
3, 583, 277
53, 617
52,449
52, 338
4,252, 780
4, 211, 027
4,122,197
199, 707
30,182
197, 899
29, 663
194,953
29, 541
25,199, 984
4,838,971
24, 664,494
4, 677,226
24, G42,133
4, 701, 504
23,912
23,235
23,066
3, 762,122
3, 554,390
3, 629, 389
35, 329
35, 773
34, 432
3, 315,330
3,397,179
3, 229, 515
21, 539
20, 852
20, 860
1, 664, 516
1,604,085
1, 596, 472
22, 725
21,861
21,834
4,462, 203
4, 301, 398
4, 343, 190
312, 699
35,238
70, 617
52, 357
42, 021
43, 272
320,188
35,990
71, 648
54,120
42, 794
43,506
312,523
35, 202
69, 753
52, 782
41, 660
42, 659
62, 938, 399
8, 390,996
12,125,488
9,324, 802
11, 218, 273
8,419, 264
65, 619, 791
8, 573,257
12, 529, 318
9, 867,022
11,743,211
8, 666,869
63, 468, 253
8,361, 525
12, 008, 755
9, 488, 557
11,314, 661
8,359, 485
643, 356 1,663, 608 1, 605,038 227, 676,863 230, 379, 569 223,098, 606
Total, all employees_______ 1, 643.
C h a n g es in E m p lo y m en t and Pay R olls in V ariou s S ta tes
T
HE following data as to changes in employment and pay rolls
have been compiled from reports received from the various
State labor offices:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
|636]
219
CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E S IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF I E D S T A T E S
M on th ly period
P er cent of change,
N ovem ber to D e
cember, 1928
State, and in d u stry group
Per cent of change,
N ovem ber to D e
cember, 1928
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploy
m ent
P ay to ll
Illinois
N ew Je rse y
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u c ts_____________________
M etals, m achinery, and con
veyances_______ ______ _
W ood products____________
F urs and leather goods_____
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc--P rin tin g and paper goods___
Textiles,
______ ______
Clothing an d m illinery_____
Food, beverages, and tobacco-
Food and k indred p ro d u c ts..
Textiles and their p roducts. _
Iron and steel and th eir products - . . . . _______ _____
Lum ber and its p ro d ucts___
Leather and its p roducts___
Tobacco p ro d u cts..
_____
Paper and p rinting . ______
Chemicals and allied products
__________ _______
Stone, clay, and glass produ c ts. _ _________________
M etal products other th a n
iron and steel_______ ____
Vehicles for land transportation
______ __________
M iscellaneous _ __________
All m anufacturing in
dustries______ ____
T rade, wholesale and re ta il.Services.- _________ - ___
Public u tilities___________
Coal m in in g ______________
B uilding and contracting___
All industries________
- 1 .8
- 4 .4
+ .9
-.6
+ 3 .2
1
+ 1 .1
- 3 .4
+ 5 .3
+ 1.0
- 1 .8
- 3 .1
+7.1
-1 . 2
“1-2. 6
- 5 .6
+23.4
+ 3 .2
+ .9
+10.7
-. 1
-.4
- 1 .3
- 6 .7
+ .9
+ .5
+ 7 .4
- .9
- 4 .4
+ 1 .6
-1 0 .8
Iow a
All industries_______
- 2 .8
—11. 0
+ 1 .9
—4. 6
-1 5 .8
- 3 .8
35895°—29
15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 5.1
+• o
- 2 .2
- 1 .9
-.2
+ 7 .7
+ 2.7
- 2 .4
- 1 .3
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .2
-.8
- 1 .8
+ 1.4
-.2
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .7
- .9
+ 4.3
+ 1.9
+ 1 .1
+ 2.9
- 1 .6
- .3
- 2 .0
- 1 .3
+ 1.4
- 1 .8
- 1 .9
-.4
-.6
-.2
+ .8
+ .5
- 3 .6
- 1 .6
+ 3.4
+ 1.2
- 2 .6
+ 1.4
-.2
+ 4.3
- 2 .8
- 1 .4
All in d u s trie s ._______
-. 6
+ 1.1
- 1 .1
- 6 .0
- 1 .1
+ .3
-1 . 7
December, 1928, to
January, 1929
O k la h o m a
M a r y la n d
All industries________
+ 1.5
+ 1.1
Stone, clay, and glass_______
M etals and m achinery ____
Wood m anufactures________
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods
_____ _ . .
Chemicals, oils, paints, e tc ...
P ap er. __________________
Printing and paper goods___
Textiles____ ___ _ _______
C lothing and m illinery_____
Food and tobacco _______
W ater, light, and pow er___
- 2 .4
Food p ro d u cts.. ___________
T extiles. ________________
Iron a nd steel and their
p r o d u c ts _______ ________
L um ber and its p roducts___
Leather arid its products___
R ubber tire s ... __________
Paper and p rin tin g ________
Chemicals and allied prod
u c ts___ ____ ____________
Stone, clay, and glass produets_______ ____________
M etal products, other than
iron and steel___ _________
Tobacco products__________
M achinery (not including
transportatio n eq u ipm ent).
M usical instrum ents_______
T ransportation eq u ip m en t. .
C ar building and re p a irin g ..
M iscellaneous_____________
- 0 .6
+ .3
N ew Y o rk
-.8
December, 1928, to
Jan u ary , 1929
Food and kindred products,Textiles
_______________
Iron and steel works_______
L um ber p ro d u c ts ________
Leather p ro d u c ts ._ ______
P aper products, printing, and
publishing. _ _ _________
P a te n t medicines, chemicals,
and com pounds _____
Stone and clay p ro d u cts____
Tobacco and cigars________
R ailw ay car shops_________
Various in d u strie s..
All in d u s tr ie s ._______
P ay roll
- 9 .0
-1 . 7
- 6 .3
- 4 .0
+• 7
- 3 .9
- .5
- 2 .8
- 5 .3
-1 5 .9
+4.1
-2 9 .4
- 5 .1
+ .5
+ 1 .2
-1 2 .3
-2 0 .4
- 4 .1
-1 5 .9
-1 7 .2
-2 4 .3
~K 6
0.0
+12.0
- 1 .0
-5 .5
- .6
- 9 .3
+ 8 .8
-7 . 2
-1 1 .7
-2 . 3
- 7 .6
Cottonseed-oil m ills.- ____
Food production:
Bakeries . .
________
Confections____
_ ___
Creameries and dairies
Flour m ills__ _ _______
Ice and ice cream . ____
M eat and po u ltry
___
Lead and zinc:
M ines and m ills .. ____
S m e lte rs __________ . . .
M etals and m achinery:
A uto repairs, etc ______
M achine shops and foundries
___ _
T an k construction and
erection. . . . . . . _____
Oil industry:
Producing and gasoline
m anufacture ______ _
R efineries-- _______
_
Printing: Job w ork_______
Public utilities:
Steam railw ay shops. .
Street railw ay s. _ _____
W ater, light, and pow er..
[637]
- 1 .5
-1 0 .3
- 1 .7
-1 7 .4
-2 3 .2
- 5 .7
-1 1 .0
- 9 .8
- 3 .6
- 6 .8
-1 4 .0
- 8 .6
- 9 .2
- 6 .7
+ 9.7
+ .9
+ 2.7
- 3 .3
+ 8 .2
+23.0
- 1 .9
- 2 .4
-12. 2
-1 0 .9
-4 . 1
+ 3 .6
- 7 .6
- 1 .8
+ 4.8
+30.9
- .0
-2 . 2
+ .8
-.2
+• 1
+ .6
220
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E S IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D
S T A T E S—C ontinued
PA Y
R O L L S IN
S P E C IF IE D
M onthly period —Continued
Per cent of change,
D ecember, 1928, to
Jan u ary , 1929
State, and in d u stry group
Per cent of change,
N ovem ber to D e
cem ber, 1928
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploy
m ent
P a y roll
W isc o n sin
O k la h o m a —C ontinued
Stone, clay, and glass:
Brick and tile . _ ______
C em ent and p la s t e r ____
Crushed sto n e______ __
Glass m a n u fa c tu re .-___
Textiles and cleaning:
Textile m anufacture
Laundries, e tc _____ . . .
W oodworking:
Sawmills . . . . ___ . . .
M illw ork, e t c . _____x.__
All in d u s tr ie s ._______
- 8 .8
- 3 .0
+ 2 .3
-1 0 .4
-1 7 .5
- 8 .1
-1 2 . 5
-1 6 .0
+ 2 .8
+ 5 .9
-1 3 .5
+ 3 .7
+ 1 .6
- 7 .3
+27. 1
-1 2 .3
-.8
+ .1
Index num bers
(1923-1925 = 100)
Decernber, 1928
January,
1929
E m ploym ent
M an u a l
Logging---------------------------M ining . . . . . _______ _ .
Stone crushing and q u a rry
ing —
M anufacturing:
Stone and allied indus
tries _______
._ . . .
M etal
...
___
W ood_________________
R u b b e r . . . ___ _________
L eather___ _ __ ___
P a p e r .. ..........................
Textiles _____________
F oods____ _______ ____
Light and power
.. .
Prin tin g and publishing.
Laundering,
cleaning,
and dyeing. . ______
Chemicals
(including
soap, glue, and explo
sives)—. . . . ________
+ 1 .2
- 3 .7
+ 7.1
+ 8 .4
+ 1.7
- 7 .9
- 5 .0
- 2 .5
+ 3.8
- 2 .3
+ 2.9
- 2 .4
-.6
—4. 5
+ .4
- 1 .2
-1 2 .5
-1 0 .4
- 4 .2
- 2 .2
+ 8.4
- 6 .8
- 2 .4
- 4 .4
-1 2 .3
+ 2.9
0.0
- 1 .5
—6. 5
- 6 .8
All m anufacturing____
- .9
- 6 .3
-.5
-3 6 .9
-1 8 .8
-1 1 .7
-4 6 .1
-2 0 .6
- 5 .1
-1 5 .8
-5 .4
-.3
-1 4 .3
+ .2
- 1 .9
-1 0 .4
-. 2
- 5 .4
-1 2 .4
+ .2
- 1 .0
- 1 .9
- 2 .6
+24.5
+ .9
- .6
- 3 .3
- 1 .9
+16.1
+ 1 .2
-2 .0
+ 1 .5
P e n n s y lv a n ia
M etal products____________
T ransportation e q u ip m e n t...
Textile products _________
Foods and tobacco. _______
Stone, clay, and glass produ c ts. ______________ . . .
Lum ber products ________
Chem ical p roducts.
...
Leather and ru b b er products.
Paper and p rinting . ____
All industries
______
86.5
65. 7
98.8
95. 7
88.0
71.3
96.4
92.1
81.3
77.4
98. 1
95.4
92. 7
82.5
73.7
97.7
95.8
91.3
88.2
88.7
C onstruction:
Building _ _ __________
H ighw ay____________ _
R ailroad_______________
M arine dredging, sewer
digging--------------------C om m unication:
Steam railw ays___ . . . .
Electric railw ays . ___
Express, telephone, and
telegraph.
_______
W holesale tra d e ___________
Hotels and restaurants_____
P a y roll
M etal p roducts____________
T ransportation eq u ip m en t—.
Textile products. _ _ ______
Foods and tobacco. ______
Stone, clay, and glass produ c t s . . _______ ___________
Lum ber p ro d u c ts... ______
Chemical p roducts. ______
L eather and ru b b er products.
Paper and p rin tin g ________
All industries________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P ay roll
N onm an ual
93.0
66.8
107.9
99.2
93.3
69.6
97.8
93.1
81.3
83.5
105. 1
97.6
105.9
100. 0
97.9
105.2
93.0
90.4
75.9
71.9
M anufacturing, mines, and
quarries
..............
C onstruction. __ _
C om m unication. ______ __
W holesale tra d e ________ _
R etail trad e—sales force only.
Miscellaneous professional
services., ______________
Hotels and restaurants_____
[638]
221
CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E S IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF IE D
S T A T E S —C ontinued
Y early period
Per cent of change,
D ecember, 1927, to
D ecember, 1928
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
All industries________
E m ploy
m ent
P a y roll
C a lifo rn ia
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u c ts_______ ____ ________
M etals, m achinery, and con
veyances
____________
W ood m anufactures_______
L eather an d ru b b e r goods .
Chem icals, oils, p aints, etc.-P rin tin g a nd paper goods___
Textiles . .
C lothing, m illinery, and
laundering ____________ .
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco_____ ___ . . . _____
W ater, light, and pow er.
M iscellaneous ___ ________
Per cent of change,
Jan u a ry , 1928, to
J an u a ry , 1929
P a y roll
O k la h o m a —C ontinued
- 3 .1
- 4 .7
+10.9
- 4 .9
+41. 5
+28.4
+ 5 .5
- 2 .3
+13.3
-7 . 6
+31. 2
+35. 3
+ 4 .5
+ 6 .4
- .5
-1 . 2
+ 7 .4
-1 3 . 1
-1 6 . 7
+6. 1
-1 1 .8
-2 8 .3
+ 6 .8
+ 8 .5
-H 7
+ 5 .3
- 6 .8
+ 3 .8
+ 8 .9
- 5 .8
+ .4
- 1 .1
- .6
- .6
-1 . 1
- 2 .6
+ 1 .8
-9 . 7
+ 3 .4
+ .4
- 4 .7
+ 1.0
- 3 .0
- 3 .6
+3. 2
-1 1 .4
Public utilities:
Steam -railw ay shops.__
Street railw ay s-- .
W ater, light, and power__
Stone, clay, a n d glass:
Brick and tile ____ _
C em ent an d p laster____
Crushed s t o n e _____ _ _
Glass m a n u fa c tu re --___
Textiles a n d cleaning:
Textile m anufacture _ _
Laundries, etc_________
W oodworking:
Sawmills___________
M illw ork, etc________ _
All industries________
- 9 .8
+15.1
+245.2
-1 .9
+14.9
+287. 7
+43.9
+22.4
-1 2 .0
- 6 .0
+33.6
+ 9 .1
+ 4 .2
-5 .7
+33.6
+72.2
+33.0
+75.5
+291. 2
+5. 1
+364.0
+12. 1
+27.3
+29.0
N ew Y o rk
Stone, clay, and glass.. _ _
M etals and m achinery_____
W ood m anufactures... . . . __
Furs, leather, a n d rubber
goods . .
______ .
Chem icals, oils, p aints, e tc __
P a p e r .. __________________
P rin tin g a nd p ap er goods___
T e x tile s.. . . . .
. . . ...
C lothing a n d m illin ery __ _
Food and tobacco ______
W ater, light, and p o w e r.. _
All in d u s tr ie s ._______
+ 1.1
+ 2 .9
Jan u ary , 1928, to
Jan u ary , 1929
O k la h o m a
Cottonseed-oil m ills. ____
Food production:
B a k e rie s .............................
Confections____________
Creameries and dairies. .
Flour m ills__ __________
Ice and ice cream . _____
M eat and p o u ltry ____
Lead and zinc:
M ines a n d m ills ..______
Sm elters_______________
M etals a nd m achinery:
A uto repairs, etc ______
M achine shops and foun
dries________________
T an k construction and
erection______________
Oil industry :
Producing and gasoline
m an u factu re.._ . . . . . . .
Refineries___ ________
Printing: Job w ork............... .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+36.9
-3 2 .0
+27.2
-7 . 1
-1 2 . 5
+ 9 .9
+89.8
+ 3 .4
+ 7.1
- 1 .3
- 5 .6
+ 5 .8
+64. 5
+ 1 .8
-1 2 .4
+ 7 .3
- 7 .6
+21.7
+281. 2
+301. 0
-1 2 .1
-1 0 .0
+60.7
+40.0
+23.6
+21.7
+45.0
+21.5
+20.3
+60.5
Index num bers
(1923-1925 = 100)
January,
1928
January,
1929
E m ploym ent
P e n n s y lv a n ia
M etal products
_____
T ransportation e q u ipm ent.-Textile products___________
Foods and tobacco_________
Stone, clay, a n d glass produ c ts ____ ________ ______
L um ber products________ _
Chemical p ro d u cts_________
L eather and ru b b er products.
Paper and p rin tin g _______
All industries________
.
79.9
80. 7
102.3
89.9
88.0
71.3
96.4
92.1
76. 7
71.2
94.9
100.8
98.3
82.5
73.7
97.7
95.8
91.3
86. 5
88.7
P a y roll
M etal p r o d u c t s .. . ____ . . .
T ransportation e q u ip m e n t...
Textile products___________
Foods and tobacco. _______
Stone, clay, a n d glass products . .
_. ...............
L um ber products
.. .
Chem ical p ro d u cts______ .
Leather and ru b b er products.
Paper and p r i n t i n g . . ______
78.1
81.5
107.1
88.4
93.3
69.6
97.8
93.1
64.1
71.1
97.0
104.6
107. 6
75.9
71.9
100.0
97.9
105.2
All industries______ _
85.8
90.4
[639]
222
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E S IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF IE D
S T A T E S —C ontinued
Y e a rly period —Continued
Per cent of change,
December, 1927, to
Decem ber, 1928
Per cent of change,
December, 1927, to
D ecem ber, 1928
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m p lo y
m ent
W isc o n sin
M an u al
Logging------------ --------- -----M ining __ ______________
Stone crushing and quarrym g --------------------------------M anufacturing:
Stone and allied industries______ _______ _
M etal _ ________ ___
W ood____ _
__ ____
R ubber
L eath er. __
___ _
P a p e r. _________ __ .
Textiles___ ____________
Foods . . . . . . ______
L ight and pow er. _
P rin tin g and publishing.
Laundering,
cleaning,
and dyeing . _ ______
Chemical ( i n c l u d i n g
soap, glue, and explosives) . . .
... _
All m anufacturing _ .
E m ploy
m ent
P a y roll
+27.9
-3 9 .2
-4 .0
-3 7 .4
+ 8 .8
+10.3
- 6 .4
+ 12. 1
+ 9 .0
- 2 .7
- 1 .8
- 1 .1
-14. 9
+ 1. 1
+10.8
+ 6 .6
+ 4 .0
+16.9
+ 2 .3
- 7 .5
- 2 .7
-1 . 7
-1 8 .0
+ 4 .5
+10.5
+ 2 .0
-1 .2
-2 2 .3
-1 7 . 9
+ 4 .6
+ 5 .3
W isc o n s in —C ontinued
M a n u a l —C ontinued
Construction:
B uilding____________
H ighw ay______________
R ailroad__ __________
M arine dredging, sewer
digging--------------------Com m unication:
Steam railw ays____
Electric r a ilw a y s __ __
Express, telephone, and
telegraph _ _ _
W holesale trade _ _ _ _____
H otels and restau ran ts____
P a y roll
+ 3 .9
+4. 4
+15.4
-0 .7
- 3 .0
+ 9 .9
-4 6 . 9
-3 6 .7
—7. 7
-1 7 .8
- 5 .4
-1 3 .2
+ 4 .3
0.0
+ 4 .7
+ 2 .3
- 4 .1
-.2
- 6 .0
+ 7 .4
+ 8 .6
+ 1 .6
+ 1.7
- 9 .1
+ 6.9
+14.6
- 5 .2
+6. 1
-12. 5
+ 7.6
N on m an u al
M anufacturing, mines, and
quarries. _____
_______
C onstruction
C om m unication _ ______
Wholesale trade . .
R etail tra d e —sales force only_
M iscellaneous professional
services_________________
H otels and restaurants
U n e m p lo y m e n t of O rganized B u ild in g -T ra d es W orkers in
M a ssa c h u se tts
HE number of building-trades workers unemployed in Massa
chusetts from all causes on December 3, 1928, formed 23.7 per
cent of the 51,789 members of 315 labor unions which reported
to the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries for that
date. Lack of work or materials caused the greatest amount of
unemployment (21.6 per cent), as it had on all of the other reporting
dates back to April 1, 1927, the date on which the Massachusetts
department began publishing monthly figures on this subject. On
December 3, 1928, sickness, accident, or old age was the next con
tributing cause (1.9 per cent), unfavorable weather accounting for
only 0.2 per cent and strikes and lockouts for less than one-tenth of
1 per cent. Hod carriers and building laborers had the highest per
centage of unemployment (32.6 per cent) on December 3. The
lowest percentages were reported for electrical workers (10.2 per cent),
sheet-metal workers (10.7 per cent), and plumbers, gasfitters, and
steamfitters (11.2 per cent).
The following tables show the percentage of unemployment among
organized building-trades workers in Massachusetts, by cause and
by occupation, from April 1, 1927, to December 3, 1928. The figures
have been taken from press releases of the Massachusetts Depart
ment of Labor and Industries:
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[640]
223
UNEMPLOYMENT OF BUILDING-TRADES WORKERS
T a b l e 1. -P E R C E N T OF O R G A N IZ E D B U IL D IN G -T R A D E S W O R K E R S U N E M P L O Y E D
IN M A S S A C H U S E T T S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S , B Y C A U SE
Cause of unem ploym ent
D ate
Lack of
Sickness, U nfavor
work or Strike or accident,
able
materials lockout or old age ■weather
Other
reasons
All
causes
1937
A pril 1
M ay 2.
June 1_
Ju ly 1
Aug. 1
Sept. 1
Oct. 3
N ov. 1.
Dec. 1_
24.7
17.8
15.6
15.3
12.4
12.8
11.4
12.0
16. 2
0.1
.1
.9
.3
.1
.1
.3
.1
1.7
1.8
1.7
1.4
1.9
1.7
1.7
1.5
2.0
0.3
.1
.3
.2
o
.6
.1
.1
.6
.8
.1
.2
.2
.2
4.0
.1
.2
.1
2.1
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.4
1.6
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.8
1.9
1.9
3.4
.2
3.4
.1
.1
.3
.2
.1
0)
0.6
(')
(>)
(0
(')
0)
0)
0)
.3
27.4
19.9
18.4
17.2
14.7
15.3
13.5
13.7
19.1
.2
27.3
29.4
34. 1
28.9
24.1
22.9
14.6
13.2
15.8
17.2
20.1
23.7
1928
J a n . 3.
Feb. L
M ar. 1
A pr. 2_
M ay 1.
June 1_
Ju ly 2.
Aug. 1.
Sept. 4
Oct. 1
N ov. 1
Dec. 3_
20.8
27.4
28.9
26.9
22. 2
16.9
12. 8
11.3
14. 1
15.3
17.8
21. 6
0)
.
1
(’)
(')
.1
.1
.2
(!)
(')
(>)
.2
.1
.1
0)
.2
0)
1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
T a b l e 2 .—P E R C E N T OF O R G A N IZ E D B U IL D IN G -T R A D E S AVORKERS U N E M P L O Y E D
IN M A S S A C H U S E T T S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S , B Y O C C U P A T IO N
D ate
B rick
layers,
masons, C ar
and
penters
plas
terers
Elec
trical
work
ers
Hod
car
riers
and
build
ing la
borers
P a in t
ers,
L a th deco
rators,
ers
and
paperhangers
P lum b
ers. gas SheetAil
fitters, m etal Other
occupa
and workers occupa
tions
tions
steam
fitters
1937
A pr. 1______ ____
M ay 2_ __________
June 1 _ _ ................. .
Ju ly 1__ __________
Aug. 1------------------Sept. 1____________
Oct. 3_____________
N ov. 1_ __________
I>ec. 1..................
30.2
15.8
16.6
12. 2
10.8
11.6
10.0
9.5
15.4
27. 7
16.8
15.4
13. 5
15. 1
17.3
12. 2
12. 7
15.7
16.1
11. 4
12. 5
12.5
15.4
13.0
9.0
6.8
10.8
30. 5
31. 7
28.1
27. 7
16.8
19.1
19.9
20.9
35.3
22. 0
19.4
13.8
10.5
8.6
11.8
6.3
7.8
16.9
23.7
17. 7
16.9
24.4
13.2
12.3
20.9
21.9
30.7
31. 5
26.9
27.8
21.3
15. 2
10.8
6.0
5.9
11.0
18.3
11.6
16.9
19.6
19.5
5.2
4.2
4. 1
6.2
26.5
19.7
14.5
13.0
14.0
13.0
13.7
11.3
5.7
27.4
19.9
18.4
17.2
14. 7
15.3
13.5
13.7
19.1
1928
Jan. 3...................
_
Feb. 1_____________
M ar. 1_______
A pr. 2_____________
M ay 1 ____
___
June 1 . _______
Ju ly 2_______ _ . .
Aug. 1------------------Sept. 4__ ________
Oct .1_____________
N ov. 1___ ______
Dec. 3 ___ _______
23. 1
31. 8
35.0
29.4
17.9
17. 1
9.2
11.0
11.9
14. 1
16.8
23.0
25.8
27.4
31.6
24.4
20. 8
20. 0
17. 1
16.8
16.8
16.8
17. 6
22.8
15.7
20.3
22. 5
24.5
17.9
12. 7
7.0
5.0
9.8
6. 1
8.9
10. 2
37.6
33. 5
38. 1
34.9
38. 5
35.1
8.3
10.9
20. 7
30. 2
37.7
32.6
24.4
27.6
26. 6
24. 7
17. 7
14. 3
11.9
13. 1
15.8
18.4
18.8
18. 6
42.4
46.9
48.6
36.4
23.0
17. 7
21.4
14. 1
18.0
17.4
20.9
27.6
17.1
21. 6
30. 7
37.5
30.6
29.0
23.8
16.3
13. 1
8. 1
8.3
11.2
15.9
12.3
12. 7
16. 5
15.3
10.2
8.7
5.5
10. 1
7.8
7.3
10. 7
17.1
20.0
28.1
20.4
17.3
30.9
8.6
3.3
7.2
10.0
16.0
28.3
27.2
29.4
34.1
28.9
24.1
22.9
14. 6
13.2
15.8
17.2
20. 1
23.7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
W ork of th e C an ad ian E m p lo y m e n t Service
HE OPERATION of Canada’s State and provincial machinery for
the placement of men and women in jobs is described in detail
in the American Federationist of February, 1929, Mr. James
Simpson, who wrote the article here reviewed, is the vice president of
the Trades and Labor Congress and chairman of the Employment
Service Council of Canada.
T
Free Public Employment Bureaus
DEFORE 1907 the Dominion gave little attention to Federal service
^
for the employment of workers. The situation in that year,
however, led to the enactment of legislation by the Province of Ontario
for the setting up of free public employment offices. Three years
afterwards Quebec passed a law along similar lines.
The serious conditions in 1913-14 stressed the gravity of the un
employment problem and at that time many of the more important
Canadian municipalities created and for some years continued to
operate free employment bureaus. In May, 1918, the employment
offices coordination act was enacted by the Federal Government and
since that date auxiliary legislation has been passed by eight Provinces.
Out of the administration of these laws the Canadian Employment
Service has developed and now operates through bureaus in 64 centers,
all the Provinces cooperating except Prince Edward Island. With the
multiplication of these free public employment bureaus, the number of
commercialized offices has correspondingly declined. British Co
lumbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia have
closed down these agencies. Ontario and Quebec continue to license
and regulate such offices but in the former there are only 14 licensed
bureaus and in the latter only 11. While there is no law concerning
commercial employment agencies in the Province of New Brunswick,
the Employment Service of Canada has practically eliminated the
private agency as a competitor.
Difficulties in Coordination
TI NDER a government like that of Canada the successful operation
of employment services is considerably more difficult than in
States with centralized authority. The Dominion has in addition
to its Federal Government 9 provincial governments whose legislative
powers are set forth in the British North America Act. “ To invite
cooperation among the different Provinces through the Federal
authority means the subordination of provincial pride to the national
good.” The success of the Canadian Employment Service is, there
fore, Mr. Simpson holds, “ a distinct achievement.”
Employment Offices Coordination Act
DROAINCIAL and Federal cooperation has been effected through
the employment offices coordination act, which authorizes the
Dominion Minister of Labor—(a)
To aid and encourage the organization and coordination of employment
offices and to promote uniformity of methods among them;
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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WORK OF CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
225
(b) To establish one or more clearing houses for the interchange of information
between employment offices concerning the transfer of labor and other matters;
(c) To compile and distribute information received from employment offices
and other sources regarding prevailing conditions of employment.
In 1927--28 $150,000 of the Dominion appropriations were available
for subventions to the various Provinces. This money, when allocated
to the different Provinces in proportion to their expenditure on the
administration and operation of employment bureaus, reimburses
them for about one-third of their gross expenditures. A notable
provision of the cooperating Federal and provincial agreements is
that for special employment work in the interest of veterans of the
World War, partially disabled through their war service.
All employment service bureaus offer facilities for both men and
women seeking work in any kind of occupation and for employers
in applying for any sort of help. It is neither practicable nor advisable
to separate the several functions of the bureaus at all centers, but
when the volume of work calls for it and when the population to be
served is large enough to warrant such action separate divisions are
operated for men and women, skilled and unskilled, farm, factory,
and domestic service, etc. In western Canada, especially in British
Columbia, where seasonal laborers are regularly hired in great num
bers, it is customary to operate temporary employment offices. To
coordinate the activities of the various local bureaus and to facilitate
the transfer of labor from one district to another, eight clearing houses
have been established throughout the Dominion. There are approx
imately 275 in the personnel of the employment service.
Placements
TN THE fiscal year ending March 31, 1928, there were 556,754
1 applications registered at the public employment bureaus. During
the same period these offices were notified of 456,569 opportunities
for employment—340,649 for men and 115,920 for women. Place
ments numbered 418,306—322,108 of men and 96,198 of women.
Based on reports from local trade-unions, monthly figures are
computed showing the percentage of the membership unemployed
on the last day of the month, unemployment being defined as “ invol
untary idleness due to economic causes.” Usually more than 1,600
local unions, including approximately 170,000 members, send in
reports. These returns cover about 63 per cent of the organized
workers in the Dominion.
Facilities Afforded
HE bureaus of the Employment Service afford facilities not only at
the respective points of industrial activity at which these offices
are located, but also to considerable numbers of workers in surrounding
districts. For example, of the 418,306 placements in the fiscal year
1927-28, 217,246 were made outside of the centers in which the
bureaus are located.
Since 1919 a concession which involves a reduced fare has been
granted by the railways to “ bona fide applicants at the employment
service who may desire to travel to distant employment for which
no workers are available locally.”
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Employment Service Council
IN 1919 the Employment Service Council was set up in accordance
* with “ orders in council passed in pursuance of the employment
offices coordination act.” This body, advisory to the Minister of
Labor concerning the administration of the act, is composed of repre
sentatives of the Federal Government and 8 provincial governments,
and also representatives of employers, organized labor, returned sol
diers, railways, and the agricultural community. With one exception
the council has convened every year since its establishment. At its
conference in 1928 the following matters were taken up: Immigration
as affecting the Canadian employment service; the placement of the
handicapped; the problem of harvest labor; the procedure of employ
ment bureaus; the mobility of labor in relation to unemployment;
and the private fee-charging employment offices.
As the immigration problem is so closely allied with that of employ
ment, the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada is now urging that
an advisory council be established to aid the Government in regulating
immigration, with a view to the nation’s capacity to absorb such
addition to its population.
Advantages to Organized Labor
Canadian Employment Service has been of great benefit to
organized labor, enabling it to check up conditions having a
significant bearing upon the labor supply available for certain em
ploying groups. Many complaints are made in regard to employers
inducing great numbers of immigrants to come from Europe to take
jobs which could be filled by the unemployed already in the Dominion.
The employment service, in cooperation with the immigration depart
ment, is able to find out quickly the supply of labor available for
various occupations, and a number of employers were not allowed
to bring in alien groups until they had made use of the available
labor surplus in Canada.
The Employment Service is also endeavoring to carry on surveys,
especially in the agricultural sections, in order “ to ascertain the
capacities of certain areas to absorb more immigrants or more of the
unemployed of other parts of the country.” This survey system is
being broadened and if logically carried out will, Mr. Simpson thinks,
result in enabling the Government to estimate more accurately the
available labor supply for the various industries before inviting
additional immigrants to Canada.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 644 ]
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
R etail P rices of Food in th e U n ited S ta te s
HE following tables are compiled from monthly reports of actual
selling prices 1received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
retail dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food January
15 and December 15, 1928, and January 15, 1929, as well as the
percentage changes in the year and in the month. For example, the
retail price per dozen of strictly fresh eggs was 55.9 cents on January
15, 1928; 58.4 cents on December 15, 1928; and 50.6 cents on Jan
uary 15, 1929. These figures show decreases of 9 per cent in the year
and 13 per cent in the month.
The cost of various articles of food combined shows a decrease of
0.3 per cent, January 15, 1929, as compared with January 15, 1928,
and a decrease of 0.8 per cent January 15, 1929, as compared with
December 15, 1928.
T
1 . — A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E JA N U A R Y 15, 1929, C O M P A R E D W IT H D E C E M B E R 15,
1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1928
T a ble
fPereentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
Article
U nit
Jan. 15,
1928
Dec, 15,
1928
Jan. 15,
1929
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
Sirloin steak ....................................... .
P o u n d _______
R ound steak _____________ _____
------d o _______
R ib roast________________________ ___ do_______
C huck roast_____________________ ___ do_______
P la te beef________________________ ___do_______
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Jan. 15, 1929,
compared w ith—
Jan. 15,
1928
44.4
38.6
32.7
25.4
17.2
48.2
42.7
35.7
29.1
20.4
48.4
42.6
35.8
29.0
20.6
+10
+9
+14
-f 20
Dec. 15,
1928
+ 0.4
- 0 .2
+ 0.3
- 0 .3
+1
P ork chops________ ______________
Bacon, sliced_____________________
H am , sliced______________ ____ ___
Lam b, leg of_____________________
H ens____________________________
do__ ____
__ _do_______
___do__.......... .
___do___ ___
___do_____ _
31.3
44. 6
51.7
37.4
36.8
31.3
43.3
53.4
37.6
37.9
32.3
43.0
53.8
39.9
39.2
+3
-4
+4
+7
+7
+3
-1
+1
+6
+3
Salmon, c a n n e d ..________________
M ilk, fresh_______________________
M ilk, evaportated_____ ______ ____
B u tte r___________________________
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substi
t u t e s ) .. . _________ _____________
___d o _______
Q u art. _____
16-oz. can ___
P o u n d _______
35.3
14.3
11.5
57.8
31.9
14.3
11.4
59.3
31.9
14.3
11.4
57.7
-1 0
0
-1
0.2
0
0
0
-3
___ do__............
27.6
27.5
27.6
0
Cheese.....................................................
L a rd .........................................................
Vegetable lard su b stitu te __________
Eggs, strictly fresh________________
Eggs, sto rag e.........................................
___do...... .........
___do_______
___do_______
D ozen_______
___ do_______
39.2
18.9
25.0
55.9
44.7
38.5
18.7
24.8
58.4
43.7
! In addition to m o n th ly retail prices of food and coal, th e b ureau publishes
tricity from each of 51 cities for the dates for w hich these d ata are secured.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[645]
+ 0.4
38.4
-2
- 0 .3
18.5
-2
-1
24.7
-1
- 0 .4
-9
50.6
-1 3
40.2
-1 0
-8
the prices of gas and elec
227
228
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1 .— A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E JA N U A R Y 15, 1929, C O M P A R E D W IT H D E C E M B E R 15,
1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1928—C ontinued
T a ble
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Jan. 15, 1929,
com pared w ith—
Average retail price onArticle
U n it
Jan. 15,
1928
Dec, 15,
1928
Jan. 15,
1929
C e n ls
C e n ts
C e n ls
Jan. 15,
1928
Bread
____________________
Flour
__ _ _____
Corn m eal___ _________________ __
Rolled oats__
________________
C orn flakes___ ___________ ______
P o u n d ____ . .
____do_______
____do_______
___ do_______
8-oz. package..
9.2
5.3
5.2
9.0
9.7
9.0
5.1
5.3
8.9
9.5
9.0
5.1
5.3
8.9
9.5
-2
-4
+2
-1
-2
W heat cereal_____________________
M acaroni _
__ ____________
Rice
_
Beans, n a v y . ____ _______________
Potatoes
______ _ __
28-oz. package.
P o u n d _______
____do_. ____
___ do _____
____do_______
25.6
20.0
10.2
9.5
3.0
25.5
19.7
9.9
12.8
2.2
25.5
19.7
9.8
13.2
2.3
- 0 .4
-2
-4
+39
-2 3
Onions
___________________
Cabbage
_________________
Beans, baked _ _ _ _______________
Corn, canned___ _ __________ ___
________ _____
Peas, canned
__ __do_ _____
_ __do ______
No. 2 c an ____
____do _______
____do_______
5.1
4.2
11.4
15.8
16.8
7.1
4.7
11.7
15.9
16.7
7.6
5. 8
11.7
16. 0
16.8
+49
+38
+3
+1
0
Tom atoes, canned-__ ________ ____do ______
Sugar
_ ______________ ______ Pound . . .
________ _ _
___ ____do_______
Tea
____do______
Coffee
11.7
7.1
77.4
48.5
12.0
6.7
77.3
49.7
12.4
6.7
77.6
49.5
_ do _ __
Prunes
R aisins__________________________ ___do _____
B ananas__ _______________________ Dozen ______
O ranges.
____________ ___ ___ do________
13.6
13.7
34.6
51.0
14.1
11.8
33.5
47.6
14.2
11.7
33.9
46.5
+6
-6
+ 0 .3
+2
+4
-1 5
-2
-9
- 0 .3
W eighted food index______________
Dec. 1 5 ,
1928
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-1
+3
+5
+7
+23
0
+1
+1
+3
0
+ 0.4
- 0 .4
+1
-1
+1
-2
-0 .8
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of
specified food articles on January 15, 1913, and on January 15 of
each year from 1923 to 1929, together with percentage changes in
January of each of these specified years, compared with January,
1913. For example, the retail price per pound of rice was 8.6 cents
in January, 1913; 9.5 cents in January, 1923; 9.8 cents in January,
1924; 10.7 cents in Janaury, 1925; 11.6 cents in January, 1926;
11 cents in January, 1927; 10.2 cents in January, 1928; and 9.8 cents
in January, 1929.
As compared with January, 1913, these figures show increases of
10 per cent in January, 1923; 14 per cent in Janaury, 1924; 24 per
cent in January, 1925; 35 per cent in January, 1926; 28 per cent in
January, 1927; 19 per cent in January, 1928; and 14 per cent in
January, 1929.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an increase
of 57.3 per cent in January, 1929, as compared with January, 1913.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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229
R ETA IL PR IC ES OF FOOD
T a ble 2 .—A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S O F S P E C I F I E D F O O D A R T I C L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F I N C R E A S E J A N U A R Y 15, O F C E R T A I N S P E C I F I E D Y E A R S C O M P A R E D W I T H
J A N U A R Y 15, 1929
[P ercentages of fiv e -ten th s of 1 p er ce n t a n d over are given as w hole n u m b e rs]
P e r ce n t of increase on J a n . 15 of
each specified y e a r co m p ared w ith
J a n . 15, 1913
A verage re ta il price on J a n . 15—
A rtic le a n d u n it
1913 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
C ts .
Sirloin s t e a k ..p o u n d .. 23.8
R o u n d s te a k ___ d o ___ 20.5
R ib r o a s t_______ d o ___ 18.8
C h u c k ro a s t____ d o ___ 14.9
P la te b eef______ d o ___ 11.1
P o rk c h o p s _____ d o ___ 18.7
B aco n , sliced ___ d o ___ 25.4
H a m , slic ed ____ d o ___ 25. 1
L a m b , leg of____d o . . .
18.0
H e n s ___________ d o ___ 20.2
S alm on, ca n n ed , red
____________ p o u n d __ ____
M ilk , fre s h ., .q u a r t . . 8.9
M ilk , e v a p o ra te d
_________ 16-oz. c a n ..
B u t t e r _______ p o u n d .. 40.9
O leo m arg arine (all b u tte r s u b s titu te s )
._ _
pound _
C h ee se_________ d o ___ 22.2
L a r d ......................d o ____ 15.4
V eg etab le la rd su b stit u t e . . __ . . . p o u n d . .
E ggs, s tr ic tly fresh
______ __ _ d o z e n .. 37.3
E ggs, sto rag e___ d o ___ 25. 7
B r e a d . . ............p o u n d ..
5.6
F lo u r ___________d o ___
3. 3
C o rn m e a l______d o ___
3.0
R o lled oats . . . do ._
C o rn flakes
. -8-oz. p a c k a g e ..
W h e a t cereal
____ 28-oz. p a c k a g e ..
M a c a ro n i____ p o u n d .
R ic e ____________ d o ___
8.6
B ean s, n a v y ____d o ___
P o ta t o e s .............d o ___
1.6
O nions
_ d o ___
C abbage.
._ d o . „
B ean s b ak e d
. . . . ___ N o. 2 can...
C o rn , c a n n e d ___d o ___
P eas, ca n n ed
d o ___
T o m ato es., ca n n ed
________ N o. 2 can...
S u g a r , g r a n u la te d
.....................p o u n d ..
5.8
T e a ____________ d o ___ 54.3
C offee__________ d o ___ 29.9
P ru n e s. . .
d o ...
R a is in s _______ d o ___
B a n a n a s __ ...d o z e n ..
O ran g es______ .d o ___
A ll articles co m b in ed L
1
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
as.
C ts .
C ts .
37.2
31.6
27.5
19.6
12.9
29. S
39.8
45.1
36.3
34.5
39. 1
33. £
28.6
20.7
as.
38.7
32.8
28.5
20.5
13.3
30. 7
40. i
47.6
38.8
35.8
40.8
35.5
30.5
22.7
15.0
36.6
48. i
56.8
37.4
38.5
44.4
38.6
32.7
25.4
13.3
27.4
37.2
44.7
35.9
34.5
40.8
35. C
30. C
22. 1
14.5
36.5
48.2
53.3
39. 1
38.6
48.4
42.6
35.8
29.0
20.6
32.3
43.0
53.8
39.9
39.2
56
54
46
32
16
57
57
80
102
71
64
62
52
39
63
60
52
38
71
71
60
48
20
47
46
78
99
71
20
64
59
90
116
77
31.3 31.2 31. 7 37.3 33. 5 35.3 31.9
13.7 14.2 13.9 14.2 14. 1 14.3 14.3 54
60
12.1 12.2 11. 1 11.6 11.4 11.5 11. 4
59.1 61.3 52.3 55.4 58.4 57.8 57.7 44
27.8 29.7 30.1 31.3 29.2 27. 6 27.6
37.3 37.4 35.9 37.6 37.6 39.2 38.4 68
17.4 18.7 22.81 22.3 20.0 18.9 18.5 13
17.2
31.3
44.6
51.7
37.4
36.8
31
95
90
112
117
91
71
72
61
52
35
96
93
126
108
91
87
88
74
70
55
67
76
106
108
82
122
94
56
60
58
61
61
50
28
35
43
41
41
68
21
62
48
69
45
69
30
77
23
73
20
46
50
55
36
47
89
109
64
82
80
45
64
68
88
73
50
75
68
70
70
50
74
64
61
73
36
57
61
55
77
14
24
35
28
19
14
75
56
263
150
88
44
76
31
28
40
37
73
16
40
72
29
43
68
22
43
62
16
43
66
103
108
90
95
86
73
69
114
22.3 24.3 25.3 25.6 25.2 25.0 24.7
55.7 54.6 70.5 53.9 55.9 55.9 50.6 49
40.0 38.6 53.7 42.2 45.0 44. 7 40.3 56
8.7 8. 7 9.2 9.4 9.4 9.2 9.0 55
4.9 4. 5 6.0 6.2 5.6 5.3 5.1 48
4.0 4.4 5.4 5.2 5.1 5.2 5.3 33
8.8 8.8 9.0 9.1 9.1 9.0 8.9
9.7
9.7 10.9 11.0 10.9
9. 7
9. 5
25.0 24. 3 24.5 25.3 25.5 25. 6 25.5
19.8 19. 6 20.0 20.3 20. 1 20.0 19. 7
9.5 9.8 10.7 11.6 11.0 10.2 9.8 10
10.9 10.1 10.2 9.8 9.2 9.5 13.2
2.1 2.8 2.5 5.8 4.0 3.0 2.3 31
5. 1 6. 1 5.9 5.9 5. 5 5.1 7. 6
4.0 4.9 4.6 5.6 4. 7 4.2 5.8
__
13. 1 12.9 12. 5 12.3 11. 7 11. 4 11. 7
15.3 15.7 17.5 16.8 16. 1 15.8 16.0
17.5 17.9 18.5 17.8 17.2 16.8 16.8
12.7 12.9 13.8 12.6 12. 3 11.7 12. 4
8.3
68.7
37.0
20.0
18.9
37.1
46.8
10.2
71.0
38.2
17.9
15.9
38.8
40.0
8. 1
74.2
51.6
17.4
14.6
33.2
44.8
6.7
76. 1
51.3
17.2
14. 5
35. 8
46. 9
7.5
77.5
50.2
16.0
14.4
34.5
46. 9
7. a
77.4
48. 5
13. 6
13. 7
34. 6
51.0
6.7 43
77.6 27
49. 5 24
14. 2
11. 7
33. 9
46. 5
46.9
-
51.7 5 7.0 67.2 62. 1 57. 7 57.3
B eg in n in g w ith J a n u a ry , 1921, index n u m b e rs show ing th e tre n d in th e re ta il cost of food h a v e been
com posed of th e articles sh o w n in T a b le s 1 a n d 2, w eig h ted according to th e co n su m p tio n of th e average
fam u y . F ro m J a n u a ry , 1913, to D ecem b er, 1920, th e index n u m b e rs in c lu d e d th e follow ing articles:
S irlo in stea k , ro u n d stea k , rib ro ast, ch u c k ro ast, p la te beef, p o rk chops, baco n , h a m , la rd , h en s, flour,
corn m eal, eggs, b u tte r, m ilk , b read , p o ta to es, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee, a n d tea.
Table 3 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years
from 1913 to 1928, and by months for 1927, 1928, and 1929. ' The
articles within these groups are as follows: •
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes, wheat
cereal, and macaroni.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[647]
230
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
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 * b le 3 .—I N D E X
N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL C O S T O F C E R E A L S , M E A T S , A N D D A IR Y
P R O D U C T S F O R T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S , 1913 T O J A N U A R Y , 1929
[A verage cost in 1913=100.0]
Y ear a n d m o n th
1913: A verage for y e a r ...
1914: A verage for y e a r ...
1915: A verage for y e a r ...
1916: A verage for y e a r ...
1917: A verage for y e a r. .
1918: A verage for y e a r ...
1919: A verage for yea r .
1920: A verage for y e a r ...
1921: A verage for y e a r ...
1922: A verage for y e a r ...
1923: A verage for y e a r._.
1924: A verage for y e a r.__
1925: A verage for y e a r._.
1926: A verage for y e a r ...
1927: A verage for y e a r ...
J a n u a ry . . .
F e b r u a r y _____ __
M a rc h __ . . . .
A p ril
_ . . . .
M a y _______________
J u n e . . ................
J u l y ------------------------
j C ereals
M e a ts
100. 0
106. 7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198. 0
232. 1
179.8
159. 3
156. 9
160.4
176. 2
175. 5
170. 7
172. 8
172. 7
172.1
171.7
171.6
170. 7
170. 6
100.0
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149. 0
150. 2
163.0
171. 3
169.9
168.1
167.6
168.5
170.6
170.7
168.3
169.3
D a iry
p ro d
ucts
Y ear a n d m o n th
1927: A verage for y e a r—
C o n tin u e d .
A ugusts . . .
S e p te m b e r---------------______
O ctober
N o v e m b e r. _____
D e cem b er___________
100.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127.6
153.4
176. 6
185.1
149.5
ido. y
147.6
142.8
147.1
145.5
148. 7
151.4
151.8
152. 2
150.8
145.3
143. 7
143. 9
i
1928: A verage for y e a r___
J a n u a r y .._ -------------F e b r u a r y ----------- . . .
M a r c h ____ ________
A p ril.. .
M a y _________ _____
J u n e ____ . . . . .
J u ly _________________
A u g u s t______________
S e p te m b e r ... -------O cto b e r_____________
N ovem ber
----D ecem b er
__ . _
1929:
J a n u a r y ----- -------------
D a iry
p ro d
u cts
C ereals
M e a ts
171.2
170.6
170.5
169.8
168.6
171.0
173.0
173.7
169.9
168.1
144.5
146.6
149.4
150.2
152.8
167. 2
168. 0
168. 0
166.8
167.2
168.3
169.8
169.3
168.2
166.7
165.9
165.3
164.2
179.2
168.3
167.8
107.1
170.3
175. 4
177.7
184.4
189. 5
195. 8
188.9
184.9
179.1
150.0
152.2
150.7
150.7
147.8
147.3
146.1
147.1
148. 3
151.2
151.1
152.5
153.5
164.1
180. 9
151.9
T R E N D O F R E T A IL P R IC E S O F F O O D
[1913=100]
180
160
140
In d e x N u m b e r s o f R e ta il P ric e s o f F o o d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
IN TABLE 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
* the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and
1920 to 1928,2and by months for 1928 and January, 1929- These index
numbers, or relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100 and
are computed by dividing the average price of each commodity for each
month and each year by the average price of that commodity for 1913.
These figures must be used with caution. For example, the relative
price of sirloin steak for the year 1928 was 188.2, which means that
the average money price for the year 1928 was 88.2 per cent higher
than the average money price for the year 1913. As compared with
i F or index n u m b e rs of each m o n th , J a n u a ry , 1913, to D ecem b er, 1926, see B u lle tin N o . 396, p p . 44 to
61; B u lle tin N o. 418, p p . 38 to 51; a n d B u lle tin N o. 445; p p . 36 to 49.
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[648]
231
RETA IL PR IC ES OF FOOD
the relative price, 167.7 in 1927, the figures for 1928 show an increase
of 2 OV2 points, but an increase of 12.2 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since
January, 1921, these index numbers have been computed from the
average prices of the articles of food shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted
according to the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
of food articles has varied, these index numbers have been so com
puted as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index
numbers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100 are 155.8 for
December, 1928, and 154.6 for January, 1929.
The curve shown in the chart on page 4 pictures more readily
to the e}m the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the
index numbers given in the table.
T a ble 4 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E T A IL P R IC E S OF P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D
BY Y E A R S , 1913, 1920 TO 1928, A N D BY M O N T H S F O R 1928 A N D JA N U A R Y , 1929
[Average for year 1913=100.01
Y ear and
m o n th
Sirloin R ounc
stea k stea k
R ib
ro a st
C h u ck P la te
ro ast
beef
P o rk
chops
Bacon! H a m
i
H en s
M ilk
B u tte r C heese
100. 0
172.1
152.8
147. 2
153 . 9
155.9
159.8
162. 6
167. 7
188.2
174.8
176.4
176. 8
178. 3
181. 5
186. 6
195. 7
200. 8
203. 9
198.0
193. 3
189.8
190.6
100.0
177.1
154.3
144.8
150.2
151. 6
155. 6
159. 6
166.4
188. 3
173. 1
174.4
175.3
177. 6
181.2
186.5
196. 9
202.2
205.4
200.0
194. 6
191.5
191.0
100.0
167. 7
147.0
139.4
143.4
145. 5
149.5
153.0
158. 1
176.8
165.2
167.2
167.2
168. 7
172.2
175.3
181.8
184.8
188.9
185.9
183. 3
180.3
180.8
100.0
163.8
132. 5
123. 1
126.3
130.0
135.0
140.6
148. 1
174. 4
158.8
160. 6
161. 3
163. 1
166.3
172.5
180. 6
185.0
190.0
188.8
185. 6
181. 9
181. 3
100.0
151.2
118.2
105.8
106. 6
109. 1
114.1
120. 7
127. 3
157.0
142.1
144. 6
146.3
147. 9
150:4
152.9
157.9
162.0
170. 2
171.9
171.9
168.6
170.2
100.0
201.4
166.2
157. 1
144.8
146. 7
174.3
188. 1
175.2
165. 7
149.0
140. 5
136.2
149.0
168. 6
165.7
177.6
190.0
211.0
179.0
170.0
149.0
153.8
100.0
193. 7
158.2
147.4
144.8
139. 6
173.0
186.3
174. 8
163.0
165.2
161. 9
159. 3
158.9
159.6
160.0
162. 6
165.9
168. 1
167. 8
164.8
160. 4
159.3
100.0
206.3
181.4
181.4
169. 1
168.4
195. 5
213.4
204. 5
196. 7
192.2
190.3
187. 7
188. 1
190.3
192.2
198. 5
204. 5
208.2
206. 7
203.0
198.5
200.0
100.0
209. 9
186.4
169.0
164. 3
165. 7
171.8
182.2
173. 2
175.6
172.8
174. 6
174. 6
177.0
177.0
174. 2
172.3
172.8
177.9
177. 9
178.4
177. 9
184.0
100.0
187.6
164.0
147.2
155.1
155.1
157.3
157.3
158.4
159.6
160. 7
160. 7
159. 6
158. 4
158.4
157.3
158.4
158.4
159. 6
159. 6
160. 7
160. 7
160. 7
100.0
183.0
135.0
125. 1
144. 7
135.0
143. 1
138.6
145. 2
147.5
150.9
147.0
149. 6
143. 9
142. 6
140. 7
141.8
144.7
150.4
150.1
152.2
154.8
150. 7
Y e a r a n d m o n th
L ard
Eggs
B read
F lo u r
C orn
m eal
R ice
P o ta
toes
S ugar
Tea
Coffee
1913____
1 9 2 0 ...
1921
____________
1922
_____
1923
_____
_ .. .
1924
1925. _■______
1926
_
1927
_
1928
_______
1928: J a n u a r y ________
F e b r u a ry _________
M a rc h . . . . . . . .
A p r il____ _____
M a y _____________
J u n e . . ____ ______
J u l y ______________
A u g u st __________
S e p te m b e r________
O cto b er ____ . . .
N o v e m b e r________
D e c e m b e r.................
1929: J a n u a r y ..................
100.0
186. 7
113.9
107.6
112.0
120. 3
147. 5
138. 6
122.2
117. 7
119.6
115.8
112. 7
112. 7
114. 6
115.2
116. 5
118.4
122.2
123.4
120.9
118.4
117. 1
100.0
197.4
147.5
128. 7
134.8
138.6
151.0
140. 6
131.0
134.5
162.0
124. 9
107. 2
103.8
108. 7
112.5
120.6
130.4
146. 1
157.4
171.9
169.3
146. 7
100.0
205.4
176.8
155.4
155.4
157. 1
167.9
167.9
166. 1
162. 5
164.3
164.3
162. 5
162. 5
162.5
164.3
164.3
164.3
162.5
162.5
162.5
160. 7
100.0
245. 5
175.8
154. 5
142. 4
148. 5
184.8
181.8
166. 7
163. 6
160.6
160. 6
160. 6
163. 6
169. 7
172. 7
169. 7
163.6
160.6
157.6
154.5
154. 5
100.0
216. 7
150.0
130.0
136. 7
156. 7
180.0
170.0
173. 3
176. 7
100.0
370. 6
182.4
164. 7
170.6
158.8
211.8
288.2
223. 5
158.8
173.3
173. 3
173.3
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
176. 7
176.7
176.7
100.0
200.0
109. 2
109. 2
109.2
116. 1
127. 6
133.3
123.0
114. 9
117.2
117.2
116. r
114. 9
114.9
113.8
114.9
113.8
114.9
113. 8
112.6
113.8
176.5
176. 5
200.0
205.9
194. 1
170.6
135. 3
129.4
129.4
129.4
129.4
129.4
100.0
352. 7
145. 5
132. 7
183. 6
167. 3
130.9
125.5
132. 7
129. 1
129. 1
129. 1
129. 1
129. 1
130.9
132. 7
132. 7
129. 1
127.3
125. 5
123.6
121.8
100.0
134. 7
128. 1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138.8
141.0
142.. 5
142.3
142.3
142.1
142. 3
141.9
141. 9
142. 1
142. 3
142.3
142.3
142.5
142.3
142.1
100.0
157.7
121.8
121.1
126.5
145.3
172.8
171.1
162. 1
165.1
162.8
163. 1
163.8
164. 1
164.4
165.1
165.1
165.8
166. 1
166.4
166.8
166.8
100.0
203.4
153.3
141.6
146.2
145.9
157.4
160. 6
155.4
154.3
155. 1
151.6
151.4
152.1
153.8
152.6
152.8
154.2
157.8
156.8
157.3
155.8
160. 7
154.5
176. 7
112.6
135.3
121.8
142.7
166.1
154.6
1913___________
1920..................
1921
___
1922
___
1923
___
1924
___
1925
___
1926
___
1927
___
1928
___
1928: J a n u a r y . _
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 s t____
S e p te m b e r.
O cto b e r___
N o v em b e r _
D e c e m b e r..
1929: J a n u a r y ..
1 22 articles in 1913-1920; 43 articles in 1921-1928.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[649]
100.0
188.2
153.9
148.9
167.0
159.7
166.1
165. 6
170. 1
174.2
177.4
177.4
174.2
172. 9
172.4
172.4
173.3
173.8
175. 1
175.6
174.2
174.2
173.8
A ll
a r ti
cles 1
232
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T \ ble 5 . —A V E R A G E R E T A I L P R I C E S O F T H E P R I N C I P A L A R T I C L E S O F F O O D I N 51
C IT IE S
JA N U A R Y
15 A N D
DECEM BER
15, 1928, A N D
JA N U A R Y
15, 1929
[ E x a c t c o m p a r is o n s o f p r ic e s i n d if f e r e n t c itie s c a n n o t fee m a d e fo r s o m e a r t ic l e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y m e a ts a n d
v e g e ta b le s , o w in g t o d iffe re n c e s in t r a d e p r a c tic e s ]
A tla n ta , G a.
A rticle
B altim o re, M d.j
B irm in g h a m ,
A la.
B o sto n , M ass.
B rid g e p o rt,
C onn.
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan .
Jan .
Jan .
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . D ec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
1928
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
S irloin s t e a k ...p o u n d - .
R o u n d ste a k ..d o
R ib r o a s t_______ d o ___
C h u c k ro a s t____ d o ___
42.1
38.3
32.6
25.6
48. 1
43.4
35.3
29.7
48.3
43.3
35.7
28.6
42.3
39.3
33.2
24.8
45. 1
41.2
34.6
27.7
45. 1
41.9
34.6
28.2
42.5
36.8
30.7
23.9
49.4
42. 1
33.9
27.7
49.6 ‘ 72.9 174.7 173.1
41.9 56. 1 60.3 58.3
34.2 42.4 43. 1 43.1
28. 1 31.7 33.6 33.6
54.5
47.5
41. 2
31.8
57.5
52.2
42.5
36.1
55.5
50.8
41.7
34.5
P la te beef______ d o ___
P o rk c h o p s_____ d o ___
B acon, sliced _ d o . . .
H a m , slic ed ____ d o ___
15.6
31.1
44.2
52. 1
19.6
32.5
40.9
56.3
19.7
33.0
40.5
55.3
17.3
28.6
39.7
52.0
20.9
26. 9
37.8
54.9
20.5
29.0
37.0
55.5
15.3
31.4
44.0
51.3
18.2
30.8
41.3
53.5
18.7
31.3
40.8
52.4
13.0
33.2
49.0
55.4
16.5
32.1
48.3
57.0
17.2
33.8
48.4
55.4
L a m b , leg of _ d o ___
H e n s ___________ d o ..
S alm o n, ca n n ed , red
................ ..
pound .
M ilk , fresh . _ q u a r t ..
M ilk , e v a p o ra te d
_______ 16-oz. c a n ..
B u tt e r . _____ p o u n d
O l e o m a r g a r i n e (all
b u tt e r s u b stitu te s )
___ _________p o u n d .
C heese_________ d o ___
L a rd _
d o ___
V eg etable la rd s u b s ti
tu t e .
pound.
E ggs, s tric tly fresh
________ _____d o z e n ..
E ggs, storage . . . d o ___
B re a d ________ p o u n d ..
38.3 39.7 39.4 37.3 35.7 37.6 39.8 41.0 41.8 37.5 38.1 40.2 36.7 37.7 40.8
36.4 36.3 36.5 38.5 39.8 40.7 33.2 33.8 35.3 39.5 40.1 40.8 39.5 40.4 41.8
C ts.
C ts.
21.8
31.8
43.2
56.4
C ts.
22.9
32. 2
42.0
57.4
C ts.
23.0
33.5
42.0
60.5
34.6 34.8 35.2 32.9 28.9 29.0 36.8 34.1 33.1 34.8 30.9 30.9 32.9 31.0 30.3
18.0 16.5 16.5 14.0 14.0 14.0 18.7 18.7 18.7 16.0 15.8 15.5 16.0 16.0 16.0
13.5 14.0 13.6 11.4 10.9 11.0 12.3 12.2 12.4 12.0 11.9 11.9 11.6 11.5 11.6
57.8 59.5 59.5 62.9 61.9 61.6 58.4 60.4 60.1 58.7 60.2 59.4 57.4 58.7 58.4
26.9 28.4 29.4 27.3 28.1 28.8 32.2 31.8 31.5 28.2 29.3 30.1 25.8 25. 2 25.5
38.0 37.4 37.4 38.3 36.8 37.1 39.3 37.7 37.6 40.8 40.6 40. 6 42.8 43.8 43.6
18.7 18.9 18.6 17.1 16.4 16.4 18.5 18.1 18.4 18.9 18.5 18.1 18.2 17.9 17.7
21.9 22.9 22.1 22.8 22.9 23.0 20.5 19.7 20.6 25.3 25.3 25.3 25.5 25.2 25.1
56.7 55.8 51.7 56.6 59.0 52.0 58.7 56.0 50.9 69.8 73.8 64.7 72.3 78.9 64.7
46.5 45.7 37. a 43.4 40.2 37.6 45.3 44.0 41. 8 50.6 46.8 49.7 48.7 47.0 43.9
10.8 10.8 10.8 9.6 8.5 8.5 10.1 10.0 9.9 8.6 8.6 8.5 8.8 8.8 8.8
F lo u r .
............d o ____ 6.3 6.6 6.6 5.0 4.7 4.7 6.5 6.5 6.5
4. 1 4. 2 4.2 4. 1 4.1 4. 1
4.0 4.4 4.4
C o rn m e a l_____ d o ___
8.1 8. C 8.2 10.0 9.8 10.1
9.9 9.7 9.1
R o lled o a ts _____ d o ___
C o rn flakes
9.7 9.8 9.8 9.1 8.6 8.6 10.1 9.9 9.9
____ 8-oz. p a c k a g e ..
W h e a t cereal
26.6 26.5 27.0 24.4 24.2 24.0 27.4 27.2 27.1
__ .28-oz. p a c k a g e ..
M a c a ro n i____ p o u n d . 21.3 21.8 21.5 19. 1 19.6 19 6 18.4 18.0 17.6
9.2
9.1 10. C 9.7 9.5 8.8 9.1 10.1 9.6
R ic e____________d o ___
B eans, n a v y ____d o ___ 10.3 15.1 14.8 8.9 12.4 12.7 10.3 13.3 14.3
P o ta to e s _______ d o ___
4.1
O n io n s_________ d o ___
6.1
5.3
C a b b a g e _______ d o ___
B ean s, b a k e d
. . . N o . 2 c a n .. 11.0
17.5
C o rn , ca n n ed . d o ..
18.1
P eas, c a n n e d . ..d o
T o m ato e s, ca n n ed
...................N o . 2 c a n .. 10.3
7.4
S u g a r________ p o u n d
105.1
T e a . . ................ . . d o . .
C offee.............. . . . d o ___ 48.9
P r u n e s . ______ do . .
R a isin s_________ d o ___
B a n a n a s ______ d o z e n ..
O ranges________ d o ___
C ts .
13.7
15.4
28.1
41.8
3.6
8.1
5.6
3.5
9.i
6.6
2.9
5.6
3.6
1.8
7. 1
4.4
2.1
7.6
6.6
4.3
6.7
5. a
3.4
8.6
5.5
3.7
8.4
6.0
5.8
6.5
9.0
5.3
7. 0
9.0
9.8
9.3
24.9
21.8
11.9
10.0
25.0
21.0
10.8
12.3
2.9
2.0
7.8
5.2
5 .4
5 .2
5.3
7.0
8.9
5.5
7.3
8.3
9.4
9.6
9.4
9 .4
25.2 24.7
2 1 . a 22.4
10.5 10.9
12.6 9.7
24.2
22.1
10.6
12.5
24.2
22.4
11.0
13.0
1.9
7.3
5.2
1.9
7.2
6.1
2.1
7.8
6.0
3.0
5.2
5.2
5.1
7.0
8.4
5.1
7.3
8 .4
11.5 11.5 10.9 10.8 10.8 11.2 11.7 11.7 12.6 12.7 12.5 11.5 11.6 11.9
18.8 18.6 14.8 16.1 16.5 16.7 16.2 16. 6 1 7 . 4 17. i 18. 1 19. 1 18.9 18.9
19.7 18.5 14.7 15.6 15.2 19.8 19.2 18.9 19.9 19.7 19.9 21.0 20.2 20.2
11.8 12.5 10.2 10.7 11.0 10.4 11.2 11.4 11.8 13.0 13.0 13.4 13.6 13.7
7.4
6.5 5. 7 5. 7 7.4 7.0 7.0 7.2 6.7 6.7 6.9 6. 5 6 .6
7 .‘
108.2 105.5 72.5 73.6 72.8 98.5 97.6 9 7 . 4 72.5 72.5 76.8 63.2 61.0 60.2
52.8 53.6 44.2 45.0 45.7 50.7 51.9 51.3 52.5 54.0 53.8 47.2 47.7 47.9
15.9
13. (
28.6
34.4
15.5 11.2
13.
12.7
27.1 25.1
32.6 49.4
11.7
10.6
23.5
41.8
12.
10.6
23.7
41.3
1
16.2
15. (
38.2
47.4
16.6
13. (
36.8
39.9
16.3
13. ]
37. i
35.5
13.6
12.7
48.6
54.5
13.7
11.2
44.2
51.8
14.3
10.8
45.8
51.6
14.5
14. ]
38.3
60.1
14.6
12.5
33.3
56.6
14.9
12. 2
35.0
49.9
T h e s te a k fo r w h ic h p r ic e s a r e h e r e q u o t e d is c a lle d “ s i r l o i n ” in t h i s c i ty , b u t i n m o s t o f t h e o th e r c itie s
in c lu d e d i n t h i s r e p o r t i t w o u ld b e k n o w n a s “ p o r t e r h o u s e ” s te a k ,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[650]
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD
233
T a b l e 5 .— A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F F O O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontin u ed
Buffalo, N . Y.
Article
B u tte, M ont.
C harleston,
S. C.
Chicago, 111.
Cincinnati,
Ohio
1928
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec 1929 Jan. D ec 1929 Jan. D ec 1929 Jan. D ec 1929 Jan. D ec 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Sirloin s te a k -.p o u n d ..
R ound steak___ do___
R ib roast______ do ___
C huck ro ast___ do___
C ts.
44.3
37.7
33.1
26.8
46.6
39.9
35. C
30.0
46.7
40. i
35. i
30.2
C ts.
33.2
30.6
28.7
21.3
C ts.
35.7
33.6
30.8
24.7
C ts.
33.0
30.0
27.3
20.2
36.2
35.0
29.2
24.8
C ts.
35. <
33.6
30. I
24. 4
36.9
35.0
30.0
24. 5
48. 2
38.8
37.3
28.6
C ts.
54.5
44.2
41.5
34.3
41.
37.
33.3
24.3
C ts.
52.5
43.2
39.7
33. 1
44.7
41. 1
36. 7
27.8
45.2
41.7
37.0
28.1
P late beef........... d o ...
Pork chops____ do___
Bacon, sliced___do ___
H am , sliced____do ___
16.7
33.0
39.8
48.6
19.1
31.8
39.6
52. 1
19.4
34.5
39.6
52.9
14.4
31.8
52. f
56.3
17.1
31. i
49.2
52.9
17.6
30. t
48.8
53.8
15.0
31.0
37.7
46. 1
18.9
33.7
38. 1
47.9
18.6
32.2
37.2
46.7
17.3
28.8
49.0
52.5
20.7
30.8
47.7
54. 2
20.5
31.1
46.7
52.7
18.4
26.8
38. 5
50.6
21.4
27.4
38.7
53.3
22.2
28.7
37. 7
52.9
L am b, leg of___ do ___
H ens__________ do ___
Salmon, canned, red
---------- *___ p o u n d ..
M ilk, fresh
q u art .
M ilk, evaporated
16-oz. c a n ..
B u tte r -----.p o u n d ..
O le o m a rg a rin e (all
b u t t e r substitutes)
------ ----- ..p o u n d _
C heese..
____d o ...
L a rd __________ do___
Vegetable lard substitu re .
___p o u n d ..
Eggs, stric tly fresh
------------------ d o zen ..
Eggs, storage___do___
B r e a d ---------- p o u n d ..
33.3 33. 6 37.1 35.7 36.8 37.0 38.8 41.0 42.0 37.4 37.7 41.2 37.5 38.9 41. 4
39. 1 39.7 41.0 34.4 32. 1 33.4 35.8 37.0 37.4 37.4 39. 1 41.2 38.2 38.5 42.7
34.5 30.9 30.4 32.4 31.6 32.4 34.2 29.2 28.8 37.0 33.8 33.3 36.2 31.1 30. 2
13.0 14.0 14. 0 14.0 14.0 14.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0
11.4 11.1 11.2 11. 1 11. 2 11.2 11. Î 11.8 11.8 11.1 11. 1 11.1 11. 2 11.3 11.3
58.6 60.7 58.1 55.5 56.4 54.5 54.9 56.9 57.4 56.0 58.3 56.0 58.9 61.4 59.2
27.7 27.7 27.3
29. 2 29.0 29.0 27.0 26.4 26.2 28.3 28.9 28.7
39.3 39.4 39.2 36.8 38.2 37.5 37.4 34.9 35.2 43. 4 43. 1 42.4 40.1 39.5 39. 2
18.0 17.9 17.6 22.8 22.7 21.9 20. 1 18.7 19.1 19.5 19.0 18.5 16.5 17.6 16.8
25.8 25. 4 24.8 30.6 30.3 30.7 21.6 21.4 21.1 26.7 25.8 25.8 26.2 25.6 25.3
55. 6 58.4 53. 0 55.3 60.5 54.0 54.4 54.6 51.2 59.4 58.9 53.8 57.7 53.4 48.4
43. 6 44.4 42.0 38.6 44.4 40.9 40. 6 40.5 38.1 47.6 46.6 40. 2 43.8 43.4 37. 5
8.7 8.4 8.3 9.8 9.8 9.8 10.9 11.0 11.0 9.6 9.9 9.9 8.6 8.6 8.6
F lo u r .. _ _____do___ 4.8 4.6 4.6 5.3 4.9 4.7 6.8 6.6 6.5 4.9 4.5 4.5 5. 5 5.3 5. 3
Corn m eal_____ d o ...
5. 1 5.0 5.2 6. 2 6.3 6.4 3.9 3.9 3.9 6.7 6.9 6.9 4.4 4.5 4. 5
Rolled oats____ do___ 8.8 8.7 8.7 7.8 7.6 8. 2 9.5 9.3 9.3 8.6 8.3 8.2 8.8 9.0 9.0
Corn flakes
8-oz. p ack ag e.. 9.4 9.2 9.2 10.5 10.3 10. 2 9.9 10.1 10.0 9.5 9.2 9.2 9.6 9.6 9.6
W heat cereal
. . -,28-oz. package.. 24.8 24.9 24.9 28.5 28. 5 27.9 25.7 25.6 25.8 25.7 25.3 24.7 25.1 24.9 24.9
M acaroni____ p o u n d . _ 21.4 21. 2 21.4 19.0 19.9 19. 6 18.5 18.5 18.5 19.1 18.5 18.6 18.6 18.5 18.5
Rice __________do___ 10.0 9.4 9.6 10. 7 11.3 10. 7 7.2 6.7 6.5 10.6 10.6 10.5 9.4 9.4 9.6
Beans, n a v y ___ do___ 9.3 12. 6 13.0 10.1 12.2 12. 7 10. 1 14. 5 14.1 9.7 12.8 13.1 8.3 12.9 13.3
P otatoes. ____do___
O nions________ do___
Cabbage . . . ..d o .
Beans, baked
---- -- No. 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned__ d o ...
Peas, canned___do ___
Tom atoes, canned
---------- .No. 2 can .
Sugar _______pound...
T e a ----------------- do___
Coffee_________ do___
12.8 12.5 13.3 12.8 12. 8 12.4 9.8 10. 2 10. 4 13.8 13.7 14. 1 11.9 12.6 12.9
6.8 6.4 6.4 8.7 8.2 8.0 6.7 6.4 6.4 6.9 6. 5 6.5 7.3 7.2 7.0
66.6 68. 1 68.6 81.6 82.6 82.6 80. 7 81.5 85.3 69.9 69.3 70.8 80. 1 80.0 80.0
46.3 47.5 47.5 54. 2 55. 5 55. 1 43.8 46. 7 46.8 48.9 49. 7 47.4 44. 0 46.7 46.3
P runes________ do ___
Raisins _ . . . do
B ananas___..d o zen
O ranges......... . . . d o . .
13.2
12.9
42. 9
57.1
2.8
5.6
3.2
1.8
7.6
4. lj
1.8
8.3
5.3
1.7
4.8
6.2
1.5
6. 1
4.5
1.6
6.8
7.2
3.3
5.9
4.1
2.5
8.3
5.3
2.6
8.8
5.7
3.0
5.4
5.1
2. 1
7.2
4.9
2.3
7.7
6.3
3. 1
5. 1
3.9
2.3
6.9
4.8
2.5
7.5
6. 1
9.9 10. 5 10.3 13.5 13. è 13.9 9.8 10.6 10.6 13.0 12. 5 12.6 10.4 11.1 11.4
15.6 15.6 16. 2 14. 6 14.8 14.3 14.9 14.4 15.0 16. 1 15.8 16. 1 15.3 15.5 15. 5
15.7 15.5 16.1 14. 1 13.8 14. 2 16.2 16. 2 16. 2 16.5 16.6 16.9 17.1 16.6 16.4
13.9
11.2
41.0
52.4
13.7
11.6
41.6
55.2
14. 2 14. 5
14.6 12.9
13.8 213.4
54.0 50.7
13.9
13. 2
13.8
49.7
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 651 ]
10.8 12.3 11.8 15.4
12.9 9.9 9.9 14.4
23.2 27.5 26.5 40.4
32.5 27.8 25.7 56.6
15.8
12.3
37.8
51.6
16.1
11.6
38.3
48.8
13.3
14. 2
41. 1
46.0
14.3
12.2
40.6
41.8
14.4
11.8
38.3
41.2
234
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 5 . — A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F F O O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
Colum bus,
Ohio
Cleveland,
Ohio
Article
D allas, Tex.
D enver, Colo. D etroit, M ich.
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15 !
1928
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts .
C ts.
C ts .
C ts.
C ts.
C ts .
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Sirloin steak „ p o u n d -.
R ound steak .
do
R ib roast______ d o „ _
C huck roast___ do___
42.6
36.0
30. 2
26.4
44.3
39.6
33.2
30.0
44.7
39. 9
33.6
30.0
42.8
37.8
31.8
26.8
46.7
42. 3
36.3
32.0
46.5
42. 0
36.6
30.8
38.6
34. 5
29.3
24.8
44.1
41. 2
36.8
29.8
44.0
41.5
37.3
30.0
36.4
32.7
26.9
21.4
39.3
35.5
30. 2
25.7
39.4
35.3
29. 8
25.4
45.2
37.4
33.5
26.1
50.1
42.0
36.8
29.8
50.5
41. 7
38.3
30.1
P late beef ___ do . .
Pork chops____ do. _
Bacon, sliced __-do.. H am , sliced____do___
16.3
30.6
43. 2
51.9
19.5
29.3
42. 0
54.2
20.1
30.8
41. 0
55.1
17.9
30.5
45.6
51.7
22.2
28.9
43.2
53.3
22.3
29.8
43.9
52.5
19.5
33.6
46.2
53.2
23.1
35.9
47. 1
56.4
23.5
33.5
45.3
57.0
13.6
29.0
44.1
52.6
16.5
30.9
41. 9
52.4
17.0
29.8
41. 2
53.8
17.0
31.5
45.7
54.6
19.3
31.7
44.0
58.3
19.9
34.1
43. 5
58.4
Lam b, leg of___ do. _Hens_- . . ____do
Salmon, canned, red
. _____p o u n d -.
M ilk, fr e s h ___q u a rt-.
M ilk, evaporated
________ 16-oz. can .
B u tte r_____ .p o u n d ..
O l e o m a r g a r i n e (all
b u tte r substitutes)
- -- .
.p o u n d .Cheese . .
do
L a rd __________ do___
Vegetable lard substi
tu te .. ______ p o u n d -.
Eggs, strictly fresh
______ _ ..-d o z e n ..
Eggs, storage. _do
B read_______ p o u n d ..
35.8 36.3 38.3 43.0 43.4 45.0 44.3 45.0 44.4 35.1 34.5 36.2 37.9 38.3 41.6
39.4 38.9 40.3 37.0 38.3 40.0 32.4 33.8 32.9 29.6 31.8 32.3 39.5 40.3 43.2
F lo u r_____ _ _do___
Corn m e a l____ do___
Rolled o a ts... .- d o .. .
Corn flakes
__ -8-oz. package..
W heat cereal
. ,.28-oz. package-.
M acaroni-----po u n d . R ice__________ do___
Beans, n a v y ___ do___
34.9 31. 2 31.5 37.3 32.3 33.8 38.9 34.2 34.7 37.6 31.6 30.9 36.4 30.0 30.6
13.7 13.7 13.7 12.0 12.0 12.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 14.0 14.0 14.0
10.6 10.7 10.7 11.4 11.2 11.1
11.4 11.2 11.3 11.7 11.5 11.4 13.7 13.5
60.1 61.9 58.6 57.1 59.4 57.8 58.8 60.2 58.1 53.6 54.3 53.1 58.3 59.9 57.5
28.4 28.8 28.7 27.5 27.4 27.4 29.2 28.7 28.8 24.5 24.8 24.7 26.7 26.4 26.3
39.9 40.3 40.2 38.5 36.7 37.5 39.4 38.4 38.5 39.7 39.8 39.0 41.0 39.4 39.5
20.5 19.5 19.9 16.2 16.2 15. 7 23. 1 20.8 21.3 19.0 19.0 18.7 18.7 18.3 18.0
26.8 26.3 26.5 26.3 27.8 26.6 24.8 23.5 23.8 22.2 21.6 21.0 27.0 26.2 26.4
00.5 59.9 52.9 55.3 54. 7 46.5 55.4 59.2 44.8 53.0 58.6 43.6 59.3 60.2 54.8
42. 0
43.6 44.3 33.5 43.7 42. 1 40.6
42.8 43.9 38. 7 41.0 41. 0 36.0
7.7 7.8 7.8 7.3 7.8 7.8 9.4 9.3 9.2 8.3 7.7 7.6 8.1 8.1 8.1
5.1
5.6
9.0
5.1
5.5
9.1
5.3
4.4
9.8
4.4
4. 5
7.4
3.9
4.5
7.6
3.8
4.5
7.5
5.1
6.0
9.5
4.6
6.0
9.1
4.7
6.1
9.2
10.1
9.9
9.8 10.1 10.0 10.0 10.6 10.2 10.2
9.6
9.6
9.7
9.8
9.3
9.7
25.8
21.4
10.6
8.8
25.4
20.8
9.6
12.5
3.1
4.5
3.6
2.2
7.0
5.2
5.4
5.3
9.3
P otato es_______do___
O n io n s .______ do___
C abbage---------- do___
Beans, baked
............ No. 2 can .Corn, canned__ do___
Peas, c a n n e d ... do___
Tom atoes, canned
_________No. 2 can.
Sugar____ _ .p o u n d ..
T ea. _________ do . . .
Coffee_________ do___
P runes________ do___
R aisins................d o .. .
B anan as_____ d ozen..
Oranges_______ do-----
4.9
4. 1
9.5
4.9
4.2
9.1
4.9 5.5 5.4
4.3 4.5 4.6
9. 1 10.6 10. 1
25.9
20.8
10.2
13.3
26.1
19.4
11.7
8.8
26.6
19.8
11.4
13. 1
26.6
19.8
11.6
13.6
27.8
22.0
12.3
11.4
27.8
21. 5
11. 9
13.3
2.1
7.4
5.5
2.7
4.7
3.9
2.0
7.6
5.2
2.1
7.8
5.9
4.6
6.9
5.4
4.3
7.1
5.2
27.6 24.4 24.5 24.5 26.0 25.8 26.1
21.4 19.6 19.7 19.4 21.9 20.9 20.6
11.7 9.2 9.0 9.0 11.5 11.1 11.4
14.7 9.7 12.2 12.3 8.8 12.6 13.4
4.1
7.8
6.3
2.1
4.0
3.8
1.8
5. 4
3.6
1.9
5.8
4.2
2.5
4.3
3.6
1.5
6.6
3.7
1.6
7.3
6.0
12.9 12.2 12.0 11.7 12.1 11.4 12.4 12.8 12.8 11.2 11.1 11.7 11.5 12.0 11.8
17.5 16.5 16.7 14.8 13. £ 13.9 18.8 18.5 18.3 14.2 14.0 14.1 15.6 15.8 15.7
18.0 17. 2 17.4 14.8 14.8 14.8 21.6 22.0 22.0 15.4 14.9 14.8 16.5 16.4 15.6
13.7 13.3 13.6 12.6 12.8 12.8 12.7 12.3 12.8 11.8 11.7 11.6 12.4 12.7 12.8
7.6 7.2 7.3 7. 7 7.3 7.5 8.0 7.5 7.3 7.6 7.4 7.3 7.3 7.0 7.1
78.7 80. £ 80.2 87. £ 86.1 84.5 107.1 104.8 104.8 69. £ 69.8 69.8 73. 9 74.3 72. 2
50.8 51.5 51.4 48.0 48.6 49.2 57.7 59.4 59.2 49.5 49.7 50.1 47.9 48.8 47.9
14.0
! 13.5
,2 11.1
54.3
14. 0 14.0
11. 7 11.8
210.0 2 10.2
50.2 54.9
15.4
13.9
39.2
51. 4
16.2
10.8
40.6
55.1
16.9
10. £
40.6
52.0
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[652]
17.0
15.5
36. 3
50.8
16.9
13.8
33.5
53.2
17.7 14.3 14.8 15.0
13.4 13. 7 10. 9 10. 8
35. C2 11.0 2 10.8 2 10.7
50.8 51.7 50.4 47.9
13.8
13.8
36.9
54.3
14.8
11.7
34.0
53.8
15.5
11.9
37.0
52.6
235
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD
T a ble 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
Fall River,
M ass.
Article
Indianapolis,
Ind.
Jacksonville,
Fla.
K ansas C ity,
Mo.
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
1928
C ts.
Sirloin s te a k .,p o u n d .R ound ste a k ___ d o ----R ib roast ------ d o ...
C huck roast .-d o -----
H ouston, Tex.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
40.0
39. 1
31. 2
25.8
42.3
40.0
31. 1
26.9
46.3
43.8
34. 2
30.3
46.4 35.4 38.6 38.5 40.5
45. 5 30.8 34.6 33.8 35.4
34.8 27.3 30.3 30.3 28.5
30.8
24.5 22.9 22.3
21. 5
18.7
32.5 33.0 29.9
40.0 44.2 40. 6
52.6 48. 2 46.6
23. 2
31.8
39.8
50.0
20.9
17.0
29.2 29.5 31.8
40.4 41.3 42. 1
50.4 52.9 55.0
20.0
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
37.5
37.3
29.7
24.2
36.8
52.4 56.4 54.6 36.0
35.9 38. 5 37.5 28.7
27.3 30.3 29.4 23.8
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
367.9 370.3 369.8
21.2
21.8
13.1
30.1
39.3
45.8
15. 5
30. 2
37.3
48.2
15.5
29.8
36.4
47.5
16.2
27.1
44.8
48.9
C ts.
C ts.
45.8
40.5
32.8
26.5
46.2
41.1
33.5
27.0
20.6
19.9
26.5 29.6
40.8 41.8
50.2 51.2
P late b e e f - ____ do . . .
Pork chops- __ do _ _
Bacon, sliced---- d o ----H am , sliced____do -----
16.0
30.6
42.5
51. 1
Lam b, leg of-----d o ----H ons__________ d o ----Salmon, canned, red
_________ p o u nd-M ilk, fresh- -.q u a r t.M ilk , e v a p o r a te d
____ ___16-oz. c a n ..
B u tte r _____p o u n d ..
Oleomargarine (all b u t
ter substitutes)
_____
p o u n d -.
Cheese___
- -d o ----L a rd __________ do ----Vegetable lard substi
tu te
- .p o u n d -Eggs, strictly fresh
_______ d o zen ..
Eggs, storage
do ----B r e a d ........ . .p o u n d ..
40. 5 40.4 42.7 33.3 34.2 33.3 39.0 40.0 44.0 37.6 40.8 40.0 35.4 33.5 35.0
43. 5 43.7 44.8 33.2 36.3 39.4 38.4 42.2 42.2 34.2 35.0 35.3 32.5 33. 1 36. 1
Flour
_______d o ___
C orn meal ___ do _ .
R olled oats____ do ___
C orn flakes
. . . -8-oz. p ackage..
W heat cereal
__ 28-oz. p ackage..
M acaroni ...p o u n d ..
R ice. _____ . . . d o ___
Beans, n a v y ___ do ___
Potatoes
___d o ___
O n io n s _______d o ____
Cabbage
____ do ----Beans, baked
________ No. 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned -d o .- .
Peas, canned . . . d o ----Tom atoes, canned
________ N o. 2 c a n ..
Sugar _______p o u n d ..
Tea _________ do . . .
Coffee _______ do ___
18.0
30. 5
40.9
52.3
36.3 34.0 33.8 33.9 30. 9 30.4 35.3 33. 2 32.6 35. 8 31.9 31.5 36.5 34.8 35.0
15.0 14.7 15.0 15.6 15.4 15. 4 12.0 13.0 13.0 20.3 20.3 20.3 13.0 13.0 13.0
12. 9 12. 5 12.7 11.7 11.3 11.3 10.7 10.6 10.5 11.8 11.7 11.6 11.5 11.5 11.4
56. 4 58. 1 58.3 56.0 59. 1 58.2 56.9 59.8 58.0 57.5 57.9 58.1 56. 1 57.6 56.5
26.9 27.5 27.8 26. 5 24.6 25.4 29.3 28.6 28.5 30.3 29.6 28.7 25.5 24.6 25.4
41.8 41.6 42.1 36. 1 34.0 34.0 40.0 42.3 42.5 37. 5 34.9 34.9 39.7 37.5 37.1
18.2 17.7 17.6 20.3 19. 5 20.8 16.4 16.3 16.0 20. 1 19. 2 19.8 18.3 18. 2 18.5
26.6 26.6 26.7 16.4 16.6 16.2 27.0 27.2 26.8 21.2 21.7 21.3 27.0 26. 4 25.7
68.8 79.2 64.8 54.7 50. 6 38.7 54.7 56.1 48.0 57.3 59.0 50.3 50.7 51.1 48! 1
49.3 51.3 45.8 43.3 42. 1 33.8 41.3 39. 0 36.5 48.0 44.8 43.3 38.9 41.1 38.4
8.9 9.0 8.9 8.7 8.0 8. 1 8.0 7.9 7.9 10.1 10.1 10.0 9.7 9.5 9.5
5.7
6.9
9.5
5.5
7.4
9.5
10.0
9.9
25.3
23.5
11.3
9.8
25.0
22.9
11.2
12.8
3. 1
5.3
6.3
1.8
7.7
5.9
5.5
7.5
9.6
5.2
4.2
8.8
4.9
4.3
8.5
4.9
3.9
8. 5
5.4
4.0
8.7
5.2
4. 1
8.3
9.9
8.9
8.9
9.0
9.4
9.0
25.0 25. 5 25.9 25.6 26.4 25.7
23.7 17.9 18.7 18. 5 18.8 19. 1
10.9 7.5 7.3 7.1 10. 4 11.0
13. 2 9.8 12. 3 13.3 8.9 13.0
1.9
8.4
7.2
4. 2
5. 1
5.0
3.5
7.3
5.3
3.8
7.7
5.3
2.7
5.3
4. 1
1.8
7.3
4.6
5.1
3.8
8.7
6.5
4.2
9.5
6.1
4.3
9.4
6.1
4.3
9.2
4.9
5.5
8.9
4.7
5.3
8.9
4.8
5.3
9.2
9.1
9.9
9.7
9.6
9.8
9.6
9.7
25.2 24.8 24.7 25.2 26.9 27. 1 26.4
19.0 19. 1 19.0 18.3 20.2 19.9 20.0
11. 1 8.1 7.6 7.5 9.5 9.0 9.2
13.7 9.9 13.1 13.7 9.7 13.5 14.4
2.0
8.0
5.7
3.9
6. 2
4.1
2.7
8. 1
4.9
2.9
8.8
4.8
2.6
6.0
3.9
1.8
7.8
4.8
2. 1
8.7
7.1
11.9 12.4 12.3 10.5 10.8 11. 1 9.7 11.2 11. 1 10.4 10.6 10.7 11.8 12.5 12.4
17.3 16.7 16.8 13.7 14. 2 14. 4 13.7 14. 0 15. 2 18.3 18.7 16.8 14.0 14.7 14.9
19.0 19.0 19.4 13.9 14.8 15.7 14. 2 14. 5 15.8 16.6 17.4 17. 1 14.9 15. 2 15.6
12.8 13.3 13.3 9.7 10. 2 10.5 12. 2 13.0 13.5 9.9 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.4 12.5
7.2 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.7 6.7 7.3 7.2 7.3 7.5 6.9 6.8 7.5 7.2 7.0
59.5 58. 2 58.2 83.6 84.8 85.2 88.3 83.9 90.0 98.9 93.4 94.9 92.9 92. 1 92.8
49.8 50.6 49.6 42. 0 44.4 44.8 47.8 47.5 48. 2 47.7 48.5 47.2 51. 1 52.1 52.4
P runes _______d o ___ 14. 4
R aisins
_____do . . . 13.5
B ananas
___ d o zen .. 210. 2
Oranges_______ do ___ 51.7
13.9 13.5
12. 2 12. 1
29. 8 2 10.0
47.8 45.4
13.0
12.9
26.3
40.5
13.2
10.6
26.4
43.9
13.4
10.7
25. 4
41. 5
14. 6
14. 2
31. 7
49.4
16.2
13. t
30. C
47.0
17.1
13.5
31. ï
48.6
15.3
15.0
26.4
32.6
15.2
12. 6
34.0
20.0
14.3 13.8 14.4 14.4
12.3 14.5 12.4 12. 6
30.0 211.2 210.9 2 11. 1
17.8 53.5 51. 1 48.5
2 Per pound.
.
. .
3 T he steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ r u m p ” in th is city, b u t in m ost of the other cities
included in this report it w ould be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.
35S95°—29-
-16
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[653]
236
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 5 .— A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S OF FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929— C ontinued
L ittle Rock,
Ark.
Article
Los Angeles,
Calif.
Louisville,
R y.
M anchester,
N . H.
M em phis,
Tenn.
1928
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Cts. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as. as.
Sirloin stea k . _pound__
R ound stea k ___ do___
R ib r o a s t.. ___ do___
C huck ro ast___ do___
38. 1
35.0
30. 7
23.3
42. t
39.5
34.3
28.6
44. (
39. 4
34. S
28.8
41.3
34. 1
32.5
24.0
45.5
38.3
35.5
27.8
45.6
38.6
35.1
28.0
39.7
36.2
29.3
23.3
42.9
37.5
30.8
25.3
43.3 159.7 162.4
37. 5 46. 5 53.2
31.8 30.1 33.8
26.9 25.4 29.5
P late beef______do___
Pork chops____ do___
Bacon, sliced___do___
H am , sliced____do___
18.8
28.6
43.5
49.7
21.4
31. 4
42. 1
51.5
22. 1
31.6
42. 1
50.9
17.2
39.3
53.3
66.6
21.0
38.7
50.1
67.6
21.0
41.2
49.7
67.2
19.5
26.1
44. 5
49.2
21.9
28.0
44.2
48.8
22.4
28.3
43.3
49.6
Lam b, leg of___ do___
Hens ________ do___
Salmon, canned, red
__________ pound .
M ilk, fresh___ q u a rt..
M ilk, evaporated
. _____16-oz. c a n ..
B u t t e r . . ____ pound _.
Oleomargarine (all
b u tte r substitutes)
___ _ ____p o u n d ..
Cheese________ do___
L a rd __________ do___
Vegetable lard substitu te _______ p o u n d ..
Eggs, strictly fresh
____________dozen..
Eggs, storage___do ___
B r e a d ........ . p o u n d ..
37.0 37.6 38.6 37.3 37.6 37.7 36.7 37.0 37.6 35.7 37.7 40.2 36.3 36.7 37.3
29.8 31.1 31.9 43.8 46.8 46.2 36.3 36.8 39.0 41.8 42.3 42.9 30.9 33.2 34.2
24.4
30.5
36.9
45.5
40.0
35. 7
28.8
23. 1
47.6
43.8
35. 1
28.6
46.3
42.2
33.7
27.6
21.9
31.8
36.7
45.2
19.8
25.9
36.3
48. 2
21.8
28.4
35.8
52.1
21.3
29.3
36.5
51.9
35.2 32.8 33. C 34.1 30.2 30.4 34.5 30.5 30.1 34.9 30.2 29.9 32.9 32.9 35.9
15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0
12.0 11.6 11.9 10.0 10.0 10.0 11.8 11.8 11.8 12.9 12.6 12. 6 11.7 11.5 11.6
55.9 56.8 57.7 56.4 60.0 54.2 58.3 61.0 59.8 59.2 60.5 59.6 57.7 58.5 58.5
28.0 26.6 28.1 25.8 25.6 25.3 27.0 27.8 27.9 24.0 28.6 28.6 24.3 24.4 26.0
39.6 37.0 37.0 38.5 38.5 38.4 40. 1 36.8 37.5 39.2 38.8 38.6 38.3 36.1 35.6
21.7 20.0 20.0 20.9 20.6 20 4 16.7 17.7 17.2 18.1 17.8 17.8 15.4 16.2 16.7
20.7 20.8 20.7 23.5 24.2 24.8 27. 2 26.4 26.4 26.3 26.5 26.1 21.8 21.7 21.2
56.2 53.4 45.9 43.3 53.6 49.2 54.9 58.8 46.3 59.4 69.1 57.4 49.6 51.8 44.9
49.0 42.3 41.8 41.0 45 3
41. 5 42.0 47.9 50.2 46.0 42.8 40.5 35.8
9.3 9.4 9.7 8.7 8.6 8.6 9.1 9.2 9.2 8.6 8.7 8.5 9.4 9.4 9.4
F lo u r....................do ___
Corn m eal_____ do ___
Rolled o a ts .___ do___
Corn flakes
_____ 8-oz. p ack ag e..
W heat cereal
. . .28-oz. package..
M acaroni____ p o u n d ..
Rice ________ do ___
Beans, n a v y ___ do___
Potatoes............ .d o ___
O nions................d o ___
C abbage_______do___
Beans, baked
________ No. 2 c a n ..
Corn, canned__ do___
Peas, canned___do___
Tom atoes, canned
_______ No. 2 c a n ..
Sugar. _____p o u n d ..
T e a ___________ do ___
C offee.. ___ T do___
18.2
28.8
37.4
42.2
164.2
52. 5
34.3
29.7
6.0 6.1 6.1
3.9 4.0 4.3
10.4 10.6 10.4
5.1
5.6
9.9
4.9
5.8
9.9
4.8
5.8
9.9
6. 1
3.9
8.3
6.1
4.1
8.7
10.6
9.4
9.4
9.4
9.7
9.4
9.8
9.8
27.6 27.0 27.3 24.9 25.0 25.0 26.7 26.6
20.6 20.2 20. 1 18.3 18.1 17.8 18.9 18.5
7.9 8.3 8.0 10.0 9.9 10.0 10.8 10.4
9.6 13.3 13.4 9.4 12.3 12.7 8.4 12.9
3.5
5.9
4.6
2.8
7.6
5.4
3.0
8.6
6.4
2.8
5.1
4.6
2.6
6.6
5.5
2.5
7.1
5.5
3.1
5.7
4.9
2. 1
7.2
4.8
6.1
4.1
8.7
5.5
5.2
9.1
5.0
5.2
8.6
4.9
5.3
8.6
5.9
3.6
9.0
6.0
3.9
8.9
6.0
3.9
9.1
9.4
9.7
9.0
9.0
9.8
9.8
9.7
26.6 25.9 25.4 25.4 25.6 25.8 25.8
18.8 23.7 23.2 23. 2 19.7 19.5 19.6
10.5 9.4 8.9 8.5 8.6 8.2 8.4
13.0 9.2 12.5 12. 6 9.6 13.0 13.3
2.2
8.5
6.4
2.7
5.0
3.3
1.7
7.0
4.8
1.8
8.0
5.5
3.3
5.3
3.9
3.0
6.9
4.3
2.9
7.4
5.7
10.2 11.5 11.8 10.7 11.3 11.3 10.2 11.2 11.3 13.3 13.6 13.4 11.0 11.3 11.6
16.6 16.3 15.3 16. 1 16.3 16.3 15.3 15.3 15.3 16.4 16. 2 16.5 14. 6 14.6 14.7
17.5 18.2 18.2 16.8 17.0 16.6 15.2 15.3 15.4 18.2 17.8 17.6 15.7 15.0 15.4
10.0 10.6 11.5 414. 5 415.0 414. 8 10.6 11.0 11.6 12.1 12.1 12.4 9.7 9.9 10.6
7. 7 7.4 7.3 6.8 6.4 6.3 7.4 7.5 7.3 7.3 6.8 6.9 6.9 6.8 6.8
106. 3 105. 7 104.9 72.6 74.9 74.9 92.7 93.8 94. 2 64.5 65.8 64. 5 97.2 96. 6 96.0
52.0 54.6 54.1 52.3 54.0 53.9 49.2 51.6 50.2 50.1 50.9 50.8 48.9 48.9 48.9
P r u n e s . _______do ___ 15.3
R aisins. _ _____do ___ 15. 1
B ananas_____dozen.. 2 9.5
Oranges ............do____ 49.4
16.3
14.0
29.4
48.9
15.5
14.0
2 9.1
52.1
12.4
11.5
2 9.2
48.8
13.5
10.5
28.8
48.5
13.1
10.4
2 8.9
45.3
14.3
13.8
210.0
39.6
15.8 15.7
11.7 11.7
210. 1 210.0
36.9 33.8
12.7
13.4
2 9.5
51.4
13.1
10.8
2 9.5
50.1
13.1
10.9
2 9.9
47.8
14.3
14.1
2 9.1
43.6
14.0
12.5
2 9.4
35.4
14.2
12.8
2 9.3
31.2
1 T he steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, b u t| in m ost of the other
cities included in this report it would be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.
2 Per pound.
4 No. 2Y i can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[654]
237
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD
T \ b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F F O O D IN 51
1
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D J A N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
M inneapolis,
M inn.
M ilw aukee,
Wis.
Article
M obile, Ala.
N ew ark, N . J.
N ew H aven,
Conn.
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
1928
as.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
52.7
50.1
40.3
31.8
51.7
48. 8
39.3
31. 5
58.6
46.2
39.2
28.8
62.5
53.8
41.5
34.5
62.3
52.4
41. 5
34.4
19.9
33.4
43.3
55.6
19.3
32.2
42.4
55. 3
16.6
30.6
44.8
56.7
18.0
32.5
45.4
58.4
19.2
32.9
45. 5
60.0
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
Sirloin steak__p o u n d .R ound stea k ___ do
R ib roast. ____do ___
C huck roast____d o-----
40. 8
30. 1
30.6
20.7
44.4
40.0
32.4
29.8
44.5
40.3
33.1
30.9
36.8
32.7
29.0
24.5
40.9
37.1
33.0
28.8
43.4
38.2
32.5
28.1
36.5
36.0
29.5
25.0
42.2
40.3
32.2
26.1
42.5
40.4
33.8
26.3
49.5
47.2
38.7
29.6
P late b e e f _____do ___
P ork chops.. . . do ___
Bacon, sliced___do ___
H am , sliced____ do -----
16.3
27.9
45.9
47.0
19.7
28.4
43.7
48. 1
20.5
29.7
43.6
48.8
15.5
31.3
46.2
48.3
18.4
31.5
46.4
51.8
19.6
32.1
46.1
53.8
18.3
36.5
44.4
50.0
21.9
29.4
40.4
50.0
21.5
32.5
41.5
48.9
17.6
31.7
43.4
52.3
L am b, leg of___ do___
H ens___ . . . .d o .
Salmon, canned, red,
p o u n d ..
M ilk, fresh____q u a rt..
M ilk, evaporated,
16-oz. can _
B u t t e r . . ____ p o u n d .
Oleomargarine (all
b u tte r substitutes)
. . p o u n d ..
Cheese
. _.
do ___
L a rd . _____
.d o . _.
V egetable lard substitu te _______ pound .
Eggs, strictly fresh
. . . ___
...d o z e n .
Eggs, storage ... d o . .
B read_______ p o u n d ..
37.3 38.1 41.4 33.7 33.5 37.2 40.8 42.0 43.8 37.0 37.8 40.3 37.7 38.0 39.8
32.8 34.0 38.1 35.0 35.4 36.8 34.4 33.0 35.0 36.2 38.4 40.3 40.6 41.6 41.3
35.3 32.3 36.3 36.7 35.4 34.2 35.1 30.6 29.4 33.6 29.7 30.0 34.6 33.5 33. 2
11.0 11.0 11.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0
11.4 11.1 11.2 11.8 11.6 11.6 11.5 11.4 11.3 11.1 11.0 11.0 12.1 11.9 12.0
55.1 57.9 54.9 54.3 57.3 54.4 58.4 58.5 57.8 61. 2 61.7 59.3 56.2 .58.8 59.0
27.0 26.7 26.7 25.8 26.4 26.1 28.6 29.5 28.9 30. 5 30.0 30.0 29.1 29.0 29.1
37.3 37.7 37.5 36.3 37.4 37.7 38.5 36.1 35.0 40.7 40.3 41.3 40.3 41.6 41.7
19.2 19.0 18.8 18.5 19.3 19.4 19. 6 18.8 18.6 19.4 18.9 18.1 18.9 18. 6 18.8
26. 4 26.3 26.2 27.3 26. 7 26.3 21.1 20. 1 20.1 25.5 25. 5 25. 5 26. 2 25. 9 25.9
52.0 54.3 46.3 46.6 47.7 41. C 50.3 52.4 45.5 65.6 65.8 60.1 71.1 79.5 66.7
39.9 39.6 36.9 38.0 37.4 32. t 46.2 44.5 43.0 47.5 43.4 45.0 51.3 50. 2 46.0
8.8 8.7 8.7 8.9 8.9 8.9 10.1 10. 1 10.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.2 8.8 8.8
F lo u r__________do ___ 4.8 4.4 4.4
5.9 5.9 6.2
C orn m eal_____ do___
Rolled oats____ do ___ 8.3 8.2 7.9
Corn flakes
_____ 8-oz. package.. 9.3 9.2 9.2
W heat cereal
____ 28-oz. package.. 24.7 24.6 24. ‘
M a c a ro n i___ p o u n d . _ 18.0 17.7 17.5
R i c e . _______ do__ 10.4 10.2 9.8
Beans, n a v y ____d o ___ 8.9 13.3 13.5
P otatoes______ do ____
O nions_______ do ___
C abbage_______do___
Beans, baked
. . No. 2 can.
Corn, canned
d o __
Peas, canned
do
Tom atoes, canned
_____ .N o. 2 c a n ..
Sugar .
_.p o u n d .
T e a ___________ do___
C offee................d o ___
2.4
4.6
3.6
1.
7.
4.2
1 .'
7 .'
6.4
5.0
5.7
7.9
4.6
5. 7
7.7
4.5
5.5
7.9
6.1
4.1
8.6
6.0
4.0
8.5
6.0
3.9
8.5
5.1
6.8
8. 2
10.0
9.4
9.7
9.5
9.4
9.3
9.2
25.5 25.4 25.4 24.4 25.0 24.2 24.7
18.2 17. 7 17.7 20.9 21.3 21.3 21.4
10.2 9.5 9.9 9.3 8.1 7.8 9.8
9.9 13.3 13.8 9.4 12.2 12.5 9.9
2.2
4.3
3.1
1.4
7.]
3.6
1.5
8.;
4.7
3.8
5.1
4.7
3.1
6.5
4.4
2.9
6.9
4.
5.0
6.9
9.2
4.7
6.7
8. 7
8.8
8.8 10.1 10.0 10.0
25.2 26.2 24.5 24.5
21.5 21.5 21.8 22.0
9.1 8. 2 10.5 10. 2
13.0 13.2 9.6 12.0
24.4
22. 2
10. 3
12.2
2.1
7.3
5.3
2.1
8.0
5. 8
2.3
7.7
5.3
3.3
5.1
4.5
5.3
7.0
9.1
5.1
6. 7
9.3
4.8
6.7
8.1
2.5
8.0
6.3
3.2
5.5
4.3
11. C 11. f 11. ( 12.: 11.8 12. C io.; 10.5 10. 10.1 10.8 10.8 11. 6 11.9 11. 9
15. 16.2 16. 14. 14.8 15.2 15.9 14.4 14.9 15.2 16.5 16.4 17.8 18. 18.4
16. 15.' 16. 14. e 15. 16. 15.8 15.9 15.; 17.8 17.5 17.1 19.2 21. 21. 1
9.8 9.8 10., 10.3 11. 11. 12.8 13.4 14.1
13. 13. 13.3 12. { 12. Ç 13.
6. 6
6.4 7. C 6.
6.4 6., 6.7 6.
7.
6.2 7.; 6 .' 6.
6.
6.
71.' 69G 68. 59. 67. 69.2 79.2 80.8 80.8 58.8 58.9 57.5 59. 60. 60. 3
51.
51.6
51.5
j
49.4
49.8
43. 45. 45. 50. t 53." 53. 48. 48.8 48.; 48.5
14.
P ru n es________ do
13.
R a is in s _______ do___ 14. 12.
B ananas____ .dozen. 2 9.! 29.
O ra n g e s........... . d o .. .
53. 55.
14. 14.2
12. 14.;
2 9. 2 11.
52. 56.
14. 14.
12. 12.;
2 11. 2 11.
47.4j 47C
12.4
13.'
24.2
46.
12. 12.
io.; 10.
25. 22.
35. 35.
12.8
14.3
38. C
54.
1
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[655]
13.; 14.
11. i l ;
38.8 37.,
46. 49.
14.
13.'
33.;
53.5
14.3
12.
33. (
55.
14.4
12.4
33.7
53.0
238
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
OF FOOD IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D J A N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
T a b l e 5 . —A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S
N ew O rleans,
La.
A rticle
N ew Y o rk ,
N . Y.
N o rfo lk , V a.
O m ah a, N e b r.
P eo ria, 111.
1928
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan .
Jan .
Jan .
Jan .
15,
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . Dec. 1929 Jan . D ec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
S irloin steak___pound__
R o u n d s te a k ___ d o ___
R ib ro a st . . __ do___
C h u c k ro a s t____ d o ___
37.2
32.9
31.3
22.3
42.4
38.2
35. 7
25.6
42. 5
38. t
35.4
25.6
49.8
46.9
42.3
28.2
52.5
50. C
44. 1
30.6
52.6
49.5
43. 7
31.0
42.3
36.2
33.9
25.0
46.8
40.9
38.4
27.8
47. 1
40.9
40.4
29.3
38.4
36.7
26.5
22.9
45.3
41.6
31.9
28.1
44.4
41.6
31.7
28. 1
35. 5
34.2
25.0
22.6
38.9
37.7
29.5
26.3
38.1
37.8
30.2
27.3
P la te beef- _ __do__
P o rk c h o p s_____ d o ___
B acon, sliced ___ d o ___
H a m , slic ed ____ d o ___
19.0
31.3
42.9
48.7
22.9
30.8
44.3
48.5
22.6
32. 5
41.6
52.0
23.2
35.1
45.2
55.2
25.7
36. lj
45.0
57.5
25.0
35.9
44.6
57.2
17.7
29.8
41.7
45.3
20.3
30.6
41.4
46.3
21.4
30.3
40.7
43.5
14.5
28.8
46.6
48.4
19.0
29.3
45.2
51.8
18.9
29.7
43.5
52.4
15.3
28.0
45.4
49.6
18.7
28.0
42.9
49.2
19.5
27.9
43.8
48.8
L a m b , leg o f ___ d o ___
H e n s . __________do __
S alm on, c a n n ed , red
_______ p o u n d
M ilk fresh
.q u a r t .
M ilk , e v a p o ra te d
___
,.16-oz. can .
B u t t e r . . ____ p o u n d ..
O l e o m a r g a r i n e (all
b u tt e r s u b stitu te s )
. . . ______ p o u n d
C h ee se_____ _ d o .. _
L a r d _____
..d o . .
V egetable la rd substit u t e _____ .p o u n d .
E g g s , s tric tly f r e s h
_____________ d o z e n ..
E ggs, sto rag e___ d o ___
B re a d ______ p o u n d ._
38.0 37.7 39.4 35.1 35.8 39.2 40.0 40.0 40.0 36.7 35.3 36.9 38.3 37.6 42.0
36.8 36.7 38.9 38.2 39.1 40.0 37.7 37.5 38.4 30.8 31.6 33.7 32.2 34.5 35.8
36.5 35.9 35.6 34.2 30.6 31.1 37.1 33.7 33.9 36.3 34.0 34.0 35.7 33.4 34.2
14.0 14.0 14.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 11.3 11.3 11.3 13.0 13.0 13.0
11.2 11.0 11.0 11.2 10.8 10.9 11.5 11.4 11.5 11.8 11.4 11.7 11.4 11.1 11.3
58.8 59.9 59.7 60.1 60.6 58.3 60.1 61.2 60.9 54.2 54.8 54.9 54.6 55.9 53.4
29.1 28.5 28.6 27.0 28.6 28.8 25.0 26.7 26.9 25.9 26.9 26.5 28.6 27.0 27.3
40.4 38.9 38.7 40.5 40.5 40.7 36.9 35.3 35.2 39.2 36.3 35.4 39.2 36.2 36.8
19.3 18.6 18.7 19.8 19.7 19.2 18.5 18.6 18.5 19.4 19.8 19.7 18.5 18.5 18.2
19.9 19.4 20.1 25.8 25.7 25.8 23.2 21.6 21.5 25.9 25.4 25.6 27.7 27.6 27.6
54.0 50.4 46. 6 66.6 70. 6! 61.7 54.1 60.3 48.2 46.2 47.4 41.7 52.9 57.0 46.9
43.8 39. 2 37.0 48.1 43.7 41.7 46.8 45.4 34.0 38.7 39.3 33.4 43.0 42.0 37.9
8.7 8.8 8.8 9.1 8.6 8.7 9.9 9.9 9.9 9.7 9.7 9.7 10.0 10.0 . 10.0
F lo u r . ______ d o .. _ 6.6 6.6 6.7
C o rn m e a l_____ d o ___
4.1 4.2 4.1
R o lled o a ts _____d o ___
8.9 8.6 8.6
C o rn flakes
8-oz. p a c k a g e . .
9.7 9.4 9.5
W h e a t cereal
____ 28-oz. p a c k a g e .. 24.9 24.9 25. 1
M a c a ro n i____ p o u n d . _ 10.8 10.9 10.8
R ic e ___________ d o ___
9.4 8.7 8.5
B eans, n a v y ___ d o ___
9.2 11.9 12.7
P o ta to e s _____ .d o _____
O n io n s_________ d o ___
C a b b a g e _______ d o ___
B ea n s, b a k e d
------- . . . N o . 2 c a n ..
C o rn , c a n n e d ___d o ___
P eas, c a n n e d ___ d o ___
T o m a to e s, canned
---------- .N o . 2 c a n ..
S u g a r________ p o u n d ..
T e a . . ___ __ .d o ___
C offee. _______ d o ___
3.7
4.6
5.4
3.3
6.4
5.0
3.0
6.7
5.1
5.3
6.7
8.6
4.9
6.7
8.7
4.9
6.7
8.6
5.5
4.6
8.6
5.4
4.8
8.7
5.3 4.3 4.2 4.2
4.7 4.7 4.6 4.8
8.8 10.1 10.2 10.0
5.0
4.8
9.0
4.7
4.9
8.6
8.6
9.2
9.0
9.0
9.7
9.7
9.7
9.7
9.6
9.6
23.9 24.6 24.4 24.8 25.3
20.9 20.7 20.7 19.0 19.1
10. 2 9.9 9.9 11.3 10.7
10.3 13.3 14.3 8.8 12.4
3.6
5.1
4.0
2.5
7.1
4.9
2.6
7.4
5.0
2.5
7.5
5.0
25.5 28.4 27.6 27.6 26.3 25.7 25.7
19.1 21.2 20.8 20.7 18.6 18.4 18.4
10.8 10.5 10.9 10.3 10.9 10.1 9.5
13.0 9.8 13.4 13.4 9.0 12.8 13.8
2.7
7.3
4.9
2.4
5.6
3.7
1.6
7.0
4.4
1.8
7.7
5.7
2.4
5.3
3.4
1.7
7.4
4.7
1.9
8.2
6.3
11.1 10.8 11.0 10.9 11.4 11.6 9.9 10.7 10.6 12.9 13.3 13.0 11.1 10.6 10.6
14.7 15.6 15.3 14. 5 14.8 15.1 14.8 15.1 15.1 16.2 15.6 16.1 15.3 14. 6 14.6
17.8 16.1 17.6 15.2 15.3 15.7 17.8 17.4 17.5 15.8 15.5 15.5 17.3 17.4 17.4
10.9 11.0 11.3 11.1 11.5 11.9 9.7 10. 2 10.9 13.4 13.4 13.5 12.8 12.3 12.3
6.6 6.1 6.1 6.3 6.0 6.1 6.7 6.7 6.7 7.1 6.9 7.1 7.8 7.2 7.5
80.7 80.9 83.8 66.7 67.1 67.3 94.5 94.7 94.7 77.7 77.0 78.7 67.0 66.3 66.1
35.2 34.9 35. 1 47.0 45.4 45.4 49.4 51.0 50.9 53.7 53.6 53.6 45.8 49.4 49.3
P r u n e s ________ d o . . 14.2
R a isin s _________ do ___ 12.9
B a n a n a s ___ dozen . 16.4
O ra n g e s .............. .d o ___ 51.3
13.8
10.0
17.5
49.4
13.8
10.1
17.0
43.6
12.6
13.1
40.2
60.3
13.5
11.8
38.7
56.8
13.2
11.6
39.4
58. 5
2 Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3.8
5.3
4.3
9.8 10.1 10.0
4.6
4.9
[656]
13.9
13.6
34.5
51.2
14.0
11.5
29.2
46.2
13.7 13.9 14.8 14.8
11.4 14. 7 13.0 13.3
33. 2 212.0!211. 4 2 12.3
48.0 47.1 48.7 42.5
2
15.9
13.8
10.5
49.6
15.4 1«. 6
12.2 12.8
2 9. 8 2 10. 6
51.7 45.8
239
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD
T a b l e 5 __ A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F F O O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
Philadelphia,
Pa.
Pittsb u rg h ,
Pa.
Portland, M e.
Portland, Oreg
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
1928
Article
C ts.
Sirloin steak ____________ -. .p o u n d .
R ound steak___
. —___ ___do___
______d o___
R ib roast _____ . .
______d o . .. .
C huck roast __ ______
'ts .
C ts.
>00. 0 162.4 162.2
40.3 49.0 48.9
39.3 41. 7 41.4
29.8 34.5 33.8
' ts .
49.8
41.3
36.8
28.3
C ts.
C ts.
53.5
46. 0
39.7
32.7
54. 7 166.1
45.6 49.4
40.8 32.9
31.9 23.4
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts .
C ts .
167.8
51.2
35.6
26.4
>69.8
53.3
36.5
28.2
34. 5
32.4
29.1
23.8
36.0
34. 1
29.6
25.0
36.5
34.3
29.4
25.7
P late beef_______ _____
Pork chops_____________
Bacon, sliced
H am , sliced____________
______do___ 17.4 20. 1
______do ___ 33.7 35.4
______do___ 42.9 42. 0
______do___ 52.8 56. 8
19.5
34.5
41.7
57.0
16.6
31.9
48.6
57. 1
20.7
31. 0
47. 1
61.6
20.2
33.3
47.6
59.2
19.5
31.2
42.5
49.1
25.3
31.1
40.6
52. 8
25.2
32.9
40. 2
52.6
18.2
35.0
52.8
55. 6
19.0
34.3
50.3
52.8
20.3
35. 1
50.0
53. 4
L am b, leg o L ---- --------H e n s__________________
Salmon, canned, red____
M ilk, fresh_______ ..
_____ do ___
_____ do___
______do___
____quart
42.8
41.9
29.0
13.0
39.7
44.5
34.1
14.8
39.3
46. 1
30.5
15.0
42.6
48.0
29.5
15.0
35.4
40.7
35.8
15.0
37.5
41.9
29.5
15.0
41.0
42. 0
29.8
15.0
35.8
34.3
36.1
12.0
37.0
35. 1
31.6
12.0
37.8
36.5
33.2
12.0
39.0
40. 7
34.0
13. 0
41.7
41.9
29.3
13. 0
M ilk, evaporated_______ __16-oz. c a n ..
B u tte r______ ___ _ ____ . . .pound
•Oleomargarine (all b u tter substitutes)
. ___ . _ _____ . pound.
Cheese________________ _____ do ___
11.8 11.5 11.6 11. 0 11.0 11.2 12.6 12. 3 12.4 10.5 10. 1 10. 1
62.5 62. 8 61.5 60.7 61.7 59. 1 59.1 60.8 60.5 57.2 58.6 55. 3
L a rd ............. .................... — ______ do___
Vegetable lard su b stitu te. ___ _do___
Eggs, strictly fresh
. _______dozen__
___ _ do_ _
Eggs, storage -
17.9
25.2
03. 8
46. 0
18. 4
25. 2
64. 6
44. 1
17. 7
25. 0
57. 1
42. 8
18.8
27. 6
61.4
44. 1
18.6
27.8
03.3
44.5
____pound _
______do___
_____ do___
______do___
9.4
4.9
5.2
8.6
8. 4
4. 7
5.2
8.3
8.3
4.6
5.3
8.3
8.5
5.0
6.0
9. 1
9.0
4. 7
5.9
9. 1
Bread
F lour_____ _ _________
Corn meal
Rolled oats____________
28.9 29.0 29.1 29.2 28.7 28.0 26.7 26.9 26.9 25.2 26.1 26.4
42.3 42. 1 42.2 42. 0 41.3 41.8 39. 1 40.1 39.5 38.5 38.5 38.2
Corn flakes
..............8-oz. package.
W heat cereal____ ___ _28-oz. package
M acaroni . . . _______ . . . pound
R ice__________________ ______do___
9.4 8.8 8.8
25.3 24. 6 24. 6
20.9 20. 3 20. 2
10.9 10. 4 10. 3
Beans, nav y
_
___
Potatoes____ __ ______
Onions .
- - ---- -C abbage_______________
______do___
_____ d o . .. .
_____ do— .
______do___
9.1 12.2 13.0
3.6 2.3 2.3
4.5 6.9 7.3
3.2 5.4 5.7
Beans, b a k e d ...............
Corn, canned.
___
Peas, canned
______
Tom atoes, canned
..N o . 2 c a n ..
______do___
______d o . .. .
______d o . .. .
Sugar_________________
T e a ____ ____ __________
Coflee _____ .
P ru n es______ ____ _____
____pound . 6.6 6. 1
______do___ 68. t 69. C
______ do___ 42.9 43.9
______d o . .. . 12.8 12.0
10.6
14.7
15. 3
11.3
11.4
15.5
16. 1
12.0
11.4
15.3
15. 8
12. 1
19. 1
27.1
54.4
38.7
18. 1
26. 1
58. 1
47.0
18.2
26.0
66.9
49.9
8.9 10. 1
4. 6 5.3
6.0 5.1
9.1 7. 7
9.4
5.0
5.3
7.9
17.8 20.4
25.8 28.7
58.2 45.8
45. 1 —
19.7
28.4
49.4
43.0
19.9
27.2
42.6
—
9.2 9.2 9.3 9.3
5.0 4.8 4.7 4.7
5.4 6. 1 5.8 5.9
7.7 10. 7 10.4 10.3
10. 1 9.8 9.8 9.8 9.6 9.6 9.6 9.6 9.6
25.2 24.7 24. 8 25.9 25.8 25. 8 27.1 26.8 26.8
23.0 22.6 22.6 23.9 23.5 23. 4 18.3 18.5 18. 5
11. 2 11.3 11.0 11.9 11.0 11.4 9.9 10.0 10.0
9.0 12.7 13.5 10. 1 12.3 13.0
3.0 2.3 2.2 2. 7 1.8 1.8
5.4 7.5 7. 9 4.9 7.5 7.9
4.3 5.1 5.9 2.5 3.6 4.6
12. 7
16.4
17.2
11.6
13.0
16.5
17.2
12.4
13.3
16.3
16.7
13. 1
15.0
14. 6
17.8
12.3
15.0
14.2
17.8
11.7
9.6 12.7 13.0
2.3 2.2 2. 1
5.0 5.7 6.6
4.6 4.8 5.8
15.2 11.7 12.2 12.5
14.3 18.6 17.9 18.0
17.8 18.6 17.0 17.5
12.2 416. 8 415. 6 414. 8
6. 1 7.3 7.0 7. 1 7.2 6.8 6.7 7.1 6.7 6.7
70.5 82.4 80.9 81.7 62.2 62.4 61. 5 80.3 78.0 77.8
43.7 47.8 49.2 50.2 50.9 52.8 52. 8 52.6 53.2 53.4
12.8 13.8 14.5 14.5 11.7 12.2 12. 2 10.8 13.4 13.6
______do___ 13.3 11.0 10. 0 13.8 12. 0 11.8 13.0 11.0 10.9 12.9 11.2 11. 1
Raisins ...............
. . . ..d o z e n .. 30.6 30.3 31.4 41.2 41. 9 41. 1 211. 7 2 11.0 211.5 212.6 2 10.9 211. 1
B ananas__ . . . . .
Oranges_______________ ______ do___ 48. 3 44.2 40. 5 49.9 49. 6 46. 1 57.8 47.8 46. 0 49.5 45. 8 42.4
1 T he steak for w hich prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in th is city, b u t in most of the other cities
included in this report it w ould be know n as “ porterhouse” steak.
2 Per pound.
4 N o. 2Y i can.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[657]
240
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O P FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontin u ed
Providence,
R. I.
R ichm ond,
Va.
Rochester,
N . Y.
St. Louis, Mo.
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
1928
Article
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
a s .
Sirloin steak_______ ____ . .p o u n d . 177.2 180.4 179.2
R ound stea k _________ ________ do___ 51. 5 56. 9 57.0
R ib ro a st____________ ________ do___ 41.4 44.5 44. 2
C huck ro ast_________ ________ do___ 82.2 35.7 35. 1
C ts.
43.3
38.7
34.1
24.8
47.9
42. 1
35.7
28.5
46.7
42. 1
34.8
26.6
45.0
37.5
33.0
27.9
46.0
39.6
34. 1
30.5
45.5
39.0
35.5
30.2
39.2
38.3
32.4
23.8
45.0 45.0
43. 6 43. 1
35.9 36.3
28.8 28.4
P late beef___________ ________ do___
_ _ ___do_
Pork ch o p s.- _ . .
Bacon, sliced _ . . . . ________ do___
H am , sliced__________ ________ do___
20.8
32. 1
41.4
54. 2
24.7
35.0
40.7
55.3
25.0
34.6
40.8
54.3
17.6
31. 5
41. 6
45.0
22. 1
30.9
38.5
45.5
21.0
30. 9
39.9
45. 1
16.0
33. 7
40. 2
51.6
19.4
31.5
38.7
51.2
19.2
32.2
37.4
52.0
17.0
26.6
41. 7
49.5
20.5
26.0
39.6
51.5
21.1
28.6
39.7
53.3
Lam b, leg of_________ ________ do___
Hens _
______do___
Salmon, canned, r e d ... ________ do___
M ilk, fresh. .
. . . . . ______ q u a r t..
37.9
40.3
33.4
15.7
39.0
41.9
30.6
15.7
42.6
42.1
30.5
15.7
43.7
36.2
35.3
14.0
43.6
36.4
33.0
14.0
44.0
38.4
33.0
14.0
37.3
39.6
36. 7
13.5
37.1
40.5
32.3
13.5
39.7
40.9
31.6
13.5
35.2
33.1
35.8
13.0
36.5
35.7
32.4
13.0
39.4
37.5
32.6
13.0
M ilk, e v a p o r a te d .___ -,-16-oz. c a n ..
B u tte r_______________ ______ p o u n d ..
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes)
__________________ _______pound. _
C heese... _______ . . ______ do___
12. 1 11.8 11.8 12.4 12.3 12.4 11.3 11.5 11.3 10.8 10.8 10.9
55.4 57.6 57.9 61.3 63.3 62.6 56.6 59.1 58.4 59.5 62.1 60.0
L ard________________ ________ do___
Vegetable lard su b stitu te _______ do___
Eggs, strictly fresh___ ______ d o zen ._
Eggs, storage_________ ________ do___
18.2
26.3
64. 1
45. 1
18.0
26.3
69.6
44.6
17.7
26.2
61.4
40.8
18.6
25.7
52. 3
42. 5
18.3
25.6
56.0
43.7
18.6
25. 1
45.4
36.7
17.9
26. 1
56.5
43.6
17.7
26.0
64.8
47.5
17.1
25.6
54.0
39.0
15.2
25.2
53.8
39.4
15.2
25.4
52.0
39.7
14.8
25.5
46.6
33.8
B read___ _____ ______ . . . ___pound. _
F lour________________ ______ __do_ _
Corn meal
. . . _ ______ do___
Rolled o ats__________ ________ do___
9.0
5.5
5.1
9.0
9.1
5.2
5.0
8.9
9.0
5.1
5. 1
9.0
9.1
5.3
4. 7
8.6
8.8
5.2
4.9
8.7
8.5
5.2
4.9
8.7
9. 1
5.1
6.2
9.4
9.0
5.0
6.2
9.4
8.7
5.0
5.9
9.4
9.8
5.1
4.2
8.2
9.4
4.8
4.4
8.1
9.4
4.8
4.5
8.1
C ornflakes
W heat cereal.
M acaroni .
Rice. . . .
.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
25.6 26.5 26.6 30. 7 30.0 29.9 28.6 28.8 28.6 27.2 27.2 26.6
38.6 38.6 39.0 37.8 36.9 36.6 40.1 39.9 39.8 38.9 37.8 37.8
_8-oz. package _ 9.6 9.6 9.5 9.7 9.6 9.6 9.5 9.2 9.2 9.0 9.1 9.0
28-oz. package.. 24. 7 24.8 24.8 26.2 26.0 26.0 25.5 25.7 25.6 24.8 24.7 24.6
______pound.
22.9 22.8 22.8 20.9 20.2 20.0 21.1 20. 5 19.9 19.7 19.9 20.0
________ do___ 10. 1 9.8 10.0 11.6 11.0 11.0 9.8 9.2 9.0 9.8 10.0 10.1
Beans, n a v y _________ ________
Potatoes_____________ ________
Onions
.
. . _______
Cabbage_____________ ________
do___
do___
do_ __
do___
Beans, b ak ed________ ____No. 2 c a n ..
9.7 13.0 12.8
2.8 1.8 1.9
4.8 7.0 7.6
4.5 5.1 6.7
9.0 12.4 12.9
3.0 2.4 2.5
5.1 7.0 7.4
3.6 4.4 5.1
10.6
17.2
18.5
13.0
S u g a r _____ ___________
T e a . . . __________ _____
C o ffe e __________________
P r u n e s _________________
6.9 6.4 6.4 7.0 6.7 6.7 6.4 6.2 6.2 7.0 6.7 6.8
60.4 60.6 59.8 90.6 91.9 90.6 69.0 71.6 70.9 74.3 78.6 77.5
49.9 52.4 51.3 45.7 47.6 47.9 46.0 49. 1 48.2 46.2 47.6 46.8
12. 5 13.7 13.5 14.3 14.7 15.1 12.9 14.2 13.6 14. 5 15.2 15.1
R a isin s.
. . . . . . __________ d o ____
B ananas ..
d o z e n ..
O r a n g e s ________________ __________ d o ____
13. 5
3 1 .4
5 9 .7
1 2 .6
3 1 .9
5 4 .8
11.4
17.2
17.9
13.5
9.2 12.8 13.3
2.5 1.5 1.5
4.5 6.6 6.3
1.7 3.4 4.5
C o r n , c a n n e d __________ __________ d o ____
P e a s , c a n n e d __________ __________ d o ____
T o m a to e s , c a n n e d . _ . ________ _do.__
_______p o u n d . .
__________ do_ __
__________ d o .
__________ d o ____
11.3
17.1
18.4
12.9
9.5 13.5 13.9
3.5 2.5 2. 7
5.6 7.7 8.0
4.2 4.7 6. 5
12. 5
3 2 .1
5 4 .4
10.1
15.1
17.6
10.6
13 .1
3 9 .0
4 7 .5
11.0
15.4
17.9
10.9
1 1 .4
3 6 .5
4 0 .4
11.1
15.2
17.4
11.3
1 1 .2
3 7 .5
3 7 .9
10.2
16.2
17.9
14. 5
1 3 .8
3 9 .2
5 5 .0
10.6
16.4
17.2
14.8
1 2 .5
3 6 .7
52. 0
10.7
16.5
17.4
14.6
1 3 .6
3 5 .0
5 4 .7
10.1
15.7
15.3
11.0
1 3 .4
3 3 .3
4 8 .8
10.4
15.3
14.8
11.1
1 1 .4
3 2 .5
4 8 .5
10.4
15.5
14.9
11.5
1 1 .3
3 1 .4
5 2 .3
1 T he steak for which prices are here quoted is called “ sirloin” in this city, b u t in m ost of the other cities
included in th is report it w ould be know n as “ p o rterhouse” steak.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[658]
241
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD
T able 5 —A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
Salt Lake C ity, San Francisco,
Calif.
U tah
St. Paul,
M inn.
Savannah,
Ga.
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
1928
A rticle
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
Sirloin steak _________ ______ p o u n d ..
R ound steak ____ __ ________ do___
R ib roast. __________ ________ do___
C huck ro ast-------------- ________ do___
38.1
33.7
31.7
25.8
40.4
36.4
33.1
27.1
40.7
35.8
33.7
27.5
33.4
31.9
26.4
21.7
38.1
37.5
29.8
26.2
37.5
37.1
28.6
25.5
37.3
34.4
33.9
23.7
41. 1
40. 1
36.7
27. 1
41.2
39.8
37.1
27.0
35.0
28.6
26.8
18.7
40.5
34. 5
30.9
22.9
40.0
33.6
31.4
23.3
P late beef____ _____ ________ do___
P ork c h o p s ____ _____ __ ______do___
__ ______do___
Bacon, sliced
_
H am , sliced__________ ________ do___
15.3
27.6
43.9
45.8
17.5
27.1
42.5
46.4
18.0
30.2
42.0
47.9
15.5
32.1
46.5
53.8
19.3
33.8
45.0
55.9
19. 1
34.6
43.3
54.6
19.1
39.3
56.6
61. i
22.0 22.0 15.8 18.8 18.5
a s .
C ts.
Lam b, leg of. ______ _______ do____ 32.6 29.8 35.9 34. 5
H ens
. - __ _____ ___do___ 33.4 32.1 35.2 30.5
________ do___ 38.9 35.3 34.6 34.9
Salmon, canned, red
M ilk, fresh---------------- _______ q u a rt.. 12.0 12.0 12.0 10.0
36.7 37.2 39.9
35. 2 35.0 43. 2
33. 2 33.8 32.9
10.0 10.0 14.0
39.4 38.5 30.0 27.7 27.5
55.9 55.0 40.6 38.5 37.0
62.8 62.2 43.3 44.6 42.8
39.0
43.7
28.4
14.0
42.5
44.5
28.0
14. 0
37.5
31.4
36.3
17.0
37.5
33.1
33.0
17.5
38.3
32.2
33.0
17. 5
12.0 11.9 11.8 10.5 10.2 10. 2 9.9 10.0 10.0 11.5 11.2 11.4
53.1 56.6 52.6 53.4 54.6 51.2 57.4 59.9 55. 7 59. 2 60.0 59. 7
____16-oz. can__
M ilk, evaporated ..
pound .
B u tte r.. ____________
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes)
______ p o u n d ..
Cheese _________ —________ do ___
24.6 24.4 25. 1 27.3 25.0 25.0 25.5 25.3 25. 0 31. 5 30. ö 30. 5
38.9 36.8 36.8 31.3 31.3 30.5 39.8 39.9 39.1 38.5 35.4 35.3
______ do ___
Hard
_
___
Vegetable lard su b stitu te.
„ d o .. .
_ ..dozen
Eggs, strictly fresh----_ _ d o __
18.3
28.5
47.3
39.8
19.0
27.0
40.5
31.8
21. 2
29.3
43.5
40.0
9.3 9.3 9.3
B read_______________ ______ p o u n d ..
5.1 4.7 4.7
___________ __ _ ____do___
F lour.
5.3 5.1 5.3
.
.
.
____do.
__
Corn m e a l __________
Rolled oats----- ,---------- ________ do___ 10.1 10. 1 10.1
9.8
4. 1
5.5
9.5 13.7 13.8
2.0 1.2 1.4
4.1 6.9 7.9
3.5 4.0 4.0
...N o . 2 can . 13.4
14.6
15.0
13.7
C o r n , c a n n e d __ ______ __________ d o
__________ d o ____
P e a s , c a n n e d ___
.
T o m a to e s , c a n n e d -------- __________ d o ____
1
13.9
14.9
14.9
14.2
8.8 11.3 11.9
1.8 1.6 1.5
3.1
3.0
14.0 12.7
15. C 14.4
15.2 15.8
14.5 413.8
1
9.1
5.3
7.2
9.9 10. 1
9.5
5.6
6.2
9.3 10.7 10.7 10.7
5.2 6.6 6.5 6.4
7.1 3.8 3. 5 3.7
9.9 8.7 8.3 8.4
4.7
3.4
5.2
5.3
9.6 11.6 11.9
2.9 2.7 2.8
4.5 5.7 6.1
12.6 12.5 12.7 13.0 12.4
14.4 14.2 18.0 17.6 17.0
15. C 15. 1 18.2 18. 2 18.2
413. 7 413.4 414. 9 414. 7 415. 2
9.8 13.9 13.5
3.6 3.0 2.8
6.3 7.5 7.8
5.3 5.2 5.5
11.9
15.0
16.6
9.8
11.4
15.1
16.0
10.0
11.0
15.6
17.0
10.7
14.9 13.8 13.5 12.9 12.1 11.6 12.1 10.3 10.4 13.7 11.8 11.8
12. 0 n o . 9 m . 6 U2. 7 2 12.7 212.8 30.0 29.7 30.9 30.0 28.5 30.5
60.9, 53.9 58.5 49.9 45.6 43.4 52.9 52.2 51.7 41.3 30.5 29.7
Per pound.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.6
9.7
3.6
5.7
8.7
7.2 7.1 7. 1 8.0 7.2 7.0 6.8 6.4 6.3 7.0 6.5 6.4
66.0 67.0 71.3 84.2 85.4 85.4 71.4 71.3 71.8 83. 1 75.3 80.9
52.2 52.8 52.8 54.5 54.3 54.7 52.5 54.4 53.5 45.7 47.3 46.9
14.0 14.5 13.9 12.6 13.2 13.1 11.8 11.6 11.4 13.1 13.3 12.4
_ ______p o u n d . .
. . . _____ d o ____
__________ d o ____
__________ d o ____
R a i s i n s . ___ _________ __________ d o ____
B a n a n a s _______________ ________d o z e n ..
O r a n g e s —.................... ........ __________ d o ____
9.6
3.6
5.9
9.8 10.9 10.2 10.1 10.0 9.7 9.7 9.6 9.8 9.7
26.5 26.3 26.2 25.9 25. 1 25.1 25.3 25.2 25.4 24.8 24.4 24.4
18.5 18.2 18.3 20. 2 19.7 19.0 15.9 16.3 16.3 18.1 18. 2 17.8
10.7 10.9 10.4 8.8 8.7 8.8 10.5 9.6 9.3 9.5 8.7 8.9
Beans, n a v y __ ____ - ________ do___
Potatoes. - _______ - ________ do___
Onions _____ _____ ________ do___
C a b b a g e __________ ________ do___
S u g a r . . . ___ __________
Tea
__________
C o ffe e
. . . ___
P r u n e s _________________
8.6
20.5 20.3 23.1 22.6 22.4 18.4 18.1 19.3
29.3 29.6 27.8 27.5 27.4 17.5 16.9 16.8
51.3 45.9 44.9 49.7 45.5 53.6 56.2 42.8
42. 5
44. 2 41.9 38. 5
43. 0
10.1 10. 1
_8-oz. package..
Corn flakes. . . . .
W heat cereal
- .. 28-oz. package..
p ound.
M acaroni____________
R ice____________ ____ ________ do___
Beans, baked . . _____
19.1
28.1
46.4
38. 1
4 N o.
[659]
can.
242
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F F O O D IN 51
C IT IE S JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929— C ontinued
Scranton, Pa.
Seattle, W ash. Springfield, 111.
W ashington,
D. C.
1928
1928
1928
1928
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
15,
15,
15,
15,
Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929 Jan. Dec. 1929
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Article
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
C ts.
po u n d .
Sirloin steak ________
R ound steak
. _ _________ do___
R ib roast
_______ ________ d o ....
C huck roast _______ ________ do___
55. 2
46. 2
39. 2
31. 2
62. 5
52. 1
44. 5
36. 2
61. 9
51. 8
43. 2
35.2
38.6
35.7
31.6
25.7
41. 8
37.9
33.8
27. 1
41. 5
38.3
34.3
26.9
37. 5
36. 7
25. 0
23.3
40. 9
40.0
30.9
27.4
42. 7
42.7
31. 2
28.5
49. 2 53.7
43.0 .48.2
35.7 39. 2
26.6 31.3
C ts.
55. 1
48.3
39. 1
31.6
P late beef
..
___ ___ __ _do___
Pork chops_______ . ________ do ___
Bacon, sliced
. _ _________ d o . .. .
H am , sliced__________ ________ do___
15.3
34. 5
46. 5
54. 5
19.8
33.6
47.3
58.2
20.7
34.5
47.4
58.8
19.7
38.4
56.2
59.6
21. 5
35. 1
54.8
60.0
21. 3
36.0
55. 1
59.5
16.4
26.7
43.8
48.8
20.4
25.5
41.4
48.6
20.9
27.9
42. 3
49.5
15.9
32.8
42. 1
55.8
21.0
31.6
40.4
57.7
20.5
33.5
39.7
58.0
Lam b, leg of___ . . . ________ do___
________ do_ _
H e n s__________
Salmon, canned, re d . _ ______ do ___
M ilk, fresh__________
__ ...Q u a r t..
42.3
43. 5
36. 2
13.0
43. 4
43.8
33.6
13.0
45.3
45.4
33. 1
13.0
36.7
32.9
35.5
12. 0
37.2
36. 1
33.2
12.0
37.9
36.6
32.5
12.0
36. 7
34. 5
35.4
14.4
37.9
34.7
33.8
14.4
41.0
35.0
33. 1
14.4
38.9
40. 1
34.0
15.0
38.9
41.6
30.1
15.0
42.9
41.9
29. 5
15.0
__ 16-oz. c a n ..
M ilk, ev ap o rated .
______ p o u n d ..
B u tte r_________
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitutes)
__ _ _ _______ ______ p o u n d ..
Cheese______________ ________ do___
11.9 11.9 11.9 10. 5 10.3 10.4 12. 0 12.0 12.0 12.0 11.8 11.8
57.6 59.9 59.9 56.8 56.4 55.6 57.0 58.6 56.4 61.0 61. 7 60.5
L ard ______________ ______ do __
V egetable lard su b stitu te . . . .d o ___
Eggs, strictly fresh__ . ___ d o zen ..
Eggs, sto ra g e.. ______ ________ do ___
19.3
26. 1
64.0
44.0
19. 7
25.8
70.4
52.0
19.8
25.8
58.8
42.3
21.2
27. 2
42.9
37.5
19.9
26.9
47.7
41.0
B read . . . ________ . . . . . . p o u n d .. 10.6
5.8
F lo u r____ _________ ________ do___
7.5
Corn meal
_____ ________ do___
9.8
R olled o a ts__________ ________ do___
9.9
5.4
7.6
9.8
9.9
5.4
7.8
9.8
9.7
4.8
5. 5
8.6
9.6
4.7
5.8
8.7
C ts.
27.8 27.3 27.3 25. 7 25.4 24.9 28.5 27.8 28.5 27.4 26.9 26.9
37.6 39.3 39.2 36.7 35.5 35.4 38.9 36.8 37.1 41. 2 41.1 41.3
18. 2
27.5
55.9
43.7
18.4
27.8
54.5
42. 8
17.8
28.0
46.9
38.0
17.0
23.7
59.5
48.3
17.0
24.2
63.4
46.6
16. 6
24. 5
54.9
39.0
9.6 10.3 10.1 10. 1
4.7 5.2 4.7 4.6
5.8 4.8 4.8 4.8
9.2 9.6 9.9 9.6
9.0
5.6
5.1
9.3
8.9
5. 4
5.2
9.1
8.9
5.2
5.0
8.9
20. 1
27.2
42.9
37.5
8-oz. package...
C orn flakes __
28-oz. package .
W heat cereal _ . . .
. . .p o u n d ..
M acaroni___________
Rice . . . . .
_ _____ ________ do ___
10.1 9.9 9.9 10.0 9.8 9.8 10. 1 9.7 9.4 9.6 9.3 9.3
25. 5 25.4 25. 6 26.6 26. 6 26.7 27.9 28.8 27.4 25.0 24.9 24.0
23. 1 22. 3 23.3 18. 1 17.8 17.8 19.2 19.0 19.0 22.7 22.0 21. 8
10.4 10.2 10.4 10.9 10.3 10.3 10.6 10.2 10.1 11. 2 11.2 10.8
Beans, nav y . . . . . _ ______do___
P o ta to e s ___________ _______ do___
Onions __
______ __ __ __ do___
__ _do___
Cabbage . . . _____
10.6 12. 3 12.5 10.4 12.6 13.3
3.0 1.8 1.7 1. 9 1.8 2. 1
4.8 6. 5 6.6 4.3 5.9 6.7
3.5 4. 5 5.7 4.6 5.2 6.6
Beans, baked ................ . . .N o. 2 c a n ..
__ ___do_ _
Corn, canned. .
Peas, canned
. . ________ do___
Tom atoes, can n ed____ ________ do___
11.2
16.9
17. 3
12. 4
11.9
16.8
17. 9
12.7
12.0 11.6 11.0 11.8
16.7 18.0 18.0 17.5
18. 0 19.3 18. 1 18. 0
12.9 4 15.8 4 15.9 4 15.5
9.4 12.9 13.8
2.6 1.8 2. 1
4.8 7.6 8.4
3.5 4.5 5.5
10.3
15.0
16. 1
13.7
11.2
14.9
15.7
14.0
11.6
14.9
15. 8
13.9
9. 2 12.8 13.0
3.5 2.4 2.4
4. 7 7.6 7.8
5.3 5.5 6.0
10. 2
16. 1
15. 1
10.8
10.8
15.6
14.9
10.5
10.8
15.3
14. 5
11.0
7.0 6.8 6.6 7.0 6.6 6.6 7.7 7.3 7. 2 6. 7 6.2 6.3
Sugar.
_______ . . . . . . ___p o u n d ..
T ea________ _ ______ ________ do___ 71.6 68. 1 67.6 76.4 77. 1 78.9 82.7 83. 1 82.3 95.9 95.2 89.9
Coffee______________ ___ _____ do ___ 49.9 50.7 50.6 50.2 52. 1 51.8 51.4 51.6 51.7 45.7 47.3 47.0
P ru n e s.
. . . _____ __ ______ do__ _ 15.2 14.3 14.4 11.7 13. 1 13.6 13.9 14.2 13. 6 14.9 15.4 15.4
Raisins . ___________ _ _______ do ___
dozen
B anan as____________ . .
Oranges_____________ ________ do ___
13.8 11.9 12. 3 13.2 10.8 11.1 14. 2 11.6 11.6 13.8 12.4 12.9
32.3 30.4 31.2 2 12.6 2 10.9 2 11.5 2 9.3 2 9.4 2 9.7 36.1 31.8 34. 2
57. 5 59.9 60.9 49.0 44.6 43.0 53.5 53.8 48.9 50.6 40.4 43.9
4No. 2Y l can.
2 Per pound.
C o m p a r is o n o f R e ta i l F o o d C o s ts in 51 C itie s
6 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
TABLE
in the retail cost of food 3 in January, 1929, compared with the
average cost in the year 1913, in January, 1928, and December, 1928.
For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the 1-year and the
EFor list of articles see note 1, p. 229.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 660 ]
243
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD
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 family consumption of these articles in each city.4
T a b l e 6 .— 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 C O ST O F FO O D IN J A N U A R Y , 1929,
C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E C O ST IN D E C E M B E R , 1928, JA N U A R Y , 1928, A N D W IT H T H E
A V E R A G E C O ST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, BY C IT IE S
C ity
Percent Percentage decrease,
Jan u ary , 1929,
age in
compared w ith —
crease,
January,
1929,
compared January, Decem
w ith
1928
ber, 1928
1913
0. 8
i.3
A tla n ta ____ ______
B altim ore. . . .
B irm ingham __ . . .
B oston__________
B ridgeport_______
61. 3
57.8
61.0
55.3
1 1.7
1.8
Buffalo_________
B u t t e ____
C harleston, S. C___
Chicago__________
C in cin n ati. _
59.2
i .2
1.3
1.0
.3
1.0
0
C leveland.
C o lu m b u s ______
D allas____________
D enver _ ._
D etroit _ . . . .
57.2
64.9
58.6
50.8
55.9
38.2
61.2
F all R iver
____
H ouston
Indianapolis ____
Jacksonville______
K ansas C ity ______
53.1
42.8
52.8
L ittle R o c k .. ____
Los Angeles______
L o u is v ille .______
M anchester ____
M em phis _______
M ilw a u k e e ______
51.5
44.6
54.2
52.5
50.2
56.0
54.2
i.l
1.5
1. 8
1 1.2
i .6
1.2
i 1.0
.6
1.8
i .1
1.1
1. 6
i 2.1
2.2
i 1.9
i 2.1
i 2.0
i .4
i .4
i 2.8
1.6
.2
1.3
2.1
.5
.5
.8
.8
2.7
3.1
i .4
1.5
0
1.3
1.8
i 1.8
■ .4
2.1
1.4
1.8
.9
.2
C ity
M in non pnlis
M obile
N ewark
Now Ha von
Now Orloans
P ercent Percentage decrease,
January, 1929,
age in
compared w ith —
crease,
January,
1929,
Compared January,
Decem
w ith
1928
ber, 1928
1913
54.1
49. 5
,5fi 1
.54 Q
11 1
18
1 l
J3
l 3
20
01
i n
10
16
5
Now York
Norfolk
O m aha_________
Peoria
PhilaHolphia,
.5.5 9
3
i 1.3
1 5
3 3
Pittsburgh
Portland, Mo
Portland, Oreg
Providence_______
Riohmond
58.7
l 4
16
41.1
56.0
59.7
!6
1 .4
1.5
58.1
1 b
33.3
52.3
n . i
i 9
61.6
46.7
1. 2
1 1.4
0
Rochester
St T,onis
St. Paul
Salt Lake C ity ____
San Franoisoo
Savannah __
Scranton
____
S eattle____ _ _____
Springfield, 111___
W ashington _ ____
57.9
48.7
62.0
’4
1
9
1. 2
’4
1 9
.5
1 2
16
.i
5
1 6
§
1.1
1 7
9
3
l
i
2
2.0
1 4
9 fi
1. 6
i.1
i .4
1.2
1 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
December 99.7 per cent of all the firms supplying retail prices in the
51 cities sent in a report promptly. The following-named 46 cities
had a perfect record; that is, every merchant who is cooperating
with the bureau sent in his report in time for his prices to be included
in the city averages: Birmingham, Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte,
Charleston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Den
ver, Detroit, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Little
Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester, Memphis, Milwaukee,
Minneapolis, Mobile, Newark, New Haven, New Orleans, New York,
Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Me.,
Providence, Richmond, St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt Lake City, San
Francisco, Savannah, Scranton, Seattle, Springfield, 111., and Wash
ington, D. C.
.* T he consum ption figures used from Jan u ary , 1913, to D ecember, 1920, for each article in each city are
given m th e Labor Review for N ovem ber, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. T h e consum ption figures w hich have been
used for each m onth, beginning w ith Jan u ary , 1921, are given in th e Labor Review for M arch, 1927, p. 26.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[661]
244
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
R eta il P rices o f Coal in th e U n ited S ta te s “
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
January 15 and December 15, 1928, and January 15, 1929,
for the United States and for each of the cities from which retail
food prices have been obtained. The prices quoted are for coal deliv
ered to consumers, but do not include charges for storing the coal in
cellar or coal bin where an extra handling is necessary.
In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are
shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those
cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales
for household use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds sold for household use.
T
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F C O A L P E R T O N O F 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE , ON JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929
1928
C ity, and k in d of coal
U nited States:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove—
Average price- _______
Index (19*13=100)_____
C hesnut—
Average price_________
Index (1913=100)_____
B itum inous—
Average price ________
Index (19*13=100)_______
Jan.
15
Dec.
15
$15. 44 $15. 40
199. 8 199.3
$15. 08 $15. 07
190.6 190.4
$9. 30
171.1
$9.11
167.6
1929
C i t y , a n d k i n d of co a l
Jan.
15
Jan.
15
D ec.
15
Jan.
15
C le v e la n d , O h io :
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th ra c ite —
S t o v e _____ _______ . . . . $15. 20 $15. 35 $15. 38
14.80
14. 97
14.97
C h e s t n u t ___
_____
$15.38
199.1 j B i t u m i n o u s P r e p a r e d size s—
H ig h v o la til e _ _______
7. 79
7. 26
7 .4 3
$15. 06
9. 81
L o w v o la tile
_______
10. 03
10.03
190.3
C o lu m b u s , O h io :
B itu m in o u s $9.09
P r e p a r e d siz e s—
167.2
H ig h v o la tile __________
5 .8 2
6 .0 9
L o w v o l a t i l e ______ . .
. 38
. 13
. 56
D
a
lla
s
,
T
e
x
.:
$7. 97
A rk a n s a s a n th ra c ite —
15. 75
15.50
E g g ----------------------------------- 15. 75
B it u m in o u s , p r e p a r e d s iz e s . 12.70
13.08
13. 17
116. 00
D
e
n
v
e
r
,
C
o
lo
.:
115. 50
C o lo ra d o a n t h r a c i t e —
F u r n a c e , 1 a n d 2 m ix e d _ . 16. 00 16.00
16.00
8.00
16. 00
S to v e , 3 a n d 5 m i x e d ._ . . 16. 00
16. 00
B i t u m in o u s , p r e p a r e d s iz e s. 10. 50 10. 57
10. 52
7. 66
D e t r o i t , M ic h .:
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th ra c ite —
16. 25
16. 00
16.00
S t o v e __________________ . . 16.00
16.00
15.50
15. 50
C h e s t n u t _______________ . 15.50
B it u m in o u s —
P r e p a r e d siz e s—
15. 00
8.3 1
H ig h v o la til e
________
. 54
.3 3
15.00
10. 38
10. 33
L o w v o la tile . .
_____
. 22
R u n of m i n e —
L o w v o l a t i l e . . ___ _.
7. 83
14. 02 F a l l R iv e r , M a s s .:
13. 53
P e n n s y lv a n ia a n th ra c ite —
16. 50
16.50
S t o v e ------ --- __ ---------------- 16. 75
10. 93
16. 25
16. 25
C h e s tn u t
___ 16. 25
9. 67 H oBuist ut omn i, nTo euxs .:, p r e p a r e d s iz e s .
. 80
13. 20
13.20
I n d ia n a p o li s , I n d . :
B
i
t
u
m
i
n
o
u
s
—
16. 80
P r e p a r e d siz e s—
16. 45
6 .5 4
. 28
H ig h v o l a t i l e . . ___ __ .
. 37
9. 04
9. 04
9. 11
L o w v o la tile
.
R
u
n
of
m
in
e
—
8.20
7 .0 0
7 .0 0
7. 38
L o w v o la til e
. . . . ______
11.85
J a c k s o n v il le , F la .:
B i t u m i n o u s , p r e p a r e d s iz e s . 14.00
8. 25
K a n s a s C i t y , M o .:
A rk a n s a s a n th ra c ite —
12.60
F u rn ace
_ ...
______ 14. 10 12.60
14. 33
14. 33
15. 33
S to v e N o . 4. _______
5. 54
7. 50
7 .2 8
7. 33
B i t u m i n o u s , p r e p a r e d s iz e s .
7. 79
6.88
8
8
8
8
10
8
A tlanta, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. $7. 93 $8.00
Baltim ore, M d.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove__________________ 116. 00 116. 00
C h estn u t______________ 115. 25 115. 50
Bitum inous, ru n of mine,
8.00
high volatile___ ________ 8. 07
Birm ingham , Ala.:
7.68
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7. 72
Boston, M ass.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove____ _____________ 16. 25 16.25
C h e s tn u t____ _ __ _ . . 16. 00 16.00
B ridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove____ _ __________ 14.88 15.50
C h e stn u t____ ________ _ 14.88 15. 50
Buffalo, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
14. 01 14. 02
Stove_____________
. 13. 61 13. 53
C h estn u t. _______
B utte, M ont.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10. 89 10.91
C harleston, S. C.:
9. 67
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 11.00
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16. 95 16.90
Stove ___________ , .
C h e s tn u t.__ __________ 16. 46 16. 45
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile _________ 8. 66
8. 45
Low volatile____ _ ._ 11.85 11.85
R u n of mine—
8. 25
8.25
Low volatile. _______
C incinnati, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile_______ . 6. 50
5. 57
Low volatile__________ 7. 81
7. 47
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
« Prices of coal were formerly secured sem iannually and published in the M arch and Septem ber issue
of the Labor Review. Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published m o nthly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.00 8.00
12
6
6
12.00 12.00
[662 ]
R E T A IL
P R IC E S
OF
245
COAL
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F C O A L P E R T O N O F 2,000 PO U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE , ON JA N U A R Y 15 A N D D E C E M B E R 15, 1928, A N D JA N U A R Y 15, 1929—C ontinued
1928
1929
1928
C ity, and k in d of coal
Jan.
15
L ittle Rock, A rk.:
A rkansas anthracite—
Egg------------------------------ $13. 50
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10 60
Los Angeles, Calif.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes 16. 50
Louisville, K y.:
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
7. 13
H igh volatile___________
Low volatile________
9.40
M anchester, N . H .:
P ennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__ _____ ______
17. 50
17. 25
C hestnut.. ...............
M em phis, T enn.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 8. 33
M ilw aukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_______________
16. 65
C hestnut
. . . ..
16. 20
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
H igh volatile_______ _ . 8.00
Low volatile___________ 11. 12
M inneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove____ ___________ . 18.15
C h estn u t.
__________ 17. 70
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
H igh volatile___________ 10. 96
Low volatile___________ 13. 75
M obile, Ala.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 9. 54
N ew ark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 14. 00
C h e s tn u t.. ___________ 13. 50
N ew H aven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
_________
S to v e ..
15. 10
C h estn u t__ . .
15. 10
N ew Orleans, La.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 11.29
N ew Y ork, N . Y.:
P ennsylvania an th racite—
S t o v e ____ ________
14. 75
C h estn u t________
14. 42
Norfolk, Va.:
P ennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ . _______ . 15.00
C h estn u t. ___
_ . 15.00
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes-^High volatile_________
7. 81
Low volatile___ _ . . . 10. 50
R u n of m ine—
Low volatile __ . . .
7.00
O maha, N ebr.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes 10. 26
Peoria, 111.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7.10
P hiladelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove. . . _____ _______ i 14.93
C h estn u t.
__________ 3 14.43
P ittsb u rg h , Pa.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
C h e s tn u t.. _______ . . . 14.88
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 5.65
Dec.
15
16. 25
16. 25
7.16
9. 75
7. 16
9. 75
17. 25
17. 00
17. 25
17. 00
7. 46
7. 37
16. 30
15. 90
16. 30
15. 90
7. 80
11. 08
7.80
11.08
18.28
17.90
18. 28
17.90
10. 93
13. 50
10. 90
13.50
9.77
9.57
14. 00
13. 50
14.00
13. 50
14. 90
14. 90
14. 90
14. 90
11. 21
11.29
14. 79
14. 29
14. 79
14. 33
15. 00
15. 00
15.00
15. 00
7. 88
10. 50
7. 88
10. 50
7.00
7.00
9.56
9.50
6. 91
6. 90
i 14.67 i 14.67
i 14.11 i 14.11
15.00
5.25
C ity, and kind of coal
Jan.
15
$13. 50 $13. 50
10. 25 10. 25
1929
Jan.
15
Portland, M e.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ _____________ $16. 80
C h estn u t. ___________ 16.80
Portland, Oreg.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 13. 32
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove. _______ ________ 2 16.25
C h estn u t. . . _________ 2 16.00
R ichm ond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e... _______________ 15.50
C h estn u t. ___________ 15.50
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_____ . . . 9. 00
Low volatile
______ 10. 29
R u n of m ine—
Low volatile__ _______ 8.00
Rochester, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
S t o v e ________ _______ 14. 60
C h estn u t- ____________ 14.15
St. Louis, M o.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove............................. ....... 16.90
C h estn u t. ___________ 16. 45
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 7. 02
St. Paul, M inn.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove
.
. . . ______ 18.15
C h estn u t. ___ ______ 17. 70
B i t u m i n o u s , prepared
sizes—
High volatile______ . . . 10.71
Low volatile.......... . . . 13. 75
Salt Lake C ity, U tah:
Colorado an thracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 mixed
18.00
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed. . . . 18.00
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 8.34
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg ___________ 26. 50
Colorado an thracite—
Egg----------------------------- 25. 75
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 17. 25
Savannah, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 3 11.13
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_____________
_ 10.75
C hestnut...
_ 10. 50
Seattle, W ash.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10.18
Springfield, 111.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 4.44
W ashington, D . C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ _____________ 1 15.51
C h estn u t. ___________ l 15.01
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High v olatile...
____ 18.75
Low volatile_________ i 11.00
R u n of m ine—
M ixed _____________ _ i 7.88
Dec.
15
Jan.
15
$16. 80 $16.80
16.80 16.80
13.40
13.07
2 16.00 2 16.00
2 16.00 2 16.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
8. 38
9. 78
8.38
9.83
7.50
7.50
14. 75
14. 25
14. 75
14. 25
16. 75
16. 45
6. 25
16. 75
16. 45
6.40
18. 30
17.90
18.30
17.90
10.70
13.50
10.68
13.50
18.00
18.00
7. 93
18.00
18.00
7.86
26.00
26.00
25. 50
16. 75
25. 50
16. 75
3 10.62 3 10.53
10.53
10. 33
10.53
10. 33
10.48
10.48
4.24
4.24
i 15.63 i 15.63
i 15.13 i 15.13
19. 25 i 8. 75
i 11.42 > 11.42
i 7.63
i 7.63
15.00
5. 25
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
2 T he average price of coal delivered in bin is 50 cents higher th a n here shown. P ractically all coal is
delivered in bin.
3 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by th e city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made.
T h is additional charge has been included in the above price.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[663]
246
M O N TH LY
LABO R
R E V IE W
Index N u m b ers of W h olesale Prices in J an u ary, 1929
SLIGHT upward tendency of wholesale prices from December,
1928, to January, 1929, is shown by information collected in
representative markets by the Bureau of Labor Statistics oj the
United States Department of Labor. The bureau’s weighted index
number, computed on prices in the year 1926 as the base and including
550 commodities or price series, stands at 97.2 for January compared
with 96.7 for December, an increase of one-half of 1 per cent. Com
pared with January, 1928, with an index number of 96.3, an increase
of nearly 1 per cent is shown.
Farm products led in price increases over the preceding month, due
mainly to advances in grains, hogs, sheep and lambs, poultry, and
potatoes. Beef cattle, cotton, and eggs, on the other hand, were
cheaper than in December. The increase in the group as a whole
was over 2 per cent.
Among foods price declines in butter, cheese, fresh beef, bacon,
hams, bananas, lemons, and sugar were offset by increases in fresh
A
T R E N D O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S
[1926 = 100]
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP
OCT.
MOV.
DEC.
pork, lamb, mutton, veal, dressed poultry, coffee, flour, lard, oranges,
and corn meal. The net increase for the group as a whole was threefourths of 1 per cent.
In the group of hides and leather products there was a pronounced
drop in prices of hides and skins. Leather advanced slightly while
boots and shoes and other leather products exhibited a downward
tendency.
Cotton goods were stationary in price in the two months, silk and
rayon receded slightly, and woolen and worsted goods and other textile
products advanced. Anthracite and bituminous coal and coke
showed practically no change in average prices but petroleum products
declined to some extent.
Small advances were recorded for the groups of metals and metal
products, house-furnishing goods, and miscellaneous commodities,
while slight declines took place among building materials and chemicals
and drugs.
Raw materials as a whole averaged higher in January than in the
month before, while negligible advances were shown for semimanu
factured articles, and finished products, also for nonagricultural
commodities as a group.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[664]
IN D E X
NUM BERS
OF W H O LESALE
247
P R IC E S
Of the 550 commodities or price series for which comparable infor
mation for December and January was collected, increases were shown
in 129 instances and decreases in 133 instances. In 288 instances no
change in price was reported.
Comparing prices in January with those of a year ago, as measured
by changes in the index numbers, it is seen that building materials
and metals and metal products were considerably higher, while fuel
and lighting materials and foods were somewhat higher. Small
decreases between the two periods took place among farm products,
textile products, chemicals and drugs, and house-furnishing goods,
and a considerable decrease among hides and leather products and
articles classed as miscellaneous.
IN D E X
NUM BERS
OF
W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y G R O U P S
C O M M O D IT IE S (1926 = 100.0)
Jan u ary ,
1928
Groups and subgroups
All com m odities______________________
_____
F arm products. _____________ . . .
_ . . . . . .
G ra in s ...............
.......... .
Livestock and p o u ltry ________ ___ _ . . . . _.
O ther farm p ro d u cts_____________ _____ _ ____
F oods____ ______
B u tte r, cheese, and m ilk . _ _______ . . ______
M eats __________________
O ther foods.
_
. .
H ides and leather products _________
H ides and skins ................. .
L e a th e r_______ _____
Boots and shoes___ ______ _______
............
O ther leather p ro d u cts.
Textile p ro d u cts___ . . .
C otton g o o d s.. . . . . _ _. _ __________ . . .
Silk and ray o n .
_.
. . ...
AVoolen and worsted goods . .
. _______
O ther textile p ro d u cts____ . . . ______ . . _____
F u e l and lighting . ._
. . . . _______
A nthracite coal_______ ____ ___ ________
B itum inous coal___________ ___________
C oke___ . _
M anufactured gas___ . . . ____________
____
Petroleum products .
..
M etals and m etal products ____________ _______
Iron and steel________ ._ ___
Nonferrous m etals . ___ _ _______
A gricultural im plem ents. . . __________ _
A utom obiles________________
O ther m etal p ro d u cts. . . . . . . . _ ___
B uilding m aterials- _______ . .
L u m b er____________ .
B rick ________________
C em en t.. _________
S tructu ral s te e l._. . . . _______ . . .
P a in t m aterials
.
• ______
O ther building m aterials- . .
________ _
C hem icals and drugs_____________ _ ___
Chem icals
_ ________
D rugs and pharm aceuticals
_______ _______
Fertilizer m a te ria ls ____
_______ . . .
Fertilizers_______________ ________ .
House-furnishing g o ods.. ___ _ . . .
F u rn itu re
_______
F u rn ish in g s.. ___________________
M iscellaneous______ _____ . .
C attle feed_________ ________________
Paper and p u lp ___ . _________________
R u b b e r______________
..
A utom obile tires______ ____ ___ ______
O ther miscellaneous_______________________
R aw m aterials______ _______ _________
Sem im anufactured a rtic le s.. ___________
___
Finished p ro d u cts___________
N onagricultural com m odities_____
i D ata not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[665]
96.3
106.1
104. 7
100.2
110. 7
98. 5
108.6
91.6
99. 0
121. 0
151. 4
123.8
108.4
108.4
96.7
102.3
83. 7
99. 0
90. 4
80.8
94.8
94.9
86.0
95. 9
65. 6
98. 1
93.9
91. 7
98.8
104. 3
98. 2
90.8
88.5
92.4
96.5
91.9
88.0
92.7
96.3
102.4
72.6
94.8
97.0
98.6
98.2
98.8
89.0
133.1
90.9
82.2
69.7
98.8
100. 2
97.7
93.9
93. 7
AND
D ecember,
1928
96.7
103.6
94.3
99. 1
110.0
98. 0
110.0
102.3
90.8
115. 7
131. 0
119.3
108.4
108.4
96.1
101.3
83. 7
100.0
84. 9
83.5
91.2
93.2
84.5
93 3
73.9
102.9
96. 6
98.0
98.8
111.2
96. 9
96.8
93. 6
93.6
94.6
97.0
87.7
107.0
96.1
102.4
70.8
94.1
97.8
96.4
95.3
97.1
80.1
137.0
88. 6
37.0
58.1
99.7
97.4
97.2
96.4
94.8
SU BG RO U PS
January,
1929'
97.2
105. 9
98.3
102. 1
111. 3
98.8
109.0
105. 7
90.7
113.6
124. 1
120. 5
106. 7
107. 6
96.4
101.3
83.2
101.1
85. 3
82.5
91. 1
93.0
84.5
(>)
71.9
103.6
96. 7
100.7
98. 8
111. 6
98.4
96. 6
92.9
92.9
94.6
97.0
86. 7
107.8
95.9
102.1
71.0
94.6
97.1
96.6
95.1
97.6
80.5
134.8
87.8
40.8
58.1
100.9
• 98.7
97.3
96.5
94.9
OF
Purchasing
power of
the dollar,
January,
1929
102.9
94.4
101. 7
97.9
89. 8
101. 2
91. 7
94.6
110. 3
88.0
80.6
83.0
93. 7
92. 9
103.7
98.7
120.2
98. 9
117.2
121.2
109. 8
107.5
118.3
139.1
96.5
103.4
99.3
101.2
89. 6
101.6
103.5
107.6
107.6
105. 7
103.1
115.3
92.8
104.3
97. 9
140.8
105. 7
103. 0
103.5
105.2
102.5
124.2
74.2
113. 9
245.1
172.1
99.1
101.3
102.8
103.6
105.4
248
M O N TH LY
LABO R
R E V IE W
W h o lesa le P rices in th e U n ited S ta te s and in F oreign C o u n tries,
1923 to D ecem b er, 1928
N THE following table the more important index numbers of
wholesale prices in foreign countries and those of the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics 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 most cases
being the year 1913. 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.
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
C E R T A IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S
C o u n try -----
U nited
States
Czecho
C anada Belgium B ulgaria slovakia
D en
m ark
C entral
B ureau D om in M inis D irector B ureau Statis
Labor ion B u try of General of Sta
tical
C om putin g ofStatis
reau of In d u s of Sta
tistics D ep art
agency----Statis try and tistics (revised m ent
tics
Labor
tics
(revised)
index)
France
F inland
Ger
m any
Ita ly
R ic
Central General Federal cardo
B ureau S tatisti S tatisti Bachi
cal
B
u
cal
B
u
of Sta
(re
reau
reau
tistics
vised)
Base period.
1926
1913
A pril,
1914
1913
July,
1914
1913
1913
1913
1913
1913
C o m m o d i
ties ____
550
1 238
128
38
69
118
135
45
400
100
Y ear and
m o n th
1Q 92
1924
1925
1926
1927
1923
J dti mu' y ___
1924
J an uar y —___
T illy
1925
Ja n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry __
Tun a
T n ly
S e p te m b e r,.
2503. 9
2497. 4
2612.0
2618. 2
2466. 7
1J53 0
155. 2
160. 3
156. 2
151. 6
497
573
2525
2823
977
997
1008
954
979
102 2
104 0
98 6
99.6
151 4
156 9
153 5
153.1
4.34
480
504
515
2657
2757
2408
2263
991
1012
949
960
387
415
407
421
516.1
525.7
503.9
499.8
99
97
9.b
98
156 9
151 1
153 9
157.0
580
555
566
2711
2798
2737
2988
974
1008
953
999
494
450
481
497
504. 4
510.3
497.4
522.0
3275
3309
3272
3244
3177
3225
3041
2870
2834
2823
2822
2913
1045
1048
1034
1020
1006
998
1009
993
996
989
977
977
514
515
514
513
520
543
557
557
556
572
605
633
568. 2
571.1
571. 2
571.1
571.2
590.9
612.0
630.6
621.5
617.1
612.3
613.8
8
6
9
6
558
744
5 5 5
165.5
551
164. 7
161 6
546
538
156. 5
158 8
537
158 6
552
158 1
158 9
567
156.2
577
156 0
575
108 6
104
569
161 2
565
163! 5
103.4
1 236 commodities since
103.5
104.5
104 8
102 4
102 1
108 4
104 6
104 2
103! 7
5
D ecem ber—.
419
488
550
703
617
inn 6
98.1
103. 5
100.0
95.4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5 5 9
5 5 9
A pril, 1924.
[ 666 ]
210
163
144
147
142
145
243
240
236
230
227
223
212
197
186
179
176
176
1
July.
137.3
141.8
134.4
137.6
249
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
IN D E X
NUM BERS
C o u n try ___
U nited
States
OE W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D
C E R T A IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S—C o ntinued
C anada Belgium Bulgaria Czecho
slovakia
D en
m ark
C entral
B ureau D om in M inis
D irector Bureau Statis
C o m p u tin g of Labor ion B u try of General of Sta
tical
agency---- Statis reau of In d u s of Sta
tistics D ep art
tics
Statis try and
tistics
(revised
m
ent
(revised)
tics
Labor
index)
Finland
STATES AND
France
Ger
m any
IN
Italy
RicC entral General Federal
B ureau S tatisti S tatisti cardo
of Sta cal B u cal B u B achi
(re
tistics
reau
reau
vised)
Base perio d .
1926
1913
A pril,
1914
1913
July,
1914
1913
1913
1913
1913
1913
Commodi
ties. .. ..
550
238
128
38
69
118
135
45
400
100
103.6
102. 1
100. 4
560
556
583
621
692
761
876
836
859
856
865
860
2901
2899
2844
2774
2938
2842
2838
2759
2723
2716
2739
2718
966
950
938
923
928
926
948
963
973
972
978
978
172
165
158
157
158
157
158
162
162
178
170
158
143
142
141
141
140
141
141
143
143
143
143
144
634
636
632
650
688
738
836
769
787
751
684
627
135.8
134.3
133.1
132.7
132.3
131.9
133.1
134.0
134.9
136.2
137.1
137.1
608.0
603.5
592.3
590.0
595. 0
604.9
618. 2
632. 5
622.0
596. 7
594. 2
573.6
Y ear an d
m o n th — C o n .
1926
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry __
M arch . ___
A pril______
M a y _____
J u n e ____
J u ly ----------A ugust. . . .
S e p te m b e r..
O ctober___
N o v e m b er..
D ecem ber...
100. 5
100. 5
99. 5
99.0
99.7
99.4
98.4
97.9
163.8
162.0
160.0
160.2
156.8
155.6
155.9
154.0
152.5
151.3
151.4
151.5
1927
J a n u a ry .. . .
F e b ru a ry __
M arch . .
A pril______
M ay _ . .
J u n e ...
J u ly _______
A ugust___
S e p te m b e r..
October
N o v e m b er..
D ecem ber...
96.6
95.9
94.5
93. 7
93.7
93.8
94. 1
95.2
96.5
97.0
96.7
96.8
150.9
150. 3
149. 1
148.9
152.1
153. 5
152.4
152. 7
151.3
152.6
152.2
151.8
856
854
858
846
848
851
845
850
837
839
838
841
2706
2688
2649
2592
2751
2823
2775
2745
2736
2747
2707
2739
979
975
976
979
988
990
992
983
975
966
967
975
157
156
153
152
152
152
152
153
153
154
154
154
144
144
143
143
142
144
144
147
148
148
149
148
622
632
641
636
628
622
621
618
600
587
594
604
135.9
135. 6
135.0
134.8
137.1
137.9
137. 6
137.9
139. 7
139. 8
140.1
139.6
558. 2
555.8
544.7
521.3
496.2
473.4
466. 7
465. 4
465.4
467. 5
466. 0
462.9
96.3
96.4
96.0
97.4
98.6
97.6
98.3
98.9
151. 3
150.8
152.8
153.2
152. 9
150.2
149.6
149. 1
149. 7
150.2
148.6
146.7
851
848
848
847
844
844
841
831
830
835
847
855
2782
2826
2839
2891
2906
2866
2911
2790
2805
2844
982
985
978
984
987
986
979
996
986
971
957
955
153
152
153
154
155
155
155
154
151
150
151
151
144
143
144
145
143
145
145
147
146
146
145
144
607
609
623
624
632
626
624
617
620
617
626
624
138. 7
137.9
138.5
139.5
141.2
141.3
141.6
141. 5
139. 9
140. 1
140. 3
139.9
463. 5
461.3
463. 9
464. 4
464.9
461. 7
453.1
456. 2
457. 8
463. 3
465.6
1928
Ja n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry __
M arch .
A p ril...
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 o v e m b er..
D ecem ber...
100. 1
100. 1
97.8
96.7
96.7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[667]
250
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
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 IN T H E U N IT E D
C E R T A IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C o n tin u e d
C ou n try ___
N e th N o r
er
lands way
Spain
sti
C en C en In
tu te
tral
tral
of
B
u
B
u
Geog
C om puting
reau rap
hy
agency------ reau
of
of
and
Sta
Sta
Sta
tistics tistics tistics
Swe
den
Sw it U nited
zer
K ing
land
dom
F ed
C ham eral
ber of Labor
Com D e
merce p a rt
m ent
A us
tralia
New
Zea
land
Cen
Bureau sus
of
Board Census and
Sta
of
tistics
and
T rade
S ta Office
(re
tistics
vised)
South
Africa
STATES
A N D IN
Japan C hina
B u
reau of
M ar
Office
kets,
of
Treas
C en B ank
of
ury
sus
Japan,
and
De
Sta Tokyo p a rt
m ent,
tistics
Shang
hai
Base period.
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
1913
July,
1914
1913
1913
1913
C o m m o d ities______
3 48
174
74
160
78
150
92
180
187
56
*
India
Labor
Office
Bom
bay
1913
July,
1914
117
42
Y ear and
m o n th
—Con.
1923
1924
1925. .
1926 _______
1927
151
156
155
145
148
232
267
253
198
167
172
183
188
181
173
163
162
161
149
146
1923
Ja n u a ry __
A pril.Ju ly
October
157
156
145
148
223
229
231
235
170
174
170
171
156
251
263
265
273
1924
J an u ary __
April . _
J u l y . ____
O ctober___
151
161
1925
Ja n u a ry __
F ebruary __
M arch ..
A pril___
M a y ______
J u n e .. ___
J u l y . ___ .
A ugust . . .
Septem ber _
O ctober.
N ovem b er. _
D ecem b er...
160
158
155
151
151
158
155
155
155
154
155
279
281
279
273
262
260
254
249
237
223
220
220
1926
Jan u ary . . . .
F e b ru a ry __
M arch . ___
A pril___ _.
M a y ______
June
. __
J u ly ----------A ugust.
S ep tem b er..
O ctober___
N ovem b er. _
D ecem b er...
153
149
145
143
143
144
141
139
140 143
147
147
214
211
205
199
197
194
192
193
193
198
199
184
127
129
128
123
124
199
206
202
179
170
156.4
153.9
159.4
164. 1
170.4
181
182
163
149
147
163
167
180
171
131
126
124
125
184
196
192
212
152. 7
157. 7
155.4
156.1
181
180
178
181
165.4
164. 7
162. 6
170.0
174
166
163
163
131
126
125
133
211
207
195
213
155. 8
153. 7
151. 5
152. 8
188
184
184
181
171.1
168.9
166.3
161.9
158. 6
157.2
156. 9
156. 2
155. 1
153.9
152. 7
152.1
163
162
160
158
159
162
162
162
162
163
165
160
166
162
162
162
162
162
161
161
160
162
161
160
130
214
210
204
202
199
200
198
200
201
200
198
194
159. 9
159. 2
160. 3
159.3
157.8
157.3
162.8
160. 3
160. 2
159. 0
158. 4
158.1
173
173
171
165
164
160
158
160
157
158
160
154
151. 3
148.8
144. 4
143.6
144.9
146. 4
148.7
149. 1
150.9
152.1
152.4
146. 1
161
160
163
168
167
163
162
162
158
154
155
155
159
159
157
156
156
155
156
154
153
153
151
153
192
188
184
181
177
177
179
177
176
174
171
170
164. 0
163.0
164. 4
162.8
169. 7
155. 8
156.9
160. 5
164.2
171.1
174.4
172.0
154
151
150
151
151
150
149
148
149
147
146
146
158. 9
166. 2
159. 1
148. 1
141.4
170
165
162
161
163
168
162
161
157. 0
162. 0
156.5
158.1
178
184
182
186
161
161
157
167
191
192
193
190
191
187
188
184
185
187
186
187
169
169
168
163
162
161
161
159
157
154
155
156
186
186
183
179
179
177
178
180
178
179
185
186
153
152
149
150
151
150
148
147
146
148
148
150
145
142
153
147
146
145
143
143
145
142
142
144
142
142
158
165
161
155
147
130
127
124
124
120
122
127
3 5 2 commodities in 1920; 53 commodities from A ugust, 1920 to D ecem ber, 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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*
147 items.
251
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
IN D E X
NUM BERS
N eth
er
lands
OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D
C E R T A IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
Sw it U nited
zer
K ing
land
dom
STA TES A ND
IN
New
Zea
land
South
Africa Japan China
In d ia
Cen
C en C en In sti
tu te
Fed
B ureau sus
tral
tral
of
C
ham
eral
and
of
B
u
B u
Board Census Sta
C om puting
reau Geog ber of Labor
of
agency------ reau
raphy
Com
D
e
tistics
and
of
of
and merce p a rt T rade
Sta Office
Sta
Sta
m ent
(re
tistics
tistics tistics Sta
tistics
vised)
B u
reau oi
Office
M ar
of
kets,
C en B ank
Treas
of
sus
Japan, ury
and
D e
Sta Tokyo p a rt
tistics
m ent,
Shang
hai
Labor
Office,
Bom
bay
C o u n try ___
N or
w ay
Spain
Swe
den
Aus
tralia
Base period..
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
1913
July,
1914
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
C o m m o dities______
48
174
74
160
78
150
92
180
187
56
117
42
Y ear and
m o n th
—Con.
1927
J a n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry __
M a rc h _____
A p r i l _____
M a y .............
J u n e . . ..........
J u l y . ............
A ugust_____
S eptem ber. .
October . .
N o v e m b e r..
D ecem b er...
145
146
144
143
145
149
151
149
150
150
151
151
174
172
167
164
162
166
165
167
167
165
166
166
184
180
179
177
172
171
168
168
169
169
168
159
146
146
145
143
145
146
146
146
148
147
148
148
141
141
141
140
141
140
140
146
144
145
147
146
143.6
142.6
140. 6
139.8
141. 1
141. 8
141. 1
140.9
142. 1
141.4
141. 1
140.4
154
153
150
151
152
155
161
165
170
173
166
162
151
147
147
147
145
146
146
146
146
146
147
148
1928
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry __
M a r c h . ___
A pril______
M a y .............
June . ____
J u ly _______
A ugust____
S e p te m b e r..
O c to b e r___
N o v e m b e r..
D ecem ber...
153
150
152
153
152
153
148
144
145
146
148
148
164
163
164
162
162
161
162
162
158
157
157
157
166
166
165
166
164
164
164
166
168
174
176
148
147
149
151
152
151
150
149
146
145
145
145
145
144
145
146
145
145
144
144
144
145
145
141.1
140. 3
140. 8
142.9
143 6
142 6
141. 1
139. 3
137.6
137.9
137.9
138.3
163
160
160
162
159
158
157
154
153
152
150
147
149
147
148
' 148
148
147
148
149
150
t
35895°—29 ----- 17
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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128
126
120
122
123
121
119
120
I
170
171
171
170
171
172
170
167
169
170
168
168
172.8
172.0
174 7
173.1
171.3
16Q 2
171.0
170.8
171.8
168. 7
165. 8
163.5
146
148
146
145
146
147
147
148
148
146
144
143
169
169
16Q
170
163.1
164.3
162 4
16311
141
142
168
170
174
174
173
174
1591 2
147
156.2
158. 8
159. 2
159.9
148
150
149
142
COST OF LIVING
F a m ily B u d g ets of B u rm ese W age E arners
N 1927 and 1928 an investigation into the standards and cost of
living of the working classes of Rangoon was made, in which 4,309
budgets were collected. According to the published report1of the
Labor Statistics Bureau on this inquiry, the majority of the married
Indian laborers who come to Burma leave their families in India.
Consequently, the Indian budgets are for the most part single persons’
budgets. A few budgets were also collected for Tamil and Telugu
families. From the Burmese workers, however, only family budgets
were secured and the present article is based upon that part of the
report dealing with these budgets, of which there were 992. The 1921
census gives the number of Burmese in Rangoon as 102,925, out of
a population of 341,962.
The occupational distribution of the 992 wage earners whose family
budgets were secured is given below:
N um ber
I
°
Skilled factory workers________________________ —
Unskilled factory workers (other than contract coolies)
Compositors (outside factories)------------------------------Carpenters (private)_________________ ________ ___
Cart drivers___________________________ _________
Motor mechanics and drivers (outside factories)--------Sandal and umbrella makers_______________________
Miscellaneous____________________________________
195
51
136
119
99
80
100
212
Total_______________________________________________________ 992
The one general restriction as to the type of family to be budgeted
was that it should have no lodgers or boarders. As the number of
Burmese families which had boarders or lodgers was small it was
thought that this restriction would not substantially affect the rep
resentative character of the sample.
Although in the greater number of the budgets the data were based
on estimates made by the workers, in some cases the information
was secured from actual records. Younger brothers and sisters,
nephews, nieces, and other relatives of the parents, who had not
completed their fourteenth year were regarded as children. In a
supplementary Burmese study husbands were classified separately
from adult sons and a discrimination was made between wives and
adult daughters, but in the main Burmese inquiry, here summarized,
all adult males were grouped together and all adult females were also
put in one class. The investigators called at the homes of the families
one or more times within a month and filled in the schedules from
estimates given by the workers.
The family budgets were classified according to income per unit. The Lusk
coefficients based on food requirements were used to measure the size of the
1
In d ia (B urm a). L abor Statistics B ureau. R eport of an In q u iry into the Standard and Cost of Living
of th e W orking Classes in Rangoon. Rangoon, 1928.
252
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FAMILY BUDGETS OF BURMESE WAGE EARNERS
253
family. In this scale an adult male is taken as unity, a woman as 0.83, a child
10 but under 14 as 0.83, a child 6 but under 10 as 0.70, and a child under 6 as
0.50. The income per unit was obtained by dividing the income of the family
by the size as expressed in these units.
Composition of the Families
'T ’HE number of persons to the average family is 3.71 and the number
* of units 3.01. In this connection the author of the report sug
gests that “ it is probable that these figures are on the small side,” as—
It was very difficult to obtain a sample which was representative in this
respect. There was a natural bias on the part of some of the investigators to
collect budgets from families of small size as they were less troublesome. _ Ihis
had to be guarded against and many of the budgets of the outside investigators
were canceled for this reason.
T a b l e 1 . —C O M P O S IT IO N O F A V E R A G E F A M IL Y
Average num ber of per
sons per family
Sex and age of m embers
Earners
M en, 18 a n d over-------------------------------------------------W omen, 18 a n d ov er--------------------------------------------M en, 14 and un d er 18----------- -- ----W omen, 14 an d u n d er 18--_
------ -- -- - - C hildren, 10 a n d un d er 14-------------------------------------C hildren, 6 a n d un d er 10---------------------------------------
N onearners
1.04
.42
.03
.02
.02
.01
0.09
. 76
. 05
.08
. 23
.28
1. 54
2.17
.68
A more detailed table shows that the average family in thelowest
income group consisted of 5.35 persons and in the highest income
group of 2.23, the larger number being chiefly accounted for by the
greater number of family members under 18 years of age. For
example, 100 families in the highest income group had 104 men and
100 women 18 years of age and over and only 19 persons under 18
years of age, while in the lowest income group there were 285 persons
under 18 in 100 families and 117 men and 133 women 18 years of
age or over.
"As indicated in Table 1, in every 100 families of all incomes there
were 154 earners and 217 nonearners. Another table, which classifies
the families according to the number of wage earners, shows that
over one-half of the families had only one wage earner, over onetliird had 2, and less than one-tenth had 3 or more.
Average Income and Expenditures
HTHE average monthly income for the 992 families was 58Rs. 8a. 3p.
A ($21.36). Males over 14 years of age earned 89.8 per cent of this
income; females over 14 earned 9.8 per cent; and children under 14
earned 0.4 per cent.2
The average monthly earnings of an earning man were $1/ .55, of a
woman, $4.72 and of a child $3.33.
2 Conversions into U nited States currency m ade b y the U nited S tates B ureau of L abor Statistics on the
basis of rup ee—36.5 cents; anna= 2.28 cents; a n d pie=0.19 cent.
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254
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Following is a record of the average monthly expenditures of the
992 families:
A v erag e co st
P e r c e n t of to ta l
$10. 91
2. 19
2. 88
1. 07
. 54
3. 10
52. 8
10. 6
13. 9
5. 2
2. 6
15. 0
Total_______________________________ $20. 69
100. 0
Food_____________
Clothing__________
House rent______ _
Fuel and lighting__
Household requisites
Miscellaneous______
Comparing average monthly income with average monthly expendi
tures an average balance of 67 cents, or 3.1 per cent of the income, is
shown.
Expenditures for Food
'T'HE average monthly expenditure for food per family for families
of all incomes was $10.91, the amounts for the principal items
being as follows: $3.30 for rice; $2.13 for fish; $1.23 for meat; $0.83
for sesamum oil; $0.88 for vegetables and fruit; $0.31 for salt, spices,
and condiments; $1.93 for food bought and consumed away from
home.
Daily Consumption of Food
'T'HE total number of calories consumed per unit per day for families
*■ for all incomes was 2,592, the number for the lowest income group
being 2,292 and for the highest income group, 3,168. The foods used
are shown in Table 2.
T a ble 2 .—GROSS C A L O R IE S C O N S U M E D P E R D A Y P E R U N IT B Y B U R M E S E F A M IL IE S
O F A L L IN C O M E S
Calories
Calories
C om m odity
C om m odity
N um ber
Rice __ _______ - _______
W heat flour__ _____________
Pulse . . _ _______________
M eat
M ilk _______________________
1,845
47
71
73
109
25
N um ber
Per cent
71. 2
.8
2.7
8
4. 2
.9
1
2
Sugar and molasses_________
Sesamum o i l . . _______ ____
F ru it and vegetables________
62
268
92
T o t a l..................... ...........
2,592
P er cent
2.4
10.4
3.6
100.0
Of 2,592 gross calories consumed per day per unit by the Burmese
families of all incomes, 287 were protein, 1,870 were carbohydrates,
and 435 were fat. Another analysis showed that the proportion of
gross calories of animal origin consumed per day per unit increased
from 6.2 per cent in families with the lowest income per unit to 10.5
per cent in families with the highest income per unit, while the pro
portion of such calories for all incomes was 8.5 p ercen t3 and the
proportion of calories from protein only 11.1 per cent.
Families in the lowest income class secured 9,149 calories for each rupee spent
and those in the highest class only 6,794. The number for all families is 7,825,
which is smaller than the number obtained by the Indian races. This may be
partly due to the larger percentage of expenditure on meat and fish, which are
3
In this connection th e au th o r points out th a t a comparison of these figures w ith th e findings of western
budget inquiries is interesting. For example, th e Swedish fam ily budget investigation of 1923 showed th a t
approxim ately “ 40 per cent of th e calories consumed b y working-class families were of anim al origin.”
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FAMILY BUDGETS OF BURMESE WAGE EARNERS
255
expensive foods from a caloric point of view, but is also due to the greater per
centage expenditure on food consumed away from home, which gave only 5,969
calories for every rupee.
Expenditures for Clothing
rTrHE average monthly expenditures for clothing per man, per
A woman, and per child were, respectively, 87 cents, 64 cents, and
25 cents. I t was found that the men and the women in the highest
income group spent approximately twice the amount of money on
clothing as those in the lowest income group. For all incomes com
bined a woman’s expenditure for clothing was 74 per cent of that of a
man’s.
Men and women in practically all these Burmese families wear
cotton clothing. Silk is too expensive for some of the families. The
men in about a third of the families wear shoes and practically all the
men and women wear shoes or sandals.
A special study of the budgets of certain families including a hus
band, wife, and a child within given age limits, indicated that the
younger boys had more spent on them for clothes than the younger
girls. The clothing of the grown-up daughters, however, cost more
than that of the grown-up sons, and in both cases the expenditure
was higher than that for the mother’s clothes but less than that for
the father’s. Apparently the Burmese men “ like to dress themselves
up in fine clothes just as much as, if not more than, the women.”
Rents
LTHOUGH the average monthly rent paid per family was $2.88,
the expenditure for this item varies greatly among Burmese
working-class families. Some of them live in very poor quarters and
pay less than a rupee (36.5 cents) a month while the rentals of other
families are 20 rupees ($7.30) or more.
Sometimes wage earners are forced to live in a locality where rents
are very high in order that they may be near their work and not have
to make heavy expenditures for transportation.
For the purpose of reducing their expenses, Burmese families fre
quently share a room together. Although there is some overcrowding
among the families included in this study, “ it is not to be compared
with the overcrowding which exists in the registered lodging houses
occupied by the Indian laborers.” Approximately 9 per cent of the
families occupied their own houses, approximately 15 per cent lived
in free quarters which the employers provided, and the remaining 76
per cent lived in rented dwellings.
A
Fuel and Light
T 'H E amount paid out for fuel and light constituted approximately
5 per cent of the expenditure in all income groups. Firewood
and kerosene oil were the principal items. Very few working-class
families use electric light.
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256
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Household Equipment
fANLY 2x/i per cent of the average total expenditure of these fami^
lies was for household requisites. The most usual articles pur
chased were thin blankets, cotton pillows, furniture, and cooking
pots, but the amounts spent on such equipment were very meager.
Only one family in 16 uses cots or charpoys and about 2 in 5, mattresses.
Sheets are usually made of longcloth and are used in a little more than half the
families. Mosquito nets are made of longcloth or mull; netting is very rarely
used, partly because it is too expensive and partly because a thicker material is
often preferred. Nets are used in a little more than half the families.
Miscellaneous Expenditures
T H E principal expenditure for miscellaneous items was for tobacco,
the average expenditure per month per family being 88 cents.
In some families liquor was taken, but as the investigators were
unable to get them to acknowledge it, this item was not included in
the budgets. The greater number of the families bought betel, the
average monthly expenditure for it per family being 27 cents. Almost
all the families used hair oil.
The figure for interest on debts is not reliable as it was very difficult to get
accurate information. It includes the difference between the credit and cash
prices paid for commodities. Burmese families do not mind much being in debt;
in fact, many of them prefer to pay credit rather than cash prices (involving pay
ment of higher prices) even when "they have the ready money to pay cash.
The average monthly expenditure on medicine per family was only
4 cents, and 29 cents per family actually making such expenditures.
The great majority of the large industrial establishments furnish
medicines gratis and there are also other dispensaries from which free
medical supplies may be secured.
For only about 12 per cent of the families was any expenditure for
education recorded. It would seem that in various other families the
expenditures for such purpose was so negligible that it was not stated
separately.
Somewhat less than one-third of the families had to pay for trans
portation to and from their work places, the average monthly expend
iture per family in this connection was 33 cents, and $1.09 per family
actually having such expense.
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IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
Statistics of Im m igration for December, 1328
ity J. J. K ttnna, C hief S tatistician U nited S tates B ureau of I mmigration
r'
HE statistics for December, 1928, show 28,570 aliens admitted
to the United States, the immigrants or newcomers for per
manent residence in this country numbering 18,357 and the
nonimmigrants 10,213, This is the smallest number of admissions
for this period of the year since December, 1919. The outward
movement of aliens in December, 1928, included 8,264 emigrants
and 20,002 nonemigrants, a total of 28,266, the largest for any month
since December, 1927, when 30,503 aliens left the country. Arrivals
during the half-year from July to December last were the highest in
September, during which month 55,714 aliens entered the country.
During the six months ended December 31, 1928, a total of 258,190
aliens were admitted, 192,209 coming in at the seaports and 65,981
at the land-border stations. Of the seaport admissions, 159,327, or
82 per cent, landed at New York, 5,512 at Canadian Atlantic ports,
5,393 at Boston, 3,624 at Key West, 4,777 at San Francisco, 2,053
at New Orleans, and 1,401 at Seattle. Over 94 per cent of the arrivals
by water were inspected at these ports. Of the arrivals by land, 39,697
came in over the northern border, principally via Detroit, Montreal,
Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Vancouver, and Vanceboro. Admissions at
Mexican border land ports numbered 26,284, El Paso, Nogales,
Laredo, Eagle Pass, and Brownsville, in the order named, being the
principal ports of entry for aliens from Mexico.
The bulk of the New York arrivals came from Europe, 142,255, or
89.3 per cent, of the aliens admitted at that port giving European
countries as their place of birth, while 2,944 were born in Asia, 498 in
Africa, 1,065 in Australia and the Pacific islands, 2,461 in Canada, and
946 in Newfoundland, 2,237 in the British West Indies, 1,864 in
Cuba, and 369 in the other West Indies, 844 in Mexico, 972 in Central
America, and 2,872 in South America. Over 70 per cent, or 27,814
of the aliens entering via the northern land border were Canadian
bom; 10,882 were born in European countries, principally Great
Britain, Ireland, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries; and
231 in the other countries. Of the aliens admitted via the southern
land boundary, 25,045, or 95 per cent, were born in Mexico; 595 were
natives of Europe and 644 of China and the other countries.
The three principal classes of admission under the immigration act
of 1924 included 71,569 immigrants charged to the quota, 60,973
residents of the United States returning from a temporary sojourn
abroad, and 56,448 natives of nonquota countries, mainly Canada and
Mexico. These three classes comprised nearly three-fourths of the
258,190 aliens admitted during the six months ended December 31,
1928. Of the remaining one-fourth, 32,921 came in under the act as
temporary visitors for business or pleasure; 12,833 were passing
through the country on their way elsewhere; 16,608 were husbands,
wives, or unmarried children of American citizens; 3,350 were Govern
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257
258
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
me-nt officials, their families, attendants, servants, and employees;
1,426 were students; 879 were aliens admitted to carry on trade
under existing treaty; 298 were wives and unmarried children of
natives of nonquota countries; 769 were ministers and professors and
their wives and unmarried children; 81 were women who were citizens
of the United States; 20 were Spanish subjects admitted into Porto
Rico; and 15 were American Indians born in Canada. The returning
residents and wives and children of citizens were the only classes with
over 5,000 admissions that showed an increase during the six months
from July to December last as compared with the corresponding
period of the previous year. Over 80 per cent of the returning resi
dents and 94 per cent of the wives and children of American citizens
admitted from July to December, 1928, were born in Europe; 70 per
cent of the latter class gave Italy, Poland, or Greece, as their country
of birth.
During the half year from July to December, 1928, the newcomers
entering at all ports for a permanent stay in this country exceeded the
visitors, 147,707 of the aliens admitted in this period being classed as
immigrants and 110,483 as nonimmigrants. The opposite was true
for the seaport admissions, 104,305 being nonimmigrants and 87,904
immigrants. This was due to the large number of alien residents of
the United States who returned from a visit to their native land, the
vast majority of whom landed at the port of New York.
Europe continues to furnish over half of the immigration to the
United States, sending 78,748 immigrants during the six months from
July to December last. Germany leads the list as usual, contributing
21,758 or twice the number of immigrants coming from any other
European country. Great Britain was next in the list, sending 10,299
immigrants, and Italy was third with 9,466, followed closely by the
Irish Free State with 9,357; while Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
combined sent 7,779 immigrants, Poland 4,625, Czechoslovakia
2,390, and France, 2,381. These sources contributed 86.4 per cent
of the European immigration to this country during the said six
months. In the same period Canada supplied 34,993 immigrant
aliens and Mexico 25,020. The above figures show a decrease in
immigration from Europe, as well as from Canada and Mexico, com
pared with the corresponding six months of a year ago.
The outstanding races among the immigrant aliens admitted from
July to December last were the German (26,510), Mexican (24,422),
Irish (16,262), English (16,148) Scotch (11,504), Italian (10,081),
Scandinavian (8,943), French (8,819), Hebrew (6,174), and Polish
(2,161). The other races or peoples numbered less than 2,000 each.
The principal class of admissions under the immigration act of 1924
for the German, Irish, Hebrew, Polish, Scandinavian, and Scotch
included immigrants charged to the quota, while the majority of the
English, French, and Mexicans entered the country as natives of
nonquota countries. Over two-thirds of the Italian immigrants
entering under the act were wives and unmarried children of Amer
ican citizens.
The women outnumbered the men among the immigrant aliens
admitted during the half year from July to December last, 73,363
being males and 74,344 females. The largest number of immigrants
were from 22 to 29 years old, 43,634 being in this age group, while
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STATISTICS OF IMMIGRATION
35.603 ranged in age from 16 to 21 years, 19,373 from 30 to 37 years,
8,673 from 38 to 44 years, and 13,407 were over 44 years old. Children
under 16 years of age numbered 27,017. Over one-half of these immi
grants settled in the North Atlantic States, 43,133 going to New
York, 18,319 to the New England States, 8,224 to Pennsylvania, and
8,176 to New Jersey. States in the North Central Division, mainly
Michigan and Illinois, received 33,219 of the new arrivals, while
17.604 were destined to the South Central States, 16,329 to the West
ern States, 2,396 to the South Atlantic States, and 307 to Alaska and
the outlying possessions. The major portion of the wage earners
among these immigrants were unskilled workers, 15,530 giving their
occupation as that of servant, 14,887 as common laborer, and 10,202
as farm laborers. The skilled workers numbered 24,367, the pro
fessional class 5,182, and the mercantile and miscellaneous classes
10,000. There were 67,539 immigrants, mainly women and children,
listed as having no occupation.
During the six months from July to December, 1928, a total of
5,651 undesirable aliens were deported from the United States under
warrant proceedings. While nearly half of these deportees entered
the country without proper documents (surreptitious entries) the
bureau rid the country of 664 criminals, 365 insane or mentally
deficient, and 175 immoral persons. Europe, with 2,087, received the
largest number of these deportees, while 1,938 were sent to Mexico,
1,086 to Canada, and the remaining 540 to the other countries. The
peak month for deportations during the half year was August, when
1,186 aliens were returned to the countries whence they came, and
December, with 1,054, was the next highest month.
A total of 9,105 aliens (6,480 males and 2,625 females) seeking ad
mission to the United States were rejected during the six months. Of
this number 8,166 were debarred at the Canadian and Mexican
land borders, 446 at New York, and 493 at the other seaports. At
New York, the principal port of landing for aliens arriving from over
seas, less than 3 out of eveiy 1,000 applicants were denied admission.
At both the land and sea ports the vast majority of the aliens rejected
were without proper immigration visas.
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 F R O M JU L Y 1 TO D E C E M B E R 31,
1928
Inw ard
Period
1928
J u ly ....... .............
A ugust _____
Septem ber. _
O ctober. ______
N ovem ber
D e c e m b e r____
O utw ard
Aliens
Aliens
de
de
Aliens ad m itted
Aliens departed
U nited
barred
ported
U nited
States
from
after
States
citi
land
T o tal enter
citi
N on
zens T otal ing 2
ing i E m i NonIm m i im
zens
m i T o tal
emi T otal
de
grant grant
arrived
grant grant
parted
20,682
24, 629
29, 317
29, 917
24, 805
18, 3o7
15, 976
18,620
26, 397
24, 797
14, 480
10, 213
36, 658
43, 249
55, 714
54, 714
39, 285
28, 570
32, 974 69, 632
63,191 106, 440
80, 233 135, 947
49, 831 104. 545
23,198 62, 483
18,911 47,481
T o t a l ___ 147, 707 110, 483 258,190 268, 338 526, 528
1,286 7,804 20, 249 28, 053
1,412 , 488 15, 960 22,448
1, 364 , 093 17, 231 25, 324
1, 798 7,479 16, 693 24,172
1, 694 , 549 14, 611 21,160
1, 551 8,264
28, 266
68
96, 516
72, 771
67,429
58, 815
43, 540
53, 439
768
1,180
915
807
927
1,054
9,105 44, 677 104, 746 149,423 243, 087 392, 510
5, 651
6
8
6
20,002
, 463
50, 323
42,105
34, 643
22, 380
25,173
1 These aliens are no t included among arrivals, as th ey were not p erm itted to enter the U nited States.
2 These aliens are included among aliens departed, th e y having entered th e U nited States, legally or
illegally, and later being deported.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Public O ld-A ge P en sio n s in A u stralia and N ew Zealand?
A L ist of R e fe r e n c e s1
Compiled by
L aura
A.
T h o m p s o n , L ib r a r ia n ,
U. S.
D epa r tm en t of L abor
In Australia and New Zealand old-age pensions, as originally enacted into law
and as at present in operation, are on a noncontributory basis, although in both
countries there have been recent recommendations looking towards a change to
a contributory plan. The first law to be passed was that of New Zealand, which
in 1898 provided for an annual pension of £18 to persons 65 years of age and
over who had had 25 years’ continuous residence in the country and who met
certain personal requirements. The law as amended in subsequent years
now forms part of the consolidated pensions act, 1926. Under its provisions
old-age pensions may be paid to males at 65 years of age and to females at 60
years or over except in cases where the applicant is a parent of two or more
dependent children under 15 years when the pension may begin 5 years earlier.
Aliens, Maoris, and Asiatics are excluded. The residence requirement of 25
years permits a certain amount of absence from the country and makes special
provision for seamen. The yearly income of the applicant, if single, must not
exceed £97 10s. ($474.48) and, if married, £143 ($695.91) and the net value of
accumulated property, other than the house in which he resides, must be under
£460 ($2,238.59). The maximum pension of £45 10s. ($221.42) Is reducible by
£1 ($4.87) for every complete £1 of income in excess of £52 ($253.06), for every
complete £10 of accumulated property and for every year by which the age of
the applicant is less than 65 years. Since 1910 New Zealand has had also a
voluntary system of old-age insurance in the National Provident Fund which
receives a government subsidy.
In Australia, although the Federal constitution specifically mentions “ invalid
and old-age pensions” among the laws which may be passed by the Parliament,
the first old-age pensions established were those by the States of Victoria (1901),
New South Wales (1901), and Queensland (1908). The Commonwealth inva
lidity and old-age pensions act, 1908, superseded these State laws and applies
to the entire Commonwealth, the total expense of the pensions being paid out
of Federal funds. As subsequently amended, the law provides for the payment
of pensions to males of 65 years of age (60 if totally incapacitated) and to females
of 60 years of age who do not own property in excess of £400 ($1,946.60) and who
have resided continuously in Australia for at least 20 years. The amount of the
pension is left to be fixed “ at such rate as, having regard to all the circumstances
of the case, the commissioner who determines the pension claim deems reason
able and sufficient” but may not exceed £52 ($253.06) per annum nor be at a
rate to make the pensioner’s income, together with the pension, exceed £84 10s.
($411.22) per annum.
Australia
Official Reports
A u s t r a l ia .
R oyal C om m ission on Old-age P en sion s.
Report . . . presented to both houses of Parliament. March, 1907. Lon
don, 1907. 9 pp. (Great Britain. Parliament. Papers by command,
Cd. 3341.)
A ustin C hapm an, chairm an.
Report includes review of old-age pensions in N ew South Wales, Victoria, a nd N ew Zealand.
Commission recom m ended th e establishm ent of a system of old-age pensions under th e control
of th e C om m onw ealth w ith expenses to be m et entirely b y th e Federal G overnm ent.
1
Civil service retirem ent plans are not included. For bibliography on Public Old-age Pensions in the
U nited States see M onthly L a b o r R e v i e w , June, 1926, v. 2 2 , p p. 1 4 1 4 -1 4 2 2 ; on P ublic Old-age Pensions
in C anada see F ebruary, 1929, v. 2 8, pp. 4 0 6 -4 1 1 .
260
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PUBLIC OLD-AGE PENSIONS IN AUSTRALIA
A ustra lia .
261
A ttorney-general.
Old-age pensions. Comparative table of provisions of Commonwealth bill
and certain State acts, together with the recommendations of the Royal
commission relating to rate of pensions, deductions, etc. . . . [Mel
bourne? 1908] 3 pp.
------ L aw s, statutes, etc.
•Invalid and old-age pensions act, 1908 . . . index of the act . . . regula
tions under the act . . . copy of proclamation fixing date of commence
ment of act . . . copy of proclamation of hospitals and benevolent
asylums for purposes of the act . . . copy of Gazette notice showing
division of States into districts . . . list of registrars appointed under
the act. [Melbourne, 1909] 79 pp.
T h e original act, No. 17, 1908, was am ended b y No. 3, and 21, 1909; No. 27, 1912; No. 32, 1916;
No. 22,1917; No. 22,1919; No. 53,1920; No. 15,1923; No. 27,1925; No. 44,1926. T he act as am ended
to th e end of 1923 is rep rin ted in Acts of th e Parliam ent of th e C om m onw ealth of A ustralia, 1923,
Vol. X X I, p. 145; also issued as In tern atio n al L abor Office Legislative Series, 1923, A ustralia 7.
------ P arliam en t.
Parliamentary debates, 1908C onsult th e indexes of th e volumes for th e debates during the passage of the invalid and old-age
pensions act, 1908, and of th e am endm ents in 1909, 1912, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1925, and 1926.
------ B ureau of Census an d S ta tistics.
Official yearbook of the Commonwealth of Australia, 19081908-'
Melbourne,
C ontains each year, statistics of n um ber of pensions granted and cost, sum m aries of am end
m ents adopted, etc. See particularly Nos. 3-8 for th e history of old-age pensions in Australia.
------------- Old-age and invalid pensions. Report on extent of the granting of,
in Australia, by G. H. Knibbs, commonwealth statistician . . . [Melbourne,
1913]
------
6 pp.
D epartm en t of the T reasu ry.
[Circular to magistrates . . . regarding special allowance to blind persons
who are not yet qualified to receive invalid or old-age pensions] Mel
bourne, 1911. 2 leaves.
------ -—— Invalid and old-age pensions. Statement in accordance with section
54 of the invalid and old-age pensions act, 1910-11 to 1926-27 . . . [Mel
bourne and Canberra, 1911-1927]
R eport for 1926-27 shows 133,234 persons as in receipt of pensions on June 30, 1927, or 218 pensioners
in each 10,000 of th e population. S e e sum m ary table, page 10 of th is report, for num ber of pensions
granted 1910-1927 a n d to tal cost.
Brief sum m aries in M o n th ly L abor Review, M arch, 1925, v. 20, p. 634; M ay, 1926, v. 22, p. 1035; M ay,
1927, v. 24, pp. 970-972; M ay, 1928, v. 26, p. 1089.
------ R oyal C om m ission on N a tio n a l Insurance.
Reports of the royal commission on national insurance . . .
1925-1927] 4 v. incl. tables.
[Melbourne,
C o n t e n t s .—1st report: Casual sickness, p erm anent in validity, m aternity, old age. 2d report:
U nem ploym ent. 3d report: D estitu te allowances. 4th and final report: M em bership, finance,
and adm inistration.
“ Statistics indicate th a t of every 100 people b o m in A ustralia approxim ately 50 will be living at
age 65_, and of these, 16 representing 32 per cent of th e survivors a t th a t age and 16 per cent of those
born in A ustralia, w ill be claim ants for th e old-age pension.” (F irst Progress R eport, p. 22.)
T h e commission found th a t this proportion had varied very slightly during the years th e old-age
pension act h ad been in operation and showed th e need of adequate superannuation benefits in
any scheme of n ational insurance. T h e commission recom m ended th e establishm ent of a compre
hensive national insurance fund, on a com pulsory basis, th e cost to be shared b y the Com m on
w ealth, em ployers, and insured persons.
“ C onspectus of acts relating to old-age, in v alid ity and survivors’ benefits in various coun
tries,” in F irst Progress R eport, pp. 45-53.
N ew S outh W ales . P arliam en t. L egislative A ssem bly. Select Com m ittee on
Old-age P en sion s.
Report from the Select committee on old-age pensions; together with the
proceedings of the committee, minutes of evidence and appendix. Syd
ney, Charles Potter, 1896. 14, 122 pp.
T h e com m ittee recom m ended a system of old-age pensions of 10 shillings per week for every
person above 60 years who h ad been a resident of N ew South W ales for 15 years and whose income .
did no t exceed £50 per annum .
A ppendix includes th e report of th e N ew Zealand P arliam entary C om m ittee on Old-Age
Pensions, 1894.
—— C om m issioner on old-age pensions and charitable relief.
Report on old-age pensions, charitable relief and state insurance in England
and on the continent of Europe, by Lieut. Col. J. C. Neild, M. P.,
New South Wales commissioner . . . Sydney, 1898. 515 p.
Recom m endations for N ew South Wales: pp. 449-473.
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262
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
L aw s, statutes, etc.
N ew South W ales.
Old-age pensions act, No. 74, 1900; and regulations.
[Sydney, 1901] 29 pp.
----- C entral B oard on O ld A ge P en sion s.
Old-age pensions (Report of the central board for the year 1901-02). Sydney,
1903. 16 pp.
A f u ll a c c o u n t o f t h e w o r k in g o f t h e N e w S o u th W a le s a c t d u r i n g t h e f ir s t y e a r o f o p e r a t io n .
F o r s t a t i s t i c s fo r l a t e r y e a r s ( to t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e F e d e r a l a c t in 1908), see T h e O fficial Y e a r B o o k
o f N e w S o u th W a le s , 1904-05 to 1908-09.
V ic t o r ia .
S ta tis t’s Office.
Statistical register of the State of Victoria, 1901-1909.
1910.
Melbourne, 1902-'
C o m m o n w e a lt h G o v e r n m e n t to o k o v e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of o ld -a g e p e n s io n s J u l y 1, 1909.
F o r t a b l e s h o w in g o ld -a g e p e n s io n s p a i d b y V ic to r ia , 1901-1908/09 see S ta t is tic a l R e g i s t e r , 1909,
p . 344.
Books and Pamphlets
C anada.
D epartm en t of Labour.
Old-age pension systems existing in various countries. Issued as a supple
ment to the Labour Gazette, March, 1926. Ottawa, 1926. 15 pp.
A u s t r a li a , p . 5.
----- P arliam en t. H ouse of Com m ons.
An old-age pensions system for Canada. Proceedings of the special commit
tee appointed to make an inquiry into an old-age pension system for
Canada. Ottawa, 1924. 99 pp. (Appendix No. 4, 1924.)
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s in A u s t r a li a (in c lu d e s s u m m a r y o f c o n s o li d a te d a c t o f 1908-1923), p p . 24-32.
C l a r k , V i c t o r S.
The Labour Movement in Australasia; A Study in Social Democracy.
York, H. Holt & Co., 1906. 327 pp.
New
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s , p p . 113-115.
See also U . S . B u r e a u o f L a b o r B u l l e t i n N o .‘ 56, J a n u a r y , 1905, p p . 162-1G4.
E p s t e in , A b r a h a m .
The Challenge of the Aged.
New York, Vanguard Press, 1928.
P e n s io n s y s t e m s a b r o a d : A u s t r a li a , p p . 219, 220, 301-307.
“ F a c i n g O ld A g e ,” 1922, p p . 320-322.
J.
Advanced Australia.
435 pp.
See also h is e a rlie r b o o k e n t itl e d
G a l lo w a y , W il l ia m
London, Methuen & Co., 1899.
196 pp.
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s in p r a c t ic e , p p . 134-145; N e w S o u th W a le s , p p . 188, 189.
G rea t B r it a in .
T reasu ry.
O ld A ge P en sion s Com m ittee.
Old-age pensions. Report and Minutes of Evidence.
(Cmd. 410, 411.)
London, 1919.
2 v.
T e s t i m o n y o f W . H . C o o k a n d m e m o r a n d u m p r e p a r e d b y I n te lli g e n c e d e p a r t m e n t of t h e
L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t B o a r d o n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s i n C o m m o n w e a lt h o f A u s t r a li a , p p . 66-74 of
M i n u t e s o f E v i d e n c e (§1577-1842).
M assachusetts.
C om m ission on O ld A ge P en sion s, A n n u itie s and Insurance.
Report, January, 1910.
Boston, 1910.
409 pp.
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s i n A u s t r a li a , p p . 108-116.
See also R e p o r t o f t h e C o m m is s io n o n O ld A g e P e n s io n s , N o v e m b e r 1925, p p . 225-227.
H.
Australian Social Development. New York, Columbia University, 1918.
302 pp. (Columbia University Studies in history, economics and public
law, v. 81, No. 2, Whole No. 189.)
N orthcott, C larence
O ld -a g e a n d i n v a l i d i t y p e n s io n s , p p . 200-202.
O ld-age P e n s io n s ;
1903.
247 pp.
A
C o l l e c t io n of S h o r t P a p e r s .
London, Macmillan Co.,
“ O ld -a g e p e n s io n s i n A u s t r a l i a , ” b y C . S. L o c h , p p . 222-231.
P e n n sy l v a n ia .
Old A ge P en sion s C om m ission.
Report on old-age pensions, January, 1927.
Harrisburg,- Pa., 1927.
253 pp.
P e n s io n s s y s t e m s a b r o a d : A u s t r a l i a , p p . 137-141.
See also R e p o r t o f O ld A g e P e n s io n s C o m m is s io n , 1919, p p . 263-265.
R e e v e s , W il l ia m P e m b e r .
State experiments in Australia and New Zealand.
London, Richards, 1902.
T h e s e c tio n o n 1‘ P e n s io n L a w s o f N e w S o u th W a le s a n d V ic t o r ia ” (v . 2, p p . 281-300) c o v e rs t h e
h i s t o r y o f t h e a c ts a n d p o p u l a r o p in i o n o n t h e i r o p e r a t io n .
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P U B L IC O L D -A G E P E N S IO N S IN N E W
ZEA LA N D
263
P. T e c u m s e h .
Old-age pensions. Experience in Denmark, New Zealand,. Australia, France
and Great Britain. Criticism of similar plan advocated for enactment by
State legislatures. New York, 1923. 17 pp.
Sherman,
R e p o r t m a d e t o t h e C o m m itt e e o n p e n s io n s , W e lf a r e d e p a r t m e n t , N a t i o n a l C iv ic F e d e r a t i o n .
S u t h e r l a n d , W il l ia m .
Old-age Pensions, in Theory and Practice, With Some Foreign Examples
. . . London, Methuen & Co. [1907] 227 pp.
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s i n A u s t r a l i a n c o lo n ie s o f N e w S o u th W a le s a n d V ic to r ia , p p . 209-211.
It.
The Commonwealth of Australia.
355 pp.
W ise , B ernhard
Boston, Little Brown & Co., 1909.
“ O ld -a g e a n d i n v a l i d i t y p e n s io n s ,” p p . 325-328.
Periodical Articles
A u str a lia n O ld-a ge P e n sio n S ystem E x t e n d e d .
Outlook, Nov. 5, 1910, v. 96, p. 530.
C ost of O ld-a g e P e n s io n s an d M a t e r n it y A l l o w a n c e s in A u s t r a l ia .
Monthly Labor Review, May, 1927, v. 24, pp. 970-972.
S u m m a r y o f s t a t i s t i c s fo r 1925.
See also M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w , M a y , 1928, v . 26,. p . 1089.
I n v a l id a n d O ld- a g e P e n s io n s in A u s t r a l ia .
Labour Gazette (Canada), August, 1927, v. 27, p. 832.
I n c l u d e s b r ie f c o m p a r is o n w i t h C a n a d i a n a c t p a s s e d i n 1927.
Provisions of bill to provide for old age and
disability.
Labour Gazette (Canada), November, 1928, v. 28, pp. 1214, 1215.
N a t io n a l I n s u r a n c e in A u s t r a l ia :
O ld-age P e n sio n s in A u str a la sia .
American Monthly Review of Reviews, February, June, 1901, v. 23, pp.
230, 231, 724.
O ld-age P e n sio n s in A u str a la sia .
Nation, Feb. 1, 1906, v. 82, pp. 96, 97.
O ld-ag e P e n sio n s in A u str a lia .
Independent, Oct. 4, 1906, v. 61, pp. 834, 835.
O ld-age P e n sio n s in A u str a lia .
Spectator (London), Sept. 22, 1906, v. 97, pp. 392, 393.
P u b l ic P r o v is io n f o r A ged D e p e n d e n t s .
Monthly Labor Review, June, 1926, v. 22, pp. 1177-1185.
I n c l u d e s b r ie f s t a t e m e n t o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s y s t e m .
R e e v e s , W il l ia m P e m b e r .
Old-age pensions in New South Wales and Victoria.
Empire Review, 1901, v. I, pp. 420-428.
New Zealand
Official Reports
N ew Zealand.
P arliam en t.
Report of old-age pensions committee (appointed by the House of Repre
sentatives), September 27, 1894.
R e p r i n t e d i n N e w S o u t h W a le s S e le c t C o m m itt e e o n O ld -A g e P e n s io n s , R e p o r t , 1896,
A p p e n d ix , p p . 84-91.
C o m m itt e e r e c o m m e n d e d e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f o ld -a g e p e n s io n s y s t e m fo r p e r s o n s 65 y e a r s a n d o v e r
“ if a p r a c t ic a b le m e t h o d fo r p r o v id i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y f u n d s c a n b e d e v i s e d .” R e c o m m e n d e d a
r o y a l c o m m is s io n t o s t u d y t h e q u e s ti o n i n d e t a i l .
------------- Parliamentary debates.
1894-
Wellington, 1894-
C o n s u l t t h e in d e x o f t h e v o lu m e s . T h e o ld -a g e p e n s io n b i l l w a s f ir s t in t r o d u c e d b y t h e S n e d d e n
g o v e r n m e n t i n 1896. A d o p te d i n a m e n d e d f o r m i n 1898 a f t e r a lo n g d e b a t e w h ic h e n d e d i n a c o n
t i n u o u s s e s s io n o f 90 h o u r s . See also d e b a te s o n a m e n d m e n t s , 1900, a n d l a t e r s e s sio n s.
------ L aw s, statutes, etc.
Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to old age and other pen
sions (No. 56, Stat. 1926). Wellington, 1926.
C o n s o lid a tio n o f p r e v i o u s e n a c t m e n t s ( f ir s t a c t p a s s e d i n 1898 w a s a t e m p o r a r y a r r a n g e m e n t
fo r a p e r io d o f t h r e e y e a r s . M a d e p e r m a n e n t i n 1900).
S u m m a r y i n N e w Z e a la n d O ffic ia l Y e a r b o o k , 1928, p . 626, F u l l t e x t r e p r i n t e d a s I n t e r n a t i o n a l
L a b o r O ffice L e g is la t iv e S e rie s, 1926— N . Z . 3.
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N
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Z
e w
e a l a n d
.
C ensus and S ta tistic s Office.
New Zealand official yearbook, 1S98-
Wellington, 1898-
C o n ta in s , e a c h y e a r , a s e c t io n o n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s g iv in g s t a t i s t i c s a s to n u m b e r g r a n t e d , c o s t, e t c .,
a lso s u m m a r ie s o f t h e a m e n d m e n t s t o t h e la w . T h e 1928 y e a r b o o k ( p p . 626, 627) c o n t a in s a s u m m a r y
of t h e c o n s o li d a te d p e n s io n s a c t, 1926. M o n t h l y c u r r e n t s t a t i s t i c s a r e c o n t a in e d i n t h e M o n t h l y
A b s t r a c t o f S t a t i s t i c s p u b l i s h e d b y t h e s a m e office.
—— P en sion s D ept.
Annual report, 14th-30th, 1911-12 to 1927-28.
Wellington, 1912-1928.
I n 1913 t h e v a r i o u s e n a c t m e n t s r e l a ti n g t o p e n s io n s w e r e c o n s o li d a te d a n d p la c e d u n d e r a p e n s io n s
d e p a r t m e n t . R e p o r t fo r y e a r e n d i n g M a r c h 31, 1928, s h o w s 24,875 p e r s o n s i n r e c e ip t o f o ld -a g e p e n
s io n s o f a n n u a l v a l u e o f £ 1 ,038,249.
S u m m a r ie s o f r e c e n t r e p o r t s i n M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w , N o v e m b e r , 1925, v . 21, p p . 1104, 1105;
O c to b e r, 1926, v . 23, p . 918; D e c e m b e r , 1927, v . 25, p p . 1274-1276.
—— N a tio n a l P rovident F und.
Annual report. 1st- 1911-
Wellington, 1912-
T h i s f u n d , e s ta b lis h e d b y la w i n 1910, p r o v id e s fo r a v o l u n t a r y s y s t e m o f in s u r a n c e o p e n to a n y
p e r s o n b e t w e e n 16 a n d 50 y e a r s o f a g e , r e s i d e n t i n N e w Z e a la n d , w h o s e a v e r a g e in c o m e d u r i n g t h e
th r e e y e a r s p r io r t o jo i n in g h a s n o t e x c e e d e d £ 3 0 0 p e r a n n u m . I n c l u d e s a m o n g o t h e r b e n e f i ts a
w e e k l y p e n s io n a t 60 y e a r s o f a g e a c c o r d in g t o t h e s c a le o f c o n t r i b u t i o n s . T h e f u n d r e c e iv e s a G o v e r n
m e n t s u b s i d y , a m o u n t i n g t o o n e - f o u r th o f t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s p a i d in . S u m m a r y of s t a t i s t i c s i n N e w
Z e a la n d O ffic ia l Y e a r b o o k , 1911 t o d a t e .
-------------Actuarial examination.
[Wellington, 1916-]
R e p o r t o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t a c t u a r y fo r t h e t r i e n n i u m e n d e d D e c e m b e r 31,1925 (1928) in c lu d e s s t a t i s t i c s
o f r e t i r i n g a llo w a n c e s .
Books and Pamphlets
C anada.
D epartm ent of Labour.
Old-age pension systems existing in various countries. Issued as a supple
ment to the Labour Gazette, March, 1926. Ottawa, 1926. 15 pp.
N e w Z e a la n d , p p . 5, 6.
------ P a rliam en t. H ouse of Com m ons.
An old-age pension system for Canada. Proceedings of the special com
mittee appointed to make an enquiry into an old-age pension system for
Canada. Ottawa, 1924. 99 pp. (Appendix No. 4, 1924.)
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s i n N e w Z e a la n d , p p . 32-37.
E p s t e in , A br aham .
The Challenge of the Aged.
New York, Vanguard Press, 1928.
435 pp.
P e n s io n s y s t e m s a b r o a d : N e w Z e a la n d , p p . 388-395.
See also h i s e a r l ie r w o r k “ F a c i n g O ld A g e ,” N e w Y o r k , 1922, p p . 332-335.
G reat
B r it a in .
T reasu ry.
Old-age pensions (New Zealand and Germany) . . . memorandum on the
old-age pensions scheme in force in New Zealand and the scheme of
insurance against invalidity and old age in force in the German Em
pire . . . London, 1908. 7 pp. (Parliament, 1908. H. of C. Repts.
and Papers 159.)
------------ - Old A ge P en sion s Com m ittee.
Old-age pensions. Report and Minutes of Evidence. London, 1919. 2 v.
(Cmd. 410, 411.)
T e s t i m o n y o f W . P e m b e r R e e v e s a n d m e m o r a n d u m o f I n te lli g e n c e d e p a r t m e n t o f L o c a l G o v e r n
m e n t B o a r d o n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s i n N e w Z e a la n d , p p . 35-42 o f M i n u t e s of E v i d e n c e (se c s. 831-959).
H.
The “ Socialism” of New Zealand.
Association, 1916. 155 pp.
H u t c h in so n , R o bert
New York, New Review Publishing
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s , p p . 81-88; N a t i o n a l P r o v i d e n t F u n d , p p . 98-101.
I r v in e , R o b er t F r a n c is.
The Progress of New Zealand in the Century. Philadelphia, Linscott
Publishing Co., 1902. 460 pp. (Nineteenth century series, v. 12.)
I n c l u d e s ( p p . 325-330) b r ie f a c c o u n t o f t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e N e w Z e a la n d a c t a n d a n a n a ly s is o f i t s
p r o v is io n s .
Le
J. E. and S t e w a r t , W. D.
State Socialism in New Zealand. New York, Crowell, 1910.
R o s s ig No l ,
311 pp.
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s , p p . 179-196.
L u sk , H ugh H.
Social Welfare in New Zealand.
287 pp.
New York, Sturgis & Walton, 1913.
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s , p p . 99-105.
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P U B L IC O L D -A G E P E N S IO N S IN N E W ZEA LA N D
O ld- age
P e n sio n s; a
Co., 1903.
C o l l e c t io n
of
Short
P apers.
265
London, Macmillan
247 pp.
“ O ld -a g e p e n s io n s i n N e w Z e a la n d ,” b y W . S . A ld is , p p . 232-239; “ O ld -a g e p e n s io n s in N e w
Z e a l a n d , ” b y W . A . B a i l w a r d , p p . 240-247.
M assachusetts.
C om m ission on Old-age P en sion s, A n n u itie s and Insurance.
Report, January 1910.
Boston, 1910.
409 pp.
O ld -a g e s y s t e m s : N e w Z e a la n d , p p . 106-108.
See also R e p o r t o n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s , N o v e m b e r , 1925, p p . 241, 242.
P arsons, F ran k.
The Story of New Zealand; A history of New Zealand from the earliest
times to the present, with special reference to the political, industrial and
social development . . . Philadelphia, C. F. Taylor, 1904. 836 pp.
T h e c h a p t e r o n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s ( p p . 442-466) c o n t a in s a s u m m a r y o f t h e d is c u s s io n s i n P a r
li a m e n t d u r i n g t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e a c t, a n a n a ly s is o f i t s p r o v is io n s a n d a b r ie f a c c o u n t o f i t s e a rly
o p e r a t io n . See also A p p e n d ix , p p . 790-798, fo r a n a n a ly s is of v a r i o u s o ld -a g e p e n s io n s c h e m e s .
P e n n s y l v a n ia .
Old-age P en sion s C om m ission.
Report of the Pennsylvania Commission on Old-age Pensions, January, 1927.
Harrisburg, Pa., 1927. 253 pp.
P e n s io n s y s t e m s a b r o a d : N e w Z e a la n d , p p . 223-229.
See also R e p o r t o f O ld -a g e P e n s io n s C o m m is s io n , 1919, p p . 269, 270.
R e e v e s , W il l ia m
P ember.
State experiments in Australia and New Zealand.
London, Richards, 1902.
T h e c h a p t e r o n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s in N e w Z e a la n d (v . 2, p p . 243-281) g iv e s t h e p a r l i a m e n t a r y
h i s t o r y o f t h e a c t a n d a n a c c o u n t of i t s e a r l y o p e r a t io n i n c lu d in g c r itic is m s .
R o g ers, F r e d e r ic k .
Old-age pensions: Are they desirable and practicable? Pro—Frederick
Rogers, Con—Frederick Miller. London, Isbister & Co., 1903. 226 pp.
“ E x p e r ie n c e i n B r i t i s h c o lo n ie s ” , p p . 171-196.
S u t h e r l a n d , W il l ia m .
Old-age Pensions in Theory and Practice With Some Foreign Examples.
London, Methuen & Co., 1907. 227 pp
O ld -a g e p e n s io n s in N e w Z e a la n d , p p . 202-208.
Periodical Articles
A l d is , W . St e a d m a n .
Old-age pensions in New Zealand.
Charity Organization Review, September, 1899, v. 6 pp. 122-128.
F a i r c l o u g h , P. W.
Old-age pensions in New Zealand.
New Century Review, March, 1900, v. 7, pp. 194-198.
L u s k , H. H.
Old-age pensions in New Zealand.
Harpers Weekly, Aug. 5, 1899, v. 43, p. 781.
M o n t g o m e r y , W. H.
Old-age pensions in New Zealand.
Canadian Magazine, February, 1899, v. 12, pp. 296-301.
T he
N ew
Z ea la n d in n o v a t io n .
Spectator, Oct. 15, 1898, v. 81, pp. 516, 517.
O ld-age pen sio n s in N e w Z ea la n d .
Independent, Oct. 27, 1898, v. 50, p. 1211; Nov. 5, 1903, v. 55, p. 2652.
O ld-age pe n sio n s in
N ew
Zealand.
Outlook, Nov. 19, 1898, v. 60, p. 703; Mar. 11, 1899, v. 61, p. 576.
P e n sio n s and P en sio n E x p e n d it u r e in N ew Z e a la n d .
Monthly Labor Review, December, 1927, v. 25, pp. 1274-1276.
S u m m a r y o f t h e r e p o r t o f t h e P e n s io n s d e p a r t m e n t fo r t h e y e a r e n d e d M a r c h 31, 1927.
R e e v e s , W il l ia m P e m b e r .
The New Zealand old-age pensions act.
National Review, February, 1899, v. 32, pp. 818-825.
T u r n e r , M rs. V i c t o r i a B.
Labor conditions and legislation in New Zealand.
Monthly Labor Review, December, 1921, v. 13, pp. 1179-1193.
P e n s io n s a n d s u p e r a n n u a t i o n f u n d s , p p . 1190-1193.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
Official—United States
C o n n e c t i c u t .— Board
of Compensation Commissioners.
ing years 1 9 2 7 -1 9 2 8 .
H artford, 1928.
30 p p .
N in th report, cover
(P u blic docum ent N o. 58.)
A statement from this report is quoted in this issue.
of Labor. Tenth annual report, J u ly 1, 1926, to J u n e 30,
I l l i n o i s .— Department
1927; statistics of in d u stria l accidents and bu ildin g statistics, J a n u a ry 1, 1926,
to December 31, 1926. S prin gfield, 1928. 129 p p .
That portion of the report dealing with industrial accidents is noted in this
issue.
M a s s a c h u s e t t s .— Department of Labor and Industries.
Tw enty-seventh annual
directory of labor organ ization s in M assachusetts, 1928 (labor bulletin N o. 15If).
Boston, 1928. 79 p p.
----- Special Commission on the Necessaries of Life.
Boston, 1928.
R eport, J a n u a ry , 1928.
132 p p .; diagram s.
N e b r a s k a .— Compensation
Survey Commission.
R eport.
L in coln , 1928.
24
pp.
Report of commission authorized by the forty-fourth session of the Nebraska
Legislature to make a study of the State compensation law. Certain of the com
mission’s findings and recommendations are given in this issue of the Labor
Review.
N o r t h D a k o t a .— Workmen’s Compensation Bureau.
N in th an n u al report,
fo r the fiscal year ending J u n e 30, 1928.
Bis??iarck, [1928].
26 p p .
A statement of the assets and liabilities and receipts and disbursements of the
State compensation fund, taken from this report, is given in this issue of the
Review.
P e n n s y l v a n i a .— Department of Labor and Industry.
S p e c ia l bulletin N o. 24:
E m p loym en t flu ctu ation s in P en n sylvan ia, 1921 to 1927, by J . Frederic D ewhurst. H arrisbu rg, 1928. 192 p p .; charts.
------ -—-— S p ecia l bulletin N o. 25: The D epartm ent of Labor and In d u stry — its
organ ization an d operation.
H arrisburg, 1928.
56 p p .
------------- S p ecia l bulletin N o. 26: M igratory child workers and school attendance.
H arrisburg, 1928.
20 p p .
Reviewed in this issue.
—— Department of Mines.
R eport. P a rt 1— A nthracite, 1 9 2 3 -1 9 2 6 . H a rris
burg, 1927. 104 and 110 p p . P a rt I I — B itu m in ou s, 1 9 2 3 -2 6 . H arrisburg,
1927. 779 p p . 2 vols.
These volumes include data on fatal accidents in anthracite and bituminous
coal mines, number of employees classified by occupation, and production. The
data on fatal accidents include figures on disasters in which five or more persons
were killed in anthracite mines from 1847 to 1926, and in bituminous coal mines,
from 1884 to 1926, by date, mine, and cause of accident.
S o u t h D a k o t a . —Industrial department. Eleventh an n u al report, fo r the twelve
m onths ending J u n e 30, 1928.
P ierre, 1928.
52 pp.
Data showing the number of injuries occurring to specified classes of workers,
taken from this report, are given in this issue of the Labor Review.
W e s t V i r g i n i a .—Workmen’s Compensation Commissioner.
Official p re lim in a ry
report covering the fiscal year * * * ending J u n e 30, 1928. Charleston,
1928.
20 p p .
A statement of the financial condition bf the State workmen’s compensation
fund, taken from this report, is given in this issue of the Labor Review.
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P U B L IC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G TO L A B O R
W i s c o n s i n . — Board
1928.
of Control.
Old age pensions in W iscon sin , 1927.
M a d iso n ,
13 p p.
Certain of the more important findings of this study are given in this issue.
S t a t e s . —Civil Service Commission.
Forty-fifth an n u al report, fo r the
U n ited
fiscal yea r ended J u n e 30, 1928.
W ashington, 1928.
134- p p.
On June 30, 1928, there were 568,715 employees in the entire executive civil
service, of whom 61,388 were employed in the District of Columbia. During
the year there was an increase of 9,577 in the total number of employees in the
service, the postal service accounting for 2,195 of the increase. The latter
service had 54.67 per cent of the total number employed. Employees retired on
account of age numbered 1,738, as compared with 1,904 in the preceding fiscal
year.
------ Department of Commerce. Bureau of Fisheries. D ocum ent N o. 1043:
S callop in d u stry of N orth C arolina, by J am es S . Gutsell. W ashington, 1928.
25 p p . (A p p e n d ix V to the report of the U. S. C om m issioner of F isheries fo r
1928.)
Data on prices and earnings taken from this pamphlet are given in this issue.
—— Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bui. N o. 487: M in i
m um wage legislation in various countries, by R u dolf Broda.
1928. 125 p p .
W ashington,
Reviewed in this issue.
------------- B u lletin N o. 483: C onditions in the shoe in d u stry in H averhill, M a ss.,
1928.
W ashington, 1929.
107 p p .; charts.
This report was summarized in the Labor Review for February, 1929 (pp. 1-20).
----------- - Children’s Bureau. P u blication N o. 185: C hild labor in N ew J e r s e y P a rt 2: Children engaged in in d u stria l home work.
W ashington, 1928.
62 p p .
Reviewed in this issue.
------------- Women’s Bureau.
B u lletin N o. 65: The effects of labor legislation
on the em ploym ent opportu n ities of women. W ashington, 1928. xx, 495 p p .;
charts.
A summary of the findings of this investigation and the conclusions reached
by the Women’s Bureau was published in the Labor Review for November,
1928 (pp. 41-52).
------ Government Printing Office. A n n u a l report of the P u blic P rin ter, 1928.
W ashington, [1929?].
128 pp.
Data on wage rates in the Government Printing Office, taken from this report,
are published in this issue.
------Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Statistics. F orty-first
annual report on the statistics of ra ilw a y s in the U n ited States, fo r the year
ended December 31, 1927, in clu din g also selected data relating to other common
carriers subject to the interstate commerce act fo r the year 1927. W ashington,
1928. cx, 274 p p .
Includes the customary tables on employees and their compensation.
—----Treasury Department. Public Health Service. A n n u a l report of the
Surgeon General fo r the fiscal year 1928.
W ashington, 1928.
346 p p .
The work of the division of industrial hygiene and sanitation during the past
year included the continuation of various studies which had been started earlier,
such as the hazards from tetraethyl lead, the health hazards of dusty trades,
and the loss of light due to smoke in New York City. Other studies include
investigation of the carbon monoxide gas hazard from automobiles, streets, and
shops; benzol poisoning among chemical laboratory workers; lead poisoning in
the manufacture of storage batteries; and ventilation and illumination studies.
Summaries of most of the studies which have been published have appeared in
different issues of the Labor Review.
35895°—29-
-1S
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
U n it ed S tates —Treasury Department.
Public Health Service. P u b lic H ealth
B u lletin N o. 1 7 7 :, Efficiencies of p a in te rs’ respirators filterin g lead p a in t, benzol,
an d vitreous enam el sp ra y s. W ashington, 1928. 27 p p .; diagram s, Ulus.
Tests were made of the efficiencies of 12 different types of respirators in pro
tecting spray painters from the different materials used in the paints. It was
found that respirators with cotton, paper, or fabric filters remove 90 or more
per cent of the lead from air carrying paint mist but these respirators do not
restrain any of the solvent vapors. The addition of a canister or cartridge of
activated charcoal removes all solvent vapors until the charcoal becomes satu
rated, when fresh filters must be substituted. The respirators were somewhat
less efficient against the silica-dust sprays but they restrained from 24 to 50 per
cent of the dust from the air passing through them.
O fficial— F oreign C o u n tries
A ustralia .— Bureau of Census and Statistics.
Tasmania Branch.
of the S tate of T a sm a n ia fo r the year 19 2 6 -2 7 .
p agin g .]
[Hobart?], 1928.
S ta tistic s
[V ariou s
Includes data on production, number of farm workers, number and compen
sation of workers in different manufacturing industries, and friendly societies.
A ustria .— Gewerbe-Inspektorat. D ie A m tstä tig k eit der G ew erbe-Inspektor ate im
Jah re 1927.
V ien n a, 1928.
Ixxiv, 178 p p ., illu s.
Annual report of the Austrian factory inspection department for the year,
1927.
B ulgaria .— Direction Générale de la Statistique. S ta tistiq u e des coopératives
sans le R oyau m e de B u lgarie en 1924.
Sofia, 1928.
x iii, 156 p p .
Data on kinds of cooperative societies and composition of membership, and de
tailed information as to the balance sheet, including capital, deposits, resources
and liabilities, profit and loss, etc., for the year 1924.
C anada (Q uebec ).-—Department of Public Works and Labor. General report fo r
the year ending J u n e 30, 1928.
Quebec, 1928.
140 p p ., illu s.
In the section under the heading “Reasonable wages” the deputy minister of
labor reports that contractors know that it is advantageous to them to pay the
wages prevailing on work for the provincial government and that no complaints
regarding wages were received during the year reviewed.
F inlan d .—Socialministeriet. O lycksfallen i arbetet, âr 1925. H elsingfors, 1928.
94 p p .
(A rbetssta tistik A , 22.)
Report on accidents to workers in Finland and compensation therefor in 1925.
G reat B ritain . —-Mines Department. Safety in Mines Research Board.
P a p er N o. 4%'- F iredam p explosions— the projection of flam e, P a rt I I , by
M . J . Burgess. London, 1928. 8 p p ., illu s.
This paper relates to the projection of the flame of an explosion beyond the
original confines of the explosive mixture.
•-------------------- P a p e r N o. 45: The su p p o rt o f underground w orkings in the coal
fields of the South M id la n d s an d the S outh of E ngland.
diagram s, illu s.
London, 1928.
86 p p .;
■
-------------------- P a p e r N o. 45: The ign ition of firedam p by the heat of im p a c t of
rocks, by M . J . Burgess and R . V . W heeler. L ondon, 1928. 25 p p ., illu s.
A study of the ignition of firedamp in coal mines by the heat generated by
the impact of rocks occasioned by a fall of roof. It was found that ignition is
most liable to occur when a large mass of rock falls some distance and glides
along the sharp edge of another piece or when a mass of falling roof causes the
gliding of two surfaces against each other under great pressure.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
I ndia .—Department of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics.
S tatistica l
abstract fo r B ritish In d ia w ith statistics, where available, relating to certain
In d ia n S tates, fro m 1 9 1 7 -1 8 to 1 9 2 6 -2 7 . C alcutta, 1928. 721 p p .
Includes retail and wholesale prices and statistics of cooperative societies and
of railway accidents.
------ (B urma). —Labor Statistics Bureau.
R eport of an in q u iry into the standard
and cost of livin g of the working classes in Rangoon. Rangoon, 1928. 221 p p .;
charts.
That part of the report which deals with the family budgets of Burmese wage
earners is reviewed in this issue.
I nternational L abor Office .— B ibliograph y of the In tern ation al Labor O rgani
zation.
Geneva, 1928.
35 p p.
------ Forced labor— report and draft questionnaire.
(Item I I I on the agenda,
In tern ation al L abor Conference, twelfth session, Geneva, 1929, first discussion.)
Geneva, 1929. 320 pp.
------ S tu d ies an d reports, series 0 (m igration ), N o. 3: M igration law s and treaties.
Vol. I I . — Im m ig ra tio n law s and regulations.
Geneva, 1928.
Jf.86 p p .
N etherlands E ast- I n d ies . —Departement van Landbouw, Nijverheid en Han
del. Centraal Kantoor voor de Statistiek. S ta tistic a l abstract fo r the N ether
lan ds E a st-In d ie s, 1927.
in E nglish.)
W eltevreden, 1928.
xxx, 4-74
P P
■ (In Dutch and
Includes data on production, wholesale and retail prices, and wages.
P oland .—Office Central de Statistique.
P olonaise, 1928.
A n n u a ire statistiqu e de la R épublique
606 p p .; m aps.
W arsaw , 1928.
Includes statistics on emigration, the mining industry, manufacturing, prices,
the labor market, wages and salaries, industrial disputes, social insurance, and
cooperative societies.
S p a in .— Ministerio de Trabajo, Comercio e Industria. Dirección General de
Trabajo y Acción Social. E sta d ística de los accidentes del trabajo ocurridos en
el año 1926.
M a d rid , 1928.
100 p p .; m aps, charts.
This report presents the number of industrial accidents in Spain in 1922, 1923,
1924, and 1926 and contains tables showing the Provinces in which they occurred
and the sex and age of those injured as well as the severity of the accidents.
Tables taken from this report are given in this issue.
S w ed en .—Socialdepartementet. Riksfôrsàkringsanstalten. [Berâttelse], âr 1927.
Stockholm , 1928.
29 pp.
This report, on the operations of the State insurance office for 1927, gives data
regarding industrial accident insurance and other forms of State insurance.
Unofficial
A malgamated C lothing W orkers of A merica .
A greem ent between clothing
m anufacturers of N ew Y ork an d A m algam ated Clothing W orkers of A m erica
establishing an u n em ploym en t insurance fu n d . N ew Y ork, 1928. 9 p p .
The terms of this agreement were summarized in the Labor Review, September,
1928 (pp. 96, 97).
B ezanson , A n n e .
E arn in g s and w orking o p p o rtu n ity in the u pholstery weavers'
trade in 25 p la n ts in P h iladelph ia: A n experim ent in cooperative research.
P h iladelph ia, U n iversity of P en n sylvan ia P ress, 1928. xix, 131 p p .; charts.
B ournville
W orks
[B ournville ,
E ngland ].
Publication
Department.
B ournville housing: A description of the housing schemes of the Bournville
V illage T ru st and C adbury Bros. (L td .). B ournville, 1 9 2 8 ,5 6 p p .; m ap, plans.
B ouvier , J e a n n e .
L a lingerie et les lingeres.
P a ris, Gaston D oin et Cie, 1928.
392 pp.
This volume belongs to a series dealing with the social history of different trades
in France. It contains a historical summary of the development of the lingerie
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
industry and an account of the organization of workers in the different occupations,
of wages and hours of labor, and the effect of the competition of prisons and con
vents on this class of work.
C arver , A rthur H.
P ersonnel and labor problem s in the packing in d u stry.
cago, U n iversity of Chicago P ress, 1928. 226 p p .
C h i
This study deals with various management problems such as employment
methods, control of labor turnover, financial incentive plans, care of employees’
health, etc., with particular relation to these special problems in the packing
industry.
C asualty A ctuarial S ociety .
Proceedings, M a y 25, 1928.
N ew Y ork, 75 Fulton S t., 1928. 274 PP-
Vol. X I V , P a rt I I .
This volume of the proceedings of the Casualty Actuarial Society contains
addresses relative to insurance problems connected with workmen’s compensa
tion and one by I. M. Rubinow on the value of unemployment insurance in dealing
with the unemployment situation.
C onsumers ’ L eague of C inc inna ti .
Frances R. W h itn ey.
E m ploym en t agencies in C in cin n a ti, by
C in cin n ati, December, 1928. 79 p p .
Among the recommendations made by the Consumers’ League of Cincinnati,
based on the evidence secured in this survey, are : The greatest possible develop
ment of the free State-city employment service, and the legal restriction of the
number of private employment offices by providing that no additional agencies
be licensed without proof that existing offices are not meeting the requirements
of the community.
E pst ein , A braham .
1928.
The'challenge of the aged.
N ew Y ork, The V anguard P ress,
435 pp.
A survey of the whole question of old-age dependency, of the present methods
of caring for it, and of the arguments for and against a change in those methods.
An important feature is a summary of old-age pension systems in other countries.
F leischman , D oris E. A n outline of careers fo r women. N ew Y ork, D oubleday,
D oran & Co. {In c .), 1928.
514 PP-
A series of chapters covering various businesses and professions, each written
by a specialist in that particular line, outlining for each the opportunities for
success, the advantages and disadvantages, honorary and monetary rewards,
and its intrinsic difficulties as well as the special difficulties it presents to women.
F ord , H en ry .
M y ph ilosoph y of in d u stry. {A n authorized in terview by F ay
Leone Faurote.) N ew Y ork, C ow ard-M cC an n {In c .), 1929. 107 p p 0
G lay , E mile , et C ham peau , H en ry . L ’In stitu teu r.
1928.
P a ris, Gaston D oin et Cie,
538 pp.
A historical account of the development of the teaching profession, and of
legislation affecting schools and educational methods.
G onnard , R e n é .
1928.
E ssa i su r l ’histoirè de l ’ém igration.
P a ris, L ib ra irie V alois,
368 pp.
This brief review of the history of emigration from antiquity to the present
time is confined almost exclusively to the white race.
H athway , M arion .
The young c rip p le an d his job. Chicago, U n iversity of
Chicago P ress, 1928. 130 p p . {Social Service M onograph N o. 4, published
in conjunction w ith the S ocial Service Review.)
A critical examination of the facilities in Chicago for the vocational training
and placement of crippled children. The author also gives a brief account of
certain experiments in a more extended use of existing services.
H iller , E. T. The strike: A stu d y in collective action. Chicago, U n iversity of
Chicago P ress, 1928.
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304 PP-
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
271
L’I nstitut I nternational de S tatistique .
Com pte rendu de la X V I P me
session au C aire du 29 Décembre, 1927, au 5 Jan vier, 1928. C airo , Im p rim e rie
N ationale, 1928. 2 vols.
The proceedings of the seventeenth session of the International Statistical
Institute, held at Cairo, December 29, 1927, to January 5, 1928. The sessions
of the conference dealt with statistical methods, vital and social statistics as
related to race, and economic statistics.
I nternational T ypographical U nion , F acts C oncerning the . In d ia n a p o lis
[1928?].
22 p p ., illu s.
1
Data on earnings of members of the union, taken from this pamphlet, are
given in this issue.
K oung , S h ien -M in g .
Com m ent rem édier à la situ ation tragique des travailleurs
C hinois: Une assurance sociale a p p ropriée à la Chine. L ou vain , E m . Desbarax, 1927. 254 p p . (Collection de l’École des sciences politiques et sociales
de l ’ U niversité de L ouvain.)
In Part I of the volume the author discusses the social situation of workers in
China, both under the old and the modern regime. In Part II hq proposes the
organization of a social insurance system especially adapted to that country.
M ouvet , E.
O rientation professionnelle des jeu n es gens et jeunes filles.
L ib ra irie Leich, 1928. 238 p p .
M ons
A study of the occupational guidance of young persons. There is a descrip
tion of the characteristics, both physical and mental, which make for success in
the principal occupations in a variety of industries and also a list of conditions
which disqualify a worker for a particular occupation.
N ational I ndustrial C onference B oard (I nc .).
conditions.
N ew Y ork, 247 P a rk A venue, 1928.
A pictu re of w orld economic
119 p p .
N ational R ailways of M exico .
N ineteenth report, for the fiscal period from
J u ly 1, 1926, to December 31, 1927. [M exico C ity, 1928.] 144 p p .; m ap.
Wages of Mexican railway workers in 1926 and 1927, taken from this report,
are given in this issue.
P rinceton U niversity .
In d u s tria l R elatio n s Section.
R ules and fin an cial pro
Princeton, N . J ., 1928. 38 p p . [M im
vision s o f in d u stria l pension plan s.
eographed.]
R ussell S age F oundation .
D irectory of train in g courses fo r recreation leaders,
com piled by M argu erita P . W illia m s and Lee F. H anm er. N ew Y ork, 1928
59 p p .
This directory was compiled at the request of the National Conference on Out
door Recreation in order to ascertain thè opportunities available for the training
of both professional and volunteer workers in the field of public recreation. The
list includes more than two hundred educational institutions and recreation
agencies throughout the United States which offer courses varying from short
intensive training courses to complete college or professional school courses.
T aylor , P aul S. M exican labor in the U nited States Im p e ria l V alley. Berkeley,
U n iversity of C aliforn ia P ress, 1928.
lication s in economics, voi. 6, No. 1.)
94 p p .
( U n iversity of C aliforn ia pub
Reviewed in this issue.
T rades and L abor C ongress of C anada .
R eport of the proceedings of the fo rty fourth annual convention, held at the city of Toronto, Ont., Septem ber 10 to 14
(inclusive ), 1928. [Ottawa, 1928?] 212 p p .
A brief account of this meeting was given in the December, 1928, issue of the
Labor Review.
T wigg , H. J.
The economic advance of B ritish cooperation, 1913 to 1926.
chester, The Cooperative U nion (L td .), 1928. 96 p p .; diagram .
Certain data from this analysis are given in this issue.
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