The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
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
F r a n c e s P e r k in s , S e c r e ta r y
B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isad or L u b in , C o m m is sio n e r
+
Monthly
L ab o r R e v ie w
H u g h S. H a n n a , E d ito r
V olum e 42, N u m b er 3
M arch 1936
U N IT E D ST A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F IC E
W A S H I N G T O N : 1936
F o r s a le b y t h e S u p e r in t e n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts , W a s h in g to n , D . C . - - P r ic e 3 0 c e n t s a c o p y
S u b s c r ip tio n p r ic e p e r y e a r : U n i t e d S ta te s , C a n a d a , M e x ic o , $ 3 .50; o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , $4.75
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Published under authority of Public Resolution No. 57, approved
May 11, 1922 (42 Stat. 541), as amended by section 307, Public
Act 212,72d Congress, approved June 30,1932. This publication
approved by the Director, Bureau of the Budget.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
n
C o n ten ts
Tage
Special articles:
Wages, hours, employment, and annual earnings in the motor-vehicle
industry, 1934, by N. A. Tolies and M. W. La Fever----------------Money disbursements of wage earners and clerical workers in 11 New
Hampshire communities, by Faith Williams-----------------------------Labor requirements in cement production, by Bernard H. Topkis---Wage executions for debt: Part 2.—Characteristics of debts and
debtors, by Rolf Nugent, John E. Hamm, and Frances M. Jones__
Methods of financing workmen’s compensation administrations and
funds, by Marshall Dawson---------------------------------------------------
521
554
564
578
592
Social se c u r ity :
Old-age pensions and annuities in Canada, 1934-35----------------------Old-age pensions in Sweden, 1934----------------------------------------------
606
607
S elf-h elp m o v em en t:
Activities of federally aided self-help cooperatives during 1935--------
609
P r o d u c tiv ity o f labor:
Employment and productivity in bituminous-coal mines in 1934----Movement for labor efficiency in the Soviet Union------------------------
622
624
In d u stria l and labor con d itio n s:
Southern regional conference on labor standards--------------------------Labor provisions of Wisconsin Recovery Administration codes-------Production control in the Belgian coal industry, by Margaret H.
Schoenfeld_____________________________
627
628
632
H e a lth and in d u stria l h y g ie n e :
Disabling sickness among industrial employees in 1934-----------------Work of Union Health Center---------------------------------------------------
638
641
W o rk m en ’s com pensation :
Report of United States Employees’ Compensation Commission,
1934-35__________________________________________________
643
H o u sin g con d ition s:
New series of statistics on construction costs of small houses---------Third National Public Housing Conference______________________
647
649
E d u cation and v o c a tio n a l guidance:
Vocational training in industrial plants---------------------------------------
650
M in im u m w a g e:
Minimum-wage legislation in the United States, as of January 1, 1936.
655
Labor organ isation s:
Labor Research Institute for Toronto unions------------------------------Women in British trade-unions________________________________
667
668
In d u stria l disputes:
Trend of strikes and lockouts__________________________________
Analysis of strikes and lockouts in November 1935----------------------Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in January 1936-----Work of railway labor boards, 1934-35---------------------------------------
670
671
677
683
I n te r n a tio n a l labor c o n d itio n s:
Labor Conference of American States, Santiago, Chile, 1936, by
Warren Irvin______________________________________________
690
Labor tu r n -o v e r :
Labor turn-over in manufacturing establishments, December 1935. _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
in
695
IV
CONTENTS
Wages and h o u rs of labor:
Entrance rates paid to common labor, July 1935_________________
Average annual earnings in Ohio, 1933 and 1934_________________
Index numbers of wages per hour, 1840 to 1934__________________
Trend of real wages per hour, 1913 to 1934______________________
New York—Earnings in factories, June 1914 to December 1935____
Netherlands—Hourly earnings of male industrial workers, first half
of 1935___________________________________________________
Netherlands West Indies—Wages and cost of living______________
Sweden—Salaries of employees of opera and concert houses, Stock
holm, 1935_______________________________________
Em ploym ent offices:
Operations of the United States Employment Service, December 1935
and January 1936__________________________________________
Age of persons using services of public employment offices, year
ending June 1935__________________________________________
Length of unemployment of new applicants at public employment
offices____________________________________________________
T re n d of em ploym ent:
Summary of employment reports for January 1936_______________
Employment and pay rolls in December 1935—Revised figures:
Part I.—Private employment:
Manufacturing industries_____________________________
Trade, public utility, mining, and service industries, and
private building construction________________________
Class I railroads_____________________________________
Trend of private employment, by States________________
Private employment and pay rolls in principal cities______
Part II.—Public employment:
Executive service of the FederalGovernment_____________
Construction projects financed by Public Works Adminis
tration____________________________________________
The Works Program_________________________________
Emergency work program_____________________________
Emergency conservation work_________________________
Construction projects financed by Reconstruction Finance
Corporation_______________________________________
Construction projects financed from regular governmental
appropriations_____________________________________
State-road projects___________________________________
Building operations:
Summary of building construction reports for January 1936________
Building construction in December 1935—Revised figures:
Building construction in principal cities_____________________
Construction from public funds____________________________
R etail prices:
Food prices in January 1936_______________ ______ ____________
Electricity prices in January 1936______________________________
Gas prices in January 1936____________________________________
Coal prices in January 1936___________________________________
Wholesale prices:
Wholesale prices in January 1936______________________________
Wholesale prices in the United States and in foreign countries_____
Conference on Price Research__________________________________
R ecent publications o f labor in te re s t_____________________________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
698
706
717
719
720
721
721
722
724
734
738
741
746
766
769
770
771
773
774
780
785
786
786
787
789
790
793
801
803
813
816
820
826
833
836
838
T h is Issue in B rief
Workers in the motor-vehicle industry averaged about 70 cents 'per hour
in 1934, but because of irregularity of employment their annual earn
ings from individual plants averaged only about $900. Relatively
small additions to annual income were obtained by secondary employ
ment, it being estimated that half the workers who were employed
by motor-vehicle plants during the busy season of 1934 earned wages
of less than $947 from all types of employment during the year.
Page 521.
A survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the expenditures of wage
earners and lower-salaried clerical workers in New Hampshire covered
1,134 families in 11 representative communities. The survey showed a
striking similarity as regards the percentage distribution of expendi
tures in the different towns, but significant differences as between
families of different expenditure groups. Thus, the percentage of
total expenditure for food was about one-fourth higher in the lower
than in the higher expenditure group. Page 554.
A study of labor requirements in cement production, just made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates that for every 100 barrels of
cement delivered to the site of construction, 20.6 man-hours of labor
are created in producing and transporting the necessary raw materials,
55.0 man-hours are created in the cement mills and quarries, and
50.7 man-hours of labor are required to transport the cement from the
mill to the construction site, making a total of 126.3 hours of employ
ment for every 100 barrels of cement laid down at a construction
project. Page 564.
Debts for clothing accounted for almost half of the wage executions
served upon employees of 174 companies during a period of 3 months
covered in a recent study conducted jointly by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics and the Russell Sage Foundation (p. 578). About threefifths of the wage executions were for amounts less than $25. There
appeared to be little relation between the amount of the weekly
wage and the size of the debt for which wage execution was resorted
to. Approximately two-thirds of the wage executions in the sample
were garnishments and one-third were wage assignments.
The 215 cooperative self-help organizations aided by Federal grant
supplied their members with goods and services amounting to $1,216,647
during the first 10 months of 1935. Projects receiving Federal assist-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
YI
THIS ISSUE IN BRIEF
ance furnished 9,047,923 man-hours’ work during the same period.
Since August 1933 Federal grants to these organizations have totaled
$2,831,413, of which 57.8 percent had been spent or obligated by the
end of October 1935. It is calculated that for every $1 of Federal
money $2.50 had been obtained in benefits. A considerable number
of the members would have had to resort to relief, in the absence of
the self-help activities. It is estimated that altogether these organiza
tions have saved the taxpayers $2,278,287. Page 609.
The entrance wage rate of unskilled labor in the United States averaged
45.1 cents per hour in July 1935. There were wide differences between
industries, automobiles having the highest rate (61.2 cents) of the
industries covered and lumber the lowest (35.6 cents). Geographical
differences were also very wide. The 1935 average hourly rate of
45.1 cents compares with a rate of 43.0 cents in 1934 and 43.7 cents
in 1929. Page 698.
Codes for 11 service trades and industries were effective in Wisconsin
at the end of 1935 under authority of the State recovery law, which
has been upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The labor
standards provided for the trades and industries covered closely
resemble those of the N. R. A. and include provision for the right of
workers to bargain collectively through representatives of their own
choosing. The codes were established after public hearing and with
the approval of the Governor. Page 628.
Costs of building the same type house vary from 18.0 to 26.8 cents per
cubic foot in 27 cities for which figures have been compiled by the
Federal Home Loan Bank Board. The Board will extend the
coverage for which such figures will be computed and will publish
them quarterly as a guide to trends in house-building costs within
given areas. The preliminary results of the Board’s study show
considerable differences in the price of the specified type of house
within the same State. Methods used in making the estimates have
been outlined in the original study and are summarized on page 647.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
KALAMAZOO P U liS U K *
APR 1 0 1933
M on th ly Labor R e v ie w
+
cPublished by the
U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s
V o l. 42, N o . 3
W A S H IN G T O N
M arch 1936
Wages, H o u rs, E m ploym ent, and A n n u a l E arnings in
th e M otor-V ehicle In d u stry , 1934
By N. A. T olles and M. W. L a F e v e r , of th e B u r e a u
of
L abor S ta tist ic s
ORKERS in the motor-vehicle industry, including both
automobile and automotive-parts plants, earned an average
ol approximately 70 cents an hour during 1934. Their annual
earnings from individual plants, however, averaged less than $900.
One-third of the motor-vehicle employees worked throughout the
year. One-fourth of the employees had less than 6 months work;
another quarter worked 6 to 10 months. Monthly data from the
industry lead to the conclusion that employment fluctuated more
severely during 1934 than during 1930, 1931, and 1935, but to
approximately the same degree as during 1929 and 1932. The
Bureau’s information as to annual earnings and the distribution of
employment relate only to the year 1934.
Relatively small additions to annual income were obtained by
secondary employment. It is estimated that half of the workers
who were employed by motor-vehicle plants during the busy season of
1934 earned wages of less than $947 from all types of employment
during the year.
The employees of automotive-parts plants averaged less per hour,
per week, and per year than did the employees of plants which manu
factured finished automobiles. The highest average hourly and
weekly earnings in the automotive-parts plants were received in
Detroit, while the average hourly and weekly earnings of automobile
workers were highest in the Michigan area outside of Detroit. Aver
age annual earnings were highest in the Detroit plants of both divi
sions of the industry.
521
W
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
522
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 19 3 6
Scope and Method of Study
E arnings and hours of work in the motor-vehicle industry, in
cluding both automobile and body plants and automotive-parts
plants, were analyzed intensively by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
for the busy and the slack seasons of 1934. A pay-roll period in
April 1934 was selected to represent conditions of peak production,
while a pay-roll period in September of that year was selected as
representative of slack production in the industry. The data chiefly
used were obtained from 150 establishments which employed slightly
more than one-half of the workers in the motor-vehicle industry.
From these establishments pay-roll records for 160,584 employees in
April and 102,025 employees in September were taken. This sample,
covering approximately 30 percent of the employees of the industry,
was carefully selected in order to give a proper representation to the
various occupations and departments in each plant, to the different
types of plants within the industry, and to the various regions in
which motor-vehicle plants are located.
Considerable differences in earnings and employment have been
found as between those plants which manufacture finished auto
mobiles and trucks and those which manufacture the parts and equip
ment for automobiles. In the present study these two major branches
of the industry have been treated separately by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics for the first time. The term “motor-vehicle indus try” is
here used to denote the combination of these two divisions, represented
in this study by 150 establishments. The term “automobile division”
is reserved to describe the plants making finished vehicles, represented
in this study by 68 establishments. The term “automotive-parts
division” is used to denote the specialized producers of parts and
equipment, both for new vehicles and for replacements. This divi
sion is represented by 82 establishments in the present study.2 The
distinct nature of these two divisions of the industry was recognized
by the National Recovery Administration. The Automobile Manu
facturing Code (no. 17) contained somewhat different labor standards
from those of the Automotive Parts and Equipment Code (no. 105).
The information given for the automobile division of the industry is
believed to represent adequately those plants which operated under
the Automobile Manufacturing Code. The sample obtained for the
automotive-parts division is more representative of plants making
original equipment than of the manufacture of replacement parts for
automobiles.3
2 The sample from the 68 automobile establishments covered 115,825 employees in April 1934 and 76,557
employees in September 1934. The sample from these 82 automotive-parts establishments covered 44,759
employees in April 1934 and 25,468 employees in September 1934.
3 Half of the automobile-parts plants, which employed four-fifths of the workers in the plants chosen to
represent tbe automotive-parts division, were definitely classified as makers of original equipment.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
523
W AG ES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE INDUSTRY
Detailed information as to wages and hours by district and by
occupation will be provided in the full report of this survey and in
the appendix to that report. Wages and hours in the Detroit
district are presented separately from those for the Michigan district
outside of Detroit.
A further departure in the present study is the publication of
information as to the amount of employment during the year 1934
and the annual earnings of individual workers in the motor-vehicle
industry. The primary information, obtained for 143,039 employees
in 144 establishments, relates to the employment and annual earn
ings received by individuals from single establishments in the indus
try. Supplementary estimates are given, however, as to the annual
earnings of these motor-vehicle workers from other employment in
the industry and from all sources.4
Earnings and Hours in April 1934
F ew of the major industries of the United States paid their workers
as much per hour during 1934 as did the motor-vehicle industry. In
April 1934, the average earnings of the 160,584 workers studied were
68.9 cents an hour (table 1). This average includes the earnings of
office workers which were made available for the first time by the
1934 study. Nearly one-fifth of this entire group of employees
earned between 60 and 65 cents an hour, but substantial numbers
also earned various amounts from 45 to 95 cents an hour.
Factory workers, who dominated the sample, earned an average of
69.8 cents an hour in April 1934. In the various months of 1934
and 1935, subsequent to the period covered by this field study, the
average hourly earnings of factory workers in this industry stood
from 2 to 5 cents above the level of April 1934 (tables 5 and 9).
T able 1 .— A verage H ou rly E arnings, b y Sex, o f F a cto ry and Office E m p lo y ees in
M o to r-V eh icle In d u stry, April and Septem ber 1934
Average hourly earn
ings (in cents)
Sex and class of workers
April
1934
September
1934
Number of employees
reported
April
1934
September
1934
All em ployees..
______ -- ___________ _____
Factory employees
_ __________ _____
Office employees__________________________ —
68.9
69.8
57.7
70.7
71.8
61.6
160,584
149, 503
11,081
102,025
92,486
9, 539
Males ______ ____ ________________________________
Factory employees
_______________________
Office employees_______________________________
70.7
71.0
65.3
72.4
72.4
67.6
146, 450
139, 792
6,658
93,990
88,153
5,837
F e m a les___________________ ___________________
Factory employees
____________________
Office employees.................................... - .......................
48.9
50.5
45.9
50.2
47.6
52.2
14,134
9,711
4,423
8,035
4,333
3,702
< The supplementary study of annual income from all sources was conducted by the Women’s Bureau
of the U. S. Department of Labor.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
524
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
The working hours in the motor-vehicle industry averaged 38.6
per week during April 1934 (table 2). In spite of this low average,
one-fifth of the workers were employed for 40 hours during this busy
month of 1934. Factory workers averaged 38.5 hours in April 1934
and a slightly longer week during the previous month (tables 5 and
9). The hours of work in this industry have also been longer during
the most active months of the 1935 season. However, less than 38.5
hours per week were worked in every month of 1934 except March
and April.
An average of $26.60 per week was earned in April 1934 by the
factory and office workers studied in the motor-vehicle industry
(table 2). The most usual earnings in this month lay between $24
and $28 per week, but substantial numbers were found to be earning
as much as $38 and as little as $16 per week. Factory workers, in
April 1934, earned an average of $26.86 per week; these earnings
were greater than at any other time during 1934, but slightly
less than the best average of weekly earnings attained during 1935
(tables 7 and 10).
T ab le 2 .— A verage W eek ly H ours and E arnings, b y Sex, o f F a cto r y and Office
E m p loyees in M otor-V ehicle In d u stry, April and Septem ber 1934
Average hours worked
per week
Average weekly
earnings
Sex and class of workers
April
1934
September
1934
April
1934
September
1934
A 11 em p lo y ees...__________________
Factory employees................................... ......................
Office employees______ _____ ___ ______ _______
38.6
38.5
40.2
33.5
33.0
38.4
$26.60
26.86
23.17
$23. 68
23. 68
23. 65
M ales............................ ..................... .........
Factory employees_________ __________
Office employees_______ ____ _______ ______ ___
38.8
38.7
40.7
33.6
33.3
38.1
27.45
27.49
26. 56
24. 33
24.23
25.78
Females..................... ......................................
Factory employees............................... . .
. Office employees......... ............ .............................
36.4
35. 0
39.4
32.1
26.2
38.9
17.80
17.67
18.08
16. 08
12.47
20.30
Factory'Office Differentials in Earnings and Hours, April and September 1934
Office workers comprised 7 percent of the motor-vehicle employees
studied in April 1934, but because they suffered less than factory
workers from seasonal lay-offs, the office group formed 9 percent of
the employees in the same factories during September of that year.
Average hourly and average weekly earnings were less for office
workers than for factory workers during the busy season of 1934.
During the slack season of 1934, however, the average weekly earnings
of office workers were practically identical with those of factory
workers.
Although most office workers are paid^by the week, it is possible to
compare the equivalent hourly earnings of office workers with those of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AGES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
525
factory workers. In April 1934, the average hourly earnings of all
office workers in the industry were 57.7 cents, or 12.1 cents an hour
less than the average for factory workers. In September of that year,
office workers earned an average of 61.6 cents an hour, or 10.2 cents
less than the average for factory workers. Two factors contributed
to this differential in average hourly earnings: (1) A larger proportion
of office workers than of factory workers were women. Women com
prised approximately 40 percent of the office workers, both in April
and September, but only 6.5 percent of the factory workers in April
and 4.7 percent of the factory workers in September. (2) Both
the men and the women who were office workers were paid some
what less per hour than factory workers of each sex, at least during the
busy season. The differential for males was 5.7 cents an hour in
April and 4.8 cents in September. The differential for females stood
at 4.6 cents an hour in April. In September, female office workers
earned an average of 52.2 cents an hour, the differential of 4.6 cents
an hour being in favor of office workers during the slack season.
The average weekly hours of office workers were slightly longer
than those of factory workers during the busy season of 1934 and
they declined much less than those of factory workers during the
slack season of that year. In April the office employees worked an
average of 40.2 hours, or 1.7 hours per week longer than factory
workers. In September, office employees worked an average of 38.4
hours per week, or 5.4 hours per week more than the average working
time of factory employees.
The average weekly earnings of all office employees in the industry
stood at $23.17 in April. This was an average of $3.69 per week less
than the average earnings of factory employees during the busy
season. This weekly earnings differential against office workers
during the busy season occurred only in the case of the men. Male
office workers earned an average of $26.56 or 93 cents a week less
than factory workers of the same sex, but the women who were office
workers earned an average of $18.08 in April or 41 cents more than
the female factory workers.
In September 1934, during the slack season, office workers earned
approximately the same average amounts per week as did the factory
workers, $23.65 for office workers as compared with $23.68 for factory
workers. Office workers averaged more per week in September than
in April, although their working hours had been somewhat reduced,
whereas the weekly earnings of factory workers fell almost in propor
tion to the more severe reduction in the work which was made avail
able to them. When the sexes are considered separately, it is seen
that office workers actually earned more per week in September than
factory workers of the same sex. Male office workers received an
average of $25.78 per week or $1.55 more than male factory workers,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
526
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
while female office workers earned an average of $20.30 per week or
$7.83 more than female factory workers. The weekly earnings of the
women who were office workers rose by an average of $2.22 between
April and September 1934.
The averages just given apply to the combination of automobile
and automotive-parts plants. Similar tendencies existed in each
of the two divisions of the industry.
Comparison of Earnings and Hours During April 1934 in Automobile and in
AutomotiveTarts Plants
I n A p r i l 1934 the employees of those plants which manufactured
finished vehicles earned more per hour and worked a somewhat
greater number of hours per week than did the employees of the
automotive parts and equipment plants. These contrasts between the
two divisions of the industry existed for workers of each sex and for
office as well as factory workers 5 (table 3). It will be sufficient to
illustrate the contrast by averages taken from all factory workers for
the active month of April 1934.
In the automobile division, factory workers earned an average of
72.3 cents an hour during April 1934, while the corresponding earnings
in the automotive-parts division of the industry were only 63.0 cents
per hour. Average hourly earnings for this group were thus 15 per
cent higher in automobile than in automotive-parts plants. Auto
mobile plants employed 72 percent of all the factory workers studied
in the whole motor-vehicle industry. Hence the average hourly
earnings in the motor-vehicle industry (69.8 cents) were dominated
by the earnings shown for the plants which manufactured finished
vehicles. Any average computed for the motor-vehicle industry as
a whole tends to obscure the position of the smaller, but important,
division which manufactures automotive parts and equipment only.
The difference in working time, as between the two divisions
of the industry, was less marked than the difference in earnings in
April 1934. Factory employees in automobile plants worked for an
average of 38.9 hours per week while those employed by automotiveparts plants worked for an average of 37.3 hours per week.6
Automobile workers earned considerably more per week than did
the workers in automotive-parts plants. The former group, as has
5 Except that female office workers worked the same average number of hours in the 2 divisions of the
industry during April 1934 and for a slightly higher average of hours in the automotive-parts division during
September 1934.
The sample of automotive-parts plants included those making replacement parts as well as those making
original equipment (see p. 523, note 3). Hourly earnings in plants making original equipment would com
pare more favorably with those in the automobile division than do the hourly earnings given for the auto
motive-parts division as a whole.
• M onthly reports to the Bureau indicate that the peak in working hours for 1934 was reached somewhat
earlier in automotive-parts plants than in automobile plants. This diflerence in the timing of the seasons >
as between the 2 divisions of the industry, may account largely for the diflerence in average working hours
which was shown for April.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
527
W AG ES IN MOTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
been seen, had the advantage of higher earnings per hour and in
addition worked a slightly greater number of hours per week. Factory
workers in the automobile division earned an average of $28.16 per
week during April 1934. The corresponding group in automotiveparts plants earned an average of only $23.50 per week during this
period. Workers in automobile plants thus had a 20 percent advan
tage over workers in automotive-parts plants, as regards average
earnings during the week in the busy season of 1934.
T ab le 3 .— A verage H ou rly E arnings, and A verage W eek ly H ours and E arn in gs
of Office and F a cto ry E m p loyees, b y Sex, in th e A u tom ob ile and A u to m o tiv e P arts D iv isio n s o f th e M otor-V ehicle In d u stry, April and S ep tem ber 1934
September 1934
April 1934
Average
hourly
earnings
Sex and class of worker
Average
weekly
hours
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
w eek ly
hours
Average
weekly
earnings
Cars Parts Cars Parts Cars Parts Cars Parts Cars Parts Cars Part
C t.
C t.
D o t.
D o t.
C t.
C t.
D o t.
D o t.
All em ployees..__________ - 71.5
Factory employees--------- 72.3
Office employees_______ 60.9
62.0 39.0
63.0 38.9
48.5 40.2
37.5 27.90 23.23 73.0
37.3 28.16 23.50 74.2
40.0 24.50 19.40 62.8
63.4 34.1
64.1 33.7
58.1 38.4
31.6 24.89 20.04
30.9 24.98 19. 78
38.6 24.08 22.42
Males ___________________ 72.7
Factory employees____ 73.0
Office employees........ ....... 66.4
64.9 39.1
65.1 39.0
62.0 40.7
38.0 28. 39 24.69 74.2
37.9 28.45 24.68 74.6
40.4 27.06 25.06 68.9
66.1 34.1
66.3 33.8
63.6 38.1
32.0 25.29 21.16
31.6 25.22 20.95
38.1 26.25 24. 24
Females ____________ _____ 51.9
Factory e m p lo y e e s..----- 51.8
Office employees----------- 52.1
46.0 38.2
45.0 37.0
50.5 39.4
34.9 19.82 16.40 53.1
34.0 19.16 15.30 54.3
39.4 20. 51 19.89 52.6
46.0 34.6
42.7 28.0
51.2 38.8
29.1 18. 36 13.40
25.0 15. 21 10. 69
39.2 20.40 20.06
Recent Changes in Production, Employment, Earnings, and Hours
A s p e c i a l tabulation of the Bureau’s monthly reports from the
motor-vehicle and other industries 7 makes possible the publication
of monthly averages of employment, hourly earnings, weekly hours
and weekly earnings for automobile manufacturing plants as distinct
from automotive-parts plants. These results are available for Jan
uary 1933 and subsequent months and they are discussed in this report
in connection with the results of the periodic field studies and in connec
tion with the available indexes of production for each of these divisions
of the industry.
7
The employment and pay-roll data, tabulated (tables 4 to 10 inclusive) as applying to the automobile
and to the automotive-parts divisions separately, have been published hitherto in the Bureau’s pamphlet
on Trend of Employment under the caption “ Automobiles” and as portions of a number of other industries.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
528
M ONTHLY LABO E E E V IE W — MARCH 1936
Automobile Division
The number of workers employed by automobile plants increased
more rapidly than did the number of automobiles produced from 1933
to 1934 but employment failed to respond to the further increases in
production from 1934 to 1935. It is estimated that the automobile
division of the industry employed as few as 162,200 factory workers
in March and April 1933 (table 4). The number of these employees
rose to a maximum for 1933 of 232,200 in September, the month after
the Automobile Code was adopted, the average number for the
calendar year being 195,300. By comparison a maximum of 368,600
factory workers were employed in April 1934 and an average number
of 295,000 were employed during that calendar year. The increase in
employment, as between the peak periods of 1933 and 1934, thus
amounted to 51 percent. Meanwhile the total number of automobiles
produced increased by 41 percent. The more rapid rate of increase
in employment does not appear to have been due to a shortening of
working hours (p. 533). It may have been due to inefficiencies result
ing from the sudden increase of production, the uncertainty as to
whether this increase would continue, and the resulting irregularity
of employment during the 1934 season.
Since 1934 there has been little, if any, increase in the number of
factory employees of automobile plants, in spite of the continued
increase in the number of automobiles produced. During the 10month production period ending in September 1935, the number of
automobiles produced was 37 percent greater than in the preceding
12 months. The average number of factory employees was only
312,200, or 7.5 percent greater than in the 1933-34 production year.
For the 6 months, April to September 1935, the average number of
factory employees was 7 percent less than during the corresponding
months of 1934, although automobile production was 13 percent
greater during the latter period. In part, this lag of employment
behind production may be due to the lengthening of the average
number of hours in the working week which has taken place in the
more recent period (page 533). The greater stability of employment
during 1935 also limited the volume of employment.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
529
WA GEB IN MOTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
T ab le 4 .— P rod u ction and E m p loym en t o f F a cto ry W orkers in A u to m o b ile
P la n ts, January 1933 to Septem ber 1935
Esti
mated
num
ber of
factory
em
Pro Factory
duc employ ployees
tion 2 ment * (thou
sands) *
Period
January
1933
Fahrnary
March
April
M ay
Jnna
July
August___________ _____
Septem ber...........................
O etobar
"Nfnvfim bp.r
1934
January
F ebruary
M aro.h
A pril
M ay___________________
37
30
34
51
62
72
66
67
56
39
18
24
51
50
44
44
48
51
58
60
63
56
49
57
188.0
184.3
162.2
162.2
176.9
188.0
213.8
221.1
232.2
206.4
180.6
210.1
46
67
95
100
94
70
85
94
100
101
258.0
313.3
346.5
368.6
372.3
Esti
mated
num
ber of
factory
em
Pro Factory
duc employ ployees
tion 1 ment 1 (thou
sands) •
Indexes (April
1934=100)
Indexes (April
1934=100)
Period
1934—Continued
June___ ____ ______ . ___
July........................................
August_________________
September______________
October________________
November................. ...........
December...... ...................-
87
75
66
48
37
24
44
95
88
82
<65
55
53
71
350.1
324.3
302.2
239.6
202.7
195.3
261.7
1935
January..............................
February____________ __
M arch._____ ___________
April____________ ______
M ay................................... —
June___________________
J u ly .....................................
August______ ______ ___
September..........................
83
95
122
135
103
102
95
68
25
87
94
95
96
93
86
81
77
320.7
346.5
350.1
353.8
342.8
317.0
298.5
283.8
246.9
67
1 Computed from figures on United States total production of passenger cars as reported in U . S. Depart
ment of Commerce, Survey of Current Business.
...
2 Derived, except as noted, from U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, special tabulation of m onthly per
centage changes in employment of plants manufacturing finished automobiles. Pay-roll periods ending
nearest the 15th of each month.
_ _. . .
,
2
Based on the number of 368,565 factory employees for April 1934 as compiled by the Division of Research
and Planning, N . R. A. from m onthly reports submitted by individual automobile manufacturers through
the Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. For all practical purposes, 100 percent of the automobile
manufacturing concerns have submitted reports each month. Data cover production employees and
auxiliary (maintenance and service) employees.
.
,
.
i Represents percentage change in factory employment from April to September 1934, as shown hy
Bureau’s field study. Subsequent indexes were calculated from this figure.
The average hourly earnings of automobile workers were raised
nearly to their predepression level by 1934. During the depression,
the average hourly earnings of factory workers in automobile plants
had fallen from 75 cents in 1928 s to approximately 56 cents by
January 1933. The Automobile Manufacturing Code, approved on
August 26, 1933, provided 6 minimum hourly rates for nonsalaried
employees, varying from 43 to 35 cents an hour.9 The average hourly
earnings of factory workers, which had stood at 57.6 cents in July
1933 rose by 15 percent in 2 months, to reach 66.2 cents an hour by
September of that year. Thereafter there was little change until
April 1934, when average hourly earnings rose to 72.3 cents from 67.2
cents, largely as the result of an increase in minimum wage scales in
some plants at this time (compare table 5).
8 U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 502: Wages and Hours of Labor in the Motor-Vehicle
Industry, 1928.
9 Graded according to sex of worker and population. Three minimum rates were also provided for
salaried employees. (See p. 531, footnote 10.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
530
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T able 5 .— E stim a te d A verage H ou rly E arnings and W eek ly H ours o f F a cto r y
E m p loyees in A u tom ob ile P la n ts, F irst H a lf o f E ach M on th , Janu ary 1933 to
Septem ber 1935
Average hourly
earnings
Average hours per
week i
Period
Index
(April
1934=100)
A m ou n t2
Index
(April
1934=100)
Number 3
1933
January________________ _____ ___ ________________
F ebruary_______ ___________ __________ . . . . .
March__ _________________________ ______ _________
April__________________________________ _________
M ay_____ ____________________________ _ . .v ____
June____________________ __________________ ____
J u ly ....__________________________________________
A ugust.__________________________________________
September___ _________________________ ________
October____ ______________________________________
________ ____________
November______________
December____________ ____ _______________________
77.3
79.0
79.4
79.4
79.1
79.4
79.7
87.9
94.6
91.8
93.7
91.4
55.9
57.1
57.4
57.4
57.2
57.4
57.6
63.6
66.2
66.4
67.7
66.1
91.5
80.1
74.7
89.8
106.1
104.3
98.1
98.5
86.8
84.4
79.5
78.5
35.6
31.2
29.1
34.9
41.3
40.6
38.2
38.3
33.8
32.8
30.9
30.5
1934
January_______________________
_________ _ . .
February___________ ____ ________ ___________ . . .
March__________________ ____ _________ ____ _ .
April____ . ________________ _______________ . . .
M a y ________ __________ ___ ______________________
June___
_ _ . _ _________
___ _ _______
July---------------------------------------------------------------------August-------------- _ ___________ _______ ____ ____
September___ _____ ______________ ____ __________
October________________________________ __________
November______ ________ ______________ ______ _ .
December_________________________________ ______
90.6
91.1
93.0
100.0
101.4
100.8
103.9
104.4
* 105. 3
104.4
104.9
102.9
65.5
65.9
67.2
72.3
73.3
72.9
75.1
75.5
* 76.1
75.5
75.8
74.4
83.7
98.7
104.2
100.0
91.6
84.3
73.0
84.1
32.6
38.4
40.5
38.9
35.6
32.8
28.4
32.7
(«)
«82.0
81.5
93.6
(«)
«31.9
31.7
36.4
1935
Jan u ary..______ _____ ______ ___________________
February___________________ . ______ . . . _____ _
M arch.._______ _________
. _______
A p r il..._______________ _ _____ ____ __________
M ay___________________ ________ ___________
June____________ _____________ ______ __________
July--------------------------------------------------------------------A ugust----------------------------------------------------------------September_________________________________
101.4
100.3
101.0
102.1
102.5
107.5
107.6
108.4
107.5
73.3
72.5
73.0
73.8
74.1
77.7
77.8
78.4
77.7
93.6
104.7
104.7
107.3
98.8
90.9
88.6
87.0
88.6
36.4
40.7
40.7
41.7
38.4
35.4
34.5
33.8
34.5
C en ts
i
Derived from U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, man-hour reports of plants under the Automobile M anu
facturing Code.
1 Computed by applying m onthly percentage changes to average of 72.3 cents as shown for all factory
employees by field study for April 1934 by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3 Computed by applying the m onthly percentage changes to average of 38.9 hours as shown for all factory
employees during April 1934.
4 Average hourly earnings of factory employees for the last half of September, as shown by the Bureau’s
field study were 74.2 cents. The resulting index would be 102.6 (April 1934=100).
3
Average weekly hours of factory employees during the last half of September 1933 were 33.7. Accepting
this absolute figure, the index (Apriljl934=100) becomes 86.6. The figures derived from employers’ reports
have been omitted from the table because the two sets of man-hour reports from employers for the first
half of September showed a serious discrepancy and the resulting average was out of harmony both with
field-study results and with the hourly and weekly earnings for that month as reported by employers.
9 Computed by applying the percentage change in average hours as shown by identical firms between
August and October 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AGES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
531
Evidence drawn from a special study by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of five Detroit plants confirms the sharpness of the rise in
hourly earnings at the time of the code, but suggests that the rise
in the average was due to increases for workers previously receiving
more than the code minimum rather than to any increase in hourly
earnings which can be attributed directly to the code minimum
itself (table 6). In various months of peak production just prior to
the code, three-fourths of the workers in these five plants were earning
less than 65 cents an hour. In the corresponding production period
after the adoption of the code (April 1934) only one-seventh of the
workers were earning less than this amount. The important change,
however, was the decrease, in the proportion of workers earning be
tween 55 and 65 cents an hour, from 36.1 percent to 10 percent of the
entire group. The highest minimum wage specified by the code was
43 cents an hour. Even in the low-wage period before the code only
11.9 percent of the workers in these Detroit plants had earned less
than 45 cents and only 5.2 percent of these workers had earned less
than 40 cents an hour. Hence one must conclude that, in the
important Detroit area at least, the minimum rates specified by the
Automobile Code were low as compared with the lowest levels of
hourly earnings paid by automobile plants. Part of the rise in average
hourly earnings during 1933 may have been an indirect result of the
code minimums, since the code specified that “equitable adjustments”
should be made in all wage rates. The moderate reduction of hours
which the code made necessary in some cases also provided the occa
sion for an upward revision of hourly rates whether these rates had
been below or above the minimum applicable under the code. In
any case, it is clear that the minimum standards of the Automobile
Code were very modest as compared with the hourly earnings which
had actuafiy been paid before its adoption.10
to For this reason, no substantial problem arose as to compliance with code standards regarding hourly
earnings. Noncompliance occurred in the case of less than half of 1 percent of the employees studied in
April 1934, although as many as 3 percent of the small group of woman employees may have received sub
standard wages. It is not possible to state the degree of compliance with exactness, inasmuch as the pro
visions governing the wages of salaried employees were never defined by the National Recovery Adminis
tration. Minimum rates of $15, $14.50 and $14 were established for salaried employees, according to the
population of the city where each plant was located. Some manufacturers interpreted this clause as requir
ing actual earnings not less than the prescribed figure in each class, regardless of the time actually worked.
Others interpreted the requirement as referring to full-time earnings, necessitating a division of the specified
weekly rate by the number of full-time hours in order to determine the true minimum on an hourly basis.
However, no official decision was made as to whether these weekly rates should be divided by 40, 42, or 48.
All three hourly maximums were stated in the code (see p. 532). It is to be noted that a weekly rate of
$14, when divided by 48 provides a minimum hourly rate of only 29 cents.
49645— 36
-2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
532
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T ab le 6 .— C u m u lative P ercen tage D istr ib u tio n o f A verage H ou rly E arnings
in A u tom ob ile P la n ts in D e tro it D u rin g 5 P ro d u ctio n P eriod s, 1 9 3 3 -3 4
Percent of employees receiving less than specified hourly earnings in—
Peak production periods
Average hourly earnings
Slack production periods
Pre-code > April 1934 (post-code) Pre-code2 Post-code3 September
1934
5 plants
5 plants
68 plants
5 plants
5 plants
Total number of employees_______
2,768
3,062
60,992
2,476
2,412
Less than 35 cents_______ _____ _
Less than 40 cents............... .............. .
Less than 45 cents________________
Less than 50 cents________________
Less than 55 cents________________
Less than 60 cents................................
Less than 65 c e n ts _______________
Less than 70 cents___________ ____
Less than 75 cen ts.............................
Less than 80 cents................................
Less than 85 cents................... .............
Less than 90 cents................................
Less than 95 cents................................
Less than 105 cents..............................
Less than 115 cents........................... .
2.2
5.2
11.9
23.2
38.7
58.5
74.8
84.8
90.6
94.0
96.5
97.8
98.7
99.8
99.9
0.1
.1
.3
1.6
4.9
9.5
14.9
24.9
39.0
55.5
67.6
77.4
85.1
95.0
98.1
( 4)
1 fi
3.7
9.1
18.8
38.2
55.2
70.1
82.1
90.3
93.8
96.2
97.5
98.7
99.9
100.0
1 January to July 1933.
2 M ay to July 1933.
0.5
2.0
4.2
8.3
13.4
41.3
51.8
61.0
70.9
79.3
85.6
90.4
96.7
98.5
67 plants
45,415
(i)
0.1
1.4
3.9
6.8
11.9
17.2
26.1
41.4
56.8
70.2
78.1
84.9
95.0
98.0
0.4
1.4
3.3
6.4
10.9
32.6
48.0
56.1
66.0
75.0
83.2
89.1
95.6
98.0
* January to July 1934.
* Less than Ho of 1 percent.
Since the present field study was made in 1934, some further
increases in average hourly earnings have occurred which have
raised this average to the level of 1928. In April 1935, the most
active month of the 1934-35 production season, factory workers
earned an average of 73.8 cents, or 2 percent more than in April 1934.
Further increases occurred in June 1935, as a result of a further rise
of minimum wage scales in some plants. The average hourly earn
ings for the 10-month production period, December 1934 through
September 1935, stood at approximately 75 cents as compared with
an average of approximately 71 cents during the 1933-34 season of
12 months, December 1933 to November 1934.
The Automobile Manufacturing Code had relatively little influence
over the hours of work in this division of the motor-vehicle industry.
Average working hours fell from 46.9 per week in 1928 to 31.9 in
1932.11 With the continued decline in production, average working
time fell to as little as 29 hours per week in March 1933. The
revival of activity increased the average time of factory workers to
41 hours per week in May 1933. No test of the immediate effect
of the code is possible. The code set a maximum of 48 hours in any
1 week for all nonmanagerial employees earning less than $35 per
week and further limited the average hours of processing employees
to 40 hours 12 and of nonprocessing employees (indirect labor) to
» See Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 502, and M onthly Labor Review, June 1933 (p. 1371).
» Limited to 35 hours, as an average, from Aug. 26, 1933 to Jan. 8, 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AGES IN MOTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
533
42 hours.13 Average working hours declined from 41 in May 1933
to 30.5 in December of that year, but this is attributable to the
seasonal decline in production rather than to code restrictions.
With the seasonal increase in production, average working time
increased to a peak of 40.5 hours per week in March 1934, or only
slightly less than the longest working time during 1933 prior to the
code.14 During the whole calendar year 1934, the average working
time was approximately 34.5 hours per week or nearly the same as
the average time worked during the calendar year 1933 (34.8 hours).
Since 1934 there has been a distinct lengthening of average weekly
hours of automobile workers. In April 1935 an average of 41.7
hours was worked, as compared with 38.9 hours in April 1934 and
40.5 hours during March 1934, the month showing the highest
average weekly hours during that year. During the 10-month pro
duction period, December 1934 to September 1935, an average of
37.3 hours was worked by automobile plants, as compared with an
average of 34 hours during the 12-month production period of 1933-34
(December 1933 through November 1934).
Although the Automobile Manufacturing Code necessitated very
little shortening of the working week, it may have prevented a
return to the longer work schedules of the predepression period.
Notwithstanding the recent increases in weekly hours, the working
week remains distinctly shorter in 1935 than in 1928. The longest
working week of 1935 (41.7 hours in April) was 5 hours shorter than
the average working time during three active months (September to
November) of 1928.
The average weekly earnings of factory workers in automobile
plants have risen since the original adoption of the code, but even
the increases since 1934 have not sufficed to bring the level up to
that of 1928. Between 1928 and 1932 average weekly earnings fell
from $35.14 to $20. In March 1933 automobile workers earned an
average of only $17.32 per week (table 7). The revival of produc
tion prior to the code increased average weekly earnings to $24.39 by
August 1933. During the first months of operation under the code,
increases in average hourly earnings were more than offset by the
seasonal shortening of working hours. By April 1934, however, aver
age weekly earnings had increased to $28.16, and a year later the
is These latter averages were to be enforced over an 8-month period.
i< The problem of compliance with these code requirements was not great. Less than 2 percent of all
employees were found to be working more than 48 hours in April or September 1934 and some of these
individuals m ay have been exempted because of earnings of $35 or more per week. No test of compliance
with the 40- or 42-hour averages was possible without a complete audit of the working time of each indi
vidual for an 8-month period. Compliance with these average-hour standards could not have been diffi
cult, however. The average working time of factory employees during the 8-month period, January to
July 1934, was less than 34 hours per week. Yet this low average for the period was consistent with the
employment of 42.3 percent of all automobile workers for more than 40 hours during the pay-roll period
studied in April 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
534
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
average had risen to $31.03. During the 10-month production period
ending in September 1935 the unweighted average of weekly earnings
stood at $28.21 as compared with $24.28 per week during the 12month 1933-34 production season, ending in November 1934, to
which period the Bureau’s field study applied.
T able 7.— E stim a te d A verage W eek ly E arnings o f F a cto r y E m p lo y ees in A u to
m obile P la n ts, F irst H a lf o f E ach M o n th , Janu ary 1933 to Septem ber 1935
I n d e x o f a v era g e w e e k ly ea rn
i n g s ( A p r i l 1 9 3 4 = 1 0 0 )1
A v e r a g e w e e k l y e a r n in g s 2
M o n th
1933
J a n u a r y _____________________ _____ __ _______
F e b r u a r y __________ . . . _______
__________
M a r c h . . . . . _ ______ ___ _________________
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 t e 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 ___________ _______
... _ . ...
7 1 .1
6 4 .1
6 1 .5
7 2 .3
8 4 .5
8 3 .3
7 8 .3
8 6 .6
7 9 .1
7 6 .5
7 3 .8
7 2 .8
1934
1935
7 6 .3
8 9 .8
9 6 .5
1 0 0 .0
9 2 .9
8 5 .1
7 6 .0
8 8 .0
8 5 .8
4 8 5 .4
8 6 .0
9 6 .7
9 5 .4
1 0 5 .8
1 0 6 .5
1 1 0 .2
1 0 1 .8
9 8 .4
9 5 .9
9 5 .2
9 5 .7
1933
$20. 02
1 8 .0 5
1 7 .3 2
2 0 .3 6
23. 80
2 3 .4 6
2 2 .0 5
2 4 .3 9
2 2 .2 7
21. 54
20. 78
20. 50
1934
$ 2 1 .4 9
2 5 .2 9
2 7 .1 7
2 8 .1 6
2 6 .1 6
23. 96
21. 40
2 4 .7 8
« 2 4 .1 6
4 2 4 .0 5
24. 22
27. 23
1935
$26. 86
29. 79
2 9 .9 9
3 1 .0 3
28. 67
2 7 .7 1
27. 01
2 6 .8 1
2 6 .9 5
1 Derived from U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics total sample of plants under the Automobile Manu
facturing Code.
2 Computed by applying the index given to the average of $28.16 per week as shown for all factory em
ployees by field study for April 1934 by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3 Average shown by field study for last half of September 1934 was $24.98.
4 Derived from percentage change in average weekly earnings shown by all firms reporting in September
and October whether identical or not. Percentage change shown by identical firms showed an impossible
result.
Automotive-Parts Division
Employment in automotive-parts plants increased even more rap
idly than did the shipments of parts from 1933 to 1934, at the time
when working hours were being reduced (table 8). Since 1934, how
ever, there has been a much less rapid increase in employment than
in automotive-parts shipments. During the 12-month production
year of 1933-34 (December 1933 through November 1934) an average
of 79,300 factory workers appears to have been employed. In the
subsequent 10-month production season, December 1934 to August
1935, an average of 106,800 factory workers was employed. Com
paring the 2 years it will be seen that average employment increased
by 9.8 percent, while shipments increased by 28 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
535
W AGES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
T able 8 .— A u to m o tiv e -P a r ts S h ipm en ts, and E m p lo y m en t o f F a cto ry W orkers
b y A u to m o tiv e -P a r ts P la n ts, Janu ary 1933 to N ovem b er 1935
Indexes (April
1934=100)
Indexes (April
1934=100)
Year and month
Thou
sands of
factory
employ
Factory2 ees
(esti
employ mated
for
ment
Ship
first
half
ments i (first half of each
of each
month) m o n th )3
1934—Continued
1933
January____
February—
March_____
April______
M ay_______
June....... .......
July----------August_____
September-..
October____
N ovem ber..D ecem b er...
40
39
32
50
56
64
60
63
53
46
44
46
45.2
44.5
39.7
38.4
42.7
47.4
52.9
56.1
56.9
51.9
50.8
58.6
58.7
57.7
51.5
49.8
55.5
61.5
68.6
72.9
73.9
67.4
65.9
76.0
61
83
111
100
91
83
68.7
81.9
94.8
100.0
93.9
79.6
89.3
106.3
123.1
129.8
121.8
103.3
1934
January..
February.
March__
April____
M ay____
June.........
Year and month
Thou
sands o f
factory
employ
Factory2 ees
(esti
employ mated
for
Ship
ment
first half
ments 1 (first half of each
of each m o n th )3
month)
July_______________
August____________
September-------------October___________
November_________
December_________
78
72
64
62
61
78
73.1
72.4
62.9
56.3
57.2
69.8
94.9
94.0
81.7
73.0
74.3
90.6
89
97
106
116
104
94
90
72
83
104
106
81.3
91.1
93.3
88.9
87.4
80.6
76.1
71.6
76.4
85.8
93.0
105.6
118.2
121.1
115.4
113.5
104.7
98.8
92.9
99.1
111.3
120.7
1935
January___________
February--------------March_____________
April______ - ____
M ay_____ ________
June______ _____
July------- --------------A ug u st... _ ---------September_____ ___
October___________
November--------------
1 Adapted from TJ. S. Department of Commerce, Survey of Current Business, index of shipments of
original equipment and replacement parts.
2 Derived from U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trend of Employment reports. Chain index of percent
age changes in employment as shown by all reporting employers formerly operating under the automotiveparts code, as calculated by the N . R. A. Division of Review.
s Computed by applying index of employment to estimate of 90,629 employees for December 1934. E sti
mate derived in two stages: (1) Aggregate employment in each census industry containing automotiveparts plants was computed from 1933 census figures by applying Bureau of Labor Statistics trend of em
ployment indexes; (2) The percentage of automotive-parts workers in each of these industries in December
1934. as disclosed by N . R. A. questionnaire for that month, was applied to the employment aggregate
for these industries, as defined by the Census.
The average hourly earnings of factory employees in automotiveparts plants rose from 50 cents during the first half of 1933,16 to 67
cents during the production season December 1934 through August
1935. Three-quarters of this increase had taken place by April 1934
when the Bureau’s field agents found the average to be 63.0 cents an
hour. The most pronounced rise, from 50.7 to 56.5 cents an hour,
occurred during the period of the President’s Keemployment Agree
ment, in the single month between July and August 1933. Following
this increase of nearly 6 cents an hour, a further increase of only
2 cents occurred between October and November 1933, when the
i* Separate data are not available for automotive-parts workers for periods prior to January 1933.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
536
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
code first became officially applicable.16 Gradual increases in the sub
sequent months of 1933, 1934, and 1935 have raised the average of
hourly earnings by 8 cents an hour.
A very decided shortening of the hours of work occurred in auto
motive-parts plants between 1933 and 1934, in contrast with the
relatively unimportant change in hours in the automobile plants dur
ing this period. In June 1933, a month of peak production before the
codes, automotive-parts plants worked their factory employees an av
erage of nearly 45 hours per week. By August 1933, when shipments
were nearly at the June level, average weekly hours had fallen to
37%. It will be noticed that the essential change took place under the
President’s Reemployment Agreement before the formal adoption of
the Automotive Parts Code.17 The longest working week recorded
during 1934 occurred in March, when the average hours of factory
workers were 38.8 per week. In 1935, average hours of 36.7 per week
were recorded in February, this being the highest average in any
month of the production season from December 1934 through August
1935. Automotive-parts plants, in contrast to plants in the automobile
division of the industry continued to shorten hours in 1935. However,
the average working time during the whole production season of 193435 remained approximately the same as during the season December
1933 through November 1934, because of the greater stability of
production in the later year.
16 The Automotive Parts and Equipment Code was approved by the President on N ov. 8, 1933. The
code itself provided basic hourly minimums of 40 cents an hour for men and 35 cents an hour for women,
who were directly engaged in the processing of products. However, if workers of any class had been paid
less than the rates specified in 1929, the men might be paid as little as 35 cents and the women as little as
30^ cents an hour. Nonprocessing employees were to be paid a minimum “weekly rate” of $15, but the
hourly equivalent of this rate was never specified officially. The code authority issued a bulletin, however,
which interpreted this weekly rate to require a minimum of 37H cents an hour. Compliance with the
Automotive Parts Code was less universal than was compliance with the Automobile Code, but no exact
statement can be made in view of the indefinite nature of these code requirements.
Three percent of the employees studied in April and 2.3 percent of the employees studied in September
1934 were found to be earning less than 40 cents, 35 cents, and 37J^ cents an hour, respectively, in the case
of male processing, female processing, and nonprocessing employees. If it is assumed that no violation of
the code occurred in any case where processing employees received as little as 35 cents for males and 305i
cents for females, the percentage of violation would have been 1.7 percent in April and 1.4 percent in Septem
ber. Other possible interpretations of the code requirements would result in subminimum payments to
as many as 9.6 percent or as few as 0.2 percent of the employees studied in April and September 1934.
17 The Automotive Parts Code set a maximum of 48 hours in any 1 week for all but the maintenance forces,
and an average of not more than 40 hours for processing or 42 hours for salaried and office workers. This
limit on average hours applied to annual periods after March 1934. From 2.9 percent (April) to 2.1 percent
(September) of the automotive-parts employees were found to be working more than 48 hours per week
in 1934. These percentages suggest that there was very little noncompliance with the 48-hour maximum,
in view of the exemption of maintenance forces. The extent of noncompliance with the average-hour
requirements was also probably small. During the 6-month period, April to September 1934, the average
working time of factory workers in this division was less than 31 hours per week, in spite of the fact that
20.3 percent of all employees studied in April were employed for more than 40 hours per week.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
537
W AG ES IN MOTOR-VEHICLE IN DUSTRY
T ab le 9 .— E stim a te d A verage H ou rly E arnings and W eek ly H ours o f F a cto ry
E m p lo y ees in A u to m o tiv e -P a r ts P la n ts, F irst H a lf o f E ach M o n th , January
1933 to Septem ber 1935
Average hourly
earnings
Average hourly Average hours
per week i
earnings
Year and month
Year and month
Index
Index
(April Amount3 (April Num
ber of
1934= hours
1934=
3
100)
100)
1933
J anuary
February
March___________
April
M ay_____________
June.
. . _____
J u ly ..
August__________
September.............
October__________
November.
December
Index N um
Index
(April Amount3 (April ber of
1934= hours3
1934=
100)
100)
1934—Continued
C t.
78.4
81.2
81.5
80.3
79.4
78.6
80. 5
89.7
92.4
91.9
94.7
96.1
49.4
51.2
51.3
50. 6
50.0
49.5
50.7
56.5
58.2
57.9
59.7
60. 5
116.8
104.4
78.3
102.1
118.5
120.1
116. 6
100.9
91.2
87.3
95.3
101.3
43.6
38.9
29.2
38.1
44.2
44.8
43.5
37.6
34.0
32.6
35.5
37.8
January__________ 96.1
February. _______ 95.1
M a r c h ._________
95.3
April..................... . 100.0
M ay_____________ 103.7
60.5
59.9
60.0
63.0
65.3
94.2
103.0
104.1
100.0
88.2
35.1
38.4
38.8
37.3
32.9
1934
J u n e .___________
July________ ____
August______ ____
S ep tem b er.______
October__________
November_______
December________
Average
hours per
week i
C t.
102.5
107.2
106.3
106.9
109.3
107.2
103.8
64.6
67.5
67.0
‘ 67.3
68.9
67.5
65.4
84.8
78.5
80.8
67.5
74.3
80.0
93.0
31.6
29.3
30.1
3 25.2
27.7
29.8
34.7
104.8
105.3
105.3
106.2
106.4
107.6
108.5
108.2
107.7
66.0
66.3
66.3
66.9
67.0
67.8
68.4
68.2
67.9
94.0
98.4
95.8
95.0
91.7
87.4
83.5
84.8
94.0
35.1
36.7
35.7
35.4
34.2
32.6
31.1
31.6
35.1
1935
January.............. .
February________
March___________
April____ ____ ___
M ay..........................
June_____________
July_____________
A ugust__________
September_______
1 Derived from U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics man-hour reports of plants under the Autom otive Parts
Code.
3
Computed by applying the monthly percentage changes to the average of 63.0 cents as shown for all
factory employees by field study for April 1934 of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3 Computed by applying percentage changes to average of 37.3 hours for factory employees during April
1934.
< Average shown by field study for last half of September 1934 was 64.1 cents per hour for factory em
ployees.
s Average shown by field study for last half of September 1934 was 30.9 hours per week for factory em
ployees.
The average weekly earnings of factory workers in automotive-parts
plants fell to a low point of $15.44 in March 1933. Increased working
time raised this average to $22.54 by June 1933, before any decided
increase in average hourly earnings had occurred. The initial short
ening of hours, between June and August 1933 was approximately
offset by the increase in average hourly earnings, so that average
weekly earnings remained essentially unchanged. By April 1934, 1 of
the 2 months intensively surveyed by this study, average weekly
earnings of factory workers in the parts plants had risen to $23.50.
The highest average of weekly earnings subsequently recorded was
the average of $24.58 per week earned in February 1935, approxi
mately $1 more per week than the best earnings of 1934. The
unweighted average of weekly earnings was $23 during the produc
tion season, December 1934 to August 1935, or approximately $2
more per week than the average earnings of the season from December
1933 to November 1934 (table 10).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
538
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 19 3 6
T ab le 10.— E stim a te d A verage W eek ly E arnings o f F a cto ry E m p lo y ees in
A u to m o tiv e -P a r ts P la n ts, F irst H a lf o f E ach M o n th , Janu ary 1933 to S ep
tem ber 1935
Month
January...
February.
M arch___
April____
M ay........ .
June........ .
July..........
August___
September.
October__
November.
December.
Index of average weekly
earnings (April 1934=
100) i '
Amount of average
weekly earnings 3
1933
1934
1935
1933
1934
90.5
84.3
65.7
84.1
95.4
95.9
94.7
90.9
84.3
80.1
89.8
95.4
90.2
97.3
98.8
100.0
92.2
86.8
83.7
86.6
72.9
81.7
86.8
97.6
99.6
104.6
101.9
101.8
98.5
94.3
90.7
91.9
101.2
$21.27
19.81
15.44
19. 76
22.42
22.54
22.25
21.36
19.81
18.82
21.10
22.42
$21. 20
22.87
23. 22
23.50
21.67
20.40
19. 67
20.35
» 17.13
19. 20
20.40
22.94
1935
$23. 41
24. 58
23.95
23.92
23.15
22.16
21.31
21.60
23.78
1 Derived from U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, sample of plants under the Automotive Parts Code.
* Computed by applying the index given to the average of $23.50 per week as shown for all factory
employees by field study for April 1934 by U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3 Average shown by field study for last half of September 1934 was $19.78.
Seasonal Movements
W i d e seasonal swings in production, employment, and earnings
constitute one of the outstanding problems of the motor-vehicle
industry. During the years 1923 to 1934 production of automobiles
in the slackest month of the year was 22 to 81 percent less than in
the peak month. The production of automotive parts is somewhat
more regular, because the industry has replacement as well as original
equipment business. The original equipment business in the produc
tion year 1933-34 was more irregular than automobile production.18
Aggregate man-hours worked move less than production, but the
fluctuations of business are such as to require large readjustments in
average hours and in the number of workers. Thus in 1934 factory
employees in the automobile division averaged 40.5 hours per week
in March and 31.7 hours in November. In automotive parts the high
average for the year was 38.8 hours per week in March and the low
was 27.7 hours in October.
Curtailment of hours cannot be used to meet fully the problem of
seasonal swings. During 1934 fluctuations in employment were
greater than fluctuations in hours. In the automobile division of the
industry, the 22 percent decline in average hours from highest to
lowest months during 1934 is to be compared with a 48 percent decline
in the numbers of workers employed between the months of greatest
and least employment during that year. Between April and Septem
ber 1934 the automobile plants made more than three-fourths of their
18
For the period September 1933 to August 1934 the monthly average production of automobiles was
36 percent less than production in the peak month. Original equipment averaged 41 percent less than
the peak, and replacement parts averaged 16 percent less.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AGES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
539
slack-season curtailment by the laying off of workers and less than
one-fourth by reducing the working time of operatives. Forge-shop
employees had their working hours reduced by 28 percent while the
number of such employees was cut by 40 percent. On the other hand,
punch and press operators obtained a reduction of only 12 percent in
average working hours while the number of such workers was reduced
by 59 percent between these two months of 1934. In the automotiveparts division, the 35 percent decline in average hours during 1934
may be compared with a 44 percent decline in employment between
the extreme months of that year.
The data indicate that flexible hours were used less in 1934 than in
other years to meet the problem of seasonal fluctuations, in spite of
the unusual fluctuation of employment during the 1934 season. The
fall in average hours was reduced from 26 percent in 1933 to 22 percent
in 1934 and to 19 percent in 1935.19
From 1923 to 1934 the number of factory workers employed by the
motor-vehicle industry in the most idle month was 17 to 43 percent
less than in the busiest month of each year. The average fall in
employment between peak and slack months was about 30 percent.20
In 1934, the corresponding decline in employment amounted to 42
percent.
Beginning in 1935, the industry attempted to stabilize employment
by moving forward the date for the introduction of new models. In
spite of the severe curtailment in production which resulted in Sep
tember 1935, the extreme decline in employment amounted to only
30 percent in the automobile division and to 23 percent in the parts
division. More striking was the maintenance of average employ
ment during the 1934—
35 season to within 88 percent of the monthly
maximum in automobile plants as compared with 78 percent in
1933-34 and to within 90 percent of the monthly maximum in parts
plants, as compared with 85 percent in 1933-34. However, the
initial effect of the new policy was to compress the 1934-35 season
into a 10-montli period, and for this reason its effect over a full 12month production year still remains to be seen.21
Seasonal decreases in production are normally accompanied by a
slight rise in the average of hourly earnings in the motor-vehicle
industry, but the shortening of working hours greatly reduces the
average of weekly earnings.
'8 In the automotive-parts division, the range of weekly hours changed in close relationship to changes
in the range of monthly shipments: Minimum weekly hours were 27 percent less than the maximum in
1933, 35 percent less than the maximum in 1934, and 15 percent less than the maximum in 1935.
2» Derived from U . S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 610 (Revised Indexes of Factory Em ploy
ment and Pay Rolls, 1919 to 1933) and reports on Trend of Employment.
2i Office workers are affected very little by seasonal fluctuations in employment. A special study of
employment in the plants represented by the field study shows that the average employment of office
workers during the period, September 1933 through August 1934, was 93 percent of the monthly maximum
while the corresponding average for factory employees in the same plants was 76 percent of the maximum
for the period.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
540
MONTHLY LABO E R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
Between April and September 1934, the average hourly earnings of
all the workers studied in the motor-vehicle industry rose from 68.9
to 70.7 cents. This rise in the average was due largely to the laying
off of the lower-paid workers, rather than to an increase in the hourly
earnings of individual workers. Between these 2 months there was
a selective reduction in the number of employees of 36 percent. Men
earning 35 to 65 cents an hour constituted 46.9 percent of the male
workers in the industry in April and only 40.8 percent in the slack
season. Evidence of selective lay-off that has the effect of raising
the average without any general increase for individual workers is
afforded by a special study of five Detroit automobile plants made by
the Bureau for periods in 1933 prior to the adoption of the code.
No marked increase in rates was in progress. Yet in comparing the
distribution of earnings in a slack season with earnings in a busy
month, it was found that the proportion earning less than 50 cents
declined from 23.2 percent at the peak to 18.8 percent and that the
proportion earning more than 65 cents rose from 25.2 to 29.9 percent
(table 6).
An increase in the average of hourly earnings occurred between
April and September 1934, within both the automobile and auto
motive-parts divisions of the industry. In each case the amount of
the increase was slight. In automobile plants the average hourly
earnings of all workers (including office employees) rose from 71.5
cents to 73 cents, while in automotive-parts plants the correspond
ing rise was from 62 cents to 63.4 cents per hour. In both divisions
some further increase took place in the months following September
1934 when production was further reduced and in both divisions of
the industry the averages of hourly earnings fell slightly in succeeding
months as seasonal increase occurred in production and employment.22
Increases in average hourly earnings as production slackens in the
motor-vehicle industry are not great enough to offset the effect on
weekly earnings of the decline in average working hours. Between
April and September 1934 the average weekly earnings of all the
employees studied in the motor-vehicle industry fell from $26.60 to
$23.68. Office workers had a practically stable average of weekly
earnings.
The decline from April to September 1934 in average weekly earn
ings was more severe in the automotive-parts than in the automobile
division of the industry. In automobile plants, the average weekly
earnings of all employees fell by 10.8 percent, from $27.90 in April to
$24.89 in September. In the automotive-parts plants the corre
sponding decrease amounted to 13.7 percent, average weekly earnings
of all employees being $23.23 in April and $20.04 in September 1934.
21 See tables 4, 6, 8, 9 (pp. 529, 530, 535, 537). Attention is called to the fact that average hourly earn
ings, as stated in these tables, apply only to the factory group of employees.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AG ES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
541
Annual Employment and Earnings of Individual Workers, 1934
A lthough the motor-vehicle industry pays its employees unusually
large amounts per hour, many motor-vehicle workers earn relatively
small amounts per year. The irregularity of employment, just
described, results in large amounts of lost time for individual workers.
Since the year 1934 showed a somewhat unusual degree of seasonal
fluctuation, it probably affords a rather extreme example of lost time
by workers in this industry.
Employment and Earnings Obtained from Individual Plants
The records of 143,039 motor-vehicle employees (including office
workers as well as factory employees) who were employed during
April 1934 show that these workers obtained an average of 37.7 weeks
of employment from those plants during the calendar year 1934.
This entire group earned an average of exactly $900 during the year.
Male workers in the industry worked for an average of 37.8 weeks
and earned an average of $923 in these plants, while 11,540 of the
group who were women worked for an average of 37.1 weeks and
earned an average of $647. The sample taken for the female group
probably overstates their actual earnings during the year due to a lack
of annual records for many of the lowest-paid groups of women. The
actual earnings of men averaged $342 less than could have been
earned had these men worked steadily during the year with no
greater weekly earnings than were received during the slack month
of September 1934. The average annual earnings of the women were
$189 less than might have been earned from steady employment at
weekly earnings no greater than were earned by women in September.
The 7,593 women studied who were factory workers obtained an aver
age of 32.7 weeks of employment and earned an average of $504 per
year.
Workers in the automobile division of the industry worked some
what more steadily than did workers in the automotive-parts division
during the year 1934 and the automobile workers earned considerably
larger amounts per year. Employees of both sexes in the automobile
plants (107,773 studied) worked an average of 38.1 weeks while the
corresponding group in automotive-parts plants (35,266 studied)
worked an average of 36.4 weeks during the year for their respective
peak-season employers. The average annual earnings of this auto
mobile group were $941 in contrast to the average of $777 earned by
automotive-parts employees. The men employed by automobile
plants (101,617 studied) worked an average of 38.1 weeks during
the year and earned an average of $953, while the men employed by
automotive-parts plants worked an average of only 36.8 weeks and
earned an average of only $819. In automobile plants the female
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
542
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
workers were employed mainly in the offices, while male workers were
predominantly in the factories. The women as a class thus worked
more regularly than the men. In 1934 the women in automobile
plants (11,540 studied) averaged 39.2 weeks of employment, as com
pared with 38.1 weeks for male automobile workers and as compared
with 34.6 weeks for female workers in automotive-parts plants (5,384
studied). The average annual earnings of women from the auto
mobile plants studied were $736, while from the automotive-parts
plants this female group earned an average of $545 during the year.
Woman factory workers in automobile plants (3,173 studied) were
employed for an average of 33.4 weeks and earned an average of
$560 during 1934. In automotive-parts plants, the 4,420 woman
factory workers studied obtained an average of 32.2 weeks of employ
ment and earned an average of $464 from these plants.
T able 11 .— D istrib u tio n o f E m p lo y m e n t, b y Sex, D u ring 1934, in A u tom ob ile
and A u to m o tiv e -P a r ts P la n ts
Males
Period of employment
Females
Automo
Automo
Automobile tive-parts
Automobile tive-parts
plants
plants
plants
plants
Less than 2 weeks...................
2 and less than 4 weeks________
4 and less than 6 weeks_____
6 and less than 8 weeks_____
8 and less than 10 w eek s.. ..............
46
365
941
1,397
1,586
18
165
292
358
577
2
14
36
86
85
o
24
48
69
146
10 and
12 and
14 and
16 and
18 and
less
less
less
less
less
than
than
than
than
than
12 weeks_______
14 weeks________
16 weeks_______
18 w eeks. _. . . .
20 weeks_____________
1,660
2,014
2,190
2,586
2,771
773
774
828
903
851
95
96
108
139
125
188
200
235
187
178
20 and
22 and
24 and
26 and
28 and
less
less
less
less
less
than
than
than
than
than
22 w e e k s ..______
24 weeks_____.
26 w eeks______
28 weeks________
30 weeks________
2,820
2,719
2,918
2,857
2,660
990
1,049
915
818
709
159
165
180
195
167
203
180
121
136
112
30 and less
32 and less
34 and less
36 and less
38 and less
than
than
than
than
than
32 weeks. . .
34 weeks________
36 weeks______________
38 weeks______
40 weeks_______ .
2,758
2,536
2, 649
2,894
3,066
774
668
658
916
845
164
158
171
207
183
134
123
160
185
190
40 and
42 and
44 and
46 and
48 and
than
than
than
than
than
42 weeks___
44 weeks___________
46 weeks___ ______
48 weeks_____
50 weeks___________
3,170
3,814
4,018
5,248
6,217
840
962
759
1,062
1,773
189
193
225
238
250
211
167
165
236
321
35, 717
10, 605
2,526
1,465
101, 617
29,882
6,156
5, 384
less
less
less
less
less
50 and o v e r ......... ................ ..............
Total_____ ______ _____________ ______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AG ES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN DUSTRY
543
More important than average annual employment and earnings is
the distribution of work and earnings among individual workers.
Approximately one-third of the workers were employed continuously
(50 weeks or more per year) in both the automobile and the auto
motive-parts divisions of the industry. The remaining two-thirds of
the workers were employed in substantial numbers for each period
from 6 weeks to 50 weeks during the year. Four times as many work
ers were employed for periods of 48 to 50 weeks as were employed for
periods of 6 to 8 weeks. Nevertheless, for the majority group of
irregularly employed workers, there was no period of employment
which occurred with outstanding frequency and hence no basis for
definite expectation as to the amount of work which might be
obtained. In the automobile division one-quarter of the men were
employed for less than 27 weeks of the year by the plants which
engaged them in April; one-quarter of the women were engaged for
less than 29 weeks. In the automotive-parts division one-quarter of
the men secured less than 24 weeks and one-quarter of the women less
than 21 weeks of employment during the year from the plants which
employed them in April 1934 (table 11).
Annual earnings in the motor-vehicle industry conformed to type
more than did the employment periods of these same workers. The
annual earnings most frequently received by men in the automobile
division lay between $1,100 and $1,200 (table 12). Yet one-quarter
of the men received less than $590 during 1934 from the plants which
employed them in April of that year. Women employed by auto
mobile plants in April receiving from $700 to $800 during the year
formed the most important annual earnings group. One-quarter of all
the women studied received less than $454 from these plants. In the
automotive-parts division the most common earnings of men lay be
tween $900 and $1,000 per year, but less than $350 per year was
earned from the plants studied by one-quarter of the men. Women
earning from $700 to $800 during 1934 formed the largest annual
earnings group, but almost as large a number earned from $200 to $300
during the year. One-quarter of the women studied who were em
ployed by automotive-parts plants in April 1934 earned less than $285
during the year as the result of work in those plants.
Irregularity of employment affected highly paid workers almost as
severely as those who earned the smaller amounts per hour. The
tendency to employ the highly paid operatives more regularly was
very slight. Very great differences were discovered, however, in the
regularity of employment and the annual earnings provided by differ
ent plants within the industry.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
544
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T able 12 .— D istrib u tio n o f E arnings, b y Sex, D u rin g 1934, in A u tom ob ile and
A u to m o tiv e -P a r ts P la n ts
Males
Annual earnings
Females
Automo
bile plants
Automo
tive-parts
plants
Automo
bile plants
Less than $100.....................
$100 and less than $200___
$200 and less than $300___
$300 and less than $400___
$400 and less than $500___
1, 529
3. 217
4,565
5,201
5,614
748
1,633
2,007
2,221
2,311
133
295
372
450
534
219
598
619
590
533
$500 and less than $600___
$600 and less than $700___
$700 and less than $800___
$800 and less than $900___
$900 and less than $1,000..
5,921
5,943
6,478
6,561
7,431
2,022
1,836
2, 099
2,229
2,469
546
532
627
585
538
541
592
632
381
243
$1,000 and
$1,100 and
$1,200 and
$1,300 and
$1,400 and
less
less
less
less
less
$1,100.
$1,200.
$1,300.
$1,400.
$1,500.
8,065
9,356
9, 275
6,683
4,629
2,307
1,924
1,656
1,274
874
491
443
250
169
87
161
84
95
40
24
$1,500 and
$1,600 and
$1,700 and
$1,800 and
$1,900 and
$2,000 and
less than $1,600.
less than $1,700.
less than $1,800.
less than $1,900.
less than $2,000.
over_________
3,415
2,484
1,761
1,103
717
1,669
616
484
356
251
160
405
45
34
20
5
12
8
9
3
101,617
29,882
6,156
5,384
than
than
than
than
than
Total............. ............
Automo
tive-parts
plants
Annual Earnings From the Industry and From All Sources
The annual earnings data, just described, cover only the income
from the specific plants surveyed, by the individuals employed
therein. Such information fails to give a complete picture of the
earnings of these persons, since the workers studied might supplement
their income by employment outside the plants which were surveyed.
A special field study was therefore undertaken by the Women’s Bureau
of the Department of Labor to determine the value of such supple
mentary income. Lists of motor-vehicle workers employed in April
1934 were supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for use by agents
of the Women’s Bureau to locate the homes of 3,538 workers in
Detroit, Cleveland, Flint, and Kenosha.
The schedules obtained from these family visits provided two
items of information which are relevant to a discussion of wages in the
motor-vehicle industry: (1) Annual income of the worker from all
employment in the industry, whether from the selected plants or not
and (2) annual income of these workers obtained from all employment
whatsoever, whether derived from the motor-vehicle industry or not.23
By means of this information it was possible to estimate the amount
of such annual incomes of all workers in the motor-vehicle industry.24
23 Information was also obtained as to total family income and family composition. Certain parts of this
information will be treated in the bulletin of which this article is a summary. More extended treatment of
this information will be discussed in a forthcoming report by the Women’s Bureau.
24 It should be noted that the following estimates apply only to income from wages and salaries. N o
account was taken of nonwage income from farms nor of relief payments, even where relief work was per
formed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
545
W AG ES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
In the overwhelming majority of cases, the worker who received a
low annual income from a single plant in the industry still received a
low income from the motor-vehicle industry as a whole. Even among
those workers who earned less than $200 a year in the plants surveyed,
three-quarters of the individuals obtained no employment from other
plants in the industry, and nine-tenths of those who earned as much
as $400 in one plant worked in no other motor-vehicle plant during
the year (table 13).
T ab le 1 3 .— P ercen tages o f W orkers D e p e n d en t U p on E m p lo y m e n t in a Sin gle
M otor-V eh icle P la n t D u rin g 1934, C lassified b y A n nu al E arnings in P la n t
S u rveyed
Annual earnings in plant surveyed
Percent with
no other
earnings
from the
industry
Number of
workers
covered
Percent with
no other
wages during
year
Less than $100___ ____ _ ____________ ______________
$100 and less than $200______________________________
$200 and less than $300______________________________
$300 and less than $400____ . . ____________________ _
$400 and less than $500____ _________________ ________
85
199
286
325
381
71.8
78.9
82.9
89.5
92.7
56.5
62.8
62.9
73.5
79.3
$500 and less
$600 and less
$700 and less
$800 and less
$900 and less
457
422
356
298
206
91.3
92.6
93.8
94.6
93.7
84.0
84.1
89.3
90.9
91.3
than
than
than
than
than
$600.____ ________________ ____ ___
$700________ __________ ________ _
$800______________________________
$900____ ________________ _________
$1,000___________________ _________
$1,000 and
$1,100 and
$1,200 and
$1,300 and
$1,400 and
less than
less than
Jess than
less than
less than
$1,100___ ____ ___ ______ ____ ____
$1,200_________ __________ _____
$1,300__________ . . ____________
$ 1 ,4 0 0 ._____________
____
$1,500... ______________ .
156
97
80
61
34
93.6
94.9
96.3
93.4
100.0
91.0
92.8
96.3
90.2
100.0
$1,500 and
$1,600 and
$1,700 and
$1,800 and
$1,900 and
$2,000 and
less than $1,600____________ _________ ____
less than $1,700___________________________
less than $1,800___________________________
less than $1,900_________________ _______
less than $2,000..___________________ . . . .
o v e r ................................................. ............ .........
31
21
100.0
95.2
87.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
95.2
87.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
Total_____________________ __________________
3,538
8
12
7
16
The majority of motor-vehicle workers received no wages whatever
in addition to those earned in the individual plant which was surveyed.
Two-thirds of those who earned as much as $200, four-fifths of those
who earned as much as $500 and nine-tenths of those who earned
$800 or more from individual plants earned nothing during the year
from work in any other establishments, inside or outside the motorvehicle industry (table 13).
Employment in the motor-vehicle plants surveyed provided half
of the individuals therein with less than $906 and the other half with
more than this amount during the year 1934. Additional employ
ment of these individuals by other plants within the industry added
an average of between $20 and $40 per year to the incomes of these
workers. Employment by all plants in the motor-vehicle industry
furnished the lower-paid half of the workers with as much as $933
during the year. There remained the chance for employment of
motor-vehicle workers in plants outside of the industry. Half of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
546
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
the workers who were employed by motor-vehicle plants during their
busy season earned wages of less than $947 from all types of employ
ment during the year 1934 (table 14).
The longer the employment provided by a given plant, the smaller
was the worker’s chance of obtaining work elsewhere. Hence, in
general, the amount of supplementary income declined sharply as the
wages earned in an individual plant increased. One-quarter of
the workers, who earned the smallest amounts, received less than
$527 per year from the plants surveyed, less than $562 from all motorvehicle plants which employed them during the year and less than $591
per year from all types of work taken together. This broad group
with low incomes thus added an average of $35 per year by finding
additional employment within the industry and they added, besides,
an average of $29 per year by securing employment outside the
industry. All kinds of supplementary employment thus furnished
the least fortunate one-quarter with an average of $64 per year beyond
what was received from the individual plants surveyed. By con
trast, the most fortunate one-quarter of the motor-vehicle workers
earned $1,225 or more from individual plants, $1,247 from all plants
in the industry, and $1,255 from all types of employment during the
year. This latter group of best-paid workers thus obtained an aver
age supplement of $30 per year in addition to wages received from the
plants which primarily employed them—an average supplement of $22
from secondary employment within the motor-vehicle industry, plus
an average of $8 per year from employment outside of the industry.
T able 14 .— C u m u lative P ercen tage D istr ib u tio n o f E stim a te d A nnual E arnings
o f W orkers in M otor-V eh icle In d u stry , 1934
Percent of workers with earnings of less than
specified, amounts, from—
Annual earnings
Individual
plants in which
pay rolls were
noted
All motorvehicle plants
providing em
ployment
All sources of
wages
Less
Less
Less
Less
Less
than
than
than
than
than
$100___________________________ ________
$200___ _________________________________
$300 _____ _____ ______________________
$400_____________________________________
$500______ ______ _______________________
1.8
5.8
11.1
17.0
23.3
1.3
4.6
9. 1
14.9
21.2
1.0
3.7
7.5
13.0
19.1
Less
Less
Less
Less
Less
than
than
than
than
than
$600_____________________________________
$700_____________________________________
$800_____________________________________
______________________
$900, .. _______ _
$1,000. _ _____________________ ____________
29.6
35.8
42.7
49.5
57.0
27.3
33.6
40.6
47.5
55.1
25.6
31.9
39.3
46.4
54.1
Less
Less
Less
Less
Less
than
than
than
than
than
$1,100_____ _______
__________________
$1,200____________ _________________ ____
$1,300______ ____________________________
$1,400_______________________ ______ _ __
$1,500... _______________________ ______ .
164.7
| 73.0
80.9
86.6
90.5
62.8
71.1
79.3
85.1
89.3
61.9
70.4
78.8
84.7
89.1
Less
Less
Less
Less
Less
than
than
than
than
than
$1,600___________ _______ ______ __________
$1,700______________ ____________________
$1,800_____ ______ ____________ ____ ____
$1,900__________________________________ .
$2,000---------- ------ ----- --------- ----------- ---------
93.4
95.5
97.0
98.0
98.6
92.5
94.6
96.3
97. 5
98.3
92.3
94.5
96.3
97.3
98.3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES IN MOTOR-VEHICLE INDUSTRY
547
Sex Differentials in Earnings and Hours 25
T he men in the motor-vehicle industry earned an average of about
42 percent more per hour, had an average working week about 5
percent longer and thus earned approximately 50 percent more per
week than did the woman employees. Since more than nine-tenths
of the industry’s workers are men, the general averages conceal the
very much lower hourly and weekly wages paid to the women.
The average hourly earnings of all the men studied in April 1934
were 70.7 cents, in contrast with the average of 48.9 cents an hour
which was earned by the women. Similar differences existed in the
slack month of September and in both divisions of the industry.
During April, 85.5 percent of the women in the industry but only 22.5
percent of the men had average earnings of less than 60 cents an
hour. In the automobile division of the industry, 80.2 percent of
the women averaged less than 60 cents an hour in April while only
15.2 percent of the men were paid less per hour. In the automotiveparts plants 90.1 percent of the women and 43.6 percent of the men
averaged less than 60 cents an hour during this month of active
production.
The sex differential for the smaller group of office workers was less
than for the factory workers. Male factory workers earned an aver
age of 71.0 cents an hour or 20.5 cents more than female factory workers
in April, and 72.4 cents an hour or 24.8 cents more than female
factory workers in September. Male office workers earned an average
of 65.3 cents an hour or 19.4 cents more than female office workers in
April and an average of 67.6 cents an hour or 15.4 cents more than
female office workers in September.
The average working time of all the males studied in April was
38.8 hours per week as compared with an average of 36.4 hours per
week for women in this month. More than 40 hours per week were
worked in April by 39 percent of the men and by only 15.4 percent of
the women. As the working week decreased during 1934, the hours
differential as between the sexes decreased in the motor-vehicle
industry as a whole. In September the average weekly hours in the
whole industry were 33.6 for men and 32.1 for women.
Within the office group, the hours of work for the two sexes were
more similar than within the larger factory group. The average
weekly hours of office workers during April were 40.7 for males and
39.4 for females. In September female office workers in the whole
industry actually worked for a slightly longer average of weekly
hours than did male office workers, the average being 38.1 hours for
men and 38.9 hours for women.
2» Compare tables 1, 2, and 3 (pp. 523, 524, and 527).
49645— 36----- 3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
548
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
The average weekly earnings of all the men studied in April 1934
were $27.45 as compared with an average of $17.80 per week for all
the women. Male earnings were thus $9.65 per week or 54 percent
greater than female earnings. Four-fifths of the women but only
one-quarter of the men earned less than $22.80 per week in this active
month. This differential was much greater in parts plants than in
automobile plants, both in April and September of that year. The
differential became slightly less as the industry entered its slack season,
largely because the working hours, and hence the weekly earnings, of
the woman office workers were well sustained. In September, male
workers in the entire industry earned an average of $24.33 per week
while all the women studied earned an average of $16.08. Male
earnings during the slack season thus averaged $8.25 per week or
51 percent more than the corresponding earnings of women. Less
than $22 per week was earned in September by 38 percent of the
men and by 82 percent of the women.
Within the dominant factory group, the superiority of the men’s
weekly earnings became greater as the industry approached the
slack season. In April male factory workers earned an average of
$27.49 per week while female factory workers earned an average of
$17.67. In September, however, the male average of weekly earnings
for factory workers fell only to $24.23 as compared with a fall in
women’s earnings among the factory workers to an average of $12.47
per week. In the automotive-parts division, the average weekly
earnings of woman factory workers fell to $10.69 per week in Septem
ber or little more than half of the $20.95 earned by male factory
workers in those plants.
Occupational Differentials Among Male Workers
T he men employed by automobile plants were classified, for the
purposes of the 1934 study, into 58 occupational groups, including 11
groups which had not been designated separately prior to 1934.26
Among these 58 occupational groups the averages of hourly earnings
in April 1934 ranged from $1.06 for bumpers and dingmen to 56.4
cents an hour for the nonproductive service occupations (table 15).
The corresponding range had been much narrower during the depres
sion year 1932 (86.0 to 56.1 cents per hour), and it also became nar
rower during the slack month of September 1934 (99.7 to 60.0 cents
per hour).
58 ®ee M onthly Labor Review, June 1933 (p. 1365). Of these 11 occupational groups, 4 were included
in 1934 but omitted from the studies of 1920 and 1932: Office, supervisory; stenographers and telephone
operators, office, clerical; powerhouse employees. Seven other groups were shown previously as “other
employees : Supervisory, group I, group II; maintenance, skilled, unskilled; miscellaneous nonproduc
tive, unskilled; shippers and car drivers; nonproductive service employees. These occupations which
were specified for the first time in 1934 embraced 14 percent of the males studied in April and 19 percent
of the males studied in September of that year.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
549
W AG ES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN DUSTRY
T ab le 15.— A verage H ou rly E arnings and R e la tiv e E m p lo y m e n t o f M ales in
A u tom ob ile P la n ts, b y O ccup ation , April and Septem ber 1934
Average hourly earnings
Occupational group
April
1934
All occupations, males___________ _______________
Processing occupations:
Bumpers and d in g m en _____________ ______ _
Letterers, stripers, and final touch-ups.......... .......
Hammermen, forge shop------ -------- ------------Metal finishers.. ------------ --------------------------Cutters, cloth and leather_____________ ______
Miscellaneous productive occupations, sk illed ...
Lacquer rubbers--------------- . ------------------ . .
Door hangers and panel assemblers--------------- ..
Polishers and buffers (plating)________________
Paint sprayers----------------- ------ --------------------Gear-cutter operators------- ---------------------------Top builders and trimmers----- ------ ------------Woodworking-machine operators--------------------Machine operators, group I I 1------------------------Assemblers, body frame____________ ________
Sheet-metalworkers_________ ______ _____ _
Assemblers, motor and transmission___________
Welders, machine____ . ----------- -------------Sewers and trim bench hands------------------------Sanders and rough-stuff rubbers------------ -----Assemblers, chassis and final_________________
Machine operators, group 1 2------ -------------------Hardeners and annealers_____________________
Assemblers, chassis frame____________________
Bench hands, machine shop---------------------------Assemblers, axle. . . . ---------- ------ ---------------Punch and press operators------ ------ ---------------Platers---------- ----------------- ------------------------Sandblasters, etc____ . . . ------ ---------------- . . Miscellaneous productive occupations, unskilled.
Nonprocessing occupations:
Supervisory occupations, group I ........... ..............
,
Tool and die makers-------- ------------ ------------Miscellaneous nonproductive o c c u p a t io n s ,
skilled__________ . . -------------------Pattern makers--------- ------------- ----------------Supervisory occupations, group II------------------Office, supervisory___________________________
Maintenance, skilled--------------- ------ ------ -----M illwrights________________ ______ _________
Power-house occupations___________________ .
Crane operators, miscellaneous-----------------------Miscellaneous nonproductive occupations, un• skilled _____________ . ----------------- --------Stenographers and telephone operators........... .
Office, clerical---- --------------------------------Material handlers and stock ers.................. ...........
Maintenance, unskilled__________ ____ _______
Truckers, power. . __________ _____ ________
Miscellaneous occupations:3
M achinists---- -------------------- -----------------------Welders and braziers, hand--------------------- -----Die setters________________ _____ ____________
Foundry occupations________________________
Inspectors, testers, balancers, and straighteners..
Forge shop (except hammermen)______ _______
Paint shop, miscellaneous____________________
Helpers (except forge shop)............... ....................—
Shippers and car drivers--------------------------------Laborers __________________________________
Apprentices......................................... ....................
Nonproductive service occupations........................
Per
Sep
tember centage
1934 change
Number of employees
reported
April
1934
Per
Sep
tember centage
1934 change
C ents
C en ts
72.7
74.2
+ 2.1
109,238
72,214
-3 3 .9
106.3
89.5
87.1
86.7
85.7
84.2
84.1
81.5
80.0
78.3
77.8
76.9
75.8
75.4
75.3
75.2
74.5
74.3
74.2
72.3
72.0
71.4
70.9
70.3
69.7
69.4
69.3
68.9
67.3
65.8
99.7
86.5
80.3
85.5
89.3
82.8
82.8
82.1
81.5
75.4
75.5
78.4
78.0
77.0
78.4
75.3
75.3
72.2
75.6
71.9
73.3
73.8
69.9
71.3
74.3
75.1
70.4
71.0
70.5
68.3
- 6 .2
- 3 .4
- 7 .8
- 1 .4
+ 4 .2
- 1 .7
- 1 .5
+ .7
+ 1.9
- 3 .7
- 3 .0
+ 2 .0
+ 2.9
+ 2.1
+ 4.1
+ .1
+ 1.1
- 2 .8
+ 1 .9
-.6
+ 1 .8
+ 3 .4
- 1 .4
+ 1 .4
+ 6 .6
+ 8 .2
+ 1 .6
+ 3 .0
+ 4.8
+ 3.8
433
668
665
4,545
172
737
1,334
1,691
682
1,497
514
3,936
1,009
4, 606
2,278
1,821
1,966
2,278
786
1,848
8,114
6,985
722
456
450
1,478
4, 566
245
902
455
222
396
564
1,989
90
543
711
802
461
1,025
328
1,972
440
3, 552
1,114
1,232
1,256
1,011
403
905
4, 724
4, 550
553
282
318
785
1,891
183
453
297
-4 8 .7
-4 0 . 7
—15. 2
—56. 2
-4 7 .7
—26.3
—46. 7
—52. 6
—32.4
—31. 5
—36. 2
—49.9
—56.4
—22.9
—51.1
—32. 3
—36.1
-5 5 .6
-4 8 .7
—51. 0
-4 1 .8
-3 4 .9
—23. 4
-3 8 .2
-2 9 .3
-4 6 .9
—58. 6
—25. 3
-4 9 .8
-3 4 .7
93.9
89.9
95.2
93.3
+ 1 .4
+ 3.8
1,229
2,123
1,056
2,470
-1 4 .1
+16.3
87.6
86.7
79.8
75.4
73.1
71.9
68.9
68.5
89.5
90.9
83.4
77.9
74.3
72.2
70.8
71.4
+ 2.2
+ 4 .8
+ 4.5
+ 3.3
+ 1 .6
+• 4
+ 2 .8
+ 4 .2
1,036
513
1,759
641
3,093
1,082
573
396
954
511
1,628
740
2,460
878
488
407
- 7 .9
-.4
- 7 .4
+15.4
—20. 5
-1 8 .9
—14.8
+ 2.8
66.7
66.7
65.1
64.9
62.9
62.8
67.7
67.5
67.0
68.3
65.0
64.6
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .9
+ 5 .2
+ 3.3
+ 2 .9
274
117
4, 236
1,949
527
1,193
308
89
3,626
1,509
498
887
+12.4
-2 3 .9
—14.4
-2 2 .6
—5. 5
-2 5 .6
79.0
78.7
77.4
74.8
72.4
72.1
71.7
65.2
61.1
60.7
58.1
56.4
80.3
78.1
80.2
76.8
74.4
71.2
71.8
65.0
63.8
61.7
60.0
57.3
+ 1 .6
- .8
+ 3 .6
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .8
- 1 .2
+ .1
- .3
+ 4 .4
+ 1 .6
+ 3 .3
+ 1 .6
1,993
1,955
464
1,188
5,336
1,133
588
1,733
1,262
12, 377
674
1,955
2,143
1,131
394
710
3,866
681
441
764
879
7,484
296
1,864
+ 7 .5
-4 2 .1
-1 5 .1
-4 0 .2
—27.5
-3 9 .9
—25.0
—55.9
—30.3
—39. 5
-5 6 .1
- 4 .7
1 Boring mill operators, grinding machine operators, nonautomatic lathe operators, planer and shaper
operators.
,
2 Automatic lathe and screw machine operators, drill press operators and milling machine operators.
¡Occupations embracing both processing and nonprocessing employees.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
550
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T ab le 16 .— A verage H ou rly E arnings and R e la tiv e E m p lo y m e n t o f M ale
E m p lo y ees in A u to m o tiv e -P a r ts P la n ts, b y O ccup ation , April and S ep tem ber
1934
Average hourly earnings
Occupational group
April
1934
All occupations, m ales.—_______ ________ ____ _____
Processing occupations
Lacquer rubbers____ ________________ _______
Letterers, stripers, and touch-ups.. . . . __ . . .
Polishers and buffers (plating)_________________
Paint sprayers_______________________________
Metal finishers_______________________________
Welders, machine_________ ____ _______ _______
Platers_____________________ _________________
Gear-cutter operators___ ____________________
Assemblers, chassis and final_____________ _____
Sheet-metal workers__________________________
Punch and press operators____________________
Machine operators, group I 1____ ______________
Sandblasters, etc______ ______________________
Assemblers, motor and transmission____________
Miscellaneous productive occupations 2_________
Machine operators, group I I 3___________ _____
Assemblers, chassis frame_____________________
Assemblers, body frame and panel.........................
Assemblers, a x le........................................................
Nonprocessing occupations:
Tool, die, and pattern makers_______________ .
Miscellaneous nonproductive, skilled______ ____
Supervisory occupations______________________
Office, supervisory_________________ ________
Maintenance, skilled_________ ________________
M illwrights....................................................................
Office, clerks________ ________ ______________
Miscellaneous nonproductive, unskilled 4_____
Maintenance, unskilled_______________________
Service occupations.....................................................
Miscellaneous occupations:5
Die setters___________________________________
M achinists_____ ___________________________ _
Welders and braziers, hand___ ________________
Paint shop, miscellaneous.-_____________ ____
Forge-shop occupations_______________________
Inspectors and testers..................... ..........._. _____
Helpers (except forge shop)__________ . . . _____
Shippers_____ _____ ________________ _____
Laborers______________ _____________ _ . .
Apprentices________ _________ _____ ____ ____
Per
Sep
tember centage
1934 change
Number of employees
April
1934
Sep
Per
tember centage
1934 change
C en ts
C en ts
64.9
66.1
+ 1 .8
37,212
21,776
-4 1 . 5
92.4
84.2
81.9
81.8
80.7
71.5
70.1
64.7
63.4
63.1
62.8
62.6
62.4
62.3
61.5
61.1
60.7
58.1
56.1
89.5
77.3
73.9
75.2
76.6
68.3
65.3
65.3
58.0
62.1
63.6
64.9
62.0
64.4
63.4
64.9
62.8
61.4
61.3
- 3 .1
- 8 .2
- 9 .8
- 8 .1
- 5 .1
- 4 .5
- 6 .8
+ .9
- 8 .5
- 1 .6
+ 1.3
+ 3 .7
- .6
+ 3 .4
+ 3.1
+ 6 .2
+ 3 .5
+ 5 .7
+ 9 .3
312
208
1,887
235
1,021
575
476
367
1,481
1,373
2,411
3,680
303
923
1,019
3,143
450
122
475
52
51
437
132
306
224
175
244
726
755
981
2,246
151
572
672
2,037
180
46
308
-8 3 .3
-7 5 .5
-7 6 .8
-4 3 .8
-7 0 .0
-6 1 .0
-6 3 .2
-3 3 .5
-5 1 .0
-4 5 .0
-5 9 .3
-3 9 .0
-5 0 .2
-3 8 .0
-3 4 .1
-3 5 .2
-6 0 .0
-6 2 .3
-3 5 . 2
85.7
83.1
79.8
71.3
67. 7
64.7
59.7
57.3
56.9
52.0
87.7
86.9
80.2
73.0
69.0
66.6
60.8
58.4
57.4
51.5
+ 2 .3
+4. 6
+ .5
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .8
+ 1.9
+ .9
-1 .0
1,737
323
749
316
560
295
1,348
798
245
981
1,461
360
707
294
422
201
1,088
570
153
832
-1 5 .9
+11.5
- 5 .6
-7 .0
-2 4 .6
-3 1 .9
-1 9 .3
-2 8 .6
-3 7 .6
-1 5 .2
76.4
72.6
68.6
65.9
65.6
59.9
58.2
55.5
52.0
48.9
80.7
73.4
67.9
64.6
70.8
62.0
59.8
54.4
51.5
54.0
+ 5 .6
+ 1.1
- 1 .0
- 2 .0
+ 7 .9
+ 3 .5
+ 2 .7
-2 .0
- 1 .0
+10.4
249
959
309
191
814
2, 727
509
548
2, 935
158
171
730
186
154
484
1,528
175
330
1,487
148
-3 1 .3
-2 3 .9
-3 9 .8
-1 9 .4
-4 0 .5
-4 4 .0
-6 5 .6
-3 9 .8
-4 9 .3
- 6 .3
1 Includes automatic lathe and screw, drill press, and milling machine operators.
2 Includes also foundry and heat treat employees, machine shop bench hands, bumpers, designmen, and
glass assemblers.
3 Includes boring mill, grinding machine, lathe, planer, and shaper operators.
4 Includes also material handlers and stock-room labor.
4 Occupations embracing both processing and nonprocessing workers.
The employees of automotive-parts plants were classified into 39
occupational groups. Since this division of the motor-vehicle indus
try was surveyed by the Bureau for the first time in 1934, no earlier
information for occupational groups is available. Among the men
engaged in the 39 specified occupations, average hourly earnings in
April 1934 ranged from 92.4 cents for lacquer rubbers to 48.9 cents
for apprentices (table 16). The range of average hourly earnings
became distinctly narrower during the slack season of that year.
In September 1934, lacquer rubbers earned an average of 89.5 cents
an hour while the men employed as laborers and in various service
occupations earned an average of 51.5 cents an hour.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AG ES IN MOTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
551
Certain occupations in the motor-vehicle industry are directly
concerned with the direct processing of materials. Such occupations
are much more sensitive to the volume of current production than are
the nonprocessing occupations such as supervisory employees, office
workers, tool and die makers, and maintenance employees. Of the
58 occupational groups designated for the automobile division, 30
were identified as concerned almost entirely with direct processing, 16
were identified as nonprocessing occupations, while 12 occupations
contained a mixture of both types of workers or workers which are
classified differently in different plants. In the parts division, 19
occupations were classified as processing, 10 as nonprocessing and
10 as combined or doubtful. In both divisions of the industry, the
men employed in processing occupations suffered a much more severe
curtailment of employment and obtained much less consistent gains
in average hourly earnings between April and September 1934 than
did the nonprocessing occupations.
Information as to the average weekly hours and average weekly
earnings of each of the occupations designated will be published
in a forthcoming bulletin of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.27 This
material indicates that the processing occupations suffered even
greater declines in hours and weekly earnings as the industry entered
its slack season of 1934 than did the nonprocessing occupations.
Regional Differentials in Earnings and Hours, April 1934
A pproxim ately three-fifths of the motor-vehicle workers in the
United States are employed in plants located in the State of Michigan.
Among these Michigan plants, considerable differences in earnings
and hours were found as between the immediate area of Detroit,
including the suburbs, and the remainder of the State. Hence the
Bureau’s study of the industry for 1934 distinguishes between these
two areas as well as among the eight States outside of Michigan where
substantial numbers of motor-vehicle employees are to be found.
The regional differences discovered are here summarized for the
month of April 1934, since the fuller employment at that time makes
the period somewhat more representative than September 1934. The
averages cited are based upon a selection of employees in representative
occupations and hence differ slightly from the corresponding averages
for all employees.28 The relative position of the various regions is not
believed to be affected by this selection, however.
27 The average hourly earnings, weekly hours and weekly earnings of women in 7 occupations of the
automobile division and 9 occupations of the parts division will also be given in this bulletin. Comparisons
will be drawn between the earnings and hours of specific occupations in 1930 and 1932 and the earnings and
hours of all comparable occupations in April and September 1934.
2« The selected occupations included nine-tenths of all the employees studied. Office as well as factory
workers were represented in the selection.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
552
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
Average hourly earnings in the motor-vehicle industry ranged from
72.0 cents in Detroit to 59.9 cents in Illinois during April 1934 (table
17). In the automobile division of the industry, average hourly earn
ings ranged from 74.7 cents in Michigan outside of Detroit to 62.2 cents
in Indiana. The corresponding range among automotive-parts plants
was from 68.9 cents an hour in Detroit to 56.6 cents in the Michigan
area outside Detroit. It is noteworthy that in the automobile division
the Michigan plants outside of Detroit paid an average of 2 cents an
hour more than the Detroit plants. In the automotive-parts division
the Michigan plants outside Detroit paid an average of 12.3 cents an
hour less than Detroit plants. In fact, these automotive-parts plants
in Michigan outside Detroit paid a lower average of hourly earnings
than did automotive-parts plants in any other major area.
Table 17 also shows the average weekly hours and weekly earnings
of workers in each of the regions which were designated. It will
be seen that average weekly earnings were highest in Detroit for both
divisions of the industry. Automobile plants in Detroit worked for
sufficiently long hours to overcome their disadvantage in hourly
earnings as compared with the plants in Michigan outside Detroit.
T ab le 1 7 .— R egion al A verages o f H ou rly E arnings, W eek y H ours, and W eek ly
E arnings In R e p r esen ta tiv e O ccup ation s in A u tom ob ile and A u to m o tiv eP arts P la n ts, A pril 1934
Average hourly earnings Average weekly hours
Region
Average weekly earnings
Auto Motor- Auto Auto MotorAuto Auto MotorAuto motivevehicle mobile
vehicle
motive- vehicle
mobile motiveindus
parts
parts indus mobile
parts
indus
plants plants
plants plants
plants plants
try
try
try
C t.
C t.
All areas studied_________
71.6
61.9
71.0
39.1
37.2
38.6
$27. 98
$23.05
$26. 69
Detroit__ _____ __________
Michigan, except D etroit—
All areas outside Michigan.
Ohio_______ _________
Indiana______________
N ew York. . ________
Pennsylvania-New Jer
sey________________
Wisconsin____________
Missouri...........................
Illinois.______________
California................. .......
72.7
74.7
66.9
69.0
62.2
69.3
68.9
56.6
57.8
58.1
59.8
60.0
72.0
69.3
64.0
65.1
61.1
66.6
40.3
37.6
37.8
40.4
29.2
39.2
36.7
37.5
37.6
38.7
36.9
36.5
39.6
37.6
37.8
39.8
32.3
38.4
29.30
28.12
25. 30
27.89
18.17
27.15
25.33
21. 24
21.75
22. 52
22. 06
21. 92
28.47
26.06
24.17
25. 90
19. 74
25. 60
68.2
65.6
67.3
0)
(9
857.7
(9
65.9
61.9
67.3
59.9
64.8
37.7
39.1
39.0
(9
(9
37.8
39.2
39.0
39.3
36.8
25.74
25. 68
26. 24
(')
C t.
(9
(9
(2)
36.2
(9
(9
(9
0)
(>)
(2)
20. 93
(9
24. 90
24. 26
26. 24
23. 54
23. 08
i Insufficient numbers in sample to represent the State.
* N o sample of automotive parts plants in Missouri.
The annual earnings of male automobile workers averaged $1,003
in Detroit and $970 in the rest of Michigan. Average annual earn
ings were higher in Detroit, in spite of the lower level of hourly
earnings in that area, because the males in Detroit were able to obtain
an average of 39.0 weeks of work as compared with 37.8 weeks in
Michigan outside Detroit. In Indiana the male automobile workers
averaged only $672 during 1934.
The female automobile workers
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AGES IN M OTOR-VEHICLE IN D U STR Y
553
earned an average of $752 in Detroit, $692 in Michigan outside
Detroit, and $750 in all the plants studied outside of Michigan.
In the automotive-parts division male workers in all the plants
studied outside of Michigan obtained an average of 40.0 weeks of
employment and earned an average of $866. The Detroit males in
this division worked for an average of only 33.3 weeks and earned an
average of $825, while in Michigan outside Detroit an average of
$707 was received by men for an average of 35.9 weeks of work.
The women in automotive-parts plants earned an average of $615
outside Michigan, $507 in Detroit, and $514 in Michigan plants
outside Detroit.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M oney D isbursem ents o f Wage E arn ers and Clerical
W orkers in 11 N e w H am pshire C om m unities
By F aith M . W il l ia m s , of th e B u r e a u
op
L abor S t a tistic s
URING the fall and winter of 1934-35 the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics studied the money disbursements of wage
earners and lower-salaried clerical workers in 11 communities in New
Hampshire, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Minimum Wage
Office and the New Hampshire Emergency Relief Administration.1
This New Hampshire study forms a part of a Nation-wide survey
of the money disbursements of the families of the wage-earner and
lower-salaried clerical groups, made for the purpose of revising and
extending the cost-of-living indexes published currently by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. These indexes are at present based on
data obtained in the Bureau’s study of family expenditures in 1917-19,
the last Nation-wide study of family purchases made in this country.
The kinds of articles available in the retail market and consumer
purchasing habits have changed greatly in the last 15 years. Some
goods which were not widely available in 1917-19 are now purchased
regularly by families of moderate and low income. Other goods
have decreased in relative importance. A number of studies of
consumer purchasing have been made since 1919 by various agencies,
but they have not been sufficiently extensive or coordinated in such
a way as to provide the data needed either for revising the Bureau’s
cost-of-living indexes or for estimating present-day consumer demand.
The data collected in the current investigation will not only be
used for the purpose of computing new indexes of the cost of goods
purchased by wage earners and lower-salaried clerical workers, but
will also be valuable in providing producers, distributors, and Govern
ment agencies with information about differences in the average
consumption patterns of these classes of workers at different economic
levels, in different parts of the country, and in towns of different
sizes. Since actual expenditure figures are being secured from
families studied, the results of the investigation should be distin
guished from those secured by pricing a hypothetical budget in
different communities to obtain data on regional differences in the
cost of that budget.
D
i
The survey was conducted under the direction of Faith M . Williams and Ethel M . Johnson, New
Hampshire minimum wage director. Gertrude Schmidt, of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and C. Spencer
Platt, supervisor-statistician of the N ew Hampshire Cost of Living Service (a branch of the minimum
wage office), were in immediate charge of the study.
554
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
money disbursements in new
Hampshire
cities
555
Manchester, N. H., was included in the Bureau’s program for a
Nation-wide study. The inclusion of other New Hampshire towns
was made possible by the cooperation of local agencies. John G.
Winant, then Governor of the State, the State minimum wage office,
the New Hampshire Emergency Relief Administration, the State
planning commission, and the extension service of the University
of New Hampshire were all interested in securing information as to
the actual money disbursements of families of wage earners and lowersalaried clerical workers in towns of different size and in different
parts of the State. As a result, the New Hampshire Emergency
Relief Administration assigned a group of professional and clerical
workers to the investigation.2
The Bureau welcomed the extension of its original plan, not only
because of its interest in cooperating with State agencies to meet
local needs, but also because of the unique character of the data
which would result from such a study. There have been relatively
few investigations in the United States which have secured data on
the money disbursements of wage earners and lower-salaried clerical
workers in towns of different size in the same part of the country, and
none in recent years. The data on variations in consumer demand
In towns from 3,000 to approximately 80,000 population yielded by
this investigation make a valuable addition to knowledge in an
important field. It is hoped that it will be possible to collect retail
prices over a period of years in several of the towns included in this
study, and to compute index numbers of the cost of the goods shown
by this investigation to be customarily purchased by the wage
earners and lower-salaried clerical workers living in these towns.
Such a series would be valuable in showing whether there are signifi
cant differences from time to time in the rate at which the cost of such
goods changes in towns of different size in a given geographic area,
and whether an index of living costs based on the prices and the pur
chasing habits of one city may properly be applied to other towns
of smaller size, but in the same part of the country.
Methods of Investigation
T he data summarized in the following pages were secured by the
“schedule method.” Interviewers visited the workers and their
families with carefully prepared schedules, and obtained detailed
estimates of money income and outgo during the past year. Detailed
data on food purchases and food consumption obtained by weekly
records kept for each family for four different seasons of the year are
still being collected and will be covered in subsequent reports. These
» In the field they worked under the immediate guidance of supervisors from the staff of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, but in the tabulation of the data secured, under the immediate supervision of the New
Hampshire Minimum Wage Office. A final summary of the tabulations is in process at the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
556
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
records of food purchased and consumed are being supervised by
trained field workers who make daily visits to the families during the
weeks when the records are kept.
Selection of Sample
T h e families studied were chosen to represent a cross section of the
families of employed white wage earners and lower-salaried clerical
workers in the 11 towns.“ The importance of data on purchases by
higher-salaried clerical workers, professional persons, managers and
officials, and those in business for themselves is generally recognized,
but the limited funds available have made it necessary heretofore to
confine the investigation to the wage earner and lower-salaried clerical
groups.
No persons living alone were scheduled in the New Hampshire
study. In obtaining data from the families studied the unit for the
investigation was the “economic family’’, defined as a group of per
sons dependent on a common income, at least two of whom live
together and share the same table. For example, a family consist
ing of a man and wife and a nephew would be counted as a family
of three, in a case where the nephew worked in a factory part of the
year and was away at college part of the year, if he contributed his
earnings to the family funds, and was completely dependent on the
family funds for his expenses.
All of the families scheduled include one or more wage earners or
lower-salaried clerical workers who worked a minimum of 1,008
hours in at least 36 weeks during the year.3 Since the data were
being obtained primarily for the purpose of providing a basis for
indexes of living costs, it was important that they should not reflect
the distorted spending of families whose incomes had been abnormally
low and irregular. On that account no data were included from fam
ilies with incomes under $500 a year or from families who received
relief during the year.
The list of cities and towns to be surveyed was chosen to secure an
adequate picture of the consumption of wage earners and clerical
workers in New Hampshire. Data were secured from Conway,
Littleton, Claremont, Laconia, Dover, Keene, Concord, Berlin,
Portsmouth, Nashua, and Manchester.
The average number of members in the families visited in these
11 cities varied from 3.41 in Keene to 4.08 in Berlin. The average
number of persons gainfully employed in the schedule year varied
° There are so few Negro workers in N ew Hampshire that the study in this State was confined to
white workers.
3 An exception was made in the case of families in which the chief earner was employed in an industry
normally seasonal. Such families were included if the chief earner had employment for 3J4 8-hour days in
each of 30 weeks.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONEY D ISB U R SE M E N T S IN N E W HAM PSHIRE CITIES
557
from 1.24 in Berlin, where the only important manufacturing plant
is a large pulp mill to 1.86 in Manchester where textile mills and shoe
factories offer opportunities for work to women and girls.
Family Incomes
A
family incomes among employed wage earners and lowersalaried workers in the 11 towns varied from $1,137 in Berlin to $1,476
in Concord. A comparison of the figures on number of gainful
workers per family, average family income, and average earnings of
the chief earner shown in table 1 reveals the fact that the level of the
earnings of individual workers and the number of earners per family
are of varying importance in determining family incomes in the differ
ent towns. In the 4 towns where family incomes average more than
$1,400 (Manchester, Concord, Nashua, and Portsmouth) the number
of earners varied from 1.28 in Concord and 1.37 in Portsmouth, where
governmental activities have a stabilizing effect on employment and
there is a relatively large proportion of clerical workers, to 1.72 in
Nashua and 1.86 in Manchester, where the average income of the
chief earner was relatively low, but the industrial situation made it
possible for the women and girls of the family to work outside the
home. Although average incomes varied within a relatively narrow
range among the 11 towns, the range in individual incomes was rela
tively large. The minimum income of $500 was set by the plan of the
investigation, and the highest income was $4,500 in a family with
seven employed members.
v e r a g e
T able 1.— In com e and E xp en d itu res o f 1,134 F am ilies in 11 N e w H am psh ire
T ow n s in 193 3 -3 4
Town
M an Chester
_____________ _______
Nashua
____________________________
Concord _ ________ ___ _____________
Bprlin
__ __ ___________________
Portsmouth___________________________
Keene
____________________________
Dover
______ __ _________________
Laconia ___ ________________________
Claremont ___________________________
T/ittie ton
________ ________________
Conway
_________________________
Average Average
Number number number Average Average
of mem of gainful income earnings
of
of chief
per
families bers per workers
family 3 earner
per
studied economic
family 1 family 2
Average
current
expendi
tures per
family
$996
1,046
1,297
1,039
1,151
1,014
1,028
1,101
971
945
1,115
$1,399
1,355
1,404
1,119
1,369
1,192
1,279
1,253
1,175
1,128
1,199
147
100
99
100
95
97
98
100
100
99
99
3. 83
4. 02
3.42
4.08
3. 81
3. 41
3.60
3. 46
3. 51
3. 47
3. 77
1.86
1.72
1.28
1. 24
1.37
1. 38
1.57
1.41
1.47
1.44
1.38
$1,405
1,435
1,476
1,137
1,402
1,232
1,311
1,299
1,171
1,145
1,242
1 C o m p u t e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e n u m b e r o f p e r s o n s d e p e n d e n t o n t h e f a m i l y f u n d s fo r a y e a r . P e r s o n s w h o
w e r e p a r t o f t h e “ e c o n o m i c f a m i l y ” fo r o n l y p a r t o f a y e a r w e r e c o u n t e d a s a f r a c t io n o f a m e m b e r d e p e n d i n g
o n t h e p r o p o r t io n o f t h e y e a r e a c h w a s d e p e n d e n t o n t h e f a m i l y f u n d s .
2 Each person gainfully employed at any time o f t h e year treated as one.
.
3 C u r r e n t i n c o m e o n l y . D o e s n o t i n c l u d e m o n e y u s e d for c u r r e n t e x p e n d i t u r e s b u t d e r i v e d f r o m b a n k
a c c o u n t s o r c a s h r e c e i v e d b e f o r e t h e s c h e d u l e y e a r , f r o m t h e s u r r e n d e r o f l if e in s u r a n c e o r e n d o w m e n t p o l i
c ie s , f r o m s a le o f p r o p e r t i e s , f r o m r e p a y m e n t o f l o a n s m a d e b e f o r e t h e s c h e d u l e y e a r , o r b y i n c r e a s e m d e b t
d u r in g th e y e a r .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
558
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T ab le 2 .— Sources o f In com e in 1933—34 o f F am ilies o f C lassified C on su m p tion
L evels, b y Size o f T ow n
Over 50,000
population 1
20,000-50,000
population 2
10,000-20,000
population 3
Under 10,000
population 4
Families with total expenditure per consumption unit of—
Item
Under
$400
$400
and
over
Under
$400
$400
and
over
Under
$400
$400
and
over
Under
$400
Number of fam ilies_____ _____ ___________
73
74
162
137
244
246
105
Average number of members in economic
fam ily____ _____ ______________________
4. 73
2.95
4.71
2.80
4.43
4. 54
2.68
Average family income_______ ____ ___ ___ $1, 358 $1,451 $1,174 $1,537 $1,134 $1,426 $1,101
$400
and
over
93
2.58
$1,298
Percentage distribution
Fam ily earnings____ _____ _______________
Rent from boarders and/or lodgers (net)___
Other rents (net)..............................................
Interest and dividends............. ................... __
Pensions and insurance annuities. - ______
Gifts_____ _______ _______ _______ _______
Other money income_________ ___________
Total family income________________
93.3
5. 1
.7
.1
.3
.5
«
100.0
95.0
3.6
.4
.3
.4
.2
.1
96.6
.9
.8
.2
.8
.2
.5
95.5
2.2
.6
.5
.2
.5
.5
93.9
92.2
3.3
.7
.4
.3
.5
.9
2.7
1.1
.8
2.2
.6
.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
96.8
1.5
.4
.3
.7
94.1
2.2
.4
.5
1.2
.4
1.2
100.0
100.0
.3
«
1 M a n c h e ste r .
2 N a s h u a , C o n c o r d , B e r lin .
3 P o r t s m o u t h , K e e n e , D o v e r , L a c o n ia , C la r e m o n t.
4 L ittle to n , C o n w a y .
3 L e ss th a n H o o f 1 p e r c e n t.
To analyze the expenditures of the families studied in relation to
the economic position of the families, and to make comparisons
among the types of expenditures of families living at different eco
nomic levels, it was necessary to classify the families according to the
level of their living, that is, their expenditures for consumption goods.
Classification by the total expenditure of the family, without
regard to the number and type of consumers sharing the goods pur
chased by the family, would be unsound. A family of two adults
spending $1,200 for consumer goods during a year is obviously on a
higher economic level than a family of six adults spending the same
sum. In making the classification of families according to expendi
ture, variations in demand for food, clothing, and other items, by
persons of different age, sex, and occupation, were taken into account.
The demands of persons of different age, sex, and occupation have
been expressed as relatives or percentages of the demand of an adult
male. These relative demands are not the same for food as for clothing
or for other items. Therefore, relative demand for each of these
three groups of items has been computed separately.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ONEY D ISB U R SE M E N T S IN N E W H AM PSHIRE C ITIES
559
The food-consumption relatives were based on data secured from the
Bureau of Home Economics, showing quantities of food consumed bypersons of different age, sex, and physical activity, estimated partly
on the basis of energy requirements and partly on the basis of the
actual food consumption of families of wage earners and clerical
workers. (To have secured records of the actual food consumption
of individuals would have required an unjustified expense.) These
quantities of foods were multiplied by the average retail prices for each
item, for the United States in 1934, and the dollar figures so obtained
were used to compute a scale of food-consumption units relative to the
food consumption of an adult male.
Clothing-consumption relatives were computed separately for each
city or group of cities within a region, directly from the data secured
in this study on clothing expenditures for persons of different sex,
age, and occupation.
No attempt has been made to determine relative demand for items
other than food and clothing, and each member of the family has been
considered the equivalent of an adult male in his demand for this
third group of items.
With the use of these relatives, it was possible to compute expendi
tures for each equivalent adult male for each family by dividing the
family expenditure for each of the three groups of items by the number
of consumption units, or equivalent adult males for each group of
items. Finally the total expenditure per consumption unit was
secured by adding these three figures together.
When the 1,134 families studied were sorted into two groups
according to expenditure per consumption unit, it was found that the
difference in average family size between the higher- and lower-ex
penditure groups was relatively greater than the difference in average
total family expenditure. Average family size in the lower-expendi
ture group was 168 percent of the average family size in the upperexpenditure group. The average total family expenditure of the
lower group was 81 percent of the average total family expenditure
of the upper group.
In computing family income, money used for current expenditures
but derived from bank accounts or cash received before the schedule
year, from the surrender or settlement of life insurance or endowment
policies, from sale of properties, from repayment of loans made before
the schedule year, or by increase in debt during the year is not re
garded as “current” income, and is not presented in table 2.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
560
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T able 3 .— P ercen tage D istr ib u tio n o f F a m ily E xp en d itu res for Specified G roups
o f Item s in 1 9 3 3 -3 4 , b y T ow n s
Ite m
P o p u l a t i o n , 1 9 3 0 _________
N um ber
of
f a m i li e s
s t u d i e d . . . ____________
A verage
num ber
of
m e m b e r s in e c o n o m ic
f a m i l y _____________ ____
T o ta l c u rren t e x p e n d i
t u r e s ______ ______________
M an
N a sh u a
c h e ste r
76, 834
C on
cord
B er
lin
3 1 ,4 6 3 25, 228 20, 018
147
3 .8 3
$ 1 ,3 9 9
P o rts
m o u th
K een e
1 4 ,4 9 5
13, 794
95
97
100
99
100
4. 02
3 .4 2
4 .0 8
3 .8 1
3. 41
$ 1 ,3 6 5 $ 1 ,4 0 4 $ 1 ,1 1 9
$ 1 ,3 6 9
$ 1 ,1 9 2
La
c o n ia
C la r e
m ont
13, 573 12, 471
12, 377
4, 558
3, 217
100
99
99
3. 47
3. 77
D over
98
100
3. 60
3. 46
3 .5 1
$ 1 ,2 7 9 $1, 253
$ 1 ,1 7 5
L ittle C o n
to n
w ay
$1, 128 $ 1 ,1 9 9
Percentage distribution
Food_________________
Clothing______________
Housing______________
Household operation___
Furnishings and equipm ent_______________
Transportation-..............
Personal care__ - _____
Medical care____ _ Recreation_____ ____
Education...............
Vocation_________
Community welfare___
Gifts and contributions
t o persons outside the
f a m i l y __________________
Miscellaneous item s___
Total current ex
penditures_____
34.5
12.3
13.5
13.0
34.3
12.6
14.8
13.4
30.4
9.3
17.2
15.5
37.4
11.1
13.3
12.6
34.8
10.9
13.7
15.5
34.2
9.6
16.7
15.6
35.4
11.8
13.1
14.3
33.6
10.1
15.7
14.7
32.2
10.4
15.7
14. 4
32.0
9.3
13.0
15.3
35.4
10.3
11.6
13.3
4.7
6.6
1.9
3.7
5.3
3.4
4.6
2. 1
4.0
5.5
2.8
8.7
1.9
3.9
5.2
3.4
4.6
2.1
4.3
6. 1
2.6
5.3
2.1
3.3
5.6
3.8
5.5
1.9
4.0
5.4
3.0
6.6
1.8
4.3
6.0
.6
.3
.3
.4
1.8
.1
1.8
4.9
7.9
2.0
4.4
5.7
.2
.2
2.1
3.7
8.3
1.9
4. 5
5. 2
.2
1.8
3.0
6.6
2.1
4.0
6.1
.1
.2
2.0
1.3
1.4
1.0
.6
2.2
1.0
1.2
1.8
2.2
1.5
100.0 100.0
100.0
1.9
.2
2.2
1.3
.1
2.9
3.6
6.8
2.0
2.5
5.7
.2
.1
1.4
1.0
1.6
.6
.7
2.1
.8
.9
.9
2.0
.8
1.4
.9
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
100.0
100.0
.4
.6
.6
.3
.6
.3
.3
.6
1.3
100.0 100.0
A tabulation of the average expenditures of the families studied in
the 11 towns reveals a remarkable similarity among the percentage
distributions of expenditures in the different towns. The variations
in the percentage spent for food and clothing are small, and can in
part be explained by variations in family size. In Concord, Conway,
and Littleton a relatively large proportion of expenditures was allotted
to expenditures for transportation. The higher proportion in Con
cord is probably due to the margin available for expenditures of this
type resulting from the relatively high incomes and small families in
Concord. In Conway and Littleton where there are no trolleys and
busses run infrequently, an individually owned automobile is more
important to the family than in a city where community transporta
tion facilities are more satisfactory. In the towns in the population
group of less than 10,000, 53 percent of the families who were studied
owned cars; in the towns with a population of 10,000 to 20,000, 46
percent of the families owned cars. In the cities in the 20,000 to
50,000 group, 42 percent of the families owned automobiles. In
Manchester only 39 percent of the families owned cars.
The averages given in table 3 bring together a very wide range in
the percentage distribution of expenditure by different families. For
example, among the 147 families visited in Manchester the average
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
561
MONEY DISBURSEMENTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE CITIES
proportion of total current expenditures which was devoted to
food was 34.5 percent. However, the proportion of money spent for
food varied among individual families from 12.3 to 62. 0 percent of
total current expenditures. Among the 99 families visited in Conway
the average proportion spent for food was 35.4 percent, but propor
tions varied from 17.9 to 64.7 percent in individual families.
A classification of the families studied according to level of con
sumption shows striking and consistent differences in the percentage
of total expenditures for food and for transportation in the upper and
lower levels, and less consistent differences in the percentage spent
for house furnishings and equipment. The differences in the per
centage spent for food are the result both of lower incomes and of
larger families at the lower consumption level.
T ab le 4 .— P ercen tage D istrib u tio n o f E xp en d itu res b y F am ilies o f C lassified
C on su m p tion L evels in 1 9 33-34, b y Size of T ow n
Over 50,000
population 1
20,000-50,000
population 3
10,000-20,000
population 3
Under 10,000
population 4
Families with total expenditure per consumption unit of—
Item
Under
$400
$400
and
over
Under
$400
$400
and
over
Under
$400
$400
and
over
Under
$400
244
162
73
74
137
246
105
Number of families------------ -------------------Average number of members in economic
4.
43
4.54
4.
73
4.71
2.68
2.95
2.80
fam ily___ _____________________________
Total current expenditures----------------------- $1,327 $1,469 $1,128 $1,473 $1,124 $1,378 $1,055
$400
and
over
93
2. 58
$1, 285
Percentage distribution
Food_____ _____________________ ________
Clothing_________________ ________ _____ Housing________ _ __________________
Household operation_____________________
Furnishings and equipment
---- -Transportation_____ ______ ______________
Personal care_________ - -- --------------- Medical care____________ . -----------------Recreation______________ - .........................
Education______________________________
Vocation___________________ ____________
Community welfare. . . __________
___
Gifts and contribution to persons outside the
fam ily------------- ----------------------------------Miscellaneous item s_____________________
38.1
13.3
12.8
13.9
3.8
3.9
1.9
3.5
4.7
.4
.5
2.1
31.3
11.4
14. 1
12.3
5.5
8.8
2.0
3.9
5.9
.4
.7
1.8
39.4
11.2
14.1
13.3
3.1
3.8
2.1
3.4
5.2
.3
.3
2.4
28.7
10.5
16.3
14.5
3.3
8.4
1.9
4.8
5.8
.4
.3
1.8
38.2
10.8
14.9
14.1
2. 8
3.7
2.1
3.6
5.3
.4
.2
1.9
30.7
10.3
15.0
15.5
3.6
8.1
1.9
3.6
6.1
.3
.2
1.7
38.6
10.6
11.8
14.6
2.9
5.2
2.0
4.5
5.0
.3
.3
1.7
29.3
9.2
12.8
14.1
5.6
10.7
1.9
4.4
5.8
.1
.5
1.8
.7
.4
1.2
.7
.7
.7
2.4
.9
1.1
.9
2.2
.8
.9
1. 6
2.3
1.5
Total current expenditures-------- ------
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1 Manchester.
2 Nashua, Concord, Berlin.
3 Portsmouth, Keene, Dover, Laconia, Claremont.
4 Littleton, Conway.
Ownership of Automobiles
T h e differences in the percentages spent for transportation by
families at the lower and upper consumption levels are directly related
to the purchase and ownership of automobiles. Fewer families at the
lower level owned automobiles than at the upper level (36 percent
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
562
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
as against 55 percent), and fewer purchased cars during the schedule
year. In fact among the families with an expenditure per consump
tion unit of less than $400 only two bought new cars during the year,
while 3 percent of the families in the upper group bought new cars.
Only 5 percent of the 584 families at the lower expenditure level
bought second-hand cars during the year, while 9 percent of the 550
families at the upper expenditure level bought such cars. A total of
101 automobiles were purchased by the 1,134 New Hampshire families
during the year; 20 of these were new cars.
The number of automobiles purchased during the year by the
families with an expenditure per consumption unit of less than $400
much more nearly corresponds to the number purchased by families
at the higher consumption level in towns in the smallest population
class than in the cities in other population classes. In the larger
cities about twice as many cars were bought by families in the higher
expenditure per consumption unit group as in the lower.
In the group of families with an expenditure per consumption unit
of less than $400, the percentage of families owning automobiles
varied from 50 in the smallest population group to 38 in the towns of
10.000 to 20,000 population, and from 31 in the towns of 20,000 to
50.000 population to 27 percent in Manchester.
T ab le 5 .— O w nership o f A u tom ob iles in 1 9 3 3 -3 4 b y F am ilies of C lassified C on
su m p tion L evels, b y Size o f T ow n 1
Towns with population of—
Over 50,000 2_____________ ____
20,000 to 50,000 s________ ______
10,000 to 20,000 4_____________
Under 10,000 s_______ ________
T o t a l..____________ ______
Families owning
Families
Expendi
cars
Families purchas
ture per Number
ing
purchas
of
fam
consump
second
ing
ilies
tion unit
hand
new
cars
Number Percent
cars
[Under $400
•¡$400 and
l over.
[Under $400
¡$400 and
l over.
[Under $400
¡$400 and
l over.
[Under $400
¡$400 and
l over.
73
74
20 >
38
39
(
4
4
5
162
137
49 >
77
42 f
1
2
2
5
14
r
l
o
9
13
20
r
o
1
3
9
11
20
81
244
246
91 1
132 f
105
49 >
55
93
1,134
511
Ar
46
53
45
1 Number of families owning or purchasing automobiles would difler from the number owned or pur
chased during the year since some families owned more than 1 car, and 1 family purchased more than 1 ear.
1 Manchester.
* Nashua, Concord, Berlin.
4 Portsmouth, Keene, Dover, Laconia, Claremont.
* Littleton, Conway.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONEY DISBURSEMENTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE CITIES
563
T able 6.-—O w nership o f A u tom ob iles in 1933—34 b y F am ilies o f C lassified C on
su m p tion L evels, b y T ow ns
Families with yearly expenditure per consumption unit of—
Towns
Manchester_______ _____ Nashua__________________
Concord___________ _____
B er lin __________________
Portsmouth______________
Keene___________________
Dover----------------------------Laconia__________________
Claremont____________
Littleton________________
Conway_________________
Families own
ing cars
Total
num
ber of
fami
lies
N um
ber
73
56
34
72
44
51
41
50
58
53
52
20
14
10
25
7
26
13
19
26
23
26
Total
$400 and over
Under $400
Per
cent
Families own
ing cars
Total
num
ber of
fam
ilies
N um
ber
74
44
65
28
51
46
57
50
42
46
47
38
23
39
15
28
28
28
29
19
26
29
27
25
29
35
16
51
32
38
45
43
50
Per
cent
Families own
ing cars
Total
num
ber of
fam
ilies
N um
ber
147
100
99
100
95
97
98
100
100
99
99
58
37
49
40
35
54
41
48
45
49
55
51
52
60
54
55
61
49
58
45
57
62
Per
cent
39
37
49
40
37
56
42
48
45
49
56
Savings
T he figures presented in table 1 have shown that average income
per family exceeded average expenditures for consumption goods
per family in 10 of the 11 New Hampshire towns for which figures for
1933-34 were secured, and that in the eleventh town, Claremont, the
average expenditures exceeded income by only $4. Such averages
are not very significant unless one knows the percentage of families
which suffered a net decrease in assets during the year and the percent
age which enjoyed a net increase in assets during the year. Even
though the group averages showed a net excess of income over expend
iture, obviously some families spent more money from the bank than
they saved, sold more property than they bought, or incurred more
debts during the year than they paid off. About one-third of the
families in each population group and at each expenditure level had
either a net decrease in assets or a net increase in liabilities during
the year.
T a b le 7.— N e t Increase or D ecrease in F a m ily A ssets and L iab ilities in 19 3 3 -3 4 ,
b y Size o f T ow n
Towns with population of—
Over 50,000 1..............................................20,000 to 50,000 3____________________
10,000 to 20,000 3____________________
Less than 10,000 4________ __________
T otal. , _________ ______ _____
1 Manchester.
i Nashua, Concord, Berlin.
49 6 4 5 — 36 ------ 4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Expenditure
per consump
tion unit
N um
ber of
fam
ilies
f Under $400___
*$400 and over..
J Under $400___
1$400 and over..
/ Under $400___
l$400and'over..
fUnder $400___
l$400 and over.
73
74
162
137
244
246
105
93
1,134
F am ilies having
net decrease in
assets and/or in
crease in liabil
ities
F a m ilie s h a vin g
net increase in
assets and/or de
crease in liabil
ities
Number
Percent
Number
29
27
45
37
91
81
35
29
374
39.7
36.5
27.8
27.0
37.3
32.9
33.3
31.2
33.0
43
45
114
95
145
152
66
59
719 a
* Portsmouth, Keene, Dover, Laconia, Claremont,
* Littleton, Conway.
Percent
58.9
60.8
70.8
68.8
59.4
61.8
62.9
63.4
63. 4
Labor R eq u irem en ts in C em ent P ro d u ctio n
By
B er na r d
H.
T o p k is , of th e B u r e a u
op
L a bo r S t a tistic s
1
R a T effect does construction have upon the creation of jobs?
What are the employment possibilities involved in the con
struction of buildings, dams, bridges, roads, hydroelectric work, and
the great variety of other projects undertaken under the auspices
of the Federal Government?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles monthly figures showing
the volume of employment, the amount of pay rolls, and the man
hours worked at the site of Federal projects. These figures, however,
measure only direct employment. They do not show the “behindthe-lines employment” created through the purchase of materials
and extending back through mines, factories, and railroads.
The theory that public works will aid in overcoming depressions
is based on the assumption that private industry will be stimulated
as a result of the flow of orders for the materials to be used on the
public projects. To measure the effects of such orders on private
employment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has been conducting a
series of man-hour studies for basic materials used on the various
Federal construction programs. The first of these studies covered
the labor requirements in the steel industry. The results of this
analysis were summarized in the May 1935 issue of the Monthly
Labor Review. The present study, the second in the series, is con
cerned with the labor requirements in the cement industry.
W
Process of Cement Manufacture
P ortland cement2 derives its name from the resemblance between
set cement and a well-known English building stone obtained from
the Isle of Portland. It was first manufactured on a commercial
scale in the United States in the early seventies of the last century.
As the new product had many advantages over natural cement, the
growth of the industry has been rapid. In 1934, there were in the
United States 169 plants, with a total invested capital exceeding
$566,000,000 and capable of producing 269,000,000 3 barrels of cement
a year.
1 A s s i s t e d b y J o h n A . B a l l , u n d e r t h e d i r e c t io n o f H e r m a n B . B y e r , c h i e f o f t h e D i v i s i o n o f C o n s t r u c t i o n
a n d P u b lic E m p lo y m e n t .
2
P o r t l a n d c e m e n t i s t h e p r o d u c t o b t a i n e d b y f i n e l y p u l v e r i z i n g c li n k e r p r o d u c e d b y c a lc i n i n g t o i n c i p i e n t
f u s i o n a n i n t i m a t e a n d p r o p e r ly p r o p o r t io n e d m i x t u r e o f a r g il l a c e o u s a n d c a lc a r e o u s m a t e r ia l s , w i t h n o
a d d i t i o n s s u b s e q u e n t t o c a l c i n a t i o n e x c e p t i n g w a t e r a n d c a lc i n e d o r u n c a l c i n e d g y p s u m .
p e d i a A m e r ic a n a .)
3
P o r t l a n d C e m e n t A s s o c i a t i o n C e m e n t a n d C o n c r e t e R e f e r e n c e B o o k , 1935.
564
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(T h e E n c y c lo
LABOR REQ U IR EM EN TS IN CEM ENT PRODUCTION
565
Various kinds of raw materials are consumed in the manufacture of
Portland cement. The cement is manufactured from a mixture of
two types of materials: Limestone rock or similar material, such as
chalk or marl which is nearly pure lime, and another material supply
ing the other ingredients needed, which is usually clay or shale.
Sometimes blast-furnace slag is used in conjunction with limestone.
The limestone or similar material supplies the calcareous materials
and the clay or shale supplies the argillaceous or clayey materials.
It is essential that the mixed raw materials contain exact proportions
of these ingredients. This proportion differs slightly with different
materials, but is generally 75 to 80 percent of carbonate of lime and
20 to 25 percent of anhydrous clay.4
During the process of manufacture, a small amount of gypsum is
required. This material, either calcined or in its native state, is
added during the grinding of the cement clinker in order to control
the hardening period.
Powdered coal is ordinarily used to furnish the heat necessary in the
kilns for the burning of the cement, but oil and gas are sometimes used.
Electric power for the cement plant may be generated at the mill or
purchased from electric generating stations. A small amount of
steel is consumed in the form of steel balls used for grinding purposes
and of steel wire for tying the cloth sacks and paper bags in which
the finished product is shipped. Explosives for blasting operations
in the quarry, firebrick for kiln relining, lubricants for the machinery,
and cloth sacks and paper bags for shipping purposes are also used.
The most important raw materials consumed in the manufacture of
cement are limestone and clay or shale. These are usually obtained
in a quarry adjacent to the cement plant. After the quarrying, the
raw material goes through three distinct and separate operations.
The first process is a mechanical one and includes the assembling,
preparing, grinding, and amalgamating of the raw materials. The
rock is crushed by large gyratory or roll crushers which reduce the
huge masses of quarried rock to small pieces ready for the pulverizing
or grinding machines. Before going to these machines, the rock is
passed through dryers to remove moisture which would otherwise
prevent efficient pulverization.6 Before the raw materials have been
pulverized, they are mixed in proper proportions by means of auto
matic weighing machines.
The second process is chemical, during which the material prepared
by the first process is calcined or roasted at a high temperature to
cause the chemical combination of the various ingredients. In this
process, the pulverized raw material undergoes chemical transforma* The Encyclopedia Americana, N ew York, 1927, vol. 22, p. 398.
* This process takes place only in mills using the dry process of manufacture.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
566
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
tion to form cement clinker. This is accomplished by using rotary
kilns. These kilns, which may be as wide as 12 feet and more than
400 feet long, are inclined at a pitch of about three-fourths of an
inch per foot and rotate slowly. The fuel used to heat the kiln is
usually pulverized coal, fed in at the discharge end of the kiln and
igniting instantly. Upon entering the kiln at the upper end, the raw
material continues to gather heat until the hot zone is reached, where
the chemical combination forming the portland cement clinker takes
place. The hot clinker, after it drops out of the kiln, is conveyed to
rotary or stationary coolers.
The third process is partly mechanical and partly chemical, in
which the clinker, together with a small amount of retarding agent,
is reduced to a fine powder. This process and the machines used
therefor are practically the same as those used for the grinding and
pulverizing of the raw material. After the cement has been ground, it
is deposited in bulk bins and complete tests are made for fineness,
setting, soundness, strength, and chemical analysis. When these
tests have been completed, the cement is ready for packing and ship
ment.6
There are two methods of cement manufacture—the dry process
and the wet process. These differ in the manner of treating the
ground raw material from which the clinker is produced. In the dry
process, the raw materials are pulverized in the dry state. In the
wet process, the raw materials are crushed and afterwards pulverized
in water, resulting in a slurry instead of a dry powder.7 The wet
process affords economies in grinding, the material is easier to handle,
and there is less dust. However, more fuel is required for the kilns,
more coal must be ground, the kiln capacity must be greater, and
some power is needed to agitate the slurry.8 In the wet process, the
raw mixture can be accurately proportioned with less trouble than
in the dry process.
Altogether, some 80 operations are required to produce the finished
product. During every stage of manufacture, rigid physical and
chemical tests are made, in order to insure a uniform and standard
product.
Man-Hours Required in Production and Transportation of Raw Materials and
Supplies
I n this study an attempt is made to determine the number of man
hours required to manufacture 100 barrels9of cement in 1934. The
analysis was made in cooperation with the Portland Cement Associa• Willis, H. P., and Byers, J. R.: Portland Cement Prices. N ew York, Ronald Press Co., 1924.
1 Mersereau, S. F.: Materials of Industry. N ew York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1931, ch. 2.
• Glover, J. G., and Cornell, W. B.: Development of American Industries. N ew York, Prentice-Hall
Inc., 1932, ch. 23.
• A barrel of cement weighs 376 pounds; a bag or sack of cement weighs 94 pounds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR REQ U IR EM EN TS IN CEM ENT PRODUCTION
567
tion. The study included the records of 102 plants producing more
than 58,000,000 barrels of cement in 1934. These mills were operat
ing at 36.6 percent of their annual capacity of 158,853,928 barrels.
The cement mills covered in the study represented 62 percent of all
the mills in the United States and their output in 1934 was 75 percent
of the total production.
In its analysis of labor requirements the study accounts for the
man-hours necessary to produce the raw materials and to manufacture
the finished product. An estimate also was made for the employment
created in transporting the raw materials to the mill and the finished
product to the site of construction.
Wide differences in labor requirements were found to exist among
the individual mills. These differences, for the most part, were caused
by the type of manufacturing process followed (wet or dry), location
of the mills, plant capacity, and rate of daily operation. In measur
ing labor requirements the effect of each of these various factors was
analyzed.
As a first step in determining the labor required in the production of
100 barrels of cement, an estimate was made of the man-hours re
quired to produce and transport the materials consumed. Since the
cement mill usually operates an adjacent quarry to secure limestone,
clay, or shale, quarrying is regarded as part of cement-mill operation,
and the labor requirements for quarry products are therefore included.
Lack of information prevented the making of estimates for all mate
rials consumed, but the lack of man-hour estimates for a few materials
used only in small quantities has only a slight effect on the total esti
mate of labor requirements. It was not found possible to estimate
employment created by minor purchases made by the cement mills,
such as repair parts, lubricants, explosives, new sacks, etc. Nor was
it possible to estimate employment created by the necessity of replac
ing equipment worn out in the process of manufacture. Those mate
rials for which it was found possible to determine the labor require
ments are listed below. Field studies and data available to govern
mental agencies were utilized in arriving at these estimates. Care
should be exercised, however, in the application of these figures to
any specific plant because methods of extraction, manufacture, and
transportation differ greatly among individual producers. The quan
tities of these materials and the man-hours required in the production
of 100 barrels of cement are as follows:
M a n -h o u rs
required.
Gypsum (0.6 ton)--------------------------------------------------------- 0.
Coal (6.25 tons)_____________________________________ 1°- 3
Power (2,210 kilowatt-hours)------------------------------------------ 2.65
Steel (0.028 ton)...................................................................... ..
.8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3
568
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
In order to control the setting time of cement, gypsum, either cal
cined or in its native state, is necessary. The amount used varies,
depending upon the degree of purity of the raw gypsum.10 Figures
procured from leading gypsum firms indicate that 0.525 man-hour is
required to produce a ton of gypsum. Consequently, the 0.6 ton of
gypsum consumed in manufacturing 100 barrels of cement creates
0.3 hour of employment.
In this study, it was estimated that 0.028 ton of steel balls and
steel wire is used in the production and shipment of 100 barrels of
cement. According to the man-hour study for the steel industry
made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the production of these
materials requires 0.8 of an hour of labor.
Approximately 6.25 tons of powdered coal are necessary to furnish
the heat required in the rotary kilns for the production of 100 barrels
of cement. Although some of the mills covered in this study, by
reason of their location, used oil and gas as heating agents,11 an
estimate of labor requirements was made only for coal. The records
of the Bureau of Mines for 1934 indicate that the output of bitumi
nous coal averaged 4.40 net tons per man per day. The average time
worked by the soft-coal miners during the year was 7.27 hours per
day. The output per man per hour was 0.605 ton and 1.65 man
hours were needed to mine a ton of bituminous coal. Approximately
10.3 hours of labor were thus required to mine the 6.25 tons of coal
consumed in the manufacture of 100 barrels of cement.
According to the Mineral Market Report of the Bureau of Mines,12
the operation of the manufacturing plant consumes 2,210 kilowatthours of electricity in the production of 100 barrels of cement. It
was ascertained that nearly half of the total cement produced in
1934 in the 102 plants was manufactured in mills utilizing current
generated in the mill by waste-heat boilers. Therefore, taking into
consideration the 1934 output of all 102 plants, the production of
100 barrels of cement necessitated, on the average, the purchase of
1,105 kilowatt-hours of electricity.13
In generating electric power, the chief material consumed is coal.
Oil and gas are sometimes used for fuel but inasmuch as no satisfac
tory records are available for measuring labor required in producing
oil and gas, the study assumed all the fuel to be coal.14 The records
of the United States Geological Survey show that in 1934 an average
10 Glover, J. G., and Cornell, W. B.: Development of American Industries. N ew York, Prentice-Hall,
Inc., 1932, ch. 23.
11 Of the 102 plants, 71 (with an output of nearly 40,000,000 barrels of cement in 1934) used coal; 31 (with
a production of less than 19,000,000 barrels) used oil or gas.
12 Dec. 17, 1935.
13 For man-hours created in plants generating their own power, see the section treating labor require
ments in the cement mill.
u The records of the U. S. Geological Survey indicate that in 1934, of power generated by fuel, 82.3 per
cent was generated by coal, 6.6 percent by oil, and 11.1 percent by gas.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR E E Q UIR EM EN TS IN CEM ENT PRODUCTION
569
of 1.47 pounds of coal was needed to generate a kilowatt-hour of
electricity. The Bureau of Mines records indicate that 1.65 man
hours of labor were required to mine a ton of bituminous coal in 1934.
Consequently, 1.34 hours were needed to produce the fuel necessary
to generate 1,105 kilowatt-hours of electricity. However, according
to the records of the United States Geological Survey, of the power
consumed in 1934, 37.4 percent was generated by water power. An
adjustment for this factor reduces the estimate of labor for fuel
requirements to 0.839 man-hour.
It is estimated that labor created in the generating station through
the production of 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity is 2.5 hours in
old plants and 0.4 hour in new plants. In the study, it was assumed
that nine twenty-seconds of all generating stations in the United
States were new and thirteen twenty-seconds were old.15 Using this
classification, a weighted arithmetic mean shows that the production
of 1,105 kilowatt-hours of electricity creates 1.64 man-hours of work
for 1,000 kilowatt-hours or an equivalent of 1.81 hours for 1,105
kilowatt-hours. Consequently, the total labor involved in producing
the fuel and generating electricity at the plant accounts for 2.65
hours of employment for each 100 barrels of output.
On the average, therefore, raw materials, other than limestone,
clay, or shale, required in the production of 100 barrels of cement
account for 14.05 hours of labor. Employment, however, is also
created by the transportation of materials to the manufacturing
plant. The statistics of railroad operating expenses compiled by the
Interstate Commerce Commission and the Bureau of Railway Eco
nomics indicate that approximately 50 percent of railroad operating
revenue is expended for salaries and wages. In 12 representative
cement mills in 1934, the average transportation charge for coal was
$1 per ton, for gypsum $2.25 per ton, and for steel $10 per ton. Us
ing these figures, transportation charges for raw materials used in
the production of 100 barrels of cement were $8.39.16 Dividing half
these charges by 63.5 cents, the average hourly wage rate for railroad
employees in 1934, an estimate of 6.6 man-hours was obtained.
Man-Hours Required in Manufacturing and Cement-Mill Operations
I n 1934 the 102 mills covered in this study produced more than
58,000,000 barrels of cement. Manufacturing and mill operations in
the production of this cement resulted in 31,974,849 hours of employ
ment. Table 1 shows the total number of man-hours involved in
18 According to an Interim Report (1935) in the National Power Survey of the Federal Power Commis
sion, the capacity of steam electric generators in the major electric utility stations in the United States in
1934 was 22,044,199 kilowatts. The capacity of steam electric generators installed prior to 1926 was 12,745,249 kilowatts and the capacity of steam electric generators installed between 1926 and 1934 was 9,298,950
kilowatts.
i®Included in this figure is an estimate for the transportation of 0.51 ton of coal used in the generation of
electric power.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
570
m onthly
labor
review —
m arch
1936
each of the various operations at the cement mill and gives the aver
age number of man-hours required in each operation to produce 100
barrels of cement in 1934. The estimate of man-hours per 100 bar
rels is based on a weighted arithmetic mean of the man-hours required
for each operation in the 102 plants. It should be noted that in
many plants man-hours per 100 barrels show large deviations from
the average. Factors which bring about lower labor requirements
in some plants are economies in the use of raw materials, better
plant location, higher rates of operation, modern manufacturing
equipment, and greater efficiency in management.
T ab le 1 .— M an -H ou rs R equ ired in M an u factu re o f C em en t, 1934
Class of work
Man
hours
per 100
barrels
Total man
hours (102
plants)
Total______ _________ ._
55.0
31,974,849
Quarrying................... .......
Processing______ . . .
Shipping.'._________ __________
M aintenance___ _____________
M ill overhead___________________
Administration____ __________
7.7
18.0
6.3
8.5
7.1
7.4
4,478,875
10,485, 586
3,662,391
4,922,623
4,123,518
4,301,856
Quarrying operations. —In the 102 plants covered for the year 1934,
quarrying operations accounted for 4,478,875 hours of employment.
The production of 100 barrels of cement required 24.5 tons of lime
stone and 6.75 tons of clay or shale. The average amount of labor
necessary to produce 31.25 tons of limestone and clay or shale in 1934
was 7.7 hours. The range in individual plants was from 2.1 to 16.7
hours.
Processing operations. —Processing the cement produced by the 102
plants accounted for 10,485,586 hours of employment in 1934. Of
this total, 3,045,922 hours were required in the raw departments
where the raw materials are crushed and ground into a fine powder.
The burning of the pulverized raw materials in the clinker depart
ments required 2,694,996 hours. In the finishing departments where
the cement clinker is ground and pulverized into finished cement
1,809,369 man-hours were necessary. The coal-mill departments
where the fuel for heating the kilns is prepared accounted for 843,166
hours. In providing the energy for the operation of the cement
plants the power departments utilized 2,092,133 man-hours in 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
571
LABOR REQ U IR EM EN TS IN CEM ENT PRODUCTION
A summary of the total man-hours and the average number of man
hours per 100 barrels for each department of processing is given below:
Raw departm ent.
—
Clinker department_____
Finishing department
Coal mills_________ ____ Power departm ent_______
Total__
______
______
______
______
______
M a n -h o u rs (102
p la n ts ), 1984
A v e ra g e n u m b e r
o f m an -h o u rs
p e r 100 barrels
3, 045, 922
2, 694, 996
1, 809, 369
843, 166
2, 092, 133
5.
4.
3.
1.
3.
______ _______ 10,485,586
2
6
1
5
6
18. 0
The average labor per 100 barrels of cement required for process
ing was 18.0 hours. The raw department accounted for 5.2 hours,
showing a range from 1.2 hours to 16.9 hours in individual plants.
In the clinker department, average man-hours per 100 barrels were
4.6; the most efficient plants required only 1.8 hours and the least
efficient, 11.0 hours. The finishing department accounted for an
average of 3.1 hours per 100 barrels produced and the range in indi
vidual plants was from 0.8 to 7.2 hours.
Each 100 barrels of output in 1934 furnished an average of 1.5
hours of employment in the coal mill. Variations in the labor require
ments among the individual cement plants for the operation of this
department are caused by the nature of the fuel used in the manufac
turing process. Whenever oil or gas is utilized, less labor is required.
The average figure, 1.5 man-hours, has been computed on the basis
of the production of all plants without regard to the type of fuel used.
The weighted arithmetic mean of labor requirements in the power
departments of all plants was 3.6 man-hours per 100 barrels of out
put. Fifty-one mills which developed the power used in the manu
facturing process required an average of 5.8 man-hours. Labor re
quirements in the remaining 51 mills which purchased power from
electric generating stations was 1.2 hours.
Shipping. —After the cement has been manufactured, it is stored in
bulk in bins and silos and held ready for shipment. Shipment may
be in bulk or in paper or cloth sacks. The total number of man
hours of employment in the shipping departments of the 102 mills in
1934 was 3,662,391. Requirements in individual plants per 100 bar
rels of cement ranged between 3.7 and 10.6 hours, with an average
of 6.3 hours for all plants. The range in man-hours is caused by
some mills shipping larger proportions of their output in bulk. Inas
much as cement shipped in bulk is transferred directly from the stor
age bin to the railroad car or truck, less handling is necessary. Ship
ment in paper bags requires less labor than in cloth sacks. Cloth
sacks may be used from 12 to 13 times; when they are returned to
the plant, they must be cleaned, repaired, and stored.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
572
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Maintenance.—Maintenance work in the cement mill includes the
labor of the yard, shop, and repair gangs. It also takes into account
the labor required for the general overhauling of the machinery and
kiln relining which occurs during the intervals of shut-down. In
1934, maintenance work in the mills covered by the study provided
4,922,623 hours of employment. The average time which could be
charged to the production of 100 barrels of cement was 8.5 man
hours. Work in the yard required 2.5 hours, that in the shop 2.4
hours, and repairs 3.6 hours.
The following table summarizes the total man-hours in 1934
charged to maintenance and the average number of man-hours
required per 100 barrels:
M a n -h o u rs
(.102 p la n ts'),
1934
A ve ra g e n u m b er of
m a n -h o u rs p e r
100 barrels
Yard — ----------------------------------------- 1,422,487
Shop---------------------------------------------- 1, 397, 878
Repair gang------------------------------------- 2, 102, 258
2.5
2. 4
3. 6
Total------------------------------------- 4, 922, 623
8. 5
Mill overhead.—Labor chargeable to mill overhead accounted for
4,123,518 man-hours of work in 1934. In the production of 100
barrels of cement an average of 7.1 hours of overhead labor was
necessary. Of this figure, mill office employees accounted for 1.5
hours, storeroom employees 0.6 hour, laboratory staff 2.1 hours,
superintendents and foremen 1.5 hours, watchmen 0.8 hour, and
miscellaneous labor 0.6 hour.
Data showing the total man-hours charged to overhead and the
average number of man-hours per 100 barrels of output are given
below:
M a n -h o u r s
(102 p la n ts ) ,
1934
Mill office_________ _ _
Storeroom_________ _ __ _
Laboratory______
Superintendents and foremen
W atch m en __
_ _
Miscellaneous labor
__
___
Total.
____
895,019
____
356,312
____ 1,205,617
____
864, 580
____
475,485
____
326,505
_____ ______ ____4, 123, 518
A ve ra g e n u m b e r of
m a n -h o u rs p e r
100 barrels
1. 5
.6
2. 1
1. 5
.8
.6
7. 1
Administration.—In addition to determining the labor requirements
in production, an estimate was made of the employment created by
the operation of the general offices and selling organizations of the
cement mills. Inasmuch as the reports submitted to the Portland
Cement Association did not supply these data, a study of adminis
trative labor in 12 representative mills was made. The results of
this investigation indicated that administrative employees worked,
as a rule, 2,000 hours a year, on the basis of a 40-hour week for 50
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
573
LABOR REQ U IR EM EN TS IN CEM ENT PRODUCTION
weeks. On this basis the total number of administrative hours
worked in the 12 plants during the year was determined. By divid
ing the total administrative hours worked by the annual capacity
of the 12 plants, an estimate of 3.0 man-hours of administrative
labor per 100 barrels of output was obtained. This estimate, how
ever, applies only when the plants are operating at capacity. Inas
much as the 102 plants covered in the survey operated at 36.6 per
cent of capacity in 1934, administrative labor per 100 barrels would
be greater. Adjusting for this factor it was indicated that adminis
trative labor accounted for 7.4 hours per 100 barrels of output in
1934.17 The estimated total number of administrative man-hours in
the 102 mills in 1934 was 4,301,856.
Transportation.—The transportation of the finished cement may
be by water, rail, or road. The major portion of the country’s cement
shipments, however, is transported by the railroads. In 1934,
according to the Interstate Commerce Commission,18 12,068,506 tons
of cement were shipped by rail at a total freight charge of $31,279,520.
This represented an average charge of $48.70 for each 100 barrels.
By dividing half the freight charges 19 by the average hourly wage
for railroad employees in 1934, an estimate of 38.4 man-hours per
100 barrels was obtained. In addition to the rail transportation
of the cement, hauling of the product from the railhead to the site
of construction is necessary. Based on the records of the Bureau
of Public Roads, the average haul is 3.5 miles and return. This
haul requires 2.3 hours per 100 barrels. Unloading the cement
from the railroad car and loading the truck accounted for 10.0 man
hours. Therefore, rail transportation, hauling the product from the
railhead to the construction site, and unloading operations required
50.7 hours of labor per 100 barrels of cement.
The labor necessary in the various stages of cement production
and the labor involved in transportation to the construction site are
summarized below:
M a n -h o u rs
p e r 100
barrels
Raw materials, production and transportation----------------Quarrying, manufacturing, shipping, and administration---Transportation:
From mill to rail head------------------------------------------From rail head to construction site--------------------------
20. 6
55. 0
38. 4
12. 3
Total_________________________________________ 126. 3
17 Approximately
10 percent fewer employees are engaged in administrative duties when mill operation
is less than SO percent of capacity than when operation is greater than 50 percent.
18 Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Statistics. Freight commodity statistics, year ended
Dec. 31, 1934. Washington, 1935.
i® The statistics of railroad operating expenses compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission and
the Bureau of Railway Economics indicate that approximately 50 percent of railroad operating revenue is
expended for salaries and wages. See p. 569.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
574
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Plant Variations in Man-Hour Requirements
T h e survey indicates that 126.3 hours of employment are created
for every 100 barrels of cement delivered to the site of construction.
This figure is a weighted arithmetic mean of the man-hours in the 102
plants, and as such represents average labor requirements. Varia
tions from the average have been noted in individual plants at the
different stages of manufacture. Differences in labor productivity
among individual plants occur in all industries and in the cement
industry they are particularly noticeable. The study consequently
analyzed the effect on man-hour requirements resulting from type of
manufacturing process, rate of daily operation, and plant capacity.
Variations due to manufacturing process.—Of the 102 plants covered,
half used the dry process of manufacture and half used the wet process.
The output of the dry-process mills in 1934 was 31,400,000 barrels.
In the plants using the wet process, approximately 26,700,000 barrels
were produced. Employment in the processing stage of manufacture
approximated 6,300,000 man-hours in the dry-process mills and 4,200,000 man-hours in the wet-process plants.
Inasmuch as the methods of production differ only in the raw
department and clinker department, the analysis of the labor require
ments in the two types of mill was limited to the processing stage of
manufacture. The investigation showed that plants using the dry
process of manufacture required 20.0 man-hours in processing each 100
barrels of output. On the other hand, only 15.8 hours were needed in
the wet-process mills. This differential in labor requirements, how
ever, cannot be imputed wholly to the difference in the process of
manufacture. The man-hours required in the power departments of
the dry-process plants were greater because a larger number developed
their own power instead of purchasing electricity from generating
stations. More hours of labor were also required in the coal-mill
departments of the dry-process plants because a larger number used
coal instead of oil or gas for heating purposes. An adjustment for
these factors, which are not the results of the process of manufacture,
would reduce the differential in man-hours per barrel. Wet-process
plants have, for the most part, been of recent construction. The
advantages of technological improvements have, therefore, been par
tially responsible for the greater labor productivity in these mills.20
Variations due to rate of operation.—The rate of operation in a
cement mill is determined by the number of kilns in operation. A kiln
cannot be operated except at capacity. Consequently, in a 5-kiln
mill, for example, only five different levels of daily operation are pos
sible: 20 percent, 40 percent, 60 percent, 80 percent, and 100 percent.
21 It should be noted that the above analysis has been limited to the labor requirements in the processing
stage of manufacture. No account has been taken of the labor necessary to produce the different amounts
of fuel used for heating purposes in the two processes.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR REQUIREMENTS IN CEMENT PRODUCTION
575
In order to ascertain the relationship between rate of operation and
labor requirements, a study of 12 cement plants was made. The
sample included mills equipped with 5 kilns, 3 kilns, and 2 kilns.
The survey indicated that labor requirements per barrel of cement
are reduced as the number of kilns in operation is increased. A 5-kiln
plant, with 1 kiln (20 percent) in operation requires 140 percent more
labor to produce 100 barrels of cement than when operating with 5
kilns (100 percent). A 2-kiln mill needs 48 percent more labor with
1 kiln (50 percent) in operation than when 2 kilns (100 percent) are
at work. Man-hours per 100 barrels chargeable to mill overhead
labor, which is relatively constant at all levels of operation, showed
the greatest fluctuation. In a 5-kiln plant, mill overhead labor per
100 barrels is 228 percent greater when operating at 20 percent of
capacity (1 kiln) than at 100 percent (5 kilns).
Variations due to plant capacity.—The labor required to produce 100
barrels of cement in 88 cement plants classified according to their
annual capacity is shown in table 2. It will be observed that labor
efficiency in the manufacturing processes is greater among the larger
plants. Mills having an annual capacity of more than 3,000,000
barrels required 40 hours of labor to produce 100 barrels of cement.
On the other hand, in mills with a capacity of less than 1,000,000
barrels, 64.5 hours were necessary. Fifty-eight of the eighty-eight
plants had an annual capacity of between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000
barrels.
T able 2 .— A verage N u m b er o f M an-H ours R equired to P rod uce 100 B arrels o f
C em en t in 88 M ills in 1934, b y A nnual P la n t C ap acity
Average man-hours per 100 barrels
Capacity
1
All plants_____________________________________
Over 3,000,000 barrels___________________ ______
2,500,000 to 2,999,999 barrels................................ ............
2,000,000 to 2,499,999 b a r r e ls ..---- -----------------------1,500,000 to 1,999,999 barrels______________________
1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 to 1,499,999 barrels
---------------------------Under 1,000,000 barrels____ . ------------- .
Number
of plants
Total
Quarry Manufac Shipping
turing 2
ing
88
47.6
7.7
33.6
6.3
4
40.0
47.5
49.3
48.5
56.0
64.5
6 .2
27.8
34.1
33.0
35.5
41.0
43.7
6 .0
6
10
29
29
10
7.0
9.3
6.7
8.3
13.2
6.4
7.0
6.3
6.7
7.6
1 Annual capacity has been measured by multiplying by 4 the output for the 3 highest consecutive
months.
2 Does not include administrative labor.
Labor Requirements, by Geographic Areas
As a result of the relatively high transportation charges compared
with the value of the finished product, the manufacture of cement in
this country has been developed as a local industry. The market
for cement is usually limited to territory in the proximity of the manu
facturing plant. The 164 mills in the United States are located in
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
576
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
35 States. A grouping of the cement mills covered in this study
into geographic areas indicates substantial differences in the labor
requirements in the various districts. The influence of such factors
as rate of operation, method of manufacture, type of equipment, as
well as differential advantages with respect to raw-material deposits,
is reflected in the varying labor requirements. The average number
of man-hours necessary to produce 100 barrels of cement in 1934, in
102 plants, grouped by geographic areas, is given in table 3.
T ab le 3 .— A verage N u m b er o f M an-H ours R equired to P rod uce 100 B arrels o f
C em en t in 1934, by G eographic Areas
M an-houis p er
Area
Number Production,
of plants 1934 (barrels)
Total
man
hours
100
barr els
Quarry Manufac Shipping
ing
turing i
All areas _________________________
102
58,133,187
47.6
7.7
33.6
P a c if ic .- _______ _______ ________
Lehigh Valley...........................................
Southwest___ _ _________________
Middle W est______ ______________
Southeast_________________________
Northeast______________________ __
12
9,140, 724
8 , 684, 723
5,437,896
21,511,011
6 , 376,250
6,982,583
37.4
44.8
46.5
49.3
53.9
55.7
7.0
25.7
32.0
33.8
35.2
37.9
40.7
1 Does
14
12
36
13
15
6 .6
5.7
8 .1
9.7
8.3
6.3
4.7
6 .2
7.0
6 .0
6.3
6.7
not include administrative labor.
The smallest number of man-hours per 100 barrels, 37.4, was indi
cated for plants located in the Pacific States. In manufacturing
operations, mills in this territory required 25.7 hours as compared
with 33.6 hours for the 102 plants. The average of 55.7 man-hours
per 100 barrels for mills in the States of Pennsylvania (excluding the
Lehigh Valley area), West Virginia, Maryland, New York, and Maine,
comprising the northeastern district, was the highest of all of the
geographic areas. The plants located in the Middle West, which
accounted for more than 37 percent of the total output of the 102
mills covered for 1934, required an average of 49.3 hours per 100
barrels. In the Lehigh Valley district an average of 44.8 hours was
needed.
Trend of Productivity, 1925 to 1934
T h e trend in the cement industry has been toward a greater pro
ductivity of labor. Technological improvements have contributed
to a greater output per man-hour of employment. In table 4, the
total man-hours required to produce 100 barrels of cement and pro
duction in barrels per 100 man-hours are given for each year from
1925 to 1934. An index of labor productivity has also been calculated,
using as a base the output per man-hour in 1925.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR REQ UIR EM EN TS IN CEM ENT PRODUCTION
577
T ab le 4.— L abor P r o d u c tiv ity in C em en t M ills, 1925 to 1934
Year
Average
Production
Number of man-hours (barrels per Index of
labor pro
plants
per 100
100 man
ductivity
barrels 1
hours)
1925_____________________ _______ __________ _____ _
1926______________________________________________
1927____________ ______ ____ ____ __________________
1928______________________________________________
1929_______________________ __________ ___________
127
136
139
126
61.1
58.7
54.1
50.3
47.6
200
211
104.1
112.9
121.5
128.4
1930.._________ ________________ __________________
1 9 3 1 ...________ ________________ ___ _______ _______
1932____________________ _________________________
1933..____ _____ _____ _____________________ _______
1934_______________________________________ _____ _
119
109
106
98
109
44.8
41.4
43.1
42.6
41.3
223
241
233
236
242
136.4
147.6
141.8
143.4
147.9
122
164
170
185
1 0 0 .0
1Includes quarrying labor and all manufacturing labor except labor for administration and shipping.
The productivity of labor increased by 47.9 percent between 1925
and 1934. In 1925 for every 100 man-hours of labor, 164 barrels of
cement were produced; in 1934, 100 hours of employment accounted
for 242 barrels. An increase in output per man-hour occurred in
every year from 1925 to 1931. Since 1931, changes in productivity of
labor have been slight. The figures in table 4 are somewhat distorted
by reason of the varying number of plants included in different years.
During the earlier years there was an increasing number of new plants,
and during the later years, a decreasing number of less efficient
plants.
Man-Hours of Labor, and Cement Used in Federal Construction Projects
C em ent purchases account for a large share of the total expendi
tures for materials on the various construction projects of the Federal
Government. From July 1933 to December 1935, more than
76,000,000 barrels of cement were used on projects financed either
wholly or partially from the Public Works fund. On the basis of this
survey, these purchases resulted in 96,000,000 man-hours of employ
ment in cement mills, mines, carriers, and other industries.
The most significant contribution to the creation of this employ
ment was made by public-road and street and road projects. Since
the beginning of the program to December 1935, these projects have
consumed approximately 51,500,000 barrels of cement. In producing
this cement 65,000,000 man-hours of employment were created.
Another important project which played a part in creating employ
ment in cement mills was Boulder Dam where 5,500,000 barrels of
cement were used. The production and transportation of this cement
led to the creation of more than 6,900,000 hours of employment. In
the Tennessee Valley project, 7,900,000 barrels of cement have been
purchased with a resulting indirect employment of 10,000,000 hours
of labor. In the erection of Juniata Park, a low-cost housing project
in Philadelphia, the 19,000 barrels of cement consumed resulted in
24,000 hours of indirect employment.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wage E xecu tio n s fo r D ebt 1
Part 2.—Characteristics of Debts and Debtors
By R olf N u g e n t , J ohn E. H amm , and F r a n c e s M. J o n e s 2
ART 1 of this study presented information concerning the fre
quency of wage executions for debt against the employees of
certain industrial establishments in 31 urban areas, to determine
some of the causes of differences in the frequency among the reporting
establishments, and to compare the frequency of executions among
employees in this sample with that among other occupational classes.
In the present article are described some of the characteristics of the
debts for which wage executions were brought, and of the debtors
against whom they were brought.
Part 1 dealt largely with the total number of wage executions
brought against employees of reporting establishments during the
12-month period from May 1, 1933, to April 30, 1934. Detailed
information concerning wage executions was furnished only for the
last 3 months of this period, and part 2 is based solely upon this
3-month sample.
The sample of wage executions covers 176 employers. As in part
1, however, the New York City administration and a large railroad
company, which furnished data concerning wage executions against
all employees in New York State, have been segregated. Not only
the overwhelming size of these employers, but also their special occu
pational characteristics appeared to require that they be considered
separately from other establishments which, with a few minor excep
tions, were industrial enterprises. The remaining 174 employers are
hereafter referred to as reporting industrial establishments.3
P
Kinds of Debt
A n a n a l y sis , by number of executions and amount of debt, of the
kinds of debt represented by wage executions reported by the 174
industrial establishments for the 3-month period is shown in table 1.
1
This study, the first part of which was published in the February 1936 issue of the M onthly Labor
Review, comprises a section of a larger study of consumer debt initiated under the direction of Mr. Nugent
by the Consumers’ Advisory Board of the National Recovery Administration and later continued and
expanded by the Russell Sage Foundation. For a description of the area of the study and completed sec
tions, see the M onthly Labor Review for February 1936 (p. 285).
2
Miss Jones is a member of the staff of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mr. Nugent is the director and
Mr. Hamm the assistant director of the Department of Remedial Loans of the Russell Sage Foundation.
3
The distribution of reporting industrial establishments by size, geographic area, and other character
istics is shown by the tables in part 1 (M onthly Labor Review, February 1936).
§78
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
579
WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
The amount of debt was not reported in many instances. Also, one
establishment in Birmingham reported identical amounts of debt
and weekly wages for a large number of executions. The amount-ofdebt figures for this group of executions were, therefore, discarded.4
In order to estimate the total amount involved in each kind of debt,
the average 5 reported amount of individual debts was multiplied by
the total number of executions for that kind of debt. The estimated
total debt used in computing percentages is the sum of the estimated
amounts for each general class of debt. This sum differs slightly
from the sum of the estimated amounts for all subdivisions and from
the amount which would result from multiplying the total number of
debts of all kinds by the average amount reported for all kinds of
debt.
A wide range in amount was reported for certain classes of debt;
the median amount frequently differed materially from the average;
and the average amount varied materially among geographic areas.
A considerable amount of error is, therefore, inherent in the method
of estimating. More elaborate methods gave but slight assurance of
greater accuracy, however, and the simple one has, therefore, been
chosen. The error is not sufficient to invalidate the general conclu
sions to be drawn from the table.
T ab le 1 .— K in ds o f D e b t R epresen ted b y W age E xecu tio n s A gain st E m p loyees
o f R eporting In du strial E sta b lish m en ts, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934
Executions
Kind of debt
N um
ber
C loth in g-.______________
- --------- --------- 1,139
194
Bankruptcy— ____ _______
___ _____ ____
186
L o a n s .......................... .............. . -------------------3
Credit unions _ _______________
__
22
Industrial a n d enm merp.ial hank's
56
'Llramsad le n d e r s
_
_ _______________
U n lic e n se d len d e rs
79
I n d iv id u a ls a n d u n id e n tifie d
26
178
Furniture and household appliances ----------F u r n itu r e _
_ __
___ ____
__
120
R a d io s _
_ _
__ __ __________
47
Rpfri geratnrs
W a s h in g m a c h in e s
Per
cent
of
total
46
8
7
Amounts of debt represented by
[executions t
Per
N um Aver Median Esti
ber re
age
mated cent
of
port amount amount
total
re
ing
re
amount total
debt
amount ported ported 1
635
194
157
3
18
47
66
7
23
ill
86
15
5
5
5
5
$21. 58
15.72
57. 35
56.00
94.97
6 6 . 53
28.38
92.44
48.44
45.58
45.99
110. 29
43.23
$16. 40 $24, 579
3,049
15.00
35.00 10,667
168
70.00
2,089
3,726
49.30
2,242
11.80
2,403
37.00
8,622
37.63
5,470
31. 20
2,162
50.00
551
216
1
Groceries and meats . --------Board and housing. ______ ._
R ent
Board
----------------------------_ _ _____ ______
______
- _______
H o u s e r e p a ir s
_____
171
127
83
25
17
7
5
137
101
68
19
12
20.03
55. 50
63.80
42.24
37.87
5.00
9.03
29.00
29.50
13.83
23.91
2
2
M oving.*.--------------------------------------- -----i M edians have been omitted where the amounts were reported for less than 7 executions.
3,425
7,049
5, 295
1,056
644
30
4
13
10
4
8
10
* This establishment reported identical amounts of debt and wages for 220 wage assignments. Since all
of the assignments represented debts for clothing, it was assumed that some clothing merchants made a
practice of taking and enforcing assignments for the amount of current wages only, regardless of the
amount of the account.
* I. e., arithmetic mean. The word “average” w ill be used hereafter to refer to the arithmetic mean.
4964 5 — 36 ---- 5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
580
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T ab le 1.— K in ds o f D e b t R ep resen ted b y W age E xecu tio n s A gain st E m p loyees
o f R ep ortin g In d u strial E sta b lish m en ts, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934— C on tin ued
Amounts of debt represented by
executions
Executions
Kind of debt
N um
ber
Per
cent
of
total
78
57
3
Medical and burial expense__________________
Doctors__________________ _
- . ____
D entists________________________________
Hospitals
Drugs and medicine .
Eyeglasses_______ .
Burial_____________
Jewelry. ______ ____________________________
Automobile purchase and operation__________
Finance company___________
Repairs______ _
Supplies________
Liability for injuries __
Hired car________
M iscellaneous__________ . . . .
_ _______
A ttorney_______________ ___
Collection agency__ _ .
Department store.
Sporting goods.
Coal. ________ .
Correspondence course
Newspaper bill
Professional services______
Building excavation____
A lim ony. _______
Bonding fee_______
Lot _ .r .....................................
Damage suit______________________ _____
Musical instrument
_________
Business debt_________________ . . .
Unidentified________________________________
233
9
T otal___________________________ _____
2,500
100
2
2
3
3
57
56
7
17
29
3
44
23
7
9
19
35
2
1
2
1
62
29
62
47
2
2
2
1
8
4
2
11
66
66
Per
N um Aver Median E sti
age
ber re
mated cent
amount
of
amount
port
total
re
total
re
ing
ported
amount
ported
debt
amount
10
4
4
3
2
$32.92
29.95
60.95
17.25
13. 00
110 . 00
10.28
9.91
$3,473
2, 078
35
181
40
18
1,104
1,558
3,144
1,091
338
483
4
2
4
1 ,1 1 2
22. 75
21.50
39. 07
4
2,814
769
342
41
3
124
3. 25
26.70
5.11
10. 70
182. 00
55. 00
5. 00
221 . 00
21.23
24.80
567.13
64.88
21.65
25
567
15,117
18
1,678
33. 55
18. 80
83, 519
100
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
$44. 53
36. 45
17. 25
90.45
9.97
9.20
100. 34
23. 60
47. 64
121.24
17. 80
13.81
555.95
4.40
45.38
26. 52
34.18
10. 32
10
53
10
11
182
55
5
221
21
The most remarkable feature of this analysis is the prominence of
debts for clothing, which account for almost half of the total number
of executions. The frequency of wage executions for clothing is
due to the application, in recent years, of installment technique to
this field of merchandising. Since repossession, which is the charac
teristic method of enforcing most installment contracts, is impracti
cable for clothing merchants, heavy reliance for collection is put
upon wage assignments and court process. The large number of
executions for jewelry debts, where similar conditions prevail, and
the relatively small number of executions by automobile finance
companies, which rely upon repossessions for enforcing contracts,
are noteworthy.
The executions brought by referees in bankruptcy require special
comment. All but one of these executions occurred in Birmingham.
When a wage earner files a petition in bankruptcy, the Federal court
appears to issue an order to the employer to withhold the current
wages of the petitioner. The petitioner may claim an exemption
of current wages, which varies between States, and it is probable
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGE EX E C U T IO N S FOR DEBT
581
that many of these attachments were later released. However,
because the petitioner must claim the exemption before his wages
may be paid to him and because referees in bankruptcy may enforce
payment of their fees in this manner, these orders of the Federal
court have not been excluded. In view of their peculiar status,
however, executions by referees in bankruptcy have been put in the
miscellaneous group in subsequent tables.
The third largest number of executions was for loans. But this
class includes a very heterogeneous group of obligations. The
term “unlicensed lender” is used in the table to designate lenders
operating in defiance of the law, who were known to charge very
high rates of interest. Several of the unlicensed lenders whose names
occurred as creditors in this sample have since been convicted in
recent anti-loan-shark campaigns. Other subdivisions include several
loan companies whose legality is questionable under local statutes,
but whose business practices conformed to those of chartered or
licensed companies in other States. The bank loans included under
industrial and commercial banks presumably were made by personalloan departments. Loans made by institutions whose business is
similar to that of industrial banks but which are not incorporated
under the banking law are also included in this group.
The number of executions brought by creditors whose business
could not be identified remains large in spite of strenuous efforts
to identify them by an examination of telephone and city directories
and by correspondence with persons living or doing business in the
same locality. Practically all of these executions were brought by
individuals. A few may have been the agents of corporate or tradename creditors.6 Most of them however, were probably small
grocers, landlords, boarding-house keepers, nurses, and midwives,
who had extended credit, or friends and relatives who had lent
money.
One of the notable characteristics of kinds of debt represented in
our sample is the complete absence of executions by public-utility
companies. This circumstance is partly fortuitous, because court
actions have been instituted for telephone, gas, and electricity ac
counts in some jurisdictions. It may be concluded, however, that
these are infrequent and that such creditors rely upon advance pay
ments and suspensions of service as the principal means of collecting
charges for service.
Clothing bills account not only for the largest number of executions,
but also represent the largest part of the total debt. Claims of the
6The practice among installment merchants of bringing suit in the name of an employee or attorney
appears to have been most common in New York City.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
582
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
bankruptcy courts and claims for jewelry accounts, which were
prominent with respect to number of executions, are much less im
portant with respect to the amount of debt.
Size of Debt
T able 1 shows the average and median reported amounts of each
kind of debt for the whole sample. The largest average amount
among the general classes of debt is that for loans, although several
subdivisions show considerably larger amounts. As might be ex
pected, debts for automobile financing, refrigerators, and burial ex
penses are frequently large. The consistent tendency of the average
to exceed the median amount of debt indicates that the average was
influenced materially by a few large debts and that the bulk of the
executions were for amounts less than the average.
Table 2 shows the distribution of debts by size classes for the whole
sample and for several general classes of debt which appear to be
sufficiently homogeneous to warrant such analysis. Unfortunately,
these distributions by size classes are influenced by the exclusion of a
large number of executions for which the amount of debt was not
reported. The bulk of the executions excluded for this reason came
from establishments in southern cities, and two-thirds of them repre
sented clothing accounts. The effect of these exclusions is to under
state the proportion of small debts for the whole sample.
T able 2 .— Size o f D e b ts Incurred for Specified P urposes, R ep resen ted b y W age
E xecu tion s A gainst In du strial E m p loyees, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934
All classes
of debt
Clothing
Furniture
Jewelry
Loans
All others
Size of debt
N um Per N um Per Num Per N um Per N um Per N u m Per
ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent
Less than $10___________
$10-$24.99_____________
$25-$49.99______________
$50-$99.99______________
$100-$199.99____________
$200-$499.99____________
$500 and over__ ______
452
590
378
173
62
17
26.9
35.2
22.5
10.3
3. 7
6
.4
T otal____________ 1,678
1 0 0 .0
1 .0
188
238
168
39
1
1
635
29.6
37.5
26.5
6 .1
.2
.2
1 0 0 .0
11
1 0 .0
11
30
29
27
13
27.0
26.1
24.3
11. 7
.9
27
14
5
1
111
1 0 0 .0
57
19.3
47.4
24.6
8 .8
1 0 0 .0
24
35
38
38
16
5
15.3
22.3
24.2
24.2
3 2
.6
10
1
5
30.4
36.2
18.0
8.9
4 5
14
7
157
1 0 0 .0
718
1 0 0 .0
10 2
218
260
129
64
32
Table 3 shows the average amount of debt represented by wage
executions for all cities in which the amount of debt was shown for
more than 10 executions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
583
WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
T able 3 .— A verage A m ou n t o f D e b t R ep resen ted b y W age E xecu tio n s A gain st
In du strial E m p lo y ees in C ertain C ities, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934
City
N um
ber of
execu
tions
46
Atlanta, Ga------------- ---------------------------Birmingham, Ala________ __ ------- ------ 1,057
20
Buffalo, N . Y ____ ____________ _________
487
Chicago, 111_____
_____
__
30
Cincinnati, Ohio_____________ ________
15
Cleveland, Ohio---------- . .
--------- -17
______
Detroit, M ich________________
54
Kansas City, Kans____________
_ -17
Los Angeles, Calif______________________
389
Memphis, Tenn_____ _________________
14
Mobile, Ala....................... .........................
12
Newark-Jersey City, N . J _______________
59
N ew York City-Westchester County, N .Y .
80
Norfolk, V a ._ _________________________
112
Richmond, V a_________________________
11
San Francisco, Calif____________________
28
Washington, D . C--------------------------------1 Excluding
Average
amount
of debt
$37.37
18.94
107. 24
38.27
36.08
147.42
76.02
35.38
33. 62
18.62
21.27
1 111.03
85.03
17.13
2 2 .0 0
75.42
55.18
1 execution for $3,289.
In the chart all wage executions for which both the amount of wages
and the amount of debt were reported have been graphed. The
“amount of debt” scale is logarithmic; but an arithmetic scale has
been used for wages in order to avoid exaggerating differences in
wages in the lower brackets, which were caused in most instances by
varying amounts of time worked during the specific week in which
wages were attached rather than by actual differences in income
status. The chart shows clearly the wide range in the size of debts
and the large number of very small debts. Because of the preponder
ance of executions for clothing in southern cities among those for
which the amount of debt was not reported, the chart understates
the concentration of executions in the low-wage brackets and in the
$10 to $20 size range for the whole sample. It is probable, on the
other hand, that some employers, in spite of instructions to the
contrary, reported the amount collected on specific executions as the
amount of debt in certain instances. The extent of this error in
reporting cannot be measured, but its influence would exaggerate the
number of small debts.
Although there appears to be an upward drift in weekly wages as
debts increase in size, it is clear that the correlation between wages
and amount of debt is slight. Many executions for debts of very
small amounts were brought against employees whose weekly wages
were relatively high and, conversely, many executions for large debts
were brought against persons whose wages were very low.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
584
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
585
WAGE EXECUTIONS FOR DEBT
Wages of Debtors
T he distribution by weekly wages of all employees against whom
executions were received by reporting industrial establishments
during the 3-month period is as follows:
Wage of—
Less than $10
$10-$14.99____________
$15-$19.99____________
$20-$24.99____________
$25-$29.99____________
$30-$39.99____________
$40 and over . .
Not reported
P e rc e n t
N um ber
..
._
Total
176
887
795
345
177
86
29
5
35
32
14
7
3
1
0)
2, 500
100
7
i Less than 1 percent.
In interpreting these figures, it is necessary to remember that there
were wide differences in typical wage scales among the geographic
areas and types of enterprise covered by the sample. Wages which
would be extremely low for certain areas and enterprises would be
high for others. Attempt has been made, therefore, to supplement
the distribution of the whole sample by wage classes by means of a
similar distribution for certain urban communities in which a large
number of executions were reported. Table 4 gives these data.
The distribution by wage classes shown by the table varies materially
between cities. The largest number of executions in Birmingham,
Memphis, Cincinnati, and Richmond fell in the $10-$14.99 class.
For all other cities except Washington, the $15-$19.99 class was the
most common.
T able 4. — D istrib u tio n , b y W age G roups, o f In du strial E m p lo y ees In v o lv e d in
W age E x ecu tion s in C ertain C ities, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934
Birmingham
Weekly wage
$10-$14.99_________________
$15—$19. 99_________________
$20-$24. 99_________________
$ 5 !5 —$ 2 0 .
99
$30-$39. 99
N um
ber
109
466
274
106
76
19
6
i
T otal----- ---------------- 1,057
i Less than 1 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent
N um
ber
N um
ber
Per
cent
2
8
56
253
45
15
4
16
14
65
0
86
12
23
3
10
10
41
269
10
120
7
38
4
4
0
(1)
1
(>)
(i)
(>)
2
100
487
N um
ber
Per
cent
44
26
55
25
8
100
4
1
4
0
0
389
Norfolk
Richmond
Memphis
Chicago
100
Per
cent
77
21
3
0
2
34
28
10
0
0
0
0
112
N um
ber
5
1
0
100
80
Per
cent
3
43
35
13
6
1
100
586
MONTHLY LABO E R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T able 4. — D istrib u tio n , b y W age G roups, o f In du strial E m p lo y ees In v o lv e d in
W age E xecu tio n s in C ertain C ities, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934— C ontinued
Weekly wage
New York
City, West
Kansas
chester
City, Kans.
County
Atlanta
Cincinnati
Washington
Buffalo
N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per
ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent
Under $ 1 0 ______ _______
$10—$14.99________ _____
$15—
$19.99____________
$20-$24.99_________
$25-$29.99__________
$30-$39.99______________
$40 and over____ . . . .
Unknown____ ________
T otal. __________
1
0
1
17
13
9
15
4
2
29
22
15
25
7
0
59
100
0
0
31
16
7
0
57
30
13
0
0
0
54
28
65
14
1
0
1
2
3
1
46
10
2
2
100
47
33
3
4
il
10
6
21
3
1
7
7
11
2
0
39
0
2
30
100
28
100
20
o
5
o
o
55
30
15
11
6
3
o
o
1
0
100
o
0
13
30
18
0
100
Less than 1 percent.
In order to compare the wages of those against whom wage execu
tions were brought with wages of all employees, it is necessary again
to use homogeneous parts of the sample. Table 5 compares the
average wage of all employees with the average wage of those whose
wages were attached and shows what proportions of those whose
wages were attached received more and less than the average paid to
all employees in certain establishments which reported large numbers
of executions.
T ab le 5 .— A verage W age o f All E m p lo y ees and o f T h ose In v o lv e d in W age
E xecu tio n s, b y In d u stries, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934
Employees whose wages
were attached
Industry of employer
Slaughtering........ ........... .
Electric power................. .
Railroad repairing...............
Structural steel....................
Slaughtering and meat packing.
Copper and brass................ .
Shipbuilding...................... .
Foundry and machine shop__
Iron and steel__ ________
Meat packing.___ _______
Railroad repairing________
Iron and steel..................... .
Engineering specialties_____
Shipbuilding.............. .........
Iron and steel___________
Radio manufacturing______
Sawmilling____________
Cotton goods____ ______
Location
N ew Y o r k . . ___
W ashington... . . .
M em phis................
D etroit._________
K a n sa s C ity ,
Kans.
Buffalo..................
Norfolk_________
Cleveland_______
Chicago_________
------do----------------Minneapolis. ___
A tlanta_________
C incinnati.. ____
Mobile____ _____
Birmingham_____
Cincinnati_______
M em phis________
Atlanta_________
Average
weekly
wage of
Comparison with
all em
average wages of
ployees
all employees
(Apr. Average
15,
wage
1934)
Percent Percent
receiving receiving
less
more
$30. 29
29.49
26.19
25.60
24. 56
$23.44
28.43
21.55
20.38
20.16
89
55
70
82
87
23.47
19.74
21.91
21.64
18. 72
18. 63
31.14
16. 72
14.94
19.08
16.36
18.23
12. 32
14.49
100
0
67
61
73
62
28
87
90
70
65
31
74
33
33
39
27
38
72
13
2 2 .6 8
21.84
20.98
19.48
18. 22
17.81
17. 68
17. 39
16. 54
14. 63
13.84
13.81
il
45
30
18
13
10
30
35
69
26
67
As already indicated, the chart appears to show an upward drift in
the amounts of weekly wages as the amount of debt increases. When
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
587
WAGE EX E C U T IO N S FOR D E B T
the data used in this chart are tabulated, the direct relationship
between wages and amount of debt is more clearly shown. Table 6
gives the average amount of various kinds of debt by wage classes.
T ab le 6 .— A verage A m ou nt o f Various K in ds o f D e b t, b y W age C lasses, o f
In du strial E m p lo y ees In v o lv e d in W age E xecu tion s, F eb . 1 to A pr. 30, 1934
Average amount of debt by wage classes
Kind of debt
All
wage
classes
Under
Clothing.........................- ........................ $21.58
Loans___________________________
57.35
Furniture and household appliances. 48.44
Groceries and meats___ __________
20.03
Board and housing___ _______ . . .
55.50
Medical and burial_______________
44. 53
Jewelry______________________
23. 60
Automobile purchase and operation. 47. 64
Miscellaneous____________________ 21.25
Unidentified_____________________
64.88
$14.47
40. 71
34.40
12.25
33.35
25.91
All debts________________ . .
33.55
$40
and
over
$10 $14.99
$15$19.99
$20 $24.99
$25$29.99
$30$39.99
16. 68
17.99
10. 77
$17. 55
36.91
30.29
8.03
14.14
41.64
28.46
13.51
15.56
24.35
$24. 66
42. 33
52.73
19.35
40.40
54.05
24.26
46.03
31.91
$22. 51
65.16
55.20
35.89
63. 53
40.91
18.61
60.57
17.29
50.68
$22.27
105.96
38.93
30.53
53.67
37.51
14.62
27.68
55.87
39.70
$55. 79
$17. 58
63.04
70.33
56.50
42.73
144.86
14.77
13.54
15.79
8 . 34
88.93
32. 27
42. 50
189.00
44. 55
36. 56
77.65 13,289.00
18. 77
18. 79
30.78
38.90
43. 60
$10
2 0 .1 0
79.34
194.02
i This figure represents a single execution.
Garnishments and Wage Assignments
A pproxim ately two-thirds of the wage executions in the sample
were garnishments and one-third were wage assignments.8 What are
the differences in the characteristics of debt for which these two types
of wage executions were brought and of the debtors against whom
they were brought? Table 7 compares the numbers and average
amounts of various kinds of debt represented by garnishments with
similar figures for wage assignments. Table 8 compares the wages of
those against whom garnishments and wage assignments were brought.
T ab le 7.— K in d and A verage A m ou nt o f D e b t R ep resen ted b y G arn ish m en ts
and b y W age A ssign m en ts in In du strial E sta b lish m en ts, F eb . 1 to Apr. 3 0 ,
1934
Garnishments
Kind of debt
Wage assignments
Average
Average
Number Percent
amount Number Percent
amount
of total reported
of total reported
638
89
89
4
16
14
$21.37
57.14
36.09
19.84
53.02
44.44
23.89
46.98
21.28
65.88
100
33.92
897
Clothing............................................. .............. ...........
L o a n s .._____________ _______________ _____ _
Furniture and household appliances__________
Groceries and meats____ ____________________
Board and housing________________ _______
Medical and burial....................................................
Jewelry.........................................................................
Automobile purchase and operation__________
M iscellaneous______________________________
Unidentified____ ___________________________
501
97
89
169
103
76
37
58
249
224
31
T otal______ __________________________
1,603
6
5
11
6
5
2
2
24
2
29
8
7
9
1
$21. 74
57.55
67.99
45.99
66 .94
47.00
23.28
56.27
8.82
38.38
100
32.76
71
10
10
(>)
(>)
3
3
0)
(0
i Less than 1 percent.
8 For number of garnishments and wage assignments, by cities, see M onthly Labor Review, February
1936 (p. 291).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
588
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T ab le 8 .— W eek ly W age D istr ib u tio n o f In d u strial E m p lo y ees In v o lv e d in
G arn ishm ents and W age A ssign m en ts, F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934
W a g e a s s ig n m e n t s
G a r n is h m e n ts
W e e k ly w a g e s
N um ber
U n d e r $ 1 0 ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------$ 1 0 .0 0 -$ 1 4 .9 9 __________________________________________________
$ 1 5 .0 0 -$ 1 9 .9 9 __________________________________________________
$ 2 0 .0 0 -$ 2 4 .9 9 __________________________________________________
$ 2 5 .0 0 -$ 2 9 .9 9 __________________________________________________
$ 3 0 .0 0 -$ 3 9 .9 9 __________________________________________________
------ --- - - --------------- --$ 4 0 .0 0 a n d o v e r
____ _
U n k n o w n ____
__
------------- - ---------T o t a l _____ _________________________
____________
125
641
422
191
117
80
25
2
1 ,6 0 3
P ercen t of
to ta l
N um ber
8
40
26
12
7
5
2
51
246
373
154
60
6
4
3
100
897
0)
P ercen t of
to ta l
6
27
42
17
7
U)
0)
0)
100
i L e ss th a n 1 p e r c e n t.
Although these two tables accurately describe certain characteris
tics of all garnishments and wage assignments represented in the
sample, their usefulness as a means of comparing garnishments with
wage assignments is extremely limited. The average amounts for
various classes of debt and the wages of debtors are materially affected
by local conditions and only a few of the urban areas covered by our
sample report any considerable number of wage assignments.
Because of the maldistribution of wage assignments throughout the
sample, it is necessary to limit our data to certain areas in order to
compare the average size of debts and average wages of debtors for
garnishments and wage executions. Table 9 makes this comparison
for the 5 cities in which 9 or more wage assignments were reported.
It will be noted that the relationship between average amounts of
debt and average wages of debtors shown by this table is entirely
different from that shown by tables 7 and 8. Both the average
amount of debt 9 and the average wages of debtors are consistently
lower for wage assignments than for garnishments when the com
parison is made within homogeneous groups.
Wage assignments appear to be used most commonly to secure
installment contracts for clothing, furniture, and household appliances,
jewelry, and loans. The principal characteristics of these contracts
are: (1) The original indebtedness is the largest and reduction by
periodic payments is anticipated, and (2) the creditor depends almost
solely upon pay-roll attachments as a remedy for default. The
principal characteristics of the debts for which garnishments were
brought are: (1) The debt usually increases following the original
• I n c o m p a r i n g t h e a v e r a g e a m o u n t s o f d e b t fo r g a r n i s h m e n t s a n d w a g e a s s i g n m e n t s , i t s h o u l d b e n o t e d
t h a t t h e a m o u n t s o f d e b t r e p r e s e n t e d b y g a r n i s h m e n t s i n c l u d e c o u r t c o s t s a n d t h o s e for w a g e a s s i g n m e n t s
d o n o t.
T h e s e c o s t s a r e n o t s u f f i c ie n t , h o w e v e r , t o a c c o u n t for t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n a v e r a g e a m o u n t s o f d e b t .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
589
WAGE E X E C U T IO N S FOR DEBT
credit extension (i. e., grocery, medical, board, and rent bills) or
(2) pay-roll attachments are resorted to only after other more common
collection devices have failed.
T ab le 9 .— A verage A m ou n t o f D e b t and o f W ages o f In d u strial E m p loyees
In v o lv e d in G arn ishm ents and W age A ssign m en ts, in C ertain C ities, F eb . 1 to
Apr. 30, 1934
G a r n is h m e n t s
C ity
Num
ber
C i n c i n n a t i . . ________________
- - _______________________
L o s A n g e l e s ________ ____________ __________________________
B i r m i n g h a m . . ____________________________________________
N e w Y o r k C i t y _________________ _________________________
C h ic a g o ____
_____________ _______________________________
13
8
717
26
10
W age
A ver
age
am ount
A ver
age
w ages
Num
ber
4 5 .3 8
4 3 .9 8
1 9 .6 8
141. 20
1 3 7 .5 4
$18. 26
2 1 .4 5
1 6 .4 0
26. 99
27. 51
17
9
340
33
477
a s s ig n m e n t s
A ver
age
am ount
2 8 .9 6
2 4 .4 2
14. 94
3 9 .9 0
2 6 .3 0
A ver
age
w ages
$ 1 4 .0 5
19. 06
1 4 .3 3
2 2 .8 9
1 8 .5 1
Comparison W ith Other Occupational Groups
How do the characteristics of debts and debtors in reporting
industrial establishments compare with those reported by the New
York City administration and by the railroad company which
supplied data for employees in New York State? Table 10 compares
the distribution by wage classes of employees against whom wage
executions were brought for the New York City administration, for the
reporting railroad company, and for reporting industrial establish
ments, in New York City and Westchester County, and in all cities.
Table 11 shows the distribution of wage executions by kind of debt
and gives the average amount of debt for these two large employers
and for all the industrial establishments in the sample.
These tables show the influence of the higher wage scales for the
two large employers upon the amount of wages received by those
against whom wage executions were brought and upon the amount
of debt represented by these executions. They indicate, further,
that wage executions for debt are not a phenomenon peculiar to
low-income groups. Although frequency distributions are not avail
able for comparison of the rates of wage execution among various
wage classes for the employees in the sample, such evidence as is
available indicates that under certain conditions higher wages lead to
more frequent executions for debt. Certainly, at least, the amounts
of debt for which garnishments are brought increase as the wages of
debtors increase.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
590
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
T able 10.— W age D istr ib u tio n o f In d u strial E m p lo y ees In v o lv e d in W age
E x ecu tio n s and o f Sim ilar W orkers in O ther Specified E m p lo y m e n ts, F eb . 1 to
Apr. 30, 1934
I n d u s t r ia l e s ta b lis h m e n t s
L a r g e r a ilr o a d ( e m
p lo y e e s in N e w
Y o r k S ta te )
N e w Y o rk C ity
a d m in is t r a t io n
W e e k ly w a g e s
Num
ber
U n d e r $ 1 0 ............... _
$ 1 0 t o $ 1 4 .9 9 ______
9
$15 t o $ 1 9 .9 9 ______
31
$ 2 0 t o $ 2 4 .9 9 ______
40
$25 t o $ 2 9 .9 9 ______
43
$30 t o $ 3 9 .9 9 ______ 1 ,0 1 1
$ 4 0 a n d o v e r ______
856
T o t a l - ____ 1 ,9 9 0
N o t r e p o r t e d _____
172
S im
p le
per
cent
0)
Cum u
S im
la tiv e N u m p le
per
ber
per
cent
cent
1
27
43
62
35
96
17
(0
10
15
22
13
34
6
281
91
100
(>)
2
2
2
51
43
2
4
6
57
100
100
100
G r a n d t o t a l . . 2 ,1 6 2
N ew
Y ork
C ity
a n d W e stc h e ste r
C o u n ty
Cum u
S im
la tiv e N u m p le
per
ber
per
cent
cent
C um u
S im
la tiv e N u m p le
per
ber
per
cent
cent
Cum u
la tiv e
per
cent
176
887
795
345
177
86
29
7
36
32
14
7
3
1
7
43
75
89
96
99
100
2 ,4 9 5
5
100
100
(i)
10
25
47
60
94
100
1
17
13
9
15
4
2
29
22
15
25
7
2
31
53
68
93
100
100
59
100
100
372
A l l r e p o r tin g
59
2, 500
1 L e ss th a n 1 p e r c e n t.
T ab le 11 .— N u m b er and A verage A m ou n ts o f V arious K in ds o f D e b t R ep re
sen ted b y W age E x ecu tio n s A gain st R ailroad and In d u strial E m p lo y ees,
F eb . 1 to Apr. 30, 1934
N e w Y o rk C ity
a d m in is t r a t io n
K in d o f d e b t
C l o t h i n g .........................................
L o a n s ........................... ..........................
F u r n i t u r e a n d h o u s e h o l d a p p l ia n c e s ,
G r o c e r ie s a n d m e a t s ____________
B o a r d a n d h o u s i n g __________
M e d i c a l a n d b u r i a l ___________
J e w e l r y ..............................
A u to m o b ile p u r c h a se a n d o p e r a tio n .
M i s c e l l a n e o u s .............................
U n i d e n t i f i e d .................. ..............
A l l d e b t s ______________ _____
E x e c u t io n s
Num
ber
P er
cent
244
834
253
6
68
7
142
29
209
370
11
39
12
2 ,1 6 2
L a r g e r a ilr o a d ( e m
p lo y e e s in
N ew
Y o r k S ta te )
E x e c u t io n s
A ver
age
am ount
N u m P er
of debt
ber
cent
7
1
10
17
$68. 26
1 4 2 .3 4
114. 02
55. 00
190. 81
1 3 8 .4 3
176. 32
1 4 4 .1 0
225. 71
3 2 9 .0 5
102
44
60
1
1
4
60
8
38
54
100
174. 20
372
(>)
3
(0
27
12
16
A ll r e p o r tin g in d u s
tr ia l e s ta b lis h m e n ts
E x e c u t io n s
A ver
age
am ount
of debt
Num
ber
P er
cent
A ver
age
am ount
of debt
re
p o r ted
16
2
10
15
$32. 23
1 2 1 .9 1
8 9 .7 8
2 5 5 .0 0
2 591. 00
5 4 .2 5
38. 93
1 1 0 .8 8
6 5 .2 4
5 5 2 .2 4
1 ,1 3 9
186
178
171
127
78
66
66
256
233
46
7
7
7
5
3
3
3
10
9
$21. 58
57. 35
4 8 .4 4
2 0 .0 3
5 5 .5 0
44. 53
23. 60
4 7 .6 4
2 1 .2 5
6 4 .8 8
100
1 3 5 .5 5
2 ,5 0 0
100
33. 55
(')
«1
1 L e ss th a n 1 p e r c e n t.
2 1 e x e c u tio n o n ly .
An interesting characteristic of the executions against New York
City employees is the predominance of executions for loans. Among
the establishments in the samples in which large numbers of executions
were brought, this is the single employment group in which clothing
was supplanted as the most frequent cause of wage executions. This
is probably due in part to very great development in New York City
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
591
WAGE EX EC U TIO N S FOR DEBT
of industrial banks and lending institutions doing a similar business10
and in part to the fact that wage assignments, the customary security
of installment clothing houses in New York City, are not useful against
city employees. The distribution of executions against the railroad’s
employees by kind of debt, however, more nearly resembled the pat
tern for the industrial establishments.
Table 12 compares the average amounts of various kinds of debt
represented by garnishments and wage assignments brought against
the employees of the railroad company.11 Apparently the differences
in characteristics of garnishments and wage assignments that were
revealed by table 9 for certain cities hold also for railroad employees
throughout New York State.
T ab le 12 .— A verage A m ou n ts o f D e b ts for Specified P u rp oses, o f R ailroad
E m p lo y ees In v o lv e d in G arnishm ents and in W age A ssign m en ts, F eb . 1 to
Apr. 30, 1934
G a r n is h m e n t s
W a g e a s s ig n m e n t s
K in d o f d e b t
N um ber
C lo t h in g
F u r n itu r e
J e w e l r y ___
Tynans
A ll o t h e r s
T o ta l—
- -
- -
.............
- _____ __
______ ____ ___________ _______
_ _ _
_________ ______
- —
________ ____ _____________
_________ - - ________ _________
________
A verage
am ount
N u m ber
A verage
am ount
16
26
2
43
89
$ 4 7 .8 2
9 6 .5 8
6 1 .0 0
123. 23
3 7 4 .4 6
86
34
58
1
17
$ 2 9 .1 2
8 4 .5 9
3 8 .1 7
i 6 5 .0 0
42. 53
176
237. 69
196
4 2 .8 4
* 1 execution only.
io I. e., personal-loan departments of banks and credit unions.
n Judicial restrictions upon the use of wage assignments against public employees prevent these instru
ments from being used against N ew York City employees.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ethods o f F inancing W o rk m en ’s C om pensation
A d m in istra tio n s and F u n d s 1
B y M arshall D a w so n ,
of th e U n it e d S ta tes B u r e a u
of
L abor S ta tistic s
WORKMEN’S compensation commissioner said recently, “If
the workmen’s compensation commissions are to give satisfac
tory service, we must have more money.” This remark raises two
questions: How much money does a workmen’s compensation com
mission need? What is the best way to get the support that is neces
sary? Especially during the depression, many compensation com
missions have suffered severely from insufficient provision for doing
the work expected of them. The distinction between “cheap”
administration and economical administration is often overlooked.
As a test of the merit of an administration, it is useless to ask how
little it costs unless one is shown what service is rendered.
It is easy to understand how a layman may be misled at this point.
A letter published by the California Standard2 shows how simple the
matter seems to a workman.
A
In Oregon the State plan there allows only 10 percent for overhead. Injured
workmen and their dependents get 90 percent in Oregon, while California pays
52 percent or less.
An analysis of this statement, in the light of all the facts, shows a
fallacy in the reasoning. The statement is quoted here not as a
basis for comparisons between the two States mentioned, but as an
interesting specimen of confused thinking upon measurements of
service. What the workman receives, and what the administration
costs, are two different things. What he receives is provided in the
workmen’s compensation act of his State. The scale of benefits
provided by such acts is seldom the same in any two States. Because
of such erratic variations, strange as it may seem, in one State the
workman may get 90 percent of the dollar the employer pays for in
surance and still receive less than is paid the workman in an adjoining
State where the injured man is said to receive only “52 percent or
less” of the amount paid as insurance premium. The benefits
actually paid to the workman depend upon the standard of liberality
set by the State workmen’s compensation law and the interpretation
of the law. At present, in the two States mentioned in the newspaper
1This is the third of a series of articles on workmen’s compensation administration, the first of which
appeared in the M onthly Labor Review, Jan. 1936 (p. 1).
* California Standard, Eureka, Calif., Apr. 26, 1935.
592
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
F IN A N C IN G W O RK M EN’S COM PENSATION F U N D S
593
article, it happens that while in one State the administrative cost is
low, in the other State the liberality of the act is high, so that the
workmen who “get 90 percent” in one State actually receive less than
do the workmen in the other State which “ pays 52 percent or less” 3
of the dollar expended by employers for workmen’s compensation
insurance.
The patterns of workmen’s compensation law and insurance are so
varied that they have to be examined carefully before attempting to
make comparisons. Even the correction, set forth above, of the
newspaper’s comparison may also be misleading, without further
explanation. It must not be mistaken for an assertion that adminis
trative cost has nothing to do with what the workman receives. Low
administrative cost, other factors being equal, makes possible increased
benefits by easing the competitive burden upon employers and making
them more disposed to join with labor in favoring a generous work
men’s compensation act. But whenever low administrative cost is
considered, as a desirable goal for labor, the factor of “service” must
be scientifically scrutinized. If this is not done, the worker may lose
instead of gain by the cheapening of the administration of the work
men’s compensation act.
Cost in Relation to Service
L a b o r ’s primary needs in this field are generous benefits and
efficient administration. While it is important to know whether the
“overhead” in the administration of the compensation law and in
surance is 10 percent, or 50 percent, of the insurance premium, it is
much more important for the worker to know what he is getting for
the 10 percent or the 50 percent overhead expenditure. The safe
thing to do, at this point, is to start by asking the question: “What
services should be rendered by the workmen’s compensation adminis
tration and the insurance carrier?” Emphasis should be put, first,
on the actual rendering of essential service, and second, on reasonable
cost for that service. Comparisons of administrative expense should
be checked against a schedule of services rendered, for instance, in
claims adjustment, insurance supervision or underwriting, investi
gating solvency of carriers, administration of “second injury” fund,
accident prevention, and rehabilitation. To afford a scientific basis
of comparison, definite weightings would have to be given for specific
items of service. Otherwise, in a scrutiny of relative administrative
cost, one may be comparing an administration that renders services
“x, y, and z” with an administration that renders only services “x and
3 The comparison of actual benefits provided by the acts of the 2 States mentioned, made by the National
Council on Compensation Insurance, as of January 1935, shows that the benefit liberality of Oregon is 0.768
as compared with New York (1.000), while the liberality rating of California is 0.802. Such comparisons
are approximate and do not take into account local variations in the liberality of the administration, as
distinguished from the liberality of the provisions of the act itself.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
594
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
y.” Such a comparison, instead of penalizing the deficient adminis
tration, might exhibit it favorably as the more economical of the two.
This caution is needed in regard to the method of approach to the
subject. But at the same time that attention is called to the danger
of assuming that low-cost administration is economical, it must also
be said that a high administrative cost is not necessarily proof of
adequate service. In each case the administrative values received
by the public which is served can be determined only by checking the
items of expense loading against the kind and amount of service
actually rendered.
In 1919-20 the Bureau of Labor Statistics made a study of work
men’s compensation insurance systems. One of the points upon
which information was sought was the “relative cost” of the various
types of insurance carriers. “The question of costs included both
the cost of insurance and the cost of administration.” The results
of that study, which covered 20 States and 2 Canadian Provinces,
were given in a bulletin published in April 1922.4 That report com
pared the administrative cost of exclusive State funds, competitive
State funds, and private insurance. A striking contrast, drawn
between the “expense ratios” 5 of State insurance and stock-company
insurance, focussed attention and debate upon the possibility of
ehminating waste or private profit in this branch of social insurance.
The most controversial factor in this comparison was “service.” In
order to make a dollar-for-dollar comparison in administrative cost,
it was considered necessary to assume “that each type of insurance
has furnished the same kind of service.” Upon that assumption,
certain averages were arrived at. “Using one figure only, the aver
age expense ratios are as follows: Stock companies, 38 percent;
mutual companies, 20 percent; competitive State funds, 10.6 percent;
and exclusive State funds, 4 percent.” 6
That comparison of administrative cost, made upon the assump
tion that the same type of service had been rendered by the carriers
compared, has sometimes been detached from its hypothetical basis
and mistaken for a statement of what the administrative cost of a
commission and/or 7 State fund should be. As attention was drawn
* U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 301: Comparison of Workmen’s Compensation Insurance
and Administration. Washington, 1922.
6 The “overhead” cost of insurance and administration, as distinguished from the “pure premium” or
charge for the cost of compensation and medical aid received by injured workmen.
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 301: Comparison of Workmen’s Compensation Insurance
and Administration. Washington, 1922, p. 10.
In some States and in some Provinces of Canada, the administrative functions of the commission and
fund are merged; in other cases, they are distinct. This difference of pattern causes one of the difficulties
in comparing the cost of workmen’s compensation administration and insurance. One cannot make a cleancut comparison of cost as between the operations of a State fund and private insurance. It is sometimes
as difficult to compare the cost of operation of two State funds as it is to compare the costs of State and
private insurance, because all funds do not render the same kind or amount of service. Thus, if comparisons
are made on the basis of administrative cost alone, without knowing what service is rendered, it is like com
paring the price tags on several packages without knowing exactly what is in the packages. To make an
intelligent choice, both cost and content of the package must be known.
8
7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FIN A N C IN G W O RK M EN’S COM PENSATION F U N D S
595
to the very low administrative cost of State funds, especially exclusive
State funds, some legislatures came to look upon reduced administra
tive cost as the most important objective in workmen’s compensation
administration. On the other hand, well-informed students of the
subject understand that mere cheapness of administration is a de
lusive goal which has often ended in a quagmire of waste, nonservice,
and very costly inefficiency. Because there are controversial phases
of any discussion of administrative cost involving comparison between
types of insurance carriers, it must be said again, at this point, that
high cost of insurance is not, in itself, proof of satisfactory service, any
more than low cost of insurance is, in itself, proof of economical
administration.8
Effect of the Depression in Impairing Workmen’s Compensation Service
I n 1919 something was to be gained, especially as a starting-point
for further study, by comparing the administrative cost of certain
types of administration and insurance upon the assumption “that
each type of insurance has furnished the same kind of service.” But
the impact of the historic period 1929-34 makes it necessary to place
the emphasis elsewhere in the present study.
In the year 1935 the outstanding feature of workmen’s compensa
tion administration was the impairment of service by deficient support
of the administrative agencies. There are other causes of impaired
service, but in 23 States visited only one State was found where the
support was considered adequate by those responsible for the adminis
tration. And even that State had severely cut one essential phase
of workmen’s compensation service, resulting in a level of performance
below the attainment of former years.8
This impairment of service in workmen’s compensation admin
istration and insurance by deficient support is not a new condition,
except in the degree of impairment resulting from the difficulties of
the States in financing expenditures during the past five years. In
Bulletin No. 301 it was said (p. 5):
P rob ab ly th e greatest han dicap suffered b y S ta te fu n d s and in d u strial com
m issions is in ad eq u ate appropriations and salaries. A n in d u strial com m ission
c an n ot perform its fu n ction s properly nor furnish ad eq u ate service if it does n o t
8
Some of the factors involved in the wide variation in the “overhead” cost of workmen’s compensation
insurance are: Acquisition cost, duplication of service, excessive competition, small volume of business in
proportion to fixed overhead cost, differences in the provision for inspection service, auditing of pay rolls,
and adjustment or claim service, organization and coordination of service, regional geographical variations
with thinly scattered risks in some areas, etc. Especially during the depression, excessive overhead,
where it existed, was due to such causes rather than to the loading of cost with “profit” , since it is claimed
that most of the stock and mutual companies lost money on workmen’s compensation insurance during
recent years.
In the Bureau’s survey of workmen’s compensation administration and insurance, some of the tests of
administrative cost and adequacy are objective, while others are subjective and involve expressions of
opinion from qualified experts actually in charge of the operations studied. For example, the officer in
charge of a department may be asked, at the close of the factual study, if in his opinion his personnel is
adequate, measured by an ideal standard of service. Replies to such questions are confidential; hence
when such an opinion is quoted, the name of the State is not disclosed.
9
49 6 4 5 — 36 --- 6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
596
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — MARCH 1936
have su fficient app rop riations to carry on its work and if th e salaries p rovided are
so low th a t high -grade em p loyees can n ot be retained.
This deficient support, which in most States had been bad enough
but endurable prior to 1929, was further reduced during the depression.
In consequence, many State administrations were slowed down and
weakened. Some branches of service were lowered from a profes
sional to a clerical status, or were altogether wrecked. Indeed, it is
greatly to the credit of the workmen’s compensation commissions
that, in the face of such difficulties, they were able to carry on their
administration well enough to avoid a revolt of the labor movement
against the commission administration of workmen’s compensation.
As long as it seemed necessary, the workmen’s compensation com
missions accepted salary cuts and curtailment of personnel. The year
1935, however, was marked by a trend toward the restoration of es
sential services. Some commissions, surveying the impairment of
service in their States, are now giving thought to the renovation and
perfecting of workmen’s compensation administration and are seeking
methods of financing which will not be subject to destructive fluctua
tions such as those experienced in recent years.
The outstanding question is, What service shall be rendered and how
is it to be financed? From this point of view, it is apparent that the
depression years 1929-1934 have made a distinct contribution to the
development of workmen’s compensation administration in the United
States, by so exaggerating certain existing defects in the law and ad
ministration as to compel attention to the necessary remedies.
Chief among the constructive contributions made by the depression
to the development of workmen’s compensation administration are
the investigations or audits 10 made in certain States by outside actu
aries of accredited ability. The most striking feature of such audits
was the uncovering of heavy losses, traceable to deficient administra
tion, which outweighed the cost of the administration itself. Such
evidence that an adequate administration is more economical than a
deficient, poorly supported administration, gives impetus to the
movement to place the administrative cost of workmen’s compensa
tion service upon an efficiency basis.11
10 S i n c e t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f u n c t i o n s i n m o s t e x c l u s i v e f u n d S t a t e s a r e a u n i t , a n a u d i t o f t h e f u n d w o u l d
u s u a l l y r e s u lt i n r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s r e la t in g t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a s a w h o l e a s w e l l a s t o t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e
s p e c if ic in s u r a n c e f u n c t i o n s .
11
As samples of actuarial reports and reports of investigating committees made in States at the instance
of governors, legislatures, or voluntary groups, see Actuarial Survey, Ohio State Insurance Fund, Report
to Governor’s Investigating Committee, Workmen’s Compensation Law, N ov. 26, 1934, N ew York,
Woodward & Fondiller, Inc.; and Ohio Government Survey Committee, Booklet No. R7; The Industrial
Commission, Columbus. In other States there have been important actuarial reports made directly to
workmen’s compensation commissions. Some of these reports are held to be confidential, but most of
them reach the same conclusions. As contributions to the literature of workmen’s compensation admin
istration and insurance, some of the actuarial reports are especially valuable because they are the work of
specialists in this type of insurance. While some of the reports of investigations made by others than
specialists in workmen’s compensation administration contain excellent material, such reports are some
tim es vitiated by the lack of expert knowledge, and may contain suggestions which if acted upon would
make a bad situation worse.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FIN A N C IN G W O RK M EN’S COM PENSATION F U N D S
597
In a recent report the statement is made: “It is distinctly apparent
that the major difficulty [of compensation administration] has been
inadequate legislative appropriations for proper functioning.” As
a typical instance of losses due to undermanned departments, that
report points out that “a test study in Cuyahoga County indicates
that $1,500,000 annually would accrue to the fund if pay-roil audits
were kept up to date.” Tliis one item of loss is greater than the entire
legislative appropriation for the support of the commission and fund
in that State. “The appropriation measure carried $933,593 for the
industrial commission for 1935”, of which amount items totaling
$58,700 were vetoed.12 This report is the more significant as a recog
nition of the imperative need for adequate financing of workmen’s
compensation administration, because it recommended increased
appropriations for that service at the same time that the agency which
made the report was urging economies in certain other State depart
ments.
In view of the fact that many branches of public service have been
cut to the bone, in the name of economy, workmen’s compensation
commissions have been reluctant to demand preferential treatment in
the matter of appropriations. But the function of insurance is to
act as a stabilizer. Such a function is especially needed in times of
industrial fluctuation. To cut an insurance administration drastically
at such a time hampers its power to render the very service for which
it was created. If the depression experience in relation to the financing
of workmen’s compensation administration has taught any one lesson,
that lesson is the necessity for permitting commissions and funds to
be self-supporting, for at times the willingness or ability of State
legislatures to support the service by general appropriations has
failed.
Methods of Financing Workmen’s Compensation
T he crisis in workmen’s compensation administration, precipitated
in some States during the depression by the dwindling of appropria
tions, has emphasized the main division in methods of financing work
men’s compensation commissions and funds—the difference between
support by legislative appropriations and self-support either through
an assessment on the insurance or by the direct use of part of the
insurance income for administrative purposes. The simplest way to
explain the different effects upon workmen’s compensation administra
tion of the two methods of financing is to say that under one method
the administration must give what service it can out of a fixed sum of
money allowed it, while under the other method the commission
ascertains what service it should render and makes up its budget
accordingly. In the first case the criterion is what the commission can
*> Ohio Government Survey Committee. Workmen’s Compensation.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Columbus, 1935, pp. 8,17.
598
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
get; in the second case the criterion is what it should do. In
the first case the commission must “muddle along” as best it can; in the
second case the service can be put upon an efficiency basis.
The first method—support by legislative appropriations—almost
invariably produces “deficient” administration. It is most unjust
to the workmen’s compensation commissions in many States to say
that their administration is “inefficient” when they are doing all that
is possible with the means at their disposal. The correct characteriza
tion of the type of administration usually found where the commission
and/or fund is supported by legislative appropriation is “deficient”
administration.
It is not the purpose of the present study to draw attention to the
condition of administration in certain regions by naming the States
in which different types of financing are found. To do so would dis
tract attention from an impersonal consideration of the main patterns
of financing observed in the course of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’
survey. But because so many expert and costly studies have been
made of the Ohio administration, there is some justification for citing,
by name, the Ohio experience.
It has been said that the support of a commission and/or fund by
legislative appropriation almost invariably results in deficient service.
The investigators of the Ohio Government Survey Ccommittee exam
ined the service rendered by the divisions of the workmen’s compensa
tion administration and found it deficient. A correct measure of that
deficiency would show the financial margin between deficient support
and adequate support of each phase of the service and of the service as
a whole. For such measurements, the ground had been prepared by
thorough actuarial studies previously made. In the light of such
knowledge, the increased appropriation which would make possible an
adequate administration was recommended. The investigation
showed that the Ohio commission and fund were rendering the State
a service of such great value as to warrant increased expenditures
upon administrative operations.
The method of checking the work of a compensation administra
tion, division by division, against a standard of service, is an excellent
way of arriving at a correct figure for the budget. The Ohio Govern
ment Survey Committee, by this method, sketched a long-range
plan and reached the following conclusion:
T o carry o u t th e program d etailed in th e se recom m en d ation s, in clu d in g th e
long-range view , th e se app rop riations w ill be required:
1935 ____________________
1936 _______________
$1,200,000
1,442,800
1937 _____
1 ,4 4 2 ,8 0 0
1938 ___
1,142,800
These figures represented a large increase over previous appropria
tions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FIN A N C IN G W O R K M EN ’S COM PENSATION F U N D S
599
It is most unusual to find such an example of long-range planning
of administrative allowances or expenditures. But the entire past
experience in Ohio, and in most State administrations dependent
upon legislative support, proves that it is one thing to make up a
budget, and quite a different thing to obtain an appropriation. The
long-range planning of administrative expenditure emphasizes the
necessity for a different method of financing, since the legislature
which makes the appropriation for 1936 has no power over the legis
lature which will meet in 1938.
There is but one way of assuring progress from deficient to adequate
administration, i. e., by changing the method of financing from legis
lative support to self-support. Such a change at one stroke removes
a tax item from the general appropriation list, makes the commission
financially autonomous, and helps to remove workmen’s compensa
tion administration from the recurring political struggle for the means
of survival.
The accumulated experience upon this feature of workmen’s com
pensation administration prompted the formulation of a new “plank”
in the platform of standards recommended by the Second National
Conference on Labor Legislation, held at Asheville, N. C., October
1935:
A d m in is tr a tio n . * * * Cost of administration to be defrayed, not by
legislative appropriation, but by an assessment on insurance companies and
self-insurers. Administrative cost of State funds to be taken directly out of
insurance premiums or income.
Because of the desire to simplify, it would be gratifying if one could
dispense with further elaboration of the principle that the standard
method of financing workmen’s compensation commissions and/or
funds is now self-support either by assessment or by the use of insur
ance income for administrative purposes. Unfortunately, workmen’s
compensation acts and administrative machinery in the States cannot
be divided into two main groups or patterns, for they are complicated
by the variations in the State acts and practice and sometimes by
constitutional obstacles.13 Mixed patterns are often found. Occa
sionally, also, the manner in which a plan is carried out nullifies the
value of a plan which, on paper, resembles a “standard.” The possi
bility of continuous adequate support of the workmen’s compensation
administration and/or fund is determined, not by the letter of the
is The effect of constitutional provisions upon workmen’s compensation law and administration is a study
in itself, upon which a volume could be written. The main difference in constitutional patterns is that
between the relatively brief and general form of constitution and the constitution which undertakes to
cover every phase of State experience and which is in effect a code of massive proportions. Since socialsecurity legislation represents a relatively new and unforeseen stage of American experience, some of the
older State constitutions, especially those which undertake to regulate legislation in detail, present diffi
culties which are from time to time met by amendments.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
600
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
law alone, but also by the local practice in regard to the resources and
expenditures of State agencies.14
Adjustment to Changing Conditions
T h e present situation of workmen’s compensation administration
in the United States as a whole cannot be understood unless one bears
in mind the change, which began about 25 years ago, in the scope of
State functions. In the nineteenth century State governmental
activity was almost exclusively regulatory. At the beginning of the
second decade of the twentieth century, many of the States were
extending their functions to include certain “service” activities. But
the existing constitutions and laws had been framed, perhaps in the
eighteenth century, for use in a government restricting itself to regu
latory action. Workmen’s compensation administration is mainly a
“service” function. In some States the necessity for making consti
tutional and statutory changes was recognized as soon as the demand
arose for the enactment of workmen’s compensation laws. The process
of adaptation to a new function was experimental, and some of the
new provisions were necessarily imperfect. Changes made at one
point sometimes caused unforeseen difficulties at other points. In
studying the present condition of workmen’s compensation law and
administration in the United States, it is of the utmost importance to
understand that what is now taking place in many jurisdictions is the
attempted adjustment of the imperfect adaptation of the old body of
law and practice to new social and industrial conditions.
This adaptation has taken place more rapidly in some States than
in others, but it has already gone far enough to enable all the States
to benefit by the experience of those jurisdictions which have made
the most successful adaptation of their law and administrative
machinery to the exigencies of such a service agency as workmen’s
compensation administration. Most of the present difficulties of
workmen’s compensation administration arise out of a transition
period of development. The chief imperfections in the adaptation of
old legal patterns or in the framing of new patterns may now be
clearly seen and expertly remedied.
Some of the earlier laws setting up workmen’s compensation
commissions and/or funds were marked by the fear of delegating
ample authority to those responsible for the conduct of compensa
tion administration and insurance. The habit of restricting the
14An interesting illustration of such a local practice, found in some States during the depression, is the
“self-denying” clause requiring all State agencies to place themselves upon a parity or equal footing, in a
time of shortage of State revenues, regardless of their separate departmental resources for support (if any).
Under such a clause, employees in well-financed departments or agencies were expected to share the vicissi
tudes of the employees in departments suffering from a deficiency of support. Where this “self-denying
clause” was found, the professional employees of workmen’s compensation administration were sometimes
compelled to accept nominal salaries, while clerical salaries would be reduced to the subsistence level, and
“service” was cut to a minimum.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FIN A N C IN G
W O RK M EN’S COM PENSATION F U N D S
601
delegation of authority to regulatory agencies was applied to the
mechanism of the new service agency. Experience soon showed
that the new mechanism, when it was so tied up with detailed man
dates and restrictions, would not work satisfactorily.15
Necessity for Self-Direction Plus Self-Support
T he method of financing workmen’s compensation commissions
and/or funds, in any jurisdiction, is the specific method prescribed by
the law, as affected by the practice in that jurisdiction either to sub
ject the agency to detailed control or to allow it ample scope for selfdirection in its operations. In some States, the compensation act
may seem to give a commission powers of self-direction in budget
making, which in fact the commission may not exercise. Partial
attempts to put workmen’s compensation administration upon a
better financial basis have shown that, without an elastic provision
for budget making, a change in the source of the support of a com
mission may not remedy the difficulties of the situation. The com
mission’s needs for the power of self-direction and for self-support go
together; one without the other does not help much.
The attempt to ease the administrative difficulties of a workmen’s
compensation administration and/or fund is nullified when the act
provides for self-support by assessment or by use of insurance funds
for administrative expense, but compels the commission nevertheless
to have its budget approved or an appropriation made by the legisla
ture. This is especially true where the budget to be approved by the
legislature is a “line item”, i. e., a detailed analysis of proposed ex
penditures. In such a case, a workmen’s compensation commission,
even though its expenditures are reimbursed by an assessment upon
insurance carriers, may be unable to hire an additional stenographer
or increase the salary of an employee until the next session of the legis
lature convenes and a new budget is approved and a covering appro
priation is made.18 Some States have avoided such difficulties by
ls For example, one of the first acts providing for a State fund contained detailed instructions upon rate
making and the handling of insurance revenues. A business cycle, with the attendant acute fluctuation in
receipts, was not foreseen by the lawmakers. The need fcr elasticity in emergencies was overlooked. In
consequence, many of the classifications into which the fund was rigidly divided became insolvent during
the depression, yet there was no method by which the fund as a whole could lend to its own subdivisions
without overstepping the law. Such detailed regulation put the commission in a most embarrassing
situation. It was compelled to throw a maximum burden of insurance cost upon employers when these
were least able to bear it. Moreover, to escape the risk of complete insolvency, it was constrained to guard
its compensation awards so closely as to antagonize labor. The hostility of both employers and work
men was incurred, and the existence of the fund itself was threatened by bills introduced in the legislature.
In sharp contrast with this experience is that of a certain fund, unhampered by detailed restrictions, which
was able to take the unusual step of reducing its insurance rates, at the depth of the depression, without
curtailing its awards, and thus ease an emergency condition without impairing its solvency. The names
of these two funds are withheld because the aim of the present study is to compare methods rather than
point out conditions in different jurisdictions.
w 1« Abundant examples of the crippling of the functions of workmen’s compensation administration by
“line-item” budgets may be found. For instance, one commission had discontinued its former practice
of notifying injured workmen of their rights because the appropriation had not allowed the office sufficient
postage stamps.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
602
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
adopting a policy which frankly recognizes a difference between service
agencies and regulatory agencies, allowing the service agency a maxi
mum of self-direction. Some of the competitive State funds have ben
efited by such a change of policy in regard to their operations and
budget making. The viewpoint is gaining acceptance that if the State
goes into the insurance business, the efficient operation of the business
necessitates the delegation of responsibility and authority to a properly
safeguarded administration.
What is involved in the change of legislative attitude toward the
powers of workmen’s compensation commissions and/or funds is not
an abandonment of safeguards upon the administration, but a choice
between old methods of safeguarding and new methods adapted to
present conditions. For example, prior to the depression of 1929
the auditing of State funds in some jurisdictions was intermittent,
weak, and inexpert, while at the same time there was strict legislative
control of the budget. The present tendency is to place more
reliance on competent audits, while relaxing legislative control of the
budget. In short, the trend of development stresses the importance
of nonpolitical rather than political checks upon the operations of
the commission, and of “locking the door” before “the horse is
stolen” instead of afterward. Another example of the newer type
of checks upon administration is the provision of an advisory commit
tee for the commission and/or fund. The exigencies of workmen’s
compensation administration and of the insurance business arise
from day to day, and cannot satisfactorily await the convening of a
legislature 1 or 2 years hence. The checks necessary for the efficient
conduct of such operations are those which are available in the course
of the daily business, rather than checks which are applied at intervals
of 1 or 2 years with no direct contact during the intermission.
In the case of State funds which have been set up alongside the
existing system of private insurance, without displacing stockcompany and mutual insurance but on a competitive basis with them,
autonomy in budget making has often been allowed. The theory
upon which this has been done is that the “competition” of the State
fund with private insurance carriers will of itself furnish a check upon
its administrative expenditures, which may take the place of a control
over the budget by the legislature. But in some cases this autonomy
may be subject to an arbitrary maximum limit of expenditure. A
typical device is a provision in the act that the fund may not expend,
for administrative purposes, more than 10 percent of premium income.
This check upon the budget may be further complicated by a specific
provision for calculating the percentage; as, for instance, 10 percent
of the premium income for the preceding fiscal year.
Such detailed provisions have caused great difficulties. Thus,
the budget of a State fund for the year 1934 had to be calculated
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FIN A N C IN G W O R K M EN ’S COM PENSATION F U N D S
603
upon a percentage of the premium income for 1933. In 1933, the
premium income dropped to a very low level. In 1934, the increase
of employment naturally expanded the business of the fund, and, in
addition, the fund had to take on a heavy load of insurance covering
emergency relief workers. In consequence, the administrative ex
pense of the fund leaped beyond the legal maximum. The admini
strators faced the alternative of refusing to protect the workers by
insurance or of violating the law by spending more than the maximum
allowed. The commission chose to protect the workers and take the
personal risk incident to violating the legal restriction upon adminis
trative expense.
Specific limitations of administrative expense written into work
men’s compensation acts have failed to take into account two things:
(1) Business cycles with the attendant acute fluctuation in the volume
of insurance coverage and consequent fluctuation in receipts; and (2)
the scope of service which, according to advancing standards, should
be rendered by commissions and funds. Such arbitrary limitations
upon budgets have compelled sudden reductions in the working per
sonnel of commissions and funds, especially during the depression.
As an illustration of the difficulties caused by such detailed limita
tions in acts, one may cite the experience in a State where the com
mission was compelled to drop from its working force all of the
referees.17 Fortunately, after this commission had operated for a
period of 6 months without the services of referees for adjudicating
claims, a change in receipts or in legislative authorization made
possible the reemployment of these indispensable agents in workmen’s
compensation administration.
Among the mixed patterns of financial support is the method of
self-support for a competitive fund, coexisting with support of the
workmen’s compensation commission by legislative appropriation.
This may result in a fluctuating provision for the commission admin
istration alongside a relatively stable administration of the fund.
There are historic examples of the effect of this dual method. In
one State, the early popular enthusiasm for workmen’s compensation
administration, following the enactment of the law, assured adequate
appropriations. An unusually expert administration was built up.
Later, at one stroke, the appropriation was cut in two. Some features
of the compensation administration had to be discontinued, with the
wholesale dismissal of employees. More than 10 years later the un
certainty of appropriations to pay the salaries of employees led the
personnel of the workmen’s compensation administration to adopt
the plan of paying into a common pool a percentage of their salaries,
so that if the appropriation failed, some of the employees, instead of
>7Officers who conduct hearings upon claims for compensation. To do such work intelligently, a con
siderable period of training is needed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
604
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
being forced out, could get their support from the common pool.
The fluctuation of legislative appropriations has not only seriously
hampered the work of the commission at times, but has made un
certain the tenure of employment even for employees with a civilservice status.
One of the chief defects in the legislative-appropriation method is
the lack of continuity of gubernatorial policy in the States. At the
present stage of development of our administrative technique, there
may be a reversal of fiscal policy with each change in occupancy of
the governor’s chair. Such variations of policy have had at times
disastrous effects upon the relatively fixed needs of the workmen’s
compensation system, and at all times have introduced an element
of insecurity not conducive to the development of personnel
efficiency.18
The chief methods of supporting the workmen’s compensation
administration and funds may be summarized as follows:
Legislative appropriation from general funds, without reimbursement from an
assessment upon the insurance or in any other way. (Such a provision is, in
effect, a subsidy to employers, relieving them of a customary part of the expense
of workmen’s compensation coverage.)
Legislative appropriation from general funds for the support of the commission,
the expenditure to be repaid by an assessment upon insurance carriers and selfinsurers. (States have been found where self-insurers are overlooked in the
taxing provision and consequently contribute nothing to the administration.)
Support of the commission by assessment upon insurance, with the amount of
the budget, or expenditure, fixed by legislative determination, or limited by the
act.
Self-support subject to approval of the budget by the Governor, budget com
mittee, legislature, or other control agency.
The Ontario Method
An example of almost complete autonomy, in regard to adminis
trative expense, is found in the Workmen’s Compensation Act of
Ontario (sec. 95).
The board shall in every year assess and levy upon the employers in each of the
classes such percentage of pay roll * * * as it shall deem sufficient to pay
the compensation during the current year in respect of injuries to workmen
* * * and to provide and pay the expenses of the board in the administration.
No budget is made up for submission to any outside authority.
The expenses of administration are taken out of the insurance receipts.
The act authorizes the board to appoint the necessary officers and
employees, and “subject to the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor
in Council”, fix their salaries (sec. 66). As a matter of policy the
board also submits to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, for ap
proval, any appreciable new expenditures.
18Employees in some States have come to accept such a condition of insecurity as a necessary aspect of
their employment. An employee in one State, which was visited during an election, said: “ We never
resign or are discharged. We all go out automaticallykafteryach’election.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FIN A N C IN G W O RK M EN’S COM PENSATION F U N D S
605
The Ontario practice shows how experience has led to the selective
use of only one out of two available means of support. The Ontario
act has since its passage in 1914 permitted a dual method of support,
i. e., self-support, supplemented by aid from the consolidated revenue
fund (sec. 77):
T o assist in defraying the expenses incurred in the administration * * *
there shall be paid to the Board out of the consolidated revenue fund such annual
sum not exceeding $100,000 as the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may direct.
This provision for supplementary support is now inoperative. In
the main it was discontinued in 1923, although the salaries of the
board members were so provided for until 1928. The Ontario
administration chose complete self-support rather than self-support
plus aid from the Province. This is of interest because in some
States the question is asked, when the standard of self-support is
considered, whether the commissioners or board should not be ex
cepted from the rule and continue'to receive their salaries from the
general appropriation.
Experience points to complete administrative self-support as
essential to efficiency in workmen’s compensation administration
and the management of funds. This need has been crystallized into
a specific recommendation by the Second National Conference on
Labor Legislation. The general adoption of the correct legal and
administrative devices needed for freeing compensation administra
tion from dependence upon legislative support will put an end to a
condition which, as long ago as 1922, was recognized as “probably the
greatest handicap suffered by State funds and industrial commissions.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
Old-Age Pensions and A n n u itie s in Canada, 1934-35 1
ORE than 100,000 needy aged were receiving public pensions
in Canada at the end of March 1935, and during the year end
ing on that date over $85,000,000 had been disbursed in allowances.
The cost of these pensions is borne three-fourths by the Dominion
Government and one-fourth by the Provinces. No additional
Provinces adopted the pension system during 1934-35. In the eight
jurisdictions in which the act was in force the average monthly
allowance ranged from $10.44 to $18.98.
The following table shows, by Provinces, the status of the pension
system on March 31, 1935. For purposes of comparison totals for
1933-34 2 are also given.
M
T able 1 .— D e v elo p m en t o f O ld-A ge P en sion s in C anada, Y ear E n d in g M ar. 31,
1935
Province
Alberta_______________
British Columbia______
M anitoba..........................
Nova Scotia__________
Ontario______ ________
Prince Edward Islan d ..
Saskatchewan_________
Northwest territories. . .
Total- 1934-35
1933-34
Pere snt penTotal
sioners form of— Percent
N um
all per
paid in
ber of Amount Aver
sons over pensions
pen
paid in
age
Date act be
70 form
since
came effective sioners. pensions, pen Total Popula of total
Mar.
1934-35 sion popu tion over popula adoption
70
years
of
act
31,1935
tion *
lation « of age
Aug.
Sept.
Sept.
Mar.
Nov.
July
M ay
Jan.
1,1929
1,1927
1,1928
1,1934
1,1929
1,1933
1,1928
25,1928
7,151 $1,428,087
9, 076 1,983, 093
10,229 2, 213,159
12, 241 1,973,199
50, 771 10,287, 086
1,439
171, 808
10,137 1,940, 906
1,719
7
$17. 34
18.89
18. 20
14. 39
17. 79
10.44
16.23
18.98
101,051 19,999, 056
86,873 16| 566.117
0.92
1.25
1.40
2.31
1.42
1.62
1.05
.07
43.04
37.18
49. 75
46.32
33.00
25.34
49.85
7. 86
2.16 $5,632,834
3.37 9,990,852
2.81 10,614, 257
5. 02 2, 065, 560
4.31 47,293, 675
270,641
6.38
9,694,058
.89
8,258
2.10
85, 570,135
65,571,079
i Percentages based on officially estimated population, 1934.
In Canada, the adoption of the old-age pension system is voluntary
with the individual Provinces. Upon adoption, pensions become
payable to British subjects 70 years of age or over who have resided
in Canada for 20 years and in the Province for 5 years immediately
preceding the date of application, and whose yearly income does not
i Data are from Canadian Department of Labor Report for Year Ending Mar. 31, 1935, Ottawa, 1935.
s For details of 1933-34 operations see M onthly Labor Review, October 1934 (p. 882).
606
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
607
SOCIAL SECURITY
exceed $365 per year. The maximum pension is $240 per year,
subject to a reduction by the amount by which the pensioner’s
income exceeds $125 per year. An interesting and unusual provision
is that providing proportional pensions in cases of persons who have
spent part of the 20 years preceding application in Provinces which
have not yet adopted the act.
Government Annuities
C anada has, since 1908, had a system whereby annuities may be
purchased from the Government. This system was established to
encourage habits of thrift and voluntary provision for old age.
The minimum annuity obtainable on the life of one person or on
the lives of two persons jointly is $10 a year and the maximum
$1,200 a year. The annuity may be of either the deferred or im
mediate type. Deferred annuities are for younger persons desiring
to provide for their later years, and may be purchased either by lump
sum or periodic payments.
Since the inception of the system, 22,736 annuity contracts have
been issued. Of these, 2,510 were canceled after issuance, leaving
20,226 in force on March 31, 1935. Premiums paid on these con
tracts to the Government annuities branch total $56,661,889. Table
2 shows the development of the annuity system since 1908.
T able 2 .— D e v elo p m en t o f C anadian S y stem o f G overn m en t A n n u ities 1 9 08-09
to 1 9 34-35
Year ending Mar. 31—
Number
of con
tracts
issued
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
______________
1922
1923_________ _______ ____
66
566
1,069
i;032
373
318
264
325
285
187
147
204
195
277
339
Amount of
premiums
$50,391
434,491
393, 441
441, 601
417; 136
390,887
314,765
441,696
432,272
332, 792
322,154
408, 719
531,800
748,160
1,028, 353
Year ending Mar. 31—
Number
of con
tracts
issued
Amount of
premiums
1924_____________________
1925_____________________
1926_____________________
1927_____________________
1928_____________________
1929______ _________
1930______________
1931_____
____
1932______________ _____
1933________ ____ _____
1934______ ____________
1935_____________________
503
1,223
1,328
1,257
1,772
1,726
1,375
2,412
3,930
$1,458,819
1,606,822
1,938,921
1,894,885
3,843,088
4,272,419
3,156, 475
3, 612,234
4,194,384
3, 547,345
7,071, 439
13,376, 400
T otal............ ................
i 22,736
56,661,889
409
486
668
• I n c l u d e s 2,5 1 0 c o n t r a c t s i s s u e d b u t l a t e r c a n c e le d .
Old-Age Pensions in Sw eden, 1934
HE Swedish system of old-age and invalidity insurance covered
approximately 3,857,500 persons between the ages of 15 and 66
years in 1934, or 93.3 percent of the population in that age group.
This insurance is compulsory for practically all Swedish citizens be-
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
608
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
tween those ages. Voluntary contributions may also be made for
the purchase of benefits additional to those provided for under the
compulsory system.
Each person subject t<Tthe insurance is required to make an annual
contribution of 3 kronor.1 Every person whose yearly income
amounts to 600 kronor or more must make a supplementary contri
bution varying, according to his income, from 2 to 30 kronor per
year. For certain supplementary benefits, the State and communes
contribute, the former paying three-fourths of the cost and the
latter one-fourth.
During 1934 contributions amounting to 25,651,900 kronor were
received under the compulsory system, of which 23,916,300 kronor
were paid by the insured and 1,735,600 kronor by the communes. In
addition premiums amounting to 7,162,154 kronor were received for
the purchase of voluntary insurance by 8,949 insured.2
During the year 85,781 claims for pensions were received. Of
those acted upon, 7,346 were rejected.
The benefits payable under the system consist of old-age benefits
at age 67, and invalidity benefits, payable at any age, for permanent
disability for work.
.-The benefit consists of a basic benefit purchased by the contribu
tions and varying with the amount contributed and, in certain
cases, supplementary benefits. Thus, persons whose annual income
is less than a certain sum (425 kronor for men and 400 kronor for
women) and who are permanently disabled are entitled to a supple
mentary benefit from public funds. Basic pensions were granted to
50,033 persons in 1934 and supplementary benefits to 40,026 persons
(of whom 26,730 also received basic benefits-—contributory) ; these
involved sums of 1,114,168 and 7,458,485 kronor, respectively.
Altogether 70,150,446 kronor was disbursed for supplementary
benefits and relief during 1934 and 8,010,787 kronor for basic pensions.
In order to prevent or relieve invalidity, the insurance system is
authorized to provide medical care. Under this authorization 6,971
persons received assistance during the year.
1Krona at par=26.8 cents; exchange rate, 1934=25.98 cents.
2Data are from Sweden, Socialdepartementet, Pensionsstyrelsen, Allmanna pensionsforsakringen, fir
1934, Stockholm, 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
A c tiv ities o f F ederally Aided Self-Help C ooperatives
D u rin g 19351
T IS conservatively estimated that at least 100,000 persons have
benefited from the cooperative self-help movement. That move
ment is an outgrowth of the depression. It originated spontaneously
from the initiative of the more self-reliant of the unemployed who
wished to maintain themselves independently of relief. The first
group of this character was the Unemployed Citizens’ League formed
in Seattle during the summer of 1931. The exchange of the members’
labor for food (principally vegetables) was the main activity of
the organization at first. The news of the success of this group
spread and soon similar organizations sprang up in various sections
of the United States, but especially in the western and Pacific States.
Since that time many groups have been formed. Some of these
dissolved after a short time, others survived for longer periods, and
many are still active.2
Grants of Federal funds, authorized by the Federal Emergency Re
lief Act of 1933, made possible in a number of cases activities of
a productive nature. At the end of 1933 grants had been made
to 29 associations with a combined membership of nearly 60,000.
A year later (January 1935) the number of grant organizations in
operation had risen to 162 but their membership was only 15,733.
At the end of October 1935 there were 215 groups under grant, having
a membership of 14,614.3 Thus, while the number of groups has
almost continuously increased, the total membership has decreased
considerably. It is pointed out that this contraction of membership
is a “logical development.”
1Except where otherwise noted, this article is based upon data furnished by the Division of Self-Help
I
Cooperatives, Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
For previous articles on the self-help movement see M onthly Labor Review, issues of March, April,
M ay, June, and October, 1933; February, July, and December, 1934; and December 1935.
These self-help groups are autonomous bodies directing their own activities for the benefit of their own
members. They should be distinguished from work projects operated under the jurisdiction of the relief
authorities, or from manufacturing activities carried on by public authorities for the production of goods
for relief clients. (An example of the latter was the Ohio Production Units—described in the M onthly
Labor Review, December 1934 (p. 1311)—which were operated by an Ohio State agency from August 1934
to March 1935.)
No information is available regarding the number of members of nongrant self-help associations through
out the United States. In California, however, where the movement has been much more extensive than
in other States, it was estimated that 40 percent of the self-help membership in M ay 1935 was in nongrant
groups. (Kerr, Clark, and Taylor, Paul S.: The self-help cooperatives in California. Berkeley, University
of California Press, 1935.)
2
3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
609
610
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
On the one hand, the most capable men and women in the groups, after having
reestablished their self-confidence and gained additional valuable experience
by working in these organizations, gravitated back into more desirable jobs in
private industry. On the other hand, most of the groups found that their
capitalization was too inadequate to provide sufficient gainful employment for
a large membership and therefore gradually sloughed off the least desirable
elements. They began to realize more and more that the continued existence
of their organizations was only possible under sound business management. And
they found it preferable to provide fairly steady work for a smaller number rather
than spread the work over so large a number th at the individual could get only
a few hours’ employment per week. Hand in hand with this contraction of
membership there grew an increase in efficiency and in the quality of the goods
produced and services rendered.4
Up to October 31, 1935, the self-help groups which had received
Federal assistance had supplied their members with goods and serv
ices amounting to $3,164,887. During the first 10 months of 1935
members received goods and services valued at $1,216,647.
These organizations are still far from furnishing their members
full support. The value of goods and services supplied by the groups
in operation on October 31, 1935, during the first 10 months of 1935,
to an average membership of 14,594 was $1,119,529, or an average
of only $7.67 per member per month. In this connection, however,
it should be pointed out (1) that much of this production has had to
be accomplished with obsolete or makeshift equipment, due to in
sufficient capital, and (2) that the output does not by any means
represent that of full-time employment. During the first 10 months
of 1935 self-help activities had furnished 9,047,923 man-hours’
work for an average of 14,594 members. This was at the rate of
14.3 hours per person per week. The general requirement of the
groups is that each member shall work 2 days a week for the organiza
tion, and usually this is the maximum employment that the group
activities are able to furnish, because of operating and marketing diffi
culties. In the main, only key personnel receive full-time employ
ment, although the cooperative activities furnish many members full
time work in certain seasons. Others, including many small farmers,
depend upon the cooperative only for supplementary income. The
low average employment and compensation cannot therefore be
used as a criterion for judging the value of the cooperative to the
individual member.
Modest though the individual’s income from the cooperative may
be, nevertheless these self-help groups through their activities saved
the public nearly three-fourths of a million dollars from January to
October 1935. It is calculated that this amount would have been
required, in addition to the Federal grants, to furnish support to those
* Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
marized report for Dec. 31, 1935, p. 10.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
D ivision of Self-Help Cooperatives.
Preliminary sum
SEL F-H ELP MOVEMENT
611
members who would have had to resort to public relief. Altogether it
is estimated that they have effected relief savings totaling $2,278,287.
From August 1933 through October 1935 Federal grants totaling
$2,831,413 had been made to self-help groups in the various States.
No grants were made in either November or December 1935, as the
relief funds available under the 1933 relief act and continued under
the acts of the 2 following years had been exhausted. Any further
use of Federal funds for this purpose will depend upon future Con
gressional action. Of the total grants, $1,636,594 (57.8 percent) had
been expended or obligated at the end of October, while the rest was
still available for use. The records of the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration show that for every grant dollar expended, more than
$2.50 had been obtained in benefits.
Geographic Distribution of Self-Help Movement in 1935
C alifornia has always been the leading State as regards number
of persons engaged in the self-help movement. Interested public
authorities and certain natural advantages, such as climate and
availability of foodstuffs, have been contributing factors. Other
States in which substantial numbers of unemployed have been
organized and received grants are Idaho, North Carolina, Pennsyl
vania, Utah, and Washington. Notwithstanding the comparatively
rapid development of the self-help movement in several of the eastern
States, the largest part of both societies and active members still
remains, as in 1933 when the Bureau of Labor Statistics made its
study, in the West.
Table 1 shows the regional distribution of the movement. At the
end of October 1935 nearly 80 percent of the associations and about
half of the members were in the Mountain and Pacific States. There
was not a single active group in New England and only two groups
in the West South Central States. The remaining organizations
were about equally distributed in the other geographic divisions.
The South Atlantic division accounted for nearly one-fourth of the
total self-help membership. This was due to the unusually large
size of the Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina organizations;
the average membership in this division was more than six times as
great as the general average for the country. Societies considerably
above the general average were also found in the Middle Atlantic
and East South Central divisions. The Western societies, though
numerous, tend to be much smaller in size than those farther east.
Except in California, where a considerable proportion of the societies
are in Los Angeles and its suburbs, the majority of the groups are
located in the small towns and rural districts.
49645 —36— — 7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
612
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T ab le 1 .— D istr ib u tio n o f S elf-H elp G roups U nder G rant, and o f M em b ers, by
G eographic D iv isio n s, O ct. 31, 1935
Associations under
grant
Membership
Geographic division
Number
Number
Percent
1 ,1 1 2
466
849
3,397
1,291
149
2 , 111
5,239
7.6
3.2
5.8
23.2
64
106
2.3
4.7
5.6
3.7
3.7
.9
29.8
49.3
14.4
35.8
47
71
425
161
75
33
49
215
1 0 0 .0
14, 614
1 0 0 .0
68
N ew England___________________________________
Middle Atlantic________ _ ___
East North Central____
_______
West North Central. _ _________ - .
South Atlantic_________________
East South Central_________
West South Central ____________ ___ _ . . . M ountain. _ ___ ________
____
Pacific__________________________________
Total__________ _____________ ____ _ .
.
Average
members
per asso
ciation
Percent
0
5
10
12
8
8
2
222
8 .8
1 .0
It is during the summer months that the greatest amount of
activity—and the greatest number of members—is found in coopera
tive self-help groups. This is evident from examination of table 2
which shows the monthly fluctuations in number of grant associations
and in membership during 1935.
T able 2 .— D istr ib u tio n o f S elf-H elp A ssociation s and M em b ersh ip , b y S ta te s
and b y M o n th s, 1935
Associations
October
State
Alabama____________
California. _______
Colorado__________ .
District of Colum bia..
F l o r id a ..._____ __ .
Idaho________ _____
Indiana______ ____
Iowa_______________
Kansas_____________
Louisiana___________
Michigan__________
Minnesota_______ .
Missouri____________
Nebraska______ ____
N ew Jersey_________
New York_______ ..
North Carolina______
Ohio____ __________
Oregon_______ .
Pennsylvania_______
Tennessee__________
U ta h .______________
Virginia____________
W ashington_________
W est Virginia_______
T otal_________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Jan
uary
3
Feb
ruary March April
M ay
June
Au
gust
Sep
tem
ber
5
82
5
85
5
82
11
2
1
10
2
10
2
July
N um Per
ber
cent
3
83
5
85
5
83
5
5
11
2
11
2
11
2
1
86
11
2
1
86
12
2
1
27
27
28
28
30
30
30
I
27
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
6
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
3
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
13.0
.5
1.4
1
2
6
1
1
1
1
1
2
6
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
6
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
7
7
2
8
2
8
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
6
1
1
1
1
.9
3.7
8
2
8
2
7
2
3.3
.9
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
3
3
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
27
i
27
86
11
2
7
I
28
22
1
6
2
1
6
2
1
6
2
1
6
2
1
6
2
1
1
i
7
17
2
2
2
22
2
162
156
164
165
173
174
172
185
211
1
7
5
78
9
3
I
28
2.3
36.3
4.2
1.4
J5
j5
.5
1.9
1.4
fi
.5
12
1 2 .6
2
.9
215
1 0 0 .0
613
SE L F-H E L P M OVEM ENT
Table 2 .— D istr ib u tio n o f S elf-H elp A ssociation s and M em b ersh ip , b y S tates
and by M o n th s, 1935— C on tin u ed
M e m b ers
October
State
Jan
uary
Alabama.................... .
192
California___ _______ 6,422
Colorado........................
613
District of Colum bia..
83
Florida_____________
Idaho_______________ 2,016
61
Indiana_____________
Iow a ... ____________
203
Kansas____ _________
175
Louisiana___________
176
Michigan___________ 2,414
M innesota. .
711
Missouri____________
116
81
Nebraska___________
N ew Jersey
36
New Y ork.____
North Carolina______
Ohio................................
314
Oregon...........................
501
Pennsylvania_______
160
Tennessee....................
U tah ...............................
672
Virginia.............. ...........
Washington_________
723
164
West Virginia_______
Feb
ruary March April
500
6,566
680
80
726
923
6 , 635
6 , 566
680
80
1,707
25
204
215
186
752
575
80
81
35
1,768
25
131
175
187
618
596
80
70
35
315
315
594
160
665
820
163
680
80
61
1,769
25
234
215
186
752
575
80
81
35
Sep
tem
ber
M ay
June
July
Au
gust
923
6,635
680
80
61
1,881
55
234
215
186
752
923
6,635
720
80
61
1,881
55
234
215
186
752
726
5,101
701
61
61
1,751
55
242
820
5, 081
634
61
61
1,317
25
238
5,111
634
61
61
1,293
25
294
987
4,380
290
261
61
1,247
108
233
188
587
188
595
168
455
149
338
2.3
866
N um Per
ber
cent
6 .8
30.0
2 .0
1 .8
.4
8.5
.7
1 .6
100
1 .0
116
116
79
528
528
515
112
112
101
101
101
101
3.5
.7
35
117
35
117
117
1,571
117
1,571
117
1,571
10.7
315
28
594
331
315
28
594
331
20
20
20
683
271
315
28
594
331
35
117
1,571
'315
28
1,165
317
28
1,189
301
657
901
163
665
820
163
665
820
163
665
820
163
651
696
96
658
865
96
26
1,189
308
1,309
'676
1,048
96
13
995
304
574
675
846
829
3.9
4.6
5.8
5.7
T otal...... .......... 15, 733 14,403 14,796 15,178 14,998 15,038 14,744 14,494 15,957 14,614
1 0 0 .0
.8
.1
.1
6 .8
2 .1
Decreases shown in the table in number of associations mean, in
most instances, dissolutions of groups. Increases do not necessarily
indicate new associations, but may simply represent the extension of
Federal aid to a group already in existence. In certain States (Mis
souri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington) the
increased number of associations during the year is an indication of
the fostering activities of some State agency.
It is evident from the table that a number of groups ceased opera
tions during the year. In Colorado several of the weaker organiza
tions were either closed or merged with other more competent groups.
The Unemployed Trading Post at Wichita, Kans., liquidated in July
because of inability to find a cash outlet for its product, as the State
Relief Administration which had been purchasing these goods dis
continued this practice. Data in the possession of the Division of
Self-Help Cooperatives in the Federal Emergency Relief Adminis
tration show that “the value of the assets turned over to the State,
plus the relief savings effected by this group, far exceed the value of
the Federal grants made.”
The Organized Unemployed, at Minneapolis, which at the time of
the general study made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the spring
of 1933 6 was one of the largest and most active groups, went out of
4
For an account of this organization, see M onthly Labor Review, April 1933.
that time were described in the same publication, issues of March to June 1933.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Other groups studied at
614
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
existence in May 1935. It had been operating for a considerable
time not primarily as an autonomous self-help group but rather as a
work project under the direct management of an employee of the
State relief administration. It had been assisted by Federal grants
totaling $50,000. Upon exhaustion of these grants the State author
ities decided upon its dissolution, as the operations required a subsidy
of some $3,000 per month. The organization’s final report (for the
month of April 1935) showed 570 members, tangible assets of $13,699,
and income from sales of $31,821. During April, 61,134 man-hours’
employment had been furnished.
Public Aid for Self-Help
D uring 1931 and 1932 the self-help organizations struggled along
against great odds, utilizing whatever materials came to hand.
Their labor was bartered for vegetables and fruit and any other com
modities obtainable in that way, discarded clothing was collected and
repaired for the members’ use, and an enormous amount of ingenuity
was exercised toward the utilization of materials that ordinarily went
to waste. The combined efforts of the group were bent toward keeping
the members from having to accept public relief or, failing that,
toward making them self-sustaining to as great a degree as possible.
In this task they were handicapped by an almost total lack of
funds with which to pay for necessaries that could not be obtained by
the members’ labor. Thus, water and lights were required. Tele
phones were necessary in order to keep in touch with possible oppor
tunities for employment and for materials. Gasoline was another
essential, in order to supply motive power for the antiquated trucks
used to gather supplies. Both at this stage and later, however, the
groups were aided in a number of places by donations from local
people and even by the public authorities.
Federal Grants in Aid
In the spring of 1933 National recognition of the service these
organizations were rendering was given by the inclusion in the Federal
Emergency Relief Act of a clause permitting grants of Federal funds
to self-help cooperatives.
These grants and their utilization have been under the general
supervision of the Division of Self-Help Cooperatives, created in the
Federal Emergency Relief Administration. That division has assisted
State authorities desiring to sponsor self-help efforts and has advised
the organizations themselves on problems of organization, production,
and exchange.
As interpreted by the Division, such grants were to be considered
operating capital and not to be used directly for subsistence. The
production of goods insofar as they were not intended for consump
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
615
SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
tion by the members was to be confined to items that would not
overload a competitive market.
The first Federal grant for self-help purposes was made August 11,
1933. From that time until the close of 1935 a total of $3,157,613
had been allocated for the use of these groups of unemployed. Table 3
shows the amount granted each month since August 1933. The
amounts given cover Federal aid only. State appropriations (Cali
fornia, Utah, and Washington) for the encouragement of the movement
are not included.
T ab le 3 .— F ed eral G rants to Self-H elp O rganizations, b y M on th s, A u gu st 1933 to
D ecem ber 1935
Year and month
103ft—August
Saptambar
Ontobar
"Mnyarnbar
DflfiAmbftr
1934—.Tannary
February
M arch. _
_ _
April
M ay
.Tuna
July
August....................... ........................
Saptarn bar
_ ...
October_____ .
November___ . . ______ ______
December _____ ____ __________
Amount
of grant
$64,000
2 ,0 0 0
71,700
13,900
lli; 744
46,320
340, 610
30,000
96,125
112, 765
147,830
63, 721
*155,961
96, 688
125,957
26,436
37, 316
Amount
of grant
Year and month
1935—January__________ _______
February ____________________
M arch... . . ___________ ____
. ___________ ____
April____
M ay__________________________
June_____
_________ July__________________________
August____
. _______ ______
September-. . . _______ . . . .
October___
___
N ovem ber.. ___________ ____
December_____ _______________
Total___ __________ .
$59,207
45,122
152,554
152,914
104,909
14,163
281,532
35,900
268,335
483,485
(')
( 2)
___ 3 3,157,613
1 Does not include $42,118 granted for self-help in Texas in August 1934 but transferred to the general
relief fund in June 1935.
2No grants made.
3Includes $16,420 (not shown in items) transferred fromcattle-programfund in Colorado.
During the 29-month period ending with December 1935 coopera
tive self-help groups in 26 States, 2 Territories, and the District of
Columbia received Federal assistance. In addition, the Tennessee
Valley Authority had been allotted the sum of $300,000 to promote
cooperative activities in the region of its operations.
The largest amount of aid was given to the States of California
and Michigan, the funds allotted to groups therein forming one-fifth
and one-tenth, respectively, of the total grants. Of the sum of
$2,831,413 allocated to individual States for the use of cooperative
self-help groups, only $1,636,594, or 57.8 percent, had been expended
or obligated by the end of October 1935. It has been the policy,
under the guidance of the State officials, to husband these resources
and to expend them as cautiously and as wisely as possible.
The total amounts of Federal aid granted up to the end of 1935,
by States, and the amount which had been expended or obligated at
the end of October are shown in table 4.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
616
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T able 4 .— F ederal G rants M ade to S elf-H elp C oop eratives, A u g u st 1933 to
D e c. 31, 1935, and A m ou nt E xp en d ed and O bligated to O ct. 31, 1935
Federal grants, August
1933 to Dec. 31, 1935
State
Total
amount
Alabama_________
$247,813
California___________ i 649,148
C olorado____ ______
176,541
District of Colum bia..
21,763
Florida____________
23,682
Idaho_________ . .
241,865
Indiana__________
45, 777
Iowa____ __________
21,065
Kansas______ . . .
7, 538
Louisiana___________
40,000
Michigan_____ •____
339, 397
Minnesota_________
61,400
M ississippi______ . . .
8,178
Missouri____________
196, 300
Nebraska____________
11,150
N ew Jersey__________
17, 500
N ew York_______ .
3,500
North Carolina______
129, 797
Federal grants, August
1933 to Dec. 31, 1935
Expend
ed and
Per
obligated
cent to
Oct. 31,
1935
7.8
2 0 .6
5.6
.7
.7
7.7
1.4
.7
.2
1.3
10.7
1.9
.3
6 .2
.4
.6
.1
4.1
$1 1 1 ,1 1 2
618, 592
133,998
1,047
7, 510
141, 081
37,175
14,811
7,538
17,129
148, 076
58,989
7, 655
13,291
4,116
10, 543
Total
amount
Per
cent
Expend
ed and
obli
gated to
Oct. 31,
1935
$8 8 , 577
3,900
34, 073
64,638
(3)
99,979
95, 685
158,723
43,425
2 .8
.1
1 .1
2 .0
$69, 773
2,890
23,454
18,141
State
Ohio_________
Oregon_________
Pennsylvania________
Tennessee.. . ______
Texas_____________
U tah. ______ ____
Virginia_____________
Washington_______
West Virginia________
Total__________ 2,831,413
Puerto Rico___ . . .
1 ,0 0 0
Virgin Islands_______
25, 200
Tennessee Valley Au
thority____________
300,000
(2)
(2)
Grand total____ 3,157, 613
3.2
3.0
5.0
1.4
(’)
3,285
6 8 , 226
80, 306
37,856
89.7 1,636, 594
«
(2)
(2)
9.5
(2)
100.0 1, 636, 594
.8
1Does not include funds made available by State.
2Reports incomplete.
2Grant of $42,118 made in August 1934 transferred to general relief funds in June 1935.
4Less than Ho of 1 percent.
State Aid
As already noted, some State authorities have become interested
in the movement and have assisted in various ways.
Idaho.—In Idaho a State-sponsored warehouse was set up in
March 1935 with the aid of Federal funds, to assist in the exchange
of surpluses on a State-wide scale. Through the efforts of the staff
considerable improvement was made in the local groups’ methods of
cost accoùnting and of production, and in the grading of their prod
ucts., With the cessation of the Federal emergency relief work, this
warehouse was reorganized by the State on a smaller scale, but will
continue to operate on a nonprofit basis for the benefit of the groups.
Illinois.—In Illinois a self-help cooperative in Cook County was
given a small amount of capital by the State relief administration,
which calculated that the organization was by its efforts saving the
county about $4,000 in relief per month.
Michigan— A division of self-help cooperatives was set up in Michi
gan which has provided advice on engineering and personnel matters
and safety precautions, has arranged for the exchange of surplus
products, and has itself purchased certain commodities for distribu
tion to relief clients. A trustee corporation has recently been formed
under whose supervision the unexpended portion of the grants has
been pooled; this corporation will hereafter have general oversight of
self-help activities.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
617
Missouri.—The Missouri State Relief Administration in 1935 be
came interested in the self-help work and announced its intention,
where practicable, of transforming relief-work centers into self-help
projects. During the summer of 1935 a survey was made of noncom
petitive industries which might be practicable for self-help activities.
North Carolina.—In North Carolina the administration took the
lead in establishing, with Federal aid, a fish-processing plant. This
is a noncompetitive project designed to assist in the marketing of fish
and thus aid the hundreds of fishermen in the State who had been
unable to make a living under the prevailing system of marketing fish.
Utah.—Utah was the scene of one of the earliest self-help experi
ments. That early organization 7 became inactive after about 2%
years’ operation. A new start in self-help activities was made in
1935, when the legislature passed an act (approved Mar. 25) creating
a State board charged with the duty of encouraging self-help activities.
Thus, the present movement there was “initiated and developed
entirely under State sponsorship in response to widespread local
interest.” 8 A State appropriation of $40,000 was made to carry on
the work, and this was matched by a Federal grant of the same
amount.
Washington.—As already indicated, the present self-help movement
originated in the State of Washington. During the early period of
operations of the Unemployed Citizens’ League much assistance
was given the organization by the authorities of King County.
Indeed, at one stage, the distribution of relief commodities in Seattle
was carried on through the machinery of the league.9 It is only
recently, however, that the State authorities have given any active
support to the movement. In September 1935 a Federal grant of
$103,335 for the groups was supplemented by a State appropriation
of $100,000. A division in the State department of public welfare
has been charged with the duty of supervising and advising the selfhelp organizations in the State, and several field agents are maintained
for the purpose. A central warehouse service has also been under
taken to assist in the exchange of surplus group output.
Calijornia.—Probably the most continuous support of the self-help
movement by public authorities has been given in California. During
the pre-Federal era, the authorities of Los Angeles City and County
gave frequent support, through donations of gasoline and appropria
tions with which to supply the cooperatives with those staple groceries
(flour, sugar, salt, lard, coffee, cereals, etc.) which it had proved to
be impossible to obtain in sufficient quantity by barter. Later the
i For an account of the Natural Development Association, see M onthly Labor Review, March 1933 (p.
451).
* Report of field agent to Division of Self-Help Cooperatives, Federal Emergency Relief Administra
tion, September 1935.
• For an account of the activities of this organization, see M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1933 (p. 1015).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
618
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
State relief administration became interested and has continued that
interest ever since. A division of self-help cooperatives was estab
lished which has rendered continuous service. Through its efforts
free gasoline and oil for the self-help trucks, work orders, and surplus
commodities have been obtained. Advice and assistance have been
given as to accounting methods, production engineering, etc. Legis
lative action granted free automobile licenses for the trucks. A
system was put into force whereby key workers in group activities
were paid work-relief wages, in order to enable them to give their
full time and efforts to the cooperative work. From July 1934
through June 1935, $196,178 was paid in work-relief wages to these
workers. During the year ending in June 1935 the value of motor
fuel supplied to California self-help groups totaled $20,871.
The State relief commission came to the conclusion, as a result of
its experience with the self-help groups, that the capital which had
been supplied them was far too small to permit them to become selfsupporting. As it felt that the groups had “demonstrated their
ability to use a small sum of money effectively”, the commission
adopted a plan for financing them on a scale that would permit full
self-support for some 4,150 unemployed families. The plan called
for an expenditure of $3,000,000 by the State. That sum was
earmarked by the commission from its funds with the understanding
that $1,500,000 would also be granted for the work by Federal
Government. Due to the cessation of the Federal relief work, that
grant (which had been tentatively agreed to) was not forthcoming,
and the whole plan is therefore still in abeyance. It is interesting to
note, however, that one State thought well enough of the movement
to be willing to invest such a sum “as an experiment in the economic
and social rehabilitation of that portion of the present unemployed
who, because of age or changed industrial conditions, will not be
reabsorbed into private industry, but who are inherently capable of
self-support.” 10
Beginning with July 1935, pending acceptance of the plan, the
State began advancing $50,000 per month from State funds.
Services of Self-Help Groups
I n t h e early stages of the movement diversity of skills and of
services among the membership was regarded as important. The
present tendency, which is being fostered by the State and Federal
authorities, is toward specialization in production by individual
groups. Instead of each group trying to produce everything required
by the members, generally the organization specializes in the produc
tion of a few commodities which are of general demand and surpluses
of which can be used for trading with other groups.
10 California Emergency Relief Commission.
California, 1936. [Sacramento(?), 1935], p. 2 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Summary of proposed plan for self-help cooperatives in
619
SE L F-H E L P MOVEMENT
Although the goods and services offered by the individual associa
tions are therefore not of such variety as formerly, considering the
movement as a whole a wide range of commodities and services is
covered. Where it is possible, almost all of the groups carry on the
cutting of wood for fuel, make new clothing and recondition discarded
garments, raise vegetables and can them, and repair shoes. Nearly
all operate commissaries. Other less common activities are weaving
of cloth, sawmilling, the making of furniture and various home
furnishings, the raising of poultry or rabbits, coal mining, and dairy
ing. Two groups have undertaken the manufacture of cosmetics,
mainly for trading purposes, and another makes false teeth for those
of its members who need them.
Up to October 31, 1935, the self-help groups which had received
Federal aid had supplied their members with goods and services
valued at $3,164,887. During the first 10 months of 1935 such
services to members amounted to $1,216,647. Summary data, by
States, are shown in table 5.
T ab le 5 .— V alue o f G oods and Services Su pp lied to M em bers b y S elf-H elp
A ssociations U nder G rant
State
Alabama________
California_______
Colorado___ ____
District of Columbia.
Florida.......... .......
Idaho........... ........
Indiana________
Iowa__________
Kansas_________
Louisiana_______
Michigan_______
Minnesota______
Mississippi______
Through
October
1935 i
$51,163
1,997,049
86,157
836
3,740
167,809
33,388
13, 772
7,195
20, 046
273, 662
227,271
2,466
1935: Jan. 1
to Oct. 31
$51,163
733,207
2 2 , 020
836
3,740
109,466
12,150
13, 692
7,195
4, 600
68,571
89,923
State
Missouri_________ _____
Nebraska______________
New Jersey____ ______
Ohio_______________ . .
Oregon___________ ___
Pennsylvania_____ ___
Tennessee____ _______
Utah______ __________
Virginia___________ ____
Washington_________ __
West Virginia_____ ____
Total
Through
October
1935 i
1935: Jan. 1
to Oct. 31
$17,051
13,906
7,505
28,686
96
10,067
2,656
10 , 808
128,614
46, 001
14,942
$11,716
2, 739
3,164,887
1, 216,647
2,455
96
8,547
1,324
1,158
41,789
24,891
5, 369
i Cumulative figure covering whole period of operation in each State, through Oct. 31, 1935.
Group Assets
As table 6 shows, the value of the equipment and inventory of
these groups rose from $535,116 on January 31, 1935, to $1,129,866
9 months later. This was an average per member of $36.13 in
January and an average of $77.31 in October.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
620
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T a b le 6 .— V alue o f E q u ip m en t and In ven tories o f S elf-H elp G roups U nder
G rant, on Jan. 31 and O ct. 31, 1935
Value of equipment and
inventories
State
Value of equipment and
inventories
State
Jan. 31,1935 Oct. 31,1935
$10, 305
252,587
33, 269
il 237
40,777
14,841
4,495
5,996
76,353
1,669
Alabama................
California...............
Colorado............... .
District of Columbia.
Florida................. .
Idaho__________
Indiana................ .
Iowa.................... .
Louisiana...............
Michigan.............. .
Missouri............... .
$122,894
531,724
19,717
204
9,113
118,033
12,000
5,370
6,699
105,978
15,764
Jan. 31,1935 Oct. 31,1935
Nebraska__________
Ohio_____________
Oregon.... ...................
Pennsylvania...... .........
Tennessee_____
Utah.._____ ______
Virginia.......................
Washington—...............
West Virginia.... ..........
Total.............. .
$1,024
16,732
2,995
2,441
14,290
46,886
9,216
535,113
$379
12,053
3,617
17,332
17,968
9| 346
15,478
77,373
28,824
1,129,866
Employment Furnished to Members in Group Activities
T hrough self-help activities employment aggregating 9,047,923
man-hours was furnished to the members during the first 10 months of
1935. This was an average per member of 14.3 hours per week.
Table 8 shows the man-hours worked by the unemployed who were
members of the self-help groups, during 1934, during the first 10
months of 1935, and during the whole period for which reports are
available. In connection with this table it should be pointed out that
in the early days of the self-help movement accounting was perhaps
the weakest feature of these associations and reliable data are not
available for periods prior to January 1934.
T ab le 7 .— M an-H ours o f E m p lo y m e n t F urnish ed b y S elf-H elp C oop eratives
U nder F ederal G rant
Man-hours worked—
State
Alabama..................
California..............
Colorado_________
District of Colum
bia.........................
Florida.....................
Idaho.................... .
Indiana....................
Iowa_______ _____
K a n sa s........... .......
Louisiana________
Minnesota_______
M ississippi..............
During
1934
Jan. 1 to
Oct. 31,
1935
Through
Oct. 31,
1935
State
1 966,501
306,223
6,711, 754
a 62,842
306,223
7,678,255
a 62,842
943
10,748
349,400
147,164
112,152
36,534
9,257
410,016
239,779
943
10,748
415,893
165,920
121,081
36,534
29,318
969,728
502,246
19,396
Missouri_________
Nebraska________
N ew Jersey.........
Ohio________ ____
Oregon. _______
Pennsylvania....... .
T ennessee...............
U tah.............. ...........
Virginia........ ..........
W ashington............
West Virginia.........
* 6 6 , 493
1 18, 756
1 8,929
2 0 , 061
559, 712
262,467
19,396
1No reports for period prior to August 1934.
*No reports for period prior to March 1935.
*Data include November 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Man-hours worked—
During
1934
Jan.1 to
Oct. 31,
1935
21,616
40,705
47,386
193,926
94,676
11,663
13,550
14,739
2,990
59,109
19,552
8 32, 277
155,824
172,684
74,047
6,856
8,701
42,190
309,595
188,490
1 17,810
1
Through
Oct. 31,
1935
116,292
52,368
60,936
208,665
2,990
65,965
28,253
3 74,467
465,419
361,174
91,857
Total.............. 2,799,590 9,047,923 11,847, 513
621
SE L F-H E L P M OVEMENT
Savings to Public by Self-Help Groups
D a t a are not available on a national scale to show what proportion
of the whole self-help membership are receiving relief. In June 1935,
of the active members of grant cooperatives in California 53.7 percent
were entirely self-supporting, their income from the self-help activities
being supplemented from personal sources only, and the remainder
(46.3 percent) received some unemployment relief to make up their
budgetary deficiencies.11 These proportions would undoubtedly vary
from State to State, but may be taken as roughly indicative of the
extent to which the self-help membership has been able to support
itself.
It is evident, of course, that the income from the cooperatives
(which averaged only $7.67 per member over the first 10 months of
1935) would be entirely inadequate for full support. At the same
time even this amount represents a considerable saving to the tax
payers in refief funds which would have been required for the support
of these persons in the absence of the cooperative.
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration has calculated the
amounts of relief savings effected by the activities of the cooperatives.
These data for the first 10 months of 1935, and for the whole period
since Federal aid was first extended, are shown in table 8.
T ab le 8 .— R e lie f S avin gs o f S elf-H elp C oop eratives, 1935, and W hole Period
Relief savings
State
Alabama_______________
California- ____________
Colorado__District of Columbia.
Idaho______________ ___
Indiana___ _____
__
Iowa__________________
Kansas________________
Louisiana___ ________ .
Michigan______________
M innesota_____________
10 months,
January
to October
1935
$31,050
455,007
12,235
150
58,683
508
2,800
5,285
3,206
34, 213
42,287
1933 to
October
1935
$31,050
1,627,835
51,876
150
60,414
3,806
3,144
5,302
8,766
96, 713
177,813
Relief savings
State
10 months,
January
to October
1935
1933 to
October
1935
Missouri....................... .......
Nebraska.............. ..............
Ohio__________________
Oregon...................... ...........
Pennsylvania__________
Virginia________________
Washington...... .............. .
West Virginia.....................
$9,692
3,994
3,215
234
8,004
41,940
13,220
1,480
$9,692
14,884
14,467
234
6,911
128,613
28,838
7,779
Total.........................
727,203
2,278,287
11California Emergency Relief Administration. Division of Self-help Cooperatives. Annual report,
June 30, 1935. San Francisco, 1935, p. 35.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
E m ploym ent and P ro d u c tiv ity in B itum inous-C oal
M ines in 1934
MPLOYMENT, days worked, and production in the bituminous
coal industry of the United States increased in 1934 as compared
with the previous year. There was also a rise in the percentage of total
product mined by mechanical methods, i. e., mined and loaded mechani
cally underground and by power shovels in strip pits, but the per
centage of total coal cut by machine decreased slightly. Productivity
per man per day showed a decline from 4.78 net tons in 1933 to 4.40
tons in 1934, reflecting the effects of the decrease in the daily working
shift from 8 to 7 hours, made effective April 1, 1934, in accordance
with an amendment to the bituminous-coal industry code under the
National Industrial Kecovery Act. The salient statistics of the indus
try are shown in table 1, for the years 1913, 1923, 1933, and 1934, as
published by the Coal Economics Division of the United States
Bureau of Mines.1
E
T ab le 1 .— S alien t S ta tistic s o f B itu m in o u s-C o a l In d u stry, 1913, 1923, 1933, and
1934
Item
1913
1923
1933
1934
Total production (net tons)_______ _____________ ____ 478,435, 297 564, 564,662 333,630, 533 359, 368,022
Number of active mines of commercial size___________
5, 776
9, 331
5, 555
i 6,258
Capacity of existing mines with existing labor force (as
suming 308-day working year)_____________________ 635,000, 000 970,000,000 615,000,000 622,000,000
Average number of days mines operated______________
232
179
167
178
Total number of men employed at mines in operation..
571, 882
704, 793
418,703
458,011
Output per man per day (net tons)__________________
3.61
4. 47
4. 78
4.40
Percent of output cut by machine___________________
50.7
66.9
80.0
79.2
Number of power shovels in strip pits________________
3 48
442
389
458
Quantity mined by stripping________________________ 3 1, 280, 946 11,844, 347 18, 270,181 20,789, 641
Quantity mined mechanically underground___________
37,820,000 41,433,000
0
0
1 Figures for 1934 not strictly comparable with those for earlier years. In 1934 coverage was wider as re
ports on small trucking mines were obtained in some States through the cooperation of N . R. A. divisional
code authorities.
3 Figure for 1914, the earliest year for which record is available.
3 N ot available.
The increase in number of active mines of commercial size by 700
in 1934 as compared with 1933 is accounted for in part by more
complete reporting in certain areas, the Bureau of Mines points out.
Capacity of existing mines with the existing labor force, assuming a
1 U . S. Department of the Interior. Bureau of M ines. Coal Economics Division.
Tables, 1934, by L. M ann, W . H . Young, and F. G. Tryon. Washington, 1935.
622
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Bituminous Coal
623
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
308-day working year, increased by 7 million tons between 1933 and
1934. The figures further show that the average number of days
mines operated in 1934 was 178. This was an increase over 1933 of
11 days, bringing the days worked in 1934 almost up to the level of
1923 when the average was 179 days. Coal mined by stripping and
by mechanical means underground in 1934 represented over 17 per
cent of the total output, as against 16 percent in 1933. In terms of the
actual number of tons mechanically mined the total for 1934 was
6 million tons greater, or 10.9 percent above 1933.
In table 2, production, men employed, days of operation, and output
per man per day in the bituminous-coal industry are shown by
States in 1934 and for the United States in 1933 and 1934. Summary
figures are also included for the anthracite industry for 1933 and 1934.
T ab le 2 .— P rod u ction and E m p lo y m en t in Coal M in es (E x c lu siv e o f W agon
M in es), by S ta te s, in 1934, and in th e U n ited S ta te s in 1933 and 1934
Total quan
tity (in tons)
State
Average
number of
days mines
operated
Average
tons per
man per
day i
9,142,117
107, 508
9,058
856, 432
29,138
5, 210,933
32, 716
41, 272, 384
14, 793, 643
3, 366, 992
2, 508,254
38, 525, 235
1, 627,112
621,741
3,352,283
2, 565,702
1, 259,323
3,140
1,753,8 8 8
20, 690, 564
1,208, 289
89,825,875
42,407
4,135,790
759, 289
2,406,183
9, 376, 681
1, 382,991
98,134, 393
4, 367, 961
18, 851
93
19
3,415
76
8,094
113
46,067
11,173
7,721
3,744
49, 509
2,976
1,556
5,540
1,590
2, 342
18
1,518
29, 247
3,225
126,079
91
7,308
805
2,807
12, 207
2,161
105,906
3, 760
185
217
296
193
196
188
2 . 62
5. 33
1.61
2. 46
2.36
4. 08
1. 56
5. 62
7. 75
2 . 80
4.45
4.33
3.12
2. 54
4. 29
9. 73
3. 29
.79
6 . 65
4. 23
3.02
3. 98
3.07
3.05
5. 30
5.00
3. 84
3. 32
4. 73
6.17
___________________
____________________
359, 368,022
333, 630, 533
458,011
418, 703
178
167
4. 40
4. 78
_________________ - -________ ______ ______
57,168,291
49, 541, 344
109,050
104,633
207
182
2. 53
2 . 60
Alabama
_
Alaska
_
Arizona
Arkansas
_
__
California, Tdaho, and Oregon
__________
Colorado
Georgia
______ ___
Illinois
Indiana
Towa
_
__
__
"Kansas
Kentucky
TVTaryl and
Michigan
_ ._ _
.
Missouri
Montana
New Mexico _
North Carolina
_
_ _
North Dakota
~Ohio
Oklahoma
_ Pen n sy 1van ia
South Dakota
—Tennessee
- Texas
Utah
____ _____________
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
---W yoming-----Bituminous:
1934
1933
Anthracite:
1934
1933
Number of
employees
102
162
158
185
160
171
156
151
180
176
157
141
166
164
221
174
167
124
179
152
185
178
171
200
i Based upon (1) the “reported” number of man-shifts where the operator keeps a record; otherwise
upon (2 ) “ calculated” number of man-shifts obtained by m ultiplying the average number of men employed
underground and on the surface at each mine by the number of days worked by the mine and tipple, respec
tively. Using throughout the “calculated” man-shifts as developed before the year 1932, namely, the product
of the total number of men employed at each mine times the tipple-days, the average output per man per
day for the bituminous mines of the country as a whole was 4.42 tons, a figure which is strictly comparable
with 5.06 in 1930, previously published.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
624
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
In 10 States and Alaska the number of days mines operated totaled
180 days or over. Of this group the tonnages mined were of little
importance in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina, but the
production of Alabama (185 days) was over 9 million tons; that of
Kentucky (180 days) 38.5 million tons; Tennessee (185 days), 4.1
million tons; Virginia (200 days), 9.3 million tons; Washington (193
days), 1.3 million tons; West Virginia (196 days), 98.1 million tons,
and Wyoming (188 days), 4.3 million tons. The shortest working
year (of less than 160 days) was shown for Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa,
Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, none of
which produced over 5.2 million tons.
The high productivity rates of Illinois, Indiana, Montana, North
Dakota, and Wyoming reflect the prevalence of mechanical methods
of mining. For example in Illinois, Indiana, and Wyoming, mechani
cal loading of coal underground is widely practiced. In North
Dakota 61.4 percent of the total product was mined by stripping in
1934. The majority of Montana’s coal is mined by stripping or
mechanically loaded underground.
M ovem ent fo r Labor Efficiency in th e Soviet U n io n 1
VIOVEMENT toward efficiency methods—utilization of mechanical devices to the fullest possible extent and the elimination of
waste and of lost motion—was started in the coal-mining industry of
the Soviet Union in August 1935. Begun by the initiative of a coal
miner named Aleksei Stakh&nov, it was enthusiastically adopted by
other coal miners and later in many other industries, including agriculture.
In order better to understand the importance of this efficiency
movement it should be remembered that when the Soviet regime was
established nearly 80 percent of the population consisted of peasants,
largely illiterate and without technical training not only in manu
facturing industries, but also in agriculture, in which most of them
were engaged. Industries were undeveloped. What little machinery
there was was out of date. Although the country possessed untold
natural resources, they were similarly undeveloped. Ways of com
munication and transportation were meager and in poor condition.
The World War and the following revolutions and counterrevolutions
destroyed much of those meager productive facilities which were in
existence before the World War.
I t was necessary for the new regime to start from the bottom to
built up industries under the slogan of industrialization of the Soviet
Union; to train and educate the immense backward masses of the
1Data are fromIzvestia (Soviet official daily), Moscow, Nov. 15,20, and 22, 1935; and fromInternational
Labor^Office, International Labor Review (Geneva), January 1936.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
625
peasant population for production and distribution; to develop
natural resources; and to construct roads for transportation and
establish ways for communication.
This program entailed much effort, sacrifice, and a very low standard
of living, notably during the prosecution of the first 5-year plan
(1927 to 1932). It was necessary first to build up industries for pro
duction of capital goods, leaving the development of production
facilities for consumers’ goods for the second 5-year plan (1933 to
1937). The resulting deficit in consumers’ goods led to the intro
duction of ration cards for the entire population. As time went on
and conditions improved, however, the ration-card system of food
distribution was abolished and free trade reestablished.2
One of the greatest difficulties confronting the authorities was
the lowering of the cost of production or, in other words, increasing
of productivity of labor. In order to stimulate workers toward
greater efforts in their learning and work, various methods have been
applied, such as the introduction of piecework, payment of efficiency
bonuses, establishment of minimum standards of output, wage scales
adopted by collective agreements, rewards for proper handling of
tools, supplements for saving material, titles and orders for the workers
who especially distinguished themselves in efficiency, etc.
The Soviet authorities repeatedly have emphasized the need for
greater efficiency. Stalin gave a now famous slogan for it when in
his public address on May 4, 1935, he stated: “The cadres (labor
forces) decide everything!”
The results of all these measures are shown in the present-day
efficiency movement. For instance, Stakhanov admits that he was
inspired by Stalin’s speech when he decided on new methods of mining.
Although this new efficiency movement in the Soviet Union em
bodies no new scientific ideas, it is noteworthy because apparently
it was initiated and is being maintained and developed by the workers
themselves. In his address to the first All-Union Conference of
Stakhânovites, held at Moscow on November 14, 1935, Stalin said:
I t is a striking fact th a t this movement [Stakhânov efficiency movement]
began as a voluntary, almost an elemental, movement from below, without
any pressure whatever by the administration of our enterprises. Moreover, this
movement had its inception and began to unfold against the will of the adminis
tration of our enterprises and it had to fight even the administration.3
He then cited a number of cases in which the workers had to con
tend against their superiors—technicians and engineers who clung
and still cling to the old methods and standards.
That the old records of output are now being broken in various
industries and occupations all over the Soviet Union has been revealed
by reports coming to the central offices in Moscow. According to
aSee M onthly
Labor Review for January 1936 (pp. 268-272).
3 Izvestia (Soviet official daily), Moscow, N ov. 22,1935, p. 1.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
626
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
an editorial in the Izvestia of November 15, 1935, “In almost all
branches of industries there are hundreds and thousands of people
who are now in an orderly fashion producing twice and thrice as
much as the prescribed standard.”
The coal-mining industry was on a low level as regards labor
productivity. When Stakhanov became a miner his initial output
was about 5 or 6 tons per shift, which was a normal figure for that
industry. After a course in coal mining, involving instruction in the
use of the power machine for undercutting the coal, he increased his
output to 12 or 13 tons per shift. Under the procedure followed at
that time, the miner had to clear away the coal and do his own timber
ing as well as the cutting of coal, and only about two-thirds of the
shift time was utilized in the actual cutting of the coal. Thus the
mechanical mining equipment was idle a considerable share of the time.
Through some changes in working procedures, by utilizing the
services of two assistants for clearing and timbering and by devoting
his own time exclusively to cutting, Stakhanov was able to increase
the output for the group to 102 tons per shift, then to 175 tons, and
finally to 227 tons per shift.
In one mine the standard output had been 7 tons per machine per
shift and the number of workers employed (both underground and
surface) was 117. The total output of the mine was about 250 tons
per shift. Adoption of Stakhanov’s methods raised the output to
335 tons per shift. At the same time the total number of workers
engaged was decreased to 98.
At the above-quoted All-Union Conference of the “Stakhanovites”
in the Soviet industries and trades, Stakhanov described his method
as involving the following: A better division and specialization of
labor; continuous use of cutting machines and other mechanical
devices; and better planning of processes to eliminate time lost while
waiting for other work to be done. The method involves no extra
effort on the part of the workers, as has been testified by all workers
who have followed his method.
Coal mining in the Soviet Union is remunerated on the piece basis,
at a specified rate per ton, and with a progressively increasing supple
ment for all output above the standard. The effect of the new method
upon his earnings Stakhanov described as follows: Formerly his
earnings amounted to from 500 to 600 rubles 4 per month. But in
September 1935, for 18 shifts, with his new method he earned 1,000
rubles per month and in October for 14 shifts, 1,008 rubles. In
September one other miner had earned 1,338 rubles and still another,
1,618 rubles per shift.
4 The value of gold ruble is 51.5 cents in United States gold. The value of paper ruble, in which the
wages are paid, was fixed by a Soviet Government decree, effective from Jan. 1, 1936, at the rate of 5 paper
rubles equaling $1 United States currency, or 1 ruble (100 kopeks) =20 cents United States currency.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
S o u th e rn R egional C onference on Labor Standards
' THE request of the Governor of South Carolina, the Secretary
of Labor arranged a southern regional conference on labor
standards at Columbia, S. C., January 20 and 21, 1936, to which the
Governors of eight States were invited to send delegates.1 Repre
sentatives from South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia met at Columbia and
participated in the discussions at the conference.
In addressing the delegates, Secretary Perkins stated that the con
ference should aid in the program to raise labor-law standards so that a
desirable common level might be reached in all States after discussion.
The desirability of continuing a technique of Federal-State coopera
tion in the field of labor legislation was emphasized. “States are
entirely free to develop their labor laws to meet their own peculiar
problems and yet can seek through the conference method the infor
mation which can be made available to them through the United
States Department of Labor to unify and harmonize standards so that
working men and women throughout the country may have similar
protection.”
The subjects on the agenda included child-labor regulation, hours
legislation, State labor departments and the technique of labor-law
administration, and the social-security program. The discussion
focused upon the need of having in each State a labor department
charged with the administration of all laws affecting wage earners
and upon various aspects of social security legislation. A summary
of recommendations approved by the delegates is given below:
Establishment of State labor departments.— T h e esta b lish m en t of S ta te labor
d ep artm en ts to bring in to one ad m in istration a gen cy th e en forcem en t of all labor
law s, in clu d in g th e ad m in istration of u n em p lo y m en t insurance, w ork m en ’s com
p en sation , and a free sy stem of em p lo y m en t agencies.
Hours of labor.— The adoption of a practical program for the progressive and
rapid reduction of daily and weekly hours for workers, with consideration given
to the best hours laws now in effect in the most legislatively advanced industrial
States within the competitive area of the southern section of the United States;
and the inclusion, wherever practicable, of both men and women within the scope
of such laws.
Child labor.—The incorporation in State child labor laws of at least the mini
mum standards established by the N. R. A.; ratification of the Federal child labor
amendment whereby rational minimum standards may be achieved.
Unemployment compensation.-—The enactment of unemployment-compensation
legislation.
Old-age pensions.—The adoption of an amendment to the Social Security Act
adding, immediately following the last sentence of section 3, title 1 of the act
(popularly known as the “old-age pension” title), as a part of the section, the
following: “ Provided further, That pending the next meeting of the general
• In January 1935 a similar conference had been held in Nashville, Tenn.
496 4 5 — 36 ---- 8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
627
628
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
assembly of those States not having the State plan herein mentioned, and pending
the amending of the constitution of those States whose constitution prevents such
participation, the Social Security Board is authorized to set up a temporary plan
th at will enable temporary participation by such State pending the setting up
of the State plan."
The adoption of similar amendments, properly worded, to every other title of
the Social Security Act to enable States whose constitutions prevent participation
under such other titles of the act, to have as much temporary participation as
may be legally possible pending the qualification for full participation.
Labor Provisions o f W isconsin R eco v ery
A d m in istra tio n Codes
ODES for 11 service trades and industries have become effective
under the Recovery Act of the State of Wisconsin 1 since the
code-making powers of the President under the National Industrial
Recovery Act were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
in May 1935. These codes establish the workers’ right to collective
bargaining through representatives of their own choosing, fix minimum
wages, maximum hours, and the minimum ages for employment of
minors. As the Wisconsin recovery law was found constitutional by
the supreme court of the State early in 1936, the working conditions
thus established are being continued and the way is opened for the
adoption of standards for other trades and industries. The terms
of the Wisconsin codes closely resemble those of the national codes
that were effective during 1933-35, summaries of which were given in
the Monthly Labor Review, issues of December 1933 to May 1935,
inclusive.
The procedure in approving codes for Wisconsin trades has been
substantially the same as that followed by the Federal Government
through the National Recovery Administration. After holding public
hearings, the terms submitted by the employers in any particular
trade have been subjected to scrutiny and revision by the Wisconsin
Recovery Administration, and later transmitted to the Governor
of the State for his approval, with the recommendations of the
Administrator.
In making some of his reports to the Governor the Administrator
has drawn attention to the fact that there was a need for restrictions
and a tendency to revert to pre-code standards after the Federal codes
ceased to operate, and sometimes even earlier.
In the following tabular analysis the principal labor provisions of
the Wisconsin codes adopted up to the close of 1935 are summarized.
Only the major provisions are shown, and there is no attempt to
enumerate exceptions that may be allowed for special classes of labor
or the detailed gradations in wage rates for different classes of
employees.
i Ch. 182, Acts of 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor P rovision s in C odes A d op ted U nder W isconsin R ecovery A ct D u rin g 1935
Minimum wages (excluding apprentices and
learners)
Barber shops (July
16).
$17 per week plus 60 percent of gross receipts over
$26 from barber’s services for first 48 hours,
plus 50 cents per hour plus 60 percent of gross
receipts over $26 after 48 hours per week, li
censed journeymen in places of 2,500 popula
tion or over. $16 per week plus 60 percent of
gross receipts over $25 from barber’s services
for first 48 hours, plus 50 cents per hour plus 60
percent of gross receipts over $25 after 48 hours
per week, licensed journeymen in places of less
than 2,500 population. Part-time employees,
$5 per day plus 65 percent of gross receipts over
$7 per day for barber’s services on Saturdays or
days before holidays; 50 cents per hour plus 65
percent straight commission, on other days; 65
percent commission but not less than 40 cents
per hour, for consistent part time on week
days, Saturdays, and days before holidavs.
50-60 cents per hour, according to population,
general. 35-45 cents per hour, according to
population, helpers. $14-$16 per week, ac
cording to population, office. $12—$14 per
week, according to population, office boys and
messengers not to exceed 10 percent of office
force, provided that any establishment may
employ one office boy or messenger.
$1.2-$20 per week, according to population, gen
eral. $11—
$15 per week, according to popula
tion, porters and watchmen. 20 percent of
price charged per line for lines set up, but not
less than 4 cents per line for 10-pin bowling and
3 cents per line for “small ball games”, and in
no case less than 30 cents on days work is com
menced, pin setters. 40 cents per hour, parttime employees.
Bottled soft drink
(AugJ[24).
Bowling trade (Aug.
).
1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Maximum hours
Provisions for overtime pay
54 per week, general. 62 per week, shop operation.. No provision______________
40 per week, 8 per day, general; 48 per week, dur
ing specified peak period, route salesmen,
chauffeurs, and deliverymen. 10 percent tol
erance over7general hours, engineers and fire
men. 56 hours per week, watchmen. 6 days
in 7 (watchmen, engineers, and firemen, ex
cepted) .
1 H regular rate after 8 hours
52 per week, 9 in 24, general. 40 per week, 8 in 24,
office. 24 days in 28, general.
No provision...........................
per day and 40 hours per
week, general, i n regu
lar rate after 48 hours per
week in specified peak pe
riod, route salesmen, chauf
feurs and deliverymen.
Minors of specified age
excluded from em
ployment
Under 16, general; under
18 unless labor permit
is on file except inden
tured apprentices.
Do.
UnderJU, general, under
18, hazardous or un[ healthful occupations.
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
Industry and date
effective
OS
to
CO
630
Labor P rovision s in C odes A d op ted U n der W isconsin R ecovery A ct D u ring 1935— C on tin ued
Minors of specified age
excluded from em
ployment
Industry and date
effective
Minimum wages (excluding apprentices and
learners)
Maximum hours
Cleaning and dyeing
(July 29).
33-60 cents per hour, according to occupation
and experience, cleaning-plant employees.
$15—$18 per week, according to experience, route
salesmen and truck drivers. $20 per week,
engineers, firemen and maintenance men. $14
per week, store clerks and store help. 27 cents
per hour, plant employees and $13 per week,
others, in cities of less than 100,000 population.
No reduction in weekly earnings for those whose
weekly hours are reduced by less than 20 per
cent under code. Reduction of not more than
50 percent, calculated by multiplying reduc
tion of hours by hourly rate, for those whose
weekly hours are reduced by over 20 percent.
40 cents per hour, general. 32 cents per hour,
water boys, not to exceed 4 percent of total
number of employees (provided there is 1 water
boy). $12—
$15 per week, according to popu
lation, office. $14 per week, watchmen.
40 per week (in peak periods of not over 9 weeks
in 6 months, 45 per week, provided average of
40 per week is not exceeded), general. 48 per
week average, with peak period allowances,
engineers, firemen, or maintenance employees.
48 per week in cities of 25,000 population or
over and 6 per week additional in cities or
towns of less than 25,000 population, route
salesmen. 48 per week, clerks
regular rate for hours in
excess of maximum pro
vided, employees on emer
gency maintenance or re
pair work.
40 per week, general. 42 per week averaged over
3 months in any 6 months, 6 days per week,
office. 48 per week, outside delivery employees,
employees on emergency work (not to exceed
5 percent of total employees). 60 per week,
watchmen.
40 per week averaged over 6 months (maximum
48 per week, 8 per day).
1)4regular rate for hours in
Under 16, general. Under
18, gravel pits and
quarries.
1
Mason, concrete and, 45-65 cents per hour, according to geographic 40 per week, general. 48 per week on remote
carpenter division
area, laborers. $0.80-$1.25 per hour, according
projects where camps or floating plants and
of the construction
to geographic area, masons. $0.65-$1.10 per
where time is lost owing to inclement weather.
industry (Aug. 21).
hour, according to geographic area, cement
56 per week, watchmen.
finishers. $0.65-$1.05, according to geographic
area, carpenters and reinforcement-steel setters.
40 cents per hour in territories not listed, la
borers. 65 cents per hour in territories not
listed, carpenters and cement finishers. 75
cents per hour, in territories not listed, ma
sons. 25-95 percent of journeymen’s scale but
not less than 25 cents per hour, apprentices.
$12—
$15 per week, according to population,
office.
Double time after 8 hours in
24 and for Saturday,
Sunday, and legal holi
day work,mechanics. m
regular rate after 8 hours
in 24 and double time for
Saturday, Sunday, and
legal holiday work, la
borers.
U n d e r 16, g e n e r a l .
Under 17 unless labor
permit is on file (except
indentured apprenti
ces) up to Sept. 1,
1935, and 18 thereafter.
Governed by apprentice
ship law.
Highway construc
tion (July 15).
40 cents per hour, unskilled labor. $12—
$15 per
week, according to population, office.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
excess of maximum speci
fied.
regular rate after 8 hours
per day and 40 per week
(excluding office, emer
gency work, watchmen,
etc.).
Under 17.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Crushed stone, sand,
and gravel (Aug.
28).
Provisions for overtime pay
$0.50-$1.10 per hour, according to geographic
area and population, journeyman painters.
$11—$15 per week, according to population,
office.
40 per week, 8 in 24, general. 48 per week on
remote projects, to make up time lost owing to
inclement weather within 4 weeks, and where
sufficient qualified help is not available, gen
eral. 56 per week, watchmen.
No provision.
Shoe rebuilding trade
(Aug. 19).
$16-$25 per week, according to class of city, shoe
rebuilders. $12-$15 per week, according to class
of city, others. $6 per week, bootblacks. 55-75
cents per hour, according to class of city, parttime employees. 25 cents per hour, bootblacks
on part time.
IH regular rate after 8 hours
T a v e r n in d u s t r y
(July 22).
22)4 cents (25 cents per hour for part time in
cities over 500,000) experienced female em
ployees. $12—
$15 per week, according to popu
lation, male employees in general. $15-$21.50
per week, according to population, bartenders.
$1.75-$2.50, according to population, part-time
bartenders working less than 4 consecutive
hours. Meals not to cost over 25 cents each or
$4.50 for 21 meals per week, where meals are a
part of wage and are deducted from wages of
employee.
50-60 cents per hour, according to location and
population, journeymen. 80-100 percent of
journeyman’s wage according to total hours
in service, learners. 1 learner for 1,000 hours of
journeyman’s work performed in 1 year; 2
learners for 6 or more journeymen employed
hours per year.
44 per week, 8 in 24 on week days, and 10 per
day on Saturdays and days preceding holi
days, 48 per week from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15, gen
eral. 44 per week, 8 in 24 on week days and 10
per day on Saturdays and days preceding
holidays, employers whose duties include shoe
rebuilding (1 employer in each establishment
excepted) 6 days in 7. 66 per week in M il
waukee, 71 per week elsewhere, store hours.
54 per week, male employees. 48 per week, female
employees Equivalent of 6 days per week,
half days (of 12 hours) rest or 1 full day of rest
per week during working hours.
Window c le a n in g
(Aug. 6).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,000
per day, and 44 hours per
week, general.
No provision.
Under 16 in any tavern.
Under 17 unless labor
permit is on file up to
Sept. 1, 1935, and 18
thereafter.
lj-i regular rate after 8 hours
per day.
Under 17, general. U n
der 18 as window
cleaner unless labor
permit on file.
2
160 in 4 weeks, 10 per day (in peak periods Apr.
15-June 15 and Oct. 15-Dec. 15, maximum of
185 in 4 weeks and 10 per day).
Under 16, general. U n
der 17 unless labor per
m it is on file, except
in d en tu r e d a p p ren
tices, up to Sept. 1,
1935, and 18 thereafter.
Under 17 (except boot
blacks who obtain per
m its as required by
law).
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
Painting, paperhang
ing and decorating
(July 20).
C
i
CO
632
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
P ro d u ctio n C o n tro l in th e Belgian Coal In d u s try
B y M a rg aret
H. S c h o e n fe l d , of th e B u r e a u
of
L a bo r S ta t ist ic s
1
SYSTEM of controlled coal production was voluntarily inau
gurated in Belgium early in 1935 by the operators. Under
the plan adopted a specially organized Quota Commission was
established to fix the tonnages to be produced by the various units
in the industry. In working out its plan for tonnage allotments the
Quota Commission concentrated upon securing the maximum pro
tection to mine labor in the thickly populated area of the Southern
Basin where the mining industry is declining, while at the same time
affording to the newly developed Limbourg Basin of the north an
opportunity at least to maintain the position in the industry which
it has won owing to its superiority in physical conditions, mine lay
out, and engineering installations. The first quota was established
for a 6-month period beginning in April 1935 whereby tonnages to
be mined were allotted to the 67 coal companies in operation on the
basis of a formula taking into account past sales. The amount of
coal sold (écoulement), rather than the tonnage produced, was made
the basis of calculation. Tonnage sold in 1934 was given a weight
of two-thirds, and the remaining one-third represented the average
annual sales between 1926 and 1933, except in the Northern Basin
which was allotted approximately 20 percent of the tonnage to be
produced, the share which it had claimed in the free-competition
period of 1934 which preceded the control scheme. The distribution
of tonnage among companies of the north was also made in accord
ance with the percentage distribution of sales as of 1934. As drawn
up, the plan permitted some flexibility in establishing company
quotas, in order that undue hardships and further inequalities might
be avoided. It is probable that minor changes were made in the
second period of operation, beginning in October 1935, under the
system of prorating tonnage, but the broad principles of planned
production initiated by coal producers in Belgium are being
continued.
A
Conditions Prior to Adoption of Plan
T h e Belgian coal industry, like that of other nations, has been
adversely affected by the world depression of recent years. After
1929, when production of coal reached a peak of 38 million tons,2 it
was necessary to curtail output sharply in order to keep stocks of
unsold coal as low as possible. Not only was domestic demand for
• From material gathered in personal interviews and from information from Annales des Mines de
Belgique, Brussels, Ministère de L ’industrie et du Travail, Administration des Mines, 1934; The Belgian
Coal Industry in 1934, by Charles Demeure, Louvain, University of Louvain, 1935; Industrial and
Labor Information (Geneva), Dec. 9, 1935, p. 371; and International Coal Trade, U. S. Bureau of Mines,
Washington, Dec. 31, 1935, p. 8.
Throughout this discussion the metric ton (2,204.6 pounds) is the basis of calculation.
1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
633
fuel seriously cut, owing to industrial inactivity, but the combination
in neighboring countries of lowered use and the establishment of
barriers against coal imports resulted in a sharp decrease in Belgium’s
coal exports. Exports fell from 3,962,000 tons in 1930 to 3,491,000
tons in 1931, but rose to 3,588,000 tons in 1933 and 3,810,000 tons
in 1934. The movement in domestic consumption of coal was even
more adverse, the figures (including Luxemburg) being as follows:
Tons
Tons
1929
1930
1931
_________ ____ 38,486,000
______________ 33, 964, 000
______________ 31, 125, 000
1932
1933
1934
______________ 27,110,000
______________ 27, 007, 000
______________ 27, 987, 000
During 1930 monthly figures representing stocks on hand ranged
from under 500,000 tons in January to 2,500,000 tons in December
but in the ensuing 4 years stocks fell below 2,000,000 tons in only
1 month (November 1932) and were generally well over 3,000,000
tons and in 1 month over 4,000,000 tons (June 1932). For a country
with a normal annual production of approximately 25,000,000 tons,
stocks of such proportions constitute an extremely heavy burden, and
it was this situation that led the members of the industry to cast
about for some cooperative method of regularizing production so that
one producer would not fear curtailment of output lest a competitor
secure an unforeseen order.
Origin of the Plan
O wners of Belgian coal properties are accustomed to joint action
in solving industrial problems. For example, the National Institute
of Mines at Paturages, where experimental work is carried on in the
field of explosives and safety, is an independent institution supported
by operators, the miners’ union, the public, and the Government.
Its findings are free from the dangers of unscientific modification
(either political or industrial) and when a discovery is made indicat
ing that a change in mine technique or safety methods would be
desirable the institute seeks to have it adopted by the operators
voluntarily rather than by legislative action. To this end the direc
tor of the institute keeps in close touch with the members of the
industry. In turn, the members of the industry seek advice from the
institute and are free to submit problems for analysis.3
Although the Belgian system of production control was voluntarily
adopted, it should be pointed out that the Government first sought
to secure a controlled industry through a bill introduced on June 26,
1934, for compulsory regulation. The bill was rejected but an act
was passed on December 7, 1934, including a part of the earlier bill
by which the Government was empowered to establish and maintain
i w h en such problems are individual matters, there is a tee for the work involved.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
634
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
an ordered system of production, sale, import, export, and transpor
of coal.
Following the enactment of this law the coal owners set up the
Central Coal Office, a cooperative organization, established for a
3-year period, which is the keystone of the coal industry at present.
Rules of the Office have been approved by the Minister of Economic
Affairs. All coal mines in the country belong to the organization
and it is responsible for regulating production, organizing sales to
large consumers, supervising sales in general, distributing orders,
regulating exports, and fixing prices.
The Government has supplemented the action of operators in
regulating the coal industry by organizing the Advisory Coal Board.
This body was set up by order of January 15, 1935, and is composed
of Government representatives, coal-mine owners, miners, consumers,
merchants, and representatives of transport undertakings. It is
charged with advising the Government on questions pertaining to
the coal industry which may be referred to it by the Ministry of
Economic Affairs.
The Plan
T h e general council of the Central Coal Office agreed at its meeting
of February 19, 1935, to empower a committee of three persons,
known as the Quota Commission, to fix production for each member of
the coal industry for a 6-month period beginning April 1, 1935. This
commission was given the right to establish its own rules and regula
tions and sought to work out an equitable system of prorating tonnage.
It was decided to base allotments on sales rather than on produc
tion, in the belief that this would be a fairer method since some com
panies produced beyond their capacity to sell, especially in 1934.
The total tonnage to be produced monthly was fixed by the Central
Coal Office. Production was authorized at the rate of 2,220,000 tons
a month or 26,640,000 tons on an annual basis.4
On the basis of this total the Quota Commission made a decision
with respect to individual company quotas. Separate consideration
was given the Southern Basin, where mining has been carried on as an
industry for over 100 years, as a rural occupation for even longer, and
where production has been relatively stationary since the turn of the
century, and the northern coal field (Limbourg), which has been
producing commercially for less than 20 years and where the mines
are still in process of development. Approximately 80 percent of the
tonnage was allocated to the south and 20 percent to the north. In
this way the production of the Northern Basin was limited to the
same level as was attained under the free competition of 1934, without
4This figure is somewhat less than the tonnage consumed in 1934, i. e., 27,987,000 tons (including
imported coal sold)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
635
regard to the greater capacity of its mines, the higher productivity
of its workers, and the relatively greater importance of its reserves.
Quota jor north.—In calculating quotas for the Northern Basin,
where there are six operating companies, the commission computed
the percent of total coal sold in 1934 for each of the six companies and
applied the percentages to the total tonnage allocated to the region
for the 6-month period for which it was fixing production.
Quota jor south.—In the Southern Basin the number of mines that
are increasing their sales is limited and many mines have for years
had a steadily declining share of the market. Therefore the commis
sion concluded that it was essential to establish quotas taking into
account production in more than 1 recent year. A formula was
adopted whereby sales in 1934 were given a weight of two-thirds and
average sales in the 8 years 1926 to 1933, one-third. This method,
it was believed, would minimize the chance of inequalities arising
through undue weighting of sales in particularly active or dull periods.
It was further stressed that the period 1926-33 was a good basis for
calculating sales, as it included some years of prosperity when southern
mines operated and sold at full capacity.
The Commission reasoned that in no case should quotas be fixed
that manifestly exceeded the existing (1935) capacity of any company
to produce. It was ruled that no allocation should be made that was
more than 50 percent above the sales as of 1934. In this connection
the commission found that there was only one company whose sales
records for 1926-33 would have entitled it to a quota above the limit
just stated, but the allowance was cut to the basis of 1934 sales plus
50 percent in accordance with the rules set forth. On the average,
the quota based upon production in 1926-33 (with a weight of onethird) and 1934 (with a weight of two-thirds) yielded an allocation of
18 percent above the tonnage sold in 1934.
For companies that are still expanding in the Southern Basin the
method of prorating tonnage was disadvantageous, in that the business
of earlier years, when sales were less important than now, were given
weight in the calculation. To offset this loss the Commission decided
upon a correction. This correction was made possible by the fact
that the total production allotment was somewhat greater than the
total arrived at by adding together the individual allotments for
companies, due to the fact of certain mines having ceased to produce,
etc. After allowing the expanding mines a supplementary allot
ment there was still a small margin of tonnage to be allocated and
adjustments were accordingly made to compensate companies for
shut-downs, opening of new workings, or other peculiar losses.
Withdrawals from stocks.—According to the regulations established,
producers were empowered to substitute tonnage withdrawn from
stocks on hand for newly mined coal under their allotments.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
636
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
The Quota Commission
T h e Quota Commission was empowered to act with complete liberty
in assigning quotas and establishing rules for carrying out its work.
The membership of the commission was made up of three as follows:
A. Gesche, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal (Cour de
Cassation)-, Adolf Breyre, director of the National Institute of Mines,
and professor at the University of Liège; and Charles Demeure of
the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and professor at the University of
Louvain.
Economic Aspects of the System
I f t h e allocation of tonnage had been approached from a primarily
economic standpoint without regard to its social implications the
Quota Commission would have made a settlement following an essen
tially different pattern. Under a highly rationalized plan of prorat
ing production, the Northern Basin would have been given a quota
in excess of the 20 percent of total actually fixed upon. It has a
present annual capacity of 7,000,000 tons,5 or 2,000,000 tons in ex
cess of the allotment, a productivity rate of 0.994 ton per man per
day as compared with 0.687 ton in the Southern Basin, and average
seam thickness of 1.11 meters as against 0.69 meter and shallower
and less dangerous mines of more modern lay-out than does the south
However, there were counterbalancing considerations of which the
most important were of a social and financial nature. It is in the
south of Belgium that the coal industry has been an important fac
tor in the economic framework for many decades. In certain areas
the mine has been the only place of employment, and it is essential
that the industry be maintained unless the population is to be moved
or other industrial pursuits introduced. On the financial side there
is considerable investment in the southern mines and a potential
50-year coal supply.5
In contrast the Northern Basin is in an undeveloped region of
the country toward the border of the Netherlands and Germany.
This area is only sparsely settled, and in developing the mine prop
erties it has been necessary to build villages and to import working
forces. Labor in these mines has been recruited from outside Belgium
to a large extent. Apparently there has been little inclination on the
part of the Belgian working population, from the coal country or
other regions, to migrate to the Limbourg mines. Thus if the quota
of the northern mines were to be increased materially it would be
come necessary, at least in some workings, to add living quarters
and bring in more labor, since a daily three-shift system of operation
is already the rule.
* Estimate of Quota Commission.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
637
The quota system of production control as introduced in Belgium
was planned with a view to creating the least possible disturbance
in the balance of the industry. At the same time it was sought to
avoid wasteful overproduction, with the attendant evils of price cut
ting and the carrying of large stocks against possible future orders.
The Belgian industry is peculiarly well adapted to an undertaking
of this kind, in that ownership is concentrated in a relatively small
number of units. The official figures of the Administration of Mines
show that in 1934 there were slightly over 200 coal mines in the
entire country and the allocation of tonnage involved only 67 com
panies. As the prorating of tonnage is on a company and not a
mine basis, management enjoys the right to the greatest freedom in
deciding which of its mines shall produce. The drawback to such
flexibility is that it may work hardship on employees attached to
the least productive establishments. No information is as yet
available on this point.
Finally, the fact that Belgium is a small country, with an excellent
communication system, enabling all units of the industry to keep in
close touch with each other, and with a group of coal operators who
are accustomed by long usage to cooperative action, makes it a logical
area for initiating a planned coal economy.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Disabling Sickness Am ong In d u strial Employees in 19341
HE frequency of disabling sickness among male industrial
employees, who are members of sick-benefit associations report
ing to the United States Public Health Service was lower in 1934 than
in the preceding year, when the lowest rate since 1921 was recorded.
The incidence rate for new cases of sickness and nonindustrial acci
dents causing absence from work for more than 1 week among the
group of 174,643 workers in 37 establishments was 3 percent below
the rates for 1933, 21 percent lower than in 1932, 32 percent lower
than in 1929, and 14 percent below the rate for 1921. These figures
cover the same industrial establishments for the different years with
the exception of the rate for 1921 (the year in which the collection of
these statistics was started) which included the employees of all
establishments reporting at that time. The increased industrial
activity since 1932, it appears, therefore, has not been accompanied
by any increase in the rate of disabling illness lasting 8 days or longer
among the male employees of these companies.
A reduction in the rate was found to have occurred for both respira
tory and nonrespiratory diseases, the rate of 24.5 cases of respiratory
diseases per 1,000 men being 14 percent lower than the previous
minimum registered in 1933, and a new low was also recorded for
nonrespiratory diseases.
The following table shows the frequency of specified causes of disabili
ty among a group of male industrial workers from 1929 to 1934 inclusive.
T
F req u en cy o f Specified C auses o f D isa b ility L astin g 8 C on secu tive D a y s or L onger
A m ong M ale In d u strial W orkers in V arious In d u stries, b y Y ears, 1929 to 1934
[ V= all reporting establishments; B = establishments which reported throughout the 6 years ending Dec
31, 1934]
Year in which disability
began
1929______________________
1930_______________________
1931__ _______________
1932________________________
1933________________________
1934________________________
5 preceding years 1__________
Sickness
and non
industrial
injuries
A
B
112.4
94.1
94.6
97.5
82.3
78.1
96.2
110.6
93.8
93.2
94.7
76.8
74.7
93.8
Sickness
A
B
99.9
81.8
82.2
84.9
71.0
65.8
84.0
98.1
81.6
81.1
82.3
66.2
62.8
81.8
Aver
age
Sickness
Respiratory
Nonrespira number
exclusive of tory
diseases
diseases of men,
influenza
all re
porting
estab
lish
A
B
B
A
B
A
ments
47.8
32.0
34.9
37.6
28.6
24.5
36.2
46.8
32.3
34.8
37.0
25.6
23.4
35.3
73.9
68.5
63.3
62.9
55.7
55.7
64.9
71.9
68.2
62.1
60.4
53.0
53.0
63.1
52.1
49.8
47.3
47.3
42.4
41.3
47.8
51.3
49.3
46.3
45.3
40.6
39.4
46.5
194,451
188, 714
171, 694
163,979
152,203
174, 643
174,208
i 1929 to 1933, inclusive.
1 Public Health Reports, N ov. 1, 1935: Disabling Illness Among Industrial Employees in 1934 as Com
pared with Earlier Years, by Dean K. Brundage.
638
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
639
There was a decrease in the prevalence of influenza, the rate per
1,000 men being reduced from 15.3 in 1933 to 10.1 in 1934; the pre
vious low rate was 12.9 in 1921. The improvement in the respiratory
rate in 1934 was due entirely to the reduction in the number of cases
of influenza, as there was a slight increase in the rates for all other
respiratory diseases except tuberculosis which showed no change.
However, the rates in 1934 were below the average rate for the preced
ing 5 years for bronchitis, diseases of the pharynx and tonsils, pneu
monia (all forms), and the ‘‘other” respiratory diseases.
The report states that, “the decrease in the frequency of new cases
of respiratory tuberculosis during the past 13 years has been little
short of spectacular.” The incidence rate in 1921 and 1922 was 1.9
cases per 1,000 men per year while in 1933 and 1934 the rate was
0.8, a decrease of 58 percent. Mortality rates for pulmonary tuber
culosis show a similar decrease, a reduction in the death rate of almost
50 percent having taken place among the millions of industrial pol
icyholders of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. between 1922 and
1934. There has also been a decided decrease in the frequency rate of
all forms of pneumonia in recent years. The average incidence rate
from 1921 to 1929, shown in the present study, was 3.3 cases per 1,000
whereas during the 5-year period, 1930 to 1934, the average rate was
only 2.1, a decrease of 36 percent. The lowest rate reached during
the 14 years under review was 1.8 in 1933.
The rate for digestive diseases in 1934 was 12.7 per 1,000 males.
Although this was higher than in 1933 it was due principally to an
increase in the frequency of appendicitis, and neither the digestivedisease rate nor the rate for appendicitis was abnormally high when
measured by average rates over a series of years. From 1929 to 1934
the digestive-disease rate dropped about 15 percent while the fre
quency of appendicitis was about the same in 1934 as in 1929. The
less serious digestive diseases included in the group of “diseases of the
stomach except cancer” and those classified under “diarrhea and
enteritis” accounted for the greater part of the reduction in the last
5 years, while the rates for the more serious diseases of the digestive
system were approximately the same in 1933 and 1934 as in 1929 and
1930. The rate for hernia showed little change during the past
14 years.
Diseases other than of the respiratory and digestive systems showed
a lower rate in 1934 than in any other year in the 6 years under
review. There was a 5-percent reduction in the frequency of these
diseases in 1934 as compared with 1933. The favorable showing in
the past 2 years is considered especially noteworthy, as several of these
diseases cause a large amount of time lost from work. The principal
reductions were found in illness caused by acute and chronic rheuma
tism, diseases of the organs of locomotion, diseases of the skin, and
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
640
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
certain other disease groups of less importance numerically. The
incidence rate for acute and chronic rheumatism, which was 4 in
1934, had dropped sharply since 1932 when it was 5.3. The report
states that it is impossible to show at present to what extent this
change might be due to the replacement of rheumatic by able-bodied
workers. Acute and chronic nephritis showed definitely lower rates,
while there was little change in diseases of the heart, genito-urinary
system, and annexa except nephritis, neuralgia, neuritis, and sciatica,
diseases of the ear and mastoid process, and cancer.
It is of interest to note that claims on account of neurasthenia
decreased sharply in 1933 and 1934. In 1931, which was the depres
sion peak for this disorder, the rate was 87 percent above the incidence
for 1934. Other diseases of the nervous system, including the psy
choses, cerebral hemorrhage, and thrombosis, increased from an
average frequency rate for the years 1921 to 1928 of 0.9 case per
1,000 to a rate of 1.4 per 1,000 in the years 1933 and 1934.
The rate for nonindustrial accidents causing 8-day or longer dis
abilities was 9 percent higher in 1934 than in 1933 and 20 percent
greater than the annual frequency in the 1921-28 period.
Sickness Frequency Among Women
*
frequency of sickness among female members of the sickbenefit associations was 58 percent higher than among males in the
5 years ending in 1933 and in 1934 the rate was 84 percent higher.
The associations generally pay benefits only for ailments common to
both sexes and in addition the age distribution of women is generally
more favorable from a health standpoint than that of men, as com
paratively few women are found in industry at ages above 45. How
ever, the frequency of both respiratory and norespiratory diseases was
much higher among the women in each year under review, although the
trend of sickness frequency was quite similar to that among the males,
with a reduction in 1933 and 1934 from the rates in preceding years.
Certain kinds of illness common to both sexes occurred much more
often among female workers, but a few occurred at a definitely lower
rate than among the men. The latter included pneumonia, rheuma
tism, and diseases of the organs of locomotion.
T he
Time Lost Because of Illness
T h e data on industrial morbidity are for the most part confined to
sickness frequency or incidence, because of the technical difficulties
in computing the severity rates. These difficulties are caused by the
differences in the length of benefit periods in the reporting associations,
extension of the benefit period sometimes granted to individuals, and
the generally more liberal policies of administration adopted by some
associations. However, it was found possible to present data on the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
641
average duration per case of disability and the average number of
days of disability per person for 3 different benefit periods—13, 26,
and 52 weeks—in a 12-month period.
The average duration of disability in associations having a benefit
period of 13 weeks was 37 calendar days per male case and 35 per
female case. In associations having a benefit period of 26 weeks the
average duration was 46 days for males and 42 days for females; it
was approximately the same in associations paying benefits for 52
weeks.
The loss of time per member in 1934, exclusive of cases causing dis
ability for less than 1 week, for sickness and nonindustrial accidents
was 2.6 calendar days for males and 4.7 for females in associations
paying benefits for 13 weeks; 3.1 days for males and 5.1 days for
females in associations paying benefits for 26 weeks; and 3.9 and 6.5
days, respectively, in associations paying benefits for 52 weeks. It is
pointed out that when the benefit period is less than 52 weeks, it is
obvious that the full record of disabilities lasting an entire year is not
obtained. The diseases and conditions causing a large amount of
time lost from work are nonindustrial accidents, influenza, appendi
citis, rheumatism, and, among women, neurasthenia.
W ork o f U n io n H e a lth C e n te r 1
HE organization of the Union Health Center in New York
City by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union was
an outgrowth of the establishment of the Joint Board of Sanitary Con
trol following the strikes of 1909-10 and 1911 against the sweatshop
conditions then prevailing in the industry. Various surveys by the
Joint Board and a health survey made in 1913 by the United States
Public Health Service revealed a need on the part of thousands of
workers and their families for assistance in meeting the problems
presented by sickness. It was realized by the leaders of the union
that the problem was too great for the individual to contend with
unaided and it was necessary, therefore, to make it a union problem.
Individual members were unable to meet the costs of medical care
involving the attendance of private physicians, and also they were
untrained in the preventive measures which are now an important
part of the services of the Health Center.
The purpose of the Union Health Center is to furnish adequate
medical service to the members of the International Ladies’ Garment
Workers’ Union and a large number of affiliated unions. About the
time the Health Center was started in 1913, several local units ofjthe
T
i The Union Health Center of the I. L. G. W . U ., by Pauline M . Newman, N ew York, 275 Seventh
Avenue, 1935: The Union Health Center—Twenty-first anniversary, N ew York, 1934.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
642
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
I. L. G. W. U. inaugurated sick-benefit systems which necessitated
the examination of members prior to their joining the union in order
to know their health status, and also required certification of members
who claimed sick benefit. For several years these were the main
tasks of the center, but later it was decided to establish several
clinics for general examinations and treatments, which were followed
by clinics in the specialized branches of medicine. In 1919 a fourstory building was purchased and equipped at an expense of $60,000,
and in 1935, as the work of the clinics had grown until these quarters
were inadequate, the location was changed to a whole floor in one of
the office buildings near the garment center, which is twice the size
of the old building.
Until 1928 the services of the organization were limited to the
members of the New York locals of the International Ladies’ Gar
ment Workers’ Union, but in that year were extended to members
of about 30 additional labor organizations. Only those workers
and union members who are unable to pay the ordinary fees of private
medical practitioners are treated, but except during a few years of
prosperity, it is said, the majority of the union membership may be
classed in this category. A report issued in 1934 stated that the
annual earnings of the majority of union members do not exceed
$1,200, and in several trades, $600. In 1930, the medical and dental
departments were given dispensary licenses by the State Board of
Social Welfare, and since then the center has been open to the general
public, although the union members constitute the overwhelming
majority of the patients. There are 24 departments and clinics
aside from the dental department.
The Union Health Center derives its income partly from the
unions whose members use its facilities and partly from the patients.
In 1933, the average professional cost per hour was $1.63 and the
overhead $1.41, the total hourly cost being $3.04 as compared with
an income of $2.84 per hour. The fees charged amount to $1 to
$1.50 for general and special treatments, while charges for X-rays,
laboratory work, and drugs are based on cost. An additional small
charge is made to members of nonaffiliated unions. In 1933 the
total income was $36,785 and the expenses $37,395. In the dental
department, the income and expenses amounted to $57,615 and
$60,813, respectively. During the first 10 months of 1935, the
total number of examinations given in the medical center amounted
to approximately 45,000.
The membership of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’
Union has increased greatly since 1933, the number of members in
New York City alone in the latter part of 1935 amounting to more
than 100.000.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W ORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
R e p o rt o f U n ite d States Em ployees’ Com pensation
Commission, 1934-35
United States and District of Columbia
HE Nineteenth. Annual Report of the United States Employees’
Compensation Commission 1 covers operations during the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1935, under the four workmen’s compensation
laws administered by the Commission: United States Employees’
Compensation Act, Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Com
pensation Act, District of Columbia Workmen’s Compensation Act,
and the act approved February 15, 1934, providing compensation for
certain employees on Federal Emergency Work projects.
T
United States Employees
R eports were received during the calendar year 1934 of 34,125
injuries, as compared with 25,019 in 1933, an increase of 36.4 percent.
Comparable figures for the first 10 months of 1935 show 28,103
injuries reported, or 3.1 percent less than the corresponding period
of 1934 (29,002).
On December 31, 1934, compensation was being paid in 2,062
permanent or long-continued disability cases, of which 482 were
classified as total and 1,580 as partial. In approximately 15 percent
of these cases, compensation was being paid on account of injuries that
occurred 15 or more years ago, and in more" than half of the cases
compensation had been paid for 8 years or longer. The estimated
value of future installments of compensation payable in these cases
is approximately $12,000,000.
Compensation in the total amount of $1,357,282 was paid during the
year ended December 31, 1934, in the form of death benefits, to 4,450
dependents of 2,522 deceased employees. Awards were made in 188
new cases, and 106 cases were closed. The average monthly com
pensation award in fatal cases approved during the year, was $54.17.
There were 31,890 cases which were closed conditionally by the
Commission during 1934, distributed according to reason for closing,
1Nineteenth Annual Report of the U. S. Employees’ Compensation Commission, July 1,1934, to June 30,
1935.
Washington,
1936.
74 pp.
496 4 5 — 36 ---- 9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
643
644
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
as follows: Compensation paid, 8,274; period of disability covered by
leave with pay, 4,456; no time lost, 12,699; duration of disability
3 days or less, 3,889; disapproved by the Commission, 2,244; mis
cellaneous, 328. Medical expense was incurred in approximately
51 percent of all noncompensated cases, at a total cost of $144,471,
aside from medical treatment provided through Government facilities.
The average duration of disability in all temporary-disability cases
closed during 1934 was 22.2 days. The average duration in com
pensated cases was 37.5 days, and the average compensation award
was $75.18.
An analysis of expenditures from the compensation fund in the 5
fiscal years, 1931-35, is presented in table 1.
T able 1 .— C om p arative S ta te m en t of E xp en d itu res F rom F ed eral E m p lo y e e s’
C om p en sation F u n d , Ju ly 1, 1930, to June 30, 1935
Fiscal years
Item
1931
1932
Injury compensation
. _ _. . _ $2, 070, 657.61 $2, 080, 030.41
Lump-sum awards (injury).__ . . . . . .
3,402.16
14, 337. 74
Medical treatment and su p p lies____
676, 816. 55
628, 664.47
Transportation.__ _____ _____ _ __
41,128. 30
36, 228. 39
Death compensation . . _______ ._ 1,359, 256. 44 1,412, 298.15
Lump-sum awards (death)__________
964.17
Burial expenses..______ .’. ______ _
34,179. 56
31, 743.41
Embalming and transportation ____
3, 606. 36
4, 341. 07
Court costs____________ _______ ____
1,151.16
1, 591. 94
T o ta l... . . . . ____________ __ 4,190,198.14
4,210,199. 75
1933
1934
$1,852, 380
1,693
592, 642
40, 048
1,441, 745
24,065
2,422
2,033
$1, 612, 570
1,919
453, 208
32,402
1,296,929
270
24, 930
2,177
758
$2, 017,136
447
654,955
35, 599
1,494, 019
5, 229
28, 669
3, 384
548
i 3, 957, 028
23,425,163
4, 239,986
1935
1Savings on account of legislative reduction in compensation under act of Mar. 20, 1933, amounting to
$62,154 impounded and returned to the Treasury, are not included in this statement.
2 Compensation shown is net amount paid after deducting legislative reductions amounting to $456,544.
A study of the nonmechanical causes of injuries in Federal cases,
including 1,419 fatal and 104,175 nonfatal cases closed during the 7
years 1928-34, shows that 47.28 percent of these injuries were caused
by falls of persons and handling objects, with an additional 9.06
percent due to falls of objects. The Commission believes that a
properly directed safety program should be put into effect in all
Federal establishments.
Civil Works Employees
T h e Civil Works Administration, whose employees were entitled
to limited compensation under the act approved February 15, 1934,
employed at the peak of the program approximately 4,000,000 work
men. Cases of injury reported from these projects up to June 30,
1935, numbered 166,803, nearly all of which arose between Decem
ber 1933 and March 1934. Of these, 771 were fatal and 166,032 non
fatal. Compensation benefits amounting to $3,608,243, expended up
to June 30, 1935, included: Disability compensation, $1,398,832;
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
645
medical treatment, $2,018,223; death compensation, $112,678; and
transportation of beneficiaries, burial expenses, and miscellaneous,
$78,510.
Enrollees— Civilian Conservation Corps
T h e Civilian Conservation Corps, whose enrollees are entitled to
limited compensation under the act approved February 15, 1934,
operated during the period covered by this report with an enrollment
of close to 300,000. Owing to the provisions of this law, the Commis
sion receives reports only of fatal cases and of nonfatal cases in which
disability lasts 15 days or longer or in which the injury may be
expected to cause some permanent disability.
The records of the Commission show that on September 30, 1935,
reports had been received in 19,186 cases, of which 1,828 were fatal
and 17,358 nonfatal. The average cost per case of compensation
benefits awarded in all fatal cases in which there were dependents
entitled to compensation was $1,473. The average compensation
award to 474 dependent parents of deceased enrollees was $7.73 per
month.
Longshoremen and Harbor Workers
R eports were received during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1935,
of 140 fatal and 26,188 nonfatal injuries, as compared with 142 fatal
and 29,705 nonfatal injuries reported in 1933-34, a decrease of 11.79
percent.
The number of cases closed during the year consisted of 100 fatal
and 26,985 nonfatal injuries. In 21 of the fatal cases there were no
dependents, and 55 cases did not come within the scope of the law. In
13,916 of the nonfatal cases, no time loss was involved, in 3,119 cases
the duration of the disability did not exceed 7 days, and 840 cases were
outside the scope of the law.
Total compensation, paid and estimated to be paid in 65 fatal cases
approved during the fiscal year 1935, amounted to $323,384, including
payments made for disability preceding death, burial expenses, and
payments made in no-dependency cases. Death compensation in
50 new fatal cases, estimated at an aggregate of $296,783, was awarded
or commenced without an award, with 132 dependents receiving
compensation. The total compensation paid in nonfatal cases closed
during the year was $1,453,787, not including $6,766 paid for serious
facial disfigurements in 32 cases.
Private Employees in District of Columbia
D u r in g the fiscal year ended June 30, 1935, reports were received
of 64 fatal and 21,185 nonfatal injuries, to workers in private employ
ments in the District of Columbia, as compared with 43 fatal
and 20,157 nonfatal injuries reported in 1933-34, an increase of 5.2
percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
646
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
The number of cases closed during the year consisted of 33 fatal and
21,967 nonfatal injuries. In 3 of the fatal cases there were no depend
ents, and in 10 others the injury did not come within the law. In
13,804 of the nonfatal cases no time was lost, in 3,645 cases the
duration of disability was 7 days or less, and 384 cases were outside
the scope of the law.
The estimated cost of 29 fatal cases approved during the year was
$184,718. Total compensation, paid in 3,166 temporary-disability
and 160 permanent-disability cases closed, was $384,145. In 3,511
cases the period of disability was less than 8 days. Of the 29 fatal
cases closed there were 3 cases in which there was no person entitled
to compensation. In the other cases, the average weekly payment
to widows was $10.76, to dependent children under 18, $3.04, and to
mothers, $9.38.
The total amount paid in compensation in all nonfatal cases closed
prior to July 1, 1935, was $2,422,755, with an additional amount of
$21,199 awarded for serious facial disfigurement. The total cost of
benefits paid and estimated to be paid in 205 fatal cases approved
prior to July 1, 1935, was $1,160,249.
A distribution by industry groups of 1934-35 injuries causing loss
of time, and compensation costs, is shown in table 2, together with
totals for the fiscal years, 1929-35.
T ab le 2 .— N u m b er and C om p en sation C osts o f L o st-T im e In juries to P riv a te
E m p lo y ees in th e D istr ic t o f C olum b ia, b y E x te n t o f D isa b ility and b y In d u stry
G r o u p ,1 934-35
Fatal cases
Nonfatal cases
Permanent par Temporary total disability
tial disability
Industry group
N um
ber
E sti
mated
costs
Total
N um Amount
of com
num
ber pensation
ber
2
9
1
7
10
$8,709
60,148
7,500
46,200
62,161
30
45
30
41
14
$23,331
,997
27,480
49,336
13,918
1,402
1, 450
660
2, 325
840
29
34
18
37
45
19
23
184,718
184,407
109, 786
209,804
227, 633
103, 528
140,373
160
208
190
166
129
129
42
181,062
221, 752
212, 942
166, 081
129, 551
71,044
13,411
6, 677
6,384
6, 509
Total 1928-35._______ ____________
205 1,160,249
60
99,423
1, 024
129
Grand to ta l................ ........................
265 1,259, 672
Clerical and personal service........... .............
Construction________ _________________
M anufacturing..______________________
T ra d e..______________________________
Transportation and public u tilities...........
Total, 1934-35........................................
1933-34..................................
1932-33.......................... .............
1931-32........................................
1930-31_______ ____________
1929-30.____ ______________
1928-29_____ ______________
Active and pending cases________ ____ _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N um
Amount
ber
com
of com
pen pensation
sated
622
753
306
1, 044
441
$26,708
, 587
25,383
59, 814
22, 591
7,609
7, 303
8,313
6,270
3,166
3,239
3,279
3, 623
3, 390
3,781
2, 696
203, 083
214,291
222,732
227,529
210, 320
227,199
121, 758
995,843
374, 003
49,065
1,155
23,174
997
1,426,912
339,942
1,153 1,369,846
50,220
24,171
1, 766,854
66
68
HOUSING CONDITIONS
N e w Series o f Statistics on C o n stru c tio n Costs o f Small
Houses
OSTS of building the same type of house in 27 cities vary from
18.0
cents a cubic foot in Columbia, S. C., to 26.8 cents a cubic
fo o tjn Providence, R. I., according to the findings of the Federal
Home Loan Bank Board.1 In publishing the actual costs of building
the Board has taken the first action looking toward the development
of indexes of small-house construction. The figures first made
available are for 27 cities in 4 of the 12 Federal Home Loan Bank
districts and it is expected to extend the coverage to approximately
40 additional cities in the 8 remaining districts. Information has
been obtained as to the exact cost of materials and labor necessary
to build a specified typical house. The Board believes that accurate
information on the trends in costs is necessary to development of a
national housing policy. Without such knowledge there is no way
of ascertaining what proportion of families may be expected to provide
their own dwellings. In the report here reviewed attention is drawn
to the wide differences in costs between cities in the same State and
caution is urged in the use of initial figures until the reporting system
is perfected and possible errors eliminated. It is expected that when
indexes have been collected for a period of years the use of improved
materials and construction methods will be reflected in the total cost
figures.
C
T o ta l C osts and C u b ic-F o o t C osts o f B u ild in g the Sam e T y p ica l H ou se in 27
C ities in Janu ary 1936
[Source: Federal Home Loan Bank Board]
Federal Home Loan Bank district,
State, and city
Total
cost
Cost
per
cubic
foot
N o . 1— B o sto n
Connecticut: H artford......................
Maine: Portland__________ ______
Massachusetts:
Boston................... .......................
Springfield__________ ________
N ew Hampshire: M anchester... . .
Vermont: R utland_______________
District average.........................
N o . 4 — W in sto n -S a le m
Alabama:
Birmingham_________________
Montgomery—--------- ------------District of Columbia: W ashington.
Florida:
Pensacola____________ _________
West Palm Beach-----------------Georgia: Atlanta_________________
Maryland:
Cumberland_________________
$ 5 ,8 4 6
4 ,8 1 3
$0. 244
.2 0 0
5 ,8 6 1
5 ,9 6 3
5 ,3 8 0
6 ,4 4 2
5, 507
.2 4 4
.2 4 8
.2 2 4
5 ,6 9 6
.2 3 7
5 ,4 5 6
4 ,3 5 9
4 ,9 7 7
.2 2 7
.1 8 1
. 207
Federai Home Loan Bank district,
State, and city
Total
cost
Cost
per
cubie
foot
North Carolina:
A s b a v ili a
Ralpigh
South Carolina: Columbia................
Virginia:
Roanoke ____ ____________
District average____________
.2 2 9
$ 4 ,9 6 0
5, 056
4 ,3 3 7
$0. 206
.2 1 0
.1 8 0
5 ,0 4 6
4, 508
.2 1 0
.1 8 7
5 ,0 8 7
.2 1 1
6 ,3 6 1
6 ,2 0 2
5 ,7 0 3
.2 6 5
.2 5 8
. 237
6 ,0 8 8
.2 5 3
£ Q72
fi 487
5, 756
24Q
! 224
. 228
.2 3 9
5 ,6 5 0
.2 3 5
N o . 7— Chicago
Illinois:
Chicago— _______ . . ------Springfield---------------------------Wisconsin: Oshkosh--------------------District average-----------------N o . 10— T o p e k a
5 ,0 9 5
5 ,9 1 1
5, 367
.2 1 2
.2 4 6
.2 2 3
5, 023
6, 033
.2 0 9
.2 5 1
«
1 1 1 1 (~* - lnjin -1 - CI. ■!
l
|
5' 386
Oklahoma: Oklahoma C ity----------District average------------------
i From Federal Home Loan Bank Review, January 1936, pp. 111-115: Indexes of Small-House-Building
Costs Developed by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
647
648
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Total costs per house amounting to less than $5,000 are shown for
one city in district 1 (Portland) and five cities in district 4 (Mont
gomery, Washington, Asheville, Columbia, and Roanoke). An
additional four cities report costs above $6,000, of which one is in
district 1 (Providence), one in district 4 (Cumberland), and two in
district 7 (Chicago and Springfield, 111.). In the remaining 17 cities
the cost reported was from $5,000 to $6,000.
Collection of cost data on house building is being carried on through
the Reconditioning Division of the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation.
A trained staff, including architects, builders, and engineers, experi
enced in house-building problems, is in charge of the work, with a
field personnel attached to regional, State, and district offices.
Specifications of the standard house are sent every 3 months to all
those reporting. This standard house is a detached dwelling having
a volume of 24,000 cubic feet, and with living room, lavatory, dining
room, and kitchen on the first floor; three bedrooms and bath on the
second floor; open attic, which could be finished into one or two rooms;
and a one-room cellar containing heating and laundry facilities. The
exterior finish is wide-board siding with brick and stucco. The onecar garage is attached to the house. It is assumed that the house plot
is level and that no unusual soil conditions are present that would add
to costs. Structural standards such as would meet municipal building
codes are specified and the reports take into account commonly used
materials and methods. Reports are not based on unusual materials
or prefabricated walls, etc., but it is provided that should such items
come into common use they would be included in the specifications.
The house described might be placed in the $6,000 class, the Board states.
The field worker, in addition to securing material costs, reports on
prevailing labor costs as reflected in hourly wage rates. “The
number of labor hours required to build into this house each quantity
of the items contained on the master materials list has been fixed on
the basis of estimates which are known to be correct within narrow
limits,” the report states.
To the labor and materal cost is added a fixed amount to cover
overhead expenses, such as public liability and workmen’s compensa
tion insurance and a 10 percent profit item. The estimate does not
include planting, gas range and water heater, refrigerator, insect
screens, shades, wall decoration, lighting fixtures, or land.
The Board seeks to secure accuracy in the reports by requesting
prices on the same list of materials and having the work done by the
same personnel every 3 months. It must not be assumed that the
cost of any 6-room house with bath constructed in a given city would
be the same as that reported. Any change in house plan would
affect the price. The cost figures do, however, supply an exact
record of the trend in house-building costs in each city.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HOUSING CONDITIONS
649
T h ird N atio n al Public H ousing C onference
NCREASED appropriations by Congress for slum clearance and
low-rent housing, establishment of a permanent Federal housing
agency, adoption of legislation by the States, and creation of local
housing authorities in all American cities, were urged as objectives
by the third National Public Housing Conference at sessions held in
Washington, January 24-26, 1936. The conference favored early
enactment of Federal housing legislation in a resolution which at the
same time pointed out the desirability of a continuance of the exist
ing policy of separating agencies dealing with public and with private
housing. It was believed that the expansion of Government housing
would not interfere with the normal activities of the construction
industry, as the Government would be providing dwellings for those
families with the lowest incomes, who could not afford decent housing
without a subsidy. At round-table discussions held in the course of
the conference the subjects under discussion included land cost, value
and acquisition by local housing authorities, methods of financing, and
production problems and policies. The National Public Housing Con
ference, which was the sponsoring agency, is a private organization work
ing in the interest of low-cost housing. Its membership includes indi
viduals and groups. The session recently held was the third of a series
of annual meetings held at Washington by this body to publicize the
need for, and enlist support of a movement for, low-cost dwellings.
In the discussion on securing land for public housing it was brought
out that unless acquisition is possible at reasonable prices there is
little hope of securing the objectives sought. Acquisition by pur
chase was viewed as less expensive than by the power of eminent
domain. In cases where condemnation becomes necessary, however,
it was stated that there is a need for working out some scientific
formula of arriving at a fair price. To fix value in relation to assess
ment does not meet the requirements, the earning value of land having
borne little relation to the assessment in recent years. It was stated
that prices of land in the United States are based upon intended use and
anticipation of a more valuable use. Overemphasis has been placed up
on the future use and it is essential that standards of value be realistic.
Senator Wagner, in his address to the conference, stressed the fact
that the benefits of a large-scale housing program would be twofold,
in that while supplying adequate housing it would offer the most
fertile field for reemployment. Reemployment thus accomplished
would not be relief or made work. Every house built would serve a
useful and permanent purpose. Lack of proper housing, he stated,
affects 15 million families, and is felt throughout the Nation and not
alone in city centers. Good housing and employment at decent pay
are equally necessary if the slum and its companions, sickness,
delinquency, and crime, are to be eradicated.
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL
GUIDANCE
V ocational T ra in in g in In d u stria l P la n ts 1
A FT ER 2 days’ consideration of various phases of the problems arising from the use of Federal funds in connection with
vocational training in industrial plants (commonly referred to as
“plant training”), a special advisory committee on February 1,
1936, recommended to the United States Commissioner of Educa
tion the adoption of a set of special standards and safeguards to
cover this type of program. The Commissioner accepted the recom
mendations and announced that he would place them in effect at
once as official policies. He also continued the advisory committee
to serve indefinitely in connection with various problems of trade
and industrial education as they may arise in the future.
The advisory committee, appointed at the request of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, is composed of the following: Representa
tives of labor, John P. Frey, Washington, D. C., George L. Googe,
Atlanta, Ga., and Emil Rieve, Philadelphia, Pa.; representatives of
employers, John E. Edgerton, Lebanon, Tenn., Max Mayer, New
York, N. Y., and John H. Zink, Baltimore, Md.; and representatives
of State administrators of vocational education, R. C. Small, Boston,
Mass., L. A. Wilson, Albany, N. Y., and B. H. Van Oot, Richmond,
Va.
The report, and the standards recommended by the committee as
to the “conditions under which a public-school system may or may
not be justified in establishing training programs within a private
industrial plant during the working day at public expense for which
Federal reimbursement may be granted” are given in part below:
Recommended Standards and Safeguards
The use of Federal funds is justified —
When the school system is enabled to provide training in the public interest
and th at of those being trained, which it could not otherwise provide for want of
the equipment and supplies available in the plant, providing the following
requirements are met:
1. The program must be under public supervision or control, as evidenced by:
(a) The fact th at the local school officials have furnished satisfactory proof to
the State officials th at—1U. S. Department of the Interior. Office of Education. Press release, Feb. 7, 1936: Joint Statement
by Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, and Commissioner oi Education, J. W. Studebaker. Wash
ington, 1936.
650
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION A N D VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE
651
(1) The training is organized and maintained in response to public need.
(2) The interest of the persons enrolled in the training program is the chief
consideration.
(3) The program is generally recognized as a part of the public-school work of
that community.
(4) The determination of matters such as the selection, qualifications, and
salaries of teachers; content and length of courses; admission of students; super
vision of instruction, and all other details of the training program are vested in
officially designated school officials who recognize and admit their responsibility.
(b) The fact th at the teachers engaged in training in the industrial plant are
being paid by the same procedure and through the same sources as such teachers
would be paid if teaching in public-school buildings.
2. There must be a definitely organized plan of instruction which shall include
the technical knowledge and related industrial information, based on the standard
practices of the trade or occupation, to insure adequate knowledge and mastery
of the machines or operations, and orientation of the worker.
3. The program must meet all of the remaining requirements of the State
plan, as attested by a sworn statement from an administrative official of the
school organization, to the'effect th at all conditions set up in the State plan
have been met.
4. Where plant employees, such as foremen, mechanics or skilled workers,
are used as instructors, there must be a definite division of duties between instruc
tion and plant activities, by definite time periods.
5. Persons are to be paid as instructors only in case they are working with a
group of persons who are in a recognized learning status and for whom a regu
larly organized plan of instruction, as defined in paragraph 2 preceding, is given.
6. A full statement of each instructor’s qualifications must be kept on file in
the State office, as evidence th at such teacher meets the requirements of the
State plan.
7. Evidence should be on file in the State office to show th at the work has
been adequately supervised.
The use of Federal funds is not justified —
When the conditions set up in section A, preceding, cannot be met. In addi
tion, Federal funds should not be used in connection with training programs
possessing one or more of the following characteristics.
1. Where the training is for the purpose of the initial breaking in of operatives
in newly located industries, no m atter whether the demand for training the new
workers arises from plant migration or relocations, labor turn-over or replacements.
2. Where training is confined to manipulative operations and processes, with
no provision for teaching the technical knowledge and related industrial informa
tion, based on the standard practices of the trade or occupation, to insure adequate
knowledge and mastery of the machines or operations, and orientation of the
worker.
3. Where training is confined to a single operation, to develop high production
speed, extended over the period of time necessary to bring the operative to full
piece-rate ability.
4. Where plant foremen, mechanics, or skilled workers are paid from public
funds for giving casual instruction on the job incidental to the regular run of
production.
5. Where a disproportionate amount of time is spent on manipulative training,
in comparison with related technical subjects, in a standard production industry,
where it cannot be justified by a check against the actual job requirements of the
industry, any accepted time standards for training for such jobs, or legitimate
training objectives.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
652
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW—MARCH 1936
6. Where the training period is far in excess of that customarily given by the
industry itself for pay-roll jobs, where it cannot be justified by a check against the
actual job requirements of the industry, any accepted time standards for training
for such jobs, or legitimate training objectives.
7. Where the training is extended over long periods of time on regular produc
tion work, without pay or a t reduced pay.
8. Where an investigation of the program itself discloses th at the objectives
and the operation are such as to result in subsidizing industrial production, rather
than in providing training for the workers’ benefit.
9. Where those to receive the training are required to sign an agreement which,
in effect, seeks to enable an employer to evade or violate some State or Federal
law.
Findings of Study
T h e deliberations of the committee which resulted in the endorse
ment of the special standards and safeguards were based upon consid
eration of a report of a field survey of various plant-training programs.
Recognizing the vital importance of safeguarding labor standards in
vocational education programs receiving grants-in-aid from Federal
funds, the Commissioner of Education invited the United States
Department of Labor in the spring of 1935 to join with the Office of
Education in studying training programs conducted under publicschool auspices which were preparing persons for employment in spe
cific plants and about which complaints had been received. The re
port of the survey was prepared as a guide for administrative officials,
to be utilized by the Commissioner of Education, as a basis for the
development of policies which would afford additional safeguards
indicated by the inquiry to be necessary.
The survey, made in March and April 1935, was prompted by com
plaints in regard to labor standards of plant-training programs con
ducted under public-school auspices and partly reimbursed, or apply
ing for reimbursement, from Federal funds. Thirteen such programs,
as to which specific complaints had been made, were studied. These
programs, seven in progress at the time the survey was made and six
which had been completed before the time of the study, were located
in four States as follows: Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and
Virginia.
In the course of the study, State and local public-school officials,
trade teachers, plant managers, N. R. A. compliance officers, managers
of reemployment offices, representatives of the cotton-garment code
authority, and representatives of organized labor were interviewed.
The difficulties found to prevail in some of the places, at the time the
survey was made and as reported to the investigators were summarized
in the report as follows:
1.
The information secured in this survey indicates that the cotton-garment,
rayon, and silk industries are migrating. Cotton-garment factories are moving
into Mississippi, the least industrialized of the Southern States.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE
653
2. Agencies stimulating migration are: Chambers of commerce—to improve
business and relieve unemployment; power companies—to secure clients for sale
of power; industrial agents of railroads—to secure transportation orders; and
owners of unoccupied factory buildings—to secure return on investment.
3. Industries are seeking new locations because of labor difficulties, disadvan
tages of prison operation since passage of Cooper-Hawes bill, expansion of program
of production, and desire for abundant supply of cheap labor.
4. Inducements offered by communities are: Tax exemption for 5 years,
factory buildings secured by gifts, city bonds, and city funds, contribution toward
pay roll for limited period of adjustment, and abundant supply of workers with
high-school education trained in skills and process required for employment in
industry, at little or no instructional expense to manufacturers.
5. Workers were trained for the new industries in programs conducted under
public supervision and control. Application for reimbursement from the State
and Federal funds had been made for the 7 plant-training programs in operation
at the time of the survey; State and Federal funds had been used to reimburse 5 of
the 6 programs completed prior to the survey. The program which was not reim
bursed was organized with the advice of State and local public-school officials.
6. Practices in 12 plant-training programs reimbursed or applying for reimburse
ment.
In production under N. R. A. codes:
Workers in 3 of the 10 programs, in operation during the N. R. A., were
trained on production without pay or less than code wages from 6 to
12 weeks, then transferred to pay rolls at learners’ wages.
In 3 of the 10 programs in progress during the N. R. A. goods produced
without payment of code wages were sold on the open market. In
another 3 of the 10 programs in progress during the N. R. A. it was re
ported that goods had been or were expected to be exported to foreign
markets with the claim th at this removed them from the regular
channels of trade.
In instruction:
Instruction in 10 programs consisted of the repetitious performance of
a single operation for the purpose of securing speed in production.
In five places persons employed as instructors served as foremen on
production, as mechanics, and as operatives.
Quarters in which to train workers for particular plants were rented
through the public school in nine instances, and supplied by the firms
in three cases.
Four plants for which training was given advanced materials on which
workers were trained, with the expectation of being repaid when the
product was sold, and the schools were responsible for marketing the
mass product of the training programs.
The lack of comprehension of the differences between vocational educa
tion and speeding up of production resulted in programs which disre
garded the development of workers.
In view of the findings of the survey the Office of Education took
steps to see that the local programs which were found not to be in
conformity with Federal and State policies were modified to meet
accepted and approved standards for vocational schools, or that the
States concerned gave assurance that Federal funds would not be
used in reimbursement for the work.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
654
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
The report was limited to conditions in places which were selected
on the basis of complaints received and not as being representative
of trade preparatory programs in general, hence the findings should
not be construed as reflecting upon the general character of such
programs and the good work which is being done.
An examination of the annual report of the 48 States, Hawaii, and
Puerto Rico, for the year ended June 30, 1935, results in factual
data as follows:
Number of part-time courses conducted in industrial plants (sometimes designated as “plant training”) ________________________
GO
11
Number of States in which classes were conducted______________
Enrollment in these classes___________________________________
5, 071
Total enrollment in all Federally-aided trade and industrial schools
504, 865
and classes, 48 States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico________ ______
Total Federal funds used by the States for part-time trade extension
classes in industrial plants (sometimes designated as “plant
training”) ------------------------------------------------------------------------$65, 000
Total Federal funds expended by the 48 States, Hawaii, and Puerto
Rico for trade and industrial education______________________ $3, 291, 901
A list of States having part-time trade classes, conducted during
the working day, held in industrial plants (sometimes designated as
“plant training”), for which Federal aid was approved during the
fiscal year 1935 is given below:
N u m b e r o f schools
or p ro g ra m s
California____
Connecticut__
Maine_______
Mississippi___
North Carolina
Ohio_________
Pennsylvania. _
Tennessee____
Virginia______
Washington__
West Virginia-.
Total__
E n ro llm e n t
1
1
1
3
1
44
5
3
5
1
1
100
40
42
816
12
2, 064
1, 139
209
546
91
12
66
5, 071
Vocational education programs are organized under public supervi
sion and control, primarily for the benefit of the workers enrolled.
While general safeguards against the misuse of Federal funds have
been provided in the Federal act, in the administrative policies of the
Federal Office of Education, in the State plans, and in the adminis
trative policies followed in the States, the specific safeguards endorsed
by the advisory committee were deemed necessary to protect ade
quately the use of Federal funds in this very special type of problem.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MINIMUM WAGE
M inim um -W age Legislation in th e U n ited States, as of
Ja n u a ry 1, 1936
INIMUM-wage laws have been enacted in 16 States. Prior
to 1933 such laws existed in only 9 States.1 During the legis
lative year of 1933, seven States 2 were added to the list which had
previously enacted laws providing for the payment of a minimum
wage to women and minors. While Massachusetts enacted a mini
mum-wage law as early as 1912, enforceable merely by public opinion,
the legislature in 1934 repealed the original act and substituted a
new one based on the so-called standard law. The minimum-wage
law adopted by Illinois in 1933 originally provided for a limited
period of operation, but in 1935 legislation was passed making the
act permanent. North Dakota also acted upon this subject in 1935,
and transferred the duties of enforcement of the State minimumwage law from the workmen’s compensation bureau to the depart
ment of agriculture and labor. All of the minimum-wage laws,
with the exception of the new Massachusetts act, have been pub
lished in full in various publications of the United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics.3
The States of Nebraska, Texas, and Utah early enacted laws on
this subject, but the laws were later repealed.4 In Nebraska the
only appropriation made in connection with the minimum-wage law
was the initial appropriation of $500 which was later placed in the
sinking fund, as no action was taken under the law. After 6 years of
inoperative existence the law was repealed. As the law was never
enforced, its failure and repeal seem to have been the result of lack of
proper administration rather than a failure of the law itself. In
Texas the law passed in 1919 was repealed in 1921, and at the same
time a new bill was passed relating to minimum wages for women
and minors; it was, however, vetoed by the Governor. In 1929 the
1California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington,
and Wisconsin.
2 Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Utah.
3Laws of New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Utah in Monthly Labor Review, June 1933 (pp.
1259-1276); Connecticut and Ohio, Monthly Labor Review, July 1933 (pp. 57-65); Illinois, Monthly Labor
Review, August 1933 (p. 306); California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota,
Washington, and Wisconsin, Bulletin No. 370; and see also Wisconsin, Bulletin No. 403 (p. 52).
‘ Nebraska, ch. 190, Acts of 1919; Texas, ch. 118, Acts of 1921; Utah, ch. 9, Acts of 1929.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
655
656
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW— MARCH 1936
'
Legislature of Utah repealed a law on this subject which had been
enacted in 1913. A second law requiring the payment of a minimum
wage to women and minors was enacted in Utah during 1933, as noted
above.
Court Action on Minimum-Wage Legislation
T he constitutionality of minimum-wage legislation has been at
tacked in several cases before the United States Supreme Court as
well as before State courts. The first case to reach the United States
Supreme Court was that of Stettler v. O’Hara (243 U. S. 629)5 which
arose under the minimum-wage law enacted by the State of Oregon.
The State supreme court found no violation of either the Federal or
the State Constitution in the enactment and enforcement of the
minimum-wage law. In declaring the law valid the Oregon court
quoted from a report of the commission on minimum-wage boards,
appointed by the Massachusetts Legislature to investigate conditions,
as follows:
Women in general are working because of dire necessity and in most cases the
combined income of the family is not more than adequate to meet the family’s
cost of living. In these cases it is not optional with the women to decline lowpaid employment. Every dollar added to the family income is needed to lighten
the burden which the rest are carrying * * *. Wherever the wages of such
a woman are less than the cost of living and the reasonable provision for main
taining the worker in health, the industry employing her is in receipt of the
working energy of a human being a t less than its cost, and to that extent is
parasitic. The balance must be made up in some way. It is generally paid by
the industry employing the father. It is sometimes paid in part by future
inefficiency of the worker herself, and by her children, and perhaps in part ulti
mately by charity and the State * * *. If an industry is permanently
dependent for its existence on underpaid labor, its value to the Commonwealth is
questionable.
The court also said that “every argument put forward to sustain
the maximum-hours law, or upon which it was established, applies
equally in favor of the constitutionality of the minimum-wage law
as also within the police power of the State and as a regulation tending
to guard the public morals and the public health * * *.”
This decision was appealed to the United States Supreme Court
and in 1917 that Court affirmed the decision, the Court being equally
divided, four justices in favor of the constitutionality, four justices
against, and one taking no part in the decision.
In 1923 the United States Supreme Court had occasion to render
an opinion on the minimum-wage law adopted by Congress for the
District of Columbia.6 The law was declared unconstitutional on
the ground that it denied the freedom of contract and resulted in
deprivation of property without due process of law. This was a
8
For State decision see 69 Oreg. 519; 70 Oreg. 261.
v. C h ild ren ’s H o s p ita l, 261 U. S. 525.
6 A d k in s
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MINIMUM WAGE
657
5-3 decision rendered over the vigorous protest of Mr. Chief Justice
Taft, and was rather surprising when viewed in the light of prior
decisions of the same Court. In earlier cases the Supreme Court had
declared valid, without finding any violation of the “freedom of con
tract” or “due process,” such “public health and welfare” laws as
those limiting the hours of labor for women and minors. In one of
the cases Mr. Justice Brewer had said: “The fact that both parties
are of full age and competent to contract does not necessarily de
prive the State of the power to interfere where the parties do not
stand upon an equality or where the public health demands that one
party to the contract shall be protected against himself.” (Holden v.
Hardy, 169 U. S. 366.) In the case of Muller v. Oregon, 208 U. S.
412, the Court said in regard to legislation enacted for the protection
of women that such legislation was justified not only for the protec
tion of the woman’s own health but also for the well-being of the race.
Upon the authority of Adkins v. Children's Hospital, supra, a deci
sion was rendered in 1925 declaring the Arizona law void {Murphy v.
Sardell, 269 U. S. 530); and in 1927 the Arkansas law was also declared
unconstitutional (Donham v. West-Nelson Mfg. Co., 273 U. S. 657).
Several State supreme courts, following the decision of the United
States Supreme Court, thereupon declared the State minimum-wage
laws unconstitutional. The Kansas law was voided in the decision
of the State court in the case of Topeka Laundry Co. v. Court oj Indus
trial Relations (119 Kans. 13); the Puerto Rican law was declared
unconstitutional by the Puerto Rican Supreme Court in the case of
People v. Successors of Laurnaga & Co. (32 P. R. Rep. 766). The
Minnesota law has been declared constitutional in several decisions
by the State supreme court;7however, the latest case, that of Steven
son v. St. Clair (161 Minn. 444), took into consideration the decision
of the United States Supreme Court in the Adkins case but held that
it did not affect the minimum-wage law as applied to minors, and
therefore that phase of the law is still in force and effect.
The supreme courts of other States, on the other hand, have found
the minimum-wage laws to be constitutional and a valid exercise of
the police power. The North Dakota law was upheld in Northwestern
T. E. Co. v. Workmen’s Compensation Bureau (47 N. D. 397); the
Washington minimum-wage law was declared constitutional in several
decisions of the State supreme court.8
It is interesting to note at this time that cases are now pending in
the Ohio and New York 9 courts which may determine the validity of
the standard minimum-wage laws now in operation in five other States.
7 See W illia m s v. E v a n s , 139 Minn. 32; G. O. M ille r Telegraph Co. v . M in im u m W age C o m m issio n , 145
M inn. 262; S ta te v. A li g n , 150 Minn. 123.
8 See L a r s e n v. R ic e, 100 Wash. 642; S p o k a n e H o tel Co. v. Y o u n g er, 113 Wash. 359; S p a rk s v. M o r itz , 141
Wash. 417.
9 Act has been declared unconstitutional by N ew York Court of Appeals in the case of T ip a ld o v. M o re •
h ead .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
658
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W —
MARCH 1936
The minimum-wage laws of Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio are based upon
the standard minimum-wage bill sponsored by the National Con
sumers’ League. The standard bill does not attempt to regulate
wages generally. Whenever a substantial number of women and
minors in any occupation are receiving less than a subsistence wage
the law provides that an investigation be made to determine whether
the wages are “fairly and reasonably commensurate with the value
of the service or class of service rendered.” An unreasonable wage
is defined as “less than the fair and reasonable value of the services
rendered and less than sufficient to meet the minimum cost of living
necessary for health.”
In the laws, which follow the standard bill, it is evident that an
effort has been made to overcome the objections raised in the Adkins
case. During the depression it has become apparent that unfair
wage standards not only undermine the health and well-being of
the workers but threaten the stability of industry itself. As a pro
tection, therefore, against unfair methods of competition by ruthless
and unscrupulous competitors the States have again turned their
attention towards minimum-wage laws, for now as never before is
realized the close relationship between the payment of a minimum
wage and the economic well-being of the race. The experience of
the past few years should add much force and weight to the reason
ing in the opinion in Stettler v. O’Hara holding that the enactment
of such laws is a valid exercise of the police power and that they
are not only a valid but a necessary means of protecting the public
health, morals, and welfare.
The Utah minimum-wage law is similar to the California law. The
State industrial commission is empowered to ascertain the wages paid,
the hours, and conditions of labor in the various occupations.
Upon investigation, if it is determined that the wages paid “are
inadequate to supply the cost of proper living”, the law provides that
the commission shall call a “wage board” into conference. After a
public hearing, the commission is empowered to fix a minimum wage,
a maximum number of hours, and the standard conditions of labor
“demanded by the health and welfare of the women and minors en
gaged in any occupation.” A mandatory order may be subsequently
issued setting forth the minimum wage and the maximum hours.
Principal Provisions of Laws
T h e principal provisions of the acts are summarized in the follow
ing table. For additional information on this subject, especially
with reference to minimum-wage orders, see United States Women’s
Bureau Bulletin No. 137: Summary of State Hour Laws for Women
and Minimum-Wage Rates.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Principal Provisions of Minimum-Wage Laws in Effect in 1935
State
Citation
Calif........
D eering’s
Gen.
Laws
1931; act
3613.
Comp.
Laws
19 21;
secs.
426 24283.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Exceptions
Occupations or
industries
covered
Body empow
ered to admin
ister law
M ethod of select
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered by
this body
W o m e n ; Women physically O c c u p a tio n s ,
trades, and in
defective by age
m in o rs
d u s tr ie s in
or otherwise may
(females
which women
be granted special
under 21,
license,renewable
and
minors
m a le s
every 6 months.
are employed.
under
Apprentices: Spe
18).
cial wages set by
commission dur
ing specified peri
od of apprentice
ship.
Industrial wel
fare commis
sion of 5 mem
bers (1 a wom
an) appoint
ed by gover
nor for 4 years.
At discretion of
commission.
I n v e s tig a tio n
conducted by
examining pa
pers, books, w it
nesses, and by
holding public
hearings.
Women physically Any occupation
(construed to
defective or crip
include “any
pled by age or
and e v er y
otherwise or less
e ffic ie n t th a n
vocation,
trade, pursuit,
those of ordinary
and in d u s
ability m ay be
try”).
granted special li
cen se , s ta tin g
wage; number so
licensed must not
exceed one-tenth
of total employed
in establishments.
Industrial com
mission of 3
members (not
more than 1
each r e p r e
senting
em
ployees and
e m p loyers)',
appointed by
govern or,
with consent
of senate, for 6
years.
At discretion of
commission or
at request of not
less than 25 per
sons engaged in
the occupation.
Investigation con
ducted by ex
amining books,
papers, and w it
nesses, and by
holding public
hearings.
W om en;
m in o rs
(e ith e r
sex u n
der 18
years of
age).
Method of arriving at
wage awards
Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award
Commissioner convenes Refusal to com
ply with law
wage board composed
a misdemean
of representatives of
e m p lo y e r s and e m
or. Employee
may recover
ployees in trade in
question, with mem
b ack w ages
ber of commission as
and costs.
chairman; after inves
tigation the board re
ports to commission'the
minimum wage it deems
necessary. After public
hearing commissioner
fixes minimum wage for
the trade.
Commission may itself ........ do.................
investigate and set m ini
mum wage for an occu
pation, or it may estab
lish wage board com
posed of member of
commission and not
more than 3 represent
atives each of employers
concerned, of female
employees, and of pub
lic. Representatives of
employers and the em
ployees to be elected by
their respective groups:
at least 1 member of
every group to be a
woman.
Wage board
investigates and reports
to commission a mini
mum wage which com
mission may accept or
reject.
Principles by
which amount
of award is
determined
Amount must
be adequate
to supply nec
essary cost of
proper l i v
ing, and to
maintain
h e a l t h and
w e lfa r e of
workers.
Wage must be
adequate to
s u p p l y nessary cost of
living and to
maintain
h ea lth , and
must be suf
ficient living
w a g e s fo r
women and
minors of ordi
nary ability.
MINIMUM WAGE
Colo.
Classes
covered
O
Cn
CO
P r in c ip a l P r o v i s i o n s o f M in im u m - W a g e L a w s in E f f e c t in 1 9 3 5 — C o n t in u e d
State
Citation
Classes
covered
W om en;
m in ors
(e ith er
sex, un
der 21
years of
age).
111_______
W o m en ;
m in ors
(females
under
18,males
under
21 years
of age).
A c ts of
1933, p.
597 (as
amended 1935,
p. 840).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Body empow
ered to admin
ister law
Women or minors
(including learn
ers or appren
tices) with earn
ing capacity im
paired by age,
physical or men
tal deficiency, or
injury, may ob
tain special li
cense authorizing
wage lower than
established mini
mum for fixed pe
riod.
Any sweatshop
o c c u p a t io n
(defined as in
dustry, trade,
business, or
o c c u p a t io n
paying unfair
and oppres
s iv e w ages,
but not in
c lu d in g d o
mestic service
in employer’s
home or labor
on farm).
C om m issioner
of labor and
d ir e c to r of
A ny industry,
trade, or busi
ness, branch
t h e r e o f, or
class of work
th e r e in , in
which women
or minors are
gainfully em
ployed (notinc lu d in g do
mestic service
in employer’s
home or labor
on farm).
Department of
labor, having
director and
assistant di
r ec to r a p
p o in te d b y
governor with
a d v ic e and
c o n s e n t of
senate.
minimum
wage division
which may be
set up in de
partm ent of
labor.
Method of select
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered
by this body
At discretion of
commissioner or
director, or at
request of 50 or
more residents
of State.
At discretion of
department or
at request of 50
or more resi
dents of any
county.
o
Method of arriving at
wage awards
Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award
Commissioner, after con Noncomplianee
ferring with director, ap
with manda
points wage board com
to r y order
posed of not more than 3
m ak es em
representatives each of
ployer liable
employers and of em
to fine or im
ployees concerned (to be
prisonment or
selected as far as practi
b o th . E ach
cable from nominations
week, in any
by respective groups),
day of which
and of public. After
an employee is
studying evidence and
paid less than
information in commis
rate set by
s io n e r ’s p o sse ssio n ,
order, consti
board must, within fiO
tutes separate
days of its organization,
offense as to
submitreport, including
each employee
recommended minimum
so paid. Em
fair-wage standards for
p loyee m ay
women and minors in
recover back
occupation. The com
w ages and
missioner may accept
costs.
or reject this report.
Director appoints wage V io la t i o n of
board composed of not
m a n d a to r y
more than 2 representa
order deemed
tives each of employers
misdemeanor
and of employees in the
and punished
occupation (to be select
by fine or im
ed as far as practicable
p r is o n m e n t
from nominations sub
or both. Each
mitted by respective
week, in any
groups), and of 1 disin
day of which
terested person repre
order is not
senting public.
The
complied with,
board investigates wage
c o n s titu te s
standards of women or
separate of
minors in specified occu
fense as to
pation, and recommends
each employee
minimum wage which
concerned.
may be accepted or re
jected.
Principles by
which amount
of award is
determined
Wage must be
sufficient to
m e e t m in i
mum cost of
living necessaryforhealth.
Wage must be
fa ir ly c o m
m e n su r a te
with value of
service ren
d e r e d , and
sufficient to
m e e t m in i
mum cost of
living necessaryforhealth.
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Conn____ C um u lat i v e
Supp.
(1 9 3 1,
1933) to
Gen.
S t a t .,
1930, ch.
131a.
Exceptions
Occupations or
industries
covered
05
05
A c ts of
1934, ch.
308 (as
am end
ed 1935,
ch. 267).
W o m en ;
minors,
(e ith e r
sex un
der 21
years).
Women or minors,
(including learn
ers or appren
tices) with earn
ing capacity im
paired by age,
physical or men
tal deficiency or
injury, may be
granted special
license authoriz
ing wage lower
than established
m in im u m for
fixed period.
Any occupation Commissioner,
d e p artm en t
(defined as in
dustry, trade
ment of labor
or business, or
and in d u s branch there
tries, or any of
of, or class of
his authorized
work therein,
r ep re sen ta
in which wom
tiv e s .
en or minors
are gainfully
employed, but
not including
domestic serv
ice in employ
er’s home or
labor on farm).
M in n ..
Gen.Stats.
1923, sec.
4210-4232.
W om en;
m inor s
(females
under 18
years
of a g e ,
m a le s
under 21
years of
age).
Women physically
defective may ob
tain license fixing
wage lower than
established mini
mum. Licensees
not to exceed onetenth of number
employed in es
tablishment.
Any occupation
(defined as any
business, in
dustry, trade,
or branch of
a trade).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
At discretion of
commissioner on
petition of 50 or
more residents
of the Common
wealth.
Industrial com At discretion of
mission of 3
commission or
members, ap
at request of 100
p o in te d b y
persons engaged
in the occupa
governor with
tion. Investiga
ad viceand con
tion conducted
sent of senate,
by examining
for 6 years.
papers, books,
witnesses, and
by holding pub
lic hearings.
The commission (associ
ate commissioners of the
department of labor
and industries) appoints
wage board, composed
of not more than 3 repre
sentatives each of em
ployers and employees
in the occupation (to be
selected so far as prac
ticable from nomina
tions by
respective
groups) and of public.
Board investigates and
recommends minimum
wage which commission
may accept or reject.
Commission may itself in
vestigate and determine
a minimum wage for oc
cupation in question, or
it may establish advis
ory board composed of
not less than 3 or more
than 10 representatives
each of employers and of
of employees in occupa
tion and 1 or more repre
sentatives of public (but
no more representatives
of public than in either
one of the other groups).
A t least Va of board
m u st
be
women
and public group must
contain at least 1 woman.
After examination of
books and witnesses
board recommends min
imum wage, which com
mission may accept or
reject.
P a y m e n t of
w a g e s le s s
than those set
by mandatory
order punish
ed by fine or
imprisonment
or both. Each
week in any
day of which
any order is
not complied
with consti
tutes a sepa
r a t e o ffe n s e
as to each em
ployee so paid.
Befusal to com
ply with law
a misdemean
or. Employee
may recover
back
wages
and costs.
Wages m ust be
fa ir ly and
r e a s o n a b ly
com m e n s u rate w ith val
ue of the serv
ice or class of
s e r v ic e ren
dered.
Amount must
be adequate
to supply liv
ing wages for
women
and
minors of or
dinary ability.
MINIMUM WAGE
Mass.
Ci
Ci
Principal Provisions of Minimum-Wage Laws in Effect in 1935—Continued
Method of select
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered
by this body
Body empow
ered to admin
ister law
Women or minors
(including learners or appren
tices) with earn
ing capacity im
paired by age,
physical or men
tal deficiency, or
injury, may be
granted special
license authoriz
ing wage lower
than established
m in im u m for
fixed period.
Any occupation
(defined as industry, trade,
or business, or
branch there
of, but not in
clu d in g d o
mestic service
in employer’s
home or labor
on farm).
Labor commiss io n e r , a p
p o in te d b y
g overn or
with a d v ic e
and c o n s e n t
of council, for
3 years.
At discretion of
commissioner or
on petition of 50
or more resi
dents of State.
I n v e stig a
tion conducted
by examination
of w itn e s se s ,
books, records,
and other rel
evant evidence.
A c t s of ____do____ ........ do______ _____
1933, ch.
152.
A ny occupation
(defined as in
dustry, trade,
or business, or
branch there
of, but not in
c lu d in g do
mestic service
in employer’s
home, labor
on farm, or
em p loym en t
in a hotel).
Commissioner of
labor, w ith di
rector of mini
mum wage div is io n and
such deputy
directors as
commissioner
deems advis
able.
At discretion of ____do___________ ____ . . .
commissioner or
on petition of 50
or more residents
of State.
Citation
Classes
covered
Exceptions
N . H .......
A c ts oi
1933, ch.
87.
W om en;
m in o rs
(e ith e r
sex, un
der 21
years of
age).
N . J.........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ethod of arriving at
wage awards
Commissioner appoints
wage board composed of
not more than 3 repre
sentatives each of em
ployers and employees
in the occupation (to
be selected as far as prac
ticable from nomina
tio n s b y resp ective
groups) and of public.
Board investigates and
recommends minimum
wage which commis
sioner may accept or
reject.
Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award
Principles by
which amount
of award is
determined
Non compliance
with mandato r y order
m ak es em
ployer liable
to fine or im
p r iso n m e n t
or both. Each
week, in any
day of which
an employee
is paid less
than rate set
by order, con
stitutes sepa
rate offense as
to each em
ployee so paid.
E m p lo y e e
may recover
w a g es and
costs.
P a y m e n t of
wages less than
those set by
mandatory or
der deemed a
misdemeanor
and punished
by fine or im
prisonment or
both.
Each
week, in any
day of which
an order is not
complied with,
constitutes a
sep arate of
fe n se as to
each employee
so paid.
Wage must be
fairly and reasonably com
m e n su r a te
with value of
service or class
of service ren
dered.
Do.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW—MARCH 1936
Occupations or
industries
covered
State
05
Women;
Supp.(193135) to
Cahill’s
Consol.
L., 1930,
c h . 32,
art. 19.
N . Dak_.
Supp.(1913- W o m e n ;
m in o rs
25) to
(e ith e r
C om p.
sex, un
der 18
years of
age).
396b 1396bl6(as
am end
ed 1935,
ch. 162).
m in o rs
(e ith er
sex, un
der 21
years of
age).
Laws
19 13,
secs.
Ohio.
A cts of
1933, p.
502.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W o m en ;
m in o rs
(e ith e r
sex un
der 21
years of
age).
Women or minors Any occupation Commissioner of
labor, with di
(defined as in
(including learners
rector of mini
dustry, trade,
or apprentices)
mum wage dior business, or
with earning ca
v is io n an d
branch thereof,
pacity impaired
or class of work
such deputy
by age, physical
directors as
t h e r e i n , in
or mental deficommissioner
which women
cency, or injury,
deems advis
or minors are
may be granted
able.
gainfully em
special license au
ployed, but
thorizing wage
not including
lower than estab
domestic serv
lished minimum
ice in employ
for fixed period.
er’s home or
labor on farm).
At discretion of
commissioner or
on petition of 50
or more resi
dents of State.
Commissioner appoints
wage board composed of
not more than 3 repre
sentatives each of em
ployers and of employees
in the occupation (to be
selected as far as prac
ticable from nominations
by respective groups)
and of public. Board
investigates and recom
mends minimum wage
w hich commissioner
may accept or reject.
Any occupation
(defined as
business, in
dustry, trade,
or b r a n c h
thereof, but
not including
agricultural or
domestic serv
ice).
C om m issioner
of agriculture
and labor.
At discretion oi
commissioner.
Investigation con
ducted by ex
amining papers,
books, and w it
nesses, and by
holding public
hearings.
Women or minors Any occupation
(defined as in
(including learn
dustry, trade,
ers or apprentices)
or business, or
with earning ca
branch there
pacity impaired
of, or class of
by age, physical
work therein,
or mental defi
in which wom
ciency, or injury,
en
or minors
may be granted
are gainfully
special license au
employed,
but
thorizing wage
not including
lower than estab
domestic
serv
lished minimum
ice in em
for fixed period.
ployer’s home
or labor on
farm).
Director of in
dustrial rela
tions, w ith
superintenddent of minim u m -w a g e
division and
such assistant
superintend
ents as may
be necessary.
At discretion of
commissioner or
on petition of 50
or more resi
dents of State.
Commissioner organizes
conference composed of
not more than 3 repre
sentatives each of em
ployers and of employees
in the occupation in
question and of public,
and 1 or more commis
sioners. Conference in
vestigates and recom
mends minimum wage,
which bureau may ac
cept or reject.
Commissioner appoints
wage board composed
of not more than 3 repre
sentatives each of em
ployers and of employees
in the occupation (to be
selected as far as practi
cable from nominations
by respective groups)
and of public. Board
investigates and recom
mends minimum wage,
which c o m m is s io n e r
may accept or reject.
Females physically
defective by age
or otherwise (or
apprentices or
learners in occu
pation usually re
quiring such)
may be granted
special license au
thorizing wage
lower than estab
lished minimum.
P a y m e n t of Wage must be
fairly and rea
wages less than
sonably com
those set by
m e n su r a te
mandatory or
with value of
der deemed a
misdemeanor
service or class
and punished
of service ren
by fine or im
dered.
prisonment or
b o th . E ach
week in any
day of which
an order is not
complied with
constitutes a
separate
of
fense as to
each employee
so paid.
Refusal to com Wage must be
adequate to
ply w ith order
supply neces
of c o m m is
sary cost of
sioner is un
liv in g and
lawful, punish
m a in ta in
able fcy fine
woman work
or imprison
ers in health.
ment or both.
R e a s o n a b le
Employee
wages for mi
may recover
nor workers.
back wages
and costs.
P a y m e n t of Wage must be
fairly and rea
w a g e s le ss
sonably com
than those set
m e n su r a te
by mandatory
with value of
order deemed
s e r v ic e
or
a m is d e
class of service
meanor and
rendered.
punished by
fine or impris
o n m e n t or
b o th . E a ch
w e e k in any
day of which
order is not
c o m p lie d
w i t h consti
tutes a sepa
rate offense as
to each em
ployee so paid. '
MINIMUM WAGE
N . Y.
Oi
Oi
GO
P r in c ip a l P r o v i s i o n s o f M i n im u m - W a g e L a w s in E f f e c t in 1 9 3 5 — C o n t in u e d
State
Citation
Classes
covered
Code, 1930 W o m e n ;
secs. 49mino r s
301 to 49(ei t h e r
324 (as asex un
mended
d e r 18
1931, ch.
years of
394;1933
age).
(2 d spec.
s e s s .),
ch. 8 8 ).
S. D a k ...
Comp. Women
Laws and girls
over 14
19 2 9
secs. years of
10022Aage.
10022E.
( a s amended
1 9 3 1,
ch. 173).
Utah.
A cts of
1933, ch.
38.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Women;
m in o rs
(eith er
sex un
der 21
years of
age, but
commis
sion not
Body empow
ered to admin
ister law
Women physically
defective or crip
pled by age or
otherw ise m ay
obtain l ic e n s e
fixing wage lower
than established
minimum.
A ny occupation
(d e fin e d as
any and every
vocation, pur
s u it, trad e,
and industry).
S ta te welfare
commission of
3 members ap
pointed
by
governor for 4
years.
Women mentally
or physically de
ficient or d i s
abled may obtain
permit authoriz
ing wage lower
than established
minimum. Ap
prentices: Indus
trial commission
er must be noti
fied of each ap
prentice and give
permission
for
his employment.
Women physically
defective by age
or otherwise may
be granted spe
cial license. Li
cense must be re
newed every 6
m o n th s .
Ap
prentices: Spe-
A n y fa c to r y ,
workshop,me
c h a n ic a l or
mercantile es
tab lish m ent,
laundry, ho
tel, r e s t a u
rant, or pack
ing house.
Industrial com
missioner ap
p o in te d b y
governor for 2
years.
O c c u p a tio n s ,
trades, and ind u s t r ie s in
which women
a n d m in o rs
are employed.
Industrial com
mission of 3
members, ap
poin ted by
governor for 4
years.
Method of select
ing occupation
or industry to
be
considered
by this body
Method of arriving at
wage awards
Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award
Principles by
which amount
of award is
determined
At discretion of
commission.
I n v e s tig a tio n
condu cted by
examining pa
pers, books, and
w itn esses, and
by holding pub
lic hearings.
Commission organizes con Refusal to com Wage m ust be
ference composed of not
ply with law a
adequate to
more than 3 representa
misdemeanor
supply neces
tives each of employers
and pu nish
sary cost of
and of employees in the
able by fine or
living and to
occupation and of pub
imprisonment
maintain
lic, and 1 or more com
or both. Em
health.
missioners. Conference
ployee may re
investigates and recom
cover b a c k
mends minimum wage,
w ages and
which commission may
costs.
may accept or reject.
M inimum wage fixed by -----do................. . Wage must be
law.
amount which
equals a liv
ing wage.
At discretion of
c o m m is s io n .
I n v e s tig a tio n
conducted by
exam ining pa
pers, books, w it
nesses, and by
holding public
hearings.
Commission calls wage
board composed of equal
number of representa
tives of employers and
employees in trade in
question, with a repre
sentative of commission
as chairman. Board in
vestigates and reports to
Paym ent of less
th a n fix e d
minimum
wage or refusal
to
c o m p ly
w ith provi
sions of law a
misdemeanor.
Employee
Wage must be
a d e q u a te to
su p p ly
to
women a n d
m in o r s t h e
cost of proper
living, and to
m aintain the
h ealth and
LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Oreg.
Occupations or
industries
covered
Exceptions
05
05
author
ized to
fix minimum
w ages
and
maxi
mum
hours
for
males
cial wages set by
commission dur
ing specified pe
riod of appren
ticeship.
commission, which fixes
minimum wage after
public hearing.
m ay recover
back w ages
and costs.
welfare of such
workers.
Commission organizes con
ference com posed of
equal number of repre
sentatives of employers
and employees in occu
pation in question and 1
or more representatives
of public (but no more
representatives of public
than in either one of the
other groups), and a
member of commission.
Conference recommends
minimum wage, which
commission may accept
or reject.
P a y m e n t of
w a g e s le s s
than standard
minimum or
refusal to com
ply with law a
misdemeanor.
Em ployee
m ay recover
back wages
and costs.
A m oun t m u st
be a reason
able wage, not
detrimental to
h e a lth and
m orals and
sufficient for
decent main
te n a n c e of
women.
between
18 and
21) .
W a sh .» ..
R e m in g -
t on’s
Rev.
S ta ts.
19 3 1 ,
76 237641.
Women physically
defective or crip
pled by age or
otherwise (or ap
prentices in occu
pation usually re
requiring such)
may secure li
cense authorizing
wage lower than
legal minimum.
O c c u p a tio n s ,
trades, and in
dustries.
Industrial wel
fare commit
tee composed
of director of
labor and in
dustries, ap
p oin ted , by
governor with
c o n s e n t of
sen ate and
holding office
at his pleas
ure; su p er
visor of indus
trial insurance
and supervisor
of industrial
relations, ap
p o in ted by
director of la
bor and indus
tries; and su
pervisor of
women in in
d u str y , a p
pointed
by
supervisor of
industrial re
lations with
a p p ro v a l of
director of la
bor and in
dustries.
do.
1 The law of Washington was declared unconstitutional, as far as adult women are concerned, in the superior court of the State on N ov. 9,, 1934.
C o.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MINIMUM WAGE
secs.
W om en;
m in o rs
( e ith e r
sex un
d e r 18
years of
age).
(P a r is h v. W e s t C oast H o te l
CT>
Ci
Ü4
o>
CT>
Principal Provisions of Minimum-Wage Laws in Effect in 1935—Continued
C
State
Wis.
Citation
Classes
covered
Stat., 1931, W o m en ;
minors.
secs.
104.01104.125.
Adult women un
able to earn min
imum may ob
tain license fixing
lower wage. Em
ployer may ob
ta in lic e n se to
pay adult fe
males wage lower
than established
rate, if he estab
lishes satisfactor
ily that he is un
able to pay such
w age. M inors
unable to earn “a
living wage” may
obtain license fix
ing lower wage
com m ensura te
with their ability.
Occupations or
industries
covered
Body empow
ered to admin
ister law
Every person in
receipt of, or
e n title d to,
any com pen
sation for la
bor performed
for any em
ployer.
Industrial com
mission whose
members are
appointed by
g o v e r n o r,
w ith a d v ic e
and consent of
senate, for 6
years.
At discretion of
commission or
on verified com
plaint filed by
any person.
Method of arriving at
wage awards
Commission organizes ad
visory wage board, se
lected to represent fairly
employers, employees,
and p u b lic . L iv in g
wage determined by
commission and advissory board shall be the
legal minimum wage.
Means provided
for securing
enforcement of
award
Principles by
which amount
of award is
determined
P a y m e n t of
wages in vio
lation of any
order of comm i s s i o n
deemed viola
tion of law,
unless it can
be proved that
the order was
unreasonable.
Every day an
order is not
complied with
is a separate
offense.
A m ou n t m u st
be a “living
wage” , i. e.,
sufficient to
maintain em
ployee under
conditions
consistent
w ith his wel
fare. W age
must not be
oppressive
(d efined as
“lower than a
reasonable
and adequate
compensation
for services
rendered”).
-MARCH 1936
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Exceptions
Method of select
ing occupation
or industry to
be considered
by this body
i
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
Labor R esearch In s titu te fo r T o ro n to U nions
BOR is becoming increasingly aware of the value of research and
fact finding. Labor organizations are not only making fuller and
keener use of research data provided by governmental and private
agencies but are to a limited extent creating their own research facili
ties. The American Federation of Labor and a number of the inter
national unions maintain fact-finding machinery. The United Hatters
are reported to have inaugurated a research department recently.
These agencies undertake economic research along any lines that the
organizations they serve may require. A research body specializing
in industrial law and labor legislation is the latest development in the
field. This is sponsored by the Toronto Trades and Labor Council,
the first central labor union to undertake organized research work.
The plan as announced by the Toronto Trades and Labor Council is
outlined in the December 1935 issue of the Journal of Electrical
Workers and Operators, official organ of the International Brother
hood of Electrical Workers.
The Labor Research Institute was established with the cooperation
of members of the faculty in law of the University of Toronto, who,
with the assistance of practicing lawyers, were found to be willing “to
undertake the work of directing scientific legal industrial research.”
The plan, which has begun to function, is outlined thus by the Toronto
Trades and Labor Council:
(1) A legal research committee will give their service free.
(2) The trade-unions will provide secretarial services and so on and hope to
furnish financial assistance for one or more full-time research workers as the
developments justify themselves to trade-unionists.
(3) The legal research committee will issue 10 monthly bulletins on problems
in industrial and trade-union law. These bulletins will be regular. Additional
copies of the bulletins may be obtained by trade-union members at a nominal cost.
(4) The legal research committee will be prepared to receive and discuss sug
gestions for legal research on any industrial problem sent in to them by locals
affiliated with the institute and if the problem is of wide and general interest to
trade-unions a special bulletin may be issued if necessary.
(5) Affiliated trade-unions will receive from the legal research committee con
fidential information of an objective nature explaining the meaning and impli
cations of any labor legislation which may be introduced.
667
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
668
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
The development of the movement, as its sponsors view it, will pro
vide Canadian trade-unionists with “an opportunity to approach their
problems with knowledge and with scientific research behind them”,
which will enable them “to know the law, to understand their rights
and to work at reform legislation.”
W omen in B ritish T rade^U nions
W
OMAN workers at the end of 1934 constituted 16 percent of
the total membership of British trade-unions, and in the
unions covering certain occupations they outnumber men four to one,
according to an article in the January 1936 issue of Labour Research
(London).1
The following table, reproduced from the article, shows the number
and percent of woman workers who are organized in all industrial
groups for which this information is available. Comparable data are
not computable for all occupations in which women are employed,
because industrial classifications differ from trade-union groupings
and jurisdictions. The figures refer to 1931, the latest year for which
census occupational statistics are available.
N um ber and P ercen t o f W om an T rad e-U n ion ists in G reat B ritain , b y In d u stry
G roups
Woman tradeunionists
Industry group
Number
Textile___________ _________________ 289,351
T eachings . ______________________ 154,423
National and local government_______ 68,138
Tailoring and clothing. ___________
41,909
Boot and shoe________ . . . . _ .
28,296
Commerce and distribution________ _ 49,173
Transport and general labor_________
40,128
Paper, printing, etc_________________
39,109
Pottery, glass, etc___________________
11, 034
Engineering and m etal_____________
5,791
Percent
organized
37
74
}
12
33
17
2
An analysis by occupation of the textile industry, in which, in 1931,
542,000 males and 776,000 females were employed, shows the relative
number of union men and women in certain branches. Women con
stitute 60 percent of the membership of unions in cotton textiles.
One of these unions is the Amalgamated Weavers’ Association, the
membership of which is 83,000 women and 21,000 men. Another
cotton-textile union, the Amalgamated Association of Card, Blowing,
1 Labour Research (organ of Labour Research Department, 60 Doughty St., London, W. 0 . 1 ), January
1936: The Organization of Women.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
669
and Ring Room Operatives, has 36,000 female members and 9,000
male members.
The membership of the National Union of Textile Workers consists
of 19,837 women and 18,683 men. In the jute branch of the industry
9,000 women and 2,216 men are organized and the membership of the
Power Loom Carpet Weavers’ Association includes 2,500 women and
1,500 men.
On the other hand the membership of unions in the man-employing
occupations such as overseer, warp-twister and dresser, and wool
sorter is, of course, preponderantly male.
The extent of organization among women in the textile industry is
not due alone to the fact that they are employed in large numbers, the
article points out. Unionism has been traditionally followed by
woman textile operatives in Great Britain since the early days of
factory production. Organization goes back to the eighteenth
century and in the spinners’ strike of 1818 women drew strike pay on
the same footing as the men. In 1876, women formed nearly half the
membership of the cotton weavers’ unions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T re n d o f S trik es and L ockouts
RELIMINARY information, available at the time this report
went to press, indicated 106 strikes and lockouts beginning in
January 1936 and involving 24,000 workers, as compared with 90
strikes and lockouts beginning in December 1935 and involving
15,000 workers. The January figures show an increase of approxi
mately 18 percent in number of strikes as compared with the previous
month but a decrease of approximately 25 percent as compared with
January 1935.
An analysis of the January strikes and lockouts, based on detailed
and verified information, will appear in the Monthly Labor Review
for May 1936.
P
Strikes and Lockouts, January 1934 to January 1936 1
Workers involved
in strikes and
Number of strikes and lockouts
M onth
1934
January. ______________ _____
February ________________ . . .
March_________________
___
April____ ___ ___________
_ _
M ay_________ _
___________
June_________ ____ __________
J u l y . .. ______________________
August______ ____ _________
September___________________
October___ _ _________ _____
November___________________
December_____________ ______
1935
January ___________________
February........................... ..............
March..............................................
April______ _ _______________
M ay_______ ________________
J u n e............................. ..................
July______________ _____ _____
A u g u s t........................................ .
September_________ _____ ____
October______________________
N ovem ber.__________________
D ecem ber 2_____________ _____
1936
January 2_______ _____________
Beginning—
In prog Ended In efress
feet at
in
In
during
Prior to
end of
month month month month month
34
49
61
73
103
98
94
161
132
143
222
83
82
149
180
218
150
163
188
149
198
129
128
49
61
73
103
99
226
165
151
183
150
187
130
283
329
276
277
297
259
297
229
100
101
201
73
82
114
129
124
117
123
133
123
114
105
140
148
174
173
169
174
172
227
140
172
119
90
213
230
275
287
298
298
289
350
273
295
233
195
131
129
161
158
174
181
166
217
150
181
128
110
114
129
124
117
123
133
123
114
105
85
85
106
191
90
101
111
126
114
109
110
101
210
111
126
114
109
110
99
100
73
82
101
Mandays idle
during
month
Begin
ning in
month
In prog
ress
during
month
81,650
89,562
91, 559
185,282
145,830
56, 244
180,268
80,071
423,915
69,441
37,869
25,004
106, 734
160,713
128,886
229,552
234, 364
119,509
250,328
162,980
480,318
104,207
94,494
73, 279
822,400
867,912
1, 237,055
2,333,230
1,956,868
1, 565, 601
2, 221, 663
2,188, 239
4,136,108
909, 459
969, 061
384,353
81,110
62, 363
52,124
67, 584
102 , 210
46,862
67,884
73, 111
452, 712
85,742
34,661
15,000
92,546
94,448
95,617
122,206
150, 587
127,324
137,468
147,025
510,344
135,652
100, 780
60, 000
720,350
826,128
930, 215
1,168,116
1.691,869
1,286, 886
1,253,185
1,194,743
2,991,176
1,760,886
1,120,775
697,000
24,000
50,000
625,000
1 Strikes and lockouts involving fewer than 6 workers or lasting less than 1 day are not included in this
table, nor in the tables in the following article. Notices or “leads” regarding strikes are obtained by the
Bureau from 670 daily papers, labor papers, and trade journals, as well as from all Government labor
boards. Schedules are sent to representatives of all parties in the disputes in order to get detailed
and first-hand information. Since schedules for all strikes during the last 2 months have not yet been
returned, these figures are given as preliminary. Data for previous months are essentially accurate,
although they cannot be considered absolutely final. Occasionally later information is received which
might slightly alter these figures. These corrections w ill be included in subsequent reports.
2 Preliminary figures.
670
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
671
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
A nalysis o f S trik es and L ockouts in N ovem ber 1935
HE number of strikes and lockouts beginning in November 1935
was approximately 30 percent lower than in the previous month
and nearly 10 percent lower than the number beginning in November
1934.
Of the 119 strikes and lockouts beginning in November, more
than half were in three industrial groups. Twenty-six strikes and
lockouts, involving more than 12,000 workers, began during the
month in the textile industries; 25 disputes were in the transportation
industries and 12 in retail and wholesale trade. Approximately
75 percent of the man-days of idleness because of strikes and lockouts
in November were in the textile, mining, and transportation industries.
T
Table 1.—Strikes and Lockouts in November 1935, by Industry
In progress dur
ing November Man-days
idle during N o
vember
N um Workers N um Workers
ber involved
ber involved
Beginning in
November
Industry
A l l i n d u s t r i e s .......... .................................................................. - .....................
233
100,780
1
47
3
397
3,391
2 ,0 0 0
47
1
1
1
100
1
47
250
141
1,250
96
36
60
4,431
4,370
61
1,096
1,080
720
360
55,448
54,600
848
17,169
1,360
39
Ir o n a n d s te e l a n d t h e ir p ro d u c ts , n o t in c lu d in g m a
c h i n e r y ___________________________________________________ ________ ________
C a s t- ir o n
pipe and fittings
Forgings, iron and steel___________________________
Stoves
___________________ ________ ____
M a c h in e r y ,
m e r it
n o t
in c lu d in g
_________________
t r a n s p o r ta tio n
e q u ip -
_____________________________________________
Foundry and machine-shop products______________
Radios and phonographs _______________________________________
1
60
1
3
60
3,851
3,820
31
923
I
13
2
910
1,553
58
481
640
374
9
-
3
Automobiles, bodies, and parts ________________________________
Shipbuilding
_____ _______ ________________________________________
2
1
T r a n s p o r t a t io n
N o n fe rro u s
e q u ip m e n t
m e t a ls
a n d
.
_______________________________
t h e i r p r o d u c t s ____________ _______
Aluminum manufactures
_
___
_____
B r a s s , bronze, and copper products _________ ________________
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and zinc _ _____
stamped and enameled ware
___
L u m b e r an d
a llie d
p r o d u c t s ______________________________ _____
Furniture - __________________________________________________________
7VTill work and planing ______________________________________________
Sawmills and logging camps_____________________
Other— ___ ______________________ ________________________________ _
S to n e , d a y , a n d
Pottery
g la s s p r o d u c t s
_ _______________________
___________________________
_____________________________________________________________
O th e r
Textiles a n d t h e i r p r o d u c t s
___________________________________
Fabrics:
Cotton g o o d s ___________________________________________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles ____ _ ____________________
Silk and rayon goods _________________________________________
Woolen and worsted goods _ _ _ _____________________
Other
__
__
______________ ____________________
Wearing apparel:
Clothing, men’s _
___ _____________
Clothing, women’s __________________________________________
M en’s furnishings
_______________
Shirts and collars.
_ ___________________________________
H osiery __
__________________________ ______________ ___________
Other __________________ _______ - ________ - _______________________
le a th e r a n d
i t s m a n u f a c t u r e s ______ ___________ -- ___________________________________
Boots and s h o e s ____
Other leather goods
Fo o d
an d
k in d r e d
p ro d u c ts
______
_ _________________
_____________________
Baking
_ _______________ _ ___________
Beverages
__________
Canning a n d preserving
_ ______
Flour and grain mills
______
Slaughtering and meat packing___________________
Other.......... Z.................................... - ........................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,120,775
34,661
119
7
2
1
3
1
1
1
26
1
1
7
4
7
2
9
12,244
458
374
9, 322
615
908
450
2
1
1
5
3
2
5
1
1
1
2
19
10
2
4
4
3
3
1
64
8
3
12
5
1
220
1,304
7
2 ,1 0 1
1
2
1
2
2
65
34
18
1,031
1,031
3
4
305
26
9
3
44
235
1
1
1
2
1
8
4
6
5
1
2
1
4, 053
569
9,957
920
11
2
1
68
13
105
910
2,865
454
640
1,140
631
1,288
1,279
9
29,949
69
952
9,567
237
1,809
1,309
500
995
377
300
7
32
44
235
2 ,1 0 0
13,670
35,039
8,414
5,585
13,240
7,800
25,670
25,580
90
370,737
65, 087
7,738
140,479
3,161
2,640
10,223
27,235
948
17,062
91,730
4,434
13,526
8,783
4, 743
13,993
9,035
3,300
84
32
132
1,410
672
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T able 1 .— Strikes and L ock ou ts in N ovem b er 1935, b y In d u stry— C on tin u ed
Beginning in
November
Industry
T obacco m a n u fa c tu r e s ___ ______ _________________
Cigars__________________________________________
Paper a n d p r in tin g ________________________________
Paper and pulp_______________________________
Printing and publishing: Newspapers and periodi
cals___________________________________________
C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u cts__________________HI.
H ill.!
Paint and varnishes________
M iscellaneous m a n u fa c tu r in g _____________________
Broom and brush________________________________
Furriers and fur factories_____ ______________ I
Other______________________________________
E xtraction o f m in er a ls_____________
...111..!"
Coal mining:
Anthracite___ _________________ ________ _____
Bituminous____ ________________________
”
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining________________
T ra n sp o rta tio n a n d c o m m u n ic a tio n ______________
Water transportation____________________________
Motor transportation_________ ____ _____
Trade
Wholesale______________ _____ _______________
Retail________________ ____ ____________ ____ H I ..
D o m estic a n d personal service___________ _______ _
Hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses.............. ......
Personal service, barbers, beauty parlors..... ............ .
Laundries_____ ____ ___________________
Other________________________________ I I I I I I I I I I I !
P rofession al service________________________ 11111111!
Recreation and amusement...................................... . H I
.1
Professional_____________________________
B u ild in g a n d c o n s tr u c tio n __________________ I I
Buildings, exclusive of P. W. A ___________________
A11 other construction (bridges, docks, etc., and
P. W. A. buildings)_________________
A griculture, e tc ____ ___________________
Fishing_____________________________
Other______ _______________________
R elief w ork a n d W. P. A______________ 111.1111111111!
O ther n o n m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u str ies___ ______ II.
In progress dur
ing November Man-days
idle dur
ing N o
N um Workers N um Workers vember
ber involved
ber involved
200
200
1.191
13
13
227
76
151
225
225
3,272
1,332
1,940
679
29
650
1, 723
500
1,200
23
125
15
110
1,342
1,272
70
125
125
6, 759
94
6.254
6.254
22,902
1,173
22, 542
18
360
13
13
1,049
76
653
320
65
65
5,813
836
2,027
2,950
26,926
342,777
86
26,140
700
946
328,460
13,371
9, 078
2.191
127, 726
9, 627
29
829
146
5,088
11,269
858
137,353
5,234
2,699
10,061
125
251
37
500
1,239
923
15
110
1,399
1, 329
70
2,725
2,325
400
9,198
202
1,040
500
2,175
6,346
141
110
5 , 383
4, 403
980
13,025
3,825
9. 200
34,285
1,319
Approximately 45 percent of the 119 strikes and lockouts beginning
in November were in 3 States—23 in California, 17 in New York, and
14 in Pennsylvania.
Of the 100,780 workers involved in the 233 strikes and lockouts
which were in progress during the month, nearly 22,000 were in
Alabama, over 10,000 were in New Jersey, nearly 10,000 were in
New York, and 9,000 were in Pennsylvania.
Four of the disputes in progress during November extended into
two or more States. The largest of these were the strike of long
shoremen at ports on the Gulf of Mexico,1 which began in October
and was still in progress at some ports at the end of November, and
the strike of several thousand workers in hosiery dyeing and finishing
plants in New York, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania, which
began in October and terminated in late November.
1
See M onthly Labor Review, February 1936 (p. 392).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
673
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Table 2 .—Strikes and Lockouts in November 1935, by States
In progress during
November
Beginning in
November
State
Number
All States___________ __________________
Alabama______________________________
Arkansas - _________________
California-_________ __ __________
Connecticut
__
____ _______
District of Columbia_____________ ____
Georgia
___ — ____Illinois
_______________ — ___
Indiana___
______
____ ___ ______
K entucky. _ _
_
_______ ____
___
—
— ____
Louisiana___
Maryland„ _ ____ _ ________
Massachusetts ______ _ __ __________
Michigan _
_____
______Minnesota
— ______ ________ —
M ississippi- _________ - _________ ___
Missouri .
_________
__ _________
N ew Jersey - ____ _________ _________
N ew Y o r k _____________ - _______
Ohio— - ________________ ___________
Oregon _
______
- _____
Pennsylvania_______ - — ____ ____
Rhode Island______ _______
_______
South Carolina .
_______
Tennessee ________ _________ _______
T e x a s ..___________
____________
_____
Vermont
.
Virginia
_______ ___
_____
____ ____
Washington
West Virginia __ ________ _________
W isco n sin ____ ____________ _________
Interstate____- - - - - - — . . . _____ - -.-
Workers
involved
119
34, 661
1
11
Number
233
5
3
1,568
500
182
4
1,533
1
4
684
2
6
200
1 ,2 2 0
5
5
4, 362
894
1
110
3
4
17
255
8,416
7,374
8
1 ,8 6 8
14
2,998
449
2
30
3
3
1
10
2
1
4
5
8
6
8
1
3
15
39
17
34
113
137
2
3
1
1
1
1
688
13, 980
11,896
18, 200
100 , 000
5,095
3,655
7, 834
42, 023
32,162
110
110
255
10, 242
9, 843
4, 228
511
156,365
63,854
57, 708
1,550
72, 322
4, 943
15,175
4, 366
1,045
13, 645
1,445
15, 490
9,152
11,026
177, 460
2
202
33
3
3
4
4
9,312
754
865
268
2
2
837
105
1, 335
557
563
17, 765
120
9
3
1,215
460
13
65
7
1,120,775
249, 882
10 , 000
16, 830
2, 363
100, 780
21, 830
500
2, 272
746
182
699
1,973
910
5,000
684
365
1,448
4,612
2,198
1
23
Man-days
idle during
November
Workers
involved
2
4
The average number of workers involved in the 119 strikes and
lockouts beginning in November was 291 per strike. As indicated in
table 3, more than half of the 119 disputes involved fewer than 100
workers each and only 6 involved 1,000 or more workers each.
Table 3.—-Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in November 1935, Classified by
Number of Workers Involved
Number of strikes and lockouts in which the
number of workers involved was—
T o ta l
6 and
u n d er
20
20 a n d
u n d er
100
100
and
u n d er
500
500
and
un d er
1,000
1,000
and
u n d er
5,000
__________ _____
119
26
41
40
6
5
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d t h e ir p r o d u c ts , n o t in c lu d in g
m a c h in e r y
M a c h in e r y , n o t in c lu d in g t r a n sp o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t.
T r an sport,ati on e q u i p m on t
N o n ferrous m e t a ls an d th e ir p r o d u c ts
L u m b e r an d a llie d p r o d u c ts
S to n e c la y an d gla ss p r o d u c ts
T e x t ile s a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts
_______________
L e a th e r an d its m a n u fa c tu r e s
F o o d and k in d r e d p r o d u c ts
Pa,per a n d p r in tin g
_ _ _____
C h e m ic a ls and allie d p r o d u c ts
M is c e l 1ane,ous m a n u fa c tu r e s
1
1
3
3
7
1
26
2
4
1
1
3
1
2
2
1
I n d u s tr ia l g r o u p
A ll i n d u s t r i e s _____ ____________
5.000
and
un d er
10.000
1
M a n u f a c tu r in g
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
3
6
3
1
13
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
N o n m a n u fa d u r in g
E x tr a c tio n o f m in e r a ls
T r a n s p o r ta tio n and c o m m u n ic a tio n
T rade
_______________
D o m e s tic and p erson al s e rv ic e
P ro fessio n a l s e rv ic e
B u ild in g a n d c o n s tr u c tio n
_ ______________
A g r ic u ltu r e e tc
R e lie f w o r k a n d W . P . A
_
__
_ ____
__
O th e r n o n m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u s t r ie s -- . . _ — -----
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
25
12
3
3
9
1
9
3
8
4
10
5
1
2
1
4
1
1
1
2
1
6
3
1
1
1
2
2
1
4
1
3
674
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Matters pertaining to union organization were the major issues
in 40.3 percent of the strikes and lockouts beginning in November,
while wages and hours were the major issues in only 29.4 percent.
As shown in table 4, the 35 strikes and lockouts over wages and
hours included 62.4 percent of the total number of workers involved,
while the 48 disputes over organization matters included only 23.8
percent of the workers.
The major issues in the strikes and lockouts shown under “Other”
in table 4 involved such matters as objections to working under
particular foremen or managers, delays in payment of wages, objec
tions to working on holidays, increased work load, seniority rights,
equalization of wages, and demands by seamen for a guaranty of
return transportation in case their ship was tied up because of a strike
in other than the home port.
Table 4.—Major Issues Involved in Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in November
1935
Strikes and lockouts
Workers involved
Major issues
Number
Percent of
total
Number
All issues.............................................
119
1 0 0 .0
34, 661
W ages a n d h o u r s ................ ...........
Wage increase........ .................. .
Wage decrease______ ______
Wage increase, hour decrease..
Wage decrease, hour increase..
Hour increase._____ _________
Hour decrease..............................
O rg a n iza tio n ....................................
Recognition..................................
Recognition and w ages.............
Recognition and hours............
Recognition, wages, and hours.
Closed shop............ .....................
Violation of agreement....... .......
Discrimination............................
M iscella n eo u s.................... ..............
Sym pathy.....................................
Jurisdiction............ .....................
Other............................................
35
29.4
21, 605
1
12
1 0 .2
13
10.9
5.0
6
1
2
1
48
13
8
1
.8
1.7
.8
40.3
10.9
6.7
2, 574
2,534
7.5
7.3
10
1
.8
1,646
651
65
779
7
4
25
7.6
5.9
3.4
2 1 .0
1
1 .0
.1
8, 259
.8
30.3
62.4
4.3
41.3
14.6
.1
7.6
5.9
9
1 0 0 .0
1,505
14,269
5,056
374
351
50
9
7
36
Percent of
total
4, 797
933
382
3,482
23.8
(>)
4.7
1.9
.2
2 .2
13.8
2.7
.1
1
1 0 .0
Less than Ho of 1 percent.
The duration of the strikes and lockouts ending in November
is indicated in table 5 for each industrial group. The average
duration of the 128 disputes was slightly more than 10 calendar
days. About 40 percent of them were terminated in less than a week
after they began. Six of the 128 had been in progress for 3 months
or more. The most important of these were the strike of about
300 brewery workers in Cleveland, Ohio, which began in April and
was settled November 15, 1935, and the strike of about 800 workers
in a cotton-goods plant at Huntsville, Ala., which began in June
and was settled November 21, 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
675
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Table 5.—Duration of Strikes and Lockouts Ending in November 1935
Number of strikes and lockouts w ith duration
of—
Industrial group
Total Less
than
1
week
All industries..............................- .................................
128
week Yt and 1 and
3
2 and
and
months
less
less
less
less
or
than 1 than 2 than 3
than Y month months months more
month
1
54
21
1
2
1
14
3
17
19
11
6
5
3
M a n u fa c tu r in g
Iron and steel and their products, not including
_____
_____
machine,ry
Non ferrous metals and their products
Tomber and allied products
Textiles and their products___________________
"Leather and its manufactures. __
___
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufactures
Paper and printing
Chemicals and allied products
Miscellaneous manufactures _ __ _____ _ __
1
3
7
34
3
5
1
1
1
7
1
2
1
1
5
3
4
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
N o n m a n u fa c tu ri ng
Extraction of minerals
Transportation and communication
Trade
_
__ __________________________
"Domestic and personal service
Fuilding and construction
Agriculture, etc
__
____ ____ _________
Pelief work and W. P. A
Other non manu factoring industries
______
3
21
12
5
7
3
12
7
7
3
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
11
1
1
5
1
1
Government conciliators and labor boards assisted in working out
settlements for 46.6 percent of the workers involved in the strikes and
lockouts which ended in November. In practically all of these cases
union representatives negotiated for the workers. Settlements for
34.9 percent of the workers were brought about directly by the em
ployers and union representatives with no assistance from Govern
ment agencies. Six of the 13 strikes in which no labor organizations
were instrumental in effecting settlements were strikes on W. P. A.
projects. The remaining seven were, on the whole, strikes lasting
only a few days and involving relatively few workers.
Eighteen of the 128 strikes and lockouts, as shown in table 6, were
terminated without formal settlements. In these cases the workers
simply returned to work without any settlements, or they lost their
j obs when the employers hired new workers to take their places or discon
tinued operations by going out of business or moving to another locality.
Table 6.—Methods of Negotiating Toward Settlement of Strikes and Lockouts
Ending in November 1935
Strikes and lockouts
Negotiations toward settlements carried on by—
Number
Percent of
total
Workers involved
Number
Percent of
total
Total............................................................................................
128
1 0 0 .0
56, 307
Employers and workers directly____________________
Employers and representatives of organized workers
directly............. ............... - .................. - ...............................
Government conciliators or labor boards..........................
Private conciliators or arbitrators_________________ .
Terminated without formal settlem ent-.......... ...............
13
1 0 .2
8,071
14.3
19,638
26,228
800
1,570
34.9
46. 6
1.4
4964 5 — 36------- 11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
57
38
44.4
29.7
2
1 .6
18
14.1
1 0 0 .0
2 .8
676
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
The results of the 128 strikes and lockouts which ended in Novem
ber are given in tables 7 and 8. Sixty-one of the 128 strikes and
lockouts, involving 39.2 percent of the total number of workers,
resulted in favorable settlements to the workers; 25 disputes involving
51.2 percent of the workers resulted in partial gains or compromises
for the workers; and 36 disputes involving 8.2 percent of the workers
resulted in little or no gains.
The workers secured substantial gains in 43 percent of the wages
and hours disputes and in 60 percent of the disputes over organiza
tion matters, and partial gains or compromises in 23 percent of the
disputes over wages and hours and in 14.5 percent of the disputes
over organization matters. Little or no gains were obtained in 29.5
percent of the wages and hours disputes and in 25.5 percent of the
organization disputes.
T ab le 7 .— R esu lts o f Strikes and L ock ou ts E n d in g in N ovem b er 1935
Strikes and lockouts
Workers involved
Results
Number
Total.................................
Percent of
total
Number
Percent of
total
128
1 0 0 .0
56,307
1 0 0 .0
61
25
36
3
47.7
19.5
28.1
2.3
39.2
51.2
2
1
1 .6
.8
22,064
28,869
4, 597
557
85
135
Substantial gains to workers..
Partial gains or compromises..
Little or no gains to workers. _
Jurisdiction or rival unions
Undetermined____
N ot reported........ .
8 .2
1 .0
.2
.2
T ab le 8 .— R esu lts o f Strikes and L ock ou ts E n d in g in N ovem b er 1935, in R elation
to M ajor Issu es In v o lv e d
N um t er of stri kes and ockouts resultin g in—
Major issues
All issu es... . . .
W ages a n d h o u r s ___
Wage increase_______ _
Wage decrease._____ _
Wage increase, hour decrease
Wages and other causes____
Hour increase___
Hour decrease........ ...........
O r g a n iz a tio n ______
Recognition_______
Recognition and wages___ _
Recognition and hours . . . . .
Recognition, wages and h o u r s ... .
Closed shop_________ .
Discrimination............
M isc e lla n e o u s.........
Sym pathy____ ________
Different unions competing for control .
Jurisdiction________
Other___ ________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Total
Sub
stantia]
gains to
work
ers
Partial
gains or
compro
mises
Juris
Little diction
or no
al or Unde N ot
gains to rival
ter
re
work union mined ported
ers
settle
ments
128
61
25
36
44
19
9
3
19
13
2
2
1
5
i
22
10
8
1
2
1
55
11
8
1
16
8
11
29
4
1
2
22
5
5
1
1
33
9
5
1
11
3
4
9
3
6
3
2
6
2
1
8
2
14
3
1
1
1
7
4
4
6
9
1
7
1
2
9
1
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
677
C onciliation W ork of th e D ep artm en t of Labor in
Ja n u a ry 1936
B y H ugh L. K e r w in , D irector
of
C onciliatio n
URING January 1936 the Secretary of Labor, through the
Conciliation Service, exercised, her good offices in connection
with 83 disputes, which affected a known total of 36,579 employees.
Of these disputes 43 were adjusted, 5 were referred to other agencies,
3 were settled locally or by the parties at interest, 5 could not be
adjusted, and 27 were still pending. The table following shows the
name and location of the establishment or industry in which the
dispute occurred, the nature of the dispute (whether strike or lockout,
or controversy not having reached the strike or lockout stage), the
craft or trade concerned, the cause of the dispute, its present status,
the terms of settlement, the date of beginning and ending, and the
number of workers directly and indirectly involved.
D
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor D isp u te s H an d led b y C on ciliation Service D u ring the M on th o f January 1936
■<1
00
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Colver Store Co., Colver, P a .
Strike.
Ashley Dress Co., Ashley, P a.
.do.
Store clerks
Present status and terms of
settlement
Commis
sioner
assigned
1935
Work ers invoi ved
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
1936
Discharges for union affiliation__
Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement- Dec. 17
Jan. 18
Collective bargaining_____ _____
Unclassified. Referred to National
Labor Relations Board.
Adjusted. Dealers agreed to abide
by existing agreement.
Unable to adjust. Conferences refused.
Adjusted. Increase of $2 per week,
seniority rights, and recognition.
Adjusted. Overtime eliminated,
machine work readjusted, and
wages to be fixed in conference.
Pending. ________ ____________
Dec. 27
Jan. 10
79
Dec. 19
Jan. 13
60
Owners refused to pay agreed
wage scale.
Alleged violation of agreement__
Dec. 31
Jan.
Dec. 30
Jan. 18
5
Dec. 17
Jan.
48
2
100
Dress workers.
Asked increase of 15 percent and
union agreement.
Wages and protest—overtime
work and general conditions.
Vehicle-body plants, N ew ........ do.
York and New Jersey.
Lester & Toner, Greenpoint, Threatened
Long Island, N . Y .
strike.
Body makers.
Union agreement refused_______
Oyster openers
Interpretation of contract
Adjusted. Agreed on arbitration
of points in dispute.
T. W. D . Transportation Co.,
Inc., Buffalo, N . Y.
64 steam schooners, Pacific
coast.
___ do_____
Truck drivers..
Discharge of drivers_____
Strike.
Sailors, firemen, oilers,
cooks, and stewards.
Asked 6 -hour day, overtime pay,
and new agreement.
Elgin Watch Co. and Elgin
Manufacturing Co., Elgin,
Controversy. Watch makers
Discharge of worker.
A djusted. Reinstated driver with Dec. 23 Jan. 18
full pav.
Adjusted. Accepted terms of exist- Dec. 13 Jan. 6
ing agreement and returned to
work.
Adjusted. Agreed to reinstate — do____ ___do----worker.
M ott Haven Finished Laun
dry, Inc., Bronx, N . Y .
Majestic Flour Mill, Aurora,
Mo.
Orleans Stores, Chicago, 111—
Threatened
strike.
Strike...........
Wages, hours, and union recog
nition.
Wages.................................................
Pending______________________
N ov. 28
Unable to adjust................................
Dec.
Jan. 28
Dispute relative to overtime work
3
Asked new agreement providing
union recognition.
----- do..................................................
Adjusted. Agreed to abide by Dec. 15 Jan. 17
existing agreement.
Adjusted. Signed agreement, giv- Oct. 1 Jan. 21
ing union recognition.
Pending___________ ____ _______ __do____
265
511
350
3,000
Wages and working conditions..
Adjusted.
180
m.
Laundry workers.
M ill workers____
Controversy. Bushelmen
Longshoremen, G u l f p o r t , Strike.
Longshoremen.
Miss.
Longshoremen, New Orleans, ....... do.
___ do_______
La., and Mobile, Ala.
Filling-station
attendants, Contro ver sy. Station attendants.
Akron, Ohio.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Satisfactory agreement
9
Dec.
1
1
12
600
Dec. 15
Dec. 30
24
104
Jan. 10
Jan. 16
30
35
18
1,500
1
700
92
38
88
7
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Dick Brothers, Inc., Reading, Strike............ M etal polishers.............
Pa.
Tucker Oil Co., Wichita Falls, Controversy. Oil and refinery workers
Tex.
M arket owners, Wheeling,
do.
Butcher workmen____
W. Va.
do.
Oles Co., Youngstown, Ohio—
Bakers and butchers.. .
Cause of dispute
Assign
ment
com
pleted
Riggs Optical Co., St. Louis,
Mo.
P. W. A. building projects,
Davenport, Iowa, Rock
Island and Moline, 111.
do
Fanny Farmer Candy Co.,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Radio Station KA BC , San
Antonio, Tex.
W indow cleaners, Philadel
phia, Pa.
Burton Manufacturing Co.,
Jasper, Ala.
Panama Pacific Steamship
Co., Pacific coast.
1N ot yet reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Protest—48-hour week
Building crafts_______
Prevailing rates______
Glass workers________
Asked 7 H-percent increase, check Adjusted. Increase of 5 percent,
workers returned in some plants;
off, and new agreement.
others may return later.
N ov. 9
Jan. 24
Satisfactory settle
Controversy. Building trades.............. Dispute relative to jurisdiction— Adjusted.
ment.
Threatened Truck drivers................. Wages and working conditions— Adjusted. Signed agreement with
increase.
strike,
do ___ ........do...... ......................... Wages, hours, and overtime p ay. Adjusted. Allowed $25 per week,
overtime pay, and 48-hour week.
Controversy. Oil and gas workers----- Wages and working conditions... Adjusted. Improved conditions;
seniority rights; increase will be
considered later.
Adjusted.
Jurisdiction settled----Jurisdiction________________
Ironworkers
and
carThreatened
penters.
strike.
Pending................................................
Glass workers________ Proposed wage cut...................
Jan.
2
10
125
Dec. 20
1936
Jan. 26
2,245
...d o ........ Jan.
3
60
Jan.
6
28
Jan.
4
— do........ ...d o ........
400
6
Jan.
2
Jan. 14
Jan.
3
Jan. 10
Jan.
6
Jan.
3
Adjusted. Returned to work;
committee to form agreement.
Jan.
6
Jan.
7
85
Confectionery workers. Hours increased to 47 Yi per week. Adjusted. Restored 40-hour week
and workers returned.
D rivers______________ Wages and working conditions.. . Adjusted. Agreement with in
crease and improved conditions.
Furniture workers------ Asked 10-percent increase and Adjusted. Will abide by agree
ment and increase of 10 percent
adherence to existing agree
taken under consideration.
ment.
Threatened Flour and feed-mill Refusal to renew agreement with Adjusted. Agreed to abide by
existing agreement and future
workers.
workers.
strike.
terms taken under considera
tion.
Candy workers_______ Working conditions and proposal Adjusted. Working agreement
Strikft
for 1 year concluded.
to move plant.
Controversy. Electricians..................... Discharge of 3 men.......................... Unclassified. Referred to N a
tional Labor Relations Board.
........do............ W indow cleaners........... Asked 30-hour week and union Unclassified. Settled by local
officials.
recognition.
Threatened Leather workers........... Wages and hours.............................. Adjusted. Increase of 5 cents per
hour and 8 -hour day.
strike.
Strike........... Sailors, firemen, oilers, Asked equalization of .wage Adjusted. Compromised so that
S. S. P e n n s y lv a n ia sailed with
scales
for
Atlantic
and
Pacific
and stewards.
reduced crew as freighter.
coast.
Jan.
2
Jan.
3
145
Jan.
4
Jan.
6
32
Jan. 11
Jan. 30
275
15
Jan. 10
Jan. 23
60
10
Jan.
Jan. 14
55
75
Jan. 16
5
20
800
Fire-station building, D aven
port, Iowa.
Memphis Glass Co., Memphis,
Tenn.
Forest C ity Colliery, Forest ControversyCity, Pa.
Craddock Terry Shoe Manu Strike...........
facturing Co., Lynchburg,
Va.
Quaker C ity Chocolate & ........ do............
Confectionery Co.
Youngstown Towel & Supply Threatened
strike.
Co., Youngstown, Ohio.
Empire Case Goods Co., ControversyJamestown, N . Y .
Allied M ills, Buffalo, N . Y . . .
Adjusted. Company paid work
ers back pay for overtime work.
Pending_______________ _______ _
Optical workers...........
Miners______________
Effort to have mine reopened
Boot and shoe workers. Asked signed agreement..........
.do.
8
Jan. 10
9
(■)
9
Jan. 18
Jan.
1
Jan. 29
4
4
47
Jan.
Jan.
200
Jan.
9
615
59
4
350
150
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
American W indow Glass Co.,
Jeannette and other cities,
Pennsylvania, West Vir
ginia, Arkansas, and Okla
homa.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock
Co., Peoria, 111.
Bord Disposal Co., Youngs
town, Ohio.
T eleg r a m m a n a g e m e n t,
Youngstown, Ohio.
United Fuel & Gas Co.,
Charleston, W . Va.
do
O
CO
Gi
00
O
Labor Disputes Handled by Conciliation Service During the Month of January 1936—Continued
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Commis
sioner
assigned
Assign
ment
com
pleted
1936
1936
Work ers invoi v e d
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
Robert H. Foederer, Inc., Strike_____ Leather workers______
Philadelphia, Pa.
Lever Bros., Hammond, Ind._ Controversy. Soap
and
glycerin
workers.
Standard Oil Co., Sugar
.do.
Refinery workers___. ..
Creek, Mo.
Violation of agreement..
Pending............................................
Jan. 14
600
Working conditions........
___ do........ ...........................................
Jan. 13
(i)
Asked wage adjustment.
Jan.
P. W. A. projects, Jackson,
M iss...... .............. ....................
Building crafts.
Wages and alleged discrimina
tion.
Adjusted. Satisfactory arbitra
tion as provided by existing
agreement.
Pending.____ _____ ____________
Sign painters___
Employment of nonunion sign
painters.
Wages cut 10 percent....................
Strike.
Peoples Drug Co., Youngs Controversytown, Ohio.
C entury B ev erly C orp., Strike...........
Boyerstown. Pa.
Byrun Jackson Pump Co., ___ do...........
West Berkeley, Calif.
C olum bia R adiator Co., Threatened
McKeesport, Pa.
strike.
Garment cutters.
Machinists_____
Radiator makers
Grocery clerks
Kroger Grocery Stores and Strike.
P ig g ly W iggly Stores,
M emphis, Tenn.
Brown Shoe Co., Salem, 111__ Controversy. Shoe workers_________
Logan Republican, Logan, Strike........... Typographical workers.
Ohio.
P. W. A. ho sp ita l bu ildin g, Controversy. Marble masons and
Memphis, Tenn.
plumbers.
Automobile dealers, Dayton, Threatened. Machinists...... ...............
Ohio.
strike.
Dayton Steel Foundry Co., ........do_____ ....... do.............................. .
Dayton, Ohio.
Shipbuilding workers, N ew Controversy Shipbuilders
port News, Va.
Som erville M anufacturing Strike_____ Ladies’ and children’s
Co., Somerville, N . J.
garment workers.
Ship workers, San Pedro, Threatened Ship workers________ _
Calif.
strike.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Adjusted. Union sign painters
employed.
Adjusted. Will take strikers back
when vacancies occur.
Working conditions................. ....... Pending______________ _______ _
Machine work replaced hand
labor, eliminating 4 workers
and reducing pay.
Wage scale and closed shop_____
136
75
Jan.
1
Jan.
6
50
Jan.
8
Jan. 24
417
9
Pending.............................................
Jan. 13
Feb.
7
Jan. 15
___do___ Jan. 22
Jan.
2
Jan. 21
Jan. 16
Jan. 31
-__do-----
Jan. 21
Jan. 15
9
491
81
250
250
4
8
3
150
(')
—
7, 000
Jan. 16
Adjusted. Allowed, and deserter Jan. 11
charges withdrawn by company.
700
(i)
Jan. 15
Jan.
Asked union recognition________ ___ do____ ____ ___________ ____
Jan. 28
Jan. 31
Unclassified. Referred to Pitts
burgh Regional Board.
Wages and hours_______________ ___ do__________________________
Working conditions........ ...........
Unclassified. Settled by parties
in interest.
Installation of bathroom fixtures . Adjusted. Work to be divided
between masons and plumbers.
Refusal to renew agreement with Unable to adjust____________ ___
changes.
Violation of agreement................... Unclassified. Settled before ar
rival of commissioner.
Working conditions....................... Pending............. ..................................
Return of S. S. P e n n s y lv a n ia crew
on the S. S. C a lifo rn ia to New
York.
8
92
Jan. 20
440
370
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Present status and terms of
settlement
Mechanics and laborers, Blue
Plains, D . C.
G. L. F. Milling Co., Buffalo,
N . Y.
Universal Engraving Co.,
Buffalo, N . Y .
Green B ay Drop Forge Co.,
Green Bay, Wis.
M cM illion Motor Co., Inc.,
Charleston, W. Va.
Bus drivers, Madison, W is_.
Marine shipyards and shops,
San Pedro, Calif.
Champion Forge Co., Cleve
land, Ohio.
P. W. A . hospital building,
Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Power & Light Co.,
Memphis, Tenn.
Republic Film Exchange Co.,
N ew York City.
August Neuse Co., N ew York
City.
M ilk drivers, Akron, Ohio.
Janson Steel & Iron Co.,
Columbia, Pa.
1 N ot yet reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pending
Unclassified. Referred to N a
tional Labor Relations Board.
Adjusted.
Increase, overtime
pay, and closed shop.
Adjusted. Satisfactory SettlementPending__________________ _____
Jan. 15
Jan. 28
16
400
Jan. 1
Jan. 20
26
32
Jan.
10
Jan. 16
160
73
Jan. 17
Jan. 16
Jan. 30
4
60
1 ,0 0 0
92
700
370
Jan. 24
102
118
Jan. 16
12
65
7
800
29
A11 industries ........ —. Sympathy strike on account of Adjusted. Union agreements se Feb. 1 ___do___
cured and all returned.
distillery workers’ discharge.
M ill workers________ - Dispute relative to failure to pay Adjusted. Satisfactory settlement. Jan. 15 Jan. 23
union dues.
Photoengravers_______ Wages, overtime pay, and hours. Pending----------------- ------------------ Jan. 31
Drop forgers--------------- Asked wage increase of 5 percent.. Adjusted. Accepted arbitration Jan. 21 Jan. 28
of wage question.
M achinists----------------- Workers discharged........................ Unable to adjust.......... ...................... Jan. 16 Jan. 30
Drivers______________ Wages.............. —...................- ......... Adjusted. Increase of 7 cents per. Feb. 1 Feb. 2
hour; all returned to work.
Shipyard workers......... W ages and hours---------------------- Pending_________ _____ _________ Jan. 28
3,500
Distillery workers-------
Blacksmiths_________
Carpenters---------- -----Electrical workers-------
Discharge of distillery workers—
___ do.................................................... Jan. 21
Unclassified. Referred to regional Jan. 20
board of Baltimore.
Adjusted. Strike withdrawn........ Jan. 2
Adjusted. Workers reinstated—
Jan. 22
Wages, hours, and working con ____do---------------- --------------- ------ Jan. 27
ditions.
Nonunion carpenters employed— Adjusted. Union carpenters em Jan. 70
ployed.
Alleged discrimination................... Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement. Jan. 3
Film-exchange workers. Wages, hours, and speed-up sys Pending----------------------------------- Jan. 20
tem.
Optical workers.............. Wages, union recognition, and ........do------- ------------- ------ ----------- _ d o __
collective bargaining.
M ilk drivers_________ Asked 3 to 8 cents per hour in ____d o ....................................... ........... Jan. 30
crease.
Steel and iron workers.. Proposed 10-hour day..................... Adjusted. Continued 8 -hour day Jan. 6
and recognized shop committee.
Feb.
145
30
16
10
115
5
11
12
80
20
1,400
(i)
Jan.
21
Jan. 22
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Willard Hotel, Washington,
D . C.
Liberty Cash Grocers, Inc.,
Memphis, Tenn.
Plough, Inc., Memphis, Tenn.
Transfer companies, Washing ton, D . C.
Street-railway workers, In
dianapolis, Ind.
Poster Bedding Co., Balti
more, M d.
Moore M ill & Timber Co.,
San Francisco, Calif., and
Bandon, Oreg.
American Distilling Co., Pe
kin, 111.
General industry, Pekin, 111—
Strike............ Building........................... Jurisdiction of millwrights and
ironworkers on conveyor sys
tem.
Threatened Kitchen w orkers........... Bates of wages cut 5 percent-----strike.
Controversy Clerks —......................... Asked increase, closed shop, and
shorter hours.
____do..........- Cosmetic workers------- Violation of agreem ent.................
Strike_____ Teamsters_______ ____ Asked agreement covering wages,
hours, and working conditions.
Controversy Street-railway workers. Increase, overtime, pay, and
closed shop.
Strike-.......... Bedding workers--------- Discharges; discrimination al
leged.
____do--------- Longshoremen and saw Reinstatement of discharged
sawmill workers.
mill workers.
5
1
12
8
600
Jan. 31
60
120
05
00
05
00
Labor Disputes Handled by Conciliation Service During the Month of January 1936—Continued
to
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms'of
settlement
Commis
sioner
assigned
1
N ot yet reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Asked 10-percent increase----------
Change to piecework rate and
discharges.
Teamsters____________ Two discharged for union affilia
tion.
Street-railway workers. Further mediation requested in
old dispute.
Carpenters and joiners.
Adjusted. Allowed 10-percent in
increase till M ay 31.
Unable to adjust_________ ____
1
Feb.
3
Jan. 22
Feb.
8
Feb.
93
Pending ____________________ __ Jan. 18
28
do________ _________________
Jan. 15
(0
Shirt makers________
do
Jan. 23
1,350
Joiners and calkers____ Wage scales; claim $1.10 instead
of 80 cents per hour.
do
_ __________________
__ _________________ Jan. 29
37
(')
26, 761
9,818
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Total.............................. .
Fire-brick workers____
Indi
D i
rectly rectly
1936
1936
Eureka Fire Brick Co., M t. Strike_____
Braddock, Pa.
Cron Kills Furniture Co., ____do_____
Piqua, Ohio.
Wm. H. Block Co., Indianap ___do______
olis, Ind.
Street-railway workers, Oma Controversy
ha, Nebr., and, Council
Bluffs, Iowa.
Fine & Sons, N ew Albany, Strike
Ind.
Ship joiners and calkers, ____do_____
Wilmington, Calif.
Assign
ment
com
pleted
Workers in
volved
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE^
683
W ork o f R a ilw a y Labor Boards, 1934-351
URING 1934-35, the first year of its operation, the National
Mediation Board handled 96 cases involving representation of
workers for purposes of collective bargaining and 70 cases of mediation
of disputes regarding changes in wages, hours, or working conditions.
These cases involved a total of more than 100,000 employees on 117
railroads. In addition, the National Railroad Adjustment Board,
created under the same act as the National Mediation Board,2disposed
of 583 cases involving the interpretation or application of agreements.
No boards of arbitration, provided for in case of the failure of media
tion, were set up during the year but two boards established during
the previous year announced their awards in the course of the year
ending June 30, 1935. No emergency boards were formed, as two
emergency situations which developed were settled by renewed
mediation efforts of the full Mediation Board.
Despite the volume of cases which came before the two permanent
railway labor agencies, no strike occurred in the railroad industry in
the course of the year. This represented the fifth consecutive year
without a strike and continued the almost unbroken record of peaceful
negotiation in the industry since the passage of the 1926 act.
The National Mediation Board, in commenting on this fact in its
report, states:
D
That the railroad industry could maintain such a peaceful record, especially
since 1932 when strikes and industrial unrest have been prevalent in other
industries throughout the country, is testimony to the soundness and effectiveness
of the labor policies formulated by Congress in the Railway Labor Act.
Elsewhere in the report the Board terms the present law “the most
advanced form of Government regulation of labor relations that we
have in this country” and says that “These principles and methods,
built up through years of experimentation, provide a model labor
policy, based on equal rights and equitable relations.”
Representation Cases
One of the important changes introduced by the 1934 act related
to disputes over the agency entitled to represent the workers in dealing
with the carrier. Elections to determine such representation had
been held by the old Board of Mediation where carrier and labor
organizations agreed to such an election. The act of 1926 made no
specific provision for such cases, but the act of 1934 charged the
National Mediation Board with the duty of investigating representai Data are from National Mediation Board, First Annual Report, for year ended June 30, 1935,
Washington, 1935. (Includes also report of National Railroad Adjustment Board.)
i Railway Labor Act, 1934 (Public, No. 442,73d Cong.). For text and discussion of this act see M onthly
Labor Review, August 1934 (pp. 352-363).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
684
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW—MARCH 1936
tion disputes on the request of either party and of determining the
individual or organization entitled to represent the workers. In this
task it may use a secret ballot or any other appropriate method which
will guarantee free choice. Rules governing the elections, including
who may vote, are set by the Board. The law specifically provides
that “the majority of any craft or class of employees” shall determine
the representative of that craft or class.
Of the 96 representation disputes handled by the Board during the
year, 4 were adjusted by agreement of the carrier to recognize the
employees’ representatives. Two others were withdrawn and one
was dismissed on the ground that the employees covered by the
request for an election did not form a class or craft within the meaning
of the act.
In the remaining 89 cases formal certification of the agency entitled
to act as representative was made by the Board. In 58 cases 3 this
was done on the basis of a secret election, and in 33 by checking the
signatures on written authorizations against the pay roll of the carrier.
The two groups of cases involved a total of 82,124 wox-kers, about
three-fourths of whom were in the shop crafts. Nearly 70,000 employ
ees participated, representing approximately 85 percent of the total
eligible (table 1).
Table 1.—Elections and Checks of Authorizations by Classes of Employees and
Number Participating
Classes of employees •
Engine and train service employees....... ...........................
Shop crafts______ _______ - .............. .......................
Clerks, office and station employees___ ______ _______
Maintenance-of-way employees_____________________
Telegraphers, signalmen, and dispatchers____________
Dining-car cooks and waiters_______________________
Marine employees__________ _____ _________________
Total_______________________________________
of
of Number
of
Number of Number
employees Number
authoriza participat
employees
elections tion
checks
eligible
ing
18
23
i6
4
i6
3
0
1
1
2
2
6
3, 348
52, 652
8 , 271
3,573
800
271
712
58
33
69,727
12
7
3, 689
61, 309
9,400
5,392
894
421
1,019
82,124
1 1 case involving clerks and 1 involving signalmen required a second election because the results of the
first election were inconclusive.
A feature of these disputes rarely encountered in the representa
tion disputes handled by Government labor boards in other industries
was the fact that most of the cases involved more than one craft or
class. The 89 cases thus represented disputes in 291 separate crafts
or classes of employees. For 18 crafts the result was inconclusive;
certifications were made for the remaining crafts.
Although the law permits the designation of either individuals or
organizations as representatives, no individuals were so chosen in
any of the elections. In most cases a standard trade-union, or a
8
Two cases required a second election.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
685
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
national labor organization,4 was certified as representative, but in
a small number of cases a system association (organizations of em
ployees confined to one railroad system) and in 3 cases a trade-union
other than national labor organizations was named.
Of the 273 certifications issued, 26 were cases of contests involving
two or more national labor organizations. The remaining 247 cases
involved situations in which the national organization (or, in 3
cases, some other trade-union) was opposed by a system association
or by unorganized employees.
Of these contests, the national labor organizations won 213, the
system associations 31, and 3 went to other trade-unions. Almost
three-fourths of the individual votes or signed authorization slips
favored national labor organizations, practically all of the remainder
going to system associations (table 2).
Table 2.—Type of Organizations Chosen in Cases Involving Disputes Between
National Labor Organizations and System Associations or Unorganized
Employees
Employees voting for, or otherwise
choosing—
Certifications won by—
Method of choice
National
labor or
ganizations
Other or
ganiza
tions 2
System
associa
tions 1
National
labor or
ganizations
System
associa
tions 1
Other or
ganiza
tions 2
N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per
cent ber cent
ber
cent
ber cent ber cent ber cent ber
Elections___
--Proved authorizations___
T o ta l 3 _________ _
4
134 80.72
79 97. 53
31 18.68
1
2
0.60 39,273 69.18 17,400 30. 65
341 3.85
2.47 8,238 93.08
100
0
8 6 . 24
31 12. 55
3
1 .2 1 4 47,511
72. 40 17, 741 27.03
371
213
0
0.17
271 3.07
.57
1 A n iruber of system associations have combined to form a brotherhood of railroad shop crafts, which
has not been recognized as a labor organization “national in scope” as provided in sec. 3 (f) of the Railway
Labor Act.
,.
. ,,
.
2 Includes 2 organizations of dining-car cooks and waiters and 1 organization of tram porters.
2 Elections in 18 additional crafts resulted in no majority for any organization and no certifications were
T hesV d^not include 26 certifications made to national labor organizations as a result of elections in
which only such organizations were the contestants. The number of employees voting in these elections
was 3,220.
Jurisdictional Disputes
T h e 18 representation disputes involving two or more national
labor organizations, including 31 crafts or classes of employees, affected
3,547 employees. Certifications were issued in 26 cases while in 5
cases no organization obtained a majority. Although these cases
included less than 5 percent of the total employees involved in all
representation cases, they required a disproportionate share of the
Board’s time.
4 The term adopted by the National Mediation Board to describe organizations entitled to participate
in the selection of members of the National Railroad Adjustment Board, under the provision in sec. 3 (a)
of the 1934 act, which grants this right to such “labor organizations of the employees, national in scope, as
have been or may be organized in accordance with the provisions of sec. 2 of this act.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
686
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 19 3 6
The Board commented on the situation as follows:
I f each labor organ ization confined itse lf to a clearly defined craft or class of
em p loyees, it m ig h t refuse to a c t as a rep resen tative of a n y oth er class or craft,
a n d th u s a v o id b ringing such d isp u tes before th e Board. B u t w e regret to h ave
to report th a t a t th e p resen t w ritin g th e num ber of th e se d isp u tes com in g to th e
B oard is increasing. W hereas th e d isp u tes arose m ain ly becau se of overlapp in g
jurisdiction , and a t first m o st of th e cases were of th is character, th e an tagon ism
engendered b y th e co n te sts h as d evelop ed a ten d en cy for em p loyees w h o are
m em bers of one organ ization to challenge th e rep resen tation of other organ ization s
over crafts or classes of em p loyees th a t th e y form erly did n o t seek to represent.
R egrettab le as th ese d isp u tes are, it is n everth eless fo rtu n a te th a t th e R ailw ay
L abor A c t p rovides a m eth o d of se ttlin g th em p eacefu lly. Such conflicts in oth er
in d u stries o ften result in strik es an d in terru p tion s of service w h ich are c o stly to
th e pu blic, to em ployers, an d to em p loyees. If in terru p tion s of railroad service
on a cco u n t of su ch d isp u tes can be p rev en ted b y th e procedures under sectio n 2,
n in th , of th e act, th is is a n e t gain and one of th e im p o r ta n t a c com p lish m en ts of
th e act, no m a tter h o w m uch tim e and effort it ta k e s an d how ever un w ise it m ay
be th a t e m p lo y ees’ organ ization s w h ose aim s are th e sam e sh all be en gaged in
ju risd iction al quarrels.
Problems of Representation
I n c a r r y i n g out its work of certifying collective-bargaining repre
sentatives, the Board encountered problems similar to those which
have confronted other Government labor boards which have attempted
to settle representation controversies. The form in which these
problems have been presented, however, has been affected by the
legislation under which the Board functions and by the characteris
tics and traditions of the industry.
While the act provides 6 that the majority of any class shall deter
mine the representative of the class, it does not specify whether it
shall be a majority of those eligible to vote or of only those who voted.
The Board adopted the position that a majority of all eligibles was
required. When, however, the parties agreed to be bound by a major
ity of the votes cast, the Board took the position that it would certify
on this basis. Representatives for 107 crafts or classes of employees
were certified in this manner. In the one case in which the Board’s
interpretation was challenged by court action, the Federal district
court upheld the Board’s position except for one craft where less
than a majority of those eligible to vote participated in the election.6
In determining what constitutes a craft or class, the Board has as
far as possible followed the pattern set by employee organizations and
collective agreements in the past. However, there has been con
siderable pressure from all branches of employment to have the Board
split into smaller groups classes of employees heretofore treated as a
unit. The year’s experience convinced the Board that this tendency
*Sec. 2, fourth.
• R a ilw a y E m p lo y e e s D e p t., A . F . L ., S y s te m F ederation N o . Jfi v. T h e V ir g in ia n R a ilw a y C o., Judge W ay,
Decision No. 329, July 24, 1935. The decision has been appealed by the railway company.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN D U STR IA L D ISP U T E S
687
to divide and subdivide has gone too far and threatens to defeat the
main purpose of the act, as well as to interfere with efficient operation.
In determining who is an “employee” eligible to participate in
elections, the Board has ruled that the person must have been defi
nitely on a pay roll within a reasonable period prior to the election.
Employees “excepted” from collective agreement because of the con
fidential, supervisory, or disciplinary character of their work have
generally been excluded from voting. Both of these rulings have
been sustained by a Federal court.7
The Board has ruled that “red caps” or station ushers are employees
within the act. One carrier, however, has refused to honor a certifica
tion issued by the Board covering such workers, and judicial action to
enforce the Board’s ruling is being considered. Two cases involving
workers employed by contractors hired by the railroad were deter
mined diversely on the basis of the facts in each particular case.
Where employees choose a new representative while an agreement
is already in force, the Board has ruled that this does not alter or
cancel the existing agreement. The new representative assumes the
same functions and duties with regard to the existing agreement as
applied to the former representative and must give due notice of any
desire to change the agreement.
Mediation Settlements
Op t h e 70 mediation cases handled by the Board in the course of
the year, 20 were withdrawn before mediation began and 19 after
mediation had begun or during the process of mediation. Most
of these withdrawals represented satisfactory adjustments of the
difficulties or removal of the cause of dispute; a few were cases with
drawn for resubmission in amended form or for handling by the
Railroad Labor Adjustment Board. Six cases were closed by the
Board for various reasons.8 The remaining 25 were adjusted by
mediation, 24 of them through a signed agreement.
The Board found that the only serious problem in its mediation
work grew out of failure to comply with a number of awards of the
National Railroad Adjustment Board. In one such case the em
ployees threatened to strike to secure the enforcement of an award,
claiming that the carrier was bound either to obey it or to apply for a
court order setting it aside. The Board thereupon entered the case
and, after 2 weeks of negotiation, effected an agreement on the
proper procedure to be followed in affirming or setting aside the
award.
r C hesapeake & Ohio C le rks’ A sso c ia tio n v. B o a r d , Supreme Court, District of Columbia. Decision of
Judge F. D . Letts, Sept. 7, 1934.
s in 2 cases arbitration was refused, 2 cases were dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and 2 others were re
manded for further negotiation.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
688
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
Collective Agreements
T he 1934 act requires the filing with the National Mediation Board
of a copy of each contract covering rates of pay, rules, and working
conditions. As a result of this provision, the Board has been able
in its report to chart the agreements in force on each railroad, by each
class or craft of work. The report analyzes the extent to which roads
and workers are covered by agreements with national labor organiza
tions, system associations, and trade-unions.9 The Board comments
that “The extent to which labor relations are governed by such
agreements is the measure of the extent to which law, democratically
made by employees as well as employers, has been substituted for
the rule of economic force and warfare in the railroad industry.”
National Railroad Adjustment Board
T h e National Railroad Adjustment Board was established to
remedy defects which had developed in the operation of the adjust
ment boards provided for under the 1926 act. The 1934 act created
a permanent bipartisan national adjustment board having jurisdic
tion over all disputes involving the interpretation or application of
agreements except where the parties have by mutual agreement set
up a board. The decisions of the Board are made enforceable by
civil suits in Federal courts. In case of a deadlock, a referee with
decisive vote is to be selected by the two parties, or, failing that, by
the National Mediation Board.
The National Railroad Adjustment Board consists of 36 members,
and is divided into four divisions, each equally representative of
carriers and labor and each handling a different class of employees.10
The Board as a whole does not hear any cases, each division having
complete charge of cases involving its own type of employees.
The four divisions received a total of 1,753 cases during the first
year of operation. About one-third of these were finally disposed of,
while 213 more were heard but not yet decided by the end of the
fiscal year. Of the 479 awards, 101 were cases in which the services
of a referee were required in order to reach a decision.
• This material was incorporated in an article in the M onthly Labor Review for December 1935 (pp.
1463-1466).
10 Division 1, train and yard service; D ivision 2, shop-craft employees; D ivision 3, station, tower, and
telegraph employees, signalmen, clerks, freight handlers, express, station and store employees, maintenanceof-way workers, and sleeping-car conductors, porters, maids, and dining-car employees; Division 4, marine
and other employees. Each division has 10 members, except no. 4, which has 6 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN D U S T R IA L
689
D IS P U T E S
T ab le 3 .— N u m ber o f C ases R eceived and D isp osed of b y N a tio n a l R ailroad
A d ju stm en t B oard, 1 934-35
Item
D ivision
All
divisions
no. 1
D ivision
no. 2
Division
no. 3
D ivision
no. 4
Cases received, 1934-35----------------------------------------
1,753
1,590
9
150
4
Cases disposed of
. . _______ _______ _________
Awards issued ____________ __________ ____
Heard and withdrawn
__________________
Withdrawn, not heard
_____
_______
Open oases, .Tune 80, 1935 ______________________
Heard but undecided________________________
Docketed to be h e a r d __________ ___________
Total cases heard__ ________________
_________
Decided without referee._________
______
Decided with referee ___ - _____
______ --
583
479
3
495
394
3
98
1,095
182
913
579
314
80
1
1
0
0
8
8
0
84
81
3
3
0
0
0
1
0
1
101
1,170
213
957
700
378
101
9
1
0
3
66
23
43
109
60
21
3
3
0
The setting up of the National Railroad Adjustment Board re
sulted in the dissolution of most of the voluntary system and regional
adjustment boards set up under the provisions of the 1926 act. The
1934 act, however, permits the continuation of such boards by agree
ment of carriers and representatives of employees, and some boards
have continued to operate under this provision.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONDITIONS
Labor C onference o f A m erican States, Santiago, Chile
1936
B y W a r r e n I r v in , I n fo r m a tio n S e c t io n , I n t e r n a t io n a l L abor O ff ic e
ORE than 20 resolutions dealing with social or labor questions
of peculiar interest to the countries of North, South, or Central
America were adopted at the Labor Conference of American States,
held in Santiago, Chile, from January 2 to January 14, inclusive,
and were referred by the conference, for action, to the Governing
Body of the International Labor Office in Geneva.
The principal questions dealt with in the resolutions were: Com
pulsory social insurance, women’s and children’s work, nutrition,
unemployment, migration, labor of native races, the truck system,
agricultural work, and the relations of the International Labor
Organization with American countries.
The conference, the first of its kind to be held in the New World,
was attended by representatives of 20 countries. Costa Rica, the
only American country not a member of the I. L. O., sent two ob
servers. The United States delegation comprised: Hoffman Philip,
Ambassador to Chile, and Miss Frieda Miller of the New York State
Department of Labor, Government representatives; Joseph C.
Molanphy, employers’ representative; William Hutcheson, president
of the International Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of the
American Federation of Labor, workers’ representative; and John BFaust, United States consul at Santiago, secretary.
President Arturo Alessandri of Chile attended the inaugural ses
sion. Foreign Minister Miguel Cruchaga Tocornal, speaking on
behalf of the President, welcomed the delegates and pointed out that
Chile has collaborated in the work of the I. L. O. since its inception,
and has already ratified 33 international labor conventions.
Dr. Walter A. Riddell, chairman of the Governing Body of the
I. L. O. and a Canadian Government delegate to the conference, re
plied on behalf of the delegates and thanked President Alessandri for
his “noble initiative which has made possible this first regional labor
conference in the Americas.”
Besides Dr. Riddell, seven other members of the Governing Body
of the I. L. O. attended the conference. They were: Hans C. Oersted,
690
M
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN T E R N A T IO N A L
LABOR
C O N D IT IO N S
691
vice chairman and Danish employers’ representative; Frederick W.
Leggett, British Government representative; José Ruiz Manent,
Spanish Government representative; Affonso Bandeira de Mello,
Brazilian Government representative and head of the Brazilian dele
gation to the conference; Georges Cur Sin, Yugoslav employers’ repre
sentative; Evert Kupers, Netherlands workers’ representative; and
Arthur Hayday, British workers’ representative.
Minister of Labor Alejandro Serani Burgos of Chile was chosen as
chairman of the conference; and, at the suggestion of Ambassador
Philip, President Alessandri was made honorary chairman.
Dr. José Antuna, Uruguayan Government delegate sought to ob
tain from the conference endorsement of a proposal made at the 1933
Pan American conference in Montevideo for the establishment of a
Pan American institute of labor. ‘‘The Pan American institute of
labor”, he said, “should be a useful contribution to the work of the
Geneva organization and to its development. Both will be moved by
the same desire for sincerity and for social justice which is an essential
basis of peace, and will certainly bring them together.”
Ecuador, Mexico, and Paraguay supported Dr. Antuna’s proposal.
Chile, Haiti, and Brazil opposed it. But the principal opposition
came from the workers’ group. Luis Solis Solis of Chile, chairman of
that group, declared:
W e th in k th a t th e im portance of geographical an d historical consideration s
has been largely overem ph asized. T h e rapid d evelop m en ts of recen t years h ave
abolish ed m an y of th e differences betw een countries. T h e y h a v e c u t dow n th e
d istan ces th a t separate us an d h a v e a ccen tu a ted th e interd ep en d en ce of p eop les.
Therefore it w ou ld be a retrograde step to tr y a t th is sta g e to se t up a sep arate
labor organization for Am erica.
Later, in the selection committee, Dr. Antuna’s proposal met with
further opposition on the ground that it was a Pan American confer
ence matter and had no place in the discussions of the Labor Con
ference of American States. Dr. Antuna finally consented to with
draw the proposal. The United States delegates took no part in the
controversy.
The position of the United States as regards the two questions it
had proposed for the conference agenda—rationalization of, and reduc
tion of hours of work in, the textile industry; and the raising to 16
years of the minimum age for admission to employment—was pre
sented by Miss Miller. In discussing the first question, she gave a
brief résumé of conditions in the textile industry here, and cited
President Roosevelt’s report to Congress last August, wherein he
asserted that the experience of the industry during the preceding 2
years had shown a definite limitation of hours of employment to be
“both feasible and practicable.” He also declared that abolition of
child labor in the industry was an advance which “must be retained.”
4 9 6 4 5 — 36------- 12
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
692
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
The employers’ delegates of both Chile and Brazil put themselves
on record as opposing any reduction of hours of work in the industry.
Mr. Goyeneche Magnere, of Chile, said that while the United States
was an industrial country suffering from unemployment, the South
American countries “are only gradually becoming industrialized and
have no unemployment.” He argued that shorter hours in South
American countries would not only create “danger of idleness and its
pernicious consequences”, but would lead to a decrease in the volume
of production and augment the difficulties of competition with foreign
products. Mr. Vincente Galliez, of Brazil, said the difficulty of his
country was to obtain a sufficient number of trained Brazilian workers.
While there is considerable unemployment in the United States, he
said, conditions in most South American countries are similar to
Brazil.
With regard to the United States proposal to raise to 16 years the
minimum age for admission to employment, Miss Miller said she was
aware proponents and opponents of child labor often put this question
on the basis of a measure that would help the unemployment situa
tion. That, she held, would be one of the incidental results. “To
us”, she explained, “the real significance of a proposal to eliminate
child labor lies in the fact that if, anywhere in the world, we continue
long to exploit the labor of children, we shall invalidate our most
earnest efforts toward the achievement of those objects for which the
International Labor Organization exists.” The conference decided
finally to request the Governing Body of the I. L. 0. to consider the
advisability of recommending to the International Labor Conference
the raising of the present minimum age of 14 years in the four childlabor conventions.
The committee on social insurance, of which José Enrique Sandoval,
Cuban Government delegate, was chairman, took as a basis for its
discussions the special report prepared by the International Labor
Office. This report contained detailed studies of the various aspects
of accident, health, and invalidity insurance, and widows’ and
orphans’ and old-age pensions. The decisions of the committee were
incorporated in a series of resolutions addressed to the Governing Body
of the I. L. O. and these resolutions were afterward submitted to and
approved by the conference.
The committee on women’s and children’s work, under the chair
manship of Miss Miller, discussed, among other questions, the min
imum wage, hours of work (including night work), and protection
before and after childbirth. Its findings also were incorporated in
resolutions addressed to the Governing Body of the I. L. O. ; and these,
too, were submitted to the conference and approved by it.
In submitting to the conference a resolution urging the Interna
tional Labor Office to make special studies in connection with immi
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN TER N A TIO N A L LABOR CONDITIONS
693
gration from Europe to America, Dr. Alejandro Unsain, Argentine
Government delegate, said that this problem was of great and almost
overwhelming importance for most countries of the American Conti
nent. “Densely populated Europe”, he said, “has an excess of popu
lation which will find a suitable outlet on the sparsely populated
American Continent. Europe and America are more or less like
communicating tubes, and what is in excess in one of them will flow
into the other quite naturally if it is allowed to do so.” When the
resolution came before the conference for its approval, however,
Government representatives of Brazil and Bolivia announced that
their Governments intended to retain complete freedom of action
with regard to immigration. The resolution was adopted with these
reservations.
The resolution on nutrition, submitted by the Chilean Government
delegates, contained possible bases for a policy intended to bring
about an improvement in nutrition; and urged the establishment by
governments of technical commissions to assist them with measures
of nutrition policy, as well as the adoption so far as possible of inter
national health legislation on nutrition questions.
The resolution on unemployment requested the Governing Body of
the I. L. O. to study the conditions and extent of unemployment in
the countries of the American Continent and prepare a technical
report on the social aspects of the solutions adopted for this problem
in the American States.
The resolution on the labor of native races, also submitted by the
Peruvian Government delegates, asked the Governing Body to instruct
the International Labor Office to make a special study of this problem
and consider the possibilities of international action leading to
practical results. Before this resolution was drafted, Rosendo is aula,
Ecuadorean workers’ delegate; Rafael Burgo, Colombian workers’
delegate; and Felipe Ortiz, Bolivian workers’ delegate, all denounced
the conditions under which Indian workers were compelled to live and
labor in their respective countries.
The resolution on the truck system, submitted by the workers’
group, asked the Governing Body to consider and study the questions
of insuring that wages shall be paid in cash, and of supervising the
truck stores, with a view to eliminating abuses of the truck system in
American countries. It asked, also, that the Governing Body con
sider the questions of creating ministries of labor in countries where
they do not exist, and of creating and extending central bureaus of
social statistics.
The resolution on agricultural employment, submitted by the
Mexican Government delegates, asked that the International Labor
Office study the possibility of carrying out an inquiry among the
Governments of all American countries concerning the form, motives
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
694
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1936
periodicity, and scope of the various statistics concerning agricultural
work already in existence; and also concerning the possibility of each
government’s extending and coordinating, internationally, such sta
tistics in regard to agricultural work, including crop raising and cattle
breeding.
The resolution concerning relations of the International Labor
Organization was a composite of resolutions submitted by Mr.
Enrique Sandoval, Cuban Government delegate; Dr. Unsain, Argen
tine Government delegate; and the workers’ group. It asked the
Governing Body of the I. L. O. to consider the advisability of conven
ing other regional conferences in America, of increasing the number
of American officials and technical experts in the International Labor
Office, and of increasing the circulation of I. L. O. documents in the
languages of the American Continent. It asked also that these be
made available at popular prices.
Mr. Harold B. Butler, director of the I. L. O., in his final address
to the conference, drew attention to some of its more salient features.
Discussing the tasks of the future, he said:
On this point the conference has clearly shown the way in which inter-American
collaboration can be strengthened by the work of the International Labor Organi
zation. Four principal points have been brought up. The first is th at there
should be further American conferences of this kind. The success which has
been obtained on this occasion is, I think, the best indication th at this should not
be the last American conference. Secondly, the Office undoubtedly requires
strengthening as regards its American personnel, as regards American repre
sentation on its technical committees, and by increasing the number of corre
spondents of the Office in American countries. Then there is a question of
publications in the languages of the American Continent. There, too, I think
a great deal needs to be done and as far as I am concerned I shall do everything
I can to insure th at there is far more published in Spanish and in Portuguese
than has been the case in the past. We shall also try not to forget the suggestion
made th a t publications should be issued a t popular prices, so as to bring them
within the reach of everybody. Finally, there are suggestions for intensifying
research on problems of special interest to America, and in that connection four
very important and far-reaching questions have been raised. The first is th at of
native labor, the second of immigration, and I hope on these two questions, at
any rate, the Office will succeed in carrying out a personal inquiry in the course
of the present year. Then there is the question of the truck system, put forward
by the Argentine delegation, and th at of agricultural conditions, which is perhaps
the most far-reaching and difficult of all these questions.
We shall do our best to take up these questions one by one and try to throw
some light on them; of course, with the assistance and collaboration of the
countries concerned, without whom we can do very little. In addition to these
regional questions, a greal deal of light has also been thrown from an American
standpoint on a number of other questions of a general character such as unem
ployment, the minimum wage, family allowance, and nutrition. The last
problem is one of a universal character, but I think the discussions th at have
taken place on it here will prove of great assistance in dealing with it on a universal
plane.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR TURN-OVER
Labor T u rn -O v e r in M an u factu rin g E stablishm ents,
Decem ber 1935
FURTHER tapering off of the accession rate and a moderate rise
in the separation rate were the outstanding features of the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics' monthly survey of labor turn-over in manu
facturing industries for December. The accession rate for the month
was 3.30 per 100 employees, as against 3.63 in November. At the
same time, the total separation rate rose from 3.55 to 3.76 per 100
employees. The increased separations in December were due en
tirely to an advance in the lay-off rate. Both the quit and discharge
rates were lower than in the month preceding.
For 1935 as a whole, as compared with the year 1934, both the sep
aration rate and the accession rate show a moderate decline of about
the same magnitude.
A
All Manufacturing
T h e turn-over rates represent the number of changes per 1 0 0 em
ployees on the pay rolls during the month. These data were com
piled from reports received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
more than 5,000 representative manufacturing establishments in 144
industries. More than 2,000,000 workers were employed by the
firms reporting to the Bureau in December.
The quit rate for all manufacturing in December was lower than for
any month since December 1934. The discharge rate was lower than
for the preceding 6 months. An increase in the lay-off rate caused
the total separation rate (3.76) to rise above that of the preceding
month. The accession rate (3.30) showed a slight decrease compared
with November.
.17
.2 0
.17
.2 1
.23
.2 2
2.51
3.02
2 .1 0
1 .8 8
2.35
1.85
.32
2.08
2.60
2.04
3.00
3. 65
3. 56
4.10
3.04
3.43
2.79
2.89
3.24
3.22
3. 73
3. 38
4.17
4.74
6 .33
5.81
4.23
6 . 71
3.79
6.33
3. 63
5.18
1.05
1.55
0.89
.73
0. 77
.62
0.69
.58
.19
.16
.2 1
.2 0
.19
.19
.15
.18
.15
2.57
2.96
2.70
3.56
1.95
3. 41
2.03
4.38
2.58
3.78
2.89
2.72
4. 49
4.60
3. 67
3. 85
3. 77
4. 50
3.19
5.12
3.13
5.30
3.55
4. 55
3. 76
3.45
3.18
3.58
4.17
3. 71
4.60
3.24
4.95
3.61
5.23
4.09
3. 63
4. 32
3.30
6.14
1 .2 1
1 .0 1
0.83
.94
0.90
.70
0 .8 6
.2 0
.2 0
.2 1
.18
.19
3.46
3.48
4. 38
4.8 8
3.01
4.19
i Including temporary, indeterminate, and permanent lay-offs.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.75
695
December
.18
.19
November
.18
.18
October
.19
.19
1 .1 1
September
0.75
.93
August
0.73
.85
July
April
0. 76
.90
0.93
.89
June
March
0 .8 6
M ay
February
Quit rate:
1935..................
1934..................
Discharge rate:
1935.............. .
1934.............. Lay-oil rate : 1
1935_________
1934________
Total separation
rate:
1935..................
1934_________
Accession rate:
1935..................
1934..................
January
Class of rate and
year
Average
T ab le 1 .— M o n th ly L abor T urn-O ver R a te s (P er 100 E m p lo y e es) in R ep resen ta
tiv e F actories in 144 In du stries
696
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — MARCH 1936
697
LABOR TU R N -O Y ER
Twelve Industries
R e p o r t s received from representative plants for 1 2 industries em
ploying at least 25 percent of the workers in each industry, as meas
ured by the 1933 Census of Manufactures make possible special tab
ulations for these industries in table 2.
Slaughtering and meat-packing showed the highest accession rate
for any of the 12 industries, and iron and steel the lowest. The
automotive industry registered the highest quit rate; furniture the
lowest. Three industries—automobiles, bricks, and sawmills—showed
the highest discharge rates and men’s clothing the lowest. Due to
seasonal curtailment, cigars and cigarettes indicated the highest lay-off
and total separation rates. The iron and steel industry reported the
lowest lay-off and total separation rates.
T a b le 2 . — M o n t h l y T u r n - O v e r R a t e s ( P e r 1 0 0 E m p l o y e e s ) in S p e c if ie d I n d u s t r ie s
Class of rates
D e
N o
N o
D e
D e
De
D e
N o
D e
cember vember cember cember vember cember cember vember cember
1934
1934
1935
1935
1935
1935
1934
1935
1935
1.15
.30
2. 35
3.80
4. 67
Quit rate ________________
Discharge rate___________
Lay-off rate______________
Total separation rate. __
Accession rate__________ -
1.42
.33
2.85
4. 60
7.89
1. 31
.33
2. 27
3.91
27.48
Cigars and cigarettes
Quit rate_. ______________
Discharge rate___________
Lay-off rate. ____________
Total separation rate_____
Accession rate
________
0.89
.09
16.56
17. 54
1.99
1 .0 0
.17
1.38
2. 55
1.79
(i)
(i)
(!)
(0
(0
0.45
.2 1
6 . 00
6 . 66
2.14
0. 64
.29
3.31
4. 24
2. 38
0.62
. 15
1.95
2. 72
4. 60
1
Rates not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0.49
.09
2. 39
2.97
2. 52
0 . 68
.2 1
2. 23
3.12
5. 71
Cotton manufacturing
0.83
.2 0
3.52
4. 55
4.16
0.31
. 22
6 .0 1
6 . 54
4.01
0.71
.1 0
1 .0 0
1.81
1.69
1 .1 1
.25
2.48
3. 84
4.17
0. 78
.24
2. 31
3. 33
4.01
0. 39
. 12
2. 27
2. 78
(0
0)
0)
1 .6 8
0
(')
)
0. 79
.08
1. 35
2 .2 2
2.51
1.04
.30
7.45
8.79
5. 32
1.33
.33
6 . 53
8.19
4. 67
0. 55
.30
8.05
8.90
4. 45
0. 67
.13
6.13
6 .93
5. 31
0.51
. 16
13.10
13.77
8 .0 2
Foundries and machine
shops
0. 57
.23
1.97
2. 77
3.13
0. 75
.25
1.65
2. 65
4. 51
0.45
.1 2
2. 37
2.94
6 .0 2
M en’s clothing
0. 37
.06
1.36
1. 79
2 . 06
0. 52
.05
3.83
4. 40
3. 63
0. 77
.05
2 . 66
3. 48
2. 74
0. 42
.06
5. 02
5. 50
3.02
Slaughtering and meat
packing
Sawmills
Petroleum refining
Quit rate ____________ Discharge rate___ ______
_____
Lay-off rate ___
Total separation rate. _
Accession rate________ ___
0.44
. 15
3. 22
2.81
2.16
Iron and steel
Furniture
Quit r a te _______________
Discharge rate___________
Lay-off rate._ ___________
Total separation rate_____
Accession r a t e .__________
Bricks
Boots and shoes
Automobiles
0. 94
.28
7. 64
8 .8 6
5. 30
0. 67
.17
7. 72
8 . 56
6.05
0 . 82
.26
6 . 47
7. 55
8.28
0. 75
.26
13. 74
14. 75
9.10
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
E n tran ce R ates Paid to Com m on Labor, J u ly 19351
HE hourly entrance rate of pay for persons engaged in unskilled
common labor in the United States averaged 45.1 cents in July
1935. This is disclosed by the tenth annual survey of common
labor by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which covered adult male
workers 2 in 13 important industries.
T
Varying Usages of Term “Common Labor”
T h e k e is no standard definition of the term “common labor”, its
meaning varying considerably from one plant to another. Some
employers define common labor in terms of relative skill. They
single out the skilled workers—those required to go through a stated
period of apprenticeship or training—and assign to them definite
occupational designations. The semiskilled and unskilled workers,
who need little or no training for their work, are grouped together
and designated on the pay roll as “laborers.” In such plants the
definition of common labor becomes a very broad one, as the tend
ency is to include in that term even the great body of machine oper
ators who are semiskilled. Other employers define common labor
in terms of whether or not the employee requires any training at
all; in other words, they include under that designation only workers
who perform certain tasks with no more than specific instructions
from the foreman. Still other employers look upon common labor
from the standpoint of the exact duties that the man performs.
Hence, as soon as a person is assigned to a particular job, however
simple, he is no longer regarded as a common laborer. At the same
time a worker who has no specific job but is shifted around from one
unskilled task to another is considered a common laborer. Still other
employers make their classification from the standpoint of physical
strength; thus, work based on manual force, with duties not requiring
the use of machines, is looked upon as such labor.
In view of this variety of conceptions, it was necessary for the
Bureau to formulate its own definition of the term. Accordingly, in
1 Prepared by Paul H. Moncure, under the direction of Jacob Perlman, chief of Division of Wages, Hours,
and Working Conditions.
2 The number of females doing common labor is very limited, and it has been thought advisable to
exclude them from the scope of this investigation. M ost unskilled woman workers are engaged in
sweeping, dusting, cleaning, etc.
698
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AG ES AND H O U RS OF LABOR
699
its studies the Bureau is using the term to mean “workers who per
form physical or manual labor of general character requiring little
skill or training”, thus excluding machine operators and semiskilled
employees.
Survey Limited to Common Laborers Receiving Entrance Rate
I n t h i s survey the Bureau limited the inquiry entirely to the
entrance rate of pay, which is the amount paid when the worker is
first hired. In many plants all common laborers receive a single rate,
which is, of course, the entrance rate. On the other hand, in some
plants there are several entrance rates for common labor, which
may vary according to conditions of work, race of employee, etc.
Among the conditions of work that affect the entrance rate of pay
are the degree of hazard involved in the job, the heaviness of the
work, the unpleasantness of the surrounding conditions, and the
degree to which the worker is exposed to the weather. For example,
men hired to do excavation work where explosives are used are paid
a higher rate than the average. This is also true of jobs in which
the worker comes in contact with acids, dust, unusual heat, high
humidity, etc. Finally, outside laborers usually receive higher rates
than inside laborers. Also, in certain localities, colored workers are
paid less than white workers even though doing the same kind of work.
No attempt was made in the survey to cover common labor receiv
ing rates higher than those received at entrance,3 except that this
year, for the first time, the Bureau asked employers to state also
the number of those working at a higher rate than that received at
entrance. In past surveys the questionnaire mentioned one “com
mon labor” class only. It was found that establishment of the
double classifications of common labor “at entrance rate” and “above
entrance rate” resulted in a considerable reduction in the net num
ber of workers reported in this survey. Evidently, in many cases
employers previously have included in their reports all common
laborers, whether they were working at the actual entrance rate or
at higher rates.
The survey this year covered 119,681 employees at entrance rates.
Sixty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty-four other employees
were reported who were being paid more than the entrance rate.
While the total number of employees for whom reports were received
is greater than the number covered in the 1934 survey (173,188 em
ployees), the present analysis is confined to the 119,681 employees
found working at the entrance rate in July 1935.
a In certain plants increases are granted later for length of service, skill, etc. As regards length of service,
it was found that in some plants the common laborer’s pay was raised a few cents after a probationary
period to determine whether or not to retain the man on the job. Although skill in the usual sense plays
a very small part in connection with common labor, capacity is often taken into consideration in fixing the
pay of the worker above the entrance rate.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
700
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
As in former surveys, this study covered 13 industries, chosen
because they employ a large number of common laborers. These
include the general contracting industry, in which employment of
common laborers is particularly widespread, and 12 manufacturing
industries (including public utilities). These 12 industries also supply
the Bureau with monthly data concerning employment and pay rolls.
In summarizing the data, averages were computed for industries
and geographic divisions and for the United States as a whole.
These averages were obtained by weighting the entrance rates re
ported by the number receiving them in various plants. In each
case high and low figures are also presented, thus giving the range of
the rates. Also, a frequency tabulation was made, which shows
the distribution of the workers according to the entrance rates of pay.
Wage Distribution of Common Laborers, by Regions
A l t h o u g h 45.1 cents is the average hourly entrance rate for the
13 industries in the country as a whole, the figures found by the
survey ranged from a low of 14.5 to a high of 95 cents. A picture
of the distribution of rates between these extremes may be had from
table 1. Very few workers received an entrance wage of less than 22.5
cents or more than 77.5 cents per hour. About one-sixth earned 22.5
and under 37.5 cents per hour, while another sixth received 52.5 and
under 77.5 cents per hour. However, the remaining workers, comprising
two-thirds of the total, received 37.5 and under 52.5 cents per hour.
T able 1 .— D istrib u tio n o f A d u lt M ale W orkers E n gaged in C om m on Labor
A ccording to H ou rly E n tran ce R a tes in 13 In du stries, b y R egion , Ju ly 1935
United States
Hourly entrance rate
Total.
Under 17.5 cen ts...........
17.5 and under 22.5 cents.
22.5 and under 27.5 cents.
27.5 and under 32.5 cents.
32.5 and under 37.5 cents.
37.5 and under 42.5 cents.
42.5 and under 47.5 cents.
47.5 and under 52.5 cents.
52.5 and under 57.5 cents.
57.5 and under 62.5 cents.
62.5 and under 67.5 cents.
67.5 and under 72.5 cents.
72.5 and under 77.5 cents.
77.5 and under 82.5 cents.
82.5 and under 87.5 cents.
87.5 cents and over_____
North i
South
2
Cumu
Cumu
Cumu
N um Simple
um Simple lative N um Simple lative
per lative N
per
ber of per
ber of cent
ber of centper
per labor
per
centlaborers
cent laborers
cent
cent
age
age
ers
age
age
age
age
119, 681
100.0
371
383
5,178
8,962
5,900
29,235
26,931
23, 585
6,116
2, 520
4,323
663
4,944
93
317
160
.3
.3
4.3
7.5
4.9
24.5
22.5
19.7
5.1
2.1
3.6
.6
4.1
.1
.3
.1
94,481
100.0
25, 200
0.3
.6
4.9
12.4
17.3
41.8
64.3
84.0
89.1
91.2
94.8
95 4
99.5
99.6
99.9
100.0
140
2,112
3,411
23, 074
24,856
22, 397
5,972
2, 207
4,323
663
4, 756
93
317
160
.1
2.2
3.6
24.5
26.3
23.7
6.3
2.4
4.6
.7
5.0
.
1
.2
.3
0.1
2.3
5.9
30.4
56.7
80.4
86.7
89.1
93 7
94.4
99.4
99.5
99.8
371
383
5,038
6 , 850
2, 489
6,161
2, 075
1,188
144
313
188
100.0
1.5
1.5
20.0
27.2
9.9
24.5
8.2
4.7
.6
1.2
.7
1.5
3.0
23.0
50.1
60.1
84.6
92.8
97.5
98.1
99.3
99.3
99.3
100.0
100.0
1 Includes the following geographic divisions: N ew England, M iddle Atlantic, East North Central,
West North Central, Mountain, and Pacific.
2 Includes the following geographic divisions: South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central.
The degree of concentration is more marked when the rates are
analyzed on a regional basis, as in table 2. This table indicates the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
701
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
existence of two wage levels with respect to hourly entrance rates.
One of these levels is found in the South Atlantic, East South Central,
and West South Central divisions, which roughly correspond to the
‘‘South” as generally classified in the codes under the National
Recovery Administration. Here the average entrance rate per hour
was 34.3 cents, with a range from 14.5 to 75 cents. Separating this
territory into its three divisions, the average hourly entrance rate
amounted to 32.1 cents in the West South Central States, comprising
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. It was somewhat
higher (34.7 cents) in the East South Central States, which include
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and was highest
(35.9 cents) in the South Atlantic States of Delaware, Maryland,
District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The high level in this last
group is probably due to the inclusion of Delaware, Maryland, West
Virginia, and the District of Columbia, which are ordinarily classed
as northern territory and where higher wages prevail.
The other wage level appears in the remainder of the United States,
which covers the geographical divisions of New England, Middle
Atlantic, East North Central, West North Central, Mountain, and
Pacific. This territory has been generally classified in the N. R. A.
codes as the “North.” The average hourly entrance rate for the
workers in this territory as a whole was 48.0 cents, and ranged from
a low of 22.5 to a high of 95.0 cents. The highest average entrance
rate per hour, 49.7 cents, was found in the Middle Atlantic States.
The next highest figure appeared in the Mountain States, where it
amounted to 48.5 cents. In the East and West North Central
States the average hourly entrance rate was 48.0 cents. A slightly
lower figure was reported for the Pacific States, where the average
entrance rate per hour was 47.3 cents, while the lowest average, namely
44.6 cents per hour, was found in the New England area. In other
words, the low-paid areas in the northern territory seem to be con
centrated along the Pacific Coast and in the New England States.
Table 2.—Hourly Entrance Rates of Adult Male Workers Engaged in Common
Labor in 13 Industries, by Geographic Division, July 1935
Region and geographic division
Total United States____ ____________ ___________
Total North_____________________ _________________
N ew England ______ ______ ____________ -Middle Atlantic. . . . . __________________
East North Central___ ________ ______
W est North Central_____________ ________
M ountain
___
_____
. ___
Pacific__ _____
. . . __________ ______ ___
Total South----------------------------- ----------------------------South Atlantic___ ________ _______
___
East South Central________________________
West South Central...... .................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Number of
laborers
119,681
94,481
7,539
23,141
35, 034
12, 530
3,331
12,906
25,200
10,993
5,094
9,113
Hourly entrance rates (in cents)
Average
45.1
48.0
44.6
49.7
48.0
48.0
48.5
47.3
34.3
35.9
34.7
32.1
Low
14.5
22.5
28.0
30.0
22.5
25.0
22.5
24.3
14.5
14.5
23.0
15.0
High
95.0
95.0
70.0
93.8
95.0
78.8
65.0
75.0
75.0
55.0
75.0
58.0
702
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
An examination of the distribution of laborers according to hourlyentrance rates for the North, which appears in table 1, indicates that
nearly 75 percent of the workers earned between 37.5 and 52.5 cents
per hour. There were no laborers reported as receiving less than 22.5
cents per hour, while those paid 22.5 and under 27.5 cents per hour
amounted to only one-tenth of 1 percent. There were 5.8 percent
earning between 27.5 and 37.5 cents per hour. About 19 percent
were found in the classes paid between 52.5 and 77.5 cents per hour.
Only 0.6 percent of the workers received 77.5 cents and over per hour.
An entirely different picture is obtained from an inspection of the
distribution covering the South, which contains two points of con
centration. Only 3 percent of the laborers earned less than 22.5
cents per hour. The first concentration appears in the classes of
22.5 and under 27.5 and 27.5 and under 32.5 cents per hour, which
include, respectively, 20.0 and 27.2 percent of the workers. This is
followed by a reduction to 9.9 percent in the next class, namely 32.5
and under 37.5 cents per hour. The succeeding class, of 37.5 and
under 42.5 cents per hour, contains the second point of concentration,
the percentage here being 24.5. The remaining workers, 15.4 per
cent, are distributed over a range of classes from 42.5 and under
77.5 cents, there being no persons reported as receiving an hourly
rate in excess of the latter figure.
The existence of a bimodal distribution in the South may be
explained in terms of both race4 and industry. The first concentra
tion probably includes many of the Negro workers. These are
employed in practically all industries, but they are found particularly
in the lumber industry, which reported the lowest average hourly
entrance rate in the South. The second concentration doubtless
includes many of the white workers, who are employed especially in
large numbers in petroleum refining and in the iron and steel industry
which showed the highest average entrance rates per hour in the
South. (See table 4.)
Average Rates by Industry
A n examination of the average hourly entrance rates by industry,
as shown in table 3, indicates that the highest rate was paid in auto
mobile manufacturing, where 61.2 cents per hour was reported for
common labor. Next in order was petroleum refining, where the
rate was 52.2 cents. The lumber industry (sawmills) reported the
lowest average hourly entrance rate, namely 35.6 cents, and the
* The questionnaire called for separate data w ith respect to colored and white laborers. Only a relatively
small number of employers made this separation, however, and in most cases the entrance rate paid was
the same for both races. It is well known, nevertheless, that in numerous plants Negro and white workers
are not employed together, and that as a rule those employing Negro workers pay less than the ones using
white labor only.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
703
WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
second lowest figure, or 38.2 cents, was in the brick, tile, and terra
cotta industry. In the remaining manufacturing industries the aver
age hourly entrance rate varied from 40 cents in foundries and
machine shops to 45.7 cents in slaughtering and meat packing. The
average found in general contracting was 48.1 cents per hour, which
may be compared with 44.5 cents in all manufacturing industries
combined.
Table 3.—Hourly Entrance Rates of Adult Male Workers Engaged in Common
Labor, and Average Hourly Earnings of All Wage Earners, by Industry,
July 1935
Number of laborers
Industry
At en
trance
rates
Hourly entrance rates
(in cents)
At above
entrance
rates
Aver
age
High
Low
Average
hourly
earnings
of all
wage
earners
(in cents ) 1
All industries.......... .......................................- ...........
119,681
67, 002
45.1
95.0
14.5
Manufacturing industries........................................
97, 881
62, 994
44.5
80.0
14.5
67.5
Automobile_______________________ _____
Brick, tile, and terra cotta________ _______
Cement________________________________
Electrical machinery, apparatus and sup
plies
__ _______________________
Foundry and machine-shop products...........
Iron and steel.......... ..........................................
Leather________________________________
Lumber (sawmills)______________________
Paper and pulp________ ________________
Petroleum refining............................
......
Public utilities s__________ ______________
Slaughtering and meat packing. ________
14,296
3, 451
1,472
6,644
2 , 010
574
61.2
38.2
44.3
75.0
80.0
60.0
35.0
15.0
30.0
75.7
45.6
56.1
450
7,588
16,245
2,291
12,422
16,343
3,701
15,723
3,899
3,552
6,358
2,840
3,524
5,599
11,383
3,150
7,076
10,284
42.9
40.0
44.1
41.9
35.6
41.1
52.2
42.0
45.7
60.0
62.5
50.0
57.5
50.0
55.0
65.0
50.0
34.0
18.0
25.0
26.0
14.5
23.0
36.9
15.0
30.0
61.3
59.8
65.7
55.8
44.6
53.1
81.3
73.8
55.7
General contracting A...............................................
21,800
4,008
48.1
95.0
25.0
6 8 .0
0
)
(2)
> From M onthly Labor Review, October 1935: Trend of Employm ent and Pay Rolls.
available.
1 Not
* Includes street railways, gas works, and electric power and light plants.
* Includes building, highway, public works, and railroad construction.
From reports on employment and pay rolls the Bureau computes
averages of actual earnings per hour of all wage earners in each of the
above manufacturing industries, and it is possible to compare these
figures with the average hourly entrance rates paid to common labor
in each case. In doing this, it should be remembered that the average
hourly earnings for all wage earners include those receiving the
entrance rate, so that comparison is made between the common
laborers and the workers in the industry as a whole. It will be seen
that the average hourly entrance rate of common laborers is very
close to the average hourly earnings of all wage earners in those indus
tries in which a relatively large proportion of common laborers are
employed, notably brick, tile, and terra cotta, lumber (sawmills),
and slaughtering and meat packing. On the other hand, in those
industries where the proportion of common laborers is relatively less,
the average entrance rate per hour is considerably different from the
average hourly earnings of all workers. This is particularly true
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
704
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
of such industries as foundries and machine shops, iron and steel,
petroleum refining, and public utilities.
In each industry covered the average hourly entrance rate was
considerably higher in the North than in the South, which may be
seen by an examination of table 4. The differential varied from 5
cents in iron and steel to 19.5 cents in the lumber industry (sawmills).
T able 4 .— A verage H ou rly E n tran ce R a tes o f A d u lt M ale W orkers E n gaged in
C om m on Labor, b y In d u stry and R egion , Ju ly 1935
Average hourly rates (in cents)
Industry
United
States
North i
South
2
All industries_________________________________________________
45.1
48.0
34.3
Manufacturing industries ___________________ _________________
44.5
47.5
33.8
Automobile, _________ __________________ ________ _____
Brick, tile, and terra cotta ________________________________
Cement___
_____________________ _______________ - _Electrical machinery, apparatus and supplies ________________
Foundry and machine shop products.-"-!........ .................................
Iron and steel__ _ _____
.
___________________________
Leather______ _ _ ________ ____________________________
Lumber (sawmills)___________________ ____ _____ __________
Paper and pulp________ _____ __________________ ____ _____ _
Petroleum refining___________ _____ _____ __________________
Public utilities *________ ____ _______ _______________ ______
Slaughtering and meat packing___________________________
61.2
38.2
44.3
42. 9
40. 0
44.1
41.9
35.6
41.1
52.2
42. 0
45.7
61.1
40. 5
46.7
42.9
41.2
45.3
44. 0
43.5
43.1
56.0
45.6
46.5
48.1
50.2
General contracting 3__________________ ______ ______
__
(3)
(3)
31.6
36.2
33.2
40.3
35.4
24.0
33. 5
47.2
32.7
39.2
37.0
1 Includes the following geographic divisions: N ew England, Middle Atlantic, East North Central, West
North Central, M ountain, and Pacific.
2 Includes the following geographic divisions: South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South
Central.
3 Figures omitted, as data cover less than 3 establishments.
4 Includes street railways, gas works, and electric power and light plants.
3 Includes building, highway, public works, and railroad construction.
The average hourly entrance rates, together with the low and
high figures for each industry by geographic divisions, are shown in
table 5.
T able 5 .— H ou rly E n tran ce R a te s of A d ult M ale W orkers E n gaged in C om m on
Labor, by In d u stry and G eographic D iv isio n , Ju ly 1935
Geographic division
Industry
Automobile:
Low_____
_______ _- _
H igh___________________ _____
Average.- - ____. . . _________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta:
Low___ _______ _____ ____
H igh_________________________
Average.. _ _____ ___________
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
New
Eng
land
ct.
35.0
40.0
38.1
1
M id East West South East West
North North
dle
South M oun Pa
A t South
A t
Cen Cen
Cen Cen tain
cific
lantic tral
tral lantic
tral
tral
ct.
C t.
C t.
C t.
35.0
75.0
73.3
38. 0
75.0
55.4
47. 0
75. 0
67.8
(2)
(2)
(2)
33.3
47.0
40.9
35.0
80.0
40.8
35.5
40.0
37.8
2 0 .0
50.0
34.8
C t.
(2)
C t.
C t.
(2)
(2)
(2)
24.0
39.0
32.5
C t.
(2)
(2)
15.0
30.0
24.0
30.0
43.8
39.0
35.0
50.0
42.9
705
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 5.—Hourly Entrance Rates of Adult Male Workers Engaged in Common
Labor, by Industry and Geographic Division, July 1935—Continued
Geographic division
Industry
New
Eng
land
Cement:
Low______ _________________
.
__________
High_______
Average______________________
Electrical “ machinery, apparatus,
and supplies:
Low____
High.
________
Average
Foundry and machine-shop products:
Low______ . . . _____ _ _____
H igh_________________________
. ...
Average___ __________
Iron and steel:
Low____ __ - _______
___
High
Average_________
Leather:
Low____ ____ __________ _____
H ig h .______________
Average.
. . ________
Lumber (sawmills):
Low___ _ .
___. . .
H igh-------------------------------------Average.. ___________ ______
Paper and pulp:
Low_________________________
High. .
Average..
. . ______
Petroleum refining:
L ow ... .. __________________
H ig h ... _ ______ ______ _____
Average _____ _ __ . _____
Public utilities :8
Low_______ .
.....................
High-------------------------------------Average____ ________________
Slaughtering and meat packing:
Low___
. . _______________
High_____
. . _____
. ________ ___
Average___
General contracting :4
Low___________ .
_______ _
High-------------------------------------Average_____ _______________
1
M id East West South East West
dle North North At South South M oun Pa
A t
Cen Cen lantic Cen Cen tain
cific
tral
tral
tral
tral
lantic
C t.
C t.
C t.
C t.
Ct.
C t.
C t.
C t.
44.0
47.0
44. 6
40.0
60.0
45.5
43.5
55.0
50. 3
0
0
0
34.0
35.0
34.8
30.0
40.0
34.8
35. 0
51. 0
43. 5
40.0
51.0
42.8
34.0
60.0
45.7
37.0
40.0
38.3
0
0
0
36.0
55.0
40.0
35.0
50.0
41.8
30.0
62.5
41.1
37.0
40.0
38.7
18.0
41.0
32.6
28.0
40.0
32.9
27.5
40.0
34. 1
(2)
(2)
0
35. 0
50. 0
45.4
37.0
48. 5
45.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
25. 0
48. 5
41.7
27. 5
47. 5
36. 0
32.0
57. 5
51.3
32.0
53. 8
45.5
30. 0
45. 0
38.0
0
0
0
26.0
40.0
35.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
27.5
42.5
32.2
33.5
41.8
39.7
14.5
32.0
25.0
24.0
29.5
24. 1
15.0
24.0
23.6
32. 5
49. 0
43. 0
37 0
55. 0
42.9
32. 0
52. 0
42.2
38.0
45.0
41.9
30.0
50. 0
33. 5
23.0
37. 5
33.6
30. 0
36.0
33.4
52.0
61.9
58.3
52.0
56.0
52.5
48.0
53.0
49.3
0
0
0
0
(2)
0
38.0
58.0
47.3
50.0
50.0
50.0
47.0
65.0
57.7
22.5
24.0
40.0
31.7
2 0 .0
40.0
29.0
22.5
62. 5
44.4
24.3
60.0
42. 2
30.0
42.0
39.2
0
0
0
44.0
47.5
46.9
25.0
40.0
35.9
40.0
65.0
54.3
40.0
75.0
57.1
C t.
28.0
67.5
47.8
6 6 .0
6 8 .0
46.9
50.0
25.0
50.0
38.4
15.0
50.0
35.4
(2)
Í2)
(2)
42.5
50.0
44.1
40.0
47.5
45.0
40.0
48.5
47.3
0
0
40.0
70.0
47.5
35.0
93.8
50.0
35.0
95.0
51.7
30.0
78.8
46.5
25.0
55.0
37.7
31.5
0
0
0
0
40.0
55.0
45. 0
0
0
0
38.5
42.0
41. 1
0
0
0
0
0
0
25.0
45.0
36.8
42.5
50.0
48.7
35.0
50.0
46.4
45. 0
50.0
47. 6
1 N ew England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, N ew Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
Middle Atlantic: N ew Jersey, N ew York, Pennsylvania. East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, M ichi
gan, Ohio, Wisconsin. West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota,
South Dakota. South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Elorida, Georgia, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia. East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Missis
sippi, Tennessee. West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas. Mountain: Arizona,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, N ew Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming. Pacific: California, Oregon,
Washington.
2 Figures omitted, as data cover less than 3 establishments.
2 Includes street railways, gas works, and electric power and light plants.
4 Includes building, highway, public works, and railroad construction.
Trend of Rates, 1926 to 1935
As already noted, the Bureau has collected data on entrance rates
for common labor annually for the last 10 years. Table 6 shows the
average entrance rates of pay per hour on an annual basis since 1926.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
706
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — MARCH 1 9 3 6
Although these figures are not strictly comparable from year to year,5
they may nevertheless be used to trace the general trend in the data
during the entire period. In all industries combined, the highest
average rate was paid in 1928. After that there was a gradual decline
until 1933. Both 1934 and 1935 showed a rise, and in 1935 the average
rate was slightly above the peak rate of 1928. The same is true of the
movements in the average covering the manufacturing industries. In
general contracting, however, the highest point in the average was
attained in 1929, after which there was a continuous decline until 1933.
Although there has been an increase since then, the 1935 figure was
still slightly below the former high level.
Table 6.—Average Hourly Entrance Rates of Adult Male Workers Engaged in
Common Labor in 13 Industries for July of Each Year, 1926 to 1935
Average hourly entrance rates
(in cents)
Year
1 Includes
2 Includes
Year
All in
dustries
M anu
facturing
indus
tries 1
General
contract
ing 2
42.8
42.6
44.9
43.7
43.1
40.9
40.4
44.1
42.1
41.6
47.1
48.2
47.4
48.3
47.0
1926_____________
1927____ _________
1928____ ________
1929_____________
1930_____________
Average hourly entrance rates
(in cents)
All in
dustries
1931____ _________
1932_____________
1933_____________
1934_____________
1935........................
41.2
38.1
35.0
43.0
45.1
M anu General
facturing contract
indus
ing 2
tries 1
40.7
37.6
34.2
42.3
44.5
42.6
39.9
38.3
45.5
48.1
public utilities.
building, highway, public works, and railroad construction.
A verage A n n u a l E arnings in O hio, 1933 and 1934 6
EPORTS from practically all establishments in Ohio employing
^ three or more persons and falling within the general industry
groups of manufactures, wholesale and retail trade, service, transpor
tation and public utilities (except interstate transportation and
activities of Government units), construction, and agriculture show
E
« This is due to several reasons: (1) In order to get the widest possible coverage each year, the averages
were not computed on the basis of identical establishments; (2 ) different weights, in terms of the number of
workers actually receiving the various entrance rates, were used each year; (3) it has been found that in past
years many establishments included other common laborers among those receiving the entrance rates, which
gave to the entrance rates of those establishments an undue weight.
In order to reduce the data to a basis of strict comparability, it would be necessary to develop an index
number in the following manner: First, calculate link relatives from averages computed each year by using
identical establishments and weighting the entrance rates for both years by the number of workers a c tu a lly
receiving these rates in the current year; and, second, weld the links together into a continuous chain with
a fixed base. Rough calculations for 1934 and 1935 indicate that the average would not, however, be
greatly changed by a refinement of method.
6 B y Fred C. Croxton, Columbus, Ohio, and Frederick E. Croxton, Columbia University. A series of
articles on Average Annual Wage and Salary Payments in Ohio, published in the M onthly Labor Review
beginning in January 1934, covered the years 1916 to 1932 for most industries, and 1918 to 1932 for construc
tion and for all industries combined. A second series beginning in the Labor Review for April 1935 covered
1929 to 1933. A third series beginning with this issue w ill cover 1933 and 1934. The first series was also
published in U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 613. Average Annual Wage and Salary Payments
in Mining and Quarrying in Ohio were published in the Labor Review for November 1935 and February
1936. The 2 articles cover the years 1916 to 1934. Fluctuation of employment in Ohio is shown in the
M onthly Labor Review for January 1936. In that article the group “all industries” includes mining and
quarrying.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
707
average annual wage and salary payments of $1,089 in 1934, as com
pared with $997 in 1933 and $1,480 in 1929.
The reports show average annual payments of $1,047 in 1934,
$938 in 1933, and $1,457 in 1929 to the occupation group “wage
earners” ; $1,374 in 1934, $1,336 in 1933, and $1,677 in 1929 to
bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks; and $971 in 1934,
$917 in 1933, and $1,374 in 1929 to salespeople (not traveling).
Considering all employees (exclusive of superintendents and
managers), there were increases from 1933 to 1934 of 125,602, or 14.7
percent, in average number employed; of $215,123,127, or 25.2 percent,
in total wage and salary payments; and of $92, or 9.2 percent, in aver
age annual wage and salary payments. A comparison of 1934 with
1929 shows decreases of 298,398 in average number employed, of
$825,272,812 in total wage and salary payments, and of $391 in
average annual wage and salary payments.
Considering all occupation groups combined, except superintendents
and managers, average annual wage and salary payments in 1934 were
higher than in 1933 in each of the six general industry groups included
in this article and also higher than in 1932 in manufactures, transpor
tation and public utilities, and all industries combined.
Sources and Scope of Study
F or details regarding employers’ reports from which average wage
and salary payments in this study were computed, see Monthly Labor
Review, April 1935 (pp. 986, 987).
The approximate completeness of the material included in the Ohio
reports can be seen by a comparison of the Ohio reports with certain
reports issued by the United States Bureau of the Census.
The United States Biennial Census of Manufactures canvasses
manufacturing concerns reporting a “value of product” for the year
of $5,000 or more. The Ohio reports, on the other hand, include only
a few establishments employing fewer than three persons. The
census figures therefore include a number of small manufacturing
establishments not requested to furnish information to the Ohio
Division of Labor Statistics.
In table 1 the census and the Ohio reports are compared for each of
the years in which the census made its biennial report during the
period 1929 to 1935.2 In each of the 3 years the establishments
covered by the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics included more than
95 percent of the wage earners reported by the census and more than
96 percent of the total wage payments.
2
For comparison with earlier years see M onthly Labor Review, January 1934 (pp. 144,146, and 153).
4964 5 — 36-------13
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
708
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 1.—Comparison of Coverage of Census R eports1 on Manufactures in
Ohio and of Reports (Manufactures Only) of Ohio Division of Labor Statistics,
1929, 1931, and 1933
Number of
establishments
Number of wage earners
(average)
Year
1929............ .
1931_________
1933_________
United Ohio
States reports
census
United
States
census
Ohio
reports
11,800
9,826
740, 240
506,109
472, 699
718,108
482,782
449,378
8 ,1 0 1
10,035
9,683
8 , 755
Total wage and salary payments to wage
earners
Percent
Ohio
coverage United States
census
forms of
census
coverage
Ohio reports
97.0 $1,101,158, 230 $1,076,213,730
592,134, 643
95.4
571,917, 215
439, 752,673
426, 727,589
95.1
Percent
Ohio
coverage
forms of
census
coverage
97.7
96.6
97.0
1 Press release, U. S. Bureau of the Census, M ay 27, 1935. This release revised 1929 and 1931 figures by
deducting figures for two comparatively small industries which were not canvassed in 1933.
Table 2 shows data relating to employment, and wage and salary
payments in Ohio, for all industries combined (except mining and
quarrying), and for each of the general industry groups—construction,
agriculture, manufactures, wholesale and retail trade, service indus
tries, and transportation and public utilities. Interstate transpor
tation and activities of governmental units are not included. The
years covered are 1933 and 1934. Data for earlier years were pub
lished in the Monthly Labor Review for April 1935 and in Bulletin
No. 613 of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The annual reports made to the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics
by employers show the number of persons employed on the 15th of
each month. The averages shown in this article were computed by
dividing the sum of the monthly figures by 12. The average annual
wage and salary payment was computed by dividing the total wage
and salary payment for the year by the average number of persons
employed.
The average annual payments shown in table 2 should not be taken
as exact measures but as approximate figures. It should be em
phasized that average annual wage and salary payments as here
computed do not show full-time earnings, as data concerning parttime and overtime work are not available. Average full-time earn
ings may be either greater or less than the computed average. Neither
do changes in the averages from year to year afford any measure of
changes in wage or salary scales, or rates of pay.
In supplying data concerning total wage and salary payments,
employers were requested to report total wage and salary payments
in dollars, including bonuses and premiums and value of board and
lodging furnished. Employers were also instructed not to include
salaries of officials. Data, other than total wage and salary pay
ments, are not requested concerning superintendents and managers.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
709
W AG ES AND HOURS OF LABOR
All industries.—The first section of table 2 presents data for all
industries combined (agriculture, construction, manufactures, serv
ice, wholesale and retail trade, and transportation and public utilities).
The average number of wage earners employed in 1934 was 109,285
greater than in 1933 and 258,860 less than in 1929, total wage and
salary payments were $186,044,053 greater than in 1933 and $690,572,763 less than in 1929, and average annual payments $109 higher
than in 1933 and $410 lower than in 1929.
The average number of bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks employed in 1934 was 11,140 greater than in 1933 and 25,850
less than in 1929, total wage and salary payments were $20,367,622
greater than in 1933 and $86,500,516 less than in 1929, and average
annual payments $38 higher than in 1933 and $303 lower than in
1929.
1924
1926
C H A R T
1928
1930
1932
1.—A v e r a g e A n n u a l W a g e a n d S a l a r y P a y m e n t s in a l l
g r o u p s C o m b in e d , b y G e n e r a l O c c u p a t io n G r o u p s , 1924 t o
1934
In d u s t r y
1934.
The average number of salespeople (not traveling) employed in
1934 was 5,177 greater than in 1933 and 13,689 less than in 1929,
total wage and salary payments were $8,711,452 greater than in 1933
and $48,199,533 less than in 1929, and average annual payments
$54 higher than in 1933 and $403 lower than in 1929.
Considering the three general occupation groups combined, the
average number employed in 1934 was 125,602 greater than in 1933
and 298,398 less than in 1929, total wage and salary payments were
$215,123,127 greater than in 1933 and $825,272,812 less than in
1929, and average annual payments $92 higher than in 1933 and $391
lower than in 1929.
For the three general occupation groups combined, the 1934 index
(1926 = 100.0) of employment was 83.4, of total wage and salary
payments 63.2, and of average annual payments 75.8.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
710
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Charts 1 and 2 show data for all industries combined for the 11
years, 1924 to 1934, superintendents and managers not being included.
Agriculture.—The returns received do not give a complete picture
of agriculture for the reason that comparatively few engaged in
agriculture in Ohio, other than the larger commercial undertakings,
employ as many as three persons. The average number of wage
earners reported employed in 1934 was 465 greater than in 1933 and
661 less than in 1929. Total wage and salary payments to wage
earners in 1934 were $478,327 greater than in 1933 and $3,400,409
less than in 1929, and average annual payments were $27 higher
C h a r t 2.— In d e x e s o f A v e r a g e N u m b e r E m p l o y e d a n d T o t a l a n d a v e r a g e
A n n u a l W a g e a n d s a l a r y p a y m e n t s in a l l In d u s t r y G r o u p s C o m b i n e d ,
1924 TO 1934 (1926= 100).
than in 1933 and $356 lower than in 1929. Averages are not shown
except for the occupations numerically important, and owing to
incomplete coverage, indexes were computed only for average annual
payments. The index of average annual payments in 1934 was
63*0.
Construction.—The average number of wage earners employed in
1934 was 4,985 greater than in 1933 and 47,814 less than in 1929,
total wage and salary payments were $7,517,355 greater than in 1933
and $97,582,066 less than in 1929, and average annual payments $138
higher than in 1933 and $709 lower than in 1929. For wage earners,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
711
the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was 33.3, of total wage
and salary payments 19.8, and of average annual payments 59.5.
Indexes are not shown except for wage earners.
Manufactures.—The average number of wage earners employed
in 1934 was 84,296 greater than in 1933 and 184,434 less than in 1929,
total wage and salary payments were $149,763,043 greater than in
1933 and $499,723,098 less than in 1929, and average annual pay
ments to wage earners $130 higher than in 1933 and $419 lower than
in 1929.
The average number of bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks employed in 1934 was 6,914 greater than in 1933 and 18,641
less than in 1929, total wage and salary payments were $13,613,772
greater than in 1933 and $51,750,054 less than in 1929, and average
annual payments $62 higher than in 1933 and $302 lower than in 1929.
For wage earners the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
79.4, of total wage and salary payments 59.2, and of average annual
payments 74.6. For the clerical group, the index of employment was
85.1, of total payments 74.4, and of average annual payments 87.5.
Indexes are not shown for the sales group.
Service industries,3—Considering all employees, except superin
tendents and managers, the average number reported employed in
1934 was 12,432 greater than in 1933 and 9,370 less than in 1929,
total wage and salary payments were $14,313,871 greater than in 1933
and $66,207,836 less than in 1929, and average annual payments $13
higher than in 1933 and $370 lower than in 1929. The 1934 index
(1926 = 100.0) of average annual payments was 78.1.
The general industry group “service” includes a number of activi
ties and industries seldom covered in statistical studies and for some
of these it was very difficult to secure mailing lists. By persistent
effort the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics has built up such lists and
has secured a much more satisfactory coverage during recent years.
This fact of more nearly complete coverage year after year should
be borne in mind particularly in considering average number employed
and total wage and salary payments. Indexes of average employ
ment and total wage and salary payments are not shown.
Trade, wholesale and retail.—The average number of wage earners
employed in 1934 was 6,598 greater than in 1933 and 2,324 less than
in 1929, total payments were $9,819,719 greater than in 1933 and
$16,568,098 less than in 1929, and average annual payments $62
higher than in 1933 and $249 lower than in 1929.
The average number of bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks employed in 1934 was 782 greater than in 1933 and 5,520 less
3 The principal industries and activities classified under the industry group “service” are: Hotels,
restaurants, clubs, theaters, bowling alleys, servants in private homes, garages, laundering and dry cleaning,
barbers and hairdressers, banks, offices, office buildings, welfare agencies, hospitals, churches, schools
and colleges, photographers, shoe repairing, undertakers, cemeteries, etc.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
712
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
than in 1929, total payments were $2,648,665 greater than in 1933
and $11,550,606 less than in 1929, and average annual payments
$95 higher than in 1933 and $216 lower than in 1929.
The average number of salespeople (not traveling) employed in
1934 was 4,362 greater than in 1933 and 5,152 less than in 1929,
total payments were $6,929,356 greater than in 1933 and $22,598,504
less than in 1929, and average annual payments $52 higher than in
1933 and $267 lower than in 1929.
Considering the three general occupation groups combined, the
average number of persons employed in 1934 was 11,742 greater than
in 1933 and 12,996 less than in 1929, total payments were $19,397,740
greater than in 1933 and $50,717,208 less than in 1929, and average
annual payments $63 higher than in 1933 and $254 lower than in
1929.
For the occupation groups combined, the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0)
of employment was 102.6, of total wage and salary payments 80.1,
and of average annual payments 78.1.
Transportation and public utilities.-—The average number of wage
earners employed in 1934 was 3,215 greater than in 1933 and 15,425
less than in 1929. Total wage and salary payments to wage earners
were $8,037,803 greater than in 1933 and $30,521,031 less than in
1929, and average annual payments $85 higher than in 1933 and $172
lower than in 1929.
For wage earners, the 1934 index (1926 = 100.0) of employment was
76.0, of total wage and salary payments 67.7, and of average annual
payments 89.1. Indexes are not shown for other occupation groups.
It should be borne in mind that the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics
does not request information from establishments engaged in inter
state transportation nor from governmental units.
Comparisons of general industry groups.—Considering for each
industry group the three general occupation groups combined, the
average number employed in 1934 was greater than in either of the
2 preceding years. In manufactures and in all industries combined
the average was greater than in any of the 3 preceding years.
Total wage and salary payments to the three general occupation
groups combined, in 1934, were greater than in 1933 in each of the six
industry groups and greater than in 1932 in manufactures, trade, and
transportation and public utilities.
Considering the three general occupation groups combined, the
average annual payment in 1934 was higher than in 1933 in each of
the six industry groups and higher than in 1932 in manufactures,
in transportation and public utilities, and in all industries combined.
Of the six general industry groups, construction, which had under
gone the greatest curtailment during the past few years, showed the
highest percent of increase from 1933 to 1934 in employment, total
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
713
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
wage and s a l a r y payments, and average annual payments. For
construction in 1934, however, the indexes of these three items were
far below those for any other general industry group.
Table 2.—Employment and Wage and Salary Payments in Ohio, 1933 and 1934,
by General Industry Groups
[Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Review, April 1935, and in Bulletin No. 613]
A l l in d u s tr ie s
Index
Increase from 1933
(1926=100.0)
to 1934
Item
1934
1933
Number or
amount
Per
cent
1933
1934
N’nmhp.r of fistahlishmonts
Average number of persons employed:
Wage earners,- ------ ------ ---------------Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks____________
____ _______
Salespeople (not traveling)__________
37,578
38, 591
656, 020
765,305
109, 285
16.7
68.3
79.7
131,137
67,835
142,277
73,012
11,140
5,177
8.5
7.6
89.7
97.1
97.3
104.5
T otal________________ ______ _____
854,992
980,594
125,602
14.7
72.7
83.4
$801,568,498 $186,044, 053
30.2
45.2
58.9
195,517,379
70,884,831
20,367,622
8, 711,452
11.6
14.0
75.9
63.8
84.8
72.7
852,847, 581 1,067,970,708
73, 728,249
79,178, 543
215,123,127
5,450, 294
25.2
7.4
50.5
0)
63.2
0)
Grand total............................................ 926, 575, 830 1,147,149, 251
220, 573,421
23.8
(0
Total wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners, .......... ................ .............. $615,524,445
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks________ _____________ ____ 175,149,757
62,173,379
Salespeople (not traveling).....................
Subtotal,, _______ ______________
Superintendents and managers______
0)
Average annual payments to—
Wage earners.- ______- ___________
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks---------- ------ -----------------------Salespeople (not traveling)........... .........
$938
$1, 047
$109
11.6
66.1
73.8
1,336
917
1,374
971
38
54
2.8
5.9
84.7
65.7
87.1
69.6
All employees *___________________
997
1,089
92
9.2
69.4
75.8
A g ric u ltu re
1,683
1,695
7,311
7,776
465
263
55
273
51
10
34
7,629
8,100
$4,195,905
201,175
50, 620
Subtotal_____________ _____ ______
Superintendents and managers______
Grand total...... ......................................
Number of establishments
Average number of persons employed:
Wage earners_______ ____ ___________
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks___________________ _________
Salespeople (not traveling)__________
6.4
(0
0)
0)
(>)
(')
(0
0)
(')
471
6.2
0)
0)
$4,674,232
$478, 327
11.4
0)
(>)
219,888
38,837
18,713
3 11, 783
9.3
3 23.3
0)
(>)
(')
0)
4,447,700
378,188
4,932,957
338,123
485,257
3 40,065
10.9
3 10.6
(')
0)
(')
(>)
4,825, 888
5,271,080
445,192
9.2
0)
0)
$601
$27
4.7
60.2
609
26
4.5
0)
T otal_____ ______________________
Total wage and salary payments t o Wage earners__ ________________
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks____________________________
Salespeople (not traveling).....................
Average annual payments to—
Wage earners. ____ ____ _____ . . . .
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
rlp.rks
Ralftspfioplft (not traveling)
All employees *.......................................
* N ot computed; see statements in text.
J N ot including superintendents and managers.
3 Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$574
63.0
(')
«
C)
(')
583
0)
714
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T a b l e 2 . — E m p l o y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s in O h io , 1 9 3 3 a n d 1 9 3 4 ,
b y G e n e r a l I n d u s t r y G r o u p s — C o n t in u e d
[Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Review, April 1935, and in Bulletin No. 613]
C o n s tru c tio n
Increase from 1933
Index
to 1934
(1926=100.0)
Item
1933
Number of establishments _____. . .
Average number of persons employed:
Wage earners.. _______ ________ _ _
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks_______________ __ _______
Salespeople (not traveling)...............
1934
Number or
amount
Per
cent
1933
1934
5,586
5, 971
19,871
24, 856
4,985
25.1
26.6
2,220
603
2,285
595
65
38
2.9
3 1.3
0)
0)
0)
(>)
22,694
27, 736
5,042
22.2
0)
0)
$16, 313, 636
$23,830,991
$7. 517, 355
46.1
13.5
2, 633, 765
601, 359
2,120,234
703,788
3 513,531
102,429
3 19.5
17.0
0)
(>)
0)
0)
Subtotal______________ _ ______
Superintendents and managers______
19, 548, 760
1, 937, 409
26, 655, 013
2, 006,493
7,106, 253
69, 084
36.4
3.6
0)
0)
fl)
(0
Grand total_________ ________ ____
21,486,169
28, 661, 506
7,175,337
33.4
0)
(>)
Average annual payments to—
Wage earners. ____ _
. _______
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks _________________ _
Salespeople (not traveling)__________
$821
$959
$138
16.8
51.0
1,186
997
928
1,183
3 258
186
3 21.8
18.7
0)
(0
(0
0)
861
961
100
11.6
0)
(0
T o t a l............................... ................
Total wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners___ _________ ____ _ . .
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks______________ .
Salespeople (not traveling)_____ . . .
All employees 2......... ..............
33.3
19.8
59.5
M a n u fa c tu r e s
Number of establishments ________
Average number of persons employed:
Wage earners. .
_______ _
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
c le r k s ..___
_______ _____
Salespeople (not traveling)__________
Total ________________ . . .
8, 755
8,848
449, 378
533, 674
84, 296
18.8
66.9
79.4
53, 642
4, 955
60, 556
5,362
6,914
407
12.9
8.2
75.3
(0
85.1
(>)
507, 975
599, 592
91,617
18.0
67.6
79.8
$576,490, 632 $149, 763, 043
Total wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners. _________________ . . . $426, 727, 589
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks______________ _
76, 595, 893
Salespeople (not traveling)_________
7, 248, 014
35.1
43.8
59.2
90,209, 665
7, 736, 596
13, 613, 772
488, 582
17.8
6.7
63.2
0)
74.4
(>)
60.7
(0
Subtotal. ____ ____ ___________
Superintendents and managers.'___
510, 571, 496
31, 834,851
674,436, 893
34,699,136
163, 865,397
2,864, 285
32.1
9.0
45.9
(0
Grand total_________ _______ _
542.406,347
709,136,029
166, 729, 682
30.7
0)
Average annual payments to—
Wage earners_________________
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks..
____
Salespeople (not traveling).....................
All employees 2_______ ________
0)
$950
$1, 080
$130
13.7
65.6
74.6
1,428
1,463
1,490
1,443
62
320
4.3
3 1.4
83.9
0)
87.5
0)
1,005
1,125
120
11.9
68.0
76.1
S e rv ice in d u s tr ie s
Number of establishments______ ____ _ .
Average number of persons employed:
Wage earners________ _______ _
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks____________ _____________ .
Salespeople (not traveling)_____ _____
10, 215
10, 540
83,190
92,916
9, 726
11.7
0)
0)
44, 503
3,614
47,000
3,823
2,497
209
5.6
5.8
0)
(0
0)
(>)
T otal.........................................................
131, 307
143, 739
12, 432
9.5
0)
(0
‘N ot computed; 'see statements in text.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2N ot including superintendents and managers. 3 Decrease.
715
WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
T a b le 2 . — E m p l o y m e n t a n d W a g e a n d S a la r y P a y m e n t s in O h io , 1 9 3 3 a n d 1 9 3 4 ,
b y G e n e r a l I n d u s t r y G r o u p s — C o n t in u e d
[Data for earlier years were published in the M onthly Labor Review, April 1935, and in Bulletin No. 613]
S e rv ice in d u s tr ie s —Continued
Index
Increase from 1933
(1926 = 100.0)
to 1934
1933
Item
Total wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners________ _______
__ $66, 264,946
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks. _________________ . . ___ 61, 225,599
3,895, 052
Salespeople (not traveling).
---------Subtotal_________________________ 131, 385,597
16,860,884
Superintendents and managers.--------Grand total............................................. 148, 246, 481
Average annual payments to—
$797
Wage tam ers___________________ ___
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
1, 376
clerks
______
__________
1, 078
Salespeople (not tr a v e lin g )..................
1,001
All em ployees2------------------- ---------
1934
Number or
amount
Per
cent
1933
$76, 692, 752
$10,427, 806
15.7
0)
0)
64,197, 309
4,809,407
145,699,468
17, 942,599
163, 642, 067
2,971,710
914,355
14,313,871
1, 081, 715
15, 395,586
4.9
23.5
10.9
6.4
10.4
0)
(')
0)
(0
0)
0)
(0
0)
(0
0)
$825
$28
3.5
69.1
71.6
1,366
1, 258
1,014
3 10
180
13
3.7
16.7
1.3
91.0
(■)
77.1
90.3
54, 647
6,598
13.7
85.0
96.7
19, 453
62,128
136, 228
782
4,362
11,742
4.2 81.0
7.6 108.6
9.4 93.8
84.4
116.8
102.6
$56,412,113
$9, 819, 719
21.1
64.4
78.0
21, 718, 353
55,740, 212
133,870, 678
18,431,377
152, 302, 055
2, 648, 665
6, 929,356
19, 397, 740
1, 338,412
20, 736,152
13.9
14.2
16.9
7.8
15.8
61.1
76.9
68.5
(0
0)
69.5
87.8
80.1
(0
(0
$1,032
$62
6.4
75.8
80.6
1,116
897
983
95
52
63
9.3
6.2
6.8
75.4
70.8
73. 1
82.4
75.1
78.1
71.3
1934
78.1
T ra d e , w h olesale a n d re ta il
9, 647
Average number of persons employed:
48,049
Wage earners - __________ - ______
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
18, 671
clerks _ _________ ____ _________
57, 766
Salespeople (not traveling)____ ____ _
124,486
T otal____________ _____ __________
Total wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners______________ ____ ___ $46, 592, 394
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
19, 069, 688
clerks. _ _________________________
Salespeople (not traveling)---------------- 48,810,856
Subtotal . _____________________ 114, 472,938
Superintendents and managers.. ------ 17,092,965
131, 565, 903
Grand total_____________
Average annual payments to—
$970
Wage earners_______________________
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
1,021
clerks______ ______ ______________
845
Salespeople (not traveling).......... ...........
920
All employees 2............. ........................
9, 828
T r a n s p o r ta tio n a n d p u b lic u tilitie s
1,692
Average number of persons employed:
48, 222
Wage earners__
_____________ ___
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
11,838
clerks
____________ ___________
841
Salespeople (not traveling)---------------60,901
Total--------- --------------------------------Total wage and salary payments to—
Wage earners. _____ __________ _____ $55,429,975
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
15, 423,637
clerks _ _ __ ____
_________ —
1, 567, 478
Salespeople (not traveling)------ --------Subtotal ______ ________________ 72,421,090
5, 623,952
Superintendents and managers---------Grand total---------------------------------- 78, 045, 042
Average annual payments to—
$1,149
Wage earners
__________________
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
1,303
clerks
_______ ________ - ________
1,864
Salespeople (not traveling)------ --------1,189
All em ployees2.......................................
i
Not computed; see statements in text.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,709
51,437
3, 215
6.7
12,709
1,054
65, 200
871
213
4,299
7.4
25.3
7.1
0)
(')
0)
$63,467, 778
$8, 037,803
14.5
59.2
17,051,930
1,855,991
82, 375, 699
5,760,815
88,136, 514
1, 628,293
288,513
9, 954, 609
136,863
10, 091, 472
10.6
18.4
13.7
2.4
12.9
0)
0)
(0
(>)
0)
$1, 234
$85
7.4
83.0
1,342
1,761
1,263
39
2 103
74
3.0
8 5. 5
6.2
0)
(0
(0
2 N ot including superintendents and managers.
76.0
0)
(0
0)
67.7
(0
0)
(')
0)
(0
89.1
0)
(0
0)
2 Decrease.
716
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Comparisons W ith Other Sources
T h e United States Bureau of the Census does not compute average
annual wage payments in compiling the biennial census of manu
factures, and states in the 1929 report the reasons for not making
such computations.4 In this study computations have been made
from the census reports for wage earners in manufactures in Ohio,
and in table 3 comparisons are shown with average annual payments
based on the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics data.
The two series are in approximate agreement. The average annual
payment to wage earners in manufactures in Ohio computed from the
Ohio reports as compared with those computed from the United
States census (press release, May 27, 1935), were 0.74 percent higher
in 1929, 1.28 percent higher in 1931, and 2.15 percent higher in 1933.
The decrease from 1929 to 1933 computed from the census figures was
37.5 percent, and computed from the reports to the Ohio Division of
Labor Statistics 36.6 percent.
T a b l e 3 . — A v e r a g e A n n u a l W a g e P a y m e n t t o W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u f a c t u r e s in
O h io , 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 1 , a n d 1 9 3 3
Average annual payments—
Year
1929__________________________
1931__________________________
1933____ _____ _______________
Based on
Computed
Ohio D ivi
from United sion
of Labor
States
Statistics
census
data
$1,488
1,170
930
$1,499
1,185
950
Certain comparisons may also be made with the United States
census reports on construction, retail trade, and wholesale trade.
The construction census, however, was limited to contractors whose
gross business during the preceding year amounted to at least $25,000.
The number of establishments covered in 1929 in Ohio by the census
was 1,929 compared with 10,183 covered by the Ohio Division of
Labor Statistics.5 The average annual wage payment to wage
earners in construction in Ohio in 1929 as shown by the census report
was $1,786 and as computed from the reports to the Ohio Division of
Labor Statistics, including many additional small establishments, it
was $1,668, or 6.6 percent less.
The United States Bureau of the Census separates wholesale and
retail establishments and apparently classifies under “Trade” some
activities not so classified by the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics.
The census of trade also includes a great number of small establish4 The U. S. Bureau of the Census, however, does compute average annual payments in the construction
industry and in the earlier report on retail trades.
* For further comparisons for 1929, see M onthly Labor Review, February 1934 (pp. 254-256).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
717
merits which would not be covered by the Ohio Division of Labor
Statistics which requested reports only from those employing three
or more persons. The census report covered 8,077 wholesale and 83,717
retail establishments in 1929 and 8,313 wholesale establishments
(press release, Oct. 26, 1934) and 85,961 retail establishments (press
release, Nov. 20, 1934) in 1933.6 Of the 83,717 retail establishments
in 1929, 71,361 reported annual sales of less than $50,000 and 33,350
reported annual sales of less than $10,000.
The average annual wage payment in retail trade in Ohio per full
time employee, computed from the Bureau of the Census press release
of November 20, 1934, was $1,341 in 1929 and $974 in 1933—a
decrease from 1929 to 1933 of 27.4 percent. The average annual wage
payment per employee in wholesale and retail trade computed from
reports to the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics, including full-time,
part-time, and overtime workers, was $1,237 in 1929 and $920 in
1933—the decrease on this basis being 25.6 percent.
The increases from 1933 to 1934 computed from the general indexes
for the United States published by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics,7 in manufactures were 14.2 percent in employment and
27.6 percent in pay rolls; in wholesale trade, 8.8 percent in employ
ment and 10.9 percent in pay rolls; and in retail trade, 7.8 percent in
employment and 10.3 percent in pay rolls. The increases in Ohio
computed from reports to the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics in
manufactures (all employees combined) were 18 percent in employ
ment and 32.1 percent in total wage and salary payments; and in
wholesale and retail trade (all employees combined) 9.4 percent in
employment and 16.9 percent in total wage and salary payments.
Decreases from 1929 to 1934 computed from the general indexes
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the United States in manufac
tures were 24.8 percent in employment and 43.3 percent in pay rolls.
The decreases in Ohio computed from reports to the Ohio Division of
Labor Statistics in manufactures (all employees combined) were 25.7
percent in emplojunent and 45.5 percent in total wage and salary
payments. Data are not available for comparisons in trades.
Index N um bers o f Wages P e r H o u r, 1840 to 1934
GENEKAL index of wages or earnings per hour for each year,
1840 to 1934, for the wage earners of the country as a whole
(exclusive of agricultural wage earners), with the 3-year average,
1923-25, earnings per hour as the base or 100, is presented in the table
following. The index is a composite of all satisfactory data available.
Agriculture was excluded because of the seasonal character of that
A
e For further comparisons for 1929, see M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1934 (pp. 1040-1042).
7 M onthly Labor Review, March 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
718
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW—MARCH 1936
industry and tlie wide variety of the perquisites so often forming part
of the compensation of farm hands.
The general wage index of average hourly earnings was first pub
lished by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period 1840 to 1920;
this was later extended successively to 1926, to 1929, and to 1932, and
is now brought down to 1934. The index for 1934 is subject to
possible revision as further data may become available. The figures
are based on wages as paid in currency.
The figures in the table are for average wage rates or earnings per
hour for wage earners actually at work. They cannot be taken as
reflecting earnings per day or per week.
I n d e x N u m b e r s o f W a g e s P e r H o u r , 1 8 4 0 t o 1 9 3 4 ( E x c l u s i v e o f A g r ic u lt u r e )
[On currency basis during Civil War period. 3-year average, 1923-25=100]
Year
1840.
1841.
1842.
1843.
1844.
1815.
1846.
1847.
1848.
1849.
1850.
1851.
1852.
1853.
1854.
1855.
1856.
1857.
1858.
1859.
1860.
1861.
1862.
1863.
Index
number
14.9
15.3
14.9
14.9
14.4
14.9
15.3
15.3
15.8
16. 2
15.8
15.3
15.8
15.8
16.7
17. 1
17. 6
18.0
17.6
17.6
17.6
18.0
18.5
19.8
Year
1864__________
1865__________
1866__________
1867__________
1868__________
1869__________
1870_____ ____
1871__________
1872__________
1873__________
1874__________
1875__________
1876__________
1877__________
1878__________
1879__________
1880__________
1881__________
1882__________
1883__________
1884__________
1885__________
1886__________
1887__________
Index
number
22.5
26.1
27.5
28.4
29.3
29.7
30.2
30.6
31. 1
31. 1
30.2
30. 2
28.8
27.5
27. 0
26. 6
27. 0
27.9
28.4
28.8
28.8
28.8
28.8
30.2
Year
1888__________
1889__________
1890__________
1891__________
1892__________
1893__________
1894__________
1895__________
1896__________
1897__________
1898__________
1899____ ._____
1900__________
1901__________
1902__________
1903_________ _
1904__________
1905__________
1906__________
1907__________
1908__________
1909__________
1910__________
1911__________
Index
number
30.2
30.6
31.1
31.1
31.1
31. 1
30.2
30.6
31. 1
31. 1
31. 1
31.5
32.9
33.3
34.7
36. 0
36.0
36.9
38.3
40. 1
40.1
40.5
41.9
42.8
Year
1912__________
1913__________
1914__________
1915__________
1916__________
1917__________
1918__________
1919__________
1920__________
1921__________
1922__________
1923__________
1924__________
1925__________
1926__________
1927__________
1928__________
1929__________
1930__________
1931__________
1932__________
1933__________
1934__________
inaex
number
43.7
45.0
45.9
46.4
50. 0
57. 7
73.0
82.9
105. 4
98. 2
93. 7
97. 7
100.5
101.8
103.2
104. 1
104.5
105.0
103.2
97.7
83.8
80. 2
i 90. 1
1 S u b j e c t t o r e v is i o n .
The table shows that the general trend of hourly earnings has been
upward. There was more than a sevenfold increase in the 80 years
from 1840 to 1920, the peak year, the index rising from 14.9 to
105.4 in that time. Unusual increases were made during each of
the two great wars. After the Civil War there was an increase each
year until 1872, when rates or earnings per hour were 72.8 percent
higher than in 1861. From 1914 to 1919, or during the World War,
there was an 80.6 percent increase, the index rising from 45.9 to 82.9.
In 1920 the wage level was 129.6 percent higher than in 1914 and 5.4
percent higher than the basic 3-year average.
The years 1921 and 1922 were a period of depression, unemploy
ment, and wage-rate decreases. The general level of wage rates or
earnings per hour in 1921 was 6.8 percent, and in 1922 was 11.1 per
cent less than in 1920. From 1922 there was an increase each year
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AGES
AND
HOURS
719
OF LABOR
to 1929. The depression began late in that year. The wage level
in 1929 was only a fraction of 1 percent lower than that in 1920.
The level for 1930 was 1.7 percent lower than in 1929; for 1931 it was
7 percent lower; for 1932 it was 20.2 percent lower; and for 1933 was
23.6 percent less than in 1929. The index for 1934 was 12.3 percent
higher than in 1933.
T re n d o f R eal Wages P e r H o u r, 1913 to 1934
EAL wages per hour, that is, wages in relation to cost of living,
^ for those who had employment increased from 1933 to 1934 and
were in the latter year higher than at any time since 1931.
The general trend of wages per hour, from 1840 to 1934, is shown in
the preceding article. Such figures relate to the money received per
hour by the wage earner as compensation for his work. Most of the
money so received, however, must be utilized for the purchase of the
necessaries of life. The real measure of the wage, therefore, is not
the money income, but what the worker is able to buy with it. If
his hourly wage and his cost of living change in the same direction and
to the same extent, then his economic condition remains unchanged.
In the following table are shown index numbers of wages per hour
and of cost of living, with the indexes based on 3-year average,
1923-25 = 100. From these have been computed a third index
number showing the change from 1913 to 1934 in the workers’ real
wage per hour.
R
I n d e x N u m b e r s o f W a g e s P e r H o u r , C o s t o f L iv in g , a n d R e a l W a g e s
[3-year average 1923-25=100]
Index numbers of—
Index numbers of—
Year
1913
1914
1915
1915
1917
191R
1919
1920
1 921
1922
1923
Year
Wages
per hour
Cost of
living
45. 0
45. 9
46.4
50. 0
57. 7
73. 0
82.9
105.4
98. 2
93. 7
97. 7
58.0
59.7
60.9
68.6
82.6
1 0 1
.
1
109.2
120.9
102.8
97.0
99.1
Real
wages
77.6
76.9
76.2
72.9
69.9
72.2
75.9
87. 2
95.5
96.6
98.6
1924_____________
1925_____________
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929_____________
1930_____________
1931_____________
1932_____________
1933_____________
1934_____________
Wages
per hour
Cost of
living
100.5
101.8
103.2
104.1
104.5
105.0
103. 2
97.7
83.8
80.2
90.1
99.0
101.9
101.6
100.1
99.0
99.0
94.9
85.9
77.6
76.3
79.8
Real
wages
10 1 .5
9 9 .9
10 1.6
104. 0
105.6
106.1
108.7
113.7
108.0
105.1
112.9
Taking the 3-year average, 1923-25, as the basis of comparison,
it is seen that in 1917 money hourly wages were 57.7 or 42.3 percent
less than the basic 3-year average, while cost of living was 82.6 or
only 17.4 percent less. In other words, the difference in the cost of
living between that for the 3-year average and 1917 was much less
than the difference in the hourly wages. The purchasing power of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
720
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
wages, the real hourly wages, of the wage earner in 1917 was only
69.9 percent of the basic 3-year average, the lowest point in real wages
per hour in the whole 22-year period covered.
In the 1921 industrial depression, both hourly wages and cost of
living were less than in 1920, but the decrease in cost of living was
relatively greater, so that the wage earner who had a job that year
had a real hourly wage which was 9.5 percent higher than in 1920.
After 1917 the purchasing power of wages per hour steadily increased
except in 1925 and 1932. In 1932 the wage earner was able to pur
chase with his hourly money wage 8 percent more than the basic
3-year average. In 1933 wages per hour (with an index of 80.2)
were less than in any year since 1918, while cost of living (with
an index of 76.3) was less than any year since 1916. In 1934 hourly
wages were 12.3 percent, cost of living was 4.6 percent, and real wages
7.4 percent more than in 1933.
E arnings in N e w Y o rk State Factories, Ju n e 1914 to
Decem ber 1935
EEKLY earnings of office and shop employees in representa
tive factories in New York State averaged $25.02 in December
1935, higher than in any other month since October 1931, when the
average was $25.34. The following table, taken from the Industrial
Bulletin of the New York State Department of Labor for January
1936, shows the weekly earnings of these workers by month from June
1914 to December 1935.
W
Average Weekly Earnings in Representative New York State Factories
[Includes all employees in both office and shop. The average weekly earnings are obtained by dividing
the total weekly pay roll by the total number of employees on the pay roll for the given week Reports
cover the week including the 15th of the month]
Year
1914____________
1915____________
1916____________
1917_______ ___ .
1918____________
1919— _________
1920____ ________
1921____________
1922____________
1923____________
1924____________
1925____________
1926____________
1927_____ _______
1928.........................
1929____________
1930____ ________
1931____________
1932____________
1933............ ............
1934.....................
1935____________
Aver
age Janu Feb
for
ary ruary March April M ay June
year
$12.85
14.43
16.37
20.35
23.50
28.15
25. 72
25.04
27. 24
27.68
28. 26
29.02
29.30
29.44
29.99
28.81
26.42
22. 73
21.83
23.19
24. 36
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
July
Au
gust
Sep
N o D e
tem Octo
cem
ber vem
ber
ber
ber
$12 70
$12. 44 $12.41 $12. 65 $12.54 $12. 74 12.81 12Ì 66 12 ! 89 12.86 13.30 13.45 13.49
13. 53 13.77 13.96 14.15 14.24 14.41 14.11 14. 44 14.87 14.95 15.16 15.51
15. 28 15.31 15.79 15. 50 Ifi 08
16.81 17. 66 18. 71 19. 25 19.91 20.44 20.78 21.23 22.31 22.34 21. 60 23.18
23.03 22.07 22.20 22.11 22.23 22.51 23.10 23.85 24.83 24.41 25.37 26. 32
26.52 26.47 27. 87 27. 80 28.45 28.77 28.49 28. 71 28.73 28.93 28.70 28. 35
27.61 26. 77 26.97 26. 20 25.86 25.71 25.26 25.43 25.07 24.53 24.32 24. 91
24.43 24.17 24. 57 24.15 24. 59 24.91 24. 77 25.10 25.71 25.61 26.04 26.39
26.21 25.87 26.92 27.00 27.63 27.87 27.54 27.12 27.41 27.72 27.64 27.98
27.81 27.73 28.16 27. 70 27. 56 27. 21 27.06 27.40 28.05 27.53 27.66 28. 25
28.30 27.96 28.45 27. 67 28.07 27. 94 27. 98 28.16 28.33 28.57 28. 67 29. 05
29.05 28. 61 29.04 28.85 28.69 28.99 28.81 28.86 29.31 29.35 29.15 29.47
29. 52 29.39 29.78 29.17 29.18 29.17 28.95 29. 29 29.57 29.28 28.75 29. 57
29.21 29.16 29.64 28. 79 29.19 29.48 29.15 29.38 29. 72 29.78 29.62 30.12
29. 71 29.99 30.35 30.07 30. 03 30. 02 29.80 30.09 30.47 30. 08 29. 54 29.75
29.80 29.46 29.90 29.44 29.10 28.96 28.50 28.59 28.94 28.03 27.42 27.52
27. 01 27.44 27. 96 27.35 26.96 26.34 26.39 26.33 26.16 25. 34 24. 99 24. 74
24. 35 24. 02 24.14 23.36 22.59 22. 20 21.82 21.92 22.50 22. 55 21. 74 21.62
20.96 20.95 20.73 21.02 21.49 21.95 22.34 22.48 22.87 22. 52 22. 25 22.43
22.79 22.76 23.39 23.34 23.38 23.24 23.12 23.43 23.24 23.02 22.92 23. 63
23. 92 24.11 24.62 24.36 24.05 24.04 23.93 24.52 24.83 24.68 24.24 25. 02
721
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
H o u rly E arnings of M ale In d u strial W orkers in th e
N eth erlands, F irst H alf of 1935
IGHEST average hourly earnings of male industrial workers in
the Netherlands during the first half of 1935 were found in
Amsterdam, and the lowest earnings in Nijmegen.1 The following
table shows earnings for these workers in the eight largest cities of
the Netherlands.
H
Average Hourly Earnings of Male Industrial Workers in the Netherlands, First
Half of 1935, by Class of Worker and City
[Florin (100 D utch cents) at former par=40.2 cents; average exchange rate in June 1935 was 67.87 cents]
Number of workers
City
Average weekly hours
Average hourly earnings
(in D utch cents)
Un
U n Skilled Semi
Semi
Skilled
U n
Semi
Skilled skilled skilled workers skilled skilled workers skilled skilled
workers workers
workers workers
Ams tar dam
R ntt.fi,rdam
__
Hague . - ______________
Utrecht _________ _____
Haarlem
___
Clroningen _ _________ Nijmegen
________
Leeuwarden _ _ ______
5,184
4, 550
1,954
1,232
784
751
386
172
2,930
3,084
1,374
800
430
484
649
197
1,817
1,989
719
363
114
164
109
168
47.0
46.0
47.5
48.0
48.0
46.5
47.5
47.5
46.5
47.0
45.5
47.0
46.5
47.5
47.0
47.5
44.5
45.5
35.5
45.5
47.5
47.0
48.0
48.5
61
56
56
51
55
49
48
51
67
61
66
59
63
61
55
58
58
52
55
46
49
37
40
47
Wages and Cost of Living in th e N e th e rla n d West In d ies2
AGES of laborers and employees working on an hourly basis
in the refineries of the Netherland West Indies were reduced
between 5 and 7 percent in the past year, but those in other trades
remained generally the same as in 1934.
The Government paid the following rates for an 8%-hour day on
public works in Curacao in 1935:
W
F lo rin s *
Unskilled labor
Masons______
Carpenters___
Smiths_______
Chauffeurs----1
2. 0-2.
3. 0-3.
3. 0-3.
3. 0-4.
3. 0-3.
5
5
5
0
5
Florin=67.8 cents in United States currency at the end of 1935.
The cost of living advanced generally. Foodstuffs, the greater
part of which come from the United States, felt the effect of highei
American prices. Rents increased an estimated 20 percent because
of demands for housing by refinery employees. An extensive house
building program was begun by private individuals to meet require
ments. The prices of men’s clothing remained the same, but those
of women’s clothing advanced about 25 percent. Japanese goods, of
> Maandschrift, Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, The Hague, Dec. 31, 1935, p. 1881.
2 Data are from report of Russell M. Brooks, American Consul in Curacao. Jan. 17, 1936.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
722
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
which very large quantities are sold in the Netherland West Indies,
remained at the 1934 level.
Salaries of Employees o f O pera and C oncert Houses in
Stockholm , Sw eden, 1935
USICAL education in Sweden is promoted, wholly or largely,
by the National Government.1 Tradition rather than specific
legislation has built up the legal background of Government support
of music, which takes the form of enabling legislation and financial
subsidies, the principal ones coming from the Government lottery.
Among the institutions thus sponsored are the Academy of Music,
The Royal Opera, a library, and the Stockholm Concert House
Foundation and Orchestral Society, all located in Stockholm.
Expenditures of operation of the Royal Opera for the year 1934-35
amounted to $549,000,2 of which sum $462,775 was expended in
salaries. The average salaries of employees of this organization
during the year were as follows:
M
Superintendent______________________________________ $6,345.
Business staff________________________________________ $3,300.
Registers___________________________________________ $3,850.
Stage manager_______________________________________ $1,820.
Assistant stage manager______________________________ $1,100.
Stage foreman, chief electrician, chief carpenter, chief ma
chinist, ventilation superintendent, painter____________ $1,535 to $2,055.
Stage hands_________________________________________ $990.
Porter, messengers___________________________________ $820.
Physician___________________________________________ $380.
Librarian___________________________________________ $255.
Electricians______ ___________________________________$990.
Carpenters__________________________________________ $915.
Machinists__________________________________________ $1,135.
Tailors and dressmakers______________________________ $900.
Scene designer, manager______________________________ $4,315.
Scene designer, assistant______________________________ $1,279.
Orchestra:
Conductors_____________________________________ $2,540.
Permanent members, scholarship students, and ex tras.. $1,215 to $2,055.
Singers:
Soloists_________________________________________ $2,540 and over.
Chorus—
Men_______________________________________ $1,155.
Women_____________________________________ $865.
Ballet______________________________________________ $460 to $1,535.
1 Report of Roy E. B. Bower, American consul at Stockholm, Dec. G, 1935.
2 Conversions into United States currency made on the basis of 3.94 kronor equaling $1 (as of December
1935): krona at former par=26.8 cents.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
723
Every employee is eligible for membership in tbe pension fund.
Employees who have been members of the fund for 15 years may
retire on an annual pension of from $330 to $840, at the following
specified ages: Actors, 58 years; actresses, 47; ballet master, 50;
dancers, 41; chorus singers, 50; administration personnel and orchestra
players, 60.
Members of the boards of directors of the Stockholm Concert
House Foundation and Orchestral Society receive no salaries. Other
personnel of this organization, however, are paid average annual
salaries as follows:
A vera g e a n n u a l
s a la r y
Managers (total)______________________________________ $5,000.
Office personnel, each__________________________________ $600 to $1, 200.
Conductors___________________________________________ $3,000 to $5,100.
Soloists, according to fame (per performance)--------------------- $38 to $500.
Orchestra members (per month)_________________________ $82 to $89.
Concert masters_______________________________________ $l,420to $1,775.
At the end of 6, 9, and 12 years, musicians receive an increase of
$12 in monthly salary. Instruments are provided by the society.
Orchestra members are employed 7 months of the year, give about
70 concerts, and attend 3-liour rehearsals or give concerts about 5 or 6
days a week. All are members of the Swedish Musician’s Federation.
49645— 36—
14
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
O perations o f th e U n ited States E m ploym ent Service,
Decem ber 1935 and J a n u a ry 1936
J a n u a ry A c tiv itie s
TOTAL of 521,137 placements in public and private employment
and on relief works projects were made by offices of the United
States Employment Service during January, according to preliminary
reports. While complete details of the classification of these place
ments are not yet available, estimates based on reports from all States
indicate that this number includes 367,354 security-wage placements
on relief works projects made by offices thro ughout the country during
the month. Reflecting the decline in placements of this character
since the peak of W. P. A. program assignment activity in November
and December, this total was 44.4 percent below the December level.
Placements on public works in January, however, increased 6.4 per
cent over December levels, to an indicated total of 92,047. Private
placements declined 0.5 percent to an estimated 61,736.
During January 428,478 additional new applicants were registered
in the public employment offices, a decline of 12.1 percent from De
cember. Including this number, over 4% million individual new
applicants have registered with the Employment Service since July
1, 1935. On January 31 the files of the operating employment
offices contained the registrations of 9,010,309 active job seekers, an
increase of 0.6 percent from the previous month-end.
The Employment Service made 39,546 veterans’ placements accord
ing to estimates, which also indicated 15,960 registrations of veterans
during January. At the close of the month, 549,460 veterans were
indicated as actively seeking work through the Employment Service.
724
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
725
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Detailed tables of January reports follow:
Table 1.—Operations of Offices of Combined State Employment Services and
National Reemployment Service, January 1936 (Preliminary)
N ew applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Pri
vate
Per
cent of
change
from
D e
cember
1935
Per
cent of
change
Pub
from
lic
D e
cember
1935
Re
lief 1
Janu
ary
1936
Per
cent of
change
from
D e
cember
1935
Active file
Jan. 31,
1936
Per
cent of
change
from
D e
cember
1935
-1 1 .1 9,010,309
+ 0.6
Alabama_________ 6, 357
Arizona.................... 4, 664
Arkansas______ _ 8,152
California________ 43, 643
Colorado_________ 8, 773
257
389
536
5,607
542
+37.4
+18.2
-5 5 .5
- 1 .5
+ .6
666
2, 026
1,255
7,426
1,330
-5 7 .3
+22.4
+ 3 .0
+43.3
-2 1 .3
5,434
2,249
6,361
30, 610
6,901
6,883
3,369
4,655
35,772
10, 282
+25.9
+28.8
-4 9 .7
-6 .0
-1 6 .3
146,881
39,397
110,080
392,312
109,368
+ 2.1
+ 7.8
+ 4.1
+ 6 .8
+11.5
Connecticut______
Delaware________
Florida__________
Georgia................. Idaho____ ____
6, 331
2, 228
3,652
6, 663
4,918
1,192
382
1,126
1, 270
144
+ 7 .0
+63.9
+39.0
-1 4 .8
+29.7
678
428
1,674
2, 361
597
+64.6
+52.9
- 3 .2
+75.4
-2 8 .0
4,461
1,418
852
3,032
4,177
6,020
1,204
7,102
7,913
2,237
-1 2 .7
-1 9 .2
+57.6
+30.1
-2 2 .4
84,288
16,890
164,612
265,547
37,949
+ 8 .5
+ 7 .0
+ 5 .8
+ 4 .6
+ 9 .7
Illinois__________ 29,066
Indiana----- -----7, 834
Iowa____________
8, 424
Kansas__________
6,143
K entucky________ 2, 623
5, 559
3,293
1,677
531
476
-1 1 .7
+36.5
-3 6 .3
+16.1
2, 504
1,197
1, 644
2,583
1,626
- 2 .5
-1 9 .4
-4 3 .7
-1 6 .2
-1 2 .3
21,003
3, 344
5, 103
3, 029
521
29,959
9, 606
6, 245
4, 599
6,748
-2 7 .0
+26.0
-1 6 .8
+21.9
-3 5 .5
469, 614
207, 550
101,889
114,914
232,146
+ 5 .9
+ 5 .8
+ 5 .8
+ 3 .6
+ 4 .6
1,003
Louisiana________
1,635
Maine___________
7,203
M aryland_______
Massachusetts____ 4,248
Michigan........... .
25,013
-3 .2
336
91 -7 5 .1
213 -1 5 .5
726 -2 6 .4
366 +161.4
666
724
672
1,900
3,125
-4 4 .5
-5 8 .0
+ .4
- 2 .9
+93.6
1
820
6,318
1,622
21, 522
1,719
1,819
6,166
10, 781
17,939
+12.8
-3 9 .5
+16.9
-5 1 . 0
- 6 .1
57,714
41,736
121,998
369, 588
274, 210
+2. 5
-1 0 .6
+ 6 .7
+ 3 .4
+18.6
Minnesota____ . . 9,692
Mississippi_____
7, 582
Missouri..............
26,141
M ontana______ _ 2,307
4,872
Nebraska________
2,957 +26.2
45 +200. 0
871
+ 7 .9
428 -1 6 .4
450 +16.3
2,078
1,082
2,906
1, 521
1,756
-2 0 .4
+38.4
- 4 .3
-1 8 .2
-1 6 .4
4,657
6,455
22,364
358
2,666
7,323
8, 028
9,833
1,606
4,517
-1 6 .9
+68.0
+. 5
-2 3 .7
-1 0 .3
169,710
177,369
339, 569
52,417
64,470
+ 2 .7
+ 7 .4
+ 2 .0
+ 4 .5
+ 9 .7
Nevada................
New Hampshire...
New Jersey______
New Mexico____
N ew York_______
1,488
2,432
13,139
6,322
48,194
48 -2 0 .0
691 +189.1
2, 306
+ 9 .9
247 -1 6 .0
8, 829
- 9 .1
1,037
568
1,411
1,597
4,476
- 9 .4
- 8 .5
-3 6 .2
+53.4
+ 8 .4
403
1,173
9,422
4,478
34,889
781
2,678
14, 928
3, 460
25,969
+14.5
+68.9
-2 3 .3
+74.5
-5 8 .1
7,676
34,000
296,990
59, 406
675, 547
-.9
+ 8 .4
+ .8
+ 5.1
-3 3 .7
North Carolina___ 14,094
North Dakota____ 5, 570
Ohio_____________ 18, 030
Oklahoma_______ 22,437
Oregon...... .............
6,415
1,844 +78.5
279 +365. 0
6,247 +14.4
695 -1 2 .1
245
- 1 .6
2,589
139
2,638
2,484
2,233
+32.9
-6 4 .2
+ 6 .9
+72.9
+ 9 .5
9,661
5,152
9,145
19, 258
3,937
12,476
1,991
21,143
8,205
4, 298
+46.1
-2 3 .9
-1 5 .0
+41.1
-1 5 .1
194, 595
46, 683
392, 591
163, 787
112, 801
+ 7 .3
+ 6 .9
+ 3.1
+ 7 .6
+ 4 .2
Pennsylvania____ 39,494
Rhode Island____
868
South Carolina----- 7, 327
South Dakota____ 2,897
Tennessee........ ....... 9,176
3, 277
146
266
388
371
+16.8
-4 0 .2
+33.0
-3 1 .8
+80.1
4,154
328
1,068
948
1,584
+19.3
+36.1
+ 3 .0
-1 4 .4
+50.1
32,063
394
5,993
1,561
7,221
37,474
1,981
5,494
1,395
7, 706
+35.9 1, 307,032
+29.8
57, 047
+10.8
149,646
-4 6 .8
41,447
+55.9
251,997
+ 2 .9
-7 .3
+ 5 .8
- 8 .2
+ 4 .6
T exas................. .
38,914
U tah........ ............
3, 550
673
V erm on t................
5,014
Virginia_________
Washington.......... . 10,941
603
197
163
967
323
-2 5 .0
-3 5 .6
+25 4
-1 7 .4
+29.7
8,888
1,020
315
2,587
3,172
+15.3
-3 2 .0
-3 7 .3
- 3 .3
+64.6
29,423
2,333
195
1,460
7,446
29,102
1,824
848
8,954
6, 492
+31.9
-2 8 .2
+15.8
-1 2 .7
-1 0 .5
306, 501
42,949
16, 370
140,949
207, 700
+11.5
+ .9
+11.1
+ 4 .9
+ 3 .3
West Virginia____ 12,885
Wisconsin_______
8,486
W yoming________ 1,504
District of Columbia____ ________ 2,120
484
2,303
69
+40.3
+ 1 .7
-5 5 .2
2, 382
847
578
+17.9
-1 1 .7
-2 4 .4
10, 019
5, 337
857
4.989
9,279
1,378
-3 7 .9
-1 8 .1
-2 9 .6
138,912
139,728
16,677
+ 5 .7
+12.9
+10.2
1,284
- 5 .6
581
-2 6 .0
255
3, 308
+50.6
47,060
+ 5 .2
United States____ 521,137 61,736
+ 1 .7 92,047
+ 4 .0 367,354 428,478
i Includes only security wage placements on work-relief projects.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
726
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 2.
Operations of Offices of State Employment Services, January 1936
(Preliminary)
New applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Pri
vate
All States _______ 239, 615 44, 564
Per
cent of
change
from
D e
cember
1935
Per
cent of
Pub change
from
lic
D e
cember
1935
2+ 2 .3 33, 663
Re
lief 1
Janu
ary
1936
Per
cent of
change
from
D e
cember
1935
A ctive file
Jan. 31,
1936
Per
cent of
change
from
Dec.
31,
1935
2+ 7 .8 161,388 228, 514 2-15.4 4,097,182
2 -2 .0
+2. 0
+ 3 .9
+63.9
872
4, 998
295
486
428
+84.7
+39.6
-4 1 .2
+64.2
+5°. 9
447
25, 775
3,056
3,823
1,418
1,641
28, 559
7,934
4, 826
1,204
+42.8
- 8 .6
- 3 .9
- 8 .0
-1 9 .2
14,891
320,724
55,018
60,480
16,890
+ 8 .9
+5. 7
+18. 6
+10. 6
+ 7 .0
189
104
4,880
2, 686
1,449
(3>
+89.1
-1 2 .1
- 2 .6
+32.6
643
328
1, 683
952
650
(3)
- 9 .4
-9 .6
+ 2 .9
-5 0 .8
472
2,406
10,820
1, 602
1,899
4,127
1,448
21, 920
6, 386
4,144
(3)
-7 .5
-3 1 .7
+25.8
+ .5
101, 648
19,623
329, 283
117,483
60,089
(3)
+11.8
+ 7 .3
+ 5 .2
+ 7 .6
1,616
1,003
2,146
4, 189
14, 714
260
336
642
2,004
720
-3 4 . 2
-3 .2
-2 9 . 1
+25. 4
+ 3 .6
240
666
875
525
550
-5 2 .3
-4 4 .5
-3 .8
-1 7 .5
+ 4 .2
1,116
1
629
1,660
13,444
1,031
1,719
5, 673
4,133
5, 933
+37.7
+12.8
-6 4 .8
- 1 .9
+49.7
25,833
57, 714
153,400
82, 305
133,172
+ 4 .8
+2. 5
+ 3 .9
+4. 6
+ 2 .4
Nevada
741
New Hampshire. _ 1,282
New Jersey______ 11,449
New Mexico_____
3,230
New York_______ 35, 343
24
77
2,177
128
7,301
-4 2 .9
+30.5
+13.1
+64.1
-1 2 .0
681
+ 1 .6
395 +82.9
1,181 -3 2 .4
877 +274.8
2,589 + 11.7
36
810
8, 091
2,225
25,453
525 +13.1
2, 309 +166. 3
12, 794 -2 4 .2
2,205 +242. 9
19, 536 -6 2 .9
5,104
16, 981
246, 434
30, 004
412,110
+. 5
+16. 6
+• 8
+ 6.1
-3 7 .9
North Carolina___ 14,094
North Dakota____
876
Ohio
... ..
14, 274
O klahom a.______ 3,080
Oregon______ . . .
3,471
1,844 +78.5
102 +750. 0
5, 353 +22.5
474 -1 6 .4
147 -2 0 .5
2,589 +32.9
47 +20.5
1, 501 +36.8
454 +415.9
1,096
+ 3 .4
9, 661
727
7,420
2,152
2, 228
12, 476
330
16, 367
2,042
2,915
+46.1
- 2 .7
-1 4 .2
+55.4
- 3 .5
194.595
5, 340
229,100
30, 770
80, 473
+ 7 .3
+12.1
+ 1.1
+ 7 .8
+ 3 .9
Pennsylvania____ 23, 504
Rhode Island.........
561
South Dakota____ 2,447
Tennessee_______
4, 313
Texas __________
7,695
2, 268
134
272
166
43
+15.1
-3 8 .0
-4 5 .1
+58.1
+53.6
2,421
270
898
1,053
1,393
+54.4
+38.5
- 7 .4
+78.5
-1 7 .3
18.815
157
1,277
3, 094
6,259
27,038
1,705
1,255
4, 480
7, 461
+58.5
+20.3
-4 5 .1
+43.8
+25.6
805,194
50,690
36,412
109,855
74, 659
+ 2.9
—8. 4
—8. 3
+ 5 .8
+15.8
Vermont________
Virginia. _______
West Virginia____
W isco n sin .______
Wyoming _____
District of Columbia____________
673
795
855
5,312
795
163
485
173
1,965
38
+25.4
+16.6
-1 2 .2
+ 5 .8
-6 7 .2
315
145
293
339
354
-3 7 .3
+13.3
-2 2 .9
-3 8 .9
-2 8 .0
195
165
389
3,008
403
848
1,139
1.207
7,152
744
+15.8
+37.9
-3 3 .1
-1 4 .0
-3 6 .8
16,370
20,291
29,108
100,366
7, 713
+11.1
+3. 9
+ 5 .9
+25.9
+ 9 .7
2,120
1,284
-5 .6
581
-2 6 .0
255
3,308
+50.6
47, 060
+ 5 .2
Arizona ________
California_______
Colorado. ____
Connecticut____
Delaware______
1,553
35, 635
3, 653
5, 205
2, 228
234
4,862
302
896
382
Florida________
1,304
Idaho__ _________ 2, 838
Illinois__________ 17, 383
____
Indiana
5,240
Iowa_____ ______
3,998
Kansas (not affiliated)_________
Louisiana. _____
Massachusetts___
Minnesota_______
M issouri________
-2 . 1
-
1. 1
1 Includes only security wage placements on work-relief projects.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 N ot comparable due to transfer of Tallahassee and Jacksonville offices from National Reemployment
Service to State employment services.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
727
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Table 3.—Operations of Offices of National Reemployment Service, January
1936 (Preliminary)
New applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Pri
vate
All States------------ 281,522 17,172
Per
cent of
change
from
D e
cember
1935
2 -1 .7
Per
cent of
change
Pub from
lic
D e
cember
1935
Janu
ary
1936
Re
lief ‘
2+2. 1 205,966 199,964
58,384
Per
cent of
change
from
D e
cember
1935
Active file
Jan. 31,
1935
Per
cent of
change
from
Dec. 31,
1935
2-7. 1 4,913,127
2+2.7
Alabama______
A rizon a___
\rkansas
.
California__
Colorado. . -------
6, 357
3, 111
8,152
8,008
5,120
257
155
536
745
240
+37.4
-f 72. 2
-5 5 .5
-4 .0
-1 . 2
666
1,154
1, 255
2, 428
1,035
-5 7 .3
- 2 .5
+ 3 .0
+51. 6
-1 2 .9
5,434
1,802
6, 361
4,835
3, 845
6,883
1,728
4, 655
7, 213
2, 348
+25.9
+17.9
-4 9 . 7
-j-5. 9
-4 1 .8
146,881
24, 506
110, 080
71, 588
54, 350
+ 2 .1
+ 7.1
+ 4.1
+11.8
-j-ô. 2
Connecticut . .
Florida. _______
G eorgia__ _____
Tdaho
______
Illinois__________
1,126
2, 348
6, 663
2,080
11,683
296
937
1,270
40
679
+17.5
(3)
-1 4 .8
-2 8 .6
-8 . 7
192
1,031
2, 361
269
821
+65.5
(3)
+75. 4
-4 2 .4
-1 6 .3
638
380
3, 032
1, 771
10,183
1,194
2, 975
7,913
789
8,039
-2 7 .8
(3)
+30.1
-4 0 .1
-1 0 . 2
23,808
62, 964
265,547
18,326
140, 331
+ 3.6
(3)
+4. 6
+ 7 .5
~t~2. 8
Indiana _________
Towa
Kansas ________
Kentucky __ _____
M aine-----------------
2, 594
4, 426
4,527
2,623
1,635
607
228
271
476
91
+14.7
+67. 6
-3 8 .3
+16.1
-7 5 .1
245
994
2, 343
1,626
724
-5 6 3
-3 7 .8
- 9 .1
-1 2 .3
-5 8 . 0
1,742
3, 204
1,913
521
820
3, 220
2, 101
3, 568
6, 748
1,819
+26.3
-3 7 . 9
+18.0
—35. 5
—39. 5
90, 067
41, 800
89, 081
232,146
41, 736
+ 6.7
+ 3.3
+ 3.3
+4. 6
—10. 6
Marvland. ______ 7,203
2,102
M assachusetts.—
Michigan________ 25, 013
5, 503
Minnesota_______
M ississip p i______ 7, 582
213 -1 5 .5
+ 2 .4
84
366 +161.4
953 +27. 7
45 +200. 0
672
1,025
3,125
1, 553
1,082
+• 4
- 2.0
+ 93.6
- 21.4
+38.4
6,318
993
21, 522
2, 997
6, 455
6,166
5,108
17, 939
3,190
8, 028
+16.8
-1 3 .4
—6.1
-2 9 . 0
+68.0
121,998
216,188
274, 210
87,405
177,369
+ 6 .7
+3. 1
+18. 6
+ 1 .0
+7. 4
M issouri_______ . 11,427
2, 307
M o n ta n a _______
4, 872
Nebraska_______
747
N evada____ ___
New Hampshire— 1,150
151 +34.8
428 -1 6 .4
450 +16.3
24 +33.3
614 +241.1
2, 356
1,521
1,756
356
173
- 6 .1
-1 8 .2
-1 6 .4
-2 5 .1
-5 7 .3
8, 920
358
2,666
367
363
3,900
1,606
4, 517
256
369
-3 3 .0
—23. (
- 10.3
+17.4
—48. 7
206,397
52, 417
64, 470
2, 572
17, 019
+ 1 .7
+4. 5
+ 9.7
—3. 7
+ 1 .3
1,690
3,092
12, 851
4, 694
3, 756
129 -2 5 .9
119 -4 4 .9
+ 7 .8
1, 528
177 +268. 8
894 -1 8 .0
230
720
1,887
92
1.137
-5 0 .3
-1 0 .8
+ 4 .3
-7 3 .6
-1 7 .1
1,331
2, 253
9, 436
4,425
1,725
2,134
1,255
6, 433
1,661
4,776
-1 7 .8
—0. 3
—31. 6
—27. 0
-1 7 .4
50, 556
29,402
263, 437
41, 343
163,491
+4. 0
—26.0
+6. 3
+5. 9
-1 .3
+53.1
+20.8
-5 7 . 1
+53.5
2,030
1, 137
1,733
58
1.068
+50. 5
+16.0
- 9 .5
+26.1
+3.1
17,106
1,709
13, 248
237
5,993
6,163 +38.9
1,383 -3 2 .3
-.8
10, 436
276 +153. 2
5, 494 +10.8
133,017
32,328
501,838
6, 357
149, 646
+ 7 .5
+5. 0
+3. 0
+ 2 .8
+ 5 .8
450
4, 863
31,219
3, 550
. 4, 219
116 +56.8
205 +103. 0
560 -27. 8
197 -3 5 .6
482 -5 8 .8
50
531
7, 495
1,020
2,442
-6 3 .8
+14. 2
+24.4
-3 2 .0
- 8 .7
284
4,127
23,164
2, 333
1,295
140
3, 226
21,641
1,824
7,815
-58.1
+76. 5
+34.2
-2 8 .2
-1 7 .1
5,035
142,142
231, 842
42,949
120, 658
- 7 .3
+3. 6
+ 10.2
Washington ___ . 10, 941
West Virginia____ 12, 030
3,174
Wisconsin____. . .
709
W yoming________
323 +29.7
311 + 110.1
338 -1 7 .0
31 -1 8 .4
3,171
2,089
507
224
+64.6
+27.3
+25.8
-1 8 .5
7,447
9,630
2, 329
454
6,492
3,782
2,127
634
-1 0 . 5
—39.3
-2 9 .4
-1 8 .6
207, 700
109,804
39, 362
8,964
+ 3.3
+ 5.7
- 10.6
+ 10.7
New Jersey______
N ew Mexico_____
New York_______
North Dakota____
Ohio------ ------------
O klahom a._____ 19, 357
2,944
Oregon
_______
Pennsylvania------- 15,990
307
Rhode Island____
South Carolina___ 7, 327
221
98
1, 009
12
266
South Dakota____
Tennessee
T ayas
Utah
Virginia_______
1
+ .9
+ .9
+ 5.1
Includes only security wage placements on work-relief projects.
g r f f p t S S f f S S S f f T X W
Service to State employment services.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.n a M
M
« a « , trom N a t o a l Re.m ploym enl
728
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 4.—Veterans’ Activities of Offices of Combined State Employment Serv
ices and National Reemployment Service, January 1936 (Preliminary)
Placements 1
State
N ew applications
Percent
Percent
change January of change
January of from
from
1936
1936
Decem
Decem
ber 1935
ber 1935
Active file
Jan. 31,
1936
Percent
of change
from
Dec. 31,
1935
United States_____
39, 546
-3 2 .0
15,960
-2 4 .1
540,637
2 -0 .3
A labam a,.................
Arizona................... .
Arkansas................ .
California........ ..........
Colorado....................
379
289
386
5, 089
508
-3 9 .8
+ 7 .0
-2 1 .7
+26.7
-4 6 .0
154
151
151
2,353
452
-1 2 .0
- 6 .8
-5 2 .1
-2 5 .9
- 6 .6
8,110
2,467
5, 305
34, 731
6,273
+. 1
+ 4.1
+ 1 .5
+ 4 .4
+ 8 .3
Connecticut......... .
Delaware.............. .
Florida___________
Georgia___________
Idaho____ ____ ____
529
155
172
411
343
-2 0 .1
+14.0
-1 5 .7
+. 2
+18.3
177
33
186
222
113
-3 8 .5
- 8 .3
+ 1.1
+11.6
-1 8 .7
5,971
999
8,196
11, 730
2, 211
+ 4 .5
+ 5 .2
+ 3 .2
+ 5 .7
+ 7 .3
Illin o is..__________
Indiana___________
Io w a ..____________
Kansas____________
Kentucky_________
2,263
595
903
531
305
-7 8 .7
+11.2
-2 1 .2
-6 1 .5
+15.5
1, 303
342
196
145
195
-3 5 .2
+ 1 .2
-3 3 .1
-2 4 .1
-3 3 .0
35, 396
15,161
7,665
7, 529
13,960
+ 3 .6
+ 5 .3
+ 3.1
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .5
L ouisiana..................
M aine....................... .
Maryland...................
M assachusetts_____
M ichigan....................
123
155
411
528
1,648
-3 2 .4
-6 8 .3
-4 1 .1
+36.4
-1 6 .0
64
63
186
453
919
-2 5 .6
-5 5 .6
+ 5 .1
-5 0 .3
—19. 0
4, 557
3,140
6,722
23,065
17, 700
+ 2 .3
-1 2 .5
+ 4 .5
+ 2 .7
+15.6
M innesota.................
Mississippi................
Missouri.....................
M ontana...............
Nebraska.............. .
910
260
1,836
281
451
-3 1 .6
- 7 .5
- 8 .4
- 6 .3
-5 0 .7
262
136
585
56
116
-2 1 .6
+36.0
- 7 .3
-3 3 .3
-2 9 .7
13,474
6, 538
25, 951
3,183
4,111
+ 2 .8
+4. 1
+14.2
+ 3 .0
+ 9 .8
N evada......................
New Hampshire___
N ew Jersey...............
N ew Mexico_______
N ew York_________
156
202
933
410
3,219
+10.6
-2 3 .2
-4 3 .9
+60.2
- 5 .7
44
94
530
93
691
+10.0
+38.8
-2 8 .3
.0
-6 8 .6
397
2,416
21, 598
3,334
38, 707
- 3 .9
+ 3 .2
+ 2 .4
-1 . 2
-3 5 .7
North Carolina.........
North Dakota_____
Ohio______________
Oklahoma..................
Oregon____________
773
327
1,356
1,123
659
-2 .5
-1 4 .6
-4 3 .6
-3 2 .5
-5 1 .1
279
46
787
195
166
+37.4
-4 1 .8
-2 3 .0
-.5
-4 0 .5
8,108
2,245
27, 232
10, 363
9,152
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .8
+ 1 .6
+ 5 .8
+19.6
Pennsylvania...........
Rhode Island..........
South Carolina____
South Dakota______
Tennessee...................
3,763
85
424
256
517
-1 4 .9
-4 1 .8
-.7
-6 2 .6
-3 9 .5
1,502
86
155
59
198
+31.6
+ 7 .5
-2 4 .8
-4 7 .8
+10.0
63, 798
3, 795
6, 526
2, 551
13, 259
+ 2 .3
+ 3 .9
+ 4 .2
-1 1 .5
+ 3 .2
Texas........................... .
Utah.......................... .
V erm ont...................
Virginia___________
Washington________
2,200
336
18
437
954
-2 1 .1
-5 1 .4
-5 9 .1
- 2 .9
- 3 0 .7
643
37
20
317
245
+ 4 .6
-4 8 .6
+33.3
-2 2 .1
- 6 .8
16, 432
2,697
596
6,265
14,410
+ 3 .3
-2 .8
+14.2
- 6 .0
+ 2 .3
West Virginia______
Wisconsin......... ..........
W yoming__________
District of Columbia.
850
767
130
186
-3 4 .3
-4 6 .9
-4 1 .4
-4 3 .8
145
367
57
191
-2 5 .6
-3 4 .6
-4 9 .6
+51.6
7, 667
(3)
1, 223
3,721
+ 5 .9
1 Includes public, private, and relief works placements.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 No report available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 8 .1
+ 5 .8
729
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
D ecem b er A c tiv itie s
D u e to delay in receiving reports from the field, caused by the
pressure of heavy registration and placement activities during De
cember, it was possible to publish a report only of preliminary esti
mates of December operations in the last issue of the Monthly Labor
Review. Complete reports for December are now available and
detailed State-by-State operating figures are shown in the following
tables. Condensed tables showing the November operating totals
for the four employment services for which reports were previously
unavailable and complete November summary totals for the entire
Employment Service are given in table 5 (p. 734).
During December, 794,342 placements were reported, 646,258 on
relief works projects at security wages, 86,645 on public work, and
61,439 in private employment. Registrations were received from
481,902 applicants in December and 8,954,017 applicants were
reported as actively seeking work at the end of the month.
Placements of 58,027 veterans were made during December, and
21,055 previously unregistered veterans made application with the
Employment Service. At the end of the month 551,377 veterans
were actively seeking work.
Table 1.—Operations of Offices of Combined State Employment and National
Reemployment Services, December 1935
New applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Pri
vate
Percent
Percent
Percent
of
of
of
change Public change Relief i Decem change
from
ber
from
from
Novem
N ovem
Novem
ber
ber
ber
United States____ 794,342 61,439
- 2 .2 86, 645
Alabama________ 10,863
Arizona
______ 9,342
Arkansas______ - 9,775
California__ _____ 40, 651
Colorado________ 14,733
182
329
1,204
5,693
539
8,351
2,325
3,985
7,742
4,570
1,114
233
810
1,491
111
Connecticut ____
Delaware________
Florida - - - __
Georgia____ - Idaho___ _
---
+ 0 .2 646, 258 481,902
- 9 .9
Active file
Dec.
31
Percent
of
change
from
Nov.
30
8,954,017
2 + 5 .2
+ 8 .3
-2 7 .5
+38.7
-2 8 .5
-3 1 .3
368
1,655
1,219
5,181
1,690
-6 9 .9
+ 8 .3
-2 2 .4
+ 3 .6
-7 .9
10,313
7,358
7,352
29,777
12,504
5,468
2,615
9,258
38,049
12,287
+13.5
+. 8
+12.8
+ 2 .5
+77. 6
143,782
36, 54i
105,758
367,373
98,056
+ 7 .6
+ 9 .0
+14.7
- 1 .2
+39.5
-3 2 .9
-1 8 .5
-5 2 .0
412 -3 1 .2
280 +101.4
1,729
+7.8
1,346 +197. 8
829 -3 0 .0
6,825
1,812
1,446
4,905
3,630
6,898
1,491
4, 506
6,083
2,884
+16.6
+16.7
+14.8
-3 1 .0
-1 .2
77, 660
15,780
155, 629
253,903
34, 591
+12.6
+15.6
+5. 3
+23.4
+2. 8
+18. 3
443,474
«
- 6 . 0 2, 568 +36.4 114,683 41,043 -2 4 .8
Illinois
______ 123,546 6,295
+ 5 .9
+.7 1.486 +14.7 1,039 7,626 -1 4 .2 196,161
Indiana _ ________ 5,811 3,286
+17.0
96,
307
+11.8
7,507
5,979
-1
9
.4
2,919
1,229
+
1
.1
10,127
Iowa . __*______
+ 5 .8
110,887
-2
3
.3
3,773
834 -1 9 .5 3,081 +130.4 14,468
Kansas__________ 18,383
221,991 1 + 6 .1
659 10, 457 +17.5
410 +79.8 1,855 +25.6
2,924
K entucky_______
1 Includes only security wage placements on relief works projects.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
. . . .
. . . .
,
,
3 N ot comparable due to addition of 135,000 relief applications received during July through December
1935 and not previously reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
730
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 1.—Operations of Offices of Combined State Employment and National
Reemployment Services, December 1935—Continued
Newr applica
tions
Placements
State
Percent
Percent
Percent
of
of
of
change Public change Relief Decem change
from
from
from
ber
N ovem
Novem
N ovem
ber
ber
ber
Active file
Percent
of
change
from
N ov.
30
Total
Pri
vate
Louisiana________ 1,551
M aine.. — ------ 5,372
8, 826
M aryland.. ------Massachusetts----4, 460
Michigan________ 29,349
347
366
252
987
140
-2 2 .2
+60.5
-2 1 .7
+50.2
+ 5 .3
1,199
1,724
669
1,956
1,614
+13.1
+76.8
-7 .4
-1 6 .5
-4 1 .4
5
3,282
7,905
1,517
27, 595
1,524
3, 007
5, 274
22,013
19, 099
+ 7 .6
-4 7 .4
-2 5 .2
-2 7 .1
-1 5 .0
56, 307
46, 687
114,333
357, 323
231,164
+ 4 .4
+15.8
+ 5 .9
+ 6 .7
+13.3
15, 783
10,846
35, 470
2, 588
11,781
1,382
15
807
512
387
-.1
-8 1 .7
-2 1 .0
+58.0
+35.3
3, 573
782
3,037
1,859
2,100
+10.8
-3 6 .7
-3 1 .2
- 7 .4
+ 7 .1
10,828
10,049
31, 626
217
9,294
8,706
4, 778
9, 788
2,105
5,033
-2 8 .9
-2 1 .5
-4 7 .6
-2 4 .2
+ 3 .6
165, 202
165,123
332, 976
50,176
58, 773
+ 8 .2
+ 4 .8
+ 3 .2
+ 8 .8
+20.5
N e v a d a .......... . . 1,491
New Ham pshire... 2,979
N ew Jersey---------- 22,106
N ew Mexico____
4, 559
N ew York_______ 40,655
60
239
2,098
294
9,716
-4 1 .2
+46.6
+15.2
-3 5 .9
+10.8
1,145
621
2,210
1,041
4,128
+13.0
+54.9
+10.1
+12.8
+ 6 .0
286
2,119
17,798
3, 224
26,811
682
1, 586
19, 467
1,983
62,007
-3 3 .7
7,749
+ 8 .0
31,364
-2 4 .5
294, 547
- 8 .4
56, 544
+28.1 1,019, 537
+ 2.0
+ 7 .9
-4 .7
- 1 .5
-.0
North Carolina___
North Dakota____
Ohio______ _____
O klahom a... -----Oregon__________
18, 605
6,493
33, 592
36, 570
10,313
1,033
60
5,460
791
249
-3 0 .0
-3 3 .0
+93.3
+60.8
-4 3 .3
1,948
388
2,468
1,437
2,040
-2 0 .8
-3 8 .5
-6 3 .2
+60.9
+30.0
15,624
6,045
25, 664
34, 342
8,024
8,542
2, 615
24, 866
5,817
5,063
-3 6 .2
- 3 .0
-8 .6
+ 6 .2
+14.5
181,398
43, 673
380,968
152,259
108,256
+ 5 .0
+17.8
+10.1
+ 7 .3
+ 5 .2
Pennsylvania____
Rhode Island____
South Carolina---South D akota___
Tennessee____ . .
53, 831
794
10,975
8,140
18,010
2,805 -1 8 .9
244 +190. 5
200
- 8 .7
569 +27.0
206 -6 6 .9
3,483
241
1,036
1,108
1,055
+50.9
-3 2 .1
-2 3 .5
-3 3 .5
+ 2 .3
47, 543
309
9,739
6,463
16, 749
27, 572
1,526
4,960
2, 622
4, 944
-1 4 .3 1, 270,189
+52.8
61,518
141,453
-3 2 .7
-2 7 .2
45,161
-3 6 .3
240,971
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .7
+ 5 .6
+12.7
+ 3 .7
T e x a s ..................... 51,579
U tah____________
9,464
Vermont...............
880
Virginia_________
5,645
Washington______ 14, 735
804
+ 5 .2
306 +41.7
130 -5 2 . 9
1,170 +14.6
1,927 +288. 5
7, 709 +67.9
1,501 +36.2
502 +32.8
2, 675 +122.7
249 -8 6 .9
43,066
7,657
248
1,800
12, 559
22,070
2, 540
732
10,257
7, 256
+13.5
+24.8
- 5 .8
+ 13.2
- 1 .5
274, 850
42, 573
14, 730
134,378
200,982
+12.5
+12.6
+13.1
+ 8 .9
+ 5 .4
West V irgin ia... . 20, 526
Wisconsin.........
18,878
W yoming______ _ 2, Oil
District of Columbia............ ............
2,357
345
2, 264
154
+16.2
-1 2 .5
-1 5 .8
2,021
958
765
+22.3
-1 7 .8
+14.0
18,160
15, 656
1,092
8,034
11,335
1,957
+10.0
-4 1 .7
+34.6
131, 395
123,708
15,130
+12.5
-1 2 . 1
+19.4
1,360
- 4 .0
785
-3 0 .8
212
2,197
-4 0 .9
44,727
+ 3 .8
M in n e so ta ______
M ississip p i--------Missouri_______ _
M ontana---------- --Nebraska....... .........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Dec.
31
731
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Table 2 .—Operations of Offices of State Employment Services, December 1935
N ew applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Pri
vate
All S ta tes............. . 366,563 42, 528
Percent
Percent
Percent
of
of
of
change Public change R elief1 Decem change
from
ber
from
from
Novem
Novem
Novem
ber
ber
ber
2 - 1 .0 31,980
Active file
Dec.
31
Percent
of
change
from
N ov.
30
4,112, 612
2 + 4 .0
4,459
21,808
4, 617
4, 952
1,812
- 3 .8
1,149
—2. 5
31, 239
8, 256 +120. 5
5,244 +15.9
1,491 +16.7
13,670
303,338
46,397
54, 678
15, 780
+12.7
+8. 8
+28.1
+13.6
+15. 6
2 + 0 .9 292, 055 266, 254
2 - 9 .7
5,170
Arizona ________
California___ ____ 30,304
Colorado. _ ______ 5,415
Connecticut______ 6,110
2,325
D elaw are____. . .
239
4,917
296
862
233
-2 7 .4
-1 9 .4
-2 3 .3
-1 0 .8
+39.5
472 +325. 2
- 3 .1
3, 579
502 -3 5 .1
296 -2 3 .5
280 + 101.4
955
2, 572
98,137
4,316
5, 076
88
55
5, 551
2, 757
1,093
(3)
-7 2 .4
+ 8 .2
- 5 .7
-.2
378
362
1,862
925
1, 322
(3)
+36.1
+36.7
+17.7
+ 4 .2
489
2,155
90, 724
634
2,661
833
1,566
32,087
5,077
4,122
(3)
-1 1 .4
-2 6 .8
-2 2 .5
- 2 .5
35, 288
17, 545
307, 000
111, 711
55,824
(3)
+19.5
w
+ 5 .9
+14. 2
Kansas (not affili
5, 368
ated) ________
Louisiana. _____ 1,551
2, 621
Massachusetts___
4, 204
Minnesota_______
Missouri_________ 15, 320
395
347
905
636
695
-2 0 .5
-2 2 .2
+58.2
-6 9 .3
-1 8 .5
503 +179.4
1,199 +13.1
+ 3 .4
910
1,598 +31.4
528 -1 8 .5
4, 470
5
806
1,970
14, 097
749
1,524
16,118
4, 215
3, 964
-2 4 .8
+ 7 .6
-1 1 . 5
-4 0 .2
—59. 6
24, 641
56,307
147, 644
78,697
130,005
+ 6 .7
+ 4 .4
+12.1
+5. 0
+ .8
741
Nevada
______
1,508
N ew Hampshire.
New Jersey______ 16,439
1,076
N ew Mexico_____
New Y ork. _____ 20, 013
42
59
1,924
78
8,299
-5 5 .8
-2 1 .3
+18.8
-6 2 .5
+11.8
670
216
1,747
234
2,318
+ 9 .5
+98.0
+18.7
+39.3
+ 3 .3
29
1,233
12, 768
764
9, 396
464
867
16,870
643
52, 601
-3 4 .8
+ 15.0
—24.9
—35. 3
+40.2
5,078
14, 566
244,430
28, 280
663, 631
+ 3 .0
+10. 0
—4. 5
+2. 8
—. 2
North Carolina___ 18, 605
North Dakota____ 1,046
Ohio
. . _____ 18,933
O klahom a...
__ 6,840
6,987
Oregon.. _______
1,033 -3 0 .0
12 -8 2 .1
4, 370 +240.1
567 +49.6
185 -4 3 .9
1,948 -2 0 .8
- 4 .9
39
1,079 -7 8 .7
88 +87.2
1, 060 +119.5
15, 624
995
13,466
6,185
5,742
8,542
339
19, 084
1,314
3, 021
-3 6 .2
—11. 3
—7.1
+. 2
+25. 6
181, 398
4, 764
226,555
28, 548
77,470
+ 5 .0
+27. 6
+10.8
+ 9 .3
+ 3. 6
Pennsylvania____ 31, 035
547
Rhode Isla n d ____
7,167
South Dakota.
Tennessee
____ 9,421
Texas . . . ______ 12,327
1,970 -2 7 .0
216 + 157.1
495
(3)
105 -7 8 .5
28 -7 2 .0
1,568 +178. 5
195 -1 3 .7
970
(3)
590 +21. 1
1,684 +118.1
27,497
136
5,702
8,726
10, 615
17, 056
1,417
2, 288
3,116
5,940
-1 9 .3
—53. 0
0
—20. 5
+8. 0
782,838
55, 337
39, 727
103,813
64,461
+ 1 .0
+2. 7
(3)
+ 3 .6
+14. 8
880
Vermont _______
702
Virginia . ______
West Virginia____ 5,422
13,835
Wisconsin _
1,238
W yom ing......... .
130
416
197
1,857
116
-5 2 .9
+33.3
-5 .3
- 8 .9
+65.7
502
128
380
555
490
+32.8
-2 7 .7
+35.7
+ 2 .2
+44.1
248
158
4,845
11,423
632
- 5 .8
732
826
- 8 .6
—3.2
1,804
8, 321 —34.9
1,178 +108.1
14, 730
19,525
27,478
79, 700
7,031
+13.1
H-3. 0
+13. 0
+ 1. 6
+29. 1
District of Colum
bia____________
1,360 J - 4 . 0
785
-3 0 .8
212
-4 0 .9
44, 727
+ 3 .8
Florida__________
Idaho___ ____
Illinois . ______
Indiana
______
Iowa_________. . .
2, 357
2,197
1 Includes only security wage placements on relief works projects.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 First month of operation as S. E. S.
.
■,
m«
4 N ot comparable due to addition of 135,000 relief applications during July through December 1935 not
previously reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
732
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 3.-—Operations of Offices of the National Reemployment Service, December
1935
New applica
tions
Placements
State
Total
Percent
Percent
Percent
of
of
of
change Public change R elief1 Decem change
from
ber
from
from
vate
Novem
Novem
N ovem
ber
ber
ber
Pri
All States........ ....... 427, 779 18, 911
from
N ov.
30
2+6.2
143,782
22, 871
105, 758
64,035
51, 659
+ 7 .6
+ 7 .0
+14.7
+22.3
+19.4
1, 654
3, 673
6,083
1,318
8, 956
+18.8
(3)
-3 1 .0
+14.4
-1 7 .1
22,982
120, 341
253, 903
17,046
136,474
+10.3
(3)
+ 2 .8
+ 17.2
+10.8
405
3,318
9,998
659
3,282
2,549
3,385
3,024
10,457
3,007
+9.1
+36.3
-2 2 .9
+17.5
-4 7 .4
84,450
40,483
86, 246
221,991
46, 687
+ 5 .9
+21.0
+ 5.6
+ 6 .1
+15.8
- 7 .5
-2 8 .5
-4 1 .4
- 1 .5
-3 6 .7
7,905
711
27,595
8,858
10,049
5,274
5, 895
19, 099
4,491
4, 778
-2 5 .2
-5 0 .8
-1 5 .0
-1 3 .5
-2 1 .5
114,333
209, 679
231,164
86,505
165,123
+ 5 .9
+ 3 .2
+ 13.3
+ 11.4
+ 4 .8
2, 509
1,859
2,100
475
405
-3 3 .4
- 7 .4
+ 7 .1
+18.5
+ 6 .3
17, 529
217
9,294
257
886
5,824
2, 105
5,033
218
719
-3 4 .3
-2 4 .2
+ 3 .6
-3 1 .2
+ 9 .7
202, 971
50,176
58, 773
2, 671
16, 798
+ 4 .8
+ 8 .8
+20.5
+• 2
+ 6 .2
182
90
1,204
776
243
+ 8 .3
-2 8 .0
+38.7
-5 8 .3
-3 9 .1
368
1,183
1,219
1,602
1,188
-6 9 .6
-1 6 .5
-2 2 .4
+22.5
+12.0
10,313
2,899
7,352
7,969
7,887
5,468
1,466
9, 258
6,810
4,031
C on n ecticu t.___
Florida._________
Georgia____ _____
Idaho________ . . .
Illinois__________
2,241
3,030
7,742
1,998
25,409
252
722
1, 491
56
744
+55.6
-1 8 .5
-3 9 .8
-5 2 .4
116 -4 5 .3
1,351
(3)
1, 346 +197.8
467 -4 9 . 1
706 +35.5
1, 873
957
4, 905
1,475
23, 959
Indiana___ ____
Iowa_____ ______ _
Kansas . . . _____
Kentucky_______
1,495
5,051
13,015
2,924
5,372
529
136
439
410
366
+56.5
+12.4
-1 8 .6
+79.8
+60.5
561 + 10.2
1,597 -3 2 .1
2, 578 +122.8
1,855 +25.6
1, 724 +76.8
8,826
1,839
Massachusetts___
Michigan_______
29,349
M in n esota______ 11, 579
M ississippi____ . 10,846
252
82
140
746
-2 1 .7
-3 .5
+ 5 .3
-3 3 .0
-8 1 .7
669
1,046
1, 614
1, 975
782
Missouri________ 20,150
2,588
Montana________
Nebraska________ 11,781
750
N evada----- --------N ew H am pshire... 1, 471
112 -3 3 .7
512 +58.4
387 +35.3
18 +15.7
180 +104. 5
15
Percent
of
change
+13.5
+ 4 .7
+12.8
+34.5
+27.0
10, 863
4, 172
9, 775
10, 347
9,318
Maine.......... .....
Maryland____ .
Dec.
31
2 + 0 .7 354,203 215, 648 2-10.3 4,841,405
2 - 3 .6 54, 665
Alabama________
A r izo n a ___ _ . . .
A rkansas______
California________
Colorado.
_____
(3)
Active file
New Jersey______
5, 667
New M exico.......... 3,483
N ew Y ork..........
20, 642
North Dakota____ 5,447
Ohio_______ _____ 14,659
174
216
1,417
48
1, 090
-1 3 .4
-1 3 .9
+ 5 .0
-5 7 .1
-3 0 .4
463
807
1,810
349
1,371
-1 3 .6
+ 6 .9
+ 9 .6
-4 0 .8
-1 2 .5
5, 030
2, 460
17,415
5,050
12,198
2, 597
1,340
9,406
2,276
5, 782
-2 1 .5
+ 14.5
-1 3 .5
-1 .7
-1 3 .0
50,117
28,264
355, 906
38, 909
154,413
- 5 .6
- 5 .4
+ .3
+ 16.7
+ 9 .2
Oklahoma_______ 29, 730
Oregon_______ .
3, 326
Pennsylvania------- 22, 796
247
Rhode I sla n d ___
South Carolina___ 10, 975
224
64
835
28
200
+98.2
-4 1 .3
+ 9 .6
.0
-8 .7
1,349
980
1,915
46
1,036
+59.4
- 9 .8
+ 9 .7
-6 4 .3
-2 3 .5
28,157
2, 282
20, 046
173
9, 739
4, 503
2,042
10,516
109
4, 960
+ 8 .0
+ 1 .4
-4 .7
-5 0 .2
-3 2 .7
123,711
30, 786
487, 351
6, 181
141,453
+ 6 .9
+ 9 .6
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .8
+ 5 .6
South D akota____
973
T e n n e ss e e .._____ 8, 589
Texas___________ 39,252
U tah____________
9,464
4, 943
Virginia____ _____
101
776
306
754
74
(4)
-2 4 .1
+16.9
+41.7
+ 6 .3
138
«
465 -1 4 .5
6,025 +57.7
1,501 +36.2
2,547 +148. 7
8,023
32,451
7,657
1,642
761
334
1,828
16,130
2,540
9,431
(0
-5 2 .4
+15.7
+24.8
+15.6
5,434
137,158
210, 389
42, 573
114,853
(0
+ 3 .8
+11.8
+12.6
+ 9 .9
12,559
13,315
4,233
460
7,256
6, 230
3,014
779
-1 .5
+14.5
-5 4 .8
-1 2 .3
200,982
103, 917
44,008
8, 099
+ 5 .4
+12.4
-2 9 .3
+ 12.0
W a s h in g to n ..___ 14, 735
West Virginia____ 15,104
W iscon sin ______
5,043
W yoming________
773
1,927 +288.5
148 +66.3
407 -2 5 .7
38 -6 6 .4
249
1, 641
403
275
-8 6 .9
+ 19.5
-3 5 .2
-1 6 .9
1 Includes only security-wage placements on relief works projects.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 N ot comparable due to transfer of Tampa office from N . R. S. t o S .E .S .
•>N ot comparable due to transfer of a majority of the offices from N . R. S. to S. E. S.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
733
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Table 4.—Veterans’ Activities of Offices of Combined State Employment and
National Reemployment Services, December 1935
Placements 1
New applications
Active file
Decem
ber
Percent
of
change
from
Novem
ber
Decem
ber
Percent
of
change
from
Novem
ber
Dec. 31
---------
58,027
+14.8
21,055
- 7 .0
551, 377
+ 6.9
Alabama_____ _ ____________________
Arizona_______________ ______________
Arkansas_____________________________
California____________________________
Colorado_____________________________
620
270
493
4,017
941
+ 9 .0
-3 1 .5
- 7 .0
- 8 .0
+22.5
174
162
315
3,176
484
- 1 .1
+14.1
+65.8
+12.5
+90.6
8,091
2,370
5,227
33, 267
5,790
+ 7.1
+12.0
+13.4
+ 9 .2
+18.4
Connecticut.....................................................
Delaware_________________________ Florida.____ ______ ___________________
Georgia_______
. _________________
Idaho------- -- --------- ---------------------------
662
136
204
410
290
+ 1 .4
+17.2
-3 8 .4
-4 0 .2
- 3 .3
288
36
184
199
139
-1 .0
-1 2 .2
+21.9
-1 5 .0
-1 3 .1
5,714
950
7,942
11,102
2,060
+ 9 .2
+11.6
+ 7 .3
+ 2 .9
+22.0
Illinois_________
_________ _______
Indiana_________ ___ _____ ____ ____ Iowa_______________ ________________
Kansas_______________________________
Kentucky____________________________
10, 601
535
1,146
1,378
264
+277.1
-3 2 .9
+58.3
-1 4 .2
- 6 .0
2, 012
338
293
191
291
-3 2 .2
-1 6 .3
- 3 .3
+49.2
+19.8
34.160
14,400
7,435
7,312
13,487
+45.3
+5. 6
+22.8
+ 5 .3
+ 1 .0
Louisiana____________ _________
M aine____________
. ..
Maryland---------- ----------- . -------------Massachusetts________________________
M ichigan------------- ---------------- -------------
182
489
698
387
1,963
+11.0
+134. 0
- 9 .4
-2 5 .0
+84.0
86
142
177
912
1,134
+62.3
-5 0 .0
- 6 .3
-2 7 .2
-2 3 .2
4,456
3,590
6,430
22,457
15,305
+ 6 .4
+12.3
+ 3 .0
+4. 4
+11.1
M innesota____________________________
M ississippi___________________________
Missouri______________________________
M ontana_______ _____________ _____
Nebraska_______ _____________ _______
1,331
281
2,005
300
915
-3 2 .1
-2 4 .3
- 1 .9
+35.7
+60.2
334
100
631
84
165
-3 6 .6
+20.5
-2 1 .7
-9 .7
+ 6 .5
13,103
6,280
22, 723
3,090
3,744
+ 7 .9
+ 4 .5
+11.1
+ ii. i
+17.3
Nevada _____________________________
N ew Hampshire______________________
N ew Jersey. .............................................. .
N ew Mexico______________ ___________
New York_________ _________________
141
263
1,664
256
3,415
-2 0 .8
- 7 .7
+ 1 .5
-5 9 .0
+58.9
40
67
739
94
2,202
-2 5 .9
+21.8
-3 3 .1
+30.6
+30.1
413
2,340
21,092
3,376
60,214
+L7
+ 4. 6
—2. 7
+2. 2
- .6
North Carolina_______________________
North Dakota_______ _______ ____ _____
Ohio_________________ . . ______ ___
Oklahoma____________ . . . __________
Oregon..........................
.
--------------
793
383
2,404
1,664
1,347
+ 8 .2
+42. S
-4 2 .4
+87.8
+119.0
203
79
1,022
196
279
-2 7 .8
- 6 .0
- 5 .4
+ 3 .7
+ 7 .7
7,885
2,162
26,801
9,795
7,654
+ 2 .7
+14.6
+ 9 .0
- 6 .3
+ 4 .2
Pennsylvania____
...
-------------Rhode Island_____ . . . . .
..............
South Carolina-------- ---------------------- South Dakota----------- ------ ------------------Tennessee____________________________
4, 422
146
431
684
854
-1 3 .6
- 8 .7
+ 7 .8
+41.3
-3 5 .4
1,141
80
206
113
180
- 6 .7
-2 4 .5
+73.1
+16.5
-1 0 .9
62,380
3,651
6,260
2,883
12,847
+ 4 .8
+1. 4
+ 6 .0
+14.7
+ 1.5
Texas__________________ _____________
U tah_______ ____ ____________________
Vermont.......... ................ . . . . . ----------Virginia_____ ____ ____________________
Washington--------------- ----------------------
2,789
691
44
450
1,377
-2 1 .4
4~13. o
-3 7 .1
+77.9
+42.4
615
72
15
407
263
+ 7 .7
+38.5
-1 1 .8
+61.5
+17.4
15,900
2, 774
522
6,668
14,090
+ 8 .3
+12.1
+13.5
+ 6 .3
+ 3 .7
West Virginia.. _ _________ ___________
W isconsin..__________ - _____________
W y o m in g ___________________________
District of Columbia------ ---------------------
1,293
1,445
222
331
+128.8
-3 4 .7
+12.7
+17.4
195
561
113
126
- 4 .4
-4 2 .6
+61.4
-4 3 .2
7,243
9,294
1,131
3, 517
+ 9 .2
-1 0 .5
+15.4
+ 2 .9
State
U nited States____-
--------- -
i Includes public, private, and work-relief project placements.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent
of
change
from
N ov. 30
734
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW -M ARCH 1936
Table 5.—Operations of United States Employment Service, November 1935
[Reports of previously unreported services and revised totals]
Operations of offices of combined State employment and National Reemployment
Services, November 1935
New applica
tions
Placements
State
Pub
and
Total licpri
vate
Total applica
tions
Per
Per
cent of
N o cent of
change R elief1 vem
change Novem
from
from
ber
ber
Octo
Octo
ber
ber
United States__________ 677, 545 149, 279 -3 9 .4 528, 266 526, 227 -1 7 .2 1,109,195
Alabama____________
9,818
Illinois____________ __ 34, 889
Kansas___________ ____ 16, 702
Minnesota_____ ______ 21, 846
1,389
8, 577
2, 373
6,408
-4 3 .9 8, 429 4, 819 -3 0 .5
-3 1 .4 26, 312 46,112 + 8 .5
-3 2 .9 14, 329 4,919
-.0
-4 6 .1 15,438 12, 243 - 9 .9
Active file
Per
Per
cent of
cent of
change N ovem change
from
from
ber
Octo
Octo
ber
ber
- 3 .2 8, 387,179
17, 682 - 1 .6
82, 371 + 4 .4
13,084 +10.8
30, 685 - 7 .6
- 4 .0
133, 666 - 5 .5
294, 756
- .9
104, 785 -2 7 .3
152, 617 + 4 .8
Operations of offices of State employment services, November 1935
All States_______ ______ 283, 733 72, 741 -3 1 .7 210,992 282, 798 -2 1 .5
Illinois___________ ____
Kansas (not affiliated)^
Minnesota_______ ___
20, 842
4,316
6, 070
6,492 -2 5 .5 14, 350 35, 310 +3. 1
677 -4 0 .8 3,639
996 -1 5 .7
3,289 -2 8 .1 2,781 7,050 - 8 .2
530, 983
- 8 .8 3, 759, 455
54, 348 + 4 .9
3,054 -1 3 .0
12,335 -2 1 .0
- 1 .4
171,551 - 5 .7
23,091 -2 3 .0
74, 967 + 6 .3
Operations of offices of National Reemployment Service, November 1935
All States ____________ 393,812 76, 538 -4 5 .3 317, 274 243, 429 - I f . 5
Alabama__________ __
9,818
1,389 -4 3 .9
8, 429
4,819 -3 0 .5
578, 212
17,682
+ 2 .3 4, 627, 724
- 6 .0
- 1 .6
- 5 .5
133, 666
1 Includes only security-wage placements on relief works projects.
Age o f Persons U sing Services of Public E m ploym ent
Offices, Y ear E nding Ju n e 1935
EN in the age group 30-39 had the most favorable prospect of
receiving work through public employment offices of any group
of applicants during the year ended June 30, 1935, analysis of detailed
age tabulations of the United States Employment Service reveals.
During this period 95.4 placements were reported for every 100 new
male applicants registered in this age group. The relative advantage
of this group is particularly marked when compared to the registra
tion-placement ratio of the group of younger male applicants, aged
20 years or less, for which only 44.3 placements per 100 new applicants
were reported, and the group of men aged 60 years and more, for which
35.8 placements were reported for every 100 new applicants.
Second rank for men, in the relation of the number of placements
to the volume of new applications, fell to the group of men aged 40-49,
for which 88.5 placements per 100 new applicants were recorded.
Third in order, the group aged 21-29 received 76.6 placements per
100 new registrations. Fourth rank was held by the age class from
M
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
735
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
PLACEMENT
RATES OF AGE GROUPS
UNITED STATES 12 MONTHS JULY 1934-JUNE 1935
MEN
N o n -R
e l ie f p l a c e m e n t s
p e r io o n e w
a p p l ic a n t s
too------------------------------------------------------------
IOO
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
2 0 and
Under
21-29.9
3 0 -3 9 .9
4 0 ~ 4 9 .9
50 ~ 59.9
6 0 AND
Over
0
WOMEN
N O N -R E L IE F PLACEMENTS PER IOO NEW APPLICANTS
/OO -------------------------------------------------- -----------
IOO
90
-
90
80
—
80
70
-
70
60 -
60
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
50
40
30
20
10
0
736
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-— MARCH 1936
UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
AGE OF NEW APPLICANTS AND ALL PERSONS PLACED
UNITED STATES 12 MONTHS JULY 1934-JUNE 1935
MEN
P ersons Placed
N e w A p p l ic a n t s
imuiin
n
2 0 And Under
imiiiimimmin
iMlMiiii
0 T© o 0 0 ©
n
21-29.9
• • • •
# • 0 Ot O © 0
is
30-39.9
iiimiim
'e 0 0 o
4 0 -4 9 .9
ntcn
5 0 -5 9 .9
m
60-69.9
WOMEN
N ew A
Persons P la c e d
p p l ic a n t s
M
ill
2 0 And Under
UUii
21-29.9
3 0 -3 9 .9
60-69.9
X
REGULAR
K
TEMPORARY
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Each Complete Figure Represents 5 0 ,0 0 0 A pplicants
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
737
50-59, which received 62.5 placements per 100 registrants. The
group aged 20 years or less exceeded only the group aged 60 and over
in relative placements, with 44.3 placements per 100 new applicants,
as compared to 35.8 placements per 100 new applicants for the latter.
The placement rate of men, as a whole, was nearly twice as great
as that of women. For all male applicants, 74.9 placements were
reported for every 100 new applicants registered; for women, 42 place
ments per 100 new applicants were reported. This relative advantage
of men was evident in every age group.
Among women, the highest probability of placement was in the age
group 40-49, where 49.3 placements per 100 new applicants were
reported. Although the highest ratio of placement for women oc
curred in this age group, it exceeded only the two lowest groups of men
in relative placement rank. Second highest placements for women
were found in the group aged 30-39, with 45.4 placements per 100
applicants. Successively lower were the groups 21-29, with 43.4
placements per 100 applicants, and the group aged 20 years or less,
with 37.8 placements per 100 applicants. In contrast to the situation
among the men, the group of women aged from 50-59 held next to the
lowest chance of securing placement, only 35.3 placements per 100
new applicants being reported. For women aged 60 years and over,
there were only 19.4 placements per 100 new applicants.
In general, a tendency for the proportion of placements on regular
jobs to decrease in the higher age brackets was evident both in the
case of men and women. Among men, this variation was only
moderate. The highest proportion of regular placements (i. e., those
exceeding 1 month in duration) among men was found in the group
aged 21-29, where 61.4 percent of all placements were in regular em
ployment. The lowest percent of regular placements of men was in
the group aged 60 and over, 50.3 percent of the placements being
reported as regular. Among women, the variation was somewhat
greater. In the group of women aged 20 or less, 67.9 percent of the
placements were in regular employment. Only 39.1 percent of the
placements of women in the group aged 40-49 were of regular
duration.
This report is based on detailed tabulations of the records of
4,054,782 new applicants who registered with the United States Em
ployment Service during the year ended June 30, 1935, and of
2,712,482 placements made during the same period. The records of
22,890 new applicants and 18,398 placements for which age data was
not specified, are not included.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
738
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
L ength of U nem ploym ent of N e w A pplicants at Public
E m ploym ent Offices
HE greater prevalence of protracted unemployment among job
seekers receiving relief than among self-supporting persons looking
for work is illustrated by a comparison of the records of new appli
cants who registered with the United States Employment Service
throughout the country during September 1935. Detailed tabulations
show that the median length of unemployment of totally unemployed
job registrants on relief who had previous work experience was 10.5
months. Only 5.8 percent of the job applicants with relief status had
any kind of employment at the time of registration. By contrast, the
median length of unemployment of the nonrelief group with previous
employment experience was but 4.6 months, and 9.5 percent of the
nonrelief group had employment at the time of registration.
Among the registrants with relief status, 20.8 percent reported their
last continuous unemployment as not exceeding 1 month’s duration
and 12.1 percent additional reported continuous unemployment of
6 months or less. Including relief registrants working at time of
employment registration, 38.7 percent of the applicants with relief
status had been totally unemployed for less than 6 months. In
addition, 5.2 percent of the relief job seekers were recent students and
9.3 percent were persons not ordinarily employed. This latter group
was composed principally of housewives.
At the other end of the scale, 46.7 percent reported unemployment
of over 6 months’ duration, and 15.8 percent of the job seekers with
relief status reported continuous unemployment exceeding 4 years.
Eleven percent of the relief applicants had been unemployed from
2 to 4 years continuously. The group unemployed more than 6 months
but not more than 1 year formed 10.2 percent of the total, and relief
registrants unemployed more than a year but less than 2 years made
up 9.7 percent of the total applicants with relief status.
Work seekers without relief status showed a much heavier con
centration in the periods of short unemployment. Registrants un
employed 1 month or less constituted 24.6 percent of the nonrelief
group and another 21.3 percent had been unemployed less than 6
months. Recent students accounted for 6.8 percent of the nonrelief
total. A group constituting 4.8 percent of the registrants represented
persons not ordinarily employed.
Only 33.0 percent of the nonrelief registrants reported unemploy
ment exceeding 6 months in duration. The group of nonrelief regis-
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
739
UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
LENGTH OF UNEMPLOYMENT OF NEW APPLICANTS
SEPTEM BER
1935
N O N -R E L IE F
R ELIEF
WORKING A T TIME OF REGISTRATION
PERSONS NOT ORDINARILY EMPLOYED
RECENT STUDENTS
in’f<(((((((tflffi n11li)11ini ii'ni
1 MONTH OR LESS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
K K id fflm iliililD lim
2 - 6 MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
u
m
r
n
i m
m
7 - / 2 MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
fiiiiittiim ]
13-24 MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
2 5 -3 6 MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
3 7 - 4 8 MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
iiiimmmmm
MORE THAN 4 8 MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
Each Complete Figure Represents 5 ,0 0 0 A pplicants
4 9 6 4 5 — 3 6 -------- 1 5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
740
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
trants unemployed over 6 but less than 12 months amounted to
10.1 percent of the total, and the group unemployed over 1 year but
less than 2 constituted 7.9 percent. Unemployed more than 2 years
but not more than 4 were 6.6 percent of the nonrelief group, and
8.3 percent reported unemployment of over 4 years.
A chart showing the classification of relief and nonrelief work
registrants by length of unemployment appears on page 739.
All the foregoing comparisons are based on the tabulated records of
655,504 new employment applicants who registered with offices of the
United States Employment Service during September 1935. In
addition, registrations were received from 25,558 persons with relief
status and 71 without, for whom detailed reports are not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
S um m ary of E m ploym ent R ep o rts fo r Ja n u a ry 1936
NDUSTRIAL employment and pay rolls in January 1936 were
characterized by seasonal recessions in a number of lines of in
dustry. Factory employment declined between December 1935 and
January 1936, due largely to inventory taking and repairs. Retailtrade establishments released many workers who had been engaged
temporarily to handle the volume of Christmas trade in the preceding
month. Building construction and quarrying also reported sharp
decreases in number of workers, due to winter weather conditions.
Although increases in employment from December to January were
shown in 9 of the nonmanufacturing industries for which data are
available, the gains were not sufficient to offset the losses reported in
the additional manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries sur
veyed. In the aggregate, approximately 660,000 fewer workers were
employed in these combined industries in January 1936 than in Decem
ber 1935 and weekly pay rolls were estimated to be $17,500,000 less
than in the preceding month. Compared with January 1935, how
ever, there were 460,000 more workers employed and weekly pay rolls
were $24,850,000 greater.
Decreases in factory employment from December to January have
been shown in 12 of the preceding 16 years for which information is
available, and factory pay rolls have declined in 14 years. The de
crease of 1.9 percent in factory employment from December to Janu
ary indicates a reduction of approximately 138,000 workers over the
month interval and the decrease of 5.7 percent in factory pay rolls
indicates an estimated drop of $9,000,000 in weekly wage disburse
ments. The estimated number of factory wage earners in January
was 6,955,800 and their estimated weekly wages were $146,923,000.
Employment in the durable-goods group declined 1.6 percent over
the month interval and the group of nondurable-goods industries
showed a decline of 2.2 percent in number of workers.
A comparison of the January 1936 factory employment index (83.0)
with the index of January 1935 (78.8) shows a gain of 5.3 percent and
a similar comparison of the January 1936 pay-roll index (72.2) with
the January 1935 index (64.3) shows an increase of 12.3 percent in
weekly wages. These percentage gains indicate that approximately
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
741
742
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
348,000 more workers were on factory pay rolls in January 1936 than
in January 1935, and factory pay rolls were more than $16,200,000
greater than in the corresponding month of 1935. The gain in fac
tory employment over the year was concentrated in the durable-goods
group, which showed an increase of 12.5 percent. Employment in the
nondurable-goods group was 0.3 percent less than in January 1935.
Twenty-eight of the ninety manufacturing industries surveyed
showed gains in number of workers from December to January. The
largest percentage gains were seasonal in character and were in the
millinery, fertilizer, boot and shoe, and agricultural-implements
industries.
The most pronounced declines in employment over the month inter
val were also seasonal and were shown in the cottonseed (oil, cake,
meal), marble-slate-granite, cement, confectionery, cigar and cigarette,
stove, shirt and collar, brick-tile-terra cotta, jewelry, men’s furnish
ings, canning and preserving, and radio and phonograph industries.
Employment in the automobile industry showed a decline of only
0.1 percent from December to January but pay rolls fell off sharply.
In the 3 immediately preceding years, employment and pay rolls in
this industry have registered pronounced gains in January over the
preceding month. Due to the recent advancement of production
schedules in the automobile industry to an earlier period, the cus
tomary expansion in this industry in January was lacking this year.
Consequently, the general declines in factory employment and pay
rolls were not offset by gains in this industry such as those which had
occurred in the immediately preceding years.
The net loss in employment from December to January in the non
manufacturing industries surveyed was estimated to be 520,000 and
weekly wage payments were $8,500,000 less. The retail trade estab
lishments, which had approximately 480,000 fewer workers in Janu
ary 1936 than in the preceding month, accounted for a large part of
the decline in the nonmanufacturing industries.
The general merchandising group of retail establishments, which
includes department, variety, and general-merchandising stores and
mail-order houses, showed a drop of 32.2 percent in number of workers.
Employment in other lines of retail trade showed a net decline of 5.2
percent. Some of the separate lines in which sharp declines were
reported were apparel stores and furniture. Employment in retail
food stores showed a slight decline from December to January.
In addition to sharp seasonal declines in employment in quarrying
and nonmetallic mining and private building construction, small
decreases were shown in crude-petroleum producing, power and light,
dyeing and cleaning, and wholesale trade.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
743
Although a net decline in employment was shown in wholesale
trade, gains in employment were reported in several lines, among
which were the automotive, chemical-drug, electrical goods, machin
ery, and assemblers and buyers groups. The more important branches
of wholesale trade in which decreases in emploj^ment were reported
over the month interval were food products, dry goods and apparel,
petroleum and petroleum products, groceries, hardware, and farm
products.
Increases in employment were reported in both anthracite and
bituminous-coal mining, the severe winter weather conditions causing
greater demands for fuel. Metalliferous mines continued to absorb
additional workers, the January employment index (54.2) reaching
the highest point recorded since September 1931.
Telephone and telegraph companies and electric-railroad and motorbus operation companies reported more workers employed than in the
preceding month. Employment in year-round hotels and laundries
showed a gain over the month interval, and insurance companies and
brokerage offices also reported additional workers on their pay rolls.
The gain in employment in brokerage offices was attributable to
increased stock turn-over and continued the increases which began in
May.
Average hours worked per week in all manufacturing industries
combined showed a decline of 4.3 percent from December to January,
due primarily to inventory-taking and repairs. Average hourly
earnings, on the other hand, were 0.3 percent higher in January than
in the preceding month. Weekly earnings decreased 3.9 percent over
the month interval, due to the decrease in average hours worked per
week.
In the group of nonmanufacturing industries, decreases in the
average number of hours worked per week were generally shown
between December and January. The most pronounced decline
(6.1 percent) was in anthracite mining and was due to the observance
of the New Year’s holiday during the pay period reported. Average
hourly earnings for the most part showed minor fluctuations. The
outstanding change was in the general merchandising group of retail
establishments in which the release of many low-paid temporary
workers, who had been engaged to handle the Christmas trade,
resulted in an increase of 11.3 percent in average hourly rates between
December and January. Weekly earnings conformed generally to
the changes in average hours worked per week in the several industries
surveyed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
744
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Data concerning class I railroads—that is, roads having yearly
operating revenues of $1,000,000 or over—were not included in the
preceding discussion. According to preliminary reports of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, 970,542 workers (exclusive of
executives and officials) were employed in January by class I railroads.
This is an increase of less than 0.1 percent in comparison with Decem
ber when 970,474 workers were employed. Information concerning
pay rolls in January was not available at the time this report was
prepared. The total compensation of all employees except executives
and officials in December was $134,649,190, compared with $132,687,315 in November, a gain of 1.5 percent. The Commission’s prelim
inary indexes of employment, taking the 3-year average 1923-25 as 100,
are 55.0 for January and 55.1 for December. The final November
index is 55.8.
Decreases in the number of wage earners employed on the various
types of construction projects featured the public employment reports
for January. Substantial decreases in employment were shown on
construction projects financed by the Public Works Administration
and on construction projects financed by regular governmental
appropriations and a small loss was reported on construction projects
financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. On the other
hand, the number of wage earners employed on The Works Program
during January increased approximately 450,000. The level of em
ployment in January on Federal projects was 14.7 percent higher
than in December and 18.0 percent higher on projects operated by
the Works Progress Administration. In the regular agencies of the
Federal Government, small gains were registered in the legislative
and military branches; moderate decreases, however, occurred in
the executive and judicial services.
In relief work, employment declined in Civilian Conservation
Camps and on the Emergency Work program. The Emergency Work
program which has been virtually completed employed less than
20,000 workers in January.
P riv a te e m p lo y m e n t .—Table 1 shows employment and pay-roll
indexes and average weekly earnings in January 1936 for all manu
facturing industries combined, for certain non manufacturing indus
tries, and for class I steam railroads, with percentage changes over
the month and year intervals, except in the few industries referred
to in footnotes, for which certain items cannot be computed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
745
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 1.—Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in All Manufacturing Industries
Combined and in Nonmanufacturing Industries, January 1936 (Preliminary
Figures)
Employment
Index
January
1936
D e
cem
ber
1935
Janu
ary
1935
- 1 .9
- .2
+ 5 .3
+ 2 .4
(.1923-25
All manufacturing industries
combined__________ _ _ __
Class I steam railroads 1____
Coal mining:
Anthracite______________
Bitum inous.. _________
Metalliferous mining______ _
Quarrying and nonmetallic
mining---- -----------------------Crude-petroleum producing.
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph._
Electric light and power
and manufactured g a s...
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and
maintenance__________
Trade:
Wholesale______________
Retail________ ________
General merchandisi n g ----------------------Other than general
merchandising___ _
Hotels (year-round)3________
Laundries__________________
Dyeing and cleaning.._ __ . . .
Brokerage------------------------ .
Insurance. . _______________
Building construction_______
83.0
55.0
(1929
= 100)
Index
January
1936
72.2
(2)
(1929
= 100)
59.1
79.8
54.2
+ 3 .0 - 6 .0
- .3
+ .9
+ 1 .3 +22.5
39.4
71.1
- 8 .7
- 1 .1
+ 6 .6
-5 .0
Janu
ary
1936
D e
cem
ber
1935
Janu
ary
1935
- 5 .7
(2)
+12.3 $21.31
0
0
(1923-25
= 100)
= 100)
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
Industry
Average weeklyearnings
Pay roll
D e
cem
ber
1935
Janu
ary
1935
- 3 .9
0
+ 6 .6
0
- 5 .4
- 1 .8
+ 1 .6 +18.5
- 3 .4 +38.8
26.77
22.66
23. 75
- 4 .7
+ .8
- 4 .7
+• 8
+18.8
+13.4
25.5 -1 4 .2 +22.3
+ .3
55.7 - 7 .1
15.96
28. 68
- 6 .1
- 6 .0
+14.7
+ 5.7
54.4
70.6
41.7
70.1
+ .7
-.6
75.0
-.9
+ 1 .5
28.81
- 1 .6
+ 2 .1
86.1
-.8
+ 4 .1
84.8
- 1 .4
+ 8 .7
31.63
-.6
+ 4 .5
70.7
65.0
+ .3
-.7
-1 .7
+ 3 .3
29.71
- 1 .9
+ 4.1
85.6 - 1 .4
80.7 -1 3 . 2
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .5
66.6 - 3 .1
62.1 -1 0 .3
+ 4 .2
+ 4 .0
27. 58
21. 30
- 1 .7
+ 6 .0
+ 2.5
+ 2 .5
89.3 -3 2 .2
+ 2 .2
76.8 -2 6 .5
+ 4.5
18.58
+ 8 .4
+ 2 .2
+ 3.9
59.1 - 4 .7
64.9 + 1 .1 + 4.3
68.3 + 1 .2 + 6.8
51.6 - 2 .6 + 2 .4
+ 4 .6 +23.5
(2)
+ 1 .9 + 4 .2
(2)
-1 4 .0 +13.6
(2)
23. 33
13. 92
15. 90
17. 40
36.49
37.86
24. 62
+ .6
-.2
+ .7
+ .1
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .5
-1 .2
+ 2 .6
+ 2 .3
+4. 4
+ .7
+ 4 .9
+ 3 .2
+ 9 .2
78.4 - 5 .2 + 1 .3
81.9 + 1.3 + 2 .0
+ .5 + 2 .3
81.5
71.5 - 2 .7 + 1 .6
+ 3 .0 +17.7
(2)
+ .3
+• 9
0
-1 3 .0 + 3 .9
(2)
1 Preliminary; source, Interstate Commerce Commission.
2 N ot available.
3 Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
Public employment.—Employment created by the Federal Govern
ment is of two general classes: (1) Employment in either the execu
tive, judicial, legislative, or military services, on the various construc
tion projects financed by the Federal Government, and on projects
financed by The Works Program; and (2) employment on relief work,
where the work itself and the system of payment is of an emergencyrelief character. Data for these two types of Federal employment
are shown separately in table 2.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
746
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-—MARCH 1936
Table 2.—Summary of Federal Employment and Pay Rolls, January 1936
(Preliminary Figures)
Employment
Class
January
1936
Decem
ber 1935
Federal service:
Executive _____________ - ____ 805,453 i 816, 223
Judicial_______________ _______
1,877
1, 933
Legislative_____ - --------4,989
4, 975
M ilitary_______________________
286, 589
285,673
Construction projects:
Financed by P. W. A ------- ----------- 2 197, 820 3 231, 692
Financed by R. F. C ____________
4 7,560
7,786
Financed by regular governmental
appropriations- ______________
46,895
56, 780
The Works Program: 3
Federal projects_______ - ---------248, 929
217,027
Projects operated by W. P. A _____ 2,755,802 2,335, 610
Relief work:
Emergency Work program_______
20,000
68, 558
Emergency Conservation Work___ e 471,215 7 506, 605
Per
cent
age
change
-1.3
- 2 .9
+ .3
+ .3
-1 4 .6
- 2 .9
Pay roll
December
1935
Per
cent
age
change
$124, 676, 588 $132,319,454
512,027
492, 770
1,187,061
1,182,990
22, 534, 611
22, 301,838
- 5 .8
- 3 .8
-.3
+ 1 .0
January
1936
2 14,399, 381
4 850,271
3 16, 360, 315
869,459
-1 2 .0
- 2 .2
-1 7 .4
3, 990, 725
3, 707,963
+ 7 .6
+14.7
+18.0
11,179, 541
127,054,184
10,195, 537
91, 552, 345
+ 9 .7
+38.8
-7 0 .8
- 7 .0
500,000
« 20, 625,454
1,844,813
7 21, 905, 516
-7 2 .9
-5 .8
1 R e v is e d .
2 I n c lu d e s 23 ,7 4 0 w a g e e a r n e r s a n d $ 1 ,1 2 8 ,6 3 5 p a y r o ll c o v e r i n g P . W . A . p r o j e c t s f in a n c e d f r o m E . R . A . A . ,
1935 f u n d s .
3 I n c l u d e s 9,2 0 3 w a g e e a r n e r s a n d $ 4 4 6,783 p a y r o ll c o v e r i n g P . W . A . p r o j e c t s f in a n c e d f r o m E . R . A . A . ,
1935 f u n d s .
4 I n c lu d e s 44 e m p l o y e e s a n d p a y r o ll o f $1,625 o n p r o j e c t s f in a n c e d b y R . F . C . M o r t g a g e C o .
5 D a t a c o v e r i n g P . W . A . p r o j e c t s f in a n c e d f r o m E . R . A . A . , 1935 f u n d s a r e n o t i n c l u d e d i n T h e W o r k s
P rogram a n d sh o w n o n ly u n d er P . W . A .
6 39,0 0 2 e m p l o y e e s a n d p a y r o ll o f $ 5 ,4 5 0 ,3 8 7 i n c l u d e d i n e x e c u t i v e s e r v i c e .
7 4 1 ,0 5 2 e m p l o y e e s a n d p a y r o ll o f $ 5 ,5 5 0 ,4 7 5 i n c l u d e d i n e x e c u t i v e s e r v i c e .
E m ploym ent and P ay Rolls, Decem ber 1935:
R evised Figures
HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employ
ment, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the
month of December 1935. The tabular data are the same as those
published in the Employment and Pay Bolls pamphlet for December,
except for certain revisions or corrections.
T
P a rt I— P r iv a te E m p lo y m en t
M anufacturing Industries
Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in December 1935
T h e decline of 0.4 percent in factory employment in December
carried the Bureau of Labor Statistics index to 84.6 percent of the
1923-25 average. With the exception of the 2 months immediately
preceding, this was the highest point reached since November 1930.
The smaller than seasonal decline in employment from November to
December 1935 was due to the fact that 40 of the 90 manufacturing
industries reported gains in employment. A number of the industries
reporting increases usually experience an employment decline in
December. The favorable comparison is further noteworthy because
of the fact that the automobile industry did not influence the monthly
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
747
movement in December 1935 to the extent usual in recent years.
Employment in manufacturing in December 1935 shows an increase
of 8.2 percent over December 1934 and 36.2 percent over December
1932.
Despite the decline in factory employment, weekly wage disburse
ments in December were 2.8 percent greater than in November. This
brought the index of factory pay rolls to 76.6, the highest level reached
since November 1930. The rise in pay rolls in December is explained,
in part, by the fact that in November pay rolls were depressed by the
observance of Armistice Day in many important manufacturing
centers.
Among the separate industries, the most pronounced gains in
employment over the month interval were in the electric- and steamcar building industry (9.1 percent), boots and shoes (6.4 percent),
wirework (4.4. percent), and agricultural implements (4.1 percent).
Employment in the cast-iron pipe industry increased 3.1 percent and
gains of 3 percent each were shown in the iron and steel forgings and
the textile machinery industries.
Seasonal declines in employment were reported in December in
beet sugar (39.2 percent), canning and preserving (18.9 percent),
radios and phonographs (15.3 percent), jewelry (9.5 percent), cement
(9.4 percent), stoves (8 percent), and cottonseed—oil, cake, meal (7.8
percent).
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from data supplied by representative establishments in 90 manufac
turing industries. The base used in computing these indexes is the
3-year average, 1923-25. In December 1935, reports were received
from 23,568 establishments employing 4,006,208 workers whose
weekly earnings were $89,314,655. The employment reports re
ceived from these cooperating establishments cover more than 55
percent of the total wage earners in all manufacturing industries of
the country and more than 65 percent of the wage earners in the 90
industries included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly survey.
Per capita weekly earnings in all manufacturing industries combined
were $22.29 in December, a gain of 3.1 percent over November.
Some of the establishments that report employment and pay-roll
totals do not report man-hours. Consequently, average hours and
average hourly earnings are computed from data supplied by a smaller
number of establishments than are used in computing per capita
weekly earnings and indexes of employment and pay rolls. Average
hours worked per week in all manufacturing industries combined rose
2.6 percent from November to December, the average for November
having been 37.8 as against 38.8 for December. Average hourly
earnings rose 0.7 percent from 56.7 to 57.1 cents. Seventy-three of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
748
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
the 87 industries for which man-hour data are published showed
gains in average hours worked per week, and 55 showed increases in
hourly rates of pay.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls, average hours worked per
week, average hourly earnings, and per capita weekly earnings in
manufacturing industries in December are presented in table 1.
Percentage changes from November 1935 to December 1935 and from
December 1934 to December 1935 are also given in this table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 1.—Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in Manufacturing Industries, December 1935
Percentage
Index
Index
Decern- change from— Decem-
Average hourly
earnings 2
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
1935
1935
(3-year Novem Decem
(3-year
Decem average
average Novem
ber
ber
ber
ber
1923-25 1935
1934
1935
1934 1923-25
= 100)
= 100)
Average hours worked
per week 2
Decem
Decem
Decem
ber
ber
ber
1935 Novem Decem 1935 Novem Decem 1935 Novem Decem
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
C e n ts
A l l i n d u s t r i e s ..................................................................................
____________
------- ------------------------
D u r a b l e g o o d s ______________________
N o n d u r a b le g o o d s ..
84.6
- 0 .5
+ 8.3
76.6
+ 2.8
+21.2
$22.29
+3.3
+11.9
38.8
+ 2 .6
+10.5
57.1
+ 0.7
+ 1 .2
75.7
94.2
-.5
-.4
+17.5
+ 1.5
70.1
85.1
+ 2.9
+ 2.9
+39.1
+ 7.0
24.91
19.76
+ 3.5
+ 3.3
+ 18.3
+ 5.4
40.1
37.5
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .7
+13.9
+ 5.7
61.4
53.1
+ X
+ .8
+ 2 .4
0
D u ra b le goods
Ir o n a n d
c lu d in g
s te e l a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts , n o t in
m a c h i n e r y . . . __________________________________
61.8
+ .5
39.4
+ 5 .1 +24.2
+ .*
24.62
+ 5.9 +25.6
+15.0
68.8
+5.7 +44.5
-.3
76.6
66. 7
+ 6 .9 -f-35. 6
38.9
25.89
+ 7 .3 +34.9
+ 8.4 +54.8
72.0
+ 1 .0 + 15.1
77.0
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills. _
+ 1 .7
+ .5
+8. 4 +23.3
57.3
41.4
+ 9 .0 +26.6
23. 73
76.3
+ 9 .6 +42.1
83.7
+ .6 + 12.0
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets------------------—1.8
—.8
48.7
35.5
+ 9 .9 + 13.9
+ 8 .6 +14.5
34.1 +12.1 +24.5
17.46
+ 8 .9
52.8
+ 3.1
Cast-iron pipe... -------------------------------------Cutlery (not including silver and plated cut
+
1 .6
+
2
.9
53.7
+
1.7
+
15.7
40.8
+
4
.8
+
17.1
21.70
71.2
+
4.9
+23.6
+
5
.6
80.9
lery) and edge tools_____________________
+ 1 .3
61.7
+ .2
42.1
+4. 2
+3. 3
+ 4 .2
+ 4 .6
25.97
+ 7 .7 +27.6
55.5
67. 1
+ 3 .0 +22.2
Forgings, iron and steel_____ . -------------0
—. 2
55. 7
+ 1- 7 -{-22. 3
41.7
23.08
+ 1.7 +22.8
57.4
+ 3.1 +39.7
+ 1.3 +14.3
57.6
H ardw are___ ___________ . ---------------—2.4
+ 6 .8
56. 3
+ .4
+ 3 .2
38.6
+ 3.7
+ 5 .0
61.2
21.75
+ 2 .0 +53.4
- 1 .7 +46.4
94.0
Plumbers’ supplies--------------------------------- Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and
+ .7
+ 8 .4
58.5
+ .7
38.9
0
22.84
+ 1 .2
+ 9 .9
- 1 .9 +29.6
40.7
- 3 . 0 +17.3
57.0
steam fittings___________________________
+ 1. 7
56. 5
0
+ 1 .8 + 10.4
39.5
22. 67
+ 2 .0 +14.0
- 6 . 2 +32.1
80.7
- 8 . 0 + 15.9
99.8
Stoves_____ _____________ _____________
+2.
0
—.
3
58.1
+
4
.4
37.6
+14.5
21.86
+ 4 .0 +16.8
- 3 .3
- 1 .7
45.0
+ . 6 + 14.8
56.6
Structural and ornamental metalwork. . . . .
+ 1.3
+ 3 .8
54.0
38.2
+ 2.1
+ 2 .6
+ 5 .9
+ .6
+14.9
91.5
20.66
- 2 .5
+ 8 .7
92.9
Tin cans and other tinware--------------------- + (3)
Tools (not including edge tools, machine tools,
-.7
53.4
-.4
+ 4 .5 +19.8
23.59
44.0
+ 4 .2 +18.1
+ 6.9 +45.9
76.0
+ 2 .6 +23.4
73.2
files, and saws)_________________________
+ 1.7
+ 3 .2 + 17.1
56.7
0
42.4
24.02
+ 3 .0 +18.6
+ 7.5 +35.9
+ 4 .4 +14.5
145.7
144.4
Wirework--------------- -------------------- --------1 Average weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishments. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes. Percentage changes over
month in the groups and in “All industries” also computed from indexes.
.,
. ,
2 Computed from available man-hour data—all reporting establishments do not furnish man-hours. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes. The average hours
and average hourly earnings in the groups and in “All industries” are weighted.
* Less than Mo of 1 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Industry
Average weekly
earnings 1
Pay roll
Employment
«<j
Table 1.—Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in Manufacturing Industries, December 1935—Continued
^1
Cn
o
Employment
Industry
Average weekly
earnings
Pay roll
Average hourly
earnings
Percentage
change from—
T""v___
ber
1935
Novem- Decernber
ber
1935
1934
Percentage
change from—
Decernber
1935 Novem- Decernber
ber
1935
1934
D u r a b le g o o d s— C o n tin u e d
M a c h in e r y , n o t in c lu d in g t r a n s p o r t a t io n
e q u i p m e n t ......... .................................................................... ..
A g r i c u lt u r a l i m p l e m e n t s _____________ __________
C a s h r e g is t e r s , a d d i n g m a c h in e s , a n d c a lc u
l a t i n g m a c h i n e s _____ __________________________
E l e c t r i c a l m a c h in e r y , a p p a r a t u s , a n d s u p
p l i e s _____________________________________________
E n g i n e s , t u r b in e s , t r a c t o r s , a n d w a t e r w h e e l s .
F o u n d r y a n d m a c h in e - s h o p p r o d u c t s _________
M a c h i n e t o o l s _____________________________________
R a d i o s a n d p h o n o g r a p h s ________________________
T e x t i l e m a c h i n e r y a n d p a r t s ___________________
, ( T y p e w r i t e r s a n d p a r t s .................................. ........... 11!
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n e q u i p m e n t . . . ........................ ...........
A i r c r a f t _____________ _____ ________________________
A u t o m o b i l e s ___________ ____________ . . . . . . . I I I . .
C a r s , e le c t r ic - a n d s t e a m - r a i lr o a d ______________
L o c o m o t i v e s __________ ________ ___________________
S h i p b u i l d in g .........................................
I.
R a i l r o a d r e p a i r s h o p s . .........................................................
E l e c t r i c r a ilr o a d __________________
I.
S t e a m r a il r o a d ______________ _____________________
N o n f e r r o u s m e t a l s a n d t h e i r p r o d u c t s _______
A l u m i n u m m a n u f a c t u r e s ________________________
B r a s s , b r o n z e , a n d c o p p e r p r o d u c t s ____________
C l o c k s a n d w a t c h e s a n d t im e - r e c o r d in g d e
v i c e s ........ ................................................ ....................... .........
J e w e l r y __________________________________I . . I I . . I I
L i g h t i n g e q u i p m e n t ____________________________ II
S i l v e r w a r e a n d p l a t e d w a r e ___________ _______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
93. J
-0.7 +18.6
80.7
128. 9
+ 4 .1
111.4
+ 1 .7
74.0
105.3
79.0
101.5
230. 0
68.0
107. 5
- 1 .9
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .8
+1-4
-1 5 .3
+ 3 .0
+ (3)
+2.4 +31.9
104.4
103.4
430.3
118. 2
50. 1
22.8
82.9
- 3 .9
+ 2 .3
+ 9.1
55.8
92.3
40.1
C en ts
60.8
+0.8
+1.2
+11.5
96.1
+ 8 .5
+17.6
28. 32
+ 6 .7
+ 5.5
41.3
+7.3
+ 2 .6
65.1
79.0
68.5
96.0
143.7
61.1
96.0
+• 7
+ 3 .8
+ 4 .9
+ 6.4
-2 0 . 1
+ 12.3
- 3 .3
+24.7
+49.9
+37.8
+70.2
+ 8 .9
+20.0
-1 .3
24.08
27.46
24. 67
28. 23
19. 37
24. 60
22.84
+ 2 .6
+ 1.5
+ 3 .0
+ 4.9
- 5 .7
+ 9.1
- 3 .3
+10.3
+ 8.9
+ 16.7
+20.8
- 1 .5
+10.6
- 3 .9
39.3
39.5
41.1
44.6
35.3
40.7
39.8
+ 1.8
+ 1.3
+ 3 .0
+ 4.7
- 9 .5
+10.9
- 2 .7
+ 11.1
+ 1.7
+ 16.4
+19.3
+ 1. 1
+ 9 .7
- 4 .5
+ .2
+ .2
+ 4 .4
- 1 .6
-.3
+ 1 .3
+2.9 +54.4
29.08
+17.2
39.3
-.3 +11.8
74.0
+.4
+4.1
+.2
+7.3
57.1
- 1 .1
+ 8 .0
+16.5
+70.2
24. 69
+ 2.8
+10. 7
40. 1
+ 2 .8
+ 4 .2
61.8
0
+ 5 .3
68.9
-.4
+ 2 .0
61.0
69.5
60.0
63.2
55. 0
60.6
57.5
+ .8
+54.7
+55.5
+75. 2
-3 6 .1
+39.6
26. 66
29. 72
23. 08
24. 48
26.84
+ .5
+ 4 .7
-.5
+ 6.9
+ 5 .6
+ 5 .6
-3 . 1
+16.8
+19.3
+ 2 .9
+ 15.1
41.9
39.8
37.2
39.0
34.3
+ 5.4
+ 5.4
+ 4.6
+10.4
+ 11.4
+ 14.7
+ 5.1
+13.5
65.6
74.8
62.1
62.8
77.4
+4.8 +28.6
28.87
+4.6 +19.8
42.7
+4.7 +11.1
67.9
+ .6
+ 1. 8
+16.6
+ 5.4
+ 6.4
61.8
56.9
+ 4.3
+5.1
+ 5 .8
+30.8
28. 36
28.99
79.4
+ 4.7
+ 5 .0
+ 6.8
+21.4
41.7
+1.5 +11.0
-.5
+ 11.7
+ 19.6
76.7
73.4
+1.1 +28.5
- .4
+20.0
+.7 +32.0
22. 58
24.04
+■6
+ 1.2
+ 7.3
+10.5
41. 0
41.8
94.5
76.0
86.9
71.3
“K l
- 9 .5
+ (3)
- 2 .3
+ 19.6
+ 2 .2
+24.5
+ .8
88.8
65.1
84.7
58.7
- 2 .1
-.4
+ 1.4
-3 .0
21.24
22.89
23.09
23.42
-2 .2
+ 10.0
+ 1.4
-.7
+12.8
+ .6
+13.1
+ 4 .5
44.0
40.5
42.6
40.3
+35.0
+ 2 .7
+40.9
+ 5.6
+2.0 +10.3
1.0
+ 5.3
+ 4.7
-
22.93
+ .7
-
45.9
42.4
82.1
88. 5
1. 0
+1.8 +11.6
+12.8
+37.3
+ 18.3
+40.6
+10.6
+ 8 .8
+ 3 .0
+ .7
-.9
+3.1 + 13.0
+ 7 .0
361.0
118.8
55.2
10.6
77.2
- .4
+ .1
+2.3 +34.1 $24.62
155.2
+59.7
+33.0
+47.4
-3 7 .5
+21.0
-.1
64.8
55.1
+53.8
+3. 8
+ 12.7
+ 1 .3
+.4
-9 .0
+ 4 .8
+ 3 .5
-3 .2
+ 2 .7
+7.4
61.2
68.5
0
+ .4
+ 1 .3
+ 7 .8
54.6
+.4
+1.0
-.2
+ 3.7
+ .9
+ 1 .4
-.6
+ 1 .2
+ 3 .1
+ .7
+ 1.5
+ 5 .9
+12.1
54.5
57.5
- 2 .2
+ 5.2
+ .7
- 1 .5
+ 11.0
+ 6 .2
+12.2
48.2
55.4
54.7
57.5
+1.6
+ .5
+ .4
+ 1.5
+ 6 .6
+ .5
+ 1 .7
- 2 .3
-.4
-.3
+.7
+ .6
- 1 .6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
change from—
Decem change from— Decem change from—
ber
ber
Decem
1935
1935
ber
(3-year
(3-year Novem
Decem average
Decem 1935 Novem Decem
average Novem
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
1923-25 1935
1923-25
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
= 100)
= 100)
Average hours worked
per week
S m e lt in g a n d r e fin in g — c o p p e r , le a d , a n d z in c .
S t a m p e d a n d e n a m e l e d w a r e . . --------------------------
M a r b l e , g r a n i t e , s l a t e , a n d o t h e r p r o d u c t s -----P o t t e r y .........................................................................................
+ 2 .0
+ .7
- 2 .7
- 2 .8
+20.1
+ 19.6
+14.0
+15.1
65.9
102.8
44.2
58.4
+ 6 .5
+ 1 .8
- 1 .8
- 1 .5
+41.4
+32.5
+32.7
+27.2
23. 72
20.95
18.25
18. 55
+ 4.5
+ 1.1
+ .9
+ 1 .3
+17.9
+10.9
+ 16.4
+10.3
42. 1
40.9
40.7
40.8
+ 4 .5
+ .5
+ 1 .5
+ 1.2
+12.2
+10.1
+15.9
+13.9
56.3
51.2
44.6
45.1
+ .2
+ .4
-.7
0
+ 5 .4
+ 1.0
-.5
- 2 .1
46.9
35.1
- 3 .6
- 2 .7
+27.8
+ 11.1
39.0
25.9
- 1 .6
- 2 .2
+58.5
+29.5
19.46
17. 78
+ 1 .7
+ 2 .3
+23.3
+ 18.5
46.0
45.2
+ .4
—1. 5
+ 1-4
+ .3
- 2 .1
-2 .0
- 9 .4
-.6
- .9
- 1 .3
+10.2
+21.1
+ 8 .2
+11.9
+ 7 .5
- 2 .1
44.6
23.3
31.1
94.2
18.5
55.9
+ 1.6
-.4
- 6 .6
+ 3.3
+ 4.7
+ 2.4
+29.7
+52.3
+29.0
+31.0
+22.5
+11.8
21.13
17.83
20. 57
22. 62
22. 72
21.53
+24.1
+ 17.5
H-19. 4
+17.6
+26.1
+19.2
+17.4
+13.3
+13.9
42.2
39.9
55.2
33.9
45.0
97.8
27.1
69.1
+ 2 .0
+ .5
1 1
+ 3 .9
+ 16
+ 3.1
+ 4 .0
+ 5 .6
+ 3 .8
38.1
39.4
36.0
37.8
35.8
39.6
+ 2 .4
+. 8
+ 2 .9
+ 2.4
+ 6 .9
+ 3.1
+15.2
+24.8
+16.5
+ 9 .7
+26.4
+ 9 .5
55.7
45.1
57.2
60.0
64.0
54.2
+ .9
-, 2
+ .2
+ 1 .5
+. 5
+ .7
+ 3 .0
—2.1
+ 2 .3
+ 6 .6
-7 .9
+ 5 .9
96.9
96.4
82.3
92.2
90.5
111.0
83.6
115.2
74.0
102.4
93.8
89.7
120.4
83.3
106.4
-.1
+ .3
- .3
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .2
-.6
+ .9
- 2 .0
+2.1
- .7
- 1 .1
+ .9
-1 .2
-2 . 2
-3 .0
+ 4 .4
+ 2 .6
+29.0
- 4 .0
+ 9 .0
- 3 .3
+ 8 .6
+ 4 .3
-3 .0
+19.6
+ 9.1
+13.4
+ 7 .9
-6 .7
-1 .8
81.9
85.3
73.5
81.2
84.5
93.5
84.9
113.0
63.9
84.3
70.5
67.1
84.0
77.5
76.4
+ 2.8
+ 8 .8
+ 3 .3
+6.4
+ 4.3 +44.1
0.0
+ 5 .7
+ 7.5 +19.4
- 6 .1
+ 6 .0
+22.0 +19 1
+3 5
- 5 .9
+ 4 .9
- 1 .5
+ 6 .2 +26.6
+ 1.9 +15.0
+ 4.1 +27.6
+3.4
+8 2
- 1 .6
- 8 .9
-1 .7
-9 . 1
16.50
16.43
19.83
13.89
18.03
19.74
24. 22
16.83
15. 86
18:89
16.76
17.74
17. 55
15. 09
14.39
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .9
+ 4 .6
+ 3 .9
+ 6 .2
+ 6 .5
+20.9
-4 .0
+ 2 .8
+ 7 .0
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .1
+ 4 .7
+ .6
-6 .3
-j-fi fi
35.6
37.2
35.8
37.5
40.0
37.6
35.7
35.8
36.6
38.3
31.7
30.3
32.0
31.7
35.8
+ 2 .6
+ 3 .3
+ 5 .3
+ 4 .2
+ 7 .2
+ 6 .8
+26.1
-4 .0
+ 4 .0
+ 5 .8
+ 1 .0
+ 3 .8
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .3
-.8
+ 7 .4
+ 5.1
+14.1
+ 6 .3
+ 6.1
- 1 .1
+13.7
+. 9
+ 7 .2
+ 5 .7
+14.0
+18.6
+13.0
- 5 .9
+16.2
46.4
44.1
55.5
37.0
45.2
52.3
68.5
47.7
43.5
49.4
51.7
58.3
51.8
46.8
35.9
+ .4
-.2
- .4
0
—.9
—.6
+ .3
—2
-.9
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .8
+. 3
+ 3 .2
+ 1 .7
- .8
- 2 .1
- 1 .1
—. 7
—
~1. 8
+ 2 .7
—1.8
—3.4
—2.1
-4 .0
+ .2
-6 .5
—5.9
—8.7
+ 6 .0
—11.5
105.6
86.3
82.8
100.4
96.8
112.4
150.1
- 3 .8
+ 4.9
+6.4
+ .1
- 3 .7
- 1 .0
- 1 .9
+16.7
+ 1 .8
-.1
+ 8 .3
- 6 .9
-2 .6
+ .9
103.7
75.4
66.7
103.7
90.5
99.4
147.4
+13.2
+ 18.9
+ 2.3
- 1 .5
- .3
- 2 .5
+ 30 ! 1
+ 9.1
+ 4 .7
+19.9
- 2 .7
13.08
18.74
17.64
22.21
21.62
22. 27
29.40
+ 8 .0
+ 11.7
+ 2 .2
+ 2.3
+ .7
- .6
+ 4.2
+ 3 .8
+ 11.7
+ 4 .3
+ 9 .5
-3 .0
+ 9 .6
-.9
+ 1 .6
+ 5 .7
+ 5 .5
+12.2
+ .3
- 2 .4
H". 1
—fi 8
+11.3
+ 7 .2
+ 4 .6
+10.5
34.3
37.3
36.6
39.6
40.8
41.1
38.0
- 4 .5
+9.1
+12.3
+ 1 .8
+ 2.3
+ .7
-.8
+19.3
+ 8.1
+ 8.3
+ 7 .6
+ 4.7
+ 5 .7
+ 8.4
38.7
52.0
50.7
56.1
53.4
54.2
78.2
+ 1 .6
-.8
—1.0
+ .4
+ .9
+ .2
+ .3
+. 5
+ 2 .3
.2
—2.1
+ .8
66.8 -1 8 .9
+ 1 .6
86.6
73.2
- 3 .4
- 2 .8
59.8
+ 1 .8
84.3
145.2 -3 9 .2
77.6 1 + 1.1
- 5 .2
- 5 .1
-5 .2
-2 .0
-2 0 .1
+28.5
-1 1 .5
77.6
81.3
64.5
51.1
79.7
122.0
70.7
-1 3 .6
+10.2
- 4 .7
-.3
+ 2 .6
-3 9 .8
+13.4
14.19
17. 05
22.43
26. 69
23. 53
20. 09
23.81
+ 6 .6
+ 8 .5
-1 .3
+ 2 .5
+ .9
-1 . 1
+12.2
35.6
41.6
40.3
46.5
42.1
44.6
40.0
+ 5.3
+10.1
- 2 .2
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .7
- 8 .2
+12.4
+10.3
+8.1
+ 6 .2
+ 6 .3
0
+49.1
+ 1 .2
39.6
41.6
55.7
56.7
55.8
46. 5
59.1
+ 2 .3
—1.2
+ .5
+ .5
- 1 .1
+ 9 .9
+ .3
+ 1 .6
-3 .8
+ 1. 6
—. 4
+• 8
—3. 6
+11. 2
N o n d u ra b le goods
T e x t i l e s a n d t h e i r p r o d u c t s ....................
F a b r i c s ..........................................................................................
C a r p e t s a n d r u g s .......................................- ................
C o t t o n g o o d s ----------------------------- ---------- ---------C o t t o n s m a l l w a r e s . ...................................... ...........
D y e i n g a n d f i n i s h i n g t e x t i l e s . ......................
H a t s , f u r - f e lt ..................................................................K n i t g o o d s .....................
S i l k a n d r a y o n g o o d s -----------------------------------W o o l e n a n d w o r s t e d g o o d s ........ .........................
W e a r in g a p p a r e l ........... ........................................................
C l o t h i n g , m e n ’s 4----------------- -----------------------C l o t h i n g , w o m e n ’s ........ ............................................
C o r s e t s a n d a l li e d g a r m e n t s ----------------------M e n ’s f u r n i s h i n g s ------------------ ----------------------M i l l i n e r y ........... ..............................................................
S h i r t s a n d c o l l a r s . .......................................................
L e a t h e r a n d i t s m a n u f a c t u r e s --------------------------B o o t s a n d s h o e s ----------------------------------------------------L e a t h e r ............. ....................................................- .....................
F o o d a n d k i n d r e d p r o d u c t s . ....................................
B a k i n g _______________ ________________ ____________
B e v e r a g e s ......................................................... - .......................
B u t t e r -------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------C a n n i n g a n d p r e s e r v i n g . ..............................................C o n f e c t io n e r y ....................- .................................................
F l o u r ..............................................................................................
I c e c r e a m ________________________________________
S l a u g h t e r i n g a n d m e a t p a c k i n g .............. ...................
S u g a r , b e e t . ...............................................................................
S u g a r r e f i n i n g , c a n e ........................... — .................. —
1 L e s s th a n H o o f 1 p e r c e n t.
4 M a n - h o u r d a t a r e v i s e d a s f o llo w s : A v e r a g e
e a r n in g s , A u g u s t 1934— 6 1 .2 , p e r c e n t a g e c h a n g e
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 6 .8
+ 9 .2
+ 5.0
- 1 .8
+ 1.4
+4.1
-1 9 .0
+78.6
- 2 .5 1
- 8 .2
+ 3 fi
+ 4 .6
+ 3 .3
+ 8 .2
+ Q fi
+10.6
+ 3 .6
+ 7 .0
+ 6 .0
+ 1 .2
+39.0
+10.2 1
-5 .3
+1+
hours, August 1934—28.7, percentage change from July 1931, +7.5, percentage change from August 1933, —14.8; average hourly
>m July 1934, +2.0, percentage change from August 1933, +37.6.
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
L u m b e r a n d a l l i e d p r o d u c t s . ........................................
F u r n i t u r e .............................................. - .................................L u m ber:
M i l l w o r k ...........................................................................
S a w m i l l s _______ - - - ......................................................
T u r p e n t i n e a n d r o s i n ------------------------------------------S t o n e , c l a y , a n d g l a s s p r o d u c t s --------------- ---------B r i c k , t i l e , a n d t e r r a c o t t a ...... ................................. ..
C e m e n t .................... ................................... .................................
89.7
117. 0
54.5
74.8
Cn
I—1
Table 1.—Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in Manufacturing Industries, December 1935—Continued
Employment
Average weekly
earnings
Pay roll
Average hours worked
per week
*<I
Average hourly
earnings
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s —Continued
58.2
- 2 .5
~K 8
- 2.8
- 6.0
- 6.6
- 5 .8
49.6
67. 1
47.4
+ 1.4
+ 5.4
1 1 0 .0
+ 1 .0
- 2 .7
+ .9
+ 2.3
+ 2.1
+ 2.4
91.8
87.6
94.4
+ 4.3
- 1 .7
+ 3 .0
91.2
102.4
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .2
+
+
2.1
2.0
84.7
96.8
C h e m ic a ls a n d a llie d p r o d u c t s , a n d p c tro l e u m r e f i n i n g _______________________________________________
11 1.1
Other than petroleum refining_____________
Chemicals_______ ____ ______ ____ _____
Cottonseed—oil, cake, and meal________
Druggists’ preparations___ ____ ________
Explosives____________ ____ ______ ____
Fertilizers................... ........................... ...........
Paints and varnishes_______________ . . .
Rayon and allied products____ ____ ____
Soap___________________ ______ _______
Petroleum refining........ .....................................
- 1.2
- 1 .3
+ 2 .1
+ 2 .9
+ 4 .7
- 1.0
- 3 .9
- 4 .3
-1 5 .1
+ 8.4
1 00 .8
111.4
108.8
90.5
98.8
86.7
84.5
107.9
357.9
97.3
109.6
____ ________ _____ ______________
Rubber boots and s h o e s ________ ________
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tu b e s ... ____________ ______ _
Rubber tires and inner tubes________ ______
8 3 .0
T o b acco
m a n u fa c tu r e s ,..
____________________________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff____
Cigars and cigarettes___________ ____ ______
P ap e r a n d
p r i n t i n g ___________________ __________ ________ __
Boxes, paper_________ _____ ______________
Paper and p u l p . . ___ ______ _____ _________
Printing and publishing:
Book and job____ __________ _______ _
Newspapers and periodicals.......................
R u b b e r p r o d u c t s _____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
66.8
57.1
99.7
90.4
60.1
129.2
70.5
-.6
- 7 .8
- 1 .5
- 3 .6
+ .7
- 1.2
+. 5
- 6.2
+ 8 .6
- 2 .3
99.8
-
C e n ts
815.12
15.14
15.12
+ 4.0
+ 4 .6
+ 3 .7
+ 5.7
+ 6 .4
+ 5 .2
36.9
35.9
37.1
+ 3.4
+5.3
+ 3.3
+ 2.2
+ 4 .8
+ 1.6
41.3
42.3
41.2
+
+ 6.4
+ 5.9
+13.1
25.91
19.81
21.80
+ 3 .3
+ 1.0
+ 2.1
+ 4.1
+ 3 .5
+ 1 0 .0
39.5
41.3
40.9
+ 2.3
+ 1.2
+ 1.5
+ 4 .9
+ 7 .2
+ 9 .6
69.5
48.1
53.4
+
1 .2
0
+ .6
+ 1.2
—2 . 6
+ 1.0
+ 8.0
+ 4.0
+ 5 .7
+ 2.8
28.91
34.26
+ 5 .5
+ 2 .7
+ 3.3
39.0
37.6
+ 4.3
+ 1.9
+4. 2
- .5
74.6
91.3
+ .9
+ 1 .3
+ .4
+ 3 .1
+ 1.7
+ 9.9
+ 1 1 .0
+13.4
+ 1 2 .8
+ 2 .5
+ 7.8
-.4
+ 2 0 .0
23.89
21.58
25. 79
10.28
21.23
24.59
13.09
24.13
19.84
23. 65
29. 25
+ 2.8
+ 1.9
38.9
39.7
40.2
48.8
39. 1
36.5
36.4
40.6
38.3
38.8
36.5
+ 1. 8
+ •5
61.4
54.7
64. 2
21.3
55.0
67.5
36.0
59.5
51.9
61.6
+ .8
1. 1
1.1
0
+ .2
+ .3
+ 1. 8
+ 5.8
+ 6 .5
+ 5 .8
+ 7 .3
+ 13.6
+ 1-4
+ 6 .3
+15.9
+ 7.1
+ 2 .7
+ 4 .2
- 1 .4
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .0
+ 1.3
+ 2.6
+ 6.0
+ 7 .6
+ 8.0
+ 8 .1
+ 13.8
+ 6.2
+ 12.8
+ 17.3
+ 10.6
+ 3 .0
+ 6 .9
+ 7.4
+ .8
10 2.1
+ .6
+ .2
98.0
97.2
76.2
75.2
93.7
268.0
94.6
104.0
- 5 .9
+ 2.6
- 4 .9
+ 3 .7
- .3
+ 1.8
- 3 .8
+ 5 .2
0.6
-.4
-.6
+ 1 1 .6
+4. 3
+ 6 .3
+ .8
+ 2.1
+ .1
-.2
+ 1.7
+ 4.5
- 2.1
+3.1
+ .5
+ .9
-.3
- f. 5
+ 1.2
+ 1 .0
+ .5
+ 2 .9
+ 1. 1
+. 5
+4. 7
+4. 6
+ .3
+4 0
+ 2 .3
+ 4 .6
+ 2 .5
8 0 .8
+9.9
+ 6 .5
+ 8.7
+ .9
—. 2
+ 2 .5
52. 2
+ 2 .6
+ 1 1 .0
+ 3 .8
53.1
82. 1
+ 1 .9
+ .4
+ 1. 6
+5.4
- 1 .1
+ .4
+ 3 .5
7 4 .5
+ 6 .0
+ 1 2 .9
2 4 .3 1
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .3
+ 5. G
56.6
+12.9
+ 9 .1
3 7 .5
+ 4 .7
+ 8 .6
20 96
+ 9.9
+ 7. 5
40. 1
+12.3
- 1 .9
117.2
63.8
+3.1
+ 6 .5
+26.7
+ 6.3
20.84
28.72
+ 4.3
+ 5 .6
+ 13.1
+ 8 .5
39.4
35.3
+ .9
+
+
+ 3 .0
+ 1.7
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .7
+ 7 .1
- .7
- 1 .1
+ .2
1. 0
+ 1 .5
6 6 .8
9
+ 5 .6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Percentage
Index
change from—
change from—
Decem change from— Decem change from—
change from—
ber
ber
Decem
Decem
Decem
1935
1935
ber
ber
ber
(3-year
(3-year Novem
Decem average
Decem 1935 Novem Decem 1935 Novem Decem 1935 Novem Decem
average Novem
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
1923-25
1923-25 1935
' 1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
= 100 )
= 100 )
Industry
753
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Indexes and Estimates of Factory Employment and Pay Rolls, January 1934 to December 1935
Indexes of employment and pay rolls for all manufacturing indus
tries combined, for the durable-goods group, and for the nondurablegoods group, by months from January 1934 to December 1935, are
given in table 2. Estimates of employment and weekly pay rolls
for all manufacturing industries combined are also given in this table.
The diagram on page 754 indicates the trend of factory employment
and pay rolls from January 1919 to December 1935.
Table 2 .—Indexes and Estimates of Employment and Pay Rolls in All Manu
facturing Industries Combined and Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in
the Durable- and Nondurable-Goods Groups
[Indexes based on 3-year average, 1923-25=100]
Indexes
Year and month
Estimated
number
of wage
earners
Estimated
pay rolls
(1 week)
1934
All manufac
turing indus
tries combined
Durable-goods
group
Nondurablegoods group
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
January___________ ____
February_______________
March_______ ______ ___
April........... ..........................
M ay...... ................................
J u n e ...________________
6,154, 300
6, 522, 500
6, 778, 300
6,906,100
6,912, 600
6,799, 900
$109, 806,000
123,395, 000
131, 650,000
136,962, 000
136,575,000
132,040, 000
73.4
77.8
80.9
82.4
82.5
81.1
54.0
60.6
64.7
67.3
67.1
64.9
59.9
63.6
67. 2
70.1
71.6
70.9
41.6
47.9
52.8
57.4
58.6
56.9
88.0
93. 1
95.5
95.6
94.2
92.2
69.7
76.9
79.9
80.0
78.1
75.1
July........................................
August_________ _______
September______ _______
October___________ _____
November______________
D ecem b er... ........ ............
6, 601,700
6,674,400
6, 360, 200
6,569, 500
6, 443, 200
6, 545,600
123,011, 000
126,603, 000
118,089,000
124,138,000
121,085,000
128,610,000
78.8
79.6
75.9
78.4
76.9
78.1
60.5
62.2
58.0
61.0
59.5
63.2
67.5
66.2
64.4
62.9
62.3
64.4
49.9
49.9
45.5
46.4
46.1
50.4
90.9
94.1
88.3
95.0
92.5
92.8
73.9
77.9
74.0
79.6
76.6
79.5
Average___________
6,605,700
125,997,000
78.8
61.9
65.9
50.3
92.7
76.8
January________________
February____ ___________
March_________________
April_____________ _____
M ay___________________
June__________ _________
6,607,800
6, 821, 300
6, 918, 300
6,919, 200
6,808, 500
6, 683,000
130,758,000
141,769, 000
143,976,000
144,137, 000
139,388,000
135,121,000
78.8
81.4
82.5
82.6
81.2
79.7
64.3
69.1
70.8
70.8
68.5
66.4
66.2
69.4
71.0
71.8
71.4
69.7
52.5
58.6
60.5
61.8
60.1
57.6
92.4
94.2
95.0
94.2
91.8
90.6
79.3
82.6
83.9
82.4
79.2
77.6
July........................................
August_________________
September______________
October---- ------ ------------Novem ber............................
December.............. ..............
6, 682, 400
6,871, 600
7, 014,500
7, 146, 300
7,124,000
7,093, 400
133,019,000
141,769,000
146,876,000
152,629,000
151, 626,000
155,909,000
79.7
82.0
83.7
85.3
85.0
84.6
65.4
69.7
72.2
75.0
74.5
76.6
69.4
70.5
71.2
74.9
76.1
75.7
55.6
58.9
60.6
66.3
68.1
70.1
90.8
94.3
97.1
96.4
94.6
94.2
77.9
83.4
87.1
86.2
82.7
85.1
Average___________
6,890,900
142,990,000
82.2
70.3
71.4
60.9
93.8
82.3
1935
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Or
755
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
General indexes of factory employment and pay rolls by yearly
averages, 1923 to 1935, inclusive, and by months, January to Decem
ber 1935, are presented in table 3. Indexes for the same periods,
where available, are also presented for each of the 90 manufacturing
industries surveyed and for the 14 major groups and 2 subgroups into
which they are classified.
The indexes over the period 1923-31 have been adjusted to con
form with the annual averages shown in published reports of the Cen
sus of Manufactures. Indexes for subsequent months are subject to
revision, as adjustments will be made to bring them into conformity
with census averages for the year 1933 and later years as information
becomes available.
Table 3.—Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Manufacturing Industries
[3-year average, 1923-25=100]
Iron and steel and their products, not including machinery
General index
Group index
M onth and year
1923 average______
1924 average______
1925 average______
1926 average______
1927 average...........
1928 average____ _
1929 average______
1930 average______
1931 average______
1932 average______
1933 average. . . . .
1934 average_____
1935 average______
Blast furnaces,
steel works,
and rolling
mills
Bolts, nuts,
washers, and
rivets
Cast-iron pipe
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
104.1
96.5
99.4
101.2
98.9
98.9
104.8
91.5
77.4
64.1
69.0
78.8
82.2
103.3
96.1
100.6
103.8
101.8
102.4
109.1
88.7
67.5
46.1
48.5
61.9
70.3
103.9
97.0
99.1
102.5
97.2
96.6
102.6
89.2
69.7
53.3
58.6
69.0
73.0
103.2
96.7
100.1
105.0
98.6
100.4
107.8
85.7
55.0
29.1
36.2
49.0
59.8
104.5
97.1
98.4
101.0
95.7
96.2
103.2
90.3
68.4
51.5
58.5
69.7
73.7
104.5
96.5
99.0
103.0
96.7
100.6
109.6
87.7
53.6
24.8
35.4
49.2
62.0
112.5
89.5
98.0
0)
96.0
(0
114.0
(‘)
74.2
60.8
71.0
78.1
79.6
111.5
89.5
99.0
0)
95.6
0)
122.0
0)
56.2
33.8
42.1
54.3
64.9
96.0
101.6
102.4
110.1
101.8
92.4
87.8
80.4
71.5
45.5
39.2
51.1
50.3
94.6
101.7
103.7
110. 5
98.2
85.3
85.2
75.3
55.1
24.2
19.7
27.8
28.4
78.8
81.4
82.5
82.6
81.2
79.7
79.7
82.0
83.7
85.3
85.0
84.6
64.3
69.1
70.8
70.8
68.5
66.4
65.4
69.7
72.2
75.0
74.5
76.6
67.8
70.7
71.8
72.7
72.4
71.8
71.3
73.2
74.7
76.4
76.8
76.6
51.9
59.0
59.3
59.4
58.3
55.7
52.6
59.4
62.7
65.5
65.1
68.8
69.4
72.9
74.0
73.7
73.6
72.4
71.7
73.7
74.4
75.6
76.2
77.0
53.9
63.8
63.3
62.3
61.1
56.8
52.4
61.6
64.2
66.1
66.4
72.0
80.8
78.0
78.3
80.1
80.1
77.3
75.5
77.1
78.8
81.7
83.2
83.7
62.3
63.8
66.1
67.6
65.1
57.4
54.2
61.3
63.7
70.8
69.6
76.3
49.9
48.6
48.6
47.3
49.1
50.9
51.6
51.2
51.9
50.7
51. 2
52.8
26.8
25.6
25.1
26.3
27.4
29.0
28.3
29.1
29.9
28.9
30.4
34.1
1935
January_________
February________
March___________
April____________
M a y .. . ...................
June ___________
July_____________
A ugust______ . . .
September_______
_____
O ctober..
N ovember. _____
December_______
1 Data not available.
4 9 6 4 5 — 3 6 -------- 1 6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pay
rolls
756
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 3.—Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Manufacturing Industries—
Continued
Iron and steel and their products, not including machinery—Continued
M onth and year
1923 average______
1924 average______
1925 average______
1926 average______
1927 average______
1928 average...........
1929 average______
1930 average______
1931 a v e r a g e .____
1932 average______
1933 average______
1934 average______
1935 average______
Cutlery (not
including silver
and plated
cutlery) and
edge tools
Forgings—iron
and steel
Hardware
Plumbers’
supplies
Steam and hotwater heating
apparatus
and steam
fittings
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
99.6
102. 4
98.0
(>)
94.6
(0
89.5
0)
74.2
67.6
65.1
77.6
77.9
97.9
101.8
100.3
(9
93.7
(9
87.5
(9
60.4
46.8
42.8
55.4
60.8
116.5
97.4
86.1
(9
65.5
(9
87.8
(9
41.9
35.8
40.8
54.6
61.0
113.9
97.4
88.7
(9
66.7
(9
97.8
(9
32.5
19.9
25.0
39.4
47.6
101.6
96. 6
101.8
100.8
93.0
92.8
101.7
88.6
70.3
55.1
55.8
62.7
53.6
100.1
96.3
103.6
106.3
96.1
96.0
106.9
81.6
58.9
35.5
36.1
47.0
46.8
89.9
100.1
110.0
(9
96.7
(9
92.5
(9
65.1
51. 1
58.2
58.4
84.3
89.5
100.0
110.5
(9
94.6
(9
87.2
(9
48.0
27.6
31. 1
32.6
52.8
102.2
97.7
100.1
102.6
99.3
92.4
91.6
78.3
67.1
46.5
49.5
47.6
52.6
101.7
98.0
100.3
105.5
101.6
94.4
92.4
69.0
46.3
24.7
26.4
29.9
36.2
75.8
78.4
80. 1
80.3
78.3
77.4
71.2
75.6
76.6
79.3
80.9
80.9
55.5
60.0
61.2
60.1
59.6
59.3
54.1
57.1
59.8
64.3
67.9
71.2
57.4
61. 1
61.7
62.8
60.0
57.6
56.9
57.9
61.2
63.2
65.2
67.1
45.3
51.0
51.6
52.2
47.5
41.5
38.5
42.3
46.1
48.6
51.5
55.5
51.6
56.2
56.5
54.4
53.2
51.4
49.5
48.5
51.8
55.6
56.8
57.6
41.7
49.6
47.9
46.3
42.3
42.9
40.3
39.4
46.0
52.0
55.7
57.4
67.0
70.2
72.4
73.9
78.3
82.3
90.3
93.4
96.0
98.0
95.6
94.0
40.4
42.9
44.8
46.1
49.0
50.3
53.5
58.7
62.0
65.1
60.0
61.2
47.9
49. 6
50.3
50.2
51.4
51.5
49.4
53.0
54.7
57.8
58.7
57.0
31.0
33.1
33.5
33.8
34.5
34.6
32.3
36.4
39.2
43.4
41.4
40.7
Pay
rolls
1935
January_________
February________
M arch___________
April____________
M ay____________
June____________
Ju ly .____________
A u g u s t..................
September_______
October ________
November_______
December_______
Iron and steel and their products, not including machinery—Continued
Stoves
M onth and year
1923 average______
1924 average______
1925 average............
1926 average........ .
1927 average______
1928 average______
1929 average______
1930 average........ .
1931 average...........
1932 average______
1933 average......... .
1934 average............
1935 average............
Structural and
ornamental
metal work
Tin cans and
other tinware
Tools, not in
cluding edge
tools, machine
tools, files,
and saws
Wire work
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
106.0
95.0
99.0
104.2
96.2
94.0
99.3
83.1
69.4
57.3
68.7
87.2
98.6
103.5
96.0
100.5
105.8
97.5
93.5
98.8
74.3
53.4
35.0
43.9
60.1
76.1
104.4
97.7
97.9
107.5
106.1
106.5
111.2
98.9
76.0
50.8
46.1
56.8
56.6
104.0
96.6
99.4
109.9
108.8
111.0
112.8
94.2
61.5
31.1
26.3
38.9
42.1
101.0
100.0
99.0
(0
98.4
0)
104.3
0)
83.7
73.8
78.7
90.7
94.1
97.7
100.0
102.3
(0
104.2
(')
113.6
(0
83.3
67.3
70.6
84.4
91.5
105.7
102.2
92.1
(0
91.7
(0
107.6
0)
60.4
46.5
48.9
59.8
65.2
103.1
101.8
95.1
0)
95.6
(0
117.8
(0
51.1
32.2
34.7
49.9
61.8
93.1
100.0
106.9
0)
120.4
(0
124.2
(0
95.6
90.3
103.3
124.4
126.2
89.6
100.0
110.4
(>)
122.5
0)
129.3
«
80.6
61.9
75.7
101.0
113.7
81.0
89.0
91.8
97.4
99.1
98.5
98.2
102.0
107.3
110.1
108.5
99.8
55.4
63.3
68.2
73.7
74.2
73.4
71.8
80.4
89.6
96.7
86.0
80.7
55.9
53.8
55.0
55.3
56.0
56.0
56.9
57.9
58.6
59.0
58.6
56.6
39.5
37.6
38.7
39.8
40.9
40.7
42.2
43.9
45.6
46.0
44.7
45.0
85.0
85.4
86.4
88.3
90.4
96.0
100.0
104.0
105.4
100.5
95.3
92.9
80.7
77.3
83.3
85.4
87.0
93.8
97.7
103.6
105.7
100.2
91.5
91.5
60.9
63.3
64.3
65.4
64.3
63.9
62.3
60.0
65.0
69.0
71.3
73.2
54.1
59.2
60.5
60.8
60.8
59.4
55.1
55.2
61.0
68.1
71.1
76.0
120.7
122.5
124.5
128.9
127.4
122.3
116.5
118.7
117.6
132.8
138.4
144.4
102.7
114.2
115.1
121.5
106.9
106.7
95.0
96.3
101.2
124.0
135.5
145.7
Pay
rolls
1935
January_________
February................
March......................
April____________
M ay________ ____
June_____________
J u ly ........................
August__________
September_______
October........... .......
November...............
December...............
*Data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
757
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 3.—Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Manufacturing Industries—
Continued
Machinery, not including transportation equipment
Group index
Month and year
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average............
1924 average______
1925 average........ .
1926 average______
1927 average.........
1928 average........ .
1929 average______
1930 average_____
1931 average........ .
1932 average--------1933 average______
1934 average______
1935 average______
1935
January...................
February------------March___________
April____________
M ay................ .........
June------ -----------July______ ______
September....... .......
October_________
November___
December_______
Pay
rolls
Agricultural
implements
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Cash registers,
adding
machines, and
calculating
machines
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Electrical
machinery,
apparatus, and
supplies
Engines, tur
bines, trac
tors, and
water wheels
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
99.5
96.7
103.8
119.2
119.3
125.5
138.9
107.2
54.0
24.0
25.7
45.7
70.7
54.5
59.9
64.2
69.6
74.2
74.6
72.6
73.9
74.4
75.0
76.1
79.0
105.8
95.1
99.1
107.8
102.3
105.1
125.9
104.6
78.3
56.3
58.9
77.7
87.0
104.0
95.3
100.7
111.2
106. 0
111.3
134.2
102.2
63.9
36.1
37.9
57.2
70.5
110.0
88.1
101.9
115.3
118.5
137.9
147.9
110.7
62.3
39.2
44.5
75.1
109.2
109.9
88.7
101.4
119.1
125.9
152.4
160.0
106.9
51.9
32.4
37.7
77.7
125.4
107.4
97.2
95.4
(*)
103.1
0)
120.8
(0
87.3
75.4
79.5
102.0
104.6
105.1
97.3
97.6
0)
100.4
0)
137.3
(')
69. 1
50.6
56.4
79.4
86.0
103.0
97.9
99.1
(0
(0
(>)
127.3
107.1
80.9
56.8
51.3
63.9
71.0
100.1
99.2
100.7
0)
(0
134.4
109.3
68.7
37.1
33.6
47.7
58.9
99.1
96.0
104.9
115.4
111.3
113.2
125.3
106.1
68.1
42.4
44.8
69.7
97.5
79.6
82.0
84.1
85.1
84.5
84.2
85.6
87.3
91.1
93.1
93.8
93.1
60.8
64.1
66.9
67.6
67.8
66.9
67.5
71.2
75.2
78.4
78.9
80.7
89.6
92.7
101.3
97.0
97.0
110.6
116.7
117.8
118.5
116.6
123.8
128.9
97.5
100.9
113.7
108.8
110.5
127.5
135.2
137.5
136.8
136.1
145. 0
155.2
101.7
102.1
103.0
104.6
102.7
102.4
102.7
102.0
105.0
108.0
109. 5
111.4
79.2
82.0
83.6
84.9
83.2
84.3
85.6
85.8
88.2
90.7
88.5
96.1
65.9
67.5
69.2
70.9
70.7
69.6
69.6
70.4
73.3
75.3
75.4
74.0
52.4
55.0
57.2
58.4
58.2
56.1
54.7
57.8
62.1
65.2
64. 6
65.1
79.5
85.5
90.8
97.5
101.4
102.8
101.1
101.1
101.2
101.3
103.0
105.3
0)
Pay
rolls
Machinery, not including transportation equipment—Continued
Month and year
1923 average............
1924 average______
1925 average______
1926 average_____
1927 average_____
1928 average______
1929 average______
1930 average______
1931 average______
1932 average_____
1933 average______
1934 average______
1935 average______
Textile
machinery
and parts
Foundry and
machine-shop
products
Machine tools
Radios and
phonographs
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
108.4
93.9
97.7
103.3
97.7
98.8
111.3
94.2
69. 7
50.4
52.6
68.0
74.4
106.7
93.6
99.7
107.4
99.9
102.6
117.9
89.0
55.4
31.1
32.8
49.6
59.5
108.1
92.0
99.9
119.3
114.3
127.9
167.2
126.0
74.7
40.5
41.7
69.0
88.1
105.3
90.8
103.9
125. 3
116.3
139.8
187.6
121.9
61.5
27.5
28.7
53.4
76.2
89.5
105.9
104.6
0)
88.1
107.5
104.4
204.5
141.0
124.4
100.0
151.4
203.5
209.6
0)
0)
202.9
139.8
96.5
62.7
85.4
116.5
129.8
116.4
92.7
90.9
90.1
85.3
78.5
88.1
71.2
61.3
48.7
61.1
69.1
64.5
117.5
86.8
95.7
95.7
93.2
84.2
96.7
66.0
54.3
35.4
47.0
54.4
52.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
0)
111.5
0)
121.1
(0
77.8
58.7
62.7
94.4
99.9
98.4
100.0
101. 6
0)
113.0
0)
130. 1
69.2
72.0
73.5
74.3
73.8
72.8
73.4
74.0
76.0
76.8
77.6
79.0
51.5
55.7
57.5
58.0
57.9
56.2
56.7
60.0
62.2
64.6
65.3
68.5
73.1
76.9
79.6
81.8
83.0
85.1
89.0
91.9
96.4
98.5
58.2
63.2
66.5
67.8
70.1
71.8
75.8
80.5
85.2
89.5
90.2
96.0
190.4
186.0
189.0
182.4
168.0
165.5
185.0
213.8
254.9
279.1
271.6
230.0
111.8
103.2
110.6
107.0
101.5
100.9
112.9
133.9
166.3
185.8
179.8
143.7
64.1
64.8
64.8
65.8
63.6
64.0
63.4
62.6
62.9
64.3
66.0
52.0
52.6
52.3
51.6
51.6
52.3
51.2
50.5
50.4
54.4
54.4
61.1
101.5
98.6
95.9
93.6
95.8
96.3
97.1
97.6
101.7
105.2
107.5
107.5
85.3
79.5
79.7
78.0
80.2
1935
January_________
February________
March _________
April__________
M ay------------------June_____________
July..........................
August--------------September_______
O ctober..................
November...............
December.............
'D ata not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100.1
101.5
Pay
rolls
(‘ )
(>)
(>)
6 8 .0
Typewriters
and parts
Pay
rolls
(>)
60.0
35.2
42. 4
81.1
85.3
7 7 .7
79.4
80.0
92.3
96.6
99.3
96.0
758
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 3.—Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Manufacturing Industries—
Continued
Transportation equipment
Month and year
Group index
Aircraft
Automobiles
Cars, electric
and steam
railroad
Locomo
tives
Shipbuild
ing
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average_____ 107.fi
1924 average...___ 93.1
1925 average____
99.3
1926 average_____ 99.1
1927 average___
87.9
1928 average_____
90. 2
1929 average_____ 103.5
1930 average___ _ 80.2
1931 average___ ..
66.3
1932 average___ . 56.0
1933 average_____
54.2
1934 average_____
82.9
1935 average_____
95.1
107.7
90.8
101.5
99.5
89.8
101. 6
105.4
70.2
52.3
40.7
39.5
68.6
88.0
103.6
100.0
96.4
0)
157.9
(>)
525.2
(>)
353.1
253.7
298. 5
332. 5
398.3
103.4
100.0
96.6
<‘>
156.8
<»>
501.5
(>)
354.8
251.0
269. 5
288.2
326.4
100.6
93.6
105. 8
104.8
91.9
108.1
111.3
80.3
71.0
60.8
59.8
93.2
108.9
100.6
90.6
108.8
104.8
93.3
113.9
111.6
65.7
53.4
42.3
42.8
76.1
100.2
126.9 128.7 157.7 168.1 114.5
93.8 94.3 76.4 72.9 93.2
79.3 77.0 65.9 59.0 92.3
75.0 70.9 86.2 80.6 97.4
59.9 60.4 66.7 57.2 101.3
48.4 48.2 45.4 39.6 79.5
63.1 63.1 56.8 58.3 101.3
54.7 53.2 52.3 51.5 107.3
29.6 25.4 28.0 18.1 83.0
26.3 23.5 19. 4
8.9 66.0
25.4 20.5 15.6
5.8 55. 4
43.4 40.8 31.1 13.7 70.2
44.3 45.1 26.2 11 6 74.8
79.4
94.7
98.2
102.7
94.2
82.4
74.7
71.6
65.7
86.4
101.5
104.4
308.5
323.9
329.1
356.1
392.0
416.0
432.6
453.4
442.9
447.3
447.8
430.3
251.3
265.4
277.6
291.5
317.7
340.3
343.7
378.4
360.3
370.3
358.9
361.0
108.1
117.5
119.5
119.9
116.4
107.2
100.6
95.1
84.0
105.0
115.5
118.2
92.2
110.3
112.7
117.1
105.1
93.4
85.7
80.6
72.1
97.7
116.7
118.8
34.2
43.6
52.2
59.1
60.3
48.2
31.7
32.2
33.5
40.0
45.9
50.1
E m Pay E m
Pay ploy
Pay
ploy rolls
rolls ment
rolls ment
112.8
94.9
92.3
100.9
108.3
85.0
109.7
113.5
76.8
52. 5
38.9
54.9
64.1
1935
January.. ______
92.4
February. . . . . . 100.9
M arch.. _______ 103.6
April____________ 104.8
M ay____________ 102.7
June____________
93.7
July____________
87.2
August...................
83.5
September_______ 75.8
O cto b er.______
92.3
November. _____ 101.0
December_______ 103.4
Railroad repair shops
Month and year
1923 average . . . .
1924 average... . . .
1925 average...........
1926 average_____
1927 average_____
1928 average_____
1929 average_____
1930 average___ . .
1931 average____
1932 a v e r a g e ..___
1933 average_____
1934 average_____
1935 average_____
Group index
Electric
railroad
31.7
43.4
54.5
65.1
65.8
46.6
28.0
30.4
31.8
41.0
47.4
55.2
30.3
30.9
32.5
32.3
30.1
28.4
20.0
21.5
21.0
21. 3
22.8
22.8
13.2
13.6
14.6
15.0
13.8
12.6
8.2
9.1
8.9
9.5
10.1
10.6
68.3
72.8
74.9
74.6
76.4
66.2
71.3
72.4
76.1
79.8
82.3
82.9
56. 2
59.7
63.8
62.0
65.7
55. 5
59.4
61.5
65. 6
70.4
72.5
77.2
Nonferrous metals and their products
Steam
railroad
Group index
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
108.6
96.4
95.0
95.5
89.0
83.8
82.6
73.4
64.1
53.4
52.0
55.5
53.7
109.6
95.6
94.8
96.1
92.0
87.2
90.4
76.1
61.7
42.7
41.7
48.1
50.6
104.0
99.1
96.9
96.5
94.1
89.6
87.8
85.8
79.3
71.7
66.3
66.0
65.3
101.5
98.8
99.7
100.4
99.8
97.9
97.2
93.0
80.2
64.3
55.1
58.0
59. 7
108.9
96.3
94.8
95.4
88.6
83.3
82. 2
72.4
62.9
52.0
50.9
54.7
52.8
110.2
95.5
94.3
95.7
91.4
86.3
89.8
74.8
60.4
41.2
40.8
47.5
50.0
105.4
96.7
97.9
0)
96.5
(>)
111.4
0)
74.0
58.1
62.2
76.1
84.8
51.6
52.9
53.6
52.9
53.6
53.8
53.5
52.8
52.6
55.1
55.7
55.8
43.8
48.0
49.6
50.7
52.5
51.0
48.2
49.0
49.1
53.1
54.5
57.1
65.3
65.9
65.8
65.6
65.7
65.6
65.2
65.3
64.6
64.5
65.1
64.8
58.0
59.7
60.7
60.4
60. 2
59.0
58.8
59.6
59.1
60.0
59.3
61.8
50.6
51.9
52.7
52.0
52.7
52.9
52.6
51.9
51.7
54.4
55.0
55.1
42.9
47.2
48.9
50. 1
52.0
50.5
47.5
48.3
48.5
52.7
54.2
56.9
78.3
81.6
83.0
83.4
82.9
81.8
80.2
82.0
86.9
91.9
93.1
92.3
Aluminum
manufac
tures
Brass,
bronze,
and copper
products
Em
Pay Em Pay ploy
Pay
rolls ploy
ment rolls ment rolls
103.7 106.3 100.2 103.4
95.9 100.0 100.0 96.6
100.4 93.7 99.8 100.0
0)
0)
(') 102.7
100.5 96.6 105.5 101.2
(0
0)
0) 107.3
116.4 138.4 150.0 121.5
0)
96.6
P)
(0
63.1 90.2 81.3 74.9
39.1 64.3 42.1 57.8
41.4 71.8 50.9 64.1
56.0 74.9 56.9 74.6
67.5 78.2 68.3 81.8
101.3
95.6
103.1
107.4
104.7
115.6
128.3
88.7
60.3
35.8
41.3
53.9
64.5
1935
January_________
February..............
March__________
April___ ______
M ay____________
June____________
July------------------August_____ ____
September_______
October_____
November_______
D ecem ber..______
1 Data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
58.7
63.7
65.0
64.7
63.7
62.9
59.9
64.7
70.9
78.4
78.5
79.4
72.3
76.8
79.0
78.7
78.3
76.2
74.6
75.5
79.1
82.7
83.0
82.1
58. 1
66.8
69.6
69.3
68.0
64.6
58.3
65.8
69.6
76.0
77.0
76.7
75.4
80.8
82.0
81.8
80.8
78.9
77.4
78.2
81.8
86.8
89.0
88.5
58.3
63.2
64.0
64.1
61.5
60.0
57.5
61.1
65.8
72.5
72.9
73.4
759
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T able 3 .— In dexes of E m p lo y m en t and P a y R olls in M anufacturing In d u stries—
C on tin ued
Nonferrous metals and their products—Continued
M onth and year
1923 average_____
1924 average_____
1925 average_____
1926 average..........1927 average_____
1928 average_____
1929 average_____
1930 average_____
1931 average_____
1932 average-------1933 average_____
1934 average_____
1935 average_____
Clocks,
watches, and
time-record
ing devices
Lighting
equipment
Jewelry
Silverware
and plated
ware
Em Pay Em
Pay ploy
Pay
rolls ment
rolls ploy
ment rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
97.6
100.0
102.4
(0
102.9
(')
98.2
0)
74.3
54.5
51.7
70.1
83.7
95.7
100.0
104.3
(0
108.1
0)
102. 2
0)
62.2
35.4
34.4
55.7
71.4
105.1
99.8
95.1
(>)
96.2
(>)
111.4
(0
74.1
57.6
55.5
67.5
73.5
105.9
91.8
102.3
(0
106.9
(>)
113.3
(0
65.6
43.5
39.6
52.2
57.3
101.3
100.0
98.7
0)
92.9
0)
104.2
(0
65.3
49.5
51.4
64.4
74.3
96.7
100.0
103.3
0)
97.3
(>)
110.6
0)
60.4
38.8
38.7
51.9
65.7
100.6 98.1 102.8 103.2 110.1
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 95.7
99.4 101.9 97.2 96.8 94.2
96.9
0)
(>)
(O
(>)
98.4 102.3 89.9 90.4 93.0
(>)
(i)
(■)
0) 104.1
92.6 96.5 91.3 99.4 120.5
(*) 106.3
(>)
(')
(>)
65.3 54.3 54.4 45.9 85.4
54.3 37.2 45.3 27.3 69.8
55.6 36.2 50.7 29.2 78.0
68.9 50.3 68.1 42.1 96.8
70.4 54.3 80.9 53.8 107.2
77.1
78.0
78.8
79.9
80.5
80. 7
80.0
80.7
87.3
92.1
94.4
94.5
56. 4
62.9
65.7
64.9
64.7
67.2
62.5
68.8
77.0
87.0
90.7
88.8
68.5
70.6
70.5
69.4
65.8
65.5
66.9
72.5
83.0
89.0
84.0
76.0
50.8
54.0
53.9
51.4
49.8
49.5
47.8
54.8
68.2
76.8
65.4
65.1
66.3
68.3
69.8
70.1
69.2
68.9
69.0
71.7
78.1
86.9
86.9
86.9
54.8
57.4
57.0
59.0
58.2
59.8
58.9
64.2
69.5
81.6
83.5
84.7
1985
Janu ary........... .
February......... .......
March.................
April— .......... .........
M ay____________
June__________ .
July....... ..................
A u g u st_____ . . .
September_______
October . . . . ___
November_______
December..........
Smelting
and
Stamped
refining— and enam
copper, lead, eled ware
and zinc
67.8
67.5
69.0
71.7
73.9
73.4
65.3
69.8
69.8
72.4
73.0
71.3
47.5 73.6
51.5 75.0
52.5 75.7
51. 2 77.1
57.0 79.5
57.1 81.8
48.1 80.2
52.0 80.8
56.0 . 83.7
59.9 85.7
60.5 88.0
58.7 89.7
46.5
48.0
48.3
49.8
51.1
53.2
53.0
53.2
56.1
58.6
61.9
65.9
99.6
105.4
108.4
109.1
106.9
102.5
100.4
101.9
106. 2
112.7
116. 2
117.0
111.2
92.8
96.0
98.3
95.7
108.0
125.6
104.9
76.8
49.0
52.0
71.6
87.5
76.2
85.2
89.7
88.0
83.3
77.6
73.9
82.3
89.8
99.9
101.0
102.8
Lumber and allied products
Group index
Furniture
Month and year
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average______
1924 average______
1925 average........ .
1926 average______
1927 average______
1928 average...........
1929 average______
1930 average______
1931 average............
1932 average______
1933 average______
1934 average______
1935 average______
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Lumber, millwork
Lumber, saw Turpentine and
rosin
mills
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
101.5
98.1
100.4
100.4
94.1
92.4
95.4
78.1
56.3
41.1
44.2
48.7
52.6
100.0
98.1
96.2
105.7
110.3
108.8
106.7
111.9
89.0
73.7
57.8
61.7
63.0
70.9
96.9
96.4
106.7
113.4
111.8
107.5
114.0
80.7
59.2
34.8
36.3
41.9
52.5
96.7
98.8
104. 5
102.7
90.7
86.7
84.6
64.4
51.1
35.6
34.5
36.8
43.5
95.6
99.3
105.1
103.3
90.5
86.1
83.5
61. 1
42.0
21.7
19.5
23.3
33.0
103.6
98.8
97.6
95.5
86.6
84.4
87.7
67.6
41.1
26.1
28.7
33.4
34.5
102.5
99.2
98.3
96.6
89.0
87.2
90.7
67.6
33.6
14.2
16.0
21.4
24.2
107.7
100.0
92.3
(0
119.0
(0
126.0
(')
88.6
71.9
83.6
97.2
99.0
100.8
100.0
99.2
«
110.7
(>)
98.2
(')
47.5
32.7
36.3
50.1
58.8
47.1
49.4
50.6
51.7
50.9
48.9
51.9
55.3
57.0
57.5
56.0
54.5
31.7
34.8
36.3
37.5
34.8
36.3
38.3
64.1
66.9
69.1
68.6
67.0
67.1
69. 1
73.4
76.3
77.9
77.0
74.8
43.5
47. 1
49.7
49.2
47. 1
48.5
48.4
56.0
60.2
63.0
59.3
58.4
35.9
37.9
38.3
39.7
40.7
41.9
44.8
47.5
50.1
49.5
48.7
46.9
23.0
25.3
25.8
27.7
29.1
31.5
34.2
37.7
40.8
41.9
39.6
39.0
30.9
32.7
33.5
34.8
34.0
30.9
33.9
36.6
37.4
37.6
36.0
35.1
19. 1
21.4
22.4
23.7
20.1
20.9
23.3
27.9
29.4
29.5
26. 5
25.9
95.6
96.3
99.7
99.2
99.0
98.9
98.9
99.1
100.5
100.3
100.7
99.7
52.7
54.2
52.3
57.9
57.3
59.9
57.5
59.3
59.3
64.6
65.8
64.4
98.4
101.6
102.5
96.7
94.2
97.4
72.6
46.6
25.1
26.4
32.7
39.9
1935
January..................
February................
March ...................
April____________
M ay____________
June____________
July............... ...........
August.....................
Septem ber........... .
O ctober..................
N ovem ber.............
December_______
i Data not available,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
44.4
47.3
48.6
45.0
44.2
760
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T able 3 .— In d exes o f E m p lo y m e n t and P a y R olls in M an u factu rin g In du stries—
C on tin ued
Stone, clay, and glass products
Group Index
M onth and year
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average_____
1924 average_____
1925 average_____
1926 average_____
1927 average_____
1928 average_____
1929 average.........
1930 average_____
1931 average_____
1932 average_____
1933 average_____
1934 average_____
1935 average--------
100.4
98.9
100.7
103.8
99.9
95.7
93.8
80.2
63.7
44.6
45.0
52.8
53.9
Brick, tile,
and terra
cotta
Cement
Glass
Marble,
granite,
slate, and
other
products
Pottery
Em
Em
Pay ploy Pay ploy Pay
rolls ment rolls ment rolls
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
98.3
100.5
100.6
98.7
100.7
102.9
99.0
92.3
91.5
72.2
50.2
29.6
27.0
29.7
31.0
98.1
101.1
100.8
101.8
96.7
87.5
84.7
62.2
35.2
14.0
12.0
16.0
19.4
95.0
101.0
104.0
102.1
98.3
92.6
90.3
84.6
65.8
44.9
41. 1
49.3
49.5
94.6
102.9
102.5
100.9
101.1
96.9
92.9
83.4
56.9
27.7
22.2
30.6
32.1
105.1 103.4 104.5 101.7 98.5
95.5 96.9 100.0 100.0 103.8
99.4 99.7 95.5 98.3 97.7
99.7
(i)
103.8 103.9
(B
94.3 93.6 105.6 113.0 98.0
98.8
92.6 94.5
0)
(*)
96.7 100.9 98.7 104.0 94.7
82.9
83.8 82.9
(i)
(■)
71.5 66.5 72.2 68.8 72.3
58.9 45.9 43.2 31.8 57.0
69.8 52.9 33.7 20.7 60.2
89.8 71.8 30.7 19.4 69.0
94.5 82.9 26.5 17.9 69.4
24.8
25.7
27.6
27.6
29.6
32. 1
32.9
33.8
34.0
35.3
34.6
33.9
13.0
15.0
16.3
16.3
17.7
19.3
20. 2
21. 2
22.5
24.0
23.4
23.3
37.2
37.8
41.6
50.0
57.0
60. 1
57.5
53.8
51.9
52.9
49.6
45.0
21. 2
22. 1
25.0
31.9
36.8
40. 1
37.9
35.8
35. 2
35. 1
33.3
31.1
101.2
104.2
100.5
96.2
93.7
76.9
53.9
29.1
27.6
35.5
39.9
97.8
104.3
97.9
99.3
94.5
93.9
91. 4
74.1
56.4
35. 1
35.8
44.7
50.1
1985
January_________
February________
March__________
April_______ ____
M ay____________
June____________
July.........................
A ugust__________
Septem ber............
O ctober________
N ovem ber..............
December..............
47.2
49.6
51.5
53.2
55.0
55.7
54.7
55.9
55.8
56.7
56.4
55.2
31.6
34.8
37.4
39.3
40.3
40.5
38.9
40.9
42.2
44.5
43.9
44.6
86.5
91.7
93.7
94. 2
94.8
95.2
92.7
95.7
95.8
97.5
98.4
97.8
69.9
75.6
81.3
82.7
81.6
82.0
77.0
82.3
85.6
90.9
91.2
94.2
20.0
22.6
23.4
26.5
28.5
27.5
30.0
29.6
27.9
27.8
27.4
27. 1
11.0
14.4
15.2
18. 2
21.2
19. 1
20.4
20.5
19.0
19.8
17.7
18.5
69.9
71.4
72.9
73.4
71.5
66.8
62.4
67.0
69.5
68.6
70.0
69.1
46.9
50.3
52.4
53.4
50.3
46. 1
41.5
46.6
50.3
53.3
54.6
55.9
Textiles and their products
Group index
M onth and year
1923 average______
1924 average______
1925 average___ _
1926 average______
1927 average______
1928 average_____
1929 average______
1930 average______
1931 average______
1932 average______
1933 a v e r a g e .____
1934 average______
1935 average______
Fabric (sub
group)
Carpets and
rugs
Cotton goods
Cotton small
wares
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
105.2
94.9
99.9
99.9
104.0
101.3
104.8
92.9
87.2
76.7
87.9
91.2
95.2
105.8
93.8
100.4
100.2
106.8
101.7
105.2
85.6
75.1
53.5
61.2
71.2
79.7
105.4
94.2
100.4
99.2
101.3
96.2
99.2
86.0
80.3
71.9
86.2
89.5
93.3
106.0
93.4
100.6
99.4
103.8
95.8
99.4
79.4
70.2
50.9
62.2
70.9
79.4
103.8
96.2
100.0
97.8
96.9
92.8
96.2
74.2
67.5
52.0
60.6
66.7
79.4
109.2
93.3
97.5
93.8
94.5
85.7
90.1
59.7
54.3
32.2
42.6
50. 1
72.2
106.7
92.5
100.8
101.9
105.8
95.5
96. 1
80.7
74. 5
67.8
87.5
92.9
89.4
110.1
91.6
98.3
98.5
105.7
88.4
90. 1
69.4
61.0
44.6
62. 1
73.0
74.1
104.4
92.6
103.0
(0
95.3
(>)
97.4
0)
(')
101.3
(')
102. 1
(>)
95.2
98.4
99.2
97.2
93.5
90.4
87.8
92.9
95.9
97.7
97.0
96.9
78.5
84.5
86.8
82.4
75.5
70.9
68.4
78.9
84.6
84.5
79.7
81.9
95.8
97.2
96.4
93.3
91.0
89.4
87.5
89.9
92.1
94.6
96. 1
96.4
82.2
84.5
83.3
78.0
74.9
72.0
70.1
76.5
80.4
83.3
82.6
85.3
66.5
69.7
75.4
79.1
79.7
81.3
82.7
83.7
85.9
84. 3
82.6
82.3
55.5
60.5
68.3
74.2
73.7
76.7
75.8
80.6
83.4
73.8
70.5
73.5
96.3
96.7
95. 5
91.9
88.0
85.1
82.3
81.6
84.8
88.0
90.6
92.2
81.8
82.8
80.6
74.0
70.7
65.6
64.2
64.8
70.7
75.8
76.8
81.2
84.9
90.9
90.5
90.6
89.2
81.2
79.9
77.1
82.3
85.3
89.4
90.5
73.7
82.0
79.6
78.7
75.7
65.9
65 2
64.3
71.8
75.8
78.6
84.5
1935
J a n u a ry .................
February............. .
March___________
April...... ..................
M ay____ ________
June_____________
July_____________
A u g u st....................
September_______
October_________
November........... .
December_______
* Data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
81.7
68.7
77.4
82.1
86.0
Pay
rolls
105. 5
91.8
102.7
76.8
52.4
58.8
67.2
74.7
761
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T ab le 3 .— In d exes o f E m p lo y m en t and P a y R olls in M anufacturing In du stries—
C on tin ued
Textiles and their products—Continued
Month and year
Dyeing and
finishingtextiles
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average-.........
1924 average______
1925 average______
1926 average--------1927 average______
1928 a v e r a g e .-----1929 a v e r a g e .-----1930 average--------1931 average______
1932 average..........
1933 average______
1934 average______
1935 average---------
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Knit goods
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Silk and rayon
goods
Woolen and
worsted goods
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
97.4
93.9
108.7
110.8
113.5
114.9
121.8
112.0
103.3
89.3
94.8
106.2
110.4
96.1
92.7
111.2
114.2
121.5
121.8
124.8
108.7
101.2
72.3
73.6
84.2
89.9
106.4
97.1
96.5
(')
101.2
(0
105.3
01
89.6
71.7
77.5
80.1
83.1
107.4
90.5
102.1
(0
114.1
0)
112.3
(0
82.5
57.6
65.8
74.3
78.4
104.8
94.5
100.7
101.3
102.6
102.6
112.5
102.9
96.0
94.1
102.2
107.6
112.4
103.7
92.3
104.0
109.1
116.0
115.4
129.8
108.6
92. 2
75.5
81.4
98.6
108.2
99.7
94.8
105.5
102.9
101.5
101.0
103.8
95.1
86.9
68.7
75.5
75.4
73.7
97.4
93.0
109.6
107.8
107.6
107.5
105.6
87.2
74.8
46.4
51.8
60.0
62.5
109.3
97.9
92.8
84.1
86.7
83.1
82.6
67.2
67.1
59. 5
78. 2
72. 4
95. 4
109.1
97.6
93.3
84.0
84.7
79.2
80.1
60. 5
57. 3
41.3
54. 5
52. 5
75. 4
117.1
117.8
116.9
114.6
110.0
107.3
101.3
102.9
104.7
109.0
111.7
111.0
102.7
100.6
100.3
95.7
86.2
78.9
73.5
84.3
86.0
88.4
88.2
93.5
79.3
82.1
84.0
84.9
80.6
74.7
81. 1
90.5
88.7
84.8
82.8
83.6
69.3
81.2
83.1
71.2
68.5
67.6
82.1
99.9
91.9
71.1
69.6
84.9
109.2
112.5
114.5
114.3
112.0
108.1
103.9
110.4
114.0
117.4
117.6
115.2
106.2
112.1
114.6
110.3
102.0
93. 7
85.8
105.5
114.8
120.8
120.0
113.0
80.7
81.3
76.5
71.0
65.9
63.1
68.2
75.5
78.0
77.6
72.5
74.0
68.4
70.0
65.6
59.6
54.5
51.5
55.4
65. 1
67.2
68.2
60.9
63.9
91.8
93.9
92.4
87.0
91.1
96.7
94.4
97.3
95.9
98. 5
103. 1
102.4
73.1
74. 9
72.5
66. 5
71. 2
76.9
74.6
76.9
75.8
79.0
79.4
84.3
1935
Jan u a ry ________
February________
March___________
April____________
M ay___ _______
June_____________
July..........................
August__________
September_______
October . . ___ . .
November—...........
D e c e m b e r .---------
Hats, fur-felt
Textiles and their products—Continued
M onth and year
Wearing
apparel
(subgroup)
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average______
1Q24 average______
1925 average______
1926 a vera g e_____
1927 average______
1928 average______
1929 average______
1930 average______
1931 average______
1932 average______
1933 a vera g e_____
1934 average______
1935 average______
1935
January_________
February________
M a r c h __________
April____________
M ay____________
June_____________
July .......................
A u g u s t_________
September_______
October_________
November_______
December_______
Pay
rolls
Clothing,
men's
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Clothing,
women's
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Corsets and
allied
garments
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
0)
91.3
88.0
88.9
90.1
88.4
94.6
100.1
105.3
(')
125.7
(>)
132.7
(0
120.1
99.2
101.5
101.6
103.8
93.6
96.1
110.3
0)
139.5
0)
145.5
(0
109.5
67.0
62.7
70.6
72.1
90.8
90.3
93.7
93.8
91.1
87.5
85.4
85.3
87.6
87.0
85.1
83.3
85.9
90.5
91.4
91.3
83.0
75.1
73.1
72.5
84.4
81.3
78.7
77.5
94.4
108.0
111.6
111.3
107.3
100.3
91.5
98.0
102.4
104.2
109.7
106.4
60.0
75.2
80.4
76.7
71.0
63.2
55.7
67.4
74.6
80.8
84.1
76.4
105.6
94.9
99.5
99.6
107.6
107.5
111.0
93. 6
80. 7
55.5
55.7
67.7
75.6
107.0
97.3
95.7
97.4
102.5
101.3
103.2
91.4
84.9
74.4
80.3
84.0
90.9
109.3
96.1
94.6
94.8
99.5
95.5
95.8
74.7
62.8
42.3
47.3
57.9
70.7
104.3
96.6
99.1
104.2
121.0
133.7
146.8
142.2
135.8
110.4
110.0
116.1
121.9
103.2
94.3
102.5
104.7
123.6
132.5
142.6
127.9
110.5
73.9
68.0
84.9
92.0
105.2
100.0
94.8
«
90.0
89.4
96.8
101.4
101.8
95.3
88.6
84.4
96.0
100.5
100.5
94.8
93.8
66.6
79.5
88.5
86.4
72.1
64.6
60.8
78.8
87.8
81.8
69. 2
70.5
83.9
91.8
94.6
94.7
87.6
86.6
88.9
93.6
95.4
94.8
88.9
89.7
57.0
71.8
82.0
82.5
64.4
63.7
65.6
74.3
80.4
74.8
64.4
67.1
117.3
125. 1
133.6
134.8
123.9
108.4
94.7
121.4
130.1
131.7
121.9
120.4
87.8
101.6
111.3
103.9
89.4
71.3
63.0
97.9
109.0
103.3
81.3
84.0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Em
ploy
ment
103.4
100.0
96.6
0)
96.7
(>)
97.0
(>)
89.6
74.0
71.0
81.4
82.1
105.4
96.1
98. 5
99.8
105.8
108.3
113.3
105.0
99.6
84.8
88.2
91.1
95.3
1 Data not available.
Pay
rolls
M en’s furnish
ings
(0
89.2
762
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T able 3 .— In d exes o f E m p lo y m en t and P a y R olls in M an ufacturing In d u stries—
C on tin ued
Textiles and their products—
Continued
M onth and year
Millinery
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average______
1924 average______
1925 average______
1926 average______
1927 average______
1928 average........ . .
1929 average........ ._
1930 average..........
1931 average______
1932 average______
1933 average..........
1934 average_____
1935 average.. ___
Shirts and
coilars
Leather and its manufactures
Group index
Boots and
shoes
Leather
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
103. 2
94.8
102.0
98.0
104.8
105.7
101.3
91.3
83.7
76.3
75.9
70.4
59.3
100.8
94.5
104. 7
103.6
113.9
112.3
104.0
88.6
79.2
65.2
57.9
60.6
52.4
107.9
93.0
99.1
101.7
105.1
106.3
109. 1
102.7
104.0
90.5
99.0
99.8
103.7
109.7
91.9
98.4
101.9
109.9
107.1
109.2
90.3
82.7
61.0
72.1
89.7
100.6
106.6
96.3
97.1
96.6
97.7
95.6
98.5
91.1
84.3
79.0
83.3
87.8
87.9
106.9
95.3
97.8
98.9
100.3
95.8
99.0
82.3
72.1
58.1
62.9
73.9
76.4
106.0
96.7
97.3
95.6
95.6
92.7
96.7
90.2
85.3
81.7
83.9
87.0
86.1
107.6
95.3
97.1
96.1
96.8
91.3
95.6
78.3
70.2
58.5
61.5
71.7
70.8
109.1
95.4
95.5
96.7
96.6
94.3
91.1
84.6
76.9
69.1
81.3
91.1
95.5
107.9
95.8
96.3
99.5
99.3
95.5
92.8
83.0
72.5
56.0
66.8
80. 2
94.4
62.4
66. 5
70. 2
69.6
61.6
55.2
42.3
57.6
66.8
60.4
50.1
49.3
54.0
58.7
70.5
70.0
48.6
47.2
30.3
52.5
76. 1
49.2
34.9
36.3
90.4
99.8
104.3
104.3
106.5
98.4
99.0
105.9
109.5
110.9
109.8
105.6
77.8
95. 7
101.3
104.4
103.9
94.7
91.2
102.9
109.1
111.6
111.3
103.7
88.3
91.6
92.7
91.5
86.7
83.0
87.3
90.1
88.8
86.6
82.3
86.3
76.4
82.5
84.1
79.1
72.3
70.9
77.5
81.7
76.9
73.8
66.6
75.4
87.0
90.7
92.1
90.8
85.2
80.6
85.8
89.1
87.3
84.0
77.8
82.8
72.5
79.2
80.7
75.1
66.7
64.7
73.1
77.7
71.1
65.9
56.1
66.7
94.0
95.6
95.5
94.5
93.2
92.8
93.5
94.4
95.2
97.0
100.3
100.4
88.5
92.6
94. 2
91. 4
90. 0
91.1
91. 2
94. 2
95. 2
99.4
101. 4
103. 7
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
1935
January_________
February________
March___________
April____________
M ay . _____ _____
June_____________
July_____________
August__________
September _____
October_____ ____
November...............
D ecem ber..............
Food and kindred products
Month and year
1923 average______
1924 average. . . . . .
1925 average______
1926 average______
1927 average______
1928 average______
1929 average___ _
1930 average______
1931 a v era g e_____
1932 average______
1933 average____ _
1934 average______
1935 average______
Group index
Baking
Beverages
Butter
Canning and
preserving
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
102.1
98.4
99.5
99.5
101.7
105.8
112.8
109.4
97.4
80.4
94.4
106.5
101.3
100.4
99.4
100.2
101.8
104.0
107.6
113.9
108.9
93.0
74.2
76.2
92.4
91.6
100.1
101.1
98.8
101.4
105.9
112.2
123.6
121. 5
112. 6
101.2
101.2
113. 2
112.2
98.0
101.7
100.3
104.1
107.8
113.3
125.3
123.7
109.0
88.6
82.7
95.5
96.9
104.9
97.0
98.1
(0
96. 6
0)
101.3
(0
85.5
74.0
127.9
163.2
160.4
104.4
95.8
99.8
(0
100.0
0)
106.1
0)
83.1
64.3
118.0
156.2
159.7
106.7
100.0
93.3
(>)
105.6
(')
100.3
(0
82.0
75.3
76.1
80.0
72.0
105.7
100.0
94.3
(>)
108. 2
(>)
102.5
(0
79.1
65.7
58.7
60.3
56.3
97.7
86. 9
115.4
0)
112.0
(0
134.6
138.8
106.1
74.8
90.3
101.8
107.6
97.8
86.9
115.3
(0
108.7
0)
129. 4
126.7
91. 5
64.9
75. 5
99.6
120.2
94.9
94.4
93.2
95.4
95.8
98.9
105.7
111.8
118.2
108.5
100.5
96.8
83.7
83.8
83.3
85.9
87.3
90.9
96.9
100.9
105.5
98. 0
91.9
90.5
106.7
111.3
110.9
111.8
112. 7
114.2
111.5
111.7
114.6
114.6
113.6
112.4
89.6
93.7
93.7
95.5
97.3
99.6
96.5
95.7
101.6
100.8
99.7
99.4
144.6
145.7
151.3
156.0
161.6
170.0
178.5
179.0
171.9
162.9
153.0
150.1
133.4
137.2
146.9
153.6
162.5
173.4
192.7
189.8
171.0
157.7
151.2
147.4
68.3
67.6
67.8
70.4
73.2
77.2
78.0
76.9
74.9
71.5
70.1
68.5
51.7
52.2
52.4
54.7
57.4
60.8
61.4
60.4
59.8
55.5
54.4
55.0
65.9
63.1
59.2
76. 5
74.7
89.5
150.0
195. 7
230. 7
136.1
82. 4
66.8
68. 6
69. 0
64. 3
83. 7
83. 7
102. 7
177.8
230. 1
244. 1
151. 4
89 8
77.6
Pay
rolls
1935
January........ ...........
February________
March........... ...........
April________ . .
M ay___ _________
Ju n e..___________
July_____________
A ugust__________
September____ . .
October_________
November_______
D ecem b er.............
1 Data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
763
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T able 3 .— In dexes o f E m p loym en t and P a y R olls in M anufacturing In du stries—
C on tin ued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Confectionery
Ice cream
Flour
Month and year
1923 avera g e--___
1924 average—- - 1925 average ..
1926 average_____
1927 a v e r a g e ..___
1928 average—_ . . .
1929 average_____
1930 average_____
1931 average-------1932 average.. . . .
1933 average-------1934 average_____
1935 average... —
Em Pay Em Pay
Pay ploy
ploy rolls
rolls ment
rolls ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
101.7
96.5
101.8
105.8
101. 1
98.9
101.7
92.1
82.0
74.2
79.7
80.0
79.5
100.9
97.7
101.4
106.8
104.7
101.0
103.7
93.3
77.5
59.9
59.5
68.5
70.1
104.9
99.7
95.4
91.8
89.4
85.5
80.6
73.9
68.1
65. 1
67.7
76.5
75.3
101.9
101.0
97.1
94.4
91.8
89.7
85.7
78.7
66.7
55.9
53.9
63.4
65.8
99.2
102.0
98.8
96.3
94.0
95.5
96.0
89.0
76.0
64. 5
62.9
71.4
71.0
98.7
99.7
101.6
103.2
100.6
103.2
102.7
93.0
76.9
56.4
48.6
56.4
57.9
104.7 102.6 92.1 91.1
100.3 99.9 100.0 100.0
95.0 97.5 107.9 108.9
93.2 97.8
(0
(')
94.0 98.9 90.0 87.5
94.8 100. 1
(>)
0)
96.7 101.5 91.2 90.3
92. 1 96.3
(>)
(>)
84. 1 82.2 75.8 68. 1
79.8 65.2 76.7 56.2
87. 6 67.7 102.6 73.7
103. 7 90.5 84.7 61.0
82.8 76.0 90.0 77.2
103.4
98.2
98.4
94.8
94.9
89.4
94.3
92.3
80.3
74. 2
78.6
86.4
81.6
102.6
100.4
97.0
91.5
90.6
87.5
91. 4
89. 7
79. 6
68.7
67.0
70.1
71.0
78.6
80.3
82.2
77.6
74.3
72.4
68.4
69.8
87.9
90.6
85.2
86.6
67.4
70.3
72.9
64.7
63.4
63.3
57.0
60.4
86. 1
81. 1
73.7
81.3
76.2
76.5
75.0
74.2
73.5
73.8
74.6
76.3
77.0
77.1
75.8
73.2
63.8
66.1
63.5
62.5
62.3
62.9
64.1
66.1
72.6
73.7
67.7
64.5
60.8
61.3
64. 2
69.1
77.7
84.6
87.6
85.9
73.8
65.7
61.5
59.8
48.6
49.6
52.4
55.5
62.2
68.4
71.8
69.3
60.2
54.0
51.2
51.1
84.0 42.7 39.3
76.5 35.7 37.1
73.5 35.1 36.4
74.3 39.5 39.0
74.0 44.6 42.1
74.8 43.3 40.7
75.0 47.2 43.6
73.2 77.1 70.7
74.1 84.6 82.8
75. 6 245.8 170. 2
77.7 238.9 202.7
79.7 145.2 122.0
84.4
81.5
81.0
83.8
83.6
83.3
85.5
82.0
78.0
81.3
76.8
77.6
71.1
69.6
69.6
76.2
75.7
73.6
72.7
71.3
70.2
68.3
62.4
70.7
1935
January_________
February________
M arch__________
April____________
M ay____________
June____________
July___ ____ ____
August--------------September_______
O ctober------------November _____
December_______
Slaughtering
refin
Sugar, beet Sugar
and meat
ing, cane
packing
94.3
87.2
82.9
81.5
80.6
81.4
80.4
79.4
78.9
79. 7
82.8
84.3
Paper and
printing
Tobacco manufactures
Group index
Month and year
1923 average______________________
1924 average_____ _______ - ____
1925 average __ _______________
1926 average ____________________
1927 average_____________________
1928 average ____________________
1929 average_____________________
1930 average______ ____ __________
1931 average_____________________
1932 average______________________
1933 average ___________________
______________
1934 average
1935 a v e r a g e
1935
February
March
A p r il
___________________
______________________
_____________________________
May
_______________________
June
______________________
July ___________________________
A u g U v S t _____________________________________
September
- ________________
October _____________________ November . _ _______ __________
December __ _ ________________
i Data not available
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Chewing
and smoking
tobacco
and snuff
Cigars and
cigarettes
Group index
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
105.7
98.8
95.5
90.9
93.4
90.7
83.9
78.3
72.1
64.0
59.7
62.6
57.9
104.1
99.4
96.5
92.1
91.0
86.1
81.8
72.7
60.1
47.3
42.5
47.1
46.1
102.7
102.7
94. 6
93.1
82.6
75.6
68.0
69.8
71.9
76.2
74.5
75.6
67.8
101.4
101.6
97.0
94.0
84.8
77.4
71.3
71.3
69.0
66.0
63.1
67.4
66.2
106.2
98.2
95.6
90.4
94.9
92.8
86.0
79.4
72.1
62.5
57.9
60.9
56.6
104.5
99. 2
96.3
91.8
91.8
87.2
83.1
72.9
58.9
45.0
39.9
44. 6
43.5
99.2
99.7
101.1
104.1
104.1
105.0
111.3
108.0
90.3
85.0
86.2
94.8
97.0
96.2
99.5
104.3
110.8
111.0
112.3
119.5
114.6
97.3
74.8
69.3
79.6
85.3
56.5
57.3
57.8
56.8
56.6
57.8
57.6
57.9
58.9
60.0
59.7
58.2
41.5
40.8
44.3
43.1
43.8
46.8
47.6
46.6
49.4
50.5
48.9
49.6
73.5
72.6
70.6
68.7
66.3
66.6
65.8
64.4
65.3
66.2
66.2
67.1
68.5
66.7
67. 7
64.9
64.5
67.2
66.8
65.1
66.7
65.4
63.7
67.1
54.3
55.3
56. 1
55.3
55.3
56.7
56.5
57.0
58.1
59.2
58.8
57.1
38.1
37.5
41.3
40.3
41.2
44.2
45.1
44.2
47.2
48.6
47.0
47.4
95.6
96.7
96.9
96.9
96.5
95.6
95.5
95.9
97.3
98.3
98.7
99.7
83.4
84.1
84.5
84.6
84.8
83.4
81.4
83.0
86.2
88.2
88.0
91.8
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
764
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T able 3.— In dexes o f E m p lo y m en t and P a y R olls in M an ufacturing In du stries—
C on tin ued
Paper and printing—Continued
Boxes, paper
Month and year
1923 average_____ ______ ______
1924 average_______________
1925 average_______________
1926 average,........... ..................
1927 average___ _________
1928 average____________
1929 average____________ _______
1930 average___ _____________
1931 average__________________
1932 average_____________ . .
1933 average_____________
1934 average____________________
1935 average____________________
Paper and
pulp
Printing and
publishing,
book and job
Printing and
publishing,
newspapers
and
periodicals
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
100.0
99.5
100.5
102.1
99.2
96.3
97.9
90.7
81.8
70.5
77.0
84.9
86.7
97.3
99.7
103.0
106.9
104.0
102.0
102.9
91.6
79.0
60.1
62.7
75.4
80.5
100.0
97.3
102.7
105.8
102.2
100.8
106.1
102.5
89.5
82.4
90.3
105.3
109.1
98.4
97.5
104.1
109.1
105.3
105.3
112.5
104.6
82.1
61.7
64.9
79.2
88.6
98.3
100.7
101.0
104.9
106.9
107.4
113.1
110.9
100.7
85.8
79.4
85.7
87.8
95.5
100.0
104.5
112.5
114.1
113.6
118.7
115.6
99.1
73.4
62.5
72.0
78.0
98.9
101.0
100.1
101.7
102.2
104.5
111.0
109.9
101.8
92.8
93.3
98.5
99.2
94.7
100.6
104.7
110.3
111. 1
113.6
121.8
119.4
108.0
88.6
80.0
87.4
90.2
83.2
84.6
86.3
85.7
84.5
83.1
83.3
85.3
88.8
92.6
92.9
90.4
74.9
76.5
79.6
78.1
75.5
74.5
73.9
78.7
85.3
91.8
89.1
87.6
106.8
108.7
109.7
109.8
109.9
109.1
108.9
108.8
109.2
109.1
109.0
110.0
83.5
86.8
88.4
87.3
86.9
87.4
85.1
87.2
90.7
93.3
91.7
94.4
87.7
89.3
87.4
87.1
86.2
85.1
86.6
87.6
87.6
88.2
89.1
91.2
78.1
78.1
77.0
77.1
78.8
75.6
75.8
76.5
77.6
78.3
78.4
84.7
98.4
98.0
98.8
99.4
99.6
99.0
97.0
96.5
99.4
100.7
101.2
102.4
89.5
88.8
89.2
90.5
90.4
89.4
85.3
86.3
90.5
92.1
93.1
96.8
Pay
rolls
1935
January..___ _______________
February_______ _____ ______
March__________ _______
April________________ ____
M ay________________ .
June_________________
July___________ _____ ______ ____
August..........................................
September________________
October_______________________
N o v em b er____________ _
December........... .................................
Chemicals and allied products
M onth and year
1923 average______
1924 average______
1925 average______
1926 average______
1927 average______
1928 average______
1929 average______
1930 average______
1931 average______
1932 average______
1933 average............
1934 average_____
1935 average______
Group index
Other than
petroleum
refining
(subgroup)
Chemicals
Cottonseed—oil, Druggists’ prep
cake, and meal
arations
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
102.9
96.7
100.4
106. 7
104.1
102.9
115.6
109.5
95.1
84.0
94.7
108.6
109.9
102.2
96.3
101.5
108.8
107.9
108.1
121.0
112.2
91.8
70.4
74.3
89.4
96.5
102.9
96.9
100.2
105.6
102.7
102.4
113.4
105.8
92.5
81.1
93.5
108.0
110.0
102.1
96.8
101.0
107.6
106. 7
108.1
118.5
106.6
87.5
65.8
71.6
87.9
95.7
105.7
98.0
96.3
(>)
(>)
(>)
109.2
99.5
85.1
72.9
87.2
108.1
106.9
101.8
98.1
100.1
(>)
(>)
(i)
120.0
103.5
84.2
63.0
71.9
92.4
97.7
87.8
100.5
111.7
(>)
127.0
0)
109.0
(')
84.5
89.7
87.2
83.4
70.8
83.9
94.9
121.2
(>)
151.3
0)
118.9
(0
88.5
79.0
74.2
76.2
71.5
97.7
96.8
105.5
108.3
110.4
106.6
116.4
108.2
103.2
90.3
90.7
101.1
98.9
91.8
97.5
110.7
113.4
119.2
113.1
124. 4
116.3
105. 3
82.4
81.0
92.1
95.8
108.4
109.4
112.7
111.5
108.0
107.2
106.8
107.9
110.7
113.1
112.4
111.1
91.6
93.2
96.1
95.9
94.8
95.0
95.4
97.0
99.0
100.6
99.1
100.8
108.2
109.9
113.9
112.3
108.0
106.4
105.7
106.9
110.8
113.7
112.9
111.4
90.5
92.5
96.0
95.6
94.1
93.7
93.8
95.4
97.8
100.1
99. 2
99.8
103.0
102.8
103.4
106.9
107.1
108.1
109.0
107.7
108.0
108.9
109.5
108.8
90.8
91.0
93.7
96.2
97.8
98.0
101.6
100.8
98.8
100.1
101.9
102.1
76.0
70.7
74.9
53.6
42.3
43.3
46.7
59.6
86.1
107.4
98. 1
90.5
69.8
68.9
75.1
49.4
38.3
42.0
48.3
62.6
88.8
112.4
104.2
98.0
101.3
102.4
98.9
98.9
96.8
95.8
95.1
97.3
99.5
101.6
100.3
98.8
96.8
97.9
95.9
97.7
93.9
93. 7
92.3
92.0
97.3
99.9
94. 7
97.2
Pay
rolls
1935
January_________
February________
March ____ ____ _
April____________
M ay ___________
June. __________
July-------------------August__________
September_______
O ctober...............
November....... .......
D ecem b er.............
* Data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
765
TREND OP EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T ab le 3 .— In dexes o f E m p loym en t and P a y R olls in M anufacturing In du stries
C o n t in u e d
Chemicals and allied products—Continued
1923 average..........
1924 average_____
1925 average..........
1926 average..........
1927 average.........
1928 average____
1929 average..........
1930 average____
1931 average------1932 average_____
1933 average_____
1934 average..........
1935 average.........
Rayon and
allied
products
Paints and
varnishes
Fertilizers
Explosives
M onth and year
Soap
Petroleum
refining
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Em
Em
Pay ploy Pay ploy Pay
rolls ment rolls
rolls ment
108.5
94.8
96. 7
98.7
98. 5
95.4
95.3
79.7
80. 4
66.4
76.3
93. 6
87.4
109.5
97.6
92.9
92.2
97.6
92.2
102.0
74.7
66.9
45.3
52.3
71. 6
74.0
100.5
93.1
106.4
112.8
100.8
107.6
113.4
111.0
78.8
62.4
82.5
106.4
101.7
99.1
93.6
107.3
118.4
106.9
109.1
108.3
104.2
73.4
49.6
55.8
79.3
84.6
95.6
97.6
106.8
(')
117.5
0)
122.3
(>)
94.4
82.2
85.7
100.3
107.2
91.6
99.8
108.6
0)
123.3
0)
129.6
(0
90.3
66.8
64.3
79.0
89.9
87.3
93.1
119.6
0)
164.8
0)
244.4
242.2
241.9
217.0
281.9
307.6
342.8
91.3
95.5
113.2
(>)
141.2
0)
220.2
214.1
188.4
140.4
178.8
215.4
252.0
104.9 105.7 103.0
100.0 100.0 96.1
95.1 94.3 100.9
(0 110.8
CO
82.9 100.3 109.9
(0 104.7
CO
88. 6 96.7 124.4
(0 124.9
(0
87.4 90. 2 106.2
83.3 75.0 96.1
89.8 73.3 99.8
100.4 87.2 111. 1
101.0 95.8 109. 6
102.3
94.6
103.1
112.7
111.9
108.3
129.2
130.4
105.8
85.4
83.1
94.3
99.2
88.1
89.3
88. 3
84.6
87.3
86.5
86. 1
86. 5
86.2
89.8
89.9
86.7
68.3
75.5
73.0
69.3
74.4
72.6
70.0
76.9
71.3
80. 2
80.2
76.2
111.0
83.6
91.1
130.4
119.9
91.7
69.2
62.0
63.3
77.1
78.6
72.5
75.2
98.7
102.2
104.2
109.2
112.6
112.5
108.6
105. 5
106.7
109. 2
109.3
107.9
79.4
83.7
86.2
91.9
95.1
94.0
88.9
87.8
89.5
94.8
94.0
93.7
338.0
346.8
348.9
334.9
326.9
325. 9
327.9
340.3
353.6
356.8
356.1
357.9
245.4
252.3
252.3
242.7
237.8
240.5
240.2
253.4
264.1
263.5
263.3
268.0
99.1 90.7 109.0
102.1 94. 3 107.3
103.3 95. 9 107.9
102.7 97.0 108.3
98. 2 93.8 108.3
99. 5 95. 8 110.6
99.3 94.4 111.2
98.0 93.8 112.2
103.1 99.4 110. 1
105.4 101.3 110.9
103.7 98. 3 110.3
97.3 94. 6 109.6
95.2
95.3
96.4
96.9
96.8
99.3
100.5
i02. 5
1936
January________
February_______
M arch____ ____ _
A pril................... .
M ay.......................
June___________
July___________
August_________
September............
October------------N ovem ber--------December.... ........
120.3
167.5
155.3
110. 1
79.2
68.0
69.5
82.6
88.8
83.9
84.5
102.8
102. 2
98.8
104.0
Rubber products
Group index
Month and year
Em
ploy
ment
1923 average
1924 average
1 925 average
192fi average
1927 average
1928 average
1929 average
1930 average
1931 average
1932 average
1933 average
1934 average
1935 a v e ra g e
________________
_ ______________
___ __________
_ _________________
__________________
___________________
_ ______________
_ _________________
__ ________________
_ ________________
__________________
__________________
__________
1936
February
_______________- ___
M arch
__________________ - ____
April
____________________
M ay
___________________
.Tilne
________ _______
July
..................... - .........
August
______- _________
September
________ _____
October
__________________
N ovem ber
D ecem ber _
_______________
____________
• Data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pay
rolls
Rubber boots
and shoes
Rubber goods,
other than
Rubber tires
boots, shoes,
and inner tubes
tires, and inner
tubes
Em
ploy
ment
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Pay
rolls
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
102.6
91.8
105.6
105.1
105.7
111.1
111.0
85.9
73.9
65.4
74.7
84.1
82.1
101.0
92.9
106.1
107.0
110.0
117.5
115.1
84.7
62.5
44.9
50.2
63.7
68.7
117.0
83.6
99.4
103.0
106.8
105.0
102.1
82.0
63.2
52.5
55.1
60.5
56.6
118.7
82.3
9 9 .O
101.7
113.2
107.1
105.6
77.4
48.6
37.7
42.5
48.8
48.4
103.1
91.6
105.3
(‘)
110.3
(0
120.3
0)
102.3
94.1
112. 2
122.4
124.1
100.1
92.7
107.2
C1)
115.5
0)
126.4
0)
89.9
70.0
79.5
94.3
106.1
97.7
94. 5
107. 8
105.4
103.3
109.9
110.0
79.0
64.9
57.1
64.7
75.2
72.3
96.8
95.7
107.5
107.2
107.0
116.8
113.2
79. 3
56.2
37.7
41.7
56.4
60.4
83.1
84.2
84.5
83.6
82.4
80.9
78.3
79.1
81.1
82.8
82.7
83.0
69.4
71.9
70.6
71.2
66.5
64.9
61.3
64.3
68.8
70.8
70.3
74.5
59.2
59.1
58.2
52.9
53.1
52.9
51.0
57.6
58.2
58.9
58.5
60.1
51.3
49.4
49.8
43.8
43.2
41.8
41.7
49.4
50.4
52.9
50.1
56.6
120.4
123.9
126.1
126.7
124.8
120.5
117.6
117.1
123.2
128.7
130.7
129.2
102.0
104.9
107.1
106. 7
104. 6
97. 7
94. 9
98. 6
108.9
116.6
113. 7
117.2
74.7
75. 3
75.1
74.9
73.6
72.9
70.3
69.7
70.3
70.7
69.8
70. 5
62.2
65.7
62.7
65.4
58.7
58.9
54.2
55.8
59.0
59.0
59.9
63.8
'
766
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T rad e, P u b lic U t il it y , M in in g and S erv ice In d u stries, and P r iv a te B u ild in g
C o n str u c tio n
Employment, Pay Rolls, and Earnings in December 1935
C ompared with November, 8 of the 17 nonmanufacturing industries
surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show increases in employ
ment in December and 13 show gains in pay rolls. The largest per
centage gains (23.0 in employment and 95.3 in pay rolls) were re
ported by anthracite mining. These increases largely offset the
sharp declines in this industry in November. Bituminous-coal mines
reported 3.9 percent more employees, and employment in metallifer
ous mining advanced 1.8 percent. Gains in the metal mining industry
have been reported each month since July. Employment in retail
trade climbed 10.3 percent, largely because of the 31.6-percent gain
in the subgroup, general merchandising (department, variety, and
general-merchandising stores and mail-order houses), which took on
additional employees to handle the Christmas trade. Continuing
the upward trend that has been in evidence since July, employment
in the wholesale trade increased 0.4 percent in December. This
increase carried the employment index for wholesale establishments
to the highest level since February 1931. Employment in brokerage
firms in December again advanced (3.5 percent), reflecting increased
business in the security markets.
Seasonal declines in employment are shown in quarrying and nonmetallic mining, private building construction, and dyeing and
cleaning. The decline in private building construction during the
month, however, was relatively moderate for this time of year.
In the aggregate there were 351,000 more employees on the pay
rolls of the 17 nonmanufacturing industries in December than in
November, and weekly wage disbursements increased $9,000,000. A
comparison with December 1934 shows 150,000 more employees in
these industries in December 1935 and $10,800,000 more in weekly
pay rolls.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls, per capita weekly earnings,
average hours worked per week, and average hourly earnings in
December 1935 for 13 of the trade, public utility, mining, and service
industries, together with percentage changes from November 1935
and December 1934, are shown in table 4. Similar information,
except indexes of employment and pay rolls, is also presented for
private building construction. Man-hour data and indexes of em
ployment and pay rolls are not available for banking, brokerage, or
insurance establishments, but the table shows percentage changes in
employment, pay rolls, and per capita weekly earnings for these
three industries.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 4.—Employment, Pay Rolls, Hours, and Earnings, in Selected Nonmanufacturing Industries, December 1935
Industry
Average hours worked
per week 1
Average hourly
earnings1
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
change from—
change from—
change from—
Decem change from— Decem change from—
ber
1935
ber 1935
Decem
Decem
Decem
(aver
(aver
ber 1935
ber 1935
ber 1935
age Novem Decem age Novem Decem
Novem Decem
Novem Decem
Novem Decem
1929
ber 1935 ber 1934
ber 1935 ber 1934
ber 1935 ber 1934
ber 1934 =1929
100) ber 1935 ber 1934
= 100) ber 1935
C ents
+ 6.4
+13.9
+22.9
+21.9
+22.8
+ 9 .8
33.5
28.7
42.5
35.4
38.5
+50.2
+ 4.4
+ 6 .8
-.8
+ 6.4
+ 8 .9
+14.6
+21.2
+16.8
+6.1
83.1
80.6
58.5
48.8
78.2
+ 3 .2
-1 .7
+ .3
+1. 5
-.3
+ 1 .6
+9. 5
+ 2.1
—. 5
-. 5
+ 1.4
+ 3.4
38.5
- 1 .5
-1 .0
78.4
+ 2 .8
+ 5.3
+ 4 .0
+ 5 .8
40.0
+ 1 .8
+ 3.5
78.5
+ 1 .8
+ 2.4
57.3
79.1
53.5
43. 1
72. 2
+23.0
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .8
- 7 .7
- 1 .1
-7 .0
- .8
+20.5
+ 2.4
- 8 .3
55.4
69.5
43.2
29.7
59.9
+95.3
+ 6 .0
+ 9 .0
- 7 .4
+ 5 .2
+ 5.9
+21.9
+46.9
+25.8
+ .7
$28. 08
22. 75
24.91
17. 39
30.09
+58. 7
+ 2 .0
+7.1
69. 6
-.3
-. 1
75.6
+ 1 .0
+ 3 .3
29. 25
86.8
-.9
+ 3.8
86.0
+ 3 .2
+9. 8
31.48
70.5
-.8
-.7
66.1
+ 3 .6
+6.1
29.81
+ 4 .3
+ 7 .0
47.0
+ 4 .0
+ 4.4
62.6
+ .8
+ 2 .4
86.8
93.3
133. 7
82.7
80.8
81. 1
73.4
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
+ .4
+10.3
+31.6
+ 3 .2
-.8
-. 2
- 3 .8
+ .2
+ 3 .5
+2. 1
+2.4
+4. 1
+ 1.7
+ 1 .0
+ 2 .0
+1.4
+2.1
+14. 6
- 6 .7
+ 4.9
68.6
69.4
104. 9
62.1
64.2
67.5
52.9
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
+ 2 .6
+ 9.5
+27.9
+ 4.1
- .9
+ 1.1
- 4 .4
-h 3
+ 5 .0
+ 1.2
- 4 .3
+ 5 .9
+ 4 .8
+ 6 .0
+ 4 .5
+ 3 .2
+ 6 .6
+ 3 .5
+ 1.9
+ 19.4
+ 2 .7
+14.5
27.43
19.62
16.79
22. 68
13. 75
15. 71
17. 74
31.71
35.71
36. 59
25.10
+ 2 .2
- 2 .4
- 2 .8
+ .8
-. 1
+ 1 .3
-.6
+ .1
+ 1.4
+1. 1
+ 2 .6
+ 3.7
+ 2.3
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .2
+ 4 .5
+ 2.1
-.2
+ 4 .2
+ 2 .0
+ 9.6
42.4
43.3
41.9
43.9
48.3
41.2
41.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
31.2
+ 1 .7
+ 2.1
+ 6 .6
+ 1 .2
0
+ 1 .5
+ .2
(3)
(3)
(3)
+ 3 .3
+ 3 .7
+ 2 .5
+ 3 .9
+ 2.1
+ 2.6
+ 5 .0
-2 .0
(3)
(3)
(3)
+14.9
64.5
49. 1
41.4
52.4
28.2
36.6
42.6
(3)
(3)
(3)
80. 5
+ .5
- 3 .5
- 8 .6
-.8
0
0
—. 5
(3>
(3)
(3)
-.4
-.8
-.3
—.9
—. 1
+ .1
+. 1
—. 7
60
(3)
(3)
- 3 .0
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Coal mining:
___ _______________
Anthracite
Bituminous ______ _______________________
_______
__
Metalliferous mining- _
Quarrying and nonmet.allie mining- _____ _
P, rn d e-pef rnl pi1m producing _ _ _ _
______
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph.
_______ _____
Electric light and power and manufactured
gas
______ ______
___________
EÎectric-railroad and motor-bus operation
and maintenance _ _________________
Trade:
Wholesale - __ _________ ____________
Retail _
___
_
________ - ___ _
General m erchandising.____ _______
Other than general merchandising--------Hotels (year-round) 2_____ _________ _ ____
Laundries _ __ _________________ ____ —
_________
Pyeing and cleaning
_ _ __ _
Banks ___________ _______ ___
- -----------Brokerage________ ___________
____________
Insurance__________ _____ - _____________ —
Building construction
_____ ____ _____ _
Average weekly
earnings 1
Pay roll
Employment
1 Average weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishments. Average hours and average hourly earnings are computed from data furnished
by a smaller number of establishments as some firms do not report man-hour information. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes.
2 Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
3 N ot available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ci
-
i
768
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Index of Employment and Pay Rolls in Trade, Public Utility, Mining, and Service Industries,
January 1934 to December 1935
Indexes of employment and pay rolls in 13 trade, public utility,
mining, and service industries and 2 subdivisions under retail trade
are shown by months in table 5 for the period January 1934 to
December 1935.
Table 5.—Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries, January 1934 to December 1935 1
[12-month average, 1929=100]
Anthracite mining
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Bituminous-coal
mining
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Metalliferous mining
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January............
February..........
March_______
A p r il...............
M a y _________
June_________
64.1
63.2
67.5
58.2
63.8
57.5
62.9
64.4
51.4
52.6
53.5
56.8
73.2
65.8
82.4
51.7
64.0
53.3
57.5
64.3
38.9
49.9
49.5
66.0
75.8
76.1
77.8
72.2
76.7
76.7
80.0
81.1
81.6
74.3
75.3
77.9
51.3
54.6
58.9
51.4
54.4
55.1
59.6
66.1
67.5
45.0
49.1
64.7
39.6
40.3
39.8
41.7
40.8
41.0
44.3
44.3
45.0
46.0
44.4
46.0
25.4
26.0
25.9
27.2
25.6
26.7
30.1
29.9
30.9
31.8
31.4
31.5
39.7
38.8
42.0
48.7
54.3
56.6
36.9
37.3
40.5
45.3
49.5
50.4
21.3
21.0
24.1
29.9
35.0
37.0
20.8
22.2
24.9
28.9
32.8
33.8
J u ly ..................
A u g u st............
September___
October. ___
November____
December____
53.6
49.5
56.9
58.5
60.7
61.6
49.4
38.7
46.0
58.8
46.6
57.3
42.3
39.7
47.0
48.3
51.2
52.3
37.5
28.3
38.2
55.9
28.4
55.4
77.0
77.1
78.2
79.3
79.8
79.7
70.0
73.4
77.1
74.3
76.1
79.1
49.7
50.4
51.4
57.6
58.3
57.0
35.9
45.8
60.1
69.8
65.5
69.5
39.9
42.7
42.3
43.3
43.2
44.4
45.2
46.3
48.9
51.6
52.6
53.5
25.1
27.0
25.9
28.2
28.5
29.4
31.1
33.4
35.4
38.7
39.6
43.2
55.6
54.7
53.3
51.8
49.5
42.1
50.9
51.0
50.0
50.0
46.7
43.1
35.0
34.0
32.4
32.1
29.4
23.6
34.4
36.3
35.4
36.5
32.1
29.7
Average. 59.6 53.2 55.9 47.5 77.2 76.7 54.2 58.2 41.6 47.3 26.7 33.9 48.9 46.0 29.6 30.6
Crude-petroleum
producing
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Telephone and
telegraph
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Electric light and
power and manu
factured gas
Electric-railroad and
motor-bus opera
tion and mainte
nance 2
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January............
February____
March_______
April ________
M ay ________
June_________
73.2
72.4
72.8
74.0
76.7
80.0
74.9
74.2
74.0
74.9
76.0
76.7
53.0
50.5
52.5
53.4
56.4
56.9
55.5
54.9
56.0
56.7
57.8
59.2
70.2
69.8
70.0
70.2
70.2
70.4
70.5
70.0
69.8
69.7
70.0
70.2
69.0
67.9
70.4
68.8
71.4
71.3
73.9
72.9
75.3
73.1
73.7
74.4
82.2
81.2
81.7
82.4
83.1
84.0
82.7
82.2
382. 3
82.6
383.3
383.9
73.8
74.4
75.6
76.8
77.6
77.8
78.0
78.3
79.4
79.0
79.8
79.8
70.5
71.0
71.7
72.2
72.6
73.2
71.2
71.0
71.3
71.4
71.6
71.7
59.2
60.1
62.2
62.9
63.0
63.2
62.9
63.1
63.4
63.3
63.6
63.9
July........... .
August............
September___
October______
November___
December........
81.6
82. 7
81.8
79.5
78.8
78.7
77.4
76.3
75.1
74.7
73.0
72.2
60.0
61.2
59.7
60.8
59.0
59.5
59.9
58.9
60.9
57.9
56.9
59.9
71.0
71.0
70.9
70.3
69.9
69.7
70.3
70.5
70.4
70.0
69.8
69.6
72.3
74.0
72.2
74.9
72.2
73.2
75.7
75.5
73.8
74.9
74.9
75.6
85.0
85.6
85.8
85.8
85.5
83.6
384.8
386.8
86.9
87.4
387.6
86.8
81.1
79.9
79.3
80.6
79.6
78.3
81.5
82.8
84.5
84.4
83.4
86.0
73.1
72.8
72.5
72.2
71.8
71.0
71.5
71.2
71.0
71.1
71.1
70.5
63.8
62.8
62.4
63.0
61.8
62.3
63.4
63.3
64.0
64.1
63.8
66.1
Average. 77.7 75.0 56.9 57.9 70.3 70.1 71.5 74.5 83.8 84.8 77.9 81.4 72.1 71.2 62.2 63.7
1 Comparable indexes for earlier years for all of these industries, except year-round hotels, will be found
in the November 1934 and subsequent issues of this pamphlet, or the February 1935 and subsequent issues
of the M onthly Labor Review. Comparable indexes for year-round hotels will be found in the June 1935
issue of this pamphlet, or the September 1935 issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
2 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see transportation equipment and railroad
repair-shop groups, manufacturing industries, table 1.
3 Revised.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
769
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 5.—Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries, January 1934 to December 1935—Continued
Wholesale trade
Month
Em ploy
ment
Pay rolls
Total retail trade
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Retail trade—general
merchandising
Retail trade—other
than general mer
chandising
Em ploy
ment
Em ploy
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
Janu ary..........
February____
M arch. ..........
April________
M ay ...........
June..... ............
80.6
81.2
81.8
82.1
82.8
82.3
84.2
84.6
84.0
83.2
82.5
82.1
60.3
61.0
62.0
63.1
62.6
62.8
63.9
64.6
65.2
64.8
64.6
64.6
79.8
79.6
81.5
82.5
82.9
82.6
79.5
79.2
80.2
83.5
82.2
82.2
59.0
58.8
59.8
61.2
61.5
61.4
59.7
59.3
60.4
62.5
62.0
62.5
86.6
85.0
90.1
91.0
92.0
90.6
87.3
86.2
88.6
94.4
91.3
91.2
71.1
68.9
71.5
74.0
74.5
73.9
73.5
72.3
74.1
77.5
76.3
76.7
78.0
78.2
79.3
80.3
80.5
80.5
77.4
77.3
78.0
80.7
79.8
79.8
56.5
56.7
57.4
58. 5
58.8
58.8
56.9
56. 6
57.6
59. 4
59.0
59. 5
July_________
A ugust.............
September___
October______
N ovem ber___
December........
82.2
82.5
83.5
84.3
85.1
85.0
82.1
82.7
83.7
85.7
86.4
86.8
63.8
62.7
63.6
64.5
64.2
64.8
64.6
64.8
67.2
66.8
66.9
68.6
79.0
77.8
81.7
82.6
83.7
91.1
79.3
78.0
81.8
83.8
84.6
93.3
60.1
58.4
60.6
61.9
61.9
66.2
60.5
59.3
62.5
63.2
63.4
69.4
83.0
81.2
91.5
94.2
99.9
128.4
85.5
83.1
92.2
97.1
101.6
133.7
69.5
66.9
74.0
77.3
80.2
99.0
72.0
69.5
77.2
79.8
82.0
104.9
77.9
76.9
79.1
79.5
79.4
81.3
77.7
76.7
79.1
80.3
80.1
82.7
58.2
56.6
57.8
58.7
58. 1
59.4
58.1
57.2
59.4
59.8
59.6
62. 1
Average. 82.8 84.0 63.0 65.5 82.1 82.3 60.9 62.1 92.8 94.3 75.1 78.0 79.2 79.1 58.0 58.8
Employ
ment
Month
Pay rolls
Dyeing and cleaning
Laundries
Year-round hotels
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January_____
F e b r u a r y ___
March_______
April________
M ay________
June.................. ................ ................ —
J u ly .. ...........
A u g u st._____
September___
October______
N ovem ber___
December____
Average- —
—
.............
76.4
78.9
80.4
81.5
81.8
81.9
80.3
81.1
80.8
81.1
81.6
81.3
57.2
60.9
62.2
62.7
62.9
62.9
62.2
63.5
63.9
63.6
63.7
63.5
78.5
78.4
79.2
80.5
82.1
84.0
79.6
79.6
79.7
80.0
81.1
82.3
61.7
61.7
62.7
64.4
66.9
68.3
63.9
64.1
64.6
65.5
66.6
68.2
68.1
68.1
72.4
79.9
84.3
84.9
70.3
69.6
72.5
79.9
80.9
83.6
46.8
46.3
51.7
60.8
65.1
64.1
50.4
49.8
53.5
61.9
61.7
65.7
.............
80.4
80.0
80.0
80.9
80.6
80.0
80.3
80.7
81.1
81.6
81.5
80.8
61.5
60.2
61.0
62.7
62.4
62.2
62.1
62.0
63.1
64.3
64.8
64.2
84.6
83.7
82.9
81.7
80.3
79.5
84.4
84.2
83.0
81.9
81.3
81.1
68.2
66.6
65.9
64.8
63.7
63.3
70.9
69.2
67.9
67.1
66.7
67.5
80.5
78.6
80.0
80.3
75.8
72.4
81.7
79.4
82.1
80.4
76.3
73.4
58.9
56.7
59.0
59.1
53.9
51.1
61.5
58.2
63. 1
61.1
55.4
52.9
.......... ........ ........
80.2 .81.0 61.6 63.4 81.3 81.5 64.9 66.8 77.1 77.5 56.1 57.9
E m p lo y m en t o n Class I R ailroad s
A ccording to reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission
there were 970,474 workers exclusive of executives and officials em
ployed in December by class I railroads—that is, roads having
operating revenue of $1,000,000 or over. This is 1.4 percent lower
than the number employed in November (984,319). The total com
pensation in December of these employees was $134,649,190 compared
with $132,687,315 in November, a gain of 1.5 percent.
The Commission’s preliminary index of employment for December,
taking the 3-year average (1923-25) as 100, is 55.1. The November
index is 55.8.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
770
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW--- MARCH 1936
T r e n d o f P r iv a te E m p lo y m en t, b y S tates
C h a n g e s in employment and pay rolls from November to December
1935 are shown by States in table 6 for all groups combined (except
building construction) and for all manufacturing industries com
bined. Data for nonmanufacturing groups which were formerly
published in this table are omitted from the present analysis, but will
be furnished on request.
The percentage changes shown in the table, unless otherwise noted,
are unweighted—that is, the industries included in the manufacturing
group and in the grand total have not been weighted according to
their relative importance.
Table 6.—Comparison of Employment and Pay Rolls in Identical Establishments
in December 1935, by Geographic Divisions and by States
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
Total—All groups
Geographic divi N um
sion and State
ber 0
estab
lishments
Per
cent
Number age Amount of
on pay change pay roll
roll D e from
(1 week)
cember
N o December
1935
vem
1935
ber
1935
Manufacturing
Per
cent
age
change
from
N o
vem
ber
1935
N um
ber of
estab
lish
ments
Per
cent
Number age Amount ol
on pay change pay roll
roll De from
(1 week)
cember
N o December
1935
vem
1935
ber
1935
New England__ 13, 766 838, 647 +1.5 $17,979,867 +4.9 3,128 555, 869
M aine_______ .
775
New Hampshire.
659
Vermont_______
463
M assachusetts... 2 8,617
Rhode Island___ 1,240
Connecticut____ 2, 012
51,653
34,459
16,411
+ 2 .9
- 1 .2
- .9
457, 5S2
+ 1 .9
10,019, 956
+ 1.1
+ .9
1,906,978
4, 048,840
92,347
186, 245
990, 601 +11.1
681,597 + 4 .7
331,895 + (•)
256
181
124
42, 591
27, 207
10,100
+ 5 .3
1,5 4 9
255,860
+ 1 .0
402
616
70, 761
149,350
+9.5
-0 )
+ 3 .7
- 2 .3
-2 . 4
+. /
-.5
-.4
Middle Atlantic.. 34,072 1, 945, 945 +3. 0 46, 970, 308 +6.2 4,963 1,094,126
N ew \ ork_____
Per
cent
age
change
from
N o
vem
ber
1935
$11, 354, 066 +5.7
792,585 +14.0
521,160 + 5 .8
205, 081
+■8
5 ,2 3 2 ,3 9 0
+ 6 .9
1,388,914 +11.7
3, 213,936
+.1
- .8
401,105
232,359
460,662
25, 052, 729
- .8
- 1 .8
-■ 4
10, OSS', 952
5 ,3 7 4 ,6 3 0
9 ,6 4 4 ,1 4 7
East North Central______ 18,913 1, 898, 396 +1.9 46, 797, 650 +3.8 6, 642 1,403,820
Ohio__________
+ .5
- .3
35, 597, 031 +4.3
168,884
+ 1 .1
320,295
+ .8
410,025
+ 1 .0
138,107 1 - 1 . 0
3,954, 685
+ 5 .6
7,463, 718
+ 3 .4
1 1,826,303
+ 5 .2
3,186, 943 1 + 1 . 3
New Jersey____
Pennsylvania__
Indiana _______
Illinois. _______
Michigan_____
W isconsin______
21,405
3,764
8,903
875,692
269, 881
800,372
+ 3 .7 22,183, 544 + 4 .3 3 1,963
- .4
6,416,904 + 1 .5 4 753
+ 3 .4 18,369,860 +10.4 2,2 4 7
8, 179
535,070
+ 2 .4 12,944, 098
1,804
H , 4%3
206, 730
510,333
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .0
4, 789,380
12,0 4 5 ,0 2 6
471,870
+ 1 .8
13, 070, 002
3, 501
«1,006
174,393
+.3
West North Cen
tral_______ 11,256 402, 651 +2.2
M innesota__ _ 1,972
Iowa..................... 1,732
M isso u ri.......... 3,281
North D a k o ta ...
540
South D a k o ta ...
500
Nebraska______ 1,683
K ansas......... ....... *1, 548
85,109
56,186
163, 219
4,965
5,870
33,788
+ .2
+ 1 .7
+ 4 .1
-.8
+ 2 .4
+ .2
53, 514
+ 2 .0
3 ,9 4 9 ,1 4 4
+ 5 .8 2, 205
+ 6 .0
849
2,0 6 0
+ 1.3
779
+ 1 .8
749
366, 509
113, 227
129, 016
724, 367
+ 4 .2
+ 6 .2
+ .6
+ 5 .7
- 1 .3
382
747
43
35
155
35,020
27,879
78, 684
666
1,857
10,838
- 2 .4
+ 1.0
+ 3 .9
-4 .4
+ 4 .7
- 9 .8
1 ,1 7 5 ,1 9 3
+ .1
341
23, 640
+ .1
1,201,568
3,587, 649
1,529
109, 852
+ 3 .0
2, 306,126
+ 3 .0
549
69,017
1,070
2,180
1,254
1, 325
716
1,488
1,229
45,487
102, 043
136, 230
148, 502
67, 645
97, 988
45, 648
+ 9 .8
+ 1 .4
- .6
+ .8
+ 1 .4
+ .5
+ 9 .7
1, 068,417 + 7 .8
1,933, 770 + 3 .2
3,131,864 + 1 .3
2, 204,497 + 2 .5
939, 763 + 2 .6
1, 550, 824 + 3 .6
815, 531 +13.2
37
401
234
571
191
342
176
3,674
60, 755
53, 351
136, 916
60,460
72,856
18, 903
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 4 .5
8, 91?, 024 +3.5 2.050 178.584 +.7 3, 920, 951 +2.6
1,981,004 + 2 .2
347
South Atlantic.. 11, 027 766,794 +2.0 14,261,462 +3.5 2,580 484,627
Delaware______
236
13, 399 +2.2
310, 670 + 5 .1
79
8, 695
M aryland_____:.
District of Columbia_______
Virginia_______
West Virginia__
North Carolina—
South Carolina..
Georgia________
Florida________
9,165,382
+.9
+ 2 .4
+(>) '
—f1)
813, 575
-.6
588,270 + 4 .3
1, 664, 068 + 6 .8
+. 1
16,840
39,940 + 9 .9
239, 461 -1 1 .4
658, 797
+ .1
+.4 8,248,292 +3.5
+ 1.9
196,497
+6. 7
- .7
1 ,4 0 3 ,7 4 9
1 + 1 .9
-. 1
+ .4
- .3
+ .6
+ 1 .0
-.8
+ 9.1
124, 019
1,115,910
1, 246, 709
2, 013, 906
814,179
1, 043, 544
289, 779
+ .7
+ 4 .6
+ 7 .4
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .7
4-3.8
1
771
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 6.—Comparison of Employment and Pay Rolls in Identical Establishments
in December 1935, by Geographic Divisions and by States—Continued
Manufacturing
Total—All groups
Geographic divi N um
ber of
sion and State
estab
lish
ments
E a s t S o u th C ent r a i . - . .......... ..
4, 690
Kentucky______ 1,547
Tennessee______ 1,309
Alabama______ 1,255
579
M ississippi_____
W e s t
S o u t h
C e n t r a l 9________
Per
cent
Number age Amount of
on pay change pay roll
(1 week)
roll D e from
cember
N o December
vem
1935
1935
ber
1935
Per
cent
age
change
from
No
vem
ber
1935
N um
ber of
estab
lish
ments
263, 745 + 5 .0 $4, 667,475 + 5 .1
83,122 + 1 .9 1,696,921 - 1 .2
88,197 + 1 .6 1,500,867 + 1 .9
75, 663 +14.1 1, 211, 521 +21.3
258,166 +3.1
16, 763 + 1 .9
889
262
311
220
96
154,808
31,675
61,742
50, 870
10, 521
Per
cent
Number age Amount of
on pay change pay roll
(1 week)
roll D e from
cember
No December
vem
1935
1935
ber
1935
+ 0 .8 $2, 549,843 + 3.6
-4 .0
649,149 + L7
+. 3
+ .4 1, 000, 616
+ 4.5
757,962 +10.8
+
1.4
142,116
+ .9
-.6
4,235
561
Arkansas 10_____
Louisiana______ 1,007
Oklahoma______ 1, 456
Texas__________ 1,211
167,981
19,468
43,181
41, 227
64,105
+ 1 .3
- .2
+2.1
+ 1.1
3,483,444
312, 671
788, 651
931,399
+3.1
+ 2 .5
+ 3 .8
+ 4 .0
819
103
208
127
82,209
10, 355
21, 271
10,130
-2 . 1
-. 1
- .6
+ 1 .3
1, 450, 723
+ 2 .2
381
40, 453
-.4
4, 677
M ontana.........
765
493
Id ah o.. ______
347
W yoming______
Colorado_______ 1,281
354
New M exico. _
585
Arizona______ .
604
U tah__________
Nevada________
248
129,909
19,124
10,803
9, 234
45,068
6, 707
15, 079
20, 499
3,395
-.8
- 1 .0
- 7 .1
- 1 .1
+ .3
+ .3
+ 3 .6
- 2 .5
- 2 .2
3.130,191
520,119
226, 769
264, 579
1, 041, 013
141, 204
363,972
476, 303
96, 232
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .6
- 9 .5
+ 1.8
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .0
+ 9 .4
- 1 .3
+2.8
561
81
51
47
175
25
43
106
33
37, 592 - 9 .2
5,001 - 9 .8
3, 353 -2 3 .6
2,104 - 5 .4
15, 741 - 6 .3
867 - 3 .0
2, 705 + 1.8
6,781 -1 3 .7
1,040
- .6
6,578
Washington____ 3, 256
Oregon________ 1,332
California.. . . "1,990
409,411
88.884
45, 300
- . 1 10, 520, 305
- 1 .3 2,123,916
- 3 .1
1,067,858
M o u n ta in ..,
...
P a c i f i c _________________
275,227
+ .9
7,328, 531
Per
cent
age
change
from
N o
vem
ber
1935
1,623,083
144, 384
332, 316
217,427
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .5
+2.1
+ 4.3
928,956
+ 1 .0
865,454 - 5 .3
126,898 - 2 .8
66,477 -2 9 .7
58,477 - 2 . 3
- .8
365,919
14, 370 + 3.5
60, 485 + 7 .6
141,575 -1 0 .8
31, 253 + 1.8
+ 2 .6 1,796
481
+ 1.2
243
203, 988
43, 539
23, 343
- 4 .5
- 5 .7
-8 .0
5,192,427
1, 000, 500
517, 585
-.5
- 2 .5
- 2 .3
+ 3 .3
137,106
- 3 .5
3, 674,342
+■4
1,072
i Less than Ho of 1 percent.
‘ Includes construction, municipal, agricultural, and office employment, amusement and recreation,
professional services, and trucking and handling,
s Includes laundering and cleaning, and water, light, and power.
* Includes laundries.
5 Includes automobile and miscellaneous services, restaurants, and building and contracting.
8 Includes construction, but does not include hotels, restaurants, and public works.
7 Weighted percentage change.
8 Includes construction, miscellaneous services, and restaurants.
9 November data revised. Percentage changes from October to November in total employment is
+0.1; in manufacturing employment, - 0 . 7; in total pay roll, +0.3; in manufacturing pay roll, +(>).
10 November data revised. Percentage change from October in total employment is —1.6; in manufac
turing employment, —5.1; in total pay roll, —1.8; in manufacturing pay roll, —6.1.
11 Includes banks, insurance, and office employment.
P r iv a te E m p lo y m en t and P a y R o lls in P rin cip al C ities
A co m pa riso n of December employment and pay-roll totals with
November totals in 13 cities of the United States having a population
of 500,000 or over is made in table 7. The changes are computed
from reports received from identical establishments in both months.
In addition to reports included in the several industrial groups
regularly Covered in the survey of the Bureau, reports have also been
secured from establishments in other industries for inclusion in these
city totals. As information concerning employment in building
construction is not available for all cities at this time, figures for this
industry have not been included in these city totals.
4 9 6 4 5 — 3 6 -------- 1 7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
772
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 7.—Fluctuations in Employment and Pay Rolls in Principal Cities,
December 1935 as Compared with November 1935
Cities
N ew York C ity_______
Chicago, 111___________
Philadelphia, P a_______
Detroit, M ich_______
Los Angeles, C a l i f . .. __
Cleveland, Ohio_______
St. Louis, M o_________
Baltimore, M d ________
Boston, Mass__________
Pittsburgh, P a________
San Francisco, Calif____
Buffalo, N . Y ________
Milwaukee, Wis...............
Number on pay roll
Per
Amount of pay roll
Per
Number of
centage
centage
establish
change
change
ments
from
from
reporting
November December Novem November December Novem
in both
1935
1935
1935
1935
ber
ber
months
(1
week)
(1
week)
1935
1935
16,894
3,895
2,633
1,466
3,016
1,840
1,712
1,293
3, 527
1,586
1,575
1,102
723
677,331
370,897
220,056
308, 637
143, 933
133, 815
119,409
81,723
164, 202
188,087
87,871
68, 648
70,817
697,776
379,821
224,159
317,766
149,181
138, 755
123, 230
84, 459
168,052
193, 573
89,152
70,035
72,181
+ 3 .0 $17, 580, 670 $18, 231,446
+ 2 .4
9,167,149
9,675,406
+ 1 .9
5,209,016
5, 326, 728
+ 3.0
9,044, 218
9,195, 076
+ 3 .6
3, 563, 264
3, 789,701
+ 3 .7
3, 290,975
3,479,612
+ 3 .2
2, 616, 619
2,757,055
+ 3 .3
1, 760, 529
1,846,336
+ 2 .3
3,750, 331
3,951,058
+ 2 .9
4, 401,066
4,719, 656
+ 1 .5
2, 336,003
2,436,358
+ 2 .0
1, 641,060
1,726,050
+ 1 .9
1, 691, 602
1,737,103
+3. 7
+5. 5
+ 2 .3
+ 1.7
+ 6.4
+ 5 .7
+ 5 .4
+ 4 .9
+ 5 .4
+ 7 .2
+ 4.3
+ 5 .2
+ 2 .7
Part II—Public Employment
W it h the exception of work provided by the construction program
financed by the Emergency Relief Act of 1935, employment in the
various agencies of the Federal Government was for the most part
lower in December than in November (table 8).
Employment created by the Federal Government includes employ
ment in the regular agencies of the Government, employment on the
various construction programs wholly or partially financed by Federal
funds, and employment on relief-work projects.
Construction projects financed by the Public Works Administration
are those projects authorized by title II of the National Industrial
Recovery Act of June 16, 1933. This program of public works was
extended to June 30, 1937, by the Emergency Relief Appropriation
Act of 1935.
The Works Program was inaugurated by the President in a series of
Executive orders by authority of Public Resolution No. 11 approved
April 8, 1935. Employment created by this program includes employ
ment on Federal projects and employment on projects operated by
the Works Progress Administration. Federal projects are those
conducted by Federal agencies which have received allotments from
The Works Program fund. Projects operated by the Works Progress
Administration are those projects conducted under the supervision
of the W. P. A.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
773
The emergency-work program consists of projects authorized by the
Federal Relief Administration since April 1, 1934. This program of
providing employment through relief-work projects is being rapidly
curtailed and the slack taken up by projects of the W. P. A. Emer
gency conservation program (Civilian Conservation Corps) created
in April 1933 has been further extended under authority of the
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
Table 8.—Summary of Federal Employment and Pay Rolls, December 1935
Employment
Class
Per
centage
December November change
Federal service:
Executive________ __________
816,185
Judicial- ___________________
1,933
Legislative-.________________
4, 975
M ilitary_________________ __
285,673
Construction projects:
Financed by P. W. A„____ ___ 2 231, 692
Financed by R. F. C ......... .........
7,786
Financed by regular governmental appropriations—. ___
56,780
The Works Program *____________ 2, 552,637
Relief work:
Emergency-work program____
68, 558
Emergency conservation w ork. » 506,605
• 801, 608
1,901
5,063
285,117
Pay roll
December
November
+ 1.8 $126, 518, 287 i$119, 365, 726
512, 027
492, 917
+ 1 .7
1, 203, 502
- 1 .7
1,187,061
22, 301, 638
22, 263, 595
+ .2
Per
centage
change
+ 5 .2
+ 3 .9
- 1 .4
+ .2
3 271, 111
9,793
-1 4 .5
-2 0 .5
2 16, 360, 315
869, 459
3 19, 512, 866
1, 001,408
-1 6 .2
-1 3 .2
63,912
> 1, 370, 705
-1 1 .2 ,
+86.2
3,707, 963
101, 747,882
4, 077,395
1 52,889,185
- 9 .1
+92.4
346,470
« 543,958
-8 0 .2
- 6 .9
1,844, 813
« 21,905,516
8, 253, 626
« 23,957,751
-7 7 .6
- 8 .6
> Revised.
2 Includes 9,203 wage earners and $446,783 pay roll covering P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A.,
1935.
3 Includes 3,422 wage earners and $149,545 pay roll covering P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A.,
1935.
* Data covering P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A., 1935, funds are not included in The Works
Program and shown only under P. W. A.
5 41,052 employees and pay roll of $5,550,475 included in executive service.
6 46,621 employees and pay roll of $6,418,511 included in executive service.
E x e c u tiv e S erv ice o f th e F ed eral G o v e r n m e n t
A ccording to information furnished b y the Civil Service Commis
sion, 816,185 workers were employed in December in the executive
branch of the Federal Government. (See table 9.) Compared
with November, this represents an increase of 1.8 percent and is
19.0 percent more than the number employed in the corresponding
month of 1934.
Of the total workers employed in the executive service in Decem
ber, slightly less than 14 percent were working in Washington.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
774
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 9.—Employees in Executive Service of the United States, December 1934,
November 1935, and December 1935
D istrict of Columbia
Outside District of
Columbia
Entire service
Item
Perma Tem
porary
nent
Number of employees:
December 1934 2____
November 1935 2__
December 1935_____
Gain or loss:
December 1934 to
December 1935___
November 1935 to
December 1935___
Percentage change:
December 1934 to
December 1935___
November 1935 to
December 1935___
Labor turn-over, De
cember 1935:
Additions *________
Separations *______
Turn-over rate per
100............................
88, 343
103, 108
104, 282
+15, 939
+1,174
+18. 04
Total
Perma Tem
nent porary 1 Total
7, 599 95, 942 508, 411 81,622
8,088 111, 196 589, 395 101,017
7.806 112,088 607, 060 97,037
590, 033
690, 412
704, 097
Perma Tem
nent porary 1 Total
596, 754 89, 221 685, 975
692, 503 109,105 801, 608
711,342 104,843 3 816,185
+207 + 16,146 +98, 649 +15, 415 +114, 064 +114, 585 +15, 624 + 130, 209
-282
+892 + 17, 665 - 3 , 980 +13, 685 +18,871 - 4 , 253 +14, 618
+2. 72 +16. 83 +19. 40 +18.89
+19. 33
+ 19.20 +17. 51
+18.98
+1.14
- 3 . 49
+ . 80
+3.00
-3 .9 4
+1.98
+2.72
-3.91
+1.82
1, 640
1,077
1,131
747
2,771
1,824
22, 631
6,617
14, 565
17, 253
37,196
23,870
24, 271
7,694
15, 696
18,000
39, 967
25, 694
1.04
9.40
1.63
1.11
14.71
3.42
1.10
14. 67
3.18
1 Not including field employees of the Post Office Department or 13,005 employees hired under letters of
authorization by the Department of Agriculture with a pay roll of $616,367.
2 Revised.
3 Includes 304 employees by transfer previously reported as separations by transfer, not actual additions
for December.
4 Not including employees transferred within the Government service, as such transfers should not be
regarded as labor turn-over.
The most pronounced increase in employment in the executive
departments of the Federal Government during December occurred in
the Works Progress Administration. Small gains were shown,
however, by the Treasury Department, the Department of Agri
culture, the Navy Department, and the Resettlement Administration.
The largest decrease in the number of employees, on the other hand,
was reported by the War Department. There were also noticeable
losses in the Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
C o n stru ctio n P rojects F in an ced b y th e P u b lic W orks A d m in istr a tio n
A p p r o x im a t e l y 232,000 employees were working at the site of
construction projects financed by the Public Works Administration
in December.1 Compared with the previous month, this is a decrease
of 39,000 in the number of wage earners employed. Pay rolls for
the month totaled $16,360,000, or $3,152,000 less than in November.
Federal construction projects are financed by allotments made by
the Public Works Administration to the vaiious agencies and depart
ments of the Federal Government from funds provided under the
National Industrial Recovery Act. The major portion of the Federal
housing program now under way, however, is financed by funds
provided under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
1
Unless otherwise expressly stated, when December is referred to in this section, it may be accepted as
meaning the month ending December 15.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
775
The work is performed either by commercial firms, which have been
awarded contracts, or by day labor hired directly by the Federal
agencies.
Non-Federal projects are financed by allotments made by the
Public Works Administration from funds available under either the
National Industrial Recovery Act or the Emergency Relief Appro
priation Act of 1935. Most of the allotments have been made to
the States and their political subdivisions, but occasionally allot
ments have been made to commercial firms. In financing projects
for the States or their political subdivisions from funds appropriated
under the National Industrial Recovery Act, the Public Works Ad
ministration makes a direct grant of not more than 30 percent of the
total construction cost. When funds provided under the Emergency
Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 are used to finance a non-Federal
project, as much as 45 percent of the total cost may be furnished in
the form of a grant. The remaining 55 percent or more of the cost
is financed by the recipient. When circumstances justify such action,
the Public Works Administration may provide the grantee with the
additional funds by means of a loan. Allotments to commercial
enterprises are made only as loans. All loans made by the Public
Works Administration carry interest charges and have a definite date
of maturity. Collateral posted with the Public Works Administra
tion to secure loans may be offered for sale to the public. In this
way a revolving fund is provided which enlarges the scope of the
activities of the Public Works Administration.
Commercial loans have been made, for the most part, to railroads.
Railroad work financed by loans made by the Public Works Admin
istration falls under three headings: First, construction work in the
form of electrification, the laying of rails and ties, repairs to build
ings, bridges, etc.; second, the building and repairing of locomotives
and passenger and freight cars in shops operated by the railroads;
and third, locomotive and passenger- and freight-car building in
commercial shops.
Information concerning the first type of railroad work, i. e., con
struction, is shown in table 10, page 776. Employment in car and
locomotive shops owned by the railroads and in commercial car and
locomotive shops is shown in a separate table. (See table 12, p.
779.)
Details concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during December on construction projects financed by Public Works
Administration funds are given, by type of project, in table 10.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
776
Table
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW— MARCH 1936
10.
Employment and Pay Rolls on Construction Projects Financed from
Public-Works Funds, Month Ending Dec. 15, 1935
Wage earners
Type of project
Maxi
mum
num
ber 1 em
ployed
Weeklyaverage
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours Average
worked
earnings
during
per hour
month
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All projects 3____ _______________
3 124,097
116,938
$9,400,053
13,281,140
$0.708
$10,969, 334
Building construction 3_________
Forestry___________ _
Naval vessels................
Public roads 4______________
14,995
103
28,584
(5)
12, 553
94
28,152
43,864
995, 891
3, 540
3,357,248
1, 797, 500
1,213, 530
6,483
4, 042, 236
3,586,600
.821
.546
.831
.501
1,491, 352
2,569
2, 360, 071
2,950, 000
Reclamation____________ .
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads________
Water and sewerage_____________
Miscellaneous___________
15, 087
17, 549
2, 246
151
1, 518
13, 786
14,969
1,987
105
1,428
1,488, 473
1, 497, 305
108,224
7, 324
144, 548
2,070, 462
1,935, 566
212, 530
9,294
204,439
.719
.774
.509
.788
.707
1,963,108
lj 904’ 599
157, 679
7,711
132,245
Non-Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All projects............................... ...........
96, 920
80,194
$6,282,393
7,347, 017
$0.855
$13,118, 755
Building construction__________ _
Railroad construction____________
Streets and roads_______________
Water and sewerage_____________
Miscellaneous________________
46, 521
2, 555
9,862
33, 001
4,981
38, 224
2,051
7,888
28,128
3, 903
3,310, 343
87,716
522, 287
2, 048,421
313,626
3, 495, 223
136, 786
725,120
2,541, 436
448,452
.947
.641
.720
.806
.699
7,211, 080
61,309
1,151,753
3,935,101
' 759Ì 512
Non-Federal projects -Financed from E. R. A. A., 1935, funds"
All projects......................... ................
7, 377
5, 936
$332, 051
513,138
$0. 647
$1,377, 930
Building construction____________
Electrification______________
H eavy engineering_______ _ ____
R eclam ation.. ___________ .
3,359
85
144
228
2,685
75
107
178
145,098
4,785
9, 532
10,303
216, 521
6,399
9,365
16, 359
.670
.748
1.018
.630
570,398
15 ; 851
20,130
27; 263
River, harbor, and flood control...
Streets and roads______________
Water and sewerage________
Miscellaneous............... ...........
24
1,079
2,080
378
19
967
1,627
278
1,124
46,836
97,193
17,180
2,144
74, 273
160, 287
27,790
. 524
.631
.606
.618
8, 953
78, 709
625,957
30; 669
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
1 Includes weekly average for public roads.
3 Includes a maximum of 1,826 and an average of 1,503 employees working on Federal housing projects
financed from E. R. A. A., 1935, funds, who were paid $114,932 for 163,169 man-hours of labor. Material
orders in the amount of $14,835 were placed for these projects. These data are also included in separate
tables covering projects financed by The Works Program.
4 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
1 N ot available; average number included in total.
« These data are also included in separate tables covering projects financed by The Works Program
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
777
There were 26,774 fewer employees working on Federal projects in
December than in November. Losses in employment occurred in
five of the various types of projects. Employment on public-road
projects showed the most pronounced drop. Small increases in the
number of workers employed were reported for building construction,
forestry, naval-vessel, and reclamation projects.
Compared with November, employment on non-Federal projects
financed under the National Industrial Recovery Act decreased in
December. All types of projects had fewer employees in December
than in November. Of the total number of workers, more than
four-fifths were employed on building-construction and water and
sewerage projects.
In comparison with the previous month, the number of employees
engaged on non-Federal projects financed under the Emergency Re
lief Appropriation Act of 1935, increased by 4,046 in December.
Employment gains were registered for every type of project except
street and road work. The greatest number of man-hours worked
during the month—216,521—was accounted for by building-construc
tion projects. Earnings per hour for all projects averaged 65 cents,
but the range was from $1.02 on heavy engineering projects to 52
cents on river, harbor, and flood-control work.
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on construction
projects financed by public-works funds in December are shown in
table 11, by geographic divisions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
778
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 11.—Employment and Pay Rolls on Construction Projects Financed from
Public-Works Funds, Month Ending Dec. 15, 1935
Wage earners
Geographic division
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed 1
Weeklyaverage
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All divisions 2___________________
124,097
116,938
$9,400, 053
13, 281,140
$0.708
3 $10,969, 334
New England 2__________________
Middle Atlantic 2________________
East North C entral2............. .............
West North Central_______ ______
South Atlantic........ __..........................
8, 348
19, 721
12, 301
11, 949
22,198
8,027
18, 578
11,013
11,440
21,242
812, 516
1, 863, 368
796, 611
531, 501
1, 797, 532
1, 040,075
2, 280, 750
1, 022, 274
1,036, 446
2, 536,638
.781
.817
.779
.513
.709
382, 785
1,185,016
774, 490
363, 455
1, 560, 622
East South Central______________
West South Central............................
M ountain.._________ ____________
Pacific__________________ _______
Outside continental United States..
17, 980
11,241
9, 443
9,151
1,765
16,783
11,065
8,402
8, 717
1, 671
1,235,028
352, 797
906, 701
989, 527
114, 472
1,958, 433
794,997
1, 264,949
1,148,474
198,104
.631
.444
.717
.862
.578
1, 601, 987
124, 718
826, 644
1, 084, 823
114, 794
Non-Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All division s............. ...........................
96,920
80,194
$6, 282,393
7, 347,017
$0.855
$13,118, 755
New England___________________
Middle Atlantic________________
East North Central____________
West North Central.............. .............
South Atlantic......................................
6,089
23, 577
16, 904
13, 376
7, 453
4, 974
19, 533
14,127
10, 977
5,977
342,975
1,899,495
1,097,989
827,087
369,152
425,619
1, 901, 813
1,183, 473
1, 056,896
524, 336
.806
.999
.928
.783
.704
809, 267
4,672,976
2,127,987
1,564,381
602,653
East South C entral............... .............
West South Central_____ _______
M ountain_______________________
Pacific______ ____ ______ ________
Outside continental United States..
3, 776
9, 785
3,978
11, 586
396
2,963
8, 368
3, 308
9, 642
325
157, 740
457, 688
277,153
834, 739
18, 375
252,080
730,932
337, 238
906, 677
27,953
.626
.628
.822
.921
.658
354, 398
1, 348,435
461,811
1,158, 525
18, 322
Non-Federal projects—Financed from E. R. A. A., 1935, funds 4
All divisions_______ ____ _____ ___
7, 377
5, 936
$332, 051
513,138
$0. 647
$1,377,930
New England________ ___________
M iddle Atlantic______________
East North Central______________
West North Central____ ____ ___
890
672
835
1,750
736
515
677
1,439
39, 734
48, 248
38, 595
74, 271
73, 342
46, 569
45, 357
127, 231
.542
1.036
.851
.584
88,952
368,944
187, 463
217,698
South Atlantic_______________ . .
East South Central______________
West South Central______________
Mountain_______________________
Pacific_____ _____________ .
1,440
517
375
673
225
1,181
419
304
492
173
53, 394
15, 399
15, 606
34,356
12,448
102, 758
28,912
24, 597
47,115
17, 257
.520
.533
.634
.729
.721
287,318
56,628
46, 616
73,371
50,940
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects.
2 Includes data for wage earners employed on Federal housing projects financed from E. R. A. A., 1935,
funds. These data are also included in separate table covering projects financed by The Works Program.
3 Includes $2,950,000 estimated value of material orders placed for public road projects which cannot be
charged to any specific geographic division.
4 These data are also included in separate tables covering projects financed by The Works Program.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
779
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked during December
in railway-car and locomotive shops on projects financed by the
Public Works Administration fund are shown in table 12, by geo
graphic divisions.
Table 12.—Employment and Pay Rolls in Railway-Car and Locomotive Shops
on Work Financed From Public Works Administration Funds, December
1935
Wage earners
Geographic division
Semi
Maximum
number
monthly
em ployed1 average
All divisions___________________
3, 298
(2)
Monthly
pay-roll
disburse
ment
$345, 818
Number of
man-hours Average
worked
earnings
per hour
during
month
495,836
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
$0. 697
(2)
Eailroad shops
All divisions--------- - ------ -----------
2,400
2,337
$202, 574
288, 575
$0. 702
$41, 296
New England_________________
Middle Atlantic------- -------------East North Central____________
East South C entral........................
451
595
334
1,020
451
582
304
1,000
54,868
29,533
16, 623
101, 550
73,619
46, 222
23, 657
145, 077
.745
.639
.703
.700
22,054
14,158
1,556
3, 528
Commercial shops
_____
898
(2)
$143, 244
207, 261
$0. 691
(2)
Middle Atlantic_______________
East North Central__________ West North Central______ _____
South A tlantic.-- - ----------------East South Central-------------------
33
543
18
302
2
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
3, 677
103, 775
3, 529
32,140
123
5,472
141, 539
6,235
53, 725
290
.672
.733
.566
.598
.424
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
All divisions_________
1 Maximum number employed during either semimonthly period by each shop.
2 Data not available.
Compared with November, there was a decrease of 182 in the
number of workers employed during December in railway-car and
locomotive shops on work financed from Public Works Administration
funds.
Monthly Trend
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked at the site of proj
ects financed from Public Works funds from the beginning of the
program in July 1933 to December 1935 are given in table 13.
It will be noted that fewer workers were employed on projects
financed from public-works funds in December than in any month
since October 1933, when the program was just getting under way.
Since the beginning of the public-works program, pay-roll disburse
ments have been more than $595,000,000 and the value of material
orders placed has been in excess of $1,102,000,000. Average earnings
per hour have been 62 cents and 956,000,000 man-hours of employ
ment have been provided at the construction site.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
780
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 13.—Employment and Pay Rolls, July 1933 to December 1935, Inclusive,
on Projects Financed From Public-Works Funds
Maximum
number
of wage
earners 1
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked dur
ing month
$595,428, 596
956, 633,129
267
4,719
39,535
146,747
255, 512
300, 758
26,433
131,937
1, 784,996
, 353,835
11, 552,547
13, 091, 587
35, 217
206, 990
3, 296, 162
12,029, 751
21, 759, 245
24,391,546
.751
.637
.542
.528
.531
.537
January...................... .
February............ .........
March_____________
April.............................
M ay..........................
June______ ____ ___
298, 069
311,381
307,274
382, 220
506,056
610,752
12, 646, 241
14,348, 094
14,113,247
18,785, 405
25, 942,387
33,808,429
23,409,908
26, 544,346
25,501,446
32, 937,649
46, 052,698
59,873,309
.540
.541
.553
.570
.563
.565
July...............................
A ugust............... ..........
Septem ber............... .
October_____ ____ _
November....................
December....................
644,729
629, 907
575, 655
527,883
503,985
410, 236
34,845,461
36,480,027
32,758,795
30,263, 279
30. 664, 356
23, 655, 422
60, 736, 768
61,925 300
53,427, 096
47, 910, 342
49,004, 023
36, 238,781
.574
.589
.613
.632
.625
.653
January........................
February.......... ..........
March_____________
April........................... .
M ay............................ .
June..............................
304, 723
272,273
281, 461
333, 045
394,875
414,306
18,462, 677
16,896,475
17,400, 798
20,939,741
24,490, 087
25,386,962
27, 478, 022
25,144, 558
26, 008, 063
31, 387,712
36, 763,164
38, 800,178
.672
.672
.669
.667
.667
.654
July...............................
August____________
September 2................
October 2______ ____
November 2.................
December 2_________
405,332
394, 509
344, 520
308, 632
271, 111
231, 692
24,968, 785
25, 292, 656
22,772,317
21,692,439
19,512,866
16,360,315
37,845, 047
37,133,989
32, 478,773
30, 358, 351
26,317, 564
21, 637,131
.660
.681
.701
.715
.741
.756
Year and month
July 1933 to December 1935, inclusive2,
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of ma
terial orders
placed dur
ing month
$0.622 $1,102, 825, 645
1933
J u l y . .. _______ _______ ____________
A ugust____ ______ _______________
September______________________
October____________ ______
November___ _______ ____________ "
December...................... ..............
6
(3)
202,100
1, 628, 537
23,351,150
24,568, 577
25, 702, 750
3
4
1934
1935
24, 206, 352
25,269, 537
69, 766, 559
68,526,223
50, 468, 427
60,797,939
8
8
8
8
853,377,997
854,192; 443
850,878, 000
851,756,945
55, 044, 382
845, 766, 286
830, 746,857
29, 264,484
27, 276; 566
31, 645,166
36,893,840
42,017,642
8
8
41,936,424
46,954, 714
840, 988,896
935, 042,853
829,046; 684
25,507, 315
' Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects
Includes wage earners employed on projects under the jurisdiction of P. W. A. which are financed from
i i . u . A . A ., 1935, funds. These data are also included in tables covering projects financed by The Works
^ m p i a c e d for materials during July and August 1933, with exception of public-road projects included
4Includes orders placed for naval vessels prior to October 1933.
orders placed by railroads for new equipment.
98Includes
Revised.
T h e W ork s Program
B e t w e e n the middle of November and the middle of December,
employment was provided for 1,188,000 additional workers by the
construction program financed by the Emergency Relief Act of 1935.
In the aggregate, more than 2,561,000 workers were employed at
the site of construction projects of this class in December.1 This
includes more than 9,200 employees working on Public Works Ad
ministration projects financed from funds provided by the Emergency
Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. Pay rolls for December amounted
to more than $102,000,000.
A detailed record of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
on projects financed by The Works Program in December is presented
in table 14, by type of project.
1 When December is referred to in this section, it may be accepted as meaning the month ending Dec. 15.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
781
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table
1 4 . —Employment
and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by The Works
Program, December 1935
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum W eekly
number
em ployed1 average
Number of Aver
age
M onthly man-hours
earn
pay-roll
worked
ings
disburse
during
per
ments
month
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects
All projects...................................................
217,027 200,177 $10,195,537 22,160, 371 $0. 460
$7,258,162
Building construction..........................
Electrification-------- ------------------------Forestry----------------- -----------------------Grade-crossing elimination___________
H eavy engineering---------- -----------------
31,785
493
19, 737
4,817
61
29, 830
473
18,039
3,936
49
1,398,686
23, 736
975,717
210,180
4,118
2,930, 741
55, 721
3,441,114
433, 931
6,581
.477
.426
.284
.484
.626
704, 015
13, 486
519,905
460, 209
2,023
Hydro-electric power plants__________
Plant, crop, and livestock conservation.
Professional, technical, and clerical___
Public roads........................... .................. .
Reela'mation_________ _____ _________
1,065
23, 220
14, 963
26,160
37,726
961
21, 081
14, 963
20, 706
37, 622
21,752
879,190
829,648
1,056, 293
1, 202,106
94, 076
1, 875,037
1, 563, 218
2, 401, 220
2, 749,014
.231
.469
.531
.440
.437
118,780
191,053
39,479
1,116, 282
1,081, 281
River, harbor, and flood control______
Streets and roads.........................................
Water and sewerage--------------- --------Miscellaneous------ ---------------- ------------
40, 858
7, 530
981
7, 631
37, 024
7,247
957
7,289
2, 811,450
368, 250
42, 752
371, 659
4,850,020
831, 660
103,848
824,190
.580
.443
.412
.451
2, 543, 240
157, 456
15,940
295, 013
P. W. A projects financed from E. R. A. A., 1935, funds 7
All projects............................................ .
9,203
7, 439
$446, 783
676, 307 $0.661
$1,392,765
Building construction________________
Electrification----------- ---------------- . . .
Heavy engineering---------------------------Reclamation________________________
5,185
85
144
228
4,188
75
107
178
259,830
4,785
9, 532
10, 303
379,690
6,399
9,365
16,359
.684
.748
1.018
.630
585, 233
15,851
20,130
27,263
River, harbor, and flood control........ .
Streets and road s.......................................
Water and sewerage..---------- ------------Miscellaneous_______________________
24
1,079
2,080
378
19
967
1,627
278
1,124
46,836
97,193
17,180
2,144
74,273
160, 287
27,790
.524
.631
.606
.618
8, 953
78, 709
625,957
30,669
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
All projects------------- ------------------------ 3 < 2,335,610
$91,552,345 201,799,051 $0.454
1,190,113
6, 502, 700
15, 011
135,054
2, 555,139
3,595,960
14,991,536 28,548, 726
.525
2,016,883
240,826
127,662
3, 052, 044 8, 392,425
6,347,801 18, 663,172
1, 725, 590 3, 502,457
3, 255, 601 7,877,191
.530
.364
.340
.493
.413
118,169
141, 364
338,920
412,813
656,088
Conservation __ __________________
Highway, road, and s t r e e t ._________
H ou sin g____________________ _______
Professional, technical, and clerical___
Public building ____________________
Publicly owned or operated utilities 8. .
5,099, 249
34,963,017
269,340
6, 019,488
8,155,969
7,545,088
Recreational facilities 7--------- ------------Rural electrification and electric utilities
. __________________
Sanitation and health__ ____ _________
Sewing, canning, gardening, e t c . _____
Transportation... _________________
N ot elsewhere classified.......... .............. .
327,008
3,043
87,956
226,082
41, 469
94,984
11,432, 308
83,117,682
384, 274
9, 594,915
14,077,140
15,967,935
8 $17,678,214
.446
.421
.701
.627
.579
.473
140,748
965; 804
4,122
105, 372
167,751
196, 772
> Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
» These data are also included in separate tables covering projects under the jurisdiction of the Public
Works Administration.
s This total differs from the sum of the individual items since 25,501 employees worked on more than one
type of project.
^
^
_
* Represents number of workers on the pay roll during month ending Dec. 15. During week ending Dec.
31 there were nearly 2,775,000 workers employed on projects operated by Works Progress Administration.
J Value of material orders placed during month ending Dec. 31, 1935.
8 Exclusive of electric utilities.
7 Exclusive of buildings.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
782
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
On Federal projects alone jobs were provided for nearly 49,000
additional workers during the month interval. All types of Federal
projects with the exception of water and sewerage construction, heavy
engineering projects, and forestry work shared in the increase. The
most substantial gains were registered on public-road construction
and reclamation work.
An increase of approximately 1,133,000 workers in comparison with
November is indicated in the number of workers employed on projects
operated by the Works Progress Administration. Employment on
each type of project showed pronounced gains. The largest increases
occurred on highway, road, and street construction; recreational
facility projects; and sewing, canning, and gardening work.
In December 9,200 workers were employed on Public Works
Administration projects financed from funds provided by the
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. Of the total, more
than half were employed on building-construction projects.
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked in December on
projects financed by The Works Program are shown in table 15, by
geographic divisions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
783
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 15.—Employment and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by The Works
Program, December 1935
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Geographic division
Maximum Weeklynumber
employed 1 average
Monthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
Value of
man-hours Average
material
earnings
orders
worked
during
per hour placed dur
month
ing month
Federal projects
All divisions 2............................ .......
217,027
New England_________________
Middle A tlantic............ ..................
East North Central. __________
West North Central____________
South A tlantic................................
12, 742
28,099
23, 404
27, 814
35,610
East South Central____________
West South C entral............. .........
Mountain..........................................
Pacific-----------------------------Outside continental United States.
9,618
17,096
24, 683
24,792
13,064
200,177 $10,195, 537
22,160, 371
$0. 460
$7, 258,162
11, 689
26,892
20,842
25,430
33, 342
804,813
1,762,092
1, 208,969
1,237, 577
1,303,625
1, 563, 879
3,028,818
2,434, 750
2, 589,173
3,750,009
.515
.582
.497
.478
.348
423, 542
571,766
836,167
1,012,464
805,998
8,646
15, 573
22,902
23,053
11,703
316,076
484,308
1,478,963
1,383,302
213,258
878,274
1,548, 590
2,794,185
2,994,875
570,935
.360
.313
.529
.462
.374
219, 628
203,108
549,437
1,670, 528
195,436
P. W A. projects financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds 2
All divisions......... ...........................
9,203
7,439
$446,783
676,307
$0. 661
$1,392,765
New England________ _____ ___
Middle Atlantic..... .....................East North C entral.......................
West North Central____________
South A tlantic.................. .............
985
2,178
1,060
1, 750
1, 440
816
1,766
849
1,439
1,181
50, 539
140, 604
50,166
74, 271
53,394
86,886
182, 591
58,960
127, 231
102,758
.582
.770
.851
.584
.520
93,609
368,944
197,641
217,698
287,318
East South Central____________
West South Central-----------------Mountain----------- ------ ------------Pacific....................... .........................
517
375
673
225
419
304
492
173
15,399
15,606
34, 356
12,448
28,912
24, 597
47,115
17, 257
.533
.634
.729
.721
56,628
46,616
73,371
50,940
Projects operated by the Works Progress Administration
All divisions............................... .
South Atlantic,
4 2,335,610
$91, 552, 345 201, 799,051
$0. 454 «$17,678,214
137, 649
582,969
552, 578
251, 653
223, 449
5,063,979
33, 707,870
22', 568, 390
7, 736,932
5,467,226
9, 745,106
54,674,739
46, 509,163
19, 558, 812
20, 987,028
.520
.617
.485
.396
.261
157, 209
170’, 914
96, 972
162", 217
3, 533, 248
4 , 192,679
3; 473; 750
5,808, 271
14,859,839
15,932, 567
8,173,916
11,357,881
.238
.263
.425
.511
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
.
. .
.
2 Includes data for 105 wage earners and material orders placed valued at $770,088, for which a distribution
by geographic division is not available.
,
, . . J. „
.
2 These data are also included in separate tables covering projects under the jurisdiction of the Public
Works Administration.
,
,.
4 Represents number of workers on the pay roll during month ending Dec. 15. During week ending
Dec. 31, there were nearly 2,775,000 workers employed on projects operated by Works Progress Adminis
i Value of material orders placed during month ending Dec. 31,1935, for which a distribution by geographic
division is not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
784
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Monthly Trend
The monthly trend of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked on projects financed by The Works Program from the begin
ning of the program in July 1935 to December 1935 are given in
table 16.
Table
1 6 . —Employment
and Pay Rolls, July to December 1935, Inclusive, on
Projects Financed by The Works Program
[Subject to revision]
M onth and year
M axi
mum
number
employ
ed 1
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
of man
hours
worked
during
month
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects
July to December 1935, inclusive_______ ____
July......................................................................... . .
August...............................- ............................... .......
September............... .................. ...............................
October................................................... .................
November...............................................................
D ecem b er............................................................ .
5,131
32,672
76,524
129, 064
168,234
217,027
$30,077, 743
65,911, 609
$0. 456
$32,116,942
276,839
1,215,990
3, 754.773
6, 243,023
8,391, 581
10,195, 537
603, 318
2, 791, 802
7,815, 795
13,669, 524
18,870, 799
22,160, 371
.456
.436
.480
.457
.445
.460
164, 004
1,684,347
4,071, 945
9, 723,568
9, 214, 916
7,258,162
P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A., 1935, funds 1
September to December 1935, inclusive______
September............... ............... ...............................
October___________________ _______________
November___________ _____________________
December _______ ______________ ________
317
1,184
3, 422
9,203
$661, 283
996, 091
$0. 664
$2,025,494
10,575
54, 380
149, 545
446,783
17,493
78,928
223, 363
676,307
.605
.689
.670
.661
28, 573
159, 568
444, 588
1,392, 765
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
August to December 1935, inclusive...................
A u gu st3...... .............- ............ - ........................... .
73,153
September 3___ ____________ ______________
258,830
October 3. . . ______ _______ ________________
516,581
N ovem ber3............................ ................................. 1,202, 471
December................ ................................................. 2,335,610
$170,911,331 367,589, 041
$0. 465
$46,042, 303
1,199,936
2,581,988
10,303,491 17, 790, 436
23,357, 955 50, 739, 668
44,497, 604 94, 677,998
91, 552,345 201, 799,051
.465
.579
.460
.470
.454
3, 202,136
2,089,324
8, 236, 283
14,836,346
17,678,214
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
3
These data are also included in separare tables covering projects under the jurisdiction of the Public
Works Administration.
8 Revised.
Since the beginning of the program, pay-roll disbursements have
amounted to over $200,000,000 and the value of material orders
placed has exceeded $80,000,000. More than 434,000,000 man
hours of employment have been provided at the site of construction.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
785
E m ergen cy W ork Program
With increased employment opportunities, both in industry and
the construction program of the Works Progress Administration,
the emergency-work program is declining in importance. For the
week ended December 26, the emergency-work program provided em
ployment for only 16,639 workers, a decrease of 83.4 percent in com
parison with the corresponding week in November. Pay rolls de
creased 80.2 percent, dropping from more than $1,210,000 for the
week ending November 28 to less than $239,753 for the week ending
December 26. (See table 17.)
Table 17.—Employment and Pay Rolls for Workers on Emergency-Work
Program, Weeks ending Nov. 28 and Dec. 26, 1935
Number of employees,
week ending—
Amount of pay roll, week
ending—
Geographic division
Dec. 26
Nov. 28
Dec. 26
All divisions.............. ................................................
16,639
100,388
$239,753
New E n g la n d ..______ _______________ ____
Middle Atlantic------------------ ----------------------East North Central________________________
West North Central.------- --------------------------South Atlantic............ .................................. ...........
8,428
1,102
1,022
255
2,704
45,960
26,188
7,116
1,694
6,802
122, 784
19,227
16, 086
7, 821
32, 224
East South Central________________________
West South Central------------------- ---------------M ountain_________________________________
Pacific..........................................................................
100
1,093
439
1,496
666
4,388
2,525
5,049
1,235
9,507
7, 586
23,283
N ov. 28
$1,211,423
574,835
ó25t 052
80,754
51 /
67,055
'¿'ó,
4,938
30,634
32,458
72,180
The monthly record of the number employed and pay-roll dis
bursements of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration from
the beginning of the program through December 1935 is given in
table 18.
Table 18.—Employment and Pay Rolls for Workers on Emergency-Work
Program, April 1934 to December 1935
Month
1934
M av
Tnnp
July
September______ _____
DfiC0tnJ)pr
Number of
employees
Amount of
pay roll
1 089, 762
1 1,361, 537
i 1, 504, 571
$38,416, 747
i 43, 680, 775
i 42, 423,990
i 1, 725, 266
1, 924,066
1,950,108
1 096, 822
2 159,038
i 2, 299, 349
i 47, 352,865
54,914,792
50, 288,868
53, 901,325
62,833,046
i 6li 925, 339
Number of
employees
Amount of
pay roll
i
i
i
i
i
2, 443, 673
2, 432, 772
2, 368, 993
2, 275, 872
2,196, 421
2,021,060
i $70,806, 598
i 62, 795, 267
i 61,825, 268
i 61, 321,053
i 63, 530,180
54,382,876
1,928, 772
J u ly .................. ..............
August------- -------------- i 1,411, 462
‘ 889.231
September-----------------> 644,972
October______________
346, 470
N ovem ber.. . ---------68, 558
December____________
53,136,833
i 38,989,150
i 21,184, 250
17,791,923
8,258,626
1,844,813
Month
1935
* Revised.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
January.......................
February____________
March............—...............
April.................................
M ay_________________
June.....................
- --
786
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
The decline in employment and pay rolls on the emergency-work
program continued in December. According to preliminary figures,
the estimated employment for the month was 68,000. This does not
mean, however, that during any given week, this total was reached.
Because of the fact that a limit is placed on the earnings of employees,
not more than 70 percent of this number are working at any one time.
E m ergen cy C o n se r v a tio n W ork
T h e r e were 506,605 workers engaged in emergency conservation
work in December. Compared with the previous month, this repre
sents a loss of 37,353 in the number of workers employed. (See table
19.) All classes of workers shared in the decrease.
Table 19.—Employment and Pay Rolls in Emergency Conservation Work,
November and December 1935
Number of employees
Amount of pay rolls
Group
December
November
December
November
All groups_______________________ ____
506, 605
543,958
$21,905, 516
$23,957, 751
Enrolled personnel...
__________ _____
Reserve officers________ __________________
Educational advisers 1______________ _______
Supervisory and technical 2-_-.............................
453,152
9,264
2,198
» 41,991
480,140
9,607
2, 227
* 51,984
14,151,942
1,940,881
376, 828
« 5, 435,865
14,994, 771
2,013,114
381, 297
< 6, 568, 569
1 Included in executive service table.
2 Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
* 38,854 employees and pay roll of $5,173,647 included in executive service table.
* 44,394 employees and pay roll of $6,037,214 included in executive service table.
The employment and pay-roll data for emergency conservation
workers are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the War
Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Commerce, the Treasury Department, and the Department of the
Interior. The monthly pay of the enrolled personnel is distributed
as follows: 5 percent are paid $45; 8 percent, $36; and the remaining
87 percent, $30. The enrolled men, in addition to their pay, are
provided with board, clothing, and medical services.
C o n str u c tio n P rojects F in a n ced b y th e R e c o n s tr u c tio n F in a n ce
C orp o ra tio n
T h e r e were 7,786 wage earners employed at the site of construc
tion projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
during December. Compared with the previous month, this was a
decrease of 20.5 percent. Pay-roll disbursements of $869,000 were
$132,000 less than in November.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
787
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Statistics concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
on construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation during December are given in table 20, by type of
project.
Table 20.—-Employment and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation by Type of Project, December 1935
Type of project
of
Number of Monthly Number
man-hours
wage
pay-roll dis worked
dur
earners
bursements ing month
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
All projects_______________________ ____
7,786
$869,459
1,160,845
$0. 749
$1,383, 293
Bridges ______________________________
Building construction......... ...........................
Reclamation___________________________
Water and sewerage____________________
Miscellaneous_________________________
1,933
76
61
4, 605
1, 111
206,603
8,628
4,485
542,987
106, 756
210,871
10, 388
7, 758
769, 356
162, 472
.980
.831
. 578
. 706
.657
236,070
13,671
401
1, 111, 468
21, 683
The number of employees, the amounts of pay rolls, and man-hours
worked on construction projects financed by the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation in December are shown in table 21, by geographic
divisions.
Table 21.—Employment and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation by Geographic Divisions, December 1935
Geographic division
Number
of wage
earners
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number
of man
hours
worked
during
month
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
All divisions.................................................. .
7,786
$869, 459
1,160,845
$0.749
$1,383,293
East North C e n tr a l.__________________
West North Central________ ____ ______
West South Central______________ _____
M ountain____ __ ______ _________ ______
Pacific__________ ______________ _______
230
19
147
61
7,329
19, 599
2 , 412
15i 924
i , 485
827; 039
17, 536
3,716
18,538
7, 758
1,113,297
1.118
.649
.859
.578
.743
26,940
0
0
401
1,355,952
C o n str u c tio n P rojects F in an ced fro m R e g u la r G o v e r n m e n ta l
A p p ro p ria tio n s
E m p l o y m e n t on projects financed from regular governmental
appropriations declined during December. Compared with the pre
vious month, the decrease in employment was 11.2 percent. Pay-roll
disbursements during the month amounted to $3,708,000, a decrease
of 9.1 percent compared with November.
496 4 5 — 36-
18
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
788
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Whenever a construction contract is awarded, or force-account
work is started, by a department or agency of the Federal Govern
ment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is immediately notified, on forms
supplied by the Bureau, of the name and address of the contractor,
the amount of the contract, and the type of work to be performed.
Blanks are then mailed by the Bureau to the contractor or Govern
ment agency doing the work. These reports are returned to the
Bureau and show the number of men on pay rolls, the amounts dis
bursed for pay, the number of man-hours worked on the project, and
the value of the different types of materials for which orders were
placed during the month.
The following tables present data concerning construction projects
on which work has started since July 1, 1934. The Bureau does not
have statistics covering projects which were under way previous to
that date.
Detailed statistics of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked in December on construction projects financed by regular
governmental appropriations are given in table 22, by type of project.
Table 22.—Employment on Construction Projects Financed from Regular Gov
ernmental Appropriations, by Type of Project, December 1935
Number of wage
earners
Type of project
Maximum
number em Weeklyaverage
ployed i
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number
of man
hours
worked
during
month
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
All projects.................. ................. .......
2 56, 780
53,415
$3, 707, 963
5,980,118
$0. 620
$6,155,840
Building construction____________
Electrification... __________
Naval vessels....................... .............
Public roads 3......................... .............
Reclamation___________________
7,105
15
9,815
«
422
5,735
9
9, 600
24, 934
343
433, 626
841
1, 099, 972
1,334, 547
39, 736
576, 073
834
1, 321,991
2,313, 987
52,497
.753
1. 008
.832
.577
.757
940,972
'940
2, 320, 685
2 ,190i 216
Hi 722
River, harbor, and flood control__
Streets and roads_______ ______ _
Water and sewerage______ ____ _
Miscellaneous_______ _______ ____
10, 712
2, 839
10
928
9, 439
2, 513
9
833
637, 874
102, 441
372
58, 554
1,365,469
261,272
570
87, 425
.467
.392
.653
.670
578, 009
75; 646
231
37,419
1 Maximum number employed any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government agency
doing force-account work.
2 Includes weekly average for public roads.
3 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
* N ot available; average number included in total.
Statistics of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked during
December on construction projects financed from regular govern
mental appropriations are presented in table 23, by geographic
divisions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
789
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 23.—Employment on Construction Projects Financed from Regular
Governmental Appropriations, by Geographic Divisions, December 1935
Number of wage
earn 3rs
Geographic division
Maximum Weekly
number
employed 1 average
56, 780
All divisions.......................................-
Value of
of
M onthly Number
material
Average
pay-roll man-hours
orders
worked
earnings
disburse
during
per hour placed dur
ments
ing month
month
53,415
$3, 707,963
5,980,118
$0. 620
749, 573
882,036
390,632
460,849
696, 204
.752
.775
.646
.509
.604
928,976
810,093
133, 034
136,000
710, 373
556, 704
944,098
707,547
532,889
59, 586
.399
.452
.670
.751
.517
148, 794
529, 651
56, 773
487,323
24, 607
N ew England.................... ................
Middle Atlantic------------------------East North Central-------------------West North Central..........................
South Atlantic.................................. -
6,179
7, 714
5,150
5, 301
6,801
5,988
7,299
4,873
4, 962
6,308
563,419
683,179
252, 422
234,385
420,391
East South Central...........................
West South Central..........................
Mountain.......................... ....... ...........
Pacific--------------------- ---------------Outside continental United States.
4,719
10,047
6,279
4,112
478
4,517
8,861
6,193
3,983
431
221,919
426,882
474, 229
400,307
30, 830
2 $6,155,
840
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public roads.
2 Includes $2,190,216 estimated value of orders placed for public-road projects which cannot be charged
to any specific geographic division.
S ta te-R o a d P rojects
E m p l o y m e n t and pay-roll disbursements in tbe construction and
maintenance of State roads declined during December. Compared
with November, the number of workers employed on new road
construction decreased 16.8 percent, and a decrease of 12.5 percent
is shown in the number engaged in maintenance work. Of the 148,736
workers engaged on these projects in December, 18.2 percent were
employed in the construction of new roads and 81.8 percent in mainte
nance work.
Statistics concerning employment and pay rolls in building and
maintaining State roads in November and December are presented
in table 26, by geographic divisions.
Table 26.—Employment on Construction and Maintenance of State Roads by
Geographic Divisions, November and December 1935 1
Maintenance
New roads
Geographic division
Number of
employees
Amount of pay roll
Number of
employees
Amount of pay roil
Decem Novem December N ovember Decem Novem December
ber
ber
ber
ber
Novem
ber
32, 487 $1, 053, 209 $1, 379,386 121,690 139,138 $5,180,169 $5, 776,639
All divisions.......................
27,046
N ew E ngland ................. .
M iddle A tla n tic.. ------East North Central..........
West North Central____
South Atlantic................. .
9, 356
1,037
1,516
2, 391
6,819
11,618
1,282
2,899
2,086
7,347
394,154
64, 629
72,454
74,404
126, 519
540,115
81, 005
158,062
55,914
138, 754
7,971
29,474
19,338
10,069
23, 436
8,665
32, 740
20,044
16,399
27,487
431,991
1,061,936
813,177
504,693
737,847
558,145
1,175,611
853,741
608,176
871,857
East South Central------West South Central____
M ountain.............. ............
Pacific..................................
O u tsid e c o n tin e n ta l
United States.................
2,216
1,200
966
1,545
1,947
2,389
853
2,066
82,292
45,444
61,134
132,179
92,798
92,102
51,198
169,438
9,108
12, 452
5,143
4, 556
10, 073
13,101
5,423
5,040
335,371
559,867
320, 936
404,474
335,058
590, 082
331.863
441, 469
143
166
9,877
10,637
1 Excluding employment furnished by projects financed from public-works funds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Sum m ary o f B uilding C o n stru c tio n R ep o rts for
Ja n u a ry 1936
MODERATE improvement was registered in building construc
tion activity during January. The value of building construction
for which permits were issued in January in the principal cities of the
United States totaled $77,668,000, a gain of nearly 3 percent com
pared with the $75,603,000 reported by the same cities in December.
Substantial increases occurred in new residential construction and in
additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings. A loss,
however, was shown in January in the value of permits issued for new
nonresidential buildings.
Compared with a year ago, however, there was a pronounced gain
in building activity in January. The value of construction permits
issued in January 1936 was 122.5 percent greater than in the corre
sponding month of 1935. Substantial increases occurred in all
classes of construction.
A
Comparisons, January 1936 with December 1935
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 790 identical cities for Janu
ary 1936 and December 1935 is given in table 1.
Table 1.—Summary of Building Construction in 790 Identical Cities, December
1935 and January 1936
Number of buildings
Class of construction
January
1936
December
1935
All construction...... ....................................
23,192
25, 428
N ew residential buildings ________ __
New nonresidential buildings________
Additions, alterations, and repairs
3,831
3, 669
15, 692
3,844
4,583
17,001
Per
cent
age
change
Estimated cost
January
1936
December
1935
- 9 . 8 $77, 668,197 $75, 602, 939
-.3
-1 9 .9
-7 .7
30, 422,387
28,869, 448
18, 376,362
23,632,423
36, 010,115
15, 960, 401
Per
cent
age
change
+ 2 .7
+28.7
-1 9 .8
+15.1
Measured by the value of permits issued, the estimated cost of
building construction in January was $2,065,000 greater than in
December. A gain of $9,206,000 was shown in the value of construc
tion permits issued for new residential buildings and for additions,
alterations, and repairs, but a loss of $7,141,000 was indicated for new
nonresidential buildings. The number of buildings for which permits
were issued in January showed a decrease of 9.8 percent compared with
December. All classes of construction shared in the decrease.
790
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
791
BUILDING OPERATIONS
The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the number of
families provided for by types of dwellings for which permits were
issued in December 1935 and January 1936 are shown in table 2.
Table 2.—Summary of Estimated Cost of Housekeeping Dwellings and of the
Number of Families Provided for in 790 Identical Cities, December 1935 and
January 1936
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Kind of dwelling
December
1935
Percent
age
change
_____________ $29,876, 387 $22,999,903
+29.9
15,971, 346
753, 507
6, 275,050
- 5 .5
+28.8
+120.2
January
1936
All types
1-family.
_________________
2-family 1______ _______ _______
M ultifamily 2 .
. ________
15, 086,177
970, 267
13,819,943
Number of families provided for
in new dwellings
December
1935
Percent
age
change
6,787
5, 538
+22.6
3, 526
348
2,913
3, 538
297
1,703
-.3
+17.2
+71.1
January
1936
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
In comparison with December 1935 the estimated cost of house
keeping dwellings as indicated by permits issued in January 1936
increased 29.9 percent. Increases in expenditures were shown for
two-family and multifamily dwellings, but a loss was indicated in
one-family dwellings. The number of families provided for by all
types of dwellings increased 22.6 percent. Gains were registered by
two-family and multifamily dwelling units. A loss, however, was
shown in the number of families provided for by one-family dwelling
units.
Comparisons, January 1936 with January 1935
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 797 identical cities for Janu
ary 1935 and January 1936 is given in table 3.
Table 3.—Summary of Building Construction in 797 Identical Cities, January
1935 and January 1936
Number of buildings
Class of construction
Per
centage
change
January
1936
January
1935
All construction.. __________________
23, 228
20,170
N ew residential buildings __________
N ew nonresidential buildings__ ______
Additions, alterations, and repairs.........
3,841
3, 671
15, 716
1, 659 +131.5
3, 043 +20.6
15,468
+ 1 .6
Estimated cost
January
1936
January
1935
Per
centage
change
+15.2 $77,702, 744 $34,924, 955
+122. 5
9,162,760
13,482, 765
12, 279,430
+232.1
+114. 2
+49.7
30,433, 887
28,884,268
18,384, 589
The number of buildings for which permits were issued in January
1936 was 23,228, a gain of 15.2 percent compared with the 20,170
reported in January 1935. The most marked gain was registered in
the number of new residential buildings but increases were also shown
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
792
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
in the number of new nonresidential buildings and in additions,
alterations, and repairs to existing buildings. Measured by the
value of permits issued, the increase in January 1936 over January
1935 in estimated expenditures for new residential buildings was
$21,271,000; for new nonresidential buildings the gain was $15,402,000 ;
and for additions, alterations, and repairs the increase was $6,105,000.
The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the number of
families provided for in such dwellings is given for the months of
January 1935 and January 1936, in summary form, in table 4.
T ab le 4 .— Sum m ary o f E stim a te d C ost o f H ou sek eep in g D w ellin gs and o f th e
N u m ber o f F am ilies P rovid ed for in 797 Id en tical C ities, Janu ary 1935 and
Janu ary 1936
E s t im a t e d c o st o f h o u s e k e e p in g
d w e llin g s
N u m b e r o f f a m i li e s p r o v i d e d
for i n n e w d w e l l i n g s
K in d o f d w e llin g
A l l t y p e s _____ ______________
___
1 - f a m il y ________________________________
2 - f a m il y i __________________________ _____
M u l t i f a m i l y 2_________________________ _
January
1936
January
1935
$29, 882, 887
$ 9 ,0 7 3 , 390
1 6 ,0 8 7 ,1 7 7
970, 267
1 3 ,8 2 5 , 443
5 ,8 0 8 , 512
574, 818
2, 6 9 0 ,0 6 0
P er
c e n ta g e
change
January
1936
January
1935
P er
c e n ta g e
change
+229. 3
6, 789
2 ,5 5 4
+ 1 6 5 .8
+159. 7
+ 6 8 .8
+413. 9
3 ,5 2 5
348
2 ,9 1 6
1, 525
180
849
- 1 3 1 .1
+ 9 3 .3
+243. 5
1 I n c l u d e s 1- a n d 2 - f a m il y d w e l l i n g s w i t h s t o r e s .
2 I n c l u d e s m u l t i f a m i l y d w e l l i n g s w i t h s to r e s .
A 165.8 percent increase was registered in the number of families
provided for in new dwellings in January 1936 compared with January
1935. The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings for which permits
were issued in January 1936 was $20,809,000 greater than in the corre
sponding month of 1935. Increases in expenditures were indicated
for all types of family-dwelling units.
Important Building Projects
P ermits were issued during January for the following important
building projects: In Westfield, Mass., for institutional buildings to
cost $900,000; in New York City—in the Borough of the Bronx for
apartment houses to cost $2,500,000 and in the Borough of Manhattan
for apartment houses to cost nearly $1,500,000; in Rochester, N. Y.,
for school buildings to cost over $760,000; in Indianapolis, Ind., for a
factory building to cost $400,000; in Detroit, Mich., for factory
buildings to cost nearly $300,000; in Cincinnati, Ohio, for commercial
buildings to cost nearly $300,000; in Toledo, Ohio, for school buildings
to cost nearly $1,200,000; in Savannah, Ga., for a school building to
cost $850,000; in Chattanooga, Tenn., for school buildings to cost over
$500,000; in Nashville, Tenn., for stores to cost nearly $250,000; in
Dallas, Tex., for commercial buildings to cost nearly $650,000; and in
Fort Worth, Tex., for store buildings to cost over $400,000. Work
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
793
BUILDING OPERATIONS
was started on a suburban resettlement project in Cincinnati, Ohio,
to cost $7,250,000. This project is planned to house approximately
1,000 families. Contracts were awarded for naval air station quarters,
hangars, and storehouses at Pensacola, Fla., to cost over $2,000,000.
B uilding C o n stru c tio n in Decem ber 1935: R evised
Figures
ETAILED figures on building construction, as compiled by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the month of December 1935,
are presented in this article. The data are the same as published in
the Building Construction pamphlet for December, except for certain
minor revisions and corrections.
D
Building Construction in Principal Cities
R epo rts from the principal cities of the United States indicate
that the value of the buildings for which permits were issued during
the month of December totaled $76,020,923, a decrease of 3.0 percent
in comparison with the November total of $78,412,145. By contrast,
for the 6 preceding years (1929-34), the decrease at this season aver
aged approximately 13 percent.
The decline in December was accounted for chiefly by the sharp
reduction of 23.7 percent in the value of permits issued for new resi
dential construction. (See table 1.) A decline of 9.3 percent in the
valuation of permits issued for additions, alterations, and repairs to
existing structures, however, was a contributing factor. These losses
were largely offset by a rise of 21.9 percent in new nonresidential
construction.
Compared with the corresponding month of 1934, all classes of
building-construction activity showed impressive gains. For home
building the increase amounted to 224 percent, for new nonresidential
construction 183 percent, and for additions, alterations, and repairs
57 percent. The value of all building for which permits were issued
during the month was 150 percent greater than the total for Decem
ber 1934.
T ab le 1 .— Su m m ary o f B u ild in g C on struction in 793 Id en tical C ities, N ovem b er
and D ecem ber 1935
N u m b e r o f b u ild in g s
C la ss o f c o n s tr u c tio n
D ecem
b e r 1935
N ovem
b e r 1935
A ll c o n s t r u c t i o n .................................................
25, 438
3 4 ,9 8 7
N e w r e s i d e n t i a l b u i l d i n g s _____________
N e w n o n r e s i d e n t i a l b u i l d i n g s _________
A d d i t i o n s , a l t e r a t i o n s , a n d r e p a ir s —
3 ,8 3 4
4 ,5 7 7
1 7 ,0 2 7
4, 771
6 ,9 9 7
2 3 ,2 1 9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P ercen t
age
change
E s t im a t e d c o st
P ercen t
age
change
D ecem ber
b e r 1935
N ovem ber
b e r 1935
- 2 7 .3
$ 7 6 ,0 2 0 ,9 2 3
$ 7 8 ,4 1 2 ,1 4 5
- 3 .0
- 1 9 .6
- 3 4 .6
- 2 6 .7
23, 5 0 7 ,8 1 8
3 6 ,5 3 5 ,1 8 8
1 5 ,9 7 7 ,9 1 7
3 0 ,8 1 6 , 843
2 9 ,9 7 1 ,2 4 7
1 7 ,6 2 4 ,0 5 5
- 2 3 .7
+ 2 1 .9
- 9 .3
794
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
December building operations brought the total value of construc
tion permits issued during 1935 in the cities for which information is
available to approximately $827,588,000—an increase of 72 percent
over the 1934 total of $481,530,000. Living quarters will be provided
for 74,833 families in the residential buildings for which permits were
issued during the year, an increase of 157 percent compared with the
29,140 families for which dwellings were provided in 1934.
The information in this report is based on data received by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics from 793 identical cities having a popula
tion of 10,000 or over. The data are collected by local building offi
cials on forms mailed by the Bureau, except in the States of Illinois,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Penn
sylvania, where State agencies collect and forward reports to the
Bureau. The cost figures shown in the accompanying tables are
estimates made by prospective builders on applying for permits to
build. No land costs are included. Only building projects within
the corporate limits of the 793 cities reporting to the Bureau are
included in the study. The figures, however, do include the value of
contracts awarded for Federal and State buildings in the cities covered.
In December 1935 the value of Federal and State buildings amounted
to $7,160,680, as compared with $7,737,017 in November and
$2,210,742 in December 1934.
Index numbers of indicated expenditures for each of the different
types of building construction and of the number of family-dwelling
units provided are given in table 2. The monthly trends for the
the major classes of building construction and for the number of
family-dwelling units provided during 1933, 1934, and 1935 are shown
graphically by the accompanying charts.
Indexes & Families Provided For
fb/on/b/y yyeraye /52S * /OO )
Zs7c/eA!
Numbers
I n d e a:
N um bers
m
/OO
75
75
50
50
25
25
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Jpe
/7 a y
J i/n e
iT
M ar
1
i
— v .1
1
1
— 1. >—
Feb.
- 17 - 1
____ _ J
Jan
Si
1
1
1
/ 935)
J u /y
yy?
____
S ep/
1]
O c/
//o n
F ee.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUILDING OPERATIONS
795
796
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH
1936
T able 2 .— In dex N u m b ers o f F am ilies P rovided for and o f In d icated E xp en d itu res
for B u ild in g C on struction
[M o n th ly a v era g e, 1929=100]
I n d i c a t e d e x p e n d i t u r e s for—
M o n th
F a m ilie s
p r o v id e d
for
N e w r e si
d e n tia l
b u ild in g s
N e w nonr e s i d e n t ia l
b u ild in g s
51. 7
3 5 .9
44. 8
30. 2
89. 6
74. 3
95. 2
6 6 .1
68. 1
N ovem ber.
D ecem b er.
5 2 .9
4 5 .0
4 2 .5
3 7 .6
5 4 .4
6 4 .3
3 7 .8
5 3 .5
4 6 .3
5 0 .1
N ovem ber.
D ecem b er.
2 3 .8
1 4 .7
1 9 .0
11.8
3 2 .7
3 2 .9
3 3 .6
2 7 .3
2 6 .2
2 2 .3
N ovem ber.
D ecem b er.
6 .4
5 .0
4 .9
3. 6
2 1 .8
17. 3
1 4 .9
13. 7
1 3 .0
1 0 .5
N ovem ber.
D e c e m b e r ..
12.1
8. 6
4. 6
10. 3
1 3 .8
18. 3
23. 5
11.0
11.1
5. 9
4 .0
1 6 .1
10. 2
31. 2
23. 2
1 3 .7
9 .3
11.1
2 7 .9
2 9 .7
4 1 .6
4 5 .5
4 7 .2
4 3 .6
5 0 .9
5 4 .8
4 6 .8
5 0 .9
3 9 .3
3 5 .6
1 0 .9
1 2 .5
1 9 .2
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber -
A d d it io n s ,
a lte r a tio n s ,
a n d r e p a ir s
T o ta l co n
s tr u c tio n
5 1 .7
1930
1932
6 .7
1934
N o v e m b e r _______________
D e c e m b e r ________________
8.2
5 .4
1935
J a n u a r y ...
F e b r u a r y ..
M a r c h _____
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 ovem ber.
D ecem b er.
7 .3
8 .5
1 6 .6
1 8 .9
20.0
20.8
20.6
20.6
1 9 .0
2 4 .5
22.6
1 5 .5
5 .1
5 .6
1 1 .4
1 3 .0
1 4 .2
1 6 .1
1 5 .3
1 5 .5
1 4 .2
1 9 .1
1 6 .9
1 2 .9
1 3 .9
1 8 .6
21.2
1 9 .9
2 4 .4
22.2
3 2 .5
2 5 .2
2 7 .4
2 6 .8
3 2 .7
21.6
22.0
2 4 .3
24. 1
28. 5
2 4 .0
2 8 .2
2 5 .0
2 4 .2
Comparison W ith Previous Month
F or the country as a whole the aggregate value of the building
permits issued in December was 3.0 percent less than in November.
The decrease, however, was by no means general and although con
struction activity slumped sharply in some parts of the country,
continued expansion was registered in other regions (table 3). In the
West North Central region, for example, the total value of the permits
issued in December was 89.0 percent more than in November. It
will be noted, moreover, that the decline in total building activity
was entirely accounted for by the falling off in eastern States. West
of the Mississippi River each of the four major geographic divisions
showed a substantial gain over November. In addition, a moderate
rise of 7.5 percent was registered by the South Atlantic region.
The most conspicuous decline in building operations from Novem
ber to December—23.9 percent—was shown for the Middle Atlantic
division.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
797
BUILDING OPERATIONS
The vigorous rise in new nonresidential construction reflects in
part the award of large public-works contracts. Increases in this
class of construction are shown for the East North Central and South
Atlantic divisions, as well as for all four of the divisions west of the
Mississippi River.
Table 3.—Estimated Cost of Building Construction in 793 Identical Cities,
November and December 1935
New nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
New residential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
December
1935
November
1935
Percent
age
change
-2 3 .7
$36, 535,188
$29, 971, 247
+21.9
-2 2 .0
-2 6 .0
-5 6 .3
- 8 .3
-1 4 .5
3, 371, 630
8,183, 233
6,163, 025
4, 728,851
4,849,070
3,432, 249
11, 069, 817
4, 047, 253
1, 591, 689
2, 728, 020
- 1 .8
-2 6 .1
+52.3
+197.1
+77.8
1, 058, 543
2,962, 035
644, 370
4, 574, 431
1, 333, 234
2, 286, 579
276,897
3, 205, 509
-2 0 .6
+29.5
+132. 7
+42.7
Percent
age
change
December
1935
November
1935
All divisions_______
$23, 507,818
$30,816, 843
New England-..........
M iddle Atlantic___
East North CentralWest North Central
South Atlantic_____
1,891, 375
8, 004, 314
3, 038, 358
1,320,997
2, 704, 772
2,425, 365
10,812,510
6,959, 810
1, 440, 086
3,162, 288
East South CentralWest South Central.
M ountain_________
Pacific________ ____
164, 585
1,408,083
470, 039
4, 505, 295
289,920
1, 325,784
438,533
3,962, 547
-4 3 .2
+6. 2
+ 7 .2
+ 13.7
Additions, alterations, and re
pairs (estimated cost)
Geographic division
December
1935
Total construction
(estimated cost)
Per
December
November centage
1935
1935
change
All divisions__________ ____ $15,977, 917 $17,624, 055
- 9 .3
New England...........................
Middle Atlantic...... ...........- East North C en tral-.............
West North Central_______
South A tla n tic .......................
2,386, 662
4, 438,184
2, 507, 472
1, 361,147
1,458,910
2,049, 519
5, 207, 925
3,199,741
890,198
2,490,771
+16.4
-1 4 .8
-2 1 .6
+52.9
-4 1 .4
East South Central________
West South Central________
M ountain_________________
Pacific__________________
675, 470
598,886
429, 691
2,121,495
531, 013
678, 001
482, 502
2, 094, 385
+27.2
-1 1 .7
-1 0 .9
+ 1 .3
Per
November centage
1935
change
N um
ber of
cities
$76, 020,923 $78,412,145
-3 .0
793
7, 649, 667
20, 625, 731
11,708, 855
7, 410, 995
9, 012,752
7,907,133
27, 090,252
14, 206, 804
3,921,973
8,381,079
- 3 .3
-2 3 .9
-1 7 .6
+89.0
+ 7 .5
113
174
187
73
78
1,898,598
4,969,004
1, 544,100
11,201,221
2,154,167
4, 290, 364
1,197, 932
9,262, 441
-1 1 .9
+15.8
+28.9
+20.9
34
48
24
62
The residential buildings for which permits were issued in December
will house 5,523 families, a decrease of 31.2 percent compared with
the family-dwelling units provided by the residential-building
permits issued in the previous month. (See table 4.) In spite of
this decline, the number of families that will be accommodated by
the dwelling units for which permits were issued in December was
greater than for the corresponding month of any year since 1930.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
798
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 4.—Estimated Cost and Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in
793 Identical Cities, November and December 1935
Number of families provided for in
new dwellings
Estimated cost
Kind of dwelling
Percent
age
change
December
1935
November
1935
8,030
-3 1 .2
$22,875, 298
$30, 751, 843
-2 5 . 6
4,325
431
3,274
-1 8 .3
-3 2 .9
-4 8 .0
15,854,491
744, 257
6,276, 550
18, 513,105
1, 222, 568
11, 016,170
-1 4 .4
-3 9 . 1
-4 3 .0
December
1935
November
1935
All ty p e s ..,_____________ ____
5, 523
1-family.......... ......................... .......
2-fam ily1.........................................
Multifamily 2........._......................
3, 533
289
1, 701
Percent
age
change
1 Includes I- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Of the 5,523 family-dwelling units that will be provided by the
residential-building permits issued in December, about 70 percent
(3,822) were one- and two-family residences and 30.0 percent (1,701)
were multifamily dwellings. Compared with the previous month,
the number of dwelling units that will be provided by small resi
dences decreased 18.0 percent and the number of apartment-dwelling
units 48.0 percent. The sharp decrease in apartments in December
is explained largely by the fact that in November the contract for
the West Side housing project in Cleveland, Ohio, was awarded by
the Public Works Administration.
Comparison W ith Year Ago
A l th o u g h below the level of the previous month, the rate of
building activity in December was still far ahead of the corresponding
month of 1934 (table 6). All types of building construction in
virtually all parts of the country shared in the improvement. Resi
dential construction, with an increase of 224.4 percent, showed the
most impressive gain. New nonresidential construction in Decem
ber, however, was 183.0 percent higher than in December 1934, and
an increase of more than 50.0 percent was shown in the value of
permits issued for additions, alterations, and repairs to existing
structures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
799
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Table
5 .—Estimated
Cost of Building Construction in 779 Identical Cities,
December 1934 and December 1935
N ew residential buildings (estimated
cost)
New nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
December
1935
December
1934
Percentage
change
December
1935
December
1934
Percentage
change
$23, 420,920
$7, 220,025
+224.4
$35,932,158
$12,710, 086
+182.7
New England_________
Middle Atlantic___ ____
East North Central_____
West North Central.........
South A tlan tic..................
1,891, 375
8,004, 314
2,997,158
1,311,297
2, 704, 772
966, 710
2, 232,297
837,825
324,065
1,042,530
+95.7
+258.6
+257.7
+304. 6
+159.4
3,371, 630
8,196,483
5,562, 775
4, 728, 446
4,849,070
1,041,684
2, 579, 770
3, 205, 528
974, 653
1,409,587
+223. 7
+217. 7
+73.5
+385.1
+244.0
East South Central_____
West South Central____
M ountain______________
P acific.. ..........................
162,085
1,389, 585
468, 539
4,491, 795
60,355
535, 230
76, 675
1,144, 338
+168. 6
+159. 6
+511.1
+292. 5
1,050, 543
2,958,875
645,180
4, 569,156
570,637
733,502
182,862
2,011,863
+84.1
+303.4
+252.8
+127.1
All divisions___________
Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)
Geographic division
December
1935
All divisions.
December Percent
age
1934
change
$15,954,146 $10,148,496
N ew England_____
Middle Atlantic___
East North CentralWest North Central.
South Atlantic_____
2,386, 662
4,452,319
2,498, 085
1,360, 447
1,458,910
1,307,352
2,898,553
1, 384, 691
509, 539
1, 238,852
East South CentralWest South Central.
M ou n tain .................
Pacific....... ................ .
672,871
578,499
427,753
2,118, 600
393,949
587,022
241, 013
1, 587, 525
Total construction
(estimated cost)
December
1935
December Percent
age
1934
change
Number of
cities
+57.2 $75,307,224 $30, 078, 607
+150.4
779
7, 649, 667
20,653,116
11,058,018
7, 400,190
9,012, 752
3,315,746
7,710, 620
5,428,044
1, 808, 257
3,690,969
+130.7
+167.9
+103. 7
+309. 2
+144. 2
113
1,885,499
4,926,959
1, 541,472
11,179, 551
1,024,941
1,855,754
500, 550
4,743, 726
+84.0
+165. 5
+208.0
+ 135.7
32
45
24
61
+82.6
+53.6
+80.4
+167.0
+17.8
+70.8
-1 .5
+77.5
+33.5
174
181
71
78
The gains over December 1934 in the aggregate value of the building
permits issued ranged from 84.0 percent in the East South Central
division to 309.0 percent in the West North Central division. Still
more significant was the remarkable rise in residential-building
awards. In all of the major geographic divisions except New Eng
land, the volume of new residential building in December was more
than double that of a year ago. A sixfold rise, for example, was
shown for this branch of construction in the Mountain States, a
fourfold gain in the West North Central division, while the Middle
Atlantic, East North Central, and Pacific regions reported gains of
from 258.0 percent to 293.0 percent. Even New England, where
residential building has been lagging considerably behind other
parts of the country, home building in December registered an
increase of 95.7 percent over the corresponding month of 1934.
All sections of the country likewise show marked gains over Decem
ber 1934 in new nonresidential construction. In this branch the
increases ranged from 73.5 percent in the East North Central division
to 303.4 percent in the West South Central. The value of permits
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
800
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
issued for additions, alterations, and repairs to existing structures in
December 1935 was substantially higher than in the same month of
the preceding year in all sections of the country except the West South
Central division.
The number and estimated cost of dwelling units provided in new
housekeeping dwellings for which permits were issued in 779 identical
cities in December 1934 and December 1935 are shown in table 6,
by type of dwelling.
Table 6.—Estimated Cost and Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in
779 Identical Cities, December 1934 and December 1935
Number of families provided for in
new dwellings
Estimated cost
Kind of dwelling
December
1935
All types________________
December
1934
Percentage
change
December
1935
December
1934
Percentage
change
5,494
1,907
+188.1
$22, 788,400
$7,141,025
+219.1
1fam ily...............................
3, 504
2family i_...... ...................... 286
M ultifamily 2.......................
1,704
1,371
152
384
+155. 6
+88.2
+343.8
15,769, 908
739,442
6,279,050
5, 607,800
487,675
1,045, 55C
+181. 2
+51.6
+500. 5
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Pronounced increases over December 1934 were shown in the num
ber of family-dwelling units provided in one- and two-family dwell
ings and in apartment houses. The largest increase was shown in the
dwelling units provided in apartment houses.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
801
BUILDING OPERATIONS
C o n stru c tio n F rom Public F unds
N COMPARISON with the previous month, the value of Federal
construction projects for which contracts were awarded and forceaccount work approved in December decreased slightly. Pro
nounced gains, however, occurred in building construction, gradecrossing elimination, and water and sewerage work. Large decreases
occurred in naval-vessel construction and reclamation work.
Data concerning the value of contracts awarded and force-account
work approved during November and December 1935, for construc
tion projects financed from the Public Works Administration fund,
from The Works Program fund, and from regular governmental
appropriations are shown in table 7, by type of construction.
Among the more important construction projects to be financed from
Federal funds for which contracts were awarded during December
were: For an overpass at Seventy-ninth Street, New York City, to
cost over $1,600,000; for State institutional buildings at Howard,
R. I., to cost over $1,100,000; for sewers and sewage disposal system
at Niagara Falls, N. Y., to cost nearly $800,000; for a dock terminal
in Mobile, Ala., to cost over $500,000; for the waterworks in Bristol,
Tenn., to cost nearly $600,000.
I
Table 7.-—-Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on
Construction and White-Collar Projects Financed from Federal Funds 1
governmental
The Works Program3 Regular
appropriations
Total
Type of construction
December
1935
November
1935
Decem
ber 1935
Novem
ber 1935
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
All types____________________ «233,145,018 « 238, 710, 734 35,397,058 379,180,644
B uilding___________ _______ «124, 538,055
1,752,193
Electrification_______ ______ . _
Forestry __
0
Heavy engineering _
2, 268,467
482, 398
Hydroelectric power plants___
Naval vessels
1, 218, 062
Plant, crop, and livestock con
0
trol
Public roads:
37,253, 607
Roads___________________
Grade-crossing elimination. 11,088, 708
Railroad construction and re457,001
pair
3,356,053
Reclamation__________ . . __
River, harbor, and flood con
3,061,446
trol____ - _____________
16, 749,431
Streets and roads 4_____ ______
28,089,841
Water and sewerage sy stem s...
1,065, 254
White-collar projects_________
1, 764, 502
Miscellaneous_______________
« 38,230, 754 1,275,117 3 1,016,823
712,950 3 1,771,686
3 1,973, 946
0
0
0
0
91, 777
281,601
382,800
0
0
73, 292, 600
1, 354, 700
0
December
1935
November
1935
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
20,179,182 3 94,476,601
1,190,150
9,144
2,323,149
3 115,016
1, 212,800
73,292, 600
16,975, 367
16,892,020
1, 354, 700
3 41,887,308 17,900,830 322,156,291
3 7,461,887 11,088, 708 3 7, 461,887
3, 300,000
39, 321,353 2, 549, 796 38,133,061
156,479 3 5, 243, 236
3 9, 245, 447
3 8,811,774
258,999 1,005,000
0
9, 500
3 11,813, 642
3 645,783
3 645,783 1,065,254
3 1, 089,939
6,125
290,900
143,400
154,100
535, 205
3,350
48,489
3 1,488, 523
2, 223
39, 649
61, 277
3 169, 321
1 Preliminary, subject to revision.
2 Does not include data for that part of The Works Program operated by the Works Progress Admin i stration.
3 Revised.
4 Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
8 Includes $1,767,166 low-cost-housing project (Housing Division, P. W. A.).
• Revised; includes $3,794,670 low-cost-housing project (Housing Division, P. W. A .).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
802
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 1 .—Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on
Construction and White-Collar Projects Financed From Federal Funds—Con.
Public Works Administration
Non-Federal
Type of construction
Federal
N . J. R. A.
All typ es._____________
Building_______________
Electrification_______
Forestry_____ ___________
Heavy engineering_____ _____
Hydroelectric power plants___
Naval vessels_____
Public roads: Roads____
Railroad construction and repair___ ____________
Reclamation__ . . .
River, harbor, and flood controlstreets and roads 4 _____ _
Water and sewerage sy ste m s...
Miscellaneous____________
E. R. A. A. 1935 7
December
1935
November
1935
Decem
ber 1935
Novem
ber 1935
December
1935
November
1935
D o lla r s
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
12,739,369
6, 750, 592
8, 737, 602 21, 744, 729 16,364,053 8143,084,680 «39,951,834
1,916, 747 13,357, 217
0
0
5, 262
2, 377, 410
0
2,838,997
434,564
1,448,133
1, 682, 501
25,957
14,950
457, 00!
490,820
2,442, 688
1, 036,950 4,002, 784
0 2,887,673
11, 400 1, 040, 054
5, 798, 740 8101,964,979 8827,175,295
1,030, 099
87, 244
2, 268,467
99, 598
189,824
228, 293
921,629
10,801,797
25,127,722
642,096
543,372
71,000
8 3,083,167
8 8, 578,171
223,761
3,300,000
3, 684,434
3,186, 322
394,557
8 Revised.
4 Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
8 Includes $1,767,166 low-cost-housing project (Housing Division, P. W. A.).
6 Revised; includes $3,704,670 low-cost-housing project (Housing Division, P. W. A.).
7 N ot included in The Works Program.
The value of public-building and highway-construction awards
financed wholly by appropriations from State funds, as reported by
the various State governments, for December 1934 and for November
and December 1935, is shown in table 8, by geographic divisions.
Table 8.—Value of Public-Building and Highway-Construction Awards Financed
Wholly by State Funds
Value of awards for public buildings
Value of awards for highway
construction
Geographic division
All divisions_______________
December
1935
November
1935
December
1934
December
1935
November
1935
December
1934
$1,076,094
$535,838
$1,642,246
$4, 244,843
$3, 900,917
$4,938,992
New E n g la n d ...____________
Middle Atlantic_____________
East North Central_________
West North Central_________
South Atlantic_________ ____
0
139,449
33,493
165, 271
39, 760
4, 000
412,330
35, 782
29,465
2,035
52,461
101,635
792,957
3,756
313, 288
208, 546
662,472
233, 761
516,817
44,115
237, 035
410.809
412.809
201, 723
295, 542
126, 576
52,671
3,032,668
206, 553
79,191
East South Central_________
West South Central_________
M o u n ta in ........................ ...........
Pacific_______________ ____ _
0
433,072
0
265,049
0
0
34
52,192
0
282,007
3,179
92,963
54, 555
1,774, 093
19,970
730, 514
124,958
1, 413, 267
72, 626
732,148
105, 671
751, 200
21, 207
563,255
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
Food Prices in J a n u a ry 1936
ETAIL food costs declined rather sharply during January,
^ reversing the upward trend of the preceding 6 months. The
composite index dropped from 82.5 percent of the 1923-25 average
on December 31, 1935, to 80.7 on January 28, 1936. The 2.2-percent
decrease in food costs for January was the largest reduction reported
for any month since December 1933. A substantial part of this
decline, however, must be attributed to the seasonal drop in prices
which is customary at this time of the year.
Costs declined for all food groups except dairy products. The
largest decreases were made by eggs, fats and oils, sugar and sweets,
cereals and bakery products, and meats.
The group index for cereals and bakery products dropped 2.7
percent, largely as a result of price declines of 9.7 percent for wheat
flour and 2.0 percent for white bread. Lower flour prices were re
ported by all 51 cities, the decreases ranging from 2.1 percent in
Portland, Oreg., to 15.4 percent in Butte, Mont. Bread prices
declined in 28 cities and rose slightly in 4 others. The drop in prices
was most, marked in the cities of the Middle Atlantic and East North
Central areas. Price reductions, none of which exceeded 0.8 percent,
were reported for all other items in the cereals and bakery-products
group except cake and soda crackers. Cake prices continued at the
December level and soda crackers rose 0.2 percent.
The 2.3-percent decrease in meat costs follows the normal seasonal
movement of meat prices at this time of year. The price of all meats,
except veal cutlets, beef liver, poultry, and leg of lamb, declined during
the month. The reduction in pork prices ranged from 1.8 percent for
sliced ham to 9.0 percent for chops and 10.4 for loin roast. The
sharp drop in fresh-pork prices was general throughout the country.
Beef prices declined moderately with reductions ranging from 1.6
percent for plate to 3.7 percent for sirloin steak. The 2.0 percent
drop in the price of breast of lamb was the largest change for any
of the lamb items.
The only group in which costs rose during January was dairy
products. All items in the group except cheese contributed to the
0.5-percent rise in average costs. The largest changes were increases
R
803
4 9 6 4 5 — 3 6 -------- 1 9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
804
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
of 2.0 percent for evaporated milk and 1.9 percent for cream. The
most important change, however, from the standpoint of influence
upon the index was the 0.8-percent rise in the price of butter.
Butter prices advanced in 29 of the 51 cities included in the index.
The increases were general in the New England and Middle Atlantic
areas. Most of the 21 cities which reported lower butter prices arc
in the South and far West. The 0.2-percent increase in fluid-milk
prices resulted from advances of 1 cent a quart in Indianapolis and
one-tenth of a cent a quart in Seattle.
Egg prices dropped 9.8 percent in January, continuing the seasonal
decline which began in the latter part of November. The smallest
price reduction, 1.3 percent, was reported by Omaha; and the largest,
28.7 percent, by Savannah. The decline in prices was most pro
nounced in the Pacific, West South Central, and South Atlantic areas.
Fruit and vegetable costs declined 1.0 percent during January.
Price increases and decreases were about equally divided among the
items of the fresh fruit and vegetable subgroup. Apple prices made
the smallest change, an increase of 0.1 percent. Potatoes, another
important item of the group, declined 1.1 percent. The divergent
movement of fresh fruit and vegetable prices is indicated by the wide
variation of the changes, which ranged from a decline of 17.5 percent
for green beans to an advance of 8.5 percent for cabbage. The sub
group index dropped 1.0 percent. All the canned fruits and vege
tables, except tomato soup and green beans, contributed to the 0.5percent decline in costs for this subgroup. The 3.3-percent drop in
the price of canned peaches was the only significant price change.
Dried fruit and vegetable costs decreased 0.9 percent. The more
important price changes were declines of 2.5 percent for navy beans
and 2.1 percent for black-eyed peas and advances of 2.4 and 1.2
percent for lima beans and peaches, respectively.
Beverages and chocolate costs declined 0.1 percent during January.
Chocolate prices continued the downward trend with a decrease of
1.8 percent for the month. Coffee prices fell 0.7 percent, dropping
to the lowest level on record since 1913. The price of cocoa declined
0.5 percent, and tea prices rose 0.2 percent.
The group index for fats and oils fell 4.4 percent from December 31,
1935, to January 28, 1936. The most important factors contributing
to this change in cost were reductions of 9.6 percent for lard and 5.4
percent for lard compound. Lower prices for lard were reported by
all 51 cities, the declines ranging from 3.6 percent in San Francisco
to 21.6 percent in Little Rock. The only other item in the group
showing a significant price change was peanut butter, which declined
2.8 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
805
RETAIL PRICES
The 3.0-percent decline in the cost of sugar and sweets was due
largely to a 3.6-percent drop in sugar prices. The price of sugar was
lowered in 45 of the 51 cities included in the index. Atlanta reported
the maximum reduction, 11.5 percent. Sugar prices did not change
in the remaining six cities.
Indexes of retail food costs by major commodity groups in January
1936 and December 1935 are presented in table 1. This table also
shows the comparative level of costs in January of the indicated
years since 1929.
Table 1.—Indexes of Retail Food Costs in 51 Cities Combined,1 by Commodity
Groups
January 1936, December and January 1935, and January 1932 and 1929
[1923-25 = 100]
1935
1935
1936
Commodity group
Dec.
17
Dec.
3
Jan.
29
Jan.
15
1929
Jan.
2
Jan.
15
Jan.
15
Jan.
28
Jan.
14
All foods._______ ___________________ 80.7
81.7
82.5
82.0
82.0
78.9
77.5
75.8
72.8
102.7
Cereals and bakery products_________
M eats________________________ _____
Dairy products,................................ .........
Eggs----------------------------------------------Fruits and vegetables_______________
Fresh________ __________________
Canned.......... ......................................
Dried__________ _______________
Beverages and chocolate_____________
Fats and oils________________ _______
Sugar and sweets___________________
94.0
97.3
79.8
73.8
62.7
61.5
79.4
58.2
67.6
79.3
64.9
95.6
98.2
79.4
77.2
62.7
61.4
79.6
58.6
67.6
81.2
66.4
95.4
97.1
78.8
80.5
61.3
59.8
79.6
58.5
67.6
82.3
66.5
95.3
97.4
78.2
82.8
60.7
59.2
79.7
58.4
67.5
83. 1
66.7
91.9
87.9
79.4
76.8
61.1
59.1
83.5
62.4
73.3
75.0
62.5
91.9
84.6
77.4
76.2
60.6
58.5
83.0
62.5
73.6
72.9
62.5
91.9
79.1
76.3
76.4
59.9
57.7
83.0
62.7
73.5
70.5
62.8
78.1
81.1
73.1
62.1
63.4
62.3
77.7
61.6
78.4
60.1
61.7
98.4
117.6
105.1
105.0
88.2
86.6
96.0
98.2
110.7
94. 1
76.7
93.0
95.9
79.8
69.6
62.1
60.8
79.2
58.1
67.5
77.6
64.4
Dec.
31
1932
i Aggregate costs of 42 foods in each city prior to Jan. 1, 1935, and of 84 foods since that date, weighted to
represent total purchases, have been combined with the use of population weights.
The price of 57 of the 84 foods included in the index declined during
January. Higher prices were reported for 24 items and 3 showed no
change. Average prices for these 84 commodities for 51 large cities
combined are shown in table 2. This table compares average prices
in January 1936 with those for December 1935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
806
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- MARCH 1936
Table 2.—Average Retail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 Large Cities Combined 1
January 1936 and December and January 1935
[‘ Indicates the 42 foods included in indexes prior to January 1935]
1936
Article
1935
Jan. 28 Jan. 14 Dec. J1 Dec. 17 Dec. 3 Jan. 29 Jan. 15 Jan. 2
Cereals and bakery products:
Cereals:
C en ts
*Wheat flour. _____ .............pound ..
4.8
‘ Macaroni_________ . ______ do___
15. 2
‘ Wheat c e r e a l .. ___ 28-oz. package.. 23.9
‘ C ornflakes.-. . . .8-oz. package..
8.1
‘ Corn meal________ ______ pound..
5.0
Hominy grits_____ 24-oz. package..
9.1
‘ Rice_____________ _______pound..
8.6
‘ Rolled oats_______ ------------- do___
7.4
Bakery products:
‘ Bread, white _. _ ________ do----8.4
9.4
Bread, whole wheat ______ do___
Bread, rye________ ________ do___
9.1
Cake______. _____ ______ .d o ...
24.3
Soda crackers_____ ______ _do_ . .
17.9
Meats:
Beef:
‘ Sirloin steak______
___ do_ __ 37.4
‘ Round steak. . . . . . ________ do___
34.2
‘ Rib roast_________ ________ do___
30.2
‘ Chuck r o a s t ._____ ______ _do____
23.4
‘ Plate_____________
____do___
16.9
Liver________ ____ ........ .........do___
25.4
Veal:
Cutlets___________ ________ do___
42.0
Pork:
‘ Chops____________ -------------do----- 31.8
Loin roast________ ________ d o .. _ 26.4
‘ Bacon, sliced-_____ ________ do___
42.7
37.2
Bacon, strip______ ________ do___
‘ Ham, sliced_______ ______..d o ____
49.1
32.4
Ham, whole. . . . . ________ do___
Salt pork______. . . ________ do___
26.2
Lamb:
Breast____________ -------------do . . .
13.2
Chuck. _________ -------------do----- 22.9
‘ Leg______________ ------------ do___
29.1
Rib chops________ -------------do___
35.2
Poultry:
‘ Roasting chickens.. -------------do___
32.2
Fish:
Salmon, pink_____ ____16-oz. can ..
13.2
‘ Salmon, fed______ ---- . . .. d o ___ 25.1
Dairy products:
‘ Butter ______________ ---------- pound..
40.9
‘ C heese... ___________ -------------do___
27.6
Cream__ ____________ ............. Y i p in t..
14.9
‘ Milk, fresh ..................... ----------- quart..
11.8
‘ Milk, evaporated___ ...14K-0Z. can..
7.3
‘ Eggs----------------------------- _______ dozen.. 36.2
Fruits and vegetables:
Fresh:
Apples___________ ............p o u n d ..
5.4
‘ Bananas._________ ------------ d o ...
6.6
Lemons__________ _______ dozen . 30.6
‘ Oranges__________ -------------do___
28.4
16.2
Beans, green. ____ ______ pound..
‘ C abbage.................. -------------do___
4.0
Carrots..................... ______ bunch __
6.1
Celery____________ ............. .sta lk ..
10.4
Lettuce__________ ________ head..
7.6
‘ Onions. ________ ______ pound..
4.3
‘ Potatoes__________ -------------do . . .
2.3
Spinach. .................. ________ do___
7.8
Sweetpotatoes_____ -------------do___
3.7
Canned:
Peaches_______ . . ---- no.
can
18.5
Pears_____________ -------------do___
22.5
Pineapple____ ____ -------------do___
22.5
25.7
Asparagus________ _____no. 2 can..
Beans, green ______ _______ do____
11.5
‘ Beans with pork__ ---- 16-oz. can..
7.1
11.4
‘ Corn_____ ______ ------- no. 2 can..
‘ Peas______ ____ _ ______ ..d o ___ 16.1
‘ Tomatoes_________ -------------do. . .
9.3
Tomato soup ____ . . 10Ii-oz. can..
8.0
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
4.9
15.3
23.9
8.1
5.0
9.1
8.7
7.4
5.4
15.3
24. 1
8.1
5.0
9.1
8.7
7.4
5.4
15.4
24.2
8.1
5.0
9.2
8.6
7.4
5.4
15.4
24.2
8.1
5.0
9.1
8.6
7.4
5.0
15.7
23.7
8.5
4.9
9.5
8.3
7.3
5.1
15.8
23.7
8.4
4.9
9.4
8.3
7.2
5.0
15.7
23.8
8.4
4.8
9.4
8.2
7.3
8.5
9.5
9.2
24.3
17.9
8.6
9.5
9.2
24.2
18.0
8.6
9.5
9.2
24.3
18.0
8.6
9.5
9.2
24.2
18.1
8.3
9.2
8.8
21.9
16.6
8.3
9.2
8.8
21.9
16.7
8.3
9.2
8.8
21.9
16.8
38.7
34.9
30.9
24.6
17.7
25.3
38.8
34.9
30.9
23.9
17.2
25.0
38.0
34.6
30.6
23.7
16.9
25.0
38.0
34.5
30.7
23.8
16.9
24.9
38.2
33.3
29.0
21.7
14.2
19.0
36.8
31.7
27.3
20.4
13.2
18.6
33.4
28.9
25.1
18.5
12. 1
18.3
42.1
41.4
41.0
40.9
38.4
35.8
33.7
32.3
26.8
43.6
37.9
49. 2
33.2
27.4
35.0
29.5
44.2
38.4
50.0
33.5
28.4
34. 1
28.7
44.4
38.2
49.6
32.9
28.6
35.4
29.8
43.8
38.4
49.8
32.8
28.6
30.4
25.0
36.2
30.9
41.6
24.9
23.7
31.6
25.2
35.2
30.3
40.7
24.2
23.1
27.6
22.9
34.2
29.4
39.7
23.4
22.1
13.8
22.5
29.0
35.7
13.5
23.0
29.0
35.5
13.2
22.8
28.5
34.9
13.1
22.4
28.6
34.4
12.7
21.7
28.9
36.3
11.6
20.6
27.5
35.3
10.5
18.7
24.9
31.6
32.3
32.1
31.2
31.1
28.2
27.0
26.3
13.3
25.0
13.3
25.0
13.3
24.8
13.3
24.6
13.2
21.0
13.2
21.0
13.3
21.0
40.9
27.8
14.9
11.8
7.3
38.4
40.6
27.7
14.6
11.6
7.2
40.2
39.9
27.6
14.7
11.6
7.1
41.9
39.7
27.4
14.7
11.5
6.9
43.1
40.5
26.3
14.4
11.8
6.9
40.0
38.1
25.8
14.2
11.7
6.8
39.7
36.9
25.4
14.3
11.6
6.6
39.8
5.4
6.6
32.2
30.3
18.0
3.9
6.1
10.3
7.2
4.3
2.3
8.1
3.6
5.5
6.4
33.1
30.9
19.6
3.6
6.1
9.9
8.0
4.2
2.3
8.7
3.5
5.2
6.5
32.5
31.1
16.1
3.3
6.0
9.3
8.4
4.1
2.3
8.5
3.4
5.1
7.1
31.5
32.0
13.3
2.9
5.4
9.2
9.6
4.1
2.3
6.8
3.3
6.0
6.5
24.7
28.1
23.8
4.0
6.5
10.9
9.0
4.2
1.7
10.1
4.0
6.2
6.5
25.5
28.5
25.4
3.4
6.0
10.4
9.0
4.2
1.7
8.6
3.9
6. 0
6.4
25.6
28.3
18.6
3.2
5.9
9.8
9.8
4.1
1.8
9.1
3.9
19.0
22. 5
22.5
25.7
11.5
7.1
11.4
16.2
9.3
8.0
19.1
22.6
22.6
25.7
11.5
7.1
11.5
16.2
9.3
19.1
22.6
22.5
11.5
7.1
11.6
16.2
9.3
19.1
22.5
22.5
25.7
11.6
7.1
11.7
16.2
9.3
19.1
22.7
22.3
24.3
12.0
6.9
12.6
17.4
10.4
8.0
8.0
8.0
8 .0
19.0
22.6
22.3
24.3
12.0
6.9
12.5
17.3
10.4
7.9
19.0
22.6
22.2
24.2
11.8
6.9
12.5
17.3
10.4
7.9
25.7
i Prices for individual cities are combined with the use of population weights.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C en ts
807
RETAIL PRICES
Table 2.—Average Retail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 Large Cities Combined 1
January 1936 and December and January 1935—Continued
1935
1936
Article
Jan. 28 Jan. 14 Dec. 31 Dec. 17 Dec. 3 Jan. 29 Jan. 15 Jan. 2
Fruits and vegetables—Continued.
C ents
Dried:
17.1
Peaches________ ________ pound..
10.0
*Prunes_________ __________ do___
9.6
♦Raisins.................. -.15-oz. package._
Black-eyed peas.. ________ pound..
8.5
10.1
Lima beans_____ __________ do___
________
-do____
5.6
♦Navy beans_____
Beverages and chocolate:
24.2
__________
do___
♦Coffee______________
♦Tea______ ____ ____ __________ do___ 68.0
10.8
Cocoa._____________ ............. 8-oz. can..
Chocolate__________ ...8-oz, package.. 16.7
Fats and oils:
17.1
♦Lard, pure__________ ________ pound..
15.3
Lard, compound____ __________ do___
22.0
♦Vegetable shortening. __________ do___
__________
p
in
t..
24.7
Salad o i l . . ----------16.9
Mayonnaise_______ ________ IS p in t..
18.7
♦Oleomargarine______ _. _____pound..
20.7
Peanut butter____ . . ______ ___do__.
Sugar and sweets:
5.6
S u g a r ...... .................... __________ do___
13.7
Corn sirup_________ ______24-oz. can..
14.4
Molasses___________ _____ 18-oz. can..
Strawberry preserves. ____ _ ..p o u n d .. 20.2
C en ts
C en ts
C ents
C ents
C en ts
C ents
17.0
10.0
9.5
8.6
9.9
5.7
16.9
10.0
9.5
8.7
9.9
5.8
16.9
9.9
9.5
8.7
9.9
5.8
16.6
10.0
9.6
8.7
9.9
5.8
16.7
11.5
9.7
8.6
9.9
6.2
16.9
11.5
9.7
8.6
10.0
6.2
C en ts
16.7
11.5
9.6
8.5
10. 0
6.3
24.3
68.2
10.8
16.9
24.3
67.9
10.9
17.1
24.3
67.9
10.9
17.2
24.2
67.9
10.9
17.3
27.5
68.1
11.3
21.8
27.6
68.6
11. 4
21.0
27.5
68.7
11.4
21.1
17.9
15.5
21.9
24.8
16.9
18.7
21. 1
18.9
16.2
22 0
24.8
16.9
18.8
21.3
19.3
16.3
22.0
24.8
17.0
18.6
21.5
19.8
16.9
22.0
24.8
17.0
18.6
21.8
17.6
15.4
20. 1
23.4
15.6
17.3
18.8
17. 0
15.0
19.7
23.2
15.3
16.9
18.3
16.2
14.1
19.6
22.8
15.4
16.4
18.2
5.7
13.7
14.4
20.3
5.8
13.7
14.4
20.3
5.8
13.7
14.4
20.4
5.9
13.8
14.4
20.3
5.4
13.5
14.0
20.5
5.4
13.4
14.0
20.5
5.4
13.4
14.0
20.6
' Prices for individual cities are combined with the use of population weights.
Details by Regions and Cities
R e t a il food costs declined in all of the 51 cities included in the
index. The largest average decreases were reported by cities in the
South Atlantic and South Central areas.
Food costs dropped most sharply in Louisville. Only half of the
5.9-percent decline in costs was due to actual price changes, however,
the other half being due to the elimination of a 3.0-percent sales tax
in Kentucky after January 15. Some of the more important price
reductions, with the effect of the sales tax eliminated, were: Wheat
flour, 13.7 percent; strip bacon, 12.3 percent; and tea and sugar,
each 6.3 percent.
The smallest decline in food costs, 0.1 percent, occurred in Butte.
Higher prices were reported for 38 of the 87 foods. Fruit and vege
table costs and prices of all meats except pork rose substantially.
Lower prices were reported for only 19 foods, but the declines were
quite large for several important items, including wheat flour and
eggs.
Retail food prices in Hawaii are given in the biweekly press releases
showing prices of foods by cities. Copies are available upon request.
Index numbers of average retail costs of all foods, by cities, for
January 1936 and December 1935, and for January of earlier years
as indicated, are shown in table 3.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
808
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 3.—Indexes of the Average Retail Cost of all Foods, by Cities1
January 1936, December and January 1935, and January 1934, 1933, 1932, and
1929
[1923-25 = 100]
1936
R edon and city
1935
Jan.
28
Jan.
14
Dec.
31
Dec.
17
Average: 51 cities combined................................. 80.7
81.7
82.5
New England. ________
Boston_____________
Bridgeport ________
Fall River__________
Manchester_______
New Haven________
Portland, M aine____
Providence................
79.2
77.3
84. 5
80. 1
81.7
83.8
79. 7
78.6
79.9
77.8
86.3
80.9
82.8
84.9
79.8
79.0
80.6
78.5
86.5
81.7
82.7
85.9
80.7
80.2
Middle A tla n tic...............
Buffalo____________
N ewark._____ ______
New York_________
Philadelphia.......... .
P ittsb u rg h ........... .
Rochester__________
Scranton. . . . ______
81.7
80.2
82.9
83.3
82.5
78.8
80.2
77.9
83.1
81.3
83.9
84. 3
84.7
80.2
81. 4
78.9
East North Central_____
Chicago____________
Cincinnati_________
Cleveland__________
Columbus, Ohio____
Detroit____________
Indianapolis. _ _____
Milwaukee_________
Peoria_____________
Springfield, 111. .
80.9
81.4
84.0
79.1
81.8
81.0
79.1
82.9
81.2
78.3
West North Central____
Kansas C ity________
Minneapolis________
Omaha_____________
St. Louis___________
St. P a u l............. .........
1934
1933
1932
1929
Jan.
16
Jan.
15
Jan.
15
Jan.
15
Dec.
3
Jan.
29
Jan.
15
Jan.
2
82.0
82.0
78.9
77.5
75.8
70.5
62.6
72.8
102.7
80.5
78.3
86.7
81. 2
82.9
85.6
81.0
79.9
80.4
78.2
86.4
81.5
82.7
86.0
80.6
80.1
77.8
76.2
81.7
77.2
79.6
82.3
77.1
76.7
75.9
74. 4
80. 4
76.1
78.2
79.3
74.9
74.7
74.2
73.2
79.4
75.0
75.9
76.2
74.2
72.9
70.2
68.5
74.0
70.2
71.4
74.2
71.8
69.5
64.0
63.0
67.3
61.8
62.6
66.9
63.6
63.4
73.8
72.4
76.9
72.1
71.1
78.8
74.0
72.1
102.1
101.5
102.3
103.3
101.4
103.9
102.5
101.2
83.5
82.3
84.7
84.5
85.0
80.2
82.2
79.3
83.0
82.0
84.5
84.1
84.2
80. 1
81.7
78.9
83.1
81.6
84.7
84.0
84.9
80. 1
80.9
78.9
80.3
77.9
81.9
81.8
80.9
78.4
75.5
76.1
78.9
76.0
80.8
80.3
79.7
77.4
74.6
73.8
77.0
74.8
79.1
78.2
77.5
75.9
73.4
72.7
72.1
70.6
72.6
72.8
73.2
69.7
69.4
70.5
64.3
61.5
67.6
67.2
63.4
59.2
60.0
61.7
73.5
69.3
75.7
75.9
72.9
69.7
70.4
71.7
102.8
103.2
103.0
103.0
101.6
104.7
100.6
103.5
81.5
82.2
84.8
79.8
82.4
81.1
81.1
82.4
82.4
79.0
82.4
83. 2
85.7
80.4
83.6
82.0
81.7
83.4
84.1
80.3
81.8
82.6
84.9
79.6
83.2
80.9
81.3
83.9
82.9
80.9
81.6
81.7
85.3
79.8
83.0
81.3
80.9
83.8
82.4
81.3
78.3
80.3
79.1
76.6
78.2
76.4
75.9
79.0
78.9
76.7
76.8
77.5
77.3
75.7
77.3
76.3
75.2
77.0
78.0
75.0
75.3
76.5
77.4
73.4
76.6
74.1
73.8
75.6
73.3
73.7
69.9
70.3
71. 1
69.3
71.9
68.4
69.4
71.7
72.0
68.5
60.3
61.9
62.4
58.8
59.7
57.3
59.4
63.3
60.8
59.6
72.3
75.8
75.2
69.6
70.8
67.6
70.1
76.5
70.6
69.0
103.9
105.4
105.8
101.1
102.9
103.3
104.4
103.8
103.0
102.4
83.3
81.5
86.6
79.6
85.0
83.1
84.0
81.5
87.0
80.3
86.2
83.4
85.1
82.6
87.7
81.1
87.8
84.1
84.8
83.2
86.6
81.8
86.6
84.4
85.0
83.1
87.3
82.1
86.9
83.9
81.9
81.1
84.5
81.4
81.4
81.6
80.4
79.5
82.2
79.2
80.8
80.1
78.5
78.7
81.0
76.2
78.4
78.6
71.3
70.9
74.3
68.3
71.3
72.3
61.3
63.3
61.9
58.0
61.1
61.7
72.6
72.6
75.0
70.0
72.5
73.3
103.5
103.7
103.9
101.4
104.6
102.1
South Atlantic ................. 80.5
A tlanta........ ................ 76.9
Baltimore _____
84.2
Charleston, S. C ____ 80.4
Jacksonville_______ 77.6
Norfolk__________
81.8
Richmond_________ 76.9
Savannah__________ 79.9
Washington, D. C __ 82.7
82.1
78.3
85. 1
82.2
79.7
82.9
78.7
81.9
85.3
83.3
80.6
85.8
82.9
80.3
84.0
79.8
83.3
86.2
82.9
80.8
86.1
82.3
79.8
83.2
78.5
82.9
85.7
82.2
79.6
84.9
81.9
79.5
82.2
77.6
82.3
86.2
78.1
75.8
81.0
76.8
73.3
78.1
75.3
77.3
81.5
76.7
74. 4
79.2
75.8
73.8
76.9
73.5
76.0
79.7
75.2
72.7
77.6
74.6
72.4
74.7
71.9
75.8
78.1
69.7
65.5
73. 1
70.5
65.7
70.1
67.5
69.1
72.4
61.5
57.3
64.0
61.8
56.9
62.7
59.3
61.7
65.2
71.6
67.1
73.5
73.4
68.5
76.2
69.1
71.2
73.8
101.0
103.6
100.0
100.4
96.0
105.5
98.6
101.6
103.0
East South Central_____
Birmingham_______
Louisville_________
M em p h is...
M obile.........................
75.2
70.9
83.8
76.4
74.8
77.0
71.9
87.4
77.7
76.5
78.9
74.0
89.0
79.6
77.2
77.9
72.6
88.4
79.6
76.8
77.5
72.1
88.0
79.6
76.8
75.2
71.0
82.1
78.6
75.9
74.3
70.3
81.2
77.0
72.8
73.1
69.7
79.1
75.1
71.5
67.4
64.6
72.0
70.0
66.3
57.5
55.0
61.4
59.6
59.4
67.6
64.9
71.9
69.9
68.6
102.2
100.2
106.4
102.7
100.9
West South Central____
Dallas......... .......
Houston_________
Little Rock________
New Orleans.............
78.8
77.7
77.6
76.9
82.2
80.5 281. 2 281.0 281.0
79.8 79.7 80.5 80.5
79.2 280.0 280.3 279.9
78.3 78.9 78.5 78.5
83.3 85.0 83.4 83.9
77.8
77.1
76.9
76.8
80.4
77.4
76.3
75.4
75.3
82.3
75.9
75.1
75.9
73.7
77.6
68.6
67.4
67.7
68.2
71.9
60.3
60.2
57.3
55.5
65.6
71.5
70.6
70.4
66.1
75.7
102.1
103.3
99.7
104.3
103.1
M ountain______________
B u tte........... ........
Denver________
Salt Lake Citv
83.2
77.8
85.1
80.9
83.8
77.5
86.0
81.1
84.7
77.9
86.9
82.1
80.9
78.0
83.6
77.2
78.6
75.5
81.3
74.9
77.1
73.2
79.4
74.5
67.8
63.3
70.5
64.5
62.9
61.6
65.6
58.6
71.3
74.8
72.0
69.1
99.5
100.5
99.3
99.5
Pacific.................................
Los Angeles________
Portland, Oreg_____
San Francisco............
Seattle..___________
78.6
74.5
79.5
82.4
80.9
78.9
74.6
79.9
82.7
81.3
79.6
75.6
79.9
83.3
81.8
84.9
78.7
86.6
83.1
84.9
78.9
87.3
82.3
78.6 79.4 76.3 75.8 73.9 67.9 64.2
74.0 75.0 72.4 72.0 71.0 65.0 61.4
80.1 80.3 75.6 74.4 73.3 65.7 62.8
82.4 83.7 80. 1 80.0 77.0 71.2 68.5
81.6 80.9 78.8 77.2 74.9 69.4 62.7
1 Aggregate costs of 42 foods in each city prior to Jan. 1, 1935, and of 84 foods since that date,
represent total purchases, have been combined with the use of population weights.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
73.4 101.0
70.6
99.0
70.9 100.6
77.7 103. 7
72.7 100.4
weighted to
2 Revised.
RETAIL PRICES
809
Retail Food Costs and Prices in 1935
R e t a il food costs in the larger cities of the United States increased
substantially during 1935. The revised index rose 8.8 percent dur
ing the year from 75.8 percent of the 1923-25 average on January 2,
1935, to 82.5 percent on December 31, 1935. On the same basis
average costs for 1935 were about 9 percent above the 1934 level.
With the exception of beverages and chocolate, the index for each
of the eight groups was higher at the close of 1935 than at the begin
ning. The most significant advances were made by meats and by
fats and oils.
Meat costs rose sharply during the first 5 months of the year. The
slight reduction in costs during June and July was due very largely to
the decline in beef prices from the peak level of June 4. A continued
rise in pork and other meat prices, however, caused the group index to
rise to its highest level for the year in early September. During the
latter part of September and through October and part of November,
falling pork prices contributed materially to the decline in meat costs.
The year closed with the index 24.1 percent above the January 2
level. The rise in meat prices in 1935 was shared by all items in
the group. Pork made the largest increases, ranging from 25.9 per
cent for sliced ham to 43.2 percent for whole ham. Advances in
beef prices ranged from 16.2 percent for sirloin steak to 42.1 percent
for plate beef. Price increases were greater for the cheaper cuts.
Poultry and veal prices rose rather steadily throughout the year,
making gains of 22.1 and 22.8 percent respectively. Lamb prices
followed much the same trend as pork, but the advances were less
marked.
The cost of fats and oils rose 15.2 percent during 1935. The index
for the group advanced to its highest level for the year late in Sep
tember and declined rather sharply in the succeeding 3 months. Price
increases within the limits of 8.8 and 17.0 percent were reported for
each of the different items. Changes in the cost of fats and oils
followed rather closely the trend of pork prices, largely as a result of
the dominant importance of lard and lard compounds in the group.
Fruit and vegetable costs were 4.7 percent higher on December 31
than on January 2. The increase was due entirely to a 6.4-percent
increase in the cost of the fresh items in the group. Indexes for the
canned and the dried fruits and vegetables declined 4.1 and 6.5 per
cent respectively. The highly seasonal nature of many of the fruit
and vegetable items explains in large measure the relatively wide
fluctuations of group costs during the year. The combined index
advanced sharply from January to the latter part of April when the
peak level for the year was reached, then declined abruptly until
early in October when the lowest level was reported. During the
remainder of the year the index rose precipitously.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
810
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Potato prices were 27.8 percent higher at the close of 1935 than at
the beginning. At the same time lemon prices rose 29.3 percent.
Other important price changes in the fresh fruits and vegetables
group were increases of 12.5 percent for cabbage and 9.2 percent for
oranges, and decreases of 18.3 percent for lettuce and 8.3 percent for
apples. The range of price changes was less for canned and dried
fruits and vegetables than for fresh. Of the canned vegetables,
declines of 10.6 percent for tomatoes, 8.0 percent for corn, and 6.4
percent for peas, and an advance of 6.2 percent for asparagus consti
tuted the larger price changes. In the dried fruits and vegetables
group the more important price changes were declines of 13.0 per
cent for prunes and 7.9 percent for navy beans
The greater part of the 4.0-percent rise in the cost of cereals and
bakery products occurred in the last 4 months of the year. Costs,
which up to that time had been relatively stable, rose moderately in
response to increases in the price of bread, wheat flour, and rice.
These advances outweighed the declines in corn products and rolled
oats which occurred at the same time.
The retail cost of dairy products advanced 4.1 percent during 1935.
The group index reached its highest level in February, and declined
during the succeeding 5 months. From the low level in July the cost
of dairy products advanced gradually until the end of the year. A
substantial part of these cost changes must be attributed to seasonal
influences. All items in the dairy products group except fresh milk
advanced in price. Butter prices rose 10.0 percent and the price of
both cheese and evaporated milk increased 9.1 percent. Fresh milk
was at the same price level at the close of the year as at the beginning.
Beverages and chocolate costs declined 8.0 percent between Jan
uary 2 and December 31, largely as a result of price declines of 11.6
percent for coffee and 19.0 percent for chocolate. Coffee prices began
to fall in the early part of March and leveled out in October. Choco
late prices did not begin to drop until the latter part of August but
prices continued to decline through December. At the end of the
year group costs were down nearly to the lowest level of the depression
period.
Egg prices were 1.0 percent higher on December 31 than on January
2. The movement of egg prices followed rather closely the normal
seasonal pattern, with the low level for the year coming at the end of
March and the peak in the early part of November.
The cost of sugar and sweets advanced 5.7 percent, chiefly as a
result of a 7.4 percent rise in sugar prices.
Retail Food Costs in 1933 and 1934
I n d e x e s of retail food costs b y commodity groups with revised
weights and on a 1923-25 base are given in table 4 for the indicated
pricing periods of 1933 and 1934. All the revised indexes which have
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
811
RETAIL PRICES
been completed to date are presented in this table and the corre
sponding tables of the January and February issues of the Monthly
Labor Review. Indexes for the remaining periods since 1929 will be
released from time to time in future issues of the Labor Review as they
are completed. The chart which follows table 4 shows the trend in the
retail cost of all foods from 1919 to January 1936, inclusive.
T able 4 .— In d exes o f R eta il F ood C osts in 51 Large C ities C om b in ed ,1 by C om
m od ity G roups, by M on th s, 1933 and 1934
[1923-25 = 100]
All foods
C ereals and
bakery products
Meats
D a ir y p ro d
ucts
Eggs
Total
Fresh
Canned
Dried
'O
«- o
> o
«
62.6
60. 1
59.8
60.1
62.5
69.5
69.2
69.3
69. 8
71.0
64.8
63.9
64.2
63.4
64.1
63.4
60.7
59.8
60.4
63.7
66.9
45.3
42. 7
40.7
44.0
52.3
52.1
52. 1
54.4
59.3
51.4
51.3
51. 4
54. 0
59.5
66.4
65.5
65.3
65.2
66.0
48.6
48.0
47.3
48. 2
51.2
71.1
69.5
68.5
68.4
67.7
46.9
45. 2
45.0
44. 7
48.0
58.3
57.1
57.4
58. 1
60.0
64.9
June 15..........................
71.0
July 15............................ .
Aug. 15____ ___ ___ 72.0
71.9
Sept. 12________________
Sept. 26------- ------ --------- 72.0
71.8
77.8
83. 1
85. 1
86 9
65.9
66.0
67.4
67.7
68.9
64. 7
67.4
67.2
68.2
68.3
43.5
51.5
53.0
60.0
63.5
67.5
87.3
84.9
79.0
75.0
68.9
92.0
88.9
81.5
76.7
66.7
67.0
68.8
70.6
71.7
52.5
54.1
56.7
58.9
59.7
67.3
67.4
67.7
67.5
68.1
49.9
51.4
52.0
51.3
51.2
61.0
62.8
04.5
65.0
65.0
Oct. 24________________ 70 9
N ov. 7_________________ 70.8
Nov. 21________________ 70.8
Dec. 5_____ ______ _____ 70.2
Dec. 19-------- ---------------- 69.2
86.9
87. 1
86.9
86.5
86.4
68.3
67.9
66.8
65.3
65.0
68.8
69.4
69. 1
69.1
66.2
70.5
72. 3
75.0
72.9
65.7
67.3
66. 2
67.0
67.2
68.4
67.5
66.2
67.2
67.4
68.8
73.0
73.1
73.0
73. 1
73. 3
59 2
59. 0
59.0
58.9
58.7
68.4
68.4
68.4
68.0
68.0
50.3
50.4
50.0
49. 1
48. 2
64. 6
64.6
64. 5
64. 3
63.7
1933
Jan. 15________ ____ ___
Feb. 15________________
Mar. 15____ ___________
Apr. 15_____________
M ay 15________ ____ ___
193i
P
as a>
’o
P
'S
P
153
Sugar
sweet
Month and day
Fruits and vegetables
Jan. 2______________
Jan. 16___________ - --Jan. 30_______ .
Feb 13________________
Feb. 27................................-
70. 1
70. 5
71. 2
72.5
72.6
86. 6
86.9
86.5
86.8
87.5
65. 2
65. 8
67.0
69.6
69.5
67.0
66.8
67. 5
70. 0
69.7
63.3
61. 3
61.5
58. 6
54.6
72. 2
74. 2
75.8
77.3
78.3
73.3
75. 6
77.0
78.7
79.8
74. 7
75.6
79.1
79.5
81.3
58.6
58.4
59.4
59.8
60. 2
68. 3
68.5
69.2
69.5
69.7
48.5
48.6
4». 9
49.6
50.3
62.6
62.3
62. 6
62. 2
02. 5
Mar. 13________________
Mar. 27________________
Apr. 10________________
Apr. 2 4 ----------------------M ay 8....................——.-----
72.8
72.3
72.1
72.3
72.9
87.4
87.8
88. 1
88.0
88.0
70.2
70.5
71.3
73.4
74.5
70.5
69.4
68.3
68.6
68.8
53. 1
52.8
51.4
50.5
50.1
78.1
76.1
75. 1
73.8
75.0
79.5
77. 1
75.9
74.4
75.8
80.6
81.4
81. 1
81.0
81. 1
60.6
60.4
61.0
60.8
60.6
70. 6
70.7
71.4
71.3
72.1
50.5
50.9
50.9
50.4
50.1
62. 4
62.4
62.5
62. 7
62.2
M ay 2 2 .____ _____ _____
June 5..... .................. .
-June 19----- --------- - --July 3_____--- --July 17________________
73.0
72.9
73. 5
73.6
73.6
88.2
88.7
89. 1
89.3
90.1
74.2
75.0
75.7
76.7
77. 1
68.8
69.7
70.8
71. 3
70.9
50.5
51.0
52.8
54.0
55.7
75.9
72.8
72.1
70.4
68.1
76.9
73.3
72.4
70. 5
67.7
81.3
80.9
80.5
80. 1
80.4
60.7
60.6
60.9
60.8
61.2
72.1
72.3
72.0
71.8
72.2
50.3
50.7
51.7
52.4
52.7
61.6
61.0
6-’. 0
63.3
65. 5
July 31------- ---------------Aug. 14------ -------------Aug. 28________________
Sept. 11___________ --Sept. 25..................- .............
73.3
74.3
76.1
77. 1
76.6
90.6
90.8
91.2
91.5
91.7
76.6
77.3
82. 2
84 9
83.8
71.0
72.4
73.5
73.2
72.7
58.6
63.0
67.9
70.4
72.1
65.8
66.5
65.6
65.8
64.2
65.0
65.8
64.7
64.8
62.9
80.5
80.4
81.3
81.6
81.8
61.4
61.4
61.5
62.2
62.9
72.4
72. 3
72.6
72. 7
72.9
53.1
54.8
58.8
62.3
63. 5
66.0
65. 7
65.9
66. 0
65.8
Oct. 9_____ _____ ______
Oct. 23________________
N ov. 6_________________
N ov. 20___________ ____
Dec. 4......... - - ___ _____
Dec. 18__________ ______
75.9
75.7
75.4
75.1
74.8
74.5
91.9
92.0
92.1
92.0
92.0
92.0
81.4
80.3
77.7
76.7
76.5
76.6
73.1
73. 1
74.7
75.3
75.3
75.4
73.9
78.2
81.2
82.1
80.4
74.7
62.0
60.9
60.0
58.6
57.8
57.8
60.1
58.8
57.7
56.1
55.2
55.3
82.0
82.5
83.0
83.2
83.3
83.1
63.8
63.9
63.8
63.0
62.5
57.3
73.0
73.2
73.0
73. 1
73. 2
73.4
64.2
64.6
65.1
66.2
66.9
68.6
65.7
65.6
65.8
64 6
64.3
63.5
1
Aggregate costs of 42 foods in each city, weighted to represent total purchases, have been combined
with the use of population weights.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
00
1— L
to
co
co
Ci
RETAIL PRICES
813
E lectricity P rices in J a n u a ry 1936
R
ESIDENTIAL rates for electricity are secured quarterly from 51
^ cities. These rates are used for computing average prices and
typical bills in each city for the quantities of electricity which most
nearly approximate the consumption requirements of the usual do
mestic services. The blocks of consumption which have been selected
as representative of average conditions throughout the country are
25, 40, 100, and 250 kilowatt-hours. The consumption constants
are based on the requirements of a five-room house, including living
room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. The two smaller
quantities are applicable to the group of consumers who use electricity
for lighting and small appliances alone. The 100-kilowatt block
corresponds to the requirements for lighting, small appliances, and
a refrigerator; and the 250-kilowatt block allows for the addition of
an electric range to the preceding services.
The technical specifications which are used as the basis for the
application of these rates are:
Floor area: 1,000 square feet.
C on nected load:
W a tts
L igh tin g and ap p lian ces-----------------------------------------700
R efrigeration ______________________________________
300
C ook in g___________________________________________ 6. 000
M easured dem and:
L igh tin g and a p p lian ces-----------------------------------------600
R efrigeration ______________________________________
100
C ook in g ___________________________________________ 2, 300
O utlets: 14 50-w att.
A ctiv e room count: In accordance w ith schedu le of rates.
Electricity rates for residential consumers declined in 7 of the 51
reporting cities between October 15, 1935, and January 15, 1936. In
five of these cities the rate changes were graduated so as to give a
proportionately greater reduction to the consumers who use electricity
for lighting and small appliances alone. These cities are Butte,
Charleston (S. C.), Omaha, St. Paul, and Birmingham. The rate
reductions in Little Rock and San Francisco favored consumers who
use electricity for refrigeration or cooking in addition to lighting and
small appliances. On the basis of the smallest-use classification, 25
kilowatt-hours, the rate decreases ranged from 6.5 percent in Bir
mingham to 22.5 percent in Butte. In the largest-use classification,
250 kilowatt-hours, the smallest reduction—0.9 percent—was made by
Butte, and the largest—13.2 percent—by Little Rock.
Typical bills and the average price per kilowatt-hour for the various
blocks of consumption in each of the 51 cities are shown in table 5.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
814
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T a b le 5 .— T o t a l N e t M o n th ly B ill and P rice per K ilow att-h ou r for Specified
A m o u n t s o f E lec tric ity B ased on R a te s as o f Jan. 15, 1936, by C ities
[P=private utility, M = municipal plant]
Net monthly price per kilowatthour
Total net monthly bill
Region and city
Lighting and
small appli
ances
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
refrig
erator,
and
range
Lighting and
small appli
ances
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
refrig
erator,
and
range
25 kilo- 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo 25 kilo 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo
wat twattwattwattwattwattwattwatthoms
hours hours
hours
hours
hours
hours
hours
New England:
B oston.-. . . _____________ P__
Bridgeport________________P__
Fall River______________ _p__
M anchester.______ ________ P . .
New Haven ____________ P__
Portland, M aine__________ P__
Providence_______________ P__
Middle Atlantic:
Buitalo___________________ P__
Newark________________
P.
New York: 1
Bronx__ ____________ P_.
P ..
Brooklyn____________ P__
Manhattan___ ______ _P._
Queens...............................P__
P ..
Richmond____ _______ P__
Philadelphia__________ ___ P .
Pittsburgh____ __________ P .
Rochester.______ _______ P
Scranton______________
P
East North Central:
Chicago_______ _____ _____ P__
Cincinnati_____ ______ ___P__
Cleveland . ____________ . P . .
M ..
Columbus____ ___________ p__
M -.
D etroit2 A _______
P
Indianapolis_____ ______ __P__
Milwaukee______________ P ..
Peoria____________ ______P
Springfield, 111____________ P__
M_.
West North Central:
Kansas City 4_____________ P__
Minneapolis_________
P
Omaha-------------------------- P
St. Louis 2 <_ _________
P
P ..
St. Paul______________
p
South Atlantic:
Atlanta:
Immediate____________ P
Inducem ent5__________P._
Baltimore________
p
Charleston, S. C.:
Immediate____________ P
Objective 5 __________ P
Jacksonville__________
M
Norfolk______________
p
P
Richmond____ _
Savannah___________
P
Washington______ _____
P |
Footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1. 55
1.31
1. 75
2.00
1.31
1.88
1.87
$2.30
2.05
2.60
2. 80
2. 05
2.63
2.81
$5.10
4. 87
5.20
5.00
4.87
4. 73
5.60
$9. 60
8.90
9.35
8.00
8.90
7.73
9. 63
Cents
6.2
5.3
7.0
8.0
5.3
7.5
7.5
Cents
5.8
5.1
6.5
7.0
5. 1
6.6
7.0
Cents
5.1
4.9
5.2
5.0
4.9
4. 7
5. 6
1.13
1. 92
1. 70
2. 60
3.06
4. 50
5.31
8. 75
4.5
7.7
4.3
6. 5
3.1
4. 5
2.1
3. .5
1.80
1.80
1.80
1.80
1.80
2.17
2.19
1.50
1.25
1.59
1. 63
2.56
2.56
2.56
2.56
2.56
3.26
3.17
2. 25
2.00
2. 26
2. 45
4.92
4.92
4.92
4. 92
4.92
6. 38
5. 62
4.25
4.00
4. 56
4.85
8.26
8. 26
8.26
8.26
8. 26
13.01
9.09
7.50
8.50
7.81
9.35
7.2
7.2
7.2
7.2
7.2
8.7
8.8
6.0
5.0
6.4
6. 5
6.4
6.4
6.4
6.4
6.4
8.2
7.9
5.6
5.0
5.7
6.1
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
6. 4
5.6
4.3
4.0
4.6
49
3.3
3.3
3. 3
3.3
3.3
5. 2
3. 6
3.0
3.4
3.1
3 7
1.51
1.13
1.00
.88
1.25
1.00
1.43
1. 44
1.41
1.50
1.25
1.25
2. 04
1.58
1.60
1.31
1.95
1.58
1.99
2.30
1.90
2.01
1.90
1.90
3. 75
2.88
4.00
3. 05
4. 50
3.80
3.65
4.80
3.60
3. 57
3.90
3.02
8. 02
5. 88
9.88
7. 40
8.50
8.30
7.12
8. 53
6. 48
6. 32
6.90
4.80
6.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
5.0
4. 0
5.7
5.8
5.6
6.0
5.0
5. 0
5.1
4.0
4.0
3.3
4.9
4.0
5.0
5.8
4.8
5.0
4.8
4. 8
3.8
2.9
4.0
3.1
4.5
3.8
3. 7
4.8
3.6
3.6
3.9
3 n
3. 2
2.4
4.0
3 0
3.4
3 3
28
3 4
¿6
2 5
2.8
1Q
1.65
1.66
1.19
1. 20
1.08
1.60
2.32
2.18
1.90
1.73
1.44
2.15
4.04
3.80
3. 88
3.16
2.88
3. 85
7.83
6.79
7. 78
6.28
5. 76
7.00
6.6
6.6
4.8
4.8
4.3
6.4
5.8
5.5
4.8
4.3
3.6
5.4
4.0
3.8
3.9
3.2
2.9
3.9
3.1
2. 7
3 1
2.5
2. 3
2.8
1. 62
1. 45
1.25
2. 37
2. 12
2. 00
4. 57
3. 95
4.18
8. 32
6. 57
8.98
6. 5
5.8
5. 0
5.9
5. 3
50
4 6
4. 0
4 2
3 3
2 6
3 fi
1.60
1. 50
1.75
1.50
1.50
1.63
.98
2. 50
2. 25
2. 70
2. 25
2.25
2. 38
1.56
5. 35
4. 20
4. 95
4.80
4.80
4. 57
3.50
8.85
6. 82
7. 95
7.80
7.80
8.32
5. 67
6.4
6. 0
7.0
6.0
6.0
6.5
3.9
6.3
5. 6
6. 8
5. 6
5. 6
6.0
3.9
5. 4
4. 2
5.0
4. 8
4. 8
4. 6
3.5
3 5
2 7
3 2
3 1
3 1
3 3
2.3
C en ts
3.8
3. 6
3. 7
3. 2
3. 6
3. 1
3. 9
815
RETAIL PRICES
T able 5 .— T o ta l N e t M on th ly B ill and P rice per K ilow att-h ou r for Specified
A m ou n ts o f E lec tric ity B ased on R a te s as of Jan. 15, 1936, by C ities C on td.
[P==private utility, M =municipal plant]
N et monthly price per kilowatthour
Total net monthly bill
Region and city
Lighting and
small appli
ances
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
refrig
erator,
and
range
Lighting and
small appli
ances
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
refrig
erator,
and
range
25 kilo 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo 25 kilo 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo
wattwattwattwattwattwattwattwatthours
hours
hours
hours
hours
hours hours hours
East South Central:
Birmingham:
Immediate____________ P. Objective *„-----------------P...
L ou isv ille _______________ P-M em p h is................................ P —
Mobile:
Present ................. ...........P...
Objective 5_____ _____P...
West South Central:
Dallas ___________________P~Houston. __________ _____ P...
Little Rock: 1
P r e se n t................. ...........P...
C entennial5___________P...
New Orleans. ............... .........P -Mountain:
B utte____________________ P —
Denver 1___________ ______ P...
Salt Lake C ity:1
Present------- --------------P —
Objective i ____________ P -Pacific:
Los A n g eles__________ ___ P -P__
M Portland, Oreg------------------ P -PSan Francisco_____________ P._
Seattle___________________ P M ..
C en ts
C ents
C en ts
C en ts
$1.45
.98
1.25
1.38
$2. 20
1. 56
2.00
2. 20
$3.95
3.20
3.80
4. 25
$7. 50
6. 95
8.30
8. 75
5.8
3.9
5.0
5.5
5.5
3.9
5. 0
5.5
4.0
3.2
3.8
4.3
3.0
2.8
3. 3
3. 5
1.55
1.45
2. 30
2.13
4.05
3.95
7. 60
6. 58
6.2
5.8
5.8
5.3
4.1
4.0
3.0
2. 6
1.38
1. 30
2. 20
1.90
4.60
4. 30
8. 40
8. 28
5.5
5.2
5.5
4.8
4.6
4.3
3.4
3.3
1.99
1.84
1.88
2. 88
2. 63
2.85
5. 20
5.10
5.50
8. 67
8. 67
10. 25
8.0
7.4
7.5
7.2
6.6
7.1
5.2
5.1
5. 5
3.5
3. 5
4.1
1. 55
1.53
2. 38
2.45
4.43
4.90
7. 93
9. 49
6.2
6.1
6.0
6.1
4.4
4.9
3.2
3.8
1.92
1.63
2.99
2. 30
4.92
3.83
7.85
7.14
7.7
6.5
7.5
5.8
4.9
3.8
3.1
2.9
1.20
1. 25
1.20
1.38
1.38
1.40
1.25
1.25
1.81
2. 00
1.81
1.95
1.95
2.00
2. 00
2. 00
3.31
5. 00
3.31
3.39
3.39
3.50
3. 20
3. 20
6.31
7.00
6.31
6.09
6. 09
7.15
6.08
6.10
4.8
5.0
4.8
5.5
5.5
5.6
5.0
5.0
4.5
5. 0
4. 5
4.9
4.9
5.0
50
5.0
3.3
5. 0
3.3
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.2
3. 2
2.5
2.8
2.5
2.4
2. 4
2.9
2. 4
2. 4
1 Prices include 2-percent sales tax.
2 Prices include free lamp-renewal service.
3 Prices include 3-percent sales tax.
4 Prices include 1-percent sales tax.
, _.
. ,
,.
3 The “inducement” rate in Atlanta, the “ objective” rate in Charleston (S. C.), Birmingham. Mobile,
and Salt Lake City, and the “ centennial” rate in Little Rock are designed to encourage greater use of
electricity.
The percentage changes in the net monthly price of specified
amounts of electricity from October 15, 1935, to January 15, 1936,
are shown in table 6. Data are given in this table for only those
cities for which price changes were reported during this period.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
816
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
T able 6 .— P ercen tage D ecrease in th e T o ta l M o n th ly B ill for Specified A m ou n ts
o f E lec tric ity b y C ities
Jan. 15, 1936, C om pared w ith O ct. 15, 1935
[P =private utility, M = municipal plant]
Percentage decrease, Oct. 15,1935, to Jan. 15,1936
Region and city
25 kilowatt- 40 kilowatt- 100 kilo250 kilohours
hours
watt-hours watt-hours
West North Central:
Omaha______________
St. Paul__________
South Atlantic:
Charleston:
Immediate___ _______ _
Objective________
East South Central:
Birmingham:
Immediate_______ . _
West South Central:
Little Rock:
Present______________
Mountain:
B u tte. __________
Pacific:
San Francisco. ______
P
p
13.8
8 6
13.6
6.5
3.7
P
p
17.1
12.3
13.8
11.4
4.5
9.1
1A 1
1U. 1
c O
ft
O.
p
6.5
4.3
2.5
1 o
ft
1.
0
p
7.0
2.7
p
22.5
8.7
p
8.5
4.8
K
2.1
A 0
11
A
I
I. 3
.Q
y
16.7
ft Q
o. y
Gas Prices in Ja n u a ry 1936
R
ESIDENTIAL rates for gas are secured from 50 cities. These
rates are used in computing average prices and typical bills in
each city for the quantities of gas which most nearly approximate
the consumption requirements of the usual domestic services. In
order to put the rate quotations upon a comparable basis it is neces
sary to convert the nominal price per cubic foot into an equivalent
price per heat unit. This procedure is necessary because of the wide
range in the heating value of a cubic foot of gas between different
cities. The blocks of consumption which have been selected as
representative of average conditions throughout the country are:
10.6; 19.6; 30.6; and 40.6 therms. These consumption constants
are based upon the requirements of a five-room house, including
living room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. The smallest
quantity applies to the consumers who use gas for cooking alone.
The next two use classifications are based upon consumption re
quirements of different types of hot-water heaters in addition to a
range. The 40.6 therm block allows for the addition of a refrigera
tor to the preceding services.
Reductions in the schedule of residential gas rates between October
15, 1935, and January 15, 1936, were reported by the following five
cities: Butte, Brooklyn, Mobile, Washington, and Minneapolis. In
Butte rates were reduced sharply for each of the four blocks of con
sumption for which typical bills are computed. The decreases range
from 38.7 percent when gas is used solely for cooking, to 20.6 percent
for the quantity required for all the various services, including
refrigeration. The gradation of rate reductions in each of the other
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
817
four cities, however, was the reverse of that in Butte. The gas
company which lowered its rates in Brooklyn, for instance, made no
reduction to the consumer who used gas for cooking alone, and made
the largest concession, 16.9 percent, to consumers in the largest-use
classification. The rate changes in the other three cities were rela
tively small, ranging between 1.5 and 2.3 percent in Minneapolis; 1.3
and 4.4 percent in Washington; and 3.4 and 4.7 percent in Mobile.
Typical monthly bills and prices per thousand cubic feet and per
therm for each of the 50 cities are shown in table 5. Details regarding
the method of computing the data presented in this table were given
in the January 1936 issue of the Monthly Labor Review (pp. 254,
255).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M onthly consumption in cubic feet and net monthly bill based
on specified numbers of therms 2
Range and water heater of
indicated type
Range, 10.6
therms
Manual, 19.6
therms
Boston________
Fail River_____
Manchester-----New H aven____
Portland, Maine
Providence_____
Middle Atlantic:
Buffalo________
Newark_______
New York:4
Bronx______
Brooklyn__
Manhattan..
Queens____
Richmond...
Philadelphia___
Pittsburgh......... .
Rochester........... .
Scranton----------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
528
528
528
525
528
525
510
2,010
2,010
2,010
2,020
2,010
2,020
X
M
900
525
1,180
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
N
N
N
M
M
537
537
537
537
537
537
537
537
537
530
1,130
1,100
1,100
537
520
Per thousand cubic feet for—
Per therm for—
Range and wa
ter heater of
indicated type
Range and w a
ter heater of
indicated type
Range,
auto
matic 3
Range,
auto
matic 3
water
Range,
Range,
heater,
heater,
and
and
therms Man Auto refrig
therms M an Auto refrig
ual,
matic,3 erator,
ual,
matic.3 erator,
19.6
30.6
19.6
30.6
40.6
40.6
therms therms therms
therms therms therms
10.6
Cubic
feet
New England:
Automatic,3
30.6 therms
Range , automatic water
heater, and
refrigerator,
40.6 therms
N et monthly price based on consumption of specified numbers of
therm s 1
Bill
Cubic
feet
D o lla rs
Bill
Cubic
feet
D o lla rs
3,710
3, 710
3, 710
3, 730
3, 710
3, 730
3,840
4.21
4. 27
4. 06
4.82
4.11
5.16
4.16
6,000
2,020
.77
2. 69
2,180
3, 730
1.42
4.31
1,970
1,970
1,970
1,970
1,970
1,970
1,970
1,970
1,970
2. 32
2. 32
2. 35
2. 45
2. 59
2.32
2.32
2.32
3.12
1.80
1.00
1. 00
1.00
1.97
3. 10
3, 650
3, 650
3, 650
3,650
3,650
3,650
3, 650
3, 650
3,650
3, 700
1,730
1, 780
1,780
3,650
3, 770
4.28
4. 28
3.81
4. 07
4.40
4. 28
4. 28
4.28
5.12
3. 25
1.04
1.07
1.07
3. 65
4.97
2,000
940
960
960
1,970
2,040
3
3
4
Cubic
feet
D o lla rs
2.51
2.31
2.53
2. 85
2.41
3.03
2. 57
2,080
Bill
5,800
5, 800
5,800
5, 830
5,800
5,830
Bill
10.6
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
7.27
7. 20
7. 64
. 92
8.09
. 03
7. 86
1. 25
1.15
1.26
1.41
. 20
1.50
1. 24
1.13
1.15
1.09
1.29
0.99
.98
1.38
1.08
6.06
4, 510
7, 730
2. 93
7.29
.65
1.33
6.69
. 69
5. 27
6.06
6.59
. 69
6.69
. 69
7. 11
5.00
1. 63
1.67
1.67
5. 56
7.08
7, 560
7,560
7, 560
7, 560
7, 560
7, 560
7,560
7, 560
7,560
7,660
3, 590
3,690
3,690
7, 560
7,810
8. 86
8. 86
6. 45
7. 86
8. 58
8. 86
8. 86
8. 86
8. 90
6. 61
2.15
2. 21
2. 21
1.18
1.18
1. 19
1.24
1.31
1.18
1.18
. 18
1.58
.90
1.06
1.04
1.04
5.76
5. 69
5.94
5.67
. 20
. 49
7, 690
7,690
7, 690
7, 730
7,690
7, 730
7,960
3,400
5,830
5, 700
5, 700
5, 700
5,700
5, 700
5, 700
5, 700
5,700
5. 700
5,770
2,710
2, 780
2,780
5, 700
5,880
6
6
6.10
2.21
6
6
6
6
8
7. 05
9.01
1
1
1.00
1.52
D o lla r s
C en ts
C en ts
C en ts
23.7
21.5
.97
1.07
23.9
26.9
22.7
28.6
24.2
20.7
24.6
1.12
1.02
0. 95
.94
.99
.90
1.05
1.04
.99
18.8
18.6
19.4
18. 5
20.3
.65
1.16
.65
1.04
.65
.94
7.3
25.4
1. 17
1. 17
1.04
1.17
1. 17
.93
1.06
. 16
1. 17
1.17
1.17
1. 25
.87
.60
.60
.60
.98
. 20
1.17
1.17
.85
1.04
1. 13
1. 17
1. 17
1.17
1.18
21.9
21.9
1.11
1.12
1.21
1. 17
1. 17
1.17
1.40
.88
.60
.60
.60
1.00
1.32
1.02
1
1
D o lla rs
.86
.60
.60
.60
.93
1. 15
21.8
22.2
23.1
24.4
21.9
21.9
21.9
29.4
17.0
9.4
9.4
9.4
18.6
29.2
C en ts
21.0
26.3
21.2
21.2
19.9
17.9
17.7
18.8
17.0
19.9
19.8
19.4
7.2
7.2
19.8
7.2
18.0
21.9
21.9
17.2
19.8
21.5
21.9
21.9
21.9
23.2
16.3
5.3
5.5
5.5
18.2
23.1
21.8
21.8
21.8
22.0
21.8
21.8
19.4
20.8
22.4
21.8
21.8
21.8
26. 1
16.6
5.3
5.5
5.5
18.6
25. 1
15.9
19.4
21. 1
21.8
21.8
21.8
21.9
16.3
5.3
5.4
5.4
17.4
22.2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW-—MARCH 1936
Region and city
Heat
ing
value
per
Kind
cubic
of
g a s 1 foot in
British
thermal
units
818
Table 7.—Total Net Monthly Bill and Prices per Thousand Cubic Feet and per Therm for Specified Amounts of Gas, Based on Rates as
of Jan. 15, 1936, by Cities
East N orth Central:
Chicago___________
C incinnati8_______
Cleveland 6...... .........
Columbus____ ____
16. 1
16.7
15.5
18. 6
17. 1
13.3
7.8
4.8
5.3
4.7
16.1
16.7
14.8
13.7
13.7
12.7
18.2
14.5
19.2
16.4
11.1
15.5
12.4
16.9
16.3
10.2
14.3
11.5
15.9
16.3
9.8
13.7
1.06
.7 5
1.22
1.30
1.11
1. 57
1. 25
78
16.8
17.0
25.5
38.0
22.6
24.8
2 1. 7
14.4
13.8
17.0
25.4
32.3
22.2
24.4
21 .7
13.9
12.3
15.6
23.5
26.8
21.6
24.3
21.7
13.3
.80
.5 9
1.15
1.49
.8 0
. 57
1.02
1.28
16.0
8.4
14.3
21. 2
16.0
7. 1
12. 7
17.5
16.0
6. 5
11.8
15.5
16.0
6.3
10.4
13.4
.97
.9 0
.82
1.02
.8 7
.81
.73
.9 8
. S2
. 77
.68
.96
12 1
11 2
10.4
11.9
9.6
9. 0
8.2
10.7
8. 6
8. 1
7.3
10.3
8.1
.89
1.70
1.72
.6 9
1.42
1. 44
.6 0
1.14
1.17
.56
.99
1.04
10.5
20.6
20 .0
8.1
17.0
16.6
7.1
13.7
13.6
6.7
11.9
1.31
1.26
1.50
1.53
1.02
1.16
1.21
1.45
.90
.85
1.07
1.02
.8 0
11.9
22.1
13.0
30.7
9.3
20.3
10. 5
28.9
8.2
19.5
9. 3
17.4
7.7
18.8
8.9
15.9
800
865
1,100
1,030
1,030
530
570
520
1,000
1,000
1,330
1,230
960
1,030
1,030
2,000
1,860
2,040
1,060
1,060
1.94
.91
». 75
». 75
».75
1.71
1.77
1.73
2.12
1.91
2,450
2,270
1,780
1,900
1,900
3,700
3,440
3, 770
1,960
1,960
3. 33
1. 63
.89
1. 05
.91
3.16
3. 27
3.03
3.64
3.36
3,830
3,540
2,780
2,970
2, 970
5,770
5, 370
5,880
3,060
3,060
4.69
2.45
1.43
1. 63
1. 43
4.93
5.10
4.61
4. 67
4. 66
5,080
4, 690
3,690
3,940
3,940
7.660
7,120
7.810
4,060
4,060
5. 39
3. 16
1.93
2.17
1.89
6. 55
6. 76
6. 02
5. 57
5.56
1. 46
.74
.7 8
.7 3
.7 3
.86
.95
.85
2.00
1.80
1.36
.72
.50
.5 5
.48
.8 5
.95
.8 0
1.86
1.71
1.23
.6 9
.51
.5 5
.48
.8 5
.9 5
.78
1.53
1. 52
1.06
.67
.52
.55
. 48
.86
.9 5
.7 7
1.37
1. 37
18.3
8.6
N
X
M
X
M
1,000
800
550
800
550
1,060
1,330
1,930
1,330
1,930
1. 35
1.93
1.54
2.03
1.74
1,960
2, 450
3, 560
2,450
3, 560
2.17
3.03
2.43
3.31
3.20
3,060
3,830
5, 560
3,830
5,560
3.12
4.37
3. 53
4.88
5.00
4,060
5,080
7, 380
5,080
7,380
3.98
5. 55
4. 53
6.17
6.64
1. 27
1.45
.80
1.53
.9 0
1.11
1.24
.68
1.35
.90
1.02
1.14
.63
1.27
.9 0
.98
1.09
.61
1.21
.90
N
M
M
M
M
M
M
X
980
500
550
535
530
525
575
600
1,080
2,120
1,930
1,980
2,000
2,020
1,840
1,770
1.78
1.80
2.70
4.03
2.40
2.63
2.30
1.53
2,000
3,920
3, 560
3,660
3,700
3,730
3,410
3, 270
2. 70
3. 33
4.98
6.34
4. 36
4. 78
4.26
2.73
3,120
6,120
5, 560
5, 720
5, 770
5,830
5,320
5,100
3. 77
4. 78
7.18
8.20
6.62
7. 43
6. 65
4. 08
4,140
8,120
7,380
7, 590
7, 660
7, 730
7,060
6, 770
4.38
6.08
9. 00
9.88
8. 51
9. 82
8.83
5.25
1. 65
.8 5
1.40
2.04
1.20
1.30
1.25
.86
1.35
.85
1.40
1.73
1.18
1.28
1.25
.8 3
1. 21
.78
1. 29
1.43
1.15
1. 27
1. 25
.80
M
X
N
N
500
900
975
960
2,120
1,180
1,090
1,100
1.70
.89
1.52
2.25
3,920
2,180
2,010
2,040
3.14
1.39
2. 49
3.43
6,120
3,400
3,140
3,190
4.90
2.00
3.61
4.75
8,120
4,510
4,160
4,230
6.50
2. 56
4.23
5.43
.8 0
.7 5
1.39
2.05
.80
.64
1.24
1.68
N
N
N
N
1,015
1,000
1,000
950
1,040
1,060
1,060
1,120
1.28
1.19
1.10
1.26
1,930
1,960
1,960
2,060
1.88
1.77
1.61
2.10
3,010
3,060
3,060
3, 220
2.61
2.49
2. 22
3.15
4,000
4,060
4,060
4, 270
3. 28
3.14
2. 78
4.09
1. 23
1.12
1.04
1.13
N
N
N
850
830
865
1,250
1,280
1,230
1.11
2.18
2.12
2,310
2, 360
2, 270
1.59
3.34
3. 26
3, 600
3, 690
3, 540
2.17
4.19
4.15
4, 780
4,890
4,690
2. 70
4.82
4. 86
N
M
N
M
1,100
570
1, 150
500
960
1,860
920
2,120
1.26
2.34
1.38
3.25
1,780
3,440
1,700
3,920
1.82
3.98
2.05
5.67
2,780
5,370
2, 660
6,120
2. 51
5. 96
2. 86
5. 33
3,690
7,120
3, 530
8.120
3.14
7.63
3. 60
6. 46
1.11
1. 08
i The different kinds of gas are indicated as follows: M , manufactured; N , natural; and X, mixed, manufactured, and natural.
! M onthly consumption for each service for a five-room house (1 therm equals 100,000 B. t. u.).
« Automatic storage or instantaneous water heater.
< Prices include 2-percent sales tax.
* Minimum charge.
* Revised figures.
7 Prices include 3-percent sales tax.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.87
7.1
7.1
7.1
16.1
16.7
16.3
20.0
18.0
17.0
8. 3
4.5
5. 4
4.6
8 Prices include 1-percent sales tax.
11.2
15.2
16.4
10.8
15.0
22.2
24.3
21.0
24.2
21.7
12.9
PRICES
D etro it7__________
Indianapolis______
M ilw a u k ee.......... .
to
03
Peoria........................
Springfield___ ____
West North Central:
Kansas
City 8_____
to
M inneapolis_______
o
Omaha___________
St. Louis 8____ ____
St. Paul__________
South Atlantic:
Atlanta----------------Baltimore---- -----Charleston, S. C___
Jacksonville............
Norfolk___________
Richmond________
Savannah_________
Washington, D . C ..
East South Central:
Birmingham______
Louisville_________
M em phis_________
Mobile __________
West South Central:
Dallas____________
Houston__________
Little Rock *______
New Orleans______
Mountain:
B utte______ ____
Denver *____ _____
Salt Lake City 8___
Pacific:
Los A n g e le s......... .
Portland, Oreg____
San Francisco...........
Seattle 7__________
CI
15.3
8.0
4. 7
5.3
4.7
16.1
16.7
15. 1
15.3
15.2
X
X
N
N
N
M
M
M
N
N
7.7
6.8
10.1
12.0
oo
—1
i
CO
820
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Percentage changes in the net monthly price of specified amounts
of gas from October 15, 1935, to January 15, 1936, are shown in
table 8. Data are given in this table for only those cities for which
price changes were reported during this period.
T ab le 8 .— P ercen tage D ecrease in th e T o ta l M o n th ly B ill fo r Specified A m ou n ts
o f G as b y C ities
Jan. 15, 1936, C om pared w ith O ct. 15, 1935
Kind
of
gas
Region and city
Middle Atlantic:
New York:
Brooklyn...........................
West North Central:
Minneapolis.........__................
South Atlantic:
Washington, D . C ..................
East South Central:
Mobile:
Present........................... .
Mountain:
B utte..........................................
Heating value Percentage decrease from Oct. 15,1935, to Jan. 15,
1936
per cubic
foot in
British
thermal units 10.6 therms 19.6 therms 30.6 therms 40.6 therms
M
S37
0
4.3
11.7
X
800
1.5
1.9
2.2
2.3
X
600
1.3
1.4
2.9
4.4
N
960
3.4
4.7
5.4
4. 7
N
850
38.7
30.6
24.4
20.6
16.9
Coal Prices in J a n u a ry 1936
HE average retail price of coal in the larger cities of the United
States rose slightly between October 15, 1935, and January 15,
1936. Bituminous-coal prices advanced an average of 2.0 percent
in the 38 reporting cities. The index rose to 157.8 percent of the
1913 average on January 15, 1936, the highest level since 1931.
Pennsylvania anthracite prices rose 1.0 percent for both the stove
and the chestnut size. The current index, which is computedoon
the basis of the average of price quotations for 25 cities, is still
slightly below the level of the corresponding period in 1935.
Retail prices of coal as of the 15th of the month are collected from
each of the 51 cities from which retail prices of food are obtained.
Prices of bituminous coal of several kinds are received from 38 of the
cities. Of these 38 cities, 12 also report on stove and chestnut sizes
of Pennsylvania anthracite and 6 report on anthracite from other
fields. In addition to the 38 cities there are 13 cities which report
prices for Pennsylvania anthracite alone. For each city, prices are
shown for those coals sold in considerable quantities for household
use. Prices are for curb delivery of the kinds of coal sold to wage
earners. Extra charges for handling are not included.
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
821
RETAIL PRICES
T able 9 .— A verage R eta il P rices o f Coal in Large C ities C om bined
Janu ary 1936 and O ctober and Janu ary 1935
Average retail price per
ton of 2,000 pounds
Relative retail price
(1913=100)
Percentage
change January
1936, compared
with—
Article
1936
1935
1936
1935
1935
Jan. 15 Oct. 15 Jan. 15 Jan. 15 Oct. 15 Jan. 15 Oct. 15 Jan. 15
Bituminous coal (38 cities)________
Pennsylvania anthracite (25 cities):
Stove________________________
C hestnut____________ ________
$8.58
$8.41
$8. 37
157.8
154.7
154. 0
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .5
13.17
12.96
13.04
12.83
13.21
13. 01
170.4
163.8
168.8
162.1
171.0
164.4
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .0
- .3
- .3
Details by Regions and Cities
B it u m in o u s - coal prices rose in 22 of the 38 reporting cities. The
increases, which ranged from 0.1 percent in Milwaukee and Salt
Lake City to 17.6 percent in Memphis, were most pronounced in the
cities of the South Central and Mountain regions. Six of the ten
cities reporting lower prices for January are in the North Central
areas. Retail prices in each of the 38 cities on January 15, 1936,
and October 15 and January 15, 1935, are shown in table 10.
The price of Pennsylvania anthracite, stove size, advanced in 11
cities, remained unchanged in 13, and declined slightly in 1. The
chestnut size of Pennsylvania anthracite advanced in 13 cities and
remained at the same level in the other 12. The range of price
changes for anthracite was from an average decline of 0.2 percent in
Philadelphia to a 4.4 percent advance in New York City. Average
retail prices in each of the 25 cities on January 15, 1936, October 15
and January 15, 1935, are shown in table 11.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
822
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW--- MARCH 1936
T ab le 1 0 .— A verage R e ta il P rices o f B itu m in ou s Coal per T on o f 2,000 P ound s,
by C ities
Janu ary 1936 and O ctober and January 1935
1936
1935
1936
Ragion, city, and grade
and size of coal
Jan 15 Oct 15 Jan. 15
Middle Atlantic:
Pittsburgh:
Prepared sizes______
East North Central:
Chicago:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile. .
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile_____
Cincinnati:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile. . .
Low volatile.........
Cleveland:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low v o la tile ..___
Columbus:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low v o la tile ..___
Detroit:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile_____
Indianapolis:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile..........
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile_____
Milwaukee:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Peoria:
Prepared sizes...........
Springfield, HI.:
Prepared sizes_____
West North Central:
Kansas City:
Prepared sizes............
Minneapolis:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile... . . .
Omaha:
Prepared sizes______
St. Louis:
Prepared sizès______
St. Paul:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
South Atlantic:
Atlanta:
Prepared sizes______
Baltimore:
Prepared sizes:
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
High volatile_____
$4.40
$4.42
$4. 20
8. 59
10. 79
8. 46
10.73
8. 32
10.19
7.91
7.91
7. 94
6. 26
8.18
5.80
7. 57
6.06
7.68
6.66
9.54
6. 62
9.41
6. 77
8. 79
6.18
7.97
6. 26
7. 86
6.41
7. 75
7. 36
8. 63
7. 36
8. 63
7.17
8.52
7. 73
7. 73
7. 98
5. 76
8. 56
6.09
8. 65
6.17
8.53
7.30
7. 40
7. 61
8.43
8.42
11.48 • 11.22
7.98
10.65
7.24
7.33
7.00
4.35
4.57
4.54
5.85
5. 94
6.03
10.68
13.36
10. 42
13.17
10. 30
12.96
8.62
8.55
8. 55
5.38
5. 39
5.99
10.49
13.39
10.15
13.18
10.16
13.12
6. 78
6.98
7.02
9.19
9.00
9.06
7.29
7.29
7.17
Region, city, and grade
and size of coal
1935
Jan. 15 Oct 15 Jan. 15
South Atlantic—Con.
Charleston, S. C.:
Prepared sizes.......___ $9.33
$9.33
Jacksonville:
Prepared sizes........ — 11.13
11.13
Norfolk:
Prepared sizes:
7.50
7. 63
High volatile
Low volatile_____
9. 50
9. 50
Run of mine:
Low volatile_____
7.50
7.50
Richmond:
Prepared sizes:
8.08
8.08
High volatile
9. 33
Low v o latile____
9.33
Run of mine:
7.40
Low volatile..
7.40
Savannah:
Prepared sizes _____ i 9.16
i 8.95
Washington, D. C.:
Prepared sizes:
2 9. 00
2 8.81
High volatile
Low v o latile_____ 210.87 » 10.52
Run of mine:
» 8.02
Mixed___
2 8.02
East South Central:
Birmingham:
Prepared sizes
6.36
6.18
Louisville:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile
5.66
5. 73
Low volatile
8.06
8.11
Memphis:
7.43
6.32
Prepared sizes
Mobile:
Prepared sizes______
8. 99
8. 59
West South Central:
Dallas:
Prepared sizes______ 10.29
10.14
Houston:
Prepared sizes........... 11.71
11. 43
Little Rock:
8.41
Prepared sizes______
8. 13
New Orleans:
Prepared sizes
10.60
9.93
Mountain:
Butte:
Prepared sizes
10.00
9. 77
Denver:
Prepared sizes_____
7. 69
7.08
Salt Lake City:
7.61
Prepared sizes______
7. 00
Pacific:
Los Angeles:
Prepared s i z e s .. ___ 16. 74
16.74
Portland, Oreg.:
12.39
Prepared sizes
12.39
San Francisco:
16.33
Prepared sizes____
16.35
Seattle:
Prepared sizes.. __ 10.16
10. 12
1All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made.
additional charge has been included in the above prices.
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$10.00
11.13
8. 00
9. 50
8.00
7. 67
8.87
7.75
i 10.03
2 9. 00
2 10. 47
2 8.02
6.29
6. 15
8. 11
7.19
9.01
10.25
11.75
8. 17
10.60
9.76
7. 75
7. 17
16. 78
11.55
15. 21
9. 66
Th is
823
RETAIL PRICES
T able 11.— A verage R etail Prices o f A n thracite Coal per T on o f 2,000 P ou n d s,
b y C ities
Janu ary 1936 and O ctober and January 1935
1936
Region, city, and size of
coal
1936
1935
Region, city, and size of
coal
Jan. 15 Oct. 15 Jan. 15
1935
Jan. 15 Oct. 15 Jan. 15
Pennsylvania anthracite
New England:
Boston:
Stove
$12.90
Chestnut
12.90
Bridgeport:
13.00
Stove
Chestnut
13. 00
Fall River:
Stove
13. 75
Chestnut
13.50
Manchester:
Stove
14.83
Chestnut
14.83
New Haven:
13.15
Stove,
_____ ___
Chestnut
13.15
Portland, Maine:
14.50
Stove,. ______ . .
Chestnut
14. 25
Providence:
14. 75
S tov e,,, , _______
Chestnut
14.50
Middle Atlantic:
Buffalo:
13.00
Stove ,, , , _______
Chestn nt
12.75
Newark:
11.65
Stove ,, ___ ,
__
Chestnut
11.40
New York:
12.24
Stove... _________
Chestnut
11.99
Philadelphia:
10. 92
Stove.
.. ..
Chestnut
10.54
Pittsburgh.
12. 75
S tov e... __________
12. 75
Chestnut ________
Rochester:
12.24
Stove.
. _______
12.00
Chestnut. _______
Scranton:
8.81
Stove__ ___________
8.56
Chestnut ________
$12.90
12. 90
$13. 75
13. 50
13.00
13.00
13.17
13. 17
13. 75
13.50
14.50
14.25
14. 50
14. 50
15. 50
15. 50
13.15
13.15
13.65
13.65
14.50
14. 25
14.50
14. 25
14.25
13.95
14.75
14.50
13.00
12.75
12. 90
12.65
11.48
11.22
11.65
11.40
11.73
11.48
12. 39
12.14
11.00
10.50
11.20
10. 96
12.75
12.75
12. 75
12. 75
12.24
11.88
12.98
12.73
8.78
8.53
8.63
8.44
East North Central:
Chicago:
Stove... __________ $14.04
13.79
C h estn u t_________
Cleveland:
S to v e.......................... 13.39
13.13
Chestnut__________
Detroit:
12. 71
Stove_____________
12.45
Chestnut__________
Milwaukee:
14.25
Stove... __________
14.00
Chestnut__________
West North Central:
Minneapolis:
Stove______ ______ 16. 20
15.95
Chestnut . . _ ___
St. Louis:
14.11
S t o v e ,,______ ____
13. 86
Chestnut. ________
St. Paul:
16.20
Stove _____________
15.95
Chestnut _______
South Atlantic:
Baltimore:
S t o v e .._________ . 11. 75
11.50
Chestnut______ , . .
NorfolkStove______________ 13.50
13.50
C h e stn u t.________
Richmond:
13.50
Stove_____________
13.50
C h e stn u t.____ . .
Washington, D. C.:
Stove _____________ • 13. 50
C h e stn u t.________ 113.20
$13.98
13. 73
$14.06
13.81
13.22
12.97
12. 54
12.29
12.45
12.19
12.45
12.19
14.11
13.86
13.55
13.30
15. 75
15. 50
15.80
15.55
14. 11
13.86
14.11
13.86
15. 70
15.45
15.80
15.55
11.75
11.50
11.75
11.54
13. 50
13.50
13. 50
13.50
13. 50
13. 50
13.00
13.00
i 13. 50
i 13. 20
' 14. 30
1 14.00
$15.81
15.81
$15. 50
15.50
23.69
23.69
25.63
25.11
Other anthracite
West North Central:
Kansas City:
Arkansas, furnace__ $10.74
sto VP,
12.00
West South Central:
Dallas:
13.00
Arkansas, egg______
Houston:
Arkansas, egg............. 14.33
Little Rock:
Arkansas, egg............. 10.00
Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$10. 74
12.00
$10. 50
11.50
13.00
13.50
13.83
14.50
10.00
10. 50
Mountain:
Denver:
Colorado, furnace— $15.81
15.81
stove____
Pacific:
San Francisco:
New Mexico, egg___ 23.95
Colorado, egg—.......... 23.95
824
M ONTHLY
LABOR
R E V IE W — M A R C H
1936
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
R E T A IL
825
P R IC E S
Coal Prices 1926 to January 1936
R e t a i l prices of coal have been collected from the cities covered
in the retail-food-price study. For the years 1913-19 prices were
collected semiannually on January 15 and July 15. From June 1920
to July 1935 prices were collected on the 15th of each month. Be
ginning with July 1935 it is planned to collect these prices on the
15th of January, April, July, and October of each year.
Table 12 shows, for large cities combined, average prices of bitu
minous coal and of Pennsylvania white-ash anthracite, stove and
chestnut sizes, on January 15 and July 15, 1926 to 1933, and quarterly
from January 15, 1934, to January 15, 1936.
The accompanying chart shows the trend in retail prices of stove
and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite in 25 cities combined
and of bituminous coal in 38 cities combined. The trend is shown
by months from January 15, 1929, to July 15, 1935, inclusive, and
quarterly to January 15, 1936.
Table 12.—Average Retail Prices of Coal in Large Cities Combined 1
January 1926 to January 1936, inclusive
Average price,
2,000 pounds
Year
and
month
B itu
mi
nous
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
Stove Chest
nut
Average price,
2,000 pounds
Relative price
(1913=100.0)
B itu
mi
nous
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
Stove Chest
nut
179.3 0
0
1926: Jan. $9. 74 0
July 8.70 $15.43 $15.19 160.1 199.7
1927: Jan. 9.96 15. 66 15. 42 183.3 202.7
July 8.91 15.15 14.81 163.9 196.1
1928: Jan. 9. 30 15. 44 15. 08 171.1 199.8
July 8.69 14.91 14.63 159.9 192.9
1929: Jan. 9. 09 15.38 15.06 167.2 199.1
July 8.62 14. 94 14. 63 158.6 193.4
1930: Jan. 9.11 15.33 15.00 167.6 198.4
July 8.65 14. 84 14. 53 159.1 192.1
1931: Jan. 8.87 15. 12 14.88 163.2 195.8
July 8. 09 14. 61 14. 59 148.9 189.1
1932: Jan. 8.17 15.00 14. 97 150.3 194.2
July 7. 50 13. 37 13.16 138.0 173.0
0
191.9
194.8
187.1
190.6
184.9
190.3
184.8
189.5
183.6
188.1
184.3
189.1
166.2
Year
and
month
B itu
mi
nous
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
Stove Chest
nut
Relative price
(1913=100.0)
Bitu
mi
nous
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
Stove Chest
nut
1933: Jan. $7. 46 $13. 82 $13.61 137.3 178.9
July 7.64 12. 47 12. 26 140.7 161.3
1934: Jan. 8. 24 13. 44 13. 25 151.6 174.0
Apr. 8.18 13.14 12.94 150. 5 170.1
July 8.23 12.79 12. 60 151.5 165.5
Oct. 8. 35 13. 32 13.11 153.6 172.4
1935: Jan. 8. 37 13.21 13.01 154.0 171.0
Apr. 8. 24 12. 67 12. 47 151.7 164.0
July 8.12 12. 06 11.86 149.3 156.1
Oct. 8.41 13.04 12. 83 154.7 108.8
1936: Jan. 8.58 13.17 12.96 157.8 170.4
171.9
155. 0
167.4
163. 5
159.2
165.7
164.4
157. 6
149.9
162.1
163.8
• The prices in the table are unweighted averages of quotations from 38 cities for bituminous coal and
from25 cities for Pennsylvania anthracite.
* Insufficient data.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
W holesale Prices in Ja n u a ry 1936
Summary
HOLESALE commodity prices tended moderately downward
during January. From an index of 80.9 percent of the 1926
average for the week ended January 4, the level of all commodities
fell to 80.2 for the last week in the month, a decline of 0.9 percent.
Compared with the corresponding week of a year ago, the all-com
modity index showed a gain of 1.5 percent.
Sharp decreases in wholesale prices of farm products, foods, and
textile products were largely responsible for the decline in the general
index during the month.
Table 1 compares the level of wholesale commodity prices for the
week of January 25 with the first week of the current year and with
the corresponding week of 1935.
W
Table 1.—Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodities,
January 25, 1936, January 4, 1936, and January 26, 1935
[1926=100]
Groups
Jan. 25,
1936
Jan. 4,
1936
Percent
age
change
Jan. 26,
1935
Percent
age
change
All commodities------ - - -------- -------------------------------
80.2
80.9
- 0 .9
79.0
+ 1 .5
Farm products__________________ ____ __________
Foods____ _______________________________ ____
----------------Hides and leather products--------Textile products________
---_ ---------- - - ---Fuel and lighting materials--------- - ----------------Metals and metal products_____________ . . ------Building materials- ______________ _____________
Chemicals and drugs...................................
................
House-furnishing goods ___________________
Miscellaneous com m odities.. . -------------All commodities other than farm products and
foods-------------------------------- --------- ---------------- All commodities other than farm---------------------- -_
Raw m aterials_______- ____ _____
_______ - Semimanufactured__ - __ - -_
- ____ _______
Finished
_ _ _________ ________
78.1
82.7
97.7
70.8
77.0
86.1
85.3
80.6
82.3
67.8
79.3
85.8
96.6
72.9
75.5
85.9
85.2
80.1
82.2
67.5
-1 .5
-3 .6
+ 1 .1
-2 .9
+ 2 .0
+ .2
+ .1
+ .6
+ .1
+ .4
79.0
80.9
86.8
70.0
74.3
85.2
84.9
80.0
82.1
70.6
-1 .1
+ 2 .2
+12.6
+ 1.1
+ 3 .6
+ 1 .1
+ .5
+ .8
+ .2
-4 .0
79.0
80.6
78.0
74.7
82.3
78.8
81.2
78.1
75.3
83.2
+ .3
-.7
-. 1
-.8
- 1 .1
77.9
79.0
(i)
(9
(0
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .0
1 N ot computed.
During the interval—January 4 to January 25—fuel and lighting
materials increased 2.0 percent, hides and leather products advanced
1.1 percent, and chemicals and drugs rose 0.6 percent. Increases over
826
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W H O LESA LE
P R IC E S
827
this period for metals and metal products, building materials, house
furnishing goods, and miscellaneous commodities were less than 0.5
percent. From January 4 to 25 industrial commodities represented
by the group of “all commodities other than farm products and pro
cessed foods” advanced 0.3 percent. All commodities other than
farm products (nonagricultural) declined 0.7 percent. Raw materials
fell fractionally during this period. Semimanufactured articles de
clined 0.8 percent and finished products dropped 1.1 percent.
Compared with the corresponding week of 1935, the January 25,
1936, farm product index—78.1—showed a decrease of 1.1 percent.
Miscellaneous commodities have fallen 4.0 percent over the year
period, due primarily to lower prices for cattle feed and crude rubber.
The marked rise of 12.6 percent over the past year brings the index
for the hides and leather products group to 97.7 percent of the 1926
average—more than 10 points above that for any of the other com
modity groups. Fuel and lighting materials rose 3.6 percent during
the year; foods advanced 2.2 percent; textile products and metals
and metal products, 1.1 percent. Minor increases were also recorded
by the building materials, chemicals and drugs, and house-furnishing
goods groups. The group of “all commodities other than farm
products” (nonagricultural) advanced 2.0 percent during the year, and
the industrial commodity group has risen 1.4 percent.
Weekly Fluctuations
F rom an index number of 80.6 for the last week of 1935, wholesale
commodity prices advanced to 80.9 for the first week of 1936, repre
senting an increase of 0.4 percent. Two successive declines followed,
and for the week ended January 18 the all-commodity index stood at
80.2. It remained unchanged during the week ended January 25,
a cumulative decline of 0.9 percent for the month.
The farm-products index followed precisely the same trend as the
all-commodity index, but changes were more pronounced. Between
the last week of December and the first week of January, prices of farm
products advanced 1.1 percent. Declines amounting to 1.5 percent
followed for the 2 weeks succeeding. During the last week of January
the agricultural commodity index remained unchanged at 78.1 percent
of the 1926 average.
Wholesale food prices declined sharply throughout January. The
index fell from 85.8 to 82.7, representing a decline of 3.6 percent for
the month. Cereal products and meats registered net decreases of
7.0 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, during the 4 weeks covered.
Average prices of dairy products and fruits and vegetables also
followed a downward course, but the drop in these two subgroups was
moderate.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
828
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
By contrast, prices of hides and leather products continued upward.
The index for the third week in January—97.8—is the highest point
reached since September 1930. During the last week of the month a
slight recession in prices of leather caused the index for the group as a
whole to decline to 97.7 percent of the 1926 level.
Declining prices of cotton goods and raw silk largely accounted for
a decrease of 2.9 percent in the textile products group between the
weeks of January 4 and 25. The tendency in prices of clothing, knit
goods, and certain other textile products was also slightly lower.
Woolen and worsted goods, on the other hand, advanced during the
week ended January 25.
The index for the fuel and lighting materials group declined frac
tionally between the first and second weeks of January due to lower
prices for anthracite and petroleum products. Higher prices for
bituminous-coal and petroleum products reversed the movement
during the last 2 weeks of the month. The index for the group as a
whole advanced from 75.5 to 77.0 during the month.
Metals and metal products maintained the steadiness which has
been characteristic of this group for some time, with the tendency
moderately upward. Iron and steel and plumbing and heating fix
tures advanced during the latter part of the month. Nonferrous
metals rose during the first 3 weeks, then dropped in the last week
losing the gain of the preceding period. The index for the metals
and metal products group as a whole stood at 86.1 for the week ended
January 25.
Following a slight advance between the last week of December and
the first week of January, the building materials group remained
steady through the week ended January 18. Rising prices for lumber
caused the group index to advance slightly during the week ended
January 25.
A steady upward course was followed throughout January by the
chemicals and drugs group due to rising prices for chemicals and
mixed fertilizers. Wholesale prices of drugs and pharmaceuticals
declined during the last week of January.
The index for the house-furnishing goods group rose to 82.4 for the
week ended January 11. A minor decline was recorded for the third
week of the month. During the week ended January 25 the move
ment was again upward, bringing the index for the group to 82.3
percent of the 1926 average.
Cattle feed prices declined steadily throughout January. Crude
rubber, on the other hand, rose constantly. Average wholesale
prices of paper and pulp and certain other miscellaneous commodities
became firmer during the latter part of the month.
The index for the large group of “all commodities other than farm
products and processed foods” advanced from 78.8 to 79.0 from the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
829
WHOLESALE PRICES
first to the last week of January. From an index of 78.1 for the week
ending January 4, raw materials fell to 77.6 for the second week of
the month. During the last two weeks of January, two successive
but small increases were recorded and the index rose to 78.0. The
index for the semimanufactured group dropped throughout the
month, registering a net decline of 0.8 percent. Finished products
advanced slightly during the first week of January. During the
second and third weeks, however, the trend was reversed and the
index fell to 82.3, remaining at this level during the next week.
Index numbers for the main groups of commodities for each week
of 1936; December 1935; and for January 26, 1935; and January 27,
1934, are shown in table 2.
Table 2 .—Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodities
[1926 = 100]
Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Jan. Jan.
4,
25,
18,
28, 21,
7,
26, 27,
11,
14,
1936 1936 1936 1936 1935 1935 1935 1935 1935 1934
Commodity groups
All commodities_____
- - ______________
--
Farm products------- ------------------- -------------- Foods
___
______________ ___________
Hides and leather products----------- ------ ---------Textile products_________ _ _ _________ --- Fuel and lighting materials. _________________
Metals and metal products __________________
Building materials
_ .. ..
....
Chemicals and drugs________
. .
_______
House-furnishing goods. __________
Miscellaneous commodities___________________
All commodities other than farm products and
foods_____________ ______ _______ ______
All commodities other than farm products . . .
Raw materials.
. . . .
Semimanufactured
Finished products. . . _________ _______ _ . .
80.2 80.2 80.5 80.9 80.6 80.4 80.8 80.9 79.0 72.4
78.1
82.7
97.7
70.8
77.0
86.1
85.3
80.6
82.3
67.8
78. 1
82.9
97.8
71.0
76.4
86.0
85.2
80.3
82.2
67.8
78.3
84.6
97.7
72.4
75.4
86.0
85.2
80.2
82.4
67.8
79.3
85.8
96.6
72.9
75. 5
85.9
85.2
80.1
82.2
67.5
78.4
85.3
96.4
72.8
75.6
85.9
85. 1
80.0
82.2
67.5
77.3
85.3
96.2
72.7
75.7
86.2
85.2
80.2
82. 2
67.5
79.2
85.8
95.4
72.8
75. 7
86.3
85.3
80.5
82. 2
67.4
79.1
86.4
94.8
72.9
75.9
86.4
85.4
80.7
82. 2
67.4
79.0
80.9
86.8
70.0
74.3
85.2
84.9
80.0
82. 1
70.6
59.5
65.0
90.4
76.4
74.0
84.7
86. 2
75. 1
81. 7
68. 1
79.0
80.6
78.0
74.7
82.3
78.9
80.6
77.9
74.7
82.3
78.8
80.9
77.6
75.0
82.9
78.8
81.2
78.1
75.3
83.2
78.8
81. 1
77.6
74.9
83. 1
78.8
81.0
76.9
75.3
83.0
78.9
81.1
78.0
75.4
83.1
78.9 77.9 78.5
81.3 79.0 75. 1
77.9 (*)
(■)
75.6 0)
01
83.4 (>)
(i)
1 N ot computed.
Wholesale Price Level in January
C om pa red with December the index of wholesale commodity
prices for January—80.6 percent of the 1926 average—shows a
decrease of 0.4 percent. This brings the all-commodity index back
to the level of November 1935, but wholesale prices are still 2.3 per
cent above the corresponding month of a year ago.
The decline in the January index was primarily the result of sharp
decreases in wholesale prices of foods and textile products, although
farm products, metals and metal products, and chemicals and drugs
declined fractionally. Hides and leather products, on the other hand,
advanced 1.8 percent. Smaller increases were shown for the fuel
and lighting materials, building materials, housefurnishing goods,
and miscellaneous commodities groups.
Table 3 summarizes the changes in wholesale prices during the
month interval by commodity groups.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
830
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- MARCH 1936
Table 3.—Number of Series Changing in Price from December 1935 to
January 1936
Groups
All commodities_____________
_
Farm produ cts_____ _________ _______
Foods______ ________ _ ________ _____
Hides and leather products_____ ____________
Textiles____ ______________________ .
Fuel and lighting_______________ _ ________ _
M etals_________________________________
Building materials____ __ _______
Chemicals and drugs___________ _________
House-furnishings____________ . __
Miscellaneous___________________ ______ ___ _______
Increases
Decreases
N o change
182
182
420
40
38
20
15
13
14
10
8
13
a
22
48
4
48
9
5
15
7
19
5
5
36
17
49
2
111
61
74
29
36
The raw-materials group, which includes basic farm products,
hides and skins, hemp, jute, sisal, crude petroleum, crude rubber,
scrap steel, and similar commodities, advanced 0.5 percent during
January. The current index for this group—78.1—was 2.0 percent
above that for January 1935. “Finished products”, including more
than 500 manufactured articles, declined 0.8 percent from December
to January, the January index for this group, however, being 2.0 per
cent above the corresponding month of last year.
“Semimanufactured articles”, including raw sugar, leather, iron
and steel bars, pig iron, and other semiprocessed items, decreased 0.5
percent during the month. Nevertheless, the January index was 5.0
percent higher than a year ago.
The index for the group “all commodities other than farm products
and processed foods”—-78.8—representing industrial commodities,
rose 0.1 percent in January and was 1.4 percent above a year ago.
Prices of all commodities other than farm products (nonagricultural)
declined 0.5 percent in January but were 2.5 percent above a year ago.
A decline of 0.1 percent was recorded for the farm products group
during the month due to lower prices for steers, lambs, cotton, eggs,
lemons, oranges, peanuts, and sweetpotatoes. Wholesale prices of
grains, calves, cows, hogs, ewes, wethers, live poultry, fresh apples,
tobacco, onions, and wool were higher. Farm products prices in
January were 0.8 percent above those of a year ago.
The index for the foods group fell 2.6 percent in January but was
still 4.5 percent higher than in 1935. Declining prices for cheese,
flour, canned and dried fruits, canned vegetables, lamb, cured and
fresh pork, lard, oleo oils, and vegetable oils were mainly responsible
for the decrease. Average prices of butter, evaporated and powdered
milk, bread in the New York market, fresh beef at Chicago, mutton,
veal, dressed poultry, coffee, pepper, salt, and raw sugar were higher.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
831
Prices of hides and leather products continued upward during the
month, reaching a new 5-year high. The January index for this
group—97.1—was 12.6 percent above a year ago. Shoes, hides and
skins, and other leather products rose during the month. Leather
prices, on the other hand, were fractionally lower.
A decline of 2.1 percent was recorded by the textile products group.
All subgroups except woolen and worsted goods shared in the decline.
Advancing prices for coke and petroleum products were the factors
contributing to the 0.7 percent rise in the fuel and lighting materials
group. Average prices of anthracite coal were slightly lower and
bituminous coal remained unchanged.
Metals and metal products declined 0.1 percent in January as a
result of lower prices for antimony, bar silver, solder, and pig tin.
The iron and steel and plumbing and heating subgroups recorded
minor increases. Agricultural implements and motor vehicles were
steady.
A moderate increase was recorded in the index for the building
materials group during January. Wholesale prices of lumber and
certain other building materials were higher. Average prices of
brick and tile and paint and paint materials were lower. Prices of
cement and structural steel remained at the December level.
Weakening prices of chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and
fertilizer materials caused the index for the chemicals and drugs
group to decline 0.1 percent during the month. The mixed fertilizer
subgroup was slightly higher.
The index for the house-furnishing goods group rose to 81.4 percent
of the 1926 average. Both furniture and furnishings shared in the
advance.
During January cattle feed prices fell 3.1 percent. Crude rubber,
on the contrary, rose 9.6 percent. A fractional increase was recorded
in paper and pulp.
The index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is composed of 784
price series weighted according to their relative importance in the
country’s markets and based on average prices for the year 1926
as 100.
The index numbers of wholesale prices for the groups and subgroups
of commodities for January 1936 and for comparable months of other
recent years are given in table 4.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
832
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Table 4.-—-Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups and Subgroups of
Commodities for January 1936, in Comparison with December 1935, and
January of Each of the Past 7 Years
[1926 = 100]
Janu
ary
1936
D e
Janu Janu Janu Janu Janu Janu
cem Janu
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
ary
ber
1935 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929
80.6
80.9
78.8
72.2
61.0
Farm products________________ .
____ 78.2
Grains__ _______ ___________________
78.9
Livestock and poultry ___ ____ . . . __ 89.1
Other farm products_______
_______ 70.8
Foods______________ __________________
83. 5
Butter, cheese, and m il k ...______ _ _. 84.2
Cereal products________ _______ _
92. 1
Fruits and vegetables. . . _________ _ _ 62.2
M eats______ _ ______________________ 94.9
Other foods___________________________ 75.5
Hides and leather products_____________
97. 1
Boots and shoes..
100.5
Hides and skins____ _____ ______. . . . 100. 5
L eather.. . . . .
87.3
Other leather products________________ 95.3
Textile products. _____
71.7
Clothing . .
_____ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ „
80.8
Cotton goods___________ ____________ 80.4
Knit goods.______ ________ _________ 61.8
Silk and rayon.. . . . . . . . . . .
33.5
Woolen and worsted goods_____________ 81.4
Other textile products -------------- . _
67.8
Fuel and lighting materials ______ . . _ 75. 1
Anthracite. . . . . . . ________________ 82.3
Bituminous coal______________________ 98.7
C o k e ________
92.7
Electricity___________________________
0)
G a s... . . . . . _______________________
(D
Petroleum products___________________ 54.4
Metals and metal products___________ ____ 86.7
Agricultural implements______ ________ 94.6
Iron and steel .
87. 1
Motor vehicles.
____ . . .
. . .
93.6
Nonferrous metals ___
69.7
Plumbing and heating. . . . . _________ 71. 7
Building materials______ . ------------- ------- 85.7
Brick and tile _________________________ 88.4
C em ent..
_ _ ____________ _______ 95.5
Lumber.
_________________________ 82. 2
Paint and paint materials______________ 79. 6
Plumbing and heating_________________ 71.7
Structural steel ______________________ 92.0
Other building materials___________
90.2
Chemicals and drugs.. _____ . . . _______ . . .
80.5
C h e m ic a ls ..____ . .
____________ 87.6
Drugs and pharmaceuticals____________ 74.0
Fertilizer materials....... .............. . .......... 64.4
Mixed fertilizers__ . _________ _____ 68.8
House-furnishing goods _ .. . . ............. 81.4
Furnishings____
. . ________ . . . . 84.8
Furniture_____ ____ ________________ 77.9
Miscellaneous. . .
67.8
Automobile tires and tubes____________ 45.0
Cattle feed ... _____ _ _ _ _ __________ 68.6
Paper and p u l p . . ____ _____________ 79.8
Rubber, crude________ ______________ 29.8
Other miscellaneous.. . _______
80.4
Raw materials__________________ . . ____ 78.1
Semimanufactured articles________________ 74.8
Finished products________________
. . . .. 82.4
Nonagricultural commodities. ______ ____ 80.9
All commodities other than farm products
and foods.. ______ ______ .
___ ____ 78.8
78.3
76.6
87.4
72.8
85.7
83.7
97.2
63.7
97.5
77.5
95.4
100. 1
96.5
87.6
87.1
73.2
81.0
86.0
62.2
33.7
81.0
68.1
74.6
82.9
98.7
89.6
84.9
84.5
52.8
86.8
94.6
86.9
93.6
70.6
71.1
85.5
88.9
95. 5
81. 5
80.0
71.1
92.0
90.0
80.6
87.7
74.7
64.5
67.7
81.0
84.7
77.1
67.5
45.0
70.8
79.2
27.2
80.2
77.7
75.2
83.1
81.3
77.6
88.8
73. 3
76.6
79.9
83.5
91.6
62.8
81.6
76.2
86.2
97.1
71. 1
74.3
85.0
70.3
78.4
84.1
63.5
28.6
73.8
68.8
72.9
82.3
96.3
86.4
89.9
87.6
48.8
85.8
92.7
85.7
94. 1
67.6
68.0
84.9
91. 1
93.9
79.9
79.0
68.0
92.0
90.3
79.3
84.5
73.1
66.5
73.3
81.2
84.3
78.2
70.7
47.5
116.2
81.5
26.5
80.4
76.6
71.2
80.8
78.9
58.7
63.7
41.1
67.4
64.3
65.0
85.8
68.0
48.9
64.0
89. 5
98.5
77.2
79.9
87.0
76.5
87.5
86.5
70.6
29.7
84.3
76.9
73. 1
81.5
90.8
83.5
92. 3
90.8
51. 1
85.5
85.2
83.6
96.9
66.1
72. 5
86.3
86.6
93. 9
87.4
78.4
72. 5
86.8
89.8
74.4
78.8
65.2
68.4
71.2
80.8
82.9
78.8
67.5
43.2
68.5
83.0
18.9
81.8
64. 1
71.9
76.0
75.0
42.6
32.9
37.8
48.7
55.8
55.2
60.9
53.0
49.5
60. 1
68.9
83.3
43.0
57. 1
78.2
51. 9
61.9
50.1
48.4
27.0
53.4
66.3
66.0
88.7
79.8
75.3
103.2
96.7
38.7
78.2
84. 5
78.5
91.3
46.4
62.8
70. 1
74.9
81.2
55.9
68. 1
62.8
81.7
79.4
71.6
79.3
54.9
62.3
62.7
72.9
73.5
72.3
61.2
44.6
38.2
72.0
6.5
76.8
50.2
56.9
66.7
64.9
52.8 73. 1 101.0 105.9
46.7 62.4 93.8
98.3
53.4 75. 2 100. 5 102.1
54.8 75.3 103. 9 111.3
64.7 80.7 97.3
98.9
67.8 83.7 97.2 108.8
71.0 75.7 87.6
89.0
62.2 76.9 103.9
87.4
61.9 88.4 106.2 105.7
61.9 74.5 91.0
95.5
79.3 88.7 105.1 113.4
88.8 95. 1 103.8 106.7
49.0 64.4 104. 2 124.1
77.5 90.8 108.3 120.5
98.9 102.3 106.1 107.5
59.6 71.3 87.2
92.5
69.6 79.1 88.9
91.6
55.8 73.5 94.7 100.4
55.8 64.8 85.9
89.9
37.7 49.0 75. 2
84. 3
63.3 73.7 84.9
91.4
70.7 77.2 87.9
94.5
67.9 73.3 81.7
84.2
94.8 88.9 91.2
91. 6
84.4 88.1 91.9
93.7
80.5 83.8 84.1
84.5
107.5 99.9 96.9
96.1
98.6 95.8 92.6
92.3
38.8 50.4 67.3
71.9
81.8 86.9 97.2 100.1
85.5 94.4 97.3
99.2
79.9 85.5 92.0
94.5
95.3 95.1 103. 1 107.3
55.4 69. 5 101.3 101.2
74.1 87.4 92. 2
99.7
74.8 83.8 94.3
95.5
95.1
79.3 87.0 93.1
75. 2 90.3 90.4
94.6
65.6 76.4 92.3
93.1
75.4 83.2 95.4
92.7
74. 1 87.4 92.2
99.7
77.3 83.0 97.0
97.0
81.0 87.8 96.9
98.0
75.7 84.5 93.0
95.6
80.6 88.3 98.0 100.7
60.6 65.3 69.6
72.0
69.9 81.4 89.8
94.6
75.5 90.4 97.1
97.1
77.7 88.3 93.8
93.9
76.1 84.9 92.9
93.4
79.5 92.1 94.8
94.4
65.6 72.2 81.3
82.7
39.7 47.2 53.0
56.5
53.0 75.0 113.5 134.8
78.0 83.6 88.1
88.9
9.3 17.1 31.1
40.8
85.2 89.9 99.3
96.8
58.3 72.7 94.0
98.8
63.1 73.7 90.2
94.6
72.1 81. 5 92.1
94.7
70.3 79.3 90.7
93.8
78.7
77.7
78.3
67.3
71.7
Groups and subgroups
All commodities_____ ____________________
1 Data not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
67.3
78.2
79.0
92.5
89.5
95.9
92.3
WHOLESALE PRICES
833
Monthly Average Wholesale Prices and Index Numbers, Individual
Commodities
T e h table showing monthly average wholesale prime and index
numbers of individual commodities formerly appearing in the monthly
pamphlet, Wholesale Prices, is published semiannually instead of
monthly. The December 1935 issue showed information for the last
6 months of, and the average for, the year 1935. The monthly figures
will be furnished upon request.
W holesale Prices in th e U n ited States and in Foreign
C ountries
N THE following table the index numbers of wholesale prices of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor, and those in certain foreign countries, 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 original sources from which the information has been drawn, in
certain countries being the year 1913 or some other pre-war period.
Only general comparisons can be made from these figures, since, in
addition to differences in the base periods, and the kind and number
of articles included, there are important differences in the composition
of the index numbers themselves. Indexes are shown for the years
1926-34, inclusive, and by months from January 1933 through March
1936.
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
834
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW—MARCH 1936
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign
Countries
Country__________
United
States
Bureau
Computing agency. of Labor
Statistics
Australia Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Bureau
Federal M inistry General
of
Statis of Labor
Statis
Census
tical
and Social
tical
and
Bureau
Bureau
Welfare
Statistics
*1*1 . I ;
Dom in
ion
Bureau
of
Statistics
General
Statis
tical
Bureau
National
Tariff
Commis
sion,
Shanghai
1926
(100)
1911
(1000)
JanuaryJune
1914
(100)
April
1914
(100)
1926
(100)
1926
(100)
1913
(100)
1926
(100)
i ' ;
Commodities______
784
92
47
(Paper)
125
(Gold)
55
567 i
(Paper)
(Silver)
155 8
1926 _____ _______
1927_______________
1928_______________
1929_______________
1930______________
100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
1832
1817
1792
1803
1596
123
133
130
130
117
744
847
843
851
744
100.0
102.4
109.8
117.0
94.6
100.0
97.7
96.4
95.6
86.6
195.5
192.4
166.9
100.0
104.4
101.7
104.5
114.8
1931_______________
1932______________
1933______________
1934______________
73.0
64.8
65.9
74.9
1428
1411
1409
1471
108
112
108
110
626
532
501
473
79.1
70.3
61.8
63.6
72.1
66.7
67.1
71.6
152.2
230.4
346.0
343.6
126.7
112.4
103.8
97.1
January. . --------February_________
March ______. . .
April--- ---------------M ay______________
J u n e . . . ____- . . -
72.2
73.6
73.7
73.3
73.7
74.6
1456
1452
1459
1471
1456
1463
109
110
113
112
110
110
484
483
478
474
470
472
59.1
62.6
61.7
61.6
63.0
64.2
70.7
72.1
72.1
71.3
71. 1
72.0
328.6
331.4
336.9
342.6
343.1
351.7
97.2
98.0
96.6
94.6
94.9
95.7
July--------------------August. . ----------September-----------October___ _____ _
November______ _
December _______
74.8
76.4
77.6
76.5
76. 5
76.9
1483
1500
1493
1493
1470
1459
110
110
108
108
109
109
471
474
470
467
466
468
64.2
65.7
65.5
66.2
64.8
63.8
72.0
72.2
71.9
71.3
71.1
71.1
352.5
354.1
352.6
344.2
343.3
341.8
97.1
99.8
97.3
96.1
98.3
99.0
January . . ---------February____ _ . . .
March______
April ___________
M ay______________
June.
. . . ---------
78.8
79.5
79.4
80.1
80.2
79.8
1459
1451
1443
1444
1458
1466
110
109
109
109
110
111
472
466
464
531
552
555
64.5
64.3
64.2
66.0
64.7
64.3
71.4
71.9
72.0
72.5
72.3
71.5
346.7
340.3
336.7
334.9
339.3
339.6
99.4
99.9
96.4
95.9
95.0
92.1
July--------------------August. _________
September________
October ____ _____
November
December. _____ _
79.4
80.5
80.7
80.5
80. 6
80.9
1479
1498
1495
1498
112
111
110
109
109
109
553
552
560
574
582
579
64.2
64.0
04.4
66.6
66.9
71.5
71.6
72.3
73.1
72. 7
72. 6
342.4
343.3
346.2
348.7
351. 5
90.5
91.9
91.1
94.1
103.3
103.3
108
581
Base period---------
1934
1935
1936
January ._
____
February. . . . . _
80.6
80.6
1 Revised for commodities since January 1934.
8 Quotations, 154 since January 1932.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
72.9
104.3
835
WHOLESALE PRICES
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign
Countries—Continued
Czecho
Country .................. slovakia
D en
mark
Finland
France
Ger
many
India
Italy
Japan
Nether
lands
Central Statisti Central General Federal Depart
of Central
cal D e Bureau Statisti Statisti ment, Riccardo Bank
Japan, Bureau
Computin&agency. Bureau
Bachi
etc.,6
of Sta
part
of Sta cal B u cal Bu
Tokio of Sta
Calcutta
reau
reau
tistics
ment
tistics
tistics
October 1926-30
(100)
1900
new
GOO)
series
Base period..............
July
1914
(100)
1913
(100)
1926
(100)
1913
(100)
1913
(100)
July
1914
(100)
1913
GOO)
Commodities...........
(Gold)
69
118
120
(Paper)
126
400
72
(Paper)
140
1926.............................
1927........ ....................
1928-...........................
1929____________ 1 9 3 0 ---.....................
s 944.0
a 968.0
3 969.0
3 913.0
118.6
163
153
153
150
130
100
101
102
98
90
695
642
645
627
554
134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
124.6
148
148
145
141
116
602.0
495.3
461.6
445.3
383.0
236.7
224.6
226.1
219.8
181.0
105.8
102.8
102.2
99.7
89.6
1931............................
1932_______ ______
1933................. - .........
1934______________
107.5
99.5
96.3
83.9
114
117
125
132
84
90
89
90
502
427
398
376
110.9
96.5
93.3
98.4
96
91
87
89
328.4
303.7
279.5
273.0
153.0
161.1
179.5
177.6
76.3
64.6
62.9
63.0
94.6
94.3
<81.1
< 80.8
< 80.2
< 80.5
130
131
129
128
128
128
90
90
90
89
89
89
404
400
394
387
381
379
96.3
96.2
95.9
95.8
96.2
97.2
90
89
88
89
90
90
275.7
274.6
275.2
273.1
272.6
272.2
175.5
177.5
176.9
176.9
176.2
174.5
<85.1
<83.9
< 84.0
<83.8
< 84.2
<84.2
129
134
135
135
136
135
89
90
90
90
90
90
373
370
365
357
356
344
98.9
100.1
100.4
101.0
101.2
101.0
89
89
89
89
88
88
269.8
271.4
269.9
271.8
274.1
275.9
174.1
176.9
179.2
181.8
181.1
181.1
January..........- .........
February...................
March.......................
April..................... —
M ay_____________
June_______ _____
< 84.5
<85.1
<85.3
<84.9
<85.7
<86.1
135
135
132
132
131
130
90
90
90
90
90
90
350
343
335
336
340
330
101.1
100.9
100.7
100.8
100.8
101.2
94
90
87
88
91
91
277.2
278.4
288.3
296.1
302.3
307.8
181.5
184.1
183. 5
182.3
182.4
180.2
61.7
61.6
60.6
60.9
60.9
60.9
July...........................
August----------------September________
October__________
<88.0
< 86.0
< 85.9
<85.6
< 86.2
< 86.2
131
134
136
139
139
139
90
90
91
92
91
91
322
330
332
342
348
354
101.8
102.4
102.3
102.8
103.1
103.4
91
89
89
93
92
93
310.1
322.9
329.6
351. 3
180.2
82.9
188.9
194.0
193.6
191.9
60.6
60.8
61.8
63.3
62.7
62.5
359
103.6
92
56
(Plus)
269
m i
January _ ______
February
___
March _ ________
M ay
June
___________
________
July
.......................
S e p t e m b e r ______
________
O c to b e r
N o v e m b e r __
1935
1936
<86.6
February................ -
8 5 .8
* Paper revised.
«N ew gold parity.
* Department of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics.
4 9 6 4 5 — 3 6 -------- 2 1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
191.8
836
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign
Countries—Continued
New
Country.......... ......... Zealand Norway
(revised)
Peru
Poland
South
Africa
United
Sweden Switzer
King
land
dom
Yugo
slavia
Computing agency.
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
Central
Bureau
of Sta
tistics
Central
Bank
of Re
serve
Central
Office
of Sta
tistics
Office
of Cen
sus and
Statis
tics
Board
of
Trade
Federal
Labor
Depart
ment
Board
of
Trade
N a
tional
Bank
Base period_____
1909-13
(1000)
1913
(100)
1913
(100)
1928
(100)
1910
(1000)
1913
(100)
July
(100)
1930
(100)
1926
(100)
Commodities_____
180
95
(Paper)
58
238
188
160
77
e 200
55
1926______________
1927______________
1928-........................
1929______________
1930______________
1553
1478
1492
1488
1449
157
149
137
203. 2
202.6
191.9
185.7
178.0
100.0
96.3
85.5
1387
1395
1354
1305
1155
149
146
148
140
122
144.5
142.2
144.6
141.2
126.5
100.0
100.0
103.4
106.2
100.6
86.6
1931______________
1932______________
1933— .......................
1934______________
1346
1297
1308
1330
122
122
122
124
175.1
170.3
180.2
188.1
74.6
65.5
59.1
55.8
1119
1032
1047
1143
111
109
107
114
109.7
96.0
91.0
89.8
87.8
85.6
85.7
88.1
72.9
65.2
64.4
63.2
January......... ----February_________
M a rc h -..--. ------April____________
M ay_____________
June____- ............ .
1336
1339
1340
1332
1340
1337
120
122
122
123
123
123
186.8
186.6
184.1
187.4
187.8
189.8
57.8
57.6
57.3
56.8
56.0
55.8
1193
112
112
112
113
113
114
91.8
91.4
90.9
89.6
89.0
89.0
88.8
89.2
88.2
87.7
87.2
87.9
62.9
63.6
63.3
63.0
64.1
65.6
July-------------------August___________
September...... .........
October_________
November____ —December............. —
1336
1342
1337
1338
1340
1338
124
127
126
127
126
125
188.8
191.4
190.9
187.9
187.0
185.3
55.9
55.8
55.0
54.4
53.6
53.4
114
114
114
114
115
115
88.9
89.8
89.1
89.6
89.4
89.0
87.3
89.0
88.4
87.8
87.5
87.8
62.8
61.1
63.2
63.6
62.7
62.3
January__________
February_________
March-------------. . .
April----- ------------M ay________
June........ - _______
1345
1360
1365
1367
1371
1382
125
125
126
125
125
126
186.3
188.2
191.2
190.6
190.4
191.5
52.7
52.2
52.1
52.2
52.7
52.6
1074
115
115
115
115
115
116
88.3
87.6
86.4
87.1
87.6
88.6
88.3
88.0
86.9
87.5
88.2
88.4
64.5
63.9
63.0
62.9
64.0
63.9
July--------- ----------August___________
September........ .......
October__________
November________
December______ .
1395
1403
1430
1446
1428
127
128
128
130
130
131
190.7
188.6
186.7
188.0
188.1
189.3
52.9
53.6
54.2
54.5
54.4
52.7
1069
116
115
115
117
118
118
89.9
91.4
92.2
93.3
92.8
92.1
88.0
88.4
89.6
91.1
91.2
91.4
63.3
64.8
67.8
70.0
71.2
71.6
91.1
91.8
193i
1171
1102
1109
1935
1044
1080
1936
January________ _
February.
52.2
6 Revised for commodities since January 1930.
C onference on Price R esearch 1
N NOVEMBER 29-30, 1935, a conference of persons interested
in price research was held at the National Bureau of Economic
Research, in New York. The meeting was called by that bureau,
in accordance with a resolution adopted at an earlier conference, to
examine the objectives of price studies, to explore the possibilities of
cooperative action, and to consider the formulation of a program of
research. After a survey of the chief types of price research now in
progress and a consideration of the purposes and objectives of price
O
i Statement prepared by Dr. Frederick C. M ills, N ational Bureau of Economic Research, chairman
of Conference on Research. See Journal of the American Statistical Association, March 1936, “ Cooperative
Research on Prices.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
837
research, the conference dealt at length with the gaps in the present
program of price research, and with deficiencies of the data and
measurements now available to students of prices. As regards the
actual prosecution of research work, the members of the conference
placed emphasis upon the desirability of preserving full freedom to the
individual investigator, but were of the opinion that a continuing
organization to further price research, to improve basic data, and to
arrange for cooperative activity in selected cases would be of great
service to economists and to business interests.
A resolution was passed providing that the Conference on Price
Research be constituted a continuing body, consisting of institutions
especially interested in price research. The initial membership
includes the departments of economics of the Universities of Pennsyl
vania, Chicago, Minnesota, Harvard, and Columbia, the U. S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics, the U. S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics, the
Central Statistical Board, the Food Research Institute of Stanford
University, and the National Bureau of Economic Research. It is
expected that other institutions actively interested in the field of
research will become members of the conference.
The Conference appointed an Executive Committee, with the fol
lowing membership: F. C. Mills, National Bureau of Economic
Research, chairman; Anne Bezanson, University of Pennsylvania;
J. D. Black, Harvard University; R. M. Burgess, Western Electric
Co.; F. B. Garver, University of Minnesota; Henry Schultz, Uni
versity of Chicago; and S. W. Wilcox, United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The National Bureau of Economic Research was requested
to serve as the agent of the Conference in receiving and handling funds.
In the discussion of specific opportunities for cooperative research,
there was general agreement that positive action should be taken to
promote the study of actual price changes (in relation to changes in
quality and design), cost movements, and price-making policies in
particular industries and in distributive enterprises. It was recog
nized that some of the gravest gaps in our knowledge of economic
processes are due to inadequacies of data and of analysis respecting
costs, prices, and pricing under the conditions actually prevailing in
industry and trade today. For the success of such studies the active
cooperation of accountants, engineers and business men familiar at
first hand with pricing procedures will be required. A conference of
representatives of these groups and of interested economists will be
called by the Executive Committee of the Price Conference.
It is hoped that this conference may assist in the formulation of a
general program of research on the price problems of industry and
trade, a program that will enlist the interest and the resources of
various universities and governmental agencies, private research
institutions, and business organizations.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR
INTEREST
F e b ru a ry 1936
C h ild Labor
Child labor under the N. R. A. as shown by employment certificates issued in 1934W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , 1 9 3 6 . 15 p p ., c h a r ts .
N o . I t . 3 1 9 , r e p r i n t f r o m D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 5 M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .)
(S e ria l
Annual report of the general secretary of the National Child Labor Committee, for
the year ending September 30, 1935. N e w Y o r k , N a t i o n a l C h i l d L a b o r
C o m m itte e , 4 1 9 F o u r th A v e n u e , 1 9 3 5 .
15 p p ., c h a r t s , m im e o g ra p h e d .
Handbook on the Federal child labor amendment.
N e w Y o rk , N a tio n a l C h ild
L a b o r C o m m itte e , 4 1 9 F o u r t h A v e n u e , 1 9 3 5 . 6 3 p p ., c h a r ts .
(P u b lic a tio n
N o . 3 6 8 .)
C o n ta in s a h is to r y o f th e F e d e ra l c h ild -la b o r a m e n d m e n t a n d a re v ie w o f th e
c o n d itio n s fr o m w h ic h i t r e s u lte d ; a lis t o f o r g a n iz a tio n s a n d in te r e s ts s u p p o r tin g
a n d o p p o s in g th e a m e n d m e n t; a n d b rie f r e b u tta ls o f a r g u m e n ts a g a in s t it.
C o o p era tiv e M o v e m e n t
Financing American cotton production and marketing in the United States.
B ib li
o g r a p h y , c o m p ile d b y M ild r e d C . B e n to n . W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u r e a u o f
A g r ic u ltu r a l E c o n o m ic s ,
N ovem ber
1935.
45
p p .,
m im e o g ra p h e d .
( A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m i c s B i b l i o g r a p h y N o . 6 1 .)
C o n ta in s re fe re n c e s to m a te r ia l o n c o o p e ra tiv e m a rk e tin g o f c o tto n .
E conom ic and Social P roblem s
Balancing the economic controls.
B y R u s s e ll A . S te v e n s o n a n d R o la n d S . V a ile .
M in n e a p o lis , U n iv e rs ity o f M in n e s o ta P re s s , 1 9 3 5 . 8 6 p p .
T h is c o n tr ib u tio n to th e g ro w in g li te r a tu r e o n e c o n o m ic p la n n in g a n d c o n tr o l
h a s s p e c ia l i n t e r e s t t o th o s e c o n c e r n e d w i t h l a b o r b e c a u s e i t is b a s e d in p a r t
o n th e e x te n s iv e s tu d ie s (b e g u n in 1 9 3 1 ) o f th e E m p lo y m e n t S ta b iliz a tio n R e
s e a rc h I n s titu te o f th e U n iv e rs ity o f M in n e s o ta .
Economics of planning public works.
B y J o h n M a u ric e C la rk . W a s h in g to n ,
N a tio n a l P la n n in g B o a rd o f th e F e d e ra l E m e rg e n c y A d m in is tra tio n o f
P u b lic W o rk s , 1 9 35 . 1 9 4 p p .
T h e a u t h o r d e v e lo p s th e th e o r y t h a t p u b lic w o rk s m a y f u r n is h a re a l s tim u lu s
to b u s in e s s in a p e r io d o f d e p re s s io n , b u t t h a t s u c h w o rk b y its e lf m a y n o t b e
d e p e n d e d u p o n to b rin g b u s in e s s re v iv a l.
Government finance in the modern economy.
P h ila d e lp h ia , A m e ric a n A c a d e m y o f
P o litic a l a n d S o c ia l S c ie n c e , 1 9 3 6 . 3 1 3 p p .
( T h e A n n a ls , Y o l. 1 8 3 , J a n .
1 9 3 6 .)
T h is is s u e o f T h e A n n a ls in c lu d e s th e fo llo w in g a r tic le s : F in a n c in g s o c ia l
s e c u rity , b y A b ra h a m E p s te in ; N e w D e a l c o s ts a n d th e h ig h c o s t o f liv in g , b y
G ilb e rt H . M o n ta g u e ; T h e p ro s p e c t o f ris in g p ric e s fro m th e m o n e ta r y a n g le , b y
E d w in W a lte r K e m m e re r.
838
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
839
The depression experience of savings and loan associations in the United States.
B y M o r to n B o d fis h . [C h ic a g o , M o r to n B o d fis h , 1 0 4 S . M ic h ig a n A v e n u e ],
1 9 3 5 . 3 1 p p . ^ ( R e p r in t o f a d d r e s s d e liv e re d in S a lz b u rg , A u s tria , b e fo re
F if th I n t e r n a ti o n a l C o n g re s s o f S a v in g s , B u ild in g , a n d L o a n A s s o c ia tio n s ,
e t c . , S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 5 .)
The Goodwill Industries. A h i s t o r y o f t h e m o v e m e n t , d e p a r t m e n t a l m e t h o d s o f
w o rk , re lig io u s a n d c u ltu r a l a c tiv itie s , a d m in is tr a t io n a n d o r g a n iz a tio n .
B o s to n , M o r g a n M e m o r ia l G o o d w ill P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 . 2 1 7 p p ., f o ld e r s , illu s .
I n te n d e d fo r th e g u id a n c e o f g ro u p s d e s irin g to u n d e r ta k e th e f o r m a tio n o f
G o o d w i l l a c t i v i t i e s — 'f o s t e r i n g o f i n d u s t r i e s p r o v i d i n g e m p l o y m e n t f o r t h e
h a n d ic a p p e d .
Current practices in intake and service in fam ily welfare organizations.
A s tu d y of
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f e i g h t a g e n c i e s i n 1 9 3 4 —3 5 , b y H e l e n L e l a n d W i t m e r a n d
s tu d e n ts . N o r t h a m p to n , M a s s ., S m ith C o lle g e S c h o o l f o r S o c ia l W o r k ,
1935. 109 p p .
( S m i t h C o l l e g e S t u d i e s i n S o c i a l W o r k , V o l . V I , N o . 2 .)
High light report on a study of private group work agencies of Cleveland, together
with their relationship to other leisure time agencies. B y E u g e n e T . L i e s .
C le v e la n d , W e lf a r e F e d e r a t i o n o f C le v e la n d , 1 9 0 0 E u c l id A v e ., 1 9 3 5 . 7 3
p p ., c h a r ts , m im e o g ra p h e d .
D e s c rib e s th e o rg a n iz a tio n a n d w o rk o f th e v a r io u s w e lfa re a g e n c ie s in C le v e
la n d , a n d lis ts th e re c re a tio n a l a n d e d u c a tio n a l fa c ilitie s o f t h a t c ity . T h e n u m
b e r o f p a r tic ip a n ts in v a r io u s g ro u p a c tiv itie s a n d th e u n it c o s ts o f th e d if fe re n t
a g e n c ie s , b a s e d o n g ro s s a tte n d a n c e a n d o n m e m b e r s h ip o r r e g u la r a c t iv it y in
r e la ti o n to e x p e n d itu r e s , a r e s h o w n . T h e r e is a s e c tio n o n t h e p r o b le m s p r e s e n te d
b y c o m m e r c ia l a m u s e m e n t p la c e s .
Occupational opportunities and the economic status of recent graduates (1928-1934)
of Purdue University. A r e p o r t p r e p a r e d b y E d w a r d C . E l l i o t t , F r a n k C .
H o c k e m a , a n d J a c k E . W a lte r s . L a f a y e tt e , I n d ., P u r d u e U n iv e r s it y , [1 9 3 5 ].
2 4 p p ., c h a r ts .
O u t o f .m o r e t h a n 2 , 0 0 0 g r a d u a t e s w h o r e p l i e d t o a q u e s t i o n n a i r e s e n t o u t i n
a s u r v e y i n t h e f a l l o f 1 9 3 4 , 9 1 .3 p e r c e n t w e r e e m p l o y e d — 8 9 p e r c e n t i n g a i n f u l
o c c u p a t i o n s , w h i l e t h e r e m a i n i n g 2 .3 p e r c e n t i n c l u d e d 1 0 0 h o u s e w i v e s a n d 1 9
g ra d u a te s tu d e n ts .
Proceedings of the 1985 Indiana State Conference on Social Work.
In d ia n a p o lis ,
I n d ia n a D e p a r t m e n t o f P u b lic W e lfa re , 1 9 3 5 . 9 6 p p . ( I n d i a n a B u lle tin o f
C h a r i t i e s a n d C o r r e c t i o n N o . 2 2 0 .)
A m o n g th e s o c ia l q u e s tio n s c o n s id e r e d b y th e c o n f e r e n c e , o f p a r ti c u la r in t e r e s t
to la b o r , w e re s o c ia l in s u r a n c e a n d v a r io u s p h a s e s o f r e c r e a tio n .
Report of Commissioner for the Special Areas, Scotland, December 21, 193A, to
June 80, 1985. E d i n b u r g h , 1 9 3 5 . 3 4 p p . ( C m d . 4 9 5 8 .)
A p r e lim in a r y r e p o r t u p o n a c tiv itie s in th e a d m in is tr a tio n o f fu n d s f o r th e
e c o n o m ic r e h a b i lit a t io n o f c e r ta in p a r t s o f S c o tla n d c la s s e d a s “ d e p r e s s e d .”
Scotland, that distressed area.
B y G e o rg e M a lc o lm T h o m s o n . E d in b u r g h ,
P o r p o is e P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 . 1 2 7 p p ., c h a r ts .
A d is c u s s io n o f th e d e c lin e o f p o p u la tio n , n a tio n a l in c o m e , p ro d u c tio n , a n d
e m p lo y m e n t in S c o tla n d in th e y e a r s p r e c e d in g th e e c o n o m ic s lu m p o f 1 9 3 0 , th e
a g g r a v a tin g e ffe c ts o f th e s lu m p , a n d th e p o s s ib ilitie s o f r e h a b i lit a t io n .
First report of Commissioner for the Special Areas, England and Wales. L o n d o n ,
1 9 3 5 . 1 0 6 p p . ( C m d . 4 9 5 7 .)
T h is r e p o r t c o v e r s t h e a c t iv it ie s o f t h e f i r s t s ix m o n t h s u n d e r t h e S p e c ia l A r e a s
A c t, a n d th e a d m in is tr a t io n o f a f u n d p r o v id e d f o r th e p u r p o s e o f f a c ilita tin g th e
e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t a n d s o c ia l im p r o v e m e n t o f p o r tio n s o f E n g la n d a n d
W a le s m o s t s e v e re ly a ff e c te d b y th e d e p r e s s io n .
Report of the subcommittee on the unemployable blind, Advisory Committee on the
Welfare of the Blind. L o n d o n , M i n i s t r y o f H e a l t h , 1 9 3 5 . 2 2 p p .
O n M a rc h 3 1 , 1 9 3 4 , th e to ta l re g is te re d b lin d p o p u la tio n o f E n g la n d a n d
W a l e s w a s 6 4 ,8 4 2 , o f w h o m 5 1 ,2 5 3 , o r 7 9 p e r c e n t , w e r e u n e m p l o y a b l e . T h e r e p o r t
d is c u s s e s t h e e s t a b li s h m e n t o f h o m e s f o r th e b lin d , r e d u c t io n o f a g e a t w h ic h
p e n s io n m a y b e p a id , a n d r e g u la tio n s fo r th e a d m in is tr a tio n o f fin a n c ia l a s s is ta n c e .
Sozialpolitik im Dritten Reich. B y F r a n z S e l d t e . B e r l i n , R e i c h s - u n d P r e u s s is c h e n A r b e its m in is te r iu m , 1 9 3 5 . 6 8 p p ., illu s .
(B e ila g e z u m R e ic h s a r b e i t s b l a t t , 1 9 3 5 , N r . 3 6 .)
D e a ls w ith th e s o c ia l p o lic ie s o f th e p r e s e n t g o v e r n m e n t in G e r m a n y , in c lu d
in g th e c re a tio n o f e m p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n itie s , h o u s in g , s o c ia l in s u ra n c e , a n d
w e lf a r e w o rk .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
840
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW -MARCH 1936
E d u cation
Annual directory and program of agricultural education [in Illinois ], 1935—1936.
S p rin g f ie ld , B o a r d fo r V o c a tio n a l E d u c a tio n , 1 9 3 5 . 51 p p ., m a p , illu s .
( B u i . N o . 6 4 .)
.
I n 1 9 3 5 th e t o t a l n u m b e r o f v o c a tio n a l a g r ic u ltu r a l s c h o o ls m Illin o is w a s
2 5 3 w i t h a n e n r o l l m e n t o f 8 ,1 2 3 .
Summaries of studies in agricultural education. A n a n n o t a t e d b i b l i o g r a p h y o f
3 7 3 s tu d ie s in a g r ic u ltu r a l e d u c a tio n w ith a c la s s ifie d s u b j e c t in d e x a n d a
g e n e r a l e v a l u a t i o n . W a s h i n g t o n , U . S . O f f ic e o f E d u c a t i o n , J u n e 1 9 3 5 .
1 9 6 p p . ( V o c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n B u i . N o . 1 8 0 , A g r i c u l t u r a l S e r i e s N o . 4 7 .)
Bibliography of research studies in education, 1933-1934•
P re p a re d b y R u th A .
G r a y . W a s h i n g t o n , U . S . O f f ic e o f E d u c a t i o n , L i b r a r y D i v i s i o n , 1 9 3 5 . 3 2 8
pp.
( B u l l e t i n , 1 9 3 5 , N o . 5 .)
_
S o m e o f th e r e f e r e n c e s a r e o n t h e fo llo w in g s u b je c ts : I n d u s t r i a l e d u c a tio n ,
in c lu d in g in d u s tr ia l a r ts ; te a c h e r s ’ s a la rie s , p e n s io n s , a n d r e tir e m e n t; v o c a
tio n a l g u id a n c e ; N e g ro e d u c a tio n ; a n d th e e d u c a tio n o f v a r io u s p h y s ic a lly
h a n d ic a p p e d g ro u p s .
Bibliography on foreman improvement. A s e l e c t e d a n d a n n o t a t e d l i s t o f r e f e r
e n c e s, in c lu d in g b o o k s , p a m p h le ts , a n d m a g a z in e a rtic le s . W a s h in g to n ,
U . S . O f f ic e o f E d u c a t i o n , 1 9 3 5 . 3 4 p p . ( V o c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n B u i . N o .
1 2 8 , T r a d e a n d I n d u s t r i a l S e r i e s N o . 3 5 .)
Problems of vocational guidance.
G e n e v a , I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O f f ic e , 1 9 3 5 .
1 8 3 p p . ( S t u d i e s a n d R e p o r t s , S e r i e s J , N o . 4 .)
(A m e ric a n a g e n t: W o rld
P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , B o s to n .)
T h e d e fin itio n a n d h is to r y o f v o c a tio n a l g u id a n c e a re g iv e n in th e firs t c h a p te r
o f th e r e p o r t. O th e r s u b je c ts d is c u s s e d a re th e re g u la tio n , o rg a n iz a tio n , m e d ic a l
a s p e c ts , m e th o d s , a n d s p e c ia l b ra n c h e s o f v o c a tio n a l g u id a n c e , a n d o c c u p a tio n a l
a n a ly s is .
Ninth biennial report on vocational education in M ississippi, for the biennial period
ending June 30, 1935. J a c k s o n , S t a t e B o a r d f o r V o c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n ,
[ 1 9 3 5 ? ] . 1 0 2 p p . , m a p s , i l l u s . ( B u i . N o . 8 2 , V o c a t i o n a l S e r i e s N o . 3 1 .)
I n th e b ie n n iu m c o v e re d b y th e r e p o r t th e h ig h -s c h o o l v o c a tio n a l- e d u c a tio n
d e p a r tm e n ts in M is s is s ip p i n u m b e r e d 5 7 4 a n d h a d a n a n n u a l e n r o llm e n t o f
3 7 ,3 1 5 .
Private proprietary and endowed schools giving trade and industrial courses. B y
M a r i s M . P r o f f i t t . W a s h i n g t o n , U . S . O f f ic e o f E d u c a t i o n , 1 9 3 5 . 9 1 p p .
( B u l l e t i n , 1 9 3 5 , N o . 8 .)
T h e s c h o o ls lis te d in th is d ir e c to r y r a n g e fr o m th o s e o f e le m e n ta r y g ra d e ,
o f f e r in g a fe w b a s ic i n d u s t r i a l c o u r s e s , t o s c h o o ls o f c o lle g e g r a d e w h ic h a ls o
in c lu d e s o m e c o u r s e s o f le s s t h a n c o lle g e g r a d e .
Suggestions for organizing evening school classes in trade and industrial education.
S p rin g f ie ld , I llin o is S t a t e B o a r d f o r V o c a tio n a l E d u c a tio n , 1 9 3 5 . 2 5 p p .,
m i m e o g r a p h e d . ( B u i . N o . 6 3 .)
P r e p a r e d to f u r n is h s u p e r in te n d e n ts , p rin c ip a ls , a n d te a c h e r s w ith d a t a w h ic h
w ill a id th e m in o r g a n iz in g e v e n in g c la s s e s a s p r o v id e d u n d e r t h e S m ith - H u g h e s
a n d G e o rg e E llz e y A c ts a n d th e S ta te p la n f o r v o c a tio n a l e d u c a t io n . T h e h o p e
is e x p r e s s e d in t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t h a t t h e p a m p h l e t w ill a ls o s u g g e s t w a y s , t h a t
m i g h t o th e rw is e b e o v e r lo o k e d , in w h ic h e v e n in g s c h o o ls m a y b e o f s e r v ic e to
a d u lts .
E fficien cy
Incentives— some experimental studies.
B y C . A. M ace.
L o n d o n , In d u stria l
H e a l th R e s e a r c h B o a r d , 1 9 3 5 . 6 1 p p ., d ia g ra m s .
( R e p o r t N o . 7 2 .)
I n th is s tu d y , a g r o u p o f u n iv e r s ity s tu d e n ts w e re s u b je c ts in te s ts d e s ig n e d
t o s h o w t h e e ff e c ts o f v a r io u s in c e n tiv e s u p o n e ffic ie n c y . T h e in c e n t iv e s w e r e
e s s e n tia lly a c a d e m ic in c h a r a c te r , b u t th e c o n c lu s io n s r e a c h e d w e re c o n s id e r e d
a p p lic a b le , to a c e r ta in e x te n t, to c o n d itio n s o f in d u s tr ia l w o rk .
E m p lo y m en t and U n e m p lo y m e n t
Bituminous coal tables, 1934.
B y L . M an n , W . H . Y oung, a n d F . G . T ry on.
W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u re a u o f M in e s , 1 9 3 5 . V a rio u s p a g in g , m im e o g ra p h e d .
D a t a o n e m p lo y m e n t a n d p r o d u c ti v ity , t a k e n fr o m th e s e ta b le s , a r e g iv e n in
th is is s u e o f th e M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
841
Does the 'provision of employment necessitate money expenditure?
T h e fin a n c in g of
p u b lic w o rk s , w ith o u t re c o u rs e to th e m o n e y m a r k e t, a s p ro p o s e d in th e
M ilh a u d P la n ; w ith r e m a rk s o n th e la tte r , b y U lric h Y . B e c k e ra th . G e n e v a ,
S w itz e rla n d , 1 9 3 5 . 2 6 4 p p . ( I n A n n a ls o f C o lle c tiv e E c o n o m y , A p rilA u g u s t 1 9 3 5 .)
A d is c u s s io n o f a s c h e m e to c a r r y o n p u b lic w o rk s b y flo a tin g la rg e lo a n s
s u b s c r ib e d w ith p u r c h a s in g c e r tif ic a te s w h ic h s u b s c r ib e r s to s u c h lo a n s w o u ld
a c c e p t in th e ir f a c to r ie s o r s h o p s a t p a r . T h e S ta te w o u ld a ls o a g r e e to th e p a y
m e n t o f ta x e s w ith s u c h c e rtific a te s .
The employment characteristics of new applicants at the Philadelphia State Employ
ment Office, 193f. B y G l a d y s L . P a l m e r . P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1 9 3 5 . 2 5 p p . ,
c h a rts , m im e o g ra p h e d .
(S p e c ia l R e p o r t A -6 , U n iv e rs ity o f P e n n s y lv a n ia ,
I n d u s tr ia l R e s e a rc h D e p a rtm e n t, in c o o p e ra tio n w ith th e P e n n s y lv a n ia S ta te
E m p lo y m e n t S e rv ic e .)
A m o n g th e fa c to rs p re s e n te d a re ta b le s s h o w in g m a r ita l s ta tu s , n u m b e r of
d e p e n d e n ts , d u ra tio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t, ra c e a n d n a tiv ity , a g e , a n d e d u c a tio n , b y
o c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p s .
Premises, layout, and equipment of public employment offices.
E m p lo y m e n t S e rv ic e , 1 9 3 5 .
M a n u a l S e rie s , S e c tio n I I .)
46
p p .,
p la n s ,
illu s .
W a s h in g to n , U . S.
( E m p l o y m e n t O f f ic e
Reading list of references on household employment.
W a s h i n g t o n , U . S . W o m e n ’s
B u re a u , 1936. 15 p p .
( B u i . N o . 1 3 8 .)
A b ib li o g r a p h y c la s s if ie d b y s p e c ia l s u b je c ts , a s s t a n d a r d s o f e m p lo y m e u t in
d o m e s tic s e rv ic e , tr a in in g a n d p la c e m e n t, a n d e m p lo y m e n t re la tio n s ; a n d b y
s p e c ia l g ro u p s , a s n e g ro w o rk e rs , m id d le -a g e d w o rk e rs , e tc .
Unemployment— an international problem.
A re p o rt b y a s tu d y g ro u p o f m e m b e rs
o f t h e R o y a l I n s t i t u t e o f N a ti o n a l A ffa irs . L o n d o n , O x fo rd U n iv e r s ity
P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 . 4 9 6 p p ., c h a r t s .
R e p o r t o f a s u r v e y o f u n e m p lo y m e n t c o n d itio n s th r o u g h o u t th e w o rld , th e
o b je c tiv e o f w h ic h w a s to p ro v id e th e n e c e s s a ry in f o r m a tio n fo r f u r th e r s tu d y o f
n a t io n a l a n d in t e r n a ti o n a l p o lic ie s f o r th e im p r o v e m e n t o f th e s itu a ti o n .
Unemployment— Canada's problem.
B y C . P . G ilm a n a n d H u n tly M . S in c la ir .
O tta w a , A rm y a n d N a v y V e te ra n s in C a n a d a , 1 9 3 5 . 1 1 9 p p .
A s tu d y o f th e u n d e rly in g c a u s e s o f u n e m p lo y m e n t in C a n a d a . T h e b o o k
c o n s ti tu te s a n e la b o r a tio n o f a s e r ie s o f a r tic le s , p r i n t e d in T h e C a n a d ia n V e te r a n ,
w h ic h w e re a n o u tg r o w th o f a n in te n s iv e s tu d y o f th e u n e m p lo y m e n t p ro b le m
d u r in g r e c e n t y e a r s b y t h e R e s e a r c h B u r e a u o f t h e A r m y a n d N a v y V e te r a n s in
C a n a d a , o rig in a tin g in a n e ffo rt to fin d a m e a n s o f p ro v id in g e m p lo y m e n t fo r w a r
v e te ra n s .
F a m ily A llo w a n c e s
Annuaire permanent du Comité Central des Allocations Familiales.
P a ris , 31 R u e
G u v o t, 1 9 3 5 . 4 9 2 p p ., illu s .
T h e a n n u a l in c lu d e s s e c tio n s o n o b je c tiv e s a n d c o m p o s itio n o f th e C e n tra l
C o m m itte e o n F a m ily A llo w a n c e s ; th e a d m in is tr a tio n a n d r e g u la tio n o f f a m ily a llo w a n c e f u n d s ; a n d le g is la tio n c o v e r in g f a m ily a llo w a n c e s , m a t e r n i t y a s s is t
a n c e , e tc .
H om ew ork
Compilation of homework provisions in approved codes.
W a s h in g to n , N a tio n a l
R e c o v e r y A d m in is tr a tio n , L a b o r A d v is o r y B o a r d , 1 9 3 5 . 41 p p ., m im e o
g ra p h e d .
L is ts th e c o d e s c o n ta in in g p ro v is io n s d e a lin g w ith in d u s tr ia l h o m e w o rk , a n d
s u m m a riz e s th e te r m s b y w h ic h h o m e w o rk w a s p r o h ib ite d o r re g u la te d .
H o u sin g
Methods for men-money-management and government— home building program.
N e w Y o r k , C o m m itte e f o r E c o n o m ic R e c o v e r y , 7 3 0 F i f t h A v e n u e , [1 9 3 6 ].
16 p p .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
842
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
The rebuilding of Manchester.
B y E . D . S im o n a n d J . I n m a n . L o n d o n , L o n g
m a n s , G r e e n a n d C o ., 1 9 3 5 . 1 7 3 p p ., m a p s , illu s .
S in c e o n e o f t h e c h ie f t a s k s o f t h e f u t u r e w ill b e t h e c le a r in g a n d r e b u ild in g
o f s lu m s e c ti o n s , t h e g r o w th o f M a n c h e s t e r , E n g l a n d , is t r a c e d o v e r t h e p a s t
c e n tu r y , s h o w in g th e b r o a d o u tlin e s o f a t le a s t o n e p la n n in g p ro b le m . I n th e
l a t t e r p a r t o f t h e b o o k , p l a n s f o r t h e f u t u r e a r e d i s c u s s e d , t h e q u e s t i o n is r a i s e d
a s to w h e th e r c o tta g e s o r fla ts a re d e s ira b le in te r m s o f u s e a n d e x p e n s e , a n d th e
r e la tiv e m e r its o f p r iv a te - e n te r p r is e a n d m u n ic ip a l b u ild in g p r o g r a m s a r e d is
cussed.
Report of the New York State Board of Housing. A l b a n y , 1 9 3 5 . 7 2 p p . , i l l u s .
( L e g i s l a t i v e D o c . , 1 9 3 5 , N o . 4 1 .)
G iv e s th e r e p o r ts o f m u n ic ip a l h o u s in g a u th o r itie s in N e w Y o r k S ta te , s t a t i s
tic s o n fin a n c ia l s ta tu s o f p r o je c ts u n d e r th e S ta te h o u s in g la w a n d o n m a in te
n a n c e c o s ts a n d r e n ta ls o f th e h o u s in g b o a r d p r o je c ts , a n d in f o r m a tio n o n n e w
p ro je c ts .
What some slum dwellers want in housing. F i n d i n g s o f a s t u d y o f o n e s q u a r e
b lo c k in t h e L o w e r E a s t S id e , N e w Y o r k C ity , u n d e r th e d ir e c tio n o f D u a n e
V . R a m s e y . N e w Y o rk , H e n ry S tr e e t S e ttle m e n t, 1 9 3 5 . 10 p p .
Incom e
Agriculture’s share in the national income.
W a s h in g to n , U . S . A g ric u ltu ra l
A d ju s tm e n t A d m in is tr a tio n , 1 9 3 5 . 3 7 p p ., c h a r t s .
In c lu d e s fig u re s o n b o th n a tio n a l a n d a g r ic u ltu r a l in c o m e , p ric e s , a n d f a r m a n d
c ity b u y in g p o w e r.
The national income produced, 1924-34- B y R o b e r t R . N a t h a n . W a s h i n g t o n ,
U . S . B u r e a u o f F o r e ig n a n d D o m e s tic C o m m e rc e , D iv is io n o f E c o n o m ic
R e s e a r c h , 1 9 3 5 . 9 p p ., c h a r ts .
( T a k e n fr o m a r tic le in S u rv e y o f C u r r e n t
B u s i n e s s , N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 5 .)
Statistics of income for 1933. C o m p i l e d f r o m i n c o m e - t a x r e t u r n s a n d i n c l u d i n g
s ta tis tic s fro m e s ta te - ta x re tu r n s a n d g ift-ta x r e tu r n s . W a s h in g to n , U . S .
B u re a u of In te rn a l R ev e n u e , 1935. 270 p p .
D e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n is m a d e a v a i l a b l e o n t h e n u m b e r o f r e t u r n s f ile d a n d t h e
a m o u n t o f in c o m e r e p r e s e n te d b y in c o m e c la s s e s .
Statistics of income for 1934.
P r e lim in a r y r e p o r t o f in d iv id u a l in c o m e ta x r e tu r n s
file d t o A u g u s t 3 1 , 1 9 3 5 . W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u r e a u o f I n t e r n a l R e v e n u e ,
1935. 9 p p .
D a t a o n in c o m e r e p o r te d f o r in c o m e - ta x p u r p o s e s a n d o n n a tio n a l in c o m e f o r
th e y e a r 1 9 3 4 , w e re p u b lis h e d in th e J a n u a r y 1 9 3 6 M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , th e
fig u re s b e in g fro m in f o r m a tio n is s u e d b y th e T r e a s u r y a n d C o m m e rc e D e p a r t
m e n ts .
In d u stria l A ccid en ts, H e a lth , and H y g ie n e
Accident costs and safety dividends.
B y D . H a r r i n g t o n . W a s h i n g t o n , IT . S .
B u r e a u o f M in e s , 1 9 3 5 . 2 9 p p ., m im e o g ra p h e d . ( I n f o r m a tio n C ir c u la r
6 8 5 5 .)
_
.
u .
,
R e v ie w s e c o n o m ic a s p e c ts o f a c c id e n t o c c u rr e n c e in m in e s , o n t h e b a s is o f
b o th d ir e c t a n d in d ir e c t c o s ts , a s c o m p a r e d w ith th e c o s ts o f a n a d e q u a te s a f e ty
p ro c e d u re .
Accidents in Tennessee coal mines. B y F r a n k E . C a s h . W a s h i n g t o n , U . S .
B u r e a u o f M in e s , 1 9 3 5 . 16 p p ., m im e o g ra p h e d . ( I n f o r m a tio n C ir c u la r
6 8 6 4 .)
A n a ly z e s f a t a l a c c id e n ts in c o a l m in e s o f T e n n e s s e e a n d g iv e s p e r t i n e n t f a c to r s ,
w ith in te r p r e ta tio n s a n d s u g g e s tio n s to o p e r a to r s , w o rk e rs , a n d th e S ta te D iv is io n
o f M in e s , fo r th e f u tu r e p r e v e n tio n o r re d u c tio n o f a c c id e n ts in c o a l m in e s .
Annual report of the Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health Service, for the'*,fiscal
year 1935. W a s h i n g t o n , 1 9 3 5 . 1 5 8 p p . , i l l u s .
T h e s e c tio n o n in d u s tr ia l h y g ie n e a n d s a n ita tio n c o n ta in s a b rie f s ta te m e n t
re g a rd in g s tu d ie s c a rrie d o u t d u rin g th e y e a r. T h e s e s tu d ie s in c lu d e d o n e o n th e
e ffe c t o f d u s t e x p o s u r e o n th e h e a lt h o f m in e r s in th e a n t h r a c i te ic o a l fie ld o f
P e n n s y l v a n ia , o n e o n s ilic o s is a n d tu b e r c u l o s i s in c e r ta in m in e s , a n d o th e r s
d e a lin g w ith v a rio u s p h a s e s o f th e d u s t p ro b le m .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS O F LABOR INTEREST
843
The effects of exposure to dust in two Georgia talc m ills and mines.
B y W a ld e m a r
C . D re e s s e n a n d J . M . D a lla v a lle . W a s h in g to n , U . S . P u b lic H e a lth
S e rv ic e , 1 9 3 5 . 1 3 p p ., illu s . ( R e p r i n t N o . 1 6 6 9 f r o m P u b lic H e a l t h
R e p o r ts , F e b r u a r y 1, 1 9 3 5 , p p . 1 3 1 - 1 4 3 .)
A n e x a m in a tio n s h o w e d 16 ta lc m illw o rk e rs a n d 6 ta lc m in e r s to b e s u f fe r
i n g f r o m p n e u m o n o c o n io s is , a n d 5 c a s e s w e re a ls o d ia g n o s e d a s h a v in g
tu b e r c u lo s is . T h e o c c u p a tio n s o f d rille r s in th e m in e s a n d o f p a c k e r m e n , p e n c il
c u t t e r s , a n d c r u s h e r m e n in th e m ills in v o lv e e x p o s u r e t o v e r y h ig h c o n c e n tr a tio n s
of d u s t.
The pneumonokonioses ( silicosis ), literature and laws o f 1934 •
B y G e o rg e G .
D a v is , M . D ., E lla M . S a lm o n s e n , a n d J o s e p h L . E a r ly w in e . C h ic a g o ,
C h ic a g o M e d ic a l P re s s , 3 0 2 S o u th C a n a l S t., 1 9 3 5 . 4 9 0 p p .
T h is r e v ie w o f t h e s u b j e c t o f s ilic o s is in c lu d e s a b s t r a c t s , e x t r a c t s , a n d r e v ie w s
•Trom A m e r i c a n a n d f o r e i g n l i t e r a t u r e , a n d a d i g e s t b y S t a t e s o f s t a t u t e s a n d o f
c a s e s p e r ta in in g to th e la w o n o c c u p a tio n a l d is e a s e s in th is c o u n tr y .
Review of literature on effects of breathing dusts, with special reference to silicosis.
B y D . H a rr in g to n a n d S a ra J . D a v e n p o r t.
W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u re a u o f
M in e s , 1 9 3 5 . P a r t I I - B , c h a p te r 4 , P r e v e n ti o n o f d u s t d is e a s e s (s e c tio n s
3 - 5 ) , 9 2 p p . ( I n f o r m a tio n C ir c u la r 6 8 4 8 ); P a r t I I I - A , c h a p te r 5 , E c o n o m ic
a n d le g a l a s p e c ts o f d u s t d is e a s e in i n d u s t r y (s e c tio n s 1 a n d 2 ), 5 7 p p .
( I n f o r m a t i o n C i r c u l a r 6 8 5 7 .)
In d u stria l medicine.
B y W . I r v in g C la r k , M . D ., a n d P h ilip D r in k e r ; e d ite d b y
M o r r is F is h b e in , M . D . N e w Y o r k , N a t i o n a l M e d ic a l B o o k C o ., I n c .,
1 9 3 5 . 2 6 2 p p ., c h a r t s , illu s .
T h e s u b je c ts c o v e re d in c lu d e a d is c u s s io n o f t h e o r g a n iz a tio n a n d o p e r a tio n o f
a n in d u s tr ia l m e d ic in e d e p a r tm e n t, in d u s tr ia l s u r g e r y a n d m e d ic a l s e rv ic e , a n d
in d u s t r i a l d is e a s e s w ith s p e c ia l r e f e r e n c e to d u s ts a n d p n e u m o n o c o n io s is , le a d a n d
m e ta l fu m e fe v e r, g a s e s, b e n z o l, a s p h y x ia , a n d a rtific ia l re s p ir a tio n . T h e fin a l
c h a p t e r d e a ls w i t h t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f i n d u s t r i a l d is e a s e s . A b i b l i o g r a p h y is
in c lu d e d .
Report of the departmental committee appointed by the [B ritish ] Secretary fo r M ines
to inquire into the precautions against overwinding which are or could be taken
when persons are raised or lowered in m ine shafts. L o n d o n , M i n e s D e p a r t
m e n t, O v e r w in d P r e v e n ti o n C o m m i tte e , 1 9 3 5 . 4 4 p p ., d ia g r a m s , illu s .
T h e c o n c lu s io n s o f th e c o m m itte e a r e t h a t e x is tin g d e v ic e s f o r t h e c o n tr o l o f
c a g e s a r e in s u ffic ie n t. I t r e c o m m e n d s t h e a d o p tio n o f a m a x im u m la n d in g s p e e d ,
t h e in s ta lla tio n o f a u x ilia ry c o n tro lle r d e v ic e s , a n d c o m p u ls o ry p e rio d ic te s ts o f
c o n tro lle r s a n d b ra k e s .
In d u stria l R e la tio n s
F irst annual report of the National Mediation Board, including the report of the
National Railroad Adjustment Board, for the fiscal year ended June SO, 1935.
W a s h i n g t o n , [1 9 3 5 ? ]. 6 9 p p .
A n a r tic le o n th e w o rk o f ra ilw a y la b o r b o a r d s in 1 9 3 4 -3 5 , b a s e d o n th is re p o r t,
is jp u b li s h e d in th is is s u e o f th e M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .
Arbetsinstallelser och kollektivavtal samt forlikningsm annens verksamhet dr 1934 •
S to c k h o lm , S w e d e n , S o c ia ls ty re ls e n , 1 9 3 5 . 1 2 3 p p .
A n n u a l r e p o r t o n in d u s t r i a l d is p u te s , c o lle c tiv e a g r e e m e n ts , a n d c o n c ilia tio n
in T S w e d e n in 1 9 3 4 , w ith c o m p a ra tiv e d a t a fo r e a r lie r y e a rs . A F r e n c h tr a n s la
ti o n o f th e ta b le o f c o n te n ts a n d a F r e n c h r6 s u m e a re in c lu d e d .
Em ployer-em ployee relations fro m the viewpoint of the employer, the employee, and
the com m unity. A d d r e s s e s d e l i v e r e d a t t h e i n d u s t r i a l s e s s i o n , t e n t h a n n i
v e r s a ry N e w E n g la n d C o n fe re n c e , B o s to n , N o v e m b e r 2 2 , 1 9 3 5 . B o s to n ,
N e w E n g la n d C o u n c il, S ta tle r B u ild in g , 1 9 3 6 . 16 p p . ( S u p p le m e n t to N e w
E n g l a n d N e w s L e t t e r , J a n . 1 9 3 6 .)
T ranscript of testim ony before the New Jersey State Trade Board fo r the Cleaning
and Dyeing Trade. [ T r e n t o n ? ] , 1 9 3 5 . V a r i o u s p a g i n g , m i m e o g r a p h e d .
E v id e n c e g iv e n a t h e a rin g s h e ld a t v a r io u s p o in ts in N e w J e r s e y u n d e r a S ta te
¡la w e n a c t e d in 1 9 3 5 c r e a t in g a b o a r d e m p o w e r e d to fix m i n i m u m w a g e s a n d
p r i c e s f o r th e c le a n in g a n d d y e in g b u s in e s s .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
844
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1 9 3 6
Findings of fact and conclusions of the New Jersey State Trade Board for the Cleaning
and Dyeing Trade on the evidence received by it at hearings held throughout the
State of New Jersey * * * . [ T r e n t o n ? ] , 1 9 3 5 . 2 4 p p . , m i m e o g r a p h e d .
T h e ru lin g s h a n d e d d o w n b y th is a g e n c y d e a lin g w ith m a x im u m h o u r s a n d
m in im u m w a g e s w e re g iv e n in th e J a n u a r y 1 9 3 6 is s u e o f th e M o n th ly L a b o r
R e v ie w .
Helping the foreman build better industrial relations. A n n A r b o r , U n i v e r s i t y o f
M ic h ig a n , B u re a u o f I n d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s , 1 9 3 6 . 10 p p .
A d is c u s s io n o f th e f o r e m a n - tr a in in g a n d e m p lo y e e - r a tin g p la n in u s e b y a
m a n u f a c t u r i n g c o m p a n y i n t h e M i d d l e W e s t e m p lo y i n g a b o u t 5 ,0 0 0 w o r k e r s .
In te r n a tio n a l Labor O rg a n isa tio n
The ratification of international conventions.
A s tu d y o f th e re la tio n s h ip o f th e
r a tif ic a tio n p ro c e s s to th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f in te r n a tio n a l le g is la tio n .
By
F r a n c i s O . W ilc o x . L o n d o n , G e o r g e A lle n & U n w in , L td ., 1 9 3 5 . 3 4 9 p p .
O n e c h a p te r is d e v o te d to th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O r g a n iz a tio n .
Labor L eg isla tio n
Federal labor legislation in 1935.
W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s ,.
1 9 3 5 . 13 p p . (S e ria l N o . R . 3 2 2 , r e p r in t fro m D e c e m b e r 1 9 35 M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w .)
Report of Industrial Legislation Commission of Union of South Africa.
P re to ria ,
1935. 189 p p .
E x is tin g c o n d itio n s a re a n a ly z e d a n d th e h is to r y o f la b o r le g is la tio n re v ie w e d
a s a b a s is fo r th e re c o m m e n d a tio n s m a d e b y th e I n d u s tr ia l L e g is la tio n C o m m is
s io n . S u b j e c ts d e a l t w i th in c lu d e w a g e s , w a g e d if f e r e n tia ls a n d w a g e fix in g ,
e n f o r c e m e n t o f la b o r la w s , a n d p u n i s h m e n t f o r c o n t r a v e n ti o n s o f t h e la w s .
Labor O rganization.
Berattelse over Landsorganisationens i Sverge verksamhet 1934, avgiven till representantskapets drsmote den 7-9 maj 1935. S t o c k h o l m , L a n d s o r g a n i s a t i o n e n
i S v e rg e , 1 9 3 5 . 3 7 1 p p ., c h a r t s .
A n n u a l r e p o r t o f t h e F e d e r a tio n o f S w e d is h T r a d e U n io n s f o r
p a r a tiv e d a t a fo r e a rlie r y e a rs . T h e a ffilia te d m e m b e r s h ip in
w a s 6 5 3 , 3 3 1 , a n i n c r e a s e o f 1 9 ,9 8 0 o v e r D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 3 . T h e
in f o r m a tio n o n w a g e s , w o rk in g h o u rs , in d u s tr ia l d is p u te s a n d
c o lle c tiv e a g r e e m e n ts , u n e m p lo y m e n t, e tc .
1934 w ith c o m
D ecem b er 1934
r e p o r t in c lu d e s
th e ir o u tc o m e ,
National questions discussed at 1935 convention of American Federation of Labor.
W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u re a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , 1935. 7 p p .
3 2 3 , r e p r i n t f r o m D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 5 M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .)
( S e r i a l N o . R.
Labor T u r n -O v e r
Standard procedure for computing labor turn-over.
L a b o r S ta tis tic s , 1 935. 3 p p .
1 9 3 5 M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .)
W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u re a u o f
(S e ria l N o . R . 3 3 0 , r e p r i n t fr o m D e c e m b e r
N e g r o in In d u str y
Some major aspects of the economic status of the Negro.
B y J o h n P . M u rc h is o n .
5 p p . ( R e p r i n t e d f r o m S o c ia l F o r c e s , B a ltim o r e , O c to b e r 1 9 3 5 , p p . 1 1 4 - 1 1 9 .)
_ P r e s e n ts 1 9 3 0 c e n s u s fig u re s a n d M a y 1 9 3 4 F e d e r a l E m e r g e n c y R e lie f s t a t i s
tic s b e a r in g u p o n th e e c o n o m ic s t a tu s o f th e N e g r o , a n d d is c u s s e s t h e m o re
in s is te n t e c o n o m ic p r o b le m s o f th e r a c e u n d e r th e r e c o v e r y p r o g r a m . T h e
a u t h o r a ls o s e ts f o r th r e a s o n s w h ic h , in h is ju d g m e n t , f o r b id th e s o lu tio n o f t h e
N e g r o ’s e c o n o m i c d i f f i c u l t i e s b y “ a n y k i n d o f t i e - u p w i t h o r g a n i z e d c r a f t u n i o n i s m
in th e U n ite d S ta te s .”
O ccu p a tio n C hanges
Summary of changes in the occupational pattern of New York State.
F . K im b a ll. A lb a n y , S ta te E d u c a tio n D e p a r tm e n t, 1 9 35 .
m im e o g ra p h e d .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
B y B ra d fo rd
12 p p ., c h a r t,,
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
845
Prices and C ost o f L iv in g
Changes in cost of living, October 15, 1985.
S ta tis tic s , 1 936.
2 3 p p ., c h a r t .
W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u re a u o f L a b o r
( S e r i a l N o . R . 3 2 9 .)
Scale for estimating m inim um budgets for dependent and independent families.
D e tr o i t, M ic h ., V is itin g
m im e o g ra p h e d .
H o u s e k e e p e r A s s o c ia tio n , M a y
1, 1 9 3 5 .
3 p p .,
B y B e rn a rd F . T o b in a n d
C . G r e e r . C n ic a g o , U n iv e r s ity o f C h ic a g o , 1 9 3 6 . 1 0 0 p p ., c h a r t s .
in th e P a c k in g I n d u s try .)
A n a n a ly s is o f th e p ric e o f m e a t s h o w in g th e r e tu r n to th e f a r m e r
v a r io u s d i s t r i b u t i v e a g e n c ie s , lo s s e s in h a n d lin g , a n d r a ti o o f w a s te
o b ta in e d fro m a n im a ls .
H o w ard
(S tu d ie s
What becomes of the consumer’s meat dollar?
a n d th e
to m e a t
R e c r e a tio n
First annual report of Chicago Recreation Commission.
C h ic a g o , 1 9 3 5 . 16 p p .
T n is p a m p h le t c o n ta in s b rie f re p o rts o f th e v a rio u s c o m m itte e s a p p o in te d to
d e a l w ith d if f e r e n t p h a s e s o f r e c r e a tio n in C h ic a g o . T h e r e s u lts o f a s u r v e y o f
r e c r e a t io n a l f a c ilitie s w ill b e p u b lis h e d l a te r .
R e lie f M easures and M eth od s
Fifth annual report upon the operations and proceedings under “the [Queensland,
Australia ] Income ( Unemployment Relief) Tax Acts ( 1980 to 1985)” for the
year ended June 30, 1985. B r i s b a n e , D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o i , 1 9 3 5 . 6 5
p p ., illu s .
A re v ie w o f th e m e th o d s o f ra is in g f u n d s f o r u n e m p lo y m e n t re lie f a n d th e
e x p e n d itu re s m a d e fo r s u c h p u rp o s e s.
Statistique annuelle des institutions d’assistance, 1932.
P a ris , S ta tis tiq u e G é n é ra le
d e la F r a n c e , 1 9 3 5 . lx iv , 71 p p .
T h is r e p o r t fo r th e y e a r 1 9 32 o f F re n c n p u b lic -a s s is ta n c e o rg a n iz a tio n s c o n ta in s
s ta tis t ic s c o v e rin g p e n s io n s f o r o ld -a g e a n d p e r m a n e n t in v a lid ity , m e d ic a l a n d
h o s p ita l a s s is ta n c e in c a s e s o f te m p o r a r y s ic k n e s s , m a te r n it y a n d in f a n t c a r e , a n d
a s s is ta n c e to la r g e fa m ilie s .
S elf-H elp A c tiv itie s
Self-help among the unemployed in California.
L a b o r S ta tis tic s , 1 935. 6 p p .
1 9 3 5 M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .)
W a s h in g to n , U . S . B u re a u o f
(S e ria l N o . R . 3 2 0 , r e p r in t fro m D e c e m b e r
Sum m ary of proposed plan for self-help cooperatives in California, 1986.
[S a c ra
m e n to ? ] , S ta te E m e r g e n c y R e lie f A d m in is tr a tio n , D iv is io n o f S e lf-H e lp C o o p
e r a tiv e S e rv ic e , 1 9 3 5 . 3 5 p p ., m im e o g r a p h e d .
Social S e c u r ity
Bibliography : Legislation for old-age security.
P r in c e to n , N . J ., P r in c e to n U n i
v e r s ity , I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s S e c tio n , N o v e m b e r 1 3 , 1 9 3 5 . 7 p p ., m im e o
g ra p h e d .
Statistical implications of the social security program.
B y M e re d ith B . G iv e n s.
( R e p r i n t f r o m J o u r n a l o f A m e r i c a n S t a t i s t i c a l A s s o c ia ti o n , A l b a n y , N . Y .,
D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 5 , p p . 6 5 1 - 6 6 1 .)
Unemployment compensation.
H e a r i n g s ( 7 4 th C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .) b e f o r e t h e S u b
c o m m it te e o n F is c a l A f fa irs , C o m m i tte e o n t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o lu m b ia , H o u s e
o f R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s , M a rc h 1 9 35 , o n H . R . 5 5 3 4 , a n d o n H . R . 7 1 6 7 (s u b s ti
t u t e f o r H . R . 5 5 3 4 ). W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 . 1 1 5 a n d 10 p p ., r e s p e c tiv e ly .
Unemployment compensation for the District of Columbia.
W a s h in g to n , H o u s e o f
R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s , C o m m itte e o n th e D is tr ic t o f C o lu m b ia , 1 9 3 5 . 2 2 p p .
( R e p o r t N o . 8 5 8 , t o a c c o m p a n y H . R . 7 1 6 7 , 7 4 t h C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .)
Allmânna pensionsfôrsakringen, dr 1934.
S to c k h o lm , S w e d e n , P e n s io n s s ty re ls e n ,
1935. 18 p p .
(I n S w e d is h , w ith ta b le o f c o n te n ts a n d ré s u m é in F re n c h .)
D a t a o n o ld -a g e p e n s io n s in S w e d e n in 1 9 3 4 , t a k e n f r o m th i s r e p o r t, a r e g iv e n
in th is is s u e o f th e M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .
Rapport sur le fonctionnement de l’Office Général des Assurances Sociales, des Offices
Supérieurs, des Offices d’Assurance et du Comité des Rentes de VAssurance des
Employés durant l’année 1984• Compte rendu des opérations des Caisses
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
846
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— MARCH 1936
d’Assurances Sociales pendant l’année 1988. S t r a s b o u r g , O f f ic e G é n é r a l d e s
A s s u r a n c e s S o c i a l e s d ’A l s a c e e t d e L o r r a i n e , 1 9 3 5 . 1 7 3 p p .
(B u is . N o s. 10
a n d 1 1 , O c t o b e r - N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 5 .)
A n n u a l r e p o r t o f t h e s o c ia l i n s u r a n c e o ffic e s o f A ls a c e a n d L o r r a i n e .
Das Recht in der Reichsversicherung. H e r a u s g e g e b e n v o n E u g e n M u n d e r .
S tu tt
g a r t, W . K o h lh a m m e r , 1 9 3 5 . [V a r io u s p a g in g .]
L a w s , o rd e rs , a n d d e c is io n s r e la tin g to s o c ia l in s u r a n c e in G e r m a n y in 1 9 3 5 .
Syketrygden, 1984- O s l o , R i k s t r y g d e v e r k e t , 1 9 3 5 . 7 8 p p . , f o l d e r .
A n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e s ic k n e s s -in s u ra n c e fu n d s in N o rw a y d u r in g 1 9 3 4 , s h o w in g
m e m b e r s h ip , c la im s p a id , a n d fin a n c ia l s ta te m e n ts , in c lu d in g a ta b le s h o w in g
e x p e n d itu r e s b y y e a r s f r o m 1 9 2 7 to 1 9 3 4 . P r i n t e d in N o r w e g ia n w i th F r e n c h
tr a n s la tio n o f ta b le o f c o n te n ts .
W ages and H o u r s o f Labor
Lônestatistisk drsbok for Sverige, 1984- S t o c k h o l m , S o c i a l s t y r e l s e n , 1 9 3 5 .
9 4 p p .,
m a p , c h a rts .
A n n u a l r e p o r t o n w a g e s in S w e d e n in 1 9 3 4 , w ith s o m e c o m p a ra tiv e fig u re s fo r
e a c h y e a r b a c k to 1 9 1 3 . T h e r e is a F r e n c h t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e ta b l e o f c o n t e n ts
a n d a ré s u m é in F re n c h .
Report of proceedings under the Agricultural Wages {Regulation) Act {1924) for
the year ended September 80, 1984. L o n d o n , M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d
F is h e rie s , 1 9 3 5 . 6 4 p p .
M in im u m - w a g e d e te r m in a tio n s f o r a g r ic u ltu r a l la b o r e r s a s fix e d b y d is tr ic t
a g r ic u ltu r a l w a g e c o m m itte e s , a n d re p o r ts o f in v e s tig a tio n s o f c o m p la in ts a n d
in s p e c tio n s m a d e to d e te r m in e e x te n t o f c o m p lia n c e w ith m in im u m -w a g e a n d
h o lid a y r u lin g s fix e d b y th e w a g e s b o a r d s .
Report on wages, hours of work and conditions of employment in the engineering
industry in the Bombay Presidency {excluding Sind), M ay 1934■ B o m b a y ,
L a b o r O f f ic e , 1 9 3 5 .
F a c to r ie s .)
1 7 9 p p ., illu s .
(G e n e ra l w a g e c e n s u s , P a r t I , P e re n n ia l
W om en in In d u str y
Employed women under N. R. A. codes. B y M a r y E l i z a b e t h P i d g e o n . W a s h i n g t o n ,
U . S . W o m e n ’s B u r e a u , 1 9 3 5 . 1 4 4 p p . , m a p , c h a r t s . ( B u i . N o . 1 3 0 .)
I m p r o v e d s ta n d a r d s , a m o re e n lig h te n e d p o in t o f v ie w to w a r d th e e m p lo y m e n t
o f w o m e n , a n d “ p o p u la r r e a liz a tio n o f th e im p o r ta n c e n o t a lo n e to th e in d iv id u a l
e m p lo y e e b u t t o t h e e n t ir e s c h e m e o f A m e r ic a n life o f d e f in ite a d v a n c e s in w a g e
a n d h o u r s t a n d a r d s f o r w a g e e a r n e r s , ” a r e , t h e W o m e n ’s B u r e a u b e l i e v e s , t h e
p e r m a n e n t a c h ie v e m e n ts o f th e N . R . A . so f a r a s w o m e n a re c o n c e rn e d . F ro m
t h a t v ie w p o in t th e B u r e a u h a s c o m p ile d a r e p o r t o n th e e x p e rie n c e o f e m p lo y e d
w o m e n d u r in g t h e life o f t h e N . R . A . c o d e s . T h is r e p o r t a n a ly z e s t h e c o d e p r o
v is io n s a p p ly in g to w o m e n in th e p r in c ip a l w o m a n - e m p lo y in g in d u s tr ie s a n d in
o f f ic e w o r k , a n d r e v i e w s s t u d i e s t h a t h a v e b e e n m a d e s h o w i n g e a r n i n g s , h o u r s , a n d
w o rk in g c o n d itio n s in s e le c te d o c c u p a tio n s a n d in d u s trie s , b e fo re a n d a f te r th e
a d o p tio n o f th e c o d e s. D e fin ite a d v a n c e in w a g e s ta n d a r d s , in c re a s e d e a rn in g s ,
p a r tic u la r ly o f th e lo w e s t-p a id g ro u p s , a n d th e n a rro w in g o f th e s p r e a d b e tw e e n
th e w a g e r a te s o f m e n a n d w o m e n w e re a c c o m p lis h e d , a n d p ro g re s s w a s m a d e
to w a rd th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f a 4 0 -h o u r w o rk w e e k fo r w o m e n .
A t th e s a m e tim e th e r e p o r t p o in ts o u t a n d c ritic a lly a n a ly z e s fe a tu re s o f th e
c o d e s w h i c h t h e W o m e n ’s B u r e a u r e g a r d s a s s e r i o u s d e f e c t s , s h o r t c o m i n g s , a n d
o m is s io n s , d e t r a c t in g f r o m th e ir v a lu e a s s ta n d a r d - s e tti n g a g e n c ie s .
W o rk m en ’s C om p en sation
The added responsibility in industry by recent occupational disease legislation.
By
H e n r y D . S a y e r. N e w Y o rk , A s s o c ia tio n o f C a s u a lty a n d S u r e ty E x e c u
tiv e s , 1 P a r k A v e n u e , 1 9 35 . 10 p p .
A d d re s s d e liv e re d a t th e o c c u p a tio n a l-d is e a s e s e s sio n o f th e a n n u a l m e e tin g o f
th e A m e ric a n S o c ie ty o f M e c h a n ic a l E n g in e e rs , D e c e m b e r 4, 1 9 3 5 .
Workmen’s compensation and social insurances.
B y F . R o b e rts o n J o n e s . N e w
Y o rk , A s s o c ia tio n o f C a s u a lty a n d S u r e ty E x e c u tiv e s , 1 P a r k A v e n u e , 1 9 3 5 .
11 p p .
A d d re s s d e liv e re d a t th e a n n u a l m e e tin g o f th e A m e ric a n S o c ie ty o f M e c h a n ic a l
E n g in e e rs , D e c e m b e r 4, 1 935.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
847
Biennial report reviewing the administration of the Virginia Compensation Act,
1983-84. R i c h m o n d , I n d u s t r i a l C o m m i s s i o n o f V i r g i n i a , 1 9 3 5 . 1 6 p p .
A w a rd s f o r in d u s t r i a l in ju r ie s in V irg in ia in c lu d e d 1 2 9 f a ta l c a s e s in 1 9 3 4 a s
a g a i n s t 9 3 in 1 9 3 3 . N o n f a t a l c a s e s in v o lv in g a w a r d s n u m b e r e d 6 ,7 9 8 n 1 9 3 4 a n d
6 ,2 9 1 i n 1 9 3 3 . C o m p e n s a t i o n p a y m e n t s i n c u r r e d f o r 1 9 3 4 , i n c l u d i n g e s t i m a t e d
m e d i c a l e x p e n s e , a m o u n t e d t o $ 1 ,5 3 7 , 1 9 0 , a n d f o r 1 9 3 3 , t o $ 1 ,2 6 7 , 9 1 0 . T a b u l a
tio n s in th e r e p o r t s h o w n u m b e r a n d c o s t o f c o m p e n s a tio n c a se s b y in d u s tr y a n d
c a u s e o f in ju r y , a n d m a n -h o u rs a n d in ju r y fre q u e n c y r a te s fo r v a rio u s in d u s trie s .
Industrial accident report of the New Jersey Department of Labor.
C o m p e n s a b le
c a s e s c lo s e d d u r in g y e a r e n d in g D e c e m b e r 3 1 ,1 9 3 4 . T r e n to n , 1 9 3 5 . 1 7 p p .,
m im e o g ra p h e d .
T a b u la tio n s fo r th e c a le n d a r y e a r 1 9 3 4 s h o w n u m b e r o f c o m p e n s a te d in d u s tr ia l
a c c id e n ts b y c a u s e s , n a tu r e o f in ju rie s , in d u s tr ia l g ro u p , se x , a n d a g e . _ O c c u p a
ti o n a l d is e a s e d a t a b y c a u s e s a r e a ls o g iv e n . T o ta l c o m p e n s a te d a c c id e n ts f o r
1 9 3 4 n u m b e r e d 1 8 ,5 3 7 , i n c l u d i n g 2 0 2 f a t a l i t i e s , 1 0 c a s e s o f p e r m a n e n t t o t a l d i s
a b i l i t y , 5 , 5 8 6 p e r m a n e n t p a r t i a l d i s a b i l i t i e s , a n d 1 2 ,7 3 9 t e m p o r a r y d i s a b i l i t i e s .
C o m p e n s a t i o n c o s t t o t a l e d $ 4 ,4 0 7 , 9 6 2 , a n d m e d i c a l c o s t r e p o r t e d f o r 5 , 4 6 3 c a s e s
a m o u n t e d t o $ 4 1 0 ,3 7 6 .
Nineteenth annual report of the U. S. Employees’ Compensation Commission, Ju ly
1, 1934, to J une SO, 1935. W a s h i n g t o n , 1 9 3 6 . 7 4 p p .
R e v ie w e d in t h i s is s u e .
Statistics of workmen’s compensation, 1938.
D u b lin , Ir is h F re e S ta te , D e p a r t
m e n t o f I n d u s tr y a n d C o m m e rc e , 1935. 16 p p .
P r e s e n ts in f o r m a tio n fu r n is h e d b y c o o p e r a tin g in s u ra n c e c o m p a n ie s c o v e rin g
a fie ld o f in q u ir y lim ite d to c e r ta in in d u s tr y g r o u p s ( f a c to r ie s u n d e r th e F a c to r ie s
a n d W o r k s h o p A c t, ra ilw a y s , h a r b o r s a n d d o c k s , m in in g a n d q u a r r y in g , c o n
s tr u c ti o n , s h ip p in g ) . T w e n t y - e ig h t f a t a l a c c id e n ts w e re c o m p e n s a te d in 1 9 3 3
a s a g a in s t th e s a m e n u m b e r in 1 9 32 . N o n fa ta l a c c id e n t c a s e s c o m p e n s a te d in
1 9 3 3 n u m b e r e d 4 ,0 7 8 a s c o m p a r e d w i t h 3 ,7 7 9 in 1 9 3 2 . T h e i n d u s t r i a l d is e a s e c a s e s
c o m p e n s a te d in c lu d e d 1 f a ta lity a n d 6 n o n f a
@FedFRASER