Full text of Monthly Labor Review : May 1931, Volume 32, Number 5
The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. N. DOAK, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ETHELBERT STEWART, Commissioner
MONTHLY
LABOR REVIEW
NUMBER 5
VOLUME 32
MAY, 1931
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1931
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.
Price 15 cents per copy
Subscription price per year. United States, Canada, Mexico, $1.50; other countries, $2.25
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lic a tio n is issu e d p u r su a n t to th e
p ro v isio n s o f th e sun d ry c iv il a c t (4 1 S ta ts .
1 4 3 0 ) a p p ro v ed M arch 4 , 1921.
Contents
Special articles:
Accidents in selected manufacturing industries, 1926 to 1929_____ __
Workingmen’s housing in Vienna, by Ernest L. Harris; American
Consul General, Vienna, Austria___________________ __
Employment conditions and relief:
Connecticut Study of unemployed registered in Bridgeport_______
Unemployment in foreign countries______________________________
Measures against effects of prolonged unemployment upon workers in
foreign countries_________________________________
__
Great Britain—Unemployment insurance legislation_______________
Old-age pensions and retirement:
Retirement act for Panama Canal Zone employees__________
Old-age pensions paid by labor organizations, 1930________________
Insurance and benefit plans:
Benefits paid by photo-engravers, 1930___________________________
Employees’ participation and investment plan of Kansas City Public
Service Co______________________________________
Oregon—Social insurance investigative commission________________
Germany— Introduction of group insurance_______________________
Italy— Cost of social insurance__________________________________
Productivity of labor:
Growth of mechanization in agriculture and its relation to labor pro
ductivity______________________________________________
Industrial and labor conditions:
Union-management cooperation on the railroads____________________
Studies of industrial relations_________________________________
Brazil— New Ministry of Labor, Industry, and Commerce_________
Great Britain—
Report of cotton-textile amalgamation______________________
New survey of London life and labor________________________
Liberia—Slavery and forced labor___________________________
_
Industrial accidents and safety:
American Standards safety codes______________________________
Canada— Fatal industrial accidents, 1929 and 1930________________
Workmen’s compensation:
Recent compensation reports—
Minnesota___________________________________________ _
West Virginia___________________________________________
Great Britain— Accidents and compensation payments in industry in
1929____________________________________________________
Labor laws and court decisions:
California— Additional compensation held no bar to action against
physician for malpractice_____________________________ ______
District of Columbia— Employee temporarily absent from business
not covered by compensation act________________________________
Oregon—Law forbidding discriminatory employment contracts_____
China— Enforcement of factory law______________________________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
hi
pag6
1
q
17
20
25
28
29
33
3g
^
33
33
3g
44
4q
51
52
52
5g
g3
64
65
66
67
7q
72
72
73
IV
CONTENTS
Workers’ education and training:
Purposes of different types of vocational schools---------------------------Minnesota— Training and placement of the deaf, 1929-1930-----------Oregon apprenticeship law---------------------------------------------------------Pennsylvania—Training electrical workers in Philadelphia-------------Industrial disputes:
Strikes and lockouts in the United States in March, 1931--------------Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in March, 1931-------Canada— Strikes and lockouts, 1913 to 1930---------------------------------Norway— Strike of cooperative employees------------------------------------Labor organizations:
New union of cooperative employees-------------------------------------------Brazil—Trade-union membership------------------------------------------------Family allowances:
Family allowances in the postal, telegraph, and telephone services __
France— Family allowances in the Roubaix-Tourcoing textile in
dustry______________________________________________________
Cooperation:
Membership and business of consumers’ cooperative societies, 1929
and 1930------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------Development of postal credit unions, 1930-----------------------------------Llano Cooperative Colony---------------------------------------------------------Membership of International Cooperative Alliance------------------------Canada— Cooperative people’s banks of Quebec---------------------------Great Britain— Persons employed by Cooperative Wholesale Society.
Labor turnover:
Labor turnover in American factories, March, 1931-----------------------Housing:
Building permits in principal cities, March, 1931--------------------------Apartment-house construction in American cities, 1930-----------------Wages and hours of labor:
Wages and hours of labor, by industries--------------------------------------Recent changes in wages and hours of labor---------------------------------Farm wage and labor situation on April 1, 1931----------------------------Reporting time and minimum pay in collective agreements------------Testing the adequacy of wages------------------------- -------------------------Wages in the gray-iron foundry industry, February, 1931--------------Minnesota— Wages in 1929 and 1930, as shown in accident reports._
Virginia— Wages and hours of labor, 1929------------------------------------Australia— Forty-four hour week in New South Wales-------------------Barbados— Wages of agricultural labor----------------------------------------Great Britain—
Recent wage changes----------------------------------------------------------Wage rates, 1914 and 1930--------------------------------------------------Japan— Wages in 1928 and 1929-------------------------------------------------Yugoslavia— Wages in 1930-------------------------------------------------------Trend of employment:
Summary for March, 1931---------------------------------------------------------Employment in selected manufacturing industries in March, 1931. _.
Employment in nonmanufacturing industries in March, 1931---------Employment in building construction------------------------------------------Employment on Class I steam railroads in the United States---------Changes in employment and pay rolls in various States-----------------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Page
75
77
80
81
85
88
92
92
94
94
96
98
99
101
101
109
109
110
111
119
133
136
138
141
142
146
150
152
153
158
158
159
162
166
166
168
170
184
189
189
190
CONTENTS
Y
Wholesale and retail prices:
Page
Retail prices of food in March, 1931-------------------------------------------198
Retail prices of coal in March, 1931--------------------------------------------205
Index numbers of wholesale prices in March, 1931________________
207
Cost of living:
Argentine measures to reduce the cost of living----------------------------210
Japanese family budget investigation,1926-27-------------------------------210
Immigration and emigration:
215
Statistics of immigration for February, 1931--------------------------------Bibliography:
National economic councils: A list of references, compiled by Laura
A. Thompson, Librarian United StatesDepartment of Labor--------217
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United States___________________________________________
227
Official— Foreign countries-----------------------------------------------------------228
Unofficial_______________________________________________________
230
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T h is Issu e in B rief
Combined figures jor 30 manufacturing industries show an increase
in accident frequency rates of 3 per cent in 1929 as compared with 1928,
and a decrease of 4 per cent in accident severity rates, but both
frequency and severity rates show a substantial reduction from the
rates for 1926. Page 1.
In Vienna the housing of the working people is the concern of the
municipality. The city housing policy was inaugurated shortly after
the end of the war, when the housing situation had become acute and
private enterprise proved inadequate to meet the need. Altogether
the city has constructed some 45,000 dwellings for the working
class, which it rents at nominal rates. Although some houses of the
1-family type or larger are built each year, the majority of dwellings
provided are in large apartment buildings. The funds for the erection
of dwellings are drawn from current tax receipts. Page 6.
A summary of earnings and hours in various industries for which
studies have been made by the United States Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics is given on page 136, the data in some cases going back as far
as 1914. In the industries for which comparative figures are given
back to 1914—boots and shoes, cotton goods, hosiery and underwear,
iron and steel, men’s clothing, and woolen and worsted goods—hourly
earnings in 1914 ranged from 15.3 cents in the cotton-goods industry
to 30.1 cents in the iron and steel industry; the range in these indus
tries in 1930 (excluding the iron and steel industry, for which 1930
data were not available) was from 32.5 cents in the cotton-goods
industry to 70.1 cents in the men’s clothing industry.
The general level of farm wage rates in the United States on April 1,
1931, was the lowest recorded by the United States Department of
Agriculture since 1916, and was 35 points under the figure for April
1, 1930. The demand for farm labor was 71.1 per cent of normal
on April 1, 1931, as compared with 84.8 per cent on April 1, 1930,
while the supply was 112.9 per cent of normal as compared with 99
per cent on April 1, 1930. Page 141.
Under the employees’ participation and investment plan of the Kansas
City Public Service Co., Kansas City* Mo., the stockholders set aside
25 per cent of the net income of the company for increased com
pensation of the employees. The plan became effective January 1,
1931. Page 37.
The education and training of the deaf, their placement in industry,
and the variety of jobs in which they have been successful are reported
upon by the division for the deaf of the Minnesota Industrial Com
mission. The favorable attitude of a number of employers of deaf
workers toward these members of their personnel is also referred to
and data are given on causes of deafness and ages at which hearing
was lost. Page 77.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
y ii
VIII
THIS ISSUE IN BRIEF
Provisions for minimum pay for any fraction of a day s work, and
for pay for reporting time when no work is furnished, appear m a
large number of collective agreements. A few provisions taken from
about 800 trade agreements having one or both of these provisions
are given on page 142.
Effects of prolonged unemployment upon the physical and mental
well-being of workers, especially the young workers, are attracting
the serious attention of public authorities, labor leaders, social
workers, and others in a number of foreign countries beset with
severe and prolonged unemployment. These ill-effects constitute a
new complicated problem in the unemployment situation. Certain
measures already have been introduced and others proposed m Great
Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands, such as rehabilitative train
ing, sports, etc. Page 25.
The Liberian Government has taken measures to free all domestic
slaves, to abolish the “ pawn” system, and to prohibit the recruiting
of contract labor for foreign employment. This announcement was
made by that Government within a month after the receipt of the
report of the International Commission of Inquiry into the Existence
of Slavery and Forced Labor in the Republic of Liberia, presented
in September, 1930. In December, 1930, the Liberian Legislature
adopted acts along lines recommended by the commission. A sum
mary of the findings of this body are published on page 58.
The cooperative movement has now taken root in nearly every country
in the world. The cooperative movements of 41 countries aie feder
ated in the International Cooperative Alliance, which now embraces
229,890 local cooperative societies with an aggregate membership of
more than 70,000,000. In addition, there are about 15,000,000 per
sons who belong to cooperative credit societies. These 229,890 local
societies do an annual business of more than $17,000,000,000, and
have share capital and reserves of more than $1,500,000,000. Page
109.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
JUN 1-I83f
MONTHLY
LABOR R E V I E W
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
WASHINGTON
V O L . 32, N O . 5
M A Y , 1931
A ccid en ts in S elected M an u fa ctu rin g In d u stries, 1926 to 1929
TATISTICS of industrial accidents in selected manufacturing
groups, gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicate that
26.94 accidents occurred in the combined groups during 1929 for
every 1,000,000 man-hours worked, an increase in the frequency rate
of 3 per cent, as compared with 1928. A decrease was, however,
experienced in the severity rate (the number of days lost per 1,000
man-hours worked, including allowances for deaths and permanent
disabilities), which was 2.42 for 1929, or 4 per cent less than for 1928.
A marked decrease took place during the 4-year period, 1926 to 1929,
as shown below.
S
A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y R A T E S F O R 30 M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S
T R IE S , 1926 TO 1929
Severity
Frequency
Y ear
R ate
1926
1927
1928
1929
____- _________
__ _ ___
___________ _ ___
_ _______ --- - ______ ______
_____________ _ ___________
31.17
25.92
26.13
26.94
Per cent of
change as
compared
w ith pre
ceding year
-1 7
+1
+3
R ate
3.31
2.70
2.52
2.42
Per cent of
change as
compared
w ith pre
ceding year
-1 8
-7
-4
The frequency rate for the combined industries dropped from 31.17
for 1926 to 25.92 for 1927, but increased somewhat during 1928 and
1929, bringing the total reduction for the period to 14 per cent. The
severity rate continued to decline, resulting in a decrease of 27 per
cent for the period.
While the bureau has compiled and published statistics of accidents
in selected manufacturing industries for several years, it has not
attempted until now to compute frequency and severity rates for the
combined industries. The information furnished by the employers
on the total man-hours worked each year in each establishment is
uniform in character, regardless of where the establishment is located,
but the data furnished by the different States on accidents in the
respective establishments vary according to the extent to which acci
dents are reported in the State. The majority of the States require
reports of all accidents resulting in disability extending beyond the
day of injury, but in some of them reports are necessary only when
the disability extends beyond one week, beyond 10 days, or beyond
two weeks. In others no records of temporary disabilities are
1
[1033]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
available. These variations prevent comparison of rates for indus
tries, except within groups having the same standard of reporting,
and does not permit a presentation of reliable frequency and severity
rates for the combined industries in all States.
It was found, however, that the data for such States as furnished
records of all disabilities extending beyond the day of injury (lost
time accidents) constitute a fairly representative cross section for
each of the selected industries, although a smaller man-hour exposure
is considered than is covered in the full study of the bureau. The
rates computed from such data for the individual industries are also
strictly comparable, because each one represents the respective
hazard for the particular industry per 1,000,000 or per 1,000 manhours worked. These rates, by extent of disability and by years, are
shown in detail in the table following.
As all industries are not of equal importance, some method of
weighting is necessary in the production of general rates for the com
bined industries. An arithmetical average would be unsatisfactory;
and therefore in computing the bureau’s accident frequency and sever
ity rates for the combined manufacturing industries, the rates for
the individual industries were weighted according to the number of
wage earners employed in each classification covering the establish
ments for which data were secured, from figures furnished by the
United States Bureau of the Census. This was deemed the most
appropriate weight for the purpose. Detailed rates for the combined
industries, by degree of disability and by years, are shown at the end
of the table following.
These rates differ somewhat from the rates published by the Na
tional Safety Council in the 1930 edition of Industrial Accident
Statistics. The variation is presumably due mainly to the difference
in classifications included. The National Safety Council includes
construction, electric railway, laundry, mining, printing and pub
lishing, public utility, and quarry industries, as well as some mercan
tile establishments, and omits some of the classifications covered by
the bureau. The difference may also be due to a certain extent to
the weighting employed by the bureau.
The industrial accident study of the bureau for other than the iron
and steel industry covered 29 manufacturing industries for 1926, 1927,
and 1928. A division was possible in 1929 of the classification “ lumber—sawmills,” which included logging operations for the other three
years, as separate figures could not be secured for these. Conse
quently an additional industrial classification, logging, appears for
1929, but this affects only the rates for the sawmill operations, and
does not disturb the total. The iron and steel industry, data for
which are obtained through a special yearly study, has previously
been treated separately in the bureau publications, but is included
here with the other manufacturing industries.
The basic tabulation covers approximately 16 per cent of the total
wage earners in the respective industries for 1926, 23 per cent for
1927, 24 per cent for 1928, and 27 per cent for 1929.
During the period covered by the tabulation decreases in frequency
rates are shown by 16 groups, while the other 14 groups show increases.
Decreases and increases in severity rates are equally divided among
the groups, 15 of each.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1034]
3
ACCIDENTS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
N U M B E R OP A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y R A T E S F O R
S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 TO 1929
[Frequency rates are based on 1,000,000 hours’ exposure, severity rates on 1,000 hours’ exposure]
D eath
N um ber
of fullIn d u stry and year
year
Freworkers N um quen
reported ber of
cy
cases rate
A gricultural implem ents:
1926_________
1927_________
1928
19291_______
Automobiles:
1926_________
1927----1928________
19291_______
A utomobile tires:
1926________
1927- ______
1928 _______
1929Boots and shoes:.
1926________
1927 _______
1928 ______
1929 _______
1926_________
19271_______
1928 2_______
19291_______
C arpets:
1926_________
1927_________
1928—- ........ .
1929_________
Chemicals:
1926_________
19271_______
1928________
1929________
C otton goods:
1926_________
1927_________
1928________
1929 1_______
Electrical
machinery:
1926 ______
1927- ______
1928________
1929_________
Fertilizers:
1926_________
1927_________
1928 ______
19291_______
Flour:
1926_________
19271_______
1928 2_______
1929_________
F oundry and machine-shop
products:
1926_________
19271...............
1928 2_______
1929.-..............
Perm anent dis
ability
Tem porary dis
ability
Total
Se
um Fre- Se N u m Fre- Se N u m Fre- Se
ver N
ber of quen ver ber of quen ver ber of quen ver
ity cases cy
ity
cy
ity
cy
ity
rate
rate rate cases rate rate cases rate rate
5, 12»
7,282
7,134
7,628
(
6
3
4
0.27
.14
.18
1. 65
,8 2
1.05
28
2]
68
28,360
48,886
52, 269
58,127
10
7
9
14
.12
.05
.0»
.08
.71
.29
.34
.48
180
142
229
291
2.12
.97
1.46
1. 71
5.19
1. 27
1.10
1.31
2,145
1, 852
3,267
3, 657
25. 21
12.63
20.83
20.97
.35
.23
.33
.32
2,335
2,001
3, 505
3,970
27.45
13. 65
22.35
22.76
6. 25
1. 79
1. 77
2. 11
17, 951
30,696
36, 377
35, 967
3
7
9
12
.06
.08
.08
.11
.33
.46
.49
.67
32
61
62
64
.59
.66
.57
.51
.46
.51
.51
.40
2,913
3, 771
3,877
2,642
54.07
40.95
35.53
24.49
.72
.73
.62
.43
2,948
3,839
3, 948
2, 718
54. 72
41.69
36. 18
25.19
1. 51
1. 70
1. 62
1. 50
14, 779
39, 763
35, 396
48, 258
1
1
2
1
.02
.01
.02
.01
.14
.05
. 11
.04
5
69
79
87
.11
.58
.74
.60
.05
.47
.75
.49
316
892
904
1, 228
7.13
7.48
8.52
8. 48
.09
. 14
. 17
. 14
322
962
985
1,316
4,703
13, 497
9, 685
11,629
3
9
8
15
.21
.22
.28
.43
1.28
1. 33
1. 65
2.58
11
31
16
31
.78 1.67
.77 .75
.55 .59
.89 1.04
809
1, 436
1, 237
1, 578
57.34
35.46
42.56
45.29
.92
.55
. 73
.65
823
1, 476
1, 261
1,624
1,482
15, 321
14, 091
14, 286
0
1
4
4
.02
.09
.09
.13
.57
.56
o
12
25
31
.26
.59
.72
214
231
358
4 21
4.66
5. 47
8. 34
. 11
.14
. 12
227
260
393
3,117
8, 540
12,461
15,506
0
5
20
7
.20
.53
.15
1.17
3.21
.90
17
35
57
21
.66 .68
.94 1. 33
1.23 1.00
308 12.02
735 19. 66
836 17.97
.22
.45
.27
330 12.88 2.07
790 21. 13 4. 99
900 19.35 2.17
44, 194
56,903
63, 952
69,694
0
6
5
10
.04
.03
.05
.21
. 16
.29
23
57
82
125
. 14
.33
.35
.53
1 171 8 83
2 , 258 13.23
2,332 12. 15
3, 002 14.36
.27
.23
.28
2,321 13. 60 .81
2,419 12.61 . 74
3,137 15.01 1.10
18,137
60, 927
61,634
85, 201
2
11
10
12
.04
.06
.05
.05
.22
.36
.32
.28
56
210
183
388
1.03 .64
1. 15 1.02
.99 .80
1. 52 . 12
1,095
2,611
2,181
3, 502
21.13
14.28
11.80
13.70
.37
.36
.32
.27
1, 153
2,832
2,374
3,902
1,309
2,498
4,341
5,167
1
3
10
9
.26
.40
.77
.58
1.54
2.40
4. 60
3.48
2
7
13
13
.51 .28
.93 1. 79
1.00 .91
.84 1.14
174
261
476
567
44. 54
34. 83
36.54
36.57
.88
.66
.77
.69
177
271
499
589
45. 31
36.16
38. 31
37. 99
2.70
4. 85
6.28
5.31
3,889
7,107
9, 355
10,863
4
5
5
7
.34
.23
.18
.21
2. 06
1. 41
1.07
1.29
15
25
24
31
1.29 1. 94
1.17 .90
.86 .94
.95 1.00
310
477
845
1, 202
26. 57
22.37
30.10
36. 89
.50
.41
.54
.62
329
507
874
1,240
28.20
23. 77
31.14
38. 05
4. 50
2.72
2.55
2.91
27,069
72, 963
66, 276
70,850
17
38
29
23
.21
. 17
. 15
.11
1.26
1.04
.93
.65
85
338
301
339
1.28 1.10
. 9i .48
2.97 3.38
17
.33
.43
.60
.25
.67
.89
598 27. 37
662 30. &
800 34.96
1.05 1. 05 3,193 39.32
1.54 1. 33 6, 356 29. 05
1.51 .82 5, 763 28.98
1. 59 1. 39 6, 799 31.99
1 T he record for Kansas for 1927 and for N o rth Carolina for 1929, included in this
only (July to D ecem ber).
2 T h e record for Oklahoma, included here, om its fatal cases.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1035]
.46
.47
.51
632 28. 92 3.21
686 32.06 1. 79
872 38.11 4. 94
7.26 .28
8.07 .66
9.28 1. 03
9.09 .67
58.33
36.45
43. 39
46.61
3. 87
2.63
2.97
4. 27
4.94 . 49
6.15 1. 38
9.15 1. 57
22.20 1.23
15.49 1. 74
12.84 1. 44
15.27 .67
.58 3,295 40.58 2.89
.51 6,732 30.76 2.88
.21 6,093 30. 64 1. 18
.48 7,161 33. 69 2.52
table, covers 6 m onths
4
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
N U M B E R O F A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y R A T E S F O R
S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 TO 1929—C ontinued
D eath
N um ber
of fullIn d u stry and year
year
workers N u m
reported ber of
cases
Fre
quen
cy
rate
Perm anent dis
ability
Tem porary dis
ability
Total
Se Num Fre Se N u m Fre Se N u m Fre Se
ver ber
quen ver ber of quen ver
of quen ver
ity
ity ber of cy
ity
cy
ity
cy
rate cases rate rate cases rate rate cases rate rate
Furniture:
1926_________
11,726
60 1. 71 1.44
0
795 22. 60 0. 53
855 24. 31 1.97
124 1.88 1.43 1,296 19. 70 .30 1, 425 21.66 2.19
1927 i _______
21, 918
5 0.08 0.46
22, 020
90 1.36 .98 1, 192 18. 04 .31 1,289 19. 51 1.92
1928 2_______
.63
7
. 11
160 2.19 1.54 1,704 23. 34 .31 1,872 25.64 2.51
1929 i _______
24, 345
.66
8
. 11
Glass:
1926_ ______
6,717
1
.30
17
.84 1.04
.05
797 39. 55 .49
815 40.44 1.83
1927_________
24
.42 .35 2, 233 38. 63 .51 2, 271 39.29 2.31
19, 267
14
.24 1.45
21,107
.66
28
.44 .32 2,620 41.38 .55 2,655 41.93 1.53
19282_______
7
.11
1929_________
27, 242
43
.52 .36 2, 456 29. 96 .37 2,513 30. 65 1.75
14
.17 1.02
H ardw are:
1926_________
886
0
5 1. 88 .73
75 28. 22 . 58
80 30 10 1. 31
1927- - ........ 3, 764
1
.09
.53
15 1.33 1.02
330 29. 22 .44
346 30. 64 1.99
4,040
1928_________
14 1.16 1.00
3
.25 1.49
400 33.01 .55
417 34. 42 3. 04
1929_________
4, 467
2
.89
.15
28 2.09 1.42
460 34. 32 .40
490 36. 56 2. 71
Iron and steel:
.92 .80 31, 667 24.17 .40 33,191 25. 34 2. 67
1926_________
436, 692
322
.25 1.47 1,202
1927_________
.21 1.24 1,033
395, 707
245
.87 .80 22, 060 18. 58 .30 23, 338 19. 66 2. 34
1928- ______
418,163
229
.18 1.10
993
.79 .80 23,434 18.68 .40 24, 656 19. 65 2. 20
1929 ............ .
509, 700
304
.20 1.19 1, 781 1.16 .96 35, 836 23. 44 .47 37,921 24. 80 2. 62
Leather:
.72
.42 .62
1926-.-........ —
5, 530
2
7
. 12
187 11.27 .26
196 11.81 1. 60
11,521
1927- ______
3
.09
.52
19
.55 .41
948 27.43 .43
970 28. 07 1.36
1928_________
13, 066
2
.05
.31
28
.71 .92
789 20. 12 .27
819 20. 88 1.50
13, 586
3
.07
.44
23
1929 i _______
.56 .45
970 23. 76 .36
996 24.39 1.25
Logging: 1929 . 16,600
33
.66 3.98
106 2.13 1. 77 2,050 41.20 1.06 2,189 43.99 6.81
L u m b er—planing
mills:
5,242
1926- ______
3
.19 1.14
47 2.99 2.15
467 29. 70 .65
517 32.88 3.94
1927 ______
9,416
.32 1.91
9
72 2. 55 2.64
634 22.44 .57
715 25. 31 5.12
19282_______
12,112
6
.17
.99
118 3. 25 2. 17 1.162 31.97 .60 1,286 35. 39 3. 76
14,021
19291_______
7
.17 1.00
169 4.02 2. 85 1,233 29.34 .49 1,409 33. 53 4. 34
L u m b e r—sawmills:
1926- ______
.94 5. 66
5, 302
15
33 2. 07 3.28 1,012 63.62 1.57 1,060 66. 63 10. 51
1927_________
13,631
22
.54 3. 23
130 3. IS 3.74 2, 386 58. 46 1.25 2,538 62.19 8. 22
1928_________
36, 724
72
.65 3.92
374 3. 3S 3. 2t 5,467 49. 63 1.08 5, 913 53.67 8.29
1929 i _______
20,481
IS
.31 1.86
157 2. 56 1.78 2,840 46. 2S .88 3,016 49.16 4. 52
M achine tools:
.64
1926- ______
9, 303
3
.54 .32
.11
15
623 22. 32 .25
641 22. 97 1.21
1927_________
12, 207
■8 .08
. 4E
28
.76 . 7C
780 21. 30 .31
811 22.14 1. 53
1928 _______
13, 074
7
.18 1.07
44 1.12 .90
875 22.31 .40
926 23. 61 2. 37
.14
1929_________
16, 501
7
.85
4S
. 9S .74 1, 253 25.31 .36 1,309 26.44 1.95
Paper and pulp:
.14
1926- ______
.83
.72 .83 1,562 31. 05 .51 1,605 31. 91 2.17
16, 770
7
36
26,074
19271_______
18
.23 1.38
126 1. 61 1.62 2,224 28.4i .60 2, 368 30. 27 3.60
1928_________
27,158
14
.18 1.03
154 1.8S 2.04 2,284 28.0Í .56 2,452 30.10 3.63
1929>_______
34, 632
14
.13
.81
193 1.86 1.7) 2,900 27.91 .48 3,107 29.90 3.00
Petroleum refining:
(
1926 ________
6
3, 783
. 5c . 32
9Í 8. 75 . 2(
105 9. 25 . 52
.42 2. 51
1927 i _______
19', 951
25
67 1.12 1.12 1,979 33.04 .52 2,071 34. 58 4. 15
22,401
25
.37 2. 23
46
1928 2_______
.6! . 42 1, 310 19. 49 . 37 1, 381 20 55 3. 02
1929 ________
2 b , 849
28
.36 2.17
69
.89 .72 1, 609 20. 76 .34 1, 706 22.01 3.23
Pottery:
1926 ________
3, 946
2
]
.08
.51
.17 .36
142 12.00 . 25
145 12. 25 1. 12
6,053
1927--.............
2
22Í 12.61 .17
.11
.66
6
.33 . 18
237 13. 05 1.01
1928_________
7,449
.32 .46
.13
299 13. 38 . 26
309 13.83 1. 52
3
. 8(
7
1929- ______
9,275
.21
.32 .21
]
Í
445 15. 97 .27
.03
455 16. 32 .69
Shipbuilding:
( ___
. 8S 1.92
1926_________
745
2
123 55. Oí . 91
125 55. 92 2. 88
5
1927- ______
6, Oil
.28 1.66
36 2. 00 2. 58
798 44. 25 . 76
839 46. 53 5. 00
1928_________
9; 133
.11
.66
43 1.57 1.26
494 18.03 2. 40
3
448 16. 35 .48
.24 1.46
47 1.15 .80
1929 ______
13,642
10
910 22. 20 .34
967 23.59 2.60
1 T he record for K ansas for 1927 and for N orth Carolina for 1929, included in this table, covers 6 m onths
only (July to December).
2 T he record for Oklahoma, included here, omits fatal cases.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1036]
5
ACCIDENTS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
N U M B E R O F A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y R A T E S F O R
S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S , 1926 TO 1929—C ontinued
D eath
N um ber
of fullIn d u stry and year
year
workers N u m Fre
reported ber of quen
cases cy
rate
Slaughtering and
m eat packing:
1926................
19, 809
19271_______
36, 222
1921?2_______
38, 674
1929_________
48,116
Stamped and
enam eled ware:
1926_________
6.105
1927____ ____
10, 004
1928_________
8,068
1929_________
8, 537
Steam fittings, apparatu san d supplies:
1926_________
2,640
■1927..................
15, 652
1928________
8, 935
1929.......... .......
9, 538
Stoves:
1926________
4, 379
1927________
7, 515
1928_________
7,880
1929..............
9, 645
Structural - i r o n
work:
1926_________
1. 737
19271_______
8,862
1928 2_______
10, 105
1929. ______
13, 553
Woolen goods:
1926_________
7,757
1927_________
15, 796
1928________
22, 607
1929.......... .
23,189
All groups:
1926________
719, 185
1927_________ 1, 003, 953
1928_________ 1, 075, 687
1929.................. 1, 276,103
W eighted average, all groups:
1926________
1927________
1928........ .........
1929............ .
Perm anent dis
ability
Se
Fre
N u m quen
ver ber
of
ity cases
cy
rate
rate
Tem porary dis
ability
Total
Se
Fre Se
Fre Se
ver N u m quen ver N u m quen ver
ber of
ber of
ity cases
cy
ity cases
cy
ity
rate
rate rate
rate rate
8
15
15
23
9.13
. 14
. 13
.16
0. 81
.83
.78
.96
93
136
127
187
1. 56 1. 50
1. 25 1.00
1. 09 .71
1. 2£ .81
0
2
2
3
.07
.08
. 12
.40
.50
.70
28
36
50
77
1 52 1 15
1.20 .70
2. 07 1.20
3.00 2. 07
0
2
4
2
.04
. 15
.07
.25
.90
.42
4
25
42
30
50 1 32
.53 . 32
1. 57 1. 25
1. 05 .85
248
1,057
858
863
31 31
22! 51
32. 00
30. 12
! 33
.55
.43
1,084 23.08 . 90
904 33. 72 2. 70
895 31.24 1. 70
0
1
3
3
.04
. 13
. 10
.27
.76
.62
21
25
28
46
1 60 1 03
i. n l! 04
1. 18 . 70
1. 59 1. 39
532
1,002 44. 44
934 39. 51
1, 196 41. 38
.62
.55
. 53
1,028 45. 59 1.93
965 40. 82 2.01
1, 245 43.07 2. 54
2. 30 13. 82
.87 5. 20
.49 2.96
.37 2. 21
12
20
52
69
2. 30 3. 78
.75 .51
1. 72 1.24
1. 70 .87
358
1,046
1, 566
1, 661
12
23
15
15
1
1
0
2
.04
.02
. 26
. 13
.03
. 17
416
495
531
616
3
10
23
25
. 13
.21
34
.36
.06
. 17
20
.33
2, 043
2, 929
3, 331
4, 801
. 22
. 18
. 18
. 16
1. 30
1. 06
1. 11
. 94
2,935
3,810
5,080
6, 440
49. 39 0.66
35. 05 .54
43. 78 .63
44. 67 .57
803
807 26. 89
688 28. 42
703 27. 42
.35
.44
.42
.30
.15
18
.25
55, 590
65, 097
72,678
92, 733
1.10
1 20
1. 28
1. 42
1 47
1 20
1. 08
1. 05
51. 08
36. 44
45.00
46. 12
2. 97
2.37
2. 12
2. 34
845 28. 16 1.45
740 30. 57 2. 14
783 30. 54 3. 19
30
68. 70 1.32
39. 34 .61
51. 65 .92
40. 86 .64
252 10. 84
444 9.37
762 11 2.3
1, 024 14.74
3,036
3, 961
5,222
6, 659
382
1,089
1, 633
1, 745
73. 30
40. 96
53.86
42. 93
18. 92
6. 32
5. 12
3. 72
256 11.01
455 9.60
. 62
.45
1, 051 15.13
.75
58, 049
68,521
76, 540
98,150
20 85
24 54
24 66
25. 36
54
45
43
! 43
?
26! 94 2. 42
1 T h e record for K ansas for 1927 and for N o rth Carolina for 1929, included in this table, covers 6 m onths
only (July to D ecem ber).
1 T he record for Oklahom a, included here, om its fatal cases.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1037]
6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
W ork in gm en ’s H ou sin g in V ien n a
By
E rnest
L.
H a r r is , A m e r ic a n C o n s u l G e n e r a l , V i e n n a , A u s t r ia
VAILABLE information indicates that before the inauguration
L of Vienna’s building program serious difficulties, unpleasantness,
A
and even misery resulted from the prevalent deficiency in adequate
residential space in Vienna. The workingmen’s homes were in
general small, insanitary, and uncomfortable. In fact, out of a total
of 554,545 dwellings recorded in Vienna on April 12, 1917, 405,990,
or 73.2 per cent, came under the category of small dwellings, con
sisting at the most of two rooms of limited size. Rents were high.
Workmen and clerks often had to spend about one-fifth of 'their
incomes for dwellings inadequate even for the most elementary needs
of health. High rents forced many tenants with small dwellings to
take in subtenants and lodgers.
In November, 1918, in consequence of the war and the dismember
ment of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the Social Democrats
(the Austrian labor party) became predominant in the Federal as well
as in the Vienna municipal government, and ever since that time have
held the reins in the city council, with a significant majority. One of
their principal goals was the alleviation of the shortage in dwellings.
The main reasons for the aggravated shortage of homes during and
after the war were: (1) The almost complete cessation of building
activities from 1914 to 1921, (2) the increased demand for flats because
of increased marriages after the war, (3) the wish of working classes
for better living quarters—workers were not only able to take more
commodious tenements because of low rents (the latter being restricted
by the tenants’ protection law) but they also ceased taking roomers
for the same reasons, (4) immigration to Vienna from other parts of
the former monarchy, (5) commandeering of private buildings for
military use during the war.
The increase of marriages and various other developments resulting
from the war brought about an increase of household establishments
in Vienna to the extent of 40,000 from 1910 to 1923. This develop
ment was to a great extent responsible for the augmented shortage of
living quarters, despite the fact that the population of Vienna
decreased 167,759 persons from 1910 to 1923. The downward trend
has continued in recent years. At the end of 1929 the population
was estimated at 1,847,488 persons.
In consequence of the low rents, the number of subtenants has
enormously decreased since the war and the density in the living
quarters has been reduced.
Immediate Postwar Housing Measures
T h e measures which the city took to offset the deficiency in dwell
ings in the first three years following the war had a very limited
effect, because of the lack of available means. Among the results
should be mentioned the issuance of a decree in 1921 as a conse
quence of which newly constructed residences were exempt from all
municipal taxes for a period of 30 years. The purpose of the decree
was to stimulate private building activities. The results, however,
were very unsatisfactory, and there was no private residential com
struction of consequence.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1038]
W o r k in g m e n A
h o u s in g
in
Vi e n n a
7
With housing conditions steadily growing worse, and with unem
ployment constantly growing, the municipal administration was forced
to seek every possible means to alleviate the situation. First of all,
there were attempts to establish emergency homes for those without
dwellings. The most favorable opportunity for the immediate pro
vision of such emergency dwellings was found in the remodeling of
the barracks which were unoccupied after the war. Hence, there
were 86 dwellings established in barracks in 1919, 160 in 1921, 251
in 1922, and 288 in 1923, making a total of 785 such residences.
While the dwellings in the barracks bore the indisputable character
of emergency residences, the municipality in the autumn of 1919
advanced a definite program for a more extensive residential cam
paign. This eventuated in the construction of a settlement on the
Schmelz, Vienna’s largest drill ground, in the fifteenth district, of
150 houses. Thus the comprehensive movement to meet the resi
dential demand was begun.
At that time four building blocks were put under construction,
which contained 42 one-story houses, comprising 308 dwellings and
14 business locations. All of these were completed by 1922.
Until February 1, 1923, building activity in Vienna was financed
by the returns from the general rent tax (Mietzinsabgabe) established
in 1922. The returns from this tax served also to pay the interest
and amortization on loans amounting to several billion Austrian
crowns which were borrowed for building purposes. In addition,
there were temporary sums deducted from the Federal residence and
settlement fund, maintained by the employers, so that a carefully
planned residence policy and building program could be carried out
in 1922. Partly on account of the depreciation of the Austrian
crown, however, available'funds were inadequate. Another obstacle
was found in the lack of building materials.
For these reasons only four new large buildings were constructed
during 1922 and several municipal structures were enlarged, contain
ing altogether 658 dwellings, 7 workshops, and 3 business locations.
Dissatisfied with the result, which seemed to be rather insignificant
in view of the pressing need for residences, the municipality of Vienna,
on February 1, 1923, undertook to introduce the more productive
residential construction tax (Wohnbausteuer) in the place of the rent
tax (_Mietzinsabgabe). The new residential tax was intended only
for the construction of residences within the territory of the city of
Vienna, but the collections from this tax can also be used for paying
interest and amortization of loans contracted for the same purpose.
The scope of the residential construction program planned in 1923
on the basis of this tax was considerably enlarged by merging it
with the three emergency programs of the city of Vienna for the
restriction of unemployment, making it possible to construct 4,258
residences before the end of 1923.
Housing Since 1923
A l t h o u g h such building activity could be called extensive, as
compared with that of other years after the opening of the war, it
was considered insufficient in view of the scarcity of housing accom
modations. For this reason, in its meeting held on September 21,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1039]
8
MONTHLY LABOE EE VIEW
1923, the Vienna City Council resolved to construct 25,000 dwellings
within five years’ time.
It should be stated here that these 25,000 residences were finished
one year ahead of the appointed time; therefore the city council
resolved to construct 5,000 more in the spring of 1927, and in the same
year designed another comprehensive program lor the construction of
30.000 additional dwellings to be completed by the end of 1932—in
other words, 6,000 dwelling units to be built during each year from
1928 to 1932. Should this program be accomplished, these dwellings,
together with those already recently built, will bring the total con
structed by the city to 64,258.
In addition to the measures mentioned above, the Vienna City
Council, on September 20, 1929, resolved to construct an additional
10.000 residences by means of the subsidy provided by the Federal
law for the promotion of residential construction.
Until December 31, 1930, such subsidies were granted for only 572
dwellings, all of which are under construction. It is doubtful whether
subsidies for 10,000 residences will be obtainable.
The accurate total of residences created by the community of
Vienna after the war, both by the adaptation of barracks and the like
and by the construction of large tenement houses, as well as houses
for one or more families, could not be ascertained. From available
information it appears, however, that in setting this figure at 45,000,
one would not be far from right.
The American Consulate General was supplied, however, with de
tailed statistics concerning the creation of residences from 1923 to
1930. They show that during that period 38,330 residences in chain
apartment houses were constructed. From 1921 to 1930, 4,899
apartments were established in houses for one or more families, ar
ranged in garden settlements.
The total number of residences constructed in each year is shown in
the following table:
N U M B E R O F D W E L L IN G S C O N S T R U C T E D B Y C IT Y O F V IE N N A , IN A P A R T M E N T
B U IL D IN G S A N D IN H O U SE S , 1923 TO 1930
N um ber of dwell
ings provided in—
Year
A p a rt
m ent
bu ild
ings
1923__________________________________
1924__________________________________
1925__________________________________
1926_________________________________
1927
__________________________
1928
__________________________
1929
__________________________
1930
__________________________
T o t a l . . _________________________
1 N um ber constructed from 1921 to 1924.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1040]
1, 509
642
Houses
(1-family
or larger)
4, 276
4, 205
5, 844
} 1 1, 755
588
639
712
146
244
815
38, 330
4,899
6, 917
8,492
6,445
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9
WORKINGMEN’S HOUSING IN VIENNA
At the end of 1930, a total of / ,699 municipal dwellings were under
construction in Vienna. Plans are completed for another 6,841
apartments, the construction of which will be started in 1931.
1 he largest chain apartment house is the “ Karl Marx Hof.” It
comprises altogether 1,200 apartments, consisting of 100 adjoining
houses, each with a separate staircase; each apartment has a little
balcony and at least one room facing the sunny side. Most of the
dwellings m this building have from 216 to 517 square feet of floor
space. I he average cost of the construction of one dwelling amounted
to 15,000 schillings ($2,111). The large courtyards are planted with
trees and lawns, and the pathways are lined with benches. In the
C°^r^yai are f() be found separate buildings for the kindergarten
and for the washing, drying, and pressing of laundry. The bath
house is open three days a week.
Among the Vienna municipal apartment buildings under construc
tion, one of the largest is that located in the so-called “ Brigittenau ”
that is, the twentieth Vienna district.
It will comprise 2,000 apartments, large courtyards, parks, and
kindergartens. It will be finished during the current year.
According to the various building programs, 52,258 dwellings were
to be completed by the end of 1930. Construction activity, however
ias. keen retarded so that the community is 7,258 dwelling units
behind schedule. This means that the program will be completed
one year later than intended, or in 1933, unless activities are carried
on at greater speed than heretofore.
Financing, and Expenditures for Housing
T h e residential building activity of the city of Vienna has been
nnanced_ from current taxes, 40 per cent in recent years coming from
the residential tax for tenement construction purposes.
From 1923 to 1930, the city of Vienna spent $93,432,099 for the
construction of dwellings. The amounts invested in each year are
shown m the statement below. During the last three years expendi
tures for the purposes in question were stable, almost $13,000,000
being spent per annum. The importance of this line of the city’s
investment activity is indicated by the fact that during 1930 the total
expenditure for the construction of living quarters amounted to
almost 20 per cent of the city’s total expenditure.
The statement below shows the total expenditure of the city of
Vienna lor the construction of residences, each year since 1923:
1923
1924.
1925
1926
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930
$2, 538,
9, 071,
13, 510,
16, 464,
13, 214,
12, 912,
12, 860,
12, 859,
T otal
52839°—31---- 2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
000
940
620
570
520
780
469
200
93, 432, 099
[1041]
IQ
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Private Building Activity in Vienna
P r iv a t e building activity has not been considerable during lecent
years. The latest statistics available are_those of 1929. The total
number of apartments newly constructed in Vienna during that year
amounted to 573. These apartments contained altogether 1,09b
rooms, 797 so-called “ Kabinette” (small rooms with one window),
554 kitchens, and 213 bathrooms.
On the other hand, 188 apartments were demolished, thereby,
the total Vienna living space was diminished by 245 rooms, 115 small
rooms, 176 kitchens, and 7 bathrooms.
During 1930, increased activity was developed as a result ol the
extension of financial support by the Federal Government.
Most of the buildings constructed were one and two family houses.
Practically no apartment houses were built.
On the one hand, the present costs of construction, as compared
with pre-war conditions, are considerably higher; on the other hand,
interest on invested capital is also much more than before the war.
It is, therefore, no exaggeration to say that a workingman would have
to give 50 per cent of his wages to pay the rent on a small dwelling
built by private capital. This is undoubtedly the reason why private
capital has not entered the field.
.
.
A construction policy was not adopted by the private interests,
although the new houses would have been exempt from taxes for 30
years, and there would have been no restriction either as to giving
notice or as to rent fixing.
1
,
..
,
The municipal authorities point out that the^ extraordinary advantao-e of the Vienna municipal rent policy lies in the fact that the
new community houses are available for the poorer classes of the
population.
Conditions Determining Selection of Housing Types
T h e leading officials, architects, and engineers of the city of Vienna,
engaged in the construction of residential buildings1, had to decide
whether larger apartment houses, small family cottages, or settle
ments would best fulfill the need. On the whole, they decided in
favor of the large apartment buildings. #
In support of this decision, the following reasons were given:
The outstanding advantage of garden settlements can not be gain
said, and there is no denying that the 1-family cottage form of lodg
ing would also be a good thing for Vienna.
In the large cities of the European Continent, however, where there
is concentrated industrial development, this idea could not be widely
carried out. Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Budapest, prior to the war,
had adopted the type of large tenement houses for the working classes.
To become the owner of a cottage with a small garden was quite be
yond the means of the average clerk or workman in these countries.
A o-arden city for 25,000 families, if one reckons 2,153 square feet
to one cottage with garden, and 3,229 square feet including street
section and other free space pertaining to the house, would require a
territory of 2.9 square miles. Such a territory was never owned, by
the city nor could it be acquired, owing to the lack of an efficient
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1042]
WORKINGMEN’S HOUSING IN VIENNA
11
expropriation bill. Even smaller territories, lots, or building spaces,
which, taken together, constituted the area required, were not
available.
In view of the pressing need and scarcity of residences, the city
council was constrained to use those small sites which were offered
for sale and which permitted immediate construction without pro
hibitive expense, since gas and water supply, electric connections,
sewerage, and roads already existed.
Special care was taken that all apartment houses were surrounded
by parks and that they should contain large courtyards with ample
lawns, playgrounds with sand piles and wading pools for the children.
On the other hand, the city council of Vienna is doing everything
in its power to further the project of a garden city movement. In
1921, it^ established settlements in the thirteenth district (Hermesgasse), in the eleventh district (Weissenboeckstrasse), and in the
twenty-first district (Kagran), where 265 one-family cottages in rows
and groups were erected by the municipality.
This action was immediately followed by increased activity on the
part of various settlement organizations enjoying noteworthy assist
ance from the city of Vienna. The latter not only provided land to
the extent of over 0.4 square mile, but it also contributed 85 per cent
of the cost of construction. At the end of 1926, $3,948,000 had been
expended for this purpose and 3,400 settlers’ houses were erected.
Since 1927, this method of financial aid has been abandoned. The
city then resolved to bear all building expenses itself. Construction
is carried out by the “ Gesiba,” a contracting firm controlled by the
city council. The large-scale activity permits economy.
About 520 single-family houses are erected per year. The site area
measures about 2,152 square feet, the area built upon about 441 square
feet, and in the case of the small type, 323 square feet. The dwellings
are of two stories, and the actual habitable space consists of from 484
to 667 square feet. All houses are furnished with cellar space, water
from the main supply, and gas and electric current. The rent amounts
to $3.70 per month.
Home building and loan association plan.—A number of 1-family
cottages are built every year under the community home building
and loan association plan (Heimbauhilfe).
For this plan, the municipality of Vienna has accorded a credit of
$423,000 to the “ Gesiba,” which is erecting a colony of about 200
one-family cottages in rows and groups near the “ Wasserturm,” a
territory in the tenth district of Vienna. These cottages, fitted with
bathrooms, kitchens and the like, and erected on sites belonging to
the city, are constructed by the municipality for persons who must pay
a first installment of 25 per cent of the total cost of construction. The
rest is covered by a 4 per cent long-term loan which they obtain from
the municipality, up to a maximum of $1,823.
Principles Observed in Community Housing
M a n y leading Vienna architects, as well as the architects of the
Municipal Building Department, have been intrusted with the draw
ing up of the plans. The foremost sculptors are commissioned for
the adornment of the new buildings.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1043]
12
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The ideal of erecting only healthful living quarters providing suffi
cient space and light has always been borne in mind. Even the
emergency quarters in wooden barracks, resorted to as a temporary
measure, were built in such a manner that each construction could be
called a success from this point of view.
In the municipal buildings at least 50 per cent of the site is left iree,
for use as a garden or yard provided with a playground for children.
What this means to the health of the tenants may be realized by com
paring the new garden yards with the extremely small courts and light
shafts of buildings erected by private enterprise.
Many of the city’s residential building plans include also stone swim
ming pools, which serve as skating rinks in winter.
All rooms have direct lighting. There is at least one staircase to
every four residences. It is noteworthy, however, that there are no
elevators in the new municipal tenement houses.
The unprecedented activity of the community of Vienna in the
field of municipal housing may best be illustrated by comparing the
small dwellings built before the war with those erected by the
community in the new municipal houses. Before 1919, of 1,000
small residences constructed, only 847 were supplied with kitchen,
only 62 with entrance hall, 607 with loft, and 700 with cellars.
Furthermore, only 232 small residences out of the 1,000 were then
fitted with gas or electric light, 953 had a water tap and 921 had the
toilet located somewhere without the premises. In many cases,
one water tap and closet had to be used by two or more families.
On the other hand, in the new community buildings, erected since
the close of the war, each dwelling has a hall, attic, and cellar, as
well as a gas stove, gas and electric light, water tap and toilet, the lastnamed being located within the premises. The kitchens are often
planned as kitchen-living rooms, but they are invariably provided
with a gas cooker and water supply. The cooking recesses, sffiks>
and lavatories are tiled and fitted with waterproof plaster. The
living-room floors are of oak.
Auxiliary Buildings
M u n ic ip a l
block apartment houses containing more than 300
dwellings, are equipped with a steam laundry having the best modern
fixtures. The housewife is thus enabled to wash, as well as dry and
iron, the whole family washing within three or four hours. In the
case of smaller buildings several laundries of smaller size are built,
and the tenants have the use of drying lofts. Each comparatively large
block of dwellings is provided with cell shower baths and tub baths.
Very frequently, kindergartens and day-nurseries have been pro
vided, as well as public libraries, centers for maternity advice and
welfare quarters for tubercular persons, halls for social gatherings, and
shops. A large number of dwellings of the type having a central
kitchen building have also been erected.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1044]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WORKINGMEN’S HOUSING IN VIENNA
13
Type and Size of Apartments Provided
D u r in g the first postwar years two types of tenements were
constructed chiefly. The first type consisted of a small entrance
hall, toilet, a large kitchen for cooking and living purposes (Wohnkueche), and one other room, comprising altogether at least 409
square feet of useful floor space. Almost 75 per cent of all tenements
constructed from 1920 to 1927 were of that type. The second type
was larger, measuring 517 square feet of floor space, and having a
small sleeping room in addition to the rooms of the former type.
In single cases somewhat larger flats have also been constructed.
In cases where there was not enough room for one of the types above
described, tenements for one person have been substituted. These
types are very much in demand. They consist of an entrance hall,
one room, and toilet. There is a water tap and a gas plate in every
flat.
At the beginning of 1927, however, four new types were intro
duced to take the place of the old ones. They are as follows:
(а) Apartments with 432 square feet of useful floor space, divided
as follows: Entrance hall, 22 square feet; toilet, 11 square feet;
kitchen, 97 square feet; living room, 194 square feet; and small bed
room, 108 square feet. Fifty-five per cent of all apartments con
structed since 1927 have been of this type.
(б) Apartments with 517 square feet: Hall, 22 square feet; toilet,
11 square feet; kitchen, 75 square feet; living room, 194 square feet;
and two small bedrooms (107.5 square feet each), 215 square feet.
Twenty-five per cent of all apartments constructed since 1927 have
been of this type.
(c) Apartments with 603 square feet: Hall, 22 square feet; toilet,
11 square feet; kitchen, 75 square feet; two rooms (193.5 square feet
each), 387 square feet; and small room, 108 square feet. Only 6
per cent of the apartments built since 1927 fall under this category.
(d) Apartments for single persons, measuring 216 square feet of
useful floor space: Hall with gas plate, 22 square feet; toilet, 11 square
feet; and room with running water, 183 square feet. Fourteen per
cent of all apartments constructed have been of this type.
Each of the big apartment buildings has a few larger apartments
than those listed above. They are let to physicians and other
intellectuals.
The housing bureau of the city of Vienna states that visitors from
England and various other countries have often remarked upon the
relatively smaller dimensions of the dwellings built in Vienna. The
bureau points out, however, that the unusually bad housing condi
tions of the Aienna proletariat in the pre-war period should not be
forgotten. It was also mentioned that recently, opinions abroad
have changed to the belief that the residential size originally desired
(from 700 to 760 square feet) can no longer be maintained on account
°f exorbitant rent and lack of money. Thus, for example, various
German experts propose the construction of small dwellings which
have areas between 300 and 500 square feet. As already mentioned
in this report, 75 per cent of all living quarters constructed by the city
of Vienna after 1926 have a floor space of from 400 to 500 square feet.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1045 ]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
14
Rents in Vienna Municipal Apartment Houses
U n d e r existing legislation, there are no restrictions whatever as to
rents in new buildings. Nor is the house owner limited in his rights
in regard to giving notice, as is the case with old houses. ^ Neverthe
less, the Vienna municipality maintains rents at approximately the
same low level as prevails in pre-war houses. In fact it would not be
practicable to charge the tenants, chiefly laborers, of the new munic
ipal houses higher rents than the workmen and other tenants residing
in the old houses.
Rents in privately owned apartment houses, constructed before and
during the war, are limited by the tenants’ protection law. <The latter
provides for a gradual increase of rents, the highest limit of which
will be reached on August 1, 1931. Consequently, rents are based
upon the pre-war figures in crowns. In this calculation, however,
1 crown (20.2 cents) is now reckoned at 3.4 cents, in the case of
small and moderate-sized residences. This means that rents amount
to only one-sixth of pre-war rents. After August 1, 1931, rents will
amount to only a little more than one-fifth of pre-war rents.
The director of the Vienna Housing Bureau stated that rents in
municipal houses are fixed at such amounts that all running expenses
such as water consumption, sewerage, chimney cleaning, lighting of
staircases, and insurance, as well as the expenses for maintenance of
buildings and gardens, and finally, the cost of administration, are
covered. However, they do not include any return on the invested
capital.
The necessity of maintaining low rents was recognized by a majority
vote in the city council as the principal reason why the municipal
building activity can not be financed by loans. As matters stand at
the present time, it is figured that the chain apartment houses are
not encumbered by interest and amortization on loans because they
are constructed by means of current tax receipts. Hence, the munici
pality can afford to base rents on the cost of upkeep and repair only.
Since the actual cost of maintenance is comparatively small in the
case of these new houses, amounts exceeding the present requirement
are included in the rent. These surplus profits are put into a reserve
fund for future maintenance, in order to obviate the necessity of
raising rents in the future.
The present monthly rent per square foot ranges from 0.144 cent to
0.392 cent. However, the great majority of all tenants in municipal
houses pay only from 0.196 cent to 0.130 cent per square foot.
In addition, the house construction tax must be paid, which amounts
to 1.50 schillings (21 cents) on the average, but never exceeds 2.50
schillings (35.2 cents). The maximum rate is levied for the large
apartments in municipal houses. This means that the rent, including
house construction tax, for the predominating type of apartment—one consisting of a small entrance hall, one room, and a toilet—
amounts to 7.20 schillings ($1,015) per month. This apartment has a
useful floor space of 409 square feet.
Housing Procedure of Municipal Housing Bureau
T h e city of Vienna asks for competitive bids for the construction
of apartment and other houses. The Vienna Municipal Construction
Bureau (Stadtbauamt) states that reasonable prices of construction
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1046]
15
WORKINGMEN’S HOUSING IN VIENNA
are guaranteed by the fact that there is a considerable number of
firms in Austria competing for the business.
On the basis of total expenditure for the construction of 39,323
residences, the cost of construction per unit amounted to $2,080.
The building operations are carried out under the management of
the Municipal Construction Bureau. The materials are transported
largely by municipal auto trucks, street cars, and specially constructed
railroads. Uniform doors and windows are ordered in advance in
tens of thousands.
Securing sites has proved to be one of the most difficult problems.
In 1919, the municipality had very little ground at its disposal, and
that was intended to be used principally to provide building sites for
schools, public offices, and the like. A carefully planned land policy
was shortly afterwards inaugurated, and by the end of 1928, the
municipality of \ienna had in its possession and under its direction
within the boundaries of the city 15,835 acres. Purchases of ground
during 1929 and 1930 were less important than in previous years.
The areas acquired by the city of Vienna in each, year from 1919 to
1928 are shown below. The total acquisition amounted to 4,250 acres.
Land owned
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
by city of Vienna at end of year—
_______
_________
_______
_______
_______
_________
_______
______ _
___________
___________
_______ ____
Acres
11, 584
11, 994
12, 001
12, 006
12, 448
13, 314
14, 155
14, 391
14, 624
15, 642
15, 835
It is noteworthy that the city’s acquisitions of ground chiefly for
the construction of tenement houses and the creation of garden settle
ments from 1918 to 1930 amounted to a little less than 10 per cent
of the total area of Vienna.
All building materials, without exception, are provided for by the
municipality itself. The city therefore assumes the responsibility for
the quality of all materials used, the quality being in each instance
tested in the municipality’s testing stations. This collective system
makes possible significant economies.
The administration of the city of Vienna has appointed a special
department for the provision and supervision of building materials.
All municipal plants producing such materials were modernized and
additional important factories were acquired. In 1919, large brick
works were purchased. All limestone used in municipal construction
comes from the quarries at Kaltbrunn, Austria, which came into the
possession of the city in 1923. In order to secure a sufficient quantity
of sand of good, uniform quality, the Vienna public authorities ac
quired in 1918 the Wiener Baustofï A. G., one of the most important
companies for the production of sand. It should be mentioned fur
ther that all construction materials are transported chiefly by munic
ipal street cars and trucks.
Demand and Supply in the Residential Market
years there has existed in Vienna a marked scarcity of resi
dences. The waiting list of the city residence bureau has contained
F or
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1047]
16
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
the names of thousands who desired homes as soon as vacant ones
were available. Furthermore, those who did not possess the so-called
“ first qualification,” i. e., whoever did not come under the category
including married couples with children, war invalids, and the like,
were in despair of ever having a residence assigned.
Recently, however, these conditions have somewhat improved.
On November 30, 1930, there were only 8,075 names left on the
waiting list of the residence bureau. Most of the remaining resi
dence seekers were not of the “ first classification,” but were indi
viduals with less significant requirement qualifications, as for example
newly married and childless couples, etc. In addition, 3,416 appli
cants had registered, who desired to exchange their dwellings for
others.
#
.
The chief of the municipal housing bureau pointed out, however,
that these figures do not include all of the people seeking apartments
and that there continues to be excessive demand for living quar
ters. Small, inexpensive residences are sought in particular, while
large apartments are less in demand. The continuance of the scar
city of dwellings he attributes to the fact that a considerable portion
of Viennese residences are unsanitary and uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, the residential need has decreased in recent years.
This is illustrated by the fact that on January 1, 1926, 16,448 names
with the “ first qualification” were recorded on the waiting list of
the Vienna Residence Bureau, while less than half as many were
listed on November 30, 1930.
This fact can be attributed to two causes: (1) The extensive resi
dential building activity of the community of Vienna; and, (2) the
almost imperceptible rescinding of the tenants’ protection laws
(.Mieterschutz), and the gradual increase of the rent which reduced
the residential demand and residential luxury. The last mentioned
was merely the result of the fact that residences were so inexpensive.
The next increase in rent will come into effect for the majority
of dwellings in Vienna on August 1, 1931. For the time being this
will be the last increase. It will probably result in the placing on
the market of additional residential quarters. The city of Vienna,
with definite plans and an assured budget, is constructing houses with
undiminished activity. At present, 7,699 residences are being con
structed, or 76 less than the most urgent residence demand. Hence,
the time is in sight when there will be too many, rather than too few,
workmen’s homes in Vienna.
This will be even more the case if one considers the fact that the
population of Vienna is declining. There are about 20,000 births
each year and 26,000 deaths. On this account, the demand for
residences will also be reduced.
In this connection, an unusually important problem will confront
the people of Vienna. This is: Will the residential building activity
of Vienna, or the annual tax burden of $13,000,000, be reduced in
proportion to these changes? The municipal authorities pointed out
that the community of Vienna will not build residences to exceed
the current need to such an extent that they will stand empty.
However, they do not believe that this will soon be the case.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1048]
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RELIEF
S tu d y of U n em p loyed R egistered in B ridgeport, C onn.
N THE basis of the records of the registered unemployed in
Bridgeport, Conn., it has been possible for the citizens’ com
mittee on unemployment and relief of that city to ascertain the occu
pations of the unemployed, the length of time various persons had
been unemployed and in the community at the time of the study,
age distribution, nationality, and number of dependents of the per
sons so affected.1 Information is made available for a total of 3,463
persons registered on January 15, 1931, of whom 2,906 were men and
557 women. Although registration on that date was incomplete,
the sample was regarded as sufficiently complete to be used by the
committee as a guide in planning for the employment and relief of
the unemployed in the city. The results obtained, showing as they
do the make-up of an unemployed group in one community on a
given date, are shown briefly.
O
General Findings
I t w a s found that of the 3,463 persons whose records were analyzed,
a total of 1,163, or 37.8 per cent, were American born. In all, 27
other countries of origin were represented, the largest foreign-born
group being Italians, who comprised 540, or 17.6 per cent of the total,
and are said to have been largely general and factory laborers. The
distribution by sex shows that 37 per cent of the men and 42.2 per
cent of the women were American born, and that 18.6 per cent of
the men and 11.7 per cent of the women were Italians.
With regard to citizenship it is stated that among the 2,626 men
and women who reported on their citizenship status, 1,627, or 62 per
cent, were citizens and 400, or 15.2 per cent, had taken steps toward
becoming naturalized. While 60.4 per cent of the men as compared
with 70.2 per cent of the women were citizens at the time of the survey, the percentage of men who had taken steps to become natural
ized was greater than that of women—16.8 per cent as compared
with 6.9 per cent.
That the registered unemployed were not largely floaters is indi
cated by the fact that one in every three of tlie unemployed had
been in Bridgeport for 20 years or more and 79.7 per cent of the total
had been there for five years or more. Persons who had been in the
city for less than one year formed only 4.2 per cent of the total.
Occupations
T a b l e 1 shows that among the men 1,924, or 66.3 per cent, were
usually employed in the manufacturing and mechanical industries.
Machinists, molders, polishers or buffers, press operators, tool or die
makers, and weavers were the chief occupations in the manufacturing
i
The source of this inform ation is an article su b m itted to th e B ureau of Labor Statistics entitled, “ A
S tudy of th e U nem ployed Registered w ith the Citizens Em ergency C om m ittee on U nem ploym ent
and Relief, Jan u ary 15,1931,” by T helm a F . Skiff.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1049]
17
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
18
trades, which were represented. Next in importance numerically
were the men who normally were employed in transportation and com
munication (268) and a group of men who called themselves laborers
and gave no further information (234).
_
.
The importance of domestic and personal service in furnishing
employment to these women is shown in Table 1. Almost one in
every two women (47.9 per cent) sought work in domestic service and
190 of a total of 267 in this class registered as houseworkers.
T able 1 — O C C U P A T IO N A L D IS T R IB U T IO N OF T H E U N E M P L O Y E D R E G IS T E R E D , BY
M A JO R G R O U PS
W omen
M en
U sual occupation
N um ber
Airrin n ltn ro
-fioVnnor QT
OH fnTOQtT*A7
______
M anufacturing and mechanical in d u strie s................... .............................
HPr H<ip.
_
-------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
Public scrvicG ________ __________________________________
P rnfoccioniil Qorviep
_____
_
_______
Domestic and personal service --------------------------------------------------------------------------Clerical nppn p a t ions
__ ____
- --------------------------- T oViAvnro ri /"iL DtborwiQP Qnppifl p H
__________
N ot s ta te d ______________________________________________________________________________
Total
___- - ________ __________________________
-
Per cent N um ber
of total
45
1,924
268
67
10
35
133
86
234
104
1.5
66.3
9. 2
2.3
.3
1.2
4.6
2.9
8.0
3.6
2,906
100.0
P er cent
of total
153
27.5
27
4.8
267
47
47.9
8.4
63
11.3
557
100.0
Age of Registrants
T h e average age of men registrants was 36.5 years and that of women,
32.1 years. The modal age for the men was between 35 and 39 years,
and for women it was under 20 years. Table 2 shows the distribution
of registrants by sex and by age intervals of five years.
T a ble 2 .—A G E D IS T R IB U T IO N OF T H E U N E M P L O Y E D R E G IS T E R E D
Age group
U nder 20 years. . . ---------------------------------------------------20 to 24 years.. .
25 to 29 years..- - - -------------------------30 to 34 years___
- - - - - -------------35 to 39 years____ - ------ -------------------40 to 44 years------- ------------------------------45 to 49 y e a rs... ------ -------------------------50 to 54 years-------- ------------------------------55 to 59 years.. -----------------------------------60 to 64 y e a rs..-------------------------------------70 and over---- -------------------------------------T o t a l1 . . .
. . .
. . .
Both oexes
W omen
M en
N um ber
Per cent
of total
N um ber
P er cent
of total
N um ber
230
314
254
307
468
403
335
212
100
75
35
13
8.4
11.4
9.3
11.2
16.9
14.7
12.2
7.7
3.6
2.7
1. 3
.5
119
58
60
60
72
67
32
26
8
5
23.3
11.4
11.8
11.8
14. 1
13. 1
6.3
5.1
1.6
.9
349
372
314
367
540
470
367
238
108
80
3
.6
16
10.7
11.4
9.6
11.3
16.6
14.4
11.3
7.3
3. 3
2. 5
1. 1
.5
2,746
100.0
510
100.0
3, 256
100.0
1A to ta l of 207, of w hom 160 were m en and 47 women, did n o t state th eir ages.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1050]
Per cent
of total
19
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RELIEF
Taking men and women together, Table 2 shows that 74 per cent
of the 3,256 persons who gave their ages were under 45 years old.
The percentage of men under 45 was 72 and of women 85.5. Although
few men were under 20, 64.3 per cent were between 25 and 50, ages
which the report states are those at which men should be doing their
best work and should have the best chances for employment. In the
upper age intervals, 60 years old and over, 4.5 per cent of the men
are found and only 1.5 per cent of the women.
Marital Status and Dependents
I t is further shown that 63.4 per cent of the men and 40.5 of the
women registered were married. An additional 21 per cent of the
women and 2.7 per cent of the men are reported either separated or
widowed, information which, it is said, indicates that they had
increased responsibility.
Something of the family responsibility of the 3,463 persons regis
tered is shown in Table 3, giving the number of dependents of the
unemployed registered.
T able 3 .—N U M B E R
OF D E P E N D E N T S R E P O R T E D BY T H E
PLO Y ED
R E G IS T E R E D
N um b er of unemployed
w ith the specified
num ber of dependents
UNEM
N um ber of unem ployed
w ith the specified
num ber of dependents
D ependents
D ependents
M en
N um ber of children:
N o n e ________
1__________________
W omen
Both
sexes
242
89
83
6__________________
7__________________
8 or m o r e __________
1,078
283
437
337
293
174
127
88
89
29
30
14
7
8
1,320
372
520
392
322
204
141
95
97
T o t a l1 __________
2,906
557
3,463
2 ____________________
3__________________
4__________________
5____________________
55
M en
N u m b er of other dependents:
1_______
Women
Both
sexes
19
6
6_________
7_________
8 or m o r e ...._______
234
70
26
14
14
12
6
12
4
2
2.53
76
31
19
17
12
10
14
T otal i ___________
388
44
432
2 ________
3_______
4_______
5__________
5
5
3
i B oth children and other dependents were reported in some families.
As is seen in Table 3, almost one-fourth of the total number of
persons registered, or 859 persons, had four or more children. Of the
families with dependents other than children, 72, or 16.7 per cent of
the total, had four or more such dependents. A total of 8,096
dependents are reported for the 2,143 persons with one or more
dependents, or an average of 3.8 dependents per person.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10511
20
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Period of Unemployment
I n p r e s e n t i n g data showing the length of time that registrants had
been unemployed since leaving their last jobs, statistics are also given
showing the number of persons registered as unemployed who reported
that they had part-time work. For men the total was 309, or 17.6
per cent of the total, and for women 81, or 29.9 per cent. This
information, as well as the distribution of registrants by period of
unemployment, is shown in Table 4:
T able 4 .— P E R IO D
OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T A M O N G 2,024 M E N A N D W O M E N R E G IS
T E R E D AS U N E M P L O Y E D i
Persons reporting unem ploym ent for specified length of time
TTmlp.r 2 m onths
_____________ -- 3 and Tinder ft m onths
________
0 and nndpr Q m onths ________ _ ____
q and nndpr 12 m onths
______ ___
12 and nndpr 18 m onths
__ __ _______
IK and un d er 24 m onths
_____ -- ________ ___ _
Over 2 years
Part-tim e work
____________
Total
__-
--
--
B oth sexes
Women
M en
Length of tim e unemployed
Per cent
of total
N um ber
Per cent
of total
N um ber
Per cent
of total
N um ber
285
391
396
64
165
94
49
309
16.3
22.3
53
31
38
17.6
14
81
19.6
11.4
14.0
3.0
12.4
4.4
5.2
29.9
338
422
434
72
199
106
63
390
16.7
20. 7
21.5
3.6
9. 9
5.2
3.1
19.3
1, 753
100. 0
271
100. 0
2,024
100.0
22.6
3. 7
9. 4
5.4
2.8
8
34
12
J A total of 1,439 persons, of whom 1,153 were men and 286 women, did not state how long they had been
unem ployed.
The fact that 16.7 per cent of the registrants stated that they had
lost their last jobs less than three months before registration is cited
as indicating that unemployment had not been decreasing in the
months prior to the undertaking of this study. Attention is particu
larly called to the high percentage of persons who had been unem
ployed for a year or more, 17.6 per cent for the men and 22 per cent
for the women. It is stated that the relatively high representation of
women in the classes of unemployment of one year or more.of duration
may be accounted for by the fact that unemployment among other
members of their families may have prompted women who had not
worked for over a year to register for work again.
U n e m p lo y m e n t in Foreign C ou n tries
HE accompanying table shows detailed monthly statistics of
unemployment in foreign countries, as reproduced from official
T
sources, from May, 1929, to the latest available date:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1052]
21
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RELIEF
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S i
Australia
Trade-unionists
unemployed
D ate (end of
m onth)
Per
N um ber
1929
M a y _____
Ju n e _____
J u ly _____
A ugust___
September.
O ctober__
N ovem ber.
Decem ber-
(2)
40,996
(2)
09
52,480
(2)
0)
56,801
1930
Jan u a ry .
F ebruary. _
M arch___
A pril_____
M ay _____
Ju n e _____
J u ly _____
A ugust___
Septem ber.
O ctober__
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber.
(2)
(2)
63,144
(2)
(2)
80, 595
(2)
(*)
90, 379
(2)
0)
102, 900
1931
Jan u a ry .
F ebruary. „
10.0
12.1
13.1
14.6
18.5
20.5
23.4
(2)
(2)
Austria
1
Belgium
Canada
Com
Trade-unionists
U nem ploym ent insurance societies
unem ployed
pulsory
insurance,
num ber
W holly unemP artially unemunemployed
ployed
ployed
N um ber P er cent
in receipt of
benefit N um ber Per cent N um ber Per cent
130, 469
110,266
104, 399
101,845
104,947
125,850
167,487
226, 567
2,382
2, 559
4,037
3. 200
3, 492
3,261
6,895
15, 761
0.4
.4
.6
.5
.5
.5
1. 1
2.4
8,686
11,194
16,452
15, 614
16, 714
13,930
13, 176
29,309
1.4
1.8
2.6
2.5
2.6
2.2
2.1
4.6
7,750
5,723
6,003
7,159
7, 654
12,716
19,832
24, 289
4. 0
2.9
3.0
3. 5
3.7
6.0
9.3
11.4
273,197
284,543
239, 094
192, 477
162, 678
150,075
153,188
156,145
163,894
192, 778
237,745
294, 845
22, 542
16,085
14, 030
13,715
12,119
12,226
15,302
17, 747
23, 693
27, 322
38, 973
63, 585
3.5
2.6
2.2
2.2
1.9
1.9
2.4
2.8
3.8
4.3
6. 1
9.3
25,782
31,222
28,469
36, 605
38, 761
41, 336
48, 580
51, 649
61, 623
54,804
76, 043
117, 167
4.0
4.9
4.5
5.8
6.1
6.5
7.7
8.2
9.9
8.5
12.0
17. 0
22,795
24, 175
22,912
18, 581
20,424
21, 380
18,473
3 18, 232
3 19,356
3 22,403
3 28, 408
337,339
10.8
11. 5
10.8
9. 0
10. 3
10. 6
9. 2
9.3
9. 4
10.8
13. 8
17.0
331, 239
334, 044
77,181
(2)
11.1
112, 734
(2)
16.2
3 33, 664
3 31, 602
16.0
15.6
,Sources: League of N ations—M onthly B ulletin of Statistics; International Labor Office—International
Labor Review; C anada—Labor G azette; G reat B ritain—M in istry of L abor G azette; A ustria—Statis
t s '3,“ 6 N achnchten; A ustralia—Q uarterly Sum m ary of A ustralian Statistics; G erm any—Reichsarbeitsblatt, Reichs A rbeitsm arkt Anzeiger; Switzerland—W irt. u . Social. M itteilungen, L a Vie EconomiquePoland—Wiedomosci Statystlyczne; N orw ay—Statistiske M eddelelser; N etherlands—M aandschriff
Sweden—Sociaia M eddelanden; D enm ark—Statistiske Efterretninger; F inland—B ank of Finland
M onthly B ulletin; France—B ulletin d u M arché d u T ravail; H ungary—M agyar Statisztikai Szemle;
Belgium—Revue du Travail; N ew Zealand—M onthly A bstract of Statistics; U. S. D epartm ent of Commerce Commerce Reports; and U. S. Consular Reports.
2 N ot reported.
3 Figures com puted in th e Bureau of L abor Statistics from official report covering mem bership of unions
reporting and p er cent of unem ploym ent.
t
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
F1053]
22
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
S T A T E M E N T OE U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN E O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —Continued
Danzig
(Free
C ity of)
Czechoslovakia
D ate (end of
m onth)
Trade-union in
surance funds—•
unem ployed
in receipt of
benefit
N um ber
1929
__
M ay .
June
July
A ugust. . ___
Septem ber.. .
O ctober. __
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber__
1930
J a n u a ry __
. .
F e b ru a ry .. .
M arch __
A p r i l . ______ _
M ay
.
__
June
J u l y __________
August
Sep tem b er... . . .
October
N ovem ber__
D ecem b er.. .
1931
J a n u a r y ____
February
M arch. ______ ..
D ate (end of
m onth)
Finland
France G erm any
Trade-union u n em N um ber
ploym ent funds—
unem
unem ployed
ployed
rem ain
ing on
live
register
N um
Per cent
ber
N um
ber of
unem
ployed
regis
tered
N um
ber of N um ber
unem of unem
ployed
ployed
regis
in re
ceipt of
tered
benefit
21, 866
19, 436
16,859
18, 674
19, 468
16, 248
17,108
30,170
1.9
1.9
1.6
1.8
1.9
1. 5
1.6
2.8
11,135
8,876
9,007
8, 958
9,296
10, 664
13,146
16,198
29, 671
27, 398
26, 621
25,164
24, 175
28, 194
36, 302
62, 563
10.8
10.0
9. 6
9.1
8. 7
10.1
13.0
22.4
2.169
1,110
780
609
902
3,065
5, 288
6,116
1,624
1,157
1,188
1,859
2,710
4,997
9,495
8,716
570
394
399
403
385
396
577
817
1, 349, 833
1, 260,044
1, 251, 452
1, 271, 990
1, 323,603
1, 557,146
2,035, 667
2, 850,849
39,199
40, 550
45, 567
42, 664
41, 098
37,853
46, 800
52, 694
57, 542
61, 213
65, 904
93, 476
3.6
3.6
4.0
3.7
3.8
3.4
4. 1
4.7
5.3
5.5
5.9
8.3
19,282
21,15320, 376
18, 371
16, 232
14, 975
15, 330
15, 687
16, 073
17, 307
20, 272
24,429
55, 876
59, 363
47,109
33,471
27, 966
24, 807
26, 200
26, 232
27, 700
32. 880
44, 200
71,100
20.3
21.0
15.6
11.8
9.4
8.7
9.3
9.0
9.0
11.4
15.3
24.6
5,608
4,580
3,575
2, 227
2,065
910
762
1,039
1,414
3, 282
5, 675
6,163
12, 696
11, 545
10,062
7, 274
4,666
3, 553
4, 026
5, 288
7,157
10, 279
10, 740
9, 336
1,484
1,683
1,630
1,203
859
1,019
856
964
988
1,663
4,893
11,952
3, 217, 608
3, 365,811
3,040, 797
2, 786, 912
2, 634,718
2, 640, 681
2, 765, 258
2, 883,000
3. 004,000
3, 252, 000
3, 683,000
4, 384, 000
9.8
27, 081
28,192
(2)
70,961
73, 427
(2)
24.4
25. 6
5,364
(2)
(2)
11, 706
(2)
(2)
28, 536
40, 766
(2)
4,887, 000
4,972,000
4, 756, 060
104, 580
(2)
(2)
—
G erm any
G reat B ritain a nd N o rth ern Ireland
T rade-unionists
Com pulsory insurance
W holly u n em
ployed
N u m b er
1929
M ay ______
June . .
_
J u ly ___________
A u g u st-- ___Septem ber.-October
N ovem ber. _____
D ecem ber-.
1930
Ja n u a ry . _ _
F e b ru a ry .. . _
M arch______
A p ril. _ . ____
M a y _____ _ . .
Ju n e ________ .
J u ly ___________
A ugust - - - - Septem ber.__ ___
October _ _
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber__ . . .
1931
Jan u a ry _
F eb ru ary _
M a r c h _____ . .
Per
cent
N um
ber of
unem
ployed
regis
tered
E stonia
D enm ark
419, 373
393, 749
395, 202
410, 481
442,312
498, 604
634, 790
922,681
Per
cent
P a rtially u n em
ployed
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um ber
Per
cent
T em porary stop
pages
N um
ber
Per
cent
9.1 315,191
8. 5 308, 699
8.6 315, 739
8.9 322, 824
9.6 315,150
10.9 319, 489
13. 7 351, 947
20.1 389,278
6.8
6.7
6.9
7.0
6.8
7.0
7.6
8.5
1,010,781
929, 579
863, 594
883, 002
910, 245
1, 061,134
1, 387,079
1,984,811
900, 562
884, 549
881,189
918, 550
937, 795
992, 769
1, 061,618
1,071,849
7.6
7.4
7.4
7.7
7.9
8.2
8.8
8.9
276,922
279,108
296, 318
280, 332
265, 627
261, 711
263,987
272,371
2. 3
2.4
2. 5
2.4
2. 2
2. 2
2. 2
2. 2
11.0
13.0
12.6
12. 1
12.0
12.6
13.9
14.8
15.1
15.4
16.1
16.9
2,482, 648
2, 655, 723
2,347,102
2,081, 068
1, 889, 240
1,834, 662
1,900, 961
1,947,811
1,965. 348
2,071,730
2,353, 980
2,822,598
1,183,974
1, 211, 262
1, 284, 231
1, 309, 014
1, 339, 595
1,341,818
1,405, 981
1,500,990
1, 579, 708
1, 725, 731
1, 836, 280
1,853, 575
9.8
10.0
10. 6
10. 8
11. 1
11.1
11.6
12.4
13. 1
13.9
14.8
14.9
336,474
371, 840
409, 785
451, 506
516,303
569, 931
664,107
618, 658
608, 692
593, 223
532, 518
646, 205
2.8
3. 1
3.4
3.8
4. 2
4. 7
5.5
5.1
5.0
4.8
4.3
5.3
19.2
3, 364, 770
(2)
(2)
2,044, 209
2, 073, 578
2,052, 826
16. 5
16. 7
16.5
618, 633
623, 844
612,821
5. 0
5. 0
5.0
1,004, 787
1,076,441
995, 972
926,831
895, 542
896, 465
930, 777
984, 384
1,011,820
1,061, 570
1,167,930
(2)
22.0
23.5
21.7
20.3
19. 5
19.6
20. 5
21. 7
22. 5
23.6
26.0
31.7
501,950
593, 380
576,153
553, 098
552, 318
578,116
631, 903
670, 466
677,627
693,379
721,658
(2)
(2)
(*>
34.2
(2>
(2)
(2>
è )
2 N o t reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W holly unem
ployed
N um ber
unem
ployed
in receipt
of benefit
ri054]
23
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RELIEF
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
Great
Britain
D ate (end of
m onth)
N um ber
of persons
registered
w ith em
ploym ent
exchanges
1929
M ay _____
Ju n e _____
J u ly ______
A ugust___
Septem ber.
O ctober__
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber.
1,123, 216
1,117,807
1,154,129
1,155, 803
1,181, 862
1, 234, 388
1,285,458
1, 510,231
1930
J a n u a ry . „
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch___
A pril_____
M ay______
Ju n e ______
J u ly ______..
A ugust___
Septem ber.
O ctober__
N ovem ber.
D ecember .
1,491, 519
1, 539,265
1,677, 473
1, 698, 386
1, 770, 051
1,890, 575
2,011, 467
2,039, 702
2,114, 955
2,200, 413
2, 274, 338
2, 392, 738
1931
J a n u a ry __
F eb ru ary ...
M arch____
2, 613,749
2, 627,559
2,581, 030
H ungary
Irish Free State
Ita ly
Trade-unionists u n
employed
Com pulsory in
surance—unem
ployed
N um ber of u n
employed regis
tered
Social-Demo
Chris
cratic
tian
(B uda
pest) N um Per
ber
cent
13, 266
13, 921
13, 964
14,007
13,922
14,215
15,910
19,181
9. 5
9.3
9.5
9.5
9.7
10.3
13.0
1,161
21, 533
21,309
21,016
20,139
19, 875
18, 960
19, 081
21, 013
22, 252
22, 914
23, 333
24,648
14.5
14.8
14. 6
13.7
13. 6
13.0
13.2
14. 5
16.0
16.7
17.0
26,191
27,089
(2)
19.1
19.8
1,120
983
906
875
829
920
847
874
999
975
935
953
965
( 2)
N etherlands
U nem ploym ent
insurance socie
D ate (end of m onth) ties—unem ployed
N um ber
1929
M a y _______
J u n e _______
Ju ly ________
A ugust_____
Septem ber O ctober_____
N ovem ber__
December___
1930
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch ______
April_______
M a y _______
J u n e _______
Ju ly ________
A ugust_____
Septem ber.
O ctober_____
N o v e m b er.. .
D ecember___
1931
January.
F ebruary.
4
Per
cent
227, 682
193, 325
201, 868
1,433
1,236
1,205
1,008
1,582
4,204
8,479
8,134
9,263
8,825
6,494
3,683
1,421
779
607
573
1,470
6, 058
8, 608
21,834
7.8
216, 666
228, 831
297, 382
332, 833
408, 748
8,713
10, 970
13, 503
19, 650
16, 835
17, 793
19, 694
21, 349
11.1
466,231
456, 628
385,432
372, 236
367,183
322, 291
342, 061
375, 548
394, 630
446, 496
534, 356
642, 169
23,185
26, 674
28, 026
24,305
22, 825
21, 887
24, 209
24, 056
22, 734
19,081
22,125
21, 788
722, 612
765.325
(2)
27,924
27,110
( 2)
( 2)
26,186
(2)
31, 592
( 2)
( 2)
26, 027
9.2
(2)
(2)
23, 393
~ ~ 8.~2
( 2)
( 2)
20, 775
0
0
26,167
( 2)
( 2)
New Zealand
Trade-unionists
unem ployed
N um ber
3.0
2.6
3.1
3.3
3.2
3. 5
5.3
12.3
5,276
0
0
5,226
0
0
3,018
0
56, 535
50, 957
34, 996
28, 421
26, 211
23, 678
29,075
32, 755
35, 532
41,088
4 46,807
4 72, 191
13.9
12. 5
8. 6
6.9
6.3
5. 5
6. 7
7. 6
8.2
9.6
11.8
16.5
0
4,348
0
0
5,884
0
0
7,197
0
0
8,119
0
103, 728
99,753
23.4
22.2
0
0
Per
cent
Trade-unionists (10
unions) unem ployed
10, 022
9,336
8,335
( 2)
Poland
um ber
N u m b e r Nunem
unem
ployed
ployed re- registered
m aining w ith em
on live
register ploym ent
offices
N um ber
Per cent
4,694
4, 337
3, 999
4,245
4,854
5, 682
6,256
7,693
12.5
11.3
10.2
10.7
12. 1
14.0
15.4
18.9
18,000
14, 547
12,417
12,493
15, 525
18,420
20, 546
22, 092
119, 877
. 105,065
97, 297
90,094
81, 848
91, 035
125,066
185,314
7,786
7,851
7,503
6,701
5, 239
4,700
4, 723
5,897
7,010
8,031
9, 396
11, 265
19.0
18.9
17.8
15.8
12. 2
10.8
10.8
13.4
15.7
18.0
21.4
25.5
22, 549
22,974
22, 533
19, 829
16, 376
13, 939
11, 997
12, 923
17, 053
20, 363
24, 544
27,157
241, 974
274, 708
289,469
271, 225
224, 914
204, 982
193, 687
173, 627
170, 467
165,154
209, 912
299, 797
28, 596
29,107
345,300
(2)
9.4
5.6
8.5
10.9
13.5
15.5
0
0
4
[1055]
( 2)
N orw ay
9.3
1N o t reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(2)
( 2)
0
10, 820
9,987
12,030
12, 701
12, 517
13, 639
20,941
48, 609
4
P a r
tially
unem
ployed
24, 256
8.8
N um ber
unem
ployed
rem ain
ing on
live
register
W holly
unem
ployed
N um ber Per cent
787
787
801
833
783
967
1,033
1,107
L atvia
Provisional figure,
24
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
S T A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
R um ania
Poland
Saar T e r
ritory
Sweden
In d u stria 1workers
E xtractive and
m anufacturing
industries—
wholly unem
ployed
D ate (end of month)
N um ber
1&29
M av. ..
- --June_ _ . .
..
- - Ju ly __________________
August
-------- Septem ber_____
October____ N o v e m b e r_____
December_____________
1930
Jan u ary .
February
____ M arch _
_____
A pril_____________
M ay .
-- ____
June _
. Ju ly ________________
A ugust_______________
September
. ...
October
_ _____
N ovem ber
_____
December _ __ ____
1931
Jan u ary „
Per
cent
N um ber
Trade-unionists
unemployed
N um ber
unem
N um ber
unem
ployed
remaining ployed
registered
on live
register
M anufacturing
industries—par
tially unem
ployed
Per
cent
104, 200
91, 000
84, 300
77, 500
68, 700
76,818
108, 200
166, 240
11.6
10. 2
9. 7
9.0
8.0
8.9
12.5
19.5
135,608
98, 708
89,639
82,297
70,055
84,060
94,890
94,601
25.1
18.6
17.7
15.7
13.2
15.3
17.5
18.5
6, 819
5,849
3,909
3,714
5,171
5, 481
6,958
6,866
(2)
3, 762
3, 238
3,398
3,990
5,025
6, 408
10, 515
24,452
21, 764
20,048
19,914
22,271
27,529
33, 581
53, 977
8.1
7.4
6.5
6.3
7.2
8.6
10.4
16.6
219, 333
251, 627
265,135
246, 670
201,116
182, 600
170, 665
150, 650
146, 642
141,422
0
0
24.3
27. 5
28. 7
27.0
23.0
21.6
20. 5
18.3
17.8
17.5
108, 812
120,058
120, 844
113,594
104,469
94, 375
70, 597
74, 289
74, 285
91,854
106,835
95,637
24.8
28.4
28.9
26. 9
24.2
22.2
17.0
17. 1
16.5
14.8
23.6
23.1
12,622
15, 588
13,045
13, 412
25,096
22, 960
23, 236
24,209
39,110
36,147
42, 689
36, 212
11,307
11,949
8,882
7,522
7,362
6, 330
7,095
7,099
7,527
9,013
12,110
15,245
45,636
45, 460
42,278
38,347
28,112
28,956
27,170
28,539
34, 963
43, 927
57,070
86,042
14. 2
13.2
12. 5
11. 1
8.3
8.1
7.8
8.1
9.8
12. 2
15. 3
22.9
82,717
(2)
23.8
(2)
(2)
18, 921
20,139
69,437
(2)
19.8
(2)
(2)
Switzerland
Yugo
slavia
U nem ploym ent funds
D ate (end of month)
W holly unem
ployed
N um ber
1929
M ay —_ - -------------- --------- ------------- ------------June . .
- ---------- ---------Ju ly _______________________________________________
August
-----------------------September
_____ _
______
O c to b e r__
________ - _ - - - - ------------N ovem ber
___
- - - - - December
_ ___________
- -- --- -----1930
Ja n u a ry _________ _______________ _ --------------------F ebruary____ - _ ______
____________________
M arch-.. .
_
._ ............... - .
A p ril______________________________________________
M ay ---------------------------------------------------------------------June
............... - _ .
---------------J u ly ______________________________ — - ------ ------------A u g u st_______________ _ _________________ - - - Septem ber____ _______________ ______ _ ------ ------October. _______ ___
---------- -------- ------- . . . .-N o v e m b er.._ ..
_
. . . ------- . . . _
D ecem ber________________________ _____ _______ ____
1931
J a n u a ry .. _________________________________________
F eb ru ary___ _ ______ __________ ___ ________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent
N um ber
2 N o t reported.
Per
cent
P artially unem
ployed
N um ber
N um ber
of unem
ployed
registered
.9
0
0
3.3
10, 583
9,017
7, 652
5, 790
6, 755
4, 739
5, 026
5,663
10, 710
11,445
12,642
12, 755
13,129
17,688
15,112
19, 441
26, 111
23, 309
25, 793
33,483
4.4
4.7
4.2
5.3
5.4
5. 7
6.2
7.9
8.3
9.4
10.5
10.4
8, 508
9, 437
9,739
12,052
8,704
6, 991
7, 236
6, 111
5,973
6, 609
7, 219
9,989
30, 977
0
12.5
13, 387
414,424
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
12, 309
0
0.7
0
0
.8
0
0
4.2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9,805
10, 523
9,971
7,882
5,203
5, 356
5, 368
4, 751
5, 703
7, 792
7,399
11,666
21,400
4.4
4. 1
2.6
2.1
2.2
1. 7
1.9
2.3
2.5
3.0
4. 7
6.6
20, 551
0
8.3
4 Provisional figure.
[1056]
Per
cent
0
1.0
0
0
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RELIEF
25
M easures A g a in st E ffects of P rolonged U n em p lo y m e n t u p o n
W orkers in Foreign C ou n tries
HE ill effects of prolonged unemployment upon the physical and
mental well-being of workers, especially the young workers, are
attracting the serious attention of government authorities, labor lead
ers, social workers, and others in a number of foreign countries beset
with severe and prolonged unemployment.
If a person has been out of work for years, his physical ability and
skill are often so much lowered as to make it difficult to resume his
former regular trade should opportunity arise. His mental attitude
toward life and work in general may also be unfavorably affected to
a considerable degree.
If he is a young worker, out of school and training, and can not
find a job for years, he then is still more apt to lose the benefits of
his education and training and to undergo certain alterations in his
character, such as the loss of self-respect, self-reliance, feeling of re
sponsibility for others, etc.
The development in this direction constitutes a new complicated
problem in the unemployment situation. The question is, what reme
dial measures should be applied?
Certain measures have been already introduced and others pro
posed in Great Britain, Germany, and Netherlands, as the following
review shows.
T
Great Britain 1
Unemployed young workers—As early as 1919 an attempt was made,
m connection with the so-called out-of-work donation scheme, to
mitigate the ill effects of long-continued unemployment of boys and
girls by organizing juvenile unemployed centers, at which unemployed
boys and girls were required to attend.
These centers were conducted under local educational authorities
and the cost was borne by the Exchequer. In April, 1919, the attend
ance of these centers was over 24,000 and in May of the same year
there were in operation 215 centers.
The work of these centers consisted in physical training, organized
games, teaching handicrafts, and other informal instruction and lec
tures. During later years this program has been considerably en
larged to include such subjects as woodwork, metal work, weaving,
physiology and hygiene, first aid, nursing, English, history, drawing’
painting, and other general knowledge.
Owing to various causes the number of these centers has fluctuated
greatly from year to year and even from month to month.
The National Advisory Council for Juvenile Employment in 1929
recommended the continuation of provision for dealing with unem
ployment among boys and girls, by the establishment of centers or
classes_under the educational authorities of the area concerned, with
the object of preventing deterioration and of facilitating their reab
sorption into industry by maintaining or reestablishing, through fur
ther education and training, habits of discipline and self-respect.
i
upon w hich th is section is based are from annual reports of th e M in istry of L abor for 1926 to
1929: ¡statem ent of th e Principal M easures T aken in H . M . G overnm ent in Connection w ith U nem ploy
m ent, D ecember, 1930 (C m d. 3746); and M in istry of L abor G azette, N ovem ber and D ecember, 1929, and
P ebruarv. 1931.
'
r
4
52839°—31----- 3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1057]
26
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
These centers were to operate in all areas where there were sufficien t
numbers of unemployed boys and girls to justify their establishment.
In other areas only classes in conjunction with some existing educa
tional institution were to be conducted. These centers and classes
were to be approved by the Minister of Labor, who should normally
make grants equivalent to 75 per cent of the post.
_
The unemployment insurance act, 1930, which came into effect on
March 31, 1930, for the first time made it the duty of the Minister of
Labor to arrange with local educational authorities for the provision
of courses of instruction for such of the boys and girls as are claim
ants to unemployment benefit. The Government has accepted and
put into force the recommendations of the advisory council on this
point and in conjunction with local educational authorities has im
proved the machinery with a view to insuring as far as possible that
every boy and girl who is out of work and claiming benefit shall be
able to receive suitable part-time instruction. There were 107 of
these courses open and about 65,000 attended them during the first
eight months of 1930.
The advisory council reported on February 10, 1931, that consid
erable progress had been made in the establishment of courses of in
struction ^ There were 45 new centers and classes opened m Lngiand
and Wales during 1930. The proportion of juvenile claimants to
unemployment benefit in attendance at these courses had more than
doubled during 1930.
,
,
Unemployed adult workers.—The transference of the unemployed
workers from depressed areas to work in other parts of the country
has revealed the fact that in these areas prolonged unemployment
has robbed many men both of the physical fitness and of the attitude
of mind which would enable them to undertake heavy work under
ordinary industrial conditions without having some opportunity, m
circumstances under which their progress could be carefully observed,
of accustoming themselves once more to regular hours and steady
In order to prevent the deterioration of workers who become unem
ployed, centers for training the unemployed, both men and women,
were extended in scope during 1930. The training centers for men
had an annual output of 8,500 and those for women of 4,400.
In addition, centers were opened for the rehabilitation of men who
have suffered from prolonged unemployment, in order that they may
be better prepared, both as regards physique and mentality, lor regain
ing a footing in industry.
. .
A
At the end of 1929 five Government training centers with a capac
ity of 1,200 had been opened. As the training lasts only from 8 to
12 weeks, these centers were able to tram upwards of 6,000 men
during a year. In 1930 the persons trained increased to 7,500.
The work of these special centers consists in outdoor and mdooi
instruction and training.
,
When the men first enter these centers they have not done any
steady work for some time and they are often undernourished
They are, therefore, started gradually. The nature and amount of
work which each man is required to do is governed by his physical
strength and general conditions. Good food and steady work pro
duces marked progress in the normal case and as the man s condition
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1058]
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND R E L IE F
27
improves he is given more and harder work, being moved from one
carefully graded gang to another ; the last weeks of his course are
spent under conditions which approximate as nearly as possible
those of ordinary industrial employment.
Some men admitted are not able to do heavy work, and these
ieceive a course suited to their physique. After training, such work
ers are directed to lighter employment.
The employment service exerts every effort to find regular employ
ment for every man who has undergone a course of training in these
centers.
Germany 2
Unemployed young workers.—The leading German labor organiza
tions, in cooperation with the organizations for public instruction and
with the central committee of the German associations of youth, at
the end of 1930 appealed to the Federal Government to provide for
education of the unemployed, especially of young workers, suggested
certain measures to be taken in this regard, and asked for a grant of
money.
The chairman of the Central Office for Employment Service and
Unemployment Insurance sent a circular to all district and local labor
offices on December 20, 1930. The circular called special attention
to the condition and needs of unemployed young workers who have
been out of work for a long period of time, and directed the district
and local labor officials to see to it that all the facilities provided for
vocational education and training were utilized and that given direc
tions were followed to the fullest in respect to training the young
workers, especially during the winter months.
Compulsory public works.—In addition to ordinary public works
there has been introduced a system of compulsory public works
(Pflichtarbeit) for both young and adult unemployed workers in
Germany.
The purpose of these compulsory public works is not so much the
production of economic values as of educational and corrective values.
This work^may be required from young workers who receive unem
ployment insurance benefit or from adult unemployed workers who
have exhausted both regular benefit and emergency allowances.
On February 26, 1931, a delegation of organized workers presented
a petition to the President of the Republic, pointing out the severity
of unemployment in Germany, and declaring that such severe and
prolonged unemployment entails great danger for the future of German
economic life.
Netherlands 3
T h e Dutch national trade-union center recently held a special con
vention for the purpose of dealing with the unemployment problem
in that country. Among other resolutions adopted was one relating
to the ill effects of unemployment upon young workers.
2 T he d ata on which th is section is based are from Gewerkschafts-Zeitung, Berlin, Jan. 10 and 31
1931, pp. 26 and 76; and Vorw ärts, Berlin, Feb. 27, 1931.
’
3 Press R eports of th e Intern atio n al Federation of T rade U nions, A m sterdam , Feb. 19,1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10591
28
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
In order to combat these ill effects, the labor unions propose:
(1) That the period of compulsory instruction should be increased
from 7 to 8 years and should not end until the age of 16.
(2) Vocational training and general education should be promoted
by making attendance at continuation schools compulsory up to 18
years of age.
.. , .
(3) Up to 17 years of age young unemployed workers should, during
periods of unemployment, be compelled to attend day classes giving
theoretical and practical instruction in trade and industry, handi
crafts, and general education. The teachers are to be taken when
possible from the ranks of the adult unemployed persons, manual
and nonmanual, and the whole work to be in collaboration with local
youths’ associations, labor unions, and other interested local organiza
tions.
_
.
(4) Unemployment insurance benefit should be paid to all young
workers under the age of 21 years, who are no longer under com
pulsion to attend school, on condition that they are registered as
being in search of work at the employment office, and that when it is
possible they attend the above-named educational classes.
E n glish U n e m p lo y m e n t In su ra n ce L egislation
HE Ministry of Labor Gazette (London) states in its issue for
March that a bill known as the “ unemployment insurance act,
1 9 3 1 ,” recently passed both houses of Parliament and received the
royai assent on March 3. The bill is short, containing only two
sections. The first increases to £90,000,000 ($437,985,000) the limit
upon the amount which the fund may borrow, while the second
extends the period during which the transitional benefit, first author
ized by the act of 1927, may be drawn.
T
Section 14 of the act of 1927 provided that persons over 18 years of age, making
claims for unemployment benefit within 12 months of the coming into force of the
act (on April 19, 1928) should be exempted for a further 12 months from com
pliance with "the first statutory condition,” which requires the payment of 30
contributions in the two years preceding the claim. Such claimants, during the
"transitional” period, have been required to prove the payment of only 8 contri
butions in the previous two years, or of 30 contributions at any time, provided
they can show that they are normally employed in insurable employment, and
will normally seek to gain their livelihood by such employment. The period of
12 months after the passing of the act was extended by subsequent enactments
to 36 months; but, in the absence of fresh legislation, insured persons at present
drawing benefit under the "transitional” provisions would have begun to tall
out of benefit at various dates beginning on April 19 next. The present act
maintains the right of such persons to claim benefit by extending the transitional
period for another six months.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1060]
OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT
R e tirem en t A ct for P a n a m a C anal Z one E m p loyees
„Hoo1ver>°.n March 2, 1931, approved an act (Public
13iH JNo. 781) for the retirement of employees of the Panama Canal
and. 1 anama Railroad Co. on the Isthmus of Panama. The act will
become effective July 1, 1931, and will supersede the provisions of the
civil service retirement act of May 22, 1920, as amended,1 extending
retirement benefits to those employees of the Panama Canal covered
by that act.
Analysis of Adt
Employees covered—Employees of the Panama Canal and Panama
Railroad Co. who are citizens of the United States and whose tenure
of employment is regular on the Isthmus of Panama.
Retirement.—AW employees covered by the act who have attained
the age of 62 years and have rendered at least 15 years of service on the
Isthmus are automatically separated from the service. Provision is
made, however, for retention in the service for a term not exceeding
two yeara, up°n bhe certification by the Governor of the Panama Canal
to the Civil Service Commission of the efficiency and willingness of the
employee to remain in the civil service and that the continuance of
such employee therein would be advantageous to the service. At the
end of the 2-year term, by similar approval and certification, the
employee may be continued for an additional term not exceeding two
years. However, no employee may be continued more than four years
the retirement age, unless certification is made by the Governor
of the 1 anama Canal, approved by the Civil Service Commission, that
by reason of special knowledge and qualifications the continuance of
such employee would be advantageous to the service, then further
extensions of two years may be granted. Provision is made in the
act for optional retirement of an employee two years earlier than he
would otherwise be eligible, provided he has rendered 30 years of
service. lo i example, an employee eligible to retire at 62 years may
retire at the age of 60.
J
An employee may also voluntarily retire on an annuity equivalent
m value to the present w^orth of a deferred annuity beginning at the
age at which the employee would otherwise have become eligible for
retirement, provided he has attained the age of 55 years and has
rendered at least 25 years of service, 15 years of which must have been
lendered on the Isthmus of Panama. Also, an employee may vol
untarily retire provided he has attained 55 years of age and rendered
30 years of service on the Isthmus (absence during the World War
included) of which three years at least must have been in the employ
ment of the Isthmian Canal Commission, or between May 4, 1904, and
April 1, 1914, in the employ of the Panama Railroad Co.
1 See L abor Review, August, 1930, pp. 72-80.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1061]
29
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
30
Disability retirement—Any employee who has attained the age of
55 years and has rendered 15 years of service on the Isthmus ot
Panama, who becomes physically or mentally disqualified to perform
his duties because of the strenuous or hazardous nature of the work
shall upon request be retired on an annuity as provided 111 the ac .
An employee who has had five or more years of service and who before
becoming eligible for old-age retirement becomes totally disabled lor
useful and efficient service by reason of disease or injury not due to
vicious habits, intemperance, or willful misconduct on his part shall,
upon request or order of the Governor of the Panama Canal, be retired
and allowed an annuity. Claims under this provision of the act must
be applied for within six months from date of applicant s separation
from the service. A medical examination by a medical officer of the
United States or a physician designated by the Commissioner of
Pensions is required. An annual examination of the employee is
required (unless permanently disabled) until the regular retirement age.
An annuity is discontinued upon recovery of the employee, or it he
fails to appear for examination. No person shall be entitled to receive
an annuity and workmen’s compensation benefits at the same time,
but the employee may elect to receive, for any part of the same period
of time, whichever benefit is greater.
Employees 55 years of age or over who have served 15 years or more
and become involuntarily separated from the service (not by reason
of misconduct or delinquency) are also entitled to certain benefits.
Annuities and Refunds
allowed for old-age retirement under the act is
(1) A sum equal to $37.50 for each year of service (not to exceed
30) either on the Isthmus of Panama or in the United States military
or naval service in the Tropics; and
,
(2) The amount of annuity purchasable with the sum credited to
the employee’s individual account including accrued interest accord
ing to the experience of the Canal Zone retirement fund as shown by
the tables of annuity values prepared by the board of actuaries; and
(3) Thirty dollars for each year of service not allowed m (1) above,
provided the years of service in (3) shall not exceed the difference
between 30 and that allowed in (1); and
. . .
.
»,
(4) Thirty-six dollars for each year of service m the employ of the
Isthmian Canal Commission or the Panama Railroad Co., between
May 4, 1904, and April 1, 1914.
.
, ,lVk , „
It is provided that the total annuity paid (m paragraph (1)) shall
not be less than an amount equal to the average annual basic salary
(not to exceed $2,000) received by the employee during any five
consecutive years (optional with the employee) multiplied by the
number of years of service (not to exceed 30) and divided by 40
Under paragraph (3) the maximum amount is based on a salary not
to exceed $1,600 a year. The annuity paid a retiring employee of the
Panama Railroad Co. on June 30, 1931, shall be an amount equal to
2 per cent of the average annual basic salary (not to exceed $5,000)
received by the employee during any five consecutive years (optional
with employee) multiplied by the number of years of service rendered
prior to July 1, 1931, and in addition to the amount to which the
T h e annuity
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1062 ]
OLD-AGE PENSION S AND R ETIREM EN T
31
employee is entitled under section 6 of the act, exclusive of para
graph (4) above for service rendered after June30,1931. The annuitv
X
r hlT
?1nbi e30,
QnUni1931
doeQ
ri ParrIn
agraph
(2)- incllldes
onlJ contributions
made
alter
June
computing
the number
of years of service
bptwPPn?nagra/iL
aind of years
theyoffha11
notrendered
exceed prior
the difference
between^0 and the (1)
number
service
to Julv 1
193!. Provision is made that in no case may the annuity exceed
three-fourths of the average annual salary during any five consecutive
years. An employee may elect to receive instead of the life annuitv
an increased annuity of the same value, with the condition, however
unexpended Par,t of the principal at the annuitant's death
shall be returned The law provides that all periods of service shall
be included for the purposes of the act and that the annuity shall be
lxed at the nearest multiple of 12. All bonuses, allowances, overtime
pay, or compensation given in addition to the basic salary, etc., shall
be excluded from the operation of the act.
An employee 55 years of age or over involuntarily separated from
the service after 15 years of service and before becoming eligible for
retirement may elect to be paid either (a) the amount of deductions
with accrued interest; or (6) an immediate life annuity beginning at
the date of separation from the service, having a value equal to
wL- H r
WC{r t l of a defei;red annuity beginning at the age at
which the employee would otherwise have become eligible for retire
ment; or (c) a deferred annuity beginning at the age at which the
employee would otherwise become eligible for retirement computed as
provided m section 6 of the act.
An employee in the service not less than 15 years and who is be
tween 45 and 55 years of age and mvoluntarily separated from the
service before the regular retirement age shall be entitled to a deferred
annuity, and upon reaching 55 years of age may elect to receive an
immediate annuity as provided in the above paragraph (b) The
amounts deducted from the basic salary of each employee covering
service rendered prior to the effective date of the act shall be credited
to an individual account of such employee to be maintained by the
1 an am a Canal, and amounts deducted after Julv 1, 1931 less the
sum of $1 per month, shall likewise be credited ‘to such individual
account. An employee covered by the act who is transferred to a
position not within the purview of the act or who becomes separated
t m a a service before becoming eligible for retirement shall be
refunded the- amount credited to his individual account with interest
at 4 per cent per annum compounded on June 30 of each year The
total amount of deductions is returned with interest whenever an
employee is involuntarily separated from the service. If an emplovee
reenters the service the refund must be redeposited with interest
before the employee may derive any benefits under the act. In case
of death of an annuitant after retirement, but before he has received
m annuities purchased by the employee’s contributions an amount
equal to the total amount to his credit at the time of retirement the
amount remaining to his credit shall be paid in one sum to his legal
lepiesentative unless the annuitant elected to receive an increased
annuity. In case an employee dies without having attained eligibifity for retirement or without having established a valid claim for
an annuity, the total amount of his deductions with interest shall be
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1063]
32
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
paid to the legal representative. If a former employee entitled to the
return of the amount credited to his individual account becomes
legally incompetent, the total amount due may be paid to a duly
appointed guardian or committee.
.
,
, P
The service which forms the basis for calculating the amount of any
benefit is computed from the date of the original employment, whether
in the classified or unclassified service._ An employee may receive
both a pension for military or naval service and an annuity under the
act However, if an employee elects to receive a pension under any
law or retired pay on account of military or naval service or compensa
tion under the war risk insurance act, the period of his military 01 nav al
service upon which such pension is based shall not be included.
Periods of separation from the service and any leaves of absence with
out pay exceeding six months shall be excluded. The annuity is pay
able on the first business day of the month following the period for
which the annuity shall have accrued, and the annuity commences
from the date of separation from the service and continues during the
life of the annuitant.
^
^
-d n a
All employees of the Panama Canal or Panama Railroad Co.
already retired under the provisions of the act of May 22, 1920, or the
act as amended, or as extended by E x e c u t i v e orders, or under the
provisions of the Panama Railroad pension plan, shall have their
annuity computed and paid in accordance with this act, but m no case
is the annuity to be reduced.
.
. _
„
, „
Those employees who left the service of the Panama Canal or
Panama Railroad Co. on the Isthmus after August 1, 1920 and prior
to the effective date of this act (not by reason of misconduct or delin
quency) without having been granted retirement annuities due to the
fact that all of their service which would be allowable under the pro
visions of this act was not considered in computing the total service,
or who are otherwise eligible (by paying the necessary contributions),
shall after July 1, 1931, be paid annuities m accordance with the pro
visions of this act.
Source of Funds
F unds are secured by deductions from the basic salary, pay? or
compensation of all employees covered by the act, at the rate of o per
cent of same. The amounts so deducted are deposited with the
Treasurer of the United States to the credit of the Canal Zone
retirement and disability fund” for the payment of annuities, refunds,
and allowances provided in the act. The act directs the Commissioner
of Pensions to ascertain the amounts due employees under the act ol
May 22, 1920, and also directs the Secretary of the Treasury to
transfer such amount to the separate fund to be maintained under
the act. The directors of the Panama Railroad Co. on the other
hand are required to transfer to the Secretary of the Treasury the
gross assets in the Panama Railroad pension fund, for credit to the
new fund.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ri064]
OLD-AGE PEN SIO N S AND R ETIR EM EN T
33
All employees covered by the act are deemed to have consented and
agreed to the deductions.
Employees who come within the provisions of the act after the
effective date are required to deposit with the Treasurer of the United
States to the credit of the Canal Zone retirement fund a sum equal to
2/2 per cent of the employee’s basic salary received for services
rendered from July 31, 1920, to June 30, 1926, and 3% per cent of the
basic salary paid subsequent to the latter date, with interest at 4 per
cent per annum. No such deposit is required for services rendered
for the Panama Railroad Co. prior to January 1, 1924.
Administration
. Commissioner of Pensions.—The administration of the act is placed
m the Commissioner of Pensions under the direction of the Adminis
trator of Veterans’ Affairs. An appeal to the Administrator of
Veterans’ Affairs is allowed from a final order or action of the Com
missioner of Pensions. An annual report is required to be made by
the Commissioner of Pensions and reports and recommendations of
the board of actuaries must be transmitted to Congress. The Admin
istrator of Veterans’ Affairs must annually submit to the Bureau of
the Budget an estimate of appropriations necessary for the adminis
tration of the act. The Board of Actuaries must make a valuation of
the fund at least every five years.
. The Secretary of the Treasury is also directed to invest the funds in
mterest-bearmg securities of the United States or in Federal farm-loan
bonds. No part of the moneys mentioned in the act are assignable,
subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal
process.
O ld-A ge P en sio n s Paid by Labor O rgan ization s, 1930
N 1930, according to information furnished to the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11 of the 12 labor organizations which
have old-age pension systems paid in pensions the sum of $3,403,180
to 13,049 pensioners. No data are available for 1930 for the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, but from statements in the brother
hood magazine, it appears that benefits are being paid at a lowered
rate and a radical revision of the pension fund of that organization is
under consideration. Omitting that organization, in the 4-vear period,
1927 to 1930, the number of pensioners of labor organizations has
risen from 6,839 to 13,049—in other words, has nearly doubled—
while old-age benefits have increased from $2,362,476 to $3,403,180
or 44 per cent.
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1065]
34
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
The details for the various organizations which have pension plans
are shown in the following table:
R E Q U IR E M E N T S F O R P E N S IO N , N U M B E R OF P E N S IO N E R S , A N D A M O U N T D ISB U R S E D F O R P E N S IO N S B Y S P E C IF IE D T R A D E -U N IO N S , 1930
Requirem ents
for receipt of
pension
Age
65
2 60
65
65
62
65
« 65
60
60
60
(i°)
65
B ricklayers______________________
Bridge and structural-iron w orkers.
C arpenters____________ -._________
Electrical workers-----------------------G ranite cu tters---------------------------Locomotive engineers------------------,.
Locomotive firemen and enginemen
P rin te rs_________________________
Prin tin g pressm en_______________
Q uarry w orkers__________________
R ailroad trainm en_______________
Street-railw ay w orkers--------- ------ Total, 1930_________________
T otal, 1927 >'_______________
1 1 v/dl o l l U l i l g J
N um ber
of pen
sioners
A m ount of pension
Labor organization
M em
bership
(years)
20
2 20
30
20
25
1
2
25
20
10
2
20
A m ount
paid in
pensions,
1930
2,037
595
5,000
83
432
(5)
652
3,188
398
» 13
505
146
i $744,718
164, 975
658, 350
30, 832
16, 410
(5)
246, 540
7 1,186,024
72,436
650
165,445
116, 800
13,049
6, 839
3, 403,180
2, 362, 476
$7 per w eek. ---------$25 per m o n th ... . . . .
$15 p er m onth 3--------$42 per m o n th .. _. __
$60 per y e a r 4_____ ._
$25-$65 per m onth. _
$30-$40 per m o n th ----$8 per w eek .. ______
$4 per week______ ..
$50 3________________
$30-$70 per m o n th ___
$800 in lum p su m ____
1
OUj IvOu.
. . .
,
]
,
-l
2 After 15 years’ m em bership regardless of age if disabled because of injury received a t work.
3 Paid quarterly.
4 $10 per m onth for 6 m onths of the year.
5 No data.
6 Or younger, if disabled for work in the occupation.
7 Year ending June 20, 1930.
s F la t sum , deducted from death benefit.
« N um ber paid lu m p sum in 1930.
1» No age requirem ent, b u t m ust be to tally and perm anently disabled for work.
u Does not include 4,467 pensioners and $988,519 paid b y locomotive engineers.
During the past few years the subject of old-age pensions for
members has received a large amount of attention from labor organ
izations and several have considered the advisability of adopting a
pension plan. In 1930, the annual meeting of the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers passed a resolution favoring the establishment of
both a home for aged and a pension scheme “ if conditions permit it.”
The hotel and restaurant employees’ union has established a “ trail
blazers’ old-age pension fund” to which contributions are being
invited from members, with the idea of accumulating money to be
used eventually in the payment of pensions. The 1930 meeting of
meat cutters and butcher workmen went on record as favoring the
establishment of both a home for aged members and a pension plan.
Under the action taken by the convention the approval of each local
was necessary and this has now been obtained. An assessment of $25
has been levied on each member of the union, payment beginning in
October, 1930, and continuing at the rate of $1 per month for 25
months. Pensions will be payable at 65, after 20 years’ membership,
and retired members will be given their choice of a pension of $30 per
month or residence (himself and wife) in the home; the same option
will be given to members disabled for work at the trade, after 10 years’
membership. It is planned to finance the home by means of a live
stock and ranching business owned and operated by the union through
a subsidiary company. The locals will be urged to erect cottages on
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1066 ]
OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND R ETIREM EN T
35
the ranch, to be occupied by retired members, who will perform such
tasks as they are fitted for. It is remarked that in this way the
organization will be “ setting its members up in a business that is right
next door to their life work. ” The plan also contemplates the educa
tion of orphans of deceased members.
Local No. 306 (New York City) of the Motion Picture Machine
Operators’ Union has recently established a pension system providing
for pensions to members, disabled from accident or occupational
disease, who have reached the age of 60 years and have been in good
standing in the organization for 15 years. The plan went into oper
ation January 1, 1931. The pension will be $25 a week. The funds
will be raised at least in part by the operation of a truck advertisingbusiness which has been taken over by the union.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1067]
INSURANCE AND BENEFIT PLANS
B en efits Paid by P h oto-E n gravers, 1930
N 1930 the local and international organizations of the photo
engravers paid in benefits to members the sum of $700,771 (not
including strike benefits of $95,644), according to the March, 1931,
issue of the American Photo-Engraver. The table following shows
the amount paid for each type of benefit by the International PhotoEngravers’ Union and its locals. Its membership in December,
1930, was 8,992.
I
L O C A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L B E N E F IT S P A ID BY P H O T O -E N G R A V E R S , 1930
Organization and benefit
N um ber
of
locals
paying
In tern atio n al organization:
_____
Death
TuberculosisInsurance (death and disability)
T o tal,
. . -
_
Range of benefits
$200
- _____________________
. _ _ .
_ .
$15 per w eek__
$1,000____________________________
_ _ .
Local organizations:
D eath
Tuberculosis _ _
...
U nem ploym ent - - - - - Sickness
- -- -----
A m ount
paid,
1930
$16, 200
31, 256
81, 000
128, 456
115
7
315
419
$150—
$1,735_________________________
$8.50 per m onth to $15 per week
$12 to $25 per week
_ __
$7 to $22 per week -- - ____ --
T otal-. - _ - _ _____
45, 723
(2)
482,163
44, 429
572, 315
1 In 9 of these, benefits are paid through Pacific Coast Benefit Society.
2 No data.
3 In 1 of these, th e benefit is a loan, to be repaid w ith interest.
4 In 7 of these, benefits are paid through the Pacific Coast Benefit Society.
The question of the provision of benefits for old-age and disability
as well as of unemployment benefits, came up for discussion at the
1930 convention. The executive council submitted data gathered by
it showing the age and length of membership of the members. The
data showed that 85 members would immediately be entitled to
benefits under any old-age and disability pension plan; of these 85,
only 15 were disabled because of old age. In view of the fact that a
fund if created would therefore be used “ primarily for incapacitated
benefits, rather than old-age relief,” and that many of the disabled
“ are comparatively young men, making restrictive measures some
what impracticable, should we desire to assist all those in need,” the
committee considering the matter recommended that action be
deferred, and its recommendation was accepted by the convention.
As for the proposed unemployment benefit, the executive council
was directed to prepare suitable amendments to the laws of the
organization, establishing an unemployment fund for which each
member would be assessed $2.25 per month until a sufficient amount
36
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1068]
INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
37
was obtained, and from which benefits of $7.50 per week would be
paid for not to exceed 20 weeks in any one year. This proposition
was submitted to referendum vote of the membership, as directed by
the convention, and was defeated.
E m p lo y ees’ P a rtic ip a tio n and In v e stm e n t P lan of K an sas C ity
P u b lic Service Co.
HE employees’ participation and investment plan of the Kansas
City Public Service Co., Kansas City, Mo., by which the
employees will share in the net income of the company after bond
interest is paid, was adopted by the board of directors, effective
January 1, 1931.
Under this plan the stockholders will set aside 25 per cent of the
net income of the company for increased compensation to the
employees and this participation will be determined quarterly on
April 1, July 1, October 1, and January 1, and will be paid within
30 days after each quarter.
. From the gross revenue of the company, plus the nonoperating
income, _will be deducted the following items, being the cost of
conducting the business:
T
All operating expenses, which term includes wages, materials, and supplies for
operation and maintenance, depreciation and other operating reserves, cost of
injuries, and damages, insurance, etc.
Taxes, or reserves for taxes of every nature— city, county, State, and Federal
interest on bonds or notes, or other funded debts or obligations, fixed charges
or reserves for fixed charges.
All employees who have been in continuous service with the
company for one year will share in this fund except the chairman of
the board, chairman of the executive committee, the president, the
vice president and the vice president in charge of operations, and
except those who violate the provisions of the contract of employ
ment. Employees who have not served for one year will participate
beginning with the first quarter after becoming eligible. Each
employee’s share will be based upon the proportion which his earnings
ioi the quarter bear to the total pay roll of all eligible emplovees for
that quarter.
Pwo methods lor the distribution of the participation fund were
voted upon by the employees, the first providing that the employees’
share would be invested in the securities of the company and that
certificates would be issued to each employee showing the amount of
his interest m such securities, and the second providing for distribution
in cash. The employees by a vote of 2,206 to 32 voted in favor of the
first method.
Under the plan adopted an employee may sell his certificates
(showing the amount of his interest in the securities owned) to
another employee upon the approval of the trustees of the participa
tion fund. When an employee has certificates equaling the amount
ol a full share of stock or a bond, or both, he may exchange them for
the amount of securities they represent. Such securities may either
be held or sold to anyone. Upon leaving the service an employee
must cash in his certificates at the price for which the trustees can
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1069]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
38
sell the securities which the certificates represent. In the event of
the death of an employee his estate must do likewise.
The directors reserve the right to cancel or change the plan at the
end of any quarter, “ in line with their inherent authority to fix and
change wages.’’ Any such action will not effect rights acquired undei
the plan prior to the date of any such cancellation or change.
O regon S ocial In su r a n c e In v estig a tiv e C o m m issio n
commission on social insurance legislation
authorized to be appointed by the Governor of Oregon under
ANLthewasINVESTIGATIVE
provisions of an act (Acts of 1931, ch. 151) approved March 4,1931.
The commission of three members is empowered to make a study ot
(1) old-age pensions, (2) old-age insurance; and (3) unemployment
insurance. The results of the investigation are to be reported to the
next regular session of the State legislative assembly, which will be m
January, 1933.
. . .
. ,.
,.
The survey by the commission is to include the investigation ol
plans for contributions by the citizens of Oregon, and the State, to a
fund or funds to be created and administered by the State for the
relief of the aged and the unemployed citizens of the State of Oregon.”
The commissioners appointed to conduct the investigation are to
serve without compensation, but necessary traveling and other
expenses, including the employment of clerical assistants within the
appropriation limit of $1,500, are allowable.
In tro d u ctio n of G roup In su ran ce in G erm any
HE Adam Opel Co., one of the leading manufacturers of auto
mobiles in Germany, has concluded an agreement by which group
life insurance totaling 12,500,000 marks ($2,975,000) was taken out
on its employees.1 This is the first instance of the adoption of this
particular form of insurance in Germany. The experience acquired
by American companies in this field was drawn upon and the policy
is based, in its major aspects, on similar policies in the United States.
General 'provisions of the policy.—The monthly premium paid by the
employee amounts to 1.25 marks (30 cents) entitling him to a coverage
of 2,500 marks ($595). The amount of the premium remains con
stant and there are no restrictions as to age and physical condition
of the employees. No medical examination is required. When an
employee is discharged or quits of his own accord his policy becomes
void, but in case of sickness, lay-off, or vacation,^ not exceeding six
months, the insurance is kept in force under certain conditions. An
employee who quits voluntarily has the right to convert his group
insurance policy into an individual policy without a medical examina
tion at advantageous rates and under favorable conditions. In case
of complete and permanent disability before reaching the age ol 60
the insurance will be paid in 40 monthly installments of 62.50 maiks
($14.78) each.
________
T
i R eport of 0 . W . G ray, U nited States vice consul, Berlin, G erm any, Feb, 20, 1931,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1070]
INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
39
. Significance of 'policy.—In Germany social insurance (for old age,
sickness, and unemployment) has reached a very advanced state of
development, whereas group insurance had its origin in the United
States. Hence, group insurance must be regarded by the German
people as a supplement to the other existing forms of social insurance.
It is^certain that the people of Germany are “ insurance conscious’'
and it is also true that the existing economic crisis with its attendant
unemployment has subjected the present system of social insurance
to the severest test. Nevertheless, just at the moment when the
existence of the old forms of social insurance is threatened, group
insurance has made its appearance in Germany. One provision of
the agreement is that 75 per cent of the company’s employees would
have to enter before it becomes effective and it is important to note
that within a month 90 per cent have signified their willingness to do
so. I t will be interesting to see if other large industrial organizations
follow the example of this company.
C ost of S ocial In su ran ce in Italy
ROM an article in L’Organizzazione Industriale for January,
1931, entitled II Costo delle assicurazioni sociali” the following
figures are taken showing the amount of contributions by the employ
ers, employees, and the State for social insurance, and the number of
workers insured :
F
N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S IN S U R E D A N D A M O U N T S OF C O N T R IB U T IO N BY E M P L O Y
E R S A N D BY E M P L O Y E E S
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of lira=5.23 cents]
T y p e of insurance
N um ber
Y ear of workers
insured
C ontributions by
employers
Lire
In v alidity and old age:
Com pulsory..............
V oluntary__________
C ertain classes______
Seamen____________
U nem ploym ent________
Tuberculosis___________
Sickness (new Provinces).
M ate rn ity ______________
Sickness, seamen________
Industrial accident______
A gricultural accident____
Occupational disease____
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1928
1929
5, 700, 000
600,000
4,300, 000
5, 700, 000
198,871
873, 502
1927
1927
208, 707,000 $10,915, 376
34,056,015
15, 265, 848
66, 730,000
67, 783, 366
12,946, 332
3,812, 683
1 2, 000, 000
1, 781,130
798, 404
3,489,979
3,545,070
677,093
199,403
1418,400
17,474,973
1,807, 436
1 104, 600
787,989, 744
41, 211, 864
1 8, 000,000
334,129, 500
34, 559,000
T o tal.
U. S. cur
rency
C ontributions by
employees
Lire
U. S. cur
rency
208, 707,000 $10, 915, 376
7, 556, 000
395,179
23, 503, 000
1,229, 207
11,054, 579
578,154
66, 730, 000
3,489, 979
67, 783, 366
3, 545, 070
17, 234, 223
901, 350
2,876, 235
150,427
405, 444,403
21, 204, 742
1 Estim ated.
In addition the State contributes yearly 1,500,000 lire ($78,450) for
invalidity and old-age insurance and 742,914 lire ($38,854) for ma
ternity insurance. From the above statements it will be seen that
the employers contribute nearly two-thirds of the insurance fund.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1071]
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
G row th of M ech a n iza tio n in A g ricu ltu re and its R ela tio n to
Labor P ro d u ctiv ity
HE increasing mechanization of agricultural operations in various
countries, and its effect on agricultural employment, is discussed
T
by the chief of the agricultural service of the International Labor
Office in an article in the International Labor Review for March, 1931.
With the exception of the gathering of tree and bush fruits, which
seems to defy mechanization, the writer states that there is not a process
in connection with staple crops which has not received attention from
the inventors of agricultural machinery, and certain processes having
to do with work on living animals—such as shearing of sheep and milk
ing of cows—have also been successfully mechanized. However, the
difficulties of mechanizing agricultural operations are so great that
only occasionally is a satisfactory invention launched, and when
launched it naturally attains immediate popularity only in those
centers which have an opportunity of knowing about it. When very
striking it becomes internationally popular, but inventions capable of
attaining an international status are comparatively rare. The need
and desire for these mechanical aids is indicated by the adoption in
each country of any device which offers real hope of assistance.
In Germany the number of farms using one or more machines in
creased from 391,746 in 1882 to 2,029,770 in 1925, in spite of a loss of
national territory, although the number of farms using machinery in
1925 was less than 40 per cent of the farms in the country. Some of
the machines in use were very small, but it is pointed out that a small
device, such as a hand separator or a chaff cutter, may save a great
deal of labor and that the increase in such small and simple machines
is one of the greatest advances which modern agriculture can make in
many countries. A simple form of seeding machine is reported to have
become very popular in Germany, about a quarter of the farms of from
5 to 10 hectares (12.35 to 24.71 acres) owning such a machine.
The most striking feature of the mechanization of German farms,
the article states, is the adoption of electric power, 12.6 per cent of all
farms having some form of electricity installed in 1925, and nearly
one-tenth of all primary power and one-fifth of the electric power
belonged to agriculture. In England and Wales, on the other hand,
the use of electricity on farms had made little progress by 1925. In
these countries oil or petrol engines had attained great popularity and
had increased in number from 6,911 in 1908 to 56,744 in 1925. The
use of motor tractors, practically nonexistent in Germany, had grown
rapidly, 15,000 having come into use since 1913. The use of steam
engines in all three countries had declined. In the Union of South
Africa, where the use of machinery in agriculture has been slowly
increasing in recent years, the tractor suddenly became immensely
40
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1072]
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
41
popular among farmers, the number imported in 1929 being 2,690 in
comparison with only 167 in 1924.
Steady progress has been made in the mechanization of agricultural
operations in France, but here, as in Germany, the most important
development has been the rapid growth in the utilization of electric
power. In France, and also in Czechoslovakia, the extension of elec
tric power supply to rural communities has been assisted by legislation
and the establishing of public funds for the purpose.
One of the most striking illustrations of the rapid increase in the
use of a particular mechanical device in agriculture is the harvesting
machine known as the combine. This, together with the tractor and
the motor truck, is credited with having revolutionized the wheat
growing methods in the western Great Plains of the United States.
The number of combines manufactured in the United States in 1929
was 36,957, as compared with 270 in 1914. A phenomenal increase
has taken place in the use of these machines in Canada, the number
in use in western Canada in 1929 being reported as 7,255 in comparison
with only 2 in 1922. In Argentina the spread of the combine is said
to constitute the niost impressive movement in the adoption of new
agricultural machinery, and it is used in the harvesting of 30 per cent
of the wheat surface of the country. In fact, the article states, the
spread of the combine in Argentina preceded by a few years its enthu
siastic adoption in Canada and the United States. Of 68,755 harvest
ing machines of all kinds in Argentina in 1929, 21,755 were combines.
The use of combine harvesters is said to be universal in Australia. A
threshing device wa,s attached to a certain type of Australian stripper,
the combination being known as the stripper-thresher, of which it has
been said that “ it is a labor saver for Australian wheat growers to the
value of many millions sterling. It put Australia on the map as a
wheat-producing and exporting country * * * and saved in har
vesting expenses as much per bushel as would rail the grain to the
seaboard and freight it to Europe. ” The total value of' the reaperthreshers or harvesters imported by Australia from Canada and the
United States increased from £24,583 in 1922-23 to £135,195 in
1927-28.
“ Thus,” the article states, “ some form of the ‘combine’ harvesting
principle is in use in all the great grain-producing countries outside
Europe.” As regards European countries, “ so intrinsically important
is the combine that these countries have latterly felt compelled to
investigate its use, even where at first sight it is unsuitable to their
national systems of farming.” In England, Germany, Italy, and
France the first trials of the combine were made comparatively
recently. In Hungary its use is said to be apparently unknown.
The Union of South Africa first tried it out in 1929.
The merit of the “ reaper-thresher” or “ combine,” as described by
the writer, is that “ it combines (whence its name) the cutting and
the threshing processes on one machine; the binding and the stacking
processes fall out entirely; and as the wheat is never bound up, it has
neither to be unbound nor transported to be fed to the threshing
drum; the grain falls threshed into the wagon accompanying the
cutting mechanism, and this only needs to be emptied from time to
tune. Grains can be entirely machine-handled, not merely at certain
points but from the field right through to the baking house.”
52839°—314
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1073]
*
42
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
In order to form a correct idea of what figures on the increased
purchase of machinery in farming really portend, the writer points
out that the social investigator “ will keep his eye on the general
steady advance in mechanization going on everywhere, and will note
the gradual elimination of unsuitable machines in which at one time
high hopes were placed; and on the other he will be particularly alive
to the special developments which, with astonishing and dramatic
rapidity, are likely to cause a revolution of methods in the districts
where they can be applied. Statistics of the use of agricultural
machinery, defective and very limited as they are in the first place,
need a deal of interpretation before their social significance, i. e., their
probable effects on the economics of farming and of farming labor,
can be grasped.”
The use of machnery will not, of course, change the essential nature of agri
cultural operations; crops will continue to grow in the spring, to nourish m the
summer, and to ripen in the autumn. But machines will alleviate the necessity
for calling on such an inordinate mass of outside seasonal labor at certain times
of the year, especially if they take over essential “ residual operations; they wi
therefore be an important contribution to the very much needed decasualization
The machine becomes the seasonal thing, instead of the manual labor of human
beings. For instance, a combine is in use for 12 to 15 days only during the whole
year; if it works all day and all night, with a double staff, it may even finish its
annual quantum of work in 5 to 8 days and then be laid aside for the whole of the
rest of the year. Nevertheless, it is to be observed that, in Europe, the intro
duction of a great deal of machinery might eventually abolish the system of the
winter maintenance wage, and the result might be to bring out more clearly the
essentially seasonal nature of agricultural operations (the opposite result from
that in America).
Effedt of Mechanization on Output
T h e following information, based on a report published by the
United States Department of Agriculture in 1920, and quoted from
the article under review, shows the very great increase in produc
tivity resulting from the use of mechanical devices.
* * * One man, working without machinery, can take 28.1 minutes to
unload 42 bushels of corn (maize) in the ear and 25.6 minutes to unload 85
bushels of oats; working with machinery he can complete these operations in 7.8
and 7.9 minutes, respectively. One man and 2 horses, working without ma
chinery, can haul and spread 44 bushels of manure in 68.4 minutes; with a mechanical spreader, and working with 2, 3, or 4 horses, he can haul &ud spread 65
bushels in 45.6 minutes. One man, working by hand, can cut and shock 1.28
acres of corn per day; with the assistance of machinery and horses, working as
the member of a crew, he can cover 1.9 acres, i. e., his performance rises 50 per
cent; if, instead of husking the corn by hand, he uses a mechanical picker, his
performance rises 35 per cent; and his work is not nearly so heavy.
In the course of an investigation of the use of agricultural machinery
and its relation to labor in England and the British dominions,
“ horsemen in Australia, supplied with large teams and large machines,
were reported as able to accomplish ‘four to five times’ as much work
as a man driving the usual English 2-horse team. In New Zealand the
larger plow machinery reduced the cost of man-labor, as compared
with England, ‘by two-thirds or one-half.’ In Canada a gang of 7
men on an improved steel thresher worked at ‘ approximately double
the rate ’ worked by 11 men on an English thresher; and so on.”
A well-informed Canadian observer is reported to have stated that
in one district in Canada 18 men supplied with improved machinery
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1074]
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
43
were doing what would have been the harvesting work of 90 men
five years earlier; in Canada, according to this authority, “ on the
modern mechanized farming basis on larger farms * * * one man
does the work of four; * * * man-power is four times as effec
tive in production-earning power as it was a decade ago.”
Figures on the average value of production (at 1911 price
levels) per person engaged in farming industries, in manufactures, and
in all industries combined in Australia showed an increase in crop
production from £135 in 1911 to £202 in 1924, and in dairying,
from £315 to £560, while in manufactures the increase was only from
£162 to £174, and in all industries combined, from £218 to £236.
Index numbers of productive efficiency in 1924, based on these figures,
and using 1911 as 1000, were 1505 for crop production and 1779 for
dairying, as compared with 1075 for manufactures and 1079 for all
industries combined. This dramatic rise in efficency in crop pro
duction and in dairying, as compared with the small increase for
manufactures and for all industries combined has been “ unhesitatingly
ascribed to the large-scale introduction of machinery into these two
branches of farming since 1911.”
Although mechanization in farming, if it continues on any very
considerable scale, means lack of employment for wage earners in
agriculture, the writer states that opinions coming from agricultural
workers’ organizations have been “ in the direction of supporting the
piodernization, i. e., the mechanization, of the agricultural industry,”
and that, moreover, “ such opinions appear to be supported by the
general body of workers, in spite of the fact that they are clearly
menaced when there is an undue influx of rural labor into urban
employments.”
In connection with the expressed approval of agricultural workers’
organizations of agricultural mechanization, two points have been
made : First, that whatever steps are taken must be taken in consul
tation with the workers and, second, that the resulting mechanical
saving must be for the good of the workers. The first point was made
the subject of a resolution at the second congress of the International
Federation of Christian Agricultural Workers’ Trade Unions, held in
1928, in which “ the workers claim the right to fullest collaboration
in laying down the principles for, and in applying the details of, new
rationalized arrangements.”
The writer believes that the permanent benefits which may accrue
to the workers may ultimately be reduced to two—saving of fatigue
and shorter working time, the more fundamental in his opinion beingshorter working time.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1075]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
U n io n -M a n a g em e n t C oop eration on th e R ailroads
NION-MANAGEMENT cooperation on the railroads is treated
quite extensively in a recently published book on that subject, by
Louis Aubrey Wood, associate professor of economics in the Univer
sity of Oregon.1
The investigation and study made by Professor Wood shows that
four major systems of rail transportation in the United States and
Canada, having together about one-sixth of the total combined rail
road mileage of the two countries, have adopted a union-management
cooperative agreement with their mechanical departments.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. began to test out a cooperative
plan in its mechanical department in 1923 and accepted it in 1924 for
the transportation department and the department of maintenance of
way and structures, in addition to the mechanical department. Nine
trade-unions have been pledged to cooperation on this railroad through
its extension beyond the mechanical department. These include the
Grand International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, the Order of
Railway Conductors of America, the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men, the American Train Dispatchers Association, the Order of
Railroad Telegraphers, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen of
America, the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Express and Station Employees, and the Brotherhood of
Maintenance of Way Employees.
The Canadian National Railway Co. in January, 1925, introduced
union-management cooperation in its mechanical department, and
this system of cooperation is now effective on all the lines that it owns
and operates except the Central Vermont Railway (Inc.), a subsidiary
under independent management with mileage in the New England
States, and the Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railway Co., a directly
managed subsidiary in Minnesota.
The Chicago & North Western Railway Co., in 1925, adopted a plan
of systematized cooperation for its mechanical department, which now
functions on all of its directly operated lines, although not on its
subsidiary, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Co.
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co., estab
lished a plan of cooperation in its mechanical department in 1926 and
has extended this plan to all its repair stations—130 shops, engine
houses, and car yards.
No positive declaration is made in any of the cooperative agree
ments of the four rail transportation systems that such agreements
would stabilize employment, but each system has enunciated a new
U
i Wood, Louis A ubrey: U nion-M anagem ent Cooperation on the Railroads. N ew H aven, Yale U niversity
Press, 1931.
44
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1076]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
45
set of principles on the subject^ of employment, has authorized a
regularization of employment hi its mechanical department, and has
made pome progress in extending similar principles to its department
of maintenance of way and structures.
The cooperative plan of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, according
to the text of the agreement between it and the System Federation No.
30, was ‘‘intended to help the stabilization of employment on the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, thereby producing a situation of satisfied
and contented personnel with improved morale and consequent
improvement in the service and production by greater and better
quality of work.” No agreement has been entered into between the
Canadian National Railway Co. and its shop employees to stabilize
employment, although executive officers of the system have asserted
in writing at different times that every effort would be made to sta
bilize employment conditions. The Chicago & North Western Rail
way’s systematized cooperative program of 1925 stated that regular
employment would be of foremost advantage to the workers and also
helpful to the company and gave assurance that an arrangement
would be effected in the mechanical department which would “ ulti
mately and without delay permit work being performed by the mini
mum number of employees consistent with the various classes of work
available. ” The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
in its memorandum of principles for union-management cooperation
proposed “ to devise means and adopt ways to put into effect such
manufacturing practices as would be of greatest assistance in lending
security to employment.”
According to statements made by the managements of the railroads
having cooperative agreements, their employees in the mechanical
departments have a keen interest in securing new and improved
machinery in order that better work may be done. The superin
tendent of the passenger-coach department of the Milwaukee shop of
the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad stated that during
a period of 32 months from April 19,1926, to December 26,1928, about
90 articles of equipment were purchased on the advice of the coopera
tive committee and that no form of shop equipment is now secured
except with the cooperative approval. In the program of cooperation
issued by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1924, “tool equipment”
was specifically mentioned as a topic that might be profitably discussed
at local cooperative meetings. A cooperative bulletin, released at a
western region shop of the Canadian National Railway System in 1927,
pointed out that more harmonious relations would be maintained
between management and men if all important changes in machine
and other tool equipment were fully treated by cooperative committees
before being put into effect.
It would seem from statements made by the managements of the
railways adopting the cooperative plan that there had been a marked
improvement in the relations between the managements and their
employees.
Daniel Willard, president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co.,
states that “ Under cooperation working contracts and the tasks to be
performed on the railroad have remained fundamentally the same,
but a different state of mind has been observable since its introduction
both among the management and the men.” He explains that “It
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11077]
46
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
gives to every employee an enlightened and enlarged^ view of his own
worth and importance as a part of the great organization known as the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.”
Sir Henry Thornton said: “ The Canadian National Railway Co. s
purpose to secure a maximum of efficiency in all its services would
only be obtainable through a combined effort on the part of the man
agement and the men.”
.
. .
The management of the Chicago and North Western Railway m its
cooperative program is “ interested in the constant and efficient use
of its shop facilities, and for the achievement of these aims is dependent
upon the freely given help of its shop workers.”
S tu d ies of in d u str ia l R ela tio n s
request of the International Labor Conference, made in 1928,
the International Labor Office has initiated a series of studies on
U PON
industrial relations in specific organizations. The aim of the studies
is to ascertain what the actual development has been in relations be
tween employers and employees, both as regards relations in the works
and negotiations between organizations. The first of the published
studies projected under this plan has recently appeared.1 I t contains
individual studies for frv e enterprises, namely, the Siemens Works, the
Lens Mining Co., the London Traffic Combine, the State Mines of
the Saar Basin, and the Bata Boot and Shoe Factory, located, respec
tively, in Germany, France, England, the Saar, and Czechoslovakia.
These were selected rather as illustrations than as patterns, and cover
a variety of industries, i. e., electrical manufacture, mining, passenger
transport, and boot and shoe manufacture.
Siemens Works
I t i s stated that the history of the Siemens Works is closely bound
up with the history of the electrical industry in Europe. Organized
in 1847, the company pay roll at the time this study was made included
138,000 persons. The firm deals with various trade-unions because
of the variety in types of workers. The firm has also a long tradition
of workers’ representation, and there are works councils in its various
branches.
Annual leave with pay is given every worker with six months’
service on April 1 of any year. The period of leave varies from three
to eight working-days according to length of service. Special leave
up to 18 working-days is granted for employees whose period of
service is very long.
A unique provision of the employment system is that one disabled
man must be employed for every 50 workers taken on. The central
employment office is responsible for seeing that the number of dis
abled men does not fall below this quota.
An apprenticeship system is in force and systematic training is
provided. About 100 apprentices start their apprenticeship yearly
in five schools in various works. The course is generally of four years’
1 International L abor Office. Studies and Reports, series A (Industrial R elations),
Ind u strial Relations, Geneva, 1930.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1078]
No, 33; Studies on
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
47
duration. Particularly able apprentices are given scholarships ena
bling them, to attend craft schools of higher technical institutions and
they may or may not return to the Siemens Works. Special training
is also afforded for engineers, commercial apprentices, typists, and
foremen.
Active cooperation against accidents and to improve health is found.
Not only are general laws dealing with accident prevention and health
matters enforced, but voluntary arrangements are entered into and a
suggestion system is in force for improving conditions.
In addition to the statutory systems provided for insurance, work
men’s compensation, and pensions, the Siemens Works provide
additional pension and insurance benefits for which the company
pays. Also, the workers are encouraged to participate in a group
insurance system and to enter an arrangement for securing additional
accident insurance. The company also gives end-of-the-year bonuses
and jubilee gifts and offers a salaried employees’ savings scheme.
Particular attention is paid to the welfare of the staff. Welfare
machinery includes mess rooms, homes and institutions, library, clubs,
and houses. In Siemensstadt, where many of the force are employed,
the firm undertook the construction of a garden city in 1922, and 500
houses have been built, each with a garden.
Lens Mining Co.
D e s t r u c t i o n of the mines of the Lens Mining Co. during the
World War made it necessary to launch a costly and time-consuming
reconstruction program before the mines could again be worked, and
it was not until 10 years after the war that the mines reached their
pre-war output. The company employs 20,000 workers in coal get
ting and auxiliary undertakings, such as a power station, coke fur
naces, and a factory for synthetic ammonia production.
Because of the original isolation of the Lens mining concession it
was necessary to set up complete workers’ villages. In addition to
these villages there are centers maintained by the company, provid
ing health and social features. A complete center includes a dispen
sary with a doctor and nurses, a church, an infant school, boys’
school, girls’ school, school for housekeeping and sewing, a dressmak
ing shop, workers’ club and sports club, and a branch of the coopera
tive society of company employees.
In the Lens mines, as in other French coal fields, there is a threefold
system of industrial relations, in the pit (or auxiliary undertakings),
in the company, and in the district. In fixing wages, action has been
based mainly on variations in the cost of living.
Because of the postwar labor shortage in France, engagement of
adequate labor has made it necessary to go outside the territorial
limits of the country. Recruiting abroad is carried on through a cen
tral organization of employers, the Central Committee of the Collieries
of France. This organization submits a statement of needs to the
General Society of Immigration, a private organization set up to facil
itate importation of labor. Workers secured receive traveling ex
penses for themselves, and 75 per cent of the traveling expenses of
their families is refunded. The contract is for one year, during which
time deductions are made from the worker’s wages amounting to 45
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1079]
48
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
per cent of the traveling expenses of his family. Upon termination
of contract the employer’s obligations cease.
Employment is judged to be fairly stable, because of the number
of workers who have obtained medals for 30 years’ continuous service
with the company. Transfer of miners found physically unfit, from
trying jobs to jobs requiring less strain, may be arranged. When
dismissal becomes necessary, a week’s notice is given and there is no
procedure for appeal.
Wage earners are not entitled to paid vacations. Salaried em
ployees, as well as overmen and overseers, have a week’s vacation
with pay, while engineers and higher officials have 21 days.
Coal allowances are made to workers, and housing is supplied at a
nominal rent.
Accident, invalidity, and old-age insurance are governed by gen
eral legislation. Sickness insurance is carried out by the Mutual Aid
Society of the Lens Mines, and equal_ contributions are paid by
employer and worker. The Lens Mining Co. also grants special
allowances to salaried employees or workers who have had 30 years’
service with the company.
The social institutions provided are classed under child welfare
work, workers’ education, and workers’ recreation and sports.
London Traffic Combine
T h i s group of companies, forming what is officially known as the
London Traffic Combine, is engaged in passenger transport within
the area of Greater London. In addition to operating underground
railways, busses, and street cars, the combine has its own power station
and repair shops, carries on its own publicity and advertising, and
operates a catering business. The total staff amounts to 44,000
persons.
The officer of the combine primarily concerned with industrial
relations is the staff officer. His work includes the review and check
of salaries, wages, hours, conditions of service, establishment and
maintenance of records, conduct of the suggestions bureau, the
conduct of the employment registry, etc.
The combine has relations with various joint bodies, employers’
organizations, and trade-unions. Willingness is shown to negotiate
with unions regarding conditions of work, but the combine reserves
the right to decide on questions of management (including disciplinary
matters).
The salaries of persons in clerical and technical positions are
reviewed twice a year. Besides the regular promotions, there are
merit increases and lump-sum bonuses.
Annual leave with pay is provided in varying amounts. For
example, on main-line railways 6 week days are given after 12 months
of service. Other groups have up to 8 days after 12 months of service.
Training and education are used to develop men to take over
supervisory and executive responsibility and to train conductors,
drivers, and inspectors and even restaurant attendants. Thus, there
is a railway training school, an omnibus training school, and a cookery
school.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1080 ]
IN DU STRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
49
Accident prevention is the responsibility of the principal officers of
local units. One means of coordinating their efforts is by the use of
bulletins and literature issued by the National Safety First Associa
tion of London. First-aid equipment is provided in accordance with
requirements under the factories act.
Insurance, workmen’s compensation, pensions; and friendly bene
fits are extended beyond the statutory requirements, the combine
providing a superannuation fund for the administrative staff, pensions
to supervisory staff, and ex gratia pensions and grants. There are
also a number of voluntary schemes administered by the staff.
The various companies under the London Traffic Combine pay par
ticular attention to welfare. Mess rooms, sport associations, insti
tutes for social and educational purposes, and a staff magazine are a
part of the welfare program.
State Mines of the Saar Basin
D is c o v e r y of coal in the Saar Basin wTas the dominant factor in
the development of a densely populated industrial area there. On
October 31, 1929, the registered staff of the Saar mines included
60,359 manual workers and 3,391 engineers and salaried employees.
The organization is described as made up of: “ A purely French
management, an entirely German staff of manual workers, and a
staff of salaried employees composed of both Germans and French
men—these are the human factors, so to speak, of the problem of
industrial relations in the Saar, which for this reason assumes the
dimensions of a problem of international administration.”
The German employees are represented in six trade-unions. In
addition, the staff of French employees has formed a union of about
400 members and only the French engineers remain outside any trade
organization. When agreement can not be reached directly between
the unions and the general directorate, controversial matters must be
referred to the administrative board in Paris, or to the Minister of
Public Works, to whom the whole administration of the mines is
subordinated.
Technical education is an important feature, for by this means the
administration is provided with the necessary staff. An interesting
innovation introduced by the French administration has been pay
ment in full of pupils in the school of mines during the whole period
of study.
No special department of safety is maintained. The police regula
tions for the mines leave it to the management of a mine to decide
whether timbering is necessary. Measures have been taken for in
creased and more efficient ventilation, and the use of explosives is
intrusted to trained shot firers only.
All workers of 18 years of age and over are entitled to a vacation of
3 days after 1 year of service, 4 days after 2 years, and 6 days after
3 years or more.
Little has been done by the mines administration in the way of
direct social work. Provision stores which were supplied in early
days proved unsuccessful, and this work was accordingly left to
workers’ cooperative societies. The extension of administration
housing has also been abandoned, and instead, in 1925, money to the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11081]
50
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
amount of 7,000,000 francs was advanced to the miners’ insurance
fund in order that more funds might be available to grant loans to
workers who wished to own dwellings. The sum loaned has now
been repaid, and no new loans have since been granted by the
administration.
Bata Boot and Shoe Factory
S ome 10 years ago Zlin, Czechoslovakia, was an isolated village.
Within it, during the intervening decade, has developed what to-day
is the largest boot and shoe factory in Europe. By 1928, the Bata
Boot and Shoe Factory was employing 12,000 workers and its produc
tion was 75,000 pairs of shoes a day.
Two main properties are included in the Bata undertaking, a fac
tory center surrounded by a circular wall, and a town with shops,
restaurant, motion-picture theater, workers’ houses, schools, a
boarding house for girls, and a lodging house for apprentices.
Production is prorated for two 26-week periods in the year and a
special department, the central department, is responsible for seeing
that nothing prevents the production plan from being carried through.
Bata, the founder of the enterprise, has sought to make the
worker feel that he is a partner in the undertaking at Zlin and not
just working for wages. Teamwork constitutes the best system of
control. Workers who through carelessness reduce the output of
their particular group are reprimanded and, if necessary, eliminated
by their own mates. Bata himself maintains absolute authority and
reserves the right of being final arbiter in any internal dispute that
may arise. However, he must accept the works council provided for
in Czechoslovak legislation.
A new worker is on probation for two weeks. He receives a con
tract setting forth conditions of employment and weekly wages, and
any change in duties makes it necessary for his contract to be renewed.
Young workers are taken on who can be trained in the establish
ment. _ Apprenticeship is fàvored, and both general and technical
education are provided. From his first week at Zlin the apprentice
earns a wage adequate for maintenance.
One week’s leave with pay is granted annually to all members of
the staff. For this purpose a week’s pay is the average week’s pay
earned during the year. Preference is given to a general plant
shutdown, rather than a system of granting workers leave in turn.
About 30 per cent of the entire staff shares in the profits. Half of
the profit earned is distributed each week and the other half is paid
into the factory account to draw interest at 10 per cent for the owner.
As regards unemployment insurance a difficult situation exists.
Czechoslovak law provides that only trade-unionists are insurable,
and only a small proportion of Bata employees are therefore eligible.
The medical department of the factory is responsible for prevention
of accidents, industrial hygiene, lighting, dust removal, and general
protection of health.
A social department is intrusted with the general administration of
the various institutions. I t is an autonomous organization, with an
annual budget, housed in a special building. In addition to its duties
of administering the nursery, schools, etc., this department organizes
entertainments and administers the birth bounty in the form of a
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1082 ]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
51
savings account which is added to annually as long as the father or
mother of a child remains with the factory.
Housing, food, and clothing at cost, and hospitalization, are also
a part of the industrial relations program in the Bata Boot and Shoe
Factory.
New M in istry of Labor, In d u stry, and C om m erce in Brazil
Y EXECUTIVE decree (No. 19433) of the Provisional Govern
ment of Brazil, a Ministry of Labor, Industry, and Commerce
was established on November 26, 1930, under the direction of Lindolpho Collor, according to a report from vice consul Leo P. Hogan,
at Rio de Janeiro, dated January 13, 1931.
The institutions and services which will be combined in the new
ministry include the National Labor Council, the Superior Council of
Industry and Commerce, the Department of Industry and Com
merce, the Land Settlement Service, the Commercial Board of the
Federal District, the Department of Statistics, the Institute of Com
mercial Expansion, the Information Service, the Indian Service, the
Department of Industrial Property, and the Board of Brokers of the
Federal District, all of which formerly belonged to the Ministry of
Agriculture. I t will also include the Department of Commercial
Statistics, the Social Welfare Institute, and the Savings Fund, for
merly under the Ministry of Finance, the Merchant Marine and
Coasting Trade Service, transferred from the Ministry of Trans
portation and Public Works, and the Economic and Commercial
Services and Commercial Attachés of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to a communication received by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, under date of March 23, Bandeira de Mello has been
appointed general director of the National Department of Labor,
under the Ministry of Labor, Industry, and Commerce.
B
R eport of E n glish C o tto n -T e x tile A m a lg a m a tio n
N 1928 and 1929, in view of the depressed condition of the cottontextile industry, a number of the companies united, hoping that
the economies which could be effected under a merger and the more
efficient methods possible in large-scale production might serve to
revive the industry. The largest of these amalgamations was the
Lancashire Cotton Corporation (Ltd.), which included 70 plants and
was formed with the assistance of the Bank of England. Its plan
was to apply the benefits of united effort to every branch of the
industry, from the provision of raw materials to the disposal of the
finished product. (See Labor Review, March, 1929, p. 67.)
The directors of the corporation have recently issued their report
for the year ending October 31, 1930, showing that at that time its
authorized capital was £3,772,995 ($18,361,280), that its assets in
the way of land, buildings, cottage property, plant and machinery, and
the like, amounted to £5,801,103 ($28,231,068), that during the year
£95,020 ($462,415) had been spent on improvements, and that the
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1083]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
52
relative earning power of the plant had been increased by a consider
ably larger amount.
The profit and loss account for the year shows a net loss of £ 162,368 [$790,164],
which, the directors state, is partly due to the writing down of stock values to the
extent of £86,300 [$419,979]. The remainder represents actualmill trading losses,
principally caused by the small percentage of machinery which had been worked.1
N ew Survey of L ond on L ife and Labor
HE Labor Review for October, 1930, contained an article upon
the new survey of London life and labor, outlining the task
T
undertaken and giving a brief synopsis of what the study, when
completed, will cover. The first volume of the report, Forty Years of
Change, has now been issued, and gives a summary of the trends
observable along certain lines. The survey was undertaken in 1928
by the London School of Economics and Political Science, with the
general purpose of repeating, as closely as possible, the study of
London life and conditions made by Charles Booth approximately
40 years ago.
Tendencies Summarized
T h e survey as a whole is expected to appear in 17 volumes, the
first one being merely introductory and presenting a summary of
some of the major tendencies studied. Apart from the general intro
duction it contains chapters on the area and population of the region
studied, the cost of living, wages, hours of labor and earnings, house
rents and overcrowding, travel and mobility, health, education, public
amenities and means of recreation, London occupations and indus
tries, unemployment and its treatment, poor law relief, and crime in
Greater London. Each of these chapters, based, of course, on the
material secured during the survey, is drawn up by an authority on
the subject treated. The general purpose of this preliminary volume
is to discover, if possible, whether in the region covered by Charles
Booth's study, the condition of the working population has improved
or worsened, and in what respects movement in either direction has
occurred. There is much difficulty in drawing conclusions. Popula
tion has shifted, so that it was impossible to follow Booth’s limits
precisely; standards have changed, so that his measurements are no
longer applicable; practically the whole system of social insurance
has been built up, preventive health work has been developed, and
other far-reaching social measures have been introduced, so that
innumerable allowances have to be made, and conclusions, at least
on the basis of the data so far collated, can be drawn only tentatively.
In general, the average density of the area covered has undergone
little change, the 57 persons per acre of 1891 having risen to 60 in
1928, but the distribution of the population has shifted, the inner
boroughs being less populous, while in the outer boroughs density has
increased. The age distribution of the populace has changed mark
edly, owing in part to the killing off during the war of men in their
prime, and in part to the decline in both the birth and the death rate.
1 D ata are from M anchester (England) G uardian, M ar. 19,1931, p. 9.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1084]
IN D U S T R IA L AND LA B O R C O N D IT IO N S
53
“ For every thousand women of ages 15 to 45, 121 children were born
in London in 1891 and only 83 in 1921. * * * Meanwhile the crude
death rate has fallen from 21.1 to 12.1, so that the rate of natural
growth by excess of births over deaths has declined from 10.8 to
4.1.” Occupational changes can hardly be computed, owing to differ
ences in the census classifications, but some tendencies are visible.
Thus, the building, metal, and engineering trades have expanded,
and women are far more generally employed in industrial, business,
and professional occupations, while at the same time there has been
a decline in the number in domestic service and dressmaking.
Cost of Living
T h e difficulties in the way of making a satisfactory comparison of
the cost of living at two different periods are well understood and are
given full weight in this study. The ordinary objects of expenditure
are divided into two groups, first, the essentials comprising food,
clothing, rent, and fuel and light, and second, objects outside of this
list, such as alcoholic drink, tobacco, travel, and amusement. It is
only for the first group that it is possible to construct comparative
long-period indexes. Confined to this group, the cost-of-living index
has risen from 100 on the average of 1889-1891 to something between
180 and 187 on the average of 1926-1928. On the same basis the
separate indexes are as follows: Food, 174; fuel and light, 195; rent,
171; and clothing, something between 228 and 253.
For the second group of expenditures it is not possible to give
definite indexes, but in general it is known that prices of objects in
this group have risen far more rapidly than the price of necessaries,
with the exception of travel and possibly also of amusements. Beer
prices have risen enormously, but the quantity consumed per head in
London has decreased by about two-fifths, or, if measured by alco
holic content, by one-half (from about 46 to 23 standard gallons per
annum). Tobacco consumption per head has more than doubled,
and as the price of the most popular brands of tobacco has also more
than doubled, the average expenditure on this item must be more than
four times as great as in 1890, a fact which suggests a greater level of
comfort among the workers, since a larger part of the income can be
devoted to nonessentials.
Wages and Earnings
A v e r a g e wages in London are discussed in much detail, and the
conclusion is reached that weekly full-time rates, expressed in money,
have risen about 106 per cent for skilled, and about 130 per cent for
unskilled labor, or, for skilled and unskilled occupations taken
together, by between 110 and 120 per cent. The increase in real
value has been about 14 per cent for skilled and 28 per cent for
unskilled workers. Meanwhile, hours of work have been lessened, so
that in the lower-paid occupations the value of real wages per hour of
work has risen by from one-third to one-half. Women’s wages have
risen, roughly, by something like 130 per cent, an increase corre
sponding fairly closely with that of unskilled occupations generally.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10851
54
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
As far as the worker’s welfare is concerned, the wage rate is not so
important as the earnings, and these are difficult to compute, since
overtime, piecework, short time, and unemployment must all be
considered. Reasons are given for thinking that while both unem
ployment and loss of earnings through absence due to illness have
probably increased slightly since Booth’s time, their effects are more
than offset by the benefits resulting from health and unemployment
insurance. Making all necessary allowances, the conclusion is reached
that the real average weekly earnings of male workers in London
have risen about one-third since the first survey was made. If it
could be assumed that this increase is equally shared throughout all
classes and by all individuals very satisfactory conclusions could be
reached.
For an increase of one-third in the real earnings of every worker would suffice
to lift the whole of Charles Booth’s classes C and D above the so-called poverty
line, together with an appreciable proportion of those more deeply sunk in pov
erty, who wrere included in his class B. The effect of such a transfer would be to
reduce Charles Booth’s proportion of poverty from over 30 per cent to less than
8 per cent at the present time.
Warning is given, however, that such a conclusion can not be drawn
from the data so far studied, since it is entirely possible that there
might have been a concurrent increase at both extremes, the increase
of poverty being more than offset in the general average by the
growth of numbers and earnings of the well-to-do. Nevertheless the
fact that the rate of wages of the unskilled has risen more rapidly
than that of skilled workmen suggests that the percentage of poverty
must have decreased, and in addition, “ the real privation, suffering,
and apprehension endured by those still living in poverty have been
largely reduced by the operation of various forms of public social
services.”
Tests of Well-Being
V a r io u s factors apart from real wages have a bearing upon the
question of the general level of well-being in a given population. One
is the number and proportion of those who are in any marked degree
subnormal. The inmates of common lodging houses and casual
wards and homeless persons obviously fall below the normal standard
of family life, and in this respect there has been a marked improvement
since Charles Booth’s time. The number of inmates of common
lodging houses has been halved within the last 40 years, and all
available data as to vagrants and homeless poor suggest that this
subnormal element of the London population is much smaller than
when the first survey was made.
Concerning cases of mental deficiency, the data secured are unsatis
factory, but do not appear “ to justify the belief that during the past
generation there has been any increase in the incidence of new cases
of mental deficiency in London as distinguished from the effects of
longer survival.” Statistics as to poor relief are equally unsatis
factory as a measure of the changes which have taken place, because
of the extent to which the number receiving relief at any time depends
on the public attitude toward such help. At the time of the first
survey there was a strong attempt at “ deterrence,” and as a conse
quence, outdoor poor relief was limited as strictly as possible to the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1086]
IN D U S T R IA L AND LA BO R C O N D IT IO N S
55
sick and aged, help to the able-bodied being made difficult to secure
and carrying with it a marked stigma. For some time past the ten
dency has been markedly in the other direction, with the result that a
larger number of persons (including many whose economic conditions
are not subnormal) are now willing to avail themselves of public
assistance.
The fact tha,t poor relief has been made less repellent and unpopular, together
with the vast increase of the social services, has one immediate consequence for
the London survey, viz, that the life of members of Charles Booth’s Class B and
of many members also of Class CD has been profoundly altered since he de
scribed it 40 years ago. Quite apart from any decrease in the number of those
living below the "poverty line,” the most dreaded features of that life have been
largely removed. We may still describe these classes as "poor” and "very poor,”
but we no longer have to think of them, as Charles Booth regarded them, as
hanging on the brink of a gulf of destitution.
In the matter of crime, results are more definite. Between 1893
and 1928, crimes of violence decreased from 94 to 61 per million of
population, and crimes against property also decreased, though such
offenses as obtaining money by false pretenses and other frauds show
an increase.
Cases of drunkenness have dropped from 5,824 [per million of population]
to 3,814; "a large reduction but less than that for the whole country.” This
decrease is of course attributable in large measure to the restrictions on drinking
through high taxation and limited hours. There are very many fewer offenses
connected with destitution, e. g. cases of begging and "sleeping ou t” (under the
vagrancy acts) have shrunk from 522 in 1893 to 223 in 1927. * * * The sta
tistics of sexual crimes are inconclusive, but on the whole Sir Edward Troupe
infers that "the standard of sexual morality is lower.”
It will be seen that while the data as yet available concerning the
subnormal, the criminal, and the economically insufficient classes do
not afford an adequate basis for final conclusions, they are sufficient
to suggest strongly that there has been an improvement in the general
situation since the time of the Booth survey.
Housing and Transportation
T h e s u rv e y n e x t ta k e s u p th e q u e s tio n o f h o w th e p h y s ic a l a n d
c u ltu ra l e n v iro n m e n t o f th e a v e ra g e w o rk e r h a s c h a n g e d a n d h o w fa r
h e i s a b l e w i t h h i s i n c r e a s e d e a r n i n g s t o o b t a i n a f u l l e r a n d h i g h e r l if e .
Housing is one of the most important environmental influences,
and in respect to the problem of overcrowding, developments have
been unsatisfactory. The pre-war decline in the building trades had
increased overcrowding, and the effort since the close of the war to
increase building by public subsidies has not been conspicuously
successful. Exhaustive data are brought forward in regard to this
question.
The conclusion to be drawn from a study of all these statistics is that while
housing conditions in London, as measured by the degree of overcrowding, were
not quite so bad in the year 1921 as at the time of the Booth survey, the rate of
improvement had been far from satisfactory, and that such upward movement
as was in progress in the earlier years had very appreciably slowed down since
the arrest of building activity in the earlier years of the present century, followed
and aggravated by the almost total suspension of house building during the war.
In the outskirts of London, where housing conditions are still much less con
gested than near the center, the evils of overcrowding actually increased in the
decade 1911-1921.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1087]
56
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
In the meantime, however, transport facilities in Greater London
have increased strikingly, and the habit of using them has grown in
equal degree, a fact which has had a decided influence upon the dis
tribution of population, its recreational habits, and the chance of its
escape from the increasing pressure of congestion in the central areas.
Health
I n s p i t e of overcrowding and its attendant evils, the vital statistics
of London testify to a remarkable improvement in the health of its
population. The outstanding fact is that the death rate has declined
from 20 per 1,000 in_ 1890-1894 to 12 per 1,000 in 1924-1928, or if
the necessary correction be made for the abnormal age and sex dis
tribution of the population in the later period, to about 13 per 1,000,
a fall of nearly 40 per cent. This fall is part of a movement extending
over a much longer period. From about 1841 onward a series of
health campaigns produced a marked improvement in the health of
the London population, but for a long time the infant mortality rate
remained almost stationary, and it is only within the last 25 years
that it has shown a striking improvement. A very important factor
in this result was the education act of 1870, and its influence was in
creased largely in later years by various forms of social work carried
on under the child welfare schemes, the medical inspection of school
children, and the children’s act.
During the past half century the population of London has gradually been
transformed into an educated population.
“ A reading and discriminating public has been substituted for an illiterate
and ignorant public, and though intelligence may not have kept pace with knowl
edge, a public opinion has grown up which now supports instead of thwarting
the efforts of the sanitary reformer. The progress of public health has benefited
immeasurably both from the direct and from the indirect effects of the London
education service. A single example is afforded by the striking fall of infant
mortality, and by the saving of child life, which came about as soon as a genera
tion which had passed through the primary schools had become parents of a
new generation.”
Education
T h e transformation of an illiterate into an educated population
has many effects besides the change in attitude toward health matters,
and the survey devotes some space to a consideration of the changes
in the educational opportunities of the London workers. In 1851
there were about 190,000 children, or less than one-half of the children
of elementary school age, in some sort of school. The education act
of 1870 began to operate in 1871, and by the time of the Booth survey
the percentage of those between 5 and 14, the compulsory attendance
ages, in efficient schools had risen to nearly 92, and at present it is
fairly constant at between 98 and 99 per cent. It is estimated that
at the present time approximately 95 per cent of the parents of London
working-class children have passed through efficient schools and
have at least an elementary education. Meanwhile there have been
other changes of hardly less importance.
For example, there has been a marked increase in regularity of attendance,
together with a lengthening of the period of compulsion, the net result being a
gradual lengthening of the effective duration of elementary school life. Con
currently there has been a steady improvement in the standard of the education
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ri088 ]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
57
given in the schools, of which a very significant index is the great increase of the
teaching force in proportion to the number of pupils.
Equally important has been the increase in the provision for second
ary school education for working-class children. At the time of the
Booth survey less than 1,000 children from elementary schools held
scholarships in secondary schools. “At present the total is at least
eight times as great, and no less than half the pupils of London
secondary schools must have passed through elementary schools.”
Amenities and Social Services
C h ie f among the amenities now provided for the public are parks
and open spaces, with band concerts, playgrounds for the children,
playing fields for the youths, swimming pools, cycle tracks, and the
like. Along with these have come numerous other provisions for
recreation and healthful development such as in 1891 were scarcely
thought of as possible.
The growth of the social services, however, has had a much more
important influence upon the lives of the workers. These have
practically all been provided since the days of Charles Booth, and
during this period there has been a marked change in the attitude
toward public assistance.
A mere list of these public benefits is impressive. They include old-age
pensions, national health insurance, unemployment insurance, war pensions,
widows’ and orphans’ pensions, maternity and child welfare services, public
health services such as those for tuberculosis and venereal disease, acts for the
State assistance of the blind, and various free provisions associated with education,
and we are coming more and more to realize that these rapid developments
represent a fundamental change in the relation between the State and the indi
vidual. Individual lives are now controlled and cultivated under the direct
intervention of a more elaborately organized community, and the poor law,
instead of standing by itself as something essentially alien from the other factors
of a citizen’s life, is coming to be regarded as only one among similar collective
activities.
To some of these services, it must be remembered, the beneficiaries
contribute directly, but to a large extent their cost is borne by the
public generally.
Summary
T h e editors of the present volume are extremely careful not to
present definite conclusions, and to point out that much study must
be given to the data assembled before it will be possible to evaluate
the changes which have taken place in 40 years. The reader, however,
can hardly avoid the impression that in most respects there has been
an advance since the days of Charles Booth. The real value of wages
has increased, families are smaller so that a larger proportion of the
earnings is available for other purposes than bare subsistence, health
has improved, serious crimes against person and property have
decreased, opportunities for education and recreation have improved,
and, though there are whole areas of poverty, there is less actual
destitution. Moreover, the growth of the social services has thrown
a safeguard around the worker and lessened appreciably the dread of
utter shipwreck which forms one of the most terrifying aspects of
poverty.
52839°—31
5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1089]
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W
58
Slavery and Forced Labor in Liberia
HE following is a resume of the findings, suggestions, and
recommendations of the Report of the International Commission
of Inquiry into the Existence of Slavery and I orced Labor in the
Republic of Liberia, presented in September, 1930.1 The commission
was appointed in accordance with a proposal by the Liberian Govern
ment to the president of the Council of the League of Nations. _ I he
members of the investigating body were Dr. Cuthbert Christie, of
the League of Nations, chairman; Dr. Charles Spurgeon Johnson,
representing the United States Government; and Hon. Arthur
Barclay, representing the Government of Liberia.
T
Findings of the Commission
T
he
c o m m i s s i o n ’s f i n d i n g s a r e g i v e n i n b r i e f b e l o w :
(a) Although classic slavery as visualized witly slave markets and
slave dealers is no longer in existence as such in the Republic of
Liberia, slavery as described in the 1926 antislavery convention does
exist in that Republic, inasmuch as inter and intra tribal domestic
slavery exists. “Pawning” 2 is also recognized in the Republics
social economy.
(,b) The Government discourages domestic slavery to the extent
that a slave appealing to the courts for freedom may be released on a
writ of habeas corpus or upon direct proceedings against his master
or owner. Evidence presented to the commission disclosed that in
certain cases domestic slaves have been freed upon proof of illtreatment.
. . . . . . .
(c) There has been no evidence that the Republic’s leading citizens
participate in domestic slavery. There is, however, evidence that
some Americo-Liberians have taken native pawns and in some cases
have taken woman pawns and used them to attract male workers to
their land.
(d) Forced labor has been used in Liberia mainly for the con
struction of motor roads, for building military barracks, civil com
pounds, etc., and for porterage. Such labor has been recruited in a
wasteful manner and often its use has been accompanied with sys
temic intimidation and ill-treatment by officials of the Government,
messengers, and soldiers of the frontier force. Labor secured for
public purposes by district commissioners and county superintendents
has in many cases been taken for private use on the plantations and
farms of high officials of the Government and private citizens. None
of these workers has been paid, although there may be paid laborers
on the plantations. On the other hand, in Maryland (Liberia) some
of the workers have been compelled to pay large amounts to the owners
of plantations for release from a term of unpaid and unfed labor.
(e)
A large percentage of the contract laborers shipped from the
southern counties of the Republic to Fernando Poo and Irench
Gabun have been recruited under conditions closely akin to slave
1 U nited States. D epartm ent of State. R eport of th e International Commission of In q u iry into the
Existence of Slavery and Forced L abor in th e R epublic of Liberia. W ashington, 1931.
2 A n old native custom w hich is sub stan tially an arrangem ent b y w hich for a m oney return a Human
being, ordinarily a child relative, is placed in servitude indefinitely w ithout pay or privilege. A leopard s
tooth is given for a free-born paw n and a m at or piece of m etal for a slave paw n.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1090]
IN D U S T R IA L AND LA B O R C O N D IT IO N S
59
raiding and slave trading and often by the misrepresentation of
destination.
(/) Under the authorization of high officials of the Government,
labor has been impressed for private purposes on private plantations.
“ There is no evidence that the Firestone Plantations Co. consciously
employs any but voluntary labor on its leased rubber plantations/’
Such a statement could not have been made, however, when recruiting
was subject to Government regulations over which the company had
slight control. All the laborers of the company are at liberty to
terminate their employment when they wish to do so.
(g) The vice president and other high officials of the Government
of Liberia, also county superintendents and district commissioners,
have sanctioned the compulsory recruitment of laborers for the
construction of roads, for shipment out of the country and other
purposes, with the assistance of the Republic’s frontier force. These
officials, superintendents, and commissioners have condoned this use
of force to compel laborers to work on road construction, to intimidate
villagers, to humiliate and degrade chiefs, to imprison the inhabitants,
and to convoy gangs of captured natives to the coast and to guard
them there up to time of their shipment.
Suggestions and Recommendations
. T he following is a summary of the suggestions and recommenda
tions of the commission :
The policy of' the open door should be adopted.—In the judgment
of the commission, the “ closed door” policy which the Government
of Liberia seems to have favored for a long period is at the bottom of
the major difficulties which beset the country.
T h e e n v ia b le s ta g e of fin a n c ia l in d e p e n d e n c e a t w h ic h som e of th e tro p ic a l
A fric a n d e p e n d e n c ie s a n d colonies h a v e a rriv e d h a s o n ly b e e n re a c h e d b y s tre n u
o u s a n d e v e n tfu l c o m m u n a l e ffo rt o n th e p a r t of a d m in is tra tio n a n d p eo p le, a n d
b y fu ll recognition^ of th e n o w o b v io u s f a c t t h a t tr o p ic a l A fric a c a n n e v e r b e
d e v e lo p e d , its a g ric u ltu ra l, m in e ra l, a n d o th e r so u rc e s u tiliz e d , n o r su rp lu s
G o v e rn m e n t fu n d s b e h o p e d fo r, w ith o u t th e w illin g c o o p e ra tio n a n d a s s is ta n c e
of th e in d ig e n o u s p o p u la tio n . I t is n o w b e c o m in g e v e ry w h e re re c o g n iz e d b y
tro p ic a l A fric a n a d m in is tra to rs t h a t th e firs t c o n s id e ra tio n s to w a rd fin a n c ia l
c o m p e te n c e m u s t in c lu d e p ro v isio n fo r th e c iv iliz a tio n , e d u c a tio n , a n d th e
g a in in g of th e confidence of th e n a tiv e , n o t fo r h is s u b ju g a tio n a n d e x p lo ita tio n .
Education should be extended to all alike.—Schools are declared by
the commission to be of primary importance not only for teaching
reading and writing, but for improving the sociological conditions of
the natives. The Republic should have specialist instructors to teach
the natives market values and the utilization of the raw materials
and innumerable economic products of the country. “A policy of
suppression and seclusion for fear of competition, i. e., the closed door,
can only lead to a condition of delayed development, bankruptcy,
and final failure.”
The barrier between the civilized and the uncivilized should be broken
down.—In Liberia the man who has attended school is considered a
“ civilized” person, in distinction to the native or peasant without
book learning.^ The “ civilized m an” in the Republic is encouraged
to live at or in the neighborhood of a Government station or in
“ civilized” quarters assigned him by the Government, so that he
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10911
60
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W
may have less opportunity to help or counsel the chiefs and native
peasants or to influence them against the administration. The com
mission believes that “ the sooner class distinction between civilized
and uncivilized is broken and the indigenous native allowed an equal
status with the coast dweller, the better for all concerned.”
Native 'policy should be radically reconstructed and the Department
of the Interior reorganized.—In nearly all other tropical African admin
istrations, the commission states, first consideration has been given
to the native hinterland community of tribes. In Liberia, however,
such tribes have been grossly exploited and subjugated. Unless a
thorough and prompt reorganization of the Interior Department is
undertaken, there is bound to be a rude awakening.
N o t o n ly h a v e th e n a tiv e v illa g e classes b e e n in tim id a te d a n d te rro riz e d b y a
d is p la y of force, c ru e lty , a n d su p p re ssio n , b u t th e chiefs th e m se lv e s, m e n w hom
th e p e o p le n o t so m a n y y e a rs ag o lo o k e d u p to , w e re g la d to serv e, a n d re lie d
u p o n fo r p ro te c tio n , h a rs h th o u g h i t so m e tim e s w a s; m e n w h o n e v e r m o v e d
w ith o u t a r e tin u e a n d b a rb a r ic d is p la y of p o m p h a v e b e e n so s y s te m a tic a lly
h u m ilia te d , d e g ra d e d , a n d ro b b e d of th e ir p o w e r t h a t n o w th e y a re m e re gob e tw e e n s, p a id b y th e G o v e rn m e n t to coerce a n d ro b th e p eo p le. T h e w o rd s
“ d e v e lo p m e n t,” “ social p ro g r e s s ” a re u n k n o w n ; s e rv itu d e a n d sla v e d o m h a v e
ta k e n th e ir p lace .
The present district commissioners should be removed.—The five dis
trict commissioners are reported dishonest, corrupt, and skillful only
in devising means to intimidate the natives in order to extort money
from them and in creating opportunities for extracting more money.
It is suggested that higher-grade officials be made district commis
sioners or district administrators.
The political division of the country should be rearranged.—The
commission also suggests that each of the five districts be incorporated
with its corresponding neighboring county, thus eliminating the
maritime strip with its implicit separation from the natives of the
interior. In this way each county would extend as a Province from
the coast to the boundaries of the hinterland. The administration of
these counties would be incorporated with that of the senior commis
sioners who would become provincial commissioners responsible only
to the President. “ This step would lead to much-needed economy
in many directions and tend, as no other arrangements could, to
assist the development of the Republic’s rich interior by encouraging
intercommunication and trade and by helping to bring about a
better understanding between the coastal and interior populations.”
New commissioners might be either European or American.—It
would be advisable to select the senior commissioners and also their
assistants from candidates who have successfully passed some kind
of civil service examination which might be held either in America
or Europe.
The humiliation of chiefs should be discontinued and their tribal
authority reestablished.—The very first steps taken by American or
European commissioners after their installation should be the rein
statement of the paramount chiefs who have been subjected to such
systematic degradation—or at least the most deserving of them—to
their former positions of local power and authority over town chiefs
and people. The chiefs should be taught principles of progressive
town and country administration. Bad customs should be dis
couraged and good practices fostered.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1092]
IN D U S T R IA L AND L A B O R C O N D IT IO N S
61
Pawning and domestic slavery should be made illegal.—So long as
domestic slavery and pawning are recognized institutions in Liberia
so long will the stigmu of slavery be upon the country. The commis
sion urges that immediate steps be taken to make these two practices
illegal as a preliminary to extirpating them.
Shipments of laborers to Fernando Poo should cease.—The commission
received reliable information that labor conditions in Fernando Poo
had improved. The members, however, agree that under existing
circumstances in the hinterland of Liberia, particularly in the absence,
aS
^ink, of any form of competent government in that localitv
and the resultant lack of assurance that the abuse of both official and
physical power with reference to recruitment will not occur, the organ
ized shipment of workers to Fernando Poo and other places should
immediately be stopped.
Road program should be abridged—In view of the needlessness of
much of the road construction already done and the general protest
against further procedure with the work in Maryland (Liberia)
the ambitious road scheme of the Department of Public Works should
be cut down, if not entirely abandoned, except in Montserrado where
it. can be more efficiently supervised, until the natives recuperate from
the effects of the abuses attending the operation of such scheme and
until the Department of the Interior has been to some extent reorgan
ized.
&
The frontier-force soldiers should be much more strictly controlled and
reconsideration given to their duties.—A large part of the ill-treatment
of the people of the interior, the discontinuance of native cultivation,
the exodus of the inhabitants and the prevailing discontent have, in
the judgment of the commission, resulted from the brigandage of the
soldiers of the frontier force. These soldiers, according to the reports
from the natives, are frequently unaccompanied by their officers and
when they are so accompanied the officers apparently encourage a
general policy of intimidation. The commission holds that this
military force should not on any account employ native compulsory
labor for building or other work which in other places is ordinarily
done by the soldiers themselves.
. American immigration should be encouraged—Instead of hindering
immigration from the United States, the highest types of educated
Negroes should be induced or influenced to come to the Republic.
^ 6
c^ n n ° t t ° ° stro n g ly ex p re ss its c o n v ic tio n t h a t , a s re g a rd s
m o s t officials, m e re a d v a n c e to g re a te r efficiency a n d h o n e s tv w ill n o t b e sufficient,
t h e to le ra n c e g iv e n to g ro ss d is h o n e s ty in office, th e g e n e ra l ig n o ra n c e of th e in t e r
io r a n d it s p e o p le ; th e la c k of m e a n s o f e d u c a tio n in th e P ro v in c e s a n d it s to t a l
a b s e n c e m th e h in te rla n d , e x c e p t w ere a few m issio n a rie s a re in s ta lle d ; th e p o w e r
fu l in flu e n c e o f fa m ily c o n n e c tio n s b e tw e e n th e e x e c u tiv e officers o f th e G o v e rn
m e n t, few o f w h o m h a v e e v e r le f t th e c o u n tr y ; a n d th e g e n e ra l in s u la rity o f o u t
lo o k , re n d e r fu tile a n y h o p e o f im p ro v e m e n t in th e p re s e n t c o n d itio n s w ith o u t
th e in tro d u c tio n of o u ts id e sp e c ia list a s s ista n c e , th e re d u c tio n o f su p e rflu o u s
offices, a n d o th e r d ra s tic in te r n a l p ro v isio n s m a d e .
Steps Taken After Presentation of Report
A c c o r d in g to Industrial and Labor Information of March 16, 1931
(p. 3 2 4 ), the Liberian Government, within a month after the receipt
ol the report summarized above, announced that it had taken measures
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[10931
62
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W
by “ decree and proclamation to free all domestic slaves, abolish the
‘pawn ’ system, and prohibit the recruiting of contract labor for foreign
employment.’'
The following acts have been adopted by the Liberian Legislature:3
R e c r u itin g o f c o n tr a c t la b o r .— B y a n a c t d a te d D e c e m b e r 15, 1930, th e re c ru itin g
of c o n tr a c t la b o r fo r se rv ic e b e y o n d th e fro n tie rs o f th e R e p u b lic is m a d e illegal,
e x c e p t in th e case of s te v e d o re s 'a n d sh ip la b o re rs o n m e r c h a n t vessels.
B reach es
o f th e a c t a r e p u n is h a b le b y fines of a m a x im u m su m of $2,000 o r o n e y e a r ’s
im p riso n m e n t.
P a w n i n g .— A n a c t d a te d D e c e m b e r 19, 1930, p ro h ib its th e ta k in g , h o ld in g ,
o r g iv in g in p a w n o f a n y p e rs o n , a n d p re s c rib e s t h e re le a se o f a ll p e rs o n s h eld
in p a w n . T h e ta k in g , h o ld in g , o r g iv in g in p a w n o f a n y p e rs o n is m a d e a fe lo n y
e n ta ilin g a m a x im u m o f tw o y e a rs ’ im p ris o n m e n t a n d th e fo r fe itu re o f c iv il rig h ts .
O th e r m e a s u r e s .— F o r t h e r e o rg a n iz a tio n of th e a d m in is tra tio n o f th e h in te rla n d ,
a n a c t d a te d D e c e m b e r 15 a u th o riz e s th e P re s id e n t to e n g a g e a s co m m issio n ers
tw o p e rs o n s o f A m e ric a n o r E u ro p e a n n a tio n a lity a n d e x p e rie n c e o f tr o p ic a l t e r r i
to rie s . T h e c o m m issio n e rs a r e w ith in six m o n th s o f a p p o in tm e n t to s u b m it
re c o m m e n d a tio n s o n t h e s te p s th e y c o n sid e r n e c e ss a ry fo r th e w e lfa re of th e p o p u
la tio n , th e i r p ro g re ss in c iv iliz a tio n , a n d th e i r so c ia l a n d e co n o m ic b e tte rm e n t.
P e n d in g a c tio n b y th e le g is la tu re o n a n y su c h re c o m m e n d a tio n s , th e P re s id e n t is
a u th o r iz e d to g iv e effect to th e m , if th e y a re n o t in co n flic t w ith th e c o n s titu tio n
o f th e R e p u b lic .
A c ts of D e c e m b e r 18 a n d 19, re s p e c tiv e ly , p e rm it u n r e s tric te d tr a d e in th e h in te r
la n d a n d p ro v id e fo r th e c re a tio n of a p u b lic h e a lth a n d s a n ita tio n serv ice.
Toward the close of January, 1931, the Council of the League of
Nations considered the report under review and concluded to create a
small committee from its own members to aid the Government of
Liberia to put into effect the recommendations of the International
Commission of Inquiry. At the same time indorsement was given by
the council to a suggestion that the Liberian Government’s action to
carry out such recommendations take the form of the ratification of
the forced-labor convention adopted last year by the International
Labor Conference. Since this suggestion was made the President and
Legislature of Liberia have ratified the convention.4
s International Labor Office. In d u strial and Labor Inform ation, Geneva, M ar. 23, 1931, pp. 307, 308.
Idem , M ar. 16, 1931, p. 324.
4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1094]
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY
A m erican S tan d ard s S a fety Codes
A RECENT meeting of the standards council of the American
Standards Association a statement of basic principles was
ATadopted.
This was later approved by the board of directors.
l
The American Standards Association is a federation of more than
40 national technical societies, trade associations, and governmental
bodies. The last group includes the Department of Labor, which
designates representatives of labor on the sectional committees for
drafting or revising of industrial safety codes and publishes approved
codes as Government documents. The principal purpose of the asso
ciation is to bring together manufacturers, distributors, consumers,
technical specialists, and others directly concerned with a particular
industrial safety code or other standardization project, so as to prepare
a national standard for it. Work in connection with projects is
carried on by a technical staff. The final approval of the standards
is vested in the standards council, composed of representatives of
the member bodies. Up to 1930 a total of 166 “American Stand
ards” had been approved and projects for 171 others were under
consideration.
The basic principles, as adopted, follow:
T h e A. S. A. d oes n o t a t t e m p t to m a k e decisio n s of in d u s tria l p o licy th ro u g h its
ow n a d m in is tra tiv e a g en cies (b o a rd of d ire c to rs, s ta n d a r d s council, e tc .). I t p ro
v id e s th e m a c h in e ry (s e c tio n a l c o m m itte e s , co n feren ces, e tc .) th r o u g h w h ic h th e
in d u s trie s th e m se lv e s a rr iv e a t su c h decisio n s. I n e v e ry case th e fa c ts re g a rd in g
su c h d ecisions, a n d th e p ro c e d u re fo llo w ed in re a c h in g th e m , is m a d e cle a rly
a v a ila b le to a ll co n cern ed .
I t follow s a s a c o ro lla ry t h a t th e A. S. A. ta k e s u p new p ro je c ts o n ly u p o n
re q u e s t a n d o n ly w h e n s u c h a re q u e s t h a s su fficien t in d u s tria l s u p p o r t to w a r
r a n t th e u n d e rta k in g of th e p ro je c t, th e fa c ts , a g a in , b e in g a v a ila b le to all
c o n cern ed .
T h e c o n v e rse c o ro lla ry follow s in p recisely th e sa m e w a y , viz, t h a t th e A. S. A.
itse lf d oes o n a b a sis of e n g in e e rin g o r eco n o m ic c o n sid e ra tio n s, n o t m a k e specific
n e g a tiv e d ecisio n s, fo r ex a m p le , e ith e r a g a in s t in itia tin g a p ro je c t o r fo r sto p p in g
a p ro je c t a lr e a d y s ta r te d . I n su c h cases th e re s p o n s ib ility b efo re th e p u b lic lies
w ith th e g ro u p o r g ro u p s, th r o u g h w hose a c tio n s su c h d e cisio n s a re re a c h e d .
_T h e fu n c tio n s o f th e b o a rd a n d th e s ta n d a r d s c o u n c il in a ll su c h m a tte r s a re
d is tin c tly ju d ic ia l o n es. T h e se fu n c tio n s h a v e to b e so s c ru p u lo u sly g u a rd e d a n d
th e re c o rd m a d e so c le a r a n d p re c ise t h a t th e r e c a n b e n o g ro u n d s fo r su sp icio n
t h a t th e ju d ic ia l p ro cesses of th e A. S. A. a re b e in g d iv e r te d to selfish e n d s b y a n y
g ro u p o r t h a t th e y a re b e in g u se d a s a sc re e n b y a n y p a r t y to a c o n tro v e rsy . I n
fa c t, m u c h of A. S. A. p ro c e d u re is so c le a rly of a ju d ic ia l n a tu r e t h a t i t h a s to be
c a rrie d o u t w ith a ll of th e sc ru p u lo u s c a re w h ic h is ex ercised in th e b e s t o f o u r
c o u rts. I t is im p o r t a n t t h a t th e v a rio u s g ro u p s a n d in d iv id u a ls h a v in g to do
w ith t h e w o rk of th e s ta n d a rd s co u n c il a n d of th e b o a rd c le a rly u n d e rs ta n d
th is fa c t.
A m p le m a c h in e ry in th e fo rm of se c tio n a l c o m m itte e s , c o n feren ces, sp e c ia l co m
m itte e s , e tc ., a r e p ro v id e d fo r t h e re c o n c ilia tio n of d iv e r g e n t view s o n te c h n ic a l
m a tte r s a n d fo r t h e re s o lu tio n of te c h n ic a l c o n tro v e rsie s w h e n th e y a rise . C o o p
e ra tin g b o d ie s a n d th e ir re p r e s e n ta tiv e s a re u n d e r o b lig a tio n to u se th is m a c h in e ry
fo r su c h q u e stio n s, in s te a d of a tte m p tin g in a n y m a n n e r to in tro d u c e th e m in to
th e ju d ic ia l p ro cesses of th e A. S. A.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1095]
63
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
64
Furthermore, the functions of the A. S. A. are limited to matters having to do
with standardization. Hence, it may not be used in efforts to adjust extraneous
questions arising between organizations. For example, the procedure provides
that matters of representation are to be determined simply upon the principle
that “ groups having a substantial interest” in a standard “ have an inherent
right to representation on the body dealing with the subject matter of the
standard.”
These principles require thoroughgoing responsibility on the part of cooperating
bodies and their representatives—responsibility in three senses, viz:
(а ) Responsibility in representation.
(Unfortunately many men do not fully
understand the meaning of representation or of the responsibilities which it
entails.) It is the duty of a representative (1) to keep sufficiently in touch with
his organization so that he can correctly interpret its attitude in the development
of the work and can participate in decisions in committees; (2) to keep his organ
ization informed of developments; (3) to act as a leader in the formulation of the
policies of his organization in regard to the matters with which he is dealing; and
(4) to refer back to his organization questions upon which he feels unauthorized
to speak for it.
.
.
(б) Responsibility in the sense of carrying out with administrative orderliness,
competence, and with reasonable promptness, work for which responsibility has
been assumed.
(c) Responsibility before the world for the consequences of the acts of its
authorized committees and representatives, scrupulous care being taken that no
effort shall be made to shift this responsibility to the A. S. A.
F a ta l In d u stria l A c cid e n ts in C anada, 1929 and 1930
HE following statistics on fatal industrial accidents in Canada in
the calendar years 1929 and 1930 are taken from the Canadian
T
Labor Gazette of March, 1931:
F A T A L IN D U S T R IA L A C C ID E N T S IN C A N A D A , 1929 A N D 19301
N um ber of
fatalities
N um ber of
fatalities
In dustry
In d u stry
1929 2
A griculture-------------------------------Logging------------------------------------Fishing and tra p p in g .-----------------M ining, nonferrous smelting, and
q u arry in g -------------------------------M anufacturing__________________
C onstruction........................................
1929 2
1930
156
235
54
121
168
35
234
250
298
257
189
312
Electric light and pow er-. - - --Transportation and public utilities. T r a d e .____ __________________ ..
Finance
_ _ _
Service------ ---------------- ---------------T o tal. . .
______ _______
1930
40
326
58
1
114
40
316
54
1,766
1,607
115
1 T h e fatalities include accidents to fishermen and seamen outside C anadian w aters and such accidents
are assigned to th e Province in w hich various ships are registered, b u t exclude accidents to Canadian fisher
m en and seamen on boats registered in another country.
2 Revised figures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1096]
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
R ecen t W ork m en ’s C o m p en sa tio n R eports
M in n eso ta
to the fifth biennial report of the Industrial ComLmission of Minnesota, covering the 2-year period ending June
ACCORDING
30, 1930, industrial accidents are constantly increasing in the State
and passed the 50,000 mark during each of these years. A total of
101,853 accidental injuries was reported to the commission for the
two years, an increase of 10,179 over the number reported for the
preceding biennium.
This is practically in line with other increases experienced during
the 10-year period since the commission was created, as shown by
Table 1, which presents a comparison, by years, of the number of
compensable, noncompensable, total, and fatal accidents reported
in that time. The figures for the first eight years are based upon
the first reports of accidents, while those for 1929 and 1930 are based
upon the latest progressive reports, which often change the status
of cases from noncompensable to compensable, and from nonfatal
to fatal. This can be seen by the records for the last two years,
which gave 312 fatal accidents in the first reports, but as 108 other
injured employees subsequently died from the effects of their injuries
a total of 422 fatal cases was presented by the latest reports.
T able
1. — N U M B E R
Y ear ending
June 30—
1921__________
1922__________
1923_________
1924__________
1925
1926__________
OF IN D U S T R IA L A C C ID E N T S R E P O R T E D , 1920-21 TO 1929-30
Com Noiicompensable pensable
11,908
10,428
12,469
12, 839
13, 330
14,155
22, 673
21,143
25,182
25, 878
25,948
31,163
T otal
34,581
31,571
37,651
38, 717
39,278
45,318
F a ta l1
143
197
243
236
157
150
Y ear ending
June 30—
1927
1928
1929
1930
Com Noncom
pensable pensable T otal
F a ta l1
13,613
14,400
17,110
16,019
32,612
31,049
33,104
35,620
46,225
45,449
50,214
51,639
114
98
213
209
136,271
284,372
420,643
1,760
1 Included in compensable accidents.
The report states that the increase in accidents may be partly
accounted for by the requirement of the commission that all lost
time accidents be reported, as some employers and insurers formerly
reported only the compensable accidents, i. e., those involving dis
ability of more than one week. The main reason for the increase,
however, is thought to be that the industrial development of the
State, with the consequent installation of more machinery, has
increased the hazards of employment. It is also suggested that the
business depression .may have piayed a part, through the employment
of cheaper help, which presumably displaced older, more experienced,
and more careful employees.
The 99,528 compensation cases closed during the two fiscal years
and the amounts paid for compensation and medical costs in these
cases, distributed according to extent of disability, are shown in Table 2.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11097]
65
66
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able
2 —IN D U S T R IA L A C C ID E N T S , A N D C O M P E N S A T IO N A N D M E D IC A L COSTS,
JU L Y 1, 1928, TO JU N E 30, 1930
N um ber of accidents
Compensa M edical
costs
tion paid
E xtent of disability
1929-30
1928-29
Com pensable cases:
F atal
_______ _ _
__
_____
___
__ __ ___
Perm anent to ta l
Perm anent p artial _ ___
_ _________
Tem porary total _____________ ________
T o tal______
...
--
-
------ - - -
Noncompensable cases, involving:
Tim e loss of 1 week or less___ _
_______ _
______ ___________
M edical expense only.
N o tim e loss or e x p e n se ___________ - ______
Total
C ontract
mp.rjipa.l
_______ _ _
T otal
173
2
1,649
15,412
143
7
1,172
12,087
316
9
2,821
27,499
$571,045
43,481
2,276, 304
2,042,046
$36,190
6, 760
421,413
1,000,126
17,236
13,409
30,645
4, 932,876
1,464,489
10,019
10,343
12,742.
9,284
8,662
17,833
19,303
19,005
30,575
79,624
159,818
33,104
35, 779
68,883
239,442
50,340
49,188
99, 528
,
(pstima.tp.rn
G rand to ta l______ ___ _ _
525,000
4, 932,876
2,228,931
West V irginia
T h e report of the West Virginia compensation commissioner for
the 4-year period ending June 30, 1930, shows assets for the State
compensation fund of $18,982,345.52 on June 30, 1930, and liabili
ties of $18,607,864.42, leaving a surplus of $374,481.10. The liabili
ties include a reserve of $17,577,589.02 for determined and estimated
outstanding claims.
During the year ending June 30, 1930, employers paying premiums
reported 219,961 employees, and self-insuring employers reported
18,005, making a total of 237,966 employees having the benefit of
the act.
N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S R E P O R T E D A N D B E N E F IT S PA ID IN W E S T V IR G IN IA ,
F IS C A L Y E A R S 1914 TO 1930
N um ber of accide nts reported b y —
Y ear ending June 30—
Em ployers pay
ing prem ium s
Self-insurers
F atal
N onfatal
1914
_
_ --1915
_____ ______ ___ ______
1916_________________________________
1917_________________________________
1918_________________________________
520
551
489
486
525
10,898
14; 963
19,132
22,146
23,032
13
19
16
1919_________________________________
1920_________________________________
1921_________________________________
1922_________________________________
1923_________________________________
1924_________________________________
487
427
471
434
490
713
18,153
23,993
22, 717
21,371
27, 726
29, 701
1925_________________________________
1926_________________________________
1927_________________________________
1928_________________________________
1929_________________________________
1930_________________________________
564
730
800
591
600
605
9,483
T o ta l__________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. ------------------
Fatal
T otal
num ber
of acci
dents
A m ount of
benefits paid
Nonfatal
467
740
806
11,418
15,514
20,101
23, 391
24, 379
$132,452.81
479, 526. 60
666,126.47
893,912. 54
1,023,812.96
19
17
11
9
11
16
718
874
751
554
543
964
19,377
25, 311
23,950
22, 368
28, 770
31, 394
1,160,875.29
1,410,974. 37
1,620,988.15
1,944,122.96
2,155,046. 88
2,841,143.65
29,956
34, 981
39, 352
37, 280
37, 611
38, 333
22
29
28
26
22
40
1,089
1,499
1, 593
2, 363
2,964
2,927
31, 631
37, 239
41, 773
40, 260
41,197
41,905
3,345,075. 20
3,947,115. 55
4,608,900. 76
4,838, 697.71
4,754, 578.35
4,722, 203.16
451, 345
298
18,852
479,978
40, 545, 553.41
[1098]
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
67
The State workmen’s compensation fund has been in operation
since October 1, 1913, and during that time a total of 479,978 acci
dents has been reported. A distribution of these accidents, by years
and by employer group, together with yearly distribution of amount
of benefits paid on claims, is shown in the table preceding, compiled
from tabulations in the report.
The benefits listed include medical and funeral benefits, as well as
compensation payments. An additional liability, estimated as of
June 30, 1930, at $17,577,589.02, brings the total cost of claims for
the 17-year period to $58,123,142.42. It is stated that the adminis
trative expense for the entire period averages only 4 per cent of the
earned premiums.
A ccid en ts and C o m p en sa tio n P a y m e n ts in E n glish In d u stry in
1929
HE Home Office of Great Britain has recently issued a report
dealing with statistics of accidents and compensation proceedings
for 1929, under the workmen’s compensation and the employers’
liability acts, which shows that in the seven great industrial groups
covered—shipping, factories, railways, docks, mines, quarries, and
construction work—a total of £6,569,918 ($31,972,506) was paid out
in compensation during the year. The following table gives for each
year from 1920 to 1929, inclusive, the average number of workers
employed throughout the year in the seven groups, with the total
number of compensated cases, and the division of these between fatal
and nonfatal cases.
T
N U M B E R O P E M P L O Y E E S A N D O P C O M P E N S A T IO N C A SES (F A T A L A N D N O N F A T A L )
IN S E V E N IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S
Year
1920_____________________________________
1921_____________________________________
1922_____________________________________
1923_____________________________________
1924_____________________________________
1925_____________________________________
1926_____________________________________
1927______________________________________
1928_____________________________________
1929_____________________________________
N um ber of
employees
8, 348,150
7, 315,866
7,205, 609
7,342, 311
7,512, 359
7,541, 014
7,001, 795
7,403, 222
7,433, 660
7,450,112
F atal cases
3,531
2, 385
2,489
2, 657
2,878
3,030
2, 345
2, 567
2, 735
2,819
N onfatal
cases
381,986
283, 361
390,423
477, 378
487,442
473,055
368, 563
455, 852
461,485
478, 602
Total cases
385, 517
285, 746
392,912
480,035
490, 320
476, 085
370,908
458,419
464, 220
481,421
This shows that while in 1929 the average number of workers, as
compared with 1920, had decreased by almost 900,000, and the number
of fatal cases by one-fifth, the number of nonfatal cases had increased
by one-fourth. The amount paid in compensation rose during the
decade from £5,978,009 ($29,091,981) to £6,569,918 ($31,972,506).
In 1929 the average amount in cases of death was £287 [$1,396.69]; in cases of
disablement the average amount (including cases settled by payment of a lump
sum) was £12 Is. [$58.64], The average amount paid in lump sums was £88 11s.
[$430.93], while the average amount paid in weekly payments (including weekly
payments made prior to settlement by a lump sum) was £ 8 9s. [$41.12],
The proportion of compensation paid in the seven industries in fatal cases was
12.3 per cent of the total amount paid for compensation. The percentages for
the different industries were as follows: Shipping, 29.4; factories, 10.0; docks,
11.5; mines, 11.0; quarries, 17.0; constructional work, 15.1; and railways, 27.2.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1099]
68
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The number of employees, the number of compensation cases, and
the amount paid in compensation are shown for each of the seven
industrial groups in the following table :
N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D N U M B E R AN D C O ST O F C O M P E N S A T IO N C A SES IN
1929, BY IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S
A m ount of compensa
tion paid
um ber of
N u m b er of N
employees compensa
tion cases
In d u stry group
Shipping
-- _____
Factories __
- - _ ____ _
Docks
_ __ _________ ___ - - -______- - -M ines
____
__
Quarries
- - - ___
-- -- -__
Construction work __
_ _ _
_
____
R ailw ays_______ ___
______
------ Total
-
- - _____ _
__ - -
-- --
English
currency
U nited
States
currency
206, 763
5, 531, 322
108,444
930, 780
79,430
111, 917
481,456
8,645
210, 009
12,991
214,141
7,000
8,369
20, 266
£267, 293
2,407, 346
288, 771
3, 049, 826
100,149
160, 946
295, 587
$1, 300, 781
11, 715, 349
1, 405, 304
14,841, 978
487, 375
783, 244
1,438, 474
7,450,112
481,421
6, 569,918
31,972, 506
These figures represent only the actual amount paid to the injured
workers or their dependents, and do not represent the total charge on
the industries. To compute the latter, it would be necessary to take
account of administrative expenses, the medical and legal costs of
the employers, insurance companies, and mutual indemnity associa
tions, with the amounts placed in reserve and the profits earned by
the insurance companies. If all these items were taken into account,
it is estimated that “ the total amount paid in the seven great indus
tries in 1929 in respect of workmen’s compensation can not have
fallen far short of £8,500,000 [$41,365,250].”
The following table shows for the five years ending with 1929 the
percentage of nonfatal terminated cases which had lasted for specified
periods :
D U R A T IO N O F C O M P E N S A T IO N IN CASES O F A C C ID E N T A N D D IS E A S E
Per cent of term inated cases which lasted—
Year
1925______________________________
1926______________________________
1927______________________________
1928______________________________
1929______________________________
U nder 4 weeks
Acci
dent
Disease
63. 83
60. 86
64.59
63. 71
64. 87
38. 92
32. 62
47. 02
43. 90
47. 61
4 and u n d er 13 13 and under 26
weeks
weeks
Acci Disease
dent
30. 99
32. 12
30.29
30.69
30.01
34.78
32.71
31. 56
34. 01
34. 89
Acci Disease
dent
3. 50
4.41
3. 23
3. 71
3.44
7.40
9. 45
4.88
7.02
5. 43
26 weeks and
over
A cci Disease
dent
1.68
2.61
1.89
1.89
1.68
18. 90
25. 22
16. 54
15. 07
12. 07
The proportion of accident cases in which compensation was con
tinued for more than 13 weeks is uniformly small, not once during the
five years reaching 8 per cent. Among the cases of disease, a far larger
proportion is found in the long-duration columns.
In regard to cases of industrial disease, the report shows that com
pensation wTas paid in 50 fatal cases to the amount of £11,520 ($56,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1100]
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
69
062), and in 18,611 disablement cases to the amount of £562,203
($2,735,961). The 50 fatal cases included 19 of lead poisoning, 6 of
anthrax, and 18 of epitheliomatous cancer and scrotal epithelioma.
As in previous years, the bulk of the cases occurred in the mining industry.
The bulk of the cases were due to miner’s nystagmus, beat hand, and beat knee.
Cases of miner’s nystagmus accounted for over 52 per cent of the total number of
cases; and cases of this disease together with beat hand, beat knee, beat elbow
and inflammation of the synovial lining of the wrist joint and tendon sheaths
numbered 16,327, or 87.5 per cent, of the total number. Of the remainder, 1,665,
or 8.9 per cent, were cases of dermatitis produced by dust or liquids; 280, or 1.5
per cent, were cases of lead poisoning; and 274, or 1.5 per cent, were cases of skin
or other ulceration or cancer. The remaining 115 cases, or 0.6 per cent, included
49 cases of various forms of industrial poisoning and 38 cases of anthrax.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1101]
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
A d d ition al C o m p en sa tio n H eld No Bar to
P h y sicia n for M alp ractice
A ction A gain st
N CALIFORNIA an allowance of additional compensation under
the California workmen’s compensation act in consequence of
permanent injuries is no bar to an action against the hospital and
physicians for malpractice, according to a recent decision of the
California District Court of Appeal for the Second District. (Smith v.
Golden State Hospital et al., 296 Pac. 127.)
According to the facts of the case, Lawrence W. Smith received
personal injuries resulting in disability during the course of his em
ployment. He instituted the proper proceedings under the Cali
fornia workmen’s compensation act and was allowed compensation
and medical treatment. Thereafter he filed an action against his
employers and the hospital and physicians to whom he had been re
ferred for medical treatment by the employers, praying damages for
alleged permanent injuries subsequently incurred as a result of mal
practice. Pending trial of this action, the industrial commission
allowed additional compensation in consequence of the permanent
injuries. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County dismissed the
suit and Smith appealed to the district court of appeal. On appeal
Smith named only the hospital and physicians as parties defendant
and the sole question for determination was the right of the employee
to maintain an action against the hospital and physicians for mal
practice, after allowance of compensatory relief from the employers.
In deciding this question the court cited section 21, article 20, of the
California Constitution, which authorized power to create and en
force a workmen’s compensation system covering injuries received by
workmen “ while in the course of their employment. ” The court then
pointed out that this section measured and limited the power of the
legislature in delegating authority to the industrial accident board.
The board had jurisdiction over only those cases between employer
and employee where the injury was incurred “ in the course of the
employment” ; and the rights of the employee against an independent
third party, where the injury did not occur within the course of the
employment, were not affected by the compensation act. In render
ing the opinion Judge Craig said:
I
That independent professions by the fact of business contact with the employer
should be absolved of responsibility for mistake, avoidable or unjustified neglect
resulting in secondary affliction, seems obnoxious to the purpose and spirit of
such a statute. To so hold might induce industry to encourage quackery, and
place a premium upon negligence, inefficiency, and wanton disregard of the pro
fessional obligations of medical departments of industry, toward the artisan.
Such is the view entertained by courts of last resort in other jurisdictions where
the subject has required specific attention.
The court quoted from the case of Ruth v. Witherspoon-Englar Co.
(98 Kans. 179, 157 Pac. 403), in part as follows:
A part of the loss occasioned by an accidental injury to a workman is cast upon
the employer, not as reparation for wrongdoing, but on the theory that it should
70
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1102 ]
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
71
be treated as a part of the ordinary expense of operation. So much of an employ
ee’s incapacity as is the direct result of unskillful medical treatment does not arise
“ out of and in the course of his employment” within the meaning of that phrase
as used in the statute. (Laws 1911, ch. 218, sec. 1.) For that part of his injury
his remedy is against the persons answerable therefor under the general law of
negligence, whether or not his employer be of the number.
The decision of the lower court was therefore reversed.
E m p loyee T em p orarily A b sen t from B u sin ess n o t Covered by
C o m p en sa tio n Act
HE first appeal case arising under the District of Columbia
workmen’s compensation law (act of May 17, 1928, 45 Stat. 600)
was recently decided by the Court of Appeals of the District of Colum
bia. (New Amsterdam Casualty Co. v. Hoage, Deputy United States
Employees’ Compensation Commissioner for the District of Columbia,
46 Fed. (2d) 837). The Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
by its action reversed a decree of the supreme court of the same juris
diction, which dismissed a petition of the insurance carrier enjoining
the enforcement of an award made by the deputy commissioner of
workmen’s compensation in the District of Columbia, to the widow of
a deceased employee.
The facts out of which this case arose are that on August 14, 1928,
James N. Bradley was employed by the Royal Glue Co., a corporation
engaged in business in the city of Washington, D. C. Bradley had
been in the employ of the company for a period of about 40 years,
and on the morning of August 14 he reported for duty at the usual
hour, and shortly thereafter informed his immediate superior “ I am
going up the street on a little business and will be right back.” He
accordingly left the premises of the company and went directly to a
bank located in the financial district of the city, for the purpose of
cashing a personal check. As he was crossing an intersection he was
struck by a street car and killed. From the circumstances it ap
peared that Bradley was on his way to transact another private
errand when he was killed, although, on the other hand, there was
some indication that he might have been en route to one of several
stores in which the company occasionally made purchases. An
official of the company testified that it was customary for Bradley to
ask permission when he left the plant on private business. No such
request was made on the day of the accident. Bradley’s immediate
superior also stated that he had no knowledge of the employee’s
errand. No evidence was produced of any necessary purchases for
the company.
The deputy commissioner of compensation for the District of
Columbia, however, found that the deceased employee—
T
While in the service of his employer, in the capacity of a mixer of glue at the
employer’s plant, “ was temporarily away from the plant and in the course of
employment, and while so engaged was walking across Fourteenth Street on the
north side of New York Avenue northwest, and was there struck by a street
car of the Washington Railway & Electric Co., sustaining an injury which re
sulted in his death.”
In an appeal by the insurance carrier the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia dismissed the case, and the insurance carrier
thereupon appealed to the Court of Appeals of the District of Colum
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1103]
72
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
bia. The court of appeals referred to several sections of the em
ployees’ compensation act as applicable in the District of Columbia,
and especially to the provision relative to the procedure in the event
a compensation order was not in accordance with the law.
The main question then for determination by the court of appeals
was whether the award was “ in accordance with law.” The court
said that a presumption usually arises upon proof of injury and the
existence of the employer and employee relationship, and a claim for
compensation therefore “ comes within the provisions of this act.”
If, however, contrary substantial evidence is introduced and no other
counteracting evidence is presented by the claimant, the presumption
is therefore rebutted.
In the view of the court of appeals “ there was substantial evidence
in this case that Bradley at the time of his injury was not performing
services ‘arising out of and in the course of ’ his employment, and that
there is no substantial evidence to the contrary.”
The court, continuing, said that it would be indulging in pure con
jecture, inconsistent with the established facts “ to infer that, when
he.sought permission to go up the street on a little business, he meant
that he was going out to make an emergency purchase for the com
pany, that he cashed the check for the purpose of obtaining money
to pay for that purchase, and, when killed, was on his way to make the
purchase.”
An award, therefore, the court concluded “ based upon conjecture
inconsistent with established facts and circumstances is manifestly so
arbitrary and unreasonable as to be ‘not in accordance with law.’”
The decree of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia was
therefore reversed.
O regon Law F orb id din g D iscrim in a to ry E m p lo y m en t C on tracts
MARCH 6, 1931, a law (Acts of 1931, ch. 247) was approved
by the Governor of the State of Oregon, declaring contrary to
ONpublic
policy and void all contracts of employment whereby either
party agrees not to join any labor organization or employer’s
organization, or to withdraw from the employment in the event that
he does become a member of any such organization.
The provisions of the Oregon law are as follows:
Every undertaking or promise hereafter made, whether written or oral, express
or implied, constituting or contained in any contract or agreement of hiring or
employment between any individual, firm, company, association or corporation,
and any employee or prospective employee of the same whereby (a) either party
to such contract or agreement undertakes or promises not to join, become, or
remain a member of any labor organization or of any employer organization; or
(b) either party to such contract or agreement undertakes or promises that he
will withdraw from an employment relation in the event that he joins, becomes
or remains a member of any labor organization or of any employer organization,
hereby is declared to be contrary to public policy and wholly void and shall not
afford any basis for the granting of legal or equitable relief by any court.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1104]
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
73
E n fo rcem en t of C h in ese F actory Law
was made by the Chinese Government that it
i>intended to enforce the factory act of 19291 from February 1,
A NNOUNCEMENT
1931, in Chinese territory and also to apply such legislation to foreign
factories in the concession districts.
This law prohibits labor by children under 14 years of age and
woman and child labor in dangerous or improper employment or
during specified hours at night or in the early morning. The legisla
tion also establishes an 8-hour day for adults and provides for’rest
periods and holidays, minimum wages based upon local standards of
living, equal pay for men and women for equal work, regulations
regarding the termination of contracts, including leave of absence to
workers to seek new employment, a dismissal wage, and health and
safety measures. Under the act employers must furnish educational
facilities for child workers, apprentices, and other employees, and
should promote, so far as possible, proper amusements for their labor
forces and aid them to save money and to belong to cooperative so
cieties. Provision is made, too, for profit sharing. Pending the
enforcement of social insurance laws for workers disabled by accident
or disease or who die in the performance of their duty, the factory
must meet the medical expenses of such workers and pay pensions
to them or their survivors. One of the chapters of the law deals with
the selection, functions, and operation of factory councils, upon which
employers and workers shall have an equal number of representatives.
Another chapter is devoted to the subject of apprenticeship. Viola
tions of the act are punishable by fines ranging from $100 to $500.
Both native and foreign factory owners vigorously opposed the
Government’s plan to put the law into operation on the date an
nounced, according to reports from Nankin. As a result of these pro
tests and because of the difficulties involved in the immediate enforce
ment of the legislation, the Government decided to postpone putting
the act into operation until August 1, 1931.2
In order to create an adequate inspectorate to enforce the factory
act, the Legislative Council of the National Government of the Ilepublic of China adopted January 31, 1931, a law governing factory
inspection, which is translated as follows in the Chinese Economic
Bulletin, Shanghai, February 21, 1931:
i A fU U U 1, The word "factory” or “ factories” referred to in the present law
shall be defined in accordance with the provisions of article 1 of the factory law.
A rt . 2. The term “ controlling official organ,” referred to in the present law,
unless otherwise stated, shall apply to the municipal government in municipalities
and to the Hsien government in Hsien districts.
A rt . 3. Inspection of factories shall be carried out by inspectors appointed by
the central labor administrative organ.
A rt . 4. 4 he matters subject to inspection shall be: (1) Those which concern the
age of male and female workers and the nature of their work, as provided under
Chapter II of the factory law and other labor enactments, (2) those which concern
working hours, as provided under Chapter III of the factory law and other labor
enactments, (3) those which concern the hours of rest and holidays of workers, as
provided under Chapter IV of the factory law and other labor enactments, (4)
those which concern leave granted to female workers before and after childbirth
as provided under Chapter VII of the factory law and other labor enactments, (5)
those which concern the safety and sanitary provisions, as provided under Chapter
1 F or translation of text, see L abor Review , W ashington, June, 1930, p p. 106-113.
a International L abor Office. In d u strial and L abor Inform ation, Geneva, M ar. 16, 1931, p. 327.
52839°—131——6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1105]
74
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
VIII of the factory law and other labor enactments, (6) those which concern acci
dents and fatalities in factories and the death and injury of workers, (7) those
which concern the age, number, and treatment of apprentices, as provided under
Chapter X I of the factory law and other labor enactments, (8) those which concern
the book of records and registration of workers, as provided under the factory law
and the law governing the application of the factory law, and (9) all other matters
which by law are liable to inspection.
.
A rt . 5. Factory inspectors shall be appointed from the following classes of
candidates, who, having been trained, are found to be fully qualified :_ (1) Those
who have graduated from technical schools at home and abroad or institutions
of higher grade, and (2) those who have worked in factories for over ten years
and possess the adequate knowledge and skill required.
A rt. 6. Factory inspectors, in accordance with, the instructions of the centrai
labor administrative organ, visit all factories and their branch or extension work
shops in certain specified areas to make periodic or irregular inspections.
A rt. 7. When discharging his official duty, a factory inspector shall carry with
him a certificate establishing his identity and authority.
A r t . 8. Inspection of Government-owned factories shall be carried out b y the
inspector jointly with the Government offices which control the factories.
A r t . 9. Factory inspectors shall have authority to question employees and
labor union officers and request them to make responsible answers and shall also
be authorized to examine all books, records, and other documentary evidence pertaining to such affairs, as provided under article 4 of the present law.
A rt. 10. When necessary a factory inspector may request the assistance of the
local administrative or police officials in the execution of his duty.
Art. 11. Every three months a factory inspector shall submit a report to the
“ controlling official organ,” setting forth the following particulars relating to the
district under his inspection: (1) Statistics concerning the number and character
of the factories, (2) statistics concerning the number and occupation of workers,
(3) conditions of child labor, (4) fluctuations of employment and unemployment,
(5) statistics concerning factory accidents, (6) actual working hours observed in
the different factories, (7) statistics concerning sickness among the injuries to
workers, (8) safety provisions observed in various factories, (9) hours of rest and
holidays allowed to workers in different factories, and (10) sanitary conditions
existing in the factories.
,
Art. 12. When a factory is found to be in the condition described under article
44 of the factory law, the factory inspector shall report without delay the matter to
the “ controlling official organ” for action.
.
A r t . 13. If the safety or sanitary conditions of a factory call for immediate
improvement or alteration, the factory inspector shall issue instructions for such
work to be done. If the factory workers’ union concerned fails to obey such in
structions, the inspector shall immediately report the matter to the “ controlling
official organ ” for action.
.
, , .,
/rA
A r t 14. Factory inspectors are forbidden: (1) To receive or extort bribes, (2)
to make false or garbled reports, (3) to disclose secrets of industrial processes, (4)
to estrange the good feelings existing between the factory management and the
workers, (5) to accede without proper authority to any demand by the factory
management or the workers, and (6) to hold concurrently any other public office
or engage in trade or business.
A r t 15. If the factory inspector commits any act in contravention of the law or
is negligent in his duty, the factory management or the workers may report the
matter to the “ controlling official organ.”
Art 16 For the purpose of improving safety or sanitary conditions, a factory
inspector mav submit his suggestions both to the factory management and the
workers, between whom he should devise means for securing cooperation m order
to improve the safety or sanitary conditions of the factory.
A r t . 17. If a factory inspector commits any of the offenses mentioned m article
14 of the present law, he shall be suitably punished, and if the offense be a criminal
one he shall be prosecuted in court.
A r t . 18. The management of a factory shall be liable to a fine not exceeding
$200 for refusing without satisfactory reason to allow an inspector admission to the
A r t 19. Factory employees or officers of the workers’ union shall be liable to a
fine not exceeding $100 for refusal without good reason to answer an inspector or
for resisting his examination of the books or documents mentioned under article V)
of the present law.
,
A r t . 20. The date for enforcement of the present law shall be fixed by a separate
or-der.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
f 11061
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
P urposes of D ifferent T ypes of V ocation al S ch ools
N A pamphlet recently issued by the Federal Board for Vocational
education1 the objectives of the several types of vocational
schools are set forth. The following data are taken from this pub
lication.
Evening schools or classes.—Instruction in such schools and classes
must supplement the students’ daily employment. Enrollment is
limited to those 16 years of age or over employed in the occupation
or trade for which training is given.
The pm pose of these schools is to instruct those already employed
to become more proficient in the work on which they are engaged
and to prepare them for promotion. Many apprentices and journey
men attend evening classes offering technical instruction which "is
not practicable for them to get on their jobs.
. Part-time trade-extension schools or classes.—Such schools or classes
give instruction of less than college grade to persons over 14 years
of age who already have employment in a trade or industrial occu
pation. In accordance with the Federal vocational education act
courses on this basis must be planned to give not less than 144 hours
per annum during the working hours of the enrolled students.
Their purpose is to instruct and train in order to supplement the
employed learners’ job experience. For example, groups of appren
tices may attend these classes 4 hours per week to receive instruction
relative to their trades. In certain cities apprentices in various
crafts attend Saturday morning classes.
Cooperative part-time schools or classes.—These undertakings oper
ate on a scheme of half time in school and half time in industrial
employment—for example, two groups of boys who alternate between
their employment and school are assigned to jobs in pairs as appren
tices or learners on a week-about basis or on any other time basis
most conveniently adapted to local conditions. Enrollment in this
type of school or class is limited to those who have reached the
legalized employment age. In certain States boys under 18 years
of age can not be employed on industrial jobs which are hazardous.
The purpose of these schools is to train boys for a trade. Such
education should not displace any industrial workers, as the pupils
should be regarded as apprentices to be assigned only to existing
vacancies. While two boys receive half-time training on each job, it
actually takes double the time to train each boy. Consequentlv, the
rates of apprentices to journeymen is not changed. In some cities the
apprentice has the opportunity to graduate from a high-school course
and at the same time secure advance standing on his apprenticeship.
Under this scheme such a student is ordinarily in high-school 5 years.
I
1 U nited States. Federal B oard for Vocational Education,
employers and th e public schools. W ashington, 1930.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11107]
L ab o r’s responsibility in cooperation w ith
75
76
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Under the cooperative part-time plan the boy receives a much
more thorough training than if ho spent all his time in a school shop
on exercise, or pseudo jobs. Moreover, the training given him m
class is better than that available in certain kinds of industrial em
ployment where there is no organized instruction for learners. Where
cooperative part-time classes are well organized and advisory com
mittees are utilized, trades are analyzed in order to determine the
instructional content. Agreements are made with the public schools,
employers, and students, the apprentice training committee of the
craft being also an active party to such agreement.
A coordinator is employed by the schools in order to see to it that the students
receive adequate and properly organized instruction m every step of their pro
gression through each class of work in the trade and m school. _ th e danger o
exploitation of the learners is reduced to a minimum through this arrangement.
Apprentices are moved from one class of work to another as was intended un er
the old apprenticeship svstem. The cooperative plan enrolls the number of
apprentices actually needed into two groups, each attending school half time.
Consequently, it does not develop twice the number of apprentices which the
trade can absorb as has been feared by some individuals.
Day trade schools.—These institutions provide that students spend
50 per cent of their time each school day in the school shop, and 25
to 35 per cent of their time on allied technical subjects. General
studies take up the remainder of the day. Only qualified students
14 years of age and over are enrolled in these schools. An entrance
requirement to some of these local schools is graduation from a grade
school; in others, one or two years of high-school work.
The purpose of these schools is to give practical training to enable
boys and girls to enter remunerative industrial occupations with some
advanced standing as learners. It was thought at first that these
schools would make apprenticeship in the skilled trades unnecessary.
“ Due to a great variety of reasons, very few schools nowadays make
any claim to being able to turn out full-fledged journeyman workers.
A sensible objective for the preemployment type of trade school is
to train pupils for advantageous entrance into industry at definite
levels of employment; for example, as an apprentice with^3 to 6
months of advanced standing or as a second-year apprentice.
Continuation schools.—In these schools instruction is given to boys
and girls between 14 and 18 years of age who are employed. Glasses
are held during working hours—between 8 a. m. and 5 p. m. lor
at least 144 hours per annum. In 28 States laws provide for the
establishment of such schools by local communities.
Their purpose is employment adjustment and educational ana
vocational guidance. Some of these schools provide for the economic
and social adjustment of youthful workers, individual guidance liom
juvenile employment to adult jobs, interpretation of work experience,
specific types of job training, and the coordination of instruction with
employment conditions.
, „ . .
,.
,
Restrictions on training.—As noted above, the Federal vocational
education act restricts enrollment in part-time trade-extension schools
to those who are already employed. Students in cooperative parttime classes must be employed in the trade m which they receive
instruction. Moreover, local communities are strongly advised by
the Federal Board for Vocational Education not to tram more new
workers than can be absorbed by a trade. The board holds that a
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1108]
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
77
day-trade course should not be established unless there are employ
ment opportunities in that trade. The number of apprentices required
in any one trade in any community should be decided by local schools
in cooperation with local organizations of employers and craftsmen.
Cooperation oj local organizations with public school officials.—Every
local vocational education director should have a general advisory
committee made up of representatives of organized groups, including
prominent craftsmen, employers, and business men. A committee
on apprenticeship training should also be organized with representa
tives from each craft to advise with the local director as to trade
requirements, the subject matter of courses, and the selection of
future apprentices.
Meeting place for classes—-Classes may be held on the job, in
factories or plants where equipment and machinery are available for
instruction, in fact, at any convenient place, but Federal funds can
not be used unless the classes are under public supervision and control.
T rain in g and P la ce m en t of th e D eaf in M in n eso ta , 1929-1930
HERE is on file in the division for the deaf, Minnesota Industrial
Commission, the names and addresses of 1,846 persons residing
in the State who are either wholly deaf or hard of hearing. Among
them are 390 school children. On the basis of conservative estimates
that there is one wholly deaf person for every 1,500 with normal
hearing, the deaf population of Minnesota is reported to be over
1,700. The information here presented is taken from the Fifth
Biennial Report of the Industrial Commission of Minnesota, 1929-30.1
T
Activities of the Division for the Deaf
T h e principal function of the division is to place deaf workers, but
the industrial depression has made such placement more difficult than
heretofore. Numbers of the deaf who were laid off as a result of the
business slump are hoping to get back to their former employment
when conditions improve. During the past biennium 203 deaf
persons applied for jobs. Positions were found for only 99 applicants.
In addition, contracts were made with 6 hotels and apartment houses
for the collection of shoes for repair by a deaf man who has a shop of
his own.
Personal calls on deaf persons and correspondence to ascertain their condition
in life have also taken up much of the time of the superintendent of this division.
During the past biennium the superintendent made 1,234 business calls and 335
calls in welfare work. In addition to this, 511 deaf persons called at this office
for advice and assistance. During the same period 1,686 questionnaires were
mailed from this office to deaf persons and employers throughout the State.
On several occasions the superintendent has addressed parent-teachers’ organi
zations and mothers’ clubs on the work of the division. The superintendent
is also frequently called upon to serve as interpreter for deaf persons. These
instances included, during the past biennium, several funerals and three court
cases. * * *
The publicity given to the work being done by the division of reeducation
of the State department of education and the associations dealing with crippled
war veterans, together with the aid accorded to organizations for the blind or
crippled by various clubs and lodges, has stimulated public interest in all physi1 For a previous article on this subject, see L abor Review, A pril, 1927.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11091
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
78
callv handicapped persons, including the deaf. While this increased interest has
added to the work of this division in some respects, the more favorable sentiment
engendered toward the handicapped has in some instances rendered the procure
ment of employment and assistance for the deaf less difficult, considering the
present business depression.
The Deaf in Industry
T he following list, taken from the report, shows the various kinds
of work in which the deaf in Minnesota have been successful in
performing:
M en
Architectural drawing.
Architecture.
Artists.
Athletic directors.
Bakeries.
Barbering.
Baseball players.
Bedding factories.
Bookkeepers.
Bricklayers.
Cigar makers.
Clerical work.
Dish washers.
Dry cleaners.
Electrical work.
Etchers.
Farming.
Glove factories.
Janitors.
Linotype operators.
Machinists.
Mechanical drawing.
Military instructors.
Ministers.
Painting, paperhanging.
Printers.
Printing-press feeders.
Photography.
Real estate.
Road construction.
Sign painters.
Tailors.
Tile setting.
W om en
Alteration departments.
Art work.
Beauty culture.
Billing.
Bookbinders.
Bookkeeping.
Candy dippers, packers.
Chambermaids.
Cooking.
Dressmaking.
Film inspectors.
Furriers.
Governess, deaf children.
Hat makers.
Housework.
Knitting factories.
Labeling and packing.
Laundry workers.
Library workers.
Mimeograph operators.
Pillow, mattress tying.
Power-machine operators.
Sewing.
Shirt makers.
Supervisors and matrons.
Teachers.
Typing.
Weaving.
Wrapping in bakeries.
Employers’ Attitude Toward Deaf Workers
Satisfaction with their deaf workers has been expressed by the
majority of employers interviewed who have such workers. In the
course of these interviews it was ascertained that the greater number
of the deaf used writing and natural signs for communication with
the superiors concerning the carrying out of work, and from time to
time a few spoken words. In general, employers said they preferred
deaf employees who could speak some and read lips. These employ
ers acknowledged, however, that they could utilize advantageously
workers who must communicate in writing.
Few Deaf Workers Injured in Industrial Accidents
I n the biennium under review only one deaf person was reported to
the division as having been injured by an industrial accident, and
in this case the injury was not due to any fault of the worker; he was
paid full compensation. The division states that it has no means of
finding out whether or not other deaf persons were injured during
these two years. Some may have suffered slight injuries, but it is
pointed out that if there had been other severe accidents which
entitled the injured to compensation, reports would have been made to
the division.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1110]
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
79
In the biennium 1929-1930, only 3 cases of discrimination against
the deaf in the payment of wages were reported to the division.
Satisfactory adjustment was made in all of these cases.
Education and Training of the Deaf
T h e enrollment of deaf pupils during the past year was distributed
as follows in the five schools of Minnesota in which instruction is
available for such pupils:
State school at Faribault_________________________________ 262
Minneapolis day school___________________________________ 93
Rochester day school_____________________________________ 40
St. Paul day school______________________________________
27
Duluth day school_______________________________________
8
The institution for the deaf at Faribault is a boarding school and
uses the so-called "combined system” of instruction, which includes
all known methods for instructing the deaf, such as writing, signs,
finger spelling, lip reading, and speech. The students are reported as
having little ^difficulty in securing employment after graduation.
The religious instruction, systematic home life, pleasant surroundings,
and association with friends of their own kind at the State school
have been important factors in developing to a high degree the moral
character of those receiving training there.
The facilities of the day schools are not sufficient to train the pupils
thoroughly in occupations’. It is therefore necessary to give many of
these young deaf persons additional training through the division of
reeducation or some other agency. Such additional training, however,
is easily obtained.
At the time the report under review was prepared, the establish
ment of evening classes for the deaf at the Dun woody Institute in
Minneapolis was being planned to enable deaf persons already
employed to become more expert in their jobs or to learn some other
occupation or trade.
A list of the trades and occupations at present taught in the schools
for the deaf is given below :
Architectural drawing.
Art work and lettering.
Baking.
Beauty culture.
Cabinetmaking.
Carpenter work.
Farming.
General repairing.
Housework.
Laundry work.
Linotyping.
Printing.
Sewing.
Shoe repairing.
Tailoring.
Wood carving.
Causes of Deafness and Ages at Which Hearing Was Loft
An a n a l y s i s of the causes of deafness of 385 persons showed that
among the most frequent causes were scarlet fever, meningitis, brain
fever, measles, and catarrh, which together were responsible for over
52 per cent of all cases, while scarlet fever alone caused 22 per cent.
The table following gives the distribution of 379 deaf persons, by
sex and the ages at which they lost their hearing. No hard-of-hearing
persons are included in these figures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
filli]
80
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
A GE A T W H IC H H E A R IN G W AS LO ST
Age group
5 to 10
11 fn lb
1fi tn 90
91 to 9fi
?fi tn 10
^1 to ^
36 to 40_____________
41 to 45
__________
4fi fn fin
M ales
3
10
15
22
20
33
17
18
20
Females
2
12
20
22
15
22
12
11
18
Age group
T otal
5
22
35
44
35
55
29
29
38
M ales
Females
Total
51 to 55______ — -----56 to 60_____________
61 to 65_____________
66 to 70_____________
71 to 75_____________
Over 75------ ------------B orn deaf___________
11
9
13
8
6
4
1
1
5
10
4
1
6
T o ta l_________
211
168
379
12
6
20
21
18
5
2
11
-
O regon A p p ren ticesh ip Law
FEBRUARY 28, 1931, the Governor of Oregon approved
an act (Acts of 1931, ch. 101) relating to the training of appren
ONtices.
Laws regulating industrial apprenticeship are obviously labor
laws, but the importance of such legislation has diminished in recent
years due to the advent of machines. Some of the States have never
enacted laws on the subject, while others have either specifically
repealed existing provisions (Michigan, New Mexico, and Utah) or
have entirely omitted the subject in subsequent statutes. Under the
apprenticeship system the master is under an obligation to teach the
apprentice a trade. This differs from the indentured-service system
under which there is no such obligation on the part of the master.
Apprenticeship laws in general contain the names of the parties,
the period of indenture, the trade to be taught, employment condi
tions, and the percentage of mechanic’s wages to be received by the
apprentice. The Oregon law is in many respects similar to the law
enacted in Wisconsin (Wis. Stats., sec. 106.01). In view of the fact
that there has been no recent constructive legislation by any of the
State legislatures on this subject, it is deemed of sufficient importance
to reproduce the Oregon law in full:
S e c t i o n 1. A p p r e n t i c e d e f in e d . — The term “ apprentice” shall be any minor,
16 years of age or over, who shall enter into a contract of employment of more
than two m onths’ duration whereby he is to receive from or through his em
ployer, in consideration for his services in whole or in part, instruction in any
trade, craft, occupation, or business, and whereby the learning of any trade,
craft, occupation, or business is an essential part of the condition thereof and of
the benefit to be derived therefrom.
S ec . 2. I n d e n tu r e d e f in e d . — Every contract or agreement entered into by an
apprentice with his employer shall be known as an indenture; such indenture shall
be in writing and shall be executed in triplicate, one copy of which shall be deliv
ered to the apprentice, one to be retained by the employer, and one to be filed
with the State Apprenticeship Commission of Oregon.
S ec . 3. W h o m a y be i n d e n tu r e d . — Any minor, 16 years of age or over, may, by
the execution of such an indenture, bind himself, as herein provided, for a term
of service not less than two months.
S ec . 4. W h o m u s t s ig n th e i n d e n tu r e . — Every indenture shall be signed:
1. By the minor.
2.
By the father; and if the father be dead or legally incapable of giving consent
or has abandoned his family, then
3.
By the mother; and if both the father and mother are legally incapable of
giving consent, then
4. By the guardian of the apprentice, if any.
5. By the employer.
S ec . 5. W h o m u s t a p p r o v e th e i n d e n tu r e . — Every indenture shall be approved:
1.
By the State apprenticeship commission or a duly authorized deputy
thereof.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1112]
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
81
2. By _the local apprenticeship commission and/or the apprenticeship sub
commission of the trade, craft, occupation, or business, if any such exist, covered
by said indenture.
3. If there be no parent or guardian with authority to sign, the said contract
must be approved by the judge of the juvenile court or the judge of the court of
domestic relations in the county in which such minor resides, if any such court
exists.
S ec . 6 . C o n te n ts o f in d e n tu r e . — Every indenture shall contain:
1. The name of the parties.
2. The date of the birth of the minor.
3. A statement of the trade, craft, occupation, or business which the minor is
to be taught, and thè time at which the apprenticeship under the indenture shall
begin and end.
4. A statement setting forth all training and employment conditions pertaining
to the learning of the trade, craft, occupation, or business by the apprentice.
5. A statement setting forth a ^schedule of processes to be worked; a schedule
showing the per cent of mechanic’s wage to be received by the apprentice in
accordance with the per cent of mechanicship attained and the employment
status of the apprentice.
6. Such other and further terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the
State Apprenticeship Commission of Oregon not inconsistent with the provisions
hereof.
. S e c - 7- S ta te a p p r e n t i c e s h i p c o m m is s io n . — The State superintendent of public
instruction, the State labor commissioner and a member of the State industrial
accident commission, to be _designated by the governor, shall constitute the
State Apprenticeship Commission of Oregon. Such commission shall elect its
own chairman and appoint a secretary, who shall serve without pay as such
secretary, and prescribe rules relative to the business to be transacted by it. It
shall be the duty of the State Apprenticeship Commission of Oregon, and it shall
Power’ jurisdiction and authority, to investigate, ascertain, determine,
and fix such reasonable classifications, and to make rules and regulations and
such general and/or special orders as shall be necessary to carry out the intent
and purpose of this act, and may prescribe the authority and duties of its deputies,
baid commission shall also promulgate rules and regulations for the transfer or
termination of such indenture.
S ec . 8 . L o c a l c o m m is s io n s . — The names of the members of the local apprenticeship commission and/or apprenticeship subcommissions, if any such exist,
and the names of the officers thereof authorized to approve the indentures shall
be filed with the State apprenticeship commission.
S ec . 9. S c h o o l t r a i n i n g a n d a t t e n d a n c e — It shall be the duty of all school
officials to cooperate with the State apprenticeship commission, the State board
for vocational education, and employers of apprentices in providing the necessarv
training classes for apprentices. The apprentice shall be required to attend such
classes not less than the equivalent of four hours per week, either within or with
out the usual working hour, as a part of his working obligation.
T ra in in g E lectrical W orkers in P h ila d elp h ia
N DECEMBER, 1929, the educational director of the Electrical
Workers and Operators' Union No. 98, in Philadelphia, was requested by the executive board to act in its behalf in making arrangements in cooperation with the public schools of that city for a training
system for electrical apprentices. A brief report on the setting up
of this system is published in the February, 1931, issue of the Journal
n jlectrical Workers. Prior to the request just referred to, attempts
had been made to carry on voluntary classes in the union’s own
building with a teacher supplied by the organization. The under
taking was expensive and was not a success.
h ollowing this failure, an advisory committee of officers was ap
pointed and an apprenticeship scheme drawn up to govern the
union’s proposed program which received the approval of the board
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1113]
82
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
and was submitted to the membership for adoption. This procedure
was important, for in order to carry out such a program it was neces
sary to be absolutely assured of the organization’s support. No
modifications were made in the plan as written, the chief features of
which were: Provision for compulsory school attendance of all ap
prentices (all nonjourneymen are classified as apprentices), and for
administrative and enforcement methods.
After the school authorities had unofficially assured the union com
mittee of their assistance, conferences were held between the two co
operating parties to decide upon what should be taught in the classes
about to be organized. Official approval and an appropriation were
secured and in due course the board of education authorized the
opening on Saturdays of the Simon Gratz Senior High School, thus
placing at the union’s disposal a $2,000,000 building, and equipment
worth nearly $50,000.
The examination of applicants and the appointment of teachers
were next in order and while this machinery was being put in opera
tion certain interested members of the union set_ to work at the
problems of apprenticeship and school organization, including the fix
ing of an apprenticeship expiration date for each individual, a conse
quent card rating, his assignment to courses, and the construction
of a master teacher’s roster to provide these courses for the whole
group. The most important part of the organization work, however,
is declared to be a personal interview with each apprentice.
Discussing the difficulties of working out this educational scheme,
the writer reports that the 150 apprentices were found to range in
age from 16 to 43, and in electrical experience from that of recent be
ginners up to 7 years with one to a dozen employers. The previous
education of some of these apprentices terminated with the sixth
grade, while others had been in college, gone to evening schools, or
availed themselves of correspondence courses.
Almost any combination of case factors may be found. On the allotted basis
of 20 students per teacher, the gross number limits us to 7 teachers, who are to
work but 4 hours at the same time. Theoretically, each teacher should carry
his proportionate share of the load, so as not to work a hardship on another.
No opposite extremes should be placed in the same group at the same time, if
both are to be taught satisfactorily. What courses of study shall we offer
which will best meet the needs of this heterogeneous group? These are the
jumbled pieces of a machine which we must fit together and make work.
Policy of Promotion by Subject
To s o l v e the complex problem outlined in the preceding paragraph,
a “ promotion by subject school” with individual instruction was de
cided upon. Such a plan gives the student the opportunity to follow
the courses he is assigned to as an individual rather than^ as one be
longing to a classified group. Under this scheme it is quite possible
for an apprentice to be with an elementary group for one study
period and with an advanced group for the next study period. In
case two of his requisite subjects are taught at the same hour, he may
be allocated to a class “ off grade” and dealt with individually by
the teacher. This flexible scheme makes it possible for a student to
repeat easily a course in which he has failed without being held back
in other classes.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1114]
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
83
Tuition Fees
O n M arc h 1, 1930—the opening day of the school—each teacher
was given a list of the students assigned him and every apprentice
had a statement of his rating as an apprentice and a roster card
showing where and w-hen he was to report. As soon as the students
were registered work was begun.
According to the regular rules of the department of school extension,
every student must deposit a registration fee of $1, which is returned
to him each year if he has a record of 75 per cent for attendance.
He is also required to pay the school board $2 per annum as a lab
oratory fee.
In order to improve the attendance, a fine of $1 was instituted for
each unexcused absence for the latter part of the first school year
ending June 26, 1930. At the reopening of the school the following
September, the $1 fine was changed to one day’s suspension from
work for each absence or lateness, three unexcused lapses along this
line resulting in the student’s being dropped. During the school term,
apprentices are not allowed to work Saturday mornings even though
they have the opportunity of working at double rates.
Classes for Journeymen
T h e work of organizing training facilities for journeymen was made
less difficult than lor apprentices. The men were permitted to choose
between 4 hours on Saturday morning or 2 hours on 2 evenings a week.
Journeymen also designate the subjects they desire to follow, classes
being made up on the basis of signed requests.
Present Curriculum
T h e Saturday morning school now has 12 teachers, 85 journevmen,
and 175 apprentices, while the evening classes are attended'by 50
journeymen. There are also approximately 20 members of the union
availing themselves of such schools as Drexel or the Spring Garden
Institute. Work in vocational teacher training is being tlken at the
University of Pennsylvania by six local members.
The subjects making up the curriculum for the apprentices are
listed below:
E n g lis h .—Single periods, two grades.
Designed to help the student with
what he may need for everyday use, both in an oral and written manner. In
cludes trade terms, pronunciation, oral expression, spelling, punctuation, etc.
Talks on industrial economics and personal hygiene.
M a th e m a tic s .— Single periods, four grades.
Fractions, decimals, percentage,
mensuration, algebra, plane geometry, and trigonometry. Greater emphasis on
fundamentals. Effort to start student at his own level.
E le c tr ic a l d r a w i n g .— Double periods, two grades.
Entirely individualized
instruction, each working his problem at his own pace. Not intended as a drafts
man’s course but rather to familiarize student with the use of electrical and
mechanical drawings, charts, and tables; along with the ability to express oneself
graphically.
E le c tr ic w i r i n g .— Double periods, two grades.
Study and use of tools, materials
and standard practice. Great stress on ability to think out, draw, and construct
fundamental circuits. All types of work included. Given to all beginners.
Aim to cultivate neatness, respect for craftsmanship, coordination of hands
and mind, and the desire to do things well. Instructor to pass judgment on
mechanical aptitude.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1115]
84
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E le c tr ic a l th e o r y .— Single periods, two grades.
Fundamental laws and prin
ciples of electricity and magnetism. Meaning and use of units, measurements,
and formulas and the theory of electrical equipment in general
.
E le c tr ic a l la b o r a to r y .— Double periods, two grades. _Prerequisite: Wiring and
theory or equivalent experience. Practical application and proof ol theory.
Connecting and testing of all types of meters, motors, generators, transformers,
etc. Observing and recording of all results required.
M e t a l a n d m a c h in e s h o p p r a c tic e .— Double periods, one grade. Knowledge
and use of metal-working tools and processes related to electrical trade. Laying
out, cutting, bending, drilling, tapping, threading, soldering, brazing and forging
of metals.
In addition to the apprentices in the electrical trades, groups of
apprentices are being sponsored in the school by the carpenters, the
sheet-metal workers, and the Metal Manufacturers Association.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 U 6 ]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
S trik es and L o ck ou ts in th e U n ited S ta te s in M arch, 1931
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
March, 1931, with comparable data for preceding months are
presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in 1927, 1928, 1929,
and 1930, number of workers involved, and man-days lost for these
years, the number of industrial disputes for each of the months—
January, 1929, to March, 1931, inclusive—the number of disputes
which began in these months, the number in effect at the end of each
month, and the number of workers involved. It also shows, in the
last column, the economic loss (in man-days) involved. The number
of workdays lost is computed by multiplying the number of workers
affected in each dispute by the length of the dispute measured in
working-days as normally worked by the industry or trade in question.
D
1. — IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D OF E A C H
M O N T H , JA N U A R Y , 1929, TO M A R C H , 1931, A N D T O T A L N U M B E R OF D IS P U T E S W ORKb
ER S, A N D M A N -D A Y S LO ST IN T H E Y E A R S 1927 TO 1930
T able
N um ber of disputes
N um ber of workers
involved in disputes
M o n th and year
Beginning
in m onth
or year
1927:
1928:
1929:
1930:
T o tal,.
T o tal,.
T o ta l,.
T otal t
In effect
at end of
m onth
734
629
903
623
Beginning
in m onth
or year
In effect
a t end of
m onth
349,434
357i 145
230,463
156,221
N um ber of
man-days
lost during
m onth or
year
37,799, 394
31, 556,947
9, 975, 213
2, 731,664
1929
Ja n u a ry ____________ _
F ebruary _____________
M arch_______________
A pril_____________ _
M ay _________________
Ju n e _________________
Ju ly — ___ __________
A u g u st______________
Septem oer____________
October______________
N ovem ber____________
D ecem ber____________
48
54
77
117
115
73
80
78
98
69
61
33
36
35
37
53
73
57
53
43
49
31
32
21
14,783
22, 858
14,031
32,989
13,668
19, 989
36,152
25,616
20, 233
16, 315
10,443
3,386
39, 569
40, 306
40, 516
52,445
64,853
58,152
15, 589
6,714
8,132
6,135
6,067
2,343
951,914
926, 679
1,074,468
1,429,437
1, 727,694
1,627,565
1,062,428
358,148
244,864
272,018
204,457
95, 541
1930
J a n u a ry ______________
F ebruary _____________
M arch_______________
A pril________________
M ay _________________
Ju n e _________________
J u ly _________________
A ugust_______________
Septem ber____________
O ctober______________
N ovem ber____________
D ecem ber____________
42
44
49
60
64
54
76
51
69
46
43
25
21
33
34
41
30
34
31
32
41
34
28
8
8,879
37,301
15,017
5,814
9, 281
13,791
14,219
15,902
15, 946
10, 842
4, 380
4,849
5,316
6, 562
5,847
5,711
4,640
8,499
5,039
7,161
13,409
15,649
7,424
5,385
182,202
436,788
289,470
180,445
192, 201
150, 627
148,982
144, 530
202,874
336, 250
270, 254
197,041
1931
Jan u a ry ______________
February 1___________
M arch 1______________
56
59
31
20
44
36
10,147
22, 588
24, 200
2,927
15,378
30,157
181,034
255,811
487, 785
1 Preli m inary figures, subject to change.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11171
85
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
86
Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 2 gives by industry the number of strikes beginning in
January, February, and March, 1931, and the number of workers
directly involved.
T able
2
—IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN JA N U A R Y , F E B R U A R Y , A N D
M A R C H , 1931
N u m b er of disputes beginning N um ber of workers involved
in disputes beginning in—
in—
In d u stry
14
2
Building tra d PS
_____
__
Chauffeurs t.pa.mstprs
ninth i rig
____ _ ___
Electrical, gas appliance,
___
__ _
- ___
and
radio
F isherm en----------------------------- - ----Food w orkers--------------------------------------Fiirrnturp.
__
1
18
3
7
3
M inors
_______ - -M otion-picture operators, actors, an d the-
5
P rin tin g and publishing---------------Textiles
- - _________ - — O ther occupations. -----------------------------
1
T otal
______
________
___
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
3
4
2
2
1
970
39
119
465
244
7,245
14
2,000
1
1
1
T
nnrrobAromon
frPICrllt llC
handlPTS
ljOIlgoIiOI
P111till, Ilt/lgHO
lilVAACJ-0 -------------Lum ber, tim ber, and mill w ork--------------
6
918
519
915
10
3
3
9
4
12
2
1
3
M arch
January February
M arch
Jan u ary February
10
1
17
1
5
56
59
31
4, 500
920
70
70
75
12
193
163
45
2,000
12
50
29
759
385
22,306
6
21
1,358
110
9,708
100
530
10,147
22,588
24,200
16
29
Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in March,
1931, classified by number of workers and by industries.
T able 3 . —N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN M A R C H , 1931, CLA SSI
F IE D BY N U M B E R O F W O R K E R S A N D B Y IN D U S T R IE S
N um ber of disputes beginning in M arch, 1931,
involving—
In d u stry
1,000 and
5,000
100 and
20 and
6 and
under
workers
under 20 under 100 under 500 5,000
workers workers workers workers and over
1
2
L au n d ry w o r k e r s . ---- . . ------------------Longshoremen, freight handlers-----------------------
1
Tnfal
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
_
_________ - - -
[ 1118]
5
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
5
15
9
--
M otion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical
4
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
87
In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
March, 1931, by industries and classified duration.
T able
4 —N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN M A R C H , 1931,
T R IE S A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
’
BY IN D U S
Classifiée duration of strikes ending in
M arc h, 1931
In d u stry
One-half Over one- 1 m onth
m onth or half and and less
less th a n
than 2
less
1 m onth m onths
Building trad es_______ .
Chauffeurs, team sters_____
Clothing_______ ______
Electrical, gas appliance, and radio workers.
F arm labor___________
Fisherm en_______ _
F u rn itu re ___.
... .
Glass w orkers______________
L aundry workers ___
Longshoremen, freight handlers . . .
M iners____ . . .
______
M otion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical workers
Textiles.. . ____________
T o tal___ _____ _____ *____
7
2 m onths
and less
th a n 3
m onths
2
2
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
i
2
1
i
3
2
3
24
6
6
3
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in March, 1931
Anthracite coal miners, Pennsylvania—A strike of some 20,000
miners, affecting the Glen Alden Coal Co. of Wilkes-Barre, is reported
to have begun on or about March 19, because of numerous alleged
grievances involving the replacement of veteran workers by new
men and the movement of mules by miners to and from work on
company’s time, to which company objected.
The miners at the Lance No. 11 colliery of the company, at Ply
mouth, went out on March 19, after which the strike spread to the
other collieries of the company in Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys.
The strike was called off by the miners’ general grievance committee
on April 8, following the acceptance of the report of a subcommittee
which negotiated with the district officers of the union, who had
opposed the strike as unlawful.
The president of the company, it is said, agreed to meet the miners’
special committee in conference with district and international officers
of the union for a general discussion of the alleged “ intolerable con
ditions” which led to the walkout.
It is understood that meanwhile operations were resumed in all
affected collieries on April 9.
Bituminous coal miners, Illinois.—The mining operations of the
Old Ben Coal Corporation at West Frankfort, Johnston City, Christo
pher, and Ezra were affected by an unsuccessful strike of about 1,849
miners during March 6 and 7, because of the company’s decision to
close indefinitely mine No._ 18. The men wanted the mine kept open
and operated part of the time, alternating with the other mines.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1119]
88
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Continuing into March, 1931
Textile workers, Philadelphia.—The strike of upholstery weavers
which began on February 2, when they refused to accept an arbitra
tion award reducing wages 14 per cent, is still in progress.
Hosiery workers, Philadelphia.—The strike of full-fashioned hosiery
workers affecting the nonunion and open-shop mills, which began
on February 16, is still in effect. A number of the mills, according
to press reports, have accepted the union terms.
C o n cilia tio n W ork of th e D e p a r tm en t of Labor in M arch, 1931
By H u g h L . K e r w in , D ir e c t o r
of
C o n c il ia t io n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 50 labor disputes during
March, 1931. These disputes affected a known total of 48,283
employees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature
of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement, the
date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly and
indirectly involved.
On April 1, 1931, there were 40 strikes before the department
for settlement and in addition 10 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 50.
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1120]
L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H O F M A R C H , 1931
52839°—31----- 7
C om pany or in d u stry and location
N a tu re of
controversy Craftsm en concerned
P ost office, B altim ore, M d ..
[1121]
Coal m iners, southeastern K en
tu ck y .
A m bassador T heater, R eadii
_____ d o _____
Electricians
Controversy M iners_____
S tr ik e _____ Building trad es___
M etropolitan Dress Co., Philadel ------ d o _____
phia, P a.
_____ d o _____
------ d o _____
D ressm ak ers...
D rivers
Bricklayers
B uilding trades, H olland, Mich___ ------ do__ __
Plasterers
G. G. G. Shop, B rooklyn, N . Y __ ------ d o _____
Clothing w orkers. .
Underw ood T ypew riter Co., H a rt
ford, C onn.
B lu m en th al Co., Shelton, C o n n ...
B lu m en th al Saltex Looms, Bridgeport, Conn.
Blui
lue M oon Silk Hosiery, Croydon,
Pa.
H igh school building, N ew R o
chelle, N . Y .
M ilk-wagon drivers, Philadelphia,
Controversy M etal polishers___
Strike___ _ W eavers__
------ d o _____ ------do ____________
------ d o --------
H osiery workers__
------ d o --------
Steam fitters
T h reaten ed
strike.
K aufm an Stores, T he Bronx, N . Y. Strike_____
Louis A ltm an
C ity, N . J.
&
Co., Egg H arbor. ------d o _____
1 N ot reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
D rivers___ . . .
Grocery and dairy
clerks.
Pressers, sewers,
etc.
Wages and conditions. 1 union
m an discharged.
Low wages and w orking condi
tions.
Asked recognition of shop steward.
W orking conditions.
-----do________ ____
Present statu s and term s of settle
m ent
A djusted. R eturned; no wage
cut; satisfactory conditions.
A djusted. Allowed increases and
im proved conditions.
A d ju s te d . C om pany accepted
shop stew ard b u t reserved right
to hire and discharge.
A d ju s te d . W orking conditions
satisfactory.
P ending__________________
C ontractor refused to em ploy Unclassified. R etu rn e d w ithout
union men.
change.
A sked wage increase and recogni A djusted. Other w orkers em
tion of N eedle T rades Union.
ployed.
Wages, conditions, and discharge U nable to a d ju st________________
of 2 drivers.
C ut 25 cents per hour—to $1.25___ A djusted. F orm er rate of $1.50
per h o u r restored.
Failure to em ploy one-half local A djusted. Agreed to em ploy onem en.
h alf local m en.
Objection to sending w ork to out- A djusted. Satisfactory settlem ent.
of-town shops.
All wages cut 10 p er cen t. .
A djusted. Accepted
per cent
wage cut.
W age cuts and speed-up system . __ U nable to a d ju st________________
S ym p ath y w ith Shelton M ills..
A djust'd. R eturned
w ith o u t
change.
Change from piece w ork to week P ending________
work.
N onresident steam fitters asked to A djusted. Cards deposited w ith
deposit union cards.
local steam fitters’ union.
Discharges for union affiliation___ Pending____________
Wages and w orking conditions___ A djusted. U nion agreem ent con
cluded.
A d ju s te d . R e t u r n e d ; former
wages restored.
Wages cut 15 per cen t___________
Begin
ning
E nding
1931
Feb. 26
1931
M ar. 5
25
Feb. 24
Feb. 28
200
Feb. 10
Feb. 21
10
Feb. 28
M ar. 8
M ar. 3
D i In d i
rectly rectly
20
25
280
(l)
Feb. 19
Feb. 23
42
Feb. 16
M ar. 7
100
F e b .' 26
M ar. 4
19
8
Feb. 27 - —d o ___
8
40
. —d o ___ - —d o ___
M ar. 1
M ar. 5
15
60
400
40
M ar. 2
M ar. 20
100
Feb. 26
M ar. 2
A pr. 3
M ar. 23
250
350
Feb. 15
Feb. 27
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
U nited U pholsterers, N o rth Side, S t r i k e . ____ Upholsterers
P ittsb u rg h , Pa.
Pilot R adio T u b e Corp., Law
........ d o _____ E m ployees.. . . .
M ass.
C enter T ru ck in g Co., N ew Y ork ........ d o _____ D rivers,
riggers,
C ity.
and helpers.
W orkers
involved
D uration
Cause of dispute
1,700
400
M ar. 10
M ar. 9
8
40
1,137
Feb. 23
M ar.
l
25
Feb. 24
M ar. 4
110
00
CD
CD
LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H OF M A R C H , 1931 C ontinued
W orkers
involved
D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and location
N atu re of C raftsm en concerned
controversy
L evy & D evaney, Bridgeport,
Conn.
P ru d en tial Life Co. Building, N ew
ark, N . L
G unning Silk M ill, Easton, P a ----S tarr Silk M ill, D anville, P a -------Bricklayers, D etroit, M ich.,
Ironworkers, D etroit, M ich.
. . . d o ____
. . . d o ____
_do.
.d o .
L o ck o u t..
___do___
Carpenters, D etroit, M ic h .---------- ___d o.
H udson R iver N avigation Co., Strike..
N ew Y ork C ity.
Post office building, Passaic, N . J — Controversy
D riv e rs ..
Laborers .
Pocketbook makers. Unionization attem pted b y local
union.
Building la b o re rs... Wages $8 per day—$2 below pre
vailing scale.
W ages c u t--------------------------- ;—
W eavers.
B onus discontinued, am ounting
___ d o ___
to $2 p e r week.
N onunion m en em ployed----------B ricklayers..
___ do _________________________
Ironw orkers.
Carpenters.:---Longshorem en.
B u ild in g ..
H u n te r College building, New ___ d o _____ ___ d o ____
York C ity.
V eterans’ H ospital, W ilm ington, Strike_____ ___ d o ____
N . C.
Picture-theater operators, H am Controversy O perators.
m ond, Ind.
C apitol T heater, W hiting, In d ------ S trike_____ ___ d o ____
Building, P ittsburgh, P a..
G rinnell Co., Chicago, 111.
W arner Bros. T heater, Youngss to w n , Ohio.
B uilding laborers, Hackensack,
N . J.
B uilding, Seattle, W ash..:-----------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-do.
-do.
-do_-
W orking conditions------------------Wages c u t from 35 to 30 cents per
hour.
Roofers, etc.
T eam sters...
B uild in g trades .
T h rea te n e d B uilding.
strike.
C ontroversy ___ do ___
Pending----------------------------------A djusted. Strike called off; cut
accepted and negotiations con
tinued.
Pending_______________________
.d o .
Begin
ning
1931
M ar. 3
M ar. 6
D i In d i
rectly rectly
E nding
8
500
M ar. 11
Feb. 23
40
M ar. 9
200
30
1,500
_do.
A djusted. P a rt of former workers
returned; p a rt new w orkers.
___ d o _________________________
A djusted. (Term s not yet re
ported.)
Pending-----------------------------------
M ar. 1
M ar. 7
M ar. 26
25
35
M ar. 1
M ar. 3
A pr.
25
30
2, 820
400
60
50
3,000
A djusted. C ontractor paid agreed
rate of wages.
A djusted------------ ---------------------
Jan. 25
M ar. 13
100
300
Jan. 10
—d o ___
150
300
Wage d ispute----- ----------------------- A djusted. Bricklayers allowed
$13 per day; laborers, $9.
Alleged violation of contract-------- Pending_______________________
M ar. 3
M ar. 22
92
60
_do.
A sked restoration of wage cut from
50 to 35 cents per hour.
Failure to pay agreed rate of wages.
-do.
Wage cut, conditions, and agree
m ent.
Renewal of agreem ent---------------Discharge of 1 driver for ineffi
ciency.
Wages; n o n u n i o n sheet-m etal
workers employed.
Laborers em ployed a t $9 per d a y
were paid o n ly $7.
Asked 5-day week a nd recognition
of laborers’ union.
A djusted. P ay restored; n e w
agreem ent concluded.
Pending----------------------------- -- —
A djusted. U nion representatives
upheld th e discharge.
Unclassified. U nion m en to com
plete job; no change in wages;
settled before arrival of com
missioner.
A djusted. All received am ount
due, $4 each.
A djusted. Wages, hours, a n d con
ditions unchanged till April,
1934.
9
—d o ___
M ar. 19
M ar. 20
0)
M ar. 22
4
50
M ar. 18
M ar. 10
500
M ar. 20
100
6
M ar. 13
M ar. 23
72
d o ___
M ar. 10 . . . d o ___
M pr. 1
A pr.
1
60
20
7, 500
2,500
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
L au n d ry drivers, Chicago, 111------ Strike..
Filipino farm laborers, San Luis ___ d o.
Obispo, Calif.
Cause of dispute
Present status and term s of settle
m ent
Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association,
Seattle, W ash.
Glen A lden Coal Co., Scranton, Pa.,
an d vicinity.
Shell Oil Co., California
B uilding, D etroit, M ich .
Strike...
----- d o . . ---Controversy
Strike___
.d o .
Building, Dallas, T ex.
Controversy
Sontag Silk Corporation, Allen
tow n, Pa.
W estm orland Glass Co., Jean
nette, Pa.
Strike___
Pilgrim S tate H ospital, B ren t
wood, Long Island, N . Y
B elm ont Silk Corporation, F orty
Fort, Pa.
Smoockler M anufacturing Co.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
-----do______
Controversy
Strike_____
-----do_____
ueep-sca fishermen.) Prices for products and equip
m ent; distribution of exnenses.
W orking conditions_____________
A djusted. R eturned. Each side
m ade concessions.
A djusted. R eturned; grievances
to be finally settled b y com m it
tees.
Building tr a d e s ...
.d o .
P ending_______________________
Terrazzo m echan N ew agreem ent, covering wages A djusted. N ew agreem ent allows
ics.
a n d conditions.
$1.12^ per hour.
Terrazzo h e lp e rs.. -----do_________________
A djusted. H elpers allowed 80
cents a nd base m en 90 cents per
hour.
Ironworkers a n d
Jurisdiction of setting steel and A djusted. Negotiations contin
plasterers.
calking door and window frames.
ued
to fix jurisdiction.
Silk workers______ A sked 8-hour d ay instead of 10___ A djusted.
Accepted 9-hour sh ift..
Glass workers .
Objection to wage schedules......... Unclassified. A ccepted com pany’s
term s before arrival of com
missioner.
Building tra d e s ... Jurisdiction of tile, slate, and A djusted.
R eturned to work,
brick work.
jurisdiction not decided.
Silk w orkers_____
(>)---------------------------- Pending ______________
G arm ent workers _ Wage increase and union recog A djusted. C om pany signed agree
nition.
m ent w ith A m algam ated C loth
ing W orkers’ U nion whose m em
bers did not ask increase.
Jan.
M iners
1
M ar. 24
1,200
M ar. 19
A pr.
9 20,000
M ar. 1
M ar. 23
A pr.
4
(i)
60
Jan.
M ar. 24
200
1
M ar. 18
M ar. 25
100
M ar. 23
M ar. 30
41
M ar. 23
M ar. 25
75
M ar.
A pr.
1
9
M ar. 31
M ar. 24
88
86
184
(!)
Apr.
8
100
T o ta l___
—
34,140 14,143
1N ot reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CD
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
92
S trik es and L ock ou ts in C anada, 1913 to 1930
T
HIS record of the strikes and lockouts in Canada from 1913 to
1930 is from the Canadian Labor Gazette of February, 1931 :x
S T R IK E S A N D L O C K O U T S IN C A N A D A , 1913 TO 1930
N um ber of disputes
Year
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
_ __ _ __ _ ____- _____
______ _
- - - ___ --_ _______ _______ - ___________ _
__________________
____
_____
-_____________________
_______________________
- ______ _____ -- ___________________ - ________ - ______ _________________________
_________________________
--- - - - - - - --- _________________________
--- _____
_ -- - _____
________________ ___________
D isputes in existence in th e year
In existence Beginning E mployers
in th e year in th e year involved
152
63
63
120
160
230
336
322
168
104
86
70
87
77
74
98
90
67
143
58
62
118
158
228
332
310
159
89
77
64
86
75
72
96
88
67
1,077
261
120
332
758
782
1,967
1,374
1, 208
732
450
435
497
512
480
548
263
338
W orkers
involved
40, 519
9, 717
11, 395
26,538
50, 255
79, 743
148,915
60,327
28,257
43,775
34, 261
34, 310
28,949
23,834
22, 299
17, 581
12,946
13, 768
Tim e loss in
working
days
1,036,354
490, 850
95,042
236, 814
1,123, 515
647, 942
3,400, 942
799, 524
1, 048,914
1, 528, 661
671,750
1,295,054
1,193, 281
266, 601
152, 570
224,212
152,080
91, 797
In 1930 there were only 67 strikes and lockouts in the Dominion,
which was the lowest number since 1900, except for 1914 and 1915,
when in each year there were only 63 disputes. While there were a
few hundred more employees involved in disputes in 1930 than in
1929 and in 5 other years since 1900, the 1930 resultant time loss
was less than for any other year since the records were begun.
Of the total disputes in 1930, 31.3 per cent occurred in the manu
facturing industry; 28.4 per cent in the construction industry; and
22.3 per cent in the mining industry. Of the total time loss from
these same strikes and lockouts, disputes in the manufacturing in
dustry accounted for 43.6 per cent; disputes in the mining industry
for 26.3 per cent; and disputes in the construction industry for 13.5
per cent.
S trik e of C ooperative E m p loyees in N orway
office employees of the Norwegian Cooperative Wholesale
Society went on a strike which lasted from November 12 to 19,
T HE
1930. The strike was the result of the failure of the union and the
cooperative society to agree on the terms of a new contract. Accord
ing to an account given in the January 10,1931, issue of La Coopération
Belge, the employees demanded a 40 per cent increase in the mini
mum wage and an increase in the annual paid vacation from 2 to 3
weeks.
i T h e accompanying tab le is th e result of a revision of th e published record on industrial disputes in
C anada from 1901 to 1930, w hich figures now include strikes resulting in a tim e loss of 10 or more man-days,
and also a n um ber of disputes w hich h ad been o m itted owing to lack of inform ation. Eor further details
of revision, see source cited above.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1124]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
93
The announcement of the strike created, considerable public intei est not only because a strike of office employees was unusual but
because these were employees of a cooperative association whose
members are themselves workingmen.
The wholesale society pointed out that it had had satisfactory
relations with the trade-unions for the past 25 years, that the wages
and working conditions in the organization were already good—bet
ter than those accorded in private employment—and that in the
matter of vacations, payment of wages in cases of sickness, etc
the cooperative movement had always led the way. But it stated
that cooperative societies “ reserve the right to decide for themselves
by how much the wages paid by them shall be in excess of those paid
by private employers.” The directors of the wholesale felt unable to
meet the demands of the employees and pointed out that the co
operative movement was not in the position of a monopoly which
could raise prices every time costs increased, but must meet the com
petition ot all the private dealers. “ Consumers without distinction
as to rank or position demand merchandise at reasonable prices,
i he day that the cooperatives must sell at higher prices, because of
the cost ot the pay rolh they are irremediably lost.”
The fact that the strike was directed by the general union of com
mercial and office clerks, which has in membership private as well
as cooperative employees, led the wholesale to charge that the strike
was brought to secure concessions that could be used as an entering
wedge in negotiations with private employers.
rv TJ e P itie s to the dispute having come to a deadlock, the National
trade-Union Commission intervened and proposed that the matters
m dispute be submitted to an arbitration committee. This proposal
was accepted and the employees returned to work pending decision
by the committee.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11251
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
New U n io n of C ooperative E m p loyees
A T THE time of the seventh cooperative congress, held at Superior,
Wis., October 20-22, 1930, a communication was presented by
a group of employees of the cooperative stores in the Mesabe Range
district of Minnesota, who had taken the preliminary steps toward
the formation of an industrial union of cooperative employees and
desired the indorsement of the congress. Although no opposition was
voiced toward the prospective new union, indorsement was withheld,
the congress taking the position that this would constitute an
indorsement of dual unionism, since unions already exist in the
respective trades.
The group of employees which had sent the petition has gone ahead
with its plan and has established the Cooperative Workers’ Union, to
which all wage workers employed by either consumers’ or producers’
cooperative societies are eligible.
The purposes of the new union are (1) to unite all these employees
for the purpose of protection, (2) to educate the members in the ideals
of both the cooperative and labor movements and to “ cultivate their
occupational ability,” (3) to promote and support other labor unions
in the class struggle, (4) to support the cooperative movement in its
effort to better the living conditions of the working class, and (5) to
promote a better understanding between the employees and the coop
erative societies “ as to their duties and rights. Union members shall
do their best to have all labor disputes settled in a peaceable manner,
without causing injury or hardships to cooperative organizations
which are mainly promoted and supported by the workers and
farmers.”
Initiation fees are $1 for men and 50 cents for women, and the
regular dues 50 cents a month for men and 25 cents for women.
Failure to pay dues for two months removes the member from good
standing.1
T rad e-U n ion M em b ersh ip in Brazil
membership of the 727 trade-union organizations in Brazil,
given below, is taken from an article appearing in the November
T HE
17, 1930, issue of Industrial and Labor Information, issued by the
International Labor Office.
1 D ata are from Cooperative P y ram id B u ild er, Superior, W is., Jan u a ry , 1931.
94
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1126]
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
95
M E M B E R S H IP O F L A B O R O R G A N IZ A T IO N S IN B R A Z IL
Trade-union
Clerical w orkers.......................
Railw ay m en _____________
C otton ind u stry ____________
B uilding workers_________
T ransport w orkers____
Food and d rin k trad es______
Leather tra d e s ..
_____
Engine drivers, stokers, etc____
Seamen and fisherm en_______
Public service w orkers__
Domestic servants, waiters, etc .
W oodworkers_______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M em ber
ship
193, 650
95, 780
72,120
68, 280
63, 280
55,800
51, 740
42, 640
41,150
36, 720
35, 620
23, 200
Trade-union
Printers
M etal w orkers__ ____
D ockers..
A gricultural w orkers___
T eachers..
B u tc h e r s .__
Hairdressers___
Miscellaneous trad es____
Unions of alien workers (miscellaneous
trad es)______
[1127]
Total
M em ber
ship
19,050
18, 720
16, 370
8, 820
5,280
4, 780
3, 070
10, 300
63, 800
930,170
FAMILY ALLOWANCES
F a m ily A llow an ces in P o sta l, T elegraph , and T elep h o n e Services
HE data here presented were published in the November, 1930,
issue of Monthly Notes, of the Family Endowment Society,
London, and are based on a report submitted in August, 1930, to
the sixth congress of the Postal, Telegraph, and Telephone Intel national, at Copenhagen. This report was based on information re
ceived on questionnaires returned by 20 countries.
The survey disclosed that family allowances were paid m the postal,
telegraph, and telephone services of Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, Danzig, Estonia, France, Germany, Netherlands,
Latvia, Luxemburg, Saar Territory, and Switzerland. In a consid
erable number of these countries household allowances are also
granted, as well as rent allowances, reductions in taxation and in
railway fares, and other privileges to families. The seven countries
reported as having no family-allowance system in the postal, tele
graph, and telephone service are Canada, Denmark, Great Britain,
Greece, the Irish Free State, Palestine, and the United States.
According to the report under review, the general purpose of all
family allowance schemes is to effect a closer relationship between
the employee’s pay and his family responsibilities. . This broad field
offers room for wide diversity in administrative details and allowance
rates.
.
Systems in operation.—The accompanying table gives the approxi
mate amounts of the weekly allowances paid, together with estimates
as to the proportions such grants constituted of the remaining wage bill :
T
F A M IL Y A L L O W A N C E S IN PO S T A L , T E L E G R A P H , A N D T E L E P H O N E SE R V IC E S
[Conversion into U nited States currency on basis of shilling= 24.33 cents, penny—2.03 cents]
Allowance for first child
Allowance for first child
C ountry
\ i!’fraiia
A
U 7çp n91o v a Uiq,
Fran pp,
A m ount
per week
$1. 22
. 16
. 20
. 73-1.10
. 27- . 55
.53
Per cent of
remaining
expenditure
on salaries
and wages
3
1
7
4H
5H
C ountry
G erm any--- -L a tv ia ____
___ - Luxem burg.— - — _
N etherlands_______
Saar T e rrito ry — -----Sw itzerland___________
A m ount
per week
$1. 22
. 57-1.14
.34
. 49-1.95
Per cent of
remaining
expenditure
on salaries
and wages
m
sy 2
5
4J^
1.22
.49
3
Ordinarily, the allowances ^are granted on a monthly basis per
child, the same rates being paid to all staffs. In Australia, however,
allowances are not paid to those with annual incomes above £500
($2,433.25), while in Estonia there is an income limit of 145#kroon
($38.86) per month. In Czechoslovakia and in the Saar a distinction
is drawn between civil-service employees and other postal, telegraph,
and telephone officials; here the higher grades receive larger allowances.
96
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1128 ]
FAMILY ALLOWANCES
97
In Czechoslovakia, however, the allowance for a wife varies inversely
with the wage rate. In the Netherlands and Latvia allowances are
computed on the basic wage, with minimum and maximum limits on
the grants per child. In Luxemburg the amount of the allowance
changes with the cost-of-living index number and in Estonia the
allowance is larger for the towns than for the rural districts.
In France, Belgium, Austria, and Danzig, the allowance per child
increases substantially after the first. The French allowance, for
example, ranges from 660 francs ($25.87) per annum for the first
child to 1,920 francs ($75.26) for the fourth and subsequent children.
In the Saar higher grants are made for older children. In the remain
ing countries flat rates prevail.
The age limits for children receiving allowances are very high—in
many countries as high as 18 years—while in Danzig these grants are
normally made until the child reaches 24 years of age. The Austra
lian system seems to be the only one under which the allowances are
discontinued at the school-leaving age. Frequently grants are made
for invalid children regardless of age.
In nearly all cases allowances are granted to a woman employee if
her family is wholly dependent upon her.
The report points out that one of the most important aspects is the source from
which the money is taken. Has the granting of family allowances meant merely
a redistribution of existing wages between men with dependents and those with
out, or has it meant a net addition to the total sum allocated to the remuneration
of the staff? Only in the Australian service does the latter seem to have been
the case; the A. P. W. Union points out that in the Federal service pay has been
reduced by about the average cost of the allowances per employee. No other
country reports a reduction in the salaries of the unmarried men.
Future developments.—In all of the countries listed in the above
table (with the exception of Czechoslovakia, where it is reported that
the postal, telegraph, and telephone administration is attempting to
abolish family allowances), “ the system seems likely to be retained or
extended in the postal service.”
In Australia where, with the exception of New South Wales, there
is no family-allowance system in operation outside the public services,
the Postal, Telegraph, and Telephone Union states that public opinion
is decidedly favorable to an expansion of the scheme.
Attitude oj unions.—The countries in which there are family allow
ance systems are, it is reported, almost all in favor of these subsidies,
while the countries where there is no scheme of this kind are against
its establishment. There are, however, some exceptions. In the
Netherlands the workers organized on religious lines are very favor
able to family allowances, while the principal Dutch union is opposed
to these grants on the basis that such payments tend to depress
wages and takes the attitude that if large families be given relief,
such relief should come from the State on behalf of all citizens and not
as a part of the civil-service wage system.
On the other hand, the Greek Postal, Telegraph, and Telephone
Union is anxious to have a family-allowance system introduced.
In the six other countries reporting that these grants were not made
in their postal, telegraph, and telephone service, the attitude of the
unions toward such a system is distrustful.
The greater number of the organizations reported that they would
prefer to have family allowances paid direct by the State to all
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ril29l
98
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
citizens as a social service rather than to have such grants made in
connection with wages. Furthermore, most of the postal, telegraph,
and telephone unions in the countries in which family allowances
are paid would like to have changes made in the existing schemes,
generally in the form of higher grants or by the payment of a flat
allowance rate.
F a m ily A llow an ces in th e R ou b aix-T ou rcoin g T extile In d u stry
ERSONS entitled to benefit by the family-allowance system of
the Consortium of the Roubaix-Tourcoing Textile Industry
belonged to 58,715 families and allowances were paid for 99,162
children under 13 years of age, according to the annual report of
that organization on its welfare work in 1930.1
The distribution of children under 13 years of age in families was
as follows: Number of families with one child, 34,830; with two
children, 13,895; with three children, 5,796; with four children,
2,597; with five children, 1,030; with six children, 406; with seven
children, 114; with eight children, 41; with nine children, 6.
The Consortium’s family-allowance rates per day were 2.40 francs
(9 cents)2 for one child, 6 francs (24 cents) for two children, 9.60
francs (38 cents) for three, 14.40 francs (56 cents) for four, and 18
francs (71 cents) for 5 children.
The following amounts were paid out by the Consortium for its
family-allowance service, including birth bonuses : In 1927, 27,782,113
francs ($1,089,059); in 1928, 30,083,863 francs ($1,179,287); in 1929,
32,460,032 francs ($1,272,433); and in 1930, 30,138,356 francs
($1,181,424). The smaller amount paid in 1930 as compared with
the previous year was due to a general strike in Roubaix-Tourcoing,
one of the results of which was the withdrawal of family allowances
for August and September.
There is, the report states, a growing tendency among mothers
who receive family allowances to stay at home and take care of their
children. On December 31, 1930, out of the 58,715 families bene
fiting under the system, 33,008 mothers had no gainful occupation.
P
1 In tern atio n al L abor Office. In d u strial a n d L abor Inform ation, Geneva, M ar. 30, 1931.
2 Conversions on basis of franc a t par=3.92 cents.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1130]
COOPERATION
M em b ersh ip and B u sin ess of C on su m ers’ C ooperative S o cieties,
1929 and 1930
ATA showing the status of certain of the consumers’ societies as
regards business done and membership were given in the March,
1931, issue of Cooperation (New York). The table below was com
piled from that source, with the exception of a few cases in which
lacking figures were supplied from the bureau’s own files.
The table shows the effects of the continued business depression
and falling prices upon the business of the cooperative societies.
Of the 36 retail societies shown, 11 had an increase in sales, but 25
had decreased sales. This unfavorable showing is not so great,
however, considering that retail prices of food fell nearly 15 per cent
from January 15, 1930, to January 15, 1931, and that a society would
have had to handle a volume of goods nearly 17 per cent greater in
1930 in order to have the same sales (in terms of money) that were
made in 1929.
Profits fell off considerably, for while 9 societies were able to make
increased gains on the business operations of 1930 as compared with
1929, 20 showed smaller gains. Four societies were able to change
the loss of 1929 to a profit in 1930, but in two other cases the reverse
situation occurred. One society had a loss for both years, but that of
1930 was considerably less than that of 1929.
Of the 26 retail societies for which membership data for both years
are given, 17 increased their membership, 7 suffered a loss, and in 2
there was no change.
All of the wholesale societies increased their sales, notwithstanding
a drop of 17.6 per cent during the year in wholesale commodity
prices.
D
D E V E L O P M E N T OF S P E C IF IE D C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S , 1929 A N D
1930
Year
Society and location
A m ount
of
business
N et
profit
N um
ber of
mem
bers
W h o le s a le s o c ie tie s
____ 1929 $2,001, 725
1930 2,118, 212
1929
203, 756
314, 769
1930
448,013
1929
M innesota: M idland Cooperative Oil Association, M inneapolis.-600, 239
1930
1929 3116, 720
W ashington: Grange Cooperative Wholesale, Seattle. ------------302, 702
1930
W isconsin: Cooperative C entral Exchange, Superior.
------------- 1929 1, 755, 627
1930 1, 767,760
$59,173
70, 850
1,365
(2)
7, 798
14, 804
3 1, 074
1,892
35, 798
29, 735
6,405
6, 529
i 10
i 10
' 45
i 45
i 10
1 10
i 90
97
1929
1930
166,875
157,857
2,005
8, 714
304
(2)
1929
1930
121,555
129, 867
4 3, 638
52
318
f.2)
2,614
235,421
1929
6,980
202,961
1930
«Does not include feed sales or commissions thereon.
4 Loss.
423
443
N ebraska: Farm ers’ U nion State Exchange, Om aha-
_____
New York: E astern Cooperative Wholesale, N ew York
----
R e t a i l s o c ie tie s
California: F o rt Bragg Cooperative M ercantile Co., Fo rt BraggIllinois:
Bloomington Cooperative Society, Bloomington W aukegan
&
_ - -
----
-------
N o rth Chicago Cooperative Association, N o rth
1Affiliated societies.
2 No d ata.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1131]
99
100
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
D E V E L O P M E N T O F S P E C IF IE D C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S , 1929 AN D
1930—C ontinued
Society and location
Y ear
R e t a i l s o c i e t i e s —Continued
Illinois—C ontinued.
Cooperative T rading Co., W aukegan. ___ ____________ ______
1929
1930
1929
1930
1929
1930
U nited Cooperative Society, M aynard . . . ________________
1929
1930
Michigan:
Settlers Cooperative T rading Co., Bruce Crossing_______ .
1929
1930
Farm ers Cooperative Trading Co., H ancock____ _ _ . .
1929
1930
W orkers Cooperative Society, M a rq u e tte .. . .
_
_ . . . 1929
1930
Rock Cooperative Co., R ock______ _______________________ _ 1929
1930
Soo Cooperative M ercantile Association, Sault Ste. M arie.
1929
1930
M innesota:
Cloquet Cooperative Society, C loquet__
1929
1930
E m barrass Cooperative Association, E m barrass.
______
1929
1930
State Line Farm ers Cooperative Co., E m m o n s __________ _
1929
1930
Farm ers’ Cooperative M ercantile Association, K ettle R iver _ _. 1929
1930
Franklin Cooperative Cream ery Association, M inneapolis
1929
1930
Farm ers Cooperative Produce Association, Moose L a k e ..
1929
1930
E lanto Co., N ashw auk ____
_
___________
_ .
1929
1930
Orr Farm ers Cooperative T rading Co., O rr... _
________
1929
1930
W ork Peoples’ T rading Co., V irg in ia.. ___________ ________
1929
1930
New Jersey:
P u rity Cooperative Bakery, Paterson______ _ _. _______
1929
1930
N ew York:
Cooperative B akery of Brownsville & Eastern New York,
B rooklyn____________________ _______________
_____
1929
1930
Cooperative T rading Association, B ro o k ly n ........................... . . .
1929
1930
Russian W orkers Cooperative Stores, B rooklyn______
_ __ _ 1929
1930
Amalgam ated Cooperative, N ew Y ork________________ __
1929
1930
Consumers’ Cooperative Services, New Y ork__
___
1929
1930
Spencer Cooperative Society, S p e n c er...
_ _______ _____
1929
1930
Ohio:
W orkingm en’s Cooperative Co., Cleveland- _____
___ . 1929
1930
N ew Cooperative Co., D illonvale______
__ ______ _ ______ 1929
1930
N o rth Star Cooperative Store Co., Fairport H arbor______
1929
1930
W ashington: Grange W arehouse Co., K e n t_____ . . . . . . _
1929
1930
W est Virginia: H inton Cooperative M ercantile Co., H inton ______
1929
1930
Wisconsin:
M edford Cooperative Co., M edford. ______
. . .
...
1929
1930
Prentice Cooperative Supply Co., P ren tice .. ______ . . . _
1929
1930
W entw orth Farm ers Cooperative Association, W entw orth
1929
1930
Iowa: Cresco Cooperators, Cresco_______ . . . . . _____
_ _
M assachusetts:
U nited Cooperative Society, Fitchburg ___________ _____
2 No data.
4 Loss.
6 N o t including $248,849, income from sale of forest products and cream.
6 N ot including $297,527, income from sale of forest products and cream.
7 Includes rents from cooperative ap artm en ts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1132J
N um
ber of
mem
bers
A m ount
of
business
N et
profit
$797, 574
818, 753
33, 047
29,293
372,955
371, 798
348, 593
292,055
150,458
142, 527
182,439
198,163
111, 848
109, 746
5 195, 684
6 156, 314
686, 585
627,099
546, 767
579, 505
130, 558
113,099
65, 368
45, 172
80,470
89,691
3,442, 292
3,149,142
74, 701
72,760
148, 849
147, 753
114, 623
125,855
422, 404
423,245
394,470
448, 570
$41,984
35, 565
4 228
4 54
17, 885
18, 200
12, 675
5, 967
8,299
5,106
8,894
8,830
4,713
2,181
16, 207
7,617
43,600
39,495
19, 249
22,000
7,359
3, 778
3,285
6 307
5,921
4,904
130,157
107, 900
1,499
2,262
7,397
7,034
5,352
3, 524
12, 746
10, 536
4 5, 645
7, 677
1, 527
1,814
0
0
600
600
624
0
368
378
763
835
225
230
422
503
605
635
1,301
1, 398
382
423
(2)
(2)
365
0
4, 270
4, 300
125
(2)
558
549
365
384
1,040
1,047
500
500
5,044
369,782
5,195
365, 603
8,912
471, 523
3,657
400, 826
4,679
214,385
114
232,970
7 343, 378 7 6,041
7 490, 602 7 11, 998
38, 330
608,959
30,242
588,884
3,471
118,125
299
111, 191
8,041
273, 343
7,809
246,163
2, 384
274, 528
2, 953
332, 333
4 171
465, 259
2, 595
413,075
225, 305
3,358
1,972
223, 446
5,329
135,834
1, 622
130,000
179, 829
8,107
8,729
175,776
69,610
543
4 91
67,354
29, 258
4 689
27, 050
1
1,100
1,000
2,451
2,650
210
205
503
506
3,397
3,606
200
0
1,100
1, 150
273
243
700
095
311
300
520
400
286
0
210
0
102
0
101
COOPERATION
D ev elo p m en t of P ostal C redit U n io n s, 1930
ATA showing the growth of the credit-union movement among
postal employees are contained in Bulletin No. 11, recently
issued by the Director of Service Relations of the Post Office De
partment.
The table following, taken from the report, shows that at the end of
1930 there were 245 such credit unions with a combined membership of
40,574 and assets of nearly $3,500,000.
D
D E V E L O P M E N T OF PO ST A L C R E D IT U N IO N S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO D E C E M B E R , 1930
N um ber
of credit
unions
D ate
December 31, 1923. _ _____ - ___
D ecember 31, 1924... _ ___ . .
A pril 1,1925______________________
October 1, 1925
- _ -- ---April 1, 1926______________________
October 1, 1926-- _ _ ___- _
April 1, 1927______________________
October 1, 1927 ------ ------- -- . .
April 1, 1928______________________
D ecember 31, 1928..
- ------D ecember 31, 1929 . ________
D ecember 31, 1930 _ - ______
1
7
25
36
44
48
63
73
83
168
190
208
245
N um ber
of
members
8
0)
0
5,087
7, 320
9, 726
11,429
13, 993
16, 257
19,098
25, 397
33, 984
40, 574
Assets
$19
0
0
166, 390
257, 943
439, 523
563,189
782,139
1,001, 535
1,265.548
1,770, 952
2,523,917
3, 338,219
N um ber
of
borrowers
0
0
3,756
6,522
12,006
16, 830
23,060
30,313
38,092
57,055
87,691
125, 385
Loans granted
0
0
$283,634
590,919
1, 054, 303
1,599,465
2,310,633
3,183, 890
4,160,262
6, 329, 736
10, 410,418
15,234,889
1 No data.
L lano C ooperative C olony 1
HE Llano Cooperative Colony, incorporated as the Llano del
Rio Co. of Nevada, was founded in California in 1914 by Job
Harriman. The site chosen was a broad mesa in the Mojave Desert
about 45 miles due north of Los Angeles.
The basis of the colony was materialistic, not religious. The
fundamental principles on which the colony was founded, as stated by
the founder himself, were equal ownership, an equal wage, and equal
social opportunities.
T
The Removal to Louisiana
T h e location, while splendid as regards soil, climate, etc., was
deficient in water, and after 3%years, during which much development
and building work was done, the colony decided to move. One of the
accounts of the colony and its early history states that at the time
this decision was reached there were nearly 700 persons living in the
colony.2
A new site was chosen in Louisiana, where the company took over
an abandoned mill town and some 20,000 acres of cut-over timber
land near Leesville, in Vernon Parish. Only a part of the colonists,
however, went to the new location.
A series of difficulties followed the removal of the colony to Loui
siana. Trouble over the actions of the man left in charge of the Cali
fornia property and foreclosure proceedings on that property were
1 T he d ata on which this article is based are from C om m unities of th e P ast and Present, b y E rnest S.
W ooster; Allen v . Llano del Rio Co., 116 So. 675; descriptive pam phlets issued b y th e Llano Cooperative
Colony; th e Llano Colonist, issues of Oct. 30, 1926, Dec. 21, 1929, Dec. 6, 1930, Feb. 14, 21, and 28,1931,
and M ar. 7, 14, and 28, 1931; C om m unist a n d Cooperative Colonies, by Chas. Gide; Cooperation, A ugust,
1927; and other d ata in th e possession of th e bureau.
2 W ooster, E rnest: C om m unities of the P a st and Present, 1924, p . 123.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1133]
102
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
finally settled, leaving debts of about $17,000. In Louisiana tbe
colonists had been joined by some 25 families from Texas who were
not imbued with any of the colony ideas. The Californians and
Texans did not get on well together, friction over methods developed,
and finally the Texans withdrew, taking with them the property they
had brought in. At this time when the outlook was darkest a pay
ment on the colony site became due. Negotiations were entered into
with the Gulf Lumber Co., owner of the property, and $6,000 (lent by
a new recruit to the colony) was paid down, a new and more favorable
contract was entered into, and a strip of 4 acres of land with about 15
houses was purchased. Loss of some of the members of the colony,
skilled workers who left to earn the high wages being paid outside for
labor at that time, and a partial crop failure in 1918 and a total failure
in 1919 added to the colony’s troubles, “ so that there was great
privation inside the colony and great prosperity outside. ”
Then came a turn for the better. Additional money from outside
was secured, and new members came, persuaded by the financial
depression of 1920-21. Commonwealth College was founded by a
young educator and was brought to the colony in 1923, attracting
considerable attention.3
The Suit for Receivership
I n 1927 suit for the appointment of a receiver was brought in the
District Court for the Eleventh Judicial District by a shareholder
who was a former resident in the colony. He contended that the
colony company had failed in its purpose, since although it was
organized as a profit-making enterprise it had paid no dividends.
The decision of the court reviewed the situation, found that the
liabilities of the colony were $1,242,311, while the assets were only
$521,695, upheld the contention of the plaintiff that the organization
was a profit enterprise, and held that in operating as a nonprofit,
communistic colony it had gone beyond its charter. The court
therefore granted the receivership and ordered the colony to pay
costs of $2,500. The colony appealed to the supreme court of the
State, however, which returned its decision February 13, 1928, re
versing the decision of the lower court.
The receivership was asked for on a number of grounds, including the
charges of insolvency, gross mismanagement of the business, misrepre
sentation of the living conditions and success of the colony, failure to
keep proper accounts, and certain specific acts of the board of directors,
including the securing of the payment of money advanced by the
directors by mortgage on the property of the corporation. The
court in its decision pointed out that, under the law of Louisiana, the
appellant, being a shareholder but not a creditor, could not sue for
receivership on the ground of insolvency.
That ground is available only to a creditor suing as such. * * * In the case
at bar, plaintiff has nothing to gain by the evidence introduced on the question of
insolvency. It appears that, when the company moved to this State, it had very
few assets left, and was considerably indebted. A large part of the indebtedness
that then existed, if not nearly all of it, has been paid. The corporation now
owns considerable land and personal property, and, so far as the record discloses,
has progressed since it has been here, especially under the present management.
While it owes large amounts of money, yet the evidence shows that this indebted3 T he college later m oved to M ena, A rk., where it now Is.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1134]
COOPERATION
103
ness, w ith th e e x c e p tio n of a sm a ll claim , c o n c e rn in g w h ic h som e d is p u te aro se, is
n o t p re ssin g . I n fa c t, th e r e is ev id en c e in th e r e c o rd w h ich , n o t in c lu d in g lia b ility
o n s to c k , sh o w s t h a t t h e c o rp o ra tio n a t th e tim e o f t h e tr i a l o f th i s c a se w as
so lv e n t. W e th e re fo re c o n c lu d e t h a t t h e e v id e n c e o n t h e q u e s tio n of in so lv e n c y
te n d s r a t h e r to sh o w g o o d m a n a g e m e n t t h a n to sh o w th e c o n tra ry .
As to the charge that the corporation was violating its charter
rights by operating as a communistic or cooperative colony, the court
said:
I t is tr u e t h a t th e c h a rte r sa y s n o th in g a b o u t th e r ig h t of th e c o rp o ra tio n to
o p e ra te u p o n a c o m m u n is tic b a sis, a n d th e r e is n o th in g in i t s u g g e s tin g t h a t m a n
n e r o f o p e ra tio n . H o w e v e r, t h e re c o rd m a k e s i t c le a r t h a t t h e c o rp o r a tio n h a s
b e e n c o n d u c te d o n a c o m m u n is tic o r c o o p e ra tiv e b a sis fro m i t s c re a tio n , a n d t h a t
its p u rp o s e in re a lity is, a n d h a s b e e n , t o co lo n ize i t s m e m b e rs a s f a r a s p o ssib le,
to t h e e n d t h a t a ll m ig h t w o rk fo r t h e b e n e fit o f t h e w hole, a n d th e r e b y im p ro v e
th e ir liv in g c o n d itio n s b y c o n d u c tin g th e v a rio u s b u sin e sse s a n d c a llin g s a u th o r iz e d
b y t h e c h a rte r. T h is c o o p e ra tiv e p o lic y h a s b e e n k e p t p a r a m o u n t a t a ll tim e s .
A ll w h o b e c a m e sto c k h o ld e rs k n e w o f it , in c lu d in g p la in tiff, a n d w e t h i n k i t safe
to s a y t h a t i t w a s th i s c o m m u n is tic id e a t h a t in d u c e d th e m to jo in . I n th e s e
c irc u m sta n c e s i t w o u ld b e im p ro p e r to p la c e d e fe n d a n t in t h e h a n d s o f a re c e iv e r
o n th e g ro u n d h e re u n d e r c o n sid e ra tio n , w h e n , a t t h e tim e p la in tiff b e c a m e a
su b s c rib e r, h e h a d k n o w le d g e o f th e s e fa c ts , a n d sig n e d a w o rk in g c o n tr a c t a n d
b e c a m e a m e m b e r o f th e c o lo n y w ith t h a t k n o w led g e. H e, h im self, te s tifie d t h a t
h e w a s w illin g to t r y th e c o o p e ra tiv e p la n , b u t is n o t sa tisfie d w ith t h e c z a rlik e
a d m in is tra tio n o f t h e p re s e n t m a n a g e r— a c h a ra c te r of a d m in is tr a tio n w h ich , w e
m a y h e re sa y , w e th i n k th e re c o rd d o es n o t disclose.
The evidence showed that while the company kept records of its
transactions with the outside world, no accounts were kept of the cost
of production, etc., of the various departments within the colony, so
that “ it is impossible to say from them whether a department, such
as the dairy, or agricultural or milling department, is earning or losing
money.” As to this, however, considering that “ this plan does not
have in view primarily the declaration of dividends, but better living
conditions for stockholders residing in the colony, that the production
is largely or entirely by the membership who live, as it were, out of a
common treasury, the importance of keeping a full set of books ceases,
and the failure to keep such a set should not be considered gross
mismanagement, calling for the appointment of a receiver.”
Other acts alleged as gross mismanagement—the failure to carry
fire insurance because against the principles of the colony, the accept
ance of certain land in Mississippi as payment of membership in the
colony, the granting of the mortgage to certain members of the board
of directors to secure them for money loaned by them to the corpora
tion—were likewise held as not constituting mismanagement calling
for receivership.
The decision set aside the judgment of the lower court and ordered
the plaintiff to pay the costs in both courts.
In 1929, the receiver appointed under decision of the lower court
obtained judgment in that court for $5,000 for services rendered. An
appeal by the colony is pending in the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Present Development of the Colony
Membership Requirements
T he corporation has an authorized capital of $5,000,000, divided
into shares of $1 each. Residence in the colony is not required for
membership, but a person desiring to join the organization must sub
scribe for $2,000 worth of stock and pay down in cash (or equivalent
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1135]
104
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
value) $1,000 plus (if he is married) $200 for his wife, plus $150 for
each child between the ages of 12 and 21 and $100 for each child under
12. This first payment may be madein installments. The difference
between the first payment and the full-membership requirement may,
at the option of the applicant, be paid in cash or worked out at the
rate of $1 a day. Stock is not issued to the applicant for membership
until paid for in full.
A new member comes in on one year’s probation. Formerly, when
the membership payment was made it could not be returned; if he
left before being received into full membership he forfeited the amount
paid in; as well as the bonus earned by his work. A publication of the
colony states, however, that “ recently the board of directors of the
colony corporation adopted a resolution under the terms of which the
amount of the membership fee is received, not as a payment, but as a
deposit, and is held as such for one year, unless either the colony or
the applicant within one year desires that it be returned.” The
applicant, on coming into the colony, signs the “ Llano pledge” by
which he agrees to do any work in the community to which he is
assigned and to “ accept as compensation food, clothing, and shelter
and services as the colony is in a position to provide, at no time expect
ing returns or profits in dollars and cents.” If at the expiration of the
year both parties desire to continue the arrangement, the deposit
becomes a payment and thereafter is not returnable. Either party
may terminate the contract within the year. If the colony does so,
the applicant’s deposit is to be repaid within 60 days after termina
tion ; if the applicant does so, the colony may at its option delay repay
ment until one year after termination.
Government of the Colony
The colony is governed by a board of directors elected annually by
the resident members. These directors are legally responsible for
every transaction. The actual conduct of the day-by-day operations
is in the hands of a general manager selected by the board of directors.
He appoints the foremen of the different departments and assigns the
members to their jobs; “ if they have preferences, these are, of course,
respected, and they are given the work they like best as soon as con
ditions permit.”
The colony has no constitution and by-laws. It operates under a
“ declaration of principles.”
Living Conditions and Industrial Development
Communal housing is not a feature of the colony. Each family has
its own habitation, rent free, where all of the usual family activities
may be earned on. As to meals the family may exercise a choice
between eating at the colony cafeteria or preparing them at home.
Food, clothing, and other supplies are free and may be drawn as
needed, although the members are expected to practice “ judicious
economy.”
The colony town site of 40 acres is the original mill-town property.
Besides the houses of the members and the industrial buildings it con
tains the community store, a hotel, a theater, and a building especially
for the children of the colony. The housing accommodations have
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1136]
COOPERATION
105
been admittedly unsatisfactory, consisting mostly of the old buildings
of the mill town. A beginning toward permanent confortable single
dwellings has been made and the building program is to be pushed as
fast as circumstances allow. It is stated that a comfortable house
can be built at the colony for $500.
The colony children receive 8 hours’ instruction each day, of which
4 hours are spent on the regular academic subjects and the other 4 in
practical vocational instruction. Each child is taught, also, to play
a musical instrument.
The_ aim of the colony is eventually to be self-sufficient, but this
condition is as yet far from having been attained. Agriculture has
received the greatest amount of attention thus far. Some 1,000 acres
are under cultivation, according to the recent report of a firm of audi
tors, besides a rice ranch of about 400 acres some 80 miles distant
irom the colony. Various crops of vegetables and fruits are raised,
the excess above what is needed for the requirements of the com
munity being canned and sold in outside markets. Manufacturing
is also carried on in certain lines, including brick, lumber products,
harness, hampers and crates, brooms, milk and dairy products,
peanut butter, ice, bakery products, confectionery, etc. The colony
also operates a carpenter shop, a laundry, poultry farm, community
store, electric-light plant, grist mill, shoe repair shop, tailor and dress
making shop, machine shop, sheet-metal works, printing plant, black
smith shop, acetylene welding plant, paint shop, etc. Some of these
are still carried on with inadequate equipment, and the columns of the
Llano Colonist have been carrying appeals to friends and sympathizers
to furnish the lacking items.
A setback was sustained very recently when on March 5, 1931, the
power plant and some of the other buildings and equipment were
destroyed by fire.
All the property is held in common, and any profits earned through
the sale of merchandise or through increased land or other values
accrue to the whole membership collectively, no individual having
any claim upon them.
Present Financial Condition of the Colony
D u r in g the time of the colonists’ greatest difficulties the lumber
company from which the property was purchased lent the colony
$50,000, which was used to build the ice plant and cannery and to
start the making of veneer, brick, and tile. In the words of the man
ager of the colony, the lumber company proved to be the colony’s
“ best friends when it has come to financial support. * * * For
many j^ears they have carried the taxes on the unpurchased property
that we had under contract. They never charged us interest on our
land contract and have been exceptionally fair and liberal with us.”
Toward the end of 1929, however, the company, having finished its
sawmilling operations, decided to wind up its affairs and go out of
business. The colony therefore was faced with the necessity of rais
ing the money with which to pay off this debt. It issued an appeal
to outside sympathizers for aid; it also offered some of its unused land
at $5 an acre.
52839°—31-----8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11371
106
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
By various means the money was raised and the obligation met on
May 24, 1930. A substantial portion of the necessary cash was loaned
by William Hapgood, president of the Columbia Conserve Co. of In
dianapolis. As part of the agreement entered into at that time the
affairs of the colony have recently been subjected to an audit by a
firm of public accountants of that city, the results of which have just
been made public.
The auditors’ report points out that the financial _status of the
colony has been obscured by the fact that the California capital
accounts were maintained in spite of the fact that they had no bear
ing on the Louisiana operations and that practically all of the Cali
fornia property was disposed of at the time of the removal to Louisiana.
In 1920, the present management took hold and we count the life of the cor
poration, as a practical business matter, from that date. It is true that capital
stock issued before that time is still a book liability; but for practical purposes
we have separated the amount of capital stock issued before that time from that
issued after, because the proceeds of that first sold were almost entirely dissi
pated. The present management began in April, 1920, with liabilities almost
equal to assets.
After the adjustment, eliminating the California operations, the
balance sheet of the colony stood as follows:
B A L A N C E S H E E T O F LL A N O C O O P E R A T IV E C O LO N Y B E E O R E A N D A F T E R E L IM I
N A T IO N O F C A L IF O R N IA A C C O U N T S
Before adjust After adjust
m ent
m ent
Item
A s s e ts
$4. 40
910. 00
40.00
15,257. 35
394, 475.06
$4.40
910. 00
40.00
15,257.35
212,750.00
410, 686. 81
228,961.75
N otes payable-------------------------------Accounts p ayable---------------------------Loans and deposits------------------------L and contracts_____________________
70,415. 80
41,059. 74
47,844. 70
23, 235. 00
70,415. 80
40,032. 76
47,844. 70
23,235. 00
C ash-----------------------------------------------Notes receivable--------------------------------Securities____________________________
L and paym ents d u e---------------------------L and, buildings, equipm ent, etc----------T o tal assets____________________
L ia b ilitie s
T o tal________________________
182, 555. 24
181, 528. 26
C apital and deficit:
C apital stock issued____________
California colony stock not issued.
Stock accum ulations-----------------Installm ent stock account______
738,448. 00
106, 051. 00
238,148. 78
89, 424. 77
170,727. 00
T otal capital_________________
M inus deficit accounts-----------
1,172,072. 55
943,940. 98
170,727.00
123,293. 51
T o tal capital and deficit----------
228,131. 57
47,433. 49
T o tal liabilities______________
410, 686.81
228,961.75
The audit states that “ while notes payable to members and friends
are shown herein as liabilities, evidence is at hand to the effect that
some of the items will never be subject to payment.” And again:
The colony has sought to raise funds recently by offering for sale to friends
outside the colony certain of its lands at $5 per acre. At September 30, 1930, a
total of $6,182.32 had been recorded as received from land purchasers. How
ever, we are informed by the management that few deeds have been given and
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1138]
COOPERATION
107
that no definite tracts have been allocated to the purchasers. It further appears
that in several instances the funds have been donated to the colony with no
thought of claiming acreage.
Between the time of the adjusted balance and the end of Septem
ber, 1930 (nine months), the colony “ increased its capital and liabili
ties by $45,452.89 and decreased certain assets by $5,975.60, the
total values of $50,528.49 thus made available being applied to
increase other assets by $12,248.04, to finance an operating loss of
$8,747.15, and to reduce surplus by items totaling $29,533.30. * * *
The cash requirements during the period included approximately
$10,000 needed to take care of expenses in excess of operating receipts.”
The income and expenditures of the colony during the nine-month
period were as follows:
IN C O M E A N D E X P E N D IT U R E S O P LL A N O C O O P E R A T IV E C O L O N Y , N IN E M O N T H S
E N D IN G S E P T E M B E R 30, 1930
’
Item
A m ount
Item
In c o m e
A m ount
E x p e n d itu r e s
Store________
Ice plant
Planing m ill (m anufacture of bus
bodies)_____
Orate factory—
.. _
Post office,.
Plants, berries, etc
P oultry and eggs.. ______
School p a y . _____
C andy factory____ _____
Cannery
Garage, blacksm ith, a n d m a c h i n e
shops _______
W oodyard.. ______
H otel_____________
Shoe shop, tailor shop, photographer.
Sundry ___ ______ _
T o tal______________
$7,129. 91
6, 995.52
2, 509.16
1,421. 64
1,287. 40
1,031.19
720.83
667. 50
503. 99
336.09
293.12
263. 25
221. 25
63. 53
1,192. 53
Food
Garage, blacksm ith, a n d m a c h i n e
shops
Ice plant
H ardw are a n d supplies___
Sundry factory supplies an d expense.. .
Cemfint, iron, pnr[ repairs
Clothing
Sundry (soap, m edicine, taxes, office
supplies, e tc .)............
Total
Excess of expenditures over income
$9, 000. 00
7,800. 00
2, 000. 00
1,200. 00
2, 660. 00
1, 550. 00
1,100. 00
1, 000. 00
4,133.54
34,443. 54
9,806. 64
24, 636. 90
Probabilities of Success of Colony
T he colony has now been in existence nearly 17 years, more than 13
of which have been spent in the present location. During that time
it has sustained an unusual number of reverses and difficulties, includ
ing several fires (resulting in total loss of the property destroyed
because of the failure to carry insurance); two crop failures; at least
two secessions from the colony, resulting in a division of goods and
assets; and a long-drawn-out lawsuit which, though ending in suc
cess for the colony, was a paralyzing and energy-wasting force while
it lasted.
There are available no data to show just how many persons there
were in the colony when it settled in Louisiana. Prof. Charles Gide,
in his book, Communist and Cooperative Communities, states (p.207)
that_there were 800 members in 1920, that this number had fallen to
350 in 1923, and to 188 in 1927. He notes this progressive diminu
tion in numbers as a bad symptom “ and one we have met with already
m many of these communist societies and always as the forerunner of
the end.” That the diminution may not only have been halted but
a turn taken for the better is indicated by a statement by the manager,
m the summer of 1930, that there were at that time between 350 and
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1139]
108
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
400 persons in the colony. It is also possible that the continued finan
cial depression throughout the country has furnished additional
recruits for the colony.4 Evidence of vitality is shown by the fact
that the group has made some beginning in outside colonization work.
The Llano Colonist of February 28, 1931, announces the establish
ment of three new units, and states that the colony is considering the
possibility of others.
.
,
, ,
During its period of existence the colony has fed and clothed its
members, has brought into cultivation some 1,000 acres of ground,
and has acquired land, buildings, and equipment valued at more than
$200,000. As against this, however, accumulated deficits have wiped
out more than 70 per cent of even the “ adjusted” capital, and it
owes loans of $47,000, besides other accounts of some $40,000.
As to the ability of the colony to support itself, Professor Gide
remarks as follows:
* * * It would seem tliat the Llano society has always lived a hand-tomouth existence. I have passed the same criticism on other cooperative com
munities, and this one is no worse than the rest m being unable to live on the
produce of its own enterprise. It has lived on the capital obtained from its
shares or from the increased value of its land, which accrues rapidly m America,
but this is not a proper way to live.
The company which made the audit previously referred to pointed
out that the condition of the books make it impossible for the manage
ment to ascertain “ what activities are profitable and desirable and
which ones result in a loss and therefore should be curtailed. It
should be apparent that the more revenue obtainable through colony
operations, the better the degree of well-being possible in the colony’s
self-support. It seems to us also evident that only through adequate
accounts can desirable activities be recognized and controlled by effi
cient management to the end that the better degree or standard of
self-support may be obtained.”
At the time of the lawsuit in 1927-28, the general manager acted as
trustee and all the operations were carried on in his name, and after
the receivership was lifted this arrangement was continued. The
auditors recommend that immediate steps be taken to restore the
former status, and that the “ net assets be taken over by some new
financial entity.” Being of the opinion that “ the most satisfactory
solution would appear to be in the creation of an entire new financial
structure,” the auditors suggest the “ business tru st” as a desirable
form of organization for the colony. “ The deed of trust describes
the business of the association and the duties and rights of trustees
and shareholders; the operative nature of the enterprise could be
clearly stated therein.”
The social benefits of the colony can not be measured. Ihe satis
faction gained by living in an environment in direct contrast with that
of the capitalistic order and participating in a social experiment whose
avowed purpose is the advancement of the welfare of the whole group,
thus doing away with the struggle of individuals, is an intangible
thing which can not be gauged. As to this, the following, by Professor
Gide, is apropos.
of 1930-31, th e colony has given
i T h e Llano O ooperator of M ar. 28, 1931, states th a t during th e w inter
shelter a n d food to “ m ore th a n 360 dispossessed persons.
I t also states th a t this was “ alm ost one and
a half tim es more people th a n we had as th e original group.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1140]
COOPERATION
109
I t m u s t b e a d m itte d , th e n , t h a t th e s e U to p ia s m e e t o n e of th e n e e d s o f m a n k in d ,
o r a t le a s t a n a s p ira tio n to w a rd a less in d iv id u a lis tic k in d of life th a n e x is ts to - d a v .
w a s , f ®ln §le o n e o f th e s e so c ie tie s liv in g a n d flo u rish in g to - d a y t h a t
o f ^ ,K rr nn+nh '+S1Cf i or, c h ®m ic a l scien ce a sin g le su c c e ssfu l e x p e rim e n t
s e n o u g h to e s ta b lis h t h e t r u t h o f a law . A h u n d re d u n su c c e ssfu l e x p e rim e n ts
p ro v e n o th in g a g a in s t o n e t h a t su cceeds. I f th e y h a v e fa ile d i t is m e re ly b e c a u s e
c irc u m sta n c e s h a v e n o t b e e n fa v o ra b le , a n d t h e o n ly c o n clu sio n to b e d ra w n is
t h a t i t is n o t e a sy to c o m b in e th e s e fa v o ra b le c o n d itio n s.
Un o r tu n a te ly w e c a n n o t p o in t a t th i s m o m e n t to a sin g le e x a m p le of a re a lly
c o m m u n is t so c ie ty w h ic h h a s re a lly su cceed ed . B u t w e h a v e se e n se v e ra l w h ic h
la s te d a lo n g tim e , so m e o f th e m fo r o v e r a c e n tu r y , a n d t h a t is its e lf a p ro o f t h a t
th e y a r e p ra c tic a b le . A re w e, th e n , t o e x p e c t th e m t o b e im m o r ta l? N o , fo r
n o w m a n y b u sin e ss c o m p a n ie s o r c o m m e rc ia l h o u se s a r e th e r e w h ic h c a n c e le b ra te
th e i r c e n te n a ry ? V ery few in d e e d . S o w h y b e a s to n is h e d if o u t of tw o h u n d re d
c o m m u n is t so c ie tie s t h a t h a v e b e e n fo rm e d o n ly tw o o r th r e e s h o u ld b e a b le to
c e le b ra te th e i r h u n d r e d th b ir th d a y ?
M em b ersh ip of In ter n a tio n a l C ooperative A llian ce
to the Review of International Cooperation for
L1 ebruary, 1931, the International Cooperative Alliance now
ACCORDING
includes in its membership the cooperative movement in 41 countnes_~ an aggregate of 229,890 societies with more than 70,000,000
members. These societies do a combined annual business amounting
to $17,610,718,038, have share capital of $959,999,486, and reserve
funds of $548,558,635.
The Russian cooperative movement is by far the largest single
member of the Alliance, having an annual business of $14,038,078 743
share capital of $310,839,726, and reserves of $362,120,582.
. The membership of the 229,890 societies affiliated with the Alliance
is divided, according to type of society, as follows :
M em bers
C o n su m e rs’ s o c ie tie s___ ______________________________ 4g 2 3 3 5 4 1
P ro d u c tiv e s o c ie tie s _________________________________~~
’ 135’ 221
A g ric u ltu ra l so c ie tie s__________________________________ 2 2 403’ 687
In addition there are 14,984,864 persons affiliated with 32,219 credit
societies.
C ooperative P eop le’s B ank s of Q uebec
-Province of Quebec has the distinction of being the first
jurisdiction in North America to introduce cooperative credit
T III^
societies. I t was from the pattern of the Quebec people’s banks
that the credit unions of the United States were formed.
The Statistical Y earbook of Quebec carries, each year, data showmg the development of these societies. The 1930 yearbook shows a
steady increase in number of banks, membership, and loans granted
each year from 1925 to 1929. Although the amount of loans granted
rose each year from 1925 to 1928, it fell slightly from 1928 to 1929.
In 1929, of the $4,249,650 granted in loans, $2,517,750 was on notes,
$1,133,669 on mortgages, and $598,231 on debentures.
They had at the end of the year total assets of $11,463,557. The
capital stock amounted to $1,850,542 and the reserves, surplus, and
provident funds to $960,667.
The growth of the membership and business from 1925 to 1929 is
shown m the table following.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
L1141J
110
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
D E V E L O P M E N T OF C O O P E R A T IV E P E O P L E ’S B A N K S IN P R O V IN C E OF Q U E B E C ,
Year
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
M embership
N um ber
reporting
________ - ______
_________________
__________________
- ______
__________________
N um ber
of deposi
tors
33, 527
37, 343
40, 753
40, 568
44, 685
33, 279
36, 298
41, 365
41, 374
44,835
122
154
159
168
178
Loans granted during
year
N et gain
N um ber
13, 794
15, 843
16, 832
17, 403
17, 994
A m ount
$449, 531
468, 034
537, 294
571, 664
645, 616
$3, 919, 961
4,496, 956
4, 778, 761
5, 047, 769
4, 249, 650
—
P ersons E m ployed by B ritish C ooperative W h olesale S ociety
ATA given in the People’s Yearbook for 1931 show that in spite
of the bad conditions of the past five years the cooperative
movement of Great Britain _in 1929 was employing 248,736 persons,
or nearly 45,000 more than in 1925.
Of the wage earners employed by the cooperative movement m
that country, more than 34,000 are working in the productive depart
ments of the English Cooperative Wholesale Society. This society
carries on manufactures in a wide variety of businesses, the value of
the output of its productive and service departments reaching the
sum of £30,948,060 ($150,608,734) in 1929. The following table
shows the various productive activities of the society and the number
of employees of each, at the end of 1929:
D
PERSO N S
E M P L O Y E D IN S P E C IF IE D M A N U F A C T U R IN G P L A N T S
C O O P E R A T IV E W H O L E S A L E SO C IE T Y , 1929
E stablishm ent
Flour m ills______________________
Feed mills _____ _______ - - -Cracker and confectionery factories.
B u tter and cheese factories. _ _____
M argarine factory_______
___
L ard re fin e ry _______
.
Bacon factories. _ ______
. .
Preserves factories_________ _
Vinegar and yeast factory_____ _ .
Tea. and coffee factories
_________
Cocoa, and chocolate factory__ ____
D rugs and chemicals factories. _ _ _
Tobacco and cigar factory .
C annery
_
. . .
Packing p la n t.
..
_
_ _
M ilk d istributing p l a n t s . _____
C otton m ills________
_ _ _
__ _ .
Woolen m ills________
Hosiery mill
______________
__
Rope and tw ine m ill...
_
Clothing (including underclothing)
factories
______
_ _ __
Corset factory___ _ ___ _
Boot, and shoe factories
_ ____ _
Tanneries
___________
Bedding, quilts, etc., factory.. . .
H a t and cap fa c to ry ._ _ _ _ __
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N um N um
ber of ber of
estab em
lish ployees
m ents
8
3
2
3
1
1
5
4
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
5
1
1
1, 625
60
1, 331
191
1,059
24
326
1,867
48
655
494
1, 263
736
150
203
170
597
819
1,006
150
13
1
11
2
1
1
5, 609
376
4,056
119
101
20
OF
E stablishm ent
U m brella factory------------------------Felling p la n ts-----------------------------F u rn itu re factories----------------------Iro n w orks______________________
T in p late w o rk s ..________________
B ucket and fender w orks_________
C utlery w orks___________________
Bicycle and motor-cycle w orks-----Scales factory-----------------------------Jew elry factory________ _____ ____
B rush factories__________________
Soap factories______________
P a in t factories________ _____ ____
Saddlery and harness factory-------T ru n k , etc., factory______________
Picture-fram ing p la n t-----------------Printing, bookbinding, etc., plants
Oil m ills________________________
Sawmills_______________________
P otteries_______________________
Glass-bottle factory______________
M otor-vehicle factory-----------------Coal m ine______________________
Building, engineering, etc., p lants..
[1142 J
T o tal_____________________
B R IT IS H
N um N um
ber of ber of
estab em
lish ploym ents ees
1
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
5
2
2
3
1
1
1
3
34
223
1,345
175
76
170
8
234
132
16
299
1,823
46
9
105
14
2,419
344
278
235
144
38
730
2,332
117
34,284
LABOR TURNOVER
Labor T urnover in A m erican F actories, M arch, 1931
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics presents herewith the labor turn
over rates for manufacturing as a whole and for eight separate
manufacturing industries. The form of average used in computing
the rates in the following tables is the weighted arithmetic mean.
Previous to January, 1931, the bureau had been using the un
weighted median of company rates as the form of average for com
puting turnover rates. The averages for 1930 as presented in Tables
1 and 3 have been recomputed to present the arithmetic mean.
Table 2 shows the turnover rates for the months, June to Decem
ber, 1929, inclusive, for industry as a whole, using the arithmetic mean
as a form of average. The bureau has now recomputed the aver
ages using the arithmetic mean as a basis for all months for which
data have been received. Previous to June, 1929, labor turnover
rates were compiled by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
The form of average for presenting turnover rates was changed
because the bureau considers that the arithmetic mean gives a more
representative picture of actual conditions in industry than the
median of company rates. In using the median, the small company
had as much influence upon the rates as a large company. In using
the arithmetic average, each company has an influence on the rate
in proportion to the number of its employees. In computing the
arithmetic mean, the number of quits, discharges, lay-offs and acces
sions actually occurring during the month in all plants reporting are
added. The totals of these items are divided by the total average
number on the company pay rolls during the month. This gives the
monthly quit, discharge, lay-off, and accessions rates. The equiva
lent annual rates are obtained by multiplying the monthly rates by
the number of times the days in the current month are contained in
the 365 days in the year. Since the month of March has 31 days,
the equivalent annual rate is obtained by multiplying the monthly
rate by 11.77.
The indexes for manufacturing as a whole are compiled from reports
made to the Bureau of Labor Statistics from representative estab
lishments in over 75 industries, employing approximately 1,250,000
people. In the eight industries for which separate indexes are
presented reports were received from representative plants employing
approximately 25 per cent of the employees in such industries as
shown by the Census of Manufactures of i 927.
In the automotive industry schedules are received from plants
employing approximately 200,000 people; firms reporting for boots
and shoes employ nearly 100,000 people; those for cotton manufac
turing employ approximately 125,000; foundry and machine-shop
firms reporting had nearly 175,000 people on their pay roll. The
furniture industry is represented by firms employing about 40,000
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1148]
111
112
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
people; the iron and steel industry by firms employing 225,000 people.
The reports received from representative sawmills have approximately
65,000 employees on their pay rolls, while the plants reporting on
slaughtering and meat packing show nearly 85,000 people. .
Table 1 shows for all industries, the total separation rate subdivided
into the quit, discharge, and lay-off rates together with the accession
and net turnover rates presented both on a monthly and an equiva
lent annual basis.
T able
1. — A V E R A G E
LA B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S E L E C T E D
IN D U S T R IE S
F A C T O R IE S IN 75
A.—Monthly Rates
Separation rates
Accession
rate
J anuary _____
F e b r u a r y ____
M arch__ __
ivTrrr —
Tune
Tnly
A ugust-----------Septem ber------N ov em ber-------D ecem ber_____
A V C rftg G - _
Lay-off
Quit
M onth
Discharge
.
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1. 85
. 60
1.94
9 11
m
0.74
.74
.94
2.70
2.50
2.83
2 57
. 68
3. 00
4.17
3 99
1.95
1. 75
1. 75
0.54
.62
.60
. 53
.48
.46
.32
. 36
. 36
.32
. 24
0.19
1
9
1
1
1
1
1
35
40
50
2Q
QO
.84
1 55
2. 74
.21
5. 09
4. 72
5. 37
5. 21
5.17
5. 31
5.84
5. 75
5. 00
4. 49
3. 91
3. 79
3. 00
42
4. 97
2
3 14
22 88
77
.20
.26
N et tu rn
over rate
Total
1931
1930
1931
1930
2.88
3. 95
3.94
4.15
3. 55
3.28
2.92
2.51
2. 71
3. 27
2.56
2.05
2.13
2. 97
2.82
3. 67
3. 95
3.94
4.15
3. 55
3.28
2.92
2. 51
2. 71
3. 27
2.56
2.05
2.13
2. 69
2. 95
1931
2.88
2. 69
2. 95
3. 08
3. 08
B.—Equivalent Annual Rates
Jariuary_______
F e b ru a ry ______
M arch ________
A pril__________
M a y __________
J u n e __________
J u ly ___________
A u g u st________
Septem ber_____
O ctober_______
N ovem ber_____
D ecem ber_____
Average..
21.8 8.7
20.9
9. 6
22.8 11. 1
9.9
31.8
32.6
33.3
31.3
31.5
36.5
49. 1
47.0
38.2
33.9
33. 7
32. 2
18.7
35.9
25.7
23. 7
22. 5
15.9
16.5
18.3
15.2
11.0
23.0
22.8
20.6
6.4
8.0
7. 1
6.5
5.6
5.6
3.8
4.2
4.4
3.8
2.9
2.5
5.1
2. 2
2.6
3.1
68.8
67. 7
60.9
52.9
47.6
44. 6
46.5
51.4
48.8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29.5
31.9
39.8
30. 1
24.9
25.1
59.7
37.1
60.0
61.5
63. 2
63. 5
60.8
64. 6
33.9
35.0
34.8
35.0
36.8
43. 2
46.5
51.4
48.8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29.5
31.9
39.8
30. 1
24.9
25.1
37.1
The March accession rate for manufacturing as a whole was 3.67
compared with a total separation rate of 2.95. This is the third con
secutive month in which the accession rate was higher than the total
separation rate.
Comparing the rates for March with those for February, there was
an increase in the quit, discharge, and accession rates. The March
lay-off rate was exactly the same as the February lay-off rate.
Comparing the March, 1931, figures with those for March, 1930,
there was a marked decrease in the quit, discharge, and lay-off rates.
The accession rate also declined slightly.
In addition to the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation, and
accession rates, the bureau presents the net turnover rate. The net
turnover rate means the rate of replacement. It is the number of
jobs that are vacated and filled per 100 employees. In a plant that is
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
rn44]
LABOR TURNOVER
113
increasing its forces, the net turnover rate is the same as the separation
rate because while more people are hired than are separated from their
jobs, the number hired above those leaving is due to expansion and
can not be justly charged to turnover. On the other hand, in a plant
that is reducing its number of employees, the net turnover rate is the
same as the accession rate, for while more people are separated from
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1145]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
114
the pay roll than are hired, the excess of separations over accessions is
due to a reduction of force and therefore can not be logically charged
as a turnover expense. For the third consecutive month the net turn
over rate for manufacturing as a whole is the same as the separation
rate. In other words, more people were hired during the months of
January, February, and March than were separated from the pay roll.
INDEXES OF AVERAGE MONTHLY
LABOR TURNOVER RATES, I9 3 0 & I9 3 I.
The preceding charts show in graphic form the information contained
in Table 1.
Table 2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn
over rates for manufacturing as a whole for the months of June to
December, 1929. These averages have been recomputed to show the
arithmetic average instead of the median of company rates.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11146.1
LABOR TURNOVER
T able
115
2 .—A V E R A G E LA B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S E L E C T E D F A C T O R IE S IN 75 IN
D U S T R IE S IN 1929
Separation rates
Lay-off
Accession
rate
E quivalent annual
rate
M onthly rate
E quivalent annual
rate
M o nthly rate
E quivalent annual
rate
M o nthly rate
E quivalent annual
rate
M o nthly rate
E quivalent annual
rate
M o n th ly rate
N et turnover
rate
M onthly rate
Total
4. 51
3.65
4.15
4.70
3.16
2.27
1. 56
54.9
43.0
48.8
57.2
37.2
27.6
18.4
0.86
.88
.87
.85
.69
.66
.50
10.4
10.4
10.2
10.3
8.1
8.0
5.9
2.14
1.49
1.49
1.42
3. 06
2. 81
2. 35
26.0
17.5
17.5
17.3
36.0
34.2
27.7
7.51
6.02
6.51
6. 97
6. 91
5. 74
4. 41
91.3
70.9
76.5
84.8
81.3
69.8
52.0
7.53
6.53
6.12
7.10
5.27
3.91
3.13
91.6
76.9
72.0
86.4
62. 0
47.6
36.8
7.51
6.02
6.12
6.97
5.27
3.91
3. 13
M onth
June -Ju ly __________
A ugust_______
Septem ber. _
October______
N ovem ber____
December. _
Discharge
E quivalent annual
rate
Q uit
91.3
70.9
72.0
84.8
62. 0
47.6
36.8
Table 3 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn
over rates for automobiles, boots and shoes, cotton manufacturing,
foundry and machine shops, furniture, iron and steel, sawmills, and
slaughtering and meat packing by months for the year 1930 and for
January, February, and March, 1931, presented both on a monthly
and an equivalent annual basis.
T able
3 .—A V E R A G E LA B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S
A.—Monthly Rates
Separat ion rates
In d u stry and m onth
Automobiles:
Jan u a ry ______________
F e b ru a ry ____________
M arch _______________
• A pril____ _______ _
M ay- _
J u n e ________________
Ju ly _________________
A ugust.-,
_ _- Septem ber- October
_N ovem ber- December
Average _
Boots and shoes:
Jan u a ry _____________
February __ -- _ _
M arch _______________
A p r i l . ___ __________
M a y _____
_ _____
J u n e ___ _____________
Ju ly _________________
A ugust -_ ______ _ _
Septem ber___________
October . _ _________
N ovem ber____ „ _ _
D ecem ber--. ________
Quit
Discharge
Lay-off
Total
Accession
rate
N et tu rn
over rate
1930
1931
1930
2.92
4.12
7. 76
9.49
3. 85
4. 41
4 68
3 98
2 34
2 78
3 69
3 83
4 02
4 77
3. 43
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
2. 76
1.16
1.81
2. 21
2.20
1. 59
1. 14
1.23
1. 29
1.19
.81
.88
0. 54
.74
1.09
0.92
.38
.56
. £0
. 50
.39
.24
.38
.33
.25
. 16
.17
0.18
.21
.39
5.81
2. 31
2.04
1. 97
5. 59
5.90
9. 48
7. 66
7. 42
5. 39
3.80
3. 69
2. 63
1. 71
1. 71
9.49
3. 85
4.41
4. 68
8. 29
7. 88
10. 86
9. 27
9. 04
6. 83
4. 77
4. 74
3. 35 13. 50
2.66 4. 74
3.19 6.92
7. 45
3 98
2. 34
2 78
3. 69
3. 83
4. 02
5. 95
3.43
7. 01
5.22
1.52
1.97
1.93
2.00
2. 48
2.06
1.94
2.04
2.19
2. 01
1.71
1.00
1.03
Average____________ 1.86
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.40
1.23
1. 27
1. 58
.78
.70
. 65
.68
.53
.47
.57
. 73
.51
.47
.27
.24
. 55
5. 09
.37
.31
.50
1.27
1.37
1.34
2.13
2. 47
1. 82
1. 76
2.84
2. 78
2. 73
4. 38
3.88
2. 40
[1147]
1.88
1.23
1. 16
4.02
4.00
3. 99
5. 29
5. 06
4. 23
4. 37
5. 76
5. 30
4. 91
5. 65
5.15
4. 81
1931
3.48
2.81
3.24
—
5.97
3.09
3. 18
2 76
3. 19
3 78
4. 74
4. 08
2 99
2. 05
2. 41
3.66
3. 49
1931
2.92
2.66
3,19
5.22
4.48
5.88
4. 92
4.02
3.09
3.18
2 76
3 19
3 78
4 37
4 08
2 99
2 05
2 41
3.66
3. 30
3.48
2.81
3.24
116
T able
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
3 .—A V E R A G E L A B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S —Con.
A.—Monthly Rates—C ontinued
Separation rates
In d u stry and m onth
C otton manufacturing:
Jan u ary -. _- - F eb ru ary ------ M arch- ________ April
M ay
.TilTIP,
.Tilly
Angnst,
September
October
N ovem ber
December
_____
Average
Foundries and machine
shops:
.Tami ary
February
_ ---------M arch _______________
April
-- __
M ay
- - - __
June
Ju ly
______
A ugust
__ _ _
September
October
_
_ _
N ovem berDecember ____ ____
____
A v e ra g e ..__
Furniture:
Jan u ary __________
February
M arch
April
___
M a y ___
-- -- -- -_
June
Ju ly
______________
A ugust ____
_____
___
September
October
____- ____
N ovem ber. . . _____
D ecem ber,,
_____
Average. - ________
Iron and steel:
Jan u ary ______________
F eb ru ary ------------------M arch _______________
A p r il.........
....
Mlay__
-_ _ __ ___
June .
_ . .
Ju ly _________________
August
_ _ ___
Septem ber.______
October,
N ovem ber . - ___
D ecem ber.Average____ ______
Sawmills:
Jan u a ry ______________
F e b ru a ry .. ________
M arch _______________
April - _ __
M ay . __________ ____
June _
. . ____
Ju ly ____ - .- . -.
August _ _ .
Septem ber___________
October
_
, _
N ovem ber. _ ______
D ecem ber________ __
Average___ ______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Quit
Discharge
Lay-off
Accession
rate
N et tu rn
over rate
T otal
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
2.07
1. 98
2. 27
2. 40
2. 36
2.06
1.91
1. 58
1.88
1.41
1. 22
. 58
1.81
1.00
1.00
1. 36
0. 65
.60
.69
.68
.55
.58
.55
.46
.46
.48
.35
.24
.52
0. 40
.34
.36
2.16
1.92
2. 20
2. 23
2. 07
2.17
3.34
3. 58
2. 44
2. 09
2.18
1.92
2. 36
2. 60
1.87
2.00
4. 88
4. 50
5.16
5.31
4. 98
4. 81
5. 80
5. 62
4. 78
3. 98
3. 75
2.74
4.69
4. 00
3.21
3. 72
4. 50
3. 33
4.17
4. 27
3. 95
3. 25
2.47
2. 72
4. 58
4. 34
2. 93
1.46
3. 50
3. 57
3. 91
4. 47
4. 50
3.33
4.17
4. 27
3. 95
3. 25
2.47
2.72
4. 58
3.98
2.93
1.46
3. 47
1. 36
1.88
1.88
1.87
1.29
1.11
1.01
1.07
.85
.66
. 55
1.23
1. 73
1.26
1.44
1. 21
1.18
1.09
1.03
.99
.68
1.18
1.81
1.91
1.91
2. 26
2.13
1.87
1.54
1.61
1.45
1.13
1.11
.82
1.63
3.80
3. 39
3.89
4. 28
3.51
2.93
2.68
3.01
2. 99
2.26
1.93
1.39
3.01
. 52
.55
.90
. 55
. 57
. 80
.80
.88
.80
.79
. 54
.43
.45
.44
.47
.22
.26
. 55
.64
.52
.41
.40
.41
.46
.45
.29
.35
.44
. 22
.22
.25
.25
.34
.37
2.03
3. 24
2. 87
4.12
4. 52
4. 58
4. 08
3.82
4. 01
2.87
3.10
3. 57
4. 38
4. 39
4. 33
4. 50
3. 45
3. 30
3.61
5. 92
6. 66
4. 50
2. 32
2.10
2. 72
4.19
6. 00
5. 55
6. 78
6. 35
6.12
5. 54
5.33
5. 33
3. 75
3.91
5. 35
4. 84
3. 86
4. 52
3.06
2.87
3. 87
4. 39
4.63
3.95
3. 76
3.05
2.26
2. 56
2.45
2. 27
1. 85
2.05
3. 02
5.24
5. 51
4. 78
5. 64
4. 77
5.69
6. 75
6.17
6.18
6.11
5.04
4.85
5. 09
7. 20
7. 69
6.12
2. 93
2. 96
3. 38
3. 34
2.87
3.82
5. 09
5.34
7. 07
3. 72
2. 48
2. 35
4. 01
4.19
4. 63
3. 95
3. 76
3. 05
2.26
2.56
2.45
2.27
1.85
2. 05
3.02
3. 34
2.87
3.82
5.09
5.04
4.85
3.72
2.48
2. 35
4. 01
1931
3. 57
3. 21
3. 72
2.93
2.87
3. 38
5. 24
4. 77
4.78
.71
.72
.71
.45
.34
.45
.42
.40
.49
.24
.26
.22
.20
. 13
. 10
.31
.09
. 15
.12
1.24
1.15
1. 22
1.32
1.71
2.25
2.29
2.05
2.16
2.25
1. 95
2. 23
1.82
1.36
1.03
1. 38
3.50
3.40
3. 58
4.00
4. 24
4.61
4.07
3.92
3. 83
3. 58
3.19
3.15
2.16
1.90
2.21
5. 52
5.09
4. 06
3.88
3. 25
2. 56
2. 27
1.91
2. 32
1.74
1. 31
1.40
2. 94
2. 52
2.24
2.03
3.50
3. 40
3.58
3.88
3. 25
2.56
2. 27
1.91
2. 32
1.74
1.31
1.40
2.94
2.16
1.90
2.03
.97
1.18
1. 37
1.47
.92
1. 35
.96
1.07
.93
.95
.72
.83
.93
1.06
.43
.50
.51
4. 62
3.99
3. 54
4.97
8.10
5. 35
6.98
6.09
7. 64
6.58
7.23
7. 42
6.03
8.02
4. 56
4.50
9.50
8.76
8. 90
10.17
12.96
9. 24
10.73
10. 03
11. 58
9. 56
9.99
9. 74
10.10
9. 42
6. 28
6.81
9. 39
9.11
7.91
9. 66
10.09
5.85
6.17
6.71
6.93
8. 32
4.96
4.51
7. 47
9.99
7.44
7.07
9. 39
8. 75
7.91
9.66
10.09
5.85
6.17
6.71
6.93
8. 32
4.96
4.51
7.47
9. 42
6. 28
6.81
1. 22
1.74
[ 1148 ]
—
LABOR TURNOVER
T able
3 —
H7
A V E R A G E L A B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S —Con.
A.—Monthly Rates—Continued
Separation rates
In d u stry and m onth
Quit
1930
Slaughtering and m eat
packing:
January ______________
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch_______ .
A pril_____
M ay ________________
J u n e . . ___
Ju ly _________________
A ugust______ _______
Septem ber__________
... _
October_____
N o v em b er.. .
... _
D ecem ber____ ___ _
Average_____ _____
Discharge
Accession
rate
N et tu rn
over rate
1930
1931
1930
6. 30 10.02
8. 72 7. 39
8.66 5.23
8.47
9. 01
10.34
6. 92
6. 34
7.33
7. 62
7. 30
6.24
7. 68
9. 50
5.02
5.19
9.91
7.39
5.23
8.13
7.77
8.19
6.92
6.34
6.70
7.10
6.48
6.24
7.68
6.30
5.02
5.19
31.0 111.7
22.3 50.2
20.1 51.9
57.0
97.6
95.9
127.8
109.2
110.0
80.3
58.0
55.8
83.8
39.5 158.9
34.6 61.8
37.5 81.4
90.7
46.8
28.5
32.7
43.4
46.6
47.3
72.4
40.4
62. 6
34.4 111.7
53.7 50.2
91.3 51.9
57.0
46.8
28.5
32.7
43.4
46.6
47.3
58.0
40.4
62.6
34.4
34.0
37.5
Lay-off
Total
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
2. 32 1.29
2.37 1.56
2.49 1.41
2.91
2.84
2.72
2.08
2.09
2. 26 —
1.70
1.12
1.69
2.22
0.91
.96
.86
.75
.79
.88
.79
.72
.65
.73
.56
.57
.76
0.61
.68
.37
6.68
7. 70
7. Ò1
4.47
4.14
4. 59
5. 34
5.14
3. 79
4. 67
4.80
5.59
5. 37
4.40 9.91
6. 48 11.03
6.88 10. 86
8.13
7. 77
8.19
8. 21
7.95
6. 70
7.10
6.48
7.85
8. 35
—
1930
1931
1931
B.—Equivalent Annual Rates
Automobiles:
Jan u a ry ______________
F ebruary __________ _
M arch_______________
A pril_____ __________
M ay _________________
Ju n e _________________
J u ly _________________
A ugust______________
Septem ber___________
October______________
N ovem ber___ ________
December____________
Average.
Boots and shoes:
J a n u a ry .____ ________
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch_______________
A pril________________
M a y _________________
Ju n e _________________
J u ly ------ ------------------A ugust______________
Septem ber________ . . .
O ctober._____________
N ovem ber___________
D ecem ber____ _______
Average.
Cotton m anufacturing:
Jan u ary ______________
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch____ __________
A pril________________ .
M a y _________________
Ju n e _________________
Ju ly -------------------------A ugust______________
Septem ber___________
O ctober.____ _________
N ovem ber___________
December____________
Average.
Foundries and machine
shops:
J a n u a ry ._____ ______
F e b ru a ry ____________
M arch____ __________
A pril____ ___________
M ay ____ ____________
Ju n e ..................... ............
32.5
15.1
21.3
26.9
25.9
19.4
13.4
14.5
15.7
14.0
9.9
10.4
18.3
6.4
9.6
12.8
10.8
5.0
6.6
6.1
5.9
4.7
2.8
4.5
4.0
2.9
1.9
2.0
4.8
2.1
2.7
4.6
68.4
30.1
24.0
24.0
65.8
71.8
111.6
90.2
90.3
63.4
46.2
43.4
60.8
23.2
25.2
23.5
30. 2
24.2
23.6
24.0
25.8
24.5
14.5
16.6
18.6
9.2
9. 1
7.7
8.3
6.2
5.7
6.7
8.6
6.2
5.5
3.3
2.8
6.6
4.4
4.0
5.9
14.9
17.9
15.8
25.9
29.1
22.1
20.7
33.4
33.8
32.1
53.3
45.7
28.7
22.1
16.0
13.7
47.3
52.2
47.0
64.4
59.5
61.4
51.4
67.8
64.5
57.7
68.8
60.6
57. 7
41.0
36.6
38.2
70.3
40.3
37.4
33. 6
37.5
46. 0
55.8
48. 0
36.4
24.1
29.3
43.1
41. 8
52.7
76.7
57.9
47.3
40.3
37.4
33. 6
37.5
46. 0
51.4
48.0
36.4
24.1
29. 3
43.1
41. 8
41.0
36.6
38.2
7.7
7.8
8.1
8.3
6.5
7.1
6.5
5.4
5.6
5.6
4.3
2.8
6.3
4.7
4.4
4.2
25.4
25.0
25.9
27.1
24.4
26.4
39.3
42.1
29.7
24.6
26.5
22.6
28.3
30.6
24.4
23.5
57.5
58.6
60.7
64. 6
58.7
58.6
68.3
66.1
58.2
46. 8
45.6
32.2
56.3
47.1
41.8
43.7
53.0
43.4
49.1
52.0
46. 5
39.6
29.1
32.0
55. 7
51.1
35.7
17. 2
42. 0
42.0
51.0
52.6
63.0
43.4
49.1
52.0
46. 5
39.6
29. 1
32. 0
55. 7
46. 8
35.7
17. 2
41. 7
42.0
41.8
43.7
20.1
12.2
12.1
22.4
24.4
25.8
26.7
29.2
27.8
25.1
22.5
18.6
22.9
16.6
14.8
—
11.8
13.0
16.0
6.8
21.8
17.7
22.1
22. 9
22.0
15.7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6. 1
7.2
10.6
10.4
10.4
9. 7
9.3
6.6
2.6
2.9
2. 9
26.5
38.1
34. 9
48.5
55.0
[11491
27.3
27.4
32.0
54.6
70.6
67. 5
79. 8
77.3
36.0
37.5
45.5
57.2
54. 5
48.1
44.3
37.1
34.5
38.6
39.8
54. 6
54.5
48.1
44.3
37. 1
35. 5
37.5
39.8
118
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able
3 —A V E R A G E L A B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF I E D IN D U S T R IE S -C o n .
B.—Equivalent Annual Rates—Continued
Separation rates
In d u s try and m onth
Discharge
Q uit
1930 ! 1931
Foundries and m achine
shops—C o n tin u ed .
1930
1931
Lay-off
1930
1931
T otal
1930
1931
Accession
rate
1930
13.1
11. 9
13. 0
10. 0
8. 0
6.5
5.1
5.3
5. 4
5. 5
2. 7
3.1
53.9
48.0
46. 5
47.2
34.9
36. 5
72.1
65.2
64.9
62.7
45.6
46.1
26. 6
30.1
29.8
26. 7
22.5
24.1
Average____________ 14.8
Furniture:
January
Ti'pbruflry
6.7
42.7
64.2
36.5
A ugust— ------------------
2.9
4.4
4. 4
6. 5
7. 4
9.4
57.0
50.3
53.2
21.1
14. 8
17. 5
14. 2
13. 9
13. 3
12.1
12. 0
8. 0
7. 8
6.1
5. 0
4. 7
4. 8
5. 6
5. 3
3. 5
4.1
53.3
51.6
52.7
53.0
40.6
40.2
42. 5
72. 0
78. 4
82.2
72.5
75.2
71.9
59.3
59. 1
59.9
87.5
90.5
Average________ --- 14. 1
Iron and steel:
21.3
Jan u ary __________
24.9
February
M arch________
___ 22.5
27. 5
April
25.1
M ay
22. 8
18.1
Ju ly
Au gust
18. 9
17. 6
September
Oetnber
13. 3
Nnvp.mhp.r
13. 5
December
9. 7
5.2
53.8
73.1
M av
Tnrip
Tilly
Avigust
"N"OVPTTl)ipr
DpppmbPf
Avpra gp,
Sawmills:
Jan u ary ______________
F ebruary . . .
_____
M a r c h ... .
--------April
M ay
J VItip
Ju ly
August
September
October
N ovem ber
December
Average
S l a u g h t e r i n g and m eat
packing:
Jan u ary . . . . ________
Feb ru ary . .
----M arch . . . __________
April
M ay
June
Ju ly
August
Septem ber
October
N ovem ber
December
Average
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.4
9.4
8.4
11.4
15.9
20.5
36.1
27.3
30.9
29.3
35. 4
33. 4
33.1
24. 5
24. 6
27. 5
20. 0
13. 6
19. 9
26.6
1. 1
2.0
1.4
15.2
20.3
16.6
13.9
17.9
17.3
11. 2
15. 9
Î1. 7
12. 6
10.9
11. 6
8. 5
10.1
10.9
14.6
15.0
14.4
16. 1
20.1
27. 4
27. 0
24.1
26. 3
26. 5
23. 7
26. 2
21. 8
3. 7
19. 6
44. 7
44.2
45. 8
52. 1
41. 3
35. 7
31. 5
35. 4
36. 4
26 6
23. 5
16. 4
5.3
4.4
5.3
5. 1
4. 7
6. 0
2. 8
3. 1
2. 7
2.4
1. 6
1.2
5.1
6.5
6.0
53.2
52.0
41.7
60. 5
95. 3
65.1
82.2
71. 7
93. 0
77. 4
88. 0
87. 3
12. 7
72. 3
10.7
12.5
10.1
9.1
9. 3
10. 7
9. 3
8. 5
7. 9
8. 6
6. 8
6.7
7.2 78.6
8.9 100.4
4.4 88.4
54. 4
48. 7
55. 9
62. 9
60. 5
46.1
55. 0
58.4
65. 8
9.2
64. 6
[1150]
16.0
13.4
16.2
41.2
44.3
42.2
48.7
49.9
56.2
47.9
46.1
46. 6
42. 2
38.8
37.1
66.4
62.1
67.0
25.5
24.8
26.0
45.1
1931
N et tu rn
over rate
1930
26. 6
30.1
29.8
26. 7
22.5
24.1
36.5
61. 7
62. 1
56. 3
61. 7
71.9
56.3
40.6
33.8
46.5
59.9
62. 9
86.0
43.8
30.2
27.7
40.6
33.8
46.5
59.9
59.3
59.1
43.8
30.2
27.7
47.9
47.9
65.0
66.4
47.8
47.2
38.3
31.2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20.5
15.9
16.5
35.5
29. 7
29. 2
23. 9
41.2
44.3
42. 2
47.2
38.3
31.2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20.5
15.9
16. 5
51.8 116.6 74.2
84.5 143.8 113.7
81.0 127.8 102.0
98. 9
91.4
99. 7
96. 7
93.6
81. 5
83. 6
78. 8
92. 4
100.4
1
89.8
110. 9
81. 9
80. 2
89.8
117.9 111.8 116.6
96.4 65.5 96.4
61.6 61. 1 61. 6
98. 9
103.1
91.4
106.0
125.8
99.7
81.4
81. 4
74.6
74.6
81.5
89.2
83.6
89.7
78.8
88. 8
73.4
73. 4
92.3
25. 5
24.8
23. 9
35.5
94.4 110.8 111.9 110.5 117.6 110.5
59.5 114.1 81.9 118.8 97. 0 114.1
53.7 104. 8 80.2 93.1 83. 2 93.1
117.6
123.8
117.6
118.8
118.8
152.3
71.2
71.2
112.5
72.6
72.6
126. 3
79.0
118.0
79.0
84.3
84.3
141. 0
97.9
97.9
112.5
60.4
60.4
121.6
53.1
53.1
114.6
121.1
1931.
92.3
74.2
65.5
61.1
HOUSING
B u ild in g P erm its in P rin cip al C ities, M arch, 1931
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics has received building permit re
ports from 347 identical cities having a population of 25,000 or
over, for the months of February and March, 1931, and from 297
identical cities for the months of March, 1930, and March, 1931.
The cost figures as shown in the tables below apply to the cost of
the buildings as estimated by the prospective builders in applying
for their permits to build. No land costs are included. Only building projects within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are
shown.
The States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and
Pennsylvania, through their departments of labor, are cooperating
with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in the collection
of these data.
Table 1 shows the estimated costs of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, and of total building operations in 347
cities of the United States by geographic divisions.
T
T y m E H - E S T I M A T E D C O ST O F N E W B U IL D IN G S IN 347 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S , AS
W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings
Geographic division
E stim ated cost
F ebru
ary,
1931
New E n g la n d ________
M iddle A tlan tic______
E ast N orth C en tra l____
W est N orth C entral.. .
South A tlantic_____
South Central
M ountain and Pacific—.
M arch,
1931
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
Feb
ruary, M arch,
1931
1931
$2,006,340 $3,187, 200
14,237,482 23,870,571
5,225,300 6,854, 527
1, 798,020 2,620,348
5,652,821 3, 805,043
2,816,926 2,977, 530
5,914, 733 7,287,427
311
3,407
1,071
452
1,039
983
1,637
T o ta l______ _ . _ 37, 651,622 50,602, 646
Per cent of change____
+34.4
8,900
N ew nonresiden
tia l buildings,
estim ated cost
F ebru
ary,
1931
M arch,
1931
625 $2, 799,456 $7,942,389
5,176 16,352,272 33,608,355
1,387 12,496,153 22,231,977
668 2,861, 229 3,251, 530
752 2,632, 773 3,299,425
994 4,890,168 5,502, 663
2,192 5,138,872 6,480,092
T o ta l c o n stru ctio n
(in clu d in g a lte ra
tions and repairs),
estim ated cost
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
$5,814, 578 $12,847,102
36, 571,143 66,191, 596
22,143,847 32,303,884
5,200,466 7,516,02-7
10,165,222 8, 624,939
8,692,405 9, 528, 562
12-, 940,860 15,858,599
11,794 47,170,923 82,316,431 101, 528,521 152,870,709
+32.5
+74.5
+50.6
There was an increase of 50.6 per cent in the estimated cost of the
total building operations for which permits were issued during the
month of March, 1931, as compared with February, 1931. New
residential buildings increased 34.4 per cent in indicated expenditures
and new nonresidential buildings 74.5 per cent. Permits issued dur
ing March, 1931, in these 347 cities show an estimated cost for total
building operations of $152,870,709. # In these cities, 11,794 families
were provided with dwelling places in the new buildings for which
permits were issued during the month of March. This is an increase
of 32.5 per cent over the new dwelling units provided by February
permits.
Six of the seven geographic divisions show increases in the esti
mated cost of residential building. These increases ranged from 5.7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1351J
119
120
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
per cent in the South Central States to 67.7 per cent in the Middle
Atlantic States. The South Atlantic division showed a decrease in
new residential buildings of 32.7 per cent.
All geographic divisions registered an increase in indicated expendi
tures for new nonresidential buildings. These increases ranged from
12.5 per cent in the South Central States to 183.7 per cent in the
New England States.
Increases in indicated expenditures for total building operations
were shown in all geographic divisions except the South Atlantic
States. The South Atlantic States registered a decrease of 15.2 per
cent in the estimated cost of building operations, comparing March
permits with February permits. Of the seven districts showing in
creases, the New England States showed the highest percentage of
increase, 120.9; the South Central States showed the lowest per
centage of increase, 9.6.
All districts except the South Atlantic States showed an increase in
the number of housing units provided. The increase ranged from 1.1
per cent in the South Central States to 101.0 per cent in the New
England States. The South Atlantic States registered a decrease of
27.6 in the number of new dwelling units provided.
Table 2 shows the estimated cost of additions, alterations, and
repairs as shown by permits issued, together with the percentage of
increase or decrease in March, 1931, as compared with February,
1931, in 347 identical cities by geographic divisions.
2 —E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E P A IR S IN 347
ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS S H O W N BY P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H ,
1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC A L D IV IS IO N S
T able
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
New E n g lan d _______
M iddle A tlan tic-------E ast N o rth C en tra l...
W est N o rth C e n tra lSouth A tlan tic______
South C entral_______
M ountain and Pacific
T o ta l.............. .
Per cent of
increase or
decrease in
M arch com
pared w ith
February
February,
1931
M arch, 1931
$1,008, 782
5,981, 389
4,422,394
541, 217
1,879, 628
985, 311
1,887, 255
$1, 717,513
8,712, 670
3,217, 380
1, 644,149
1,520,471
1,048, 369
2,091,080
+70.3
+45.7
-2 7 .2
+203.8
-1 9 .1
+ 6.4
+10.8
16, 705, 976
19,951, 632
+19.4
Permits issued for alterations and repairs in these 347 cities showed
an increase in estimated cost of 19.4 per cent comparing permits
issued in March with those issued in February. The increases were
shown in five of the geographic divisions, the smallest increase being
in the South Central States where the estimated cost of repairs for
which permits were issued during March was only 6.4 per cent higher
than the repairs for which permits were issued during February.
The highest increase was in the West North Central division. March
repairs in this division cost 203.8 per cent more than February repairs.
Two divisions, the South Atlantic and East North Central, showed
a decrease in indicated expenditure for repairs and alterations to
existing buildings.
Table 3 shows the index numbers of families provided for and the
index numbers of indicated expenditures for new residential buildings,
for new nonresidential buildings, for additions, alterations, and repairs,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1152]
121
HOUSING
and for total building operations. These indexes are worked on the
chain system with the monthly average of 1929 equaling 100.
T
RS 0 F F A M IL IE S p r o v i d e d f o r a n d o f t h e e s t i m a t e d
b u il d in g o p e r a t io n s a s s h o w n b y p e r m it s is s u e d in p r in c ip a l
C IT IE S OF T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , M A R C H , 1930, TO M A R C H , 1931
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
E stim ated costs of—
Fam ilies
provided
for
M onth
N ew resi
dential
buildings
N ew non
residential
buildings
Additions, T otal build
alterations, ing opera
and repairs
tions
1930
M arch____________
A p rils . . . ___
M ay __________________
Ju n e ____ . . . ___
Ju ly --------------------------------------A ugust _______________
Septem ber..
___
O ctober.. . .
N ovem ber____
D ecem ber__________________
57.1
62.0
59.6
54.4
49.9
48. 7
51.3
58.3
52.9
45.0
47.2
51.0
48.5
45.1
44.1
43.4
44.4
44.9
42.5
37.6
87.1
100.1
90.7
82.5
86. 7
67. 2
73.8
53. 5
54. 4
64.3
77.5
81.8
84.5
74. 6
77.4
58. 6
64.2
58.1
37 8
53.5
66.4
73.8
69.3
63.3
64 8
54 4
58 2
49 7
4fi 3
50.1
1931
J a n u a ry .. ________ ______
F ebruary.
____ ___
M arch . . . . . . _____
39.1
40.3
53.4
30.8
30.3
40.7
43.4
43.8
76.4
55. 5
48. 6
58.0
38 9
37 9
57.1
The index number of total building operations for the month of
March, 1931, stood at 57.1, which is higher than for any month since
September, 1930. The March, 1931, index number for new nonresidential buildings was higher than for any month since July, 1930.
The index numbers of families provided for, of new residential build
ings, and of additions, alterations, and repairs were all much higher than
for either of the preceding months in 1931, but were lower than for
March, 1930.
The chart on page 125 shows in graphic form the trend of estimated
costs of new residential buildings, of new nonresidential buildings, and
of total building operations.
Table 4 shows the dollar value of contracts let for public buildings
by the different agencies of the United States Government during
the_ months of February, 1931, and March, 1931, by geographic
divisions.
T a ble
4 .—
C O N T R A C T S L E T F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y D IF F E R E N T D IV IS IO N S
i°9 fl,TB¥ :G ^ IGTR TpH Y cA S fv SIS?00^
RN M EN T
D U R IN G
MYRCR.
Geographic division
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
N ew E ngland___ _______
M iddle A tlan tic__ - ____
E a st N o rth C entral ________
W est N o rth C entral________
South A tlan tic____
_______
South C entral___ _ _ ___
M ountain and Pacific__________
$107, 536
113, 230
902, 279
114, 600
1,389,117
493,817
313,086
$5, 978,472
2,121, 013
682,031
201,414
1, 602, 095
2,438,675
1, 460, 872
3, 433,665
14, 484, 572
T o tal-
_____ _
Contracts were let for United States Government buildings during
March, 1931, to cost $14,484,572. This was nearly five times as
52839°— 31----- 9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11531
122
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
great as the total value of the contracts let during the month of
February. The contracts were let by the following Federal agencies:
United States Capitol Architect; Office of the Quartermaster General,
War Department; Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department;
Supervising Architect, Treasury Department; and the United
States Veterans’ Bureau.
Whenever a contract is let by the United States Government for a
building in a city having a population of 25,000 or over the cost is
included in the estimated costs as shown in the cities enumerated
in Table 8.
Table 5 shows the dollar value of contracts awarded by the differ
ent State governments for public buildings during the months of
February, 1931, and March, 1931, by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 5 —C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D
F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y T H E D IF F E R E N T
S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S D U R IN G F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
February,
1931
Geographic division
N ew E ngland
_____ __ __ _
M iddle At,lantic_ _____ -- - E ast N o rth C e n tra l.____ _____
W est N o rth C en tral__ - ___ South A tlantic
South C entral.
_ - __- -M ountain a n d Pacific- _
T otal
____ - - ___
- --
M arch,
1931
$101,905
1,045,915
222,304
30, 291
154,190
4,120
574, 237
$1, 615,483
1,495,844
597,836
58, 099
598,480
900
398, 508
2,132, 962
4, 765,150
Contracts awarded by State governments during the month of
March, 1931, totaled $4,765,150, more than twice the total value of
contracts let during the month of February.
Whenever the contract is let by a State government for a building
in a city having a population of 25,000 or over, the cost is included in
the estimated cost as shown in the cities enumerated in Table 8.
Table 6 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, new
nonresidential buildings, and of total building operations in 297
identical cities having a population of 25,000 or over, for March,
1930, and March, 1931, by geographic divisions.
6 . — E S T IM A T E D
C O ST O F N E W B U IL D IN G S IN 297 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN M A R C H , 1930, A N D M A R C H , 1931, B Y G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
T a ble
N ew residential buildings
Geographic division
E stim ated cost
M arch,
1930
N ew E n g lan d________
M iddle A tlan tic______
E ast N o rth C en tral___
W est N o rth C entral___
South A tlan tic----------South C en tral___
M ountain and Pacific..
T o ta l_______ . . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M arch,
1931
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresiden
tia l b u ild in g s ,
estim ated cost
M arch, M arch, M arch,
1931
1930
1930
M arch,
1931
T o ta l c o n s tr u c tio n
(in c lu d in g a lte ra
tions and repairs),
estim ated cost
M arch,
1930
M arch,
1931
$4,404, 275 $3,134,400
15,044,895 23, 659,971
15,224,029 6,199,927
3, 337,320 2, 362, 098
4, 925, 605 3, 758,834
5,176, 627 2, 773, 785
8, 700, 345 6, 576,552
680
3, 344
2,114
686
843
1,444
2,753
615 $5, 286,154 $7,888,114 $13,189,312 $12,719, 756
5,138 33, 678,748 33,582, 530 57,169,936 65,877,938
1,269 13, 869,456 21,497, 587 33,442,961 30,804,372
630 3, 908, 624 3,231, 295 8,955,828 7,195, 510
740 12,728,683 3, 210,075 20, 718,974 8,466,911
915 6,857, 751 5,464, 208 13,472, 539 9, 208,659
1,996 9, 203,398 6,185, 748 21,089, 278 14, 773, 897
56,813,096 48,465, 567
-1 4 .7
11,864
11, 303 85,532, 814 81,059, 557 168,038,828 149,047,043
-1 1 .3
- 5 .2
- 4 .7
[1154]
HOUSING
123
Permits issued in the 297 identical cities for which reports were
received for both March, 1930, and March, 1931, show a decrease of
11.3 per cent in the estimated cost of total building operations in
March, 1931, as compared with March, 1930; a decrease of 14.7 per
cent in indicated expenditures for new residential buildings; and a
decrease of 5.2 per cent in the indicated expenditure for new non
residential buildings. The number of family dwelling units provided
for in new buildings decreased 4.7 per cent/
An increase in the estimated cost of total building operations, com
paring March, 1931, with the corresponding month of a year ago, was
shown in the Middle Atlantic States. All other geographic divisions
showed decreases.
Comparing March, 1931, permits with March, 1930, permits for
new residential buildings, decreases were shown in all geographic
divisions except the Middle Atlantic States.
Indicated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings registered
increases in the New England States and the East North Central
States; decreases were registered in each of the other five geographic
divisions.
Six of the geographic divisions provided fewer dwelling units during
March, 1931, than during March, 1930.
Table 7 shows the estimated cost of additions, alterations, and
repairs as shown by permits issued, together with the percentage of
increase or decrease in March, 1931, as compared with March, 1930.
T a ble 7 .— E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E P A IR S IN 297
PE R M IT S ISSU E D IN M A feC U ’ ^30EI ^
M
cS
Per cent of
increase or
decrease in
M arch, 1931,
compared
M arch, 1930 M arch, 1931 w ith M arch,
1930
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
New E n g lan d_________ _
M iddle A tla n tic . _______
E ast N o rth Central __ . .
W est N o rth C en tral. . .
South A tla n tic ___________
South C entral____ . .
M ountain and Pacific. . .
$3, 498,883
8.446, 293
4,349.476
1, 709,884
3,064, 686
1.438,161
3,185, 535
$1, 697,242
8,635,437
3,106,858
1. 602,117
1,498, 002
970, 666
2, Oil, 597
-5 1 .5
+ 2 .2
-2 8 .6
- 6 .3
-5 1 .1
-3 2 .5
-3 6 .9
T otal ____ _________ _
25,692,918
19,521, 919
-2 4 .0
Projected expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs
decreased 24.0 per cent comparing permits issued during March,
1931, with those issued during March, 1930.
Decreases were shown in six of the seven geographic divisions,
ranging from 6.3 per cent in the West North Central States to 51.5
per cent in the New England States. An increase in estimated
expenditure for repairs of 2.2 per cent was shown in the Middle
Atlantic States.
Table 8 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, new
nonresidential buildings, and total building operations, together with
the number of families provided for in new buildings, in 347 identical
cities for February, 1931, and March, 1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
mss]
124
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Reports were received from 52 cities in the New England States; 69
cities in the Middle Atlantic States; 95 cities in the East North Central
States; 26 cities in the West North Central States; 36 cities in the
South Atlantic States; 33 cities in the South Central States; and 36
cities in the Mountain and Pacific States.
Permits were issued for the following important projects during
the month of March: In Boston, Mass., a contract was let by the
Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department for a new post
office and Federal courthouse to cost nearly $4,650,000. In Springfield, Mass., the Supervising Architect let a contract for a new
post office and courthouse to cost nearly $700,000. In Irvington,
N. J., a permit was issued for a public-school building to cost nearly
$400,000; in the Borough of the Bronx, for a county courthouse to
cost $7,000,000 and for apartment houses to cost over $5,000,000.
In the Borough of Manhattan, a contract was let by the Supervising
Architect for the foundation of a new parcel-post building to cost
over $600,000. In Syracuse, N. Y., a permit was issued for a school
building to cost $500,000; in Pittsburgh, Pa., for a school building to
cost $490,000; in Chicago, 111., for an office building to cost $14,000,000
and for a school building to cost over $1,600,000; in Columbus, Ohio,
for an office building to cost $350,000. In Washington, D. C., the
Municipal Architect let a contract for a school building to cost
nearly $420,000. In Wilmington, Del., a permit was issued for a
school building to cost over $425,000; in Mobile, Ala., for a hospital
to cost $200,000; in Louisville, Ky., for two school buildings to cost
$550,000; in Phoenix, Ariz., for an office building to cost $800,000;
in San Francisco, Calif., for a church to cost $200,000; in Oakland,
Calif., for a school building to cost $350,000; and in Portland, Oreg.,
for a church to cost $200,000.
No reports were received from New London, Conn.; Atlantic
City, N. J.; Zanesville, Ohio; Pensacola and West Palm Beach, Fla.;
Lynchburg, Va.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Lexington, Ky.; Muskogee,
Okla.; Galveston and Laredo, Tex.; Riverside and Santa Barbara,
Calif.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
rii56i
HOUSING
125
I N D E X E S OF C O S T OF B U I L D I N G O P E R A T I O N S .
MONTHLY
NEW
100
AVERAGE.
192.9 = 100.
RESIDENTIAL.
ion
75
75
1930
50
50
—
/
193
k --
’
•X
\ N
■ /
25
25
NEW
100
NON R ESIDENTIA L.
/
/
'l930
75
\
\
\ s
L
\
75
\
\
\
\
//
\ //
7
* .-
\
\
t o t h
\
\
\
50
)0Q
\
/
//
//
\
&
100
/ \
\
50
inc luding
^
a l ter a tio n s
r epairs
* 100
75
75
/
/ 1930
N >
\
\
\
!/
50
-— _
\
s
\
\ '
------
^/ ■
50
ì
1931
25
F/
ò
r
có
oc
u J < u l <
Q o u . E <
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ar
v
t a .
Z r -
<
3
£
>;
o
t
>
o'
3 ; ; > D i 1j o O L j
- > < i O O Z T O
[1157]
25
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
126
T able 8 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D
347 P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931
IN
N e w E n g la n d S ta te s
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
S tate and city
February,
1931
Connecticut:
$123, 300
B ridgeport,
19, 000
B ristol- _
- _
58, 000
Greenwich14, 000
H artfo rd .
3,500
M eriden
- _
0
N ew B r i t a i n __
527, 500
N ew Haven_ -30,000
N orw alk,
_ _
20, 500
Stam ford. .
8,000
T orrington, .
0
W ater b u ry ___-.
M aine:
0
B angor. ____ -0
Lewiston — .
4,000
P o rtlan d _____ M assachusetts:
' 18, 000
Beverly
_____
575, 440
Boston 1___
10, 500
Brockton_____ 0
Brookline. __12, 000
Cam bridge___ 0
Chelsea________
0
Chicopee___ -7,000
E v e re tt.. ____ 0
Fall R iver ____
5,000
F itch b u rg .. _
0
H averhill___ ___
0
Holyoke . . __
0
Law rence___ 0
Lowell______ -.
26, 800
L y n n ___ .
22, 700
M alden _ .
67, 500
Medford ____ _
5,000
N ew Bedford
123, 000
N ew ton
___
10, 000
Pittsfield— --- 35, 500
Q u in c y ___
7, 000
Revere.
7,500
Salem .. . ______
6, 500
Somerville . 21, 600
Springfield_____
2, 600
T a u n to n __ _____
13,000
W altham ___ ___
7, 500
W atertow n____
42,100
W orcester______
New H am pshire:
0
Concord _______
0
M anchester_____
R hode Island:
0
C entral F a lls... .
54, 900
C ran sto n .. _____
21, 200
E ast Providence.
4,500
N ew port. _____
12,700
P a w tu c k e t.____
79,000
Providence_____
0
W oonsocket____
T o tal. _______ 2,006,340
M arch,
1931
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
Febru-' M arch , February,
ary,
1931
1931
1931
M arch,
1931
T otal construction,
including a l t e r a
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
$339, 900
13, 600
66, 500
40, 700
5, 000
5, 000
88, 000
68, 000
51, 500
0
31, 000
10
5
5
4
1
0
4
5
3
2
0
113
3
8
9
1
1
17
12
9
0
7
$34, 035
0
12,900
4, 900
6, 250
18, 800
8, 950
4,000
20, 050
0
11, 700
$216, 390
41, 825
11, 750
8, 210
4, 785
133, 625
137, 400
27, 950
5, 475
3,850
3, 650
$168, 220
19, 800
86, 000
59, 264
21, 870
24, 728
558, 685
49, 850
51,040
23, 570
20, 950
$599, 780
64,836
123, 450
117, 874
18, 918
148, 407
269, 414
138,170
75,925
5, 735
125,950
0
40, 000
21, 500
0
0
1
0
10
3
0
0
18, 200
500
1, 500
20, 255
0
13, 000
36,370
500
47, 500
70, 623
39, 200
592, 800
16, 500
99, 500
41, 250
22,000
7,500
7,000
0
250
11,700
4, 500
8,000
13, 000
33, 800
41, 500
157,000
9,500
489,150
31, 500
59, 700
15, 000
31, 500
12, 000
77,000
0
17,000
50,500
71,850
4
151
2
0
3
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
6
5
15
1
14
2
11
2
1
2
4
1
3
2
8
0
6, 500
0
0
0
3
0
630
0
133,785
0
25,160
4,000
155,210
0
137,200
50,400
20, 000
48,000
194,200
0
0
12
5
1
3
10
0
0
32
8
4
7
33
0
100
10, 250
52,800
2,550
1,510
20,150
200
0
16,225
19, 320
122, 270
8,430
47, 000
20,270
1,000
70,275
82,005
12,420
18,920
179, 390
4, 360
10,865
159, 300
79, 615
145,210
81,120
338, 875
25,105
3,187,200
+58.9
311
625
+101. 0
2, 799,456
7,942, 389
+183.7
52, 775
8,600
50, 630
12, 400
7
138 1, 319, 625 4, 889, 870 2,183, 609 5,820, 033
31, 655
5,640
20, 350
4
775
108,150
300
15, 925
250
11
331, 760
87, 519
13, 450
62, 409
7
158,680
3, 925
125,000
3
425
12, 600
800
2,325
600
2
22, 800
11,400
23,700
2
12,000
139, 792
11,042
692
132,412
0
4, 750
0
23, 600
0
1
19, 725
10,100
3,450
6, 200
3
17, 000
140,100
3, 500
1
135,100
168, 235
27, 757
13,300
128,145
1
26, 990
9,660
250
3, 900
3
53, 254
60,040
2,500
4,385
8
39, 460
77, 700
18, 570
9
9, 250
134, 520
169,175
64, 050
2,400
32
38,350
104, 500
11, 350
116,775
1
792,355
249, 910
135, 785
43
3, 775
22, 275
61,060
8,010
200
5
91, 075
90,183
9,500
13, 385
14
40, 565
14, 500
17,050
400
3
62, 830
21,045
300
6, 050
5
228, 270
199, 800
66, 521
52, 750
3
702,922
51, 600
3,000
845, 377
11
163,905
21,825
172, 306
1,575
0
2,150
22,325
67,695
2,775
3
212, 650
761, 675
278,450
750,900
10
17,195
117,013
148,205
4,730
15
i Applications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
New nonresidential
buildings (e s t im ated cost)
[1158]
5,814,578 12,847,102
+120. 9
HOUSING
127
T able 8 —E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
347 P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931—C ontinued
M i d d l e A t l a n t i c S ta te s
New residential buildings
S tate and city
E stim ated cost
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
New Jersey:
Bayonne ______
$14, 000
0
Belleville_______
16,985
$61,200
Bloomfield_____
80,000
80,000
C am den________
0
38,000
Clifton. _______
27,600
94, 300
E ast O range____
11,000
37, 500
Elizabeth .
147,000
62. 000
Garfield_____ . .
0
55, 200
H oboken_____ .
0
100, 000
Irvington__ _
15,437
35,800
Jersey C ity ..........
43,900
18, 000
K earny________
6, 000
33, 500
M ontclair_____
44, 500
172, 782
N ew ark. . . . ___
34,000
296, 500
New B runsw ick..
0
24,800
Orange_________
0
0
Passaic_______ .
0
5,000
Paterson_______
31,950
48, 000
P erth A m boy___
3, 600
3, 500
P lainfield.. . . . .
102, 000
55,000
T re n to n ... . . . . .
50, 000
12, 800
Union C ity _____
35, 000
0
W est New York0
0
New York:
A lbany_________
118, 500
118, 300
A m sterdam ___
0
15,000
A uburn . ______
9, 500
0
B ingham ton____
16, 300
36, 500
Buffalo_________
110, 000
505.400
E lm ira. ________
0
10, 200
Jam estow n_____
4,000
9,000
K ingston_______
26,000
7, 200
Lockport_______
0
0
M ount V ern o n ...
348, 500
281, 000
N e w b u r g h ..___
0
0
New Rochelle___
n o , loo
366, 650
New York—
T he B ro n x L . 3, 753, 550 6, 033, 550
Brooklyn i___ 3,624, 500 3, 199, 350
M an h attan K
0
698, 000
Q ueens 1 ____ 3,454,800 8, 249, 700
R ichm ond i._
94, 200
386, 500
Niagara Falls___
31. 200
116, 450
Poughkeepsie___
23, 500
24, 000
Rochester . . . . .
13, 700
213, 500
Schenectady____
21, 500
33, 000
Syracuse_______
61,300
140, 600
T ro y ___________
12, 200
299, 500
b tic a __________
11,000
38,000
W atertow n_____
0
0
W hite P lains___
88, 000
153, 200
Y onkers________
423,000
466, 690
Pennsylvania:
A llentow n______
8,000
0
A ltoona________
11, 000
9,400
B ethlehem . . . . .
5,000
35, 500
B u tler_________
3, 500
0
C hester________
0
5,000
E a sto n .__ ______
0
4,467
E rie____________
60,900
65, 500
H arrisburg_____
15,000
30, 000
H a z le to n .............
0
7,945
Johnstow n______
3,000
12, 000
Lancaster..............
7,000
3. 500
M cK eesport____
5,000
13,000
N anticoke______
0
8,000
i Applications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
±New nonresiueniiai
buildings (e s t im ated cost)
F eb ru M arch , February,
ary,
1931
1931
1931
M arch,
1931
T otal construction,
including a l t e r a
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
8
4
14
0
6
2
48
0
0
2
11
1
5
4
0
0
0
7
1
11
0
17
0
0
10
17
14
20
8
13
19
40
7
4
8
18
90
4
0
1
11
1
7
3
0
0
$11,250
1,100
20, 000
4,350
77,150
36,955
24,100
0
0
19, 750
19,435
1,200
27,450
54, 705
1,000
500
3,200
19,800
11, 200
268,961
4,846
0
1,000
$500
10, 300
5,000
32,910
46,025
40,805
21,000
1,775
0
488,904
23,445
3, 350
19,656
103, 710
850
28, 604
4,100
41, 745
2,460
5,000
54, 534
7,400
1,500
$32,750
25,125
106,000
9,685
106,075
94, 642
171,100
0
15, 350
38,152
110,885
8,900
83, 295
218, 222
23,825
17,800
23,925
99, 509
27,073
385,145
65, 246
46, 785
15, 625
$9,150
75, 314
94,000
85,970
148, 625
99, 755
83,000
66,475
llf i 620
533, 754
117, 660
39,400
218; 018
608,169
38, 220
28, 604
47,350
148,678
21, 578
75,000
126, 747
19, 060
15,465
13
0
2
4
39
0
1
5
0
62
0
8
19
3
0
5
160
2
2
2
0
30
0
27
3, 500
0
950
2,125
264,417
252,876
1, 775
15,375
5,125
3,750
24,814
3,025
21,100
1,950
1,890
4,172
970,610
9, 800
2, 800
30,075
600
2,860
5, 740
117,460
179, 372
1,000
11,800
32,993
489,630
273,115
9,665
48,240
7,535
370,150
28,314
118,904
205,157
26, 750
5,435
103; 795
1, 600, 708
38, 011
21,870
41, 570
1,140
316,195
7,740
527,095
956
925
0
860
26
10
4
2
3
12
3
2
0
8
54
1,391
797
160
1,729
134
22
3
21
6
28
6
8
0
10
50
2
3
1
1
0
0
14
3
0
1
2
1
0
0
3
7
0
2
1
12
6
2
1
1
4
1
[11591
337, 300 7,232,850 4, 545,075 13,618,115
608,510 1,037,995 5,672,490 6, 325,001
9,133, 360 17.789, 039 10,128, 210 20, 648,814
1,583,127 1, 594,448 5,424,812 10,385, 540
58, 590
374,955
213, 231
855,193
1, 580
4, 750
50,904
157, 751
330, 200
41,300
358, 300
69,950
79,428
267,676
138,996
570, 629
5,500
6, 550
39, 080
76,950
609, 383
603, 350 1,593, 763
807,845
300
2,450
19.100
345,985
2,000
20,735
64,043
72,410
3,410
0
4, 775
19, 508
611, 800
95,150
701,140 1,298, 250
1,322, 700
245,400 1,795,175
769, 880
11,900
1, 760
16,600
3,500
1,450
10,372
16,970
27,800
0
1,300
6,350
5,450
0
16,575
7, 803
6,150
750
14,050
5,450
192,055
7,350
3,151
139, 800
6, 560
14,135
0
36,600
18,638
21,600
7.300
2,275
13,372
96,625
62,295
0
17, 410
23,000
23,075
9,000
45,475
42,977
47,950
9, 350
34,095
13,022
330,865
60, 775
12,016
157,465
24,480
40,028
22,000
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
128
T able 8 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
347 P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931—Continued
M i d d l e A t l a n t i c S ta te s — Continued
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
February,
1931
Pennsylvania—C on.
New C astle........ N orristow n_____
P hiladelphia___
P ittsb u rg h _____
R eading________
S c ra n to n ______
W ilkes-Barre___
W ilkinsburg____
W illiam sport___
Y ork____ ____ . .
M arch,
1931
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
F e b ru M arch , Februaiy,
ary,
1931
1931
1931
$34,400
89,400
479,200
298, 000
86,200
4, 750
12,137
12,000
1,500
23, 500
2
0
137
82
1
1
2
7
2
5
T o ta l___ _____ 14,237,482 23,870, 571
+67.7
Per cent of change.
3,407
$7,200
0
634,200
374,886
13.000
4, 000
7,226
31.000
11,500
17, 750
New nonresidential
buildings (e s t im ated cost)
7
14
117
58
8
3
9
3
1
6
$1,945
1,075
186,165
130,566
31, 500
4,590
20,232
1,450
70
1,765
Total construction
including a l t e r a
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
M arch,
1931
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
$7,895
5,734
466, 805
1,105,466
13,150
11,320
1,865
3,800
134,396
11,407
$11,220
6,084
1,282, 795
662, 881
83,690
18,665
40,387
39,375
16, 707
33,223
$49,470
113,359
1,254,050
1, 662,914
148, 729
107,823
35,789
34,549
161,187
49, 329
5,176 16,352,272 33,608,355 36,571,143 66,191,596
+81.0
+51.9
+105. 5
E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
*0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
O
O
Illinois:
$36, 950
A lto n .............. .
2,855
A urora _______
Belleville_______
10,500
B erw yn________
51, 500
B lo o m in g to n ___
13,000
Chicago________
731, 200
0
Cicero....... ............
0
D anville ______
D ecatur________
8, 200
44,100
E a st St. Louis___
Elgin______ ____
30,150
E v a n sto n ---------45,000
G ranite C ity ____
0
46,000
Jo lie t__________
M ayw ood______
11,000
21,800
M o lin e ________
0
Oak P a rk ______
76,500
P e o r ia _________
Q uincy......... .........
0
39, 500
R o c k f o r d ...____
12, 000
Rock Island ___
60, 200
Springfield______
W aukegan______
19,000
Indiana:
A nderson___ _ .
5,500
E ast Chicago___
0
E lk h a rt. . ____
0
55, 300
Evansville _____
87, 650
F o rt W ayne____
G ary___________
0
21, 500
H am m o n d _____
Indianapolis . . .
255, 225
K okom o________
0
L afay ette_______
4,000
M ario n___ _____
0
M ichigan C ity ...
6,500
0
M ishaw aka_____
2,700
M uncie________
2,500
R ichm ond______
South B end_____
0
Terre H a u te ____
1, 500
M ichigan:
A nn A r b o r . ---B attle C reek____
4, 600
9,000
B ay C ity ----------D earborn_______
140, 424
D etro it_________ 1, 152, 300
48,696
F lin t___________
$142, 043
0
$93,073
$3,825
$13,133
16, 265
68,052
3
850
17,077
2
15,100
5,000
29, 800
16,325
6
4,100
7,100
56, 350
58,450
2
70,000
10,000
84,000
26, 000
166 7,163,300 16, 606,820 8,176,495 18, 361,230
5
159,125
3,215
161,875
33, 666
500
0
550
3, 650
5,700
7
26, 600
14, 200
68, 400
35, 250
17
169,400
3, S00
51, 200
220, 350
5
2,100
17, 6-90
45, 550
57, 225
4
24, 500
218,000
2, 500
71, 250
1
0
16,000
17,000
5,800
14, 200
97, 900
10
20,000
79, 500
0
180,100
650
193, 725
2,595
6
64, 701
39,350
3,250
52, 917
4
910
3,920
23,085
63, 565
34
3,225
7,975
90,125
148,875
0
500
360
2,100
2,985
5
3,500
4, 350
57, 750
50,890
2
228, 720
1,535
248, 361
35,063
12
69, 252
172,127
86, 767
161,617
6
63,300
46, 900
87, 600
83,050
0
$11,085
10,000
48, 000
9, 000
1,032,200
24,000
0
52, 700
48, 350
33,200
153,000
5,000
60, 500
0
26, 600
53,000
128, 500
0
27, 600
15, 000
57, 700
35,000
1
1
3
7
2
128
0
0
2
9
6
5
0
8
2
5
0
15
0
11
3
10
2
16,300
0
8,000
57, 700
68,179
33, 500
12,000
182,800
0
0
2,800
5,800
0
7,300
22,500
49, 700
17, 500
2
0
0
11
18
0
6
53
0
2
0
3
0
1
1
0
1
4
0
2
15
16
6
4
33
0
0
3
1
0
4
3
10
5
0
2,100
510
7,890
227, 637
589, 525
3,650
653, 652
75,010
2,000
5, 500
525
35,400
102, 325
21, 500
31,055
1,640
10, 632
122, 350
5,905
3,910
17,485
5,190
15,325
709, 397
565
0
710
25, 775
4, 675
11, 645
199, 900
20, 460
2,080
5,500
6,239
5,250
74, 908
343, 554
602, 225
27, 000
987, 375
76,210
6,000
7, 690
7,725
36,950
112,327
28, 200
37,471
6,285
34, 582
125,415
22,470
73, 968
112,089
46,640
35,175
982, 838
74, 840
0
7,674
32,150
7,775
35, 422
227,400
79, 545
27, 997
6
2
2
40
244
9
6
2
5
30
273
13
1,575
3,750
17,625
130,690
622, 391
3,642
3,600
23, 450
10, 035
26, 360
760,654
330,958
74, 285
11,450
34, 205
277,314
2, 024,185
95,878
51,865
32, 000
68,851
170, 750
2,443, 249
416,834
36, 200
7,800
19,500
142, 700
1,335,650
60,646
'
[ 1160]
HOUSING
129
T able 8 . E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E ISSTJFD TN
347 P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , m i - C o n t i n u e d
E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s — Continued
N ew residential buildings
State and city
E stim ated cost
February,
1931
M ichigan—Contd.
G rand R apids___
H am tram ck____
H ighland P a rk ,..
Jackson________
Kalamazoo_____
Lansing____ ____
M uskegon______
Pontiac________
Port H u ro n ____
Saginaw________
W yandotte_____
Ohio:
A kron__________
A shtabula______
C anton_________
C incinnati______
Cleveland______
C le ve la nd
H eights______
C olum bus______
D ay to n .......... .......
E a st Cleveland—
E ly ria__________
H am ilton_______
Lakew ood______
L im a .._________
L orain___ ______
M ansfield______
M arion____ ____
M assillon_______
M iddletow n____
N ew ark________
N orw ood_______
Portsm outh_____
Springfield_____
Steubenville____
Toledo______
W arren______
Y oungstow n____
W isconsin:
A ppleton____
E a u C laire___
Fond du Lac__
Green B ay ___
K enosha_____
M adison_____
M ilw aukee___
O shkosh_____
R a c in e ............
Sheboygan___
Superior...........
W est A llis___
T o ta l______
Per cent of change.
M arch,
1931
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
F ebru M arch
ary,
1931
1931
New nonresidential
buildings (e s t im ated cost)
February
1931
M arch,
1931
T otal constructions,
including a l t e r a
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
February
1931
M arch,
1931
$4,000
0
0
15,900
21,400
22,400
3, 000
0
2,300
400
18,600
$38,000
1, 500
0
12, 200
34,100
7,400
4, 000
0
3,500
4,100
19,100
1
0
0
3
7
6
1
0
1
1
5
12
1
0
2
11
2
1
0
2
3
5
$8, 555
500
800
4,050
3,990
4,242
550
94,425
2,500
19,430
68,000
$50, 860
975
1,615
20,160
3,620
1,325
15,875
1,530
0
7,440
187, 980
$33,970
6,510
3,750
25,455
35,815
31,192
8,945
101, 450
6,225
23i 250
88,900
$135,495
10,195
17, 760
5 0 , 375
57,431
17| 675
19; 875
8,860
3, 500
25,231
210; 812
33,700
0
0
428, 750
23(3, 500
76,200
900
16, 500
854,800
222,500
7
0
0
75
47
13
1
2
213
45
44,327
643
41,195
143,825
203,650
19, 086
3, 665
50,935
754,530
210, 275
112,527
5, 708
62, 715
1,502,875
2,416,875
122, 753
8, 690
108| 030
1, 747,275
' 95i; 225
102,800
158,900
49,000
0
0
4,800
81,800
6, 200
21, 425
28, 000
0
0
5,800
5,400
44,500
0
23,100
0
65, 500
9,800
25,100
178, 700
258, 200
132,312
0
10,000
21, 575
10,500
0
13,100
62,800
3,000
3, 000
0
8, 500
25, 500
3, 500
16,900
9,900
100, 300
12, 340
47,900
14
28
9
0
0
2
19
2
6
6
0
0
1
2
16
0
6
0
13
3
8
23
58
33
0
3
6
3
0
4
11
1
1
0
4
4
1
5
3
25
4
10
11,250
90, 900
23,316
3,230
195
375
83,025
300
65,300
7,660
300
192
1,275
1,700
1,325
376, 015
12,310
1,500
117,452
6,000
9,805
10,850
379, 000
41,601
200
10,685
6,163
20, 540
805
3,433
15,625
150
1,800
6,325
12, 950
12,140
4,040
10, 040
500
52, 729
4,485
186, 210
127,025
290, 900
102, 791
5,380
1,645
7, 565
169, 280
10, 275
95,475
38,694
2,850
2, 042
12,675
7,100
46,150
378, 540
4< 173
3,250
225,827
29, 060
46, 740
2, 775
26, 745
33,178
41, 040
10’ 049
19' 243
84, 507
3’ 310
2 6 , 500
10’ 670
23, 850
46, 490
11,990
3i; 270
2 0 , 000
201, 561
20, 820
278,928
13, 300
4, 500
6, 725
13,500
0
32,950
566, 400
4,000
27,300
9, 400
1,800
12,000
34,100
24,000
/, 4ÜU
29, 050
0
78, 000
437, 600
23,240
10,300
33, 5UU
17,500
30, 000
3
7
5
4
0
8
121
2
4
2
1
4
7
7
2
8
0
7
84
7
2
8
5
6
175,654
200
9,400
625
2,060
8, 575
99,806
10,809
6,745
760
250
3,000
170,635
160,480
10, 000
11,140
12, 500
14, 735
216,684
122,324
26,350
19,049
1,445
14,525
191, 779
6, 200
19, 765
78, 050
9,730
56,326
758,670
20,603
44,870
22, 095
12,480
23; 800
224, 570
184¡ 480
21, 215
63', 965
26,680
110,442
848,471
184j 637
56,090
66,752
25, 499
49, 525
5, 225,300
6,854, 527
+31. 2
1, 071
1,387
+29.5
2, 496,153 22,231,977
193, 290
68O' 000
2O5; 883
>2,143,847 12,303,884
+45.9
W e s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Iowa:
B urlington___
Cedar R apids.
Council Bluffs.
D avenport___
Des M o in es...
D u buque.........
$900
28,000
10, 000
34, 300
101, 700
4, 000
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$13,050
31. 000
5,000
75,570
148, 750
14, 000
1
3
4
8
22
1
[ 1161 ]
5
10
2
17
35
4
$7, 750
12,570
11,000
21, 042
25,555
500
$5,450
9,455
1,000
32,972
60, 545
3,900
$13,061
58, 639
34¡ 000
64,060
136, 610
29, 665
$24.185
61.837
16,000
415.859
238,069
49,520
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
130
T able 8 —E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
347 P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931—C ontinued
W e s t N o r th C e n tr a l S t a t e s — Continued
New residential buildings
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
E stim ated cost
S tate and city
February,
1931
Iowa—C ontinued.
O ttu m w a____
Sioux C ity ___
W aterloo___ Kansas:
H u tch in so n .. .
K ansas C ity ..
T o p ek a______
W ichita_____
M innesota:
D u lu th ______
M inneapolis..
St. P a u l_____
Missouri:
Joplin_______
Kansas C ity ..
Springfleld---St. Joseph___
St. Louis____
U niversity C ity —
N ebraska:
L in c o ln -.---........
O m aha_________
N orth D akota: Fargo
South D akota: Sioux
Falls_____________
T o t a l- - .- - - ..
Per cent of change.
M arch,
1931
New nonresidential
buildings (e s t im ated cost)
F eb ru M arch , February,
ary,
1931
1931
1931
M arch,
1931
T otal construction,
including a l t e r a
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
February,
1931
0
M arch,
1931
$11,000
200,000
$7,500
39.000
29, 000
13
10, 300
10
$5,600
4,245
29.950
$21,150
9,025
$21,700
205,795
50,635
$13,500
83,685
42,715
7,900
19, 650
20,950
143, 505
15, 800
17,975
29,900
81, 525
4
13
4
33
1, 500
13,258
17,865
32,095
30, 690
10,400
33,340
55,990
II, 775
36,978
44, 340
183, 535
48,485
31 700
67, 765
175,691
14, 800
319,925
38,040
28,800
347,025
173,400
7
93
35
10, 615
171, 530
402,242
4,235
2,087,205
91,939
66,728
576, 060
490,051
78,327
2,659,805
591,259
6
61
16
5.250
51.950
5,750
995
1,178,008
3.250
6,500
169, 500
2,390
7, 060
323, 597
19,995
11,450
229, 200
40.400
12,415
1,688, 340
III, 500
32,216
475,400
76,855
18,106
1,122,821
270,570
22,438
810,246
4,900
147, 567
240
52,733
937,896
3, 500
73,210
561, 500
49,947
0
114, 500
22, 200
1,600
394,600
106, 500
22, 300
111, 100
0
19,400
268.000
57,700
5,000
645,000
238,050
2
3
75
8
0
28
12
2
110
18
2
193
32
8
61,950
134, 300
30
6
20,200
60, 250
113,453
13
1,798, 020
2, 620, 348
+45.7
452
27
0
16,025
112,485
89.400
237,000
2,861, 229
3,251, 530
+13.6
5,200,466
7,516,027
+44.5
+47.8
S o u th A t l a n t i c S ta te s
Delaware: Wilming$75,300
$93,350
to n ______________
D istrict of Columbia:
W ashington______ 4.165,375 1,980,350
Florida:
49,850
55, 600
Jacksonville.........
56, 250
13, 350
M iam i_________
0
4, 750
Orlando ____14, 700
13,300
St. Petersburg__
33,125
61,950
T am p a_________
Georgia:
115,650
122,060
A tla n ta ________
20,000
4,750
Colum bus___ -2,400
0
M acon_________
31, 600
28,600
S a v a n n a h - .- ---M aryland:
482,000
643,000
B altim ore______
15,000
4,000
C um berland____
29, 500
26,500
H agerstow n_____
N o rth Carolina:
1,000
500
A sh ev ille______
107, 300
54,450
C h arlo tte______
15,900
27, 000
D u rh a m _______
19,333
17, 086
Greensboro_____
14,300
22, 900
High P o in t_____
31, 409
24, 800
R a l e i g h . .- - - ---5,800
12,500
W ilm ington____
49, 651
0
W in sto n -S alem ..
South Carolina:
15, 600
20,000
C harleston______
32, 200
24,000
C olum bia---------39,
500
42, 550
Greenville______
500
2,000
S p artan b u rg------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
17
17
$20.596
$445,980
$393,318
$552,869
3,167,626
600
300
711,050
1,066, 373
5,496,930
13
10
5
3
9
19
22
0
4
11
20, 755
64,860
1,600
1,000
37, 550
45,755
124,875
1,135
5,200
8,435
109,965
HO. 926
27,875
24,950
112,302
171, 850
235,068
12,065
30, 600
67,048
43
3
0
8
53
4
4
11
67, 273
5,000
0
740
17,066
445
8,100
7,175
271,823
13, 205
0
32,840
397,816
23,935
29, 595
47,400
210
2
7
104
4
4
1,197,300
450
1,655
904, 900
118,385
3, 725
2, 297,900
5,275
31, 505
1,972,300
137, 214
33,535
1
15
8
3
5
2
4
0
1
29
6
5
7
4
3
15
6,600
2,185
1,500
7,365
318, 500
1,025
500
1,480
3,810
13,965
0
2,815
22,490
2, 250
48,100
4,530
27,455
67, 526
« 1 ,439
32, 217
346, 800
35, 200
16, 800
15,985
13,771
162,398
26,906
43, 593
36,790
39, 208
67, 200
77,431
4
10
11
2
7
17
6
1
8,135
9,175
3, 340
100
400
9,800
20, 450
55, 425
45,800
39, 605
52, 915
4, 225
21,688
59, 550
72,993
59,415
[1162]
HOUSING
131
T able 8.—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
347 P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931—C ontinued
S o u th A t l a n t i c S ta te s — Continued
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
February,
1931
Virginia:
N ew port N e w s...
Norfolk. .
Petersburg______
P o rtsm ou th ..
R ichm ond_____
R oanoke_______
W est Virginia:
C harleston______
Clarksburg_____
Parkersburg____
W heeling_______
M arch,
1931
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
buildings (e s t im ated cost)
Febru- M arch ,
February,
1931
1931
1931
M arch,
1931
T otal construction,
including a l t e r a
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
$2, 700
47, 700
0
18,000
50,100
5,800
$16, 975
45, 300
4,000
23,050
362,500
71, 000
2
12
0
6
10
2
7
13
1
8
30
21
$2,363
9,481
400
5, 750
20, 357
6,955
$176,864
30, 545
0
2, 621
46,883
3,488
$15,420
158, 826
1,100
3i; 380
121, 290
26, 206
$208, 915
97,916
4,250
34,456
450; 874
79,545
16,150
3,000
8,000
14, 000
21, 500
14, 500
0
11,000
6
1
3
2
7
5
0
2
1,400
2,200
7,133
87, 000
47,100
35, 780
8,050
6, 510
20,100
14,810
26,133
105,176
76,150
60, 680
10, 550
41, 739
T o tal___
5, 652, 821
Per cent of change . . .
3,805,043
-3 2 . 7
1,039
752
-2 7 .6
2, 632, 773
3, 299,425 10,165, 222
+'25.3
8,624, 939
—15.2
S o u th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Alabam a:
B irm ingham ____
M o b ile ... _____
M o n tg o m e ry ___
A rk a n s a s :
L ittle
Rock __________
K entucky:
A shland________
C ovington______
Louisville______
N ew port_______
P aducah _______
Louisiana:
B aton Rouge____
M onroe________
New Orleans____
Shreveport______
Oklahoma:
E n id ___________
O klahoma C ity ..
Okmulgee. ______
T u ls a ....................
Tennessee:
C hattanooga____
Johnson C ity 2__
K noxville. _____
M em phis_____ _
N ashville_______
Texas:
A m arillo_______
A u stin . ___ _
B eaum ont--------Corpus C h ris ti...
D allas....... ............
E l P a s o .. _____
F o rt W o rth .. . . .
H ouston________
San Angelo_____
San A n to n io __
W aco__________
W ichita F alls___
T otal . . ------P er cent of chanve
$6,300
8, 500
41,800
$33, 650
9, 400
60, 900
7
7
22
12
5
24
$109, 223
2, 500
15,350
$12, 975
207, 500
11,125
$163, 360
26, 000
67, 670
$102, 863
230, 416
85,885
8,850
72, 750
4
14
16, 595
3,494
52,345
93,384
4,300
12, 800
153, 500
0
1, 900
0
31, 700
155, 500
4, 000
11, 700
3
5
21
0
3
0
10
20
1
6
300
2, 600
167,170
300
1, 500
15, 000
6,925
591, 750
350
65, 600
25,100
17,050
388, 495
1,800
5,000
17,125
53, 730
820, 175
11,050
77, 600
16, 627
34,472
96, 100
38, 008
32, 927
6, 850
57, 793
25,315
15
21
27
15
16
7
26
8
27, 410
267,075
34, 334
6, 366
31, 637
1,000
514,114
7,150
131, 268
304, 547
289,915
61,077
90. 590
15, 265
638, 836
74,152
24, 700
456, 700
0
183, 750
15, 595
326, 800
0
210, 815
8
184
0
44
7
94
0
39
1,500
1,973, 100
4,000
125,335
3, 850
1, 949, 850
100
42, 540
26, 200
2,448,020
4, 395
347, 613
19, 445
2, 395,825
400
290, 535
38, 805
21, 000
2, 750
30, 000
48, 100
82, 350
8
57, 497
68,510
152, 725
14, 500
2, 650
19, 380
34, 450
48, 640
123, 830
9
30
29
10
2
6
26
27
25, 100
14, 940
73, 450
81, 200
90, 071
224, 167
250, 429
64, 541
5, 600
54,450
250, 534
200,465
88, 500
98, 699
15, 403
10, 950
188, 425
71, 775
171, 925
759, 300
5,585
75, 875
33, 787
0
81, 450
117, 730
47, 900
56, 500
234, 600
82, 290
164, 705
788, 700
10, 300
126, 710
19, 200
10, 300
16
53
10
9
92
24
56
190
7
55
9
0
15
48
11
35
140
33
55
194
4
90
9
2
269,325
417, 526
2,825
1, 650
75, 980
4,581
395, 393
504, 775
5,150
130, 440
23, 333
700
600
7, 094
62,190
6, 475
208,182
44, 247
101, 213
218, 500
9, 450
33, 600
1, 227, 032
2,150
371,174
528, 181
40, 777
18, 705
349,175
97, 709
607, 430
1, 299, 750
13,100
243,168
69, 594
5, 290
88, 685
132, 664
139, 774
73, 715
543, 390
147,417
297, 573
1,037, 750
20, 700
185, 395
1, 254, 732
19,501
2,816, 926
2, 977, 530
+ 5 .7
983
994
+ 1.1
4,890; 168
5,502, 663
+12.5
8, 692, 405
9, 528,562
+ 9.6
1
2 Schedule received for the first tim e, M arch, 1931; not included in totals.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1163]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
132
T able 8 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D IN
347 P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931—C ontinued
M o u n t a i n a n d P a c i f i c S ta te s
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Arizona:
$81,900
$61,900
Phoenix________
39, 700
38,750
Tucson..................
California:
85, 500
22, 500
A lam eda_______
95,450
67, 600
A lham bra______
50,425
36, 750
Bakersfield_____
82, 250
72,700
Berkeley_____
73, 000
41, 700
Fresno. _______
255, 450
102, 450
G le n d a le ______
364,250
Long Beach_____
252,950
Los Angeles_____ 1,624,032 2, 214. 249
328, 543
O akland________
232,025
112, 290
Pasadena_______
64, 225
206, 000
89,000
S a c ra m e n to -----73,945
San B ern ard in o ..
51,450
212, 677
245, 550
San D ie g o ...........
932,968
San Francisco___ 1,017, 037
109, 200
98, 615
San Jose________
71, 800
54, 582
Santa A n a______
93, 250
Santa M onica___
163, 800
84, 750
Stockton_______
29, 800
18,800
2,400
V allejo--.......... .
Colorado:
12,300
13,100
Colorado Springs
574,950
320, 500
D e n v e r __ ___
2,650
0
Pueblo_________
M ontana:
0
0
B u tte __________
89, 300
7,600
G reat F alls_____
N ew Mexico: Albu50,050
72,392
querque__________
Oregon:
287, 950
355,300
P o r tla n d - ______
20, 505
5,450
Salem__________
U tah:
10, 800
1,000
Ogden. __ ____
85,800
151, 750
Salt Lake C ity ...
W ashington:
12,100
15,000
B ellingham ____
3, 500
7,000
E v e re tt________
347, 275
505, 250
Seattle__ _______
112, 350
66, 575
Spokane________
91, 500
24,000
T acom a________
T o tal___ _____
5,914, 733
7,287,427
+23.2
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
buildings (e s t im ated cost)
F e b ru M a rch , February,
ary,
1931
1931
1931
M arch,
1931
T otal construction,
including a l t e r a
tions and repair
(estim ated cost)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
29
12
29
16
$137, 050
4,375
$820,369
279, 035
$205, 560
50,452
$907, 919
335,474
5
30
9
13
11
23
89
481
68
19
16
17
65
241
25
11
54
7
1
21
36
15
19
20
59
142
780
94
18
39
23
56
231
34
14
23
21
4
10,758
3,150
3,135
59,408
28,245
26, 725
55, 730
1,475, 329
691, 901
15,194
473, 891
5, 674
160,179
513, 740
2, 385
4,000
69, 746
57, 740
22, 720
6,040
132, 650
56,175
25, 933
21,615
63,035
167, 950
1,410, 267
538, 669
224, 270
35,095
4,379
451, 367
946, 203
47,125
7, 300
4,925
39,332
505
40,443
72, 300
53, 575
156,709
120, 720
142,165
344, 365
3, 677,072
989,460
162, 566
607, 781
64, 726
466,826
1,690,363
118, 353
64,472
239,181
107, 075
32,435
96, 677
233,150
125,624
128,009
115,285
332, 740
584, 395
4,272,107
956. 225
336, 560
297,545
91, 619
839,906
2,071,179
207,035
88, 235
106,100
134,457
27, 930
2
72
0
5
142
2
15, 525
55,650
12,830
3,407
80, 690
7,478
54,210
494,300
20, 746
24,149
754,440
23, 338
0
5
0
20
200
47,320
5,835
121,925
250
71, 795
6,710
222,200
18
17
514,335
21,475
620,084
78,871
75
3
73
9
167, 515
4,095
260, 070
4,405
663,400
19,889
677, 750
28,363
1
54
5
25
450
58,362
0
25, 625
30,140
231,282
11,300
149,889
6
3
142
21
9
5
2
123
28
42
320
755
264, 750
20,635
155,055
725
1,475
307, 228
137,175
220,340
24,265
21,610
879, 825
199, 595
202,870
31,385
9,940
910, 623
293, 520
347,950
1,637
2,192
+33.9
5,138,872
6,480,092 12, 940,860 15,858, 599
+22.5
+26.1
Hawaii
H aw aii: H onolulu__
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$74, 335
$164,100
+120. 8
90
39
+130.8
[1164]
$29,949
$64, 246
+114. 5
$129,693
$263, 304
+103. 0
HOUSING
133
A p a rtm en t-H o u se C o n stru ctio n in A m erican C ities, 1930
UILDING permit reports have been received by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics from 257 identical cities having a population of
25,000 or over, continuously since 1921. These show the number of
families provided for in new building construction and the class of
dwellings with which they were provided. The tables below show the
percentage of families provided for in each class of dwelling for the
years 1921, 1929, and 1930.
The dwellings are divided into three classes: 1-family, 2-family
and multifamily. A 2-family dwelling is defined as one in which
one family lives above the other, or in which two families live on the
same floor and use a common entrance. A semidetached dwelling
is one of two with a party wall between and having a separate entrance.
Each is counted as a separate 1-family dwelling. A multifamily
dwelling is a dwelling accommodating three or more families. The
term is equivalent to the more generally used appellations, apartment
house or tenement.
Table 1 shows the percentage of families provided for by the
different types of dwellings in the above-mentioned years in 257
identical cities, by population groups:
B
T able 1.—P E R C E N T O F F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R B Y D IF F E R E N T T Y P E S OF D W E L L
IN G S IN C IT IE S H A V IN G A P O P U L A T IO N O F 25,000 OR O V ER IN 1921, 1929, A N D 1930, BY
P O P U L A T IO N G R O U PS
Population group and num ber of cities
Over 500,000 (14 cities), ______________________ ,
100,000 to 500,000 (75 cities)_____ _____ ___________
50,000 to 100,000 (86 cities)____________________
_
25,000 to 50,000 (82 cities)_________________________
T otal (257 cities)___________ ____ __________
Per cent of families provided
for in—
Y ear
Total
num ber of
families
provided
for
1921
1929
1930
1921
1929
1930
1921
1929
1930
1921
1929
1930
112,373
139,007
70,199
75, 073
70, 664
37, 999
26, 060
23, 365
10, 884
11,039
11,358
6,240
44.2
25.3
32.0
72.0
55.8
59.0
74. 9
65. 3
69. 6
68. 7
72. 3
77.8
21. 7
10.3
12. 2
12.0
13. 1
13.0
15.0
11.0
9. 7
18.2
14. 7
9.4
34.0
64.4
55.8
16.0
31. 1
28.0
10.2
23. 7
20. 7
13. 1
13.0
12.9
1921
1929
1930
224, 545
244,394
125,322
58.3
40.2
45. 7
17.3
11.4
12.1
24.4
48.5
42.2
1-family
dwell
ings
2-family
M u lti
dwell
family
ings 1 dwellings2
1 Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings w ith stores.
2 Includes m ultifam ily dwellings w ith stores.
In these 257 cities, 125,322 families were provided with dwelling
places in the new buildings for which permits were issued in 1930;
45.7 per cent of the dwelling units provided were in 1-family
dwellings; 42.2 per cent in multifamily dwellings; and 12.1 per cent
in 2-family dwellings. This is a decrease in the percentage pro
vided for in multifamily dwellings as compared with the year 1929.
Except in the cities having a population of 500,000 or over, all the
population groups showed a larger percentage of families provided
for by 1-family dwellings than by apartment houses in each of the
three years under discussion.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1165]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
134
There is a great difference in the relative percentage of families
provided for in 1-family dwellings to families provided for in
apartment houses in the different population groups. During 1930,
in the cities having a population of over 500,000, less than one-third of
the family dwelling units were provided in 1-family dwellings;
while in cities having a population of from 25,000 to 50,000, over
three-quarters of the families provided for were in 1-family dwell
ings. In each of the population groups there was an increase in the
percentage of families provided for in 1-family dwellings during
1930 as compared with 1929.
Table 2 shows the percentage of families provided for by the differ
ent types of dwellings in each of the 14 cities having a population of
500,000 or over in 1921, 1929, and 1930:
T able
2 — P E R C E N T OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R B Y D IF F E R E N T T Y P E S OF D W E L L
IN G S IN C IT IE S H A V IN G A P O P U L A T IO N O F 500,000 OR O V ER IN 1921, 1929, A N D 1930,
BY C IT IE S
Per cent of families provided for in—■
Total numher of fam
M ulti
ilies pro
1-family
2-famiiy
family
vided for
dwellings dwellings 1 dwellings
2
C ity, State, and year
B altim ore, M d.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930
. __________________________________
Boston, M ass.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
Buffalo, N . Y .:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
Chicago, 111.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
Cleveland, Ohio:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930_______________________________ „__________
D etroit, M ich.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
Los Angeles, Calif.:
1921_____________________________ _____________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
M ilw aukee, Wis.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
New Y ork, N . Y.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
T h e Bronx—
1921_______________________________________
1929_______________________________________
1930_______________________________________
Brooklyn—
1921_______________________________________
1929_______________________________________
1930_______________________________________
M an h attan —
1921_______________________________________
1929_______________________________________
1930_______________________________________
1 Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings w ith stores.
2 Includes m ultifam ily dwellings w ith stores.
? Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1166]
2,176
3, 022
1,484
85.0
92.7
97.0
4.5
.1
10.5
9.2
3.0
878
3, 327
1,415
15.5
15.1
33.1
30.5
24.4
43.8
54.0
60.5
23.1
2,405
1,769
1,072
51.6
18.9
15.2
48.0
51.5
52.7
.4
29.6
32.1
12,252
18, 837
2,741
37.9
14.9
38.9
17.6
7.2
18.3
44.6
77.9
42.8
4,084
2,143
1,176
35.5
54.3
60.2
40.5
19.4
14.8
24.0
26.3
25.0
6,743
12,151
4,084
46.9
48.8
55.4
17.9
26.5
30.5
35.2
24.7
14.1
19, 572
15, 234
11, 437
68.0
34.8
36.8
16.9
11.7
12. 1
15.2
53.5
51.1
2,212
3, 848
1,729
44.9
24.3
26.2
38.2
26.0
27.9
16.9
49.7
45.9
51, 360
58, 320
36,182
31.6
10. 8
18.3
24.2
6. 2
8.2
44.2
83.0
73.5
14,037
13,978
7,012
11.7
4.9
9.3
11.9
3.9
3.6
76.4
91.2
87.2
16, 636
11, 224
9, 275
24.1
9.7
12.8
44.0
12. 2
10.6
31.9
78. 1
76.5
3.7
95.5
99.9
99.9
4, 837
18,067
8,669
.7
(3)
.1
(3)
(3)
HOUSING
135
T able 2 — P E R C E N T OF F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D FO R BY D IF F E R E N T T Y P E S OF D W E L L
IN G S IN C IT IE S H A V IN G A P O P U L A T IO N O F 500,000 OR O V ER IN 1921, 1929, A N D 1930,
BY C IT IE S —C o n tin u a l
Per cent of 1amilies prov ded for in—
Total n u m
ber of fam
M u lti
ilies pro
2-family
1-family
family
vided for
dwellings dwellings
dwellings
C ity, State, and year
N ew Y ork, N . Y .—C ontinued.
Queens—
1921_______________________________________
1929_______________________________________
1930_______________________________________
R ichm ond—
1921
_
___ _ _ ___
• 1929_______________________________________
1930_______________________________________
Philadelphia, Pa.:
____________ _______________
1921
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
P ittsburgh , Pa.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
St. Louis, M o.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________ - ______________________________
1930___________________________________________
San Francisco, Calif.:
1921___________________________________________
1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
W ashington, D . C.:
1921
_ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _
________1929___________________________________________
1930___________________________________________
Total (14 cities):
1921_____________________________________
1929_____________________________________
1930_____________________________________
13,256
13,861
10,495
60.0
27.2
43.6
24.4
10.4
12.3
15.6
62.4
44.1
2, 594
1,190
731
100.0
61.6
27.9
22. 1
62.1
16. 3
10.0
2,406
7,098
1,744
93.3
57. 1
69.8
3.2
5.8
6.7
39.7
24.4
1,335
2, 153
1, 349
59.3
60. 1
66. 1
26.8
9.5
13.0
13.9
30.4
20.9
2, 072
4, 364
1,618
49.0
28.5
51.8
24.1
12. 1
11.6
26.8
59.4
36.6
2, 683
3,518
2, 206
37.6
35. 1
53.2
17.0
5.9
5.9
45.4
59. 0
40.9
2,195
3.223
1,962
75. 4
42.3
49.0
.7
1. 1
24. 6
57.0
49. 8
112, 373
139, 007
70,199
44.2
25.3
33.0
21.7
10.3
12.2
34.0
64. 4
55.8
In these 14 cities, only 70,199 families were provided with dwelling
places in new buildings, according to permits issued in 1930. This
compares with 139,007 families provided for according to permits
issued in 1929. Both 1-family dwellings and 2-family dwellings
showed an increased percentage comparing 1930 with 1929. Multi
family dwellings, however, showed a decreased percentage. There
was a marked difference in the proportion of families provided for in
apartment houses in the several cities in this population group. For
example, New York City provided family dwelling places in apart
ment houses for 73.5 per cent of all the families provided for during
1930. In contrast, in Baltimore only 3 per cent of the total families
provided with dwelling places were to be housed in apartment build
ings. Other cities providing for more families in apartment houses
than in 1-family dwellings were Chicago, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and
Washington. Cities providing for the larger percentage of their
families in 1-family dwellings were Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and San Francisco. Boston and Buffalo were
the largest builders of 2-family dwellings.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1167]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages and H ours of Labor, by In d u stries
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics has for a number of years collected
and published hours and earnings every two years for the wage
earners in many of the major manufacturing industries in the United
States. Part of the major industries have been covered in even years
and part in odd years. Those that were covered in 1930 were also
studied in 1928. Plans have already been made to collect wage figures
in 1931 for the major industries that were covered in 1929. The
bureau has also, at irregular intervals or in one year only, made special
studies of other industries. In 1930 a study was made of sugar and
pineapple plantations, pineapple canneries, and 18 other industries in
the Territory of Hawaii. Reports, much more in detail than given
in this article, have been published in the Monthly Labor Review and
in bulletins of the bureau. They present average hours and earnings
in each occupation and industry, by sex, for each State or other
geographic unit, of the study for each of the years in which studies have
been made.
Summaries of average full-time earnings per week for each industry,
in continental or mainland United States and also in Hawaii, are
shown in Table 1 of this article. The summaries are for the latest
or only year (back to 1927) in which a study of an industry has
been made. The bureau has made studies of industries other than
those in the table but in each case for years prior to 1927.
In 1930, average full-time hours per week of males in the boot and
shoe industry (the first industry in the table) were 48.8, of females
were 48.9, and of both sexes or the industry were 48.9. Average
earnings per hour of males were 60.4 cents, of females, 38.2 cents, and
of both sexes, 51 cents. Average full-time earnings per week of males
were $29.48, of females, $18.68, and of both males and females com
bined, $24.94. These averages may be compared with those for other
industries that were covered in 1930, but not with those for industries
covered in 1929, 1928, or 1927.
Summaries of average hours and earnings are presented in Table 2,
by industry and year, for each of the industries of which studies have
been made in more than one year between 1914 and 1930.
In the boot and shoe industry, full-time hours decreased from 54.7
per week in 1914 to 48.9 in 1930, earnings per hour increased from
24.3 cents in 1914 to 53 cents in 1928 and then decreased to 51 cents
in 1930, and full-time earnings per week increased from $13.26 in 1914
to $24.94 in 1930. Between 1914 and 1930 full-time hours per week
in the industry decreased 5.8 hours or 10.6 per cent; earnings per hour
increased 26.7 cents or 109.9 per cent; and full-time earnings per
week increased $11.68 or 88.1 per cent. Earnings per week did not
increase so much as earnings per hour because of the 10.6 per cent
decrease in average full-time hours per week.
T
136
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1168]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
137
T able 1.—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S IN C O N T IN E N T A L U N IT E D ST A T E S
A N D IN T H E T E R R IT O R Y O F H A W A II, B Y IN D U S T R Y
P a rt of U nited States (m ainland or
Hawaii) and in d u stry
Average full-time Average earnings per
hours per week
hour
Average full-time
earnings per week
Fe Total
Male male
Male
Year
Male
Fe
male
Total
Fe
male
Total
M a in la n d
Boots and shoes ______ _____
C igarettes.— _ _ _ _ _ _
C otton goods____________ __ ____
Dyeing and finishing te x tile s ,____
H osiery _
_ _ _ _
Underw ear
_ _ _ _ ______
L um ber _______________________
M en’s clothing__________________
R ayon and other sy n th etic textiles.
Sugar refining. ___________
. _
Woolen and worsted goods_______
Aircraft engines _
A irplanes___ _____________ _____
Coal, bitum inous___ ______ _
Foundries_________ ______ ____
F urniture _
...
_ __
Iron and ste e l.. __ _
_ ___
M achine shops.
.
... _
P ortland cem ent________________
Slaughtering and m eat packing _
M otor v e h ic le s _____ _ ________
C otton com presses..
C otton gins. ._
. .
Cottonseed-oil m ills______________
D ry cell b atteries______________
_____
Storage batteries _.
M otors, 1 h. p. or less____________
A lum inum , brass, and copper
w ares_________ _____________
Brass and copper sheet, rod, tube,
wire, and shape m ills___________
Radio:
Receiving sets .
. _____
Speakers. _ ______
T ubes__ _ _ _ . . . .
1930 48.8
1930 49.9
1930 53. 7
1930 51.0
1930 52.4
1930 50.9
1930 56. 5
1930 44.3
1930 51. 1
1930 59.3
1930 49. 4
1929 48.9
1929 47.9
(i)
1929
1929 51.0
1929 52. 1
1929 54. 6
1929 50. 3
1929 60.8
1929 49. 3
1928 49. 4
1927 56. 2
1927 66. 2
1927 70. 9
1927 49. 5
1927 48.6
1927 48.9
48.9
49.9
52.9
50. 5
52. 1
50.2
48.9 $0. 604 $0. 382 $0. 510 $29. 48
49.9
.378
. 268
. 318 18. 86
53.4
.346
.293
.325 18. 58
50.9
.473
.335
.452 24. 12
52.2
.707
.366
.497 37. 05
50.3
.457
.330
.357 23. 26
' . 359 20. 28
56. 5 . 359
44. 2 44. 3 .885
.504
.701 39. 21
49.0 50.2
.504
.344
.441 25. 75
51. 5 58. 7 .472
.289
.461 27. 99
49.2 49.3
.532
.403
.473 26. 28
48.9
. 706
. 706 34. 52
47.3 47.9
.669
.380
.663 32. 05
(!)
(i)
2. 659
2. 659
49.7 51.0
.625
.624 31.88
.451
50. 5 51.9
.499
.345
.490 26. 00
54. 6
. 674
. 674 36. 48
49. 3 50.3
.641
.399
.638 32. 24
52. 0 60.8
.518
.389
.517 31. 49
48.9 49. 2
.525
.369
.504 25. 88
50. 3 49. 4 .756
.487
.750 37. 35
55.9 56. 2 .316
. 132
.311 17. 76
66. 2 . 293
. 293 19. 40
70. 9 . 240
. 240 17. 02
49. 3 49.4
.541
.492 26. 78
.416
49.2 48.6
.698
.392
.691 33. 92
48.0 48.6
.642
.429
.586 31.39
$18. 68 $24. 94
13. 37 15. 87
15. 50 17. 36
16. 92 23. 01
19. 07 25. 94
16. 57 17. 96
20 28
22.28 31. 05
16. 86 22. 14
14. 88 27. 06
19. 83 23. 32
84 5 2
17. 97 31. 76
(1)
22. 41 31.82
17. 42 25.43
36 48
19. 67 32. 09
20.23 31. 43
18. 04 24.80
24. 50 37. 05
7. 38 17. 50
10 40
17. 02
20. 51 24. 30
19. 29 33. 58
20. 59 28.48
1927
52.2
52.6
52.3
.579
.355
.513
30.22
18. 67
1927
51.1
50.1
51.0
.556
.348
.552
29.91
19. 04
29.70
1927
1927
1927
48.5
48. 4
48.9
48.3
46.8
48.5
48.4
47.8
48.6
.590
.555
.602
.384
.399
.407
.508
.502
.444
28.62
26. 86
29.44
18. 55
18. 67
19. 74
24.59
24. 00
21.58
1929
1930
1930
1929
49. 6
55.3
66. 4
45. 0
55.0
49. 6
55. 1
66. 4
45. 0
. 506
.307
. 299
. 578
.141
. 506
.213
. 299
. 578
25.10
16. 98
19. 85
26. 01
7.76
25.10
11. 74
19. 85
26. 01
1930
1929
45.1
44. 0
45. 1
44. 0
. 707
. 649
. 707
. 649
31. 89
28. 56
31. 89
28. 56
1930
1929
1929
1930
48. 0
54. 0
44. 0
45.2
48. 0
54. 0
44. 0
45.2
. 478
. 468
. 685
. 174
.478
. 468
. 685
.298
22. 94
25. 27
30.14
7.86
22. 94
25. 27
30.14
13.47
1930
1929
1930
1930
1929
1929
1930
1929
1929
1929
1929
44. 0
49. 3
51. 0
54. 0
51. 1
53. 0
52. 5
60. 0
60. 0
60.0
M
26.83
H a w a ii
B uilding construction
... _ .
Coffee m ills________ _____
Dairies ________
...
___.._■
D ry docks___ _
E lectricity—m anufacture and distrib u tio n _________ ____
__
Foundries_______________
__
Gas—m anufacturing an d distribution
_________________
Longshore la b o r ___________
M achine shops
___
O verallsand sh irt m anufacturing. _
P rin tin g and publishing, newspaper and book and job______ __
R oad building___
___
Slaughtering and m eat packing _
Steam laundries________
____
Steam railw ays_________
_____
_ _
Stock r a is in g ________
Street railw ays___ ___
Tin-can m anufacturing.._ ______
Pineapple canneries___
Pineapple plan tatio n s..
Sugar p la ntatio n s____ ______ . .
45.2
44.0
54.0
60.0
60. 0
60. 0
(4)
.307
13. 88
44.0
.915
.378
.857 40.26 16. 63 37.71
49. 3
24. 95
. 506
. 506 24. 95
51. 0
.347
.347 17. 70
17. 70
. 272 22. 46 10.26 14. 69
54.0
.416
. 190
22. 79
51.1
. 446
. 446 22. 79
53. 0
. 275
. 275 14. 58
14. 58
52. 5
. 544
. 544 26. 62
26. 62
60. 0 .401
. 243
.373 24. 06 14.58 22.38
60. 0
. 224 16. 26 10. 08 13. 44
.271
.168
60.0 3.227 3.116 3.225 13. 62 3 6. 96 313. 50
31. 84 ‘ 1. 30 «1.82 711. 04 7 7. 80 810. 92
«
1 N ot reported.
2 A ctual hours of tim e w orkers and tim e a t face (including tim e for lunch) for tonnage men have been
used in the com putation.
2 A t basic ra te s an d w ith bonus, b u t no t including perquisites. (See note 5.)
4 Range according to k in d of work, from 33 to 72—average not com puted.
8 Per d a y for adults, including basic rates and bonus, b u t no t including perquisites (rental value of
houses, value of fuel, w ater, medical and hospital service for sickness or accidental injury of any kind)
furnished to employees b y p lantations w ithout a n y charge to employees. T he value was estim ated at
$28 per m onth or $1 per day.
6 Per day for adults and minors combined; m inors earned an average of 98 cents per day.
7 For ad ults b u t not including perquisites. (See note 5.)
8 For adults and minors; average for minors, $5.88 per week.
52839°—31-
-10
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11691
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
138
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , BY IN D U S T R Y A N D S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S,
1914 TO 1930
In d u stry
A ver
age
full
Y ear tim e
hours
per
week
Boots and shoes_______ 1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
Ì924
1926
1928
1930
C otton goods_________ 1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
Hosiery and underw ear. 1914
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
Iron and steel___ - ,_, 1914
1915
1920
1922
1924
1926
1929
I .um ber__ ______
1921
1923
1925
1928
1930
M en ’s clothing____ _
1914
1919
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
A ver
A ver age
age
full
earn tim e
ings earn
per
ings
hour
per
week
54.7 $0.243 $13. 26
.259 14.11
54.6
52.3
.336 17.54
.559 26. 97
48.6
48.7
.501 24. 45
49.0
.516 25.28
49.0
.528 25. 87
49.1
.530 26.02
48.9
.510 24.94
.153
8. 63
56.8
56.9
.179 10.08
56.0
.267 14. 95
51.8
.480 24.86
52.8
.330 17. 42
.372 19. 72
53.0
53.3
.328 17.48
.324 17. 30
53.4
53.4
.325 17. 36
. 172
9.44
54.8
.354 18. 05
51.0
.409 20.74
50.7
51.3
.443 22. 73
.444 22.78
51.3
.455 23. 48
51.6
64.9
.301 18. 60
65.5
.297 18.65
63.1
.745 45. 65
63.2
.513 31.67
55.2
.644 35.22
54.4
.637 34.41
.674 36. 48
54.6
58.0
.334 19.37
.362 21.03
58.1
58.1
.357 20.74
56.6
.371 21.00
56. 5
.359 20.28
51.3
. 256 13.06
47.9
.446 21.08
44.1
.728 31.91
44.1
.760 33. 52
44.3
.750 33.23
44.0
.731 32.16
44.3
.701 31.05
In d u stry
Woolen and
goods.
Average
fullY ear tim e
hours
per
week
worsted
1914 55.0
1916 54.8
1918 54.3
1920 48.3
1922 48.8
1924 49. 1
1926 49.3
1928 49.3
1930 49.3
Slaughtering and m eat 1917
0)
1921 48.4
packing.
1923 52.3
1925 50. 1
1927 49.3
1929 49.2
Coal, b itu m in o u s ,____ 1922
P)
1924
(>)
1926
(D
1929
<‘)
1923 52.4
Foundries___________
1925 51.5
1927 51.1
1929 51.0
M achine s h o p s ___ _
1923 50.8
1925 50.4
1927 50.1
1929 50.3
M otor vehicles _____ 1922 50. 1
1925 50.3
1928 49.4
A utomobile tires.
1919
1923 49.5
Coal, an th racite___ _
1922
1924
(>)
F u rn itu re ,
1915 357.4
1929 51.9
Paper box-board
. .
1919
0)
1925 54.3
Paper and p u lp ___
1919
1923 351.6
P o ttery ______________ 1919
0)
1925
p)
P)
P)
P)
A ver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Aver
age
full
tim e
earn
ings
per
week
$0.182 $10.03
.225 12.34
.342 18. 57
.628 30.33
.474 23.13
.533 26.17
.491 24. 21
.514 25.34
.473 23.32
.262
<>)
.497 24.05
.484 25.31
.492 24. 65
.501 24. 70
.504 24.80
3 .853
0)
3 .788
0)
2.763
f1)
2 .659
(')
.558 29.24
.610 31.42
.624 31.89
.624 31.82
.559 28.40
.602 30. 34
.625 31.31
.638 32. 09
.657 32. 92
.723 36. 37
.750 37.05
3.622
.722 35.74
4.795
0)
4.915
3.214 312. 24
.490 25. 43
(!)
3.275
.517 28.07
3.442
(i)
3.504 325.98
3.536
3.581
(0
P)
P)
P)
i N o t reported.
3 A ctual hours of tim e w orkers and tim e a t face (including tim e for lunch) for tonnage men have been
used in th e com putation.
a C om puted from averages shown in bulletin.
4 A ctual hours w orked exclusive of lunch tim e used in th e com putations.
R ecen t C h an ges in W ages and H ours of Labor
NFORMATION received by the bureau regarding wage changes
is presented below in two groups, part 1 relating to manufactur
ing establishments that report monthly figures regarding volume of
employment, and part 2 presenting data obtained from new trade
agreements and other miscellaneous sources. Although the effort
is made, it is not always possible to avoid duplication of data as
between parts 1 and 2.
I
Part 1. Wage-Rate Changes in Manufacturing Industries
establishments in five industries reported wage-rate increases
during the month ending March 15. These increases, averaging
5.8 per cent, affected 178 employees or 10 per cent of all employees in
the establishments concerned.
F iv e
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1170]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
139
One hundred and seventy-five establishments in 38 industries
reported wage-rate decreases during the same period. These decreases,
averaging 10.3 per cent, affected 22,502 employees or 81 per cent of all
employees in the establishments concerned.
W A G E A D JU S T M E N T S O C C U R R IN G B E T W E E N F E B R U A R Y 15 A N D M A R C H 15, 1931
Per cent of in
crease or de
crease in wage
rate
Establishm ents
/
In d u stry
Total
num ber
reporting
em ploy
m ent and
pay roll
N um ber
reporting
increase
or de
crease in
wage
rates
Em ployees affected
Per cent of employees
Rango
In estab In all es
A ver T otal lishments
age num ber reporting tablish
increase or ments
decrease in report
ing
wage rates
In crea ses
H ardw are_____________________
Boots and shoes__ _ ________
Printing, book and jo b _____
Fertilizers-- -_
____
Petroleum refining_____________
T o tal. -
72
298
596
208
100
_____________
1
1
1
1
1
22.0
10.0
1.0
6.0
8.0
22.0
10.0
1.0
6.0
8.0
27
16
110
12
13
13
5
11
18
8
5
1. 0-22. 0
5. 8
178
10
0)
0
0
(D
(>)
D ecreases
Slaughtering and m eat packing-__
Confectionery . .
Flour_________________________
B a k i n g . . _______________
Cotton goods. _ _____________
H osiery and k n it goods_____
Silk goods-.
_ - _________
Woolen and w orsted goods- .
Carpets and rugs_______
. ...
D yeing and finishing textiles____
Clothing, m e n ’s. _________
Shirts and collars_______ _______
Iron and steel__________________
S tructural-ironw ork __ ___
Foundry and machine-shop produ cts_________ ________ ____
H ardw are_____
__________
M achine tools___
___ ______
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating apparatus. - ____
Stoves_______ _________________
Lum ber, saw m ills. . . . .
_____
Lum ber, m illw ork_____________
F u rn itu re ___ _______ _ _ _____
Leather_____________ ________
Boots and sh o es.. .
. ________
Paper boxes___ . ._ . _______
Printing, book and jo b ____ _
Printing, newspapers
. .
Fertilizers__________________ __
C em ent_________ _____ .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta
P o ttery __________ ____________
Glass__________
-_ _______ _
Brass, bronze, and copper produ c ts____________________ -- A gricultural im plem ents__ . . .
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies_________ ________
Pianos and organs_____ - - . . .
P a in t and v arn ish ______________
R ubber goods, other th a n boots,
shoes, tires, and inner t u b e s . ., .
T otal______________
214
329
400
707
444
350
262
183
30
116
342
103
190
174
4
5
2
9
11
12
2
3
2
2
1
1
4
8
8.0-15. 0
10. 0-15. 0
10. 0-16. 7
3.2-15. 0
5. 0-20. 0
1. 0-20. 0
10.0
7. 0-10. 0
10.0
7. 5-10. 0
8.0
10.0
3. 0-20. 0
8. 0-15. 0
11.2
11.0
13.8
10. 1
11.9
9.4
10.0
9.6
10.0
8.3
8.0
10.0
10.5
10.2
97
209
16
154
1,789
2, 095
237
471
1,217
231
58
86
4,503
940
45
98
31
37
70
86
96
95
91
24
54
100
86
69
0
1,082
72
148
10
5
2
5. 6-20. 0
8. 5-10. 0
10.0-15. 0
9.2
10.0
11.8
796
358
74
99
54
100
0
108
136
651
341
451
131
298
313
596
445
208
112
690
115
143
1
2
18
9
14
3
2
7
3
1
1
2
13
4
1
10.0
10.0
5. 0-20. 0
5. 0-15. 0
10. 0-20. 0
10.0
10.0
5. 0-10.0
10.0
11. 1
30.0
10.0
5. 0-25. 0
10. 0-11.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.8
8.8
11.4
10.0
10.0
9.2
10.0
11.1
30.0
10.0
11.6
10.3
10.0
328
79
2,317
508
1, 137
261
710
694
33
36
10
139
1,077
214
55
100
75
100
81
82
100
99
98
37
88
50
100
99
81
73
160
84
1
1
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
85
15
100
100
(D
0
211
64
262
2
2
2
10.0
10.0
5. 0-10. 0
10.0
10.0
9.2
1,146
52
152
83
87
38
0
79
3
10.0
10.0
123
37
175
1. 0-30. 0
10.3
22, 502
81
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1171]
0
0
0
(>)
1
1
2
1
7
1
1
2
4
2
0)
1
0
0
0
(0
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
4
1
0
1
1
1
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
140
Thirty-four of the wage-rate decreases were reported by establish
ments in the textile group of industries; 32 of the decreases were in the
iron and steel group of industries; 41 decreases were in the lumber
group of industries.
Part 2. Wage Changes Reported by Trade-Unions Since January, 1931
W age and hour changes reported by trade-unions are given in
the table following. Since last month, changes occurring since
January have been reported for 9,492 workers, 3,950 of whom were
reported to have adopted the 5-day week. Of the changes in wages
shown, 451 workers received reductions.
R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S , B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , JA N U A R Y
TO A P R IL , 1931
R ate of wages
In d u stry or occupation, and locality
D ate of
change
B uilding trades:
B ricklayers and masons—
Rochester, N . Y . . .
__________
Apr. 1
Syracuse, N . Y. _- .
Jan. 1
W heeling, W . V a., and vicinity (including tile setters) ______ _________ _ Apr. 1
Carpenters, D enison, T ex . ..........................
Alar. 1
E lectricians—
Denison, T e x .__ _
_ . . . . . . ___ __do
M onongahela Valley, P a . ____________ . do_
R ockland C o u n ty , N . Y .—
Journeym en.
. .
.....
A pr. 1
Helpers . . . .
______ . _______ _ do_
Engineers, H arrisburg, 111 ___ __________ Jan . 15
Laborers, Bisbee, A riz ________ ______ _
Jan. 12
L athers, wood and wire, Syracuse, N . Y ___ Jan. 1
Painters, Denison, T e x __________________
Alar. 1
Plasterers, Rochester, N . Y ____________
. A pr. 1
Plum bers—
D enison, T ex_________________ ______ Alar. 1
M onongahela Valley, P a _____________
__do
Sheet-m etalw orkers—
D enison, Tex _ . _________________ .
do
M onongahela V alley, P a
_ _______
_.do_
Structural-ironw orkers, A uburn, Ithaca, Oswego, Syracuse, and W atertow n, N . Y ___ Jan. 1
Tile and m arble setters’ helpers, T u lsa, Okla. Jan. 20
All building-trades workers, Springfield,
M ass., and v icin ity _____ ____ . . . _____ A pr. 1
M etal trades: M etal polishers and buffers, Belleville, 111 ______________________________ _ Jan. 1
M iners, N ew K ensington, P a _____________ .
.do
P rin tin g trades:
B indery workers, N ew Y ork, N . Y ________ Apr.
Compositors—
N ew Rochelle, N . Y .—
Job w ork, d a v . . ____________ .
A pr.
■lob w ork, night
______ _ .
do
Springfield, HI.—•
Job w o rk ____
_____ . . . ____ _ Jan.
N ew spaper ________ __________
__do
Stereotypers, M obile, Ala.—
N ew spaper, d a y ____ ____________
Apr.
N ew spaper, night ______________ .
_do
Street railw ay w orkers: M otorm en and conductors, P ittsb u rg h , P a., and v icin ity___________ Apr.
M unicipal workers:
Oakdale, Calif., O akdale irrigation d is tr ic t.. ___do.
Tuscaloosa C ounty, Ala., ru ral school teachers ___ _______ _ _ _______ _________ Alar.
1 P er d ay.
2 N o t reported.
3 N o change.
4 12% per cent reduction.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H ours per week
Before
change
After
change
P er hour
P er hour
$1. 50
1. 50
$1. 58%
1. 65
40
44
40
40
1.50
1.00
1.50
.87%
44
44
40
40
.93%
1.37%
.81%
1.12%
44
44
40
44
1. 53%
■81%
.75
• 37%
1.50
1.00
1. 50
1. 62%
.87%
1. 00 '
.43%
1. 65
.87%
1.58%
40
40
1 12
(2)
44
44
40
40
40
18
1. 25
1. 25
1. 12%
1.12%
44
44
40
44
1. 00
1.43%
• 87%
1.12%
44
44
40
44
1.37%
.62%
1. 50
.68%
44
(2)
(2)
40
40
40
40
(2)
(2)
(3)
44
40
(2)
0)
18
1 8
P er day
P er day
$3. 60
$3. 00
(•)
(5)
P er w eek
P e r w eek
2
(2)
(2)
46
45
1
51. 00
54. 00-57. 00
52. 00
55. 00-58. 00
44
40
44
40
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
44
48
«40
« 40
48
48
48
48
31
29
43. 00
44. 00
1
$0. 70-$0. 80
(3)
P e r m o u th
P e r m o u th
P er
1
hour
43. 50
44. 50
P er hour
$135-$175
$126-$157. 50
120. 00
96. 00
5 Irregular.
6 Em ergency measure.
2 D ays per week.
[1172]
Before After
change change
27
(2)
30
'
6
(3)
30
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
141
Increases in building trades were quite irregular in amount, rang
ing from 6)4 cents to 25 cents per hour. Among the printing trades
the increases amounted to 50 cents and $1 per week.
F arm W age and Labor S itu a tio n on April 1, 1931
FURTHER drop in farm wages took place between January 1
and April 1 . Figures issued by the United States Department
of Agriculture show that on April 1 the index was 127 per cent of the
pre-war level as compared with 129 per cent on January 1 . The
figure for April 1 , 1931, is 35 points lower than on April 1 , 1930, and
is the lowest for any date since 1916.
Table 1 , taken from a press release of the Department of Agricul
ture, dated April 10, 1931, gives average daily and monthly farm
wage rates, with board and without board, by geographic divisions
and for the country as a whole, on January 1 and April 1 of 1930 and
1931. The Labor Review for April, 1931, carried (p. 186) average
yearly farm wage rates and index numbers for the years 1910 to 1930,
and quarterly data from January, 1923, to January, 1931.
A
T able 1.—A V E R A G E F A R M W A G E R A T E S , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S , ON JA N U A R Y 1
A N D A P R IL 1, 1930 A N D 1931
Division
U nited States: Index of farm w ag es.. . . _.
A nnual
average,
1910-1914
100
January,
1930
159
April, 1930
162
P e r m o n th w ith
U nited States__________________________
N orth A tlan tic_____________________
N orth C en tral_________________ .
South A tlantic ___________ _______
South C en tral. . . . .
. _ _ _
F a r W estern_______________________
$20. 41
22. 63
24.88
14. 65
16.18
32.89
$32. 29
44. 57
36. 24
23. 28
24. 75
50. 66
January,
1931
April, 1931
129
127
$26.03
36. 59
28. 56
19. 53
19. 34
42. 65
$25. 96
35. 86
31.28
17. 50
17.88
43.07
39. 04
58. 65
42. 29
28. 93
28.69
63. 73
38. 37
56. 86
43. 96
26.44
26. 64
65. 02
1.38
2.19
1. 62
1. 00
.«5
1.98
1. 33
2. 11
1.61
.90
.89
1.96
1. 87
2. 99
2.21
1.37
1.25
2. 75
1.80
2.86
2.19
1. 23
1. 16
2. 73
b o a rd
$33. 83
45. 05
40. 21
23. 30
24. 71
53. 99
P e r m o n th w ith o u t b o a rd
U nited S tates_______ . . . . . . . . . . . . .
N orth A tla n tic ...
____ ________
N orth C en tral.. _______ . . . . . . .
South A tlantic . . ...
. _____
South C en tral___
________________
F ar W estern ... . . ________________
29.09
34. 31
34. 61
20. 96
23. 07
47.14
46.80
67. 46
51.20
34. 12
35. 53
75.10
47.81
67. 23
54. 34
33. 88
35. 30
77. 27
P e r d a y w ith
U nited States.
....
. ...
N orth A tlan tic.
. . ___________
N orth C entral. . . . .
.
.
.. .
South A tlan tic _____ . . . ------ ---------South C e n t r a l . . . ----------- -F ar W estern_______________________
1.10
1.24
1. 38
.81
.90
1.50
1.73
2. 55
2.08
1.24
1.23
2.38
b o a rd
1. 72
2. 55
2.11
1. 20
1. 22
2.39
P e r d a y w ith o u t b o a rd
U nited States__________
. ---------N orth A tlantic ________ ____ _ .
N o rth C entral . . _____ . . . . . . . . .
South A tlan tic________ ____________
South C en tral____
.
_____
Far W estern_____________ ___ ---------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1. 43
1.64
1.76
1.05
1. 16
2. 05
[1173]
2. 27
3.31
2.74
1.62
1.63
3.19
2. 27
3. 38
2.78
1. 57
1. 60
3. 22
142
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Table 2 shows the farm labor supply and demand on April 1 , 1931,
as compared with April 1 , 1930, for the country as a whole and by
geographic divisions:
T able
2 .—
F A R M LA B O R S U P P L Y A N D D E M A N D ON A P R IL 1,
Supply, per cent of
normal
D em and, per cent of
normal
1930
AND
1931
Supply as percentage of
dem and
Division
April, 1930 A pril, 1931 April, 1930 April, 1931 April, 1930 A pril, 1931
U nited States. . . . .
....
N o rth A tlantic.
N o rth Central .
. _
South A tla n tic _________
South C entral_____ . . __
F a r W estern
99.0
98.3
101.1
96.8
97.0
104.5
112.9
311.5
115.4
108.9
111.4
119.6
84.8
86.9
85.8
84.6
82.7
86.4
71.1
79.0
73.4
72.4
65.1
72.9
116.8
113.2
117.9
114.4
117.3
120.8
158.8
141.1
157. 2
150.4
171.1
164.1
The comments of the Department of Agriculture in regard to the
farm wage and labor situation on April 1 , as given in the press release,
are quoted below:
At 127 per cent of the pre-war level on April 1, the index of farm wages was 2
points lower than at the beginning of the year, 35 points under a year ago, and at
the lowest level recorded since 1916.
The 2-point decline in the index from January 1 to April 1 was most unusual
since it occurred during a period when farm wages ordinarily advance, due to the
increase in demand for workers during the spring planting season. This seasonal
advance averaged 4.7 points for the period, 1926-1930. During the current year
farm wages showed a tendency to advance or hold steady only in that area north
of a line extending from the southern boundary of Nebraska to the southern
boundary of Michigan and in the northern half of the far western division.
All classes of farm wages, on April 1, were lower than a year ago. Wages per
day, without board, were about 28 per cent lower in the South Central States,
down 22 per cent in the South Atlantic division, 21 per cent in the North Cen
tral group, and approximately 15 per cent in the North Atlantic and far western
divisions. These declines are due to the considerably lower level of industrial
employment which has increased materially the supply of farm workers and the
sharp decline in demand resulting from the drastic drop in prices paid farmers
for agricultural products.
Crop correspondents reported the supply of farm labor at 112.9 per cent of
normal on April 1 as compared with 99 a year earlier, while the reports on de
mand averaged 71.1 per cent of normal in comparison with 84.8 per cent on
April 1, 1930. Expressing the supply as a percentage of the demand for the two
dates, a figure of 158.8 is obtained for April 1 as compared with 116.8 per cent a
year ago.
R ep ortin g T im e and M in im u m Pay in C ollective A g reem en ts 1
LARGE number of collective agreements provide pay for reportingtime when a hired member reports at the regular starting time
but is not put to work; or when he has not been notified at close of
one day’s work that he will not be needed the next day and reports to
find that there is a lay off or that he is discharged. Many agreements
specify, also, the minimum number of hours’ work to be paid for when
a member reports for work and is given but a fraction of a day’s work.
This provision is seldom invoked, however, when bad weather makes
work impossible. The time paid for reporting when no work is given
varies from one hour to one day. The minimum pay for a fractional
part of a day’s work varies from two hours to one day.
A
1 T his is one of a series of articles giving the results o a topical analysis of the collective agreements received
by th e B ureau of Labor Statistics.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1174]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
143
Conversely, the right of an employer to the time of a member who
promises to report or is ordered to report for work at the shop or on a
job is recognized by a number of the trade-unions, and the agreements
contain provisions to prevent loss to the employer, under these cir
cumstances, by the assessment of fines ranging from $1 to $25, or
from one hour’s pay to a full day’s pay, against the offending member.
In a few cases the fine is paid by the union to the employer, in other
cases the employer is given the right to deduct the amount of the fine
from the member’s wages.
The following are a few of the provisions taken from about 800 trade
agreements having one or both of these provisions—pay for reporting
time or minimum pay for any fraction of a day’s work:
B a k e r y a n d c o n f e c tio n e r y w o r k e r s . — If member is not notified at the end of the
week of his discharge and he reports for work the following week, he shall receive
a day’s pay, and if compelled to work for the day he must be allowed to finish the
week.
Baker shall receive a full day’s pay for eight hours’ work or less.
J o u r n e y m a n b a r b e r s . —Any employer hiring a barber to work on Saturday and
discharging him without reasonable cause shall pay him $6. Any member who
accepts a Saturday job from the secretary of this union and fails to fill same, shall
be fined $6, the same to be turned over to the proprietor who employed him.
A barber hired for broken or split shifts must be paid for a full day.
B r e w e r y a n d s o f t - d r i n k w o r k e r s .— Four hours at time and one-half shall be
minimum pay for holiday work.
Helpers shall not be hired for less than a day.
B r i c k m a k e r s .— Men reporting for work in the morning when ordered to report
by the manufacturer shall be allowed two hours’ time.
All men employed on days when the yard is not in operation shall be employed
for at least four hours.
B r ic k la y e r s , m a s o n s , a n d p la s te r e r s . — Member hired and not placed at work after
reporting with his tools shall be paid two hours’ time.
Any member given an identification card and sent to a job and does not report
for work shall be called for trial before the joint board. Unless member has a
reasonable excuse he shall be fined $5 and such fine shall be paid into the treasury
of joint executive committee.
Member shall not be laid off before 12 noon or before quitting time unless
weather conditions prohibit work—minimum pay four hours’ time.
C a r p e n te r s a n d j o i n e r s . — When member is engaged and is refused work upon
arriving with his tools, he shall be paid for four hours’ time if the weather condi
tions permit work.
Any member failing to report for work after agreeing to do so shall be fined
two hours’ pay, unless he has a good excuse.
If member works less than four hours, he shall be paid for four hours’ time; if
he works more than four hours he shall be paid for eight hours.
C e m e n t f in is h e r s . — A member ordered to report and not given work shall be
paid for two hours’ time.
Member failing to report on order by 10 a. m. will be fined $10 by the local
union and the amount will be turned over to the contractor to reimburse him for
any loss sustained by failure of the member to report.
Member hired and starts work must be paid for at least four hours’ time if
weather permits work.
E le c tr ic a l w o r k e r s .— A member ordered to report and not put to work shall
receive at least one-half day’s pay.
In no case shall a member be employed for less than a half day.
H o i s t i n g a n d p o r ta b le e n g in e e r s . — Engineer on broken time reporting for regular
shift unless told previous day not to report shall receive four hours’ pay for report
ing. Engineers reporting for second or third shift shall receive a full day’s pay.
Engineers beginning a day’s work shall be paid for full day.
H od, c a r r ie r s a n d b u i l d i n g la b o re rs.- —Member ordered to report for work and
not put to work shall be paid for two hours’ time. Failure of member to report
when sent to job by the business agent, he shall be fined two hours’ pay.
Member shall be paid not less than two hours’ pay in any one day.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1175]
144
MONTHLY LABOE E E V IEW
L a th e r s . — When a member through no fault of his own can not go to work after
reporting he shall charge for four hours’ time, but must remain on the job for the
four hours.
O p e r a tiv e p la s te r e r s . — Member hired and not put to work shall be paid for four
hours’ time if no valid reason is given.
A member failing to report after promising business agent to do so shall be
fined two hours’ pay.
Members must not accept less than two hours’ pay in any day.
P a in t e r s , d e c o r a to r s , a n d p a p e r h a n g e r s . — Men ordered to report for work and
not put to work shall be paid for one-half day. Any man failing to report after
promising to do so shall be fined four hours’ pay, unless the failure to report was
caused by sickness.
A member employed for a fractional part of a day must be paid for at least
four hours’ time.
P lu m b e r s a n d g a s f itte r s . —Any member who reports for work, not being notified
the night before, shall receive one-fourth of a day’s pay.
Any member quitting a job without notifying his employer the night before
shall forfeit one-half of a day’s pay.
Member must not accept less than four hours’ pay, except on new construction
work stopped by weather conditions.
S h e e t- m e ta l w o r k e r s . — A member reporting for work before 8 a. m. shall be
allowed four hours’ pay for same, providing weather conditions are favorable for
outside work.
A member laid off or discharged after starting time morning or noon shall be
paid for a full day.
S i g n w r ite r s .- —Members not receiving previous notice of lay-off who report
for work at 8 a. m. shall be paid for the full day, regardless of weather conditions.
No member shall work a fractional part of a day.
S la te , t ile , a n d c o m p o s itio n r o o fe r s . —Any member reporting promptly for work
and not put to work for any reason except weather conditions shall receive three
hours’ pay for same. Any member who fails to report for work without timely
notice to employer or to the business agent of the union shall be fined $10 for
the first offense and $25 for subsequent offenses.
Member shall not accept less than two hours’ pay in any day.
S p r i n k l e r f itte r s . — Any member who reports for work in the morning and the
foreman lays him off then instead of the night before shall receive one-half day’s
pay for the same.
Any member working a fraction of a half day shall accept not less than a half
day’s wages. Any member working over four hours in any day shall accept not
less than one full day’s pay.
S tr u c tu r a l a n d o r n a m e n ta l i r o n w o r k e r s . — Except where weather conditions
prohibit work, men ordered to report and not put to work shall be paid for two
hours’ time.
If member is put to work he shall be paid for not less than four hours’ time.
L a d i e s ’ g a r m e n t w o r k e r s . — All workers required to come to shop in dull seasons
shall be secured at least one-half day’s pay— such half day to begin at 8 a. m.
or 1 p. m.
J o u r n e y m a n ta ilo r s . —Any tailor or helper not wanted the following day must
be notified to that effect the day before. Failure on the part of the employer
or foreman to do so, the employer must pay the employee for one-half day.
Employee must notify the foreman if he does not intend to work the next day,
in order that the work may not be disturbed.
Any employee laid off during either half of the day shall be paid for a full
half day.
C le a n e r s , d y e r s , a n d p r e s s e r s . — A member asked to report shall receive a full
day’s pay if he reports at starting time.
G la s s - b o ttle w o r k e r s . — The wages for a shop working daywork shall be the same
as the average daily wage of the same shop for the previous day but in no case
shall the workman receive less than $6.50 per day.
H o te l a n d r e s ta u r a n t e m p lo y e e s . — If a member reports and finds another in
his place without having been notified of discharge he shall be entitled to pay
for that shift.
If a member fails to report or quits before the end of the shift without being
properly relieved, he shall forfeit one day’s pay.
L a u n d r y w o r k e r s . — An employee who reports for duty at the usual hour and
is not put to work shall be paid for two hours’ time.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1176]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
145
No girl shall receive less than a full day’s pay for any day, unless time lost is
through her own fault, when she will forfeit the actual time lost.
L o n g s h o r e m e n . — Men ordered to report for work shall be paid for two hours’
time at the prevailing rate whether they begin work or not. Sundays and holi
days they shall be paid four hours’ time. If prevented from working by weather
conditions they shall receive no pay.
Men beginning work and laid off, each of the gang shall be given two hours’
pay.
M a s te r s , m a te s , a n d p ilo ts . — Masters, mates, and pilots shall receive for a day
or any fraction of a day a full day’s pay for relieving or for emergency calls.
M e a t c u tte r s . — Where extra men are employed they shall receive a full day’s
pay for eight hours or a fraction thereof.
B la c k s m ith s , d r o p f o r g e r s , a n d h e lp e r s . —Any member being transferred on
reporting for work shall receive no less than two hours’ pay for same.
B o ile r m a k e r s a n d i r o n - s h i p b u ild e r s . — Men who report for work and are not
put to work shall be paid for two hours’ time as recompense.
All men working after 10 a. m. or 3 p. m. shall be paid for four hours and
eight hours, respectively.
M a c h i n i s t s . — Men employed and failing to procure said employment on
reporting will be paid for two hours’ time—men must remain on the job two hours
unless released by the foremen.
P h o to -e n g r a v e r s . — No employee shall be laid off between starting time and
noon, or between noon and quitting time. (Book and job office.)
Not less than a full day’s or night’s work for any member unless through
illness or excused on own request. (Newspaper office.)
P r i n t i n g p r e s s m e n . — Any member hired and not put to work, except for in
competency or inability to perform his duties, shall be paid a day’s or a night’s
pay for the shift he was hired for.
When members engage to take employment in any office and fail to respond
for work at the time agreed upon without having been excused by the foreman
of said position, or when any member shall leave his position without due notice,
the union shall reimburse the employer at the rate of $4.50 per hour for the time
lost on the press or presses the member was engaged to work on for that day or
night, based on the regular working hours of the shift.
No journeyman or apprentice shall receive less than a day’s or night’s pay
after being put to work.
S t e r e o ty p e r s a n d e le c tr o ty p e r s . —A member called in to work after the schedule
time to begin work shall receive a full day’s pay for same and if required to
work overtime the overtime rate shall start at the hour named for ceasing work.
T y p o g r a p h i c a l w o r k e r s .— Should employees not be notified the night previous
to being laid off and show up for work they shall be paid one-half day’s pay.
Any member failing to fulfill an engagement shall, on conviction, be fined the
sum of $25.
In no case shall a member receive less than a day’s pay for working until the
usual quitting time.
B o o k b in d e r s . — Member not notified night previous of lay off and reports for
work shall be paid one-half day’s or night’s pay.
In no case shall a journeyman receive less than a day’s pay.
M a i l e r s . — Employer may call upon union for part-time men and shall guarantee
such men not less than five hours’ work, day schedule, and not less than four
hours at night schedule.
R a i l w a y a n d s t e a m s h ip c le r k s . — Employees required to report at the regular
starting time and prevented from performing service by conditions beyond the
control of the company will be paid for actual time held, with a minimum of
two hours.
If employee works any portion of the day up to four hours he shall be paid for
four hours’ time. If he works in excess of four hours he shall be paid for eight
hours.
S h o p m e n . — Men called to report and not used shall be paid four hours’ straight
time.
Men reporting and put to work will be allowed a minimum of four hours’ pay
for two hours or less of work.
R a i l r o a d s i g n a lm e n . — Employee called to perform work not continuous with
his regular work will be allowed three hours’ pay for two hours or less.
R a i l w a y m a in te n a n c e - o f - w a y e m p lo y e e s . — Member required to report at usual
time and place and prevented from performing any service shall be allowed a
minimum of three hours’ pay.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11177]
146
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
R a ilr o a d tr a in m e n . — Members required to report at starting time and prevented
from working a full day, through no fault of their own, shall be paid for eight
hours’ time.
S to n e c u tte r s . —A member hired and reports with his tools and refused work
shall be paid for one day’s work.
No member shall be given less than one day’s work.
S t r e e t- r a il w a y e m p lo y e e s . — When men report at regular station and are then
required to report to another station they shall be paid for time going to and
returning from such other station, and if not receiving work at the other station
they shall be paid for an eight-hour day which shall include time going to and
returning from their regular station.
Members shall be guaranteed a minimum of eight hours’ pay a day.
T e a m s te r s a n d c h a u ffe u r s . — Any regular employee who reports at station any
week day morning for work, not being notified the evening before of lay off, shall
receive a half day’s pay.
If a member fails to report for work and does not notify employer before 7 a. m.
he is guilty of neglect of duty. If employer suffers loss through the team not being
used the member subjects himself to forfeiture of $4 per day, or $2 per half day.
Any member starting work shall be paid for not less than 5 hours’ time.
U p h o ls te r y w o r k e r s . — When a member is required to report and is then dismissed
or laid off she shall be paid for one-half day.
When a member starts work at 8 a. m. and is laid off through no fault of her own
she shall be paid for the full day.
T estin g th e A d eq u acy of W ages
University of Pennsylvania has recently published the results
of a study undertaken to find some method or device for testing
T HE
the adequacy of individual employee earnings to maintain a typical
worker and his family.1 The study covers the wage records from
1901 to 1929 of a group of workers employed by the Leeds & Northrup
Co., of Philadelphia, manufacturers of electrical measuring equipment.
It is part of a more comprehensive investigation of wage setting and
promotion which will require several years for completion.
Wages are viewed as being at the heart of the employer-employee
relation by the authors. They point out that the amount of the pay
envelope determines very largely the status of the worker, both in
relation to the worker next to him and to his job, affecting his effi
ciency and his physical and mental well-being. As developed, the
study consists of two parts: (1 ) The development of a standard of
measurement; and (2 ) the perfection of a technique for comparing the
annual earnings of each employee with that standard.
In developing a standard of measurement it was necessary to de
termine what constitutes a suitable wage and what the needs of a
typical worker actually are. As the needs of the worker vary with
family responsibility, and family responsibility was found to be de
finitely related to age and length of service, the investigation was
carried on in such a way as to reckon with these factors. Cost-of-living
budgets were found to be of practical use in determining the worker’s
minimum requirements. But throughout, the writers stress the fact
that they believe the compensation of workers should be based upon
their productivity rather than their need and that “ society has an
obligation to those who can not find work for which they are suited
or who for other reasons can not earn enough to meet their needs, but
this obligation does not rest on industry as such.”
1 Leeds, M orris E ., and Balderston, O. C anby. Wages—a m eans of testing th eir adequacy. P hila
delphia, U niversity of Pennsylvania Press, 1931. (Research studies X I, Industrial Research D epartm ent,
W harton School of Finance and Commerce, U niversity of Pennsylvania.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1178]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
147
The steps used in developing a standard of measurement and a
method of applying it are presented here briefly.
Changing Conceptions of Wage Levels
A t t e n t io n is called to the fact that changes have taken place in
conceptions of wage adequacy. Following a wage-fixing system based
on supply^ and demand, labor succeeded in securing wages taking cost
of living into account. As time went on it was brought out that a
mere living wage was not sufficient for American workmen, that they
must be paid enough to allow them to satisfy their physical, social,
and cultural requirements. It has also been argued that wages should
be advanced in accordance with increased productive efficiency.
As matters now stand, a case is being presented for the social wage
under which the wage earners, who in the nature of things must be
consumers as well as producers, would receive a sufficiently large
return for their work to enable them to buy the increasing quantity of
goods that their greater productivity makes available. This wage
theory is supported in the study under review and is discussed as
follows:
It is our assumption that the social wage is desirable. Our task is not to prove or
disprove this hypothesis but to experiment with the possibility of putting it into
practice. No economist has determined in dollars and cents the social wage for
various classes of work and we shall not attempt that formidable task. Our
approach will be to assume that for each class of worker some standard wage can
be determined which is certainly below the social wage and which therefore can be
taken as a minimum below which the rate of no worker properly adapted to his
job should fall. The average normal well-trained worker should receive pay well
above this. For this minimum we have chosen the standard of “ health and
decency.”
Relation of Size of Family to Age and Service
I t is brought out that the expenses of a man do not grow at an
even rate as he becomes older. They increase sharply when he is
married and when each child is born, and as the children mature
expenses again decrease. Therefore it was essential to find out at
what age the typical man marries and when his children are born, if
needs were to be measured.
For this purpose data concerning the family status of 298 employees
(with three years’ service or more) of the Leeds & Northrup Co. were
secured in 1928. Of this number, 218 were men and 4 7 per cent were
unmarried. The most typical marrying age of the 115 men who were
married was found to be 26.5 years.
Of the 115 married men, 41 were childless. Nineteen of these 41
had been married for one year or less. The time selected as the most
representative interval between marriage and the birth of the first
child was 1.5 years; between marriage and the second child, 4.5 years;
and between marriage and the third child, if any, 7.5 years. Thus
the first child would be born when the father was 28, the second when
he was 31, and the third when he was 34.
In order to be able to translate the budgets developed for varying
ages into budgets for varying lengths of service it was sought to find
out if a typical hiring age existed. It was found that while the modal
age of boys hired was 16, the median age was something over 19. It
was decided to accept 19 as the typical age of boys when hired, as in
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1179]
148
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
this way there would be no discrimination against boys who finished
high school before starting work. It is further stated that the choice
between age 16 and age 19 would be more serious were it not for the
fact that boys of both ages are in a different situation from older boys.
That is, most of them live with their parents and do not have heavy
financial responsibility. The boy at work may be said to be learning
a trade at work while the other is learning at school.
On the basis of a starting age of 19, the typical man marries after
7.5 years of service, has his first child at the end of 9 years, the second
at the end of 1 2 years, and the third at the end of 15 years. The
table following shows findings with regard to age, length of service,
and typical family:
SIZE O F T Y P IC A L F A M IL Y OF M A L E E M P L O Y E E S A T V A R IO U S A G ES A N D L E N G T H
OF S E R V IC E
Age group
Length of
service
(years)
16 to 18.9 years
___
__
19 to 26.4 years- __ ____ ___
26.5 to 27.9 years
___
28 to 30.9 years
__- .
31 to 33.9 years
34 years and over . __
_______
(i)
_____
6 to 7.4_____
7.5 to 8.9
9 to 11.9
12 to 14.9
15 and over. _
N um ber N um ber
in
of
children
family
0
0
0
1
2
3
Living conditions
1 Boarding w ith parents.
1 Boarding a p art from family.
2 4-room house w ith bath.
3
Do.
4 6-room house w ith bath.
5
Do.
1 Service before 19 years of age is not counted in the graduated budgets.
Budgets Graduated According to Size of Family
Since most of the existing cost-of-living budgets were found to be
based upon a family of five, composed of husband, wife, and three
dependent children, and the majority of the employees of the Leeds
& Northrup Co. did not have families of this size, it became necessary
to obtain budgets better adapted to the family status of these par
ticular workers. It was decided to choose as a standard of living
what is described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as the “ standard
of health and decency,” which is the basis of certain available studies.
This standard was chosen in preference to the standards of poverty
and subsistence, which were considered unsatisfactory, and in prefer
ence to the standard described as that of “ health and comfort,” which
was thought less definite in meaning.
Making use of available studies of cost of living and the data on
size of family in the preceding table, the final maintenance budgets
were computed for employees, graduated according to family size in
1927, and are here presented:
M a in te n a n c e b u d g e t, b y s i z e o f f a m i l y , 1 9 2 7
Man, wife, and 3 children (between the ages 0-12, 3-15, and 6-18,
respectively)______________________________ *__________________ $2, 023. 34
Man, wife, and 2 children (under 6 years of age)__________________
1, 757. 32
Man, wife, and 1 child (under 3 years of age)_____________________ 1, 452. 41
Man and wife__________________________________________________ 1, 289. 77
Single woman (living apart from fam ily)_________________________
858. 62
Single man (living apart from family)____________________________
995. 00
Single woman (living as part of a family group)___________________
645. 61
Single man (living as part of a family group)_____________________
707. 63
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11801
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
149
In the study under review the method by which these maintenance
budgets were arrived at is explained and the total budget is divided
for each family group, showing the amount allowed for food, clothing,
housing, etc. The authors warn that “ Since these graduated budgets
are based on the assumption that the families are those with the earn
ings, tastes, and requirements of skilled and semiskilled workers, they
are not applicable to clerical or supervisory employees.”
Since it was not practical to develop new budgets for each year, the
graduated budgets were adjusted annually on the basis of the price
changes of the items represented, using for this purpose the index of
cost of living as shown in the Bureau of Labor Statistics index for
Philadelphia.
Once graduated budgets were developed as measuring sticks, they
had to be expressed in terms of a common denominator, such as age
or length of service, in order to determine whether a given employee’s
earnings are adequate. Thus, if the typical Leeds & Northrup em
ployee is employed at age 19, marries a t 26.5, has his first child at 28,
his second at 31, and his third, if any, at 34, the adequacy of his earn
ings may be determined by combining the factors of age and length
of service with the appropriate budget representing his maintenance
requirements at a given time.
Uses of Graduated Maintenance Budgets
Two methods are open by which the graduated budgets may be
utilized in an attempt to measure the adequacy of earnings—a peri
odic “ pay-roll audit” of the earnings of all employees with more than
one full year of service, and a “ historical study” of the earnings of an
individual employee for each year since he was employed.
The first method shows the situation with regard to wage adequacy
throughout the company. The second method is more costly but
makes it possible to determine the effects of promotion policies or the
length of time required to reach a job paying enough to enable an
employee to maintain himself and his family at a standard of health
and decency.
The periodic “ pay-roll audit” involves a check of the pay roll, com
paring the earnings of each individual with the graduated budget for
a person of his particular status. By such an audit all persons earning
less than the standard can be discovered so that their cases may be
considered. The audit for Leeds & Northrup employees over 19
years old in 1929 showed that 11 persons received wages less than the
maintenance budget requirements on the basis of an audit graduated
according to length of service, and 34 received less on the basis of an
audit graduated according to age.2 It is pointed out that the com
pany should feel greater responsibility for persons whose earnings lag
on the basis of length of service than for those that show a lag on the
basis of age.
2 T he relation which these num bers b ear to th e to ta l is not stated.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1181 ]
MONTHLY LABOK REVIEW
150
A “ historical study” of individual cases involves consideration of
the entire wage history of a given employee with the Leeds & Northrup
Co. Thus, year by year his earnings are compared with the mainte
nance budget of his class for that particular period. To show what
may be learned from investigation along such lines a statement rela
tive to the historical study of case No. 14 is quoted.
An examination of case No. 14 shows that his earnings did not exceed his main
tenance until the seventh year after employment. A sharp rise in earnings in
1918 not only gave him an excess of over $400 above the service budget, but took
care of the expenses incident to his early marriage. After 1923 the service budget
began to exceed his actual need. Of course, the company’s obligation to provide
maintenance is indicated by the service budget rather than by the actual needs.
He is entitled to the same maintenance as the typical employee although his actual
family requirements are less.
It is stated that during the first years of employment earnings of
Leeds & Northrup Co. employees are likely to be lower than the bud
gets worked out for maintenance costs but that this policy might be
justified for a limited time on the ground that young employees are
receiving training for more lucrative jobs. Attention is further called
to the fact that the working week in this particular establishment has
been 44 hours since 1918, with some overtime in 1926, and that in
spite of this short working week earnings of the workers whose cases
were examined are probably higher than the average for skilled labor
in the United States.
In conclusion it is stated that this device for measuring wage ade
quacy should be treated as an adjunct of a fundamental wage policy
and not as the main feature of it.
W ages in th e G ray-Iron F ou nd ry In d u stry, February, 1931
average wage rates paid in the gray-iron foundry industry of
the United States and Canada in February, 1931, are shown in
T HE
Table following. The data are from the latest wage report of the
1
Gray Iron Institute (Inc.), Cleveland, Ohio. The total number of
foundries reporting to the institute was 187, with 10,189 employees.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1182]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
151
T a ble 1 —A V E R A G E H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E G R A Y -IR O N F O U N D R Y IN D U S T R Y
OF T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S A N D C A N A D A , B Y O C C U P A T IO N A N D D IS T R IC T , F E B R U
Canada, N ew
Y ork, N ew
Jersey, and New
England States
Occupation
Pennsylvania,
M ichigan, Ohio,
Indiana, and all
territory to the
south, and west
to M ississippi
River
W isconsin, Illi
nois, and all
territory w est of
M ississippi
R iver and south
to southern
border of country
N u m H ourly N u m H ourly N u m
ber of
wage
ber of
wage
ber of
workers
rate
workers
rate
workers
M olders:
B ench___________
F lo o r,. ---------------------L oam _________________
M a c h in e .,,
__ ------H elpers--------- ----------A pprentices. . . . . _ .
Forem en_____________
Core m akers:
M en ------ -------------W o m e n .---- -- -------- __
M achine m en . . .
M achine w om en_____ .
H e lp ers._ ___ _ . . . ___
A pprentices, . . . . . ____
Forem en. . . . ____
P a tte rn m akers:
W ood_________ _ _____
M etal_______ _ ---------A pprentices___ ________
Forem en_____
___
C h ip p e rs...
. . . ----Crane operators.
Cupola tenders____________
Flask m a k e r s __________ _
Grinders, rough_____ ____
Inspectors, castings _____ _
Laborers, com m on. . . . _
M ain tenan ce m e n .. .
P o u rers.. _
...
Sand blasters. ____________
W elders:
Acetylene. _____
Electric_________ ____
C om bination__________
All districts
combined
H ourly N u m
wage
ber of
rate
workers
221
414
22
204
189
47
46
$0. 798
.864
.753
.699
.551
.506
1.06
341
587
23
632
225
63
71
$0. 743
.793
.809
.663
.471
.561
.933
262
422
$0. 727
.812
307
132
48
51
.650
.472
.515
1.02
211
5
.818
.380
.653
.428
.585
.475
.510
.959
.675
.420
. 590
.443
.417
.510
.811
236
16
9
34
53
26
312
56
124
9
101
44
37
62
37
26
.476
.601
.915
132
30
18
15
182
63
99
38
92
44
340
69
.797
.635
.432
.973
.558
.587
.609
.672
. 525
.535
.506
.651
.498
.706
.734
.537
.957
.499
. 516
.550
.644
.493
.497
.461
.608
. 491
.506
60
32
14
11
152
45
112
51
105
53
400
77
42
45
.803
.764
.413
1.00
.503
.553
.577
.616
.470
.548
.473
. 660
39
111
57
23
13
235
78
157
57
196
89
737
129
84
67
8
2
.671
.675
20
2
4
.638
.485
.677
12
10
33
H ourly
wage
rate
824
1,423
45
1,143
546
158
168
$0. 753
. 819
759
77
.708
.419
o
197
134
89
.446
. 536
. 885
. 666
.497
.530
. 997
.765
.726
.472
.977
. 519
.549
.574
.641
.494
.521
.474
.633
.546
303
119
55
39
569
186
368
146
393
186
1,477
275
12fi
151
.698
.654
.724
40
14
37
.663
.633
.719
! 516
Table 2 shows wage rates for a number of the more important
occupations in July, 1929, February and August, 1930, and Febru
ary, 1931, as given in a circular letter from the Gray Iron Institute
(Inc.) dated March 1 1 , 1931:
T a ble
2 —
C O M P A R A T IV E W A G E R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN T H E G R A Y IR O N F O U N D R Y IN D U S T R Y , O N S P E C IF IE D D A T E S
July,
1929
Occupation
M olders:
B ench. _____________________________________
Floor. .. . . __________ _____ . ____________
L o a m .. . . . ---- ---.
.. ... ... .
M achine___________________________________ . .
Core m akers:
M e n ..
.
. . _______ .
___________
W om en_____ ___________ . . ___________ ___
P attern m ak ers:
Wood .
, .....................
.
M etal____
...
,
C h ip p e rs...
. . .
Common la b o re rs..
_____
_ .
____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1183]
February,
1930
A ugust,
1930
February,
1931
$0. 770
.892
.653
.729
$0.814
.830
.780
.746
$0. 798
.841
.711
.709
$0. 753
.819
.782
.666
.741
.448
.737
.439
.714
.427
.708
.419
.824
.770
.539
.477
.829
.729
.533
.484
.847
.767
.526
.471
.765
.726
.519
.474
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
152
The number of plants paying specified rates for overtime work after
stated periods is shown in Table 3. Of the total of 187 plants, 50
reported that no overtime was worked, 2 did not pay for overtime,
and 27 did not report on this point. In 51 plants no work is done on
Sundays or holidays, 3 do not pay for overtime work on these days,
and 2 pay a 2 -hour bonus; 25 did not report on Sunday and holiday
work.
T a ble 3 .—N U M B E R
O F F O U N D R IE S P A Y IN G S P E C IF IE D R A T E S
W O R K A F T E R S T A T E D P E R IO D S
FO R
O V E R T IM E
N um ber of foundries paying—
Item
Tim e and
a quarter
Tim e and
a half
24
2
1
40
4
2
36
1
1
15
4
4
37
Straight
tim e
Overtime:
After—
8 hours _________ __ . . .
8H hours _______
__
_ _
8 % hours _________
9 hours
9J-<2 hours _
. _ .
_ _ _ _
___
10 hours
Sundays and holidays___________ . . . . . . ---------- . .
14
1
E ouble
tim e
1
27
Hours of labor.—Seventy-eight of the foundries had an 8 -hour day,
80 a 9-hour day, and 13 a 10-hour day, the workday of the remaining
16 plants, with the exception of 3 which did not report on hours,
ranging from
to 1 0 .
The check system of wage payment was used by 138 of the 187
plants and 48 paid in cash. One plant did not report on this point.
W ages in M in n eso ta in 1929 and 1930, as S h ow n in A ccid en t
R eports
accompanying wage statistics for the fiscal years ending
June 30, 1929, and June 30, 1930, are reproduced from a more
T HE
extensive table published in the fifth biennial report of the Industrial
Commission of Minnesota covering that biennial period :
A V E R A G E W E E K L Y W A G E S IN V A R IO U S IN D U S T R IE S IN M IN N E S O T A , AS SH O W N
BY A C C ID E N T R E P O R T S , F O R T H E Y E A R S E N D IN G J U N E 30,1929, A N D J U N E 30,1930
Y ear ending June
30, 1929
Y ear ending June
30, 1930
N um ber
of cases
filed
Average
w eekly
wages
N um ber
of cases
filed
494
291
917
135
1,214
81
59
57
41
99
1
2,827
511
$25. 37
26. 27
30. 80
28. 53
30. 48
26. 57
27.47
31. 12
28.10
29. 54
424
141
1,167
229
1,042
43
103
53
19
48
47
1,918
883
In d u stry
F arm in g ___ _
. . . _____
O perating agricultural m a c h in ery .. _ . . . .
_ _ . ...
M ining ____________
. __
Q uarrying _________
...
. . .
_
Stone products_____ _______ _
_______________ __
C lay p ro d u c ts... _
_ __________________ _____________
B rick and tile . ______________________ ______ _________
Glass p ro d u cts. . . . . ________________ . . . .
.
. . .
Ore reduction and sm elting___ _
_
. . . . . . _______
Rolling m ills an d steel w o rk s.. _ _ _ . ___________ _ ._ _
Structural iron a n d steel . . . . . . . .
M etal p ro d u cts______ . . . _____. . .
_ __
Foundries______________________________ . . . __________ _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1184]
26.95
27.54
Average
weekly
wages
$23 83
29.04
31 90
29. 44
30. 50
25.84
28. 18
29. 72
28.80
31.31
37 22
27. 78
27. 55
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
153
A V E R A G E W E E K L Y W A G E S IN V A R IO U S IN D U S T R IE S IN M IN N E S O T A , AS SH O W N
B Y A C C ID E N T R E P O R T S , F O R T H E Y E A R S E N D I N G J U N E 30, 1929, A N D J U N E 30,1930—
Continued
Y ear ending June
30, 1929
Y ear ending June
30, 1930
Industry-
M achinery and in stru m en ts................ .............
A gricultural m achinery and im plem ents___
Vehicles________________________
L ogging..__________ _________________
Sawmills________________________________
Planing and la th m ills____________________
W oodworking (including fu rn itu re )________
L eather and fu r__________________________
Boots a nd shoes__________________________
R u b b er a nd composition goods__________ V
Chem icals an d allied products_____________
Paper, paper products (including p u lp mills)
P rin tin g a nd publishing___________________
Textiles__________________________________
Clothing a n d furnishings__________________
Laundering, cleaning, a n d d yeing________
F lour and grist m ills_____________________
B akeries______________________________
D a iry p ro d u cts____ _____________________
Slaughtering an d m eat packing____________
B rew ing an d b o ttlin g _____ ___ ____________
O ther food products_____ _________________
M iscellaneous m anufacturing______________
W recking an d m oving_____________________
G rading, excavating, a n d foundations______
E recting_________________________________
Finishing, equipping, an d installing_______
Electric railw ay s_________________________
B us a nd tru c k lin es________________
Garages_____________________________
G rain elevators_________ _____ ________' ___
C artage a nd storage___________ ___________
Stockyards_______________________________
Telephone a n d telegraph__________________
T ransportatio n b y w ater__________________
Public u tilities___________________________
Offices___________________________________
Stores___________________________________ ~
Y ards (not otherw ise classified)____________
L um beryard s_____________ _______________
Salesmen an d outside ag en ts_______________
D om estic service__________________________
Personal service__________________________
Professional service_______________________
M unicipal a n d public_____________________
M iscellaneous in d u stries__________________
A viatio n _________________________________
Steam railw ays (in tra sta te )________________
N um ber
of cases
filed
Average
weekly
wages
N um ber
of cases
filed
2,115
318
544
1,768
306
128
1,481
106
$27. 86
26.43
28.94
21.95
25.64
28. 30
24. 37
23. 90
23.88
26.12
26. 75
25.71
26. 92
21.87
22.89
23. 43
26. 89
25. 21
30. 47
25. 34
26. 66
26. 94
27. 76
23. 86
29.23
31.32
35. 28
25.23
30. 98
30. 62
29.36
27.46
32. 51
23. 57
30.56
30.76
27. 51
22. 65
27.12
26. 07
31.96
2,578
255
433
981
285
270
101
143
806
1,238
929
263
408
416
634
585
457
1,212
216
1.407
129
159
858
3,532
1.407
277
137
2,296
221
2,685
90
198
52
1,345
160
4, 769
905
121
113
2,303
230
98
965
20
1,202
141
66
139
828
1,066
844
280
459
420
594
512
943
1,425
244
1,040
153
86
1,177
4, 129
1,563
287
186
2,316
248
2,758
117
275
27
1,713
207
4,332
921
266
87
2,411
235
123
1,237
85
31
22. 22
34.14
26. 71
29.91
7
Average
weekly
wages
$28. 05
28.20
29. 92
20.65
25.38
26.88
24. 90
25. 87
22.99
27.59
27.20
26.22
29. 41
23.68
21. 76
23. 00
28. 34
26. 48
29. 37
25. 27
26. 85
26.09
24. 54
26. 49
29. 50
33. 22
36. 98
26. 02
30. 89
30. 42
30.18
26. 83
36.97
26. 12
32. 59
30.50
26. 86
22. 76
27. 45
26. 62
32.86
22. 52
39. 53
33.19
30.12
26. 87
58. 71
9
T o ta l______ ________________________
45,385
27. 27
46,101
27. 91
W ages and H ours of Labor in V irginia, 1929
the general business depression and the
reduction of output and unemployment problems resulting there
N OTWITHSTANDING
from, Virginia has made industrial progress, according to the annual
report of the Department of Labor and Industry of that State for
the year ending September 30, 1930. In the calendar year 1929 the
total capital investment of 3,754 Virginia plants aggregated
$941,470,096, the value of output of 3,923 establishments totaled
$897,454,121, while the sum reported paid in wages and salaries
to employees, excluding the building trades, mining, and quarrying,
was $185,324,336.
52839°— 31------11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1185]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
154
The tables following have been compiled from the above-mentioned
report.
T able 1.—W A G E R A T E S A N D H O U R S O F LA B O R IN V A RIO U S O C C U PA T IO N S A N D
IN D U S T R IE S , 1929
N u m b er of
employees
Average rates of
wages
Average hours
per day
In d u stry a n d occupation
W hite Colored W hite !Colored W hite Colored
P er day P er day
G eneral contracting:
$3. 76
$1.51
64
8+
73
A pprentices
___
_ - - - _______
8
6.88
45
9.96
589
B ricklayers
____
- ____ _
3. 23
6.05
8+
33
1,429
C arpenters
_____
___
9
4.11
80
6.47
91
C em ent w orkers
__
_ _ _________
6. 75
8+
1
6. 71
150
___ _____ ___
-- Electricians
8.80
8+
1
8.33
31
Engineers
_ _ __ ______ - _____
8
11.00
6
Trnn workers
3.12
55
8+
3.86
203
H elpers
__
_ _ _ _ __
9
3.85
110
3.86
47
_______ -- _____
H od carriers
_ ___
1,319
2.83
3.02
9+
579
Laborers
____
__
__
_ _________
4. 40
4. 63
8+
21
27
Lathers
__
_____
9
5.99
M. 00
3
64
P ainters and decorators__ ____ _ _ __ _ ____
8. 08
8+
22
8. 99
68
Plasterers
_____
___ _ __
6.75
8+
2
6.45
67
Sheet-metal workers ___
_
__ __
8+
6. 55
Slaters and tile setters
18
8+
8. 63
19
Steam fitters
11.02
8+
22
Stonemasons
__ _____
- -9
5. 00
1
6.81
57
M iscellaneous______ _ ______ _ - __P ain tin g a n d paper hanging:
1
2. 80
2.14
8+
17
Appren ti ces
4. 33
8
3
2. 55
2
Helpers ____ ____ _
___
_
______
3.21
8
Laborers
4.45
8+
4
6. 05
376
__
P ainters and decorators. _
__ _
8
6. 74
Paper hangers
56
9
4. £3
3
6.20
2
Plasterers__ ________ ________ _ __ _
8
9
6 2 4. 00 33. 33
Scrapers
____ _ ___ ______ _
__ _
M illstone, sandstone, sand, and gravel quarries:
10
4. 84
5.00
1
4
Blacksm iths
_ _ _ __ ___ __________ 8
4.11
1
C ranemen
2. 58
9+
Drillers
__
6
10
1
4. 50
D rum operators
2
5. 37
4.80
9+
14
E n g in e e rs ____________ - ________ - -3. 15
4. 20
9+
5
15
Firem en
____ ___
_ _
9
5. 77
13
Foremen
10
2.99
3. 50
1
5
H e lp ers..
__
__
__
_
_______
9+
164
3. 00
3.03
120
Laborers ____________ - ___ _
-_ _
9+
2.87
64
Loaders
____
__
4. 33
3. 28
9+
7
95
Miscellaneous
___________
_ _ _____
9
1
8. 00
Shovel operators
10
11
7.60
So peri n ten ri en ts
1
3. 25
W atchmen
__
M iscellaneous ores:
9
5. 32
Foremen and assistants
17
2. 83
9+
Laborers
185
3. 59
9+
M iners an d hel pers
198
10
4. 00
M iseel 1an eoi i s
20
3. 21
9+
Mne.klers a,nd tram m ers
192
3. 90
9+
Surface employees
86
M iscellaneous quarrying:
6.73
2
Cranemen
10
1
3. 59
3. 50
15
C rusher men
____
____
10
Blaoksmiths
2
5.50
4. 41
10
12
Engineers
_
__ _
10
1
4. 80
2. 25
2
Firem en
_____
10
5.12
Foremen
_ _
7
2. 24
10
8
3.00
34
Laborers
_
10
4.
02
Mi seel lan eons
__ ____ _ __ _
54
10
4.07
3
Pow der men
10
5. 00
6
R epair men
_
__
10
4
6. 07
Shovel operators
10
3. 56
5
Wat,eh men
10
11
4. 65
Well drillers
Slate quarries:
1
10
2
4. 00
4. 25
Blacksm iths
___ _ _ _ _______ - ___
10
5
3. 50
3. 30
4
D rillers
________ ___ ____ - - - -- 10
4. 40
3. 00
5
7
Engineers
________ _
11
1
3.
85
3.50
1
Firem en
__ ___ ___ __
-- - - ___
10
5. 43
7
Forem en
_ _
___
_____
1 R ate for only 1; not an average.
2 Average for only 5.
3 Average for only 3,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1186]
8+
9
9
9
9
8
9
8+
9+
9+
8
8+
9
10
8
8+
8+
8
8
10
12+
9+
10
,9 +
11+
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
155
T able 1.—W A G E R A T E S A N D H O U R S O F LA B O R IN V A RIO U S O C C U PA T IO N S A N D
____________
IN D U S T R IE S , 1929-C ontinued
N u m b e r of
employees
AN
Average rates of Average hours
wages
per dav
In d u s try an d occupation
W hite Colorec W hite Colorec W hite Colored
Slate quarries—C ontinued.
H elpers__ . _
Laborers
Miscellaneous _ _
Slaters____
Soapstone quarries:
C a rp e n te rs ___
Firem en
F oremen
Electricians . _ . _
Engineers___ _
Laborers _
M achinists- _
M ill h ands. . . .
M iscellaneous___ __
Superintendents
Stone quarries:
Blacksm iths
Drillers .
Engineers___ . .
F irem en. . .
Forem en .
L aborers. . .
Loaders .
M achinists .
Miscellaneous
Stone crushers
Superintendents. . _
P er day
19
65
23
146
105
61
$3.17
2. 82
3.26
4. 38
Cl
3. 75
4. 10
6. 26
5.15
5.03
3. 26
5. C9
3. 00
4.82
7. C3
8
4
10
7
61
5
8
406
20
2
33
2
5
6
3
5
2
9
59
12
3
15
5
3
114
22
5
4. 41
4. 40
4. 25
4. 57
2. 71
9 rQ
4. 85
3. 70
3. 0
fi ai
P er day
<£"} Cf\
*p4. OU
O 1i U
f\
L.
o oyu
n
z.
3. 50
10
10
10
12
9+
oQ. zOR
o
11
9+
9+
9+
10
9+
q oO
ro
0.
9+
9+
9+
9+
10
Q lz
1O
6.
2. 82
3 18
9+
10
10
10
10
9+
9+
9+
10
9+
P er
P er
A battoirs, m eat-packing, etc.:
hour 4
hour 4
M a le s ______
438
*
p
U
4j
$
0. 36
9+ '
Females . . . . . .
163
. <>u
. 28
8+
A utomobiles, accessories:
M ale s... _____
333
. DO
. 29
9+
Fem ales_______
2
. ¿0
.17
8
B akery products:
M ales.. .
_. . . .
07
n
1,011
. r,U
.36
9+
Fem ales___ . . .
255
64
. 20
8+
Boots and shoes:
M ales. _________
1.631
. 45
. 29
8+
Fem ales___ ... ._
5
1, 2C0
. 28
.17
8+
B rick and tile: M ales.
501
1, 039
.
OO
.
34
9+
C andy, chewing gum, etc.:
_
M ales____
Q<=iQ
156
. 40
. 28
Females___
136
581
. 20
. 12
8+
C annery products:
__
M ales______ ____
1 258
. ZD
.26
9+
Fem ales_________
3 555
. 19
. 20
8+
Clothing, shirts, and overalls:
M ales. ________
742
118
. 40
. 39
9
Fem ales________
4, 213
206
. Li
. 18
8+
Cooperage, barrels, and staves:
M ales____________
416
1 689
. oO
. 28
9+
Females___________
30
211
. ZD
. 20
9+
C otton-m ill products:
M ales.. __________
460
. 04
.
zo
10
Fem ales_________
2, 773
222
. zy
. 15
9+
Crabs, oysters, clams, etc. (packing):
M ales. _. __ _____
226
1 105
. 27
9+
F e m a le s _______
20
550
. zu
. 18
9+
Cream ery and dairy products:
M ales _________
AA
811
133
.
oO
9+
Females_______
35
58
. 20
8+
Fertilizers and guano:
M ales_______
268
1 379
. 32
9
+
Females____ . . .
1
.20
-Fish oil and fish guano: Males
424
945
. 24
10
Flour and grist mills:
__
M ales_______ ______
2, 072
202
44
. 32
10
Females_______
1
! 31
9
F u rn itu re, mattresses, upholstering, etc.:
M ales..
.. .
6,248
843
.
z/
9+
F e m a le s _______
on
173
1
. 18
9+
Ice, artificial:
M ales _
801
428
.oi
. 27
10
Fem ales___ . . . . .
1 ----------------I----------------L
..30
OU |_______________
4 Figures relate only to wago earners over 16 years of age in industries employing over 1.000 persons.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
10
10
10
10
[1187]
9+
9
9+
8+
9+
8+
9
8
9+
9+
8+
9+
9
9
9
9+
9+
10
9+
9+
9+
9+ '
8+
9+
10
10
9+
10
10
94-
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
156
T a b l e 1.—W A G E R A T E S A N D H O U R S O P L A B O R I N V A R IO U S O C C U PA T IO N S A N D
IN D U S T R IE S , 1929— Continued
Average rates of Average hours
per day
wages
N u m b er of
employees
In d u stry a n d occupation
W hite Colored W hite Colored W hite Colored
K nitting-m ill products:
821
M ales
_ •__ _ _ _ __ _______
2,196
Fem ales _______________ ___- — -- -- - Laundries:
569
M ales
- - - - ___
___
674
____
Females
_ ____ ____ _
Lim e, cem ent, a n d limestone:
M ales
_____________________________ _ 1,083
1
Females
_______ __________________ M edicines, chemicals, and drugs:
1,136
M ales
-- - - __ _____ - -63
_________________ — Females
Miscellaneous:
1,904
M ales
_________________ —
245
Females
____________________
P aper and pulp-m ill products:
2,141
M ales
- ____________________________
103
Fern ales
______________________
P ap er boxes, bags, tw ine, etc.:
590
M ales
_____________________
662
Females
_
_____ _ - — ----------------- —
P ean u t cleaning, coffee roasting:
116
M ales
_ _ ---------------------- -----57
Females
_________ _____ _________
Public utilities:
4,944
M ales
___________________________
5
Females
_ __________________
R ailroad activities (shops, e tc .) :
_____________ _____ — - 10, 603
Males
Females
_______________________
R ayon-m ill products:
6, 975
M ales
__________________________
Females
________________________ 5,141
Sash, doors, a n d blinds:
M ales
__________________________ 2,469
27
Sawmill products:
Males
__- __________________________ 2, 111
2
Shipbuilding:
Males
_ _________________________
7,228
3
Females
________________________
Silk-mill products:
1, 030
Males
__________ _______________
1,472
Females
__________ _____ — -— ta n n e r y p roducts ami tan n ery extracts! M ales __ __
1, 320
Tobacco a n d its products:
Males
___ - ____ - ______ - ________________ 1,780
4,147
Fem ales_______________________________ _____ T runks, bags, etc.:
868
Males
________________________________
192
Females
________________
W ooden baskets, boxes, crates, and shooks:
Males .
__________________________________ 1,013
10
Females
__ ____________________________
Woolen m ill products:
697
Males
____________________ - _____
343
Females
_ _ _ _ _ _____ _ __
P er
P er
hour
hour
57
242
$0. 36
.22
$0. 27
.18
9+
9+
94
94-
248
1, 259
.48
.21
. 33
.16
10
9+
10
9+
412
1
.36
.21
.30
.26
10
10
10
10
236
2
.52
.35
.33
.25
8+
8+
8+
8+
569
83
.47
.30
.30
.20
9+
8+
948+
884
12
.45
.29
.37
.21
9
9
9
9
128
5
.51
.25
.33
.22
9+
8+
949
333
802
.55
.26
.24
.12
10
8+
10
94-
730
3
.50
.23
.30
.22
9+
8
9+
84
1,447
5
.66
.39
.29
8+
8+
8
808
44
.52
.30
.30
.23
8
8+
949
837
.43
.22
.27
9+
9+
9+
1, 398
.35
.30
.21
10
6+
3, 743
.67
.59
.44
8+
8
8+
7
4
236
.39
.28
.36
.31
.19
.36
10
10
9+
10
10
9+
4,495
6,064
.54
.33
.29
.16
9+
9
94
94-
100
.34
.25
.26
9+
8+
94
1,489
347
.35
.28
1
.23
.12
9+
8
9+
9+
2
.36
.24
1.20
94
94
10
10
i R ate for only 1; no t an average.
In 1929 pick miners in the coal mines of Virginia were paid from 40
cents to $1.50 per ton, the average pay for white males being 65 cents
and for colored, 52 cents. Machine miners and helpers received from
32 cents to $1.50 per ton, the average for white and also for colored
males being 46 cents.
The hourly rates of other underground employees in coal mines in
1929 are presented in Table 2 , the average for fire bosses and assistants
being 57 cents and for foremen and assistants, 70 cents.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1188 ]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
157
T able 2 —A V E R A G E R A T E S O F W A G ES A N D H O U R S O F LA B O R IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A
T IO N S (U N D E R G R O U N D ) IN C O AL M IN E S , 1929
N um ber of em
ployees
Occupation
W hite
Doorboys and helpers. . . ___________ _ _______
D rivers and ru n n e rs.. ____
...
______ _
Fire bosses a n d assistan ts.. ____________ . _ . . .
Forem en and assistants___ . ________
_ .......
M iscellaneous................
. . ______________ _
Shot firers and m otorm en . . .
_
. . . _____
T im berm en and trackm en______________________
145
544
19
258
1,728
79
796
Colored
24
163
113
62
Average rate per
hour
W hite
Average
hours
per day
Colored
$0. 36
.40
. 57
. 70
.45
.50
.48
$0. 35
.47
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
.43
.47
In Table 3 the average rates per day and average daily hours in
different occupations in Virginia iron and machinery plants for 1929
are reported:
T a ble 3 .— D A IL Y W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN IR O N
A N D M A C H IN E R Y P L A N T S , 1929
Occupation
A pp ren tices...
B lacksm iths__
B lacksm iths’ helpers____
Boiler m akers__________
Boiler m akers’ helpers___
C arpenters an d coopers...
C oppersm iths______
D ra u g h tsm en .. . ___ .
D rillers__ _
E lectricians______ _ . . .
Engineers.
____ _____
F irem en___ _ . . . ____
Forem en______________
G eneral help (skilled)___
G eneral help (unskilled) _
G rinders____. . . _______
H am m ersm iths (axle)___
Heaters ___________ __
N u m Aver
Aver
ber of age rate
age
em per day hours
ployees
per day
Occupation
$2.84
5. 69
3.79
6.10
3.35
4. 96
6. 80
7.47
3.84
5. 88
5.00
3.86
7.57
4. 60
3.11
3. 56
5.39
4.02
H eaters’ helpers
Joiners.
L athe m en _____________
M achinists
M iscellaneous helpers___
M olders__ _________
P a tte rn m a k e r s .__
Pipe fitters
Puddlers
Pud filers’ helpers
Scrap heaters
Scrap heaters’ helpers. . _
Riggers
R iveters an d calk ers... .
R ollers_____________ . . .
Shearmen
W atchm en
_
___
52
58
31
33
60
4
124
26
32
19
20
152
1,216
1, 629
23
9
43
9
9
9
9
9
9
8
8+
9+
9-f
10
10
9+
8+
9+
9+
8+
9
N um
ver
Aver Aage
ber of age
em per rate
hours
day per day
ployees
7
4
56
428
149
338
64
12
44
12
6
12
7
69
4
48
47
$3 53
4 00
4. 58
6 01
6.11
5.90
6. 65
5. 54
6. 69
3 88
6 96
3.74
6 45
4.96
9.43
3. 77
3.55
10
10
9
8+
9+
9+
9
9+
10
10
U
n
9
9-'10
9+
9+
Table 4 records the daily rates of wages in engraving and printing
for male and female employees over 16 years of age in various occupa
tions in 1929, the average hours of work per day being eight for each
occupation:
T able 4 —D A IL Y W A G E S IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN P R IN T IN G A N D E N G R A V
IN G , 1929
M ales
O ccupation
A pprentices___________
A rtists.____ ______ . . .
B inders_______________
B inders’ helpers_____ .
C om positors... ______
Compositors’ helpers___
C u tte rs.. .
____
D e v ils.._
. . . . . ._
E lectrotypers.. ____
E m b o ssers__________ .
Engineers____ .
E ngravers________
Feeders___
._ . . . .
F in ish e rs.. ___ _____
Firem en.
_ . __
Folders.. _
_______
N um
ber of
em
ploy
ees
156 $2,75
16 8.01
68 6. 15
33 3.85
349 6. 30
33 3. 36
55 5.47
18 1.81
9 8. 40
3 4. 66
20 5.53
45 8.10
64 3. 52
14 5. 94
9 3. 97
11 4.73
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Females
A ver N u m
age ber of
ra te em
per ploy
day
ees
M ales
A ver
age
rate
per
day
3
$1. 88
38
199
9
4
2. 38
2. 56
3. 44
2.50
12
2.15
4
40
28
2. 04
2.47
2.17
•52
2. 36
O ccupation
Foremen
_____ .
Forwarders _______
Gilders ___
L inotype operators
Miscellaneous
M onotype casters
M onotype operators
Photographers
P late printers
P ressm en.. . . .
. ___
Pressm en’s helpers _. „
Proof readers
R ulers
....
Stereotypers
Stone polishers
Transferers
[1189]
Females
N um A ver N um
ber of age ber of
em rate em
ploy per ployees
day
ees
24 $7.93
9 5. 73
3 6 80
284 7. 30
214 3. 42
42 6. 99
13
17
315
119
32
21
47
7
17
9.16
3.92
5. 90
3. 30
6. 07
6. 30
6. 27
4. 49
7.17
Aver
age
rate
per
day
36
77
$° 78
2.15
14
4. 58
3
15
39
4. 33
2. 70
3.10
1
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
158
F o rty-F ou r H our W eek in New S o u th W ales
ONE means of meeting the industrial depression from which
South Wales, in common with all Australia, has been suffer
A SLing,New
that State passed legislation in June, 1930, lengthening the
standard week to 48 hours and allowing an employer to “ ration”
his work for the purpose of spreading employment over a greater
number of men. (See Labor Review, November, 1930, p. 43.) The
workers objected to both these provisions, especially to the latter,
since it did away with the guaranteed week, which they felt was of
first importance. An election was held during the summer, which
put a labor Government into power. According to the Employers’
Review (Sydney) for January 31, 1931, in December this Govern
ment took steps to rescind the action of last June, and an amendment
to the earlier act was passed, restoring the 44-hour week, without any
proportionate reduction of wages, and forbidding rationing in private
employment, unless special court permission should be obtained
authorizing it. The amendment became effective on January 5,
and according to the Employers’ Review, “ the immediate effect of
this was that thousands of employees who were receiving some work
and wages were dismissed.”
There is much disagreement between the employers and the laborites as to the desirability of the antirationing clause. The employers
maintain that it will increase greatly the suffering arising from un
employment, while the labor leaders hold that it is better socially to
have one man fully employed and another definitely unemployed,
than to have two men partly employed and rubbing along as best
they can.
W ages of A gricu ltu ral Labor in B arbados
REPORT on the sugar industry in Barbados by the director of
agriculture of the colony, dated November 9, 1930, and pub
lished by the British Colonial Office in Further Correspondence Re
lating to the Position of the Sugar Industry in Certain West Indian
Colonies and British Guiana (Cmd. 3745), contains the following
data on wages of agricultural labor:
A
D A IL Y W A G E S O F A G R IC U L T U R A L LA B O R IN B A R B A D O S
Class of workers
M en
_ _ _ _ _ _
_
_ __
W o m e n .___
___
. - _____ . . .
Y ouths__ _ __ __ ____________________ __
_ _
Pre-war
Post-w ar
1928-29
1930
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
20-24
12-15
6-10
36-42
30-36
18-24
30-36
24
15-20
30
18-20
10-18
While it is reported that agricultural labor in Barbados has never
been well paid, and the figures for 1930 show a drop from the previous
year, the governor of the colony, in a dispatch printed in the same
publication, states that since 1925 “ there has been a considerable
drop in the cost of commodities, concerning particularly the laboring
classes,” and further, that “ the agricultural laborer in Barbados has
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1190]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
159
always lived more or less as he lives to-day, a standard of life the
needs of which are few and easily satisfied.'”
Agricultural laborers were reported to work for not more than four
days a week, and it was said that the average planter could not afford
to employ them longer than that.
R ecen t W age C h an ges in G reat B ritain 1
HE world-wide depression has struck with especial force in
Great Britain, which was already struggling with a problem of
severe unemployment and was facing the probable necessity of having
to reorganize several of its basic industries, notably coal and textiles.
The progress of its industrial readjustment is marked by a sharp
clash between two schools of thought, one holding that the first and
most essential step is to cut down wages, lengthen hours, and curtail
social services, while the other upholds the importance of maintaining
a consumers’ market and keeping up the potential efficiency of the
worker by holding onto all the gains which have been made thus far
and adding others as rapidly as possible. Consequently, as agree
ments between workers and employers expire, or as, for other reasons,
new agreements become necessary, there is a struggle over the terms
to be established. In some cases, as in the South Wales coal fields
and the cotton-textile industry in the first two months of the year,
this has led to stoppages; in other cases, a stoppage has been averted
with much difficulty, and in still others the matter is still pending.
During March, two important agreements were reached, one deter
mining wages and conditions in the railway services, and the other
establishing a new wage scale in the South Wales coal fields.
T
Changes in Wages and Conditions on English Railroads
I n 1928 the English railway workers agreed to a cut of 2% per cent
in their wages, to operate for a year, and at the end of the year con
sented to extend the period for a further six months, with the under
standing that the date of the restoration of the full wages should be
followed by a six months’ truce, during which neither side should ask
any changes in wages or conditions of work. This period of truce
came to an end on November 13, 1930, and the railway companies
promptly brought forward proposals for sweeping alterations in both
wages and conditions.
Briefly, their proposals were that wage rates for adult male workers
should be reduced by 6 s. ($1.46) a week, and the existing minimum of
40s. ($9.73) a week should be lowered to 38s. ($9.25), while the rates
for junior males and for females should be cut by 3 s. (73 cents) a week.
Salaried men should receive cuts of from £ 1 0 to £15 ($48.67 to $7 3 )
a year, and woman clerks should receive from 3 s. to 4 s. 6 d. ($0.7 3 to
$ 1 .1 0 ) less per week. Under the proposed terms the standard weekly
hours, whether 48 or less, would be worked as the companies might
require and would include Sunday duty when necessary. Payment
would be made only for time actually worked. Overtime, at the rate
011 w hicl1 this article is based are from M anchester (England) G uardian, issues of N ov. 14,
1930, and M ar. 6, 7, and 19,1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1191]
160
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
of time and a quarter, would be paid only for time worked in excess
of the standard weekly hours. Sunday duty and night duty would
be paid for at ordinary rates, but if in excess of the standard week
would be paid for at the rate of time and a quarter. A corresponding
revision would be made of the aggregation allowances payable to the
salaried staff.
The proposals were more drastic than had been anticipated, and
aroused much opposition among the men. The workers held that
they involved the abolition of the guaranteed week, one of the features
of the national agreement to which they held most tenaciously, and
there was no question that they abolished the favorable Sunday
terms. The men also considered that the proposed cuts were entirely
unreasonable, and countered with claims of their own for various
improvements. Following the normal course of a wage dispute, the
matter came before the national railways board, which after hearing
both sides rendered its award on March 5, 1931. The Manchester
Guardian, stating that the award covers 90,000 employees in the
clerical and supervisory grades, and 356,000 wage earners, gives a
discussion of its terms, which may be thus summarized:
The award includes a reduction of wages on a sliding scale. For the
conciliation (wage) grades there is a cut of 2% per cent on all earnings,
with a further deduction of 2% per cent on earnings over 40s. ($9.73)
a week. Provision is made, however, that in the case of male adults
whose base rates are under 41s. ($9.98) a week, the deductions shall
not operate so as to reduce their earnings below their base rates, and in
no case shall any deductions exceed the sum of 6 s ($1.46) a week.
For all those paid on a salary basis there is to be no change in con
ditions or classification. All earnings shall be subject to a deduction
of 2 y2per cent, with a further deduction of 2% per cent in respect of all
earnings in excess o f £100 ($486.65) a year, provided that in no case
shall any deduction exceed £15 ($73) a year.
Reductions in overtime pay are made, from time and a quarter to
time and an eighth for day overtime, and Sunday pay is reduced from
time and a half to time and a third. A spread-over of 1 2 hours may
be adopted for all grades, except engineers, firemen, guards, and
signalmen, subject to review by the central wages board or appeal
to the national wages board where it is contended that such a spreadover is unreasonable.
The principles of the guaranteed day and week are to be retained.
The decision of the board is to be operative from the beginning
of the first full pay following March 28, 1931, to the first full pay
following March 26, 1932, and will continue until changed by agree
ment between the parties or a decision of the central wages board or
on appeal to the board.
Neither side was satisfied with these terms, but the representatives
of both sides accepted them as the best they could get at present.
The workers in general were so displeased with the result that their
leaders had much difficulty in holding them in line and preventing
breakaway strikes. By the beginning o f April, however, they had
apparently made up their minds to accept the award for at least the
year covered by the board’s decision.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1192]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
161
Railway Shopmen’s Terms
T he
shopmen, who are not in the unions covered by the
above agreement, carried on a dispute of their own at the same time,
which was finally settled by negotiations between the railway com
panies and the union representatives. The men on two lines were
excluded from the settlement, as they were working under a separate
system of payment. The others, numbering approximately 1 0 0 ,000 ,
secured the terms thus summarized in a statement issued at the close
of the negotiations:
r a il w a y
The gross earnings of all railway employees under shop conditions, other than
those on [the two lines referred to above] to be subject to a deduction of 4}& per
cent. The deduction shall not operate so as to reduce the earnings of any adult
male employee below 40s. [$9.73] per week.
The railway companies undertake that short time shall not be worked so as to
restrict employment to less than the equivalent of five full days in any week,
apart from holiday periods of circumstances of an exceptional character. These
arrangements to be operative from the beginning of the first full pay following
March 28 to the first full pay following March 26, 1932, and to continue thereafter
until altered by a decision of the council.
Wages in the South Wales Coal Fields
On
coming into effect of the 1930 coal mines act, which reduced
hours from 8 to 7% a day, a dispute took place in South Wales, which,
turned on two points: Should there be a straight 7%-hour day or a
spread-over (which the men considered less favorable to them), and
should the dispute and the question of a new wage scale (the old
agreement having expired) be submitted to the national coal mines
board provided for in the act, or to local arbitration with an inde
pendent chairman? The result was a compromise under which the
men carried their point as to hours and the employers won on the
arbitration question. Consequently, the wage scale was submitted to
a local board, whose chairman announced the decision on March 6 ,
stating that, having considered the present economic condition of the
industry, he fixed the minimum percentage at 20 per cent on the
1915 rates, and the subsistence wage on the following scale:
t h e
. ,
Scale per day
men:
s. d.
With no family responsibilities__________________________
7 o [$1. 70]
With no children_____________________________________
7 3 [ l. 76]
With dependent children_______________________________
7 6 [ L 83]
With children working_________________________________
7 3 [ l' 76]
Unmarried, with family responsibilities____________
7 3 [ L 76]
Miner, aged 16 to 21, supporting family exceeding two__
7 6 [ l! 83]
Miner supporting family of tw o_________________________
7 3 [ 1. 76]
Boys under 16 receive 6s. [$1.46], and in all cases of workmen under 21 a flat
allowance of fourpence [8 cents] a shift is added to the wages. No subsistence
allowance is to be paid for overtime and week-end work, and if a workman does
not present himself for work every day without reasonable excuse he shall not be
entitled to a subsistence allowance.
A d u lt d a y - w a g e
The cuts were more severe than had been anticipated. It was cal
culated that under these terms the average wage would be only 1 2 . 5
per cent above that of 1914, while the cost-of-living index was, in
March, 57 per cent above that of the earlier date. The men were
outraged by the decision and several unauthorized strikes occurred.
The leaders used every effort to prevent a stoppage, and at the end of
March it seemed that they had succeeded.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11931
162
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
W age R ates in G reat B ritain , 1914 and 1930
N ITS issue for March, 1931, the Ministry of Labor Gazette
(London) contains a discussion of the relative levels of wage rates
in August, 1914, and at the end of December, 1930. The depart
ment, it is explained, has no comprehensive data as to the rates
actually paid by various employers in the different industries at the
two dates.
I
The information available for the purposes of such a comparison is in nearly
all cases limited to (a) the standard or minimum rates of wages fixed by collective
agreements signed by the employers’ associations and trade-unions concerned, or
embodied in arbitration awards, statutory orders under the trade boards acts,
etc., or, (b) in some industries in which no such agreements, awards, or orders
have been made, to the minimum rates recognized by the trade-unions concerned.
* * * It is important, however, to realize that the rates of wages actually
paid to individual workpeople, or to particular sections of workpeople, may in a
considerable proportion of cases have been altered since 1914, independently
of the general changes jointly agreed upon by employers’ associations and tradeunions, or fixed by awards, orders, etc. Moreover, no information exists as to
the changes which have occurred in rates of wages in industries, or sections of
industries, in which neither standard nor minimum rates, nor the general amounts
of increase or decrease in rates of wages, have been fixed by collective agreements,
arbitration awards, statutory orders, etc.
The caution is therefore given that the data furnished can not be
regarded as more than an approximate indication of the levels of
wage rates at the two dates.
Building Trades
I n the building trades both employers and employees are very
generally organized, and standard rates fixed by agreement between
the two sides are the rule, so that more satisfactory data can be
obtained in this case than for some other industries. Taking the
unweighted averages of the standard rates of the principal classes of
workers in towns with populations of over 100,000, the changes
between the two periods were as follows:
T able 1. - A V E R A G E R A T E S O F W A G E S IN P R IN C IP A L B U IL D IN G T R A D E S , 1914 A N D
1930, A N D P E R C E N T OF IN C R E A S E
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of £ = $4.8665]
R ate Aug. 14, 1914
R ate Dec. 31, 1930
Occupation
Per hour Per week P er hour P er week
Bricklayers
__
M asons
C arpenters and joiners
Plum bers
_ _
Plasterers
_
Painters
____ _
Laborers
____ __
-
-- __ _____ _
- _______ - -- __ ___ _ _
___
_______
__
________
_ _____ ________
_ _ _______ - __
$0. 201
. 199
. 199
. 195
. 197
. 179
. 134
$9. 87
9. 63
9.71
9. 65
9. 73
8. 82
6. 57
$0. 386
.388
.386
.386
.392
.386
.288
$17. 17
17. 21
17. 17
17. 17
17. 38
17. 09
12. 79
P er cent of increase
H ourly
rate
93
95
95
98
98
116
116
Weekly
rate
74
79
77
78
79
94
95
If the increases shown above are combined in the proportions of the relative
numbers of men employed in the different occupations, the resulting general
average increase over pre-war rates was approximately 8%d. [17.7 cents] per hour
(or about 107 per cent) at the end of December. The increase in weekly full
time wages, allowing for the effect of the reductions which have been made since
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1194]
(
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
163
1914 in the weekly working hours, was approximately 29s. 3d. [$7.12] or about
It should be observed that the percentages given are general averages
for all the large towns combined, and that there is much variation in the percent
age increases in different towns.
86 per cent.
Engineering and Shipbuilding
I n t h e engineering industry the general advance over pre-war rates
for men on time work amounted to from 19s. to 19s. 10^d. ($4.62 to
$4.84) a week, and in shipbuilding to from 17s. to 17s. 10Kd. ($4.14 to
$4.35) per week. The following table shows the unweighted averages
of the district time rates of wages of men in 16 of the principal engin
eering centers and 9 of the principal shipbuilding centers at the two
dates, with the percentage increase at the later date over pre-war
rates:
T able 2 - A V E R A G E W E E K L Y R A T E S OF W A G ES IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S , 1914
A N D 1930, A N D P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of shilling=24.33 cents, p en n y =2.03 cents]
W eekly wage rate
.
Aug. 4, 1914
Occupation
Dec. 31, 1930
U nited
U nited
B ritish
B ritish
States
States
currency currency
currency currency
Engineering:
F itters and tu rn e rs.
_ _
Iron m olders . . .
_
_ _____ __
P a tte rn m akers
~
. _
Laborers . . . ____
_
___
Shipbuilding:
Shipw rights _
Ship joiners ____________ _ _ _____ _____ ____
Laborers___
.
.
s.
d.
s.
Per cent
of increase,
1914 to
1930
d.
38 11
41 8
42 1
22 10
$9. 47
10. 14
10. 24
5. 56
59
62
63
42
1
4
4
1
$14. 38
15.17
15.41
10. 24
52
50
51
84
41 4
40 0
22 10
10.06
9. 73
5. 56
59 11
60 0
40 11
14. 58
14. 60
9. 96
45
50
80
For pieceworkers the increase is a complicated matter, consisting
of a flat advance plus a percentage increase on base rates, with varia
tions in both factors for different classes of workers. “ The informa
tion at the disposal of the department is not sufficient to enable a
reliable calculation to be made of the percentage increase in the wages
of pieceworkers.”
The above are wage rates; the federation of employers in the en
gineering trades compiled some data, quoted by the Labor Gazette,
showing the percentage increase in actual earnings on March 30, 1930,
over July, 1914, as follows:
T able 3 .—A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S O F A D U L T M A L E T IM E W O R K E R S IN
E N G IN E E R IN G T R A D E S , 1914 A N D 1930, A N D P E R C E N T O F IN C R E A S E
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of shilling=24.33 cents, penny=2.03 cents]
Average weekly earnings
J u l y , 1914
M arch, 1930
Occupation
British
currency
s.
Fitters
_ ________ .
___
____
_
. . _____
T urners___________ _
M olders.
. ________ .
P a tte rn m akers..
__________ ________ _
Laborers
.
. . . ___. . .
.. . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
39
39
39
40
24
U nited
States
currency
d.
6
$ 4
1
4%
11M
[1195]
B ritish
currency
s.
$9. 62
9. 54
9.51
9. 83
6. 07
d.
66 11^
62
U nited
States
currency
Per cent
of in
crease,
1914 to
1930
sy2
6i l i q
67 O H
48 8
$16. 29
15.26
15.07
16. 32
11.84
69
60
59
66
95
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
164
Coal Mining
I n c o a l milling it is almost impossible to calculate the changes in
wage rates, since these have been made in such various ways. In
general, the wage is calculated as a percentage on a specified base,
but since 1914 in some cases the basic wage has been altered, in
others special advances or allowances have been made to some classes
of workers and not to others, and in most districts special subsistence
allowances have been made to the lower-paid workers. The earn
ings per shift, however, are compiled for each quarter by the Mines
Department, and the following table shows the changes in these from
June, 1914, to September, 1930:
T able 4 .—A V E R A G E E A R N IN G S P E R S H IF T IN C O A L M IN IN G , 1914 A N D 1930, A N D P E R
C E N T O F IN C R E A S E
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of shilling=24.33 cents, penny=2.03 cents]
Average earnings per shift
Q uarter ending
Sept. 30, 1930
June 1914
D istrict
U nited
U nited
B ritish
B ritish
States
States currency
currency currency
currency
s.
N o rth u m b erlan d -- . .
-- ----------------- -- --D urham - - - - ------ -----Yorkshire
- .
.
Lancashire, Cheshire, and N orth Staffordshire----- -- .
N o rth D erbyshire and N o tts. __
- - - -- - ---South Wales and M onm outh - - - - - ----Scotland_____ .
------ - ------ -- - - ------All d istricts-------- ------------- ------------- -----------
-
6
s.
d.
6 2%
6 21 4
6 10
e m
6 6M
6 9
6 9
5M
$1. 51
1.51
1. 66
1.47
1.60
1.64
1. 64
1.58
Percent
of in
crease
1914 to
1930
d.
1
1M
2M
4^
6M
2
$1.87
1.97
2. 47
2.24
2. 53
2. 32
2. 23
24
30
48
53
58
41
36
9 3M
2. 27
44
7
8
10
9
10
9
9
m
At the end of March, 1931, a wage cut went into effect in the
South Wales coal mines, which reduced severely the possible earn
ings per shift. During the quarter ending September 30, 1930, the
cost of living varied from 55 per cent above the figure for July, 1914,
on July first, to 57 per cent on September first.
Railway Workers
F or the principal grades of adult workmen in the traffic sections of the railway
service, the wage rates in operation at the end of December, 1930, showed a
wide range of increases above the pre-war rates for the corresponding grades.
For some of the lower-paid grades, on pre-war rates of about 18s. ($4.38) a week,
the increase was as much as 130 per cent; on the other hand, for certain classes
of higher-paid men, it amounted to a little under 100 per cent. The hours of
labor were reduced to 48 a week in 1919, without any reduction in weekly rates
of wages, and the increases in hourly rates are, therefore, higher than the per
centage increases in weekly rates.
The railway workers, like the South Wales miners, have recently
had, by award, a cut in wages, effective from the latter part of March,
which will of course reduce the percentage increases in their rates.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111961
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
165
Other Trades and Industries
F or workers in electrical installation, weekly full-time rates show
an increase over 1914 of about 91 per cent, and for other metal
trades the increases range from 20 per cent to 70 per cent. In cotton
textiles, the average full-time weekly rates have increased about 50
per cent, and in wool textiles the advances range from 64 to 72
per cent. In the boot and shoe industry the increases for men range
from 90 to 95 per cent, and for women 20 years of age or over, the
minimum rates have increased about 90 to 100 per cent. In agri
culture it is estimated that the average minimum rates for ordinary
laborers on December, 1930, showed an increase of about 76 per cent
over the average of the cash rates and allowances in 1914, which
was 18s. ($4.38) a week.
Summary
B o th the amounts and the corresponding percentages of increase over pre-war
rates show a wide diversity among different classes of workpeople. In some
cases the increases in full-time weekly rates at the end of December, 1930, were
equivalent to less than 20 per cent on the pre-war rates. On the other hand,
they were equivalent in some cases to over 100 per cent on the pre-war rates.
The information at the disposal of the department is insufficient to enable the
average percentage increase for all industries and occupations to be calculated
exactly, but it is estimated that at the end of December, 1930, weekly full-time
rates of wages, for those classes of adult workpeople for which information is
available, averaged between 70 and 74 per cent above the level of August, 1914,
as compared with 170 to 180 per cent at the end of December, 1920, when wages
generally were at their highest level.
These wage rates, it is repeated, are for full-time operation, and
take no account of variations in the state of employment, nor of
such matters as changes in the proportion of workers in different
industries and occupations, nor of changes in the proportion paid
at time and at piece rates of wages. The importance of the changes,
of course, is closely related to changes in the cost-of-living index,
which at the beginning of December, 1930, stood at 155 as com
pared with 100 in July, 1914.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1197]
166
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
W ages in Jap an , 1928 and 1929
average daily wages of Japanese workers in various indus
tries for the years 1923 to 1929, inclusive, are reported in the
THE
Financial and Economic Annual of Japan, 1930 (Tokyo). The
following table gives these statistics for 1928 and 1929:
A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S IN V A R IO U S O C C U P A T IO N S IN JA P A N , 1928 A N D 1929
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of average exchange rate of y e n = in 1928, 46.4 cents; in
1929, 46.1 cents]
D aily wage
1928
D aily wage
1929
1928
Occupation
U n it
U n it
ed
ed
Y en States Y en States
cur
cur
rency
rency
Textile industry:
Silk reelers, female ..
C otton spinners, fem ale.-. _____ . . .
Silk throwers, female
C otton weavers, m a
chine, female_____
Silk weavers, hand,
fe m a le _______
Hosiery
knitters,
m ale.. . .
Hosiery k n itters, fe
m ale_____________
M etal industry:
Finishers__________
F o u n d e rs .......... .........
B lacksm iths______
W o o d e n - p a tte r n
m a k e rs.. _____ .
Stone, glass, and clay
products:
C em ent m akers.. . .
G la s s m a k e r s ...____
P o tters___________
B rickm akers... . . .
Tile m akers________
Chem ical industry:
M atchm akers, m ale.
M atchm akers, female
Oil pressers______ _
Paper industry:
M akers of Japanese
paper_________ _.
M akers of foreign pa
p er...- __ _
___
L e a th e r in d u s tr y :
L eather m akers______
1
1929
Occupation
0.92 $0.43
0. 97
$0. 45
1.13
.86
.52
.40
1.17
.88
.54
.41
1. 01
.47
.99
.46
1.12
.52
.99
.46
1.68
.78
1.63
.75
.83
.39
.91
.42
2. 39
2. 40
2. 30
1.11
1.11
1. 07
2.33
2. 35
2.29
1.07
1.08
1.06
2. 43
1.13
2.43
1.12
2. 06
2. 06
1. 99
1. 77
1.92
.96
.96
.92
.82
.89
2.06
2.09
1. 92
1. 64
1. 77
.95
.96
.89
.76
.82
1.44
.67
1. 89
.67
.31
.88
1.47
.68
1. 92
.68
.31
.89
1. 56
.72
1. 51
. 70
1. 71
.79
1. 75
.81
2.19
1.02
2.28
1.05
U nitU nited
ed
Y en States Y en States
curcurrency
rency
Food industry:
Flour millers_______ 1.84 $0.85 1.87 $0. 86
.91 1.93
Sake-brewery workers 1. 96
.89
Soy-brewery workers 1.83
.85 1. 87
.86
Sugar-refinery w ork
.91 2.12
ers______________ 1.97
.98
.72 1.53
Confectioners______ 1. 56
.71
C anners___________ 1. 80
.84 1.68
.77
W earing-apparel indus
try:
Tailors (European
dress)___________ 2. 50 1.16 2. 44
1. 12
Shoem akers________ 2.31 1.07 2. 36
1. 09
Clog m akers_______ 1.80
.84 1.83
.84
B uilding industry:
C arpenters_________ 2.84 1.32 2.77
1.28
P lasterers__________ 3. 13 1. 45 3.07
1.42
Stone cu tters_______ 3. 31 1. 54 3. 23
1. 49
B rick layers,:______ 3. 16 1. 47 3. 12
1. 44
Roofing-tile la y e rs .., 3. 33 1. 55 3. 32
1.53
P ain ters___________ 2.80 1.30 2. 76
1. 27
W oodworking industry:
Sawyers (m achine). _ 2.29 1.06 2.22
1.02
Joiners____________ 2. 37 1. 10 2. 32
1. 07
Lacquerers_________ 2. 08
.97 2. 08
.96
Rope m akers_______ 1. 59
.74 1. 58
.73
M at makers (floor). . 2.59 1.20 2. 56
1.18
Prin tin g industry:
Com positors_______ 2. 36 1.10 2. 38
1.10
B ookbinders............... 2. 07
.96 2.06
.95
D ay laborers:
Stevedores_________ 2. 39 1.11 2. 32
1. 07
D ay laborers, m a le .. 1. 98
.92 1. 93
.89
D ay laborers, female. 1.05
.49
.99
.46
F is h e rm e n .................. .
.82 1. 74
1. 76
.80
Dom estic service:
Servants, m ale.......... 116.59 17. 70 116.21 1 7. 47
Servants, female____ U2.50 15.85 •12.30 1 5. 67
M o n th ly contract.
W ages in Y u goslavia, 1930
HE table following shows average weekly money wages in the
timber, food, building, mining, textile, and printing industries in
Croatia and Slavonia, Yugoslavia, during the first three quarters of
1930.1 The statistics are based upon d^ta collected from a number of
representative firms in the six selected industries.
T
1
D a ta are from C ham ber of Labor for C roatia and Slavonia, Index, Zagreb, D ecember, 1930, pp. 25-30.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1198]
WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
167
AVERAGE
W E E K L Y W A G ES IN S P E C IF IE D O C C U P A T IO N S IN C R O A T IA
SL A V O N IA D U R IN G F IR S T T H R E E Q U A R T E R S IN 1930
________ [Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of exchange rate of dinar= 1.8 cents]
In d u stry and occupation
AND
M ales
Females
Both sexes
Yugo U nited
slav
States
cur
cur
rency rency
Yugo U nited
slav
States
cur
cur
rency rency
Yugo U nited
slav
States
cur
cur
rency rency
T im b e r
W orkers in forests:
Producing logs, sleepers, and staves
Producing firew ood-. _
U nskilled w orkers__________ _
W orkers in sawmills:
Engineers _______ _____
Saw yers______ ______
U nskilled w orkers________ _
All skilled w orkers. _ ____
U nskilled w orkers___. . . . .
All em ployed......................
D in a r s
D in a r s
D in a r s
210
180
150
$3. 78
3.24
2. 70
480
210
115
270
150
210
8.64
3. 78
2. 07
4. 86
2. 70
3.78
90
$1.62
120
90
90
1.62
1.62
120
150
$2. 16
2. 70
252
180
4.54
3.24
132
2.38
156
2.81
303
193
5.45
3.47
502
120
314
164
238
9.04
2.16
5. 65
2. 95
4.28
134
132
133
2.41
2.38
2.39
224
148
186
4.03
2.66
3. 35
432
432
528
528
432
336
448
192
320
7.78
7. 78
9. 50
9. 50
7. 78
6. 05
8.06
3.46
5 .7 6
168
168
3. 02
3. 02
180
244
3.24
4.39
625
240
210
129
301
120
210
11.25
4. 32
3. 78
2. 32
5. 42
2. 16
3. 78
108
108
1.94
1.94
114
159
2.05
2.86
238
216
4.28
3.89
216
238
216
227
600
750
680
800
950
590
685
300
630
Food
M illing:
M ille r s ___
U nskilled w o rk ers.. _____
M eat:
B utchers’ helpers.
____
U nskilled w orkers________
Sugar:
B oilers_________________
U nskilled workers
___ _
All skilled w orkers. . ___________ .
U nskilled w orkers_______________
All em ployed____ _ ___
B u ild in g
M asons and bricklayers . . . ______
Joiners and carpenters___ ______
T in sm ith s ________ _ ___
L o c k s m ith s ..___
_______
H ouse painters. _____________
C oncrete w orkers____
___
All skilled w orkers. .
....
U nskilled w orkers___ __ . . .
A ll em ployed__________ . . . .
M in in g
Forem en of m in e s..
____ ______
M iners........ ......... . . . _
R unners______ _______ _
C arriers______
___
All skilled w orkers____
U nskilled w orkers_______ ____ _
All em ployed___ . _ _ . . .
T e x tile s
Spinning mills:
Fem ale spinners a t throstle-m achines
M ale sp in n ers..
.....
U nskilled w orkers______ . . . __
W eaving:
____
_______
Fem ale w eavers. . . .
U nskilled w orkers_____________________
All skilled w o rk e rs._ ________________
U nskilled w o r k e r s _______ . . . _________
All em ployed______ ______ __________
209
3.76
149
2.68
3.89
4.28
3.89
4.09
185
134
195
142
169
3. 33
2. 41
3.51
2. 56
3.04
217
179
198
3.91
3.22
3. 56
10.80
13. 50
12. 24
14. 40
17.10
10.62
12. 33
5.40
11.34
270
270
260
266
4. 86
4. 86
4.68
4. 79
524
270
462
9. 43
4. 86
8. 32
P r in tin g
H a n d com positors______ _ ___________
M achine operators ___________________
M achinists______ . _ _________________
L ith o g rap h ers-._ ____ _______ . _______
Forem en . . .
.
....
B o o k b in d ers.. . .
______ _ .
All skilled w orkers____ _ _____________ _____
U nskilled workers __________________ _
All em ployed___ ___________ .
_______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1199]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a ry for M arch, 1931
MPLOYMENT decreased less than one-tenth of 1 per cent in
March, 1931, as compared with February, 1931, and pay-roll
totals increased 0.7 per cent.
The industrial groups surveyed, the number of establishments re
porting in each group, the number of employees covered, and the total
pay rolls for one week, for both February and March, together with
the per cent of change in March, are shown in the following summary:
E
S U M M A R Y OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S, F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931
E m ploym ent
In d u strial group
Establishm ents
F eb ru
ary, 1931
M arch,
1931
1. Manufacturing_____ -- - 14, 434 2, 916,697 2,937, 525
2. Coal mining________
- 1,49« 343, 733 323, 697
159
124,004
110,669
A nthracite________________
1,337
219,729
213,028
B itum inous_____________
320
3. Metalliferous m ining___ 4. Quarrying and nonmetal767
lie m ining--- ------ --------5. Crude petroleum produc573
ing-------------- --------------6. Public utilities.. _____ . 12,188
Telephone a n d telegraph---- 7,970
Power, light, and w ater. . . 3,681
Electric railroad operation
and m aintenance, exclu537
sive of car shops_______ 7. Trade_________ . . ____ _ 10, 587
2,094
W holesale________________
R etail-------- -- ----------------- 8,493
8. Hotels________ _________ 2,119
9. Canning and preserving. _ _
803
10. Laundries______________
11. Dyeing and cleaning_____
351
158
43, 046
41, 887
27, 778
29,183
28, 554
706, 596
316,437
243,474
146, 685
360, 098
66,536
293, 562
156, 520
30,988
30,204
5, 027
28,143
701,280
by
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
1+0.9 $70, 033, 914 $71, 537, 389
8,207,192 6,800, 776
-5.8
Per
cent of
change
1+2.2
-17.1
-1 0 .8
- 3 .0
3,995,371
4, 211,821
2,782,146
4, 018, 630
-3 0 .4
—4. 6
+5.1
607, 009
649,644
+ 7 .0
1,007, 422 1, 052,257
21, 525, 576 22,089,114
+ 4 .5
-2.7
-1.4
-0.8
1,091, 981
1, 056,124
-3.3
+2.6
314,092
240,744
- 0 .7
- 1 .1
9,086, 616
7,734,363
9,385,088
7,942,185
+ 3 .3
+ 2.7
146,444
- 0 .2
4,704, 597
4,761,841
+ 1 .2
65,950
295,798
- 0 .9
+ 0 .8
2,110,221
7,054,848
2,126,371.
+ 0 .8
+ 0 .9
361, 748
156, 575
33,981
30, 032
5, 061
Total____ _________ 43, 796 4, 649, 241 4,649,112
R e c a p it u l a t io n
Per
cent of
change
+0.5
9,165, 069
+ (2) 32, 608,118
545, 651
+9.7
575, 032
-0.6
113,356
+0.7
-0
9, 242,010
7,115,639
32, 601, 200
564,623
574,974
114,155
115,480,320 116,282,266
+0.8
-0.3
“f-S. ó
—0
+0.7
+0.7
G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
New E ngland 4 ._
___________
M iddle A tlantic 5______________
E ast N orth C entral A _________
W est N o rth C e n tra l7 ________
South A tlantic 8. . .
__________
E ast South C e n tra l9 ____
W est South C e n tra l40 ____- M o u n ta in 44. . . _______ _
Pacific 42______ _ ------------------
464, 588
4,252
459, 731
7, 312 1,413,761 1, 399,607
9,886 1,280,304 1,289, 760
297, 668
4,781
300,887
4,641
471,123
477, 664
194, 787
193, 315
2,395
3,317
181, 443
178, 502
1, 655
87, 429
85, 244
5,557
259,776
262,764
All divisions__________ 43, 796 4, 649, 241 4, 649,112
+ 1.1 $10,919,329 $11,121,733
- 1 . 0 37, 513,964 36,761,362
+ 0 .7 33, 282,415 34,354, 210
7, 343,966
- 1 .1
7,390,968
9, 426, 257
9,230,985
+ 1 .4
3,447,900
3,458,405
- 0 .8
4,347,683
4, 305, 329
- 1 .6
2,271,022
- 2 .5
2,288, 693
7,208,133
7, 090,232
+ 1 .2
+ 1.9
- 2 .0
+ 3 .2
- 0 .6
+ 2.1
- 0 .3
+ 1 .0
- 0 .8
115, 480,320 116, 282,266
+0.7
-0
+ 1 .7
1 W eighted per cent of change for th e combined 54 m anufacturing industries, repeated from T able 2, p.
174, th e rem aining per cents of change, including total, are unw eighted.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 Cash paym ents only; see note 3, p. 186.
4 Connecticut, M aine, M assachusetts, N ew H am pshire, R hode Island, Verm ont.
« New Jersey, N ew Y ork, Pennsylvania.
6 Illinois, Indiana, M ichigan, Ohio, Wisconsin.
7 Iowa, Kansas, M innesota, M issouri, N ebraska, N o rth D akota, South D akota.
6 Delaware, D istrict of Colum bia, Florida, Georgia, M aryland, N orth Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia,
W est Virginia.
8 A labam a, K entucky, M ississippi, Tennessee.
10 Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.
11 Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, M ontana, New Mexico, N evada, U tah, W yoming.
42 California, Oregon, W ashington.
168
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
F1200]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
169
Employment was practically unchanged in March as compared
with February. The combined totals of the 15 industrial groups
show an actual loss of 129 employees over the month’s interval, or
three-thousandths of 1 per cent. Pay-roll totals increased $801,946,
or 0.7 per cent.
Increased employment in March was shown in 6 of the 15 indus
trial groups: Manufacturing, 0.9 per cent; quarrying and nonmetallic
mining, 5.1 per cent; retail trade, 0.8 per cent; hotels, less than onetenth of 1 per cent; canning and preserving, 9.7 per cent; dyeing and
cleaning, 0.7 per cent.
Decreased employment was shown in March in each of the remaining
9 groups: Anthracite mining, 10.8 per cent; bituminous coal mining,
3.0 per cent; metalliferous mining, 2.7 per cent; crude petroleum pro
ducing, 1.4 per cent; telephone and telegraph, 0.7 per cent; power,
light, water, 1.1 per cent; electric railroads, 0.2 per cent; wholesale
trade, 0.9 per cent; laundries, 0.6 per cent.
Pay-roll totals were higher in March than in February in 10 of the
15 industrial groups, namely, manufacturing, quarrying and non
metallic mining, crude petroleum producing, telephone and tele
graph, power-light-water, electric railroads, wholesale trade, retail
trade, canning and preserving, and dyeing and cleaning.
The New England, East North Central, South Atlantic, and Pacific
geographic divisions reported increased employment in March, the
increases ranging from 0.7 per cent to 1.4 per cent.
PER
C A P IT A
W EEKLY
E A R N IN G S IN M A R C H , 1931, A N D
F E B R U A R Y , 1931, A N D M A R C H , 1930
Per capita
weekly
earnings
in M arch,
1931
Industrial group
1. M anufacturing.
2. Coal mining:
A nthracite_____ _____ _________
B itum inous________ ____ ______
3. M etalliferous m ining_____________
4. Quarrying and nonm etallic mining.
5. Crude petroleum producing______
6. Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph.
Power, light, and w ater..
Electric railroads_______
7. Trade:
Wholesale________________
R etail____ _______________
8. H otels (cash paym ents only) I
9. C anning and preserving_____
10. Laundries_______________ _
11. D yeing and c le a n in g ....____
25.14
18.86
25. 21
22.26
37. 39
29.88
32.99
32. 52
1 The additional value of board, room, and tips can not be computed.
2 D ata not available.
8 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
52839°—31-----12
r1201]
W IT H
Per cent of change
M arch, 1931, compared
w ith—
February,
1931
$24. 30
Total.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C O M P A R IS O N
-
M arch,
1930
+ 1 .3
- 9 .4
22.0
- 1.6
- 9 .2
-1 6 .2
-1 6 .8
-1 3 .8
-
0.6
+ 1.7
+ 6.1
-
+ 4 .0
+ 3 .9
+ 1.4
+ 3 .9
+ 3 .4
+ 0 .9
32.24
24.06
16.61
16. 62
19.15
22.56
+ 0.6
+ (3)
25.01
+ 0.7
0.8
-0.1
+ 1.7
+ 0.2
-
- 0 .3
2.0
- 5 .4
- 7 .1
- 5 .7
(2)
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
170
Per capita earnings for March, 1931, given in the preceding table,
must not be confused with full-time weekly rates of wages; they are
actual per capita weeldy earnings computed by dividing the total
number of employees reported into the total amount of pay roll in the
week reported, and the “ number of employees’’ includes all persons
who worked any part of the period reported—that is, part-time workers
as well as full-time workers.
Comparisons are made with per capita earnings in February, 1931,
and with March, 1930, where data are available.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown in
the following statement. These reports are for the months of January
and February, 1931, instead of for February and March, 1931, conse
quently the figures can not be combined with those presented in the
foregoing table.
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S, CLASS I R A IL R O A D S
Em ploym ent
In d u stry
Class I railroads
___
_______
Jan. 15,
1931
Feb. 15,
1931
1, 317,817
1,300, 580
Per
cent
of
change
- 1 .4
A m ount of pay roll in
entire m onth
January,
1931
F ebruary,
1931
$182,908,075
$168,126,650
Per
cent
of
change
- 8 .1
The total number of employees included in this summary is about
6,000,000 whose combined earnings in one week amounted to approxi
mately $158,000,000.
1. E m p lo y m en t in S elected M a n u fa ctu rin g In d u stries in
M arch, 1931
C om parison of E m p lo y m en t and P ay-R oll T otals in M an u fa ctu rin g
In d u stries, February and M arch, 1931
MPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries in March, 1931,
increased 0.9 per cent as compared with February and pay-roll
totals increased 2.2 per cent.
These changes are based upon returns from 13,461 identical estab
lishments in 54 of the chief manufacturing industries in the United
States, having in March 2,802,485 employees whose combined earnings
in one week were $68,103,488.
Increased employment in manufacturing industries has been shown
in March as compared with February in seven of the nine years
covered by the bureau’s indexes of employment and pay roll, but only
twice—in 1923 and 1929—has the percentage increase been as large
as in March, 1931 ; increased pay-roll totals have been shown in eight
of the nine years, but only once—in 1923—has the percentage increase
been as large as in March, 1931.
The bureau’s weighted index of employment for March, 1931, is
74.8, as compared with 74.1 for February, 1931,73.1 for January, 1931,
and 89.8 for March, 1930; the index of pay-roll totals for March,
1931, is 68.5, as compared with 67.0 for February, 1931, 62.3 for Jan
uary, 1931, and 90.8 for March, 1930.
E
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1202 ]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
171
Six of the twelve groups of manufacturing industries showed
employment gains in March and nine groups showed pay-roll gains.
The stone-clay-glass group gained 3.9 per cent in employment, the
leather group gamed 3.7 per cent, the textile group gained 3.1 per cent,
the vehicle group gained 1.3 per cent, and the iron and steel and the
nonferrous metal groups gained 0.8 per cent each.
Increased employment in March was shown in 30 of the 54 separate
manufacturing industries and increased pay-roll totals in 37 industries.
The outstanding increase in employment, 26.3 per cent, appeared in
fertilizers, nevertheless this was far below this industry’s normal
seasonal increase in March. Stoves, brick, and millinery each gained
over 7 per cent in employment in March; carpets gained over 6 per
cent; automobiles, women’s clothing, and cement gained over 5 per
cent each; cotton goods, boots and shoes, and carriages and wagons
each gained over 4 per cent. The iron and steel industry gained 1.5
per cent, and foundries and machine shops less than one-tenth of 1
per cent.
The notable decreases in employment in March in the 54 separate
industries were in the rubber boots and shoes, agricultural implements,
and petroleum refining industries, and ranged from 18.1 per cent to
10.2 per cent; all other decreases were comparatively small.
Five of the ten manufacturing industries surveyed but not included
in the bureau’s indexes reported more employees in March than in
February; these were rayon, aircraft, paint and varnish, miscellaneous
rubber goods, and beverages; radio, jewelry, beet sugar, cash registers,
etc., and typewriters reported fewer employees in March than in
February.
Employment increased in March in five of the nine geographic
divisions: The South Atlantic division gained 2.4 per cent; the New
England, East North Central, and Pacific divisions each gained 1.2
per cent; and the East South Central division gained 0.9 per cent. Of
the losses in the remaining four divisions that in the Middle Atlantic
division was less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12031
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
172
T able 1.— C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
MANUFACTURING E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931, BY IN D U S
T R IE S
In d u stry
N um ber on pay roll
Establishments February, M arch,
1931
1931
Per
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
change
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
0)
Per
cent of
change
225, 562
221,448
$5, 718, 815
$5, 546, 841
214
329
342
400
707
16
87,991
36,149
11,758
16,143
64,165
9, 356
84,349
35,461
11, 989
15, 896
64,133
9,620
-4 . 1
- 1 .9
+ 2 .0
- 1 .5
~ ( 2)
+ 2 .8
2,295, 302
639,878
394,922
414,991
1, 695,021
278, 701
2,150, 757
624, 582
398, 652
401, 948
1,684,689
286, 213
Textiles and their products __ 2, 329
444
350
262
183
30
528, 828
161,872
83, 785
58, 222
50, 784
17,119
543, 597
169,679
84, 629
57, 490
51, 926
18,166
(>)
+ 4 .8
+ 1 .0
- 1 .3
+ 2 .2
+ 6.1
9, 793, 651
2, 326,629
1,414, 476
1,121,539
1,079,694
393,182
10,153,131
2,469, 514
1,443,392
1,087,248
1,097,087
404, 841
P)
+6.
+2.
—3.
+ 1.
+3.
116
342
103
382
117
37,015
59,196
16,187
30, 710
13,938
36,988
60, 624
16, 784
32,379
14, 932
- 0 .1
+ 2 .4
+ 3.7
+ 5.4
+ 7.1
952, 064
1,182, 353
221, 596
800, 202
301, 916
935,189
1,245,398
233,804
880,269
356,389
—1.
+5.
+5.
+10.
+18.
1, 955
190
45
174
543, 400
226,320
9,167
22, 906
548,219
229, 623
9,445
22, 798
(0
+ 1 .5
+ 3.0
- 0 .5
13, 569, 953
5, 962, 330
190, 339
580,209
13, 920, 561
6,225, 378
205,625
574,046
0)
+4.
+8.
-1 .
1,082
72
148
195,334
23, 780
23,307
195,375
23,807
23, 264
+ (2)
+0.1
- 0 .2
4,770,170
480, 093
566, 346
4, 837,457
489, 034
573,634
+1.
+1.
+1.
108
136
26, 249
16, 337
26, 299
17, 608
+ 0.2
+ 7.8
642,178
378, 288
610,946
404,441
—4.
+6.
1,443
651
341
451
165,002.
87,797
24, 662
52, 543
164, 378
87,299
24, 746
52, 333
(')
- 0 .6
+ 0.3
- 0 .4
2,969, 360
1,443,699
506,153
1,019, 508
3, 011, 058
1,474,834
511,670
1,024, 554
0)
+2.
+1.
+0.
429
131
298
123, 697
23,481
100,216
128,191
23, 732
104,459
(0
+ 1.1
+ 4 .2
2,436, 514
543,151
1,893, 363
2, 599,499
556,685
2,042,814
(')
+2.
+7.
1, 567
213
313
596
445
211,962
52,845
24,336
57,627
77,154
212,268
52,624
24,382
56, 544
78,718
(>)
- 0 .4
+ 0 .2
- 1 .9
+ 2 .0
6, 747, 675
1,324, 455
524, 046
1, 892,493
3,006,681
6,848, 545
1,311,594
539,780
1,901,507
3,095,664
(')
- 1.
+3.
+0.
+3.
462
154
208
100
100,010
36, 924
11,131
51, 955
96, 937
36,207
14,059
46, 671
0)
- 1 .9
+26.3
-1 0 .2
2, 838, 889
978, 594
181, 773
1, 678, 522
2,698, 542
974,422
214,099
1, 510,021
(>)
-0 .
+17.
-1 0 .
1, 060
112
690
115
143
98, 009
17,890
26,495
17,432
36,192
101, 849
18,879
28, 363
17,348
37,259
(>)
+ 5.5
+ 7.1
- 0 .5
+ 2 .9
2, 229, 556
463, 766
516, 725
368,159
880,906
2,333,246
489,777
558,065
379, 598
905,806
(>)
+5.
+8.
+3.
+2.
238
43, 643
43, 983
(>)
1,003, 076
1, 028, 288
0)
78
16,505
16, 501
363,129
365,082
160
27,138
27,482
+ 1.3
639,947
663, 206
+3.
219
59, 605
59, 208
(0
817,689
851,105
(')
227
192
9,356
50,249
9,196
50,012
- 1 .7
- 0 .5
145,662
672,027
139,341
711,764
-4
+5
Food and kindred products__ 2, 008
Slaughtering and m eat packin g .-----------------------------Confectionery____ ________
Ice cream_ ...................Flour - - __
B aking__
..
__ ___ Sugar refining, cane----------C otton goods, . .
-----Hosiery and k n it goods-----Silk goods_____
- — -Woolen and w orsted goods..
C arpets and rugs----- , , , ,
D yeing and finishing textiles, ____ ___ ____ ___
Clothing, m en’s --- -----------Shirts and collars . ___
Clothing, w om en’s--- ----M illinery and lace goods—
Iron and steel and their
products_______________
Iron and steel ___________
Cast-iron p ip e ,, , , , ------Structural-iron work---------Fou n d ry and machine-shop
products_____ _______
H ardw are_____________
M achine tools__________ .
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-w ater heating app aratu s___________ _____
Stoves. , ________________
Lumber and its products__
Lum ber, saw m ills________
Lum ber, m illw ork________
F u rn itu re ........... ,
---------
Leather and its products___
L e a th e r., . . __________
Boots and shoes__ _
Paper and printing... _____
Paper and p u lp ____
Paper boxes______ _ , , ,
Printing, book and job____
Printing, new spapers______
Chemicals and allied products__ ______________
Chem icals________________
Fertilizers
_ _______
Petroleum refining________
Stone, clay, and glass products
__
Cem ent __ _
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta ..
P o ttery
______
____
Glass
, _____________
Metal products, other than
iron and steel _________
Stam ped and enameled
w are_________________
Brass, bronze, and copper
p ro d u c ts _____ ,
___
Tobacco products__ _____
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff- ______
Cigars and cigarettes-------Footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1204]
(0
—6.
-2 .4
+0. £
-3 .
-O .f
+2+
+0.
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
173
T able 1.— C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
MANUFACTURING E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931, BY IN D U S
T R IE S — Continued
N u m b er on p ay roll
E stab
lish
ments February,
M arch,
1931
1931
In d u stry
Vehicles for land transporta
tion
. .. .
Automobiles ____. . . . . .
Carriages and wagons_____
C ar building and repairing,
electric-railroad
. ...
Car building and repairing,
steam -railroad.. ___ ._
Miscellaneous industries___
A gricultural im plem ents___
Electrical m achinery, ap
paratus, and supplies___
Pianos and organs. ...........
R ubber boots and shoes___
A utomobile tires and inner
t u b e s _________________
S h ip b u ild in g ... _________
1, 255
403, 849
206
50
271,028
744
415, 208
284,801
776
All industries_____
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
$11.208, 783 $11,966, 021
(')
+5.1
7,374,948
8,196,033
+ 4 .3
15,680
16,683
Per
cent of
change
(*)
+11.1
+ 6.4
448
29,102
28,999
- 0 .4
880,953
894,899
+ 1.6
551
102,975
100,632
- 2 .3
2,937, 202
2,858,406
- 2 .7
496
84
274,199
267,199
19,207
16,840
(>)
-1 2 .3
7, 292, 901
7, 146, 651
387,278
(0
-1 9 .3
211
64
12
161,302
5,328
14,056
160,040
5,367
11, 515
- 0 .8
+ 0 .7
-1 8 .1
4,394,953
122,340
234,135
4,394, 343
129,850
172, 416
_ ( 2)
+ 6.1
-2 6 .4
38
87
38,436
35,870
38, 541
34,896
+ 0 .3
- 2 .7
1,054,942
1,006,449
1,097,310
965, 454
+ 4 .0
- 4 .1
T o ta l—54 industries
used in computing
indexnumbersof em
ployment and pay
roll________ ____
13,461 2, 777, 766 2, 802,485
Industries added since Feb
ruary, 1929, for which data
for the index base year
(1926) are not available____
973
138,931
135,040
Rayon _______
.. _
Radio
. .
A ircraft_______________ __
Jew elry. __
____________
P ain t and v arn ish _______
R ubber goods, other than
boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tu b e s_____________
Beet sugar____ _____
Beverages___
....
Cash registers, adding ma
chines, and calculating
m a c h in e s ._____
Typew riters and su p p lie s...
Per
cent of
change
(0
480,082
66,626, 862 68,103,488
18
44
42
158
262
21, 225
22, 775
8,475
13,829
15, 798
22, 262
17,897
8,612
13, 521
15,993
(3)
+ 4.9
-2 1 .4
+ 1 .6
- 2 .2
+ 1 .2
3,407,052
79
60
250
17,081
2,540
10, 608
17, 246
2,259
10, 777
+ 1.0
-1 1 .1
+ 1 .6
48
12
17, 249
9,351
17,128
9,345
- 0 .7
- 0 .1
14,434 2,916,697
2,937,525
R e c a p it u l a t io n
by
(3)
3,433,901
0)
456,340
429,348
295,126
306,465
448,450
(3)
+ 6 .2
-1 2 .9
+11.1
+ 6 .7
+ 2 .5
407,151
86, 265
314,856
416, 798
78,603
324, 710
+ 2 .4
- 8 .9
+ 3.1
486,981
198,829
486, 780
191, 281
- ( 2)
- 3 .8
70,033,914
71,537,389
(3)
$7, 616,153
22, 361, 646
24,854, 527
3,840,909
5, 779,617
1, 900,525
1, 864, 693
718,565
2, 600,754
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .3
+ 3.8
- 2 .0
+ 3.5
+ 1.0
- 0 .6
+1.1
+ 1.0
429, 616
492,998
265,624
287, 299
437, 433
G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS 4
N ew E ngland_____________
M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N orth C en tral_______
W est N orth C entral______
South A tlan tic____________
E ast South C entral________
W est South C en tral_______
M o u n tain ________________
Pacific___________________
All divisions_______
1,561
3, 602
3,486
1,386
1, 712
692
822
307
866
337,666
867,131
929,939
162,130
304, 823
105,115
83,883
26, 921
99,089
341, 767
866, 994
940, 890
159, 593
312,125
106,038
83, 420
26, 422
100, 276
14,434 2,916,697 2,937,525
+ 1 .2
- ( 2)
+ 1 .2
-1.6
+ 2 .4
+ 0.9
- 0 .6
- 1 .9
+ 1 .2
(3)
$7,465, 207
22,069, 592
23,950,101
3,921,174
5, 586,142
1, 881,066
1,875, 355
710, 747
2, 574, 530
70,033,914 71,537,389
(3)
1 The per cent of change has not been com puted for the reason th a t the figures in the preceding columns
are unw eighted and refer only to the establishm ents reporting; for the weighted per cent of change, w herein
proper allowance is m ade for the relative im portance of th e several industries, so th a t the figures m ay rep
resent all establishm ents of the country in the industries here represented, see Table 2.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
3 The per cent of change has no t been com puted for the reason th a t the figures in the preceding columns
are unw eighted and refer only to the establishm ents reporting.
4 See footnotes 4 to 12, p. 168,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1205]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
174
T able 2 —P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E , F E B R U A R Y TO M A R C H , 1931—12 G R O U P S O P MANU
FACTURING IN D U S T R IE S A N D T O T A L OF 54 IN D U S T R IE S IN C L U D E D IN IN D E X
[C om puted from the index num bers of each group, w hich are obtained b y w eighting the index num bers
of th e several industries of th e group, by th e num ber of employees, or wages paid, in the industries]
Per cent of change
February to
M arch, 1931
P er cent of change
February to
M arch, 1931
G roup
G roup
N um ber A m ount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
N um ber A m ount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
Food and kindred p ro d u cts._ . .
Textiles and their p roducts. . . .
Iron and steel and th eir prod
u c ts____ _______ _______
Lum ber and its products____
Leather and its products ..
Paper and p r i n t i n g . . . ___ . . .
Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts..
C om parison
of
- 1 .5
+3.1
-2 . 7
+ 4.3
+ 0 .8
- 0 .4
+ 3.7
- 0 .1
- 2 .0
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .6
+ 6 .6
+ 1.3
- 3 .7
Stone, clay, and glass products. .
M etal products, other than iron
and steel.._ _______________
Tobacco products ____________
Vehicles for land tran sp o rtatio n .
Miscellaneous industries______
+ 3.9
+ 4 .7
+ 0.8
- 0 .7
+ 1.3
- 2 .3
+ 2 .6
+ 4.5
+4.1
- 1 .6
Total—54 industries___
+0.9
+ 2.3
E m p lo y m en t and P ay-R oll T o ta ls in
In d u stries, M arch, 1931, w ith M arch, 1930
M an u fa ctu rin g
T h e level of employment in manufacturing industries in March,
1931, was 16.7 per cent below the level of March, 1930, and pay-roll
totals were 24.6 per cent lower.
Each of the 54 industries upon which the bureau’s indexes are
based had fewer employees and smaller pay-roll totals at the end of
this 12-month interval than at the beginning with the exception of
the woolen and worsted goods industry which showed a small increase
in pay rolls.
The outstanding decreases in employment in individual industries
were in the following: Agricultural implements (45.6 per cent),
carriages and wagons, rubber boots and shoes, machine tools (36.2
per cent), fertilizers, sawmills, petroleum refining, foundry and
machine-shop products (25.5 per cent), steam-car shops, brick,
furniture, electrical goods, glass, carpets, structural ironwork, auto
mobiles (19.2 per cent), stoves, hardware, and shipbuilding (18.4 per
cent). The iron and steel industry had fallen off 15.6 per cent as to
employment; cotton goods, 12.4 per cent; and woolen and worsted
goods, 3 per cent.
Among the nine geographic divisions the New England and South
Atlantic divisions showed the smallest falling off in employment in
March, 1931, as compared with March, 1930, and the West South
Central division lost the greatest number of employees. The per
centage decreases in the several divisions ranged from 13.5 per cent
to 23.3 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1206]
TREND ÓF EMPLOYMENT
T able
3 .-
175
-C O M P A R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN MANUFAC
TURING IN D U S T R IE S , M A R C H , 1931, W IT H M A R C H , 1930
[The per cents of change for each of the 12 groups of industries and for th e total of all industries are weighted
in the same m anner as are the per cents of change in Table 2]
Per cent of change
M arch, 1931,
compared w ith
M arch, 1930
Per cent of change
M arch, 1931,
compared with
M arch, 1930
In d u stry
In d u stry
N um
ber on
pay roll
A m ount
of pay
roll
- 7 .3
-10.6
- 7 .8
- 4 .5
- 5 .3
-1 2 .3
- 6 .6
-1 2 .4
- 8 .9
-12. 3
-2 4
-1 8 .8
-1 0 .4
-15. 8
Textiles and their products. _ -10.8
-15.1
Food and kindred products
Slaughtering and
meat
packing___ _________ _
Confectionery __ ____
Icecream ,.
Flour_____________
B aking__________ ____
Sugar refining, cane. .
C otton goods.. . . .
_____
Hosiery and k n it goods____
Silk goods_________ __
Woolen and worsted goods..
Carpets and rugs_____ . .
Dyeing and finishing textiles........ .
. . . . . .
Clothing, m en’s ________ .
Shirts and collars __ ____.
Clothing, w omen’s _____
M illinery and lace goods___
Iron and steel and their
products______
Iron and steel____________
Cast-iron p ip e______
Structural-iron w ork___ .
F oundry and machine-shop
products_______ ________
H a rd w are.. . . . .
M achine tools . „ .
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-w ater heating app aratu s_____ _ _
_
Stoves. _______ _ ______
Lumber and its products___
Lum ber, saw m ills________
Lum ber, m illw ork..
F u rn itu re ___________ _ __
Leather and its products__
Leather.
Boots and shoes__
.
Paper and printing _ _____
Paper and p u lp . ___ .
Paper b o x e s ____ _________
Printing, book and jo b ____
Printing, new spapers_____
-1 2 .4
-1 2 .2
-1 4 .3
- 3 .0
-21. 2
-15. 6
-22. 1
-22. 3
+0. 1
-2 1 .0
- 4 .4
-1 0 .7
-1 6 .9
- 7 .2
-1 1 .6
-6 . 1
-1 6 .2
-2 3 .2
-1 4 .6
-1 5 .5
-21.2
-2 7 .2
-2 3 .3
-3 0 .9
-2 5 .5
-18. 7
-36. 2
-38. 6
-3 0 .2
-48. 8
-1 4 .3
-19. 1
-2 8 .2
-3 1 .5
-27.7
-38.1
-9.1
Chemicals and allied prodii els____________
Chemicals
Fertilizers
C em ent___ _
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta ..
Pottery
G la s s ._____ _________ .
Metal products, other than
iron and steel
Stam ped and enameled
ware
Brass, bronze, and copper
products
Tobacco products___
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff___ _ _ __
Vehicles for land transportation.
A utom obiles.. .
Car building and repairing,
eleetrie-railroa ri
Car building and repairing,
steam -railroad_______
Miscellaneous industries
-4 4 .8
-28. 6
-3 0 .4
-13.7
-12. 0
- 8 .4
-15. 5
—13 2
- 8 .3
-1 4 .2
- 9 .6
- 9 .4
- 1 .2
-2 1 .7
-1 3 .8
-1 1 .9
- 3 .4
-19.6
71
-21.1
2
-2 6 .3
-2 7 .
Stone, clay, and glass products
-33.2
-1 5 .6
-1 6 .8
-1 9 .5
-3 1 .8
-1 9 .4
-2 2 .4
N um A m ount
ber on
of pay
pay roll
roll
-11.3
li) 5
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
-2 1 .4
-23Ì 8
13 1
-16.2
-24.3
-1 4 .7
-1 9 .6
-1 6 .9
-2 6 .1
-7.4
-15.6
-1 . 6
- 8 .1
-10. 0
-1 6 .3
—21
2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
—19. 7
-2 4 .5
-28. 3
-2 3 . 1
-1 9 .8
-2 4 .8
- 44.6
-1 1 .0
-1 4 .0
-2 3 .8
-2 9 .6
-22.8
-31.4
A gricultural im plem ents
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and supplies.. _
Pianos and organs
R ubber boots and shoes___
A utomobile tires and inner
tu b e s____ _ _ ______
Shipbuilding
-3 7 .7
-6 0 .3
-1 4 .9
-1 8 .4
-2 1 .6
-2 6 .0
Total—54 industries. . .
-16.7
-24.6
W est Smith Central
M ountain
Pacific
[1207]
4
—3 0 ] 3
-1 9 . 2
-4 2 .0
-4 5 .6
-58. 2
-2 1 .8
-3 0 .1
15 9
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION—COntd.
-1 3 . 5
-1 6 .0
-19. 0
—17. 3
-1 3 .7
-1 8 .8
5
—23] 9
-33. 7
R e c a p it u l a t io n b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
New E ngland________________
M iddle A tlantic.
________
E ast N orth C entral___________
W est N orth Central
South A tlantic......... .
.
East South C entral___________
9f}
-16." 1
-2 2 .4
411 divisions..
-2 3 .3
-2 0 .9
-1 9 .7
-16.7
97 Q
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
176
Per C apita E arnings in M an u fa ctu rin g In d u stries
A ctual per capita weekly earnings in March, 1931, for each of the
64 manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, together with per cents of change in March, 1931, as compared
with February, 1931, and March, 1930, are shown in Table 4.
Per capita earnings in March, 1931, for the combined 54 chief
manufacturing industries of the United States, upon which the
bureau’s indexes of employment and pay rolls are based, were 1.3 per
cent greater than in February, 1931, and 9.4 per cent less than in
March, 1930.
The actual average per capita weekly earnings in March, 1931, for
the 54 manufacturing industries were $24.30; the average per capita
earnings for all of the 64 manufacturing industries surveyed were
$24.35.
Per capita earnings given in Table 4 must not be confused with
full-time weekly rates of wages. They are actual per capita weekly
earnings computed by dividing the total number of employees re
ported into the total amount of pay roll in the week reported, and the
"number of employees” includes all persons who worked any part of
the period reported—that is, part-time workers as well as full-time
workers.
4 —P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S IN
M A R C H , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H F E B R U A R Y , 1931, A N D M A R C H , 1930
T able
Per capita
weekly
earnings in
M arch,
1931
In d u stry
Food and kindred products:
Slaughtering and m eat packing
______ _____________
Confectionery
_
-- - ___________________ _____
Ice cream .__
_ _
_____________ ________
Flour
. _
_ _________ _
______
Baking
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ ___ - _____
Sugar refining, cane
_
__ _ _ _________ _____
Textiles and th eir products:
C otton goods
- _
_ _______ _________
______ _ - ______
Hosiery and k n it goods
Silk goods
- ________________
Woolen and w orsted goods_____
_ _ _ _ __ _____________
C arpets and rugs
_ _____
- ___ ___ ____
D yeing and finishing textiles
____
- _ _ - __ ______
Clothing, m en’s
_______________
_ _ ____
Shirts and collars
_____ - - ________ - ______
Clothing, w om en’s
_ _ ___
______________________
M illinery and lace goods
____ ______ ____ ____
Iron and steel and their products:
Iron and steel
.............. ........
___
Cast-iron pipe
_ __
__
______ _____ Structural-iron work
______ _ _ _ __ _______ _____ ___
F oundry and machine-shop products
___ ____ ___________
H ardw are
___
_____ ____
___ _ _ _ _
M achine tools
_ _____ ________ - - _____
Steam fittings and steam and hot-w ater heating a p p a r a tu s -----Stoves
_ _ _ ___
__ ___ _______
Lum ber and its products:
Lum ber, sawmills
_
_
...
..
. ______
Lum ber, millwork .
___ .
.
__________
F u rn itu re _
___
__ _____ ______ ____
L eather and its products:
L eather_____
. . . . . . __
Boots and shoes__________
__________ _______
_______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1208]
Per cent of change
M arch, 1931, com
pared w ith—
February,
1931
M arch,
1930
$25.50
17.61
33.25
25.29
26.27
29.75
- 2 .3
- 0 .5
-1 .0
- 1 .6
- 0 .6
- 0 .1
- 1 .1
- 8 .2
+ 3.1
- 7 .4
- 3 .7
- 3 .9
14.55
17.06
18.91
21.13
22.29
25.28
20.54
13.93
27.19
23.87
+ 1.3
+ 1.1
- 1 .8
- 0 .6
- 3 .0
- 1 .7
+ 2.9
+ 1 .8
+ 4.3
+10.2
- 3 .4
-1 1 .4
- 9 .4
+ 3.5
+ 0.2
- 1 .8
- 6 .2
- 7 .5
- 8 .3
- 4 .3
27.11
21.77
25.18
24.76
20.54
24.66
23.23
22.97
+ 2 .9
+ 4.9
- 0 .6
+ 1.4
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .5
- 5 .0
- 0 .8
-1 3 .5
- 7 .8
-1 4 .4
-1 7 .6
-1 4 .3
-1 9 .6
-1 6 .1
-1 5 .0
16.89
20.68
19.58
+ 2 .7
+ 0 .8
+ 0 .9
-1 9 .3
-1 1 .1
-1 0 .4
23.46
19.56
+ 1.4
+ 3 .5
- 4 .2
- 5 .5
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
177
T able 4.—PER C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S IN
M A R C H , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H F E B R U A R Y , 1931, A N D M A R C H , 1930—Contd.
Per capita
weekly
earnings in
M arch,
1931
In d u stry
Paper and printing:
Paper and p u lp . __________
Paper boxes__ ____ _
Printing, book and jo b ___ ____
Printing, newspapers______ .
Chemicals and allied products:
C hem icals........................... .......
Fertilizers__ _____ ________ _
Petroleum refining____ _______
Stone, clay, and glass products:
C em ent____________
Brick, tile, and terra co tta___ _
P ottery____ ______ __________
G la s s ________________
M etal products, other th a n iron and steel:
Stamped and enameled w are____ .
Brass, bronze, and copper products____
Tobacco products:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff.
Cigars and cigarettes___ _ _______
Vehicles for land transportation:
A utom obiles... ____ _____
Carriages and wagons____ ____
Car building and repairing, electric-railroad___
Car building and repairing, steam-railroad___
Miscellaneous industries:
Agricultural im p lem en ts...
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and su p p lie s...
Pianos and organs____________ ______
R ubber boots and shoes__
Automobile tires and inner tu b es. ___
Shipbuilding_____________
Industries added since February, 1929, for which d ata for th e indexbase year (1926) are not available:
R ayon___________________ ____
R a d io ... ________ _____ _____
A ircraft____ _______________ _
Jew elry ..______ ____________
P ain t and varn ish ________________
R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes, tires, and inner tu b es___
Beet sugar______________
Beverages_______ _____
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating m a c h in e s...
T ypew riters and supplies . . .
___
Per cent of change
M arch, 1931, com
pared w ith—
February,
1931
M arch,
1930
O
y. 1i
4.4
9. 11
O
oZ. oZ
$24.92
22.14
33.63
39.33
26.91
15.23
32.35
-1-1
25.94
19.68
21.88
24.31
+ 0.9
22.12
24.13
+ 0 .5
+ 2 .3
15.15
14.23
-2 .7
+ 6.4
28.78
21.50
30 86
28.40
+ 5 .8
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .9
- 0 .4
23.00
27.46
24.19
14.97
28.47
27.67
-8 .0
+ 0 .8
20.50
23.99
34.27
22. 67
28.04
24.17
34.80
30.13
28.42
20.47
0. z
c. O
o
O
1n o
K
y. 4
1^.
9. 2
9. oQ
Z
-\A ‘X
A
cO
fi
0,
- ili
Q9
q
y. nu
19 eAX
lo.
. Jl±. O
K
- 3 .3
- 7 .5
__.oo
A
Z o . ‘x
-1 0 .4
15. 0
36 3
—7Ì 8
Q
y. A.‘t
-1 0 .1
+ 3.7
- 1 .4
+10.8
+ 9 .3
+ 9.1
+ 1.3
+ 1 .4
+ 1 .5
+ 0.7
- 3 .7
A D
fi
4.
7f. u
n
! C uf 1
-J-O.
11 9
- 2 .1
m
M
-9 .0
y )
0
0)
1 D ata not available.
Index N um bers of E m p loym en t and P ay-R oll T o ta ls in M a n u fa ctu rin g
In d u stries
T a b l e 5 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals, by months, from
January, 1923, to March, 1931, together with the average indexes
for each of the years 1923 to 1930, inclusive.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
L1209]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
178
T a ble
5 — G E N E R A L IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN MANU
FACTURING IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO M A R C H , 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
Pay-roll totals
Em ploym ent
M onth
1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
J a n ___
F e b ___
M a r__
A pr.
M a y ...
J u n e ...
J u ly ...
A ug---S e p t . ..
O ct___
N o v .. .
Dec___
106. 6 103.8 97.9 100.4
108.4 105.1 99.7 101.5
110.8 104.9 100.4 102.0
110.8 102.8 100.2 101.0
110.8 98.8 98.9 99.8
110.9 95.6 98.0 99.3
109. 2 92. 3 97.2 97.7
108.5 92.5 97.8 98.7
108.6 94.3 98.9 100.3
108.1 95.6 100.4 100.7
107.4 95.5 100.7 99.5
105.4 97.3 100.8 98.9
97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6
91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93.1
92. 2
93.6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5
95.2
97.4
98.6
99.1
99.2
98.8
98. 2
98.6
99. 3
98.3
94.8
91.9
90.2 73.1 95.8 98.6 93.9 98.0 94.9 89.6 94.5 87.6 62.3
90.3 74.1 99.4 103. 8 99.3 102.2 100.6 93.9 101.8 90.7 67.0
89.8 74.8 104.7 103.3 100.8 103.4 102.0 95.2 103.9 90.8 68.5
89.1
105.7 101.1 98.3 101.5 100.8 93.8 104.6 89.8
109.4 96.5 98.5 99.8 99.8 94.1 104.8 87.6
87.7
85.5
109.3 90.8 95.7 99.7 97.4 94.2 102.8 84.1
81.6
104.3 84.3 93.5 95. 2 93.0 91.2 98.2 75.9 —
103.7 87.2 95.4 98.7 95.0 94.2 102.1 73.9
79.9
104.4 89.8 94.4 99.3 94.1 95.4 102.6 74.2
79.7
106.8 92.4 100.4 102.9 95.2 99.0 102.3 72.7
78.6
105.4 91.4 100.4 99.6 91.6 96.1 95.1 68.3
76.5
103.2 95.7 101.6 99.8 93.2 97.7 92.0 67.4
75.1
Av-_. 108.8 98.2 99.2 100.0 06.4 93.8 97.5 83.7 i 74.0 104.3 94.6 97.7 100.0 96.5 94.5 100.4 80.3 i 65.9
1 Average for 3 m onths.
Index numbers showing relatively the variation in number of
persons employed and in pay-roll totals in each of the 54 manufactur
ing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and in each
of the 12 groups of industries, and also general indexes for the com
bined 12 groups of industries, are shown in Table 6 for March, 1930,
and January, February, and March, 1931.
In computing the general indexes and the group indexes the index
numbers of separate industries are weighted according to the relative
importance of the industries.
Following Table 6 are two charts which represent the 54 separate
industries combined and show the course of pay-roll totals as well as
the course of employment for each month of the years 1926 to 1930,
and for January, February, and March, 1931, inclusive.
6.—IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L TO T A L S IN MANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , M A R C H , 1930, A N D JA N U A R Y , F E B R U A R Y , A N D M A R C H , 1931
T a ble
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
Pay-roll totals
E m ploym ent
In d u stry
G e n e ra l in d e x _______
F o o d a n d k in d re d p ro d
u c ts _____________ . ---Slaughtering and m eat
packing. ____________
Confectionery. ________
Ice cream ___________ .
F lo u r__
_______
B aking. __
Sugar refining, cane
T extiles a n d th e ir p ro d
u c ts ___ __________ ____
C otton g o o d s____ ___
Hosiery and k n it go o d s...
Silk goods __________
Woolen and w orsted
goods________________
C arpet and rugs___ ____
D yeing and finishing tex
tiles--------------- ----------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1931
1930
1931
1930
Jan u
ary
F ebru
ary
M arch
Ja n u
ary
F eb ru
ary
M arch
M arch
89.8
73.1
74.1
74.8
90.8
63.3
67.0
68.5
89.3
86.9
M arch
94.8
89.9
89.3
87.9
97.3
90.9
97.8
86.2
80.5
100.0
97.0
93.8
96.6
83.1
74.3
90.4
90.5
81.4
94.0
83.9
74.7
89.0
90.6
79.9
90.2
82.3
76.2
87.7
90.6
82.2
99.0
88.0
78.8
104.9
99.2
100.4
101.7
81. 1
73.9
87.7
89.6
79.3
96.3
79.1
76.2
87.9
89.5
82.3
90.2
77.2
76.9
85.2
88.9
84. 5
90.8
87.7
91.2
97.1
75.5
73.2
75.0
81.6
78.6
73.3
79.3
84.3
81.0
76.8
80.1
83.2
88.8
82.7
94.2
98.1
64.8
65.3
64.4
70.8
72.3
65.8
72.0
78.6
75.4
69.8
73.4
76.2
78.8
96.6
68.8
67.0
74.8
71.7
76.4
76.1
72.9
81.8
61.9
50.2
71.9
62.8
73.0
64. 6
99.8
92.9
95.5
95.4
100.6
85.9
96.2
94.5
[1210]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
179
6 —IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN MANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , M A R C H , 1930, A N D JA N U A R Y , F E B R U A R Y , A N D M A R C H , 1931—C ontd.
T able
Em ploym ent
In d u stry
1930
Pay-roll totals
1931
1930
1931
M arch
Jan u
ary
F ebru
ary
M arch
M arch
Jan u
ary
F ebru
ary
86.8
89. 3
106.3
99.9
71.2
67.2
87.8
76.8
75.6
71. 5
93.6
82.4
77.5
74.2
98.6
88.3
79.0
81.3
109.9
101.9
53.9
52. 9
72.1
63.3
62.9
59.1
85.3
73.0
66.2
62.4
93.8
86.1
92.1
90.3
70.3
93.7
71.6
74.8
53.8
78.9
72.0
75.1
56.8
75.8
72.6
76.2
58.5
75.4
92.8
93.1
71.2
92.5
56.8
58.8
46.8
67.4
60.4
64.9
50.6
64.6
62.0
67.8
54.6
63.9
97.0
85.2
114.3
71.9
69.7
74.4
72.3
69.2
73.0
72.3
69.3
72.9
97.5
79.1
113.9
56.9
53.5
56.6
59.1
54.1
57.6
59.9
55. 2
58. 3
70.1
80.0
74.8
73.7
68.2
81.7
90.5
89.1
90.9
100.8
95. 6
90. 6
102.6
109.2
60.9
52.7
54.1
50.9
53.6
62.7
76.7
77.6
76.5
93.6
82.5
82.8
96.8
107.1
60.0
60.0
54.3
50.6
54.8
63.7
79.4
77.6
79.9
92.5
82.4
81.7
94.8
105.8
60.1
64.7
54.1
50.3
55.0
63.4
82.3
78.4
83.3
92.4
82.0
81.9
93.0
107.9
66.0
73.4
73.4
74.7
66.7
75.3
82.2
87.3
80.8
106. 5
98.5
96.3
107.2
114.3
49.8
38.5
43.1
40.0
44.9
48.4
58.6
69.9
55.4
93.9
74.9
79.8
97.3
108.1
49.9
47.1
44.7
40.3
47.1
52.2
66.5
72.0
64.9
93.3
77.9
80. 6
94.0
107.2
47.4
50.3
45.4
41.2
47.6
52.4
70.9
73.8
70.1
94.5
77.1
83.0
94.4
110.4
102.2
95.6
139. 0
98.2
84.5
90.8
73.5
81.0
83.9
90.5
74.2
79.7
82.2
88.8
93.7
71.5
102. 1
99.0
122.5
101.5
81.7
84.3
66.6
81.8
83.7
87.5
66.5
83.1
80. 6
87.2
78.3
74.8
75.9
71.5
61.5
91.0
91.9
57.5
56.1
43.9
78.5
67.3
58.8
56.9
44. 5
79. 5
70.1
61. 1
60.0
47.7
79. 1
72.2
72.2
69.9
55.5
85.4
90.7
45.9
44.4
32.0
60. 1
59.3
50. 7
50.3
34.0
65.4
67.3
53. 1
53. 2
36. 8
67.4
69.1
M arch
Textiles and their prod
ucts—C ontinued.
Clothing, m en’s______
Shirts and collars__ _ . . .
Clothing, w omen’s____
M illinery and lace goods.
Iron and steel and their
products__ ___________
Iron and steel. . . .
Cast-iron pipe___
..
Structural-iron w o r k ___
Foundry and machineshop products________
H ardw are______________
M achine tools_______ . .
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-w ater heating
apparatu s________ _
Stoves_________________
Lumber and its products..
Lum ber, saw m ills..
Lum ber, millwork . . . .
F u rn itu re .....................
Leather and its products..
Leather __ . . .
_
Boots and shoes________
Paper and printing___ _
Paper and p u lp ________
Paper boxes_________ .
Printing, book and jo b ...
Printing, new spapers___
Chemicals andallied prod
ucts_________________
Chemicals............. .......
Fertilizers_____
Petroleum refining.
. .
Stone, clay, and glass
products_______ ... ...
C em ent_______ .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta.
P o tte ry ________________
Glass______________ . . .
Metal products, other
than iron and steel____
Stam ped and enameled
w a r e . . . ____
___ _
Brass, bronze, and copper
products___________ _
Tobacco products. _____
Chewing and smoking
tobacco and snuff
_
Cigars and cigarettes____
Vehicles for land trans
portation_______ ____
A utom obiles___________
Carriages and w agons___
C ar building and repair
ing, electric-railroad___
C ar building and repair
ing, steam -railroad____
Miscellaneous industries
A gricultural im plem ents.
Electrical m achinery, ap
paratus, and supplies..
Pianos and organs. ___
R ubber boots and shoes..
A utom obile tires and
inner tubes___
Shipbuilding____ . . .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
85.1
69.7
70. 7
71.3
84.5
58.6
62.4
64. 0
85.2
68.6
72.7
72.7
83.7
54.8
67.0
67.3
85.1
91.8
70.2
77.7
69.8
85.6
70.7
85.0
84.8
85.8
60.1
68.2
60.6
69.3
62.7
72.4
93.7
91.5
93.7
75.6
93.8
84.6
92.2
84.1
93.7
84.8
87.2
65.9
88. 1
67.0
84.3
71.0
86.0
93. 1
65.3
66. 7
69.9
34.5
66.9
71.5
36.4
67.8
75.2
37.9
89.9
94.6
73.8
49.4
38.9
35.2
61.0
59.4
38.4
63. 5
65.9
40.9
89.2
79.7
79.7
79.4
92.4
77.1
78.3
79. 5
79.5
102.9
122.0
63.1
82.2
77.6
62.1
81.3
75.8
60.6
79.4
66.4
85.1
10¿ 5
128. 6
58.2
73. 1
66.8
61.5
73. C
60. 0
59.9
72. 4
53. 7
111.3
50.0
89.5
87.9
43.3
69.7
87.7
42. 1
68. 1
87.0
42. 4
55. 8
115.2
45. 1
87.8
78.8
33.1
54.7
80.5
30.6
47.4
32. 5
34. 9
80.3
119.6
68.9
103. 7
68. 1
100.3
68.3
97.6
80.7
124.8
59.0
98.3
60.9
96.2
63. 3
92.3
[1211 ]
180
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES.
MONTHLY INDE/ES,
M O N T H LY
JA N .
FEB.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MAR. APR.
M AT
AVERAGE:
JUN E JULY
[ 1212 ]
I9 E 6 -I9 3 I.
I9Z 6 = 100.
AUG. S E P T
OCX
NOy.
DEC.
181
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES.
MONTHLY INDEXES,
MONTHLY
AVERAGE.
P A Y -R O L L
J9Z6-I93I.
I9Z6=I00.
TO TALS
105
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
JAM.
FEB
MAR.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
APR.
MAY
JUME JULY
[1213]
AUG. SE PT
OCT.
MOV.
DEC.
182
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T im e W orked in M an u fa ctu rin g In d u stries in M arch, 1931
R e p o r t s as to working time of employees in March were received
from 11,916 establishments in 62 manufacturing industries. Two
per cent of the establishments were idle, while employees in 60 per
cent were working full time and employees in 39 per cent were working
part time.
Employees in the establishments in operation in March were work
ing an average of 91 per cent of full time or 1 per cent more than the
average reported for February.
Employees in the 39 per cent of the establishments working part
time in March were averaging 76 per cent of full-time operation.
T able
7.—P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S
BY E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN M A R C H , 1931
E stablishm ents
reporting
Per cent of
establishm ents
in which em
ployees worked
Average per cent
of full time
reported by—
In d u stry
Total
num ber
Per
cent
idle
Full
time
F o o d a n d k in d re d p r o d u c ts ______ . . .
Slaughtering and m eat packing- _ _
Confectionery________________ . _ _
Ice c r e a m ____ _ __________ _
F lour____ _________________
_ __
B aking
___________________ _
Sugar refining, eane_ _________ -
1, 765
186
272
250
377
665
15
T ex tiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts ..- _ _ .
Cotton goods . .
____
Hosiery and k n it goods. _ _ _______
Silk goods. ______
________
Woolen and w orsted goods___________
C arpets and rugs___
__________
D yeing and finishing textiles_______ _
Clothing, m en’s. ._ . . . _______ ____
Shirts and collars
_____ . . .
_____
Clothing, wom en’s . . _
_________
M illinery and lace goods__________
1,925
416
299
240
172
24
109
254
81
249
81
I r o n a n d steel a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts ___ _
Iron and steel_____
__________
Cast-iron pipe____ . ________
Structural-iron work _ ___.
_____
Fou n d ry and m achine-shop p ro d u cts...
H ardw are
M achine tools_______________ ______
Steam fittings and steam and hot-w ater
heating a p p aratu s..
________ .
Stoves _ ____ _ _ ________ . . . . _
1, 769
128
42
162
1,015
58
139
1
5
10
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c ts _____ . . . _
Lum ber, saw m ills..______ __________
Lumber, m illw ork. ________ ____ . . .
F u r n i t u r e . ___________________ _
1
1
1
P art
time
All oper
E stab
ating
lishments
estab
operating
lishments p art time
81
74
60
85
78
92
40
19
25
39
15
20
8
53
96
97
91
98
95
98
86
80
88
78
86
75
81
75
70
59
65
85
68
54
63
68
70
84
77
29
38
33
15
31
46
37
30
27
16
22
94
91
92
97
94
90
92
94
94
98
98
79
77
77
80
79
79
78
82
78
83
88
i
32
59
14
37
32
21
19
67
35
76
63
68
79
80
80
87
68
84
80
80
75
70
66
62
75
71
74
68
104
121
1
1
24
34
75
65
77
81
69
70
1, 022
416
256
350
2
3
1
1
42
47
38
40
56
50
61
59
85
86
84
84
73
73
74
73
382
113
269
1
62
65
61
37
35
38
91
92
91
77
76
77
P a p e r a n d p r i n t i n g __________ _ _ _ _ _ _
Paper and p u lp ... _________________
Paper b o x e s ___ _____________________
Printing, book and job_______________
Printing, new spapers_________ _______
1,307
148
260
523
376
1
7
74
57
51
77
92
25
36
49
23
8
96
91
91
96
99
82
77
81
84
89
Chemicals and allied products_______
355
123
164
68
1
78
69
77
96
22
30
23
4
96
95
96
100
83
83
83
91
L e a th e r a n d its p ro d u c ts . . .
L eather.
________ _ .
Boots and shoes. _______ . . . .
Chemicals_______ ____ ___ _
______
Fertilizers________________ . . .
Petroleum refining______
_ ____
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1214]
(>)
2
7
2
3
3
(0
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able
183
7.—P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN MANUFACTURING IN D U S T R IE S
BY E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN M A R C H , 1931—C ontinued
Establishm ents
reporting
Per cent of
establishm ents
in which em
ployees worked
Average per cent
of full tim e
reported by—
In d u stry
Total
num ber
S to n e , clay , a n d g lass p r o d u c ts ___
Cement__ _______________ ______
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta _______
P o tte r y ..- . ______
Glass__________
- . .-_
_.
716
81
408
102
125
M eta l p ro d u c ts , o th e r t h a n iro n a n d
s te e l_____________
Stam ped and enameled w a r e - ___ -.Brass, bronze, and copper products___
202
65
137
Per
cent
idle
Full
time
Part
time
All oper
E stab
ating
lishments
estab
operating
lishments part time
9
9
12
2
9
56
73
47
51
75
35
19
41
47
16
91
95
89
89
96
77
77
76
77
77
1
42
58
34
57
42
65
87
90
85
78
77
78
(D
T o b a c c o p r o d u c ts _________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
_____
___
snuff. _
Cigars and cigarettes___
________
208
2
41
57
87
78
25
183
4
2
52
39
44
59
94
86
86
77
V ehicles fo r la n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ______
A u tom o b iles... __________ ________
Carriages and w agons___ ______
Car building and repairing, electricrailroad_____
___ _ _ ________
C ar building and repairing, steam-railroad___
_______ _____________
1,121
172
47
6
58
44
47
42
56
47
91
87
87
74
81
19
08
87
508
(>)
45
54
87
76
M isc e lla n eo u s in d u s tr ie s . ____________
A gricultural im p le m e n ts.._ _____
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and
supplies.. ___ ___________ . .
Pianos and o rg an s.._
______ ____
R ubber boots and shoes_________ _ __
A utomobile tires and inner tubes
Shipbuilding____
. ___
430
75
«
44
35
55
63
87
81
77
71
42
28
30
27
77
58
72
70
73
23
81
85
84
78
78
I n d u s tr ie s a d d e d in 1929 a n d 1939
R a y o n ..
______
____
Radio. __________ _ _______ ______
A ircraft. ______
. ______
____
Jew elry______
_______
P aint and varnish________
_____
R ubber goods, other th an boots, shoes,
tires, and inner tubes__ ________ . . .
Beverages______
...
Cash registers, adding machines, and
com puting m ach in es.. . __________
714
8
41
40
128
199
66
75
73
80
41
68
33
25
24
18
59
32
93
78
94
98
85
94
83
86
82
57
79
43
21
91
95
79
77
71
29
96
85
60
39
91
76
All in d u s tr ie s ___________________
394
3
181
50
10
33
81
(0
2
3
70
193
35
11, 916
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(>)
[1215]
2
78
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
184
2.
E m p lo y m en t in N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g In d u strie s in M arch, 1931
T able 1 .— C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
NONMANUFACTURING E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931, B Y
' IN D U S T R IE S A N D G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N um ber on pay roll
Geographic division
Establishments
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Per cent
of
change
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Per cent
of
change
ANTHRACITE MINING
Middle Atlantic _________
159
124, 004
110, 669
-10.8
$3, 995, 371 $2, 782,146
-30.4
BITUMINOUS COAL MINING
M iddle A tlantic__________
E ast N o rth C entral__ --W est N o rth C entral______
South A tlan tic___________
E ast South C e n t r a l .. ------W est South C en tra l-. --M ountain . - ____
___
Pacific------------ -------------
398
176
56
335
222
27
113
10
63,421
34,139
5,873
54,004
43, 507
2,183
15,043
1,559
63, 661
32, 536
5,466
52,891
41, 635
1,639
13, 658
1,542
+ 0 .4
- 4 .7
- 6 .9
- 2 .1
- 4 .3
-2 4 . 9
- 9 .2
- 1 .1
$1, 240, 644
737, 631
114, 039
1,007, 437
671, 753
34, 845
362, 111
43, 361
$1,177, 776
757, 507
109,449
942,334
627,716
29,932
331,125
42,791
- 5 .1
+ 2.7
- 4 .0
- 6 .5
-6 .6
-1 4 .1
-8 .6
- 1 .3
All divisions_____ -
1,337
219,729
213, 028
-3.0
4,211, 821
4,018, 630
-4.6
METALLIFEROUS MINING
M iddle A tlan tic_________
E ast N orth C entral___ _ W est N orth C en tral--- - __
E a st South C entral— W est South C en tral_______
M o u n tain ------- ---------------Pacific___________________
All divisions______
7
47
46
14
59
115
32
1,156
10, 699
6,396
2,990
2,624
17,051
2,130
1,095
10,677
6,224
2,748
2,229
16,795
2,119
- 5 .3
-0 .2
- 2 .7
- 8 .1
-1 5 .1
- 1 .5
- 0 .5
$23, 964
216, 415
170, 704
55, 582
59,443
500, 248
65, 625
$23,375
216,713
169,175
50,097
43, 247
489,089
64,428
- 2 .5
+ 0.1
- 0 .9
- 9 .9
-2 7 .2
-2 .2
- 1 .8
320
43,046
41,887
-2.7
1, 091,981
1, 056,124
-3.3
QUARRYING AND NONMETALLIC MINING
New E n g lan d____________
M iddle A tlantic-- ________
E ast N o rth C entral - _
W est N orth C entral- _ - South A tla n tic ___________
E a st South C entral— ___
W est South C e n t r a l . . - ___
M o u n tain ______ - ______
Pacific___________________
All divisions______
1
107
121
225
76
94
61
44
5
34
3, 750
4,899
6, 502
1,869
4,816
2,897
2,052
62
931
3,802
5,195
7,473
1,843
4, 750
2,970
2,098
64
988
+ 6.0
+14.9
- 1 .4
- 1 .4
+ 2.5
+ 2 .2
+ 3 .2
+ 6.1
$101,470
114,055
162,052
40,527
78,431
36,930
46,196
2,356
24,992
$105,816
127, 231
182, 219
39,999
75, 578
40,977
47,184
2,220
28,420
+ 4.3
+11.6
+12.4
- 1 .3
- 3 .6
+11.0
+ 2 .1
- 5 .8
+13.7
767
27, 778
29,183
+5.1
607, 009
649, 644
+7.0
CRUDE PETROLEUM PRODUCING
M iddle A tlantic_________
E ast N orth C entral__ -.
W est N o rth C entral______
South A tla n tic ___________
E ast South C entral_______
W est South C en tral_______
M o u n tain ________________
P a c ific _____
____ --
43
5
22
14
5
392
19
73
784
37
108
326
241
19,440
265
7,353
773
34
105
324
222
19,195
273
7,217
- 1 .4
- 8 .1
- 2 .8
- 0 .6
- 7 .9
- 1 .3
+ 3 .0
- 1 .8
$20,340
911
2,248
7,971
5,478
661, 719
9,532
299, 223
$21,859
812
2,332
8,462
5,254
706,834
9,594
297,110
+ 7.5
-1 0 .9
+ 3.7
+ 6 .2
- 4 .1
+ 6 .8
+ 0 .7
-0 .7
All divisions______
573
28, 554
28,143
-1.4
1, 007, 422
1, 052, 257
+4.5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1216 ]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
185
'C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S TN TDFNFTTP ät
Geographic division
N um ber on pay roll
E sta b
lish
m ents February,
M arch,
1931
1931
Per cent
of
change
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Percent
of
change
TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH
New E nglan d _____
M iddle A tlantic___
E ast N orth C entralW est N orth Central
South A tla n tic ____
E ast South C entralW est South C entral.
M ou n tain _________
Pacific____________
721
1,234
1,435
1,312
560
620
694
482
912
27,528
101, 966
72,016
29,057
20, 477
10, 293
17,543
7,231
30,326
27, 349
101,132
71, 600
28,-732
20, 389
10,104
17,383
7, 196
30, 207
- 0 .7
- 0 .8
- 0 .6
- 1 .1
- 0 .4
- 1 .8
- 0 .9
- 0 .5
- 0 .4
$851,873
3, 285,421
1,966, 246
723, 079
554,432
225,525
397, 260
174,451
908,329
$855, 748
3, 381, 206
2,047, 624
746, 349
570,117
230,895
409,890
182, 486
960, 773
+ 0 .5
+ 2 .9
+ 4.1
+ 3 .2
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .4
+ 3 .2
+ 4 .6
+ 5.8
All divisions..
7,970
316, 437
314, 092
-0.7
9, 086, 616
9, 385, 088
+3.3
POWER, LIGHT, AND WATER
New E nglan d _____
M iddle A tlan tic___
E ast N orth CentralW est N orth C entral
South A tlan tic..........
E ast South Central..
West South Central.
M ou n tain _________
Pacific____________
273
322
660
419
275
175
586
125
846
20, 945
61, 626
54,336
27,442
24,227
6,994
18,134
5,946
23,824
21,693
61,079
53, 711
27,385
24,024
6,663
17,127
5,775
23,287
+ 3.6
- 0 .9
-1.-2
- 0 .2
- 0 .8
- 4 .7
- 5 ,6
- 2 .9
- 2 .3
$669,813
2,009,491
1,858, 986
831, 208
732,221
172, 744
499,007
181, 655
779, 238
$715,219
2,086, 880
1, 869,815
833,450
763, 280
177, 222
506,106
185, 312
804, 901
+ 6 .8
+ 3 .9
+ 0 .6
+ 0.3
+ 4 .2
+ 2 .6
+ 1.4
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .3
All divisions..
3, 681
243, 474
240, 744
-1.1
7, 734, 363
7,942,185
+2.7
ELECTRIC RAILROADS i
N ew E nglan d_____
M iddle A tlan tic___
E ast N orth C entralW est N o rth C entral
South A tlan tic_____
E ast South C entral..
W est South C entral.
M o u n tain _____ ___
Pacific........................
49
160
110
69
48
11
37
15
38
13, 630
37,525
43,716
13,546
11, 222
3, 547
5,386
1,988
16,125
13,495
37,177
44,127
13, 307
11,308
3,462
5, 322
1,991
16,255
- 1 .0
- 0 .9
+ 0 .9
- 1 .8
+ 0.8
- 2 .4
- 1 .2
+ 0 .2
+ 0 .8
$496,272
1, 212,668
1, 430,804
426,044
317, 437
94,037
147, 591
56,489
523,255
All divisions..
$486, 356
1, 228, 633
1, 463,058
426,840
321,912
96,307
149, 539
57, 588
531, 608
537
146, 685
- 2 .0
+ 1.3
+ 2.3
+ 0 .2
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .4
+ 1.3
+ 1 .9
+1. 6
146, 444
-0.2
4, 704, 597
4, 761, 841
+1.2
WHOLESALE TRADE
N ew E n g la n d ......... .
M iddle A tlan tic___
E ast N o rth C entral.
W est N o rth Central.
South A tlan tic_____
E ast South C entral..
W est South C entral
M o u n tain _________
Pacific.........................
291
313
292
265
192
65
252
78
346
All divisions..
2, 094
-
8, 252
9,558
12,101
13, 314
3, 754
1,666
5,738
1,767
10, 386
8,267
9,477
11,923
13,157
3, 722
1,666
5,687
1,734
10,317
+ 0 .2
- 0 .8
- 1 .5
- 1 .2
- 0 .9
(2)
- 0 .9
- 1 .9
- 0 .7
$247, 746
319, 081
381, 551
399,108
114, 290
48, 161
175,818
63, 540
360, 926
$250,139
321, 255
380, 971
403,172
114, 482
48, 797
181, 499
62, 042
364, 014
+ 1 .0
+0. 7
- 0 .2
+ 1.0
+ 0 .2
+ 1 .3
+ 3 .2
- 2 .4
+ 0 .9
66, 536
65, 950
-0.9
2,110, 221
2,126, 371
+0.8
RETAIL TRADE
New E n g la n d ......... .
M iddle A tlan tic___
E ast N orth C entral.
W est N orth Central.
South A tlan tic_____
E ast South C entral..
W est South C entral.
M o u n tain _________
Pacific____________
1.052
404
2,744
695
1.053
370
192
202
1,781
36,227
77,180
74, 203
19,541
20, 586
7,837
12, 675
4,946
40, 367
36,338
77, 794
74,489
20, 257
20,892
8, 271
12, 545
4, 987
40, 225
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .8
+ 0 .4
+ 3 .7
+ 1 .5
+ 5 .5
- 1 .0
+ 0 .8
- 0 .4
$882,453
2,018, 708
1,804,143
423, 280
451, 760
152, 779
258,895
109, 727
953,103
$885, 021
2, 032, 417
1,819,233
435, 380
458, 584
157, 329
259, 669
112, 247
955, 759
All division s__
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .7
+ 0 .8
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .5
+ 3 .0
+ 0 .3
+ 2 .3
+ 0 .3
8,493
293, 562
295, 798
+0.8
7, 054, 848
7,115, 639
+0.9
1 Operation and m aintenance exclusive of car shops.
52839°—31------13
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1217]
2 No change.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
186
T able l.-C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
NONMANUFACTURING E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1931, BY
IN D U S T R IE S A N D G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S —Continued
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
N um ber on pay roil
Geographic division
Establishments
Per cént
of
change
M arch,
1931
February,
1931
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Per cent
change
HOTELS 3
New E n g lan d .. ---------. . .
M iddle A tla n tic .. . . . . . . .
E ast N orth C entral----- . .
W est N orth C entral
. .
South A tlan tic____ . . ---E ast South C entral.
W est South C en tra l---M o u n tain ___ ____
___
Pacific________ . . . -------
All divisions..........
101
389
402
293
211
100
154
113
356
8,156
47, 999
31, 501
15, 266
16,803
6, 312
9,498
3, 591
17,394
8,116
47, 712
31,166
15, 242
17,319
6, 312
9, 583
3, 633
17,492
2 , 119
156, 520
156, 575
- 0 .5
- 0 .6
- 1 .1
-0 . 2
+ 3.1
(2)
+ 0 .9
+ 1.2
+0. 6
+ (<)
$134, 266
856,143
5.54,110
221, 527
244, 622
78, 319
124, 691
60, 964
333, 476
$133, 469
857, 514
542, 210
218, 687
255,191
77, 375
125, 100
62, 311
329, 343
-0 . 6
+ 0 .2
- 2 .1
- 1 .3
+ 4 .3
-1 . 2
+ 0.3
+2. 2
- 1 .2
2, 608,118 2, 601, 200
-0.3
CANNING AND PRESERVING
New E n g lan d----------------M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N o rth C en tral_______
W est N o rth C entral _ .
South A tlantic . . . .
East South C en tral_______
W est South C en tral______
M ountain
Pacific------- --------------------
All divisions..........
55
81
221
44
89
33
33
48
199
1,341
6,927
5,882
1,028
5, 556
1,974
1,189
804
6,287
1,526
7, 209
5, 956
1,050
5,457
1,848
1,167
926
8,842
+13.8
+ 4.1
+ 1.3
+2.1
- 1 .8
- 6 .4
- 1 .9
+ 15.2
+40. 6
$24,916
147,872
114,055
18,890
60,171
15, 592
6,343
22, 798
135, 014
$27, 546
155,722
115, 508
20,131
59, 959
15,997
6,109
24, 767
138,884
+ 10.6
+ 5.3
+ 1.3
+ 6.6
- 0 .4
+ 2.6
- 3 .7
+ 8.6
+ 2.9
* 803
30, 988
33, 981
+9.7
545, 651
564, 623
+3.5
+0. 9
+ 1.9
- 1 .8
-0 . 9
- 0 .2
-2 . 3
-2 . 3
- 1 .8
-0 . 5
LAUNDRIES
New E n g lan d ____________
M iddle A tla n tic .................. .
East N orth C entral_______
W est N orth C e n t r a l_____
South A tlantic _________
East South C en tral_______
W est South C e n tra l..
. .
M o u n tain ________________
Pacific_____ . . . _______
All divisions______
35
64
60
55
36
19
13
16
53
1,952
8. 896
4, 084
4, 421
3.988
1, 105
877
1,565
3, 316
1,944
8, 955
4,007
4,386
3,903
1,082
883
1,536
3, 336
- 0 .4
+ 0 .7
- 1 .9
- 0 .8
-2 . 1
-2 . 1
+ 0 .7
- 1 .9
+ 0.6
$38, 259
183, 599
79,954
78, 594
65, 521
14, 654
13, 264
27, 943
73, 244
$38, 606
187,014
78, 501
77,893
65, 363
14, 310
12, 961
27, 437
72,889
351
30,204
30, 032
-0.6
575, 032
574, 974
-(* )
DYEING AND CLEANING
New E n g lan d ___________
M iddle A tla n tic .. _____ .
East N orth C entral__ ..
W est N o rth C entral. _____
South A tla n tic _____ ______
East South C entral___
W est South C en tral______
M o u n tain ___ ___ _
Pacific___________________
All divisions__ __
7
15
23
43
22
8
12
17
11
284
689
1,149
896
541
309
221
249
689
291
685
1,171
921
560
294
224
254
661
-f-2. 5
- 0 .6
+ 1.9
+ 2.8
+ 3.5
- 4 .9
+ 1.4
+ 2.0
-4 . 1
$7,054
17, 015
25, 456
20, 546
10, 550
5, 785
4,902
6,132
15,916
$7, 660
16, 688
25, 512
20, 200
11,378
5, 099
4, 920
6,239
16, 459
+8. 6
- ’. 9
+ 0 .2
-1 . 7
+ 7.8
-1 1 .9
+ 0 .4
+ 1 .7
+ 3 .4
158
5, 027
5, 061
+0.7
113, 356
114,155
+0.7
2 No change.
3 T he am ount of pay roll given represents cash paym ents only; the additional value of board, room, and
tips can not be computed.
* Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
« N ot including 357 establishm ents belonging to this seasonal industry which were closed in both M arch
and February; 30 of the 803 establishm ents reported were reopened in M arch after having been closed in
February,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1218]
TREN D
OF E M PL O Y M E N T
187
T able 2 . - c ( ^ P A R K O N
° F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S TN V O N M A M F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , M A R C H , 1931, W IT H M A R C H , 1930
Per cent of change
M arch, 1931, com
pared w ith
M arch, 1930
Per cent of change
M arch, 1931, com
pared w ith
M arch, 1930
In d u stry
A nthracite m ining______ ,_
B itum inous coal m in in g s
M etalliferous mining _ _
Quarrying and nonmetallic
m ining__________
C rude petroleum producing
Telephone and telegraph___
Power, light, and w a t e r ___
Industry
N um ber
on pay
roll
A m ount
of pay
roll
- 1 .7
- 9 .9
-30. 1
-1 0 .7
-2 4 .5
-41. 9
-1 5 . 7
-19. 1
-1 0 .9
- 3 .0
-27. 2
-19. 8
- 7 .5
+0.3
Electric ra ilro ad s,. __
Wholesale trad e.
R etail trade .
H otels____ . _
Canning and preserving _
L aundries______
D yeing and cleaning___
N um ber
on pay
roll
A m ount
of pay
roll
- 8 .5
-10. 5
—6 5
—5 5
+6.6
(>)
0)
- 7 .7
-1 0 .6
- 8 .4
-1 0 .5
- 1 .0
(')
(>)
1 D ata not available.
Indexes of E m p loym en t and P ay-R oll T otals for N o n m a n u fa ctu rin g
Industries
T a b l e 3 shows the index numbers of employment and pay-roll totals
for anthracite, bituminous coal, and metalliferous mining, quarrying,
crude petroleum producing, telephone and telegraph, power, light’
and water, electric railroads, wholesale and retail trade, hotels, and
canning and preserving, by months, from January, 1 9 3 0 , to March,
1 9 3 1 , with the monthly average for 1 9 2 9 as 100.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12191
T elephone
and* tele
graph
Crude
petroleum
producing
188
§
Quarrying
and nonm etallic
m ining
I
B itum inous M etallifer
coal m ining ous m ining
!
j
I
A nthracite
m in in e
Power,
light, and
water
Operation
and m ain
tenance
of electric
railroads 1
R etail
trade
W holesale
trade
H otels
Canning
and pre
serving
Y ear and m onth
. 3
g if
97. 5
97.3
96.8
100. 1
74.8
65.7
83.0
72.6
66.9
81.5
89.0
85.6
92.0
91.7 101. 3 99. 8 126.3 112.7
87.6 101. 5 98.6 185.7 172.0
' 97.1 246.6 214.8
92.4
98.0
98.0
100.3
£8.4
98.1
100.1
95.5 95.1
98.4 96.8
115.1 107.7
£7. 5 95. 5 164.7 140.0
95. 2 ! 93. 6 96.7 82.9
93.5 91.5 61.6 57.4
j
$$g
ÊÉ
91.0
93.7
93. 4
r-ICCM
4
88
gssfe
}
;ar building and repairing; see vehicles group, m anufacturing industries, p. 173, et seq.
85.6
87.1
.1
OHGO
1
98.6
99.7
102.4
‘ä S s
88.8
§ s iS
1 93.9
' 91.5
S ssi
BÜ
i
£
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
00(N<M
8
1931
January .. --------------F ebruary. _ --------------M a rch ________________
M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W
97.3
96.7
93.9
il
É
50.3
51.5
50. S
i
ssa
88.8 88.6
46.1
45.7
49.7
S
94.2
92.6
92.0
105. 6
103.7
106.3
99.7 100.4 100.3
96.0 102.4 103. 8
95.5 102.4 104.4
É
88.9
87. 7
106.7
106.6
106.1
it!
91.0
89.3
95.2
95.2
94.8
Pay Em
roll p lo y
totals m ent
98.9
94.4
93.9
É
96.0
95.0
94.8
101. 5
107.8
102.1
102.6
SSS
94.5 100.9
93.0 97.9
91.6 101.3
95.6
92.1
90.5
97.8
95.7
95.4
É
82.6
80.0
77.2
79.3
1
59.9
85.2
83.6
77.4
si
3É
CO
g
66.8
95.3
92.9
91. 8]
97.1
95.1
94.4
OCCCO CROCO
84.0
100.0 106.61
98.8 102.5
96.8 102.2
s
84. 7
78.3
70.2
86.0
97.3
96.8
90.5
si s is
88.5
g£g
75. 51 89.9
85.8 87.7
82.5 85.0
97.1
96.0
97.0
99.7
100.4
OCON
89.9
89.3
87.7
98.9 103.4
99.7 103.2
99.8 103.4
98.7
97.7
É
85.4
87.1
99.4
100.0
É
89.8
90.2
91.3
86.8 86.6
ill
85.4
90.2
90.9
£
63.4
59.9
87.4
90.8
90.3
n
68.6
W
SO
SB
É
É
79.4
79.1
77. 7
71.9
73.5
80.0
Pay Em Pay
roll ploy roll
totals m ent totals
É
71.9
71.0
69.9
îrfig
91.8
92.5
92. 5
68.9
71.1
74.9
101.6 105.1
88.6 100.2 101.9
105.8
94.0
79.6
79.8
83.0
05^01 oo^<n
i l l 111 I
89.2
90.5
100.0
É
A v era g e ________
99.0 117.2
97. 2 98.0
99. 1
88.0
88.3
85.6
81.6
s
October _______________
N ovem b er . ______
D ecem ber --------------------
84.0
78.8
91.6
81. 7
77.5
75.6
92.7
90.8
89.3
Pay E m Pay E m Pay
roll p loy roll ploy roll
totals m ent totals m ent totals
cooctg ig g 1 1 1
S ep tem b er ____________
91.6
80.2
93.8
94.4
90.4
88.4
>OOrH
_________ _______
75.0
98.8
94.3
92.7
92.5
90.8
M ÌO
_
J u ly
84. 1
93.8
90.8
t-KO>
[ 1220 ]
A pril ____ _____________
M a y .-------------------------J u n e _______ ______
102
SSisS S S S
102.1
ggS
1930
105.8 102.5 101.4
January ___ . ----.1
February
----- ------- 106. 9 121. 5 102. 4
82.6 78.5 98.6 86.4
M a r c h ... ----- - ---------...
d >■g
fe s
P
HO®
K ag
Pay E m Pay E m Pay E m Pay E m Pay
roll p loy roll p loy roll ploy roll ploy roll
totals m ent totals m ent totals m en t totals ment] totals
T R E N D OF E M PL O Y M E N T
189
E m p lo y m en t in B u ild in g C o n stru ctio n
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics here presents reports as to employ
ment and pay rolls from establishments engaged in building
construction in Washington, Providence, St. Louis, and their suburbs.
In addition, figures collected by the Maryland Commission of Labor
and Statistics, IVlassachusetts Department of Labor and Industries
and the Industrial Commission of Wisconsin also are presented.
T
C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN BUILDINfJ CON
STRUCTION, F E B R U A R Y A N D M A R C H , 1631
COJV
Locality
W ashington, D . C .
Providence, R. 1
St. Louis, M o .. .
Baltim ore, M d .. _
M assachusetts
W isconsin____
T o tal________
Numof
estab
lish
ments
February,
1931
437
225
468
69
504
74
6,151
1,935
3, 521
1,170
7, 729
2,148
7,184
2,150
4,113
1, 279
7, 370
2,208
1 777
22,654
24, 304
Employees
M arch,
1931
Per
cent
of
change
+16.8
+11.1
+16.8
+ 9 .3
- 4 .6
+ 2.8
1-
P ay roll (1 week)
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Per
cent
of
change
$201,012
51, 219
119, 730
28,182
270, 740
56, 527
$231,686
61,079
147,107
32,871
261, 602
58, 444
+15. 3
+19. 3
-¡-22. U
+16. 6
—3. 3
+3 4
727, 410
793,089
+9 0
The employees included in these reports are such a small part of the
total number of employees engaged in building construction in the
United States that building construction figures are not yet included
m the summary tables.
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I S tea m R ailroads in th e U n ited S ta te s
HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to
February, 1931, on Class X railroads—that is, all roads having
operating revenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index
numbers published in Table 1. These index numbers are constructed
from monthly reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission usinothe monthly average for 1926 as 100.
?
T
table 1-
INDEX 0F
in the
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
__ _________________ _____
M onth
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
J a n u a ry __ . ____
F ebruary ____ . . .
M arch_____ . . .
A pril____
M ay ___ ____ ____ _
June___ _____ _
J u ly ______________________
A ugust____i ___ _ _ .
Septem ber____ . . .
October ______ .
N ovem ber_____
D ecem ber.._ . . .
98.3
98.6
100.5
102.0
105.0
107. 1
108.2
109.4
107.8
107.3
105.2
99.4
96.9
97.0
97.4
98.9
99.2
98.0
98. 1
99.0
99. 7
100.8
99.0
96.0
95. 6
95.4
95. 2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99. 7
99.9
100. 7
99. 1
97. 1
95.8
96.0
96. 7
98.9
100. 2
101.6
102.9
102. 7
102.8
103.4
101.2
98. 2
95. 5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101.0
99. 5
99.1
98.9
95. 7
91. 9
89.3
89. 0
89.9
91. 7
94. 5
95.9
95.6
95. 7
95.3
95.3
92.9
89.7
88. 2
88.9
90.1
92.2
94.9
96. 1
96.6
97.4
96.8
96.9
93.0
88.8
86.3
85. 4
85. 5
87.0
88.6
86.5
84. 7
83. 7
82. 2
80. 4
77.0
74.9
73.7
72.7
104.1
98,3
97.9
100.0
97.5
92.9
93.3
83.5
'73.2
A verage.
1 Average for 2 m onths.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1221]
1931
190
M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W
Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day
each of February, 1930, and January and February, 1931, and the
pay-roll totals for the entire months.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
T a b l e 2 —E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S OF R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , F E B R U A R Y ,
1930, A N D JA N U A R Y A N D F E B R U A R Y , 1931
rFrom m onthly reports of In terstate Commerce Commission. As d ata for only the more im portant oecupations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sum of the items under the respective groups]
N um ber of employees at
m iddle of m onth
T otal earnings
Occupation
February, January, February, February,
1930
1931
1931
1930
January,
1931
February,
1931
Professional, clerical, and general.
Olerks______________ _______
Stenographers and ty p is ts .— .
2G4,199
147, 815
24,477
235, 591
128,984
22,087
233,862 $37, 700, 303 $34, 973, 691 $33, 456, 314
127, 745 19, 701, 840 18, 058, 607 16, 980, 658
3,145,132
2, 914, 072
2,815, 371
21,911
M aintenance of w ay and s tru c tu re s..
Laborers, extra gang and work
tra in ________________________
Laborers, track and roadw ay sec
tio n ________________________
322, 327
267,432
260, 900
29,179, 417
25,103, 747
38,037
23, 521
22, 064
2, 519, 395
1, 617, 582
1,403, 660
162, 558
138, 058
135, 486
10,656,122
9, 293, 881
8,123, 353
M aintenance of equipm ent and stores.
C arm en_______________________
M achinists-----------------------------Skilled trades helpers---------------Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power plants, and sto res)-------Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power plants, and stores).
435,177
92, 438
53,163
96, 117
373, 867
77, 931
48, 415
82, 082
370, 633
77, 372
48, 023
81, 220
56, 025, 960
13, 483, 393
8, 214, 740
10, 547,124
48,101, 279
11,098, 393
7, 355, 065
8,867, 905
43,819, 898
9,999, 311
6, 639, 547
7,981,869
Transportation, other th an train,
engine and y a rd -------------------------Station agents-------------------------Telegraphers, .telephoners, and
tow erm en___________________
T ruckers (stations, warehouses,
and platform s)---------------------Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatem en------------------------------T ransportation (yard masters, switch
tenders, and hostlers)-----------------
36, 679
30,945
30, 536
3, 295, 276
2, 933, 231
2, 628, 247
49, 226
40, 213
39, 806
3, 683,902
3, 024, 305
2, 711, 554
186,853
28, 965
164, 623
28,135
164,804
28,015
22, 265,831
4, 374, 636
20,990,452
4, 524, 263
19, 519,450
4,185, 344
22,609
20, 557
20, 425
3, 253, 552
3, 252, 937
2,923, 245
30, 243
23,060
24, 261
2,654,190
2, 094, 385
2, 015, 963
20, 053
19,156
19,110
1, 542,177
1, 489, 237
1,469, 880
21, 293
18,799
18,648
4,017, 214
3, 670,711
3,442,146
251, 733
28, 526
55,011
42,800
33, 839
34, 684
55, 946, 994
7,456,840
10, 495, 491
8, 299, 789
9, 978, 591
7, 314, 003
50, 068,195
6, 822, 757
9, 287, 511
7, 204, 577
9, 117, 246
6, 614, 068
44, 980, 689
6,141, 822
8,341,494
6, 501,887
8,139,147
5,901, 375
297. 537
33, 323
64, 790
50. 871
39, 852
40, 486
T ransportation, train and engine---R oad conductors--------------------R oad brakem en and flagm en—
Y ard brakem en and yard helpers
R oad engineers and m o to rm en ..
R oad firem an and helpers---------
22,908,153
257, 505
29,133
56,491
43, 605
34, 535
35, 605
1,527,386 1,317,817 1, 300, 580 205,135,719 182,908,075 168,126, 650
All employees
i
C h an ges in E m p lo y m en t and Pay R olls in V arious S ta tes
HE following data as to changes in employment and pay rolls
have been compiled from reports received from the various
T
State labor offices:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12221
TREND
O F E M PL O Y M E N T
191
P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D ST A T E S
M o n th ly 'period,
Per cent of change,
F ebruary to M arch,
1931
State, and in d u stry group
P er cent of change,
J a n u a ry to F eb ru
ary, 1931
State, and in d u stry group
Em ploy
m ent
Em ploym ent
Pay roll
Arkansas
p
,,
^ ay ro11
Illinois—C ontinued
-0.1
+ 6.1
+.8
Auto dealers, garages____
Auto bodies, wood p arts. _
Bakeries a n d cafés______
Beverages______________
Brick and tile __________
C andy and confections__
Cooperage, heading, ve
neer__________________
C otton compresses, gins,
and products________
Coal mines_____________
F u rn itu re m anufacture _
Flour, grain, feed, fertilizer
Glass factories___________
H andles, hubs, spokes___
Hotels__________________
L aundries______________
Lum ber m ills___________
M a c h in e ry , fo u n d rie s ,
parts, sm elters________
Newspapers a n d p rinters.
P a c k in g h o u se s...
____
Petroleum p roducts_____
Sand, gravel, stone_______
Textile mills, garm ents___
Public utilities_____ : ____
Wholesale and retail_____
M iscellaneous___________
-1 3 .7
+ 6 .7
- 1 .4
11.8
-
- 7 .5
-4 6 .5
+ 5 .7
- 6 .7
+55. 0
+12. 5
+ 1 1 .0
+.8
-.4
- 3 .7
-1.0
+ 2.3
-1 . 7
-28. 0
-.9
+1.3
+.9
-5 . 1
All industries.
- 3 .9
+ 2 2 .8
+ 2 .3
- 1 .4
+ 10. 2
-.2
-1 2 . 7
-
8. 1
-5 5 .4
+ .3
- 3 .7
+57.6
-5 . 7
+20.5
-2 0 .9
-
-
All industries______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 5 .6
-2 . 1
-.6
+• o
-1 1 .3
- 4 .9
- .3
-1 . 1
- 3 .1
-1 4 .7
All nonm anufactur
ing------ ------ ------
11. 2
-5 6 .0
+.8
- 3 .5
-. 7
-.
1
+ 5 .0
+ 4 .8
+ 5 .2
1.0
+ 1 .4
- 1 .9
-4 . 1
+ .1
-. 9
- 1 .8
+ 6 .9
+ 2.7
4“5. 5
+ 5 .9
+ 1 .4
- 7 .6
+10.0
+ 7 .0
- 5 .7
+ .5
+ 4 .8
- 0 .6
+ 7 .9
+ .5
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .6
+ 3 .6
+ 14. 7
+ 9 .5
+ 1 .2
- 3 .8
+8. 2
+4. 6
+ 9 .3
- 4 .4
+12.7
+24.1
- 1 .9
- 3 .9
- 2 .0
- .5
+1.1
F ebruary to M arch,
1931
Iowa
Food and kindred prod
ucts____ ____ _________
Textiles________________
Iron a n d steel w orks_____
L um ber products_______
Leather p ro d u cts_______
Paper products, printing,
and publishing________
P a te n t medicines, chem i
cals, a n d com pounds___
Stone and clay p ro d u c ts.. _
Tobacco a n d cigars______
Railway-car shops______
Various industries______
- 3 .5
+ 1.0
-4 . 1
+ 5.4
+ 4 .0
2.0
-
+ 6.9
+ 13.9
- 2 .3
-1 6 .9
+ 1.4
All industries.
+15. 9
- 1 .5
+ 2.1
+ 4 .3
-1 .7
All industries.
- 1 .7
-
Illinois
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts___________________
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances___________
Wood products__________
Furs and leather goods___
Chemicals, oils, paints,
etc____________________
Printing an d paper goods._
Textiles_________________
Clothing and m illinery... .
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco...................................
+ 3 .3
Trade, wholesale and re
tail __________________
Services________________
Public u tilities__________
Coal m ining____________
Building and contracting.
2.1
California
-
-1 3 .3
+ .2
1.6
Jan u ary to February,
1931
- 1 .1
+ 2 .6
All m anufacturing..
-1 0 .9
-3 . 4
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts__________________
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances______ ____
Wood m anufactures_____
Leather an d rubber goods.
Petroleum producing and
refining______________
Other miscellaneous chem
ical products__________
Printing and paper goods
Textiles____________ __ _
Clothing, millinery, and
laundering___________
Foods, beverages, a n d to
bacco_________________
M otion pictures_________
M iscellaneous_______ ____
M iscellaneous..... ................
-
1.9
Maryland
Food products___________
Textiles________________
Iron and steel and their
products______________
Lum ber and its p ro ducts.
L eather and its products...
R u b b er tires. . . _________
Paper and p rin tin g ______
Chemicals and allied prod
u c ts__________________
Stone, clay, and glass
products______________
M etal products other than
iron and steel__________
Tobacco products________
T ransportation e q u i p m e n t_________________
C ar building and repairing
M iscellaneous___________
All inanufacturing.
R etail establishm ents____
Wholesale establishm ents .
Public utilities___ _______
Coal m ines______ _______
H otels_______ __________
Quarries________________
B uilding construction____
L aundries_______________
Cleaning and dyeing es
tablishm ents............ .........
[1223]
-
1. 6
+ 4.1
+ 1.2
+ 2.3
+ 3.4
- 1 .4
+.3
+.8
-3 . 1
+ 6.3
- 5 .0
+7. 3
+ 8. 6
- .4
+ 5 .2
+ 6.2
- 3 .3
- 1 .3
+ 2.6
-
6.6
-1 . 4
+5. 5
+ 2.0
-1 0 . I
+ 2. 2
- 1. 0
+ 12.0
+ 1.0
+3. 2
-.2
-
1. 2
+ 1.2
-. 2
+19. 1
+ 8.0
- 3 .2
-.6
+ 4.5
+ 6.9
- 6 .9
+27.8
+13. 2
-.
1.6
+ 8.0
-.6
-
1
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
192
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S
C ontinued
IN,SPECIFIED S T A T E S-
M o n th ly p e r io d —Continued
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploym ent—index
num bers (1925-1927
= 100)
January,
1931
Massachusetts
Boot and shoe c u t stock
a n d findings----------------Boots a n d shoes_________
Bread and other bakery
products______________
Clothing, m en’s _________
Clothing, w om en’s _______
Confectionery......................
C otton goods______ _____
D yeing an d finishing tex
tiles__________________
Electrical m achinery, a p
p aratus, a n d supplies—
Fou n d ry a n d machineshop p ro d u cts_________
F u rn itu re _______________
Hosiery and k n it goods---L eather, tanned, curried,
a n d finished---------------P ap er an d wood p u lp .........
Prin tin g and p u b lish in g ...
R u b b er foo tw ear................
R u b b er goods, tires, and
tu b e s_________________
Silk goods______________
T extile m achinery and
. p a rts _________________
W oolen and worsted goods.
All industries______
76.3
65.9
100.6
56. 0
91.3
95.4
50.4
89.6
New Jersey—C ontinued
Paper and p rin tin g --------Chemicals a n d a l l i e d
87.7 ! products______________
72.1 Stone, clay, a nd glass
products______________
100.9 M etal products other th a n
60.8
iron
and steel__________
97.9 Vehicles
for la n d transpor
92.7
ta tio n ............................
50.7 M iscellaneous__________
All industries______
92.7
69.8
88.6
72.9
59.5
85.7
75.2
66.0
90.1
82. 1
100.8
78.4
92.8
82.5
99.6
72.4
61. 5
74.7
61.7
80.5
63.9
56.5
65.5
65.5
69.4
71. 2
P er cent of change,
Jan u ary to F eb
ruary , 1931
P ay roll
Michigan
P aper and p rin tin g ........... .
Chemicals and allied prod
u c ts ____ _____ ________
Stone, clay, and glass
p ro d u cts.____________...
M etal products, n o t iron
a n d ste e l........................ .
L um ber an d its products _
L eather a n d its products.
Food a n d kindred prod
u c ts___ ______________
Tobacco products_______
Vehicles for la n d transpor
ta tio n ............. .............. . .
M iscellaneous___________
All industries_____
+ 0 .9
-2 .0
+ 2 .4
+ .3
-1 4 .3
- 1 .7
+• 7
+ .6
+ .0
+ .5
+ 9 .4
+10.8
+ 11.8
+ 2 .3
- 2 .7
"I-8. 0
+54. 7
-4 . 1
+34.4
+37.2
+1. 3
-.3
+83. 1
+6. 0
+ 1.3
+53. 8
New Jersey
Food and kindred pro d
u c ts __________________
Textiles a n d th e ir p ro d
u c ts..........................
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir
p ro d u cts________
Em ploy
m ent
February,
1931
71.0
Em ploy
m ent
State, and in d u stry group
+ 3 .1
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .8
+ 9 .3
-1 .9
+ .6
+ 4 .4
+ 3 .4
- 4 .3
+ 2 .8
+ 9 .9
-1 0 . 9
- 4 .2
Pay roll
+ 0.4
- 1 .1
+ .7
- 6 .5
-1 .0
+ .5
+ 1 .6
- 1 .3
-2 . 0
—. 7
+12.4
- 1 .4
+ 1.3
F ebruary to M arch,
1931
New York
Stone, clay, and glass------M iscellaneous s t o n e
and m inerals_______
Lime, cem ent, and
plaster______ ______
Brick, tile, and po t
te ry .
.................
Glass_______________
M etals an d m achinery___
Silver and jew elry----Brass, copper, and
alu m inum _________
Iron and steel......... —
S tru ctu ral and archi
tectu ral iron _______
Sheet m etal and hard
w are___ __________
Firearm s, tools, and
cu tle ry ____________
Cooking, heating, and
ventilating appara
tus _______________
M achinery, including
electrical apparatus.
Automobiles, carriages,
a n d airplanes---------R ailroad equipm ent
and re p a ir......... ........
B oat a nd ship build
in g ............ .............. .
In stru m en ts a nd ap
pliances___________
W ood m anufactures_____
Saw a n d planing mills.
F u rn itu re and cabinet
work ______________
Pianos and other m u
sical in stru m e n ts___
M iscellaneous w ood. .
F u rs, leather, an d rubber
goods_________________
L eather___ _________
Furs and fur goods. . .
Shoes_____ ______ ___
O ther leather an d can
vas goods._________
R ubber an d g u tta
percha____ _____ _
Pearl, horn, bone, etc.
Chemicals, oils, paints,
etc___________________
D rugs an d chemicals.
P ain ts a n d colors-----Oil products.............
M iscellaneous chem
icals ________
Tobacco p ro d u c ts...
1 Change of less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per cent of change,
January to Februa iy , 1931
r12241
+ 4 .8
+ 8.5
-1 .0
+ 4 .0
+11.6
+22.8
+13.6
- 1 .3
-.4
+3. 4
+13.5
+ 1.3
+. 4
+ 8 .9
-1 .6
-.6
- 2 .0
- 4 .0
+ 7 .8
+ 4 .3
_ 2
-|~1.8
+ .4
- 1 .6
-5 .2
(>)
+ 1 .4
- 4 .9
+ 1 .2
+ 3 .2
- 3 .6
- 2 .4
+ 6 .4
+16.1
+ .4
-.8
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .7
+ 5.1
- 2 .5
- 2 .2
-.8
- 1 .3
+ 4.7
+ 2.6
+ 3.2
+ 3.7
+. 0
+ 3 .2
+ 5.0
+ 3 .6
- 2 .9
+ 5.4
+ 4 .4
+14. 5
+ 2.1
+ 3 .0
(2)
4“5. 3
-.9
-2 .8
+ 1 .4
-.7
+ 1.4
-, l
+ 2.9
+ 3.0
-.2
+ .8
N o change.
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
193
P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN S P E C IF IE D ST A T E S—
C ontinued
M o n t h l y p e r io d — Continued
State, and in d u stry group
Per cent of change,
F ebruary to M arch,
1931
E m ploy
m ent
State, and in d u stry group
P ay roll
P er cent of change,
February to M arch,
1931
E men°ty’
P a y ro ll
N ew Y o rk —C ontinued
Oklahoma—C ontinued
P a p e r.______ ___________
- 0 .6
- 2 .4
Woodworking:
Printing a n d paper goods.
+ 1 .7
+ 5 .4
Sawmills___________
- 10.0
Paper boxes an d tubes.
+ .6
+ 6 .4
M illwork, e tc ..........
- 4 .6
M iscellaneous paper
goods_______ ______
- 1 .1
- 2 .0
All industries_____
-4.5
P rintin g and book
m aking____________
+ 2 .3
+6. 1
Textiles__________ _ . . .
+2. 6
+1. 2
Index num bers (1923—
Silk and silk goods___
+ 3 .7
+ 6 .2
1925= 1 0 0 )— em
Wool m anufactures__
-. 2
-9 . I
ploym ent
C otton goods.. _____
+ 8 .6
+10.0
K n it goods (excluding
silk )______________
+ 1.8
+ .9
February,
O ther textiles___
M arch,
+4. 4
+ 10.4
1931
C lothing and m illinery___
1931
+6. 6
+11.4
M en’s c lo th in g ..__ . . .
+ 4 .9
+7. 6
M en’s furnishings____
+ 3 .2
+ 2.4
W omen’s clothing____
Pennsylvania
+ 9.2
+13.4
W omen’s u n d erw ear...
+4. 4
+ 6 .0
W omen’s headwear___
M etal products.........
+24.0
+45.4
77.0
75.4
M iscellaneous sewing.
-.9
+2. 7 T ransportation equipm ent
55.2
3 53. 2
Laundering and clean
Textile products________
91.3
90. 2
in g —
Foods an d tobacco_______
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .3
105.0
105.1
Food and to b a c c o ............
Stone, clay, and glass prod
+ .4
+ 1 .4
Flour, feed, and cereal.
-.5
ucts __________________
+ 5 .3
57.6
59.3
Canning a n d preserv
L um ber pro d u cts________
56.7
57.4
in g —
+ 1.4
Chemical p roducts______
+ 4 .8
88.0
91.1
O ther groceries__ ..
- 2 .3
-3 . 1 L eather a n d ru b b er prod
M eat a n d dairy prod
u c ts ________________ ...
94.0
94.5
u cts____ __________
- 2 .0
P ap er and p rin tin g ______
-2 .0
94.4
94.8
B akery products_____
-.3
C1)
C andy....................... . .
+6.1
All m anufacturing. __
+ 4.9
80.5
79.8
Beverages,___________
- 1 .8
+ 3.7
Tobacco______
.. .
+ 2.8
+ 16.2 1
W ater, light, and pow er.. .
-.8
+ 4.4 |
P ay roll
All industries____ .
+ 1.6 _
+ 3.4 1
O k la h o m a
M etal products__________
63.6
62.7
Cottonseed-oil m ills........ .
-3 8 .7
Transportation equipm ent
-4 1 .0
43.4
3 41. 5
Food production:
Textile products—........ .......
82.3
82.3
Bakeries..........................
-2 . 5
Foods a n d tobacco....... .......
- 1 .2
95.1
96. 2
Confections............... _.
- 1 .9
- 2 .2
Stone, clay, and glass prod
C reameries and dairies.
-1 . 6
- 4 .7
ucts __________________
41.9
45.8
-2 . 7
F lour m ills________ .
- 1 .1
Lum ber products________
40.3
52.7
Ice and ice cream _____
- 2 .0
+ 1 .9
Chemical p roducts_______
89.3
89.3
M eat and p o u ltry ____
- .9
- 3 .1
Leather and rubber prod
Lead and zinc:
ucts __________________
87.7
92.8
M ines and m ills______
-3 0 .8
-34. 3 Paper and p rin tin g ______
99.6
99.6
Smelters_____________
-1 1 .0
-1 2 .1
M etals and machinery:
All m an u facturing...
68.4
68.4
A uto repairs, etc___
+ 3 .3
+25.7
M achine shops and
foundries_________
-.5
+9. 1
Per cent of change,
T ank construction and
February to M arch,
erection........... ...........
+ 7 .3
- 2 .9
1931
Oil industry:
Producing and gasoline
m an u fa c tu re .............
- 1 .8
- 2 .6
Em ploy P a y roll
Refineries.......................
- 8 .9
-1 1 .0
m ent
Printing: Job w ork.............
- 2 .5
- 5 .1
Public utilities:
Steam-railway sh o p s...
- 1 .3
- 1 .0
Street railw ays_______
- 1 .6
Texas
- .2
W ater, light, and pow
er____________ ____
- 3 .8
+17.1
A uto and body w orks___
-0 . 6
Stone, clay, and glass:
Bakeries________ ______ _
- 1 .6
Brick and tile ..............
+50.9
+54. 1 Confectioneries.................
- 9 .6
C em ent a n d plaster__
- 1 .3
-12. 6 P u re food p roducts______
-1 5 .7
Crushed stone_______
-1 5 .8
-1 7 . 8 Ice cream fa c to rie s...____
+ 3 .9
Glass m anufacture___
-1 5 .2
-2 1 .9
+ 1.8
Flour mills____ _________
Textiles and cleaning:
+12.9
Ice factories____ ________
Textile m an ufacture.. .
+ 1 .4
+ 8 .7
M eat packing a n d slaugh
Laundries, e tc ._______
- 2 .1
-3 . 1
tering_____ ___________
- 3 .2
Change of less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
Prelim inary figures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1225]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
194
P E R C E N T O P C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D ST A T E S—
C ontinued
M o n t h l y -p erio d —Continued
Per cent of change,
Jan u ary to F e b ru
ary, 1931
P er cent o f change,
February to M arch,
1931
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
E m ploy
m ent
E m ploy
m ent
P ay roll
P a y roll
Ì
Texas—C ontinued
-21. 4
-1 1 . 6
Cotton-oil m ills__________
C otton compresses_______
M en ’s clothing manufac
tu re __________________
W om en’s clothing m an u
facture----- ------------------Brick, tile, and terra c o tta ..
Foundries a n d machine
shops____________ ____ Structural-iron w orks------R ailroad car shops_______
Electric-railway car shops. Petroleum refining_______
Sawmills________________
L um ber m ills____________
F urn itu re m anufacture---Paper-box m anufacture___
Cotton-textile m ills______
C em ent p la n ts___________
Commercial p rin tin g------N ewspaper publishing----Q uarrying---------------------Public u tilities----- ---------R etail stores_____________
Wholesale stores_________
H otels__________________
M iscellaneous-----------------
+23. 1
+21. 8
+ 12. 6
-. 1
+ 7 .8
-2 . 4
1
_____
- 1 .3
-1 3 . 9
- 1 .4
- 1 . 2 __________
- 4 .4
+ 2 .2
' -. 0
__
+ 1.4
.0
+ 8 .5
-. 6
- 1 .1
+ .«
+ 1. 5
—. 0
All industries______
i
Jan u ary to February,
1931
All m anufacturing._..
Construction:
B uilding____________
H ig h w ay____________
R ailroad_____________
M arine dredging, sew
er digging--------------C om m unication:
Steam railw ays______
Electric railw ays_____
E x p ress, te le p h o n e ,
and telegraph______
Light and pow er_________
W holesale tra d e _____ ____
H otels and re stau ran ts___
L aundering and dyeing.
+ 0.6
+ 1. 1
+ 2.9
+ 1.2
+ 1 .4
+10. 2
+ .1
+ 16. 0
+ 17.2
+ 19.3
-5 . 3
+ 10.6
+ 1.1
+23.4
+ 2.8
+ 1* 6
+ 2.3
-
1. 6
+2.1
+ 7 .2
+ 2 .0
+ 13. 9
-16. 6
-17. 0
-19. 5
-17. 1
-1 . 9
-23. 0
-24. 2
- .9
-. 2
+ 3.7
-j-3. 5
- 2 .9
-. 5
- 3 .2
+ 2.4
+ 2 .0
+ 1.3
+ 5.2
-2 . 1
+ 1.0
+ .5
•1.5
- .9
+6. 6
+ ■7
+ 2.3
—. 5
+ 2.6
N o n m a n u a l
Wisconsin
M a n u a l
Logging------------------------M ining:
Lead and zinc.......... .
iro n ________________
Stone crushing and q uarry
ing—
W isc o n s in —Continued
M a n u a l — Continued
M anufacturing:
Stone and allied indus
tries_______________
M eta l_______________
W ood_______________
R u b b er______________
L eath er_____________
P a p e r_______________
Textiles___ ____ _____
Foods_______________
Prin tin g and publish
in g --------- -----------Chemicals (including
soap, glue, and ex
plosives)___________
7. 1
+14.0
+ 2.0
—4. 5
-10. 1
-4 . 8
-
-22. 5
M anufacturing, m i n e s ,
and quarries. . . . ____ .
C onstruction _ .
____
C om m unication.. ______
W holesale tra d e _______ .
R etail trad e—sales force
only---------------------------M iscellaneous professional
services____ _________ _
- n o
- 4 .2
+ 1.6
+11. 0
Y e a r l y p e r io d
Per cent of change,
February, 1930, to
F ebruary, 1931
Per cent of change.
February, 1930, to
F ebruary, 1931
State, and in du stry group
State, and in d u stry group
Em ploy
m ent
E m ploy
m ent
P a y roll
California
Stone, clay, and glass prodn e t s ___ _ ______ __
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances---------- __ W ood m an u factu res-.
L eather and ru b b e r goodsChemicals, oils, paints, etc.Printing and paper goods.T extiles.___ _______ _____
* Includes m otion pictures.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-2 6 .4
-2 3 . 0
-15. 9
-1 8 .7
-34. 1
-1 1 .8
- 7 .7
-2 8 .4
-2 7 .
-25.
-20.
-35.
-12.
-13.
5
9
o
2
3
0
California—C ontinued
Clothing, m illinery, and
lau n d erin g ______ _____
Foods, beverages, and tobacco_______
______
M iscellaneous * --------------All industries______
Public u tilitie s.- . .
_
W holesale and re ta il.. .
[1226 ]
P ay roll
-11. 1
-15. 6
-8 .
-16.
-20.
-9 .
-8
-3 . 8
-8 . 3
-23. 3
-1 1 . 1
—7. 7
3
0
5
3
3
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
195
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S —
C ontinued
Y e a r l y 'p e rio d —Continued
E m p lo y m e n t—index
num bers (1925-1927
P er cent of change,
February, 1930, to
February, 1931
= 100)
State, and in d u stry group
State, and in d u stry group
February
1930
February,
1931
E m ploy
m ent
Illin o is
M ic h ig a n
Stone, clay, and glass prod
u c ts___ ____ ___ _____
M etals, m achinery, and
conveyances__________
Wood products_________
Furs and leath er goods.__
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc
Printing and paper goods.
Textiles________________
Clothing and m illinery. _.
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco________________
Paper and p r i n t i n g . . ___
Chemicals
and
allied
p ro d u c ts... ___________
Stone, clay, a n d glass
products__ ______
M etal products, not iron
and s t e e l . . ___ .. .
Iron and steel p roducts___
L um ber a n d its products.
Leather a n d its products __
Food and kindred products
Textiles a n d th eir prod
u c ts___ ___________
Tobacco p roducts___ .
Vehicles for land transpor
ta tio n __________
Miscellaneous . . .
77.4
108. 2
67.0
95. 1
96.6
J03. 1
90.6
87.9
60.6
77.0
52. 2
81. 2
86. 1
95. 7
84. 7
76. 3
90.0
76.8
All m anufacturing..
98.0
76. 5
Trade, wholesale and re
tail ___________________
Public utilities_________
Ooi'.l m ining____________
Building and contracting..
76.4
103. 2
77. 0
50. 6
65. 0
95.3
88. 7
27.9
All industries______
96. 2
79. 5
All industries.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-1 0 .9
-1 5 .1
—5. 5
-1 8 .8
-33. 1
-4 5 .7
-22.
-34.
-30.
-8 .
-10.
-32. 5
-3 6 . 4
-4 1 .6
-18. 4
-1 6 .7
3
5
3
7
5
-1 4 .4
+ 8 .2
- 6 .4
-2 3 .3
-3 5 . 2
-35. 9
-3 1 . 1
-2 3 .7
-3 4 .2
M arch, 1930, to
M arch, 1931
N ew Y ork
Massac li u setts
Boot a nd shoe cu t stock
and findings___________
Boots and shoes_________
Bread and other bakery
products______________
Clothing, m en’s _________
Clothing, w om en’s _______
Confectionery___________
C otton goods________ _
D yeing and finishing tex
tiles __________________
Electrical m achinery, a p
paratus, and supplies___
Foundry a n d machineshop pro d u cts_________
F u rn itu re _______________
Hosiery and k n it goods___
Leather, tanned, curried,
and finished___________
Paper and wood p u lp ____
Printing and p u b lish in g ..,
R ubber footwear_________
R ubber goods, tires, and
tubes_________________
Silk goods_______________
Textile m achinery and
p a rts_________________
Woolen and worsted goods.
Ah industries____
P a y roll
103. 1
86. 5
106. 3
71.0
98.9
88. 1
70.4
94.7
85. 2
106. 1
93.3
84.3
106. 3
93.9
105. 7
91.5
85. 7
96.3
90. 5
69.8
86. 1 J
Stone, clay, and glass____
Miscellaneous stone
87.7
and minerals . . . .
72. 1
Lime, cem ent, and
plaster__
. ___
100.9
Brick, tile, and p o t
60. 8
tery -------------- ----- -97.9
G lass.. . . . . . .
92.7 i
50.7 O M etals and m achinery. ..
Silver and jew elry____
Brass, copper, and alu
92.7
m in u m ________ ___
Iron and steel________
69.8 :
Structural and archi
tectural iron
. ._ _
85.7
Sheet metal and h ard
75. 2
w are__________ ___
66.0
Firearm s, tools, and
c u tle ry ... ________
92.8
Cooking, heating, and
82.5
ventilating appara
99.6
tu s ______ ____ ___
72.4
M achinery, including
electrical a p p aratus. _
61.7
80.5
Automobiles,carriages,
and airplanes
. ..
65. 5 ,
R ailroad equipm ent
and repair _______
6.1. 5 ,
B oat and ship b uild
in g----------71. 2
Instrum ents and appli
ances....................... ..
[1227]
-1 3 .5
-1 9 .4
-1 6 . 1
-2 3 .8
-10. 5
-14. 1
-1 5 . 5
-1 1 .0
-21. 7
-20. 1
-24.
-13.
-30.
-28.
—15. 9
-2 2 .8
-2 2 . 8
-31. 6
1
3
1
5
-1 8 .4
-3 0 . 6
-1 5 .4
-2 2 .5
-1 8 . 2
-30. 3
-2 2 .8
-35. 8
-2 0 . 7
-2 8 .8
-3 5 .3
-4 2 .9
-2 2 . 2
-2 9 . 6
-3 1 . 6
-3 9 .6
-1 5 .9
-2 5 .0
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
196
P E R C E N T OP C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S —
Continued
Y e a r l y 'p e rio d —Continued
Per cent of change,
M a r c h , 1930, to
M arch, 1931
State, and in d u stry group
State, and industry group
Em ploy
m ent
E m ploy
m ent
P a y roll
N ew York—C ontinued
P a y roll
Oklahoma—C ontinued
Wood m anufactures______
Saw and planing m ills.
F u rn itu re and cabinetwork _ . _
Pianos and other musical in stru m en ts___
M iscellaneous w ood__
Furs, leather, and rubber
g o o d s ,---- ---------------L eather________, , . ,
Fu rs and fur goods___
Shoes_______________
O ther leather and canvas goods_______ R ubber and guttapercha____________
Pearl, horn, bone, etc.
Chemicals, oils, paints,
e tc ____ __________ ____
Drugs and chemicals ..
P ain ts and colors____
Oil products---- ------M iscellaneous chemicals_____________
P a p e r--------- ----------------P rin tin g and paper goods.
Paper boxes and tu b es.
M iscellaneous paper
goods____________ _
Prin tin g and bookm aking_______
Textiles________ ____. . .
Silk and silk goods___
Wool m anufactures___
Cotton goods________
K n it goods (excluding
silk )______________
O ther te x tile s.., _
Clothing and m illinery___
M en ’s clothing____ _
M en ’s furnishings____
W omen’s clothing____
W om en’s un d erw ear,,.
W om en’s headw ear___
M iscellaneous sew ing,_
Laundering and cleanin g -----------------------Food and tobacco___
Flour, feed, and cereals.
C anning and preservin g ------- --------- , . ,
O ther groceries__
M eat and dairy produ c t s , .. ___________
Bakery products_____
C an d y ____ , . . . , . ,
Beverages_________
Tobacco. _________
W ater, light, and p o w e r...
-lf i. 3
-1 5 .6
-2 5 .5
-2 0 .7
-2 2 .4
-3 0 .8
- 7 .0
-1 3 .1
-2 6 .7
—1J. 7
- 7 .8
-2 2 . 4
+ 1.8
- 5 .8
-15. 1
-2 6 .6
- 6 .9
-1 1 .8
- 6 .9
-1 6 . 9
-1 7 .5
-18. 3
-2 9 . 3
-2 7 . 5
- 8 .1
-4 . 1
-14. 0
- 9 .4
-1 1 .5
-10. 4
-1 7 . 1
-1 0 . 5
- 8 .3
-1 5 . 1
- 7 .2
-1 1 . 1
-1 2 . 0
-2 6 .7
-7 . 2
-1 2 .4
-1 0 .6
-1 0 .3
-6 . 1
-2 1 . 2
-20. 1
-1 8 .9
-2 2 .4
- 6 .4
-2 5 . 9
-2 2 . 7
-2 3 .4
-2 8 . 1
-21. 7
-23. 6
- 9 .3
- 4 .9
-20. 1
-1 0 .6
- 8 .2
- 4 .7
-1 6 .8
-29. 1
-2 7 . 3
-1 3 .0
- 8 .7
-2 0 .6
-16. 1
-1 2 .5
- 7 .9
-1 9 .4
- 1 .4
-10. 2
-1 1 .4
- 4 .2
-1 3 . 2
-1 3 .9
- 4 .0
-2 2 .4
- 8 .8
-2 3 .6
- 9 .7
-10. 2
+2. 1
-8 . 1
- 4 .6
- 2 .4
-1 2 .4
-1 0 . 4
-8 . 7
- 6 .8
- 9 .4
+8. 1
,_
-1 4 .9
-2 0 .4
Cottonseed-oil mills______
Food production:
Bakeries_______ _
Confections__________
Creameries and daii ies _
Flour m ills________ .
s Prelim inary figures.
-3 0 .9
-4 8 .2
- 9 .7
+72.4
+10.4
- 9 .6
-1 1 .8
+24. 1
+ 1.9
-1 3 .9
All industries___
P er cent of change,
M a r c h , 1930, to
M arch, 1931
Food production—Contd.
Ice and ice cream ___
M eat and p o u ltry ____
Lead and zinc:
M ines and m ills______
Smelters_____________
M etals and m achinery:
A uto repairs, etc....... ..
M achine shops and
foundries__________
T ank
construction
and erection___ __
Oil industry:
Producing and gasoline m anufacture _,,
Refineries___ ________
Printing: Job w ork_____
Public utilities:
Steam-railway shops, „„
S treet railw ays__
.
W ater,
light,
and
pow er..............
......
Stone, clay, and glass:
Brick and tile ________
C em ent and plaster __.
Crushed stone
____
Glass m anufacture . , ,
Textiles and cleaning:
Textile m anufacture,._
Laundries, etc_______
W oodworking:
Sawmills___ _
, ,
M illwork, etc____
All industries______
-2 1 .2
- 9 .0
-1 4 .8
-1 8 . 2
-5 5 .6
-1 2 . 2
-6 3 . 6
-4 7 . 8
-2 5 .5
-3 5 . 0
-3 2 .8
-49. 4
-32. 2
-43. 7
-2 2 . 4
-5 . 1
- 6 .6
-2 5 .5
-1 1 .4
-1 4 .2
-35. 7
-23. 1
-3 3 .8
-2 3 .6
-2 1 .5
-1 7 .6
-4 3 .5
-1 5 .9
-29. 2
-3 6 .8
-3 7 .8
-3 2 .0
-3 0 .0
-4 3 . 6
+45. 8
-1 1 .5
+21.5
-1 7 .0
-51. 2
-2 0 .0
-6 0 .7
-35. 0
-20. 8
-2 6 .8
Index num bers (19231 9 2 5 = 10 0) — cm ploym ent
M arch,
1930
M arch,
1931
Pennsylvania
M etal products__________
T ransportation equipm ent.
Textile products____ , ,,
Foods and tobacco______
Stone, clay, and glass
products_________ _ ,,
Lum ber products________
Chemical p roducts__ ____
L eather and rubber produ cts__________________
Paper and p rinting______
All m anufacturing,
95.8
84. 7
105. 3
109. 7
75.4
3 53. 2
90. 2
105. 1
82. 7
83. 0
101.3
59.3
57. 4
91. 1
98. 2
99. 5
94. 5
94. 8
96.8
79.8
Oklahoma
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P a y roll
M etal products, _ _ __ _
T ransportation equipm ent.
Textile p ro d u c ts.,, ______
[1228]
99.8
89.8
107.4
62.7
3 41. 5
82.3
TREND OE EMPLOYMENT
197
P E R C E N T O F C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S —
C ontinued
Y e a r l y p e r io d —Continued
Per cent of change,
M arch,
1930,
to
M arch, 1931
Index num bers (19231925=100)—p ay roll
State, and industry group
State, and in d u stry group
M arch,
1930
M arch,
1931
E m ploy
m ent
Pennsylvania—Contd.
Foods and tobacco_______
Stone, clay, and glass
products______________
L um ber products________
Chem ical p roducts______
Leather a n d ru b b er prod
ucts_____________ _____
Paper and p rin tin g______
All m an u factu rin g .^
Texas—C ontinued
105.8
96. 2
82.7
81.8
105. 5
45.8
52.7
89.3
100.7
113. 3
92.8
99.6
100.0
68. 4
Per cent of change,
M a r c h , 1930, to
M arch, 1931
E m ploy
m ent
Texas
A uto and body works.
Bakeries____________
Confectioneries______
Pure-food p roducts__
Ice cream factories___
Flour m ills_________
Ice factories_________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-1 8 .9
-1 4 . 1
-1 0 .2
-1 9 .2
-1 5 .5
-1 6 .4
- 6 .4
P ay roll
M eat packing and slaugh
tering_________________
Cotton-oil m ills___ ______
C otton compresses___ .
M en ’s clothing m anufac
tu re _________________ .
W om en’s clothing m anu
facture________________
Brick, tile, a n d terra cotta.
Foundries a n d m achine
shops_________________
Structural-iron w orks____
Railroad car shops_______
Electric-railway car shops _
Petroleum refining_______
Sawmills________________
Lum ber m ills___________
F urniture m anufacture___
Paper-box m anufacture___
Cotton-textile m ills______
C em ent p lan ts___________
Commercial p rin tin g _____
N ew paper publishing____
Q uarrying_______________
Public utilities__________
R etail s to re s ........................
Wholesale stores_________
H otels__________________
M iscellaneous___________
All industries______
[1229]
-1 4 .3
-36. 4
+ 12. 1
+34. 2
-41. 7
-4 0 .9
21. 0
-
-23. 1
-11. 7
-2 6 .8
-3 6 .1
-2 3 .0
-1 7 .6
-
6.2
-1 5 .4
-11. 7
-7 .7
-
6.6
21.0
+• 2
-1 2 . 7
-
6.0
-3 .7
-1 7 .0
-17. 9
_______
P a y rol
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
R etail P rices of Food in M arch, 1931
fT M lF following tables are compiled from simple averages of the
1 actual selling prices1 received monthly by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from retail dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food March 15,
1930, and February 15 and March 15, 1931, as well as the percentage
changes in the year and in the month. For example, the retail price
per pound of flour was 5.0 cents on March 15, 1930; 4.0 cents on Feb
ruary 15, 1931; and 3.9 cents on March 15, 1931. These figures
show decreases of 22 per cent in the year and 3 per cent in the month.
The cost of various articles of food combined shows a decrease of
15.8 per cent March 15, 1931, as compared with March 15, 1930, and
a decrease of 0.5 per cent March 15, 1931, as compared with Feb
ruary 15, 1931.
T a b le 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
OF IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E M A R C H 15, 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H F E B R U A R Y 15,1930,
A N D M A R C H 15, 1931
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
U nit
Article
M ar. 15,
1930
Feb. 15,
1931
M ar. 15,
1931
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
Per cent of increase
(+ )
or decrease
( - ) M ar. 15,1931,
compared w ith—
M ar. 15,
1930
Feb. 15,
1931
Sirloin steak
Round steak
R ib roast
Chunk roast
Plato hoof
_ _ _____
Pound__ _ ____- ____do _____
____________ _ _ _ d o____ .
_
_ _ _ _ _ d o ____ ___do______
_ _ ___
48. 4
43. 0
35.9
29. 2
20. G
41. 0
35. 9
30.5
23.3
15. 9
40.3
35. 2
30.3
22.7
15. 5
-1 7
-1 8
-1 6
-2 2
—25
_2
-2
-1
-3
-3
Pork chops
Bacon, sliced
Ham, sliced
Iiamb leg of
Hens
_________________ . _ _do__ _ _
_____ _
____ ____do_____
____do_______
_ __ _ _..do _ _
_ __do_______
______ -
3G. 1
42. G
54. 1
36. 0
38.3
27.6
39.2
49. 3
31. 1
31.7
29.4
38. 6
48.0
31.0
32.0
-1 9
-9
-1 1
-1 5
-1 6
+7
-2
-3
- 0 .3
+1
____d o _ ______
Q uart -- 16-oz. can
Pound _
____do_______
31. 9
14. 0
10.3
4 .7
26. 1
34.3
13. 0
9.6
36. 3
22. 7
34. 2
12. 9
9.5
37.4
21. 9
+7
-8
-8
-2 0
-1 6
- 0 .3
-1
-1
+3
-4
____do____ _
_ _ _do_______
_do_ ...........
Dozen
P o u n d _______
36. 4
16. 9
24.4
35. 3
8.8
31.2
14.5
23.7
27. 2
8.0
30.3
14. 2
23. 7
28.5
7.9
-1 7
-1 6
-3
-1 9
-1 0
-3
-2
0
+5
-1
Salmon red canned
M ilk, fresh
_ _______
M ilk, evaporated
__ ____
B u tter
__ _ _
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitu tes).
Cheese
_ ______ __
1iflrd
__- Vegetable lard substitute
Kggs, strictly fresh
Bread
- ___- ___ -
-3
-2 2
4. 0
3.9
5.0
Flour
__ __ _________ ___ - ____do_______
0
5. 0
-6
5.0
5.3
Corn meal
___
- - ____do_______
-1
—5
8,4
8.3
8. 7
-do____ Rolled oats
____
1
-2
9.2
9.4
9.3
8-oz. package-C o rn fla k e s-- --- - - - - - - —1
—2
24. 9
25. 2
25.5
W heat cereal_______
_ - ------- 28-oz. package.
i In addition to m o n th ly retail prices of food and coal, the bureau publishes periodically the prices of
gas and electricity for household use in each of 51 cities. A t present this information is being collected in
June and D ecember of each year.
198
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1230]
199
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T a b l e 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
OF IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E M A R C H 15, 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H F E B R U A R Y 15, 1930,
A N D M A R C H 15, 1931—C ontinued
Average retail price on—
U nit
Article
M ar. 15,
1930
Feb. 15,
1931
M ar. 15,
1931
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) M ar. 15,1931,
compared w ith—
M ar. 15,
1930
Feb. 15,
1931
M acaroni ____ _ .
______
Rice
._
_ ______ _..
Beans, n a v y ______ ____________
Potatoes
______ _____
- Onions
_____________
P o u n d__ . .
. . . . d o _______
____d o ______
__ .do __ _
____do_______
19. 5
9. 5
12. 1
3.9
5. 0
18. 0
8.9
8.9
2. 7
3. 6
17. 7
8.0
8.7
2.7
3.5
-9
-9
-2 8
-3 1
-3 0
-2
-3
-2
0
-3
Cabbage
___________ - __
Pork and beans. __ ____________
Corn, canned- ________________
Peas, canned - __________
___
___ do_ . _ _
No. 2 can .
____do_______
____do_______
8. 5
11.2
15. 4
16. 4
4. 3
10. 3
14.5
15. 4
4. 1
10.0
14.3
15. 0
-5 2
-11
_7
—9
-3
-1
-3
Tomatoes, canned ______
Sugar. - ______ ___ - Tea
Coffee
_ _ do__ _
P o u n d ..
_ ___do
____do.
__
12. 0
G. 4
77. 7
41.9
11. 1
5.9
76. 5
37.3
10.8
5.8
70. 0
36.3
-1 4
—9
_2
-1 3
-3
-2
-1
-3
_____ _
_.do.
______ ____do ___ ___
____ ____ _ Dozen .
___ do_______
_ ___
18. 2
12. 2
31.4
52. 1
12. 7
11.3
28. 7
31. 5
12.4
11.3
28.7
32. 3
-3 2
-7
—9
-3 8
-2
0
0
+3
-1 5 .8
- 0 .5
Prunes
Raisins
Bananas
Oranges
____
.
..
. . . . ___ _
_____
_
Weighted food index.
1
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of specified
food articles on March 15, 1913, and on March 15 of each year from
1925 to 1931, together with percentage changes in March of each of
these specified years compared with March, 1913. For example, the
retail price per pound of rice was 8.6 cents in March, 1913; 10.9 cents
in March, 1925; 11.7 cents in March, 1926; 10.8 cents in March, 1927;
10.1 cents in March, 1928; 9.8 cents in March, 1929; 9.5 cents in
March, 1930; and 8.6 cents in March, 1931.
As compared with March, 1913, these figures show increases of 27
per cent in March, 1925; 36 per cent in March, 1926, 26 per cent in
March, 1927; 17 per cent in March, 1928; 14 per cent in March, 1929;
and 10 per cent in March, 1930. In March, 1931, the price was the
same as it was in March, 1913.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an increase
of 30.3 per cent in March, 1931, as compared with March, 1913.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1231]
200
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 2.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S
C E N T O F IN C R E A S E M A R C H
W IT H M A R C H 15, 1913
O P S P E C IF IE D PO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R
15 O F C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S C O M P A R E D
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole num bers]
Per cent of increase M ar. 15 of each
specified year compared w ith M ar.
15, 1913
Average retail prices on M ar. 15—
Article
1913 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
Cts. as. as. as. as. as. as. as.
Sirloin ste a k . . pound-R ound steak ___do----R ib roast-- ____ do----C huck roast___ do----Plate beef______do___
24.7
21. 3
19. 4
15.6
11.8
39.6
33.6
29.1
21.0
13.5
40.7
34.9
29.9
22. 1
14.6
41. 1
35.6
30.4
22.8
14.9
44.9
39.1
33.1
25.8
17.7
47.9
42. 2
35.5
28.8
20.3
48.4
43.0
35.9
29.2
20.6
40.3
35.2
30.3
22.7
15.5
60
58
50
35
14
65
64
54
42
24
66
67
57
46
26
82
84
71
65
50
94
98
83
85
72
96
102
85
87
75
63
65
56
46
31
Pork chops-........do ___
Bacon, sliced___do----H am , sliced____do----Lam b, leg o f___ do___
H ens____ ____ -d o .---
20.3
26. 1
26.0
19.1
21.4
37.4
44.4
51. 2
39.0
36.9
37.2
48.4
54.0
37.9
39.4
36.6
48.4
56.5
38.4
38.7
28.6
43.0
50.5
38.2
37.2
35.2
42.9
54.3
40.9
40.5
36. 1
42.6
54.1
36.6
38.3
29.4
38.6
48.0
31.0
32.0
84
70
97
104
72
83
85
108
98
84
80
85
117
101
81
41
65
94
100
74
73
64
109
114
89
78
63
108
92
79
45
48
85
62
50
31.2 37.6 33.0 35.4 31. 4 31.9 34.2
8.9 13.8 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.0 12.9
55
57
58
60
61
57
45
11. 2 11.6 11.4 11.2 11.4 10. 3 9. 5
41.4 55.5 53.6 59.2 57.3 58.4 46.7 37.4
34
29
43
38
41
13 l 10
30.1 30.9 28.7 27.4 27. 5 26.1 21.9
22. 1 36.5 37.2 37.3 38.5 38.2 36.4 30.3
15.6 23.1 21. 9 19.4 17.8 18.4 16.9 14.2
65
48
68
40
69
24
74
14
73
18
65
8
37
■9
48
68
94
90
46
68
88
79
34
68
67
76
40
63
61
79
59
61
55
83
34
57
52
83
8
41
18
72
27
36
26
17
Ï4
10
0
67
273
147
127
53
160
80
43
38
76
24
40
72
37
43
65
31
43
64
20
43
66
19
43
41
7
40
22
Salmon, red, canned
__ pound M ilk, fresh
'q u a rt-M ilk, evaporated
16-ounce can
B u tte r_______p o u n d -.
O le o m a rg a rin e (all
b u tte r substitutes)
______ pound
Cheese______ _do__ _
L a rd ________ _do___
Vegetable lard substitu te
pound
Eggs, strictly fresh
____________dozen-B read_______ pound-Flour_________ do___
Corn m eal_____ do ----Rolled oats____ do___
Corn flakes
. -8-ounce package
W heat cereal'
- -28-ounce package
M acaro n i
pound
Rice___________do___
Beans, n a v y ___ do- -
25.8 25.6 25.2 24.9 24.8 24. 4 23. 7
26.4 39.1 38.5 35.4 37. C
5.6 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.1
3.3 6.4 6.2 5.5 5.3
2.9 5.5 5.2 5. 1 5.2
9. 2 9.1 9.1 9.0
11.1 11.0 10. 8
9. 5
9. 4
9. 2
24.7 25. 4 25. 5 25. 6 25. 5 25. 5 24.9
20.4 20. 3 20.1 19.9 19. 6 19. 5 17. 7
8.6 10.9 11.7 10.8 10.1 9.8 9.5 8.6
10.4 9.4 9.1 10.7 14.0 12.1 8.7
Potatoes_______ do___ 1.5 2.5 5.6
Onions. _______ do 6.3 5.9
Cabbage- ____do
5. 2 7.2
Pork and beans
______ .N o. 2 c a n ..
12.6 12.1
Corn, canned___do
17.9 16.6
Peas, can n ed ., do___
18. 5 17.7
Tom atoes, canned
________ No. 2 c a n ..
13.9 12. 2
Sugar, granulated
- ________ p ound. _ 5.4 7.7 6. 7
T e a ___________ do
54.3 75.1 76. 1
Coffee_________ do___ 29.8 52.3 51.3
Prunes. ______ do__
17. 3 17. 1
Raisins ______ do
Bananas______d o zen ..
O ra n g e s___ _ do
9. 7
42. 1 35.3 28.5
9.0 8.8 7.9
5.1 5.0 3.9
5.3 5.3 5. 0
8.9 8.7 8. 3
3.7
5. 9
5. 2
3.4
6. 3
5. 2
2.3
8.4
5. 7
3.9
5. 0
8. 5
2.7
3.5
4.1
11.6 11. 4 11. 9 11. 2 10. 0
15.9 15.9 15. 9 15. 4 14.3
17.0 16. 7 16. 7 16. 4 15. 0
12.2 11. 7 13.0 12. 6 10.8
7.4 7. 1 6.5 6.4 5.8
77.6 77.4 77.6 77.7 76.0
49.3 48.8 49.6 41.9 36.3
15. 8 13. 5 14. 3 18. 2 12. 4
14. 6 14. 6 14. 3 13. 6 11. 6 12. 2 11. 3
37.6 35.3 34.1 33.8 32.1 31.4 28.7
48. 3 47.8 46. 9 52.9 38. 7 52.1 32. 3
55.9 64.9 58.5 56.1 57.8 54.8 30.3
All articles combined 2_
1 Decrease.
2 Beginning w ith January, 1921, index num bers showing the trend of the retail cost of food have been
composed of th e articles shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted according to the consum ption of the average
family. From January, 1913, to December, 1920, th e index num bers included the following articles: Sir
loin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham , lard, hens, flour, corn
meal, eggs, bu tter, milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee, and tea.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12321
201
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
Table 3 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years,
from 1913 to 1930, and by months for 1929, 1930, and 1931. The
articles within these groups are as follows:
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes,
wheat cereal, and macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
T a b l e 3 —IN D E X N U M B E R S O P R E T A IL C O ST O F C E R E A L S , M E A T S , A N D D A IR Y
P R O D U C T S F O R T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , 1913, TO M A R C H , 1931
[Average cost in 1913=100.0]
Year and m onth
1913: Average for year___
1914: Average for y ear___
1915: Average for year___
1916: Average for year___
1917: Average for y ear___
1918: Average for y ear___
1919: Average for year___
1920: Average for year___
1921: Average for y ear___
1922: Average for year___
1923: Average for year___
1924: Average for year___
1925: Average for year___
1926: Average for year___
1927: Average for year___
1928: Average for year___
1929: Average for year___
January __ _ .
F ebruary _____
M arch________. . . _
A pril_____ ______ _
M a y ,. _
______
J u n e - ..
____
Ju ly _______________
Cereals M eats
100.0
106.7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
100. 4
176.2
175.5
170.7
167.2
164. 1
164. 1
164.1
164.1
164. 1
163.5
163.0
163.5
100.0
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149.0
150.2
163.0
171.3
169.9
179.2
188.4
J80. 9
180.3
182.8
187. 5
191.2
192.4
195.9
D airy
prod
ucts
100.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127.6
153. 4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135.9
147.6
142.8
147.1
145.5
148.7
150.0
148.6
151.9
152.6
152.4
148.9
147. 5
146. 8
146.8
Year and m onth
1929—Continued.
A ugust____________
Septem ber_________
October____________
N ovem ber __
D ecem ber.__ ______
1930: Average for year .. _
Jan u a ry .. ---------F eb ru ary __________
M arch___ __________
A pril______________
M ay ____________ ..
Ju n e _______________
Ju ly _______________
A ugust_____ _
S e p te m b e r...
O ctober____________
Novem ber
December
1931:
January
February
M arch
Cereals M eats
D airy
prod
ucts
164.7
165.2
163.5
163.6
162. 9
158.0
162.9
161.6
160.9
160.3
159.8
160.1
158.6
156.9
156. 4
154.4
152 4
151 6
196.0
194.2
189.2
184.1
181.8
175.8
183.6
183.1
183.0
183.3
181.5
179.9
175.2
169.9
173.3
171.1
164 0
161 6
117.1
148.1
149.3
147.0
144. 9
136.5
138.9
138.5
137.6
138.9
137.0
133.7
133.9
137.4
138.8
137.8
135 3
129.8
147. 1
144 6
142 4
159 5
153 4
152 5
123 6
120 2
120.5
Index N u m b ers of R etail P rices of Food in th e U n ited S ta te s
I n T able 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and 1920
to 1930,2 by months for 1930 and 1931. These index numbers, or
relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100, and are computed
by dividing the average price of each commodity for each month and
each year by the average price of that commodity for 1913. These
figures must be used with caution. For example, the relative price
of sirloin steak for the year 1930 was 182.7, which means that the
average money price for the year 1930 was 82.7 per cent higher than
the average money price for the year 1913. As compared with the
relative price, 196.9 in 1929, the figures for 1930 show a decrease of
14.2 points, but a'decrease of 7.2 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since
January, 1921, these index numbers have been computed from the
average prices of the articles of food shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted
2 For index num bers of each m onth, January, 1913, to December, 1928, see B ulletin No. 396, pp. 44 to
61; and B ulletin N o. 495, p p. 32 to 45. Index num bers for 1929 are published in each Labor Review, F eb
ruary, 1930, to February, 1931.
52839°—31-
14
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12331
202
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
according to the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
of food articles varied, these index numbers have been so computed
as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index num
bers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100.0 are 127.0 for
February, 1931, and 126.4 for March, 1931.
T a b l e 4 — IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E T A IL P R IC E S OF P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S OF FOOD
1ABLE 4 .
y £ aR S , 1913, 1920, TO 1930, A N D BY M O N T H S F O R 1930 A N D 1931
[Average for year 1913=100.0}
Y ear and
m onth
1913__________
1920
___
1921
___
1922
___
1923
___
1924
___
1925
___
1926
___
1927
___
1928
___
1929
___
1930
___
.)an u ary___
F e b ru a ry ,.
M arch____
A pril__ M a y ------ -Ju n e ______
J u ly ______
A ugust___
September _
October___
N ovem ber,
D ecem ber.,
1931: J a n u a ry .,,
F e b ru a ry ,,
M arch ____
Sirloin Round R ib C huck Plate
steak steak roast roast beef
Pork Bacon H am
chops
100.0 100.0
172.1 177.1
152.8 154.3
147.2 144.8
153.9 150. 2
155.9 151.6
159.8 155.6
162.6 159.6
167.7 166.4
188.2 188.3
196.9 199. 1
182.7 184.8
192.9 195. 5
191.3 194. 2
190. 6 192.8
190. 2 193.3
190. 2 192.8
188. 6 191.5
182. 3 184.3
175.6 176. 7
177. 2 178.0
175. 2 176. 2
170.5 170.9
168.9 169. 1
167.7 168.2
161. 4 161. 0
1.58.7 157. 8
100.0
167. 7
147.0
139.4
143.4
145.5
149.5
153. 0
158.1
176. 8
185.4
172. 7
183.3
181.8
181.3
181.3
179.8
177.3
171.7
163.1
166.7
164.1
160.6
159. 6
159. 1
154. 0
153. 0
100.0
103.8
132. 5
123.1
126.3
130.0
135. 0
140.6
148.1
174.4
186. 9
170.0
184.4
184.4
182.5
182.5
179.4
175.6
166. 3
155.6
160. 0
158.7
154.4
153.8
152.5
145. 6
141. 9
100.0
151. 2
118.2
105.8
106.6
109.1
114. 1
120.7
127.3
157. 0
172.7
155. 4
172. 7
171. 9
170.2
168. 6
164. 5
160. 3
149. 6
138.8
142. 1
142. 1
139. 7
139.7
138.0
131.4
128. 1
100.0
201. 4
166. 2
157. 1
144.8
146. 7
174.3
188.1
175.2
165.7
175.7
171.0
168.1
167. 6
171.9
176.7
171.9
174.3
173.8
174.8
186.2
180.5
156. 2
149. 5
141.9
131.4
140. 0
100.0
193.7
158. 2
147.4
144.8
139.6
173.0
186. 3
174.8
163.0
161.1
156.7
157. 0
157.8
157.8
157.4
156.7
156. 7
156.7
155.6
158.1
157.8
155.9
153.0
148.9
145. 2
143.0
Lard
Eggs
Bread Flour
Corn
meal
Rice
Year and m onth
1913_________________
1920
_________
1921
__________
1922
_________
1923
__________
1924
_________
1925
________
1926
_________
1927
_________
1928
________
1929
_________
1930
_________
J a n u a ry _________
February. ---------M arch___________
A p ril.---- --------M ay ____________
Ju n e____________
Ju ly -------------------A ugust. . . . .
Septem ber. __-----O ctober_________
N ovem ber. _. —
D ecem ber____
1931: Jan u ary . -------February. -------M arch__________
100.0 100.0
186. 7 197.4
113.9 147. 5
107.6 128.7
112.0 134. 8
120.3 138.6
147.5 151.0
138.6 140.6
122.2 131.0
117.7 134.5
115.8 142.0
107.6 118.8
108.9 160.6
108.2 136.8
107.0 102.3
106.3 100. 0
97.7
105.7
97.4
105.1
103.2 101.7
104.4 112.5
110.8 124.9
112.0 129.9
110.8 140.2
105. 7 120.6
99.4 104. 6
78.8
91.8
82. 6
89.9
100.0
245. 5
175.8
154.5
142.4
148.5
184.8
181.8
166.1 166.7
102.5 103. 6
160.7 154. 5
155.4 142.4
158. 9 154. 5
157.1 154.5
157.1 151. 5
157.1 148.5
157.1 145. 5
157.1 145.5
157.1 139.4
155.4 136.4
155. 4 133.3
153. 6 130.3
151.8 127.3
151.8 124.2
146.4 121. 2
142.9 121.2
141.1 118.2
100. 0
205. 4
176.8
155.4
155.4
157.1
167. 9
167.9
100. 0 100. 0
216.7 200.0
150.0 109.2
130.0 109.2
136.7 109.2
156. 7 116.1
180.0 127.6
170.0 133. 3
173.3 123.0
176.7 114.9
176.7 111.5
176.7 109.2
180.0 110. 3
176. 7 110.3
176.7 109.2
176.7 110.3
176.7 109. 2
176.7 109.2
176. 7 109.2
176.7 109.2
176. 7 110.3
176.7 109.2
173.3 106.9
173.3 iu5. 8
170.0 102.3
166.7 102.3
98.9
166.7
i 22 articles in 1913-1920; 42 articles in 1921-1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r123-11
100. 0
206. 3
181.4
181.4
169.1
168.4
195.5
213.4
204. 5
196. 7
204.1
198.5
199.3
200.7
201. 1
200.4
200.7
200.7
200.0
198.1
198.9
197.4
193.7
191.4
188. 1
183. 3
178.4
Hens
M ilk B utter Cheese
100.0
209.9
186. 4
169.0
164.3
165.7
171.8
182.2
173.2
175. 6
186. 4
166. 7
178.4
179.3
179.8
179.3
175.6
167.6
161.5
158. 7
159.6
158.7
153.1
150.2
153. 5
148.8
150. 2
100.0
187.6
164. 0
147. 2
155.1
155.1
157.3
157.3
158.4
159.6
160. 7
157. 3
159.6
158.4
157.3
157.3
157. 3
157.3
157. 3
157. 3
157. 3
157. 3
157.3
151. 7
149.4
146.1
144.9
Pota Sugar
toes
100. 0
100. 0
Tea
100.0
100.0
183.0
135.0
125.1
144.7
135.0
143.1
138.6
145.2
147.5
143.9
120.4
121.9
122.7
121.9
125.6
120.9
113.1
114.1
123.8
127.2
124.8
118.5
111.0
98.4
94.8
97.7
171.9
158.0
169.0
167. 1
164. 7
162.Q
162-0
15/. q
155-0
153. 4
154.o
1.54. o
152. u
150. o
145. o
141. o
137.7
1
Ail ar
Coffee ticles 1
100.0
352.7 134.7 157.7
145. 5 128.1 121.8
132.7 125.2 121.1
183.6 127.8 126.5
167.3 131.4 145.3
130.9 138.8 172.8
125.5 141.0 171.1
132. 7 142.5 162.1
129.1 142.3 165.1
120.0 142.6 164.8
211.8 112.7 142. 5 136.2
229.4 120.0 143.4 147.0
229.4 118.2 143.2 143.3
229.4 116.4 142.8 140.6
241. 2 114.5 142.5 138.9
252. 9 114.5 142.5 137.2
247.1 n o . 9 143.0 136.2
194.1 110.9 142.6 135.6
182.4 110.9 142.3 134.6
188.2 107.3 142.1 132.6
182.4 105.5 141.9 131.2
170.6 107.3 141.4 129.9
170.6 107.3 141.4 129.2
170.6 107.3 141.0 126.8
158.8 107.3 140.6 125.2
158.8 105.5 139.7 121.8
370.6
182.4
164.7
170.6
158. 8
211.8
288.2
223.5
158.8
188.2
100.0
188. o
153. Ü
148. g
167.Q
159-7
166. i
165. o
170.,
174.0
100.0
203.4
153.3
141.6
146. 2
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154. 3
156.7
147.1
155.4
153.0
150.1
151. 2
150.1
147. 9
144.0
143.7
145.6
144.4
141.4
137.2
132.8
127.0
126.4
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
203
The curve shown in the chart below pictures more readily to the
eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the index
numbers given in the table.
TREND OFRETAIL PRICES OF FOOD
C o m p a r is o n o f R e t a il F o o d C o s ts in 51 C it ie s
T a b l e 5 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food 3 March, 1931, compared with the aver
age cost in the year 1913, in March, 1930, and February, 1931.
For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the 1-year and the
1-month periods; these cities have been scheduled by the bureau at
different dates since 1913. The percentage changes are based on
actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers and on the
average consumption of these articles in each city.4
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
March 99.5 per cent of all the firms supplying retail pi ices in the
51 cities sent in a report promptly. The following-named 45 cities
had a perfect record; that is, every merchant who is cooperating with
the bureau sent in his report in time for his prices to be included in
the city averages: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Bridge
port, Buffalo, Butte, Charleston, (S. C.), Chicago, Cincinnati, Colum
bus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Jack
sonville, Kansas City, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Man
chester, Memphis, Minneapolis, Newark, New Haven, New Orleans,
New York, Norfolk, Omaha, Philadelphia, Portland (Me.), Portland
(Oreg.), Providence, Richmond, Rochester, St. Louis, St. Paul, Salt
Lake City, San Francisco, Savannah, Scranton, Springfield (111.) and
Washington.
8 For list of articles see note 2, p. 200.
.
4 T h e consum ption figures used for January, 1913, to December, 1920, for each article m each city are
given in the Labor Review for November, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. T he consum ption figures which have been
used for each m onth beginning w ith January, 1921, are given in the Labor Review for M arch, 1821, p. 20.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12351
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
204
T a b l e 5 .—P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL CO ST OF PO O D IN M A R C H , 1931,
C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E C O ST IN F E B R U A R Y , 1931, M A R C H , 1930, A N D W IT H T H E
A V E R A G E C O ST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, B Y C IT IE S
C ity
P e r c e n ta g e
de
Percent
crease,
M arch,
age in
1931, compared
crease,
w ith—
M arch,
1931, com
pared
F ebru
w ith 1913 M arch,
ary, 1931
1930
__
A tlanta
Baltimore
--- -Birm ingham
Boston -. .
___
Bridgeport _____
Buffalo________
Butte . ...
Charleston, S. C _.
ChicagoC in c in n ati.,
P e r c e n ta g e
de
Percent
crease,
March,
age in
1931, compared
crease,
w ith—
M arch,
1931, com
pared
F ebru
w ith 1913 M arch, ary,
1931
1930
C ity
26. 3
32.1
26. 4
27.9
15.3
13.8
16. 5
16.1
13.3
1.0
0.3
3.2
0.7
0.7
M inneapolis
Mobile ____
Newark
New H aven
. _
New Orleans. ____
27.5
17.2
17. 3
14.1
16.3
16.0
1.2
1. 7
0.4
1. 4
1.3
New Y o rk ___ ......
Norfolk
O m aha___________
Peoria
. ..
Philadelphia. .
.
15. 6
17.8
16.7
16.3
17.6
i 0. 3
i 0. 2
1.8
i 0. 2
1 0.1
Pittsburgh
Portland, Me
Portland, Oreg __
Providence
Richmond
32.0
36. 9
33.5
27. 3
26. 2
31.4
23.8
31.5
19. 3
29.9
Cleveland
Columbus
. _.
Dallas__
Denver
D etro it.. . - .... ..
23. 2
Fall River
H ouston
__
Indianapolis____
J ackson ville
Kansas C ity _ - -
22.2
22.3
20.1
26.8
16.8
19.1
17.8
13.8
15.8
1 0.1
0. 5
1 1.5
2.1
i 0.6
Rochester
St. Louis
St. Paul
Salt Lake C ity
San Francisco
...
8.7
26.8
L ittle Rock . .
Los Angeles _
Louisville
M anchester_____
M em phis________
M ilw aukee_______
19.5
14.5
18.5
23.2
15. 7
26.9
17.8
16.9
19.2
15.9
19.9
18.2
i 0.5
0.8
1. 5
i 0.1
1.7
0.9
Savannah
Scranton .
_
Seattle
Springfield, 111
W ashington, D. C .
31. 0
20. 0
25.7
12.1
27.0
1 Increase.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12361
27. 2
11.0
25.5
31.9
29. 8
36.0
16. 2
17.5
12. 7
12. 6
18.2
1. 1
1.0
0. 6
1.8
2. 3
13.8
14. 4
17.5
18. 2
14. 1
1.3
1. 5
■i . i
0. 2
0. 2
14.8
14.3
20.4
17.1
15. 0
0.1
0. 8
1. 1
1. 1
0. 4
15. 6
17. 0
15.8
16.4
15. 4
2. 4
0. 0
1 0. 7
0. 0
1. 5
16. 4
16. 5
17. 6
18. 3
12.8
0. 6
2. 2
10 1
1. 2
1 0. 1
W H O L E S A L E AND R E T A IL P R IC E S
205
R etail P rices o f Coal in th e U n ited S ta te s 1
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
March 15, 1930, and February 15 and March 15, 1931, for the
United States and for each of the cities from which retail food prices
have been obtained. The prices quoted are for coal delivered to con ■
sumers, but do not include charges for storing the coal in cellar or
coal bin where an extra handling is necessary.
In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are
shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those
cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales
for household use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds sold for household use.
T
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OP C O AL P E R T O N OF 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U SE H O L D
U SE, ON M A R C H 15, 1930, A N D F E B R U A R Y is A N D M A R C H 15, 1931
1930
1931
1930
C ity, a n d k in d of coal
M ar.
15
Feb.
15
M ar.
15
U nited States:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove—
Average price___ __ .
Index (1913=100)_____
C hestnut—
Average price_______
Index (1913=100)_____
B itum inous—
Average price__
Index (1923=100)...............
1931
City, and kind of coal
M ar.
15
Feb.
15
Cincinnati, Ohio:
B itu m in o u s Prepared sizes—
$15.33 $15.09 $15.09
H igh volatile_________ $6.30 $6.30
198.4 195.3 195.4
Low volatile_________
8.78
8.53
Cleveland, Ohio:
$15.00 $14.85 $14.85
Pennsylvania anthracite—
189.6 187.6 187.7
Stove_________________ 15.19 14.56
C hestn u t______________ 14.75 14.38
$9.02 $8.83 $8. 71
B itum inous—
166.0 162.5 160.3
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________
7.10
6.66
A tlanta, Ga.:
Low volatile_________
9.94
9. 91
Bituminous, prepared sizes. $7.77 $7.52 $7.42
Columbus, Ohio:
Baltimore, M d.:
B itum inous—
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Prepared sizes—
Stove______________
14.25 14.25 14.25
High volatile_________
5. 91
5. 91
C hestn u t_________ _
13. 75 13.75 13. 75
Low volatile_________
8. 25
8.13
Bitum inous, ru n of m ine—
Dallas, Tex.:
H igh volatile. . .
____ 7.89
7.82
7.82
Arkansas anthracite—E gg„ 15.50 15.00
Birmingham, Ala.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 12. 92 12.58
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 7. 54
7.36
7.23
Denver, Colo.:
Boston, Mass.:
Colorado an thracite—
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed. _ 15.06 15.25
Stove__________ . .
16.25 16.25 16.25
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed____ 15. 06 15.25
C hestn u t______ ____ _.
15. 75 15. 75 15.75
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10. 35
9.90
Bridgeport, Conn.:
D etroit, M ich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 15.50 14.50 14.50
Stove___ ______ ________ 16.00 14,58
C hestn u t__________ _ __ 15.50 14.50 14.50
C h estn u t___ ____ ______ 15.50 14.58
B itum inous—
Buffalo, N. Y.:
Prepared sizes—
Pennsylvania an th racite—
High volatile________ _ 8.09
S to v e .. ____
_____ 13. 77 13.79 13. 79
7.38
Low volatile_________ 10.12
8.98
C hestnut _____________ 13.32 13.29 13.29
R u n of mine—
B utte, M ont.:
Low v o la tile .________
7.83
7.50
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 11.09 10.47 10.49
Fall River, Mass.:
Charleston, S. C.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 9.07
9.67
9.67
Stove......................... ........... 16.50 16.50
Chicago, HI.:
C hestnut—................. .
16. 25 16.25
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Houston, Tex.:
Stove_______ __________ 16.85 16.40 16.40
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 13.60 12.00
C hestnut_____ _______ 16.40 16.30 16.30 Indianapolis, Ind.:
B itu m in o u s B itu m in o u s Prepared sizes—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________ 8.41
8.09
7.93
H igh volatile................... 6.01
5.92
Low volatile_______
12.04 11.95 11.45
Low volatile.................
8.75
9.17
R u n of mine—
R u n of m ine—
Low volatile____ _____ 8.25 1 8.00
7.75
Low volatile_________
7.08
7.05
1 Prices of coal were formerly secured sem iannually and published in th e M arch and September
of the Labor Review. Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published m onthly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1237]
M ar.
15
$6.30
8.53
14.56
14.38
6.83
9.96
5. 68
7.88
15.00
12. 58
15. 25
15.25
9.55
14. 58
14.58
6.93
8.33
7. 25
16. 50
16.25
12.00
5.93
9.17
6.95
issues
206
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF C O AL P E R T O N OF 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U SE H O L D
USE, ON M A R C H 15, 1930, A N D F E B R U A R Y 15 A N D M A R C H 15, 1931—Continued
I
1930
C ity, and kind of coal
Jacksonville, Fla.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
K ansas C ity, Mo.:
Arkansas anthracite—
F u rn ac e ... . . . - - . . .
Stove No. 4 .. .
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
L ittle Rock, Ark.:
Arkansas anthracite—Egg .
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Los Angeles, Calif.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Louisville, K v.:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile___ . . . .
M anchester, N . H.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove__
...
C hestnut
M em phis, Tenn.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
M ilwaukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove...... .............. . . .
C hestnut
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh v o la tile ________
Low volatile
M inneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_______
C h estn u t__
.. .
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
H igh volatile.. . _____
Low volatile__ . . . . . .
Mobile, Ala.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
N ewark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove . ...................... .
C h estn u t______________
New H aven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove
C h estn u t______________
New Orleans, La.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
N ew Y ork, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
C h estn u t.............................
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove..................... .
C h estn u t______________
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile
Low volatile
R u n of mine—
Low v o la tile .. . _____
Omaha, Nebr.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes.
Peoria, 111.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove____
_________
C h estn u t____ _______
1930
1931
C ity, and kind of coal
M ar.
15
Feb.
15
M ar.
15
Pittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
C hestnut
_
- 515. 00
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 5. 36
12. 44 Portland, M e.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
13. 50
16.80
Stove__ ______
___
6. 77
16. 80
C h estn u t.. .
. .
13. 50 Portland, Oreg.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 13. 32
9. 90
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16. 50
16. 00
Stove_____ _ .
C h estn ut---- ----------------- 216. 00
Richmond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
6.34
8. 75
Stove__ _______
- . - 15.00
C h estn u t______________ 15.00
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
10.83
High volatile. . . . ..
8.38
16. 83
9.11
Low volatile______ .
R u n of mine—
7. 52
Low volatile__ ____ . 7. 25
Rochester, N . Y.:
15. 75
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove______
.
. . 14. 75
C h estn u t______________ 14.25
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
7. 70
Stove____
_____ - 10. 70
10. 00
C h estn u t______________ 16. 45
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 6.75
16. 90 St. Paul, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
16. 90
18. 28
Stove..................
C hestnut . . . . ___
. . 17.85
9.65
B itum inous—
12. 03
Prepared sizes—
10. 27
High volatile..
12.63
Low volatile__ . . . .
9. 38
Salt Lake C ity, Utah:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 8. 38
13. 90 San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico anthracite—
13. 40
Cerillos e g g ... ______ . 20. 00
Colorado anthracite—
Egg. _
________ 25. 50
14. 90
14. 90
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 16. 88
Savannah, Ga.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 110. 21
10. 93
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
10. 28
14. 17
Stove___________
9. 92
C hestnut
......
13. 67
Seattle,AVash.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10. 79
15. 00 Springfield, 111.:
15. CO
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 4. 34
W ashington, D. C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove______ . .
. . 115. 73
7. 38
115. 23
C h e s tn u t_____ ___ _
9. 00
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
7. 00
High volatile_________ 1 8. 63
Bow volatile_________ '11.43
9. 66
R u n of mine—
M ixed.............................. ' 7. 75
6. 39
$14. 00 $10. 00 $10.00
12. 55
13. 67
7. 15
12.44
13. 50
6. 77
13. 50
10. 10
13. 50
10. 05
16. 50
16.50
7.03
9.50
6.28
8. 75
17. 00
17. 00
16. 83
16. 83
7. 80
7. 52
10. 30
15. 85
15. 75
15. 50
7. 08
10. 90
7. 74
10. 60
18.30
17. 85
10. 90
16. 90
10. 56
12. ¿9
9. 09
12. 91
9.53
9. 59
13.96
13. 46
13.85
13. 35
15 17
15. 17
14 90
14. 90
10. 96
10.93
14. 58
14. 08
14 17
13. 67
14. 00
14.00
15. 00
15.00
7. 25
8. 50
7. 38
10. 00
6.50
7.00
9. 67
9.71
0. 78
6.33
• 15. 00
•14. 50
14. 00
13. 50
M ar.
15
1931
Feb.
15
M ar.
15
$14. 50 $14. 50
4. 73
4. 75
16.80
16. 80
16. 80
16. 80
13.26
13. 15
216.00 2 16.00
216. 00 2 16X0
15. 00
15.00
15. 00
15.00
8. 75
9.83
8. 75
9.88
7.50
7. 50
14. 75
14. 25
14.75
14. 25
16. 20
15. 95
6. 37
16. 20
15. 95
5. 87
16. 90
16.90
16.90
16. 90
9. 58
12. 86
9. 58
12. 66
8. 16
7. 99
26. 00
26. 00
25. 50
16. 88
25. 50
17. 00
3 10.53 * 10.45
10. 18
9.88
10. 18
9.88
10.68
10. 79
4.31
4.34
115. 73 115. 73
115. 23 ‘ 15. 23
1 8.61 1 8.61
111. 43 •11.43
7. 81
• 7.81
14. 00
13. 50
1 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
2 The average price of coal delivered in bin is 50 cents higher th a n here shown. Practically all coal is
delivered in bin.
3 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made. This
additional charge has been included in the above price.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1238]
W H O L E S A L E AND R E T A IL P R IC E S
207
Index N u m b ers of W h olesale P rices in M arch, 1931
HE index number of wholesale prices computed by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor
shows a further recession in March. This index number, which
includes 550 commodities or price quotations weighted according to
the importance of each article and based on prices in 1926 as 100.0,
declined from 75.5 in February to 74.5 in March, a decrease of a
little more than
per cent. This compares with a decrease of 2
per cent between January and February. The purchasing power of
the 1926 dollar in March was $1,342.
Farm products as a group reacted from recent price declines,
increasing three-fourths of 1 per cent above the February level.
Prices of wheat, hogs, poultry, eggs, apples, oranges, onions, potatoes,
and foreign wools averaged higher than in the month before. Corn,
oats, rye, and hay, on the other hand, were cheaper than in February.
T
TREND OF WHOLESALE PRICES.
Foods were one-half of 1 per cent lower than in the preceding
month, with declines in most fresh and cured meats, fish, flour,
canned fruits and vegetables, cheese, coffee, and sugar. Among
foods increasing in price were butter, fresh pork, dressed poultry,
lard, and corn meal.
Hides and skins showed an appreciable price increase, with leather
and boots and shoes declining slightly and other leather products
showing no change.
In the group of textile products there were small decreases among
cotton goods and larger decreases among silk and rayon, woolen and
worsted goods, and other textiles.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1239]
208
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Anthracite and bituminous coal and beehive coke showed small
price declines, while by-product coke was stationary. Petroleum
products showed a pronounced drop in price, due to radical decreases
in crude petroleum, fuel oil, and gasoline. Among metals and metal
products there was a slight decline in iron and steel, while nonferrous
metals advanced. Other metal products were unchanged in price.
In the group of building materials, lumber and paint materials
advanced, while brick was stationary and cement declined. The
group as a whole showed a negligible increase.
Chemicals and drugs, including fertilizer materials and mixed
fertilizers, were somewhat cheaper than in February.
No change in the price level was shown for furniture and furnish
ings in the group of house-furnishing goods.
In the group of miscellaneous commodities, cattle feed moved
sharply upward, while paper and pulp and crude rubber weakened.
No change in the price level was reported for automobile tires.
Paw materials as a whole averaged lower than in February, as did
also finished products. Semimanufactured articles were only slightly
lower.
In the large group of nonagricultural commodities, including all
articles other than farm products, and among all commodities other
than farm products and foods, March prices averaged lower than
those of the month before.
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y G R O U P S A N D S U B G R O U P S OF C O M
M O D IT IE S
[1926=100.0]
M arch,
1930
Groups and subgroups
All commodities____ _
______
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Purchasing
power of
the dollar
M arch, 1931
_ __ _ _
90.8
75.5
74.5
$1. 342
F arm products______
G ra in s ._
_. _ ___ ___ ____ _____ _ _____
Livestock and p o u ltiy .
_ _ _ .......................... .
Other farm products. _________ _____________
94.7
83.5
99.6
95.2
70.1
60.4
69.6
73. 7
70.6
59.3
70.7
74.2
1.416
1. 686
1.414
1. 348
77.1
83.3
83.6
70.8
76.7
83.7
82.0
70.8
1.304
1.195
1. 220
1.412
Foods. ______
_ _ _
__________ ________ _
B utter, cheese, and m ilk ..
Meats___ . . . . . . _ _ __ _ ______ _____
O ther foods________________________________
93.9
98.5
104.2
86.2
Hides and leather p ro d u c ts ____ _ _________
Hides and skins______ _ _ _
__ __
Leather _
_
Boots and shoes..
_ __
O ther leather p roducts. _ _________ _
103.2
95.8
107.4
103.8
105.8
86.6
57.7
89.0
95.0
102.0
87.4
62.1
88.4
94.9
102.0
1.144
1.610
1. 131
1.054
.980
Textile pro d u cts_______ _ _ ___
___ _ ______
C otton goods _____ __
_
__________
_ __
Silk and rayon. ............................
Woolen and w orsted goods. _
___ _
O ther textile p ro d u cts._
___ __ _
86.5
91.9
73.7
91.0
70.6
70.4
76.9
48.8
81.7
59.0
69.2
76. 5
47.0
79.7
57.4
1. 445
1.307
2. 128
1. 255
1. 742
Fuel and lighting m aterials. ..........................................
A nthracite coal__ _ _ _ _ ______ ___ _
B itum inous c o al._ _________ _ __________ _
Coke.
_ ___ _____ ___
Gas . . .
_ ____
_ ___ _
Petroleum products. __________________________
i D a ta not yet available.
77.4
91.2
89.9
84.2
94. 1
63.7
69. 6
88.9
87.8
83.8
95. 8
50.2
64. 5
88. 2
85.8
83.7
1.550
1. 134
1. 166
1. 195
41.8
2. 392
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1240]
'
(l)
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
209
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S BY G R O U P S A N D SU B G R O U P S OF C O M
M O D IT IE S —Continued
M arch,
1930
Groups and subgroups
February,
1931
M arch,
1931
Purchasing
power of
the dollar
M arch, 1931
M etals and m etal p ro d u c ts... _ _______ _______ . . .
Iron and steel. . . . _________ _________________
Nonferrous m etals__
. ...
_ _
______
Agricultural im plem ents___ . . . . ____________
Automobiles
____________
__ _
Other metal p roducts_______________ _ _ . . . . . .
100.6
94.9
98.6
95.0
106. 8
98.4
88.9
88.4
66. 1
94.7
98.0
95.0
89.0
88. 1
67.1
94.7
98.0
95.0
$1. 124
1. 135
1.490
1.056
1.020
1.053
Building m aterials________
________
Lum ber.__
. . . ________________________ ___
Brick_________________________ ________________
C em ent_______________ _ _ ....... . _ _ .__ ____
Structural steel__________ _____________________
Paint m a te ria ls._ . . .
. .
. _
O ther building m aterials______________________ _
95.4
91. 6
88.3
92.7
91.9
92.1
106.4
81.8
73.2
81. 5
87.9
84.3
70.9
95.6
81.9
74.2
81.5
84. 1
84.3
73.0
95.4
1.221
1.348
1. 227
1. 189
1. 186
1. 370
1.048
Chemicals and d ru g s................ ............... _ _____ ____
Chemicals_____ _ ____________________________
_
___
Drugs and pharm aceuticals___ _
Fertilizer m aterials_____ ____ ___ _ _
_____
M ixed fertilizers______ _______ ________ _______
91.2
96.8
68. 3
88.2
94.8
82.2
85.0
65.0
81. 1
89.1
81.9
84.8
64. 6
80.8
88.3
1.221
1. 170
1. 548
1. 238
1.133
House-furnishing goods________ _________ ___ __.
F u rn itu re ..
__ __ _ _ _____ ___________ _ __
Furnishings.,
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____
96.5
96.6
96.3
90.8
95.5
86.7
90.8
95.5
86.7
1. 101
1.047
1.153
M iscellaneous_________ _______ _ ________
C attle f e e d _______ ________________________ __
Paper and p u lp ___ _
_ _ _________ _ _______
R ubber
_
_
_
_
_ ___
____
Automobile tires _
__
O ther m iscellaneous.__ _ _ . . . _ _ ____________
78.2
103.8
87.0
31.6
55.2
108.6
63.9
71.6
83. 1
16.1
45.7
85.1
64.7
82.1
82.3
16.0
45.7
86.3
1. 546
1.218
1. 215
6. 250
2.188
1.159
R aw materials _
_ __............... ......................... .......
Sem im anufactured artic le s._ ________ __
Finished products________________________________
N onagricultural commodities. _. _ __ _______ _____
All commodities less farm products and foods,.............
89.3
90.6
92.0
89.8
88.7
70.6
72.3
79.3
77. 1
77. 1
69.4
72.2
78.4
75.7
75. 6
1.441
1. 385
1. 276
1.321
1.323
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ri24ii
COST OF LIVING
A rg en tin e M easures to R edu ce C ost of Living
GOVERNMENT organization (Junta de Abastecimientos) was
formed recently in Argentina to investigate the high prices of
foodstuffs and rents in Buenos Aires and to devise means of bringing
about a reduction in the cost of living in Buenos Aires and in the
Provinces, according to a report from Vice Consul Ralph Miller, at
Buenos Aires, dated March 5, 1931.
This organization did not use coercive measures but confined its
activities, first of all, to appeals to the dealers and landowners to
make a voluntary reduction, but since few results were obtained, more
direct methods were resorted to.
The municipality of Buenos Aires bought flour, bread, meat, milk,
and vegetables direct from the producers and offered them to the
public at the city markets and street fairs at greatly reduced prices.
This measure has brought relief to the laboring classes and has in
duced dealers to reduce their prices accordingly.
The report states that excessive building operations in Buenos
Aires during the last two years have oversupplied the market and a
reduction of over 20 per cent in the rent of small apartments has
taken place within the last six months. Suburban rents are still
excessive, however. It is generally believed that unless there is a
reduction in property taxes and in import duties on building materials,
the efforts of the authorities will not be successful in bringing about a
reduction in rents.
A
J a p a n ese F a m ily B u d get In v estig a tio n , 1926-27
HE first family-budget inquiry on an extensive scale in Japan and
the only official investigation of this kind ever made in that
country was carried on by the Bureau of Statistics of the Imperial
Cabinet in 1926-27. A summary of this study, by the chief statisti
cian of the Bureau of Statistics, recently published in English, is the
basis of an article in the March, 1931, issue of the International Labor
Review, from which the following data are taken.
Scope and method oj inquiry.—The investigation covered various
localities, including 11 of the largest cities. Among the households
budgeted were those of salaried workers (officials, clerks, teachers,
etc.), wage earners (factory, mine, and communication workers, and
day laborers), and farmers. The period for which the budget records
were kept was from September 1, 1926, to August 31, 1927.
In selecting the families to keep records the requirements to be met
were as follows:
T
(a) The total income of the household per month must not exceed 200 yen
[$96.40J approximately. In the case of farm households, the area cultivated must
not exceed 2 cho approximately (cho — 2.45 acres).
(6)
More than half the family income must be derived from the earnings of
the husband.
210
[1242]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
211
COST OF LIVING
(c) The household must not conduct any business on its own account (or in
the case of farm households, no independent business other than agriculture).
(d ) The household should contain 2 to 7 persons.
(e) Preferably the household should have no servants, boarders, or lodgers, or
any other inmates besides its own members.1
Of the 7,856 household hooks distributed, 6,505 were continued for
the year and 5,455 family budgets were tabulated.
Table 1 shows the average monthly income and average expendi
tures of salaried workers’ and of wage earners’ households. It will
be noted that the total average monthly income for salaried
workers was 137.17 yen ($66.12) as compared with 102.07 yen ($49.19)
for wage earners. The salaried workers’ households had a surplus of
12.83 yen ($6.19) in income over expenditures and the wage earners’
households a surplus of 10.69 yen ($5.15).
The study covered 1,575 households of salaried workers and 3,210
households of wage earners. The former had an average of 4.17
persons each (3.19 consumption units) and the latter 4.21 persons
(3.18 consumption units).
T a b l e 1.—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y IN C O M E A N D E X P E N D IT U R E S O F S A L A R IE D W O R K
E R S ’ A N D W A G E E A R N E R S ’ H O U S E H O L D S F O R Y E A R E N D IN G A U G U S T 31, 1927
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of average exchange rate of yen for year covered=48.2
cents]
Salaried workers
Item
Yen
U nited
States cur
rency
W age earners
Yen
U nited
States cur
rency
In c o m e
Earnings:
H u sb a n d —
Principal income________
___ ______ _____
Subsidiary incom e______ - - - _______ - --- W ife__________ ___ -. _________________________
O ther members of household.
- - ---- -- ------
108. 03
1. 02
3. 76
2.75
$52.07
.78
1.81
1.33
84. 67
.44
3.55
4.26
$40.81
.21
1. 71
2.05
T o ta l------ -----------------------------------------------------
116.16
55.99
92. 92
44. 78
O ther income:
From lodgers
- ---- -- -- - ..........- -- From p ro p erty -.- ------- -- --- -- ---------------------Presents------------------------- - ----------- --- --------O ther sources_______
- ----------- --------- --
.48
5. 22
11.81
3. 50
.23
2. 52
5.69
1.69
.64
1.92
5. 92
.67
.31
. 93
2. 85
.32
T o tal------ ---------------------------------------------------
21.01
10. 13
9. 15
4.41
G rand to ta l___________________________ ______
137. 17
66. 12
102. 07
49. 19
Food and drink
. ----------------------------------------------Housing (including repairs, furniture, etc.)---------Fuel and lig h t_____________________________________
Clothing
- - . - ----------------------------------------------All other------ ---------------------------------------------------------
40. 61
22. 84
5. 66
17. 18
38. 05
19. 57
11. 01
2. 73
8.28
18. 34
36.33
14.42
4. 17
11.87
24. 59
17. 51
6. 95
2. 01
5. 72
11.85
T o ta l_______________________________________
124. 34
59. 93
91. 38
44.04
S urplus___________________________________________
12.83
6. 19
10. 69
5. 15
E x p e n d itu r e s
1 T here could, however, be tenants or sub ten an ts occupying p a rt of th e dwelling, provided th e y would
not render th e task of keeping th e budget records more complicated or laborious.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1243]
212
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The composition of the farmers’ households is shown in the table
following :
T a b l e 3 .—C O M P O S IT IO N O F F A R M E R S ’ H O U SE H O L D S
Class of farmer 1
Item
Indepen
dent
Semiindepen
dent
132
5. 93
4. 76
330
5.93
4. 76
N u m b er of households______________________ ____ .
Persons p er household_______________ ______
C onsum ption u n its per household . . _______
T otal
T enant
208
5. 61
4.45
670
5.83
4. 66
1 A n “ independent farm er” was defined as one who owned 90 per cent or more and leased 10 per cent
or less of th e to ta l land worked; a te n a n t farm er as one who leased 90 per cent or more a nd owned 10 per
cent or less, of th e lan d w orked; th e rem ainder of the farmers were classed as “ sem i-independent farmers.”
Table 3 gives the average monthly income and expenditures of
various classes of farmers’ households, the income for all farmers
being only 96.16 yen ($46.35).
The income of farmers, it is pointed out, is more difficult to ascer
tain correctly and their budgets are more difficult to balance. The
results of the study of such budgets, however, though they may not
be strictly comparable with those of the investigation of salaried
workers’ and wage earners’ budgets, do seem to indicate that the
farmers’ standard of living is lower than in the corresponding wage
earning classes.
T able 3.—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y IN C O M E A N D E X P E N D IT U R E OF F A R M E R S ’ H O U SE¡H O LD S F O R Y E A R E N D IN G A U G U ST 31, 1927
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of average exchange rate of yen for year covered=48.2
cents]
Class of farmers 1
Independent
Semi
independent
T enant
Total
Item
U nited
States
cur
rency
Yen
United
States
cur
rency
Yen
U nited
States
cur
rency
Yen
$36.10
65.29
$31. 47
47. 21
$22. 76
61. 57
$29. 68
1.76
.20
1.32
5.13
.86
5.07
2.47
.41
2.44
6.62
1.04
6.00
3.19
. 50
2.89
5.30
.83
4.90
2. 55
. 40
2. 36
9.78
3. 47
1.61
18.14
54.24
12.75
7. 47
3. 76
35. 04
100. 33
6.15
3. 60
1.81
16.88
48. 35
8. 77
6. 71
2. 81
31.95
79.16
4.23
3.23
1.35
15. 40
38.16
13.00
7.18
3. 38
34. 59
96.16
6. 27
3. 46
1.63
16.67
46. 35
45. 07
21.73
44.87
21.62
41.40
19.95
44.01
21. 21
18.63
6. 10
9.32
30.54
109. 66
8.98
2.94
4. 49
14. 72
52.86
14.98
6.16
8.17
26. 45
100.63
7. 22
2.97
3.94
12. 75
48. 50
11. 54
5. 34
5.59
17. 39
81.26
5. 56
2. 57
2.69
8. 38
39.17
14.64
5.89
7. 59
24. 26
96. 39
11. 69
46. 46
2.87
1. 38
.30
. 15
2. 10
1.01
.23
. 11
Yen
U nited
States
cur
rency
In c o m e
Net income from agriculture______
. 74.91
Incom e from other sources:
Earnings—
H u sb an d___ _______ _
3.66
V y ife _. _ _
.42
O ther members of household.
2. 73
O ther income —
From property______ _____ 20.29
Presents___________________
7.19
O ther sources. __ ______ ___
3. 33
Total ___ ^
37. 62
G rand total _.
112. 53
E x p e n d itu r e
Food and d rin k ______________
Housing (including repairs, furniture, e tc .). __________
Fuel an d lig h t____________
C lo th in g .. __________
All other ___ ____ .
T o ta l____________ ____ _
2.84
In c o m e c o m p a r e d w ith e x p e n d itu r e
S u r p l u s . . . ___ . . . .
D eficit__________________
1 A n “ independent farm er” was defined as one w ho owned 90 per cent or more and leased 10 per cent or
less of th e to ta l land w orked; a te n a n t farm er as one w ho leased 90 per cent or more, and owned 10 per cent
or less, of th e land worked; th e rem aining farmers were classed as “ sem i-independent farmers.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 2 4 4 ]
COST OF LIVING
213
Table 4 shows that proportionately more is spent for food and
drink in the lowest income groups in each class of households, the
percentage for this expenditure in such income groups being for
salaried workers’, wage earners’, and all farmers’ households, respec
tively, 43.31, 50.23, and 50.95. With the increase in income in all
classes of households there is, of course, a rise in the percentage of
expenditure for miscellaneous items.
T a b l e 4 .—P E R C E N T A G E D IS T R IB U T IO N O P E X P E N D IT U R E OF S A L A R IE D W O R K E R S ’
W A G E E A R N E R S ’, A N D F A R M E R S ’ H O U S E H O L D S
[Conversions in to U nited States currency on basis of average exchange rate of yen for year covered=48.2
cents]
Percentage of income expended for—
Class of household and average m onthly
income
Salaried workers:
U nder 60 yen (under $28.92)_________
60 and u nder 80 yen ($28.92 and under
$38.56)___________________________
80 and u nder 100 yen ($38.56 a n d under
$48.20).............. ......................
100 and u n d er 120 yen ($48.20 an d u n
der $57.84)___________
.
120 and un d er 140 yen ($57.84 and u n
der $67.48)______ ____
140 and un d er 160 yen ($67.48 a n d u n
der $77.12)________________
160 and un d er 180 yen ($77.12 a n d u n
der $86.76)_______________
180 and u n d er 200 yen ($86.76 a n d u n
der $96.40)_____
200 yen a n d over ($96.40 a n d over)___
T o tal____ __________ _______
Food and Housing Fuel and
Clothing All other
drink
light
Total
43. 31
17. 39
6.36
12. 55
20.39
37.95
17. 91
5.64
13. 70
24. 80
100. 00
36.67
18.23
5.03
13.61
26. 46
100.00
100.00
35.11
18.96
4.96
13. 61
27.36
100.00
33. 45
18. 72-
4.64
13. 95
29.24
100.00
100.00
32.47
18. 53
4. 47
14.02
30. 51
31. 43
17. 29
4.40
13.97
32.91
100. 00
30. 06
28. 26
18. 67
18. 15
4. 18
3. 90
13.68
13.83
33. 41
35. 86
100. 00
100.00
32.66
18. 37
4. 55
13. 82
30. 60
100.00
50.23
14.13
5.75
9. 75
20.14
100.00
44.94
14. 84
4.94
11. 81
23. 47
100. 00
41.99
15.46
4.75
12.51
25.29
100.00
38.14
16.51
4.54
13.07
27.74
100.00
36.96
16. 43
4. 33
13.70
28.58
100. 00
36. 36
15. 66
4.09
14.17
29.72
100. 00
Wage earners:
U nder 60 yen (under $28.92)_________
60 and u n d er 80 yen ($28.92 an d under
$38.56)___________________________
80 and un d er 100 yen ($38.56 and under
$48.20)_____________ _____________
100 and un d er 120 yen ($48.20 a n d u n
der $57.84) ___ _______________
120 and u nder 140 yen ($57.84 a n d u n
der $67.48)________________
140 and u nder 160 yen ($67.48 and u n
der $77.12)________ ______
160 a nd u nder 180 yen ($77.12 and u n
der $86.76)________________
180 and u nder 200 yen ($86.76 and u n
der $96.40)_________________
200 yen a n d over ($96.40 and over)___
34.18
16.48
3.96
14.98
30.40
100. 00
31.84
32.35
16.30
15. 61
3.81
3. 74
15.75
13. 74
32.30
34. 56
100.00
100.00
T o ta l............... .............................
39. 76
15. 78
4. 56
12.99
26.91
100. 00
Farm ers:
79.16 yen ($38.16) i______ _____ ______
100.33 yen ($48.36) 2_____ _____ ___
112.53 yen ($54.24) a_______________
50. 95
44. 59
41. 92
14. 20
14.89
16. 99
6. 57
6. 12
5. 56
6. 88
8. 12
8.50
21.40
26. 28
27. 03
100.00
100. 00
100. 00
T o ta l_______ ______ ________
45. 66
15.19
6.11
7.87
25.17
100. 00
1 T en an t.
2 Semi-independent.
3 Independent.
The large percentage of expenditure for rice, barley, and other
cereals in all classes of households is brought out in Table 5, as is also
the fact that the percentage of expenditure for “ luxuries” (alcoholic
drinks, tobacco, cakes and fruit, and nonalcoholic drinks) in wage
earners’ households is higher than in salaried workers’ households.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1245]
214
M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W
T able 5.—P E R C E N T A G E D IS T R IB U T IO N OF E X P E N D IT U R E F O R FO O D OF S A L A R IE D
W O R K E R S ’, W A G E E A R N E R S ’, A N D F A R M E R S ’ H O U S E H O L D S
Per cent of to ta l expenditure
Farm ers
Item
Salaried
workers
Rice, barley, and other cereals---------------Fresh fish and shellfish
------ - - M eat_____________________ __________
Eggs---------------------------------------------------Milk ________________________________
Beans and vegetables----- ----------------------Dried food_____________________________
Tofu (bean curd), T suk u d an i, and similar
prepared food and pickles----------------- -Sugar, salt, soy, e tc ------------------------------B ought meals for home consum ption____
M eals outside th e hom e------------------------T o ta l___ ________________________
“ L uxuries” :
Alcoholic drinks-_ ------- -------Tobacco ................... Oakes and fru it---------------------------- Nonalcoholic d rink s------- ------ ----- -T o ta l___ ________________________
G rand to ta l--
...........................—
Wage
earners
All
In d e
pendent
Semi-independ
ent
T enant
11. 09
3. 02
1. 12
.76
. 28
2. 35
.43
16. 25
3.41
1.02
.55
. 22
2.84
.43
27. 39
2.01
. 27
. 22
. 10
3.71
.34
24.65
1. 85
.35
. 29
. 10
3. 34
.32
26.60
1. 96
. 25
.23
. 13
3. 68
.33
31. 27
2. 25
. 25
. 15
. 04
4. 07
.37
1. 73
2.78
.87
2. 04
2. 18
3.37
.79
1. 58
1. 91
4. 76
.27
. 19
1. 72
4.37
.30
. 25
1.92
4. 65
. 26
. 18
2. 03
5. 33
. 25
. 17
26. 47
32. 64
41.17
37. 54
40. 19
46. 18
1. 59
1. 17
2.91
.52
2.80
1. 39
2. 45
.48
1. 97
.59
1. 59
.34
1.91
.56
1. 59
.32
1.88
.56
1.61
.35
2. 20
. 65
1. 56
. 36
6. 19
7. 12
4. 49
4. 38
4. 40
4. 77
32. 66
39. 76
45. 66
41. 92
44. 59
50.95
The percentage of expenditures on miscellaneous items is highest
in the salaried group, as indicated in Table 6, and in all classes of
households proportionately more was expended under the heading
“ Companionship (presents, parties, etc.)” than for any other class of
miscellaneous items.
T able 6.—P E R C E N T A G E D IS T R IB U T IO N OF M IS C E L L A N E O U S E X P E N D IT U R E S OF
S A L A R IE D W O R K E R S ’, W A G E E A R N E R S ’, A N D F A R M E R S ’ H O U SE H O L D S
Per cent of total expenditure
F a n ners
Item
Salaried
workers
Sanitation,- _
_ ........... - ------R earing of children _ . _______ ________
E d u catio n _____________________________
D aily journeys_________________________
Correspondence and tra n sp o rta tio n ______
Statio n ery__ _
_______
Taxes, rates, and other d u tie s ,, ________
Com panionship (presents, parties, e tc .) ...
C ulture and recreation, ____________ . . .
Travel _ _______
, ___ _ . . . ________
H ired la b o r____________________________
O ther expenditures _________ , . ,
N o t defined _________________________ .
T o ta l___ ___________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
_____ ,- . . .
Wage
earners
All
Inde
pendent
Semi-in
depend
ent
T enant
6.18
1. 30
1.90
1. 76
.42
.20
1. 13
8. 28
4. 85
1. 15
.27
2. 61
. 55
6. 39
1. 67
1.09
1.24
.23
. 13
. 56
7. 07
3. 57
.99
. 13
3. 04
. 80
2. 81
.38
1. 05
1. 19
. 17
. 16
1. 36
7. 86
2.24
.60
. 17
6.28
.90
2. 96
.39
1. 57
1. 25
.23
. 16
2. 04
8. 18
2. 76
.68
. 19
5. 75
.87
2.93
.39
.98
1. 24
. 16
. 16
1. 32
8. 13
2.30
.65
. 19
7.01
.82
2. 44
.38
. 75
1.07
. 15
. 15
.84
7. 06
1. 66
.45
.09
5. 28
1.08
30.60
26. 91
25. 17
27. 03
26. 28
21. 40
[1246]
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
S ta tistic s of Im m ig r a tio n for February, 1931
B y J. J . K u n n a , C h ie f S t a t is t ic ia n U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u
of
I m m ig r a t io n
URING February, 12,212 aliens were admitted to the United
States; the immigrant class, newcomers for permanent residence
in this country, numbered 3,147, the remaining 9,065 being tourists
or other temporary visitors. In the same month 20,890 aliens left
the United States, 16,170 of whom were of the visiting class or nonemigrants and 4,720 were emigrants leaving with the intention of
again making their home abroad. American citizens returning to
and departing from the United States in February totaled 27,508
and 33,172, respectively. Compared with the previous month, there
was an increase in both the inward and outward passenger movement,
39,720 persons having entered the United States and 54,062 left for
foreign countries in February, as against 32,659 arrived and 46,451
departed in January, 1931.
Two-thirds, or 8,063, of the 12,212 aliens admitted in February
were born in Europe, while 2,956 gave countries in the Western
Hemisphere as their place of birth, principally Canada, Mexico, and
Cuba; 1,015 were born in Asia; 132 in Australia, New Zealand, and
the Pacific islands; and 46 in Africa. Of the total admitted, 3,936
came in under the immigration act of 1924 as residents of the United
States returning from a temporary sojourn abroad, 2,749 came as
visitors to this country for business or pleasure, and 2,175 were
passing through the country on their wray elsewhere. Aliens entering
as quota immigrants numbered 1,471 and as natives of nonquota
countries 669. There were 777 aliens admitted as husbands, waves,
and unmarried children of American citizens, and 435 as Government
officials, students, ministers, professors, and other miscellaneous
classes. All classes of admission under the act show a reduction since
a year ago, the most drastic decline being in the case of quota immi
grants. The number admitted of this class dropped from 9,207 in
February, 1930, to 1,471 in February, 1931, a decrease of 7,736, or
84 per cent. Aliens admitted as natives of Canada, Mexico, and
other nonquota countries also show a marked decrease, or from
2,546 to 669, a reduction of 73.7 per cent.
The principal nationalities among the 3,147 immigrant aliens for
February were: Italian with 609, English with 360, German with
337, Hebrew with 224, Scandinavian with 165, French with 153,
Scotch with 136, and Irish with 131. These eight nationalities sup
plied two-thirds of the total for the month. A year ago the Germans
led the list wTith 2,299, followed by the Irish with 1,780, English with
1,712, Scotch with 1,600, Italian with 1,244, Hebrew with 827,
Mexican writh 772, and French with 512—forming altogether about
80 per cent of the 13,585 immigrants entering during February, 1930.
The women outnumber the men among the present-day immigrants,
1,929 of the newcomers during February being females and 1,218
D
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1247 J
215
216
M O NTHLY LA BO R R E V IE W
males; 1,466 were single at the time of arrival, 1,489 were married,
and 192 were widowed or divorced. As to the age given at time of
arrival, 609 were children under 16 years and 532 were from 16 to
21 years, while 784 ranged in age from 22 to 29, 486 from 30 to 37
years, 232 from 38 to 44 years, and 504 from 45 to 60 years and over.
Comparatively few unskilled workers are now admitted, only 133 of
the February immigrants being laborers, as contrasted with 2,063,
or 66 per cent of the total, who were recorded as having no occupa
tion, being mainly women and children.
IN W A R D A N D O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T F R O M JU L Y 1, 1930, TO F E B
R U A R Y 28, 1931
*
O utw ard
Inw ard
Aliens
Aliens
de
de
Aliens departed
IJ nited
ported
barred
States
United
after
from
citi
land
States
enter
zens Total ing 2
citizens Total ing 1 E m i NonN on
Im m i im
Total
de
emi
Total arrived
m
i
grant grant
grant grant
parted
Aliens adm itted
Period
1930
Ju ly
_____
A ugust___ -.
September
October
N ovem ber- .
D ecem ber____
13, 323
14, 816
17, 792
13. 942
9,209
6, 439
1931
J a n u a ry ..- . .
F eb ru ary ____
4,091
3, 147
29, 789
34, 540
47,151
37, 246
22,241
16, 378
38, 822 68, 611
69, 957 104,497
80, 900 128, 051
40, 702 77, 948
22, 381 44, 622
28, 535 44, 913
881
837
929
854
734
806
4, 818
5, 245
5,100
5,352
4,951
5,450
55, 366 82, 772
88, 372 122, 783
56, 526 86, 230
32, 988 61, 278
24,420 48, 656
21,140 44,193
1,440
1, 208
1, 552
1, 526
1, 405
1, 377
8, 724 12, 815
9, 065 12, 212
19, 844 32, 659
27, 508 39, 720
693
689
4, 397 17,169 21, 566 24,885 46,451
4, 720 16,170 20,890 33,172 54,062
1, 517
1, 210
16, 466
19, 724
29, 359
23. 304
13, 032
9, 939
T o ta l.. _ 82, 759 129, 613 212, 372 328, 649 541, 021
22, 588
29,166
24, 604
22, 938
19, 285
17, 603
27,406
34,411
29, 704
28, 290
24, 236
23, 053
6,423 40, 033 169, 523 209, 556 336, 869 546, 425 11, 235
1 These aliens are not included among arrivals, as th ey were not perm itted to enter the U nited States.
2 These aliens are included among aliens departed, th ey having entered th e U nited States, legally or
illegally, and later being deported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1248]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
N a tio n a l E con om ic C ou n cils: A L ist of R eferences
Compiled by L a u ra A. T h o m p so n , L ib r a r ia n U n it e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t
of
L abor
Economic Planning and Representation—General
B e v e r id g e , S i r W il l ia m H.
An Economic General Staff.
Nation (London), December 29, 1923, January 5, 1924, v. 34, pp. 485
486, 509, 510.
’
Discusses th e need of some addition to governm ental m achinery to provide expert advice
on the practical economic problems of the day comparable to th a t received by the G overn
m ent on the technical aspects of defense.
D o ug la s P a u l H.
Occupational versus proportional representation.
American Journal of Sociology, September, 1923, v. 29, pp. 129-157.
F in e r , H e r m a n .
Representative Government and a Parliament of Industry.
Society, G. Allen & Unwin, 1923. 273 pp.
London, Fabian
Some aspects of representative governm ent, p p. 3-34.
H ea d la m - M o r l e y , A g n e s .
The New Democratic Constitutions of Europe: A comparative study of post
war European constitutions with special reference to Germany, Czecho
slovakia, Poland, Finland, the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
and the Baltic States. London, Oxford University Press, H. Milford
1928. 298 pp.
’
C hapter X V is on “ T h e social and economic duties of governm ent’’; C hapter X V I on “ An
economic co n stitu tio n ” covers th e provisions in various European constitutions relating to
national economic councils.
H e r r in g , E. P e n d l e t o n .
Legalized lobbying in Europe.
Current History, February, 1930, v. 31, pp. 947-952.
Describes th e a ttem p ts a t economic representation through parliam ents of in d u stry or
advisory councils in various countries of Europe, p articularly the French, German, Italian,
an d Czechoslovakian experience.
L a u t a u d , C a m il l e .
La Représentation Professionnelle. Les conseils économiques en Europe et
en France. Paris, M. Rivière, 1927. 285 pp.
M c B a in , H o w a rd L e e .
The new constitutions of Europe. New York, Doubleday, Page & Co., 1922.
612 pp. “ Functional representation” : pp. 117-135
N a t io n a l
e c o n o m ic c o u n c il s .
Monthly Labor Review, January, 1931, v. 32, pp. 1-9.
Describes the economic councils of Prance, G reat B ritain, Germany, and Italy.
United States—Suggested Plans1
A b b o t t , C h a r l e s F.
Proposes economic commission on business prosperity; national fact-finding
body could determine causes of nonprofitable operation and suggest
program for remedy or relief.
Iron Trade Review, April 24, 1930, v. 86, No. 17, pp. 57, 58.
See also a discussion, b y Granville P . Rogers, in same journal, M ay 8, 1930, pp. 64, 65.
1 See also discussions a t annual meeting of Cham ber of Commerce of the U nited States, A pril 28-M av
1, 1931, in T he W eek’s W ork, M ay 2, 1931, and daily press.
52839°—31----- 15
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1249]
217
218
M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W
A general staff for business: What it could do to prevent depressions.
Outlook and Independent, December 31, 1930, v. 156, pp. 695-697.
Discusses th e need of measures of a perm anent a n d far-reaching character to correct and con
trol the unregulated forces responsible for th e present m aladjustm ent betw een the p ro d u c ts e
capacity a n d th e purchasing power of th e population. T h e suggestion m ade is for a small
com m ittee of 4 or 5 outstanding leaders of finance and in dustry to be appointed b y the President
to advise him in th e selection of a large board of 50 or 60 men and women representing all the
m ain subdivisions of economic activ ity . In th e plan proposed, th e sm all com m ittee w ould
serve as an executive com m ittee and w ould have added to it a perm anent secretariat composed
of economists, engineers, and statisticians to work under its direction.
L o r w in , L e w is L .
.
France— Germany have economic councils.
4 pp.
R eprinted from Jan u a ry -F e b ru a ry , 1931, Journal of Electrical W orkers and Operators.
Includes discussion of a national economic planning board for th e U nited States. See also sug
gestion in A merican Economic Association Proceedings, D ecember, 1928, p. 121, for an annual eco
nomic conference or congress w ith committees working through the year.
------A Federal economic council.
New Republic, April 29, 1931, v. 66, pp. 294-297.
Suggestion is for a council of 100 delegates, representative of the different economic interests of the
country, operating un d er an act of Congress and subject to th e a u th o rity of Congress, the work to be
done through standing committees a n d a perm anent staff w ith one plenary session of the council
annually. T h e m ain purpose w ould be to present w hat m ay be called an annual a udit of the U nited
States giving a connected view of economic developments. In addition the council m ight prepare
specific recom m endations on special economic problems of urgent national im portance and be of
assistance to the various G overnm ent departm ents and to M em bers of Congress seeking information
on economic m atters.
M it c h e l l , W e s l e y C.
Engineering, economics and the problem of social well-being, Economist’s
view. Mechanical Engineering, February, 1931, v. 53, pp. 105-110.
S o u le, G eorge H en r y .
.
National planning. The problem of creating a brain for our economy.
New Republic, March 4, 1931, v. 66, pp. 61-65.
After discussing th e differences in functions of th e tw o general types of agencies suggested for
national economic planning—th e economic general staff and th e national industrial council
the au th o r answers three m ajor objections to th e creation of central planning agencies.
____ What planning might do. Goals and methods for an economic brain.
New Republic, March 11, 1931, v. 66, pp. 88-91.
Suggests three boards, com m ittees, or commissions, all subordinate to th e principal economic
board: (1) For planning new investm ents, p riv ate and public; (2) For the job of organizing th e labor
m arket. W ould supervise a national system of labor exchanges, adm inister unem ploym ent insur
ance. W ould foresee tra n sit of labor ou t of old in to new industries or localities and provide such
training or adjusting m easures as were necessary. W ould keep close ta b on wage statistics; (3) T he
th ird board w ould have oversight of planning on th e basis of economic geography.
U n it e d S t a t e s .
C o n g ress.
S e n a te .
S. 6215, a bill to establish a National Economic Council.
5 pp.
Bill introduced b y M r. LaFollette, F ebruary 17 (calendar day, F ebruary 20), 1931, provides for a
national economic council of 15 members to be appointed by th e President w ith the consent of the
Senate, to be selected from lists su b m itted b y groups of associations a nd organizations representing
th e industrial, financial, agricultural, transportation, and labor interests of th e U nited States. The
council w ould keep advised as to economic conditions, consider all problem s affecting th e economic
situation, form ulate proposals looking tow ard th e solution of these problems and m ake reports to the
President a n d Congress urging needed legislation.
S. Res. 460 adopted F ebruary 26,1931, provides for hearings on this bill during th e Seventy-second
Congress, including recesses.
W il l ia m s , N a th a n B.
Advisory councils to government.
T
Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science, January,
1930, v. 147, pp. 146-149.
Proposal is for advisory councils to be m ade u p partly of oflficers of the governm ent and
p artly of persons selected from p riv ate life to consider and supply advice regarding the m an
ner in w hich problems coming before adm inistrative services for action should be m et.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1250]
B IB L IO G R A P H Y — N A T IO N A L ECONO M IC C O U N C IL S
219
Czechoslovakia
C ze c h o slo v a k R e p u b l ic .
Vëstnik . . .
1, 1920-
M in i s t e r s t v o p r ü m y s l u , o b c h o d u a z iv n o s ti.
R eports on th e current work of th e advisory board are to be found in a special section entitled
“ Poradni sbor pro otâzky hospodârské.”
H e r r in g , E. P e n d l e t o n .
Czechoslovak Advisory Board for Economic Questions.
American Political Science Review, May, 1930, v. 24, pp. 439-450.
Describes th e history, m em bership and activities of th e board, established under a u thority
granted in Article 90 of th e C onstitution, consisting of 150 members, representative of em
ployers a n d w orkers’ organizations and economists, to give advice either on its own initiative
or a t th e request of th e governm ent upon questions of general economic im portance. Biblio
graphical footnotes. As p a rt of th e w ork of elaborating a national economic program for the
next five years, th e board is compiling a census of th e larger industrial establishm ents for the
years 1913 and 1926, to show changes in th e economic situation betw een those years.
------ Legalized lobbying in Europe.
Current History, February, 1930, v. 31, pp. 947-952.
Czechoslovak advisory board, p. 952.
L a u t a u d , C a m il l e .
La Representation Professionnelle. Les conseils économiques en Europe et
en France. Paris, Librairie des Sciences Politiques et Sociales. M.
Rivière, 1927. 285 pp. (Bibliothèquedes Sciences Politiques et Sociales.)
“ L a Commission C onsultative de Tchécoslovaquie,” p p. 95, 96.
France
B r a m h a l l , E d it h C.
The national economic council in France.
American Political Science Review, August, 1926, v. 20, pp. 623-630.
C r e a t io n
o f a n a t io n a l ec o n o m ic c o u n c il in
F rance.
Monthly Labor Review, March, 1925, v. 20, pp. 488-490.
A brief review of th e efforts to secure th e establishm ent of a national economic council w ith a
sum m ary of th e provisions of th e decree of Jan u ary 16, 1925.
F r a n c e . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.
Decree: National Economic Council . . . Decree constituting a National
Economic Council. Dated January 16, 1925. [London, 1925.] 4 pp.
(International Labor Office, Geneva. Legislative series, 1925, Fr. 3.)
Translation. Official text of th e decree published in th e Journal Officiel, Jan u ary 17, 1925.
T h e function of th e council is to stu d y problem s concerning th e economic life of th e country,
propose solutions an d bring its proposals before th e public authorities. Council is attached to the
Office of th e Prim e M inister an d its expenses provided for in th e budget of the M inistry of Labor.
I t is composed of 47 members (w ith 2 alternates each) representing th e different economic and
social groups of th e country; term of office tw o years. Council meets four tim es a year a nd extra
sessions m ay be called by th e Prim e M inister who is president of the council. Provision is made
for a perm anent com m ittee of 10 members to tak e care of current m atters betw een sessions.
F rancq, R o g e r .
Le perfectionnement de l ’outillage national: Projet Tardieu et plan du
Conseil National Economique.
Revue d’Économie Politique, July-August, 1930, v. 44, pp. 1172-1191.
One of th e m ain tasks of th e N ational Economic Council has been the m aking of a survey of
French economic life a n d th e m apping of a plan for an overhauling of the national economic
equipm ent, which is th e subject of this article.
T h e F rench
n a t io n a l ec o n o m ic c o u n c il .
Industrial and Labour Information (International Labor Office), January 2
1928, v. 25, pp. 14-19.
G id e , C h a r l e s.
Le Conseil National Économique.
Revue d’Économie Politique, July-August, 1928, v. 42, pp. 1049-1060.
Describes th e organization and work of th e national economic council w ith a brief comparison
w ith th e earlier economic labor council. In th e 3 years of its existence i t has prepared nearly
one hundred reports dealing w ith housing, hydroelectric power, commercial aviation, a nd the
like b u t of which little has yet been acted upon b y th e governm ent. T h e chief benefit has been
to bring representatives of employers and employees face to face.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1251]
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W
220
G l u m . F r ie d r ic h .
.
. ,
,
M
Der Deutsche und der Französische Reichswirtschaftsrat, em beitrag zu dem
Problem der repräsentation der Wirtschaft im Staat . . . Berlin und
Leipzig, W. de Gruyter & Co., 1929. 188 pp. (.A d d e d t . - V Institut für
ausländisches öffentliches recht und Völkerrecht. Beitrage zum aus
ländischen öffentlichen recht und Völkerrecht . . . heft. 12.)
A com parative stu d y of th e G erm an and French economic councils. A ppendix contains the
text of th e decree of Jan u ary 16,1925, creating th e French council; also text of bill to give the council
a definite legislative basis introduced b y th e governm ent N ovem ber 17, 1927, w ith explanatory
m em orandum .
J ouhaux, L eon.
The economic labour council in France.
International Labour Review, February, 1921, v. 1, pp. 159-lbl.
T h e General Confederation of L abor began agitation for a national economic council in 1918.
A t th e beginning of 1920 it took th e in itiativ e in establishing a labor council of delegates of
workers, technical workers, civil servants, and cooperatives acting through th eir national
organizations to deal w ith th e general problems of production and exchange.
L a u t a u d , C a m il l e .
„
,
—
,
La Representation Professionnelle. Les conseils economiques en Europe et
en France . . . Paris, Librairie des Sciences Politiques et Sociales, M
Rivière, 1927. 285 pp. (Bibliothèque des Sciences Politiques et Sociales.)
Traces th e history of functional representation in France w ith an analysis of the organization
a n d activities of th e national economic council created in 1925.
L o r w in , L e w is L.
France— Germany have economic councils.
4 pp.
R eprint from Jan u ary -F eb ru ary , 1931, Journal of Electrical W orkers and Operators.
N a t io n a l
ec o n o m ic c o u n c il ,
F rance.
Monthly Labor Review, January, 1931, v. 32, pp. 2-4.
P ic a r d , R o g e r .
The German and French national economic councils.
International Labour Review, June, 1925, v. 11, pp. LoUoJ 8zy.
Bibliographical footnotes.
A n account of th e tendencies of th o u g h t and fact w hich led to the creation of the French
national economic council in 1925, w ith a description of its constitution and powers, and crit
icism and opinions of its work.
Scelle, G eo rg es.
Le Conseil National Economique.
, 1AOC
,
1An 10,
Revue des Études Coopératives, January-March, 1925, v. 4, pp. 109-124.
Includes discussion of th e difficulties encountered in deciding upon powers to be given the
perm anent organization.
W e il l - R a y n a l , É t i e n n e .
Le Conseil Economique National et l’expérience allemande.
L’Information Sociale, July 10, 1924, v. 7, No. 110, pp. 1—3.
Germany1
G e r m a n y (1918-
) C o n s titu tio n .
Die Verfassung des Deutsches Reiches vom 11 August, 1919.
Article 165 provides for a national economic council to be formed in a m anner th a t w ill provide
for proper representation of all th e im p o rtan t occupational groups according to th eir economic and
social im portance. Official tex t in Reichsgesetzblatt, 1919 (No. 1383). Available also in various com
pilations. English translation in Oppenheim er, H .: C onstitution of th e G erm an Republic (London,
Stevens & Sons, 1923). For discussion on article 165 in C onstituent A ssembly s e e Heilfron, E.: Die
deutsche nationalversam m lung in jahre 1919. (Berlin, 1920.)
Sum m ary of “ Socio-political provisions of th e new German c o nstitution” in M onthly Labor
Review, December, 1919, v. 9, pp. 1796-1799.
i For a comprehensive bibliography of G erm an literature on the R e i c h s w i r t s c h a f t s r a t see H auschild, Der
Vorläufige R eichsw irtschaftsrat, 1920-1926. Berlin, 1926, pp. 641-670.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1252]
221
B IB L IO G R A P H Y — N A T IO N A L E CO N O M IC C O U N C ILS
G e r m a n y , L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.
Order: Federal economic council . . . Order respecting the provisional
Federal economic council. Dated May 4, 1920. 4 pp. (International
Labor Office, Geneva. Legislative series, 1920, Ger. 14.)
T ranslation of governm ental order of M ay 4,1920, creating a provisional economic council under
a u th o rity of article 165 of th e C onstitution of 1919. Also prin ted in French. Official G erm an text
in Reichsgesetzblatt, 1920, N o. 99, S. 858.
Council consists of 326 persons from agriculture and forestry, horticulture and fishing, industry,
commerce, banking and insurance, handicrafts, transportation and public works, consumers, civil
service and liberal professions, according to th e num erical and economic im portance of the various
groups, together w ith 24 experts appointed by th e R eichsrat and the G overnm ent.
Its functions are to express its opinions on economic a n d socio-political bills of fundam ental
im portance which m u st be su b m itted to it by th e N ational G overnm ent, to originate proposals of
an economic or socio-political nature, to form a perm anent com m ittee to advise the various Govern
m ent departm ents on current economic and social problems and to cooperate in, the form ation of
works councils, representative em ployers’ federations and district economic councils.
Summarized in M onthly Labor Review, N ovem ber, 1920, v. 11, pp. 1078-1081.
A G overnm ent bill for a perm anent organization was introduced in the R eichstag on Ju ly 14.
1928.
------
V o r lä u fig e r r e ic h s w ir ts c h a f ts r a t.
Mitteilungen des Vorläufigen Reichswirtschaftsrats . . .
November, 1920- [Berlin, 1920- ]
—
1-
S te n o g ra p h isc h e b e ric h te ü b e r die V e rh an d lu n g e n . . .
B ern h ard , G eorg.
fahre
27
1, J u n i 1920-
Books and Pamphlets
Wirtschafts pariamente von den Revolutionsräten zum Reichswirtschaftsrat.
Wien, Rikola Verlag, 1923. 141 pp.
C u r t iu s , J u l iu s .
Bismarcks plan eines deutschen Volkswirtschaftsrats.
Ehrig, 1919.
Heidelberg, Willv
F in e r , H er m a n .
Representative Government and a Parliament of Industry. A study of the
German Federal economic council . . . [London]. The Fabian societv.
G. Allen & Unwin, (Ltd.), 1923. 273 pp.
Bibliographical footnotes.
C o n t e n t s : P t. I. Some aspects of representative governm ent. P t. II. T he G erm an Federal
economic council Genesis: political a n d industrial— T he w ar a n d new ideas— T he revolution
and th e economic council A rticle 165: Tow ard a n economic constitution—The Federal economic
council, its composition, statu s and procedure—T h e economic council a t work—The outlook for
the future—Conclusions and reflections: E ngland a n d G erm any. Appendixes: I. T he national
industrial council. II. T h e central in d u strial alliance. I I I . A rticle 34a. IV . T he CohenKaliski project. V. T h e Wissell plan. VI. Decree respecting th e provisional German Federal
economic council.
G l u m , F r ie d r ic h .
Der Deutsche und der Französische Reichswirtschaftsrat, ein beitrag zu dem
problem der repräsentation der Wirtschaft im Staat . . . Berlin und
Leipzig, W. de Gruyter & Co., 1929. 188 pp. ( A d d e d t . - p . : Institut für
ausländisches öffentliches recht und Völkerrecht. Beiträge zum ausländ
ischen öffentlichen recht und Völkerrecht . . . heft. 12.)
A com parative stu d y of th e G erm an a n d French councils. T he appendix of docum entary
m aterial includes th e te x t of th e bill providing for a perm anent economic council for G erm any
presented to th e R eichstag b y D r. C urtius, Ju ly 14, 1928, w ith explanatory m em orandum .
H a u s c h il d , C la u s D ie t r ic h H .
Der Vorläufige Reichswirtschaftsrat, 1920-1926 . . .
& sohn, 1926. 687 pp.
Berlin, E. S. Mittler
“ Literaturverzeichnis über das problem der W irtschaftsräte,” p p. [641]—670.
D etailed analysis of the organization and procedure of th e Federal economic council and of the
work of th e different com m ittees and th eir decisions an d opinions, 1920-1926. The author, who is
“ B ü rodirektor” of th e council has, in preparation a second volum e dealing w ith the work of the
council since 1926.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1253]
222
M O N TH LY L A B O R R E V IE W
H e a d la m - M o r l e y , A g n e s .
The New Democratic Constitutions of Europe.
Press, 1928. 298 pp.
,
, TT •
-j
London, Oxford University
C hapter X V I, on “ An economic c o n stitu tio n ,” is largely devoted to the history and organiza
tion of th e G erm an national economic council for which provision was made in the constitution
of 1919.
L atjtattd, C a m il l e .
.
La Représentation Professionnelle. Les conseils economiques en Europe et
en France. Paris, Librairie des Sciences Politiques et Sociales, M. Riviere,
1927. 285 pp. (Bibliothèque des Sciences Politiques et Sociales.)
Includes brief discussion of th e G erm an Economic Council, pp. 80-95.
M ö l l e n d o r f f , W ic h a r d G.
von.
Deutsche Gemeinwirtschaft.
P lo etz, G eo r g .
Die Reichswirtschaftsrat.
1920. 32 pp.
Berlin, K. Siegesmund, 1916.
,
_
48 pp.
. ,
„
.
TT
Berlin, Gesellschaft u. Erziehung G. m. b. H.,
P relot, M a rcelle.
.
La Représentation professionnelle dans l’Allemagne contemporaine.
Editions Spes, 1924. 172 pp.
.
Paris,
A ppendix contains text of order establishing the provisional council, regulations on organization
adopted b y the plenary session of June'lO, 1921, list of committees, and a bibliography.
R athenatt , W a l t h e r .
Der neue Staat.
Sch a effer, H
Berlin, Fischer, 1919.
74 pp.
a ns.
Die Vorläufige Reichswirtschaftsrat: Kommentar der Verordnung vom 4
Mai 1920. München, J. Schweitzer verlag, 1920. 243 pp.
T a t a r in - T a r n h e y d e n , E d g a r .
.
,
,
.
„ 7. ,
Die Berufsstände, ihre Stellung im Staatsrecht und m der deutschen V\ îrtschaftsverfassung. Berlin, Carl Heymanns Verlag, 1922. 260 pp.
V e r m e il , E d m o n d .
.„
,
Le Constitution de Weimar et le Principe de la Démocratie Allemande.
Strasburg, Librairie Istra, 1923. 473 pp.
Periodical Articles
A u f h ä u s e r , S.
Germany’s Federal economic council.
Labour Magazine, March, 1928, v. 6, pp. 495-497.
Brief account of th e organization a n d work of the provisional economic council b y one of its
members. Discusses briefly th e provisions of th e bill for the perm anent organization from th e
point of view of the trade-unions.
C ohen, M ax.
Der rätegedanke im ersten revolutions]’ahr.
Sozialistische monatshefte, November 17, 1919, v. 53, pp. 1043-1055.
C r e a t io n
o f a p r o v is io n a l n a t io n a l ec o n o m ic c o u n c il in
G erm a ny .
Monthly Labor Review, November, 1920, v. 11, pp. 1078-1081.
Sum m ary of th e governm ental order of M ay 4, 1920.
F r a n k e l , E m il .
Germany’s industrial parliament.
Political Science Quarterly, September, 1922, v. 37, pp. 472-485.
An account of th e organization and functions of th e provisional council including some
of th e criticisms m ade against it in th e first years.
G ig n o u x , C . J.
L’ organisation des conseils économiques en Allemagne.
Questions Pratiques de Droit Ouvrier, August-October, 1922, v. 18, pp.
142-154.
L o r w in , L e w is L.
France-Germany have economic councils.
R eprint from Jan u ary and February, 1931, Journal of Electrical W orkers and Operators.
Reviews th e history of th e G erm an Economic Council, the practical gains to the nation and the
a ttitu d e of organized labor tow ard it.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1254]
BIBLIOGRAPHY— NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCILS
223
N ational economic councils .
Monthly Labor Review, January, 1931, v. 32, pp. 1-9.
Includes brief account of th e provisional Federal economic council of G erm any (pp. 6, 7).
T h e n e w G erman econom ic co uncil .
Nation (London), July 31, 1920, v. 27, pp. 546, 547.
P icard , R og er .
The German and French national economic councils.
International Labour Review, June, 1925, v. 11, pp. [803]-829.
Bibliographical footnotes.
A n account of th e tendencies of thought and fact which led to the creation of the G erman
Federal economic council in 1920 w ith a description of its organization and m ethod of working,
including criticism and opinion of results obtained.
S ie m e n s , K arl vo n .
Germany’s Business Parliament.
Current History, September, 1924, v. 20, pp. 994-998.
T his author, who is chairm an of th e board of directors of T he Siemens-Schukert Works,
Berlin, a n d a m em ber of th e Reichstag, views th e economic council as an a tte m p t to m ake
governm ent more representative b y enabling labor, capital, and the consumer to exercise their
influence on th e governm ent and on legislation openly and legitim ately. W hile its functions
are only advisory in character th e influence of th e economic council is very great.
S teg erw a ld , A dam v o n .
Zum streit um den Reichswirtschaftsrat.
Soziale Praxis, December 27, 1923, v. 32, pp. 1060, 1061.
U m b r e it , P aul .
The provisional national economic council in Germany.
International Trade Union Movement (International Federation of
Trade Unions), September-October, 1922, v. 2, pp. 284-289.
Brief survey of efforts to secure labor representation in G erm any.
V e r m e il , E dmond .
Le conseil économique du Reich.
Revue des Études Coopératives, July-September, 1924, v. 3, pp. 386405; October-December, 1924, v. 4, pp. 32-51.
T he first article traces th e origin of the idea of a national economic parliam ent and sum m ar
izes th e discussions which centered around th e adoption of article 165 of the W eim ar Consti
tu tio n . T h e second describes th e organization and work of th e provisional economic council
a n d th e difficulties encountered in w orking out th e perm anent plan. Concludes w ith a plea
for planned international economy.
W e il l -R aynal , É t ie n n e .
Le conseil économique national et l’expérience allemande.
L’Information Sociale, July 10, 1924, v. 7, No. 110, pp. 1—3.
A reply to articles b y M . Hoschiller in Le Tem ps, A pril 1, 2, 1924.
Great Britain
G reat B r it a in .
T rea su ry.
Economic Advisory Council. Copy of Treasury minute, dated January 27,
1930, appointing an Economic Advisory Council . . . London, 1930. 3
pp. ([Parliament. Papers by command.] Cmd. 3478.)
A standing body reporting to th e C abinet (1) ‘‘to advise H is M ajesty’s G overnm ent in economic
m a tte rs” ; (2) “ to m ake continuous stu d y of developm ents in trad e a nd in d u stry and in the use
of national and im perial resources, of th e effect of legislation an d fiscal policy a t home and abroad,
and of all aspects of national, im perial, and international economy w ith a bearing on the pros
perity of th e co untry.” Council of which th e Prim e M inister is chairm an is m ade u p of certain
cabinet officers and of other persons chosen b y th e Prim e m inister b y reason of their special
knowledge and experience in in d u stry and economics. Takes over the functions of Committee
on Civil Research.
•— — E c o n o m ic A d v i s o r y C o u n c il.
Report of delegation on the industrial conditions in the iron and steel
industries in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.
Londori, 1930. 46 pp., inch tables. ([Parliament. Papers by command.]
Cmd. 3601.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12551
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
224
G re a t B r it a in .
E c o n o m ic A d v is o r y C o u n c il.
Report. London,
Cmd. 3615.)
1930.
31 pp.
C o m m itte e o n th e C o tto n I n d u s t r y .
([Parliament.
Papers by command.]
J. R. Clynes, chairman.
Published also as supplement to the Manchester Guardian, July 5, 1930.
Summary in Monthly Labor Review, September, 1930, v. 31, pp. 599-602.
--------------- C h a n n e l T u n n e l C o m m itte e .
Report. Presented to Parliament by command of His Majesty, March,
1930. London, 1930. I l l pp. ([Parliament. Papers by command.]
Cmd. 3513.)
See also article by C. E. R. Sherrington in Nineteenth Century, August, 1930, v. 108, pp. 204-213.
E conomic advisory co un cil .
Economist, February 1, 1930, v. 110, p. 228.
T h e economic advisory co un cil .
Economic Journal, March, 1930, v. 40, pp. 147-150.
E conomic co un cil .
New Statesman, February 8, 1930, v. 34, pp. 560-561.
E conomic co un cil .
Nation (London), February 1, 1930, v. 46, pp. 598, 599.
E n g lish economic advisory co un cil .
Monthly Labor Review, January, 1931, v. 32, pp. 4-6.
T h e e x p e r t and democracy .
Spectator, February 1, 1930, v. 144, pp. 149, 150.
Italy
A illau d , U lrico .
The act on the national council of corporations in Italy.
International Labour Review, July, 1930, v. 22, p. [l]-22.
An analysis of the act of March 20, 1930, on the reform of the National Council of Corpora
tions which the author states is intended to furnish an adequate instrument and method for
the coordination of the occupational groups that converge in the higher unity of the State.
See also article on “ The growth of the corporation in Italy” in issue of May, 1928, v. 17, pp.
651-670.
H a id e r , C arm en .
.
Capital and Labor under Fascism. New York, Columbia University Press,
1930. 296 pp. (Columbia University. Studies in History, Economics,
and Public Law, No. 318.)
See especially Chapter XI, on “ Representation in the Fascist syndicate State” (pp. 249-267).
I taly .
C o n s ig lio S u p e r io r e d e ll’ E c o n o m ia N a z io n a le .
Atti 1- session, giugno 1924—---- -------- Disposizioni relative al funzionamento e alla composizione del Con
siglio superiore dell’ economia nazionale. Roma, 1926. 32 pp.
L autaud , C a m ille .
La Représentation Professionnelle. Les conseils économiques en Europe et
en France. Paris, Librairie des Sciences Politiques et Sociales, M. Rivière,
1927. 285 pp. (Bibliothèque des Sciences Politiques et Sociales.)
‘‘Le conseil supérieur de l’économie nationale en Italie,” pp. 98-104.
N ational economic councils .
Monthly Labor Review, January, 1931, v. 32, pp. 1-9.
The Italian National Council of Corporations, pp. 8, 9.
S c h n e id e r , H e r b e r t W.
Making the Fascist State.
392 pp.
New York, Oxford University Press, 1928.
“ Syndicalism and the corporate state,” pp. 138-214; Bibliography, pp. 365-385.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1256]
BIBLIOGRAPHY— NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCILS
225
Other Countries
A m e r ic a n t r a d e - u n io n d e l e g a t io n t o t h e S o v ie t u n io n .
Soviet Russia in the Second Decade; a joint survey by the technical staff
; n'oô 6 ole,d by Stuart Chase [and others]. New York, John Day Co.
1928. 374 pp.
J
’
“ Industry and the Gosplan: Planning a nation’s industry,” by Stuart Chase, pp. 14- 54;
The nature of the Russian Government; Structure of the State,” by Jerome Davis, pp. 115-141.
B ye . R a y m o n d T.
The central planning and coordination of production in Soviet Russia.
{ I n American Economic Association.
Proceedings, 1928, pp. 91-110.)
Discussion by Paul H . Douglas, Lewis L. Lorwin, and others, pp. 111-130.
C h ase, Stuart.
Russia’s “ War Industries Board.”
New Republic, January 4, 1928, v. 53, pp. 184-186.
H eadlam -M o rley , A g n es.
The New Democratic Constitutions of Europe.
Press, H. Milford, 1928. 298 pp.
London, Oxford Universitv
J
Contains quotations from constitutions of Yugoslavia and Poland making provision for the
establishment of economic councils.
B.
The economic life of Soviet Russia.
H o o v e r , C a l v in
New York, Macmillan, 1931.
361 pp.
“ Planned econom y,” p p. 298-326.
L a u t a u d , C a m il l e .
La Representation Professionnelle. Les conseils économiques en Europe et
en France. Paris, Librairie des Sciences Politiques et Sociales, M.
Rivière, 1927. 285 pp. (Bibliothèque des Sciences Politiques et Sociales.)
P artia l c o n t e n t s : Le Conseil Économique de Pologne, pp. 90-98, 257-259; La Conseil
d Economie N ationale en Espagne, pp. 104-114; Le Conseil Économique Japonais, pp. 118, 119;
Le Conseil Suprême de l ’Économie P ublique dans l ’U. R. S. S., pp. 120-129.
M e x i c o . L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.
[L aw c re a tin g a N a tio n a l E c o n o m ie C ouncil.]
U n ite d S ta te s D a ily , S e p te m b e r 28, 1928, p . 2.
Translation of the full text of th e M exican law creating a N ational Economic Council which
is to stu d y the economic-social affairs of th e N ation and shall be a perm anent autonomous
body of compulsory consultation and free in itiativ e.”
The Superior Council of Labour, Industry
and Commerce.
’
Industrial and Labour Information, June 2, 1924, v. 10, pp. 325, 326.
N e w S p a n is h l a b o u r o r g a n is a t io n ;
A brief sum m ary of th e provisions of th e royal decree (text in Gaceta de M adrid, M ay 6, 1924)
setting up a superior council of labor, in d u stry and commerce attached to the M inistry of Labor to
act as th e suprem e advisory governm ent organization for all questions for which the m inistry is
responsible. See also same journal, A ugust 11, 1924, v. 11, p. 15 for personnel.
R u s s i a (1922— (U. S. S. R.)).
G o s u d a r s tv e n n a ià p la n o v a m k o m is s iià .
The Soviet Union Looks Ahead; the five-year plan for economic construction.
New York, H. Liveright, 1929. 275 pp.
S p a in .
Preface signed: Presidium of th e State planning commission (Gosplan) of the U. S. S. R.
A ppendix I: T he system of economic planning in th e Soviet Union, pp. 217-227.
L a w s , s ta tu te s , etc.
Real decreto estableciendo en la Presidencia del Gobierno un Consejo de la
Economía Nacional . . .
Boletín de la Revista General de Legislación y Jurisprudencia (Colegio
de Abogados de Madrid) 1924, v. 188, pp. 270-299.
Text of th e royal decree of M arch 8, 1924, establishing the Spanish N ational Economic
Council, together w ith brief explanatory m em orandum b y Prim o de Rivera. T h e func
tions assigned to th e council are m atters relative to th e tariff, preparation of commercial
treaties, a n d th e duties relating to national production and consum ption formerly per
formed b y th e Comisión Protectora de la Producción N acional and other organizations
which it displaces.
T i m a s h e v , N i k o l a i S.
The organisation of state industry in Soviet Russia.
International Labour Review, March, 1929, v. 19, pp. 338-357.
[1257]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
226
International Economic Planning
A m erican A cademy of P olitical and S ocial S c ie n c e , MadeZp/wa.
Economics of World Peace.
v. 150, July, 1930.)
Philadelphia, 1930.
324 pp.
{ I ts
Annals,
C o n t e n t s : Population grow th and m igration of peoples. International transportation and
com m unication. Foreign investments.^ C om petition for raw m aterials. Commercial policies
and tariffs. An American economic policy.
...
Appendix contains m em oranda on “ Economic tendencies affecting the peace of the world
b y Prof. J. Bonn and A ndre Siegfried, prepared at th e request of the Economic Com m ittee of the
League of N ations.
B o n n , M oritz J u l iu s .
L a crise économ ique m ondiale.
17„ 1Q„
L’Esprit International, April, 1931, v. 5, pp. 179 193.
D ° NInternationalEconomic Relations. A treatise on world economy and world
politics. New York, Longmans, Green & Go., 1928. 674 pp.
C o n t e n t s : I. Basic a n d related factors in national and world economy. II. T he structure
of national and world economy: its industrial basis.
I n t ern ation al C ham ber of C om m erce .
.
[Sixth general congress, Washington, May 4-9, 193I.J
For reports presented a t th e group sessions and addresses a t the plenary sessions on international
economic relations consult th e daily press. T h e American section has printed a report on Em ploy m ent regularization in th e U nited States of A m erica/’ 84 pp.
I n t ern ation al E conomic C o n fe r e n c e , G e n e v a , 1927.
, . ^
Report and proceedings of the world economic conference held at Geneva,
May 4-23, 1927. Edited by the economic and financial section. Geneva,
1927 2 v.' (League of Nations publications 1927. II. 52.)
For th e reports prepared for this conference consult the “ G uide to the Preparatory D ocum ents
of the Conference” (L. of N . p u b . 1927. II . 41) and “ Guide to th e D ocum ents oi th e conference
(1927 I I 41a). T h e final report of the conference is reprinted in Annals of American Academy
of'Political and Social Science, N ovem ber, 1927, v. 134, pp. 174-206; Economist, M ay 28, 192,,
supplem ent.
T E aptte of N a tio ns .
, ,
' Proceedings of the Preliminary conference with a view ^ JoncCTtcd economic action held at Geneva from February 17 to March 24, 1939.
Geneva, 1930. (L. of N. pub. 1930. II. 17.)
____ Second international conference with a view to concerted economic action,
Geneva, November 17, 1930. Replies of the governments to the questionnaire
annexed to Article I of the protocol regarding the programme of future nego
tiations. Geneva, 1930. 82 pp. (L. of N. pub. 1930. II. 44.)
For a report of th e conference of representatives of economic councils and
countries in Geneva, M arch 2-4,1931, in connection w ith th e preparatory work of the League of N ations
investigation into th e causes of economic depressions, see N ew York lim e s , M arch 5, 1931, p. 12.
P a tterson , E r n est M.
World’s Economic Dilemma.
„
i a on
New York, McGraw-Hill, 1930.
o9o m
323 pp.
“ Solving th e dilem m a,” pp. 297-317.
S t e f f l e r , C. W.
Is a planned world economy practicable '
Commerce and Finance, December 24, 1930, v. 19, pp. 2350 2352.
W orld econom ic in q u ir y ordered by t h e lea gu e
Commercial and Financial Chronicle, September 27, 1930, v. 131, p. 1981.
W orld economic po lic y .
Economist, May 12, 1928, v. 106, pp. 963, 964.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1258]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
O fficial—U n ited S ta te s
C olorado —Industrial Commission.
1 , 1 9 2 8 , to N o v e m b e r 8 0 , 1 9 8 0 .
E le v e n th r e p o r t, f o r th e b i e n n iu m D e c e m b e r
D e n v e r , 1 9 3 1 . 88 p p . , f o ld e r s .
Besides data as to awards under the State workmen’s compensation act, the
report gives the weekly wages of women in various occupations in the city and
county of Denver.
O hio — Department of Industrial Relations.
Division of Labor Statistics.
K e p o r t N o . 2 6 : R a te s o f w a g e s , f lu c tu a tio n o f e m p lo y m e n t, w a g e a n d s a la r y
p a y m e n t s m O h io , 1 9 2 9 .
C o lu m b u s , 1 9 3 0 .
444 p p .
J
P en nsy lva nia .— Department of Labor and Industry.
S p e c ia l B u lle tin N o 31 •
V n v n S aV rn e a r m n ? s o f m e n a n d w o m e n i n th e h o s ie r y i n d u s t r y .
H a r r is b u r g
1930.
1 1 9 p p . , c h a r ts .
Mediation and Conciliation Commission.
P orto
year 1929 30.
S a n Ju an , 1930.
104 pp.
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f i s c a l
(I n S p a n i s h a n d E n g lis h .)
V ir g in ia . Department of Labor and Industry. T h i r t y - t h i r d a n n u a l r e p o r t,
for th e y e a r e n d in g S e p te m b e r SO, 1930. R ic h m o n d , 1931. 52 p p .
T h e in d u s tria l s ta tis tic s in th is p u b lic a tio n a re fo r th e c a le n d a r y e a r 1929.
D a ta o n w ages a n d h o u rs of la b o r, ta k e n fro m th e re p o r t, axe g iv e n in th is issu e
of th e L a b o r R eview .
V est V ir g in ia .
Workmen’s Compensation Department
1 9 2 6 , to J u n e 8 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
[ C h a r le s to n , 1 9 3 0 ? ]
R e p o r t,
252 pp.
J u ly
1,
Reviewed in this issue.
U n ited S t a tes .— Department of Agriculture.
C ir c u la r N o . 1 4 2 : A n a l y s i s o f
th e o p e r a tio n s o f a c o o p e r a tiv e liv e s to c k c o n c e n tr a tio n p o i n t , b y J o h n H . L is t e r
a n d C . G . R a n d e ll.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
32 pp.
Department of Commerce. E m e r g e n c y a n d p e r m a n e n t p o lic ie s o f s p r e a d in g
w o r k i n i n d u s t r i a l e m p lo y m e n t, p r e p a r e d b y th e P r e s i d e n t ’s E m e r g e n c y C o m
m itte e f o r E m p lo y m e n t.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
6 pp
-------.Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
B u l l e t i n N o . 7 4 0 : B a n k i n g s y s te m
1931.
27 pp.
and
p r a c tic e s
in
T ra d e
F ran ce
In fo r m a tio n
W a s h in g to n ,
Contains, among other things, a description of the cooperative people’s banks
of France and the cooperative agricultural banks.
Bureau of Mines. B u l l e t i n 3 3 0 : V e n t i l a t i o n o f th e la r g e c o p p e r m in e s
Ç banques p o p u l a i r e s )
o f A r iz o n a , b y G. E . M c E lr o y .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
1 4 5 p p . , U lu s
A study of the methods and costs of ventilating the copper mines of Arizona,
which is part of a general and country-wide survey of metal-mining methods.
a n d o th e rs .
B u lle tin 3 3 1 : P e r m i s s i b l e m e th a n e
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
3 0 p p ., illu s .
— Bureau of Standards.
by
M is c e lla n e o u s P u b l i c a t i o n N o .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
399 pp.
yearbook, 1 9 8 1 .
~
d e te c to r s ,
Labor- Women’s Bureau.
w ith th e \\ o m e n s B u r e a u .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
A
B
H ooker
1 1 9 : S ta n d a r d s
B u lle tin N o . 8 4 : F a c t f i n d i n g
3 7 p p . , i l lu s .
Dopartnient
State. P u b lic a tio n N o . 1 4 7 : R e p o r t o f th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l
C o m m is s io n o f I n q u i r y in to th e E x is te n c e o f S l a v e r y a n d F o r c e d L a b o r i n th e
R e p u b lic o f L ib e r i a , M o n r o v ia , L ib e r ia , S e p te m b e r 8 , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n ,
1931.
227 pp.
y
’
Reviewed in this issue.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1259]
227
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
228
U n ited S t a tes .— Federal Board for Vocational Education. V o c a tio n a l e d u c a tio n •
L a b o r ’s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n c o o p e r a tio n w ith e m p lo y e r s a n d th e p u b lic sc h o o ls .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
12 pp.
Data on the purposes of different types of vocational schools, taken from this
pamphlet, are given in this issue.
------ Federal Farm Board. B u lle tin N o . 5 : G r a in — a g u id e f o r o r g a n i z i n g lo c a l
c o o p e r a tiv e m a r k e tin g a s s o c ia tio n s .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
44 PP-
____Library of Congress.
A n a c c o u n t o f g o v e r n m e n t d o c u m e n t b ib lio g r a p h y i n
th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d e ls e w h e r e , b y J a m e s B . C h ild s .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
57
pp.
{ R e v is e d J u l y , 1 9 3 0 .)
------President’s Emergency Committee for Employment.
a n d a c tio n , N o . 6 : H o m e g a r d e n s f o r e m p lo y m e n t a n d f o o d .
8 pp.
C o m m u n ity p la n s
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
O fficial— F oreign C ou n tries
C anada .— Department of Immigration and Colonization.
year en ded M arch 3 1, 1930.
O tta w a , 1 9 3 1 .
R e p o r t f o r th e f is c a l
89 pp.
------ Department of Labor.
O tta w a , 1 9 3 1 .
R e p o r t f o r th e f is c a l y e a r e n d in g M a r c h 3 1 , 1 9 3 0 .
1 9 1 p p . ; c h a r ts .
Reviews the operation of the industrial disputes investigation act and of the
Government annuities act, the fair wages policy, conciliation work, old-age
pensions, labor legislation, strikes and lockouts, fatal industrial accidents, the
work of the employment service, cooperative societies, and other activities of
interest to labor.
C oorg (I ndia ). — Chief Commissioner. R e p o r t [o f th e r e g is tr a r o f c o o p e r a tiv e
s o c ie tie s ] o n th e w o r k in g o f th e c o o p e r a tiv e s o c ie tie s i n C o o rg , f o r th e y e a r e n d in g
Ju n e 30, 1930.
B a n g a lo r e , 1 9 3 0 .
17 p p .
Gives data for the central cooperative bank, 180 credit societies, 65 grain
marketing associations, 4 purchase and sale societies, and 1 weavers’ society for
1928-29 and 1929-30.
F in l a n d .— Bureau Central de Statistique. A n n u a i r e s ta tis tiq u e d e F in la n d e ,
1930.
H e ls in g f o r s , 1 9 3 0 .
3 6 4 PP-
Contains statistical information in regard to Finland for 1930, the subjects
covered including accidents and accident insurance, strikes and lockouts, labor
organizations, cooperation, employment service, wages, wholesale and retail
prices, cost of living, etc.
F rance — Ministère de la Santé Publique. R a p p o r t d u C o n s e il S u p é r i e u r d e s
H a b ita tio n s à B o n M a r c h é , 1 9 2 8 et 1 9 2 9 .
J o u r n a l O ffic ie l, S e p t . 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .)
P a r is , 1 9 3 0 .
38 pp.
{ E x tr a it d u
A report of the application of legislation relative to the provision of workingmen’s houses in France during the years 1928 and 1929. A report of housing
developments receiving State aid in other countries is also included.
G reat B r it a in .— Board of Trade. S t a t i s t i c a l a b s tr a c t f o r th e U n ite d K in g d o m
f o r ea ch o f th e 1 5 y e a r s , 1 9 1 3 a n d 1 9 1 6 to 1 9 2 9 .
{ C m d . 3 7 6 7 .)
L ondon, 1931.
399 pp.
Includes data relating to accidents, cost of living and wages, profit sharing,
trade-unions, strikes and lockouts, cooperative trading societies, unemployment
and unemployment insurance, workmen’s compensation, and production.
------ Colonial Office. C o lo n ia l N o . 5 6 : I n f o r m a t i o n a s to th e c o n d itio n s a n d co st
o f liv in g i n th e c o lo n ie s ,
1930.
187 pp.
p r o te c to r a te s ,
and
m a n d a te d
te r r ito r ie s .
London,
A manual of information for officials sent by the British Government to the
various localities, the subjects covered including clothing, housing accommodations,
household requisites, prices, medical and dental treatment available, wages of
servants, etc.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1260]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
229
G re a t B r it a in .— Colonial Office.
F u r th e r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e la tin g to th e p o s i t i o n o f
th e s u g a r m d u s t r y m c e r ta in W e s t I n d i a n c o lo n ie s a n d B r i t i s h G u ia n a . L o n d o n
1980.
1 9 p p . { C m d . 3 7 4 5 .)
1
Data on wages of agricultural labor in Barbados, taken from this report, are
published in this issue of the Labor Review.
- Home Office.
S t a t i s t i c s o f c o m p e n s a tio n a n d p r o c e e d in g s u n d e r th e w o r k m e n ’s
c o m p e n s a tio n a c ts a n d th e e m p lo y e r s ’ l i a b i l i t y a c t, 1 8 8 0 , i n G r e a t B r i t a i n
d u r in g th e y e a r 1 9 2 9 .
London, 1931. 35 pp.
{ C m d . 3 7 8 1 .)
Reviewed in this issue.
------ Mines Department. Miners’ Welfare Fund Committee.
* * *, 1 9 3 0 . L o n d o n , 1 9 3 1 . 6 8 p p . ; p la n s , i l lu s .
~ ~
, Safot.V in Mines Research Board. P a p e r N o . 6 4 - T h e
N in th
re p o rt
i n f la m m a tio n
o f c o a l d u s ts — th e effe ct o f th e p r e s e n c e o f f i r e d a m p , b y T . N . M a s o n a n d I t. V .
11 h ee le r. L o n d o n , 1 9 3 1 . 8 2 p p . ; c h a r ts , illu s .
Ministry of Health. W id o w s , o r p h a n s ’, a n d o ld a g e c o n tr ib u to r y p e n s io n s
a c ts , 1 9 2 5 a n d 1 9 2 9 : A c c o u n ts , 1 9 2 9 .
London, 1931.
8 pp.
I nternational L abor O f f ic e .— H o u r s o f w o r k i n c o a l m in e s .
{I t e m I I o n
a g e n d a o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r C o n fe re n c e , 1 5 th s e s s io n , G e n e v a , 1 9 3 1 ■ R e v o r t
I I .)
G eneva, 1 9 3 1 .
205 pp.
’
v
------
I n t e r n a t i o n a l s u r v e y o f le g a l d e c is io n s o n la b o r la w , 1 9 2 9 { f if th y e a r ) .
G eneva,
~ P a r t i a l r e v is io n o f th e c o n v e n tio n c o n c e r n in g e m p lo y m e n t o f w o m e n d u r in g
th e n ig h t.
{I t e m I I I o n a g e n d a o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r C o n fe re n c e , 1 5 th s e s s io n
G en eva, M a y , 1 9 3 1 ; R e p o rt I I I . )
G en eva, 1 9 3 1 .
19 p p .
------
S t u d i e s a n d r e p o r ts , S e r ie s A (i n d u s t r i a l r e la tio n s ) , N o . S 3 : S t u d i e s o n i n
d u s t r i a l r e la tio n s .
I . — S ie m e n s W o r k s , L e n s M i n i n g C o ., L o n d o n T ra ffic
C o m b in e , S ta te m in e s o f th e S a a r b a s in . B a ta b o o t a n d sh o e f a c t o r y .
G en eva
1930. 263 pp.
’
Reviewed in this issue %
------ S t u d i e s
a n d r e p o r ts , S e r ie s C {e m p lo y m e n t a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t) , N o .
U n e m p lo y m e n t a n d p u b lic w o r k s .
G eneva, 1 9 3 1 .
186 pp.
15-
------ S t u d i e s
a n d r e p o r ts , S e r ie s F (-in d u s t r i a l h y g ie n e ) , N o . 1 3 : S i l i c o s i s re c o r d s
o f th e i n te r n a tio n a l c o n fe re n c e h e ld a t J o h a n n e s b u r g , A u g u s t 1 3 - 2 7 . 1 9 3 0
G en eva, 1 9 3 0 .
6 9 2 p p . , i l lu s .
The first part of this volume contains the proceedings of the conference and
the second part the papers presented by the delegates dealing with the silicosis
or pneumonoconiosis problem of each particular country.
I r ish F re e S ta te .— Department of Industry and Commerce. R e p o r t f o r 1 9 2 9
i n p u r s u a n c e o f s e c tio n 1 1 8 (7) o f th e f a c t o r y a n d w o r k s h o p a c t, 1 9 0 1 .
D u b lin
[ 1 9 3 0 ].
J apan .
24
p p .
Department of Finance.
1930.
T okyo, 1930.
T h e th ir tie th f i n a n c i a l a n d e c o n o m ic a n n u a l.
2 6 7 p p . ; m a p , c h a r ts .
Wage data from the report are given in this issue.
N eth erland E ast I n d ie s .— Departement van Landbouw, Nijverheid en Handel.
Centraal Kantoor voor de Statistiek te Bataviacentrum.
M e d e d e e lin g e n N o .
8 8 : P r i j z e n , i n d e x c ijf e r s e n w is s e lk o e r s e n o p J a v a , 1 9 1 8 - 1 9 2 9 .
B a ta v ia c e n
tr u m , 1 9 3 1 .
1 3 6 p p . ; c h a r ts .
{ I n D u tc h a n d E n g lis h .)
Prices, price indexes, and exchange rates in Java, 1913-1929.
N ew Z ealand .— Census and Statistics Office. T h e N e w Z e a la n d
book, 1 9 3 1 .
W e llin g to n , 1 9 3 0 .
o ffic ia l y e a r
1 ,0 0 6 p p . ; m a p s , c h a r ts .
Includes data relating to accidents, industrial disputes, unemployment, oldage and widows’ pensions, production, friendly and building societies, retail and
wholesale prices, labor legislation, trade-unions, wages, and hours of labor.
N ova S cotia (C anada ). — Department of Public Works and Mines. A n n u a l
r e p o r t o n th e m in e s , 1 9 3 0 .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H a lif a x , 1 9 3 1 .
[ 1261]
322 pp.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
230
O ntario (C anada ).— Department of Mines.
T h i r t y - n i n t h a n n u a l r e p o r t, b e in g
T o r o n to , 1 9 3 0 .
2 0 0 p p ., illu s .
V o lu m e X X X I X , P a r t 1 , 1 9 3 0 .
Q u ebec (C anada ). — Department of Municipal Affairs.
S ta tis tic a l yea rb o o k , 1 9 3 0 .
Q uebec, 1 9 3 0 .
Bureau of Statistics.
4-60 p p .
Certain data relating to the cooperative people’s banks of Quebec, taken from
this yearbook, are given in this issue.
S outh A u stra lia .— Factories and Steam Boilers Department. A n n u a l r e p o r t
f o r th e y e a r e n d in g D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 1 9 2 9 .
A d e la i d e , 1 9 3 0 .
2 4 PP-
The report shows a falling off in the number of factory employees from 27,423
at the end of 1928 to 23,657 at the end of 1929. Approximately two-thirds of this
decrease occurred among the male employees aged over 21, whose number fell
from 16,385 to 13,840; smaller reductions appeared in each of the other age and
sex groupings.
U nio n op S outh A fr ic a .— Office of Census and Statistics. S t a t i s t i c s o f p i o d u c tio n : S t a t i s t i c s o f f a c t o r i e s a n d p r o d u c tiv e i n d u s t r i e s { e x c lu d in g m i n i n g
a n d q u a r r y in g ) i n th e U n io n f o r th e y e a r 1 9 2 8 —2 9 {F o u r te e n th I n d u s t r i a l
C en su s, 1 9 3 0 ).
P r e t o r ia , 1 9 3 0 . x x x i, 7 4 P P(I n D u tc h a n d E n g lis h .)
U n official
A damic , L o u is .
D y n a m i t e : T h e s t o r y o f c la s s v io le n c e i n A m e r ic a .
T he V ik in g P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 . 4 5 3 p p ., illu s .
N ew
Y ork,
A m erican A cademy of P olitical and S ocial S c ie n c e . T h e A n n a l s , V o l. 1 5 4 T h e in s e c u r ity
o f in d u s tr y .
P h ila d e lp h ia ,
M arch , 1931.
206
p p . ; c h a r ts .
A m erican C ountry L if e A sso ciatio n .
R u r a l o r g a n iz a tio n , 1 9 2 9 : P r o c e e d in g s
o f th e tw e lf th A m e r i c a n c o u n tr y l i f e c o n fe r e n c e , A m e s , I o w a , O c to b e r 1 7 - 2 0 , 1 9 2 9 .
N e w Y o r k , 1 0 5 E a s t 2 2 d S tr e e t, 1 9 3 0 .
186 pp.
A m erican S tandards A sso ciatio n .
S a f e t y c o d e f o r th e u s e , c a r e , a n d p r o te c tio n
o f a b r a s iv e w h e e ls — A m e r i c a n s ta n d a r d .
N e w 1 o r k , 2 9 11 e s t 3 9 th S tr e e t, 1 9 3 0 .
35 pp.
B aridon , F e l ix E., and L oomis , E arl H.
a n a l y s i s a n d c o n tr o l.
{ I n c .) , 1 9 3 1 .
452 pp.
N ew
Y o rk
and
P e r s o n n e l p r o b le m s — m e th o d s o f
L o n d o n , M c G r a w -H ill B o o k C o.
This volume is designed as a guide in personnel administration work. The
“ problem” method of discussion has been followed, and the subjects covered
include employment; remuneration; labor turnover; health, safety, and working
environment; personnel management; training and development of employees;
and employee relations. The various topics are discussed both from the general
management and the human relations points of view.
B arnett , H. It. M a n m a n a g e m e n t i n c h a in s to r e s . N e w I o r k a n d L o n d o n ,
H a r p e r & B r o s ., 1 9 3 1 .
252 pp.
B e r g lu n d , A braham , and o t h er s .
L a b o r i n th e i n d u s t r i a l S o u th .
C h a r lo tte s
v ille , U n i v e r s i t y o f V i r g i n i a I n s t i t u t e f o r R e s e a r c h i n th e S o c i a l S c ie n c e s , 1 9 3 0 .
1 7 6 p p . ; c h a r ts , i l l u s .
The authors, a professor, an associate professor, and a research assistant in the
University of Virginia, undertook a study of labor conditions in the new South
with a double objective: “ First, the presentation of general wage conditions as
shown by the books of employing concerns, Federal wage statistics, retail prices
of food and other necessaries, and the services rendered by employing concerns
in offering other aids to their employees in the forms commonly designated as
welfare work; and second, some explanation of these conditions as they result
fropi a new and rapid industrial growth in an environment characterized by tra
ditions associated with a certain kind of agricultural development.”
The furniture, lumber, and cotton-textile industries were selected as being
fairly typical, and special studies were made of a sufficient number of establish-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1262]
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
231
merits in each to give a balanced picture of general conditions. Special chapters
are devoted to the Southern workers’ background, the South in industrial revolu
tion, and the cost of living in the South. The investigations tend to confirm
the general conclusion that, making all due allowance for such factors as welfare
work, cheap fuel and house rent, and the like, the Southern workers receive lower
money wages and work longer hours than any other group of workers of similar
size in the United States.
D u t ch e r , D e a n .
137 p p .
T h e N e g r o i n m o d e r n i n d u s t r i a l s o c ie ty .
( P r i v a t e l y p r in te d .)
L a n c a s te r , P a . , 1 9 3 0 .
An attempt to show the trends in Negro population and employment since the
emancipation. Information as to occupations is gained chiefly from the census,
so that as yet no comprehensive data are to be had beyond 1920. In general,
there has been a movement out of agriculture and service occupations into indus
trial pursuits, and this was especially marked between 1910 and 1920. The
change has been coincident with a movement from country to city, and with a
migration northward.
E l k in d , H en ry B., M. D., Editor.
in d u s tr y .
P r e v e n tiv e m a n a g e m e n t— m e n ta l h y g ie n e i n
N e w Y o r k , B . C . F o r b e s P u b l i s h in g C o ., 1 9 3 0 .
2 3 4 P P G c h a r ts .
An adaptation of eight lectures given by as many experts in a successful course
to executives in the spring of 1930 under the auspices of the university extension
division of the Massachusetts Department of Education, in cooperation with the
Massachusetts Society for Mental Hygiene.
F e il e r , A r t h u r .
1930.
272 pp.
T h e R u s s i a n e x p e r im e n t.
N e w Y o r k , H a r c o u r t, B r a c e & C o .,
{ T r a n s l a t e d f r o m th e G e r m a n b y H . J . S t e n n in g .)
An account of the author’s observations while traveling in Soviet Russia.
F rancq , G u s ., Compiler.
C o d e o f la b o r a n d i n d u s t r i a l la w s o f th e P r o v in c e o f
Q u e b e c a n d c e r ta in F e d e r a l la w s w i t h r u le s a n d r e g u la tio n s c o n c e r n in g th e ir
a p p lic a tio n .
M o n tr e a l, M e r c a n tile P r i n t i n g , 1 9 3 0 .
232 pp.
( I n F ren ch a n d
E n g lis h .)
G e o rg ia , U niv ersity o f .
B u l l e t i n , V o l. X X X , N o . 8 b , P h e lp s - S t o k e s F e llo w s h ip
S t u d i e s N o . 9 : N e g r o m i g r a tio n , b y J o h n W i l l i a m F a n n in g . A th e n s , G a ., 1 9 3 0 .
3 9 p p . ; m a p s , c h a r ts .
H oover , C alvin B.
C o ., 1 9 3 1 .
T h e e c o n o m ic lif e o f S o v ie t R u s s i a .
361 p p .
N e w Y o r k , M a c m il l a n
J e w ish A gricultural S ociety ( I nc .). A n n u a l r e p o r t, 1 9 3 0 .
36 pp.
\ N e w Y o r k 1. 1 9 3 1 .
Reviews the 1930 work of this society whose main purpose is to aid in the
colonization of Jews on farms. During the year 73 families were established on
farms, and a new project was undertaken—a farm settlement offering to persons
with a bent toward farming a chance to enter that field while still retaining their
city jobs. A tract of land near New Brunswick, N. J., was divided into farms of
5 and 7)4 acres each, and each farm was provided with house, a combination
barn and garage, and a poultry yard. The tract will accommodate from 25 to
30 families, but, to start with, only 9 families were selected, each with a capital
of $3,000 or more, together with certain qualifications of steadiness and intelli
gence.
The farm loan department received applications for loans aggregating more
than $1,000,000 but owing to scarcity of funds could grant only $244,671, the
lowest amount since 1918. At the end of the year the society had farm loans
outstanding aggregating $1,377,750.
L arge , T homas .
H o w to e n d u n e m p lo y m e n t.
D a n ie ls s o n ( L t d . ) , 1 9 3 0 .
48 pp.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1263]
London,
John
B a le ,
Sons
&
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
232
L e e d s , M o r r is E., a n d B a l d e r s t o n , C. C a n b y .
W ages
a m e a n s o f te s tin g
th e ir a d e q u a c y .
P h i l a d e l p h i a , U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n s y l v a n i a P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 .
79
p p . ; c h a r ts .
( R e s e a r c h s t u d ie s X I , I n d u s t r i a l R e s e a r c h D e p a r tm e n t, W h a r to n
S c h o o l o f F in a n c e a n d C o m m e r c e , U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n s y l v a n i a .)
Reviewed in this issue.
M astjcci, L o r e n ? o .
E ffe c tiv e s o lu tio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t— c a u s e s a n d r e m e d ie s .
S c r a n to n , P a . , 1 9 3 1 . 2 7 p p .
{ P r i v a t e l y p r in te d .)
M ’D o n a ld , T. P.,
and
D a v ie , G e o r g e .
H a n d b o o k o f w i d o w s ’, o r p h a n s ’ a n d o ld
E d in b u r g h a n d L o n d o n , W m . H o d g e & C o. { L t d .) ,
a g e c o n tr ib u to r y p e n s io n s .
1930.
104 pp.
The widows’, orphans’ and old-age contributory pensions act was passed in
This book is a
useful guide to the real meaning of two complicated acts.
M e t r o p o l it a n L if e I n s u r a n c e C o. S o c ia l I n s u r a n c e M o n o g r a p h 1 : U n e m p lo y
1925 and amended and broadened in its application in 1929.
m e n t in s u r a n c e — a s u m m a r y o f s o m e e x is tin g g o v e r n m e n ta l a n d
N ew Y ork, 1 931.
2 7 p p . ; c h a r ts .
p r iv a te p la n s .
M o ser, C harles K .
T h e c o tto n te x tile i n d u s t r y o f f a r e a s te r n c o u n tr ie s .
P e p p e r e l l M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o ., 1 9 3 0 .
14-4 PP- , U lu s .
B o s to n ,
As a result of his survey of the cotton markets of India, China, and Japan, the
author reaches the conclusion that these countries are making increasingly
larger provision for their own and their closest neighbors’ textile needs, and that
in the future the markets of the Far East will be influenced more and more by
the cotton-textile output of the Orient.
N a t io n a l I n d u s t r ia l C o n f e r e n c e B oard ( I n c .).
in d u s tr y .
N e w Y ork, 2 4 7 P a rk A ven u e, 1 931.
N ew Survey
London
of
L o n d o n L if e
1930.
and
4 3 8 p p .; m a p s
L abor.
R a tio n a liz a tio n o f G erm an
1 8 2 p p . ; c h a r ts .
V o l. I . — F o r ty y e a r s o f c h a n g e .
c h a r ts .
Reviewed in this issue.
P e o p l e ’s Y e a r b o o k , 1931.
F o u r te e n th a n n u a l o f th e E n g lis h a n d
C o o p e r a tiv e W h o e s a le S o c ie tie s .
M a n c h e s te r , 1 9 3 1 .
3 3 6 p p . , U lu s .
S c o ttis h
An encyclopedia of information on the cooperative movement of Great Britain
and other countries, besides articles on various industrial and economic subjects.
Data taken from this report, showing the number of persons employed in the
various productive departments of the English Cooperative Wholesale Society,
are given in this issue.
P h e l p s , E d it h M., Compiler. T h e s o c i a li z a t i o n o f m e d ic in e . N e w Y o r k , I I .
W . W i ls o n C o ., 1 9 3 0 .
1 9 0 p p . { T h e R e fe r e n c e S h e lf , V o l. V I I , N o . 1. )
Contains a bibliography, briefs for and against. socialized medicine, and
reprints of articles on the subject, classified according to the point of view
expressed in the article.
R u s s e l l S a g e F o u n d a t io n .
{r e v is e d e d itio n , 1 9 3 0 ) .
L ib ra ry . A m e r i c a n f o u n d a t i o n s f o r s o c ia l w e lf a r e
N e w Y ork, 1930.
56 pp.
Shan n , E dw ard.
A n e c o n o m ic h is to r y
U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 .
456 pp.
of
A u s tr a lia .
C a m b r id g e ,
E n g la n d ,
The author believes that the effort, developed largely since the close of the
war, to make Australia a self-dependent and more or less hermit nation is doomed
to failure, but that if she will accept facts as they are, her geographic position
and relative immaturity offer her a role in the world economy of greater impor
tance than that which she has hitherto filled effectively.
S m it h , E d w in S.
R e d u c in g s e a s o n a l u n e m p lo y m e n t: T h e e x p e r ie n c e o f A m e r ic a n
m a n u f a c tu r in g c o n c e r n s .
N e w Y o r k a n d L o n d o n , M c G r a w - H i l l B o o k C o.
{ I n c .) , 1 9 3 1 .
2 9 6 p p . ; c h a r ts .
T il g h e r , A d r ia n o .
W o r k — w h a t i t h a s m e a n t to m e n th r o u g h th e a g e s .
N ew
Y o r k , H a r c o u r t, B r a c e & C o ., 1 9 3 0 .
225 pp.
{ T r a n s la te d f r o m th e I t a l i a n
b y D o r o th y C a n f ie ld F is h e r .)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1264]
■
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
T ip p e t , T om .
W h e n s o u th e r n la b o r s t i r s .
S m ith , 1 9 3 1 .
3 4 8 p p . , i l lu s .
233
N e w Y o r k , J o n a th a n C a p e & H a r r is o n
A study of the troubles during 1929 and 1930 in the Southern textile industry.
The author’s thesis is that what is now going on in that part of the country is
practically identical with what went on earlier in the northern industrial centers.
The difference in the two situations is that the current one is much more under
standable because of what has already happened in the North and in other parts
of the world.”
V erband der M a ler , L a c k ier e r , A n s t r e ic h e r , T u n ch er und W eissb in d e r
D eutsch lan ds . M a t e r i a l f u r d ie G e s e lle n a u s s c h u s s m itg lie d e r b e i d e n
In n u n g en u n d H an dw erk sk a m m ern .
H a m b u rg , 1 9 3 1 .
63 pp.
Contains a review of the labor conditions and relations between employers
and employees in the trades named in the title, including conditions of appren
ticeship and legislation related to the latter.
W allace , W illia m .
A th e n a e u m , 1 9 3 0 .
T h e r id d le o f u n e m p lo y m e n t.
18 pp.
London,
T he N a tio n
and
An effort to reduce the problem of the continuing unemployment in Great
Britain to its basic factors, with a discussion of methods by which these factors,
when determined, may be combated.
W ood L ouis A u b r e y .
U n io n - m a n a g e m e n t c o o p e r a tio n o n th e r a i lr o a d s .
H a v e n , Y a le U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 .
326 pp.
N ew
Reviewed in this issue.
Z entralverband
and I I I .
D eu tsch er
H a m b u rg , 193 0 .
K o n su m v er e in e .
Jah rbu ch ,
1930.
V o ls
II
708 an d 512 pp.
Detailed statistical data regarding the 1929 operations of the German con
sumers’ cooperative movement, especially the societies affiliated in the Central
Union of German Consumers’ Societies.
o
52839°—31
16
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1265]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
@FedFRASER