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CONTENTS.
Special articles:
Page.
Adjusting wages to the cost of living, by Prof. Irving Fisher........................
1-5
Food situation in Germany during the summer of 1918, compiled and
translated by Alfred Maylander............................................................ ......... 5-28
Labor and the war:
Awards and findings of the National War Labor Board................................_■29-36
Organization of production committees at bituminous coal mines.......... . 36-38
Standardized contract clauses for Government purchases............................ . 38-40
Conference of State labor officials, Washington, D. C., September 30 and
October 1, 1918........................................ ................................................ . . . 40-46
Demands of German agricultural workers......................................................... 46,47
Reconstruction in industry:
Proposed legislation on reconstruction in the United States......................... 48-53
Injunctions against strikes during war emergency............... ............ ............. 53-55
Postwar labor program of the International Association for Labor Legis
lation............................................................................................ ...................... 55-62
Relation of industrial and social conditions to adult education....................63-70
Socio-political program of the German employers.......................... ................ 70-72
Reconstruction program of the Italian Superior Labor Council.................. 72-74
Meaning of reconstruction...............................„ . . . . ... ......................... .
74, 75
Prices and cost of living:
Retail prices of food in the L^nited States_______ _____________ ______ 76-86 '
Index numbers of wholesale prices in th e United States............................... 87, 88
Price changes, wholesale and retail, in the United States............................ 89-92
Comparison of food costs in 45 cities, September, 1917, to August, 1918, by
Elma B . Carr............................................................. ............... ................. 93-103
Farm prices and retail prices compared........................................................ 103,104
General index numbers of food prices on a nutritive value base.............. 104,106
Food conditions in Brazil____ _____________________ ...........................tflg 107
Increase in food prices in France, 1914 to 1918.............................................107,108
Cost of living in Scandinavian countries____________ ______ ________ 108,109
Food prices and cost of living in Switzerland during the war............ ....... 110-113
Food control:
New food conservation program in the United States..... ........................... 114-116
Regulation of prices in public eating places in the District of Columbia. 116-117
Food control in Great B ritain............................. ........................................ 117-120
Cost of food in national restaurants in London________ ____________ _ 121, 122
Food and fuel control in France___________ ______ _______________ 122-129
Cooperation:
National cooperative convention at Springfield, 111.................................... 130-132
Wages and hours of labor:
Eight-hour basic day adopted by the steel corporation.............................
133
Union scales in the building, metal, and stone trades and in freight
handling......................................................................................................... 133-166
Wage situation in anthracite and bituminous coal districts..................... 166-170
Minimum wage:
Minimum wage decrees in California, Oregon, and Washington................ 171-179
Trade Boards Act, 1918, of Great Britain . . . j ............................................... 179-181
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CONTENTS.
Women in industry:
Page.
Federal policy in the employment of women............................................... 182-190
Conference of trade-union women under auspices of U. S. Department of
Labor..........................................................................................................
190-192
Bureau of women in industry established in New York State................... 192,193
Effect of industrial employment of women upon m aternity.......... ........... 193-197
Industrial safety:
Report of seventh annual safety congress, National Safety Council......... 198-204
Workmen’s compensation:
Fifth annual convention of International Association of Industrial Ac
cident Boards and Commissions................................................................ 205-214
“ Arising out of and in course of employment, ” by George A. K ingston.. 214-226
Hernia as a factor in workmen’s compensation awards, by C. F. Stoddard. 227-240
Lack of uniformity in Compensation legislation, by Lindley D. Clark__ 240-253
Workmen’s compensation law of Wyoming held constitutional................. 253, 254
Reports of workmen’s compensation commissions:
Michigan.........................................................................................................
254
West Virginia................................................................................................. 255, 256
Labor organizations:
Movement for a Pan American federation of labor....................................... 257-259
Trades-union congress, Great Britain............................................................ 259-265
Labor laws and regulations:
Regulations by United States Department of Labor for admission of Mex
ican laborers...........................................................
266-271
Housing:
Public utility societies, England.................................................................... 272-275
Billeting of civilian war workers in England............................................... 275, 276
Employment and unemployment:
Employment in selected industries in September, 1918............................. 277-282
Placement of women in industry.................................................................... 282-284
Rôle of the employment department in securing and retaining employees 284-286
E xtent of unemployment among discharged soldiers..................................
287
Strikes and lockouts:
Provision to prevent strikes and lockouts in Minnesota during the w ar.. 288, 289
Recent strikes in Great Britain....................................................................... 289-298
Immigration:
Immigration in August, 1918........................................................................... 299, 300
Conciliation and arbitration:.
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor, September 16 to October
15, 1918........................................................................................................... 301-308
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United States..................................................................................... 309-316
Official—foreign countries................................................................................ 316-320
Unofficial............................................................................................................ 320-331
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
WASHINGTON
Novem ber, m s
ADJUSTING WAGES TO THE COST OF LIVING.
BA' PROF. IRVING FISH ER , DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, YALE U N W E R SIT Y .
TVhen prices in general are rapidly rising, whether the cause be
inflation of money and credit or a real scarcity of goods, or anything
else, wages usually lag behind. Even when special influences exist
tending to raise wages, such as depletion of the labor supply by the
draft or a new demand for labor for war purposes, there is no such
close correspondence as ought to exist between changes in the prices
of what the workingman buys, on the one hand, and changes in the
wages by which he buys, on the other. The resulting labor discon
tent, unless the employer is sufficiently farsighted to satisfy the
demands of his men in advance, is liable to culminate in strikes to
force up the wages. Various remedies have been attempted to meet
the situation, some on the initiative of the employers, some as the
result of disputes.
After the first great upheaval of prices felt in this country since
the war broke out in Europe, namely, the upheaval of 1915-16, sev
eral banks, trust companies, and commercial and industrial estab
lishments made special Christmas presents to their employees to com
pensate partially for the reduced purchasing power of their salaries
for the preceding year, the presents being a fixed percentage of the
salaries. Some companies, which let Christmas go by, later followed
the precedent set by giving special percentage bonuses in the spring
of 1917.
Most of those attempted adjustments were by rule of thumb.
Thus, one trust company of Albany added 10 per cent to the salaries
for April, 1916, to April, 1917. The Westinghouse Lamp Co. voted
an increase of 8 | per cent at the close of 1916, because of the advanc
ing cost of living.” The Doehler Die Casting Co., of Brooklyn, voted
to give all the employees who had been working for a year or more a
dividend of 10 per cent of their yearly wages every time regular
dividends were declared after January 1, 1917. The Tide Water Oil
Co. similarly announced that on account of the high cost of living
12 per cent of the earnings in the year would be paid to all employees
receiving less than $3,000 a year. These are only a few of the many
firms which used the custom of Christmas bonuses to make a more
explicit recognition of the ills of the high cost of living.
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Others attempted a more scientific adjustment. The Bankers’
Trust Co., of New York City, appointed a special committee of its
■employees to investigate increased living costs. This investigation
showed that the cost of living was 21 per cent higher in 1916 than in
1915. They used Bradstreet’s price figures, omitting certain articles;
such as metals, not entering into an employee’s budget, leaving 54
articles actually used in determining the change in price level. This
21 per cent increase applied, not on the entire salaries, but on that
part of them which is, on the average, expended on the necessities of
life. Chapin’s “ New York Study” was used as the basis. The
results were, in brief, that employees receiving salaries ranging from
$560 to $1,199 should receive the 21 per cent additional on 80 per
cent of their salaries; those receiving $1,200 to $1,499, on 77 per
cent; and those receiving $1,500 to $2,499, on 70 per cent. The
recommendation of the committee was adopted, and, accordingly, in
these three classes the employees received 16.8 per cent, 16.17 per
cent, and 14.7 per cent, respectively, of their entire salaries. Those
earning over $2,500 received the flat sum of $305.
Apparently most employers who made such adjustments as those
just mentioned assumed that they were made once for all. But it
was found, of course, that living costs wouldn't “ stay put,” so that
a new adjustment needed to be made next year. This led naturally
to the idea of a periodical adjustment. The Bankers’ Trust Co.
appointed a committee to make further investigation.. Its report,
made December 15, 1917, covered 22 pages. The study was along
similar lines to the one of the previous year. The index number
based on«the 54 articles was verified by comparison with other index
numbers and by independent data secured from chain and depart
ment stores and other sources in New York. The conclusion was
reached that the cost of living as to food and clothing in the last half
of 1917 was 86.2 per cent above that of the year 1915. To be con
servative, this figure was reduced to 80 per cent, and was applied
simply to that portion of the budget which went for food and clothing.
Rent was assumed to have advanced 10 per cent. Roughly, the net
result was that the percentage increase in the Bradstreet number was
applied to 60 per cent of the salary. Actual compensation, however,
was reckoned relatively to more recent dates than 1915, varying
according to the times the various employees entered the service of
the company. Thus a clerk receiving $1,000 a year and employed
in July, 1916, was entitled to $178.87.
This committee reported again in June, 1918, favoring a reduction
of the percentage of compensation, because it was felt that the
•employees should bear a small proportion of the increase in living
costs. In the words of the report, “ The committee questions if
Bankers’ Trust Co., which can not in these times be assured of profits
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commensurate witli the decrease in the purchasing power of money,
should, in equity, continue a policy which, for the duration of the
war, would relieve its employees in every instance entirely from the
common duty of retrenchment and reduced uses of essentials, which
should now he a voluntary and willing sacrifice by all.”
The Union & New Haven Trust Co. attempted for a time a monthly
compensation for living costs, taking the index number (for wholesale
prices of foods) of the Times Annalist as a basis and assuming that
half of the budget was for food and that the other half remained
invariable. This meant that for every 1 per cent advance of the
Annalist index number one-half per cent was added to salaries.
The plan was afterwards abandoned, apparently because other banks
in New Haven had no such expense.
The American Association for Labor Legislation has adopted a
similar plan in paying their office employees.
The Oneida Community inaugurated on January 1, 1917, a system
of compensation for the high cost of living by the use of Brads treat’s
index number for wholesale prices. Each workman receives two
weekly pay envelopes—one containing regular wages and the other
containing a certain percentage thereof calculated from Bradstreet’s
number. An initial adjustment of 16 per cent was made as repre
senting the increase in the cost of living between January 1, 1916
(when the general wage scale had been revised), and January 1, 1917.
This 16 per cent was applied to the wages for the first month. In each
succeeding month a 1 per cent advance or decline of wages was made
for each 20 points change in the Bradstreet number. This amounted
to a compensation of about 60 per cent of the increase in living cost,
which corresponds closely to the Bankers’ Trust Co.’s results where
the compensation was for the. full percentage increase, but on only
60 per cent of the actual salary—i. e., that spent for food and clothing.
An interesting feature which has been noted in the working of this
plan at the Oneida Community is that the paying of the “H. C. L.”
compensation in a separate envelope is a great inducement to saving.
The Kelley-How-Thomson Co. (hardware), of Duluth, Minn.,
adopted, independently, a similar plan.
The George Worthington Co. (hardware), of Cleveland, Ohio, on
October 1, 1917, followed the lead of the Oneida Community, with
the exception that all employees were included excepting the
directors or salesmen on a commission basis.
The Printz-Biederman Co. (clothing), also of Cleveland, received
the idea from the Geoige Worthington Co. The introduction of
the plan here was through the employees’ organization. This com
prises a house of representatives, a senate, and a cabinet. A con
ference committee selected by them reported back their findings, with
the result that the suggested plan was promptly and unanimously
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
adopted. In this case the “ H. C. L.” envelope was not given with
the regular pay, but monthly. The plan was in operation for six
months. In June, 1918, the index figures had gone up 12 per cent,
and this 12 per cent was added to the wage rate then in existence and
a general revision of all base rates was simultaneously made. Since
then the index number adjustments have ceased, but a half-yearly
revision of the wage situation is to be made by the wage committee.
The Index Visible (Inc.), of New Haven, Conn., has recently
adopted a simpler plan based on the index number of retail prices of
the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Though this index
number is only for food it is taken as applying to all family expenses.
Thus' the basis is the average index number, 158, for the first six
months of 1918. The index number for August was 171, or 8.2 per
cent higher than the base. Consequently, for all wages received in
August (by those employed prior to July 1, 1918) a high-cost-ofliving supplement of 8.2 per cent was distributed about a month later.
Various flouring mills in Seattle and other points in the Northwest
have raised the wages of their employees on several occasions. The
adjustments were made at irregular intervals, but consciously to
meet the increase in living costs. The survey of prices on which the
increase was determined was made under the direction of Prof. W. F.
Ogburn, of the University of Washington, who calculated the index
figures finally used.
The chief use of index numbers in settling wage disputes has been
in the decisions of the National War Labor Board. Strikes have been
settled and wage increases made specifically on the basis of index
numbers. So far the War Labor Board has not put into effect the
whole of the plan as used by the firms mentioned above, for they
have not provided for periodic adjustments. The board is now con
sidering the introduction of quarterly index number adjustments.
The principle is also recognized by the Shipbuilding Labor Adjust
ment Board. This Board has adopted the plan of making half yearly
(April 1 and October 1) adjustments of wages in all shipbuilding
centers, based on changes in the cost of living as determined for the
Board by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most
recent wage adjustment in accordance with this plan was announced
by the Macy Board on October 24, 1918, effective October 1.
All of the methods described are only approximate, for as yet we
do not possess any exact index number of the general cost of living.
But as long as our dollar is so unstable in its purchasing power the
various attempts to compensate for its aberrations are worthy of
careful consideration looking toward a general adoption of the
principle involved.
On account of the present “ emergency high wages,” the method is
especially valuable. If the price level suffers a decrease after the
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war, tliose firms which have advanced their employees’ wages on the
basis of index numbers can make a reduction, at least to the point at
which they started, with the understanding on the part of the em
ployees that the reduction is the automatic result of a price change
similar but opposite to that which gave the high cost of living com
pensation. Employers realize the danger of causing discontent by
an unexplained reduction of wages, although reduction will never
theless in many cases be inevitable. A second reason for the special
timeliness of the method can be found in the increasing Government
control and Government ownership of industry. Strikes and discon
tent on the part of the Government employees are plainly dangerous,
and therefore devices which tend to create loyalty and content are
increasingly important with the increase of the Government under
takings.
FOOD SITUATION IN GERMANY DURING THE SUMMER OF 1918.1
COMPILED AND TRANSLATED BY ALFRED MAYLANDER.
THE GENERAL SITUATION.
At the beginning of June, 1918, the prospects of the German food
supply darkened with remarkable rapidity. This was probably due
in part to the risky policy followed in the spring of gambling in what
may be called ‘‘Ukrainian futures,” and in part to weather conditions.
That the general situation of the food supply in the spring was on the
whole slightly easier than last year was due in part, indeed, to the
better stocks of potatoes, but partly to a policy of mortgaging the
future; that is to say, the authorities kept up the rations of the
staple foods at the normal level rather longer than the supplies at
hand justified with a view to making up the deficit later by means of
the “ bread peace” with the Ukraine; partly also, perhaps, in the
hope of extorting peace this year by the western offensive. But the
prospects of help from the Ukraine have, speaking broadly, faded
away, peace is as far off as ever, and the authorities are now reaping
the consequences of their own rashness. The bread ration has been
reduced below its lowest level last year, and it now seems as if it
would be not altogether easy to maintain it even at this reduced
scale. The Government is forced to resort, to an even greater extent
than last year, to the expedient of “ early thrashing,” and it has,
moreover, to interfere with the local arrangements of the communal
unions. For many local authorities, by greater “ stretching” of
bread or a lower ration than in neighboring communes, had managed
1 The present article has been compiled from various German daily papers in the form of translations and
digests. For previous articles on the same subject see: “ Foreign food prices as affected by the war,” Bui.
No. 170, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; “ Food situation in central Europe, 1917,” Bui. No. 242; and
Monthly R eview of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May, 1917, pp. 703-727; June, 1917, pp. 921-928;
July, 1917, pp. 66-69; January, 1918, pp. 91-95; May, 1918, pp. 45-53; and August, 1918, pp. 146-151.
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M ONTHLY T.ABOJ? BEVIEW.
to put by reserves with a view to a possible emergency such as has
now occurred, and these authorities had fondly hoped by this means
to avoid a reduction, wholly or in part. But now the Imperial Grain
Office has intervened, declaring that local authorities will not be
allowed to distribute a ration on a higher basis than 180 grams (6.3
ounces) as opposed to the official 160 grams (5.6 ounces) a day, and
seizing the surplus over and above the amount required to yield this.
The result is much indignation in municipal circles and a general
resolve not to err on the side of economy again.
But other rations, too, had to be reduced. The maintenance of
the meat ration at its old level of 250 grams (8.8 ounces) per week has
reduced the stocks alarmingly and played havoc with the sources of
the milk supply. It has, therefore, become necessary to introduce
a graded reduction of the ration, beginning with August 12, by which,
while larger towns receive 250 grams (8.8 ounces), smaller places are
cut down to as little as 150 grams (5.3 ounces). Moreover, meatless
weeks are being observed, beginning with August 19. The supplies
of milk (and therefore of butter and cheese) have sunk so low that in
Munich and other Bavarian towns the already scanty deliveries of
milk are being drastically cut down in order to lay in a reserve stock
of fats for the winter.
During the week of June 23-29 the outstanding feature of the
German food supply was the sudden failure of the potato stocks.
As late as the end of April the authorities were assuring the public
that there were enough potatoes to maintain the 31-kilogram (7.7
pounds) ration till the new harvest. At the beginning of June,
however, the authorities discovered that the stores would “ not be
sufficient everywhere” to maintain the ration, and local reductions
occurred here and there, usually to 2f kilograms (5.5 pounds). Then
during the last week of June, suddenly, and like a bolt from the blue,
Jt was announced that stocks were exhausted, and almost everywhere
the ration either fell considerably below 2 | kilograms or disappeared
altogether.
The serious consequences of the food policy pursued in the spring
have been aggravated by weather conditions—first long drought
and then cold weather, heavy thunderstorms, snow, and night
frosts have worked havoc with the alleged favorable prospects of
this year’s harvest. Harvest reports were plentiful and in some cases
long in the German press in August. Weighing one with another
and allowing for exaggeration and deliberate misrepresentation,
and balancing failure in one locality with exceptionally good results
in another, it seems fairly safe to conclude that this year’s harvest
is on the whole rather superior in quantity to last year’s, though
almost certainly inferior to it in quality. Its quality has been affected
by wet weather during the harvest and by premature cutting and
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M O N TH LY LABOE EEVIEW.
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thrashing of grain, much of which has been delivered in very damp
condition. An order of the Bnndesrath of June 15 has raised the
price of all kinds of grain.
Fruit has been scarce during the summer, and is likely to remain
so, since in most parts of Germany the crop seems to have been a
failure. The vegetable supply though nowhere satisfactory is on
the whole improving.
From a perusal of the German daily papers it becomes clear that
there is much depression and discontent over the bad food supply.
The efficiency of the wrorkers is being steadily impaired by present
conditions, and employers and authorities seem to live perpetually
in the fear of possible strikes or even graver manifestations of dis
content.
SPEECH OF TH E FOOD M INISTER.
On the occasion of a food debate in the Reichstag on July 6 the
food minister, Yon Waldow, made an important speech on the food
supply.' He referred in opening to the steady extension of State
control, the unavoidable drawbacks of the system, and the recent
proposal to substitute for it the system of assessment quotas. On
this he said:
Tills system is uncertain alike for consumer and for producer. The experiences of
our allies this year with the grain supply ought to put us on our guard. They have
had the result of causing the Governments of Germany, Austria, and Hungary to
agree on uniform principles for the control of the grain supplies; these are the prin
ciples on which our imperial grain order is founded.
After alluding to the necessity for continued economy, he said,
with reference to the criticisms passed on the present system;
However useful these criticisms may be in themselves they should not go so far as
has recently been the case, in order systematically to undermine confidence, with the
cry “ free trading, free production.”
The important parts of the remainder of his speech may be sum
marized as follows;
We got through the winter better than could be expected, judging by the autumn
prospects. This was due to the good potato crop and to greater elaboration of the
communal organization. The supply of bread grain was insufficient from the very
beginning.
Unfavorable weather caused a complete failure of the fodder grain harvest and a
very scanty harvest of bread grain. In the occupied territories, tooJ and in Roumania
the harvest was disappointing. Whereas imports of sugar and eggs from the Ukraine
have begun promisingly, the deliveries of grain from there are insufficient. The
general disorder in the Ukraine causes great difficulties, which we have so far been
unable to overcome, and it will be a long time before any large transport can com
mence. Judging by present conditions, the harvest of autumn-sown crops in Ger
many should commence very shortly. The harvest of winter barley is already in full
swing, and supplies from it are being received by the Imperial Grain Office. With
very few exceptions the potato ration could be maintained in full till tire beginning
i Vossische Zeitung. Berlin, July 7, 1918. Morning edition.
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M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
of this month (July) throughout the whole of Germany (protests from the Social
Democrats: U ntrue!). Now we have reached the last few weeks, when last year’s
stocks naturally grow scarce, and owing to their bad condition and great wastage a
failure of the supply occurs in isolated 1 places. The cold weather has delayed the
potato harvest by 10 days, and hence, contrary to expectation, a certain insufficiency
of the supply makes itself felt. However, by drawing on the districts where the har
vest is earlier and by the help of Dutch potatoes it will be possible to make up such
local failures, and I am confident we shall be able to get through the last difficult
weeks of this economic year without serious interruptions in the supply.
The failure of the fodder harvest and the want of concentrated fodder ha\ e had,
with us as elsewhere, an unfavorable effect on our livestock. The necessary reduction
of stocks and the decline in slaughtering weight have compelled us considerably to
exceed the normal depletion of our cattle stocks, and we can not continue on this
course without danger to our future meat supply, and in particular to the supply of
milk and fat. We can not, therefore, avoid introducing, as soon as our bread ration
is restored and the full potato supply is assured, a small reduction in the meat ration,
and also, for a certain period, a meatless week at fixed intervals. In compensation,
an extra allowance of flour will be given in the meatless weeks.
As to the prospects for the coming economic year, our own production will continue
to be the deciding factor. The products of the occupied territories and the imports
from Roumania and the Ukraine offer us a certain reserve, but are too uncertain factors
to be reckoned with except with caution. Late frosts and drought have unfavorably
affected the growth of the crops in parts of Germany, but the abundant rains of the
last few weeks have made up for this, so that we may justifiably hope for a better
harvest than last year’s. There is therefore no reason for pessimism. Unfavorable
weather has made the holding out more difficult for us these last four years; it brought
us three bad harvests: 1915, a bad oats and barley harvest; 1916, a worse potato harvest;
and 1917, a complete failure of all fodder crops. If this year we obtain, as we are
justified in hoping, a medium good harvest, we shall, thanks to our own production,
to the assistance of the available imports from the East, and to our better organization,
be in a considerably better position than our enemies.
During tlie debate which followed the food minister’s speech,
Weis, a majority socialist, made the following remarks:
The patience of the people is marvelous. After the insolent rebuff the junkers in
Prussia have given it, it accepts quietly the reduction of the bread and potato rations.
Now meatless weeks are to follow. It seems as if it were the intention to discover how
far the burdening of the people can be carried. The limit wall soon be reached. A
further deterioration of the food supply is unendurable. In certain quarters there is
no conception of the misery prevailing among the masses. The Kaiser’s speech at
Aix about the alleged imports from the Ukraine showed how little he knows of actual
conditions. The proposal to substitute a system of assessment quotas for the present
system of food control would only make matters worse. In Austria potatoes were con
trolled on these lines, and the result is enough to frighten us despite our own misery.
Workmen can not possibly get sufficient food on their present wages. Why, the war
bonuses do not average more than 30 per cent. According to statistics of the local
sick funds, 47 per cent of the Berlin workers get less than 4 marks (95 cents) a day.
Now, too, unemployment is making itself felt in Berlin. If this sort of thing goes on,
events like those in January (the general strike) must inevitably recur.. Moreover,
we have to face the possibility of an insufficiency of our bread supply before the new
harvest.
i According to statements in the press from all parts of Germany as to reductions of the potato ration,
Von Waldow’s “ isolated places” really means practically the whole of Germany.
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M O NTHLY LABOE EE VIEW,
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COMMENTS OE THE PR E SS ON THE FOOD SITUATION.
In articles published this summer in the German daily press there
can be found plentiful evidence of the present unsatisfactory food
situation and the consequent public discontent. Two of these
articles will be quoted here in part. The first, which appeared in
the Vorwärts under the title “ Das Ernährungsvakuum” (The
vacuum in. the stomach), says d
The present tim e of distress is described in official language as the transition period
between the economic years 1917-18 and 1918-19. In somewhat less anemic German
this may be translated: “ The old harvest is nearly used up, and the new is not yet
here.”
Between these periods the inhabitants of Berlin who are in easy circumstances can
withdraw to those parts of the German Empire, such as Bavaria, etc., where there ia
plenty to eat. The chief stress has to be borne by the poor, who are tied to the dis
tricts where they work, and have no money for traveling. We may perhaps be offered
the consolation that things were worse at this time last year. That may be admitted,
b ut against it must be placed the grievous circumstance th at now, year by year, the
season returns in which the need of the human body for a certain number of calories,
which must be supplied in the form of food, finds no place within the official orders.
I t proves that our organization for distribution is defective, if it can only secure dis
tribution for 10 or 11 instead of 12 months.
The concentrated foods promised as a substitute for the potatoes are only an unsatis
factory substitute for the war stomach.
The early vegetables are supposed to help, and might help, but for the high price.
For a family which can afford to pay 5 to 10 marks ($1.19 to $2.38) every day for the
midday meal a tolerably satisfying vegetarian meal can b e prepared, b u t such an
outlay is quite impossible for most of the soldiers’ wives, pensioners, workmen with
small earnings, and lower Government officials.
The present conditions show clearly how unreasonable the proposals of the Con
servative Party were to introduce a substitute for the system of requisition and seizure
of food articles. The grain that disappears in illicit trade is estimated by the authori
ties at 1,000,000 metric tons2 (984,200 long tons) and it is just this quantity which we
lack in the eleventh and twelfth months of the economic year. Every effort must,
therefore, be made to get this into the hands of the State.
Unfortunately the morale of the nation is being lowered not only by physical strain,
b ut by political disappointments, scarcely calculated to produce a mood which will
patiently endure the inevitable.
The second article, written by Erich Dombrowsky under the title
“ Der Schmachtriemen” (The tightened belt) appeared in the Berliner
Tageblatt.3 It draws up two lists comprising the average daily
fare, during May, June, and July, in prewar days and now, of a Ger
man of the middle class in comfortable circumstances.
In prewar days he consumed the following quantities of foodstuffs:
Good coffee, i liter (0.53 quart).
Milk and a little cream, \ liter (0.26 quart).
Butter, 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
1 Vorwärts. Berlin, June 30, 1918.
2A metric ton is the equivalent of 2,204.6 pounds, or approximately 0.9842 part of a long ton.
s Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, July 3,1918. Evening edition.
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Bread, 750 grams (1.7 pounds).
Sausage or cold meat, 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
Meat, 250 grams (8.8 ounces).
Potatoes, 500 grams (1.1 pounds).
Vegetables, 250 grams (8.8 ounces).
Soup, \ liter (0.53 quart).
Cake or pastries, 250grams (8.8 ounces).
Sugar, 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
2 eggs.
Tea, § liter (0.53 quart).
To-day lie may consume the following rations:
Bad substitute for coffee, \ liter (0.53 quart).
Milk, quantity unknown.
Butter and margarine, 10 grams (0.35 ounce).
Bread, '250 grams (8.8 ounces).
Sausage (in addition to horseflesh), 7 grams (0.25‘ounce).
Meat, with 50 grams (1.8 ounces) bones added, 21 grams (0.74'ounce').
Potatoes, 250 grams (8.8 ounces).
Vegetables, if he is lucky enough to get some, 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
Soup, containing %pound of -barley and groats, § liter (0.53 quart).
F ruit (“ Polish,” at 2.1 marks (50 cents) per pound), 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
Cake (mostly jelly and foam), 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
Sugar, 50 grams (-1.8 ounces).
One-fourth egg.
German (camomile) tea, J liter (0.35 quart).
This .gives at least an approximate comparison hctween then and
now; then, ,2,875 grams (6.3 pounds) of solid food.; now, $63
grams (2.1 pounds), or only one-third of the peace-time nutriment.
An accurate estimate must, of course, take into account two more
factors, the number of calories represented by the above, and the
additional quantities of food obtained in illicit ways.
IN T E R N A L JEALOUSIES.
Another symptom of crisis is the intensification of local jealousies.
All through the war there has been much ■heartburning between
Bavaria and north Germany, the press of the latter tending to
represent Bavaria as a land flowing with milk and honey, but too
selfish to share its superfluity with the suffering north, whereas
Bavaria, on her side, has complained bitterly -of the shoals of north
Germans who have flooded her summer and health resorts for the
purpose of buying up food. These hoarding excursions led to the
recent enactment of drastic regulations for the limitation of the
tourist traffic, which in turn has caused much resentment outside
of Bavaria. Recently there was a rumor th at the central fuel
authorities of the Empire had decided to limit the supply of coal to
Bavaria as a retaliatory measure. This was denied, hut it appears
now that an unofficial body had really proposed a policy of the kind.
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11
“ Vorwärts” points out that such a procedure, if actually carried
out, will be attended by serious consequences; it will end in the
various German Federal States being hermetically closed against
each other; and yet they all consider themselves part of the German
Empire.
Indignation is rife in Bavaria, for, as the “ Münchener Post” 1
explains, the limitation of the tourist traffic was rendered necessary
by the food situation.
It seems an undoubted fact that till recently Bavaria was, as
regards some foodstuffs at all events, in a better position than other
parts of the Empire—not unnaturally, since she is a great agricul
tural State; and even now the milk supply of Bavarian towns is
better than that of most German towns. But certainly conditions
have been much less favorable in the past year, and something in the
nature of a crisis seems to have arisen recently.
The announcement that only the city of Berlin was to continue
the old meat ration of 250 grams (8.8 ounces) created a perfect
hurricane of indignation. Munich women demanded of the bur
gomaster equal treatment with Berlin,2 town councils made repre
sentations,3 and a striking incident in two Bavarian health resorts,
Alexandersbad and Luisenburg, where armed women from the neigh
boring town of Wunsiedel attacked hotel guests, devoured their
provisions, and threatened them with an even severer drubbing if
they did not clear out, seems to be due in part to the indignation
aroused in Bavaria by the favoring of Berlin. The Bavarian Gov
ernment took the popular side and strongly protested to the War
Food Bureau, being followed in this by Saxony4 and Hamburg.5
The Berlin press responded by fierce attacks on Bavaria. The War
Food Bureau was, however, obdurate; but since the situation in
Bavaria, where potatoes were still excessively scarce in August, was
really very bad, the State government arranged for Munich and some
other towns to retain their present meat ration of 200 grams (7
ounces), the ration elsewhere being reduced to 180 grams (6.3 ounces)
GRAIN.
T h e n ew g ra in 'prices .—-It had been generally expected in Germany
that grain prices would be raised above last year’s level, and much
speculation was rife as to the Government’s action. Finally, on
June 18, the Reichsanzeiger6 announced that the Bundesrath, by an
order of June 15, had fixed the prices of grain for the coming harvest
1 Münchener Post. Munich, July 31,1918.
2 Münchener Neueste Nachrichten. Munich, Aug. 8,1918. Morning edition,
s Münchener Post. Munich, Aug. 7, 1918.
* Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, Aug. 5,1918. Morning edition.
6Vossische Zeitung. Berlin, Aug. 6,1918. Morning edition.
«Deutscher Reichsanzeiger. Berlin, June 18, 1918. Evening edition.
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and also the early thrashing bonuses. The rise in the price of grain
is semiofficially 1 justified by the increase in the cost of production,
the lowered value of money, and the necessity for preventing a
reduced cultivation of grain. The official notice states:
When fixing the rise in the price of grain, it was also necessary to see to it that the
price of food to the population should not he excessively increased. The increase
therefore had to he kept within the limits of absolute necessity. In consequence
the new order fixes the rise at 35 marks per metric ton in the case of wheat and
rye (23 and 21 cents, respectively, per bushel) and 30 marks per metric ton in
the case of oats and barley (10 and 16 cents, respectively, per bushel). It amounts
in the case of wheat to 12 per cent of the old price, in the case of rye to 13 per cent,
and in that of barley and oats to 11 per cent, and therefore is not as high as last year’s
increase in the cost of production nor the drop in the value of money. But it is as
sumed that these prices will cover the cost of production. The classification accord
ing to price districts has been retained. According to the district of production, the
price of rye has been fixed at from 300 to 315 marks per metric ton ($1.81 to $1.90
per bushel). The maximum price per ton of wheat and spelt of all kinds is 20 marks
($4.76) higher (about 13 cents per bushel) than that of rye for the same district. In
the case of other grains the maximum price has been fixed uniformly for the entire
Empire, viz:
Per metric ton.2
Barley..........................
Oats..............................
Maize (all varieties)...
Buckwheat, unhusked
Buckwheat, husked...
Buckwheat, w ild........
Millet, •unhusked........
Millet, husked.............
300 marks
300 marks
450 marks
600 marks
800 marks
500 marks
600 marks
970 marks
($71.40)
( 71.40)
(107.10)
(142. 80)
(190.40)
(119. 00)
(142. 80)
(230. 86)
These maximum prices are producers’ prices and are inclusive of the cost of car
riage to station or wharf.
The order authorizes the food minister to issue more detailed regulations. He also
decides what extra work the prices include and what is the maximum compensa
tion that may be granted for extra work. He can grant exceptions. He can raise
or reduce the prices for definite periods, so far as this seems necessary for securing
tim ely deliveries. He can make special arrangements as to prices for sale of grain
for seed purposes.
In pursuance of the above authorization the food minister has
fixed the rates of the early thrashing bonuses for all kinds of grain
except oats and maize as follows:
In case of delivery before—
Per metric ton.2
July 16, 1918.
Aug. 1, 1918..
Aug. 16, 1918.
Sept. 1, 1918..
Sept. 16, 1918
Oct. 1, 1918..
120 marks
100 marks
80 marks
60 marks
40 marks
20 marks
i Vossische Zeitung. Berlin, June 18, 1918. Morning edition.
s A metric ton is equal to 2,204.6 pounds.
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($28.56)
( 23. 80)
( 19. 04)
( 14. 28)
( 9. 52)
( 4. 76)
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
13
Three supplementary announcements call for notice. First, the
Deutsche Tageszeitung 1 states that with regard to the thrashing
bonus all costs will be borne by the imperial treasury according to
the same principles as last year; second, the Münchener Neueste
Nachrichten 2 announces that the order makes all the communal
unions of Bavaria self-administering; and, third, the War Food Bureau
informs the press 3 that the flour price will be raised by not quite 2
pfennigs per 500 grams (0.43 cent per pound) and that of bread by
pfennigs (0.54 cent per pound) on the average.
The order has been by no means well received in the press. Urban
papers are for the most part very indignant. Vorwärts,4 for exam
ple, stating, contrary to the War Food Bureau’s estimate, that the
new prices will mean an increase in the price of bread of about 5
pfennigs per one-half kilogram (1.1 cents per pound) from August
onward, writes:
Just at the moment when the complaints of underfeeding and of the high prices of
all the necessaries of daily life are producing the utmost anxiety and dissatisfaction,
agrarians with their notorious ruthlessness are calling upon the people to accept an
increase in the bread price. That is to say, they demand a new impost for the benefit
of farmers—a class for whom the war (though it brought about many difficulties)
yielded a substantial compensation for every disadvantage.
This increase means very considerable gain to the agriculturists. Reckoning the
consumption of the army and civilians at 6,000,000 metric tons (236,207,143 bushels of
56 pounds), the extra 35 marks per ton (21.2 cents per bushel of 56 pounds) for bread
grain means an extra 210,000,000 marks ($49,980,000). Adding the early thrashing
premium, the amount of which at a moderate average may be put at 50 marks per ton
(30.2 cents per bushel), we get a further sum of 300,000,000 marks ($71,400,000), and
if the extra profit on barley and oats is similarly reckoned we must set the return of
this agrarian offensive at about 1,000,000,000 marks ($238,000,000).
The particularly serious aspect of these measures is the demand for an increase in the
prices of cattle in accordance with the high prices of fodder; and in close connection
therewith is the advancing of the prices of milk and butter. Pig prices have already
been raised to 130 marks per centner ($28.07 per cwt.), live weight—an increase of
about 50 marks ($10.79 per cwt). Although this increase is being principally borne
by the army, as there is scarcely any pork for civilians apart from home slaughterings,
consumers will be directly affected as taxpayers.
Representatives of the Social Democratic Party have pointed out to the food minister
that the party regarded this increase of grain prices as quite unjustified.
Im p o rts o f g ra in fr o m the U k ra in e .—In an article on conditions in
the Ukraine the Hamburger Fremdenblatt5 attributes the nonful
fillment of the promised exports to Germany to the general agitation
against the Hetman Government, especially among railway employ
ees. Actual exports of grain to the Central Powers up to the end of
May amounted only to 1,750. carloads, of which the greater part
1Deutsche Tageszeitung. Berlin, June 18,1918. Evening editicm.
2Münchener Neueste Nachrichten. Munich, June 18,1918.
3Vorwärts. Berlin, June 19, 1918.
«Idem. June 18, 1918.
6 Hamburger Fremdenblatt. Hamburg, June 26,1918. Evening edition.
87721°—18----- 2
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went to Austria-Hungary. Germany received only 564 carloads of
the total shipments. The Lokal-Anzeiger 1 reports on June 5 that
the first consignment of wheat from the Ukraine, consisting of 40
carloads, which were taken over by the Imperial Grain Office, had
arrived in Berlin. The wheat was said to be of good quality.
At a later date the Vossische Zeitung 2 makes the following state
ment:
I t became obvious by tbe beginning of July that there was nothing to be bought in
the Ukraine commercially. From July 4 to 19 dealers were allowed, but it did not
transpire that anything had been bought. The Ukrainian Government has now,
following the German example, placed an embargo on the new harvest, reserving to
itself the sole right of purchase, the self-providers’ supply and the seed being assigned
to farmers by the minister of agriculture. In this way large quantities of grain should
now, at least during the first months of the harvest year, be obtainable for Germany.
E a r ly th ra sh in g .—With respect to the results of early thrashing the
Münchener Neueste Nachrichten states: 3
The deliveries to the Imperial Grain Office are progressing well. The rainy weather
has rather delayed the harvest, but the preparations for drying have advanced so
well that the supply of the necessary quantity of bread grain, about 8,000 metric tons
(314,943 bushels of 56 pounds) per day, seems guaranteed. An expert on grain,
Dr. Heim, a few weeks ago spoke of the possibility that we might not obtain sufficient
grain during the first weeks of August to supply our reduced rations, but it can now
be said that this anxiety was unnecessary.
Keference has repeatedly been made in the press to the delivery
of damp rye. This seems to be a really serious danger this year;
and in reference to this subject the Schlesische Zeitung writes: 4
Bread grain can be considered fit for storing only if it contains not more than 16
to 17 per cent of water. But in order to favor the delivery of grain, the Imperial Grain
Office has ordered the mills affiliated with it to accept grain containing up to 19 per
cent of water. This has to be artificially dried to 17 per cent, and the farmer is debited
with the cost. Unfortunately, a large amount of grain is being delivered which con
tains up to 25 per cent of water, and even up to 30 per cent. The large quantities
delivered in this damp condition can not be dried sufficiently quickly, and they soon
deteriorate, providing a flour with a musty flavor and unfit for human consumption.
Farmers are, therefore, requested to keep their heads, and not to start thrashing
before the grain is sufficiently dry, as they injure themselves and others.
BREAD.
The higher grain prices fixed for this year’s crop necessitated an
increase in the price of bread, and this new price was introduced in
August. The Berlin bakers have been dissatisfied for some time
past because no professional experts were consulted when the price
of bread was fixed. They state that the bread prices do not corre
spond with the expenses of production, and that there is no profit to
1 Berliner Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, June 5, 1918.
2 Vossische Zeitung. Berlin, Aug. 1,1918. Evening edition.
s Münchener Neueste Nachrichten. Munich, Aug. 5,1918. Morning edition.
* Schlesische Zeitung, Breslau, Aug. 9,1918. Morning edition.
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15
be made. At a recent meeting of tlie Bakers’ Union of Greater
Berlin all speakers agreed that many bakers would soon be mined
unless a change in policy were made. A resolution to this effect
was adopted.1
At its meeting of August 8 the Food Union of Greater Berlin decided
that from August 19 the bread ration will be raised to 1,850 grams
(4.1 pounds) per week. The price of the black loaf was fixed at 97
pfennigs (23 cents) and of the white loaf at 1 mark (23.8 cents), so that
there is a considerable increase in the price, while the weight of the
loaf, though 100 grams (3.5 ounces) more than the recent weight of
1,750 grams (3.9 pounds), is still 100 grams less than the weight
before the reduction of the ration. The Lokal-Anzeiger 2 in report
ing this measure urges that the weight of the loaf must be increased
to 1,950 grams (4.3 pounds) as soon as supplies of flour and stretch
ing materials permit it.
The Berliner Tageblatt 3 adds the further information that the
price of 1,850 grams (4.1 pounds) of invalid’s bread has been fixed
at 1.23 marks (29 cents). Rye flour will cost 28 pfennigs per 500
grams (6.1 cents per pound), wheat flour, 32 pfennigs (6.9 cents
per pound), and invalid’s flour (superfine wheat flour), 38 pfennigs
(8.2 cents per pound).
The quantity fixed for the new ration caused considerable dis
satisfaction, and, according to the Yossische Zeitung,4various Greater
Berlin communes have requested the Food Union to approach the
State authorities with a view to increasing the bread ration.
The Münchener Neueste Nachrichten 5 had a long leader on the
subject of the quality of the bread at present, which it declares is
very unsatisfactory, and according to medical opinion, causes digest
ive disorders in not a few persons.
MEAT.
As has been briefly stated on a preceding page, an order was
issued in July reducing the meat ration, the reduction to take effect
beginning with the second week of August. For towns of over
100,000 inhabitants the reduced weekly meat ration was fixed at
200 grams (7 ounces); for those having between 50,000 and 100,000
inhabitants, at 150 grams (5.3 ounces); and for all smaller towns at
100 grams (3.5 ounces). Berlin is the only town in which a weekly
ration of 250 grams (8.8 ounces) was allowed. The War Food Bu
reau justified this preferential ration by the great influx of visitors,
German and foreign, to Berlin, the example of enemy countries
1Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, Aug. 3,1918. Morning edition.
2 Berliner Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, Aug. 9,1918. Morning edition.
2 Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, Aug. 15,1918. Morning edition.
4Vossische Zeitung. Berlin, Aug. 16,1918. Evening edition.
6 Münchener Neueste Nachrichten. Munich, Aug. 8,1918. Morning edition.
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
with regard to their capital cities, the shortage of fish in Berlin,
and the presence there of a large official population. The same
order provided four meatless weeks for the entire Empire, from
August 19 to 25, September 9 to 15, September 29 to October 6, and
October 20 to 27.1
These steps adopted to save the threatened cattle stocks have
caused more friction and recrimination than any measures the War
Food Bureau has adopted this year. The measure was strongly
attacked from the agricultural point of view in an article contributed
to the Lokal-Anzeiger 2 and entitled "As unpractical as possible.”
This article says:
It is hard to see why at this time townspeople should receive double the meat ration
of the rural population. Self-providers are being stinted on all sides in order to supply
towns and industrial centers, and even the authorities still foster the belief that
everything can be obtained more easily in the country. There was a time when
self-providers certainly did have more, but that was before the advent of hoarders
and illicit traders.
Meatless weeks are necessary in order that the cattle may fatten up more before
slaughtering and the stock be conserved to the utmost. For a long time agriculturists
have known them to be inevitable, and have openly said so, but they should have been
introduced in the period between Christmas and Easter, for then farm work is at its
lightest and urban work is not any more difficult than in the autumn.
One of the few papers defending the above measure of the War
Food Bureau is the Germania.3 In a lengthy article entitled “ Our
meat supply” it states:
On June 1, 1918, the entire number of horned cattle amounted still to approxi
mately 19,300,000 head. But since the quality of horned cattle has become inferior
it has become necessary to make great encroachments upon the supply to satisfy the
meat rations.. The normal amount of cattle slaughtered during a quarter of a year is
about 4§ per cent, but this was exceeded last year. The reasons are the following:
1. During the past year a double ration of meat was distributed in place of the
decreased bread ration. The result of this measure was that 9J per cent had to be
slaughtered instead of 4 \ per cent. In other words, 1,700,000 horned cattle were
required instead of 900,000.
2. Because of the drought of last year and the lack of grain fodder and concentrated
fodder there was a great decrease in the weight of the cattle. The former average
slaughter weight was 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds), but now it is 159 kilograms (350.5
pounds), and in Russia still less. Therefore, to cover the meat ration, many more
cattle had to be killed.
3. The decrease in the number of hogs has had a great effect upon the supply of
horned cattle. In peace time 60 per cent of the meat consumed was pork, but we
had 20 to 25 million hogs. But since fodder was scarce last year and we could not get
foreign fodder, and the feeding of grain and potatoes to hogs had been prohibited, the
hog supply had to be decreased. On March 1, 1918, the supply had decreased to
5,700,000 head. Even though it may have increased considerably since then, yet the
population must depend principally on beef.
1 Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, Aug. 8,1918. Evening edition.
i Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, Aug. 6, 1918.
* Germania. Berlin, July 19,1918.
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17
4. The former great importation of live stock and meat has ceased almost entirely.
We are receiving, of course, nothing from belligerent countries and the neutrals
have not enough for themselves. Therefore, Germany has to depend entirely upon
its own production and consequently we have considerably less meat than in peace
time.
5. Besides we have a great number of heavier consumers. The men in the army
consume on the average more meat than they consumed in peace time. The army
regulations call for one pound of meat a day per head. Even if this ration is no longer
being supplied to-day, it must be considered that the fighting troops alone, not in
cluding the noncombatant troops, the hospitals, prison camps, and the navy consume
much more meat than the entire civilian population. The necessity that the fighting
troops be well supplied with meat is clear to all.
The same article estimates that 30,000,000 kilograms (66,138,000
pounds) of beef, equivalent to 200,000 cattle, will be saved by the
meatless days, and that by the reduction of the meat ration a saving
of 22,000,000 kilograms (48,501,200 pounds) of beef, or 140,000 head
of cattle, will result.
The meatless weeks starting on August 19 will not be entirely
meatless according to an announcement of the War Food Bureau,
for game and poultry, sold without coupons, may be bought by
those who can afford it.
The Lokal-Anzeiger 1 announces that during the meatless weeks
i kilogram (8.8 ounces) of flour or 1$ kilograms (3.3 pounds) of
potatoes will be distributed in the place of meat. On August 11
the same paper states that during the first week the substitute at
Berlin will be 1£ kilograms of potatoes; on the children’s card f kilo
gram (1.7 pounds).
SAUSAGES.
In consequence of an order by the State meat office the Berlin
municipal administration has been obliged to issue new regulations
on the manufacture of sausage. In discussing these regulations the
Fleischer-Zeitung 2 says:
After June 20 the heads and tongues of cattle and calves have to be used for sausage.
Up to the present the flesh of heads has been in great demand; also the head bones.
All those parts are to be used in the ‘1uniform ” sausage. The regulation that uniform
sausage must be taken instead of meat at the rate of one-fifth of the meat quantity
remains in force. This new regulation is causing great difficulties, especially as
regards the cooking of a large number of heads of cattle, and two sausage factories have
had to stop work. The profit for manufacturers has also been cut down so fine that
there will scarcely be any profit at a price of 2.3 marks per one-half kilogram (49.8
cents per pound), if one takes into consideration the loss in weighing and drying; also
in the sale of end pieces. In order to prevent loss from drying and to prevent the guts
from getting oily, butchers are to keep the sausages in a 5 per cent solution of salt. It
is to be seen how the public will take to this sausage coming out of a salt solution.
The Münchener Neueste Nachrichten3 reports that the Bavarian
meat supply office after having entirely forbidden the manufacture
1Berliner Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, Aug. 3, 1918. Morning edition.
s Fleischer-Zeitung. Berlin, June 20, 1918.
* Münchener Neueste Nachrichten. Munich, June 22,1918. Morning edition.
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of rabbit sausage for sale lias now taken this production into its own
hands. Inferior sausage (S to c k w u r s t), sausage meat {L eberkäse),
meat pies {P a stete), and potted meat {S tre ic h w u rst) will be sold at
a uniform price of 4.25 marks per 500 grams (92 cents per pound).
Rabbit sausage will be obtainable without coupons on Wednesdays,
Thursdays, and Saturdays.
On the subject of the price and nutritive value of rabbit sausage
the Brunswick Volksfreund writes as follows:1
In order to stretch the scanty meat supplies, sausages made of rabbit have been on
the market for some time past, and they are hardly distinguishable from real meat
sausage, though very high prices are charged. It is, therefore, desirable that a com
parison should be made between the actual nutritive value and the prices charged.
The nutritive value of rabbit is not very high in itself, but not so small as is sometimes
thought, for it is relatively rich in albumen and also contains nearly 10 per cent fat.
But in the process of converting into sausage the nutritive value is appreciably de
creased partly by the large increase in water and partly because the fat fails to blend
with the meat, and, therefore, does not get treated with it.
Despite the small proportion of fat, rabbit sausage would still be a nourishing dish
if the large admixture of water were dispensed with. The prices are decidedly too
high, in view of this decrease in nutritive value.
POULTRY.
An article in the Düsseldorfer Nachrichten 2 by Julius Kopseli,
member of the Reichstag and of the lower house of the Prussian Diet,
calls for the abolition of maximum prices for imported geese.
In the spring of 1917 a goose trading company was established under the auspices
of the War Food Bureau and the Ministry of Agriculture to import geese live and
killed, from the occupied districts of the East. In July, 1917, maximum prices were
fixed which resulted in the stoppage of imports, as the prices asked in Poland could
no longer be paid. In place of free trading illicit trading began and only 375,000
geese were imported from Poland in place of the 600,000 to 800,000 expected.
In spite of these experiences practically the same maximum prices have again been
fixed this year by the War Food Bureau, w ith the result th at only 42,000 geese have
been imported and no more can be got hold of. A speedy abolition of the misguided
price policy for imported geese is urgently necessary.
FISH.
The following statement by the chief of the Fish Distribution
Office in Berlin is published in the Berliner Tageblatt:3
Very little fresh fish comes into Berlin at present owing to unfavorable weather.
Only a little comes in from abroad. We have already had more than our allowance
0f sea fish from Denmark, and Holland, that used to furnish us with large quantities
of river fish, needs these now for her own people. The main season for smoked fish is
past; only a few bloaters come to Berlin, and some small flounders. Salt herring are
provided by the imperial commissary to a much greater extent than last year. While
in May and June some 2,000 centner (2204.6 cwt.) of fish arrived daily, we can now
count only on 200 to 400 centner (220.5 to 440.9 cwt.).
i Volksfreund. Brunswick, June 11, 1918.
* Düsseldorfer Nachrichten. Düsseldorf, Aug. 12,1918. Morning edition.
• Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, June 27,1918. Evening edition.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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MILK, BU TTER, AND CHEESE.
There seems to be an increasing general scarcity of dairy produce
in Germany and a consequent raising of prices. On August 9 the
morning edition of the Münchener Neueste Nachrichten states that
an increase of milk and butter prices is again contemplated. The
Vossische Zeitung 1 says:
The prices in illicit trade—2 to 3 marks per liter (45 to 67.6 cents per quart) of milk
and of 25 marks per \ kilogram ($5.41 per pound) of butter—are immoral and indefen
sible, but they are doubtless an infallible measure of the people’s necessity. Legal
prices can never approach the illegal, but it is certain that insufficient maximum
prices for production breed the profiteer just as much as scarcity does.
But the decision had already been taken. An announcement in
the Berliner Tageblatt2 says:
The present shortage of milk products is due to the inroads made by slaughtering
in the stocks of milch cows, the utter failure of last year’s fodder harvest, and conse
quent dearth of feeding stuffs, and other well-known causes.
Dairy farming has been still further handicapped by the disproportion between the
cost of production and the maximum prices fixed, and particularly by the loss sus
tained through the surrender of slaughtering cattle and restocking with milch cows.
In order to help dairy farming to some extent the supplying districts have found it
necessary to raise the price of whole milk by about 10 pfennigs per liter (2.3 cents
per quart) as from September 1.
*
In order to maintain the milk supply for Greater Berlin, this decision will entail a
simultaneous increase of the producer’s price to 46 pfennigs per liter (10.4 cents per
quart) for milk delivered to Berlin. In the interests of those entitled to receive
whole milk, consisting chiefly of households with many children, it has been decided
provisionally to increase the current retail milk prices by only a few pfennigs and to
cover the greater part of the price increase by other means.
EGGS.
The Leipziger Neueste Nachrichten 3 states that according to the
Dresdner Nachrichten the supply of eggs to Dresden in June was
still far below what was promised. It reports, also, that of 260,000
eggs contained in two carloads of eggs which had just reached Dres
den from the Ukraine, very many were unfit for human consump
tion. They were examined one by one and a Berlin expert estimated
that about 15 per cent in one car and 25 per cent in the other were
bad. The bad eggs are being sent to Berlin to make washing mate
rial. Eggs have also arrived from Lithuania, as to which complaints
are made.
According to the Vorwärts 4 Herr Stubbe (Socialist) spoke in the
Reichstag food committee on deliveries of eggs and dried eggs from
the East. Up to the beginning of June, to his knowledge, only 50
carloads of eggs had reached Germany from the Ukraine. In order
iVossisehe Zeitung. Berlin, Aug. 12, 1918. Evening edition.
s Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, Aug. 11,1918. Morning edition.
«Leipziger Neueste Nachrichten. Leipzig, June 24, 1918.
«Vorwärts. Berlin, June 25,1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
to save transportation it was proposed that the eggs should be dried
in Roumania. It was doubtful whether this would be an advantage.
People had a great prejudice against egg powder. Bakers would
scarcely use it in spite of its cheapness. In the upper East the
military authorities had all the eggs broken into large casks, good
along with bad, so that the whole lot was spoiled.
POTATOES.
It has already been stated on a previous page that the most strik
ing feature of the German food situation during the summer of 1918
was the sudden failure of the potato supply around the end of June.
This sudden collapse of the supply was at first a little difficult to
account for, as the public had been assured that the ration of
kilograms (7.7 pounds) per week could be maintained until the new
potato harvest. One reason seems to be revealed by the following
statement of the mayor of Düsseldorf published in the Düsseldorfer
Nachrichten.1
We are now again in the worst weeks of the year. So far we have had our full ration
of 3 | kilograms (7.7 pounds) of potatoes per week. This week for the first time it is 2 \
kilograms (5.5 pounds). We ought to have been able to receive the 3y kilogram ration
for some weeks longer, even up to the new harvest, if the army had not unexpectedly,
in consequence of the oats shortage, needed large quantities of potatoes for the army
horses. Until quite recently we had figured on having a full supply of early p tatoes by now. But the terrible drought which unhappily affected the whole of Germany
prevented the growth of the early potatoes and now deprives us for some weeks of our
customary and necessary measure of potatoes. From this week onward throughout
our whole district the potato ration is fixed at 2 \ kilograms (5.5 pounds) per week.
Any failure in this respect will be met by prepared foods (hulled barley, farinaceous
foods, groats, soup cubes, etc.) at the rate of 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of prepared foods
for every missing half kilogram (1.1 pounds) of potatoes.
The universality of the potato shortage is evident from the fact
that the potato ration has been reduced in all large municipalities, as
articles discussing these reductions are to be found in all German
dailies. A few extracts of such articles are quoted here.
In Potsdam the ration was reduced to 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of
potatoes and 250 grams (8.8 ounces) of hulled barley per week.
At Neukölln, a large industrial suburb of Berlin, the authorities
content themselves with the announcement that as, “ owing to the
irregular supply of potatoes, it is possible that not all of the inhabi
tants will be able to receive the amount of potatoes due to them on
section 25 of the Neukölln potato card” prepared food will be sold as
a substitute in the municipal shops, viz., in lieu of 3J kilograms
(7.7 pounds) of potatoes, 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of pulse, 125 grams
of pulse flour, and 500 grams (1.1 pounds) soup cubes.2
1 Düsseldorfer Nachrichten. Düsseldorf, June 23, 1918. Morning edition.
* Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, June 28,1918. Morning edition.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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21
At Hamburg the ration was reduced for the week June 30 to
July 6 from 2 \ kilograms (5.5 pounds) to 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds),
and no guarantee was given that everybody would actually receive
even that amount. As substitute for the missing 1^ kilograms
(3.3 pounds), 250 grams (8.8 ounces) of hulled barley were to be
given, and the meat ration was increased from 200 to 250 grams
(7 to 8.8 ounces). The war kitchens received only enough potatoes
to serve as thickening material.1
Finally, at Munich the food supply office announced that in the
first week of July only 1^ kilograms (3.3 pounds) of potatoes will be
available per head and until it is possible to draw on the new crop
no more potatoes will bo distributed. Vegetables and prepared food
will be sold instead. The Münchener Post,2which gives this informa
tion, remarks that to cook expensive vegetables nutritiously fat,
which is lacking above all, is necessary; and it adds bitterly: “ Have
our war prolongers and annexationist 'holders out.’ any conception of
all this ? If so, the greater their irresponsibility.”
The reduction of the ration caused great indignation in Berlin.
During August the supply of potatoes became again fairly adequate
over most of north Germany, the ration varying from 2f to 3-£
kilograms (5.5 to 7.7 pounds). In Bavaria, however, it was still
very unsatisfactory.
FR U IT S AND VEGETABLES.
The fixing of maximum prices for early fruit and vegetables has
led to the practical disappearance of these in June from the urban
markets. Complaints to this effect are to be found in the daily press
of nearly all large cities.
On June 18, Von Tilly, the chief of the Imperial Food and Vegetable
Office, had an interview with representatives of the press at which he
declared the office was not to blame for the conditions in the Berlin
fruit and vegetable market.3 There was not much consolation for
consumers in his remarks. They may be summed up as follows:
: The peace imports from Spain, France, Italy, and North Africa are
lacking and the home harvest is not good and in many parts of the
country is late, while the demand for fruit has increased enormously.
It is therefore quite out of the question for the fruit and vegetable
office to procure as much as is wanted.
Discussing Von Tilly’s statements a writer in the Vossische Zeitung3
points out:
The consumers complain not so much of the shortage, which is to be expected in
the fourth year of the war, as of the unfairness of the distribution of what there actually
is available, of the illicit trade, of the maximum price system, and of the waste of
precious food in the cumbersome machinery of organization.
1 Hamburger Frem denblatt. Hamburg, June 28,1918. Morning edition.
* Münchener Post. Munich, June 29,1918.
»Vossische Zeitung. Berlin, June 18,1918. Evening edition.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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A correspondent writes to the Deutsche Tageszeitung: 1
“ Owing to the good crop of kohlrabi and carrots in 1916 the prices
of kohlrabi were fixed considerably below mangolds which, after all,
are more prolific.” In addition to the low prices he complains of the
unnecessary amount of officialdom and writes: ‘‘Who will be bothered
with cultivation contracts at the present low prices, the compulsory
terms, and the annoyances ? Most farmers are just cultivating
sufficient vegetables for their own use.” He describes the long
process of obtaining permits for purchasing seeds, which, on arrival,
were charged at the rate of 130 marks per kilogram instead of 40
marks ($14.06 per pound instead of $4.33), and 39.50 marks per
kilogram instead of 12.40 marks ($4.27 per pound instead of $1.34)
for yellow carrots. Remonstrances sent to the provincial vegetable
office were of no avail, the answer obtained stating that these were
foreign seeds and subject to other prices. He concludes: “ All this
shows the inadequacy of the Imperial Fruit and Vegetable Office,
which can not guarantee a supply of vegetables for the people, since it
can not even guarantee a supply of seeds for farmers.”
On July 5 the Berliner Tagoblatt2 publishes the following article on
the state of the supply:
The Berlin vegetable supply is improving. The Berlin municipal administration
has made extensive arrangements for stocking the market with large quantities of
kohlrabi to make up for the absence of potatoes. Abundant supplies of green peas
and carrots are expected for the next few days. The fruit supply, except for the
expensive Polish cherries, is still very scanty. The question arises as to what has
become of the cherries that were to have come from Werder, Posen, and Thuringia.
No currants or gooseberries are to be seen. The shops instead exhibit a plentiful
supply of wild strawberries. I t is a regrettable sign of the times that fruit disappears
from the market as soon as maximum prices are fixed, while on the other hand, un
controlled goods fetch exorbitant prices. The authorities seem unable to cope with
the situation; meanwhile the inhabitants of Berlin will have to go without fruit again
this year.
According to the Lokal-Anzeiger of July 29 3 the fruit and
vegetable office has published the following new producers’ maximum
prices for apples, pears, and plums:
Kind of fruit.
Table apples and pears....................................................................................................
Household apples and pears, including windfalls and cider fruit...............................
Plums, household, stewing, common, and Thuringian...............................................
Plums for distilling.......................................................................................................
Price per \
kilogram.
Price per
pound.
P fe n n ig s.
C e n ts .
i Deutsche Tageszeitung. Berlin, June 17,1918. Evening edition,
s Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, July 5, 1918.
* Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, July 29, 1918. Evening edition.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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15
20
10
7.6
89
43
2.2
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
23
SUGAR.
The Schlesische Zeitung of July 28 reporting on the sugar beet
crop states that warm weather and showers have been uncommonly
favorable to the beets, both leaf and root. The satisfactory appear
ance of the fields justifies hopes of a fine crop.
The Lokal-Anzeiger 1 reports that the Association of Sugar Man
ufacturers has been urged by parliamentary circles to address a me
morial to the central committee, explaining the position of the Ger
man sugar industry with respect to the extortionate price paid by
the Government for Ukrainian sugar. The home industry, which
has been hard hit by the scarcity of fuel and difficulties of trans
portation, was not invited to assist in determining the prices for the
imported supplies, which so far are said to total about 48,700 metric
tons (1,073,640 cwt.). The government has therefore paid an excess
price amounting to 260,000,000 marks ($61,880,000), an amount not
easily counterbalanced by German exports to the Ukraine.
TEA, COFFEE, AND COCOA SU B ST IT U T E S.
The Vossische Zeitung 2 contains an article on the different plants
and shrubs used with more or less success as substitutes for tea,
cocoa, and coffee. Among other things this article says: “ To find
substitutes for tea has not been considered a very difficult problem,
and coffee substitutes had been largely used before the war; but
cocoa has offered the greatest difficulties.” However, the article
states that the firm of Branco Bros, has invented a cocoa, “ Brancoa,”
which is made of powdered reeds, and, mixed with milk and sugar,
is said to taste like chocolate.
In an article on “ German tea” in the Düsseldorfer Nachrichten 3
the writer says that last winter he bought a packet of tea which was
labeled “ A mixture of 20 different herbs,” and the contents proved
themselves to be nothing more than hay from a woodland meadow,
chopped, packed up, and sold as German tea.
BEER.
It was stated by the Government representative at a meeting of
the Reichstag committee for trade and commerce, when discussing a
petition by the malt factories, that during the last brewing year only
63,000 metric tons (2,893,538 bushels) of brewer’s barley had been
distributed in the Empire exclusive of Bavaria—i. e., a third of the
previous year’s amount. This was in consequence of the inferior
barley crop and the increased use of barley as a bread-stretching
1 Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, July 30,1918. Evening edition.
2 Vossische Zeitung. Berlin, June 9, 1918. Morning edition.
3 Düsseldorfer Nachrichten. Düsseldorf, Aug. 8, 1918. Morning edition.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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material for the production of prepared foods and as a substitute
for oats for the army horses.1
The Frankfurter Zeitung 2 prints an article on the outlook in the
German brewing industry, where working conditions become increas
ingly difficult as the war goes on. In part the article says:
Scarcely any industry has suffered more through the general limitations of the
present time and the special restrictions and regulations imposed by the Government.
Circumstances are considerably worse this year, for the supplies of barley are shrinking
and the quota of production allowed has been further reduced. In 1916-17 the quota
for north Germany, including the Palatinate, was 25 per cent and for Bavaria 35 per
cent of the 1912-13 average, but the actual output amounted only to 15 and 30 per
cent, respectively. For the current year 1917-18 the quota has been further lowered to
10 per cent for North Germany and 15 per cent for Bavaria. Even then supplies have
fallen short, so that north German breweries produced only about one-half of the
quantity permissible, Bavarian concerns a trifle more. Moreover, some 2 per cent
was requisitioned for army needs, leaving North Germany some 3 per cent for the
civilian population. In peace time North Germany consumed 1,200,000 metric tons
(55,115,000 bushels) of barley, so that a 10 per cent quota should have 120,000 tons
(5,511,500 bushels) in place of the 63,000 tons (2,893,538 bushels) actually delivered,
but the balance was needed for food.
This further considerable reduction of the raw material most necessary for brewing
has lessened the possibilities of the output. Some establishments have curtailed their
output, others have closed down, so that out of 12,000 breweries of normal times more
than half are idle, and scarcely more than between four and five thousand working.
To help the insufficient supplies to cover the output needed, the breweries intend
to “ stretch” the beer still further and lower the quality. The Government ordered
that beer containing more than 3 per cent of malt should no longer be supplied to
private persons, whereas army deliveries must contain at least 6 per cent. In the
light of previous conceptions the “ beer” of the civilian population is scarcely worthy
of its name. The lowering of the quality has reacted upon the consumption which
has fallen, and breweries compete with one another in then’ efforts to get rid of the
stuff. For so-called plain beer the price has been raised from 20 to 23 marks per
hectoliter.(82.5 cents to $1.04 per 5-gallon keg) but army beer remained at 30 marks
per hectoliter ($1.35 per keg). Breweries have turned their attention to substitute
beverages, soda water, lemonade, etc. Some have undertaken the drying of vege
tables, turnips and potatoes, the production of flaked oats or disintegrated straw fodder,
much to their advantage.
VINTAGE PROSPECTS,
The Deutsche Tageszeitung 3 quotes the Zeitschrift des Wurttembergischen Weinbauvereins as giving an unfavorable report on this
year’s vintage, in spite of the fact that the vineyards have a good
appearance. The cold weather in June retarded the blossoming, as
is evident from the unequal development of the grapes. The pros
pects are better in some districts, some especially favored regions in
the lowlands even anticipating an equally good crop with last year,
but, on the whole, neither the quality nor the quantity of last year’s
vintage will be attained.
i Münchener Neueste Nachrichten. Munich, Aug. 6, 1918. Morning edition.
8 Frankfurter Zeitung. Frankfort-on-the-Main, Aug. 3,1918. Evening edition
ä Deutsche Tageszeitung. Berlin, Aug. 10, 1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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D ECREASE OE ALCOHOLISM.
The Schlesisclie Zeitung,1 quoting from an article on the “ Decrease
in mental diseases due to alcoholism in Silesia during the War,”
published in the Psychiatrisch-Neurologische Wochenschrift, of June
9, 1918, by Dr. Ziertmann, superintendent of the Provincial Asylum
at Bunzlau, and consulting physician to the lunacy board, writes:
In all the public asylums and general hospitals of Silesia there is an unusual decrease
in the number of cases of mental disturbances due to alcoholism. In the twelve
public institutions the decrease in male alcoholic cases was 85.6 per cent, in delirium
tremens cases, 96.1 per cent, in chronic alcoholic mental diseases, 80.1 per cent. In
the general hospitals cases of acute alcoholic poisoning fell 90.5 per cent in the male
wards. The decrease in the reception of women is as noticeable, so that alcoholic
mental cases, so frequent before the war, have practically disappeared. The cause
is chiefly official restraint upon the consumption of alcoholic liquors.
This decrease means for th e Silesian asylums in the year 1917 alone a saving on
maintenance expenses of about 80,000 marks ($19,040). Taking into further con
sideration the asylums and general hospitals of Breslau and th e institutions in other
Silesian towns the total saved would be twice this sum. Similar figures hold for
Berlin and the Rhine Province. Taking Germany as a whole, far more than 1,000,000
marks ($238,000) has been saved in asylums, and her prewar poor relief burden of
50,000,000 marks ($11,909,000) has also been appreciably lightened.
At the offices of the Silesian National Insurance Association the number of disable
ment and sickness allowances attributable to alcoholism averaged 83 during the period,
1907 to 1913, falling in 1914 to 56, in 1915 to 43, in 1916 to 22—a saving of 181,134 marks
($43,109.89). Their expenses in connection with curative treatmentof inebriates show
aremarkable decrease. The association spent 125,817 marks ($29,944.45) in 1913, 95,000
marks ($22,610) in 1914, 27,293 marks ($6,495.73) in 1915, 8,920 marks ($2,122.96) in
1916, and nothing in 1917.
The withdrawal by the army of men under 45 is not the chief factor as one would
think. It is Government control of the liquor traffic which has saved the nation in
health and work and happiness an amount not to be expressed in terms of money.
The author hopes that the reduction in alcoholic consumption will be continued
beyond the war.
W AR KITCHENS.
According to the Berliner Tageblatt2 the Imperial Statistical Office
has published a comprehensive survey as to the extent of mass feeding
in war kitchens in Germany during 1917. It was ascertained that
the number of mass-feeding establishments in communes of over
10,000 inhabitants amounted to 2,828. Of these, 1,497, i. e., more
than half, were public kitchens, 121 middle-class kitchens, 629 factory
kitchens, and 581 other kitchens. Tire prices varied between 20 pfen
nigs (4.8 cents) and 1 mark (23.8 cents) and over for 1 liter (1.06
quarts) of food. The general rise in prices has recently slowly made
itself felt, particularly in the middle-class kitchens. The millions of
portions show what a number of people are using these kitchens,
which are more patronized in the larger than in the smaller towns.
1Schlesische Zeitung. Breslau, July 28,1918.
1 Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, Aug. 20,1918. Morning edition.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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M O N TH LY LABOE EEVIEW.
In large .towns with over 500,000 inhabitants the yearly average
was 10.9 portions to every 100 inhabitants; in towns with between
250,000 and 500,000 inhabitants, 7.3. The figures drop in mediumsized towns to between 6.7 and 6.1 ¡portions, and only in small towns
with between 10,000 and 25,000 inhabitants does the number again
mount to 7.3. Still more interesting are the figures for the individual
months. Here a great similarity in the rise and fall of patronage is
apparent in all towns; occasionally, indeed, the rise is higher or the
decline lower, but almost everywhere the rise or fall occurs during the
same month. This corresponds to the ups and downs in the food
supply during the harvest year. The potato and bread shortage in
the spring leads to an increase of patronage, which drops off for awhile
in June, when the young vegetables appear, but returns in July when
supplies grow scarce again. From August onward the potato and
grain harvests cause a considerable decrease in the number of patrons.
With the approach of winter the public again patronizes the kitchens,
the patronage falling off again in December, during the Christmas
holidays.
FOOD SU P P L Y OF HOTELS, R E ST A U R A N T S, ETC.
The hotel, restaurant, and sanatorium owners of Germany held a
national conference at Frankfort-on-the-Main on June 22 that was
largely attended. Below is quoted in part a report of its proceedings
contained in the Lokal-Anzeiger:1
Privy Superior Government Councillor Yon Eynern, of the War Food Bureau, gave
a detailed statement of food conditions, which he depicted in a very pessimistic light.
In these circumstances it was not possible to comply with the wishes of hotel and
restaurant helpers. If compulsory controlof trade was done away with they would
arrive at the same state of things as in Austria. There the authorities had kept their
eyes closed the whole time; now they can see the consequences. Restaurants were
said to be frequented not only by those who were dependent on them, as, for instance,
bachelors, etc., but by a great number of the wealthy, who thereby saved their pro
visions. This must be avoided absolutely. Moreover, a restriction of tourist traffic
was desirable. In conclusion Herr Yon Eynern advocated the general introduction of
a restaurant food card.
Commenting on the conference the Frankfurter Zeitung 2 writes:
The national conference of hotel and restaurant keepers has not yet found a solution
of the restaurant food problem. The restaurant card, however right in principle,
would not mean that the hotel or restaurant keeper would receive full recompense
for the meals given and on the restaurant vouchers. In Frankfort, where this card
is already in force, the insufficient supply of meat, given not according to the vouchers
delivered, but according to a cut-and-dried scheme of distribution, has led to many
justifiable complaints.
As things are, however, there must under no circumstances be any preferential
supply of the hotel and restaurant trade. If a great nation has to submit to restriction
and must adapt its needs of nutrition to the scanty supplies, restaurants can have no
claim to a satisfaction of their ever-present luxurious requirements in quantity and
1 Lokal-Anzeiger. Berlin, June 23,1918. Morning edition.
* Frankfurter Zeitung. Frankfort-on-the-Main, June 23,1918. Second morning edition.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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27
quality. Within the limits of possibility their just claims should be met. The order
issued, assuring them of a sufficient supply of everything necessary, but making them
dependent for tills supply on the communes, is of course worthless. For as the com
munes receive no more supplies than heretofore, the extra supply of hotels, restaurants,
etc., would mean a corresponding reduction for the rest of the population, and increas
ingly so, as the commune concerned is the center of tourist traffic.
Hie difficulties in supplying hotels and restaurants with food have
led the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior to issue an order providing
for a simplification of the menus.1 According to this order only two
meat dishes may be served on meat days in hotels, restaurants, and
clubs. Meat from the same class of animal served in different ways
will count as one dish. A patron may be served with one meat dish
only at a meal. Table d’hote dinners at fixed prices may contain the
following courses only: One soup, one fish or entree without meat,
one meat dish, two vegetables, one dessert or cheese, or stewed or
fresh fruit. On meatless days another kind of fish or entree may be
inserted. The regulation that at one meal the choice between two
meat dishes only may he allowed applies to beef, veal, mutton, pork,
goat’s meat, and to poultry and game of all kinds, but it does not
apply to dishes made from head, tongue, inner parts, fried or stewed
sausages, or to meat supplied in sandwiches. The serving of butter
or butter sauce with hot dishes is p r o h i b i t e d . Slaughter feifsts may
not be held either at home slaughterings or at commercial slaughter
ings. Contraventions of the order are punishable with heavy fines or
imprisonment.
FOOD ADULTERATION.
A report on food adulteration was issued in August by the munici
pal chemical laboratory of Leipzig, edited by Prof. Armin Ruling.3
This report shows very clearly that adulteration of foodstuffs has
developed to a very great degree. The report says:
Three phenomena are clear and striking with regard to adulteration of foodstuffs
during the war. The continued mineralization of foodstuffs, the unusual increase of
the amount of water in them, and the use of worthless or even spoiled articles for the
preparation of foods. Plaster and whiting are increasing in price the more they are
being used for the preparation of food, whether as substitute for flour or baking powder,
or to increase the quantity and weight of spices. Alum, sodium phosphate, table
salt, and even bolus and soda are found used to increase the weight and quantity of
foods. Sawdust, straw dust and corozo-nut meal have become articles in demand and
are sold as substitutes at incredible prices. But worse mischief is done with water as
an adulterant, which is very suitable for many purposes of this kind and has the advan
tage of being easily obtained without expense. In all kinds of foods there is a notice
able increase in the contents of water, in most cases of course to a harmless degree.
Water is being used to stretch milk, and it is found in great quantities in preserved sau
sages, chopped meat, cottage cheese, butter, marmalade, jam, spirits, and soap. A solu
tion of mucilage containing 99.8 per cent water and produced at a cost of 20 pfennigs
1Münchener Nueste Nachrichten. Munich, Aug. 13,1918. Morning edition.
2 Berliner Tageblatt. Berlin, Aug. 20, 1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
(4.8 cents) per kilogram (2.2 cents per pound) was put on the market as a substitute
for glycerine at 14 marks ($3.33) per kilogram ($1.51 per pound). Expert dairymen
will be interested to learn the secret of the preparation of butter, samples of which
were shown to contain 54 per cent water as against normal contents of 12 to 14 per cent.
Disgusting refuse of the slaughterhouse has been found in sausages and meat jelly.
The sweepings of a bakery were used in making bread, and carpenter’s glue has been
sold in pudding powders. Many a housewife has been led by anxiety and care to
pay excessive prices for substitutes of fats, cooking oils, and of other food articles.
Since real good substitutes such as margarine, cooking oils, war marmalade, soup
cubes, artificial honey, etc., have disappeared from the market, partly because they
have been requisitioned and partly because seizure by the Government of the raw
materials has made impossible their manufacture, a real flood of worthless substitutes
has poured over the market. Experts and inexperienced people have become manu
facturers of food preparations and numerous “ food factories” have reaped profits
formerly never dreamed of. The prevailing distress makes even the most worthless
rubbish salable.
Slaughterhouse refuse, formerly only used as animal fodder, such as tendons and
other dog feed, brings the highest prices. The laboratory has in many instances
prosecuted the use of slaughterhouse refuse in human foodstuffs such as black puddings
liver pudding, meat jelly, etc. Butchers make large sales of self-prepared bouillon.
Owing to lack of extract-producing bones and meat they make abundant use of spices
and artificially colored bone extract. In this manner they are able to sell 150 to 200
liters (158.5 to 211.3 quarts) of bouillon at 20 pfennigs (4.8 cents) per liter (4.5 cents
per quart) and make a large profit. Canned liver pudding of very small nutritive
quality is also being sold; the fat contents of some were found to be only 1.47 per cent,
while the percentage of water contained in the pudding was excessively high.
In the chapter given over to bread the report says:
Even if we have to get along on war bread the distress of war times does not excuse
gross uncleanliness and incomprehensible faults in baking. Among the foreign
substances found in bread were the following: Mice (twice), flax fibers, cotton, lysol
(once), paper, wood, straw, plaster, chalk, wood splinters, and sand. It is incom
prehensible that the bread of one of the largest bakeries contained 0.13 per cent copper
in the form of verdigris, which caused serious sickness. Bread that is wet, moldy,
and full of maggots points to faulty processes in the bakeries and gross carelessness.
“ R opy” bread has also been encountered frequently.
Sugar sold by a grocery contained 10 per cent flour. Peppermint tablets contained
60 per cent chalk. Pepper has been found to contain up to 84.7 per cent ash and up to
2.1 per cent sand. Samples of marmalade showed up to 73 per cent water as against 43
per cent normal contents. They were thin, had a bad taste, and often were spoiled
or showed trace of uncleanliness.
In cases in which adulterations of food were prosecuted by the courts, and officials
of the municipal laboratory were heard as experts, fines in the total amount of 37,800
marks ($8,996.40) were imposed by the courts in 1917, as against 17,365 marks ($4,132.87) in the preceding year. Adulterators were punished with imprisonment in
t , cases as against 9 in 1916.
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LABOR AND THE WAR
AWARDS AND FINDINGS OF THE NATIONAL WAR LABOR BOARD.
THE EIGH T-H O U R D A Y —W HEELING MOLD AN D FO U N D R Y CO.
Aii agreement entered into between the members of Local No. 364,
International Holders’ Union of North America, and the foundrymen
of Wheeling (W. Va.) and vicinity, contained the following provisions:
1. That eight hours constitute a day’s work for all molders and coremakers.
2. That the wage rate be $6.50 for the basic eight-hour working day.
3. All overtime shall be paid for at the rate of time and one-half.
4. Sundays and legal holidays as provided for in the constitution of the International
Holders’ Union of North America (viz, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and New Year’s Day) be paid for at the rate of double
time.
A controversy having arisen between the Wheeling Mold and
• Foundry Co. and its employees over the meaning of paragraph 1 of the
agreement, the case was submitted to the National War Labor Board
which, being unable to agree as to an award, referred the matter to
Chief Justice Walter Clark of the Supreme Court of North Carolina,
one of the 10 umpires appointed by the .President to decide questions
upon which the members of the board do not agree.
The opinion by the umpire, issued under date of September 16,
is noteworthy in that it places the National War Labor Board
definitely on record as in favor of (1) a real eight-hour day as dis
tinguished from a basic eight-hour day, and (2) the appointment of a
committee of four, representing equally the management and the
employees, to determine whether an emergency may at any time
exist calling for overtime work and consequent extension of the
working day beyond eight hours. This portion of the opinion is
brief, the main discussion centering about the eight-hour day proposi
tion as sot forth in paragraph 1 of the agreement. When Justice
Clark’s award was made public, Frank P. Walsh, one of the chairmen
of the National War Labor Board, said:
Justice Clark’s decision is the first great step in the application in fact of the national
policy to industry in general; and it will serve as a strong precedent in the adjudication
by the War Labor Board of future controversies involving the question of the length
of the working day. Of the utmost importance to workers in the United States is
Justice Clark’s provision for a democratic, rather than an arbitrary decision of the
question tff emergency.
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After quoting the agreement to which reference has been made,
Justice Clark’s opinion, concluding with the award, continues as
follows:
The only controversy presented is as to the meaning of paragraph 1.
' I t is clear that that paragraph standing alone would mean the eight-hour working
day, beyond which the employees can not be required or permitted to work. LTpon
the principle that the whole of an agreement should be construed together so that
no part shall be invalid, section 2 can not be held as substituting a basic eighthour day for the actual eight-hour day provided by section 1. I t is not reasonable
to suppose that the employees having agreed upon an eight-hour day, should by the
next rule repeal it by substituting a 10 or 12 hour day for extra compensation.
The basic eight-hour rule is not an eight-hour day at all but simply a wTage agree
ment. If the eight-hour day is extended to 10 hours then the 50 per cent added pay
for the two extra hours in effect is an agreement to pay 11 hours’ wages for 10 hours’
work, an increase of 10 per cent. It was doubtless thought that the extra 50 per
cent for the extra hours would discourage requiring extra hours, but this has not
been the result in all cases, for in some plants 10 hours from day to day, every day,
has been exacted, and in others even 13 hours a day has been known to be required.
The object of the eight-hour law is to protect the health and lengthen the lives of
employees, which would be seriously compromised by an excessive length of the
day’s work.
It has been seriously contended that the “ principles” adopted by this board
deprive it of jurisdiction to enforce an actual eight-hour day. Those principles,
however, specify that in all cases in which existing law does not require the basic,
eight-hour day, “ the question of hours of labor shall be settled with due regard to
governmental necessities and the welfare, health, and proper comfort of the workers.”
President Wilson, in his address before a joint session of the two Houses of Congress
August 29, 1916, said that “ the whole spirit of the time, and the preponderant evi
dence of recent economic experience spoke for the eight-hour day. It has been
adjudged by the thought and experience of recent years a thing upon which society
is justified in insisting as in the interest of health, efficiency, contentment, and a
general increase of economic vigor. The whole presumption of modern experience
would, it seems to me, be in its favor, whether there was arbitration or not, and the
debatable points to settle were those which arose out of the acceptance of the eighthour day, rather than those which affected its establishment. I, therefore, propose
that the eight-hour day be adopted by the railroad managements, and put into prac
tice for the present as a substitute for the existing 10-hour basis of pay and service.”
And he recommended “ the establishment of an eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
of work and of wages in the employment of all railway employees who are actually
engaged in the work of operating trains in interstate transportation.” Congress
enacted what is known as the “ Adamson Eight-Hour Law” in consequence.
Previous to that time the Federal eight-hour law, approved June 19, 1912, limited
“ the hours of daily service of laborers and mechanics employed upon work done for !
the United States, or for any Territory, or for the District of Columbia,” to eight
hours and provided that no laborer or mechanic so employed should “ be required |
or permitted to work more than eight hours in any one calendar day, upon such work.” 1
Judge Alschuler, in his decision in the Packing House case, quotes the above ex- i
pression of the President, and says: “ The public policy of the eight-hour workday has
been given oft-repeated sanction by legislation in the majority of the States, as well |
as by Congress, through enactments of various kinds too numerous for specific mention,” j
and quotes the unanimous report of the President’s mediation commission on January
9, 1918, which declared “ the eight-hour day is the established policy of the country.” |
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He further said: “ The voluminous evidence adduced at the hearing in support of
the contention for the eight-hour day is in the main logical and convincing, and it is
particularly to be noted that in so far as concerns the general principle of the eighthour day no evidence to dispute it was presented. Indeed on behalf of the employers
it was repeatedly, openly, and frankly admitted that a workday shorter than the
10-hour day was desirable. On behalf of the employers and in the presence of their
superintendents it was freely stated that they all believed in a shorter workday;
that they had said so, and that there was no room for argument about it.” There
is a vast body of experience that a 10-hour day shortens the lives of the employees,
injures their health, and that in point of production there is an increase by the sub
stitution of eight hours for a longer period. Even if this were not true as to one day,
the accumulated fatigue of working more than eight hours for a series of days reduces
the production below the quantity produced by strict adherence to that limit.
Especially is this so as to the molder’s occupation, the life of whom, working at
9 or 10 hours per day, subject to the heat and noxious fumes, is said to average not
more than 14 years. In work of this kind there can be no doubt that greater produc
tion will be had by the working of an eight-hour day than by working 9 or 10 hours.
I t is not conclusive, though a subject for consideration, that the majority of the other
shops in Wheeling and vicinity are working on a nine-hour basis. All betterment
has come by improving conditions, and not continuing them when bad. Improving
conditions is the object of this proceeding.
The subject of an eight-hour day is not new’, but has been discussed by the general
public, by writers and public men and governmental officials for many years. The
first act for an eight-hour day was passed by Congress in June, 1868, and provided:
“ Eight hours shall constitute a day’s work for all laborers, workmen, and mechanics
who may be employed by or on behalf of the Government of the United States.
This act proved ineffective because, for some reason, Congress had failed to impose
any penalty for violation of the act. More effective laws on the subject were passed
and were approved August 1, 1892, June 19, 1912, and in the amendment to the naval
appropriation bill, approved May 3, 1917. The flatter amended the statute which
had authorized the President to suspend the eight-hour law ‘ ‘whenever Government
necessity required it,” by providing that while the President in an emergency could
suspend the eight-hour day in such case, the basic eight-hour day should obtain and
overtime should be paid for at no less than time and one-half.
Since that time the President has acted in conformity with the act but his suspen
sion applies only to the prohibition of working more than eight hours, and does not
require it. It is still open to the employees to decline to work longer than eight
hours, and in event of a difference with their employers to submit the matter to the
National War Labor Board.
The railroad employees, from coast to coast, nearly 500,000 in number, are now
operating on the basis of the eight-hour day. The same is true of the coal-mining
industry, the packing industry, the news print industry, the garment industry, in
Government construction, and in the lumber mills and saw mills of the great North
west.
It may be that there are industries where it is still necessary to use a longer workday
than eight hours during the duration of the war, but it does not seem that in con
sideration of the conditions that more than eight hours should be exacted in the work
that a molder has to perform.
It is the consensus, as President Wilson stated, of students of the subject, that the
maximum production is to be had by the adoption of the eight-hour day; and that
the preservation of the health and the lives of the employees will be promoted by that
limitation.
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The employers have, as a rule, patriotically given full aid to the prosecution of the
war by placing their splendid plants and their highly skilled chiefs at the service
of the Government. The employees, as a rule, have also, with the same patriotism,
yielded the eight-hour limitation wherever it has been necessary to speed up pro
duction for the Government. The former have received great increase in profit.
The latter have contributed an increase in the hours of labor, and vast numbers of
men to fill our armies. The former have received from the Government, the latter
have given to it. They should not be asked to do so, beyond the necessity of the
occasion.
The Census of Manufactures for 1914, page 482, shows more than 7,000,000 industrial
employees, of whom not more than 12 per cent were under the eight-hour day. This
number has since been increased considerably, but not as rapidly as would have been
the case, but for the emergency of the war. Statistics also show that while Aus
tralia and New Zealand have frankly adopted the eight-hour day lim it in all their
industries, in this country the average is still above that figure. This is largely due
to the fact that in the southern mill industry the lim it is still 60 hours per week and
in the northern mills 54 hours.
This, however, is no reason why more than eight hours should be required of the
molders, whose trade exacts greater fatigu^ and exposure to noxious and dangerous
fumes.
That the country has not yet reached the eight-hour day in all cases is no reason
why in this case it should not be upheld. Indeed it may be well considered that as
the world and especially all free countries are ‘ ‘on their way ” to the adoption of the
eight-hour law, might it not be for the interests of the employers frankly to accept
it and avoid the constant struggle for its attainm ent by settling the question once
for all?
When industries were on a small scale and the employer and employee worked
together, face to face, the fellow-servant doctrine was created by the courts, which
exempted the employer from liability for injury inflicted upon an employee by the
negligence of his fellow-servant, upon the ground that the servant contracted with
a knowledge of the character of his coemployees. This became absurd when there
were thousands of employees engaged in the same employment, but it has required
statute after statute to change the judge-made law which had exempted the em
ployer.
In like manner, until very recently, and until changed by statute, the courts held
that if an employee contributed in any degree by his own negligence to the injuries
he sustained, he could not recover. For this there has now been substituted by an
enlightened statute the provision that the damage shall be apportioned, and that the
business shall bear part at least of the loss and the crippled employee shall not bear
it all, or his destitute wife and children, in case of his death. For the same reason
an employee, one of many thousands, is unable to contract on equal terms, either as
to hours of labor, or rate of wages, or proper sanitation, with the employers of vast
numbers of men. The law must step in and require protection in these particulars
of its citizens against injury to their health, or shortening of their lives by the fatigue
of excessive hours, inadequate wages, and lack of sanitary provisions.
By the introduction of machinery and numerous inventions, production has been
increased many fold, in some cases a thousand fold. I t is not just that the profit
a -cruing therefrom shall go to the employers alone without the employees receiving a
fair share of the vastly increased profits.
In Pressly v . Yarn Mill (138, N. C. 424) it was said by this writer: “ The law is not
fossilized. It is a growth. I t grows more just with the growing humanity of the age,
and broadens ‘with the process of the suns.’ * * * Labor is the basis of civiliza
tion. Let it withhold its hand, and the forests return and grass grows in the silent
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33
streets. Not so long since, in England, labor unions were indictable as conspiracies.
The wages of laborers were fixed by officers appointed by capital, and it was indict
able for a laborer to ask or receive more. There was no requirement that employers
should furnish safe appliances, no limitations as to hours of labor, no age limit. With
the era of more just legislation in this country and England, and elsewhere, shortening
the hours of labor, forbidding child labor, requiring sanitary provisions, and safe
appliances, labor has been encouraged, and the progress of the world in a few years
has more than equaled that of all the centuries that are dead. Justice to the laborer
has been to the profit of the employer. The courts should not be less just than the
laws.”
EMPLOYEES GIVEN VOICE IN THE MANAGEMENT.
While an eight-hour day is stipulated for in paragraph 1 of the agreement, there
are emergencies likely to occur when for a brief period that limit may be exceeded.
But the protection of the eight-hour day will amount to nothing if it rests with the
employer alone to declare the emergency. The 50 per cent allowed for overtime is
too small a penalty in view of great profits that may arise. I t is true that what is
“ an emergency” can be and has been defined. Still it rests with the employer to
declare that the facts place the demand within the definition of an emergency. Such
emergencies can ordinarily be met by the adoption of the three-shift system or an
increase in machinery. It is better that the machinery should be worn out than the
bodies of the employees. Man passes through this world but once, and he is entitled
in the language of the great Declaration of some “ enjoyment of life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.”
It has been suggested, as some protection against the abuse of constantly exceeding
the limitation of hours by the employer declaring in his judgment “ an emergency” '
to exist, that such extra days should be limited to three days in the week. This
would only be a very partial remedy, for if the employee is overworked three days
in the week his product will not only fall off during those days, but also during the
remaining days of the week. A better plan would seem to be a provision that the
employer shall appoint a standing committee of two and the employees a similar
committee of two, and as the burden of establishing an emergency is upon those who
assert it, the eight-hour limitation should not be exceeded unless at least three mem
bers of the joint committee of four agree that there is an emergency justifying working
overtime. This would avoid also the objection that if there was only one member of
the committee on each side, factious opposition by the representative of labor might
prevent operation even when there was an emergency requiring it.
For these reasons the following is
T he A w ard.
The molders employed by the Wheeling Mold & Foundry Co., at Wheeling, W. Va.;
shall not be required or permitted to work more than 8 hours within any day of 24
hours, except in cases of emergency, and then under the following terms and con
ditions:
1. Overtime work shall be paid for at the rate of time and one-half for all hours
worked in excess of eight hours, with double time for Sundays and holidays.
2. The question whether or not an emergency exists, together with the length of
time over which such emergency may extend, and the number of extra hours per
day, shall be determined by agreement between the management and the working
molders in the shop.
3. For the purpose of effectuating the agreement mentioned in paragraph 2, a per
manent committee of four persons is hereby created, two of whom shall be designated
by the management of the plant and two by the working molders in the shop, the
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assent of at least three of whom shall be necessary for permission to work more than
8 horns in any day of 24 hours.
4.
I n te r p r e ta tio n o f a w a r d .—For the purpose of securing a proper interpretation of
this award, the secretary of the National War Labor Board shall appoint an examiner,
who shall hear any difference arising in respect to the award between the parties and
promptly render his decision, from which an appeal may be taken by either party to
the National War Labor Board. Pending such appeal the decision of the examiner
shall be binding.
A T TIT U D E OF THE BOARD ON OVERTIME ABUSES.
It appearing to the National War Labor Board that overtime
abuses have been committed by employees in a number of plants
where the workers were charged with making a practice of laying
off a day or two during the week and then working on Sunday in
order to draw the regulation overtime pay, the board decided in
four cases in which, awards were made on October 9 and 11 that no
overtime allowance could bo made unless the employee had actually
worked 48 hours in any one week. The following are the cases
which reflect this attitude of the board: International Association
of Machinists, District Lodge No. 64, v. Mason Machine Works,
Taunton, Mass.; International Brotherhood of Foundry Employees,
Local No. IS, v. American Locomotive Co., Schenectady, N. Y;
International Mulders’ Union, Local No. 196, v. The United Engi
neering Co., Youngstown, Ohio; Employees v. St. Louis Car Co., St.
Louis, Mo.
Each award covers the matter of hours of labor, wages, and rates
of pay for overtime. More specifically the awards provide that the
regular working time of each full week shall consist of 48 hours, divided
into six daily periods of eight hours, but that oy mutual agreement be
tween the management and the workers the daily working schedule
may be so lengthened as to permit of a half holiday on one day of
each week. It is also provided that no worker shall be entitled to
payment for overtime or extra time unless he shall work 48 hours
in said full week (or 40 hours when a holiday intervenes), except in
case of illness, accident, misfortune, or other just and necessary
cause. Workers employed on the first day of anv week are to be
guaranteed the opportunity to work at least 44 hours in such week,
or 36 hours where a holiday intervenes, exclusive of overtime or
extra time, “ and in default of providing such employment [the
employer] shall pay the worker full wages for such hours, exclusive
of overtime and extra time.” The awards do not permit excessive
overtime, and in order that the same may be kept within reasonable
limits it is decreed “ that where in any one day more than two
hours overtime in excess of eight hours is required, then for that day
overtime shall be paid without regard to whether or not the worker
shall during that week have worked the weekly schedule provided
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for.” Provision is made in each award for the creation of a perma
nent committee of four (two designated by the management and
two by the workers) through which the equitable application of the
provisions of the award may be secured and differences which may
arise between the management and the workers may be adjusted.
If the committee fails to reach an agreement the matter in dispute
shall be referred to an examiner appointed by the National War Labor
Board, whose decision shall be binding, subject, however, to appeal.
OTHER AW A R D S B Y THE NATIONAL W AR LABOR BOARD.
Other minor awards by the National War Labor Board are referred
to here as a matter of record. The award in the case of Franklin
Union No. 4 v. Franklin Division of Franklin Tvpothetse of Chicago,
dated September 27, 1918, increased by the sum of $3.50 per week
the wages of printing pressmen and assistants belonging to the
union, after having ascertained that the index number of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics for the cost of living in Chicago showed a per
centage increase of 18.2 since the date of the wage adjustment
between the parties to the controversy in December, 1917.
On September 27, also, the board announced an increase of 10
cents per hour, effective as of May 31, 1918, in the rate of wages of
journeymen painters as a result of the controversy between Painters’
Union No. 47 and Painters’ District Council No. 27 and Master
Painters’ Association and Building Contractors’ Association, Indian
apolis, Ind.
Two awards affecting employees of transportation companies were
made by the board on October 2. That of the joint chairman in
the case of Employees v. Boston Elevated Railway Co. gives “ for
the period of the war only” a wage scale of 43 to 48 cents per hour,
depending upon length of service, to surface-line motormen and con
ductors, a scale of 45 to 50 cents per hour to motormen, 43 to 44.5
cents per hour to guards, and 40 to 42.5 cents per hour to brakemen,
on the rapid transit lines. As to the wages of other employees the
award states:
The wages of employees other than those fixed above, which have been submittted
to the arbitrators for fixation and over which the arbitrators have jurisdiction, shall
be increased by the same percentage that the maximum of the wage scale paid to
surface motormen and conductors is increased by this award: P r o v id e d , h ow ever, That
if this percentage increase does not bring the wage of any adult male employee
up to the minimum of 42.5 cents per hour, he shall be paid said minimum of 42.5
cents per hour, and provided further, that where women are employed in the same
classification as men, they shall be paid equal pay for equal work.
It is recommended that an agreement be made so that 55 per cent
instead of 70 per cent of the schedule runs shall be arranged with
outside time not to exceed 11 hours.
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Tlie other case affects the employees of the Rhode Island Co.,
Providence, R. I., and fixes a wage scale of 43 to 48 cents per hour
for all motormen and conductors. The same provision as to other
employees is made as that quoted above, except that the word
“ surface” in the fourth line is omitted.
The controversy which arose between the New York Central Iron
Works Co. (Hagerstown, Md.) and its employees having been settled
by mutual agreement, approval of the National War Labor Board
was requested. On September 26 the agreement was affirmed. It
recognizes the following principles: (1) Right of workers to organize;
(2) no discrimination for or against nonunion men; (3) no employ
ment of coercive measures by the men to induce persons to join
their organization; (4) nine-hour basic day, with time and one-half
for overtime and on holidays; (5) selection of a committee of five
by employees, through which points of difference with the manage
ment shall be settled; (6) women to receive the same pay as men
for the same work. A wage scale was adopted ranging from 25
cents per hour for a first-class rivet heater to 75 cents per hour for a
u layer-out.”
In the controversy between the Willys-Overland Co., Elyria, Ohio,
and its employees over the matter of wages, the National War Labor
Board made an award on October 11 granting a 30 per cent increase
to all employees who were receiving under 45 cents per hour on May 1,
1918, and a 25 per cent increase to all who were receiving 45 cents
or over per hour on that date, provided that no adult male worker
shall receive less than a minimum of 40 cents per hour and that no
adult female worker of 18 years of age or over shall receive less than 30
cents per hour. These minimum wage rates do not apply to those
who by reason of old age or permanent physical incapacity are
unable to perform a normal day’s labor, and in the case of women
under 21 years of age the minimum rates shall not be rigidly applied
to inexperienced beginners or apprentices. The award is effective
as of May 1, 1918.
ORGANIZATION OF PRODUCTION COMMITTEES AT BITUMINOUS COAL
MINES.
At most of the mines in the 28 districts of the bituminous coal
fields there are being organized, under the direction of the United
States Fuel Administration, what are known as production com
mittees, each consisting of three representatives of mine workers and
three men representing the company. In each district the fuel
administrator has appointed a man to serve as production manager
for his district. The duties of the production committee are:
1. To stimulate patriotism.
2. To set a good example of patriotic industry.
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3?
3. To arrange for local patriotic meetings at which patriotism and increased produc
tion alone shall be discussed. No questions as to wages, working conditions, etc.,
may come up.
4. To make known the fact that there must be a large increase in tonnage without
which the United States Government will fail in its war work. * * *
5. To make clear to each man and boy employed in and about the mines that it is
his patriotic duty to work the full prescribed hours during six days each week, unless
prevented by causes beyond his control, and to do his utmost to increase the
output. * * *
6. To pass careful and impartial judgment upon the reasons given for absence,
short hours worked, or other occurrences which may have resulted in loss of ton
nage. * * *
7. To be governed by the majority rule in their committee work and, in case of
disagreement, to accept the decision of the production manager as final and binding.
-if
-X-
8. To stimulate production by urging regular attendance and efficiency during
working hours upon their fellow workers and to attend faithfully each day to their
own work. * * *
9. To elect as secretary of the committee a man to be chosen by the production
manager and paid by the operator, whose duty it will be to assist the production com
mittee in investigating and learning the truth as to absence, short hours worked, or
loss of tonnage. * * *
10. To post on a bulletin board provided for that purpose a list furnished by the
proper employee of the company showing the names of the men who were absent on
a working day, the names of the men who worked less than the prescribed hours,
and those who produced less than a fair amount of coal. After each name shall be
noted the cause which the committee believes to be the true cause for absence, short
hours worked, or low tonnage. In some cases the cause may lie with the operator,
and in other cases with the men. * * *
11. To clear the record of any worker who has lost time or tonnage through his own
fault, provided the worker is willing to make up the lost time or tonnage and the
operator is satisfied to have him do so, and provided also that in doing so he will not
violate any rules or mining laws and will not render it difficult or impossible for the
operator to give an equal turn of cars. * * *
12. To dissolve on notice from the United States Fuel Administration, and one or
more members of the committee may be removed at any time for cause by the pro
duction manager. * * *
13. To perform any other duties prescribed by the production manager.
14. To be governed by the wishes of the production manager as to all details in
connection with the work of increasing production.
The Fuel Administration states that the qualifications for member
ship of these committees are (1) patriotism; (2) personal interest,
because of relatives or friends at the front, in giving every possible
support to the forces; (3) fair-mindedness, enabling them to pass
unprejudiced judgment as to whether the blame for absences, short
hours, or low tonnage lies with the workmen or the company. It is
also suggested that, if possible, the largest group of foreign-speaking
mine workers should be represented on the committee; and if two
nationalities have large representations at the mine it may be well to
have both represented.
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The organization of these committees is proceeding slowly, but on
October 15 approximately 70 per cent of the mines had such com
mittees. Where stimulation of production is not so badly needed,
notably in the western part of the country, committees have not been
organized.
PR E SID E N T 'S PROCLAMATION.
Tlie President himself has emphasized the very great importance
of the largest possible production of coal, issuing on August 9, 1918,
the following proclamation addressed to those engaged in coal mining:
T o a ll those en gaged in coal m in in g :
The existing scarcity of coal is creating a grave danger, in fact, the most serious
which confronts us, and calls for prompt and vigorous action on the part of both
operators and miners. Without an adequate supply our war program will be retarded,
the effectiveness of our fighting forces in France will be lessened, the lives of our
soldiers will be unnecessarily endangered and their hardships increased, and there
will be much suffering in many homes throughout the country during the coming
winter.
I am well aware that your ranks have been seriously depleted by the draft, by
voluntary enlistment, and by the demands of other essential industries. This handi
cap can be overcome, however, and sufficient coal can be mined in spite of it if every
one connected with the industry, from the highest official to the youngest boy, will
give his best work each day for the full number of work horns. The operators must
be zealous as never before to bring about the highest efficiency of management, to
establish the best possible working conditions, and to accord fair treatment to every
body, so that the opportunity to work at his best may be accorded every workman.
The miners should report for work every day, unless prevented by unavoidable
causes, and should not only stay in the mines the full time, but also see to it that
they get out more coal than ever before. The other workers in and about the mines
should work as regniaily and faithfully so that the work of the miner may not be
retarded in any way. This will be especially necessary from this time forward, for
your numbers may be further lessened by the draft, which will induct into the Army
your fair share of those not essential to industry. Those who are drafted but who
are essential will be given deferred classification, and it is their patriotic duty to
accept it. And it is the patriotic duty of their friends and neighbors to hold them
in high regard for doing so. The only worker who deserves the condemnation of his
community is the one who fails to give his best in this crisis, not the one who accepts
deferred classification and works regularly and diligently to increase the coal output.
A great task is to be performed. The operators and their staffs alone can not do it,
nor can the mine workers alone do it; but both parties, working hand in hand with
a grim determination to rid the country of its greatest obstacle to winning the war,
can do it. It is with full confidence that I call upon you to assume the burden of
producing an ample supply of coal. You will, I am sure, accept this burden and will
successfully carry it through, and in so doing you will be performing a service just
as worthy as service in the trenches, and will win the applause and gratitude of the
whole Nation.
STANDARDIZED CONTRACT CLAUSES FOR GOVERNMENT PURCHASES.
It is the announced policy of the Government in all of its war
activities to maintain in its own establishments and plants, and to
require those filling war orders to maintain in their plants, the most
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favorable labor conditions possible, in order to encourage content
ment among workers and promote efficiency of operation. To this
end the various purchasing agencies of the War Department, through
which passes a very large per cent of the money expended for war
purposes, have incorporated in their contracts certain clauses affect
ing labor with the purpose of making uniform labor standards on
Government work. Considerable study has also been given to the
matter by officials of the various production departments, the thought
being to standardize and put in all their contracts these clauses
which refer not only to labor but to prices, costs, disputes over
performance or nonperformance of contracts, the right to terminate
contracts, etc.
This standardization has now been effected through a recent
agreement between the War Labor Policies Board and the produc
tion departments, which include the War Department, Navy De
partment, Emergency Fleet Corporation, and United States Housing
Corporation, the result being the adoption of certain clauses pro
viding for the eight-hour basic day, the settlement of labor disputes,
the restricting of child and convict labor, and observance of State
labor laws, which will hereafter be written into all contracts entered
intoby these particular agencies. Theclauses referred to are asfollows:
1. C la u se o n eig h t-h o u r basic d a y, w ith tim e a n d a h a l f f o r o v e r tim e . —To be intro
duced into contracts which come under such a provision by reason of existing Federal
laws:
Wages of laborers, operatives, and mechanics doing any part of the work contem
plated by this contract, in the employ of the contractor, shall be computed upon a
basic day rate of eight hours’ work, with overtime rates to be paid for at not less than
time and one-half for all hours in excess of eight hours. Compliance by the con
tractor with the provisions of this article shall be of the essence of the contract.
2. C la u se o n la w s a n d re stric tio n s r e la tin g to la b o r }—All work required in carrying
out this contract shall be performed in full compliance with the laws of the State,
Territory, or District of Columbia where such labor is performed: P r o v id e d , That
the contractor shall not employ in the performance of this contract any minor under
the age of 14 years or permit any minor between the ages of 14 and 16 years to work
more than eight hours in any one day, more than six days in any one week, or before
6 a. m. or after 7 p. m. Nor shall the contractor, directly or indirectly, employ any
person undergoing sentence of imprisonment at hard labor which may have been
imposed by a court of any State, Territory, or municipality having criminal juris
diction: P r o v id e d , how ever, That the President of the United States may, by Executive
order, modify this provision with respect to the employment of convict labor and
provide the terms and conditions upon which such labor may be employed. These
provisions shall be of the essence of the contract.
3. C lau se o n a d ju s tm e n t o f la b o r d is p u te s . —In the event that labor disputes shall
arise directly affecting the performance of this contract and causing or likely to cause
any delay in making the deliveries and the ----- (head of department) shall have
requested the contractor to submit such dispute for settlement, the contractor shall
have the right to submit such dispute to t h e ------ (head of department) for settlement.
i See also Monthly
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The —— (head of department) may thereupon settle or cause to be settled such
disputes, and the parties hereto agree to accede to and to comply with all the terms
of such settlement.
If the contractor is thereby required to pay labor costs higher than those prevailing
in the performance of this contract immediately prior to such settlement, the ----(head of department) or his representative in making such settlement and as a part
thereof may direct that a fair and just addition to the contract price shall be made
therefor; provided, however, that th e ----- (head of department) or his representative
shall certify that the contractor has in all respects lived up to the terms and con
ditions of the contract or shall waive in writing for this purpose only any breach that
may have occurred.
If such settlement reduces such labor cost to the contractor, the ----- (head of
department) or his representative may direct that a fair and just deduction be made
from the contract price.
No claim for addition shall be made unless the increase was ordered in writing by
the —— (head of department) or his duly authorized representative, and such addition
to the contract price was directed as part of the settlement.
Every decision or determination made under this article by t h e ----- (head of de
partment) or his duly authorized representative shall be final and binding upon the
parties hereto.
CONFERENCE OF STATE LABOR OFFICIALS, WASHINGTON, D. C., SEP
TEMBER 30 AND OCTOBER 1, 1918.
Thirty-four States1 sent delegates to the Conference of State
Labor Officials, which was called by the War Labor Policies Board
to meet in Washington on September 30 and October 1, 1918. Its
prime purpose was to discuss effective cooperation in carrying out
the war labor program.
The Secretary of Labor opened the first session. The need of
safeguarding workers—the six to ten men and women in the rear
who are required to maintain every soldier at the front—in order
that they may give their utmost of efficiency to the Nation, was the
theme of Secretary Wilson’s address. He said:
When we entered the war we deemed it absolutely necessary that we should make
every possible provision for the purpose of maintaining the health of our boys whom
we are taking into the camps. We are doing the same with the boys that go over
the seas. The saving of man power is the all-important purpose at this time.
Now, what is true with regard to the preservation of our boys in the camps and
in the trenches against disease and against any other form of destruction or injury
is true with regard to the industrial workers. The more we can conserve the lives
and the health of our workers the more men we have available for the trenches.
The more the lives of our people are destroyed in industry the fewer we have for
military operations.
And so you are dealing with a very important problem in connection with the
proper conduct of the war—the question of securing the largest possible production
from the available man power and woman power of the country, and securing it with
the least possible sacrifice of life, limb, and health. * * *
1Alabama, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware. Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
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There has been an agitation for the elimination or lowering of standards in order
that we might, by the lowering of those standards, increase productivity.
I recall something more than a year ago, when the anthracite coal miners and coal
operators were in conference for the purpose of making a new wage scale, that a sug
gestion was made to the Council of National Defense that we ought to impress upon
the conference the need in the crisis through which we were passing of yielding the
eight-hour working day which had been established in the anthracite fields, and
returning to the nine-hour day which had previously obtained there, the assumption
being that if the anthracite coal miners went back to a nine-hour working day more
coal would be produced.
At that time I suggested to the Council the advisability of making an intensive
investigation of the subject before we made any recommendations. Our Bureau of
Labor Statistics made an investigation with an interesting result. We found that the
anthracite coal miners working eight hours per day in 1916-17 were producing
approximately 2 per cent more coal than they had produced in nine hours in 1915-16.
It does not follow that because in a mining industry men have been producing more
coal with an eight-hour working day than they did in a nine-hour working day the same
would be true in all other lines of industry. I simply cite this to show some of the prob
lems that we are confronted with in connection with the question of standards. * * *
• It is absolutely imperative that we shall do all in our power to maintain the standard
with regard to at least the minimum age at which children may be admitted into
gainful occupations, for the welfare of the child itself, the welfare of the community,
for the future of our country.
We have a special problem in connection with women in industry. There are
many lines of industry that women are not physically fitted to fill. There are many
conditions of industry that affect not only the physical development of women, but
their own self-respect. I can conceive of no greater injury that can come to our
country than the introduction of our women into lines of industry that they are not
physically fitted to perform, or into lines of industry that reduce their own self-respect.
The rapidity with which other countries, when compelled to deal with the problem,
introduced women into industries where they should not have been introduced, is
well known. We have had more time to deal with the subject; and still there is a
tendency on our part to introduce women where they should not be introduced.
Some eight or nine years ago I had the honor of representing the American Federa
tion of Labor as its fraternal delegate to the British Trade Union Congress. During
my visit over there I was shocked to find the kinds of industry that women were then
engaged in in Great Britain. I found women there at that time working on the pit
heads, dumping the coal out of the mine cars into the railroad cars. I saw women
there with their wheelbarrows taking bricks away from the molds, wheeling them
into the kilns and piling them up to be burned; and I saw those same women going
into the extremely hot kilns after the brick had been burned and when the time had
come to remove them, taking the brick from the kiln, wheeling it out into the yards
and piling it there. * * *
As I have said, there may come a time when it will be necessary to reduce the
standards that we have established in order that we may preserve the conditions
under which those standards have been built up and under which we may go on to
work out our own destiny in our own way. But that sacrifice of standard should not
be made upon the responsibility of those who are only in a position to see the local
situation. When standards are lowered, it should be upon the responsibility of those
who are in a position to observe the entire field, and then only after every other means
of supplying our armies-has been exhausted.
Mr. Frankfurter, chairman of the War Labor Policies Board, im
pressed upon the conference the responsibility of the States in carry
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iiig out this phase of the war administration program.
said :
In part, ho
This is an extraordinarily vast country. No one who has not had the opportunity
of comparing the difficulties of administration in England, in time of war, where
officials sitting in London can get anybody from anywhere in the kingdom certainly
within a day’s ride, even under congested traffic conditions, can quite get into his
own intellectual perception the feeling, the realization, the emotion of what it means
to have administrative responsibility in the United States in time of war. Therefore
the method which has made the administration of the selective service law so effective,
the method which is making Mr. Hoover’s administration so effective, is peculiarly
the method which we must pursue in the field of labor, namely, that we must have
the vitalizing energy and intelligence of you men and women in the various States
throughout the country. There can not be, even with the vast intelligence and the
vast machinery of the administration, direction here from Washington. It must be
from the field; and you are stationed in tlje various fields throughout the country.
We must ask you gentlemen, you men and women and the various agencies throughout
the country, to be the enforcing agencies for the Federal departments; therefore it is
that we feel we have the right to bring you from your field duties here to counsel
with us, to tell us your difficulties, and to let you see, if we can, the general plan of
which you are the executing organs.
Methods were discussed for enforcing the clause relating to State
laws and child labor, recently adopted by the War Labor Policies
Board for introduction into Government contracts. The clause reads
in part as follows:1
All work required in carrying out this contract shall be performed in full com
pliance with the laws of the State, Territory, or District of Columbia, where such
labor is performed: P r o v id e d , That the contractor shall not employ in the performance
of this contract any minor under the age of 14 years, or permit any minor between the
age of 14 and 16 years to work more than eight hours in any one day, more than six
days in any one week, or before 6 a. m. or after 7 p. m.
To assist in enforcement of this clause the heads of State labor
departments have been designated by the Secretary of War, the
Secretary of the Nav.y, the president of the United States Housing
Corporation, and the president of the Emergency Fleet Corporation.
I t was made clear that they will thus act as Federal representatives
as well as State officials, and that their authority can be delegated to
their inspectors. Government-owned industries are outside the
jurisdiction of State laws: industries whose products are com
mandeered or plants on subcontract work for Government con
tractors are not affected by the contract provision, but are, as before,
subject to State laws. In plants holding direct contracts two
methods are possible in case of persistent violations—prosecution
under State law or report for action by the Federal department
giving the contract. After discussion it was generally agreed that
local action was preferable except in special cases, but whenever'
i Cf., also, p. 39 of th is issue of th e M onthly L ab o s R e v ie w .
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desirable in bis judgment tbe bead of the State department would
have recourse to Federal authority.
A iliscussion of child labor followed, led by Miss Julia C. Lathrop
and Miss Grace Abbott of the United States Children’s Bureau.
Miss Lathrop called especially for criticism and suggestion based on
the experience of cooperation during the brief period of the bureau’s
enforcement of the Federal child-labor law.
Miss Lathrop called attention to the fact that although this act
was declared unconstitutional on June 3, the bureau still had the
responsibility which Congress had placed upon it at the time that it
was created to investigate and report on the employment of children.
By action of the War Labor Policies Board it has become the duty of
the bureau to see that the child-labor clause of the Government’s war
contracts is enforced. In this work, Miss Lathrop said, the bureau
is relying on a continuance of the cooperation it has had in the past
from State officials.
It was generally agreed that the experiment of joint inspection by
the State departments and the Children’s Bureau had been useful in
the beginning to acquaint each with the methods ana policies of the
other. Representatives from the States were unanimous in desiring
reports of Federal inspections. Several States, notably Tennessee and
Ohio, told of excellent results from the follow-up work that had been
done on the violations called to their notice by Federal inspections.
Requests were made, to which the Federal bureau acceded, that re
ports to the States be made promptly and that they be specific.
State reports to the bureau both on violations of the contract
clause and on issuance of working certificates to children came up
for discussion. Miss Abbott made clear the need, in cases of noncompliance, for full evidence which the Children’s Bureau would
submit to the contracting department concerned. The plan with
reference to reporting on the issuance of certificates was referred to
a committee.
A number of States reported special difficulty in excluding under
age children from the war industries. In Kansas the telegraph
service was taking on as messengers children whose employment had
been illegal under State control. Maryland cited a case of 200
violations dismissed in court with a nominal fine which the manufac
turer would be “ willing to pay every day for working the children.”
In Massachusetts the attitude of the court in a group of cases had
been: “ These are war times. We do not believe it hurts these
children.”
On the other hand the experience in Illinois had been that the
employer could be made to understand that he can not violate the
law. It was felt that a large share of the difficulty was due to a
mistaken idea that the departments in Washington were relaxing
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the standard. Strong approval was accorded to the policy of set'
ting the manufacturer straight on this point by the terms of his
contract.
Mr. Ethelbert Stewart, Director of the Investigation and Inspec
tion Service, organized in the Department of Labor during July, 1918,
spoke on the work of that Service. Its function is “ to furnish facts for
other services of the Government upon which to base action where a
service is empowered to act, or recommendation where the service has
power only to recommend.” He mentioned the wide range in the
kind of information which the service was called on to supply, and
expressed the desire to utilize State forces whenever they were
available.
Miss Florence Thorne, Assistant Director of the Working Condi
tions Service of the Labor Department, outlined the plan of organiza
tion of that Service. Its work is divided into three general parts —
safety, industrial hygiene, and 1abor administration. The Service plans
the development of safety codes in cooperation with other departments,
notably the United States Bureau of Standards and the National
Safety Council. Its industrial hygiene program is to be worked
out with the Public Health Service, which will detail sufficient
personnel to man the hygiene section of the Working Conditions
Service. Dr. A. J. Lanza will be in charge.
A suggested plan for physical examination of workers by the United
States Employment Bureau at the time of employment was brought
up by Dr. Selby of the Working Conditions Service. The War Labor
Policies Board had recommended that such a plan be tested in a few
industrial centers. This evoked considerable discussion, which
brought out the necessity for eliminating abuses which have occurred
in some of the previous schemes of physical examination adopted by
private plants; namely, the use of the examination to throw a man
out of work, and the publicity given to the reports from such exami
nations. It was agreed that a system properly worked out ought to
assist the men in procuring suitable work, and that the application
of this idea on a large scale would mean a greater socialization of the
medical profession.
Miss Mary Van Kleeck, Director of the Woman in Industry Service
(Federal), presented the subject of women in industry. Much atten
tion was given to the question of controlling night work for women
in all States.1 The injurious results of night work were brought
out, especially for women, whose tendency is to work at home during
the day, with a net loss of sleep. The lowered vitality at night, as
pointed out, makes night shifts less productive than day shifts.
1Night work for women in factories is forbidden by law or regulation in the following States: Oregon,
Massachusetts, Indiana, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Wisconsin.
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Public-health studies have proved also that long hours at night are
utterly wasteful.
Experience was cited by Mr. Frayne, of the War Industries Board,
and Mr. Mulready, of the Massachusetts State Board of Labor,
showing that requests for exemption from State laws regulating
night work and hours of labor for women have often been made when
such action was unnecessary.
Miss Van Kleeck, speaking of her former experience with the
Ordnance Department, said:
In a very large majority of cases it was perfectly clear that night work was the last
thing that the plant needed. Sometimes it ivas merely a problem of transportation.
Sometimes it was a problem of too long hours interfering with labor supply. Some
times it was a general problem of employment management.
Yet emergencies arose increasingly which could not be met by these methods. As
more and more men were drafted, the cases began to show much more serious aspects.
Situations came up such as this: A labor shortage of 5,000 in a plant working on a
product upon which the winning of the war could clearly be shown to depend; hous
ing facilities in process of construction for 2,000, leaving a shortage of 3,000 at best;
added to that a new program by which orders should be completed from three to six
months in advance of the original date set for completion.
In that town there were women in the families of workmen already there who
would be available without any additional housing. You all know that in many
plants which have not hitherto employed women it is not possible to put women on
a solid day shift, because there are many occupations that women can not perform.
The process of replacement of men by women goes forward by introducing women
here and there where they can take men’s places. Then, when you add to that a
practice which is followed in many plants—and certainly a desirable practice—
namely, rotation of shifts, you have an additional complication; that is, that if the
shifts rotate the employer is quite right in asking, “ How are we going to meet the
problem of introducing women without night work if we are to have rotation of
shifts?”
A national plan under consideration was outlined. It would mean
a uniform policy of control of night work in all States. The employ
ment of women at night in any plant working on Army and Navy
contracts would be granted only after careful investigation in each
plant of the rush demand for the product and of other possible means
for supplying it, and only after the transmission of an emergency
certificate to the particular plant for a specified period, transmitted
through the State department of labor by the Secretary of War or
the Secretary of the Navy, with the approval of the Secretary of
Labor. This certificate would then allow suspension of the law for a
specified period and under required conditions to be determined by
the preliminary inquiry. Certain requirements would be made in
every case, and the plant would be under the supervision of the
Woman in Industry Service.
No plant would be allowed to employ a woman more than eight hours hy day or
night. Every plant would be required to give an intermission of three-quarters of
an hour for the night lunch period and to see to it that it was possible to secure a
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wholesome hot meal at night. Ten-minute rest periods would be required in the
worldng periods. It would be necessary that transportation should he provided
which would be safe and convenient for the women. It would be necessary that
there should be adequate supervision of the night shifts.
This suggested program raised discussion, but met with decided
approval as protecting the existence of the present laws and estab
lishing control where none now exists.
The introduction of women into hazardous occupations was
considered. An account of a joint investigation in Niagara Falls
illustrated a method for study of occupations new to women. It
had been conducted by a committee on hazardous occupations
appointed by the Woman in Industry Service, with representatives
from the War Department, the Navy Department, the Public
Health Service, the War Industries Board, the Bureau of Stand
ards, and the New York State department of labor.
Discussion demonstrated the need for more scientific study of
effects of industrial processes, whether on men or women, and of
hazards to which women are peculiarly susceptible. Conclusions
reached about a given process in one industry would be applicable
to similar occupations in others. Also the pooling of experience
from State to State was urged in order to meet the demand for
speed in utilizing women as workers.
The conference closed after adopting the following resolution:
R e so lv e d , That this conference go on record as opposed to any lowering or repealing
of labor laws and labor standards set up in the various States unless on recommendation
trom Federal authority with competent jurisdiction.
DEMANDS OF GERMAN AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.
According to the Soziale Praxis,1 the Landarbeiterprogram (Agri
cultural Laborers’ Program) has now been laid before the Reichstag
by the Central Association of German Forestry, Agricultural and
Vineyard Workers. In a petition to the Reichstag the association
requests the imperial chancellor to confer with the governments of
the individual Federal States with regard to the wishes of the agricul
tural laborers. The program insists upon the right to combine and
strike, the abolition of the regulations relating to servants, the
issue of regulations for the protection of workers, the proper repre
sentation of agricultural laborers, and the creation of a system of
arbitration of agricultural labqf disputes. In addition, collaboration
in municipal and provincial administration in chambers of agricul
ture, compulsory continuation and domestic science classes, as well
as the drawing up of forms of contract, the opening of offices to
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check contracts, a ruling on wage-scale agreements, and the improve
ment of housing conditions are demanded. The following quotation
from the petition emphasizes the importance of the agricultural
workers question from the point of view of industry and population
and as a socio-political problem.
According to the agricultural census, the number of agricultural workers fell from
18.7 million in 1882 to 16.9 million in 1907, while the population of Germany increased
from 45 to 68 million. The depopulation of agricultural districts is affecting all agri
cultural circles, but especially the laborers, a fact which, by causing lack of man power,
has a disastrous effect on agriculture as a whole. During the 12 years from 1895 to
1907 statistics show a decrease of 820,000 in the agricultural population, 626,000 of
whom were laborers, whose children, naturally, were also lost to agriculture. That
his movement continued from 1907 to the outbreak of the war is-proved by the increase
in the number of foreigners employed, which rose from 257,329 in 1907 to 397,364 in
1912. Women and children form a larger proportion of the workers in agriculture
than in any other industry. Of the total of 15 million agricultural workers, 8.3
million are women, and 600,000 children under 14 years of age. Any increase of this
proportion can not be advocated in the interests of the population. The war and its
results have withdrawn 1.5 million laborers from agriculture. These facts are suf
ficient to show the great seriousness of the question.
The petition finds that the reason of this depopulation lies in the
social conditions in rural districts, and urges that the neglect of agri
cultural laborers should cease.
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RECONSTRUCTION IN INDUSTRY,
PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON RECONSTRUCTION IN THE UNITED
STATES.
Second only in importance to the successful termination of the war
is the solution, properly considered and wisely executed, of the many
social and industrial problems affecting the readjustment of domestic
and national affairs which will demand the immediate and thoughtful
attention of the Government as soon as peace shall be declared.
Great Britain made a start in this direction by establishing a Ministry
of Reconstruction and by appointing many subsidiary committees,
each under the chairmanship of a man specially qualified to direct the
work of investigation. The interim reports of these committees will
form the basis of legislation which is even now under consideration.
Thus when peace is declared, Great Britain will have placed herself in
position to act more promptly and effectively than she otherwise would
in grappling with the vitally important questions of national policy
presented by afterwar conditions. France also has appointed many
commissions to look into all matters of trade and finance that will
demand proper consideration after the war. A similar policy is
being pursued by the German Government.
Not until recently has the matter of making a scientific and detailed
study of every conceivable question relating to afterwar conditions,
pertaining primarily to the social and industrial life of the country,
received the attention of Congress. On September 27, Senator
Weeks, of Massachusetts, introduced a resolution (S. Con. Res. 21)
calling for the creation of a “ joint congressional committee on recon
struction” composed of six Senators (three to be selected by the
Democratic senatorial caucus and three by the Republican senatorial
caucus) and six Representatives in Congress (three to be selected
by the Democratic House caucus and three by the Republican House
caucus) “ who shall make an investigation of the following subjects
and report to Congress from time to time with such recommendations
as to additional legislation or otherwise as it may deem advisable” :
1.
(а)
(б)
(c)
(d )
Problems affecting labor, including—■
Unemployment which may follow the war.
Utilization of discharged soldiers and sailors in civil employments.
Conciliation and arbitration of labor disputes.
The relation of men and women in similar employments.
(e) Substitution of female employees for male and vice versa.
(/) Feasibility of organizing permanent employment agencies.
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(g ) Requirements for labor after the war, both in agricultural and industrial occu
pations.
(h) Distribution of labor.
(i) Employment of surplus labor on public works of which the construction or
completion has been suspended due to the war.
2. Problems affecting capital and credit, including—
(а) All matters relating to trusts and combinations.
(б) Federal loans to private enterprises.
(c) Federal supervision of capital issues.
3. Problems affecting public utilities, including—
(а) The establishment of a railroad policy after the war, and the relation of the
Interstate Commerce Commission to the railroads.
(б) All questions relating to communication by wire.
4. Problems resulting from the demobilization of our industrial and military war
resources, including—
(a) The disposal of surplus Government properties and supplies in this country and
abroad.
(b ) The conversion of munition industries into those of peace.
(c) The demobilization of the war strength of the Army and Navy, and the disposi
tion of the men who have been in the service.
(d ) The demobilization of civil war workers.
5. Problems affecting our foreign trade, including—
(a) The development of new markets.
(b ) Combinations for the purpose of increasing our selling facilities.
(c) Changes in our banking facilities necessary to cooperate with such trade.
6. Problems affecting the continuance of existing industries and the establishment
of new industries, including—
(a) The supply and control of raw materials.
(b) The encouragement of the production in the United States of articles that have
not been made in this country heretofore.
(c) The encouragement of private enterprise in the development of the resources
of the public domain.
(d ) The utilization of a tariff on imports as a means to protect and encourage home
industries.
7. Problems relating to agriculture, including—
(a) The advisability of continuing after the war price fixing of food products.
(b) Federal loans to farmers.
(c) Distribution of food products.
(d ) The allotment of lands to returned soldiers and sailors and their establishment
in new homes on the public domain.
8. Problems affecting the adequate production and effective distribution of coal,
gasoline, and other fuels.
9. Problems relating to shipping, including shipyards, and especially in regard to
the sale, continuance of ownership, or leasing of both yards and ships.
10. Housing conditions and the disposition of houses constructed by the Govern
ment during the war.
11. War legislation now on the statute books, with reference to its repeal, extension,
or amendment.
12. And in general all matters necessarily arising during the change from the activi
ties of war to the pursuits of peace, including those that may be referred to it by the
Senate or House of Representatives.
In a speech suggesting the appointment of this committee, Senator
Weeks explained that the purpose is not for the committee to make
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all of the investigations required, but to have power to appoint
subcommittees to consider such questions as may be assigned to
them and that the members of these subcommittees shall be citizens
especially trained in the particular matters to be examined, and shall
serve in the capacity of investigators and advisers. The very great
necessity of considering at once the afterwar questions suggested
in the resolution was explained in some detail by Senator Weeks, and
he referred to the general labor situation and the problems intimately
connected with the question of labor, such as social insurance, in
the following words:
Let us turn to the general labor situation. I am not now referring to that phase of
it which affects war workers or returned soldiers and sailors. Many new conditions
have developed since the beginning of the war. Millions of women are now doing
work heretofore performed by men and with which they were not connected until the
war required it. Are they to return to their former employments or unemployment,
or are they to continue their present pursuits in competition with the millions returning
from military service? Would it be well for us to provide for permanent employment
agencies throughout the country and not only find employment for those seeking it,
but arrange for the transferral of unemployed to localities where there is a dearth of
labor? It has frequently happened in the past that labor conditions have been acute
in one section of the country and there has been a surplus in other sections. In my
judgment, comprehensive plans must be made for the distribution of labor.
Intimately connected with the question of labor is the one relating to social welfare.
Many European countries and other nations have taken steps, nationally, relating to
many social-welfare questions; for example, like providing for old-age pensions, life
insurance, and other similar matters. Those questions are being agitated in the
United States in some localities, and a pensioning system has been adopted applying
to a limited number of civil employments. It is being done in a desultory and prob
ably unsatisfactory and unjust way. If it is wise to do it at all, it should be wise for
the National Government to do it; but before any comprehensive action is taken the
whole subject should be thoroughly investigated and the results obtained in other
parts of the world carefully canvassed so as to properly determine the question para
mount in considering such matters; that is, whether action of that kind is beneficial
or otherwise. It seems to me that this is the time when that series of questions should
have careful consideration.
FEDERAL COMMISSION ON RECONSTRUCTION.
Believing it to be an executive rather than a legislative function,
Senator Overman, of North Carolina, on October 3d, introduced a
bill (S. 4968) to provide for the creation and establishment of a
Federal commission on reconstruction to be appointed by the Presi
dent by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. This com
mission shall be composed of five members, not more than three of
whom shall be of the same political party and each of whom shall
receive a salary of $10,000 a year. Provision is made for the appoint
ment of a secretary at a salary of $5,000 a year. The duties of the
commission are thus outlined in the bill:
S e c . 3. That it shall be the duty of the commission to examine into the problems
and conditions that are arising out of the war and that may arise out of the transition
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of the economic, industrial, and social life of the Nation from a state of war to a state
of peac'e; and with a view of meeting, as far as possible, such problems and conditions
before their solution is actually forced upon the Government, the commission shall
report to Congress from time to time the results of such investigations with recommenda
tions for new and additional legislation.
S e c . 4. That it shall be the duty of the commission to investigate and report as
above described on any and all questions that may be referred to it by the Senate
or the House of Representatives or by the President arising out of the conditions of
war above described; and more particularly it shall investigate and report on the
following problems:
(a ) The financing, regulation, control, and development of the merchant marine.
(b ) The development, financing, expansion, and direction of foreign trade.
(c) The reorganization, financing, and readjustment of industries engaged in war
work by way of reconverting them to normal production.
(d ) Technical education and industrial research as a means of developing and
strengthening of industry.
(e) The redistribution and employment of labor in agricultural and industrial
pursuits and the problems of labor growing out of demobilization.
(/) The supply, distribution, and availability of raw materials and foodstuffs.
(g ) The conservation and development of national resources.
(h ) Inland transportation by rail and water.
(?) Communication by telephone, telegraph, and wireless.
0‘) The reorganization of Government departments, bureaus, commissions, or
offices, with a view to putting the Government on an economical and efficient peace
basis.
(k ) The consolidation of such acts and parts of acts of Congress which relate to the
same subject matter but which now appear at various places in the statutes.
OTHER MEASURES PERTAINING TO RECONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS.
Senator Owen, of Oklahoma, introduced a resolution (S. Con. Res.
22) on September 28 "to authorize and create a committee on reor
ganization for the purpose of making investigations and recom
mendations upon the reorganizations required for a return to the
occupations of peace.” It is proposed that this committee shall
consist of six Senators and six Representatives in Congress "fairly
representative of the Democratic and Republican Parties, to be
nominated by the party organizations of the two houses and approved
by the respective Houses.” Their duties are thus outlined in the
resolution:
That such a committee shall make an immediate investigation and report to Congress
not later than January first, nineteen hundred and nineteen, and from time to time
subsequently, with suitable recommendations upon the reorganizations required for a
return to the occupations of peace of the men and women, capital investments, and
supplies now employed in war.
It shall be the duty of such committee to propose the ways and means by which the
soldiers of the United States and those directly or indirectly employed in making war,
both men and women, or engaged in any of the activities connected with war, shall be
found employment; to prepare and assist in restoring the activities of peace; to make
concrete proposals for the utilization of the materials, buildings, and supplies which
have been prepared for war purposes, but which may be used for the service of the
country in times of peace.
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To propose methods by which the capital, credit, and labor of the American people
after the war may be actively employed in production and distribution of goods at
home and abroad; the supply and distribution of raw materials and food products
arranged to that end ; to report upon the construction of national hard-surfaced roads
throughout the United States; building of internal and coastal canals; reclaiming and
cultivation of swamp lands and arid lands; utilizing water powers; and the permanent
maintenance of the American merchant marine, and in general to report upon those
problems arising from the change from the activities of war to those of peace, so that
all the productive activities of the American shall be continuously and profitably
employed.
On October 2, in the House of Representatives, Congressman
Madden, of Illinois, introduced a resolution (H. Con. Res. 53) which
is identical with that presented by Senator Weeks in the Senate on
Spetember 27.
Congressman London, the Socialist member from New York, also
introduced a resolution (H. Con. Res. 54) under date of October 4,
differing somewhat from the others. It provides for a “ joint con
gressional committee on reconstruction ” to be composed of six
Senators (three Republicans and three Democrats) and seven Repre
sentatives in Congress (three Republican, three Democrats, and one
Socialist), whose duties are stated in the resolution, as follows:
I t shall be the duty of the committee to prepare and recommend legislation for the
securing of employment to all immediately after the termination of the war.
It shall be the duty of the committee to prepare and recommend legislation for the
taking over by the Nation of the basic industries; for the democratic control of credit
and finance; for the nationalization of the railways, telegraph, and telephone lines,
waterways and canals, steamships and steamship lines, and all other means of trans
portation which are public in their character; for the acquisition and retention of
agricultural lands which may be needed by the returned soldiers; for the reclamation
of arid and swamp lands; for the acquisition, retention, and exploitation of the natural
resources; for the encouragement of agricultural cooperation and for collective aid to
the farmer; for the establishment of a national system of obligatory education.
It shall be the duty of the committee to make a special study of the extent to which
the powers exercised by the Federal Government to promote the national defense
may be utilized for the promotion of the national welfare, and to report to Congress
its conclusions and recommendations for the promotion by legislation of the Nation’s
welfare and security.
RECONSTRUCTION COMMISSION.
On May 16, 1918, a bill (H. R. 12139) was introduced in the House
by Congressman George W. Edmonds, of Pennsylvania, “ to create a
commission to investigate the problems of reconstruction.” It is
proposed that this commission shall be called the “ Reconstruction
Commission,” and shall be composed of 10 Senators elected by the
Senate and 10 Members of the House of Representatives elected by
the House, not more than 6 of whom, in each case, shall be members
of the same political party. The commissioners shall serve with
out salary. The duties of this commission are given in section 3 of
the bill, as follows:
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That the commission, through subcommittee or otherwise, shall investigate in this
and other countries conditions which have arisen during the present war, and seek
to ascertain the conditions which are likely to arise at the termination of the war,
and shall from time to time report to Congress its findings, and make such recommenda
tions as it may deem proper, including drafts of bills for such legislation as it finds to
be necessary to meet such conditions.
INJUNCTIONS AGAINST STRIKES DURING WAR EMERGENCY.
A new doctrine for the courts is embodied in a decision by Judge
Scudder, of the Supreme Court of New York, who on the 5th of Sep
tember, granted a permanent injunction against strikes for any cause
whatever in the case of workmen engaged in the manufacture of
supplies for the armed forces of the United States The plant of
the Rosenwasser Bros. (Inc.) was engaged in the main in the manu
facture of shoes, leggings, raincoats, gas masks, etc., for the Army,
and had suffered from the effects of labor stoppages to the extent,
as alleged, of reducing the normal output to one-fifth. A strike in
September, 1917, had been adjusted after investigation by the War
Labor Board, higher wages and shorter hours being allowed, but the
plant being run as an open shop. The present strike was instigated
by officers and agents of the United Shoe Workers to secure the
unionizing of the plant, and while Justice Scudder held that they
might lawfully solicit members and appeal to the Government agen
cies in regard to any grievances that they might claim to have, the
right to strike enjoyed in times of peace must be considered as
waived for the term of the war emergency.
The United States is a participant in this, the greatest war of all times. In the
performance of its part it has been sending hundreds of thousands of men to Europe
who must be clothed and equipped. The President has called upon both manufac
turers and workers to do their utmost in the way of supplying our forces with clothing
and equipment. * * *
The production of war industries is so closely and immediately connected with
actual military operations that it may be said to be a part of them. Can it then be
that with means afforded by the Government to adjust differences between employers
and employees in our war industries a labor union has the right, for any cause what
ever, to induce or incite workmen in such industries to strike or not to work, and
thereby to jeopardize the successful outcome of our country’s military operations
and all that depends upon them, even though so to do would have been lawful in
times of peace? Any answer other than “ N o” is unthinkable.
Holding that the present circumstances, involving tortious acts,
would warrant the issue of an injunction against such conduct in any
case, the court said:
The question of greatest importance, however, is whether, under the facts presented
here, the court should not go further and enjoin defendants from inciting, aiding, and
abetting strikes of plaintiff’s employees for any cause, in view of the fact that the
parties to this controversy have devised and set in motion appropriate machinery to
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settle by arbitration all differences existing between them, and because the life of
our nation is dependent upon an uninterrupted production of those things needed
to successfully carry on the war in which our country is engaged.
Attention was called to tlie subject of collective bargaining, rec
ommended by the Government as a means of avoiding disputes.
“ Therefore the Government favors organization of labor unions to
the end that there may be collective bargaining.” While therefore this
injunction was granted at the instance of an employer, the prin
ciples apply with equal force and directness to lockouts or to any
arbitrary action on the part of either employers or employees inter
fering with production and the maintenance of satisfactory working
conditions. This is, so far as has come to the notice of the bureau,
the first application by a court of law or equity of the principles
laid down by the National War Labor Board and the Whir Labor
Policies Board. Available sources of information do not indicate
whether the case will be appealed to the court of appeals of the
State or whether the injunction will stand without further contro
versy.
While the foregoing decision is apparently unique in its acceptance
of the principles enunciated by the War Labor Board—a nonlegisla
tive body—as a basis for action and in its prohibition of all strikes
in the field under consideration, it is approximated by the ruling of
the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri,
in which Judge Trieber enjoined grocery clerks from striking so as
to cause the loss of large amounts of food products, basing his action
in part on the food conservation law of August 10, 1917. This act
makes it unlawful “ knowingly to commit waste or willfully to permit
preventable deterioration of any necessaries in or in connection with
their production, manufacture, or distribution,” or to conspire or
combine* “ to restrict distribution of any necessaries.” In the case
in hand (Kroger Grocery & Baking Co. v. Retail Clerks’ International
Protective Assn., et al., 250 Fed., 890), the employees in a chain of
grocery stores struck and were picketing to prevent patronage and the
employment of other helpers. Threats, insulting language, and in
timidation were indulged in, according to the findings of the court.
The evidence showed that “ harsh terms, opprobrious epithets, Were
used toward these [new] employees. They were called scabs. One
man was called “ Kaiser,” and while, ordinarily, that could hardly be
deemed an insulting term, yet, considering the conditions now pre
vailing in the minds of the public toward the Emperor of Germany,
who is generally alluded to as the Kaiser, we know it was intended as
a term of insult, and not as a commendation.”
Like the court in the New York case, Judge Trieber referred to
the necessities imposed by war conditions, on account of which “ the
Government is dependent upon the work of wage earners and manu
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facturers in order to carry this war to success, and, while the court
is not willing to say that an unjustifiable strike in times like this is
treason, it comes mighty close to it, morally.” The limitations under
which a court must act were referred to, and particularly those pre
scribed by the Clayton Act (38 Stat., 730), restricting the issue of
injunctions. Of this it was said, however, that “ it is a mistake to
suppose that by these provisions of the act any act or acts which were
unlawful at the time the act was passed were legalized. The only
effect of this act is to prevent United States courts, sitting as courts
of equity, from granting injunctions in the cases mentioned therein;
but so far as the legality of the acts is concerned, if they were illegal
at that time, they are illegal to-day, and if the plaintiff has been
damaged thereby, he may obtain from the courts any remedy which
could have been obtained before that time, except an injunction.”
Notwithstanding this, the circumstances were found to warrant the
issue of an injunction, particularly the danger of the irremediable loss
of some $36,000 worth of perishable food, in violation of the food
conservation law already noted, and a temporary injunction was
issued against such interference with the business of the plaintiff as
was shown to have been practiced by the striking employees and
those associated with them. In this latter class was a rival grocer,
who, while not a member of the union, had contributed to its strike
fund and encouraged the continuance of the strike, especially if they
would succeed in closing a store that was just across the street from
his own place of business. Being a contributor to the union and a
supporter of its efforts brought him within the scope of the injunc
tion, as well as those members of the union who had not themselves
engaged in the unlawful acts complained of but who had evidently
approved of the strike and of the methods used to carry it on.
POSTWAR LABOR PROGRAM OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FOR LABOR LEGISLATION.
Since millions of workmen have lost their lives in the present war
and more millions have been totally or partially disabled, the raising
of a new generation of skilled workers and the prolongation of the
duration of the productive life of all classes of workers will be among
the most imperative tasks of the period of reconstruction. It is
clear that under a system of unrestricted exploitation of the working
forces by individual employers after the termination of the war
these results can not be achieved.
In addition to these reasons for the enactment of protective labor
legislation there are also to be considered the demands of the work
men themselves. Workmen’s earnings have increased everywhere
during the war in order to enable them, at least partially, to meet the
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greatly increased cost of living. This increase in earnings has,
however, been paid for too dearly by Sunday, night, and overtime
work and undernutrition. The combined effect of the high wages
and of the physical overexertion of labor caused by the war has led
to the result that from the ranks of the masses themselves who have
worked with heroic self-effacement has come the demand not only
for restoration of prewar conditions but for improvement upon those
conditions. It is the desire for conditions which produce zest for
work and give some aim to life that rings through these demands and
may be found in numerous statements in the report of the commission
of inquiry into industrial unrest in Great Britain.1
These phenomena are not limited to one country. They may be
perceived everywhere and therefore require international action. It
is for this reason that the International Association for Labor Legis
lation has submitted to the Swiss Federal Council a memorandum
requesting the latter’s support for the incorporation in the world’s
peace treaty of a program of international protective labor legislation
and for its adoption by all signatory powers. This memorandum
covers a number of minimum demands for protective legislation
which if universally adopted would standardize labor conditions in
many important points. A translation of the original text of the
memorandum follows:
M em o randu m op Ju n e
11, 1918,
S u b m i t t e d b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c ia t io n
L a b o r L e g is l a t io n to t h e
n o m ic D e p a r t m e n t .
fo r
S w i s s F e d e r a l C o u n c il t h r o u g h t h e E c o
In view of the declaration of the High Federal Council that it would support the
creation of a league of nations, the International Association for Labor Legislation
requests the Federal Council that when a world peace conference offers suitable
opportunity, it lay stress upon the following considerations and demands in the
interests of international protection of labor:
Switzerland not only has been the home of those international institutions which
serve to care for the wounded on the battle fields and to facilitate business intercourse
in the whole world, but also is the point of origin and the seat of the movement for
the international protection of the human productive forces. The agreements of
Bern of 1906 relating to the prohibition of industrial night work of women and of the
use of poisonous phosphorus in the match industry, as well as the drafts of international
treaties of 1913 relating to the prohibition of night work of juvenile workers and the
establishment of a 10-hour work day for juvenile workers and women, denote great
progress, because experience has shown that such general treaties offer to socially
progressive countries like Switzerland the opportunity to develop their own national
legislation, while in the case of bipartite treaties political considerations which have
nothing to do with the protection of labor frequently necessitate that the less pro
gressive legislation be considered.
The directorate of the International Association for Labor Legislation is convinced
that the sections of the association fully agree with it that the treaties of Bern of 1906
and the drafts of 1913 form valuable initial steps toward a system of agreements for
1 Bauer, Stephan. Arbeitersohutz und Völkergemeinschaft, pp. 1, 2.
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the protection of labor and that the mutual obligation of the various countries
included in the peace treaty to develop this system would be of great importance.
These obligations should include:
1. The revival of the international protective labor treaties of Bern of 1906.
2. The adoption of the draft of 1913 relating to the protection of juvenile workers
with reservation of the right to shorten the 10-hour workday by the number of hours’
attendance at continuation schools required, should attendance be made compulsory.
3. The supplementation of the preceding agreement by one relating to the pro
tection of children and establishing (after the model of Switzerland) 14 years as the
minimum age for admission to employment in all industrial establishments employ
ing more than 5 workers, with the reservation of the right to raise this minimum if
development of the continuation-school system requires it, and advancing the mini
mum age to 16 years (after the model of most American mining States, Holland,
Luxemburg, and Spain) for underground employment in mines.
4. The adoption of the draft of 1913 relating to the 10-hour workday for female
workers, supplemented by provisions requiring shorter hours on Saturdays, in indus
trial establishments employing more than 10 workers, whereby the weekly hours of
labor would be reduced to 54 (as in Norway), and providing for eight weeks’ leave
for women with child, distributed over the period before and after confinement (after
the model of Germany and in supplementation of article 69 of the Swiss factory law).
5. The introduction of eight-hour shifts in mining (after the model of England)
and in establishments with continuous operation (in accordance with the principle
aid down in article 53, paragraph 3, of the Swiss factory law), which, according to
the resolutions of the International Association, should form the subject of an inter
national agreement to become effective after the conclusion of peace.
6. The regulation by special agreement of the Sunday rest, and in particular the
abrogation of the numerous exceptions from the Sunday and holiday rest.
7. For protection against industrial poisoning, the addition to the international
treaty of 1906 of Bern prohibiting the use of white phosphorus in the match industry,
of an international prohibition of the use of other injurious substances (especially lead
compounds) for which substitutes exist; and of an international prohibition of the
employment of children and juveniles on work with such substances and, in estab
lishments particularly dangerous for women, of the employment of women-also.
8. The enactment of international safety measures for workers engaged in inter
national transportation on water and on land (after the model of the United States).
9. The assurance, through international agreement, of the protection of legal claims
of workers abroad against unequal treatment with respect to their pension claims in
all fields of social insurance, and provision for the neutralization, even in case of war,
of the insurance contributions of alien workers, through the transfer of their claims
to a neutral country.
10. The conclusion of a special agreement regulating the labor contract, in order
to prevent international labor disputes.
This agreement should guarantee the recognition of the right of free coalition by a
provision (like that of Switzerland) that collective agreements shall not be set aside by
private special agreements (articles 322, 323, of the Swiss law on obligations) and
should assure the enactment of minimum wage laws, covering underpaid occupations,
such as now are in force in Australia, England, France, Norway, and a number of
States in the United States of America, and the introduction of which has been found
necessary in Germany by the military authorities, for the clothing industry, and in
Switzerland, for the embroidery industry.
11. Provision for the protection of emigrant labor through international agreements
and organizations; the limitation of the duration of the labor contracts of colonial
contract labor to one-half year in mining and to a maximum of 3 years in agriculture,
as proposed by the International Association for the Protection of Native Labor.
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12.
A special international agreement providing that the reports of supervisory
officials as to the enforcement of protective laws be made in comparable form.
The International Association for Labor Legislation would be designated as the
recognized official agency for the enforcement and promotion of protective labor legis
lation and would charge the International Labor Office in Basel created by it with
the scientific preparation of the form which these reports shall take, as a means of
the international protection of labor. The signatory countries would have to assure
the furnishing of the funds required for the development of the International Labor
Office as a social-statistical central office and bureau of information.
To each of the above agreements should be added a proviso under which the agree
ment could be amended every 6 to 10 years in accordance with the progress of inter
national labor legislation. These amendments would automatically replace the
minimum demands incorporated in the peace treaty.
The significance of such a program lies in the fact that it does not
serve the occupational interests of labor alone. When statesmen
and publicists of both enemy camps to-day urgently support the
incorporation of socio-political demands in the peace treaty, these
demands are based on the following considerations:
First, no encouragement should be given to particular nations, by
means of longer hours of labor and lower wages, in the intensive post
war competition of the various nations for trade. It is a known fact
that in certain industries, particularly in home work, the costs of
production can be reduced through a reduction of wages, and that
this would bring about a policy of underselling and dumping. Such
a state of affairs would cause an economic war of the producers,
which, without doubt, would be followed by a war of the consumers
against producers. If, therefore, industry wishes to avoid reprisals,
it must prefer an international regime of self-restriction to unre
strained exploitation of the working classes.1
Second, international protective labor legislation will prevent the
class strife that threatens after the war; for this reason it should be
extensively developed simultaneously with the peace treaty. In this
connection Senator Henry Chéron, on June 5, 1917, while reporting
the Saturday rest bill for the clothing industry, said:
We must resolutely reenter this road so that we may not sacrifice the industry and
commerce of the most democratic countries to those whose social legislation is less
developed. In the peace treaty which will end the present war the employers’
representatives must set aside a special space for labor legislation. This not only is
required by a sense of justice but will be one of the surest means to avoid disputes
on working conditions which is of such great importance to both wage earners and
their employers.2
Third, uniformity of labor legislation is one of the democratic bases
of the coming international democratic regime. u Democracy,”
declares Prof. Rowe, secretary general of the Pan American Union,
“ means something more than a governmental system; something far
1 Lysis: Vers la democratic nouvelle, .1917; IT. Lammasch: Das Vollcerreoht uach dem Kriege, 1917, p. 58.
8 Doc. pari. Sénat, annexe No. 188, ,p. 260.
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deeper than the election of public officials: something far more sig
nificant than a particular type of written constitution. It means, in
the last analysis, the solution of certain basic industrial and social
problems, such as the elimination of peonage, the governmental guar
anty of a minimum standard of life to the masses, a well-organized
system of protective labor legislation, an agrarian system based on a
numerous land-holding class, an educational system open to all on
terms that are really and not merely nominally equal.” 1
The peace-assuring, although not peace-promoting, character
ascribed to international protective labor legislation is therefore due
not only to economic but also to internal and foreign political reasons.
It is clear that a mere armed peace (R ü s tu n g s fr ie d e ) can not con
tain such demands for the protection of labor as the equalization of
the labor laws. The sacrifices which such a peace must newly impose
upon the great mass of the working classes bear no relation to the
moral and physical strengthening to be achieved by protection of
labor. Ten years with the eight-hour workday can not make up for
four years of woman labor underground, the compulsory labor of war
prisoners, and the hunger and exhaustion which a war brings with
it. An armed peace means the continuation of the war with the
same means, and its supporters have at all times been the most
pronounced adversaries of national protection of labor.
Only when a profound change of spirit has removed domination by
the military interests, when the allurements of profits based on force
and monopolies have lost their effectiveness, and when a democratic
peace (.A rb e itsfrie d e ) intended to be permanent has been concluded,
may one think of a renaissance of the working classes of all countries.
Whether and when the conclusion of such a peace can be brought
about can not be predicted in the fourth year of the world war.
If fate should will it that a democratic peace be realized, a program
aiming at the speedy conclusion of a system of protective labor agree
ments would form a part of the peace instrument no less essential
than the announcement of a new adjustment of trade regulations and
financial obligations.
Just as modern constitutions, like that of Switzerland and the more
recent one of Mexico, have charged the legislatures with the enact
ment of specified forms of social legislation, so can the rudiments of a
world constitution, which a world peace treaty represents, lay down
specified principles for world legislation, and by the fixing of suitable
time limits provide against retarding the realization of these principles.
The guaranties for the development and enforcement of social
international law lie in the permanent cooperation and watchfulness
of international organizations, in the promotion of comparative
i Rowe, L. S. Bringing the Americas together, in The Foreign Relations of the United States. Part I .
Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science. Vol. VII, No. 2, July, 1917, p. 273. New York, 1917.
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research in the field of social and administrative science and hygiene,
and in the cultivation of an international spirit. Only a new reign
of reason, experimental research, abnegation, public-spiritedness,
and a belief in higher aims than those of the material tendencies of
subjugation can .give to these guaranties the power of resistance
which we grievously miss to-day. Above all there must be no doubt
as to the indispensability of the cooperation of international organiza
tions in ttiis work. The international protection of labor is not a
legal phantom hovering above the world of material interests. It
re paires steady supervision and continuous contact with industrial
life, constant exchange of experiences, and scientific and parlia
mentary control of conflicts of interests. An international laissez
faire, a merely recording activity in this sphere, is inconsistent with
its vital conditions. The German insurance laws of 1884 gave rise
to a wish for international study of the new principles of sickness
and accident insurance and led to the foundation in 1889 of an
international permanent committee. A strike in the Ruhr district
during the same year led to the convocation in 1890 of the Berlin
conference on protective labor legislation. Discerning the fact that
the care of the healthy workman, of the growing generation, and of
the mothers, which, owing to circumstances of international com
petition, has been neglected, is no less urgent than the care of those
injured by accident, the sick, and the infirm, the International
Association for Labor Legislation in 1901 adopted these ideas. The
endeavor to centralize the procuring of employment in times of
great, unemployment and to organize the insurance of the unem
ployed either through State or municipal subsidies to the tradeunions and other insurance funds led in 1910 to the foundation of the
International Association for the Prevention of Unemployment.
Strengthened internally by common, pertinent work these associa
tions have weathered the storms of the present war. “ It is solely
the experimental method and not a special doctrine which has created
them and bound them together.’'’1
The scientific study of labor phenomena —the demand for labor,
industrial fatigue, the limits of efficiency, the minimum wage, occu
pational morbidity and mortality, unemployment, social hygiene,
social insurance, administration of labor and comparative protective
labor legislation—forms the second basis of international protection
of labor. The study of these spheres requires comparable bases,
in several States it was this requirement that has given rise to interest
in the study of the labor factor, demanded the administrative activity
of these States and increased the consciousness of membership in the
family of nations.
* Leon Bourgeois: L’.organisation internationale de la prévoyance sociale, 1913, p.
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At a time when an international bond unites the protective legis
lation of the various countries this comparative study becomes more
indispensable than ever. The international miracle does not take
place by putting the commune back of all the working machinery of
social legislation and by transferring to it the motive power. Such
a simple process may be adopted in transportation and postal systems
which from the outset have an international character, but it fails
to work wherever the national apparatus must be adapted to inter
national tasks.
It was the comparative study of these international premises and
of the efficiency, the technical development, and the administrative
results in the spheres of social hygiene and social insurance that <ed
to the perception of international possibilities. This study has also
led to the perception that smaller countries such as Finland, Den
mark, Greece, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Australia, and Mexico
may, under certain conditions, accomplish much more for the pro
tection and conservation of human labor than large States such as
the former empires of Russia and Brazil—proof that in this sphere
there can not exist a supremacy or compulsory dominion but only
a working community which achieves results not by forcible inter
ference but by imitation and education.
The resolutions of the International Association for Labor Legis
lation are the result of these experiences. They have been incor
porated with slight changes and additions, comprehensible on account
of the present state of war, in the labor programs of Leeds and Bern
to which American labor has given the impetus. If the contents of
this program should become internationally binding, these acts
would be as incomplete as the Magna Charta was as a constitutional
instrument on the date of its signature. A large number of the pro
tective labor laws of our time are not applicable to workers in small
establishments, to home workers, or to transportation and agricul
tural workers, even if this is not explicitly stated in the law. Only
a protracted state of peace will make clear the occupational changes
in these groups. How much the numerical strength of these groups
will be increased through war pensioners and persons added to the
proletariat by the war can not be estimated. It is clear that this
new field can be opened only step by step by common social reforms.
The international regulation of the rights of salaried employees, a
class which continuously assumes greater importance as public and
cooperative establishments take the place of individual entrepieneurs, f o r m s another virgin field of activity. A world-comprehensi\ e
study of the regulations in existence for this class, and of their de
mands for participation in profits and administration has hardly begun.
The end of the war may be expected to bring a strong flaring up
of strikes. If the inflation of prices recedes with the end of the
87721°—18-----5
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gigantic loans and of the demand caused by building operations and
ship construction, a period of unemployment will set in. Formed
into national, and perhaps international federations, employers and
workmen will oppose each other. But till now the principles accord
ing to which disputes over hours of labor and wages are settled have
not been developed beyond the suggestions of well-meaning persons
skilled in conciliation. Wherever powerful strikes have stopped the
production of necessaries, as in the coal mines of Wales in December,
1916, recourse has been had to assumption of operation by the State.
It is one of the international tasks of the future to collect the pre
war and war experience of the systems of conciliation and arbitration
and to profit from it, and to elucidate the great problems of the
purchasing power of minimum wages.
Finally the extension of protective labor legislation in Asia, Africa,
Central and South America is of great importance also for the Euro
pean working classes. As labor reserves and as countries producing
raw materials of which European and American capital will make
greater use than ever, these unprotected territories are exposed to a
repetition of that exploitation the prevention of which is of inter
national interest.
All the more to be recommended is the organization in the colonial
territories of centers of social research and social reform for the
strengthening of the existing institutions for the protection of the
natives, the reporting of their management, and for the completion
of the international task.
Inasmuch as the preliminary work of the treaties of Bern and of ,
the International Association for Labor Legislation and the new j
labor programs of the trade-unions have created promising bases for
an international legal regulation of labor, the task is not finished but
has merely begun. It is far more important in what spirit and with
what energy the task is being completed than in what form this
completion takes place. International protective labor legislation
which at one time it was attempted to make serve the purpose of
procrastination has proved to be an admonisher and lever of national
reforms. It should not be deprived of this task of acceleration of the
most necessary of all transitions.
After the collapse of the old policy of interests the new ideals of
the masses require room for development and care. A new hard life
full of duties requires more educational facilities, more activity and
more trust in the future. The assurance of health, a minimum rest,
and a minimum income as guaranteed by the systematic development
of international labor legislation forms the matrix for the raising of a
generation which will stand above monopolistic profits, business |
egotism, and class interest.
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RELATION OF INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS TO ADULT
EDUCATION.
There is a wide and growing demand among adults for education
of a nonvocational character, i. e., for subjects like general and indus
trial history, economics, political science, philosophy, biology, and
literature. This is brought out in the interim report of the British
Ministry of Reconstruction’s committee on adult education.1 Tiiis
demand is attributed to two motives. One is the wish for fuller
personal development. The other motive is a social purpose which
is the “ evidence of an appreciation of the responsibilities of citizen
ship, of the existence of political, social, and industrial ideals, and of
a growing determination to realize them.” The committee thinks
that, in view both of the grave problems which must be met after the
war and of the ever-increasing complexity of social organization, the
need for the intelligent interest and the active cooperation of the
mass of citizens will be greater than ever before. But it is pointed
out that “ you can not 1educate’ a man whose uppermost thought is
the economic ‘struggle for existence.’ Nor can a spirit of intelligent
and responsible citizenship be readily developed in those whose
mainspring to activity is a continual struggle for the bare necessaries
of physical existence.”
The committee, therefore, studied, “ from the human rather than
the economic point of view,” some of the industrial and social factors
which tend, by their mental and physical effect on the workman, to
hinder his making the fullest use of existing educational opportuni
ties and in many cases to deter or even to prevent altogether his
seeking to take any advantage of these opportunities. The evidence
obtained from interviews with workers themselves and with tutors
of long experience in continuation school work shows that these
social and industrial factors form “ in many cases almost insuperable
obstacles to adult education.”
The matters studied with reference to their bearing on adult educa
tion were: Hours of labor, overtime, the shift system, night work,
heavy and exhausting work, monotonous work, unemployment,
holidays, the industrial background, housing and town planning,
and the rural problem.
IN D U ST R IA L CONDITIONS.
H o u rs o f la b o r .—The committee finds that excessive hours of labor
form one of the greatest obstacles to adult education. In many cases
the hours of labor absorb so large a part of each day as to leave little
time for “ the duties of the home, social intercourse, public duties,
i Great Britain. Ministry of Reconstruction. Committee on adult education: Interim report on indus
trial and social conditions in relation to adult education. [Cd. 9107.] London, 1918. 32 pp.
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and study.” It is pointed out that among English male workers only
the miners have the length of their working day regulated by law,
and that, though many women employees are protected by the
Factory and Workshop Act and the Shops Act, domestic and clerical
workers do not come under the act and therefore have no legal pro
tection in regard to hours.
The existing legal limitation of working hours, confined as it is to certain industries,
though these are amongst the more important, and inadequate in the stringency of its
regulations, even in the case of those to which it applies, is an obstacle to the pursuit
of intellectual and other interests the seriousness of which can hardly be exaggerated.
One of the greatest needs is the provision of a greater amount of leisure time; this is
the more necessary because of the increasing strain of modern life. The view some
times held that the community must necessarily suffer economic loss as a result of a
shortening of working hours is not one to which modern economic science lends any
confirmation, and has, indeed, received an impressive practical refutation from the
inquiries into the relation between output and working hours conducted on behalf of
the Ministry of Munitions during the present war.
O vertim e.— T tie report states that in so far as concerns its effect on
the would-be student’s opportunities to attend part-time classes,
overtime where it constantly occurs is even worse than long hours of
labor because of its uncertainty. “ In seasonal trades where the
period of pressure happens to be the winter months (when educa
tional facilities are most readily available) there is an additional
hindrance.”
The limitation of the working day would not in itself yield the desired result unless
at the same time steps were taken to minimize overtime employment (which, as many
point out, is often another name for long hours). In certain industries, the further
limitation of overtime would be attended by considerable difficulties, but perhaps the
greater part of the overtime worked in the past was the result, not so much of inherent
conditions, as of a lack of adequate industrial organization. In some trades overtime
during certain periods of the year has become sterotyped as part of the normal system,
and we can not but feel that, in some degree at least, it would be possible to spread
work more uniformly throughout the year.
T h e s h ift s y s te m .—Interviews with workers brought out the fact
that working hours in many instances are 10 or even 12 a day, and
that even in cases where the hours are not excessive the time at
which the working day ends is such as to preclude the employee’s
attendance at evening or continuation classes. This is especi lly
true in occupations where the shift system or the “ split turn” system
prevails, such as those of railway and street-car workers, postal
employees, policemen, miners, and restaurant and hotel employees.
The committee found that while the “ split turn” system affects
unfavorably the workman’s opportunity for education, this system
is less serious than the shift system in that it concerns considerably
fewer workers.
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As regards the effects of the shift system on adult education the
following statement of a class organizer is quoted in the report:
I t ia no exaggeration to aay that in any industrial district hundreds of would-be
students are prevented from taking up courses of study owing to the fact that they
work on a shift system, which means generally that they are only able to attend
classes once in two weeks, or once in three weeks, according as they are employed
on the two-shift or three-shift system, and that therefore they can not secure any
continuity of study. Yet so keen are some that rather than be shut out altogether
they will join a class and attend when they can, which means a very considerable
effort of will. It is difficult enough with a two-shift system, but a three-shift system
is perfectly demoralizing, as it leaves a man free first in the morning, then in the
afternoon, and then in the evening, in consecutive weeks; and this carried on through
out the year really shuts him out from any continued participation in the higher
things of life.
For many reasons part-time education for those engaged in earning a livelihood
takes place almost invariably in the evening hours, and the writer has seen groups of
would-be students who have wished to take up serious study denied the fulfillment
of their desire for a fuller life through education owing to the conditions of their daily
work.
Where workers are employed on continuous processes and in essential services
(e. g., railways and postal service), “ shift” working appears to be inevitable. In
these circumstances the interests of the community will be best served by a reduction
of the normal working day. A good many shift workers, however, are not engaged
upon continuous processes. The choice here appears to lie between the satisfaction
of the claims of maximum production and the claims of the human being. We frankly
say that if the desire for maximum output can not be realized without robbing the
human being of his opportunities for full participation in the organized life of society
and its educational facilities, we would unhesitatingly give preference to the satis
faction of the claims of the human being.
N ig h t w o r k .—The report states that where shift work involves, as
a rule, frequent periods of night work, due to the transference of
the worker from one shift to another, it should be remembered that
there are many who regularly work during the night. The persons
interviewed by the committee were strongly opposed to night work
and almost without exception condemned it as “ unnatural.” One
frequent ground of objection was that it requires too great a sacrifice
of individual freedom and the normal methods of life to industrial
purposes.
The general evidence shows that night work is more exhausting than daywork,
that the night worker requires longer hours of sleep, that the noise of traffic and the
performance of domestic duties interfere with sleep, and that night workers are either
periodically or permanently cut off from the normal life of the community and par
ticipation in its organized activities. Public work and education become well nigh
impossible. We are therefore inclined to agree with a Birmingham mechanic who
says: “ Of all the evils which infest industrial life, night work is the most damnable.”
M o n o to n o u s w o r k .—In the course of the study it was found that
two theories are held as to the effect of monotonous work upon the
worker’s desire to improve his mind. One is that monotonous forms
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of labor which require no intellectual application leave the mind
of the worker free and unexhausted by his duties, so that in the
course of the daily task “ the intelligent worker browses upon the
subject in which he is interested.” The second theory is that
monotonous work dulls the mind, destroys initiative, and “ grad
ually stifles all intellectual interests,” with the result that educa
tional facilities offer little or no attraction.
After considering the information received, the committee comes
to the following conclusion:
The effects of monotonous work depend largely upon the strength of the intellectual
interests of the worker and upon the nature of the worker’s temperament. Some
thing also depends upon the pace of working, as where the process is performed with
great rapidity the effects of monotony are intensified. Young workers employed on
monotonous processes easily succumb to the deadening influences of their daily
work. And if they continue upon work of this character, the evil results pointed
out above appear almost inevitable. On the other hand, workpeople who already
possess wide interests strongly developed when they enter upon monotonous work,
may, if the hours be not excessive, not only survive the crushing effects of their
labor, but may find counterbalancing advantages in the opportunity for reflection.
H e a v y a n d e x h a u s tin g w o r k .—That work which requires “ the con
stant expenditure of an excessive amount of physical and nervous
energy must necessarily deprive the workers of the vigor which
might otherwise be devoted to the pursuit of personal interests and
public affairs” is emphasized, and the statement is made that such
excessive labor “ degrades” those who perform it. The committee
in commenting upon this point says:
We do not think that any economic reasons can be urged in justification of its con
tinuance. The sacrifice of health, of vigor, or of both, and of opportunities for engaging
in the full round of educational, social, and political activities, to the supposed needs
of industry would not, we are convinced, be tolerated in this country if the facts
were more generally known.
U n e m p lo y m e n t .—The report shows that unemployment, especially
if prolonged, unfits a man for any participation in educational and
intellectual pursuits, and in social activities.
The urgent need of finding work, the wearing anxiety as to the present and future
maintenance of himself and his family, make mental concentration upon anything
else than the struggle for existence an impossibility. It is the decent, self-respecting
citizen who, finding himself unemployed by no fault of his own, but through the
exigencies of industry, suffers most; and it is precisely this kind of man, because of
his very self-respect, who can not bring himself to take advantage of the means (so
often savoring of “ charity” and the poor law) provided for alleviating distress caused
by unemployment. As all observers are agreed, the result is, save in very excep
tional cases, physical and mental deterioration. Moreover, should unemployment
be prolonged beyond a certain point, it is often found that the process of deteriora
tion has gone too far for the victim entirely to retrieve his position, and thus a perma
nent loss is inflicted on the nation’s citizens.
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“ H o lid a y s ” or v a c a tio n s .—With respect to “ holidays” the com
mittee found that while in the north of England the annual vacation
of one week has become well established; in the south such a vacation
is the exception and not the rule. This is particularly true of agri
cultural laborers. The report declares that “ at the best the average
town worker can only look forward to not more than one week’s
leave” and this is often subject to the demands of industry, and usually
has to be taken at the worker’s own expense, so that in the last
analysis what the worker has is not a vacation but a period of
unemployment.
This inadequacy of “ holiday” provision constitutes a very real
limitation of the educational opportunity. Many summer-school
courses are open to the worker, but under present conditions if he
attends these courses he must do so at a sacrifice to himself and very
often to his family. In the committee’s opinion the fact that such
sacrifices are made “ is one of the most convincing pieces of evidence
of the reality of the demand for nonvocational education,” and means
in many cases that the student must “ suffer an economic loss by
foregoing bis wages, and in practically every case that he gives up
to study his one brief period of leisure in the year, which he would
otherwise have devoted to a much-needed rest and relaxation from
strenuous pursuits.”
It may be that the question of holidays will, in the future, be the subject matter
of agreements between employers and employed,1 but in any case we think it im
portant that the present custom among salaried workers with regard to payment
during holidays should be extended to wage earners and incorporated in the factory
acts and similar laws.
The in d u s tr ia l b a ckg ro u n d .— fating that adult nonvocational
education is primarily concerned with the relation of the whole
industrial organization to the intellectual, esthetic, and spiritual life
of trie Nation, the committee reviews briefly the evolution of the
present industrial system and continues:
Whilst a very large proportion of the working population has not clearly formu
lated its fundamental objections to the conditions and circumstances of industrial
life, the articulate minority is placing an increasing emphasis upon what may be
called the moral factors. There is undoubtedly a growing feeling of dissatisfaction
on the part of work people with what they regard as their position of inferiority.
This inferiority, it is urged, is due to a forced submission to undesirable conditions,
to the subjection of the worker both to the machine and to the will of others who
are vested -with an authority in which the workers have no share. The new currents
of thought, which during the past few years have increasingly agitated labor, are a
sign of a deep-seated reaction against the dehumanizing influences surrounding
industrial life. * * *
i We (the committee) understand that an agreement has recently been arrived at in the chemical industry
whereby the workers engaged in it will obtain an annual week’s holiday with pay.
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We are not concerned with the methods which should be adopted, but with the
problem of the reaction upon human personality of the conditions of industrial life,
and with the fundamental criticism that the present industrial system offers little
opportunity for the satisfaction, of the intellectual, social, and artistic impulses.
If that issue be approached from the standpoint suggested by the terms of our refer
ence, it is not possible, in our view, to accept the suggestion sometimes advanced that
the exigencies of industrial efficiency are of such paramount importance that the devel
opment of personality must inevitably and rightly be subordinated to them. We
do not admit, indeed, that there is any necessary antithesis between the interest
of the community in industrial efficiency and its interest in strengthening the character
and developing the intelligence of its citizens, for it is on their character and intelli
gence that even its material wealth ultimately depends. But industry exists for man,
not man for industry, and if it be true, as it is, that modern industrial conditions have
often tended to deprive the worker of the education which he previously derived
from the intrinsic interest offered by his work, that fact makes it doubly important,
we suggest, to supplement their deficiencies by a humane and generous educational
policy.
Adult education and, indeed, good citizenship depend in no small degree, therefore,
upon a new orientation of our industrial outlook and activities. Improved conditions
and the diffusion of responsibility for the proper conduct of industry will strengthen
the need for educational opportunities. In so far as that need is fulfilled, industry
will gain by a more effective “ industrial citizenship,” and will itself become more
truly educative. Thus increased opportunities for adult education and the stimulus
of a freer and finer industrial environment are correlative, and help to develop each
other.
SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
H o u s in g a n d to w n p la n n in g .—In support of its contention that the
condition of working-class housing is unsatisfactory as regards both
quality and quantity, the committee gives statistics showing that
overcrowding is common in Great Britain. Even the best type of
workman’s dwelling is “ only too often” inconvenient in arrangement
and lacking in reasonable accommodation, and in the older houses,
which are occupied by so large a part of the working population there
is little privacy and comfort. But for the pursuit of education a cer
tain amount of privacy, seclusion and quiet is necessary. The com
mittee points out that in the usual workingman’s cottage this can be
obtained only after the other members of the household have retired
for the night and at the expense of rest and often, eventually, of
health.
The fact is emphasized that while housing conditions are bad for
the man they are worse for the woman, whose entire day is spent at
home. Thus any scheme of housing reform will be of vital impor
tance to the housewife, and the committee expresses the opinion that
women should be appointed to any committees that may be consti
tuted for that purpose.
The question of housing is intimately connected with that of town
planning. In its report the committee strongly urges that housing
schemes he considered in relation to town planning ana calls atten-
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tion to the fact that hitherto too little attention has been paid to
the reaction of the physical environment on the esthetic and moral
sense of the people, since “ an inspiring environment is a strong edu
cational influence.”
R u r a l c o n d itio n s .—The problem of the adult education of rural
workers was found to be one of considerable complexity. The rural
population suffers from special disabilities with regard to educational
opportunities and social intercourse. The study developed the fact
that the agricultural laborer works long hours, often for seven days
a week and, in most cases, without an annual vacation; that he is
unorganized and consequently receives very low wages, so low that
in the majority of cases “ it is true to sa;y that the vitality of the agri
cultural worker, who is subject to constant muscular strain has
suffered through inadequate feeding.” It was also found that in
many parts of the country the housing problem is acute, that good
libraries are very few, and that religious differences and social cleav
ages have done much to paralyze social effort.
Because of these conditions the rural worker has hitherto mani
fested little inclination for work of an educational character. The
committee expresses the belief, however, that continuation schools,
if properly adapted to the conditions of rural life, would do much to
stimulate the rising generation to educational effort.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
The committee summarizes its conclusions on the relation of indus
trial and social conditions to adult education as follows:
We recommend on educational grounds—
(a) That there should be a general shortening by law of the normal working day
and that, subject to the qualifications already suggested in the case of certain indus
tries such as agriculture, it should not be more than eight hours.
(b ) That in heavy and exhausting kinds of work, and work accompanied by special
disabilities, the maximum legal working day should be shorter than the normal,
and that heavy and exhausting occupations should be specially regulated, and wher
ever possible mechanical devices introduced.
(c) That overtime should be more closely regulated by law and reduced to a mini
mum.
(d) That where “ shift” work continues, the hours should be reduced below those
of the normal working day; and that, except where it is absolutely essential, regular
night work, whether periodical or continuous, should be prohibited by law.
(e) That efforts should be made to meet the evil effects of monotonous labor by alter
nating forms of employment, by creating opportunities for the exercise of initiative,
and by establishing works committees for the consideration of matters affecting work
shop life.
(/) That steps should be taken to guarantee to the worker some reasonable security
of livelihood, either by such a reorganization of industry as may prevent or minimize
fluctuations in the volume of production, or, where that is impossible, by some exten
sion of the principle of insurance which would protect the wage earner against the
ruinous effects of such fluctuations as can not be prevented.
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70
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
(g) That wage earners should be entitled by law to an annual holiday, with pay;
and that the weekly half holiday should be extended by law to the worker in agricul
ture.
(h) That the preparation of schemes of housing and town planning should be accel
erated; that such schemes should be drawn up in consultation with the best expert
advice available, and in cooperation with representatives of the people for whom such
schemes are intended; and that, particularly, representatives of women, who are the
persons most concerned, should be included in the housing and town planning, public
health, and other committees dealing with this question.
(i) That adequate washing facilities should be required to be provided in all places
of employment where the nature of the work makes it desirable.
(j ) That special consideration should be given to the peculiar problems of rural
housing.
(k) That a village institute, or at least a hall, should be established in every village
under public control.
SOCIO-POLITICAL PROGRAM OF THE GERMAN EMPLOYERS.
The organizations of German employers, says an article in the
Soziale Praxis,1 take every opportunity to bring before the public,
by means of the press, pamphlets and speeches, their own special
point of view in every economic and socio-political question. At
every meeting of employers the same ideas of “ free” social policy
are ventilated. The argument is skillfully adduced how nobly
German industry and private enterprise have worked together in the
war, and how fervently desired is the abolition of all State control,
the motto being “ Away with State socialism, and a free course for
the fittest. ” If these expressions of opinion are collected and atten
tion is given to the views of Dr. Tanzler, secretary of the United
Employers’ Association, the socio-political program of the German
Employers’ Association may be represented somewhat as follows:
By “ social policy” the organized employers understand “ the
laying down of principles for a suitable standard of living by statute
and practice, as well as the encouragement of the individual in his
work and his capacity for doing it and the raising of the status of
the worker generally by strenghtening and enlarging his responsibili
ties. ”
Wage policy is, according to the memorandum of Dr. Tanzler,
sound, “ when it combines the possibility of a competent livelihood
for the workers with that of increased prosperity of the undertaking.”
To grant wages beyond the scale of moderate pretensions wTould be
“ to change the undertaking into a charitable institution” and
permanently injure the whole business, since no corresponding
increase could be put against the higher wages, for which reason “ the
introduction of a minimum wage postulates a requisite minimum
standard of efficiency.” On the other hand, more consideration
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1Soziale Praxis. Berlin, Aug. 22,1918.
[ 1220]
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
71
than before will be shown to family circumstances and length of
service. (This is an important admission in the employers’ memo
randum.) Maximum working hours and the concession of free half
days to weaker persons, women, and juveniles are to be recognized,
but the universal introduction of such measures would infringe on
the principles of economic policy directed toward maximum pro
ductivity.
High and steadily increasing wages are not, however, the only
desideratum in social policy; no less important are measures to
secure that the wages be profitably and suitably expended on housing
and domestic requirements, and employers of labor should cooperate
with the communities and the State in this object. All legislative
enactments which deal with the safety of the workers in industrial
establishments are to be carried out effectively. The united body of
employers will gladly promote the physical and mental development
and will give advice as to the choice of trade, apprenticeships, and
vocational training. The existing principles of social insurance
must be upheld and any unnecessary details eliminated. The
frequently advocated insurance against unemployment is deprecated,
since no hands need be left idle, and the unemployed should be given
work, not pensions.
This somewhat tardy recognition by the employers of the prin
ciples which should obtain in the labor world is the best justification
of the attitude taken hitherto by German social reformers. However
closely the views of the employers in this respect tally with those of
the social reformers, they diverge where the personal rights of the
worker are concerned.
The socio-political program of the United Employers’ Association
demands complete right of organization for all employees and
employers. All organizations are to have equal rights. “ A strike
is no comparison of right, but a test of might, which must be settled.”
There should, therefore, be no compulsion brought to bear on external
bodies to make them participate. Employers will in their own
interests avoid disputes. Labor ought to have its wishes represented
in the undertaking.
The abandonment of the right to strike in certain works of national
importance demands fresh safeguarding of the interests of the
workers. The ultimate aim of the employers’ appeal for freedom is
evident from other announcements.
4
The national auxiliary service law, with its social regulations,
“ especially the conciliation boards and judgment offices” must be
done away with; so also “ equal representation.” This has been
advocated at many meetings. “ It is in the national interest that
the employers’ information offices be supported, since they constitute
the best guaranty that the employee fills the position most suitable
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
to him, and that the employer possesses the powers which he wishes,
and accordingly the conditions of labor are permanent.”
Dr. Tanzler gave full expression to the view that the labor rights
claimed by the workmen must be opposed by employers’ rights
based on the principles of liberty.
The employer must not be restricted by statute in his choice of
employees and in his power of discharging them. This applies to the
engagement of disabled soldiers, in which matter the employer must
be left complete freedom of action. In public contracts the employer
is to have the benefit of the strike -clause. So, also,.no compulsion is
to be applied to employers who consider collective wage agreements
injurious to their establishments or industry.
“ The goal of our economic policy, i. e., the greatest possible pro
ductivity, can not be reached except by assuring the liberty of
development for private industrial enterprise” is the predominant
idea in all the program of the United Employers’ Association. There
is an element of truth in this notion, but much depends on practical
developments and applications. Critical investigation of this socio
political program issued by the employers shows that for the greatest
possible productivity are needed free and enthusiastic workers no
less than free and enterprising employers. Such a body of labor
will not exist in Germany until “ freedom” in all relations of labor
exists in equal measure for employee and employer and the just
claims of social solidarity are upheld.
RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF THE ITALIAN SUPERIOR LABOR
COUNCIL.
The permanent committee of the Superior Labor Council of
Italy presented recently its report on the most important steps to
be taken in the transition period.1 Its proposals may be sum
marized as follows:
1. The increase of national production is the basis of all prepara
tion for the economic reconstruction of the country in the transition
period, and for this are required: (a) The coordination of all national
energies; (b ) the financial policy which realizes the difficulties
inseparable from the abnormal war conditions; (c) the prompt
carrying out of necessary public works; (d) the careful transfor
mation of war industries into peace industries; (e) the constitution
of a domain of public lands; (/) the regulation of emigration of
workers.
2. Legislation is demanded for the satisfactory protection of
labor, in addition to health measures, for the development of co1 Italy, Ministero per 1’Industria, il Commerico e il Lavoro. Bollettino dell’ ufficio del Lavoro. Vol#
VI, No. 15. Rome, Aug. 1, 1918.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1222]
M ONTHLY LABOE BEVIEW.
73
operation in every form, and for the welfare generally of working
classes. Every step should be taken to raise the economic and
political status of labor which must have a direct share in the Gov
ernment and in production, thus acquiring personal interests in the
country and the nation as a whole.
A scheme ot general and technical education, liberally supported,
should form the basis of a program of intensive production and
social legislation.
3. The State must adopt an industrial and commercial policy
which, unshackled by adherence to any system of protection to the
prejudice of the consumer, will safeguard production in the inter
ests of consumers, towards which end powerful assistance can be
lent by cooperation
4. The representatives of capital and labor ought to be allowed to
exercise direct influence upon transition economics.
IN D U ST R IE S AND AGRICULTURE.
The Superior Labor Council recognizes the importance of a good
supply of raw materials after the war, and since that supply should
be provided by the State, calls the attention of the Government to
the urgency of the program. As to agriculture, the council expresses
the following wishes;
1. That a proportion of the munition factories ought to he devoted
to the production of nitrates as fertilizers, using the atmosphere as
the source of nitrogen, and to the manufacture of agricultural
machinery, more especially motor plows, rendered so necessary
since the war, owing to the shortage of draft animals.
2. That in order to encourage and stimulate the growth of food
stuffs at home premiums should be offered to the most successful
cultivators of cereals.
3. That any draft animals in excess of the army requirements
should be allotted to agriculturists direct.
4. That home colonization be promoted by taking measures to
stamp out' malaria and extending the laws for the cultivation of
unpopulated parts of Italy, and that where necessary, new villages,
aqueducts, etc., be constructed.
The idea of a large domain of public lands should be developed and
the extensive cultivation of such domain be encouraged by subsidies
and loans on easy terms. For the execution of these plans, the
council considers it will be necessary to pass social agrarian laws by
which the public lands may be granted to cooperative societies of
workers or to individuals. Legislation also will be desirable to
secure the interests of the small proprietors. A reform in the civil
code is required to remove the glaring contrasts between the rights
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
f 12231
74
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
of ownership and the ultimate interests of the community, and no
delay in carrying out operations necessary for the development of
agriculture should he caused through the opposition of individual
proprietors.
PU B L IC WORKS.
In regard to this question, the council advocates the following
measures:
1. A vigorous policy should be adopted to carry out forthwith
the most urgent works—highways, railways, waterways, buildings,
especially schools, etc.
2. Systematic methods should be initiated for constructing in the
country itself the largest possible amount of what is required for the
public services—ships, engines, tractors, railroad cars, etc.
3. Encouragement should be offered to all hydro electrical works
for production of power for traction, illumination, etc. Special
attention should be devoted to the fullest utilization of mountain
streams for power purposes and irrigation.
MEANING OF RECONSTRUCTION.*
The purpose of this book, which is a reprint of a series of essays
which appeared in The Athenaeum, is not to formulate a program or
offer suggestions upon the complex practical problems Great Britain
will need to face at the close of the war, but rather to consider the
real purpose of reconstruction in its broader aspects. Running
through all the essays is the idea of differentiating between the two
schools of thought upon reconstruction—the materialistic, which is
mainly concerned with the material benefits to be found in increased
output, better wages, industrial peace, commercial supremacy, etc.,
and one which might be called the spiritual idea, which would seek
to make the country a land of truth, righteousness, and freedom,
thereby justifying the sacrifices the men and women of the country
have made in the name of these principles.
The author considers that an unparalleled opportunity will be
offered at the close of the war to cast away customs, traditions, and
institutions which have lost their value and which persist because
of inertia, privilege, or vested interests and to substitute for them
political, social, and economic systems which are in accord with the
ideals of the present age. He warns, however, that it will be necessary
to be ready with a definite sense of direction and a clear purpose or
false ideals and standards may be set up and the opportunity lost.
1 The Meaning of Reconstruction, by Demos.
Terrace. London, 1918. 75 p p . Price, Is. net.
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The Athen£eum Literature Department, 10 Adelphi
[1224]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
75
That it may not be possible to come within measurable distance of
the goal does not absolve the Nation from responsibilities.
In spite of the strong political sense of the Anglo-Saxon people
and the many democratic institutions to be found in England, still
the country suffers from great social distinctions which, however,
have been in a measure leveled by the war, and the author urges
that this new unity should become a permanent reality with oppor
tunities for full development to every individual, and that as against
the old individualistic doctrine of the rights of man must be set the
principle of the new freedom—the responsibilities of man. This
idea is stressed further in the chapter on “ Education and the Social
Ideal,” in which the need is shown for education which shall be open
to all, irrespective of accidental circumstances, such as professional
requirements or the possession of wealth.
Reconstruction is a series of related problems—international,
imperial, national, local—each aspect as important and as funda
mental as the others. International reconstruction must be dealt
with first, because a settlement of the war which leaves the real
issues untouched will lead to further armaments instead of to the
league of nations, which the author believes should be a league of
democratic States, since international cooperation is altogether
foreign to the spirit of autocracies. This plan would bar the central
empires from admission until such time as they become democratic
States. The league of nations, he believes, also should not be con
cerned solely with the avoidance of war but also with world problems,
such as the relations between the different races and the develop
ment of the material resources of the world.
He compares the British Empire, which is essentially pacific and
democratic, with the militaristic German Empire, and states that
“ empire based upon dominion is to-day an impossibility; instead
there must be a commonwealth based upon the willing consent of
the governed and upon the widening area of responsibility until all
its constituent parts are self-governing units in a free partnership.”
In conclusion, in the new industrial order he wishes to see, instead
of production for wealth’s sake, a new spirit in industry which shall
transform industry “ into a public service from the point of view of
the community, and into a profession from the point of view of the
producer,” this system to be based upon industrial self-government.
“ The reconstruction of industry, therefore, is not an economic
problem; it is a moral problem, to be solved, not by the expansion
of markets, or by cheapening costs of production, but by giving
industry an ideal, a charter of liberty, and a clearly conceived social
purpose.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12251
PRICES AND COST OF LIVING,
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES.
The increase in the retail price of all articles of food combined,
for the United States on September 15, 1918, as compared with
August 15, 1918, was 4 per cent. Of the 28 articles for which prices
are secured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only two declined in
price: Onions, 9 per cent and beans 1 per cent. Butter, eggs, pork
chops, and ham show the greatest increases. Sirloin steak, rib
roast, and chuck roast increased less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
Lamb, bread, flour, and potatoes show no change in price. The table
following gives the average money price and the per cent of increase
or decrease of each of the articles:
AVERAGE MONEY RETAIL PRICES AND P E R CENT OF INCREASE OR DECREASE, SEPT.
IS, 1918, COMPARED W ITH SEPT. 15, 1917, AND AUG. 15, 1918.
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease (—)
Sept. 15, 1918, com
pared with—
Average money price—
Article.
Unit.
Sept. 15, Aug. 15, Sept. 15, Sept. 15, Aug. 15,
1918.
1918.
1917.
1918.
1917.
Pound__
...d o ..........
.. .do..........
.. .do..........
...d o ..........
...d o ..........
.. .do..........
.. .do..........
.. .do..........
.. .do..........
...d o ..........
.. .do..........
Dozen.......
Pound__
...d o ..........
Quart.......
P ound8...
Pound__
.. .do..........
...d o ..........
.. .do..........
.. .do..........
. ..do..........
...d o ..........
. ..do..........
...d o ..........
Coffee ............................... ................... ...d o ..........
Tea
............................... ....... ........... ...d o ..........
Firloin steak ..........................................
Rnrmrl steak . _____________ . . . . . . . .
RiB roast
___________ . . . . . . . . . . .
Chuck roast___ _____ ____ . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plate beef
T.........................................
Pork chops ............................................
Paeon ......................................................
TTnm ........................................................
T,ard
mT___..... .........
Parph
. ...........................................
TTp.ns
.....................................................
Palm on ca n nod........................................
Fggs ..........................................................
Butter ......................................................
Choose
.................................................
Milk ......................................................
Broad ........................................................
Flour
.....................................................
Corn mopl
............................................
Pipe
...................................................
Potatoes ...................................................
Onions .....................................................
Beans navy ......................... ................
Ppm os - - ...................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B aisin seed o d ____ ______ ________
$0.333
.296
.259
.218
.163
.388
.442
.409
.296
.314
.302
.277
.525
.496
.335
.118
.099
.073
.082
.108
.030
.046
.188
.163
.148
.098
.305
.612
*0.415
.396
.326
.283
.217
.422
.540
.485
.331
.369
.386
.302
.536
.539
.346
.136
.099
.068
.068
.134
.039
.055
.171
.171
.153
.093
.301
.658
$0.417
.398
.327
.284
.219
.461
.562
.519
.336
.369
.394
.305
.586
.592
.360
.143
.099
• .068
.069
.137
.039
.050
.169
.174
.154
.096
.303
.664
1Increase of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-1 6
+27
+ 13
+ 9
-1 0
+ 7
+ 4
- 2
- 1
+ 8
+ 16
All artielos pom bin od
76
+25
+34
+26
+ 30
+ ?4
+ 19
+27
+27
+ 14
+ 18
+30
+ 10
+ 12
+ 19
+ 7
+21
0
[1226]
! No change in price.
*Baked weight.
0)
(l)
0
+ 1
+ 9
+ 4
+ 7
+ 2
0
+ 3
+ 1
+ 9
+ 10
+ 4
0
0
0
+ 1
+ 2
+
+
+
+
+
9
1
2
1
3
1
1
+ 4
77
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Comparing September 15, 1918, with September 15, 1917, the
increase of all articles combined was 16 per cent. In this year period,
round steak and plate boiling beef show the greatest increases, 34 per
cent each. Hens and chuck roast show the next highest increases,
30 per cent each. There was no change in the price of bread as
compared with a year ago. Corn meal, beans, flour, sugar, and coffee
were cheaper in September, 1918, than in September, 1917.
AVERAGE MONEY RETA IL PRICES AND P E R CENT OF INCREASE OR DECREASE,
SEPT. 15 OF EACH SPECIFIED YEAR COMPARED WIT-' SEPT 15, 1913.
Per cent of increase (+ ) or de
crease (—) Sept. 15 of each
specified year compared
with Sept. 15,1913.
Average money price Sept. 1 5 Article.
Unit.
1913
Sirloin steak........
Round steak.......
Rib roast........ ..
Chuck roast.........
Plate beef............
Pork chops..........
Bacon, sliced.......
Ham, sliced.........
L ard....................
Lam b...............
Hens....................
Salmon, canned - .
Eggs..."................
B u tter.................
Cheese.................
Milk.....................
Bread...................
Flour...................
Corn m eal...........
Rice.....................
Potatoes..............
Onions.................
Beans, n av y ........
Prunes.................
R aisin s............. .
Sugar...................
Coffee...................
T ea......................
1914
1915
1916
1918
1914
1915
Pound.. $0,262 $0.270 $0.265 10.284 $0.333 $0.417
...d o . ... .233
.247
.238
.257
.296
.398
...d o ....... .199
.208
.204
.218
.259
.327
...d o .......
.284
.177
.218
.179 .165
...d o .......
.131
.123
.131
.163
.219
...d o ....... .227
.236 .225
.261
.388
.461
...d o ....... .281 .290
.270
.296
.442 .562
...d o ....... .282
.291
.262
.332
.409
.519
.. .do....... .161
.222
.156 .138
336
.296
. . . d o __ .187
.201
.233
.314
.197
.369
.219 .208
.302
.243
.394
...d o ....... .215
_d o __
.202
.198
.277 .305
Dozen... .375
.368 .349
.413
.525
.586
.390
Pound.. .378 '.378
.335
.496
.592
.. .do.......
.230
.227
.335
.360
Q u art... .089
.089
.091
.088
.118
.143
.064
Pound 2. .056
.070
.099
.099
.077
P o u n d .. .033
.037
.038
.048
.073
.068
..-d o ....... .031
.034
.069
.033
.033
.082
. . . d o __
.091
.091
.108
.137
. . . d o __ .019
.018
.014
.028 .030 .039
. . . d o __
.030 .046
.046 .050
__d o __
.076 . 121 . 188 .169
...d o .......
.134
.135
. 163 .174
.. .do......
.125
.129
. 148 .154
. ..d o .......
.065
057 .079
.077
.098
.096
.. .do.......
.299
.299
.305
.303
__do.......
.612
.664
.546
.546
+ 3
+ 6
+ 5
+ 1 + 8 + 27
+ 2 +10 + 27
+ 3 + 10 + 30
+ 59
+ 71
+ 64
+ 4 - 1 + 15 + 71
+ 3 - 4 + 5 + 57
+ 3 - 7 + 18 + 45
3
3 +38 + 84
+ 5 + 7 +25 + 68
+ 2 — 3 +13 + 40
+103
+100
+ 84
¡-109
+ 97
+ 83
- 2' - 7
-11
(P
+10 + 40
+ 3 + 31
+ 56
+ 57
0)
+14
+12
+ 6
- 1
+ 33
+25 +38 + 77
+15 +45 + 121
+ 6 +10 +165
+ 61
+ 77
+106
+ 123
—5
—26
+47 + 58
+ 105
+39
+14
+35 + 72
+ 68
+ 4
—2
+14 + 48
+ 72
All articles combined................
1N o change in price.
1917
1916
1917
1918
2Baked weight.
The five-year period, September 15, 1913, to September 15, 1918,
shows, for the United States, an increase of 72 per cent for all food
combined. Every article for which prices have been secured for this
period shows an increase of 56 per cent or over. Six articles show
increases of 100 per cent or over: Bacon, 100 per cent; pork chops,
103 per cent; potatoes, 105 per cent; flour, 106 per cent; lard, 109
per cent; and corn meal, 123 per cent. In the table above are shown
these and other changes.
£7 7 2 1 ° --1 8 ------ 6
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78
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
RELATIVE RETA IL PRICES OF FOOD ON AUG. 15, AND SEPT. 15, 1918, AND ON SEPT. 15,
1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, AND 1917.
[The relative price shows the per cent that the average price on the 15th of each m onth is of the average
price for the year 1913.]
1918
Sept. 15-
Unit.
Article.
Aug. 15 Sept. 15 1913
Sirloin stealc...................................................
B mind ste a lc ....... .........................................
Bih roast, __________________. . . . . . . . . . .
....... ......................................
Pnrtr chops
Bar-on
....... ............................ .................
TTam
..... ................................................
T,ar<i
.........................................................
TTons................................................................
Eg?s
....... .................................................
B utter.............................................................
Milk
..........................................................
Bread...............................................................
Flour
.........................................................
Porn meal ...................................................
Potatoes
...................... .............................
Sugar .......... ■*............................................
Pound__
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
Dozen.......
Pound__
Q uart.......
Pound1...
Pound__
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
. ..do..........
A11 articles corn binerl............... .....................
1914
1915
1916 1917
163
178
165
201
200
180
209
181
155
141
153
174
206
227
229
169
164
178
165
220
208
193
213
185
170
155
161
174
206
230
229
175
103
104
101
108
104
104
102
101
109
98
100
100
100
102
110
104
107
110
105
113
108
108
99
lO p
107
98
100
114
113
109
105
145
104
106
103
107
100
97
88
97
101
88
99
124
117
108
79
118
111
115
110
125
110
123
141
113
120
102
102
136
148
113
161
141
131
133
131
185
164
152
188
142
152
129
132
176
223
272
172
179
171
178
102
107
101
118
153
1 Baked weight.
AVERAGE R E TA IL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR 19 SELECTED
CITIES FOR SEPT. 15, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1918, AND AUG. 15, 1918.
(The prices shown below are computed from reports sent monthly to the bureau by retail dealers. As
some dealers occasionally fail to report, the number of quotations varies from month to month.]
Baltimore, Md.
Atlanta, Ga.
Article.
Sept. 15—
Unit.
1917
Sirloin steak............
Round steak............
Rib ro ast.................
Chuck roast.............
Plate beef................
Pork chops..............
Bacon, sliced...........
Ham, sliced.............
L ard........................
L am b.......................
H ens........................
Salmon, canned___
Eggs.........................
Butter......................
Cheese......................
Milk.........................
Bread.......................
Flour........................
Corn m eal................
Rice..........................
Potatoes...................
Onions.....................
Beans, navy............
Prunes.....................
Raisins, seeded.......
Sugar.......................
Coffee.......................
Tea...........................
Pound.
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
...d o __
...d o __
..d o __
...d o __
. ..d o __
...d o __
...d o __
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
Dozen..
Pound.
. ..d o __
Q uart. Pound 1
Pound.
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
...d o __
...d o __
...d o —
...d o __
...do—
. ..d o __
...do__
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
023
059
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Sept. 15—
1913
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
$0.312 $0.396 SO. 406 $0.250 $0.248 SO. 334 $0.465 $0.461
.230 .238
.319 .457
.281
.365 .371
.456
.237
.314
.190 .198
.259 .366
.364
.313
.162
.225
.313
.259 .273
.160
.312
.203
.171
.242
.212
.139
.242
.154
.218
.395
.460
.424
.456
.220 .217
.504
.373
.454
.589
.265
.260
.513
.439
.578
.559
.525
.320 .320
.445
.543
.413
.509
.572
.324
.148
.294
.347
.153
.299
.337
.340
.324
.326
.416
.371
.193
.193
.409
.389
.211
.315 .427
.288 .353
.377
.218
.427
.254
.268
.247
.275
.256
.475 .498
.538 .347
.323
.491
.499
.574
.528
.605 .386
.386
.563
.617
.531
.579
.341
.350 .353
.361
.369
.350
.117
.130
.150
.200
.200 .087 .087
.160
.097
.057
.089
.097
.101
.100 .055
.100
.037
.075
.069
.071
.072
.071
.070 .032
.065
.057 .025 .027
.063
.065
.061
.057
.104
.110
.130
.142
.135
.139
.028
.042
.033
.051
.050
.018 .018
.043
.052
.055
.065
.063
.060
.055
.180
.178
.187
.177
.188 .188
.164
.174
.185
.178
.176
.186
.145 .156
.155
.150 .156
.172
.092
.090
080 .104
.094
.094
.052 .073
.091
.2X5 .296
.284
.311
.279
.285
.881
.897
.638 .685
.702
.753
i Baked weight.
[ 1228]
79
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
AVERAGE R ETA IL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR 19 SELECTED
CITIES FOR SEPT. 15,1913,1914,1917,1918, AND AUG. 15,1918—Continued.
Birmingham Ala.
Article.
Unit.
Sept. 15—
1913
Sirloin steak ............
Round steak...........
Rib roast.................
flhllplr roast
__
P]at.p, bfifif..............
Pork chops..............
Bacon, sliced...........
Ham, sliced............
L ard.........................
Lam b.......................
Hens........................
E g g s.......................
B utter......................
Milk.........................
Bread.......................
Flour.......................
Corn meal................
P i fifi
Potatoes..................
Palsin s sfi.fi.dfid
Sugar.......................
Tea
__ t- - ..........
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918.
Boston, Mass.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Sept. 15—
1913
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Pound.. $0.281 $0.294 $0.350 $0,414 $0.420 $0.358 $0.400 $0.464 $0.575 SO.590
.. .d o ___ .225
.377
.244
.316
.387 .385
.356
.467
.580
.583
. . .do----- .206
.262
.338
.256
.257
.327
.410
.213
.335
.403
.. .do___
.175 .212
.293
.195
.273
.339
.349
.295
__do__ _
.226
.125
. 165 .226
.214
.244
.250
.248
.. .do---.377
.387
.437
.405
.493
.475
.350
.601
.491
.258
.268
.439
.515
.. .do---.363
.546
.510
.350
.320
.350
.447
.427
.474
.510
.515
.536
.. .do----- .325
.157
.158
.154
.295
. . .do___ .153
.324
.326
.332
.342
.293
.228
.225
.388
.205
.346
.386
.395
.333
.393
. . .d o .. . . .233
.185
.262 .260
.438
.437
.266
.326
.342
.329
.. .do___ .180
do___
.322
.320
.267
.302
.300
.294
.471
.340 .489
.671
.487
.530
.459
.652
Dozen... .326
.743
.400
.540
.602
.374
.372
.512
.532
.558
Pound.. .388
.563
.344
.348
.324
.334
.338
.369
. do. . . .
.104
.152
.160
.089 .089
.150
.150
.190
.130
Quart. . . .103
.091
.056 .105
. Ill
.059
.060 .096
.092
.115
Pound1. .054
.074
.071
.070
.037
.042
.068
.069
.078
Pound.. .035 .036
.027
.057
.035
.038 .075
.025
.056
.056
.073
.075
.. .do---.120
.134
. 140 .142
.112
.131
. .d o .. .
.037
.041
.022
.047
.047
.017
.017
.027
.038
. . .do---.023
d o .. .
.056
.057
.055
.057
.068
.051
d o ..
.197
. 185 . 184
.184
.176
.178
.167
. 163 . 160 .162
.173
.181
.. d o ...
_. do__
. 164 .153 .158
.150
.150
.154
.081
.102
.090
.095
.056
.080
.097
.092
.100
. . .d o .. . . .058
. _ do___
.324
.340
.340
.366
.333
.320
.762
.652
.796
.810
.640
.653
__d o .. . .
Buffalo, N
Y.
Chicago, 111.
. . .d o __ SO.233 SO. 242 $0.318 $0.410 SO. 406 $0.243 $0.267 $0.315 $0.377 $0.386
.218
.298
.281
.349
.386
.214
.236
.359
. . .do___ .198
.383
.180
.251
.217
.258
.314
.316
.203
.326
.317
.. .d o ---- .170
.166
.218
.181
.220
.278
.287
.283
.282
...d o ... .
.129
.130
.226
.165
.210
.216
__do__ _
.173
.230
.374
.388
.240
.415
.218
.220
.426
.459
.466
.. .do___ .230
.476
.564
.232
.517
.326
.331
.577
. . .do___ .233
.433
.523
.322
.341
.505
.517
.290
.425
.509
.509
.439
.. .do___ .280
.321
.140
.286
.314
. 150 .152
.283
.326
. . .do___ .144
.323
.199
.320
.354
.362
.167
.341
.203
. . .d o .. . . .153
.283
.339
.314
.207
.294
.357
.368
.216
.401
.402
.192
.. .do___ .210
d o ..
.306
.263
.278
.280
.283
.313
.478
.521
.304
.298
.465
.356
.536
.540
.614
Dozen... .338
.484
.490
.367
.514
.340
.575
.493
.579
.353
Pound.. .358
.344
.357
.325
.326
.338
.376
__do__ _
.100
.124
.130
.080
.110
.140
.140
.080
.080
Q u a rt... .080
.061
.070
.105
.102
.102
.052
.097
.100
.100
Pound1. .056
.034
.069
.065
.036
.069
.029
.065
.063
.063
Pound.. .030
.028
.028
.065
.068
.068
.027
.062
.064
.026
.065
.. .do---.127
.126
.
129
.103
.133
.106
__d o .. . .
.017
.027
.035
.032
.029
.037
.037
.018
.020
.017
.. .do---.042
.039
.045
d o .. _
.056
.051
.043
.166
.169
.183
Roans navy............ __d o .. . .
. 185 .164
.163
.159
.172
.172
. 150 . 176 .183
Prnnfi.s
__d o .. . .
. do__
.147
.150
.152
.130
.140
.139
.089
.091
.090
.095
.091
.052
.075
.080
.093
Sugar....................... .. .do___ .056
.284
.279
.283
. .d o .. .
.286
.296
.296
.598
.608
.564
.575
.496
.616
__d
o
..
.
.
Tea
Sirloin steak............
Round steak...........
Rib roast.................
Chuck roast............
Plate bfifif_______
Pork chops..............
Bacon, sliced...........
Ham, sliced.............
L ard ..............................
T.am b .......................
TTfins........................
Salmon eannfid
Eggs.........................
B utter......................
Cheese__________
Milk.........................
Bread.......................
Flour.......................
Corn meal................
Pjfifi.
Potatoes..................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 Baked weight.
[1229]
80
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
AVERAGE RETA IL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR 19 SELECTED
CITIES FOR SEPT. 15, 1913,1914,1917,1918, AND AUG. 15,1918—Continued.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Article.
Unit.
Sept. 15—
1913
Sirloin steak............
Round steak...........
Rib roast.................
Chuck roast............
Plate beef................
Pork chops..............
Bacon, sliced...........
Ham, sliced............
L ard........................
Lam b......................
Hens........................
Salmon, canned. . . .
E g g s...'...................
Butter......................
Cheese......................
Milk.........................
Bread......................
Flour........................
Corn meal............ ..
Rice.........................
Potatoes..................
Onions.....................
Beans, navy............
Prunes__ 1............
Raisins, seeded.......
Sugar.. 1...................
Coffee.......................
Tea...........................
1914
Aug.
1917
1918
M i l k ....................................
Bread......................
Flour........................
Corn meal................
Rice..........................
Potatoes...................
O n i o n s .............................
Beans, navy............
Prunes___*.............
Raisins, seeded.......
Sugar.......................
Coffee.......................
Tea..........................
Sept.
15,
1918
Sept. 15—
1913
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918
Sept.
15,
1918
Pound.. $0.254 SO. 267 SO. 312 $0.388 $0.385 SO. 243 SO. 243 $0.317 $0.390 $0.381'
...d o ...... .229 .237 .291
.365 .361
.214 .231
.283 .363
.354
.. .do...... . 189 .199
.178 .181
.238 .299 .295
.293
.239 .291
...d o ......
.177 .214 .278 .275
. 168 .206 .253
.262
.. .do......
.124
. 158 .205 .205
. 107 . 140 . 180
. 181
...d o ...... .244 .243 .415 .448 .493 .204 .229 .399
.414
.440
...d o ...... .296 .305 .452 .521
.542 .290 .305 .480 .569
. 588
. . .do...... .373
.350 .421
.510 .538 .333
.333
.464
.525
.540
. . .do...... . 164 . 163 .302 .329 .337 . 165 . 158 .310 .325
.339
.. .do...... . 187 .211
.308
.363
.352 . 160 . 160 .302
.357
.348
.. .do...... .219
.226 .327 .404 .403
. 197 .212
.285
.360
. 354
.. .do......
.262 .293
.295
.275 . 288
. 294
Dozen... .368 .361
.542 .539 .599 .321
. 542
.343
.493 .498
Pound.. .383 .385 .516
.538 .612 .386 .346 .494 .500
. 580
. . .do......
.332 .336
.352
.372
.348
.358
Quart .. .080 .080 .120
.130 .140 .084 .084
.1 1 2
.115
. 118
Pound1. .056 .057 .101
.100
.055
.120
.100
.056 .102 .1 2 0
P ound.. .032 .039 .073
.070 .068 .026 .031
. 058 .060
.060
. . -do...... .029 .034 .069
.066 .067 .026 .027 .059
.060
.069
. . .do......
. 106 . 132 . 141
. 113 . 142
. 145
__do....... .020 .019 .029 .041 .041
.034
.018 .016 .025 .038
. . .do......
.049
.057 .046
.039 .049
.046
. . .do......
. 186 . 153 . 148
. 191 . 159
162
.. .do......
. 165 . 173 . 172
. 183 . 176
178
. . .do......
. 143 . 149 . 144
. 147
. 145 . 147
. . .do...... .056 .082 .098 .093 . 094 .059
095
096
104
.079
. . .do......
.294 .294
. 297
. 304 . 304
. 304
.. .do......
.632 .636
.572 .610
.621
Detroit, Mich.
Sirloin steak............
Round steak...........
Rib roast.................
Chuck roast............
Plate beef................
Pork chops..............
Bacon, sliced..........
Ham, sliced............
L ard........................
Lam b......................
Hens........................
Salmon, canned___
Eggs........................
Butter......................
Cheese.....................
Denver, Colo.
Los Angeles Cal.
. . . d o . . . . $0.263 SO. 249 $0.313 SO. 390 $0.393 SO. 240 $0.243 $0.272 $0.329 SO. 328
. . .do...... .210 .218 .283 .360 .361
.210 .213
.246 .311
.315
. . .do...... .200 .195 .252 .308 .305 .196
.199
.229 .292
.294
.164 .205 .268 .264
. .do......
. 240
. 158 .181
.234
.122 .161
197
127
149
194
do......
.211
. 213
.. .do...... .223 .226 .403
.415
.469 .254 .269 .363
.425
! 445
.do...... .247 .257 .448 .522 . 545
331
357
490
613
635
. . .do...... .270 .300 .425 .522 .536 .358 .378 .471
.572
.596
. .do...... . 169 . 157 .303 .332 . 335 . 179 . 171
289
336
337
. .do...... . 160 .185 .316 .360 .367
187
985
399
333
. .do...... .205 .216 .331
977
.394 .404 .262 .270
__do.......
.289 .313
257
372
387
. 300
Dozen... .320 .317 .511
.533
.582 .463
.428
.533
.569
.659
Pound.. .359 .365 .497 .514 .588 .435
.369
.499
.580
.599
__do.......
.329 .338 . 356
339
Q uart... .080 .080
.120 . 140 .148 . 100 .100 .120 .140
. 140
Pound1. .056
.060 .090 .095
.095
.060 .064
.091
.093
.092
.037 .071
P ound.. .031
.069
.069
.035
.040
.068
.071
.071
__do....... .028 .034
070 .033
.072 .072
069
.039
. . .do......
.113
103
. 133 . 136
136
138
...d o ...... .019 .017 .028 .038 .037
.017
.012 .031
!o33
.038
.. .do......
098
. 051
.048 .054
__do.......
179
. 190 . 151 . 150
...d o ......
.170 .182
. 180
1161 ! 177
. 178
.. .do......
. 140 . 152 . 150
144
140
.141
__do....... .057 .081
095
0Q5 .057
. 099
.078
.. .d o .....
.310 .304 .301
393
. . .do......
.559 . 577 .587
.589
! 645
. 650
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 B ated weight.
[1230J
81
M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
A VERAGE R E TA IL PRICES OF THE PRIN C IPA L ARTICLES OF FOOD FO R 19 SELECTED
CITIES FOR SE PT . 15, 1913, 1914, 1917,1918, AN D AUG. 15, 1918—Continued.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Article.
Unit.
Sept. 15
1913
Sirloin steak............
Round steak............
Rib roast................
Chuck roast.............
Plate beef................
Pork chops..............
Bacon, sliced...........
Ham, sliced...........
L ard........................
Lam b.......................
Hens........................
Salmon, canned. . . .
Eggs...'....................
Butter......................
Cheese......................
Milk..........................
Bread.......................
Flour........................
Corn meal................
Rice..........................
Potatoes...................
<>nions.....................
Beans, navy............
Prunes___".............
Raisins, seeded.......
Sugar..'....................
Coffee.............. ........
Tea...........................
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918.
New Orleans, La.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Sept. 15
1913
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918.
Pound.. $0.236 $0.250 $0.300 $0.373 $0.373 $0.225 $0. 230 $0.277 $0.332
.. .do....... .216
.227
.281
.358
.185
.204
.358
.242
.300
.. .do....... .192
. 195 .240 .291
232
291
. 298
.175
. 193
.. .do.......
.175
.219
. 218
.269
.275
.149
.181
.. .do.......
.129
.161
.204
.128
.153
.187
. 208
...d o ....... .216
.223
.383
.387
.428
.250
.262
.368
.410
.. .do....... .286
.297
. 452 .527
.544
.321
.331
.488
.555
...d o ....... .290
.302
.418
.482
.502
.288
.300
.397
.457
__do....... . 158 . 163 .294
. 151
.329
.331
.335
. 147 . 281
__do....... .205
.204
.321
.361
.369
.352
. 200 . 222 .316
.. .do....... .198
.202
.297
.300
.364
.359
.366
.225
.219
.. .do.......
.266
. 289 .295
. 285 .324
Dozen... .300 .317
.454
.474
.497
.335
.484
.320
.443
P o u n d .. .348
.485
.355
.584
. 501
.368
.379
.505
.526
. . .do.......
.331
.341
.330
. 343
.357
Quart. .. .070
.070 .090
. 116 .142
.110
.120 .095
.097
Pound1. .057
.062
.105
.092
.092
.051
.053
.086
.095
Pound.. .031
.03'
.073
.067
.066
.038
.079
.040
.073
.. .do....... .033
. 036 .080
.061
.029
.069
.031
.066
.072
.. .do.......
.113
. 141
. 144
.123
. 101
.. .d o ..... .016
.018
.029
.035
.034
.023
.024
.039
.039
.. .do.......
.046
.052
.047
. 035 . 054
.. .do.......
.188
.149
.160
. 151
.171
.. .do.......
.159
.153
. 171
.157
.174
.. .do.......
.150
.148
.148
.154
.157
.. .do...... .055
090
.094
.096
097
.078
.093
.054
.081
.. .do......
. 273 .268
.266
251
266
.. .do......
.599
.633
.623
.615
.611
New York, N. Y.
Sirloin steak............
Round steak............
Rib roast.................
Chuck roast.............
Plate beef................
Pork chops..........
Bacon, sliced..........
Ham, sliced.............
L ard........................
L am b.......................
Hens........................
Salmon, canned. . . .
Eggs...'....................
Butter......................
Cheese......................
Milk..........................
Bread.......................
Flour........................
Corn m eal................
Rice..........................
Potatoes...................
O nions...-...............
Beans, navy............
Prunes___...............
Raisins, seeded.......
Sugar........................
Coffee.......................
Sept.
15.
1918.
$0.325
.302
293
.226
. 192
.474
.589
.480
.333
.376
.391
.328
.527
.568
.355
.148
.096
.073
.066
. 124
.045
. 048
. 162
. 179
. 166
093
249
.625
Philadelphia, Pa.
. . .d o ___ $0. 264 $0.280 $0.368 S0.44S $0.463 $0.317 $0.324 $0.402 $0.513 $0.534
...d o ....... .257
.278
. 467
.368
.297
.374
.480 .271
.482
.497
.. .do....... . 215 .232 .298
.376
.387
.223 .235
.295
.392
.393
.. .do.......
. 176 .235 .311
. 335
348
.323
. 193 .258
.. .do.......
.161
.211
.286
. 124
.171
. 230
237
. 290
...d o ....... .230
.249
.394
.423
.235
.477
.232
.403
.456
.510
.. .do....... .262
.268
.519
.440
.282
.291
.447
.548
.542
.568
.. .do....... . 212 .220
.574
.326
.300
.532
.328
.470
.545
.572
.. .do....... .163
.162
.294
.325
.335
.159
.150
.303
.330
.336
401
. 170 .295
. 333
. 335 .392
...d o ....... . 153
.331
. 197
. 197
__do....... .213
_433
.226
.316
413
327
443
.407
.241
.229
.. .do.......
.354
283
.332
.345
.278
. 251
Dozen... .442
.416
.592
.376
.609
.657
.397
.531
.550
.603
Pound.. .374
.381
.507
.521
.425
.429
.599
.559
.586
.637
.. .do.......
.338
.335
370
.343
.367
.355
Quart... .090
.124
.090
.140
.140
.080
.080
.110
.120
!l30
Pound l. .060
.062
.099
.099
.099
.048
.048
.089
.095
.095
Pound.. .032
.038
.074
.079
.073
.032
.039
.076
.070
.070
.. .do....... .034
.036
.076
.078
. 07S .027
.029
.066
.070
.069
.. .do.......
. 107 . 134
147
.136
. 112 .144
...d o ....... .025
.022
.033
.038
.038
.035
.041
.022
.020
.043
.. .do.......
.050
.063
.053
. 054
. 054
. 066
. . .do.......
.185
. 174
. 174
. 168
. 182 .171
.. .do.......
.164
.185
.182
.189
. 157
.177
.. .do.......
.145
. 150 . 151
. 138 . 144
. 147
...d o ....... .051
.071
.092
.088
.098
.091
.076
.089
.050
.097
.. .do.......
.256
. 267
. 280 .277
.277
.273
Tea........................ . . . d o ____
.536
.542
.536
.583
.598
.586
1
1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 Baked weight.
[1231]
82
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S OF FO O D F O R 19 S E L E C T E D
C IT IE S F O R S E P T . 15, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1918, A N D AUG. 15, 1918—Continued.
St. Louis, Mo.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Article.
U nit.
Sept. 15—
1913
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Sept. 151913
1914
1917
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
P o u n d .. $0. 277 $0.293 $0.365 $0.467 $0.480 $0.260 SO.275 $0.308 SO. 380 SO. 381
.376
.253
.307
.377
.443
.243
.437
. ..d o ....... .247
.263
.337
.253
.307
.303
.362
.195
.200
.279
.357
. ..d o ....... .222
.230
.214
.257
.260
.161
.315
.320
.242
.. do.......
. 187
.206
.209
.163
.126
.231
.229
.170
.133
. ..d o .......
.382
.406
.437
.214
.444
.490
.210
.403
.. -do.......
.252
.248
.463
.503
.537
.275
.270
.591
.462
.557
. ..d o ....... .304
.311
.502
.529
.275
.439
.544
.579
.273
.325
.453
. . . d o ___ .316
.291
.304
.314
.132
.336
.143
.327
.155
.308
...d o .......
.157
.296
.346
.337
.392
.193
.386
.183
...d o ....... .200
.353
.213
.341
.271
.336
.183
.441
.453
.171
. ..d o ....... .258
.371
.250
.298
.314
.277
.316
. do.......
.320
.297
.511
.459
.466
.575
.273
.531
.281
.509
D ozen. . .348
.326
.365
.509
.609
.538
.610
.368
.540
.517
P o u n d .. .393
.388
.365
.358
.340
.371
.358
.. .do.......
.338
.110
.140
. 140
.088
.130
.140
.090
.125
Q u a rt... .080
.090
. 055
.106
. 100
.100
.057
.097
. 104
.098
.054
Pound L . 055
.065
.065
.066
.029
.036
. 075
.067
.068
.039
P o u n d .. .032
.065
.061
.061
.075
.026
. 025
.071
.032
.079
. ..d o .......
.028
.134
.100
.139
.141
. do.......
. 106
.140
.034
.036
.019
.028
.039
.040
.020
.030
.017
Potatoes..................... . ..d o ....... .021
.043
.051
.048
.055
.059
. do.......
.050
Onions
.191
.169
.160
.172
.170
do
.184
.169
.176
.177
.189
.162
d o ___
.179
.170
. 164
.163
.148
.147
.147
do ..
Raisins seeded
.093
.094
.090
. 055
.077
.094
.098
.099
.083
Sugar ..................... ...d o ....... .058
.280
.277
.274
.296
.298
.303
.. do.......
Coffee
.617
.687
.752
.758
.680
.693
. ..d o .......
Tea
Sirloin steak .............
Round steak......... .
Rib roast .................
Chunk roast <■ ___
Plato hoof
.........
Pork chops...............
ft anon, sliced............
Ham, sliced..............
Lard ......................
Lamb .....................
H ens.........................ftalrncn canned
F e e s............................
B u tte r........................
Cheese
M ilk............................
B re ad .........................
F lour..........................
Corn m e a l.................
San Francisco, Cal.
Sirloin steak .............
R ound steak.............
R ib ro a st...................
Chuck roast
Pork chops...............
Bacon, sliced............
H am , sliced...............
L a r d ..........................
Lam b .......................
Hens ........................
Salmon canned
E g g s ...’. .....................
B u tte r........................
Cheese
_____
M ilk............................
B re ad .......................
Corn m eal.................
Rice
Potatoes.....................
Onions
"Beans, navy
Primes
Raisins, seeded
Sugar..........................
Coffee
Tea
T__ r______
Seattle, W ash.
. ..d o ....... $0.213 $0.207 $0.230 $0.316 $0.326 $0.240 $0.230 $0.264 SO. 362 $0.366
.206
.343
.207
.250
.351
.225
.320
.310
.197
.200
...d o .......
.313
.305
.193
.188
.218
.300
.301
.226
.211
.217
...d o .......
.146
.254
.234
.178
.254
.155
.159
.228
. . . d o ___
.150
.211
.120
.207
.210
.217
.154
.150
.445
.442
.243
.246
.401
.482
.335
.262
.430
...d o ....... .237
.325
.494
.350
.581
.595
.583
.587
.470
.350
.344
...d o .......
.519
.410
.503
.543
.300
.320
.538
.456
.350
.330
...d o .......
.285
.336
.160
.339
.341
.329
.176
. 177
.290
. ..d o .......
.187
.269
.357
.339
.193
.181
.360
.338
.183
.274
.165
. ..d o .......
.262
.394
.405
.431
.233
.220
.382
.245
.291
.242
. ..d o .......
.269
.299
.245
.273
.278
.307
do
.433
.599
.573
.671
.528
.438
.698
.538
.464
.458
D ozen..
.530
.592
.632
.400
.401
.627
.586
.379
.530
.429
Pound.
.366
.308
.333
.316
.338
.348
.d o.......
.140
.086 | .087
.120
.145
.121
.140
.121
.100
Q u a rt... .100
.104
.052
.060
.108
.104
.100
.100
.060
.093
Pound 1 .059
.029
.065
.065
.033
. 066
.069
.068
.071
.039
.034
.032 ! . 034
.075
.074
.076
.072
.073
.036
.071
.035
...d o __
.104
.141
.144
.102
.137
.136
.. do.......
.024
.014
.016
.043
.037
.032
.033
.035
.019
. ..d o .......
.017
.031
.041
.043
.032
.030
.026
do
!
.191
.171
.171
.151
.153
. do
.180
i
.161
.149
.147
.157
.151
do
.146
1
.145
.144
.149
.136
do
.143
.138
.095
.095
.092
.066
.081
.098
.089
.072
.089
. ..d o __
.056
.313
.316
.319
.304
.314
.308
. do
I
.579
.590
.533
.544
.548
do
.540
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 B ated weight.
[1232]
83
M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D F O R 19 S E L E C T E D
C IT IE S F O R S E P T . 15, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1918, AND AUG. 15, 1918—Concluded.
Washington, D. C.
Sept. 15—
Unit.
Article.
Sirloin steak..................................................
T?oun fj steak ......... ......................................
"Pifa rnast
....... .....................................
Chuck roast
- . ___________
______. . . . . . .
Plate faeef
Pork chops
, ......... ...... . _....... ..............
Bacon sliced
.........................................
TTam sliced ...............................................
Lard
...............................................
T-amfa
.........................................
Hens
.....................................................
Salmon canoed
- .................
Eggs .............................................................
B utter...........................................................
Cheese
.........................................
Milk ...........................................................
Bread .........................................................
Flour.............................................................
Corn meal......................................................
p joe
.....................................
Potatoes ITT.................................................
Onions
....................................
..............................
Beans navy
Prunes
...................................
p aisin.s seeded
..... ................ .........
Sugar..........................-.................................
Coffee
- ______________ ____
Tea.................................................................
Pound.
. . .d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. . . do. . .
. ..do__
. ..d o ...,
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
. ..d o ...
Dozen.
Pound.
. ..d o ...
Quart..
Pound1
Pound.
. ..d o ...
.. .do__
. ..d o ...
. . .d o ...
. ..d o ...
.. .do__
.. .do__
. ..d o ...
. . .do__
. ..d o ...
Aug. 15, Sept. 15,
1918.
1918
1913
1914
1917
$0.274
.241
.213
.241
.285
.300
.153
.194
.225
$0.293
.260
.217
.184
.140
.249
.288
.310
.148
.213
.219
.345
.387
.361
.399
.083
.057
.038
.026
.080
.057
.042
.029
.020
.018
.053
.075
$0.364
.348
.281
.238
.182
.431
.462
.433
.303
.347
.310
.248
.545
.523
.346
.110
.102
.077
.064
.112
.028
.066
.193
.167
.148
.092
.284
.607
$0.494
.470
.396
.351
.252
.480
.526
.521
.340
.443
.445
.301
.537
.560
.351
.140
.103
.069
.060
.126
.042
.058
.174
.175
.162
.089
.292
.713
$0.514
.498
.403
.353
.282
.537
.561
.542
.345
.440
.435
.308
.590
.603
.369
.147
.103
.069
.059
.128
.039
.056
.168
.178
.160
.092
.287
.730
i B aked weight.
A V ER A G E R E T A IL PR IC E S O F T H E P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D FO R AUG. 15, 1918,
AND S E P T . 15, 1918, FO R 31 C ITIES.
[The prices shown below are com puted from reports sent m onthly to th e bureau by retail dealers.
some dealers occasionally fail to report, th e num ber of quotations varies from m onth to m onth.]
Bridgeport,
Conn.
|
Article.
Sirloin steak.............
Round steak............
Rib roast...................
Chuck roast..............
Plate beef..................
Pork chops...............
Bacon, sliced............
Ham, sliced..............
Lamb.........................
H ens..........................
Salmon, canned___
Eggs........ .................
Butter.......................
Cheese.......................
Milk .........................
Bread.........................
F u u r .........................
Corn m eal.................
Potatoes....................
Onions.......................
Beans, n av y .............
Prunes.......................
Raisins, seeded........
Coiiee.........................
l e a ..........................
Unit.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Butte, Mont.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Charleston,
S. C.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
As
Columbus,
Ohio.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
P o u n d .. $0. 529 $0.535 $0.368 $0.369 $0.373 $0.377 $0.347 $0.353 $0.399 $0.403
.382
.376
.338
.347
.386
.385
.340
.338
.513
.521
. ..d o ___
.321
.286
.309
.285
.300
.318
.319
.404
.306
.404
. ..d o ___
.288
.240
.286
.268
.245
.352
.256
.251
.265
.. .d o .. . .
.347
.238
.212
.208
.236
.210
.220
.186
.224
.181
.239
. ..d o ___
.438
.416
.465
.393
.452
.461
.407
.464
.407
. . . d o . . . . .431
. 554
.509
.531
.592
.529
.563
.565
.605
.635
. ..d o .. . .
.589
. 525
.502
.526
.480
.507
.509
.592
.555
.565
.545
. ..d o .. . .
. 334
.332
.321
.334
.311
.332
.335
.335
. . . d o . . . . .326
.331
.358
.360
.326
.381
.326
.373
.358
.359
. ..d o ___
.383
.389
.342
.340
.386
.383
.430
.390
.457
.432
.388
.431
. ..d o ___
.308
.315
.300
.279
.350
.292
.275
.344
.358
.357
.. .do___
. 476
.442
.435
.523
.533
.513
.694
.754
.706
.745
Dozen. .
.610
.534
.518
.596
.546
.575
.604
.579
Pound. . .517
.553
.349
.335
.376
.359
.357
.354
.338
.344
.350
.359
. ..d o ___
.130
.130
.130
.130
.185
.190
.140
.150
.150
Quart. . . .140
.097
.096
.097
.100
.095
.100
.100
.100
.125
Pound1. .100
.072
.069
.067
.071
.067
.070
.069
.071
.069
Pound.. .069
. 065
.060
.061
.065
.062
.062
.084
.082
.086
. ..d o ___
.083
. 150
.140
.143
.137
.117
.112
.138
.138
.147
.143
. ..d o ___
.043
.042
.030
.035
.048
.042
.040
.038
.027
.043
. ..d o ___
.055
.058
.044
.060
.041
.048
.061
.072
.049
.060
. ..d o ___
. 163
.167
.151
.156
.197
.178
.177
.193
. .. d o ----- .176
.175
.178
.172
.162
.181
.155
.170
.177
.175
.183
.169
. ..d o ___
. 151
.149
.159
.157
.159
.152
.160
.155
.159
. ..d o ___
.155
.
095
.095
.094
.093
.091
.100
.115
.089
.097
. . . do . . . - .094
.287
.279
.266
.269
.281
.429
.281
.425
.316
.317
. .. d o ___
.838
.814
.650
.673
.654
.792
.640
.779
.675
. . . d o . . . . .653
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
i
Baked w e i g h t .
[1233]
84
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
A V ERAGE R ETA IL PRICES OF THE PRIN C IPA L ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR AUG. 15, 1918,
AN D SEPT. 15, 1918, FOR 31 CITIES—Continued.
Dallas,
Tex.
A rticle.
Sirloin steak.............
R ound s te a k ............
R ib ro a st...................
Chuck ro a st..............
P lata beef
___
Pork chops...............
B acon, sliced............
H am , sliced..............
L a rd ...........................
L am b .......................
H e n s..........................
Salm on, c a n n e d ___
Eggs...........................
B utter........................
Cheese........................
M ilk............................
B re ad .........................
F lour..........................
Corn m e a l.................
R ice............................
Potatoes.....................
O nions.......................
Beans, n a v y .............
P ru n e s .......................
Raisins, seeded........
Sugar..........................
Coffee.........................
T e a .............................
F a ll River,
Mass.
Houston.
Tex.
Indianapolis, Jacksonville,
Ind.
Fla.
U n it.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
P o u n d .. 80.376 80.387 $0.589 80.594 $0.347 80.347 80.386 80.383 $0.409
.371
.511
.375 -.390
.349
.376
. . . d o . . . . .365
.510
.347
.388
.289
.283
.282
325
. . . d o . . . . .323
.326
.286
.384
.214
. . .d o ----- .285
.292
.330
.249
.271
.259
.276
.326
.215
.. d o ___ .235
.214
.217
.219
.208
.237
.464
.414
.405
.474
.378
.422
.394
.. .d o ___
.396
.438
.551
.523
.535
.513
.565
.553
. . . d o . . . . .583
.603
.496
.502
.504
.521
.532
.497
.480
.483
. . . d o . . . . .505
.487
.324
.314
.314
.332
.333
.320
.341
.319
. . . d o . . . . .338
.375
.399
.360
.373
.360
.378
.. .d o ___ .420
.432
.355
.421
.330
.323
.350
.326
. . . d o . - . . .317
.302
.251
.255
.306
.288
.294
.279
.278
. . . d o . . . - .287
.512
D ozen... .445
.762
.483
.439
.503
.544
.494
.667
.522
.549
.578
P o u n d .. .505
.517
.610
.557
.543
.518
.359
.341
.345
.352
.339
.370
.350
.330
. . . d o ___ .347
.162
.153
.150
.169
.110
.120
.172
.150
Q u a rt... .170
.090
.090
.100
.100
.100
.100
.100
Pound 1. .100
.100
.072
.072
.072
.070
.065
.064
.071
P o u n d .. .066
.069
.064
.064
.063
.063
.065
.083
.084
.063
. . . d o ___ .066
.132
.125
.123
.124
.125
.183
.140
.133
.125
. . . d o ___
.035
.045
.035
.048
.039
.043
.049
.038
.047
...d o ....
.052
.053
.052
.051
.065
.060
.066
.057
. . . d o . . . . .056
.179
.175
.177
.171
.169
.171
.195
.158
.176
...d o ....
.175
.154
.172
.175
.160
.178
.169
.171
.176
.172
.154
.158
.160
.160
.169
.171
.153
.170
. . .d o ___
.099
.094
.094
.096
.095
.098
.096
.096
.092
.332
.321
.316
.278
.276
.291
.291
.337
. . . d o . . . . .330
.575
.583
.615
.606
773
.778
.798
.796
.737
. . .d o ___
K ansas City,
Mo.
L ittle Rock,
Ark.
Louisville,
Ky.
M anchester,
N. H.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1234]
80.410
.386
321
.271
. 208
. 465
.575
.508
.333
. 385
.403
.287
. 556
.574
.359
.153
.100
.071
.063
.136
.047
.064
.192
. 189
.173
.093
.323
.729
Memphis,
Tenn.
Sirloin steak............. . . .d o ___ $0. 375 $0.380 $0. 407 80. 414 $0.377 80.375 $0.555 80. 566 80. 402
.359
.515
.365
.383
.386
.360
.516
.377
R ound ste a k ............ . . . d o . . . . .366
.352
.371
.362
.333
.307
.308
.279
.317
R ib ro a st................... . - .d o ----- .284
.325
.275
.269
.326
.256
.259
.277
.267
.288
Chuck ro a st..............
.234
.230
.253
.213
.210
.237
.227
.442
.428
.401
.435
.377
.471
.488
.398
P ork chops............... . . .d o ___ .384
.541
.505
.559
.609
.583
.531
.578
.579
.547
B acon, sliced........... . . .d o ___
.531
.496
.533
.495
.538
.478
.473
.516
H am , sliced.............. . . . d o ----- .517
.349
.324
.332
.325
.336
.334
.336
.339
L a rd ........................... . . . d o . . . . .349
.300
.397
.367
.388
.380
.391
.398
.403
L a m b ......................... . . .d o ----- .300
.313
.442
.326
.353
.353
.366
.371
.435
.318
H en s.......................... . . . d o ___
.302
.272
.313
.314
.271
.301
.342
Salm on, c an n e d . . . . . . . d o . . . . .310
.300
.445
.543
.564
.504
E ggs........................... D ozen... . 457
.487
.623
.689
.458
.602
.543
.539
.622
.562
B u tte r........................ P o u n d .. .521
.598
.600
.533
.370
.380
.362
.342
.363
.379
.340
.357
.337
Cheese........................ . . . d o ___
.150
.143
.150
. 150
.128
.140
.140
.150
M ilk............................ Q u a rt... .143
. 100
.100
.100
.093
.100
.100
.093
.099
B re ad ......................... Pound i. .100
.065
.065
.070
.070
.067
.071
.070
F lo u r......................... P o u n d .. .067
.067
.077
.068
.066
.066
.060
.060
.078
.060
Corn m eal................. . . .d o ----- .067
.134
.147
.137
.137
.139
. 126
. 127
.129
R ice............................ . . . d o . . . . .140
.035
.032
.031
.046
.044
.038
.034
.038
Potatoes..................... .. .d o ___
.040
.043
.055
.056
.059
.059
.046
.070
.049
.047
O nions.......................
.173
.172
.182
.185
.184
.175
. 175
.175
Beans, n a v y .............
.179
d o ___
.166
.165
.185
.186
.173
.175
P ru n e s ___"............... . . . d o . . . . .171
.188
.170
. 165
.155
.165
.154
.150
.157
.158
.163
.158
Raisins, seeded........
.094
.094
.095
.096
. 103
.090
Sugar.......................... . . . d o ___
.099
.100
.095
.312
.272
.335
.329
.270
.300
.287
.289
.336
Coffee......................... . . . d o ___
.723
.852
.762
.594
.784
.714
.858
.739
.596
Tea............................. . . .d o ----1 Baked weight.
Sept.
15,
1918.
80.402
.378
.317
.285
. 245
.449
.583
.521
.335
.378
. 336
.359
.507
.593
.363
.160
.099
.067
.061
.134
.042
.048
. 176
.184
. 161
.093
.303
.787
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
85
AVER A G E R E TA IL PRICES OF THE PR IN C IPA L ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR AUG. 15 1918,
A N D SE PT . 15,1918, FOR 31 CITIES—Continued.
'
'’
Minneapolis,
Minn.
Mobile, Ala.
N ewark, N . J.
New H aven,
Conn.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Sept.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
Aug.
15,
1918.
$0,325
.308
.265
.235
. 185
.406
.541
.500
.333
.318
.335
.369
.474
.545
.329
.110
.088
.063
.060
.138
.025
.038
.155
.166
.150
.098
.311
.517
$0.346
.339
.311
.266
.239
.400
.544
.477
.322
. 346
.400
.274
.557
.540
.343
.150
.105
.071
.068
.130
.043
.061
.175
.184
.193
.090
.274
.604
$0,347
.347
.320
.283
.244
.471
. 575
.504
.318
.354
.410
.265
.593
.576
.362
.173
.097
.070
.068
.133
.047
.060
.179
.195
.184
.092
.282
.624
$0.476
.484
.384
.342
.249
.438
. 504
2.381
.335
.393
. 420
.337
.642
.‘547
.358
.140
.098
.073
.084
.141
.038
.064
.178
.178
.151
.090
.299
.581
U nit.
Article.
Sirloin steak...........
Round steak..........
Rib roast.................
Chuck roast............
Plate b e e f...............
Pork chops.............
Bacon, sliced..........
Ham, sliced............
Lard.........................
Lam b.......................
H ens.........................
Salmon, canned. . .
E ggs.........................
B utter......................
Cheese......................
Milk..........................
Bread.......................
Flour........................
Corn m eal...............
Rice..........................
Potatoes..................
Onions.....................
Beans, navy...........
Prunes.....................
Raisins, seeded___
Su gar.„...................
Coffee.......................
Tea............................
P o u n d . $0,312
.. .d o ___
.299
. . .d o .. . .
.264
. . .d o .. . .
.228
. . .d o ___
.179
.. .d o ___
.387
.. .d o ___
.523
. .. d o ___
.464
.. .d o ___
.325
.. .d o ___
.311
.. . d o . . . .
.327
.. . d o . . . .
.350
D ozen...
.444
Pound..
.500
. . -do___
.314
Q u a rt...
.110
P o u n d 1.
.088
P o u n d ..
.063
.. .d o ----.059
.. .d o ___
.133
.. -do----.024
. . .d o ___
.042
.. .d o ___
.159
. . .d o ----.162
. . .d o ___
.146
. . .d o .. . .
.098
. . .d o ....
.311
.. .d o ___
.518
Norfolk, Va.
Sirloin steak__
Round steak...........
Rib roast............... .
Chuck roast............
Plate beef.............. .
Pork chops.............
Bacon, sliced..........
Ham, sliced......... .
L ard..................... .
L am b......................
H ens...................... .
Salmon, canned__
Eggs........................
B utter.....................
Cheese......................
Milk.........................
Bread......................
Flour.......................
Corn meal...............
Rice.........................
Potatoes..................
Onions....................
Beans, navy............
Prunes.....................
Raisins, seeded.......
Sugar.......................
Coffee.......................
T ea.................. .
.. .d o ----- $0,501
.. .d o ___
.453
. . .d o ___
.383
. . .d o ----.317
.. -d o ___
.220
.. .d o ----.414
. . .d o ___
.547
.. .d o ___
2.418
. . .d o ___
.343
. . .d o ___
.433
. . .d o ___
.428
. . .do ___
.284
Dozen...
.525
P o u n d ..
.577
. . .d o ___
.353
Q u a rt...
.180
.099
P o u n d 1.
.072
P ound..
. . .d o ___
.064
. . .d o ___
.145
. . .d o ___
.043
. . .d o ___
.065
.. .d o ----.183
. . .d o . . . .
.186
. . .d o ___
.154
. . .d o ----.092
.. .d o ___
.325
. . .d o ___
.783
1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$0,511
.468
.402
.321
.232
.463
.576
.451
.344
.436
.450
.292
.599
.577
.368
. 193
.099
.072
.065
.150
.047
.061
.186
.192
.163
.094
.326
.772
Baked weight.
Omaha, Nebr.
$0.380
.368
.296
.270
.190
.382
.546
.515
.344
.343
.326
.297
.444
.505
.346
.133
.100
.065
.061
.135
.037
.054
.167
.168
.167
.098
.311
.664
$0.367
.364
.270
.253
.199
.393
.537
.510
.342
.383
.332
.299
.441
.495
.375
.104
.064
.061
.145
.037
.050
.163
.177
.171
.097
.072
.066
.137
.030
.056
. 1S2
.173
.157
.096
.270
.650
.313
.676
.100
»Whole.
[1235]
$0.491 '$0,558
.522
.496
.399
.397
.349
.363
. 262
.479
.464
.526
.570
2.409
.559
.343
.336
.389
. 104
.424
. 439
.356
.323
.694
.715
.610
.538
.361
.346
.150
.143
.097
.100
.073
.069
.086
.078
.143
.133
.041
.041
.055
.067
.176
.180
.191
.182
.151
.155
.096
.099
.299
.329
.571
.611
Peoria, 111.
$0.384
.370
-.303
.267
.193
.419
.587
.544
.346
.353
.333
.301
.480
.582
.367
.138
.100
Sept.
15,
1918.
$0.367
.363
.273
.257
.204
.451
.563
.533
.349
.388
.339
.304
.492
.578
.392
.106
.100
.070
.065
.138
.035
.056
.176
.171
.159
.097
.267
.661
Sept.
15,
1918.
$0.572
.526
.404
.362
.488
.589
.599
.339
.421
.441
.336
.761
.568
.355
. 143
.100
.069
.080
. 136
.040
.057
. 176
.185
. 154
.102
.332
.614
Portland, Me.
$0.579
.511
.347
.306
$0.590
.524
.360
.313
.4*3
.521
.335
.405
.447
.286
.654
.558
.351
.128
.483
.553
.527
.341
.385
.444
.290
.709
.596
.352
.140
.068
.072
.125
.040
.066
.179
.161
.146
.091
.311
.633
.068
.072
.129
.033
.050
.178
.172
.148
.093
.322
.636
.500
.100
.100
86
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
AVERAGE R E TA IL PRICES OF THE PR IN C IPA L ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR AUG. 15, 1918,
A N D SE PT . 15, 1918, FO R 31 CITIES—Concluded.
Portland,
Oreg.
Article.
Providence,
R. I.
Richmond,
Va.
Rochester,
N. Y.
U n it.
Aug. 15, Sept.15, Aug. 15, Sept.15, Aug. 15, Sept.15, Aug. 15, Sept.15.
1918.
1918.
1918.
1918.
1918.
1918.
1918.
1918.
P o u n d . $0.326
. . .d o . ..
.319
. ..d o __
.289
.232
. . . do...
. ..d o __
.183
.. .d o __
.429
...d o ...
.569
. ..d o __
.500
.350
.. .d o __
. . .d o . ..
.336
.. .d o ...
.346
.. .d o __
.360
Dozen..
.559
P o und,
.597
.» .d o__
.350
Q u a rt..
.138
Pound1
.110
Pound.
.065
. . .d o ...
.077
.. .d o __
.142
.. .d o ...
.041
. . . d o . ..
.046
. . .d o . ..
.163
.. .d o __
.143
. . .d o . ..
.148
.. .d o __
.095
Coffee................................... .. .d o __
.325
Tea...................................... . ..d o __
.597
Sirloin steak ..........................
R ound ste a k . .....................
R ib ro ast...............................
Chuck ro ast...........................
P late beef...............................
Pork chops............................
Bacon, sliced........................
11am, sliced...........................
L a rd ........................................
L a m b ......................................
B e n s .......................................
Salmon, canned...................
Eggs ......................................
B u tte r.....................................
Cheese.....................................
M ilk.........................................
B re ad ......................................
F lo u r.......................................
Com m eal..............................
R ic e .. . 1................................
Potatoes.................................
O nions....................................
Beans, n a v y ..........................
P ru n es....................................
Raisins, seeded ...................
Sugar.......................................
$0.326
.316
.292
.232
.183
.457
.572
.506
.350
.332
.357
.357
.590
.630
.367
.139
.110
.066
.077
.141
.039
.042
.162
.143
.147
.103
.331
.591
St. Paul,
Minn.
Sirloin steak ..........................
R ound stea k .........................
R ib roast................................
Chuck ro ast...........................
P late b eei ..................... ......
Pork chops ............ ............
Bacon, sliced .......................
Ham, sliced .........................
L ard....................................
Lam b..................................
H e n s ....... ............................
Salmon, canned ..................
Eggs.....................................
B u tte r .......... i . ....................
Cheese ..................................
M ilk ............. ......................
B re ad .............. ...................
F lour.......................................
Corn m eal..............................
R ice.........................................
P otatoes.................................
O nions....................................
Beans, navy........................
P ru n es .................................
Raisins, seeded ...................
Sugar ...................................
Coffee...................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
.. .d o __
. . . d o . ..
. ..d o __
. ..d o __
. . .d o __
. . .d o . ..
.. .d o __
D ozen.,
ro u n d .
.. .d o . ..
Q u a rt. .
Pound1
P o und.
.. .d o __
.. .d o __
.. .d o __
.. .d o __
.. .d o __
.. .d o __
. . .d o . ..
.. .d o __
__do __
...d o ...
$0.365
.342
.296
.252
.189
.401
.525
.488
.331
.335
.324
.301
.452
.493
.325
.107
.085
.067
.064
.136
.021
.044
.175
.176
.147
.100
.312
.562
$0.350
.323
.281
.247
.192
.409
.540
.520
.336
.314
.343
.297
.467
.583
.361
.110
.085
.067
.064
.137
.023
.036
.168
.175
.146
.104
.318
.600
$0.661
.552
.422
.397
$0.660
.557
.430
.395
.488
.518
.581
.341
.399
.443
.296
.658
.539
.341
.150
.100
.069
.071
.126
.040
.066
.177
.179
.148
.095
.339
.609
.514
.531
.604
.343
.415
.444
.294
.683
.567
.343
.150
.100
.069
.073
.133
.038
.051
.177
.182
.149
.101
.339
.625
$0.437
.413
.365
.321
.259
.395
.528
.463
.339
.425
.404
.235
.515
.565
.351
.147
.100
.068
.063
.143
.041
.068
.192
.172
.150
.093
.279
.740
$0.455 $0.408
.391
.455
.321
.354
.322
.310
.231
.265.472
.437
.572
.494
.484
.493
.334
.345
.429
.373
.439
.426
.243
.298
.564
.581
.600
.519
.334
.360
.157
.128
.100
.099
.066
.067
.063
.066
.150
.137
.045
.038
.064
.061
.164
.186
.176
.191
.149
.148
.094
.091
.285
.291
.755
.569
$0.408
.400
.335
.319
.230
.456
.515
.497
.332
.381
.425
.302
.630
.579
.346
.130
.100
.066
.067
.139
.039
.050
.154
.183
.149
.091
.295
.586
Salt Lake City,
Utah.
Scranton, Pa.
Springfield, 111.
$0.342
.325
.284
.264
.198
.458
.550
.483
.352
.330
.350
.328
.515
.549
.339
.112
.103
.060
.075
.135
.024
.045
.171
.150
.145
.098
.346
.624
$0.476
.444
.376
.342
.229
.426
.567
.518
.330
.406
.442
.308
.542
.528
.321
.130
.097
.070
.079
.132
.041
.061
.174
.160
.146
.095
.327
.614
$0.378
.381
.292
.274
.221
.397
.514
.477
.334
.379
.320
.281
.456
.538
.357
.125
.100
.068
.076
.139
.038
.047
.180
.181
.174
.098
.298
.738
1Baked weight.
[1236]
$0.341
.325
.278
.254
.192
.473
.583
.500
.360
.331
.343
.337
.589
1597
.361
.111
.103
.060
.076
.140
.027
.040
.171
.150
.145
.105
.350
.624
$0.485
.443
.375
.336
.232
.467
.579
.541
.337
.409
.453
.307
.581
.546
.333
.130
.095
.071
.082
.135
.038
.054
.175
.163
.151
.100
.322
.618
$0.380
.380
.293
.268
.222
.426
.518
. 4S4
.339
.386
.313
.294
.500
.617
.377
.125
.100
.067
.077
.143
.038
.047
.175
.168
.180
.099
.298
.742
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
87
INDEX NUMBERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES.
1913 TO SEPTEMBER, 1918.
The bureau’s weighted index number of wholesale prices in repre
sentative markets of the United States showed an increase in Septem
ber over the preceding two months, the index being 207 as com
pared with 202 in August and 198 in July. Large increases from
August to September took place in the groups of farm products and
food. In the farm products group the increase was from 229 to
236 and in the food group from 191 to 199. Small increases were
recorded for fuel and lighting, also lumber and building materials,
while cloths and clothing and metals and metal products showed no
'changes. In the group of chemicals and drugs a slight drop occurred,
but house-furnishing goods and articles classed as miscellaneous
showed considerable increases over the August figures.
Among important commodities whose wholesale prices in Septem
ber averaged higher than in August were cotton, barley, oats, hay,
cattle, hogs, butter, cheese, milk, coffee, eggs, fish, bacon, beef, lard,
sugar, tea, and vinegar. Wheat, rye, hides, peanuts, tobacco, flour,
rice, salt, molasses, and oleomargarine were practically unchanged in
price, while flaxseed, corn, hops, sheep, lemons, meal, mutton, pota
toes, cabbage, and onions were cheaper than in August.
In the period from September, 1917, to September, 1918, the index
number of farm products increased from 203 to 236, that of food arti
cles from 178 to 199, and that of cloths and clothing from 193 to 251.
In the same period the index number of fuel and lighting increased
from 155 to 179, that of lumber and building materials from 134 to
158, that of chemicals and drugs from 203 to 206, and that of house
furnishing goods from 165 to 233. In the group of miscellaneous
articles, including such important commodities as cottonseed meal,
jute, lubricating oil, malt, news-print paper, rubber, soap, starch, plug
tobacco, and wood pulp, the increase was from 155 to 195. The
index number of metals and metal products, on the contrary, de
creased from 228 in September, 1917, to 183 in September of the
present year.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1237]
88
M O NTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
INDEX NUMBERS OF W HO LESA LE PRICES, BY GROUPS OF COMMODITIES. 1913 TO
SEPTEM BER, 1918.
[1913=100.]
Year and month.
1913.
Average for year___
January.....................
April.........................
Ju ly ..........................
October.....................
1914.
Average for year___
January....................
April.........................
Ju ly ..........................
August......................
September................
October....................
November................
December.................
1915
Average for year__
January....................
February..................
March........................
April.........................
May..........................
June..........................
July..........................
August......................
September................
October....................
November................
December.................
1916.
Average for year. . .
January....................
February..................
March.......................
April.........................
May.......................
Ju n e....................
July...........................
August......................
September............
October..............
November...............
December.................
1917.
Average for year. . .
January....................
February..................
March....................
April...................
May..................
Ju n e...................
July...........................
August.................
September................
October..............
N ovember...........
December............
1918.
January....................
Je b ru a rv .............
March.................
April......................
May...........................
Ju n e................
Ju ly ..........................
August......................
September1..............
Lum
ber
Chem HouseAll
fur- Miscel com
and
nishlane modi
build icals
and
ing
ous.
ing
ties.
mate drugs. goods.
rials.
Farm
prod
ucts.
Food,
etc.
Cloths
and
cloth
ing.
Fuel
and
light
ing.
Metals
and
metal
prod
ucts.
100
97
97
101
103
100
99
96
101
102
100
100
100
100
100
100
99
99
100
100
100
107
102
98
99
100
100
101
101
98
100
101
100
99
100
100
10Ö
100
100
100
100
100
99
102
100
100
99
98
101
101
103
101
103
104
109
108
103
101
99
103
102
95
103
112
116
107
106
105
98
99
100
100
100
99
98
97
97
92
99
98
90
89
87
87
87
87
87
92
91
85
85
86
83
81
83
97
98
99
97
97
96
96
95
94
103
101
101
101
100
106
109
108
107
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
97
98
99
97
97
98
95
95
96
99
100
98
99
102
103
99
98
97
105
102
105
105
107
109
105
108
108
103
105
102
103
104
106
108
104
105
105
102
104
103
100
104
108
111
100
96
97
97
98
98
98
99
99
100
103
105
107
87
86
86
86
84
83
83
84
85
88
90
93
96
97
83
87
89
91
96
100
102
100
100
100
104
114
94
94
95
94
94
94
93
94
93
93
93
95
97
113
106
104
103
102
102
104
107
109
114
121
141
146
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
101
98
98
97
97
97
96
96
96
96
96
99
100
103
100
98
100
99
99
100
99
101
100
98
101
102
105
122
108
109
111
114
116
116
118
126
131
136
145
141
126
114
114
115
117
119
119
121
128
134
140
150
146
127
110
114
117
119
122
123
126
128
131
137
146
155
115
102
102
104
105
104
105
105
107
110
128
150
163
148
126
132
141
147
151
149
145
145
148
151
160
185
101
99
100
101
102
102
101
98
100
100
101
103
105
143
140
144
147
150
153
150
143
132
132
135
142
143
110
105
105
105
109
109
109
111
111
111
114
115
115
121
107
106
109
111
114
121
122
123
126
132
135
136
123
110
111
114
116
118
118
119
123
127
133
143
146
188
147
150
162
180
196
196
198
204
203
207
211
204
177
150
160
161
182
191
187
180
180
178
183
184
185
181
161
162
163
169
173
179
187
193
193
194
202
206
169
170
178
181
178
187
193
183
159
155
143
151
153
208
183
190
199
208
217
239
257
249
228
182
173
173
124
106
108
111
114
117
127
132
133
134
134
135
135
185
144
146
151
155
164
165
185
198
203
242
232
230
155
128
129
129
151
151
162
165
165
165
165
175
175
154
138
139
140
145
148
153
151
156
155
164
165
166
175
150
155
160
171
181
184
185
184
182
180
182
- 181
205
207
211
217
212
214
221
229
236
188
186
178
179
178
179
185
191
199
209
213
220
230
234
243
249
251
251
169
171
171
170
172
171
178
178
179
173
175
175
176
177
177
183
183
183
136
137
142
145
147
148
152
156
158
216
217
217
214
709
205
202
207
206
188
' 188
188
188
188
192
192
227
233
178
181
184
193
197
199
192
191
195
185
187
188
191
191
193
198
202
207
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
i Preliminary.
[1238]
89
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
P R IC E C H A N G E S , W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL , IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S .
A comparison of wholesale and retail price changes for important
food articles is contained in the subjoined table. As some products—
fresh beef, for example—are not sold by the retailer in the same
form in which they leave the wholesaler, strictly comparable prices
are not obtainable. In such cases the articles most nearly com
parable were selected. In most instances, also, the comparison is
not for the same date, the retail prices being those prevailing on
the fifteenth of the month, while the wholesale prices are for a vari
able date, usually several days prior to the fifteenth. Notwithstand
ing these differences, the figures may be considered indicative of
price variations in retail as compared with the wholesale markets.
The differential betweeii the two series of quotations at successive
dates is given to assist in making the comparison. It should not
be assumed, however, that this differential in any case represents
the margin of profit to the retailer, since in addition to possible
differences between the articles shown at wholesale and retail, the
various items of handling cost to both the wholesaler and retailer
are included in the figure.
WHOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES OF IMPORTANT FOOD ARTICLES IN SELECTED
CITIES.
[The initials W=wholesale; R —retail.]
Article and city.
1913:
July.
1917
1918
AvUnit. crage
for
year. 1914 1915 1916 Jan. Apr. July. Oct. Jan. Apr. July. Aug. Sept.
Beef, Chicago:
Steer, loin ends... .W . L b ..
Sirloin steak......... .R . L b ..
Price differential.
Beef, Chicago:
Steer rounds, No. 2.W . L b..
Round steak......... .R . L b..
Price differential.
Beef, Chicago:
Steer ribs. No. 2.. .W . T b . .
Rib roast.............. .R . L b ..
Price differential..
Beef, New York:
No. 2, loins.......... W. L b ..
Sirloin steak........ .R. L b..
Price differential..
Beef, New York:
No. 2, rounds....... .W. L b..
Round steak......... -R. L b..
Price differential..
Beef, New York"
No. 2, ribs............ W. L b..
Rib roast.............. .R . L b ..
Price differential..
Pork, Chicago:
Loins.................... W. L b..
Chops.................... .R . L b ..
Price differential..
Pork, New York1
Coins, western__ W L b..
Chops..................... .R . L b ..
Price differential.. .... .......
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C ts .
C ts .
C ts.
C ts .
C ts .
C ts.
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts.
C ts .
16.8 17.5 16.0 20.5 20.0 20.0 19.0 23.5 20.0 23.0 34.0 34.0
23.2 26. C 25.8 28.1 26.5 29.3 30.2 30.6 30.2 33.7 3?. 7 37.7
6.4 8.5 9.8 7.6 6.5 9.3 11.2 7.1 10.2 10.7 3.7 3.7
C ts .
34.0
3S.6
4.6
13.1 14.5 14.3 14.5 12.0 15.5 17.0 19.0 16.5 18.5 25.0 26.0
20.2 23.3 22.8 24.1 22.7 25.6 26.6 27.3 27.3 30.4 35.0 34.9
7.1 8.8 8.5 9.6 10.7 10.1 9.6 8.3 10.8 11.9 10.0 8.9
26.0
35.9
9.9
15.7 16.5 14.5 17.5 16.0 21.0 20.0 23.0 20.0 22.0 28.0 30.0
19.5 21.2 21.3 22.9 22.3 24.1 24.6 24.7 25.4 28.8 31.8 31.4
3.8 4.7 6.8 5.4 6.3 3.1 4.6 1.7 5.4 6.8 3.8 1.4
32.0
32.6
.6
15.8 18.3 17.0 20.0 18.0 19.0 19.0 27.5 23.5 26.0 28.0 32.0
25.9 27.4 28.2 29.4 28.4 31.8 33.7 35.6 34.4 38.0 43.9 44.8
10.1 9.1 11.2 9.4 10.4 12.8 14.7 8.1 10.9 12.0 15.9 12.8
34.0
46.3
12.3
12.1 13.5 13.5 14.5 13.0 17.0 17.5 19.0 18.0 20.0 28.0 29.0
24.9 27.0 27.1 28.9 27.5 31.5 33.7 36.0 35.2 38.4 46.3 46.7
12.8 13.5 13.6 14.4 14.5 14.5 16.2 17.0 17.2 18.4 18.3 17.7
29.0
48.0
19.0
15.1 16.5 16.0 18.0 16.0 20.0 19.0 27.5 23.5 25.0 28.0 30.5
21.8 22.5 22.7 24.3 23.8 27.0 29.7 29.8 29.4 32.4 37.5 37.6
6.7 6.0 6.7 6.3 7.8 7.0 8.9 2.3 5.9 7.4 9.5 7.1
32.5
38.7
6.2
14.9 16.5 15.0 16.5 16.5 24.0 25.0 33.0 27.0 29.0 29.0 32.0
19.0 20.4 20.1 21.7 22.7 28.5 29.2 35.8 31.6 33.0 35.5 38.8
4.1 3.9 5.1 5.2 6.2 4.5 4.2 2.8 4.6 4.0 6.5 6.8
35.0
42.6
7.6
15.2 16.3 15.3 16.5 17.0 23.5 23.5 30.0 26.5 27.5 30.5 33.5
21.7 23.0 21.7 23.9 24.8 31.9 32.6 39.9 34.8 36.7 40.6 42.3
6.5 6.7 6.4 7.4 7.8 8.4 9.1 9.9 8.3 9 .2 10.1 8.8
39.0
47.7
8.7
[1239]
90
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
WHOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES OP IMPORTANT FOOD ARTICLES IN SELECTED
CITIES—Continued.
Article and city.
Bacon, Chicago:
Short clear sides.. W.
Sliced.................... .R .
Price differential..
Ham, Chicago:
Smoked................ W.
Smoked, sliced__ .R .
Price differential..
Lard, New York:
Prime, contract... .W .
Pure, tu b .............. .R .
Price differential..
Lamb, Chicago:
Dressed round__ W.
Leg of, yearling... .R .
Price differential..
Poultry. New York:
Dressed fowls....... .W .
Dressed hens....... .R .
Price differential..
Butter, Chicago:
Creamery, extra.. -W .
Creamery, extra.. .R .
Price differential.
Butter, New York:
Creamery, extra.. -W.
Creamery, extra.. .R.
Price differential.
Butter, San Francisco
Creamery, e x tra .. -W.
Creamery, extra.. -R.
Price differential.
Cheese, Chicago:
Whole milk.......... .W.
Full cream.......... -R.
Price differential.
Cheese, New York:
Whole milk. State. W.
Full cream........... -,R.
Price differential.
Cheese, San Francisco.
Fancy................... -W.
Full cream.......... -R .
Price differential.
Milk, Chicago:
Fresh..................... -W.
Fresh, bottled__ -R.
Price differential.
Milk, New York:
Fresh.................... -W.
I resh, bottled__ -R.
Price differential.
Milk, San Francisco:
Fresh.................... -W.
Fresh, bottled__ .R .
Price differential.
Eggs, Chicago:
Fresh, firsts.......... -W.
Strictly fresh....... .R .
Price differential.
Eggs, New York:
Fresh, firsts.......... -W.
Strictly fresh....... .R .
Price differential.
F ggs, San Francisco:
Fresh.................... -W.
Strictly fresh....... -R.
Price differential.
Leal, corn, Chicago:
F ine...................... -W.
Fine...................... -R .
Price differential.........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1918
1913:
July.
1917
AvUnit. erage
for
year 1914 1915 1916 Jan. Apr. July. Oct. Jan. Apr. July. Aug. Sept.
C ts.
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
L b .. 12.7 13.9 11.3 15.9 15.8 21.8 24.7 31.8 30.1 27.5 27.4 26.8
L b .. 29.4 31.8 31.5 32.8 31.6 39.5 43.9 47.5 49.8 51.9 54.7 56.4
16.7 17.9 20.2 16.9 15.8 17.7 19.2 15.7 19.7 24.4 27.3 29.6
C ts .
27.9
57.7
29.8
L b.. 16.6 17.5 16.3 19.0 18.8 24.3 24.3 28.3 29.8 30.0 30.1 32.3
L b.. 26.6 33.8 32.8 34.9 33.3 38.2 41.4 43.9 42.8 46.7 49.1 50.5
10.0 16.3
15.9 14.5 13.9 17.1 15.6 13.0 16.7 19.0 18.2
32.8
51.7
18.9
L b .. 11.0 10.4 8.0 13.3 15.9 21.5 20.1 24.6 24.6 26.3 26.2 26.9
L b .. 16.0 15.6 15.1 16.8 21.3 26.3 27.4 31.3 33.0 33.4 32.2 32.5
5.0 5.2 7.1 3.5 5.4 4.8 7.3 6.7 8.4 7.1 6.0 5.6
27.2
33.5
6.3
L b.. 14.9 17.0 19.0 19.0 20. C 22.0 26.0 27.0 24.0 29.0 31.0 29.0
L b.. 19.8 21.9 20.8 23.1 23.2 26.3 28.7 31.4 30.6 35.6 35.7 35.4
4.9 4.9 1.8 4.1 3.2 4.3 2.7 4.4 6.6 6.6 4.7 6.4
29.0
36.2
7.2
L b.. 18.2 18.8 17.5 21.5 22. C 26.5 24.8 28.5 29.8 34.0 36.0 35.0
41.0 40.7
L b.. 21.4 22. C 21.9 25.6 26.1 29.3 28.7 32.3 32.6
5.0 5.7
3.2 3.2 4.4 4.1 4.1 2.8 3.9 3.8 2.8
35.5
41.3
5.8
L b .. 31.0 26.5 26.5 27.5 37.0 44.0 37.5 43.5 49.0 40.0 40.5 43.5
L b .. 36.2 31.2 32.2 33.5 43.8 48.4 43.3 48.7 54.4 46.0 48.0 49.0
5.2 4.7 5.7 6. C 6.8 4.4 5.7 5.2 5.4 6.0 5.5 5.5
50.0
57.5
L b.. 32.3 28.0 27. C 28.5 39.5 45. C 39.5 44.3 51.0 41.5 44.4 45.8
L b.. 38.2 32.8 33.6 34.6 46. t 51.3 45.3 51.5 57.4 49.3 51.4 52.1
5.9 4.8 6.6 6.1 6.5 6.3 5.8 7.2 6.4 7.8 7.0 6.3
52.8
59.9
7.1
L b.. 31.7 24.5 26.5 25.5 35.5 39. C 38.5 46. C 53.0 37.5 50.0 52.0
L b.. 38.8 32. £ 33.8 33.3 42.5 45.2 45.5 54.5 60.2 45.2 56.6 58.6
7.1 8.4 7.3 7.8 7. C 6.2 7. C 8.5 7.2 7.7 6.6 6.6
55.5
63.2
7.7
L b.. 14.2 13.3 14.5 14.5 21.8 22.3 21.6 24.6 23.3 21.5 22.7 24.3
22. £ 24.2 32.1 32.7 33. £ 36.8 37.5 35.3 34.5 35.7
L b ..
8.4 9.7 10.8 10.4 12.3 12.2 14.2 13.8 11.8 11.4
25.6
37.6
12.0
L b.. 15.4 14.4 14.6 15.1 22. C 24.5 23.8 25.5 23. C 22.5 23.9 25.3
L b..
22. £ 22.8 30.1 33.5 32.8 34. t 34.4 33.8 33.2 33.5
8.3 7.7 8.1 9. C 9. C 8.5 11.4 11.3 9.3 8.2
26.8
34.3
7.5
L b.. 15.9 12.5 11.5 13.5 18.0 21.5 20. C 22. C 25.5 26.0 26.0 27.5
L b..
20. C 22.9 24.2 29.7 29.7 31.6 33.5 33.5 32.3 33.8
8.5 9.4 6.2 8.2 9.7 9.6 8. C 7.5 6.3 6.3
31.5
36.6
5.1
Q t..
Q t..
3.8
8.0
4.2
3.6 3.7 3.6 4.5 5.4 4.7 7.4 7.0 5.8 5.3 6.6
6.6
8. C 8. C 8.1 10. C 10. C 10. C 12. £ 11.9 11.9 12.0 12.4 13.0
4.4 4.3 4.5 5.5 4.6 5.3 5.5 4. £ 6.1 6.7 5. S 6.4
Q t ..
Q t..
3.5
9.0
5.5
3.0
9.0
6.0
3.1 5.1 4.£ 5.0 7.2 8.1 5.9 5.4 6.3
9. C 10. ( 10. £ 11.4 13.8 15. C 14.0 12.7 14.0
5. £ 4. £ 6.0 6.4 6.6 6.9 8.1 7.3 7.7
6.8
14.0
7.2
Q t .. 3. £ 3. £ 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 4.3 5. £ 6.6 5.9 5.9 5.9
Q t.. 10. C 10. C 10. C 10. C 10. C 10. C 10. C 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1
6.1 6.1 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 5.7 6.2 5.5 6.2 6.2 6.2
7.4
14.0
6.6
Doz. 22.6 18.8 16.8 21. f 48.5 30.5 31. C 37. C 56.5 31.5 36.5 38.3
Doz. 29.2 26.1 24.8 29.6 52.5 37.6 40.6 46.9 65.1 38. C 45.7 47.8
6.6 7.8 8. C 7.3 4. C 7.1 9.6 9. £ 8.6 6.5 9.2 9.5
41.5
52.1
10.6
Doz. 24. £ 21.5 20. C 24.1 50.5 33. C 35. C 40. C 64.5 33.3 40. C 41.5
Doz. 39.7 35.8 32.6 37.2 66.7 42.4 47.7 62.7 80.8 47.6 57.3 60.9
14.8 13.8 12.6 13.1 16.2 9.4 12.7 22.7 16.3 14.3 17.3 19.4
45.5
65.7
20.2
Doz. 26.8 23. C 22. C 24. C 38. ( 28. C 32. C 43.5 61. C 36.5 44. C 48.5
Doz. 37.3 33.8 31. C 33.8 48.0 37.4 39.2 60.8 71.0 41.9 51.4 57.3
10.5 10.8 9. C 9.8 10. C 9.4 7. £ 17.3 10. C 5.4 7.4 8. f
61.0
67.1
6.1
L b ..
L b ..
3.0
9.0
6.0
1.4 1.6
2. £ 2.8 3. j
1.5 1.2 .....
1. £ 2.4
3.1 4.2
1.2 1.8
[1240]
3.6 4.5 5.2 5.1
5. C 5.8 7.1 7. f
1.4 1.3 1.9 1.9
6. C 5.4
7.2 6.8
1.2 1.4
5.3
6.3
1.5
4.5
6.8
2.3
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
91
WHOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES OF IMPORTANT FOOD ARTICLES IN SELECTED
CITIES—Concluded.
Article and city.
Beans, New York:
Medium, choice... .W .
Navy, white........ - R .
Price differential.
Potatoes, Chicago:
Whit 3 i ................. -W.
White................... . R .
Price differential.
Rice, New Orleans:
Head..... .............. .W .
Head.................... - R .
Price differential.
Sugar, New York:
Granulated.......... -W.
Granulated.......... . R .
Price differential. —
1913:
1917
July.
1918
AvUnit. erage
for
year. 1914 1915 1916 Jan. Apr. July. Oct. Jan. Apr. July. Aug. Sept.
as.
as.
C ts .
as.
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
C ts .
L b ..
L b ..
4.0
4.0
5.8 9.8 10.8 13.0 15.4 13.8 14.1 13.7 11.9 11.6
8* 1 11.3 14. £ 16.2 18.8 18.5 18.5 18.2 17.5 17.4
2.3 1.5 4.1 3.2 3.4 4.7 4.4 4.5 5.6 5.8
L b..
L b ..
1.0
1.5
.5
2.4
2.7
.3
.7
1.2
.5
1.6
2.3
.7
2.9
3.S
1.0
4.7
5.8
1.0
1.5
3.7
1.2
2.9
3.5
.6
2.3
3.2
.9
L b ..
L b..
5.0
5.4
4.9
7.5
2.6
4.6
7.4
2.8
4.8
7.4
2.6
4.9 7.1 7.7 8.8 8.8 9.3
8.8 10.1 10.0 10.6 10.7 11.9
3.9 3.0 2.3 1.8 1.9 2.6
7.6
2.3
4.7
7.6
12.4
4.8
L b ..
L b ..
.........
4.3
4.9
4.2 5.9
4. G 6.3
.4
.4
7.5
7.9
.4
6.6
7.4
.8
8.1
8.7
.6
7.4
8.8
1.4
8.8
9.8
1.0
.6
4.4
5.0
.6
7.4
8.4
1.0
1.9
2.8
.9
8.2
9.7
1.5
2.0
2.8
.8
7.3
9.7
2.4
1.1
1.7
.6
7.3
8.8
1.5
7.4
8.8
1.4
11.1
17.4
6.3
1 Good to choice.
The following table of wholesale and retail prices, expressed as
percentages of the average money price for 1913, enables the reader
to follow more readily the price fluctuations of food products at wholesale
and retail. A few articles appearing in the preceding table are omitted
from the following one, owing to lack of satisfactory data for 1913.
The table shows that for all of the articles included the retail price
in September was relatively lower, as compared with the 1913 base,
than was the wholesale price. This is particularly true of beef, pork,
bacon, lard, milk, and corn meal. The preceding table shows, how
ever, that the margin between wholesale and retail prices for most
of the articles was greater in September of the present year than in
1913.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
n 2 4 ij
92
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
RELATIVE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES OF IMPORTANT FOOD ARTICLES IN
SELECTED CITIES (AVERAGE FOR 1913=100).
[The initials W=wholesale; R=retail.]
Article and city.
Beef, Chicago:
Steer loin ends (hips)... W.
Sirloin steak................... .R .
Beef, Chicago:
Steer rounds, No. 2....... W
Round steak.................. .R .
Beef, Chicago:
Steer ribs, No. 2............ W
Rib roast........................ .R .
Beef, New York:
No. 2 loins, city............ W.
Sirloin steak................... .R .
Beef, New York:
No. 2 rounds, city......... W.
Round steak................. .R .
Beef, New York:
No. 2 ribs, city.............. W
Rib roast........................ .K.
Pork Chicago:
Loins............................. W.
Chops............................. .R .
Pork, New York:
Loins, western.............. W
Chops............................. . E .
Bacon, Chicago:
Short clear sides............ W
Sliced.............................. .R .
Ham, Chicago:
Smoked.......................... W.
Smoked, sliced.............. .R .
Lard, New York:
Prime, contract............ W
Pure, tu b ....................... ,R .
Lamb, Chicago:
Dressed, round.............. W
Leg of, yearling............. . R .
Poultry, New York:
Dressed fowls................ W
Dressed hens.................. . E .
Butter, Chicago:
Creamery, extra............ W.
Creamery, extra............ . R .
Butter, New York:
Creamery, extra............ W.
Creamery, extra............ . E .
Butter, San Francisco:
Creamery, extra............ W
Creamery, extra............ .R .
Milk, Chicago:
Fresh............................. W.
Fresh, bottled, delivered .R.
Milk, New York:
Fresh.............................. W.
Fresh, bottled, delivered . E .
Milk, San Francisco:
Fresh.............................. W
Fresh, bottled................ . E .
Eggs, Chicago:
Fresh, firsts................... W .
Strictly fresh................. -R.
Eggs, New York:
Fresh, firsts................... W
Strictly fresh................. .R.
Eggs, San Francisco:
Fresh.............................. W .
Strictly fresh..................
Meal, corn, Chicago:
Fine................................ w .
Fine................................ It
Potatoes, Chicago:
White, good to choice.. w .
White............................. . R.
Sugar, New York:
Granulated.................... w .
Granulated.................... . E .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1913:
Aver-
1917
July.
1918
for
year. 1914 1915 1916 Jan. Apr. July. Oct. Jan. Apr. July. Aug. Sept.
100
100
104
112
95
111
122 J19
121 114
119
126
113 140
130 132
119 137 202 202
130 145 163 163
202
166
100 111
100 113
109 111
113 119
92 118
112 127
130 145
132 135
126
135
141
151
198
173
198
178
100 105
100 109
92
109
111
117
102
114
134
124
127
126
146
127
127
130
140 178 191
148 163 161
204
167
100
100
116
106
108
109
127
114
114
110
120 120 174
123 130 137
149
133
165
147
177
170
203
173
215
179
100
100
112
108
112
109
120
116
107
no
140 145
127 135
149 165
141 154
231
186
240
188
240
193
100
100
109
103
106 119
104 111
106
109
132
124
126 182 156 166
128 137 135 149
185 202
172 172
215
178
100
100
111
107
101
106
111
114
111
119
161
150
168 221 181
154 188 166
195
174
195 215
187 204
235
224
100
100
107 101
106 100
109
110
112
114
155 155
147 150
197 174
184 160
181
169
201
187
220
195
257
220
100
100
109
108
89
107
125 124
112 107
172
134
194
149
250 237
162 169
217 216 211
177 186 192
220
196
100 105
100 127
98
123
114
131
113
125
146
144
146
156
170 180
165 161
181
176
195
190
198
194
95
98
73
94
121
105
145
133
195
164
183 224 224 239
171 196 206 209
238 245
201 203
247
209
100 114
100 111
128
105
128 134 148 174
117 117 133 145
100 103
100 103
96
102
118
120
121
122
146
137
136
134
85
89
89
93
119
121
88
100
100
157
145
191
173
181
185
181
159
161
155
195 208
180 180
195
179
195
183
157
151
164
152
187
198
192
192
190
195
193
142
134
121 140
119 135
158
150
129
127
137
133
140
135
161
159
122 139
120 134
122 137
119 135
158 128 137 142
150 129 135 136
163
157
100
100
86
100
100
87
84
86
88
91
100
100
77
85
84
87
80 112 123 121
86 110 116 117
145
140
167
155
118
116
158 164
146 151
175
163
142 124
125 125
195
161
184
149
153
149
139 174
150 155
174
163
154
141
180
156
194
156
151 151
121 121
190
140
85
100 95 97
100 100 100
95
101
118
125
100
100
100 100
89
100
146 140
111 121
100
100
100
100
86
86
97 97 97
100 100 100
184
178
203 133 141 161 259
168 107 120 158 204
134 161
120 144
167
153
183
165
105 119 162 228
100 105 163 190
136 164 181
112 138 154
228
180
257 321 371 364
172 200 245 241
429 386 379
248 234 234
321
234
110 150 290
113 247 233
230
213
170 170 172 172
198 180 180 180
205
200
100
100
86
89
80
82
97
94
91
82
83
90 142
89 129
100 114
100 97
iÖ7
100 240
100 180
100
100
98
94
96 215 135
101 180 129
136
107
171
145
137
139
70 160 290 470 440
80 153 260 387 333
137
129
174
161
[1242]
151
121
169
164
74
85
86
169
121
139 162
130 137
83
89
100
100
97 110 151
100 100 121
164 250
161 223
100
100
143 206 231 169
127 153 167 156
153
151
188
178
172
171
190 200
187 187
191
198
C O M P A R IS O N
OF FO O D
C O S T S IN 45 CITIES, S E P T E M B E R , 1917,
O C T O B E R , 1918.
TO
BY ELMA B. CARR.
TREND OF COST OF FOOD IN EACH CITY.
The rapid rise in the prices of commodities during the past few
years has given great importance to the effects of price changes upon
the cost of living. Heretofore accepted rather as of general signifi
cance, retail price quotations are now frankly the concern of every
wage-earning individual. Increase of prices is the main argument in
every wage demand and a determining factor in arbitrary wage in
creases. Speculations are legion as to the percentage of increase in
the cost of living over given periods of time. Press reports are con
fusing, conflicting, and misleading. It is pertinent, therefore, to
inquire candidly as to the exact extent of retail price changes and
their significance in relation to cost of living.
For a number of years the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
has published retail prices of a number of articles of food. These
prices are secured through monthly reports of actual selling prices
on the 15th of each month from firms in various cities. The stores
are selected by agents of the bureau from those patronized by wage
earners. The prices quoted are, therefore, the prices paid by work
ing people. Every effort is made to secure quotations on similar
grades of commodities in all cities. The number of firms is appor
tioned according to the importance of the city. At the present
time, for the larger cities, 25 quotations are secured for each article
of food; for the smaller cities, 15 quotations are secured. The total
number of firms quoting prices on one or more articles of food is
approximately 2,000. Quite naturally firms are not constant, but
when one firm drops out permanently, another firm similar in kind
is selected to replace it. Moreover, as the industrial section of a
city changes, firms are added or dropped to preserve the character
of price quotations. The prices thus secured are a fair indication of
what the worker pays for the articles carried.
The number of commodities for which the bureau publishes prices
has been added to, as has the number of cities from which prices are
quoted. Average prices are now published monthly for 28 articles
of food in 50 cities of the United States. Retail prices of commodities
other than foods have been published at different times. Prices of
eight articles of cotton goods are published twice a year; of coal,
twice a year; and of gas, once a year. It is apparent, however,
that as compared with securing comparable quotations on uni
form grades of foods, there is an almost insurmountable difficulty
87721°—18----- 7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1243]
93
94
M ONTHLY LABOE EEYIEW.
in securing such quotations on article^ such as wearing apparel.
For the purpose of this article, which is to show the price changes
of comparable commodities of domestic consumption, only 22 articles
of food are considered.
It is not uncommon in popular estimates of increased living cost
to add together the percentage increases of various commodities and
compute a simple average. In determining the total cost of food a
single commodity such as tea, of which the average American family
uses but a small amount in relation to the total consumption of food,
might show a high percentage of increase in price without materially
increasing the total amount spent. To avoid this error, it is necessary
to weight each article, that is, give it an importance proportionate to
its share in the food consumption of the family. Thus the price of
each article of food is multiplied by a number representing the
proportion that the food bears to all foods consumed. The weighted
cost thus obtained of all articles of food at a given time forms a
proper basis of comparison with the weighted cost of all articles
of food at any other time.
The weighting or relative importance of each article of food used
by the bureau in determining changes in the cost of all articles of
food combined is based upon a study of the budgets of 2,567 families
of workingmen in different sections of the United States.1 This
investigation resulted in grouping the cities covered into 5 geographi
cal sections, the North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, the North Cen
tral, the South Central, and the Western, according to a similarity of
habits of food consumption. That is, for the families in the cities
of each, section, the consumption of each food bore approximately
the same relation to all foods consumed. Since the investigation
above referred to, other cities have been added in each section. For
convenience of reference, the fifty cities from which price quota
tions are now secured are grouped by geographical sections in the
following table:
T able
North Atlantic.
1. — CITIES
IN EACH GEOGRAPHICAL SECTION.
South Atlantic.
Boston, Mass.
Atlanta, Ga.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Baltimore, Md.
Fall River, Mass.
Charleston, S. C.
Manchester, N. H. Jacksonville, Fla.
Newark, N. J.
Richmond, Va.
New Haven, Conn. Washington, D. C.
New York, N. Y
Norfolk, Va.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Providence, R. I.
Scranton, Pa.
Bridgeport, Conn.
Rochester, N. Y.
Portland, Me.
North Central.
South Central.
Western.
Chicago, 111.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Detroit, Mich.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Kansas City, Mo.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Omaha, Nebr.
St. Louis, Mo.
St. Paul, Minn.
Springfield, 111.
Peoria, 111.
Columbus, Ohio.
Birmingham, Ala.
Dallas, Tex.
Little Rock, Ark.
Louisville, Ky.
Memphis, Tenn.
New Orleans, La.
Houston, Tex.
Mobile, Ala.
Butte, Mont.
Denver, Colo.
Los Angeles, Cal.
Portland, Oreg.
SaltLake City, Utah.
San Francisco! Cal.
Seattle, Wash.
For a description of the method and result of the investigation, and a detailed analysis of the deter
mination and use o the weights given to the several articles of food, see Eighteenth Annual Report o. the
Commissioner of Labor and also Bulletin 156 of U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Appendix A.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1244]
95
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
In the study above mentioned, the relative importance of each
of the 22 articles of food, as indicated by the annual consumption
of the average family, was found to be as follows:
T a b l e 2 — FOOD W EIGHTS—ANNUAL CONSUMPTION P E R FAMILY.
Article.
Sirloin steak.
Round steak
Rib roast__
Chuck roast.
Plate beef...
Pork chops..
Bacon..........
Ham............
Lard............
Hens............
Bread.......... .
Flour.......
Corn meal.
Eggs.........
B utter__
Potatoes..
Sugar.......
Milk..
Cheese.
Rice...
Coffee.
T e a ...
Unit.
Pound..
...d o ---.. .do---.. .do___
...d o ---...d o ---.. .d o ---. . . d o . . ..
.. .do---.. .do__
. ..d o .... /\
...d o .. ..
. . .d o .. . .
Dozen..
P o u n d ..
. . .d o __
.. .do. ...
Q uart...
Pound..
. . .do___
.. .do___
.. .do___
United
States.
North
South
North
Atlantic. Atlantic. Central.
70
70
70
70
70
114
55
55
84
68
2253
3 225
454
227
85
117
882
269
355
16
25
47
11
70
70
70
70
i 70
103
48
48
74
67
2310
3 276
416
208
86
119
828
283
396
16
22
39
13
61
61
61
61
61
85
111
111
120
74
2197
3 175
568
284
91
102
666
240
192
15
49
61
8
73
73
73
73
73
153
44
44
89
71
2 166
3 148
479
239
88
124
1,098
253
348
17
22
58
9
South
Central.
63
63
63
63
63
128
124
124
143
53
2 200
3178
653
327
85
89
798
246
221
19
47
71
5
Western.
70
70
70
70
70
28
38
38
49
54
2255
3227
301
151
40
109
618
267
324
4
10
25
6
1For those cities in which plate is not quoted a weighting of 88 is given to each of the other four cuts
of meat.
2Weightings used with prices for 16 ounces of dough.
s Weightings as used with prices on one pound baked weight. Beginning with August, 1918, prices oc
bread are quoted by the bureau on a pound baked loaf. The average scaling weight for a baked loaf
weighing one pound is 18 ounces, hence in order to obtain a weighting to be used with prices on the
pound baked loaf, the weights which were formerly used with prices for 16 ounces of dough have been
reduced one-ninth.
Not. only do foods vary in consequence in relation to each other
in each section but they have a different significance in different
sections. A change in the price of potatoes in the North Central
section, for example, would affect much more materially the total
food cost than a like percentage change in the same commodity in
othe sections, because of the greater amount consumed.
Table 3 shows for each city the percentage changes as compared
with September, 1917, in the prices of 22 articles of food combined,
for each month during the period September, 1917, to October, 1918.
In arriving at the percentage changes for the different months the
average price of each article of food in each city has been weighted
in accordance with the importance indicated in Table 2 for the par
ticular section in which that city is located. For each particular city
the combined weighted cost thus obtained of all articles of food for the
month of September, 1917 has been used as a base in determining
changes for the months subsequent to September, 1917.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1245]
96
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
T a ble 3 .-T R E N D
OF FOOD COSTS IN 45 CITIES DURING THE MONTHS SEPTEM BER,
ARTICLES OF
1917
City.
September.
October. November. December.
Atlanta, Ga....................................
Baltimore, Md....................................
Birmingham, Ala...........................
Boston, Mass............................................
Bridgeport, Conn.......................................
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
104.98
101.37
ioi.75
100.80
103.22
105.16
101.04
100.74
100.62
101.6C
106.02
103.01
103.16
101.56
101.69
Buffalo, N. Y ...............................
Butte, M ont..................................
Charleston, S. C........................
Chicago. Ill.........................................
Cincinnati, Ohio.................................
100.00
100.00
lOO.OO
ÎOO.OO
ÎOO.OO
103.05
100.85
105.75
101.25
101.04
103.45
101.13
106.30
99.00
99.55
104.29
101.91
104.74
99.99
102.45
Cleveland, Ohio...........................................
Columbus, Ohio........................................
Dallas, Tex...............................
Denver, Colo.....................................
Detroit, Mich.................................
lOO.OO
too. 00
ioo.oo
TOO.00
ÎOO.OO
100.71
100.75
103.37
99.76
99.55
99.23
99.09
102.00
99.27
97.60
100.36
99.93
102.52
100.32
99.96
Fall River; Mass............................
Indianapolis, I n d ...................................
Jacksonville, F la ..............................
Kansas City, Mo.......................
Little Rock, Ark.................................
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
101.07
101.46
104.06
102.41
101.98
101.16
99.67
105.89
101.72
98.77
102.52
99.50
106 41
105 11
100.86
Los Angeles, Cal.............................
Louisville, K y .....................................
Manchester, N. H .........................
Memphis, T en n ......................................
Milwaukee, W is........................
,
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
103.87
107.13
102.11
104.19
100. 76
99.75
103.67
100.28
102.74
97.42
102 29
105.15
100.89
104.39
100.04
Minneapolis, Minn......................
Newark, N. J .............................
New Haven, Conn....................
New Orleans, La...............................
New York, N. Y .........................
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
101.49
104.14
102.97
104.24
103.64
97.12
101.57
100.98
104.20
101.27
100.16
104 32
100 56
104 67
103.89
Omaha, N eb r........................
Philadelphia, P a..........................
Pittsburgh, P a ............ ................
Portland, Oreg..................................
Providence, R. I .................................
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.17
101.57
101.27
100.46
101.90
99.02
101.21
100.10
101. 75
101.16
100 41
103.41
101.81
101.46
Richmond, V a ..............................
Rochester, N. Y .....................
St. Louis, Mo.......................
St. Paul, Minn.......................
Salt Lake City, U tah.........................
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
103.38
103.90
101.89
100.72
98.35
103.55
102.53
99.25
96.44
98.01
105 01
103.03
101 13
98 42
98.28
San Francisco, Cal...................
Scranton, P a..........................
Seattle. W ash.............................
Springfield. Ill....................................
Washington, D. C......................
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
102.18
102.87
101.66
101.77
102.26
102.19
102.87
101.99
98.54
103.37
102.70
104.11
101.52
99.75
105.74
100.00
101.81
101.26
102.54
100.00
United States....................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1246]
100.75
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
97
1917, TO OCTOBER, 1918, INCLUSIVE, AS INDICATED BY THE W EIGHTED COST OP 23
FOOD COMBINED.
1918
January.
Febru
ary.
108.31
107.28
103.69
102.88
104.17
104.97
106.54
101.46
102.85
104.81
104.22
100.78
98.09
96.90
97.52
107.61
102.88
111.19
103.68
104.56
107.32
102.41
111.84
103.79
105.58
102.99
10!.9!
106.35
100.96
103.90
August.
Septem
ber.
112. 79
112.32
106.71
111.04
109.09
116.87
115.25
108.70
112.56
111.30
119.89
123.35
114.18
115.48
114.44
122.39
124.50
117.32
118.14
117.14
106.39
104.56
110.78
105.58
103.16
111.49
108.00
112.68109.06
107.02
113.32
111.63
116.51
110.73
107.82
116.54
110.83
120.25
115.73
114.71
119.20
111.93
126.07
114.68
116.01
100.25
99.58
105.02
107.45
100.12
105.00
103.41
103.80
109.12
103.79
108.52
109.18
107. 64
112.81
109.74
111.00
110.45
110.53
111.95
111.35
115.89
114.95
114.34
116.09
116.14
113.71
116.12
117.44
116.78
114.34
100.28
96.64
104.14
101.34
99.72
105.54
97.31
105.86
103.56
103.88
109.40
103.02
107.28
107.56
106.36
112.26
106.07
108.89
109.55
108.08
114.13
107.72
112.74
111.69
111.63
117.64
113.63
116.41
116.64
114.48
119.95
111.60
121.81
119.17
116.05
105.14
10!. 01
99.29
.102.96
97.30
102.84
102.87
99.63
103.64
96.40
106.32
104.73
103.72
106.39
99.27
107.22
105.72
108.62
107.51
102.01
111.53
108.07
112.16
110.83
107.38
115.38
108.76
113.43
112.78
108.60
119.49
117.92
115.63
119.12
113.81
123.32
119.92
119.61
121.24
113.84
103.87
106.55
105.20
105.39
105. 74
98.47
100.39
98.68
101.46
100.25
98.86
101.91
99.98
100.48
100.69
101.48
104.37
103.25
101.81
102.07
105.06
109.56
110.41
103.06
106.78
109.27
111.19
113.10
106.51
108.77
108.17
112.03
114.23
109.31
111.00
111.97
118.63
117.00
114.91
116.47
115.83
119.44
119.36
120.73
118.89
102.71
106.92
106.18
102.79
103.94
101.47
106.84
107.47
104.72
103.53
96.88
99.79
100.62
102.50
99.61
98.34
100.45
100.29
102.55
100.43
103.08
104.83
102.75
110.36
103.23
106.35
103.43
107.42
109.93
107.38
110.91
112.31
108.90
113.58
111.11
110.68
112.66
110.28
117.71
113.14
115.46
118.42
116.00
119.95
115.11
117.00
119.30
116.89
122.36
118.73
106.10
105.46
104.52
103.07
99.01
108.83
105.34
103.32
10 ¡.98
100.34
102.91
99.24
98.04
98.37
96.77
103.91
98.51
97.71
97.92
97.27
106.94
101.98
99.98
101.36
101.71
110.64
105.55
105.00
104.88
101.92
112.91
110.24
106.60
108.24
107.28
114.46
111.59
110.64
108.49
106.70
120.63
115.22
115.18
112.37
109.98
122.20
116.81
116.4S
114.71
113.35
106.82
106.95
104.41
102.53
109.23
105.57
107.12
105.92
103.18
107.36
104.61
101.63
103.88
95.76
102.54
102.14
101.29
102.68
97.19
102.14
107.87
107.94
110.92
100.37
107.34
109.31
111.62
111.04
103.80
110.75
111.81
116.55
115.82
106.22
112.99
114.72
118.83
120.66
107.52
114.83
120.61
121.28
123.01
110.98
119.38
124.97
123.71
125.58
110.60
124.99
104.82
105.32
99.98
100.13
103.40
105.88
109.51
111.84
116.35
118.37
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
105.13
101.40
99.91
97.89
97.91
107.51
104.23
100.97
100.58
100.25
110.47
109.64
103.29
106.30
106.42
102.25
100.58
107.44
97.70
100.07
100.79
101.07
107.67
98.26
99.68
103.83
103.60
111.94
101.46
102.38
103.92
103.49
104.18
102.17
104.83
97.19
94.72
103.17
98.51
98.62
97.87
96.34
102.06
101.31
97.05
103.77
106.03
109.46
104.39
101.06
103.96
102.12
108.75
105.64
102.76
100.16
95.48
104.98
101.04
99.74
106.04
109.44
10!.47
108.71
102.28
104.95
106.99
104.14
105.77
103.75
102.43
108.14
103.40
105.91
107.32
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1247J
Octo er.
98
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
FOOD COSTS IN 45 CITIES COMPARED.
In previous retail price publications of the bureau no attempt has
been made to show a comparison as between cities or sections. Per
centage increases of all articles of food combined have been shown
for the United States as a whole, for sections, and lately for cities,
but while the trend could thus be clearly seen, it was impossible to
determine how sections or cities stood in relation to each other.
The reason for not attempting such a comparison was due in large
measure to incomplete quotations from individual cities, to changing
firms and the possibility of changing grades of commodities, to the
difficulty of securing quotations on identical commodities in different
cities, as well as to the different weightings or relative importance of
foods in different sections. Moreover, the weightings determined
by an investigation of the expenditures o° 2,567 workingmen’s
families were not worked out on the basis of a standard family.
Thus, in the North Atlantic section the average family was made up
of 5.25 persons; in the South Atlantic of 5.30; in the North Central
of 5.46; in the South Central of 5.65; in the Western of 4.69, whereas
the average for the United States was 5.31. Obviously consumption
weights based upon families of different sizes would impair the
accuracy of comparisons as between different sections or cities in
different sections.
In the past there has been little demand for the comparison indi
cated above. With the increase, however, in governmental control
and regulation of industry as a war measure, and particularly in the
attempt to standardize wages, the need has become imperative for a
comparison o’’ prices in relation to the cost of living in different indus
trial centers. Two issues are paramount: First, do we have a
standard price for the articles the worker must buy so that with the
standard wage he would be relatively as well off in one city as in
another, and, second, if such a standard price doe; not prevail, will
steps be taken to establish it concurrently with the standard wage ?
The argument for a standard wage does not arise solely as a war
issue. In the first concerted movement of the railway brotherhoods,
it was stated by their spokesman that it cost practically the same to
live whether it be in the East, West, North, or South. Prior to this
the men in each of the great railroad sections had in turn asked for
wage differentials on the basis of differential costs of living. Even
now employees in different industrial centers set up the claim of
excessive living expenses in their particular localities. On the other
hand, the introduction of the standard wage, though perhaps a war
measure, is not in a purely experimental stage. The Wage Adjust
ment Board of the Shipping Board has established a uniform scale
for the shipyards on the Pacific coast and a slightly lower uniform
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1248]
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
99
scale for those on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The National Adjust
ment Commission of the Shipping Board has recently established a
uniform rate for longshoremen on the Atlantic coast. The National
War Labor Board has applied the principle of the standard wage
in a number of industries. Each of these adjustments has raised
the question of the relative cost of living in different sections.
The following table compares the cost of the principal articles of
food in 45 cities with that in the United States as a whole, for each
of the 12 months, September, 1917, to August, 1918, inclusive,
and for the 12 months’ period. Briefly, the method used is as fol
lows: The average retail price for the United States of each of 22
articles of food has been weighted according to the average annual
consumption in the United States as determined by the investigation
of the expenditures of 2,567 workingmen’s families. The sum of the
weighted costs thus obtained for each month has been used as a base
with which to compare figures similarly obtained in each of the cities,
using for each city the weightings established for the geographical
section in which the city is located and reducing the amounts to
an average family of 5.31 persons. One illustration will suffice. The
cost in September, 1917, of a year’s supply of the 22 articles of food
based on the average retail price in September for the United States
as a whole and weighted according to the average yearly consump
tion in the United States, was $525.78. The cost of a year’s supply
of the 22 articles of food in Portland, Oreg., based on the average
retail prices in Portland for September, and on the annual weightings
for the Western section, was $370.76; but the average family upon
which the weightings of the Western section was based was 4.69 per
sons. On the basis of a family of 5.31 persons, the amount would be
$419.77. This amount divided by $525.78, the cost for the United
States, gives 79.84, the percentage relation of Portland to the average
for the United States. Similar computations for other cities and for
other months have been made. In computing the average for the 12
months’ period, prices for the 12 months were first averaged and
weighted costs then computed as above.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1249]
100
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
T a ble 4.—C O M P A R ISO N O P
T H E COST OP F O O D IN 45 C IT IE S
1917
C ity.
September.
October.
N ovem ber. Decem ber.
U n ite d S t a t e s ..............................................................................
1 0 0 .0 0
1 0 0 .0 0
1 0 0 .0 0
1 0 0 .0 0
A tlan ta. G a ................................................................................
B altim ore. M d..........................................................................
B irm ingham , A la ........................................................................
B oston, M ass.........................................................................
Bridgeport, Conn.........................................................................
102.51
103.45
107. 85
112 52
109.22
105.71
103.00
107.78
111. 40
110.74
106.46
103. 23
107.30
111.81
109.59
106.00
103.93
108.50
111.44
108.32
B uffalo N . Y ........................................................
B u tte, Mont...............................................................................
Charleston, S. C ....................................................................
Chicago, 111................................................................. . . . . .
C incinnati, Ohio...........................................................................
97.49
89.97
100.59
95.46
96.43
98.68
89.13
104.49
94.93
95.71
99.60
SQ
105.60
93.33
94.82
Q
Q Ifi
yy.
io
QQ *±z
AO
oy.
102 75
QQ uy
AQ
yo.
QA QC
1 0 1 .2 0
1 0 0 .1 1
99.44
105.69
80.83
99.68
98. 40
107.31
79.21
97. 46
99.18
97.31
106.46
79.25
96.08
QQ uo
yy.
Q
AQ
yo.
y4A
1AC. Oi
A7
1UO
70
i y. A
UQ
Ö
Q7
1O
V I . Io
108.05
98. 34
103.51
95.59
107.50.
107.27
98.00
105.80
96.16
107.68
107.95
96.79
108.24
96 03
104 8 6
AQ
Q
11U
Ö. A
Uo
QC *Atz9
yo.
80.64
82.27
105.45
109.02
102.92
Q4 7 7
79
102
107
102
92
QA 40
AC
oU.
1A9 7K
1UZ.
IO
1luo.y
AA A/I
4
1A9 oy
QA
A
Q ^to
AO
yo.
C leveland. O h io................................................................
C olum bus, O h io...........................................................
D allas, T ex .........................................................
D enver, C olo......................................................
D etroit, M ich.........................................................................
F all R iver, M ass..............................................................
Indianapolis, In d .........................................................
Jacksonville, F la ......................................................
K ansas C ity, M o......................................................
L ittle R ock, A rk .............................................................
Los A ngeles, Cal...............................................
L ou isville, K y ...............................................
Manchester, N . H ............................................
M em phis, T en n ........................................................
M ilwaukee, W is ....................................................
1 0 0 .2 0
108.69
100.57.
95.76
M inneapolis, M inn ...........................................
N ew ark, N . J .............................................
N ew H aven, Conn....................................
N ew Orleans, L a ......................................................
N ew York, N . Y ...................................
90.13
105.01
111.82
101.49
104.72
Omaha, N eb r.....................................
Philadelphia, P a ..............................................
Pittsburgh, P a ..........................................
Portland, O reg..............................................
Providence, R“. I ...................................
96.17
104.20
104.44
79.84
115.16
R ichm ond. V a ..................................................
R ochester, N . Y ........................................
St. L ouis, Mo.........................................
St. Paul, M inn ..........................................
Salt Lake C itv, U ta h ..............................
102.43
99.56
96.69
San Francisco, CaL..................
Scranton, P a ..................................
Seattle, W ash ....................................
Springfield, I1L..............................................
W ashington, D. C....................................
80.01
97.70
80.43
100.65
106.52
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
83.30
[1260]
107.41
44
59
64
04
13
8 6 46
105 33
^9
lfM A C
1Azl 7Q
QQ U
AC
oo.
O
1AA. oo
QO
1UO
109.66
103.60
106.10
CLl AK
1C\A 1C
1AQ 9A
RA 9Q
11 C AC
94.18
105.09
103. 71
79.00
113.16
1 C\A 7C
in
111
78 78
inn ci
80 40
»4. / (
8 8 .0 0
QA AO
oU. IO
yy. z o
o l. u z
106.99
^97 99
11UO
AC. i70
o
y#. yo
lU o .
104.90
100.04
95.36
88.69
79.84
80.15
99.21
79.64
97.91
109.85
101
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
DURING THE PERIOD SEPTEM BER, 1917, TO AUGUST 1918.
1918
Year.
January. February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
105.93
105.88
106.68
110.44
108.54
102.17
104.65
103.89
109.88
108.69
106.80
103. 86
107.53
109. 21
106.42
107. 58
104.34
109.37
110.16
106.68
106.59
104.28
105.31
109.45
105. 89
106.96
107.13
105.21
112.96
109.78
105.58
106.10
105.08
114.08
108.81
107.13
106.50
104.81
113. 24
108.69
105. 84
104.72
106.09
111.43
108.33
100.08
88.31
106.70
92.61
96.19
99.34
87.48
106.83
94.07
96.67
99.45
90.36
107. 71
93.15
96.06
97.89
90.66
107.78
93.54
95.54
97.89
90.15
108.90
93.67
95.48
. 97.96
88.85
105.25
95.19
93.95
99.24
88.73
103.50
95.06
94.24
98.72
89.49
104.86
94.46
92.95
98.74
89.36
105.66
94.20
95.28
99. 43
98.60
107.23
77.85
98.81
99.85
97. 71
104.54
78.41
99.21
98.03
94.25
110. 88
79.48
97.86
98.56
95.72
109.53
81.61
96.15
98.12
95.76
107.34
84.00
96.52
100.36
97.12
103.61
83.31
97.71
100.28
99.14
103.88
83.27
99.88
100.40
98.19
104.44
80.62
99.22
99.63
97.20
105.98
80.60
99.95
106.97
99.47
108.09
95.20
103.64
106.65
95.35
106.88
95.88
104.88
108.31
94.07
108. 78
96.98
109.05
108.27
95.07
107.75
97.12
108.87
110.28
92.54
105.98
95.74
107.99
111.65
95.68
104.88
97.11
107.98
110.76
95.24
102.92
95.63
106.08
110.31
94.70
104.31
95.43
107.41
108.69
95. 73
106.22
96.14
106.40
81.58
104.62
107.29
104.31
93.44
80.36
101.79
107.48
101.00
112.39
84.73
104.50
107.91
105.03
93.02
82.75
104.20
108.11
105.57
92.03
82.92
101.49
109.02
103.48
91.93
' 81.66
100.05
111.50
102.12
92.26
82.12
98.88
111.32
101.78
93.89
83.06
97.38
110.19
101.44
92.92
81.88
101.71
108.84
102.14
93.23
88.08
108.33
110.30
102.55
107.22
88.90
106.24
111.69
101.56
105.14
88.74
105.24
110.45
104.18
105.02
88.95
106.67
111.74
103.02
105.32
88.46
105.99
111.66
99.93
103.37
89.43
108.65
116.61
98.79
105.61
89.93
106.62
115.49
98.71
104.01
87.14
105.12
114.26
99.02
103.82
88.65
106.35
112.60
101.34
104.99
94.24
106.29
105.80
78.29
114.20
92.47
105.70
106.58
79.38
113.20
93.40
103.85
104.37
82.15
114.80
94.67
104.38
103.88
82.07
115.57
95.88
105.64
103.79
85.21
114. 97
96.59
107.69
105.97
83.27
116. 79
97.40
106.87
103.86
82.80
116.84
95.17
104. 88
102.87
83.94
116.60
94.85
105.26
104.36
81.10
115. 02
103.68
100.17
96.41
90.85
78.68
105.84
99.58
94.85
91.23
79.36
105.31
98.58
95.03
91.04
80.27
106.17
97.71
94.57
90.49
80.56
105.92
98.20
93.49
90.57
81.93
107.02
99.25
95.88
91.52
80.18
105.60
100.22
94.11
91.32
81.60
104.83
99.28
95.62
89.61
79.48
105.06
99.70
95.14
90.73
80.61
81.54
99.69
80.12
98.45
80.20
99.38
80.90
98.61
108.58
83.44
98.77
83.68
97.18
109.01
81.35
98.29
82.59
98.49
108.43
83.47
101.99
86.29
97.70
110.58
82.61
103.00
84.35
98.67
111.42
81.70
103.98
85.07
97.62
109.90
81.88
103.79
86.67
96.78
109.28
81.48
102. 42
82.72
98.26
109.25
111.01
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1251]
102
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
The 22 articles of food entering into the weighted costs upon which
the above percentages were based constitute approximately 65 per cent
of the total expenditure for food. It will be observed that, as com
pared with the average for the United States, there is a wide differ
ential as between the different cities. The range is more strikingly
presented in Table 5, which shows the cities arranged in order from
lowest to highest, and also the percentage that each is of the lowest.
It can he seen that as between Denver, Colo., and Providence, R. I.,
for the 12 months’ period, there is a difference of 42.7 per cent.
This differential is due both to the differences in the prices of
the commodities and to the manner of living in the different
sections.
T able 5 .— FO RTY-FIVE CITIES A R R A NG ED IN ORDER OF FOOD COSTS BASED ON
AVERAGE PRICES FOR Y E A R E N DIN G AUGUST, 1918.
Percentage relation as
compared with—
City.
United
States=
100.00.
Denver, Colo.............. .................................................................................................
Salt Lake City, U tah...................................................................................................
Portland, Oreg............................................................. ..............................................
San Francisco, Cal.... ...................................................................................................
Los Angeles, Cal...........................................................................................................
Seattle,'Wash....................................... ........................................................................
Minneapolis, Minn.....................................................................................................
P^utte, Mont................................................ - ............................................................
St. Paul, Minn.............................................................. ........................................
Milwaukee, Wis............................................................................................................
Chicago, 111........................................................................... ....................................
Omaha, N ebr.......................................................................................................
St. Louis, Mo.............................................................................................................
Cincinnati, Ohio........................................................................................................
Indianapolis, In d ......................................................................................................
Kansas "City, Mo.......................................................................................................
Columbus, Ohio........................................................................................................
Springfield, 111...................................................................................................
Buffalo, N. Y ..................................................................................................
Cleveland, Ohio..................................................................................................
Rochester, N. Y ..............................................................................................
Detroit, Mich...............................................................................................
New Orleans, La.............................................................................................
Louisville, K y ....................................................................................................
Memphis, T enn..................................................................................................
Scranton, P a............................................................................................................
Pittsburgh, P a....................................................................................................
Baltimore, Md.......................................................................................................
New York, N. Y ..........................................................................................................
Richmond, V a...........................................................................................................
Philadelphia, P a ....................................................................................................
Charleston, S. C......................................................................................................
Atlanta, Ga.........................................................................................................
Dallas, Lex......................................................................................................
Birmingham, Ala........................................................................................
Jacksonville, F la.................................................................................................
Newark, N. J ...................................................................................................
Little Rock, Ark.......................................................................................... .............
Bridgeport, Conn.........................................................................................
Fall River, Mass....................................................................................................
Manchester, N. H ..................................................................................................
Washington, D. C.....................................................................................................
Boston,“Mass...............................................................................................................
New Haven, Conn................................................................................................. .
Providence, R . I .............................................................................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[11252]
80.60
80.61
81.10
81.48
81.88
82. 72
88.65
89.36
90.73
93.23
94.20
94.85
95.14
95.28
95. 73
96.14
97.20
98.26
98.74
99.63
99.70
99. 95
i m . 34
101.71
102.14
102. 42
104. 36
104. 72
104. 99
105.06
105. 26
105.66
105. 84
105. 96
106.09
106. 22
106.35
106.40
108.33
108. 69
108. 84
109. 25
111.43
112.60
115.02
Denver^
100.00.
100.00
100.01
100.62
101.09
101.59
102.63
109. 99
110.86
112.57
115.66
116.88
117.68
118.03
118.20
118. 76
119.28
120.59
121.90
122.50
123.61
123.69
124.00
125. 99
126. IS
126.72
127.07
129.47
129.91
130.25
130.34
130.59
131.09
131.30
131.45
131.62
131.78
131.95
132.00
134.40
134.85
135.03
135.54
138.25
139. 70
142. 70
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW .
103
It must, of course, be kept in mind that the percentages shown in
the above tables are based entirely on food costs, that food consti
tutes only about 40 per cent of the total expenditures of a family, and
that the 22 articles of food constitute only about 65 per cent of the
total expenditure for food. It is possible, too, that other items in
the family budget will lessen the differential. In so far, however,
as the 22 articles of food may be taken as an indication of the cost
of living, there is shown a decided lack of uniformity as between
cities.
FARM PRICES AND RETAIL PRICES COMPARED.
Under this caption the Monthly Crop Report of the United States
Department of Agriculture for September, 1918, presents a com
parison of average retail prices with prices received by the producer
for certain important food articles on July 15 of each year since
1913. The retail prices are those compiled by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, while the farm prices are from the Bureau of Crop Esti
mates. In cases where the article is not sold by the retailer in the
same form in which it leaves the farm, an equivalent has been com
puted for use as a basis in comparing the retail with the farm price.
J u l y 15—
Item.
1918
1917
1916
1915
1914
6 .7
12.91
$2.04
70
7 .2
$3.13
$2.24
72
3 .8
$1.65
$1.00
61
4 .1
$1.78
$1.05
59
3 .2
$1.39
$0. 77
55
3 .3
$1.44
$0.80
56
2 .7
$1.62
$0.84
52
1.
$1.59
$0.64
39
1913
F lo u r :
R e t a i l .................................................... .................. c ts . p e r l b . .
W h e a t e q u i v a l e n t ........................... . . . p e r b u s h , w h e a t . .
W h e a t , f a r m ....................................... ...................... p e r b u s h . .
R a t io , f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e . . . ...................... p e r c e n t . .
P o ta to e s :
R e t a i l .................................................... ..................c t s . p e r l b . .
E q u i v a l e n t ......................................... ......................p e r b u s h . .
F a r m p r i c e .......................................... ............................... d o -----R a t i o , f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e . . . ...................... p e r c e n t . .
O n io n s :
R e t a i l .................................................... .................. c ts . p e r l b . .
E q u i v a l e n t .......................................... ......................p e r b u s h . .
F a r m p r i c e .......................................... .................... *____ d o ____
R a t io , f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e . . . ...................... p e r c e n t . .
3 .9
$2.34
$1.18
50
4 .3
$2.58
$2.09
81
2 .3
$1.38
$0.99
72
1 .5
$0.90
$0.54
60
5 .3
$3.02
$1.63
54
5.1
$2.91
$2.01
69
5 .3
$3.02
$1.47
49
3. 5
$2.00
$0.93
46
R e t a i l .................................................... ..................c t s . p e r l b . .
E q u i v a l e n t .......................................... ......................p e r b u s h . .
F a r m p r i c e .......................................... .................... "____ d o ____
R a t i o f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e . . . ...................... p e r c e n t . .
17.3
$10.38
$5.88
57
19.5
$11.70
$8.07
69
11.7
$7.02
$5.09
73
7 .6
$4.56
$2.75
60
R e t a i l ..................................................... ................c ts . p e r d o z ..
F a r m p r i c e .......................................... ............................... d o ____
R a t io , f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e . . . ...................... p e r c e n t . .
H e n s , r e t a i l .............................................. ..................c t s . p e r l b . .
C h ic k e n s , f a r m p r i c e ........................... ............................... d o ____
R a t io , f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e ___ ...................... p e r c e n t . .
R o u n d s te a k :
R e t a i l ...................................................... ..................c ts . p e r l b . .
E q u i v a l e n t c a t t l e , li v e w e ig h t, d r e s s in g
54 p e r c e n t ...................................... ................p e r 100 l b s . .
B e e f c a t t l e , f a r m ................................... ........................do -----R a t io , f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e ___ ...................... p e r c e n t . .
H am :
R e t a i l ....................................................... ..................c ts . p e r l b . .
49.1
3 3 .0
67
38 .0
23.2
61
4 2 .0
2 9 .0
69
28 .0
17.4
62
31 .9
19.9
62
24.1
14.1
59
27 .8
16.3
59
20 .8
12.2
59
3 0 .0
17.5
58
21 .9
13.4
61
30 .0
16.4
40 .3
30 .6
26 .0
24.0
24.5
2 3 .3
$21.76
$10.07
46
$16. 52
$8.30
50
$14.04
$6.78
48
$12.96
$6.07
47
$13.23
$6.38
48
$ 1 2 . 58
$5.98
48
Beans:
Eggs:
Equivalent hogs, live weight, dressing
76 per cent ...................................... ..................p e r 100 l b s . .
Hogs, f a r m .............................................. ........................do ____
R a t io , f a r m t o r e t a i l p r i c e ___ ...................... p e r c e n t . .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1253]
55
21.7
13.0
60
48 .7
3 9 .6
32 .3
26 .5
27.9
2 8 .2
$37.01
$15.58
42
$30.10
$13.35
$24. 55
$8.40
34
$20.14
$6.84
34
$21.20
$7.72
36
$21.43
$7.81
3Ì
44
104
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW .
The increase in the price of several articles during the last three
years is shown by the relative figures in the next table. In this
table the average of the 60 monthly prices during the five years
1913 to 1917 is, in each case, taken as 100.
J u l y 15—
I te m .
1918
1917
1916
1915
F lo u r , r e t a i l p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ...................................................................................
W h e a t , f a r m p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ..................................................................................
154
163
166
180
87
80
94
84
P o ta t o e s , r e t a i l p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s .............................................................................
P o ta t o e s , f a r m p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ..............................................................................
156
130
172
230
92
109
60
60
R o u n d s te a k , r e t a i l p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ....................................................................
B e e f c a ttl e , f a r m p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ..........................................................................
161
151
122
124
104
102
96
91
H a m s , r e t a i l p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ...................................................................................
H o g s , f a r m p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ......................................................................................
162
171
132
147
108
92
88
75
H e n s , r e t a i l p ric e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ............................................. ..................................
C h ic k e n s , f a r m p ric e , U n i t e d S t a t e s .............................................................................
167
174
123
130
106
106
92
92
E g g s , r e t a i l p r ic e , U n ite d S t a t e s ......................................................................................
E g g s , f a r m p r ic e , U n i t e d S t a t e s ......................................................................................
128
132
109
116
83
80
72
65
GENERAL INDEX NUMBERS OF FOOD PRICES ON A NUTRITIVE VALUE
BASE.
In a pamphlet bearing the above title the Food Administration has
published two series of index numbers constructed after a somewhat
novel method, the first indicating the trend of prices received by the
producer of basic foodstuffs and the second showing the trend of
food prices at wholesale. It is stated that “ the general plan followed
in calculating these indices is to weight the quoted prices of each
commodity by a factor proportional to the nutritive value of the
normal production or crop of that commodity, the total energy con
tent as measured in calories being taken as the measure of nutritive
value. ”
Twenty commodities are included in the list used for the index of
producer’s prices. These are wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, cabbage,
onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, apples, butter, eggs,
fresh milk, chickens, hogs, beef cattle, sheep, peanuts, and beans. The
prices used are from the Monthly Crop Reports of the United States
Department of Agriculture or from manuscript data furnished by
that department.
In the index number of wholesale prices 26 commodities are in
cluded as follows : Wheat flour, rye flour, oatmeal, corn meal, sugar,
potatoes, onions, beans, peanuts, rice, evaporated milk, condensed
milk, eggs, butter, cheese, margarine, lard, ham, bacon, carcass beef,
mutton, fowl, canned peas, tomatoes, salmon, and sardines. The
prices used in the compilation are those appearing in the weekly
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11254]
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
105
report on wholesale prices issued by the United States Food Admin
istration to certain of its members, but not published.
As stated in the pamphlet, the distinguishing characteristic of
these price indexes is the method of weighting employed. “ In food
price index numbers hitherto devised weighting has either been lack
ing entirely or has been based upon some sort of commercial factor,
such as, for example, the amounts of the several commodities enter
ing into trade or exchange. Here the basis of the weighting is the
relative physiological significance of the several food commodities in
the nutrition of the Nation. The nutritional significance of each
commodity is assumed to be sufficiently represented by its energy
content measured in calories.’’ The base period comprises three
fiscal years before the war, except in a few cases where crop years
were used. The food value of the average production of each com
modity during that period was expressed in calories and the value of
wheat so expressed was taken as 100. The value of each of the other
commodities was in turn related to the value of wheat on the new basis
and the resulting relative figures were divided by the number of pounds
in the unit of price quotations. For example, the relative figure for
wheat, 100, was divided by 60 (the number of pounds in a bushel),
giving 1.6667, the weighting factor for this commodity. Similarly,
the relative figure for corn being found to be 371.08, as compared with
100 for wheat, this was divided by 56 (the number of pounds in a
bushel), obtaining 6.6264 as the weighting factor for corn. The
absolute index number for any period is “ the weighted average price
per pound of the several commodities entering into the index, when
the weighting of each quoted commodity price is in proportion to the
food value, expressed in calories, of the average production of that
commodity in the three years preceding the war. ” I t is pointed out
that “ the necessary adjustment for differences in the units on which
prices of different commodities are quoted (e. g., barrel, bushel,
hundredweight, pound, etc.) is incorporated in the weighting factor,
to the end of simplicity in computation. ” Most of the food values
used are taken from “ The Chemical Composition of American Food
Materials,” by W. O. Atwater and A. P. Bryant, while the food
values for the grains are from “ Feeds and Feeding,” by Henry and
Morrison.
To facilitate comparison between the producer’s index and the
wholesale price index, the absolute figures for both have been changed
to relative figures, the base for the transposition being the threeyear average (1911, 1912, and 1913) of the absolute figures, in each
instance. Reduced to this form, the two series of index numbers
follow.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1255]
M O N T H LY LABOE REVIEW .
106
R E L A T IV E
P R O D U C E R ’S P R I C E
1911
M o n th .
Tp m i p r y
‘F e b r u a r y
M a rc ii
, ......... ......................................................
. . . ......................................... - ...................
....................................................................
M av
Ju n e
T nlv
...................................................
............................................................................
A ug u st
S ppfprp b e r
.................... .............................................
N o v e m b e r ............................................................................
D o c o n ib e r .......................................................................
R E L A T IV E
1911
J a n u a r y .................................................................................
F e b r u a r y ..............................................................................
M a r oh
.............................................................................
A p r i l .......................................................................................
M a y .........................................................................................
T ........... .......... .......................................
- _____ ____ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D e c e m b e r .............................................................................
97
92
90
87
88
89
93
98
101
104
105
106
1913
90
92
93
96
96
99
101
108
109
106
107
106
103
104
107
116
117
113
109
106
103
99
91
90
W HOLESALE
M o n th .
J |jJ y
/y ppcrust
92
89
88
88
88
92
97
99
101
100
100
100
1912
P R IC E
1912
106
103
102
104
104
101
99
100
103
105
105
106
1913
102
101
101
101
98
98
99
100
102
101
104
103
IN D E X .
1914
1915
106
106
106
106
107
106
107
I lo
114
108
106
108
115
115
114
117
116
111
112
107
103
101
98
102
1916
108
108
114
114
110
113
118
126
130
136
142
141
1917
1918
217
149
218
157
171
218
219
210
216
218
212
229
215
219 ..............
206
196
204 ...........
.
IN D E X .
1914
101
99
97
94
96
97
99
111
116
112
113
112
1915
113
114
109
111
111
106
106
102
99
105
109
114
1916
114
114
116
120
120
118
120
127
132
143
149
144
1917
1918
146
190
152
191
157
178
179
180
179
193
185
177
184
188
188
188 ..............
191 ..............
FOOD CONDITIONS IN BRAZIL.
The burden of the high cost of living is reported to have become
so great in Brazil that the Government has found it necessary to
consider the advisability of placing restrictions upon the exporta
tion of foodstuffs so as to stabilize the commercial situation. The
American vice consul at Rio De Janeiro, who communicates this
information, states that to this end the President of Brazil, by
decree No. 13069 of June 12, 1918, authorized the creation of a
department of food administration to consist of one commissioner
and such assistants as may be deemed necessary, who shall perform
the following duties:
1. Investigate weekly the supply of foodstuffs and other products of prime neces
sity stored in warehouses and other depositories, in order to determine the quantity,
quality, and origin of the goods.
2. Ascertain the cost of production of these products, the buying prices at
the centers of production or upon entering the markets, and the selling prices to
consumers.
3. Purchase these products, if it be necessary, or requisition them for the sake
of the public need, in accordance with the exigencies of the present state of war, and
make a suitable distribution thereof.
4. Enter into agreements with the warehouses for the sale of such products in
stipulated quantities and at fixed prices, or establish warehouses to the same end.
5. Assist workmen’s cooperative organizations in every way possible in order that
their objects may be attained.
6. Take whatever other steps may be necessary to the establishment of an equi
table balance between the requirements of exportation and those of domestic
consumption.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11256]
107
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW .
COST OF LIVING IN RIO DE JANEIRO.
It appears from a report by the American vice consul at Rio de
Janeiro, furnished this bureau by the State Department, that the
cost of living in that city “ has produced a condition whereby it is
almost impossible for those people who receive low wages to pur
chase the necessities of life.” This is indicated by the following
figures which show the percentages of advance in prices, 1917 over
1913, of certain staples of domestic production and of foreign pro
duction :
IMPORTED PRODUCTS.
DOMESTIC PRODUCTS.
Per cent.
Per cent.
Peanuts.............................................
Rice...................................................
Sugar..................................................
Lard, transported by rail................
Lard, transported by steamer.........
Pork...................................................
Mandioc flour...................................
Beans.................................................
Butter, transported by railway--Butter, transported by steamer—
Yerba m até.......................................
Tapioca...............................................
Starch................................................
Jerked beef (maximum quotation)
46.0
44.1
70. 2
14. 4
31. 9
19.2
95. 6
25.2
16. 8
98. 8
3.5
167.9
137.7
60. 3
Rice..................................................... 85.8
Olive oil............................................ 74.1
Codfish............................................... 109.2
Lard..................................................... 50.0
Onions................................................. 60.3
Wheat flour........................................ 198.9
Beans.................................................. 143.9
Kerosene............... . .......................... 118.0
Condensedm ilk................................. 56. 8
Corn..................................................... 104.4
Wheat................................................ 267.9
Jerked beef..................................
56.6
IN C R E A S E IN F O O D PR IC ES IN F R A N C E , 1914 T O 1918.
The French Minister of Labor recently instituted an inquiry into
the prices of food commodities, covering the period from the first
quarter of 1914 to the end of the second quarter of 1918, in towns
having more than 10,000 inhabitants, according to an article pub
lished in L’Economiste Français, a translation of which has been
furnished by the United States consul general at Paris.
The plan pursued by the Minister of Labor was to take the prices
of a fixed weight of 13 articles (including petroleum and wood
alcohol) selected according to their relative importance in ordinary
consumption. The weights represent the quantities which are shown
by experts to be the amount consumed in a year by a household of
four persons of the laboring class living in Paris, and are as follows:
Bread.............. ............ pounds..
Meat................. ................. do___
Bacon.............. .................. do___
B utter............. ..................do___
E CTO'S
Milk................. ............. gallons..
Cheese............ ............ pounds..
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,540
440
44
44
240
66
Potatoes............... ........pounds..
Beans.................... ............do___
Sugar.................... ............ do----O il......................... ........... do..........
Petroleum............ ............pints..
Wood alcohol........ ........... d o . .. .
44
[1257]
550
66
44
22
52
171
108
M O N T H LY LABOE REVIEW .
The Minister of Labor then calculated, from information supplied
by mayors of various places, the current prices of these articles at
the different periods, giving the following average results for tlio
whole of France:
Francs.
1,014
1,020
1,004
1,105
1,235
1,336
1,379
1,420
1,466
1, 547
1,717
1,845
2,008
2,120
2,331
1st quarter, 1911.
1st quarter, 1913.
3d quarter, 1914..
1st quarter, 1915.
3d quarter, 1915.
1st quarter, 1916.
2d quarter, 1916.
3d quarter, 1916.
4th quarter, 1916
1st quarter, 1917.
2d quarter, 1917.
3d quarter, 1917.
4th quarter, 1917
1st quarter, 1918.
2d quarter, 1918.
($195.70)
( 196.86)
( 193.77)
( 213.27)
( 238.36)
( 257.85)
( 266.15)
( 274.06)
( 282.94)
( 298.57)
( 331.38)
( 356.09)
( 387.54)
( 409.16)
( 449.88)
C O S T O F LIVIN G IN SCA N D INA VIA N C O U N TR IES .
Information received from a representative in Denmark of the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Com
merce, indicates that all of the Scandinavian Governments are
giving constant attention to the advancing cost of living and are
taking steps to ascertain actual conditions and to remedy, as far as
possible, the discrepancies between the necessary expenses and the
earning power of the people, especially of the laboring classes. One
method of relief is the fixing of maximum prices of goods for domestic
consumption. When these are fixed low enough to satisfy the con
sumers, the domestic producers usually complain that they are below
the cost of production and so the Government undertakes to equalize
this by fixing high minimum prices for products available for export.
For example, it is stated that the maximum price which the retailor
was permitted to charge for butter in Denmark, August 12, 1918,
was 3.2 crowns per kilogram (39 cents per pound), while the export
price was fixed at 8 crowns per kilogram (97 cents per pound). The
cost of production is estimated at 48 cents per pound. It thus
happens that if the producer receives only 37 cents per pound for
domestic butter he loses 11 cents on that, but on the other hand
he makes 49 cents on all he is permitted to export (that is, the
surplus over home requirements). When the producer exports as
much as 19 per cent of the production at the above price he does not
lose on the whole. At the date of the report (August 12, 1918)
production was at the rate of about 70,000 tons per year while the
consumption was 50,000 tons, leaving 20,000 tons for export, which
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1258]
M O N T H LY LABOE BEVIEW .
109
is 28-6 per cent of tlie production. This would indicate that the
butter regulations are protecting both the consumer and the pro
ducer. In order to cover any loss that the Government may sustain
through the fixing of low minimum prices on imported articles or
on domestic products like wheat, which is not exported in large
quantities, increased taxation is resorted to, which is generally
regulated to hear hardest on the largest incomes.
Salary increases are another method of relief, these advances
being at present arranged to favor the laborer more than the middleclass salaried man. “ It is claimed that a butcher’s clerk now
receives in salary and bonus more than a university professor.”
From time to time the Scandinavian Governments publish tables
showing the variations in cost of a standard household budget.
In Denmark and Sweden such budget for 1914 shows a total annual
expenditure of 2,000 crowns ($536). In Norway the budget as
published is 1,528 crowns ($409.50). The report includes the follow
ing table which shows the variations in these costs, the Norway
budget, for the sake of uniformity, being calculated to the basis of
2,000 crowns.
COST OF STANDARD HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS IN SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES IN SPECI
FIE D MONTHS OF 1918 AS COMPARED W ITH JULY, 1914.
Norway.
Sweden.
March, 1918.
Item.
July,
1914.
Per
cent of
in
Amount. crease
over
July,
1914.
Denmark.
April, 1918;
July,
1914.
Per
cent of
in
Amount. crease
over
July,
1914.
Food................................ $257.01
Light and h eat................ 28.68
Clothing........................... 67.80
House re n t....................... 83.88
Other expenses................ 98.63
$638. .38
155.44
189. 74
92.73
192.16
148 $234.77
442 26.00
180 58.69
11 80.40
95 136.14
$537.61
72.90
158.39
90.05
228.60
Total...................... 536.00
1,268.45
137 536.00
1,087.55
July, 1918.
Per
cent of
in
Amount crease
over
July,
1914.
Julv,
1914.
129 $254.60 $476.24
180 26.80 73.70
170 72.36 188.14
12 88.44 114.17
68 93.80 121.94
103
536.00
974.19
87
175
160
29
30
82
In the Danish statistics the articles of food are further specified as
follows:
July, 1914.
July, 1918.
M eat.............................................................................. $62.71
Butter, milk, cheese, eggs, margarine, lard............. 77. 72
Fish................................................................................
8. 04
Bread............................................................................. 41.00
Flour, e tc ......................................................................
8.85
$129.44
133. 73
11. 26
70.75
21.98
P o ta to es, v eg eta b les, fr u its .................................................
14. 47
3 2 .1 6
Sugar and other groceries..........................................
41. 81
76. 92
T o ta l................................................................................. 2 5 4 .6 0
4 7 6 .2 4
87721°— 18----- 8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1259]
110
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW .
FOOD PRICES AND COST OF LIVING IN SWITZERLAND DURING THE
WAR.
The Statistical Yearbook of Switzerland for 1917, issued by the
Swiss Federal Statistical Office, contains a wealth of data as to the
trend of food prices and of the cost of living in Switzerland since the
outbreak of the world war. A few of these data are reproduced
here in summary tables in order to convey an idea of how the prices
of foodstuffs and the cost of living in this neutral country have been
influenced by the war.
In the following table are shown the average, retail prices of 15
of the most important foodstuffs and of coke, briquets, and anthra
cite coal during April, 1914, 1917, and 1918, and the gradual in
crease of these prices during the period. The prices shown are based
on half-monthly compilations of prices in 32 localities made by the
Swiss Federal Statistical Office and published in its bulletin.
AVERAGE RETA IL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS AND FU EL IN 32 SWISS MUNICIPALITIES,
APRIL, 1914, 1917, AND 1918.
[Souree: Statistisches Jahrbuch dcr Schweiz, 1917, pp. 247 to 255.]
Retail prices.
Article.
Unit.
April,
1914.
SO. 210
.228
. 175
.123
.175
.031
2. 039
.042
. 315
Cheese, Emmenthaler.......................................... . .do___
.193
E g g s , f r e s h .............................................................. ..
.232
D ozen...
P o u n d ..
P o r k , f r e s h ................................................. ...............
B a c o n , s m o k e d ............................... ................................. .. d o ___
L a r d , d o m e s t i c ................................................................ . .d o ___
S u e t, r a w ............. ................................................................ . .d o ___
B e e f w i t h b o n e . ................................... ........................... . .d o ___
B r e a d ............................................ ..............'......................... . .d o ___
F lo u r ...................................................................................... . - d o .. . .
M ilk , u n s k i m m e d ....................................................... Q uart...
B u t t e r ................................................................................. P o u n d ..
C o m m e a l .............................................................. .......... P o u n d ..
N o o d le s , m a c a r o n i, a n d o th e r p a s t r y ....... ............ . .d o ___
S u g a r , c u b e ......................................................................... . .d o ___
P o ta t o e s , d o m e s t i c .............. ...................................... B u sh e l..
C o k e ............ ....................................................................... Tou........
B riq u ets.............................................................. . . .d o ___
A n t h r a c i t e c o a l, e g g ....................................................... . .d o ___
. 02fi
.048
.048
.525
9.412
7.844
9.804
April,
1917.
April,
1918.
Î0.385 SO. 525
. 455
. 735
.420
.700
.525
.315
.350
.350
. 055
.001
.007
.074
.047
.060
.481
.569
.280
.324
.579
.811
.054
.067
.096
.117
.109
.130
1.208
1.156
13.727 24.512
12.158 23.531
21. 570 28. 237
Per cent of increase.1
April,
1917,
over
April,
1914.
April,
.1918,
over
April,
1917.
83.3
36.4
61.5
66.7
66.7
100.0
140.0
157.1
100.0
80.0
8 68.9
13.0
52.8
45.5
150.0
107.7
10.5
26.9
18.2
15.6
40.0
127.3
130.0
45.8
55.0
1Q0.0
22.6
21.8
120.0
18.4
*4.5
78.6
93.5
30.9
11.1
April,
1918.
over
April,
1914.
150.0
223.1
300.0
328.6
100.0
100.0
4 86.7
43.5
80.6
68.2
250.0
153.3
143.6
169.1
120.0
160.4
200.0
188.0
1 These percentages are based on the prices in francs as given in the original table.
2September, 1914.
8April, 1917, over September, 1914.
4April, 1918, over September, 1914.
* Decrease.
The data shown in the preceding table indicate an exorbitant
increase of food prices in Switzerland. With the exception of milk
and milk products, of which Switzerland’s production goes far beyond
its own needs, and of flour, bread, and beef, the prices of which are
being artificially maintained at a lower level through Government
control, food prices have increased from 120 to over 300 per cent
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12G0]
111
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW,
during the four-year period ending April, 1918. The prices of cook
ing fats (lard and suet), eggs, and bacon show the largest increases.
The prices of fuel have gone up 160 to 200 per cent. Another fact
brought out by the table is the large increase of prices during the
year ending April, 1918, particularly of bacon, cooking fats, pork,
and fuel.
On the basis of the prices charged to their members by Swiss
cooperative stores the Swiss League for the Cheapening of the Cost
of Living has computed the annual expenditures for foodstuffs and
fuel of a normal family consisting of 2 adults and 3 children under
10 years of age.
ANNUAL EX PEN D ITU R ES OF A NORMAL SWISS FAMILY (2 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN
UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE) FOR FOOD AND FUEL ON THE BASIS OF PRICES CHARGED
IN COOPERATIVE STORES JUNE 1, 1914, AND DECEMBER 1, 1914, 1915, 1916, AND 1917.'
[Source: Statistisches Jahrbueh der Schweiz, 1915, 1916, and 1917.]
Average annual expenditures on
the basis of prices ruling on—
Q uantity
consumed
annually June 1, Dec. 1, Dec. 1, Dec. 1, Dee. 1,
1914. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917.
Article.
Milk products:
Butter, salted.............
Butter, creamery........
Cheese, Emmenthaler.
Milk.......... ..................
24.25
.lbs..
11.24
.lbs..
26.90
.lbs..
.qts.. 1,156.03
T o t a l .................................................
C o o k in g fa ts:
C o c o n u t f a t, c h e a p e s t ................
S u e t, f ir s t q u a l i t y .........................
L a r d , A m e r i c a n ............................
L a r d , d o m e s tic ...............................
G in g ili o il............................................
.lbs..
.lbs..
.lbs..
.lbs..
q ts..
10. 49
10.49
10.49
10. 49
5.03
T o t a l ..................... , .........................
C e re a l go o d s:
B r e a d ...................................................
F l o u r ...................................................
S e m o l i n a ..........................................
C o rn m e a l..........................................
P e a r l b a r le y , N o . 1 ........................
O a t f la k e s ...........................................
O a tm e a l, N o . 2............................... .
N o o d le s , m a c a r o n i, e t c .............. .
.lbs.. 1,082.68
38.16
.lbs..
28.00
.lbs..
30.51
.lbs.,
6.70
.lbs.,
8.69
.lbs.,
17.55
.lbs..
63.25
.lbs..
T o t a l .................................................
L egum es:
B e a n s , f ir s t q u a l i t y , w h i t e ___
P e a s , f ir s t q u a l i t y , y e l lo w .........
L e n til s , f ir s t q u a l i t y , m e d iu m
R i c e .......................................................
.lbs.,
lbs.,
.lbs.,
.lbs..
10.49
6.92
4.41
IS. 92
T o t a l .................................................
Meat:
Veal__
Beef...
Mutton
Pork. ..
.lbs.,
lbs..
lb s..
.lbs..
15.50
145.61
2.43
46. 74
Total.
Eggs
Potatoes
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. ..doz..
bushs..
[1261]
.334
9.19
16.22
3.81
5.27
48.56
$7.01
3.82
4.97
46.45
19.66 $10.06
4.92
4.81
6.26 6.55
52.79 54.90
63.86
62.25
73.52
76. 43
95.49
1.59
1.34
1.75
1.87
1.28
1.90
1.41
1.91
2.01
1.36
2.00
2.22
2.22
2.38
1.53
3.09
2.87
3.04
3.33
2.41
5.33
4.89
5.02
5.63
4.26
7.83
8.59
10.35
14. 74
25.18
33.17
1.50
1.15
.83
.27
.36
.75
3.49
37.91
1.61
1.52
1.09
.36
.56
1.09
4.60
43.60
1.94
1.86
1.20
.60
.66
1.34
5.04
50.23
2.17
1.99
1.57
.59
.84
1.71
5.65
65. 40
2.81
2.16
2.03
.75
1.05
2.12
7. 20
41.52
48.74
56.24
64. 75
83.52
.41
.34
.22
.86
.55
.42
.26
1.06
.80
.64
.39
1.36
.90
.65
.33
1.22
1.46
.96
.69
1.6«
1.83
2.29
3.19
3.10
4.77
3.20
24.99
.45
9.82
3.24
25.37
.49
9.62
3.70
30.60
.61
12.48
4.56
38.12
.71
15.02
5.14
44.74
.95
22.55
38. 46 38.72
47.39
58. 41
73.38
14.67
7.72
20.84
9.65
24.70
8.69
7.72
6.75
11.58
7.72
$13.37
6.31
8.24
67.57
112
M O N T H LY LABOE BEVIEW,
A N N U A L E X P E N D I T U R E S O P A N O R M A L S W I S S F A M I L Y (2 A D U L T S A N D 3 C H I L D R E N
U N D E R 10 Y E A R S O F A G E ) F O R F O O D A N D F U E L O N T H E B A S I S O F P R I C E S C H A R G E D
I N C O O P E R A T I V E S T O R E S J U N E 1, 1914, A N D D E C E M B E R 1, 1914, 1915, 1916, A N D 1917—
C o n c lu d e d .
Average annual expenditures on
the basis of prices ruling on—
Quantity
consumed
annually. June 1, Dec. 1, Dec. 1, Dec. 1, Dec. 1,
1914. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917.
Article.
Sugar and honey:
Sugar, Austrian........................................ ............ lbs..
Honey, domestic....................................... ............ lbs..
149.91 $6.17
3.86
1.18
$6.56
1.23
7.35
7.79
Total.......................................................
Chocolate.......................................................... ............lbs..
Tea, Souchong................................................. ..............lb..
Coffee, Santos, green, medium quality.......... ............lbs..
15.87
.77
19.14
Total.......................................................
Total foodstuffs.....................................
$8.92 $12.47
1.12 1.30
$17.32
2.07
10.04
13. 77
19.39
5.61
.73
4.98
11.32
2.90
.39
3.74
2.84
.41
4.16
3.06
.43
3.97
4.11
.45
4.18
7.03
7.41
7.46
8. 74
1S2.35 195.09 230.58 270. 43 346. 44
Fuel and soap:
Anthracite, Belgian................................. ............ton..
Briquets, Rhenish.................................... ............ ton..
Methyl alcohol, 92°.................................... ............ qts..
Petroleum, American.............................. .........galls..
Soap, white, first quality.......................... ............lbs..
.71
.71
4.43
12.47
18. 74
Total......................................................
Grand total............ .....................................................
8.87
6.07
.53
2.00
1.57
9.68
6.51
.54
2.73
1.57
10.49
6.71
.68
3.55
1.81
11.65
8.13
1.21
3.64
2.82
21.39
16.28
2.06
5.38
19.04
21.03
23.24
27.45
51.26
201.39 216.12 253.82 297.88
397. 70
6.15
If the annual expenditures of a normal family for food and fuel
as shown in the preceding table based on the retail prices current
on June 1, 1914, are assumed to be 100, the index numbers for the
same expenditures based on the retail prices current on December 1,
1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917 are as follows:
Index number based on prices current on—
E x p e n d i t u r e s for—
J u n e 1,
1914.
F o o d ...................................................................................................
F u e l a n d s o a p ...........................................................................
T o t a l ..........................................................................................
D e c . 1;
1914.
D e c . 1,
1915.
D e c . 1,
1916.
D e c . 1,
1917.
100
100
107.0
110.5
126.4
122.1
14S.3
144.2
190.0
269.2
100
107.3
126.0
147.9
197.5
These figures indicate that during the first 3J years of the present
war the expenditures of a normal family for food have increased by
90 per cent, those for fuel and soap by 169.2 per cent, and those for
these two items combined by 97.5 per cent. The greater part of
these increases falls in the years 1916 and 1917, particularly in the
latter year. Of the individual food groups, cooking fats, eggs, and
sugar show the largest increase in price. Cereal foods have increased
in price by over 100 per cent due to the fact that Switzerland covers
by self-production only 14.7 per cent of its consumption of cereals.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12G2]
M O N T H LY LABOE REVIEW .
113
Milk and milk products show the smallest increase. Kemarkable
also is the large increase of the price of anthracite coal which, on
December 1 , 1917, cost $30.12 a ton according to the expenditure
shown in the preceding table for this item.
A recent special report to the Christian Science Monitor from
Zürich on the food situation in Switzerland says: 1
Switzerland’s food situation is becoming worse and worse, and but for the prompt
and generous action of the United States in sending over grain and flour in large quan
tities the population would be in a most difficult position. The Germans did their
best, by refusing safe conducts to the Allied vessels carrying grain to Switzerland, to
prevent the Swiss population from having any bread in May, June, and July. But
none of the Allies’grain ships were sunk after all, and the Swiss people, and even the
pro-German press in Switzerland, were forced to admit that the Allies’ navy was
sufficient protection against Germany’s intention of starving the neutral countries
through her submarine war.
The bread question is, however, only a part of the Swiss food crisis. The whole
problem of daily life has become most perplexing. There is no longer any proportion
between the salaries and wages of the middle and working classes and the cost of
living. Prices of foodstuffs, clothing, and all necessities have risen to most exorbitant
figures, largely on account of the activities of German speculative buying agents, who
travel throughout the country. The prohibition of the exports of foodstuffs to the j
central powers has prevented the stocks in the hands of speculators from being sent
out of the country, but has not prevented the rise in prices.
As a consequence there has been a great deal of unrest in labor circles, resulting
in several instances in more or less serious public disturbances. The Government,
in the interests of the maintenance of order, gave the local authorities special powers
to suppress disturbances, and this measure occasioned great offense to the tradeunions and other labor bodies. These summoned a national conference to discuss
the matter, which presented a strong ultimatum to the Bundesrath, demanding the
rescinding of the obnoxious measures and further that representatives of the working
classes should have a share in controlling the distribution of foodstuffs. The con
ference declared that unless these demands were granted there would be a general
strike throughout the country.
To avoid this danger the Bundesrath was forced to make certain promises which it
will be hard to fulfill. For the moment the situation appeared very threatening and
there was really great danger of the strike taking place. But wiser counsels prevailed
and the strike was averted. Meanwhile the Government can find no other way of
meeting the increase in prices and the overwhelming speculation in foodstuffs than
by helping the working classes through the payment out of the State treasury of the
difference between the excessive and reasonable prices. This method has been
adopted in some of the belligerent countries in order to keep up the morale of the
population in fighting the enemy. But it is a grave question whether such action is
wise in a neutral country which has no fighting spirit to maintain. Of course the
Government has been highly praised by the politicians and labor leaders for pre
venting social unrest by artificially reducing the cost of living. But whether such
measures can have any permanent success is another question.
jThe Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Sept. 14,1918.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1263]
FOOD CONTROL.
NEW FOOD CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES.
Effective October 21, 1918, the United States Food Administra
tion announced a new program of food conservation, applying to
all hotels, restaurants, cafes, clubs, dining cars, and other places
where cooked food is sold to be eaten on the premises. The regula
tions carry into effect the recent announcement that in fulfilling the
American promise to the Allies to send them seventeen and a half
million tons of food this year public eating places would be called
upon “ to undertake in many particulars a more strict program than
last year.” The hearty cooperation of hotel keepers and other pro
prietors of public eating places is relied on to secure observance of
the regulations voluntarily, but the Food Administration is prepared
to take necessary measures against*persons who may interfere with
the success of the plan.
There are 12 “ General Orders” in the new plan which sets forth
the specific measures by which it is proposed to effect a direct reduc
tion in the consumption of all foods, particularly staples, rather than
by a series of emergency regulations, such as meatless and wheatless
days and meals and the substitution of one food for another. These
orders follow:
G e n m i l O rd er N o . 1 — No public eating place shall serve or permit to be served any
bread or other bakery product which does not contain at least 20 per cent of wheatflour substitutes, nor shall it serve or permit to be served more than 2 ounces of this
bread, known as Victory bread; or if no Victory bread is served, more than 4 ounces
of other breads (such as eornbread, muffins, Boston brown bread, etc). Sandwiches
or bread served at boarding camps, and rye bread containing 50 per cent or more of
pure rye flour, are excepted.
G en era l O rder N o . 2 . —No public eating place shall serve or permit to he served
bread or toast as a garniture or under meat.
G e n era l O rder N o . 3 . —No public eating place shall allow any bread to be brought
to the table until after the first course is served.
G e n e m l O rder N o . 4■—No public eating place shall serve or permit to be served to
one patron a t any one meal more than one kind of meat. For the purpose of this
rule meat shall be considered as including beef, mutton, pork, poultry, and any
by-products thereof.
G en era l O rder N o . 5 . —No public eating place shall serve or permit to be served any
bacon as a garniture.
G e n era l O rder N o . 6 . —No public eating place shall serve or permit to be served to
any one person at any one meal more than one-half ounce of butter.
G en era l O rder N o . 7.—No public eating place shall serve or permit to be served to
any one person at any one meal more than one-half ounce of Cheddar, commonly
called American, cheese.
114
[12G4]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
115
G en era l O rder N o . S . —No public eating place shall use or permit the use of the
sugar bowl on the table or lunch counter. Nor shall any public eating place serve
sugar or permit it to be served unless the guest so requests, and in no event shall
the amount served to any one person at any one meal exceed one teaspoonful or its
equivalent.
G en era l O rder N o . 9 . —No public eating place shall use or permit the use of an
amount of sugar in excess of 2 pounds for every 90 meals served, including all uses of
sugar on the table and in cooking, excepting such sugar as may be allotted by the
Federal food administrators to hotels holding a bakery license. No sugar allotted
for this special baking purpose shall be used for any other purpose.
G en era l O rder N o . 1 0 . —No public eating place shall burn any food or permit any
food to be burned, and all waste shall be saved to feed animals or reduced to obtain fats.
G en era l O rder N o : 1 1 . —No public eating place shall display or permit to be dis
played food on its premises in any such manner as may cause its deterioration so that
it can not be used for human consumption.
G en era l O rder N o . 12.- —No public eating place shall serve or permit to be served
what is known as double cream or cream de luxe; and in any event, no cream con
taining over 20 per cent of butter fat shall be served.
Under date of October 30, the Food Administration addressed the
following instructions to its hotel chairmen in all States, defining and
amplifying the foregoing orders:
G en era l O rder 4■—The intention in framing this rule was to cut down the consump
tion of meats in general without at the same time causing waste or eliminating from
the daily menu certain combinations of scrap meats or certain varieties of meat by
products generally eaten in combination with what might be called outside meat.
The Food Administration has decided to make a liberal interpretation of General
Order 4, after a careful consideration of requests that have reached it from all parts
of the country, and you will note that mince pie, larded sweetbreads, larded filet of
beef, hash, goulash, meat cakes, meat pies, and similar dishes containing two or more
kinds of meats (scraps and trimmings) may be served without violating the order;
also that liver and bacon, mixed grill, assorted cold meats, chicken, and Virginia ham,
club sandwiches and a variety of sandwiches containing different meats may be sold
at one time.
In connection with General Orders 1 and 2, while toast as a garniture is forbidden,
toast may be used under poached eggs, chipped beef, chicken hash, etc., without
affecting the service of 2 ounces of Victory bread or 4 ounces of quick breads which may
be served at the same meal. Wheat cakes, griddle cakes, buckwheat cakes and waffles
may also be served in addition to the regular bread allowance, as may pies, pastry, etc.
Crackers containing 10 per cent of wheat flour substitutes may be served.
You will note that the Law Department of the Food Administration has amended
General Order 1 to read as follows:
G en era l O rder 1 (as amended Oct. 25, 1918).—No public eating place shall serve or
permit to be served any bread or other bakery product which does not contain at;
least 20 per cent of wheat flour substitutes; provided, however, that crackers contain-'
ing at least 10 per cent of wheat flour substitutes may be served. Nor shall any public
eating place serve or permit to be served more than 2 ounces of such bread, known as
Victory bread, or if no Victory bread is served, more than 4 ounces of other bread
(such as corn bread, muffins, Boston brown bread, etc.). This order doe3 not apply
to sandwiches, bread served at boarding camps, or to rye bread containing 50 per cent
or more of pure rye flour.
W ith reference to G en era l O rder 1 2 — This applies only to service of cream on table,
including whipped cream, but according to an amendment to Rule 1 of the Special
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[3265]
116
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
License Regulations, hotels as well as other manufacturers may purchase heavy
cream.
G en era l O rder 6 .—While it is insisted that no more than one-half ounce of butter
shall be served at the table to any one person at any one meal, this order does not
affect buttered toast or any butter sauces, which are commonly used in all first-class
hotel and restaurant kitchens. I t is requested, however, that hotels and restaurants
use the least possible quantity of butter in cooking and in making sauces.
G e n era l O rder 7 .—Your attention is called to the need for enforcing the rule against
the service of more than one-half ounce of cheddar, commonly called American, cheese.
Strict observance of this General Order will necessitate giving up the service of Welsh
rarebits.
REGULATION OF PRICES IN PUBLIC EATING PLACES IN THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
In an effort to regulate prices in public eating places, except hotels,
in the District of Columbia the local food administrator addressed a
letter, dated September 28, 1918, to the proprietors of these places
calling attention to the problem of furnishing to the increasing popu
lation of Washington good, plain, wholesome food at reasonable
prices, which must be met in order to sustain the health of the war
workers. After consultation with representatives of the United
States Employment Service, with officials of the United States Food
Administration, with officials of the District Government, and with
representative proprietors of lunch rooms and cafeterias, a plan was
evolved which is set forth in the letter of the food administrator as
follows:
1. A number of proprietors of public eating places have agreed to furnish breakfast,
lunch, and dinner at prices to be stated below.
2. Officials of the Health Office of the District of Columbia will cooperate with the
inspection force of this office to institute a system of inspection of public eating places
to have supervision of the food regulations, sanitary conditions, and quality and condi
tion of portions served.
3. The organizations having charge of the social activity of our workers, especially
women and girls, will be asked to institute a campaign of education as to the vital
necessity of proper eating.
4. In order to secure larger facilities for eating, various departmental restaurants
will be asked to serve breakfast and dinner, or an evening meal, as well as lunch.
The following is a list of meals and prices which several proprietors of restaurants
lunch rooms, and cafeterias have already agreed that they would follow:
BREAKFAST.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
One egg, coffee, tea, or milk, and to a st............................................................... $0. 20
Stewed fruit, cereal, and coffee....................................................................................25
F ruit in season, cereal, toast, and coffee.................................................................... 30
Prunes, cereal, toast, and coffee............................................•......................................30
Fruit in season, one egg, coffee, and toast..................................................................30
Fruit in season, hot cakes, butter or syrup, and coffee............................................ 30
Breakfast without beverage, 5 cents less.
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LUNCH.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Beef (4 oz.) stew and bread and b u tte r............................................... . .............$0. 20
Veal and lamb stew with bread and butter................................................................25
Sandwiches, ham, tongue, cheese, salmon, or egg.....................................................10
Macaroni and cheese........................................................................................................10
With bread and b utter.............................................................................................15
Rice and cheese................................................................................................................10
With bread and butter..................
15
5. Baked beans.................................................................................................................... 10
With bread and butter........................................................................................... 15
6. Soup or chowder and bread and butter.......................................................................20
DINNER.
1. Soup, meat or fish, potato or rice, and one other vegetable, dessert, and cup
of coffee or tea, or glass of milk, bread and butter..............................................65
Coffee, tea, or m ilk..................................................................................................... 05
Cocoa or chocolate made with m ilk........................................................................ 10
The portions will be standardized.
If all public eating places will follow this list and give to their patrons an oppor
tunity at least to buy the food described at the prices mentioned, it will be possible
to procure sufficient healthful food at the rate of $1 a day.
Public eating places are further requested, as a measure of food conservation, to
serve a table d ’hôte dinner, and when such table d ’hôte dinner is served to serve
only one kind of meat or fish and certain kinds of vegetables and fiot to offer an alter
native or choice.
Seventy-five proprietors of lunch rooms replied that they would be
willing to cooperate with the Food Administration.
FOOD CONTROL IN GREAT BRITAIN.1
The introduction of ration. hooks under the general rationing
order of July 17 of the present year marked the merging into a
national scheme of the various local plans for regulating the con
sumption of sugar, butter and margarine, lard, and meat, in Great
Britain. Books issued to adults have leaves of coupons for each of
these articles, also spare leaves for other foods which local commit
tees may wish to ration. Nine forms of the book, each bound in
covers in a distinctive color, are provided for the various classes of
the population. Persons entitled to supplementary rations, as
certain manual workers, are given two of these books, one of which is
supplementary to the other. No person may hold two supplementary
ration hooks.
i Compiled, from recent issues of the National Food Journal, the official organ of the British Ministry
of Food. For preceding articles on food control in Great Britain see the Monthly R eview (now Monthly
L abor R eview ) of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March, 1917, pp. 392-407; June 1917, pp. 928945; July, 1917, pp. 69-78; November, 1917, pp. 91-104; December, 1917, pp. 99-101; February, 1918, pp.
111-116; June, 1918, pp. 58-63; July, 1918, pp. 84-94; and August, 1918, pp. 144-146.
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Special arrangements are made for invalids, vegetarians, and
Jews, by which they may obtain books modified to suit their respec
tive needs. The method adopted is to substitute special leaves for
those not applicable to their wants, such substitutions to be made
upon application to the local food office. Vegetarians are required
to sign a declaration that they do not eat meat or lard, and Jews that,
on religious grounds, they eat no bacon or lard. The leaves of
coupons for these articles are then detached from the book and
coupon leaves for butter or margarine inserted instead. For in
valids, additional coupons for meat, fats, or sugar are allowed when
the application is supported by a doctor’s certificate. Holders of
ration books are required to register with shopkeepers located in their
own district. Upon removal from one district to another free choice
of tradesmen is allowed, but a person who desires to change one or
more of his shopkeepers without such removal must furnish to the
local food office satisfactory reasons for the desired change before it
will be authorized. If the application is granted, he must surrender
his old counterfoils and other counterfoils will be issued to him.
As has been stated, the rationed foods under the present order are
sugar, butter and margarine, meat, and lard (now rationed for the
first time). Edible fats other than lard, butter, and margarine (such
as drippings and cocoa butter), are ration-free to the general public
and to residential establishments, but are rationed in bulk to catering
establishments and institutions. The order provides that the Food
Controller may from time to time prescribe the articles of food which
shall be considered rationed foods for the purposes of the order, the
amount of the ration for each article, and, in the case of any rationed
food, the amount of a particular kind that may be obtained. Ho
may also direct that any rationed food shall, subject to the conditions
and extent specified in the directions, be supplied and obtained
ration-free. An order dated July 29, 1918, fixed the weekly ration
of sugar at 8 ounces, of butter and margarine at 5 ounces, and of lard
at 2 ounces per person. The order also prescribes the kinds and
quantities of meat that may be obtained upon a coupon, also the
kinds that are ration-free.
Rationed foods may be obtained for household consumption only
up to the prescribed amount and only by means of a ration book or
other ration document available for lawful use. A person may
obtain rationed foods for household use from a retailer only where
the following conditions are complied with:
(«) Except where the Food Controller otherwise directs, he may obtain such food
only from the retailer with whom he is registered for the purpose;
(b)
Except where the relative leaf or relative part of the leaf is for the time being
deposited with the retailer in the prescribed manner, he must produce his ration book
and relative leaf or relative part or other ration document available for lawful use;
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(c) The appropriate coupon or coupons representing the amount of food obtained
must be detached and retained by the retailer, and no more may be obtained on any
coupon than the amount prescribed for that coupon; and
(d ) Any directions that ma\ be prescribed are obeyed.
The retailer is forbidden to supply any rationed food for household
consumption to a person unless the foregoing conditions have been
complied with and unless he has reasonable grounds for believing
that the ration book or other document under which the supply is
made is for the lawful use of the purchaser.
Rationed food and edible fats may be obtained for the use of
catering establishments only:
(a ) By means of an official order form, voucher, or permit issued by or under the
authority of the Food Controller for the purposes of this order;
(b ) Except to the extent to which the Food Controller otherwise directs, from the
retailer or other dealer with whom the establishment is registered for the purpose;
(c) Up to the amount specified in the relative preliminary demand note, vouchee
or perm it; and
(d ) In accordance with any directions issued for the purposes of this order.
The scale for sugar and fats in catering establishments is as follows:
Sugar.
Meal.
Butter and
margarine.
Lard and
other edible
fats.
T8ro o k hist
...................... T........... ................ .
i ounce........ 1 ounce,
Luncheon, including middle day d in n e r.. ............................... } ounce........ \ ounce........ i ounce.
Dinner, includin'; supper and meat tea or fish tea..................... f ounce........ Vounce........ { ounce.
T pb
____________ _______ ____________
i ounce___ _
. 1
Not more than one-third of the fats listed in the last column of
the above table may be lard. Dripping “ compound” and prepared
suets are to be included. In addition to other fats allowed, salad
oil may be served at table at any meal. Canteens and other places
not open to the general public are required to observe the same scale
as catering establishments, but public eating places where no meal
is served at a price exceeding Is. 2d. (28.4 cents) are exempt.
Bread and flour are now omitted from the scale for catering estab
lishments, so that the total amount that may be served is unre
stricted. The special provision restricting the consumption of
bread, cake, bun, scone, and biscuit at any meal served between
3 p. m. and 5.30 p. m. to If ounces is continued for those public
eating places to which it formerly applied. Milk may not be served
or consumed in catering or residential establishments of any character
except with tea, coffee, or cocoa. Exceptions to this rule are allowed,
however, in the case of persons residing in the establishment, of
children under 10years anywhere, and (at schools) of children under 18.
A resident in a catering establishment may surrender the current
sugar coupon from his ration book at any time after one night’s stay
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and the establishment must, if he so requests, serve him with 6
ounces of sugar. Residential establishments must also serve 6 ounces
of sugar a week, on request, to residents who have handed over their
ration books for sugar to be purchased for them. Catering establish
ments must detach a coupon for sugar, butter and margarine, and
lard from the ration books of all persons residing therein continuously
for more than 5 nights. A second coupon must be detached after
12 nights, a third after 19 nights, and so on. Account for the con
sumption of sugar, butter and margarine, and cooking fats by catering
establishments must be made on a prescribed form of register.
Caterers must also account for meat used at the rate of two-fifths of
a pound of uncooked butcher’s meat, including suet, tongue, kidneys
and skirt, per coupon. Bacon, ham, beef sausages, and certain kinds
of miscellaneous meat may be served without surrender of meat
coupons.
By way of contrasting the weekly food allowance in London and
Berlin, the August 14, 1918, issue of the National Food Journal
(p. 617) contains the following statement:
Article.
London.
Butter and mar 5 ounces.............
garine.
Meat.................... Average 16 oimces (many
kinds of meat are ration
free).
Sugar................... 8 ounces.................. . . .
Potatoes.............. Unrationed............................
Bread................... Unrationed........... ............
Berlin.
2f ounces.
8J ounces.
6J ounces.
3 pounds 4J ounces.
3 pounds 131 ounces.
The weekly fresh-meat ration shown in the above table has since
been reduced to three-quarters of a pound per capita, in order that
home-grown stocks of meat might not become depleted. Under
normal conditions Great Britain imports about one-third of its meat
supply. Recently, owing to the demands made upon its tonnage by
military requirements in the transportation of American troops, it
has been necessary to depend entirely on the home fresh meat supply.
Good reserve stocks of ham and bacon have been built up from ship
ments received from the United States during the past summer, and
the sale of these meats is at present unrestricted.
The rationing of jam, marmalade, molasses, honey, and sirup in
Great Britain was ordered by the Food Controller, effective Novem
ber 4. The size of the ration is limited to 4 ounces per week, a sup
plementary ration of 2 ounces a week being allowed children between
6 and 18 years of age. The fruit crops of England were abnormally
poor this year, and practically the entire production was taken by
the army and navy for jam-making purposes.
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C O S T O F F O O D IN N A T IO N A L R E S T A U R A N T S IN LO N D O N .
It does not need demonstration in this country that the public is
largely at the mercy of profiteering food dealers and managers of
hotels and restaurants. The following communication from Mr.
N. C. Adams, representative of the Department of Labor in Great
Britain, however, gives emphasis to this fact and, in view of the food
shortage in England and the fact that this country is in a large measure
the source of supply, it is a somewhat amazing commentary on the
situation that a restaurant can be run in London at a large profit,
can serve satisfactory meals, and can supply them at prices so low
as compared with prices for a similar quality of food in this country:
The new national restaurant opened in New Bridge Street, London, this summer
shows remarkable results from the financial point of view. The moderate price
restaurant keepers, such as the “A. B.
and others somewhat lower in price, have
been much opposed to this undertaking of the Ministry of Food", claiming that it could
not succeed without a Government subsidy, owing to the low prices charged and to the
large portions served. The figures given in the report for three weeks show, according
to the director, a profit of 70 per cent per annum, and, as has been said, “ suggest that
it is really possible to supply nourishing food in satisfying quantities at low prices and
yet obtain a very substantial profit.” All things considered, it is easy to understand
why the moderate price restaurant proprietors were disturbed by this venture. They
must be doing an immense amount of profiteering. Every moderate price eating
place in London is crowded almost to suffocation from 11.30 to 7 o’clock. The interval
between luncheon and dinner is completely filled by “ tea-time.” More often than
not, one sees a queue from 4 to Go’clock. At none of the other eating places are such
large portions served as at the national restaurant, and at most of them the prices
are slightly higher. If there is any great difference in the quality of food served it
is all in favor of the Government restaurant. The quality of food, by the way, in the
chain restaurants in London is always surprisingly good. Even in these times, with
eggs retailing at from 4s. to 6s. ($0.97 to $1.46) per dozen, one always has fresh eggs,
and I must confess that it is a comfort to be free from the disagreeable taste of the
preserved or storage egg from which we suffer in America at practically all the cheaper
places.
One is much impressed at this restaurant by the class of people who use the place.
They are nearly all rather prosperous-looking middle-class people, and I fear the people
for whom the place was supposedly designed do not get much benefit from it. Perhaps
they are a bit overawed by its appearance, or by the appearance of the majority of the
customers. Again the class distinction.
I visited this national restaurant in its first week, when it had not begun to run smoothly,
and again this week, when I found it in admirable working order. The menu for the day,
with prices, hangs outside the door. About a dozen people are admitted at a time and
they, having decided upon their order, ask the cashier just inside for checks for the total
amount they are to spend. The checks are for Id., 2d., 3d., or 4d. (2, 4, 6, or 8 cents) each.
So if one asks for Is. (24.3 cents) the cashier would give perhaps one 4d. check, one 3d.,
two 2d., and one Id. Then one proceeds to the long serving counter and gets whatever
one desires on a tray, somewhat as in our cafeterias, except that each dish is served by an
attendant who takes the necessary check in return. The tables are set with all the re
quisite cutlery, and drinking water and glasses. As a patron leaves, a girl clears and
resets the place. The tables are covered with colored print cloths which do not show
grease spots so disagreeably as a white cloth. I believe they are changed each day and
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perhaps oftener. The china and cutlery are most satisfactory. The serving tables
are attractive and the service is rapid, all things considered. On the whole, however,
the manager might learn much in that respect from a study of those marvelous Chicago
cafeterias, where a brass rail keeps customers in line and one pays after filling one’s tray.
Here, the crowd about the serving table is troublesome, but the difference in temperament
makes it possible here, while the same situation in America might be unendurable.
I lunched on soup (2d. [4 cents]), greens (2d. [4 cents]), rice pudding (3d. [6 cents]),
bread and butter—three slices—(2d. [4 cents]), and coffee (2d. [4 cents]), total lid . (22
cents), and 1 have not yet ceased being astonished at the quality and quantity of every
thing. For example, the rice pudding (made with milk) was the kind one gets at home.
The women attendants were alert, eager with suggestions, and cheerful. Everything about
the place was spotlessly clean. And, this being England, there was almost no noise and
no loud talking. Everyone was apparently enjoying his lunch and having a restful break
in his day’s work as well. That is more than wre can say for ourselves in Washington at
lunch time.
Two prosperous-looking men at my table told me they lunched there regularly and found
the quality of food unvarying and the menus changed so much each day that one never
lacked variety. The place opens at 11:30 a. m. and serves over 3,000 persons per day,
covering lunch, tea, and dinner. After the tables are once filled the doorman admits
newcomers only as other people leave, and I have seen a long queue outside. This will
be a problem when the really bad weather begins.
Prices in the first-class restaurants and the moderate price places in London to-day are
practically the same as in America, but I have never seen a place at home where I could
get for the money such a satisfactory lunch as I had at this restaurant for about 22 cents.
FOOD AND FUEL CONTROL IN FRANCE.
BEANS.
The provisions of a decree issued by the President of France, on
August 14, 1918/ fix the maximum prices of three recognized grades
of beans in both wholesale and retail markets. The wholesale prices
per 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds) are: First grade, 190 francs ($36.67);
second grade, 170 francs ($32.81); and third grade, 150 francs ($28.95).
These prices are for beans f. o. b. at shipper’s station.
The profits of intermediaries are limited as follows: 3 per cent on
cost, including cost of transportation and other expenses, on sales
by middlemen, in large quantities at the place where the beans are
grown, to wholesale merchants for sale at points of consumption;
and on sales made by wholesale merchants to retailers, 3 per cent
on the price paid by the wholesaler, if the quantity purchased is
equal to or greater than 5,000 kilograms (11,023 pounds), and 5 per
cent when less than that quantity is purchased. Retailers may not
charge a profit greater than 15 per cent on the wholesale prices.
These prices apply also to beans of the same grades of foreign pro
duction.
Shipment of beans, except for seed, by rail or water, is prohibited
unless accompanied by a certificate signed by the mayor, and de1Journal Officiel de la République Française, Paris, Aug. 19, 1918, p. 7329.
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123
daring that the purchase price was no greater than that fixed by this
decree. If the beans are purchased for seed the certificate must so
declare.
CEREALS, H A R V EST OF 1919.1
A decree dated September 13, 1918, fixes the maximum prices per
100 kilograms (220.46 pounds) to be paid to producers, for various
cereals and beans grown in 1919, purchased by millers, merchants,
and wholesalers, or by* the State, as follows: Wheat, 73 francs ($14.09);
barley, 53 francs ($10.23); corn, 53 francs ($10.23); rye, 53 francs
($10.23); buckwheat, 53 francs ($10.23); mixed wheat and rye, 60
francs ($11.58); white millet, 73 francs ($14.09); sorghum, red millet,
48 francs ($9.26); beans, 66 francs ($12.74); and oats, 53 francs
($10.23). These prices are fixed for sound, unmixed, and mer
chantable grains. Both the seller and purchaser are liable to penal
ties for any transactions in grains held over from any previous har
vest.
POTATOES.2
On and after September 25, 1918, the maximum price of yellow
potatoes is fixed at 38 francs ($7.33) and of white potatoes at
35 francs ($6.75) per 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds), delivered in
sacks at the shipping station by the producer. If delivered in bulk
a rebate of 50 centimes (9.7 cents) per 10 Okilograms is allowed.
After January 1, 1919, prices may be advanced biweekly at the rate
of 25 centimes (4.8 cents) per 100 kilograms. Shipping merchants’
prices shall not be more than 2 francs (38.6 cents) per 100 kilograms
in excess of these prices, and the prefect of each department shall
establish prices for wholesalers and other dealers, including profits
allowed, transportation, and other charges. Every wholesaler or
other dealer selling in quantities other than retail shall keep a regis
ter showing the names of seller and purchaser, quantities delivered,
and the selling prices.
Shipments of over 100 kilograms shall be made only if accompanied
with a certificate showing the commune in which grown, and affirming
that the purchase price is not in excess of the maximum permitted.
Such certificate shall not be issued until the entire quantity needed
for consumption in the commune has been distributed to the inhabit
ants,- or a sufficient quantity for that purpose has been reserved.
The purchase, transportation, or preparation of potatoes for the
manufacture of starch is prohibited except under special authoriza
tion.
1Journal Officiel de la République Française, Paris, Sept. 18,1918, p. 8167.
s Idem, Sept. 25, 1918, p. 8395. These regulations do not apply to seed potatoes, for which higher
prices may be asked.
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MILK AND D A IR Y PRODUCTS.!
In a recommendation of August 28, 1918, to the President the
minister of agriculture and food supplies points to the fact that
there has been a great increase in the price of milk due to the exces
sive development of cheese making and the resulting competition
among cheese makers. A maximum price of milk for consumption is
deemed necessary in order to provide that this class of food, so neces
sary for certain classes of persons, shall not be curtailed. It is also
recommended that in order that manufacturers shall not unduly
profit by reason of this maximum price, the price of milk used in
cheese manufacture shall be subject to all price-fixing measures.
A decree dated August 29, 1918, limits the prices of milk, cream,
butter, and cheese in all parts of the republic. These prices are to
be establishedxby the prefects in the various departments, and may
vary in different districts, the special cost of production in certain
localities, quality of milk, season and local conditions being taken
into consideration. This decree was followed on September 2, 1918,
by regulations relative to price fixing. The average price fixed as a
base for computing the retail price is 0.375 francs per liter (27.4
cents per gallon).
PO RK PR O DUCTS.5
The sale of fresh, refrigerated, salt, smoked, cooked, or preserved
pork, in all forms, including minced pork, trimmings, and tripe,
is prohibited on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of each week.
On these days no dishes containing pork in any form shall be served
in places where the public is served with meals.
Slaughtering of hogs is prohibited each week during the period from
l i p . m. Monday to 6 a. m. Thursday, and the quantity of pork, in
pounds, slaughtered each month shall not exceed one-half the amount
slaughtered in the corresponding month of 1917. Prefects shall regu
late the quantities of pork to be slaughtered each month.
The packing of pork in metal containers is prohibited. Salt packing
is prohibited, except in certain grades, and when permitted the
amount packed shall not exceed 40 per cent of the average so cured
during the corresponding month of 1915, 1916, and 1917.
Prices of preserved pork products in stock shall not exceed the
prices charged immediately before this decree is issued.
Transportation of these products by rail or post is prohibited each
week after the departure of the last train scheduled to reach the selling
point on Thursday noon.
The maximum price of pork on foot, first grade, is fixed as follows
for the three districts into which the country is divided: 5 francs,
i Journal Officiel de la République Française. Paris, Aug. 31,1918, p. 7878.
*Journal Officiel de la République Française, Oct. 3, 1918, p. 8638.
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125
4.75 francs, and 4.60 francs per kilogram (48.3, 41.6, and 40.3 cents
per pound), respectively.
VEAL.
The entire country is divided into three districts for the purpose of
fixing the maximum .price of veal on the hoof. These prices are:
5 francs, 4.70 francs, and 4.40 francs per kilogram (43.3, 41.2, and
38.5 cents per pound), respectively.
The decrees relating to pork products and veal became effective
October 1, 1918.
FOOD CONTROL.
Under date of September 30, 1918, the minister of agriculture and
food supply instituted a commission of food supply. This body is
to furnish data intended to aid the administration in price regulations
and distribution of articles of food for civilian consumption and to
investigate propositions for establishing commercial and productive
syndicates and groups for supplying food. The following bureaus are
provided for: Beef, pork, game, fish, vegetables, potatoes, milk,
butter and eggs, cheese, groceries, restaurants, and other places
where meals are served.
BA RLEY , MALT, AND BEER.
The French minister of agriculture and food supplies recommended
and the President approved on August 15, 1918, a new decree rela
tive to the manufacture and sale of beer.1 The minister in his
recommendation says in part:
A large portion of the barley heretofore obtainable has been used in bread making,
and, owing to the lack of transportation facilities, the supply of barley has been in
sufficient to furnish it for other purposes. The decrease in the production of beer
has been oppressive, particularly on the laboring classes of the north where it is an
article of food of prime necessity.
We feel that it is important to place the industry on the same basis as that of 1916;
to assure this 200,000 quintals (19,684 long tons) of barley will be placed monthly at
the disposition of the brewers.
The increased price of barley necessitates a corresponding increase in the price of
malt and beers at wholesale, and must react on retail prices; but if the price at
retail becomes excessive the department will not hesitate to establish a just ratio of
prices.
The more important provisions of the decree which became effec
tive September 1, 1918, are as follows: The central committee for
the distribution of barley and malt is charged with the duty of sup
plying malt houses, brewers, yeast makers, or makers of toasted
malts used in the manufacture of hygienic drinks, and with the
supervision of establishments engaged in brewing or selling beer.
A committee is created to arbitrate all disputes referred to it aris
ing between establishments or classes of establishments.
Journal Officiel de la République Française, Aug. 19,1918, p. 7328.
87721°—18---- -9
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The management of the establishments engaged in brewing and
allied trades must submit to all orders, inspections, or examinations
demanded by accredited agents of the central committee, and lend
their aid in all measures of supervision.
Every establishment using any of the various classes of barley for
manufacturing purposes must prepare a statement each month, under
such form as the committee shall prescribe, showing the quantities
of barley and malt on hand, and the quantity of beer in degreehectoliters produced during the preceding month.
For covering the expense of the committee a tax of 10 centimes
(1.93 cents) per quintal (220.46 pounds) is placed on all barley used,
and of 1 centime (0.19 cent) per degree-hectoliter (26.4 gallons) of
beer manufactured.
The quantity of barley, of whatever class, and of malt produced or
imported for beer making is subject to the supervision of the central
committee, which shall determine the conditions and proportions of
distribution. One-tenth of the supply is not subject to distribution,
but is reserved for special needs as they may arise.
All orders for barley or malt must be placed with the central com
mittee, which shall make the allotments in conformity with the direc
tions issued by the undersecretary of food supplies. Direct purchases
are prohibited.
All malt houses and breweries in operation in 1913 may participate
in the distribution. Breweries which used less than 100 quintals
(22046.2 pounds) of barley per month in 1916 may be supplied with
malt only.
Shipment of malt by any means of transportation is prohibited
except on production of a permit issued by the central committee.
The manufacture of “ stout” or “ pale ale” and any form of beer
having a density greater than 4 degrees, and the sale of such beer,
except imported, is prohibited.
The price of barley delivered through the office of the undersecre
tary of food supply is fixed at 75 francs ($14.48) per quintal (220.46
pounds), f. o. b. shipper’s railroad station, the purchaser furnishing
the sacks. The maximum price of malt is fixed at 137 francs ($26.44)
per quintal, delivered at the malt house or f. o. b. shipper’s railroad
station. The malt house furnishes the sacks, which are to be returned
within 30 days, subject to penalty for a longer delay and an invoice
if not delivered within 2 months.
For beers having a 2 per cent density the maximum price is fixed at
50 francs ($9.65); having a 3 per cent density at 69 francs ($13.32),
and having a 4 per cent density at 80 francs ($15.44) per hectoliter
(26.4 gallons), delivered at the brewery in containers returnable
within 40 days.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N TH LY LABOE REVIEW.
127
Manufacturers must post in conspicuous places in their establish
ments, and furnish their agents, a circular designating the degree of
density and the selling price of beer brewed by them.
M UNICIPAL M ARKETS, P A R IS.1
The second commission of the municipal council of Paris has decided
to increase the number of municipal meat markets where, in addition
to beef and mutton, refrigerated pork products are placed on sale; also
to open five or six stands in each quarter for the sale of salted prod
ucts, rice, dried vegetables and conserves, etc., at fixed prices..
Retail dealers who consent to sell at these prices will have equal rights
in securing supplies from the municipal stock.
Similar measures will be adopted for the approaching winter for
the distribution and regulation of prices of potatoes in the capital.
R E ST A U R A N T REGULATIO NS.2
All hotels, restaurants, and other establishments serving food shall
place on each table a card indicating the price of each article served.
When the price of a meal exceeds 6 francs ($1.16) only two dishes,
garnished with vegetables or not, may be served; but a soup, one side
dish or oysters, and a dessert may be added. Meat served shall not
exceed 200 grams (7 ounces) with bone, or 150 grams (5.3 ounces)
without bone. In establishments known as “ de luxe,” charging in
excess of 20 francs ($3.86), the patron must be provided wuth a table
cloth, and the meal shall consist of two dishes, one of which must be
meat, soup, a side dish or oysters, bread, a dessert, and ordinary wine,
beer, or mineral water and coffee.
ECONOMIC POLICE.»
Under the provisions of a decree of June 30, 1918, the undersecre
tary of food supplies has established a special service of supervision
and control of food prices. Agents have been appointed who are
especially charged with the duty of seeing that lists of food prices are
posted and published, of investigating all attempts at speculation, and
exaggerated profits, market conditions and fluctuations in prices, and
to take all possible measures to prevent abnormal prices and an
increase in cost of living. These economic police are attached to
the central administration of food supplies and are to be constantly
on duty in all parts of the country and have been directed to report
for prosecution every case of abuse discovered in the course of their
investigations.
1 La République Française, Paris, Aug. 22,1918.
* Journal Officiel de la République Française, Paris, Sept. 25,1918, p. 8394.
* La République Française, Paris, Aug. 17,1918.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1277]
128
M ONTHLY LABOE EEYIEW.
GASOLINE.1
Under date of August 21, 1918, a decree was issued establishing
control of gasoline and combustibles. The following statement in the
decree indicates its importance:
The increasing development of new war engines, airplanes, tractors, etc., the con
stant extension of their use in all portions of the republic, and the greatly increased
numbers of allied troops constantly arriving, together with the extraordinary demands
for gasoline for agricultural and transportation service, necessitate a constant read
justment of the program adopted for its use. This demand has assumed an importance
which requires greater supervision than the administrative service now charged with
the duty of purchase, importation, refining, distribution, and consumption can give.
It seems, therefore, that a centralization and a closer coordination of all these duties
should be inaugurated.
On the date mentioned a new bureau, attached to the department
of agriculture and food supply, and designated as the “ Commission
General of Petroleum and Combustibles,” was created.
Its principal duties are as follows : To secure a supply of petroleum,
its products, lubricants, carburets, and combustibles, for France, its
colonies and protectorates, and also a supply of mineral and vegeta
ble fuel, tobacco, matches, etc. ; to enter into agreements relative to
the purchase, importation, transportation, production, distribution,
maintenance of stocks, development and exploitation of natural
resources, new works, refining, manufacture, etc., of petroleum and
its products; to make purchases and releases in France and in foreign
markets, as well as to provide for financing such operations; to exer
cise a general supervision over all trading in, and industrial uses of,
petroleum, its products, mineral oils, burning fluids, carburets, and
lubricants; to assure provisions to the armies by providing for supplies
according to the needs of the national and allied armies, distribution
to the civil population and all classes of consumers; to maintain a
strict supervision on all questions relative to the acquisition,' distri
bution, and use of any of these substances; to propose measures
necessary for storing, adapting and adjusting warehouses, cisterns,
workshops, pipe lines, and other establishments necessary to assure
the execution of this decree; to propose and encourage domestic
and colonial production of petroleum, bituminous schists, bitumen,
asphalt, and all other substances from which carburets or liquid
combustibles may be extracted.
COAL.*
In fixing the prices of coal the kind, size, ash content, and grade
are taken into consideration. Prices are for coal of French produc
tion f. o. b. at station. In one anthracite mine there are seven
i J o u r n a l Officiel de la République Française, Paris, Aug. 23,1918, p. 7434.
* I d e m ., Sept. 20, 1918, p. 8223.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1278]
M O N TH LY LABOE BEVIEW .
129
recognized grades, as determined by ash content and size. The first
grade has less than 15 per cent ash content and the cheapest grade
between 21 and 30 per cent. The prices of these seven grades per metric
ton (2,204.6 pounds) vary from 79.15 francs (115.28) for the best three
grades to 30.15 francs ($5.82) for the cheapest grade. These prices
became effective July 1, 1918. Prices of coal produced by the
Plamores mine vary, according to the same method of determining
the quality, from 26.50 francs to 41 francs ($5.11 to $7.91) through
10 grades. Prices of the various grades produced by the mines of
the Loire, and having an ash content of less than 18 per cent, vary
from 42 to 60.50 francs ($8.11 to $11.68) through 15 grades. The
prices for these two mines became effective September 1, 1918.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ri279]
COOPERATION.
N A T IO N A L C O O P E R A T I V E C O N V E N T I O N A T S P R IN G F IE L D , ILL.
The most significant event in the American cooperative movement
was the National Cooperative Convention which was held in the
statehouse at Springfield, 111., on September 25, 26, and 27, 1918,
under the auspices of the Cooperative League of America. Delegates
and representatives were present from all parts of the United States.
Labor was strongly represented. Most of the papers and discussions
were by workingmen, and the chief object of the convention devel
oped in the formation of a national cooperative wholesale house as a
medium of supply to upward of 1,000 retail cooperatives in the United
States, of which number about 500 were directly represented at the
convention. These retail cooperatives, it was stated by Ernest O. F.
Ames, president of the Pacific Cooperative League, of San Francisco,
do $100,000,000 worth of business a year. The new national coop
erative wholesale house will deal also with cooperative producers’
organizations that do an estimated annual business of over $200,000,000
in the United States, and it will affiliate with cooperatives in Canada
and Mexico.
The national cooperative wholesale house will be run on the Roch
dale basis, returning quarterly pro rata to consumers all profits above
the actual operating expenses and a sum reserved for extensions.
Its president is Dalton T. Clarke, who heads the Tri-State Cooperative
Association (wholesale), of Pittsburgh. Associated with Mr. Clarke
are C. F. Lowrie, manager of organization department, Cooperative
Wholesale Society of America, for the Minnesota and Montana region ;
Carl E. Lunn, manager, Puget Sound Cooperative Wholesale Society;
John Nummivuori, manager, Cooperative Central Exchange of the
Finnish Societies of the Central States; Duncan McDonald, general
organizer, Cooperative League of America and secretary, Central
States Cooperative Society; and K. E. Grendahl, of Fitchburg, Mass.,
representing the cooperatives of the Eastern States, including New
England.
The new organization, like the Cooperative Wholesale Society of
Great Britain, will proceed to establish warehouses at shipping centers
wherever deemed necessary, and it is authorized to merge existing
cooperative wholesale houses and to organize a department to estab
lish the merger and to found a national cooperative newspaper.
130
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1280]
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
131
Mr. Clarke, explaining the purposes of the organization, said that
it was planned to base it upon the individual members—the retail
Rochdale cooperative stores of America—and to admit none others as
members than those formed on the Rochdale basis. These stores, he
stated, feel compelled by pressure of outside influences to unite in
common defense. Cooperation among retail stores in loose federa
tions for collective buying are found to be insufficient, even when they
have subscribed stock and built warehouses. The Puget Sound
wholesale, the Central States wholesale, the Tri-State, the Pacific
Coast League, and the Wisconsin group have their difficulties with
competing wholesalers and jobbers, which they believe will disappear
under a unified command. This will supply the special abilities of the
best men of each group—men qualified for organizing in one group, finan
cial men in another, expert accountants in another, and shrewd buyers
in others—who will give the seven groups concerned the immediate
benefit of their collective experience. The organization will finally
resemble that of the labor unions, which are formed into State federa
tions, with national and international bodies above them. Owned
from below and managed democratically from below, the ware
houses supervised by the national organization will ultimately be
erected in every important center of the country. It is planned to
send out organizers to raise the necessary capital, or help raise it,
for the principle of self-help will be everywhere invoked by forming
local committees who will work under the national organizers; their
members will speak various languages and go from house to house in
the districts assigned them, and from group to group in the work of
affiliation.
Mr. C. O. Boring, of Evanston, 111., announced that as administra
tor of the estate of the late Henry C. Childs, of Colorado Springs,
he was prepared to put this estate to the purpose of founding a
national cooperative college, especially for the benefit of workingmen
of the United States. Its purpose will be to train managers and
organizers of cooperative business in the industrial centers of the
country, and it is pledged to the Rochdale principle on which the
British cooperatives are run.
Addresses were delivered by James P. Warbasse, president, Cooper
ative League of America, on The World Movement Toward Coopera
tion, recording the immense advances of the movement in all coun
tries, especially of those of the allied powers since the war began;
on Manufacturing by Consumers, by Carl E. Lunn, of the Puget Sound
Cooperatives; on Cooperation, Labor, and Winning the War for
Democracy, by John H. Walker, president, Illinois State Federation
of Labor; on The Cooperative Movement iir Labor, by J. C. Lewis,
president, Iowa United Mine Workers of America, and on Labor,
Cooperation, and World Reconstruction, by John F. McNamee,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1281]
132
M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW.
editor and manager, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen’s Journal. There were also round-table discussions by
other prominent cooperative authorities of the United States and
Canada. As indicative of the great war growth of the cooperative
movement the following telegram to the convention from Isaac J.
Sherman, of the Moscow Cooperative People’s Bank, may be cited:
N e w Y o r k , S e p te m b e r 24, 1918.
Dr. J a m e s W a r b a s s e ,
N a tio n a l C o o p e ra tiv e C o n v e n tio n , S ta te h o u se , S p r in g fie ld , III.
Beg convey sincere wishes for successful work from Moscow Narodny Bank, which I
represent in this country. I trust the national convention in Springfield will begin a
new era of powerful development for American cooperation. In the trial times through
which Russia is passing, cooperators are courageously struggling on behalf of the
people and energetically pursuing the aim of reconstructing economic life on a
cooperative basis. Russian cooperation embraces 50,000 societies, 75 per cent of
which are in Great Russia and Siberia; the membership exceeds 20,000,000 house
holders. All-Russian Central Union of Consumers’ Societies embraces 250 unions,
25.000 individual societies; consumers and credit unions are running 425 industrial
concerns. The powerful Central Unions of Producers’ Associations control agri
cultural resources of the country. The Central Flax Growers’ Association embraces
1.500.000 peasant households. The Union of Siberian Creamery Associations em
braces 1,600 creameries, 1,400 distributive stores. The Moscow Narodny Bank,
which is an All-Russian Central Cooperative Bank, increased its capital from
1,000,000 rubles in 1912 to 35,000,000 rubles in 1918. Deposits exceed 800,000,000
rubles, turnover for 1917, 3,000,000,000 rubles, loans to cooperators over 425,000,000
rubles. The New York Agency received last month half a million dollars’ worth
of cooperative produce. More shipments are coming. In the gloomy darkness of
Russian life Cooperation is the light of hope and salvation foreshadowing a better
future. Long live American Cooperation. Long live Cooperative Unity.
S h e r m a n , M a n a g er N e w Yorlc A g e n c y ,
M oscow N a r o d n y B a n k .
The 20,000,000 householders mentioned in this dispatch represent
at least 90,000,000 Russian people fed, clothed, and otherwise sup
plied by the Russian cooperatives, a growth during the war of over 66
per cent.
The telegram was accompanied by a cablegram, dated in London,
from the Russian cooperative representatives there, as follows:
L o n d o n , S e p te m b e r 22.
C h a ir m a n , N a t io n a l C o o p e r a t iv e C o n v e n t io n ,
S ta te h o u se , S p r in g fie ld , III.
On behalf of the Russian cooperative organizations which we represent in Great
Britain we send our fraternal greetings and best wishes to American cooperators.
Russian cooperative movement embraces 50,000 individual societies with member
ship of 20,000,000, and is the only force capable of and actually regenerating the
welfare of the nation. We are deeply convinced that international cooperation
provides a firm basis for economic reconstruction of the world and consolidation of
fraternity.
(Signed)
B u bno ff, M o sc o w N arodn y B ank.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
K r y s in , A ll- R u s s ia n C e n tra l U n io n o f C o n su m e rs’ S o c ie tie s.
M o r o s o f f , U n io n o f S ib e r ia n C o o p e ra tiv e U n io n s, llZ a k u p s b y t.,>
Y a r k o f f , U n io n o f S ib e r ia n C ream ery A s s o c ia tio n s .
[1282]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR.
EIGHT-HOUR BASIC DAY ADOPTED BY THE STEEL CORPORATION.
Announcement has been made by the president of the United
States Steel Corporation that its finance committee has unanimously
approved the recommendation of the chairman and the president of
the corporation, and of the presidents of subsidiary companies, to adopt
an eight-hour basic day, effective October 1, 1918. The announce
ment affects approximately 250,000 employees and is applicable to
the mines as well as the factories of the corporation. Many of the
plants are of necessity operated continuously 24 hours each day, the
men working in two shifts of 12 hours each. Mechanics work in one
shift of 10 hours. The new order affects both groups of men, the
excess over eight hours being paid for at the rate of time and one-half.
It is announced that the open-shop plan heretofore in force through
out the works will be continued.
UNION SCALES IN THE BUILDING, METAL, AND STONE TRADES, AND
IN FREIGHT HANDLING.
In the September, 1918, M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w there were
published the union scales of wages and hours of labor as of May 15,
1918, and May 15, 1917, for the principal occupations in the build
ing, granite and stone, and metal trades and in freight handling in
the principal industrial cities of the North Atlantic division of the
United States. In the October L a b o r R e v i e w there were published
the union scales for the same dates, and the same industries and occu
pations, in the principal cities of the North Central division of the
country. In this issue of the L a b o r R e v i e w there is published a
continuation of the union scales for the same industries and occupa
tions in the chief industrial cities of the South Atlantic, South Cen
tral, and Western divisions of the country. Known changes since
May 15, 1918, are indicated in footnotes. The scales as of the two
dates are printed in parallel columns so. that comparison may be
made between the two years.
The information was collected by special agents of the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics in personal calls on the local union
officials.
Included in the table are the following occupations in shops of rail
roads under control of the United States Director General of Rail
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 2 8 3 ]
133
134
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
roads: Blacksmiths, boilermakers, machinists, sheet-metal workers,
and their helpers.
On July 25, 1918, Supplement No. 4 1 to General Order No. 272
awarded to journeymen of the above trades a minimum rate of 68
cents per hour, and to helpers 45 cents per hour, recognized the prin
ciple of a basic eight-hour day and made provisions for overtime.
The award was made retroactive to January 1, 1918; therefore the
awarded scale is included in this table, which, as stated, reports as of
May 15, 1918. Single-time rate is applied to the basic eight hours, and
noted for any additional time which constituted the recognized work
ing day before the award was made. Overtime rate and rates for
work on Sundays and holidays, which were in effect on May 15, 1918,
prior to the award, are shown in the table. For overtime after a basic
eight-hour day and for work on Sundays and holidays the award
fixed a rate of time and one-half to be effective as of August 1, 1918.
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN TH E SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917.
BUILDING TRADES.
May 15, 1918.
Num
ber
R ate of wages—
O ccupation, geographical
division, a n d city.
For
Sun
Per
For days
Per week, over
hour. full time. and
holi
tim e.
days.
Hours:
F ull days;
Saturdays;
full week.
R ate of
wages—
of
mos.
w ith
Sat
Per
u r
day Per week,
full
half hour. tim
e.
holi
day.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
R é g u le ir r a te
ASBESTOS W O R K ER S.
South A tlantic:
Baltimore, M d......................
W ashington, D. C ...............
South Central:
Dallas, T ex............................
H ouston, T e x .......................
New Orleans, L a .................
W estern:
Portland, Oreg.....................
San Francisco, Cal...............
Seattle, W ash .......................
May 15, 1917.
75.0
<53.1
33.00
25.50
by
n
U
32
32
8-4-44
8-8-48
12 53.1
53.1
25.50
25.50
8-8-48
8 8 48
62.5
568.8
62.5
30.00
33.00
30.00
lj
lè
2
3l i
3li
8-8-48
8-8-48
59.4
59.4
(6)
28.50
28.50
(6)
8-8-48
8 - 8 48
(6)
72.5
72.5
87.5
34.80
34.80
38.50
2
2
2
2
2
2
7 8 - 8 -48
78 - 8 -48
8-4-44
3
3
12
50.0
62.5
62.5
22.00
27.50
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
860.0
1075.0
50.6
30.00
33.00
31.25
2
lì
2
2
2
9-5-50
8-4-44
8-8-48
12
12
60.0
75.0
40.0
30.00
33.00
21.60
« 9 - 5 -50
8-4-44
» 9 - 8 -53
C e n ts. D o l l s .
C e n ts. D o l l s .
2
BRICK LAYERS.
South A tlantic:
A tlanta, G a ...........................
Baltimore, M d ......................
Charleston, S. C ...................
Jacksonville, Fla.—
U nion A .............................
U nion B .............................
lì
8-8-48
2
62.5 30.00
8-8-48
62.5 30.00
2
1 See pages 131-134 of the September, 1918, Monthly L aboe R eview .
1 See pages 1-45 of the June, 1918, Monthly R eview .
s Triple time for Labor Day.
<Scale became 62.5 cents oh July 1, 1918.
* Scale became 75 cents on Aug. 31, 1918.
• No scale in effect on May 15, 1917.
7 44 hours per week June to August, inclusive.
I Scale became 70 cents on June 1, 1918.
*54 hours per week, October to April, inclusive.
>• Scale became $1 on Aug. 1, 1918.
II Work 53 hours, paid for 54.
m Scale became 75 cents and 44 hours on Aug. 1, 1918.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U62.5
75.0
30.00
36.00
11
lì
[1 284]
8-8-48
8 - 8 -13
135
M O NTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
U N IO N SCALE O F W A G E S A N D H O U R S OF L A B O R IN EA C H T R A D E , IN T H E SO U TH
A T L A N T IC , SO U T H C E N T R A L , A N D W E S T E R N ST A TES, ON MAY 15, 1918, A N D MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
N um
R ate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
w ith
For
Full days;
Sun
Per
Per
Saturdays: Sat
ur Per week,
For days
full week.
Per week, over
day hour.
full
hour. full time. and
half
holi
tim e.
tim e.
holi
days.
day.
R ate of wages-
O ccupation, geographical
division, a n d city.
brick layers—conclud ed.
South A tlantic—Concluded.
Norfolk, Va., d istric t..........
R ichm ond, V a.....................
W ashington, D. C ...............
South Central:
Birm ingham , A la ................
Fire-brick w o rk ................
D allas, T ex ............................
H ouston, T e x .......................
L ittle Rock, A rk .................
Louisville, K y ......................
Memphis, T e n n ...................
N ashville, T e n n ...................
New Orleans, L a .................
W estern:
B utte, M ont..........................
Denver, Colo.........................
Los Angeles, C al..............
Portland, Oreg.....................
Salt Lake City, U ta h .........
San Francisco, Cal...............
Seattle, W a sh .......................
Spokane, W ash ....................
Cents. Dolls.
75.0
75.0
75.0
33.00
33.75
33.75
87.5
38.50
35.10
87.5
38.50
44.00
38.50
33.00
38.50
35.20
27.50
165.0
100.0
87.5
75.0
87.5
80.0
62.5
8
100.0
100.0
75.0
W87.5
87.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
Requier rate
multiplied
by
2
2li
(<)
6l ì
lì
lì
2
li
li
lì
lì
2li
12
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
It
8-4-44
8 8 - 5 -45
‘8-5-45
12
3
7
Cents. Dolls.
75.0
75.0
70.0
33.00
33.75
31.50
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
8-4-44
88 - 5 -45
8 8 - 5 -45
8-4-44
9-9-54
12
70.0
50.0
30.80
27.00
8-4-44
9-9-54
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
i2
87.5
87.5
87.5
70.0
82.5
70.0
62.5
38.50
38.50
38.50
30.80
36.30
30.80
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
*8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
48.00
38.50
27.50
33.00
38.50
38.50
35.75
38.50
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
12
100.0
48.00
44.00
33.00
38.50
38.50
44.00
44.00
44.00
2
n li
2
2 2
2
li
2
lì
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
1.2
12
12
12
12
12
12
87.5
62.5
75.0
87.5
87.5
81.3
87.5
44.00
2
8-4-44
12
100.0
44.00
8-4-44
75.0
36.00
41.25
8-8-48
8-4-44
li
li
li
li
li
92
bricklayers: sewer , tun-
NEL, AND CAISSON WORK.
South Central:
Houston, T e x .......................
W estern:
B utte, M ont........................ U93.8
Seattle, W a sh ....................... 112.5
100.0
45.00
49.50
li
li
2
2l i
8-8 -48
8-4-44
12
93.8
BUILDING LABORERS.
South Atlantic:
8-4-44
43.8 19.25
8-4-44
Baltimore, M d..................... 56.3 24.75
li
W ashington, D. C.—
8-4-44
8
4
4
4
u
2
13.75
31.3
Building w ork.................. l340.0 19.20
li
8-8-48
-48
2
31.3 15.00
Plum bing w o rk . . . . . . .
2
62.5 30.00
South Central:
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 25.0 11.00
2
Houston, T e x ....................... 10.31.0 13.64
li
9-9-54
9-9-54
L ittle Hock, A rk ___ ____
2
25.0 13.50
35.0 18.90
li
9-9-54
12 22.2
2
9-5-50
Louisville, K y ...................... 30.0 15.00 16 1Ì
1 W ork on New Y ear’s Day, Ju ly 4, Labor Day, and Christmas D ay prohibited.
2 Double tim e after m idnight.
s 44J hours per week, December to February, inclusive.
4 Overtime work prohibited. '
» 4 4 ¡, hours per week, October to A pril, inclusive.
6 And on S aturday afternoon.
i More th a n half of th e members received more th a n th e scale; am ount not reported.
8 Scale became 75 cents on Aug. 6, 1918.
8 W ork on Saturday afternoon prohibited.
18 Scale became $1 on Ju ly 1,1918.
u For Sundays; double tim e for holidays.
>2 Scale became $1 on Ju ly 4, 1918.
is Scale became 50 cents on Ju n e 27,1918.
n Time and one-half on Saturday afternoon.
16 Scale became 45 cents on July 1, 1918.
88 Double tim e after 7 p. m-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
8-8
12
12
12.00
[1 2 8 5 ]
136
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15,1918.
Rate of wagesOccupation, geographical
division, and city.
For
Per
Sun
For days
Per week, over
hour. full time. and
holi
time.
days.
BUILDING LABORERS—concld.
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
Denvér, Colo......................
Los Angeles, Cal................
Portland, Oreg...................
San Francisco, Cal.............
Fxca ating......................
Seattle, W ash.....................
F xcava1ing......................
Tunnel and caisson work.
Spokani^ Wash...................
C e n ts. B o l l s .
756 3
53.1
43.8
450.0
643.8
643.8
56.3
150.0
62.5
50.0
R e g u le ir r a te
m u ltip lie d
by—
27.00 2 70c. 2 70c.
25.50 3 H
2
21.00
Û
14
24.00 81|
2
2'
2
21.00
21.00
2
2
27.00
2
14
22 00
2
14
30.00 <»>
1
24.00
2
H
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
Hours:
Full days; with
Full days;
Per
Saturdays; Sat
Saturdays;
ur Per week, full
full week.
week.
day hour.
full
half
time.
holi
day.
8 8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
C en ts. D o l l s .
46.9
12 43.8
12 34,4
37-5
37.5
37.5
12 4 3 .8
12 3 7 .5
50.0
12 43.8
22- 50
19.25
15.13
18.00
18 . no
18.00
19 25
18.00
24.00
21.00
8 8 48
8 - 4 -4 4
8-4-44
8 8 48
8 8 48
8 8 48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
CARPENTERS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga......................... 950.0 25.00
14
2
12 50.0 25.00
9-5-50
9-5-50
Baltimore, Md.................... 1062.5 27.50
2
8-4-44
12 50.0 22.00
8-4-44
14
Charleston, S. C.—
Unions A and B.............. 750.0 24.00
2
33 3 18 00 U Q 8 53
8 - 8 48
14
Union C ........................... 737.5 18.00 72 if
2
8 - 8 48
3 3 .3
18.00
77 9 - 8 -53
Jacksonville, Fla.—
R
R 43
Union A........................... 7340.0 19.20
2
8 - 8 -48
37. 5 18 00
14
Union B........................... 45.0 21.60
2
8 8 48
14
(»)
(“ )
(“ )
Norfolk, Va., district—
Norfolk, Va...................... 62.5 27.50
14
2
8-4-44
12 50.0 24.00
8-8-48
Portsmouth, V a.............. 62.5 30.00
50 0 94 00
8 - 8 48
14
14
Richmond, Va.................... 62.5 30.00
2
14
8J- 5J-48
12 4 3 .8 21 .0 0
8J- 51-48
Washington, D. C .............. 1662. 5 27. 81
2 7‘ 8 - 4-i-44J
12 62.5 27.81
8 - 4>-444
14
South Central:
\\
Birmingham, Ala............... 1655.0 26. 40
2 76 8 8 48
45 0 21 60
Dallas, T e x ..... . .......... 7762.5 27. 50 72 14
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
8-4-44
Houston, Tex..................... 75.0 33.00
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
8-4-44
14
Little Rock, Ark................ 7860.0 26. 40
14
2 79 8 - 4 -44
12 60.0 26.40
79 8 - 4 -44
Louisville, Ky.................... 60.0 26. 40 23 14
2
8-4-44
12 50.0 22.00
8-4-44
Memphis, Term.................. 65.0 28.60 72 14
2
8-4-44
12 55.0 24. 20
8-4-44
Nashville, T enn................. 750.0 22.00 314
2
8-4-44
12 40.0 17.60
8-4-44
New Orleans, L a................ 2150.0 24. 00
2
8-8-48
40.0 19.20
8-8-48
14
Western:
Butte, Mont........................ 2287.5 38.50
2
8 - 4 -4 4
12 87.5 38.50
8-4-44
14
Denver, Colo...................... 75.0 33.00
8 - 4 -4 4
12 70.0 30.80
8-4-44
14 23 li
Los Angeles, Cal................. 62.5 30. 00
2
14
8-8-48
50.0 24.00
8-8-48
1Scale became 62.5 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
2Rate in cents per hour.
8 Double time after 10 p. m.
IScale became 62.5 cents on July 1, 1918.
* Double time after 8 hours.
8Scale became 50 cents on July 1, 1918.
78Overtime
More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
work prohibited.
9Scale became 60 cents on July 1, 1918.
10Scale became 70 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
II Work 53 hours, paid for 54.
82Double time after midnight.
13Scale became 55 cents on June 1, 1918.
14Not organized on May 15, 1917.
16Scale became 75 cents and 44 hours on July 1, 1918. 16Scale became 65 cents and 44 hours on June 1,1918.
17Scale became 80 cents on July 1, 1918.
18Scale became 70 cents on July 1, 1918.
•
79Work on Saturday alternoon prohibited.
20Double time after 7 p. m.
27Scale became 54 cents on June 1, 1918.
22Scale became $1 on July 1, 1918.
23Work on July 4, Labor Day, Christmas Day, and Saturday afternoon prohibited.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1286]
137
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917
R a te of w agesO ccupation, geographical
d ivision , and city.
For
Per
For Sun
Per w eek, over days
hour. full tim e. and
tim e.
holi
days.
c a rpenters —concluded.
W estern—C oncluded.
C e n ts .
Portlan d, O reg...................... 75.0
S a lt Lake C ity, U ta h .......... 175.0
San Francisco, Cal................ 75.0
Stair b uilders...................... 75.0
S eattle, W ash ......................... 82.5
Spokane, W ash ...................... 75.0
2
2
D o lls .
33.00
33.00
33.00
33.00
36.30
33.00
Hours:
F u ll days;
Saturdays;
full week.
R e q u h ir r a te
m u ltip lie d
by
2
2 21-i
2 2
2 2
32
li
n
H
.
N um
R a te of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
w ith
Sat
Per
ur
Per week,
day
hour.
full
half
tim e.
holi
day.
C e n ts .
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 56.3
12 75.0
12 68.8
12 75.0
12 65.0
12 62.5
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
D o lls .
24.75
33.00
30.25
33.00
28.60
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
55.0
33.00
10 -10 -60
62.5
62.5
(•)
30.00
27.50
(*)
8-8-48
8-4-44
(•)
75.0
82.5
50.0
50.0
22.00
33.00
36.30
24.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
56.3
27. 00
8-8-48
50.0
62.5
70.0
24.00
27.50
30.80
8-8-48
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
62.5
30.00
30.00
27.50
40.50
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
9-9-54
49.50
33.00
27. 50
36. 00
33.00
33.00
36.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
-48
- 4 -44
8-8-48
8-8-48
ca r pen ter s ; millwrights .
South Central:
M emphis, T en n .....................
W estern:
San Francisco, Cal................
O utside.................................
S eattle, W ash .........................
65.0
39.00
75.0
75.0
<75.0
36.00
33.00
33.00
«75.0
97.5
<60.0
54.0
33.00
42.90
26.40
25.92
li
li
“li
li
62.5
30. 00
li
62.5
75,0
1070.0
27.50
33.00
30.80
2l i
»62.5
»62.5
75.0
75.0
30.00
30.00
33.00
33.00
13l f
13l ì
112.5
75.0
1587.5
75.0
87.5
81.3
87.5
49.50
33.00
38.50
36.00
38.50
39.00
42.00
2l i
2l ì
li
2
2
li
2
2
2
2
10 -10 -60
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
..
12
c a rpenters : parquetr y -
FLOOR LAYERS.
South Central:
D allas, T e x ............................
H ouston, T e x .........................
N a sh ville, T e n n .....................
N ew Orleans, L a ...................
W estern:
Los Angeles, Cal....................
7
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
12
12
12
8-8-48
cem ent f in ish e r s .
South A tlantic:
B altim ore, Md........................
Norfolk, V a., d is tr ic t..........
W ashington, D . C .................
South Central:
Birm ingham , A la ..................
D allas, T ex ..............................
H ouston, T e x .........................
L ittle R ock, A rk ...................
W estern:
B u tte, M ont............................
D enver, C olo..........................
Portland, Oreg......................
Salt Lake C ity, U ta h ..........
San Francisco, Cal................
S eattle, W a sh .........................
Spokane, W ash ......................
li
li
li
li
li
lè
2
»2
2
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
» 8 - 4 -44
«2H
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12 62.5
6 75.0
12 112.5
12 75.0
12 62.5
75.0
12 75.0
68.8
75.0
' Scale became 82.5 cents on June 1,1918.
2 Scale became 87.5 cents on Aug. 5, 1918.
s Time and one-half on Saturday afternoon.
* More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
6Not organized on May 15,1917.
6 Scale became 92.5 cents on July 1, 1918.
7 Double time after midnight.
8 Double time after 10 p. m.
9 Work on Saturday afternoon prohibited.
10 Scale became 75 cents on June 1, 1918.
n Scale became 75 cents on Sept. 1, 1918.
i* Scale became 75 cents on July 1,1918.
13 Double time on Satin-day after 5 p. m.
» 48 hours per week, October to March, inclusive.
16Scale became $1 on July 1,1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1287]
8-8
8
138
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
U N IO N SCALE O F W A G ES A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN EA C H T R A D E , IN T H E SO U TH
A TL A N T IC , SO U TH C E N T R A L , AN D W E S T E R N ST A TES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917
Num
ber
of
Rate of wagesOccupation, geographical
division, and city.
For
Per
For Sun
Per week, over days
hour. full time. and
time.
holi
days.
CEM EN T F IN IS H E R S '
H ELPER S.
Woctorii •
C en ts. D o l l s .
Salt Lake City, U tah......... 75.0 36.00
San Francisco, Cal.............. 75.0 33.00
CEM EN T "WORKERS:
ERS.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
R e g u l ir r a te
m u lt i p lie d
by
Rate of
wages—
with
Sat
Per
ur Per week,
day hour.
full
half
time.
holi
day.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
C en ts. D o l l s .
là
2
2
2
8-8-48
8-4-44
62.5
12 62.5
30.00
27. 50
8-8-48
8-4-44
2
H
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 50.0
12 43.8
22. 00
21.00
8 - 8 - 4 8
27.00 2 70c.
1
24.00
2
35. 75
42.00 ‘ là
1
2
2
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
50. 0
50. 0
12 75.0
60.0
24. 00
24.00
33.00
28.80
2
2
2
2
2
2
49 - 5 -50
8 f - 4j-48
8-4-44
12 55.0
12 58.0
12 69.0
27. 50
27.84
30. 36
9 - 5 -50
8J- 4|-48
8-4-44
LABOR-
Western:
San Francisco, C a l............ 62.5
Spokane, Wash................... 62.5
27. 50
27.50
8-4-44
COMPOSITION R OOFER S.
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
Los Angeles, Cal.................
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
156. 3
50.0
SI. 3
87.5
8-8
48
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 4 -44
8-8-48
ELEVA TOR CONSTRUCTORS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, G a.........................
Baltimore, M d ...................
Washington, D. C..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Dallas, Tex.........................
Houston, Tex.....................
Western:
Denver, Colo.......................
Los Angeles, Cal.................
Portland, Oreg...................
Sait Laké City, U tah.........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
460. 0 30.00
72.5 34.80
672. 0 31.68
62.5
70.0
65.0
27. 50
30.80
28. 60
3 là
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 55.0
12 60.0
12 55.0
24.20
26. 40
24.20
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
70.0
756.3
75.0
75.0
75.0
75.0
30.80
27. 00
36.00
33.00
36.00
33.00
2
là
2
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
12 62.5
50. 0
62. 5
12 62.5
2
«2
li
2
2
2
2
12 62.5
27. 50
24. 00
30. 00
30.00
33.00
27.50
8-4-44
8 - 8 48
8 - 8 48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
20. 00
M O .O
48.1 23.10
947. 5 20.90
2
2
2
2
2
2
»9-5-50
8 |- 4-J--48
8-4-44
12. 30.0
12 37.5
12 44.0
15.00
18.00
19.36
9-5-50
8L- 4J-48
8-4-44
3 là
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 35.0
12 35.0
12 35.0
15.40
15.40
15.40
8-4-44
8-4-44
2
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
12 37.5 16.50
31. 3 15. 00
37. 5 18. 00
12 37.5 18. 00
43. 8 21. 00
12 43.8 19.25
8-4-44
2
2
6 8 .8
ELEVA TOR CONSTRUCTORS’
H E L P E R S.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, G a.........................
Baltimore, Md.....................
Washington, D . C..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Dallas, T e v ....................................
Houston, Tex.....................
Western:
Denver, Colo.......................
Los Angeles, Cal.................
Portland, Oreg...................
Sait L a k é City, U tah .........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
35.0
735.0
35.0
15.40
15.40
15.40
20. 90
2
22.80
là
2
24. 00
22.00
2
24. 00
2
2
22.00
1 Scale became 62.5 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
47.5
47.5
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
92
U
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
2 R ate in cents per hour.
! Double tim e after midnight.
4 Scale became 62.5 cents and 48 hours on Aug. 1, 1918.
• Scale became 80 cents on Aug. 5, 1918.
• Single tim e for repair work on Satu rd ay afternoon u n til 5 p. m.
i More th a n half of th e members received more th a n th e scale; am ount not reported.
• Scale became 45 cents and 48 hours on Aug. 1,1918.
• Scale became 54.6 cents on Aug. 5,1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1288]
8 - 4 -44
8 - 8 48
8 8 48
8-8-48
8 8 48
8-4-44
139
M O NTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
U N IO N SCALE O F W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN E A C H T R A D E , IN T H E SO U TH
A T L A N T IC , SO U TH C E N T R A L , A N D W E S T E R N ST A T E S , ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num
ber
of
Rate of wagesOccupation, geographical
division, and city.
engineers :
po rta ble
For
Per
For Sun
Per week, over days
hour. full time. and
time.
holi
days.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
Rate of
wages.
with
Sat
Per
ur Per week,
day hour.
full
half
time.
holi
day.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week
and
HOISTING.
South Atlantic:
A tlanta, Ga.—
Boom derrick and h o i s t . .
Hoisting concrete............
Baltimore, Md....................
Norfolk, Va., district.........
Washington, D. C..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala.—
Boom derrick...................
Concrete mixing..............
Hoist................................
Dallas, Tex.........................
Houston, Tex.—
Boom derrick...................
Hoist................................
Little Rock, A rk................
Louisville, Ky ...............
Memphis/Tenn.................
New Orleans, L a................
File driving.....................
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
Denver, Colo.—
Boom derrick...................
Hoist.................................
Los Angeles, C a l................
Tractor mixing................
Portland, Oreg...................
Concrete mixing..............
Salt Lake City, U tah .........
Concrete mixing..............
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
Spokane, Wash...................
Concrete mixing..............
C en ts. D o l l s .
62.5
62.5
80.0
75.0
80.0
27.50
27. 50
35. 20
33.00
35. 20
162. 5 30.00
24.00
256.3 27.00
87.5 38.50
250.0
R e g u lc ir ra te
m u lt p lie d
by
2
li
2
u
2
2
2
li
2
li
li
li
li
li
2
32
li
li
li
2
2
2
2
2
167.5
562.5
50.0
665.0
65.0
150.0
744.4
29.70
27.50
87.5
38.50
li
81.3
75.0
62. 5
62.5
87.5
75.0
81.3
68.8
87.5
87.5
87.5
75.0
35. 75
33.00
30.00
30.00
38.50
36.00
35.75
30.25
38.50
38.50
38.50
33.00
11
H
li
li
2
Western:
Butte, Mont........................ 90.0
Denver, Colo....................... 55.0
Salt Lake City, U tah......... 60.0
39.60
26.40
28.80
2 2 .0 0
31.20
28.60
24. 00
24.00
1
1
2
2
2
li
li
li
li
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
68 - 8 -48
8-4-44
8-8-48
" 9 - 9 -54
C en ts. D o l l s .
12
12
12
12
12
62.5
45.0
70.0
62.5
70.0
30.94
22.28
31.50
27. 50
30.80
9 - 4i-49\
9 - 4i-49i
8-5-45
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
57.3
45.4
52.1
62.5
27.50
22.00
25.00
27.50
8-8-48
8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
8-4-44
62.5
56.3
50.0
56.3
60.0
50.0
44.4
27.50
24.75
22.00
27.00
26.40
24.00
24.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
9-9-54
33.00
12
12
12
12
8-4-44
12
75.0
12
12
75.0 33.00
68.8 30.25
50.0 24.00
62.5 30.00
62.5 27. 50
50.0 24.00
75.0 33.00
62.5 27.50
75.0 33.00
75.0 33.00
75.0 36.00
62.5 30.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
81.3
45.0
3 48.0
35.75
21.60
24.00
8-4-44
8 |- 5ty48
8-8-48
11
2
li
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
2
11
li
2
li
2
8-4-44
8i- 51-48
98 - 8 -48
12
12
11
2
2
H
H
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
8-4-44
GLAZIERS.
HOD CAR RIERS.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md....................
Washington, D. C..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Houston, Tex.....................
56.3
50.0
24.75
22.50
li
2
8-4-44
8-5-45
12
12
40.0
31.3
17.60
14.06
37.5 16.50
1137. 5 16.50
1*
11
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
25.0
31.3
11.00
13. 75
1 Scale became 70 cents on Ju ly 1,1918.
2 Scale became 62.5 cents on Ju ly 1,1918.
s Time and one-half on Saturday afternoons.
*Scale to become 75 cents on Nov. 1, 1918.
6 Scale became 75 cents on Ju ly 1, 1918.
6 Scale became 75 cents and 44 hours on July 15, 1918.
> Scale to become 65 cents on Dec. 1, 1918.
* Scale became 48 hours per week on June 1,1918.
* 45 hours per week June to A ugust, inclusive.
M44J hours per week, October to April, inclusive.
11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Scale became 50 cents on Ju ly 1, 1918.
[1289]
8-4-44
- 5 -45
10 8
8-4-44
8-4-44
140
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15. 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15. 1917.
Num Kate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Full days;
Per
For Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
Saturdays;
ur Per week, full
Per week, over days full week.
week
day
hour. full time. and
full
half hour. time.
time.
holi
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city
hod carriers—concluded.
South Central—Concluded.
Little Rock, Ark................
Louisville, Kv.....................
Memphis, Term..................
Nashville, Tenn.................
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
Denver, Colo.—
Brickmen.........................
Mortarmen......................
Los Angeles, Cal.................
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City, Utah—
Brickmen.........................
Mortarmen......................
W heelbarrow men...........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Sewer work......................
Seattle, W ash.....................
Spokane, Wash...................
C e n ts. D o lls .
»40.0
245.0
50.0
40.0
475.
21.60
19.80
2 2 .0 0
17.60
R e g u la r ra te
m u ltiv lie d
b y —1
2
li
jn
2
pi
2
i
1
9-9-54
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
6 11
8-8-48
0
36.00
ii
53.1
56.3
50.0
7 62.5
23.38
24. 75
6i i
6H
li
li
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 —8 —
48
* li
«H
6l i
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
2 2 .0 0
30.00
56.3 24.75
62.5 27.50
56.3 24.75
62.5 27.50
75.0 33.00
62.5 27.50
62.5 27.50
li
2
2
li
11
X2
C e n ts. D o l l s .
80 0 10 90
2 0 .0
19.80
16.50
- 8.80
0 .^
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
6 8 .8
33.00
8-8-48
43.8
46.9
40.6
50.0
19.25
20.63
17.88
24.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
2 2 .0 0
24.75
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
24.00
18.00
q _ q 54
8-8-48
129 - 9 -54
12
12
12
45.0
37.5
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
50.0
56.3
43.8
50.0
62.5
50.0
56.3
5 50.0
3 33.3
24.75
19.25
22 .0 0
27.50
22 .0 0
0
IN SID E W IR E M E N .
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga........................
Baltimore, Md....................
Charleston, S. C.................
Jacksonville, F la................
Richmond, V a...................
Washington, D. C..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Dallas, Tex........................
Houston, Tex..................
Little Rock, A rk................
Louisville, Ry...................
Memphis, Term..................
Nashville, T enn.................
New Orleans, L a................
55.0
70.0
57.0
1365.0
1460.0
75.0
26.40
33.60
27.36
31.20
28.80
33.00
8
W62.5
1680.0
75.0
1855.0
2°50.0
2162.5
2260.0
»56.3
27.50
35.20
33.00
26.40
24. 00
27.50
26.40
27.00
li
8U
11
2“
8 1|
2
2
10 1J
9
u
2
2
2
u
8li
•H
2
u
8
8
48
•8-8-48
11 8 - 8 -48
13 8
8
48
2
2
8-4-44
12
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
19 8 - 8 -48
12
12
12
2
»2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
60.0
26. 40
8-4-44
50.0
65.0
65.6
3 50.0
2 2 .0 0
28. 60
28.88
24.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
19 8 - 8 -48
56.3
33.3
50.0
24.75
18.00
24.00
S - 4 -44
9-9-54
8-8-48
12
12
1
was no^ revised- k u t th e wage was increased to 45 cents per hour betw een May 15,1917, and
May lo, iyio.
2 Scale became 50 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
3 Double tim e after 7 p. m.
4 Scale became 87.5 cents on Aug. 1. 1918.
6 For Sundays; double tim e for holidays.
6 Double tim e after 10 p. m.
7 Seale became 75 cents on July 1, 1918.
8 Double tim e after m idnight.
9 Scale became 44 hours per week on Aug. 1,1918.
10 For Sundays; 2 | tim es regular rate for holidays.
11 44 hours per week, June 10 to Sept. 14, inclusive.
12 49J hours per week, June 10 to Sept. 14, inclusive.
13 More th an half of th e members received more th a n th e scale; am ount not reported. Scale became 75
cents and 44 hours on Aug. 1, 1918.
11 More th an half of th e members received more th a n th e scale; am ount not reported. Scale became 75
cents on Sept. 17, 1918
15 Scale became 75 cents on June 21, 1918.
16 Scale became 87.5 cents on Ju ly 1, 1918.
17 Tim e and one-half on Saturday afternoon.
18 Scale became 75 cents on July 11, 1918.
19 44 hours per week, July to September, inclusive.
20 Scale became 60 cents on June 1, 1918.
21 Scale became 75 cents on June 1, 1918.
!? ;VIor,e
th e members received more th a n th e scale: am ount not reported,
23 Seale became 70 cents on June 1,1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1290]
141
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
IN SID E W IR E M E N — C o n c ld .
Western:
Butte, Mont...................... .
Denver, Colo.....................
Los Angeles, Cal...............
Portland, Oreg..................
Salt Lake City, U tali.......
San Francisco, Cal............
Seattle, W ash...................
Spokane, Wash.................
IN SID E
:
H A N G ER S.
w ir e m e n
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
Rat* of wageswages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Per
Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
For days
ur Per week,
Per week, over
full week.
day hour.
hour. full time. and
full
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
C e riti. D o l l s .
R e g u l ir r a te
m u lt ip l i e d
by —
2
2
2
H
2
'H
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3Ü
187.5
82.5
262.5
72.2
75.0
75.0
87.5
75.0
38.50
36.30
30.00
31.76
33.00
33.00
38.50
36.00
455.0
70.0
75.0
26.40
33.60
33.00
7 80.0
35.20
6l i
62.5
72.2
30.00
31.76
30. 25
38.50
s ii
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
12
12
C en ts. D o l l s .
8 7 .5
38.50
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -4 4
8-4-44
8-8-48
02.5
50.0
56.3
62.5
75.0
75.0
70.0
27.50
24.00
24.75
27.50
33.00
33.00
33.60
38.9
5 50.0
56.3
24.00
24.75
8-4-44
i.2
12
12
12
f ix t u r e
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga.......................
Baltimore, Md....................
Washington, D. C............ .
South Central:
Dallas, Tex.........................
Western:
Los Angeles, Cal............... .
Portland, Oreg...................
San Francisco, Cal.............
Seattle, W ash................... .
6 8 .8
87.5
6
li
2
2
8 —8 —
48
«8-8-48
8 - 4 -44
12
82
8-4-44
12
65.0
28.60
8-4-44
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
i2
12
12
50.0
56.3
62.5
62.5
24.00
24.75
27. 50
27.50
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
2
2
2
21 .0 0
9-9-54
LATHERS.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md.—
Metal or wood.......
75.0 33. 00
2
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27. 50
8-4-44
Charleston, S. C.......
li 101
(U)
8-8-48
8
8 48
( 3)
Norfolk, Va., district
75.0 33.00
2
8-4-44
12 62/5 27. 50
8 - 4 -4 4
li
Washington, D. C.—
Metal or wood
75.0 33.00
2
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
8 - 4 -4 4
Wood.....................
2
( 12)
2
8 -4
44
8-4-44
12 (13)
South Central:
Dallas, Tex.—
Metal......................
81.3 35. 75
2
2
8-4-44
12 75.0 33. 00
8 - 4 -4 4
(12)
Wood, cypress.......
2
2
8-4-44
12 ( 14)
8 4 -44
(12)
Wood, pine............
2
2
8-4-44
12 ( 12)
8 - 4 44
Houston, Tex.—
Metal......................
87.5 38. 50
2
2
8 - 4 -44
12 75.0 33.00
8 - 4 -4 4
(W )
Wood.....................
2
2
8-4-44
12 (16)
8 4 44
Louisville, Ky.—
Metal......................
62.5 27. 50
2
2
8-4-44
12 52.5 23.10
8-4-44
(17)
Wood......................
2
2
8-4-44
12 (18)
8 4 -44
(19)
Memphis, Tenn.........
( 19)
1
8-8-48
8-8-48
li
1Scale became -SI on June 25,1918.
2A majority of the union members of this occupation are working in Government shipyards at 72.5
cents per hour, double time for overtime.
s Double time after 10 p. m.
4More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
6 Double time after midnight.
644 hours per week, August to December, inclusive.
7 Scale became 87.5 cents on July 1, 1918.
8 Time and one-half on Saturday afternoon.
8$2.50 per 1,000 laths. Scale became $3 per 1,000 laths on July 1,1918.
J° For holidays; no scale for Sundays.
11 $2.25 per 1,000 laths.
« $3.15 per 1.000 laths.
12$4 per 1,000 laths.
v $3.25 per 1,000 laths.
13 $2.50 per 1,000 laths.
is $2.75 per 1,000 laths.
14 $3.50 per 1,000 laths.
is 4 cents per sauare yard,
is $5 per 1,000 laths.
87721°—IS----- 10
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1201]
142
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW,
U N IO N SCALE OF W AGES AN D HOURS OF L A BO R IN EACH TR AD E, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH C ENTRAL. A N D W E ST E R N STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
Ma y 15, 1918.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city-
For
Per
Sun
For days
Per week, over
hour. full time. arid
time.
holi
days.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
H o o ts:
Full days; with
Per
Saturdays; Sat
ur
full week.
day Per week,
full
half hour. time.
holi
day.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
LATH ERS—concluded.
Western:
Butte, Mont.—
Metal or wood.................
M etal....
Wood
Denver, Colo.—
Metal or wood, first class.
Metal or wood, second
class...............................
Los Angeles, Cal.—
Metal or wood.................
Wood
......................
Portland, Oreg.—
Metal or wood.................
w ood
Salt Lake City, Utah—
Metal or wood, first class.
Metal or wood, second
class...............................
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
Spokane, Wash.—
Metal................................
Wood...............................
C en ts. D o l l s .
100. 0 44.00
(i)
G)
75.0
33.00
R e g u l a r r a te
m u lt ip l i e d
b y ---
2
2
2
U
C e n ts. D o l l s .
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 100.0
12 ( l )
12 (3)
li
8-4-44
12 62.5
27.50
8-4-14
12 56.3
24. 75
8-4-44
2
21
21
44.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
68. 8 30. 25
li
li
8-4-44
450. 3 24.75
O)
H
u
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 50.0
12 (6)
22.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
87.5 38. 50
87. 5 38. 50
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 75.0
12 (7)
33.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
75.0
ii
li
8 - 4 -44
12 75.0
33.00
8 - 4 -44
75.0 33.00
87.5 38.50
87. 5 35.00
n
2
2
H
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
3 8 - 0 -40
12 65.6
12 75.0
12 75.0
28. ,88
33. 00
30. 00
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
«8-0-40
75.0
(9)
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 62.5
12 (7)
27. 50
8-4-44
8-4-44
33.00
33.00
M A RBLE SETTERS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga......................... 1068.8 33.00
2
68.8 33.00
8-8-48
H
Baltimore, Md.................... 75.0 33.00
8-4-44
2'
2
12 68.8 30.25
8-4-44
2
2
12 75.0 33.00
Norfolk, V a . , district......... 75.0 33.00
8-4-44
Washington, D . C.............. 4468.8 30.25
2
12 68.8 30.25
li
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala............... 87. 5 38.50
2
8-4-44
12
68.5 30. 14
li
Dallas, Tex.......................... 4268.8 30. 25
8-4-44
2
12 68.8 30.25
1|
Houston, Tex..................... 87.5 38.50
2
2
8-4-44
12 68.8 30.25
Louisville, K y .................... 68.8 30.25
2
8-4-44
12 68.8 30. 25
li
New Orleans, L a................ 1362.5 27.50 H l i
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
Western:
Butte, Mont........................ 100.0 48.00
8-8-48
100.0 48.00
li
li
15 2
Denver, Colo....................... 75.0 33.00
8-4-44
12 68.8 30.25
li
Portland, Oreg................... 75.0 33.00
8-4-44
12 68.8 30.25
2
li
8-4-44
12 68.8 30. 25
Salt Lake City, U tah ......... 75.0 33.00
2
li
2
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27. 50
San Franciseo, Cal............. 75.0 33.00
2
8
4
4
4
12
68.8 30.25
Seattle, W ash..................... 75.0 33.00
li
110 cents per square yard.
2 For Sundays; double tim e for holidays.
37 cents per square yard; scale became 8 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
4Scale became 68.8 cents on May 20, 1918.
6 $2.25 per 1,000 laths; scale became $2.75 per 1,000 on May 20, 1918.
6$2 per 1,000 laths.
7 $3 per 1,000 laths.
8 Work 5 days per week.
8$3.75 per 1,000 laths.
10 Scale becme 70 cents on June 1, 1918.
54 Scale became 75 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
42More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
43 Scale became 75 cents on Aug. 6, 1918.
44 Double time after midnight.
45Work on Saturday afternoon prohibited.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
\
[1292]
8 - 8 -48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-8-48
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8 - 4 -44
143
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1917.
May 15, 1918.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
days; with
Per
Sun Full
Per
Saturdays; Sat
For days
ur Per week,
Per week, over
full week.
day hour.
hour. full time. and
full
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city
M ARBLE SETTER S’ H E L P E R S .
C en ts. D o l l s .
Western:
San Francisco, Cal.............. 143.8 19. 25
Seattle, W ash..................... ,56.3 24. 75
R e g u h ir r a te
m u ltip lie d
by
U
2
2
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
C e n ts. D o l l s .
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
12
12
37.5
43.8
16.50
19.25
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
8 - 4 -4 4
8-8-48
8-8-48
36.1
12 43.8
25.0
45.0
19. 50
21.00
12.00
21.60
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
43.8
50.0
37.5
12 56.3
21. 00
24.00
18.00
24.75
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
82
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
22.00
26.40
26.40
24.20
24.00
26.40
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
2
2
» 8 -8 -4 8
8 - S -4 S
8-4-44
8-4-44
PAINTERS.
.
South Atlantic-
50. 0
Baltimore, Md.................... 3 56.3
31. 3
Jacksonville, F la................ * 50.0
Norfolk, Va., district—
Norfolk, V a..................... «60.0
Portsmouth, V a.............. 60.0
Richmond, V a................... 7 50.0
Washington, D. C .............. 75.0
South Central:
Birmingham, A la............... 62.5
Dallas, T ex......................... 70.0
Houston, Tex..................... 65.0
Little Rock, A rk................ 65.0
Louisville, K y ................... 50.0
Memphis,'Term.................. 62.5
Nashville, Tenn................. 4 2 .5
New Orleans, L a ................ 5 0 .0
Western:
Butte, Mont........................ 9 0 .0
Denver, Colo...................... 6 8 .8
Los Angeles, Cal................ 1156.3
Portland, Oreg................... 7 0 .0
Salt Lake City, U tah ......... 7 5 .0
San Francisco, Cal............. 7 5 .0
Seattle, W ash..................... 7 5 .0
Spokane, W ash.................. 7 0 .0
p a in t e r s : f r e s c o
24. 00
24.75
15.00
24.00
28.80
28.80
24.00
33.00
27.50
30.80
28.60
28.60
24.00
27.50
2 0 .4 0
2 4 .0 0
3 9 . CO
3 0 .2 5
2 4 .7 5
3 0 .8 0
3 3 .0 0
3 3 .0 0
3 0 .0 0
3 0 .8 0
u
ll
1J
6 li
lj
li
1J
14
14
5 14
2
2
li
514
li
14
2
2
io l ì
li
U
2
14
14
2
2
14
io lj
2
2
14
13 14
8
8
8
8
8
8
i» 8
8
- 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 -4
- 4 - 0
- 4 -
4 4
4 4
4 4
4 4
-A4
4 4
-4 0
4 4
50.0
60.0
60.0
55.0
50.0
12 60.0
- 8 53
8-8-48
8 - 8 48
8-8-48
29
3
4 0 .0
4 0 .0
1 9 .2 0
1 9 .2 0
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
8 1 .3
6 2 .5
5 0 .0
5 0 .0
7 5 .0
6 2 .5
6 5 .0
6 2 .5
3 5 .7 5
2 7 .5 0
2 4 .0 0
2 2 .0 0
3 3 .0 0
2 7 .5 0
2 8 .6 0
2 7 .5 0
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
12
- 4 - 4 -8
- 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
-4
4 4
4 4
-4 3
4 4
4 4
4 4
-4 4
-4 4
.
South Atlantic:
8 - 8 - 4 8
Charlestoh, S. C............... 56. 3 27. 00
2
5 0 .0
2 4 .0 0
8 - 8 - 4 8
14
Western:
8 - 4 -4 4
12
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
35. 75
2
8 1 .3
Butte, Mont...................... 9 0 .0 39. 60
12
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 4 - 4 4
6 2 .5
3 0 .0 0
Los Angeles, Cal............... 6225 27. 50
n
14
8 - 4 * -4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
7 5 .0
3 3 .0 0
Salt Lake City, U ta h ....... 75. 0 33. 00
10 li
14
8 - 4 -4 4
I2 8 - 0 -4 0
3 1 .3 5
2
7 1 .3
Seattle, Wash.................... 7 5 .0 3 0 .9 0
2
1 Scale became 50 cents on July 1, 1918.
2 Work 53 hours, paid for 54.
3 Scale became 68.8 cents on Nov. 18, 1918.
1 Scale became 55 cents on Sept. 1,1918.
3 Double time alter midnight.
643cale became 62.5 cents on Aug. 29, 1918.
7 Scale became 60 cents on Sept. 1, 1918.
8 Time and one-half on Saturday afternoon.
9 44 hours per week, June to. August, inclusive.
10 Work on Saturday afternoon prohibited.
11 Scale became 62.5 cents on Sept. 1,1918. More than half of the members received more than the scale;
amount not reported.
12 Work 5 days per week.
73 Work on Saturday afternoon, July 4, and Christmas prohibited.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 2 9 3 ]
144
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
of
mos.
Hours:
with
For Full days;
Per
For Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
week, over
ur Per week,
days
full week. day
full
and
full
time. time. holi
half hour. time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages—
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Per
hour.
p a in t e r s : s ig n
.
South Central:
Birmingham, A la..............
Dallas, Tex.........................
Louisville, K y ....................
Memphis,Term..................
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
Denver. Colo.......................
Los Angeles, Cal................
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City. U tah ........
San Francisco, Cal.............
Seattle, W ash.....................
C e n ts.
75.0
7 6 8 .8
62.5
4 62.5
SO.O
77.5
68.8
81.3
68.8
81.3
87.5
D o lls.
33.00
33.00
30.00
27.50
39.60
34.10
30.25
35.75
33.00
35.75
38.50
R e g u lii r r a te
m u ltiv lie d
by
2
li
21J
1*
6li
2
li
2li
li
6 1-i
5li
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
li
2
2
8-4-44
«8-8-48
8 - 8 -48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
C en ts. D o lls .
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
56.3
3 62.5
62.5
12
62.5
24.75
30.00
27.50
27.50
8 - 4 -44
«8-8-48
8 - 4 44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
81.3
67.5
62.5
62.5
63.8
12
12
6 8 .8
35.75
32.40
27.50
27.50
33.00
30.25
33.00
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
75.0
PLASTERER S.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, M d.................... 8 72.0 31.68
2
2
68.8 30.25
8-4-44
12
8-4-44
Charleston, S. C .................
50.6 24.30
li
2
8-8-48
40.0 21.60
«9-8-53
Jacksonville, F la ................ » 6 8 .8 30.25 9 l i
2
8-4-44
12
56.3 27.00
8-8-48
io 2
Norfolk, Va., district.........
75.0 33.00
8-4-44
12
62.5 27.50
8-4-44
li
Washington, D. C .............. 670.0 30.80
2
2
8-4-44
12
70.0 30.80
8-4-44
South Central:
Birmingham, A la............... » 62. 5 27.50
2
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
8-4-44
Dallas, T ex......................... 100.0 44.00
2
2
8-4-44
12
87.5 38.50
8-4-44
Houston, T ex..................... 100.0 44.00
2 io 2
8-4-44
12
87.5 38.50
8-4-44
Little Rock. A rk................
75.0 33.00
2
12 8 _ 4 -44
6 75.0 33.00
128 _ 4 -44
U
Louisville, K y ....................
70.0 30.80
2
2
8-4-44
12
65.0 28.60
8-4-44
Memphis, T ehn..................
87.5 38.50
2
2
8-4-44
12
75.0 33.00
8-4-44
Nashville, T enn.................
70.0 30.80
2
8-4-44
12
li
56.3 24.75
8-4-44
New Orleans, L a ................
62.5 28.13
2
2
12 62.5 28.13
8-5-45
Western:
Butte, Mont........................ 13100.0 44.00
li
8-4-44
12 100.0 44.00
8-4-44
li
Denver, Colo......................
87.5 38.50
li
14 2
8-4-44
12 87.5 38.50
8-4-44
Los Angeles, Cal................
75.0 33.00
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
62.5 27.50
'8 -4 -4 4
li
Portland, Oreg................... is 87.5 38.50
2
2
8-4-44
12
75.0 33.00
8-4-44
Salt Lake Citv, U tah ......... 1587.5 38.50
2 16 2
8-4-44
12 87.5 38.50
8-4-44
San Francisco, Cal............. 100.0 40.00
2
2 17 8 _ o -40
12
87.5 35.00
I« 8 - 0 -40
Seattle, W ash..................... 100.0 40.00
2
2 I? 8 - 0 -40
12
I? 8 - 0 -40
87.5 35.00
Spokane, W ash..................
87.5 38.50
2
8-4-44
12
87.5 38.50
8-4-44
U
1 Scale became 75 cents on Sept. 5,1918.
2 Double time after 1 a. m.
8 44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
4 More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported,
6 Double time after midnight.
6 Scale became 75 cents on June 1,1918.
7 Work 53 hours, paid for 54.
8 Scale became 75 cents on Sept. 3, 1918.
s Double time after 8 p. m.
10 Work on Saturday afternoon prohibited,
n Scale became 75 cents on Sept. 1,1918.
12 48 hours per week, October to March, inclusive.
is Scale became SI.094 on May 29,1918 and $1.125 on Sept. 1, 1918.
i< For Sundays; work on holidays prohibited.
18 Scale became $1 on July 1, 1918.
is Work on holidays and on Saturday afternoon prohibited.
11 Work 5 days per week.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1294]
145
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15,1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
with
For
Full days;
Per
Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
For days
ur Per week,
Per week, over
full week.
day hour.
hour. full time. and
full
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
PLA STERER S’ LA BORERS.
South Atlantic:
Washington, D. C ..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Louisville, K y.....................
New Orleans, L a................
Tenders....... ....................
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
I>onver, Colo.......................
Los Angeles, Cal.................
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City, U tah.........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
Spokane, Wash...................
C e n ts.
50.0
D o lls.
2 2 .0 0
37.5
2 45.0
28.3
35.0
16.50
19.80
12.75
15.75
4 75.0
33.00
59.4 26.13
62.5 27.50
7 62.5 30.00
6 8 .8
30.25
6 8 .8
30.25
75.0 33.00
6 8 .8
30.25
R e g u l i r r a te
m u l t ’'plied
by
12
1}
82
14
14
14
‘ 14
14
2
‘li
2
14
14
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
C e n ts. D o l l s .
8-4-44
12
37.5
16.50
8-4-44
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 5 -45
8-5-45
12
12
12
12
25.0
45.0
28.3
28.3
11 .0 0
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-5-45
8-5-45
‘ 14
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
2
14
2
12
2
2
2
12
12
12
12
6 8 .8
50.0
50.0
50.0
62.5
62.5
62.5
62.5
19.80
12.75
12.75
30.25
2 2 .0 0
2 2 .0 0
24.00
27.50
27.50
27.50
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
P LU M B ER S AND GAS FITTER S.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga......................... 6 8 .8 30. 25
14
2
8-4-44
12 44.4 24.00
Baltimore, Md.................... 3 68.8 30.25
2
2
8-4-44
12 56.3
24.75
Charleston, S. C.................. 10 59.0 28.32 1 1 l j
2
8-8-48
50.0 24.00
Jacksonville, F la................ 75.0 33.00 u 14
2
8-4-44
12
62.5 30.00
Norfolk, Va., district—
Norfolk, Va...................... » 72.5 31.90
2
8-4-44
12 62.5
27.50
14
Portsmouth, V a.............. 62.5 30.00
3 53.0 25.44
14 l2 14 is 8 - 8 -48
li
Richmond, V a.................... u 62.5 30.00
2
u 8 - 8 -48
50.0 24. 00
Washington, D. C.............. 75.0 33.00
2
2
8-4-44
12 56.3 24.75
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala............... 87.5 38.50 1114
2
8-4-44
75.0 33.00
12
Dallas, Tex.......................... « 87.5 38.50
2
2
8-4-44
12
81.3 35.75
Houston, Tex..................... 87.5 38.50
2
2
8-4-44
12
75.0 33.00
Little Rock, A rk................ 1675.0 33.00
2
2
8-4-44
12
30.25
6 8 .8
Louisville, K y..................... 70.0 30.80
17
2
8
4
4
4
12
60.0 26.40
14
Memphis, T enn.................. 81.3 39.00 n 14
2
8-8-48
62.5 30.00
Nashville, Tenn................. 9 56.3 24.75
2
8-4-44
i 2 50.0 23.50
14
New Orleans, L a................ « 68.8 33.00
2
2
8-8-48
56.3 27.00
Western:
Butte, Mont........................ 18100.0 44.00
2
2
8-4-44
12 10 0.0
44.00
20 2
Denver, Colo....................... 87.5 38.50
2
8-4-44
12
75.0 33.00
Los Angeles, Cal................. 6 8 .8 33.00
2
2
8 - 8 - 4 8 ............. 62.5 30.00
1Time and one-Lalf on Saturday afternoon.
2 Scale became 50 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
s Time and one-half from 5 to 7 p. m.
4 Scale became 87.5 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
t For Sundays; double time for holidays.
6 Double time after 10 p. m.
7 Scale became 75 cents on July 1, 1918.
bWork 53 hours, paid for 54.
9 Scale became 75 cents on June 1,1918.
10 Scale became 73 cents on July 1,1918.
11 Double time after midnight.
12 For Sundays; 2| times regular rate for holidays,
is 44 hours per week, June 15 to Sept. 15, inclusive.
ii Scale became 75 cents and 44 hours on Aug. 15,1918.
46 Scale became 11 on Aug. 1,1918.
w Scale became 87.5 cents on June 1,1918.
ii Time and one-half on Saturday afternoon and double time after 5 p. m.
is One-third of the members receive 75 cents per hour.
19 Scale became $1,094 on July 1, 1918, and $1,125 on Sept. 1,1918.
*8 Work on Saturday afternoon prohibited.
I
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 2 9 5 ]
'9-8-53
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-7-47
8-8-48
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-8-48
146
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued,
May 15, 1917.
May 15, 1918.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
Full days; with
For
Sat
Per
For Sun Saturdays; ur
Per
Per week,
Per week, over days full week.
day
hour.
full
hour. full time. arid
half
time.
holi
holi
» time.
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
P LU M B ER S AND GAS FITTER S—
concluded.
Western—Concluded.
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City, U tah .........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
Spokane^ Wash...................
C en ts. D o l l s .
181.3
87.5
87.5
290.0
87.5
35.75
38.50
38.50
39.60
38.50
R e g u l a r r a te
m u ltip lie d
by
2
2
2
2
2
li
2
2
li
1Î
2
2
2
C en ts. D o l l s .
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
75.0
75.0
81.3
81.3
75.0
33.00
33.00
35.75
35.75
33.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8 - 4 —44
33.3
46.5
49.5
50.5
12 45.0
16.67
25.11
26.73
35.35
21.60
89 - 5 -50
9-9-54
9 - 9 -54
10 -10 -70
8-8-48
9 - 9 -54
9 - 9 —54
9 - 9 -54
S H E E T M ETAL W O R K ER S.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga.—
Railroad shops, road A . .
Railroad shops, road B ..
Railroad shops, road G ..
Baltimore, M d....................
Jacksonville, Fla.—
Railroad shops, road C...
Railroad shops, road E ..
Railroad shops, road F ..
Norfolk, Va., district—
Norfolk, V a.....................
Portsmouth, Va.—
H
2
H
2
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
32.64
32.64
32.64
li
li
li
li
li
li
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
48.0
48.0
48.0
25.92
25.92
25.92
<62.5
30.00
li
2
8-8-48
44.0
21.12
8-8-48
68.0
32.64
li
li
8 - 8 -4S
46.0
23.00
9 - 5 -50
24.00
32.64
32.64
32.64
30.80
li
li
li
li
2
2
li
li
li
2
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
41.9
40.5
44.5
40.5
12 56.3
20.11
21.87
24.03
21.87
25.03
8-8-48
9-9-54
9 - 9 -54
9 - 9 -54
8 - 4J-44J
28.60
li
2
8-4-44
12 50.0
22.00
8-4-44
41.0
47.0
49.0
22.14
25.38
26.46
9 - 9 -54
9-9-54
9 - 9 -54
4 9 .5
6 8 .8
6 2 .5
2 6 .7 3
3 0 .2 5
2 7 .5 0
9 - 9 -5 4
8 -4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
6 0 .0
3 8 .5
4 1 .0
4 7 .5
2 8 .8 0
2 0 .7 5
2 2 .0 9
2 0 .9 0
5 3 .1
4 2 .5
2 5 .5 0
2 2 .9 5
65.0 31.20
68.0 32.64
68.0 32.64
68.0 32.64
4 62.5 27.50
.68.0
68.0
68.0
Richmond, Va.—
s 50.0
Rnilding work
Railroad shops, road A .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road B .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road C ... 68.0
Washington, D . C.............. 6 70.0
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala.—
Building work................. 65.0
Railroad shops, roads B,
68.0
E and F ..
Railroad shops, road C... 68.0
Railroad shops, road D .. 68.0
Railroad shops, roads E
li
lì
li
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
7li
ii
li
2
2
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
2
u 1
U 1
7li
2
li
li
2
7li
li
2
li
2
2
32.64
32.64
32.64
li
lì
li
6 8 .0
7 5 .0
8 75 .0
32. 64
3 3 .0 0
3 3 .0 0
B u i l d i n g w o r k ........................ 9 6 5 .0
6 8 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d A .
R a i l r o a d s h o p s , r o a d B . . 6 8 .0
Louisville, K y ............................. 5 0 .0
3 1 .2 0
3 6 .6 4
3 6 .6 4
2 2 .0 0
6 2 .5
6 8 .0
3 0 .0 0
3 2 .6 4
and F
Dallas, Tex.........................
Houston, Tex.....................
L i t t l e Rock, Ark.—
Memphis, Term.—
B u i l d i n g w o r k .......................
R a i l r o a d s h o p s . ....................
Nashvi H o, T o n n
____T
li
li
li
li
10
s
8
8
8
- 8
- 8 - 8 - 4 -
-4 8
4 8
4 8
4 4
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
12
12
3
12
12
8 —8
9 —8
_ 8
8 -4 -
12 9
~48
-5 3
-5 3
4 4
8 - 8 - 4 8
9 - 9 -5 4
8 - 8 -48
30.0 14.40
8-8-48
50. 0 24.00
li
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 45.0 19.80
2'
New Orleans, L a................ 68.8 30.25
1 Scale became 90 cents on June 3, 1918.
2 Scale became $1 on Aug. .1,1918.
354 hours ner week, July to January, inclusive.
<More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported,
s Scale became 60 cents on June 1,1918.
6 Scale became 75 cents on Sept. 1,1918.
i Double time after midnight.
3 Scale became 87.5 cents on Oct. 11, 1918.
8 Scale became 75 cents on July 1,1918.
w 44 hours per week, July to September, inclusive,
n Time and one-half after 1 hour; on Saturday for all overtime,
rs Work 53 hours, paid for 53 hours nd 53 minutes.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1296]
147
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH*
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
\ ;( ;
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num
Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Per
Sun
Saturdays; Sat
Per
For days full
ur Per week,
Per ■week, over
week.
day hour
hour full time. and
full
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week. .
S H EET M ETAL W O R K E R S —-
concluded.
Western:
C e n ts.
Butte, Mont........................ 193.8
Denver, Colo.—
Building work................. 75.0
Railroad shops, road A .. 68; 0
Railroad shops, road B .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road D .. 68.0
Los Angeles, Cal................. 68.5
Portland, Oreg................... 82.5
Salt Lake City, Utah—
Building work................. 5 62.5
Railroad shops................ 68.0
San Francisco, "Cal.............. 82.5
Seattle, Wash!—
Building' work................. 82.5
Ship yards....................... « 82-.Ö
Spokane, Wash................... 75.0
D o lls.
41.25
R e g u l a r r a te
m u ltip lie d
by—
C e n ts. D o lls .
E
2
8-4-44
12 87.5
38.50
8 - 4 *44
2H
li
li
li
2
«2
li
li
li
2
2
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 62.5
43.5
50.0
(4)
12 56.3
12 65.6
27.50
20.88
24.00
(4)
24.75
28.88
8 - 4 -44
8-8-48
8-8-48
(4)
8-4-44
8-4-44
27.50
32.64
36.30
li
u
2
2
14
2~
8-4-44
8 8 48
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
4Ji 5
12 7 5 . 0 33! 00
8
36.30
39.60
36.00
2 li
2
li
2
2
li
8-4-44
7 8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
12 68.8
3 59.0
65.6
30.25
28.32
31.50
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
« 45.0
21.60
2
2
8-8-48
39.7
21.45
99 —5 -59
70.0
65.0
60.0
33.60
31.20
28.80
10 »
10 l i
i» 1J
2
2
2
7 8 - 8 -48
7 8 - 8 -48
7 8 - 8 -48
3
3
3
(n )
(“ )
(ii)
( ii)
(U )
70.0
65.0
33.60
31.20
2
2
78 - 8 -48
78 - 8 -48
3
3
82.5 39. 60
82.5 39.60
582.5 39. GO
li
li
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
78 - 8 -48
78 - 8 -48
(»)
(ii)
<u)
O1)
02 5
3 62.5 30.00
3 62.5 30.00
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md.................... =60.0 28.80
Washington, D. C .............. 362.5 27.50
li
l|
2
2
8 - 8 -48
8-4-44
50 0
12 62.5 27.50
33.00
32.64
32.64
32.64
30.14
36.30
n
2
8-4-44
4 44
SH IP C A RPEN TERS.
South Atlantic:
Charleston, S. C..................
Jacksonville, Fla.—
First class....... ................
Second class.....................
Third class.......................
South Central:
Houston, Tex.—•
First class.......................
Second class....................
Western:
Portland, Oreg...................
San Francisco, Cal.............
Seattle, W ash.....................
pi)
(u)
(H)
(ll)
(ii)
(“ )
8-8-48
8-8-48
SLATE AND TILE R OOFER S.
12 ft
San Francisco, Cal.............. 75.0 33.00 ! l i
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
1 Scale became $1 on Aug. 1, 1918.
2 Double time after midnight.
3 Time and one-half on Saturday afternoon.
4No scale in effect on May 15, 1918.
6 Scale became 75 cents on July 1,1918.
6More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
7 44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
8 Scale became 70 cents on July 1, 1918.
9 Work 50 hours, paid for 54.
i° Double time on repair work.
11 Not organized on May 15, 1917.
1245 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
15 Scale became 75 cents on June'l, 1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1297]
8 48
8
-
4 -4 4
8
-
4 -4 4
148
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1917.
May 15, 1918.
Rate of wages—
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Per
For
Per week, over
hour. full time.
time.
STEAM FITTERS AND SPR IN K
L E R FITTERS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga.........................
Baltimore, Md....................
Jacksonville, F la ................
Norfolk, Va., district.........
Richmond, Va....................
Washington, D. C ..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Dallas, Tex..........................
Houston, T ex.....................
Iuttle Rock, A rk................
Louisville, Ky....................
Memphis, Tenn..................
Nashville, Term.................
New Orleans, L a................
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
Denver, Colo.......................
Los Angeles, Cal.................
Portland, Oreg...................
Sprinkler fitters........... .
Salt Lake City, U tah .........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Sprinkler fitters..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
' Spokane, Wash...................
C e n ts.
D o lls.
68.8
68.8
859.0
75.0
672.5
962.5
75.0
30.25
30.25
28.32
33.00
31.90
30.00
33.00
87.5
7 87.5
87.5
875.0
960.0
1C70.0
68.8
75.0
38.50
38.50
38.50
33.00
26.40
30.80
30.25
36.00
i n o o .o
87.5
68.8
1381.3
62.5
87.5
87.5
81.3
790.0
87.5
44.00
38.50
33.00
35.75
2 7 .5 0
38.50
38.50
35.75
39.60
38.50
For
Sun
days
and
holi
days.
R e g u la r r a te
m u lt i p lie d
by
U
2
2
22
2
Hi
2
Hi
2
1*
2
H
2
2'
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
Hours:
Full days;
Full days; with
Per
Saturdays;
Saturdays; Sat
ur Per week, full
week.
full week. day
full
half hour. time.
holi
day.
C en ts. D o l l s .
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
68 - 8 - 4 8
8-4-44
2
2
2
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
li
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
<u
2
2
2
2
n1
HJ
2
2
2
2
2
2
12 44.4
12 56.3
50.0
12 62.5
12 62.5
50.0
12 62.5
24.00
27.00
24.00
30.00
27.50
24.00
27.50
i 9 - 8 -53
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
75.0 33.00
81.3 35.75
75.0 33.00
68.8 30.25
55.0 24.20
62.5 27.50
56.3 24.75
56.3 27.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 8 -48
12 100.0 44.00
12 75.0 33.00
62.5 30.00
12 75.0 33.00
12 56.3 24.75
12 75.0 33.00
12 81.3 35.75
12 75.0 33.00
12 81.3 35.75
12 75.0 33.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 - 44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
STEAM FITTERS AND SPR IN K
L E R FITTER S’ H E L P E R S.
South Atlantic:
12 31.3 15.00
8-8-48
2
22
8 - 4 -44
Baltimore, Md.................... 43.8 19.25
8-4-44
2
2
8-4-44
12 30.0 13.20
Washington, D. C.............. 37.5 16.50
South Central:
12 40.0 17.60
8-4-44
2
8-4-44
2
Dallas, Tex.......................... 1643.8 19. 25
8-4-44
12 27.5 12.10
2
2
8-4-44
Louisville, Ky.................... » 30.0 13.20
8-4-44
12 31.3 13.75
2
8-4-44
Memphis, Tenn.................. »35.0 15.40 ii 1
Western:
8-4-44
12 46.9 20.63
2
2
8-4-44
Butte, Mont........................ 1856.3 24.75
8-4-44
2
8 - 4 - 4 4 l 12 37.5 16.50
2
Denver, Colo....................... 43.8 19.25
1 Work 53 hours; paid for 54.
2 Four times regular rate for Labor Day.
s Scale became 73 cents on July 1, 1918.
4 Double time after midnight.
6 More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported. Scale became 75
cents on June 1, 1918.
6 Scale became 75 cents and 44 hours on Aug. 15, 1918.
7 Scale became $1 on Aug. 1,1918
8 Scale became 87.5 cents on June 1, 1918.
9 Scale became 75 cents on June 22,1918.
10 Scale became 81.3 cents on July 1,1918.
11 Double time after 6 p. m.
12 Scale became $1.09 on July 1, 1918, and $1,125 on Sept. 1,1918.
is Scale became 90 cents on June 3, 1918.
is Scale became 50 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
is Scale became 37.5 cents on June 22,1918.
n Scale became 40.6 cents on July 1, 1918.
i6 Scale became 62.5 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1298]
149
M O N TH LY LABOE EEVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
Per
ur Per week,
For
Per week, over days full week.
day hour.
hour. full time.
and
full
half
holi
time.
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
«
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
STEAM FITTER S AND S PB IN K L E R F IT T E R S ' H E L P E R S —
concluded.
W estern—Conclud ed.
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City, U tah.........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Sprinkler fitters’ helpers.
Seattle, W ash.....................
C en ts. D o l l s .
5 2 .5
23.10
R e g u l a r r a te
m u ltip lie d
by—
43.8
50.0
56.3
56.3
19.25
22.00
24.75
24.75
2
2
2
2
2
160.0
262.5
75.0
375.0
30.00
27.50
33.00
33.38
2
2
lì
87.5
87.5
100.0
100.0
87.5
70.0
70.0
80.0
62.5
38.50
38.50
44.00
44.00
38.50
30. 80
30.80
35.20
27.50
100.0
87.5
887.5
62.5
100.0
87.5
48.00
38.50
38.50
27.50
44.00
38. 50
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
2
2
2
2
9-5-50
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4J-44i
12
12
12
12
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
C e n ts. D o l l s .
37.5
31.3
43.8
37.5
43.8
16.50
13.75
19.25
16.50
19.25
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
60.0
62.5
75.0
70.0
30.00
27.50
33.00
31.50
9-5-50
8-4-44
8-4-44
*8 - 5 -45
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
70.0 30.80
87.5 38. 50
87.5 38. 50
100.0 44.00
87.5 38. 50
60.0 26.40
65.0 28. 60
60.0 26. 40
62.5 27. 50
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
100. 0
75.0
75.0
62.5
81.3
87.5
8 - 8 -48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
STONE MASONS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, G a........................
Baltimore, Md....................
Norfolk, Va., district.........
Washington, D. C ..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Dallas, Tex.........................
Houston, Tex.....................
Sewer work.....................
Little Rock, A rk................
Louisville, K y....................
Laying dressed stone___
Nashville, T enn.................
New Orleans, L a................
Western:
Butte, Mont........................
Denver, Colo.......................
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City, U tah. . . . . .
Seattle, W ash.....................
Spokane, Wash.................
n
li
li
2
2
li
li
li
lì
6l i
n
2
2
U
2'
li
li
li
li
li
li
2
2
48 00
33. 00
33.00
27. 50
35.75
38. 50
STRUCTURAL IR O N W O R K ER S.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md.................... 1 75.0 33. 00
2
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
Norfolk, Ya., district......... i 75.0 33.00 s i i
2
8-4-44
12 68.8 30.25
Richmond, V a.................... 80.0 35. 20
2
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27. 50
Washington, D. C.............. *80.0 35.20
2
2
8-4-44
12 70.0 30. 80
South Central:
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
Birmingham, Ala............... 75.0 33.00 5l i
Dallas, Tex......................... 75.0 33. 00 3 l i
2
8-4-44
12 67.5 29. 70
Houston, Tex..................... 1067.5 29.70 11 l i
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
2
8-4-44
12 56.3 24.75
Reinforced concrete........ 1256.3 24.75
li
2
8-4-44
12 60.0 26. 40
Louisville, K y .................... 70.0 30. 80
li
Memphis, T enn.................. 75.0 33.00
2
2
8-4-44
12 65.0 28.60
2
8-4-44
12 62.5 27.50
New Orleans, L a................ 75.0 33.00 13 l i
1 Scale became 70 cents on June 1, 1918.
2 Scale became 75 cents on Sept. 1, 1918.
8 Scale became 87.5 cents on July 1, 1918.
* 444 hours per week, November to April, inclusive.
6 Double time after midnight.
6 Scale became $1 on July 1, 1918.
1 Scale became 87.5 cents on Sept. 1,1918.
8 Scale became 92.5 cents on Nov. 30,1918.
8 Double time after 7 p. m.
10 Scale became 75 cents on Nov. 1,1918.
n From 7 to 8 a. m. and from 5 to 7 p. m.; double time thereafter.
12 Scale became 62.5 cents on July 1, and 75 cents on Nov. 1,1918.
»2 Double time after first hour.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1299]
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
150
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BUILDING- TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num
ber
of
Rate of wagesOccupation, geograpliical
division, and city.
For
Per
For Sun
Per week, over
days
hour. full time. and
time.
holi
days.
STRUCTURAL IR O N W O RK
ERS— c o n c lu d e d .
Western:
Butte, M ont.....................
Denver, Colo.....................
Los Angeles, Cal...............
Portland, Oreg.................
Reinforced structures,
P O T lf’r p t A
Salt Lake City, U tah! " "
San Francisco, Cal............
Seattle, W ash...................
Reinforced structures,
concrete......................
Spokane, Wash.................
Reinforced structures,
concrete...................... .
C en ts. D o l l s .
87.5
75.0
62.5
87.5
38. 50
33. 00
30. 00
38. 50
75.0
81.3
87.5
87.5
R e g u l i r r a te
m u lt i p li e d
h —
2
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
Bate of
wages—
Hours:
with
Full days:
Sat
Per
Saturdays;
ur Per week,
full
week.
day
full
half hour. time.
holi
»
day.
C en ts. D o l l s .
i 1Î
2
2
2
2
2
8 - 4 -44
8 - 4 -44
8-8-48
8-4-44
12 75.0
12 70.0
50.0
12 70.0
36.00
30. 80
24.00
30.80
8 - 8 -43
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
33.00
35. 75
38. 50
38. 50
2
U
2
2
2
22
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
62.5
68.8
75.0
75.0
27.50
30. 25
33. 00
33.00
8 - 4 -44
8-4-41
8-4-44
8-4-44
75.0
87.5
33.00
38.50
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 62.5
12 75.0
27. 50
33.00
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
75.0
33.00
2
2
8-4-44
12 62.5
27.50
8-4-44
4 80.0-
375.0
80.0
33.-00
35. 20
35.20
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 62.5 27. 50
12 62. 5 27.50
12 70.0 30.80
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
75.0
70.0
75.0
33.00
30. 80
33. 00
11
6U
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 67.5
12 60.0
12 62.5
29.70
26. 40
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
75.0
62.5
87.5
81.3
775.0
87.5
33.00
.30. 00
38.50
35. 75
33. 00
38.50
u
1 1*
2
1*
2
2
2
2
2
22
2
2
8 - 4 -44
8 - 8,-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12 70.0
50. 0
62. 5
68.8
62.5
75.0
30.80
24.00
27.50
30.25
27.50
33.00
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
2
2
2
2
2
2
S - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 37.5
12 35.0
12 40.0
16. 50
15. 40
17.60
8-4-44
U
STRUCTURAL IR O N W O RK ERS:
F IN IS H ER S .
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md..................
Richmond, V a..................
Washington, D. C............
South Central:
Dallas, Tex........................
Louisville, K y ...................
New Orleans,' L a..............
Western:
Denver, Colo.......................
Los Angeles, Cal.................
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City, U tah .......
San Francisco, Cal.............
Seattle, W ash.....................
STRUCTURAL IR O N W O RK
E R S : FIN IS H E R S ’ H E L F E R S.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md....................
Richmond, Va....................
Washington, D. C ..............
South Central :
Memphis, Tenn..................
Western:
San Francisco, Cal.............
850.0 22.00
50.0 22.00
50.0 22.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
45.0
19.80
2
2
8-4-44
12 35.0
15. 40
8-4-44
43.8
19.25
2
2
8-4-44
12 37.5
16. 50
8 - 4 -44
2
2
8-8-48
8-4-44
12
56.3
75.0
27.00
33.00
8-8-48
8-4-44
TILE LAY ERS.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md...........
65.0 31.20
n
Norfolk, Va., district.
75. 0 33.00
2
Washington, D. C.—
Union A..................
«88.8 30.25
H
Union B..................
■56.3 124. 75
n
1 Double time after 9 p. m.
2 Time, and one-half on Saturday afternoon.
8 Scale became 87.5 cents on Aug. 31, 1918.
4 Scale to become 92.5 cents on Nov. 30,1918.
6 Double time after 7 p .m .
6 Double time after first hour.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
2
[1300]
8-4-44
12 62.5 27. 50
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 56.3 24.75
8-4-44
7 Scale became 87.5 cents on Aug. 5, 1918.
6 Scale became 55 cents on Aug. 31, 1918.
9 Scale became 50 cents on July 1, 1918.
10 Scale became 75 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
11 Scale became 08.8 cents on Sept. 1, 1913.
151
M O NTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
BU ILDING T R A D E S—Concluded.
May 15, 1918.
Rate of wagesOccupation, geographical
division, and city.
Per
For
Per week, over
hour. full time.
time.
TILE LAYERS—concluded.
South Central:
Dallas, Tex.. .
Little Bock, A rk.............
Louisville, K y.................
Western:
Butte, Mont.....................
Denver, Colo...................
Los Angeles, Cai..............
Portland, Oreg................
Sait Laké City, U tah __
San Francisco, Cal..........
Seattle, W ash ............
R e g u h i r r a te
m u ltip lie d
by
2
1 11
C en ts. D o l l s .
75.0
75.0
75.0
36.00
33.00
33.00
100.0
370.0
62.5
81.3
75.0
81.3
81. 3
48.00
30. 80
30.00
35. 75
33.00
35. 75
39.00
‘31.3
13.75
537.5
34.4
56.3
40.6
«43. 8
48.5
16.50
16. 51
24.75
17.86
19.25
24.00
For
Sun
days
and
holi
days.
May 15, 1917.
Num Kate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
Full days; with
Per
Saturdays; Sat
ur Per week,
full week.
day hour.
full
half
time.
holi
day.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
C en ts. D o l l s .
8 -8 -4 8
8 - 4 -44
8 -4 -4 4
75.0
12 62.5
12 (2)
36.00
27.50
(2)
8 -8 -4 8
8 -4 -4 4
(2)
li
li
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 8 -48
«
100.0 48.00
70.0 30.80
56.3 27.00
12 68.8 30.25
12 68.8 30.25
12 75.0 33.00
75.0
8 - 8 -48
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-8-48
il
2
8-4-44
12 31.3
13.75
8 - 4 -44
li
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
81- 81-49*
12 37.5
31.3
12 40.6
12 34.4
12 37.5
42.4
16.50
15.00
19. 50
15.13
16. .50
21.00
8 - 4 -44
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-4-44
8-4-44
84- 8i-49*
1Î
li
2
2
U
1 1.|
1 li
1*
n
2
12
TILE LA Y ERS’ H E L P E R S.
South Atlantic:
Washington, D. C...........
Western:
Denver, Colo ...............
Los Angeles, Cal..............
Portland, Oreg................
Salt Lake City, U ta h __
San Francisco, Cal..........
Seattle, W ash..................
1
1 ii
li
li
2
li
FREIGHT H A N D LER S.
South A tlantic:
Norfolk, V a., district—
Longshorem en—
Overseas, sh ip s..........
Overseas, d o ck s.........
Coastwise, sh ip s........
Coastwise, docks........
S o u th Central:
H ou ston, T e x .....................
N ew Orleans, L a.—
Carmen, in s id e ...............
Carm en, o u tsid e ............
Coal h andlers..................
Freight handlers............
Longshorem en
and
steved ores....................
Screwm en, forem en___
© crew m en........................
S ta v e elassers..................
50.0
'25.0
30.00
24.00
18.90
15. 75
40.0
24.00
28.3
28. 3
50.0
‘«25.0
16. 98
16.98
30.00
15.00
50.0
84.8
72.7
“35.0
29.00
42.00
36.00
18.90
Trimmers, grain,
U n ion A .................... 60.0
34.80
T r im m e r s , g r a in ,
U n ion B .................... 60.0
34.80
7 40.0
7 30.0
H
li
1
1
1 0 - 1 0 -60
1 0 - 1 0 -60
lO i-lO i-63
10*—10i—63
2
2
10
1
2
2
1
3 2 ic .: 9 32*0..
32i-c.: 9 32ic.
80c. 9 80c.
9 28ic. 9 28ic.
9
9
9
9
n
1
2
2
'1
lì
2
2
50c.
lì
9 1 0 0 c.
2
1 Double time after midnight.
No scale in effect on May 15,1917.
8 Scale became 75 cents on June 1,1918.
4 Scale became 37.5 cents on Sept. 1,1918.
6 Scale became 43.8 cents on June 1,1918.
* Scale became 50 cents on May 18,1918.
s
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1301]
|
40.0
30. 0
27.5
22.5
24.00
18.00
17.33
14.18
1 0 - 1 0 - 60
1 0 -16 -6 0
lO i-lO i-63
10f-10i-03
- 1 0 - 60
40.0
24.00
10 -1 0
-60
-60
-60
-60
-60
2 0 .0
1 2 .0 0
1 1 .1 0
10 -1 0
1 Ó _ io
24.00
10 -1 0
10 -1 0
-60
-go
-60
-60
10 -1 0
10 -1 0
10 -1 0
10 -1 0
1 0 - 8 -58
8 L- 84-49*
8 i - &Ì-49Ì
9 -9 -5 4
1 0 - 8 -58
18. 5
40.0
18.5
1 1 .1 0
40.0
72.7
60.6
35.0
23.60
36.00
30.00
18.90
1 0 - 9 -59
29.50
1 0 - 9 -59
50.0
......
84-' 81-49*
Si- 81-49*
9-9-54
1 0 - 9 -59
7 Scale became 45 cents on June 6,1918.
8 Scale became 40 cents on June 6,1918.
6 Rate in cents per hour.
16 Scale became 28.2 cents on Juno 1,1918,
11 Scale became 50 cents on Sept. 1,1913.
1 0 .-
8
-58
50.0
29.50
152
M O NTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
FR EIGHT H A N D L E R S—Concluded.
May 15, 1917
May 15, 1918.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Per
Per
For Sun Saturdays; Sat
ur Per week,
Per week, over days full week.
day hour.
full
hour. full time. and
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Western:
Los Angeles, Cal.:
Longshoremen—
Loaders ana unloaders,
vessels........................
Truckers, docks and
sheds..........................
General cargo, foreign
bound, and coastwise vessels...............
Salvage work...............
Portland, Oreg.—
Longshoremen—
Grain handlers.............
Lumber handlers, export trad e..................
General cargo...............
San Francisco, Cal.—
Longshoremen—
General freight.............
Coal handlers and men
working on tram p
steamers....................
General cargo, coastwise vessels...............
Damaged cargoes and
salvage work.............
R e g u li i r r a te
m u lt ;p lie d
by
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
C en ts.
D o lls.
50.0
24.00 i 75c. i 75c.
8-8-48
50.0
27.00
9-9-54
50.0
24.00 1 75c. 1 75c.
8-8-48
45.0
24.30
9-9-54
65.0
100.0
31.20 ROOc. ROOc.
1
1
54.00
8-8-48
9-9-54
55.0
100.0
29. 70
54.00
9-9-54
9-9-54
60.0
C en ts. D o l l s .
28. 80 » 90c. i 90c.
8-8-48
45.0
24.30
9-9-54
SO. 0 38.40 1120c. i]20c.
80.0 38.40 1120c. U20c.
8-8-48
8-8-48
50.0
55.0
27.00
29. 70
9-9-54
9-9-54
35.10 1100c. ROOC.
9-9-54
55. 0 29.70
9-9-54
65.0
75. 0 40. 50 U25c. 1125c.
9-9-54
55.0
29. 70
9-9-54
270.0
37.80 1110C. UlOC.
9-9-54
55.0
29. 70
9-9-54
125.0
67.50 1125c. 1125c.
9-9-54
100.0
54.00
9-9-54
GRANITE AND STONE TR ADES.
GRANITE CUTTERS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga........................ 0 0 .0 2 6 .4 0
lì
Baltimore, Md.—
Outside............................ 6 2 .5 2 7 .5 0
2
Inside............................... 6 2 .5 2 7 .5 0
2
Charleston, S. C .................. 5 0 .0 2 2 .0 0
li
Richmond, Ya.—
Inside............................... 5 0 .0 2 2 .0 0
li
Machine........................... 5 3 .1 2 3 .3 8
li
Washington, D. C.—
Outside and machine__ 6 8 .8 3 0 .2 5
li
Inside............................... 6 2 .5 2 7 .5 0
li
South.Central:
Dallas, Tex.—
Outside............................ 7 5 .0 3 3 .0 0
2
Inside............................... 6 2 .5 2 7 .5 0
2
Machine........................... 6 8 .8 3 0 .2 5
2
Houston, Tex.—
Outside............................ 7 5 .0 3 3 .0 0
li
Inside............................... 6 2 .5 2 7 .5 0
li
Machine........................... 6 8 .8 3 0 .2 5
li
Louisville, Ky.—
Outside............................ 6 6 .0 2 9 .0 4
lì
Inside and machine........ 6 0 .0 2 6 .4 0
li
New Orleans, La.—
Inside............................. .. 3 5 0 .0 2 2 .0 0
li
Machine........................... 45 3 .3 2 3 .4 7
lì
1 Rate in cents per hour.
1 Scale became 80 cents on June 13,1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
5 0 .0
2 2 .0 0
8 -4 - 4 4
2
2
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
12
12
5 6 .3
5 0 .0
4 5 .0
2 4 .7 5
2 2 .0 0
1 9 .8 0
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
2
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
12
5 0 .0
5 3 .1
2 2 .0 0
2 3 .3 8
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 -4 4
2
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
12
5 6 .3
5 0 .0
2 4 .7 5
2 2 .0 0
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
2
2
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
12
12
5 7 .5
5 0 .0
5 0 .0
2 5 .3 0
2 2 .0 0
2 4 .0 0
8 -4 - 4 4
8 - 4 -4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
2
2
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
12
12
5 7 .5
5 0 .0
5 5 .0
2 5 .3 0
2 2 .0 0
2 4 .2 0
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 -4 - 4 4
2
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
12
5 5 .0
5 0 .0
2 4 .2 0
2 2 .0 0
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 -4 - 4 4
2
2
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 - 4 - 4 4
12
12
5 0 .0
5 3 .3
2 2 .0 0
2 3 .4 7
8 - 4 - 4 4
8 -4 - 4 4
* Scale became 60 cents on July 1, 1918.
‘ Scale became 63.1 cents on July 1,1918.
[1302]
153
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
GRANITE AND STONE T R A D E S—Concluded.
May 15, 1918.
Num
ber
of
Rate of wagesOccupation, geographical
division, and city.
May 15, 1917.
For
Per
Sun
For days
Per week, over
hour. fidi time. and
holi
time.
days.
Rate of
wages—
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
with
Sat
Per
ur Per week,
day hour.
full
half
time.
holi
day.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
GR A N ITE CUTTERS— c o n c l d .
Western:
Butte, Mont.—
Outside............................
Inside...............................
Denver, Colo.—
Inside...............................
Machine...........................
Los Angeles, Cal.—
Outside............................
Trimming and fitting__
Inside...............................
Salt Lake City, U tah—
Outside and machine__
Inside...............................
San Francisco, Cal.—
Outside............................
Inside...............................
Seattle, Wash.—
Outside............................
Inside...............................
Spokane, Wash.—
Outside and machine__
Inside...............................
C e n ts. D o l l s .
8 7 .5
38.50
38.50
8 7 .5
R e g n i i r r a te
m u l t i p lie d
by
C e n ts. D o lls .
2 '
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 81.3 35.75
12 75.0 33.00
8-4-44
8-4-44
li
71.3
30.25
31.35
li
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 57.0
12 59.4
25.08
26.13
8-4-44
8-4-44
76.3
173.1
70.0
33.55
32.18
30.80
li
li
li
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 73.8 32.45
12 270.6 31.08
12 67.5 29. 70
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
81.3
75.0
35.75
33.00
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 68.8
12 62.5
30.25
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
76.3 33.55
70.0 30.80
2
2
2
2
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
12 73.8
12 67.5
32.45
29.70
8-4-44
8-4-44
81.3
75.0
35.75
33.00
lì
li
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 68.8
12 62.5
30.25
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
81.3
75.0
35. 75
33.00
lì
li
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 68.8
12 62.5
30.25
27.50
8-4-44
8-4-44
2
(s)
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-5-45
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
50.0
56.3
50.0
54.5
56.3
22.00
24.75
22.50
23.98
24.75
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-5-45
8-4-44
8-4-44
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
50.0
75.0
75.0
55.0
60.0
65.0
55.0
22.00
33.00
33.00
24.20
26.40
28.60
24.20
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8 - 4 -44
2
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
12
12
12
12
12
62.5
62.5
70.0
70.0
70.0
27.50
27.50
30.80
30.80
30.80
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
8-4-44
6 8 .8
STONECUTTERS.
South Atlantic—
Atlanta, Ga.........................
Baltimore, M d...................
Jacksonville, F la................
Richmond, Va....................
Washington, D. C..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala...............
Dallas, Tex.........................
Houston, Tex.....................
Little Rock, A rk................
Louisville, N y ....................
Memphis, Tenn..................
Nashville, Tenn.................
Western:
Denver, Colo.......................
Salt Lake City, U tah .........
San Francisco, Cal..............
Seattle, W ash.....................
Spokane, W ash..................
62.5 27.50
56.3 21.75
450.0 22.50
62.5 27.50
565.0 28.60
62.5
75.0
75.0
60.0
60.0
75.0
70.0
27.50
33.00
33.00
26.40
26.40
33.00
30. SO
75.0 33.00
662.5 27.50
70.0 30.80
87.5 38.50
75.0 33.00
li
(s)
li
li
li
li
li
li
li
lì
li
li
lì
li
lì
lì
2
2
H
2
1 76.3 cents, November to February, inclusive.
2 73.8cents, November to February, inclusive.
* Work prohibited.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1303]
<Scale became 75 cents on June 1,1918.
6 Scale became 80 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
‘ Scale became 75 cents on July 1,1918.
154
M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
U N IO N SCALE O F W A G ES A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN EA C H T R A D E , IN T H E SO U TH
A T L A N T IC , SO U TH C E N T R A L , A N D W E S T E R N ST A TES, ON MAY 15, 1913, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL TRADES.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
Full days; with
For
Per
Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
For
ur Per week,
Per week, over days full week.
day hour.
hour. full time.
and
’
full
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
BLACKSMITHS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga.—
Manufacturing and job- Cents.
. bing shops.................... 155.0
Railroad shops, roads A
and B ........................... 68.0
Railroad shops, road E .. 68.8
Charleston, S. C.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 72.5
Railroad shops, road A .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road B .. 68.0
Jacksonville, Fla.—
Railroad shops, road C,
light fire, car shops___ 68.0
Railroad shops road C,
light fire, locomotive
shops............................. 63.0
Railroad shops, road C,
heavy fire..................... 68.0
Railroad shops, road D .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road E .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road F .. 68.0
Norfolk, Va., district—
Portsmouth, Va.—
Railroad shops, welders.. 68.0
Railroad shops, heavy
fire.................
68.0
Railroad shops, general
fire............................... 68.0
Railroad shops, second
fire................
68.0
Railroad shops, hammersmiths......................... , 68.0
Richmond, Va.—
Manufacturing shops A .. <52.0
Manufacturing shops B .. 62.5
Manufacturing shops B,
hammermen..........
115.0
Railroad shops, road A .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road B .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road C .. 68.0
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala.—
Railroad shops, road B .. 68.0
Railroad shops, roads D
and E .......................... 6S.0
Railroad shops, road F .. 68.0
Little Rock, Ark.—
Railroad shops, road A .. 68.0
Car fire......................
68.0
Flue welders...........
68.0
Railroad shops, road B—
First fire....................... 68.0
Second fire........
68.0
Forging machine operators........................... 68.0
Miscellaneous fires....... 68.0
Light fire...................... 68.0
H am m erm en.................
B ulldozer ham m erm en.
6 8 .0
6 8 .0
Doth.
by—
Cents. Dolls.
29.70
li
14
9-9-54
39.0
23.40
32.64
32.64
H
li
14
li
8-8-48
8-8-48
43.5
27 27
20.88
34.80
32.64
32.64
11
li
14
H
14
14
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
41. 7 22 50
50.5 27.27
44.5 24.03
9 - 9 -54
9 - 9-54
32. 64
14
14
8 - 8 -48
44.5
24.03
9 -9
32.64
14
li
8-8-48
27 27
9
32.64
38.08
32.64
32.64
l-l
14
li
21
14
li
li
li
8-8-48
8-8-56
8-8-48
8-8-48
52.5
52.5
52.5
(3)
28 35
33.08
28.35
(')
9 9 54
9-9-63
9-9-54
(3)
32.64
li
li
8-8-48
53.0
9 - 5 -50
32.64
li
14
8 -8
52 5 26.25
9 - 5 -50
48
10 -10 -60
Q 9 54
- 9-54
9
9
9 54
-54
9 5
32.64
11
li
8-8-48
50.5
25.25
9 - 5 -50
32.64
14
la
8-8-48
47 5 23.75
9-5-50
32.64
li
1}
8-8-48
24.96
31.25
H
i-i
li
li
8 - 8 -48
9-5-50
52.0
12 40.0
24.96
20.00
8-8-48
57.50
32.64
32.64
32.64
11
14
14
li
li
li
li
H
9-5-50
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
12 70.0
44.5
49.5
48.5
35.00
24.03
26.73
28.19
9 - 5 -50
9-9-54
9-9-54
9-9-54
32.64
li
li
1J
li
8-8-48
41.0
22.14
8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
50 5 27 27
51.0 27.54
32.64
32.64
li
14
(s)
(s)
32.64
32.64
32.64
61
61
61
li
1-1
li
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
45.0
39 5
42.5
32.64
32.64
61
*1
14
Ü
8 - 8 48
8-8-48
47 5
32. 64
32.64
32. 64
»i
‘1
6 1
u
li
li
8 - 8 48
8 - 8 -48
8 - 8 -48
45 5
42.5 22 Q0
28 5 20 75
32. 64
32. 64
1Scale l)9came 68 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
2 Time and one-half after 2 hours.
* No scale m effect on May 15,1917.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Requli r rate
multiplied
45.5
(3)
9-9-54
9
9
9 54
-
9-54
24.25
' 9 - 8 -53
22.90
' 9 - 8 -53
6q
« 53
'9-8-53
24! 52
6Q
6q
3 53
8 ”5 -3
61
u
37 5 20 21
6 Q - 8 53
8-8-48
*1
8-8-48
36. Ó 19. 40
'9 -8 -5 3
li
4 Scale became 68 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
6 Tim e and one-half after 1 hour; on Saturday for all overtime,
6 W ork 53 hours, p a id for 53 hours and 53 m inutes.
[1304]
155
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
U N IO N SCALE O F W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN EA C H T R A D E , IN T H E SO U TH
A TL A N T IC , SO U TH C E N T R A L , A N D W E S T E R N ST A T E S , ON MAY 15, 1918, A N D MAY
15, 191,7—Continued.
METAL TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
with
Full days;
For
Per
Saturdays; Sat
Per
For Sun
ur Per week,
Per week, over
days full week.
day hour.
hour. full time. and
full
half
time.
time.
holi
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
blacksmiths—continued.
South Central—Concluded.
Louisville, Ivy.—
C en U .
Railroad shops................ 68.0
Memphis, Tenn.—
Railroad shops—
Car fire.......................... 68.0
Engine fire................... 71.5
Frame fire.................... 73.0
New Orleans, La.—
Manufacturing shops___ 68.8
Railroad shops, road B .. 68.0
Railroad shops, road E .. 68.0
Western:
Butte, Mont.—
Manufacturing shops___ <75.0
Mines, smelters, and concentrators................... <75.0
Denver, Colo.—
Manufacturing shops. . . . 652.0
Railroad shops, road A—
Bolt makers................. 68.0
Bradley hammerman.. 68.0
First fire and frame fire 71.0
Second fire and spring
fire............................. 68.0
First car fire................. 68.0
General fires................. 68.0
General car fire............ 68.0
Railroadshops.road B—
First fire and hammersm ith......................... 6S.0
Second fire.................... 68.0
Railroad shops, road D—
First fire....................... 68.0
General fires................. 68.0
Railroad shops, road F .. 68.0
Portland, Oreg.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 772.2
Salt Lake City, Utah—•
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 862.5
Railroad stops—
Bolt makers................. 68.0
First fire....................... 72.0
Second fire................... 71.0
Third fire...................... 69.5
Spring fire..................... 71.0
General fires................. 68.0
Bulldozer and Ajax
forging machine........ 68.0
San Francisco, C a l .—
Manufacturingshops....... 772.5
D om .
32.64
32.64
34.32
35.04
33.00
32.64
32.64
R e g u la r r a te
m u ltip lie d
i>y
1Ü
11
lì
2
n
21
C en ts.
D o lls.
li
8-8-48
38.5
20. 79
9 - 9 -54
H
lì
li
2
li
li
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
32.5
45.0
46.5
17.55
24.30
25.11
9-9-54
9-9-54
9-9-54
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
36.1
42.0
46.0
19.50
22.68
24.84
9-9-54
9 - 9 -54
39 - 8 -53
36.00
H
2
8-8-48
68.8
33.00
8-8-48
36.00
li
5lì
8-8-48
68.8
33. 00
8 - S -56
24.96
li
li
8-8-48
50.0
27.00
9-9-54
32.64
32.64
34.08
li
li
li
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
42.8
39.5
48.9
20.54
18.96
23.45
8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
8-8-48
32.64
32.64
32.64
32.64
li
li
li
lì
lì
li
lì
li
lì
n
if
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
46.1
41.5
45.0
37.3
22.13
19.92
21.60
17.88
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
32.64
32.64
lì
lì
li
li
8-8-48
8 - 8 -48
54.0
52.0
25.92
24.96
8-8-48
8-8-48
32.64
32.64
32.64
li
lì
li
li
li
li
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
47.5
43.5
50.0
22 80
20.88
21.00
8-8-48
" 8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
34.65
2
2
8-8-48
50.0
24.00
8-8-48
30.00
lì
H
iì
8 - S -48
56 3 27.00
8-8-48
li
8-8-48
8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
44/5
51.1
50.0
48.5
50.0
47.2
21.36
24.50
23.98
23.28
23.98
22.66
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8 ^ 8 -48
8-8-48
8-8-48
47.2
22. 66
8 - 8 -48
50.0
24.00
8-8-48
32.64
34.56
34.08
33.36
34.08
32.64
lì
li
H
lf
1Ì
li
lì
lì
li
32.64
lì
lì
8-8-48
34.80
2
2
9 8 - 8 -48
3
1 Five hours p ay for 3 J hours’ or less w ork, after 2 hours.
2 Time and one-half after 1 hour; on S atu rd ay for all overtime.
s W ork 53 hours, paid for 54.
< Scale became 81.3 cents on Ju ly 4,1918.
6 For Sundays; double tim e for holidays.
6 Scale became 60 cents on June 12 an a 68 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
7 More th a n half of th e m embers received more th a n the scale; am ount not reported.
8 Scale became 70 cents on Ju ly 1 and 75 cents on Sept. 1,1918.
s Forty-four hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1305]
156
M O N TH LY LABOE EEVIEW,
U N IO N SCALE. O F W A G ES AN D H O U R S O F b A B O R IN EA C H T R A D E , IN T H E SO U TH
A TL A N T IC , SO U TH C E N T R A L , AN D W E S T E R N ST A TES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AN D MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL T R A D E S—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
Per
For days
ur Per week,
Per week, over
full week.
day hour.
hour. full time. and
full
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
blacksmiths—concluded.
W estern—Concluded.
Seattle, Wash.—
Manufacturing and job- Cents. Dolls.
bing shops.................... 75.0 36.00
Shipyards...................» .. 272.2 34.65
Spokane, Wash.—
Railroad shops—
First fire....................... 6 8 .0 32.64
General fires................. 6 8 .0 32.64
Reguli■rrate
mult plied
by
Cents. Dolls.
‘8-8-48
‘8-8-48
4 54.0
4 56.3
25.92
27.00
8-8-48
8-8-48
11
11
8-8-48
8-8-48
48.0
41.5
25.92
22.41
9-9-54
9-9-54
11
8
- S -48
29.5
15.93
9-9-54
14
11
11
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
23.5
24.5
26.5
13.20
14.28
12.66
e9 - 8 -53
«9-8-53
«9-8-53
11
8-8-48
23.5
12. 69
9-9-54
2
8 - 8
ii
-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
25.0
24.0
27.0
13.50
12.96
14.58
9-9-54
9-9-54
‘9 -8-53
2
8-8-48
56.3
27.00
8-8-48
56.3
27.00
8-8-56
2
2
2
2
»11
S1J
11
BLACKSMITHS’ HELPERS.
South Atlantic:
Richmond, Va.—
Railroad shops............... 45.0
South Central:
Little Rock, Ark.—
Railroad shops, road A—
Car fire.......................... 45.0
Miscellaneous fire__
45.0
Railroad shops, road B .. 45.0
Louisville, Ky.—
Railroad shops................ 45.0
New Orleans, La.—
Manufacturing shops___ 37.5
Railroad shops, road D .. 45.0
Railroad shops, road E .. 45.0
Western:
Butte, Mont.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 8 62.5
Mines, smelters, and concentrators..................... 8 62.5
Denver, Colo.—
Manufacturing shops___ 1037.0
Railroad shops, road A .. 45.0
D o............................. 45.0
Railroad shops, road A—
First frame, spring,
Ajax forging ma
chine and bulldozer
fires........................... 45.0
Railroad shops, road D .. 45.0
First fire....................... 45.0
Railroad shops, road F .. 45.0
Do............................. 45.0
Portland, Oreg.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 253.7
21.60
21.60
21.60
21.60
<1
21.60
e i .L
18.00
21.60
21.60
2
30.00
30.00
11
<1
U
<1
11
11
» ii
8-8-48
17.76
21.60
21.60
n
14
1*
li
ii
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
32.5
35.5
31.5
17. 55
17.04
15.12
9-9-54
8-8-48
8-8-48
21.60
21.60
21.60
21.60
21.60
i>
B
14
14
14
1J
11
8-8-48
-4&
-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
33.5
30.5
31.5
37.0
38.0
16.08
14.64
15.12
17.76
18.24
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
25.77
2
2
8-8-48
37.5
18.00
8-8-48
14
H
8 - 8
8 - 8
1 Forty-four hours per week, May 18 to Septem ber 17, inclusive.
2 More th a n half of the members received more th a n th e scale; am ount not reported.
s D ouble tim e after m idnight.
*Time and one-half after 1 hour; on S atu rd ay for all overtime.
6 W ork 53 hours, paid for 53 hours and 53 m inutes,
e 5 hours’ p ay for 3J hours’ or less w ork after 2 hours.
» W ork 53 hours, paid for 54.
8 Scale became 68.8 cents on Ju ly 4,1918.
» F o r Sundays; double tim e for holidays.
m Scale became 45 cents on June 12,1918.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1306]
157
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1917.
May 15, 1918.
Num
Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
with
Full days; Sat
For
Per
Sun Saturdays; ur
Per
For
Per week,
full
week.
Per week, over days
day hour.
full
arid
hour. full time.
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
BLACKSMITHS’ H E L P E R S —
concluded
W estern—Concluded.
Salt Lake City, Utah—
Manufacturing and job-
C en ts. D o l l s .
R e g u le r ra te
m u ltip lie d
by —
C en ts. D o l l s .
lì
lì
8 - S -48
21.60
21.60
lì
i-l
lì
1*
8-8-48
8-8-48
25. 80
2
2
38 - 8 -48
3 37.5
18.00
8-8-48
30.00
25. 63
2
2
2
2
38 - 8 -48
*>8-8 -48
3 40.0
4 40.0
19. 20
19. 20
8 —8 —
48
8 - 8 -48
21.60
e li
lì
8-8-48
26.5
14.31
9 - 9 -54
55.0 27. 50
60.0 30.00
68.0 32. 64
H
n
H
U
lì
li
9 - 5 -50
9 - 5 -50
8 - S -48
12 44.0 22.00
12 44.0 22.00
50. 5 27. 27
9 - 5 -50
9 - 5 -50
9 - 9 -54
«50.0 22.00
1C68.S 30.25
2
2
92
82
8-4-44
8-4-44
12 48.0
12 68.8
23. 76
33.00
9 - 4J-49]
8-8-48
»D
8 - S -48
42.8
23.10
9 - 9 -54
: 41. 7 20.11
Railroad shops—
45.0
San Francisco, Cal.—
Manufacturing shops---- 53.8
Seattle, Wash.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 62.5
Shipyards........................ 453. 4
Spokane, Wash.—
45.0
(2)
(2)
34. 5 16. 56
33.5 16.08
(2)
8-8-48
8-8-48
B O IL E R M A K E R S .
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops A ................
Manufacturing shops B ..
Railroad shops................
altimore, Md.—■
Manufacturing shops___
Outside............................
harleston, S. C—
Manufacturing and jobRailroad shops, roads A
and R
Railroad shops, road C..
»Jacksonville, Fla.—■
Manufacturing and jobbing shops....................
Railroad shops, road D ..
Railroad shops, roads C
i
72.5
34.80 n li
32. 64
32.64
li
U
H
lì
8-8-48
8-8-48
50.5
(12)
27. 27
(12)
9-9-54
(12)
iä50.0 27.00
68.0 38.08
U
2
1!
is 9 - 9 -54
8-8-56
40.0
53.0
21. 60
33.39
9 - 9 -54
9-9-63
68.0
68.0
n
9-9-54
53.0 28.62
8-8-48
68.0 32. 64
li
li
(12)
(12)
(12)
8 - 8 -48
ì*
Railroad shops, road G ... 68.0 32.64
lì
(12)
(12)
(12)
8 - S -48
H
70.0 33.60
lì
Norfolk, Va., district:
Norfolk—
9 - 9 -54
12 50.0 27.00
2
Si- 54-48
2
Manufacturing shops, 72.5 34.80
Portsmouth—
9 - 9 -54
27.27
50.5
8
8
4
8
n
32.64
n
68.0
Richmond, Va.—
9 - 9 -54
27.43
50.8
8
8
4
8
32.
64
Railroad shops, road A .. 68.0
li
li
Railroad shops, roads B,
9 - 9 -54
27.
27
50.5
8
8
4
8
li
68.0 32.64
lì
8-8-48
8 - 8 - 4 8 1......... 53.1 25.50
2
2
Washington, D. C.............. 68.8 33.00
1Scale became 56.3 cents on Sept. 1, 1918.
2 Not organized on May 15,1918.
344 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
4 More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
5 44 hours per week, May 18 to Sept. 17, inclusive,
e Double time after midnight.
7 Scale became 68 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
8 Scale became 70 cents on July 1,1918.
8 July 4 and Christmas, 3i times regular rate; Labor Day, 5 times regular rate.
18 Scale became 80 cents on July 1, 1918.
n Double time on outside work.
12 No scale in effect on May 15, 1917.
is Scale became 68 cents arid 48 hours on Aug. 15,1918.
87721°—IS----- 11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1307]
158
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SO U Til CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Kate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
Per
For
ur Per week,
Per week, over days full week.
day hour.
and
full
hour. full time.
half
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
BOILER MAKERS—contd.
*
South Central;
E e o u k ir r a te
Birmingham, Ala.—
m u lt ip l i e d
Manufacturing and job- C e n ts. D o l l s .
by
C en ts. D o l l s .
1\
bing shops.................... 67.5 32.40
2
8-8-48
47.5 28. 50
Steel mills*and blast fur1
1J
naces............................. >66. 5 39.90
10 -10 -GO
55.0 33.00
Railroad shops, roads B
1J
and D ........................... 68.0 32.64
52.0
28.08
8
8
4
8
li
Railroad shops, roads E
and F ........................... 68.0 32.64
1?!
11
8-8-48
50.5 27. 27
Railroad shops, road IC.. 68.0 32.64
11
48.0 23.04
8-8-48
1|
Railroad shops, road L .. 166. 5 39.90
10 -10 -60
52.5 31.50
Li
li
Dallas, Tex.—
Manufacturing shops....... 68.0 36.72
2
2
9 - 9 -54
50.0 27.00
Houston, Tex.—
2
28 - 8 - 4 8
Shipyards. . ..................... 70.0 30.80
3 (»>
(3)
Li
Little Rock, Ark.—
Manufacturing shops___ 58.0 34.80
10 -10 -60
H
45.0 27.00
li
Railroad shops................ 68.0 32.64 * 1
11
8-8-48
45.0 24. 25
Railroad shops, roundhouses, night w ork___ 68.0 32.64 «1
8-8-48
45.0 26.98
li
Louisville, Ky.—
Manufacturing shops___ 45.0 22.50
2
2
9 - 5 -50
12 35.0 17. 50
Outside............................ 68.8 30.25
2
2
8 - 4.-44
12 56.0 24. 64
Railroad shops, road A .. 68.0 32.64 f 1
8 - 8 -48
42.0 22.68
li
Railroad shops, road G.. 68.0 32. 64
8 - 8 -48
41.0 22.14
Memphis, Tenn.—
Manufacturing shops___ »55.0 29.70
2
2
9-9-54
45. 0 24.30
Railroad shops, road A .. 71.5 34.32
8-8-48
45.0 24.30
li
li
Railroad shops, road B .. 70.3 33.72
8 - 8 -48
50.5 27. 27
1}
li
Railroad shops, road C. . 68.0 32. 64 >1
8
8
4
8
45.0
24.30
1-i
Railroad shops, road E .. 68.0 32.64 >1
8-8-48
44.0 23.76
li
Nashville, Tenn.—Railroad
1J
shops................................ 68.0 32.64
11
8-8-48
42.0 22. 68
New Orleans, La,— .
Manufacturing shops___ >062. 5 30.00
2
2
8 - 8 -48
43.8 21.00
On repair work............... »68.8 33.00
2
2
8-8-48
50. 0 24. 00
Railroad shops, road B . . 68.0 32.64
8-8-48
42.0 22.68
li
li
Railroad shops, road C.. 68.0 32.64 « 1
8-8-48
46.0 24. 84
li
Western:
Butte, Mont.—
Manufacturing shops. . . . >575.0 36.00
8-8-48
68.8 33.00
li » l i
Building work................. 87.5 38.50
8-4-44
12 87.5 38.50
li
lì
Mines, smelters, and concentrators..................... '375.0 36.00
8 - S -48
08 8 28 50
11 K 1J
Railroad shops................ 68.5 32,88
11
ll
8-8-48
49.0 26. 46
1Scale became 73 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
244' hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
* No scale in effect on May 15,1917.
* Time and one-half after 1 hour; on Saturday for ail overtime.
6 Work 53 hours; paid for 53 hours and 53 minutes.
6 Time and one-half after If hours; on Saturday after 40 minutes.
7 Work 57 hours; paid for 59 hours and 57 minutes.
8 Time and one-half after 1 hour.
8 Scale became 58 cents on May 25, and 68 cents on Aug. 1,1918.
10 Scale became 68.8 cents on July 1, 1918.
11 Scale became 75 cents on July 1,1918.
12 Work 53 hours; paid for 54.
13 Scale became 81.3 cents on July 4,1918.
u For Sundays; double time for holidays.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 0 S ]
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
10 -io -00
10 -10 -60
9 - 0 -54
9 _ 9 _54
8 - 8 -48
10 -10 -60
9-9-54
(3)
10 -10 -60
£9 - 8 -53
>91- 8-2-57
9-5-50
8-4-44
9 - 9 -54
9-9-54
! - 9 -54
9-9-54
9 - 9 -54
9 - 9 -54
1 - . -51
1 - 9 -JA
8 -8
8-8
9 -9
»9-8
-48
-43
-54
-53
8 8 -48
8-4-44
8 8 56
« 3 - 8 -54
159
M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
•
METAL TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1917
May 15, 1918.
Num
ber
of
Rate of wagesOccupation, geographical
division, and city.
For
Per
Sun
For days
Per week, over
hour. full time. and
time.
holi
days.
Rate of
wages—
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
with
Sat
Per
ur Per week,
day hour.
full
half
time.
holi
day.
. 8 - 8 -48
8 - 8 -48
8 - 8 -48:
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
< 8 - 8 -48
242.5 21.68
43.5 20.88
45.5 21.84
50.0 24.00
52.0 24.96
43.5 20.88
(«)
(3)
3 53.0 25.44
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
boiler makers—concluded.
W estern—Concluded.
Denver, Colo.—
Manufacturing shops___
Railroad shops, road A ..
Flangers and layers out.
Railroad shops, road B ..
Flangers and layers out.
Railroad shops, road D ..
Railroad shops, road G ..
Portland, Oreg...................
Salt Lake City, Utah—
Manufacturing shops. . . .
Railroad shops, road A ..
Railroad shops, road B ..
San Francisco, Cal.—
Building work.................
Manufacturing and jobbing shops....................
Outside............................
Tanks and pipe lines___
Riveters, ehippers, and
cauLkjers........................
Seattle, Wash.—
Manufacturing shops___
Outside............................
Railroad shops................
Shipyards.. T...................
Spokane, Wash.—
Railroad shops................
C en ts. B o l ls .
152.0
68.0
70.5
68.0
70.5
68.0
68.0
72.5
R e g u la r r a le
m u ltip lie d
by—
24.96
32.64
33.84
32.64
33.84
32.64
32.64
34.80
«
n
ii
u
li
li
li
2
li
li
H
li
li
li
li
2
562.5 30.00
68.0 32.64
68.0 32.64
li
li
li
li
li
li
C en ts. D o l l s .
8.j- Si—51
8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8 - 8 -48
8 - 8 -48
(3)
8-8-43
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
56.3
45.5
45.5
27.00
21. 84
21.84
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-43
75.0
33.00
2
2
8 - 4-44
12 62.5
27. ,50
8-4-44
72.5
81.6
75.0
34.80
39.15
36.00
2
2
2
2
2
2
<8 - 8-48
< 8 - 8 -48
< 8 - 8 -48
3 53.1
3 59.8
3 56.3
25.50
28.69
27.00
8 - 8 -48
8 —8 —
48
8-8-48
72.5
34. SO
2
2
<8 - 8 -4S
3 53.1
25.50
8-8-48
5 75.0
81.3
68.0
«72.2
36.00
39.00
32.64
34.65
2
2
«1
2
2
2
li
2
7 8 - 8 -48
7 8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
78 - 8 -48
4 56.3
4 62.5
49.0
4 56.3
27.00
30.00
26.46
27.00
8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
9 - 9 -54
8-8-43
68.5
32. 88
«lì
li
8-8-48
49.0
26.46
9-9-54
B O ILER MAKERS* H E L P E R S.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md.—
9 - 4i-49i
2 n2
8-4-44
12 27.8 13.75
Manufacturing shops___ !»40.0 17. 60
8-8-48
2 u2
8-4-44
12 56.3 27.00
Outside........... ................ 1256.3 24.75
Charleston, S. C.—
Manufacturing shops___ 42.0 20.16
8-8-48
0)
li
lì
(")
(“ )
8 - 8 -48
Railroad shops................ 45.0 21.60
li
0)
li
(*-)
(**)
Richmond, Va.—
9-9-54
8 - S -48
29.5 15,93
Railroad shops, road A .. 45.0 21.60
li
li
Railroad shops, roads B
9-9-54
and C ............................ 45.0 21.60
li
8-8-48
30.5 16.47
li
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala.—
9 - 9 -54
31.5 17.01
Railroad shops................ 45.0 21.60
8 - 8 -48
li
li
Dallas, Tex.— *
9-9-54
9 - 9 -54
33.3 IS. 00
Manufacturing shops__ 40.0 21.60
2
2
Houston, Tex.—
(13)
(13)
(.3 )
Shipyards........................ 46.0 22.08
2
8-8-48
li
1Scale became 60 cents on June 12, and 68 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
2 Also a bonus of 10 per cent for m ating a full m onth’s time.
'i Not organized on May 15,1917.
<44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
6 Scale became 70 cents on July 1, and 75 cents on Sept. 1, 1918.
6 More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
7 44 hours per week, May 18 to Sept. 17, inclusive.
8 Time and one-half after 1 hour.
8Double time after midnight.
w Scale became 46 cents on July 1, 1918.
11 Three and one-half times the regular rate for July 4 and Christmas; 5 times regular rate for Labor Day.
12Scale became 67J cents on July 1, 1918.
18 No scale in effect on May 15,1917.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1300]
160
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
For Hours:
with
Per
Sun Full days; Sat
For days
Saturdays; ur
Per
week, over
full time. and full week. day Per week
full
time.
holi
half hour. time.
days.
holi
day.
Rate of wages—
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
Per
hour.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
B OILER M A K ER S’ H E L P E R S —
R e g u l a r r a te
concluded.
m u l t ‘p l ie d
South Central—Concluded.
by
C en ts. D o l l s .
Little Rock, Ark.—
C en ts. D o lls .
45.0 21.60 i 1
Railroad shops................
8-8-48
26.0 14.01
li
29 - 8 -53
Railroad shops, round45.0 21.60 3 1
8-8-48
26.0 15. 58
house, night work.......
li
<9§- 8§—
57
Louisville, Ky.—
35.0 17.50
2
2
Manufacturing shops___
12
25.0 12.50
9-5-50
9-5-50
56.8 24.97
2
2
12
Outside............................
50.0 2 2 .0 0
8-4-44
8-4-44
45.0 21.60 n
li
Railroad shops, road A ..
22.5 12.15
8-8-48
9-9-54
45.0 21.60
Railroad shops, road G ..
8
8
4
8
23.5
12.69
li
9
-9-54
li
Nashville, Tenn.—
45.0 21.60
li
Railroad shops................
8
8
4
8
li
(6)
(6)
(6)
New Orleans, La.—
34.4 16.50
2
2
Manufacturing shops___
8-8-48
25.0 1 2 .0 0
8-8-48
40.6 19.50
2
2
Outside............................
8-8-48
31.3 15.00
8 - 8 -48
45.0 21.60
li
li
Railroad shops, road B ..
8-8-48
23.0 12.42
9 - 9 . -54
45. 0 21. 60 i l
Railroad shops, road C..
8-8-48
28.0 15.12
79 - 8 -53
Western:
Butte, Mont.—
Building work................. 1 62.5 27. 50
li
li
8-4-44
12
62.5 27.50
8-4-44
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 6 62. 5 30. 00
Hi
8-8-48
59.4 28.50
8-8-48
li
Mines, smelters, and con9 1J 8 - 8 -48
li
eentrators..................... 862.5 30.00
8 - 8 _56
50.4 33. 25
45.0 21.60
Railroad shops................
8-8-48
2 0 .0
14.04
7 9 - 8 -53
li
li
Denver, Colo.—
Manufacturing shops___ io 37.0 17.76
32.5 16.58
8-8-48
81- 84-51
li
li
45.0 21.60
li
Railroad shops, road A ..
30.5 14.64
8-8-48
8-8-48
li
45.0 21.60
H
Railroad shops, road B ..
li
37.0 17.76
8-8-48
8-8-48
45.0 21.60
li
Railroad shops, road C..
8-8-48
li
(6)
(6)
2 - 2 ti 8 - 8 -48
Portland, Oreg...................
53.6 25.74
3 37.5 18.00
8-8-48
Salt Lake City, Utah—
45.0 2 1 .6 0
Railroad shops, road A ..
31.5 15.12
8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
li
li
45. 0 21.60
n
Railroad shops, road B ..
31.5 15.12
8-8-48
8-8-48
li
San Francisco, Cal.—
Manufacturing and job2
bing shops....................
53.8 25.80
2 “ 8 - 8 -48
3 37.5 18.00
8-8-48
Building work.................
53.8 23.65
2
2
37.5 16.50
8-4-44
12
8-4-44
36.00
75.0
2
Tanks and pipe lines___
2 “ 8 - 8 -48
8-8-48
3 43.8 2 1 .0 0
Drillers, reamers, and
2
tappers..........................
2 ‘1 8 - 8 -48
57.8 27.12
3 40.6 19.50
8-8-48
Seattle, W ash. —
50.0 24.00
2
Manufacturing shops___
2 12 g - 8 -48
4 37.5 18.00
8-8-48
2
Outside............................
62.5 30.00
2 12 8 - 8 -48
4 50.0 24.00
8-8-48
Railroad shops................
45.0 21.60 8 1
li
8 - 8 -48
30.0 16. 20
9 - 9 -54
2
2
Shipyards. . T................... 13 49.5 23.76
12 8 - 8 -48
4 37.5 18.00
8-8-48
Spokane, Wash.—
Railroad shops................
45.0 21.60 H 1J
26.0 14.04
9-9-54
8-8-48
li
1 Time and one-half after 1 hour; on Saturday for all overtime.
2 Work 53 hours; paid for 53 hours and 53 minutes.
8 Time and one-half after lif hours; on Saturday after 40 minutes.
4 Work 57 hours; paid for 59 hours and 57 minutes.
6 Time and one-half after 1 hour.
6 Not organized on May 15, 1917.
7 Work 53 hours; paid for 54.
8 Scale became 68.8 cents on July 4, 1918.9 For Sundays; double time for holidays.
10 Scale became 45 cents on June 12, 1918.
11 44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
12 44 hours per week, May 18 to Sept. 17, inclusive.
w More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
14 Double time after midnight.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1310]
161
M O NTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL TRADES—Continued.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
with
For
Full days;
Sun Saturdays;. Sat
Per
Per
ur Per week,
For days
full week.
Per week, over
day hour.
hour. • full time. and
full
half
holi
time.
time.
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
COPPERSM ITHS.
South Atlantic:
C en ts. D o lls .
Baltimore, Md.................... 172.5 34. 80
R e g u l i r r a te
m u l t i p lie d
by
2
22
8-8-48
2
2
2
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
C e n ts. D o l l s .
50.0
24.00
8-8-48
8-8-48
46.9
41.7
43.8
22.50
22.50
21.00
8 - 8 -48
9-9-54
8-8-48
35.0
40.0
50.0
18.90
21.60
24.00
9-9-54
9-9-54
8-8-48
CORE M A K ER S.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, Md.................... 68.8
Richmond, V a.................... 58.3
Washington, D. C.............. 68.8
South Central:
Little Rock, A rk................ 341.7
Memphis, Tenn.................. 56.0
N ew ‘Orleans, L a................ 462.5
Western:
Butte, Mont........................ 981.3
Denver, Colo....................... «59.4
Portland, Oreg................... 772.5
Salt Lake City, Utah—
Manufacturi n g shops...... 862.5
Railroad shops................ 68.0
San Francisco,*Cal.............. 72.5
Seattle, Wash.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... 82.5
Shipyards........................ 82.5
33.00
31.50
33.00
1J
lj
11
8-8-48
22.50
30.24
30.00
11
2
2
2
2
9-9-54
- 9-9-54
8-8-48
39.00
28.50
34.80
11
11
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
8-8-48
>>8-8-48
68. 8 33.00
50. 0 24. 00
3 56.3 27.00
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
30.00
32.64
34.80
11
11
2
2
H
2'
8-8-48
8-8-48
«8-8-48
56.3 27.00
41 0 22.14
3 53.1 25.50
8 - S -48
9-9-54
8-8-48
39.60
39.60
2
2
2
2
>0 8 - 8 -48
io 8 - 8 -48
4 56.3
4 50.3
27.00
27.00
8-8-48
8-8-48
21.60
20.00
27.27
9-9-54
9-5-50
9-9-54
22.56
31.20
24.00
22.56
21.60
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
8 9 -
23.10
9-9-54
27.27
9-9-54
11
M ACHINISTS.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga.—
Manufacturing shops---- P55.0 29.70
9-9-54
n
11
40.0
Automobile repair shops. U55.0 29.70
9-9-54
40.0
u
11
Railroad shops................. 68.0 32.64
8-8-48
50.5
il
11
Baltimore, Md.—
Manufacturing shops A .. 62.5 30.00 >2 11
2
8-8-48
47.0
Manufacturing shops B .. 68.8 33.00
2
8-8-48
65.0
H
Manufacturing shops C.. 7 62.0 29.76
2
8-8-48
50.0
1-1
2
Outside............................ 68.0 32.64 13 11
8 - 8 -48
47.0
Railroad shops................ 68.0 32.64 >4 i z
8 - 8 -4840.0
11
Charleston, S. C.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops.................... >»59.0 31.86
2
is 9 -9 -54
42.8
il
Railroad shops, roads A
U
and B ........................... 68.0 32. 64
8 - 8 48
50.5
il
(16)
Railroad shops, road C . . 68.0 32.64
8-8-48
il
11
1 Seale became $1 on Sept. 10,1918.
2 Triple time for July 4, Labor Day, and Christmas.
3 Scale became 60 cents on June 1,1918.
4 Seale became 68.8 cents on July 15,1918.
6 Scale became 87.5 cents on July 4, 1918.
6 Scale became 75 cents on June 1,1918.
7 More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not
3 44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
9 Seale became 70 cents on July 1 and 75 cents on Sept. 1,1918.
19 44 hours per week, May 18 to Sept. 17, inclusive.
11 Scale became 70 cents bn Aug. 1,1918.
12 Double time after midnight.
>3 Double time after midnight and on Saturday after 4 p. m.
14 Time and one-half after 1 hour.
76 Scale became 73 cents and 48 tours on July 1, 1918.
16 No scale in effect on May 15, 1917.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1311]
(16)
reported.
(16)
8-48
9-54
162
U N IO N
M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
SCA LE
OF W AGES AND
A T L A N T IC , S O U T H
HOURS
CENTRAL, AND
15, 1917— C o n t i n u e d .
OF
LABOR
W ESTERN
IN
EACH
T R A D E , IN
STA TES, ON
MAY
SO U TH
MAY
METAL TRADES—C o n t i n u e d .
M a y 15, 1918.
M a y 15, 1917.
R a te of w ag esO c c u p a tio n , g e o g ra p h ic a l
d iv is io n , a n d c ity .
Per
Per
w eek,
h o u r.
f u ll
tim e .
m a c h in is t s
TH E
15, 1918, A N D
For
o v er
tim e .
For
Sun
days
and
h o li
day s.
H o u rs:
F u ll d ay s;
S a tu rd a y s ;
fu ll w e e k .
*
N um
K a te of
ber
' w ages—
of
m o s.
w ith
S a t
Per v
u r
w eek,
Per
day
f u ll
h o u r.
h a lf
tim e .
h o li
day.
H o u rs:
F u ll d ay s;
S a tu rd a y s ;
f u ll w e e k .
— c o n tin u e d .
S o u th A tla n tic — C o n c lu d e d .
J a c k s o n v i l l e , F l a . —M a n u fa c tu r in g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s .............................
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d s C,
D , a n d E ...............................
N o r f o lk ,
V a .,
d is tr ic t—
N o r f o lk —
M a n u fa c tu r in g s h o p s ..
P o rts m o u th —
R a i l r o a d s h o p s ...................
R ic h m o n d , V a .—
M a n u fa c tu rin g s h o p s A ..
M a n u fa c tu rin g s h o p s B . .
M a n u fa c tu rin g s h o p s C
(to o l a n d d ie m a k e r s ) . .
R a i l r o a d s h o p s ........................
W a s h i n g t o n , D . C .—
M a n u fa c tu rin g s h o p s A . .
M a n u fa c tu r in g s h o p s B . .
S o u th C e n tra l:
B irm in g h a m , A la —
M a n u fa c tu rin g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s .............................
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d B . .
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d s D ,
E , a n d F ................................
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d s H ,
I . a n d K .................................
H o u s to n , T e x .—
M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s .............................
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d A . .
R a ilr o a d sh o p s, ro a d B . .
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d C . . .
L ittle R o c k , A rk .—
M a n u f a c t u r i n g s h o p s ____
R a i l r o a d s h o p s .......................
R a ilr o a d sh o p s, ro u n d h o u s e , n i g h t w o r k ..........
C e n ts . D o l l s .
1 6 5 .0
3 5 .1 0
R e g n i i r ra te
m u ltm lie d
by
2
H
i 9 _ 9 _54
6 8 .0
3 2 .6 4
H
i§
8 - 8 - 4 8
7 2 .5
3 4 .8 0
2
2
8 1 - 5 1 -4 8
6 9 .5
3 3 .3 6
Dr
14
8 - 8 -4 8
2 5 7 .0
3 6 2 .0
2 8 .5 0
2 9 .7 6
1J
14
14
i2
9 - 5 -5 0
8 - 8 - 4 8
6 6 .0
6 8 .0
3 6 .3 0
3 2 .6 4
Dr
M l
14
« 5 7 .5
8 6 8 .0
2 7 .6 0
3 2 .6 4
2
14
2
2
6 0 .0
6 8 .0
3 2 .4 0
3 2 .6 4
9 14
14
2
14
12
C en ts. D o lls .
2 1 .6 0
4 0 .0
9 - 9 -5 4
2 7 .2 7
9 - 9 -5 4
5 0 .0
2 4 .0 0
8 -8
-4 8
5 0 .5
2 7 .2 7
9 -5
-5 0
12
3 7 .5
5 1 .0
2 0 .6 3
2 4 .4 8
1 0 - 5 - 55
8 - 8 -1 8
1 0 - 5 - 55
8 - 8 -4 8
12
4 0 .0
5 0 .5
2 2 .0 0
2 7 .2 7
1 0 - 5 -5 5
9 - 9 - 54
7 8 - 8 -4 8
7 8 - 8 -4 8
3
3
5 0 .0
5 5 .0
2 4 .0 0
2 6 .4 0
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 -4 8
4 3 .5
2 3 .4 9
9
9 54
9 - 9 -5 4
2 7 .2 7
C
9 - 9
54
8 - 8 -4 8
6 8 .0
3 2 .6 4
14
H
8 - 8 -4 8
6 8 .0
3 2 .6 4
1J
lj
8 - 8 - 4 8
(10)
(10)
1140.0
6 8 .0
6 8 .0
6 8 .0
2 1 .6 0
3 2 .6 4
3 2 .6 4
3 2 .6 4
14
14
14
14
9
9 54
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 8 - 1 8
4 0 .0
4 5 .0
4 1 .3
4 0 .0
2 1 .6 0
2 4 .3 0
2 2 .2 8
2 1 .6 0
6 0 .0
6 8 .0
3 2 .4 0
3 2 .6 4
13 1
14
n
9 - 9 -5 4
8 - 8 - 4 8
4 5 .0
4 5 .0
2 4 .3 0
2 4 .2 5
14 9
6 8 .0
3 2 .6 4
15 1
14
8 - 8 - 4 8
4 5 .0
2 6 .9 8
« 9 J - 8 > -5 7
9H
12 1
12 1
12 1
14
..............
?
54
0 °)
9
9 54
9 -9
54
9 - 9 -5 4
9 -9 -5 4
9 - 9 -5 4
8 53
1Scale became 68 cents and 48 hours on Aug. 15,1918.
3 Scale became 72 cents on Aug. 15. 1918.
3 Scale became 72 cents on July 1,1918.
* For Sundays; time and one-half for holidays.
6For Sundays; single time for holidays.
6More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported. Scale became 68>8
cents on June 1, 1918.
744 hours per week, June to August, inclusive..
8More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported. Scale became 73
cents on July 1, 1918.
8 Double time after midnight.
18No scale in effect on May 15,1917.
11Scale became 72.5 cents on July 1,1918.
12 Time and one-half after 1 hour.
13Time and one-half after 1 hour; on Saturday for all overtime,
n Work 53 hours, paid for 53 hours and 53 minutes.
75Time and one-half after 1§ hours; on Saturday after 40 minutes,
16 Work
57 hours, paid for 59 hours and 57 minutes.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 1 2 ]
163
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY* 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL TRADES—Continued.
M a y 15, 1917.
M a j 15, 1918.
R a te of w ages—
O c c u p a tio n , g e o g ra p h ic a l
d iv is io n , a n d c ity .
Per
h o u r.
m a c h in is t s — c o
Per
w eek,
f u ll
tim e .
For
o v er
tim e .
For
Sun
days
and
h o li
days.
H o u rs:
F u ll d ay s;
S a tu rd a y s ;
f u ll w e e k .
N um
R a te of
ber
w ages—
of
m o s.
w ith
S a t
Per
u r
w eek,
Per
day
f u ll
h o u r.
h a lf
tim e .
h o li
day.
H o u rs:
F u ll d ay s;
S a tu rd a y s
f u ll w e e k .
n tin u e d .
S o u th C e n tra l— C o n c lu d e d .
L o u is v ille , K v .—
C e n ts .
M a n u f a c t u r i n g s h o p s ____ i 4 5 .0
O u t s i d e ........................................
5 0 .0
B r e w e r i e s . . . .......... .........
5 4 .3
R a i l r o a d s h o p s .......................
6 8 .0
M e m p h is , T e n n .—
M a n u f a c t u r i n g s h o p s ____ 4 5 5 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d A . .
6 8 .0
R a ilr o a d sh o p s, ro a d B . .
6 8 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d s D
a n d F .......................................
6 8 .0
N a s h v ille , T e n n .—
M a n u fa c tu rin g s h o p s .- .. .
6 5 .0
R a i l r o a d s h o p s .......................
6 8 .0
N e w O rle a n s , L a .—
M a n u fa c tu rin g s h o p s . . . .
6 8 .8
O u t s i d e ..................... ...................
7 5 .0
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d B . .
6 8 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d E . .
6 8 .0
W e ste rn :
_
B u tte , M o n t.M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s ............................. * 7 5 .0
O u t s i d e ........................................
8 7 .5
R a i l r o a d s h o p s .......................
6 8 .0
D e n v e r , C o lo .—
M a n u f a c t u r i n g s h o p s ____ 10 5 2 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d s A
a n d B .......................................
6 8 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d D . .
6 8 .0
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , r o a d E . .
6 8 .0
L o s A n g e l e s , C a l .—
B r e w e r i e s .......... ...................
6 2 .5
P o r t l a n d , O r e g .—
M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s .............................
7 5 .0
S h i p y a r d s ..................................
7 2 .5
S h i p y a r d s , s p e c i a l i s t s ____
5 5 .0
S a lt L a k e C ity . U t a h —
R e g u l i ir r a te
m u l t p lie d
by
B o lls .
2 2 .5 0
2 5 .0 0
2 6 .0 0
3 2 .6 4
2li
2It
2 Ur
31'
2
2
2
li
9
9
8
8
2 6 .4 0
3 2 .6 4
3 2 .6 4
8H
li
li
2
li
li
3 2 .6 4
«1
3 1 .2 0
3 2 .6 4
li
li
3 3 .0 0
3 6 .0 0
3 2 .6 4
3 2 .6 4
2
2
u
-n
36. 00
3 8 .5 0
3 2 .6 4
u
ii
ii
C e n ts.
3 3 .3
4 0 .0
4 1 .5
4 1 .0
D o lls.
1 8 .0 0
2 1 .6 0
1 9 .9 2
2 2 .1 4
9
9
8
9
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
5 0 .0
4 5 .0
5 0 .5
2 4 .0 0
2 4 .3 0
2 7 .2 7
8 -8 -4 8
9 - 9 -5 '
9 - 9 -5 4
li
8 -8
-4 8
4 5 .0
2 4 .2 5
1 9 - 8 -5 3
2i
li
8 - 8 -4 8
9 - 9 -5 4
5 0 .0
4 2 .0
2 4 .0 0
2 2 .6 8
8 - 8 -4 8
9 -9 -5 4
2
2
li
li
8
8
8
8
5 0 .0
5 6 .3
4 2 .0
4 6 .0
2 4 .0 0
2 7 .0 0
22. 68
2 4 .8 4
2
2
li
8 - 8 -4 8
8 -4 -4 4
8 - 8 -4 8
5 6 .3
8 7 .5
4 7 .5
2 7 .0 0
3 8 .5 0
2 5 .6 5
8 -8 -4 8
8 -4 -4 4
9 - 9 -54
-
5
5
8
8
-
5
5
4
4
0
0
8
8
12
12
............
- 8 -4 8
- 8
48
- 8 - 4 8
- 8 -4 8
12
-8 -8
-9 - 8
5 4
-5 ‘
-4 8
5 4
4 8
-4 8
5 4
-53
2 4 .9 6
S1J
2
8 - S -4 8
4 2 .5
2 1 .6 8
8 | - 8.Ì—51
32. 64
3 2 .6 4
3 2 .6 4
it
ii
li
H
li
li
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
5 0 .0
4 3 .5
4 4 .0
2 4 .0 0
2 0 .8 8
2 3 .7 6
8 - 8 -48
8-8 -4 8
9-9 -5 4
3 0 .0 0
11 l i
2
8 - 8
6 2 .5
3 0 .0 0
8 - 8
3 6 .0 0
3 4 .8 0 2 6 .4 0
2
2
2
2
2
2
5 0 .0
5 0 .0
2 4 .0 0
2 4 .0 0
8-8-45
8 - 8 -48
-4 8
8 - 8 -4 8
12 8 - 8 - 4 8
12 8 — 8 -4 8 .
12
3
3
3 40.6
Manufacturing, shop«___ u 62.5 30.00 H l|
8-8-48
56.3
li
Railroad shops................ 68.0 32.64
8-8-48
52.0
li
li
San Francisco, Cal.—
All-round men and tool
and die makers............ 72.5 34.80
2 2 is 8 - 8 -48 3 50.0
Specialists........................ 55.0 26.40
2 2 12 8 - 8 -48 3 37.5
2 2 12 S - 8 -48 3 56.3
Auto-repair shops............ 72.5 34.80
1More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not
2Double time after 10 p. m.
2Time and one-half after one hour.
4 Scale became 68 cents on Aug. 15, 1918.
6Double time after midnight.
6Time and one-half after one hour: on Saturday for all overtime.
i Work 53 hours, paid for 53 hours and 53 minutes.
8Work 53 hours, paid for 54.
9Scale became 81.3 cents on July 3, 1918.
10Scale became 60 cents on June 12, and 68 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
11Double time after 3 hours.
1244 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
is Scale became 70 cents on July 1, and 75 eents on Sept. 1,1918.
is Double time after 8 hours.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8
8
9
89
-9 -9
-8
-9 -
[1 3 1 3 ]
-45
19.49
8-8 -45
27.00
24.96
8-8 -45
24.00
18.00
27.00
reported.
8—8-48
8-8-4
8-8-4
8-8-45
164
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
UNION SCALE OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 1918, AND MAY
15, 1917—Continued.
METAL TRADES—Continued.
M a y 15, 1918.
M a y 15, 1917.
N um
ber
of
R a te of w ages—
O c c u p a tio n , g e o g ra p h ic a l
d iv is io n , a n d c ity .
For
Sun
days
and
h o li
day s.
H o u rs:
F u ll d ays;
S a tu rd a y s ;
fu ll w e e k .
Per
hour
Per
w eek,
f u ll
tim e .
C e n ts.
6 8 .0
B o l ls .
3 2 .6 4
7 5 .0
3 6 .0 0
2
2
2 8 - 8 -4 8
7 2 .2
5 5 .0
3 4 .6 5
2 6 .4 0
2
2
2
2
2 8 - 8 -4 8
2 8 - 8 -4 8
7 5 .0
6 8 .0
36. 00
3 2 .6 4
2
1 11
2
ij
8 -8
48
8 - 8 - 4 8
2
S i - 5 1 -4 8
For
o v er
tim e .
w ith
S a t
u r
day
h a lf
h o li
day.
R a t e of
w ages—
Per
h o u r.
Per
w eek,
f u ll
tim e .
H o u rs:
F u ll d ay s;
S a tu rd a y s ;
f u ll w e e k .
m a c h in is t s — c o n c lu d e d .
W e s te rn — C o n c lu d e d .
S e a ttle , W a s h .—
R a i l r o a d s h o p s .......................
S h ip y a rd s a n d m an u fa c t u r i n g .......................................
S h ip y a rd s — m an u fa c t u r i n g s h i p s .........................
S h i p y a r d s , s p e c i a l i s t s ____
S p o k a n e , W a s h .—
M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s .............................
R a i l r o a d s h o p s .......................
R e g u l \r r a te
m u l t ip lie d
In
1U
li
C en ts. B o l l s .
4 7 .5
2 5 .6 5
9 -9 -5 4
4
5 0 .0
2 4 .0 0
8 - 8 -4 3
4
4
5 0 .0
( 3)
2 4 .0 0
(3)
8 - 8 -4 8
( 3)
5 3 .1
5 3 .0
2 5 .5 0
2 8 .6 2
8 9 -
( 3)
0)
8 - 8 - 4 8
8-48
9 -54
MACHINISTS’ HELPERS.
S o u th A tla n tic :
N o r f o lk , V a „ d i s t r ic t , N o rf o l k ..................................................
4 6 .0
S o u th C e n tra l:
. L ittle R o c k . A rk .—
R a i l r o a d s h o p s .......................
4 5 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro u n d h o u s e , n i g h t w o r k ...........
4 5 .0
L o u is v ille , K y .—
R a i l r o a d s h o p s ......................
4 5 .0
W e ste rn :
B u t t e , M o n t .................................. 8 6 2 .5
D e n v e r , C o lo .—
M a n u f a c t u r i n g s h o p s . . . . 10 3 4 .0
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d s A
a n d B .......................................
4 5 .0
R a ilr o a d s h o p s , ro a d D . .
4 5 .0
R a ilro a d sh o p s, ro a d E . .
4 5 .0
L o s A n g e l e s , C a l .—
B r e w e r i e s ..................................
5 0 .0
P o r tla n d , O r e g .M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s .............................
5 3 .1
S h i p y a r d s .................................. 1849. 5
S a lt L a k e C ity , U t a h —
M a n u f a c t u r i n g s h o p s . . . . i 4 40. 6
R a i l r o a d s h o p s ... ...................
4 5 .0
S e a ttle , W a s h .—
M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d jo b b i n g s h o p s .............................
5 0 .0
S h i p y a r d s ..................................
4 9 .5
S p o k a n e , W a s h ..........................
4 5 .0
2 2 .0 8
12
(3)
2 1 .6 0
41
li
8 - 8 - 4 8
2 3 .0
1 2 .3 9
s 9 - 8 -5 3
2 1 .0 0
61
li
8 - 8 - 4 8
2 3 .0
1 3 .7 9
7 9 g - 8 jj-5 7
2 1 .6 0
H
11
8 - 8 - 4 8
3 0 .0
1 6 .2 0
9 -9 -5 4
3 0 .0 0
11
8 li
8 - 8 - 4 8
4 6 .9
2 2 .5 0
8 - S -4 8
1 6 .3 2
1n
2
8 - 8 -4 8
2 6 .0
1 3 .2 6
8 i - 8 Ì -5 1
2 1 .6 0
2 1 .6 0
2 1 .6 0
n
ii
u
U
if
n
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 8 -4 8
3 4 .0
2 6 .5
2 5 .5
1 6 .3 2
12. 72
1 3 .5 0
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 -4 8
9 - 9 -5 4
2 4 .0 0
n ij
2
8 - 8 - 4 8
5 0 .0
2 4 .0 0
8 -8
2 5 .5 0
2 3 .7 6
2
2
2
2
3 4 .4
3 4 .4
1 6 .5 0
1 6 .5 0
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 -4 8
3 8 .8
3 4 .0
1 8 .6 0
1 0 .3 2
8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
3 7 .5
3 7 .5
2 7 .0
1 8 .0 0
1 8 .0 0
1 4 .5 8
8 - S -4 8
8 - 8 -4 8
9 - 9 -5 4
12 8 - 8 - 4 8
i2 8 — 8 -4 8
1 9 .5 0
2 1 .6 0
18 UH
IJ
li
8 - 8 - 4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
2 4 .0 0
2 3 .7 6
2 1 .6 0
2
2
1 li
2
2
U
2 8 - 8 -4 8
2 8 - 8 -4 8
8 - 8 - 4 8
3
3
4
4
1Double time after midnight.
244 hours per week, May 18 to Sept. 17, inclusive.
8No scale in eilect on May 15, 1917.
4 Time and one-half after 1 hour; on Saturday for all overtime.
6Work 53 hours, paid for 53 hours and 53 minutes.
6Time and one-half after 1§ hours; on Saturday after 40 minutes.
7Work 57 hours, paid for 59 hours and 57 minutes.
8Scale became 68.8 cents on July 5,1918.
s>For Sundays: double time for holidays,
i» Scale became 45 cents on June 12,1918.
11Double time after 3 hours.
12 44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
13More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
14Scale became 48.1 cents on July 1 and 53.1 cents on Sept. 1, 1918.
16Double time after 8 hours.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 3 1 4 ]
-1 8
165
M O NTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
U N IO N S C A L E O F W A G E S A N D H O U R S O F L A B O R IN E A C H T R A D E , I N T H E S O U T H
A T L A N T I C , S O U T H C E N T R A L , A N D W E S T E R N S T A T E S . O N M A Y 15, 1918, A N D M A Y
15, 1917— C o n tin u e d .
METAL T R A D E S—C o n tin u e d .
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
N um
R ate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
w ith
For
Full days;
Per
Sun
Saturdays; Sat
Per
u r
For
Per week,
full week.
Per week,
days
day hour.
hour. full over and
full
half
time.
time.
holi
time.
holi
days.
day.
R ate of wages-
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
METAL POLISHERS AND
BUFFERS.
South Atlantic:
Baltimore, M d......................
W estern:
Los Angeles, Cal..................
San Francisco, C al...............
Seattle, W ash.......................
Hours:
F ull days;
Saturdays;
full week.
R e g u l i r r a te
m u l t 'p li e d
150.0
21.00
by
n
2
8-8-48
35.6
17.10
8 - 8 -48
65.0
72.5
72.5
31.20
34.80
34.80
11
2
2
2
2
2
8 - 8 -48
2 8 - 8 -48
2 8 _ 8 -48
43.8
38.9
50 0
21.00
21.00
22.00
8 - 8 -48
9-9-54
8 - 4 -44
11
li
2
2
9-9-54
8-8-48
41.7
46.9
22.50
22 50
<9_9_54
8-8-48
1£
li
8 - 8 -48
41.0
19.68
8-8-48
11
11
11
2
li
2
9-9-54
8-8-48
8-8-48
47. 2
47.2
43.8
25.50
25.50
21.00
9-9-54
9-9-54
8-8-48
H
li
U
li
H
U
11
li
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
10 -10 -60
8 - 8 -48
9 - 9 -54
9-9-54
8-8-48
9-9-54
9 - 9 -54
9-9-54
37.5
(D
36.1
36.1
41.7
30.0
40.0
21.50
(7)
(7)
19.50
19.50
22.50
18.00
21.60
10 -10 -60
(7)
(7)
9 - 9 -54
9 - 9 -54
9-9-54
10 -10 -60
9-9-54
li
li
2
2
2
2
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
43.8
43.8
50.0
21.00
21.00
24.00
8-8-48
8-8-48
8-8-48
li
2
8 - 8 -48
68.8
33.00
8-8-48
11
2
8 - S -48
50.0
24.00
8-8-48
2
2
2 8 - S -48
3
56.3
27.00
8-8-48
2
11
8-8-48
8 - 8 -48
2 8 - 8 -48
3
56.8
41.0
53.1
27.00
22-14
25.50
8 -8 -4 8
13 8 - 8 -48
4
56.3
27.00
8 -8 -4 8
C e n ts .
D o lls .
C e n ts .
3
3
D o lls .
holders : iron .
South Atlantic:
A tlanta, Ga-........................... 350.0 27.00
Baltimore, M d...................... i 6S.8 33.00
Norfolk, Va., d istrict—
P o rtsm o u th ....................... 6 52.0 24.96
Richmond, V a.—
M anufacturing and job
bing sh o p s...
i 58.3 31.50
R ailroad sh o p s...'............ 68.0 32.64
W ashington, D. C ............... 68.8 33.00
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala.—
M anufacturing shops A .. «72.0 43.20
M anufacturing shoos B .. 56.3 27.00
M anufacturing shops C . . 63.9 34.50
M anufacturing shops D . . 66.7 36.00
M anufacturing shops E .. 56.3 27.00
L ittle Rock, A rk ................. 144.4 24.00
Louisville, K y ...................... 144.4 24.00
Memphis, Term.................... 56.0 30.24
Nashville, Tenn.—
M anufacturing shops__ _ 50.0 24.00
R ailroad shops..............
68.0 32.64
New Orleans, L a ................. »62.5 30.00
W estern:
B utte, M ont.......................... 1081.3 39.00
Denver, Colo.—
Iron and b ra s s ................. 1159.4 28.50
Portland, O re g .Iron and b r a s s ............. 172.5 34.80
Salt Lake City, U t a h Iron and brass—
M anufacturing shops....... i262.5 30.00
R ailroad shops.................. 68.0 32 64
San F rancisco,L ai............... 72.5 34.80
Seattle, W ash.—
Iron and brass........... ....... 82.5 39.60
li
11
2
2
2
2
C)
1 More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported.
2 44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
8 Seale became 62.5 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
* Hours vary, but total 54 per week.
6Scale became 73 cents on Aug. 1, 1913.
6Scale became 78.5 cents on Aug. 1, 1918.
7 Not organized on May 15, 1917.
8 Scale became 60 cents on June 1, 1918.
» Scale became 68.8 cents on July 15, 1918.
10 Scale became 87.5 cents on July 4,1918.
11 Scale became 75 cents on June 1, 1918.
72 Scale became 70 cents o n J u l y 1, and 75 c e n t s o n
is 44 h o u r s per week, M a y 18 t o Sept. 17, i n c l u s i v e .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1315]
S e p t.
1,1918.
8 9 -
8-4 8
9-5 4
166
M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
UNION SCALE OE WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IN EACH TRADE, IN TH E SOUTH
ATLANTIC, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND W ESTERN STATES, ON MAY 15, 191S, AND MAY
15, 1917—Concluded.
METAL T R A D E S—Concluded.
May 15, 1918.
May 15, 1917.
Num Rate of
ber
wages—
of
mos.
Hours:
For
Full days; with
Per
For Sun Saturdays; Sat
Per
ur Per week,
Per week, over days full week.
day hour.
hour. full time. and
full
half
time.
holi
time.
V
holi
days.
day.
Rate of wages—
Occupation, geographical
division, and city.
PA TTER N M AKERS: W OOD.
South Atlantic:
Atlanta, Ga........................
Baltimore, Md.—
Shops A ...........................
Shops B ...........................
Richmond, Va.—
Manufacturing shops___
Railroad shops................
Washington, D. C ..............
South Central:
Birmingham, Ala.—
Manufacturing shops......
Jobbing shops.................
Houston, Tex.....................
Memphis, Tenn..................
Western:
Denver, Colo.—
Manufacturing and jobbing shops....................
Los Angeles, Cal.—
Manufacturing shops......
Jobbing shops.................
Portland, Oreg.—
Manufacturing shops......
Jobbing shops".................
Salt Lake City, U tah .........
San Francisco, Cal.............
Seattle, Wash.—
Manufacturing shops......
Jobbing shops.................
Shipyards........................
C en ts. D o l l s .
l i e g u l i r r a te
m u lt ip l i e d
by—
160.0 32.40
IV
2
9 - 9 -54
363.9 31.94
371.9 34.50
li
li
2
2
458.0 31.90
68.0 32.64
561.5 29.52
14
1*
li
li
1§
C e n ts.
Hours:
Full days;
Saturdays;
full week.
D o lls.
45.0
24.30
29 - 9 -54
9 -5 -5 0
8 8 48
12 60.0
56.3
30.00
27.00
9 - 5 -50
8 -8 -4 8
1 0 - 5 -55
8 -8 -4 8
8-8-48
12 45.0
24. 75
99 41
60.0 28. SO
10 - 5 -55
2
1 IV
7l i
2
ni
2
2
2
2
“9 - 9 - 5 4
8-4-44
e9 9 54
9-9-54
00.0
12 60.0
32.40
26.40
S - 9 -54
8-4-44
47.5
25.65
9-9-54
965.0 31.20
li
2
8
8 48
60.0
32.40
9-9-54
'070.0 33.60
70.0 33.60
2
2
2
2
8 - 8 -48
8 - 8 48
50.0
53.0
24.00
25.44
8-8-48
8-8-48
1089.4
1089.4
1268.8
89.4
42.90
42.90
33.00
42.90
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
H8 - 8
u8- 8
8 -8
ii 8 - 8
-48
-48
-48
-48
3 62.5
3 68.8
56.3
3 62.5
30.00
33.00
27.00
30.00
8 -8
8 -8
8 -8
8- 8
1006.3 46.20
115.6 55.50
1089.4 42.90
2
2
2
2
2
2
w 8 - 8 -48
138 - 8 -48
is 8 - 8 -48
4 56.3
4 56.3
4 56.3
27.00
27.00
27.00
8-8-48
8-8-48
8 - 8 -48
“70.0
370.0
666.7
«55.0
37.80
30. SO
36.00
29.70
41 5
8-8-48
-48
48
48
-48
1 Scale became 65 cents on June 1,1918.
2 Hours vary, but total 54 per week.
8 Scale became 75 cents on July 1,1918,
4 Scale became 65 cents on July 1,1918.
5 Scale became 75 cents on July 15, 1918.
6 Scale became 75 cents and 48 hours on July 1, 1918.
2 Double time after midnight.
8 Seale became 60 cents on June 8, 1918.
8 Seale became 75 cents on June 11,1918.
10 More than half of the members received more than the scale; amount not reported
11 44 hours per week, June to August, inclusive.
42 Scale became 75 cents on June 1, 76.3 cents on July 1, and 81.3 cents on Sept. 1, 1918.
is 44 hours per week, May 18 to Sept. 17, inclusive.
WAGE SITUATION IN ANTHRACITE AND BITUMINOUS COAL DISTRICTS.
The question of increase in wages of mine workers in both the
anthracite and bituminous fields was again agitated in July, 1918,
when international officers of the United Mine Workers of America
approached Dr. Garfield, the Fuel Administrator, with the suggestion
that substantial increases should be granted to apply to all classifi-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O NTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
167
cations of mino labor throughout the country. During the present
year the bituminous miners have been working under the terms of
the Washington agreement of October 6, 1917/ and the anthracite
miners have been working under the wage scale of May 5, 1916,
as modified April 25 and November 17, 1917, which made substantial
advances over the rates fixed on May 5, 1916, at which time an agree
ment was signed to run for a period of four years. In both the October
6 (bituminous) and the November 17 (anthracite) agreements the
rates established were to continue in force during the war, but not
to exceed two years from April 1, 1918. Concerning the demand for a
general increase submitted by the miners’ representatives, the Fuel
Administrator addressed the following note to the president of the
United Mino Workers of America:
While I find it impossible to go to the President with a request that wages be raised
contrary to the spirit and understanding of the promise made to him last October,
I have not hesitated from the beginning to say that I shall give careful heed to the
investigation now under way by the Department of Labor of the cost of living and of
the relative wages paid in all fields of industry. The principle of equalization of
wages between mine workers and the workers in other fields to which you call attention
is sound. I t is also reasonable and right that account should be taken by me of the
findings of the Labor Department committee.
The wage situation in the anthracite fields, however, seemed to
call for adjustment, and on October 1 a conference was held, attended
by the Secretary of Labor, the Fuel Administrator, and representa
tives of the miners and operators, to discuss the matter thoroughly.
At this conference Secretary Wilson, of the Department of Labor,
urged upon the miners the importance of fulfilling their part of any
contracts made and referred to the discrepancies which seemed to
exist between the wages being paid to them and the wages being
paid to those engaged in munitions manufacture and in bituminous
mines—a situation that is inducing “ a movement from the mines to
these other industries that is injurious to the country in the present
situation. That is a condition that the whole country is interested
in correcting.” The Secretary continued:
In correcting it, however, we ought to have a care not to create a condition that
would reverse the process and create an undue drift from other industries into your
industry.
We have built up within a week or so as a result of the desire of the President to
secure more stable conditions in industry a board the title of which has not yet been
decided upon.2 I presume it will be looked upon and considered possibly as a general
wage board. I t is a board that is to be composed of two representatives from each
of the wage adjustment boards that have been created by the Federal Government.
The purpose of that board is to review the proposed contracts or proposed wage adjusti See Monthly R eview for December, 1917, p. 110.
2The recommendations of the War Labor Policies Board respecting the stabilization of wages in war
industries is (Oct. 31) before the President for approval. I t is understood that provision for the board
here referred to is included in the recommendations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N TH LY LABOE REVIEW.
ments that may be arrived at by any one of the adjustment boards so that when they are
finally announced they will not be of such a character that they will disturb the labor
conditions under the jurisdiction of the other boards. With that situation existing
I want to make this suggestion to Dr. Garfield, that he immediately call a conference
of the representatives of both sides in the anthracite mining industry with the repre
sentatives of the Fuel Administration; that with the facts already available and those
that may be available before the conference takes place or is closed, the conference
endeavor to arrive at a wage rate that will be just and fair, compared with other indus
tries, and will not result in workers drifting to your industry from other industries or
from your industry into other industries; and that wdien you have arrived at what
seems to you to be a proper wage rate it be submitted to this general wage board for
its consideration before being approved by Dr. Garfield so that they will know and
you will know that your wage scale is not out of line with the general wage conditions
of the country.
WAGE INCREASE FOR ANTHRACITE MINERS.
In line with this suggestion of the Secretary, the Fuel Administrator
called a conference for October 3, which was attended by Secretary
Wilson, Dr. Garfield, three representatives of the mine operators,
and five officials of the miners’ organizations, including the presidents
of the districts affected, representing approximately 150,000 workers.
As a basis for the discussion considerable information relative to wage
rates and conditions in other industries was submitted by the War
Labor Policies Board, whose program of principles to govern the
whole subject of wage stabilization affecting all war industries has
been submitted to the President for approval. The agreement which
resulted is believed to establish a wage scale that places the anthracite
coal industry in an equitable position as respects competing lines of
work. In brief, it provides for an average wage increase of $1 per
day to all workers, and is effective as of November 1, 1918. The
conference of national wage adjustment agencies, to which the agree
ment was submitted for review, in approving its terms gave out a
statement including the following paragraphs:
We, therefore, recommend the readjustment of the anthracite wage scale, as pro
vided in the plan submitted to us, which establishes, in substance, a scale of wages
ranging from 42 cents per hour for laborers outside of the mine to estimated average
earnings for contract miners of approximately $6.GO per day. This scale we have
found to be in line with the wages already established by governmental agencies for
other industries and are convinced that its adoption will act as a stabilizing influence.
Without such a readjustment, the vital needs of the country for coal are jeopardized.
With such readjustment, there should be no further drains on the labor force of the
anthracite mines and production should be maintained and, probably, increased.
One general aspect of the anthracite situation was made clear in our meetings
which we deem very pertinent for the consideration of the Fuel Administration. It
appears th at there is lacking the basis for scientific knowledge in regard to some of
the underlying facts of the industry, upon which issues as to wages and output must
finally be decided. Therefore, representatives of the mine workers, as well as of the
operators, urged upon us that steps should at once be taken whereby systematic and
authoritative information will be had, for the future, in regard to such fundamental
questions as comparative earnings, labor turnover, continuity of employment and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[131S]
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
169
sufficiency of output. I t was agreed that we must create conditions which will assure
greater continuity of employment, greater regularity of work, greater quantity of
output, at the same time that we fully observe all those safeguards which should pro
tect the workers in this hazardous industry. In a word, the conditions of the industry
must be stabilized. Therefore, the attitude of mind of those in the industry in regard
to those conditions must be organized. As a necessary prerequisite we must have that
basis of knowledge upon which alone we can act wisely and with justice.
The rates provided in the new agreement, it should be stated, are
advances over the basic rates established in the agreement of May 5,
1916, and do not apply to those rates as modified by the agreements of
May 17 and November 17, 1917, under which the miners were working
at the time this new agreement became effective. The new rates
absorb the advances provided in the May 17 and November 17
modifications. The following is the text of the agreement which was
made public by the Fuel Administrator on October 31:
(a) Contract hand and machine miners shall be paid an advance of 40 per cent on
their gross earnings.
(b) Consideration miners shall be paid an advance of 25 per cent plus $1 per day
for each day worked.
(c) Contract miners’ laborers shall be paid an advance of 40 per cent on their earn
ings. As this increase of 10 per cent over the agreement of November 17, 1917, is less
than $1 per basic shift, the difference between said increase of 10 per cent in the rate
and $1 per basic shift shall be assumed by the operator.
(d ) Consideration miners’ laborers shall be paid an advance of 25 per cent plus $1
per day for each day worked.
(ie) Day machine miners’ laborers who received not less than $2.72 per day shall
be paid an advance of 25 per cent plus $1 per day for each day worked.
(/) Outside blacksmiths, carpenters, electricians, machinists, firemen, hoisting
engineers on shafts and slopes where employment is limited by law or by the award
of the anthracite coal strike commission to 8 hours per day, and engineers working
on a 12-hour shift basis, shall be paid an advance of $2 per day for each day worked.
All other outside company men who received $1.54 or more per day shall be paid an
advance of $1.80 per day for each day worked.
(g) Inside engineers and pumpmen working on a 12-hour shift basis shall be paid
an advance of $2.20 per day for each day worked. All other inside company men
who received $1.54 or more per day shall be paid an advance of $2 per day for each
day worked.
(h ) All employees paid by the day who received less than $1.54 per day shall be
paid an advance of $1.20 per day for each day worked.
(i) Monthly men coming under the agreement of May 5, 1916, shall receive an
advance per day for each day worked equivalent to that provided for their respective
occupations under paragraphs (/) and (<;).
(;') The advances of $2.20 per day, $2 per day, $1.80 per day, $1.20 per day, and 25
per cent plus $1 per day provided above, are to be applied to a day, whether 8 hours
or more, as established under the agreement of May 5, 1916; any proportionate part
of a day to be paid a proportionate part of the advances herein provided.
(Ic) The employees of stripping contractors paid by the day, working on the basis
of a 9-hour or 10-hour shift, shall be paid the same increase per hour for each hour
worked that is provided for outside company men working on an 8-hour basis.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O NTHLY LABOE EEYIEW.
WAGE INCREASE FOR BITUM INOUS M INERS R E FU SED .
The demand of the miners’ representatives for a substantial
increase in wages of workers in the bituminous fields was considered
as a proposition separate from that affecting the anthracite workers.
The bituminous miners, as already stated, have been working under
the terms of the Washington agreement of October 6, 1917, which
provides that the scale then fixed shall be in force “ during the con
tinuation of the war, not to exceed two years from April 1, 1918.”
The Fuel Administrator found that the wages in the bituminous
fields do not appear to be unstable in comparison with those in other
industries, and accordingly, on October 26, 1918, he denied the
request for a general advance. The decision was announced in a
telegram to the president of the United Mine Workers of America
as follows:
I have read with care your letter of the 21st and have conferred fully with Mr.
White and Mr. Pippin. Also have considered carefully whole question of bituminous
wages in comparison with those of other industries and am convinced that increase
of wages in the bituminous fields is not called for as part of the plan of stabilization,
and therefore that no increase ought to be made at the present time.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[13201
M INIM UM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE DECREES IN CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON.
CALIFORNIA.
F r u it a n d vegetable c a n n in g in d u s tr y .—Reference was made in the
July, 1917, Monthly R eview (pp. 57, 58) to Orders Nos. 3 and 4,
effective June 16, 1917, issued by the California Industrial Welfare
Commission, fixing minimum wages, hours of labor, and sanitary
conditions for women and minors in the fruit and vegetable canning
industry. The effect of these determinations was subsequently set
forth in a report by the commission in its Bulletin No. 1, issued in
May, 1917, which report was summarized in the February, 1918,
number of the Monthly R eview (pp. 138-142). These orders have
since been superseded by a new order, dated April 3, 1918, and
effective June 3, 1918, in which the minimum wages to be paid to
time workers, both experienced and inexperienced, and to piece
workers are materially advanced over those fixed in the preceding
decree. For example, experienced workers 1 are to receive not less
than 20 cents per hour instead of 16 cents as formerly, and inex
perienced workers are to receive not less than 16 cents per hour
instead of 13 cents. Provided the normal week of 48 hours, as noted
hereafter, is worked, this rate for experienced workers is equivalent to
$9.60 per week as compared with $8.64 for the 54-hour week under
the old rates. The rates for piece workers are changed throughout
as indicated in the following table, which shows the old and the new
rates and the per cent of increase in each instance:
MINIMUM PIECE RATES FIX ED BY CALIFORNIA INDUSTRIAL W ELFARE COMMIS
SION FOR FRU IT AND VEGETABLE CANNING INDUSTRY.
P r o d u c t.
O ld r a te .2
A p r i c o t s .................................................. ....................................... .........................
P e a r s .................................................................................................................................................
C l i n g p e a c h e s ...................... ............. ............... ............................................................ ...........
F r e e p e a c h e s ............ . .................................................................................................................
P lu m s
..................................................................................................................................
A s n a r a g u s ......................................................................................................................................
T o m a t o e s ................. .. ....................................................................................................................
$ 0 .2 5 0
.3 7 5
.2 2 5
.1 2 5
. 130
3 .0 3 0
N ew ra te .2
P e r c e n t of
in c re a se .
4 0 .0
3 3 .3
2 2 .2
4 0 .0
? 0 . 350
.5 0 0
.2 7 5
.1 7 5
. 125
. 175
3 .0 1 5
3 4 .6
5 0 .0
1 An experienced, woman or minor is one who has been employed three weeks. When demand is made
by a woman employee, the employer is expected to furnish her with a statement setting forth the period
of her employment 'in his establishment.
2 Per 100 pounds.
* Per 12 quarts.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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m
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
It is provided, however, that every adult woman shall be guaran
teed the learner’s wage of 16 cents per hour for the first week of em
ployment on each product.
Daily hours are reduced from 9 to 8, and, except in case of emer
gency, no female employee may work more than 6 days in the week.
Minors (that is, those under 18 years of age) may not work more
than 48 hours in any one week. Overtime is permitted, but pay
ment for all excess up to 12 hours must be made at the rate of not
less than one and one-quarter times the rate of wages paid during
regular time, and at not less than twice the regular wages for all
excess over 12 hours.
F r u it a n d vegetable y a c k in g in d u s tr y .—Minimum wages for female
employees in the fruit and vegetable packing industry were fixed by
the industrial welfare commission in its Order No. 8, dated March 9,
1918, the rates becoming effective 60 days thereafter. This order
establishes a minimum wage of $10 per week for experienced workers 1
and $8 for inexperienced workers in the following branches of the
industry: Citrus fruits, deciduous fruits and grapes, vegetables,
dried fruit including layer raisins, seeded raisins, olives, and pickles.
“ Where payment of wages is made upon a piece rate, bonus, or com
mission basis, the worker shall be paid not less than the minimum
time rate for the number of hours employed.” The same hours of
labor as for workers in the canning industry are fixed, and provi
sion for overtime at the rate of one and one-quarter times the regular
rate is made for those employed in the packing of green fruits or
vegetables but not for those employed in the packing of dried fruits.
G eneral a n d 'professional offices .—An order (No. 9) issued by the
commission on May 3, 1918, effective July 2, 1918, fixes minimum
wages for female employees in general and professional offices. The
essential provisions of this order are as follows:
1. N o person, firm , or corp oration sh a ll e m p lo y , or suffer or p erm it an e x p erien ced
w om an or m inor to w ork in a n y office a t a rate of w ages less th a n $10 per w e ek ($43.33
per m o n th ).
2. The wages of learners may be less than the minimum rate prescribed for ex
perienced workers, provided:
(а ) That learners entering employment under 18 years of age he paid an initial
weekly wage of not less than $7 per week ($30.33 per month) for the first six months
of employment; for the second six months not less than $8 per week ($34.67 per month);
for the third six months not less than $9 per week ($39 per month); and thereafter
shall be deemed experienced workers and be paid not less than the minimum rate
for experienced workers.
(б) That learners entering employment 18 years of age and over shall be paid an
initial weekly wage of not less than $8 per week ($34.67 per month) for the first six
months of employment; for the second six months not less than $9 per week ($39 per
month), and thereafter shall be deemed experienced workers and shall be paid not
less than the minimum rate for experienced workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 See note 1 on p. 171.
[1322]
/
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
173
3. Students attending accredited vocational, commercial, continuation or coopera
tive schools may be employed on part time work on special permits from the commis
sion and at special rates to be determined by the commission.
4. Where payment of wages is made upon a commission, bonus, or piece-rate basis,
the earnings shall be not less than the minimum time rate of the wage group in which
the worker belongs.
5. The total number of female learners in any establishment shall not exceed 25
per cent of the total number of women employed.
6. Every person, firm or corporation employing women or minors in any office shall
keep a record of the names and addresses, the hours worked and the amounts earned
by such women and minors. Such records shall be kept in a form and manner ap
proved by the industrial welfare commission.
7. Every person, firm or corporation employing women or minors in any office
shall allow every woman or minor not less than 24 consecutive hours of rest in every
geven consecutive days.
U nskilled a n d u n c la ssifie d o cc u p a tio n s .—The minimum wages to
be paid to female workers in these occupations arc ¡irescribed in
Order No. 10 issued by the industrial welfare commission on May 3,
1918, said order becoming effective on July 2, following. This order
contains the same general provisions as those in paragraphs 6 and 7
of Order No. 9, and in addition prescribes 8 hours per day and 48
hours per week as the maximum to be worked, except that this pro
vision does not apply to harvesting, curing, or drying of any variety
of perishable fruits or vegetables. The paragraphs of this order
pertaining to minimum wages are as follows:
1. No person, firm, or corporation shall employ, or suffer or permit an experienced 1
adult woman, 18 years of age or over, to be employed in ariy unskilled or unclassified
occupation in California at a rate of wages less than $9.60 for a 48-hour week, or 20
cents per hour.
2. No person, firm, or corporation shall employ, or suffer or permit an inexperienced
woman to be employed in any unskilled or unclassified occupation in California at a
rate of wages less than $7.50 for a 48-hour week, or 16 cents per hour.
3. No person, firm, or corporation shall employ, or suffer or permit a minor of either
sex, under the age of 18 years, to be employed in any unskilled or unclassified occupa
tion in California at a rate of wages less than $7.50 for a 48-hour week, or 16 cents pet
hour.
4. The term “ unclassified occupations’ ’ shall include all employment not classified
under the mercantile, manufacturing, laundry, or canning industries, office or pro
fessional occupations, fruit and vegetable packing establishments, telephone or tele
graph establishments, hotels or restaurants, domestic labor or the skilled trades.
5. Where payment of wages is made upon a system other than time rate, the worker
shall be paid not less than the minimum time rate for the number of hours worked.
O R E 30N ,
There have been 36 orders issued by the Industrial Welfare Com
mission of the State of Oregon up to September 14, 1918. The first
five orders which were reprinted in Bulletin 176 of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics were rescinded from and after September 1, 1916.
1See note 1, p. 171.
87721°—IS----- 12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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M O N TH LY LABOE EEVIEW.
Orders Nos. 6 to 23, inclusive, were reviewed in the M o n t h l y
e v i e w for May, 1917 (p. 797), and an account was given, in the
same number (pp. 673-677), of the decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States upholding the constitutionality of the minimumwage law for this State.
Order No. 24, which was effective from and after June 30, 1917,
related to the packing, drying, preserving, or canning of any variety
of perishable fruit or vegetables. The order applies equally to women
and minors and provides that the minimum wage rates shall be those
in the following schedule, the period for inexperienced workers being
limited to three weeks:
R
PIECE RATES.
Occupation.
Cutting........................
Do.........................
Do.........................
Do.........................
Do.........................
P eeling.......................
Quartering...................
Hulling........................
Stemming....................
Sorting and stemming.
Do.........................
Variety.
Apricots........
Pears............
Cling peaches
Free peaches.
Tomatoes___
Apples..........
.......do............
Strawberries.
Cherries____
___ d o ....---String beans.
Minimum piece rate.
22J cents per 100 pounds (or 9 cents per 40 pounds).
374 cents per 100 pounds (or 15 cents per 40 pounds).
22.) cents per 100 pounds (or 9 cents per 40 pounds).
12§ cents per 100 pounds (or 5 cents per 40 pounds).
3 cents per 12 quarts.
2J cents per 40-pound box.
9 cents per 40-pound box.
1cent per pound.
I eent per pound.
4cent per pound,
f cent per pound.
Variety.
Cannin;
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do
Do.
Size of can.
Apricots, pears, and peaches...
__ do.........................................
Apples___
Strawberries,
loganberries,
blackberries, raspberries, and
cherries.
__ do.........................................
Tomatoes...................................
__ do.........................................
Minimum piece rate.
No. 2J........ U cents per dozen cans.
No. 1Ö....... 3-J cents per dozen cans.
__ do......... 1) cents per dozen cans.
No. 2........ 1cent per dozen cans.
No. 24 .......
__ do.,.......
No. 10.......
1J cents per dozen cans.
1cent per dozen cans.
2| cents per dozen cans.
A uniform basis for facing prunes in 25-pound boxes, double faced, of 3 cents per box.
TIME RATES.
Class.
Minimum time rate.
Experienced workers.............................................................................................. 16 cents per hour.
Inexperienced workers........................................................................................... 13 cents per hour.
The remaining orders, except No. 36, which were issued April 12,
1918, became effective on June 12, 1918.
Orders Nos. 25 and 26 relate to mercantile occupations. The
first of these determinations relates to the city of Portland and the
second to the State at large. The order for Portland provides that:
1. No person shall employ any woman in the city of Portland in any mercantile
establishment for more than 8 hours and 20 minutes in any one day nor for more than
50 hours in any one week.
2. No person shall employ any experienced woman in the city of Portland in any
mercantile establishment at a weekly wage rate of less than $11.10.
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3. The length of apprenticeship term for women workers in mercantile establish
ments shall he eight months and such apprenticeship term shall be divided into three
periods as follows: First period, one month; second period, three months; third
period, four months. No person shall employ any woman in any mercantile estab
lishment for the first period at a weekly wage of less than $7.20, nor for the second
period at a weekly wage of less than $8.40, nor for the third period at a weekly wage of
less than $9.GO.
4. No person shall employ any woman in the city of Portland in a mercantile estab
lishment for more than six days in one calendar week.
5. No person shall employ any woman in any mercantile establishment for more
than six hours of continuous labor without a rest period of at least 45 minutes.
6. No person shall employ any woman in the city of Portland in a mercantile estab
lishment, other than cigar stands in hotels and confectionery stores, later than 6
o’clock p. m.
The order for the State is identical with this except that women
may work nine hours a day or 54 hours a week and may be employed
up to 8.30 o’clock in the evening.
Order No. 27 deals with manufacturing occupations and follows
the rulings in No. 26 except on the following two points; (1) The
minimum weekly wage for experienced women is placed at $11.61.
(2) The average weekly rate for women employed at piece rates
shall not be less than the time rate, and at least 75 per cent of such
employees shall be paid at not less than the minimum wage rate and
not more than 25 per cent shall be paid at a weekly wage rate of less
than $11.61, provided that any woman or girl who lias been em
ployed at prevailing piece rates for three weeks shall then be paid not
less than $7.20 per week even though the amount earned shall be
less than that sum. In determining the average wage a period of
not less than 60 days shall be taken as a basis.
Order No. 28 relates to women employed in personal service estab
lishments and follows the rulings in No. 26 (mercantile establishments)
in regard to the hours per day and -hours and days per week; the
minimum wage for experienced workers, and the minimum wage for
apprenticeship, though this apprenticeship term is one year divided
into three equal periods of 4 months each.
Order No. 29 for women employed in laundry establishments
follows the rules laid down for employees in personal service occu
pations (Order No. 28), except that rules governing piecework are
the same as for manufacturing establishments (No. 27).
The rules for those employed in telephone and telegraph occupa
tions are laid down in Order No. 30 for the city of Portland and No.
31 for the State at large. Order No. 30 fixes the same daily and
weekly hours, minimum weekly rate and length of time employed
without a rest period as those for •manufacturing establishments
(No. 27), but the apprenticeship period for telephone establishments
is divided into four periods of three months each, the minimum
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wage to be $7.20, $7.92, $8.64, and $9.36, respectively, and for tele
graph establishments this term is divided into three periods of four
months each for which the minimum wage paid is $7.20, $8.40, and
$9.60. For seven consecutive days of labor in any telegraph estab
lishment, there must be one day in which the hours of employment
do not exceed six. The commission may upon such terms as it
deems proper release any applicant employing less than 10 telephone
operators from compliance with the rule limiting the number of days
work per week to six. For the State at large the rules are the same
as the foregoing except that no woman may be employed for 14 con
secutive clays without one day of rest and one day in which the hours
of employment do not exceed six.
Orders Nos. 32 and 33 cover office occupations in Portland and
the State. These two orders follow Order No. 28, except that in
Portland the maximum weekly hours of employment are 51 and the
minimum monthly salary for experienced women is fixed at $48.
Public housekeeping occupations Order No. 34 follows Order No.
28, except that women are not limited to six days work per week,
and, if any woman or minor girl receives either board and lodging or
both as part payment of wages, not more than $1.60 per week for
lodging and not more than $3.20 per week for board shall be deducted
from her wages.
Order No. 35 relating to employment of minors is as follows:
1. No person shall employ any minor girl in any occupation in the State of Oregon
more than 9 hours in one day and in no case more than 50 hours in one week.
2. No person shall employ any minor boy in the State of Oregon for more than 1G
hours in any one day.
3. No person shall employ any minor boy or minor girl under 16 years of age, in the
State of Oregon, more than 8 horns in any one day.
4. No person shall employ any minor girl or minor boy in the State of Oregon
more than 6 days in one calendar week.
5. No person shall employ any minor girl for more than 6 hours of continuous labor
between the hours of 7 a. m. and 6 p. m., without a rest period of at least 45 minutes.
6. No person shall employ any minor girl in any occupation in the State of Oregon
after the hour of 6 p. m. on any day.
7. No person shall employ any minor between 14 and 15 years of age at less than
$5 per week.
8. No person shall employ any minor between 15 and 16 years of age at less than
$6 per week.
9. No person shall employ any minor between 16 and 18 years of age for less than
§7.20 per week for the first 6 months of employment and shall increase the weekly
wage of such minor by 50 cents per week for every six months of employment until
said minor becomes 18 years of age, when the minimum wage for adult workers shall
be paid.
10. No person shall employ any minor boy or minor girl between the ages of 16 and
18 years in any occupation in the State of Oregon at a weekly wage of less than $7.20,
except as otherwise arranged by the commission in the case of apprentices.
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11,
For the purpose of determining a rising scale for minor apprentices, the working
time of female minors between the ages of 16 and 18 years shall be divided into periods
of 3 months each. Each period, or major fraction thereof, shall be considered the
equivalent of 1 month in the corresponding period of the apprenticeship of the adult
worker and shall be paid at a corresponding increase of wages per week.
An emergency overtime permit was issued on May 26, 1918, for fruit
and vegetable canning and packing establishments allowing them 6
weeks of overtime in each year beyond the 54 hours per week pro
scribed in Orders Nos. 2 and 5. This permit limits the overtime to
6 hours for any week and prohibits the employment of women for
more than 10 hours in any one day. This emergency overtime shall
be paid for at the rate of not less than 25 cents an hour and such
earnings shall in no case be included in the minimum weekly wage.
Every owner or manager of a canning or packing establishment
where such overtime is worked must submit a sworn statement to
the industrial welfare commission of the overtime worked and the
wages paid to each woman who has worked overtime.
WASHINGTON.
Under orders issued by the Industrial Welfare Commission for the
--State of Washington, on the dates indicated, weekly minimum wage
rates for females over the age of 18 years were established as follows:
April 28, 1914, employees in mercantile establishments, $10.
June 2, 1914, factory workers, $8.90.
June 25, 1914, employees in laundries and dye works, $9.
July 9, 1914, telephone and telegraph employees, $9.
December 21, 1914, stenographers, typists, etc., and clerical workers, $10.
June 18, 1915, hotel, restaurant, and lunch-room employees, $9.
On September 14, 1917, the commission issued an order fixing the
minimum wages for minors in the occupations above enumerated,
this order being printed in the M o n t h l y R e v i e w for December, 1917
(p p . 112, 113).
A minimum-wage provision adopted by the Washington Industrial
Welfare Commission on September 10,1918, prescribing that no female
over the age of 18 years “ in any occupation, trade, or industry
throughout the State during the period of the war” shall be employed
“ at a weekly wage rate of less than $13.20.” A uniform minimum
wage rate based on the cost of living is thus fixed and, as suggested,
is to stand for the duration of the war. The order is based upon recom
mendation of a war emergency conference held under the auspices of
the commission on August 28 and 29, 1918, and is to become effective
on November 15, 1918, “ unless legal action be taken by employing
interests to prevent the enforcement of the order.” Provision is
made for the reconvening of the conference six months after the cessa-
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M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
tion of hostilities, when it is probable that the matter of a minimum
wage will receive further attention. Other important recommenda
tions for the improvement of working conditions intended to safe
guard the health and morals of female workers were adopted by the
commission and, because of the advanced position taken by the com
mission in this connection, these recommendations are deemed worthy
of publication in full. It should be stated that action on recommen
dation No. 3 was deferred “ until it can be ascertained what effect its
adoption will have upon war activities.”
R
e c o m m e n d a t io n s o p t h e
W a r E m e r g e n c y C o n f e r e n c e R e l a t in g
W orkers.
to
W omen
1. B e i t re solved, That this war emergency conference does hereby make the following
recommendation to the industrial welfare commission in reference to standards of
labor demanded for the health and morals of women workers in the different occupa
tions, trades, and industries throughout the State under war conditions:
That no person, firm, association or corporation shall employ any female over the age
of 18 years in any occupation, trade, or industry throughout the State during the period
of the war at a weekly wrage rate of less than $13.20, such wage being the estimate of
said conference of the minimum wage adequate to supply the necessary cost of living
and to maintain them in health and comfort.
And it is recommended that this war emergency conference be reconvened six
months after the cessation of hostilities.
2. B e i t resolved, That this war emergency conference does hereby make the follow
ing recommendation to the industrial welfare commission in reference to standards of
labor demanded by the health and morals of women workers in the different occu
pations, trades, and industries throughout the State under war conditions:
(1) That all occupations be prohibited to women -which are injurious to their health,
their morals, or womanhood, or which are unavoidably disfiguring.
(2) That all occupations be prohibited to women for which men in general are
better fitted by temperament, training, or custom, and for which men are available.
(3) That among the occupations in Washington which should be prohibited to women
are certain phases of railroading, as section work, certain work in shipbuilding plants,
certain work in lumber and in shingle mills, certain work in hotels, as “ bell hops,”
certain work in metal-working plants, as with molten metals, all work underground,
all work in shooting galleries, penny arcades, and the like.
(4) That exclusion be made having in mind the designations and prohibitions of
the United States War Labor Policies Board, the State Council and the county coun
cils of defense, and such other bodies under the General Government as shall find
occasion to relate women’s work to patriotic efficiency.
(5) That all occupations be prohibited to women for two months before confinement
and for six weeks thereafter.
3. B e i t resolved, That this war emergency conference does hereby make the follow
ing recommendation to the industrial welfare commission in reference to standards
of labor demanded for the health and morals of women workers in the different occu
pations, trades, and industries throughout the State'under war conditions:
That no person, firm, association, or corporation shall employ any female over the
age of 18 years between the hours of.7 p. m. and 6 a. m. in the following occupations
or classifications:
Sawmills, factories, garages, metal-working plants, machine shops, laundries,
cleaning and pressing establishments, messenger service, porters, callers for railroads,
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179
and such other occupations as in the judgment of the industrial welfare commission
may he hazardous to the health, welfare, or morals of the employee, except that with
street railways and elevators the hours permitted shall be, respectively, from 8 a. m.
to 5 p. m. in cities of the first class and from 6 a. m. to 5 p. m. in cities of the second
class; and 6 a. m. to 11 p. m.
•
4. B e i t re so lv e d , That this war emergency conference does hereby make the follow
ing recommendation to the industrial welfare commission in reference to the posting
in advance of schedule of hours to be observed in establishments offering less than
full-time employment:
That every person, firm, or corporation in this State offering less than full-time
employment to female employees in any occupation, trade, or industry shall post in
a conspicuous place in the establishment a proper schedule of hours to be observed
for such period of time in advance as the industrial welfare commission shall in its
discretion determine not later than noon of the preceding day.
5. B e i t reso lved , That this war emergency conference does hereby make the follow
ing recommendation to the industrial welfare commission in reference to standards
of labor demanded for the health and morals of women workers in the different occu
pations, trades, and industries throughout the State under war conditions:
That no person, firm, association, or corporation shall employ any female over 18
years on a shift over six hours without a rest period of 15 minutes.
6. B e i t reso lved , That this war emergency conference does hereby make the follow
ing recommendation to the industrial welfare commission in reference to equal pay
for women for equal work with men in the different occupations, trades, and indus
tries of this State:
That women doing equal work with men in any occupation, trade, or industry in
this State shall receive the same compensation therefor as men doing work of the
same character and of like quantity and quality, the determination of what consti
tutes equal work to rest with the industrial welfare commission.
7. B e i t reso lved , That this war emergency conference does hereby make the follow
ing recommendation to the industrial welfare commission in reference to standards
of labor demanded for the health and morals of women workers in the different occu
pations, trades, and industries throughout the State under war conditions:
That no person, firm, association, or corporation shall employ a female over 18
years without compliance with the standards regarding meal hours, seats, and sani
tation already established by law, and without adequate separate and apart toilets,
including individual cloth or paper towels.
P r o v id e d , h ow ever, That where there are less than four women employed by any
person the industrial welfare commission may, upon application and showing, release
such applicant from compliance with the foregoing regulations or any part of the same.
TRADE BOARDS ACT, 1918, OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Under the provisions of the Trade Boards Act of- 1909 minimum
wages have been fixed in a limited number of industries during the
past eight years. On the 8th of August last an amending a c t1 was
passed, greatly extending the scope of the original act and providing
for much speedier action as well as greater flexibility. The act is
one of the results of the investigations of the subcommittee of the
Reconstruction Committee of the United Kingdom, whose special
subject for study was the relations between employers and employees.
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1 8 and 9, Geo. 5. Trade Boards Act, 1918.
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M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW.
The particular occasion for the act is the prospective readjustment
of labor at the close of the war, which seems likely to accentuate the
problem of inadequate wrnges for unskilled and unorganized workers,
particularly women. Female workers have been drawn to strictly
war work, as in munition plants, from such feminine occupations as
dressmaking, and after the war will necessarily lea-ve the establish
ments in which they have been employed, and in seeking reemploy
ment in the old lines will meet competition likely to depress the wage
rate. Women are also engaged in other industries, which, while con
tinuing after the war, will receive many applications for employment
for returning soldiers. It was especially to meet these conditions
that the amendment has been prepared. The British Labor Gazette
in speaking on this point says: “ The eight years’ experience of the
satisfactory results achieved by the trade boards, whose activities
have proved of benefit not merely to the workers but to all sections
of the trades which have worked under them, pointed to an extension
of the Trade Boards Act, 1909, as the best means of meeting the
situation.” 1
The original law designates four trades to which the act shall apply,
but contains an authorization for its extension to other trades by pro
visional orders of the Board of Trade. Many inclusions were made
under this authorization, but the proceeding was cumbersome, and
rates became effective only after nine months from their proposal by
a trade board. A trade could bo passed upon only when it appeared
that wages in it were at the time exceptionally low as compared with
those in other employments, and as the wages of women were very
low in many cases during normal times, there was difficulty in urging
that wages were exceptionally low in any given trade. The new act
permits the Minister of Labor to apply its provisions to any trade in
which it appears to him that no adequate machinery exists for the
effective regulation of wages, so that, having regard to the rates of
wages prevailing in the trade, or any part of it, it seems expedient
that the law should be made to apply. It is thus possible to forestall
an apprehended fall in wages in view of changes or anticipated changes
in conditions of employment. It is also provided that any rate fixed
may be made to apply to the tradfe as a whole or to any special pro
cess in the trade, or to any special area, or to any class of workers in
the trade, or to any class of workers in any special process or in any
special area. Rates may also be fixed to come into operation suc
cessively on the expiration of specified periods, and variations in
rates may be declared operative only during specified periods. This
great flexibility of provision makes it possible to meet every coni Great B ritain.
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
181
tingency, piece rates and time rates being equally subject to regu
lation.
Other provisions of the act require that a worker present on his
employer’s premises for the purpose of receiving work shall be
regarded as employed and entitled to wages for the time unless
the employer proves that the worker was so present without the
employer’s consent, express or implied, or that he was present for
some purpose unconnected with the work. An employer may not
receive from an apprentice or learner engaged at a fixed minimum
rate payment by way of premium either directly or indirectly, though
this provision does not forbid payments made in pursuance of an
instrument of apprenticeship not later than four weeks after com
mencement of the employment.
This act came into effect the 1st of October, thus becoming one
of the first provisions of permanent law looking toward readjustment
after the termination of the war. The enlargement of the scope of
the law, based on its satisfactory operation during eight years of
experience, is of special interest in view of the stage of progress in
this field of wage regulation in the United States.
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W OM EN IN INDUSTRY.
FEDERAL POLICY IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN.
W ORK OF THE NATIONAL W AR LABOR BOARD.
The National War Labor Board, appointed by President Wilson
on April 8 of this year to be the supreme court of industry with
reference to labor disputes, must necessarily in the course of its work
have regard to the problems of women in industry. It does not,
however, deal with women merely in their undifferentiated capacity
as workers; it has appreciated the fact that, because of their sex, women
in industry have problems in some measure peculiar to them. It has,
accordingly, made special provisions for their problems in its prin
ciples and policies, and has established a women’s department which
has the welfare of woman workers as its special concern.
The exact status and powers of the Board are sometimes mis
understood. It has no legal standing in the sense of having been
created by legislative enactment; it has no powers in the sense of
possessing weapons and penalties for the enforcement of its decrees.
It represents rather the voluntary agreement of labor and capital
that there should be no interruption of production during the war
and that all disputes should be adjusted without cessation of work.
Its authority is that of public opinion given effect through presiden
tial proclamation. Its prestige rests upon the evident justice of its
decisions. So obvious is the national need for the Board, and so
reasonable have been its decisions that, save in three cases only, its
awards or recommendations have been willingly accepted by both
sides in the interest of the national welfare. In the three cases
mentioned, where the Board’s conciliatory powers were not sufficient,
the President of the United States has by summary executive action
enforced obedience to its decisions.
Again, the authority of the Board is not national in scope, but is
confined to those industries in respect to which its good offices are
requested. Yet this in itself is considerable, for the Board has on
its docket, disposed of or to be disposed of, cases involving more than
half a million workers, men and women. Already, cases involving
200,000 workers have been disposed of. Even though the authority
of the Board is not national, its awards have a standardizing effect
throughout the country; adjustments made in respect to one plant
tend to spread to all other plants in the same industry, since indus
trial stability demands a measure of uniformity in working conditions.
182
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Many employers voluntarily grant to their workers the wages and
conditions awarded by the Board for similar industries and in general
employers and employees find the decisions of the Board a satis
factory basis on which to adjust their differences.
It is just, then, to regard the Board as having a national scope
and an effective authority. The Board is not merely adjusting
differences as they arise, but is building up what is in effect a body
of industrial common law for the period of the war. For this reason
its policies and awards in respect to women have a nation-wide
significance.
B a sic P o l ic ie s
of th e
B oaed.
The Board, when it was still in the formative stage as the War
Labor Conference Board, recognized the importance of the problems
arising out of the inevitable influx of women into industry due to
war conditions and especially to the draft. It saw that it would
need to meet the problems boldly and deal with them thoroughly.
Accordingly, in its original statement of principles it embodied the
following sweeping provision:
W o m e n in I n d u s tr y .—If it shall become necessary to employ women on work ordi
narily performed by men, they must be allowed equal pay for equal work and must
not be allotted tasks disproportionate to their strength.
There are three reasons for the first part of this provision, familiar
to all who have studied the subject: First, abstract justice requires
that payment be made according to service; second, the evidence
shows that the woman who is being drawn into industry because of
the war is in a large proportion of cases actually taking the place of
some man in the support or partial support of the family, and a
decrease in her wages would mean a decrease in the family’s standard
of living; third, it is not economically sound or socially desirable
that women should be brought into industry at a faster rate or in
greater numbers than the needs of production actually demand, and
the only effective check is to make it no more profitable to employ
women than men. The reason for providing against tasks of an
excessively exhausting nature is obvious.
The Board appreciates fully that this provision calls for special
planning, both on the part of the Board and on the part of the em
ployer. It is by no means true that the product of women’s work
is always equal in quantity or quality to that of men’s work. In
some crafts it is not so large or so good; in others it is larger and
better. Where piece rates prevail, men and women can work side
by side on the same tasks without injustice either to employer or to
worker. But where hour or day rates prevail in crafts in which
women’s product is inferior to men’s, it is obviously unfair that the
same rates should apply to both. There may, consequently, be some
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tendency to specialize woman workers in the processes for which
they are best fitted and to adjust the rate accordingly. Xhe pro
vision against the allotment of exhausting tasks will obviously
close certain processes or trades to woman workers. In these trades
the demand for more workers must be filled by men from other
trades or departments of the industry, women taking the place of
these latter workmen. Here again, there is a tendency to specializa
tion according to sex, and a certain readjustment of industry becomes
necessary.
In short, the application of the equal-pay principle is not so simple
as it looks, and the Board, fully realizing this fact, made provision
for the administration of its principles according to their spirit rather
than their letter.
In all matters in which there is no sex differentiation in fact,
absolute equality obtains in all the Board’s principles and awards.
For instance, the provisions in the Board’s principles calling for the
unrestricted right of organization and collective bargaining apply
equally to women and men. What is desirable for one sex in industry
is equally desirable for the other. If it is desirable that men should
be free from molestation in joining the union of their trade, it is
equally desirable that women should have the same freedom. If the
Government has found it desirable to deal with the men through
their union instead of individually, it has found it equally desirable
to deal with women through unions. Whenever collective bargain
ing is instituted by an award of the Board, women have a vote in the
selection of representatives as a matter of course, and the Board even
urges, through its field representatives, that where any considerable
number of women are involved, one or more of such representatives
be women. Equal suffrage in industry is axiomatic with the Na
tional War Labor Board.
A p p l ic a t io n
op
B a sic P
r in c ip l e s .
In the many awards made by the Board affecting women, it has
not generally been necessary to make any special provision for them
beyond the application of the Board’s principles to the specific case.
Women have shared with men in the increase in wages which the
Board has granted. Very frequently they have received a greater
proportionate increase than the men, because the prevailing rate of
wages for women has been lower. In certain cases it was necessary
to specify that there must lie no discrimination against women, but
usually it lias been sufficient to lay down in general terms the equalpay principle.
In several of the awards special minimum-wage provisions have
been inserted in respect to women, setting their minimum lower than
that of the men. This was done partly to avoid too great a disturbance
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185
within the industry, and partly because the women referred to were
doing a lower grade of work than any of the men. The minimums set,
however, were generous, and well in advance of the wages of men in
many an industry which has not je t come under the jurisdiction of
the Board.
In general, the minimum set by the Board for men is 40 or 42 cents
an hour, and that for women (where the distinction is made) 30 or
32 cents. In one case a weekly and not an hourly minimum was set.
In the Bridgeport machine shops case 32 cents em hour was fixed as
the minimum for women 18 years of age or over. In the case of the
General Electric Co.’s plant at Pittsfield, Mass., male employees of 21
years and over were granted 42 cents an hour as a minimum, and
women 21 years and over, with 6 months’ experience in the plant, 30
cents. The women shared equally with the men in the fiat increase
of 20 per cent in wages. In the Schenectady, N. Y., plant of the
same firm the women received a flat 20 per cent increase as against
the 10 per cent and 15 per cent increases awarded to the men. The
minimum wage for women in the plant was fixed at $15 per week. A
special provision was made for the scrubwomen, who work less than
eight hours a day but at unusual and inconvenient times. They were
granted a minimum of $10.50 per week.
A d m in is t r a t iv e F u n c t io n
oe t h e
B oard.
I t has been shown how the Board, within the limits set forth,
exercises both legislative and judicial functions—establishing general
principles and adjudicating special disputes. But the Board has a
third function, the executive or administrative, and it is in the exercise
of this last function that the greater part of its work on behalf of
women is done.
When an award in a given dispute has been handed down an
“ examiner” is detailed to go to the factory and “ apply” it. He
remains as long as necessary, sometimes for months. His first and
obvious function is to see that both sides live up to their agreement.
But this is usually only a formal duty; both sides, in the vast majority
of cases, are faithfully endeavoring to cooperate and live up to the
spirit and the letter of their pledge. What occupies the adminis
trator’s time is the interpretation of the award i n d e ta il in respect
to this particular machine and that particular process. And it is in
this work that the substantial benefit to the woman worker is found.
It is easy to say “ equal pay for equal work,” but what if the work
is not exactly equal? Or what if the work is equal, but additional
help (such as the fetching of material) must be given to women which
is not given to men ? What if a process originally belonging to men
is now wholly performed by women, so that no standard of comparison
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is possible with present wages of men ? Or what if tasks not “ beyond
the strength” of woman workers still impose working conditions
peculiarly unhygienic for them ?
It is evident that in each case some ruling must be made in con
formity with broad principles of equity and with the intention of
the Board, rather than according to the strict letter of the award.
Because the work of the women differs in some trifling way from
that of the men the employer is not justified in designating a wholly
different and unfavorable wage rate for that work. The difference,
if it is demanded, should be only such as to cover the difference in
service or the additional cost to which the employer is put because
the workers are women. And how is that to be decided ? By agree
ment between the employer and the workers’ committee, if possible;
but if not, then by the Board’s examiner, clothed with full power.
Again, what is “ beyond the strength” o f'a woman is a question
not to be decided except by a competent person who is on the spot,
able to observe each detail of the task and take into account each
factor of the strain, physical, mental, and nervous, which goes to
make the fatigue. For expert judgment in these matters the Board
employs a physician.
It should be clear that the fate of eight out of ten of the woman
workers who come under the Board’s awards is decided not by the
Board in its judicial capacity, but by the Board’s examiner in his
administrative capacity. For this reason a considerable proportion
of the Board’s examiners are women, all of them specially equipped
with technical knowledge. Wherever there is an award to be applied
which involves any great number of women, one or more of these
examiners is detailed on behalf of the woman workers. The examiner
remains long enough to observe and make a ruling on each essential
detail in each particular case.
If the number of the women is large, woman investigators having
trade-union experience make a diplomatic effort to urge the inclu
sion of one or more women on such shop committees or representa
tive boards as are to be elected. In charge of this division of the
Board’s staff is Miss Elizabeth Christman.
While this section of the staff works frankly on behalf of the women
in the preparation of the case before the award is made, urging their
claims and seeking their best interests (there is also a section of the
staff detailed to the assistance of the employers), another section is
attached to the Board in its judicial capacity. This section of “ ex
aminers,” headed by Miss Marie Obenauer, formerly of the industrial
section of the Bureau of Aircraft Production, is assigned to sit or
assist at formal hearings, to weigh the respective claims of the dis
puting parties as they affect woman workers, and to gather such
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special information concerning the trade and living conditions in the
community as is needed for the equitable adjudication of the case.
For example, Miss Obenauer and her staff make special investigations
of the tasks assigned to women, not only with a view to preventing
the employment of women in “ tasks beyond their strength/’ but more
particularly for the purpose of recommending such minor alterations
or improvements in the machinery or the methods of operation as
will make the job suitable for them. The woman examiners often
make a detailed survey of the budget requirements of the woman
workers of the community which serves as a basis for determining
the minimum wage awarded to women there.
The Board is desirous that woman workers throughout the country
should know their rights under its principles and precedents; for the
purpose of the Board is not solely to adjust differences in the indus
trial field, but quite as much to better conditions which are unfavorable
to the best interests of the industry and the workers therein. It does
not seek (as some have supposed) to preserve the status quo in
industry, where that status is an unjust one. Accordingly, it does
not condemn the institution of complaints by woman workers who
believe their complaints are justified and are willing to submit to the
Board’s peaceful and orderly process of adjustment. Rather, such
complainants are serving the country in calling attention to a possi
ble inefficiency in one of the country’s war industries.
W ork
of to e
B oard
in
S t a b il iz in g
the
N a t io n ’ s I n d u s t r y .
In its various rulings, which consistently apply a clearly defined policy, it is believed that the Board is doing much to stabilize the
Nation’s industrial condition. In so far as its awards have a national
influence, they serve to standardize wages and conditions of employ
ment, in a natural and unbureaucratic way; to keep the worker
contentedly and efficiently at his task, and hence decrease the “ labor
turnover” and the undue flow of workers from job to job; and to
control to a considerable extent the substitution of women for men
and to regulate the conditions of their employment.
The general aims of the Board, in such control over the general
conditions of women’s labor as it may exercise, are to protect the
women already in industry, in the interests of their own welfare
and the future of the race; to render them as efficient as may be
in their particular jobs by assuring them a wage which will provide
them with wholesome nourishment and healthful living conditions,
and free their minds from undue worry; to guide them into the jobs
in which they are likely to prove most efficient, and to cause the
minimum of readjustment and confusion in industry; to control
and, if necessary, to check the rate of the induction of women into
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industry, through the rigid application of the equal-wage principle;
to prevent the exploitation of women by unscrupulous employers
for the purpose of lowering the wage scale or breaking up lawful
associations of wage earners; and finally, to prevent more women
being brought into industry than the needs of the Nation demand,
in order that the American home may be maintained, as far as
possible, as it is, during the war.
In all this, the Board works in closest cooperation with other
Government agencies, such as the War Labor Policies Board and the
Women’s Employment Division of the Department of Labor. The
aims of all are identical, and no one agency is adequate to control
the entire situation. It is the function of the National War Labor
Board to turn the liability of each industrial dispute into an asset
for the Nation’s industrial program.
WORK OF THE WOMEN’S BR AN C H , IN D U ST R IA L SERVICE SECTION, OF ARMY
ORDNANCE.
When the needs of war demanded an immensely increased output
of all kinds of munitions, the production division of the Bureau of
Ordnance found itself face to face with the question of women’s
employment, and to meet the problems which arose, the women’s
branch of the industrial service section was formed in January, 1918.
Miss Mary Van Kleek was at first put in charge, but left to take the
position of director of the Women in Industry Service of the Depart
ment of Labor, and was succeeded by the present director, Mrs. Clara
M. Tead.
The division approaches the question of women in industry from
the standpoint of production. Output is the great need. The
division accepts unreservedly the principle that the best output can
be obtained only under the best conditions of work, and therefore
believes that as a matter of war necessity every woman engaged on
work under a Government contract should and must have good
working conditions, reasonable hours, fair wages, and suitable
accommodations. Naturally, seen from this point of view, the work
of the women’s branch embraces a wide field, which falls into two
divisions, remedial and preventive.
The remedial side may be called into play either by a distinct
shortage in production or by a failure to reach an expected output.
If a firm working under a Government contract is not making a
satisfactory showing, the cause must be sought, and if women are
engaged on the work, the women’s branch is called upon to advise
as to how with better employment methods and under improved
working conditions, the woman labor force can more effectively
contribute toward increasing production. Agents are dispatched
to the plant, and the whole situation examined carefully. If the
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women are doing work hitherto performed only by men, the question
of whether or not this is suitable work for women at once arises, and
experts may be called upon for advice. Perhaps there is enough
male labor available, and no real need exists for employing women
upon such work. Perhaps the work can be altered in some way so
as to bring it well within the power of women. New training methods
may be needed. Or the work may be entirely suitable and well
within their ability, but working conditions may be inadequate.
Hours may be too long, or ventilation or light deficient, or the accom
modations for women so badly planned as to subject them to unneces
sary strain or hazard. In the interests of production such matters
must be studied, and any defects which are hampering output must
be remedied. It may be necessary for the agents of the division
to spend weeks in the plant, studying the situation and devising the
best way of meeting the difficulties involved in obtaining the maxi
mum output in spite of the withdrawal of men of draft age.
In order to anticipate this process, employers may call upon the
division for advice before introducing women, thus bringing into
play the preventive side of the division’s work. One such case was
that of a firm which wished to employ women in acetylene welding,
a process in which few women have hitherto been engaged in this
country. Information as to the possibilities of women in this line
was hard to obtain, so an agent was dispatched to learn the work
herself and pronounce at first hand whether or not women would be
likely to make a success at it. She learned the process thoroughly,
found what were the special difficulties from the point of view of a
woman unfamiliar with such work, studied how the training could
be modified so as to meet these difficulties, and in general how women
could best be adapted to it and it to women. As a result, not only
are women now working successfully as acetylene welders in that"
plant, but this agent’s experience has been utilized by a number of
other employers who have wished to introduce women. The division
is gradually establishing in this manner a fund of industrial knowledge
which will be available to all manufacturers and which will greatly
facilitate the successful introduction of women in new processes.
In some cases this preventive work is done on a much larger scale.
When, for instance, the employment of women in the Watertown
Arsenal was under consideration, the first step was to bring in a
representative of the women’s branch who spent some weeks in
studying the plant and the work. Each machine was examined and
each process considered with a view to the propriety of employing
women upon it. If it was adjudged suitable the question of neces
sary training was taken up and plans developed for giving what
instruction was needed in the quickest and most effective manner
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possible. Sucb special installations as were necessary for women
were made, and in every way the plant and the work alike were
prepared for tlieir introduction, so that when they were finally
brought in no time was lost; from the very beginning the women
employed were working under conditions known to be suitable, at
work fully within their powers, for which they received whatever
training was required.
In each of the manufacturing arsenals where women are em
ployed, there is at present a representative of the women’s branch
who is responsible to the arsenal management for handling all ques
tions concerning the employment of woman workers and the condi
tions under which they work.
Conditions which the women may have to meet outside the plant—such as poor boarding arrangements, overcrowded or unhygienic
lodgings, inadequate transportation facilities, and lack of means for
recreation and amusement—are not dealt with by the women’s branch
but by the community organization branch of the Industrial Service
Section of Army Ordnance.
In securing the improvements and alterations desired within the
plants, the division relies both upon the real desire of many em
ployers to give the best conditions possible when they know what
these are, and upon the realization on the part of employers that
contracts for Government work may be withheld. It is but fair to
the employers to say, however, that in general they welcome the
suggestions made by the division, or even, as in the instances cited,
ask for its help.
CONFERENCE OF TRADE-UNION WOMEN UNDER AUSPICES OF, U. S.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
The first conference of trade-union women ever called by the
United States Government was held on October 4 and 5, 1918.
At the call of Miss Mary Van Kleeck, director, and Miss Mary
Anderson, assistant director, of the Women in Industry Service of
the Department of Labor, 16 women, representing national and
international labor organizations, assembled in Washington for
this conference. They drew up a set of resolutions to constitute a
platform of principles for the cooperation of the trade-union women
with the director of the service, and called for a large immediate
appropriation from available emergency funds to expand the work
of the service. In order to help carry out these principles they
resolved themselves into a permanent committee to meet from time
to time with the director.
Some of the principles most strongly urged by the conference
are: (1) the practical and thorough application of the principle of
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equal pay for equal work by women and men, which, according to
the delegates, is not now the case; (2) the fixation, by wage boards,
of a minimum wage for women, not on the basis of a living for a
woman alone, but for the support of a woman with dependents,
just as for a man with dependents; (3) and the giving of the same
opportunity for training for women entering skilled trades that is
now given to men in these occupations. Moreover, upon all Govern
ment wage boards, especially the National War Labor Board, the
appointment of woman members was urged, since the delegates
declared that, as the boards were now constituted, the women’s
interests were neglected. The principle of woman’s suffrage was
indorsed and an emphatic protest was entered against the United
States Senate for denying the President’s appeal for the passage
of the Federal constitutional amendment.
Secretary Wilson, in opening the conference, had outlined a
policy of controlling night work by women on all Government
contracts, which the delegates indorsed. This plan provides for
the absolute prohibition of such work except by special permit
from the Secretary of War or the Secretary of the Navy for limited
periods in particular plants, after declaration by these Secretaries
that an emergency exists, and after thorough investigation by the
Women in Industry Service. The conference also declared for a
shorter work day. The delegates stated that a serious tendency
exists toward the breakdown of this standard because of the will
ingness of employers to pay, and the workers to accept, overtime
rates for excessive hours. A maximum day of eight hours or less,
as distinguished from the eight-hour basic day for computation of
wages with pay for overtime, was demanded. The shorter working
day was urged in the interests of health of the workers, greater effi
ciency, and increased production.
In considering the situation of the Government civil-service
employees the conference stood for the revision of the law and the
regulations of the Civil Service Commission, so as to insure women
equal opportunity with men in appointments, promotions, salaries
and admission to all examinations, the establishment of a wage
adjustment board on which the employees shall be adequately
represented, and the appointment of committees of employees to be
consulted by the head of every department with reference to esti
mates or recommendations concerning wages or working conditions. .
The conference also considered the school situation .and demanded
better pay for all teachers, both in the interest of the teachers and
the welfare of the nation.
Certain specific recommendations for bettering the conditions
of labor were made by the conference. These included the enforce-
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ment of sanitary regulations and increased provision for tlie health
and safety of the workers, recognizing that special steps should be
taken in the more dangerous trades to reduce the risk to a mini
mum, and recognizing also the efficacy of health insurance. In
some particular industries such as munition workers, electrical
workers, textile workers, and workers in navy yards and arsenals,
special measures were considered and recommended in order to
achieve the betterment of conditions.
On the final day of the conference, Mr. Felix Frankfurter, chair
man of the War Labor Policies Board, explained the purpose and
functions of the Board. He pointed out the interrelation of the
various Government agencies for keeping war production at maxi
mum efficiency, and showed how the cooperation of the woman
workers with the Women in Industry Service, would insure that
any labor policy advocated by the Board, had been decided on with
the assistance and in the light of the experience of the women war
workers.
The delegates present at the conference were Miss Margaret Daley
and Miss Elizabeth McCallum, of New York, representing the
United Garment Workers of America; Miss Fannie M. Cohn, of New
York, International Ladies’ Garment Workers; Miss Elizabeth
Christman, of Washington, International Gloveworkers’ Union;
Mrs. Sarah Conboy and Miss Mary Kelliher, of New York, United
Textile Workers; Miss Clara Stutz, of Washington, American Fed
eration of Teachers; Miss Florence Etheridge, of Yinita, Okla.,
and Miss Ethel M. Smith, of Washington, National Federation of
Federal Employees; Mrs. May Peake and Miss Blanche DeCelles,
of Boston and Springfield, Mass., respectively, International Asso
ciation of Machinists; Miss Agnes Johnson, of Chicago, International
Boot and Shoe Workers; Mrs. Mary P. Scully, of New York, Amer
ican Federation of Labor; Miss Emma Steghagen, of Chicago, National
Women’s Trade Union League; Miss Ida McCutcheon, of Springfield,
Mass., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and Miss
Laura Graddick, of Washington, Bookbinders’ International Union.
BUREAU OF WOMEN IN INDUSTRY ESTABLISHED IN NEW YORK
STATE.
Under date of July 16, 1918, the New York State Industrial Com
mission adopted the following resolutions creating in the Department
of Labor a bureau of women in industry:
R e so lv e d , That there is hereby created in the Department of Labor a bureau to be
known as the Bureau of Women in Industry which is to be under the immediate
supervision of a chief of bureau appointed by the Industrial Commission and respons
ible directly to the Industrial Commission.
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F u rth e r re so lved , The functions of the Bureau of Women in Industry shall be to
make investigations and reports upon the conditions under which women are employed
in industry, wages, and hours of labor and working conditions; also for the employ
ment of women in industry, and to that end such bureau shall cooperate with the
Bureau of Statistics, the Bureau of Inspection, the Bureau of Employment, and any
other bureau or agencies of the State Industrial Commission.
F u rth e r reso lved , That the commission shall define the duties of the members of this
bureau and may from time to time modify or change their duties and that no member
of the bureau shall assume any functions or responsibility other than those delegated
by the commission, and all questions of policy and all questions of publication shall
be determined and approved by the Industrial Commission.
R e so lv e d , That Nelle Swartz be, and she hereby is, appointed chief of the Bureau
of Women in Industry.
EFFECT OF INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN UPON MATERNITY.1
The Women’s Industrial Council of London has recently pub
lished an article on the relation between industrial occupation and
the quality of maternity based on a study of working mothers in
London, which has undertaken to discover, if possible, whether
industrial employment affected a woman’s capacity for successful
maternity, and whether, if any effect were found, it must be con
sidered as due to industrial work per se, or to some particular kinds
of work.
To secure authoritative information, the investigators confined
themselves to cases of mothers who on account of maternity were
being dealt with in one way or another by some recognized author
ity. Schools for mothers, infant welfare centers, and the maternity
wards of hospitals were selected as the field of inquiry, and from
these they sought to obtain full particulars as to each mother’s age,
health, occupation during adolescence, before marriage, and during
pregnancy, history of former confinements, nature of present con
finement, health of the infant, and the mother’s ability to nurse it;
also, as bearing directly on the child’s health, the age and health of
the father, and the family’s standard of living and home conditions.
This program proved too ambitious, as few or none of the insti
tutions kept records of all these items. Several undertook special
inquiries for the purposes of this study, but even with this aid the
subject of adolescent and premarriage occupations and some other
details had to be dropped out. Altogether 934 cases were studied, but
not all the facts desired were obtained for all of these. The council
realizes that this number is far too few to justify conclusions. One
of the medical experts consulted estimated that at least 1,000,000
cases would be required to yield statistics of real value, but the
i Quality of m aternity in relation to industrial occupation. The Women’s Industrial News, London,
July, 1918, pp. 2-16.
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results obtained are put forward as being suggestive and as perbapk
pointing the lines along which further efforts might well be made.
The first fact which emerges very clearly, perhaps the most clearly of all, is that
practically no real data exist. If this country really wanted to improve the health
and well-being of its citizens, the first step should be to acquire accurate knowledge
of those things which act adversely upon the health of the infants. And the first
factor is that which begins to operate before birth, even before conception, through
the mother’s health. One can even go further and say the effect on infant mortality
of the adolescent life of the mother is not one of the least important factors. Yet no
records seem to exist which enable an inquiry to take account of such factors.
The inquiry into the effect of different kinds of employment before
and during pregnancy was also unsatisfactory. A questionnaire was
prepared for doctors, both those in general practice and those in
attendance at maternity hospitals, and in addition the investigators
interviewed matrons of hospitals, midwives, health visitors, and
superintendents of infant welfare centers. A summary of the replies
obtained is given, as follows:
1. Continuous sitting before or during pregnancy is almost universally admitted to
have a bad effect on labor, on the mother’s health after confinement, and on the health
of the child. The contrary opinion was given only by one woman general practi
tioner, who held that sitting widens the pelvis and renders childbearing more easy.
2. Standing continuously was held to be less bad, with the single exception that it
tends to induce varicose veins. One doctor mentions, however, th at this effect only
injures the health of tire mother, apart from childbearing, and does not affect the
health of the child nor the character of confinement.
3. Lifting, stretching, and reaching up are all injurious during pregnancy and
when carried to excess by young women may cause sterility. This is, however, only
when undue strain is caused and internal organs are displaced.
4. Jolting is bad for pregnant women only, and three doctors referred to the un
suitability of tram and bus conducting for women when pregnant.
5. Treadling in general was not objected to by any of the doctors, but two say that
treadling with one foot only during immaturity has a serious effect on labor in later
years. During pregnancy it might result in miscarriage.
6. Working in a bad atmosphere is only injurious in that it is bad for the general
health and in that way affects the life and health of the unhorn child.
7. The effect on labor, on the mother’s health, and on that of the child of poor and
insufficient food, insufficient clothing, and long hours of fatiguing work, were all
agreed to be bad, with the exception of clothing, which all declared to be of minor
importance. Dr. Adamson, of Leeds, is of opinion that overwork and nerve strain
tend to impair the power to suckle, and that this condition is increasing very much in
recent years. * * * The greatest stress was laid upon the importance of a suffi
ciency of nourishing food for the mother.
8. The types of bodily exercise beneficial to pregnant women are not specified by
anyone; all agree, however, that exercise, and within reasonable limits even hard
work, is not only beneficial but necessary to the health of pregnant women. * * *
Several types of exercise are named as being bad for pregnant women, such as lifting
heavy weights, reaching and straining upward, and stooping. * * * It is noted by
several doctors and one midwife that custom plays a very important part in deciding
whether a pregnant woman can or can not undertake any physically laborious work.
If it is work to which her muscles have become accustomed, it would not be attended
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by any bad results, but if it is new to her and brings into play muscles she is not in
the habit of exercising, it should be undertaken with great caution.
9.
Other causes likely to produce stillbirths, sickly children, bad confinements,
etc., are cited in order of importance, as syphilis, malnutrition, tuberculosis, and
alcoholism.
As far as the effect on the babies is concerned, these findings are in
line with the conclusion reached independently by other English
investigators, that the health of the new-born child is affected little
if at all by antenatal conditions, but the failure to establish a con
nection between industrial work during pregnancy and suffering and
ill health on the mother’s part is rather surprising. An explanation
is perhaps suggested in another work on a kindred subject:
Writers on infant mortality and the decline of the birth rate never tire of justly
pointing to the evils which come from the strain of manual labor in factories for ex
pectant mothers. -Very little is ever said about the same evils which come from the
incessant drudgery of domestic labor. People forget that the unpaid labor of the
working women at the stove, at scrubbing and cleaning, at the washtub, in lifting and
carrying heavy weights, is just as severe manual labor as many industrial operations
in factories. I t is this labor which the mother performs often up to the very day on
which the child is born, and she will be at it again perhaps six or eight days after
wards.1
,
The statistical data on the comparative success in motherhood of
women who are and who are not industrially employed lack a number
of items which would be necessary for a conclusive result; neverthe
less, they are of interest. Their showing is somewhat against the
generally accepted attitude concerning the effect of employment
outside the home upon motherhood. Dividing the mothers according
to whether they had or had not been industrially employed during
pregnancy, it appears that the proportionate number of living chil
dren, of children who had died, and of stillbirths was almost the same
for both groups, though nonemployed mothers showed a very slight
excess, especially as regards dead children and of stillbirths. On
some other points the figures stood as follows:
Women industrially oc Women not indus
cupied during preg
trially occupied dur
nancy.
ing pregnancy.
Number.
Had lost 25 per cent or more of their children.................
Had infants born not healthy..................1.......................
Had bad confinements......................................................
48
41
28
Per cent
of total
number
reported
on.
14.5
16.2
10.55
Number.
84
55
52
Per cent
of total
number
reported
on.
14.7
16.29
11.06
The number of women industrially employed for whom reports were
received was for the first item in the above table, 331, for the second,
1Maternity: Letters from working women collected by the Women's Co-Operative Guild, p. 5. London,
1915.
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253, and for the third, 265; for the women not industrially employed
the corresponding figures were 572, 338, and 470. An interesting
detail is that of the industrially employed women having babies bom
not healthy, -16, and of those having bad confinements, 14, were
engaged in office cleaning, charring, or domestic service, “ which is
much the same work as they would have done had they remained at
home.” The health of infants at birth must depend on prenatal
conditions, so that the second item in this table is of special interest
as to the effect upon the child of the mother’s employment during
pregnancy. The babies classed as “ not born healthy” included those
who were described as only fair, as well as those who were recorded as
“ rather sickly” and “ weakly,” together with the premature and still
births and those children born with specific ailments. The third
item, as showing directly the effect upon the mother of work during
pregnancy, was felt to be of such importance that the figures were
very carefully revised and tested, but no error was found. Two pos
sible explanations for the situation are suggested:
I t was thought that possibly [the mothers not in industry] might have been sub
jected to more anxiety about husbands at the front than the others. The case papers
were reexamined with a view to determine this point, and reveal, in fact, that the
home-keeping women had a percentage of 38.18 husbands in the Army, while those
industrially occupied had a percentage of 31.70. I t is possible that this fact may in
some measure account for the higher rate of bad confinements. We offer no comment
on the subject; the results of the scrutiny are merely offered for consideration. There
is one other point that may here be noted, viz., that in the majority of cases it is the
stronger woman who goes out to work, while the more delicate and weakly remains at
home. This fact would probably have considerable bearing on the figures.
An attempt was made to see whether any light could be obtained as
to what occupations showed a tendency to produce bad results on
maternity. For this purpose occupations were divided into four
classes—sitting, standing, active, and heavy. It was soon found that
the last must be dropped, since “ it was only in those cases where harm
was suspected that the fact of having had to lift heavy weights was
alluded to.” The 331 mothers who were reported as industrially
employed during pregnancy were therefore grouped under the three
remaining heads, and the percentage of “ bad” cases calculated for
each group. “ Bad cases are those where (a) 25 per cent or over of
the children have died; (b) the mother had a difficult or complicated
confinement; and (c) the infants were born not healthy.” This
calculation gave the following results:
Total
Total
Total
Total
Total
Total
Number.
Per cent.
women employed during pregnancy in active occupations........... 213
bad cases among.................................................................................... 83
women employed during pregnancy in sitting occupations........... 88
bad cases among.................................................................................... 23
women employed during pregnancy in standing occupations....... 30
bad cases among....................................................................................
2
100
39
100
26.1
100
6
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The women in “ standing” occupations are barmaids, counterhands, shop assistants,
lift attendants, and ironers in laundries. The “ sitting” included all sewing trades,
bookfolders, clerks, and those branches of the tobacco trade which are done sitting
a t a bench, as well as one or two odd industries of a similar character.
The numbers concerned are of course too few to give much weight
to these figures, but the relatively small proportion of bad cases
among the women in standing occupations is striking. It is pointed
out that the “ sitting occupations” are all in skilled or semiskilled
trades, which a girl is apt to enter at 14 and remain in continuously,
while the “ standing occupations” are largely unskilled, and the
women following them change their occupations very frequently,
taking “ anything that comes along.” In this way they get a greater
variety and avoid the effect of continuously using one set of muscles
and neglecting the others.
In the main, the investigators feel that their work is inconclusive,
but they believe that one point has been established:
A p art from th is m atter of th e s ittin g o ccu p ation s, th e n , w e seem to h a v e ob ta in ed
no d efin ite resu lts from our in q u ir y , n ot e v e n a clear lea d to or from a n y ty p e of in d u s
trial o ccu p a tio n . B u t th is it has c er ta in ly rev ea led , th a t, ju d g in g b y a n y or .all of
th e te sts to w h ic h w e h a v e p u t our 934 cases, th ere is p r a c tic a lly n o th in g to choose
in q u a lity of m a ter n ity b e tw e e n those w h o “ go o u t to w o r k ” an d th ose w h o sta y at
h o m e. T h eir ch ild ren l iv e or d ie in ab ou t eq u a l n u m b ers, th e ir co n fin em en ts are
e q u a lly good or bad , th eir in fa n ts are born w ith an eq u a l ch an ce of su rv iv a l. * * *
T h is a t lea st w e cla im to h a v e p roved , th a t w e can find no case, on th e grounds of
q u a lity of m a ter n ity , for th e p ro h ib itio n of a n y w om an to u n d ertak e a n y k in d of
h e a lth y e m p lo y m en t of w h ic h sh e fe els h erself cap ab le.
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INDUSTRIAL SAFETY,
REPORT OF SEVENTH ANNUAL SAFETY CONGRESS, NATIONAL SAFETY
COUNCIL.
The Seventh Annual Congress of the National Safety Council was
held September 16-20 at the Hotel Statler, St. Louis, Mo.
In his opening address, President Van Schaack said:
We know that to-day, with all its shortcomings, accident prevention is a real factor
in the conservation oi^our country’s greatest asset—the lives and health of its people.
We know that in whatever it contributes to this conservation it is distinctly helping
to win the war, the one object in comparison with which all others of the time fade into
insignificance. We know that its propaganda, through the discipline of safety edu
cation, rule3, and ordinances, is furthering that wholesome respect for law which is
the one permanent basis of a government of the people, by the people, and for the
people. We know that by bringing employer and employee together, to deal with a
matter in which neither can have any but a common interest, it is opening the way
to keener appreciation by both of the principles of industrial and social justice and is
helping to lay the foundations for an enduring industrial peace and for a better world
in which to live.
H. W. Forster, general manager, Independence Bureau, Philadel
phia,- reassured those who had feared the retarding of the safety
movement during the war. He said in his address on “Safety and
warfare
It has been cheering for us to observe that, with few exceptions, our industrial
plants and transportation organizations have not let their safety work suffer appre
ciably since the outbreak of the war. They were furthering safety before the war
because they knew it paid in every sense of the word, and, although they found it
harder to maintain records and to create new ones than in the years prior to the war,
they have kept up the good work. * * * Even more cheering is the prominence
which safety has achieved in the new war industries, where the need of speed has
been such a factor that nothing could be allowed to delay the building program.
These industries all have safety departments as a part of their operating forces, and
most of them have had good accident-prevention judgment applied to the plans of
their plants. I know of a gigantic plant, now nearing completion in record time,
on which over 20,000 men were engaged in construction where safety engineering
principles were applied to the first pencil sketch of the first building and in which
every structural feature, every piece of equipment, and every operating practice
came in for minute consideration from the point of view of safety. This plant, which
will have over one million square feet under roof, bids fair to achieve that triple
accident-prevention ideal: Ample head room, ample clearances, and ready accessi
bility of all portions. This unusual attention to accident prevention will not delay
the completion of this great plant.
Mr. John Ring, jr., president, Advertising Men’s Club of St. Louis,
Mo., in his address on “Nationalizing the safety idea” distinguished
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between “ publicity” and “ advertising” and showed liow both
mediums could be employed in a national campaign for safety.
Dr. Thomas Darlington followed with a convincing paper on “The
economic value of health of industrial employees.”
The general session, September 17, was arranged primarily for the
benefit of safety engineers desiring to familiarize themselves with the'
fundamental principles and methods of securing success with their
safety work. The reputation of the speakers attracted large numbers.
Charles It. Hook, vice-president, operating division, American Rolling
Mill Company, Middletown, Ohio, spoke on “ The real problem of the
safety engineer;” Frank E. Morris, safety engineer, American Rolling
Mill Company, on “ How to organize for safety;” J. J. Heelan, super
intendent, Bureau of Inspection and Accident Prevention, Aetna Life
Insurance Company, Hartford, on “ Modern methods of safeguarding;”
and W. E. Worth, general superintendent, Chicago Tunnel Company,
Chicago, on “ Does the attitude of the foreman determine the success
of the safety engineer?”
The general round-table discussion, September 17, was devoted to
the subjects: T. “ How to sell s a f e ty to the big boss;” IT. “ The
promotion of community interest in safety as an industrial asset.”
During the first discussion there was an interesting practical demon
stration by a safety engineer “ selling the idea” to a plant manager.
The local council meeting of officers and committee men was held
September 17, with C. W. Price, field secretary, National Safety
Council, in the chair. W. R. R asmussen, permanent secretary, Western
Pennsylvania Division, explained “ The Western Pennsylvania Divi
sion plan.” There was a “ discussion” by Carl L. Smith, permanent
secretary, Central Mississippi Valley Local Council, St. Louis. F. M.
Rosseiand, president, Chicago Local Council, gave “ The ideal local
council program” for large-sized communities; Marcus A. Dow, gen
eral safety agent, New York Central Lines, “ Successful methods of
securing attendance at safety meetings;” John W. Costley, chairman,
Tri-City Local Council, Granite City, 111., “ How to successfully con
duct foremen’s meetings;” and E. B. Saunders, assistant field sec
retary, National Safety Council, “ Moving picture mass meetings for
workmen.”
For the first time in the history of the congress there was a session
devoted to women, and the present necessity for placing women in
industry to do the work of men called to war made this session of
exceptional interest. Mrs. Neill A. McMillan, chairman, Women’s
Committee, National Council for Defense, St. Louis, presided.
Mrs. Pauline Saunders, service department, National Lamp Com
pany, Cleveland, Ohio, was not present and her paper on “ Medical
supervision and adaptation of work to the woman in industry” was
read by Miss Edwards.
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Miss Tracy Copp, director, woman’s department, Industrial Com
mission of Wisconsin, contributed a valuable paper on “ The physical
condition of workshops where women are employed,” emphasizing
the value of sanitation, first-aid rooms—properly equipped, and a
capable person in charge to give advice and council in matters of
personal hygiene and health—recreation, good food, and proper
clothing.
Mrs. Anna Burdick, special agent, Industrial Education of Girls and
Women, Federal Board for Vocational Education, Washington, D. C.,
in her paper, “ The effect of war upon women in industry,” spoke of the
readjustment necessary to fit women into industry, of the special
courses of training given in colleges for women, the number of national
agencies dealing with the problems of women in industry, the work of
the Federal Board for Vocational Education, and the problem which
industry itself faces. In conclusion she stated:
If the war continues for three years, we shall have three and a half million green
workers or new women workers in industry. What is our duty to these women from
the standpoint of training, and from the standpoint of education? Are they not
entitled to a knowledge of shop organization? Wherever increased production and
the cost of it falls upon the physical strength, the intelligence or the skill of women
wage workers, society must offer them the same safeguards of health and wage, and
the same opportunities for training as for men.
H. W. Forster, general manager, Independence Bureau, Philadel
phia, spoke on “ Safety in the home (including equipment and teach
ing),” enumerating the serious accidents that frequently take place
in the home and how they may be avoided through safety education.
Mrs. J. It. Wilson, chairman, Committee on Safety Education in
Public Schools, Philadelphia, emphasized the importance of “ Safety
instruction in the schools.”
The Health Service Section held three sessions. Maj. Thomas Dar
lington of the American Iron and Steel Institute, New York City, was
the first speaker, his topic being “ Practical health work for the indus
tries, large and small.” He believes the so-called “ occupational
diseases” more frequently come from wrong living conditions than
from the worker’s occupation. The substance of this address was
concisely expressed by Dr. Shoudy, the chairman—“ Teach the men
how to live, more than how to make a living.”
Some good points advanced in the address on “ The medical admin
istration of workmen’s compensation laws,” by Dr. George E. Tucker,
of the Aetna Life Insurance Company, San Francisco, were the
importance of physical examination before placing men in hazardous
occupations; early treatment for injuries and the employment of all
known medical and surgical aid, special apparatus, and the ortho
pedic appliance expert; the period of reconstruction should begin
immediately with the period of convalescence; compensation for per
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manent injury should be based not alone on wages but should con
sider two other essential factors—age and occupation.
II. L. Goodwin, efficiency and safety engineer, Merry Optical Com
pany, Kansas City, urged “ The conservation of the human eye.”
Dr. Ralph W. Elliott, the National Lamp Company, Cleveland,
speaking on “ The value of the dental clinic from the standpoint of the
industrial surgeon,” stated that GOlarge industrial organizations have
well organized dental clinics.
Mrs. Samuel Semple, member of the Industrial Board, Pennsyl
vania Department of Labor, was unable to be present, but sent her
paper, “ Women in industry, their work and their health,” in which
she records that while war has never been kind to women, it is never
theless possible to gather from the present situation certain by
products of advantage to women: First, the reestablishment of the
dignity of the old occupation of housekeeping; and, second, the recog
nition of women’s services in the business affairs of the world outside
the home. Regarding the kind of work women ought to do, Mrs.
Semple says, “ No women should be admitted to what is for them a
new industry until it has been made decently safe for human beings.”
In a later session of this section, Dr. C. D. Selby, industrial hygien
ist, United States Public Health Service, Toledo, Ohio, gave his
impression of “ The physician in industry,” gained from a study of 170
industrial medical departments.
Dr. E. L. Petti bone, Cleveland, Ohio, in his paper, “ Dentistry as an
efficiency factor in increasing production,” gave a fist of large indus
trial organizations that have found dental clinics paying investments,
and offered the assistance of the members of the National Association
of Industrial Dental Surgeons in the establishment of dental clinics
in industrial plants.
Dr. L. A. Shoudy, chief surgeon, Bethlehem Steel Co., spoke on
“ Practical first aid,” and Dr. A. P. Idourigan, plant physician,
Larkin Co., Buffalo, on “ Health work in the small plant.”
In a “ Symposium on the responsibility for the industrial cripple”
at a health service and governmental joint sectional meeting, Harry
A. Mackey, chairman, Workmen’s Compensation Bureau, State of
Pennsylvania, discussed “ The responsibility of the State,” and Dr.
Francis D. Patterson, chief, Division of Industrial Hygiene and Engi
neering, Department of Labor and Industry, Harrisburg, Pa., dis
cussed “ The industry’s responsibility.” Mr. Mackey believes the
reeducation of the cripple to be a State duty—the cost to he met by
legislative appropriation—and that every dollar of his compensation
should go to his family, or, in the case of a single man, that the money
should accumulate, during his reeducation, into a small working
capital. Dr. Patterson advocates State laws providing that “ voca
tional training should become a part and parcel of the compensation
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M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W .
award,” and the enforcement by law of the “ vocational training of
those who are injured.”
In a general round-table discussion on “ Eliminating lost time for
the man and for the industry, from the industrial surgeon’s view
point,” Dr. J. A. Cousins, Union Bag & Paper Corporation, Chicago,
treated “ Eliminating other unnecessary time lost”—other than by
injury or sickness—under three heads: (a) Care of employees’ families,
(b ) adequate housing, and (c) recreational facilities. He states:
There are two ways in which employees may be regarded, and only two: One aa
machines, the other as men. They are no longer content to be regarded as machines;
they are going to insist, with ever-increasing firmness and decision, on being regarded
not only as men, as fellowmen, but as fellow creators of the industries in which they
toil. They are going to insist that a man who invests his life in a business, who puts
his toil into it, is to be considered before the man who merely puts his money into it.
From a physician’s standpoint “ the ‘human element’ must not merely be recognized,
it must be predominant,” and this is the only way to avoid unnecessary loss of time
and unnecessary waste of energy and product.
The two papers of most general interest given in the public safety
division were “ City planning as related to public safety,” by Thomas
Adams, of the Conservation Commission, Ottawa, Canada, and
Harland Bartholomew, engineer, City Plan Commission, St. Louis,
and an address by Julien H. Harvey, director of the six months’
experimental public safety campaign at Rochester, N. Y. Both
papers were extremely valuable, but their length makes it impossible
to give any idea of their contents in so brief a review of the congress.
The Employees’ Benefit Association held a meeting on September
17, with Dr. Shoudy, of the Bethlehem Steel Co., in the chair.
After opening the meeting Dr. Shoudy, with the statement that
Mr. Chandler had fathered the employees’ section during its course
under the health section and that it was his idea that they should have
a separate section, asked W. L. Chandler, vice chairman of the
section, and assistant treasurer, Dodge Sales & Engineering Co.,
Mishawaka, Ind., to take the chair. Mr. Chandler is a well-known
authority and writer on the subject of “ employees’ benefit associa
tions,” and many valuable suggestions were gleaned during the dis
cussions which followed the papers.
F. S. Bigler, vice president, Michigan Nut & Bolt Works, Detroit,
was the first speaker, and outlined the plan that has proved successful
in their own plant in his paper on “ How to solve its problems and
operate it successfully.”
Russel M. Jamieson, of the Monument Pottery Co., Trenton, N. J.,
discussed “ Its relation to the employer and employee and the best form
of management;” D. H. M. Bascom, chief surgeon, Illinois Traction
Co., Peoria, 111., “ The need for medical service and other benefits.”
J. Oswald, manager, Fcls & Co., Philadelphia, thought that “super-
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203
vision of beneficiaries ” was necessary. ‘'Fees, dues, and assessments ”
was discussed by W. L. Chandler; ‘'Side issues which may be in
cluded to advantage,” by J. H. Goldie, manager, welfare depart
ment, Cadillac Motor Car Co., Detroit; and J. M. Eaton, assistant
to president, Lincoln Motor Co., Detroit, spoke on “ Getting and
measuring results.”
The paper and pulp section held two meetings, the first largely
technical and the second devoted to housing and community welfare.
G. E. Williamson, chief engineer, Strathmore Paper Co., Mittineague, Mass., gave a verjr practical account of how they had solved
their housing problem, giving descriptions of the several classes of
houses, with photographs and blue prints. While he considers their
solution a success in their own community, he expresses his personal
opinion that every community must solve its housing problem in
conformity to local conditions.
A. Rousseau, safety engineer, the Norton Co., Worcester, Mass.,
spoke on the “ Indian Hill development of the Norton Co.” While
not advocating their plan for “ industrial plants which have sprung
up over night and must find some means of housing temporarily, at
least, a large proportion of the rank and file of their employees,”
he thought there were many features, particularly the plan of selling
the houses, which could be applied to other conditions. He then
gave an outline of the Indian Hill development and method of financ
ing. “ In most instances,” he said, “ the purchasers of those houses
are occupying them and virtually securing ownership of them by
monthly payments which do not exceed the amount which they
previously paid for rent in tenement houses in which they had no
lasting interest. It is needless to say that those families take a
pride in their new houses and that the houses and lawns are main
tained in excellent condition.”
Evelyn B. Binz, associate director, employment and service,
Miller Lock Co., Philadelphia, in a paper entitled “ Community
welfare” told how, in the absence of model towns with community
clubhouses and other ideal conditions, the factory itself may be
made a community center.
The steam railroad section held five meetings. The paper that
naturally attracted the greatest attention was “ What the United
States Railroad Administration expects of the different safety
' organizations in the promotion of safety work,” by H. W. Belnap,
manager, safety section, Division of Operation, United States Rail
road Administration, Washington, D. C.
In his conclusion he summarized briefly under the four following
heads what was expected:
1.
That all officers in executive positions shall give safety work their active coop
eration; that they shall regard it as of the same importance as other branches of rail-
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roacl work, and that they shall take an intensive interest in it and do everything they
consistently can to make it successful.
2. That the fundamental principles of safety shall be wisely and energetically
instilled in the minds of the men who do the actual work of operating the railroads,
and they all shall become imbued with the importance of safety, knowing that since
it is they who are killed or injured, all employees must take an active interest in the
work and understand from instruction and practice that proper observance of the
requirements of safety is a work of the men, by the men, and for the men.
3. That the proper officers of railroads shall give attention to all reasonable and
practical suggestions and recommendations made, in order th at unsafe conditions and
unsafe practices may be promptly eradicated. In each instance proper acknowledg
ment of suggestions and recommendations shall be made to the end that those making
them may be apprised as to their disposition and of the fact th at due consideration
was given to such suggestions or recommendations.
4. That officers and employees shall cooperate to the maximum and that proper
efforts shall be made to get all to realize that in safety committee meetings, officers
and employees meet on a common level, all being members of the committee, and
each having an important duty to perform in the prevention of avoidable accidents.
The Iron and Steel Section held three meetings, and the Mining
Section, three.
There was an informal dinner, with patriotic music, September 18.
W. E. Bilheimer, sales manager, Franklin Life Insurance Co., St.
Louis, was toastmaster, and the speakers and their subjects were:
It. M. Little, director, American Museum of Safety, New York,
“ Forethought vs. afterthought in safety;” and James Schcrmerhorn,
of Detroit, “ The first set of fours.”
An interesting feature of the Congress was the safety first cam
paign week, September 15-21, inclusive, carried out by the Central
Mississippi Valley Division of the council, with the result that one
death only from accident (an intoxicated man falling from a wagon)
was reported during the week. Ten accidental deaths were reported
during the week before the campaign, and 24 deaths from accidents
during the corresponding week last year. The total record of acci
dental deaths for 1917 was 510.
About 2,000 persons attended the congress, which was a remarkably
good showing considering the stress of war activities and other
abnormal conditions.
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W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION.
FIFT H
A N N U A L C O N V E N T I O N O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L A S S O C IA T IO N
IN D U S T R IA L A C C ID E N T B O A R D S A N D C O M M IS S IO N S .
OF
The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and
Commissions held its fifth annual meeting September 24-27, at
Madison, Wis. Seventeen States, two Provinces of Canada, and five
Federal departments were represented. The last named included the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Employees’
Compensation Commission, Federal Board for Vocational Education,
Bureau of Standards, and the Surgeon General’s Office of the War
Department. An address of welcome was delivered by the Hon.
Emanuel L. Philipp, Governor of Wisconsin.
The discussion centered about five main subjects: Accident pre
vention; methods of compensating for partial disabilities; statistics
and statistical methods as an aid in efficient administration; medical
problems, including the method of selecting physicians; and the
problem of rehabilitation and retraining.
In his presidential address, Mr. Fred M. Wilcox, of the Wisconsin
Industrial Commission, emphasized the necessity of greater uniform
ity in compensation practices, especially as regards partial disa
bility schedules. He also advocated unlimited medical and hospital
treatment, urged the adoption of State compensation insurance, and
emphasized the importance of closer personal supervision of acci
dent cases.
The opening session of the convention was devoted to brief State
reports on important legislative and administrative developments
during the year. An important instance of effective cooperation
was given by Mr. J. L. Gernon, first deputy commissioner of the
New York Industrial Commission. A great many of the small em
ployers subject to the compensation act in New York had not in
sured in accordance with the law, and it had been practically im
possible for the commission to canvass the entire State for violations
of this sort. Now one of the duties of the factory inspectors is to
inquire whether employers are insured under the compensation act.
Afiolations are reported to the compensation bureau and then prose
cuted. Mr. J. W. Armstrong, of Nova Scotia, stated that 75 per
cent of the troubles of compensation commissions would be elimi
nated if a monopolistic State fund were substituted for private
casualty companies. He also advised strongly against payment of
compensation benefits in lump sums, stating that 90 per cent of
such lump-sum payments are actually wasted.
87721°—38-----14
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
ACCIDENT PREV ENTIO N .
The entrance of large numbers of women into war industries has
necessitated a change in the character of accident prevention methods.
Machines and processes not particularly hazardous when men are
employed become so when such machines are operated by women.
Even the mechanical safeguards themselves, installed primarily for
the protection of male employees, are a source of danger to women
workers. Another prolific source of accidents, as pointed out by
Mr. Gernon, of New York, is the lack of proper instruction in the *
use or technique of tools. The greater liability to accident of the
inexperienced or “ green” employee is due not to his carelessness
but to his ignorance of the proper methods of performing his work.
This unfamiliarity has become a very potent factor in view of the
present large labor turnover and the employment of thousands of
new and inexperienced workers.
Some of the accident prevention methods found effective in the
various States were discussed at the conference. The more salient
features are shown in the following summaries of the papers read.
Mr. Emile E. Watson, actuary of the Industrial Commission of
Ohio, presented the plan in effect in that State.
An account of the safety work in Wisconsin was given by Mr. G. H.
Hambrecht, chairman of the Wisconsin Industrial Commission.
One method of interesting employers in inaugurating intensive safety
campaigns is to study the accident experience in their plants and
furnish the deputies with this data. The compensation law itself
is an aid to the safety movement. When an injury is due to failure
of an employer to comply with any safety order the compensation of
the injured is increased 15 per cent, to be paid by the employer him
self, and when an injury is due to violation of an order by the injured
the employee’s compensation is reduced 15 per cent. Accidents are
carefully investigated on this basis and the result has been to create
a demand for copies of safety orders.
The safety department of the Industrial Accident Commission of
California, as outlined by Mr. J. it. Brownell, superintendent of safety,
was organized in ‘1914 with a nucleus of safety engineers, and now
consists of 22 members. The chief mine inspector is paid jointly
by the Federal Government and the commission through an arrange
ment with the Federal Bureau of Mines, by which he is also employed.
The following accident prevention methods have been found useful:
Development of safety organizations among employers; preparation
and distribution of safety rules and orders; mass meetings and shop
talks to employees; issuance of bulletins dealing with special hazards
in different industries; a safety museum; and the publication of a
monthly safety news bulletin.
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Particular emphasis upon the necessity of instructing inexperienced
employees in the use of tools and methods was laid down by Mr. J. L.
Gemon, of the New York Industrial Commission. He further stated:
Of the 65,449 factories employing 1,500,000 workers in New York State, many thou
sands are doing nothing in the way of effective safety work, some of the reasons for this
situation being lack of knowledge or indifference, reluctance to spend money for the
installation of safeguards and inability to hire safety engineers. The State inspector
must therefore act as safety man for this large group of establishments, instructing
employers and workmen in the practical methods of safeguarding dangerous machinery
and in conducting effective safety campaigns. Cooperation of manufacturers is essen
tial but not always possible to secure, and experience in New York shows that without
a policy of insistence on compliance with the orders issued and without power to
prosecute violators of the law or authority to tag unsafe machinery not much would be
accomplished. A conservative estimate of the cost of installing safeguards in New
York State for the past three years will total about $5,000,000. In that period 877,945
orders were issued by the division of factory inspection, 244,011 of which related to
accident prevention.
The inspection bureau is empowered to tag as unsafe machines which are dangerous
and unguarded, and this has proved a most effective means of securing compliance
with the orders issued. Notice is sent to the delinquent manufacturer telling him to
comply by a certain date with the order that has been issued applicable to his plant,
and if he fails to do so the unsafe machinery is tagged for such period as the hazard
complained of exists, during which time the machine may not be used. That the
method is effective is shown by the fact that of 47,475 compliances with orders for
accident prevention recorded in the year ending June 30, 1918, tags were required in
only 933 cases. The effectiveness of the plan is further shown by the fact that in the
same period there were only 52 prosecutions relative to accident prevention out of a
total of 1,869 prosecutions covering all classes of orders issued.
Considerable success has been achieved by the bureau in the policy of requiring
every inspector to report all installations of new machinery where the machinery
itself is dangerous and the manufacturer has failed properly to safeguard it. When
called to their attention the makers of the machinery have in every instance signified
their intention to remedy the defects and have cooperated with the bureau in an
effort to make their machinery safe for the operator.
Mr. Victor T. Noonan, director of safety of Ohio, emphasized the
human element in accident prevention work. The war, he said, had
given the safety movement a much needed stimulus. Employers
and workmen alike must consider it their patriotic duty to do every
thing possible to prevent accidents.
Mr. S. J. Williams, manager of the accident prevention division
of the National Safety Council, spoke of the need of uniform safety
standards. The following is a summary of his remarks:
A proper balance between safeguarding and education should be maintained in
any safety campaign, since education reduces accident frequency and safeguarding
prevents many of the more serious accidents. Education which shows greatest
results for the least money has frequently been favored by employers, while legislative
requirements in regard to safeguarding have often been considered absurd and oppres
sive. With the increase of laws, however, which-are framed by administrative bodies
having the benefit of expert advice these objections are heard less often, although an
arbitrary attitude on the part of an inspector may create friction and ill-feeling.
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Safety organizations which State officers feel have been introduced to cover glaring
defects in mechanical equipment are fortunately growing less frequent, and this
improvement is hastened by the growing realization that in a large plant the safety
work can not be left to committees but should be in charge of an experienced safety
engineer who will first correct physical hazards before startingan educational campaign.
The National Safety Council, which is essentially a cooperative organization of
employers, is giving increasing attention to mechanical safeguarding and “ engineering
revision.” The Council is unable to enforce observance of standards but it can
cooperate with all organizations engaged in working out proper standards and in
testing and labeling devices.
Progressive States have abandoned the idea of inspections which only enforce the
laws and now carry on educational campaigns, although these have hardly been used
to the fullest possible extent. The employer as well as the employee needs education
and more good can be accomplished sometimes by showing him a record of his own
accidents, accompanied by recommendations for safety organization and for the
employment of a safety engineer if the record shows a large number of accidents due
to bad conditions, than by legal prosecutions. I t is probable that no State has yet
made full use of such individual statistics.
Foremen, who are generally conceded to have the greatest power to help or hinder
safety efforts, should be educated by State inspectors by means of meetings at times
of regular inspections and by monthly bulletins, which some departments now publish.
The workmen should be educated through safety meetings and rallies and by speakers
furnished by the State. Some States also furnish posters, but it is a question if it is
not better to encourage employers to join the National Safety Council which, through
its weekly bulletin service, can furnish better material, and at less cost, than can
most State departments.
The formulation of standards or codes is essentially a governmental function. While
State industrial commissions have done much during the last five years toward per
fecting the safety standards, still there is a serious lack of uniformity in State codes.
The advantages of uniform safety standards in the different States are obvious. In
addition to all the State standards, there are several standards of a national character
such as those of the Schedule Rating Committee of the Federal Safety Engineers and
the United States Compensation Board and (on certain subjects) of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers. It is urged therefore that, with the backing of the
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Bureau of Standards, this asso
ciation take action at the coming meeting toward establishing a certain amount of
uniformity. It would not be necessary that each State discard its own standards but
that the State and national departments interested and other organizations such as
engineering societies, insurance companies, and the National Safety Council should
form a joint committee to set up a national standard to serve as a guide for States
adopting new codes and for those revising existing codes in order to secure perhaps
not complete uniformity but a reasonable approach to it.
PA R T IA L D ISA B IL IT Y SCHEDULE.
The formulation of an adequate and just compensation schedule
for partial disabilities is a problem which is still confronting every
State legislature and compensation commission. No two schedules
are alike and none is adequate. This inadequacy is particularly
noticeable as to foot and leg injuries. As was pointed out by Mr.
Carl Hookstadt of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in
every State compensation law the schedule provides smaller benefits
for the loss of the lower limbs than for the loss of the upper limbs.
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Yet every investigation shows that from both the medical and
economic standpoint the loss of the former are more severe than the
loss of the latter.
On what basis permanent partial disability should be compensated
was discussed in a paper prepared by Mr. John Mitchell, chairman
of the Industrial Commission of New York.
The discussion of this subject is based upon the permanent partial disability provi
sions of the New York law. In the administration of the law consideration has been
given to the vocational element to modify the rigidity of the statute, in no case, how
ever, diminishing the award on this account, but it might be advisable to allow a
definite increase of, say 3 3 % per cent for vocational reasons alone. Formerly the
commission was not permitted to consider any injury short of loss of, or loss of the use
of, a member as other than a simple disability case, but now the commission has power
to make an award on proportionate loss of use of a member, thus preventing much
injustice to the injured person. Under the former plan it was even possible for a
man who for vocational purposes had lost one eye to receive less compensation than
if he had lost a little finger. There is also justification for granting compensation for
certain disfigurements. Provision should also be made to give the claimant returning
to work at a lower wage than he formerly received, two-thirds of the difference between
his old and new wage with certain maximum limitations. It is also proper to increase
the maximum compensation for the loss of a hand, arm, foot, leg, or eye.
Under an amendment to the New York law compensation for permanent total dis
ability is awarded in cases in which the claimant loses a hand, arm, foot, leg, or eye,
having previously suffered the loss of one or more such members. The totality is no
more chargeable to the last accident than to the first. The proper way to handle
such a matter would seem to be to charge the present employer with the result of the
last accident and to throw the combination result of the totality upon the industry
as a whole This may be done by adding a small additional rate upon each risk or
by collecting, as New York has done, in each death case in which there are no depend
ents, a fixed sum of $100, which contribution has been sufficient to establish a fund
to take care of the permanent total cases. This has done away with the objection of
employers to employing or reemploying crippled or defective workmen.
The statutory method of providing for permanent partial disabilities not included
in the schedule is to pay two-thirds of the difference between the old wages and the
new, but the administration difficulties are numerous. The claimant may refuse to
return to work; changed industrial conditions may cause the claimant to earn more
or less than he earned at the time of the accident; the claimant may experience inter
mittent employment—sometimes employed and sometimes not. The method fol
lowed in New York in such cases is to allow the workman and the employer (or his
insurance carrier) to present themselves before the commission with a proposition
to adjudicate compensation by a single payment commuting all future payments.
More than 5,000 such cases a year are thus adjusted. The chief defects of such a
plan are (1) the danger of introducing the “ settlement,” so called, in which the
obnoxious element of the old plan may be perpetuated and (2) the danger which
always attends the giving of compensation in a lump sum against which is the general
tendency of compensation laws. The first objection is entirely avoided by the com
mission’s active interest in every case. The second defect is overcome largely by
ordering the payment of the lump sum periodically where there is indication that it
otherwise might be wasted.
STA TISTIC A L METHODS.
Mr. W. H. Burhop, of the Wisconsin Compensation Department,
discussed the standard accident and compensation tables used by tho
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industrial commission, and pointed out the importance of proper sta
tistics as an aid in administration.
The paper of Dr. L. W. Chaney, of the Federal Bureau of Labor
Statistics, emphasized the need of information as to exposure in the
determination of relative industrial hazards. Accident rates always
have significance as disclosing prevalence; while in the matter of
hazard the significance is slight. in extended groups such as the
entire State but steadily increases as it is narrowed to industries,
departments, and finally to occupations. Dr. Chaney also discussed
the several methods which may be adopted to ascertain the amount
of exposure in any industry, the most accurate method being the use
of actual hours as recorded by time clocks.
Dr. L. W. Hatch, chief statistician of the New York Industrial
Commission, in his discussion of noncompensable accidents stated
that while such accidents should be reported, very little could be
gained by tabulating them. The results obtained would not be com
mensurate with the great labor and cost involved.
MEDICAL SERVICE.
.The medical session proved to be one of the most spirited and
interesting features of the convention. A description of the medical
administration and practices in each State opened the session. Every
speaker emphasized the importance of medical and surgical treat
ment which was unlimited both as regards time and amount. Noth
ing short of this was held to be adequate. Too great a tendency on
the part of employers and insurance carriers to select cheap and in
competent physicians was also pointed out. The practices of many
of the contract doctors were especially condemned by Maj. P. R.
Magnuson, of the Surgeon General’s Office, and by Dr. C. H. Lemon,
of Milwaukee. On the other hand, as pointed out by Dr. J. W. Mowell,
of the State medical aid board of Washington, selection of physicians
by employees results in selection of incompetents in a large propor
tion of cases. Supervision by State industrial commissions over the
selection of physicians was suggested as the best way out of the diffi
cult problem.
Washington is one of the few States in which employees under the
compensation act are permitted to choose their own physicians. The
following synopsis of a paper read by Dr. Mowell of that State shows
how the system is working out:
This subject is here discussed from the standpoint of the Washington compensation
law which provides for (1) The free choice of physician by the injured workman;
(2) The selection of a physician by the employer, after securing the consent of his
workmen to contract for their care; (3) The selection of the physician for special work
by the industrial insurance commission through the medical aid board.
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The first provision has many shortcomings. For instance, where only one or two
physicians are available free choice means nothing; where there are a great number
of physicians to choose from, many workmen make a wise choice, but there are many
who select a physician who is not well equipped to handle the case. Thus a man
with an eye injury will often consult an ordinary practitioner until the serious nature
of his case necessitates his transfer to an eye specialist. The principal thing that
can be said in favor of free choice of physician is the effect that it has on the work
man’s mind, that is, the feeling that he is getting what he wants.
Similar difficulties arise under the contract plan. Often a physician with little
experience locates in the district and contracts with the employer on a monthly basis
to care for his workmen, and then proceeds to handle every sort of case, sometimes at
the expense of the workman and the employer. In the larger industrial centers some
of these physicians are efficient “ business getters.”
Considerable trouble has been occasioned by nonmedical men who commercialize
the contract plan by forming a hospital association and then induce employees to
give their consent in writing to employers to make a contract for their care. These
men then secure the services of a surgeon and pay a small part of the proceeds to him
for the work and keep the remainder. This has caused much dissatisfaction among
workmen and physicians, bringing about some agitation in favor of State hos
pitals for the care of workmen under the industrial act.
Under the head of “ Selection of surgeon for special work,” the medical aid board
requires that where a contracting surgeon is not able to do the work personally he
must furnish the services of a specialist.
Under free choice of physician the medical aid board reserves the right to transfer
a man for treatment to a surgeon of its choice where it becomes evident that the
injured workman is not receiving the service that he should at the hands of the phy
sician of his choice. In making this selection, the board is guided entirely by its
knowledge, based on seven years’ experience, of the various kinds of work that the
different surgeons of the State are best fitted to do.
In conclusion, it may be said that for the ordinary accident the workman should
have free choice of physician, but in more serious accidents it would be much better
if he would take the advice of someone who is in a position to know what physician
is best equipped by experience, or otherwise, to treat the particular condition from
which he is suffering. In this way the permanent partial disabilities resulting would
be fewer and the injured man would be left in better shape to take up a gainful occu
pation, for the disability awards, although as liberal as under any compensation act,
are not in keeping with what the workman does.
The invaluable aid medical advisers render to compensation
commissions was generally recognized and emphasized. Not only
do they advise the commissioners on technical medical problems,
but they are especially qualified to select the impartial examining
physicians. A valuable paper on how to prevent and minimize
permanent disabilities of the hand was read by Dr. F. D. Donoghue.
The long period of disability resulting from hand injuries, Dr.
Donoghue stated, was due largely to neglect or improper treatment.
Valuable papers were also read by Mr. Meyer Lissner, of the Cali
fornia Industrial Accident Commission, on preexisting disease
aggravated by accident, and by Mr. Geo. A. Kingston, of the Ontario
Workmen’s Compensation Board, on the interpretation of injuries
“ arising out of and in course of employment.”
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R EH A BILITATION.
A discussion of rehabilitation problems closed the convention.
Mr. T. N. Dean, statistician of the compensation board of Ontario,
spoke of the importance of rehabilitating industrial cripples and
stressed the desirability of prompt action. Mr. Carl Ilookstadt, of
the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, outlined the actual
industrial problem, as disclosed by several investigations, confront
ing workmen permanently injured in industry. He pointed out
that the present industrial handicap of a workman who sustains
a major limb injury is a serious one. The period of total disability
resulting from the injury is unnecessarily long. Only about onethird of the seriously crippled workers return to the same employer
and relatively few reenter the same occupation. The compensation
benefits are inadequate and practically no retraining has been done.
Mr. R. M. Little, former chairman of the United States Employees’
Compensation Commission, outlined the history and progress of
Federal rehabilitation legislation as regards both military and indus
trial cripples. He urged specifically that the association support
the pending Smith-Bankhead bill providing for the rehabilitation
of industrial cripples under the supervision and administration of
the Federal Board for Vocational Education. Resolutions were
adopted by the association approving the Smith-Bankhead bill
and authorizing the executive committee to further State and
Federal legislation along lines outlined in the said bill.
B U SIN E SS SESSION.
The following officers for the ensuing year were elected: President,
George A. Kingston, Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation
Board of Ontario, Canada; vice president, Will J. French, member of
the Industrial Accident Commission of California; secretary-treasurer,
Royal Meeker, United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics,
Washington, D. C. The new executive committee consists of Charles
S. Andrus, chairman of the Illinois Industrial Commission, J. W.
Armstrong, vice chairman of the Workmen’s Compensation Board of
Nova Scotia, together with the incoming officers and the outgoing
president of the association, Mr. Fred M. Wilcox, member of the Wis
consin Industrial Commission. The next annual convention of the
association will be held at Toronto, Canada.
The committee on jurisdictional conflicts reported progress and
was continued. Upon recommendation of the secretary that the
I. A. I. A. B. C. amalgamate with the Association of Government
Labor Officials, the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved that the executive committee be authorized and instructed to confer
with the executive committee of the Association of Government Labor Officials as to
the advisability of the consolidation of the two organizations, and if in the judg-
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ment of said committees said consolidation seems to be advisable, that a referendum
vote by mail be taken of the membership of both said organizations on the proposi
tion of consolidation. If a majority of the membership of each of said organizations
vote in favor of consolidation the executive committee is further authorized to ar
range with the executive committee of the labor officials for a joint meeting of the
two organizations in 1919 at which time the proposed consolidation may be consum
mated.
The report of the committee on statistics was adopted. The
executive committee was authorized to cooperate with the Federal
Bureau of Standards in the formulation of a uniform safety code;
also to study the question of uniformity in State compensation laws.
Resolutions relating to the business of the Association were
adopted, of which the following are the most significant:
1. We contemplate with much encouragement the development of workmen’s
compensation and the accompanying growth of the kindred movement for the pro
motion of safety among the hosts of industrial workers within a period comparatively
recent in the States and Provinces of North America. A better day dawned in the
industrial world when these most helpful agencies were instituted among men. Mind
ful of continuing widespread mourning and heavy sacrifice of usefulness the steady
reduction of these grievous losses is a source of deep satisfaction. Conscious of the
imperfections of the compensation service we may well view with pride and gratifica
tion the more equitable and humane consideration of the unfortunate victims of in
dustrial accident, the smaller and less wasteful levies upon industrial enterprise and
progress, and the consequently more harmonious and mutually helpful relations
between workmen and employers through the introduction and development of this
important system. In feeling our way along dim trails or untrodden paths it were
strange indeed if mistakes were not manifest and improvement required, but the
record justifies indulgence of the hope that we shall profit by these mistakes and con
tinue to more nearly approach ideal standards and irreproachable methods. To this
end we pledge the highest endeavor of ourselves and our several jurisdictions. In
this endeavor we crave the practical and sympathetic cooperation of good men and
women everywhere.
2. The association desires to place on record its sense of appreciation of the services
of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, and particularly the Commissioner
of the Bureau, Dr. Royal Meeker, for the invaluable services rendered to the associa
tion during the past two years.
We recognize that the services of the bureau are almost absolutely essential to the
continued successful carrying out of the work of this association and we express the
hope that the bureau under the able administration of Dr. Meeker will be able to
continue heading up the secretarial branch of the work for which he has shown such
excellent qualification.
3. In the opinion of the association the executive committee should place at the
disposal of the secretary a sum not exceeding $500 to be disbursed by him and ac
counted for in the usual way, in paying for special clerical services required in the
conduct of the secretarial work of the association.
The following motion was passed by the convention: Moved that
this organization indorse the principle of the Smith-Bankhead Bill
(S. 4922, and H. R. 12880), and that the president of this organiza
tion be authorized and instructed to appoint a committee for the
purpose of furthering legislation along that line.
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The Smith-Bankhead bill referred to in this motion is “ a bill to
provide for the promotion of vocational rehabilitation of persons
disabled in industry or otherwise, and their return to civil employ
ment.”
“ARISING OUT OF AND IN COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT.” 1
.B Y
GEORGE
A. KINGSTON, COMMISSIONER, W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION
BOARD
OP
ONTARIO.
Perhaps no expression made use of in compensation laws has been
the subject of more consideration and discussion by administering
boards and law courts than that which constitutes the subject of
this paper.
People sometimes say that the modern compensation law provides
for compensation in case of all work accidents regardless of the ques
tion of negligence, and that probably is the general conception of the
law, but in 39 out of the 48 jurisdictions oh this continent (i. e.,
40 2 in the United States and 8 in Canada) where a workman’s com
pensation law is in force there is ingrafted upon the more general
expression of the law the provision that an accident to entitle a
workman to compensation must have happened in course of and
must also have arisen out of his employment.
The eight jurisdictions whose laws do not include this expression
are Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wiscon
sin, Wyoming, and the United States.
I will briefly state the expressions used in the laws of these States
in lieu of the uniform wording of the other laws in this respect:
O hio: “ All injuries not self-inflicted received in course of employ
ment.”
P e n n s y lv a n ia : “ Injury by accident in course of employment.”
Texas: “ Personal injury sustained in course of employment.”
W ashington: “ Personal injury whether received upon the premises
or at the plant or in the course of employment while away from the
establishment.”
W est V ir g in ia : “ All personal injuries not the result of willful mis
conduct or intoxication of employee or self-inflicted.”
W isco n sin : “ Personal injury while performing service growing out
of and incidental to the employment, not intentionally self-inflicted.”
W y o m in g : “ Personal injuries as a result of employment and not
due to culpable negligence of injured employee or to the willful act of
a third person due to reasons personal to such employee or because
of his employment.”
1Paper read at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards
and Commissions, at Madison, Wis., Sept. 24-27,1918. An account of the convention is given in the
preceding article.
2Including Alaska and the Federal Government.
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U nited S ta tes: “ Personal injury sustained while in the performance
of duty.”
It will be readily seen that in a number of cases this expression
“Arising out of and in course of employment” substantially modifies
the general principle that all work accidents are compensable re
gardless of negligence or fault on the part of the workman.
These may be conveniently enumerated under the following
headings:
1. Street accidents.
2. Accidents while going to or from work.
3. Injuries due to scuffling, larking, or horseplay.
4. Accidents, as sometimes stated in legal textbooks, caused by
the act of God or the country’s enemies.
5. Injuries arising out of attempted robbery, fighting, assault,
murder, or suicide.
6. Disabilities due to frostbite or heat stroke.
7. Accidents occurring during moments of leisure or whilevdoing
something of a personal nature or out of curiosity.
8. Camp accidents.
9.1 Accidents resulting in the aggravation of a preexisting diseased
condition, or extraordinary conditions amounting almost to accident,
resulting in disease, as e. g., pneumonia resulting from exposure.
10.1 Accidents due to disobedience of rules.
11.1 Hernia, lumbago, and strain cases.
One could go on almost indefinitely classifying occurrences which
seem to fall outside the commonly accepted idea of “ work accident,”
but the above list comprises the great bulk of cases presenting prob
lems which administering boards and commissions are constantly
confronted with, and it is the purpose of this paper to discuss some
of the principles underlying the decisions in cases coming under these
headings.
ST R E ET ACCIDENTS.
Prior to the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Dennis v.
White, June 14, 1917, there was a fairly well-settled line of decisions
in England in regard to street accidents, to the effect, briefly stated,
that if a workman is on the public highway on his master’s business
and becomes injured by accident due to ordinary street hazard, such
an injury is not compensable, because it could not be said that the
accident arose out of his employment, or in other words, as some of
the judges expressed it, it was due to a risk no greater than is run by
all members of the public.
One of the leading cases in which this principle of law was expounded
was the famous banana skin case, Sheldon v. Needham, 7 B. W. C. C.
i Consideration of decisions under this head is not included in this paper.
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471, where an employer sent his servant to post a letter at a box a
few yards along the street. While performing this duty, she slipped
on a banana skin carelessly thrown on the sidewalk and broke her leg.
For the reasons stated above it was ultimately held by the court of
appeals that the employer was not liable.
The New York supreme court in the case of Newman v. Newman
took the same view, and the idea seems to have been accepted in
quite a number of the other States.
It was held in another English case, Pierce v. Provident (1911),
4 B. W. C. C. 242, that in order to make the employer liable in the
case of street accidents employment in the streets must be practically
continuous, as in the case of a canvasser or collector, the reason for
drawing the distinction being thus expressed by the master of the
rolls:
As the work requires him to spend the greater part of the day on the streets he would
be, in the course of his duties, beyond all doubt more exposed to the risks of the street
than ordinary members of the public.
The Scottish courts, however, held a different view. As one of the
judges put it:
The risk of the road at the particular time was a risk incidental to the employment
and it was none the less a risk of the employment because every pedestrian on the
road at th at time ran the same risk, or because the workman was facing this risk for
the first or perhaps the only time.
Very early in the administration of the law in Ontario, i. e., in 1915,
the board was called upon to decide this identical question. A man
employed by one of the cartage agents in Toronto was sent to a
harness maker’s shop some few blocks away to get a horse collar
which had been left there for repairs, and on the way back slipped on
the sidewalk and broke his arm.
Our board, while entertaining the most profound respect for the
decisions of the English courts, is not bound to follow them, and the
reasons as stated in the Sheldon case in regard to these street cases did
not appear to us to be sound. We finally decided to adopt the view
expressed by the Scottish courts and allowed the claim.
It was, you may be sure, quite interesting to note that the House
of Lords a couple of years later in the case first above referred to,
Dennis v. White, 10 B. W. C. C. 280, discarded the theory or rule
previously laid down by the English court of appeal as applying to
this type of case and adopted the view expressed by the Scottish
courts.
The written judgment of Lord Chancellor Finlay in this case deals
very fully with all the prior decisions of importance on this subject
and refers to the reasoning of these earlier decisions as unsound and
antagonistic to the terms of the statute.
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1 have had the opportunity of reading the written opinion of the
chairman of the Nova Scotia board, Mr. V. J. Patton, in the matter
of the claims arising out of the Halifax disaster of December last.
The reasoning in the case of Dennis v. White was adopted, and it
was held that claims in respect to killed or injured workmen in
Halifax on that occasion should be taken as coming under the pro
visions of the act, it being considered that the injury arose out of
the employment because, by reason of the nearness of the city to
the shipping in the harbor where high explosives were handled, all
workmen in the city, whether engaged on the street, in the factory,
or on the piers, were specially exposed to that particular danger.
A C CIDENTS W HILE GOING TO OR FROM WORK.
Somewhat closely related to the problem of compensation for
injuries in street accidents is that as to accidents happening while
going to or from work. It is, I think, fairly generally held that after
a workman leaves the employer’s premises on quitting work or before
he reaches the premises on going to work, he is not in the course of
his employment, and an accident happening to him on the street
during these periods could not be said to arise out of his employment.
The New York commission in one case went a step farther and
rejected the claim of an office employee, who on finishing her day’s
work took some of her employer’s letters to deposit in the post office
and on the way was struck by a train. The reason stated for this
decision is “ that she was following the same route that she would
have followed if she had been going home without undertaking to
mail the letters and that she was exposed to no unusual hazard due
to the employment.” This sounds rather like the argument formerly
given effect to in England prior to the decision of the House of Lords
in Dennis v. White above referred to. It seems to me such a case
should turn on whether or not she was in the performance of her
duties, if it was her duty to go to the post office on this message,
then for the time being the hazard of the street was a hazard of her
employment and her duties for her employer were not ended till she
deposited the letters in the post office.
A number of cases have arisen where a workman is injured going
to or from work by means of a conveyance provided by the employer.
The question to be determined in all such cases is, Was it an express
or implied term of the contract of service that the workman was to
be so carried to or from his work? It seems to be well-settled law
in England that if a workman is entitled either by express or implied
contract to travel in a conveyance provided by the employer he is in
the course of his employment, and an accident while so traveling
would be held to have arisen out of the employment even though he
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is not on the employer’s time till the place of actual work is reached.
Both California and Massachusetts have held to this effect also in
cases reported from those States.
We had one case in which we allowed the claim of a workman who
was injured on the steps at the entrance to the building, part of which
was occupied by the employer. We held that in renting a room or
suite of rooms in a building the common entrance to the building
should be considered in this connection as part of the employer’s
premises, and the hazard of the steps was a hazard peculiar to the
employer’s premises.
The Supreme Court of Massachusetts held to the same effect in
a case which recently came before them, Be Sundine, 105 N. E. 433.
The following are a few additional cases of this class which have
come before the Ontario board:
A llo w e d —
Where the foreman of a teaming company, when quitting work in evening at sand
pit, got on one of his employer’s wagons to ride into town, jumped off wagon at his
street intersection, and was hurt by passing auto.
Where a workman employed by a railway at terminal yards about 4 miles outside
the city was killed by train which he was about to board in the city to take him to
his work. Usual custom for railway to carry men to their work at this point. Board
considered case arose out of employment though workman’s time did not actually
start till arrival at work.
Where a man going to work in a lumber yard which adjoins railway tracks was
killed by passing train as he was crossing the tracks to work. Considered he had
reached the ambit of his employment.
Where a man on engineer’s staff going into a lumber camp from town—pay started
when he left town—broke through ice and drowned.
Where a car inspector who had evidently finished his day’s work three-quarters of
an hour before usual quitting time came into town as per usual custom by company’s
train. Evidently jumped off or jerked off near station, though no one saw accident.
Body found alongside track.
Where a man employed by one of the tenants of a building entered the elevator in
common use by all tenants of the building, and, instead of waiting for the operator,
pulled the rope himself and was killed. Considered that the elevator was part of the
premises rented and constituted one of the hazards of the business.
Where a man employed by a cartage agent was out plowing on a farm near town for
a customer. On way home from work horses ran away.
N o t a llo w e d —
Where a man had been told the night before to go down to get work at an elevator
in the morning. While on the way to work along railway track near the place were
he was to be employed, about 9.30 or 10 a. m., he was hurt by train.
Where a man going from work in the woods instead of taking the company’s bush
road came out on railway track and was killed by train.
Where a railway workman on bridge work had been given a ticket home for Christ
mas holidays and return. On returning he jumped off the train at about the place
where his work would be and was injured. This would have saved him a walk back
from the station of about a mile.
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Where a man working for a railway as section man, after quitting work in evening,
jumped on passing freight to go down the yard to where he had hung his coat when
starting work and was injured.
Where a man having met with a certain injury the day before asked leave at 11
a. m. to go two or three blocks along street to an emergency hospital to get injury
dressed. This took him across railway tracks. On returning, finding a train blocking
the crossing, he attempted to climb through and got foot cut off.
INJURIES DUE TO SCUFFLING. LARKING, OR HORSEPLAY.
There have been a variety of opinions expressed on this type of case
both in England and on this continent.
It was held in the recent case (1916) of Parsons v. Somerset, 9
B. W. C. C. 532, that where a railway porter in the course of his
employment met with an accident due to his getting on the foot
board of a car after the train started, not for any object of his employ
ment but purely for his own pleasure (larking with two young ladies
on the train), he was not entitled to compensation.
In another case, Wrigley v. Nasmythe, where a workman who went
for some purpose to a fellow workman in the shop, on parting tapped
his friend on the back with a rule, and received a push in return from
which he was injured, it was held by the court of appeal that the
accident did not arise out of the employment.
Our board in Ontario has adopted the rule in these cases that if the
injured workman is an active participant in the scuffling or horseplajq he is not entitled to compensation, but if while going about his
duties he is the victim of another’s prank, to which he is not in the
least a party, we do not deny him compensation.
I note the following cases from my records coming under this
heading:
9
A llo w e d —
Where a Chinaman employed in a factory was the innocent victim of horseplay—
blown up by hose.
Where a man who had been teased by another workman suddenly turned in revenge
and hit an innocent party.
Where a man about to punch the time clock was hit from behind by another work
man. Injured man innocent of any horseplay.
Where a man in line up for the time clock was pushed out of line by another work
man, and to prevent himself from falling, as well as to save his place in the line, he
grabbed the workman and his hand came in contact with a sharp knife in the latter’s
hand.
N o t a llo w e d —
Where, when a man splashed a little water over another workman, the latter in
trying to avoid the water turned suddenly and, having hose in his hand, turned it on
the man who first started the horseplay.
IN J U R IE S A R IS IN G O U T O F A N A C T O F GOD O R T H E C O U N T R Y ^ E N E M IE S .
Under this heading about the only type of case in which the
question has arisen is that due to lightning, but there have been a
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few cases reported during the last two or three years in England
arising out of bombardments by enemy ships or airplanes.
In regard to lightning, the State boards or courts are not by any
means uniform in their decisions and it can scarcely be said that there
is in this country anything like a well-settled opinion.
The Supreme Court of Michigan recently held that a railway sec
tion man, who sought shelter from a storm in an adjacent barn
which was struck by lightning and who was injured, was not entitled
to compensation, basing this decision on the argument that the risk
was not different from the risk run by other members of the
community.
The Supreme Court of Wisconsin also held that where a man work
ing on a dam was killed by lightning, it was not a case for compensation.
The Supreme Court of Minnesota, however, took an opposite view
and allowed compensation to a workman who was injured by light
ning while seeking shelter under a tree at the time of a storm.
In those jurisdictions where only the first of the two conditions are
required—that is, injury by accident during the course of employ
ment, omitting “ arising out of, e tc /’—there can of course be no
question, as an injury by lightning is certainly an accident and if
this injury takes place during the period of work the condition is
complete. I should scarcely have thought that it could be argued,
where a man goes into a building or under a tree to seek temporary
shelter from a storm, that he has therefore left the employment, yet
this point did arise in the supreme courts of both New York and
Minnesota, and it was held that thus temporarily seeking shelter was
not leaving the employment but rather incidental to it.
The decisions in England in lightning cases turn on the question of
special risk. Thus, for example, a steeple jack repairing a flag pole
is considered to be specially exposed to the danger of lightning;
likewise, a man working on the top of a high scaffold was considered
exposed to special danger and compensation was allowed. But
where a roadman engaged in his ordinary occupation on the highway
was struck by lightning, it was held that there was no special expo
sure to the danger of lightning and compensation was refused.
It amounts practically to this in England, that in all lightning
cases the claimant must prove by positive evidence that the circum
stances of the employment exposed the employee to a greater risk
than that run by persons not so employed, or not so employed under
the same conditions.
The bombardment cases in England turn on much the same point
as the lightning cases, viz, the question of special risk or special
exposure due to the employment.
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In this connection dicta by Lord Chancellor Finlay in the Dennis
White case above cited are of interest. He says:
In the case of injury by bomb thrown from hostile aircraft, the fact that workman
was engaged on work on a building brilliantly lighted so as to attract the notice of
enemy crews might be most material as showing that the injury by the bomb was
one which arises out of the employment.
It was actually held in one case (Allcock v. Rogers, W. N., Decem
ber, 1917, p. 353) where a servant in a hotel whose duties were,
among other things, to polish the brass name or sign plate on the
outside of the building was injured by the explosion of a bomb
dropped in the street a short distance away, that this did not arise
out of the employment, or, in other words, that the workman was
not exposed to any special risk incident to his employment.
In the famous Hartlepool case (Cooper v. N. E. Ry. Co.) the
decision was similar. In that case an engineer, having left his
engine to seek shelter while the bombardment was on, ventured
back to open the injector in order to prevent damage to the fire box
and upon returning again to shelter was injured by a bomb. It
was held by the court of appeal that this injury did not arise out of
his employment. As the master of the rolls expressed it:
Tbe claimant must prove that he was exposed by the nature of bis employment to
some special or peculiar risk beyond that of other inhabitants of Hartlepool. The
whole town was within range of the guns and there was no evidence or suggestion
that they were directed at any particular spot.
IN JU R IE S D U E TO ATTEM PTED ROBBER Y , FIGHTING, ASSAULT, MURDER, OR
SUICIDE.
I suppose every administering board has occasion frequently to
determine cases coming under this heading, and from all the reports
I have been able to read it seems quite a generally accepted principle
of law in every jurisdiction that where a workman in the discharge
of his duty is assaulted either by another workman or by a stranger
in attempted robbery of the employer’s premises, compensation
should be allowed.
A border-line case, however, arose in Massachusetts and compensa
tion was denied. In this case a night watchman was shot by mistake
by officers pursuing burglars who had committed robbery in the
neighborhood and were being pursued. There was no suggestion
that robbery of the premises claimant was guarding was feared, and
he was not fired upon because of his employment, but clearly through
mistake. The court held that the injury did not arise out of the
employment.
The Supreme Court of New Jersey also refused compensation in
the case of a delivery man and collector who was shot by an unknown
S7721*— 1 8 ------ 15
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person for an unknown cause while in the performance of his duties.
There was no attempt at robbery, though claimant had money on his
person, and it was held that the shooting was not in any way con
nected with the employment.
We had a rather unusual case in Ontario about a year ago which
is also close to the border line, but our board allowed the claim.
A night watchman was found dead in the morning, sitting in a chair
in the office of his employer, shot through the head, apparently by
his own gun. There was nothing which would warrant the conclu
sion that it was a case of suicide, but on the contrary it seemed
probable that he had been engaged in cleaning the gun, though there
was no positive evidence as to this. It was a case in which the
board was obliged either to infer suicide or accidental discharge of
the gun while cleaning it, and the latter inference seemed the proper
one.
It is equally well settled, I think, that where the assault which
results in the injury arises out of a dispute or quarrel purely personal
to the workman and not associated with his employment, compensa
tion should not be allowed.
The distinction may be thus illustrated: Where a foreman is
assaulted and injured while trying to compel a discharged workman
to leave the place of his former employment, I think that the claim
should be allowed. This was an actual case in California. On the
other hand, and this is a case from our own Province, a street car
conductor in resenting what he considered a personal insult directed
at him by a soldier passenger abused the soldier rather badly. The
latter, upon going to his camp nearby, reported the affair to his
soldier companions, whereupon a number of them returned, boarded
this conductor’s car as it was returning and beat him up, causing
severe personal injury. We held that this was a purely personal
quarrel and that the injury thus sustained did not arise out of the
employment.
In another case which came before us, two workmen got into a
dispute over some material or tools required in connection with their
work and, words finally leading to blows, one of them was quite
seriously injured. This one appeared to be the least to blame of the
two, yet he did actively participate in the scrap. We held that the
dispute was a purely personal one between these two men, and as
the interests of the employer were in no way involved or concerned
the injuries could not be said to have arisen out of the employment.
We also rejected a claim in a case where a boy was found dead
at his place of work with a loop, of rope around his neck, as the
circumstances pointed to suicide rather than accident.
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IN JU R IE S D U E TO FR O STB ITE OR HEAT STROKE.
The cases coming under this heading turn upon the same con
sideration as the lightning and bombardment cases above noted,
viz, the question of special exposure.
In the Warner v. Couchman case, decided by the House of Lords
in England in 1911, a baker whose duty was to drive a bread delivery
cart was frostbitten in the hand. The county court judge held that
there was nothing in the employment which exposed him to more
than the ordinary risk of cold to which every person working in the
open air was exposed on that day, and consequently the injury did
not arise out of the employment. The House of Lords held that the
decision of the county court judge on this question of fact was final.
Important dicta by one of the appeal court judges, however,
are quoted in the House of Lords with favor as expressing the point
of view with which he says judges should approach cases of this
kind:
Where we deal with natural causes affecting a considerable area, such as severe
weather, we are bound to consider whether the accident arose out of the employment
or was merely a consequence of the severity of the weather to which persons in the
locality, whether so employed or not, were equally exposed. If it is the latter, it does
not arise out of the employment because the man is not specially affected by the
severity of the weather by reason of his employment.
In the case of Dennis v. White, above referred to, which reversed
the old line of decisions in regard to street accidents, Lord Chan
cellor Finlay, in referring to frostbite and sunstroke cases as distin-'
guished from ordinary street accidents, says:
In such cases it is material to show that the work involves special exposure to the
heat or cold. Where the risk is one shared by all men, whether in or out of the em
ployment, in order to show that the accident arose out of the employment, it must be
established that special exposure to it is involved.
In regard to heat stroke, there are two English authorities in which
the principles governing these cases were fully considered—one in the
House of Lords in 1908 (the Ismay v. Williamson case) and the other
in the court of appeal in 1914 (Maskery v. Lancashire). These were
both shipping cases. In the one a stoker was overcome with heat
while trimming the fires and in the other a young man not in the
best of health who had shipped as an engineer on a vessel bound for
Singapore, while sailing in the southern part of the Red Sea, was
overcome by heat and died.
In both cases the court held that death was due to accident arising
out of the employment, and it did not affect the situation to say that
the man was not robust enough to stand the tropical heat. It was
sufficient to find that the work in the engine room or boiler room
exposed the workman to excessive heat, which was far greater than
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that to which ordinary sailors whose duty does not take them into
the engine room were subjected.
We had a case of frostbite in Ontario last winter which the hoard
allowed. A railway workman was sent out with an auxiliary crew
to clear a wreck—weather 30° below zero. He was put at the job of
flagging and was so engaged three or four hours, with the result that
his legs and feet were very badly frozen. Under these circumstances
it was considered accidental injury arising out of the employment.
A C C ID EN TS OCCURRING D U RING MOMENTS OF L EISU R E OR W HILE DOING SOME
THING OF A PERSONAL N A TU R E .
Cases coming under this heading are very numerous and their
decision must necessarily turn on the particular circumstances in
each case. In England, as well as in all the jurisdictions on this
side whose reports I have had the opportunity of reading, there is
quite a latitude allowed workmen in respect to moments of leisure
during the course of employment. The crew of a train, for example,
waiting at a switch to make a crossing; a sailor in a river boat waiting
for the tide; a machine operator waiting for material which he is
dependent on another workman to bring to him; a trainman having
a few hours between arrival at terminal and departure on return
journey—one can easily imagine a variety of cases of this type, where
the workman is clearly in the course of his employment but for the
time being has no duties to perform for the employer.
To quote Milton: “ They also serve who only stand and wait.”
The question to be asked in every such case is, Did the workman
occupy those moments of leisure reasonably, having regard to all the
circumstances ?
If during such an interval of waiting he meets with an accident
while engaged in some occupation or amusement which is uncon
nected with his employment, or which adds to the risk to which he
would otherwise be subject, judges in the main agree that com
pensation should not be allowed, but what one may reasonably do,
of a personal nature and which is not in conflict with specific instruc
tions, should not be held as taking a man outside the scope’of his
employment for purposes of compensation in the event of accident
while so occupied.
The following decisions are noted in this connection: The New
Jersey Supreme Court allowed a claim where a workman was killed
while crossing railway tracks near the place of his’ employment to
the toilet in common use by workmen in the employer’s service.
The Supreme Court of Massachusetts held that a compositor who went
out on the roof on a hot night for fresh air and was injured by making
a misstep was entitled to compensation. The California commission
went so far as to hold that a cook was entitled to compensation, where
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he left the kitchen to smoke for a time on the adjoining porch, and
on attempting to return opened the wrong door and fell downstairs.
There is one decision, however, reported from Iowa, which I think
is carrying this idea of personal liberty at the expense of the em
ployer too far. In that case a workman was allowed compensation
who undertook to light his pipe while his hands were moist with
gasoline, with which he had been cleaning clothing.
We have had a variety of these personal and leisure-moment cases
before our board, quite a number of them arising out of accidents
occurring to workmen while remaining on the employer’s premises
during the luncheon hour.
I note among them the following:
A llo w e d —
AVhere a woman worker boiled water for tea on a gas jet near her work and it boiled
over or was knocked over causing injury.
Where a boy, 14, working in a planing mill, being desirous of fixing up a small block
of wood for his own use, took it to a saw to cut it to the desired shape and got his thumb
cut off.
Where a scavenger, working for city, found two electric bulbs in garbage and out
of curiosity cracked them together and lost an eye.
AVhere a section man, who had gone into city on his speeder to get his pay check,
was found dead on the track, evidently run down by train on way home.
Where a workman being dusted off by another workman, by means of air hose, gets
an internal charge and dies of peritonitis.
AA7here a workman paid 50 cents a week extra to engage in fire drill for the
employers’ voluntary fire department was injured while so drilling.
AA’here a boy employed on a vessel having some leisure time while the vessel is
tied up at a certain wharf, in chasing a rat which appears on the wharf, trips into the
water and is drowned.
/
AVhere a laborer engaged in certain building work went into the shop or tool house
to take shelter from a storm, and while there undertook to sharpen a fellow workman’s
chisel. AVhen done, went to turn off switch, and was electrocuted.
AA’here a man on quitting work went to boiler for a pail of water with which to wash,
slipped, and scalded himself.
AVhere a man in a mill having a moment of leisure went to another part of the plant
to pay a small board bill to a fellow workman [and was injured].
N o t a llo w e d —
AVhere a man, seeing an adjoining machine idle and being curious to know how
it works, attempted to operate it and got his thumb cut off.
AVhere a workman sleeping at noon hour on employer’s premises, took a fit and
rolled against a hot steam pipe.
AA’here a boy went out of his way to grind his jack knife on a machine where he had
no business to be and was injured.
AVhere a man working on repairs on a ship, whose living quarters were on the ship,
left his boat in the evening to spend the evening visiting his brother on another
vessel alongside, owned by the same company, and was injured while leaving this
"other vessel late at night.
AA’here a workman taking a bath on employer’s premises (a cordite factory) fell
against hot pipes. I t was alleged that it was necessary to take a bath every day in
.this work to keep in condition. Considered personal business.
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Where a workman brought a bottle of ginger ale as part of his lunch and in opening
it the stopper flew up and hit him in the eye.
Where a young man, after eating his lunch on the premises, climbed out on the
roof of the building and, finding himself slipping, grabbed a wire within his reach.
This sagged with his weight, and then he grabbed another, thus creating a circuit,
and he was electrocuted.
CAMP ACCIDENTS.
Owing to the extensive lumbering and mining operations carried
on in our Province, we are frequently called upon to deal with claims
coming under this heading.
I refer especially to such as may happen to a workman after working
hours. It is well understood, of course, that in most of these opera
tions the men spend the whole of the twenty-four hours on what may
be termed the employer’s premises.
Practically the same principle is involved in this type of case as in
the noon-hour accident cases above noted.
We allowed the claim of one man in a river driving camp who after
supper went to his tent; while lying on his blanket on the floor
reading, another workman came in and accidentally stepped on
claimant’s hand, inflicting a wound which became septic, with quite
serious results. We considered that the accident, properly speaking,
arose out of the employment.
We allowed another claim where a workman in walking from the
dining camp to the sleeping camp slipped on the ice and broke his leg;
also another claim where a workman slipped on the steps of the cook
house where large building operations were going on for an aviation
camp.
In a border-line case, the claim was allowed where a workman was
hired to go to work on a boat next morning, tie actually came on
board that night and slept on the boat, but was badly hurt next
morning before his duties actually began.
On the other hand, where a workman was injured by slipping on
an icy path leading from the works to his own house, which was on
employer’s premises, claim was disallowed.
It follows, of course, that workmen injured on the employer’s roads
leading from the woods to the camp are considered in the course of
their employment and in a few cases claims have been allowed for
accidental injuries under such circumstances.
The California Commission allowed a claim where a workman was
injured by falling from a log on the road while coming with others
into camp from the woods, but the decision seems to have been put
on the ground in that case that these men were allowed time to
return to camp from their place of work.
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HERNIA AS A FACTOR IN WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION AWARDS.
BY C. F. STODDARD.
Of all the problems connected with the administration of workmen’s
compensation laws perhaps none is more perplexing than that pre
sented by hernia. Because of the peculiar character of hernia, which
usually develops gradually, and because its presence may not be known
to the workman himself or his employer until some unusual strain
makes it evident, the difficulty encountered by accident boards and
commissions in handling such claims with justice to the worker and
fairness to the employer is greatly increased.
The granting of an award for hernia is determined solely upon
the merits of the individual case, and depends upon whether the
hernia is the result of a diseased condition or whether it is held to be
an accidental injury following a strain or overexertion demanded
by the employment. Some State laws require the employee to
show that the hernia did not exist prior to the injury for which
compensation is claimed. To provide a definite basis for speedy
and just determination of claims some compensation boards and
commissions, including the United States Employees’ Compensa
tion Commission, have prescribed certain rules indicating the char
acter of the evidence required to establish a claim for hernia. These
rules are intended to serve merely as a guide and are not necessarily
inflexible in application.
STA T UT O R Y PROVISIONS.
In some jurisdictions1 the compensation laws contain specific
provisions as to hernia, and consequently the question of awards pre
sents comparatively little difficulty. The Colorado law,2which is prob
ably more restrictive in its application than any other, requires the
claimant suffering from hernia to establish (1) that the hernia is of
recent origin; (2) that its appearance was accompanied by pain, (3)
that it was immediately preceded by some accidental strain suffered
in the course of employment; and (4) that it did not exist prior to
the date of the alleged injury. The Montana3 and New Mexico4
laws in this respect are identical with the Colorado law.
Substantially the same requirements are set out in the law of
Kentucky:5
In all claim s for hernia resulting from injury received in the course of and resulting
from the em ployee’s em ploym ent, it m ust be definitely proved to the satisfaction
of the board: First, that there was an injury resulting in hernia; second, that the
1Colorado, Kentucky, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, and West Virginia.
2 Acts
of 1915, eh. 179, sec. 52.
3Acts of 1915, ch. 96, sec. 16.
* Laws of New Mexico, 1917, ch. 83, p. 226.
6Acts of 1916, ch. 33, sec. 4a.
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hernia appeared suddenly and immediately followed the injury; fourth,1 that the
hernia did not exist in any degree prior to the injury for which compensation is
claimed.
The only element appearing in the West Virginia law,2 not found
in the Kentucky law above quoted, is the requirement of proof that
the hernia was accompanied by pain as provided in the Colorado,
Montana, and New Mexico laws.
In Oregon3 a workman, in order to be entitled to compensation
for hernia, must prove—
(1)
That the hernia did not exist prior to the date of the alleged accident, and (2)
that it was immediately preceded by an accident arising out of and in the course of
employment.
All of the States enumerated make provision in respect of oper
ative treatment. The Kentucky law makes it obligatory upon the
employer to provide competent surgical treatment by radical oper
ation, but an employee may refuse to submit to such operation. If
he consents to the operation he shall receive, in addition to the
surgical benefits provided by law, compensation for 25 weeks. The
West Virginia statute provides that “ all hernia * * * shall be
treated in a surgical manner by radical operation,” but the right of
the employee to refuse to submit to an operation is recognized, com
pensation being denied during the period of refusal. The Oregon law
eliminates the idea of compulsion in this connection,, contenting itself
with stating that “ workmen * * * when operated upon, shall be
entitled to receive * * * payment for temporary disability for
a period of 42 weeks.” The Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico
laws provide'that if the right to compensation is established the
employee may elect to be operated upon, and if he does, a special fee
of not to exceed $50 to be paid by the employer, the insurer, or the
board, or commission, is authorized. If, however, the workmen elects
not to be operated upon and the hernia becomes strangulated in the
future, the results from such strangulation will not be compensated.
These specific provisions are of material assistance to the boards
and commissions administering the compensation act in the States
noted, for they make it possible to proceed with a considerable
degree of assurance in determining awards, and they establish an
element of definiteness as to rights under the law which is reassur
ing to the workman who has developed hernia.
R U LE S GOVERNING AW A R D S FOR HER N IA .
Many of the States, however, as will be noted, make no statutory
provision to serve as a guide in handling cases of hernia. This
1This is copied from the law. The third requirement was eliminated and this n u m b e r w a s n o t changed.
2Acts of 1913, ch. 10, sec. 25.
8General Laws of Oregon, 1917, ch. 288, sec. 10, subsec. (d).
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situation has caused a number of the States, including California,
Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Washington, and the United States
Employees’ Compensation Commission, to prescribe rules outlining
the evidence required to establish a claim for compensation on
account of alleged hernia. Other States have no definite rule, but
treat each case upon its merits, as for instance, Massachusetts and
New York.
The rules adopted, as already suggested, servé merely as a basis
for action by the commissions and are applied not without flexi
bility, the extent of which is determined by the particular case at
issue. While impracticable to give the rules, even if they were
available, adopted by the compensation commissions of those States
which have a more or less definite course of procedure, the follow
ing, promulgated by the commissions of California, Ohio, Nevada,
Oklahoma, Washington, and the Federal Government, are suggestive
and sufficiently comprehensive to cover practically all cases of
hernia which develop in industrial activity:
C a lif o r n ia } 1. The issue of predisposition to hernia is regarded as unimportant.
2. Any hernia, whether complete or incomplete, resulting from strain or wrench
or other industrial injury, is compensable.
3. A chronic hernia, if injured or aggravated by injury, is not ordinarily com
pensable.
4. An incomplete hernia, that is merely incipient, subsequently completed through
an independent injury, will ordinarily be compensable.
5. In hernia cases it is not necessary that the evidence must show an immediate
collapse or disability on the part of the injured person. There should, however, be
proof of pain or discomfort accompanying the alleged injury sufficient at least to cause
pause and complaint, with corroboration, if possible.
6. A moderate permanent disability indemnity will be allowed for hernia in those
cases where operation for the radical cure of the same is for any reason not advisable
and the commission will be disposed to approve any reasonable compromise and
settlement between the parties in such cases.
7. In all cases of hernia in which the commission shall find the injury remediable
by operation, the applicant will be awarded such operation as a part of the medical,
surgical and hospital treatment to which he is entitled to cure and relieve him from
the effects of the injury. The expenses thereof must be paid by his employer or
insurance carrier. If the operation is not offered to the applicant, he may secure it,
charging the reasonable expense thereof to the employer or insurance carrier. In
all such cases the applicant will be denied further compensation if he refuses to accept
or secure operative relief.
O h io } Rule 1. Real traumatic hernia, namely, that produced by a force great
enough, that when directly applied to the abdominal (or belly) wall, results in either
puncturing or tearing the wall asunder, full disability as approved by the statute
will be allowed.
Rule 2. All other hernias whenever occurring or discovered, and whatsoever the
cause, except as under Rule 1, are considered to be diseases causing incapacitating
1Reported decisions of the Industrial Accident Commission of California, Vol. I ll, Bui. 4, May-June
2Bulletin of the Industrial Commission of Ohio, October 1,1914, vol. 1, No. 5, p. 49.
10,1916. Third cover page.
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conditions, or permanent partial disability, but the permanent partial disability
and the causes of such are considered to be as shown by medical facts, to have either
existed from birth, to have been years in formation and duration, or both; and are not
compensable except as provided under Rule 3.
Rule 3. All cases coming under Rule 2 in which it can be conclusively proven,
first, that the immediate cause which calls attention to the hernia present was such
as a sudden effort, severe strain or bruise. Second: That the descent of the hernia
occurred immediately following the cause. Third: That the cause was accompanied
or immediately followed by severe pain in the hernial region. / Fourth: That the above
facts were of such severity that the same were noticed and communicated imme
diately to one or more persons; are considered to be aggravations of previous ailments
or diseases and will be compensated as such for time loss only and to a limited extent,
depending on the nature of the proof submitted and the result of the local medical
examination. A reasonable amount will also be allowed for a properly fitted truss.
Cases coming under Rule 2 will not be considered to be entitled to compensation
from the State insurance fund for amounts to pay for permanent partial disabilities
or for special medical services rendered, such as surgical operations, and hospital
attention.
The rules adopted by the Nevada Industrial Commission, as set
forth in its report covering the period July 1, 1913, to December 31,
1914 (p. 17), are substantially the same as those of the Ohio
industrial commission. The Nevada commission, however, in Rule 1
provides that “ such an injury will be compensated as a temporary
total disability and as a partial permanent disability, depending
upon the lessening of the injured individual’s earning capacity,” and
in Rule 3 the Nevada commission uses the words “ severe strain or
blow received while in the course of employment,” and makes no
mention of an allowance for a “ properly fitted truss.” The final
paragraph of the Ohio rules is omitted in the Nevada rules, but a rule
is added stating that the preceding rules are adopted “ as general
tentative rules covering hernia cases and are subject to revision,
change, amplification, or alteration with or without notice. The
commission will not be bound by precedent.”
O k la h o m a }—We are following a rule that has generally been accepted by the
industrial accident boards and commissions of the United States, which is th at proof
must show (1) the hernia is of recent origin; (2) it must have been accompanied by
pain; (3) it must have been immediately preceded by some accidental strain in the
course of hazardous employment; and (4) there must be conclusive proof that it did
not exist prior to the date of the alleged injury. Upon such a showing the commission
allows compensation unless the insurance carrier or the employer will agree to pay
for the cost of an operation. They have always readily agreed to do this and we allow,
in addition, four weeks’ compensation. By following this practice the injured
employee is restored to his former efficiency. All operations so far performed have
been successful.
W a sh in g to n .2— * * * The industrial insurance department hereby formulates
and establishes the following rules governing compensation of claimants who have
suffered hernia as a result of an accident during their employment:
1First annual report of the State industrial commission, Sept. 1, 1915, to Oct. 31, 1916, p. 9.
2Workmen’s compensation act of the State of Washington, Ch. 74, Session Laws of 1911, as amended
sessions 1913, 1915, with notes. Issued by the industrial insurance commission, Olympia, 1915, p. 6.
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Rule 1. (a) There must be an accident resulting in hernia, (b) It must appear
suddenly, (c) be accompanied by pain, (d) immediately follow an accident, (e) There
must be proof that the hernia did not exist prior to the accident.
Rule 2. All hernias, inguinal or femoral, which are shown to come under Rule 1,
while the workman is engaged in his usual occupation and in the course of his employ
ment. shall be treated in a surgical manner by radical operation. If death results
from such operation, the death claim shall be paid and considered as a result of the
accident.
On these cases, time loss only shall be paid, unless it is shown by special examina
tion that they have a permanent partial disability resulting after the operation. If
so, it will be estimated and paid. Time lost between the date of accident and the date
of operation will not be allowed if longer than five days.
Rule 3. The hernia claimant whose case comes under rules 1 and 2, who persists
in wearing a truss instead of being operated, puts himself in the same position as the
man with, the fractured leg who refuses surgical attention. The commission may
order him before a competent anesthetist to determine if he can safely take an anes
thetic. If so, he must be operated to receive his time loss during the recovery from
operation. If, however, it is shown that he has some chronic disease that renders it
unsafe for him to take an anesthetic, his disability will be estimated as a permanent
partial disability and claim settled as such.
U n ite d S ta te s E m p lo y e e s' C o m p e n s a tio n C o m m is s io n }
—1. Predisposition to hernia
shall be regarded as immaterial.
2. Any new hernia, whether complete or incomplete, resulting from an injury, if
causing incapacity for work, is compensable, or if not causing incapacity for work,
shall entitle the injured employee to operation and compensation during the resulting
incapacity, but the evidence must show with reasonable clearness that:
(a) The alleged hernia was immediately preceded by some sudden effort, severe
strain, or the application of external force.
(b) The injury was accompanied or immediately followed by pain and discomfort.
(c) The claimant had no knowledge of the existence of the hernia prior to the
alleged injury.
3. Any existing hernia which has not incapacitated for work, if materially aggra
vated as result of an injury, is compensable if causing incapacity for work, or if not
causing incapacity for work, shall entitle the injured employee to operation and
compensation during the resulting incapacity, but the evidence must show with
reasonable clearness that:
(a) The alleged hernia was immediately preceded by some sudden effort, severe
Btrain, or the application of external force.
( b) The injury was accompanied or immediately followed by pain and discomfort.
(c) There was a material aggravation of the condition of the hernia existing prior
to the alleged injury.
4. In all cases of hernia which the commission shall find remediable by opera
tion, the claimant shall be awarded such operation as a proper and necessary part of
medical, surgical, and hospital treatment. If he refuses either to accept or to secure
operative treatment, he shall be denied further compensation and treatment, unless
there are particular circumstances warranting the waiving of this rule.
According to a statement made by the secretary of the Massa
chusetts Industrial Accident Board to this bureau, no definite rules
or standards for the awarding of compensation in cases of hernia
have been laid down. Each case is considered on its individual
in
1
I t is a n n o u n c e d t h a t th e s e r u le s a re in t e n d e d t o s e r v e a s
a ll h e r n i a cases. T h e rules were a d o p t e d F e b . 7,19 1 8 .
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW .
merits when the insurance company refuses to pay benefits. The
general principle adopted is this: If it can be shown reasonably
that the occupation of the employee probably aggravated his con
dition or directly brought on a new condition, then compensation
shall be paid during such time as the employee is undergoing a process
of readjustment. In cases of dispute, reliance is placed upon re
ports of impartial physicians.
The New York Industrial Commission, in its annual report for the
year ending June 30, 1917 (pages 128, 129) states that—
The commission has adopted the theory supported by the most learned of the medi
cal profession that ordinary hernias are congenital in their origin, and that the in
juries for which compensation is claimed are but increased manifestations of pre
existing conditions caused by strains, by lifting or other similar slight causes, albeit they
may reveal to the claimants for the first time that they have hernias. The practice
of the commission has been to pay compensation after the first two weeks until the
claimant is able to be operated upon and six weeks more, beginning when the claim
ant enters the hospital, for the operation for single hernias, and ten to twelve weeks
more for double hernias. Since the amendment providing for compensation for the
first two weeks for disabilities lasting longer than 49 days, the commission has added
two weeks to the compensable period. In addition to these cash benefits, the em
ployers or insurance carriers have been required to pay the cost of operation includ
ing hospital charges, an average of $50 to $100.
DECISIONS BY COURTS AND COMMISSIONS.
In decisions rendered by courts and commissions considerable
weight has been attached to the point whether hernia is a disease or
an accidental injury. Upon this determination may rest the pay
ment or nonpayment of compensation. Many, if not most, of the
decisions seem to be based on a purely legal view of the matter—the
fact of an existing traumatism resulting from an unusual strain in
the course of employment—rather than on a possible medical or
scientific aspect involving existence of a diseased condition as the
ultimate cause of the hernia. Some decisions incline to the medico
legal side of the controversy, granting compensation on the basis of
accidental injury, although the evidence may have established that
the parts were weakened by disease. Physicians appear to agree
that real traumatic hernia is rarely met with, and that most of the
so-called ruptures attributed to accidents during employment are
not the result of such employment but coincident with it.
The Industrial Accident Board of Michigan has quite fully discussed
the subject, taking the pos tion that hernia is the result of accident.
In approving the award of a committee having under consideration a
case of hernia, the board said:1
We do not overlook the medical evidence introduced on the hearing to the effect
that hernia should be classed as an accident only in a few rare cases. We think the
weight of authority in workmen’s compensation, cases is clearly against such theory
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U . S . B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s , B u i. 203, p . 197.
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and that the general rule established in the adjudicated cases and the textbooks is
otherwise.
That this is the conclusion of the supreme court of the State
appears from its decision in a case 1 in which an award of the board
was affirmed, even though there was evidence that there had been
structural weakness prior to the event to which the injury was
traced; the court saying that this would not “ preclude a recovery if
the injury itself is distinct and the result of a particular strain causing
a sudden protrusion of the intestine.” This case was decided largely
on the authority of an earlier case 2in which the view that hernia is a
disease was discussed. It was said by the court that it would be
assumed from the evidence that the strain to which the condition of
the claimant was traced was the occasion of the first protrusion of
the sac through the abdominal wall, and if it was also assumed that
there was a certain lack of physical integrity of the parts, still compen
sation might be allowed for the injury, and that not on the basis of
disease but of accidental injury.
Tn a Michigan case 3where the claimant had suffered a hernia while
replacing a derailed mine car, the court decided that the hernia was
the result of extraordinary exertion and therefore should be classed
as an accident within the meaning of the act. The court said:
That before the workman is entitled to compensation in case of hernia, it must be
shown to have the essentials of an accidental injury, and it must arise out of the work
as from strain or some other occurrence. Hernia occurring without any strain and
without the elements that are necessary to constitute an accident would not come
within the meaning of the law.
Taking the same position, the Industrial Commission of Wisconsin,
in dismissing a case before it, said:4
This is another case where a man who suddenly discovers that he has hernia concludes
that it must have resulted from some fall or strain, and immediately recalls to his mind
6ome recent incident which not only seems to him to constitute a sufficient cause, but
which he honestly brings himself to believe did cause it. At best, such an incident
constitutes nothing more than a mere possible cause. Except such incident was par
ticularly violent or was followed immediately by severe pain, it can not, with any
degree of certainty, be said to be a probable cause. In this case, a hernia on each side,
an insignificant accident or strain given as the cause does not argue much.
Similar was the position of the Massachusetts board in a case in
which the claimant testified to injury by heavy lifting, the impartial
physician testifying: “ The hernia could have been caused by his
work. But every hernia is related to and is caused by strain, and if
the board authorizes compensation for this hernia, it must require
1 B e ll v . H a y e s - I o n ia C o., 158 N . W ., 179.
2 R o b b in s v. O r ie n t a l G as E n g i n e C o., 157 N . W ., 437.
3 A r c h i b a l d S c o t t v. W h a t C h e e r C o al C o ., c i t e d i n W o r k m e n ’s C o m p e n s a tio n C ases D e te r m in e d b y th e
I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t B o a r d a n d t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t, L a n s i n g , 1916, p . 1.
* U . S . B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s , B u i. 203, p . 197.
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some employer hereafter to pay for every hernia that arises in any
employee. Hernia, to he caused by some specific accident, can only
follow a physical effort of tremendous and unusual violence.” The
finding of the board was adverse to the claimant.1
A case of hernia rejected by the Washington commission came to
the supreme court of the State where the claim was allowed,2the court
holding the injury complained of to be the result of a ‘'fortuitous
event” within the meaning of the law, saying that ' ‘to hold with the
commission that if a machine breaks, any resulting injury is within
the act, but if a man breaks, any resulting injury is not within the act,
is too refined to come within the policy of the act as announced by
the legislature. * * * It must admit that the tearing of the muscles
or the rupture of the fibers, or whatever it is that causes hernia, while
exercising unusual effort, is likewise covered by the act.” 8
It is apparent that the matter of '' tearing of the muscles or the rup
ture of the fibers” was vaguely assumed by the court as the explana
tion of the condition made the ground for a claim; while a compensa
tion commissioner of the State of Connecticut, in an extensive memo
randum quotes medical authorities in accord with the statements of
the Ohio commission, one of them saying that "Local trauma, which
has long been accorded by the laity an important place in the etiology
of hernia, practically very rarely is the cause.” The commissioner,
however, awarded compensation in a limited form to the claimant in
the case in hand, requiring him to submit within four weeks to proper
surgical treatment.4
The Supreme Court of West Virginia takes the view of the Wash
ington Supreme Court, and also of the Michigan hoard, and specifi
cally rejects the position of the Washington commission, reversing
also the public-service commission of its own State, allowing a claim
attributed to heavy lifting and holding hernia to be an accident
within the meaning of the law of the State.5 The Minnesota Depart
ment of Labor and Industries took a similar position, offering as a
typical decision and award the case of Rakovich v. Agnew Bros.
(St. Louis County, Nov. 9, 1915), decided by a county court, in
which a rupture was held compensable as an accidental injury under
the act, with an award also for medical and hospital expenses cover
ing the costs of an operation.
In another case,6 where a workman who was slightly ruptured
when he began employment had to subject himself to unusual but
1U . S . B u r e a u
of L a b o r S ta t i s t i c s , B u i. 203, p . 197.
U . S. B u r e a u of L a b o r S ta t is tic s , B u i . 203, p . 196.
s Z a p p a la v. I n d u s t r i a l I n s u r a n c e C o m m is s io n , 144 P a c ., 54.
C o n n e c tic u t W o r k m e n ’s C o m p e n s a tio n C o m m is s io n d ig e s t, J a n . 1, 1914, t o M a y 31, 1916, p p . 145-154.
1’o c c a r d i v. P u b l i c S e r v ic e C o m m is s io n , 84 S . E . , 242
s F u lf o r d v. N o r th f le e t C o a l & B a l la s t Co. (1907), 1 B . W . C . C ., 222, c i t e d i n t h e r e p o r t o f t h e o p e r a t io n of
t h e N e b r a s k a w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a ti o n la w fo r t h e y e a r e n d in g N o v . 3 0 ,1 9 1 5 , p p . 1 1 9 ,1 2 0 .
2
4
6
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not unique strain, resulting in increasing the rupture and incapaci
tating him for his regular employment, the court inclined to the
position that hernia is the result, of an accident, declaring in ruling
in the case at bar that though from a purely medical or surgical view
the injury could not be said to be an untoward or unexpected event,
it was nevertheless an accident within the meaning of the act.
In Illinois allowance was made for temporary total disability
due to hernia where tlie condition was held to be (me of aggravation
of a state that had existed for some time, the employer offering the
testimony of physicians that the injury could not have been the
result of an accident.1
That the New York State Industrial Commission is not inclined
to refuse an award in cases where it is established that hernia is the
result of a diseased condition, if the evidence seems to show the right
to an award, is indicated by its decision in a claim for compensation
where the claimant’s husband had died from pneumonia develoning
after an operation for hernia which was alleged to have been brought
on by his work at “ treeing” shoes. One of the commissioners in
ruling on tnis case said: 2
From the evidence in the case it must be found that Mr. Coons either had an incip
ient hernia prior to January, 1910 (date of his alleged injury), or at least had such
congenital defect that he was easily subject to this sort of injury, but I think the fact
of his having a final strain sufficient to cause him intense pain must be held to have
caused the intestine to protrude through the abdominal ring. I do not see, there
fore, that the case is particularly different from other cases decided by the commis
sion in which a man predisposed' to disease or even suffering from it, is perhaps in
ignorance of the disease or at all events finds his disease not disabling until an acci
dent accelerates it and causes disability. I, therefore, advise that an award be made.
This opinion accords with the announced policy of the commission
as noted on page 232.
In another case,3 however, where death occurred as the result of
an operation for indirect inguinal hernia “ which could have been
caused by an accident sustained during the course of his employ
ment,” the board recognized the possibility of traumatic hernia.
The evidence showed that no hernia was discovered by the physi
cian who had examined the injured man four days previous to the
alleged accident and an award was made on the ground that death
resulted from accidental injury. The appellate division of the Court
1Jim Mike v. Sullivan-Daly Construction Co., Industrial Board of Illinois, Bui. No. 1. Opinions in cases
arising under the workmen’s compensation act, decided by the Industrial Board of Illinois from the date
of its organization, July 1, 1913, to July 1,1915, p p . 31, 32. Also Monthly R ev ie w of the U . S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics for February, 1916, p. 58.
2Lottie Coons v . Endicott, Johnson & Co., cited in Bulletin of the New York State Industrial Commis
sion, vol. 2, No. 10, July, 1917, p. 203. The award was affirmed by the appellate division of the Court of
Appeals.
2Fleming v. Gair Co., 176 App. Div. 23, Dec. 28,1916; cited in court decisions on workmen’s compensa
tion laws, August, 1916, to May, 1918, Part I, p. 241.
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of Appeals affirmed the award, stating: “An accident seems to be
the only suggestion which tends to account for the hernia.”
Practically the opposite view to that expressed in the Coons case
was taken by the Industrial Accident Commission of California,
which announced in its reports of decisions for the year 1915 (vol. 2,
p. 221), that “ where there is a conflict of testimony as to whether a
hernia as shown to have been sustained by an employee was in fact
an old condition or recently caused by accident, and the testimony
of the applicant shows sufficient' pain and disability at the time of
the accident to ordinarily establish an accidental hernia, but the
physician operating for the cure testifies that the operative findings
showed the hernia to be an old one, preference will be given to the
testimony of the operating physician, and no compensation will be
allowed. The policy of the commission in nearly all cases is to accept
as conclusive the findings of the operating surgeon, if definite.”
In a Kentucky case1 the workmen’s compensation board, in award
ing compensation for 26 weeks to a workman claiming hernia as the
result of an injury, appears to have taken the position that real
traumatic hernia is a possibility. In its memorandum on the case
in question the board says:
From the testimony of plaintiff and McKune, it is well established that the accident
and injury occurred. From their testimony, the nature of the accident, the subse
quent symptoms, the testimony of Drs. Farmer and Hancock, it is well established
that the injury resulted in hernia. The board therefore finds that plaintiff in proving
his case has met the requirements of section 4a, which are as follows, to wit: First,
That there was an injury resulting in hernia; second, that the hernia appeared sud
denly and immediately followed the injury; third, that the hernia did not exist in
any degree prior to the injury for which compensation is claimed.
A point of distinction made by some commissions in considering
an award for hernia is whether or not the claimant, immediately
upon feeling the pain following a strain, notified another person of
his condition. The award by the New York State Industrial Com
mission, noted on page 235, was made on the ground that the evi
dence showed that the deceased had immediately spoken of his injury
to a fellow worker, that he was suffering pain and that he ceased
work and later told his wife of his injury and pain.
Another case2 before the New York State Industrial Commission
involved an award on the ground that, according to the evidence,
the injured man did not notify another person of his injury or give
evidence of pain by an outcry of any kind. The Wisconsin Indus
trial Commission took the same position in a case3 where the evi1 O. H. Griffin v. George II. Rommell Co. Workmen’s Compensation Board, Commonwealth of Ken
tucky. Report of leading decisions, Aug. 1, 1916, to Nov. 1, 1917, p. 85.
2Maria Bellafaire v. Roman Bronze Works. Bulletin of the New York State Industrial Commission,
vol. 2, No. 10, July, 1917, p. 213.
3Louis Dahl v. Wisconsin Construction Co., cited in Sixth Annual Report, Wisconsin Industrial Com
mission, July 1, 1916 to June 30,1917, pp. 57, 58.
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dence showed that the injured man did not speak of any pain at the
time of his injury and did not cease work.
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF HERNIA IN COMPENSATION AWARDS.
A careful examination of all recent available State reports on the
operation of workmen’s compensation laws was made in an effort
to determine, if possible, the relative importance of hernia as a dis
abling injury when measured by time loss, and also to ascertain the
proportionate number of cases of hernia as compared with all nonfatal injuries extending beyond two weeks. The result of this search
was unsatisfactory. Some of the States having workmen’s com
pensation laws do not make separate classification of cases of hernia.
In other States the number of cases of hernia may be noted, but no
record is given as to the time loss or compensation paid. The fol
lowing table represents the only data that could be found:
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF HERNIA IN WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION CASES IN
SPECIFIED STATES.
Accident s causing disability extending
beyond tw o weeks.
State.
He m ia cases re ported.
Year ending—
N um ber.
N um
her.
California r ________________ . . . . . . .
Illinois
____________. . . . .
Maryland
_________ ___ . . . . . . .
ATjrrno^ota
______ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ont ana
•• __T________. . . . .
Nevada
___ ______ . . . . . . . . . . . .
__________ _____ _
Oroonn
W psh jn a t on ............................................
W est Virginia
......................................
W isconsin....................................................
Dec. 31, 1916...........
........do......................
Oct. 31, 1917...........
June 30, 1916..........
June 30, 1917<........
June 30, 1916®........
June 30, 1915..........
Sept. 30, 1917.........
June 30,1914..........
1917®...'...................
18,003
18,061
2 4,974
8 4,963
8 14,684
7 i;776
• 1,227
»11,368
1810,787
26,451
752
220
274
129
51
41
11
160
33
486
Per cent
of total.
4.18
2.73
5.51
«2.59
.35
2.31
.90
1.41
.31
1.83
Average
days lost
per case.
29.5
74.9
41.6
58.0
39.0
41.0
1 Represents the number of reported accidents on which final compensation was paid. If the number of
disabilities extending beyond the first week, which is the waiting period in Illinois, is counted the figure
would be 11,769 giving a percentage of 1.87.
2 Claims for compensation, not including fatal cases.
3 Closed cases only. Based on the total number of nonfatal accidents subject to the act (12,778) the per
centage of hernia cases is approximately 1.
* Two years ending this date.
, ,
.................
^ , ,
s All accidents reported. The report does not show in how many of these cases the disability extended
beyond two weeks.
e Three years ending this date.
7The waiting period was two weeks until Mar. 22, 1915, when it was reduced to 1 week.
s Accidents reported and definitely passed upon and for which compensation was paid. No waiting
period. All accidents under the Oregon act are compensable.
9 The waiting period was increased from 1J days to 1 week on July 1, 1917.
All accidents reported. The report does not show in how many of these cases the disability
extend beyond 1 week, which is the waiting period in West Virginia.
The number of hernia accidents in a given State should vary
roughly with the industrial population under the compensation act.
It will be noted that there is a great relative divergence in the several
States. For example, the number of hernia cases in Illinois was
220; in California, 752. And yet the industrial population of Illinois
87721°—18----- 16
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is approximately twice that of California. This disparity may be
explained in two ways, either of which is sufficient in itself. In Cali
fornia all employers are required to report accidents 1 to the indus
trial accident commission, while in Illinois only such employers as
are subject to the compensation act are required to report accidents
to the industrial board. Again, greater accuracy or completeness in
reporting may account for the relatively large number of hernia cases
in California. Also, the Illinois report states that the returns for
the year indicated were received from only 5,670 employers, which
is “ only about 20 per cent of the number of employers who have
filed with this board certificates of insurance.” For the reasons
given the data for the various States are not comparable and it
is not the purpose of the table to show the relative importance of
hernia in one State as compared with another. What the table does
show is the importance of hernia in relation to the total number of
serious accidents in each State, and it suggests the desirability of
the States adopting more generally the practice of requiring the re
porting of all hernia cases and the amount of time lost on account
of this disablement.
The table reveals a wide divergence as between States in the aver
age number of days lost in each case of hernia—varying from 29.5
days in California to 74.9 days in Minnesota. In view of the absence
of definite information concerning the history of the cases cited, from
which information certain reasons for the variation in time loss might
be deduced, it is perhaps idle to attempt an explanation of the
matter. We do not know, for example, whether the workman in a
particular instance was allowed a period of days in which to decide
upon the matter of submitting to an operation, thus prolonging the
period of disability, or whether, upon the first indication of a dis
eased condition, revealed either by physical examination or by
unusual strain in the course of employment, the workman was re
quired by the employer to submit at once to an operation in order
to shorten as much as possible the duration of disablement. Fur
thermore, it does not appear whether the workman, upon being
confined to a hospital for treatment, was held, or of his own volition
remained, there longer than absolutely necessary to effect a cure.
It is perhaps safe to assume that because of avoidable delay some
where in the course of treatment many cases of hernia are prolonged
for a greater period than is really required by the nature of the injury.
Dr. James Burry, chief surgeon of the Illinois Steel Co., Chicago, in
an address before the fifth annual congress of the National Safety
1This also applies to Maryland, Montana, Nevada,Washington, and West Virginia. In Wisconsin onlyemployers having four or more employees are required to report accidents, while the Minnesota law has
no provision for accident reporting.
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Council, at Detroit, in October, 1916, stated that in his experience,
based on 1,000 operated cases, “ our average in returning these cases
to manual labor is three weeks.” 1 He also called attention to the
fact that Bassini, the great Italian specialist whose method of opera
tion is followed by most surgeons, made it a rule to dismiss his
patients from the hospital in eight days. The average duration of
disability on account of hernia, as given by Dr. Burry, namely, 21
days, is an interesting contrast with the figures given in the table and
suggests the introduction, as respects the cases there cited, of the
element of malingering on the part of the injured workman, or of
lack of attention by the employer to the physical condition of his
workers in order to discover existing hernia and require prompt
surgical treatment to effect a cure.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS FOR WORK.
Of considerable importance to employers and employees in States
having workmen’s compensation laws is the policy of medical exami
nation of applicants for work to determine whether hernia is liable
to develop and to enable an employer either to reject such applicant
or to give him work that will not require heavy lifting or unusual
strain of any kind. Especially is this true, perhaps, in those States
where the body administering the compensation law has shown
an inclination to grant awards in cases where the evidence has dis
closed that the claimant had a congenital hernia. It is maintained
by employers that if such medical examination discloses the presence
of a diseased condition which might develop into hernia, it does not
necessarily preclude employment. It merely offers the employer an
opportunity to reject the applicant, if thought advisable, or to require
the prospective employee to fortify himself as completely as possible
against injury by the wearing of a properly fitted truss, or to give
him work which, notwithstanding his condition, he is physically able
to perform. Moreover, they hold that it acquaints the applicant
with his true physical condition so that he may have the trouble re
moved by operation, or, if this is not immediately advisable, so that
he may conserve his efforts while at his daily work in order to avoid
unusual strain which might result in an aggravated condition. The
periodical examination of employees is thought by many to be ad
visable as a protection to the worker as well as to the employer. It is
probably safe to assume, from the data which follow, that practically
all applicants with hernia revealed by medical examination are re
jected by employers, or at least are required to submit to operation
before employment begins. In fact, some companies announce that
they make it a practice to reject applicants whose parts are so weak1Proceedings of the National Safety Council, F i f t h
20,1916, p. 714.
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
ened as to render them liable to hernia or those having more than a
certain degree hernia. Such are the Norton Co. and the Norton
Grinding Co. (Worcester, Mass.). The record of their experience
shows that from May, 1911, to May, 1916, following the examination
of 2,618 applicants, 100 were rejected, of which 32 per cent were
denied employment on account of hernia.1 The last 1,000 consecu tive
cases examined in a group of 1,379 prospective employees revealed
50 cases (5 per cent) of hernia. In five years’ experience the physical
examination of employees in these factories, employing about 2,800
workers, brought out among others the following fact:
The average workman does not object to physical examination, and the majority
of them are pleased to have such an examination made on account of the information
it gives them, and because it throws them in intimate contact with the doctor to whom
they are going to apply afterwards in case of sickness or accident.
The report including the results of physical examination of wage
earners in Ohio in 19142 issued by the Industrial Commission, shows
a similar condition. Of 23,118 applicants for work examined in 25
establishments keeping records of causes of rejection, 1,040 were re
jected because of physical incapacity, and of this number 230 were
found to have inguinal hernia, 30 had hernia with complications, and
7 had relaxed rings—a total of 267, or 25.7 per cent. Of 8,054 em
ployees examined in six establishments keeping records of such ex
aminations, 791 were reported unfitted for the work in which engaged
at the time of the examination. Of this number, 218 were found to
have inguinal hernia, 46 hernia with complications, and 8 relaxed
rings—a total of 372, or 34.4 per cent.
LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN COMPENSATION LEGISLATION.
B Y LINDLEY D . CLARK.
INTRODUCTION.
The road to the present position of the compensation system is
marked by wreckage and debris, and the end is not yet in sight.
The wreckage is due in part to the inability of the courts to accept
the new principle of protection against occupation risk in lieu of the
old theory of individual liability for negligence, and in part to the
blunders of legislation in a new field; while the debris may be charged
to the laying aside of inadequate provisions or the recasting of entire
laws, in the effort to remedy tentative enactments or to advance
R ep o rted in a paper entitled “ Medical supervision of factory employees,” read before the section on
preventive medicine and public health at the 67th annual session of the American Medical Association
at Detroit, in June, 1916. See Monthly R ev ie w , March, 1917, p . 442.
2“ Physical examination of wage earners in Ohio in 1914” in Bulletin of the Industrial Commission of
Ohio, Oct. 7,1915, p. 12. Columbus.
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beyond the standards adopted by poorly informed or reluctant
legislatures.
Doubtless the idea of a guaranteed relief without suits at law or
proof of negligence was imported from across the Atlantic; but it
was apparently not agreeable to legislators on this side of the water
to accept forms along with ideas, so that the first enactments in the
field were not only not based on any pattern derived from experience
but were likewise drawn up without the study arnd investigation that
have preceded the real establishment of the compensation system
in this country; for although legislative committees were appointed
to investigate the subject as early as 1903 (Massachusetts), 1905
(Illinois), and 1907 (Connecticut and Massachusetts), none of these
States was the pioneer in legislation, nor indeed were any of these
committees directly influential in securing the enactment of a law.
The credit for initiating in this country legislation providing for
accident relief without a suit belongs to Maryland, with its acts of
1902, providing systems of cooperative insurance for designated
groups of employees. The Federal Congress (1908) and another
State (Montana, 1909) enacted compensation laws before the true
period of investigation commissions, of which three were appointed in
1909, eight in 1910, and twelve in 1911. Of all these statutes it is
not too much to say that they were inadequate in scope, benefits,
and system, and afforded sufficient proof, if any was needed, of the
necessity for careful preliminary study of the subject as a condition pre
cedent to the enactment of laws, the sporadic efforts of individuals and
insufficiently informed groups being evidently incapable of meeting
the requirements of the situation.1 However, without detracting
from the importance and value of the work done by the commissions
created to make investigations and to draft bills for laws, it cannot
be overlooked that there is still manifest n disposition to disregard
precedent and to establish local and divergent standards.
Local conditions are stressed and influential industrial groups are
favored without legal or economic justification,2 and that the com
missions were encouraged rather than discouraged in such diversi
fications appears from the wording of the resolution adopted by the
Legislature of Virginia as late as 1916, authorizing a commission to
1 For a fuller account ol the matters here noted reference may he had to Bulletin 203, U. S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
2 A striking illustration of this influence appears in the original compensation law of Texas, excluding
laborers “ working for a cotton gin” (included in 1917), and in th at of Maine in its exclusion of one of its
greatest and most hazardous industries—“ cutting, hauling, rafting or driving logs.” The same exception
appears in the employers’ liability law of the State, enacted in 1909; and when the constitutionality of that
act was contested on the ground of an improper classification, the Supreme Court of the State sustained
the law saying th at the appliances and power used in logging are well known and their dangers are obvious,
many of its features being familiar to employees before engaging in the employment. It was therefore held
proper to distinguish it from manufacturing employments. (Dirken v. Great Northern Paper Co. (1913)
86Atl. 320.) The practically universal exclusion of farm labor is a direct reflex of the relative political and
economic influence of th e parties in interest.
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recommend “ such legislation as having regard to the peculiar con
ditions of Virginia will do justice to both employers and employees.”
Stock insurance companies have combatted with varying degrees of
success the movement to establish State insurance funds of exclusive
operation; while the relative strength of employers’ and employees’
associations is reflected in laws of greater or less liberality.
Viewing the country as a whole, it appears that of the 48 States,
38 have accepted the principle of compensation as a substitute for
the rule of liability for negligence; so that the most glaring lack of
uniformity is that shown by the 10 States1 which still hold to what
must be regarded as an inadequate and obsolete system. That the
disadvantage resulting from this lack is not merely a local matter
of no general concern is evidenced from the effect that it has
had in the handling of the problem of accident relief in the under
takings of contractors in the various States of this group doing war
work for the Government. Various suggestions, such as contract
provisions, voluntary relief, insurance covering a wider field than
that of the present employers’ liability, etc., have been considered,
but the matter is obviously one in which the State should act,
whether or not the special and temporary needs can be otherwise met.
As to existing laws the fundamental differences may be said to
consist in types of laws and methods of administration. Opinions
may differ as to the degree of importance attaching to the matters
of elective versus compulsory compensation, optional versus required
insurance, and commission versus court administration; but certainly
these three factors are of prime importance, while with them must
be taken the essential and basic matters of the amount of compen
sation and the scope of the acts. Other points entitled to considera
tion are the question of an exclusive State system as against private
or mixed insurance, and a great variety of more or less important
factors, as medical attendance, waiting time, details of procedure,
provisions for lump-sum settlement, attitude toward nonresident
alien beneficiaries, etc.
Assuming that local industrial conditions afford grounds for
certain variations of detail, and possibly in matters of major im
portance, i.e., as where a certain western State insisted that its
! industrial development was not sufficiently advanced to warrant the
creation of an administrative commission, there still remains the
inquiry: Is there not an actual superiority attaching to one principle
or method that warrants its general adoption to the exclusion of
alternatives ? Are not the unity and solidarity of interests of
industry, both from the standpoint of the employer and from that
of the employee, so extensive and real as to overrun State boundaries
1Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, M is s is s ip p i, M is s o u ri, N o r t h C a r o lin a , North D a k o ta , South
Carolina, and Tennessee.
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and demand a practical uniformity in the conditions of production
and employment? Has the test of adequacy of amounts and modes
of relief been sufficiently considered and applied in the various
jurisdictions ?
Without carrying the investigation into the details developed in
the bulletins of the bureau that have made practically complete
presentations of current conditions,1 some of the more important
divergencies in type and practices are here summarized, with the
hope that such presentation may give a new impetus to efforts—
not yet sufficiently definite or insistent—for greater adequacy and
uniformity in at least the fundamental provisions of the compen
sation system.
COMPULSION OR ELECTION.
The accompanying map shows the extent of existing legislation
and the nature of the laws, i. e., elective or compulsory, and whether
or not insurance is required; also the States having a State insur
ance fund, and its type. Of the 38 States having compensation
laws, 11 are classified as compulsory and 27 as elective. Of the
former group, all but one require insurance, while of the latter all
but three make such requirement. It may be noted that all the
six States enacting compensation laws in 1917-18 incorporated this
principle of safeguarding the payments due the injured worker.
Fifteen States maintain State insurance systems, the Virginia statute
also mentioning such a system, but making no provision therefor;
of these, nine are in open competition with other systems of insurance,
while four are absolutely and two others practically exclusive.
Where the elective system exists, the law is in a number of instances
compulsory in its application to public employees; this on the ground,
no doubt, of the power of the State to determine the conditions on
which it will conduct its transactions, the same as any other party to
a contract. The constitutional objection to a compulsory statute of
general application, which is sometimes offered as a bar to the enact
ment of such laws, has been met in several States 2 by the adoption
of an amendment to the constitution authorizing the legislature to
enact a compulsory law. Not all these States have compulsory laws,
while on the other hand a number of States have such laws without
the amendment. In the absence of such authorization the courts of
-last resort of New York3 and Kentucky4 held the laws of their
respective States unconstitutional as depriving persons of their
rights without due process of law. The supreme courts of the State
>No. 126 (tospnd of 1913), No. 203 (to end of 1916), No. 240 (to end of 1917), and No. 243 (to July, 1918).
sArizona, California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wyoming.
¡Ives v. South Buffalo R. Co. (1911), 201 N. V . 271, 94 N. E. 431.
«Kentucky State Journal Co. v. Workmen’s Compensation Board (1914), 170 S. W. 1166. The act
was not in form compulsory, hut contained a provision making employees subject to the act where
the employer accepted, which was held to violate the constitutional rights of the employee
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M O N TH LY LABOE EE VIEW .
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and the United States, however, without such an amendment,
upheld the compulsory statute of Washington,1 against contentions
that it violated the “ due process of law” and “ equal protection”
clauses of the fourteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution and
correlative provisions of the State constitution. The United States
Supreme Court stated that it had just upheld the power of the Legis
lature of the State of New York to substitute for the doctrine of
liability for damages one of obligation to provide a definite scale
of compensation for loss of earning power, irrespective of the question
of negligence.2 And while the law of Washington goes beyond that
of New York in its compulsory State insurance system, the Supreme
Court found in this no violation of the provisions of the four
teenth amendment. The Supreme Court of Washington, as noted
above, had already sustained the compulsory law of that State
without the aid of any special constitutional provision, directly
rejecting the doctrines of the New York court in this regard. The
affirmance of this position by the Supreme Court of the United States,
together with its decision sustaining the New York law on grounds
not requiring reference to the State constitution (which had, of
course, been finally adjudicated by the State courts), leads to the
conclusion that the hesitation to enact a compulsory law for fear
of coming into conflict with constitutional principles has been
without actual warrant. Since “ no person has a vested interest
in any rule of law, entitling him to insist that it shall remain
unchanged for his benefit” (White case), the crucial question to
be met is whether the act “ clearly appears to be not a fair and
reasonable exertion of governmental power, but so extravagant
and arbitrary as to constitute an abuse of power” (Mountain Timber
Co. v . Washington). Failing such showing, the law will stand as a
proper exercise of the police power of the State, in the absence of
specific and peculiar inhibitory provisions of the State constitution.
As to the desirability of a compulsory law there can hardly be a
question. The condemnation of the liability system is all hut uni
versal; and the unreasonableness of formulating a system of superior
merit, clearly in the public interest, and leaving its acceptance or
rejection to the whim or supposed self-interest of individuals, would
seem to be self-evident were it not that this condition is found to
exist in such a large number of States. While of the six laws of latest
enactment but two are compulsory, it is of interest to note that the
important industrial State of Illinois, after five years of experience
under an elective system, in 1917 amended its act so as to make it
1State v . Clausen (1911), 65 Wash. 165, 117 Pac. 1101; Mountain Timber Co. v. Washington (1917), 243
U. S. 219, 37 Sup. 260. Other compulsory statutes th at have been upheld by the State courts of last resort
w ithout a constitutional amendment are those of Maryland and Oklahoma.
2New York C. R. Co. v . W hite (1917), 243 U. S. 188, 37 Sup. 247.
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compulsory, the States of California and Ohio having taken similar
action in 1913, after two years under elective laws; also a commis
sion was appointed in Oregon in 1917 to study the question of making
the compensation law of that State compulsory; and while the num
ber of States having compulsory laws is still less than one-half the
number having elective systems, this must be regarded as a defect
to be cured by the adoption of the present minority idea rather than
by any surrender to the existing majority; for it is no more desirable
that uniformity be gained by retrogression in this matter than that
the first two or three years of legislation should have been rescinded
because a majority of the States were still outside the compensation
fold.
INSURANCE.
As already indicated, by far the larger number of laws require some
form of insurance to guarantee the payment of awards. The pro
priety, not to say necessity, of such a provision is apparently con
ceded, since but four 1 of the existing laws omit such a requirement,
four States 2 having amended their laws on this point in 1917. How
ever, the divergencies as to method would seem to represent every
possible variation, partly due no doubt to the difficulties inherent
in formulating a new sj^stem, partly to the representations of the
casualty companies already in the field as writers of employers’ lia
bility insurance, and partly to the difficulty in deciding upon the
preferred method.3
In 15 States * a State fund to carry insurance under the act is
provided for, such fund being made exclusive in four jurisdictions,5
while in two others 6 the result is practically the same. Besides these,
Kentucky and Texas have copied a provision of the law of Massa
chusetts in arranging for the establishment of an employees’ insur
ance association as a quasi-official State organization on a mutual
basis; but though the original intention of the proponents of the
plan in Massachusetts was to give this institution full control of
insurance under the act, it was amended before final passage so as to
allow stock companies to compete; which is the state of affairs in
Kentucky and Texas also. The Louisiana Legislature at its recent
session provided for the appointment of a committee to investigate
1Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, and Minnesota.
!California, Illinois, Nebraska, and New Jersey.
;Thus the Michigan statute provides for four systems: Insurance in stock companies, in m utual asso
ciations, in a State fund, and self-insurance, the commission drafting the law announcingits purpose thus
to enable “ the State to determine as the result of actual experience which of these methods is in fact best
adapted to the needs of the employers and employees in this State.” A commission provided for in 1917
is charged with the duty ofreviewing the operations ol the act during its (now) six years ofexistence, and
recommending such amendments as their investigations seem to warrant. Of course, it can not be sur
mised whether or not they will announce a conclusion on this subject.
<The law of one other State (Virginia) mentions a State fund, but makes no provision for its creation.
'Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
Ohio and West Virginia.
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and report on the subject of a state system of insurance for employees
under the compensation act; the subject is also receiving special
attention at the hands of persons interested in prospective legisla
tion for the State of Missouri.
Despite the vigorous, not to say bitter, controversy on the subject
of the State fund, the fact seems incontrovertible that, such funds are
effectively administered in a number of States, that they have re
ceived the high commendation of approval and adoption after thor
ough investigation by Canadian commissions, that they effect impor
tant savings in the way of premiums, and that the entire adminis
trative system is simplified and reinforced by placing this essential
factor of the scheme of compensation exclusively in the hands of the
administrative commission. No State having once adopted such a
system has abandoned it, and from the point of view of the carrying
out of a public policy to establish a compensation system, it would
seem hardly less logical to permit the collection and disbursement of
public taxes by a private agency than to remit the duty of collecting
and disbursing compensation benefits to such agencies. It is note
worthy also that in a majority of the States in which private insur
ance is permitted there is a measure of State control relating to the
subject of premium rates, provisions of policies, and other details.
ADMINISTRATION.
Of the 38 States of the Union having compensation laws but eight1
leave their administration to the courts. Five out of the six new
laws of 1917-18 provide for commissions, while one of the oldest
laws (that of New Jersey) was supplemented in 1918 by the creation
of a workmen’s compensation bureau, charged with the determi
nation of awards and the power to review all agreements between
employers and employees. This enactment is the outcome of inves
tigations showing the unsatisfactory results following upon an
unsupervised operation of the law under a system of court adminis
tration, extending over a period of approximately seven years.That the difference between a scheme on paper and a working
system depends on administration was sufficiently demonstrated in
the earlier days of factory legislation in which rules were devised
but no inspectors provided for their enforcement; and the great and
growing preponderance of commissions as against court administra
tion gives ground for hope that the benefits of a commission adminis
tered compensation law soon may be provided in all jurisdictions.
SCOPE.
While the statement that more than three-fourths of the -States of
the Union have compensation laws would naturally carry the inferArizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Wyoming.
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ence that the workers of that many States are given the protection
of such laws, this is far from the truth. Under the elective system
any number of employers or employees may reject and nullify the act
entirely in so far as it provides compensation. Many of the laws
carry with them modifications of the liability of the employer, and
this feature can not be waived There is thus a more stringent
liability statute, but compensation principles do not apply. While
accurate data are lacking, it appears that in some instances the
actual coverage under the elective plan runs as low as 25 per cent,
or even less, of the workers of the State potentially covered, so that
it seems almost a misnomer to speak of such jurisdictions 'as having
a compensation law.
Direct exclusions and exemptions, either actual or potential, also
give rise to considerable reductions in the scope of the acts. Thus
to classify certain industries as hazardous, as is done in 13 States,
excluding those not so defined or classified, is to discriminate against
workers in the excluded classes on grounds that are hard to defend.
Indeed, the most 'important industrial State of the Union, after
annual attempts to rectify indefensible situations that were pre
sented to its legislature, practically abandoned the classification by
declaring all employments hazardous in which four or more workmen
or operatives are regularly employed, and which are not otherwise
covered by the act.1
This form of limitation, in effect, brings this State into the group,
17 in number, already basing their laws on this principle of fellow
service as a hazard, the assumption being that fewness of numbers
reduces hazards, while their increase multiplies them; though in some
States the limitations of hazard and of numbers exist side by side.
The transformation of fellow service from a defense of the em
ployer to a ground for his obligation to provide for compensation is a
distinct advance; but the infrequency of the injury does not mitigate
its consequences any more in the case of the employee of a small
-employer than that of a worker in a so-called nonhazardous industry.
Vermont and Virginia carry this exclusion so far as to make their
laws apply only where there are as many as 11 workers, other mini
mums being, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The foregoing limitations would of themselves exclude the majority
of agricultural and domestic workers, but specific exclusions apply
to them in practically every State. The casual worker is likewise
an outlaw in most jurisdictions, and is a frequent cause of dispute
before the commissions and in the courts, while several States put
workers for employers and institutions not seeking gain or profit
likewise outside the act. In every such case it is obvious that the
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interests of the employee are utterly disregarded, as well as those of
the community as a whole, which must ultimately afford the injured
worker some sort of relief in the extreme need that may result from
such defect in the compensation system. Admitting recognized diffi
culties in the way of administration, the needs of the worker of each
class remain, and the casual employee, the domestic servant, and the
agricultural laborer furnish an additional argument for the estab
lishment of a simple, exclusive, and complete system of State insur
ance with local conveniences made easily available for the purchase
of just such insurance as each condition requires. But whatever be
the solution, it can not yet be said that the system of compensation
is in effect when it is possible to estimate that the exclusions contained
in the laws eliminate almost one-third of all employees in the com
pensation States, regardless of the question of election.1
AMOUNT OF BENEFITS.
Perhaps the first question raised in the beginning of the movement
for compensation was as to the benefits to the worker and the cost
to the employer. Based mainly on percentages of wages, the
amounts vary from 50 to 66 § per cent of such wages, the minimum
being found in 22 States and the maximum in but 4. Other
percentages used are 55, 60, and 65. Some tendency to increase
benefits has been manifested, both by way of enlarging the percent
age basis and of raising the weekly maximum which most laws estab
lish. This maximum ranges from $8 in Colorado to $20.83 in Cali
fornia, 5 having a limit of $15, 2 of $14, etc. The amount most
commonly adopted is $10, found in 13 States. Making allowance
for some differences in cost of living, it still remains true that the
differences in degrees of adequacy found in the laws are ex
cessive. The burden of industrial injuries, supposed to be lifted
from the shoulders of the less able partner in industry, rests too
heavily upon the worker when he contributes by his own self-denial
and that of his family one-half the cost, besides the entire suffering
and inconvenience. Limitations that bar awards adequate for
current needs are economically indefensible.2
This point is particularly emphasized by the rapid advance in the
cost of living in the past few years. Though this has been in large
measure accompanied by increases in the wage rate, the relative
compensation benefits derivable from this latter fact are restricted
where there is an absolute limitation on the weekly amounts payable,
so that a workman who by the percentage basis would be entitled to’
b u lle tin 240, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pp. 26-34.
^Interesting data on adequacy may be found in Bui. 217 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Effect
ci Workmen’s Compensation Laws in Diminishing the Necessity of Industrial Employment of Women
and Children.
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compensation in an amount as high as $30 or $40 per week is limited
to $10 or $15. This is so far below his current income as a workman
as.to cause great dissatisfaction; furthermore, money is so greatly
reduced in purchase power as to emphasize more sharply still the
hardship of the arbitrary measure established with the apparent idea
that economic conditions were fixed beyond the possibility of a change
from what they were at the time that the law was passed. Another
complaint comes from the employer whose premiums are a percentage
of the wages paid, and who finds his payments increased according
to the increase in his pay roll, but sees also the returns to his injured
workmen scaled by the fixed maximum, now entirely out of relation
to trade and labor conditions, the difference remaining in the hands
of the insurance companies.1
What is true of rates and weekly maximums applies as well to a
third limitation—the period of payments. While 18 States continue
payments for total disability throughout its term, others limit them to
fixed periods, usually 400 or 500 weeks. But 5 States continue death
benefits for the lifetime of the widow, others paying for periods vary
ing in length from 260 to 500 weeks. Finally, an absolute limitation
is set in about one-half of the States, an amount being named which
may not be exceeded in any event. This ranges in case of disability
from $3,000 to $5,000, and in case of death from $2,500 to $5,000.
States which pay disability benefits during the life of the disabled
workman may of course exceed these amounts; and the same is
true when death benefits are paid until the death or remarriage of a
dependent widow or widower, and to children until the age of 18 is
reached. A higher maximum than any fixed by law may be reached
also in a few cases where only weekly maximums and total periods of
'payment are fixed; as in Kansas, $15 per week for total disability, for
not over 400 weeks, permitting a payment of $6,000. Under the law
of Louisiana ($16 for 400 weeks) $6,400 is the possible maximum.
On the other hand, several States which fix weekly amounts and
periods establish a maximum total that does not coordinate with the
two factors; as in Indiana, where the maximum for disability is
$13.20 per week for 500 weeks, but a limit of $5,000 is set instead of
the $6,600 which would result from the factors; for death, $12
weekly for 300 weeks, with the same limit instead of the $3,600
which could actually be paid out; Massachusetts, for disability,
$14 for 500 weeks, with a limit of $4,000 instead of the $7,000 obtained
by multiplication; for death, $10 for 500 weeks, with the same limit,
again reducing the potential benefits. Earlier laws of the two States
fixed the maximum amounts recoverable by employees in suits for
1An investigation into the question of a proper adjustment of premiums is now being made by the
National Reference Committee on Workmen’s Insurance.
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251
damages at $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Granting the propriety
of lower maximums for automatic and certain benefits than for pos
sible recoveries in damages, largely reduced in practice by court costs
and attorneys’ fees, the question of discrepancy between the products
of the factors and the fixed totals is not answered; and whatever the
merits or demerits of fixing the weekly maximum at a rate that would
exhaust the total allowance before the expiration of the period fixed,
no justification appears for naming a total allowance greater than
the amount that could be paid out at the weekly rate and within the
period fixed, that presenting too much the aspect of making a promise
of liberality, and then setting a bar to its fulfillment.
Whether death benefits are for limited terms or are payable during
the lifetime of the widow, they usually terminate on her remarriage.
In a few cases a lump sum is given, perhaps as an encouragement to
matrimony, and to the relief of the funds, as one-half the unpaid
balance (Colorado and Minnesota), two years’ benefits (Nevada and
New York), 10 months’ (Oregon), etc. In this provision there is a
degree of absolute right recognized, which goes so far in some States
as to provide for the devolution or redistribution of benefits in case
of the death or other event terminating compensation payments to
the recipients named in the award; in other cases the payments
cease, no vested right therein being recognized. Here are diametri
cally opposed positions, one view being that surviving, dependents
are entitled to such consideration as would have been theirs if the
intervening claimant had not been in existence at the time of the
injury, the other being that a settlement based on contemporary
equities should not be altered. One position finds its expression in
the statement of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts 1 that it is
no part of the compensation system to provide an estate for bene
ficiaries dying before they have received the stipulated compensation;
while the Supreme Court of Ohio,2 taking the position that “ the right
to be compensated for an injury has no element of charity or bounty
in it,” declares for a full payment of the allotted award as a vested
right, it being “ equally immaterial whether the dependent subse
quently dies or becomes independent.”
The points above noted are not of equal value, nor is there equal
desirability of uniformity as regards them all; but it seems not too
much to hope that with actual experience under the various pro
visions of the different laws and the testing out of their adaptation
and sufficiency, a better adjustment can be arrived at and given
general approval. A counterpart of the early investigative commis
sions that preceded the enactment of the existing legislation is to
i l n re Murphy (1916), 113 N. E. 283.
‘ State ex rel. Munding v. Industrial Commission (1915), 111 N. E. 299.
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be found in commissions appointed in 1917 in two States 1 to study
the working of their laws and recommend changes found desirable.
If the range of the investigation could be enlarged to the extent of
comparing the laws of these States with those elsewhere in operation,
it seems at least possible that added benefits might flow from the
activities of such commissions, leading in time to the narrowing of
the differences between the laws. Thus far, however, it must be
confessed that there appears to be more of a tendency to uphold
and commend State peculiarities than to seek to remove them in an
effort toward standardization. Perhaps it is too soon to look for
an end of experimentation, but it is suggested that both administra
tive commissions and such special bodies as are provided for tem
porarily in Michigan and Oregon can serve the general welfare by
encouraging amendments tending to establish fair and equal benefits
in all jurisdictions.
SUM M ARY .
Ten States and the District of Columbia still provide only the
uncertain and discredited remedy of an action at law for damages in
case of industrial accidents. The same is true as to provisions for
employees in interstate commerce, for whom Congress must legislate.
Of the 38 States of the Union having compensation laws, but 11
have statutes of binding effect, acceptance in the other jurisdictions
being optional, subject of course to persuasive provisions of more
drastic liabilities if compensation is rejected, but not amounting to a
fixed obligation.
Constitutional objections to compulsory laws, sustained in one or
two States, have been overruled by the highest authorities elsewhere,
and notably by the Supreme Court of the United States, and the
enactment of such laws is apparently within the police power of the
States generally.
Insurance of the employee’s benefits is required in all but four
States, but there is the greatest possible diversity as to the form and
method of such insurance. State funds exist in 15 States, but private
competition is allowed in all but five or six.
The laws of eight States are left to the courts for administration,
though the importance of an administrative board or commission
seems to be generally recognized.
Options under election and absolute or practically absolute exclu
sions debar large groups of workers from the benefits of compensation
laws, varying widely as to numbers under the different laws, but in
every instance rendering the law just so far inadequate as a form of
public benefit, perpetuating inequalities and continuing the hard
ships of the liability system.
1Michigan and Oregon.
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Very considerable differences in amounts of benefits persist in the
different States, some showing marked inadequacy and the need of a
determination of proper amounts according to a standard capable of
general adoption.
The question as to whether the right to compensation benefits is
vested and absolute within the boundaries fixed by the statutes, or
whether it is subject to defeat by the happening of subsequent events,
receives conflicting answers in different jurisdictions.
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION LAW OF WYOMING HELD CONSTITU
TIONAL.
A workman injured in a mine in Wyoming sought to secure damages
in an act ion at law notwithstanding the defendant company’s conten
tion that its obligations were fixed by the compensation law of the
State. The employee raised questions of constitutionality in the lower
court, and from an adverse ruling carried the case to the supreme court
of the State, but with the same result.1 Oddly enough, as it would
seem to a layman, the attorney for the plaintiff offered as a brief in
behalf of his client’s contentions the brief in the case, Mountain Timber
Co. v. State of Washington, 243 U. S. 227, 37 Sup. Ct. 260, in which the
constitutionality of t he Washington statute was contested, the supreme
court deciding in favor of the law and therefore rejecting the very points
presented against the Wyoming statute. The Wyoming court did not,
as it might, satisfy itself by a mere reference to the supreme court
decision, but went over the objections point by point, answering them,
however, by quotations from the opinion of the supreme court. These
were that the law did not observe the requirements of the preservation
of a republican form of government, did not maintain the right of
trial by jury, and did not meet the provisions of the fourteenth amend
ment as to due process of law. Apt citations from the opinion of the
supreme court were made, the judge in the present case adding that:
The right to pass workmen’s compensation acts, even without the aid of constitu
tional amendments, is generally upheld under the police power of the State, and
thereunder to regulate any industry that in its operation affects any considerable
number of the people of the State or that is a matter of public concern as distinguished
from mere private interest.
Other contentions as to the unreasonableness of classification and
the taking of the property of careful employers to maintain an insur
ance fund to compensate the workmen of careless employers were met
by upholding the power of the legislature to make such classifications
as appeared in the law; while as to the taking of the property of the
careful employer, it was pointed out that the law makes provision for
merit ratings, giving each employer the benefit of his own conduct in
1Zancanelli v. Central Coal & Coke Co., 173 Pac. 981.
87721°—18----- 17
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this regard. As to the contention that the awards provided are
unduly small; the court pointed out that it is not intended to give
compensation as damages, but more in the nature of accident insur
ance, and that it is in accord with the spirit of the act to give certain
benefits, even if smaller, rather than an uncertain recovery, a large
part of which would probably be expended in the effort to procure it.
Attention was called to the fact that the law was enacted only after
an amendment to the State constitution authorizing it had been
adopted “ after an active and strenuous campaign by and on behalf of
the workmen of the State and their organizations,” and that the act
was the result of the concurrent efforts of employers and workmen, so
the question of its adequacy or policy had been passed upon by those
most directly concerned. Every objection to the law was therefore
overruled, and the plaintiff was held not entitled to sue for damages,
all such suits being in terms abolished by the act.
REPORTS OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION COMMISSIONS.
MICHIGAN.
The statistical report of the Michigan Industrial Accident Board for
the year 1916 1 states that during 1916 the percentage of increase
over 1915 in the number of employers and employees accepting the
provisions of the workmen’s compensation law and in the number of
accidents reported to the board was greater than that in the preceding
year. The increase in the number of employers coming under the
provisions of the act was 3,568, in the number of employees 234,471,
and in the number of accidents reported 6,721. It shows also that of
the 46,502 accidents reported in 1916 27,439 were noncompensable ;
that is, cases where the disability did not exceed two weeks and for
which the employer was liable for medical and hospital expenses only.
The work handled by the board in 1915 and 1916 is shown in detail
in the following table:
EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES, ACCIDENTS R EPO RTED , ETC., UNDER MICHIGAN WORK
MEN’S COMPENSATION LAW, FOR THE YEARS 1915 AND 1916.
Item.
1915
Numhp.r of employers under act by election 2....................................................
15,106
Number of employees under act by election 2....................................................
505,025
4 cci d ents reported........................................................................................ .......
39,781
332
Fatal
.........................................................................................................
Fan sin y permanent partial disability...........................................................
972
C lausing temporary total disability...............................................................
12,188
13,492
Total number of c o m p e n s a b l e ................................................................
11,881
Completed cases.....................................................................................................
Agreements executed and approved....................................................................
12,539
Compensation paid in current and completed cases.......................................... $1,213,103.32
Compensation paid in completed cases only....................................................... $907,424.14
Medical and hospital service 3.............................................................................. $148,615.20
1916
18,674
739,496
46,502
389
1,713
16,961
19,063
15,745
17,563
$1,723,617.73
$1,131,675.85
$189,456.12
i Michigan Industrial Accident Board. Statistical report for the year 1916. Lansing, 1917. 27 pp.
2Municipalities, counties, etc., are subject to law without election.
8The medical and hospital expense paid by employers under State accident fund is not reported.
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W E S T V IR G IN IA .
The report of the commissioner of compensation of the State of
West Virginia covers the fourth year of the operation of the law.1
Besides the financial report of the State insurance fund, there are
certain recommendations of amendments, and reproductions of
rulings, briefs of attorneys, and decisions of the supreme court of
appeals of the State on various features of the compensation law.
Significant among the recommendations for amendments are those
urging the placing of the entire cost of compensation on the industry
through the employer instead of partly on the employee as at present;
that the limit for medical and surgical treatment be advanced from
$300 (of which $150 is to be used only for secondary treatment in ex
ceptional cases) to $450, in order to allow extended treatment in
case of need, the desirability of such allowance being shown by ex
perience, to enable the commissioner “ to relieve and make useful
citizens of employees who would otherwise be possible cripples for
life and placed upon the pension rolls of the department.” Provision
for the purchase of artificial appliances is also recommended. Death
sometimes results from an injury after the limitation fixed by the
act (26 weeks), and an extension of this limit to one year is recom
mended. Other suggestions of change are made, but special atten
tion is called by the commissioner to his proposal to repeal the amend
ment of 1915 that gave the employer the right to carry his own risk
and to protect himself by insurance in a private company, contribut
ing, however, to the expense fund of the State insurance system. The
commissioner urges the reestablishment of the State fund as the ex
clusive method of providing insurance.
Summarizing the operations of the fund for the year, the report
states that during the year ending June 30, 1917, 2,644 employers,
with about 175,000 employees, full-time basis, paid into this fund
the sum of $1,762,237.60 in premiums on total wages of
$125,220,219.52, the average premium rate having been $1.41 per
hundred dollars of wages. There were reported 22,632 personal
injuries, of which 469 were fatal, 15 permanent total, 372 permanent
partial, and 21,776 temporary disabilities. The awards, present
value basis, aggregated $1,319,143.84, being $1.05 per hundred dollars
of wages and 75 per cent of the premium income. These were dis
tributed as follows: Medical expense, $117,170.29; funeral expense,
$22,948.50, temporary disabilities, $246,552; permanent partial inju
ries, $225,473.05; permanent total injuries, $39,200; beneficiaries in
fatal injuries, $667,800.
The net administrative expense, after deducting payments into the
fund of $5,777.30 by 25 employers, with nearly 11,000 employees,
i West Virginia. Annual report of the State Compensation Commissioner, June 30,1917. Charleston,
1918. 239 pp.
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who carried their own risk, was $74,955.11, or 4.25 per cent of the
premium income. The 25 employers who carried their own risk
reported 759 personal injuries, of which 19 were fatal, 1 permanent
total, 11 permanent partial, and 728 temporary disabilities. The
awards in these cases, present value basis, were $40,881.46, being for
medical expense $1,742.50, funeral expense $547.42, temporary dis
abilities $8,708.05, permanent partial injuries $6,809.55, permanent
total injuries $8,233.89, and beneficiaries in fatal injuries $14,840.05.
During the four years ending June 30,1917, pensions were awarded
in permanent and fatal injuries to 3,807 persons, of which 676 have
been paid in full or retired from the pension roll by death, marriage,
or suspension of benefits, leaving at the close of the year 3,131
pensioners.
The report calls attention to the fact that for the first time in its
history the fund is able to show “ a surplus over liabilities, in addition
to the catastrophe reserve provided for in the amendments to the act,
1915, the surplus being $149,907.91, the reserve for catastrophes
$164,676.10, and reserve for losses $2,324,589.75, and a reserve for
future administrative expense of $25,123.31.” Attention should be
called to the fact that severe catastrophe losses were incurred during
the first and second years of the life of the fund, affecting Class A -l
(coal mining), a deficit of $601,149.68 in this fund at the beginning
of the fiscal year being reduced to $361,383.77 during the year. The
average premium rate paid by employers during the year was $1.96
per $100 of wages, the losses for the year being at the rate of $1.41
per $100 of wages, or 72 per cent of the premium income. A system
of merit rating was in force, and rates ranged from one dollar to four
dollars, according to the experience of the employer, for the 12 months
ended March 31, 1916.
The average cost of administration for the four years covered by
the summary shows the cost to have been 5.05 per cent of the earned
premium and 5.33 per cent of the losses.
The average loss ratio for the four years was $1.17 per $100 of
wages in all establishments insured in the State fund, distributed as
follows: For medical expenses, 9 cents; funeral, 3 cents; temporary
disability, 22 cents; permanent partial disability, 13 cents; permanent
total disability, 4 cents; fatal injuries, 66 cents.
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LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
M O V E M E N T FOR A PAN AMERICAN FEDERATION O F LABOR.1
A movement for a better understanding and closer cooperation
among organized labor bodies of the countries of America has been
under way for some time. In November, 1916, at the convention of
the American Federation of Labor, held in Baltimore, resolutions
were passed authorizing the establishment of the Pan American
Federation of Labor Conference Committee to further a conference
of “ bona fide labor representatives from all Pan American coun
tries,” with a view to establishing a Pan American Federation of
Labor. The committee, as appointed, consisted of representatives of
the American Federation of Labor and of organized labor of Yucatan,
Cuba, Porto Rico, and Chile.
In May, 1918, the American Federation of Labor sent to Mexico
a commission of three members to interest Mexican organized labor
in a proposed labor conference at Laredo, Tex., between representa
tives of the organized labor movement of Mexico and representatives
of the American Federation of Labor. The commission consisted of
John Lord, president of the mining department of the American
Federation of Labor; Santiago Iglesias, president of the Free Fed
eration of Labor of Porto Rico; and John Murray, member of the
International Typographical Union, and secretary of the Pan
American Federation of Labor Conference Committee. This com
mission was appointed for the following purposes:
1. To bring about a better understanding between the workers of Mexico and of
the United States.
2. To bring about a more reciprocal and cooperative course between the working
people of the United States and Mexico.
3. To lay the basis for the mutual acceptance of the union cards of the bona fide
unions of both countries, subject to the approval of the particular unions involved.
4. To help secure the economic, political, and social improvement of the condi
tions of the workers of both countries through—
(a) Economic action.
(b ) Sympathetic and cooperative legislation.
(c) Sympathetic and cooperative administration.
5. To establish the permanency of the Pan American Federation of Labor between
the workers of Mexico and of the United States and help secure the extension of the
Pan American Federation of Labor to the labor movements of all the Latin American
countries.
6. To endeavor to have a representative labor man or two to visit the convention
of the American Federation of Labor, St. Paul, Minn., beginning June 10, 1918.
i Information lor this article was compiled from numbers of the Pan American Labor Press (San
Antonio, Tex.) of Aug. 28 and Sept. 4, 11, and 18, 1918.
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7. To endeavor by every honorable means and within the limits of the powers of
private voluntary associated effort to secure the cooperation of the Governments
of the United States and Mexico in firmly establishing the principles of protection of
the peoples and the Governments of all American countries against sinister influences
or power from any other country or group of countries in the wTar.
8. To safeguard as far as it is possible the principles of autonomous independence
and democratic Pan American countries from open or insidious attempts of auto
cratic forms of Government.
In a word, to bring about mutual good will, cooperation, and confidence among
the workers, the peoples, and the Governments of Pan America.
The visit of the commission was particularly timely, since it
occurred just after the close of a Mexican labor convention held
at Saltillo, Coahuila, for the purpose of establishing a Mexican fed
eration of labor; and the members of the commission found much
interest manifested in the object of their visit.
The commission, in making its report at the St. Paul convention
of June 10-20, 1918, stated that—
There are probably half a million workers organized in Mexico, in the syndicates
and federations of syndicates. The only industries that approach nationalism, as
far as we could learn, are the miners, textile workers, and railroad workers. There are
approximately fifty thousand miners in the State of Coahuila alone, and the minem
at Coahuila, Torreon, and Purango are getting together in some kind of a national
federation. There are unions through all the mining fields of Mexico. It is hard to
get authentic figures from the different districts, owing to the long distances and lack
of national and district unity. But these local organizations are active and operat
ing in their own way, each syndicate making demands, settlements, or striking,
independently, which we are inclined to believe often has a demoralizing effect on
both operations and workers. * * *
The feeling that has animated the local labor movements is now ripe for being
molded into a national and international direction.
Mexican labor unions were invited to send delegates to the St.
Paul convention, but since the delegates arrived too late to partici
pate, a formal meeting of the Pan American Federation of Labor
Conference Committee was held for their benefit at Washington,
D. C. In a letter to these delegates, President Gompers stated,
concerning the proposed convention at Laredo, Tex.:
We deem it of fundamental importance that everything shall be done to promote
free intercourse between the masses of our countries and to establish agencies whereby
the desire and the ideals of the common people shall be given an opportunity for
expression. It was in furtherance of these purposes that the American Federation
of Labor proposed a Pan American Federation of Labor and has sought conferences
with the working people of Mexico. * * *
We realize th at the lives of nations are now so closely interrelated that no one coun
try can maintain the rights and protect the welfare of its men and women without
the cooperation of other nations. So closely identified are the interests and welfare
of the working people of Mexico and the United States, and so slight a barrier does our
boundary line interpose to economic and commercial organization, th at it is indis
pensable to maintain friendly relations and a constructive program and agencies for
mutual self-protection and advancement of the working people of our two countries.
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259
The date of the international labor conference has been fixed
for November 13-16, 1918. The governors of Texas, Arizona, and
of the Northern District of Lower California have signified their
intention to be present. All the organizations of labor in Mexico
have been invited to send delegates, and many have accepted the
invitation. In their letter of acceptance, the workers of the Mexican
Federal district propose that the Confederación Regional Obrera
Mexicana appoint one or two delegates resident in the United
States to organize Mexican workers in the United States and watch
their interests, in cooperation with the American Federation of
Labor, and that both the federation and the confederation name per
manent representatives in the cities near the border and embarka
tion points to care for the interests of workers going from one
country to the other; that Mexican workers be enabled to join the
labor organizations in the United States, without curtailment of
the support and privileges which such organizations allow to their
own members; that the confederation send its own delegates to Cen
tral and South America, in view of the fact that the American
Federation of Labor is already in correspondence with the workers
in those countries relative to the projects for unification and the
holding of the conference; and that an agreement be reached as to
the best way of finding honorable means to exert influence, so that
justice and protection be afforded to those workingmen who, for
various reasons, are deprived of their liberty through being in the
jails of the United States.
TRADES-UNION CONGRESS, GREAT BRITAIN.
The Fiftieth Annual Trades-Union Congress was held at Derby dur
ing the week beginning September 2, 1918. This meeting was of pecu
liar interest because of the many important questions arising from
the war which confront labor, and also because of the fact that this
meeting marked the jubilee year of trade-unionism in England.
The convention was attended by 876 delegates, representing more
than four and one-half million members, and the president, Mr. J.
W. Ogden (Weavers’ Amalgamation), in his opening address com
mented on the fact that the trade-union movement was numerically
stronger than at any previous period in spite of the difficult and dis
heartening industrial and economic conditions. He expressed grati
fication at the steps taken by the parliamentary committee to build
up closer relationship between the British trade-unions and the
unions of other countries, voiced the hope that a solid international
organization would be effected, and said that he fully indorsed the
view that internationalism had not failed since it had not been really
tried. He forestalled, in a measure, the question of the formation
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of a new party composed entirely of trade-unionists, which, in in
terest to the convention, was second only to the resolution on war
aims, in an appeal for cooperation and reform inside the ranks
rather than for attempts to start more organizations which would
bring division in their forces at a time when there was greater need
than ever before to consolidate and strengthen labor. In regard to
the growth of complaints of societies overlapping in their member
ship and activities, he suggested that the solution of the problem
lay in the establishment of one trade-union only, which should em
brace all classes of workers. The remainder of his speech dealt
with the furtherance of peace efforts, and he stated that he believed
that “ an international labor and socialist conference would be of
the greatest service, and is a necessary preliminary to a lasting and
democratic peace. ”
THE WAR AIMS RESOLUTION.
In order to understand the many conflicting ideas and interests
found in the ranks of labor in England and to understand the ex
tremely controversial character of such meetings as the annual con
gress it may be well to sketch very briefly the origin and growth of
the trade-union movement. In the beginning of this movement
trade-unionism was confined almost entirely to skilled crafts, the
workers in which assumed that workers in unskilled occupations
lacked the intelligence and ability to form effective unions. Later,
however, as the skilled workers showed no intention of admitting
the unskilled into their membership and following the great dock
strikes of London, Liverpool, and other centers in 1889, unions of
unskilled workers were formed which, as they were not permeated
with the conservatism of the older unions, were ready to embrace
the socialistic theories and ideas which were at that time becoming
popular. While these unions were gradually recognized and the
new ideas by degrees made headway, still the distinction between
the skilled and unskilled workers remained. The growth of these
general labor unions has been very rapid since the beginning of the
war and they are now united in a strong and aggressive federation.
Thus it will be seen that trade-unionism is not a single organization
of the working classes, hut a complex organization of more than a
thousand separate trade-unions which overlap and compete, although
they are coordinated and federated in many different ways. The
Labor Party, likewise, is composed of these elements with a strong
socialist and pacifist element comprehended in the Independent
Labor Party and the Fabian Society.
The predominating note in the last two labor congresses has
probably been the desire for unity which is evidenced by the com
promise effected in the resolution on war aims which was passed by
the congress.
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The following resolution, which was drawn up at a meeting of
representatives of the National Union of Railwaymen, the General
Workers’ Union, and other sections which had offered conflicting
resolutions on the subject of war and peace, was placed before the
conference:
This congress reaffirms the Blackpool Congress resolution and calls for the war
aims of the Labor and Socialist parties of the Central Powers in answer to the war
aims of the Interallied Conference held in London, which asks for the destruction of
every arbitrary power anywhere that can separately, secretly, and of its single choice
disturb the peace of the world, or if it can not be presently destroyed, at the least its
reduction to virtual impotence; and further demands that when peace is being dis
cussed adequate labor representation be afforded at the peace conference.
The Congress urges the Government to establish peace negotiations immediately
the enemy either voluntarily or by compulsion evacuates France and Belgium, and
reaffirms its belief in the principle of the Internationale,1 as the safest guaranty of
the world’s peace.
In presenting the resolution Mr. J. H. Thomas, M. P. (Railwaymen), said that in spite of the divergent views of the Socialist and
Labor parties of the allied countries a unanimous report had been
framed which was the one concrete and definite effort to place in
writing terms which would secure the peace of the world. While
the replies of the Austrians and Bulgarians had proved satisfactory,
as much could not be said for the reply of the German Majority
Socialists. To those, however, who criticize and condemn their efforts
he would say that, “ just as there would be a grave responsibility on
any statesman who would prolong the war for an hour more than
was necessary, so it is the duty of all, and above all of labor, to
explore every avenue that will provide the moans of a lasting peace.”
He appealed for renewed faith in the Internationale and for a unani
mous vote for the resolution in order that their own soldiers and
sailors, their allies, and the enemy as well might know that “ labor
would not sacrifice one life to add a yard to British territory or one
penny to add to the power of kings and emperors.” The majority
of the speeches which followed reflected these sentiments.
The only speech outspokenly against the resolution was that of
Mr. Havelock Wilson (Sailors and Firemen), who asked if, in stating
that they were prepared to say to Germany that the moment she
cleared out of France and Belgium they were ready to negotiate with
her, they had forgotten “ a country called Russia.” He asked the
• congress if “ you labor statesmen overlooked the fact that Germany
could afford to declare to-morrow that she would give back Belgium
1 T h e I n te r n a tio n a le o r I n te r n a t i o n a l S o c ia lis t B u r e a u w a s f o rm e d a t a n I n te r n a t i o n a l S o c ia lis t C o n g re ss
h e l d a t P a r i s i n 1889.
T h e h e a d q u a r te r s o f t h e b u r e a u a re a t B ru s s e ls , a n d a rr a n g e m e n ts a re m a d e th e re
fo r t h e h o ld in g o f c o n g re s s e s u s u a lly e v e ry th r e e y e a r s o r w h e n i n te r n a tio n a l c ris e s a ris e .
I t is f o r m e d o f
s o c ia lis ts a n d t r a d e - u n io n is ts a n d s ta n d s fo r “ s o c ia liz a tio n o f t h e m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d d i s t r ib u t io n ,
in te r n a tio n a l u n io n a n d a c tio n of t h e w o rk e rs, a n d c o n q u e s t of th e p u b lic p o w e rs b y t h e p r o le ta r ia t o rg a n
iz e d a s a c la s s p a r t y . "
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
and Northern France, and make good the damage there in exchange
for a free hand in Russia and that on such terms Germany would
have secured a great victory?” He compared the labor statesmen
to the Prussians in their methods and said that in sending this out
as labor’s war aims they were acting without the indorsement of the
rank and file of the party. He further said that “ the best friends of
Germany are those who are out to defeat Germany absolutely, to
give her orders what she shall do, and see that they are carried out.
Those are the men who will give the workmen of Germany an oppor
tunity of developing as free men. You who talk of negotiations,
compromises, no indemnities, and no annexations, you are the worst
enemies of German democracy. I hope the congress will turn the
resolution down. I know what the block vote means, but that does
not deter me as an old trade-unionist from saying that this resolu
tion is not worth our consideration.” An explanation of the “ block
vote,” a term which has puzzled the reading public, is as follows:
A trade-union branch of, for instance, 1,500 unassertive members
who do not take the trouble to attend branch meetings regularly
and vote frequently falls under the control of a small number of
more active members who get themselves appointed as delegates.
On the eve of a general trade-union congress the delegates of separate
trade-unions meet, discuss the agenda, and decide how they will vote
at the congress. Many of these delegates may themselves have been
elected by a bare majority, but when they record their vote at the
general congress it is counted as the solid vote of all the members of
their union.
Mil G. H. Roberts, M. P., minister of labor, speaking as a delegate
from the Typographical Association, while indorsing the resolution
mainly on the ground that it committed the congress to continue the
fight at least until the German armies are driven out of France and
Belgium, said that “ all this talk of international congresses and peace
negotiations encouraged the enemy and discouraged our fighting
forces. * * * You want the war to end in the establishment of
a league of nations. Take your own labor war aims declaration and
you will recognize that a league of nations must have behind it the
sanction of force. We talk about democracy. Don’t let us delude
ourselves. A labor party conference or a trade-union congress is
not democracy in itself. Democracy consists of the whole of the
peoples of the nations, and a democratic peace will be a peace nego- *
tiated by the representative Governments of democratic countries.”
On a show of hands the resolution was carried by an overwhelming
majority. Only half a dozen hands were raised against it.
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THE SEAMEN'S BOYCOTT RESOLUTION.
Mr. J. Henson, for the Sailors’ and Firemen’s Union, offered a •
resolution recording its condemnation of tile brutal murders and
robberies of British and neutral seamen on the high seas by the
commanders and crews of U-boats and stated that since such piracy
had been justified by leading trade-unionists of Germany, there could
be no peace by negotiation and no intercourse for five years after
the war with the German nation unless the people take full parlia
mentary control over the Kaiser and Government and make full
reparation for the crimes. An amendment was offered, calling, in
place of the five years’ boycott, for trial and punishment for those
responsible. After speeches for and against the resolution the mat
ter was finally shelved by calling for the previous question, the feeling
being that a vote for the resolution would have the effect of contra
dicting the previous day’s approval of the program for peace by
negotiation.
TRADE UNION LABOR PARTY.
The resolution for a new trade-union labor party was presented by
Mr. W. J. Davis (Brassworkers’ Society) in the following terms:
This congress declares in favor of a distinct political labor party for the trade-union
movement based on the representation of and controlled by congress, and instructs
the parliamentary committee to take the steps necessary to establish a trade-union
labor party.
This resolution was backed by Mr. Havelock Wilson, one of the
leaders of the party of trade-unionists, who launched the movement
directly after the Labor Party conference in June 1and was supported
by several unions, including the Sailors and Firemen, Dock Laborers,
Gas Workers, and Amalgamated Musicians. An amendment was
moved against the proposal deprecating any movement designed to
secure separate political representation and declaring in favor of
loyal cooperation with the Labor Party. The argument which appar
ently had the most weight with the congress was that of Mr. Tom
Shaw (Weavers), who stated that while he was not in sympathy with
that wing of the Labor Party which constantly worked against the
decisions of the party and that he had no love for the men who were
coming into the party, many of them disgruntled politicians, still he
thought it was the fault of the trade-unionists themselves; that they
could change it if they liked, and that it would be fatal to start a new
party every time they disagreed. Mr. Wilson advfsed the supporters
of the resolution to be content with a protest, but many refused to do
this and when the amendment was put to the vote it was carried by
a large majority.
1See Annual Conference of
1918, pp. 319-327.
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M O N T H LY LABOE, EEVIEW .
OTHER RESOLUTIONS.
The congress passed a resolution condemning the policy of the
Government in refusing passports for attendance at labor conferences
to properly elected representatives of organized labor. They also
adopted a resolution introduced by the Agricultural Laborers’ Union
declaring “ that the Government should resume the control of the
nation’s agricultural land and take n hand the production, distribu
tion, and control of all agricultural produce so as to secure the best
possible results in the interests of the community as a whole ”
A number of resolutions bearing on the question of hours of labor
were considered. The motion calling for a bill to be introduced in
the House of Commons by the parliamentary committee with a view
to mak ng the eight-hour day the law of the country was passed, and
an amendment introduced by the Boilermakers’ Union calling for a
maximum 44-hour week for manual labor was voted down.
Mr. J. R. Clynes, minister of food, spoke against the resolution in
favor of a meat subsidy. This resolution also called for the exten
sion of national kitchens because of the scarcity of fuel, the difficulty
of buying for households, and the w despread profiteering in certain
foodstuffs. He said the second part of the resolution they could all
support, but that there was great danger of prejudicing wage claims
and the industrial position of the workers by voting for the subsidy,
and that most of the subsidy would not go to relieve the poor but
would go to benefit the mill ons of people who have sufficient means
to buy the more costly ood. On a card vote the demand for a meat
subsidy was carried by a small major ty. The demand for the exten
sion of national kitchens was adopted unanimously.
An attempt to combine the conflicting ideas of industrial and craft
unionism was made in a resolution moved by the National Un on of
Clerks and the Iron and Steel Trade Confederation. Miss Mary
MacArthur (Women Workers’ Federation) characterized it as the
first statesmanlike effort to put into practice the ideal of one union
for all workers put forward in the president’s address. Critical oppos tion came from several of the general labor unions, but the motion
was carried by a small majority. By this decision the organization
of an industrial union now allows or the ma ntenance within it of
each distinct craft combination.
In addition to these resolutions around which the greatest interest
and discussions centered, the agenda presented resolutions for
various industrial and State reforms, many of them in line with
the reconstruction program of the Labor Party which was presented
to the party conference in June.
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FRATERNAL DELEGATES.
The fraternal delegates to the congress were Mr. Samuel Gompers
and Mr. W. J. Bowen, American Federation of Labor; Mr. John H.
Kennedy, Canadian Trades and Labor Congress; M. Louis Jonhaux,
Confédération Générale du Travail; R ght Hon. A. Henderson, M. P.,
Labor Party, and Mr. W. J. Douse, Cooperative Union. One session
was given up to the reception and speeches of the fraternal delegates.
Mr. Gompers’ speech dealt mainly w th questions relat ng to
the war and the part America is taking in the struggle. Mr. Hen
derson spoke of the relat on of British labor to the war and defended
their international policy. He said they did not want to negotiate a
patched-up peace and that they were out to crush militar sm, but that
in general their policy was one of conciliation and that it was their
desire to leave no bitterness or sense of wrong on either side.
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LABOR LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
R E G U L A T IO N S B Y U N IT E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R F O R
A D M ISS IO N O F M E X IC A N LA B O R E R S .
On June 12, 1918, the Secretary of Labor issued a department
order, effective June 20, 1918, governing the temporary admission of
Mexican laborers to perform work in agricultural pursuits, in the
maintenance of way on railroads, and in certain lignite coal mining
enterprises, the purpose of the regulations contained in this order
being to guard the interests and welfare of all such laborers who come
to the United States to work. Approximately one month later, on
July 10, an amendatory order was issued, effective July 25, extending
the provisions of the preceding order to include laborers coming from
Mexico to engage in mining of any and all kinds or to be employed
in the performance of common labor in connection with construction
work being done by or for the Government in the erection of buildings
in the State of Texas and also in the jurisdiction of the immigration
district No. 23 adjacent to the Mexican border within the States of
New Mexico, Arizona, and California.”
The original order emphasizes the fact that it provides only for
temporary admission of aliens and that those who violate the condi
tions are to be immediately deported. It is also provided (Sec. VIII)
that a portion of the wages of each laborer shall be deducted and repaid
to him when he leaves the country. This practice, however, has
been discontinued upon authority of the Secretary of Labor.
While applying only to Mexican laborers, the order has been modi
fied, where necessary, to apply to the admission of Negro laborers
from Nassau (Bahama Islands) who have been imported to work in
the shipbuilding yards at Charleston, S. C., and to Jamaica Negroes
at Panama who have been imported for Government work at New
Orleans.
TEXT OF REGULATIONS FOR ADMISSION OF MEXICAN LABORERS.
Apparently some misunderstanding has arisen as to the exact
provisions of the regulations governing the admission of Mexican
laborers, and it is therefore deemed advisable to publish the full text:
Whereas the ninth proviso to section 3 of the Immigration Act of February 5, 1917,
provides “ That the Commissioner General of Immigration, with the approval of the
Secretary of Labor, shall issue rules and prescribe conditions, including exaction of
such bonds as may be necessary, to control and regulate the admission and return of
otherwise inadmissible aliens applying for temporary admission; ” and,
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Whereas in agricultural pursuits, in the maintenance of way on railroads and in
certain lignite coal mining enterprises in which Mexican laborers have heretofore
been customarily employed, an emergent condition, caused by the war, now exists
in the United States, and, while obviously said special exception to general provision
of law should be construed strictly and should not be resorted to except with the
object of meeting extraordinary situations or conditions, it can be and should be availed
of whenever an emergent condition arises:
Therefore, the following circular providing for the temporary admission of certain
alien laborers from Mexico is hereby promulgated by the department to supersede
department circular of April 12, 1918, and Kegulations of the Bureau of Immigration
issued thereunder on the same date, as amended May 10, 1918:
Section I. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of the Immigration Act
excluding aliens who being over 16 years of age and physically capable of reading
“ can not read the English language, or some other language or dialect,” (the
‘‘illiteracy test ” ), or aliens ‘‘who have been induced, assisted, encouraged or solicited to
migrate to this country by offers or promises of employment * * * or in conse
quence of agreements, oral, written, or printed, express or implied, to perform labor
in this country of any kind, skilled or unskilled” (the “ contract-labor clause” ), and
notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of said act assessing a head tax on account
of aliens entering permanently, aliens residing in Mexico who in all other than the
respects above mentioned are admissible under the laws of the United States and who
are shown to be coming from Mexico to the United States for the purpose of accepting
employment may be temporarily admitted without exacting head tax, upon the condi
tions hereinafter specified, for periods in no instance exceeding the duration of the
war.
Sec. II. (a) As to be admissible under the terms of this circular the alien must be
coming “ for the purpose of accepting employment” (for which reason the “ contractlabor” as well as the “ illiteracy te st” provisions are mentioned above), those who
desire to avail themselves of this opportunity, afforded to meet emergent conditions
in the United States, may come to or be represented at the boundary to confer with
any alien, and such alien must not be temporarily admitted until arrangements for his
employment have been perfected.
(b)
A prospective employer may initiate an application for permission to import
laborers under the provisions hereof by filing such application with either a United
States immigration or a United States employment official, setting forth the number
of laborers desired, class of work, wages offered, and place of proposed employment,
and stating that he will comply with all provisions of this circular with respect to any
alien admitted to him. Upon the approval in writing of any such application by a
United States employment officer detailed to a Mexican border port in accordance
with Section X hereof or by the United States employment officer stationed in the
vicinity of the place of proposed employment, the immigration officer in charge at
such port shall proceed to admit the alien involved in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Sec. III. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that this circular provides for the
temporary admission, under the circumstances stated and conditions prescribed, of an
alien who in a l l other respects would be admissible under the laws of the United States
if he were entering for permanent purposes. The indulgence extends only to the
illiteracy, contract-labor, and head tax features of the Immigration Act, and then
only if the other conditions are satisfactorily established.
Sec, IV. As admission is to be temporary only and as it is provided th at an alien
who violates the conditions exacted shall be immediately deported, of course none
should be admitted who can not be returned immediately that necessity arises.
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M O N T H LY LABOE REVIEW .
Sec. V. (a) Two unmounted photographs of each applicant for admission under the
provisions hereof shall be furnished. A complete personal description of such appli
cant, and of accompanying members of his family over 16 years of age, if any, shall be
taken. These shall be used in preparing, in duplicate, an identification card corre
sponding in general to th at prescribed by subdivision 9 of rule 12 of the immigration
regulations for the use of an alien who habitually crosses and recrosses the land
boundaries.
(b ) The blank form of said card (Form 687) may be adapted to this purpose until a
more suitable card is devised and printed, an appropriate notation being placed
thereon to show that the holder is temporarily admitted to the United States under
Ihe terms of this circular, to engage in labor of one of the three kinds herein specified.
The original of the card shall be delivered to the admitted alien; the duplicate, on
which a record will be kept of changes of employment, of employers, or of address, as
hereinafter provided, shall be properly filed and indexed. When any alien admitted
hereunder is deported or departs the card shall be taken up.
(c) All members of families 16 years of age and over shall be given such cards; those
under 16 shall be recorded, giving name, age, and description.
(d) On the departure or deportation of an alien accompanied by members of his
family when admitted, such accompanying members must also depart or be deported,
as the case may be.
Sec. VI. (a) An alien admitted under the provisions hereof is allowed to enter
temporarily upon the understanding that he has secured employment in the United
States, and that he will work only in agricultural pursuits, maintenance of way on
railroads, or lignite coal mining as herein described. Therefore, if alien fails, after
admission, to accept such agreed employment, or, after acceptance and entry thereon,
abandons same to accept employment of any other nature, or to accept any employ
ment with an employer who has not complied with the conditions of this circular, or
discontinues laboring and remains idle for as long as two weeks unless by reason of
illness of himself or of a member of his family or other disability, such alien shall be
immediately arrested and deported under the regular warrant procedure.
(b) An employer of such an alien other than the importing employer must on hiring
any such alien comply with the terms of this circular in the same manner substantially
and with the same effect as an importing employer. Not later than ten (10) days after
the date of such employment he must notify the inspector in charge of the Immigration
Service at the place where alien entered of the fact of such employment, giving name,
place of intended employment, and name and post-office address of himself and of his
employee.
(c) An employer who, having hired any such alien, desires to relinquish his services,
shall notify the inspector in charge of the Immigration Service at the place of entry
of such intention; such notice shall specify the name of the alien, probable date of
cessation of work, and post-office address of employer and of such alien.
(d) An alien admitted under the provisions of this circular, or whose admission under
the circulars superseded hereby is renewed under this circular, must follow none but
laboring pursuits of the nature prescribed herein. When any such alien is without
employment, unless he immediately returns to Mexico through the port of entry, he
shall apply to the inspector in charge of the Immigration Service at the place where
he was admitted or to the nearest United States immigration or United States employ
ment officer, advising him that he no longer has work, and asking for employment and
for the privilege of remaining in the United States for an additional period. There
upon, if the application is to the immigration officer, the said officer shall communi
cate with the appropriate director of the. United States Employment Service, and
ascertain whether or not work can be secured for such alien; if to an employment
officer, such officer shall forward the application to the nearest immigration officer
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for decision. If work is secured, in either manner indicated, an extension of time may
be granted the alien on condition that he accept the reemployment. If. the alien
fails or refuses to accept reemployment under these conditions, deportation shall
immediately be effected.
(e)
Failure on the part of the employer or alien to give any notice required by this
section shall subject such alien to deportation.
Sec. VII. A prospective employer shall be required, as a condition precedent to the
temporary admission hereunder of any alien, fully to disclose to the immigration officer
in charge at the port of entry his plans with respect to the employment of such alien,
including the wages, how often paid (giving dates), housing conditions, duration of
employment, also to give his written promise and stipulation to the following effect
viz:
(а) That the employer will abide by and comply with all the terms of this circular.
(б) That the employer will pay the current rate of wages for similar labor in the
community in which the admitted alien is to be employed.
(c) That with respect to housing and sanitation the laws and rules of the State in
which the laborer is to be employed will be observed by the employer. If employed
in a State that has no law on said subject, such conditions must be satisfactory to the
Secretary of Labor.
(d) That the employer will keep the officer in charge at the port of entry advised
promptly of any change made in his plans as originally disclosed with respect to the
place, duration, or character of the employment of the alien by him, and wages and
times of payment thereof.
(e) That the employer will notify such officer immediately upon learning that any
alien admitted to him purposes to leave his employ, and furnish such information
as he can secure with respect to the place to which the alien is going and the name
of the party for whom such alien is to work.
(/) That the employer will promptly notify such officer whenever any alien admitted
to him has left his employ (without his previous knowledge of the alien’s intent to
do so) and will furnish all possible information to assist immigration officers in ascer
taining whether or not the alien has entered other employment, or whether or not
the conditions of this circular are being observed.
(g) That fifteen (15) days before the expiration of the period for which the alien
is admitted to him the employer will advise the inspector in charge at the port of entry
whether or not it is his and the alien’s desire th at the latter shall remain with the
former for an additional period of employment.
(h) That if it becomes necessary to deport any alien (or any alien family) admitted
in pursuance of this circular because of a violation of, or failure to observe, the con
ditions specified herein, the expense of removal' of the alien from the place where
apprehended to the boundary shall be borne by the importer; provided that when the
cause of deportation arises while alien is employed by a person other than the importer
without the consent of the latter, then such expense shall be borne by such subsequent
employer.
(i) That the employer shall retain from the adm itted alien’s wages the sums named
in Section V III hereof and transmit same for deposit in the postal savings bank in
the manner therein specified.
Sec. V III. As additional means of insuring that an alien admitted under the
provisions of this circular will eventually leave the United States, the following
conditions shall be observed:
(a) Each such alien shall at the time of admission (with the .assistance of United
States immigration or United States employment officers) apply for permission to
open an account in the postal savings bank at the port of entry, on which deposits
to such alien’s credit will later be made in the manner hereinafter provided.
87721°—18— 18
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M ONTHLY LAE OR REVIEW.
(b) The employer shall withhold from the alien’s wages twenty-five (25) cents for
each day ’s service such alien renders while he continues in the employ of such
employer until the money so withheld aggregates one hundred (100) dollars. If the
alien changes employers in accordance with the provisions of this circular before the
money so retained aggregates one hundred (100) dollars, those employing him sub
sequently to the original importer shall continue withholding twenty-five (25) cents
per day from his wages until the amount withheld, added to th at withhheld by pre
vious employer or employers, aggregates one hundred (100) dollars. The same
arrangement shall apply in cases in which the original admission was for a period
not sufficient to produce the one hundred (100) dollars and in which a renewal of the
period of admission is granted by the immigration officers.
(c) On each pay day the employer shall transmit to the inspector in charge of the
immigration service at the place of the alien enemy’s entry the money withheld from
alien’s wages in pursuance of the preceding paragraph. Postal money orders payable
to such officer, purchased at the employer’s cost, shall be used in making these remit
tances. Said officer shall deposit the money order in the local postal savings bank
to the credit of the alien from whose wages the sum represented has been withheld,
retaining in his possession the receipt for such deposit. The funds so deposited will
remain in the postal savings bank until the alien leaves the United States, whereupon
said officer shall arrange for the delivery to the alien of the money so saved and the
interest, if any, accrued thereon. If the alien leaves the United States before he
has worked a sufficient period for the amounts retained to aggregate one hundred (100)
dollars, the total amount so retained, with accrued interest, if any, shall be returned
to him in like manner.
(d) After the sums withheld, transmitted, and deposited in accordance with the
preceding two paragraphs have aggregated one hundred (100) dollars, the sum of
one (1) dollar per month shall be withheld from the laborer’s wages, transmitted to
the inspector in charge at the port of entry, and deposited, in similar manner; the
withholding oi this amount monthly to continue so long as the alien remains in the
United States, and the funds so accumulated to be withdrawn from the postal savings
bank and returned to alien at the time of his departure, under the supervision of the
inspector in charge at port of entry. This provision shall be applied to both original
and subsequent employers.
(«) If the emergent conditions mentioned herein still exist at the end of any period
of admission under the terms of this circular, then, upon the joint application of any
such alien and his employer showing the necessity for alien’s service for a further
term, the immigration office at the port of admission is authorized to extend the tem
porary admission of such alien for a period not exceeding the duration of the war.
If the sums withheld have not aggregated one hundred (100) dollars, the withholding
thereof shall continue until such amount has accumulated to alien’s credit. The
withholding of one (1) dollar per month as provided in paragraph (c) above will
thereafter be commenced or continued as circumstances require.
(/) If such emergent conditions still exist at the end of any such period of admission
under the circulars superseded hereby, then, upon the joint application of any such
alien and his employer showing the necessity for alien’s service for a further term,
the immigration office at the port of admission is authorized to extend the temporary
admission of such alien for a period not exceeding the duration of the war; provided
the alien (with the assistance of his employer, or, if he is simultaneously changing
his place of employment, of the nearest United States immigration or United States
employment officer) shall apply to the local postmaster for permission to open an
account in the postal savings bank at the border port through which he entered the
United States, and both the alien and his employer shall agree to comply then and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1420]
M O N TH LY LABOR REVIEW.
271
thereafter with all applicable provisions of this circular, it being intended that such
cases shall, to the fullest extent practicable, be placed upon the same basis as those
arising under this circular. Failure or refusal to observe this requirement will result
in alien’s deportation.
(g) All information reaching the border ports of entry, as the result of the making
of deposits or otherwise, with respect to changes in the location or employment of
any laborer admitted hereunder shall be noted on the duplicate of such laborer’s
identification card.
Sec. IX. The supervising inspector at El Paso shall designate such officers as may
be necessary at each station to give attention to the details of keeping in touch with
aliens temporarily admitted under the provisions of this circular or of those super
seded hereby; and it shall be the especial duty of the officers so designated to see
that the temporarily admitted aliens do not remain permanently in the United States
and do not violate the terms of this circular by engaging in other than the specified
laboring pursuits, or otherwise. Officers will be designated to follow up aliens admit
ted hereunder, and employers to whom such aliens have been admitted, or for whom
they may be laboring, will be expected and called upon to assist such officers in
enforcing this circular, including arrest and deportation of aliens in proper cases.
Officers of the United States Employment Service shall cooperate with officers of the
Immigration Service in the enforcement of this section; also in supplying informa
tion to the inspector in charge at port of entry regarding changes in location or employ
ment of aliens admitted hereunder.
Sec. X. At each of the principal Mexican border ports of entry officers of the
United States Employment Service shall be detailed to assist the immigration offi
cers in the administration of this circular. In the event that the employer is repre
sented by an agent, or by an association through its agent, or by an officer detailed
as hereinafter provided, in securing laborers, the authority of the agent or association
to act for such employer should be fully established in writing, and in every instance
the employer shall be required to execute and forward as soon as possible to the offi
cer in charge at the port of entry the agreement specified in section V II of this cir
cular. It shall be competent for the officers of the Immigration Service to act with
any officer detailed by the National Council of Defense, the United States Food
Administration, the United States Employment Service, or any State organization
of either, or any other organization, public or private, authoritatively representing
the industries herein specified.
Sec. X I. The Commissioner General of Immigration is hereby directed to enforce
and administer the provisions of this circular, which shall become effective on and
after June 20, 1918.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[14211
HOUSING
PUBLIC UTILITY SOCIETIES, ENGLAND.
The following report on Public Utility Societies was given out by
the Housing Committee of the Federation of British Industries in
April, 1918:
1. The committee observe that the circular issued by the local government board
to councils of metropolitan boroughs, town councils, and district councils of the
1st March, 1918, makes no mention of public utility societies.
2. The committee consider that public utility societies can play a very useful part
in helping to provide the housing accommodation which will be required during the
reconstruction period, and they submit that the Government should at an early date
make known the lines upon which it is proposed that the State should assist public
utility societies for this purpose.
3. The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be for the State or local
authorities to undertake the whole responsibility for the provision of the necessary
housing accommodation. It, therefore, becomes of great importance to encourage
private owners of capital to contribute to the solution of the problem.
4. The committee have given careful consideration to the question whether the
building trades can be expected to undertake any large part of the burden without
assistance from the State in the form of subsidy or otherwise. They have come to
the conclusion that conditions after the war will be such as to make it impossible to
rely upon this form of private enterprise for any effective cooperation in the matter,
unless the State is willing to assist the trades by way of subsidy or otherwise.
5. Further, the committee feel unable to recommend that the Government should
be asked to grant the private builder assistance in the way of subsidy or loans on
special terms.
They recognize that private enterprise has played a very important and useful
part in contributing to the provision of the necessary accommodation in the past
but the proposal to give the individual builder State assistance raises difficulties
which the committee consider insuperable. The private builder will, of course, in
any case play his part in the solution of the problem by contracting for and carrying
out the schemes undertaken by local authorities and other bodies.
6. The same objections do not, however, apply to the State assistance of public
utility societies. By a public utility society is meant a society registered under
Industrial and Provident Societies Acts for the purpose of providing houses for the
working classes and others on a social basis, which includes the distribution of any
profits earned after meeting all obligations, for the benefit of the members of the
society, i. e. of the estate. Such a society is exempt from the payment of income
tax under schedules C and D but it must under the present law limit its dividends
and the interest paid on its loan capital, and no member may hold more than £200
of shares, the bulk of the society’s capital being provided by loan stock. The affairs
of the society are generally managed by a board of management appointed by the
society in general meeting, the voting power of the society being distributed among
the holders of loan stock, the shareholders, and (if thought desirable) tenant invest
ment stockholders. Tenants can be given a financial interest in the society by allow
ing or requiring them to take up tenants’ investment stock, to which voting power
can, subject to the necessary safeguards, be attached.
272
[1422]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
273
The rules of a society usually contain provision giving the board of management
power to pay off the shares of tenants’ investment stock of a member or tenant who
ceases to be a tenant, and enabling the tenant to transfer his shares or stock to any
other member of the society, with the approval of the committee, if they are not
willing to pay off in this way. Such provision is essential, in order to give the requisite
freedom of movement to tenants.
With regard to repairs, a repairs fund can be established for each tenant member,
the amount of his dividend or a proportion thereof being credited to this fund until
the total credit standing to his name amounts to say half his rental. A further part
of the profits can be allocated to the establishment o'f a common fund for social, edu
cational, and recreational purposes, and it is generally found desirable that this fund
should be under the management of a special tenants committee.
7.
It is thought that this form of society is peculiarly well suited for the provision
of the housing accommodation which will be required in different industrial districts
after the war, for the following reasons:
(а) It will enable employers to contribute, by means of loan stock, toward the pro
vision of accommodation for their work people without involving the disadvantages
of the “ tied house system” under which employees are housed in houses owned by
their employers. The following are some of the practical disadvantages of that
system—
(I) The employee feels that even outside working hours he is living under his
employer’s eye, and this is often resented.
(II) The employee is apt to regard his house as part of the works, and conse
quently its upkeep and repair as matters which solely concern his
employer.
(Ill) In districts where housing accommodation is scarce, great difficulties may
arise in the case of an employee tenant who is dismissed from or leaves
his employment.
The housing of employees by the public utility societies avoids these difficulties
very largely, since the houses do not belong to the employer, but to the society of
which the tenants are members. Moreover, it becomes possible to take the control
and management of the houses out of the hands of the employer and vest it in a joint
committee on which the tenants can be represented, thus relieving the employer of
the onus.
(б) It will enable several employers in a district to join together for the above
purpose and so take effective action where no single employer, when acting inde
pendently, would be in a financial position to do so.
(c) Such a society gives those who have advanced it money a much better security
than is possessed by the owner of an ordinary small building estate. The society
has a lien on the investments and funds of the members, and this enables arrears of
rent and the occurrence of dilapidations to be prevented. Moreover, the tenant is
responsible for inside repairs and the amount of these is charged against his repairs
fund, so that it is to his advantage to look after the property.
(d ) By giving the tenants a share in management and an interest in the society
many of the difficulties usually attaching to the management of small-house prop
erties are avoided, since arrangements can be made for the management to be carried
out by a committee, nominated in part at least by the tenants themselves. Moreover,
the society provides an opportunity for securing real social advantages to the tenants,
and forms an admirable medium for establishing better relations between the employer
and his workpeople.
(e) The committee believe that public utility societies formed by business men on
these lines could carry out housing schemes at least as economically as local author
ities, and possibly more so.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1423]
274
M ONTHLY LABOE KEVIEW.
(/) The advantages mentioned in paragraph (d) make it possible for the State to
contribute substantially toward the assistance of these societies, and thus make opera
tions on a large scale possible without any of the objections which would attach to the
State assistance of purely private enterprise.
8.
For the above reasons we consider it of very great importance that as much use
as possible should be made of public utility societies for the purpose of providing hous
ing accommodation in the period immediately following the war, and if a satisfactory
Assurance is received as to the assistance which the State is ready to afford such socie
ties we recommend that the federation should take steps to urge upon its members.
in the different industrial districts of the country where housing accommodation may
be insufficient, the desirability of establishing such societies in conjunction with their
workpeople.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
I t may be regarded as certain that there will be a great shortage of capital in thi3
country after the war. Many manufacturers who have been engaged in munition
work will require to lay out large sums for the conversion of their works or for the
undertaking of new industries, and they will have very little capital available for
such purposes as housing schemes. I t is possible th at some employers, as for example
mine owners, who may require houses in districts far removed from urban areas, may
practically be compelled to build their own houses, even without adequate State
assistance, but this factor will only operate in a few cases, and can not be expected
to lead to good housing or to any substantial contribution toward the solution of
the housing problem. To expect industry to supply itself with such housing accom
modation as it may require at an uneconomic rate will be to treat it as agriculture has
been treated in the past, and the committee consider that the results of this must be
exceedingly injurious, since they regard the fact that landowners have been left to
provide the- necessary houses for their laborers at uneconomic rents as one of the
principal reasons for the decay of agriculture in this country.
The committee are strongly of opinion that capital will not after the war be
attracted to the provision of housing accommodation even by means of public utility
societies, unless the owners of capital can be assured of a reasonable prospect of secur
ing an economic return on their money, and the committee do not recommend that
the federation should take any steps to induce its members to interest themselves
in the formation of public utility societies unless the Government is prepared to
give such assistance as will put the matter on an economic basis.
Applying these considerations to the proposals in the local government board cir
cular of the 18th March, the committee would call attention to the following points:
(а) The private owner of capital will not be likely to invest in a society of this
kind under the conditions which must exist after the war without definite informa
tion as to the amount and'nature of the assistance which the State is prepared to afford
to the society. I t will not be sufficient for him to be told that at the end of a period
of seven years the State will be prepared to make a grant on the basis of some percent
age of an estimated loss.
(б) If the assistance of the State is to be confined to a percentage of the loss which
must arise out of war conditions, the balance of the loss must fall upon the society,
i. e., upon those who have invested their own capital in the society. If the analogy
of the local government board’s proposals in the circular of the 18th of March is to
be followed, this will involve a loss of 2 per cent of any interest for a period of seven
years, and a loss of 25 per cent on the capital invested at the end of that time. Pri
vate owners of capital can not be expected to invest money under these conditions,
unless the society is to be allowed to charge a rent sufficiently high to make good the
loss, which would be impracticable.
We consider that in order to enable public utility societies to operate successfully
after the war the following conditions should be complied with:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1424]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
275
I. The Government should state clearly the exact amount of the assistance which
it is prepared to grant by way of subsidy.
Generally speaking the contribution of the State should be such as to insure that
any private capital invested will be able to secure an economic return, and the money
must be provided at the outset of the scheme.
II. The amounts the public works loan board, or other Government department,
may advance to a public utility society should be increased from two-thirds of the
value of the property to 80 per cent of such value, and the terms of repayment in
creased from 30 to 40 years to 60 years. The value of the estate should be the actual
cost of the scheme when completed. The advance should be made by installments
during building.
III. Societies should be empowered to pay an economic rate of interest on their
loan and share capital.
IV. The public utility societies should be allowed any advantages, e. g., in regard
to the piu’chase of building material, etc., which may be allowed by the State to
local authorities undertaking housing schemes.
V. Rents if fixed should be based on proper financial calculations to cover the
net outlay, including rates, taxes, sinking fund, interest, repairs, insurance, etc.,
after making due allowance for the State subsidy.
VI. The constitution of the society would include provisions for securing that ulti
mate control which follows financial interest. At the same time, subject to the
above safeguard, tenants should undertake a large part of the management of the
society, and should have almost complete control over the expenditure of the part
of the profits allocated to improvements, recreation, etc.
VII. Arrangements should be made where possible to let sites for commercial pur
poses, e. g., shops or hotels, at commercial rents, and also for the provision of houses
for members of the staff, foremen, etc., at a higher rent than that fixed for the ordinary
houses on the estate. In this connection it should be observed that the money
advanced by the Government can only be used for the building of working-class
houses.
V III. Any housing schemes carried out by public utility societies would, of course,
have to comply with the requirements of the State or local authority in regard to
layout, sanitation, etc.
BILLETING OF CIVILIAN WAR WORKERS IN ENGLAND.
In view of the housing difficulties being experienced in various
places in the United States the British Billeting of Civilians Act,1
which went into effect May 24, 1917, is of interest.
This act provides that civilians engaged on war work of national
importance may, at the request of any Government department, be
billeted with householders in the locality in which the shortage of
lodging accommodation occurs. The act is administered by the
Central Billeting Board, u constituted by order of the Minister of
Munitions.” When it is proposed to billet workers in any locality,
the board is directed to establish in that locality a local committee
whose duty it shall be:
( a ) To ascertain the accommodation available in the locality for billets and the
occupiers of premises within the locality who are willing to provide accommodation
and the amount of accommodation they are willing to provide; and
» 7 and 8 'Geo. 5. ch. 20.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Billeting of civilians act, 1917.
[1425]
276
MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
(&) To allocate the persons to he billeted amongst the various persons liable to pro
vide billets; and
(c) To prescribe the nature of the lodging, attendance, and meals or food to be
provided and the scales of payment (within such limits as may be fixed by rules
made by the board) to be made therefor; and
(d) To supervise billets; and
(e) To hear and settle complaints by persons liable to provide billets or by whom
billets have been provided, and by persons billeted.
The act provides, however, that in assigning billets the local com
mittee shall have regard to the convenience of the occupiers of the
premises, and shall not billet workers with any householder who is
unwilling to provide rooms nor in excess of the number he is willing
to accommodate without first giving him the opportunity to submit
his objections to the committee. Certain premises can not be billeted
without the consent of the occupiers. Men can not be billeted in
houses where women, with or without children, live alone; nor in
houses of absent members of the forces; nor on premises of any
female religious community.
There are analogous provisions where it is proposed to billet women.
The rights of the householder are safeguarded by the provision:
Any occupier of any such premises who feels himself aggrieved by a proposal to
billet persons on him or by the number of persons to be billeted on him, or by the con
duct or habits of persons billeted on him, may complain to the local committee, and
the local committee shall take such complaint into consideration, and if satisfied of
the justice of the complaint shall remedy the grievance; and if the occupier is dis
satisfied with the decision of the local committee he may appeal to the board, and the
board shall take the matter into consideration and, after giving the local committee an
opportunity of being heard, may make such order as in the circumstances may appear
to the board to be proper.
It should also be noted that the act provides for the regulation of
room rents, as follows:
Every person on whom any worker is billeted shall be entitled to receive weekly
payment in respect thereof in accordance with such scale applicable to the case as
may be prescribed by regulations of the local committee, and to receive reasonable
compensation for damage done to his premises and the contents thereof, fair wear and
tear excepted.
The duties of both householder and lodger under the act are
defined. The former must furnish information with respect to his
premises and must provide the required rooms and furnish to the
roomer such attendance and meals as may “ reasonably be prescribed
by regulations of the local committee.” The latter must so conduct
himself as to cause as little inconvenience to his landlord as possible,
must give the landlord one week’s notice, or payment in lieu of notice,
before leaving the billet, and must pay all rent due before departure.
He is liable to fine for (1) failure to leave his billet if ordered to do so
by the local committee or (2) violence, drunkenness, or indecency of
such character as to require his immediate removal from the billet.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1426]
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT,
EMPLOYMENT IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES IN SEPTEMBER, 1918.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics received and tabulated reports
concerning the volume of employment in September, 1918, from
representative establishments in thirteen manufacturing industries.
Comparing the figures of September of this year with those of identi
cal establishments for September, 1917, it appears that in seven
industries there was an increase in the number of people employed,
and in six a decrease. Car building and repairing shows an increase
of 23.7 per cent, while silk shows a decrease of 11.8 per cent.
All of the thirteen industries show an increase in the total amount
of pay roll for September, 1918, as compared with September, 1917.
The most important increase (104.8 per cent) is shown in car building
and repairing, which is largely due to the application of the wage in
creases granted by the Director General of the Railroads. Percent
age increases of 41.6, 38.7, and 38.2 are shown in cotton manu
facturing, iron and steel, and hosiery and underwear, respectively.
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHM ENTS IN SEPTEM BER,
1917, AND SEPTEM BER, 1918.
Industry.
Automobile manufacturing.
Poots and sh.o8s...................
Car building and repairing..
Cigar manufacturing...........
Men’s ready-made clothing.
Cotton finishing. _ _____
Cotton manufacturing........
Hosiery and underwear___
Iron and steel......................
Leather manufacturing.......
Paper making......................
Silk.......................................
W oolen.................................
Estab
lish
ments
report Period
ing for
of
Sep pay roll.
tember
both
years.
48
70
35
57
39
16
54
55
95
34
56
43
50
1week..
.. .do......
£ month.
1week..
...d o ......
. . .do......
.. .do......
.. .do......
h month.
1week..
. . .do......
2weeks..
1week..
Number on pay
roll in Septem
ber—
1917
1918
113,889
50,036
39,798
18,393
22,941
10.970
117,290
52,131
49; 248
18,323
21,568
10,334
50', 506
28,507
158,361
14,741
27,200
13;127
43,330
5 2 ,5 2 5
28,412
157,524
14,583
26,513
14,877
43,974
Per
cent
of in
crease
(+ )
or de
crease
(-).
Amount of pay roll
in September—
1917
1918
Per
cent
of in
crease
(+ )
or de
crease
(-)•
+ 3.0 $2,614,888 $3,215,836 + 23.0
+ 4.2
715,729
980,828 + 37.0
+ 23.7 1,489^856 3,05lj 904 +104.8
- .4
269,453 + 20.0
224,559
357,572
416.878 + 16.6
- 6.0
162,001
204,386 4- 26.2
- 5.8
596,853
845,032 + 41.6
- 3.8
315,388
435,765 + 38.2
+ .3
+ .5 7,170,020 9,948,291 + 38.7
234,643
312, 722 + 33.3
+ 1.1
426,906
+ 2.6
585,328 + 37.1
349^014
423,788 + 21.4
-11.8
654,370
852,985 + 30.4
- 1.5
The table below shows the number of persons actually working on
the last full day of the reported pay period in September, 1917, and
September, 1918. The number of establishments reporting on this
question is small, and this fact should be taken into consideration
when studying these figures.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1427]
277
278
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHMENTS ON LAST FULL
D A Y « OPERATION IN SEPTEM BER, 1917, AND SEPTEM BER, 1918.
E stablish
ments
reporting for
Septem ber
b o th years.
In d u stry .
Autom obile m anufacturing..........
Boots and shoes................. ~ ..........
Car building and repairing..........
Cigar m anufacturing.....................
Men’s ready-m ade clothing..........
Cotton finishing............... ..............
Cotton m anufacturing...................
H osiery a n d underw ear.................
Iron and steel...................................
L eather m anufacturing.................
Paper m ak in g ............. 1 .................
S ilk .............. ............................
W ooien..............................................
30
16
35
19
10
13
35
16
73
17
20
25
41
Period of
pay roll.
N um ber actually working
on last full d ay of re
ported pay period in Sep Per cent of
increase ( + )
tem ber—
or decrease
(-)■
1917
1918
1 w eek..........
....... do
__
4 m onth........
I w eek..........
........do............
__do
__
........do............
........do ........
J m o n th ........
I w eek..........
82,768
6*161
34) 489
4, 511
10', 174
9; 209
27,235
10' 187
121,346
8,823
81,441
7, 432
43,636
4'. 014
8,840
8' 719
26,205
9' 668
121,509
9' 739
2w eeks___
1w eek........
10' 246
36,147
35,546
.......do...........
8,110
8,779
9'
175
- 1.3
+ 20.6
+ 26, 5
—11. 0
-1 3 .1
— 5.3
-3.8
— 5.1
+ -1
+ 10.4
+ 8.2
-1 0 . 5
— 1.7
Comparative data for September, 1918, and August, 1918, appear
in the following table. The figures show that in 3 industries there
was an increase in the number of persons on the pay roll in September
as compared with August and in 10 industries, a decrease. An in
crease of 2.7 per cent appears in car building and repairing, while the
largest decreases—5.3 per cent and 4.2 per cent—are shown in silk
and men’s ready-made clothing, respectively.
In comparing September of this year with August, 9 industries
show an increase in the amount of money paid to employees and 4
show a decrease. The greatest increase is 11.8 per cent in cigar
manufacturing and the largest decrease, 5.4 per cent, in men’s ready
made clothing.
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN AUGUST, 1913,
AND SEPTEM BER, 1918.
Industry.
Number on pay
Estab
roll in—
lish
ments
reporting Period of
for
pay roll.
Sep
August, tember,
August
1918.
and Sep
1918.
tember.
Automobile manufacturing.
Boots and sh o e s...........
Car building and repairing.
Cigar manufacturing...
Men’s ready-made clothmg.
Cotton finishing............
Cotton manufacturing..
Hosiery and underwear
Iron and steel................
Leather manufacturing.
Paper making...............
Silk................................
Woolen..........................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Amount of pay roll
Per
Per
in—
cent of
cent of
increase
increase
(+ ) or
(+ ) or
de
de
Sep
crease August,
tember,
crease
1918.
1918.
( -) •
(-).
1 week__
103,931
105,673
+ 1.7 f 2,856,530 $2,924,456
+
2.4
70 .. .do..........
39 § m onth...
52, 779
51,559
51,856
52,951
—1. 7
925,508
+2.7 3,295,832
978,921
3,332,413
+
+
5.8
1. 1
57 1 week__
35 ...d o ..........
18,303
22, 639
18,422
21,699
+ .7
- 4 .2
241,856
441, 818
270,389
417,754
+ 11.3
- 5.4
—2. 7
139,275
142,057
- 1 .8
817)497
801)151
-2 .1
400,288
408,928
- .5 9,654,582 9,831,694
- 2 .6
333,147
322,345
— .7
551,158
547,867
397,648
412,306
-5 .3
- .6
878,567
841,237
+ 2.0
+ 2.0
+ 2.2
+ 1.8
- 3.2
- .6
+ 37
- 4.2
43
14 .. .do..........
7,609
7,406
54 . ..do.......... 50; 172 49^ 255
53 .. .do.......... 27,309 26, 742
95 i m onth... 157,592 156,854
35 I week__ 15,674 15,273
.. .do.......... 25,654 25,474
42 2 weeks. . . 13,865
13,127
48 1 week___ 43,099 42,836
[1428]
279
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
A comparatively small number of establishments reported as to
the number of persons working on the last full day of the reported
pay periods. The following table gives the figures for August and
September, 1918:
COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT IN IDENTICAL ESTABLISHMENTS ON LAST FULL
DAY’S OPERATION IN AUGUST, 1918, AND SEPTEM BER, 1918.
Establish
ments
reporting Period of
for
pay roll.
August and
September.
Industry.
Automobile manufacturing..........................
Boots and shoes.............................................
Car building and repairing...........................
Cigar manufacturing.......T............................
Men’s ready-made clothing..........................
Cotton finishing............................................
Cotton manufacturing..................................
Hosiery and underwear................................
Iron arid steel...............................................
Leather manufacturing................................
Paper making................................................
Silk.................................................................
Woolen...........................................................
26
19
38
16
10
11
15
84
19
23
26
40
Number actually work
ing on last full day of
reported pay period Per cent
of increase
in—
(+ )
or decrease
(-) •
August, September,
1918.
1918.
1 week__
. . do.........
| month
i week__
. .do.........
.do.........
.do.........
d o ..
| m o n th ..
i week__
.d o ..
2weeks. . .
1week__
70,372
1 0 ,341
45', 107
3,264
10i 019
5' 633
2 5 ,356
9,025
124,154
ll'275
10', 059
9,351
35,731
72,324
9,926
45,623
3,241
8i 402
5', 486
25,243
8 ,907
124 331
n i 119
9,883
8,944
35,419
+ 2.8
4.0
+ 11
— .7
—16 1
— 2.6
— .4
—13
+ .1
— 1.4
— 1.8
— 4. 4
— .9
CHANGES IN WAGE RATES.
In 12 of the 13 industries there were certain establishments report
ing wage-rate increases and in one—automobile manufacturing—a
decrease during the period August 15 to September 15, 1918. No
change was reported in the woolen industry. A number of firms did
not answer the inquiry relating to wage-rate changes, but in such
cases it is probably safe to assume that none were made.
A u to m o b ile m a n u fa c tu r in g .— A n average increase of 15 per cent,
affecting 30 per cent of the force, was granted by one plant. The shop
employees in one factory, and approximately 10 per cent of the force
in another, received a 10 per cent increase. One establishment gave
50 per cent of the force a 5 per cent increase, while another estab
lishment reported an increase of about 5 per cent, affecting about 21
per cent of the employees. One-third of the force in one plant and
the entire force in another plant received increases, but no data was
given as to the amount of the increase. The productive average
hourly rate in one establishment was reduced approximately onehalf a cent.
B o o ts a n d shoes .—Five plants granted increases of 10 per cent,
which affected the entire force in two plants, about 48 per cent in
one plant, about 5 per cent in the fourth, and the fifth plant applied
the increase on all piece work. Two establishments granted a 10 per
cent bonus, which was paid in war-savings stamps. The entire force
in four factories wore given percentage increases of 7, 6, 3.^, and 2;
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and two other concerns reported increases of 5 per cent to all of the
employees. About 93 per cent of the force in one establishment and
approximately 67 per cent in another plant were given increases of
$2 a week. An increase was reported by one factory, but no further
information was given.
Car b u ild in g a n d r e p a ir in g . —Further increases wore granted by
railroads in accordance with Supplement No. 7 to General Order
No. 27, effective September 1, 1918.
C igar m a n u fa c tu r in g .—One plant granted an increase of 26 per cent
to 5 per cent of the employees and 11 per cent to another group of
5 per cent; and one factory gave an increase of 11 per cent to about
89 per cent of the employees. A 20 per cent increase to all of the em
ployees was reported by one establishment. The entire force in one
factory received a 15 per cent increase, and 65 per cent of the force
in another factory were given an advance of 10 per cent. A general
increase of 7 per cent was reported by one firm. One establishment
granted an increase of 2 cents a hundred on rolling and 1 cent a
hundred on bunchmaking. One plant reported an increase, but failed
to give any further particulars.
M e n 's re a d y -m a d e clothing. —An increase of 121- per cent was given
to 50 per cent of the force in one shop, and a 10 per cent increase to
the cutters and trimmers was reported by another shop. One-third
of the employees in one plant received an increase of about 5 per
cent. Two establishments reported increases, which affected 80 per
cent of the force in one shop, but no other data were given.
Cotton f i n i s h i n g . —An increase of 15 per cent was reported by one
plant, but no statement was made as to the number receiving the
increase.
Cotton m a n u fa c tu r in g . —Increases of 25 per cent and about 20 per
cent to all of the employees were reported by two establishments.
One plant reported an increase of 15 per cent, but did not state the
number receiving the increase. All the inside mill employees in one
factory received an average increase of 10 per cent; about 7 per cent
of the force in one mill were given a 10 per cent increase; and two
mills granted increases of about 10 per cent, but both failed to give
the number affected. One factory gave an increase of SI a week
throughout the mill.
H o sie ry a n d u n d erw ea r. —One plant gave 25 per cent of the
employees an increase of 20 per cent, while another plant granted
an increase of about 20 ‘per cent to 90 per cent of the force. An
increase of 15 per cent was given to 75 per cent of the force in one
mill. Three firms reported increases of 10 per cent, affecting the
entire force in one, all of the full-time workers in another, and 50
per cent of the employees in the third plant. An increase of about
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5 per cent to 80 per cent of the force was reported by one factory.
Increases, which equaled approximately 5 per cent in the piece
work rates throughout the mill, were reported by one plant.
Iro n a n d steel .—In one establishment the 55 per cent bonus was
increased to 65 per cent, affecting all of the employees not already
receiving it, and all of the base rates were also increased about 20
per cent. Five plants reported increases of 10 per cent, which
affected approximately the entire force in one factory, all but the hot
mill tonnage workers in another, 50 per cent of the employees in two
plants, and about 20 per cent in the fifth plant; the entire force in one
establishment and about 18 per cent of the employees in another re
ceived increases of approximately 10 per cent. An average increase of 8
per cent was reported by one plant, which failed to give the number
affected. The machinists and toolmakers in one factory were
increased 4^ to 11^ cents an hour, according to the class of work.
Increases of 5 and 3 per cent were granted in two establishments to
50 and 55 per cent of the force, respectively. One mill reported an
increase, but gave no further data. Five plants granted increases
ranging from 1 to 2^ per cent, affecting 60 per cent of the force in
one, 41 per cent in one, about 50 per cent in one, those working on
a tonnage basis only in another, and 30 per cent of the force in the
fifth plant.
L ea th er m a n u fa c tu r in g .—Five per cent of the men in two estab
lishments received increases of 20 per cent in one plant and about
15 per cent in the second. An increase of 10 per cent to about 13
per cent of the force was reported by one company, while increases
of approximately 10 per cent were given to about 20 per cent and
10 per cent of the employees in two factories. The entire force in
one plant were given an increase of from 5 to 8 per cent, and practi
cally the whole force in another plant were granted an increase of
about 7 per cent. One firm made an increase of 5 per cent, but no
statement was given as to the number affected. An advance of $1
to $2 a week to one-third of the ernplo^yees was reported by one
concern, and a general increase of 25 cents a day was made by one
plant. One establishment reported an increase, but failed to give
any further particulars.
P a p e r m a k in g .—Four establishments reported increases of 13, 10.4,
10, and about 10 per cent, affecting 3 per cent, 16 per cent, 25 per
cent, and practically the entire force, respectively. One company
advanced all of the factory workers 3 cents an hour. Some in
creases were granted by one concern, but no information was given
as to the amount or number affected.
S i l k .—A 25 per cent increase to 50 per cent of the force was reported
by one mill. Two establishments granted increases of 20 per cent,
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
affecting about 34 per cent of the force in one mill, and the weavers
in the other; all of the other help in the second establishment received
an increase of 10 per cent. The entire force in one mill received an
increase of about 20 per cent, and practically all of the employees
in another mill were increased 17 per cent. An increase of 10 to 15
per cent was reported by one concern and 10 per cent by another,
which affected practically the entire force in each; and an increase of
about 10 per cent was reported by one plant, but no data was given
in reference to the number receiving the increase. Increases of 9
per cent and 7J per cent were given in two mills to 20 per cent of
the force and about 34 per cent of the employees, respectively. In
one factory 90 per cent of the employees were given an increase, but
no report was made as to the per cent of increase.
PLACEMENT OF WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
In an effort to bring about the more equitable distribution of
reserves of woman power in order to overcome the labor deficit
wherever it may embarrass production of war material, the United
States Employment Service has authorized each community labor
board1 to add to its membership two 'women, one representing the
woman worker and the other the management. Upon all questions
concerned in the utilization of women in industry the two woman
members have full voting power, but are ex officio and nonvoting
members of the board in respect to other matters. It is the func
tion of each board in this connection to ascertain all the facts pos
sible relative to the proposed work for women where requests for
female workers are made by employers engaged in war work, and
also to determine what nonwar industries should substitute women
for men with a view to effecting the release of all men possible for
work on war production exclusively. The instructions issued by
the Employment Service concerning the jurisdiction of local boards
in supplying woman labor contain the following provisions:
A . W ar w o r k .—Whenever an employer, engaged in war work of a kind which here
tofore has not been customarily performed by women, shall ask the United States
Employment Service for assistance in securing women employees the application
will be referred to the community labor board for the district where the work is to be
done. The community labor board shall determine:
First. Whether the kind of work is one which it is proper for women to perform.
Second. Whether the conditions surrounding the particular job are such that it is
proper for women to be employed at that particular place and under existing condi
tions.
Third. What, if any, modification in conditions must be made in order that the
employment of women may be sanctioned.
iAn account of the organization of these hoards appeared in the Monthly L aboh R eview for August,
1918, pp. 64, 65.
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283
Fourth. What, if any, limitations are necessary as to the ages of the women to he
employed or otherwise.
The Employment Service will not assist in placing women in any war worlc except
under the decisions of the local community labor board.
B . N o n w a r w o r k .—One of the first duties of each community labor board in securing
the quota of male workers required from that community for war work is to determine
what nonwar industries should substitute women for men, and in what positions in
such industries such substitutions should be made.
In making this determination the question of the propriety of having women do
such work, in all of its aspects, should be considered by the community labor board.
After deciding the industries and positions in which men should be replaced by
women the community labor board should exercise all of its influence to induce em
ployers to make such substitution. The Employment Service will give all possible
assistance to employers in securing women for such positions.
The community labor boards are to base all their decisions relative
to the use of women in industries upon the standards for the employ
ment of women adopted by the War Labor Policies Board.1
EQUAL PA Y FOR EQUAL WORK.
The general employment of women in war work emphasized the
desirability of an announcement by the Government of its attitude
on the subject of paying women the same wages as men receive
where the work performed and the degree of efficiency are the same.
Accordingly the National War Labor Board, upon its organization,2
stated one of its principles to be:
If it shall become necessary to employ women on work ordinarily performed by
men, they must be allowed equal pay for equal work and must not be allotted tasks
disproportionate to their strength.
Secretary Wilson of the Department of Labor has indorsed this
view, and the War Department has gone on record as favoring equal
pay for equal work done by women filling the places of men in war
industry. In announcing this as the policy of the Ordnance Depart
ment, the following statement was m ade:3
Women are entering munitions establishments, replacing men who are pouring into
the National Army cantonments. They are being assigned to work on drill presses,
the making and marking of fuses, the loading of shells, the gauging of machinery and
shells, the assembling of artillery, to inspection, to drafting, electrical, and carpentry
work. It has been found, according to manufacturers, that women are proving more
accurate than men in the timing of fuses and in inspection where particularly keen
eyesight is required. They are proving better than-men in assembling, because of
the nimbleness of their fingers. Steps will be taken to enforce the policy of equal pay
for equal work by women.
The Women in Industry »Service of the Department of Labor and
the War Labor Policies Board, in consultation with other Federal
agencies, have worked, out a program whereby the Government,
iThe standards were printed in full in the Monthly L abor R eview for August, pp. 67, 68.
Monthly R eview far May, 1918, pp. 54-58, for an account of the organization of this board,
* Official U. S. Bulletin for June 12,1918, p. 14.
2 See
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.
under its war powers, will stipulate in war contracts that no women
shall be employed on night work in any industry in the United States
except where the War Department shall declare an emergency in
particular plants and where for a limited period a permit may be
issued by the Secretary of Labor after full investigation by the
Women in Industry Service and conference with the Council of
National Defense.
ROLE OF THE EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT IN SECURING AND RETAINING
EMPLOYEES.
Under the title “ Hiring and firing” the Metropolitan Life Insur
ance Co. has published, for the benefit of employers insured in the
group insurance department of the company, suggestions on employ
ment based on an analysis of the problems involved in securing,
selecting, and retaining an adequate number of employees.1
The fundamental problems, from the employers’ standpoint, are
stated to be the following: (1) To mobilize the sources of labor sup
ply; (2) to analyze the requirements of the specific jobs of the plant;
(3) to select the most suitable applicant; (4) to induct and “ follow
up” the new employee; (5) to retain and develop all employees.
These problems are studied in the light of figures and data taken
from the experience of various firms and used as a basis for the sug
gestions set forth in this study. Concerning the emplojunent ma
chinery, the following statement is made:
“ The economy of installing employment departments is already
apparent. The Dennison Manufacturing Co. found that during the
first two years of their employment department a reduced turnover
had netted them a saving of $25,000, charging $50 to the cost of
replacing each experienced hand. The Curtis Publishing Co. esti
mated that in one year after the introduction of a centralized em
ployment bureau there had been a saving of $90 per person “ landed
on the books” because the applicant accepted was almost sure to
“ make good.” In 1914 the Ford Motor Co. introduced the central
ized employment bureau. The policy of the bureau is to transfer
a man as many as six or eight times until a place is found where lie
can do the work and earn his $5 a day. This policy reduced the
discharges from 8,390 in 1913 to 27 in 1915.
“ The Hayes Manufacturing Co., of Detroit, cut their turnover in
two in the first year of the operation of an employment bureau and
in the next four months the turnover was more than cut in two
again. More significant even is the fact that this reduction was
accompanied by a 30 per cent increase in output per man. The
i Hiring and firing. Suggestions for employers. Industrial service bureau Bulletin No. 1. Metropolitan
Life Insurance Co., New York, 1918. 48 pp.
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M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW. .
285
Solvay Co., of Detroit, in 1916 had an employment bureau in one
of its two plants, the Semet-Solvay (Coke) Co., but not in the Solvay
Process Co., which adjoined it. The latter company was having
labor difficulties and to remedy them the employment manager of
the Semet-Solvay Co. took over the hiring and firing in both plants,
beginning May, 1916. In May the combined average turnover was
10 per cent; in June the turnover dropped to 8.3 per cent; in July
it was 8 per cent; in August, 4.1 per cent; in September, 3.3 per
cent; in October, 3 per cent; in November, 2.6 per cent; in Decem
ber, 2.4 per cent; and during these same months the average labor
turnover in Detroit “ was jumping up by leaps and bounds.” Such
results give complete evidence of the value of centralized employ
ment management.”
Several methods for obtaining applicants are suggested as being
open to the employment manager. Vacancies may be filled from
among those (1) applying for work at the plant or by mail; (2) rec
ommended by present employers or by a third person; (3) reached
by advertising in newspapers, circulars, etc., or by scouting; (4) grad
uating or leaving schools; (5) registered by employment agencies;
and (6) those recommended for promotion and transfer within the
plant. Each method is discussed at length.
A rather detailed description is given of the methods for analyzing
jobs and of selecting employees according to their fitness for par
ticular work. The importance of giving attention to these matters
is emphasized. Ecpially important are the methods pursued by the
employment manager in so introducing the new employee to his
work as to make the first impression a favorable one, and in develop
ing a “ follow u p ” system so that all causes of dissatisfaction may be
removed and the employee assisted in “ making good” and pro
moted as rapidly as his ability warrants.
The reduction of labor turnover is one of the greatest problems
confronting the employment department. In this connection the
report says:
“ Comparatively few employers have realized that for every man on
their pay roll they were probably hiring at least one new man every
year. This 100 per cent turnover was very general even before the
war, and is a sufficient argument to cause any employer to study the
reason for his plant turnover.
“ A recent examination of 100,000 causes of leaving employment in
several representative plants of the country revealed the following
facts:1 74.6 per cent quit of their own accord; 12.2 per cent were
laid off; and 13.2 per cent were discharged.
1Standardization of the causes of leaving jobs, by J. D. Haekett. Industrial Management, The Engi
neering Magazine Co., publishers, 6 East Thirty-ninth Street, New York. March, 1918, p. 233.
S7721°— 1S-
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M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
“ The large percentage of those quitting is probably abnormal and
due to the unusual industrial conditions of war time. Obviously,
however, the study of reasons for leaving is of vital importance in
reducing turnover. A rubber company employing 12,000 men found
in the . analysis of their turnover of one year that a large percentage
of the men left in spite of high wages because of the monotony of the
work. Such a condition as this might perhaps have been remedied
by routing the worker, shortening hours, or providing frequent inter
vals of rest, and still be less costly than allowing the turnover to
continue. The Dennison Manufacturing Co. in 1915 reduced the
number of employees leaving because of dissatisfaction with either
pay or work to 17.5 per cent of the number of those leaving, dissatis
fied, in 1913. This was due to the work of the employment depart
ment installed in 1914.
“ The Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., employing some 20,000 men,
found 30 per cent of those who left them in 1917 (66 per cent reported
reasons for leaving) doing so because of ‘working conditions.’”
The reasons for leaving this company during the same year were as
follows: Not enough money, 9 per cent; never started, 6; working
conditions, 20;* discharged, 5; laid off, 1; dissatisfied, 2; better job,
12; needed at home, 8; living conditions, 2; failed to report, 28;
personal reasons, 7.
Transfers and promotions within the plant, when practicable, are
recommended as being effective in reducing turnover, and the report
^presents the following table to illustrate the effect which the estab
lishment of an employment bureau has on provisions made for trans
fer and promotion:
PROVISION MADE FOR TRANSFER AND PROMOTION OF EMPLOYEES BY 18 FIRMS
W ITH AND 12 FIRMS WITHOUT SEPARATE EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENTS.
Provision made by firms for transfer and promotion of em
ployees.
Firms with separ a t e employ
ment d e p a r t
ments, h a v i n g
specified provi
sions.
Firms without sop
s' r a t e emplovment d e p a r t
ments, h a v i n g
specified provi
sions.
Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent.
Total number of firms.....................................................................
18
100.0
Definite plans for promotion..........................................................
Information given employees as to opportunities for advance...
W ritten job specifications...............................................................
Provision for transfers and try-outs in other departments.........
Full power of discharge given foreman.........................................
Investigation of cases of discharge............................. ..................
Investigation of majority of cases of “ quitting” ..........................
7
13
14
14
7
15
13
38.8
72.2
77.7
77.7
38.8
83.3
72.2
12
1
2
1
5
4
4
100.0
8.3
16 6
8.3
41.6
41.6
33.3
33.3
1 Given as 30 per cent in the preceding paragraph. This is probably based upon the 6S per cent who
reported reasons for leaving.
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EXTENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.
In view of the important aspect of the problem of finding employ
ment for the discharged soldier, the solution of which will become
more urgent as the war progresses and the men begin to return from
the battle line, it may be profitable to note the situation as revealed
by interviews with 22,283 men discharged from the British Army
during the months of April, May, and June, 1918. In the August
issue of the Month’s Work (p. 32), a magazine published by the
British Ministry of Labor, a table is given which shows the propor
tion of soldiers for whom employment had to be found and thus
gives a fair index of the probable extent of unemployment to be
expected among men in our own Expeditionary Force. It will be
noted from the table that approximately 37 per cent of the men
interviewed were seeking employment, while only 3.5 per cent stated
that they did not require employment.
CONDITION OF SOLDIERS DISCHARGED FROM BRITISH ARMY IN SPECIFIED PERIODS
AS TO REEMPLOYMENT.
Per cent of total number interviewed who stated they were—
Period.
Returning
to definite
Seeking em employment, Returning to Not requiring
ployment. with previous own busi employment.
ness.
employer or
otherwise.
Not fit for
work at
present.
April..............................................
Mav...............................................
June...............................................
44.3
36.1
33.0
40.6
43.0
48.7
5.1
4.7
5.7
3.1
3.6
3.9
12.6
April, May, and June.........
37.4
43.9
5.1
3.5
9.7
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6.9
8.7
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS
PROVISION TO PREVENT STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN MINNESOTA
DURING THE WAR.
The annual report (unpublished) of the Minnesota State Board of
Arbitration to the Governor on the work of the board during its first
year ending June 1, 1918, states that prior to March 30 last, the
board had had but few disputes brought before it, due to the fact
that such matters could only be settled by mutual consent of the
contending parties. To meet this obstacle the Governor, on March
30, 1918, issued a proclamation calling upon employees and employers
to cooperate with the board in effecting a plan to promote industrial
peace during the present emergency.
In consequence a declaration of basic principles to govern all
disputes during the War was approved by representatives of
employees and later by representatives of employers, and on April
16, at the request of the board of arbitration, the Commission of
Public Safety issued its Order Number 30 embodying these principles
and declaring that there shall be no strike or lockout for the duration
of the War. The text of this order is as follows:
Whereas pursuant to the governor’s proclamation of March 30, 1918, the members
of the State Board of Arbitration have conferred with representatives of employers
and employees for the purpose of adjusting all industrial disputes and thereby pre
vent strikes or lockouts during the War; and
Whereas as a result of said conference the executive council of the Minnesota State
Federation of Labor, the Minnesota Employers’ Association, and others have peti
tioned said board, through petitions of which the following is a copy:
T o the B o a r d o f A r b itr a tio n o f the S ta te o f M in n e so ta :
G e n t l e m e n : Realizing that the full activity and energy of every citizen in some
form or another must be effectively used for the successful prosecution and termina
tion of the War, and that personal and selfish aims and ambitions must, at this time,
be entirely set aside for the welfare of the country, and believing that loyalty is not
confined to any one class or groups:
We propose that employer and employee, organized and unorganized, shall use
every effort to prevent strikes and lockouts, to deal rationally and unselfishly with
serious wage disputes, and for the period of the War not compel, or attempt to compel,
discriminations in employment by strikes, threats of strikes, or lockouts.
To this end the undersigned suggest the adoption of the following basic conditions
to cover both employer and employee, organized or unorganized, during the period
of the War:
1. That employer and employee must recognize that now, and for the period of
the War, continuous, efficient production can alone equip and sustain our military
forces; that every dispute, whatever its motive, which interrupts production, fur
thers the ends and operates to the advantage of the public enemy.
2. That employees shall not ask for recognition of a union which had not been
recognized before the War.
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3. That employers, by a lockout or by other means, shall not try to break up a
union which had been recognized before the War.
4. That employers and employees agree in good faith to maintain the existing
status, in every phase of employment, of a union, nonunion, or open shop.
5. That employers and employees agree that differences with respect to wages or
hours of labor shall be referred to the State Board of Arbitration for adjudication under
the provisions of chapter 23, section 3941, of the Laws of Minnesota.
6. That during the period of the War, there shall be neither strike nor lockout
under any circumstances.
In the event of an arbitration, pending the decision of the board, work shall be
continued uninterrupted by either party; and
Whereas the State Board of Arbitration recommends to the Commission of Public
Safety that the recommendations contained in said petition be given the force and
effect of an order of said commission;
It is hereby ordered, That the aforesaid paragraphs, numbered 2 to 6, inclusive, be
and the same are hereby given the force and effect of orders of this Commission dur
ing the War, and that the members of the State Board of Arbitration be given full
power and authority to summon witnesses, and examine the same under oath, as
provided in chapter 26, section 3, paragraph 4, and that the decision of said board
shall be binding on the parties to said disputes. And pending the decision of the
board “ work shall be continued uninterrupted by either p arty ” as in said petition
requested.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at the Capitol in the
city of Saint Paul, this 16th day of April, 1918.
J. A. A. B u r n q u is t ,
H . W. L ib b y ,
G o vern o r a n d E x -O fficio C h a irm a n o f the M in n e so ta
S e c re ta ry .
C o m m is sio n o f P u b lic S a fe ty .
The effect of this order is demonstrated in a supplementary report
prepared for this bureau by the board of arbitration. According to
this, under the order and the existing law, since the issuance of the
order on April 16, and down to September 13, the board of arbitra
tion has had applications for the mediation or arbitration of difficul
ties in 39 cases, involving approximately 6,500 men and about 500
firms. Eleven of the applications for arbitration were from em
ployers, 22 from employees, and 6 were referred from other sources.
Six cases were settled by arbitration, and 33 by mediation and
conciliation.
RECENT STRIKES IN GREAT BRITAIN.
MUNITIONS WORKERS.
According to reports in the British press, the munitions strike
which ended July 29, 1918, pending adjustment of differences by a
committee of inquiry, had for its direct cause the so-called “ embargo”
scheme of labor distribution adopted by the Ministry of Munitions.
Under this scheme certain controlled firms were prohibited from
engaging “ skilled labor of all types”—workmen entitled to the full
district rate for the work on which they were employed. This order
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did not, however, apply to the employment of a skilled discharged
sailor or soldier. A notice of the embargo was first issued to foremen
by a firm in Coventry, July 3,1918. A stoppage of work ensued July
23, 1818, which spread to Birmingham and showed signs of extending
to other munitions centers.
The reasons for this action on the part of the Government, as given
in a statement by the Ministry of Munitions, are as follows:1
Owing to the scarcity of shilled labor in the country created by the needs of the
army and the grave emergency of the war it became necessary some time ago to make
sure that the skilled labar available was fairly shared among munition firms, and in
some cases to place a limit on the number of skilled workers which particular em
ployers and firms were entitled to engage.
If this had not been done employers, instead of making reasonable efforts to econo
mize skilled labor so that what we have might be used to the best public advantage,
would have been led to strive against each other for skilled men regardless of the
national interest. One firm would have been overcrowded with skilled men; another
doing equally important work would have been stopped for want of them.
The Ministry of Munitions, after a full explanation had been given to the responsible
trade-union leaders, issued instructions under their legal powers limiting for the
present the right of employers in about 100 firms to add to the number of men on their
staffs.
This action of the Government is absolutely necessary if wre are to continue a proper
supply of munitions to the armies in the field. It affects the employer to a far greater
extent than it does an individual workman. The workman’s right to leave his em
ployment and to obtain work of national importance still remains.
There .is no question of re-imposing the leaving certificate. Indeed, this prohibi
tion in certain cases of employers engaging additional workmen out of proportion to
what the country can now afford was one of the safeguards announced to Parliament
in August last by the Minister of Munitions as a definite part of the policy of abolishing
the leaving certificate.
It would seem from the statement quoted that the whole matter
centered upon the questions of making the best use of the available
supply of labor for munitions work and of preventing what is known
as “ labor poaching.” Estimates for the Munitions Department in
April showed that 100,000 men had been released for the army and
that for some time men would probably be released at the rate of
1,000 per day. As a result of this “ comb out,” 50,000 or 60,000
places were vacant in the munition plants at the time of the strike.
Side by side with this heavy demand on the man power available
for munitions production has gone the increasing demand for output
in the munition factories. With duo consideration of the prevailing
shortage of skilled labor the ministry deemed it necessary to restrict
firms already supplied with as large a proportion of skilled workmen
as their munitions contracts warranted from employing additional
men of this class.
M an ch ester (E n glan d ) Guardian, July 20, 1918, p . 8.
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The workman contended that the direct cause? dated back to early
in June when the Ministry of Munitions issued an u advanced draft
of an enlarged war munitions volunteer scheme,” whereby men
refusing to volunteer were threatened with the withdrawal of their
protection from military service. The Trade-Union Advisory Com
mittee to the Ministry of Munitions ' refused to approve the scheme
and it was tacitly abandoned. The workmen claimed that when this
plan failed secret restriction of the'employment of skilled labor was
resorted to under the Defense of the Realm Act, section 8a, the
object of which, the workmen believed, was to prevent skilled men
giving up their jobs rather than to secure a more even distribution
of such labor, the basis for this opinion being that exception was
made of skilled men discharged from the army and the navy, whose
skill could have been used in the undersupplied establishments.
In the view of labor, this action was an indirect form of industrial
conscription, would reimpose the leaving certificates abolished a year
ago, and not only would furnish the employer a means of ridding
himself of active trade-unionists by forcing them out of their jobs
into the army, but would strengthen the bad employer’s position
when industrial grievances arose. Trade-unionists also claimed that
as the embargo was placed upon firms paying the best wages and
furnishing the best working conditions, it would lower wages, and
that, while it was now limited to 100 firms, there was nothing to limit
its extension indefinitely.
The strikers demanded that the embargo be withdrawn. To this
demand the Ministry of Munitions replied that, owing to the urgent
necessity of sending greater supplies to the troops, it could not see
its way clear to do so. Suggestions were then made by several of
the labor organizations affected that local committees composed of
an equal number of employers and employees be appointed to deal
with the question.
•
On July 25, 1918, a conference between the Ministry of Munitions
and the Trade-Union Advisory Committee was held in London and
some misunderstandings which existed concerning the notices in
regard to the embargo issued at Coventry wore cleared up. The
trade-union representatives asked that those instructions be canceled
and agreed to advise the men affected to return to work, the Govern
ment to set up a committee of inquiry into the cause of the dispute,
which committee should be composed of representatives of the
Government, the employers, and the trade-unions concerned.
While the terms of settlement were pending, the Prime Minister
issued a statement, July 27, 1918, directing that all men who, in
disregard of the advice of their leaders, had ceased work in an attempt
to force a change of national policy necessary to the adequate support
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of the men facing death for their country, “ will, if willfully absent
from their work on or after Monday, the 29th of July, be deemed to
have placed themselves voluntarily outside the area of munitions
industries. Their protection certificates will cease to have effect
from that date, and they will become liable to the provision of the
Military Service Acts.” 1
The strike ended July 29, 1918, “ when twelve to fifteen thousand
members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, the Amalgamated
Toolmakers’ Association, and the Steam Engine Makers’ Society
passed a resolution agreeing to accept the committee of inquiry as a
means of settling the present dispute, and resume work forthwith
on the understanding that the committee will be set up immediately,
and will include local representatives of the men’s societies, and also
that the Government will withhold its threatened action in regard
to calling up notices and that no victimization of individuals takes
place.” 2 Work was resumed on July 30, 1918.
The men denied that their decision was affected by the threatened
enforcement in their case of the Military Service Acts. They were
most influenced by the urgent needs of the army, as emphasized by
the Trade-Union Advisory Committee and the acceptance by the
Ministry of Munitions of the foregoing resolution. They believe that
the embargo will be either suspended or withdrawn, or that it will
be administered by a joint committee representing the Government,
the employers, and representatives of the trade-unions.
According to the Ministry of Munitions, the committee of inquiry
will consist of a representative of the Ministry of Munitions, Admiralty,
and Ministry of Labor, and three representatives each of employers
and labor to be appointed respectively by the Employers’ Advisory
Committee and the Trade-Union Advisory Committee to the Minister
of Munitions.3
INTERIM REPORT ON LABOR EMBARGOES.
Since the foregoing account of the munitions strike was written,
the committee of inquiry, known as Mr. Justice McCardie’s Com
mittee of Inquiry and appointed in accordance with the terms of the
agreement, has submitted an interim report on labor embargoes.4
The committee finds that no witness expressed a doubt as to the
existing labor shortage; that the immediate call for the production of
special munitions upon which only skilled men can be used, the release
of ever increasing numbers of skilled men for repair work in the Army,
and the difficulty of extending the principle of dilution in the more
1Manchester (England)
Guardian, July 27,
Manchester (England) Guardian, July 30,
•'Manchester (England) Guardian, July 29,
* Great Britain.
Ministry of Munitions.
report on labour embargoes. London, 1918.
‘
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1918, p. 5
1918, p. 5.
Mr. Justice McCardie’s Committee of Inquiry.
12 pp.
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MONTHLY LABOE REVIEW.
293
highly skilled operations all “ indicate the urgent need of economy in
the use of skilled labor and the necessity of utilizing skilled men in the
most effective and productive manner.”
It is, therefore, “ of opinion that the action of the Government in
establishing the scheme was justified.”
An unfortunate phase of the situation, however, developed in the
misunderstanding on the part of the men of the wording of the notice
of the embargo. The embargo provided that licenses for the employ
ment of skilled labor might be secured from the chief dilution officer.
As no mention was made of this fact in the notice which was issued
merely as a guide to the foremen, the men, not having seen the embargo
itself, fell into the error of thinking that the .embargoed firms were
absolutely prohibited from hiring skilled workmen.
The men were “ also alarmed at the definition of ‘skilled man’
contained in that instruction, as they thought that it incorporated
into the ranks of skilled men dilutees in receipt of the district rate of
wages, and that it might, therefore, tend to undermine seriously the
definition of ‘skilled man’ for the purpose of the Munitions of War
Acts and the Treasury Agreements of March, 1915, and thus affect
the restoration of the position of skilled men upon the cessation of
the war. It was not understood that the definition was employed
for the sole purpose of indicating to the employer the scope of the
embargo letter.”
The committee feels that since the dilution scheme expressed in the
Treasury Agreements of March 19 and March 25, 1915, had been
patriotically accepted by a large number of trade-unions of skilled
workmen “ it is essential that the workmen who assented to these
agreements should be satisfied that the conditions of their acceptance
will be fulfilled.” And furthermore, it is of the opinion that all of the
misapprehension occasioned by the embargo indicates “ the necessity
for full publicity and explanation to workmen and employers alike
of Government policy from time to time with respect to labor
matters.”
The inquiry also reveals the fact that although the embargo was
the immediate cause of the stoppage of work at Coventry and Birm
ingham, it was not the “ only or indeed the substantial cause thereof.”
Other underlying causes of the stoppage of work which witnesses
considered important will be discussed in a later report. For the
present the committee makes the following recommendations:
(а) That means should be devised to provide that changes or developments in
Government policy with respect to labor matters (so far as they concern munitions
work) should be immediately and effectively communicated to the workmen and
employers concerned, both centrally and locally, in order to secure their confidence
and cooperation.
(б) That a joint committee of a consultative and advisory nature be established
forthwith.
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(c) That, its constitution should be as follows:
A chairman to be appointed by the Government.
Three trade-union representatives to be appointed by the engineering group of the
Trade-Union Advisory Committee to the Minister of Munitions.
Two trade-union representatives to be appointed by the trade-union representa
tives on the National Joint Committee of the Shipbuilders and Shipyard Trade-Unions.
One trade-union representative to be appointed by the less skilled trades group of
the Trade-Union Advisory Committee to the Minister of Munitions.
One trade-union representative to be appointed by the Women’s Trade-Union
Advisory Committee to the Minister of Munitions.
Five employers to be appointed by the Engineering Employers’ Advisory Com
mittee to the Minister of Munitions.
Two employers to be appointed by the employers’ representatives on the National
Joint Committee of the Shipbuilders’ Federation and Shipyard Trade-Unions.
(d) The following terms of reference are proposed:
“ To consult with and advise the Admiralty and the Minister of Munitions on such
questions relating to labor as the Admiralty and the Ministry of Munitions may sub
mit for their consideration.”
(e) The members of the committee, other than the chairman, should be subject to
reappointment every three months.
{/) The committee should meet weekly in order to maintain close and constant
touch with the problems which may arise.
(g ) The meetings of the committee should be attended by the heads of the Labor
Departments of the Admiralty and the Ministry of Munitions or by responsible officers
of those departments.
LONDON POLICE.
On August 29, 1918, the members of the Metropolitan Police
Force, variously estimated at 11,000 or 12,000 men, left duty, and on
the following day the other branches of the National Union of Police
and Prison Officers joined them. They were supported in this action
by organized labor.
The men demanded:
(a) That the present war bonus of 12 s. ($2.92) weekly be immediately increased to
£1 ($4.87) per week to all ranks of the London Metropolitan Police Force, and to be
forthwith converted into permanent wages and to be made pensionable. Further,
that a war bonus, calculated on a basis of 12J per cent on all wages and allowances, be
granted in addition to above demand.
(b ) That Ex-Police Constable T. Thiel, provincial organizer of the National Union
of Police and Prison Officers, and delegate to the London Trades Council, who was
dismissed from the London Metropolitan Police Force for “ grave breach of discipline
in taking part in the management and being a member of an unauthorized association
known as the National Union of Police and Prison Officers, ” be immediately rein
stated without loss of pay or service.
(c) Complete “ official” recognition of the National Union of Police and Prison
Officers and its duly authorized officials.1
Negotiations were at once opened between the men, the Prime
Minister, and the Home Office which on August 31, 1918, resulted in
the following concessions:
Wages increase of 13 s. ($3.16) per week, pensionable war bonus 12 s. ($2.92) per
week, and allowances for each child of 2 s. 6 d. (61 cents) per week to remain; non-
1Local
Government, Journal and Officials’ Gazette, Aug. 31, 1918, v:47:414.
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295
contributory pension of 10 s. ($2.43) per week for policemen’s widows, widow’s pen
sion payable in case of service men at the front. The result is minimum wages pen
sionable £2. 3 s. ($10.46) per week, war bonus 12 s. ($2.92), making a total minimum
of £2 15 s. ($13.38), with children's allowances in addition.1
The Prime Minister refused to recognize a police union in war
time, citing as his reason the conditions which had arisen in Russia
from the existence of a union or a committee among the soldiers.
As the police are a semimilitary force, he felt that the same condi
tions applied to them as to the soldiers. He favored, however,
some organization by which members of the police force could bring
their grievances before the proper authorities, and promised that
means for presenting communications of this kind would be dis
cussed with the men at an early date. The ex-police constable,
T. Thiel, was reinstated.
LONDON MOTOR-OMNIBUS AND TRAMWAY WORKERS.2
The principle of "Equal pay for equal work” underly'ng the
recent strike of the London motor-omnibus, tramway, and under
ground workers is one of special interest in the adjustment of wage
difficulties. The problem of women’s work and women’s pay has
again been raised, and must be settled with fairness and justice if
thè present and future interests of the community are to be promoted.
The strike originated among the women conductors whose griev
ance was that they had not been included in the 5 s. (SI.22) weekly
war bonus granted to the male employees by an award of the Com
mittee on Production, July 9, 1918.
The application for advance in wages July 9, 1918, "was for an
increase of 12£ per cent upon the present total earnings or for a
standard increase equivalent thereto, and for such a revision of the
award of March 8, 1918, as would provide for equal payment for
women as for men, both as regards war wages and basic rates.”
In dealing with this claim the Committee on Production increased
the war wages already paid to men 21 years of age and over from
20 s. to 25 s. ($4.87 to $6.08) a week, this standard increase to be in
lieu of the 12£ per cent bonus demanded. In the case of women’s
wages, however, the committee found that their claim to a bonus of
12J per cent had not been established, and arrived at a like conclu
sion regarding the application for the revision of the award of March
8, basing their attitude in this matter upon the fact that up to July
9, 1918, the original grant of the 121 per cent bonus by the Minister
of Munitions and all subsequent extensions of it had been confined
to male employees 21 years of age and over.
i Manchester (England) Guardian, Sept. 2, 1918, p. 5.
s Summarized from The Times (London), Aug. 30, 1918.
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To this award the women protested and on August 17, 1918, a
strike was called. The men employees in general supported the
women. While the men had nothing to gain from the settlement of
this particular strike they felt that if they would avoid a double
standard of wages in the future, it would be to their best interests to
help the women in their fight for wage equality. Those who opposed
the women’s action did so on the ground that many of the women
were the wives of soldiers, and were, therefore, receiving separation
allowances, whereas the men had families to support.
The claim submitted by the workers was as follows:
(a) Interpretation of Committee on Production Awards, viz, whether under clause
14 of the award of July 9, 1918, the committee intended to nullify any agreements or
undertakings, and in particular any such undertaking as is alluded to in clause 4 of
the award of March 8, 1918.
( b ) That equal total payments be made to women as to men for equal work in the
tramway and omnibus undertakings, parties to the awards of March 8 and July 9,
1918.
(c) That any present change of payment should date from the beginning of the
first full pay day following July 9, 1918.
(d) That any future changes of payments should take place conjointly with those
of the men.
Negotiations which followed between the Ministry of Labor and the
employees resulted in a resumption of work on the part of the workers,
and in the referring of the claim to the Committee on Production for
settlement. Representatives of the employees were heard August 26
and 29, 1918, and the decision was rendered August 30, 1918, granting
the 5 s. ($1.22) increase. In making this award the committee stated
that since the award of July 9, 1918> the Minister of Munitions had
granted women munition workers an advance of 5 s. ($1.22) per week
and from a consideration of that award it had concluded that the
women transport workers were entitled to the advance they sought.
TERMS OF THE AWARD.
With regard to item (5) of the claim so far as it relates to an application for an increase
of wages, the decision of the committee is as follows:
1. To those grades of women aged 18 and over whose terms of employment include
an undertaking that they shall be paid the same rates as the grades of men whose places
they have filled, there shall be paid such advances as shall give 25 s. ($6.08) per week
over the prewar rates of the grades concerned, payment to be made on the basis of a
week of six days or six shifts.
2. In the case of women aged 18 and over not covered by clause 10 (1) the advances
now being paid shall be increased by 5 s. ($1.22) a week, subject to a maximum of 25 s.
($6.08) a week over the prewar rates of the grades concerned, payment to be made on
the basis of a week of six days or six shifts.
3. The increases hereby awarded shall take effect as from the beginning of the first
full pay following July 9, 1918. They are to be regarded as war wages and recognized
as due to and dependent on the existence of the abnormal conditions now prevailing
in consequence of the war.
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In regard to the other two items in the claim the committee stated
that the award of July 9, 1918, did not nullify any agreements then
existing between any of the parties to the awTard relating to the wages
of women; that it approved the principle of considering changes in
the payment of women conjointly with those in the payment of men
and advised the formulation of an agreement whereby a periodical
review of wages in the industry concerned might be made.
The committee also recommended that a special inquiry, in which
women should take part, be made into the whole question of women’s
wages in re!a don to men’s, with a view to adopting a general guiding
principle for dealing with this subject. The Government has decided
to appoint this committee.
In the settlement of the omnibus strike two principles were estab
lished ; namely, that women have the right to the same rates of pay
as men for work of equal quality, and that separation allowances shall
not constitute a reason for a rebate in the settlement of these rates.
THE YORKSHIRE MINERS.
In 1914, 400,000 British miners voluntarily enlisted for service at
the front, and it has been only by commendable effort on the part of
the remaining workers and by the introduction of labor-saving
machinery that the output necessary for Government use and for
export to the Allies has not been diminished to a greater extent than
it has.
Since that time recruiting among the coal miners has reduced the
output of coal in Great Britain by millions of tons, per annum.
Recently the situation became so critical that the Government took
steps to reman the pits by releasing from military service men of low
medical categories at the rate of nearly 100 per day, and measures
have even been taken to get men from France into the mines in
order to increase the output to the necessary amount.
In view of the urgency of the situation regarding the coal supply,
the strike of the Yorkshire miners, August 21, 1918, seems to have
been unexpected even by many of the working miners themselves.
The trouble arose in the Yorkshire Miners’ Association over the
interpretation of an award regarding the wages and working hours of
colliery surface workers.
In January, 1918, the National Federation of Colliery Surface
Workers reached an agreement with the employers for a 54-hour week,
the Committee on Production refusing a claim for an 8-hour day, and
the agreement has been faithfully kept. Some months later the
Yorkshire Miners’ Association submitted a similar claim in behalf of
its surface workers and was also awarded a 54-hour week. The asso
ciation then advanced the claim that the 54 hours included nteal
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times, for which the members should be paid, an arrangement, which
had it been agreed to, would have virtually effected a 48-hour week.
This the coal owners contended was not the intention of the arbitrator,
and proceeded to make deductions from wages for the hours used as
meal times.
After a week’s futile discussion notices were posted August 21, 1918,
and on August 22 from 160,000 to 170,000 Yorkshire miners quit work.
In the meantime conferences between the representatives of the
employers and of the men and the coal controller, which had been
arranged for August 22, 1918, ended with the issue of an official
instruction to the men to return to work. The proceedings of the
conferences were private, and the terms of the settlement were not
made public.
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IMMIGRATION,
IMMIGRATION IN AUGUST, 1918.
The number of immigrant aliens admitted into the United States
during the year 1917, as compared with the number admitted during
the year 1916, decreased 56.9 per cent. During 1917 the decrease
from the preceding month for January, February, and March was
19.9, 22.3, and 19.4 per cent, respectively. For April, however, the
number of immigrant aliens admitted showed an increase of 32.3 per
cent over the number admitted in March. As compared with April,
the figures of May showed a decrease of 48.9 per cent. The figures
for June indicated an increase of 5.5 per cent over those for May.
During July only 9,367 immigrant aliens were admitted. As com
pared with the figures for July, those for August showed an increase
of 7.3 per cent. In September the number was 139 less than the
number admitted in July. As compared with August, the figures for
September showed a decrease of 8.2 per cent. In October there was
an increase over the September arrivals of 0.6 per cent. In November
a decrease of 30.6 per cent from the number admitted in October was
shown. In December there was an increase of 8.4 per cent. In
January, 1918, there was a decrease of 9 per cent as compared with
December, 1917. February showed an increase over January of 16.2
per cent, while March as compared with February showed a decrease
of 11.9 per cent. April as compared with March showed an increase
of 46.7 per cent, May as compared with April, an increase of 59.5
per cent, while June as compared with May decreased 6.4 per cent.
July as compared with June showed a decrease of 45.4 per cent. The
increase in August over July was 1.1 per cent.
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MONTHLY LABOE EEYIEW,
IM M IG RA N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D IN T O T H E U N IT E D ST A TES IN S P E C IF IE D M ONTHS
1913 TO 1918.
1918
\
M onth.
1913
1914
1915
1916
P er cent
increase
over
preceding
m onth.
1917
N um ber.
J a n u a ry ...................................
F e b ru a ry .................................
M arch.......................................
A p ril................................... .
M ay...........................................
J u n e ..........................................
J u ly ...........................................
A u g u st.....................................
Septem ber...............................
O ctober....................................
N ovem ber................................
D ecem ber................................
46,441
59,156
90,958
136,371
137,262
176,261
138,244
126,180
136,247
134,440
104,671
95,387
44,708
46,873
92,621
119,885
107,796
71,728
60,377
37,706
29,143
30,416
26,298
20,944
15,481
13,873
19,263
24,532
26,069
22,598
21,504
21,949
24,513
25' 450
24,545
18,901
17,293
24,740
27,586
30,560
31,021
30,764
25,035
29,975
36,398
Zl, 056
34,437
30' 902
24,745
19,238
15,512
20,523
10,487
11.095
9,367
10,047
9 228
9, 284
6'446
O' 987
6,356
7,388
6,510
9,541
15,217
14,247
7,780
7,862
19.0
16.2
11.9
46.7
59.5
16.4
145.4
1.1
1 Decrease.
Classified by nationality the number of immigrant aliens admitted
into the United States during specified periods and in August, 1918,
was as follows:
IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D IN T O T H E U N IT E D ST A TES D U R IN G S P E C IF IE D
P E R IO D S A N D IN A U G U ST, 1918, B Y N A T IO N A L IT Y .1
Year ending June 30Nationality.
1916
5,660
932
1,651
3,506
2,469
1,942
3; 402
305
6,675
82
38,662
3,472
12,636
20,729
15,187
26,497
23,503
10.660
46,557
8,609
146
2,638
3,604
10,993
4,576
964
642
3,146
2,239
791
3,442
114
6,443
80
36,168
5,649
19,518
11,555
26,792
15,108
20,636
4,905
33,909
8,711
154
599
981
17,198
9,065
4,376
19,596
13,350
244
15,019
2,587
976
793
1,369
2,097
278
732
314
23
87
295,403
110,618
7,862
1917
African (black)...................... ........................................
Armenian........................................................................
Bohemian and Moravian...............................................
Bulgarian, Serbian, Montenegrin.................................
( hinese............................................................................
Croatian and Slovenian.................................................
Cuban..............................................................................
Dalmatian, Bosnian, Herzegovinian...........................
Dutch and Flemish........................................................
East Indian.................................................................
English.......................................................................
Finnish......................................................................
French.........................................................................
German........................................................................
(¡reek....................................................................
Hebrew........................................................................
Irish..........................................................................
Italian (north).............................................................
Italian (south).........................................................
Japanese......................................................................
Korean..................................... .......................................
Lithuanian......................................................................
Magyar............................................................................
Mexican...........................................................................
Pacific Islander...............................................................
Polish..............................................................................
Portuguese....................................................................
Roumanian.....................................................................
Russian...........................................................................
Ruthenian (Russniak)...................................................
Scandinavian..................................................................
Scotch..............................................................................
Slovak.............................................................................
Spanish............................................................ *..............
Spanish- American........................................................
Syrian..............................................................................
Turkish...........................................................................
Welsh..............................................................................
West Indian (except Cuban)........................................
Other peoples........................................................................
4,459
2,933
24,263
14,310
2,069
5,705
1,667
1,767
273
1,390
823
1,877
4,502
12,208
953
4,858
1,365
19,172
13,515
577
9,259
1,881
676
216
983
948
3,388
Total......................................................................
326,700
298,826
6
1,200
5
1918
7,971
5,706
327
1.134
1,843
305
3,428
94
5,393
69
32,246
5,900
24,405
9,682
25,919
17,342
17,462
3,796
35,154
8,925
194
479
434
16,438
74
150
1,576
S3
1.221
10
221
1,17 9
15
2 ,2 0 0
61
12,980
1,867
6,840
1,992
2,602
3,672
4,657
1,074
5,234
10,168
149
135
32
17,602
668
3,109
10,194
522
3,711
2,319
155
1,513
49
8,741
5,204
35
7,909
2 ; 231
1,211
210
24
The total num ber ol departures of em igrant aliens in A ugust was 3,552.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1450]
August.
1918.
1915
634
18
4
14
124
90
263
10
1,406
70
783
117
84
188
' 438
98
338
841
5
7
3
73
22
2
109
11
97
749
522
12
309
285
17
9
CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION,
CONCILIATION WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, SEPTEMBER
16 TO OCTOBER 15, 1918.
Under the organic act of the department, which gives the Secre
tary of Labor the authority to mediate in labor disputes through the
appointment, in his discretion, of commissioners of conciliation, the
Secretary exercised his good offices between September 16, 1918,
and October 15, 1918, in 254 labor disputes. The companies in
volved, the number of employees affected, and the results secured,
so far as information is available, were as follows:
STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF LABOR DISPUTES HANDLED BY THE
DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR, THROUGH ITS COMMISSIONERS OE CONCILIATION,
SEPT. 16, 1918, TO OCT. 15, 1918.
Workmen affected.
Result.
Dispute.
Directly.
Indirectly.
Controversy, miners, Bakewell Coal Co., Bellaire, Ohio........
Controversy, typographers, American Newspaper Publish
ing Assn., Chicago, 111.
40
135
Controversy, Hayes Pump & Planter Co., Galva, 111.............
Controversy, Wistrand Mfg. Cov Galva, 111..............................
Controversy, Wetmore Mechanical & Laboratory Co., Mil
waukee, Wis.
Strike, carpenters on Government Tubercular Hospital,
Azalea, N . C.
Strike, barbers, San Diego, Cal.....................................................
Controversy, machinists, blacksmiths, pipe fitters, elec
tricians, and boiler makers in smelter, Denver, Colo.
Threatened strike, street and electrical railway employees,
Interurban Line, Toledo, Ohio.
400
Threatened strike,.drop forgers, Billings & Spencer Co.,
Hartford, Conn.
Threatened strike, Colts Fire Arms Co., Hartford, Conn___
Threatened strike, Atlas P owner Co., Reynolds, P a..............
Threatened strike, Northern Railway Co. and Southern
Indiana Traction Co., New Albany, Ind.
150
- Controversy, painters, decorators, and hardwood finishers,
Kramer Woodwork Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
Controversy, painters, decorators, and hardwood finishers,
George W . Smith & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
Controversy, Ohio & Colorado Smelting & Refining Co.,
Salida, Colo.
Threatened strike, toolmakers and machinists, Savage Arms
Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
Threatened strike, toolmakers and machinists, Carlson &
Wenstrom Wildman Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
Controversy, electrical workers, Kinlock Telephone Co., St.
Louis, Mo.
Threatened strike, Northwestern Leather Co., Sault Ste.
Marie, Mich.
87721°— 18------20
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1451]
60
Pending.
Referred to Na
tional War La
bor Board.
600 Pending.
Do.
Do.
65
200
Adjusted.
Pending.
Do.
Referred to Na
tional War La
bor Board.
300 Adjusted.
60
36
5,500
850
300
700
Pending.
Adjusted.
Referred to Na
tional War La
bor Board.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Do.
Do.
Do.
325
Do.
301
M O N T H LY LABOE BEVIEW,
302
STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF LABOR DISPUTES HANDLED BY THE
DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR, THROUGH ITS COMMISSIONERS OF CONCILIATION,
SEPT. 10, 1918, TO OCT. 15, 1918—Continued.
Workmen affected.
Result.
Dispute.
Directly. Indirectly.
Referred to Na
tional War La
bor Board.
Adjusted.
Threatened strike, plumbers and steamfitters, pipe-fitting
industry, Grand Rapids, Mich.
50
Threatened strike, Pacific Marine & Construction Co., San
Diego, Cal.
Threatened strike, Red Star Milling & Elevator Co.,
Wichita, Kans.
Strike, Sterling Machine & Stamping Co., Wellington, Ohio.
250
Strike, electrical workers and laborers, Milwaukee Railroad
System west of Beverly (Wash.), Seattle, Wash.
Strike, machinists, Halladie & Co., Spokane, W ash..............
Controversy, carpenters, sheet-metal and structural-iron
workers, Brann & Stewart Co., Morrisville, Pa.
Threatened strike, all crafts, Richmond, I n d ........................
150
20
57
500
73
300
Controversy, Llewellyn Iron & Steel Co-, Torrance, Cal.......
Controversy, woodworking employees, Valk Murdock ship
yards, Charleston, S. C.
Lockout, machinists, Norfolk Ship Building & Dfydock
Co., Norfolk, Ya.
Controversy, molders, Ball Engine Coe, Erie, P a ..................
Controversy, molders, National Steel Foundry . Erie, Pa —
Threatened strike, Kentucky Wagon Mfg. Co., Louisville,
Controversy, steamfitters of United States and Canada,
Camp Knox station, Louisville, Ky.
Controversy, Milton Mfg. Co., Milton, P a ..............................
Controversy, Pennsylvania Iron & Steel Co., Lancaster, Pa.
Controversy, Boose Glove Faetory, Kewanee, 111..................
Threatened strike, street railway employees, Grand Rapids,
Mieh.
C ontrovert, machinists, Cleveland Hdw. Co., Cleveland,
Ohio.
Threatened strike, carpenters, Watson Engineering Co.,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Threatened strike, metal polishers, American Wood Run
Co., Onaway, Mich.
Controversy, Royal Packing Co., Los Angeles, Cal...............
Threatened strike, Welman, Seaver, Morgan Co., Akron,
Ohio.
Strike, textile workers, Winsted Hosiery Co. and New
England Knitting Co., Winsted, Conn.
81
3,235
63
150
350
500
270
2,500
57
1
850
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1452]
"
200
Referred to Na
tional War La
bor Board.
Adjusted.
Do.
Do.
Referred to Na
tional War La
bor Board.
Pending.
Adjusted.
Pending.
Adjusted.
Do.
Adjusted.
Do.
15,000
Referred to Na
tional War Labor
Board.
Do.
No in te rv e n tio n
necessary.
Pending.
750
Do.
7,000
Adjusted.
150
Adjusted.
Do.
Pending.
65
180
1,000
Majority of men
in v o lv e d a n d
most of them
r e t u r n e d to
work.
On in
v e s tig a tio n of
situation com
missioner found
n o t h i n g of a
practical nature
could be done.
Pending.
Controversy, stereotypers, Minneapolis Tribune, Minne
apolis, Minn.
Walkout, miner's, Consolidated Copper Mines Co., Kim
berly, Nev.
Controversy, metal polishers, Toledo Scale Co., Toledo,
Ohio.
Lockout, hair spinners, Cudahy Packing Co., East Chicago,
Ind.
Controversy, street car employees, Springfield, Ohio............
Threatened strike, Reading Iron Co. (4 subsidiary plants
and 8 other companies), Reading, Pa.
Controversy, Scott Foundry Co., Reading, P a .....................
Lockout, Merrill Hosiery Co., Hornell, N. Y ....................
Threatened strike, • moving-picture operators and stage
mechanics, Butte, Mont.
Controversy, teamsters, Butte. Mont.....................................
Strike, Great Lakes Dredge Co., Milwaukee, W is................
Do.
360
Do.
641
550
300
1,000
27
37
200
200
500
400
26
5,000
50
82
Adjusted.
Do.
Referred to Na
tional War La
bor Board.
Do.
Do.
Adjusted.
Do.
Do.
Do.
303
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
STA TEM EN T
S H O W IN G
D EPA RTM EN T
SEPT.
16,
1918,
OF
TO
TH E
LABOR,
OCT.
15,
NUM BER
TH ROU GH
OF
LABOR
IT S
D IS P U T E S
H A ND LED
C O M M IS S IO N E R S
OF
BY
TH E
C O N C IL IA T IO N ,
1918— C o n t i n u e d .
W o r k m e n a ff e c te d .
D is p u te .
R e s u lt.
D ire c tly .
T h re a te n e d s trik e , c a rp e n te rs , S a v a g e A rm s C o rp o ra tio n ,
U tic a , N . Y .
C o n tro v e rs y , R e m in g to n A rm s C o. ( m a c h in is ts ) , Ilio n ,
N. Y.
C o n t r o v e r s y , R o m e L o c o m o t i v e W o r k s , R o m e , N . Y _______
C o n t r o v e r s y , R o m e W i r e C o ., R o m e , N . Y ......................................
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , R o m e M fg . & L o c o m o t i v e C o ., R o m e ,
N. Y.
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , c a r p e n t e r s , R u t l a n d R a i l r o a d C o .,
R u tla n d , V t.
C o n t r o v e r s y , m a c h i n i s t s , M i d v a l e S t e e l C o ., C o a t e s v i l l e , P a .
C o n t r o v e r s j r , j e w e l r y t r a d e , P r o v i d e n c e , R . I ..................................
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , S i m m o n s H a r d w a r e C o ., S t . L o u i s , M o ..
S tr ik e , e le c tric a l w o r k e r s , A r m y B a s e H o s p ita l, H o b o k e n ,
Pa.
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , c l a y a n d b r i c k w o r k e r s , N e w U l m , M in n .
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , c a r p e n t e r s , D e s M o i n e s , I o w a ..........................
S t r i k e , p l a s t e r e r s , D e s M o i n e s , I o w a .......................................................
T h re a te n e d s tr ik e , s tr e e t c a r e m p lo y e e s, W ilm in g to n &
P h ila d e lp h ia S tre e t C a r S y s te m , W ilm in g to n , D e l.
100
450
6,000
10,000
Do.
900
1 ,0 5 0
D o.
D o.
D o.
600
500
100
50
18
57
1,200
200
C o n t r o v e r s y , D e t r o i t U n i t e d R a i l w a y , D e t r o i t , M i c h .............
C o n tr o v e r s y , m in e r a l w o r k e r s , M u lb e r r y D is tr ic t, M u lb e r ry ,
F la .
C o n t r o v e r s y , g r a i n h a n d l e r s , C h i c a g o , 111............................................
T h r e a te n e d s tr i k e , s ta g e e m p lo y e e s a n d m o v in g - p ic tu r e
o p e r a to r s , S a n F r a n c is c o , C a l.
L o c k o u t , m a c h i n i s t s , W i n s l o w B r o s . C o ., C h i c a g o , 111..............
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , m a c h i n i s t s , N e w Y o r k A i r B r a k e C o .,
W a te r tr f c u i, N . Y .
T h re a te n e d s tr ik e , m a c h in is ts , A p p e rs o n B ro s . A u to m o b ile
C o ., K o k o m o , I n d .
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , m a c h i n i s t s , G l o b e S t o v e & R a n g e C o .,
K o k o m o , In d .
T h re a te n e d
s tr ik e , m a c h in is ts ,
C o n ro n ,
M cN eal
C o .,
K okom o, In d .
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , P e r f e x R a d i a t o r C o ., R a c i n e , W i s ............. .
C o n tro v e rs y , p a in te rs , d e c o ra to rs , p a p e rh a n g e r s , D e n v e r ,
C o lo .
C o n t r o v e r s y , e n g i n e m e n , M a r i o n & E a s t e r n R a i l r o a d C o .,
M a r i o n , 111.
C o n t r o v e r s y , M o u n t a i n S t a t e s T e l e p h o n e & T e l e g r a p h C o .,
D e n v e r , C o lo .
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , A m e r i c a n C a n C o ., M a y w o o d , 111................
C o n t r o v e r s y , b a k e r s , C o l u m b u s , O h i o . . . .............................................
T h r e a t e n e d s tr i k e , B o z e m a n M illin g C o ., B o z e m a n , M o n t..
C o n t r o v e r s y , A m e r i c a n S t e e l & W i r e C o ., T r e n t o n , N . J ____
C o n tr o v e r s y , A m e r ic a n S h e e t M e ta l W o r k s , N e w O r le a n s ,
L a.
S t r i k e , p a t t e r n m a k e r s , C i n c i n n a t i , O h i o ..........................................
T h r e a te n e d s tr ik e , e le c tric a l w o rk e rs , U ta h P o w e r & L ig h t
C o ., S a l t L a k e C i t y , U t a h .
C o n t r o v e r s y , S a n F r a n c i s c o N e w s p a p e r P u b l i s h e r s ’ A s s o c ia
tio n , S a n F r a n c is c o , C a i.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1453]
400
600
C o n t r o v e r s y , N o r t h e r n C o o p e r a g e C o ., S t . P a u l , M i n n ...........
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , b a k e r s , S a n A n t o n i o , T e x ..................................
C o n tro v e rs y , te le g ra p h a n d te le p h o n e c o m p a n ie s , D e tro it,
M ic h .
C o n t r o v e r s y , e le c t r i c a l w o r k e r s , C u r t i s A e r o p l a n e C o .,
B u ffa lo , N . Y .
T h r e a te n e d s tr ik e , e m p lo y e e s, 9 m a c h in e c o o p e r s h o p s ,
C h i c a g o , 111.
In d ire c tly .
85
22
900
100
2 ,8 0 0
2 ,3 0 0
100
150
325
1,950
2,200
1,000
200
350
50
200
250
150
P e n d in g .
A d ju s te d .
P e n d in g .
D o.
W o rk w a s m o d i
f ie d a n d w a g e s
c u t ; 24 m e n q u i t ;
u n s k ille d m e n
e m p lo y e d .
A d ju s te d .
P e n d in g .
A d ju s te d .
D o.
R e fe rre d
to
N a
tio n a l W a r L a
b o r B o ard .
P e n d in g .
A d ju s te d .
C o m m itte e o n i n
v e s tig a tio n
ap
p o in te d b y P o s t
m a s te r G e n e r a l.
A d ju s te d .
R e fe rre d
to
tio n a l W a r
b o r B o a rd .
A d ju s te d .
R e fe rre d
to
tio n a l W a r
b o r B o a rd .
P e n d in g .
A d ju s te d .
N a
L a
R e fe rre d
to
tio n a l W a r
b o r B o a rd .
D o.
N a
L a
N a
L a
A d ju s te d .
D o.
D o.
200
D o.
P e n d in g .
240
A d ju s te d .
D o.
1 ,2 5 0
63
142
160
500
R e fe rre d
to
tio n a l W a r
b o r B o a rd .
P e n d in g .
A d ju s te d ,
P e n d in g .
A d ju s te d .
N a
L a
R e fe rre d
to
N a
t i o n al
W a r
L a b o r B o a rd .
P e n d in g .
Do.
304
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW ,
STA TEM EN T
S H O W IN G
DEPA RTM EN T
SEPT.
OF
16, 1918, T O
TH E
LABOR,
OCT.
15,
NUM BER
OF
TH ROU GH
LABOR
IT S
D IS P U T E S
C O M M IS S IO N E R S
H A ND LED
OF
BY
TH E
C O N C IL IA T IO N ,
1918— C o n t i n u e d .
W o r k m e n a ff e c te d .
D is p u te .
R e s u lt.
D ire c tly .
C o n t r o v e r s y , G l e n c o e M i n e , D i a m o n d C o k e & C o a l C o .,
G le n c o e , W y o .
T h r e a te n e d s trik e , c a rp e n te rs , S y m in g to n F o rg e W o rk s ,
R o c h e s te r , N . Y .
T h r e a te n e d s trik e , c a rp e n te rs , B rid g e fo rd T o o l W o rk s ,.
R o c h e s te r, N . Y
C o n t r o v e r s y , P a c i f i c F r u i t E x p r e s s , L o s A n g e l e s , C a l ..............
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , S t e a c y - S c h m i d t M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o ., Y o r k ,
Pa.
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , p a t t e r n m a k e r s , N e w Y o r k A i r B r a k e C o .,
W a te rto w n , N . Y .
C o n t r o v e r s y , m a c l v n i s t s , J o l i e t , 111.......................... ................................
C o n t r o v e r s y , m a c h i n i s t s , T o l e d o B r i d g e & C r a n e C o .,
T o le d o , O h io .
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , m a c h i n i s t s , T i l l o t s o n M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o .,
T o le d o , O h io .
C o n t r o v e r s y , m a c h i n i s t s , B o c k B e a r i n g C o ., T o l e d o , O h i o . . .
S t r i k e , c h a u f f e u r s , S a n A n t o n i o , T e x .......................................................
C o n t r o v e r s y , e n g i n e e r s a n d f i r e m e n , O h i o E l e c t r i c R y . C o .,
Z a n e s v ille , O h io .
C o n t r o v e r s y , d o c k s o f P i t t s b u r g h C o a l C o ., D u l u t h , M i n n . ,
a n d S u p e r io r , W is .
S t r i k e , r o l l i n g - m i l l h a n d s , L o u i s v i l l e I r o n & S t e e l C o .,
L o u is v ille , K y .
S t r i k e , p i a n o w o r k e r s , C a b l e P i a n o C o ., C h i c a g o , 111....................
C o n t r o v e r s y , c a r p e n t e r s , M e m p h i s , T e n n ...........................................
S t r i k e , m a i l - o r d e r m e n a n d p a c k e r s , W i l l y s - O v e r l a n d C o .,
T o le d o , O h io .
C o n t r o v e r s y , N e w D o t y M fg . C o ., J a n e s v i l l e , W i s ......................
C o n t r o v e r s y , R o c k R i v e r M a c h i n e C o ., J a n e s v i l l e , W i s ...........
S t r i k e , G e n e r a l M fg . C o ., P h i l a d e l p h i a , P a ........................................
C o n t r o v e r s y , m o l d e r s a n d c o r e m a k e r s , T r e n t o n , N . J ................
S t r i k e , W i l s o n & W i l l a r d M fg . C o ., L o s A n g e l e s , C a l .................
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , T h e U n i v e r s a l M a c h i n e C o ., B o w l i n g
G r e e n , O h io .
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , W e s t e r n C h e m i c a l C o ., D e n v e r , C o l o ____
C o n t r o v e r s y , K n o x v i l l e I r o n C o ., K n o x v i l l e , T e n n ......................
C o n t r o v e r s y , f i r e f i g h t e r s , O m a h a , N e b r ..............................................
C o n t r o v e r s y , A m e r i c a n C h a i n C o ., M a r i o n , I n d .............................
C o n t r o v e r s y , R o s s G e a r T o o l C o ., m a c h i n i s t s , L a f a y e t t e , I n d .
S t r i k e , j a n i t o r s , J o l i e t , 111,
A d ju s te d .
160
D o.
D o.
100
300
C o n t r o v e r s y , m e t a l p o l i s h e r s , J a m e s t o w n , N . Y ............................
C o n tr o v e r s y , e le c t r i c a l w o r k e r s , A e r ia l G u n n e r y S c h o o l,
M ia m i, F l a .
C o n t r o v e r s y , I l l i n o i s L u m b e r C o ., C a r l i n v i l l e , 111........................ .
C o n t r o v e r s y , A m e r i c a n C a n C o ., G e n e v a , N . Y ........................... .
C o n t r o v e r s y , l e a t h e r w o r k e r s , A l e x a n d e r B r o s . C o ., P h i l a
d e lp h ia , P a .
[1454]
P e n d in g .
A d ju s te d .
R e fe rre d
to
N at i o n a 1 W ar
L a b o r B o a rd .
P e n d in g .
D o.
100
300
300
27
400
225
D o.
U n a b le to a d ju s t.
R e fe rre d
to
N at i o n a l
W a r
L a b o r B o a rd .
P e n d in g .
1
250
A d ju s te d .
125
75
5
220
200
1 1 ,9 8 0
25
25
35
135
28
235
80
275
525
85
150
400
90
150
300
A ll of th e s tr ik e r s
e m p lo y e d
e ls e
w h e re .
A d ju s te d .
D o.
D o.
30
150
170
500
300
D o.
P e n d in g .
28
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , c o p p e r s m i t h s , A t l a s C o p p e r & B r a s s C o .,
a n d f i v e o t h e r s h o p s , C h i c a g o , 111.
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , m a s t e r p a i n t e r s , W i l m i n g t o n , D e l ................
C o n t r o v e r s y , p a t t e r n m a k e r s , P i t t s b u r g h , P a .................................
T h r e a t e n e d s t r i k e , b u t c h e r s , N e w Y o r k , N . Y ............................. .
C o n tr o v e r s y , s tr u c tu r a l- i r o n w o r k e r s a n d p ile d r iv e r s , N e w
O rle a n s , L a .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
In d ir e c tly .
250
D o.
D o.
U n a b le to a d ju s t.
A d ju s te d .
D o.
P e n d in g .
D o.
D o.
R e fe rre d
to
N ati o n a l
W a r
L a b o r B o a rd .
B o a rd
c o u ld
do
n o th in g , a s t a x
le v y a n d b u d g e t
had
been
p re
p a re d la s t s u m
m er.
M ost
of
j a n i t o r s e m
p lo y e d
e l s e
w h e re a n d b o a rd
h a s h ire d som e
w o m e n a n d a few
m e n t o f ill v a
c a te d p la c e s .
A d ju s te d .
D o.
P e n d in g .
D o.
R e fe rre d
to
N at i o n a l
W a r
L a b o r B o a rd .
P e n d in g .
R e f e r r e d t o AY ar
D e p a rtm e n t.
A d ju s te d .
R e fe rre d
to
N at i o n a l
W a r
L ab o r B o ard .
D o.
305
M ONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW,
STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF LABOR DISPUTES HANDLED BY THE
DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR, THROUGH ITS COMMISSIONERS OF CONCILIATION,
SEPT. 16, 1918, TO OCT. 15, 1918—Continued.
Workmen affected.
Dispute.
Result.
D ir e c tly .
Strike, molders, Alten Machine & Foundry Works, Lan
caster, Ohio.
20
Threatened strike, machinists, Savage Arms Corporation,
Utica, N. Y.
Controversy, Arteraft Lithographing Co., Detroit, Mich.......
Controversy, Calbert Lithographing Co., Detroit, Mich.......
Controversy, Schuylkill Railway Co., Girardsville, P a .........
2,000
Controversy molders, O’Neil Iron Works, Worthington
Pum p & Machine Co., and H. G. Trout Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
Controversy, metal polishers, Gillette Safety Razor Co.,
Boston, Mass.
Threatened strike, pattern makers, West Side Foundry Co.,
Watervleit, N. Y.
Controversy, Lowell Bleachery Co., St. Louis, Mo..........
Threatened strike, Crowell-Lundoff-Little, carpenters,
Rochester, N. Y.
Threatened strike, hodcarriers and laborers, Bozeman, Mont.
Strike, firemen, Oak Park, 111...................................................
Walkout, Schaffer Pen Co., Fort Madison, Iowa...................
100
Strike, pressmen’s assistants, General Manifolding & Print
ing Co., Franklin, Pa.
Controversy, molders, Producers Supply Co., Franklin, P a ..
Threatened strike, wire-rope workers, Williamsport Wire
Rope Co., Williamsport, Pa.
Lockout, coremakers and molders, Stewart & Werner Mfg.
Co., Beloit, Wis.
Contoversy, machinists, Fairbanks Morse Mfg. Co., Beloit,
Wis.
Controversy, Briggs & S tratton Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, W is..
Strike, Lasky Motion Picture Studio, Los Angeles, Cal........
Lockout, m etal polishers, DeVilbiss Mfg. Co., Toledo, Ohio..
Threatened strike, Morning Mine, Federal Mining & Smelt
ing Co., Mullan, Idaho.
Controversy, John Kuestner Mfg, Co., Philadelphia, P a __
Controversy, D. W. Britton CooperageCo., Greenbay, Wis.
Controversy, metal-trades workers, Wilkes-Barre and Pittston, Pa.
8
12
52
8
i, ÒÓÓ
40
Adjusted.
200
Do.
Pending.
3,"ÒÒÒ Adjusted.
200
12
85
125
300
2,500
100
100
300
5
4
400
7
300
2,500
1,100
54
Do.
Do.
Referred to Na
tional War Labor
Board.
235 Adjusted.
Pending.
4,ÓÓÒ
32g
Pending.
Do
500 Adjusted.
25
Threatened strike, textile workers, Graniteville Mfg. Co.,
Graniteville, S. C.
Threatened strike, tannery workers, W. F. Mosser Cm,
tanneries and extract plant, Richwood, W. Va.
[1455]
150 Adjusted.
150
Do.
70 Referred to Nati ona 1 W ar
Labor Board.
Do.
Do.
Pending.
A djusted before
com m issioners
arrival.
200 Adjusted.
200
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
75 Manager refused to
meet men in con
ference for pur
pose of adjusting
q u e s t i o n s in
volved. Claims
he can not use
men, so will not
employ them.
4,000 Pending.
28
Controversy, furnace men, Bon Air Coal & Iron Co. and
. Warner Iron Co., Aliens Creek, Term.
Controversy, boilermakers, Indiana Steel Co., Gary, I n d ...
Strike, tailors, Newark, N. J .....................................................
Controversy, Oscar Frommel & Bro., New York C ity.........
Strike, street railway employees, Buffalo, N. Y ....................
Threatened strike, laborers, Bausch & Lomb war building,
Rochester, N. Y.
Threatened strike, engineers on coal-carrying towboats on
Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, Point Pleasant, W. Va.
Indirectly.
100
Adjusted.
Pending.
All except Exeter
Machine Works
have been refer
red to National
W ar L a b o r
Board.
There will be no
strike whether
settlement is ef
fected or not, but
anticipate em
ployees will leave
unless satisfac
tory settlement
is made.
Pending.
50 Referred to Na
tional War Labor
Board.
Adjusted.
Pending.
Do.
Do.
Adjusted.
200
Do.
306
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW,
STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF LABOR DISPUTES HANDLED BY THE
DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR, THROUGH ITS COMMISSIONERS OF CONCILIATION,
SEPT. 16, 1918, TO OCT. 15, 1918—Continued.
Workmen affected.
Dispute.
Result.
Directly.
Indirectly.
Pending.
Controversy, structural-iron workers, Granger & Co., Louis
ville, Ky.
Controversy, Huntington Steel Co., Huntington, In d ..........
Threatened strike, street-car employees, Erie, P a .................
Controversy, molders, Worcester Iron Foundry, Worcester,
Mass.
Controversy, toolmakers, Sterling Tool & Machine Co.,
New York.
Strike, blacksmiths and carpenters, Lindsay Wagon Works,
Laurel, Miss.
Threatened strike, molders, car wheel foundries, St.
Louis, Mo
Controversy, motormen and conductors, Southeastern &
Ohio Ry. Co., Zanesville, Ohio.
Strike, engineers and firemen, Ohio Electric Co., Zanes
ville, Ohio.
Controversy, metal polishers, buffers, and platers, 20 or more
firms, Rochester, N. Y.
Controversy, meat cutters and butcher workmen, New York.
Controversy, cooks and waiters, Phoenix, Ariz.....................
Threatened strike, Carpenter Steel Co., Reading, P a ..........
Strike, Hydro Electro Co., electrical workmen, Connersville,
Ind.
Controversy, carpenters, Metz Mfg. Co., Waltham, Mass__
Strike, yard and miscellaneous laborers, American Locomo
tive Co. (Brooks Works), Dunkirk, N. Y.
Controversy, pulp and sulphite workers, Island Paper Co.,
Menasha, Wis.
Threatened strike, Barry & Sacher, Lancaster, P a ...............
Controversy, D. H. Potts Co., Lancaster, P a.........................
Strike, employees of Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction Co., Fredonia, N. Y.
Controversy, Vehicle Supply Co., Cairo. Ill...........................
Controversy, pattern makers, job shops, Columbus, O hio...
Threatened strike, structural steel shop, Lehigh Structural
Steel Co., Allentown, Pa.
Controversy, boiler makers, Tippett & Wood, Philipsburg,
N. J.
Controversy, Payette Lumber Co., Boise, Idaho...............
Controversy, electrical workers, New Albany, Indiana Gas
& Electric Co., New Albany, Ind.
Threatened strike, mechanics, Imperial Electric Co., Akron,
Ohio.
Threatened strike, common laborers, Hosier Iron Works and
Kokomo Brass Works, Kokomo, Ind.
Threatened strike, sheet-metal workers, Depot Quarter
master, U. 8. A., Chicago, 111.
Threatened strike, machine operators, Rochester Box &
Lumber Co., Rochester, N. Y.
Strike, Parlin & Orendorf shops, Canton, 111.........................
Threatened strike, enginemen, trainmen, carmen, and ma
chinists, Sumpter Valley Railroad, Baker, Oreg.
Threatened strike, street-railway employees, Los Angeles,
Cal.
Controversy, chainmakers, White Hill Chain Works, Fieldsboro, N. J.
Controversy, Indian Packing Co., Greenbay, W is............... .
Controversy, pattern makers, Toledo, Ohio...........................
Lockout, structural-iron workers, Lackawanna Steel Co.,
Lackawanna, N. Y.
Strike, Jessop Steel Co., Washington, P a...............................
Controversy, blacksmiths and machinists, Boston & Lockport Block Co., East Boston, Mass.
Controversy, Jordan L. Mott Plumbing Supply Co., Tren
ton, N. J.
Lockout, American Fuel Co., Sego, U tah ..............................
Controversy, cold-storage employees, Rex & Co (Inc.),
Philadelphia, Pa.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1456]
Do.
Referred to Na
tional War Labor
Board.
Pending.
Do.
19
11
250
1,500
Unable to adjust.
Adjusted.
Do.
60
8
100
Do.
202
287
Do.
Do.
Pending.
Adjusted.
Do.
800
Pending.
Adjusted.
135
Pending.
Do.
Do.
Referred to Na
tional War Labor
Board.
Pending.
Referred to Nat ional War Labor
Board.
Do.
150
21
125
Pending,
Do.
Do.
Do.
Adjusted.
Do.
125
90
160
Do.
Referred to Na
tional War Labor
Board,
Pending.
900
Do.
Do.
200
165
100
Do.
Do.
Adjusted.
Do.
Pending.
Do.
37
Pending.
Do.
307
M ONTHLY LABOE REVIEW,
STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF LABOR DISPUTES HANDLED BY THE
DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR, THROUGH ITS COMMISSIONERS O F
@FedFRASER