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U N IT E D STA TES D E P A R T M E N T OF LA BO R
F r a n c e s P e r k in s , S e c r e ta r y
B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isad or L u b in , C o m m is sio n e r
M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w
H ugh S. H anna, Editor
V olum e 41, N um ber 5
N ovem ber 1935
U N IT E D S T A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F IC E
W A S H I N G T O N : 1935
F o r s a le b y t h e S u p e r in t e n d e n t o f D o c u m e n t s P r ic e 30 c e n t s a c o p y
S u b s c r ip tio n p r ic e p e r y e a r : U n i t e d S ta te s , C an ad a, M e x ic o $3.50; o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , $4.75
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Published under authority of Public Resolution No. 57, approved
M ay 11, 1922 (42 Stat. 541), as amended by section 307, Public
A ct 212, 72d Congress, approved June 30,1932. This publication
approved by the Director, Bureau of the Budget.
11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C o n ten ts
S pecial a rtic le s :
Salaries an d w orking conditions of fire-d ep artm en t em ployees, 1934__
U nion scales of wages a n d hours in th e b uilding tra d e s in 1934 an d
1935________________________
Social s e c u r ity :
Public old-age pension legislation in th e U n ited S ta te s as of O ctober
15, 1935_________________________________________________________
A labam a a n d M assach u setts u n em p lo y m en t insurance law s_________
O peration of th e F ren ch social-insurance law in 1933_______________
T he Ita lia n In s titu te of Social In su ra n c e ___________________________
E m p lo y m e n t c o n d itio n s a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t re lie f:
E m ergency relief, J a n u a ry 1933 to J u ly 1935_______________________
Jo b acceptance by persons on relief________________________________
R elief p lan of Chicago stre e t-c a r em ployees________________________
Placing han d icap p ed w orkers in C h icago___________________________
N a tio n a l R e c o v e r y p ro g ra m :
L abor provisions in tra d e -p ra c tic e a g reem en ts______________________
C o ordinator for In d u s tria l C o o p eratio n ____________________________
P rison In d u stries R eorg an izatio n A d m in istratio n ___________________
Federal aid to housing au th o rized in 1935__________________________
R ecen t activ ities of th e C. C. C ____________________________________
I n d u s tr i a l a n d la b o r c o n d itio n s :
D ecentralization tren d s in fa c to ry e m p lo y m e n t_____________________
T he red istrib u tio n of p o p u la tio n ___________________________________
U niversal com pulsory S ta te lab o r service in G erm an y ______________
A pp o rtio n m en t of tim e of a farm h a n d in th e Soviet U nion (U. S.
S. R .) ______________________________________________________
I n d u s tr i a l r e la tio n s :
L abor policies of th e Tennessee Valley A u th o rity ___________________
H e a lth a n d in d u s tr i a l h y g ie n e :
E ffect of frequency of m eals upon efficiency________________________
P hysique of in d u strial w orkers in G reat B rita in ____________________
L e is u r e -tim e a c tiv itie s :
A rt an d th e leisure tim e of w orkers________________________________
P ortuguese N atio n al Leisure T im e F o u n d a tio n _____________________
L a b o r c o n fe re n c e s a n d c o n v e n tio n s :
A ction of A m erican F e d eratio n of L ab o r convention on in te rn a l
policies_________________________________________________________
N atio n al C onference on L ab o r L egislation, A sheville, N . C., O ctober 4,
5, 1935_________________________________________________________
M eeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation of In d u s tria l A ccident
B oards an d Com m issions, 1935__________________________________
M eeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation of G overnm ental L abor
Officials, 1935___________________________________________________
E d u c a tio n :
R ecen t vocational tra in in g activ ities in foreign c o u n trie s___________
W o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a tio n :
A m endm ents to Jap an ese w orkm en’s com pensation le g is la tio n ._____
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
in
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IV
CONTENTS
I n d u s tr ia l d is p u te s:
Strikes a n d lockouts in S eptem ber 1935-----------------------------------------Analysis of strikes a n d lockouts in Ju ly 1935_______________________
Significant recen t strik e s __________________________________________
C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r in S eptem ber 1935__
L a b o r a g re e m e n ts :
Collective ag reem en t in m en ’s clothing in d u stry of N ew Y o rk ______
C ollective agreem ents in th e lad ies’ g a rm e n t in d u s try ----------------- —
L abor tu rn -o v e r:
L abor tu rn -o v e r in m a n u factu rin g estab lish m en ts, A ugust 1935____
W ages a n d h o u r s o f la b o r:
W ages an d hours of lab o r in p etro leu m refineries______i -----------------A verage an n u a l wage a n d salary p ay m en ts in m ining a n d q u arry in g
in Ohio, 1916 to 1933___________________________________________
H ours a n d earnings in C o n n ecticu t laundries, 1933 a n d 1934________
E x te n t of low wages a n d long hours am ong railro a d em ployees: A cor
re c tio n __________________________________________________________
B ritish C olum bia— W ages a n d w orking hours, 1934_________________
Ja p a n — W ages in T okyo in Ju n e 1935_______________ ______________
N ew South W ales— W ages a n d hours on relief w o rk ___________ _—
Soviet U nion (U. S. S. R .)— New m eth o d of wage calculation in
railw ay-car w o rk s_______________________________________________
E m p lo y m e n t offices:
O perations of U n ited S tates E m p lo y m en t Service, S eptem ber 1935__
T r e n d o f e m p lo y m e n t:
S um m ary of em p lo y m en t re p o rts for S eptem ber 1935_______________
E m p lo y m en t a n d p ay rolls in A ugust 1935— revised figures:
P a rt I .— P riv a te em ploym ent:
M an u factu rin g in d u strie s_________________________________
T rade, public u tility , m ining, an d service industries, and
p riv a te building c o n stru c tio n ___________________________
Class I ra ilro a d s_______ __________________________________
T ren d of em ploym ent, by S ta te s ____________________
E m p lo y m en t a n d p a y rolls in p rin cip al cities______________
P a rt II.-— Public em ploym ent:
E xecutive, legislative, m ilitary , a n d ju d icial services of th e
F ed eral G o v ern m en t___________________________________
C on stru ctio n projects financed b y Public W orks A d m in istra
tio n _______________________________________________
T he W orks P ro g ra m _________________________ _____________
E m ergency w ork p ro g ra m ________________________________
E m ergency conservation w o rk____________________________
S tate-ro a d p ro je c ts_______________________________________
C on stru ctio n p ro jects financed by R eco n stru ctio n F inance
C o rp o ra tio n ____________________________________________
C on stru ctio n p ro jects financed from reg u lar g o v ern m en tal
a p p ro p ria tio n s_______________________________
B u ild in g o p e ra tio n s :
S um m ary of bu ild in g -co n stru ctio n rep o rts for S eptem ber 1935______
B uilding con stru ctio n in A u gust 1935— revised figures:
B uilding co n stru ctio n in p rin cip al cities_______________________
C o nstru ctio n from public fu n d s_______________________________
R e ta i l p rices:
Food prices in S eptem ber 1935_____ ' ---------------------------------------------
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Co n t e n t s
Wholesale prices:
W holesale prices in S eptem ber 1935 (w ith su m m ary d a ta fo r first
half of O cto b er)__________________
v
P age
1413
Cost o f liv in g :
Belgian fam ily budget, 1928-29____________________________________
1425
Publications relating to labor:
Official— U n ited S ta te s ____________________________________________
Official— Foreign c o u n tr ie s ._______________________________________
U nofficial_________________________________________________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1429
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T h is Issue in B rief
Average annual earnings of fire-department employees in 1934
ranged from $1,587 to $3,023, according to a survey recently com
pleted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average annual sal
aries of privates—the occupational group which comprised approx
imately two-thirds of the employees covered—was $1,975. The
average hours on duty per day for all cities combined ranged from
8.1 for clerical workers to 18.8 for fire chiefs. Privates averaged 16.7
hours a day on duty in 1934. Page 1159.
Union wage rates for 27 building trades in 70 cities showed 220 in
creases and 54 decreases in May 1935 over May 1934, with 1,185 rates
unchanged, according to a survey recently completed by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics. Changes in weekly hours occurred in 126 cases,
with 115 decreases and 11 increases. Of 1,479 local unions, 1,216
reported a 40-hour week, 105 a 44-hour week, 83 a 30-hour week,
and 67 a 35-hour week. Page 1166.
The total paid-up membership of the American Federation of Labor
in August 1935 was 3,153,913, as reported to the 55th annual con
vention held in Atlantic City, N. J., in October. This represented
an increase of 545,902 over the membership in August 1934 as re
ported to the 1934 convention. The dominant issue before the 1935
gathering was whether or not the accepted policy of craft jurisdiction
should be so modified as to permit the organization of workers in
mass-production industries into industrial unions. While the craft
policy was sustained, the industrial form of organization was sup
ported by more than one-third of the membership, as reflected in the
roll-call vote. Page 1242.
On October 15, 1935, old-age pension measures had been enacted in
37 States, 2 Territories, and the District of Columbia. A considerable
proportion of this legislation was the result of the 1935 sessions.
During 1935 pension laws were passed for the first time in 10 States,
in 8 States existing laws were repealed and new legislation enacted,
and in 7 States amendments to previous acts were passed. Of the
37 State acts now on the statute books, all are mandatory and of
State-wide effect except those of Florida, Kentucky, Nevada, and
West Virginia. Page 1178.
A code to govern the industrial relationships of the Tennessee Valley
Authority and its employees was announced on August 28, 1935. The
provisions were formulated after long discussion with the workers
and their labor-union representatives. The new policy will govern
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
VII
Vili
TH IS ISSU E IN B R IE F
such matters as hiring and firing, wage rates, hours of labor, employee
representation, settlement of disputes, and other questions relating
to working conditions. About 17,000 employees will be affected.
Page 1222.
The number of clearly unjustified refusals of jobs by persons on relief
is exceedingly small, according to an investigation made in five local
ities by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. A special
analysis of a number of refusals of domestic-service jobs is presented
because such refusals disclose certain problems involved in this
particular field of employment. Page 1194.
Average earnings per hour for employees in petroleum refineries in
July 1934 were 75 cents per hour, as compared with 64 cents in May
1929. During the same period the average working week declined
from 49 to 35 hours. These figures do not include clerical workers.
Page 1305.
Efficiency and productivity are improved by a change in the distribu
tion of the daily diet from the conventional three meals to more frequent
periods, according to a study made by two scientists in Yale Uni
versity. A study was made of the production of a group of factory
workers under an alternate 3-meal and 5-meal a day regimen in
comparison with that of a control group of operators eating three
meals throughout the period of study. The control group showed only
slight variation in the successive 2-week periods into which the study
was divided, while productivity among the experimental group showed
marked improvement when mid-morning and mid-afternoon meals
were eaten, the average increase for these periods amounting to 9.7
percent. Page 1226.
The N. R. A. code for the laundry industry, as applied to Connecticut
laundries, adjusted inequalities in earnings and gave substantial wage
increases to women in the lowest paid groups. The Connecticut De
partment of Labor, however, finds from a survey of the industry
that because of low hourly rates and part-time employment, earnings
in relation to increasing cost of living are still so inadequate as to call
for the application of the State minimum wage law to the laundry
industry. Page 1334.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M onthly Labor R eview
+
U
n it e d
V ol. 41, N o. 5
States B u r e a u
of
W A SH ING TO N
‘Published by the
L a b o r S t a t is t ic s
N ovem ber 1935
Salaries and W orking C onditions of F ire-D ep artm en t
Employees, 1934 1
ERAGE annual earnings of municipal fire-department em
ployees in 1934 ranged from $3,023 for chiefs to $1,587 for
telephone operators. The average annual salary of privates—the
occupational group which comprised approximately two-thirds of the
employees covered—was $1,975 during the year. The average hours
on duty per day, for all cities combined, ranged from 8.1 for clerical
workers to 18.8 for fire chiefs. Privates averaged 16.7 hours on duty
per day in 1934.
These figures are based on a canvass made by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the fire departments of all cities in the Lhiited States with
a population of 25,000 or over. Information was recpiested concern
ing the salary of each employee, allowances granted in addition to
salaries, the usual number of hours on duty per day, and days on duty
per week, vacations with pay allowable annually, number of disabling
injuries to employees while on duty during the year ending June 30,
1934, and promotion policies. Reports were received from 379 cities
and the number of employees totaled 62,479.
Space limitations permit the publication of only a brief summary
of the findings in the present article. Detailed information for each
of the cities included in the survey, however, may be obtained upon
application to Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of
Labor, Washington, D. C.
Average Annual Salaries
F o r all fire-department employees in all of the cities covered the
average annual salary in 1934 was $2,032. As previously indicated,
however, annual earnings varied widely in the different occupational
groups. The salaries of chiefs were the highest, averaging $3,023.
The lowest average salary was $1,587, received by telephone operators.
1Prepared under the direction of Jacob Perlman, chief of Division of Wages, Hours, and Working
Conditions, by G. H. Loudenslager and H. O. Rogers, of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1159
1160
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
How the average earnings varied in the different occupational groups
is illustrated by table 1.
T able 1.— A verage A nnual S alaries of F ire -D e p a rtm e n t E m ployees in 1934, by
Size of C ity
All cities
of 500,000
Cities of 1,000,000 Cities
and under
or more
1, 000,000
Rank or occupation
N um Average N um Average N um Aver
ber of
ber of
of
age
annual
annual ber
em
em
em
annual
ployees salary ployees salary ployees salary
Chief of fire department--. ___________________
Assistant or deputy chiefs_____________________
Captains____________________________________
Lieutenants_________________________________
Engineers, fire engine_________________________
Assistant engineers._______________
- ___
Chauffeurs or drivers________ - . ________ . .
Fire marshals or wardens_____ _______ ______
Assistant marshals or wardens____________ ____
Fire inspectors_______________________________
Superintendents of machinery_________________
Assistant superintendents of machinery________
Master mechanics— ________ ________________
Mechanics or machinists______________________
Superintendents of fire alarm______ _____ ______
Assistant superintendents of Are alarm...... .............
Fire-alarm operators____ _____________________
Fire-alarm linemen or electricians............................
Telephone operators________________ _______
Secretaries or chief clerks______________________
Clerical workers—. __________ _______________
Privates_____________________________________
372
1, 274
5, 544
3,898
1, 977
369
2,382
60
71
278
88
47
15
531
200
91
677
511
220
169
262
41,489
$3,023
2,886
2,217
2, 233
2, 062
1, 796
L 735
2, 724
2, 209
1,903
2, 388
2,119
2, 329
2,004
2, 291
1,976
1,882
1,953
1, 587
1,947
1,804
1,975
5
256
856
945
503
$7,900
4, 380
3, 330
3,119
2, 610
182
16
30
38
4
3
114
4
1
96
103
62
6
137
10, 786
8
$5,434
3,172
2,284
2,147
2,031
2,574
4,048
2,507
2, 353
3,811
2, 902
100
2
2,486
3, 929
2,400
2, 744
2,527
1,845
3,962
1,948
2,485
47
2,123
3,429
2,118
1,944
3,442
2,475
2,988
1, 706
3,456
2, 059
2,059
1,697
1, 711
2,711
1, 725
1,912
1S3
593
616
301
175
15
17
4
4
2
6
5
62
66
16
8
£3
5,996
1,888
Cities of
Cities of
Cities of
Cities of
100,000 and
250,000 and
50,000 and
25,000 and
under 500,000 under 250,000 under 100,000 under 50,000
Rank or occupation
N um Aver N um Aver N um
N um Aver
ber of age ber of age ber of Aver
of age
age ber
em annual em annual em annua]
em
an
ploy salary ploy salary ploy- salary ploy nual
ees
ees
ees
ees salary
23 $4, 344
56 $3, 546
102 $3, 041
Chief of fire department________ _____________
178 $2,431
217 2,451
Assistant or deputy chiefs_____________________ 218 2,802
188 2, 277
212 1. 908
Captains____________________________________ 1,138 2,103 1,116 2,005 1, 008 1,960
833 1,775
700 2,001
672 1, 960
Lieutenants___ _____ ________________________
528 1,819
437 1,733
254 1,823
Engineers, fire engine___________________ ___ 348 1, 971
394 1,827
177 1, 601
10 1,644
105 1,818
Assistant engineers_____________________ ___
47 1,687
32 1, 431
452 1, 657
Chauffeurs or d r iv e r s .......... ................. ...........
725 1,705
403 1, 636
520 1, 554
Fire marshals or wardens.................................. .........
10 2, 537
13 2,352
12 2,061
7 1, 596
13 1,937
9 1, 980
1
600
Assistant marshals or wardens______________ —
3 2,085
Fire inspectors_________________ ____________
75 1,868
70 1,852
51 1,816
27 1, 641
19 2, 580
Superintendents of machinery_________________
26 2, 278
16 2,113
19 2,054
5 1, 951
14 2, 109
15 2, 036
Assistant superintendents of m achin ery___
6 1,864
2 2, 574
4 2, 305
6 2,092
1 2,047
Master mechanics__________________ . ______
Mechanics or machinists______________________
108 1,988
100 1,917
77 1,910
85 1, 731
Superintendents of fire alarm___ . . . ____ ____
20 2,922
42 2,441
59 2, 237
69 1,865
Assistant superintendents of fire alarm______ ..
15 2,187
23 2,065
22 1, 755
25 1,811
159 1, 696
Fire-alarm operators_____________ ___________
140 1,880
130 1, 615
90 1, 55«
100 1,838
64 1,800
62 1,696
Fire-alarm linemen or electricians. . . . ___ ___
116 1,911
19 1,604
21 1,479
66 1,412
36 1, 465
Telephone operators.. . _________ _____ ____
34 1, 546
Secretaries or chief clerks______________________
22 2,205
48 1,878
51 1,811
41 1, 661
2
970
Clerical workers.. . _________________________
16 1, 674
13 1,349
P r iv a tes.._______ _________________ _________ 6,805 1,863 7,413 1, 762 5,783 1,751 4, 706 1,656
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SALARIES OF FIR E-D EPA R TM EN T EM PLOY EES, 1934
1161
No average, however, can give an accurate idea of the wide spread
of earnings within occupational classes. Thus, although the annual
salary of chiefs in all cities averaged $3,023 in 1934, the range was
from $1,000 to $11,000. In the same way, the annual salaries of
privates in 1934 varied from a low of $600 to a high of $2,810. Varia
tions just as pronounced are revealed for virtually all of the other
major occupational classes.
One of the chief reasons for the wide variations in earnings within
occupational groups is that salaries paid depend in large measure upon
the size of the city in which the workers are employed. This is
characteristic of nearly all branches of employment, but the tendency
is especially well exemplified by the records of the fire departments.
From table 1 it will be noted that the average annual salary of
privates in cities with a population of 1,000,000 or over was approxi
mately 50 percent higher than in cities with a population of from
25,000 to 50,000. The rise is gradual at first. The average for cities
of from 50,000 to 100,000, for example, was only about 6 percent
higher than in cities of from 25,000 to 50,000 and an increase of less
than 1 percent is shown in the average salary of privates employed
in cities of from 100,000 to 250,000 population over the level prevailing
in cities with a population of from 50,000 to 100,000. The most
striking difference in the salaries of privates is shown between cities
with a population of 1,000,000 or more and those in the group 500,000
and less than 1,000,000, the averages being $2,485 and $1,912 respec
tively, a difference of 30 percent.
For other occupational groups the picture is essentially the same.
Regardless of rank or occupation, salaries are uniformly highest in the
cities with a population of more than 1,000,000 and lowest in the
cities of from 25,000 to 50,000. In some of the occupational groups,
however, the differentials were much more pronounced than in others.
This was especially true of employees in the high-salary brackets.
Thus, the average salary of chiefs in cities with a population of over
1,000,000 was more than three times the average of those employed
by cities of between 25,000 and 50,000.
T ab le 2 .— C om parison o f A nnual Salaries o f P riv a tes in Fire D ep artm en ts of
S elected C ities w ith a P o p u la tio n o f 250,000 and under 500,000
Annual salaries
of privates
Annual salaries
of privates
Southern cities
Northern cities
Low
Oakland................- .........- .........
D enver_________ _____ ____
Indianapolis------------- -----M inneapolis--------------------St. Paul_________ ________
Newark___________________
R ochester-.............................. -
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$2,160
1,800
1,425
1, 740
1,661
2, 016
1,785
Low
High
$2,400
1,920
1,732
2,040
1,661
2, 300
2,100
Birmingham------- ------------A tla n ta ...----------- ------------Louisville-------------------------New Orleans------- --------------M em phis....................................
Dallas_____________________
Houston......................................
$1, 260
1, 530
1, 351
1,696
1, 260
1,531
1,080
High
$1, 260
1,890
1, 540
1, 696
1, 012
1, 621
1,260
1162
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
Salaries of fire-department employees likewise show pronounced
geographical differentials. These differences are illustrated by table
2, which shows the annual salaries paid to privates in 14 cities with a
population of from 250,000 to 500,000. The interesting feature of
this table is the fact that the maximum salary paid in several of the
southern cities did not equal the minimum starting salaries in most of
the northern cities.
In addition to the basic salaries, supplementary allowances are
granted to the fire-department employees in many cities. The form
of allowance varies sharply in the different cities, but provision of
living quarters for the employees on duty is by far the most usual.
A few of the cities covered provided board as well as sleeping quarters.
In a number of cities, a full complement of equipment is furnished to
the fire-fighting force. Other cities provide only a portion of the
necessary equipment, usually the rubber boots, helmets, and water
proof coats. Cash allowances ($25 to $50 annually), in lieu of uni
forms and equipment, were granted by some of the cities.
Hours on Duty
T h e average number of hours on duty per day of fire-department
employees in all cities covered in the 1934 survey ranged from 8.1 for
clerical workers to 18.8 for chiefs. For virtually all members of the
fire-fighting force, the average number of hours was in excess of 15.
Assistant or deputy chiefs averaged 17.4 hours per day, captains 16.7
hours, chauffeurs or drivers 15.5 hours, and the average for privates
was 16.7 hours. By contrast the working time of the employees who
were not a part of the fire-fighting staff approximated the level pre
vailing in industry and commerce.
In contrast with the trend of earnings, the size of the cities ap
parently had little effect upon the working time of the fire-depart
ment employees. As far as the fire-fighting forces are concerned,
those in the smaller cities appear to have a slight advantage with
respect to working time over those in the larger cities. In cities
with a population of over 1,000,000 tho* average number of hours
on duty per day for privates was 19.8. This compares with 16.6
hours in cities of from 50,000 to 100,000, 16.1 hours in cities of from
25,000 to 50,000, 15.7 hours in cities of from 100,000 to 250,000,
15.4 hours in cities of from 250,000 to 500,000, and 14.3 hours in
cities of from 500,000 to 1,000,000. For other classes of employees,
however, the hours on duty per day were somewhat less in the larger
cities.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1163
SALARIES OF FIRE-D EPA R TM EN T EM PLOYEES, 1934
T ab le 3 .— A verage N um ber o f H ours on D u ty per D a y o f F ire-D ep artm en t
E m p loyees in 1934, b y Size o f C ity
All cities
Rank or occupation
_____________ ___
Chief of fire dopart,ment
Assistant or deputy chiefs
_____________
Captains
_ __________________
Lient priants
_ __________ - ______Engineers, fìrp engine
_______ —
AcQÎçtant PTicnriPPrs
Chauffeurs or fi ri vers
__ ___________
Fire marshals nr wardens
________ ___
Assistant marshals or wardens
________
Firp inspectors
___________
__ ---Superintendents of mapTiinery
__-Assistant superintendents of machinery _____
Mechanics or machinists
__________________
Superintendents of fire alarm
__ ___
Acsistant superintendents nf fire alarm
__
Fire-alarm operators
__ __ --------Fire-alarm linemen or electricians
_____ _____
Telephone operators
___
_____
___ _____ - ____
Secretaries or chief clerks
Clerical workers
________ - - —
Privates
__________ ____ --
Cities of 1,000,000
or more
Cities of 500,000
and under
1,000,000
N um Average N um Average N um Average
hours
ber of
hours
ber of
hours
ber of
employ on duty employ on duty employ on duty
per day
ees
per day
ees
per day
ees
372
1,274
5, 544
3,898
1,977
369
2, 382
60
71
278
88
47
15
531
200
91
677
511
220
169
262
41,489
1 18.8
i 17.4
16.7
15.9
16.6
16.4
15.5
i 13.6
9.6
i 9.1
i 10.8
1 9.4
11.3
i 10.5
i 11.3
11.1
8.9
i 9.3
9.3
i 9.8
8.1
i 16.7
5
256
856
945
503
17.8
20.6
18.5
14.9
17.5
182
16
30
38
4
3
12.0
21.0
10.1
8.0
8.3
8.0
114
4
1
96
103
62
6
137
10, 786
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.8
8.0
19.8
8
183
593
616
301
175
100
2
15
17
4
4
2
47
6
5
62
66
16
8
53
5,996
22.1
15.9
15.6
16.9
16.6
16.3
14.6
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
10.7
11.2
8.0
8.1
9.0
8.1
8.0
14.3
-
Cities of
Cities of
Cities of
Cities of
25,000 and
50,000 and
100,000 and
250,000 and
under
50,000
under
100,000
under
250,000
under 500,000
Rank or occupation
N um Aver
Num- Aver
N um Aver
N um Aver
age
age
age
age
ber
ber hours
ber hours
hours
lours ber
of
of
of
of
on
on
on
on
em
em
em- duty em duty
duty
duty
ploy- per ploy per ploy per ploy per
ees
ees
ees
ees
day
day
day
day
56
23 i 19.4
Chief of fire department
__ _ _____
217
218 16.0
___
Assistant or deputy chiefs.
1,
116
15.9
1,138
Captains
- ___ -- __— 672
700 15.9
Trieutpn an ts
__
_____ ____
394
348 16.6
Engineers, fire engine------ -----------------------------105
10 20.4
Assistant- engineers
_ ________ _ _______
403
16.
1
725
Chauffons o r drivers
_ _____________ —
13
9.8
10
Fire marshals or wardens
_______ ____ ____
9
8.3 1 '
13
Assistant marshals or wardens _____ . . - —
70
8.1 1
75
Fire inspectors
_________________
26
9. 1
19
Superintendents ot machinery
________ __
15
8.4
14
Assistant superintendents of machinery.__
4
9.0
2
Master mechanics
_______________ -9.4
100
108
Mechanic* or machinists
___________
42
20 10.8
_________
Superintendents of fire alarm
23
15 11.4
Assistant superintendents of fire alarm_r
_ _
159
8.9
140
Fire-alarm operators _______________________
100
9.6
116
Fire-alarm linemen o r electricians
„ ______
21
8.1
19
Telephone operators
______________________
48
8.6
22
Secretaries or chief clerks
____________
16
41
8.1
Clerical workers
- ___________________
6,805 15.4 7,413
Privates...... ..............................................................
102
i 19.0
188
15.6
16.7 1,008
528
14.5
254
16.8
47
14.5
452
13.3
12
i 8.9
8.4
3
51
9.7
16
1 10.4
5
i 9.9
6
8.8
77
11.7
59
i 9.8
25
10.0
130
8.2
64
9.0
66
9.0
51
8.7
13
8.8
i 15.7 5,783
l For all men in this group except a very few for whom data were not reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
18.8
18.2
16.9
17.9
14.0
15.6
17.8
15.8
20.0
i 9. 3
11.4
9.6
12.7
11.6
11.6
12.3
9.6
10.9
8.7
11.4
9.3
16.6
178
212
833
437
177
32
520
7
1
27
19
6
1
85
69
22
90
62
36
34
2
4 ,7Uo
i 18.5
i 17. 6
16. 3
16.4
17.0
23.3
15. y
8.1
12.0
1 12. 1
13.8
12. 5
21.0
i 14.1
i 12.4
10. 8
10. 6
i 10.7
13.3
10.7
8.0
16. 1
1164
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
With respect to the number of days on duty per week, the em
ployees in the large cities have a decided advantage. In the smaller
cities employees are frequently on duty 7 days a week. By contrast,
in cities with a population of more than 1,000,000 most fire-depart
ment employees are on a 6-day-week schedule and some work only
5.5 days. Table 4, showing by size of cities the number of days on
duty per week for privates, is indicative of the general trend. In
connection with the number of days on duty per week of fire-depart
ment employees, it should be noted that many cities have adopted
the double-platoon system by means of which half of the fire-fighting
force is alternately on and off duty 84 hours.
T able 4.
N um ber of D ays on D u ty per W eek for P riv a te s in F ire D e p a rtm e n ts
of 379 C ities in i934, by Size of C ities
Number of days on duty per week
Size of city
Number of
employees
Low
High
All cities_________________ _______
41, 489
3.0
7.0
Cities of 1,000,000 or more_________
Cities of 500,000 and under 1,000,000
Cities of 250,000 and under 500,000Cities of 100,000 and under 250,000
Cities of 50,000 and under 100,000
Cities of 25,000 and under 50,000
10, 786
5, 996
6,805
7, 413
5,783
4, 706
3.5
3.5
3.3
3.5
3.0
3.5
6.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
Average
‘ 5.4
4.4
5.9
5.7
i 5.8
5.7
5.8
1 For all except a very few for whom data were not reported.
The hours on duty per week for all employees ranged from a low
of 24 to a high of 168. For the most part the high of 168 hours a
week was reported for chiefs, assistant chiefs, and others of high rank
who were considered subject to call at all times, but 168 hours a
week was also reported for a few of the employees in the lower ranks.
Annual vacations with pay are now granted by most cities to em
ployees in the fire departments. The practice is general in all of
the most important cities. Indeed, the only cities with a population
of more than 100,000 which as yet have failed to make provision for
paid vacations are Tampa, Fla.; Evansville, Ind.; Wichita, Kans.;
Tulsa, Okla.; and El Paso, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, Tex. In
the smaller cities the practice is not so wide-spread, but the great
majority of even the smallest cities covered (those with a population
of from 25,000 to 50,000) had adopted a policy of annual vacations
with pay for the employees in the fire departments.
For most of the cities the customary vacation was 2 weeks (14
days), but in some cities the annual vacations were considerably
longer. Fire-department employees in New York City, for example,
are allowed 3 weeks annually with pay and those in Chicago 20 days.
As far as the rank and file of the departments is concerned 21 days a
year is the maximum, but in a number of cities the chiefs and assistant
chiefs are allowed 30 days annually.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SALARIES OF FIR E-D EPA R TM EN T EM PLOY EES, 1934
1165
Hazards of the Service
D u r i n g the year ending June 30, 1934, a total of 5,986 fire-depart
ment employees received disabling 2 injuries, in the 363 cities which
supplied information on this point. (See table 5.) As the total num
ber of employees in the cities for which information was available
was 60,090, approximately 1 out of every 10 employees suffered a dis
abling injury during the year. This is about 50 percent higher than
the accident rate reported for police-department employees.
Curiously enough the accident rate was highest in the smaller cities.
Table 5 shows that in cities with a population of less than 100,000
the accident rate was nearly double that in cities of 500,000 or over.
This may be due to better equipment and higher standards of train
ing in the larger cities, although difference in type of building con
struction is probably a major factor contributing to the difference.
T ab le 5 .— N um ber o f F ire-D ep a rtm en t E m p loyees in 363 C ities w ith a P o p u la
tion o f 25,000 or over In jured D u rin g th e Y ear E n d in g June 30, 1934
Number of employees injured
Size of city
Total num
ber of em
ployees
Total
Nonfatal
Fatal
All cities__________________________________________
60,090
5,986
81
5,905
Cities of 1 non non nr mora _ _____________________
Qities of 500 00" ftTlfi iinrip.r 1,000,000
___________
Cities of 250 non qn rj nndftr 500,000
_______________
________ - _____
Hities of 100 0OQ
iituIpx 250,000
Cities of 50 000 qTKÌ nnrlp.r 100,000
_______ ________
Cities of 25 000 qijrl vinrlpr 50,000
_ _______ _____
15,007
7,981
10,243
10, 696
8,532
7,631
1,729
1,018
1,265
996
513
465
13
7
10
24
13
14
1,716
1,011
1,255
972
500
451
Of the 5,986 disabling injuries reported for the year, 81 were fatal.
With respect to fatalities also, the smaller cities have the worst records.
Nearly a third of the fatalities were accounted for by the cities with a
population of between 100,000 and 250,000. The cities with a popu
lation of less than 100,000 accounted for another third of the fatal
accidents. On the other hand, the cities with a population of over
500,000, although accounting for more than 38 percent of the firedepartment employees covered, reported only 20 fatalities during the
year.
2 Injuries serious enough to cause absence from work.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1166
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
U n io n Scales of Wages and H o u rs in th e Building T rades
in 1934 and 1935 1
SURVEY of union wage rates in force in May 1934 and May 1935
in 27 building trades indicates that, of 1,459 comparable rate
quotations for the 2 years, 220 rates were higher in 1935 than in 1934,
and 54 rates were lower. The remaining 1,185 rate quotations
showed no change between the 2 years. There were fewer changes in
hours of work per full-time week. Of the 126 changes in weekly hours,
115 showed decreases and 11 increases.
Union scales of wages and hours were obtained by agents of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, who visited 70 cities throughout the United
States. The cities were selected on the basis of size, geographical
distribution, and strength of trade-union organization. Information
regarding rates of wages and hours was obtained from union officials
representing 69 trades and subdivisions of trades in the baking, build
ing and construction, transportation, and printing and publishing
industries.
The present article covers only the most significant building trades.
Data for the remaining trades will be presented in bulletin form.
This study is a continuation of the Bureau’s annual series of studies
of union scales of wages and hours of labor, begun in 1912. The latest
bulletin in the series covered wage quotations as of May 15, 1933.2
No study was made in 1934, but the field agents in the present survey
gathered data for May 1934 and May 1935. The figures for 1934
presented herewith are, therefore, being published for the first time.
The greatest number of wage changes was found among the steamfitters, with 22 increases and 1 decrease out of 66 comparable quota
tions. Inside-wiremen local unions quoted 16 increases out of 66
comparisons; carpenters, 15 increases out of 68 comparisons. Neither
of these trades show decreases in the cities covered. Of the principal
building crafts, the bricklayers, with three rises and four declines in
rates, were the only group showing fewer increases than decreases.
Changes in weekly hours were relatively less frequent than wage
changes. The greatest proportion of decreases in hours was found
among the asbestos workers, plumbers, and steamfitters. Inside
wiremen reported 10 decreases and 2 increases in 66 comparisons.
Granite cutters was the only trade showing no change in hours;
all other trades showed more decreases than increases. Of the 11
increases in hours, one was from 30 to 35 hours, three from 30 to 40
hours, three from 35 to 40 hours, and four from 40 to 44 hours. Three
of the increases were in Duluth and two each in Toledo and Erie.
A
1 Prepared by C. F. Rauth and J. J. Senturia, under direction of Jacob Perlman, chief of Division of
Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions, and Florence Peterson, chief of Industrial Relations Division.
2 Reported in U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 600: Union Scales of Wages and Hours of Labor
M ay 15, 1933.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
UNION SCALES OF W AGES AND HOURS IN BUILD IN G TRADES
1167
The trades covered in the present article concentrated heavily on
the 40-hour week, with 1,216 out of 1,479 quotations reporting that
number of weekly hours. The 44-hour week was next in rank, re
ported by 105 local unions. The 30-hour week was reported by 83
local unions, and the 35-hour week by 67 locals. One glaziers’ local
reported 48 hours. The remaining 7 locals attempted to spread the
work among their members by working 3 or 4 days a week.
T able 1.— U n ion Scale o f H ours per W eek in B u ild in g T rades in 1935, by Trades
Number of quotations reporting hours per
week of—
Trade
All trades____________ _______
Asbestos workers.
. _ .
Bricklayers___________ __________________________ . . .
Building laborers__________ . . . . . . _____
. ... _ . .
__________
Carpenters. ______________ ____ _____
Cement finishers______ _ __________________________ .
Elevator constructors_______________ .„ ________ _____
Elevator constructors’ helpers.
___. . . . . . __ _ _____
Glaziers. ___ ______ _
Granite cutters.. ___
_ _ . . . ______ . . . . .
... .
Hod carriers. .
.
. . .
. ____ ___
Inside wiremen. . . . . . . .
.....
____
Lathers.. .
. . .
. . .
Marble setters.. . . .
.
_
. . . . .
Mosaic and terrazzo workers . . . . . .
. ...
Painters____________________________ . . . .
. .
Painters, sign________________ _________
Plasterers_________ _______ _____________
Plasterers’ laborers. . . . __________ _
Plumbers_______________________________ . . .
Sheet-metalworkers. . . . ________ ______ ___
Slate and tile roofers_____ _.
. . _________ _
Steamfitters ______________ _____________ . . . . .
Stonecutters___ _ . ____ ____ _ _____
Stonemasons___ _ __________ __ . . . ______ ______
Structural-ironworkers. ________ . .
. .. .. .
Structural-iron workers, finishers________________ __ . . .
Tile layers____
. . . _________
....
20
24
30
1
5
83
1
1
2
1
1
32
1
35
67 1,216
2
3
i
3
4
1
1
2
3
2
3
4
3
9
12
2
2
2
1
10
7
4
1
2
3
3
2
2
13
2
4
1
3
2
i
2
2
1
40
1
6
5
i
7
1
2
1
2
40
59
38
51
53
47
47
35
19
42
49
50
54
39
51
49
51
32
54
47
28
52
31
56
47
42
53
44
105
2
3
4
10
3
11
11
2
8
3
5
48
1
1
2
2
1
4
2
2
4
2
i
3
6
2
5
4
3
No quotations below $1.00 an hour for May 1935 were reported by
the following skilled building trades—bricklayers, granite cutters,
marble setters, mosaic and terrazzo workers, plasterers, structuraliron workers, structural-iron workers’ finishers, stonemasons, and
tile layers. The greatest number of quotations below $1.00 an hour in
the skilled journeyman trades was found among the painters and
carpenters. Twenty-four out of 67 quotations for painters were
less than $1.00 an hour, and 20 out of 68 quotations for the car
penters. Of the helpers and laborers groups, the elevator construc
tors’ helpers showed the highest rates, with six above $1.00 an hour
and none below 50 cents an hour. The highest rate for building
laborers was 93.8 cents an hour in one local in New York City.
Thirty-eight rates for building laborers were above 50 cents an hour
and the remaining eight were below. The lowest rate, 40 cents an
243 6 1 — 35 -
2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1168
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
hour, was found in Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Jacksonville, and
New Orleans, all in the South.
Rates reported by unions in the five largest cities for 1934 and 1935
show certain minor variations. No changes in rates were reported
in any trade in Detroit between the two years. There was one change
in Los Angeles, a decline of 2.5 cents per hour in the rate for plumbers.
Chicago shows the greatest number of advances, with four increases,
which raises the unweighted average hourly rate for the 27 trades from
$1,317 in 1934 to $1,338 in 1935. New York and Philadelphia both
show two increases and three decreases. The increases were larger,
making an unweighted average rise of 0.1 cent in New York and 0.6
cent in Philadelphia. In terms of the unweighted average of hourly
rates for 17 trades, for which rates were obtained in the five cities,
the rank of these cities corresponds to their rank in population.
T able 2 .— N u m ber o f Q uotations for 1935 in B u ild in g T rades, w ith H ourly
W age R a tes
Trade
Asbestos workers _____
_______
Bricklayers
.
______
Building laborers 1 ______________
Carpenters.
Cement finishers
Elevator constructors
Elevator constructors' helpers
Glaziers_____________ ___ _____ ..
Granite cutters .
.- . _
Hod carriers 1
Inside wiremen
Lathers__________________________
Marble setters
______
- __
Mosaic and terrazzo workers_______
From
50
cents
to
$1.00
$1
and
over
2
0
38
20
2
1
53
11
0
45
8
3
0
0
45
68
0
48
58
58
6
31
27
4
59
65
60
45
Trade
Painters____________________ _____
Painters, sign__ ________________
Plasterers____ ____________________
Plasters’ laborers..._______________
Plumbers_______________ _______
Sheet-mietal workers_____ _______
Slate and tile roofers___ ___ ____ _
Steamfltters............... ..................... . . .
Stonecutters_____________________
Stonemasons_____________________
Structural-iron workers___________
Structural-iron workers, finishers__
Tile layers_____ __________________
From
50
cents
to
$1.00
24
4
0
33
2
14
4
2
4
0
0
0
0
$1
and
over
43
52
64
9
66
41
26
64
35
63
55
47
61
1 There were 8 quotations for building laborers and 1 quotation for hod carriers for less than 50 cents an
hour.
Table 3 gives the wage and hour scales as quoted by building tradeunion officials in the 70 cities visited.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U N IO N SCALES OF W AG ES AND HOURS IN BU IL D IN G TRADES
1169
T able 3 . — U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f Labor in B u ild in g T rades, 1934
and 1935 b y C ities
Asbestos workers
City
Rates per
hour
1934
1935
Atlanta, Ga_______ ___
Baltimore, M d _________
Birmingham, Ala ...... .
Boston, Mass _________
Buiialo, N. Y __________
Butte, M ont_________ .
Charleston, S. C . . ____
Charleston, W. Va______
Charlotte, N . C___ . . . . .
Chicago, ill. _________
Cincinnati, Ohio______
Cleveland, Ohio________
Columbus, Ohio________
Dallas, Tex______ _____
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Kock Island, 111., district.)
D ayton, Ohio---------------Denver, Colo
____. . .
Des Moines, Iowa______
Detroit, M i c h .. ____. . .
Duluth, M inn_________
El Paso, Tex___________
Erie, Pa
___________
Grand Rapids, M ich..
Houston, T e x .__ ______
Indianapolis, Ind_______
Jacksonville, Fla_______
Kansas City, M o______
Little Rock, Ark
Los Angeles, Calif______
Louisville, K y _________
Madison, W is__________
Manchester, N . I I.
...
Memphis, T enn________
Milwaukee, Wis _ _____
Minneapolis, M inn ___
Moline, 111. (See Rock
Island, 111., district.)
Nashville, Tenn________
Newark, N . J __________
New Haven, Conn_____
New ( trleans, La_______
$1. 000 $1. 000
1.000 1.000
1.000 1. 000
1. 250 1. 250
1.000 1.000
Bricklayers
Hours per
week
1934 1935
44
40
40
40
40
Rates per
hour
1934
1935
1.000
1.100
40
1.375
1.150
1.175
1.000
1.000
1. 375
1. 150
1. 175
1.000
1. 000
40
40
40
40
40
44 $1.125 $1.125
40 1.100 1.100
40 1.000 1.000
40 1. 300 1.300
40 1. 250 1. 250
1. 625 1. 625
1. 000 1.000
40 1. 333 1.333
1.000 1.000
40 1. 500 1. 500
40 1. 375 1. 375
40 1. 250 1.250
40 1. 300 1. 300
40 1. 125 1.125
1.000
.875
1.000
1.125
1.000
.875
1.000
1.125
40
40
40
40
40
35
40
40
1.000
.850
1.000
1.000
40
40
40
40
Hours per
week
1934 1935
1.300
1.000
1.500
1. 250
1.000
1. 250
1. 313
1.250
1. 000
1.300
1. 000
1.325
1. 125
1. 000
1. 250
1. 200
1. 300
1.375
1.125
1.250
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
1.100
40
40
1. 250
1.125
1. 250
1.000
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.100
1.200
44
44
40
40
40
35
1.100
1.400
1.000
1. 100
1. 400
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.100
1. 688
1. 200
1.000
1.100
1.500
1.200
1. 000
44
40
40
40
New York, N . Y _______
1.400
1.400
40
fl. 500
40 \1.
650
1. 500
1.500
40
40
Norfolk, Va. _. _______
Omaha, Nebr_. _____
Oklahoma City, Okla___
Peoria, 111______________
Philadelphia, Pa_______
Pittsburgh, Pa_________
Portland, M aine_______
Portland, Oreg_________
Providence, R. I .. _____
Reading, Pa _________
Richmond, V a_________
Rochester, N. Y ________
Rock Island, 111., district.
St. Louis, M o ... ____
St. Paul, M inn__ ______
Salt Lake City, Utah _
San Antonio, T e x _____
San Francisco, Calif____
Scranton, Pa_______ . .
Seattle, Wash__________
South Bend, Ind_______
Spokane, W ash________
Springfield, M ass____ _.
Toledo, Ohio.__________
Washington, I). C ______
Wichita, Kans___ . .
Worcester, M ass_____ .
York, Pa_____ _______
Youngstown, Ohio ____
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.100
1.000
1.000
44
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1. 500
1. 000
1.500
40
40
40
40
1.000
1. 000
1. 200
1.000
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
24
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
.875
.910
.875
1.050
44
40
44
40
1. 250
1.000
1. 250
1. 200
40
40
40
35
1.000
.800
1.000
1.250
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1. 250
1.000
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
30
40
1.125
1.000
1. 375
1.125
1.000
1.500
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.175
1.175
40
40
1. 300
1.000
1.250
1934
1935
40 $0. 400 $0. 400
40
.450
.450
.400
40
.400
40
.700
.700
40
30
.720
44
40
40
40
.825
.825
40
.450
.450
.725
40
.725
.500
40
.500
40
1.300
1.000
1. 500
1.250
1.000
1.125
1.313
1. 250
1.000
1. 400
1. 000
1.325
1. 250
1.000
1. 250
1.000
1.300
1.375
1.000
1.250
1. 250 1.250
1.120 1.120
1. 250 1. 250
1. 250 1. 260
1. 500 1.500
1.500 1.500
1. 250 1. 250
1. 200 1. 200
1.250 1. 250
1. 200 1. 200
1.250 1. 250
1.250 1.250
1. 250 1. 250
1. 500 1.500
1.100 1.100
1.125 1.125
1. 250 1. 250
1.500 T. 500
1. 500 1. 500
1. 500 1.500
1. 250 1.250
1. 250 1. 250
1. 375 1.375
1. 250 1.250
1.500 1.500
Rates per
hour
40
40
40
40
40
30
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.050
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Building laborers
1. 300
40
1.000
40
1.250 I 40
.625
.675
.500
.625
.675
.500
Hours per
week
1934 1935
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
44
40
35
44
.400
40
. 400
.700
400
.700
40
40
40
.625
.450
.625
.450
40
40
40
40
. 500
.500
.625
.550
. 600
.500
.700
.675
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
.950
.550
. 400
f .700
40 ) .800
40 1 .825
1 .938
40
40
40
40
.650
24
40
.700
40
40
.600
40
40
.600
40
40
600
40
40
.788
40
.500
40
.500
40
30
.688
40
.500
30
.700
40
.500
40
40
i 800
40
.500
40
.875
.550
. 400
.700
.800
.825
.938
40
40
40
35
35
40
40
40
40
40
35
35
40
40
40
40
40
.750
40
. 700
40
40
. 750
40
40
.600
40
40
600
.788
.550
.500 ,
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
.688
.500
:700
.500
44
40
30
40
44
40
30
40
.800
.500
.550
40
40
40
44
40
.925
.925
40
40
...... " I
........... :
1170
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 3 .— U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f Labor in B u ild in g Trades, 1934
and 1935, by C ities— C on tin ued
Carpenters
City
Rates per hour
1934
1935
Hours per Rates per hour Hours per Rates per hour Hours per
week
week
week
1934 1935
1934
1935
40
40 $1. 000 $1.000
$0. 900 $0 900
40
40 1.000 1.000
Baltimore, M d------- --- 1.100 1. 100
40
40 1.000 1.000
Birmingham, Ala---------- 1.000 1.000
40
40 1. 250 1.250
Boston, M ass---------------- 1.175 1.175
40
.900 1. 125
40
Buffalo, N . Y __________ 1.000 1.000
30
30 1. 375 1. 625
Butte, Mont .... ---------- 1. 250 1.250
44
44
.750
}
Í\ -Z
S
40
40 / ------.750
.800
44
750 1 000
40
700
700
44
44
40
40 1.313 1.313
1.313 1.313
Chicago 111--- ------------40
40 1. 025 1.025
Cincinnati, Ohio.. ------- 1.200 1. 200
40
40
1. 125 1. 125
1.
125
1. 125
Cleveland, Ohio-----------40
40
800 1. 000
Columbus, Ohio___ _ -- 1.000 1.000
1.000 1.000
40
40
1.000
Dallas, Tex__............. —
1.000
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Rock Island, 111., district.)
40
40 1. 000 1. 000
1 000 1 000
40
30 1.094 1.094
Denver, Colo----- ------- 1. 100 1. 100
35 1. 125 1.125
35
Des Moines, Iowa------- . 1.150 1.150
1 000 1 000 /\ 44
40 1i 40
40 1.000 1.000
40
Duluth, M inn______ . . 1.000 1.000
40
40 1. 000 1.000
1. 000 1 000
40
40 1.000 1.000
.800
Erie, Pa____ . . ............- .800
Grand Rapids, Mioh_
40
40
. 900
900
40
40 1.000 1.000
Houston, Tex._ ---------- 1.000 1.000
40
40
. 750
.900
.850 1.000
Indianapolis, Ind---------44
44 1.000 1.000
.750
Jacksonville, Fla------ . . .
.750
40
40 1. 125 1. 125
Kansas City, M o --------- 1.125 1.125
40 1. 000 1. 000
40
.800 1.000
Little Rock, Ark------.
40
40 1.250 1.250
Los Angeles, Calif--------- 1.000 1.000
40 1.000 1. 100
40
.800 1.000
Louisville, K y -------44
40 1. 000 1. 000
750
900
40 1. 300 1. 390
1 000 1 000
40
40 1. 100 1. 100
40
.875
.875
Memphis, T enn--------40
40 1.000 1. 125
Milwaukee, W is. ------.925
.925
40
.850 1.000
35 1.000 1.000
Minneapolis, M inn------Moline, 111. (See Rock
Island, 111., district.)
44
Nashville, Tenn
44
. 750
. 750
40
40 1.088 1. 500
Newark, N . J ---------- .. 1.400 1.400
40
40 1. 200 1. 200
New Haven, Conn--------- 1. 063 1.063
44
44
.850
.850
.750
New Orleans, L a.. ------.750
40
40 1.400 1. 400
New York, N . Y _______ 1.400 1.400
44
44 1.000 1. 100
Norfolk, Va . . . . - ........ .800
.800
40 1.000 1. 000
35
.900
Omaha, Nebr. ------------- .900
44
44 1.333 1.000
.750
.875
Oklahoma City, Okla —
40
40 1. 125 1. 250
1.125 1. 250
Peoria, L1L _
_ ___
40
40 1. 050 1.050
Philadelphia, P a----------- 1.000 1.000
40
40 1.400 1.400
Pittsburgh, Pa-------------- 1. 250 1.250
Portland, Maine
1. 250 l. 250
40
40
.900 1.000
Portland, Oreg.. ............- .900 1.000
44
44 1.000 1.000
Providence, R. I . -------- 1.000 1.000
44
1.
250 1. 250
35
Reading', Pa----- ------------ 1.000 1. 200
40 1.000 1. 100
.800
40
.800
Richmond, Va---------- ..
1. 250
1.
250
40
40
Rochester, N. Y ------------ .900 1.050
40
40 1.000 l.COO
Rock Island, 111., district. 1.000 1.000
40
40
1.313
1.313
St. Louis, M o------- -------- 1. 250 1.250
40
35 1.000 1.000
St. Faul, M inn....... ........... .850 1.000
44
44
1.000
1.000
.900
.900
Salt Lake City, U tah---40
40 1. 000 1.000
San Antonio, T ex............. 1.000 1.000
40
40 1. 125 1. 125
.900
San Francisco, Calif......... .900
40 1. 200 1. 200
40
Scranton, Pa...................... 1.125 1. 125
30 1. 125 1. 125
30
Seattle, Wash...... .............. 1.125 1. 125
40 1.000 1.000
40
1.000 1.000
South Bend, ln d ......... ..
40 1.000 1. 250
40
Spokane, W ash.................. .875 1.000
40 1.375 1.375
40
Springfield, M ass.............. 1.000 1.000
44
40 1. 250 1. 250
Toledo, Ohio----------------- 1.000 1.000
40 1. 250 1. 250
40
1. 250 1.375
Washington, D. C _____
44
44
. 750
. 750
Wichita, Kans
40 1.300 1.300
40
Worcester, M ass_______ 1.000 1.000
Y n rk P a
700
700
40
40
40 1.000 1.000
40
Youngstown, O h io .......... 1.200 1. 200
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Elevator constructors
Cement finishers
1934 1935
1934
1935
40
40
40
40
40
40
40 $1. 150 $1.150
40 1.250 1.250
40 1. 150 1.150
40 1.330 1.33C
40 1. 050 1. 180
30 1.254 1. 254
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
41
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1934 1935
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1. 100
1. 100
40
40
1.425
1.275
1.300
1. 160
1.000
1.425
1.300
1.300
1. 190
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1. 225
1. 125
1. 250
1.000
1.225
1.125
1. 250
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.030
1.080
1.000
1. 250
1. 050
1. 355
1.125
1.125
1.020
Ì.Ò3Ò
1.110
1.000
1. 250
1. 050
1.280
1. 125
1.125
1. 110
40
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
41
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
1. 175
1. 140
1. 125
1. 175
1. 140
1.190
40
40
40
40
40
40
.980
1.403
1.300
1.160
1.403
1.060
1.000
1.000
1. 100
1.400
1.490
.980
1.403
1.300
1. 110
1.403
1.060
1. 000
1.000
1. 290
1. 360
1.490
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
1.120
1.220
1.230
1.080
1. 220
1.150
1.480
1.125
1.210
1. 220
1.230
1.080
1. 220
1. 150
1.480
1.190
40
40
44
44
40
44
40
40
40
40
44
44
40
44
40
40
40
1.050
1. 250
1.270
1. 145
.950
1.125
1.225
1. 230
1.660
1. OSO
1.300
1.050
1. 250
1. 270
1.425
1.000
1.125
1.225
1.230
1. 660
1.080
1.300
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.260
1.260
40
40
f
40
30
40
30
40
40
40
U N IO N SCALES OF W AGES AND HOURS IN BU IL D IN G TRADES
1171
T able 3 .— U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f Labqr in B u ild in g T rades, 1934
and 1935, b y C ities—-C on tin ued
Elevator constructors’
helpers
City
Rates per
hour
1934
Atlanta, Ga
Baltimore, M d___ ____
Birmingham, Ala_
Boston, M ass_____. . . Buffalo, N . Y __________
Butte, Mont . . _ ---- -Charleston, S. C
Charleston, W. Va
Charlotte, N. C
Chicago, ill- .
_____ _
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio________
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas, Tex
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Rock Island, 111., district.)
Dayton, Ohio
Denver, Colo_____ - --Des Moines, Iowa _
Detroit, Mich
Duluth, Minn
El Paso, Tex_
Erie, Pa
Grand Rapids, Mich
Houston, Tex
Indianapolis, Ind
Jacksonville, Fla _
Kansas City, Mo
Little Rock, Ark _
Los Angeles, Calif-_
Louisville, K y __
Madison, Wis _
Manchester, N . H__
Memphis, Tenn
Milwaukee, Wis
Minneapolis, Minn
Moline, HI. (See Rock
Island, 111., district.)
Nashville, Tenn
Newark, N . J
New Haven, Conn
New Orleans, La
New York, N. Y _______
Norfolk, Va
Omaha, Nebr
Oklahoma City, Okla
Peoria, 111
Philadelphia, PaPittsburgh, Pa
Portland, Maine
Portland, Oreg . .
Providence, R. I ______
Reading, Pa
Richmond, Va
Rochester, N . Y
Rock Island, 111., district
St. Louis, M o____ _ _ _St. Paul, Minn
Salt Lake City, Utah
San Antonio, Tex
San Francisco, Calif____
Scranton, Pa
Seattle, Wash__________
South Bend, Ind
Spokane, Wash
Springfield, Mass
Toledo, Ohio___________
Washington, D. C ______
Wichita, Kans___ ______
Worcester, M ass___ ____
York, Pa.'—
Youngstown, O h io _____
1935
$0. 805 $0. 805
.880
.880
.805
.805
.930
.930
.730
.830
.878
.878
Hours per
week
1934 1935
Granite cutters
Glaziers
Rates per
hour
1934
1935
44
40
40
40
40
40
40 $0.850 $0. 850
40 1.000 1.000
40 1.000 1.000
40 1.125 1.125
40
.900 1.000
40 1.083 1.250
Hours per
week
1934 1935
Rates per
hour
1934
1935
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40 $1. 000 $1. coo
40
40 1.000 1.000
40 1.063 1.063
40 1.063 1. 063
Hours per
week
1934 1935
44
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
.770
.770
40
40
1.000
1. OCO
40
40
1.000
.890
.910
.810
. 700
1.000
.910
.910
.830
.700
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.703
1.250
1. 125
1.703
1.250
1.125
35
40
40
35
40
40
1.375
1.063
1.188
1. 375
1.063
1.188
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
40
40
.860
.790
.875
.700
.860
. 790
. 875
.700
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.125
1.000
1.125
1.000
44
40
44
40
.720
. 760
.700
. 880
. 735
.950
. 790
.788
.710
. 720
. 780
.700
. 880
.735
. 900
.790
.788
. 780
40
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
1. 0C0
1.000
40
40
1.125
1.000
40
40
. 750
1. 200
.750
1. 200
.850
40
44
40
44
1.000
1.000
.600
40
40
48
1.000
1. 000
1.000
1. OCO
40
40
40
40
1.125
1. 313
40
40
1.125
.800
40
40
.900
.900
40
40
1.000
1. 000
1.C00
1. 000
40
40
40
4C
.820
.800
. 790
.820
.800
.830
40
40
40
40
40
40
. 685
1.031
.910
.810
1.031
. 740
. 700
. 700
.770
.980
1. 040
.685
1.031
.910
. 780
1.031
. 740
. 700
. 700
.900
.950
1. 040
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
. 500
1. 125
. 500
1.125
40
40
40
40
1. 250
1. 125
1.250
1. 125
40
40
40
40
. 750
1.400
. 750
1.400
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.250
40
40
1.000 1.000
1.050 1.C50
1. OCO 1. 200
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.C00
40
40
.780
.850
.860
. 76C
. 850
. 800
1.010
.790
.850
.850
. 860
. 760
.850
. 800
1.040
.830
40
40
44
44
40
44
40
40
40
40
44
44
40
44
40
40
.970
.750
.970
.750
35
40
30
40
1. 00Ö 1.000
1.000 1.000
i 44
40
l 44
40
40
1. 050
1. 000
1.500
1. 050
1.000
1.500
40
40
40
40
40
40
.900
1.000
.875
.900
1.000
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
35
1.063
1. 000
1.063
1. 000
30
44
30
44
1.150
1.125
1.000
1. 250
35
40
40
40
1.000
1. 200
40
40
. 735
.875
.890
.803
. 660
. 785
.860
.860
1.160
.760
.920
.735
.875
.890
.998
. 700
. 785
.860
.860
1.160
.760
.920
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
.880
.880
40
40
140 hours, August to January.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.000
1.000
40
1.000
1.C00
44
44
1. 125
1.125
44
44
1.000
1.000
40
40
1.000
1.000
44
44
1.000
1.000
1.250
1.000
1.000
1.250
44
40
40
44
40
40
1.125
1.125
44
44
1172
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 3 .— U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f L abor in B u ild in g T rades, 1934
and 1935, b y C ities— C on tin ued
City
1934
1935
Atlanta, Ga_- . _______ $0. 500 $0. 500
.750
Baltimore, M d_______ _ .750
.600
Birmingham, Ala_______ .600
.700
.700
Boston, M a s s __
Buffalo, N . Y
1.125 1.125
Chicago, ill ____________
Cincinnati, O hio.. _____
Cleveland, Ohio________
Columbus, Ohio______
Dallas, Tex . .
Dayton, Ohio______ ___
Denver, C o lo _________
Des Moines, Iowa______
Detroit, M ic h ................
Duluth, M inn_________
El Pa^n, T p,x
Eric, Pa
Grand Rapids, Mich
Houston, Tex. ________
Indianapolis, Ind___ _
Jacksonville, Ela
Kansas City, M o ____
Little Rock, Ark
Los Angeles, Calif_____
Louisville, K y _________
Madison, W is............. .......
Manchester, N" TT
Memphis, Tenn....... .........
Milwaukee, W is________
Minneapolis, M in n .........
Nashville, Tenn
Newark, N . J. _____
New Haven, Conn_____
New Orleans, La...... .........
New York, N . Y _______
Norfolk, Va____________
Omaha, N ebr____
Oklahoma City, Okla
Peoria, 111______ _______
Philadelphia, Pa______
Pittsburgh, P a_________ '
Portland, Maine
Portland, Oreg . . . . . . .
Providence, R. I . . .
Reading, P a______ ____
Richmond, Va
Rochester, N . Y
Rock Island, 111., district6.
St. Louis, M o________ .
St. Paul, M in n .... . .
Salt Lake City, U tah___
San Antonio, Tex
San Francisco, Calif____
Scranton, Pa
Seattle, W ash__________
South Bend, Ind ____ _
Spokane, W a s h ...______
Springfield, M ass______
Toledo, Ohio______ ____
Washington, D. C ______
Wichita, Kans_________
Worcester, M ass.. _____
Youngstown, O h io _____
Hours per
week
1934 1935
44
40
40
40
30
1.000
1.000
.900
1. 200
.850
1.125
1.250
1.000
1.000
1. 500
1.125
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.400
.900
1. 000
.900
1.050
1. 250
1.500
1.600
.900
1.000
1.000
1.250
1.250
1. 500
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
1.000 1. 250
1.000 1.000
.800
.800
. 800 .800
1.155 1.200
40
44
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
4G
40
40
.800
.750
.900
.800
.800
.800
.750
.900
.800
.800
35
40
35.
44
40
.625
.625
.600
.725
40
40
.400
.800
. 400
.800
40
40
.750
.625
.750
.700
.500
.800
.850
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
.950
.550
.600
.750
.625
.750
. 700
.500
.800
.850
.600
.875
.550
.600
40
40
40
40 1.000
40 1.000
r .900
40 \1
.200
.850
40
40 1. 000
40 1.250
40 1.000
40 1. 000
40 1.500
40 1.125
40 1.250
1.000
.650
.900
.650
40
44
40
40
.650
.750
40
40
.900
. 700
.900
.900
.700
.900
40
44
40
40
44
40
1. 000 1.000
40
40
.825
.875
.750
, 900
.600
1. 000
. 600
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
.625
.800
.700
.800
.800
.700
.550
.825
.825
1.000
1.500
1. 050
1.500
1.125
1.125
1.000
1.250
1.125
1.375
.900
1.125
1.125
1.375
1.650
1.000
1.125
1.350 1
1. OCO 1.000
1.250
1.125
1.375
.800
1.000
1.125
1.375
1.650
1.000
1.000
1.350
* Metal.
3 Wood.
Rates per
hour
1934 1935
1935
40
40
40
40
40
30
44
40
20
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
44
30
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
a M etal etw eo cb
4 Includes Davenport, Iowa, and Moline, 111.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1934
40 $1.125 $1.125
40 1.000 1.000
40 1.000 1.125
40 1. 250 1.250
1.125 1.125
30 1.500 1.500
1.000 1. 000
.750
.600
40 1.500 1.500
1.250
1.250
40
40 1.375 1. 500
40 1.000 1.000
1.000 1.000
35 1.250 1. 250
40 1.250 1.250
35 1.250 1.250
44 1.250 1. 250
44 1.C00 1.000
1.000 1.250
1.000 1.000
.830
.750
40 1.000 1.000
1.250
fl.
250
40 l .750 1. 000
100 1.100
40 fl.
li. coo 1.000
40 1.250 1.250
.825
.700
.725
.800
1.000 1.000
. 575 .650
Hours per
week
Rates per
hour
.825
.700
.600
.650
.825
.875
.850
.900
.600
1. 000
. 600
Lathers
Inside wiremen
Hod carriers
Rates per
hour
30
40
30
40
40
40
35
40
44
40
30
1934
1934 1935
$1. 000
1.250
1.0G0
1.500
1.250
44
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
30
40
1.500
1.313
1.375
1.200
1.000
1.200
1.100
1.429
1.250
1.200
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
32
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
32
40
.800
1.000
1.200
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
2 1. coo
3. 750
1.250
1.100
1.200
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
2 1.125
3 1. 000
1.200
» 1. 200
1.100
1.625
1.275
3. 750
21. 000
2 1. 400
* 1.500
1.100
1.250
1.000
1. 250
3 1.200
2 1.375
1. 500
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
24
24
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
24
24
40
J«l.100 »1. 200
\31.000 31. 000
1.200 1.200
1.150
1.200
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
2 1.500
40
40
40
30
30
40
30
40
40
35
30
30
40
30
30
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
30
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40 $1. 000
40
1.250
40
1.000
40
1.500
40
1.000
30
40
40
20
1.500
40
1.313
40
1.250
40
1.200
40
1.000
40
1.200
30
1.250
40
1.429
44
1.250
40
1.000
40
40
40
.800
40
1.000
40 } .750
40
40 }______
40 J
30
1.250
p 1.000
l 2.750
40
1.250
40
1.100
30 } 1. 200
30 J
40
1.125
40 P
\3 1.000
40
1.200
40 »1.200
40
1.100
40
1. 625
40
1.275
f 3.750
40 \21.000
P
1.400
35 \<1.500
1.100
40
40
1.250
40
1.000
40
1.250
1. 000
40 p
p 1. 375
40
1.500
30
44
44
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
30
40
30
40
35
40
35
40
44
40
30
1935
Hours
per week
1.250
2 1. 250
»1. 000 »1. 200
f41. 250 4 1. 250
in. loo «1.100
»1. 000 »1. 000
1.250
1.250
P 1.375
2 1.375
3 1. 250
1. 200
\31.250
1.250
»1.000 »1. 200
1. 250
1.250
1.000 1.000
1.375
1. 375
»1. 500 » 1.100
1.250
1.500
1.250
1.250
< Wire.
4 First class.
6 Second class.
U NIO N SCALES OF W AGES AND HOURS IN BUILD IN G TRADES
1173
T a b le 3 .— U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f L abor in B u ild in g T rades, 1934
and 1935, b y C ities— C on tin ued
Mosaic and terrazzo
workers
Marble setters
City
Rates per
hour
1934
Atlanta, Ga____________ $1.375
Baltimore, M d_______ - 1.250
Birmingham, Ala_______ 1.375
Boston, M a ss.. _______ 1.300
Bufialo, N . Y __________ 1.250
Butte, M ont___________ 1.625
Charleston, S. C _______
Charleston, W. V a _____ 1.333
Charlotte, N . C
1.000
Chicago, 111___ _______ _ 1.375
Cincinnati, Ohio_______ 1.375
Cleveland, Ohio________ 1.125
fJnlnmhiis, Ohio
1.375
Dallas, Tex
_______ 1.125
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Rock Island, 111., dis
trict).
Dayton, Ohio______ ___ 1.250
Denver, Colo ________ 1.100
Des Moines, Iowa______ 1.375
Detroit, M ich__________ 1.250
"Duluth, Minn
1.000
El Paso, Tex___________ 1.125
Erie, Pa
_____ 1.313
Grand Rapids, M ic h ... _ 1.250
Houston, Tex__________ 1.125
Indianapolis, Ind___ ___ 1.375
Jacksonville, Fla_______ 1.000
Kansas City, Mo ____ 1.375
Little Rock, A r k . ______ 1.250
Los Angeles, Calif _
1.000
Louisville, K y _________ 1.250
Madison, W is__________
Manchester, N . H ______
Memphis, T enn________ 1.375
Milwaukee, W is________ 1.050
Minneapolis, M inn__ _ 1.125
Moline, 111. (See Rock
Island, 111., district.)
Nashville, T enn________ 1.375
Newark, N . J __________ 1.500
N ew Haven, Conn_____ 1.200
New Orleans, La_______ 1. 000
New York, N . Y _______ 1.500
1.375
Norfolk, Va
Omaha, Nebr
_ _ __ 1.125
Oklahoma City, Okla___ 1.000
Peoria, 111______________ 1.000
1.375
Philadelphia, P a ___.
1.250
Pittsburgh, Pa_______
Portland, Maine
1.250
Portland, Oreg_____ ___ 1.000
Providence, R. I_ _ _ __
Reading, Pa _
__ __ 1.375
1. 375
Richmond, V a. ___
1.200
Rochester, N . Y
Rock Island, 111., district.
St. Louis, M o. _______ 1. 375
St. Paul, M inn__
___ 1.125
Salt Lake City, U tah----- 1.125
San Antonio, Tex
1.125
San Francisco, Calif
1.000
Scranton, Pa_________ . 1.000
Seattle, W a s h _________ 1.375
South Bend, Ind- _
Spokane, W ash_________ 1.375
Springfield, M ass_______ 1.375
Toledo, Ohio
1.000
Washington, D . C ______ 1. 500
Wichita, Kans
Worcester, Mass
1.300
York, Pa
Youngstown, Ohio_____ 1.125
Hours per
week
1935
1934
1935
Hours per Rates per hour
week
1934 1935
$1. 375
1.250
1.375
1. 300
1.250
1.625
40
40
40
40
40
30
40 $1. 000 $1. 000
40 1.188 1.188
40 1.000 1.000
40 1.250 1.250
40 1.188 1. 188
30 1.625 1. 625
40
40
40
40
40
30
1. 333
1. 000
1. 500
1.375
1.125
1.375
1.125
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.100
1.375
1.250
1.000
1.250
1.313
1.250
1.125
1.200
1.000
1.375
1.000
1.000
1.250
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
1.375
1.050
1.125
1934
1935
Hours
per
week
1934 1935
40
40
40
40
40
30
$0. 850
1.000
1.000
1.125
1.000
1.063
f .550
1 .650
1.000
.750
40
1.333
1.200
40
40
1.200
1.000
40
$0.850
1.000
1.000
1.125
1.000
1.250
.550
.650
1.000
.625
1.333
1.200
1.200
1.000
.750
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
44
40
44
30
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
30
40
35
40
40
40
30
35
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
40
35
35
40
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
1.375
1.150
1.188
1. 375
1.150
1.188
44
40
40
1.000
1.000
40
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.100
1.250
1.000
1.250
1.100
1. 250
1.000
35
40
35
40
1.125
1.250
40
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.250
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
40
40
40
44
40
44
1.250
1.250
40
1.100
35
40
1.100
1. 000
35
(
40 in 7.. 800
ooo
.750
1.000
40
.750
40
.900
40
1.000
1.000
40
44
.750
40
1.125
.875
40
1.000
.900
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.250
1. 250
1.000
1.250
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
.900
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.100
1.100
1.000
1.800
8 1. 000
.875
1.000
.750
.900
1.000
1.000
.750
1.125
.875
1.000
.900
.900
.900
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.375
1.500
1.200
1.000
1. 500
1.375
1.125
1.000
1.000
1.375
1.250
1.250
1.000
44
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.438
1.200
1.000
1.438
1.250
1.438
1.200
1.000
1.438
44
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
.800
1.000
1.063
.750
1.286
.800
1.000
1.063
.750
1.286
40
40
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
35
1.000
1.250
1.250
1.000
1. 250
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
.800
1.000
1.000
1.000
1. 200
.800
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.200
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
40
40
1.375
1.250
1.200
40
40
40
40
40
40
1. 375
1.125
1.125
1.125
1.000
1.500
1.375
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
1.250
1. 200
1.000
1.175
1.000
1.125
1.200
1.000
1.175
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.500
1.250
1.500
1.250
40
30
40
30
.880
.900
.900
.800
1.050
1.000
1.250
1.000
.900
1.000
.875
.850
1.125
1.000
.900
.900
.800
1.050
1. 000
1.250
1.000
.900
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.125
30
40
40
44
40
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
30
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
35
40
35
40
30
1.375
1.375
1.000
1.500
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.125
1.375
1.125
1.375
40
40
40
40
1.300
1.300
40
40
1.300
40
40
1.125
40
40
1.000
1.000
40
40
1.000
1.000
1.150
1.375
.875
.950
.700
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.150
1.375
.750
.950
.700
1.200
35
40
35
35
40
40
40
40
35
40
35
35
40
40
40
40
1 Permanent work.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1934 1935
Rates per
hour
Painters
4(P 40
• Temporary work.
1174
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 3 .— U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f Labor in B u ild in g Trades, 1934
and 1935, b y C ities— C ontinued
Painters, sign
City
1934
1935
Atlanta, Ga_
_______ $1. 000 $1. 000
Baltimore, M d................... 1. 125 1.125
Birmingham, A la_______ 1. 375 1.375
Boston, M a s s ______ _ 1.375 1.375
Buffalo, N . Y __________ 1.000 1.000
Butte, M ont___________ 1.063 1. 250
Charleston, S. C._ _____
Charleston, W. Va - - — 1. 250 1.250
Charlotte, N . C. ______
Chicago, 111____________ 1.500 1.500
Cincinnati, Ohio
— 1.250 1.250
Cleveland, Ohio ______ 1.325 1.400
Columbus, O h i o - . . ____ 1. 250 1.250
Dallas, T ex......................... 1. 250 1. 250
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Rock Island, 111., district.)
Dayton, Ohio. ________ 1.250 1. 300
Denver, Colo
_
1.000 1.000
Des Moines, Iowa______
Detroit, M ich__________ 1.250 1. 250
Duluth, Minn_
1.000 1.000
El Paso, T ex.
_ ___ _
Erie, Pa________ _
_ 1.000 1.000
Grand Rapids, M ich___ 1.000 1.000
Houston, T ex. ________ 1. 250 1.250
Indianapolis, lnd —
1.125 1. 125
Jacksonville, Fla _
.750
.750
Kansas City, Mo_ ____ 1.275 1.500
Little Rock, Ark_______
Los Angeles, Calif. ______ 1.000 1.000
Louisville, K y ______. . .
1.125 1.125
Madison, W is. ________
Manchester, N . H . ___
Memphis, Tenn______ . 1.125 1.125
Milwaukee, W is .. _____ 1.250 1. 250
Minneapolis, M inn_____ 1.250 1.250
Moline, 111. (See Rock
Island, 111., district.)
Nashville, Tenn________ 1.000 1.000
Newark, N . J._ ...............
1. 000
New Haven, Conn. . _ _
New Orleans, La____
1.000 1.ÒÒÒ
New York, N . Y _______ 1.654 1. 890
Norfolk, Va____________
Omaha, Nebr........ ............
Oklahoma City, Okla___
I .750
Peoria, 111______________
1.050
Philadelphia, Pa_______ 1.250 1. 300
Pittsburgh, Pa_________ 1.625 1.375
Portland, M aine_______
Portland, Oreg_________ 1. 250 1. 250
Providence, R. I _______
Reading, P a ___ ________
Richmond, Va_________ 1.040 1.160
Rochester, N . Y ________ 1. 200 1.200
Rock Island, 111., district- 1.063 1.063
St. Louis, M o__________ 1. 500 1. 500
St. Paul, M inn—-_______ 1.250 1.250
Salt Lake City, U tah___
.900
.900
San Antonio, Tex______ 1.063 1.063
San Francisco, Calif____ 1.350 1.350
Scranton, Pa___________
Seattle, W ash.-________ 1.350 1.350
South Bend, ln d _______
Spokane, W ash________
Springfield, M ass_______ 1.375 1. 375
Toledo, Ohio___________
1.250
Washington, D. C ______ 1.500 1.500
Wichita, Kans_________
Worcester, M ass_______
.950
.950
York, Pa______________
Youngstown, Ohio_____ 1. 120
1.000 1.000
11.000
1.000
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1934 1935
40
40
40
40
40
40
1934
1935
40
40
40
40
44
40 $1. 000 $1. 000
40 1.250 1.250
40 1.000 1. 000
40 1. 375 1. 375
40 1.000 1.500
40 1.375 1.625
1.000 1.000
40
1.000 1.000
40 1.375 1.500
40 1. 375 1.375
40 1. 250 1.375
40 1. 000 1.200
44 1.000 1.000
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40'
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
Plasterers’ laborers
kper Rates per hour Ho“ ®kper
1934 1935
40
40
30
30
30
44
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.200
1.000
1.325
1. 000
1.250
1.000
1.000
1.300
1.250
1.200
1.250
1.000
1.200
1.000
1.325
1.000
1. 250
1. 100
1.000
1.300
1.250
1.200
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.100
1.688
1. 200
1.100
1.500
1.200
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.650
1.500
1. 500
1.500
40
40
40
44
30
40
40
40
40
40.
1. 333
1. 500
1.375
1. 500
1.500
1.375
1.500
1.200
1.200
1.250
1.000
1.250
1. 250
1. 500
1. 250
1. 500
1.000
1.250
1.200
1. 500
1.200
1.250
1.375
1. 250
1.750
1. 200
1. 200
1. 250
1. 100
1. 250
1. 250
1. 500
1. 250
1. 500
1.
1. 250
1. 200
1. 500
1. 200
1. 500
1. 375
1. 250
1. 500
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
48
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
1.000 1.000
1.000 1.000
1.000
1.000 1.000
30
40
35
44
40
40
40
40
30
40
35
44
40
40
40
40
1.300
1.300
1.120
40
40
1. 250
1. 250
924
40
30
40
f 24
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
■in
40
30
40
30
40
30
40
30
40
40
30
000
1.100 1.100
1934 1935
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
1.100
1.200
1935
40
40 $0. 750 $0. 750
40
.950
.950
30
30
30 1.125 1.125
44
1. 200
1. 100
1.375
1. 250
1. 200
1.000
1.200
1.000
1.000
1934
40
40
40
30
40
40
44
1.200
1. 100
1.375
1.250
1.200
1.000
1.333
40
40
1.000 1.000
1 Work 3 days per week.
Plasterers
per
Rates per hour Hours
Rates per hour Ho^
week
40
40
40
40
40
40
.888
.700
.800
.968
.700
.800
40
40
40
40
40
40
.750
.900
.750
.900
40
35
40
35
.800
.800
40
44
.625
.625
.600
.800
40
40
40
40
.800
.800
40
40
1.100
.700
.750
1.100
.700
.750
40
40
44
40
40
40
.500
.800
.850
.500
.800
.850
40
40
40
40
40
40
.950
.800
.600
1.063
.650
.875
.800
.600
1.063
.650
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
.800
.900
.900
.800
.900
.850
.900
.900
.800
.900
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
44
40
1.000 1.000
40
40
.825
1.063
.750
.825
1.063
.850
1.100
.600
1. 100
.600
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
30
40
40
40
30
40
30
40
30
.625
.800
.800
.750
1.000
.800
.800
.875
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
30
.825
.825
40
40
1.100
.600
1.100
.600
1.000
U N IO N SCALES OF W AG ES AND H OURS IN BU IL D IN G TRADES
1175
T able 3.- -U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f Labor in B u ild in g T rades, 1934
and 1935, b y C ities— C on tin ued
Sheet-metal workers
Plumbers
City
Rates per
hour
1934
Atlanta, Ga-----------------Baltimore, M d_________
Birmingham, A la______
Boston, M ass__________
Buffalo, N . Y __________
Butte, M ont__________ Charleston, S. C__............
Charleston, W. Va_____
Charlotte, N . C-----------Chicago, 111____________
Cincinnati, Ohio_______
Cleveland, Ohio__ _____
Columbus, Ohio_______
Dallas, Tex____________
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Rock Island, 111., dis
trict.)
Dayton, Ohio__________
Denver, Colo__________
Des Moines, Iowa______
Detroit, M ich--------------Duluth, M inn_________
El Paso, Tex___________
Erie, Pa_______________
Grand Rapids, M ich----Houston, T ex--------------Indianapolis, Ind______
Jacksonville, Fla_______
Kansas City, M o______
Little Rock, Ark______
Los Angeles, Calif_____
Louisville, K y -------------Madison, W is_________
Manchester, N . H -------Memphis, T enn_______
Milwaukee, Wis__..........
Minneapolis, M inn____
Moline, 111. (See Rock
Island, 111., district )
Nashville, Tenn_______
Newark, N . J __________
N ew Haven, Conn_____
N ew Orleans, La______
N ew York, N . Y ______
Norfolk, Va___________
Omaha, N ebr__________
Oklahoma City, Okla__
Peoria, 111_____________
Philadelphia, Pa_______
Pittsburgh, Pa_________
Portland, M aine_______
Portland, Oreg_________
Providence, R. I ---------Reading, P a__________
Richmond, V a________
Rochester, N . Y _______
Rock Island, 111., district
St. Louis, M o_________
St. Paul, M inn________
Salt Lake City, U tah__
San Antonio, T ex______
San Francisco, Calif----Scranton, Pa__________
Seattle, W ash_________
South Bend, Ind______
Spokane, W ash________
Springfield, M ass--------Toledo, Ohio__________
Washington, D . C _____
Wichita, Kans________
Worcester, M ass_______
York, Pa_____________
Youngstown, Ohio_____
1935
$1. 250 $1. 250
1.000 1.100
1.000 1.000
1.250 1.250
1.000 1.200
1.700 1.700
1.000 1.000
1.100 1.000
1.000 1.100
1.375 1.375
1.250 1.250
1. 250 1.250
1.000 1.200
1.000 1.000
Hours per
week
1934 1935
Rates per
hour
1934
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
44
40 $0.900
40 1.125
40
40 1.175
40
30 1.250
40
40
40
44 1.375
40 1.075
40 1.125
40
44
1934
Rates per
hour
$1. 000 $1. 000
$1. 000
.875
1.125
1.250
1.400
1.075
1.375
1.375
1.075
1.125
1.000 1.000
1.125
1.000 1.000
1.000 1.000
30
40
40
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
35 1.125
40
40
.850
40
35 1. 250
40
40
40 1.250
40
40
40 1.250
40
.875
40
.850
40
.900
40
40 I .750
.900
40
40
40
1.100
1.250
1.063
1.050
fl. 400
\ 1.500
1. 125
1.100
1.250
1.200
1. 050
1.400
1.500
1.100
40
40
40
44
40
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
1.000 1.000
1. 200 1.200
1.150 1. 200
1. 500 1.500
1.000 1.000
1.100 1.200
1.200 1.200
1.000 1.200
1.000 1. 100
1.058 1.200
1. 250 1.250
1.438 1.438
1.000 1.200
1.000 1.100
1.000 1.000
1.100 1.100
1.200 1.200
1.375 1.375
1.125 1.125
1.000 1.200
1.000 1.200
1. 000 1.200
1.500 1.500
.750 1.100
1.200 1.200
.850
.850
1.200 1.200
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
35
30
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
35
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
40
40
35
30
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
1.000
Jl. 000
1.000
.900
1.000
.750
1.500
1.075
1.375
1.000
1.000
1.250
40
.850
1.250
1.250
1.050
I. 250
.875
.850
.850
1. 000
.750
.900
1.000 1.000
1.000 1.000
1.400
.900
1.175
1.000
1.175
1.000 1.000
1.000 1.000
1.200
1.143
1.250
1.250
1.200
1. 250
1.200
.900
1.000
1.200
1. 000
1.250
1.000
1. 100
1. 125
1.200
1.000
1.250
1. 200
1.200
Hours per
week
1934
1934
1.000 1.000
1.200
1.000
1.250
1.250
1.200
1.250
1.000
.900
1.000
1. 125
1.000
1.250
1.000
1.125
1.125
1.200
1.000
1.250
1. 200
1.200
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1935
Hours per
week
Slate and tile roofers
1.400
1.000
.900
35
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.500
1. 500
1.000
1.000
40
1.578
.875
.875
1.000
1.250
1.313
.750
.875
.875
1.125
1.250
1.313
.750
1.000
1.000
1.100 1.100
.900
1.000
1.250
1.000
.900
1. 250
.900
1.125
1.250
.800
1.000
1.000
1.050
1.000
1.250
1.000
.900
1. 250
.900
1.125
1.250
1.000
1.000
1.200
.900
1.290
.900
1.500
.850
1.250
.850
1.250
.875
1.500
1.100
1.000
1.100
1.500
1.000
1.500
1.000
1.200
.950
1.000
i.'oöö
1.000
.900
1.125
.900
i.'oöö
1.200
i."250
1.500
40
40
40
1176
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — N OV EM BER 1935
T able 3 .— U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f L abor in B u ild in g T rades, 1934
and 1935, b y C ities— C on tin ued
Steam fitters
City
Rates per
hour
Stonecutters
Hours
per
week
Rates per hour
1934
1935
Atlanta, G a ___________ $1.250
Baltimore, M d_____ . . . 1.000
Birmingham, A l a . .. ........ 1.000
Boston, Mass__________
Buffalo, N . Y ______
1.200
Butte, M o n t...
. . . 1. 700
Charleston, S. C . ______ 1.000
Charleston, W. V a______ 1.100
Charlotte, N . C________ 1. 000
Chicago, 111____________ 1.375
Cincinnati, Ohio...... ......... 1.200
Cleveland, Ohio________ 1.250
Columbus, Ohio _______ 1.000
Dallas, T ex____________ 1.000
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Rock Island, 111., disriet.)
Dayton, Ohio_________
1.200
Denver, Colo. . . .
1.000
Des Moines, I o w a . .. ___ 1. 250
Detroit, M ich__________ 1.250
Duluth, M in n .. ______ 1.200
El Paso, Tex___________ 1.250
Erie, Pa ______________ 1.000
Grand Rapids, M ic h ___ .900
Houston, Tex ______ . 1.000
Indianapolis, Ind. _____ 1.125
Jacksonville, F l a ______ 1.000
Kansas City, M o______
1.250
Little Rock, Ark_______ 1.000
Los Angeles, Calif______ 1.250
Louisville, K y _________ 1.125
Madison, W is _____
1.050
Manchester, N . H . . .
1.000
Memphis, Tenn____
1.250
Milwaukee, W is________ 1.200
Minneapolis, M inn_____ 1.000
Moline, 111. ( See Rock
Island, 111., district.)
Nashville, Tenn____ . . . 1.250
Newark, N . J ___
1.500
New Haven, C o n n ... . 1.063
N ew Orleans, L a . . _____ 1.050
N ew York, N . Y _______ 1.400
Norfolk, V a ........................
Omaha, Nebr ____
Oklahoma City, Okla___ 1.000
Peoria, 111______ ______
1.200
Philadelphia, Pa_______ 1.150
Pittsburgh, Pa______ . . 1.500
Portland, M a in e.. ____ 1.000
Portland, Oreg___ ____ 1.100
Providence, R. I. ___
1.000
Reading, P a . ______
1.000
Richmond, V a_________ 1.000
Rochester, N . Y _______ 1.058
fl. 125
Rock Island, 111., district- \1
.250
St. Louis, M o__________ 1.438
St. Paul, M inn___ _____ 1.200
Salt Lake City, Utah . .
1.000
San Antonio, T e x . _____ 1.000
San Francisco, C alif... . . 1.100
Scranton, Pa___________ 1.200
Seattle, W ash__________ 1.375
South Bend, Ind_______ 1.125
Spokane, W ash_________ 1.000
Springfield, M ass_______ 1.000
Toledo, Ohio___________ 1.000
Washington, D . C ______ 1.290
Wichita, K a n s.. ______
.750
Worcester, M ass________ 1.000
York, Pa____ _____ ____
.850
Youngstown, O h io ........ . 1.200
$1.250
1.100
1.000
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.200
1.700
1.000
1.100
1.100
1.375
1.200
1.250
1.200
1.000
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
1.200
1.143
1.250
1. 250
1.200
1.250
1.200
.900
1.000
1.200
1.000
1.250
1.000
1.250
1.125
1.200
1.000
1. 250
1.200
1.200
30
40
40
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
40
30
35
40
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
40
1.100
1.500
1.200
1.050
1.400
1.100
44
40
40
44
40
40
40
1.500
40
44
40 / 1.500
Vo 1- 500
40
1.000
1.200
1. 200
1.500
1.000
1.200
1.200
1.200
1. 100
1. 200
40
40
40
40
35
35
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40 } 40
40
40
40
40
40
40
35
40
40
40
40
35
35
30
30
44
40
40
35
40
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
44
44
40
40
l<*Bluestone.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.250
1.438
1.200
1.100
1.000
1.100
1. 200
1.375
1.125
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.500
1.100
1.000
.850
1.200
1934 1935
Stonemasons
Hours
per
week
1934
1935
$1.250
.750
$1.250
.750
40
40
].175
1.200
1. 176
1.200
40
40
1.000
1.000
1.250
1.125
.750
1.000
1.000
1.250
1.125
1.000
44
40
40
40
44
44
40
40
40
44
1.125
.750
1.000
1.125
.750
1.000
40
40
40
30
40
40
1.250
1.250
44
44
1.000
1.000
1.000
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
40
40
40
40
.750
.750
44
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
Rates per
hour
1934 1935 1934
1935
40 $1.125 $1.125
40 1.100 1.100
1. 000 1.000
40 1 200 1 200
40 1.250 1.250
1.625 1. 625
Hours
per
week
1934 1935
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
30
1.333
1.000
1.500
1.375
1.250
1.300
1.125
1.333
1.000
1.500
1.375
1.250
1.300
1.125
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1. 200
1.000
1.500
1.250
1.000
1 000
1.313
1. 300
1.000
1.500
1.250
1 000
1 000
1.313
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
44
1 000
1.400
1.000
1.125
1.250
1.000
1.250
1 000
1.300
1 000
1.125
1.125
1.000
1.250
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1. 300
1.375
1.000
1.250
1.300
1.375
1.000
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.500
40
40
1. 500
m 1. 500
40
40
40
40
1.100
1.688
1.200
1.000
Î. 563
1.500
1. 250
1.100
1.500
1. 200
1. 000
1.563
1.500
1.250
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
.875
1.500
1.250
.875
1.500
1.250
40
40
40
40
35
40
1.125
1.000
1.000
1.125
1.000
1.000
44
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.250
1.375
1.400
1. 260
1. 000
1. 250
1.200
1.250
1.250
1. 250
1.250
1.375
1.400
1 250
1 000
1 250
1.200
1. 250
1.250
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
40
44
40
44
1.000
1.000
40
40
1.000
1.250
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.250
1.000
1. 000;
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
44
1.250
1.100
1.000
1.250
1.500
1.000
1. 500
1.250
1. 250
1.375
1.250
1.500
1.250
1.100
1.000
1.250
1.500
1.500
1. 500
1.250
1.250
1.375
1.250
1. 500
40
40
40
40
30
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
1.300
1.000
1.250
1. 300
1. 000
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
1177
U NIO N SCALES OF WAGES AND H O U RS IN B U ILD IN G TRADES
T ab le 3 .— U n ion Scales o f W ages and H ours o f Labor in B u ild in g T rades, 1934
and 1935, b y C ities— C on tin ued
Structural-iron workers
(general erecting)
City
Rates per
hour
1934
Atlanta, Ga____________ $1.250
Baltimore, M d-------- - . . . 1. 375
Birmingham, A la_______ 1. 250
Boston, M a ss.................... 1. 200
Buffalo, N . Y __________
Butte, M ont___________ 1.063
Charleston, S. C ________
Charleston, W. Va--------- 1.250
Charlotte, N . C________
Chicago, 111......................... 1.350
Cincinnati, Ohio_______ 1.250
Cleveland, Ohio________ 1. 250
Columbus, Ohio------------ 1.250
Dallas, Tex....... ..................
Davenport, Iowa. (See
Rock Island, 111., dis
trict.)
1.150
Dayton, Ohio...... ..........
Denver, Colo______ ____ 1.250
Des Moines, Iow a.............
Detroit, M ich..................... 1.250
Duluth, M inn...................
El Paso, Tex........ .......... .
Erie, P a............................... 1.125
Grand Rapids, M ich-----Houston, Tex__________ 1.oop
Indianapolis, Ind----------- 1.30Ò
Jacksonville, F la .............
Kansas City, M o .............. 1.125
Little Rock, A r k .............. 1.250
Los Angeles, Calif............. 1.125
Louisville, K y--------------Madison, Wis--------------- 1.050
Manchester, N . H --------Memphis, T enn..... ...........
Milwaukee, W is________ 1. 050
Minneapolis, M inn_____ 1.250
Moline, 111. (See Rock
Island, 111., district.)
Nashville, T enn..... ...........
Newark, N . J __________ 1.750
New Haven, Conn-------- 1.375
N ew Orleans, La............... 1.250
New York, N . Y ...... ......... 1.650
Norfolk, V a .___________ 1.250
Omaha, Nebr__________
Oklahoma City, Okla___
Peoria, 111.—.......................
Philadelphia, Pa_______ 1.375
Pittsburgh, Pa................... 1.375
Portland, M ain e......... .
Portland, Oreg—............—
Providence,. R. I . . . .......... 1.250
Reading, P a..... .............. . 1.500
Richmond, P a . . . .............. 1.250
Rochester, N . Y ________ 1.200
Rock Island, 111., district.
St. Louis, M o__________ 1.470
St. Paul, M inn.................. 1.200
Salt Lake City, Utah___ 1.125
San Antonio, Tex_______
San Francisco, Calif......... 1.375
Scranton, P a ......................
Seattle, W ash.................... 1.375
South Bend, Ind.............
Spokane, Wash....... ........... 1.100
Springfield, Mass............ 1.125
Toledo, Ohio...................... 1. 250
Washington, D. C______ 1. 650
Wichita, Kans_________
Worcester, M ass------------ 1.250
York, Pa............. - ..............
Youngstown, Ohio........... 1.250
1.000
1935
$1. 250
1.375
1.250
1.200
1.215
1.250
1.250
Hours per
week
1934 1935
44
40
40
40
40
44
40
Rates per
hour
1934
1935
40 $1. 250 $1.250
40 1.375 1.375
40 1. 250 1.250
40 1.200 1.200
40
44 1.063 1.250
Hours per
week
1934 1935
44
40
40
40
44
40
1.250
i. 250
40
1.313
1.250
1.250
40
40
40
1. 350
1.250
1.250
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.150
40
40
35
40
1.150
1. 250
1.150
1.100
40
40
40
40
1.250
40
40
40
40
1. 250
1.250
40
40
1.125
40
40
1.125
1.125
40
40
1.000
1.300
1.000
1.300
40
40
40
40
1.125
1.250
1.125
1. 250
1.100
1.100
40
44
44
40
40
40
44
40
1.000
1.050
1.250
1.000
1. 125
1.250
40
40
44
40
40
44
1. 750
Ì.75Ò
40
40
1.250
1.400
1.250
1.400
44
40
44
40
1.000
1.000
1.300
1.125
1.250
1.125
40
40
40
40
44
44
40
44
1.000 1.000
1.125
1.250
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
44
1.750
1. 375
1.250
i. 650
1. 250
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
44
40
44
1.000 1.000
1.100 1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.100
1.375
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1. 375
1.375
1.125
1.250
1.750
1.100 1.100
1.050
1 .1?5
1. 375
1.375
1.125
1.250
1.500
1.500
1.200
1.000 1.000
1.470
1.200
1.125
1.000 1.000
1.100 1.100
1.250
1. 250
1.000
Tile layers
Rates per
hour
1934
1935
40 $1. 000 $1. 000
40 1.250 1.250
40 1.000 1.000
40 1.300 1.30Ó
1.188 1.188
44 1.625 1.625
1.000 1.000
40 1.333 1.333
1.000 1.000
40 1.375 1.500
40 1.000 1.000
40 1.250 1. 250
1.000 1.000
40 1.000 1.000
1.313
1.250
1. 250
1.100
1.000 1.000
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Structural-iron workers
(finishers)
Hours per
week
1934 1935
40
40
40
40
40
30
44
40
40
24
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
44
40
40
24
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.100
1. 250
1.250
1.000
1.125
1. 250
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1. 250
1.000
1.100
1.250
1.250
1.000
1.250
1.250
1.000
1.000
1. 125
1.000
1.000
1.000
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
44
35
40
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
40
1.250
1.250
40
40
1.000
1.050
1.000
1.000
1.050
1.125
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.438
1.200
1.000
1.438
1.250
1.000
1. 000
1.000
1.250
1.250
1.250
1.000
1.250
1.438
1.200
1.000
1.438
1.250
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.125
1.250
1.250
1.000
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.250
1.200
1.000
1. 250
1.000
1.000
1.125
1.000
1.250
1.250
1.250
1.125
1. 200
1.000
1. 250
1.125
1.000
1.125
1.000
1.250
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
1.000
1.375
1.000
1.300
1.000
1.375
1.000
1.300
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
40
40
1.375
1.375
1.375
1.375
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.100
1.125
1 250
1.500
1, 250
1.200
40
40
40
44
40
40
40
40
40
40
1.470
1.200
1.125
1.000
1.470
1. 200
1.125
1.000
1.125
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
30
1.250
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
1.000
1.125
1.250
1.650
1.250
1 250
1.250
1.125
1.250
1.750
30
44
40
40
40
40
30
40
40
40
40
40
1.250
1.250
40
40
1.300
1.300
40
40
40
40
1.000
1.000
40
40
40
40
1.500
1.250
1.200
1.250
1.250
SOCIAL SECURITY
Public Old-Age P ension Legislation in th e U n ited
States as o f O ctober 15, 1935
ARE of the aged through the payment of pensions had been the
subject of legislative enactments in 37 States, 2 Territories, and
the District of Columbia up to October 15, 1935. The laws are
mandatory in all of the jurisdictions with the exception of Florida,
Kentucky, Nevada, and West Virginia. Ten new laws 1were passed
during the legislative year of 1935, while in eight States (Maryland,
Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon, Washing
ton, and Wyoming) the original act was repealed and a new law
enacted and in seven other States and the Territories of Alaska
and Hawaii the existing law was amended. In many of the States,
old-age pension legislation assumed the probability of the enact
ment of a Federal social-security law, while in some States it was
provided that changes might be made in the law so as to conform to
any Federal requirements.
The question of the constitutionality of the laws has been raised in
several instances. The Legislature of Arkansas passed an old-age
pension law to take the place of the law passed in 1933, which was
declared unconstitutional by the State supreme court because of the
method used in financing the pension fund. Likewise in Missouri
efforts to provide assistance to the aged needy of the State were suc
cessful during the present year. The Legislature of Minnesota
amended the State old-age pension act, but the State attorney
general declared the legislation invalid due to the inadvertent inclu
sion of an unapproved amendment. The Florida old-age pension
law was approved on June 5, 1935, the day following the adoption of
a senate joint resolution (S. J. Res. No. 170) providing for a referendum
to amend section 3 of article 13 of the constitution of the State,
permitting the State to pay pensions to its aged, infirm, and unfor
tunate citizens. As enacted the law is optional, allowing the counties
to pay pensions if they will, until the constitutional amendment
is approved by vote of the people. The voters of Oklahoma on
September 24, 1935, voted down a proposal to amend the State
constitution (referred to the people by H. J. Res. No. 6, Acts of 1935)
to permit the payment of old-age pensions of not more than $15 per
month, but adopted an initiated petition for the payment of a pension
not to exceed $30.
To provide a ready comparison of the systems adopted in the several
States the following table has been prepared:
1Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, and
C
the District of Columbia.
1178
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P rovision s of O ld-Age P en sion Law s in th e U n ited S ta tes as o f O ctober 15, 1935
Required period of—
Type of
law
State
Age
Maximum
pension
Residence
ship
Alabama___
Arizona
65
$30 a m onthL .
[$35 a month,
/ 4 65 1 males; $45 a
____ __do_____ \ 5 60 I month, fel males.
70 $30 a m o n th ...
do
Arkansas
California __
P o l o rario
do
__do___ .
do
65
$35 a m o n th ...
65
$1 a day_____
Connecticut______ ___do_____
65
$7 per w e e k ...
65
$25 a m o n th ...
District of Colum ___do_.........
bia.
65
Florida 11 _____ - Optional.-
65
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Years
$35 a month 12.
State department of
public welfare and
county
governing
board.
Board of trustees of
Alaska
Pioneers’
Home.
One-fourth by State;
one-fourth by coun
ty; one-half by Fed
eral Government.
Territory___________
County commission
ers.
State department of
public welfare and
county public wel
fare boards.
County or city and
county boards of
supervisors.
67 percent by State;
33 percent by county.
State and county------- Acts of 1935, Act No
322.
County commission
ers.
State________ ______
(2)
25
(2)
35
Income, $300 a year__
5
Assets, $300; house up
to $2,500 excluded.
(2)
(8)
15
15
» 15
5
(2)
1
Income $360 a year___
35
1
Real property, $3,000;
personal property,
$500.
1
C)__________________
5
(2)
*5
(2)
10
1
Income, $400 a year—
Half by county, or
city and county;
half by State.
Bureau of old-age as ____do.10_____________
sistance.
State old-age welfare ____do_______________
commission.
Board of commission Congress__________ . .
ers through desig
nated agent.
State board of pen State 13.
sions and boards of
county commission
ers.
Citation
Acts of 1935, ch. 448.
Comp. Laws 1933, secs.
1781 to 1826 (as
amended 1935, ch.
47).
Acts of 1933, ch. 34.
Deering’s Gen. L. 1931,
act 5846 (as amend
ed 1933, ch. 840;
1935, ch. 633).
Acts of 1933, chs. 144
and 145 (as amended
1935, ch. 171).
Acts of 1935, p. 117.
Acts of 1931, ch. 85.
Public No. 319.
Acts of 1935, S. B. 606.
1179
See footnotes at end of table.
Years
Funds provided by—
(2)
«70 ____do. . . . . .
D fila.warp.
do
Years
County
Administered by—
SOCIAL SECURITY
Alaska___
M andatory.
State
Maximum property
limitations
1180
P rovision s o f O ld-A ge P en sion L aw s in the U n ite d S ta te s as o f O ctober 15, 1935— C on tin ued
Required period of—
H awaii.
Age
M anda
tory.
Maximum
pension
$30 a m onth...
Id ah o..
.do.
65
$25 a m onth...
Illinois.
.do.
65
$1 a day...........
Indiana.
.do.
. 70
$180 a y ea r..
Iowa___
.do.
65
$25 a m onth.
Kentucky.
Optional. .
70
$250 a yea r..
M aine........
M anda
tory.
65
$1 a day........
Residence
Citizen
ship
Years
State
County
Years
Years
Administered by-
35
Assets, $1,500.
County commission
ers and territorial
board.
10
Income, $300 a year..
(2)
H 10
Assets, $5,000...............
15
Assets, $1,000...............
(2)
15 5
Assets, $2,000 ($3,000
if married); income,
$300 a year.
Income, $400 a year;
assets, $2,500.
County probate judge
and county commis
sioners.
State department of
public welfare and
county old-age se
curity boards.
County commission
ers.
County boards under
State commission.
(2)
10
( 2)
15
M aryland.
.d o.
65
.do.
Massachusetts.
-do.
70
No lim it.
35
Michigan.
_do.
6 70 $30 a month___
10
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Maximum property
limitations
Assets, $300....................
16 5
Assets, $3,500 u.
Funds provided by-
County or city and
county; Territory to
reimburse 60 per
cent, if Federal
funds available.
County.......... ................
Rev. L. 1935, ch. 259
(as amended 1935,
series D-159, 160).
Code, 1932, secs. 30-3101
to 30-3125.
State.
Acts of 1935, p. 259.
Half by State; half by
county.
State...............................
Acts of 1933, ch. 36.
County judge...............
County.
Town and city boards
under supervision of
State department of
health and welfare.
Department of old-age
pensions and relief
and county welfare
boards.
County or city board
of public welfare.
Half by State; half by
cities, towns, and
plantations.
State welfare depart
ment and county
boards.
Citation
Spec. sess. 1934; ch. 19
(as amended 1935,
ch. 55).
Carroll’s Stats. 1930,
art. 15, ch. 34, secs.
938i—1 to 938i-7.
Acts of 1933, ch. 267.
Two-thirds by State;
one-third by county.
Acts of 1935, ch. 592.
Two-thirds by county
or city; one-third by
State.
Gen. L. 1932, eh. 118A
(as amended 1932, ch.
259; 1933, chs. 219,
285, 328; 1935, ch. 494).
Acts of 1935, no. 159.
State____ _____ _____
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
Type of
Law
Minnesota °............
_ fio
_
65 ____do...............
(18)
35
Missouri___ _____ __ do____
70
$30 a month
(couple, $45
a m onth).
(2)
35
Montana...... ........... __do_____
65
No lim it_____
(2)
165
65
$30 a month
(couple, $50
a month).
(2)
35
65
$1 a day_____
dn
Nebraska.................
Nevada__________
Optional.
15
1
1
10
70
$30 a m o n th ...
(2)
35
70
$1 a day_____
(2)
15
1
New York_______ __ d o ____
70
No lim it..........
(2)
10
1
North Dakota____ __do_.........
68
$150 a year___
(2)
20
O h io ................
65
$25 a month
(couple, $50
a m onth).
__d o ..
__
15
15
/ 4 60
Oklahoma_______ __do____ \ 5 55 j$30 a m o n th ...
(2)
16 5
70 ____do_______
(2)
16 5
Oregon I9_
- do
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
1
Assets, $3,000 ($4,000
if married); income.
$300 a year, couple
$600.
State.
County; State to re
imburse not to ex
ceed 75 percent.
Acts of 1935, ch. 170,
State............. - ...............
Acts of 1935, ch. 135.
County.
Comp. L. 1929, secs.
5109-5136; Acts of 1935,
ch. 138.
State,
5
percent;
county, 95 percent.
One-fourth by county;
t h r e e - f o u r t h s by
State.
Acts of 1935, ch. 127.
Public welfare officials, Half by city or county;
under supervision of
half by State.
State department of
social welfare.
County commission State.
ers under supervi
sion of secretary of
agriculture and la
bor.
County boards under
.do.
supervision of State
division of aid for
aged.
Commission for old- State.
age pensions and se
curity.
County relief com
mittee under State
relief committee.
Supp. 1934 to M ason’s
Stats. 1927, ch. 15 (as
amended 1935, ch.
357).
Acts of 1935, p. 308.
H a lf b y F e d e r a l
Government; onefourth by State; onefourth by county.
Acts of 1931, ch. 219 (as
amended 1932, ch.
262; 1933, ch. 149;
1935, chs. 108 and
213).
Cahill’s Consol. L.
1930, ch. 49)^, secs.
122-124p (as amend
ed 1934, ch. 815).
Acts of 1933, ch. 254.
Adopted 1933 by refer
endum vote.
Initiative Petition No.
144 adopted Sept. 24,
1935.
Acts of 1935, ch. 407.
1181
See footnotes at end of table.
Income, $150 a year__
Half by State; half by
county.
SOCIAL SEC URITY
New Hampshire— M a n d a tory.
New Jersey............. -.-d o ...........
Assets, $5,000................. County commission
ers under supervi
sion of State board
of control.
Assets, $1,500 (couple, State board of mana
gers of eleemosyna
$2,000).
ry institutions and
county old-age as
sistance boards.
County old-age pen
sion commission un
der State old-age
pension commission.
p e n s io n
Assets, $3,000;
in C o u n t y
boards under State
come, $250 a year
old-age pension com
(couple, $500 a year).
missioner.
Assets, $3,000________ S t a t e a n d c o u n t y
boards of relief, work
planning and pen
sion control.
County commission
ers.
Assets, $3,000____ ___ State division of oldage relief and county
welfare boards.
1182
P rovision s of O ld-A ge P en sion L aw s in the U n ited S ta te s as o f O ctober 15, 1935— C on tin ued
Required period of—
Type of
law
State
Age
Maximum
pension
Maximum property
limitations
Residence
Years
State
County
Years
Years
Pennsylvania____
M andatory.
70
$30 a month 20
Rhode Island____
__do-__ __
65
_ __do_______
Utah ___________ ___do_____
65
$25 a m onth. -
__do_____
65
$30 a month
(couple, $45
a month).
(2)
16 5
Washington--------- ---do_____
65
$30 a m on th.-.
(21
16 5
West Virginia------
Optional..
65
$1 a day--------
15
10
10
Wisconsin .
M andatory.
65 ------do-----------
15
15
15
W yom ing.,
------ -__do_____
Vermont_______
65
$30 a m onth.__
15
(21)
15
(2)
15
15 5
15
16 5
(22)
Assets, $5,000.
5
Income during past
year $300.
Income, $360 a year (if
married, $500); as
sets, $2,500 (if mar
ried, $4,000).23
Administered by—
Local boards under
State department of
welfare.
Local directors of pub
lic aid under State
department of pub
lic welfare.
County commission
ers.
O ld-age a ssista n c e
commission; local
officials.
Funds provided by—
State.
.do.
County-------------------State, provided Fed
eral Government re
imburses one-half.
Citation
Acts of 1933 (spec, sess.),
no. 64.
Acts of 1935, ch. 2191.
Rev. Stats. 1933, secs.
19-12-1 to 19-12-18.
Acts of 1935, no. 82.
Department of public
welfare.
County court.
State_______________
Acts of 1935, ch. 182.
County_____________
Acts of 1931, ch. 32.
Assets, $3,000.
County judge
Stats. 1931, secs. 49.2049.39 (as amended
1933, chs. 375 and
458; 1935, ch. 391).
Income, $360 a year___
County board of pub
lic welfare under
State department of
public welfare.
Payments by county;
State to refund onethird; city, town,
and village to re
fund two-thirds.
County; State to re
fund 50 percent.
Acts of 1935, ch. 101.
« The amendment of 1935 was declared invalid by the attorney general.
1 For veterans of the War between the States, $50 is the maximum.
2 Citizenship required, but no period specified.
3 Within 9 years immediately preceding.
4 Males.
5 Females.
0 Until 1940; thereafter, 65.
2 Applicant having property in excess of $2,500 must offer to assign all to pension fund, but may retain home in which he resides, valued at $2,500 or less.
FRASER
8 W ith adoption of Federal act, State residence 5 years within 9 years immediately preceding.
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
Citizenship
2 4 361 — 35 -
9 Required period of residence in United States.
10 Annual State tax of $2,100,000 imposed on the several towns of the State.
11 M ust be approved by referendum of the people. Act covers persons infirm physically, regardless of age.
12 $60 where more than 1 member of family living together come under the provisions of the act.
13 Counties are authorized to raise contributory funds.
14 W ithin 15 years immediately preceding.
15 Also domiciled for 9 years immediately preceding.
16 W ithin 10 years immediately preceding.
17 Or $1,000 in personal property, with $500 in household goods excepted.
18 Citizen of United States or resident of State for over 25 years.
19 Act becomes operative on passage of Federal law making funds for old-age assistance available to State.
20 And $15 per month for each other person in the same family entitled to assistance.
21 Citizenship required or residence in the United States for 20 years.
22 Residence required, but no period specified.
23 $1,000 in value of home excluded.
SOCIAL SECURITY
1183
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
These may not receive Federal aid until reaching the age prescribed.
1184
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
Alabam a and M assachusetts U nem ploym ent Insurance
Law s
ALABAMA and Massachusetts have recently enacted unemployment insurance laws. This makes a total of 91 States and the
District of Columbia2 which have laws on this subject.
The acts of Massachusetts and Alabama are somewhat similar
in that both are of the “ pooled” type and both require contributions
by the employer and employee. The official text of the Alabama
law was not received in time for inclusion in this article. A summary
of the Massachusetts law follows.
Massachusetts
C o v e r a g e .-—E m ployees of estab lish m en ts h av in g eig h t or m ore em ployees.
T he
a c t excludes F ed eral or S ta te em ployees, farm laborers, dom estic serv an ts, relief
w orkers, em ployees of a c h aritab le or religious o rganization, salesm en w orking
on a com m ission basis, sh are fisherm en, piecew orkers doing th e w ork in th e ir
homes, casual w orkers, a n d a n y em ployee earning $2,500 a y ear or m ore.
C o n tr ib u tio n s .— P a y ab le by every em ployer su b je c t to th e a c t, beginning
J a n u a ry 1, 1936. T h e co n trib u tio n for 1936 is 1 p erc e n t of th e to ta l p a y roll of
th e em ployer; for 1937 2 p e rcen t; a n d for each y ear th e re a fte r 3 percent.
E ach em ployee is to co n trib u te 1 p e rc e n t of his wages du rin g 1937, a n d th e re
a fte r a n am o u n t equal to one-half of th e a m o u n t co n trib u te d by his em ployer
for him . In 1941 th e com m ission m ay change th e ra te of c o n trib u tio n p aid by
th e em ployer, b u t in no case m ay it be less th a n 1 p ercen t of th e p a y roll.
B e n e f its .— P ay ab le 2 years from th e d a te on w hich th e em ployers’ co n trib u tio n s
becom e pay ab le u n d er th e act. An em ployee receives 50 p ercen t of his w eekly
wage, b u t n o t to exceed $15 n o r less th a n $5 a week. B enefits m ay be decreased
by th e com m ission if th e a m o u n t in th e acco u n t is n o t sufficient to p a y full
benefits.
D u r a t i o n o f b e n e fits .— E ach em ployee shall receive benefits in th e ra tio of 1
week of u nem plo y m en t benefits to each 4 weeks of em p lo y m en t occurring w ithin
104 weeks preceding th e close of his m o st recen t w eek of em ploym ent, b u t n o t
m ore th a n 16 weeks of benefits w ith in 52 consecutive weeks. An em ployee who
has received such m axim um benefits m ay receive ad d itio n a l benefits in th e
ratio of 1 week of benefit for each u n it of 18 weeks of em p lo y m en t for w hich he
has p aid th e req u ired em ployee c o n trib u tio n , occurring w ith in 6 years preceding
th e la st w eek of em ploym ent, a n d a g ain st w hich benefits h av e n o t alread y been
charged. A fter such ad d itio n a l benefits h av e been p aid , th e em ployee m ay
receive 1 w eek’s benefit for each u n it of 26 weeks of em p lo y m en t for w hich he
has paid th e req u ired em ployee co n trib u tio n a n d ag ain st w hich benefits have
n o t alread y been charged.
E l i g i b i l i t y .— T o be e n title d to benefits an em ployee m u st h av e h a d 90
d ay s’ em ploym en t w ith in 52 weeks preceding d a te of reg istra tio n as unem ployed
or 130 days of em plo y m en t w ith in th e 104 weeks preceding reg istratio n . H e is
required to register as u nem ployed a n d to file a claim for u n em p lo y m en t benefits.
T he em ployee m u st be available for w ork a n d u n ab le to o b tain it in his usu al
1
For the laws of New York, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin see M onthly Labor Review for M ay
1935 (p. 1195). For the law of New Hampshire, see M onthly Labor Review for July 1935 (p. 38). For the
law of California and a reference to that of North Carolina, see M onthly Labor Review for August 1935
(p. 335).
2 For the law of the District of Columbia, see M onthly Labor Review for October 1935 (p. 926).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
1185
o ccupation or one for w hich he is fitted . H e is n ot, how ever, req u ired to accep t
w ork (1) available as a resu lt of a lab o r d ispute, n o r (2) in w hich th e wages, hours,
a n d conditions of w ork are su b sta n tia lly less fav o rab le to th e em ployee th a n those
p revailing for sim ilar w ork, n o r (3) if acceptance of such em p lo y m en t w ould
com pel him to join a com pany union or lim it his rig h t to join or re ta in m em b er
ship in a bona fide lab o r o rganization. Benefits are n o t p ay ab le for u nem ploy
m en t due to a labor dispute, o r because em ployee w as com m itted to a pen al
in stitu tio n .
W a i t i n g p e r io d . — No benefits a re to be p aid u n til 4 weeks a fte r n otification
of unem ploym ent, b u t no such w aitin g period shall be req u ired m ore th a n once
during an y 12-m onth period. T h e w aitin g period is exten d ed to eig h t w eeks in
cases in w hich th e em ployee left his em p lo y m en t v o lu n ta rily w ith o u t reasonable
cause a ttrib u ta b le to his em ployer or was discharged for m isconduct.
U n e m p lo y m e n t c o m p e n s a tio n f u n d . — T he fund, consisting of all c o n trib u tio n s
a n d m oneys p aid in, shall be adm in istered in tr u s t a n d used solely to p ay benefits.
An in v estm en t b oard of th re e m em bers d irects th e in v estm en t of th e m oney
received by th e fund. An unem p lo y m en t a d m in istra tio n acco u n t is created for
adm inistering th e act, into w hich shall be p aid all F ed eral m oneys a llo tte d to th e
S ta te for a d m in istratio n of th e act.
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . — T he u n em p lo y m en t com pensation com m ission, com posed of
th ree m em bers ap p o in ted b y th e governor, ad m in isters th e a c t. T h e com m is
sion, su b ject to th e ap p ro v a l of th e governor, h as th e pow er to a d o p t a n d enforce
rules a n d regulations to c a rry o u t th e purposes of th e law. A S ta te advisory
council is also created by th e act.
C la im s . — B enefit claim s shall be filed a t th e em p lo y m en t office a t which th e
em ployee has registered as unem ployed. T h e local or b ra n c h em p lo y m en t office
official designated by th e com m ission shall determ ine th e v alid ity of th e claim
a n d th e benefits to be paid. A ny p a rty affected by such decision m ay a p p eal to
a n ap p eal b oard to be established b y th e com m ission. T h e decision of th e ap p eal
b oard m ay be review ed b y th e com m ission. In cases w here th e am o u n t in con
tro v ersy exceeds $100, an aggrieved p a rty m ay, a fte r exhau stin g all rem edies
provided by th e a c t a n d th e rules of th e com m ission, ap p eal to th e d istric t court.
E x e m p tio n s . — A ny em ployer or group of em ployers, a n d his or th e ir em ployers,
m ay be exem pted from co n trib u tio n s, if such em ployer or em ployers m a in ta in
a n u n em ploym ent com pensation p lan su b sta n tia lly sim ilar to th e p lan established
by th is act.
E f f e c tiv e d a te . — T he a c t becomes effective im m ediately, b u t no ap p o in tm e n ts
are to be m ade or co n trib u tio n s collected u n til th e F ed eral law becom es effective
or u n til 11 o u t of 21 specified S tates h av e in o p eratio n law s im posing sim ilar
b urdens on em ployers. I t is pro v id ed th a t in case th e F ed eral law is held uncon
stitu tio n a l, th e o p eration of th is law shall cease u n til th e governor officially
declares t h a t 11 of th e 21 n am ed S ta te s h av e sim ilar law s in effect. T h e S ta te
a c t was ap p ro v ed A ugust 12, 1935.
O p eratio n o f F re n ch Social-Insurance L aw in 1933
HERE were approximately 8,000,000 industrial and commercial
wage earners and 800,000 agricultural workers subject to the
insurance provisions of the French social-insurance law in 1933, accord
ing to a report1 of the French Ministry of Labor, issued in March
1935, covering the operations of the law during the years 1932 and
T
1
France. Ministère du Travail. Rapport sur l’application de la loi des assurances sociales, janvier
1932-déeembre 1933. Paris, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1186
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
1933. However, owing to the economic crises and the ambiguity of
the administrative provisions regarding unemployed persons, occa
sional workers, home workers, etc., the actual number of registered
contributors was considerably smaller. The total number of contrib
utors in 1933 was about 6,400,000 in industrial and commercial occupa
tions and 650,000 in agricultural occupations. An earlier report2
contained statistics for the period from the time the law first became
effective, July 1, 1930, to December 31, 1931, for some branches of
insurance and to the end of 1932 for others.
The contributions to the social-insurance fund paid in stamps,
checks, and cash since the law became effective have been as follows:
Francs 3
1930 (6 m o n th s)_____________________ 1, 496, 736, 174
1931 _______________________________ 3 ,5 6 2 ,4 0 1 ,3 3 8
1932
______________________________ 3, 261, 798, 160
1933 ________________________________ 3 ,2 7 1 ,2 7 6 ,8 9 5
Slightly more than 11,592,000,000 francs has been paid in to the
insurance funds, to which should be added approximately 68,000,000
francs collected directly by agricultural insurance organizations.
The organizations administering the various forms of insurance at
the end of 1933 numbered 791 primary funds, 381 agricultural mutualaid societies or agricultural sections of Department funds, and 36
reinsurance unions. These organizations have expended the amounts
shown in the following table for certain types of insurance.
T able 1 .— E xp en d itu res for V arious T yp es of Insurance in F ran ce, 1930-33
[Franc at par=3.92 cents; average exchange rate in 1933, 5.03 cents!
Year
Sickness
Francs
1930-31
1932
1933
Total
M aternity
Francs
Death
Francs
Other
Francs
Total
Francs
714, 644,616
849,013,150
935,997, 364
155,780, 335
168, 913, 355
168,142,494
7, 016,262
29, 776,861
34,132,412
662,970
10,476,755
878,104,183
1,058,180,121
1,138,272, 270
_ ____ ___________ - 2, 499, 655,130
492,836,184
70, 925, 535
11,139, 725
3, 074, 556,574
_________________
__________________
__________________
The insurance system is financed by equal contributions by the
employer and the worker, supplemented by contributions by the
State. The employees are divided annually into five wage classes
for the purpose of fixing the amount of the contributions. Accord
ing to a law of July 28, 1931, simplifying the collection of insurance
contributions for the industries, employers are required to deduct the
employee’s contribution from his pay at least once a month and to
attach stamps to cover the double contribution to the annual card
and the attached quarterly leaflets which are issued by the Depart
ment insurance office. The annual card is exchanged at the expira2 See M onthly Labor Review, September 1934 (p. 636).
3 Franc at par=3.92 cents; exchange rate in 1933, 5.03 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1187
SOCIAL SECURITY
tian of the quarter in which the insured person’s birthday occurs
and the quarterly leaflets detached and sent to the Department
office in the first 10 days of each quarter. As the leaflets are ex
changed more often than the cards, they are regarded as furnishing
a more accurate indication of the wage distribution over short periods.
The percentages of industrial and commercial workers in the different
wage classes, based on the number of leaflets and the number of cards
returned in the years 1930-31, were as follows:
T able 2 .— P ercen t o f In du strial and C om m ercial W orkers in D ifferent W age
C lasses
Percent holding—
Wage class
Leaflets
Under 2,400 francs per year (8 francs per day) _
_____ ___
_ . . _ _____
2,400 to 4,499 francs per year (8 to 14.99 francs per day)________ _____________
4,500 to 5,999 francs per year (15 to 19.99 francs per day) _____
. .
_______
6,000 to 9,599 francs per year (20 to 31.99 francs per d ay)______________________
9,600 to 15,000 or 18,000 francs per year 1 (32 to 50 or 60 francs per day) _____ _
6.12
12. 08
12. 33
33. 52
35. 95
Cards
5.80
11.42
11. 75
33. 72
37.31
1 According to population of place of residence, with an allowance for children between the ages of 6 weeks
and 16 years up to a maximum of 26,000 francs.
The average daily and yearly wages of workers in the different age
groups for whom leaflets were returned in 1930-31, the annual wages
being based on a 300-day year, were as follows:
T able 3 .— A verage D a ily and Y early W ages o f W orkers for W hom L eaflets W ere
R eturned in 1 9 30-31, b y A ge G roup
[Franc at par=3.92 cents, average exchange rate in 1931, par]
Age group
Under 15 years_______ . __
15 to 19 years_______________
20 to 24 years____
25 to 29 years_______________
30 to 34 years-.. . . . . . . . . . .
35 to 39 years________ _____
Average
daily
wages
Yearlywages
Francs
Francs
12. 43
18. 76
24.91
27. 60
27.90
27. 10
3, 729
5,628
7,473
8,280
8,370
8,130
Age group
40 to
45 to
50 to
55 to
60 to
44 years____________ 49 years_______________
54 years____ ________
____ .
59 years..
64 years... . _________
Average
daily
wages
Yearly
wages
Francs
Francs
26. 56
25. 76
24. 86
23. 68
22. 68
7,968
7,728
7,458
7,104
6,804
The above figures show that the average wage increases up to the
age group 30-34 and decreases thereafter. However, as the wages
relate only to insured persons with a maximum salary of 25,000 francs,
after which the workers pass out of the compulsory-insurance system,
they are affected to an indeterminate extent by this fact.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1188
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
T h e Italia n In s titu te of Social Insurance
various social services and insurance schemes in Italy, with
T HE
the exception of health insurance which has not yet been made a
general compulsory form of insurance, are administered by the
National Fascist Institute for Social Insurance. Measures for the
improvement of these services from the standpoint both of the
institutions themselves and of their practical administration, were
started as early as 1923. The five main branches independently
administered by the institute include compulsory insurance of in
validity and old age, compulsory unemployment insurance, compul
sory insurance against tuberculosis, compulsory maternity insurance,
and the national provident fund for seamen, while other special provi
dent funds are under the administration of the institute, including
one for employees of the rail and tramway services which are worked
under concessions by private enterprises. A recent development, as
the result of an agreement between the employers’ and workers’
organizations, has been the establishment of the national fund for
family allowances under the administration of the institute. An
account 1 of the activities of the institute is given in a recent report
published in English.
Invalidity and Old-Age Insurance
A pproxim ately 475,000 invalidity and old-age pensions have been
granted since 1922 and nearly 1,700,000,000 lire2 have been dis
bursed therefor. The pensions in force at the end of 1934 num
bered 390,000, the yearly cost amounting to 335,000,000 lire. Dur
ing the period 1922 to 1934 about 36,000,000 lire were contributed
by the institute for allowances of 300 lire each to widows and orphans
under 15 years of age of insured persons who died before having ac
quired pension rights. Approximately 60,000 new pensions are al
lowed each year.
Old-age pensions normally become payable at the end of the
sixty-fifth year, a minimum of 480 weekly contributions being
required. Invalidity pensions are payable when earning capacity
is reduced by at least one-third and after a minimum of 240 weekly
contributions have beeu made. The pension consists of a basic
amount equal to five times the annual average of the contributions
paid over the whole period of insurance, plus three-tenths of the
total payments, to which is added 100 lire per year by the State
as well as a supplement for dependent children under 18 years of
age. The maximum pension of insured persons without dependent
children after paying contributions for 50 years is 2,980 lire. In
1 Italy. Istituto Nazionale Fascista della Previdenza Sociale. Work of the National Fascist Institute
of Social Insurance. Rome, 1935.
2 Lira at par=5.26 cents; average exchange rate, 1934=8.56 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
1189
view of the low rate of contributions, the maximum being 3 lire
per week for wage earners receiving more than 10 lire per day, shared
equally by employer and employee, the pension is regarded as rela
tively substantial.
Health and Welfare Services
S e r v i c e s included in the program of the national institute for the
assistance of the workers consist of the national “ Balilla” (Youth
Movement), maternity and infant care, the national “ Dopolavoro”
(Leisure Time Society)3 and a variety of health services. In the
latter category five convalescent homes are maintained and a sixth,
which is intended for persons suffering from occupational diseases,
is in process of building.
Maternity assistance includes medical and hospital services, health
instruction, and aid in child rearing and feeding. Maternity allow
ances, according to the law of May 1929, are paid for 1 month before
and 1 month after childbirth and are given to women employed in
both large- and small-scale industry and in commercial establishments.
These allowances, which are to be raised from 150 to 300 lire by
legislation shortly to be brought into force, will include indemnity
for compulsory abstention from work which is a charge upon the
unemployment-insurance fund.
Insurance Against Tuberculosis
I t a l y has had a deplorable record as to tuberculosis, the annual
death roll prior to 1923 amounting to 60,000 persons, with about 10
times that number under treatment. In 1923 the Provincial anti
tuberculosis consortia were formed for the purpose of coordinating
antituberculosis institutions and welfare work in each Province so
that preventive and curative measures could be carried out under
one comprehensive plan. The formation of these consortia was made
compulsory in June 1927, and under decree law of October 27, 1927,
insurance against tuberculosis was introduced. This law provides
for compulsory insurance for workers from 15 to 65 years of age.
The number of insured persons is about 6,500,000, and as certain of
the benefits are extended to members of the family of insured persons,
the total coverage is about 15,000,000 persons. This extension of
assistance to the family represents one of the principal elements of
success in the fight against tuberculosis, since infection within the
family circle accounts for much of the spread of the disease. Insur
ance benefits include an allowance of 4 to 6 lire a day, according to
the scale of the insured person’s earnings, and sanatorium treatment.
Benefits are not paid unless 24 weekly contributions have been paid
in the course of the 2 preceding years.
3 See M onthly Labor Review, February 1935 (p. 266).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1190
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
In 1924 the deaths from tuberculosis numbered over 60,000, or 156
per 100,000 inhabitants. There was a progressive decrease after
1929, when the deaths numbered 50,169, to 1933, when there were
35,420 deaths, or a rate of 76 per 100,000. This amounts to a reduc
tion of over 50 percent in the death rate during a period of only 10
years.
An extensive program for the provision of sanatorium accommoda
tion and equipment which is being carried out by the institute will be
completed by 1937. The entire program will cost 600,000,000 lire,
of which 350,000,000 lire have already been expended for work now
accomplished or in progress. A total of 665,000,000 lire was spent
for the benefit of tubercular patients from January 1, 1929, to the
close of 1934, and approximately 213,000 persons received treatment.
Home treatment of tuberculosis patients has been almost entirely
abandoned as more adequate sanatorium facilities have become avail
able. During the last few years approximately 80 percent of the
patients have received sanatorium treatment and the less serious
cases have had dispensary treatment.
Unemployment Insurance and Various Relief Measures
C ompulsory unemployment insurance, established in 1919, has
been administered by the national institute since 1923. The insur
ance system covers wage earners over 15 and not more than 65 years
of age but excludes employees of the State and of the State railwaysas well as other public employees, agricultural workers, home workers,
domestic servants, and certain other classes. The public-works policy
of the Government involving various productive enterprises is de
signed to alleviate the unemployment problem. Claims for unem
ployment benefits reached their maximum in 1932 when 962,973 were
granted, the total value of the allowances amounting to 186,212,138
lire. In 1934 there were 785,000 claims granted and the value of the
allowances was 121,345,241 lire. The maximum daily allowance is
3.75 lire, and the maximum period of assistance is 120 days per year
for those who have made 72 weekly contributions in the preceding 2
years and 90 days if only 48 weekly contributions have been made.
The reserve fund of this branch of insurance has been in excess of
800,000,000 lire during the crisis years.
Among the land-settlement projects which have been designed to
relieve unemployment have been the temporary or permanent trans
fer of workers from Provinces in which there is an oversupply of
labor to those in which labor is scarce, and the reclamation and
settlement of the Pontine marshes.
The 40-hour-week agreement concluded in October 1934 between
the confederation of industrial workers and the confederation of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
1191
employers provided for the establishment of a national fund for family
allowances. Employers and employees have equal representation on
the administrative committee of the fund, which is under the man
agement of the Social Insurance Institute. The contributions amount
to 2 percent of wages for a normal working week and 10 percent for a
week exceeding 40 hours, divided equally between employers and
employees. Allowances were first paid in January 1935. The allow
ances are fixed at 4 lire per week for each dependent child under 14 if
there are two or more dependent children in the family. More than
2,100,000 workers employed by about 150,000 firms are registered
and the total annual contributions will be between 180,000,000 and
200.000,000 lire.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
Em ergency R elief, Ja n u a ry 1933 to Ju ly 1935
HE number of cases which received emergency relief in July
1935 showed a continued decline, according to monthly reports
received by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration from 48
States and the District of Columbia, such cases constituting 13 per
cent of the 1930 population, as compared with 17 percent in the
preceding January. This decrease was attributed partly to the closing
of the college student aid program and the transfer of rural rehabilita
tion cases to the jurisdiction of the Resettlement Administration.
When the influence of these factors is eliminated, the drop in cases
from June to July 1935 was found to be approximately 4 percent.
Other factors considered as contributing to the decline are seasonal
expansion in agricultural employment, better conditions in agri
culture, and greater employment in some industrial and commercial
centers.1
Table 1 gives the number of families, single persons, cases, and
individuals who received relief under all programs from January 1933
to July 1935, by months. The estimated number of persons receivingsuch relief in July 1933 was 15,282,000, while for July 1934 the number
is reported as 17,268,283 and in July 1935, 16,128,163.
1
Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Summary of Emergency Relief Statistics, July 1935. Wash
ington, 1935. (Mimeographed.)
1192
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EM PLOYM ENT C O N D ITIO N S— UNEM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
1193
T able 1 .— N um ber o f F am ilies and P ersons R eceiv in g E m ergen cy R e lie f in
C on tin en tal U n ited S tates
Number of resident families and persons receiving relief
Year and month
Families
1933
Single
persons
Transients
Percent (midmonth
Total families
of
total
single Total persons popula census)
1 and
persons
tion 2
January_______________ ____
February. ___________ ____
------------------March
April -----------------------M ay --------- ------------June ---- - ----------------July________________________
A ugust -------- ---- --------Septem ber-. -. -------- --October--------- November ____________
December L -----
33,850,000
34,140,000
34, 560, 000
4, 475,322
4, 252,443
3,789,026
3,451,874
3,351,810
2,984,975
3,010,516
3,365,114
2, 631,020
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
3455,000
3412,000
3403,000
3436, 000
461,315
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
3,906,874
3, 763,810
3, 387,975
3,446, 516
3,826, 429
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
315, 282,000
315,077,000
313, 338,000
313,618,000
15,080,465
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)12
12
11
11
12
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
P)
1934
January 5____________________
February s_-..................... ..........
March 5-------------------------------April
_______
______
M ay _____________ - ---------June___________ - - --------- July________________________
August--------------------------------September_______________ O ctober____ - ------------------- Novem ber. ----------- --------- December ______
_ _
2,486,274
2, 599,975
3, 070,855
3,847, 235
3,826,655
3, 781, 313
3,855,029
4,048, 539
4,074, 875
4,080,828
4, 209,023
4,455,840
456,469
532,036
563,138
590,007
620,453
561,448
542, 549
570,694
657,378
721, 860
772,385
801,141
2,942,743
3,132,011
3, 633,993
4,437, 242
4, 447,108
4, 342, 761
4, 397, 578
4, 619,233
4, 732,253
4, 802, 688
4,981,408
5, 256,981
11,086,598
11,627,415
13,494,282
16,840,389
17, 277,497
16,949, 606
17, 268, 283
18,169, 766
18, 315, 559
18,336, 713
18, 908, 681
20,023,077
9
9
11
14
14
14
14
15
15
15
15
16
P)
1935
January_____________________
February -- ---------------------March _____________________
A p r il.. --- _______ --- -- M ay________________________
June ____________ - _______
July 8_______________________
4, 615,198
4, 570,934
4,583, 264
4,467,437
4, 304, 508
4,023, 703
3, 677, 337
850,641
864, 211
883, 551
882,857
863,300
776,353
695,032
5,465,839
5, 435,145
5, 466,815
5, 350, 294
5,167,808
4,800, 056
4, 372, 369
20,655, 512
20,518,584
20, 533, 672
20, 021,106
19, 256, 580
17,939,314
16,128,163
17
17
17
16
16
15
13
297,058
300, 460
299,509
293, 676
273,824
263,668
253, 340
438,431
3,069,451
11,664,860
10
126,873
145,119
164, 244
174,138
187, 282
195,051
206,173
221, 734
235,903
266, 790
288,955
1 Beginning with October 1933, these figures include all teachers employed under the Emergency Educa
tion program.
2 Based on 1930 census of population.
3 Partially estimated.
* N ot available.
« Does not cover the Civil Works program.
. .
8 Does not include rural rehabilitation program (transferred to Resettlement Administration) and college
student aid program (not in operation).
From January 1933 to July 1935 (31 months) the obligations
incurred for emergency relief in continental United States, as indi
cated in table 2, amounted to $3,543,107,898, the totals for 1933 and
1934 being, respectively, $792,763,027 and $1,477,688,735.2
2 In some months, as noted in the table, figures did not include Civil Works program expenditures,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1194
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
T able 2 .—-Total O bligations Incurred for E m ergency R elief 1 from all P u b lic
F und s in C on tin en tal U n ited S ta tes, Janu ary 1933 to Ju ly 1935
Obligations incurred for emergency relief
Year and month
Total amount
1933
January------------------ ------------------------- -------------------February____ ________________ __________________
March__________ __________ _______________________
April_________________________________ ______ ____
M ay_____________________ . . . ____ . ___________
.
...
..
---------- . . . . ----------- __
June__
July_______________________________________________
August---------- . . . . ___ ____________ . . . _____ ___
September------------------ ----------------------------------- ----- .
October_____ ____ _
. .. ____ ______________ _____
N ovem ber2. . . . ___________________________________
December 2 ____ ___ _______________ ______________
Total, 1933________________ __________________
$60, 827,1G1
67, 375, 423
81, 205, 631
73,010,801
70,806, 338
66, 339, 207
60,155,874
61, 470, 496
59, 346, 33S
64,888,913
70, 810, 514
56, 526,331
Federal
funds
State
funds
Local
funds
Percent
Percent
Percent
51.3
59.1
63.2
62. 1
68.9
64.1
62.3
64.7
61. 1
62. 3
56.2
49. 1
14.6
8.8
6. 4
11. 2
7. 1
12. 2
12.6
14. 2
18. 7
15.7
23.9
30.9
34.1
32.1
30.4
26.7
24.0
23.8
25. 1
21.1
20.2
22.0
19.9
20.0
792, 763,027
60.6
14.3
25. 1
1934
January 2____ _______ .. ____ .... _ . . . . _ _____
February2. . . . ___ _____ _____ _____________ . . .
March 2__ . . . .
_
. . ................................ .......
April____________
______ _ . . . _________ ____
M a y 3____ .
. . ..
.....
______. . . . . .
June 3_____________
. .
. . . . . ______________
J u ly 3 ___ . . . . . .
____ ...
_____ . . .
A ugust3_____
. . .... . ________ _______________
September3_____ . . . ______________ ______________
October*..
. . _______ ______________________ ____
Nove mbe r 3.
. . ... ... . .
... ..
____ ..
December 3____________ _____ _____________________
53, 880, 834
57, 668, 213
69, 812, 828
113, 307,086
128,108,046
125,277, 896
130, 809, 509
149,131,875
141,738,851
156, 388, 263
172,094, 351
179,470,983
53.9
45.9
46. 6
72.6
74.4
73. 4
72.6
75.6
76. 6
77.9
77.7
77.3
28.4
36.7
35.7
15. 1
9.9
9.4
9. 7
8.1
8.0
8. 7
9.7
9.0
17.7
17.4
17.7
12.3
15. 7
17. 2
17. 7
16.3
15.4
13.4
12.6
13. 7
Total, 1934 3___________________________________
1, 477, 688, 735
72.3
12.5
15.2
1935
January. --------------- -----------------------------------------------February____ _________________________________ ___
March___________________ . . . . ______________ ____
April— . . _______________ ____ __________ . ___
M a v _______ . . . __________________________________
June----- -------------- ------ ------- ------------------------------ ..
July 4______________________________________________
196,842,115
180, 528, 222
188,458, 790
188, 230,107
188,481, 315
169, 331,728
160, 783,859
77.3
78.4
77.7
75.6
76.5
76.9
73.7
9.7
9. 2
9.7
12.6
10.6
10.5
12.7
13.0
12.4
12. 6
11.8
12.9
12. 6
13.6
3, 543, 107,898
71.2
12.3
16.5
Grand total (31 months)_________ ___________
1 Includes obligations incurred for relief under general relief program, all special programs, and for ad
ministration; beginning April 1634 also includes purchases of materials, supplies and equipment, rentals
of equipment (such as team and truck hire), earnings of nonrelief persons employed, and other expenses
incident to work program.
2 Does not include Civil Works program expenditures.
3 Break-down partially estimated.
4 Break-down partially estimated. Does not include rural rehabilitation program expenditures (pro
gram transferred to Resettlement Administration) nor college student aid expenditures (program not in
operation).
Job Acceptance by Persons on R elief
H E n um ber of clearly unjustified refusals of jobs by persons on
relief is exceedingly sm all, according to the findings of studies
recently m ade by the F ederal Em ergency Relief A dm inistration in five
localities—A lleghany C ounty, Va., B altim ore, H am m onton, N. J.,
M em phis, an d W ashington, D . C.
In a sta te m e n t giving th e results of the B altim ore inquiry, the
F ederal E m ergency Relief A dm inistrator declared: “ T he factual
stu d y of all the alleged refusals debunks th e claim th a t there is wide
spread preference for relief instead of jobs.”
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EM PLOYM ENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
1195
Some of the findings of these various surveys of the Federal Emer
gency Relief Administration, based on various research bulletins and
press releases from that agency, are given below.1
Alleghany County, Va.—Unwillingness to work is very seldom the
reason for relief clients refusing jobs. Only 32 persons were found
against whom definite charges of job refusals had been made. Of
these 32 cases only 2 could be plainly classified as unjustifiable refusals
of work. Three persons were not on relief when the work opportunity
was offered. In the other cases the circumstances connected with
the refusal apparently indicated that in general it was these rather
than unwillingness to work which accounted for the failure to accept
the offered employment.
Baltimore, Md.—Inquiry by the Federal Emergency Relief Admin
istration into allegations that many clients on relief rolls had been
refusing job offers revealed that of 195 persons accused of having
turned down offers of employment in March and April only 4 were
obvious cases of unjustified refusal. Three of these persons had
ignored calls they had undoubtedly received, and a fourth, having
disregarded a call, declared that he was through with work.
In attempting to discover all genuine complaints of reported rejec
tions of jobs recourse was had to all available sources such as regis
tration and complaint files of the public employment office, the local
relief administration’s central file and district office records, and the
case worker concerned. A special field worker called at the residence
of the individual alleged to have refused the job, and many personal
interviews were held by supervisors of the investigation. Related
data from the social service department and records of hospitals and
physicians were consulted, as were also many leading personnel men
and employment agencies in the city. Interested private citizens
were requested to cooperate.
Hammonton, N. J.—The report of a special investigator of the
Federal Emergency Relief Administration refutes assertions that
families on relief in the Hammonton, N. J., area preferred the “dole”
to berry picking. It states that no case is known of an adult relief
client in that locality refusing to accept a job.
Memphis, Tenn — Of more than 11,000 workers on relief, 39 who
were reported as having refused to accept employment were located
by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Investigation
i United States. Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Division of Research, Statistics, and Finance.
Research Section. Research Bulletins D-12, report of the study of alleged job refusals by relief clients,
Baltimore, M d., Washington, June 13, 1935; D-14, report of the study of alleged job refusals by relief
clients in Washington, D . C., August 6, 1935; D-15, alleged refusal by relief clients to accept jobs offered,
Alleghany County, Va., Washington, D. C., August 6, 1935; D-16, alleged refusal by relief clients to
accept jobs offered in Memphis, Tenn., Washington, D . C„ August 14,1935. Press releases: June 17, 1935,
No. 1217; July 11, 1935, No. 1227; August 10, 1935, No. 1241; August 12, 1935, No. 1242; August 20, 1935,
No. 1245.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1196
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
revealed that only 2 of these 39 gave no reasonable explanation for
such refusal.
Among the 39 cases there were 11 domestic servants. Placement
procedure for clients in this class is so unorganized that it is next to
impossible to check adequately allegations and rumors as to the
refusal of jobs. Notwithstanding the complete lack of domestic
service standards, there was apparently, except in one case, a real
willingness on the part of this class of workers on relief to take any
kind of employment for almost any remuneration so that they would
have some kind of support besides that from the relief office.
Of the remaining 28 persons only one had unjustifiably refused
employment. Thirteen were either not employable when the job
call came or because of certain circumstances could not undertake
the work at that particular time. Another group of 8 persons did
not get the call or could not successfully contact the employer. In
4 cases all the facts regarding job refusals could not be secured, but
the evidence available apparently favored the clients. Two other
persons were not on the relief rolls at the time work was offered
them.
In the judgment of the investigators, the clients apparently have
a real desire “ to get another job call”, “get off relief”, and be selfsupporting once again.
Washington, D. C.—The results of a survey indicate that the sweep
ing criticism of relief clients for refusing to accept work opportunities
is unwarranted.
Of the 220 persons alleged to have refused employment, 75 were
not on the relief rolls, 70 others were either employed or were tem
porarily or permanently unemployable, 53 did not receive the job
calls in time or did not get the jobs when they responded, 12 refused
the offers of employment for extenuating reasons, and 6 cases involved
conflicting reports or defective records. The 4 cases which remained
were plainly unjustified refusals of work and were taken off the
relief rolls.
D espite the publicity given to the allegations th a t clients on relief
will n o t accept w ork in dom estic service, only three persons who
could be definitely classified in th a t occupation were found am ong
the alleged job refusal cases reported for this study. E ach of these
persons tu rn ed down the em ploym ent offer under extenuating cir
cum stances.
T h e accom panying tab u latio n presents in some detail the various
reasons for refusing jobs as rep o rted in th e surveys in Alleghany
C ounty, Va., B altim ore, M em phis, and W ashington, D . C.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EM PLOYM ENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
1197
R eason s for A lleged R efu sals o f Jobs b y P ersons on R e lie f in Specified M on th s
in 4 L ocalities, 1935
Number of alleged refusals of jobs
Reasons for alleged refusal
Alle
ghany
County,
Va.
(April,
M ay,
and June)
M em
phis,
Tenn.
(April
and
M ay) 2
Wash
ington,
D . C.
(April
and
May)
65
Never on relief or not on relief at time of job call—. . -------------Not seeking work, unemployable, disabled, or handicapped:
Employed when job call came—..................................... - .........
Leaving city for farm....................... ...........................................
Temporarily unemployable— ................. ..................... - ........
Permanently unem ployable......................— ...........................
Partial disability or handicapped for job offered-------------Failure to contact employer successfully or to secure or hold
job:
Error in issuing call----------------------------------------------------Error in employer’s report------------------------------------------Delay in delivering call-----------------------------------------------D id not receive call----------------------------------------------------Out of town when call came.......................- .........- ...................
Job filled when client called---------------------------- ------------Unable to contact em ployer.......................................................
Reported at job site, but not assigned to work................... .
Rejected because of being a relief c lie n t.................................
Responded to call, but did not secure job...............................
Error in answering call........ ........................................................
Rejected for job after try-ou t.--------- ---------------- ---------- Discharged as unsatisfactory after day’s work-------- ------ Discharged as incompetent worker........................ .................
Failure to accept job due to attendant or extenuating circum
stances:
, ,
Unable to maintain separate home for children under
medical care------------------------------------------------ ------ —
Children at home------------------------ ------------------------------Dependents at home needing care............................................
Sickness at home------- ------------ ----------------------------- -----Sole caretaker for invalid at home----------------------- -----Contagious disease at employer’s . . ------- -----------------------Misunderstood nature of work-relief instructions or pro
cedure........... ....................... - ------ ----------------- ------ -------Lacked tools or necessary equipment. . ..................................
Lacked transportation for out-of-town job— .......................
Unable to accept out-of-town job.............................................
Unable to accept job when offered...... ....................................
Inadequate w ages...................- ............ - .....................................
Unwilling to accept substandard w ages.................................
Declined full-time job for subsistence-------------- - ................
Excessively long hours..........................- .........- ..........................
Work too hard________________________ ______________
Declined job on advice of case worker-------------------- -----Union relations involved----------------- --------------------------Labor trouble------ --------- ------------------------------------------Violation of N . R. A. code------------------------------------------Work believed to be in violation of law ------------------------Charge of unfair treatment under investigation................ .
Failure to reach share-cropping agreement-...........................
Special conditions in pulpwood industry...............................
Facts regarding alleged refusals uncertain................................—
Unjustified refusals......................................................... - ..................
22
3 16
32
Total.
B alti
more,
M d.
(March
and
April) 1
164
28
220
1 Does not include 31 domestic servants.
2 Does not include 11 domestic servants.
2 According to clients’ report.
Domestic Servants
I n B a l t i m o r e and Memphis special studies were made of the cases
of domestic servants who were alleged to have refused jobs while on
relief. The Baltimore investigation includes 31 of these persons, all
of whom were females, there being 23 colored and 8 whites. Approxi
mately 90 percent were under 40 years of age. One in 10 had never
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1198
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
been to school, and not one had been graduated from high school.
There were 13 married women among them. Of the remaining 18,
6 were single, 6 widowed, 2 deserted, and 4 unmarried mothers.
The following statements of the reasons for refusing jobs in Balti
more and the more detailed analysis of the eight refusals due primarily
to the low wages offered are presented because they disclose condi
tions in the domestic service field which involve problems of employability, “ live-in” abuses, and inadequate wages.
R e a s o n s f o r r e f u s in g j o b s
U nable to p rovide tra n sp o rta tio n for out-of-tow n jo b s____ ____
Failed to secure jobs for w hich th e y re p o rte d (evidently n o t
acceptab le to e m p lo y er)_________________________________
U nable to leave hom e for out-of-tow n jo b ___________________
N eeded a t hom e to care for sickness_________________________
U nable to accep t “ liv e -in ” jobs due to fam ily resp o n sib ilitie s._
U nable to leave sm all children (3 were u n m arrie d m o th e rs)__
A ccepted job, leaving a fte r first d ay because n o t as re p re se n te d .
H ad p a rt-tim e jo b p ay in g m ore th a n th e jo b offered_________
R efused jobs p rim arily because of low w ages________________
2
2
l
3
5
8
1
1
8
D e ta ile d a n a l y s i s o f e ig h t r e f u s a ls b e c a u s e o f lo w w a g e s
1. A widow w ith a 10-year-old d a u g h te r refused a job, th e n e t wage of w hich
would have been $2.60 a week.
2. A 2-day odd job a t $1.20 p er d ay was refused because it was “ overloaded
w ith w ashing.” (T he u su al wage for such w ork is $1.50 to $2 a day.)
A 17-year-old girl who recen tly h ad an op eratio n for appendicitis, who has
a serious hernia, a n d who is a n incip ien t tu b ercu lar, refused a jo b req u irin g th a t
she do th e housew ork, th e w ashing a n d ironing, a n d care for tw o children a t
$5 a week.
4. T he m o th er of th re e sm all children refused a p a rt-tim e n ig h t jo b (estim ated
to require 35 hours) p ay in g $2.50 a week.
5. An u n m arrie d m o th e r refused a full-tim e job n e ttin g $4.60 a w eek because
it w ould be insufficient to su p p o rt h e r a n d h er 4-year-old son.
6. A widow, th e m o th e r of th ree sm all children, refused a jo b p ay in g $5.60
a week, on th e ground th a t th is wage w ould n o t p e rm it h er to p rovide for care of
her children during w orking hours.
7. A recen tly deserted m o th e r of four sm all children could n o t accep t a te m
p o rary job a t $1 a day.
8. A w om an who, u nknow n to th e em plo y m en t office, was u n d er tre a tm e n t for
syphilis, refused a jo b a t $8 a week because she form erly received $25 a week.
R e lief Plan, o f Chicago S treet-C ar Employees
HE cooperative effort of the management and the street-railway
employees’ union has carried needy employees of the Chicago
Surface Lines through nearly 5 years of economic depression and
unemployment without help from other sources, according to an
account in the September 1935 issue of the American Federationist.1
T
' American Federationist, September 1935, p. 925: Union Solves Depression Problem, by John J. Woods.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYM ENT CONDITIONS— UN EM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
1199
Division No. 241, of the Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees, includes practically all the employees of
the Chicago Surface Lines and claims to be the largest local union in
the world. By the end of 1930 many of the members were feeling the
cumulative effects of economic disturbance, and the union determined
to act to prevent, if possible, any serious or wide-spread suffering
among the members.
Conferences with representatives of the management produced a
plan for a relief fund to which each employee should contribute 1
percent of his wages (later this was reduced to one-half of 1 percent).
The entire organization, “ from the president of the company down to
the office boys”, contributed. The fund is administered by a com
mittee composed of the president and the recording secretary of the
union, the superintendent of transportation, and the supervisor of
purchases and insurance of the Chicago Surface Lines. The com
mittee meets once a week to act upon requests which have previously
been investigated and reported upon. The committee serves without
pay, and the cost of administration is met by the company, so that,
as the article states: “ 100 cents of each dollar contributed goes to
those who need assistance.”
The cooperative relief plan was put into operation on December 2,
1930. Between that date and July 9, 1935, 2,150 applications had
been received and considered, relief had been granted in 1,455 cases,
and $629,287.28 had been disbursed. At first $20 a week was set as
the maximum, but this was later reduced to $18. The 1,455 cases
included all classes and grades of employees—motormen, conductors,
extra men, track workers, shop men, car cleaners, and office workers.
“ Possibly”, the report says, “ the proportion of track workers and
extra men assisted was a bit greater than the rest.”
At the time the article was written, 261 persons were on the coopera
tive relief rolls. Of these 180 are disabled and will probably never
return to work. Old age is the disabling factor in 161 of these cases—
67 are between 60 and 70 years of age, j78 between 70 and 80, 13 be
tween 80 and 85, and 3 are over 85 years of age. Fifty-seven of these
employees have been in the service of the Chicago street-car system
for more than 40 years. The extent of some of the disbursements
made under this relief plan is suggested by the following:
Number
receiving
$l,5 0 0 -$ 2 ,0 0 0 ______________________________________________
33
$2,000-$2,500____________________________________________ " 14
$2,500-$3,000______________________________________________
24
$3,000-$3,500__________________________________________
16
$3,500-$4,000____________________________________________ ~~ 7
$4,000-$4,500_______________________________________________
2
$4,500-$5,000_______________________________________________
3
2 4 3 6 1 — 35 ------------ 4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1200
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O VEM BER 1935
In cases of long illness or disability this relief fund supplements
the plan provided in the insurance contract between Division No. 241
and the Chicago Surface Lines, under which a disabled employee is
paid $20 a week for 26 weeks. If further aid is needed after 26 weeks,
the relief committee grants it.
In order to prevent the drawing of relief both from the union fund
and from other organized relief agencies, the committee notified all
public and private relief organizations in Chicago that employees of
the Chicago Surface Lines were receiving assistance through their own
organization, and requested all such agencies to refer to the committee
any requests that might be received by them from street-car employ
ees. In consequence, the joint effort of management and employees
handled all cases needing help and “ not a single member of Division
241, employed on the Chicago Surface Lines, has had to appeal to
charitjr for assistance, for food, or for lodging.”
Placing Handicapped W orkers in Chicago
HE special problem facing handicapped people in search of work
led certain Chicago social agencies to unite to help this disabled
group. In 1929 the Chicago Tuberculosis Institute, the Chicago
Heart Association, and the Jewish Social Service Bureau financially
assisted the Central Placement Bureau for Handicapped Workers,
established under the guidance of an advisory committee. A brief
account of the bureau’s activities is given in the Employment Service
News of August 1935,1 published by the United States Employment
Service.
During the greater part of its existence this agency for the handi
capped has been on an uncertain financial basis. The work required
called for further development and an enlarged staff. The advisory
committee obtained money from private individuals, from industry,
the community fund, and the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission.
Often these allocations were received at the last moment of a financial
crisis as the outcome of an intense eleventh-hour campaign by the
committee.
The bureau has now become a part of the Illinois State Employ
ment Service. Staff positions have been filled by civil-service ap
pointments, which fact gives promise of increased and improved
service for the handicapped not only for Chicago but for the whole
of Illinois.
The fact that industry will not employ handicapped people without
some inducement makes it necessary to resort to special efforts in
placement. Where a handicap is more occupational than general,
1 Placing Chicago’s Handicapped, by Janies Brush Hamlin, manager, service to the handicapped, Illinois
State Employment Service.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F
1201
an a tte m p t is m ade to direct th e applicant to an occupation w hich he
can perform . A g reat deal has been done along this line w ith the
collaboration of th e D ivision of R ehabilitation and by using the
train in g facilities of sheltered w orkshops. T hrough the cooperation
of th e Illinois E m ergency Relief Com mission and the county hospital,
a work-relief o ccu pational-therapy project has been in au g u rated a t
Goodwill In d u stries. All these various agencies have been of great
assistance, b u t during the last few years th ey have been so cram ped
financially th a t th ey cannot m eet th e dem ands m ade upon them .
As m an y placed applicants as possible have been followed up,
especially cases in which some post-placem ent service seemed advisa
ble, b u t the growing n um ber of cases has m ade any consistent follow
up plan difficult. A rrangem ents for the extension of this ac tiv ity are
un d er consideration.
C o n tracts w ith em ployers have generally been highly satisfactory.
Since J a n u a ry 1 , 1935, w ork orders have been received from 149
different firms and individuals, and th e g reat m ajo rity of these have
availed them selves of the service m ore th a n once. P lacem ents have
been m ade in professional work, th e skilled trades, dom estic service,
office work, factory work, and unskilled occupations.
T he registers include qualified applicants who can fill alm ost any
kind of a position.
The accompanying table tells the story of the first 5 years of this
agency’s activities. The expansion of these activities in 1934 was
made possible by the enlargement of the staff due to taking on several
handicapped project workers who had previous experience in place
ment work.
A c tiv ities o f C h icago’s P lacem en t Service for th e H an d icap p ed , 1 9 30-34
Type of activity
Registrations_________________________
Reregistrations_________________ ____
Number of persons dealt w ith__________
Reinterviews— _______________
Orders________________________
Refusals___________________
Placements___ ______________
Private e m p lo y m e n t........ ..................
Work relief_____ _____________
Sheltered work____________ .
C. W. A _________________
Field visits____________________
Telephone calls______________ .
Letters to employers__________ _______
1 No figures.
1934
1933
6,852
1,624
8,476
25,469
4,963
4,606
3,933
838
2,751
60
284
1,806
8,201
2,898
2,300
1,948
4,248
12,130
4,842
4,956
4,497
458
4,037
2
1,016
659
1,675
7,645
1,937
1,973
1,594
402
1,072
120
1,023
0)
(9
8, 271
1,044
1,130
741
741
(9
(9
(9
1,312
4,235
5,091
1,843
5,504
1,992
1,357
4,230
3,408
997
1,949
2,404
1932
1931
1930
984
(9
(9
8,975
759
898
584
584
Total
12,175
2 4,231
62,490
13,545
13,563
11,349
3,023
7,860
182
284
7,315
24,119
15,793
2 3 years.
T h e num erous secondary functions of th e Chicago Service for th e
H an dicapped are n o t so readily tab u lated . Several studies of com
m u n ity needs hav e been undertaken. One of these was th e outcom e
of an uncom pleted survey of th e m edical service of th e Illinois E m er
gency Relief Commission, w hich definitely indicated th a t (1) th e
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1202
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W —NOVEM BER 1935
problem of the handicapped was much greater than had been believed
and (2) the problem was by no means irremediable.
The Relief Commission examined all applicants for work relief.
Such persons were classified in the four following groups: A, physi
cally fit; B, slight limitations; C, substantial limitations, definite
handicaps; D, unemployables.
Of the first 75,336 relief clients, 48.00 percent were in group A, 32.03
percent in group B, 18.65 percent in group C, and 1.32 percent in
group D. After the Division of Handicapped Workers had reinter
viewed these people more intensively, it was found that in a large
number of cases physical rehabilitation was possible. Of the first
770 cases reviewed, 41 were in group D. It was decided that all but 8
could be readily rehabilitated into groups C, B, or A.
However, when all the data had been secured it was obvious that
45,000 employable relief clients in the Chicago metropolitan area
required specialized attention. In the course of the work it also
became clear that “ what was true of Chicago was also true elsewhere
in the State.”
A proposal to expand this service has been made in order that it
may include handicapped workers in the less important industrial
cities by delegating interviewers to such centers on a full- or part-time
basis, according to the community’s requirements.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
Labor Provisions in TradeUPractice A greem ents
HE Federal Trade Commission was authorized by Executive
order of September 26, to approve trade-practice agreements in
conformity with the National Industrial Recovery Act, and Joint
Resolution of June 14, 1935, amending it, provided the agreements
contain labor provisions putting into effect the requirements of section
7 (a) of the Recovery Act. This authority was granted with the
further requirement that such labor provisions must be approved by
the President.
The order reads:
T
B y v irtu e of an d p u rsu a n t to th e a u th o rity v ested in m e by section 2 (a) and
section 2 (b) of title I of th e N atio n al In d u stria l R ecovery A ct (48 S ta t. 195),
certain provisions of w hich title were extended u n til A pril 1, 1936, by th e Jo in t
R esolution of Ju n e 14, 1935 (Public Res. No. 26, 74th Cong.), I hereby delegate to
th e F ederal T rad e C om m ission all a u th o rity vested in me by said a c t and. resolu
tio n to approve such trad e-p ractice provisions as are p e rm itte d by clause num bered
2 of th e proviso of section 2 of said Jo in t R esolution a n d su b m itte d in v o lu n tary
agreem ents p u rs u a n t to section 4 (a) of said title of said act: P r o v id e d , T h a t such
ap proval shall n o t be given by th e F ed eral T rad e C om m ission unless such agree
m en ts contain labor provisions p u ttin g in to effect th e req u irem en ts of section 7
(a) of th e said N atio n al In d u stria l R ecovery A ct an d a fte r such lab o r provisions
have received m y approval.
Up to November 1 hearings were held by the National Recovery
Administration on the labor provisions of three such trade agreements.
The industries for which voluntary labor standards were reviewed
are the wholesale tobacco trade, candle manufacturing, and expand
ing and specialty paper products. In all three instances a 40-hour
week is proposed with exceptions for certain classes of workers.
Wages range from 25 to 40 cents an hour, and child labor is prohibited
for those under 16 in all occupations and under 18 in work that is
hazardous or unhealthful. The principle of freedom to bargain col
lectively through representatives of the employees’ choosing is written
into each agreement.
C o o rd in ato r fo r In d u stria l C ooperation
HE Office of Coordinator for Industrial Cooperation was created
by Executive order of September 26, 1935. The Coordinator’s
duties are: To supervise, subject to the approval of the President,
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1203
1204
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
conferences of representatives of employers, labor, and consumers
dealing with problems of recovery and related subjects; to coordinate
and report to the President on personnel changes and duties of em
ployees of the National Recovery Administration; and to receive
from the Federal Trade Commission the proposed labor provisions in
trade-practice agreements after they have been considered by the
National Recovery Administration, and to present those which re
quire approval as provided by Executive order of September 26,1935,'
to the President for his consideration. George L. Berry was named
for this office in the order.
P riso n In d u stries R eorg an isatio n A d m in istratio n
HE Prison Industries Reorganization Administration has been
established to study markets for prison-made goods, plan for
reorganization of prison industries, and make recommendations for
loans and grants to administer prison projects. The administration
was provided for by Executive order of September 26, 1935, under the
authority vested in the President by the Emergency Relief Appropria
tion Act of 1935, approved April 8, 1935 (Public Res. No. 11, 74tli
Cong.). The order provides for a board of five members, to be known
as a Prison Industries Reorganization Board. Duties of the Board
were outlined as follows:
T
(1)
In cooperation w ith th e p ro p er au th o ritie s of th e several S tates a n d th e
political subdivisions th ereo f a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia:
(a)
T o condu ct surveys, studies, a n d investig atio n s of th e in d u stria l o perations
a n d allied activities carried on by th e several pen al a n d correctional in s titu tio n s of
th e S tates an d political subdivisions thereof a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia, a n d th e
a c tu a l an d p o te n tia l m a rk e ts for p ro d u c ts of such in d u stria l o perations an d
activities.
(6) T o in itiate, form ulate, a n d recom m end for a p p ro v al of th e P resid en t a
program of p rojects w ith respect to replan n in g an d reorganizing th e existing prison
industries system s a n d allied prison activ ities of th e several S tates an d political
subdivisions thereo f an d th e D istric t of C olum bia to th e end th a t th e in d u stria l
operations an d activ ities of such in stitu tio n s m ay be so reorganized as to relieve
p riv a te in d u stry a n d lab o r of an y un d u e b u rd en of com petition betw een th e
p ro d u cts of p riv a te in d u stry w ith th e p ro d u cts of such in stitu tio n s; a n d to elim i
n ate idleness an d to provide a n a d e q u a te a n d h u m an e system of re h ab ilitatio n
for th e in m ates of such in stitu tio n s.
(2)
T o recom m end for th e a p p ro v al of th e P resid en t loans or g ran ts, or b o th , to
th e several S tates a n d p olitical subdivisions th ereo f a n d th e D istric t of C olum bia
necessary to accom plish th e purposes of th is order, a n d to a d m in ister a n d supervise
th e pro g ram of p ro jects ap p ro v ed b y th e P resid en t.
Members of the Board were named by Executive order of September
28 as follows: Joseph N. Ulman, chairman, Louis N. Robinson, Lintin
N. Collins, Gustav Peck, and James P. Davis,
i See preceding article.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
1205
Federal A id to H ousing A u th o rise d in 1935
B
Y MEASURES approved during the first session of the Seventyfourth Congress the amounts of public money available as an aid
to housing were increased and loan terms for securing mortgages were
further liberalized. Public Resolution No. 11 (H. J. Res. 117),
making appropriations for relief purposes, included an item of
$450,000,000 for housing. By Public No. 76 (H. R. 6021), entitled,
“An act to provide additional home-mortgage relief ”, etc., the Fed
eral Home Loan Bank Act, the Home Owners’ Loan Act, and the
National Housing Act were amended to increase borrowing power for
mortgage purposes, to lengthen the period during which loans might
be made to repair and modernize houses, and to extend the machinery
for making mortgage loans.
Act Making Appropriation for Relief
T h e Appropriation Act approved April 8, 1935, provided $450,000,000 to be used for housing, with the stipulation that the President
should allot the sum in his discretion until June 30, 1937. Shortly
after the act was approved a new division was established within the
Agricultural Adjustment Administration to take over and extend the
work in establishing subsistence homesteads and rural-industrial
communities formerly carried on by the Subsistence Homesteads
Division of the Department of the Interior and the Federal Emer
gency Relief Administration. The new office, known as the Rural
Resettlement Division of the Resettlement Administration, was placed
under the direction of the Under Secretary of Agriculture. It was
officially stated that the Division’s object would be relocating farm
families in such a way as to prevent their return to relief rolls, without
increasing the amount of productive land under cultivation.1
Up to the middle of September (1935) allotments had been made for
continuance of the work already started by Government agencies
that had dealt with rural resettlement before the new set-up came
into operation, but no statement had been made as to the amounts
to be allotted and the probable scope of the new work to be under
taken by the Rural Resettlement Division.
The Public Works Administration will also administer the expendi
ture of a share of the sum allocated to housing in pushing forward the
Government’s plan for supplying low-cost housing. Temporarily, at
least, efforts directed toward establishing slum-clearance projects
have been halted by a United States circuit court decision declaring
that the Federal Government does not have the power of condemna
tion in acquiring land within a State for such purposes, it being
declared that such land is not being acquired for Government use.
This case has, however, been appealed to the Supreme Court.
i Works Program.
Press release 2-70, June 25, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1206
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
Home Loan Bank A c t2
I n e n a c t i n g the Home Loan Bank Act in 1932 Congress set up
new machinery for financing house building and mortgage loans.
It was provided that specified organizations, including building and
loan and savings and loan associations and insurance companies,
might become lending agencies under the act if they subscribed to the
capital stock of the Home Loan Bank. To administer the act and
supervise member organizations the law specified that not less than
8 nor more than 12 districts should be established, with a home-loan
bank in each.
Since the act was originally passed it has been amended in several
respects, and the Home Owners’ Loan Act and the Federal Housing
Act have been passed to bring Government-sponsored mortgage loan
facilities within reach of more owners. The latest amendments to
the Home Loan Bank Act contained in the legislation of May 28,
1935, affect its major provisions as follows:
Loans may be made on dwellings for not more than four families
(instead of three families).
A Federal Savings and Loan Advisory. Council is created to confer
with existing officials of the loan system on general business condi
tions affecting the Federal Home Loan Banks, to request information,
and to make recommendations on pertinent matters.
If secured by a mortgage in respect of an amortized mortgage loan
for an original term of 6 years or more (instead of 8 years), an advance
may be made not to exceed 65 percent .of the unpaid principal of the
loan (formerly 60 percent) and not over 60 percent of the value of the
real estate (formerly 40 percent). For mortgages in respect of any
other home mortgage loan the rates are placed at not to exceed 50
percent of the unpaid principal (no change) and not over 40 percent
of the value of the real estate (formerly 30 percent).
An earlier amendment permitting advances up to 90 percent of the
unpaid principal if insured under the provisions of Title II of the
National Housing Act is continued.
Mortgages may be accepted that have not more than 20 years to
run (in place of 15) or do not exceed $20,000 (formerly value of
property might not exceed $20,000).
Home Owners’ Loan A c t3
T h e Home Owners’ Loan Act was approved June 13, 1933, and the
corporation established under it was given a cash appropriation and
the power to issue bonds in order that relief might be given home own2 For earlier summaries of this act see M onthly Labor Review for September 1932 (p. 551) and November
1934 (p. 1190).
3 For earlier summaries of this act see M onthly Labor Review for July 1933 (p. 92) and November 1934
(p. 1191).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIO NAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
1207
ers who were in distress because of mortgage indebtedness and wlio
were unable to secure funds elsewdiere. Under the Home Loan Bank
Act, already described, tlie Government sponsors a mortgage busi
ness on the part of loan associations meeting fixed requirements, but
by the terms of the Home Owners’ Loan Act mortgage loans have
actually been made by the Federal Government through the Home
Owners’ Loan Corporation.
As amended in 1935 the Home Owners’ Loan Act provides that:
Mortgage relief may be granted a home owner on a dwelling or
dwellings for not more than four families, used in whole or in part as
the owner’s home and having a value of not over $20,000. This
contrasts with the original stipulation that authorized a loan only on
a single dwelling housing up to four families.
The Home Owners’ Loan Corporation is authorized to issue bonds
to an aggregate of $4,750,000,000 (formerly $2,000,000,000) to pro
vide funds to meet applications for loans filed with the Corporation
previous to the enactment of the new legislation and within 30 days
after it becomes effective.
A section is added to the provision for employment of personnel in
the offices of the Corporation whereby, effective 90 days after the date
of enactment of the new legislation, no person may be employed or
retained in any office who is an officer or director of any organization
lending money on real estate. Similarly no person may be an
appraiser if he is a member of a firm holding a loan on the property
in question or has an interest in the loan.
A total of $400,000,000 (formerly $300,000,000) out of the proceeds
that are derived from bonds issued by the Corporation may be used
in making cash advances for necessary maintenance and repairs
and rehabilitating, modernizing, or enlarging real estate on which
mortgages are made.
Authorization is given the Corporation to buy, up to a total of
$300,000,000, Federal Home Loan Bank securities of specially enumer
ated classes and also full-paid-income shares of Federal savings and
loan associations after the funds made available to the Secretary of
the Treasury for such purchase are exhausted. The terms of pur
chase are the same as for the Secretary of the Treasury and the amounts
bought may not exceed the total amount of shares previously author
ized to be held by the Treasury. The Corporation may also buy
shares in member institutions of the Federal Home Loan Bank whose
accounts are insured under the National Housing Act.
For encouragement and promotion of local thrift and home-financ
ing institutions an appropriation of $700,000 is made (formerly
$500,000).
The Home Owners’ Loan Corporation published a statement on
September 1, 1935, showing that loans to a total of $2,721,594,248
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1208
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
had been made on 901,340 mortgages, and repair work had been un
dertaken to a total cost of $57,000,000 on 326,000 homes throughout
the country in connection with the program to keep properties on
which loans had been made in good condition.4
National Housing Act5
W h e n the National Housing Act was approved on June 27, 1934,
the Federal Government undertook two new measures to aid home
owners. It was provided that through the Housing Administration
loans for repair and modernization of houses made by private lending
agencies would be insured by the Government up to 20 percent of
the amount loaned by any one institution, thus removing the require
ments for security being given by the borrower and reducing the costs
of placing loans to both the lender and the person seeking financial
assistance. The Housing Administration was further empowered to
develop a program for mutual mortgage insurance.
Loans for repairs, alterations, etc., were made insurable if the
amount loaned did not exceed one-fifth of the borrower’s income, if
the property was owned by him, and if there were no liens against it
and the mortgage was in good standing. The loans might run for 1 to
5 years and the financing charges were limited to fixed amounts.
Changes in the National Housing Act made by the legislation of
1935 related mainly to title IV dealing with insurance of savings and
loan accounts. The chief amendments are here summarized.
The period during which loans may remain eligible for insurance
under the National Housing Act was extended to April 1, 1936, from
January 1, 1936.
A new provision, in addition to allowing insurance of loans up to
$2,000, as originally, permits similar coverage for loans up to $50,000
required for the purpose of improving or altering apartments, hotels,
office, and other specially enumerated large buildings.
The law provides that the Corporation shall insure accounts of all
I ederal savings and loan associations and that it may insure accounts
of private loan societies such as building and loan associations, but
that if their loans are insured they must build up reserves equal to
5 percent of all insured accounts within 20 years (formerly 10 years),
and that dividends may be paid in years when losses are chargeable
to the reserve fund if the Corporation grants permission (formerlv
dividends were prohibited if there was such a loss).
The premium charge to institutions whose applications for insur
ance are approved is one-eighth of 1 percent (formerly one-fourth of 1
percent). Funds may also be raised to meet the Corporation’s losses,
provided the assessment on the account of an insured institution
4 Home Owners’ Loan Corporation. Press release, Sept. 1, 1935.
^For earlier summaries of this act see M onthly Labor Review for August 1934 (p. 369) and November
1934 (p. 1192).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NATIO NAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
1209
does not exceed one-eighth of 1 percent (formerly one-fourth of 1
percent) of its insured accounts and creditor obligations and the sums
so paid shall be credited against future premiums.
National mortgage associations (which the Administrator of the
Housing Act is empowered to establish) with capital stock of a par
value of not less than $2,000,000 may be authorized to commence
business (formerly $5,000,000).
Such national mortgage associations may have outstanding at any
time notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations aggregating 12
times the value of outstanding capital stock (formerly 10 times).
Up to September 18, 1935, insured notes for loans for modernization
and repair totaled $155,088,591 and home mortgages selected for
appraisal with fees paid totaled $168,062,984. The Federal Housing
Administration estimates that of the mortgages selected for appraisal
29 percent will be rejected and the remainder will be accepted. Of
the amount accepted about 39 percent will be for new construction.6
R ecen t A c tiv ities of th e C. C. C.
Enrollment in August 1935
URING the first 9 weeks of the expansion and replacement
program of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which began on
June 15, 1935, 184,804 men were enrolled.7 On August 17, 1935, the
total enrollment in Emergency Conservation Work camps was 462,000
men, 446,000 of whom were in C. C. C. camps, 12,000 were Indians
working on Indian reservations, and 4,000 were in camps in Hawaii,
Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The total number of
men in the C. C. C. camps, by States of origin, was as follows.
D
6 Federal Housing Administration. Press release, Sept. 18, 1935.
7 Data are from Emergency Conservation Work, Office of the Director, press releases of July 19, Aug. 21,
and Sept. 13, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1210
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
A labam a_____________
A rizona_____________________
A rk an sas___________________
C alifornia___________________
C olorado___________________
C o n n ecticu t________________
D elaw are___________________
D istrict of C olum b ia________
F lo rid a_____________________
G eorgia_____________________
Id a h o ______________________
Illin o is______________________
In d ia n a _____________________
Io w a_______________________
K an sas_____________________
K e n tu c k y ___________________
L ouisiana___________________
M aine______________________
M ary la n d ___________________
M assach u setts______________
M ichigan ___________________
M in n eso ta__________________
M ississippi__________________
M issouri____________________
M o n ta n a ___________________
N eb rask a___________________
8,
2,
8,
22,
5,
5,
036
975
383
772
720
762
594
1, 941
7, 753
12, 685
3, 303
23, 718
9, 043
9, 450
8, 008
9, 131
7, 272
3, 056
4, 181
16, 740
13, 407
13, 595
9, 970
17, 363
3, 393
6, 792
N ev a d a _____________________
New H a m p sh ire ____________
New Je rse y _________________
New M exico________________
New Y o rk __________________
N o rth C aro lin a_____________
N o rth D a k o ta ______________
O hio________________________
O k lah o m a____________________
O regon_______________________
P e n n sy lv an ia_______________
R hode Is la n d _______________
S o u th C aro lin a_____________
S o u th D a k o ta ______________
T ennessee__________________
T ex as______________________
U ta h _________________________
V erm o n t______________________
V irginia______________________
W ash in g to n__________________
W est V irg in ia_________________
W isconsin__________________
W yom ing_____________________
T o ta l_________________
601
380
813
677
953
815
789
977
9,314
5,508
28, 427
2, 814
7, 473
5, 488
10, 974
19, 148
3,939
1,400
7,342
9,055
6,729
11, 047
1,294
1,
12,
3,
27,
11,
4,
17,
4 4 6 ,0 0 0
Soil Erosion-Control Work
T h e Civilian Conservation Corps is actively participating in the
national campaign against soil erosion. In 230 erosion-control camps
in 30 States, more than 46,000 jmung men were engaged in erosioncontrol work in July 1935. Under the expansion program of the
C. C. C., 112,000 men in 542 camps will be employed in this work,
under the direction of the Soil Conservation Service.
Many of the camps will be in the farming regions of the States of
the South and Central West, where the soil has been impoverished
through water and wind erosion. C. C. C. enrollees will build check
dams, diversion ditches, and other gully-control structures, construct
terrace outlets, reforest and reseed slopes too precipitous for safe culti
vation, etc. They will work under the direct supervision of erosioncontrol experts, and in many cases in connection with large-scale
erosion-control demonstrations. According to H. H. Bennett, chief
of the Soil Conservation Service, the “ results obtained thus far from
the millions of trees planted and the hundreds of thousands of gullycontrol structures built by C. C. C. enrollees have shown conclusively
th a t soil erosion can be curbed.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
n a t io n a l
recovery
prog ram
1211
Vocational Education
I n preparation for the opening of the fall and winter educational
activities of the C. C. C. on October 1, the United States Office of
Education has completed a manual for instructors in the C. C. C. and
a series of 15 lesson outlines on important vocational subjects. From
reports received from the 2,551 C. C. C. camps it is anticipated that a
large proportion of the men in these camps will take part in the educa
tional classes during the fall and winter, and it is thought that these
new publications “ will greatly stimulate interest in vocational train
ing in the camps and produce more adequately prepared men.”
The manual and the lesson outlines were prepared by a special
committee appointed by the United States Office of Education, and
Dr. M. Reed Bass of the Dunwoody Industrial Institute acted as
chairman thereof. The Manual for C. C. C. Instructors treats of the
responsibilities of camp advisers, methods of teaching, lesson planning,
vocational guidance, and success factors of an educational program.
The outlines of instruction cover the following: Agriculture, auto
mobile repairing, automotive electricity, carpentry, concrete construc
tion, cooking, conservation of natural resources, forestry, house wir
ing, elementary masonry and bricklaying, mechanical drawing,
photography, radio servicing, soil conservation, and plane surveying.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
D ecen tralisatio n T ren d s in F a c to ry E m ploym ent
N D U S T R Y in the U nited S tates is n o t tending tow ard m arked
decentralization, according to a recent s t u d y 1 based upon an
analysis of the Census of M anufactures retu rn s covering average
nu m b er of wage earners em ployed in given years betw een 1899 and
1933. H owever, it was concluded th a t (1) the largest cities are
becoming less im p o rta n t as m anufacturing centers th a n form erly;
(2) there has n o t been a tendency for in d u stry to spread out into
n o nindustrial areas except in the S outh A tlan tic S tates, where indus
try was always scattered and has continued to be established in
in d u strially undeveloped places; (3) n o t un til the depression years,
1932 and 1933, did the rates a t which em ploym ent decreased show
differences in m ajo r industrial regions; and (4) th e industries which
m oved o u t of th e usual in d u strial areas were those w ith relatively
high labor costs, such as in m anufacturing textiles, boots and shoes,
w hich tended to m ove where wages were lower.
I t was found th a t th e m anufacturing in d u stry is concentrated in
large p a rt in 200 in d u strial counties. T he a u th o r of the stu d y believes
it unlikely th a t offers of free power will a ttra c t factories to new loca
tions, b u t states th a t changes in tran sp o rta tio n m ay result in an
increase in im p o rta n t industrial counties from 200 to perhaps 250.
T his kind of extension would, he believes, involve fewer problem s
th a n to build up industries in ru ral localities. If the la tte r course is
tak en it will m ean a new building program , possibly m ade up of sub
sistence hom esteads, w ith the danger of establishing com pany towns
where em ployees m ight accept low wages in preference to becoming
unem ployed and thus break down wage stan d ard s w ithin the affected
in d u stry .
For the purposes of this study the Census of Manufactures figures
showing number of wage earners (average for the year) have been
I
used and the number of wage earners has been termed the number of
“ wage jobs.” Table 1 gives the percentage distribution of such wage
jobs in the United States, by types of localities, for the years 1899,
1919, 1929, 1931, and 1933.
1 University of Pennsylvania. Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Industrial Research Depart
ment. Study of Population Redistribution, Bulletin No. 3: Is Industry Decentralizing? A statistical
analysis of locational changes in manufacturing employment, 1899-1933, by Daniel B. Creamer. Phila
delphia, 1935.
1212
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1213
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
D istr ib u tio n o f W age Jobs in M an ufacturing A m ong T y p e s o f L ocalities in
U n ited S ta te s in Specified Y ears
Percent of total wage jobs
Locality
1899
Principal cities 1 ___ _____________________________________
__ ______________________ __________
Satellite cities 1
Industrial peripheries 1
__________________________
Other cities of 100,000 population 2---------- ------------------------Peripheries of other cities of 100,000 population 2------------------Important industrial counties3------- ------------------- -----------All others * ________________________________________ ____
Total
_____________ _____________ ___ ___
1919
1929
1931
1933
39.5
3.7
14.6
5.9
1.1
8.4
26.8
36.1
3.6
18.6
6.3
1.6
8.3
25.5
35.1
2.9
18.2
6.9
1.6
9.3
26.0
35.2
2.9
18.2
6.9
1.7
9.7
25.4
33.1
2.6
18.7
6.7
1.6
10.3
27.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1 In industrial areas.
2 Outside industrial areas.
2 W ithout cities of 100,000 population or over.
* Remainder of the United States.
For the purposes of this study localities have been divided into
seven classes. The first group of three includes localities within
industrial areas, principal cities being those in industrial areas with
100,000 population or over, satellite cities those near the centers, and
industrial peripheries, the surrounding territory. In the three kinds
of localities outside industrial areas there are again cities of 100,000
population, peripheries of such cities, and important industrial coun
ties, which are not in areas considered as industrial. The seventh
classification, designated “ all others”, includes localities throughout
the country which do not fall in any one of the six specially enumerated
groups. The study is concerned with decentralization, it is stated,
and interregional movement, such as the westward shift of industry
resulting in the development of an area of concentration in the
Middle West at the expense of an Eastern area of concentration,
should not be confused with changes that take place within a given
industrial area.
The figures in the table show that in the industrial areas there has
been a loss in wage jobs (average number of persons employed per
year) in the principal cities from 39.5 percent of the total in 1899 to
33.1 percent in 1933, as well as a reduction in satellite cities from 3.7
to 2.6 percent of the total in the same period, but that percentages
have increased in industrial peripheries from 14.6 to 18.7 percent of
the total. In the three types of nonindustrial areas listed where wage
jobs are important the percentages of such wage jobs have increased
in each case. In the remainder of the United States (“ all others”)
the number of wage jobs has remained practically stationary having
been 26.8 percent of the total in 1899 and 27.0 percent in 1933.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1214
M ONTHLY LAJBOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
T h e R e d istrib u tio n o f P opu latio n
PROJECT sponsored by the Social Science Research Council
for the study of population redistribution in the United States
was organized under the auspices of the Industrial Research Depart
ment of the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University
of Pennsylvania. This survey of the neglected field of internal
migration in this country was inaugurated in the hope of finding
bases for determining public policy. The investigators were to
consider what population movements might be necessary or desirable
and what action, if any, the Government should take in stimulating
or directing them.
The above outline of this project and the following report of progress
are taken from two publications embodying some of the results of the
survey.1
The occasion for this research project was the existing depression.
When millions are jobless the problem of where to go is extraordinarily
urgent. Under the stress of this situation the Federal Administra
tion initiated experiments in the transference of people and contem
plates more extensive activities along this line. These tentative efforts
furthermore “ raise questions that go far beyond the present necessities
of people now on relief, and current discussion indicates that we are
by no means sure which way population should move, even when and
if prosperity returns.” This incertitude is comparatively new.
There was not much doubt in the past that the movement West would
continue until the land was peopled.
A
Internal Migration in the United States
T h e findings of the first stu d y in the project—in tern a l m igration
in the U nited S tates—based on S tate-o f-b irth d ata, age-group
statistics, school census records, and school transfers, supply fresh
evidence th a t the influence of th e conviction th a t th e W est was the
place for m igrants has persisted even in our own tim e, as the survey
shows th a t such influence accounted for the m ajor p a rt of th e m igra
tion during the lives of th e n ativ e w hites rep o rted in the 1930 census.
The flow toward the frontier was followed by a no less decided
shift of the country folk to the city, the most striking feature of the
movement being the drawing of the rural people into the maelstrom
of a few metropolitan areas. The present prospect, however, gives no
such definite indication for the years to come. The frontier gates
are closed and for the time being the cities offer no opportunity.
1 Pennsylvania, University of. Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Industrial Research D e
partment. Study of Population Redistribution, Bulletin No. 1: Internal Migration in the United States,
by C. Warren Thornthwaite; and Bulletin No. 2: Migration and Planes of Living, 1920-34, by Carter
Goodrich, Bushrod W. Allin, and Marion Hayes. Philadelphia, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN D U STR IA L AND LABOR CO NDITIO NS
1215
B etw een 1930 an d 1933, a long-run tre n d w as reversed, a n d th ere w as a n e t
m ovem en t back to th e farm . Sone observers are convinced t h a t th is will be a
p e rm an en t direction of change, a n d a new n o te of u n c e rta in ty is in tro d u ced by
those who p red ict or ad v o cate th e d ecen tralizatio n of in d u stry a n d suggest th a t
o ccupations previously reg ard ed as u rb a n m ay in th e fu tu re be carried on in very
different sorts of com m unities. In th e face of th is bew ilderm ent, th en , we are
asked to consider w here th e A m erican people should be a n d how th e y can b est
g et there.
T h e first rep o rt on the project does n o t a tte m p t to reply to these
interrogations. To p o in t out how people have m igrated in the p ast
does n o t of itself indicate the fu tu re shifts of population. However,
the au th o rs believe th a t no one should a tte m p t to m ake predictions
on populations before undertaking a stu d y of such m ovem ents in
preceding years.
T his first volum e, therefore, deals, w ith m igrations w hich have
already tak en place in th e U nited S tates.
Because of th e inadequacies of b irth registratio n it was necessary
to reso rt to ingenious and laborious m ethods to establish evidence on
m igration from reports m ade for wholly different purposes.
E m phasis is placed on the im portance of adequate records of internal
m igration, and it is suggested th a t in fu tu re population censuses each
person be asked where he or she was living a t the date of the preceding
enum eration. N o tw ithstanding the incom pleteness of th eir m aterials,
th e investigators have shown th a t th e available d a ta can be p u t to
w orthw hile uses and th ey seem also to have dem onstrated ra th e r
unexpectedly th a t an accurate determ ination of th e differences in
h u m an fertility betw een one region and another can h ard ly be m ade
w ith o u t b e tte r evidence on m igration.
T h e findings of this initial stu d y also suggest th a t there are hazards
in endeavoring to place population w ith o u t regard to preceding
m igration currents.
T h e results of th e special analysis of the d a ta on one S ta te (Okla
hom a) show th e possibility of com paring in detail economic changes
and population shifts. According to the author, findings give the
im pression of a population m ore willing th a n m ost to m igrate in quest
of w h at it considers to be b e tte r o pportunity.
T his a ttitu d e is an advantage w hich should n o t be disregarded in
any effort to direct m igration w ith m ore intelligence, and it would be
a su b stan tial im pedim ent to any placem ent program too m uch a t
variance w ith the trends of th e undirected m ovem ent. In the judg
m en t of th e au th o r, there m ay be actual danger in attem p tin g to
place people where they will probably n o t rem ain. In the re p o rt
u n d er review it is suggested th a t a special stu d y should be m ade of
plans to stim u late m igration into regions in which the population is
decreasing, for example, counties for which the birth-residence index
2 4 3 6 1 — 35 ------------5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1216
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O V EM BER 1935
is on the decline. Such proposals may still be worth acting upon,
but before steps are taken by the planners “ they should first be sure
that conditions have definitely changed, and that they are not
merely trying to pour population up hill.”
Migration and Planes of Living, 1920 to 1934
T h e second study of the series—Migration and Planes of Living,
1920 to 1934—carries the migration story to a later date than the
first report and presents explicitly some problems that were previ
ously dealt with incidentally and impliedly. In the later publication
“ the riskier task of appraising the human service-ability of migration”
is undertaken.
The questions the investigators attempted to answer with rough
approximations were:
D id people m ove du rin g th e tw en ties to places th a t were on th e whole b e tte r
off to w ard th e end of th e decade th a n th o se w hich th e y h a d left? W ould it
ap p ear, th a t is, th a t th e ir m ov em en t enabled th e m to ta k e a d v a n ta g e of th e
o p p o rtu n ities of p ro sp erity ? A nd, on th e o th e r han d , did th e m ig ratio n s of th e
decade leave th em in ju s t th e places th a t were to prove un u su ally v u ln erab le in
tim e of depression? A corresponding p a ir of q uestions applies to th e v ery
different directions of m o v em en t since h a rd tim es set in. H as th is la tte r m ig ra
tio n carried people to localities in w hich th e y could ride o u t th e sto rm m ore
easily, an d has it or has it n o t left th e m in places in w hich th e ir p ro sp ects for th e
fu tu re ap p e a r m ore favorable?
The questions called for comparisons in economic status for both
the depression and predepression periods and also for measures of
relative planes of living toward the close of the 1920-30 decade.
It was decided that the Federal Emergency Relief Administration
reports provided the most practicable means by which the geographic
distribution of distress might be estimated.
The indicators selected for showing the plane of living were the
number of individual Federal income-tax returns, the number of
residence telephones in use on January 1, 1930, and the number of
families reporting radio sets, according to the 1930 census.
In designating the index thus derived as one of the “ plane of living”,
the authors wish to be understood as doing scarcely more than sub
stituting a less awkward phrase for “ returns-radios-telephones.”
Almost every one of the counties which had the worst relief records
and the vast majority of counties ranking next in the matter of relief
were areas from which people were migrating, and apparently with
good reason, in the prosperous twenties. If the migration at that
period was tending to reduce population in areas which were to have
the heaviest relief loads, it is significant to find that the migration
during the depression frequently brought people back to these very
regions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN D U STR IA L AND LABOR CONDITIONS
1217
W h atev er directions of m igration m ay be on th e whole advisable
in the U nited S tates, this stu d y pointed out, th ey cannot be those
indicated in the depression period.
E v en if it were believed th a t in the coming years a greater percentage
of th e people of the U nited S tates would have to be supported by
agriculture, it would still be clear th a t the land for this purpose should
n o t be of th e ch aracter to w hich such large num bers of the jobless
m ig ran ts have been com pelled to tu rn . ‘‘T here m ay possibly be a
case for a back-to-the-land m ovem ent. T here cannot conceivably
be a case for th e long-run desirability of a back-to-the-w orst-land
m ovem ent. ”
I t is tru e th a t neither a heavy percentage of relief in depression
or even a low incom e in a period of prosperity is by itself an ade
q u ate reason for counseling em igration. T he com m unity w ith
enorm ous relief rolls m ay be the one to recover m ost quickly when
business revives. Indeed, this is ra th e r to be expected if it had a
high living plane previous to the depression.
On th e o th er h an d , a com m u n ity w ith ra th e r low plane of living or of ag ricu l
tu ra l incom e, b u t w ith a n u n u su ally lig h t relief bu rd en , m ay p erh ap s claim
relativ e sta b ility as a reason w hy its p o p u latio n should rem ain. B u t if a co u n ty
or a region falls into one of th e w orst classes by b o th th e p ro sp e rity a n d th e
depression m easures, th e re is a stro n g p rim a facie case for reg ard in g it as an
area th a t should give up pop u latio n . T his presu m p tio n , to be sure, is su b je c t to
th e inadequacies an d th e possible biases in th e p a rtic u la r indexes chosen. I t is
of course open to correction for all m an n er of possible changes in econom ic con
ditions or in th e system of social organization. N or should it be accep ted as
conclusive for an y p a rtic u la r a re a w ith o u t studies m uch m ore specific th a n th o se
represented in th e p resen t bulletin.
A dditional studies in this research pro ject will cover four regions—
th e cut-over co u n try of th e G reat Lakes, the southern A ppalachians,
th e old C o tto n Belt-, and the G re at P lains—in which there are striking
concentrations of counties w ith high relief records and low living
planes.
An analysis of th e variables w hich m ost probably influence the
d istrib u tio n of economic o p p o rtu n ity will also be u ndertaken. In
th e interim , th e investigators believe th a t th e m aps presented in
the second bulletin will indicate m any of the areas w hich people
should in the course of tim e be encouraged to leave.
If we consider migration as a means to adjust the maldistribution
of population and equalize economic opportunity, it is obvious, the
authors hold, that we are far from the goal. E. F. Penrose, in his
Population Theories and Their Application, published in 1934 by the
Food Research Institute, states that “ in practice migration has
never taken place on a scale adequate to bring the distribution of
population into anything approaching a close correspondence with
the distribution of resources. ”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1218
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
MaldlsfeiWti'on of population, in the investigators’ judgment, is
one principal cause of the great regional inequalities in the United
States and also a major reason that our national man-power even in
favorable times is not more effectively employed. Undoubtedly,
therefore, immense migrations will still be necessary if we are to
utilize to the greatest advantage our human and material assets.
The problem of how fast such movements can proceed without too
much strain on the absorptive capacity of the richer area or the
migrants’ human adaptability is beyond the scope of the second
report. Whether rapid or gradual, however, migration on a huge
scale must continue to be “ one of the essential methods of adjust
ment to the changing opportunities of a dynamic society. If, then,
there is to be a greater degree of social control over the distribution
of population, its main purpose should be not to reduce human
mobility but to make use of it and to give it surer direction and
guidance.”
The third bulletin in the series of studies of population distribution
is summarized on page 1212.
U n iv ersal C om pulsory S tate Labor Service in G erm any
LAW of May 21, 1935,1 made all persons in Germany between
18 and 45 years of age liable for military service and required
a period of duty in the labor service as a prerequisite to the army
service. This was followed on June 26, 1935,2 by another law,
effective July 1, 1935, providing for a universal compulsory labor
service. The law states that labor service is an honorary service
for the German people, that such service is obligatory for all young
Germans of both sexes, and that the purpose of the service is to
educate German youth in the principles of national socialism, in
the spirit of national common interests, in the true conception of
labor, and to instill a proper respect for manual labor.
The labor service is placed under the general direction of the
State Minister of the Interior, and is under the immediate command
of the State labor leader, who determines the organization of the
service, decides on the work to be performed by it, and directs
education and training therein.
Liability for service begins on the completion of the eighteenth
year and ends on completion of the twenty-fifth year. The persons
liable are to be called for service during the calendar year in which
they complete their nineteenth year, but entrance voluntarily before
that time is permitted. If a man has been sentenced to prison for
a longer period than 30 days he is to serve an extra term, c-orrespond-
A
1 Germany, Reichsgesetzblatt, 1935, pt. I, p. 697.
2 Idem, p. 769.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
IN D U STR IA L AND LABOR CONDITIONS
1219
ing to the length of the sentence, after completion of his regular
term of service, unless he is dismissed from the service in accord
ance with the law.
Drafting will be done by the reserve service department of the
State labor service.
The law excludes from the labor service all persons (a) who have
been sentenced to hard labor; (6) who do not possess civil rights;
(c) who are subject to the measures for protection of society and
punishment of offenders provided for in the Penal Code; (d) who
have been excluded from the National Socialist Party because of
dishonorable acts; and (e) who have been punished for acts against
the interests of the State. The Minister of the Interior may make
exceptions under (a) and (e). All persons incapacitated for work
are also excluded.
Men of non-Aryan descent3 or who are married to persons of nonAryan descent cannot be admitted to the State labor service, except
that non-Aryan persons who have been found worthy of doing
military service may be admitted, but without the right to become
superior officers.
The 6-month term of duty may be postponed for 2 or even 5
years if there are valid vocational reasons therefor. The labor
service for female youth will be regulated separately.
The duties and rights of administrative officials are as follows:
The permanent personnel consists of the commissioned leaders
and clerks and their substitutes. They must consider the labor
service their professional occupation.
For promotion to the position of a troop leader, a candidate must
serve a period of 10 years in the labor service and must submit
proof of his Aryan descent; he must also have completed his service
in the army.
The leader and State chancellor (Adolph Hitler) appoints and dis
misses the staff members of the State labor service, from the rank of
labor leader upward. The other members are appointed and dis
missed by the Minister of the Interior.
Membership in the State labor service is counted from the date of
entrance to the date of release. Such membership is not considered
as being an employment contract in the sense of the labor law and
the welfare decree. Members are subject to the disciplinary regula
tions of the State labor service.
Members, even though they are members of the National Socialist
Party, may not be active in party affairs, and they may join or take
part in any other organization or start any society either within or
outside of the State labor service only with the approval by the State
* According to the order of the Minister of the Interior, published on Aug. 9, 1933, in Reichsgesetzblatt,
1933, pt. I, p. 575, non-Aryan persons are those who have non-Aryan, especially Jewish, parents or grand
parents, or whose parents or grandparents are partially non-Aryan or whose religion is the Jewish religion.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1220
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
lab o r service. F o r entrance into the N atio n al Socialist P a rty a p
proval is n o t needed.
M em bers of the S tate labor service m ay n o t m arry w ithout p er
m ission. T h ey m u st have perm ission before taking up the m anage-
ment of a business either for themselves or for other members of
their family, or before accepting any paid employment, or any guard
ianship or trusteeship.
jfe, The law provides for free medical treatment of the members in
cases of sickness. Members are to be paid according to the schedule
set by the State labor service.
The maintenance of those injured while in service and of the mem
bers of the administrative staff who resign after 10 years’ service,
shall be taken care of under the State benefit fund law for State labor
service (Reichsarbeitsdienstversorgunsgesetz).
Members who resign, and have served honorably for 10 years, may
be given the right to wear the uniform of the State labor service.
A subsequent decree issued by the leader and State chancellor on
June 27, 1935,4 provides that the compulsory labor service shall be
for 6 months and that during the succeeding service year, i. e., from
October 1, 1935, to September 30, 1936, the total enrollment in
cluding the personnel shall average 200,000 men.
An order of the Minister of the Interior, dated June 27, 1935,4 per
mits voluntary enlistment in the State labor service at the age of 17
and calls upon persons domiciled abroad who are liable for duty to
register at police headquarters in Berlin.
A p p o rtio n m e n t o f T im e o f a F arm H and in th e Soviet
U n io n (U. S. S. R .)
O U T 20 p ercent of th e entire tim e of a farm h an d on a Soviet
collective farm during the year is spent in productive labor
for the farm, 6.5 percent in productive labor for his own house
hold, and about 2 percent in outside employment, the remainder of
his time being devoted to his personal needs and desires. This was
shown by an investigation by the section of accountancy of labor of
the Central Office of the People’s Economic Accountancy of the
expenditure of time by a farm hand (kolkhoznik) in the Soviet Union
in 1934.5
The investigation covered 1,400 farm-hand households in 9 areas and
districts of the Soviet Union. The average membership of a family
was 5.11 persons, including 1.79 persons under 12 years of age.
Each family had for its own use an average of 0.29 acre of cultivated
land, 0.70 cow, 0.43 calf, 1.22 goats, sheep, and pigs, and 5.75 fowl.
4 M onthly Labor Review for October 1932, p. 772.
* Soviet Union (U. S. S. R .). State Planning Commission and Central Office of the People’s Economic
Accountancy. Plan (a monthly), No. 15, 1935, pp. 36-39.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1221
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
The following table shows the proportionate expenditure of time by
an average wage earner on the Soviet collective farm (kolJchozniJc),
during the year 1934:
P ro p o rtio n a te E x p en d itu re of T im e by a W age E a rn e r on th e Soviet C ollective
F a rm , 1934
Percent of total
Time spent on—
First
quarter
Second
quarter
Third
quarter
Fourth
quarter
Productive labor for kolkhoz................ .........................
Productive labor for own household_____ _________
Outside employment.........................................................
Transportation and communication______________
Care of fam ily.....................................................................
Education___________ ____ __________________. . . .
Personal care.......................................................... .............
Rest, including sleep at nigh t____________________
Recreation-............................................... .............. ............
Other things.........................................................................
11.5
6.3
1.8
3.4
12.1
5.0
8.1
44.5
4.6
2.7
22.5
7.9
1.5
3.6
10.4
3.5
9.1
36.4
3.3
1.8
28.0
6.5
1.6
3.7
9.2
2.2
8.8
36.2
3.0
.8
15.7
5.9
1.8
10.1
5.0
8.4
43.2
3.8
2.8
19.5
6.5
1.7
3.5
10.7
3.9
8.6
40.0
3.8
1.8
T otal...........................................................................
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
3.3
Entire
year
The longest proportionate time spent in productive labor for the
kolkhoz occurred in the third quarter of the year, during the har
vesting.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Labor Policies of th e T ennessee V alley A u th o r ity
HE adoption of a general policy to be followed by the Tennessee
Valley Authority in its relations with its employees was announced
by the Authority on August 28, 1935. The provisions were formu
lated after long discussion with employees and their representatives.
Among the labor organizations represented in these discussions were
the American Federation of Labor and the unions of machinists,
boilermakers, electrical workers, blacksmiths, and sheet-metal
workers and all of the building-trades unions. Conditions of employ
ment and dismissal, wage rates, hours of labor, employee representa
tion, settlement of disputes, and safety and health of employees are
covered by the new policy. These conditions will apply to all of the
17,000 employees of the T. V. A.
T
Employer'Employee Relationship
Employee representation.—The right of employees of the Authority
to be represented by persons or organizations of their own choosing
is expressly recognized. The Administration pledges that in the
exercise of this right the employees shall “ be free from any and all
restraint, interference, or coercion on the part of the management
and supervisory staff”, and that there shall be no discrimination
because of membership or nonmembership in any organization.
Employee representatives are to be chosen by “ the majority of the
employees as a whole, or of any professional group, or craft, or other
appropriate unit.” Any dispute as to who are the “ duly authorized
representatives” is to be considered by the labor relations staff of
the T. V. A. personnel division. Upon written agreement by the
parties, the division may conduct an election and designate the
persons entitled to participate. In case of failure of the division to
adjust the matter, it may turn the case over to the National Labor
Relations Board for settlement.
Proposed changes in rules.—No changes in rules defining labor
standards or conditions of employment may be made without at
least 30 days’ written notice nor until the employees’ representatives
have had opportunity to confer with representatives of the manage
ment.
1222
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
1223
Disputes.—Cases of disagreement between an employee and the
management, growing out of grievances or the interpretation or appli
cation of the regulations covering labor standards and other employ
ment conditions, are to be handled “ through established supervisory
channels, up to and including the designated chief supervisory officer
concerned. ” If the employee fails to obtain prompt and satisfactory
adjustment he may appeal to the central office of the personnel
division.
Employee-management cooperation.—The development of employeemanagement cooperation through joint conferences is expected.
The Authority’s governing board announces that when the other
features of the labor policy have been put into practice the board will
then entertain plans for establishing such joint conferences. It is
suggested that the following matters might be considered in con
ference: Elimination of waste in construction and production;
conservation of materials, supplies, and energy; improvement in
quality of workmanship and services; promotion of education and
training; correction of conditions making for grievances and misun
derstandings; encouragement of courtesy in the relations of employees
with the public; safeguarding of health; prevention of hazards to life
and property; betterment of employment conditions; and strength
ening of the morale of the service.
Hours of Work
F or all classes of employees the regular daily hours of work are not
to exceed 8 in any 24-hour period. They are to be so arranged as to
provide at least 1 day’s rest in every 7, such day to be Sunday, if
possible. Schedules of hours are to be posted so as to be available to
employees.
Hourly rated employees may be required to work in 1, 2, 3, or 4
shifts, as the work requires.
During periods of marked unemployment, hours of work are to be
kept as low as is consistent with efficiency in production and reason
able minimum income.
Overtime.—As a matter of good management and efficiency, the
supervisory staff is expected to make every effort to keep overtime at a
minimum. Warning is given that excessive amounts of overtime
will be regarded as “ indicative of inefficient supervision and work
manship.”
Authorized overtime and work done on the day of rest and on cer
tain specified holidays by hourly employees are to be paid for at the
rate of time and a half. All such time worked by persons employed
on an annual basis is to be added to the employees’ annual leave.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1224
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
Conditions of Appointment, Employment, and Dismissal
N o p e r s o n under 16 years of age will be em ployed.
All appointm ents, prom otions, dem otions, transfers, and dism issals
are to be m ade on th e basis of m erit and efficiency as determ ined by
intelligence, ability, skill, training, and experience, and w ithout
regard to “ political belief or affiliation.’’ N o appointm ents involving
nepotism are to be m ade.
If an em ployee w orking to th e best of his ability, “ in good s p irit” ,
is found to be unsuited to his task, an earnest effort will be m ade to
find o th er w ork for which he is suited. I t is pointed out, however,
th a t “ em ploym ent in a position is n o t a vested rig h t to be retained
prim arily because of possession b u t only if q u ality of service justifies
continuance of em ploym ent.”
T h e rig h t of supervisors to term in ate th e em ploym ent of any w orker
u nder th eir supervision, for ju st cause, is recognized. T he cause of
dism issal m u st be sta te d in w riting and a copy sent to th e personnel
division an d to the em ployee (upon request). Dism issals m u st be
approved by th e personnel division. If requested by th e em ployee
w ithin 10 days of th e effective d ate of term ination, a hearing m u st be
held.
T he desirability of giving advance notice before reducing forces is
recognized.
Safety and Health
T h e Authority will endeavor to make adequate provision for the
safety and health of the employees at their places of employment.
Employees will be placed in tasks within their physical powers, as far
as these can reasonably be ascertained.
Rates of Pay
R a t e s of p ay are to be determ ined on th e basis of occupational
classification, in order to assure com parable rates for com parable
work. Schedules so set up are to be published and m ade available
to all employees.
In classifying jobs, due recognition is to be given to intelligence,
skill, training, and experience, and allocations are to be m ade on the
basis of the duties to be perform ed. A nnually ra te d positions are to
be classified w ith due regard to stan d ard s and ra te s of p ay in the F ed
eral classified service.
“ No discrim ination in occupational classification or in rates of pay
shall be m ade on th e basis of sex or race.”
L aborers and m echanics are to be paid the ra te s prevailing in the
v icinity for w ork of a sim ilar n atu re. All contracts to w hich the
Tennessee Valley A u th o rity is a p a rty and w hich require th e services
of laborers and m echanics in th e construction, repair, etc., of buildings,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
1225
dams, or other projects shall provide for the payment of prevailing
rates. Any cases of dispute as to the prevailing rate which cannot be
settled in conference by the management and the representatives of
the employees are to be referred to the Secretary of Labor, whose
decision shall be final.
Schedules of rates for all types and classes of work are to be pub
lished. They shall designate the minimum rates for both hourly and
annual employees. Provision may also be made for special rates of
pay for partially disabled persons or for intermittent service. Pay
schedules are to be open for revision not oftener than once a year.
Proposed changes are to be studied in joint conference of management
and representatives of employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Effect o f th e F req u en cy o f Meals up o n Efficiency 1
HE effect upon physical efficiency and industrial productivity
of changes in the distribution of the daily diet from the conven
tional three meals to more frequent periods is the subject of a recent
study by Dr. Howard W. Haggard and Dr. Leon A. Greenberg of
the Department of Applied Physiology in Yale University.
Various studies have been concerned with the general study of
nutrition—that is, the quantity and quality of food—but little, if
any, attention has been given to the effect upon physical efficiency of
distributing the food consumed among more meals per day. Although
the American custom is to eat three meals a day—and this practice
is accepted without question, even though the nutritional needs of
the aged and the young, the active and the inactive, are widely
different—in different countries widely different practices prevail
which also appear natural and comfortable to those accustomed to
them. The authors state that it is probable that different practices
are best for different conditions—that is, for children, for working
adults, and for the sedentary aged—and it is the problem of science,
therefore, to determine the underlying principle of the best meal-time
interval for different conditions. The practice of eating the day’s
supply of food in three installments, it is stated, does not seem to be
based on any physiological reason, but rather to have grown out of
the factory movement in which a long and intensive working day
provided for one interval only during the day for a meal. It has been
generally assumed that the lowered output in industrial operations in
the latter part of the morning and of the afternoon is the result of
fatigue, but the author’s researches tend to show that the rise and fall
of muscular efficiency and industrial output is correlated with the
frequency of meals.
The terms “ work” and “ rest”, the authors state, are usually
understood as quite opposite conditions, although in reality they are
not opposite but the same condition, varying only in degree. As long
as the body is alive it is never at rest, and even in the most extreme
relaxation the muscles are active and the vital functions of all the
1 Haggard, Howard W ., M . D ., and Greenberg, Leon A., Ph. D .
Haven, Yale University Press, 1935.
1226
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
D iet and Physical Efficiency. New
H EALTH AND IN D U STR IA L H Y G IEN E
1227
organs are carried on continuously. Even during so-called “ rest”
the muscles are performing static effort, the energy expended by the
muscles being dissipated solely as heat which is used to maintain the
body temperature during rest. In the exertion of conscious effort,
however, this energy is spent in part as heat and in part on the external
work. The energy expended in these forms as well as in static effort
can be measured, the most convenient measurement being the rate at
which oxygen is consumed in the chemical reactions occurring during
the liberation of energy. In physiological studies the heat unit or
calory is used as the unit of measurement and in this study the large
calory.(expressed by the symbol C)—that is, 1,000 times the energy
required to raise 1 cubic centimeter of water (1 gram) through 1° C.
is used. The rate of energy expenditure during rest in bed and free
dom from disturbing influences, including the digestion of food, is
approximately 40 calories per square meter of body surface per hour.
Thus, a man of average size under these conditions expends approxi
mately 80 calories per hour and while sitting at rest approximately 100
calories. When performing an occupation such as typewriting the
energy expenditure is about 140 calories per hour, in walking at a
moderate pace about 200 calories, and in occupations such as carpentry
or painting about 250 calories, so that even while working the resting
rate—that is, the energy required for maintaining the functions of the
body'—still accounts for an important part of the total energy ex
pended. In more strenuous occupations, such as wood sawing or
digging, the energy expenditure may rise to 500 to 660 calories, while
in the most violent exertion that can be sustained even for a few
minutes the rate may rise to 40 times that expended during rest.
In calculating net efficiency for this study the energy expended
during rest was subtracted from the total energy expenditure.
Although this involves a slight error due to the fact that the energy
expended in basic bodily activity increases during exercise, it is con
sidered that it is a more satisfactory index of muscular activity than
is the gross activity, which is found by dividing the heat equivalent
of the external work by the total energy expended in performing the
task. The gross efficiencies, because the value of the resting state is
retained, tend to increase with an increasing burden of work while the
net efficiency tends to decrease.
An experiment carried out with a young man aged 25 eating 3 meals
a day showed that his muscular efficiency was lowest before breakfast
and highest 1 hour after breakfast. His efficiency rose from 19.5
percent before breakfast to 27.0 percent in V/2 hours. Thereafter
there was a steady decline each hour to 21.2 percent at 12 o clock.
After the noonday meal his efficiency rose to 26.0 percent at 1 o’clock
and to 26.3 percent at 2 o’clock, after which there was a progressive
decline to 20.8 percent at 6 o’clock, which was close to the before
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1228
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
breakfast level. The energy expenditure, which was 1.43 calories per
minute before breakfast, rose to 1.60 calories 1 hour after breakfast, or
an increase of 10.7 percent.
Factory Study Showing Effect of Frequency of Meals
F or th e p u rp ose o f m ea su rin g th e en er g y ex p en d ed in w ork , la b o ra
to r y ex p er im en ts w ere carried o u t w ith b o th tra in ed a n d u n tra in ed
su b je c ts an d a s tu d y w a s m a d e o f v a r ia tio n in p ro d u ctio n a m o n g
fa c to r y em p lo y ee s in a large in d u stria l p la n t m a n u fa c tu rin g ru b b er
fo o tw ea r.
In the latter experiment the operation selected for study was the
sewing together of the canvas parts of the tops of tennis shoes. In
this operation, in which there were practically no mechanical delays,
the operators were guaranteed a minimum hourly wage regardless of
production plus a production bonus which was based on production
studies made on experienced and highly skilled operators. This
operation was selected as representing, as nearly as possible, a true
measure of the actual effort of the individual operator. Nine of the
total number of workers selected for study ordinarily ate 2 meals a
day, 16 ate 3 meals a day, and 7 ate 5 meals. Those in the first group
had a mean hourly production of 172 shoes, in the second group a
production of 183, and in the third group a production of 191. As the
skill of the operators in each group affected the production and as the
numbers involved were not large enough to average out the variation
in skill, 40 operators were divided into two equal groups, one serving
as the control group and the other as the experimental group. The
groups were studied over a period of 10 weeks. The control group ate
the customary 3 meals a day and their average hourly output was
determined both daily and in 2-week periods. The other group ate
three meals a day for the first 2 weeks, 5 meals a day for the second 2
weeks, and after that 3 meals, 5 meals, and 3 meals for each 2-week
period. The extra meals, consisting of a glass of milk and a 6-ounce
piece of angel-food cake, were given the operators at the beginning of
the third hour in the morning and in the afternoon periods. The pro
duction (number of shoes sewed) is shown for the two groups in 2-week
periods in the table following.
The average mean hourly output of the 20 operators used as the
control group, as shown in the table, shows only slight variation
in the successive 2-week periods. The lowest mean output in any
one day in the 10-week period was 174, and the highest, 189, represent
ing deviations from the average of 5.4 percent and 2.2 percent,
respectively. In the experimental group the average mean hourly
production in the 3 periods in which they ate 3 meals per day was
175, 176, and 176. The lowest mean output for any single day within
these periods was 169 and the highest 179, or a deviation from the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1229
H EALTH AND IN D U STR IA L H Y G IEN E
average of 4.1 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively. The mean
hourly production by these same operators during the two 2-week
periods when eating 5 meals a day was 192 and 194, with a minimum
daily output of 188 and a maximum of 196. Thus the lowest output
during the time the 5 meals were given was considerably in excess of
the highest when only 3 meals were eaten. The average increase of
production when 5 instead of 3 meals were eaten was 9.7 percent.
Although the output of this group when 3 meals were eaten indicates
that the group was considerably less skilled than the control group,
as their rate of production was 4.4 percent less, nevertheless when
eating 5 meals a day their production rate rose 5.9 percent above that
of the control group. From this showing the authors conclude “ that
the pattern of productivity, as influenced by the number of meals
taken, bears directly upon the rate of production.” While the daily
productivity was considered unquestionably to be increased by the
extra meals and the operators voluntarily stated that they felt less
tired on those days than when they ate their customary 3 meals,
there was no evidence that this possible freedom from fatigue carried
over into the following week.
P ro d u ctio n of O perators W orking on C anvas Shoes an d E a tin g 3 an d 5 M eals a
D ay , by 2-week P erio d s over a P eriod of 10 W eeks
Mean hourly production (shoes) on each day
for period of 2 weeks
6
7
8
9
Aver
age of
2
weeks
10
174
180
179
180
180
184
186
182
183
181
187
189
187
188
188
186
187
187
189
189
188
187
181
186
186
183
184
183
184
184
172
188
173
189
168
178
189
176
196
173
178
196
178
197
177
176
196
178
195
176
177
195
179
194
173
175
192
176
194
176
Group and period covered
1
2
3
4
5
Control group of 20 operators eating S meals a day
First ppriori
__ ______________________ 179 186 184 180 183
Second period
_ ____________________ 177 184 183 179 186
Third period
_ _ ______________________ — 180 180 185 187 186
Fourth poriod
____________ - __________ 179 184 184 186 184
Fifth pp.riod
_ _ ____________________________ 181 184 187 184 183
Experimental group of 20 operators
First pp.riod, 2 meals a day_____________________
Second pp.riod, 5 meals a day_____________ _____
Third period, 2 meals a day __________________
Fourth period, S meals a day _______ ________ Fifth pp.riod, 3 meals a day_____________ ______
169
189
171
191
173
174
192
175
194
175
178
192
177
193
178
176
193
177
191
178
178
193
176
191
176
Conclusions
I t i s pointed out that it is large meals and not frequent meals which
put a burden on digestion. The lassitude and disinclination for
thought or work following large meals are the effects of the diversion
of the blood supply and vital energy to the task of digestion. These
effects do not follow small meals taken at frequent intervals. To the
objection that changing the schedule of meals from three to five or
six a day will result in the person becoming fat from eating too much
food, it is replied that the number of meals does not necessarily
increase the total amount of food eaten and that the size of the meals
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1230
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
is unconsciously curtailed as the number is increased. This fact was
shown in the factory study, as the operatives who brought their
lunches to the factory commented on the fact that they no longer
ate all they brought with them. The advantages with one exception,
it is said, are on the side of frequent feeding. The disadvantage lies
in a possibly unwise choice of food for the smaller meals, as there is a
tendency to eat such foods as sandwiches, candy, pastry, and soft
drinks, with the result that the diet becomes unbalanced. When
three meals only are taken there is ordinarily a diversity of foods
eaten at the “ regular” mealtimes, and it is necessary in adding the
supplementary meals to select foods with a view to supporting the
balance of the general diet as regards the necessary vitamins, minerals,
and proteins. For this reason warning is given against the excessive
use of candy, pastry, and soft drinks. Although milk and cake were
given to the factory workers in the experiment, the latter at the
workers’ suggestion, the authors would have preferred a salad vege
table in place of the cake and would, if possible, have substituted
soup or stew for the milk occasionally.
As a result of the investigation, the authors conclude that “ the
practice common in this country of eating the day’s supply of food in
three installments does not permit the greatest efficiency, vigor, and
freedom from distraction of which the individual is capable. Five
meals a day yield the maximum of efficiency. Study of a large group
of subjects has shown that on a regimen of 2 meals a day muscular
efficiency is above the before-breakfast level for only a little more
than 2 hours out of the entire working day. On one of 3 meals, it is
above the before-breakfast level for about 4 hours; and on one of
5 meals a day, for 7 hours.”
P h y siq u e of In d u stria l W orkers in G reat B rita in
X T E N D E D investigation of th e physique and stren g th of differ
ent groups of m en in G reat B ritain shows th a t th e unem ployed
m en were definitely below b o th the em ployed m en and a group of
u n iversity stu d en ts in height, w eight, and strength, while the students
excelled b o th when com parison was m ade on the basis of the sam e age
grouping.
E
A study 1 of the physique of women in industry which included
anthropometric data regarding 4,366 women engaged in different
occupations was published by the British Industrial Fatigue Research
Board in 1927. A similar study2 by the same organization, now called
1 See M onthly Labor Review, August 1928, p. 61.
2 Great Britain. Industrial Health Research Board. The Physique of Man in Industry, by E. P.
Cathcart and others. London, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
1231
the Industrial Health Research Board, gives the record of the physical
examination of 13,656 male volunteers aged 14 years and over, drawn
from 149 firms in 15 areas in England and Scotland. The total num
ber examined included 10,593 employed men, 1,328 unemployed men,
and 1,735 university students.
The earlier investigation, which was confined to manual workers, in
addition to securing data covering weight, height, length of arm, and
distance of finger tips from ground (standing), also included physicalstrength tests with a view to determining the actual load which could
be lifted or carried by women or young workers under industrial con
ditions without injury or discomfort. The present study, designed to
provide data on the variations in physique of employees in different
occupations in different parts of the country, was confined to the
physical measurements of the men studied, the strength of grip,
and the strength of lift or pull. In addition to manual workers a
number of nonmanual occupations—that is, persons engaged on
clerical, administrative, and executive staffs, civil servants, and
defense services—were included. For comparison a group of 1,735
undergraduates from six universities in different parts of England and
in Glasgow, Scotland, were examined, and a sample of 1,328 unem
ployed men was also collected. No one was included in this group
who had not been wholly unemployed for at least 6 months preceding
the day on which he was interviewed. The field work, which was
done by two investigators working together, covered the 3-year
period from May 1929 to May 1932.
Cooperation in the investigation on the part of the men examined
was entirely on a voluntary basis, and the attempt was made in each
firm visited to secure volunteers from as many departments as possible.
It appeared that two fears were associated with the investigation—
one, which was quite general, that the investigation was in some way
associated with “ the Army” or a potential army of the future, and
the other that if a man did not do well in the tests he might lose his
job. To a certain extent, it was thought, this might have resulted in
a process of selection, as the more physically fit might refrain from
volunteering if a fear of the Army was prevalent and the less physically
fit if there was any fear of a job being lost.
The attempt was made to follow the occupational distribution and
the age distribution of the 1921 census, but in the final result there
was a larger proportion of men under 35 years of age and a smaller
proportion over 45 years than were recorded in the census. Also
certain occupational groups such as food, drink, and tobacco workers,
clerks, draftsmen, and typists, and workers in chemical processes
were overrepresented, while there was underrepresentation in mining
and quarrying, in painting and decorating, and in personal service.
2 4 3 6 1 — 35 ------------6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1232
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
Two important industries—agriculture and fishing—were hardly
represented owing to the difficulty of securing large enough groups of
men for the tests.
General Results of the Tests
C o m p a r i s o n of the employed and the unemployed by age groups
showed that there was, relatively, an absence of the unemployed early
in working life and in the middle age groups, 24-45 years, but a heavy
excess from 55 years and upwards. Thus 15.5 percent of the unem
ployed and only 6.3 percent of the employed were over 55 years of age.
The employed group.—The maximum height of the employed men
appeared to be reached at about 20 to 21 years of age, but from age 25,
probably due to the development of a less erect carriage with advanc
ing years, there was a gradual and fairly steady decline in height.
The average height of the whole group was 66.54 inches.
Weight among this group was found to increase fairly steadily up
to about the twentieth year, after which the increase was slow but
steady until the age of 60, when it began to decline.
Manual power was measured both for the hand grip and the lumbar
pull by dynamometers, which registered the degree of force exerted.
The tests for the strength of grip showed that the strength increased
up to about 20 years of age, and was maintained until about the age
of 40, with a slow decline after that age. The left-hand grip was
found to be uniformly lower than that of the right hand.
The test for lumbar pull, which is primarily intended to test the
muscles of the thighs and back, also gives some indication of the gen
eral muscular strength, as the muscles of the shoulders and arms are
used to some extent in the test. It was found there was a steady rise
in power, presumably due to a general increase in muscularity, up
to approximately 25J4-27K years of age, when the maximum pulling
capacity seemed to be reached. After about the age of 30 there was
a slow but steady decline.
The measurement for finger-tip distance was of incidental interest,
having been made to obtain, if possible, some idea of the optimum
height for working benches, machinery, etc., with the operative stand
ing. It was estimated from the measurements obtained, after making
allowance for the downward inclination of the arms from the elbow
of about 15 to 20 degrees during work and for the height of the shoe
heels, that the optimum height of the working place for the average
man is about 38 inches.
Unemployed men.—The measurements for the unemployed group
show that the height at each age (excepting the very small 15K- to
16K-year group) was definitely below that of the employed group.
Weights among the unemployed at each age group, with the exception
of the years 14K to 16^, were uniformly below those of the employed,
and the strength tests also showed values definitely below those of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
1233
the employed. This fact raises the question as to whether these men
belong in the unemployable class or whether their reduction in strength
is a consequence of their enforced idleness. The data secured which
show evidence of the personal deficiencies indicate that the group of
unemployed from which the sample was drawn—that is, men entirely
without employment for 6 months or longer—is probably the class on
the labor market last to be employed when work is plentiful and the
first to be discharged when work is scarce.
Students.—The students were confined to a narrow age limit, the
ages ranging, with a few exceptions, between 16% and 31% years, and
comparison with the other two groups was therefore made for the
same age grouping. In height the students were very definitely
superior to the other two groups, the difference being greater between
the students and the employed group than between the employed and
the unemployed. The students were also definitely heavier at each
age at which adequate numbers were measured. There was little
difference between the students and the young employed men in the
muscular tests. A slight superiority in the lumbar pull was found
among the students up to the age of 21, after which the men in active
employment had the advantage. The unemployed men were excelled
by the students in each age group in grip and pull.
Differences According to Locality and Occupation
W h e n the groups are compared on the basis of the locality and
of the occupation, the men measured in London were found to be
distinctly superior both in height and weight. Birmingham and
Liverpool workers also were in excess of the average while the men
in Leeds, Sheffield, and Glasgow fell below the average. This varia
tion as between cities, it is considered, might be due in part to differ
ences in occupation, as in London, for example, the sample measured
included large numbers of clerical and public administrative workers
who in all localities were superior to the manual workers in height
and weight. Nearly all the workers in leather and skins were in
Glasgow; in Sheffield the great majority of the men tested were metal
workers, and in Leeds they were textile workers. The data for
Glasgow were at variance with previous studies, which had tended to
show that the Scots are taller, but this is explained by the fact that
Glasgow is no longer typically Scottish owing to alien immigration.
It is said that it is more difficult to explain the sudden emergence of
the industrial population of London as possessing the best physique
of any of the populations studied, but that it is possibly due to the
well-recognized drift of industry south and especially to the environs
of London.
Summary
T h e fo llo w in g ta b le sh o w s th e avera g e v a lu e s o f h e ig h t, w eig h t,
g rip , a n d p u ll for th e th ree grou p s exam in ed .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1234
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
A verage Values of P h y sical M easu rem en ts of G roups of E m ployed, U n em
ployed, a n d S tu d e n ts
Average measurements
Group
Employed
Unemployed __ _ __ _______ _____ _____
Students
__________ ___ ____________
Number
examined
10,593
1,328
1,735
Height
Weight
Grip
Pull
Inches
Pounds
Pounds
Pounds
66. 54
65. 63
68.62
134. 75
127.27
138. 20
108.90
94. 60
113. 30
362. 56
313.94
366.52
In conclusion it is stated that the data are not sufficient to deter
mine to what extent heavy industries attract men of superior physique
or to what extent mechanization has equalized the demand for brawn
and muscle, while it is also concluded that “ no certain index of phys
ical fitness, industrial or other, has yet been discovered.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES
A r t and th e Leisure T im e o f W orkers 1
HE development of popular art among workers in their leisure
time as a means toward the acquirement of general culture was
the subject of a study originated by the Internationa] Labor Office and
carried out by the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation
of the League of Nations. The purpose of the International Labor
Organization in taking up this question was not only to promote the
appreciation of art in its application in the homes of workers and as
an avocation for their leisure time but also to assist them in active
participation in the production of artistic objects through the develop
ment of their creative ability. The study was carried out through the
cooperation of the national commissions of intellectual cooperation and
international organizations such as trade unions, Christian unions,
the Federation of Teachers Associations, and the Association for Adult
Education.
Popular art is common to entire ethnic groups and is based upon
collective forms of economic and social life. The decadence of the
popular arts is well known, the extent of this decadence varying in the
different countries according to the conditions of life in each ethnic
group, especially the economic and social organization of such groups.
The most important causes of the decline of artistic creation among
the common people have their origin in the economic and industrial
organization of contemporary civilization, including present social
conditions and the level of modern culture, as well as the manner in
which the human mind acknowledges and accepts religious doctrines.
In addition there are other causes of a more special or accidental
character.
Contemporary civilization is characterized by its economic-indus
trial character; it tends, by every possible means, to assure men the
necessary things of life in the largest measure and at the lowest pos
sible cost. Modern production cannot escape standardization; the
machine is predominant, and it is costly to introduce even such hand
work as that of the modest artisan guided by the taste for decoration
which comes to him by instinct, by race, and by tradition. Present
T
1 Institut International de Coopération Intellectuelle. Art populaire et loisers ouvriers.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
methods of production, while they offer the undeniable advantage of
moderate prices which assure the widest possible diffusion of goods,
present certain extrinsic characteristics which are often the negation
of all originality and beauty. Thus, we see today in nearly all coun
tries the same kinds of clothing, the same kind of house-furnishings,
the same technique in construction, the same implements of labor.
Certain factors contribute to the spread of industrial production and
to contract what was, for the same class of objects, formerly the work
of the individual artisan. One of these factors is the great value the
peasant and laboring classes give today to the time element. In
order to satisfy their desires for satisfactory and healthful foods, larger
and more healthful living quarters, good clothing, and participation
in modern pleasures, all of which are relatively expensive, it is neces
sary to receive a corresponding money return, so that higher wages
are more necessary than in the past.
Workers today do not have at their command the amount of time
necessary to the practice of the arts, while the operation of machines
fatigues them and diminishes their spiritual strength more than work
involving special craftsmanship. Urban development also plays a
part in the decline of craftsmanship. Under earlier conditions, in
which racial groups were self-sufficient, more time was spent upon the
production and the embellishment of objects for their own use, while
under present conditions, when materials and products know no
barrier of country, there is not the same incentive to the development
of popular art.
Other factors affecting the course of art among the masses include
profound political movements, such as revolutions with their leveling
effects, improvement in the general cultural level, and the disassociation of religion from the myths and legends and superstitions inherited
from primitive times.
Possibility of Utilisation of Popular Art in Workers’ Leisure Time
A lthough numerous economic, social, cultural, and religious
factors have profoundly affected the course of popular art, the ma
jority of reports to the International Labor Office expressed the opinion
that with proper direction and coordination of efforts much could be
accomplished toward its revival.
The program of the International Labor Office, it is considered, can
in fact determine and hasten, if not a renaissance of popular art upon
the basis of old traditional forms, at least an evolution of this art in
keeping with the proper values of contemporary life.
At the present time, although the reports show that with the excep
tion of singing, music, and the theater there is little interest in art
among the workers in most of the industrialized countries, in a few
traditional popular art continues to play an important part in their
lives.
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In many of the reports received it was questioned whether it was
possible to renew interest in art by artificial means, although it was
generally agreed that social and educational means of stimulating this
interest might be beneficial. It appears from the replies to the inquiry
received by the Office that it is not only possible but desirable from a
social and educational point of view to develop a definite program for
leisure-time work which exercises a favorable educational interest.
However, the point was raised in many of the reports that in de
veloping a program of popular art it should be done without any idea
of financial returns, for in drawing a profit from the sale of articles
made by the workers in their leisure time the duration of labor would
be prolonged and the workers exploited.
Methods of Putting the Program in Effect
I t i s considered that national art commissions in cooperation with
national commissions of intellectual cooperation may be effective in
coordinating activities in the different countries. It would therefore
be desirable that in each country existing public and private organiza
tions interested in this subject should cooperate with the assistance
of the state in promoting this work. In certain countries where such
action has been most developed the results obtained have been con
siderable.
One of the conditions of success of such a program is the creation of a
favorable attitude toward popular art among working people. This
can be accomplished by the heads of industrial enterprises, and trade
unions and other workers’ organizations. In addition, all attempts
to promote the use of leisure time in the development of popular art
must be accompanied by action for its protection and encouragement.
Training of the workers, in the opinion of many experts, should be
first undertaken by groups. This is particularly easy in those forms
of art such as music and the theater, which offer the greatest resistance
to decline. Although the reports received did not provide many sug
gestions for the solution of the problem, it was suggested that small
museums of popular art might be set up near rural and labor centers
which would bring together the objects, costumes, household fur
nishings, etc., of the past. It would be equally desirable to list those
manifestations of popular art which are practically forgotten or
which, still living, are worth saving.
The best methods of developing a program are listed as education
through meetings, conferences, and informal talks; establishment of
workshops with the necessary tools, models, and other equipment;
and competitive meetings of various kinds.
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M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O V E M B E R 1935
Extent of Activities in Different Countries
T h e extent to which art has been stimulated by popular movements
in the different countries is shown by the separate reports. In Ger
many little has been accomplished except in the field of the theater,
music, and dancing. In Austria various organizations are promoting
singing, the theater, architecture, wood carving, designing, and paint
ing. Certain Provinces in Belgium have organized associations and
regional and local committees among which music and chorus singing
and the theater are particularly popular, while lace making, glass,
cabinetmaking, wood carving, painting, and metal working contribute
also to the preservation of popular art traditions.
Canada produces plays and concerts organized by institutes and
women’s clubs, and in Denmark folk dances are presented in the
country, while in Copenhagen embroidery classes have been organized,
and in the various villages pottery making following old designs is
popular.
Music, the theater, and dancing are activities fostered by the labor
associations in Finland, annual folk dances being organized in many
sections and a theater association subsidized by the State was or
ganized in 1920. This association, with 65 theaters, issues a monthly
review, protects the rights of authors, organizes special courses for
young actors, and assists in placing them.
In France there are numerous leisure-time organizations, par
ticularly in the metal industries, which organize musical events,
theatrical presentations, and games.
Music, singing, and dancing are popular in Great Britain, the Eng
lish Folk Dance Society having about 50 branches and 20,000 mem
bers. The British Drama League and the Village Drama Society
promote amateur theatricals throughout the country, ordinary
workers taking part in these events. In Hungary, in addition to
music, dancing, and the theater, special courses in the applied arts are
provided, particularly in the agricultural districts, and the depart
ment of commerce promotes the reproduction of old art treasures,
particularly embroidery, lace, weaving, pottery, and cooking utensils.
About 85,000 workers are engaged in such work during seasons of the
year when their farm work leaves them unoccupied. These work
shops are subsidized by the State and permanent exhibitions of the
work are maintained.
All the ministerial departments in Italy are concerned with the
promotion of popular art, ethnographic and folklore collections being
brought together and maintained by the Ministry of Education.
The National Association of Small Industries gives its support to
small industries and artisans, with the result that weaving, copying
of old textiles, jewelry, pottery making, etc., are carried out in many
industrial centers where the workers give only their leisure time to this
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work. A committee for the utilization of folklore has been created
by the Dopolavoro. More than 4,000 musical associations promote
the use of old songs and old musical instruments, there are 20,000
dramatic associations and each provincial center of Dopolavoro has
a record of the popular life of the region and more than 100,000 workers
take part in the folklore activities. Popular fetes are organized in all
villages in which the best examples of traditional art are employed.
Cultural and recreational centers are maintained in Mexico with
specially qualified teachers for music, singing, and esthetic dancing.
In Poland the popular theater organization is very active in promoting
dramatic and musical events among the working people and residents
of rural districts and gives courses designed to promote the artistic
education of the workers.
An association of Rumanian women was organized in the last half
of the nineteenth century for the purpose of preserving the national
costume, and regional committees and workshops were organized.
These have been so successful that many commercial establishments
employ country people exclusively to manufacture their merchandise.
Generally throughout Transylvania attempts have been made to
preserve literature, stories, and rustic songs, costumes, potteries,
furniture and wood carving, tapestries, and the architecture of houses.
In Sweden, thanks to the measures taken at the beginning of the
century, the traditions of the brilliant epoch of Swedish art have been
safeguarded through the organization of schools, museums, local
historical collections, and departmental organizations for the promo
tion of artistic handwork. Fairs organized by the National Museum,
which are held in different parts of the country, bring to the people
examples of the principal artistic productions in the field of music,
the theater, singing, etc. The museum also collaborates with labor
educational associations in courses designed to develop artistic work.
Many organizations in Switzerland are devoted to the development
of popular art, but, owing to the decentralization of the country and
the many activities, it is impossible to summarize them. However,
among the most important activities are rural architecture, dialectic
theater, music and popular songs, national costumes, weaving,
tapestry, embroidery, lace and crochet work, wood and copper carv
ing, and potteries. There is a movement also to preserve the old
costumes.
The artistic education of the people forms part of the general
educational system in Czechoslovakia. The Masaryk Institute of
Popular Education includes a division for artistic education, pupils
being taught glass painting, wood carving, etc., and musical educa
tion is carried to the Provinces. Other schools also carry on similar
educational work. In Yugoslavia peasant art is preserved in the
southern part of the country which is isolated from the rest of the
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O V EM BER 1935
co u n try by the m ountains. I t is m anifested in th e form of natio n al
costum es, em broideries, weaving, tap estry , wood carving, and am ong
the M oham m edans in gold and silver jewelry. T he w om en’s coopera
tives and organized workshops in m any tow ns encourage em broidery,
weaving, and ta p e stry m aking, and prom ote th eir sale.
T here is no popular indigenous a r t in the U nited S tates except th a t
of th e In d ians, b u t different in stitu tio n s, such as H ull H ouse in
C hicago, w ork for th e preservation of th e popular a rts im ported by
th e im m igrants. In m any p a rts of th e co untry leisure-tim e and
co m m u n ity organizations prom ote w ork in th e a rts and trades, and
m usic and popular dancing, while in the D ak o tas and N o rth C arolina
th eatric al groups present plays, w ritten by th e actors them selves,
w hich deal w ith life in the old com m unities of the sections. T he
M etro p o litan A rt M useum in N ew Y ork C ity organizes classes on the
su b ject “ W h a t w orkers have w rought through the ag es” .
P o rtu g uese N atio n al L eisure T im e F o u n d atio n 1
OR the promotion of the profitable use of the leisure time of
workers in Portugal the National Leisure Time Foundation
(la Fundaçâo Nacional para a Alegría no Trabalho) was established
by a decree law of June 13, 1935, and accompanying statutes.2
The foundation is intended to benefit workers (and their families)
who are registered in the national unions and the workers’ welfare
organizations (Casas do Povo). As a means of bringing about better
physical development vacation colonies, walks and excursions,
athletic games and contests, and gymnastics and physical education
are to be promoted. To raise the intellectual and moral level of the
people the plan is to provide conferences, concerts and theatrical
performances, educational films, and daily radio chats; trips to
museums, monuments, and other places of historical, intellectual, or
technical interest ; public libraries ; and general or professional cultural
courses, and music and choral singing.
The Under Secretary of State for Corporations and Social Welfare
is to supervise the activities of the foundation, but active control is
to be vested in a central commission of five members. The original
members of the commission are named in the statutes. If a vacancy
occurs the remaining members must, within 180 days, fill it with a
native of Portugal over 21 years of age. The central commission
may delegate the actual operation of the foundation to an adminis
trative commission of 3 or 5 members, who are natives of Portugal
over 21 years of age, chosen by it for 1 calendar year. The central
F
1 Data are from report by Alexander R . Magruder, American chargé d ’affaires ad interim at Lisbon,
June 19, 1935.
2 Portugal. Diaro do Governo, June 13, 1935, series I, no. 134.
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commission has the exclusive right to name technical and other assist
ants, but it may delegate this right to the administrative commission,
which is to report annually to it. The central commission may ap
prove or veto the acts of the administrative commission. The ad
ministrative commission may, on authorization by the central com
mission, select a technical commission, establish offices of the founda
tion in the various parts of the Republic, promote the organization
of autonomous local athletic, music, dramatic, and charitable bodies,
and bring about the federation of existing organizations.
The foundation is to be financed by Government appropriations,
gifts by individuals, and dues of active, sustaining, and associate
members. Active members are national unions and workers’ welfare
organizations (Casas do Povo) which are admitted to membership by
the central commission. Their monthly dues are to be based on their
local membership. Under certain circumstances national unions
which are not active members may, on approval by the central com
mission, enjoy the benefits provided by the foundation. Sustaining
members are unions, federations, and other organizations which, as
members in the foundation, pay monthly dues at least equal to the
minimum established by the central commission. Associate members
are public or private institutions, civic or commercial societies, and
natives or foreigners who contribute to the foundation monthly.
The foundation is to be dissolved when the purposes for which it
was established are attained. On dissolution, the funds remaining
after all obligations have been paid or guaranteed shall be paid to the
benevolent institutions of the active members or, if there are none,
to the State fund of public assistance.
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LABOR CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS
A c tio n of A m erican F ederation of Labor C o n v en tio n
on In te rn a l Policies
HE case for and against the organization of labor by industry
instead of by trade or craft overshadowed all other issues coming
before the fifty-fifth annual convention of the American Federation of
Labor held in Atlantic City, N. J., October 7-19, 1935, and dominated
practically all the formal proceedings and informal discussions. The
question came before the convention repeatedly in a number of guises,
first in the discussion of a group of resolutions dealing with industrial
unionism as a policy, then with others defining the kind of charter to
be granted in specific instances to newly formed organizations in massproduction industries, and finally in the election of officers. One
seat on the executive council, the governing body of the American
Federation of Labor, was contested merely as a protest against the
incumbent. The vote for the fifteenth vice presidency, however,
which was vacant, was clearly a test of strength between the craft
and the industrial unionists, the victory going to the craft group when
W. D. Mahon, president of the Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees defeated Charles P. Howard, president
of the International Typographical Union, by a vote of 17,370 to
11,692.
Minority Report on Industrial Unionism
T
D eparting from established custom, 6 of the 15 members of the
committee on resolutions presented a minority report on the industrialunionism issue, signed by 5 delegates representing international
unions (those of the printers, the ladies’ garment workers, the com
mercial telegraphers, the mine workers, and the bakers) and a sixth
representing the Iowa State Federation of Labor. This minority
report was based on the premise that “ the time has arrived when
common sense demands the organization policies of the American
Federation of Labor must be molded to meet present-day needs”,
particularly in view of the problems presented by “ the great massproduction industries and those in which the workers are composite
mechanics, specialized and engaged upon classes of work which do
not fully qualify them for craft-union membership.” While dis
avowing any intention “ to permit the taking away from national or
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international craft unions any part of their present membership or
potential membership in establishments where the dominant factor
is skilled craftsmen coming under a proper definition” of craft
jurisdiction, the signers of the minority report declared their purpose
was “ to provide for the organization of workers in mass-production
and other industries upon industrial and plant lines, regardless of
claims based upon the question of jurisdiction”, and, accordingly,
under the terms of the report the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor would have been “ expressly directed and
instructed to issue unrestricted charters to organizations formed in
accordance with the policy herein enunciated.”
After hours of debate on the floor of the convention, in which the
case of craft versus industrial unionism was argued by outstanding
leaders of the labor movement in support of the minority and of the
majority report, the policy outlined in the minority report was
defeated in a roll-call vote. The motion to adopt the minority report
received 10,933 affirmative and 18,024 negative votes. The committee
report was then adopted by a viva voce vote.
Majority Report on Industrial Unionism
T h e majority report of the committee on resolutions, presented b y
8 of the 15 members of the committee, reviewed in detail the action
of the 1934 convention of the American Federation of Labor dealing
with the establishment and the chartering of organizations in the
mass-production industries.1 The declaration of that convention,
the report stated, “ was specific upon the question involved”, and
“ provided that the workers classified as ‘mass-production employees’
should be granted charters in the mass-production industries which
would include all of the mass-production workers employed in such
industries.”
The committee on resolutions, in its majority report, felt that the
various resolutions dealing with industrial unionism as a policy were
based either upon a misunderstanding of the declaration adopted at
the 1934 convention or upon a desire “ that the policy established in
that declaration should be set aside and existing international unions
merged into industrial organizations organized for the several indus
tries.” In either case, after expounding “ the rights of the national
and international unions affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor”, which it declared to be contractual and pointing out the
definite protection of those rights in the statement of policy adopted
in 1934, the committee’s report, which was accepted, recommended
nonconcurrence in the 13 resolutions calling for changes in organiza
tional forms, and a “ reaffirmation of the declaration of the San
Francisco convention upon this subject.”
1 See M onthly Labor Review, December 1934, p. 1408.
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
Decision on Charters for Specific Groups
F ollowing the decision on industrial organization as a policy,
seven specific requests for national charters to cover entire industries
were refused by the convention. These requests, in the form of reso
lutions, came from directly affiliated federal unions in the following
industries: Cement, chemical, high-pressure pipe, rubber, radio and
television, agriculture, canning and packing, and gas, byproduct
coke and allied chemicals. The tenor of these defeated resolutions is
suggested by the briefest of them, that introduced by a delegate from
one of the federal unions in the rubber industry (Res. No. 79), which
called for the organization of rubber workers into “ an industrial
rubber workers’ union” with “ full jurisdiction over all employees in
and around the respective factories without segregation of the em
ployees in the industry.”
Building Trades Department
A dispu te having to do w ith th e split in the B uilding T rades
D e p artm en t which has been a disturbing elem ent in labor ranks for
over a year, flared briefly on the floor of the convention on the open
ing day, an d la te r was ad ju sted by an agreem ent to arb itra te.
A considerable portion of the report of the executive council to the
1935 convention dealt with the factionalism in the Building Trades
Department of the American Federation of Labor which began dur
ing the 1934 convention of that department. The executive council’s
report reviewed the history of the split from its inception in 1934
through the developments of 1935 (during which there were in effect
two building trades departments), to the decision of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia that, in substance, ruled both
bodies out of existence.
The question first came before the 1935 convention when the creden
tials of the delegate from the group recognized by the executive coun
cil as the Building Trades Department were challenged by the rival
group. Later, a protest against seating the delegate occupied most
of one session. When the motion to seat the representative of the
group supported by the administration was put to a vote it was
decisively defeated. Efforts were at once begun to heal the breach,
and hearings were held at the instance of George M. Harrison, a
member of the executive council, who was given full credit for the
agreement finally reached.
This agreement, or “ memorandum of understanding”, provided
that recognition should be withheld from both groups until after the
convention called for in the memorandum. An adjustment com
mittee consisting of six building-trades representatives was directed
to meet at the earliest practicable date. This committee is em
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1245
powered to reach a binding decision on the points in dispute. If the
six men cannot reach agreement, they are to select by majority vote
a seventh disinterested person. If agreement is not reached on the
selection of the impartial member within 5 days, George M. Harri
son is authorized to appoint the seventh member from names sub
mitted to him by the adjustment committee. When this committee
has come to an agreement and is ready to report, it is authorized to
call a convention of all organizations in the building industry affili
ated with the American Federation of Labor “ for the purpose of
hearing the report of the committee and such other business as may
properly come before the convention/’ including inferentially the
creation of a new building trades department to be chartered as such.
Membership
T h e total membership of the American Federation o f Labor in the
month of August, 1935, as reported to the convention by Secretary
Morrison, was 3,153,913. This is an increase of 545,902 over the
membership reported for the same month in 1934. The average paid
membership for the 12 months ended August 31, 1935, was 3,045,347
in 109 national and international unions and 1,354 directly affiliated
local trade and federal labor unions. In the preceding year, as
reported to the 1934 convention, there were 2,608,011 members in
109 national and international unions and 1,788 directly affiliated
local organizations. Thus the gain in average paid-up membership
in the past year was 437,336. Part of the decrease in the number of
directly affiliated groups was due to the transfer to the United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners of all directly affiliated local unions in
logging and timber operation and sawmills. The disbanding or sus
pension of 620 local trade and federal labor unions in direct affiliation
with the American Federation of Labor during the year 1934-35 was
offset in part by the organization of 272 new groups of this type char
tered during the year.
Although the number of affiliated national and international
unions reported to the convention was the same in 1935 as in 1934, a
change in make-up took place during the year. The Friendly Society
of Engravers and Sketchmakers, a small group of skilled craftsmen
making designs and plates for the textile and wall-paper industries
and others using similar processes, which had affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor in 1933 after years of independent
activity, withdrew its affiliation in 1935. During 1935 the Inter
national Union of United Automobile Workers was chartered as an
affiliate. After the close of the fiscal year covered by the executive
council’s report (Aug. 31, 1935), another international charter of
affiliation was issued, in this instance to the United Rubber Workers.
While these charters were not issued in time for the organizations of
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O VEM BER 1935
automobile workers and rubber workers to participate in the 1935
convention as internationals, their admission raised to 110 the num
ber of national and international unions affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor. At the meeting of the executive council held
immediately upon the adjournment of the convention, decision was
reached to charter as a national union in the near future the
organized sleeping-car porters, now formed into directly affiliated
local unions.
Executive Council, 1935-36
D u r i n g the year the treasurership of the American Federation of
Labor became vacant because of the death of Martin F. Ryan,
president of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, who had held that
post. Secretary Morrison was designated treasurer pro tern, and the
executive council recommended that the convention amend the con
stitution so as to combine the two offices into one and create the
office of secretary-treasurer. This action was taken by the conven
tion and Frank Morrison was elected to the position for the ensuing
year. All members of the executive council who sought reelection
secured it. However, George L. Berry, Coordinator for Industrial
Cooperation of the N. R. A., who served as eleventh vice president
during the year 1934-35, resigned from the council and was not a
candidate for the position for the coming year. In conformity with
custom, the vice presidents below the rank of eleventh vice president
were advanced one rank, thus leaving vacant the position of fifteenth
vice president. The manner in which that position was filled has
already been reported. The executive council for the year 1935-36
thus constituted is: President, William Green, United Mine Workers;
first vice president, Frank Duffy, United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners; second vice president, T. A. Rickert, United Garment
Workers; third vice president, Matthew Woll, International Photoengravers’ Union; fourth vice president, John Coefield, United
Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters ; fifth vice president,
Arthur Wharton, International Association of Machinists; sixth vice
president, Joseph N. Weber, American Federation of Musicians;
seventh vice president, G. M. Bugniazet, International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers; eighth vice president, George M. Harrison,
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks; ninth vice president, Daniel J.
Tobin, Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen, and Help
ers; tenth vice president, William L. Hutcheson, United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners; eleventh vice president, John L.
Lewis, United Mine Workers; twelfth vice president, David Dubinsky,
International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union; thirteenth vice presi
dent, Harry C. Bates, Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers’ Inter
national Union; fourteenth vice president, Edward J. Gainor, National
Association of Letter Carriers; fifteenth vice president, W. D. Mahon,
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Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees;
secretary-treasurer, Frank Morrison, International Typographical
Union. With the exception of the president and the secretarytreasurer, who are not officers of their respective unions, the members
of the executive council of the American Federation of Labor are also
elected officials of their respective organizations, all except Frank
Duffy and Matthew Woll being international presidents.
Many vital questions of economic significance, such as the 30-hour
work week, and of the attitude and plans of the Federation on national
affairs, especially the social security program, came before the con
vention for decision. This aspect of the 1935 convention will be
treated in a later issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
N atio n al C onference on Labor Legislation, A sheville,
N . C., O ctober 4-5, 1935
H E Second N ational Conference on L abor Legislation was con
vened by the S ecretary of L abor a t Asheville, N . C., on O ctober
4 and 5, 1935. A sim ilar conference h ad been held previously in
W ashington, D. C., in F e b ru a ry 1934.
T
Delegates were present from 40 States, and the Secretary of Labor,
in extending a welcome to the representatives, stated that the con
ference was an “ experiment in mutuality and cooperation.” “ It
was highly important”, the Secretary said, “ to continue the progress
of labor legislation in the States on a more or less unified basis.” On
the agenda, the conference considered hours of labor, minimum wages,
child labor, homework, safety and health protection, workmen’s
compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, public
employment offices, wage collection, national housing, and State
cooperation with the Federal Government.
The objects and accomplishments of the conference are set forth in
the reports of the various committees to which were assigned specific
topics for consideration. These reports, as submitted to and later
approved by the conference, are reproduced below.
H ours o f Labor
F o r 2 years, under the N. R. A. codes, the bulk of American industry
adjusted itself to a 40-hour schedule with benefits in both pro
duction and reemployment. Some industries have operated success
fully on a 36-liour schedule. We believe that the adoption of a
schedule of not more than 40 hours by State law in all States will
promote the welfare of the Nation for the following reasons: The
increase in man-hour production in recent decades has released vast
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numbers of employees who are not being absorbed in normal economic
processes and a work week of not to exceed 40 hours will serve to give
employment to additional persons without adverse effects upon
national production. Such benefits as have accrued from the hours
regulations of the N. R. A. are being slowly dissipated. American
employers have been able to adjust themselves to a 40-hour schedule
under codes and there is no serious question that, on the basis of out
put and technology, industry can bear the added cost. While
shortened hours have hitherto been looked upon as welfare legislation
providing leisure and better conditions for workers, there has been a
growing consciousness, not only in this country but all over the world,
that a close relationship exists between efficiency and the hours and
earnings of the working population. This principle was recognized
in the United States through the N. R. A. and throughout the world
by the action in June of this year of the International Labor Con
ference in adopting the principle of the 40-hour week.
In the light of these broad considerations, your committee recom
mends the following more specific standards for State labor legislation:
With the possible exception of agricultural employment and do
mestic service, no employer shall employ any person in excess of 40
hours per week or for more than 8 hours per day.
He shall, moreover, provide for at least 1 day of rest in every 7.
Since experience has proved that exceptions to an hours law tend
to make adequate enforcement impossible, exceptions should be
granted only by industry and only after public hearing before the
State labor department. In no case should exceptions be granted to
individual employers nor to an industry for longer than a 48-hour
week.
In view of the action taken by the International Labor Conference
at Geneva in June, we believe that the foregoing recommendations are
practical. Therefore, we respectfully urge the President of the United
States to submit the treaty embodying this principle of the 40-hour
week to the Senate for speedy ratification.
C om m ittee on hours of labor: M a rtin P. D urkin, chairm an; M ary
A nderson; R ev. F rancis G. H a as; J. C. Lew is; A. Louise M u rp h y ;
and G u stav Peck.
Minimum Wage
T h e com m ittee on m inim um wage, having review ed th e legislative
situ atio n , concludes th a t the need for passage of m an d ato ry m inim um wage laws is fully as g re at as when the previous com m ittee reported.
I t therefore reiterates th e recom m endation th a t every S ta te here
represented m ake this an im m ediate legislative objective. T he com
m ittee also reiterates the recom m endation th a t the stan d ard bill, now
law in seven S tates, be used as a basis for such legislation and th a t as
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th e tim e seems ripe, th e S ta te laws be m ade applicable to m en as well
as to women. Since the first m eeting, a law of the m an d ato ry type
in M assachusetts is the only legislative accom plishm ent in this field.
S tu d y o f the need f o r leg isla tio n .—A discussion on the floor of this
conference seems to indicate the lack of adequate inform ation con
cerning the present tren d of wages in different p a rts of the country
an d different occupations. I t is obviously im p o rtan t, in urging such
legislation, to show situations actually needing correction. T his,
y o u r com m ittee believes, can best be done by m eans of surveys of
earnings, hours, and w orking conditions.
A d m in is tr a tio n — Y our com m ittee still holds it essential th a t the
adm in istratio n of the law should be placed under a responsible execu
tive w ith ad eq u ate trained support. W e are strongly convinced th a t
the best w ay to achieve such adm inistration is through the application
to it of civil-service principles, w hich give proper w eight to practical
experience.
W e urge th a t th e practice of conferences am ong those adm inistering
th e law be continued.
W e also believe th a t th e basic stan d ard s for adm inistrative regula
tions specified in th e last re p o rt should be em phasized as essential to
securing th e application of m inim um wage. To th e stan d ard s already
enum erated, we wish to add a provision th a t wage paym ents be m ade
in cash w ith no deductions.
H av in g considered th e rep o rt of th e previous com m ittee we w ent
on to discuss some of th e problem s of adm inistration th a t are current
questions. W e feel th a t the following points are im p o rta n t enough
to require th e consideration of this conference.
T h e discussion of th e general m eeting indicated th a t opposition to
m inim um -wage legislation m ay tak e th e form of insistence th a t a
wage legally fixed drives wom en o u t of an in d u stry to be replaced by
m en, or th a t th e m inim um wage becomes th e m axim um . T he one
effective m ethod of dissipating such argum ents is to m ake know n
w h at actually happens when th e law is applied. Y our com m ittee
therefore recom m ends th a t in every S tate, those in charge of adm inis
tra tio n carry on cu rren t analyses of wage and em ploym ent tren d s in
th e industries com ing under th e act.
T h e m inim um -w age laws recognize, in a provision requiring th e
com m issioner to p resent to a wage board all relev an t evidence con
cerning wages of wom en and m inor w orkers in th e in d u stry to be
considered, th a t fair and proper findings can be based only on th e
fullest possible knowledge of conditions to be dealt w ith. I t is our
experience th a t alm ost inevitable lim itations on th e inform ation of
m em bers of all th ree groups is a real stum bling block in th e w ay of
achieving, th ro u g h a m inim um -w age order, th e g re atest im prove
m en t of conditions in an industry. N o one of th e groups constituting
th e board is, as a rule, in possession of full and im p a rtia l d ata. If,
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therefore, the outcome of the board's consideration is to be based on
full understanding, it is the peculiar responsibility of the labor de
partments to furnish all groups a sound basis on which to act.
Effective administration of this, as of other laws, requires that
stubborn violations as well as legal questions involved in adminis
tration, should have the informed and sympathetic consideration of
competent counsel, with power to act. Experience to the present
time has not demonstrated how the most effective legal cooperation
can be obtained. Your committee therefore recommends that the
United States Department of Labor undertake a study of present
practices and possibilities in this field and report its findings to a
subsequent conference.
The committee recommends that minimum-wage orders be applied
as promptly as possible to homework industries.
We believe that the administration of State minimum-wage laws
would be aided if the principles of the Walsh bill, introduced into the
Seventy-fourth Congress, which made provision for the observance of
fair labor standards by bidders on Federal contracts, were applied.
Committee on minimum wage: Frieda Miller, chairman; Monsignor
Ryan; Louise Stitt; Lucy R. Mason; Mrs. E. Dupuis; Morgan
Mooney; J. B. Davie; Marian L. Mel; Arnold Zanders; L. Met
calfe Walling; and Mollie Dowd.
Child-Labor Standards
Child-labor amendment.—Through the child-labor provisions of the
industrial codes, great gains were made in raising child-labor stand
ards and eliminating child labor from certain areas of industry where
it had not been possible to do away with its evils through State
action. This experience has been similar to that under the two na
tional child-labor laws before they were declared unconstitutional. It
has been accompanied by wide-spread public approval of this notable
advance in protecting children because it was on the basis of uni
form national standards which outlawed the use of cheap child labor
as a powerful weapon in industrial warfare. The general popularity
of these national bans against the misuse of children has made en
forcement of them easy through local work-permit agencies and labor
officials, with a minimum of Federal action. Again, as in the case
of the Federal child-labor laws, it has been clearly shown that a
national child-labor law is an imperative national need.
Now that the codes are no longer effective, however, there are
disturbing signs of change, represented by increasing applications of
children for work permits and reports of child-labor abuses from
different parts of the country. These point to a return of childlabor evils, which have always in the past increased in quantity as
business conditions have improved.
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1251
F o r these reasons, th e Second N ational Conference on L abor
Legislation urges th a t all who are concerned w ith th e protection of
children redouble th eir efforts to secure ratification of th e F ederal
child-labor am endm ent by th e 12 S tates necessary to w rite this
g u a ra n ty of essential rig h ts to the children of th e co u n try into th e
fu n d am en tal law of th e land.
Governm ent con tracts .— Resolved th a t the conference endorse the
principle of F ederal legislation establishing labor stan d ard s, including
those relating to child labor, to be enforced in all G overnm ent contracts.
The committee commends the States which have raised the stand
ards in their child-labor laws since the 1934 conference, and urges
that every effort be made to incorporate the following standards in
all State laws:
1. M inim um age for leaving school for w ork, 16 years.
2. R egulation of em plo y m en t of young persons 16 to 18 y ears of age, as follows:
(a) H ours of w ork n o t to exceed e ith er (1) 8 hours p e r d ay a n d 40 hours p er
week, or (2) those of a d u lts in th e in d u stry in w hich em ployed, w hichever is th e
lesser. N ightw ork to be p ro h ib ited betw een 8 p. m. a n d 7 a. m.
(b) P ro hibition of em p lo y m en t of persons u n d er 18 in hazard o u s occupations;
th e S ta te d e p a rtm e n t of lab o r or in d u stria l b o ard to h av e a u th o rity to classify
occupations as h azardous for th is age group.
(c) W ork p erm its to be req u ired for th e legal em plo y m en t of th o se betw een 16
to 18 years of age.
3. A t least double com pensation for in ju red m inors illegally em ployed, th e
em ployer to be charged w ith p rim ary liab ility for th e p a y m e n t of such com pensa
tion, an d th e com pensation for p erm a n e n t d isability, w h eth er th e em plo y m en t was
legal or illegal, to be based upon th e p robable a d u lt earning cap acity of such
m inor. C om pensation law s to provide for a p p ro v al b y a co m p eten t S ta te a u
th o rity of th e expenditu re of th e com pensation g ra n ted to assure th e m ost
desirable reh ab ilitatio n a n d education of th e in ju red m inor.
T he com m ittee referred the recom m endations on com pensation to
th e com m ittee on w orkm en’s com pensation, w ith the request th a t they
be incorporated in its report.
T h e com m ittee recom m ends th a t S ta te school-attendance laws be
am ended to conform w ith the above standards, and calls a tte n tio n
to the fact th a t these stan d ard s will m ake of even g reater im portance
the provision by the schools of new and varied types of training to
m eet th e needs of all young people under present in d u strial conditions.
T he com m ittee joins w ith the com m ittee on industrial hom ework
in urging th e m ore effective regulation of industrial hom ework, or
preferably its abolition, as a m easure of v ital im portance in relation to
child labor.
C om m ittee on child-labor standards: A. L. F letcher, chairm an;
C o u rten ay D inw iddie; Jo h n J. E g an ; K . F . L enroot; Wm. F.
P atterso n ; Joseph R ossano; M aud S w ett; and C harles H . Weeks.
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Industrial H o m ew ork
E v i d e n c e s are now available that various processes in some 75 or
more manufacturing industries are being given out to be done in
homes, that such work is carried on in practically every State in the
Union, and that the wages paid and the conditions under which the
work is done constitute a serious undermining of labor standards, of
which the labor authorities in the various States are aware and about
which they are greatly concerned.
T he com m ittee agrees th a t the only w ay to control these growing
evils of in d u strial hom ew ork is by its com plete abolition.
T h e com m ittee recom m ends as the best m ethod of reaching this
goal the en actm en t of S ta te legislation w hich will control and u lti
m ately abolish th e giving o u t of work to be done in hom es.
T he com m ittee recom m ends as essential points to be covered in the
legal regulation of industrial hom ew ork the following:
1. E v ery em ployer, c o n tracto r, a n d d istrib u to r giving o u t hom ew ork m u st
o b tain an n u ally a license for w hich he shall p ay such fee as th e S ta te requires.
H e m u st furnish to th e enforcing a u th o rity com plete a n d c u rre n t registers of all
hom ew orkers.
2. E v ery hom ew orker should be req u ired to o b ta in a certificate p e rm ittin g
him or h er to do hom ew ork.
3. S ta te lab o r law s such as m inim um wage, hours of w ork, child labor, wage
collection, w orkm en’s com pensation, a n d oth ers shall a p p ly to in d u strial hom e
w ork.
4. E v ery em ployer giving o u t hom ew ork shall be req u ired to keep a record of
th e wages p aid to each w orker a n d th e a m o u n t of w ork done by such w orker.
In order to prev en t undue hardship in the abolition of industrial
hom ework, the com m ittee recom m ends th a t such w ork be lim ited to
persons physically handicapped or those responsible for th e care of
persons to tally disabled.
Since one of the aspects of hom ew ork m akes m ore difficult S ta te
control, nam ely th e sending of goods for hom ew ork m anufacture
across S ta te lines, and since there is evidence th a t this practice is
increasing, the com m ittee recom m ends th a t th e U nited S tates D e
p a rtm e n t of L abor be asked to continue to investigate th e extent
and n atu re of the passage of hom ework goods in in te rsta te com m erce
and explore the possibilities of F ederal legislation to control this
practice.
C om m ittee on industrial hom ework: Joseph Tone, chairm an; Lucy
R . M ason; M ary E . M eehan; T. W. P ennington; M ollie D ow d;
B eatrice M cC onnell; F rieda S. M iller; and M ary E . Pidgeon.
Industrial H ea lth and S afety
T h e S ta te d ep a rtm e n ts a d m in ister in g th e la b o r la w s sh o u ld h a v e
a u th o r ity to fo rm u la te in d u stria l ru les, or co d es, p refera b ly w ith th e
a ssista n ce o f a d v iso ry c o m m itte e s in clu d in g r e p r esen ta tiv es of em
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ployers, employees, and experts, for the protection of the health and
safety of employees and for the proper lighting, ventilation, and sani
tation of industrial establishments. Such rules or codes should con
form substantially to nationally approved standards.
Adequate standards for ventilation, temperature, humidity, air
space, and lighting should be established.
All harmful dusts, gases, and fumes should be removed at the source
wherever possible. Personal protective devices, such as goggles, head
and respiratory protectors, should, be furnished to workers unavoid
ably exposed to harmful dusts, gases, and fumes. Protective clothing,
such as gloves, aprons, or leggings, should be furnished where health
or safety hazards exist from processes such as welding or contact with
dangerous materials, substances, or the handling of tools.
Proper and adequate guards should be required for dangerous
machinery; such guards should be attached by the manufacturer.
Places of employment should be maintained in a safe and sanitary
condition with due consideration for the health and safety of the
employee. Proper fire safeguards, fire escapes, and exits should be
required.
There should be provision for competent personnel, including
medical and surgical services where necessary, and adequate equip
ment for administering first-aid treatment.
A sufficient number of suitable seats with backs should be required
in all establishments where women or minors are employed.
Proper rest rooms, wash- and dressing-room conveniences, and
adequate toilet facilities should be provided. Hot water should be
provided in all places of employment.
Eating in workrooms should be prohibited. Suitable places for
eating, separate from the workroom, should be furnished unless out
side facilities are easily accessible.
Cool drinking water, not inferior to the community water supply,
should be furnished to every employee. Such water should be pro
vided through adequately protected drinking fountains, or through
individual drinking cups. Reasonable access to drinking water should
be permitted employees at all times.
There should be periodic inspection of all work places by competent
and qualified inspectors whose training and experience should meet
with approved standards.
Reports should be required of all industrial accidents and occupa
tional diseases for analysis of causes and prevention of repetition.
Committee on industrial health and safety: W. A. Pat Murphy,
chairman; Robert S. Elrod; James Fitzgerald; Clarence L. Jarrett;
Anton Johanson; Howard Keener; R. R. Sayers; Ira M. Snouffer;
F. J. Underwood; J. D. Williams;|T. A. Wilson; V. A. Zimmer;
C. B. Noxon; and Sidney W. Wilcox.
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U n em p lo y m en t C om pensation
Y o u r committee recommends that this conference place itself on
record as favoring prompt action by the various States on unemploy
ment compensation as follows:
All States not having unemployment compensation laws which will
qualify those States to receive Federal aid and tax credits under the
Social Security Act should enact such laws as early as possible.
Such State laws while they should be designed to permit the proper
coordination of their provisions with the Social Security Act should
be so drafted as to remain operative independently of the Federal act.
The laws of those States whose operation has in any way been made
contingent upon the continued operation of the Federal act should
be so amended as to stand on their own feet.
The various States welcome the advice of the Social Security Board
in drafting unemployment-compensation laws or in amending exist
ing ones so that they will meet the requirements of the Social Security
Act and which will assure efficient and economical State administra
tion.
We urge that the Social Security Board recommend to the several
States adequate minimum standards for the waiting period, rate of
benefits, and duration of benefits.
The Board should recommend and the States should adopt in their
laws a uniform basis of coverage to avoid such conflicts in State juris
diction as have occurred in the field of accident compensation. Your
committee believes that the State in which the majority of the work
is done should be the only one to cover the worker and pay him bene
fits. Where an employee works in a number of States but does not
spend the majority of his working time in any one, he should come
under the law of the State in which the contract of employment is
made. This will prevent multiple taxation on the employer, i. e.,
only one State should receive contributions from an employer for a
particular employee. Workers should in no case be barred from
benefits by any residence requirement.
The various States should in their own laws authorize reciprocal
agreements on such features of unemployment compensation as that
of providing for the registration of and payments of benefits to workers
becoming unemployed in States distant from the one from which their
benefits are due and from preventing workers from losing their
benefits because of their transfer from a job in one State to a job
in another. Interstate comity should prevail in this field.
Finally, your committee wishes to emphasize that unemployment
compensation legislation is primarily concerned with and directly
affects conditions of labor in industry. We therefore strongly urge
upon the States the desirability of placing the administration of
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State unemployment compensation in the State agency generally
responsible for the administration of labor legislation.
Committee on unemployment compensation: Elmer F. Andrews,
chairman; Charles L. Hodge; Robert J. Watt; Franklin G. Connor;
George Meany; John P. Benson; M. J. McCartin; Fred J. Graham;
S. P. Kafoury; Paul Raushenbush; Austin L. Staley; and Edward
F. Seiller.
O ld-Age Pensions
1. State old-age pensions.—The committee recommends the enact
ment of State-wide compulsory laws for old-age pensions. Where
provisions in State constitutions stand in the way, steps should be
taken at once to secure the necessary amendments.
Whereas the Federal Government has made provisions for advanc
ing funds to the individual States for the financing of old-age assist
ance, every effort should be made to avoid limiting the contribution
of the individual States to the sum of $15 per person (the amount
which will be matched by the Federal Government) to the end that
wherever the circumstances require, the total assistance per person
may not be restricted to a maximum of $30 per month.
It is recommended that the age requirement be 60 to 65 years.
The committee recommends against any property limitation.
Where an applicant, otherwise eligible has an income from other
sources of less than $360 a year the pension should be fixed at such a
point as to make total annual income not less than $360.
2. Federal old-age benefits.—It is recommended that the Federal
Social Security Act be amended to provide for interstate reciprocity
as a condition of receiving Federal grants for old-age pensions.
No definite pension maximum is recommended. The amount
should be flexible, at the discretion of the State administrative
agency, but should not be les^ than $30 per month.
The committee stresses the need for the appointment of thoroughly
qualified persons, having special knowledge and understanding of
the problems involved, to administer the acts.
The committee recommends that the Federal Social Security Act
be amended to make available to persons ineligible for Federal oldage benefits facilities for the purchase of annuities from the Federal
Government.
Committee on old-age pensions: Isador Lubin, chairman, I rank
Bane; T. E. Cunningham; Alex E. Gordon; W. C. Isley; James
Taylor; Peter Campbell; O. C. Arthur; and Henry Lehmann.
Public E m ploym ent Exchanges
T h e c o m m itte e reco m m en d s as follow s:
That the members of the conference present from the seven States
whose legislatures have not accepted the provisions of the Wagner-
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P eyser A ct, i. e., M aine, M ary lan d , M ichigan, M ississippi, South
C arolina, M o n tan a, and A rkansas, prom ote th e introduction and
en actm ent of legislation in th eir respective S tates accepting th e p ro
visions of th e act a t th e next m eeting of th eir legislatures.
T h a t in th e operation of th e S ta te em ploym ent services affiliated
w ith th e U nited S tates E m ploym ent Service m ore em phasis be given
to th eir long-tim e program s.
T h a t th e m em bers of th e conference prom ote th e introduction and
the en actm en t of legislation for th e S ta te regulation of p riv ate em
ploym ent agencies, and F ederal legislation for regulation of th eir
in te rsta te activities.
T h a t th e S ta te em ploym ent services develop plans, including
ad eq u ate budgets and training program s, for a perm anent State-w ide
em ploym ent service th a t will adequately serve th e unem ploym entinsurance program of th eir respective S tates.
T h a t this conference recom m end to such governors who contem
p late appointing commissions in connection w ith th e developm ent of
plans for unem ploym ent com pensation, th e inclusion of a representa
tive of th e interests of public em ploym ent services in th e m em bership
of such commissions.
T h a t Congress be urged to ap p ro p riate funds adequate to enable
regional organization of th e U nited S tates E m ploym ent Service in
order to m ake available to th e S ta te em ploym ent services F ederal
assistance for the developm ent along th e lines necessary to handle
the w ork u n d er the unem ploym ent-com pensation laws.
T h a t th e conference prom ote in every w ay possible th e securing of
adeq u ate appropriations for the S ta te em ploym ent services.
C om m ittee on public em ploym ent exchanges: F ra n k E . W enig, chair
m an ; M ary L aD am e; S. H . Collins; M rs. M ay T hom pson E v an s;
H a rry L ip p a rt; H elen W ood; H . P. Y oung; W. F ra n k Persons;
M ary C ruzen; and L. J. M aloney.
W age-Paym ent and W age-C ollection L aw s
T h e failure of em ployers to p ay wages owed to employees is today
a w ide-spread abuse. T he inab ility of w orkers to collect these claim s
th rough existing judicial channels has dem on strated a large and grow
ing problem and points to th e need for m aking special provisions for
it. T his failure is due to th e disproportionate cost of collecting a
sm all claim , th e delay incident to a civil suit, th e tim id ity and igno
rance of th e w orker in a legal proceeding, and to th e inability of
p resent civil co urt m achinery actually to enforce p ay m en t of ju d g
m ent, because of th e secretion of th e em ployer’s assets, or his escape
from the jurisdiction of th e S tate.
I t is felt th a t sim ilar to theory and practice of w orkm en’s com pen
sation laws, wage-collection legislation should assum e th a t there is
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no justification for not holding the employer completely liable and
that inability to pay is no defense. There is equal necessity to
assure a means divorced from the general courts to provide for hear
ing, adjustment, and enforcement of the rights of the worker to
wages actually earned and due. It is felt that such legislation should
be limited in scope only to wages earned and should be limited in
amount to cover claims each of no more than $200.
The difficulties of enforcement against corporate employers seem
to require in legislation the establishment of personal liability of
officers or agents thereof having actual control or knowledge of either
the hiring or the disposition of either the proceeds of such labor or
the assets of the corporation.
The committee believes that it is a legitimate function and duty
of a labor department or industrial commission to concern itself with
this problem, through the establishment of better types of machinery
to promote the prompt payment of wages and to adjudicate wage
claims.
The difficulties of enforcement against employers who are not within
the legal jurisdiction involved can be met temporarily by legislation
defining the offense as one carrying possibility of extradition. It is
the recommendation of this committee that a committee of inquiry
be formed by the Secretary of Labor to attempt to develop proper
types of legislative remedy. It is recommended, furthermore, that
this committee study the findings and recommendations existing in
this field and prepare in cooperation with other interested groups an
act, or acts, to serve as a model for State laws.
The requirement of the payment of wages, earned in full, in lawful
money and at stipulated short periods is deemed a basic requirement
for any such legislation, also the provision of penalties both civil and
penal in character, against the person as well as the assets of the
employer.
Committee on wage payment and wage collection laws: Russell
Eldridge, chairman; L. Metcalfe Walling; Ora B. Chapman; John
Schneider; Jack Hammelsmith; R. H. Barker; Morgan R. Mooney;
and Jean A. Flexner.
H ousin g
T h is is a discussion of the very material subject, “ Housing”, i. e.,
the provision of dwellings. Housing often implies homes, with all
their spiritual values. Good housing is a basis for good homes. But
to include the other factors in homemaking would unduly extend this
statement. So our report is confined to housing in its material
aspects.
Assumptions.—In order that the discussion may have a common
starting point, and so some possibility of leading to a conclusion, the
committee submits the following assumptions, which it believes will
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be generally accepted: Social and economic security require that as
national wealth accumulates, its benefit shall be more and more
widely distributed among all members of the Nation. Effectiveness
of distribution is measured by (1) rising standards of living for the
mass of the people; (2) increasing steadiness of employment, and
rising (real) wages that will enable the mass of the people to pay for
rising standards of living.
Rising standards of living are best measured by more effective dis
tribution and use of the three essentials of wholesome living: Food,
clothing, and shelter.
Of these essentials, provision of the third, shelter or housing, has
characteristics that make it of especial importance at this time. For
instance, while it is slow-moving—largely because of the difficulty of
securing sites—on the other hand, it is long-continuing and so will
stabilize our economic recovery; it stimulates more lines of production
and distribution than does any other single enterprise and so has a
tonic effect upon our whole economic structure; there is no possibility
of an excess supply of slum reclamation and low-rental housing in
the near future, in terms of human need.
O bjective. —The objective in housing is an adequate supply of good
dwellings, so distributed as to location, type, size, and cost as to meet
the needs of the population and, so far as practicable, its desires.
M eth o d s. —The methods by which this objective is to be reached are:
(1) Demolition of all unfit dwellings; (2) repair and proper mainte
nance of dwellings that are fit, or that can economically be made fit;
(3) erection of new and better dwellings to assure an adequate supply.
S ta n d a rd s f o r h ou sin g. —Every community should set and maintain
minimum standards for all its dwellings. These standards may vary
as between different sections of the country and as between urban
and rural housing. For example, ceilings may be lower in Maine or
Minnesota than they may be in Florida or Louisiana. Again, cellars
may be required in one community and not in another. Again, tall
multifamily dwellings may be provided for in a city and not in a
village or a rural community. But in all communities there should
be definite standards for (1) sanitation (water supply, waste disposal);
(2) construction (protection against collapse, fire, vermin; assurance
of adequate light and ventilation; requirement of enough rooms and
such an arrangement for rooms as will provide for privacy).
F u n ction s o f governm ent in h ou sin g .— It is assumed that private
enterprise will, during any predictable future, continue to supply the
majority of all dwellings. Because of this, as well as to create an
informed public opinion that will guide, support, and constructively
criticize government housing enterprises, there should be citizens’
housing associations, and housing committees of nonofficial organiza-.
tiopsor agepcies,such asiabor uniops, to s e t community standards,
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Government has three functions in housing: (1) It is the regulator
which enacts and enforces legal standards for all dwellings; (2) it is a
facilitator which by building streets, by making a city plan, by
assembling and disseminating information, by making or insuring
mortgages or loans, and by other means facilitates private enterprise
in providing dwellings; (3) it is destined to become a participant to
the extent needed to reclaim slums and to assure an adequate supply
of good dwellings for the whole population.
These functions of government are divided among the Federal,
State, and local Governments. In the main, they are the responsi
bility of State governments, though the administration, especially the
regulation, may best be delegated to municipal or local governments.
The Federal Government’s responsibility is to do that which the
States cannot, or do not, do effectively.
Means.—Housing is dependent in a peculiar degree upon legisla
tion. The setting of standards and their enforcement is a matter of
law and its administration. The facilitating function of government
is based upon legislation. The effective participation of government
is impossible without legislation.
Legislation that provides for regulating and facilitating is familiar
through long use in many parts of the country. Even there, however,
it should be made more effective.
But legislation that provides for government participation is still
new in America. It is so new that many of its advocates are not clear
as to what it should provide but confuse two distinct objectives:
Slum reclamation and the provision of low-rental housing.
These objectives are distinct. Slum reclamation means the recon
struction of a slum or decadent area for the use to which it is best
adapted, the use that will best serve the community’s needs. This
use may be housing, but it may be parks, playgrounds, stores, or a
market. Provision of low-rental houses means the provision of those
houses where they are most needed and where a given expenditure
will secure the best results.
In both slum reclamation and provision of low-rental housing, the
government must have power to acquire real estate by eminent
domain.
Committee on housing: John Ihlder, chairman; Henry Adams; Clara
M. Beyer; George G. Googe; IV. E. Jacobs; Leifui Magnusson,
and Eugene B. Patton.
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1260
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
C o o p e ra tio n B e tw e e n F ed eral G o v e rn m e n t an d S ta te L abor
D e p a rtm e n ts
Y o ur com m ittee wishes to reaffirm the recom m endation adopted b y
the N ational Conference in W ashington, F eb ru a ry 15, 1934, as
follows:
1. I t is th e opinion of y o u r co m m ittee t h a t conferences of re p resen tativ es of th e
S ta te lab o r d ep artm en ts, re p resen tativ es of organized labor, a n d th e U n ited S ta te s
D e p a rtm e n t of L abor, for th e consideration of lab o r legislation are a n effective
stim u la n t to th e raising of lab o r sta n d a rd s. I t is o u r opinion th a t a n n u a l confer
ences such as th e p resen t one are essential to th e forw arding of lab o r legislation.
We recom m end th a t th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r a rran g e for holding a n a n n u a l
conference a n d m ake such a rran g em en ts w ith th e governors of th e several S ta te s
as to enable all S ta te s to be rep resen ted a t such conferences.
2. I t is th e opinion of y o u r co m m ittee th a t regional conferences of S ta te d e p a rt
m en ts of labor, rep resen tativ es of S ta te fed eratio n s of labor, a n d re p resen tativ es
of social agencies, of S ta te s h av in g com m on econom ic in terests, m ay be of m a te ria l
assistance in p rom o tin g lab o r legislation a n d stan d ard s. If an d w hen such regional
conferences are held, y o u r com m ittee recom m ends t h a t th e U n ited S ta te s D e p a rt
m en t of L abor furn ish such services a n d m aterials as will aid in encouraging th e
im provem ent of th e conditions of lab o r in th e several S ta te s com posing such
conferences.
3. Y our com m ittee recom m ends th a t th e F ed eral D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r shall a t
all tim es have accessible a n d m ake available to those in te re ste d com plete, accu rate,
an d cu rren t inform ation, as well as sources of in fo rm atio n on lab o r legislation.
W e fu rth e r recom m end th a t a m ethod of clearing of industrial p ro b
lems th ro u g h th e U nited S tates D e p artm en t of L abor be adopted by
th e S ta te d ep artm ents. Also th a t S ta te offices notify im m ediately
the U nited S tates D e p artm en t, changes in em ploym ent conditions or
in d u strial m ethods in order th a t such inform ation m ay be passed on to
o th er offices.
I t is also recom m ended th a t where th e S ta te an d F ederal G overn
m ents have agencies operating w ithin the boundaries of a S tate, whose
objectives and purposes are sim ilar, th a t serious th o u g h t be given to
close in teg ratio n of policy and control.
We fu rth e r recom m end th a t S ta te d ep artm en ts furnish prom ptly
statistics and other inform ation when requested by th e U nited S tates
D e p artm en t of L abor, w ith p artic u la r reference to the m an-hours of
exposure in each em ploym ent class to th e end th a t the B ureau of
L abor S tatistics m ay have accurate d a ta as to th e frequency and sever
ity of in d u strial accidents.
We recom m end th a t an exchange vehicle be issued by the Division
of L ab o r S tan d ard s which will serve as a m eans for the dissem ination
of inform ation from S tates, this to be m ailed to labor departm ents,
industrial commissions, S ta te federations of labor, and o th er interested
parties.
W e are of the opinion th a t all S tates are n o t entirely fam iliar w ith
publications or p rin ted pam phlets th a t m ay be procured from the
U n ited S tates D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r or w ith th e services rendered, m ore
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LABOR CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS
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especially that of the Division of Labor Standards. This information
should be furnished to State departments, State federations of labor,
and other interested parties.
We recommend that a committee be appointed by the chairman
to confer with the Director of the Division of Labor Standards in
developing the most efficient methods of administration of labor laws,
inspection, etc., and that a handbook be issued for use of officials.
We are of the opinion that the work of this conference should be
carried on through the year and we recommend that the Secretary of
Labor be asked to select an advisory committee, as requested by the
Secretary of Labor, as to the promotion of further cooperation between
the United States Department of Labor and the States.
Finally we recommend that a copy of the proceedings of this con
ference be sent to the governors of various States, their official repre
sentatives, secretaries of all national labor organizations, secretaries of
State federations of labor, and secretaries of the transportation
brotherhoods.
Committee on cooperation between Federal Government and State
labor departments: Wendell C. Heaton, chairman; E. I. McKinley;
George G. Googe; W. E. Jacobs; O. F. McShane; Morgan R.
Mooney; Clarence L. Jarrett; John B. Easton; Mrs. Clara M.
Beyer; Charles E. Wyzanski; Henry Toll; and Maud Swett.
W o rk m e n ’s C o m p en satio n
T h e co m m itte e m a d e th e fo llo w in g reco m m en d a tio n s:
1. Compensation.—Compulsory.
2. Administration.—Commission, not court.
Cost of administration to be defrayed, not by legislative appropria
tion, but by an assessment on insurance and self-insurers. Adminis
trative cost of State funds to be taken directly out of insurance pre
miums or income.
3. Insurance.—Exclusive State insurance fund.
Severe penalties on employers not complying with insurance re
quirements desirable.
4. Coverage.—All industries and all employees, including State and
municipal. No exemptions of small employers or “ nonhazardous”
industries. The right of the employee to waive compensation pro
hibited. Extraterritorial workers to be included. In this connec
tion, reciprocity and cooperation between States is very desirable.
All employees excluded from State jurisdictions by reason of being
subject to Federal jurisdiction to be covered by a Federal workmen’s
compensation law.
5. Injuries.—Define injuries to include occupational diseases.
‘‘Blanket” coverage of occupational diseases rather than “ schedule”
coverage.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
6. W a itin g 'period.—Not more than 7 days nor less than 3.
7. M e d ic a l service.—Unlimited medical and hospital service with
out cost to injured employees. Choice of physician by employee,
from panel.
8. P ercen tage. —For nonfatal cases, not less than 66% percent of
the injured employee’s wage. In case of deaths, 35 percent for widow
without children, plus additional amount for each child, the total not
to exceed the percentage for permanent total disability.
9. W eek ly m a x im u m a n d m in im u m co m p en sa tio n . —Maximum
should recognize the rights of the higher-paid workers to a standard
of living above the subsistence level, and minimum should be not less
than the subsistence level, maintenance of standards of benefits in
case of permanent disability or death to be unaffected by abnormally
depressed employment or wage conditions.
10. C om pen sation p e rio d . —Fatal cases: Benefits until death of
widow or remarriage, in which case 2 years’ compensation at time of
remarriage; children, to 18 years or thereafter, if physically or men
tally incapacitated.
Permanent total disability: During life.
Temporary total disability: During disability.
Permanent partial disability: Compensation shall be calculated on
the basis of a percentage of permanent total disability and shall be
payable in addition to compensation for healing period (i. e., tempor
ary disability). For administrative simplicity, there should be a
schedule of permanent partial disability benefits based upon the
foregoing principle.
11. S econd in ju rie s (e. g., loss of second eye).—Employer to be
charged as though for first injury, and balance to be paid out of
special-injury fund, both amounts not to exceed permanent total
disability.
12. S e c o n d -in ju ry f u n d a n d re h a b ilita tio n f u n d . —To be secured from
death benefit where there are no dependents, and from payments in
first major injury cases.
13. M in o r s . —Double compensation for minors illegally employed.
Expected future increase of earnings of minors to be taken into
consideration in fixing the compensation rates for permanent injuries
or death.
14. A c c id e n t preven tion . —Adequate provision. Reporting of all
accidents compulsory.
15. P rocedu re. —Informal, “ administrative”, with adequate provi
sion in law for the commission to have the power to check “ ambulance
chasing”, regulate attorney’s and doctor’s fees, etc. Appeals from
decrees should not be allowed except on questions of law and should
be carried direct to the highest court.
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LABOR CO NFEREN CES AND CO NVENTIO NS
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Committee on workmen’s compensation:
G. Clay Baker, chairman; John B. Andrews; Marshall Dawson;
Dave Hanly; Leonard Hatch; Vic. Woods; Verne A. Zimmer; W. L.
Robison; Charles F. Sharkey; Orin H. Shaw; T. E. Whitaker; and
J. D. Williams.
R esolu tion s
Future Conferences and State Cooperation
W h e r e a s the two conferences on labor legislation, called by the
Secretary of Labor and attended by official representatives of the
governors, labor commissioners, and representatives of organized
labor, have demonstrated their value through a discussion of prog
ress to date, an exchange of ideas as to techniques of administra
tion of existing legislation, and as to plans for future legislation.
Resolved, That this Second National Conference on Labor Legisla
tion respectfully requests the Secretary of Labor to call similar con
ferences annually or at such times as she deems convenient and
necessary.
Resolved, That the conference endorse the movement of the States
by interstate compact to achieve uniformity of laws affecting labor
and industry.
Resolved, That this conference recommend that the Secretary of
Labor create a special advisory committee of State labor department
officials to consult with the United States Department of Labor,
whenever requested by such Department, upon problems common to
the national and local labor departments.
Resolved, That this conference cooperate as far as possible with
other similar groups studying labor legislation problems in order to
achieve uniformity of standards.
Resolved, That the resolutions and action of the conference be sent
to each governor and State federation of labor by the United States
Department of Labor.
Resolved, That a representative of the State department of labor
be included on any State committee appointed to study the social
security problem of the State.
Labor Standards in Government Contracts
Resolved, That this conference favors the passage of both National
and State legislation requiring that in every contract entered into by
Federal, State, county, municipal, or local Governments for the pur
chase of supplies, there be inserted appropriate provisions to insure
that in the manufacture, preparation, and distribution of such sup
plies there shall be maintained suitable child-labor, hour, wage, and
other labor standards.
24361— 35------ 8
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M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
Prevailing Wage Rates in Government Contracts
Resolved, That this conference favors the passage of State laws
requiring that in every contract let by any State, county, municipal,
or other local government for the construction of public buildings or
public works, there shall be inserted appropriate provisions to insure
the payment of the prevailing rates of wage to laborers and mechanics
employed upon such projects.
Committee on resolutions: L. Metcalfe Walling, chairman; Charles
E. Wyzanski, Jr.; and Elmer F. Andrews.
Enactment of State Labor Relations Act
W h e r e a s in recent years the Congress has repeatedly recognized
the importance of the labor-union movement in American life.
Whereas the National Labor Relations Act is designed to eliminate
those unfair practices which have in the past handicapped the devel
opment and growth of labor organizations.
Whereas that act, however, is expressly limited in its operation to
interstate commerce: Be it therefore
Resolved, That we urge that the several States enact laws containing
the same provisions as the National Labor Relations Act, but supple
menting that act by covering the field of intrastate commerce. Such
State laws should authorize close cooperation, and joint action where
necessary, between the State and National boards.
Labor organizations have an important role to play in the field of
labor legislation—in securing the enactment of minimum standards,
in helping to enforce such standards, and in securing by collective
bargaining better conditions than the minimum standards which can
be written into law. It is universally recognized, for instance, that
the most successful and best enforced National Recovery Adminis
tration codes were in those industries in which labor was strongly
organized.
The above resolution was submitted by Mr. Paul Raushenbush,
and adopted.
M eeting o f In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation o f In d u strial
A ccident Boards and Commissions, 1935
HE twenty-second annual meeting of the International Associa
tion of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions opened at
Asheville, N. C., September 30, 1935, and continued 4 days. J.
Dewey Dorsett, a member of the North Carolina Industrial Com
mission and president of the association, in his address urged an
adequate insurance coverage for all employers, and as a means of
creating greater interest in the work of the association recommended
T
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a decrease in the annual membership dues. Following the address of
the president and the report of the secretary-treasurer, reports of the
following committees were read by the respective chairmen: Legisla
tive, forms, safety and safety codes, rehabilitation, electrical safety
code, medical, and statistics and costs. At the evening session the
convention was addressed by the Secretary of Labor, Governor J. C.
B. Ehringhaus, and Dr. Frank Graham, president of the University
of North Carolina.
In attendance at the deliberations were representatives of the new
industrial commissions of Florida and South Carolina, as well as
approximately 300 other delegates representing State industrial
commissions, medical officers, and officials of insurance companies.
The second day was given over entirely to the discussion of occu
pational diseases, and included the presentation of papers on work
men’s compensation in relation to occupational diseases; the cost of
workmen’s compensation for industrial diseases; methods of adminis
tration in occupational diseases in the several jurisdictions; the deter
mination of disability in permanent rating and of change of occupa
tion in cases of lead poisoning; and the methods of medical examination
for the rating of permanent disabilities. Clinical demonstrations,
with actual cases illustrating particularly permanent partial disability
cases, were presented by Dr. O. L. Miller, of Charlotte. A symposium
and round-table discussion of asbestosis and silicosis was led by Dr.
Leroy U. Gardner, director of Saranac Laboratory, and Dr. R. R.
Sayers, medical officer in charge of industrial hygiene and sanitation,
United States Public Health Service. Special interest was taken in
the subject of occupational diseases by the local medical profession of
North Carolina, since the workmen’s compensation law of this State
was enlarged by the 1935 legislature and certain occupational diseases
were brought within the scope of the compensation law.
A joint meeting with the International Association of Governmental
Labor Officials was held on the third day. Under the chairmanship
of Thomas P. Kearns, superintendent of the division of safety and
hygiene, Ohio Industrial Commission, a paper on the use of statistics
in accident prevention was presented by Sidney W. Wilcox, chief
statistician of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accident
prevention was further considered by the presentation of the follow
ing papers: The responsibility of the State through accident boards
and commissions in the prevention of accidents; the employer’s
interest in accident prevention ; and the relationship between division
of workmen’s compensation, factory inspection, and safety and health
promotion. At the closing session of the third day William E.
Broening, chairman of the Industrial Accident Commission of Mary
land, considered the assessment plan for defraying the cost of adminis
tration of workmen’s compensation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1266
M ONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — N O VEM BER 1935
The fourth and closing day of the meeting was devoted to the dis
cussion of varied subjects concerning the workmen’s compensation law
and its administration, as well as a business meeting and reports of
convention committees.
I Mr. G. Clay Baker, chairman of the Commission of Labor and
Industry of Kansas, was elected president, and Donald D. Garcelon,
chairman of the Industrial Accident Commission of Maine, vice
president. Mr. Verne D. Zimmer, Director of the Division of Labor
Standards, United States Department of Labor, was continued as
secretary-treasurer.
A complete report of the convention will be published later in
bulletin form by the United States Department of Labor. The next
annual meeting of the association will be held in Topeka, Kans.,
September 1936.
M eeting of th e In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation o f G o v e rn
m en tal Labor Officials, 1935
HE twenty-first annual meeting of the International Association
of Governmental Labor Officials was held in Asheville, N. C.,
October 1 to 3, 1935. On the first day the committees on uniform
State laws presented their reports dealing with child labor, minimum
wage, old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and women in
industry. The reports summarized the problems which had arisen
since last year and made recommendations as to the changes in the
wording of uniform State laws. An address by the Secretary of
Labor initiated a discussion on the new responsibilities of the State
labor departments as a result of the N. R. A. decision. Consideration
was given to the effect of the removal of N. R. A. labor provisions
upon wages, hours, and conditions of employment, the steps which
various States have taken to protect labor standards, the embodiment
of N. R. A. labor standards in State labor legislation, and the use of
the interstate compact in the maintenance and improvement of labor
standards.
A series of round-table discussions was held on specific problems
of labor administration. One group, headed by Elmer F. Andrews,
of the Department of Labor of New York, considered the topic of
public-service personnel. Mrs. Frieda S. Miller, of the Depart
ment of Labor of New York, with a group of other State officials,
surveyed the difficulties and problems arising in connection with the
regulation of the control of homework by State labor departments.
A third group, headed by E. I. McKinley, commissioner of the
Bureau of Labor and Statistics of Arkansas, discussed the topic of
wage-claim laws and their enforcement. On October 3, the meeting,
under the direction of Miss Maud Swett, of the Industrial Commis
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sion of Wisconsin, considered the administration of State labor laws.
State officials analyzed the advantages and disadvantages derived
from administration by a single commissioner or by a commission of
more than one member. Discussion also centered upon the problems
of factory inspection in relation to the enforcement of women’s hour
laws, of child-labor laws, and of regulations for the protection of the
health and safety of workers in places of employment.
Shortly before adjourning the convention urged the ratification of
the Federal child-labor amendment and went on record as endorsing
the principles of the civil service in State labor departments and the
establishment by each State of a wage-claim collection division. As
a result of the lively interest which developed at the meeting on the
subject of industrial homework, three resolutions were adopted, as
follows:
(1) T h a t th e p resid en t of th e I. A. G. L. O. is h ereb y req u ested to a p p o in t a
continuing com m ittee to stu d y a n d re p o rt upo n th e possibilities of F ed eral a n d
S ta te legislation to control th e passage of th e p ro d u cts of in d u stria l hom ew ork
in in te rs ta te com m erce.
(2) T h a t each S ta te ap p ly its m inim um -w age law s to in d u stria l hom ew ork.
(3) T h a t each S ta te ’s lab o r d e p a rtm e n t re p o rt to th e a u th o ritie s in every
o th er S ta te to w hich hom ew ork is being sen t from w ith in its borders all in for
m atio n regarding such w ork, as well as sim ilar in fo rm atio n a b o u t w ork being
se n t in from o th er S tates, a h d th a t copies of all such re p o rts be sen t to th e U nited
S tates D e p a rtm e n t of L abor in ord er th a t th e e x te n t of in te rs ta te d istrib u tio n
of hom ew ork m ay be determ ined.
The convention also took notice of the great need of adopting
safety rules and regulations in the construction of Federal projects
in the following resolution:
T h a t th e I. A. G. L. O. recom m end to th e various d e p a rtm e n ts a n d agencies
of th e F ederal G overnm en t th a t safety rules a n d reg u latio n s a t least equal to
those th a t p rev ail in th e in d iv id u al S ta te s or o th e r civil divisions in w hich a n y
F ederal co nstruction is u n d e rta k e n be in co rp o rated in all co n tra c ts financed in
whole or in p a rt w ith F ed eral funds, a n d th a t such m inim um conditions be m ade
applicable to all force-account w ork financed w ith such funds.
The 1935 session adjourned without naming a meeting place for
the next annual convention. The executive committee, however, is
empowered to designate the time and place of such meeting. The
convention did decide that future meetings of the organization
should be held independently of any other group, since simultaneous
meetings, it was thought, did not permit the fullest concentration on
the problems peculiarly of interest to the International Association
of Governmental Labor Officials. The meeting considered it de
sirable that the recommendations of the respective conventions be
as influential as possible in promoting legislation supported by this
organization, and it was voted that a standing committee on pub
licity be appointed to function throughout the year, and especially
to give out press releases at the meetings.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1268
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — N O V EM BER 1935
The officers elected for the coming year were: President, A. W.
Crawford, Department of Labor, Toronto, Canada; first vice presi
dent, William E. Jacobs, Department of Labor, Tennessee; second
vice president, A. L. Fletcher, Department of Labor, North Carolina;
third vice president, L. Metcalfe Walling, Department of Labor,
Rhode Island; fourth vice president, W. A. Pat Murphy, Department
of Labor, Oklahoma; fifth vice president, Martin P. Durkm, Depart
ment of Labor, Illinois; secretary-treasurer, Isador Lubin, Commis
sioner, United State Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION
R e ce n t V ocational T ra in in g A c tiv ities in Foreign
C o u n tries
URING 1934 the effect of the world depression was still felt in
the field of vocational education. Further advance was hin
dered, expenses were reduced, and a disinclination was shown to
promote reforms and new measures. Despite these conditions, how
ever, there were some heartening developments; for example, im
provements in the vocational training of skilled labor; the urgent
demand that this training be ol an educational character; the attempts
made to relate general and technical education and to link intellec
tual and manual training; measures adopted to regulate the training
and employment of young workers and to establish adequate safe
guards for juvenile labor through the cooperation of all competent
persons and parties. These summary conclusions, and also the
following details on recent vocational training activities in various
countries, are taken from the International Labor Office Year-Book,
1934-35.
Argentina.—The authorities are contemplating the setting up in
Buenos Aires of four technical schools for industrial workers, which
will be highly specialized so as to supply the needs of the country’s
more developed industries. Each school is to have an employment
office and labor exchange.
Australia.—The Ministry of Labor of New South Wales reported
an increase in apprenticeship indentures submitted for registration
in 1934. This increase is attributed to industrial improvement.
The new regulations regarding trainee apprentices did not adversely
affect regular apprenticeship, one-fifth of the applications for regis
tration since the inauguration of the new system, having been for
indentured apprentices.
In Victoria the Federation of Employers has requested that State
apprenticeship laws be made more elastic. On the other hand, the
trade unions are urging that more inspectors be appointed to avert
the employment of unregistered or unindentured apprentices.
In Western Australia there are fewer apprentices, particularly in
the building trades. In many cases employers have been given
authority to dismiss apprentices for whom they cannot furnish work.
It is feared that this may result in a shortage of skilled labor when
D
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
industrial conditions improve and that this will be followed by the
engagement of skilled labor from abroad.
The suggestion has been made that where the reduction in the
number of apprentices is the outcome of the employers’ reluctance
to take the whole responsibility for training, a system of transfer of
apprentices from one employer to another might be introduced in
order to distribute responsibility.
Belgium.—A number of royal orders had for their purpose the
promotion of the organization of technical education undertaken
under the regulations of the previous year.
At a conference in March 1934 the Higher Council of Technical
Education decided to present to the International Congress on
Technical Education at Barcelona “ a resolution urging the various
States to raise the statutory age for admission of young persons
to employment, with a view to the systematic organization of
apprenticeship.”
A special committee set up by the Belgian Ministry of Education
to formulate new regulations regarding technical education for girls
recommended that technical education for girls should include all
branches of industry and commerce as well as general subjects and
housewifery.
The possibility of introducing free education in all schools under
the authority of the Brussels Institute of Arts and Crafts was under
consideration at the time the report under review was prepared.
Brazil.—Under a decree of July 3, 1934, a reorganization of the
Vocational and Technical Training Inspectorate was effected. The
reorganized agency was designated the Industrial Education
Department.
A decree of July 14 in the same year authorized the setting up of
a Federal Technical University.
Bulgaria.—Some of the provisions of the 1934 act concerning
commercial and industrial training were amended and supplemented
by a legislative decree in September of the same year.
Canada.—According to the reports of the deputy minister of labor
and the chief inspector for apprentices of Ontario, the position of
apprenticeship in that Province during 1934 was very difficult, due
to economic conditions, which are said to have retarded the carrying
out of apprentice contracts. Furthermore, employers are disinclined
to take on apprentices in the face of the prevailing unemployment.
Certain modifications in apprenticeship legislation, considered advis
able, have been postponed until more prosperous times.
China.—Among the subjects discussed at the National Conference
on Vocational Training at Nanking in December 1934, called by the
Ministry of Education, were the appointment of inspectors, expan
sion of expenditure for vocational training, the reorganization of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION
1271
schools for vocational education, S ta te subventions to m odel schools,
and the training of teachers.
The Chinese Scientific Management Institute has enlarged the
scope of its work and established a continuation commercial and
industrial training school for salesmen and salaried employees.
For the purpose of reviving the silk industry in Chekiang and
Kiangsu the Ministry of Industry has planned to set up a technical
school in each of these Provinces.
Estonia.—The municipality of Tallinn established a “ juveniles
office”, one section of which is responsible for the vocational guidance
of young people. An advisory committee of primary, secondary, and
vocational school teachers and other persons interested in education
will be connected with this office. This new agency is to provide
physical, moral, and social training for young people under 20 years
of age who have left school, and will aid such persons to select a
suitable occupation, provide facilities for their vocational training,
supervise the organization of their leisure time, and, when necessary,
assist them financially so far as the resources of the office allow.
France.—The Association for the Advancement of Technical Edu
cation is undertaking a comprehensive economic investigation of labor
and production, which will include existing, more or less abandoned,
and possible new industries. The purpose of the survey is to secure
the necessary data for the better adaptation of vocational education
to the demands of the nation’s economic system.
Needed reforms in the system of craft apprenticeship were discussed
at the Eleventh National Congress of French Handicraftsmen in midJune 1934.
On February 21, 1934, on the basis of a report by the National
Union of Elementary School Teachers, the General Confederation of
Labor “ adopted a manifesto drawing attention to the dangers to
which the younger generation is exposed by the world depression and
suggesting a number of remedial measures. ” This action was in line
with proposals approved by the Confederation in 1931 for reorganizing
workers’ training and education.
Germany.—Under the decree of May 11, 1934, a Ministry of Train
ing and Education was created to have charge of all vocational and
technical schools, vocational continuation classes, workers’ educational
institutions, and young people’s associations.
The work of the official vocational offices showed considerable in
crease during the year ended June 30, 1934, there being 600,000
applicants, as compared with 394,000 the preceding year. Seventy
percent of the boys and 50 percent of the girls who left school during
that year were placed in apprenticeship or given opportunities for
vocational training. Arrangements were made to enable the remain
ing young people to take up regular occupations, if possible, of educa
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M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O VEM BER 1935
tional advantage, among which were a year’s training in housewifery
in private families for girls.
The Prussian Ministry of Science, Art, and Adult Education ex
perimented with placing on the land the children who left school at
Easter 1934. Approximately 20,000—a third of them girls—were
placed for 9 months in camps located in rural sections where they
were given physical training and practical experience in agricultural
activities. One purpose of this action was the furtherance of voca
tional guidance, as it was hoped that a number of these youthful
campers would remain permanently on the land as apprentices,
agricultural workers, or farmers.
U nder an ordinance d a te d A pril 25, 1934, th e n u m b er of young persons m a
tricu latin g from school to be a d m itte d to u niversities a n d sim ilar estab lish m en ts
w as lim ited to 15,000 (only 10 p erc e n t of th e to ta l n u m b er of can d id a tes a d m itte d
m ay be girls). T hose who are refused adm ission to th e u niversities are d irected
to w ard o th er careers b y th e F ed eral In s titu tio n for E m p lo y m e n t E xchanges a n d
U nem ploym ent In su ran ce. To fa c ilita te th e ir a b so rp tio n in to econom ic life,
courses have been arran g ed to enable th e m to o b tain a know ledge of various
branches of com m erce, in d u stry , a n d agriculture. T he aim of all these m easures
is to p rev en t overcrow ding in th e universities.
A general vocational exam ination of an o p tio n al c h a ra c te r w as held fo r young
w orkers all over G erm any from A pril 9 to 15, 1934. M ore th a n a m illion persons
took p a rt in th e exam ination, w hich w as open to ap p ren tices a n d w orkers of
eith er sex of 14 to 18 years of age (14 to 21 years for com m ercial w orkers). T h e
m ain object w as to ascertain th e capabilities a n d efficiency of th e younger gen
eratio n an d incid en tally to enable a th o ro u g h inspection to be m ad e of w orking
prem ises an d vocational tra in in g establishm ents.
On October 9, 1934, the Deutscher Industrie- und Handelstag
education committee decided to establish standard contracts for
apprentices, craftsmen, and commercial workers, and some other
trade organizations have taken similar steps. For example, the
“ Rekofei”,1 in cooperation with the German Salaried Employees
Union and the Hitlerjugend organization, obtained approval for an
apprentice training plan in the food and drink trades. It is hoped
that other branches of the retail trade will adopt this scheme.
The Federal Handicrafts Leader issued rules relative to minimum
holidays for all handicraft apprentices whose holidays were not pro
vided for by collective agreement or particular arrangements. The
minimum is 12 days the first year of apprenticeship, 10 days the
second year, 8 days the third year, and 6 days the fourth year. The
legal guardian of the apprentice is to be paid a special allowance
during the holiday period. A collective agreement in the building
trades, signed June 27, 1934, includes a clause allowing apprentices 6
days’ holiday in the year “ with pay, fixed at eight times the hourly
wage for each day’s holiday. ”
Great Britain.—The new Unemployment Insurance Act provides
that certain boys and girls who have no jobs when they leave school
1 Keichsverband deutscher Kaufleute des Kolonialwaren-Feinkost- und Lebensmittel-Einzelhandels.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EDUCATION
1273
shall attend courses of a vocational character. The purpose is not
to train young people for any special occupation but to keep them
physically and mentally fit during involuntary unemployment.
India.— The problem of higher technical training was discussed at
the Third Inter-University Conference held at Delhi in April 1934.
In the future this question will be given greater attention in the
curricula of Indian universities.
At a conference on January 31, 1934, the Bombay University
Senate approved in principle a proposal to introduce competency
certificates for some of the higher technical studies.
Irish Free State.—In a number of districts vocational education
committees have expended large amounts for suitable school buildings.
Since the passage of the Vocational Education Act of 1930 the num
ber of whole-time students in vocational schools has substantially
increased.
Italy.—A decree of July 5, 1934, sets forth the conditions for exami
nations for positions in intermediate technical schools and institutions,
and a decree of July 20, 1934, defines the requisite qualifications of
applicants for such positions.
New Zealand.—Employers have petitioned Parliament to repeal the
Apprenticeship Act because it was not drafted to meet conditions
resulting from the economic depression. According to the Minister
of Education, the depression has made it very difficult to place
children leaving school in occupations suitable to their aptitudes and
abilities.
Poland.—Greater efforts have been made by the authorities to cut
down the employment of young people. Measures have been taken
to restrict the number of juveniles employed in industry in relation
to adults; to increase the number of industries in which young persons
cannot be employed; to insist more vigorously on a medical examina
tion before a young person is accepted for employment; to forbid
unremunerated work by juveniles in factories; to provide an appren
ticeship fee in the handicrafts; to regulate the employment of young
people by special contracts subject to check by factory inspectors; to
form continuation classes during morning working hours and to make
it compulsory for employers to allow apprentices to attend these
classes; and to impose heavier penalties for violations of the provisions
for the protection of young people.
Details of the organization of vocational and technical schools are
fixed in a decree by the Minister of Education operative since Decem
ber 30, 1933. Standard curricula have been published for the various
classes of schools (agricultural, commercial, domestic economy,
handicraft, industrial, etc.).
A bill for the regulation of the vocational training of nurses and
hospital attendants has been adopted by the Ministerial Council.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1274
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1 9 3 5
R u m a n ia . —Bursaries will be granted to a certain number of work
ers which will enable the recipients to go abroad to get a better
knowledge of their particular trades. To be eligible for such a grant,
an applicant must have an industrial-school or an apprenticeshipschool certificate and a worker’s or overseer’s workbook showing
experience in a special trade. Five years’ experience in this or a
related trade is a minimum requirement. On his return to Rumania,
a bursar is required to train skilled workers. Bursaries of this char
acter are available in the following trades: Glass, metal working and
electrical engineering, precision tool trade, and textiles.
Training schools for workers were reopened on October 1, 1934, and
are now designated “ vocational courses for apprentices.” These
classes, for which the Ministry of Labor has drafted precise regula
tions, will be adapted to local industrial requirements.
The organization of intermediate technical training on a new basis
was being considered.
S w itze rla n d . —The Cantons continued to enact legislation to bring
their apprenticeship laws into conformity with the Federal Vocational
Training Act which became operative January 1, 1933. The laws and
orders thus far published in general amply provide for vocational
guidance. In all instances close cooperation has been established
between the competent authorities and the occupational organiza
tions, which in numerous cases have formulated the conditions of
apprenticeship and the regulations concerning examinations.
A m ong th e im p o rta n t o rganizations w hich c o n tin u ed th e ir a ctiv ities d u rin g
1934 were th e Swiss A ssociation for V ocational G uidance a n d th e P ro tectio n of
A pprentices, a n d its special com m ittees, such as th e V ocational G uidance C om
m itte e for th e C om m ercial T rad es, th e T echnical C o m m ittee for th e H o tel
In d u s try , th e M o u n tain People’s A ssistance C om m ittee, etc., th e C onference of
V ocational G uidance E x p erts, w hich m et tw ice, an d th e Swiss Office for W om en’s
O ccupations. A tte n tio n m ay also be called to th e D om estic Service S ecretariat,
a new in stitu tio n , w hich aim s a t pro m o tin g tra in in g in th e various branches
of housew ifery. T h e system of serving a form of dom estic ap p ren ticesh ip in
p riv a te houses was fu rth e r extended by th e in tro d u c tio n of a “ com petency
e x a m in a tio n ” for housew ives, th e first ex perim ents along these lines being m ade
in G erm an Sw itzerland.
T u rk ey. —A committee of representatives from the Ministries of
Agriculture, National Economy and Public Works, and the General
Staff, under the leadership of the chairman of the Council of Educa
tion, has been directed to draft “ appropriate measures for the develop
ment of vocational and technical education.”
S oviet R ep u b lic ( U . S . S . R .) . —Compulsory technical training in
rural schools was decided upon by the Seventeenth Congress of the
Communist Party. The State Planning Commission and the Com
missariats of Education and Finance of the R. S. F. S. R. have formu
lated a plan for such training in the 7-year schools in all the selfgoverning Republics, regions, and districts.
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
A m endm ents to Japanese W orkm en’s C om pensation
Legislation
AN EXTENSION of the scope of the workmen’s compensation in
J LX. Japan under an act passed by the session of the Diet closing
March 25, 1935, has been reported to the International Labor Office.1
Japanese legislation concerning medical treatment and compensa
tion for sickness or injuries incurred in the course of employment
includes the Factory Act, regulations with reference to employment
and relief of miners, and the laws regarding the aid of workers injured
by accident and accident insurance (workmen’s compensation). The
Factory Act covers enterprises ordinarily employing 10 or more
wage earners, in which the employment involves certain accident
risks or dangers to the health of the workers. The mining regulations
are applicable to mines and excavation work, except quarries. One
of the workmen’s compensation acts extended the employers’ liability
to the building trades, the loading and unloading of goods, quarries,
motor transport, railways, and tramways, while the other act made
insurance compulsory but was applicable only to building and public
works.
The new act brings within the scope of workmen’s compensation
repair and maintenance work in the building trades, loading and
unloading work, quarries, motor transport, railways, and tramways.
Work of this character is frequently done under the orders of an
employer other than the owner of the project in which or for which
such work is being done. As in most instances this repair work is
given to small-scale employers, who can scarcely be expected to meet
accident compensation costs, the new act provides “ that the liability
for compensation is to fall not only on the direct employer of the labor
engaged on repair or maintenance work but also on the owner of the
undertaking in which or for which the work is performed.”
The administrative regulations issued under workmen’s compensa
tion laws provide that when an injured person is paid compensation
under the Civil Code for an accident, the employer may deduct the
amount thereof from the compensation for such accident for which he
is liable under workmen’s compensation legislation. As quite
i International Labor Office. Industrial and Labor Information (Geneva), Sept. 9, 1935, pp. 295-296.
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M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
freq uently the com pensation under the Civil Code is n o t paid until
the w orkm en’s com pensation claim has been settled, the new law
stip u lates th a t w hen an em ployer has paid a w orkm en’s com pensation
claim, “ such p ay m en t is u ltim ately to be deducted from dam ages
g ran ted u n d er th ird -p a rty liab ility .” T his am endm ent is also appli
cable to claims under the F a c to ry A ct and the m ining regulations.
T he period during which application for com pensation can be m ade
is lim ited by the new a c t to 2 years from the d ate of the accident.
T he law “ also prohibits the transfer or the d istrain t of com pensation.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
S trik es and L ockouts in Septem ber 1935
EPTEMBER experienced the usual seasonal decline in number of
strikes and lockouts beginning during the month. Preliminary
reports indicate that 135 strikes and lockouts began during September
in comparison with 195 during August. In September a year ago
there were 127 strikes and lockouts compared to 157 the preceding
month. The number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts this
September was the largest so far this year, due to the week’s strike of
400,000 bituminous-coal miners. The number of workers involved
in strikes during September 1934 was also unusually large, due to the
general textile strike which involved 376,000 persons.
S
S trikes and L ockouts, Ja n u a ry 1934 to S eptem ber 1935
Workers involved
in strikes and
lockouts
Number of strikes and lockouts
M onth
1934
February ___________________
March_______________________
April
_____________________
M ay______ - ____ ___________
June__________ _____________
J u l y ................................................
August______________________
September __________________
October ____________________
N o v em b er__________________
Deeemher
_______
1935
February____________________
March _____________________
April
__________________
M ay ______________________
.Time _______________________
July
........ ...................................
Arumst 1
__
September
Beginning—
In prog- Ended In effect Begin
ning
at end
in
in
of
during month
In
Prior to
month month
month
month month
Man-days
idle
In prog during
month
ress
during
month
30
43
52
70
102
109
130
98
106
85
89
97
91
92
164
211
224
156
128
157
127
175
114
101
121
135
216
281
326
265
258
255
233
260
203
198
78
83
146
179
217
135
160
149
148
171
106
120
43
52
70
102
109
130
98
106
85
89
97
78
41,628
85, 727
94,117
158,887
165,815
41,263
151,432
63,447
413,383
75, 688
36,102
26,119
80,880
110,910
127,742
199, 580
249, 693
106,852
219,037
122,144
486,798
102,971
98, 201
73,481
668, 301
939,580
1,424,833
2,517,749
2,226,069
1, 676,265
2, 020,172
1,735,672
4,029,155
852, 787
841, 570
376,297
78
76
96
111
126
118
106
112
140
136
145
171
166
162
158
153
195
135
214
221
267
277
288
276
259
307
275
138
125
156
151
170
170
147
177
150
76
96
111
126
118
106
112
140
125
84,450
61,929
52,453
65,515
101, 793
38,839
66,721
75,000
472,000
94,408
97,193
95,775
119,234
149,866
118,662
127, 524
139,000
518,000
776, 575
840,937
928,698
1,158,657
1,676,542
1,250,914
1, 207,855
1,143,000
2,970,000
i Preliminary figures.
A nalysis o f S trikes and L ockouts in J u ly 1935
A N ESSENTIALLY complete report of the strikes and lockouts
beginning, in progress, and ending, in July 1935, is presented in
the following tables. The figures cannot, however, be regarded as
absolutely final. Occasionally information is received after the
monthly report goes to press, which might alter the figures slightly.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
Classifications are shown b y industries, States, num ber of w orkers
involved, m ajor issues involved, duration, m ethods of negotiating
settlem ents, and results of settlem ents.
There was no great variation in the number of strikes and lockouts
in July as compared with the preceding months of 1935. The July
disputes were larger on the average, when measured by the number
of workers involved, than those beginning in June, but smaller on the
average than the May disputes. The average number of workers
involved in the strikes and lockouts for the 3 months are 649 for May,
257 for June, and 436 for July.
Of the 153 strikes and lockouts beginning in July, 42 were in the
textile industries, 22 were in the transportation and communication
industries, and 11 were in building and construction. Of the 259
strikes and lockouts in progress during the month (those beginning in
July as well as those beginning prior to but extending into July), 84
were in textiles, 26 in transportation and communication, and 20 in
building and construction.
T h e general strike shown a t the end of table 1 was the general
stoppage in T erre H a u te , In d ., on Ju ly 22 and 23, called in sy m p ath y
w ith striking em ployees of the C olum bian E nam eling & S tam ping
Co., Inc., of the sam e city .1
T able 1 .— S trikes a n d L ockouts in J u ly 1935, b y In d u s try
Beginning in
July
In progress
during July
Industry
N um Workers
ber
involved
A ll in d u s tr ie s ___________ .
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts , n o t in c lu d in g
m a c h i n e r y . ....................
Cast-iron pipe and fittings . .
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery),
and edge tools___________ ____
Hardware..........................
Structural and ornamental metal work
Wirework__________
Other_____________ ____ _ . .
M a c h in e r y , n o t in c lu d in g tr a n s p o r t a t io n e q u ip
m e n t ................. .....................
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies...........
Foundry and machine-shop products____ _
Other__________________ . . .
T r a n s p o r t a tio n e q u i p m e n t .............
.
Automobiles, bodies, and parts. .
Shipbuilding_____________ ____
N o n fe r r o u s m e t a ls a n d th e ir p r o d u c t s __
Aluminum manufactures__________
Brass, bronze, and copper products.......... .......
Jewelry__________________
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and zinc____
Stamped and enameled w are............ . .
Other___ _____ ________
L u m b e r a n d a llie d p r o d u c t s ..
Furniture________ _______
Millwork and planing_______
Sawmills__________________
Other_________________
1 See M onthly Labor Review , September 1935, pp. 656-661.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N um Workers
ber
involved
153
66,721
259
9
1,79!
2
11
250
3
415
1
735
120
300
89
300
2
824
120
300
89
300
1
1
2
2
3
i
2
i
216
50
166
400
1
400
3
1,996
1
1
1,850
8
1
138
10
5
3
2
1
Mandays
idle
during
July
21,737
5, 215
5,700
570
7
3
3
1
2
1
1
6
1
1
1
1
1
1
142
213
900
2,124
1,558
4,288
90,336
400
3,888
4,800
3,055
42,237
135
380
2, 565
8, 360
18,500
16
11,968
8
544
138
2,329
18
35,731
365,585
1,588
701
10
2,606
860
32,225
40
6,915
324,109
148
40
4
2
n
1279
IN D U STR IA L D ISP U T E S
T able 1 .— Strikes and L ock ou ts in Ju ly 1935, b y In d u stry — C on tin u ed
Beginning in
July
In progress
during July
Industry
N um Workers
ber
involved
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p ro d u cts_________ _____ ____
Brick, tile, and terra cotta_____________________
Glass _________________________________________
Pottery
___________
T extiles a n d th eir p r o d u cts___ _____ ______________
Fabrics:
Carpets and rags__________ _____
_______
_. . .
______
Cotton goods______
Dyeing and finishing textiles______ __________
Hats, fur-felt__________ _
______ . . . ____
Knit goods________________ .
_______
Silk and rayon goods________________________
Woolen and worsted goods_____ _ _ _______
Other________
..
..
______
Wearing apparel:
Clothing, m en’s. ________
..
______
Clothing, women’s__________
_ _ _______
M en’s furnishings_______ _________
. ...
M illinery__________________________ . . . ____
..
.. .
___
Shirts and collars__
O th er____. . .
.
. . .
____ _
. ..
L eather an d its m a n u fa c tu r e s. ______________ . .
. _ ___________ _____
Boots and shoes_____
Leather .
__________________________________
Other leather goods.. . __________________ _____
Food an d kindred p r o d u c ts ...______________ ____
Baking _________________________ .
Beverages________ _________________ . . . _
Canning and preserving
_______________ _
Confectionery__________ ____________ __________
Ice cream . . . .
___ _ _____________
___
Slaughtering and meat packing _____ __________
_ _______ _______
Other___ ___ _______ ___
T obacco m a n u fa c tu r e s _____ _ . ______
Cigars___
__________
. . . _______
... _
Paper a n d p r in tin g _______
.. _.
_____
_______
. .
Boxes, paper______ ________
Paper and pulp___ _______ . _________________
Printing and publishing:
Book and job.
..
____
_ __
Newspapers and periodicals__ __ .
__
Other____________ ___ __________ ___________
R ubb er p r o d u cts__________ ______ . _____ ____
Other rubber goods..
. . . ___________________
M iscellan eou s m a n u fa c tu r in g . . __ ._ _______
Electric light, power, and manufactured g a s ______
Furriers and fur factories____ __________ _ ____
.
____________ . .
O th er_____ . . .
E xtraction o f m in er a ls. . _____________ . .
___
Coal mining, anthracite . .
_______
Coal mining, bituminous___________
_ . . .
Metalliferous m ining.
...... ... ..................
....
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining_ __ _ _____
T ra n sp o rta tio n a n d c o m m u n ic a t io n .__
_____
Water transportation..
_____ _________
Motor transportation______
. ______
Electric railroad
__________ __________ ______
Telephone and telegraph
..
.
_____
____
_ _____
_________
Air transportation
T rade
___
.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Wholesale
... .. . . .
. . . . .
. __
Retail
. _______ _____ ______________ .
D o m estic a n d personal service
.
. .
Hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses___
___
__- -- ___________ ______
Laundries
Elevator and maintenance workers (when not
attached to specific industry)_________ ___ _____
Other
__
_ _ ____
- ____-P rofession al service . .
___
. . . . . .
Recreation and amusement
____
Semi professional, attendants, and helpers
B u ild in g a n d c o n str u c tio n
.
__ . .
Rnfldings, exclusive of P. W. A
__ __
All other construction (bridges, docks, etc., and
P W A. buildings)
_ _ __ ___________
A griculture, e tc .
________ _
_________ _____
Agriculture
_ _______ _ _ ____ _____ _______
R elief w ork
_ _ _ __________________
G eneral
_______ . . . _____ _______ _
2 4 3 6 1 — 35 ----------- 9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
445
1
1
42
250
195
9,661
1
4
2,000
1,479
5
10
1
3
524
1,276
232
356
5
3
1,234
962
7
3
7
2
1,136
462
2,550
1,453
1,097
9
2
3,265
609
1
2
1
1
2
130
226
22
1,129
1,149
6
2
i
372
138
96
1
2
34
104
3
1
1
1
5
1
2
1
1
22
11
9
1
1
208
23
115
70
4,527
920
3,200
110
297
7,595
6, 560
974
44
17
6
2
4
4
2
187
124
63
875
125
1
1
1
1
400
350
225
225
11
6
2,274
760
5
1,514
1,050
1,050
752
26,000
9
3
3
3
1
N um W orkers
involved
ber
Mandays
idle
during
July
5
3
1
1
84
984
539
250
195
22,287
10,955
8,310
500
2,145
264. 705
1
11
1
1
12
18
4
6
2,000
4,964
140
378
2,164
3,420
3, 602
743
12,000
53,778
840
5,292
30,722
49,381
68,366
9,855
8
5
1
2
8
6
1. 792
1,084
39
182
1,182
597
2,686
1,580
1,097
9
5,190
2, 525
9
130
226
22
1,129
1,149
215
215
698
138
96
15,329
4,330
1,014
2,204
6,741
4,853
17,449
15,522
1,891
36
78,707
60,034
198
130
2,394
22
10,161
5, 768
1,075
1,075
8,569
1,408
672
. 279
46
139
349
1,690
593
247
850
6,350
920
5,023
110
297
8,324
7,008
1,186
44
17
69
403
274
129
1,144
134
260
5, 579
366
544
7,678
7,678
25,420
5,291
2,989
17,140
34,575
3,680
20,951
3,410
6, 534
122. 876
104,585
16, 348
132
17
1,794
4,188
2,394
1,794
16,773
2,293
6,580
400
350
316
236
80
2,709
988
7, 200
700
4, 696
2, 536
2,160
22,961
6,813
1,721
1,050
1,050
752
26,000
16,148
1,710
1,710
h
8
2
i
13
5
i
]
2
1
1
2
1
1
10
2
1
2
2
3
2
2
10
2
3
5
7
1
4
1
1
26
12
11
1
1
1
9
3
6
7
3
2
1
1
3
2
1
20
10
10
3
3
3
1
349
8,141
52,000
1280
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
As shown in table 2, more than half of the new strikes and lockouts
in July were in 5 States; there were 28 in Pennsylvania, 21 in New
York, 11 in New Jersey, 10 in Massachusetts, and 10 in Ohio.
Of the 259 strikes and lockouts in progress during the month, 8
extended into 2 or more States. The largest of these interstate
disputes were (1) the general lumber strike in the Pacific Northwest
which began on May 6 and was still in progress at the end of July; 1
and (2) the strike of 3,000 Uxbridge Worsted Co. employees in
Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, which began on June
24 and continued through July (see p. 1287).
T ab le 2 .— Strikes and L ock ou ts in Ju ly 1935, b y S ta tes
Beginning in July
State
Number
All States_______ _______
Workers
involved
In progress during July
Number
Workers
involved
Man-days
idle
during
July
_______ ___
153
66,721
259
127,524
1,207,855
A labam a.. __________________________
Arizona_________ ________________ _____
Arkansas_____ _______ _________________
California____ _______ _________
_____
Connecticut_______________________ . . .
District of Columbia___________________
Florida_______________________________
Georgia..____________________________ _
Illinois_____________ ______ __________
Indiana___ ___________________________
Iowa______ _. ____
... ... _
Kentucky. ______. . . . . . . . . _.
Maryland__________
_ ... _
Massachusetts________ _ __ _ _
___
Michigan______ ____________________
Minnesota_________ _____ ______ _______
M ississippi____________ ________ ____
Missouri___ _ ______________ ______
M ontana___ ___________ ____ _______ _
New H a m p sh ir e .._______ ____________
New Jersey____________ _____ ______
N ew York ________ ___________
North Carolina______ ______________ ..
Ohio_____________
Oregon ___________________________
Pennsylvania____ ______ _______ ____
Rhode Island_____ ____________________
South Carolina_______________________ _
South D akota_________________________
Tennessee___________ _______________
Texas__________ . . .
Virginia__ ____________ ______ ______
Washington___ _ ______ .
West Virginia_________________________
Wisconsin________ _ .
Interstate____ _______ ____ _ _________
2
1
447
110
6
2
3
1
1
5
4
3
1
3
10
2
4
1
1
1
2
11
21
3
10
2
28
1
3
1
3
2
2
2
1
6
4
4,342
268
419
300
130
1,296
26,158
885
500
72
1,882
578
426
350
60
20
485
2,321
6,883
401
1,476
86
8,102
111
1,689
1,129
228
50
200
29
735
1,338
3, 215
7
1
1
8
5
3
1
2
13
7
3
3
3
13
3
5
1
7
1
3
22
39
5
18
2
41
6
4
1
5
4
2
4
2
6
8
3,108
110
89
5,053
1,126
419
300
250
2,310
28,092
885
964
72
2,186
631
466
350
901
20
810
7, 373
8,275
551
6,247
86
10, 335
700
2,529
1,129
573
425
200
149
800
1,338
38, 672
46,555
3,410
1,602
102; 475
16,488
2,383
3,600
970
22, 522
90,614
11,765
10,010
432
12,168
3,427
6,369
1,750
7,793
60
5,580
115,626
71, 276
5,359
106,186
1,642
73,469
7,481
20,373
10,161
4, 390
3,663
2,810
1,335
5,840
18,101
410,170
In table 3 the strikes and lockouts beginning in July in each in
dustrial group are classified according to the number of workers
involved. The number of employees involved in a strike or lockout
is the number who stop work in the plant or plants where the dispute
exists. This includes the number of active strikers and also the
employees who are thrown out of work as the result of the dispute.
l See M onthly Labor Review, September 1935, pp. 656-661.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1281
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
The average number of workers involved in the 153 strikes and
lockouts which began in July was 436. Only 9 of these disputes
involved 1,000 or more workers. The only dispute which involved
more than 10,000 workers was the general strike of organized workers
in Terre Haute, Ind., on July 22 and 23.
T able 3.— Strikes and L ockouts B eginning in Ju ly 1935, Classified by N u m b er
of W orkers Involved
Number of strikes and lockouts in which the
number of workers involved was—
Industrial group
All ind u stries____________ ____ ___ ___________ _.
Total
20
100
500 1,000 5.000
6 and and
and and and and 10,000
under under
under
under
under under and
20
100
500 1,000 5,000 10.000 over
153
12
60
62
10
9
3
1
3
10
2
42
9
9
6
3
1
1
2
6
1
1
1
2
2
21
6
2
1
1
1
8
1
Manufacturing
Iron and steel and their products, not including
m achin ery_________________________________
Machinery, not including transportation equipment.
Transportation equipment________ _____ _______ _
Nonferrous metals and their products____ ______
Lumber and allied products_________________ ____
Stone, clay, and glass products___________________
Textiles and their products________________ ____ __
Leather and its manufactures______
___
Pood and kindred products_________ ____ ________
Paper and printing__________________ ___________
Miscellaneous manufactures________
__________
1
1
4
1
17
2
3
5
2
3
3
13
3
2
2
5
1
3
3
1
1
1
2
Nonmanufacturing
Extraction of minerals______________ ____________
Transportation and communication______________
Trade__________________ ____________ ______ . . .
Domestic and personal service________
_______
Professional service___ _ . . ____________________
Building and construction___________ __________
Agriculture, etc................... ................. ... . . . .
Relief work_____________ ______ . . . _
______
General........................ ................ .
. . __________
5
22
6
4
1
11
3
3
1
i
3
4
2
1
3
3
2
1
i
2
1
1
More than half of the July strikes and lockouts were due to wage
and hour issues. Approximately 27 percent of the disputes beginning
in July were over the question of wage increases with or without
reductions in hours, as compared with 15 percent in June, 25 percent
in May, and 18 percent in April. Protests against wage decreases
with or without increased hours were the major issues in 19.0 percent
of the July disputes, as compared with 25.2 percent in June, 10.5
percent in May, and 7.6 percent in April.
Organization matters were the major issues in 54 of the 153 strikes
and lockouts beginning in July. Of this number, 21 were discrimina
tion cases.
In table 4 the strikes and lockouts beginning in July are classified
according to the major issues involved.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1282
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
T able 4.— M ajo r Issues Involved in S trikes an d L ockouts B eginning in Ju ly 1935
Strikes and lockouts
Major issues
Number
All issues_________________ - - - - - -
. - ------------
W a g es a n d h o u r s ____________________________ _____
Wage in crea se___ __________
____ - - _______
Wage decrease_____ _______ _______ _______
Wage increase, hour decrease- __ _______________
Wage decrease, hour increase __________________
Wages and other causes „
___ ______ _______
__________ __ _ _ ______
Hour increase.O r g a n iz a tio n ___ _
. . . _ ___________________ .
R ecognition.-.
- __ ________ . _ ______ ___
Recognition and wages. . . - _____________ ___
Recognition, wages, and hours . . _________ _ _
Recognition and other causes- - _______________
Closed shop ____________
__________________
Violation of agreement___ ______ - - - - - - - - Discrimination- ______ .
___ ______ . _____
M is c e lla n e o u s .. ___
...
. . . . _________ „
Sym pathy_________ __________________________
Different unions competing for co n tro l__________
Other____ ___________________ _______ _______
Percent of
total
Workers involved
Number
Percent of
total
153
100.0
66, 721
100.0
84
31
14
11
15
8
5
54
7
5
8
1
10
2
21
15
1
2
12
54.9
20.2
9.2
7.2
9.8
5.2
3.3
35.3
4.6
3.3
5.2
.7
6.5
1.3
13.7
9.8
.7
1.3
7.8
22,725
10,837
1,857
3,802
3,097
1,385
1,747
13,212
1, 240
315
1,366
397
3, 925
985
4,984
3«, 784
26, 000
360
4,424
34.1
16.3
2.8
5.7
4.6
2.1
2. 6
19.8
1.9
.5
2.0
.6
5.9
1.5
7.4
46.1
39.0
.5
6.6
T able 5.— D u ra tio n of S trikes an d L ockouts E n d in g Ju ly 1935
Number of strikes and lockouts with duration of—
Industrial group
All industries- __ - ___________ _ . . .
Total
Less
than 1
week
147
54
l week
and less
than Vi
month
H
2 and
and
3
month 1less
less
and less than
2 than 3 months
or
more
than 1 months
months
month
32
23
2
1
24
6
8
3
3
1
1
2
1
Manufacturing
Iron and steel and their products, not includ
ing machinery______________ Machinery, not including transportation
equipment____________________ . _____
Transportation equipment. Nonferrous metals and their products______
Lumber and allied products
Stone, clay, and glass products
Textiles and their products________ -Leather and its manufactures
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufactures_____ _____
Paper and printing
Miscellaneous manufactures
3
4
1
2
10
2
50
7
5
1
8
6
1
2
1
4
i
14
3
3
i
1
3
1
7
1
2
11
2
1
2
1
12
1
4
1
1
1
3
2
9
2
1
2
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
4
4
1
1
Nonmanufacturing
Extraction of minerals__
_____Transportation and communication
____
Trade_____________________
.
- ____
Domestic and personal service
_____
Professional service
Building and construction _
Agriculture, etc
Relief work
General strike
5
16
5
2
1
14
2
2
1
4
2
1
1
1
1
The duration of strikes and lockouts which ended in July is indicated
in table 5. The average duration of the 147 disputes which ended in
this month was approximately 22 calendar days. More than onethird of them lasted less than 1 week but at the other extreme there
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1283
IN DUSTK IAL D ISPU TES
were 8 which had been in progress 3 months or more. The most
important of these were (1) the strike of over 800 employees of the
Tncapau Mills in Tucapau, S. C., which began in February and was
settled on July 16 j1 (2) the strike of 550 employees of the Laclede
Gas Light Co. in St. Louis, Mo., which began in March;1 and (3) the
strike of 233 employees of Ginn & Co. in Boston, Mass., which began
in April.
In the 147 strikes and lockouts which ended in July, 3.1 percent of
the workers involved obtained settlements by negotiating directly
with their employers; 19.5 percent of the workers obtained settle
ments through the negotiations between their union officials and
employers; and 60.1 percent were assisted by Government conciliators
and labor boards. In most of these, union officials represented the
strikers. This information is shown in table 6.
In 37 of the disputes, involving 15 percent of the workers, no formal
settlements were reached. In these cases the workers simply went
back to work without any settlement, the employers hired new
workers to fill the vacancies, or the employers discontinued operations
at the plants where the strikes and lockouts existed and left the.
workers with the problem of finding new jobs.
T able 6.— M ethods of N eg o tiatin g T ow ard S ettle m e n t of S trikes an d L ockouts
E n d in g in Ju ly 1935
Strikes and lockouts
Negotiations toward settlements carried on by—
Number
Percent of
total
Workers involved
Number
Percent of
total
100.0
Total_______________________________ _____________
147
100. 0
63, 476
Employers and workers directly-----------------—-------- - Employer and representative of organized workers
directly— ...
----------- --------------------- --------------Government conciliators or labor boards — - ----- Private conciliators or arbitrators----- --------------------Terminated without formal settlement------ ------- ---
13
8.8
1,960
3.1
51
41
5
37
34.7
27.9
3.4
25.2
12,391
38, 639
711
9, 775
19.5
60.9
1. 1
15.4
As shown in table 7, settlements favorable to the workers were
obtained in 65 (44.2 percent) of the 147 strikes and lockouts which
ended in July. These disputes were small on the average, however,
and involved only 16.9 percent of the total number of workers. In
47 strikes and lockouts, involving 17.5 percent of the workers, the
settlements were unfavorable to the employees. In 29 cases, involv
ing 20.1 percent of the workers, compromise settlements were reached.
In 3 cases, involving 44.2 percent of the workers, the results were
undetermined. One of these, which accounts for the large number of
workers in this classification, was the general strike in Terre Haute,
Ind. This strike was called in sympathy with the striking employees
i See M onthly Labor Review, September 1935, pp. 656-661.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1284
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
of the C olum bian E nam eling & S tam ping Co., Inc., who h ad been
o u t since M arch. A fter 2 days th e general stoppage was called off
an d the em ployees w ent back to w ork while the strike a t the stam ping
an d enam eling p lan t continued. I t was im possible, therefore, to
determ ine w h at effect th e general strike h a d on th e outcom e of the
original dispute.
T ab le 7.— R esu lts of S trikes a n d L ockouts E n d in g in Ju ly 1935
Strikes and lockouts
Workers involved
Results
Number
Total___________________________________________
Favorable to workers..___________ __________ .
Unfavorable to workers____________________
Compromise— .......................................................
Jurisdiction or rival unions__________ ______ ____
Undetermined............................... ...............................
N ot reported_____________ ____________________
Percent of
total
Number
Percent of
total
147
100.0
63,476
100.0
65
47
29
2
3
1
4 4 .2
3 2 .0
19 .7
1 .4
2 .0
.7
10,738
11,121
12,733
455
28,065
364
1 6 .9
17.5
2 0 .1
.7
4 4 .2
.6
.T able 8 .— R esults of S trikes an d L ockouts E n d in g in J u ly 1935, in R elatio n to
M a jo r Issues Involved
Number of strikes and lockouts, the results of
which were—
Major issues
All issues _______________________
W a g es a n d h o u r s ___________ _ .
Wage increase_____________
Wage decrease_______________
Wage increase, hour decrease...
Wage decrease, hour increase________
Wages and other causes______
Hour increase......... ..........................
O r g a n iz a t io n .. ___________ ________
Recognition ______________
Recognition and wages ................................
Recognition, wages and hours........... .........
Recognition and other causes______
Closed s h o p ............... .............
Violation of agreement. _____ _
Discrimination...........................
M is c e lla n e o u s ............................
Sym pathy...................................................
Different unions competing for control.
Jurisdiction. ..........................
Other................ .......................
Total
Favor Unfav
able
orable Com
pro
to
to
workers workers mises
147
65
47
29
81
25
15
10
18
8
5
50
6
8
6
1
10
39
27
11
6
15
2
3
4
4
2
12
6
3
10
5
3
24
2
4
4
1
6
3
16
16
2
1
1
12
7
2
2
4
1
2
16
2
1
3
2
8
4
4
Juris
diction
or
Unde N ot re
rival
ter
union mined ported
settle
ments
2
3
1
2
3
1
3
10
4
2
1
1
1
1
4
i
3
1
i
1
2
The results of the 147 strikes and lockouts which ended in July,
in relation to the major issues involved, are shown in table 8.
The workers obtained favorable settlements in 48.1 percent of the
wage and hour disputes and in an equal proportion of the organiza
tion disputes. They had to accept unfavorable settlements in one
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
1285
third of the wage and hour disputes and in 32.0 percent of the
organization disputes. Compromise settlements were reached in 18.5
percent of the disputes over wages and hours and in 20 percent of
the disputes over organization matters.
Significant R ecen t S trikes
Omaha 6? Council Bluffs Street Railway Co., Omaha, Nebr.
OR 30 years the Amalgamated Association of Street Electric
Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America have attempted
to organize the Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. Strikes
in 1909, 1913, and 1918 were unsuccessful. Although the lastmentioned strike led to the dissolution of the local union, it was
reorganized in 1933. A strike was called in April 1934 which was
settled by arbitration. The arbitration board effected a year’s
agreement providing for a slight increase in pay.
As the expiration of this agreement approached, the union proposed
a new agreement calling for closed shop, increase in pay, and shorter
hours. The company refused to enter into such a contract with the
Amalgamated Association and a strike was thereupon called on April
20, 1935. About 300 carmen were involved. For several days all
street-car service was at a standstill. Strikers established a so-called
“ jitney service” which provided free transportation to the public.
Within a week’s time the company resumed service under guard.
Representatives of the National Labor Relations Board and the
Federal Conciliation Service attempted to get the company and union
representatives together but the company contended that it had noth
ing to negotiate. Feeling became more intense and during the middle
of June there occurred three nights of riot in which one person was
killed and a hundred injured. At the request of the city officials, the
Governor of Nebraska declared martial law and demanded that both
sides immediately agree to arbitrate.
On June 20 the strike was supposedly adjusted when the arbitra
tion committee rendered the decision that all men be returned to the
pay roll immediately and placed in their former positions as quickly
as possible. Wages which existed before the strike were to be main
tained until the board had time to investigate.
A special board to handle the question of seniority was set up.
This board had the same labor member and neutral chairman as the
arbitration board appointed by the Governor, but a nonstriking em
ployee in place of a company representative. When the chairman
and labor member ruled that seniority of the striking employees be
F
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1286
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
restored, the nonstriking employees enjoined the Governor and the
company from enforcing this decision.
When the arbitration board met, the company immediately ad
vised that it would refuse to arbitrate the question of wages or union
recognition. The labor member thereupon resigned from the arbi
tration board. When the union attempted to resume mass picketing,
arrests were made in accordance with the State law which prohibits
picketing in any form.
At the time this report was written (Nov. 1), the union had
not officially terminated the strike, but the company was operating
its street cars. The union is endeavoring to get the city council to
call a special election for a vote on installation of a bus system to
replace the street cars.
Peker Manufacturing Co., Peker, S. C.
L a b o r unrest, which has continued in a number of cases since the
general textile strike in September 1934, broke out in Pelzer, S. C.,
when 100 weavers at the Pelzer Mills went on strike July 15. These
weavers, members of the United Textile Workers, were joined by
several hundred other union employees of the company. They gave
as their reason that the company was discriminating against union
members. A S-months’ strike for the same cause had just been
settled at Tucapau Mills, 25 miles distant, owned by the same cor
poration with offices at Boston, Mass. Pelzer, a company town of
7,000 inhabitants, was split into two factions, those loyal to a com
pany organization—the Good Will Association—and members of the
United Textile Workers Union.
Within a few days after the strike was called, the company re
opened its four plants and employed outsiders to fill the vacancies.
The union claimed 500 out of a total of 1,200 employees were on
strike.
On August 5, the Governor declared the strike zone to be in a
state of insurrection and sent in the National Guard. He permitted
the mills to operate, but did not allow persons not living in the
village to enter the mills.
The Governor of the State, as well as Federal conciliators, made
numerous attempts to bring management and union together. On
August 30, when the company refused the offer of the National
Textile Labor Relations Board to set up an arbitration committee
representing management, union, and the Board, the Governor
recalled the National Guard.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
1287
On September 8, the 8-weeks’ strike was settled through the efforts
of the Governor and Federal conciliators. The company agreed to
reemploy immediately 75 of the strikers and to take back 50 more
each month until all were reemployed except those whom the Textile
Board should determine were guilty of violence. The 48 alleged
discrimination cases which caused the strike were to be mediated
by a committee composed of representatives of management, union,
and the Textile Board.
Uxbridge Worsted Co., Uxbridge, Mass.
T h r e e thousand employees in 6 plants of the Uxbridge Worsted
Co. located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, were
called out on strike June 24 by the conference board of the 5 local
unions of the United Textile Workers of America. The demands
were for a 15-percent increase in pay, equalization of work load and
wage rates in all plants, and a return to the 2-sliift, 40-hour week
basis. The strike was actively sponsored by the executive board of
the Worsted and Woolen Department of the United Textile Workers,
which was using this case as a wedge in their efforts to get higher
wage rates throughout the industry.
Following the strike call all the plants were immediately closed.
There was very little picketing; no acts of violence occurred. During
the first few weeks the company maintained that the majority of the
employees did not want to strike but that the conference board was
solely responsible. Union officials replied that local unions had
appointed the board, made up of representatives from each of the
locals, 6 weeks before and delegated to it the power to call the strike.
On August 5 the company made an effort to terminate the dispute
by mailing questionnaires to all employees, asking if they had voted
for the strike and whether they would return to work if the plants
were opened. Responses from this inquiry were not made public.
A few days later the company offered to deal with a committee made
up of 10 employees from each plant, but union officials insisted that
all dealings should be with the conference board. Federal conciliators
effected a compromise on this point whereby the members of the
conference board were included among the 10 representatives from
each plant. As a result of the conference which was then held, the
management agreed to retain the 40-hour week, look into the matter
of equalization of work load, and to reemploy all strikers without
discrimination. No settlement was reached, however, because the
company refused the demands for a 15-percent increase and 2 shifts.
After the strike had been in effect a month, the company paid off
the foremen and definitely closed down several of the plants, threaten
ing to move its entire business south. Municipal officials and many
of the strikers became alarmed. On August 1, one plant was opened
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1288
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
and some employees returned. Union officials then authorized a
secret vote on a 5-point agreement which had previously been reached
with the company. On August 6 the strikers voted 659 to 412 to
accept the agreement and return to work.
The terms of the agreement were: (1) Management and union
representatives were to be called in conference on or before September
1 by the mediator from the Textile Labor Relations Board to discuss
the advisability of limitation of productive machinery; (2)company to
continue the 40-hour week as provided under the rules of business
procedure of the woolen and worsted industry; (3) no discrimination
against employees for union affiliation or strike activity; (4) styles
to be defined as to number of looms per operative and equalization of
wages and work load in all the mills; (5) the management agreed to
meet with representatives of the union within 2 months to discuss the
general wage question.
New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, N. J.
T he 4,000 workers employed in the Camden yards of the New York
Shipbuilding Corporation went back to work on August 29, 1935,
after a 15% weeks’ strike conducted by Local No. 1 of the Industrial
Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers. This union, organized
in 1933, is not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.
After a 7 weeks’ strike in the spring of 1934, the union and the
shipbuilding corporation signed an agreement for 1 year, effective
until May 11, 1935. In addition to wage increases for most of the
employees in the plant, this agreement provided for recognition of the
right of the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers
to represent all workers in the plant employed on an hourly basis.
It was to be renewed automatically unless either side gave notice of
desired changes at least 30 days before date of expiration.
In April 1935 the union notified the New York Shipbuilding Cor
poration of its desire to terminate the agreement in order to incorpo
rate into a new agreement certain changes desired by the workers.
Outstanding among the 15 demands presented by the union were: A
15-percent wage increase, a preferential union shop, the elimination of
piecework or “ incentive” work, and extra pay for night work and
dangerous work.
The several conferences between the company officers and repre
sentatives of the union during the 6 weeks prior to the termination
of this agreement and the efforts of the Conciliation Service of the
United States Department of Labor to forestall a final break were
without results. The strike was called on May 13, 1935, and re
sulted in a complete shutdown of the Camden yards of the New York
Shipbuilding Corporation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
1289
Negotiations were carried on for a brief period after the strike
started but were soon discontinued. Numerous attempts by the
United States Department of Labor conciliator to bring the two parties
to settle their dispute were without success as neither side would make
the concessions necessary to settlement. The strike continued with
no prospect of settlement during the months of June, July, and the
larger part of August. On July 22 the company attempted to resume
operations. Day and night picketing by the strikers and their
sympathizers forced the company to shut down within 2 days.
The Federal Government, especially the Navy Department, was
particularly concerned over the strike, as the Camden yards were
engaged on a large naval contract. On August 22 the President
appointed a special board known as the Camden Arbitration Board,
and authorized it to arbitrate the strike, provided the union and the
New York Shipbuilding Corporation had agreed in writing not later
than August 27 to submit their case to arbitration.
Both parties agreed to abide by the awards of the board, subject
to certain terms of reference, and to embody these awards into an
agreement to continue in effect until the completion of the existing
naval contracts. The employer agreed to take back without dis
crimination all the employees on the pay roll on May 11, 1935.
Hours of work, wages, and working conditions were to remain the
same as prevailed before the strike began, pending the new agreement.
The board was specifically instructed not to entertain any requests
of the Industrial Union of the Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of
America for a preferential or closed shop. Instead, its award was
to contain a provision that the New York Shipbuilding Corporation
would not fill any vacant or new positions by other persons so long
as employees who had been on the pay roll since August 1,1933, were
available, competent, and willing to accept the vacant jobs.
Award.—The award announced on October 12 provided for:
(1) Five percent increase in piecework rates and basic hourly rates
over those existing on May 11, 1935, to be effective August 29, 1935,
and retroactive thereto, with provision for readjustment of variables
and inequities by an adjustment board.
(2) If piecework earnings for any one day amount to less than the
hour rate, the hour rate shall be paid.
(3) If incentive or contract work earnings amount to less than the
basic guaranteed hourly earnings for hours worked under contract,
basic guaranteed hourly rates shall be paid.
(4) Eight-hour day, 36-hour week, 1%rate for overtime, and double
time for holidays.
(5) Differentials in wage rates for special purposes.
(6) Thirty-six working hours’ notice of any intended lay-offs.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1290
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
(7) All vacancies and new positions to be filled by employees who
have been with the company since August 1, 1933, so long as any are
available who are competent and willing to accept the positions.
(8) Privilege of union members to have the union shop steward
represent them in cases of grievances.
(9) Prohibition of lockouts and strikes during the term of the agree
ment. No discrimination for membership, nonmembership, or ac
tivity in behalf of any union, or other association of employees, or for
race, creed, or color. Company shall not influence or interfere with
any employee with reference to his continuance or discontinuance of
membership or nonmembership in any labor organization or associa
tion of workmen or employees.
(10) An adjustment board, one member appointed by the union,
one by the corporation, and an impartial chairman designated by the
Department of Labor. This board is to serve until the completion
of the seven naval vessels now under construction.
C onciliation W ork of th e D ep artm en t of Labor in
Septem ber 1935
By
H ugh
L.
K e r w in , D ir e c t o r
o f
C o n c il ia t io n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised her good offices in connection with 94 disputes during
September 1935. These disputes affected a known total of 39,840
employees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature
of the dispute (whether strike or lockout, or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status,’ the terms of settlement, the
date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly
and indirectly involved.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor D isp u te s H and led by C om m issioners of C on ciliation D u rin g th e M o n th o f Sep tem b er 1935
Workers
involved
Duration
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of
settlement
Beginning Ending Direct Indi
rectly
ly
Wages and discharges_________
Handbag makers_____
Low wages, and collective bar
gaining refused.
Dress and blouse makers, Phila ........ do.........
delphia, Pa.
Dressmakers_________
American Nickeloid Co., Peru, Threatened
strike.
111.
Carpenters, Youngstown, Ohio. __ .do..........
Metal workers.............. .
D uluth Linen Supply Co., Strike...........
D uluth, Minn.
Mascot Mine, Mascot, T e n n ... Controversy
Laundry workers_____
Simmons Bed Co., San Fran Strike_____
cisco, Calif.
Floyd-Wells
Stove Works, ____do_____
Royersford, Pa.
Northern New York Utilities, Controversy
Inc., Watertown, N . Y.
Wovenright Knitting Mills, Strike...........
Cleveland, Ohio.
Furniture and bed
workers.
Stove mounters............ .
Penn-Allen Shirt Co., Lansford,
Pa.
United Wall Paper Co., York,
Pa.
Meitzer Pocket Book Frame
Co., Inc., Bethlehem, Pa.
.do...........
.d o_____
1 N ot yet reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.d o__
Carpenters......................
Zinc miners____ ____
Adjusted; agreed on arbitration;
increase of 20 percent.
Adjusted; increased to $14 m ini
mum per week; hours reduced
to 37\<i per week.
Adjusted; allowed 35-hour week
and $19.85 to $40 per week.
Aug.
Adjusted; satisfactory agreement..
Sept. 5
1935
86
Oct.
(')
3
Sept. 20
160
Sept. 4
Sept. 12
30
Proposed wage cut of 20 percent
Aug. 28
and hours increased from 35
to 40 per week.
Discharges for union affiliation.. Adjusted; satisfactory settlement.. Sept. 2
Sept. 3
1,500
Asked agreement covering wages
and conditions.
Asked union recognition. . . ____
Unable to adjust............ .................... ...d o ___
180
800
38
435
12
Sept. 5
400
350
Sept. 6
200
Agreement covering wages and
working conditions.
Alleged intimidation for union
activity.
Asked 15-percent increase, closed
shop, and seniority rights.
(>)
Color
mixers
and
printers.
Frame makers..........
Asked wage increase...................... Adjusted; signed agreement w ith
out increase.
Pending.............................................. .
.....................- ................................... - ..........................
(>)
(>)
85
Sept. 9
Sept. 6
Shirt m a k ers........... .
Hosiery knitters_____
75
Sept. 17
Violation of recent agreement.. . Adjusted; satisfactory interpreta
tion of existing agreement.
Asked increase and recognition.. P e n d in g ..._______________ _____
.d o.
Sept. 8
Sept. 21
Adjusted; collective bargaining Aug. 28 Sept. 13
agreed upon.
Adjusted; wages to be settled by Aug. 26 ...d o .......
arbitration, and agreement to
dispose of future disputes.
Low w ages...................................... Pending_______ ________ _______ _ Sept. 4
Electrical workers____
30
9 10,000
Sept. 3
Sept. 4
Sept. 17
173
160
135
15
290
35
1291
Stove m o u n ters...........
Road builders............... .
Cotton pickers...............
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
Employees______ ____
1935
Wages; asked closed shop______ P end ing........................................... Sept. 4
Low wages for picking.................. Adjusted; agreed to pay 90 cents ...d o ___
per 100 pounds.
(>)................................... Pending______ _________________ ...d o ___
State road no. 40, St. Louis, M o. Strike_____
Cotton pickers, San Joaquin Threatened
strike.
Valley, Calif.
Kalamazoo Stationery Co., Controversy
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Continental Stove Co., Ironton, Strike............
Ohio.
M idwest Ladies Handbag Co., ___ do...........
Elgin, 111.
1292
L abor D isp u te s H an d led by C om m issioners o f C on ciliation D u ring th e M on th o f S ep tem ber 1935— C on tin ued
Duration
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of
settlement
Royal Bedding Co., St. Louis,
M o.
Eagle Foundry Co., Muskegon,
Mich.
Pneumatic Scale Corporation,
Norfolk Downs, Mass.
Canton Stamping & Enameling
Co., Canton, Ohio.
H. D . Lee Mercantile Co.,
South Bend, Ind.
Bakery drivers, Sacramento,
Calif.
Strike.
Bedding workers.
Lockout.
Molders.
Threatened Machinists,
strike.
Controversy...........do..........
Threatened Shipping clerks
strike.
Strike........ — Drivers_______
Lykens Garment Co., Lykens, ____do_____
Pa.
Dancyger Safety Pin Ticket ____do_____
Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
Longshoremen, San Francisco, Controversy.
Calif.
Ship scalers, San Francisco, Strike............
Calif.
Lindeman Hooverson Stove ------ do............
Co., Milwaukee, Wis.
Crawfordsville Shale Brick Co., Controversy.
Crawfordsville, Ind.
Nass Dress Co., Hazleton, P a .— Strike............
Garment workers.
Tag makers..........
Longshoremen__
Ship-scalers..........
Molders...... ...........
Brickmakers........
Dressmakers........
Public Works project 1577, Jer ........ do............ Carpenters and iron
workers.
sey City, N . J.
Public Works project 4855, Threatened Ironworkers....................
Worcester, Mass.
strike.
Pekin Leather Products Co., Controversy. Leather workers............
Pekin, 111.
Van Vlaanderan Machine Co.,
Paterson, N . J.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Strike.
Machinists.
Collective bargaining refused... Adjusted; company agreed to
meet with committee to discuss
situation.
Asked recognition........................... Adjusted; recognition allowed........
1935
Sept. 10
1935
Sept. 10
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
12
Sept. 5
Sept. 11
72
Alleged discrimination-------------
Adjusted; strike averted..................
Sept. 9
Sept. 12
100
Wages and recognition of shop
committee.
Wage increase and union agree
ment.
Asked new agreement with in
crease and improved working
conditions.
Wage cut of 1 cents per dozen—
Pending................................................
Sept. 6
Adjusted; increase and satisfactory
working conditions.
Pending................................................
Sept. 11
Sept. 10
Asked wage adjustment...............
Jurisdiction of setting metal
window frames.
Jurisdiction of unloading steel:
claimed by teamsters.
Wages, hours, and conditions__
Asked renewal of agreement.
Adjusted; piecework rates based
on 32}$ cents per hour, 36-hour
week; all returned.
Adjusted; work awarded to iron
workers. Carpenters returned.
Adjusted; work divided between
ironworkers and teamsters.
Adjusted; increase of 5 percent,
seniority rights, and committee
representation.
Pending................ ...............................
Sept. 13
Sept. 27
15
400
94
300
225
14
40
0)
175
Sept. 26
1,000
Sept. 19
41
Sept. 18
115
Sept. 11
Sept. 16
65
Sept. 13
Sept. 20
100
Sept. 9
Sept. 25
107
Sept. 26
80
14
Adjusted; satisfactory wage ad Sept. 10 Sept. 13
justment; all returned.
Adjusted; increase of 20 to 30 per . ..d o ........ Sept. 17
cent when business permits.
Pending................................................ Aug. 20
Asked wage increase and im
proved conditions.
Renewal of agreement and work
ing conditions.
Wages and rotation of employ ----- do..................................- ................ Aug. 2
ment.
Asked union contract.................... Unable to adjust; union agreement Sept. 5
refused.
Hours, wages, and conditions. __ Adjusted; satisfactory agreement.. Sept. 4
45
140
12
75
18
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
Beginning Ending
Workers
involved
E l Paso Electric Co., E l Paso,
Tex.
M. H. Bird Wallpaper Co., Buf
falo, N . Y.
Pinkerton Tobacco Co., Toledo,
Ohio.
American Tobacco Co., Reidsville, N . C.
Garden State Mills, Midland,
Park, N . J.
Stith Coal Co., America, A la ...
Threatened
strike.
Electrical workers.................... do.
Strike............ Wall-paper workers. . .
Wage increase............. ...................
Controversy- Tobacco workers..........
Sept. 24
100
170
1,100
3,000
17
___ do..............................
Hosiery workers_____
Signed agreement refused______
___ do.
Controversy.
Coal miners...................
Reemployment of workers_____
Lumber workers____
Interpretation of agreement........
Gas workers________
Alleged discharges for union
activity.
Asked recognition; discharges...
Adjusted; allowed rotation of check Sept. 1 Sept. 16
loaders; no discrimination.
Adjusted; satisfactory interpreta __ do____ __ do........
tion of agreement......... .............
Pending....... ........................................ Aug. 30
Asked recognition—------ ---------..d o ..........................
Brick and clay workers. Asked increase and collective
bargaining.
----- do.............................................. .
- d o .........................
Pottery workers .
Central Pennsylvania Lumber
Co., Sheffield, Pa.
Nickles Baking Co., Navarre,
Ohio.
Yellow Cab Co., South Bend,
Ind.
Strike...........
Lumber workers .
Controversy
Bakery drivers—.
Strike..
Taxicab drivers..
Asked signed agreement with
40-hour week and wage in
crease.
Discharge of 1 worker; asked
collective bargaining.
Unionization in progress_______
Asked increase from $7.50 to
$12.50 per week basic pay and
renewal of agreement.
Wages
cut 75 percent; hours in
Neckwear workers..
creased to 40 per week.
Wages
and
working conditions..
Auto-accessories makers.
.do.
Sept. 16
92
Sept. 26
150
25
200
50
60
11
Sept. 16
.d o.
Adjusted; increase of 2J4 cents per
hour and seniority rights.
Adjusted; returned, except 30 em
ployees whose reemployment
was refused by company.
Pending.............................................. .
..d o ___
Sept. 14
Sept. 21
9
150
15
Sept. 17
Oct.
314
18
Adjusted; returned without dis
crimination.
Unable to adjust; mediation not
practicable at this time.
Adjusted; increase to $10 per week
basic pay; improved conditions.
Aug. 30
Oct.
1
180
Sept. 16
Sept. 25
150
Sept. 19
Sept. 21
80
2
dn
Aug.
301
8
5
50
Sept. 19
Sept. 21
Oct.
3, 200
Sept. 14
Oct.
320
30
Controversy
Adjusted; increase of 10 percent.
All returned.
Unclassified; settled by parties at
interest before arrival of com
missioner.
Packing-house workers. Asked new agreement................... Adjusted; satisfactory agreement.
Strike.
Garment workers_____
Wages, hours, and recognition...
Pending....... .......................................
Aug. 14
........ do...........
Building crafts...............
Employment of resident workers.
Adjusted; satisfactory agreement.
Oct.
4
Oct. 10
____ do.
Salesmen.........................
Sept. 10
Sept. 19
Oct.
4
200
50
Stove workers............... .
Wage dispute.
Adjusted; agreed on arbitration in
signed agreement.
Unclassified; referred to Regional
Board of Kansas City.
Adjusted; satisfactory settlement-
Sept. 5
Salt workers......... ..........
Wages, hours, closed shop, and
vacation with pay.
Discharges..................... ................
Sept. 15
Sept. 20
30
120
Penn Neckwear Co., Passaic, ____ do...........
N . J.
Bendix Products Corporation, Threatened
strike.
South Bend, Ind.
880
80
3,000
450
60
1293
Threatened
strike.
Controversy
5
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Optical workers.......... .
Threatened
strike.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
178
Aug. 31
Sept. 7
330
Sept. 21
Threatened
strike.
Strike_____
Ohio Insulator Co., Barberton,
Ohio.
* N ot yet reported.
Sept. 15
Alleged discrimination.................. Adjusted; discrimination discon
tinued
Collective bargaining refused___ Pending_________ ______________
Cleveland Lumber Co., Jasper, ____ do_____
Ala.
Detroit C ity Gas Co., Detroit, L ockoutMich.
Dow Optical Co., Chicago, 111.. Threatened
strike.
Belgard Spero Co., Chicago, Ill- ........ do____
Lee Clay Products Co., Inc., Strike_____
Clearfield, Ky.
Kentucky Fire Brick Co.,
Haldeman, Ky.
Wilson & Co., Inc., Cedar
Rapids, Iowa.
Ladies’
garment
workers,
Newark, N . J.
Public Works project, Medford,
Mass.
D ry goods jobbers, N ew York
City.
American Salt Co., Lyons,
Kans.
Hanks Stove Co., Rome, Ga— .
Adjusted; agreement secured; to
be reviewed by National Labor
Relations Board.
Pending................................................
Workers
involved
Duration
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
1294
Labor D isp u te s H and led b y C om m issioners o f C on ciliation D uring th e M on th o f Septem ber 1935— C on tin ued
Present status and terms of
settlement
Spring Beard Needle Point and Controversy.
Sinker Makers, Royersford,
Pa.
National Folding Box Co., Strike . . .
Philadelphia, Pa.
Gulf States Paper Co., Tus- ---- do__ ___
caloosa, Ala.
Hulsart Veneer Co., Tuscaloosa, Lockout____
Ala.
Needle makers_______
Discharges for union activity___ Pending.
Box makers
Recognition and 10-percent in Adjusted; recognition of shop com
crease asked.
m ittee allowed.
Discharge and seniority rights.. Pending____ ___________________
Paper workers_______
..
July 23
1935
Aug.
(i)
7
Sept. 21
. . Wages and working conditions.. Adjusted; allowed 24 cents per -__do_ __ _ Oct. 7
hour minimum, time and a half
for overtime.
Birmingham Packing Co., Bir Strike______ Packing-house workers. Renewal of agreement-................. Pending_______________________
Sept. 22
mingham, Ala.
Alabama Packing Co., Bir- Threatened ------ do__________ _____ ----- do______________ _________ ----- do_________________________
do
mingham, Ala.
strike.
M etal polishers, Toledo, Ohio
____do_____ Metal polishers
Wage increase________________ Adjusted; increase of 5 cents per -_-do___ Sept. 28
hour allowed.
Commercial Wall Paper Co., Strike__ .. Wall-paper workers___ Working conditions___________ Adjusted; satisfactory agreement..
Sept. 24 Sept. 29
Hammond, Ind.
General Tire & Rubber Co., Controversy- Rubber workers... . .
Alleged violation of agreement. . ----- do................................... .........____ Sept. 19 Oct. 3
Akron, Ohio.
Surefit Products Co., Philadel- Strike______ Upholsterers
Asked 20-percent increase, res Pending_______________________ Sept. 24
.
phia, Pa.
toration of 40-hour week, and
reemployment of 3 discharged
workers.
Thomas Moulding Floor M an Threatened Tile w o r k e rs__ . . .
Asked recognition________ ____ ----- do____ _________ ___________ Sept. 23
ufacturing Co., Chicago, 111.
strike.
Clover Cravat Co., Philadel- Strike.
Cravat makers
Wages cut 75 percent, hours in ___ do________ ________________
Sept. 18
phia, Pa.
creased to 44 per week.
Waverly Oil Co., Pittsburgh, ____do___ _ Oil workers
Asked restoration of wage c u t ... Unable to adjust_______________ Sept. 24 Sept. 26
Pa.
Medinah Athletic Club, Chi Threatened Cooks.. _______ . . .
Recognition and working condi Adjusted; recognition and satis Sept. 20 Sept. 23
cago, 111.
strike.
tions.
factory conditions.
Kahlenberg Bros. Marine En- ____do___ _ Machinists
Wages and recognition________ Pending_______________________ Sept. 23
gine Co., Two Rivers, Wis.
Scrap-paper workers, New York
___do ___ Paper balers
Wages, hours, and collective ____do
Aug. 30
City.
bargaining.
Bunte Bros. Candy Co., Chi Controversy. Bakery and candy Discharge of 28 workers who ........ do.
Sept. 23
cago, 111.
workers.
joined union.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Woodworkers.
1935
Sept. 18
34
16
750
50
125
175
100
9
200
200
50
50
10
50
15
22
17
40
14
12
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
Beginning Ending Direct Indi
rectly
ly
Pettit & Reed, N ew York City.
2 4 3 6 1 — 35
Threatened
strike.
Barnes Wall Paper Co., York, Strike_____
Pa.
Capital City Dress Co., Harris ----- do-------burg, Pa.
Cleveland Chair Co., Cleve ___ do_____
land, Tenn.
Illinois Art Industries, Inc., Controversy
Chicago, 111.
Texas Centennial Exposition, ___ d o ..........
Dallas, Tex.
Consumers Research, Washing Strike_____
ton, N . J.
Building trades, Peoria, 111____ Threatened
lockout.
American Distilling Co., Pekin,
111.
Rome Stove Co., Rome, Ga___
T otal__________________
Picture-frame makers.
Wages and agreement.
Operative plasterers. __
Agreements__________________
Employees_________ _
Collective bargaining refused__
Building crafts work
ers.
Contractors threatened general
lockout because of continued
strike of millmen.
Wage cuts in violation of agree
ment.
Violation of agreement________
Steel-car workers...
Controversy
Motor-car workers.
___ do_____
Building trades work
ers.
Heise Glass Works, Newark, Threätened
strike.
Ohio.
Artistic Furniture Co., St. .- ...d o _____
Louis, Mo.
Grow Bros., Cleveland, O hio... Controversy
Frank Bros., Lawrence, M hss...
Mid-W est Optical Co., New
York City.
Housesmiths, N ew York C ity ..
Chair workers_______
Wages and closed-shop agree
ment.
Violation of agreement.________
Strike_____
111.
Building trades, Jackson, M iss.
Dress workers_______
Renewal of contract; violation
of agreement by workers.
Wages and agreement_________
Glass workers____
Furniture workers.
Fish handlers_____
Strike..
---- do...
Employees_____
Optical workers.
Threatened
strike.
Controversy
Housesmith finishers.
Distillery workers___
Strike______ Foundry workers___
.d o .
Adjusted; returned with former
wages and same hours.
Pending____ ___________________
0)
Aug. 25
Sept. 3
Sept. 26
Unclassified; referred to National Sept. 23
Labor Relations Board.
Adjusted; satisfactory agreement Sept. 21
with 5 cents per hour increase
for part of workers.
Adjusted; secured arbitration Sept. 25
board for future dispute.
Unable to adjust; mediation re Sept. 26
fused.
Lockout averted; work continued ...d o ___
under existing agreement.
Adjusted; satisfactory adjustment.
Sept. 24
Pending_______________________
Sept. 26
Refusal of contractors to pay Unable to adjust; can only be set
prevailing wage and recognize
tled by contractors and building
part of building unions.
unions.
Wages, hours, and working con Pending_______________________
ditions.
Seniority rights and agreement.. Adjusted; signed agreement with
seniority rights.
Objection to fish being scaled by Adjusted; increase of 1Yi cents per
machinery at lower price than
hour for hand workers.
hand work.
Wage cut___ ____ ____________ Adjusted; wages restored.
Asked signed agreement; com Pending________________
pany refused.
Dispute between housesmith
-do_
unions.
Violation of agreement and 1 Unclassified; referred to regional
board.
discharge.
Union dues dispute___________ Pending___________________ _—
Sept. 14
100
60
30
4
16
185
Sept. 23
120
Oct. 10
(>)
Sept. 17
Oct.
Oct.
2
35
35
Oct.
3
80
2,500
Sept. 30
200
(0
Oct.
2
175
250
Sept. 24
Sept. 27
Sept. 28
75
Sept. 24
Sept. 25
5
Aug. 15
Sept. 24
Sept. 30
100
14
(0
Sept. 26
Sept. 30
Aug.
1
IN DU STRIAL DISPUTES
Youngstown Steel Car Co.,
Niles, Ohio.
Johnson Motor Co., Waukegan,
Egg candlers________
Mixers and printers...
Oct.
2
2
56
100
30,817
1 N ot yet reported.
1295
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR AGREEMENTS
C ollective A greem ent in M en’s C lothing In d u stry of
N e w Y o rk
N JULY 1, 1935, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of Amer
ica and its New York Joint Board signed an agreement with
the New York Clothing Manufacturers’ Exchange, which will be
effective until June 30, 1937. This agreement is a renewal of con
tractual relations which have been maintained for several years, and
is estimated to affect some 30,000 workers.
The new agreement provides for the continuance of the 36-hour
week adopted under the code, instead of the 44-hour week in previous
contracts. An exception is made in the case of shipping clerks, who
are to work 40 hours per week. Daily hours are limited to 8.
Wage rates on two grades of garments are raised, the increases
amounting to about 10 percent. From 35 to 40 percent of the mem
bership will be affected by these increases.
The employment of children under the age of 16, either in the
manufacturer’s shop or in any contract shop doing work for him, is
prohibited.
O
Am ong the provisions continued from previous agreem ents are the
following:
T he m an u facturers agree to em ploy only union m em bers in good
stan d in g in the clothing factories or any establishm ents owned or
controlled b y them . T he m an u factu rer shall n o t allow any b u t
union w ork to be done for him directly or indirectly.
In slack seasons the available w ork is to be d istrib u ted equally
am ong the regular employees. No hom ew ork is allowed. Em ployees
m u st be paid a t least once a week.
T he reg istration of contractors is to be continued. M anufacturers
em ploying co ntractors shall be p erm itted only th e num ber reasonably
required to do th eir work. C ontractors shall n o t be changed or
released nor shall new ones be tak en on w ith o u t the consent of the
union and the exchange. W ork in co n tract shops m u st be turned
o u t in the order of the d ate of registration.
E ach m an u factu rer m u st p ay w eekly into th e N ew Y ork C lothing
U nem ploym ent F u n d 1% percent of the to ta l union-labor cost of the
clothing m an u factured for him , w hether in his own shop or in con
tra c tin g shops. T his p ay m en t will, of course, be subject to any law
1296
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1297
LABOR AGREEM ENTS
or ordinance passed requiring the manufacturer to contribute to any
Federal, State, or municipal fund for unemployment insurance with
reference to any employees under the agreement.
There are to be no strikes or lockouts during the life of the agree
ment. Disputes are to be settled through the impartial chairman of
the N ew York Clothing Industry, designated by the exchange and
the union, whose decision shall be final and binding.
The standards of wages, hours, and conditions of employment pre
vailing under the agreement are not to be changed, except that, if
the exchange or the union believes a change is warranted, it may give
notice to that effect not later than 60 days before any anniversary
date and call for a conference. Any changes agreed to will become
effective on the anniversary date. If no satisfactory terms as to
the changes can be made, the agreement may be terminated.
C ollective A greem ents in th e Ladies’ G arm ent
In d u s try
U R IN G the second quarter of 1935 a number of collective
D
agreements were concluded in the ladies’ garment industry.
Coverage of the agreements described below is shown in the following
table:
N um ber of C om panies, E stab lish m en ts, a n d W orkers A ffected b y I. L. G. W . U.
A greem ents Signed in C ertain C ities, Second Q u a rte r of 1935 1
Number affected
City
Manufacturer or association
Com
panies
New York City.
San Francisco.
Los A ngeles..
Seattle............
Cleveland___
M ilwaukee__
Merchants Ladies Garment Association____
Industrial Council............ ..................... ............
American A ssociation ...______ __________
Infants’ Coats Manufacturers A ssociation...
Associated Cloak & Suits Mfrs____________
Silk & Wool Dress Mfrs. Assn_____________
Associated Cloak & Suit Mfrs_____ _______
Independent manufacturers..................... .........
Associated Cloak & Suit Mfrs_____________
Printz-Biederman Co....... .................................
Independent manufacturers. ...........................
180
450
960
62
26
14
51
5
5
1
4
Estab
lishments
700
580
960
152
26
14
51
5
5
11
4
Workers
15,000-18, 000
9,000
20, 000
3, 000
500
1,050
1, 200
75
125
650
1,100
1 Information supplied by union.
Cleveland, Ohio.—The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’
Union on May 20, 1935, entered into an agreement with the PrintzBiederman Co., clothing manufacturer in Cleveland, Ohio, employ
ing in its several establishments approximately 650 workers. The
agreement is of interest because it is the first time a trade-union
agreement has been concluded with this company, the employees
having been previously organized in an employees’ association, the
last agreement with which did not expire until July 10, 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1298
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
The new agreement provided that the I. L. G. W. U. would organize
a separate local in Cleveland “ for the workers employed in the shops
of the Printz-Biederman Co., its subsidiaries and contracting shops” ,
this local to be under the direct supervision of the general executive
board of the union. All employees of the company who were I. L.
G. W. U. members were to be transferred to this new local. After
July 10 all workers of the company, its subsidiaries, and contracting
shops, were to become members of the local.
The “ time standards” and methods of management previously in
use are to be continued, and new standards set up as changed con
ditions in the industry demand. Such new standards are to be ap
proved by a committee of the workers of the respective departments.
The time standards are applicable only to the main and subsidiary
shops of Printz-Biederman Co., and not to contract shops.
The code hours and basic rates of wages are to be continued, and
there shall be no reduction of wages during the life of the agreement.
If there should be a change in the minimum wages or hours in Cleve
land markets under the agreement now existing between the union
and employers in the Cleveland market other than the Printz-Bieder
man Co., or if a new agreement should be entered into by the union
and such employers providing for changes in minimum wages and
hours, during the life of this agreement, the minimum hours and
wages provided in this agreement shall be subject to revision. Should
the parties fail to agree on the revision, the matter is to be arbitrated.
Prices for piecework in contract shops are to be adjusted by the
employer and a joint committee consisting of the chairmen of the
price committees of contract shops doing the same kind of work.
There are to be no strikes, stoppages, or lockouts during the period
of the agreement. Any disputes are first to be taken up by the em
ployer and the shop chairman. If they fail to reach an agreement,
the employer will then take up the problem with a designated repre
sentative of the local. If the dispute concerns more than one shop
or is general in nature, it is to go first to the employer and the union
representative. If under these procedures no satisfactory adjust
ment results, the dispute is to be referred to an impartial chairman,
whose decisions shall be final and binding. The expense of such ar
bitration is to be shared equally by the company and the local.
This agreement is to remain in effect until December 31, 1936, and
thereafter from year to year unless, at least 30 days before expiration,
written notice is given by either party of a desire to change or end the
agreement.
Milwaukee.—On July 29, 1935, Local No. 188 concluded an agree
ment, effective until September 30, 1936, with the Rhea Manufactur
ing Co. It also signed agreements with 3 other Milwaukee garment
manufacturers. The 4 companies employ 1,100 workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1299
LABOR AGREEMENTS
The Rhea agreement gives the employer discretion to hire workers
and allows him to give due consideration to the nature and quality of
work. When the employer needs additional help he is to apply first
to the union. If the union cannot supply the needed employees
within 24 hours, the employer shall be free to hire elsewhere. The
union may use only just and lawful means to persuade nonunion
employees to become members.
Employment, discharge, and discipline are to be exercised by the
employer, who agrees to give due consideration to the rights of the
employees. Any employee who has been discharged after being em
ployed over 2 weeks may, if he feels that he has been unjustly dis
charged, present a grievance within 48 hours.
The hours of work shall be 40 per week—8 per day for 5 days. If
a legal holiday occurs within the week, employees shall be allowed to
work on Saturday.
It is agreed that 675 employees shall be considered the normal num
ber of regular employees, and that in slack periods the available work
is to be distributed among 675 employees. Any employees over this
number are to be considered temporary employees and may be dis
charged at any time.
The company is to furnish a monthly record of the amount of work
done in its factory no. 1 during the preceding year, and no work may
be sent outside this factory until the amount of work therein is equal
to that of the comparable month of the previous year, plus 10 percent.
During the term of the agreement the base rates in the respective
departments shall be as follows:
Per hour
O p erato rs_____________________
$0. 37
Sergers, m errow ing, a n d /o r p in k e rs---------------------. 37
E xam iners an d p reex am in ers------------------------------. 37
P ressers_________________________________________
• 37
M achine b u tto n m akers, m achine b u tto n h o le
m akers, an d m achine sn ap p ers-------------------------. 38
F o ld ers___________
• 41
H e m m e r s ..____________________
. 42
The hourly rate of pay for all time workers shall be that in effect
prior to April 13, 1935.
If the average earnings per hour in any department are less than
the base rate in the schedule, the company shall make up the differ
ence. Such difference for each hour worked shall be distributed
among all employees in proportion to their earnings. When the
average earnings of the group of 675 permanent employees are equal
to more than the departmental base rate, each worker is to be paid
her actual earnings.
A minimum wage of 32}£ cents per hour is fixed. The company
shall pay the full amount of any difference between the earnings of
any employee and the minimum rate, up to 2){ cents per hour. If
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1300
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
the difference is between 2% cents and 5 cents per hour, only 2% cents
is to be paid, and if it is more than 5 cents per hour, half thereof is
to be paid.
The cutting department is to be operated on a week-work basis.
Machine cutters are to receive $35 and spreaders $21 for a full week’s
work. After a 60-day trial this arrangement is subject to revision
if there is no improvement in the quality of the spreading and cutting,
and if the excess cost exceeds 25 percent of the prior cost.
Kates of pay for the shipping room are to remain the same.
As the company is establishing a piece-rate manual, it is agreed
that, while piece rates are to be determined solely by the company,
when the rates are established or calculated from the manual the
union shall be allowed to have a committee of workers present with
the representatives of the company. If rates are not set in accord
with existing base rates, the union may file a complaint to have the
operation reanalyzed, and, if any inequity exists, to have the piece
rate reset in accord with the existing base rates.
The union has the right to have a shop steward on each floor and
a general shop steward for the entire plant. The latter, in addition
to collecting dues, shall attempt to adjust any complaints made by
employees. If he cannot reach a settlement, a credited representative
of the union shall undertake an adjustment with the employers.
Final recourse will be to arbitration.
There are to be no strikes, lockouts, or stoppages of work of any
nature during the existence of the agreement. Arbitrators shall have
sole authority to determine procedure in all matters in dispute. The
arbitration machinery shall consist of a board of 3 members, 1
appointed by the company and 1 by the union, the third member to
be chosen by the other 2; and in case they cannot agree, this third
member is to be a person specified in the agreement. Appointments
are to be made within 3 days from the time arbitration is demanded.
The written decision of a majority of this board shall be final and
immediately binding. The compensation of arbitrators shall be borne
equally between the union and the company.
If at any time after March 1, 1936, the employer claims it is put
to a competitive disadvantage by reason of any arrangements as to
wages and hours, or the union claims that prevailing wages and hours
in the same industry warrant a relative adjustment in wages and hours
of the employer, the matter shall be taken up between the company
and the union. If the matter cannot be adjusted, the question shall
be arbitrated.
New York.—After negotiations lasting 3 months, marked by dead
locks which threatened to tie up the industry, the New York Joint
Board of the Cloak, Suit, Skirt, and Reefer Makers’ Unions on July 7,
1935, reached an agreement with 4 employers’ associations, represent
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR AGREEMENTS
1301
ing over 600 members and their contractors, employing approximately
50,000 workers.
This agreement embodies, with slight improvements, the basic
clauses of the old agreement, and includes contractor designation, old
wage scales, and work hours.
West coast.—San Francisco Local No. 8, Seattle Local No. 28, and
Los Angeles Locals Nos. 65, 84, 96, and 97, of the International Ladies
Garment Workers’ Union, signed agreements during June and July
with the cloak and suit manufacturers’ associations of their respective
cities; the Los Angeles locals also entered into separate agreements
with 5 independent manufacturers of that city; and San Francisco
Local No. 101 concluded an agreement with the Silk and Wool Dress
Manufacturers’ Association.
All the agreements provide for a closed union shop, employing only
members of the unions signing the contract. The closed-shop pro
vision in the Los Angeles agreement is the first closed-shop agreement
in 20 years. Agreements signed by the Los Angeles and the two San
Francisco locals provide that all applications for help are to be made
to the union, and that after a specified trial period employees so hired
are to be made permanent and subject to the conditions of the agree
ment. Three of the agreements provide that if an employer expresses
preference for a certain union member the union shall send the worker
so specified. In case the union is unable to furnish the required help,
the employer is free to choose from the open market, but any employee
so engaged and remaining in the shop after a trial period of 2 weeks
(10 consecutive working days) shall thereafter become a member of
the union. Members of the Seattle Association needing help may
hire any person they desire, but preference is to be given to union
members. New employees remaining in the shop after a 5-day trial
period must become members of the union.
The San Francisco agreements specify that all contract shops doing
work for the manufacturers must be union shops.
The agreements between Local No. 28 and the Manufacturers’
Association of Seattle, and between the Los Angeles locals and the
independent manufacturers, provide that there shall be no contracting
or subcontracting within the shop.
All the agreements provide for a 5-day, 35-hour week, with no more
than 1 shift in any 1 day. The Los Angeles and Seattle agreements
include restrictions as to overtime work.
Rates of wages are established by the agreements. San Francisco
Local No. 8 pledges itself not to demand any increase during the
present season. A survey is to be made, however, to determine if there
is justification for an increase in wages, such increase, if justified, to
become effective on January 1, 1936. There are to be no reductions
in the present scale of wages. The agreement with this local also
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1302
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
provides that a member of the association whose garments are made
by contractors or submanufacturers shall pay to such contractors or
submanufacturers an amount sufficient at least to enable the con
tractors or submanufacturers to provide for their workers the wage
rates and working conditions set forth in the agreement, as well as a
reasonable payment to the contractor or submanufacturer to cover
his overhead. Each member of the association shall be responsible to
the members of the union for payment of their wages for work done
for contractors on work given by such association member, and the
union shall hold the association member responsible for the working
conditions provided by the contractor or submanufacturer.
The Seattle agreement provides a 10-percent increase over last
season in the wages of all crafts, whether employees are on a piecework
or week-work basis, to be effective July 1, 1935.
Machinery for the peaceful settlement of disputes is provided in all
the agreements. In every case workers are to select a shop chairman,
who is to see that the conditions of the agreement are carried out and
minor difficulties adjusted. Four of the agreements provide for a joint
committee to be set up, with an impartial chairman, before which any
difficulties which arise shall be brought for settlement. Any employee
discharged after his trial period is served shall have a right to review
of his case. All agreements, except that of the Los Angeles locals with
independent manufacturers, contain provisions prohibiting any general
strike, lockout, or stoppage of work for any reason. Three agreements
provide that, should such stoppage occur, the union must return the
workers within 24 hours, and that any substantial violation of this
provision will allow the association to terminate the agreement. The
violation, however, must be substantiated by the impartial chairman.
The Los Angeles agreement with independent manufacturers states
that the parties to the agreement “ will act in good faith toward one
another for the purpose of avoiding disputes.” Under this agreement
the manufacturers guarantee the faithful performance of its provisions
by depositing a cash security equal to 2 weeks’ pay for each employee,
this fund to be drawn upon in case of breach of contract causing
monetary loss to the employee.
The Los Angeles agreements provide that, if and when the coat and
suit industry of New York adopts provisions for unemployment
insurance, a joint committee shall be appointed to discuss the matter
of unemployment insurance for the Los Angeles market. In Seattle
a committee is to be selected by both parties to investigate the matter
of unemployment insurance and to endeavor to find a solution to the
unemployment problem brought on by short seasons in the industry.
All agreements are effective until June 1, 1937, except the Seattle
agreement, which terminates July 1, 1936, and the Los Angeles agree
ment with independent manufacturers, which runs until July 1, 1937.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR TURN-OVER
Labor T u rn -O v e r in M an u factu rin g E stablishm ents,
A ugust 1935
HE August 1935 hiring rate, with one exception, was higher than
that for the corresponding period of any year since 1929. In
contrast, the lay-off rate was lower than during either August 1933 or
August 1934.
The turn-over rates represent the number of changes per 100 em
ployees on the pay rolls during the month. The data were compiled
from reports received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from more
than 5,000 representative manufacturing establishments in 144
industries. Approximately 1,850,000 workers were employed by the
firms reporting to the Bureau in August.
In addition to information for manufacturing as a whole, rates are
presented for 12 separate manufacturing industries. Reports were
received from representative plants in these 12 industries, employing
at least 25 percent of the workers in each industry, according to the
1933 Census of Manufactures.
T
Trend by Months
A lthough the accession rate moved up sharply in August, the
improvement was partly offset by a small advance in the separation
rate. The rise in separations was largely accounted for by increased
lay-offs, due chiefly to seasonal curtailment in the automobile industry.
A contributing factor, however, was a slight rise in discharges. On
the other hand, the quit rate for August showed a decline in comparison
with July. In spite of the moderate increase in separations, the rate
was 16 percent below the level of the corresponding month of last
year.
T ab le 1 .— M on th ly Labor T urn-over R a te s per 100 E m p loyees in R ep resen tative
F actories in 144 In du stries
Class of rate and year
Quit rate:
1934_______________
Discharge rate:
1935
1934_______________
Lay-off rate:
1Q25
1934_______________
Total separation rate:
1935
1934_______________
Accession rate:
19*^5
1934_______________
Janu- Feb March April M ay June
uary ruary
July
Au
gust
Sep Oc N o D e
vem cem
tem tober
ber
ber
ber
0 7fi
.90
0 73
.85
0. 75
.93
0. 93
1.11
1.21
1.01
0. 83
.94
0. 90
.70
0. 86
.75
1.55
0. 73
0. 62
0.58
18
. 18
18
.19
. 17
.21
. 20
.23
. 17
.22
.20
.18
.20
. 19
.21
.19
.16
.19
. 15
.15
2 10
2. 35
1. 88
1.85
2. 32
2.08
2. 60
2.04
3.00
3.65
3.46
3.48
2. 57
2.96
2. 70
3. 56
3. 41
4.38
3.78
2. 72
.3 04
3.43
2 79
2.89
3. 24
3. 22
3.73
3.38
4. 38
4.88
4. 49
4. 60
3.67
3. 85
3. 77
4. 50
5.12
5. 30
4. 55
3. 45
fi .3.3
5.81
4. 23
6.71
3. 79
6.33
3. 63
5.18
3.01
4.19
3.18
3.58
4.17
3.71
4.60
3.24
3. 61
4.09
4.32
6.14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1303
1304
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
The monthly trend of labor turn-over for manufacturing as a whole
is shown in table 1 for 1934 and for the first 8 months of 1935.
Analysis by Industries
T he quit, discharge, lay-off, and accession rates for the 12 indus
tries for which the Bureau’s sample covers a sufficiently large number
of firms to justify the publishing of separate industry figures, are given
by industries in table 2.
In 7 of the 12 industries the hiring rate exceeded the separation
rate. The highest hiring rate was shown in the sawmill industry and
the lowest in petroleum refining. Sawmills also registered the highest
quit and discharge rates, while furniture showed the lowest quit rate,
and iron and steel and petroleum refining the lowest discharge rates.
The highest lay-off rate occurred in the automobile industry, the
lowest in the cigar and cigarette industry.
T able 2.— M o n th ly T u rn -o v er R a te s per 100 E m ployees in Specified In d u stries
Automobiles
Boots and shoes
Bricks
Class of rates
August
1935
Quit rate___________
Discharge rate______
Lay-oil r a te .......... .
Total separation rate.
Accession rate______
0.70
.19
11.81
12.70
4.00
July
1935
0.72
.21
5.02
5.95
2.46
August August
1934
1935
0.82
.24
9. 90
10.96
2.61
Cigars and cigarettes
Quit rate___________
Discharge rate______
Lay-off rate________
Total separation rate.
Accession rate.............
1. 33
.23
.93
2. 49
2.41
1.58
.30
.99
2. 87
2. 65
(>)
(0
(')
(>)
0)
Furniture
Quit rate___________
Discharge rate______
Lay-off rate________
Total separation rate.
Accession rate...........
0. 60
.22
1.81
2. 63
5.93
0.61
.24
1.69
2. 54
6. 47
0.88
.22
1.67
2.77
2.44
1 Rates not available,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0.61
. 10
1.66
2.37
2. 27
0. 43
.15
1.76
2. 34
3. 62
August August
1934
1935
0.89
.23
0. 76
.25
2.30
3.31
1.90
1.10
2.22
5.17
Cotton manufacturing
1.36
.31
2. 08
3.75
5. 50
1.87
.27
3.88
6. 02
4. 68
0.41
.18
3. 43
4.02
4. 79
0.92
.10
1.45
2.47
4.03
(•)
(')
0)
(>)
0)
0.73
.08
.78
1.59
2.64
1.68
.44
3.61
5.73
17. 55
6.00
6. 87
7.62
0.94
.16
2. 84
3.94
1.07
July
1935
August
1934
0.47
.13
7. 30
7.90
8.03
0. 55
.15
9.95
10. 65
6. 69
Foundries and machine
shops
0.80
.25
2.06
3.11
4.22
*
0. 77
.19
3.11
4.07
3. 65
0. 56
.15
3. 94
4. 65
2.72
M en’s clothing
0.93
.15
1.23
2.31
3.26
0.95
.10
1.51
2. 56
4. 47
1.05
.07
1.57
2.69
2.21
Slaughtering and meat
packing
Sawmills
1.67
.48
3.92
6. 07
12. 79
0. 69
.18
0.85
.27
2. 39
3. 51
3.03
Iron and steel
Petroleum refining
Quit r a te -..............
Discharge rate______
Lay-ofl rate________
Total separation rate.
Accession rate______
July
1935
1.14
.49
8.51
10.14
6.21
1.13
.24
6. 65
8.02
7.10
0.72
.28
5. 55
6. 55
6. 37
1.80
.68
7.01
9.49
15.30
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Wages and H o u rs of Labor in P etro leu m R efin eries 1
rERAGE earnings per hour for employees, other than clerical,
in petroleum refineries dropped from 64 cents in May 1929 to 60
cents in May 1933 and rose to 70 cents in November of that year.
In July 1934 the average was 75 cents per hour. Average hours
worked per week declined from 49 in May 1929 to 41 in May 1933.
They were reduced to 35 in November 1933 and were at the same level
in July 1934. During the same periods weekly earnings declined from
$31 in May 1929 to $27 in July 1934.
Average wage rates and average full-time hours declined consider
ably between May 1929 and May 1933. From the latter date wage
rates increased and by July 1934 they were higher than in May 1929 in
practically all occupations. Average full-time hours continued to
decline between May and November 1933, and in the latter month
they were close to the average of 36 permitted under the code. From
November 1933 to July 1934 there was not much change in hours.
Scope and Method
T h e proportion of the industry covered in this article as regards
average rates of pay and average full-time hours per week is larger
than that secured for frequency distribution purposes. Computation
of the average wage rates for the various occupations in five pay-roll
periods 2 was based on reports from refineries located in 28 States
and which employed 75,521 workers in July 1934.3 This represents
approximately 90 percent of the total employees working in the indus* Prepared by Paul H. Moncure and E. K. Frazier, under the direction of J. Perlman, chief of the D iv i
sion of Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions. This is the fourth article in a series covering wages and
hours of labor in the petroleum industry, the 3 preceding articles of which appeared in the July, September,
and October 1935 issues of the M onthly Labor Review. The first dealt with changes in employment and
total pay rolls since M ay 1929 in drilling and production, pipe lines, and refining. The second and third
presented average rates of pay and average full-time hours per week in 5 pay-roll periods since 1929 for
separate occupations on pipe lines and in drilling and production, as well as frequency distributions of
hourly and weekly earnings and weekly hours for a pay-roll period in August 1934.
2 The periods covered were M ay 1929, M ay and November 1933, and M ay and July 1934. The number of
refineries from which information was obtained was somewhat greater during the more recent periods.
M ay 1929 was selected because the Oil Administrator used it as the base for the establishment of wage dif
ferentials. In order to obtain data for a period closely preceding and one closely following the adoption of the
oil code, which became effective in August 1933, the months of M ay and November of that year were se
lected. Data for the months of M ay and July 1934 show the progress made since November 1933.
2 The number of employees reported for the refineries covered during the earlier periods was 80,486 in M ay
1929, 60,962 in M ay 1933, 71,530 in November 1933, and 73,754 in M ay 1934.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1305
1306
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW —-NOVEMBER 1935
try at that time.5 The establishments reported the number of em
ployees, the rate of pay, and the full-time hours per week for each occu
pation in which payment was made on a flat-time rate basis. The
rates of pay obtained were reduced to an hourly basis, and averages
were computed, using the number of employees in each occupation as
a weighting factor. The same procedure was followed in arriving at
the average full-time hours per week. These averages are presented
for 29 important occupations 6 in the industry.
A detailed report as to occupation, total hours worked, and total
earnings in a selected pay-roll period,7as well as the total hours worked
during 1 week within the selected period, was also secured for each of
45,167 workers in 147 refineries located in 27 States.8 From these
figures industry and occupational averages were computed on an
earnings rather than a wage-rate basis, and a distribution of the
hours and earnings around these averages was also made. An
analysis is given in this article for 25 specific occupations and 3
occupational groups.9 As there were only 614 female workers covered
no separate tabulation by sex was made.
A similar survey, covering total hours and earnings of each em
ployee, was made by the Bureau in 1920, and included 80 refineries
in 15 States,10 which employed 42,811 workers. As nearly 90 percent
of the workers covered in 1934 were in the States surveyed in 1920,
direct comparisons may be made between these two periods.
Changes in Average Wage Rates per Hour and Average Full-Time
Hours per Week
C h a n g e s in employment and average earnings of all employees in
petroleum refineries were analyzed in the Monthly Labor Review for
5 These workers were distributed as follows: Arkansas, 406; California, 7,900; Colorado, N ew Mexico, and
Utah, 291; Delaware and Maryland, 1,167; Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, 240; Illinois, 4,185; Indi
ana, 2,477; Kansas and Missouri, 3,651; Kentucky, 525; Louisiana, 3,970; Massachusetts and Rhode Island,
1,019; Michigan, 246; Montana, 313; N ew Jersey, 9,915; New York, 2,221; Ohio, 2,397; Oklahoma, 4,535;
Pennsylvania, 11,058; Texas, 17,574; West Virginia, 463; and Wyoming, 968.
6 In July 1934 there were 48,037 workers employed in these occupations in the States or regions where there
was a sufficient number reported to present occupational averages. The remaining 27,484 were either in
occupations in which too few were reported to present representative averages or there were not enough
in any 1 of the 29 important occupations to justify showing State or regional averages.
7 M ost of the pay-roll periods covered were in August 1934.
8 The States and regions used here, together with the number of employees in each case, are as follows:
Arkansas and Louisiana, 3,430; California, 3,584; Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming,
1,347; Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia, 1,094; Illinois and Indiana, 3,981; Kansas and
Missouri, 2,036; Kentucky and West Virginia, 544; Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1,014; Michigan and
Ohio, 1,484; New Jersey, 6,060; New York, 1,068; Oklahoma, 3,468; Pennsylvania, 7,188; and Texas, 8,869.
8 These groupings, together with the number of employees in each case, were as follows: Boilermakers,
959; boilermaker’s helpers, 639; carpenters, 579; electricians, 427; fillers, packers, and shippers, 1,185; firemen,
stills, 1,239; gagers, 512; laborers, 7,020; machinists, 981; machinists’ helpers, 396; packers, wax, 149; pipe
fitters, 1,095; pipe fitters’ helpers, 2,128; pressmen and press runners, 672; pumpers, 1,856; pumpers’ helpers,
322; still cleaners, 759; stillmen, cracking, 882; stillmen’s helpers,cracking, 1,108; stillmen, straight distillation,
1,777; stillmen’s helpers, straight distillation, 1,325; testers, laboratory, 1,217; treaters, 731; truck and tractor,
operators, 522; welders, 602; supervisory and clerical workers, 3,729; other maintenance and power employees,
6,156; and miscellaneous labor, 6,200.
70 These States were California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1307
July 1935 (p. 13). It was shown that in May 1929 average earnings per
hour were 64 cents, that during the depression they declined and by
May 1933 had gone down to 60 cents. From that point they advanced
rapidly and by November had reached 70 cents, and by July 1934,
75 cents. In May 1929 the number employed was 87,000, as com
pared with 62,000 in May 1933. By July 1934 the number had
increased to 76,000, or 88 percent of the number in May 1929.
As the changes which took place in average wage rates per hour and
in full-time hours per week from May 1929 to July 1934 regionally for
each of 29 occupations were too comprehensive to reproduce in tabular
form in this article,11only a brief summary thereof is here given. Dur
ing the period between May 1929 and May 1933, 83 percent of the
regional occupational average wage rates declined. These reductions
varied from 0.1 percent for pipe fitters in New Jersey to 38.1 percent
for power-house firemen in Kansas and Missouri. Of these regional
occupational decreases in rates, 26 percent were decreases of less than
5 percent, 42 percent were 5 and under 10 percent, and 24 percent
were 10 and under 15 percent; the remaining 8 percent were 15
percent or over.
There were 43 regional occupational wage-rate increases from
May 1929 to May 1933, ranging from 0.1 to 13.4 percent. Eighteen
of them were under 2 percent, 19 were 2 and under 5 percent, and 6
were 5 percent or over.
All occupations in each region showed substantial gains in average
wage rates between May and November 1933, with the exception of
carpenters in Kansas and Missouri and still cleaners in California,
the declines in these cases amounting to 5.1 and 0.6 percent, respec
tively. These increases were sufficiently large to bring the rates in
most of the cases considerably above what they were in 1929. These
gains were due in large part to the wage and hour provisions of the
code, which increased the minimum rates for certain classes of labor.
The reduction of the full-time hours of labor per week also tended
to increase hourly rates for employees paid on a daily, weekly, or
monthly basis.
Wage rates continued to increase generally after November 1933,
although there were many small reductions during both of the suc
ceeding periods covered, especially in California and New Jersey.
The greatest decrease in California between November 1933 and
n A table presenting such data in detail is available in mimeographed form and may be had on request
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It will be useful to those concerned with minute wage analysis. The
table also shows number of employees, average actual wage rates, and full-time hours per week, as well as
index numbers for the rates and hours. The occupations for which the above information is given are
boilermakers; boilermakers’ helpers; carpenters; control men; electricians; chiller engineers; power-house
engineers; fillers of small containers; fillers, packers, and shippers; power-house firemen; still firemen;
gagers; laborers; machinists; machinists’ helpers; pipe fitters; pipe fitters’ helpers; pressmen and press
runners; pumpers; pumpers’ helpers: still cleaners; cracking stillmen; straight distillation stillmen; crack
ing stillm en’s helpers, straight distillation stillmen’s helpers; laboratory testers; treaters; truck and tractor
operators; and welders.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1308
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
May 1934 was 2.8 percent for carpenters, while between May and
July 1934 it was 7.0 percent for controllermen. In New Jersey the
greatest reduction between November 1933 and May 1934 was 2.9
percent for electricians, which is almost identical with the decline in
wage rates for pipe fitters in this State between May and July 1934.
The increases which took place between November 1933 and July
1934 represent further adjustments in wage rates brought about in
part by the Oil Administrator’s order of May 21, 1934, which provided
for “ an equitable adjustment of the differentials between the rates for
skilled jobs and the minimum rates established for common labor”
in the code.
The average wage-rates per hour, classified by occupation and
region, in July 1934 were higher than those in effect in May 1929 in
all but 14 instances and ranged from under 5 to over 40 percent.
Approximately 23 percent of the regional occupational averages in
creased less than 10 percent and 47 percent showed increases of 10
and under 20 percent. In 30 percent of the cases there were increases
of 20 percent or more. Decreases in average rates per hour from
May 1929 to July 1934, 7 of which occurred in occupations in Cali
fornia, ranged from 0.2 percent for laborers in Wyoming and still
cleaners in Louisiana to 11.5 percent for power-house firemen in
Kansas and Missouri.
E ach occupation in each S ta te or region covered showed a decline
in full-tim e hours per week betw een M ay 1929 and M ay 1933, the
only exceptions being laborers in A rkansas, stillm en on cracking units
in California, and stillm en’s helpers on cracking units in M assa
ch usetts an d R hode Island, whose full-tim e hours increased 6.9,
17.9, and 0.3 percent, respectively. T he decreases in full-tim e
hours were quite su b stan tial, alm ost 60 percent of them being 10
and u n d er 20 percent, and nearly 25 percent being 20 percent or more.
Only 15 p ercent of the decreases were less th a n 10 percent. These
reductions in full-tim e hours were m ade to m eet economic conditions
and to spread available w ork am ong as m any employees as possible.
B etw een M ay and N ovem ber 1933 fu rth e r ad justm ents in hours were
m ade in m ost occupations in m ost S tates or regions in order to bring
th e w orking tim e of em ployees into line w ith th e average m axim um
weekly hours (36) p erm itted under th e code. F rom N ovem ber 1933
to Ju ly 1934 there was no im p o rta n t change in full-tim e hours for
em ployees in any occupation.
Average Hourly Earnings
T he 45,167 employees in the 147 refineries covered in A ugust 1934
earned an average of 75.0 cents per hour, w hich is exactly the sam e as
the Ju ly 1934 average in th e larger sam ple covering approxim ately
76,000 employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1309
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 1 shows the distribution of the 45,167 employees according
to average earnings per hour. One-quarter of the workers earned less
than 61.8 cents and another quarter earned more than 87.1 cents per
hour. Only 2.0 percent of the total number received less than 42.5
cents, while 8.1 percent earned 42.5 and under 52.5 cents, the classi
fication within which the minimum stated for common labor in the
code falls.12 The number earning 52.5 and under 77.5 cents was 46.4
percent, or almost one-half of all employees covered, and those re
ceiving 77.5 cents and under $1 constituted 35.5 percent. Only 8.0
percent earned $1 or over per hour.
T able 1.— D istrib u tio n of E m ployees in th e Refining In d u s try A ccording to
A verage H o u rly E arn in g s, 1934
Average hourly earnings
Under 42.5 cents
-- - ____________ ________________
42.5 and under 47.5 cents_________ ____________________
__
____________________
47.5 and under 52.5 cents
52.5 and under 57.5 cents _ ___________________ _______
57.5 and under 62.5 cents
-- __________________________
62.5 and under 67.5 cents____________________
____
67.5 and under 72.5 cents.
________________ _________
72.5 and under 77.5 cents________________________ _______
77.5 and under 82.5 cents
_______________ ___________
82.5 and under 87.5 cents
. ______________________
87.5 and under 92.5 cents ____________ _________________
92.5 cents and under $1.00_____ . . . . _________________
$1.00 and under $1.10 . . . . . . . .
___________ _______
$1.10 and o v e r ._____ . . . ______ . . _________
. . .
Number of
employees
906
614
3, 014
3, 345
3, 979
4,570
4, 677
4,397
4, 571
4,124
3, 670
3, 711
2,329
1,260
Simple
percentage
2.0
1.4
6.7
7.4
8.8
10.1
10.4
9.7
10.1
9.1
8.1
8.2
5.2
2.8
Cumulative
percentage
2.0
3.4
10.1
17.5
26.3
36.4
46.8
56.5
66.6
75.7
83.8
92.0
97.2
100.0
In the 25 specific occupations included in this part of the survey, the
average hourly earnings ranged from 54.6 cents for laborers to 98.1
cents for stillmen on cracking units. All grades of work are included
in the occupations covered. The lowest-paid group of employees,
after laborers, consists of the following occupations: Boilermakers’
helpers; fillers, packers, and shippers; machinists’ helpers; pipe
fitters’ helpers; testers; truck and tractor operators; and wax packers.
The lowest-paid occupation in this group was wax packers, who aver
aged 60.5 cents, and the best paid was testers, with average earnings
of 68.5 cents. The group of occupations consisting of still firemen,
gagers, pressmen and press runners, and still cleaners, had average
earnings of 74.1 to 79.0 cents per hour. Boilermakers, carpenters,
machinists, pipe fitters, pumpers, pumpers’ helpers, stillmen’s helpers
on both types of stills, and treaters, had average hourly earnings
ranging from 81.2 cents for pumpers’ helpers to 89.6 cents for
machinists. The most highly paid major occupations were elec12
The code set minimum rates of pay for common labor, which varied from 45 to 52 cents per hour, accord
ing to geographical division. However, it was also stated that in most of the Southern States “ not more
than 10 percent, constituting common labor only, of the total number of employees in any plant or opera
tion may be paid at not less than 80 percent of this minimum rate. ” The latter provision was evidently
made for colored labor, although the number of such workers found in this survey was not large. Finally,
the code declared that the minimum rates of pay should not apply to what might be termed “ substandard
workers. ”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1310
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
tricians, stillmen on both types of stills, and welders, with average
earnings of 90.4 to 98.1 cents. Average hourly earnings among the
remaining occupational groups were as follows: Supervisory and
clerical workers, 81.3 cents; miscellaneous, maintenance, and power
employees, 76.9 cents; miscellaneous labor, 73.1 cents.
Average hourly earnings by State and region, as presented in table
2, show that employees in New Jersey were the highest paid and those
in Kentucky and West Virginia the lowest paid. The average for all
refinery workers covered in the former State was 82.6 cents as com
pared with 63.0 cents for the latter. The States and regions having
averages from 76 to 78 cents were: California; Illinois and Indiana;
Michigan and Ohio; Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and
Wyoming. In the remaining States and regions, the averages ranged
from 70.0 to 74.0 cents. These States and regions are as follows:
Arkansas and Louisiana; Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, and
Virginia; Kansas and Missouri; Massachusetts and Rhode Island;
New York; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; and Texas. While Kentucky
and West Virginia had the lowest average hourly earnings for all
refinery workers, laborers in these States earned 47.9 cents per hour
as compared with 45.9 cents in Arkansas and Louisiana, where the
general average for all workers was 10 cents per hour higher than in
West Virginia and Kentucky.
In 1934 the average earnings per hour of all employees in the re
fineries covered amounted to 75.0 cents as against 71.4 cents in 1930,
being an increase of 3.6 cents, or 5 percent, during the period.
A distribution of employees by average earnings per hour has been
made for 14 of the leading occupations.13 These figures, which permit
of a more detailed comparison than can be had by examining the
general averages, will be found in table 3.
Very few workers in these occupations other than laborers (5.5
percent) earned under 42.5 cents per hour. Nearly 87 percent of
the laborers earning under 42.5 cents was found in Louisiana and
Texas. Likewise, the largest percentage of employees earning 42.5
and under 52.5 cents per hour was among laborers, 34.2 percent earn
ing this amount as compared with 5.3 percent for pipe fitters’ helpers.
In no other occupation did as many as 1.5 percent of the workers fall
in this earnings group.
A large percentage of the employees earning 52.5 and under 77.5
cents per hour was found in the unskilled and semiskilled occupations.
Nearly 44 percent of the still firemen, 60 percent of the laborers, 66
percent of the gagers, 88 percent of the pipe fitters’ helpers, and 94
percent of the boiler makers’ helpers fell in the above earnings group.
13
These occupations, together with the number of employees in each case, are as follows: boiler makers,
959; boiler makers’ helpers, 639; still firemen, 1,239; gagers, 512; laborers, 7,020; machinists, 981; pipe fitters,
1,095; pipe fitters’ helpers, 2,128; pumpers, 1,856; stillmen, straight distillation, 1,777; stillmen’s helpers,
straight distillation, 1,325; stillmen, cracking, 882; stillmen’s helpers, cracking, 1,108; and treaters, 731.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1311
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 2.— A verage H o urly E arn in g s, by O ccupations a n d by R egions, 1934
Occupation
All occupations.
Boilermakers.........................................
Boilermakers’ helpers_______ _____
Carpenters................ .............................
Electricians........... .................._.............
Fillers, packers, and shippers...........
Firemen, still...... ............ .....................
G agers...................... ............................
Laborers___________________ _____
Machinists_______ ________ ______ _
Machinists’ helpers.______________
Packers, wax.........................................
Pipe fitters.r. . . ....................................
Pipe fitters’ helpers_______________
Pressmen and press runners..............
Pumpers____ ____ _______________
Pumpers’ helpers__________ ______
Still cleaners.......................... ................
Stillmen, cracking_______________ _
Stillmen’s helpers, cracking.............
Stillmen, straight distillation______
Stillmen’s helpers, straight distilla
tion________________ ______ ____
Testers, laboratory_______________
Treaters_________________________
Truck and tractor operators_______
Welders______ ______________ ____
Supervisory and clerical workers___
Other maintenance and power em
ployees___________________ ____
Miscellaneous labor_______________
ArkanUnited sas and
States Louisi
ana
GeorColorado,
gia,
Mon- Maryland,
Kansas
tana,
South Illinois
and
CaliNew
and
fornia Mexico, Caro
M is
lina, Indiana souri
Utah,
and
and
VirWyoginia
ming
$0. 750
$0. 736
$0. 770
$0. 783
$0. 743
$0. 761
$0. 739
$0. 630
.883
.677
.879
.904
.642
.767
.741
.546
.896
.675
.605
.857
.658
.790
.825
.812
.774
.981
.844
.923
.856
.654
.864
.946
.759
.805
.821
.459
.932
.701
(2)
.879
.635
(>)
.853
.843
.422
.995
.825
1.007
.877
(0
.906
.942
.699
.759
.798
.572
.912
.679
C1)
.887
.670
0)
.827
.812
.692
.998
.861
.899
«
(0
(!)
0)
0)
.755
0)
.543
.924
(')
0)
.896
.752
.853
.911
0)
1.255
.936
.789
.959
.973
.647
0)
(>)
.575
.793
(0
.550
.863
(0
(2)
.857
.628
(2)
.770
(2)
0)
(0
.844
.978
.848
.696
.882
.889
.671
.800
.736
.558
.875
(>)
.580
.923
.704
.816
.878
(>)
.819
.951
.859
.952
.787
.700
0)
(>)
.697
.767
0)
.534
.851
0)
(2)
.850
.694
0)
.789
.700
.854
.949
.847
.942
(2)
(2)
0)
(>)
0)
.559
(>)
.479
(')
(')
(2)
0)
0)
(>)
(')
(0
0)
(0
0)
.800
.824
.685
.873
.677
.927
.813
.895
.636
.900
.641
.990
.904
.804
.707
.888
.740
.934
.784
.798
.729
.914
.708
.850
.807
.846
0)
(0
(>)
(>)
.816
.826
.710
.928
.670
.916
.734
.810
.634
.889
0)
(0
.776
(>)
(>)
(0
(>)
0)
.640
.769
.731
.695
.746
.763
.756
.835
.736
.808
.657
.818
.732
.756
.702
.672
.631
Massa
chusetts M ichi New
and gan and
Rhode Ohio Jersey
Island
New
York
Okla
homa
Penn
syl
vania
Occupation
All occupations_______ ____ ______ ________ $0. 741
Boilermakers___________ ____ ____________
Boilermakers’ helpers______________ ______
Carpenters........................... ................. ..............
Electricians_________________________ . . . . .
Fillers, packers, and shippers...........................
Firemen, still___ _____ _______________ ___
Gagers.____ ______ ______ ____ ______ _____
Laborers______ __________________________
M achinists__________ ____________________
M achinists’ helpers_______________________
Packers, wax_______________________ ____ _
Pipe fitters_________________________ _____
Pipe fitters’ helpers......... ..................... ...........
Pressmen and press runners......................... .
Pumpers______ ____ ______________________
Pumpers’ helpers____________________ ____
Still cleaners___________________ __________
Stillmen, cracking______ ____ ____________
Stillmen’s helpers, cracking.______ ________
Stillmen, straight distillation______________
Stillmen’s helpers, straight distillation...........
Testers, laboratory_____________ __________
Treaters__________________ ______ _______ _
Truck and tractor operators..................... .........
Welders____________________ ______ ______
Supervisory and clerical workers___________
Other maintenance and power employees___
Miscellaneous labor______________________
(>)
(')
(0
(>)
0)
.740
(')
.547
.823
0)
(2)
.790
.657
(>)
.807
(>)
(0
(0
.846
.866
0)
.632
(0
0)
0)
.778
.764
.699
Texas
$0. 783
$0.826
$0. 734
$0. 728
$0. 747
$0,704
.817
.703
(0
0)
.701
.791
(>)
.557
.872
(0
(>)
.859
.717
(>)
.910
0)
.725
1.016
<938
.997
.862
.713
.865
.747
0)
.786
.766
.723
1. 035
.713
.974
.982
.776
.843
(0
.629
.993
.731
(0
.957
.709
.875
.898
.880
.834
1.073
.920
1.052
.916
.796
.984
(>)
1.068
.915
.820
.806
.754
.593
(0
(>)
.758
.746
(2)
.582
(0
0)
(2)
.749
.655
.710
.776
(2)
(•)
0)
0)
.939
(0
(0
0)
(>)
(>)
.760
.763
.709
.787
.633
(>)
0)
.615
.739
.709
.544
.780
.663
(2)
.804
.636
.734
.759
«
.933
.936
.789
.833
.736
.669
.791
.645
.893
.780
.734
.725
.871
.674
.900
.888
.671
.754
0)
.568
.909
.659
.641
.853
.639
.779
.820
(0
.829
1.019
.890
.944
.852
.640
.941
.707
.922
.805
.776
.694
.836
.655
.818
.886
.510
.765
.691
.515
.860
.648
(‘)
.779
.611
.754
.797
.760
.597
1.007
.785
.859
.767
.690
.846
.616
.916
.817
.730
.721
1 N ot a sufficient number reported to present averages.
243 6 1 — 35 ------------ 11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Kentucky
and
West
Virginia
2 None reported.
1312
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
In the skilled occupations the majority of the employees earned
82.5 cents or over per hour. The proportion of these employees
ranged from 53.2 percent for stillmen’s helpers on straight distillation
units to 94.3 percent for stillmen on cracking units.14 The two most
highly skilled occupations in the industry are cracking and straight
distillation stillmen. Almost one-third of the straight distillation
stillmen and over two-fifths of the cracking stillmen earned $1 or
over per hour.
T able 3 .— D istrib u tio n o f E m p lo y ees in 14 Im p ortan t O ccup ation s by A verage
H ou rly E arnings, 1934
Boiler
makers
Average hourly earnings
Boiler
makers’
helpers
> fc
©jo
©>
.fa
■sfa w
Q,®
** tu
<d £ fa g © 4g
'S fa B g P g
S 8 aS sgo
fa ©
Q&
m
m
||
Under 42.5 cents________
42.5 and under 47.5 cents.47.5 and under 52.5 cents..
52.5 and under 57.5 cents..
57.5 and under 62.5 cents..
62.5 and under 67.5 cents..
67.5 and under 72.5 cents..
72.5 and under 77.5 cents..
77.5 and under 82.5 Cents._
82.5 and under 87.5 cents..
87.5 and under 92.5 cents..
92.5 cents and under $1___
$1 and under $1.10..............
$1.10 and over.....................
0.1
.2
.4
3.1
7.4
11.1
14.2
14.7
13.5
14.5
10.4
10.4
0.1
.3
.7
3.8
11.2
22.3
36.5
51.2
64.7
79.2
89.6
100.0
Pipe
fitters’
helpers
Under 42.5 cents________
42.5 and under 47.5 cents..
47.5 and under 52.5 cents..
52.5 and under 57.5 cents..
57.5 and under 62.5 cents..
62.5 and under 67.5 cents..
67.5 and under 72.5 cents..
72.5 and under 77.5 cents..
77.5 and under 82.5 cents..
82.5 and under 87.5 cents..
87.5 and under 92.5 cents..
92.5 cents and under $1___
$1 and under $1.10_______
$1.10 and over___________
0.1
5.2
6.6
23.7
23.8
22.7
11.0
2.7
2.3
.5
.9
.5
........
0.1
5.3
11.9
35.6
59.4
82.1
93.1
95.8
98.1
98.6
99.5
100.0
........
0.3
3.1
23.1
20.6
25.0
21.6
3.3
1.6
.8
.2
.2
.2
0.3
3.4
26.5
47.1
72.1
93.7
97.0
98.6
99.4
99.6
99.8
100.0
Firemen,
stills
Gagers
.2 to
>§>
âa
©*
©.2 fa §
3
§
'S
a
■a
a
G© S g c © S 2
fa © 3 g fa © fa ©
m
On m
0.1
.6
.7
1.5
2.6
6.5
11.7
21.6
31.3
18.4
4.4
.6
0.1
.7
1.4
2.9
5.5
12.0
23.7
45.3
76.6
95.0
99.4
100.0
0.8
.6
.4
1.8
2.9
6.2
39.4
15.8
14.1
11.3
3.1
1.6
1.6
.4
Laborers
Machin
ists
s tc
©
.fa
«S
© 5 fa "gfa
"S 3
afa ©
©
OP
m
la
S I
■a g s s
a s 3 00
o a
M
n bo
Stillmen, Stillmen’s
straight
helpers, Stillmen, Stillmen’s
helpers,
distilla
straight
cracking cracking
tion
distillation
0.5
.4
2.7
6.0
8.5
17.4
15.6
16.5
12.0
12.1
7.7
.6
0.7
.2
.5
2.0
1.8
5.8
10.6
9.5
17.6
20.4
21.3
9.6
0.7
.9
1.4
3.4
5.2
11.0
21.6
31.1
48.7
69.1
90.4
100.0
1.4
.3
2.6
6.4
6.8
8.9
20.4
19.9
14.5
16.6
1.7
.5
Q.®
fcfi
<d £
"p p
fa ©
œ
>U
©
.fa
S |
fa g
s3 s®
O»
0.8 5.5 5.5
1.4 5.0 10.5
0.2 0.2
.2
1.8 29.2 39.7 0.1 0.1 . . . . .
3.6 30.7 70.4
.2
.4
.3
6.5 16.6 87.0
.5
.8 2.5 2.9
12.7 8.2 95.2
.5 1.3 3.1 6.0
52.1 2.8 98.0 5.2 6.5 7.6 13.6
67.9 1.2 99.2 4.7 11.2 7.7 21.3
82.0
.5 99.7 13.7 24.9 13.4 34.7
.2 99.9 13.8 38.7 17.2 51.9
93.3
96.4
.1 100.0 19.2 57.9 19.3 71.2
98.0
26.9 84.8 18.6 89.8
99.6
13.2 98.0 8.2 98.0
100.0
2.0 100.0 2.0 100.0
Pumpers
0.5
.9
3.6
9.6
18.1
35.5
51.1
67.6
79.6
91.7
99.4
100.0
Pipe
fitters
1.4
1.7
4.3
10.7
17.5
26.4
46.8
66.7
81.2
97.8
99.5
100.0
0.7
2.3
2.7
4.6
17.7
29.4
29.0
13.6
0.7
3.0
5.7
10.3
28.0
57.4
86.4
100.0
0.9
.6
.9
1.4
4.2
11.2
20.3
20.2
22.6
15.4
1.8
.5
0.9
1.5
2.4
3.8
8.0
19.2
39.5
59.7
82.3
97.7
99.5
100.0
Treaters
0.1
.3
1.0
3.8
4.1
12.9
12.3
11.8
19.8
17.9
13.4
2.6
0.1
.4
.4
1.4
5.2
9.3
22.2
34.5
46.3
66.1
84.0
97.4
100.0
The distribution of all employees by average earnings per hour for
the^.years 1920 and 1934 which appears in table 4 shows that approxi
mately the same percentage of employees were earning under 50
cents per hour in the 2 periods—7.1 percent in 1920 and 6.1 percent
in 1934. Likewise, the percentage earning more than $1 an hour is
approximately the same in each of the two years. However, within the
14
The percentages for the other skilled occupations were 60.5 for stillmen’s helpers on cracking units,
63.5 for boiler makers, 65.3 for pipe fitters, 65.5 for treaters, 75.1 for machinists, and 78.4 for stillmen on straight
distillation units.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1313
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
range of 50 cents to $1 an hour, a marked upward shift took place.
Thus, in 1920, 45.3 percent of the workers earned 50 and under 70
cents, whereas in 1934 only 36.2 percent were included in this range.
On the other hand, only 19.1 percent of the workers earned 80 cents to
$1 an hour in 1920, while in 1934, 30.3 percent earned this amount.
T able 4 .— D istrib u tio n of E m ployees in th e Refining In d u s try b y A verage
H o u rly E arn in g s, 1920 an d 1934
1934
1920
Average hourly earnings
Under 30 cents__________ _____________________________
30 and under 35 cents----------- -----------------------------------------35 and under 40 cents_____________ _____ - .............. .....................
40 and under 45 cents_____________________________________
45 and under 50 cents_________ ____________________ _______
50 and under 60 cents_______________ . - ..................... ................
60 and under 70 cents______________________ _______ ________
70 and under 80 cents_____ _____ ___ ____________________ .
80 and under 90 cents_____ ________ _________ ____________
90 cents and under $1............. ........... _
_________________
$1 and under $1.25________________________________________
$1.25 and under $1.50________________ ____________________
$1.50 and over________________ ____________________________
Simple
percent
age
(>)
0.3
.4
2.3
4.1
21.3
24.0
20.8
10.6
8.5
7. 1
.5
.1
Cumula Simple Cumula
tive per percent tive per
centage
centage
age
(*)
0.3
.7
3.0
7.1
28.4
52.4
73.2
83.8
92.3
99.4
99.9
100.0
(>)
(0
1.0
1.4
3.7
15.4
20.8
19.5
18.0
12.3
7.1
.7
.1
0)
(')
1.0
2.4
6.1
21.5
42.3
61.8
79.8
92.1
99.2
99.9
100.0
'Less than Ho of 1 percent.
Average Weekly Hours
I n A ugust 1934 the average weekly hours of all employees were
35.6, which average is very close to that of 35.0 hours for the larger
sample in July.15 Table 5 shows a distribution of the 45,167
employees according to hours worked per week.
In examining this table, the provisions in the code relating to hours
should be taken into consideration. The code stated that “ the
maximum hours for clerical employees shall not exceed 48 hours in
any 1 week nor more than 80 hours in any 2 weeks.” It also declared
that “ All other employees * * * except executives, supervisors
and their immediate staffs, * * * shall not work more than 40
hours in any 1 week, nor more than 72 hours in any 2 weeks, nor more
than 16 hours in any 2 days.” 16
The distribution of employees in table 5 shows that 9.9 percent
worked a week of less than 32 hours. Almost one-half of these workers
were found in 5 occupations—namely, laborers, pipe fitters, pipe
fitters’ helpers, still cleaners, and other maintenance and power
employees. It will be seen that 46.5 percent worked a week of 36
and under 40 hours. Most of these employees worked 36 hours, as
many firms had established a straight 36-hour week.
15 See July 1935 issue of M onthly Labor Review.
>« Executives and supervisors receiving less than $35 per week were later included under this provision.
On the other hand, the latter afterwards exempted employees who might be termed substandard workers.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1314
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
Nearly all of the 19.1 percent who worked a week of 32 and under
36 hours worked 32 hours; and nearly all of the 21.2 percent who
worked a week of 40 and under 44 hours worked 40 hours, as some
firms operated their plants on a basis of 32 hours one week, followed by a
week of 40 hours. Slightly over 3 percent of the employees worked a
week of 44 hours or more. This group contained many of the clerical
and supervisory workers.
T able 5 .— D istrib u tio n of E m ployees in th e R efining In d u s try by W eekly
H o u rs, 1934
Weekly hours
Under
16 and
32 and
36 and
40 and
44 and
16_____ ______
.
..
_
___
under 32________ _________________
________ _______
under 36______________________ _____ _____ ________
under 40 _________________ _______ ____ ..
_______
under 44 ____________ _
_______
.
............
over______________________________ __ _ .
____ ____
Number of Simple per
centage
employees
635
3,822
8,622
20,988
9,595
1,505
1.4
8. 5
19.1
46.5
21. 2
3.3
Cumula
tive per
centage
1.4
9.9
29.0
75.5
96.7
100.0
There was very little difference in the average weekly hours among
the 25 specific occupations. The actual figures ranged from 32.3 for
still cleaners to 36.4 for gagers. The somewhat shorter hours for the
former occupation was to be expected, as their work is not of a con
tinuous nature. This is also true of the occupation of fillers, packers
and shippers, which averaged 33.7 hours. Laborers worked an aver
age of 34.9 hours, which is very close to the average of all employees
in refineries.
Supervisory and clerical workers averaged 38.9 hours per week.
The code provided higher hours for supervisory and clerical workers
than for other occupations and occupational groups.
A distribution of employees by weekly hours for the 14 leading
occupations is shown in table 6. Less than 9 percent of the employees
in each of the 14 important occupations, except laborers, machinists,
pipe fitters, and pipe fitters’ helpers, worked under 32 hours. In the
case of laborers, 14.2 percent worked under 32 hours, as compared with
10 percent for machinists, 12.5 percent for pipe fitters, and 15.8 for their
helpers.
In all occupations the largest number of employees worked 36 and
under 40 hours, the modal group in each case, as stated above, being36 hours. In 6 occupations, namely, boilermakers, boilermakers’
helpers, laborers, machinists, pipe fitters, and pipe fitters’ helpers, over
one-half of the employees worked 36 and under 40 hours. In fact,
among the boilermakers and their helpers, 71.5 and 64.3 percent,
respectively, worked these hours.
Slightly over one-fourth of the still firemen, gagers, pumpers,
stillmen and their helpers on both types of stills, and treaters worked a
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1315
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
week of 40 and under 44 hours. A small percentage of employees in
each occupation worked a week of 44 hours or over, the highest being
5.9 for gagers.
T able 6.— D istrib u tio n of E m ployees in 14 Im p o rta n t O ccupations by W eekly
H ours, 1934
Boiler*
makers
Weekly hours
bß
g©
0 bß ■g-g
ft g
0« ¡1
o »
53
Under
16 and
32 and
36 and
40 and
44 and
16 _ _____________
under 32___ ______
under 36_________
under 40_________
uner 44__________
over_____________
Boiler
makers’
helpers
S
ftg
as
go
.£ §>
ö
©
R
ö
Gagers
S ©bß
s ©bß A
.5
n,®
bß
US ^
©
.g
©
"3 §
ft g d o 'S g 3§ 2§
a s 3 <®
a ©
o n
m
Ö
s
Laborers
Machin
ists
*-i „
©
la
a CuO S 3
©
a fl
ft g 2a s©
as S ©
ó
s
{>
■JJ ©
3 g
Q.g | g
a ® 3 ®
Oa
m
h
©
. S bß
Pipe fit
ters
äs
ft g
as
OQ
1 s
p
3 <S
Ü
2.2 2.2 1.7 1.7 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.6 2.6
6. 2 8.4 6.7 8.4 5.7 6.0 7.4 7.6 11.9 14.2 7.9 10.0 9.9 12. 5
12.4 20.8 16.3 24.7 25. 9 31.9 21.1 28.7 17.0 31.2 18.2 28. 2 18.5 31.0
71.5 92. 3 64.3 89.0 39.9 71. S 39.2 67.9 54.2 85.4 58.1 86.3 52.5 83.5
6.7 99.0 9.1 98.1 25.8 97.0 26.2 94.1 10.5 95.9 11.4 97.7 11.6 95. 1
1.0 100.0 1.9 100.0 2.4 100.0 5.9 100.0 4.1 100.0 2.3 100.0 4.9 100.0
Pipe fit
ters’ help Pumpers
ers
Linder 16____ _________
16 and under 32_________
32 and under 36---- --------36 and under 40_ ______
40 and under 44_________
44 and over_____________
Firemen,
still
Stillmen, Stillmen’s
Stillmen’s
helpers,
straight
helpers,
straight Stillmen,
cracking cracking
distilla
distilla
tion
tion
Treaters
1.7 1.7 0.8 0.8 0. S 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.9 1.5 1.5
14. 1 15.8 6.4 7.2 6.3 7.1 6.6 7.1 6.9 7.5 7.9 8.8 6.7 8.2
16.1 31.9 27.4 34.6 24. 6 31.7 27.2 34.3 22.3 29.8 26.6 35. 4 23.4 31.6
52.4 84.3 37.4 72.0 38.7 70.4 35.3 69.6 40.7 70. 5 34.3 69.7 39.1 70.7
10.9 95.2 25.4 97.4 25.0 95.4 27.2 96.8 25.8 96.3 28. 1 97.8 25.7 96.4
4.8 100.0 2.6 100.0 4.6 100.0 3.2 100.0 3.7 100.0 2.2 100. 0 3. 6 100.0
As regards all employees, irrespective of occupation, there was
little variation in the average hours worked among the several States
and regions covered, as the lowest average was 34.3 hours for the
region comprising Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia,
and the highest 37.0 hours for Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Averages by specific occupations and occupational groups for each
of the States and regions covered will be found in table 7. For
laborers, the largest single occupational group, there was a narrow
range in the regional averages, from 33.2 hours in Illinois and Indiana,
as well as in Michigan and Ohio, to 35.6 in Texas and 37.3 hours in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The lowest average for any
occupation or occupational group in any State or region was 26.8 hours
for still cleaners in Kansas and Missouri, and the highest was 40.4 for
supervisory and clerical workers in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico,
Utah, and Wyoming.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1316
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 7.— A verage W eekly H o u rs, b y O ccupations a n d by R egions, 1934
Occupation
Colo Geor
rado,
gia,
M on Mary
Arkan
tana,
land, Illinois Kansas
United sas and Cali
New
South
and
and
States Louis fornia Mexico, Caro Indi
M is
Utah,
iana
lina,
souri
ana
and
and
W yo
Vir
ming
ginia
All occupations.................. ..............
35.6
35.7
35.8
36.4
34.3
34.4
34.8
Boilermakers....................... ...........
Boilermakers’ helpers... ______ ___
Carpenters.......... I _____ _____ _____
Electricians......................... ..................
Fillers, packers, and shippers______
Firemen, s till..______ I . __________
Gagers.................................................
Laborers. . . ________________
M achinists_____________ ________ _
M achinists’ helpers______ ____ ___
Packers, wax . . I _______ ______
Pipefitters__ _______ __________ .
Pipe fitters' helpers_______________
Pressmen and press runners
Pumpers____ I ................................... .
Pumpers’ helpers........ .............. .........
Still cleaners.1 ___________________
Stillmen, cracking_____________ _
Stillmen’s helpers, cracking____. . .
Stillmen, straight distillation____. .
Stillmen’s helpers, straight distilla
tion______________ ____
Testers, laboratory....... ................
Treaters_______I_________________
Truck and tractor operators_______
Welders__________.’______________
Supervisory and clerical workers___
Other maintenance and power em
ployees________________________
Miscellaneous labor............... ..............
35.1
35. 2
35. 6
35.8
33. 7
35.7
36.4
34.9
35.1
35. 7
34.8
35.1
34.9
35.4
35. 4
35. 2
32.3
35.9
35.4
35.9
34.9
34.3
36.6
34.4
33.1
34.9
35.8
35.3
35.4
35.2
35.4
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
31.8
34.4
35.3
34.9
37.3
34.8
33.8
(9
(9
33.6
32.9
33.8
33.8
35.2
36.1
35.9
33.2
32.6
(9
34.8
37.1
36.8
36.0
36.5
34.4
33.6
35.9
(9
(9
<9
(9
36.4
36. 1
34.9
36.6
32.7
35.2
36.3
35.3
36.0
35.2
35.5
36.7
33.3
31.3
(9
(9
(9
(9
36.7
35.6
35.7
35.5
35.4
33.7
31.5
36.3
35.6
36.0
(9
(9
(9
29.0
36.2
35.9
36.2
(9
33.7
33.3
(9
35.1
(9
(9
(9
36.1
30.7
32.9
35.3
35.2
(9
34.8
35.6
31.8
35.0
32.5
35.5
(9
(9
(9
(9
34.8
35.9
33.5
33.4
(9
(9
33.9
33.7
(9
35.4
35.7
26.8
36.0
35.1
34.9
35.8
34.6
36.0
35.8
32.8
39.2
36.2
36.1
36.4
35.8
36.2
38.4
36.6
36.8
38.0
36.0
36.8
40.4
(9
(9
(9
(9
37.3
34.8
35.9
34.2
33.7
31.3
37.9
35.1
35.9
34.0
35.7
34.8
36.2
36.0
36.7
34.4
35.1
33.8
35.1
34.7
35.5
Massachu- Michsetts
igan
and
and
Rhode Ohio
Island
New
Jersey
New
York
Oklahoma
vania
Occupation
36.0
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
35.7
36.3
35. 5
35.5
34.9
38.9
35.5
Ken
tucky
and
West
Vir
ginia
36.7
34.6
34.0
(9
(9
38.8
36.1
34.8
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
36.4
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
38.7
36.0
35.9
Texas
All occupations.......................... ..........................
37.0
36.0
35.4
35.9
35.5
35.8
35.9
Boilermakers................................. .......................
Boilermakers’ helpers........... ...............................
Carpenters............................................................
Electricians_________ ______________ _____
Fillers, packers, and shippers......... ..................
Firemen, still.................. .............. ................ .
Gagers............................................................. .......
Laborers................ ................................................
Machinists___________ _______ ____ _____ _
M achinists’ helpers................................. ............
Packers, wax____________________ ________
Pipe fitters....................................... .....................
Pipe fitters’ helpers............................... .............
Pressmen and press runners_______________
Pumpers........ .......................................................
Pumpers’ helpers...... ....................... ................. .
Still cleaners....... ............................................... .
Stillmen, cracking............................................ .
Stillmen’s helpers, cracking.............................
Stillmen, straight distillation...... ......................
Stillmen’s helpers, straight distillation_____
Testers, laboratory_________ _____ ________
Treaters..................................................................
Truck and tractor operators____ _____ _____
Welders___ ______ _______________________
Supervisory and clerical workers______ ____
Other maintenance and power employees___
Miscellaneous labor.............................................
(9
(0
0)
0
(0
36.2
35.8
35. 3
36.1
35.3
36.2
(9
(9
36.1
36.0
(9
(9
(9
(9
36.1
35.7
36.4
36.1
36.2
34.2
35.4
0)
(9
35.0
34.6
36.0
36.0
35.1
35.6
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
35.8
36.3
35.6
37.2
31.0
35.8
37.8
35.6
36.0
35.9
37.3
36.3
0)
(9
33.2
36.7
(9
(9
39.9
37.6
36.5
34.9
(9
(9
(9
(0
(9
(9
35.4
35.2
35.9
(9
37.2
0)
0)
(9
39.9
37.3
36.0
35.4
35.8
36.2
34.6
35.6
35.0
36.0
35.7
37.7
(9
38.9
36.2
36.8
1 N ot a sufficient number reported to present averages.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
34.0
36.1
37.1
34.2
35.5
35.9
35.5
35.2
36.1
36.1
35.8
34.9
35.9
38.3
34.6
(9
34.4
39.1
34.7
35.5
35.4
36.0
35.2
36.0
35.8
35.2
35.5
(9
(9
(9
(9
36.5
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
39.1
36.1
36.1
33.7
35.6
36.0
35.0
34.2
35.3
(9
(9
35.4
33.7
35.7
34.9
35.5
36.0
35.7
34.0
35.4
35.3
34.1
35.7
(9
(9
27.1
36.4
36.2
35.4
35.4
36.3
35.9
34.9
36.0
39.4
35.5
36.0
34.9
35.9
35.5
36.0
35.6
36.2
36.0
35.8
34.6
37.2
35.5
35.8
2 None reported.
(9
36.3
34.7
35.4
35.8
34.5
36.7
36.0
35.9
37.0
35.8
36.9
35.5
35.8
35.3
39.5
35.4
36.3
1317
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average Weekly Earnings
T h e a v e r a g e weekly earnings of all employees amounted to
$26.66, as compared with weekly earnings of $27 in July for the
larger sample covered for employment and pay rolls.17 Table 8
presents a distribution of the 45,167 employees according to their
weekly earnings. The figures are the actual weekly earnings of
these employees (including part-time as well as full-time workers).
It is shown in the table that 6.3 percent earned less than $16 during
the week covered by this survey. The largest number of employees
in any one earnings group (22.0 percent of the total), was in the class
earning $24 and under $28.
During the week covered, one-quarter of the employees earned less
than $21.50 and one-quarter earned over $31.71. Only 11.0 percent of
all the workers earned as much as $36.
T able 8.— D istrib u tio n of E m ployees in th e R efining In d u s try by W eekly
E arn in g s, 1934
Weekly earnings
Under $8___________
$8 and under $16................... . .........................
$16 and under $20_____ ______ _____ _____ _______________
$20 and under $24_________ ___________________________
$24 and under $28_____________________________________
$28 and under $32________________ . __________________
$32 and under $36______________ ___ . . . ___ ______ _ .
$36 and under $40________ ___ ___ _ ____ _____ ____ ___
$40 and under $48______________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __ _
$48 and over____________________ ____ _________________
Number of
employees
476
2,328
5,269
8,593
9,995
7, 778
5,786
2,966
1,609
367
Simple
percentage
1.1
5.2
11.7
19.0
22.0
17.2
12.8
6.6
3.6
.8
Cumulative
percentage
1.1
6.3
18.0
37.0
59.0
76.2
89.0
95.6
99.2
100.0
Average weekly earnings among the 25 specific occupations ranged
from $19.03 for the unskilled occupation of laborers to $35.21 for the
skilled occupation of stillmen on cracking units. The occupations
wherein workers averaged in excess of $30 per week were boilermakers,
carpenters, electricians, machinists, pipefitters, stillmen on both types
of stills, treaters, and welders. The average weekly earnings of
gagers, still firemen, pressmen and press runners, pumpers and their
helpers, and stillmen’s helpers on both types of stills ranged from
$27.01 to $29.85. Wax packers, truck and tractor operators, boiler
makers’ helpers, fillers, packers and shippers, machinists’ helpers,
pipefitters’ helpers, testers, and still cleaners, averaged from $21.04
to $24.98. The averages of the three remaining occupational groups
were $31.64 for supervisory and clerical workers, $26.98 for other
maintenance and power employees, and $26.26 for miscellaneous labor.
Outside of Kentucky and West Virginia, the average weekly earn
ings of all employees among the several States and regions amounted
to $25 or more, but in no district did they exceed $29. The average
for Kentucky and West Virginia was $22.66, which was due to the
relatively low hourly earnings of employees in these States, as the
average hours worked amounted to 36.
17 See July 1935 issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1318
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER
1935
T able 9.— A verage W eekly E arn in g s by O ccupations an d b y R egions, 1934
Arkan
United sas and Cali
States Louisi fornia
ana
Colo
rado,
Mon
tana,
New
Mex
ico,
Utah,
and
Wyoming
Geor
gia,
Mary
land, Illinois Kansas
South and In and
M is
Caro diana
lina,
souri
and
Vir
ginia
All occupations__________ ___ ____
$26. 66
$26.23
$27.55
$28.49
$25. 52
$26.17
$25.71
$22. 66
Boilermakers........ .............. ..................
Boilermakers’ helpers........................ Carpenters__________ ______ _____
Electricians___________________ . .
Fillers, packers, and shippers____ . .
Firemen, still____________________
Gagers_______ _________________
Laborers_________________________
M achinists_____ _________ ___
M achinists’ helpers_______________
Packers, w a x .. . . ______________
Pipefitters_____ ___________ ____
Pipefitters’ helpers_______________
Pressmen and press runners_______
Pumpers____ . . ________ ______
Pumpers’ helpers________________
Still cleaners__________ _________ .
Stillmen, cracking________________
Stillmen’s helpers, cracking_______
Stillmen, straight distillation______
Stillmen’s helpers, straight distilla
tion______________ _____ . ___
Testers, laboratory____ __________
Treaters__________________
____
Truck and tractor operators_______
W elders.................. . . ____________
Supervisory and clerical workers___
Other maintenance and power em
ployees___________ ______ . . .
Miscellaneous labor . . . . . . . . . . .
31.02
23.85
31. 32
32. 38
21. 62
27.40
27.01
19.03
31.45
24.07
21.04
30.12
22. 97
27.95
29. 25
28. 56
24.98
35.21
29.85
33.11
29.90
22.45
31.64
32. 55
25.12
28.08
29. 39
16.19
32.98
24. 67
0
31.95
22.95
(>)
29.80
30.89
13.81
35.02
29. 96
35.52
31.02
0)
31. 56
34.94
25. 75
27.31
29.17
19.70
30.60
24.37
0
31. 95
23. 59
0)
29. 27
27.40
21.79
36. 27
30. 67
32.41
0)
0
0
0
0
28.12
0
19.28
33.87
0
(*)
32.83
26.80
30.47
32.31
0
36. 42
33.89
28.35
34. 75
30.96
22.25
i 1)
0
20.02
26.78
0)
18. 32
27.03
0)
(2)
28.87
20.89
(2)
27.04
(2)
0
0)
29. 33
34.80
28.53
22.89
29.84
30.03
23. 62
28.92
26.41
18. 55
28. 53
0
20.93
28.37
23.17
28.83
30. 91
(0
26.08
33.22
27.90
33.78
27. 78
24.45
0
0)
24.28
27.52
0)
17.88
28.47
0)
(2)
28.82
23.41
0)
27. 93
25. 00
22.94
34.18
29. 77
32.92
(2)
(2)
i 1)
0
0)
20.16
0
16. 69
i 1)
0
(2)
0
0
0)
0
(!)
(!)
0)
0)
29.16
29.43
24.87
31.01
24.05
32.31
31.64
32.02
22.02
32. 36
22.99
32.47
35.39
29.11
25.50
32.28
26.51
33. 83
30.15
29. 25
26.80
34. 75
25.44
31.31
32.58
30.06
0
C1)
0
0)
30.43
28. 76
25. 53
31. 76
22. 61
28. 71
27.83
29. 77
21.90
30.18
0
0
30.12
0)
0)
(0
C1)
(l)
24. 76
26. 98
26. 26
23.63
26. 67
26. 59
27. 33
30.07
27.01
27.84
23.04
27. 66
25. 69
26. 23
24.87
24. 21
22.68
Massa
chu Michi
gan
setts
New
and
and
Jersey
Rhode Ohio
Island
New
York
Okla
homa
Penn
syl
vania
Occupation or occupational group
Occupation or occupational group
Ken
tucky
and
West
Vir
ginia
Texas
All occupations____ _____________ ________ $28. 21
$27. 39
$29. 22
$26. 35
$25.87
$26. 69
$25. 27
Boilermakers............... ...............................
Boilermakers’ helpers......... .................. ..............
Carpenters______ _______________________
Electricians-...................... .............. ....................
Fillers, packers, and shippers______________
Firemen, still___ _____________ ________
Gagers____ ______________________________
Laborers _ .
. . . ____________
Machinists---- -- -----------------------------------M achinists’ helpers_________ ____ _ - ____
Packers, wax_______ ____ ______________
Pipefitters______ _____ _____ _____________
Pipefitters’ helpers_______________________
Pressmen and press runners.. . ____________
Pumpers...... ............ _
. _________
Pumpers’ helpers________________________
Still cleaners____ _____ ______ _______
.
Stillmen, cracking._______________ ______
Stillmen’s helpers, cracking____ . _______
Stillmen, straight distillation______________
Stillmen’s helpers, straight distillation_____
Testers, laboratory_______________________
Treaters_________________________________
Truck and tractor operators._______ _______
Welders___________________________
Supervisory and clerical workers___________
Other maintenance and power employees___
Miscellaneous labor___ ________ __________
29. 55
25.18
00)
25. 32
28.48
«
18.50
31.98
0
«
31.34
25.04
(')
32.17
0
25. 97
36.82
32.45
35.50
30.15
25.64
30.91
28.15
(0
30. 65
27. 70
26.62
36.91
25.97
35.16
35. 54
36.53
29.83
«
21.40
35.89
27.09
0
32. 75
25. 21
31.45
31.86
30.92
30.13
38.80
32. 94
36.73
32.88
30.47
33. 99
«
36. 71
35.73
28.47
28.60
26.62
21.44
0)
0
26. 82
26.86
0
20.49
0
0
0
26.92
23. 48
25.02
27.54
0
(i)
0
(0
34.22
0
0
0
0
(0
29.74
27. 52
25.61
27. 77
22.91
(i)
0
20. 71
26.31
25.50
19. 03
26. 65
23.41
0
28. 47
21. 41
26.23
26.47
0
25. 33
34.09
28. 53
29. 46
26.08
24. 28
28.44
22. 51
32.14
30. 72
26.09
26.10
30.48
23.29
32.38
31.93
23.54
26.84
0
20.18
32. 69
23. 53
21.79
30. 21
22. 56
26.58
29.22
0
28. 95
36. 55
31.58
33.98
30. 38
23.19
33.86
25.30
31.89
31. 03
27.53
24.88
29.91
23. 78
29.11
32.95
15. 83
27. 38
26.10
18.33
30.93
23.27
i1)
28.29
21.19
26. 72
28.50
26.20
21.92
36.21
28.20
31.79
27. 51
25.44
30.07
22.04
32. 37
32.25
25.88
26.20
0
0)
(•)
0)
C1)
26.73
0)
20.44
29.89
0)
(2)
31. 51
24. 73
0)
28. 60
0
0
I1)
29.79
31.06
(0
23.50
0)
(0
0
31.02
28.48
25. 21
1 N ot a sufficient number reported to present averages.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 None reported.
1319
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
The average weekly earnings of laborers amounted to less than $20
in the following States and regions: Arkansas and Louisiana; Cali
fornia; Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming;
Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia; Illinois and
Indiana; Kansas and Missouri; Kentucky and West Virginia; Michi
gan and Ohio; Oklahoma; and Texas. They were slightly in excess
of $20 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Lork,
and Pennsylvania. The highest weekly earnings were $38.80 for
still men on cracking units in New Jersey. Regional averages for
separate occupations are shown in table 9.
A distribution of employees by weekly earnings for the 14 leading
occupations is shown in table 10. Almost 18 percent of the laborers
earned less than $16 during the week covered by this survey, and
nearly 75 percent earned $16 and under $24. Among the mechanical
occupations, 53.6 percent of the boilermakers, 55.0 percent of the
pipefitters, and 5 7 .7 percent of the machinists earned $28 and under
$36. Nearly one-half, or 47.5 percent, of the stillmen on cracking
units received $36 and under $48, as compared with 30.9 percent for
stillmen on straight distillation units.
T ab le 1 0 .— D istrib u tio n o f E m p loyees in 14 Im p ortan t O ccup ation s b y W eekly
E arnings, 1934
Boiler
makers
Weekly earnings
» 8,
03
|8
CQ
Under $8-------- -------$8 and under $16........
$16 and under $20----$20 and under $24----$24 and under $28----$28 and under $32----$32 and under $36----$36 and under $40---$40 and under $48----$48 and over................
0.7
1.8
1.0
5.3
17.4
33.2
20.4
8.2
Boiler
makers’
helpers
8®
©^
Gagers
&
a
©
0.3 0.2
.7 1.0 1
3.9
9.4 3.3 4.3 4. 1
46.0 12.4 16.7 16.4
91.4 37.5 54.2 42.6
97.8 29.8 84.0 16.0
100.0 14.4 98.4 11.7
1.5 99.9 6.1
0.6 0.3
.1 100.0
Pumpers
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Machin
ists
Pipe
fitters
S <D
•S tx>
$33
P. 3
On
0.2 2.2 2.2 0.9
2.1 15.5 17.7 1.7
6.2 41.1 58.8 1.1
ft tì
as
3®
O
a
3 §
0.9
Stillmen, Stillmen’s
helpers,
cracking cracking
1.4 1.4
3.9
2.4 6.3
5.1 11.4
18.2 29.6
32.2 61.8
22.8 84.6
11.8 96.4
3.2 99.6
.4 100.0
2.6 2.5
3.7
22.6 33.1 91.9 3.7 7.4
65.2 6.9 98.8 14.3 21.7
.9 99.7 30.3 52.0
81.2
.2 99.9 27.4 79.4
92.9
.1 100.0 15.4 94.8
99.0
1.0 100.0 0 100.0 3.8 98.6
1.4 100.0
Under $ 8 - ............................ 1.1 1.1 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.6
I and under $16................. 8.0 9.1 1.4 1.9 1.4 1.7 1.3
.2 1.9 4.0
10.6 19.7 3.0 4.9
$16 and under $20
34.3 54.0 11.2 16.1 2.4 4.3 3.
$20 and under $24
8.3 23.
4.0
43.1
34.5 88.5 27.0
$24 and under $28
$28 and under $32................ 8.1 96.6 24.5 67.6 16.4 24.7 28.7
26.9
50.3
25.6
86.6
19.0
2.3 98
$32 and under $36...............
. 8 99.7 9.1 95.7 31.6 81.9 9.6
$36 and under $40-..............
1.4
97.8
15.9
99.9
4.2
. 2 99.9
$40 and under $48................
.1 100.0 2.2 100.0
.1 100.0
$48 and over------------------i Less than Vi o of 1 percent.
Laborers
3§
3§
lHp ia> P«g
as aa
as as
3®
s
®
Oa
O P> 33 o P*
11.4
.6
Pipe
fitters’
helpers
Firemen,
stills
)
Stillmen, Stillmen’s
helpers,
straight
straight
distilla
distilla
tion
tion
Treaters
0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6
1.1 1.7 1.6 2.0 2.2 2.8
I.7
3.4
2.9
4.9
1.9
4.7
3.2 6.6 8.1 13.0 5.5 10.2
10.6 17.2 24.4 37.4 17.2 27.4
23.1 40.3 30.9 68.3 26.8 54.2
27.3 67.6 19.1 87.4 22.4 76.6
19.3 86.9 10.6 98.0 17.5 94.1
2.0 100.0 5.8 99.9
II 98.5 6
.1 100.0
1.5 100.0
.
1320
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
A verage A n n u a l Wage and Salary P aym ents in M ining
and Q u a rry in g in O hio, 1916 to 1933 1
H E average annual wage an d salary p ay m en t to persons em
ployed in 1933 in coal m ining in Ohio was $669; in fire-clay
nnm ng, $598; in lim estone quarrying, $861; and in sandstone q u arry
ing, $659. ^ T h e average wage and salary p ay m en t was higher in
1933 th a n in 1932 in coal and fire-clay m ining and lower in lim estone
an d sandstone quarrying. T h e average num ber reported em ployed
was higher in all four industries in 1933 th a n in 1932.
T his article covers coal m ining, fire-clay m ining, lim estone q u arry mg, and sandstone quarrying for 1916 to 1933. I t also includes some
inform ation concerning gypsum m ining for th e years in which a
sufficient n um ber of m ines were operating to perm it tab u latio n of
re tu rn s w ith o ut disclosing inform ation concerning individual mines.
T
Source and Scope of Study
T h is stu d y is based on reports m ade annually by em ployers, as
required by Jaw, im m ediately afte r the close of each calendar y ear
to the division of labor statistics, D e p a rtm e n t of In d u strial R ela
tions of Ohio. R eports covering em ploym ent, wage and salary p a y
m ents, production, etc., are requested of all m ines an d quarries,
regardless of the num ber of persons em ployed. C ooperative mines
and those in which the owner does his own work also are requested
to supply production d ata. T he re tu rn s are compiled p ro m p tly by
the Ohio D ivision of L abor S tatistics and an annual re p o rt covering
m ines and quarries was published for 1 1 of the 18 years covered by
this stu d y . R ep o rts have n o t been published in p rin ted form for the
years 1930 to 1933, b u t m im eographed copies of im p o rta n t tables
h av e been m ade available.
T h e annual reports made by employers show the number of per
sons employed, on both tonnage and time basis, on the 15th of each
month or the pay roll nearest the 15th. The averages were computed
by dividing the total of the monthly figures by 1 2 . Employers are
requested to report total wage and salary payments in dollars, includ
ing bonuses and premiums and value of board and lodging furnished,
but are instructed not to include salaries of officials. The average
annual wage and salary payment was computed by dividing the total
wage and salary payment for the year by the average number of
persons employed. These averages should not be taken as exact
measures but as approximate figures. Average annual wage and
salary payments as here computed do not show full-time earnings,
■B y Bred C. Croxton, Columbus, Ohio, and Frederick E. Croxton, Columbia University
t h e M o Z l v 1TSa h Vr r R 6
R e v i f r fo i April 1935
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
fT *
— ®“ d
A series of
payments in oth<* industries in Ohio was published in
gmnmS m JanUary 1934' A SeC° nd S6rieS b6gan in the M onthly Labor
1321
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
as employers are not requested to furnish, in connection with their
annual reports, full information concerning number or proportion
of employees on full time, part time, and overtime. Employers are
requested to report the number of days worked in certain occupations
in coal mining and, within classified groups, the number of days other
types of mines and quarries are in operation. Full-time earnings may
be either greater or less than the computed average. The changes
from year to year do not afford any measure of changes in wage or
salary scales or rates of pay.
Coal M in ing
T h e average number of persons (not including superintendents and
managers) reported employed in and around coal mines in Ohio in
1933 was 21,731, which was an increase of 6,997, or 47.5 percent, over
1932 and an increase of 815, or 3.9 percent, over 1929. The average
in 1933 was slightly less than in 1930 and 1931. These averages do
not include persons engaged in cooperative mining and owners who
do their own work.
Total wage and salary payments to wage earners in coal mining in
Ohio in 1933 were greater than in 1932 by $4,843,804, or 51.0 percent,
and less than in 1929 by $8,888,463, or 38.3 percent.
The average annual wage and salary payment to wage earners and
office help combined in 1933 was $669, which was an increase of $10,
or 1.5 percent, over 1932 and a decrease of $455, or 40.5 percent, from
the 1929 average.
Table 1 shows the average number of persons, exclusive of superin
tendents and managers, reported employed in and around coal mines
for each of the years 1916 to 1933. Persons engaged in cooperative
mining and owners who do their own work are not included in these
averages.
During the 18 years covered, the highest average number reported
employed was 50,078 in 1918 and the lowest 13,601 in 1928. The
second highest average was in 1920 and the second lowest in 1932.
T able 1.— A verage N um b er R e p o rted E m ployed in Coal M ining in Ohio, 1916 to
1933
Year
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Mines
reporting
Average
number
of per
sons em
ployed
752
1,206
1,333
1,162
1,343
1,053
1,423
1,230
37,028
45,669
50,078
41,339
49,096
42,376
34,268
46,008
32,056
1,000
Year
1925
1Q9!fi
1Q97
1Q2R
1929
1930
1931
1Q32
1933
_______________
__________
________ ____ _______________
........ ....................
________ _____ __
______ _____ ____
........................... .
______ ____ _____
Average
number
Mines
of per
reporting sons em
ployed
889
879
858
714
679
672
808
784
860
27,977
27,444
15,096
13,601
20,916
21,923
22,500
14,734
21,731
1322
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Table 2 shows total wage and salary payments to each of three
general occupation groups. Payments to superintendents and
managers are included in this table, but data for that group are not
included elsewhere in the coal-mining section of this study.
The highest total payment to wage earners was made in 1920 and
the second highest in 1923. The lowest total payment to wage
earners was made in 1932 and the second lowest in 1933.
T able 2 .— T o ta l W age and Salary P a y m en ts in Coal M in in g in O hio, 1916 to
1933, b y G eneral O ccup ation G roups
Total wage and salary payments
Year
1916________________
1917____ ______ _______
1918_____ ____ ______
1919__________ _ _ ___
1920_______________
1921_____________ _ _
1922................. ............
1923____________ ____
1924________________
1925____________ __ _
1926_______________ .
1927................................
1928_______ _______
1929_______________ _
1930______________
1931—_______ _____ _
1932................................ .
1933___________ .
Mines
reporting
Wage
earners
Office
help
780 $27,478,784 $331,750
1,200
44,245,175
697,491
1,336
65,193,723
993,803
1,166
48,381, 250
660,558
1,343
81,199,766 1,021,923
1,053
58, 233, 539
822,984
1,422
49, 207,817
775,684
1,218
70,237,283
757,645
997
46,636,940
521,393
875
39,523,515
486, 295
876
41,182,024
417,053
855
21,561,757
354,841
719
17,831,225
247,399
681 2 23,223,857 2 277,587
674
20,405,126
257,995
809
16, 691,396
339,723
784
9,491,590
217,320
860
14,335, 394
211,335
Subtotal
Superin
tendents
and
managers
$27,810,534
0)
44,942, 666
(>)
66,187,526
0)
49,041,808
(')
82,221,689
(0
59,056,523
(>)
49,983,501
(1)
70,994,928
(0
47J 5 8 ,333
(>)
40,009,810
(0
41,599,077 $1,192,801
21,916,598
990,818
18,078,624
633,112
2 23,501,444
2 721,985
20,663,121
679,755
17,031,119
535,217
9,708,910
430,817
14, 546,729
406,549
Grand
total
W
(')
(’)
(')
0)
(0
(')
(>)
(0
(1)
$42,791,878
22,907,416
18,711,736
2 24,223,429
21,342,876
17,566,336
10,139,727
14,953,278
1 Data not requested prior to 1926.
2 N ot including wage and salary payments to employees for the production of 149,396 tons in 1 mine.
Table 3 shows average annual wage and salary payments to em
ployees, exclusive of superintendents and managers, in and around
coal mines in Ohio. Both tonnage and time workers are included
in this table as well as in other tables in this study.
The highest average annual payment during the 18 years was in
1920, and the second and third highest were in 1923 and 1926. The
lowest average annual payment was in 1932, the second and third
lowest were in 1933 and 1916.
T able 3 .
A verage A nnual W age and Salary P a y m en ts to E m p lo y ees in Coal
M in in g in O hio, 1916 to 1933
Mines
Average
reporting annual
number wage and
em
salary
ployed 1 payment
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
752
1,206
1,333
1,162
1,343
1,053
1,423
1,230
1,000
$751
984
1,322
1,186
1,675
1,394
1,459
1,543
1,471
Year
1925_____________________
1926_____________________
1927_____________________
1928_________________
1929______________
1930_________________
1931____________
1932_________________
1933_________________
Mines
Average
reporting annual
number wage and
em
salary
ployed 1 payment
889
879
858
714
679
672
808
784
860
$1,430
1,516
1,452
1,329
1,124
'943
757
659
669
m hThe nu™ber ° f mines reporting total wage and salary payments for the years 1916 to 1919 and 1922 to
1931 was not exactly the same as the number here shown (see table 2).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1323
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 4 shows the average number of days worked per year in
certain occupations or groups of occupations in coal mining. The
reports of the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics state that in com
puting these averages “ average days worked per pick-miner, loader,
and employee of strip mines, are weighted according to number
employed in each classification.”
T able 4.— A verage N u m b er of D ays W orked per Y ear by E m ployees in Coal
M ining in Ohio, 1916 to 1933
Year
1916 _
_______
1917_____________
1918 ___________
1919. __________
1920
1921 ____________
1922
1923
1924
Average number of days
worked by—
Average number of days
worked by—
Loaders
(hand),
includ
ing
drillers
and
shooters
in
machine
mines
Loaders
(hand),
includ
ing
drillers
and
shooters
in
machine
mines
Employ
ees
of strip
ping
mines
151
151
88
168
187
177
171
124
145
178
242
185
219
181
190
155
211
148
Pickminers
in
pick
mines
182
188
205
148
179
89
120
141
162
197
204
221
160
197
136
94
156
143
Employ
ees
of strip
ping
mines
(!)
(i)
’ 232
164
218
91
147
118
122
Year
1925_____________
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929_____________
1930_____________
1931_____________
1932___ ____ _____
1933_____________
Pickminers
in
pick
mines
170
162
149
170
201
151
154
144
167
1 N ot reported.
Table 5 shows fluctuation of employment in coal mining during
the 18 years. Maximum employment was 56,850 in November
1922, and minimum employment 5,499 in May 1932. Employment
was second lowest in April 1922. This table covers all employees
in and around the mines except superintendents and managers.
Table 6 shows indexes of average number of persons employed
and total and average annual wage and salary payments in coal
mining in Ohio. Data for superintendents and managers are not
included in any of the three items. The base used in computing
these indexes is 1926.
The 1933 index of employment was 79.2, of total wage and salary
payments 35.0, and of average annual wage and salary payments 44.1.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1324
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
T ab le 5.— N um b er R ep o rte d E m p lo y ed in C oal M ining in Ohio, 1916 to 1933
[This table includes all persons employed in and around the mines except superintendents and managers]
1921
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
January______________________________
February_____________________________
March------------------ -------------------- -------April_________________________________
M ay_________________________________
June_________________________________
July_________________________________
A ugust.—------- ----------------------------------September___________________________
October----------------------------- ------------November------------------ ------------ ..
December_______________ . . . . ----------
36,348
36,980
36,855
29, 792
32,839
35,378
37, 296
38,399
39, 217
39,937
40, 541
40,754
42,715
42,787
42,332
41, 584
43,164
45,216
46,063
47,176
47, 711
48,405
49,461
51,412
49, 606
50,115
50, 614
49,851
50,150
50, 605
51,453
51,487
50, 615
50,503
48, 505
47,435
44, 784
41,324
40,725
40,963
42,491
44,447
45,280
47, 732
48,362
48,451
10,187
41,327
48,112
47,216
47,106
46, 008
46,979
48,355
48, 758
50,012
50,437
51,217
51,835
53,120
47,196
43,228
41,500
37,796
39,263
40,975
41,129
41,979
43, 018
45, 249
45,719
41,464
Maximum__ ____ _______ _____________
Minimum___________________ _______
Variation from maximum:
Number___________ . . ---------- Percent-----------------------------------------
40, 754
29, 792
51,412
41,584
51,487
47,435
48,451
10,187
53,120
46,008
47,196
37,796
10,962
26.9
9,828
19.1
4,052
7.9
38,264
79.0
7,112
13.4
9,400
19.9
Month
1927
1923
1924
January..------- ----------------------------------February________ ________ _____ _______
M a r c h ..---------- -- ------------------ -------April_________________________________
M ay_________________________________
June_________________________________
July----------------------- --------------------------A u g u s t ...---- ----------------------- _ --------September---------- ------------------------------October--------------------------------------November--- --------------- ----------------- __
December____________________ ______
41, 604
42, 265
42,111
5, 661
5,971
6,790
7,628
34, 794
54, 748
56,150
56,850
56,646
53,498
52, 210
51,085
47, 595
46,361
45,365
43,175
42,166
44,154
44,287
42,043
40,160
38,920
39,441
37,246
29, 541
27,278
26, 905
27,869
28,335
30,500
32,546
32,583
33, 503
32,937
32,663
30,256
24,086
24,494
23,836
. 22, 516
25,001
27,379
29, 219
31,417
31,919
31,218
29, 788
28,336
25,805
22,871
21, 945
20, 702
21,120
24,842
30,138
35,742
36,819
34,636
34, 755
34,002
7, 664
7,129
7,325
7,303
7, 824
9,012
9,876
10,407
11,220
Maximum___________________________
M inimum-----------------------------------------Variation from maximum:
Number____________________ _____
Percent______________ ________ ____
56,850
5,661
53,498
40,160
39,441
26,905
32,937
22, 516
36,819
20,702
34,755
7,129
51,189
90.0
13,338
24.9
12,536
31.8
10,421
31.6
16,117
43.8
27, 626
79.5
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
January..........................................................
February------------------------------------------March...... ................ . .................................
April----------- -------------------------------------M ay------------------ ----------------------- -----June_________________________________
July--------- ------ ----- ------ --------------------August......... .......... ............... ......... ..........
September____________________________
O ctober-------------------------------------------November_____________ ________ ______
December_____________________ _______
9,409
9,805
10,058
9, 511
10,323
11,620
12, 783
14,194
16, 213
18,190
20,412
20,692
20,932
21,700
21,440
19, 618
18,788
19, 276
18,478
20,470
21,366
22,411
23,248
23,264
22,837
22,686
22,081
21,347
20,554
20,661
20,604
21,086
21, 738
22,899
23,192
23,390
23,917
23,842
23,188
22,060
20,858
20,075
20,101
21, 227
23,079
23,833
23, 848
23,965
22,925
18,946
16,810
10,222
5,499
6, 211
9, 057
11,185
15,034
18,892
20, 248
21,776
21,113
21,125
19,914
18,777
17,144
17,171
19,403
21,962
24,020
25,989
27,338
26,813
M aximum____________________________
M inimum_____________ _____________ _
Variation from maximum:
Number.................................................. .
Percent--------- -------------------------------
20,692
9,409
23,264
18,478
23,390
20,554
23,965
20,075
22,925
5,499
27,338
17,144
11,283
54.5
4,786
20.6
2,836
12.1
3,890
16.2
17,426
76.0
10,194
37.3
Month
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1925
1926
1922
Month
1933
1325
WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
T able 6.— Indexes of A verage N u m b er E m ployed an d A nnual W age a n d Salary
P ay m en ts in Coal M ining in Ohio, 1916 to 1933
[1926=100.0]
A verage
num ber
em ployed
Year
W age and salary
p aym en ts
T otal
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
134.9
166.4
182. 5
150.6
178.9
154.4
124.9
167. 6
116 8
_
A verage
num ber
em ployed
Y ear
T otal
Average
66.9
108.0
159.1
117.9
197.7
142.0
120.2
170.7
113.4
49.5
64.9
87.2
78.2
110.5
92.0
96.2
101.8
97.0
W age and salary
p aym en ts
1925______________
1926______________
1927______________
1928______________
1929_________ ____
1930______________
1931____ _________
1932____ _________
1933______________
101.9
100.0
55.0
49.6
76.2
79.9
82.0
53.7
79.2
96.2
100.0
52.7
43.5
56.5
49.7
40.9
23.3
35.0
A verage
94.3
100.0
95.8
87.7
74.1
62.2
49.9
43.5
44. 1
Fire-Clay Mining
T he average num ber of persons, including all inside and outside
em ployees, reported em ployed in fire-clay m ining in Ohio in 1933
w as 574, w hich w as higher than in 1932 by 24, or 4.4 percent, and
lower than in 1929 b y 911, or 61.3 percent.
Total wage and salary payments to wage earners in 1933 exceeded
the 1932 payments by $54,846, or 22.2 percent, and were less than
the 1929 payments by $1,463,493, or 82.9 percent.
The average annual wage and salary payment, considering all
inside and outside employees, in 1933 was $598, which was $6 6 , or
12.4 percent, above the 1932 average and $647, or 52 percent, below
the 1929 average.
Table 7 shows the average number of persons, including super
intendents and managers, employed inside and outside fire-clay
mines in Ohio each year, 1916 to 1933. During the 18 years covered,
the highest average number reported employed was 1,703 in 1925
and the lowest was 550 in 1932. Following 1927 the average number
decreased each year until 1933, when there was a slight increase over
the preceding year.
T ab le 7.— A verage N um b er R ep o rted E m ployed in F ire-C lay M ining in O hio,
1916 to 1933
Year
1916-............................... ...............
1917...............- ................... .............
1918_________________________
1919
......................... ...........
1920 ______ ______ ____ _____
1 9 2 1 ...............................................
1922 ________________________
1923__________ _____ ___ ____
1924
_________ ____
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Average
num ber
M ines
reporting of persons
em ployed
103
112
100
104
97
98
99
110
108
1,245
1,602
1,166
1,133
1,086
996
1,139
1,433
1,581
Year
1925 ______ _________________
1926...................... .................. .......
1927.................................. - .............
1928—
- ________ _________
1929
. .............. ................. .
1930
.....................................
193i
............................ .........
1932 ................................ .............
1933.............. - .................................
A vreage
num ber
M ines
reporting of persons
em ployed
108
110
105
112
108
107
98
82
85
1,703
1,664
1,668
1,586
1,485
1,266
965
550
574
1326
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Table 8 shows total wage and salary payments to each of three
general occupation groups. Total payments to wage earners and
to the three occupation groups combined were highest in 1924 and
lowest in 1932. Following 1924 payments decreased each year until
1933, when there was an increase over 1932.
T ab le 8 .— T o ta l W age and Salary P a y m en ts in F ire-C lay M in in g in Ohio, 1916
to 1933, b y G eneral O ccup ation G roups
Total wage and salary payments
Mines
reporting
Year
Wage earners
1916_____
1917_____
1918____ _
1919_______
1920_____
1921_______ _
1922_______ .
1923___________
1924...............
1925
______________________
1926
___________
1927_______ .
1928_____________ . .
1929_____________
1930_________ . . .
1931_____________
1932_____ ____________
1933_____ ___________ ____
_
104
112
101
104
97
98
99
110
109
107
107
104
112
109
107
96
82
85
(0
0)
$1,145,355
1,252,806
1,524, 457
1,157,827
1,411,402
2,108,426
2,536,027
2,437,723
2,356,008
2,184,430
1,942,166
1,765,712
1,299,534
704,467
247,373
302,219
Office help
0)
0)
$19, 535
19,943
13,587
17,887
7,425
14, 534
22,986
16,733
24,693
12,923
10,988
11,014
8,455
11,049
6,083
4, 779
Superinten
dents and
managers
Total
$982,396
1,350, 295
1,216,656
1,322,215
1,586, 570
1,235,790
1,468,501
2,199,590
2, 634,266
2,535,257
2,473,235
2,287,633
2,028,511
1,848,436
1,380,419
777,483
292,824
343,302
0)
0)
$51,766
49,466
48, 526
60, 076
49,674
76,630
75,253
80, 801
92,534
90,280
75,357
71,710
72,430
61, 967
3.9,368
36,304
1 N ot reported.
Table 9 shows average annual wage and salary payments, con
sidering all employees including superintendents and managers, in
fire-clay mining. The highest average annual payment during the
18 years was $1,666 in 1924 with a decrease each year until the
lowest average, $532, was reached in 1932. The average in 1933
was higher than in 1932, but it was second lowest of the 18 years.
T ab le 9.
A verage A nnual W age and Salary P a y m en ts to E m p loyees in FireC lay M in in g in O hio, 1916 to 1933
Year
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
Mines
Average
report
annual
ing num wage and
ber em
salary
ployed 1 payment
103
112
100
104
97
98
99
110
108
$789
843
1,043
1,167
1,461
1,241
1,289
1, 535
1,666
Mines
Average
report
annual
ing num wage and
ber em
salary
ployed > payment
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930.
1931.
1932.
1933.
108
110
105
112
108
107
98
82
85
$1,489
1,486
1,371
1,279
1,245
1,090
806
532
598
b ™ ® nu m ber°f mines reporting total wage and salary payments for the years 1916,1918, 1924-27.1929,
and 1931 was not exactly the same as the number here shown. (See table 8.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1327
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 10 shows the number of days, by classified groups, fire-clay
mines were in operation, 1916 to 1933. In supplying this informa
tion, employers were instructed to “enter number of full days mine
was in operation, reducing part time to full time before entering
figures.”
Less than 150 days during the year was the operating time of 13
out of 110 fire-clay mines in 1926, 18 out of 108 in 1929, 68 out of
82 in 1932, and 66 out of 83 in 1933.
T a b le 10. — C la ssifie d N u m b e r o f D a y s F ir e -C la y M in e s in O h io W ere in O p era
t io n , 191 6 t o 1933
Number of mines operating—
Mines re
200 but
250 but 300 days
porting Less than 100 but
150 but
150 under 200 under 250 under 300 and
over
100 days under
days
days
days
days
Year
1916________________________
1917_____________ __________
1918________________________
1919________________________
1920________________________
1921_____ ___________________
1922___________________ ____
1923___ ____ ________________
1924_________________ ____ ___
1925________________________
1926 _______________________
1927 _______________________
1928 ___ _____ ______________
1929 ____ ____ ____ __________
_________ __________
1930
1931________________________
1932
..........- - ...........................
1933
98
107
102
107
98
98
99
110
107
108
110
106
112
108
107
97
82
83
3
5
7
9
8
17
9
7
6
3
6
4
12
8
20
36
52
44
8
5
10
15
8
16
8
6
7
5
7
10
9
10
17
20
16
22
8
11
7
17
11
21
14
13
10
8
11
10
18
17
23
24
9
9
20
24
24
23
25
20
18
14
15
19
19
19
22
32
28
8
3
5
40
44
36
31
38
20
38
50
46
48
46
45
40
30
14
7
2
3
19
18
18
12
8
4
12
20
23
25
21
18
11
11
5
2
Indexes of average number of persons employed and total and
average annual wage and salary payments in fire-clay mining are
shown in table 11. Data for superintendents and managers are
included. The base is 1926. The 1933 index of employment was
34.5, of total wage and salary payments 13.9, and of average annual
wage and salary payments 40.2.
T a b le 11. — I n d e x e s o f A v e r a g e N u m b e r E m p lo y e d a n d A n n u a l W a g e a n d S a la r y
P a y m e n t s in F ir e -C la y M in in g in O h io, 191 6 t o 1933
[1926=100.0]
Year
Average
number
employed
Wage and salary
payments
Year
Total
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
74.8
96. 3
70.1
68.1
65.3
59.9
68.4
86.1
95.0
24361— 35-------12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
39.7
54. 6
49.2
53.5
64.1
50.0
59.4
88.9
106.5
Average
number
employed
Average
53.1
56.7
70.2
78.5
98.3
83.5
86.7
103.3
112.1
1925_____________
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929_____________
1930____ _________
1931.......... ............ 1932._____ _______
1933____ _________
102.3
100.0
100.2
95.3
89.2
76.1
58.0
33.1
34.5
Wage and salary
payments
Total
102.5
100.0
92.5
82.0
74.7
55.8
31.4
11.8
13.9
Average
100.2
100.0
92.3
86.1
83.8
73.4
54.2
35.8
40.2
1328
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
L im estone Q u arryin g
T he average number of persons reported employed in limestone
quarrying in Ohio in 1933 was 2,490, which was higher by 10 0 , or
4.2 percent, than in 1932 and lower by 1,201, or 32.5 percent, than in
1929.
Total wage and salary payments to all employees in 1933 were
less than the 1932 payments by $66,612, or 3.0 percent, and less than
the 1929 payments by $3,517,679, or 62.1 percent.
The average annual wage and salary payment, considering all
employees, in 1933 was $861, which was $64, or 6.9 percent, below the
1932 average and $673, or 43.9 percent, below the 1929 average.
Table 1 2 shows the average number of inside and outside employees,
including superintendents and managers, reported in limestone
quarrying in Ohio each year, 1916 to 1933. During the 18 years
covered, the highest average number employed was 4,149 in 1925 and
the lowest 2,390 in 1932. Following 1927 the average number em
ployed decreased each year until 1933, when the average increased
over the preceding year.
T able 1 2 .— A verage N u m b er R e p o rted E m p lo y ed in L im estone Q uarrying in
Ohio, 1916 to 1933
Year
1916
..................... ..................
1917
........................................
1918
1919_________________ _____
1920__________________ ____
1921_______________________
1922
1923 ..........
1924
Average
Quarries number
reporting of persons
employed
118
112
103
99
103
113
113
120
116
3,782
3,085
3,451
3, 204
3,418
3,087
3,175
3,795
4; 060
Year
1925-______________________
1926____________ _____ _____
1927____________ ______ ____
1928____________ _________
1929_______________________
1930............... ...............................
1931...............................................
1932.............................................
1933-...........................................
Average
Quarries number
reporting of persons
employed
119
119
114
122
121
123
135
137
131
4,149
3,954
4,051
3; 936
3,691
3,330
2,770
2,390
2; 490
Total wage and salary payments to each general occupation group
are shown in table 13. Total payments to all occupation groups
combined were highest in 1927. Total payments decreased each year
following 1927 and reached the lowest amount during the 18 years
covered in 1933.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1329
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T ab le 13. — T o ta l W age and Salary P a y m en ts in L im eston e Q uarrying in O hio,
1916 to 1933, b y G eneral O ccup ation G roups
Total wage and salary payments
Quarries
reporting
Year
Wage earners
1916_____________________ ____ __
1917___________________________
1918___ _______________________
1919___________________________
1920____ ____ __________________
1921___________________________
1922___________ ________________
1923___________________________
1924______ _____ ._ ____ _________
1925_________________ ____ _____
1926___________________________
1927___________________________
1928...................... ............................. .
1929___________________________
1930_______________ _____ ______
1931_____ _____________________
1932___________________________
1933........- ______________________
117
111
103
99
103
113
113
120
116
119
119
114
122
122
123
135
137
132
0)
(>)
$3, 493, 349
3, 508, 577
4,644, 510
(D
(0
0)
5,182,691
5, 299,691
5, 214, 505
5, 588,960
5, 314, 651
4,999,347
4,124, 449
2, 725,918
1, 787,633
1,783, 592
Office help
0)
(■)
$121,552
155,385
174, 358
«
(»)
(■)
258, 449
354, 435
294,317
256, 608
255, 799
350,970
260, 263
232, 264
202,979
196, 522
Superintend
ents and
managers
Total
$2, 706,862
3,101,117
3, 766, 651
3,853, 111
5, 029, 740
23,844,866
24,043,153
25, 199,319
5, 702, 051
5,993, 397
5,818,410
6,166, 702
5,893,184
5, 662, 517
4,665,175
3, 215, 282
2,211, 450
2,144,838
(■)
0)
$151, 750
189,149
210,872
0)
(>)
0)
260,911
339, 271
309, 588
321,134
322,734
312, 200
280, 463
257,100
220,838
164, 724
1 N ot reported.
s Unable to determine from data available whether total wage and salary payments include payments to
superintendents and managers.
Average annual wage and salary payments, considering all em
ployees including superintendents and managers, are shown in table
14 for 1916 to 1933. The highest average annual payment during
the 18 years covered was $1,534 in 1929 and the lowest $716 in 1916.
The second lowest average was $861 in 1933.
T able 14. — A verage A nnual W age and Salary P a y m en ts to E m p loyees in L im e
ston e Q uarrying in O hio, 1916 to 1933
Year
1916________ _____ _________
1917__________ ____________
1918_______________________
1919________ ______________
1920_______________________
1921........ .......................................
1922 ................... - ......................
1923_______________________
1924_______________________
Quarries
report
ing i
Average
annual
wage and
salary
payment
118
112
103
99
103
113
113
120
116
$716
1,005
1,091
l' 203
1, 472
! 1,246
s 1, 273
2 370
1, 404
Year
1925...........................................
1926...... ........................ ..............
1927_______________________
1928 ___ _____ _____________
1929 _________ ____ ________
1930 .............................................
1931.............................................
1932............... ............................. .
1933_________ ____ _________
Average
Quarries annual
report wage and
ing 1
salary
payment
119
119
114
122
121
123
135
137
131
$1,445
l" 472
1,522
1,497
1,534
1, 401
l' 161
'925
861
* The number of mines reporting total wage and salary payments for the years 1916, 1917, 1929, and 1933
was not exactly the same as here shown (see table 13).
* Unable to determine whether total wage and salary payments include payments to superintendents and
managers.
Table 15 shows the number of days, by classified groups, limestone
quarries were in operation, 1916 to 1933. Employers were instructed
to “ enter number of full days the quarry was in operation, reducing
part time to full time before entering figures.”
Less than 150 days during the year was the operating time of 49
out of 120 limestone quarries in 1926, 40 out of 121 in 1929, 77 out of
137 in 1932. and 87 out of 132 in 1933.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1330
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 15.— Classified N u m b er of D ays L im estone Q uarries in Ohio W ere in
O peration, 1916 to 1933
Number of quarries operating—
Quarries
200 but
250 but 300 days
reporting Less than 100 but
150 but
150 under 200 under 250 under 300 and
over
100 days under
days
days
days
days
Year
1 916..................- .............. ............
1917........................... ......................
1918.................................. ..............
1919_______________ _________
1920 ______________________
1921________________________
1922________________________
1923______ __________________
1924________________________
1925............ ....................................
1926________________________
1927________________________
1928________________________
1929________________________
1930_________________ _______
1931 . . . .
______________
1932....................... ..........................
1933________________ _______ _
112
101
103
99
103
113
113
120
116
119
120
114
122
121
123
135
137
132
18
19
16
14
22
15
22
27
24
24
25
20
18
21
21
39
48
61
33
23
24
19
17
30
24
23
19
17
24
15
23
19
27
34
29
26
17
24
17
14
12
26
26
20
20
20
16
20
24
22
22
25
32
26
14
13
14
20
19
13
9
16
22
16
15
27
31
31
44
18
17
8
16
13
22
18
16
10
14
21
18
20
16
16
14
14
14
9
10
14
17
19
18
13
13
22
24
16
12
14
9
13
6
7
6
5
4
Table 16 shows indexes of average number of persons employed and
total and average annual wage and salary payments in limestone
quarrying. Data for superintendents and managers are included.
Indexes are omitted for the years prior to 1924 as data for superin
tendents and managers are not reported for some of those years as
noted in table 13. The base is 1926. The 1933 index of employment
was 63.0, of total wage and salary payments 36.9, and of, average
annual wage and salary payments 58.5.
T able 16.—-Indexes of A verage N u m b er E m ployed an d A nnual W age an d
Salary P a y m e n ts in L im estone Q uarrying in Ohio, 1924 to 1933
[1926 = 100.0]
Year
Average
number
employed
Wage and salary
payments
Year
Total
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
102.7
104.9
100.0
102.5
99.5
98.0
103.0
100.0
106.0
101.3
Average
number
employed
Average
95.4
98.2
100.0
103.4
101.7
1929_____________
1930........ ..................
1931_______ ____ 1932_____ ____ _
1933____ _________
93.3
84.2
70.1
60.4
63.0
Wage and salary
payments
Total
97.3
80.2
55.3
38.0
36.9
Average
104.2
95.2
78.9
62.8
58.5
Sandstone Q u arryin g
T h e average number of persons reported employed i n sandstone
quarrying in Ohio in 1933 was 783, which was 107, or 15.8 percent,
higher than in 1932, and 580, or 42.6 percent, lower than i n 1929.
Total wage and salary payments to all employees in 1933 were
greater than the 1932 payments by $28,576, or 5.9 percent, and less
than the 1929 payments by $1,116,761, or 68.4 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1331
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
The average annual wage and salary payment, considering all
employees, in 1933 was $659, which was $62, or 8.6 percent, below
the 1932 average, and $539, or 45.0 percent, below the 1929 average.
Table 17 shows the average number of inside and outside employees,
including superintendents and managers, reported in sandstone
quarrying in Ohio each year, 1916 to 1933. The highest average
number employed during the 18 years covered was 2,118 in 1917, the
lowest was 676 in 1932, and the second lowest was 783 in 1933.
T able 17.— A verage N u m b er R e p o rted E m ployed in S an d sto n e Q uarrying in
Ohio, 1916 to 1933
Year
Average
Quarries number
reporting of persons
employed
1916___________ ___________
1917...............................................
1918_________ _____________
1919_______________________
1920_______________________
1921___________ ______ _____
1922_______________________
1923 ____
_ . _____
1924_________ _____ ________
1,865
2,118
1, 783
1,625
1,612
1,383
1,339
1,669
1,802
44
60
49
44
46
42
48
51
49
Average
Quarries number
reporting of persons
employed
Year
1925_______________________
1926_______________________
1927_______________________
1928________ ______________
1929_______________________
1930_______________________
1931...............................................
1932-______________________
1933______ ________________
43
44
46
42
33
30
32
22
24
1,833
1,835
1,835
1,593
lj 363
1,368
1,071
676
783
Table 18 shows total wage and salary payments to each general
occupation group. Total payments to all occupation groups com
bined were highest in 1927. The total payments decreased each
year following 1927 until 1933, when there was an increase over the
preceding year.
T able 18.— T o tal W age an d S alary P a y m e n ts in S andstone Q uarrying in Ohio,
1916 to 1933, by G eneral O ccupation G roups
Total wage and salary payments
Year
1916___ _______________________
1917............... .............. .........................
1918___________________________
1919___________________________
1920............... ........................................
1921___________________________
1922................................... ....................
1923___________ ________________
1924_______________________ ____
1925___________________________
1926___ _______________________
1927__________ _________________
1928___________________________
1929______ ____ ________________
1930___________________ ________
1931_________________ ______ _
1932............... .........................................
1933_______ ___________ ________
Quarries
reporting
44
50
49
44
46
42
49
51
49
44
44
46
42
33
30
32
22
24
Wage
earners
(0
(>)
$1,559,491
1, 543,881
1,937,350
(')
0)
1,958,377
1,895,832
2,182,567
1,986,263
2,140,238
1,755,893
1,460,379
1,377,244
815,369
373,187
414,024
Office help
(0
(>)
$58,764
66,792
67,559
(>)
(0
62,543
113,624
144,268
106, 524
181,399
177,494
48,582
57,496
89,452
46,764
40, 235
Superinten
dents and
managers
(>)
0)
$103,071
94,807
126,246
0)
(»)
(>)
109,544
108,468
125,974
129,033
121,114
123,788
182,462
96,455
67,461
61,729
Total
$1,268,304
1,586,697
1,721,326
1,705,480
2,131,155
2 1, 502,436
2 1,435,937
3 2,020,920
2,119,000
2,435,303
2,218,761
2,450,670
2,054,501
1, 632,749
1, 617,202
1,001,276
487,412
515,988
1 N ot reported.
2 Unable to determine whether total wage and salary payments include payments to superintendents and
managers
3 N ot including payments to superintendents and managers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1332
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Average annual wage and salary payments, considering all em
ployees including superintendents and managers, are shown in table
19 for 1916 to 1933. During the 18 years covered, the highest aver
age annual payment was $1,336 in 1927 and the lowest $659 in 1933.
T able 19.— A verage A nnual W age a n d S alary P ay m e n ts to E m ployees in Sand
stone Q uarrying in Ohio, 1916 to 1933
Year
1916 _________ __________
1917 ________ ____________
1918 _______ _____________
1919________________ ______
1920
..............................
1921
1922__________ ____________
1923
1924
Average
annual
Quarries wage
and
reporting
salary
payment
44
50
49
44
46
42
2 48
51
49
$680
749
965
1,050
1,322
i 1,086
i 1,072
2 1,211
1,176
Average
annual
Quarries wage
and
reporting salary
payment
Year
1925_______________________
1926 _________ ____ _______
1927 ................... ........................
1928______________________ _
1929
_____________ ____
1930_______________________
1931____________ _____ - .........
1932_______________________
1933_______________________
2 43
44
46
42
33
30
32
22
24
$1,329
l ’ 209
1,336
1,290
1,198
h 182
935
721
659
1 Unable to determine whether total wage and salary payments include payments to superintendents
and managers.
2 The number of quarries reporting total wage and salary payments was greater by 1.
3 Does not include payments to superintendents and managers.
Table 20 shows the number of days, by classified groups, sandstone
quarries were in operation, 1916 to 1933. Employers were instructed
to “ enter number of full days quarry was in operation, reducing part
time to full time before entering figures.”
Less than 150 days during the year was the operating time of 10
out of 44 sandstone quarries in 1926, of 10 out of 33 in 1929, of 13 out
of 22 in 1932, and of 13 out of 24 in 1933.
T able 20.— Classified N u m b er of D ay s S andstone Q uarries in Ohio W ere in
O peration, 1916 to 1933
Number of quarries operating—
Year
1916_____________ , __________
1917________________________
1918____________ ______ _____
1919________________________
1920________________________
1921________________________
1922____ ____________________
1923________________________
1924________________________
1925........ ........................................
1926_______ ____ ______ ______
1927___________ ______ ____ 1928___________ ____________
1929________ _____ __________
1930_______ __________ _____
1931.................................................
1932................................................
1933....................... .........................
1 Details total 2 less.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Quarries
reporting Less than 100 but
under
100 days 150
days
39
46
49
44
46
42
i 48
51
49
44
44
46
42
33
30
32
22
24
1
1
2
2
12
6
6
11
7
6
6
6
8
5
18
10
10
3
1
1
2
2
5
8
6
6
6
4
5
6
2
5
1
3
3
150 but
under
200 days
200 but
under
250 days
250 but
under
300 days
4
14
12
16
20
20
13
9
6
11
14
10
9
10
13
11
8
3
3
1
3
i
1
il
10
8
8
6
5
7
8
2
6
3
4
£>
15
11
12
7
8
9
4
9
14
7
5
6
4
4
2
3
300 days
and over
5
6
10
13
17
1
3
8
10
7
5
8
6
7
7
3
2
3
1333
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOE
Table 2 1 shows indexes of average number of persons employed
and total and average annual wage and salary payments in sand
stone quarrying. Data for superintendents and managers are
included. Indexes are omitted for the years prior to 1924, as data
for superintendents and managers were not reported for some of
those years, as noted in table 18. The base is 1926. The 1933
index of employment was 42.7, of total wage and salary payments
23.3, and of average annual wage and salary payments 54.5.
T able 2 1 .— Indexes of A verage N u m b er E m ployed a n d A nnual W age an d S alary
P ay m en ts in S andstone Q uarrying in Ohio, 1924 to 1933
[1926=100.0]
Average
number
employed
Year
Wage and salary
payments
Total
1921
.....................
1925............ ..............
1926...........................
1927...........................
1928...........................
98. 2
99.9
100.0
100.0
86.8
Average
number
employed
Year
Average
95.5
109.8
100.0
110.5
92.6
97.3
109.9
100.0
110.5
106.7
Wage and salary
payments
Total
1929...........................
1930...................... .
1931_____________
1932...........................
1933...........................
74.3
74.6
58.4
36.8
42.7
Average
73.6
72.9
45.1
22.0
23.3
99.1
97.8
77.3
59.6
54.5
Gypsum Mining
data for gypsum mining are shown in table 2 2 . Fewer
than three mines were in operation in 1931, 1932, and 1933 and there
fore tabulations could not be made by the Ohio Division of Labor
Statistics without disclosing information concerning individual mines.
Average annual wage and salary payments were not computed owing
to the small number of persons involved.
C
e r t a in
T able 2 2 .— A verage N um b er E m p lo y ed a n d T o ta l W age an d S alary P a y m e n ts
in G ypsum M ining in Ohio, 1916 to 1930 1
Total wage and salary payments
Year
1916____________ _____ _______
1917__________ _________ ____
1918...................... ............ ...........
1919...................................................
1920________ ________________
1921________ ____ _______ ____
1922_______ . ________________
1923.___________________ ____
1924________ ________________
1925................... ...............................
1926.............................................. .
1927________________________
1928___________ ___________
1929_______________ _______
1930................................... .............
Average
Mines
number of
reporting
persons
employed
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
287
0
249
(4)
’ 192
259
230
255
269
276
249
229
191
178
127
Wage
earners
0
0
0
$269,365
304^ 813
0
0
0
503,879
447,438
425,650
348,523
268,835
258,420
159,973
Office help
0
0
0
0
0
0
$S, 947
3,044
10, 212
3,298
2,149
3,932
1,620
Superin
tendents
and man
agers
0
0
0
$6,447
5,997
0
0
0
13,701
6,963
16,375
14,998
9,215
13,580
9,570
Total
$229,195
202,977
185,198
275,812
310; 810
352,963
439,013
523,458
526,527
457,445
<452,247
366,819
280,199
275,932
171,163
1
Fewer than 3 mines operating in 1931, 1932. and 1933 and therefore data could not be tabulated without
disclosing information concerning individual mines.
* N ot reported.
> Maximum number employed, 287; minimum, 173. Average not shown.
* Maximum number employed, 202; minimum, 133. Average not shown.
* Details total $10 less.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1334
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
H o u rs and E arnings in C o n necticut L aundries,
1933 and 1934
¿THOUGH women employed in the laundries of Connecticut
received increases in weekly earnings averaging $1.24 under the
N. R. A. code, that increase was only slightly higher than the advance
in the cost of living, and woman workers in the laundries of that
State are still receiving an “ oppressive and unreasonable return for
the services rendered”, according to the Connecticut Department of
Labor. These conclusions are based upon the findings of a survey of
the laundry industry in Connecticut made by the minimum wage
division of the State department of labor.1
The survey covered 91 laundries, all but 10 of which were com
mercial. Most of the 81 commercial plants were power laundries,
doing all kinds of laundry work. The 10 noncommercial or institu
tional establishments were divided between hospital (7) and hotel (3)
laundries. The plants investigated employed 2,335 workers in 1934
and 2,016 in 1933, the great majority of whom worked in the power
laundries. Adult women constituted nearly three-fourths (72.6
percent) of the total labor force in the plants covered by the survey.
Of the 2,335 workers employed in these plants in 1934, only 640 were
men, and only 88 were under 2 1 years of age. Hence, conditions in
Connecticut laundries are not complicated by the child-labor problem.
Data on wages and hours were obtained for 1 week in June 1933
and 1 week in June 1934 from pay-roll records. Information secured
from interviews with laundry managers dealt with such general
matters as seasonal fluctuations, scheduled working hours, and so on.
From this information the report concludes that the laundry industry
is not seasonal, as in each year studied the difference between the least
and greatest number employed was only 7 percent of the average
employment of the year. Slack seasons, however, do occur during the
winter months, and though lay-offs are not usual, dull periods are met
in some plants by part-time operation, with consequent decreased
earnings for the workers.
The report groups laundry workers into 7 occupational classifica
tions: (1 ) Flatwork (feeders, folders, shakers, receivers, handkerchief
ironers, manglers, and all others on flat work); (2 ) ironing (press
operators, hand ironers, and finishers; (3) sorting and packing (classi
fiers, packers, bundlers and wrappers, sorters and markers, and
checkers); (4) mending; (5) wet washing (starchers, dryers, tumblers,
and wet-wash men); (6 ) delivery (drivers and salesmen); (7) miscel
laneous (utility workers, elevator operators, errand boys, complaint
handlers, curtain-frame workers, shirt folders, and general helpers).
Executive, maintenance, and clerical employees were not included.
i Connecticut. Department of Labor. Minimum Wage Di%dsion. Hours and Earnings in Connecticut
Laundries, 1933 and 1931. Hartford, 1935. (Mimeographed.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1335
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
With the exception of wet washing, in which 89 percent of the
workers were men, and delivery, in which men only were employed,
most of the operations were performed almost exclusively by women,
and were for the most part unskilled or semiskilled. Press operating
is the most exhausting job physically, as it involves running heavy,
hot machinery.
Hours and Earnings of Women
T he adoption of the N. R. A. code for the laundry industry, which
provided for a 40-hour week but gave considerable latitude for over
time work, did not materially change the average working hours of
women employed in that industry in Connecticut. The minimumwage requirement of 25 to 27% cents an hour, on the other hand,
resulted in a substantial increase in hourly rates for the lowest paid
workers. In 1933, 3 9 .5 percent, and in 1934 only 1.3 percent, of the
women received less than 25 cents an hour. The proportion of
women receiving from 25 to 30 cents an hour rose from 42.2 percent
in 1933 to 70.7 percent in 1934, and the percentage in the 30 to 35
cents group doubled. Little change was noted in the proportion
receiving more than 35 cents an hour.
Industry as a whole.—Median hours and hourly and weekly earnings
of all women covered by the survey for the specific pay period in
June 1933 and 1934 are shown in table 1 . Table 2 gives the number
and percent of women receiving specified hourly earnings as shown by
the pay rolls for those weeks.
T able 1.— M edian H ours an d E arn in g s of W om an L au n d ry E m ployees in C on
n ecticu t, Ju n e 1933 a n d 1934
Median
hourly
earnings
Year
Cents
1934_________________ _____ 1933__________________ ___ _ Percent increase . .
- -------
Median
weekly
earnings
Median
hours
worked
27.9
25.4
$11. 34
10.10
39.8
39.8
9.4
12.3
0
T able 2.— D istrib u tio n of W om an W orkers in C on n ecticu t L aundries, by A ver
age H o u rly E arn in g s, Ju n e 1933 an d 1934
'
1933
1934
Average hourly earnings
Number of Percent of Number of Percent of
total
employees
total
employees
Total reported---- ------------------------ ---------------- ---------
1, 294
100.0
763
100.0
Less than 20 cents--------------------------------- ------ - ...........
20 and less than 25 cents----------------------------------------25 and less than 30 cents-------------------------------- -----30 and less than 35 cents...... .........- ......................................
35 and less than 40 cents----------------------------------------40 and less than 50 cents...... ...........- ....................................
N ot reported____________ . - ...
------------------------
5
11
915
281
76
26
401
1,695
.4
.9
70.7
20. 2
5. 9
2.0
35
266
322
81
40
1 19
698
1.461
4.6
34. 9
42. 2
10. 6
5. 2
2. 5
1 Includes 1 woman receiving 50 cents or more an hour.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1336
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
By occupation.—The average hourly wage rates of women show
slight variations between the different occupations. The data ob
tained during the survey showed only 1.4 cents difference between
the median rate of the highest and that of the lowest paid occupa
tions in 1934. This difference was somewhat more marked in 1933,
but was only 2 .2 cents then. Similarly the average hours worked
by the different occupational groups did not show much variation
except with regard to the miscellaneous groups, for which hours were
short. The survey defines a full week as one in which 30 or more
hours were worked. In the week scheduled in 1934, 37.2 percent,
and in 1933, 46.8 percent of the employees in the miscellaneous
occupations worked short time. For all occupations, two-thirds of
the women worked a full week—that is, 30 to 50 hours—in 1933, and
slightly more than one in 10 worked longer than 50 hours in the
week recorded. In 1934, the amount of both short time and over
time had decreased, and three-fourths of the women in all occupations
were working a normal week.
Distribution of hourly earnings by occupation for the two periods
studied is shown in table 3, and classified weekly earnings of the
women in all occupations are shown in table 4 .
T ab le 3.— D istrib u tio n of W om en in C o n n ecticu t L au n d ries by A verage H o u rly
E arn in g s a n d by O ccupation, 1933 an d 1934
All occupa
tions
Flat work
Ironing
Sorting and
packing
Mending
Average hourly
earnings
N um
ber
Miscellane
ous
Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per
cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent
1934
Total reported________ i 1, 330 100.0
409 100.0
497 100.0
240 100.0
Under 20 c e n ts.......... .
20 and under 25 c en ts..
25 and under 30 cen ts. .
30 and under 35 c en ts..
35 and under 40 c en ts..
40 and under 50 c en ts..
50 cents and over___
7
11
i 918
269
81
40
4
N o t reported_________
477
129
216
66
Total employees. 1 1, 807
598
713
306
.5
.8
69.0
20.2
6. 1
3.0
.3
2
388
69
8
2
.4
82.7
14.7
1.7
.4
6
327
112
33
17
2
1.2
65.8
22.5
6. 6
3.4
.4
1
130
58
32
17
2
.4
54. 2
24. 2
13. 3
7.1
.8
—
31 100.0
86
100.0
17
10
3
i
7
2
49
20
5
3
2.3
67 0
23 3
55.0
32.3
9 7
3. 2
6
60
37
146
R
3
1933
Total reported_______
2 788 100.0
294 100.0
263 100.0
Under 20 cents_______
20 and under 25 c e n ts ..
25 and under 30 c en ts..
30 and under 35 c en ts..
35 and under 40 c e n ts..
40 and under 50 c en ts..
50 cents and over____
37
265
i 332
3 85
42
24
3
16
118
131
20
8
1
17
94
102
27
13
8
2
N ot reported_________
2 757
221
Total employees. 4 1, 515
515
4.7
33.6
42. 1
10.8
5.3
3.0
.4
5.5
40.2
44.6
6.8
2.3
.3
—
1 Includes 7 women with occupations unknown.
2 includes 9 women with occupations unknown.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6.5
35.8
38.8
10.7
5.0
3.0
.8
157 100.0
4
38
65
23
15
12
2.5
24.3
41.3
13.3
9. 6
7.1
329
120
......
592
277
19 100.0
3
9
4
2
i
15. 8
47. 5
21. 1
10. 5
5.3
46
100.0
12
18
9
4
2
26 2
39. 2
IQ 6
8 7
4 4
2.2
ii
67
30
113
2 Includes 2 women with occupations unknown.
* Includes 18 women with occupations unknown.
1337
WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
T ab le 4.— D istrib u tio n of W om en in C o n n ecticu t L au n d ries b y W eekly E a rn '
ings, 1933 an d 1934
1933
1934
Weokly earnings
Total reported
TvGss than $8
$8 and l^ss than .819
$12 and les** than
$iç and over
__ _
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
____
1,785
100.0
1, 545
100.0
_____ __________________ _____
_____________________
________________ ____ ____
__________________ _______ -
285
729
639
132
16.0
40.8
35.8
7.4
383
729
318
115
24.8
47.2
20.6
7.4
- ______
___ _____________
By size of establishment.—A marked result of the N. R. A. code
for the laundry industry was the equalization of earnings as between
large and small plants. Before the code regulations were adopted,
the largest plants showed the highest percentage of women in the
lowest wage groups. For example, in laundries with a working
force of 100 or more, 64.5 percent of the women earned less than 25
cents per hour in 1933, while in plants having 50 to 100 employees,
only 23.3 percent were in that wage group and slightly more than
half (52.6 percent) earned between 25 and 30 cents per hour. In
small plants, employing less than 10 persons, 32.1 percent of the
women earned between 20 and 25 cents an hour but none earned
less than 20 cents, while 5.3 percent of the women in the largest
establishments earned less than that rate.
In 1934 these differentials by size of establishment had been so
adjusted that a substantial majority of women earned between 25
and 30 cents an hour irrespective of the size of the plant in which
they worked, although the percentage receiving more than 35 cents
an hour still was lowest in the large plants. Plants with fewer
than 10 employees paid 29.3 percent of the women 30 cents or more
per hour, both in 1933 and 1934, and the group employing between
10 and 25 workers had 32.2 percent os the higher rates of 30 cents
an hour and above in 1934 as compared to 18.0 percent in 1933.
These differences in hourly rates between establishments of different
size are, however, not reflected in weekly earnings. The highest
median weekly earnings, $11.29 in 1933 and $12.12 in 1934, were
reported for establishments employing between 50 and 100 workers;
those in the largest establishments were slightly less, $10.58 in 1933
and $12.05 in 1934, and those in the plants employing between 10
and 25 workers were the lowest in both years, $8.83 in 1933 and
$10.05 in 1934. In the smallest laundries, those with fewer than 10
employees, median earnings were $10.13 in 1933 and $11.04 in 1934,
which were distinctly higher than those in the medium-size plants,
but lower than in the large plants.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1338
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Lower earnings with higher hourly rates indicate part-time work,
and data on hours worked show that the failure of women in the
medium-size laundries to earn wages commensurate with their wage
rates was due to that condition. The scheduled week was in a month
in which employment tends to be about half way between the peak
and the slack season, on a rising employment curve. Nevertheless,
in 1933, 40 percent, and in 1934, 36 percent, of the women in plants
employing 25 to 50 workers had less than 30 hours’ work. On the
other hand, a long week of 50 hours or more occurred most frequently
in the smallest establishments (less than 1 0 ), where nearly 20 percent
of the women worked more than 50 hours in the week scheduled, and
in the largest plants (10 0 and over), where 1 1 percent of the women
worked longer than a 50-hour week.
Hourly earnings, by size of plant, are shown in table 5, and weekly
earnings in table 6 .
T able 5.
D istrib u tio n o f W om en in C o n n ecticu t L aundries, b y A verage H ourly
E arnings and b y Size o f E sta b lish m en t, 1933 and 1934
Laundries having—
Average hourly earnings
100 employees and over
50 to 100
employees
25 to 50
employees
10 to 25
employees
Under 10
employees
Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Perher cent her cent her cent her cent her cent
1934
Total reported_________
Less than 20 cents_____
20 and less than 25 cents.
25 and less than 30 cents.
30 and less than 35 cents.
35 and less than 40 cents.
40 and less than 50 cents.
425 100.0
1
312
86
16
10
.2
73.4
20.2
3.8
2.4
276 100.0
207
46
17
6
75.0
16.7
6.2
2.2
335 100.0
217 100.0
41
100.0
1
234
66
26
8
5
6
136
56
12
2
3
26
7
5
63.4
17.1
12.2
.3
69.8
19.7
7.8
2.4
2 3
28
62.7
25.8
5.5
.9
N ot reported...................
47
63
90
152
49
Total em ployees...
472
339
425
369
90
1933
Total reported____ ____
206 100.0
137 100.0
264 100.0
Less than 20 cents______
20 and less than 25 cents.
25 and less than 30 cents.
30 and less than 35 cents.
35 and less than 40 cents.
40 and less than 50 cents.
11
122
58
11
2
2
1
31
72
21
8
i4
21
66
119
29
18
11
N ot reported...................
Total employees.. .
5.3
59.2
28.2
5.3
1.0
1.0
8.0
25.0
45.1
11.0
6.8
4.2
128 100.0
2
38
65
16
5
2
1.6
29.7
50.8
12.5
3.9
1.6
28
100.0
9
8
4
7
32.1
28.6
14.3
25.0
206
174
123
139
56
412
311
387
267
84
1 Includes 1 woman receiving 50 cents or more.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.7
22.6
52.6
15.3
5.8
2.9
1339
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 6.— D istrib u tio n of W om en in C o n n ecticu t L au n d ries, b y W eekly E arn in g s
and b y Size of E sta b lish m e n t, 1933 a n d 1934
Laundries having—
50 to 100
100 employ
ees and over employees
Weekly earnings
25 to 50
employees
10 to 25
employees
Under 10
employees
N um Per N um Per Num Per N um Per N um Per
ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent
1934
Total reported--------------------------------
472 100.0
Under $8 __ __ _____ - __________
$8 and under $12
__ __________ $12 and under $16 _ __________ _____
$16 and over--------------- --------------------
49
183
206
34
1933
Total reported.......................... - ................
412 100.0
__________________ - Under $8
$8 and under $12_________ _______
$12 and under $16 _________________
$16 and over _
________ ______
55
251
88
18
10.4
38.8
43.6
7.2
13.4
60.9
21.4
4.3
339 100.0
425 100.0
24
135
154
26
95
193
127
10
7.1
39.8
45.5
7.6
22.3
45.4
29.9
2.4
311 100.0
387 100.0
44
147
91
29
148
159
61
19
14.1
47.2
29.3
9.3
38.2
41.1
15.8
4.9
369 100.0
77
100.0
23.3
50.4
23.0
3.3
16
34
25
2
20.8
44. 2
32. 5
2.6
267 100.0
84
100.0
39.7
47.2
10.9
2.2
17
41
18
8
20.2
48. 8
21. 4
9.6
86
186
85
12
106
126
29
6
By size of community.—Hourly wage rates do not differ materially
by size of town in Connecticut, but weekly earnings showed marked
variations before the adoption of the N. R. A. code, and it is apparent
from the report of the State department of labor that earnings of
laundry workers in small towns are still very low. Nearly 25 percent
of the laundry workers in villages, but only 16 percent of those in the
largets cities, earned less than $8 a week in 1934.
The report classifies cities into groups of over 100,000 population,
100,000 to 25,000, 25,000 to 10,000, and under 10,000. Median
weekly earnings in the first group, the large cities, were $10.73 in 1933
and $11.94 in 1934; in the second group, $8.92 in 1933 and $10.44 in
1934; in the third group, $10.25 in 1933 and $11.72 in 1934; and in
the small towns and villages, $9.07 in 1933 and $10.00 in 1934.
Employment is steadier in the cities, where, in 1934, three-fourths
of the women worked full time. The lack of data on hours in towns
of less than 25,000 suggests that employment was probably very
irregular in both years.
Hours and Earnings of Men
T he occupations in which men are employed in the laundry indus
try are generally of a more highly skilled or more responsible character
than those open to women. Consequently their earnings are con
siderably higher, and as a rule their hours are longer. The conditions
imposed by the code tended to standardize working hours for men as
well as for women. Comparing hours worked in the June 1933 week
scheduled with those in the June 1934 week, the report found a
slight decrease in the proportion of men working both less and more
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1340
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
than a normal work week, while the proportion working between 30
and 50 hours increased from two-thirds to three-fourths of the total
number of men employed.
Earnings, however, did not show the same degree of increase under
the code for men as for women. Instead, the survey found that wages
“ apparently decreased after a period of regulation by the laundry
code.” While the median weekly earnings of men given in the report
showed a decrease of 9.2 percent between June 1933 and June 1934,
table 7, which gives classified weekly earnings of men in the laundries
studied for the specified weeks in the 2 years, indicates that in the
two lowest wage groups (less than $8 , and $8 and less than $1 2 ) the
percentage had fallen from 17.0 in 1933 to 12.9 in 1934, and a slightly
higher percentage of men were found in the highest wage group (over
$16 a week) in 1934 than in 1933.
T able 7.
D istrib u tio n of M en in C o n n ecticu t L aundries by W eekly E arn in g s,
1933 an d 1934
1934
1933
W eekly earnings
Number of
employees
Percent
of total
Number of
employees
Percent
of total
Total men reported_____
634
100.0
654
100.0
Less than $8_______
$8 and less than $12_____ ____
$12 and less than $16_______ .
$16 and over__________
37
45
129
423
5. 8
7 1
20.3
66.7
39
56
107
352
7 0
in n
19! 3
63.4
Summary
A l t h o u g h the State agency concludes that on the whole “ the
N. R. A. has improved some of the worst conditions in the industry,”
particularly through the practical elimination of wage rates of less
than 25 cents an hour, hourly rates, part-time work, and actual earn
ings are still such as to call for the application of the State minimumwage law to the laundry industry. The general result of the changes
which occurred between June 1933 and June 1934, “ probably as a
result of the N. R. A.,” is stated in the report thus:
T he persons receiving th e low est earnings benefited b y su b sta n tia l wage
increases; those receiving som ew hat higher wages o b tain ed some increase; while
em ployees who h ad th e h ighest p a y received no increases, a n d m en em ployees
a ctu a lly averaged less p e r w eek u n d er th e N. R . A. th a n th e y h ad before it.
B o th p a r t tim e a n d long hours decreased som ew hat w ith a re s u lta n t increase in
th e p ro p o rtio n of persons w orking a reasonable full-tim e week. P revious to th e
N. R . A., w orkers in c ertain sections of th e in d u stry received p a rtic u la rly low
earnings, while un d er th e code, these inequalities were su b sta n tia lly reduced.
E ven w ith these im provem ents in lab o r conditions, how ever, th e average w eekly
earnings of all em ployees rose only slig h tly m ore th a n th e cost of living. A fifth
of th e em ployees still w orked only p a r t tim e a n d 6 p e rc e n t w orked 50 hours or
m ore a week.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1341
The collapse of the code has left wages and hours in the laundry
industry “ completely unregulated”, and the department of labor
feels that the “ State of Connecticut should act at once to set a fair
m i n i m u m wage for women and minors employed in this industry.”
E x te n t of L ow Wages and Long H o u rs A m ong R ailroad
Em ployees: A C orrection
HE study of the Federal Coordinator of Transportation on the
extent of low wages and long hours of railroad employees sum
marized in the September issue of the Monthly Labor Review (p. 690)
was subsequently corrected with respect to the application of the
wage data. As published, the original report gave the rates of pay
as “ basic rates” in the pay-roll period nearest to November 1, 1933,
at which time there was a 1 0 -percent pay cut in effect. This occurred
through misunderstanding of terms by the reporting carriers, and the
rates given represented “ actual rates” in effect at that time, taking
into account the wage deduction.
A new study is now in process in the Coordinator’s office. It will
be published as soon as possible and will show the corrected findings
for the November 1933 period, when the wage cut was effective, and
current information reflecting the improvement in the low-wage
situation since restoration of the 10 -percent wage deduction which was
ordered on April 1 , 1935. Pending completion of the revised figures
the summary figures already published should be used only with the
change noted.
T
—
---------------
Wages and W orking H o u rs in B ritish Colum bia, 1934
N 1934 the average industrial weekly wage of 70,192 adult males
in British Columbia was $23.57—an increase of 5.7 percent as
compared with the average weekly wage reported for 1933, but 19.3
percent below that recorded for 1929, according to the annual report
of the department of labor of that Province for the year 1934.
Table 1 gives average weekly wages of adult males in various indus
tries in British Columbia for the week of greatest employment in
1934, which would ordinarily mean a full week’s work. These wages
range from $15.86 in cigar and tobacco manufacturing to $32.51 in
printing and publishing.
The 1934 industrial returns also disclose that large percentages of
adult males, employed for the week of employment of the greatest
number, were receiving under $19 per week. In the industry 41.64
percent of 18,779 adult males were paid less than this amount. The
proportions of these low-paid men in various other industries are
reported in table 2 .
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1342
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 1.— A verage F u ll W eek’s W ages of A d u lt M ales in B ritish C olum bia,
1934, b y In d u stries
Average wage,
1934
Industry
Breweries___________________
Builders’ m a teria ls.__ _______
Cigar and tobacco manufacture.
Coal mining_________________
Coast shipping.
Contracting- .
. ________
Explosives and chemicals. ___
Food-products manufacture___
Garment making_____ ______
House furnishings____ ______
Jewelry manufacture. ............
Laundries, cleaning and dyeing.
Leather and fur goods manufacture __________________
Average wage,
1934
Industry
Amount
Change
from
1933
$25. 62
20.19
15. 86
28.11
28. 58
22. 56
22. 53
21.10
23. 52
19. 49
28.88
20.67
—$0. 08
- .3 5
+1.19
+1.31
+ . 96
- .8 1
+1.87
- .0 2
-1 .1 7
+ . 58
- 1 . 67
-1 .1 1
22. 34
+1. 61
Amount
Lumber industries___________
M etal mining__________ ___
M etal trades_________________
Miscellaneous trades and industries . . ___________________
Oil refining.. . _____________
Paint manufacture
_____
Printing and publishing____ .
Pulp and paper manufacture..
Shipbuilding________________
Smelting . . .............................
Street railways, gas, water,
power, telephones, etc______
Wood manufacture (n. e. s.)___
Change
from
1933
$21.32
27.35
22.81
+ $ 3 .32
+1.73
+ .11
21.26
25.04
22. 53
32.51
23. 22
26.03
23.88
- .8 7
+1.26
(i)
- .3 1
+2.01
+ .7 8
+ .0 5
25.51
18.97
+1.00
+ .9 2
1 No change.
T able 2 .— N um b er of A d u lt M ales E m ployed in B ritish C olum bia an d P e rc e n t
R eceiving Less th a n $19 per W eek, 1934, by In d u stries
Industry
Cigar and tobacco manufacture___
Wood manufacture (n. e. s.)_____
Builders’ materials__________ ____
House furnishings____
. . ....
Laundries, cleaning and dyeing___
Leather and fur goods____________
Lumber industries_______________
Food products______________ ____
Miscellaneous trades and industries.
M etal trades_____________ ______
Garment making_______________ .
Paint manufacture_____ - - - - - Contracting_____ _______________
Per
cent
N um receiv
ber ing un
em
$19
ployed der
per
week
14
1,194
711
433
501
200
18,779
8,371
1,513
3, 219
147
101
6,098
85.71
61.81
49. 00
48. 04
43.10
42.00
41.64
41.42
41.11
36.80
34. 00
32. 67
28. 65
Industry
Explosives, chemicals, etc________
Pulp and paper manufacture_____
Coast sh ip p in g _________________
Printing and publishing__________
Breweries_______________________
Oil refining______________________
Shipbuilding____________________
Smelting _ . I _____________ ______
Street railways, etc______ ________
Coal mining_____________________
Jewelry manufacture_____________
M etalm ining....................... ................
Per
cent
N um receiv
ber ing un
em
$19
ployed der
per
week
728
2, 559
4,755
873
469
853
876
2,849
3,856
2,866
43
8,184
27.20
26.14
24. 62
20.04
20. 04
15.94
12. 67
12.32
12.17
9. 65
9. 30
6. 71
In 1934 there was a considerable reduction in the proportion of
persons working more than 48 hours per week. Of 75,435 persons
employed by 3,956 firms in that year, slightly over 85 percent worked
48 hours or under per week, as compared with approximately 78 percent
in 1933, while the average working week for all employees was 47.32
hours in 1934 as compared with 47.35 in the preceding year.
The average weekly hours by industries in 1934 are given in table 3
with the increase or decrease as compared with 1933.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1343
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 3.— A verage W eekly H ours of W ork in B ritish C olum bia, 1934, by
In d u stries
Hours per week,
1934
Hours per week,
1934
Industry
Industry
Breweries_________ ____ _______
Builders’ materials, etc________
Cigar and tobacco manufacture...
Coal m ining_____ ______ _____ —
Coast shipping..................................
Contracting___________________
Explosives, chemicals, e tc .............
Food-products manufacture.
Garment making__________
House furnishings_________
Jewelry manufacture.....................
Laundries, cleaning and dyeing. .
Leather and fur goods manufactu r e ........................
Lumber industries:
Logging.................
Logging railways.
Lumber dealers.
N um
ber
Change
from
1933
46. 41
44.97
44.13
48.00
50. 04
43.68
47.76
50. 60
44.89
43.91
43.47
44.05
+0.60
+2.78
+1.42
+ . 07
—1.78
+ . 26
+5.76
+2.77
+1.21
+ .5 8
+1.47
—. 35
46.17
+4.84
48.33
49.69
45.93
- .0 8
—. 67
+ . 65
Lumber industries—Continued.
Planing mills.
S a w m ills.....
Shingle mills.
Metal mining---Metal trades.....................................
Miscellaneous trades and industries........................................... —
Oil refining.........................................
Paint manufacture— .....................
Printing and publishing................
Pulp and paper manufacture___
Shipbuilding......................................
Smelting............................................
Street railways, gas, water, power,
e tc .................
Wood manufacture (n. e. s.)
N um Change
from
ber
1933
48.00
48.37
46. 69
51.51
45.39
-0 .2 6
- . 78
+1.19
- . 60
- .4 6
45.82
44.82
44.01
44. 37
47.93
44.06
41.39
+ .8 6
-1 .4 7
+ . 33
+ . 28
- . 37
+ . 53
-5 .0 8
44. 67
44.19
- . 20
-1 .1 4
Wages in T o k y o in Ju n e 1935
AILY wages of Tokyo workers in June 19351ranged from 0.65 yen
for female matchmakers to 6 .0 1 yen for finishers in the metal
industry. The wages in other occupations in the latter indus
try were higher than those in any other industrial group, being 4.70
yen for lathemen, 4.65 yen for blacksmiths, 4.48 yen for founders,
and 4.45 yen for wooden-pattern makers. Leather makers ranked
next with a daily wage of 3.24 yen. Carpenters received only 1.95
yen, while the remuneration in other occupations in the building
trades ran from 2.34 to 2.87 yen.
The wage index rose considerably from June 1934 to June 1935 for
male matchmakers, finishers in the metal industry, flour millers,
and shoemakers, being 122.2, 121.2, 119.7, and 119.4, respectively,
for these occupations, June 1934 equaling 10 0 . On the other hand,
there was a substantial reduction in wages in certain other occupa
tions; for example, the June 1935 indexes for female hosiery knitters,
lathemen, and male day laborers were, respectively, 58.3, 86.4, and
89.2 on the June 1934 base. In 20 occupations no wage change is
reported for June 1935 as compared with June 1934.
i Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
August 1935, pp. 13-14.
24361— 35-------13
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M onthly Report on^Current Economic Conditions,
1344
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
D aily W ages in V arious In d u stries, T okyo, Ju n e 1935
[Average exchange rate of yen in June 1935=29 cents]
Occupation
Daily
wages
Textile industry:
Silk reelers. female___________
Cotton spinners, female______
Silk throwers, female..................
Cotton weavers, machine, fem a le.. ..................... ............... .
Silk weavers, hand, female____
Hosiery knitters, male________
Hosiery knitters, female____ _
Metal industry:
Lathemen............. ........................
Finishers_________________
Founders____________ ____
Blacksmiths......................... .........
Wooden-pattern makers.._____
Stone, glass, and clay products:
Cement makers________ _____
Glassmakers............................. .
Potters______ _____ __________
Tile makers (shape)__________
Chemical industry:
Makers of chemicals__________
Matchmakers, male__________
Matchmakers, female________
Oil pressers.............. ..............
Paper industry:
Makers of Japanese paper
Makers of printing paper_____
Leather industry: Leather makers.
Food industry:
Flour millers..................................
Sake brewery workers................
Soy brewery workers_________
Yen
Index
num
bers
(June
1934=
100)
0.71
.86
.80
100.0
106.2
92.0
.72
1.30
2.00
.70
100.0
97.0
100.0
58.3
4.70
6.01
4. 48
4.65
4.45
86.4
121.2
105.4
95.9
90.3
2.53
2.64
1.99
1. 40
97.7
105.6
105.9
100.0
2.04
1.10
.65
1. 67
101.5
122.2
100.0
107.7
1.37
1.89
3.24
102.2
101.1
105.5
2.31
1.35
2.10
119.7
103.8
100.0
Occupation
Food industry—Continued.
Sugar-refinery workers................
Confectioners (Japanese cake)..
Canners.................- ____ _______
Wearing-apparel industry:
Tailors (for European dress). . .
Shoemakers_________________
Clogmakers___________ ______
Woodworking, rope and mat industries:
Sawyers, machine____________
Joiners_________________ ____
Lacquers (chemical industry)...
Ropemakers.......... ........................
Matmakers (tatami) . . ______
Printing industry:
Compositors_________________
Bookbinders_________________
Building industry:
Carpenters...... ...............................
Plasterers. ...................................
Stonemasons___ _____ _______
Bricklayers............................. .......
Roofing-tile layers........................
Painters_____________________
D ay laborers:
Stevedores___________________
D ay laborers, male___________
D ay laborers, female_________
Fishermen__ _________________
Domestic service:
Servants, m a le ......................... .
Servants, female____ _________
Index
num
Daily bers
wages (June
1934=
100)
Yen
2.22
2.00
1.57
101.8
100.0
103.3
2.00
2.58
1.12
100.0
119.4
89.6
1.79
1.85
2. 20
1.60
2.33
100.0
100.0
104.8
95.8
100.0
2.95
2.30
100.0
100.0
1.95
2. 4:i
2.87
2. 67
2.60
2.34
95.1
100.0
99.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.66
1.49
.79
1.52
112.2
89.2
90.8
100.0
.80
.78
100.0
100 0
Wages and H o u rs on R e lief W ork in N e w S o u th Wales
OURLY wages at the going rate as determined by the Industrial
Commission of New South Wales (Australia) and maximum
hours of 9 per day and 44 per week are authorized for employees
engaged on relief work. This standard is being applied in establish
ing working conditions for each relief project when it is initiated in
accordance with the Prevention and Relief of Unemployment Act,
1930-34.1 In addition to providing basic rates for relief workers the
Government specifies that bonuses shall be granted at the rate of
1 %id. an hour for workers in general, excluding supervising and clerical
staff, and at higher rates for employees in certain classes. Other
provisions include compensation for the use of a worker's horse,
harness and dray, transportation costs, methods of employing labor
and making up time lost owing to bad weather, sickness, and for
certain other reasons.
H
i N ew South Wales.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Gazette, June 30, 1935, p. 1775,
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1345
The labor provisions are as follows:
1.
W a g e s a n d h o u rs
(а) T he wages of all persons o th e r th a n supervising a n d clerical staff em ployed
on th e w orks shall be p aid on an ho u rly basis calcu lated a t th e ra te of th e c u rre n t
living w age as declared or a d ju ste d by th e In d u s tria l Com m ission of New S o u th
W ales from tim e to tim e per w eek of 44 hours.
Prov ided th a t an y a d ju s tm e n t of th e living wage shall ta k e effect only from
th e com m encem ent of th e first p a y period in th e m o n th follow ing th e publication
of such a d ju s tm e n t in th e G o vernm ent G azette.
(б) T he nu m b er of hours to be w orked by a n y person shall n o t exceed 44 hours
per week nor 9 per d ay ; th e m axim um of 44 hours p er week m ay be w orked in
5 or m ore days.
2. B on u ses
All persons o th er th a n supervising an d clerical staff em ployed on th e w orks
shall for each hour w orked be g ra n te d a bonus of ljKid. p er h o u r.
(h) E m ployees in th e classes set o u t h ereu n d er shall for every h o u r w orked be
g ran ted an ad d itio n al bonus as follows:
A ir-com pressor drivers a n d fitters, blacksm iths, bricklayers, carpenters, crane
drivers, dim ension-stone q u arrym en, electricians, engine drivers, fitters, gangers,
plasterers, plum bers, pn eu m atic pickm en, rock choppers, rubblem asons, sew er
m iners, stonem asons, tilers, 3d. p er h o u r bonus.
H orse bosses, m anhole builders, p ain ters, pile drivers, pow der m onkeys, 2d.
per h o u r bonus.
B itum en c u tte rs an d boilers, brick pavers, co ncrete finishers, concrete-m ixer
drivers, gearm en, leading hands, laborers laying ta r or b itu m en , m achine m en
(rock w orkers), m otor-lo rry drivers, pipelayers, pipejointers, tim b erm en , tim e
keepers, tool sharpeners, l)4d. p er hour.
C oncrete w orkers, h am m er a n d drill m en (rock w orkers), ju m p erm en (rock
w orkers), curb an d g u tte r lay ers (stone), p av e m e n t breakers, plow m en over
tw o horses— rock excavators, ta r pavers, Id . p er h o u r bonus.
(a )
3.
G e n e r a l c o n d itio n s
(a ) Any em ployee pro viding own horse, d ray , a n d harness, or horse an d harness,
shall be p aid an eq u iv alen t allow ance of 6s. p er day or p a rt of a d ay for each
d ay w orked.
(b) E m ployees shall be p a id a t th e ra te se t o u t in clause 1 hereof for th e tim e
occupied in shifting cam p a n d rem oving p la n t an d eq u ip m en t. W here th e con
ditions of an y job m ake it necessary for em ployees to cam p o u t for a n y period of
1 w eek or m ore a t any place w here a supply of d rin k in g w ater is n o t w ith in a
distance of half a mile, th e em ployer shall arran g e th a t th e cam p shall be
supplied w ith sufficient drin k in g w ater an d a sufficient supply for horses on
th e job.
(c) F a r e s .— All fares ac tu a lly a n d necessarily in curred by an em ployee tra v e lin g
w ithin th e m etro p o litan a rea or N ew castle d istric t to a n d from his place of
em ploym ent in excess of 6d. p er d ay or 2s. 6d. p e r week shall be p aid by th e
em ployer.
(d) All persons to be em ployed on th e w orks shall be engaged th ro u g h th e
n earest S ta te labor exchange.
(e) T he services of an y em ployee m ay be su m m arily te rm in a te d a t a n y tim e
su b jec t to p a y m en t of a n y wages due up to th e tim e of such term in a tio n .
(/) T im e lost b y a n em ployee in a n y week th ro u g h no fa u lt of his own, by
reason of w et w eather, sickness, p ublic holidays, or o th e r causes, sh ah be m ade
u p d u rin g t h a t week or th e n ex t following week.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1346
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
(g) A regulatio n first-aid k it costing n o t m ore th a n £1 10s. shall be provided
on all cam ps, depots, a n d w orks so th a t it can be conveniently o b tain ed w hen
required.
N e w M ethod o f Wage C alculation in R ail w a y ^Car
W orks in th e Soviet U n io n (U. S. S. R .)
HE railway transportation improvement plan of the Soviet
Union demanded the building of 80,000 new cars in 1935.1 In
order to prosecute the plan successfully new car works had to be
established and the technical equipment of the old works had to be
improved and enlarged. For the purpose of increasing the efficiency
of workers the method of wage calculation was changed.
At the beginning of 1935, therefore, a new wage-calculation system
was introduced into the car works of the Soviet Union. This system
provides for “ premiums” or bonuses, for increased output over a
prescribed standard. The bonuses are of two kinds, one a straight
bonus for each unit of output over the prescribed amount and the
other a progressive bonus, the rate being progressively higher as the
output increases over the set amount. For instance in the Krasny
Profintern car works two bases of calculation of wages were intro
duced, one for more responsible work and the second for other work,
as follows: (1 ) If the prescribed standard unit of output is exceeded
by from 1 to 10 percent, the wage is increased 75 percent, and if it
is exceeded by more than 10 percent, the wage is increased 130 percent;
(2 ) if the output exceeds the standard unit 20 percent or less, the
wage is increased 60 percent, and if the increase over the prescribed
amount is more than 20 percent, the wage is increased 10 0 percent.
Nothing is paid for spoilage. If the spoilage is considerable, the
shop manager may deprive the worker of the privilege of having his
wages calculated by the progressive-bonus method, either partially
or entirely, for a certain period of time, which in the case of excessive
breakage of tools may be for 10 days or even for a month.
The bonus wage scales also take into account decrease of spoilage.
For instance, if among 33 to 36 formed wheels 18 are good wheels,
the wage per wheel is increased by 6.05 rubles,2 but if there are 24
good wheels, the wage per wheel is increased by 7.30 rubles.
T
1 Soviet Union (U. S. S. R .). State Planning Commission and Central Office of the People’s Economic
Accountancy. Plan (a m onthly), No. 13, Moscow, 1935, pp. 5-7.
2
Gold ruble=51.5 cents on the basis of gold dollars. There are no available data as to the value of the
ruble in relation to the prices of commodities in home markets, socialized and private, in the Soviet Union
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1347
W AG ES AND H OURS OF LABOR
According to official reports, the success of the plan during the first
quarter of 1935 is evidenced by the following percentages of the
prescribed figures which were attained by the car works:
Percent
N um ber of c a rs_________________________________ 100. 9
N um ber of w orkers em p lo y ed ------------------------------ 93. 1
A verage m o n th ly o u tp u t------------------------------------- 108. 4
A verage m o n th ly w ag e---------------------------------------- 96. 9
W age ap p ro p ria tio n spent:
W age earn e rs_______________________________
90. 3
Salaried em ployees--------------------------------------- 90. 1
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
O perations o f th e U n ited States E m ploym ent Service,
S e p te m b e r 1935
FURTHER increase in the total number of persons actively
seeking jobs through the United States Employment Service
was revealed by the report of September operations of the Nation
wide system of employment offices. Following the registration of
655,746 new, previously unregistered job seekers during the month,
the active file stood at a record total of 8,696,824 work applicants on
September 30. The continued increase in the size of this file in recent
months has resulted from the abnormally large registrations recorded
since the end of May when registration for work opportunities was
required of relief employables. The monthly average number of new
registrants received since that time has been over twice the average
volume of 315,000 new applications per month reported prior to
May.
The active file of the United States Employment Service now
contains one of the largest registrations of job seekers in the world.
In comparison, employment exchange reports published in the
September issue of the International Labor Review show the following
active registration totals:
A
G reat B ritain , A ugust 1935__________________ 1, 947, 964
G erm any, Ju ly 1935_________________________ 2, 124, 701
France, A ugust 1935________________________
415, 844
78, 171
C anada, Ju ly 1935__________________________
September new applications represented a decline of 16.1 percent
from the previous monthly volume, continuing the downward trend
in registrations from the peak totals reported in July. During
September the total of applications from both new registrants and
previously registered persons was 1,174,618, a decline of 18.6 percent
from August.
Employment offices reported 232,164 placements in gainful employ
ment during September, a drop of 4.4 percent from August. These
placements do not include assignments on works projects and work
relief jobs. The Employment Service participated in making 150,213
such assignments. Field visits to employers made by Employment
Service representatives in search of job opportunities numbered
72,962 in September.
1348
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EM PLOYM ENT OFFICES
1349
Offices of the affiliated State employment services received 361,297
new applications (55.1 percent of the total); made 96,732 placements
(41.7 percent); and reported 3,713,468 applications in the active file
at the month end (42.7 percent). Employees of the State services
made 23,086 field visits (31.6 percent of the total).
Offices of the National Reemployment Service received 294,449
new applications (44.9 percent of the total); made 135,432 placements
(58.3 percent); and reported 4,983,353 applications in the active file
at the month end (57.3 percent). National Reemployment Service
representatives made 49,876 field visits (68.4 percent of the total).
The Employment Service made 23,751 placements of veterans in
September, registered 31,101 veterans for the first time, and reported
a total of 531,717 veterans registered for work on September 30.
In addition to registration and placement activities the Employment
Service is actively engaged in two major projects which will make
available valuable additions to the information concerning employ
ment and unemployment conditions in this country. Brief descrip
tions of the projects follow.
Inventory of Registered Job Seekers
F i e l d w o r k preparatory to the setting up of comprehensive
central records, from which periodic detailed surveys can be made of
all job seekers registered in public employment offices, is now being
conducted in offices of the United States Employment Service through
out the country. Following completion of the field work on December
15, files of individual punched-card records will be established in six
central offices, which will have mechanical tabulating facilities allow
ing detailed studies of employment office files on a national scale.
The punched-card file, once established, will be maintained on a
current basis by means of the regular statistical operations of the
Employment Service.
The initial survey made available through this program will cover
all job seekers registered for work on November 15. The records of
nearly 9,000,000 persons will be included in the study. Included in
this number are the registrations of several million nonrelief recipients
who are seeking work. In addition nearly complete coverage of all
relief employables will be secured, registration for employment having
been required of relief employables under the Works program.
The inventory records of the employment seekers contain a series
of items establishing the personal status of each applicant and his
place in the economic organization of the country. Information
giving the principal occupation of each person, established on the
basis of his training and experience as reported to the interviewers of
the national employment office system, will be supplemented by
reports of the industrial background of each applicant with work
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1350
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — N O VEM BER 1935
experience. Item s relating directly to the personal classification of
th e reg istran ts include age, sex, and color. In addition the initial
stu d y will re p o rt relief and veterans status.
A by-p ro d u ct of this program has been the introduction of a uniform
system of personal identification num bers which is being used in all
em ploym ent offices affiliated w ith the F ederal E m ploym ent Service.
T his num bering system indicates the S ta te and county in which each
ap p lican t resides, and assigns an individual serial num ber to every
ap p lican t w ithin each county. Set up on a flexible plan in anticipa
tion of the requirem ents of the Social S ecurity program , the system
has been accepted as a basis for identifying the individual records
which will be required in unem ploym ent insurance.
T he U n ited S tates E m ploym ent Service recently com pleted the
form ulation of a new system of occupational classification which will
be used in the survey. T he new classification, w hich was prepared
after a thorough analysis of existing occupational classifications, is
designed to afford groupings of occupations in a m anner which will
elim inate in d u strial stratification as far as possible, and will serve as
a basis for pointing o u t the degree of m obility of certain occupations
across in d u strial lines. E ig h t m ajor groups are established in the
classification, each one com posed of a hom ogeneous group of occupa
tions. A dditional subgrouping is provided w ithin each m ajor group.
A pproxim ately 11,000 occupational titles will be found in the clas
sification. A five-digit code system is used in identifying the m aterial
for tab u lating.
C ancelation of the projected census of unem ploym ent w hich h ad
been planned under the W orks P rogram leaves the E m ploym ent
Service survey of active reg istran ts the m ost com prehensive stu d y
of the unem ployed group in this country. T he stu d y is n o t designed
as an a tte m p t to determ ine to ta l unem ploym ent or as a su b stitu te
for such a com plete census as was planned. C ertain sections of the
unem ployed will be rep o rted w ith varying degrees of com pleteness
and the ex ten t to which em ploym ent office registration represents to tal
unem ploym ent in any com m unity will v ary from one section of the
co u n try to another. N evertheless, in addition to its p rim ary object
of indicating the num ber, type, and background of th e registered job
seekers of each S tate, inform ation h ith erto unobtainable except in a
few scattered com m unities, the E m ploym ent Service in v en to ry will
furnish th e m ost com prehensive sam ple of unem ploym ent statistics
yeC available.
Occupational Research Program
i
S u p p o r t e d in p a rt by g ra n ts of funds from the Social Science
R esearch Council an d th e Spelm an F und, and in p a rt from regular
appropriations, the U nited S tates E m ploy m ent Service is also con-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
1351
ducting oth er studies of wide social significance. In an effort which
is u ltim ately aim ed a t facilitating the transfer of w orkers from
depressed industries and occupations to those of m ore prom ise w ith a
m inim um loss of experience and training, the U nited S tates E m ploy
m en t Service has set up an extensive program of job analysis and
w orker analysis know n as the “ O ccupational R esearch P ro g ra m ” to
determ ine the special skills and ap titu d es necessary for success in
various occupations.
In order to aid in the process of industrial reabsorption, the Occupa
tional Research Program is designed, in the first place, to provide
detailed and accurate descriptions for all jobs available and served
through an employment office, and, secondly, to develop a classifica
tion or grouping of such jobs in terms of the human qualifications
required to carry on the work successfully.
Millions of unemployed persons in this country are seeking to
secure employment in the specific occupations for which their particu
lar training and ability suits them. Preliminary estimates made from
the active files of Employment Service offices show that almost a
third of the registered job seekers are younger persons, between the
ages of 16 and 24, who because of recent economic conditions have
been unable to secure regular employment and, therefore, have no
work history of any significance. It also appears that a total ap
proaching one-half of the adult workers actively seeking work through
the offices have had experience only in those occupations for which
there is no immediate or prospective demand.
This would suggest that not many more than a third of the persons
now actively seeking work through the public employment service
can hope, even under improved conditions, to secure employment in
those occupations in which they have had extensive experience.
If the other two-thirds of the unemployed persons are to be reabsorbed
into industry as business activity expands, a major program must be
undertaken to facilitate occupational readjustment. It is essential
to know what other kinds of work each of these persons is capable of
doing, in addition to those jobs in which he may have had some
experience. It is also necessary to know what types of jobs are
available and exactly what they require in the way of abilities, skills,
and aptitudes on the part of the workers.
In order to serve these objectives, a program of occupational re
search studies is being carried on under th e direction of a technical
bo ard of ou tstan d ing experts in th e field of occupational analysis.
T he m em bers of this board were appointed by the D irector of the
U n ited S tates E m ploym ent Service from nom inations offered by the
Social Science R esearch Council and the N atio n al R esearch Council.
Those m em bers of th e Technical B oard who were nom inated by the
Social Science R esearch Council are prim arily concerned w ith the devel
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1352
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O VEM BER 1935
opment of sound job specifications and an improved cross-classification
of occupations. The members nominated by the National Research
Council are primarily concerned with the development of occupational
standards and practical criteria for selecting workers for employment,
especially those who cannot be placed in terms of previous work
histories.
T able 1.— O perations of Offices of C om bined S ta te E m p lo y m en t an d N a tio n a l
R eem ploym ent Services, S eptem ber 1935
Placements
State
N ew applications Total applications 1
Percent
Percent
Sep of change Sep of change
tember
from
tember
from
August
August
Active file
Percent
Percent
Septem of changto
change
Sept. 30 of from
ber
from
August
August 31
United States_________ 232,164
2 - 4 .4
655, 746
2 -1 6 .1
1,174, 618
Alabama..... ...................... 3,313
Arizona_______________ 1, 799
Arkansas........................... 6, 038
California........................ 23,427
Colorado_____________
3, 275
+15.8
- 1 .4
-6 .6
+13.5
+19.3
8,041
1,520
5,022
84, 290
7,361
-3 9 .2
-3 1 .1
-3 1 .4
+13.0
+21.5
17, 583
3,214
14,145
109,096
14,817
-3 9 .7
-2 6 .8
-1 5 .2
+10.3
+35.0
163,966
41,461
91, 767
291,321
88,831
- 1 .4
+ .4
- 4 .4
+24.2
+ 9.1
Connecticut__________
Delaware........ ..................
Florida..............................
Georgia_______________
Idaho_______________
3, 276
573
2, 307
5, 635
2,678
+11.0
-3 0 .5
+ 8 .2
-1 9 .3
+ 4 .7
6,833
1,064
9,462
11,703
2,834
- 2 .6
-2 6 .9
-4 5 .8
-4 4 .3
+71.7
13,178
2,160
27,401
16, 264
6,258
-.9
-3 2 .8
-2 0 .8
-4 6 .7
+26.4
67,463
15,474
155, 312
288, 784
34,983
+11.1
+ 6 .0
+ 8 .7
+ 2 .5
■ + 6 .8
Illinois_______________ 12, 215
Indiana_______ _____ 7, 200
Iowa_________________
6,013
3,712
Kansas_______________
Kentucky__ ______ . . .
2,638
- 1 .5
- 9 .7
2 -1 7 .0
-2 6 .6
+31.4
45,188
12,102
5, 627
4, 071
4,957
+14.2
-2 6 .2
+14.9
-5 4 .6
-8 5 .6
78,844
21, 718
18, 757
9,803
8,091
2 - 6 .5
-1 4 .1
2 +7.1
-4 1 .9
-8 5 .5
271, 645
235,396
81,248
168, 341
201,603
+11.2
+ 3 .6
+ 3 .7
-2 .8
+ 2 .4
1,583
1,300
1,535
3,462
4, 558
+ 7 .9
+44.8
-2 4 .9
- 4 .5
+35.3
1,242
3,096
4,819
23,674
49,181
-6 5 .0
-2 9 .8
+ 8 .4
- 8 .0
+13.5
2,330
7,932
11,178
33,279
55,354
-5 5 .1
-1 0 .1
+23.5
-1 3 .0
+10.7
175,353
37,811
97,468
282,299
246, 753
-.5
+14.9
+ .4
+10.4
+22.1
M in n eso ta ..................
10,994
M ississippi___________
3,285
Missouri______________ 7, 637
M ontana______ _______ 5, 034
Nebraska........ ............ .
5, 729
2 -1 4 .5
+ 9 .3
-2 8 .8
2 - 2 .1
- 2 .7
16,094
17, 985
23,420
4,042
3,840
-1 9 .9
+23.5
- 5 .5
-4 3 .6
+ 4 .1
37, 582
28, 739
52,905
10,210
12,280
-1 8 .1
+ 5 .4
- 2 .0
-2 8 .3
-2 3 .1
137,628
161, 280
294, 725
39,790
65, 648
2 +10. 6
+13.9
+10.9
2+ 3.1
+ 1 .7
1,185
414
3,409
1,875
14, 736
-1 6 .0
-5 4 .0
2 + 6 .5
+ 7 .8
2 + 8 .8
1,220
1,310
21, 691
4, 321
79,614
- 4 .3
-1 9 .0
+20.4
2 -4 0 .1
2 -1 2 .2
2,486
2,666
30, 544
6,694
127, 717
- 6 .2
-2 0 .5
+12.4
2 -4 1 .3
2 - 3 .9
6,119
30,672
312, 434
53,029
936,060
+ 3.9
+ 6 .3
+ 7 .6
2 + 7.3
2 + 7 .1
North Carolina_______
5, 584
North Dakota_____ . . .
2,507
Ohio_____ . . . ______ 13, 903
O klahom a....................... 2,021
Oregon_______________
8,258
-2 0 .1
-3 4 .8
+10.1
-3 0 .2
+80.1
21, 345
3,539
23,157
9,146
2,613
-3 6 .9
+ 4 .7
-2 8 .3
-3 9 .3
-3 9 .5
35,165
10, 230
63, 089
23,005
10,390
-3 7 .3
-4 .0
-2 2 .2
-4 6 .3
+16.1
183,038
40, 282
325, 002
166,705
89, 761
+ 7 .6
+12.4
+ 6.0
+ 6 .0
- 1 .5
Pennsylvania...................
Rhode" Island_________
South Carolina________
South Dakota_________
Tennessee____________
7,120
513
2,957
2,824
1,400
-3 .8
-2 6 .5
-1 7 .9
-1 1 .8
-5 6 .2
36,948
2,171
8,947
3, 075
15, 328
-3 0 .5
-5 6 .2
+ 8 .0
+17.1
-1 4 .6
61,175
3, 696
14, 266
9, 270
20,686
-5 1 .0 1, 261,846
-4 5 .3
53, 556
- 8 .5
167, 691
+ 5 .7
63, 025
- 7 .8
264,405
+ .5
+ 2.6
+ 5.7
+ .3
+ 6 .8
Texas....................... .........
U tah. ________ _______
Vermont_________ ____
Virginia___ _ _______
Washington__________
7,114
3,055
977
3, 932
5,118
-2 5 .6
- 9 .1
+30.8
-2 7 .8
+12.1
12, 621
2,994
706
12, 242
6,826
-2 5 .0
-1 5 .3
-1 0 .6
-2 7 .9
-4 0 .8
30,094
10,160
3,010
20,515
13,830
-1 8 .9
- 2 .9
+42.2
-2 8 .3
-2 7 .4
302,010
35, 761
18, 556
146,966
182,171
+1.1
-1 7 .5
+10.7
+ 7.6
+ .4
West Virginia. ..............
Wisconsin______ ____ _
Wyoming____ ____ ___
District of Columbia___
3,077
7,346
1,730
1,893
+ 7 .5
-1 6 .9
-2 1 .4
+ 9 .9
6,992
16,270
1,585
3,617
-1 2 .1
+ 1 .9
-1 5 .0
- 6 .9
14, 687
38, 248
4,286
5,591
-2 7 .8
-1 4 .2
- 9 .1
-1 0 .5
138, 268
117, 501
11,553
54,060
+ 5 .7
+ 8.0
+ .9
+ 6 .4
Louisiana_____________
M aine. ______________
Maryland ___________
M assachusetts________
Michigan_____________
N evada............... .............
N ew Hampshire______
New Jersey___________
N ew Mexico__________
N ew York____ ______
1Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 -1 8 .6 8, 696,821
2 + 5.6
2 Based on revised August figure.
1353
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T ab le 3.— O perations of Offices of S ta te E m p lo y m en t Services, S eptem ber 1935
Placements
State
Sep
tember
N ew applications Total applications 1
Active file
Percent of
Percent of
Percent of
Percent of
change
Septem change
change
Sep
change
Sept. 30
from
from
ber
from
tember
from
Aug. 31
August
August
August
2 -1 1 .8 3,713,468
2 + 7 .7
-1 9 .4
+18.1
+186.9
- 1 .6
-3 2 .8
14,895
228,447
39,566
47, 533
15,474
+ 3.3
+36.8
+15.7
+11.7
+ 6.0
1,740
48,968
15,180
10, 540
2,412
(3)
(4)
- 2 .9
+ 7.1
-6 5 .6
5,363
160,820
124,284
46,937
42, 755
(3)
-6 5 .0
+15.4
-2 7 .4
- 7 .8
- 3 .7
2,330
16,389
18,280
32,472
1, 528
-5 5 .1
- 5 .3
-2 2 .8
+ 1 .0
- 8 .2
175,353
113,340
66,105
97,013
3,969
717
18,802
1,198
70, 560
21,345
-1 3 .7
+21.8
5 -5 2 . 0
5 - 4 .4
(3)
1,282
24,906
2,399
112,490
35,165
-1 6 .9
+12.5
s —47.4
5 + 3.3
(3)
14,171
260,061
26,168
595,184
183,038
+ 9 .2
+ 7 .5
+129. 0
- 1 .2
(°)
16, 758
2, 255
1,338
26, 217
1,915
-2 3 .4
-4 0 .3
-4 3 .9
-3 0 .4
(6)
43,814
5,607
6, 702
34,183
3,048
-1 7 .9
-2 7 .0
+38.0
—63. 5
(6)
172, 864
26,976
66,159
785,865
47, 230
882
1, 253
977
676
706
(3)
(3)
+30.8
+ 9 .6
+ 5 .4
6,412
3,227
706
1,695
1, 621
(3)
(3)
-1 0 .6
+ .4
-.9
8,065
6,842
3,010
2,649
2,902
(3)
(3)
+42.2
-1 7 .5
-2 4 .2
100,545
69,854
18,556
16,806
28,178
4,293
598
1,893
-1 0 .2
0.0
+ 9 .9
8, 763
790
3, 617
- 9 .5
-1 2 .4
- 6 .9
19, 720
1,631
5, 591
-1 3 .2
- 6 .6
-1 0 .5
60,095
5,804
54,060
All States.
96,732
2 +10.3 361, 297
2 - 5 .1
586,360
Arizona____
California__
Colorado___
Connecticut.
Delaware___
509
15, 200
1,574
2,531
573
+14.4
+16.9
+133. 5
+12.1
-3 0 .5
781
77,529
4,718
5, 241
1,064
-2 7 .5
,+21. 2
+ 126.5
+ 3 .8
-2 6 .9
1,217
95,121
8,324
9, 693
2,160
Idaho........................... —
Illinois..............................
Indiana----------- --------Iowa________________
Kansas (not affiliated).
1,019
7, 593
5,230
2,987
1,092
(3)
+ 4 .2
- 9 .6
- 1 .4
638
33, 656
8,813
3,799
1,055
(3)
«
- 9 .1
+15.1
-7 7 .7
Louisiana------Massachusetts .
Minnesota____
Missouri...........
Nevada----------
1,583
2,291
3', 984
2,028
701
+ 7 .9
- 3 .9
5 - 4 .9
-1 6 .4
-1 7 .4
1,242
11,311
9,316
13,315
883
N ew Hampshire .
N ew Jersey.........
N ew Mexico____
N ew York--------North Carolina.-
182
2,814
545
9, 874
5,584
-1 3 .7
+ 9 .0
-3 6 .0
5+23. 6
(3)
Ohio...............Oklahoma___
Oregon............
Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island .
6,786
849
5,690
3,934
'301
Tennessee____
Texas________
Vermont_____
Virginia--------West Virginia.
W isconsin.----- -------W yoming....................
District of Columbia.
(*+)4 .4
+ 2 .4
+ .1
-.5
+ 12.0
« +19.6
+21.9
+ 2. 2
+ 7 .4
+ 7 .9
+ 5 .5
« + 10.7
(3)
+ 8 .5
+ 2.9
-
m
2.0
+. 6
«
(3)
+10.7
+ 8.8
+ 5 .7
+.7
+ 3 .9
+ 6 .4
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
a N o State Employment Service in operation before Sept. 1.
.
.
___,
.
t N ot comparable due to transfer of 3 offices from National Reemployment Service to State Employm ent
Service Sept. 1.
í Based on revised August figures.
. _ . ,
8 Operating entirely as State Employment Service Sept. 1.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1354
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
T able 3 .—-O perations of Offices of N atio n al R eem p lo y m en t Service, S eptem ber
1935
Placements
State
Sep
tember
135, 432
N ew applications Total applications 1
Percent o
Percent o
change
Sep
change
from
from
tember
August
August
Septem
ber
2 -9 .1 294, 449
2-26. 6
588, 258
Alabama__________ --Arizona______________
Arkansas—-___ _______
California_____________
Colorado-------- ----------
3,313
1,290
6,038
8,227
1,701
+15.8
-6 .5
-6 .6
+ 7 .7
-1 7 .9
8,041
739
5, 022
6, 761
2,643
-3 9 .2
-3 4 .5
-3 1 .4
-3 6 .2
-3 3 .5
17, 583
1,997
14,145
13,975
6,493
C onnecticut------ -----Florida--------------Idaho.— ------------- -Illinois------ --------------
745
2,307
5,635
1,659
4,622
+ 7 .3
+ 8 .2
-1 9 .3
0
0
1,592
9,462
11,703
2,196
11, 532
-1 9 .1
-4 5 .8
-4 4 .3
0
0
Indiana.............. ..............
I o w a ________________
Kansas_______ ______
Kentucky-------------------
1,970
3,026
2,620
2,638
-2 1 .6
«-23. 2
-3 3 .6
+31.4
3,289
1,828
3,016
4,957
M ain e.--------------Maryland____ _ ------Massachusetts- ---------Michigan_____________
Minnesota------------------
1,300
1,535
1,171
4, 558
7,010
+44.8
-2 4 .9
- 5 .6
+35.3
-1 9 .1
Mississippi —
-----Missouri . __________
Montana_____________
Nebraska_____________
Nevada----------------------
3, 285
5,609
5, 034
5, 729
484
+ 9 .3
-3 2 .5
N ew Hampshire---------New Jersey___________
New Mexico__________
New Y o r k ... _ .
...
North Carolina
____
All States_______ _
Active file
Percent of
Percent of
change
Sept. 30 change
from
from
August
Aug. 31
2-24.5 4,983,353
2+2.4
-3 9 .7
-3 0 .7
-1 5 .2
-2 4 .1
-1 9 .6
163,966
26,566
91,767
62,874
49,265
- 1 .4
-1 .2
-4 .4
-6 .9
+ 4 .4
3,485
27,401
16,264
4,518
29,876
+ 1 .2
-2 0 .8
-4 6 .7
0
0
19,930
155,312
288,784
29,620
110,825
+ 9 .8
+ 8 .7
+2. 5
0
0
-5 1 .0
+14.5
-2 8 .7
-8 5 .6
6,538
8,217
7,391
8,091
-3 2 .2
«+7.0
-2 5 .0
-8 5 .5
111,112
34,311
125,586
201,603
+ 2 .8
+ 5 .6
- 3 .7
+ 2 .4
3,096
4,819
12,363
49,181
6, 778
-2 9 .8
+ 8 .4
-2 2 .4
+13.5
-6 .6
7,932
11,178
16,890
55,354
19,302
-1 0 .1
+23.5
-1 9 .3
+10.7
-1 3 .1
37,811
97,468
168,959
246,753
71, 523
+14.9
+ .4
+ 9.4
+22.1
+ 3 .4
‘ - 2 .1
17,985
10,105
4,042
3,840
337
+23.5
-2 .2
-4 3 .6
+ 4 .1
- 5 .9
28,739
20,433
10,210
12,280
958
+ 5 .4
- 6 .5
-2 8 .3
-2 3 .1
-2 .7
161,280
197, 712
39, 790
65, 648
2,150
+13.9
+ 6 .2
0+3.1
+ 1 .7
+ 7.1
232
595
1,330
4, 862
(6)
-6 6 .3
5—3. 9
+49.6
5 -1 2 .6
593
2,889
3,123
9,054
0
-2 4 .7
+11.8
-3 3 .8
«-46.3
1,384
5,638
4,295
15,227
0
-2 3 .5
+12.2
-3 7 .2
0-36.3
16, 501
52,373
26,861
340,876
0
+ 5 .4
+ 6.3
+ 9.1
0+1.4
North Dakota________
O h io .._______________
Oklahoma------------------Oregon....... .....................
Pennsylvania...... ............
2, 507
7,117
1,172
2, 568
3,186
-3 4 .8
+11.0
-4 4 .3
+22.2
-6 .8
3,539
6,399
6,891
1,275
10,731
+ 4 .7
-3 8 .7
-3 9 .0
-3 4 .1
-3 0 .8
10, 230
19,275
17,398
3,688
26,992
-4 .0
-3 0 .3
-5 0 .5
- 9 .8
-1 3 .7
40,282
152,138
139,729
23,602
475,981
+12.4
+ 3.4
+ 6 .6
-.2
+ .5
Rhode Island_________
South Carolina.............. .
South Dakota___ _____
Tennessee........................
Texas________________
212
2,957
2,824
518
5,861
0
-1 7 .9
-1 1 .8
0
0
256
8,947
3,075
8,916
9,394
0
+ 8 .0
+17.1
0
0
648
14, 266
9,270
12, 621
23,252
0
-8 .5
+ 5 .7
0
0
6,326
167, 691
63, 025
163,860
232,156
0
0
0
U ta h .................................
Virginia______________
Washington___________
West Virginia_________
3,055
3,256
5,118
2,371
- 9 .1
-3 2 .6
+12.1
+ 8 .2
2,994
10, 547
6,826
5,371
-1 5 .3
-3 1 .1
-4 0 .8
-1 5 .0
10,160
17,866
13,830
11,785
- 2 .9
-2 9 .6
-2 7 .4
-2 8 .6
35,761
130,160
182,171
110,090
-1 7 .5
+ 7 .4
+ .4
+ 5 .7
Wisconsin____________
W yom ing.------------------
3,053
1,132
-2 4 .7
-2 9 .3
7,507
795
+19.6
-1 7 .4
18, 528
2, 655
-1 5 .3
-1 0 .5
57,406
5,749
+17.0
- 2 .0
-2 .7
-1 3 .9
+ 5 .7
+ .3
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 No State Employment Service in operation before Sept. 1.
< N ot comparable due to transfer of 3 offices from National Reemployment Service to State Employment
Service.
3 Based on revised August figure.
3 Operating entirely as State Employment Service Sept. 1.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1355
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
T able 4.— V eterans A ctivities of Offices of C om bined S ta te E m p lo y m en t an d
N atio n al R eem p lo y m en t Services, S eptem ber 1935
State
Placements
New applications
Percent
Septem of change
from
ber
August
Percent
Septem of change
from
ber
August
Active file
Sept. 30
Percent
of change
from
Aug. 31
U n ited S t a t e s ...............
23,751
1-12.0
31,101
1-7 .8
531,717
1+3.7
A la b a m a .........................
A r iz o n a ..........................
A rkansas................... ..
C alifornia------------------Colorado------ ------- ------
350
189
515
2,932
'402
+17.8
-1 6 .7
+ 4 .7
+ 5 .8
+52.9
290
85
248
7,022
335
-2 2 .5
-1 9 .8
- 7 .8
+ .8
+27.4
7,825
2,295
5,285
27,486
6,057
- 1 .9
—2.4
- 4 .0
+17.7
+ 3 .4
C onn ecticu t.......... .........
D elaw are------------------Florida........................ --G eo rgia...................... .
I d a h o ..............................
217
51
173
276
178
- 7 .3
-4 0 .7
-1 0 .8
-3 9 .7
-1 0 .1
269
35
461
287
178
-2 3 .4
-3 9 .7
+ 8 .2
-3 5 .5
+102.3
4,711
883
8,317
11, 280
1, 561
+ .2
+ 4 .7
+ 7.1
+. 5
+ 7 .4
I llin o is .............................
In d ian a............................
Iow a_________________
K ansas______________
K en tu ck y........................
1,255
761
675
557
540
+ 5 .9
-3 3 .7
1 -3 1 . 5
-2 2 .5
+25.0
3,145
553
247
179
213
+29.2
-1 9 .2
+17.1
-3 9 .8
-7 0 .0
23,274
14,850
5,725
9,537
12,726
+ 9 .0
+ 1. 5
+ 4 .8
—1.3
—1.2
L ou isian a-------- ---------M a in e............................. .
M arylan d ...... ............... .
M assach usetts----------M ich igan -------------------
246
142
151
264
408
+20.6
+49.5
-3 9 .1
-2 2 .4
-1 9 .4
61
184
176
1,292
2,775
-6 4 .5
-17. 1
-1 7 .0
- 5 .4
+25.0
11,827
2,934
5,986
19,363
16,436
- 1 .3
+13. 5
—. 4
+y. i
+18.8
M in n e s o t a ..................
M ississip p i....................
M issou ri.........................
M o n ta n a ------------------N eb raska------------------
1,024
179
‘828
421
531
- 6 .2
- 9 .6
-3 3 .3
- 5 .6
+ 2 .5
788
215
955
116
158
1-19.1
+25.0
-2 5 .2
-5 2 .8
+ 9 .0
9,735
7,209
17,702
2,315
4,341
1+8.5
+ 5 .5
+11.5
i+ l.O
- .8
N ev a d a ________ ____
N ew H am pshire------N ew Jersey— .........—
N ew M exico................
N ew Y ork ----------------
151
27
163
305
984
-1 8 .8
-5 9 .1
-4 0 .5
-1 9 .1
1 -9 .1
70
72
907
149
3,030
+ 4 .5
- 4 .0
- 7 .4
-3 4 .6
1+24.5
289
2,359
23,548
3,334
58,320
- 6 .2
+ 7 .5
+ 4 .5
1+4.4
1+1.5
N orth C arolina...........
N orth D a k o ta .............
O h io________________
O k la h o m a ..............
Oregon...... .....................
439
185
1,174
241
669
-2 4 .6
-3 5 .1
+ 1 .1
-3 5 .6
+27.2
471
108
900
306
209
-2 0 .8
- 6 .1
-2 6 .4
-4 2 .6
-2 4 .8
7,635
1,722
23,008
16,608
6,676
+ 4 .5
+15.9
+ 4 .9
+ 2 .2
—5.8
P en n sylvan ia----------R hode Islan d — .........
South Carolina........ .
South D ak ota ----------T ennessee-----------------
884
59
183
389
191
- 7 .2
-2 2 .4
-3 2 .0
- 2 .7
-3 2 .0
1,302
106
207
91
297
-4 6 .0
-3 1 .2
- 3 .3
-5 .2
-2 3 .7
58,639
3,175
7,036
3,279
13,693
+ 1 .4
+ 4 .1
+ 1 .4
+ 5.3
+2. 5
T exas_______________
U ta h _____ ____ _____
V erm o n t......................
V irginia-------------------W a sh in gton ............. .
1,132
420
45
356
597
-3 9 .8
- 3 .4
+18.4
- 9 .4
-1 4 .3
526
111
9
327
244
-2 7 .2
+22.0
-7 8 .0
-3 1 .6
-3 6 .5
17,757
1,905
625
7,389
12,844
-.8
—33.1
+11.6
+ 2 .2
- .8
W est V irginia............
W isconsin.....................
W yom in g...............---D istrict of C olum bia.
323
1,065
230
274
-1 7 .2
-1 1 .6
+ 9 .5
- 1 .4
221
842
79
250
-2 1 .1
- 2 .2
-2 4 .0
-1 2 .6
8,148
9,118
859
4,091
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .0
—7.3
+ 3 .0
t Based on revised August figure.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY
ROLLS
I
Sum m ary o f E m ploym ent R ep o rts fo r Septem ber 1935
Comparison of September 1935 with August 1935 and September 1934
SU M M A R Y of th e rep o rted d a ta regarding em ploym ent in
S eptem ber 1935 is presented in the following four tables.
E m ploym ent an d pay-roll indexes, p er capita weekly earnings, average
hours w orked per week, and average hourly earnings, as well as p er
centage changes from A ugust 1935 an d Septem ber 1934, are shown for
m anu factu rin g an d for the nonm anufacturing groups insofar as the
inform ation is available.
A
The principal changes shown in these tables are briefly as follows:
Factory employment and pay rolls rose 2.1 percent and 3.6 percent,
respectively, from August to September. Expressed in concrete num
bers, the gains amounted to approximately 140,000 workers and
$5,100,000 in weekly wages.
Of th e 90 m anufacturing industries surveyed, 71 showed m ore
em ployees on th eir p ay rolls in Septem ber th a n in A ugust and 72
rep o rted larger p ay rolls. T he largest increases in em ploym ent were
seasonal in ch aracter and were shown in th e following industries: C ot
tonseed oil, cake, and m eal (44.5 p ercen t); confectionery (26.0 per
cen t); canning and preserving (17.9 p ercent); radios (19.2 percent);
fertilizers (18.8 p ercent); m illinery (16.1 p ercent); jew elry (14.4 per
cen t), and beet sugar (9.7 percent). O ther industries showing sub
stan tial seasonal gains in em ploym ent were w om en’s clothing (7.2
pel c e n t); stoves (5.2 p ercent); m en ’s furnishings (4.5 percent); furni
tu re (4.0 percent); cotton goods (3.9 p ercent); and shirts and collars
(3.4 percent). T he lighting-equipm ent in d u stry h ad 9.0 percent m ore
em ployees in S eptem ber th a n in A ugust, tools (not including edge
tools, m achine tools, files, and saws), 8.4 percent; clocks and w atches
and tim e-recording devices, 8.2 percent; hardw are, 6.7 percent; forg
ings, 5.7 percen t; m illwork, 5.6 p ercen t; ru b b e r goods (other th an
boots, shoes, tires, and inner tubes), 5.2 percent; and shipbuilding,
5.1 percent. T he m achine-tool in d u stry , an in d icato r of ac tiv ity in
industries using pow er-driven m etal-cu ttin g m achinery, again reported
an increase in em ploym ent (4.8 percent), gains having been reported
each m o n th since O ctober 1934. T he Septem ber em ploym ent index
1356
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
i
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
1357
(96.4) is the highest point reached since December 1930. Gains of
4.2 percent in the typewriter industry and 3.0 percent in the cashregister industry indicate an advancing rate of general business activ
ity. Among the industries of major importance in which relatively
smaller percentage gains were reported were blast furnaces, steel
works, and rolling mills, foundry and machine-shop products, electrical
machinery, apparatus and supplies, and sawmills.
The most pronounced percentage decline in employment was a
seasonal decrease of 14.1 percent in ice cream. Employment in the
automobile industry decreased 11.7 percent, due primarily to shut
downs for the taking of inventory and for model changes. Other in
dustries showing decreases in employment were marble-granite-slate
(6.0 percent), beverages (4.0 percent), cane-sugar refining (3.8 per
cent), cement (3.6 percent), butter (2.6 percent), aircraft (2.3 percent),
locomotives (2.2 percent), and fur-felt hats (2.0 percent).
In nonmanufacturing 10 of the 17 industries surveyed reported
gains in employment and 13 showed larger pay rolls. Retail-trade
establishments showed a rise of 5 percent in employment (151,900
workers), coal-mining establishments absorbed 27,400 additional
wage earners, and wholesale trade 14,500. In the aggregate, there
were approximately 195,000 more workers on the pay rolls of the 17
nonmanufacturing industries and $7,100,000 more in weekly wages.
Exclusive of relief work, employment in September in the various
Federal activities registered gains over August. In relief work both
the Emergency-Work Program and the Emergency-Conservation
Program had pronounced losses in the number of workers employed.
The Works Program with an increase of 135 percent in the number
of employees had the most marked gain for the month. In the regular
agencies of the Federal Government the executive, judicial, and mili
tary branches showed increased employment but a small loss occurred
in the legislative branch. Decreases in the number of workers em
ployed were reported on construction projects financed by the Re
construction Finance Corporation and Public Works Administration.
On the other hand, a substantial increase in employment was regis
tered in construction projects financed by regular governmental ap
propriations.
Private employment.—Table 1 shows employment and pay-roll in
dexes and per capita weekly earnings in September 1935 for all manu
facturing industries combined, for various nonmanufacturing indus
tries, and for class I steam railroads, with percentage changes over the
month and year intervals, except in the few cases referred to in foot
notes, for which certain items cannot be computed. Table 2 shows
for the same industries as in table 1, so far as data are available, aver
age hours worked per week and average hourly earnings, together with
percentage changes over the month and year intervals.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1358
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — N OVEM BER 1935
T able 1. E m p lo y m en t, P a y R olls, an d E arn in g s in All M an u factu rin g In d u stries
C om bined and in N o n m an u factu rin g In d u stries, S eptem ber 1935 (P relim in ary
Figures)
Employment
Industry
A ll manufacturing industries
combined...... ..........................
Class I steam railroads 1...........
Coal mining:
Anthracite______________
Bitum inous_____________
Metalliferous mining________
Quarrying and nonmetallic
mining___________________
Crude-petroleum producing...
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph..
Electric light and power
and manufactured g a s...
Electric-railroad and mo
tor-bus operation and
maintenance__________
Trade:
Wholesale________ _____ _
Retail__________ ____ ___
General merchandis
ing...... .....................
Other than general
merchandising_____
Hotels (cash payments only) __
Laundries__________________
Dyeing and cleaning..................
Banks____ ______ __________
Brokerage.................... ...............
Insurance__________________
Building construction_______
Percentage
Percentage
change from—
change from—
Index
Index
Septem
Septem
ber 1935 August Sep ber 1935
August Sep
1935 tember
1935 tember
1934
1934
(1923-25
=100)
83.5
56.5
= 100)
+ 2 .1 +10.0
-.2
- 1 .4
(1929=
100)
46.0 +19.1 -1 9 .2
77.1 + 5 .1 - 1 .4
48.9 + 5 .5 +15.6
50.0
77.7
Percentage
Aver change from—
age in
Sep
tember
Sep
1935 August tember
1935
1934
01923-25
- 2 .0
- 1 .5
-6 .2
- 5 .0
72.1
+ 3 .6 +24.3 $21.14
+ 1 .3
+12.8
(1929=
100)
38.2 +34.9 -1 8 .7
60.1 +31.2 +16.9
35.4 + 6 .0 +36.7
24.11 +13.3
+. 5
20.07 +24.8 +18.7
22.47
+ .4 +18.3
35.4
63.1
17. 60
30.01
- 2 .6
+ 3 .4
+ 9.3
+ 5 .7
-.6
+ 5 .0
+16.4
+11.2
70.4
-. 1
-.7
74.2
- 1 .8
+ 2 .8
27.90
- 1 .8
+ 3.5
86.9
+ .2
+ 1 .3
84.5
+ 2 .0
+ 6 .6
31.06
+ 1 .8
+ 5 .2
71.0
-.2
- 2 .1
64.0
+ 1.1
+ 2 .6
28.61
+ 1 .3
+ 4 .6
67.2 + 3 .7
62.4 + 5 .4
76.7 +11.1
+ 5 .7
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .6
27.66
20.43
17. 62
+ 2 .6
-.2
-.5
+5:4
+ 3.1
+ 4 .0
+ 3 .9 + 2 .8
+ 1 .8 + 3 .4
- 1 .9 + 3 .0
+ 8 .4 + 6 .9
-.6
+ 1 .4
+ ( 3) + 2 .2
+ 1 .2 +4. 7
+ 5 .3 +20.6
22.64
13.40
15.58
18.82
31. 60
34. 88
36.13
25.74
+• 8
+ 1.3
-.4
+ 4.8
+ .1
- .8
+ 1 .4
4-2.5
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .9
+ 4 .2
-.5
+ 1 .9
+ 3 .6
+11.4
83.7 + 1 .1
81.6 + 5 .0
91.2 +11.7
79.1
81.1
83.0
82.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
+ 3 .2
+ .5
- 1 .4
+ 3 .4
-.7
+ .8
-.3
+ 2 .7
+ .2
-. 1
- .3
.0
+ 1 .4
+■ 1
+ 2 .6
+ 2 .0
+. 3
+ 1 .0
+8.1
1 Preliminary; source: Interstate Commerce Commission.
2 N ot available.
3 Less than TV of I percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per capita weekly
earnings
Pay roll
59.4
63.1
67.9
63.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1359
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T able 2.— H ours and E arn in g s in S eptem ber 1935 in All M an u fa c tu rin g In d u stries
C om bined and in N o n m an u factu rin g In d u stries (P relim in ary Figures)
Average hours
worked per week
Industry
- _________
All manufacturing industries combined___
Class I steam railroads____ ___ _________________________
Coal mining:
Anthracite_____________________
_______________
B itum inous..__________ ___________________________
Metalliferous mining______________ . _____ ________
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining______________________
Crude-petroleum producing___ ____ ____________________
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph__________ ____________ . . .
Electric light and power and manufactured gas_______
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and mainte
nance_____________________ ____________________
Trade:
Wholesale____ _____ ______________ ________________
Retail_____________________________________________
General merchandising____________ ____ .
Other than general merchandising_______________
Hotels_____ __________________________ . . . . . . _______
Laundries.. _______________________ _____ _____________
Dyeing and cleaning.. ______ ______________ ____ _______
Banks_____ ____________________________________ ____
Brokerage . . _______ ____ __________ _______ . .
In su ra n ce.________ _______ ___________________________
Building construction____________________ _____________
Aver
age in
Sep
tem
ber
1935
37.4
(3)
Percentage
change 1
from—
Au
gust
1935
Sep
tem
ber
1934
+ 2 .2 +12.2
(3)
(3)
Average hourly
earnings
Aver
age in
Sep
tem
ber
1935
Cents
56.3
(3)
Percentage
change 1
from—
Au
gust
1935
Sep
tem
ber
1934
- 0 .9
(3)
0.0
(3)
29.4 +21.5 + 2 .9
27.0 +26.8 +22.0
38.8 + 2.1 +14.8
37.3 - 1 .1 +11.7
38.0 + 5 .3 + 5.1
82.6
73.7
57.1
47.1
77.4
-.5
- 1 .3
- 1 .9
-.2
+ .1
- 1 .1
-.2
+ 4 .4
- 1 .7
+ 3.1
37.9
38.8
- 1 .8
-.8
- .6
+ 4.4
75.9
79.8
-.3
+ 2.4
+ 4 .8
+ 1.6
45.3
+ 1 .1
+ 3 .2
62.1
+ .5
+ 1.3
42.0
42.4
39.3
43.4
47.7
40.6
42.7
(3)
(3)
(3)
31.8
+ 1 .2 + 3 .8
+ 1 .0 + 3 .9
+ 2 .9 + 4 .9
+ .7 + 3.4
.0 + 1.9
- 1 .7 + 3 .4
+ 3 .1
-.9
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
+ 2 .9 +12.5
64.7
51.5
46.2
53.1
2 27.7
36.8
43.9
(3)
(3)
(3)
80.8
+ 1.1
- 1 .3
- 3 .3
- .6
+1.1
+1.1
+ 1 .9
(3)
(3)
(3)
-.5
+ 1 .2
- 1 .2
- 1 .5
- 1 .3
+ .4
-.2
-.6
(3)
(3)
(3)
+ 1 .0
1 Percentage changes over year computed from indexes.
2 The additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed,
s N ot available.
Public employment.—Employment created by the Federal Govern
ment is of two general classes: (1) Employment in the executive,
judicial, legislative, or military services, and on various construction
projects financed by the Federal Government; and (2) employment
on relief work where the work itself and the system of payment is of
an emergency-relief character. Data for these two types of Federal
employment are shown separately in tables 3 and 4.
24361— 35------ 14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1360
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — N OVEM BER 1935
T ab le 3.-—E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y R olls in V arious Service of th e U nited S tates
G o v ern m en t, S eptem ber 1935 (P relim in ary F igures)
Employment
Kind of service
Septem
ber
August
Total service____________ _____ ______ 1,812,861 1,631,311
Executive service ______________ ____ i 794,679
1,829
Judicial service______________ _______
5,137
Legislative service ____________ _____
275,964
Military service_____________________
Construction projects financed by P.
W. A_____________________________ 2 344, 520
Construction projects financed by R.
9, 301
F. C _____________________________
Construction projects financed by regu
45,592
lar governmental appropriation. ---The Works Program...................... ........... 335,839
Pay roll
Percentage
change
September
August
Percentage
change
+11.1 $182,035,880 $171,494, 653
+ 6 .1
771,464
1,732
5,147
269,459
+ 3 .0
+ 5 .6
-.2
+ 2 .4
116,094,004
487,976
1, 206,041
21,834, 559
115,624,800
470,939
1, 204, 204
20,846, 275
+ 0 .4
+ 3 .6
+ .2
+ 4 .7
394, 509
-1 2 .7
3 22,772,317
25, 292, 656
-1 0 .0
9,415
- 1 .2
957,846
1,020,208
36,491 +24.9
143,094 +134. 7
3,199,785
15,483,352
2, 694,822
4,340,749
- 6 .1
+ 18.7
+256. 7
1 Does not include 273 employees transferred, but not reported by the department to which they were
assigned.
2 Includes 317 wage earners on projects financed from the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
3 Includes $10,575 paid to wage earners on projects financed from the Emergency Relief Appropriation
Act of 1935.
T able 4.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls on R elief W ork of V arious F ed eral A gen
cies, S eptem ber 1935 (P relim in ary F igures)
Employment
All groups________________________
Emergency Work Program................
Emergency Conservation Work____
Pay roll
Per
cent
age
change
September
August
Per
cent
age
change
1,419,822
2, 000,875
-2 9 .1
$45,734,719 $65,161,337
-2 9 .8
885,765 >1,410,513
3 590,362
2 534,057
-3 7 .3
- 9 .5
21,337,302 1 38,925,474
2 24,397,417 3 26,235,863
-4 5 .2
-7 .0
Group
September
August
1 Revised.
2 46,912 employees and a pay roll of $6,182,757 included in executive service.
3 44,093 employees and a pay roll of $5,872,916 included in executive service.
Coverage of Reports
M o n t h l y reports on employment and pay rolls are now available
for the following groups: (1) 90 manufacturing industries; (2) 17 non
manufacturing industries, including building construction; (3) class I
steam railroads; and (4) Federal services and agencies. The reports
for the first two of these groups—manufacturing and nonmanufactur
ing—are based on sample surveys by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
but in practically all cases the samples are sufficiently large to be
entirely representative. The figures on class I steam railroads are
compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission and include all
employees. The data for the various Federal services and agencies
also cover all employees on the pay rolls of such organizations.
In total, these four groups include a majority of the wage and salary
workers in the United States. Unfortunately, however, information is
not available for certain other large employment groups—notably
agricultural work, professional service, and domestic and personal
service.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
1361
E m ploym ent and P a y R olls in A u g u st 1935: R evised
Figures
HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employment,
as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the month of
August 1935. The tabular data are the same as those published in
the Employment and Pay Rolls (formerly Trend of Employment)
pamphlet for August except for certain minor revisions and correc
tions.
T
Part I.—P rivate E m ploym ent
M a n u f a c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s
T he increase of 2.8 percent in factory employment in August brings
the index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to 81.7 percent of the
1923-25 average. At the same time the index of factory pay rolls
rose from 65.3 to 69.6. Both indexes for August were the highest
since April. Compared with the corresponding month of last year
the employment index shows an increase of 2.8 percent and the index
of pay rolls a gain of 11.9 percent.
The largest percentage gains in employment from July to August
were in industries which are normally affected by seasonal influences
at this time of year. Employment in the beet-sugar industry increased
63.3 percent; millinery, 36.2 percent; canning and preserving, 30.5
percent; women’s clothing, 28.2 percent; cottonseed oil-cake-meal,
27.6 percent; radios and phonographs, 15.6 percent; rubber boots and
shoes, 12.9 percent; and fur-felt hats, 11.6 percent. Other industries
in which substantial seasonal gains were reported were: Silk and rayon
goods, 10.6 percent; jewelry, 8.4 percent; men’s furnishings, 7.1 per
cent; silverware, 6.9 percent; knit goods, 6.3 percent; furniture, 6.2
percent; men’s clothing, 5.3 percent; and boots and shoes, 3.9 percent.
A number of industries, allied to the building construction industry,
reported gains in employment, among which were sawmills, 7.8 per
cent; steam and hot-water heating apparatus and supplies, 7J2 percent;
lighting equipment, 7.2 percent; millwork, 5.9 percent; plumbers’
supplies, 3.4 percent; glass, 3.2 percent; and brick, 2.7 percent. The
steel works, rolling mills, and blast furnace industry reported a gain of
2.8 percent in number of workers coupled with a gain of 17.4 percent
in pay rolls. Employment in the agricultural-implement and machinetool industries continued upward. The gain of 3.3 percent in employ
ment in the machine-tool industry brings the level of employment to
the highest point recorded since January 1931, and the gain of 0.9
percent in employment in the agricultural-implement industry raised
the employment index to the maximum reached since May 1930.
The largest percentage decline in employment (6.4) was in the
cement industry. Automobile establishments reported a 5.5 percent
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1362
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — -NOVEMBER 1935
reduction in number of workers, reflecting a slowing down in a num
ber of plants preparatory to production on new models.
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from reports supplied by representative establishments in 90 manu
facturing industries, the 3-year average 1923-25 being taken as the
base or 100. In August, reports were received from 23,615 establish
ments employing 3,863,668 wage earners whose earnings in the week
ending nearest August 15 were $80,536,645.
Per capita weekly earnings in all manufacturing industries com
bined were $20.84 in August, a gain of 3.8 percent compared with
July.
Some of the establishments that report employment and pay-roll
totals do not report man-hours. Consequently, average hours and
average hourly earnings are computed from data supplied by a smaller
number of establishments than are used in computing per capita
weekly earnings and indexes of employment and pay rolls. Man
hour data are not published for any industry for which available
information covers less than 20 percent of all employees in that
industry.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls, average hours worked per
week, average hourly earnings and per capita weekly earnings in
manufacturing industries in August are presented in table 1. Per
centage changes from July 1935 to August 1935 and from August
1934 to August 1935 are also given in this table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T ab le 1 .— E m p lo y m en t, P a y R olls, a n d E arn in g s in M a n u fa c tu rin g In d u strie s, A u gust 1935
Index
August
1935 13year
aver
age
1923-25
= 100)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
August
1935
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
Average hourly earn
ings 2
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Cents
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
56.8
60.7
53.4
-0 .2
-.3
—.2
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .3
+19.7
+30.5
+15.8
-f-4. 3
61.1
66.0
57.2
49.8
+ .2
+. 5
- .3
—. 2
+ .7
+ .3
-1 .5
—. 7
+ 3 .4
+ 7 .0
- 0 .9
+ 6 .7
+ 9 .5
-|“ô. 0
+13.6
+16.3
53.3
61.1
55. 0
54.6
- 3 .8
+ 1.3
—. 5
—.4
+ .5
+ 5 .7
-4 .5
-3 .8
37.3
39.0
36.1
40.3
+ 5.1
+ 6 .6
+ 3.1
+ 2 .3
+ 7.3
+14.4
+ 5.1
+ 6 .2
58.6
55. 5
58.2
52. 2
-.2
—. 4
-.9
.0
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .3
- .5
+ 7 .2
+14.4
38.2
32.0
+ 3 .5
+ .6
+1. 8
+10.8
54.1
55. 3
+ .6
- 2 .3
+ 6 .5
+ 3 .2
+10.9
+14.0
38.0
40.0
+ 4 .1
+ .3
+ 9.9
-|-5. 3
60.3
62.4
-.5
+ .5
+ .5
+ 7 .1
+11.9
+17.8
+ 6.8
$20.84
22.55
19.27
+ 3 .8
+ 4 .4
+ 3 .0
+ 9.0
+10.7
+ 6 .9
36.6
37.0
36.2
+ 4 .0
+ 2.8
+ 7 .3
+ 8 .9
+ 5 .9
73.2
73.7
77.1
51.2
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .2
-.8
+ 6.7
+ 5 .7
-.8
- 4 .8
59.6
61.6
61.3
29.1
+12.9
+17.4
+13.2
+ 2 .9
+31.0
+40.0
+15.0
- .3
22.10
23.05
20.72
16.17
+ 9 .9
+14.3
+10.7
+ 3 .7
+22.8
+32.4
+15.4
+ 5.1
35.8
34.9
36.2
32.1
+ 9 .1
+14.1
+11.0
+3. 5
75.6
57.9
48.5
93.4
+ 6 .2
+ 1 .7
- 1 .9
+ 3 .4
-2 .7
+11.6
- 5 .5
+54.4
57.1
42.3
39.4
58.7
+ 5.7
+ 9.9
- 2 .3
+ 9.8
+ 7 .7
+21.9
+ 4 .0
+72.6
19. 54
21. 52
19.11
20. 84
-.5
+ 8 .0
-.4
+ 6.3
+10.7
+ 9 .0
+10.8
+11.7
36.5
35.3
34.9
38.1
53.0
102.0
57.9
104.0
+ 7 .2
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .8
+ 4 .0
+ 9.1
+16.3
- 1 .9
+ 4.9
36.4
80.4
43.9
103.6
+12.9
+12.0
+ 4 .0
+6.1
+20.1
+39.3
+ 5 .0
+10.7
21.88
21.96
20.99
21.02
+ 5 .2
+ 7 .8
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .0
+ 9 .6
+19.6
+ 6 .7
+ 5 .5
60.0
118.7
- 3 .7
+ 1 .9
+ 4.5
+ 2.1
55.2
105.1
+ .3
- 1 .2
+12.7
+16.6
20. 81
17. 67
+ 4 .2
- 3 .1
87.3
117.8
+ 2 .0
+ .9
+10.6
+76.3
71.2
137.5
+ 5.5 +22.5
+ 1.7 +101.3
23.26
24.82
+ 3 .4
+ .8
102.0
-.7
- 3 .5
85.8
+ .2
+ 2.1
27. 60
+ .9
+ 5 .8
40.0
+ .8
+ 2 .8
69.6
.0
+ 1 .9
70.4
+ 1 .2
+ 7 .8
57.8
+ 5 .6
+15.1
22.71
+ 4 .3
+ 6 .7
36.8
+ 4 .8
+ 8 .4
61.1
-.3
-2 .0
1363
See footnotes at end of table.
1935
Au
gust
1934
Ju ly
Percentage
change from—
+ 6.6
+ 5.9
+ 7.1
è
Agricultural im plem ents.. ________________
Cash registers, adding machines, and calcu
lating machines __________
__ _______
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies......................... ..............................................
Au
gust
1934
Aver-
69.6
58.9
83.2
Durable goods
M a c h in e r y , n o t in c lu d in g t r a n s p o r ta tio n
e q u i p m e n t _______ ____
_______ ___________
July
1935
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
+ 2.8
+ 6 .5
.0
81.7
70.1
94.0
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills—
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets_____________
Cast-iron pipe
__ ______________
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery), and edge tools_____________________
Forgings, iron and steel __
Hardware. _ ____________________________
Plumbers’ supplies . ___________________ Steam and hot-water heating apparatus and
steam fittings
_______________________
Stoves
_____ _ _____________
Strnetnral and ornamental metalwork
Tin cans and other tinware___________ - __
Tools (not including edge tools, machine tools,
files, and saws) ____ ___________________
Wire work_______ ___________________ ___
Percentage
change from—
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .6
+ 3.9
All in d u s tr ie s ____ _______________ - ____________
D u r a b le g o o d s
. . ______________________
N o n d u r a b le g o o d s ________________________
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts , n o t i n
_______ ______ ___
c lu d i n g m a c h in e r y
Percentage
Index
change from— August
1935 (3year
aver
Au
age
July
gust 1923-25
1935
1934
= 100)
Average hours worked
per week 2
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Industry
Per capita w eek ly
earnings 1
Pay roll
Employment
Employment
Index
August
1935 (3year
aver
age
1923-25
= 100)
Percentage
Index
change from— August
1935 (3year
aver
Au
July
age
gust
1935
1934 1923-25
= 100)
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
A verage hours worked
per week 2
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
Average hourly earn
ings 2
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
Durable goods—Continued
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101.1
74.0
91.9
213.8
62.6
97? 6
83.5
453.4
95.1
32.2
21.5
72.4
52.8
65.3
51.9
80.0
75.5
78.2
(3)
+. 8
+ 3 .3
+15.6
-1 .4
+ .5
- 4 .2
+ 4.8
- 5 .5
+ 1 .7
+ 7 .7
+ 1 .5
- 1 .3
+ .2
- 1 .4
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .1
+ 1.1
+40.8
+ 7 .2
+39.0
- 1 .7
- 5 .9
- 2 .1
-.2
+36.0
+ 2.8
-3 7 .7
-4 4 .2
+ 1.7
- 4 .3
- 1 .1
- 4 .6
+ 9.0
+12.0
+ 7.6
73.9
60.0
80.5
133.9
50.5
80.0
71.6
378.4
80.6
30.4
9. 1
61.5
49.0
59.6
48.3
64.6
65.8
61.1
+ 1 .9
+ 5 .8
+ 6 .2
+18.6
- 1 .4
+ .8
- 4 .1
+10.1
- 5 .9
+ 8 .7
+11.2
+ 3 .6
+ 1.7
+ 1 .4
+ 1 .6
+ 8.4
+12.8
+ 6 .2
+54.3
+19.3
+64.3
+ 8 .8
+ 2 .4
- 7 .6
+1.7
+25.4
+ 5 .4
-4 0 . 6
-4 8 .6
+ 9 .0
+ 1.0
+ 1 .9
+ .8
+21.4
+59.7
+19.3
$26. 28
22.88
26.24
19.12
22.48
20.98
25.06
25. 52
25. 30
19. 82
22.20
24. 64
26.31
27.18
26.10
21.02
21.08
22.64
+ 1 .9
+ 5 .0
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .7
+ .1
+ .3
.0
+ 5.1
- .4
+ 6.8
+ 3.3
+ 2 .0
+ 3.0
+ 1 .2
+3.1
+ 5.8
+11.5
+ 5.0
+ 9.1
+11. 5
+ 18.0
+10.9
+10.5
- 5 .6
+ 1.9
- 7 .7
+ 2 .4
- 4 .2
- 7 .8
+ 7 .5
+ 5.6
+3.1
+ 5 .9
+11.4
+49.7
+11.1
38.9
38.2
42.1
37.2
36.5
36.7
33.4
40.7
33.2
33.1
33.9
32.8
38.7
44.2
38. 2
38.4
39.1
38.7
+ 1 .0
+ 5 .2
+ 3.4
+6.3
.0
+1.1
-.6
+ 3.3
- 1 .2
+ 6.8
+ 2.4
+ .6
+ 2.9
+ 1.4
+ 3 .2
+ 6.4
+13.0
+ 5 .2
+ 3 .9
+ 9 .5
+17.8
+11.9
+ 9 .3
—5.9
- 1 .4
- 1 .4
- 2 .1
- 5 .8
-1 0 .2
+ 5 .5
-2 .3
+ 1.1
—2.3
+11.1
+62.1
+ 9 .8
67. 5
59.7
62.5
51.4
61.9
57.1
74.8
63. 4
76.1
60.2
65.4
73.9
67.5
61.0
68 1
54.4
53.9
58. 6
+0 7
-. 2
-. 3
-3 . 6
+ .3
—1 0
+ .5
+ .3
+. 7
+. 2
+ .6
+ .8
-. 1
-.3
—. 1
-.7
- 1 .3
.0
+4 5
+1. 6
-h 6
—5. 5
+ 1.1
+ 6
+ 4.4
—. 7
+3 8
+. 6
+ 1.5
+ 2.0
+6. 7
+ 1 .3
-j-7 2
+ 2.1
—5.4
+ 1.9
80.7
72.5
73.9
69.8
80.8
101.9
+ .8
+ 8 .4
+ 7 .2
+ 6 .9
+ .7
+ 1 .5
+17.1
+10.4
+19.4
+• 7
+14.6
+ 4.6
68.8
54.8
66.6
52.0
53.2
82.3
+10.1
+14.7
+13.0
+ 8.1
+26.7
+10.3
+38.2
+ 7.7
+24.3
+18.4
19.28
19. 69
21.14
21.24
21.23
19. 02
+ 9 .2
+ 5 .8
+ 5.4
+ 1.0
-.4
+ 9.7
+ 8 .5
+ .3
+15.6
+ 6 .7
+ 8 .5
+13.3
39.3
37.2
40.3
36.6
37.8
38.0
+10.1
+ 9.7
+ 7.5
+ .8
.0
+10.8
+ 5 .9
+16.1
+ 6 .7
+ 3 .8
+11.3
49.1
53.2
52.3
57.7
55.9
49.8
-.8
- 3 .4
—1.3
.0
—. 5
-.8
+ 3.0
+ 1.5
+ .6
-K4
+4 8
+2. 2
+11.3
1935
M ach in ery, n o t in c lu d in g tr a n sp o r ta tio n
e q u ip m e n t—Continued
Engines, turbines, tractors, and water wheels.
Foundry and machine-shop products_______
Machine tools................................................. .......
Radios and phonographs_________ _________
Textile machinery and parts_______________
Typewriters and parts____________________
T ra n sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t_________________
Aircraft________ _____ ____________________
Automobiles_____________________________
Cars, electric- and steam-railroad___________
Locomotives____________________ _______
Shipbuilding________ ____ _______ _____ ___
R ailroad repair s h o p s ................................
Electric railroad______________ ____ _______
Steam railroad________ ____ ______ ________
N on ferrou s m e ta ls a n d th eir p r o d u cts...........
Aluminum manufactures________ _________
Brass, bronze, and copper products_________
Clocks and watches and time-recording dev ic e s ,....................... ...........................................
Jewelry................... .................................... ............
Lighting equipment______________________
Silverware and plated ware___ ____________
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and zinc.
Stamped and enameled ware..............................
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER
Industry
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
Pay roll
1364
T able 1 .— E m p lo y m en t, P a y R olls, an d E arn in g s in M a n u factu rin g In d u strie s, A ugust 1935— C o n tinued
L u m b er a n d allied p ro d u cts________________
Furniture________________________________
Lumber:
M illwork_______ _________ ________
Sawmills-------------- ------------------------------
5 5.3
7 3 .4
+ 6 .6
+ 6 .2
+ 12.9
+ 1 6.7
4 4 .4
5 6.0
+ 15 .9
+ 15 .7
+ 32.5
+ 3 1.1
1 7.95
18.18
+ 8 .8
+ 8.9
+ 1 7.4
+ 1 2.3
4 0 .0
4 0.5
+ 7.0
+ 1 0.4
+ 15.5
+ 1 5.7
4 4.7
4 4.6
+ 2 .1
- 1 .3
-
4 7 .5
3 6.6
+ 3 1.2
+ 8 .0
+ 10 .4
+ 19 .4
+ 3 .2
+ 5 .1
+ 5 .3
- 5 .6
+ 6 .9
+ 6 3.2
+ 2 6.2
+ 1 5 .6
+ 17.2
+ 2 6.2
+ 1 .1
+ 2 0 .7
+ 2 .0
+ 2 3 .3
18.28
17.90
12.06
19.17
1 6.13
1 9 . 78
20.11
23.08
1 8 . 71
+ 4 .3
+ 1 0.8
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .0
+ 2 .5
+. 8
+ 3 .6
+ 1 .5
+ 4 .5
+ 24.7
+ 1 7.3
+ 1 4 .4
+ 11.4
+ 1 9.3
+ 3.5
+ 10.8
+ 7.4
+ 17.7
+ 3 .3
+ 5 .9
+ 25.4
+ 1 4.1
4 5.0
4 6.4
+ .9
+ 5 .5
+ .8
+ 3 .7
5 5.9
3 3.8
5 3 .8
9 5.7
2 9 .6
6 7 .0
3 7 .7
27.9
59.3
4 0 .9
21.2
3 5 .8
8 2.3
2 0 .5
4 6 .6
4 0.3
39.3
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p ro d u cts-------------- . . .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta________ _________
Cement_____________ ____ ________________
Glass______ ___________ . . --------------------Marble, granite, slate, and other products---P o t te r y .......................................... .......................
+ 5 .9
+ 7 .8
+. 3
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .7
- 6 .4
+ 3 .2
- 1.1
+ 7 .3
35.4
36.1
3 5.4
3 5 .2
3 4 .3
3 5.2
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .0
+ 1.1
+ 3 .5
+ 3 .0
+ 4 .1
+ 9.3
+ 13. 2
+ 5.5
+ 6.7
+ 7.8
+ 1 3 .2
54.8
4 4.9
5 6.0
5 7.4
6 7 .9
5 4.7
- .4
- .2
.0
- . 2
- 1 .9
+ .6
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .7
+ 5 .8
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .2
+ 5.3
+ 5 .0
+ 27.8
- 8 .0
7 8.9
7 6 .5
8 0 .6
6 4.8
6 4.3
8 4 .3
9 9.9
105.5
65.1
7 6 .9
7 8 .8
7 4 .3
9 7.9
7 2 .5
6 7 .4
52. 5
102.9
8 1.7
77.7
9 4.2
9 9 .8
9 5 .7
189.8
60. 4
216.2
60.4
66.1
6 9 .3
73. 2
70.7
71.3
4 6 .6
6 5.1
4 4.2
+ 1 5.4
+ 9 .1
+ 6 .4
+ 1 .0
- 1 .3
+ 1 4.7
+ 2 1.7
+ 2 3.0
+ 1 7.5
+ 3 .2
+ 29.6
+ 1 3.3
+ 5 5.4
+ 1 5.9
+ 1 8 .2
+ 6 8 .3
+ 2 .4
+ 5 .8
+ 9 .6
+ 1 0.0
+ 1 8.0
+ 9 .0
+ 6 0.2
+ 1 1.6
+ 1 3.3
+ 1 4.9
- 4 .1
+ 7 .2
—1 1 . 6
+ 13.5
+ 3 .8
- 1 .8
+ 2 3.8
- 5 .0
- 2 .1
+ 2 .6
- 3.7
+ 10.6
16.21
15. 70
21.86
12.49
1 6 .12
19.31
27.43
16. 32
15.92
18.10
1 7 .90
1 8 . 61
20.18
13 . 77
1 3 . 78
21.43
12. 95
1 9 . 57
19. 02
21 .5 9
2 0 . 30
2 1 . 54
3 1.91
20. 80
14.16
15. 58
21.41
25 .2 7
22. 87
21 .9 6
22 .1 2
14. 30
15. 66
14.07
+ 9 .0
+ 6 .2
+ 5 .1
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .3
+ 1 2.9
+ 9 .1
+ 1 5.8
+ 6 .3
+. 1
+ 14.0
+ 7 .6
+ 2 1.2
+ 1 0.0
+ 1 2.6
+ 3 1 .5
+ 1 1.3
+ 6 .4
+ 7 .3
34.0
3 4.8
3 7.9
33.2
3 5.7
36.3
3 8.8
3 4.4
35.9
3 6.6
32.3
3 1.5
3 3.0
2 8 .8
31.3
+ 6 .3
+ 5 .5
+ 6 .2
+ 2 .5
+ 1. 4
+ 1 3.8
+ 6 .0
+ 14 .3
+ 7 .2
+ 10.5
+ 11.5
+ 2 6 .6
+ 13.7
+ 8.7
+ 7 .3
+ 1 .3
+ 4 .8
+ 9 .2
+ 1 6.4
+ 6 .2
+ 7 .5
+ 7 .7
- 8 .0
- 1.1
4 8.1
45.0
5 7.1
3 7.7
4 4.8
53.3
7 0.8
4 8.0
4 4.3
4 9.5
5 4.8
58.1
5 9.8
4 5.4
3 7.6
+
33.1
37.8
3 7.7
3 8.4
3 9.5
3 9.7
4 1.5
+
1 0.0
+ .8
+ .8
+ 1 .6
- 1.2
- 1.7
- 1 .9
+ 5 .2
+ 5 .3
+ 5 .4
+ 5 .9
+ 3 .7
+ 2 .7
+ 6 .7
3 7.8
3 5.3
3 9.6
4 7.1
4 0.2
4 3.5
3 7.2
3 5 .4
3 5.7
3 5.4
- 1 .6
+ 5 .4
+ 1 .0
- 1 .5
- 2 .0
+ 20.2
- 1.1
- 3 .3
+ 20.0
+ 2 .7
+ 6 .5
QQ 1
+ .8
+
12.1
2 .3
- .9
+ 3 .0
4-i. i
+ 9 .4
Nondurable goods
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9 2 .9
8 9.9
8 3 .7
8 1.6
7 7.1
102.9
9 0 .5
110.4
7 5 .5
9 7.3
9 6.0
9 3.6
121.4
85.3
9 8.0
57.6
105.9
9 0.1
8 9 .1
9 4.4
109.9
111.7
17 9 .0
76. 9
180.9
6 9.8
7 6 .3
8 5 .9
7 9 .4
77.1
8 2.0
57.9
6 4.4
57.0
- .9
- 3 .5
+ 1 .6
+ 1 1.6
+ 6 .3
+ 1 0.6
+ 3 .1
+ 1 3.7
+ 5 .3
+ 2 8.2
- .2
+ 7 .1
+ 3 6.2
+ 6.9
+ 3 .2
+ 3.9
+ 1 .0
+ 5 .4
+ .2
+ .3
—1 . 4
+ 3 0 .5
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .3
- 2 .0
- 1 .3
+ 63.3
- 4 .1
+. 5
-2 .2
+ .9
- .4
+ 2 .3
+ 9 .3
+ 7 .6
+ 2 .2
+ 4 2.3
+ 6 .5
+ 5 .9
+ 1 0.4
- 2 .8
+ 3 .9
—1 1 . 9
+ 8 .8
- 1.1
- 3 .0
+ 6 .8
- 1 0.0
- 3 .5
- 3 .7
—1 0 . 1
- 6 .9
- 2 .4
- 2 .4
- 3 .2
- 2 9 .4
+ 5 .0
- 6 .3
-1 1 .1
-
1 2.5
1 0.9
- .9
+ 21.0
+ 7 3.2
+ 1 2.8
+ 5 .4
+ 6 .4
+ 3 .2
+ 4 .0
- .8
- 1 .5
—1 . 5
+ 2 9 .4
+ 6 .0
+ 3 .1
- 3 .5
- 2 .5
+ 6 2.3
- 2 .0
- 2 .1
-
2 .6
1.9
- .7
+ 2 .0
+• 7
- 2 6.1
+ 2 4 .7
- 3.6
- 5 .5
- 2 .3
- 6 .2
- .6
+ 13.0
+ 27. 2
+ 5 .5
+ 2 .1
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .2
- 1 .3
- 1 .0
- 1 .8
- 0)
- .8
+ 3 .9
+ .8
- 1 .5
- 1 .2
- .6
+ 2 .2
-
2 .5
- .4
- 2 .8
+ .9
+ 9 .7
+ 7 .1
+ 1 2.6
+ 4 .7
+ 6 .9
+ 4 .1
- 1 .0
+ 3 .0
- .3
+ 8 .8
+ 7 .5
+ 8 .6
- 8 .0
+ 1 3.8
+ .7
+ 4 .4
+ 5 .0
+ 1 .6
+ 1 5.7
+ 5 .5
+ 1 .5
+ 6 .4
+ 7. 1
+ 1 9.0
+ 1 .7
+ 4 .8
+ 4 .2
+ 4 .6
+ 19.1
+ 2 .9
+ 6 .3
+ 1 1.6
+ 5 .2
-
+ .3
3 .8
- .6
- 6 .8
+ 1 1.6
- 6 .2
- 1 .3
+ 6 .4
- 2 .7
1 .9
+ .7
+ .9
- .3
+ .4
+ 1 .7
4~5. 2
-h 1
+ 8 .1
+ 3 .2
- 3 .3
- 2 .1
+ 2 .1
- 1 .5
+ 2 .9
- 1.4
- 2.6
- 3 .8
- 3 .7
- 5.0
+ 4 .3
+ 2.5
3 9.4
52.1
5 0 .9
5 6 .3
5 1 .3
5 4.0
7 7.2
-
+ 0 .1
+ .1
+ .3
3 7.8
4 4.8
5 3.8
5 3 .3
5 5 .9
5 1 .2
5 8.8
4 0 .7
4 4.1
4 0.2
+ 1 .6
+ 3 .7
+ 1 .3
+ .2
+- 2
+ 1 .9
+ 1 .5
- .9
+• 4
+ 2 .8
.0
4 .6
+ .4
+ .4
.0
-1 .2
+ .4
- .9
- .2
.0
-
+. V
18.3
+ 3 .2
.0
- .5
+ .2
+ 2 .2
+ 1 .8
+ 4 .1
+ 2.6
- 1 .4
- .3
+ 5 .0
+ 1 1.3
+ 3 .4
+ 8 .0
+ 6 .6
+ 4 .6
+ 7 .2
1365
T extiles a n d th eir p ro d u cts------ ----------------- .
Fabrics_________________ _____ _ _________
Carpets and rugs______________________
Cotton goods----------- --------------------------Cotton small wares . _________ _____
D yeing and finishing textiles............ ...........
Hats, fur-felt_________________________
Knit goods_______ _____ ______________
Silk and rayon goods_____________ _____
Woolen and worsted goods_____________
Wearing apparel__________________________
Clothing, men’s . . . ___________________
Clothing, women’s . ......................................
Corsets and allied garments____________
M en’s furnishings________________ ____
Millinery
Shirts and collars______________________
L eather a n d its m a n u fa c tu r e s ______________
Boots and sh o e s..._________________ ______
Leather__________________________________
Food a n d kin dred p r o d u cts____ ___________
Baking____________ . _________________ ..
Beverages________________ . . .
Butter
Canning and preserving___________________
Confectionery........ ......................... ................ . . .
Flour____________________________________
Ice cream____
______________________ . .
Slaughtering and meat packing____________
Sugar, beet____________ . --------------- -------Sugar refining, cane_______________________
T obacco m a n u fa c tu r e s _____________________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff____
Cigars and cigarettes__________ ___________
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
+ 5. 3
+ 6 .3
- 2 .2
+ 9 .2
- 5 .4
+ 5 .7
+ .9
Employment
Percentage
Index
change from— August
1935 (3year
aver
Au
July
age
gust 1923-25
1935
1934
= 100)
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
95.9
85.3
108.8
+ 0 .4
+ 2 .4
-.1
+ 2 .2
+ 1 .4
+ 3 .8
83.0
78.7
87.2
+ 2 .0
+ 6 .5
+ 2 .5
+ 5 .9
+ 5 .6
+10.7
87.6
96.5
+ 1 .1
-.5
+ 3.1
-. 1
76.5
86.3
+ .9
+ 1.1
107.9
106.9
107.7
59.6
97.3
86.5
69.5
105.5
340.3
98.0
112.2
77.9
51.2
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .1
-1 .2
+27.6
+ 2 .3
+. 4
+ 2 .2
-2 .8
+ 3 .8
- 1 .3
+ .9
+. 8
+12.9
+ .9
+ 1 .5
- 2 .9
-1 7 .7
- 1 .3
-4 .4
- 4 .1
+ 6 .5
+11.9
- .6
- 1 .1
-7 .2
97.0
95.4
100.8
62.5
92.0
76.9
63.3
87.8
253.4
93.8
102.5
64.3
49.4
117.1
69.7
- .4
- .9
+ 1 .0
- 5 .7
98.6
55.8
+ 3 .9
+ 3 .0
Index
August
1935 (3year
aver
age
1923-25
= 100)
Average in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
$24.18
18.88
20.19
+ 1.5
+ 3 .9
+ 2 .5
+ 3 .5
+ 3 .8
+ 6 .5
+ 6 .8
+ 1 .6
26.94
32.64
- .3
+ 1 .6
+ 1.7
+ 1 .7
-.8
+29.5
-.3
+10.0
+ 2.1
- 1 .3
+ 5 .5
-.6
+ 2 .0
+ 7 .8
+ 8 .7
+ 4.5
-8 .6
+ 2 .3
+ 5 .5
+10.1
+12.7
+18.9
+ 8.9
+ 5 .5
+ .7
+ .6
+ .4
+ 1 .5
- 2 .6
+ 9 .7
-. 1
+ 1 .5
+ 1.7
+ .7
+4.9
+ 9.4
+18.6
-2 .2
23.64
21.57
25.97
10. 03
20. 32
24.91
13.47
23.17
19. 70
23.16
28.07
22. 65
19.00
+ 4 .0
+ 5.1
+10.3
+11.8
19.42
25.59
+ 4 .3
+ 3 .9
Average hours worked
per week 2
Average in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change fr©m—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
37.4
37.9
38.2
+ 2 .2
+ 5.3
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .9
+ 4 .9
+ 3 .6
+ 1.5
37.1
36.5
+ 1.1
+ .6
+ 6 .8
+ 7 .0
+ 7 .3
+11.2
+ 3 .4
+10.8
+14.4
+ 5.9
+ 6 .3
+ 9.7
+ 6.6
+ 13.2
+ 5.6
37.8
38.9
40.3
42.9
36.9
36.3
34.5
39.3
38.3
37.8
35.0
+ 1.3
+ 1.6
+ 1.5
+ 3.6
- 3 .7
+ 9.3
33.7
36.6
+4.0
+5.8
37.0
30.5
+ 3.6
+ 3 .4
Nondurable goods—Continued
Paper a n d p r in tin g _______________ __________
Boxes, p a p e r ............................................... .........
Paper and pulp......................... .............................
Printing and publishing:
Book and job_________________________
Newspapers and periodicals____________
C hem icals a n d allied p ro d u cts, a n d p etrole u m refin in g _____________________________
Other than petroleum refining...........................
Chemicals_____________ ____ __________
Cottonseed—oil, cake, and m eal.. ............
Druggists’ preparations________________
Explosives____________ _______________
Fertilizers................. ........................................
Paints and varnishes__________________
Rayon and allied products........ ..................
Soap__________________ _ ___________
Petroleum refinin g..______ _______________
R ubb er p ro d u cts___________________ ____ ___
Rubber boots and shoes___________ ______ _
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tubes______________ __________
Rubber tires and inner tubes______________
-3 .5
+18.3
+ 1 .0
+ 1.6
+1.1
+ 1.4
Average hourly earn
ings 2
Average in
Au
gust
1935
Cents
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
68.4
49.9
52.8
- 0 .6
-1 .2
-.6
+ 2 .2
+ .2
+ 1 .8
+ 4 .0
-.2
73.0
89.8
- 1 .4
+ .6
+ 1.9
+ 4 .5
+ 4 .4
+ 5.1
+ 6 .3
+18.8
- 1 .8
+ 5 .0
+10.1
+ 3 .0
+ 4 .6
- 4 .3
+ 3 .3
62.7
55.9
64.5
23.6
54.9
65.6
39.0
59.0
51.4
61.4
80.9
-.9
-1 .2
-.9
-2 .5
-.4
-1 .2
-.8
+ .3
.0
-.5
-.1
+ 3 .4
+ 2 .5
+ .2
- 5 .2
+ .2
+ 4 .4
+ 3 .7
+ 3.1
+ 1 .4
+13.9
+ 5.8
+ 9.4
68.6
51.9
-.4
-.8
+ 3.6
+ 1 .6
+6.8
52.8
84.4
-.2
+ .1
+12.1
+ 3 .4
+ 6 .3
1 Per capita weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishments. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes. Percentage changes
over month in the groups and in “ All industries” also computed from indexes.
2 Computed from available man-hour data—all reporting establishments do not furnish man-hours. Percentage changes over year computed from indexes. The average hours
and average hourly earnings in the groups and in “ All industries” are weighted.
3 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Industry
Per capita weekly
earnings *
Pay roll
1366
T ab le 1 .— E m p lo y m en t, P a y R olls, an d E arn in g s in M an u fa c tu rin g In d u strie s, A ugust 1935— C ontinued
1367
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Indexes and Estimates of Factory Employment and Pay Rolls, January 1934 to August 1935
Indexes of employment and pay rolls for all manufacturing indus
tries combined, for the durable-goods group, and for the nondurablegoods group, by months from January 1934 to August 1935, inclusive,
are given in table 2. Estimates of employment and weekly pay rolls
for all manufacturing industries combined are also given in this table.
The diagram on page 1368 indicates the trend of factory employ
ment and pay rolls from January 1919 to August 1935.
T able 2 .— Indexes an d E stim a te s of E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls in All M a n u
factu rin g In d u stries C om bined a n d Indexes of E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls
in th e D urable- an d N ondurable-G oods G roups >
[Indexes based on 3-year average, 1923-25=100.0]
Indexes
Year and month
Estimated
number of
wage
earners
Estimated
pay rolls
(1 week)
All manufac
turing indus
tries combined
Em
ploy
ment
193i
January.____ ____________
___ _
February_______
March_________________ _
April____________________
M ay______________ ______
June_____________________
July_____________________
August__________________
September_______________
October__________________
November________________
December________________
1935
January_____ ____________
February________________
March__________ _____ . . .
April____________________
M ay_____________________
June__________ _________
July_____________________
August_________________ .
6, 595,700
6,809, 000
6,906, 300
6,906,100
6, 795, 500
6,669, 200
6,664, 700
6,850,900
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
Nondurablegoods group
Em
ploy
ment
Pay
rolls
73.3
77.7
80.8
82.4
82.5
81.1
78.7
79.5
75.8
78.4
76.8
78.0
54.0
60. 6
64.8
67.3
67.1
64.9
60.5
62.2
58.0
61.0
59.5
63.2
59.8
63.5
67.1
70.0
71.5
70.8
67.4
66.1
64.2
62.8
62.2
64.3
41.6
47.9
52.8
57.4
58.6
56.9
49.9
50.0
45.5
46.4
46.1
50.4
87.9
93.0
95.4
95.8
94.3
92.3
90.8
94.0
88.2
95.1
92.4
92.7
69.7
76.9
80.1
80.0
78.1
75.1
73.9
77.9
74.0
79.6
76.6
79.5
126,012,000
78.8
61.9
65.8
50.3
92.7
76.8
130, 503, 000
140,618,000
143,927,000
144, 075,000
139,325, 000
135, 044, 000
132,886, 000
141,596, 000
78.7
81.2
82.4
82.4
81.1
79.6
79.5
81.7
64.1
69.1
70.7
70.8
68.5
66.4
65.3
69.6
66.1
69.3
70.8
71.6
71.3
69.5
69.3
70.4
52.5
58.6
60.5
61.8
60.1
57.6
55.6
58.9
92.3
94.1
94.8
94.0
91.6
90.4
90.5
94.0
79.0
82.5
83.8
82.3
79.1
77.6
77.7
83.2
6,146, 000 $109,806,000
6, 514, 200 123, 395, 000
6, 770,100 131, 852, 000
6,906,100 136,962,000
6,912, 600 136,575, 000
6,799,900 132,040,000
6, 593, 500 123, Oil, 000
6,666,200 126,603,000
6,351,900 118,089,000
6,569, 500 124,138, 000
6,435,000 121,085,000
6, 536,100 128,593, 000
Average.............. ........... 6, 600,100
Pay
rolls
Durable-goods
group
• Comparable indexes for earlier years will be found in the December 1934 and subsequent issues of the
Em ploym ent and Pay Rolls pamphlet, or the March 1935 and subsequent issues of the M onthly Labor
Review.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1368
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
1369
Trade, Public U tility , M ining, and Service Industries, and P rivate Building
C onstruction
G a i n s in employment from July to August were reported in 11
of the 17 nonmanufacturing industries surveyed monthly by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and pay rolls increased in 8. The most
pronounced increase in employment was in bituminous-coal mining;
the 4.8 percent gain in this industry indicates that approximately
15,600 wage earners were added to pay rolls. Wholesale trade
showed a gain of 0.9 percent, which represents an increase of about
11,200 employees. Private building construction firms reported 3.6
percent more wage earners and a 4.4 percent increase in weekly wage
disbursements.
The most pronounced decreases in employment were in anthracite
mining (21.7 percent), dyeing and cleaning (2.8 percent) and retail
trade (1.8 percent). The estimated equivalents in number of workers
represented by these declines were 15,200, 1,400, and 54,000, re
spectively. In the aggregate, there were approximately 25,000 fewer
workers on the pay rolls of the 17 nonmanufacturing industries sur
veyed, and $900,000 less paid in weekly wages.
Indexes of employment and pay rolls, per capita weekly earnings,
average hours worked per week, and average hourly earnings in
August for 13 of the trade, public utility, mining and service in
dustries, together with percentage changes from July 1935 and
August 1934, are shown in table 3. Similar information, except
indexes of employment and pay rolls, is also presented for private
building construction. Man-hour data and indexes of employment
and pay rolls are not available for banking, brokerage, or insurance
establishments, but the table shows percentage changes in employ
ment, pay rolls, and per capita weekly earnings for these three
industries.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Employment
Coal mining:
Anthracite_________ _____________________
Bituminous____________ __________________
Metalliferous mining__________________ _______
Quarrying and nonmetallic m in ing.........................
Crude-petroleum producing______ _____ _______
Pu' lie utilities:
Telephone and telegraph__________________
Electric light and power and manufactured
gas------------------------------------------------------Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation
and maintenance________________________
Trade:
Wholesale_____________ ______ ___________
Retail........... ................ .............................. ..........
General merchandising__________ _____ _
Other than general merchandising______
Hotels (cash payments only)3......................... ...........
Laundries_____ _______________________ ______
Dyeing and cleaning__________ ____ __________
Banks_______ _ _____________ ____ __________
Brokerage____________________ ____ __________
Insurance____________________________________
B uilding construction_________________________
Index
Au
gust
1935
(aver
age
1929=
100)
38.7
73.4
46.3
51.0
78.9
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
Index
Au
gust
1935
(aver
age
1929=
100)
-2 1 .7
+ 4 .8
+ 2 .5
+• 2
+ 1 .9
-2 1 .8
- 4 .8
+ 8 .4
- 6 .8
- 4 .6
28.3
45.8
33.4
36.3
61.1
Percentage
change from—
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
-2 4 .6
+27.6
+ 7 .4
+ 5 .6
+ 1 .9
-2 8 .7
- 9 .1
+23.7
+ 6 .8
-.2
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
$21. 28
15. 97
22.32
17. 58
28. 53
- 3 .8
+21.8
+ 4 .7
+ 5 .3
+ .1
- 8 .9
- 4 .6
+14.1
+14.5
+ 4 .6
Average hours worked
per week 3
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
24.1
21.8
38.0
37.5
36.4
-1 0 .1
+19.8
+ 4.1
+ 5.3
+ .6
-1 1 .8
- 2 .7
+ 7 .7
+ 9.7
- 1 .2
Average hourly earnings1
Aver
age in
Au
gust
1935
Percentage
change from—
July
1935
Au
gust
1934
C e n ts
83.2
73.7
58.0
47.0
76.7
+ 0 .8
.0
+ .3
-.6
-.4
- 0 .5
+ 1.1
+ 7 .6
-.8
+ 3 .0
70.5
+ .3
-.7
75.5
-.2
+ 2 .0
28.38
- .6
+ 2 .8
38.6
+ 1.3
-.3
76.0
- 1 .4
+ 6 .1
86.7
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .3
82.8
+ 1 .6
+ 3 .6
30.41
- .6
+ 2 .4
39.2
+ .8
+ 2 .2
77.5
- 1 .0
+ 2 .8
71.2
-.4
- 2 .2
63.3
- .2
+ .8
28.30
+ .2
+ 3 .0
44.8
+ .2
+ 1 .1
61.9
-.2
+ 1 .6
82.8
77.7
81.7
76.7
80.7
84.2
79.4
(9
(9
«
«
+ .9
- 1 .8
- 3 .4
- 1 .3
+ .5
- .3
- 2 .8
+ .3
+ 3 .3
-.1
+ 3 .6
+ .4
-. 1
+ .6
- .3
+ .9
+ .6
+ 1 .0
+ 1.7
- 3 .9
+ 1 .3
+ 7 .6
64.8
59.2
69.0
57.2
62.0
69.2
58.2
0)
(9
0)
(9
+ .3
- 2 .1
-3 .8
- 1 .5
-.1
- 2 .4
- 5 .4
+ .3
+ 4 .3
- 4 .6
+ 4 .4
+ 3.3
+ 1 .4
+ 3.1
+ 1.1
+ 3 .0
+ 3.9
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .3
- 2 .8
+ 2 .0
+16.8
26.93
20.42
17.79
22. 41
13.26
15. 56
17. 98
31.48
35.18
35.66
25.06
- .6
-.1
-.4
_j 2
- .5
-2 . 1
- 2 .7
2.0
+ .9
- 4 .5
+ .8
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .3
+ 1 .7
-.4
+ 1.1
+ .6
+ 8 .7
41.5
42.0
38.4
43.0
47.8
41.3
41.4
(9
(9
(9
31.0
+ .2
+ .2
+ .3
+ .2
.0
- 1 .2
-.7
(9
(9
(9
+ .3
+ 2.1
+ 4 .9
+ 2 .2
+ 5.4
+ 1.7
+ 4.4
- 2 .7
(9
(9
(9
+ 9 .1
64.5
51.7
48.2
52.7
27.5
36.3
43.1
(9
(9
(9
80.8
- 1 .1
-.2
-.6
-.2
.0
-.5
- 1 .8
(9
(9
(9
+ .7
+ .9
-.5
- .3
- .8
.0
- .5
- 1 .1
(9
(9
(9
+ 2 .1
1 Per capita weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishm ents. Average hours and average hourly earnings are com puted from d ata furnished
by a smaller num ber of establishm ents as some firms do not report m an-hour information. Percentage changes over year com puted from indexes.
3 Less th an Ho of 1 percent.
3 The additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be com puted.
< N ot available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Industry
Per capita weekly
earnings 1
Pay roll
1370
T ab le 3 .— E m p lo y m e n t, P a y R olls, H ours, a n d E arn in g s, A ugust 1935
1371
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls in Trade, Public Utility, Mining, Service Industries, and
Building Construction, January 1934 to August 1935
Indexes of employment and pay rolls in 13 trade, public utility,
mining, and service industries and 2 subdivisions under retail trade
are shown by months in table 4 for the period, January 1934 to
August 1935.
T able 4.— Indexes of E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y Rolls, Ja n u a ry 1934 to A u g u st 1935 1
[12-month average, 1929=100.0]
Anthracite mining
M onth
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Bituminous-coal
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Metalliferous mining
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
J anuary______
February____
March_______
April_______
M ay_________
June_________
July-------------August______
September___
October
__
November___
Decem ber.--
64.1
63.2
67.5
58.2
63.8
57.5
53.6
49.5
56.9
58.5
60.7
61.6
62.9
64.4
51.4
52.6
53.5
56.8
49.4
38.7
—
Average. 59.6
73.2
65.8
82.4
51.7
64.0
53.3
42.3
39.7
47.0
48.3
51.2
52.3
57.5
64.3
38.9
49.9
49.5
66.0
37.5
28.3
—
80.0
81.1
81.6
74.3
75.3
77.9
70.0
73.4
—
Crude-petroleum
producing
Month
Pay rolls
51.3
54.6
58.9
51.4
54.4
55.1
49.7
50.4
51.4
57.6
58.3
57.0
59.6
66.1
67.5
45.0
49.1
64.7
35.9
45.8
—
39.6
40.3
39.8
41.7
40.8
41.0
39.9
42.7
42.3
43.3
43.2
44.4
44.3
44.3
45.0
46.0
44.4
46.0
45.2
46.3
—
25.4
26.0
25.9
27.2
25.6
26.7
25.1
27.0
25.9
28.2
28.5
29.4
30.1
29.9
30.9
31.8
31.4
31.5
31.1
33.4
—
39.7
38.8
42.0
48.7
54.3
56.6
55.6
54.7
53.3
51.8
49.5
42.1
36.9
37.3
40.5
45.3
49.5
50.4
50.9
51.0
21.3
21.0
24. 1
29.9
35.0
37.0
35.0
34.0
32.4
32.1
29.4
23.6
20.8
22.2
24.9
28.9
32.8
33.8
34.4
36.3
29.6
41.6 ........ 26.7
48.9
Telephone and tele
graph
Electric light and
power and manu
factured gas
Electric-railroad and
motor-bus opera
tion and mainte
nance 2
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
54.2
77.2
55.9
Employ
ment
75.8
76.1
77.8
72.2
76.7
76.7
77.0
77.1
78.2
79.3
79.8
79.7
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January............
February____
M arch .............
April.................
M a y .. . ............
June— ..............
July_________
A ugust.............
September.......
October........ . .
November___
December____
73.2
72.4
72.8
74.0
76.7
80.0
81.6
82.7
81.8
79.5
78.8
78.7
Average. 77.7
74.9
74.2
74.0
74.9
76.0
376.7
377.4
78.9
53.0
50.5
52.5
53.4
56.4
56.9
60.0
61.2
59.7
60.8
59.0
59.5
65.5
54.9
56.0
56.7
57.8
359.2
359.9
61.1
56.9
70.2
69.8
70.0
70.2
70.2
70.4
71.0
71.0
70.9
70.3
69.9
69.7
70.3
70.5
70.0
69.8
69.7
70.0
70.2
70.3
70.5
69.0
67.9
70.4
68.8
71.4
71.3
72.3
74.0
72.2
74.9
72.2
73.2
71.5
73.9
72.9
75.3
73.1
73.7
74.4
75.7
75.5
82.2
81.2
81.7
82.4
83.1
84.0
85.0
85.6
85.8
85.8
85.5
83.6
83.8
82.7
82.2
82.2
82.6
83.2
83.8
84.7
86.7
73.8
74.4
75.6
76.8
77.6
77.8
81.1
79.9
79.3
80.6
79.6
78.3
77.9
78.0
78.3
79.4
79.0
79.8
79.8
81.5
82.8
70.5
71.0
71.7
72.2
72.6
73.2
73.1
72.8
72.5
72.2
71.8
71.0
72.1
71.2
71.0
71.3
71.4
71.6
71.7
71.5
71.2
59.2
60.1
62.2
62.9
63.0
63.2
63.8
62.8
62.4
63.0
61.8
62.3
62.9
63.1
63.4
63.3
63.6
63.9
63.4
63.3
62.2
1 Comparable indexes for earlier years for all of these industries, except year-round hotels, will be found
in the November 1934 and subsequent issues of the Employm ent and Pay Rolls pamphlet, or the Febru
ary 1935 and subsequent issues of the M onthly Labor Review. Comparable indexes for year-round hotels
will be found in the June 1935 issue of the Employm ent and Pay Rolls pamphlet, or the September
1935 issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
,
.
,
.
2 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see transportation equipment and railroad,
repair-shop groups, manufacturing industries, table 1.
2 Revised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1372
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 4 .— Indexes o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R olls, Ja n u a ry 1934 to A ugust
1935— C ontinued
Wholesale trade
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Total retail trade
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Retail trade—general
merchandising
Retail trade—other
than general mer
chandising
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January______
February____
March_______
April________
M ay.............. .
June___ _____
July-------------August______
September___
October______
November___
D ecem ber... _
80.6 84.2
81. 2 84.6
81.8 84.0
82.1 83.2
82.8 82.5
82.3 82.1
82.2 82.1
82.5 82.8
83.5 __
84.3
85.1
85.0
Average. 82.8
60.3
61.0
62.0
63.1
62.6
62.8
63.8
62.7
63.6
64.5
64.2
64.8
63.9
64.6
65.2
64.8
64.6
64.6
64.6
64.8
63.0
79.8
79.6
81.5
82.5
82.9
82.6
79.0
77.8
81.7
82.6
83.7
91.1
79.5
79.2
80.2
83.6
82.2
82.1
79.1
77.7
82.1
59.0
58.8
59.8
61.2
61.5
61.4
60.1
58.4
60.6
61.9
61.9
66.2
59.7
59.3
60.4
62.5
62.0
62.4
60.5
59.2
60.9
86.6
85.0
90.1
91.0
92.0
90.6
83.0
81.2
91.5
94.2
99.9
128.4
Em ploy
ment
.....
92.8
Year-round hotels
Month
87.3
86.2
88.7
94.5
91.4
90.7
84.5
81.7
Pay rolls
71.1
68.9
71.5
74.0
74.5
73.9
69.5
66.9
74.0
77.3
80.2
99.0
73.5
72.3
74.1
77.5
76.3
76.3
71.8
69.0
75.1 — Laundries
Employ
ment
78.0
78.2
79.3
80.3
80.5
80.5
77.9
76.9
79.1
79.5
79.4
81.3
79.2
77.4
77.3
78.0
80.7
79.8
79.8
77.7
76.7
.....
56.5
56.7
57.4
58.5
58.8
58.8
58.2
56.6
57.8
58.7
58.1
59.4
56.9
56.6
57.6
59.4
59.0
59.5
58.1
57.2
58.0
Dyeing and cleaning
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935 1934 1935
January_____________________
February_______________________
March__ _______ __________
April________________ . . . . . .
M ay___ ___________ _________ .
June___ . . .
_.
July--------------------------------------------August___________________________
September_______________ _______
October__________________________
November_______________
December______ ________________
76.4
78.9
80.4
81.5
81.8
81.9
80.4
80.0
80.0
80.9
80.6
80.0
Average_________ _____ _____
80. 2
80.3
81.1
80.8
81.1
81.6
81.3
80.3
80.7
57.2
60.9
62.2
62.7
62.9
62.9
61.5
60.2
61.0
62.7
62.4
62.2
61.6
62.2
63.5
63.9
63.6
63.7
63.5
62. 1
62 0
78.5
78.4
79.2
80.5
82.1
84.0
84.6
83.7
82. 9
81. 7
80.3
79. 5
79.6
79.6
79.7
80.0
81.1
82.3
84.4
84.2
81. 3
61.7
61.7
62.7
64.4
66.9
68.3
68.2
66.6
65. 9
64 8
63. 7
63.3
64.9
63.9
64.1
64.6
65.5
66.6
68.2
70.9
69.2
68.1
68.1
72.4
79.9
84.3
84.9
80.5
78.6
80 0
80 8
75*8
72.4
77.1
70.3
69.6
72.5
79.9
80.9
83.6
81.7
79.4
46.8
46.3
51.7
60.8
65.1
64.1
58.9
56.7
50 0
50.4
49.8
53.5
61.9
61.7
65 7
61.5
58.2
58 0
5L1
56.1
E m p lo y m e n t o n C lass I R a ilro a d s
A c c o r d i n g to reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission there
were 999,143 workers, exclusive of executives and officials, employed
in August by class I railroads—that is, roads having operating reve
nues of $1,000,000 or over. This is 0.3 percent less than the number
employed in July (1,006,495). The total compensation in August of
all employees except executives and officials was $135,942,163 com
pared with $134,992,051 in July, a gain of 0.7 percent.
The Commission’s preliminary index of employment for August,
taking the 3-year average, 1923-25, as 100, is 56.6. The July index
is 57.0.
Table 5 shows the total number of employees by occupations on the
15th day of July and August 1935 and total pay rolls for these entire
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
1373
months. In these tabulations, data for the occupational group
reported as “ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
Beginning in January 1933 the Interstate Commerce Commission
excluded reports of switching and terminal companies from its
monthly tabulations. The actual figures for the months shown in
the table, therefore, are not comparable with the totals published for
the months prior to January 1933.
T able 5.— E m p lo y m en t and P a y Rolls on C lass I S team R ailro ad s, Ju ly an d
A ugust 1935
[From monthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission. As data for only the more important occu
pations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sums of the items under the respective groups]
Number of em
ployees at mid
dle of month
Total earnings (monthly)
Occupation
July
1935
All employees.
Professional, clerical, and general----------- -------------------Clerks.............................................................. ......................
Stenographers and typ ists.......................... .....................
Maintenance of way and structures----------------------------Laborers, extra gang and work train_______________
Track and roadway section laborers_______________
Maintenance of equipment and stores_________________
Carmen............................................. - -------------------------Electrical w o r k e r s ...........- ---------------------------------M achinists...........................................................................
Skilled trades---------------- -------------------------------—
Laborers (shop, engine houses, power plants, and
stores)--------------------------------- -............ — -----------Common laborers (shop, engine houses, power plants,
and stores)_____________ ____ _______ __________
Transportation, other than train, engine, and yard-------Station agents----------------- ----------------------------------Telegraphers, telephoners, and towermen--------------Truckers (stations, warehouses, and platforms)------Crossing and bridge flagmen and gatemen-------------Transportation, yardmasters, switch tenders, and hostlers.
Transportation, train and engine------------- ------------------Road conductors__________ ____ _______________
Road brakemen and flagmen-------------------------------Yard brakemen and yard helpers-------------------------Road engineers and motormen-----------------------------Road firemen and helpers------------------------------------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
August
1935
July
1935
August
1935
999,143 $134,992,051
$135,942,163
163,182
84, 756
15,424
230,961
35,061
115, 071
267,069
54,357
8,497
37, 768
58, 329
24,933,206
12,347,709
2, 073,837
21, 034, 548
2,444, 429
7, 809,102
33, 625,566
7,760,852
1, 323,669
5,570,095
6,099, 984
25,025, 342
12,436, 699
2,088, 657
20,962,497
2, 360,036
7, 799,954
33,187,194
7, 631,888
1, 334, 596
5,483, 668
6, Oil, 730
20, 565
20,256
1,759, 289
1,752,920
17, 710
123,168
23, 454
14, 326
17, 047
16, 618
12,216
202,441
22,674
46, 556
34, 569
27,350
29,881
17, 518
123,131
23, 438
14,171
17, 019
16,613
12,142
202,658
22, 799
46, 403
34, 598
27, 429
29, 733
1, 200, 017
15,547,880
3, 713, 355
2, 237, 715
1,477,861
1,216, 704
2, 357,201
37,493, 650
5, 407,093
7, 280, 385
4,903,416
7,178,181
5,174, 917
1,192, 285
15,719,301
3,751, 764
2, 224,422
1, 570,897
1,215,978
2, 363,187
38, 684, 642
5, 551,314
7, 530, 557
5,066,393
7, 408,200
5,347, 333
1, 006,495
163, 366
84,834
15,427
234,632
36,647
117, 306
270, 672
55,151
8, 609
38, 505
59, 233
1374
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
T rend o f E m ploym ent, b y States
C h a n g e s in employment and pay rolls from July to August 1935
are shown by States in table 6 for all groups combined (except build
ing construction) and for all manufacturing industries combined.
Data for nonmanufacturing groups which were formerly published
in this table are omitted from this printed report but are available in
the office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The percentage changes shown in the table, unless otherwise noted,
are unweighted. That is, the industries included in the manufacturing
group and in the grand total have not been weighted according to
their relative importance.
T able 6 .— C om parison of E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y Rolls in Id e n tic a l E sta b lis h
m en ts in J u ly a n d A u gust 1935, b y G eographic D ivisions a n d by S tates
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics but are taken from reports issued
by cooperating State organizations]
Total—All groups
Per
Per
G eo g ra p h ic d i N um Number cent Amount cent N um
vision and State ber of on pay
age of pay roll age ber of
estab roll
change (1 week) change estab
lish August from
from lish
August
ments
1935
July
1935
July ments
1935
1935
Manufacturing
Per
Per
N um cent Amount of cent
ber on
age
pay roll
age
pay roll change (1 week) change
August from
from
August
1935
July
1935
July
1935
1935
N ew E n g la n d ___ 13, 846 793,857 + 1 .7 $16, 899, 363 + 2 .6 3,146 526, 720
M aine_______
761
50, 325 + 2 .5
934,175 + 3 .3
239
40, 340
N ew Hampshire_______
641
37,824
-.5
706,137 - 1 .6
177
30, 567
Vermont_____
427
16,147 + 7 .6
324, 370 + 6 .0
130
9,985
Massachusetts. 18,847 430, 758
+ .9 9,511,952 +1.8 1,545 239,518
Rhode Island.. 1, 256
83, 979 + 2 .3 1, 679, 080 + 1.1
404
63,445
Connecticut--. 2,114 174,824 + 3 .3 3, 743, 589 + 5 .7
651 142, 865
M iddle A tlan tic- 29, 590 1, 707, 515
+ .7 39, 552,116 + 4 .4 4,985 1,063,890
New York___ 16,936 712, 861 + 1 .0 18,097,16*1 + 3.1 21,918 388,406
N ew Jersey___ 3, 755 253, 098 + 3 .9 5, 959,461 + 6 .5 s 753 223,094
Pennsylvania - 8, 899 741, 556
- . 6 15,495,491 + 5 .2 2,314 452,390
E ast N o rth C entr a l_________ _ 18,841 1, 707,467
+ .3 38,814, 745 + 2 .7 6, 689 1, 314,164
Ohio_____
8,245 517,022
+ .9 11, 658,348 + 4 .6 2, 263 367, 369
Indiana _____ 1,759 186,905 +4- 4 3,913, 647 + 9 .8
830 152,192
I l l i n o i s .. . ___ *4,310 475,565
+ .6 10,808,251 +1.0 2,034 305,973
Michigan____ 3, 512 358,822 -9 .4 8, 788,654
+ .2
809 351, 653
W iscon sin___ 51,015 169,153
- .3 3,645,845
753 136,977
+ .9
W est N o rth C entr a l___________ 11,465 392,859
8, 587, 776
+■4 2,165 183, 893
Minnesota___ 2, 072
83,439 + 1 .3 1,858, 934
+ .7
355
36, 939
I o w a ... -_1,711
54, 589 - 1 .2 1,104, 299 - 2 .4
390
28,495
M issouri.. . . . 3, 377 159,966 + 1 .1 3,512, 775
793
79,475
North Dakota.
587
4,982
+ .4
109, 265 + 1 .9
45
833
South Dakota.
567
5, 268 - 4 .7
116, 753 - 4 .6
33
1,437
Nebraska____ 1, 366
30,802
+ .3
661, 012 + (0
156
10, 605
Kansas______ s1,725
53,813
393 26,109
+ .8 1,224,138 + 2 .7
S o u th A tla n tic .. 10,861 698,703 + 1 .4 12,105,705 + 5 .0 2,669 457,393
Delaware. _ . .
232
13, 861 +11.0
278, 327 + 3 .1
80
9, 677
M aryland.. . 1,631 104, 633 +1.4 2,216,197 +4-3
554 67,420
D istrict of Colum bia_____ 1,009
33, 583 - 2 .3
792, 200 - 2 .2
38
3,803
Virginia_____ 2,141
89,028 + 1 .0 1, 602,804
425
58, 312
West Virginia. 1,230 136,058 + 2 .1 2, 656, 723 +15. 2
245
52,649
North Carolina 1, 293 136,690 + 1 .6 1,877, 697 + 6 .5
579 126,755
South Carolina
709
59,902
+ .7
748,467
- .3
196
52,957
Georgia______ 1,476
92,409 + 1 .5 1, 364, 681 + 1 .2
369
69, 787
Florida______ 1,140
32,533 “ (0
568,609
+ .4
183
16,033
See footnotes at erid of ta ble.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+■6
+ 3.1 $10,414, 679
+ 2 .9
716,161
- 1 .4
+12.3
+2.6
+ 3 .8
+ 4.3
+ 4 .9
+ 3 .8
550, 665
197,057
-1 .6
+ 9 .3
i, 171,475
2,942, 392
+ 3 .6
+ 8 .0
4,836,929
+2.7 23,661,824 + 7 .6
+2.5 9,523,631 +5.0
+4-7 5,037,358 +7.7
+1.9 9,100,835 +10.5
+ •1 29, 612, 360 + 3 .1
+ 1 .3 8, 325,844 + 6 .4
+ 5.0 3,151,429 +11.7
6 +1.7
+1.6
-4 .2
6,793, 739 + 3.2
8,403,973 - 2 .3
2,937,375 6 + 2.2
+ 1 .0
+ 2 .3
- 1 .8
+ 1 .4
+ 6 .1
-1 6 .3
+ 3.4
+ .9
+ 2.2
+16.3
6 +2.7
3, 944, 690 + 1 .1
789,519 + 1.4
567,039 - 3 .4
1,685, 913 + 2 .0
20, 214 + 8 .0
31, 994 -1 4 .4
232,342 + 3 .6
617,669 +2.S
7,264,653 + 4 .5
177,045 + 6 .6
1,353,695 6 +4- 6
- 1 .2
+ 2 .5
+ 2 .2
+ 1.8
+ .7
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .7
120,967
1,006,092
1,117, 615
1, 708,183
627,565
914, 611
238,880
+6 °
+ 2.0
+3+
1375
TREND OF EM PLOYM ENT AN D PAY ROLLS
T able 6 .— C om parison of E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y R olls in Id e n tic a l E sta b lish
m en ts in Ju ly an d A ugust 1935, by G eographic D ivisions a n d by S ta te s— Con.
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics but are taken from reports issued
by cooperating State organizations]
Manufacturing
Total—All groups
Per
Per
G e o g r a p h ic d i N um Number cent Amount cent N um
age of pay roll age ber of
vision and State ber of on pay
roll
change (1 week) change estab
estab
from lish
August
lish August from
July ments
1935
July
1935
ments
1935
1935
E ast S o u th C en t r a i________
Per
Per
N um cent Amount of cent
age
pay roll
age
ber on
pay roll change (1 week) change
from
August
August from
July
1935
July
1935
1935
1935
147,324
+ 4 .5
$2,265,417
+ 8 .1
f, 363
248,851
+ 2 .7
$3,989,698
+ 6 .1
916
Kentucky
Tennessee. . . .
Alabama_____
M ississippi-----
1, 369
1, 211
1,196
587
83,482
81,379
68, 444
15, 546
+ 3 .3
+ 1 .3
+ 2.9
+ 7 .2
1, 454,958
1, 345,751
963, 554
225,435
+ 9 .1
+ 4 .0
+ 3 .9
+ 9 .4
282
306
233
95
W est S o u t h C e n t r a i____________
Arkansas--------
4,401
9 735
166,026
+ .8
3,390,834
+ 1.2
951
+ 1 .1
1,623,876
4 2 1 ,1 8 1
- .1
296
1 7 ,7 8 6
- .2
2 6 1 ,5 2 1
971
Louisiana . . .
Oklahoma____ 1,452
Texas________ 1 , 24s
40,928
38, 491
+ .2
+ 1 .1
734,926
821,182
+ 1.2
-. 1
214
130
20, 245
9, 593
-.2
+ 3.5
320, 090
200,150
6 0 ,6 6 7
+ 1 .3
1 ,4 1 3 ,5 4 5
311
3 4 ,8 3 4
+ 1 .9
8 4 2 ,1 1 5
+ 3 .6
+ .3
+ 3 .0
- 2 .9
+ 6 .3
+ 3 .5
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .0
551
35,185
-3 .5
751,278
+• 9
+ 4 .7
+ 5 .6
+ 1.6
+ 3 .6
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .4
- 5 .8
+ 1.C
74
54
42
179
25
45
101
3)
4,185 + 3.1
3,782 - 6 .8
1,827 + 2 . o
14, 687 + 4 .7
- .3
645
2,462 - 6 .5
6,812 -1 9 .3
785 - 3 .2
2 5 ,9 4 0
M o u n t a i n __ __ .
4,404
114,492
M ontana.........
Idaho. ___ _
W yom ing. . . .
Colorado____
N ew M exico...
Arizona__ . . .
U tah________
Nevada . . .
.
P a c if ic _______
W ashington. .
Oregon ___
California . . .
804
448
358
1,065
372
502
609
246
16,903
9,080
8, 565
40, 440
6, 572
11, 352
18, 396
3,183
5,963
406,273
3, 056
1, 255
m ,6 5 S
87, 352
49,917
2 6 9 ,0 0 4
+ .3
2,570,202
446, 712
198,254
208,025
881,752
122,987
252,463
376, 181
83,825
- 1 .6
—8. C
- .7
+ 8 .8 9,930,086 + 9 .4 1,690
478
+9. 7 1, 992, 927 +14. i
256
+ 4 .7 1,127, 749 + 6 .8
+ 9 .3
6 ,8 0 9 ,4 1 0
+ 8 .5
956
33,952 + 6 .9
57,343 + 2.1
46,914 + 4.3
9.115 + 12.9
82,458
231,453 + 1 4 .8
45,434 + 18.5
28, 391 + 4.7
1 5 7 ,6 2 8
+ 1 5 .8
618,459 +10.2
902,862 + 5 .7
630, 599 + /• o
113,497 +20.7
+ 2 .6
—1■ 4
+ 2 .6
+ 4 .0
105, 839 + 9 .5
86, 283 + 6 .7
50, 050 + 2 .2
309, 669 + 5 .9
10,350 + 4.1
50,026 + 2 .9
116,929 -1 9 .1
—. 6
22,132
5,466,143 + 1 7 .7
983, 737 +31.3
610, 538 + 12.2
3 ,8 7 1 ,8 6 8
+ 1 5 .6
1 Includes construction, municipal, agricultural, and office employment, amusement and recreation
professional services, and trucking and handling. _
.
2 Includes laundering and cleaning, but does not include food, canning, and preserving.
3 Includes laundries.
i Includes miscellaneous services, building and contracting, and restaurants.
5 Includes construction, but does not include hotels and restaurants, and public works.
« Weighted percentage change.
? Less than Mo of 1 percent.
8 Includes construction, miscellaneous services (theaters), and restaurants.
» Includes automobile dealers and garages, and sand, gravel, and building stone.
i° Includes banks, insurance, and office employment.
Em ploym ent and Pay R olls in Principal Cities
A c o m p a r i s o n of August employment and pay-roll totals with
July totals in 13 cities of the United States having a population of
500,000 or over is made in table 7. The changes are computed from
reports received from identical establishments in each of the months
considered.
In addition to reports included in the several industrial groups
regularly covered in the survey of the Bureau, reports have also been
secured from establishments in other industries for inclusion in these
city totals. As information concerning employment in building
construction is not available for all cities at this time, figures for this
industry have not been included in these city totals.
24361— 35*----- 15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1376
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
T able 7.— F lu c tu a tio n s in E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R olls in A u gust 1935 as C om
p a red w ith Ju ly 1935
Cities
New York C ity________
Chicago, 111____________
Philadelphia, P a_______
Detroit, M ich_________
Los Angeles, Calif_____
Cleveland, Ohio.............
St. Louis, M o_________
Baltimore, M d ________
Boston, Mass__________
Pittsburgh, P a________
San Francisco, Calif........
Buffalo, N . Y _______ __
Milwaukee, W is....... .......
Number of
establish
ments reporting in
both
months
July 1935
13, 668
2,620
2, 709
1,482
2,449
1,825
1,787
1,342
3, 792
1,362
1, 543
1,030
700
538,769
328,836
210,847
287,907
114,713
125, 508
117,033
77, 722
152,420
147,171
78,398
62, 281
68, 580
Number on pay rolls
August
1935
550,190
326, 549
211, 560
280, 216
116,870
125,347
118,307
78,995
155,107
149,801
82, 225
62,829
68, 836
Per
centage
change
from
July
1935
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
July 1935
August
1935
+ 2.1 $13,951,771 $14, 507,222
- .7
8,168,948
8,116,612
+ .3
4,857,146
4, 985,997
7,207,793
- 2 .7
7, 099, 325
2,784,608
+ 1.9
2,854,334
-. 1
2, 889, 955
2,923,378
2,632,874
2,650,062
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .6
1,672,000
1,719, 764
+ 1.8
3, 588, 532
3,689,404
3, 036,872
+ 1 .8
3,326,890
+ 4 .9
2,079, 773
2,165, 034
+ .9
1,407, 337
1,481,873
+ .4
1,586,102
1,625,061
Per
centage
change
from
July
1935
+ 4 .0
-.6
+ 2 .7
- 1 .5
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .2
+ .7
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .8
+ 9 .5
+ 4.1
+ 5 .3
+ 2 .5
Part IT.—Public E m ploym ent
F iv e of the various classes of public employment showed increases
during August. The largest relative gain, 41.5 percent, was in con
struction projects financed by regular governmental appropriations.
A large increase in employment was also registered in emergency
conservation work in August. The greatest decrease, 26.9 percent,
occurred in the emergency-work program. Small losses were shown
in the judicial service, Public Works Administration construction
projects, and on construction projects financed by the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation. The first monthly statistics for The
Works Program revealed over 143,000 workers employed. Of this
number, approximately 113,000 were working on projects operated
by the Works Progress Administration. The remaining workers
were employed by the various Federal agencies receiving allotments
from the Works Progress fund.
A summary of employment and pay rolls financed in whole or in
part by Federal funds is given in table 8 for August.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1377
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T able 8 .— S um m ary of E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y R olls F in an ced in W hole or in
P a r t by F ed eral F u n d s, A ugust 1935
Employment
Class
August
Federal service
Executive_________ __________
i 771,464
Judicial______________________
1,732
Legislative........................................
5,147
M ilitary_____________________
269,459
Construction projects financed by
P. W. A _______________________
394,509
Construction projects financed by
R . F. C________________________
9, 415
Construction projects financed by
regular governmental appropriations___ ____ ___________________
36,491
The Works Program_____
_____
143,094
Relief work:
Emergency work program_____ 1,410,513
Emergency conservation work__ 2 590,362
July
Per
centage
change
Pay roll
August
July
Per
centage
change
731, 551
1, 766
5, 014
261, 067
+ 5 .5 $115, 624,800 $111,114, 592
470,939
473,044
- 1 .9
1, 204,204
+ 2 .7
1,181, 349
+ 3 .2
20,846, 275
20,689,446
405,332
- 2 .7
25, 292, 656
24,968,785
+ 1.3
9,581
- 1 .7
1,020,208
1, 001,653
+ 1 .9
25, 788
+41.5
2,694,822
4, 340, 749
1,890,209
+42.6
1,928,789
3 480, 586
-2 6 .9
+22.8
38,925,474
2 26, 235,863
53,136,834
3 22, 074, 577
-2 6 .7
+18.9
+4.1
- .4
+ 1 .9
+ .8
1 Includes 480 employees by transfer, previously reported as separations by transfer, not actual additions
for August. 24,174 employees of the Works Progress Administration included for which pay roll is not
available.
2 Includes 44,093 employees and a pay roll of $5,872,916 included in executive service.
2 Includes 40,368 employees and a pay roll of $5,217,265 included in executive service.
E xecu tive, Legislative, M ilitary, and Judicial Services o f th e Federal
G overnm ent
E m p l o y m e n t increased during August in the executive, legislative,
and military services of the Federal Government. The judicial
branch, however, showed a decline of 1.9 percent.
The information concerning employment in the executive depart
ments is collected by the Civil Service Commission from the different
departments and offices of the United States Government. The
figures are tabulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data for
the legislative, judicial, and military services are collected and tabu
lated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A comparison of the number of employees in the executive depart
ments of the Federal Government in August with the number em
ployed in July and the corresponding month of last year is shown in
table 9. Data for employees working in the District of Columbia
are shown separately.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1378
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — N O V EM BER 1935
T able 9 .— E m ployees in th e E x ecu tiv e Service of th e U n ited S tates, A ugust 1934,
Ju ly 1935, an d A ugust 1935
District of Columbia
Item
Per
ma
nent
Tem
po
rary
Number of employees:
84,075 9,254
August 1934__________
94,222 10. 525
July 1935_________ ___
August 1935-................... 97,294 9,721
Gain or loss:
HI August 1934 to August
fc 1935________________ +13, 219 +467
July 1935 to August
1935._______________ +3,072 -804
Percentage change:
August 1934 to August
1935_______________ +15.72 +5.05
July 1935 to August
1935________________ +3.26 -7 .6 4
Labor turn-over, August
1935:
3,761 1,457
Additions 4___________
1,739 1,413
Separations 4 ............. .
1.82 13.96
Turn-over rate per 100____
Total
Outside District of
Columbia
Per
ma
nent
Tem
po
rary 1
Total
Entire service
Per
ma
nent
Tem
po
rary 1
Total
93,329 504,384 94,575 598,959 588,459 103,829 692,288
104,747 521,185 105, 619 626,804 615,407 116,144 731,551
107,015 547,958 116,491 664,449 645,252 126, 212 2 771,464
+13, 686 +43,574 +21,916 +65,490 +56,793 +22,383 +79,176
+2, 268 +26,773 +10,872 +37, 645 +29,845 +10,068 3+39,913
+14. 66
+2.17
5, 218
3,152
2.98
+8.64 +23.17 +10.93
+9.65 +21. 56
+5.14 +10.29
+6.01
+4.85
+8.67
+5.46
32,451
21,480
19. 34
66,460
29,093
4. 51
37,770
9,352
1.48
33,908
22,893
18.89
71, 678
32,245
4. 29
34,009
7,613
1.42
+11.44
1 N ot including field employees of the Post Office Department or 48,614 employees hired under letters of
authorization by the Department of Agriculture with a pay roll of $1,863,266.
2 Includes 480 employees by transfer, previously reported as separations by transfer, not actual additions
for August.
in c lu d e s 23,675 persons transferred from several State Emergency Relief Administrations which
administered relief activities partially financed by funds received from the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration.
4
N ot including employees transferred within the Government service, as such transfers should not be
regarded as labor turn-over.
In August 39,913 more employees were working in the executive
branches of the Federal Government than in the previous month.
Compared with the corresponding month of last year Federal employ
ment showed an increase of 14.7 percent in the District of Columbia
and 10.9 percent outside the District. For the service as a whole
employment in August was 11.4 percent higher than in August 1934.
The gain in Federal employment during the month was largely
accounted for by the transfer of employees from several State emer
gency relief administrations to the Works Progress Administration.
Apart from the Works Progress Administration, the Resettlement
Administration with 4,145 more employees in August than in July
showed the greatest increase. Substantial gains in employment,
however, were also reported by the Departments of Labor, Agriculture,
Interior, and War. On the other hand, the personnel of the Com
merce Department was reduced by approximately 2,000. The staffs
of the National Recovery Administration, the Post Office Department,
and the Tennessee Valley Authority were also reduced during the
month.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1379
TREND OF EM PLOYM ENT AND PAY ROLLS
C onstruction Projects Financed b y Public W orks A dm inistration
D etails concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during August on construction projects financed by Public Works
Administration funds are given, by type of project, in table 10.
T able 1 0 .— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y R olls on C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F in an ced from
P ublic W orks F u n d s, A ugust 1935
Wage earners
Type of project
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed i
Weekly
average
Amount
of
pay rolls
Number
of
man-hours
worked
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
Federal projects
All projects________ _____________ 3 254,201
245,664 $15,822,109
25,145,753
$0. 629
$27,445,335
Building construction____________
Forestry__________ ______ _______
Naval vessels____________________
Public roads 3 _________________
Reclamation.___ _ ____________
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads_________ ____ _
Water and sewerage______ _____
Miscellaneous_____
. . ... ...
12,325
122
23,144
153,695
24,362
23,735
5,938
229
2,114
1,216,481
12,690
3,657,182
12,486,000
3,678,188
3,192,633
627,793
20,936
253,850
.801
.823
.796
.524
.689
.727
.555
.738
.666
2,297, 509
34,855
2,800,035
13,350,000
4,036,470
3,917, 239
310,805
25,635
672,787
15,055
139
23,361
(4)
25,265
27,681
6,460
255
2,290
974,252
10,441
2,910,790
6, 538,600
2,534,898
2,320,348
348,338
15,456
168,986
Non-Federal projects
All projects_____________________
134,673
112,008
$8,881,558
11, 223,005
$0. 791
$20,191,024
Building construction____________
Railroad construction____________
Streets and roads________________
Water and sewerage________ _____
Miscellaneous---------------------
60,858
7,653
21,976
38,593
5,593
50, 235
6, 547
18, 286
32, 235
4,705
4,507,248
484,308
1,152,997
2,353,415
383,590
4,957,101
818,802
1,732,559
3,163,852
550,691
.909
.591
.665
.744
.697
11,198,485
92,168
1,986,999
5,809,497
1,103,875
1 M axim um num ber em ployed during an y 1 w eek of the m onth b y each contractor and G overnm ent
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes w eek ly average for public roads.
3 E stim ated b y the Bureau of P u b lic Roads.
4 N o t available; average num ber included in total.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1380
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
C om pared w ith Ju ly , em ploym ent on F ederal construction projects
decreased by 18,794. T he principal factor co ntributing to this
decline was the reduction of 16,848 workers em ployed on publicroad construction. M oderate increases in em ploym ent were shown in
naval vessel construction, reclam ation projects, and in river, harbor,
and flood-control work.
On non-Federal construction projects 8,500 wage earners were
added to the pay rolls in August. Reports for the month showed
gains in the number of men employed in every type of non-Federal
project with the exception of railroad construction.
On Federal projects earnings per hour averaged 63 cents. Average
hourly earnings ranged from 82 cents in forestry work to 52 cents paid
on public-road projects. On non-Federal projects the average hourly
wage was 79 cents; the highest average wage, 91 cents, was paid to
workers on building-construction projects.
F ederal construction projects are financed entirely by allotm ents
m ade by the P ublic W orks A dm inistration to th e various agencies
and d ep artm en ts of the F ederal G overnm ent. T he w ork is perform ed
either by com m ercial firms, which have been aw arded contracts, or
by day lab o r hired directly by the F ederal agencies.
N on-F ederal projects are financed by allotm ents m ade by the
P ublic W orks A dm inistration to a S ta te or one of its political sub
divisions, b u t occasionally allotm ents are m ade to com m ercial
firms. In m aking allotm ents to th e S tates or their political sub
divisions, b u t n o t to com m ercial enterprises, th e Public W orks
A d m inistration m akes a direct g ra n t of n o t m ore th a n 30 percent
of the to ta l construction cost. T he rem aining 70 percent or m ore of
the cost is financed by the recipient. T he P ublic W orks A dm inistra
tion, in some instances, provides the additional financing by m eans of
a lo a n ; in o th er cases the loan is procured from outside sources. Loans
m ade by the P ublic W orks A dm inistration carry in tere st charges
and have a definite d ate of m a tu rity .
G ran ts are n o t m ade to com m ercial firms, though loans are m ade.
F o r the m ost p a rt, com m ercial allotm ents have been m ade to rail
roads. R ailroad w ork financed by loans m ade by the P ublic W orks
A d m in istration falls un d er three headings: F irst, construction work in
the form of electrification, the laying of rails and ties, repairs to build
ings, bridges, etc.; second, th e building and repairing of locom otives
and passenger and freight cars in shops operated by th e railroads; and
th ird , locom otive and passenger- and freight-car building in com m ercial
shops.
In fo rm atio n concerning th e first ty p e of railroad w ork, i.e., construc
tion, is shown in table 10, page 1379. E m ploym ent in car and locom o
tive shops owned by th e railroads and in com m ercial car and loco
m otive shops is shown in a sep arate table. (See table 12, page 1382.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1381
TREND OF EM PLOYM ENT A N D PAY ROLLS
Comparisons by Geographic Divisions
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on construction
projects financed by the Public Works Administration fund in
August 1935 are shown, by geographic divisions, in table 11.
T able 11.— E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y Rolls on C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F in an ced from
P ub lic W orks F u n d s, A ugust 1935
Wage earners
Geographic division
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed 1
Weekly
average
of Average
Amount of Number
earnings
pay rolls man-hours
worked
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
Federal projects
All divisions J—........ - ------ ----------
254, 201
N ew England.....................................
Middle A tla n tic ..-........... ...............
East North Central_____________
West North Central____________
South Atlantic_________________
East South Central.......... ................
West South Central.____________
M ountain...................... .....................
Pacific.......... .......................................
Outside continental United States.
14,420
27,590
33, 295
41, 287
41, 737
32, 577
22, 510
22, 630
14,809
3, 344
245, 664 $15,822,109
14,098
26,497
32,143
39,948
40,172
32, 216
22,180
21, 348
14,087
2,973
1,191,342
2,084,400
1,954,048
1, 620,302
2, 537,043
2,129,910
869,001
1,815,972
1,420, 259
199, 712
25,145,753
$0.629
8 $27,445,335
1,683,434
2,992,025
2,808,014
2,893,974
4, 246,784
3,864, 514
1,927,991
2, 597,131
1, 754,869
376,897
.708
.697
.696
.560
.597
.551
.451
.699
.809
.530
989,696
1,835,376
1,346,717
925,484
2,578,574
827,740
196,332
2,269,347
2,857,323
268,672
Non-Federal projects
All divisions........................................
134, 673
112,008
$8,881, 558
11,223,005
$0.791
$20,191,024
N ew England__________________
M iddle Atlantic_______________
East North Central........ ................ .
West North Central_____ _____ _
South A tlantic.________________
East South Central_____________
West South Central_____________
M ountain______________________
Pacific------------------ ------------ -----Outside continental United States.
12, 298
28, 643
21, 631
23, 444
14,672
4,974
11,096
3,816
13, 470
629
10,161
23,661
18, 201
19, 763
12, 391
4,107
8, 661
3,085
11, 489
489
793,035
2, 326,401
1,369,311
1,462, 729
869, 766
250, 749
534, 408
238, 644
998, 316
38,199
1,059,445
2, 544,070
1,623, 997
1,955,007
1,333, 949
402, 801
849, 424
288,975
1,110, 693
54, 644
.749
.914
.843
.748
.652
.623
.629
.826
.899
.699
1, 637, 522
6, 370,805
3, 407,906
3, 512,137
984,121
520,443
1, 200,356
768, 527
1, 726,879
62,328
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects.
2 Includes data for 2 wage earners which cannot be charged to any specific ceographic division.
8 Includes $13,350,000 estimated value of material orders placed for public-road projects which cannot be
charged to any specific geographic division.
During August there was a decline in employment on Federal
Public Works Administration construction projects in all geographic
divisions. The most drastic decrease involving 4,516 employees
occurred in the Middle Atlantic States. On non-Federal projects,
however, six of the geographic divisions showed increased employment.
Taking Federal and non-Federal construction projects as a whole the
West North Central States had the greatest number of employees.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1382
MONTHLY LABO R R EV IEW — N O VEM BER 1 9 3 5
Table 12 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
during August 1935 in railway-car and locomotive shops on projects
financed from the Public Works Administration fund, by geographic
divisions.
T able 1 2 .— E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y Rolls in R ailw ay -C ar an d L ocom otive Shops
on W ork F in an ced from P u b lic W orks A d m in istra tio n F u n d s, A ugust 1935
Wage efirners
Geographic division
Total, railroad and commercial
shops...............................................
Semi
Maximum
monthly
number
em ployed1 average
5,635
(2)
Amount
of pay
rolls
3 $588,989
Number
of man
hours
worked
« 765, 231
Average
earnings
per
hour
$0. 726
Value of
material
orders
placed
(2)
Railroad shops
All divisions______________ ____
1,079
1,009
» $95,029
* 87, 069
$0. 709
$8,355
New England_________________
M iddle Atlantic...............................
142
937
142
867
7,983
3 87, 046
9,882
* 77,187
.808
.697
1,500
6,855
Commercial shops
All d iv isio n s........................ ...........
4,556
New England_________________
M iddle Atlantic____ ____ ______
East North C e n tr a l...................
W est North C entral.. ________
4
4,025
464
63
(2)
$493,960
678,162
$0. 728
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
187
446,478
41, 434
5,861
352
606,497
61,098
10,215
.531
.736
.678
.574
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1 M axim um num ber em p loyed during either sem im on th ly period b y each shop.
2 D ata not available.
3 Includes $33,358 paid to certain wage earners in an ad justm en t of piece rates.
* Includes 105 hours in volved in an ad justm en t of earnings.
Compared with the previous month there was a decrease of more
than 500 in the number of workers under Public Works Administra
tion contracts engaged in building and repairing locomotives and
passenger and freight cars in August.
Monthly Trend
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked at the site of
Public Works Administration construction projects from the begin
ning of the program in July 1933 to August 1935, are shown in table 13.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1383
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
T ab le 13.— E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y R olls, Ju ly 1933 to A ugust 1935, Inclusive, on
P ro jects F in an ced from P ublic-W orks F u n d s
Maximum
number
of wage
earners *
Month and year
1933
1934
January___
February...
March____
April...........
M ay........... .
June............
July............
August s- ~
September :
October___
November.
December.
1935
January..
February.
March___
April.........
M ay..........
June_____
July..........
A u g u st...
Value of
material
orders
placed
Number of
man-hours
worked
$511,032,059
840.729,642
267
4,719
39,535
146,747
255,512
300,758
26,433
131,937
1, 784,996
6, 353,835
11, 552,547
13,091,587
35,217
206,990
3,296,162
12,029,751
21, 759,245
24,391, 546
.751
.637
.542
.528
.531
.537
1,628, 537
i 23.351.150
24, 568. 577
25,702, 750
298,069
311,381
307,274
382,220
506,056
610, 752
644, 729
629,907
575,655
507,886
470,467
382,594
12,646,241
14,348.094
14,113,247
18,785,405
25,942,387
33,808,429
34.845, 461
36,480,027
32,758,795
29,289,216
28,791,297
22,443,944
23,409,908
26,544, 346
25,501,446
32,937,649
46,052,698
59,873,309
60, 736,768
61.925,300
53,427,096
46,632,214
46,454,108
34,955,156
.540
.541
.553
.570
.563
.565
.574
.589
.613
.628
.620
.642
24, 206,352
25, 269,537
« 69. 766, 559
« 68 , 526, 223
« 50, 468,427
* 60, 797,939
< 53, 377,997
< 54, 192,443
* 50, 878,000
* 50, 234,495
54, 228,457
< 45, 683,081
304,723
272,273
281,461
333,045
394,875
414,306
405,332
394,509
18,462,677
16,896,475
17,400,798
20,939, 741
24,490,087
25,386,962
24,968,785
25,292,656
27,478,022
25,144.558
26,008,063
31,387,712
36,763,164
38.800,178
37,845, 047
37,133,989
.672
.672
.669
.667
.667
.654
.660
.681
< 30,746,857
29, 264,484
27,276,566
31,645,166
< 36,893,840
2 42,017,642
2 41,936, 424
47,644,714
July 1933 to August 1935, inclusive *_
July..........................................................
August------ --------- ----------------------September...............................................
October........... — ...................................
November...............................................
December--------------------- -------------
Average
earnings
per hour
Amount of
pay rolls
$0.608 $970, 508,317
202,100
i Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects.
3 Includes orders placed for material for naval vessels prior to October 1933.
* Includes orders placed by railroads for new equipment.
In the aggregate more than $511,000,000 has been paid in wages for
work at the site of Public Works Administration construction projects.
Hourly earnings have averaged 61 cents.
Value of Material Orders Placed
Since the inception of the Public Works program orders have been
placed for materials valued at over $970,000,000. It is estimated
that in fabricating this material approximately 3,170,000 man-months
of labor have been or will be created in the fabricating establishments.
Materials for which orders were placed during August will create
about 153,000 man-months of labor. This accounts only for labor
required in the fabrication of materialjn the form in which it is to be
used. In fabricating steel rails, for example, the only labor counted
is that occurring in the rolling mills. An estimate is not made for
the labor created in mining, smelting, and transporting the ore; nor
for the labor in the blast furnaces, the open-hearth furnaces, nor the
blooming mills.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1384
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
In obtaining information concerning man-months of labor created
in fabricating materials, each firm receiving a material order which is
to be financed from the Public Works fund, from the United States
Government, or from State governments or their political subdivisions
is sent a questionnaire. It is requested that the manufacturer fill in
this form estimating the number of man-hours created in the plant in
manufacturing the material specified in the contract. In the case of
materials purchased directly by contractors, the Bureau estimates
the man-months of labor created. This estimate is made by using
the experience of manufacturing plants as shown by the Census of
Manufactures, 1933.
T h e Works Program
W o r k was started during August on a considerable number of con
struction projects financed from the Emergency Relief Act of 1935.
These construction projects, under what is officially known as The
Works Program, provided employment during the month ending
August 15 for more than 143,000 persons. Of this number, 113,553
were working on projects operated by the Works Progress Adminis
tration. The remaining workers were employed by the various Fed
eral agencies receiving allotments from the Works Progress fund.
Data are not available concerning the types of projects on which the
workers under the supervision of the Works Progress Administration
were engaged.
D a ta concerning em ploym ent and p ay rolls on th e construction
projects adm inistered by the F ederal dep artm en ts and agencies on
which allotm ents were received from the E m ergency R elief A ct of
1935 are given in table 14, by ty p e of project.
T able 14.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls on F ed eral C o n stru ctio n P ro jects
F in an ced by T he W orks P ro g ram , A ugust 1935 1
Wage earners
T ype of project
Value of
Maxi
Amount of Number of Average material
man-hours earnings
mum
pay
rolls
worked per hour orders
number Weekly
placed
employ average
ed 2
All pro jects..................................
29, 541
* 27, 424
$1, 064,871
2, 564,979
$0. 415
, 414, 575
Building construction................
Electrification............. .............
F o r e str y ...__________________
Public roads.......... .....................
Reclamation__________ ______
River, harbor, and flood control
Streets and roads...................... .
Water and sewerage...............
Miscellaneous______________
4,346
54
10,903
56
37
2,675
1, 372
163
9,935
3,728
54
«
56
33
2,344
1, 225
161
8,920
157, 248
1,378
389, 825
412
1, 399
84,118
70, 764
2,776
356,951
327,055
3,154
1, 034, 487
966
3,028
189, 841
117,062
7,061
882,325
. 481
.437
.377
.427
.462
.443
.605
.393
. 405
189,967
10, 662
. . P? '
752
9,970
993, 052
178, 593
5, 034
26, 545
j6 U
* ersJ ? r ^ hlch data are shpwn in this table there were 113,553 employees working
)y the /W orks Progress Administration. These men were paid $3,276,000 for work
projects d durmg the m onth- Orders were placed for materials valued at $3,202,000 to be used on these
agency^S ng2fo rce^ co u S ^ o rk ? ^
1^
° f the m °nth by eacb f a c t o r and Government
• Includes maximum number as reported by U. S. Forest Service
4 N ot available; maximum number included in total.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1385
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Of the 29,541 people working on this program, approximately
11,000 were engaged in forestry work. Building construction em
ployed over 4,000.
Employment and pay rolls on Federal construction projects financed
by the Works Progress Administration are shown in table 15, by
geographic divisions.
T able 15.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y R olls on F ed eral C o n stru ctio n P ro jects
F in an ced by T h e W orks P ro g ram , A u gust 1935 1
Wage arners
Value of
of Average material
Amount of Number
Maxi
earnings orders
man-hours
Weekly pay rolls
mum
per hour placed
worked
number aver
em
age 3
ployed 2
Geographic division
All divisions........................................ ..........
29,541
27,424
$1,064,871
2,564,979
N ew England------ ---------- ------------------M iddle A tla n tic............................. ............
East North Central__________________
West North Central...................... ..............
South A tlantic......... ....................................
East South Central-------------- ------------West South Central-------- ------------------M ountain_________________ ______ ___
Pacific.. . . .
...... ......................................
Outside continental United States....... .
1,887
6,074
2,462
3,286
4,352
1,436
1,510
5,305
2,960
269
1,721
5,398
2,183
3,033
4,055
1,385
1,352
5,243
2, 785
269
69,650
318,311
65,604
121,030
156,318
49,839
38,613
138,018
60,650
46,838
171,367
726,033
156, 387
330, 372
393,077
136,909
113,014
334,686
144,585
58,549
$0.415 $1,414,575
.406
.438
.419
.366
.398
.364
.342
.412
.419
.800
15,382
127,663
433,836
143,613
115,220
15,913
18,478
413,975
24,881
105,614
i In addition to the workers for which data are shown in this table there were 113,553 employees working
on projects operated by the Works Progress Administration. These men were paid $3,276,000 for work
performed during the month. Orders were placed for materials valued at $3,202,000 to be used on these
^ 2 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
_
3 Includes maximum number of employees as reported by U . S. Forest Service. W eekly average is not
available.
The value of materials for which orders have been placed from the
beginning of the program to August 15 amounted to $1,415,000. In
addition to this, orders were placed for materials valued at $3,202,000
for use on work projects operated directly by the Works Progress
Administration.
Em ergency Work Program
A s h a r p decline occurred in the number of workers employed on
the emergency work program of the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration between the week ended July 25 and the week ended
August 29. The 800,000 workers employed during the week ended
August 29 was nearly 513,000 less than in the week ended July 25.
Pay-roll disbursements, also, showed a drop. The total pay roll of
about $7,000,000 was 43 percent less than in the week ending July 25.
Table 16 gives the number of workers and the amounts of pay rolls
for the emergency work program for the weeks ending July 25 and
August 29, by geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1386
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 16.— E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y R olls for W orkers on E m ergency W ork
P ro g ram , W eeks E n d in g Ju ly 25 a n d A ugust 29, 1935
Number of employees
week ending—
Geographic division
August 29
July 25
Amount of pay roll
week ending—
August 29
July 25
All divisions................. ............... ..........................
Percentage change................... ......................... .
800,108
-3 9 .0 6
1,312,891
$7,143,194
-42.82
$12,493,222
New E n g la n d ............................ .......................
Middle Atlantic. _________ ____ ________
East North Central________________________
West North Central________________ ______ _
South Atlantic_____________ _______________
East South Central.................................................
West South Central.................... ......................... .
M ountain......... ..... ....................................... . .
Pacific............. ............................................. .
131,896
93, 262
95, 235
76,068
153,806
58,120
120,407
35, 111
36, 203
144,441
155,982
208, 757
173,023
203,170
104, 779
135,313
52,643
134, 783
1,482,722
1, 559, 577
1,033,854
503, 766
814,036
287,806
554,617
362,470
544,346
1,776, 698
2, 781, 291
2,043,638
1,327, 842
1, 043,108
464, 307
775,132
537,607
1, 743, 599
Table 17 shows the number of employees and amounts of pay rolls
on the emergency work program, by months, from the beginning of
the program through August 1935.
T able 17.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls for W orkers on E m ergency W ork
P ro g ram , M arch 1934 to A u gust 1935
M on th
N um b er of
em ployees
A m oun t of
p ay roll
22,934
1,176,818
1,362,648
1, 504,838
1,725,517
1,924,173
1,950,227
1,996, 716
2,159,145
2,315, 753
$842, 000
38,970,679
42, 702, 606
42, 423, 574
47,367,349
54,921, 432
50,289, 798
53,902,023
62,849, 769
61,925,877
1934
M a r c h ..............
A pril...................
M a y ................
J u n e ..................
Ju ly .....................
A ugu st________
S eptem ber.........
O ctober.............
N ovem b er.........
D ecem ber_____
M on th
N um b er of A m oun t of
em ployees
p a y roll
1935
J a n u a r y ..........................
February___________ .
M arch _____ _____ ___
A pril_________ ____
M a y _______ ____ _
Ju n e___________________
J u ly ____________ _____
A u gu st........ ...........................
2,472, 091
2,461,730
2,402, 018
2,308,838
2, 228,545
2, 021, 060
1,928, 789
1,410,513
$71, 683,578
63,621,526
62, 865,956
62,344,399
64,559, 740
54, 260,051
53,136,834
38,925,474
Em ergency C onservation Work
T he number of men in Civilian Conservation camps increased by
nearly 108,000 during August. All classes of employees shared in the
gain. The pay-roll disbursements for the month were in excess of
$26,000,000, of which the enrolled personnel received more than
$16,000,000. The number of workers employed and the amount of
pay rolls were higher in August than for any month since the program
began.
Table 18 gives the employment and pay-roll statistics for each of
the groups of workers engaged in emergency conservation work for
July and August 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1387
TREN D OF EM PLOYM ENT AND PAY ROLLS
T able 18.— E m p lo y m en t an d P a y R olls in E m ergency C o nservation W ork,
Ju ly an d A ugust 1935
Number of employees
Amount of pay rolls
Group
August
July
August
July
All groups___ ____________ ________________
590,362
480, 586
$26,235,863
$22, 074, 577
Enrolled personnel................................................. .
Reserve officers........... .............................................
Educational advisers 1_______________ _____
Supervisory and technical2. ..................................
515,970
10, 527
1,968
3 61,897
411,556
10,155
1,334
* 57,541
16,113,738
2, 643,841
329,642
3 7,148,642
12,852,894
2,550,282
228,297
* 6,443,104
1 Included in executive service table.
2 Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
* 42,125 employees and pay roll of $5,543,274 included in executive service table.
* 39,034 employees and nay roll of $4,988,968 included in executive service table.
The employment and pay-roll data for emergency conservation
workers are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the War
Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Com
merce, the Treasury Department, and the Department of the Interior.
The monthly pay of the enrolled personnel is distributed as follows:
Five percent are paid $45; 8 percent, $36; and the remaining 87 per
cent, $30. The enrolled men, in addition to their pay, are provided
with board, clothing, and medical services.
State-Road Projects
E m p l o y m e n t and pay-roll disbursements for construction and main
tenance of State roads during August were the highest for any month
since November 1934. Compared with the previous month, employ
ment increased 12.0 percent on new road construction and 10.4 percent
on maintenance work. Of the 204,090 workers employed during the
month, 19.7 percent were engaged in new road construction and 80.3
percent in maintenance work.
T able 1 9 .— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n a n d M a in ten an ce of S ta te R oads by
G eographic D ivisions, Ju ly a n d A ugust 1935 1
New roads
Geographic division
Number of em
ployees
Amount of pay roll
A ugust
August
All divisions_________ - 40,130
+12.0
Percentage change
N ew England___ ____
M iddle Atlantic_______
East North C en tral____
West North C entral-.. .
South Atlantic_________
East South Central------West South C entral.. ..
M o u n ta in .........................
Pacific__ ___ _____ ..
Maintenance
11,812
1,824
7, 234
2,748
8,205
2,426
3,092
1,299
1,490
O u t s id e c o n t in e n t a l
United States________
July
July
Number of em
ployees
A ugust
July
August
July
35,826 $1,907, 601 $1, 543, 619 163, 960 148, 575 $7,155,503 $6, 688,970
+10.4
+ 7 .0
+23.6
8,642
1,893
6,522
3,047
7,341
2,300
2,045
1,962
2,074
668, 726
145,118
433,814
108, 764
143,989
86, 991
116,424
85,747
118,028
370,538
157,268
385, 746
102, 512
137,149
86,042
62,449
98, 906
143,009
18, 578
28,721
24, 713
22, 549
31, 543
10, 700
14, 291
7,017
5, 678
12,716
27,422
22,864
18, 745
29,165
9,046
14,835
7,000
6,613
924,499
1,131, 523
1,265,313
764, 367
1,026, 321
362,174
770, 225
427, 643
470,423
677,448
1,098,817
1,148,199
718,614
1,080,981
334,894
681,428
459, 568
474,385
170
169
13,015
14, 636
1 Excluding employment furnished by projects financed from public-works fund.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Amount of pay roll
1388
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
Table 19 shows the number of workers employed and the pay-roll
disbursements in building and maintaining State roads during July
and August 1935, by geographic divisions.
C o n s tr u c tio n P ro je c ts F in a n c e d b y t h e R e c o n s tr u c tio n F in a n c e C o r p o r a tio n
T h e number of workers employed on Reconstruction Finance Cor
poration construction projects declined slightly during August. Pay
rolls for the month, however, increased over those for July.
Statistics covering employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
on construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Cor
poration during August are given in table 20, by type of project.
T able 2 0.— E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y R olls on P ro je c ts F in an ced by th e R eco n stru c
tio n F in an ce C o rp o ratio n , b y T y p e o f P ro je c t, A ugust 1935
Type of project
Number of Amount of Number of
wage earn pay rolls man-hours
worked
ers
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
All projects._______________________
9,415
$1,020, 208
1,367, 071
$0. 746
$965,174
Bridges______________________
Building construction......................
Railroad construction_________
Reclamation______ ________
Water and sew erage_____
Miscellaneous_____________
2, 267
92
41
397
5,057
1,561
217, 725
6,076
4,717
24, 273
597,960
169,457
240,632
5, 642
6,611
49, 672
S17,441
247,073
.905
1.077
.714
.489
.732
.686
450,520
3,779
401
9,361
470,936
30, 177
•\
T he num ber of employees, th e am ounts of p ay rolls, and the m a n
hours worked on construction projects financed by th e R econstruc
tion F inance C orporation during A ugust are shown in table 21, by geo
graphic divisions.
T able 21.— E m p lo y m en t a n d P a y R olls on P ro je c ts F in an ced by th e R econstruc________tio n F in an ce C o rp o ratio n , b y G eographic D ivision, A ugust 1935
Geographic division
Number of Amount of Number of
employees pay rolls man-hours
worked
All divisions..................................
9,415
Middle Atlantic___________
East North Central_______
East South C e n tr a l___
West South Central____ _____
M ountain...................................
Pacific.......................... .
179
406
41
73
397
8,319
$1,020, 208 * 1,367,071
11,217
34,919
4,717
13,172
24,273
931,910
13,224
32,450
6,611
13,964
49,672
1,251,150
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
$0. 746
$965,174
.848
1.076
.714
.943
.489
.745
6,948
15,339
401
9,361
933,125
From March 15, 1934, to August 15, 1935, the value of material
orders placed amounted to more than $43,000,000. Nearly half of
this total was expended for steel-works and rolling-mill products.
Other types of materials which accounted for expenditures in
excess of $1,000,000 were lumber and timber products; explosives;
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1389
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
cement; concrete products; structural and reinforcing steel; copper
products; electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies; and foundry
and machine-shop products. The value of orders placed for wire and
wirework between July 15 and August 15 was over $90,000 in excess
of all previous orders for that type of material.
C o n s tr u c tio n P ro je c ts F in a n c e d fr o m R e g u la r G o v e r n m e n ta l A p p ro p ria tio n s
M o r e than 36,000 workers were employed in August at the site of
construction projects financed by appropriations made by Congress
direct to the executive departments and agencies of the Federal
Government. This is an increase of approximately 11,000 in com
parison with employment in July and was the highest for any month
since August 1934. Pay-roll disbursements during the month totaled
nearly $2,700,000.
The following tables present data concerning construction projects
on which work has started since July 1, 1934. The Bureau does not
have statistics covering projects which were under way previous to
that date.
Detailed statistics of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked
in August on construction projects financed from direct appropria
tions made to the various Federal departments and agencies are shown
in table 22, by type of project.
T able 2 2 .— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n P ro je c ts F in an ced from R egular
G overnm ental A p p ro p riatio n s, b y T y p e of P ro je c t, A ugust 1935
Wagec arners
Type of project
All projects........................... .........................
Building construction-------------- --------Naval vessels___________________ _____
Public roads3_________________ _____
Reclamation________________ — — River, harbor, and flood c o n t r o l.------Streets and roads____________ _______
Water and sewerage__________ _____ _
M iscellaneous,................................... ...........
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed 1
Weekly
average
Amount
of
pay rolls
Number
of man
hours
worked
3 36, 491
33,010 $2, 694, 822 4,137,008
8,112
6,971
(4)
389
8,720
2,181
67
1,406
692,179
542,361
830, 295 1, 038, 366
875,159
560, 494
43, 435
23, 633
589,120 1, 178,947
196, 541
83, 496
4,693
3,709
107, 688
61, 714
6, 475
6,744
8, 645
325
7,783
1,814
50
1,174
Average
earnings
per hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
$0. 651 $4, 459, 551
.784
.800
.640
.544
.500
. 425
. 790
. 573
733,483
1,942, 641
1,144, 373
26,313
431, 277
55,066
5, 375
121, 023
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month, by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes weekly average for public roads.
3 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
4 N ot available; average number included in total.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1390
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Statistics of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked in
August on construction projects financed from regular governmental
appropriations are given in table 23, by geographic divisions.
T able 23.— E m p lo y m en t on C o n stru ctio n P ro jects F in an ced from R egular
G overnm en tal A p p ro p riatio n s, b y G eographic D ivision, A ugust 1935
Wage earners
Geographic division
Maxi
mum
number
em
ployed i
All divisions......................................
36,491
N ew England___________ _______
Middle Atlantic________ _____ _
East North Central_____________
West North Central_____ ____ _
South Atlantic_________________
East South Central...........................
West South Central_____________
M ountain................. .......................
Pacific_________________________
Outside continental United States.
3.033
4,511
3,081
4.033
7,318
2,399
4,660
3,521
3,502
433
Weekly
average
Amount of
pay rolls
33,010 $2, 694,822
2, 838
3,956
2, 703
3,748
6,382
2,060
4,064
3,458
3,396
405
318,734
404,673
184,987
203,363
627,172
119,146
258,897
236,045
308,821
32,984
Number
of man
hours
worked
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
4,137, 008
$0. 651
2 $4,459,551
395,619
488,794
282,531
397,076
947,842
266, 016
535, 643
357,174
402, 727
63,586
.806
.828
.655
.512
.662
.448
.483
.661
.767
.519
644,793
680, 227
187, 085
164,729
786,840
179,247
227,878
45,413
374,369
4,597
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes $1,144,373, estimated value of orders placed for public-roads projects which cannot be charged
to any specific geographic division.
The value of materials for which orders were placed for use on
construction projects financed from direct governmental appropri
ations for the period July 1, 1934, to August 15, 1935, amounted to
$30,879,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUILDING OPERATIONS
S um m ary o f B uilding^C onstruction R ep o rts for
Septem ber 1935
SHORTER month and seasonal influences caused a moderate
curtailment in building construction activity in September.
The value of permits issued in September in the principal cities of
the United States amounted to $74,550,000, a decrease of 16 percent
in comparison with the $88,585,000 reported by the same cities in
the preceding month. All classes of construction shared in the
decline.
Compared with a year ago, however, a pronounced improvement
was shown in the value of permits issued in September. The value
of buildings for which permits were issued in September was 88 per
cent greater than in the corresponding month of last year. The
largest increase was registered in new residential buildings, but
substantial gains also were shown in new nonresidential buildings and
in additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings.
A
Comparisons, September 1935 with September 1934
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 766 identical cities for
September 1934 and September 1935 is given in table 1.
T able 1.— S um m ary of B uilding C on stru ctio n in 766 Id en tical Cities, S ep tem b er
1934 and S eptem ber 1935
Number of buildings
Estimated cost
Class of construction
Sep
tem
ber
1935
Sep
tem
ber
1934
Per
Per
cent September September cent
1934
age
1935
age
change
change
All construction__________________________
43,799
34,031
+28.7 $74, 502, 778 $39, 607,339
N ew residential b u ild in g s........... ..................... 5,199
N ew nonresidential buildings______________ 8,044
Additions, alterations, and repairs........... ......... 30,556
1,879 +176.7
6,293 +27.8
25,859 +18.2
25,713,873
28,138,324
20, 650, 581
9,615,674
15,179,088
14,812, 577
+88.1
+167.4
+85.4
+39.4
Permits were issued for 3,320 more new residential buildings in
September 1935 than in September 1934. Substantial gains were
also shown in the number of new nonresidential buildings and for
additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings. The gain
in September over the corresponding month of the previous year in
the value of permits issued for new residential buildings was in excess
2 4 3 6 1 — 35------- 16
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1391
1392
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
of $16,000,000; for new nonresidential buildings the increase was
nearly $13,000,000; and for additions, alterations and repairs to
existing buildings the gain was more than $5,800,000.
Table 2 presents, in summary form, the estimated cost of house
keeping dwellings and the number of families provided for in such
dwellings, for the months of September 1934 and September 1935.
T able 2.— S um m ary of E stim a te d C ost of H ousekeeping Dwellings an d of
N um ber of Fam ilies P ro v id ed for in 766 Id en tical Cities, S eptem ber 1934 and
Septem ber 1935
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Families provided for
in new dwellings
Kind of dwelling
Per
Sep
Per
Sep
September September centage
tember tember centage
1935
1934
1934 change
change
1935
All types________ ____________ ______
$25, 616, 773
$8,709,574 +194.1
6,685
2, 524
+164.9
1-family____________________________
20,318,305
2-family i_____________ _______ __________ _ 1,338,780
M ultifam ily2..................................... ..................... 3,959,688
6,432,878 +215.9
482,196 +177.6
1,794, 500 +120.7
4.813
445
1,427
1,750
171
603
+175.0
+160. 2
+136. 7
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
In comparison with the corresponding month of last year, the
estimated number of family-dwelling units provided for in new build
ings in September increased 165 percent. All types of family
dwelling units for which permits were issued show pronounced
increases. The estimated cost of new housekeeping dwellings in
September 1935 was $16,900,000 greater than in September 1934.
Comparison, September 1935 with August 1935
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 770 identical cities for
August and September 1935 is given in table 3.
T able 3.— S um m ary of B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 770 Id en tical Cities, A ugust
a n d S eptem ber 1935
Number of buildings
Class of construction
All construction___ _________________ ____
Sep
tem
ber
1935
Per
August centage
1935
change
41,874
42, 451
New residential buildings________ _________ 5,226
New nonresidential buildings............................. 8,087
Additions, alterations, and repairs. ...... ......... 28, 561
5,867
7, 334
29, 250
Estimated cost
Septem
ber 1935
August
1935
- 1 .4 $74, 553,340 $88,585, 411
-1 0 .9
+10.3
-2 .4
25,797, 768
28,112, 609
20, 642,963
28.108,199
36,293,936
24,183,276
Per
centage
change
-1 5 .8
-8 .2
-2 2 .5
-1 4 .6
The number of buildings for which permits were issued in September
1935 decreased slightly in comparison with the previous month.
Estimated cost of construction declined by more than $14,000,000 or
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1393
BU IL D IN G OPERATIO NS
16 percent. New nonresidential buildings, with an increase in
number of 753, was the only class of construction to register a gain
for the month. In indicated expenditures decreases for the month
occurred in all classes of construction. New nonresidential buildings
with a decline of 22.5 percent showed the most pronounced drop.
The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the number of
families provided for by dwellings for which permits were issued in
August and September 1935 are shown in table 4.
T able 4.— E stim a te d C ost an d N u m b er of Fam ily-D w elling U n its P ro v id ed in
770 Id en tical C ities A ugust an d S eptem ber 1935
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Number of families pro
vided for in new
dwellings
Kind of dwelling
September
1935
A ll types........................ ....................................
1-family____________ _______ ______ ______
2-family 1__________________ .
M ultifamily 2________________ __________
August
1935
$25,700,668 $27,821,199
20,380,800
1, 360,180
3,959, 688
22,858,669
1,069, 230
3,893,301
Per
Sep
Per
centage tember August
1935 centage
change
1935
change
- 7 .6
6,717
7,297
- 7 .9
-1 0 .8
+27.2
+ 1 .7
4,835
455
1,427
5,529
412
1,356
-1 2 .6
+10.4
+ 5 .2
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
In comparison with the previous month, the estimated cost of new
housekeeping dwellings for which permits were issued declined 7.6
percent in September. A decrease in expenditures was indicated for
1-family dwellings, but increases occurred in 2-family and multifamily
dwellings. The number of families provided for by all types of dwell
ings decreased by 7.9 percent in September. Gains were shown in the
number of families provided for in 2-family and multifamily dwelling
units, but a loss is shown in the number of families provided for by 1family dwelling units.
Important Building Projects
P e r m i t s were issued during September for the following important
building projects: In New York City—in the Borough of Brooklyn
for apartment houses to cost nearly $1,800,000, for amusement build
ings to cost $735,000, and for school buildings to cost nearly $2,900,000; in the Borough of Manhattan for an amusement building to cost
over $1,000,000; in Washington, D. C., for an office building to cost
$1,000,000; in Raleigh, N. C., for an institutional building to cost
nearly $250,000; and in Dallas, Tex., for a State centennial building to
cost $1,000,000. Contracts were awarded by the Procurement Divi
sion of the United States Treasury Department for a post-office
building in St. Louis, Mo., to cost nearly $4,000,000; and by the
Navy Department for a barracks in Pensacola, Fla., to cost over
$600,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 394
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
B uilding C o n stru c tio n , A ugust 1935: R evised Figures
ETAILED figures on building construction, as compiled by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the month of August 1935,
are presented in this article. The data are the same as published in
the pamphlet, except for certain minor revisions or corrections.
D
B uilding C on stru ction in Principal C ities
B u i l d i n g construction activity, as measured by the value of
permits issued in August, reached the highest level since October
1931. Reports from the principal cities in the United States indicate
that the estimated cost of building construction for which permits
were issued during the month amounted to $87,770,177. Compared
with the previous month, this was an increase of 18.3 percent and
was 95.7 percent higher than in the corresponding month of last year.
All types of construction shared in the August upturn, but a major
contributing factor was the large gain in permits issued for new nonresidential buildings, reflecting an increase in public-works awards.
In August the value of public projects for which permits were issued
totaled $21,547,747, as against $3,740,405 in July. Even without
the support from publicly financed construction, however, the record
for the month would be relatively favorable. The estimated value
of the new residential buildings for which permits were issued during
the month shows a gain of 1.5 percent over July and the value of
additions, alterations, and repairs to existing buildings shows an in
crease of 7.7 percent.
The aggregate value of building permits issued during the first
8 months of 1935 showed an increase of 60 percent in comparison with
the corresponding period of 1934. The greatest improvement, how
ever, occurred in residential building and for the year to August was
nearly 160 percent ahead of last year’s record. During the first 8
months of the current year more than 46,000 dwelling units were
provided, compared with 18,600 during the same period of 1934.
T able 1.-—S um m ary of B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 748 Id e n tic a l Cities, Ju ly an d
A ugust 1935
Estimated cost
Number of buildings
Class of construction
August
1935
July
1935
41,947
40,861
New residential buildings______________ 5,776
7,200
New nonresidential buildings._________
Additions, alterations, and repairs............. 28,971
5,114
6,833
28,914
All construction
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
_____ _________
Percent
age
change
August
1935
July
1935
Percent
age
change
+ 2 .6 $87, 770,177 $74, 207, 567
+18.3
27,343,912
24,655,850
22,207,805
+ 1.5
+46.4
+ 7.7
+12.9
+ 4 .6
+ .2
27,763,314
36,093,130
23,913,733
1395
BUILDING OPERATIONS
The information published in this survey is based on reports received
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 748 identical cities with a
population of 10,000 or over. The information is collected from local
building officials on forms mailed by the Bureau, except in the States
of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
and Pennsylvania, where the State departments of labor collect and
forward the information to the Federal Bureau. The cost figures are
estimates made by prospective builders on applying for permits to
build. No land costs are included. Only building projects within
the corporate limits of the 748 cities covered are included.
Index numbers of indicated expenditures for each of the different
types of building construction and of the number of family-dwelling
units provided are given in table 2. The monthly trends for the major
classes of building construction during 1933, 1934, and the first 8
months of 1935, are shown graphically by the accompanying charts.
T able 2 .— Index N um bers of Fam ilies P ro v id ed for a n d of In d ic a te d E x p en d itu res
for B uilding C o n stru ctio n
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
Indicated expenditures for—
Indicated expenditures for—
Month
1930
July ___
1931
July. .
August__ _
1933
July______
1933
July_______
August____
Fam
New
ilies
nonpro New
resi
resivided dential
dential
for
build build
ings
ings
Addi
tions, Total
alter
con
ations, struc
and
tion
repairs
Month
1934
49.9
48 7
44.1
43.4
86. 7
67. 2
77.4
58. 6
64.8
54.4
July_______
August___
35.8
36.6
27.6
33.5
53. 7
63.9
57.8
48.3
41.7
47.3
8. 2
9 7
5.6
6. 8
16.1
15. 7
22.6
24.9
12.0
12.6
January _ _
February _. _
March_____
A pril... . . .
M ay_____
June_____ .
July_______
August___
10.2
8.9
8.0
7.1
10.9
10.4
26.7
29.4
12.2
11.9
1935
Fam
ilies
New New
pro
resi nonresivided dential
dential
for
build build
ings
ings
Addi
tions, Total
alter con
ations, struc
and
tion
repairs
7.8
7.6
5.3
5.4
16.8
17.0
35.8
34.1
14.2
14.1
7.3
8.5
16.6
18.9
20.0
20.8
20.6
20.6
5.1
5.6
11.4
13.0
14.2
16.1
15.3
15.5
11.1
13.9
18.6
21.2
19.9
24.4
22.2
32.5
27.9
29.7
41.6
45.5
47.2
43.6
50.9
54.8
10.9
12.5
19.2
21.6
22.0
24.3
24.1
28.5
Comparisons with the Previous Month, by Geographic Divisions
T h e estimated cost of new residential buildings; of n ew nonresidential buildings; of additions, alterations, and repairs; and of total build
ing construction in 748 identical cities having a population of 10,000
or over during July and August 1935 is shown in table 3, by geographic
divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1396
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 3.— E stim a te d C ost of B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 748 Id en tical Cities, Ju ly
an d A ugust 1935
New residential buildings
(estimated cost)
New nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
Percent
age
August 1935
change
August 1935
July 1935
All divisions_______
$27,763,314
$27,343,912
+ 1 .5
N ew England_____
M iddle Atlantic___
East North Central.
West North Central
South Atlantic..........
East South Central.
West South Central.
M ountain...................
Pacific____________
2,093,032
8,159,929
4,251,773
2,028,109
3,488,271
797,744
2,252,685
494,053
4,197,718
2,084,298
6,798,052
7,144,092
1,929,607
3,407,574
499,606
1,442,663
787,800
3,250,220
+. 4
+20.0
-4 0 .4
+5.1
+ 2.4
+59.7
+56.1
-3 7 .3
+29.2
Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)
July 1935
Percent
age
change
$36,093,130
$24, 655,850
+46.4
1,897,876
8, 610, 644
4,685,489
932,114
11,251,240
978,800
2,601,012
839,064
4, 296,891
1,289,393
7,555,312
5,152,951
2,516,458
1, 636,627
724,161
935,380
832,811
4,012, 757
+47.2
+14.0
- 9 .1
-6 3 .0
+587.5
+35.2
+178.1
+ .8
+ 7.1
Total construction
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
August
1935
July 1935
All divisions_______ _______ $23,913, 733 $22, 207,805
N ew England___________
Middle Atlantic...... ............
East North Central________
West North C e n tr a l...____
South Atlantic____________
East South C e n tr a l.............
West South Central_______
M ountain...... ........................ .
Pacific.____ ______ _____ _
2,728,037
7, 221,405
3,518,983
1,481,338
3,424,574
677,491
1,267,460
821,915
2,772,530
2,196, 564
7,345,667
3,676,315
1, 602,016
2,811,926
633,466
931, 780
434,443
2, 575,628
Per
centage
change
August
1935
July 1935
+ 7 .7 $87,770,177 $74,207,567
+24.2
- 1 .7
- 4 .3
- 7 .5
+21.8
+ 6 .9
+36.0
+89.2
+ 7 .6
6,718,945
23,991,978
12,456,245
4,441,561
18,164,085
2,454,035
6,121,157
2,155,032
11,267,139
Per
centage
change
N um
ber of
cities
+18.3
748
5,570,255 +20.6
21,699,031 +10.6
15,973,358 -2 2 .0
6,048,081 -2 6 .6
7,856,127 +131.2
1, 857,233 +32.1
3, 309,823 +84.9
2,055,054
+ 4 .9
9,838,605 +14.5
109
170
183
69
73
28
42
19
55
Building activity normally tapers off at this season of the year.
This year, however, there were increases in all types of construction.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUILD IN G OPERATIONS
1397
1398
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
The total permit valuation increased 18.3 percent, with 7 of the 9
geographic divisions showing gains. The value of new residential
buildings increased 1.5 percent. Only 2 divisions, the East North
Central and the Mountain, showed decreases in this type of con
struction. The value of new nonresidential buildings increased
almost 50 percent over July. This increase was brought about largely
by gains in the value of contracts awarded for Federal buildings, the
most notable of which was an award for the new Interior Department
Building in Washington, D. C., to cost nearly $10,000,000. Indicated
expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs increased in 6 of
the 9 geographic divisions.
The estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the number of
families provided for in such dwellings for which permits were issued
in 748 identical cities during July and August 1935, is shown in table
4, by type of dwelling.
T able 4.— E stim a te d C ost an d N u m b er of F am ily-D w elling U n its P ro v id ed in
748 Id en tical C ities, Ju ly an d A ugust 1935
Number of families
provided for
Estimated cost
Percentage
change
Kind of dwelling
August
1935
July
1935
August
1935
July
1935
N um
ber
Esti
mated
cost
All types________________________
7,207
7,201
$27,511,314
$26, 613,187
+0.1
+ 3 .4
1-family_________________________
2-family 1_______________________
Multifamily 2___________________
5,437
414
1,356
4, 772
443
1,986
22, 548,384
1,069,630
3,893,300
20,011,125
1,265,116
5,336,946
+13.9
- 6 .5
-3 1 .7
+12.7
-1 5 .5
-2 7 .1
i Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings with stores.
! Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
A pronounced gain in th e num ber of families provided for and in
th e estim ated cost of 1-family dwellings was shown in A ugust. T his
increase, however, was p a rtly offset b y declines in th e num ber and
estim ated cost of 2-fam ily an d m ultifam ily dwellings.
Comparisons with Year Ago, by Geographic Divisions
T a b l e 5 compares the estimated cost of new residential buildings;
of new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs;
and of total building construction in 742 identical cities having a
population of 10,000 or over, in August 1935, with the cost of the
corresponding types of buildings in the same month of last year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1399
BU IL D IN G O PERATIONS
T able 5.— E stim a te d C ost of B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 742 Id e n tic a l C ities,
A ugust 1934 a n d A ugust 1935
N ew nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
New residential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
August
1934
All divisions_____________
$27,433,092
$8,917,617
N ew England-----------------M iddle Atlantic--------------East North Central..............
West North Central______
South Atlantic______ ____
East South Central.............
West South Central---------M ountain--------------- -------Pacific................- ..................
2,093,032
8,164,729
4,168,273
1,774,608
3,488,271
802,319
2, 250,089
494,053
4,197,718
1,277,023
2,999,944
1,197,844
714,418
957,407
95,812
630,679
116,536
927,954
August
1934
+207. 6
$36,017,835
$20,282,356
+77.6
+63.9
+172.2
+248. 0
+148. 4
+264.3
+737.4
+256.8
+323.9
+352.4
1,896,076
8, 616,144
4,623,329
927,009
11, 251, 240
983,050
2, 585,032
839, 064
4, 296,891
1,810,020
6,899,420
3,418,391
1, 351,300
2,169,895
835,708
753,555
369,711
2,674,356
+ 4.8
+24.9
+35.2
-3 1 .4
+418. 5
+17.6
+243.0
+127.0
+60.7
Additions, alterations, and repairs
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
August
1935
August
1934
All divisions------------------- $23,905,206 $15,432,851
N ew England___________
M iddle Atlantic-------------East North Central______
West North Central_____
South Atlantic______ ____
East South Central--------West South Central--------Mountain_________ _____
Pacific---------------------------
2, 728,037
7, 230,430
3,513, 568
1,473,133
3,424, 574
677,791
1,263,228
821,915
2,772, 530
1,706,934
5,809,445
2,205,402
784,513
1,961,643
398,141
744,868
242,477
1,579,428
Percent
age
change
August
1935
Percentage
change
August
1935
Percent
age
change
Total construction
(estimated cost)
August
1935
August
1934
+54.9 $87,356,133 $44, 632,824
+59.8
+24.5
+59.3
+87.8
+74.6
+70.2
+69.6
+239. 0
+75.5
6, 717,145
24, Oil, 303
12,305,170
4,174, 750
18,164, 085
2,463,160
6,098,349
2,155,032
11, 267,139
4, 793,977
15, 708,809
6,821, 637
2,850, 231
5,088,945
1,329, 661
2,129,102
728, 724
5,181, 738
N um
ber
of
Percent cities
age
change
+95.7
742
108
171
178
68
73
29
41
19
55
The estimated cost of new residential buildings for which permits
were issued in August was more than three times as great as in the
same month of last year. Permit valuations for residential build
ings amounted to more than $27,000,000, compared with less than
$9,000,000 during August 1934. Large gains were also reported for
new nonresidential buildings and for additions, alterations, and
repairs. The gain in total construction amounted to nearly $43,000000 or more than 95 percent. All nine geographic divisions shared
in the upturn.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
140 0
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Table 6 shows, by type of dwelling, the number and estimated
cost of new family-dwelling units provided in residential buildings
for which permits were issued in 742 identical cities in August 1934
and August 1935.
T able 6.— E stim a te d C ost an d N u m b er of Fam ily-D w elling U n its P ro v id ed in
742 Id en tical C ities, A ugust 1934 an d A ugust 1935
Number of families
provided for
Estimated cost
Percentage change
Kind of dwelling
August
1935
All types— ........................
August
1934
August
1935
August
1934
Estimated
cost
Number
7,117
2,545
$27,181,092
$8,864,482
+179.6
+206. 6
1family.__....
5, 344
2family i....... ...................... 414
Multifamily 2________
1,359
1, 926
146
473
22,213, 587
1,069,630
3,897,875
7,061, 672
409,870
1,392,940
+177.5
+183.6
+187.3
+214.6
+161.0
+ 179.8
1 Includes 1-family and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Over 7,000 family-dwelling units were provided in new dwellings
for which permits were issued in August 1935. In August 1934 only
2,500 dwelling units were provided. Increases occurred in all types
of housekeeping dwellings,
Table 7 shows the number and cost of buildings for which permits
were issued during the first half of 1935 in the metropolitan areas of
58 of the larger cities of the United States. The data shown in this
table were collected from cities, towns, and townships having a
population of 1,000 or over.
T able 7.— B uilding C o n stru ctio n in 58 M etro p o lita n D istricts, F irs t H a lf of 1935
New residential
buildings
N ew nonresidential buildings
Additions, alter
ations, and
repairs
N um
ber
Cost
N um
ber
Cost
$211,862
394, 619
374, 015
1, 207, 240
685,067
7,732,485
147, 623
1,042, 506
88, 333
6,135,399
1, 577,924
913, 640
398
1,795
905
3, 563
2,348
5, 662
324
1,131
325
3,622
2,092
1,647
$261,195
858,919
556, 210
2, 073, 235
648, 845
4,046,774
269,914
594,386
73, 460
4,174,007
1,176, 460
1,057,596
Metropolitan district
N um
ber
Akron, Ohio______
Albany, N . Y ______
Atlanta, Ga________
Baltimore, M d ___ . . .
Birmingham, A la .. _
Boston, Mass______
Bridgeport, Conn_____
Buffalo, N . Y ______
Canton, O h io ...............
Chicago, 111...... ..........
Cincinnati, Ohio___
Cleveland, Ohio______
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41
94
196
426
22
618
102
104
18
342
299
260
Cost
$181, 227
313
695,900
192
4, 522,444
182
1, 314, 793
361
59, 750
93
3,991,485 1,117
453, 750
171
442,570
353
72,975
103
2,357,391 1,051
1,979, 200
483
4, 254,634
490
Total
N um
ber
Cost
752
$654, 284
2,081 1,949, 438
1,283 5,452, 669
4, 350 4, 595’ 268
2, 463 1, 393’ 662
7,397 15, 770j 744
597
871, 287
1,588 2,079j 462
446
' 234,768
5,015 12,666| 797
2,874 4,733,584
2,397 6i 225’ 870
1401
BU IL D IN G O PERATIONS
T able 7.— Building C o nstructio n in 58 M etro p o lita n D istricts, F irs t H a lf of 1935—
C ontinued
New residential Newnonresidential buildings
buildings
Additions, alter
ations, and
repairs
Total
Metropolitan district
N um
ber
Columbus, O h io ____________
Dallas, Tex_________________
Dayton, Ohio_______________
Denver, Colo________________
Detroit, M ich_______________
Fort Wayne, Ind____________
Grand Rapids, M ich_________
Hartford, Conn_____ ______ . .
55
495
19
217
795
29
12
208
Cost
N um
ber
$361,500
250
1,455, 550
275
149, 450
136
1,063, 650
347
4,820, 594 1,571
189, 470
98
47, 500
96
1,508,000
324
Cost
N um
ber
Cost
$311,040
340, 568
153,906
317, 803
3, 763, 055
168,823
153, 710
1,149,518
354
1,161
267
1,176
3, 306
408
414
1, 574
$936, 064
588, 490
158, 340
561,099
2,596,318
194,919
163,940
1, 219, 342
N um
ber
Cost
659 $1,608,604
1,931 2,384, 608
422
461, 696
1,740 1,942,552
5,672 11,179,967
553,212
535
522
365,150
2,106 3,876,860
759 2, 379, 932
313, 270
141 1,260, 612
388
806,050
Kansas City, Kans. and M o ... 230
Los Angeles, Calif___________ 3,294 11,634,458 5,062 15,074,055 14,842 8, 698, 503 23,198 35, 407, 016
518,102
293, 692
568
392
134, 290
90,120
131
45
Lowell-Lawrence, Mass.........
614,790 1,618 1,701. 358
931,845 1,149
154, 723
396
73
Memphis, Tenn_____________
986, 549 2,935 6,157, 033
244
601,817 2,136
Miami, Fla...... ............................. 555 4, 568,667
535 1,488, 529 1,675 1, 245, 696 2, 525 4,-445,425
Milwaukee, W is _____
____ 315 1, 711, 200
648 1,152, 951 2, 449 1,352,321 3,449 4, 074, 858
Minneapolis-St. Paul, M in n ... 352 1, 569, 586
804, 645
661
236, 464
203,081
427
365,100
171
63
N ew Haven, Conn___________
520 2, 576,826
412
570, 494
189, 820
48 1,816, 512
N ew Orleans, La_________. . .
60
New York, N . Y ____________ 3,158 35, 244,488 3, 723 23,339, 581 18,976 23, 687,316 25,857 82,271,385
459,151 1,626 2, 488,628
684, 307
250 1,345,170 1,100
Norfolk, Va____ ___________
276
950,145
174,990
587
249, 890
122
271
194
525, 265
Oklahoma City, Okla________
323
995, 486
205, 246
648,345
189
141,895
91
43
Peoria, 111_________ _______
509 3, 275, 337 2,351 2,126,250 3,345 8,196,106
Philadelphia, Pa___ . . . . . .
485 2, 794, 519
Pittsburgh, Pa_____
______
281 1, 167, 362 1,647 1, 473,921 2,115 3,739, 876
187 1,098, 593
762, 340 1,283
775, 670 1,801 1,972, 710
434, 700
409
109
Portland, Oreg________ . . . . .
594,141 2, 809 1,902,105 3,868 3, 394, 298
898,052
807
Providence, R. 1_____________ 252
332
207,629
175,804
21
308
13,300
18, 525
Reading, P a ________________
3
844 1,199, 111
346, 677
142
256,616
559
595,818
143
Richmond, V a ... . _________
392, 532
721
959, 523
438,941
455
128,050
240
Rochester, N . Y ____________
26
860 1,236, 088 1,372 1,338, 280 3,110 6,430, 570
878 3, 856, 202
St. Louis, M o____ _____ _____
902
730,615
302, 679
722
222, 280
205, 656
127
53
Salt Lake City, U tah________
675, 729 4, 605 3,135,236
391, 690
210 2,067, 817 4,229
166
San Antonio, Tex____________
457, 427 1,821 3,093,603
363 1,388,164 1,096
San Diego, Calif_____________ 362 1, 248,012
659 8, 809, 827 3,979 2, 576, 856 5, 487 15,291,926
San Francisco-Oakland, Calif.. 849 3,905, 243
754
779,526
621
514, 391
145,085
120,050
115
18
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pa___
483, 700 1,673 1,334,280
382
506, 550 1,188
344, 030
103
Seattle, Wash______ _______
622 1, 682, 649
514,928
387
688,821
478, 900
198
37
Springfield, Mass____________
451 1,312,308
339, 652
318
805, 896
166, 760
98
35
Syracuse, N . Y _________ . .
375,213
405
288
156,590
176, 723
41, 900
93
24
Tacoma, Wash______________
923,751
1,715
501,116
157, 735 1,398
264, 900
189
128
Tampa, Fla_____________
990,127
457
249
136, 877
740, 300
112,950
190
18
Toledo, Ohio________________
102
96,790
62
57,875
19,915
19, 000
4
36
Utica, N . Y _________________
867 9,121,985 1,676 4,932,621 4, 489 26,162,127
Washington, D . C___________ 1,946 12,107,521
312,978
253
84,448
120
84
53, 355
175,175
49
Waterbury, Conn______ _____
688,999
466
369,573
369
119, 376
200, 050
56
41
Wilmington, D el___________
624 1,345,008
323,556
467
789, 712
231, 740
100
57
Worcester, M a ss... _________
537,725
805
280,970
186,455
618
70, 300
168
19
Youngstown, Ohio......................
1 Data from outside reporters not yet comparable.
C o n stru ction from Public Funds
T h e value of awards for Federal construction projects during
August amounted to over $168,000,000, an increase of approximately
$51,000,000 as compared with the previous month. Data concerning
the value of contracts awarded and force-account work started during
the months of July and August 1935 for Federal construction projects
financed from Public Works Administration funds, regular govern
mental appropriations, and Works Progress Administration funds are
shown in table 8, by type of construction.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1402
T able 8.— V alue of C o n tracts A w arded a n d Force-A ccount W ork S ta rte d on C o n stru ctio n an d W hite-C ollar P ro jects F inanced from
F ed eral F u n d s, Ju ly an d A ugust 1935
Public Works Administration
Federal
Non-Federal
Regular governmental
appropriations
i ne vv ones program
August 1935 July 1935 August 1935 July 1935 August 1935 July 1935 August 1935 July 1935
All t y p e s ...................... ......................... .
Building construction_____________________
Electrification_______________________
Forestry_______ _____________ ____ . . . .
Naval vessels___ . . _________ __________ _____
Public roads________________________ ______
Grade-crossing elimination___ ________ . . .
Railroad construction and repair.. __________ . .
Reclamation projects______ ____ _________
River, harbor, and flood control___ _________
Streets and roads 1___ _____________________
Water and sewerage system s. ___________
White-collar projects _____________ _______
Miscellaneous___ _____ _ . . ____
August 1935 July 1935
$25,707,547 $25,787, 256 $27, 656,169 $18,803,102 $21,720,472 $9,805, 062 $93,503, 248 $63,036,590 $168,587,436 $117,432,010
13, 565, 434
3,805, 685 12,656, 249
8, 389, 821
2,096, 649
678,182
7,155,320
9,300,523
35,473, 652 22,174, 211
583,375
320,800
95,000
45,000
0
0
0
250,820 13,513,800
295,820 13, 513,800
7, 200
116,000
994,500 1,142, 300
1,001,700
1, 258, 300
8,322, 707
9,618, 225
11,203,124 2,147,819
1, 756,993
436, 584
436, 584
1,060,000
0
0
1,060,000
1, 183, 565
4,348, 572
183, 700
194, 700 24,479,116
4, 563, 272
20,000
25,846,381
1,817,282
6, 717, 651
2,429, 575 5, 216, 629 32,909, 371 33,720,405
37,156,228 45, 654, 685
508, 470
634, 254
2, 591, 325
2, 581, 268
3, 819, 690
92, 360
3,424, 626
1,865,145
10,344, 111
5,173,027
18, 504
67,937 10,197, 946
5, 504,344
34, 000
15, 940
371,136
5, 800, 221
212,000
10,621,586
5,826, 086
5,826,086
239, 385
478, 932
1,150,649
2, 327, 669
375,859
317,132 16,572, 396
18,338,289
4,309,717
7, 433,450
i Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Total
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Type of construction
BUILD IN G OPERATIONS
1403
The new Works Program just getting under way registered awards
for approximately $156,000,000 during the 2 months of July and
August. The old Public Works Program accounted for about
$98,000,000, and awards from regular governmental appropriations
amounted to over $31,000,000.
Among the more important construction projects for which awards
were made during the month were: For a hospital building at Fort
Sam Houston, Tex., to cost over $1,300,000; for a county jail in the
Borough of the Bronx, New York City, to cost over $750,000; for a
grade-crossing elimination at Mariners Harbor, Elm Park, N. Y., to
cost over $600,000; for a high school at Olean, N. Y., to cost over
$750,000; for a garbage disposal plant in New York City to cost over
$1,100,000; for a sewage treatment plant at Cleveland, Ohio, to cost
nearly $830,000; for a waterworks project at Eureka, Calif., to cost
over $500,000; for sewers and sewage plant in Los Angeles County to
cost over $2,500,000; for a water system in the Santa Clara Water
Conservation District to cost over $500,000; for a power house in the
Loup River Public Power and Irrigation District in Nebraska to cost
over $600,000; for the construction of a dam in the Mississippi River
near Genoa, Wis., to cost over $2,000,000; for the construction of a
lock in the Mississippi River near LeClaire, Iowa, to cost over
$1,100,000; for the construction of a dam in the Mississippi River
near Burlington, Iowa, to cost over $2,500,000; for the construction
of a lock in the Mississippi River near New Boston, 111., to cost
nearly $1,900,000; for the construction of a pier in Black Rock Channel
near Tonawanda Harbor, N. Y., to cost over $1,600,000; for the
construction of a lock in the Mississippi River near Red Wing, Minn.,
to cost $2,168,000; and for the construction of a lock and dam in the
Allegheny River near Mosgrove, Pa., to cost over $1,800,000.
The value of public-building and highway-construction awards,
financed wholly by appropriations by the States, as reported by the
various State governments for August 1934 and July and August
1935, is given in table 9, by geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
140 4
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— NOVEMBER 1935
T able 9.— V alue of P ublic-B uilding an d H ig h w ay -C o n stru ctio n A w ards
F in an ced W holly by S ta te F u n d s
Value of awards for public
buildings
Value of awards for highway
construction
Geographic division
August
1935
July
1935
August
1934
All divisions____ ____________________ $491, 378 $553,503 $1,407, 527
New England—_____________________
38,846
M iddle Atlantic................................. ......... 220,604
East North Central_________________
48,450
West North Central_________________
87,379
South Atlantic- — _________________
30,805
East South Central__________ _______ 27, 300
West South Central__________ ____36,261
M ountain__________ ______________ _
1,733
Pacific__ _______ ___________________
0
39, 514
165,108
307,774
28,366
3,120
0
0
5,449
4,172
77,064
518,370
334,578
155,446
117,129
5,680
188,475
5,801
4, 984
August
1935
July 1935
August
1934
$5,687,335 $8, 902,774 $11, 570,374
120,137
66,466
635,295
424,403
1,201,052
574,429
1,089, 324
75,050
1,501,179
180,795
770,727
166,815
245,053
383, 627
422,034
475,011
43,093
6,215,619
571, 751
1,146,746
3,038,877
1,199,277
164,882
94,393
3,615,375
137,340
1, 601,733
The value of contracts for both types of construction decreased
sharply as compared with the previous month and with the corre
sponding month of the preceding year.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
Food Prices in Septem ber 1935
ETAIL prices of food continued moderately upward during
^ September. The index of retail prices of 48 foods combined
(1913 = 100.0) rose from 123.1 on August 27 to 124.0 on September 24,
an increase of eight-tenths of 1 percent.
All food groups except meats and beverages shared in the advance,
but a sharp increase of 7.2 percent in the price of eggs was the prin
cipal factor contributing to the rise of the composite index. Al
though egg prices characteristically advance at this time of year,
prices were higher in September than at the corresponding season of
any year since 1930.
Fruit and vegetable prices, which from April through August de
clined steadily, rose 2.3 percent in September. This increase was
due chiefly to an advance of 5.6 percent for potatoes, the most im
portant item in the group. Prices of potatoes were higher in 13 of
the 14 cities covered in the New England and Middle Atlantic areas.
Orange prices advanced 5.8 percent during the month and were higher
than at any other pricing period in the current year. They are,
however, 6.8 percent lower than in September a year ago. A gain of
1.9 percent for bananas was the only other increase in the group.
Decreases of from 3.1 percent to 4.3 percent were reported for five
items—onions, canned tomatoes, canned corn, prunes, and navy
beans. Relatively smaller declines were shown for cabbage and
canned peas. Prices of raisins and canned pork and beans remained
unchanged.
In the cereals group, wheat flour showed the only price increase,
2.7 percent. There were no changes reported for rice and wheat
cereal, and decreases for other items ranged from one-tenth of 1 per
cent for bread to 1.2 percent for corn flakes. The group as a whole
rose eight-tenths of 1 percent.
An average rise of seven-tenths of 1 percent for dairy products was
accounted for by increases for butter and cheese of 3.2 and 1.2 percent,
respectively. This advance was partly offset by a fall of five-tenths of
1 percent for evaporated milk and a decline of three-tenths of 1 percent
for fresh milk, delivered. The decrease in the average price of fresh
milk was caused by a decline of 16.5 percent in St. Louis.
R
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1406
1406
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — -NOVEMBER 1935
A rise of 1.0 percent for fats and oils was due to continued price
advances for all items in the group except oleomargarine, which
remained unchanged.
Lower prices for sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, and pork
chops caused the meat-group index to recede two-tenths of 1 percent.
The largest price changes in the group were increases, 4.0 percent for
canned salmon and 3.7 percent for leg of lamb. The price of sliced
bacon, which has been rising steadily since the beginning of the year,
continued the advance in September. Plate beef and hens also showed
higher prices. There were no changes reported for chuck roast and
sliced ham.
Reduced prices of coffee in 42 of the cities covered caused a decline
of 1.6 percent in the average price. The index for the beverage group
as a whole fell six-tenths of 1 percent. Cocoa showed an increase and
tea a decrease.
Sugar prices moved upward three-tenths of 1 percent. Molasses
was lower. No change was reported for corn sirup or strawberry
preserves. An average increase of two-tenths of 1 percent was shown
for the sugar and sweets group.
T able 1.— Indexes of A verage R etail C ost of 48 Foods in 51 L arge C ities
C om bined, by C om m odity G roups
S eptem ber an d A ugust 1935 and S eptem ber 1934
Percentage change, Sept. 24,
1935, compared with—
Index (1913=100.0)
Article
1935
Sept. 24
Sept. 10
1934
Aug. 27 1 Sept. 25
All foods____________ _______
124.0
123.9
123.1
116.4
Cereals and bakery products. Meats....................... ................... .
Dairy products______________
E g g s ... ----------- -----------------Fruits and vegetables________
Beverages-. -----------------------Fats and oils..................... ...........
Sugar and sweets____________
151.3
163.4
106.1
116.2
102.9
95.0
125.8
112.5
151.2
163.9
106.2
113.6
103.1
95.0
125.4
112.3
150.1
163.8
105.3
108.4
100.5
95.6
124.6
112.3
151.7
131.7
105.3
102.0
114.3
98.0
91.3
109.7
1935
1934
Sept. 10
Aug. 27
+ 0.1
+ 0 .8
+ 6 .6
+ .1
-.3
-. 1
+ 2 .3
-.2
+. 1
+ .3
+ .2
+ .8
-.2
+• 7
+ 7 .2
+ 2 .3
-.6
+ 1.0
+ .2
- .2
+24. 1
+■ 8
+13.9
-1 0 .0
- 3 .1
+37.7
+ 2.5
Sept. 25
1 Bevised to allow for an increase from 2 percent to 3 percent in the Illinois sales tax, effective July 1,1935.
The important changes in retail food prices in August and Septem
ber 1935 are indicated in table 1. This table gives the index num
bers for the 8 major groups of food purchased by wage earners in the
51 cities covered by the surveys of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The table also compares current prices with the level prevailing on
September 25, 1934.
There are now 48 foods included in the retail-food-price index.
Six commodities were added on May 21. They are cocoa, lard com
pound, salad oil, corn sirup, molasses, and strawberry preserves. At
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1407
R ETA IL PRICES
that time three new commodity groups were introduced. These are
fats and oils, beverages, and sugar and sweets. These groups replaced
the “ miscellaneous” group. The commodities indicated by an aster
isk in table 2 are those included in the index. Prices are being col
lected on 39 additional foods, which are to be included in a new
general index.
Average prices of these 87 commodities for 51 large cities combined
are shown in table 2. This table compares average prices in Septem
ber with those for the previous month, and for September 1934.
T able 2.— A verage R etail Prices of 87 Foods in 51 L arge C ities C om bined
Septem ber a n d A ugust 1935 a n d S ep tem b er 1934
[* Indicates commodities included in index number]
1934
1935
A rticle
Cereal foods:
* Flour, w h ite, w h eat------------------- .............................. p o u n d ..
* Corn m ea l_________________ --- ________ _______ d o----* R olled oats_____________ ______ _________ ______ d o ----‘ C o rn flak es— —-------- ---------------- _______ 8-oz. p ack age..
*W heat cereal___________________ _____ -28-oz. p ack age..
‘ R ice___________________________ _____ ____ . .p ou n d ♦M acaroni__________ __________ ________ ________ d o-----_______ 24-oz. pack age.H o m in y grits
B ak ery products:
‘ Bread, w h ite, w h e a t----- ------------ _________ ____ p ou n d .Bread, r y e — -------------------------- _________________d o ___
___ _____________ do__ _
Bread, w hole w h eat---------
Sept. 24
Sept. 10
A ug. 27 i
S ep t. 25
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
Cake, pound_________________ ________________do----___________ do___
Beef:
‘ Sirloin steak_________________ __________ _____ do----‘ Round steak--------------- ----------- ___________ ____ do___
‘ Rib roast—..........—- —- ............ — ________________do----‘ Chuck roast__________________ ________________do----‘ Plate....... .................................. - -- ________________do----___ ...................do___
Lamb:
‘ Leg__________________________ _______________ do___
Rib chops_________ . . . - —- ______________ _do-__Breast__________________ - —- _______ ______ do----Chuck or shoulder____________ _______________ do----Pork:
‘ Chops..................... ......... - .......... - ________________do___
Loin roast- ________________ - ________________do----‘ Bacon, sliced______________ - ________________do___
__________ ___do___
‘ Ham, sliced________ _________- ________________do
________________do___
Ham, whole------------ --------------Ham, picnic__________________ ________________do----Salt pork---- ------------ --------------- ________________ do----Veal:
C utlets______________________ ________________do----Poultry:
‘ Roasting chickens-------- --------— ________________do----Fish, canned:
Salmon, pink_________________ ___________ 16-oz. can ..
‘ Salmon, red------- -------------------- _________ ______ do___
Dairy products:
‘ Butter____________ _______ r -- ______________pound-‘ Cheese______
______ ___ ________________do----‘ M ilk, fresh, grade A, delivered— ______ _______ quart-‘ M ilk, evaporated___________ - -_ _ _____14}^-oz. can..
Cream______________________ . ___________ pint-___ . . . _ .dozen..
‘ Eggs-------- ----------------------------------Fats and oils:
______________pound..
‘ Lard, pure— —- -------------------‘ Lard, compound--------------------- ________________do___
‘ Vegetable lard substitute--------- ________________do___
‘ Oleomargarine________________ ________________do___
‘ Salad oil............................. ............ ________________p in t..
1 Revised to allow for an increase from 2 percent to 3 percent in
1935.
24361— 35------ 17
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5.1
5.2
7.6
8.3
24.7
8.4
15.5
10.3
5.0
5.2
7.7
8 .4
24.7
8.4
15.6
10.3
5.0
5.2
7.7
8.4
24.7
8.4
15.6
10.3
5.1
4.6
7.1
8.4
24.2
8.3
15.8
8.2
8.9
9.0
8.3
9.0
9.1
8. 2
9.0
9 .0
8.4
8.9
24.7
17.8
24.8
17.7
24.7
17.5
40.3
36.5
29.8
23.4
16.1
23.8
40.7
36.9
30.0
23.4
16.2
23.8
40.9
37.0
30.1
23.4
16.0
23.5
34.6
30.7
24.6
18.5
11.9
28.3
35.6
13.8
22.3
28.2
35.5
13.6
22.2
27.3
34.6
13.0
21.3
25.2
32.7
10.7
18.5
39.1
33.1
46.3
40.9
53.1
34.7
26.3
30.0
38.9
33.2
46.2
40.6
53.3
34.9
26.5
30.0
39.5
33.4
45.8
40.1
53.1
34.6
26.3
29.8
28.5
23.5
34.9
39.1
39.1
38.0
32.6
29.5
29.6
29.0
25.6
13.4
23.6
13.4
23.2
13.3
22. 7
13.9
21.3
32.4
25.7
11.7
6.9
14.0
40.1
32.3
25.6
11.7
6.9
14.1
39.2
31.4
25.4
11.7
7. 0
14.1
37.4
32.3
24.2
11.6
6.8
14.3
35.2
22.1
16.8
22.6
19. 2
25. 6
sales tax,
14. /
21.8
16.7
12.3
22. 5
19. 3
19. 2
14.3
25. 5
effective July 1,
22.2
16.8
22.6
19.2
25. 6
the Illinois
9.0
22.8
43.0
26.0
17.5
22.1
1408
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
T able 2.— A verage R etail Prices of 87 Foods in 51 L arge C ities C o m b in e d - Con.
S eptem ber a n d A ugust 1935 a n d S ep tem b er 1934
[* Indicates commodities included in index number]
1935
1934
Article
Fruits, fresh:
Apples________________________ ----------------- pound..
‘ Bananas....................................
dozen
Lemons____________ _____ _
---------------------do___
‘ Oranges________________________ ------------ -----do___
Vegetables, fresh:
Beans, green____________________ ------------------pound .
‘ Cabbage______________ . . . ____ ---------------------do___
Carrots. ___ __________________ ____________ bu nch..
C elery ........................... ............ ......... ................... .......stalk ..
Lettuce....................................... .......... --------------------head..
‘ Onions.............................................
------------------ pound..
‘ Potatoes................... ........................... ------------ --------do___
Sweetpotatoes_______________ . . -------- --------_._do___
Spinach___________________ .. ---------------------do___
Fruits, canned:
Peaches________________________ ----------- no.
can ..
Pears___ ____ __________________ --------------------do___
Pineapple______________________ -------------------- do___
Vegetables, canned:
Asparagus______________________ -------------- no. 2 ca n ..
Beans, green_________ ________ ---------------------do___
‘ Beans with pork________ . . . . . . --------------16-oz. ca n ..
‘ C orn._____ ______________
-------------- no. 2 can..
‘ Peas__________________________ ------ ------------- do___
‘ Tomatoes_____________________
--------------- do._ _
Fruits, dried:
Peaches_____ ____________
___________ pound..
‘ Prunes___________________ . .
------------------ do____
‘ R a isin s..______ ________
------- 15-oz. package..
Vegetables, dried:
Black-eyed peas ____ ______
------------------ pound..
Lima beans_____________
_________ _ _do___
‘ N avy beans_________________
_____________ do___
Sugar and sweets:
‘ Granulated sugar__________ _ . . ---------------------do___
‘ Corn sirup ___________________ -------------24-oz. c a n ..
‘ Molasses_____________ ______
________ 18-oz. can..
‘ Strawberry preserves____ _______ _________ pound
Beverages:
‘ Cocoa.............................................
_______ 8-oz. can
.
‘ C o ffee________ _____ _
----------------- pou nd..
‘ Tea____________________
--------------------do___
Miscellaneous foods:
Chocolate, unsweetened_________ ______8-oz. package
Mayonnaise..................... ................
. Yi pint
Peanut b u tte r ..________________ ----------------Ipound..
Salt, table ____________ ____
--------------------do___
Soup, tom ato__________________ ------- .lOK-oz. can..
Tomato ju ig e_____________ ____ _ ----------131£-oz. can..
Sept. 24
Sept. 10
Aug. 27 i
Sept. 25
Cents
Cents
Cents
Cents
4.5
22.0
29.3
34.5
4.8
21.8
31.4
34.5
4.9
21.6
33.4
32.6
5.7
24.0
28.0
37.0
7.9
2.6
4.5
9.3
8.0
3.7
1.7
3.5
8.2
8.6
2.7
4.6
9.5
8.3
3.7
1.7
4.0
8.4
8.3
2.6
4.4
9.1
8.4
3.9
1.6
4.3
7.9
8.0
3.1
4.9
8.6
9.3
4.0
2.0
4.3
7.3
19.8
23.0
22.8
19.8
22.9
22.8
19.8
22.9
22.7
19.1
22.1
22.6
26.0
11.6
7.0
12.4
16.8
9.6
26.0
11.7
7.0
12.5
16.8
9.8
25.9
11.7
7.0
12.8
17.0
10.0
24.4
11.7
6.8
11.6
17.1
10.3
16.1
10.7
9.8
16.2
11.0
9.9
16.3
11.1
9.8
15.7
11.5
9.7
8.2
9.8
5.9
8.2
9.8
6.0
8.1
9.8
6.1
8.0
9.9
6.2
5.9
13.7
14.0
20.8
5.8
13.7
14.0
20.8
5.8
13.7
14.1
20.8
5.7
12.9
14.0
10.7
24.9
73.9
10 8
24.9
73.7
10 8
25.3
73.7
27.9
72.3
18.9
17.0
22.0
4.3
8.2
8.4
19.7
17.0
22.2
4.3
8.2
8.4
20.6
17.0
22.3
4.3
8.3
8.5
17.0
4.3
8.1
8.7
1 Revised to allow for an increase from 2 percent to 3 percent in the Illinois sales tax, effective July 1,1935.
Details by Regions and Cities
R e t a i l prices of food have been collected recently from several
cities in addition to the 51 from which reports have been secured
regularly by the Bureau for many years. The present report includes
data from two additional cities: Wichita, Kans., and Oklahoma City,
Okla.
The current advance in retail food prices was general throughout
the country. Price increases were recorded for 40 of the 53 reporting
cities, ranging from one-tenth of 1 percent in Kansas City to 2.5
percent in Jacksonville and Charleston, S. C.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1409
RETA IL PRICES
Cincinnati and Birmingham reported no change in the general
price level. The decrease of 2.3 percent reported for St. Louis was
the result of a drop of 16.5 percent in the average price of fresh
milk, delivered. In the other cities, there were relatively smaller
decreases ranging from one-tenth of 1 percent in Milwaukee, Denver,
and Portland (Maine), to 1.9 percent in Memphis.
Percentage changes in food prices for all of the reporting cities for
specified dates in 1935 and 1934 are given in table 3.
T able 3.— Percentages of C hange in th e A verage R etail C ost of 42 Foods, by
Cities
S ept. 24, 1935, C om pared w ith S ept. 10 a n d Aug. 27, 1935, a n d S ept. 25, 1934
Percentage change
Sept. 24, 1935,
compared with—
Percentage change
Sept. 24, 1935,
compared with—
City and regional area
1935
1934
Sept. Aug.
10
27
Sept.
25
51 cities combined___________
+ 0 .1 + 0 .8 + 6 .6
N ew England:
Boston__________________ + .1
Bridgeport__ ____ _ _
+• 1
Fall River______ ________ + 1 .6
M anchester. ___________
+ .1
New H aven_____________
+ .4
Portland, M aine. ______ - . 7
- .6
Providence______________
M iddle Atlantic:
- .2
Buffalo_____ _____ ______
- .2
Newark________ _____ _
New York______________
+ .2
-.3
Philadelphia____________
-. 1
Pittsburgh______________
1
Rochester_______________
1
Scranton____ . . . -- --------East North Central:
-.7
C hicago..---------- -----------+ .3
C incinnati.. ___________
Cleveland_________ ____ + .3
Columbus_______________ + .8
-.3
Detroit. _ ______________
Indianapolis___________ . + .1
.0
M ilwaukee______________
+ .3
Peoria.. ---------- -----------.6
Springfield, 111------- ------West North Central:
Kansas C ity_____________ + .2
+ .2
Minneapolis_________ . .
O m ah a_________________ + • 1
St. Louis________________ - 2 .3
+ 1 .1
+ 1.1
+ 2 .4
+ .9
+ 1 .2
-. 1
+1.1
+ 7 .0
+ 5 .8
+ 5 .1
+ 7 .4
+ 3 .9
+ 5 .5
+ 5 .2
+ 1 .5
+ .6
+ 1 .2
+ .5
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .3
+ 6 .7
+ 6 .1
+ 5 .5
+ 4 .4
+ 6 .8
+ 6 .7
+ 5 .2
- 1 .1 + 9 .3
.0 +12.6
+ 1 .5 + 9 .6
+• 3 + 9 .4
+ 1 .0 + 9 .0
- . 2 + 9 .9
- . 1 + 8 .9
+ 1 .2 +11.3
- . 7 +12.6
+ .1
+ .9
+ .5
- 2 .3
+ 4 .6
+ 6 .5
+ 7 .6
+ 6 .5
City and regional area
1935
1934
Sept. Aug. Sept.
25
27
10
West North Central—Contd.
St. Paul_____ _______ . . .
W ichita_______________
South Atlantic:
Atlanta. _____________
Baltimore _ . . ------- . . .
Charleston, S. C _________
Jacksonville_______ . . . .
N orfolk.. ____________ _
Richmond______________
Savannah__
_ --------Washington, D . C_______
East South Central:
Birmingham __________
Louisville________ ______
Memphis_______________
M obile.. _______
___
West South Central:
Dallas__________________
Houston.. -------------------Little Rock_____________
New Orleans____________
Oklahoma C ity .. ---------Mountain:
B utte___________________
D enver.. --------------------Salt Lake C ity ---------------Pacific:
Los Angeles_____________
Portland, Oreg---------------San Francisco----------------Seattle-------------------------
+ .7 + 1 .2 + 7 .5
-.3
+ .2
(>)
+ 1.6
+ 1.2
+ 2.5
+ 2 .5
+ .7
+ .9
+ 2.3
+ .3
+ 8 .3
+ 8 .9
+12.0
+ 8 .7
+ 9 .6
+ 8.1
+ 8 .7
+ 8 .8
-. 1
.0
+ .2 + 1.9
- 1 .7 - 1 .9
+ .2 + 1 .7
+ 3 .8
+ 9 .7
+ 5 .5
+ 6 .6
+ 1.6
+ .5
+ .6
+ .4
+ .1
“K 1
+ 1 .2
-. 1
- . 3 + 1.4 + 4 .5
+ .9 + 1.6 + 5 .2
- . 6 + 4 .6
-.8
+ .9 + 1.5 + 8 .5
.0 + .5 (>)
- . 3 + 3 .6
+ .2
- . 1 - . 1 + 6.9
+ .5 + 1 .2 + 8 .2
+ 1.4 + 2 .2 + 3 .9
+ .6 + .7 + 3 .3
+ .6 + 1.3 + 3 .9
+ .6 + .8 + 4 .5
:N ot available.
Retail Food Prices, 1929 to September 1935
R e t a i l prices of food on September 24, 1935, were 6.6 percent
above the level of September 1934. Price changes were greatest for
articles in the meats and fats and oils groups. Meat prices are 24.1
percent and fats and oils 37.7 percent higher than a year ago. Rela
tively smaller increases were reported for eggs, dairy products, and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
141 0
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
sugar and sweets. The greatest price decrease registered during the
year was 10.0 percent for fruits and vegetables. Beverages fell 3.1
percent and cereals were two-tenths of 1 percent lower than a year ago.
In September 1935 foods were generally lower in price than during
the corresponding month of 1929. Decreases from the September
1929 level range from 5.3 percent for fats and oils to 45.6 percent for
fruits and vegetables. The index for prices of all foods showed a
decline of 22.9 percent between September 15, 1929, and September
24, 1935.
Index numbers of the average retail cost of food in 51 large cities
combined from 1929 to date are shown by commodity groups in
table 4. The accompanying chart shows the trend in the retail cost
of all food and of the commodity groups—cereals and bakery prod
ucts, meats, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables from January
15, 1929, to September 24, 1935, inclusive.
T able 4.— Indexes of th e A verage R etail C ost of 48 Foods in 51 L arge C ities
C om bined, by C om m odity G roups, 1929-35, Inclusive 1
[1913 = 100.0]
Cereals
and
bakery Meats
prod
ucts
Dairy
prod
ucts
Eggs
Fruits
and
vege
tables
Bever
ages
Fats
and
oils
188.4
175.8
147.0
116.0
102.7
117.1
148.6
136.5
114.6
96.6
94.6
102.2
142.0
118.8
91.9
78.8
75.6
86.7
172.6
179.9
126.6
106.6
116.6
121.9
151.9
131.4
114.1
103.2
93.1
96.0
132.4
124.7
101.3
75.1
70.2
80.0
124.6
117.6
108.9
98.3
104.1
107.9
151.6
151.7
133.8
131.7
105.4
105.3
99.4
102.0
117.4
114.3
97.5
98.0
89.7
91.3
109.6
109.7
151.1
151.2
151.3
150.9
151.0
151.1
151.3
151.3
151.1
151.2
152.3
151.2
150.7
150.7
150.7
150. 7
150. 6
150.1
151.2
151.3
123.7
132.3
137.9
140.1
144.0
149.6
149.8
151.7
154.3
155.1
157.0
160.2
159.3
156.3
157.1
157.2
161. 6
163.8
163.9
163.4
109.7
112.3
114.4
117.3
116.8
113.3
112.4
115.8
114.4
110. 7
108.7
107.4
106.5
104.9
104.4
104.6
106.2
105.3
106.2
106.1
110.1
109.0
108.7
111.6
101.4
84.6
81.1
84.0
87.2
91.6
92.7
92. 7
93.3
94.8
97.4
100.0
104.3
108.4
113.6
116.2
107.2
107.6
108.3
110.4
113.0
117.7
122.0
130.3
136.0
132.7
127.2
125.0
122.6
119.8
117.0
110.2
106.1
100.5
103.1
102.9
101.3
101.2
101.3
101.0
101.4
100.2
99.6
98.9
98.8
98.0
97.4
97.5
96.8
96.5
96.4
96.1
95.9
95.6
95.0
95.0
100.0
104.6
107.5
109.6
112.0
114.0
114.8
115.8
116.2
116.3
116.2
116.9
117.0
117.3
117.9
118.3
121.8
124.6
125. 4
125.8
107.0
105.4
105.4
105.7
107.2
105.7
105.8
107. 1
107 1
108.6
110.2
110.2
110.3
111.9
111.8
111.8
111.7
3 112.3
3 112. 3
3 112. 5
Year and month
All
foods
1929_____________________
1930_____________________
1931_____________________
1932.____________________
1933..___________________
1934_____________________
156.7
147.1
121.3
102.1
99.7
110.8
164.1
158.0
135.9
121.1
126.6
147.9
116.8
116.4
115.9
118.5
120.3
122.0
122.3
121.7
121.7
124.1
125.2
124.5
124.0
123.8
123.0
121.8
121.7
121.3
122.3
123.1
123.9
124.0
1934
Sept. 11__________________
Sept. 25__________________
Sugar
and
sweets
1935
Jan. 2________________ . . .
Jan. 1 5 ..________________
Jan. 29__________________
Feb. 12__________________
Feb. 26__________________
Mar. 12_________________
Mar. 26__________ ______
Apr. 9_______ ______ _____
Apr. 23______________ . . .
M ay 7 __________________
M ay 21__________________
June 4 .............. . _
_ .
June 18_______ . . . . ___
July 2 2_____ ____________
July 16 2_________________
July 30 2_________________
Aug. 13 2_________________
Aug. 27 2_________________
Sept. 10___________ . . . .
Sept. 24_________________
1 The number of commodities was increased from 42 to 48 on M ay 21, 1935.
^Revised to allow for an increase from 2 percent to 3 percent in the Ulinios sales tax, effective July
3 Corrected.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
R ETA IL PRICES
1411
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1412
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
Food Prices in the Third Quarter of 1935
T h e former practice of publishing quarterly in this report detailed
price data for commodities by cities has been discontinued. Mime
ographed copies of these prices will be furnished upon request.
Food Prices in Hawaii
R e t a i l prices of 41 foods on the first of each month have been col
lected for Hawaii since February 1, 1930, and are shown separately
for Honolulu and other localities in the islands.
No commodity weightings are available for Hawaii, hence no
weighted indexes have been computed. In order to show changes in
the retail prices of 41 foods combined, unweighted indexes, based on
averages of the 11 monthly prices for 1930 as 100, have been com
puted for Honolulu and other localities. The unweighted index for
each reporting period is a simple average of the relative prices (1930 =
100.0) of the 41 foods reported for that date.
Unweighted indexes for Honolulu and other localities in Hawaii by
months since February 1930 are shown in table 5.
T able 5.— U nw eighted Indexes of A verage R etail Prices of 41 Foods in H aw aii
F eb. 1, 1930, to Sept. 1, 1935, Inclusive
[1930=100.0]
Honolulu
Other localities
1935
1934
1933
1932
1931
1930
1935
1934
1933
1932
1931
1930
81. 34
83. 48
85.24
86. 91
89.31
88.70
77. 73
77. 67
79. 71
80. 49
80.13
80. 49
74.41
73. 07
72. 32
72. 77
73. 30
73. 69
87.06
85. 94
86.00
85.11
83. 09
81. 75
96.20
94. 45
93. 29
91.28
91. 65
90.99
101.13
100. 93
101.01
101. 58
101.46
80. 20
79.70
82.17
84.16
85. 34
85. 23
77.93
77. 33
77.95
78. 02
78.05
77.87
73. 76
71.63
70.18
69.87
71.09
72.12
86.05
85. 53
84. 54
84. 76
83. 47
81.97
95 01
93. 68
92.97
91.84
91. 55
91.79
101.12
100. 78
101. 89
102. 31
101. 97
J u ly ............... 87.35
August........... 86. 27
Septem ber... 85.64
October_____
N ovem ber__
December___
81.07
80. 60
81.16
81. 38
81.92
81.61
74. 66
76. 76
77.10
77. 79
77. 65
77. 71
77. 96
76. 97
76.00
76.02
74. 60
74. 25
90. 57 100. 39
90.81 99. 71
89. 89 100. 07
89. 79 99. 40
89.12 98. 71
88. 32 96. 88
84. 25
84. 26
85.02
77. 56
78.94
79.98
80. 52
80. 61
80.08
73.12
75. 67
77. 89
77.67
76. 37
75.98
90. 92
90. 73
89. 07
100. 99
99.90
99.89
77. 07
75.80
75. 00
74. 29
January____
February___
M arch______
April_______
M ay_______
June________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
78. 8
6
75 6
8 80 80
88 87
88.46
07 85
07 18
95.83
WHOLESALE PRICES
W holesale Prices in Septem ber 1935
(W ith summ ary data for first h alf of October)
Summary
HE general upward trend of wholesale commodity prices, which
has been in progress with but few minor recessions since August,
continued through September and the first 2 weeks of October. The
September 1935 average shows an increase of 0.3 percent over the
August average. Prices weakened in the first week of October and
the index dropped 0.6 percent below the level reached in the closing
week of September. In the second week of October, however, most
of this loss was recovered.
For September and also for the week ending October 12 the
combined index of the 784 individual items weighted according to
their relative importance in the country’s markets stood at 80.7
percent of the 1926 average. This represents a net gain of about
5 percent over the December 1934 level and an increase of 4 percent
compared with September of last year. At the current level the all
commodity index is 15.3 percent below the average for the year
1929, but is 35.4 percent above the depression low reached during
the week ending March 4, 1933. Compared with the 1929 average
farm products show a net decline of nearly 24 percent and foods a
net decrease of 14.2 percent. From the depression low the index of
farm products for the week ended October 12—80.1 shows an advance
of 97.3 percent. During the same period foods have risen 60.5
percent to an index of 85.7. The index for the industrial commodity
group, which includes all items except farm products and processed
foods, shows a net decrease of 14.6 percent from the 1929 average but
is 18.1 percent above the low point, and now stands at 78.2 percent
of the 1926 average. Similar comparisons for the major groups of
commodities are given in table 1.
T
T able 1.— Index N um bers of W holesale Prices W eek E n d in g O ct. 12, 1935,
C om pared w ith D epression Low an d 1929 (1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 .0 )
Commodity groups
All commodities________________ _____ _
Farm products
__________________
Foods
______________________
Hides and leather products _ ________
Textile products
__________________
Fuel and lighting m aterials____________
Metals and metal products __________
Building materials____________________
Chemicals and drugs
______________
House-fnrnishing goods
____________
Miscellaneous commodities
_____
All commodities other than farm products
and fo o d s..---------- ---------------------------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Oct. 12,
1935
Date and low
Index
1933
Percent
Percent
age
Year 1929
age
change
change
4
4
4
11
4
10
8
11
15
6
8
59.6
40.2
53.4
67.5
50.6
60.8
76.7
69.6
71.2
71.7
57.6
+35.4
+99.3
+60.5
+39.0
+42.5
+21.9
+11.9
+23.7
+13.3
+14.1
+17.2
95.3
104.9
99.9
109.1
90.4
83.0
100.5
95.4
94. 2
94.3
82.6
-15. 3
-2 3 . 6
-1 4 . 2
—14. 0
-2 0 . 2
-1 0 . 7
-1 4 . 6
-9 . 7
-1 4 . 3
-1 3 . 3
-1 8 . 3
78.2 ...d o ___
65.5
+19.4
91.6
-1 4 .6
80.7
80.1
85.7
93.8
72.1
74.1
85.8
86.1
80.7
81.8
67.5
Mar.
Feb.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
June
Apr.
Feb.
Apr.
M ay
Apr.
1413
1414
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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1415
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V? BVRRAUOFLABOR STATISTICS
1416
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOV EM BER 1935
Weekly Fluctuations
W e e k l y wholesale prices during September and the first half of
October do not follow a clearly defined trend. During the first week
of September the downward movement, which began the last week of
August, continued with the combined index receding 0.1 percent.
Prices then strengthened and in the following 2 weeks moved upward
to the highest level of the current year. The index for the fourth week
of September remained unchanged from the high point but in the first
week of October declined sharply. Part of this loss, however, was re
covered during the week of October 12. The net change in the com
bined index for the 6-week period was an increase of 0.2 percent.
Farm products prices, which have an important influence on the
composite index, fluctuated somewhat erratically during the 6-week
period. After a vigorous rise during the first half of the period which
carried the group index to 81.3, prices of farm products declined in the
2 succeeding weeks. The upward movement was resumed, however,
during the week of October 12. For the 6 weeks as a whole the index
of farm products shows a net gain of 1.1 percent. The trend of the
subgroups was not uniform. Grains, following a decline in the
first week of September, advanced steadily in the succeeding weeks
and by October 12 the index was approximately 10 percent higher than
at the beginning of the year. In contrast, livestock and poultry prices
advanced during the first 2 weeks of September and then steadily
declined through the first week of October, but again turned upward
in the second week of the month. As a result the index of livestock
and poultry prices shows a net decline of about 4 percent. Other farm
products, influenced largely by cotton, potatoes, and wool showed only
minor weekly fluctuations with the average for the week of October 12
only slightly lower than for the first week in September.
Food prices moved irregularly during the 6 weeks. Throughout
the period the index declined and advanced alternately. The net
change for the 6 weeks was a decline of 0.3 percent. Subgroup move
ments were also erratic. Butter, cheese, and milk advanced during
the first 2 weeks of September and then declined sharply the latter
half of the month, following with a sharp increase during the first 2
weeks of October. Fruit and vegetable prices followed a course
which was roughly parallel with that of the group index. Much the
same trend was also followed by the meats and other foods groups.
In contrast, cereal products showed a steady advance throughout the
period.
The group of hides and leather products as a whole moved steadily
upward during September and the first half of October and the index
shows a net increase of 3.8 percent. The advance was accounted for
byjsteadily mounting prices of both hides and skins and leather.
Boots and shoes and other leather products remained steady with a
tendency to firmer prices during the period.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W HOLESALE PRICES
1417
Textile products prices averaged higher during each of the 6 weeks
and the index at the end of the period was 1.7 percent above the level
in the first week of September. The continued advance for the group
was caused by steadily advancing prices of cotton goods, knit goods,
and silk and rayon. Neither of these three subgroups showed a reces
sion of prices during the 6 weeks. Wholesale clothing prices, after
advancing the first week of September, remained steady. Woolen
and worsted goods declined in the third week of September, but
showed a strong tendency upward during the other weeks.
Prices for the fuel and lighting materials group fluctuated within a
narrow range, but the general tendency was downward. For the week
of October 12 the group index was 1.7 percent below the level at the
beginning of September. The downward trend was due to declining
averages for electricity and gas. Anthracite and bituminous coal
registered moderate seasonal advances. Coke remained unchanged
and petroleum products showed a gradual lower average.
Comparatively steady prices ruled in the metals and metal products
group. No change was recorded during the first 2 weeks of September,
following which a slight increase occurred. Weakening prices caused
a lower average in the last week of the month and firmer prices re
sulted in a moderate increase the first week in October. Prices then
again weakened and the index for the second week of October was 0.2
percent below the level of the first week of September. Prices of
farm implements, iron and steel products, and plumbing and heating
equipment showed virtually no change throughout the period. Due
to higher prices for copper, lead, tin, and zinc, nonferrous metals
registered a steady advance. Average prices of motor vehicles moved
to lower levels during the first half of October.
Market prices of lumber influenced the trend of building material
prices. Though not steadily upward throughout the period, the in
dex for the week ending October 12 was 0.9 percent above that for
the first of September. The indexes for the subgroups of cement,
structural steel, and other building materials remained constant
during the 6 weeks. Average prices for brick and tile were lower and
paint materials higher.
The 2.2 percent increase in the group of chemicals and drugs was
caused by steadily advancing prices of chemicals and slightly higher
prices for drugs and pharmaceuticals. Both fertilizer materials and
mixed fertilizers moved in an almost horizontal course during the 6
weeks. House-furnishing goods remained steady with only minor
price changes taking place in the subgroups of furniture and fur
nishings.
Following the decline of the first week in September, the index
for the miscellaneous commodity group was steadily upward to^the
middle of October. The average for the week ending October 12
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1418
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
was 0.6 percent above the first of September. With the exception
of cattle feed and crude rubber, prices of which were very erratic
during the time, no important changes occurred within the group.
Although showing radical fluctuations during the period, prices for
both cattle feed and crude rubber averaged higher at the close of the
period than at the beginning.
The marked stability of prices of industrial commodities is shown
by the fact that the average for the large group, “ All commodities
other than farm products and foods”, in the week of October 12
was within 0.1 percent of the average for the first week of September.
Table 2 shows index numbers for the main groups of commodities
for each week of September, October 5 and 12, 1935, October 13,
1934, and October 14, 1933.
T able 2.— W eekly Index N um bers of W holesale Prices by G roups of C om m odities
Commodity groups
Oct.
12,
1935
Oct.
5,
1935
Sept.
28,
1935
Sept.
21,
1935
Sept.
14,
1935
Sept.
7,
1935
Oct.
13,
1934
Oct.
14,
1933
All commodities_____ _ ___________ ____
80.7
80.5
81.0
81.0
80.8
80.4
76.4
71.1
Farm products__________ ________ _ ___
Foods________ ________ _ _____. . . .
Hides and leather products_______________
Textile products_________________________
Fuel and lighting materials________ ______
Metals and metal products___ ___________
Building materials. . . _________ _ _ ____
Chemicals and drugs_____________________
House-furnishing goods_____________
Miscellaneous commodities________ _ . . .
All commodities other than farm products
and foods_____________________________
80.1
85.7
93.8
72.1
74.1
85.8
80.1
80.7
81.8
67.5
79.5
85.3
92.5
71.7
74.6
86.3
86. 1
80.2
81.8
67.2
80.9
86.6
91.8
71.6
74.5
86.2
86.1
79.3
81.7
67.2
81.3
86.2
91.8
71.3
74.8
86.3
86.3
79.2
81.7
67.0
81.2
86.4
91.6
71.2
74.7
86.0
85.3
78.9
81.8
66.9
79.9
85.9
90.5
71.0
74.6
86.0
85.4
79.2
81.8
66.8
71.0
74.8
84.4
70.1
75.4
85.6
85.2
77.1
82.8
69.7
56.7
64.8
88.8
76.2
73.8
82.3
83.9
72.7
81.2
65.0
78.2
78.3
78.2
78.2
78.0
77.9
78.1
77.0
Wholesale Price Level in September
T h e monthly index of wholesale commodity prices reached a new
high for the year during September, with an advance of 0.3 percent
over the August average. The index then stood at 80.7 of the 1926
average, the highest point reached since November 1930. It was 4
percent above the corresponding month of last year when the index
was 77.6.
Six of the 10 major groups included in the index—farm products,
foods, hides and leather products, textile products, building materials,
and chemicals and drugs—advanced during the month. Fuel and
lighting materials and miscellaneous commodities were lower. Metals
and metal products and house-furnishing goods were unchanged from
the August level. Of the 47 subgroups of closely related commodities,
24 showed increases during the month, 12 recorded a decrease, and
11 remained unchanged from the level of the preceding month.
Table 3 summarizes the changes in wholesale prices during the
month interval by commodity groups.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1419
W H OLESALE PRICES
T able 3.— N um ber of C om m odities C hanging in Price from A ugust to S eptem ber
1935
No change
Increases
Decreases
All commodities------------ ------------------------ -------------------------------
221
91
472
Farm products_____________________________________________ Foods_______________ _____ _____ _________ ______ ___ _______
Hides and leather products__________________ _____ _ --- ------Textile products_______________________ _____________________
Fuel and lighting materials____________________________________
Metals and metal products___________ ___________________ ___
Building m ateria ls..-______________________ ________________ Chemicals and drugs_______ ______ __________________________
House-furnishing goods. _______________ _____ __________ . . .
Miscellaneous commodities------------------- - . . . . --------------- . . .
46
79
13
36
8
22
21
9
6
6
17
21
3
7
8
12
14
4
6
8
4
44
25
69
8
96
74
80
49
38
Groups
The raw-materials group which includes basic farm products,
hides and skins, hemp, jute, sisal, crude petroleum, crude rubber,
scrap steel, and similar articles, advanced 0.3 percent. Finished
products in which are included more than 500 manufactured articles,
rose to 83.1 percent of the 1926 average and is now 3.8 percent above
a year ago.
The index for the semimanufactured group which is based on prices
of raw sugar, leather, iron and steel bars, pig iron, and like com
modities, advanced 1.6 percent to 74.4, the highest level reached
since February 1934. The industrial group of “All commodities
other than farm products and processed foods” registered a minor
decrease. The index—77.8—is 0.6 percent below the September
1934 level. Nonagricultural commodities advanced 0.3 percent
between August and September.
The index for the chemicals and drugs group advanced 2.0 percent
to 80.2 as a result of sharp increases in prices for chemicals. Fer
tilizer materials advanced slightly. Mixed fertilizers, on the other
hand, recorded a minor decrease.
Pronounced advances in the prices of hides, skins, and leather
resulted in the index for the hides and leather-products group ad
vancing 1.5 percent. The subgroup of “ Other leather products”
was slightly higher. Average prices of shoes were unchanged from
the August level.
Wholesale food prices rose 1.4 percent due to increases of 0.4 per
cent in butter, cheese, and milk; 0.9 percent in meats; 2.3 percent
in cereal products; and 2.8 percent in other foods, including coffee,
lard, sugar, cocoa beans, and vegetable oils. Fruits and vegetables
were lower. Individual food items for which lower prices were re
ported were fresh pork, oatmeal, cornmeal, canned peaches and pears,
prunes, bananas, canned corn, peanut butter, and pepper. The
September food index—86.1—is 13 percent above a year ago.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1420
MONTHLY LABOR R E V iE W — NOVEM BER 1935
The textile-products group with an index of 71.8 reached a new high
for the year. Higher levels were reported for all subgroups. Silk and
rayon advanced over 6 percent; knit goods 2.3 percent; and other
textile products including hemp and sisal, 1.2 percent. The increases
for clothing, cotton goods, and woolen and worsted goods were less
than 1 percent.
Advancing prices of paint materials, lumber and certain other build
ing materials more than counterbalanced slightly lower prices of
brick and tile with the result that the building-materials group as a
whole rose 0.6 percent. Average prices of cement and structural
steel were steady.
Farm-products prices increased 0.3 percent during September
because of advances of 5.3 percent in grains and 0.4 percent in live
stock and poultry. On the other hand, the subgroup of “ Other farm
products” declined 1.4 percent. Important individual farm-product
items for which higher prices were reported were barley, wheat, corn,
oats, rye, calves, hogs, sheep, poultry, eggs, apples, oranges, hay,
hops, potatoes, and wool. Lower prices were shown for cows, steers,
cotton, lemons, milk, tobacco, dried beans, and onions. The present
farm products index—79.5—is 8.3 percent above the corresponding
month of a year ago.
A seasonal advance in the prices of coal in the fuel and lighting ma
terials group was more than outweighed by falling prices of petroleum
products, electricity, and gas. Coke remained unchanged. The
index for the group as a whole—73.0—indicates a decline of 1.5 percent
from August to September.
Cattle feed prices were lower by 4.8 percent. Crude rubber declined
2 percent. Average prices of automobile tires and tubes and paper
and pidp were unchanged.
In the metals and metal products group lower prices of iron and
steel and motor vehicles were offset by strengthening prices of agri
cultural implements and nonferrous metals. The index for the group
as a whole remained at 86.6. Little or no fluctuation was recorded in
prices of plumbing and heating fixtures.
House-furnishing goods remained at 80.5 of the 1926 level. Average
prices of both furniture and furnishings were stationary.
Index numbers for the groups and subgroups of commodities for
September 1935 in comparison with August 1935 and September for
each of the past 6 years are given in table 4.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1421
W HOLESALE PRICES
T able 4.— Index N um bers of W holesale Prices by G roups an d Subgroups o f
C om m odities
[1926=100.0]
Groups and subgroups
Sep
tem
ber
1935
A u
gust
1935
Sep
tem
ber
1934
Sep
tem
ber
1933
Sep
tem
ber
1932
Sep
tem
ber
1931
Sep
tem
ber
1930
A ll com m od ities----------- --------------- -------------
80.7
80.5
77.6
70.8
65.3
71.2
84.4
79.3
79.3
91.6
71.4
84.9
75.7
94.6
60.5
102.0
78.6
89.6
98.3
80.4
80.2
84.4
70.9
80.5
82.5
60.2
31.0
76.4
69.1
74.1
78.6
96.0
88.6
86.7
91.8
52.4
86.6
93.6
87.1
94.7
66.9
71.1
85.4
89.0
94.9
82.0
78.6
71.1
92.0
90.1
78.6
84.3
73.8
66.8
68.1
80.5
84.0
77.0
67.3
45.0
71.3
79.7
24.5
80.0
77.1
73.2
83.0
80.6
73.4
88.1
64.1
74.4
76.1
76.2
91.9
66.0
76.6
70.0
84.1
97.9
60.4
70.6
86.5
71.1
79.7
87.8
59.9
24.3
78.0
69.1
74.6
81.3
96.3
85.6
92.6
99.3
51.3
86.6
92.0
86.5
94.7
68.4
71.6
85.6
91.3
93.9
82.3
79.5
71.6
92.0
89.8
76.5
80.3
72.7
66.4
73.0
81.8
84.8
78.8
70.2
44.7
100.7
82.4
31.5
81.4
73.9
71.8
80.1
78.4
57.0
63.9
46.7
61.2
64.9
65.8
84.7
66.8
51.5
64.5
92.3
98.9
84. 1
85.4
84.6
76.9
81.1
91.3
74.8
34.5
82.7
76.5
70.4
82.0
84.7
79.7
90.4
101.5
49.6
82.1
83.2
80.3
90.4
68.5
74.7
82.7
82.6
90.8
82.0
77.3
74.7
82.4
85.9
72.7
78.8
56.8
66.6
67.8
79.3
80.5
78.4
65.1
43.2
64 2
82.2
14.9
78.1
61.7
72.9
74.8
73.7
49. 1
37.4
51.2
52. 1
61.8
60.6
65.8
52.5
60.9
64.6
72.2
84.4
48.2
63.2
81.5
55.6
61.8
57.9
50.4
32.6
56.7
68.6
70.8
87.7
81.1
76.7
103.4
107.6
46.7
80.1
84.9
79.7
92.7
51.6
66.8
70.5
75.4
79.0
56.3
68.2
66.8
81.7
79.9
72.9
79.8
56.6
63.6
66.9
73.7
74.7
72.7
64.7
42.7
45.9
75.5
8.2
83.2
56.2
60.7
70.4
68.7
77.9
78.3
76.1
70.4
79.5
F^firi p r o d u c ts ______ ___ _________ _______
________ ________________ - 83.5
Grains
92.0
Tiivp,stook and p o u ltry _________ _ _ __
Other farm produots
_ ______ _ 70.4
86.1
Foods
________ _________ _______
76.0
B u tter, cheese, and m ilk __ ______
96.8
Cereal produots
____________________
60.0
Fruits and v e g e ta b le s ._____________ -102.9
M eats
____________ _______ — - -80.8
Other foods
______________________
90.9
H id e s and leather p r o d u c ts __ ____________
98.3
Roots and s h o e s ____________ ___ ____
83.8
H ides and skins
________ __ __
83.0
L eather
_____________ -- _____
84.5
Other leather products_________________
T ex tile products
_ _________
71.8
80.8
_______________
- ___
C lothing
83 2
C otton good s_________ __________ _____
61.6
K n it goods ________________ - __ ___
32.9
Silk and rayon ____ ___ _____
76.9
W oolen and w orsted g o o d s.. ___
__
69.9
Other textile products ___________
73.0
F u el and lighting m aterials
__ _
...
A nthracite
_ ___________
-- - 80.6
96.2
R ifnm innus coal
__________ _ ____
88.6
C oke
_______
___ ___ _____
(i)
____________ _______
H lectricity
(0
Gas
____________________________
50.6
Petroleum p r o d u c ts ___________ ______
M e ta ls and m etal products________
__ _ _ 86.6
A gricultural im plem ents
_ _____
93.7
86.8
Iron and steel
____________ ______
94.3
M otor veh icles ________ _____
__
68.6
TSTonferrous m eta ls_________ ___ _______
71.1
P lum b in g and h eatin g -------------------------85.9
B u ild in g m aterials
________________ ___
88.8
Brick and tile _ _ _____
__
__
94.9
Cement, _
___________
82.1
L um ber
___ __ __
80.8
P a in t and p ain t m aterials------------------ -71.1
P lum b in g and h eatin g_________
__
92.0
Structural steel
• ___________________
90.3
Other b uilding m aterials-------------------80.2
C hem icals and drugs _____ ___ _______ ___
86.9
C hem icals
__ __ ___ ________
D rugs and pharm aceuticals------------- _ - 73.8
Fertilizer m aterials _ _
- 67.2
67.8
M ixed fertilizers
_________ __
80.5
H ou se-fn ru sh in g g o o d s . ___ ___ - 84.0
F u rn ish in gs _ __ __ _____
- _____
76.9
Furniture . . .
-- ___
67.1
-M iscella n eou s_________ 45.0
A utom ob ile tires and tubes - . . -------67.9
C attle feed
______
79.7
Paper and p ulp _ _ ________ - ____
24.0
R ubber, crude ___________
- _____
80.0
______
Other m iscellan eou s___ - - 77.3
R aw m aterials
__
__________ ______
74.4
Sem im anufactured articles. ______ ___ ___
83.1
____ ___
Finished products
_
80.8
Mon agricultural com m od ities. _ _ _
A ll com m odities other th an farm products
77.8
and foods
__ _____________________
i Data not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sep
tem
ber
1929
96.1
85.3
60.5
44.2
77.0
88.0
61.0
86.3
65.4
89.5
73.7
99.3
84.6
70.3
78.6
91.0
71.0
99.2
73.6
68.5
77.6
99.2
85.0
93.5 100.5
94.2
58.6
98.2
83.4
105.4
101.1
76.2
64.5
75.5
84.6
61.5
78.6
59.2
76.7
51.2
43.5
75.9
65.7
64.1
82.0
67.4
79.0
94.3
89.1
89.2
83.9
83.9
81.5
100.6 . 99.9
103.4 101.3
38.9
62.0
89.0
83.9
94.1
94.5
87.6
82.3
95.4
97.5
73.2
59.0
83.4
82.6
87.1
77.0
87.5
82.6
91.7
75.8
81.1
66.9
86.8
77.6
83.4
82.6
81.7
81.7
82.6
92.3
87.2
76.3
91.6
79.8
67.4
61.7
83.1
74.2
92.5
77.6
92.3
82.7
91.2
81.2
84.6
93.5
75.2
68.2
50.1
46.0
44.4
93.6
85.1
80.7
10.6
17.1
92.8
86.7
82.1
62.7
77.7
66.7
86.4
75.9
73.4
84.2
106.6
101.6
106.6
108.3
103.3
106.2
89.6
109.3
113.1
96.1
110.6
106.1
121.3
112.4
106.7
89.8
89.3
98.4
87.5
81.1
86.7
93.5
82.7
90.6
91.3
84.4
95.2
94.3
70.2
100.3
99.0
95.0
106.2
105.2
93.4
95.8
94.8
86.0
94.9
99.1
93.4
99.6
97.2
93.7
98.9
71.2
89.9
97.8
94.3
93.3
95.5
83.1
54.5
132.5
88.9
41.9
98.8
98.9
94.5
95.0
93.9
83.2
91.6
73.9
1422
MONTHLY LAB OH R E V IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Commodity Groups
I n d e x numbers of wholesale prices by commodity groups, by years
1926 to 1934, inclusive, by months from September 1934 to 1935,
inclusive, and by weeks for September 7 through October 12, 1935,
are shown in table 5.
T able 5 .
Index N um bers of W holesale Prices by G roups of C om m odities
[1926=100.01
Period
B y years:
1926___________
1927______ _____
1928_________
1929_____ _____
1930_______ ___
1931____________
1932.................... .
1933___________
1934____________
By months:
1934;
September—.
October____
N ovem ber...
December__
1935:
Januaty____
February___
March_____
April_______
M ay_______
J u n e . . . ___
July----------A ugust_____
September. . .
B y weeks:
Sept. 7, 1935___
Sept. 14, 1935___
Sept. 21, 1935___
Sept. 28, 1935___
Oct. 5, 1935... . .
Oct. 12, 1935____
Hides Tex
Farm
and
prod Foods leather tile
ucts
prod prod
ucts
ucts
Fuel Metals
Build Chem HouseMisand
furand
ing
icals nishcelmetal
light prod mate and
laneing
ing
rials
drugs
ous
ucts
goods
100.0
99.4
105.9
104.9
88.3
64.8
48. 2
51.4
65.3
100.0
96.7
101.0
99.9
90.5
74.6
61.0
60.5
70.5
100.0
107.7
121.4
109.1
100.0
86.1
72.9
80.9
86.6
100.0
95.6
95.5
90.4
80.3
66.3
54.9
64.8
72.9
100.0
88.3
84.3
83.0
78.5
67.5
70.3
66.3
73.3
100.0
96.3
97.0
100.5
92.1
84.5
80.2
79.8
86.9
100.0
94.7
94.1
95.4
89.9
79.2
71.4
77.0
86.2
100.0
96.8
95.6
94.2
89.1
79.3
73.5
72.6
75.9
100.0
97.5
95.1
94.3
92.7
84.9
75.1
75.8
81.5
100.0
91.0
85.4
82.6
77.7
69.8
64.4
62. 5
69.7
100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
73.0
64.8
65.9
74.9
73.4
70.6
70.8
72.0
76.1
74.8
75.1
75.3
84.1
83.8
84.2
85.1
71.1
70.3
69.7
70.0
74.6
74.6
74.4
73.7
86.6
86.3
86.2
85.9
85.6
85.2
85.0
85.1
76. 5
77.1
76.9
77.8
81.8
81.7
81.3
81.2
70.2
69. 7
70. 6
71.0
77. 6
76. 5
76. 5
76.9
77.6
79.1
78.3
80.4
80.6
78.3
77.1
79.3
79.5
79.9
82.7
81.9
84.5
84.1
82.8
82.1
84.9
86.1
86.2
86.0
85.4
86.3
88.3
88.9
89.3
89.6
90.9
70.3
70.1
69.4
69.2
69.4
70.1
70.2
70.9
71.8
72.9
72.5
73.0
72.8
73.1
74.2
74.7
74.1
73.0
85.8
85.8
85.7
85. 9
86.6
86.9
86.4
86.6
86.6
84.9
85.0
84.9
84.6
84.8
85.3
85.2
85.4
85.9
79.3
80.4
81.5
81.0
81.2
80.7
78.7
78.6
80.2
81.2
80.7
80.7
80.7
80.6
80.5
80.4
80.5
80.5
70. 7
70.1
69.2
68.7
68.7
68.4
67.7
67 3
67. 1
78.8
79. 5
79.4
80.1
80.2
79.8
79. 4
80 R
80.7
79.9
81.2
81.3
80.9
79:5
80.1
85.9
86.4
86.2
86.6
85.3
85.7
90.5
91.6
91.8
91.8
92.5
93.8
71.0
71.2
71.3
71.6
71.7
72.1
74.6
74.7
74.8
74.5
74.6
74.1
86.0
86.0
86.3
86.2
86.3
85.8
85.4
85.3
86.3
86.1
86.1
86.1
79.2
78.9
79.2
79.3
80.2
80.7
81.8
81.8
81.7
81.7
81.8
81.8
66.8
66.9
67.0
67.2
67.2
67.5
80.4
80.8
81.0
81 0
80. 5
80.7
All
com
modi
ties
The price trend since 1926 is shown in table 6 for the following
groups of commodities: Raw materials, semimanufactured articles,
finished products, nonagricultural commodities, and all commodities
other than farm products and foods.
In the nonagricultural-commodities group all commodities other
than those designated as “ Farm products” have been combined into
one group. All commodities, with the exception of those included
in the groups of farm products and foods, have been included in the
group of “All commodities other than farm products and foods.”
The list of commodities included under the designations of “ Raw
materials”, “ Semimanufactured articles”, and “ Finished products”
is contained in the October 1934 issue of this publication.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1423
W HOLESALE PRICES
T able 6 .— Index N um b ers of W holesale P rices by Special G roups of
C om m odities
[1926 = 100.0]
NonSemiFin agriculRaw manuished
facmate tured
prod tural
com
rials
ucts modi
arti
cles
ties
Year
1926______
1927______
1928______
1929______
1930______
1931______
1932______
1933______
1934______
Septem ber___
October,.
N ovem ber___
All
com
modi
ties
other
than
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
100.0
96.5
99.1
97.5
84.3
65.6
55. 1
56.5
68.6
100.0
94.3
94.5
93.9
81.8
69.0
59.3
65.4
72.8
100.0
95.0
95.9
94.5
88.0
77.0
70.3
70.5
78.2
100.0
94.6
94.8
93.3
85.9
74.6
68.3
69.0
76.9
100.0
94.0
92.9
91.6
85.2
75.0
70.2
71.2
78.4
73.9
72.1
71.8
71.5
80.1
79.2
78.4
77.6
78.3
78.0
72.2
71.1
79.3
77.7
78.0
Month
1934:
D ecernber___
1935:
January,.
February
M a rch ...
April___
M ay____
June__
July------A ugust...
Septem ber........
NonSemi
ni anu- Fin agriculRaw
ished
facmate tured
prod tural
com
rials
ucts modi
arti
cles
ties
All
com
modi
ties
other
than
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
73.1
71.0
79.5
77.8
78.0
76.6
77.4
76.6
77.5
77.6
76.4
75.8
77.1
71.2
71.7
71.8
72.3
73.5
73.9
72.8
73.2
80.8
81.5
81.7
82.3
82.4
82.2
82.0
83.0
78.9
79.4
79. 5
79.9
80.0
80. 0
79.8
80.6
77.7
77.4
77.3
77.2
77.6
78.0
78.0
77.9
77.3
74.4
83.1
80.8
77.8
Purchasing Power of the Dollar at Wholesale
T h e purchasing power of the dollar by groups and subgroups of
commodities for August and September 1935 in comparison with
September of the past 6 years is shown in table 7. The figures in
this table are reciprocals of the index numbers. To illustrate, the
index number representing the level of all commodities at wholesale
in September 1935 with average prices for the year 1926 as the base
is shown to be 80.7. The reciprocal of this index number is 0.01239
which, translated into dollars and cents, becomes $1,239.
The purchasing power of the dollar in terms of the subgroups,
groups, and special groups of commodities for prior periods will be
found in preceding issues of the Monthly Labor Review.
24361— 35------ 18
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1424
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
T able 7.— P urchasin g Pow er of th e W holesale P rice D ollar by G roups and
Subgroups of C om m odities
[1926=$1.000]
Groups and subgroups
All commodities_________
______
Farm products______________ ___
Grains_______________________
Livestock and poultry________
Other farm products---------------Foods___________________________
Butter, cheese, and milk... _ . . .
Cereal products--------------Fruits and vegetables_________
M eats________________ ______
Other foods. . . . ---------.
Boots and shoes_______ _____ _
Hides and sk in s...------- --------Leather.. . . . . . ------- ... . . .
Other leather products________
Textile products__________ ______
Clothing__________ _ ----------Cotton goods_________ _
. .
K nit goods______________ ____
Silk and rayon_______________
Woolen and worsted goods------Other textile products_________
Fuel and lighting materials________
Anthracite----------------------Bituminous coal------- ----------Coke______ __________________
Electricity___________________
Gas------ ----------------------------Petroleum products___________
Metals and metal products________
Agricultural implements______
Iron and steel________________
Motor vehicles___ .
...
.
Nonferrous m e ta ls __
Plumbing and heating------------Building materials________ _____ .
Brick and tile__. . . ---------------C em ent...
______ ____ . . .
Lumber__________ ______ . . .
Paint and paint materials_____
Plumbing and heating.. _____
Structural steel_______________
Other building materials______
Chemicals and drugs........ .......... ..
Chemicals___________________
Drugs and pharmaceuticals. . . .
Fertilizer materials_____ _
..
Mixed fertilizers______ ______
House-furnishing goods___________
Furnishings__________________
F u rn iture___________ ____ _ .
Miscellaneous__________ . . . . . .
Automobile tires and tubes. . . .
Cattle feed_________________ .
Paper and pulp_______ _____
Rubber, crude_______________
Other miscellaneous___ . ____
Raw materials_____________ . . . . .
Semimanufactured articles________
Finished products________________
Nonagricultural com m odities.. ---All commodities other than farm
products and foods_____________
1 Data not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
tember tember tember tember tember
tember August
1935 tember
1934
1932
1933
1929
1935
1931
1930
$1. 239
$1,242
$1,289
$1,412
$1. 531
$1.404
$1.185
$1,041
1.258
1.198
1.087
1.420
1.161
1.316
1.033
1.667
.972
1. 238
1 100
1. 017
1.193
1.205
1.183
1.393
1.238
1.202
1.623
3.040
1. 300
1.431
1. 380
1.241
1.040
1.129
(>)
0)
1.976
1.155
1. 067
1.152
1.060
1.458
1.406
1.164
1.126
1.054
1.218
1.238
1.406
1.087
1.107
1.247
1.151
1.355
1.488
1.475
1.242
1. 190
1.300
1.490
1.261
1.261
1.092
1.401
1.178
1.321
1.057
1. 653
.980
1.272
1.116
1. 017
1.244
1. 247
1. 185
1.410
1.242
1.212
1.661
3. 226
1.309
1.447
1.350
1.272
1.042
1.129
1.153
1. 089
1.908
1.155
1. 068
1.148
1.056
1.495
1.406
1.171
1. 124
1.054
1. 220
1.272
1.406
1.087
1.110
1. 272
1.186
1.355
1.497
1.468
1.242
1.190
1.299
1.486
1. 362
1. 135
1. 560
1.344
1.314
1.312
1.088
1.515
1.305
1.429
1 189
1. 021
1.656
1.416
1.156
1.406
1.255
1. 139
1.669
4. 115
1.282
1.447
1. 340
1.230
1.038
1.168
1.050
1.007
1.949
1.155
1. 087
1.156
1.056
1.462
1.397
1.168
1.095
1. 065
1.215
1.258
1. 397
1. 087
1.114
1.307
1.245
1. ?76
1. 506
1.370
1. 222
1.179
1.269
1.425
1.754
1. 565
2.141
1.034
1.541
1.520
1. 181
1.497
1.942
1.550
1. 083
1.011
1.189
1.171
1. 182
1.300
1.233
1.095
1.337
2.899
1.209
1.307
1.420
1.220
1.181
1.255
1.106
.985
2. 016
1.218
1.202
1.245
1.106
1.460
1. 339
1.209
1.211
1.101
1.220
1. 294
1.339
1.214
1.164
1. 376
1.269
1. 761
1.502
1.475
1.261
1.242
1. 276
1.536
2.037
2. 674
1.953
1.919
1. 618
1.650
1. 520
1.905
1.642
1. 548
1 385
1.185
2. 075
1.582
1.227
1.799
1. 618
1.727
1.984
3.067
1. 764
1.458
1.412
1. 140
1.233
1.304
.967
.929
2. 141
1.248
1.178
1.255
1. 079
1.938
1.497
1.418
1.326
1. 266
1. 776
1.466
'.497
1.224
1.252
1.372
1.253
1.767
1. 572
1. 495
1. 357
1.339
1.376
1. 546
1. 653
2.262
1.639
1.529
1.357
1.182
1.422
1.408
1. 359
1.460
1.176
1.070
1.706
1.199
.989
1.550
1.325
1.626
1.689
1.350
2. 299
1. 522
1.484
1.060
1.192
1.227
.994
.967
2. 571
1. 192
1.063
1.215
1.048
1.695
1.211
1.299
1.211
1.319
1.495
1.211
1.289
1.211
1.224
1.311
1. 253
1. 621
1.348
1.289
1.209
1.182
1.232
1.466
1.172
1.299
1.136
1.159
1.117
1.007
1.272
1. 099
1.008
1. 289
1 008
.995
1.062
1.018
.949
1.312
1.182
1.272
1. 304
1.220
1.953
1.318
1.266
1.122
1. 121
1.192
1.001
.987
1.613
1.124
1. 058
1.142
1.026
1.366
1.199
1.148
1.143
1.091
1. 233
1.083
1.152
1.199
1. 224
1.147
i.092
1.484
1.203
1.081
1.083
1.070
1. 096
1.330
.938
.984
.938
.923
.968
.942
1.116
.915
.884
1.041
. 904
.943
.824
.890
.937
1.114
1.120
1. 016
1.143
1.070
1.233
1. 153
1.209
1.104
1.095
1.185
1.050
1.060
1. 425
.997
1.010
1.053
.942
.951
1. 071
1.044
1. 055
1.163
1.054
1.029
1.009
1.071
1.004
1.067
1. Oil
1.404
1.112
1. 022
1.060
1.047
1.072
1. 203
2 . 222
1 .4 7 3
1 .2 5 5
4 . 167
1 .2 5 0
1 .2 9 4
1 .3 4 4
1. 203
1 .2 3 8
2 .2 2 2
1 .4 0 3
1 .2 5 5
4 .0 8 2
1 .2 5 0
1. 2 9 7
1 .3 6 6
1. 2 0 5
1 .2 4 1
2 .2 3 7
.9 9 3
1 .2 1 4
3 .1 7 5
1. 2 2 9
1 .3 5 3
1 .3 9 3
1 .2 4 8
1 .2 7 6
2 .3 1 5
1. 5 58
1. 2 17
6 .7 1 1
1 .2 8 0
1 . 621
1 .3 7 2
i . 337
1. 357
2 .3 4 2
2 .1 7 9
1 .3 2 5
1 2 .1 9 5
1 .2 0 2
1. 779
1. 6 47
1 .4 2 0
1. 4 5 6
2 . 252
1 .2 3 9
9 . 434
2 .1 7 4
1 .1 5 3
1 .5 9 5
1. 4 £ 9
1 .3 1 8
1. 3 6 2
1 .0 6 8
1 .1 7 5
5 .8 4 8
1. 9 96
1 .0 7 8
1 .2 1 8
1 .2 8 7
1 .1 5 7
1 .1 8 8
.7 5 5
1 .1 2 5
2 . 387
1 .8 3 5
1. 012
1 . on
1. 058
1 .0 5 3
1 .0 6 5
1 .2 8 5
1. 284
1. 2 7 7
1 .3 1 4
1. 4 2 0
1 .3 5 3
1. 2 0 2
1 .0 9 2
COST OF LIVING
Belgian Fam ily Budgets, 1928-29
ARTIAL results of the Belgian budgetary study of 1928-29 were
presented at the meeting of the International Institute of Sta
tistics in 1934.1 Items reported on included family composition,
source of income, and food expenditures. The families covered were
typical of those in the general population with respect to the per
centage having children; about nine-tenths of the family income was
derived from labor; and the percentage distribution of expenditures
for food was approximately the same for the wage earners and salaried
employees covered. Actual average income for the period studied
was 2,794.44 francs for 8 weeks (or 18,163.86 francs on an annual
basis) for 809 working-class families and 3,069.68 francs (19,952.92
francs per year) for 631 salaried employees. The unit (quet) system
was used in the Belgian study, the range being 1 unit for a child less
than 1 year old to
units per adult male.
Composition of the two groups of families covered, in absolute
numbers and in percentages of total, is shown in table 1.
P
T able 1.— C om position of Fam ilies Covered by B elgian B u d g etary S tu d y , 1928-29
Wage earners’ families
Salaried employees’
families
Class
Percent of
total
Number
Percent of
total
Number
All classes ----------- --------- ------ -------------------------------
809
100.0
224
100.0
Married couples with children--------------------------------Widows or widowers with children--------------------------Married couples without children- -----------------Married couples with children and other dependents __
Widows or widowers with children and other dependents------ ------------------------------------------ ----------------Married couples without children with other dependents.........................................................- .........- ................ —
Other combinations.............. - ............ 1.............. — .........—
631
12
84
70
78.0
1. 5
10.4
8.6
146
4
37
24
65.2
1. 8
16.5
10. 7
3
.4
2
.9
8
1
1.0
.1
6
5
2.7
2. 2
The total number of children was 1,859 for wage earners and 351
for salaried employees. There were 3 wage earners with 9 children,
3 with 10, and 1 with 11. The largest salaried-employee family had
i International Institute of Statistics (The Hague) Bulletin, vol. 28, pt. 2, 1935, p. 516: Principal Results
of an Inquiry on Budgets of Workers and Salaried Employees in Belgium, 1928-29, by Armand Julin. For
a comparison of certain results obtained in this survey and previous budgetary studies see M onthly Labor
Review, September 1932 (p. 727).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1425
1426
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
seven children. Total coverage, including parents, children, and other
dependents, was 3,563 persons in wage earners' families and 825 in
salaried employees' families.
The following unit system of food consumption was used:
Units of
consumption
(quets)
M en (25 years o ld )_____________________________________
3, 5
W om en (21 years o ld )__________________________________
3. 0
Boys (14 to 15 years o ld )________________________________ 2. 4-2. 6
Girls (14 to 16 years o ld )_______________________________ 2. 4-2. 6
Children:
10 to 13 years o ld __________________________________ 2 . 0 - 2 . 3
6 to 9 years o ld ____________________________________ 1. 6-1. 9
2 to 5 years o ld ____________________________________ L 2-1. 5
Less th a n 2 years o ld ______________________________
1. 1
Less th a n 1 y ear o ld _______________________________
1. 0
Altogether, the wage earners’ families represented 9,092.8 units of
consumption, and salaried employees’ families, 2,203.6.
In wage earners’ families ■without children or other dependents,
only one person pursued a gainful occupation outside the home in
78.6 percent of the total households. Where there were children the
percentage in which there was only one worker dropped to 49.1, and
m families with children and other dependents it was 45.7. Similar
figures are not available for salaried employees. Table 2, however,
shows the distribution of total income derived from major sources
for both groups of families with percentages of total.
T able 2 .— D istrib u tio n o f A verage In com e b y Source for W age E arners’ and
Salaried E m p lo y e es’ F am ilies, B elgian B u d getary S tu d y , 1928-29
Wage earners’ families
Salaried employees’
families
Source of income
Amount
Total income (8 weeks)______
Labor income........................... .
Father’s earnings.......... .
Mother’s earn ings............
Children’s earnings______
Social paym ents.....................
Fam ily allowances______
Unemployment insurance.
Insurance and pensions._.
Other revenue........ .............. .
Revenues in k in d .......... .
Other revenue__________
Property income.................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent of
total
Francs
2, 794. 44
100.0
2, 517. 62
1,961.49
103.15
452.98
87.74
56. 58
12. 92
18.24
189. 08
66. 27
56.51
66.30
90.1
70.2
3.7
16.2
3.1
2.0
.5
.6
6.8
2.4
2.0
2.4
Amount
Percent of
total
Francs
3, 069. 68
100.0
2,736.13
2,456.48
71. 72
207.93
42.91
17.85
89.1
80.0
2.3
6.8
1.4
25.06
290. 64
41.08
112.98
136.58
.8
9.5
1.3
3.7
.6
4.5
1427
COST OF LIVING
Table 2 shows the importance of labor income in both types of
families covered. It is noticeable that among salaried employees
the father’s earnings constitute a higher percentage of total income
than in wage earners’ families and that in both types of family the
children’s earnings form a larger percentage of the total than do the
earnings of mothers. Total social payments to wage earners’ families
are twice as great as those to salaried employees’ families, on a per
centage basis. Other revenues form a more substantial share of total
income of salaried employees than of wage earners’ income.
The report states that expenditures for food, being such an impor
tant item in the wage earner’s budget, have been considered deserving
of special analysis by the Belgian Ministry of Industry, Labor, and
Social Insurance. The material has been assembled on the basis of
units of consumption. Table 3 shows the percentage distribution of
expenditures by classes of food for wage earners’ and salaried employ
ees’ families separately.
T able 3.— P ercentage D istrib u tio n of E x p en d itu res for V arious Classes of Food
by W age E a rn e rs’ and Salaried E m ployees’ Fam ilies, Belgian B u d g etary
S t u d y ,1928-29
Percent of total
expended by—
Class of food
Wage
earners’
families
Salaried
employ
ees’
families
__ _ _ __
100.0
100.0
Animal _______ _____ ___ _ _______
Vegetable
__ _____ _ _______
__
Beverages __________________ _______
firm riiment _________________________
M iseel 1an eous
______________ - ____
57.6
32.7
8.2
.6
.9
59.0
30.5
8.7
.7
1.1
All classes of food
____
Among the animal products, meat was the chief item of expenditure
among both wage earners’ and salaried employees’ families, accord
ing to the findings in the 1928-29 survey, representing 22.5 percent
of the total expenditures for food by wage earners’ families, and 23.8
by salaried employees’ families. The respective percentages for
butter were 14.5 and 13.4 and for milk 7.5 and 8.2. Bread was an
important item in the diet of vegetable origin, forming 12.3 percent
of the wage earners’ expenditures and 8.5 percent of the salaried
employees’ expenditures. By segregating expenditures of wage
earners’ families by size of income, it was shown that as income rose
there was a notably greater increase in consumption of animal and
luxury foods (including beverages and condiments) than in consump
tion of vegetable products.
Table 4 gives index numbers of quantities of food consumed by
the two classes of families, based upon the unit of consumption of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1428
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NOVEM BER 1935
wage earners’ families of the lowest income. For wage earners’
families, the comparison covers four income groups, while salaried
employees are taken as a whole.
T able 4.
Index N u m b ers of Q u a n tity of Specified Foods C onsum ed by Fam ilies
of W age E arn ers an d S alaried E m ployees in B elgium
[Base: Income of 200 francs for 8 weeks per unit (quet) of consumption]
Index numbers of consumption of food
Commodity
Wage earners’ families having 8-weeks
income, per quet, of—
to 300 300 to 400 400 francs
200 francs 200
francs
francs
and over
Salaried
em
ployees’
families
All commodities_______________
100
113
121
131
118
Animal products______________
Beef (fresh)____________
V ea l._____________________
Pork______________________
Ham______________________
Butter__________________
M ilk______________________
Cheese___ ________________
Eggs-------------- ------ ------------Vegetable foods________________
Vegetables (fresh).....................
Fruits (fresh)______________
Sugar_____________________
Bread and other bakery products.
Potatoes______________________
Margarine_____________________
Vegetable oils__________________
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
117
143
216
168
161
178
117
138
168
103
131
198
123
96
99
71
92
129
185
352
221
224
227
119
179
211
105
189
264
125
97
95
45
94
144
208
438
217
284
226
134
192
232
107
163
321
149
90
99
47
110
142
197
414
169
226
183
143
146
186
96
151
280
145
78
90
50
92
A noticeable feature of these index numbers is the steady rise in
consumption with increases in income among workers’ families. In
most instances consumption increased with each successive rise in
income. The exceptions to this tendency are in the consumption of
bread and bakery products, margarine, and potatoes. For these
commodities the movements are irregular, but families with higher
incomes tended to consume less than those in the lower income
classes. Among the salaried employees, for only one commodity,
milk, was the consumption greater than the consumption among
the wage earners of the highest income class. Wage earners’ families
in the 300 to 400 franc class consumed more butter, cheese, eggs,
vegetables, and starch foods per unit than salaried employees. If
the aggregate indexes are taken into account, the index of the quan
tity of these selected foods consumed per unit by salaried employees’
families, 118, is shown to fall between the index for wage earners’
families in the 200 to 300 franc class (113) and that for families with
300 to 400 francs (121), and the index for families with 400 francs
and over is considerably higher (131).
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Official—U n ited States
A r k a n s a s .—
[Planning Board.]
ence, J u ly 10 a n d 11, 1 9 84-
P r o c e e d in g s o f A r k a n s a s S ta te P la n n i n g C o n fe r
L it t l e R o c k , [1 9 3 4 ? ].
155’ p p .
Proceedings of m eeting called for th e p u rpose of determ in in g how b est to use
th e n a tu ra l an d h u m an resources of th e S tate. Includes a n address on th e
cooperative p ro d u ctiv e colony a t S u lp h u r Springs a n d th e possibilities of th e
estab lish m en t of sim ilar colonies th ro u g h o u t th e S tate.
C a l i f o r n i a . — D e p a rtm e n t of Social W elfare.
A ccounting Office. F is c a l y e a r
r e p o r t o f e x p e n d itu r e s o n f ix e d c h a rg e s — a c c r u a ls , a g e d , b lin d , a n d c h ild r e n ’s
a id .
S a c r a m e n to , 1984■ 1 0 p p .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
------ E m ergency R elief A dm in istratio n . D ivision of R esearch an d Surveys.
E c o n o m ic tr e n d s i n C a lif o r n ia ,
c h a r ts .
(M im e o g r a p h e d .)
1 9 2 9 -3 4 .
San
F r a n c is c o ,
1985.
50
p p .,
.
. .
A m onograph designed to show o bjectively th e repercussion of th e existing
econom ic depression on C alifornia’s in d u stria l a n d com m ercial life.
C o n n e c t i c u t . — D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
M inim um W age D ivision. H o u r s a n d
e a r n in g s i n C o n n e c tic u t l a u n d r ie s ,
32 pp.
(M im e o g r a p h e d .)
1983
and
1934-
H a r tf o r d ,
1935.
v iii,
R eview ed in th is issue.
H a w a i i . — U nem ploym ent
W ork R elief Com m ission.
to ry o f H a w a ii, U . S . A .
H o n o lu lu , 1 9 8 5 .
E m e r g e n c y r e l ie f i n T e r r i
7 7 p p . , m a p s , c h a r ts , i l lu s .
O utlines th e policies of F ed eral E m ergency R elief A d m in istratio n w ork in
H aw aii an d describes th e m easures ta k e n to relieve d istress of farm ers an d
general unem p lo y m en t since 1931. A s ta te m e n t of th e activ itie s of th e Social
Service B ureau, designated by_ th e F. E. R. A. to deal w ith sim ilar problem s
th ro u g h d irect relief m easures, is included.
I d a h o . — In d u stria l A ccident B oard.
N i n t h r e p o r t, f r o m N o v e m b e r 1 , 1 9 8 2 , to
O c to b e r 3 1 , 1934■
[ B o is e , 1 9 8 4 ? ] 8 8 p p .
.
T his re p o rt is devoted p rin cip ally to findings, rules, and orders m w orkm en s
com pensation cases. T h e n u m b er of claim s filed w ith th e B oard to ta le d 5,260
in 1932-33 an d 7,632 in 1933-34. A w ards m ade in 12,208 cases during th e
2-year period am o u n ted to $827,466.60 for com pensation an d to $274,283.05 for
m edical costs.
I l l i n o i s . — B oard for V ocational E d u catio n .
B u lle tin N o . 6 2 :
A n n u a l r e p o r t,
J u l y 1, 1 9 8 8 , to J u n e SO, 1 9 3 4 . S p r in g f ie ld , 1 9 3 4 . . 4 5 P P -, m a p s .
In th e y ear u n d er review th e Illinois B oard for V ocational E d u c a tio n disbursed
$423,762 to public schools w ith a p p ro v ed vocatio n al d ep artm en ts.
I o w a .— C o m m issio n fo r th e B lin d .
Ju n e 80, 1984.
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e f i s c a l y e a r e n d in g
D e s M o in e s , [1 9 3 4 ? ].
1 7 PP-
C o n tain s acco u n ts of th e in d iv id u al service given in assisting blind persons to
becom e self-supporting, w ork done for th e p rev en tio n of blindness, a n d educatio n a l classes available to th e blind.
K a n s a s . — L egislative Council.
T h e s o c ia l s e c u r ity p r o g r a m : A n a n a l y s i s o f th e
F e d e r a l S o c ia l S e c u r i t y A c t a n d th e te s tim o n y p r e c e d in g i t s p a s s a g e , w ith s p e c ia l
a p p l i c a t i o n to K a n s a s .
T opeka, 1985.
I n 2 p a r ts , 6 2 a n d 4 5 p p .
bM a s s a c h u s e t t s . — Special
Com m ission to M ake a n In v e stig a tio n of U nem ploy
m en t Insurance, R eserves, a n d B enefits. S e c o n d a n d f i n a l r e p o r t. B o s to n ,
1935.
87 pp.
( H o u s e N o . 2 2 2 5 .)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1429
1 430
N ew
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
J e r s e y . — Emergency Relief Administration.
N e g r o e s o n th e r o a d : A
s u r v e y o f th e tr a n s ie n t N e g r o i n N e w J e r s e y , J a n u a r y - J u n e 1 9 3 4 , b y N e ls o n C .
J ackson .
[ N e w a r k ? ], 1 9 3 5 .
2 8 p p . , c h a r ts .
The findings of th e stu d y show th a t slightly over 48 p e rc e n t of th e N egro
tra n sie n ts were from th e N o rth e rn S tates, 44.2 p e rc e n t from th e S ou th ern S tates,
an d 4.5 p ercen t from 25 u n listed S ta te s; th e residence of th e rem ain d er was
unknow n. I t is also re p o rte d th a t over 29 p e rc e n t h ad com pleted th e 8 th grade
or b e tte r an d 72 p e rc e n t h ad h ad over 3 y ears of schooling. In over 93 p ercen t
of th e to ta l cases stu d ied , “ seeking e m p lo y m e n t” was recorded as th e cause of
transiency.
~
N e ig h b o r s i n n e e d : A s u r v e y o f 1 0 ,0 0 0 r e l ie f f a m i l i e s i n N e w J e r s e y .
N ew a rk , 1935.
7 9 p p . , c h a r ts .
T he th ree m ajo r sections of th is re p o rt deal, respectively, w ith th e follow ing
subjects: C om position a n d characteristics of relief fam ilies; reem p lo y m en t of
relief fam ily heads; a n d extended dependency a n d quasi-security fam ilies.
P e n n s y l v a n ia .
E m ergency R elief A dm in istratio n .
e s ta te s u r v e y , 1 934._
P h i l a d e l p h i a , [1 9 3 5 ? ].
R e p o rt o f P h ila d e lp h ia re a l
5 v o ls.
A census of resid en tial a n d n o n resid en tial buildings in P hilad elp h ia, show ing
age, condition, ty p e of dwelling, an d ren tals. Use of th e findings of th is census,
th e a u th o rs hope, will fac ilita te fu tu re city p lanning, building, a n d sales w ork.
T e n n e s s e e .— -C ivil
Works Administration.
tio n a c tiv itie s i n T e n n e s s e e , 1 9 3 3 —1 9 3 4 •
(M i m e o g r a p h e d .)
R e v ie w o f C i v i l W o t k s A d m i n i s t r a
[ N a s h v ille , 1 9 3 5 1 ]
V a r io u s p a g in g .
Gives d a ta on ty p es of p ro jects u n d e rta k e n , persons aided, m an -h o u rs w orked,
am o u n ts disbursed, ra te s of p ay , lab o r relatio n s, etc.
S t a t e s . — Com m ittee on Apprentice Training.
B u lle tin N o . 1: W h a 1
th e F e d e r a l- S ta te a p p r e n tic e t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m m e a n s to e m p lo y e r s .
W a s h in g
to n , 1 9 3 5 .
10 pp.
U n it e d
A tten tio n is called to_ a n im pending scarcity of skilled w orkers. A pprentice
train in g is defined, an d is discussed w ith reference to th e em ployer, th e w orker,
an d society. T he bu lletin also stresses th e v ita l need of w ritte n ap p ren tice
contracts, offers counsel on th e selection of ap p ren tices, a n d p resen ts basic
apprenticeship stan d ard s.
C om m ittee on th e U pper M onongahela Valley, W. Va.
7, 1 9 3 4 g r a p h e d .)
[ W a s h in g to n ! ] ,
1935.
V a r io u s
p a g in g ,
m a p s,
R e p o r t, N o v e m b e r
c h a r ts .
(M i m e o
The. re p o rt discusses th e social a n d econom ic conditions of th e section, an d th e
objectives to be a tta in e d th ro u g h a pro g ram of re h a b ilita tio n a n d developm ent.
------ Congress.
House of Representatives. Com m ittee on Labor. T h i r t y h o u r w e e k b ill: R e p o r t N o . 1 5 5 0 , s u b m itte d b y M r . C o n n e r y , to a c c o m p a n y
H . R . 7 1 9 8 ( 7 4 th C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .) .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
5 pp.
7TU
Committee on W ays and Means. E x te n s io n o f N a t i o n a l I n d u s
( 7 4 th C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .) , M a y 2 0 - 2 4 , 1 9 3 5 . W a s h
t r i a l R e c o v e r y A c t: H e a r in g s
in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
778 pp.
Statem ents, letters, telegrams, and briefs, included in hearings upon continuance
of the N ational Recovery Administration.
Senate. _ Committee on Banking and Currency. H o m e O w n e r s '
L o a n a n d N a t i o n a l H o u s in g A c t: H e a r in g s b e fo re a s u b c o m m itte e {7 4 th C o n g .,
1 s t s e s s .) , M a r c h 2 0 —2 9 , 1 9 3 5 , o n S . 1 7 7 1 a n d H . R . 6 0 2 1 , b ills to p r o v id e
h o m e -m o r tg a g e r e lie f , to a m e n d th e F e d e r a l H o m e L o a n B a n k A c t, th e H o m e
O w n e r s ’ L o a n A c t o f 1 9 3 3 , a n d th e N a t i o n a l H o u s in g A c t, a n d f o r o th e r p u r p o s e s .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 . 2 5 4 P P H earings upon recom m endations for a m en d m en t of th e various a c ts dealing
w ith F ederal aid to housing.
Com m ittee on Civil Service. C i v i l s e r v ic e r e tir e m e n t: H e a in g
b e fo re a s u b c o m m itte e ( 7 4 th C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .) , A p r i l 1 6 , 1 9 3 5 , o n S . 3 6 9 , S . 8 0 1 ,
e tc ., b ills to a m e n d th e C iv il S e r v ic e R e tir e m e n t A c t.
W a s h in g to n . 1 9 3 5
32 pp.
~
C om m ittee on Expenditures in the E xecutive Departm ents.
H e a r in g ( 7 4 th C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .) , M a y 1 6 , 1 9 3 5 , o n S . 2 5 6 5 , a b ill to c r e a te a
c e n tr a l s t a t i s t ic a l c o m m itte e a n d a c e n tr a l s t a t i s t ic a l b o a r d a n d f o r o th e r p u r p o s e s
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
10 p p.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1431
PUBLICATIONS RELA TING TO LABOR
U
S t a t e s . — C ongress. S enate.
C o m m ittee on In te rs ta te Com m erce. T o
s t a b i l i z e th e b itu m in o u s c o a l- m in in g i n d u s t r y , p r o m o te in te r s ta te c o m m e r c e in
b itu m in o u s c o a l, p r o v id e f o r th e g e n e r a l w e lf a r e , a n d f o r o th e r p u r p o s e s : R e p o r t
N o . 4 7 0 , s u b m itte d b y M r . N e e ly , to a c c o m p a n y S . 2 4 8 1 {7 4 th C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .) .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
6 pp.
n it e d
------ D e p a rtm e n t of Com m erce.
B ureau of F oreign a n d D om estic Com m erce.
M a r k e t R e s e a r c h S e r ie s N o . 5 .2 : C o n s u m e r u s e o f s e le c te d g o o d s a n d s e r v ic e s ,
b y in c o m e c la s s e s , F a r g o , N . D a k ., b y A d a L i l l i a n B u s h .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
31 p p .
{ M i m e o g r a p h e d .)
T his is one of a series of re p o rts for indiv id u al localities being pu b lish ed by th e
B ureau of Foreign an d D om estic Com m erce on its stu d y of consum er use of
selected goods an d services, by incom e groups.
------ ------ ------ W o r ld e c o n o m ic r e v ie w , 1 9 3 4 . W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 . 3 5 0 p p . ,
c h a r ts .
T he wide range of su b jects covered include pro d u ctio n , w holesale-price indexes,
a n d unem ploym ent, in th e U n ited S tates a n d foreign countries.
-------------- B ureau of th e Census. N e g r o e s i n th e U n ite d S ta te s , 1 9 2 0 - 3 2 . W a s h
in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
8 4 5 p p . , m a p s , c h a r ts .
S ta tistic s on th e N egro race for th e census years from 1790 to 1915 w ere
b ro u g h t to g eth er by th e U n ited S ta te s B ureau of th e C ensus in a volum e issued in
1918. T his su p p lem en tary re p o rt for 1920 to 1932 includes in fo rm atio n on th e
g row th of th e N egro p o p u latio n ; changes in its d istrib u tio n ; sex a n d age com po
sitio n ; school atte n d a n c e a n d illiteracy ; n u m b er gainfully em ployed; occupa
tio n al d is trib u tio n ; ow nership a n d value of hom es; re ta il business u n d er Negro
p ro p rieto rs; farm s; farm op erato rs, a n d ag ric u ltu ra l p roduction.
------ D e p a rtm e n t of L abor. B ureau of L abor S tatistics. S e r i a l N o . R . 2 8 7 :
P u b l i c p r o v is io n f o r p e n s io n s f o r th e b lin d i n 1 9 3 4 W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
pp.
{ R e p r i n t f r o m S e p te m b e r 1 9 3 5 M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .)
19
----------------------- S e r i a l N o . R . 2 8 9 : R e v is io n o f in d e x o f c o s t o f g o o d s p u r c h a s e d
b y w a g e e a r n e r s a n d lo w e r - s a la r ie d w o r k e r s .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
m a p , c h a r t.
{ R e p r i n t f r o m S e p te m b e r 1 9 3 5 M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w .)
19
p p .,
-------------- ------- S e r i a l N o . R . 2 9 0 : E x te n t a n d c h a r a c te r is tic s o f c o m p a n y u n io n s —■
p r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v ie w .)
12 p p .
{ R e p r i n t f r o m O c to b e r 1 9 3 5
----------------------- W h o le s a le p r ic e s : Q u a n tity w e ig h tin g f a c t o r s u s e d i n c a lc u la tin g
in d e x n u m b e r s , 1 8 9 0 - 1 9 3 4 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
56 pp.
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)
-------------- D ivision of L abo r S tan d ard s. D ig e s t o f p r i n c i p a l S ta te la b o r le g is la tio n
e n a c te d i n 1 9 3 5 , a s r e p o r te d to S e p te m b e r 1 5 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
61 p p .
------ —— E m p lo y m en t Service.
D ivision of S ta n d a rd s an d R esearch. P r e
l i m i n a r y jo b s p e c if ic a tio n s f o r th e l a u n d r y i n d u s t r y . _{ O r i g in a lly ^ p r e p a r e d b y
th e N e w
il l u s .
Y o rk
S ta te
E m p lo y m e n t
S e r v ic e .)
W a s h in g to n ,
1935.
135
p p .,
R epresents th e in itial effort of th e ab ove-m entioned F ed eral division to m ake
available to local em ploym en t offices th e occupational in fo rm atio n g ath ered by
in dividual offices in th e various S tates.
-—— D e p a rtm e n t of th e In te rio r. B ureau of M ines. H e a lth a n d S a f e t y S t a t i s
t ic s N o . 1 8 6 : A c c id e n ts a t m e ta llu r g ic a l p l a n t s i n 1 9 3 3 .
7 pp.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
T he accident-frequency ra te for fa ta l a n d n o n fa ta l injuries p er 1,000,000 m a n
hours w orked in 1933 was 28.45 a t mills, 25.19 a t sm elters, an d 17.55 a t aux iliary
p lan ts. T he com bined ra te of 23.65 show s a n increase over th e ra te for 1932,
w hich was 18.84.
---------------------- H e a lth a n d S a f e t y S t a t i s t i c s N o . 1 8 7 : A c c i d e n t- p r e v e n tio n r e c o r d
o f c o a l m in e s i n 1 9 3 3 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
8 pp.
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)
T h e fatal-accid en t ra te p er 1,000,000 m an -h o u rs w orked in coal m ines in th e
U nited S tates in 1933 was th e low est on record b o th in p ro p o rtio n to th e nu m b er
of m an-hours w orked b y th e em ployees a n d also in p ro p o rtio n to th e n u m b er of
to n s of coal produced. T h e n o n fatal in ju ry ra te was th e low est since 1930, th e
first y ear for w hich com plete records are available on n o n fa ta l injuries. T h e
fa ta lity ra te per m illion m an -h o u rs of exposure was 1.48 in 1933 com pared w ith
1.90 in 1932, a n d th e n o n fa ta l in ju ry ra te 85.26 in 1933 com pared w ith 92.67
in 1932.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1432
U
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER A 935
S t a t e s . — D e p a rtm e n t of th e In te rio r.
B u reau of M ines. R e p o r t o f
I n v e s tig a tio n s 3 2 8 0 : C o k e -o v e n a c c id e n ts i n th e U n ite d S ta te s d u r in g th e c a le n d a r
y e a r 1 9 3 4 , b y W . W . A d a m s a n d V . E . E r w in .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
1 3 p p .,
c h a r t.
( M i m e o g r a p h e d .)
n it e d
T he accident-frequency ra te a t coke ovens per m illion m an -h o u rs’ exposure in
1934 was 0.33 for fatalities an d 12.03 for n o n fatal injuries, as com pared w ith
0.30 for fatalities a n d 10.43 for n o n fa ta l injuries in 1933.
------ ------- Geological ¿Survey.
L ib rary . B ib lio g r a p h ic a l L i s t N o . 2 : A s u g g e s
tiv e l i s t o f re fe r e n c e s o n th e F e d e r a l E m e r g e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f P u b l i c W o r k s
a n d i t s w o r k , in c l u d i n g c e r ta in r e fe r e n c e s p e r t a in i n g to th e P u b l i c W o r k s
H o u s in g D i v i s io n , r e v is e d to M a y 1 5 , 1 9 3 5 , c o m p ile d b y J a m e s T . R u b e y .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
28 pp.
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
--------- -—- Office of E d u catio n .
B u l l e t i n ( 1 9 3 5 ) N o . 3 : P a r e n t e d u c a tio n o p p o r
t u n itie s , b y E lle n C . L o m b a r d .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
5 3 p p . , U lu s .
T his p am p h let includes a brief acco u n t of th e activ ities of v o cational education
leaders in prom oting p a re n t ed u catio n in local com m unities.
---------------------- V o c a tio n a l E d u c a tio n B u l l e t i n N o . 1 6 1 , R e h a b ilita tio n S e r ie s N o .
2 1 : O r g a n iz a tio n a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f a S ta te p r o g r a m o f v o c a tio n a l r e h a b ili
ta tio n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 . 5 7 p p .
(R e v . e d .)
Defines an d in te rp re ts term s, sets fo rth th e functions Of a S ta te re h ab ilitatio n
program , an d re p o rts on a d m in istra tiv e facilities, th e e stab lish m en t of local
program s, an d case service.
------ F arm C red it A dm in istratio n .
C o operative D ivision. P u b lic a tio n s is s u e d
b y f a r m e r s ’ m a r k e tin g a n d p u r c h a s in g a s s o c ia tio n s ( r e v is e d to M a r c h 1, 1 9 3 5 ) .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
14 p p .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
------ Federal E m ergency R elief A d m in istratio n . D ivision of R esearch, S ta tis
tics a n d F inance. L e g a l s e ttle m e n t s ta tu s a n d r e s id e n c e h is t o r y o f t r a n s ie n ts .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
17 p p .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
T he re p o rt po in ts o u t th a t a n y effort to re tu rn tra n sie n ts to th e com m uni ies
from w hich th e y have m ig rated m u st first m eet th e problem involved in th e
fa c t th a t a b o u t 50 p e rc e n t of th e m have no longer a legal residence w here th e y
m ig h t be eligible for relief a n d th a t a su b sta n tia l p ercen tag e of those who have
a legal residence h av e no hom es to w hich th e y could be sent.
•--------------;------- S o m e t y p e s o f u n e m p l o y a b i l it y i n r u r a l r e lie f c a s e s , F e b r u a r y 1 9 3 5 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
3 4 p p ., m a p .
In F eb ru ary 1935 a b o u t 10 p ercen t, or 190,000, of th e cases on ru ra l relief rolls
h ad no em ployable m em bers. S lightly over 50 p e rc e n t of th ese 190,000 cases
included no person 16 to 64 y ears of age. T h ere were persons of th ese ages
am ong th e rem aining cases, b u t th e y were rep o rte d as nonw orkers because of
physical or m en tal h andicaps or fo r o th er reasons. An ad d itio n al 98,000 (5 percent)
of all ru ra l relief cases m ay be considered as “ p o te n tia lly un em p lo y ab le.”
------ N ational Emergency Council. Consumers’ Division. B u l l e t i n N o . 4 :
C o n s u m e r s ’ c o o p e r a tio n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
26 p p .
A general description of th e n a tu re a n d m eth o d s of th e various ty p e s of con
sum ers’ cooperative associations. Also con tain s a brief acco u n t of th e inform a
tio n al an d o th er w ork of G o v ern m en t d e p a rtm e n ts in th e field of consum ers’
cooperation.
------ R esettlem ent Administration. L a n d P o l i c y C ir c u la r . W a s h in g to n , J u l y
1935.
33 pp.
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
T his issue of th e circular includes sta te m e n ts upon th e fo rm atio n of th e D ivi
sion of L and U tilizatio n of th e R esettle m e n t A d m in istratio n , recen t hom esteadlaw in te rp re ta tio n s, a n d recen t p u b licatio n s a n d articles bearing upon th e su b ject.
-------------- L a n d P o l i c y C ir c u la r S u p p l e m e n t : L a n d s e ttle m e n t te c h n iq u e a b r o a d — I ,
O r g a n iz a tio n o f a c tiv itie s i n E n g la n d , G e r m a n y , a n d I t a l y , b y E r ic h K r a e m e r .
W a s h in g to n , J u l y 1 9 3 5 .
40 pp.
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
—— R u ral E lectrification A dm in istratio n .
N o . 1.
W a s h in g to n , S e p te m b e r 1 9 3 5 .
R u r a l E le c tr if ic a tio n N e w s ,
21 p p .
V o l. 1,
T his p u b licatio n will be d ev o ted to news of th e progress of th e ru ra l electrifi
cation m ovem ent, including developm ents in th e co operative associations orga
nized to furnish th e ir m em bers w ith electric pow er.
------ Suprem e C ourt. R a i l r o a d R e tir e m e n t A c t: O p i n i o n o f th e S u p r e m e C o u r t
o f th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d th e d i s s e n t i n g o p i n i o n i n th e c a s e o f R a i l r o a d R e tir e
m e n t B o a r d e t a l., p e titio n e r s , vs. th e A l t o n R a i l r o a d C o m p a n y et a l.
W ash
in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
29 p p.
( U . S . S e n a te D o c . N o . 5 5 , 7 4 th C o n g ., 1 s t s e s s .)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1433
PUBLIC ATIO NS RELA TING TO LABOR
U
S t a t e s . — Tennessee Valley A u th o rity .
T h e e m p lo y e e r e la tio n s h ip p o l i c y
o f th e T e n n e s s e e V a l l e y A u t h o r i t y , a s o f A u g u s t 2 8 , 1 9 3 5 .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
9 pp.
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)
n it e d
R eview ed in th is issue.
------ T reasu ry D ep artm en t.
P ublic H e a lth Service. P u b l i c H e a lth B u lle tin
N o . 2 1 7 : T h e d e te r m in a tio n a n d c o n tr o l o f i n d u s t r i a l d u s t, b y J . J . B lo o m f ie ld
a n d J . M . D a lla v a lle .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
1 6 7 p p . , i l l u s ., d ia g r a m s .
D esigned to serve as a guide to engineers, chem ists, a n d o th ers in te re ste d in
th e control of d u st in in d u stria l occupations. An acco u n t is given of th e p ro
cedure an d in stru m en ts used in conducting d u st studies, a n d of general d u st
co ntrol m ethods, including ex h au st system s, d u st collection a n d disposal, m easu re
m e n t of a ir flow, an d individ u al resp ira to ry p ro tectio n , such as th ro u g h re sp irato rs
a n d positive pressure m asks or helm ets.
------ W orks Progress A dm in istratio n . C ir c u la r N o . 2 : O c c u p a tio n a l c la s s if ic a
tio n a n d c o d e .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 5 .
40 pp.
{ M i m e o g r a p h e d .)
T his classification, originally included in th e F ed eral E m ergency Relief A dm in
istra tio n M anual of W ork D ivision P rocedure, h as been ad o p te d by th e W orks
P rogress A dm inistration.
Official—F oreign C o u n tries
A
m sterd am
(N
— A rbeidsbeurs. V e r s la g o ver h et j a a r 1 9 3 4 - A m
{ V e r s la g en d e r b e d r ijv e n , d ie n s te n e n c o m m is s ie n v a n
eth er la n d s).
s te r d a m , 1 9 3 5 .
71 p p .
A m s te r d a m , N o . 2 .)
A nnual re p o rt on th e a ctiv ities of public em p lo y m en t offices in th e city of
A m sterdam , N etherlands, in 1934, including in fo rm atio n on cost of service,
re g istratio n an d p lacem en t by occupations a n d trad es, unem ploym ent, u n em
p lo y m en t relief, p e rtin e n t legislation, etc.
B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a ( C a n a d a ) . — D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e
y e a r en ded D ecem ber 3 1 , 1934-
V ic to r ia , 1 9 3 5 .
8 2 p p . , c h a r ts .
D a ta on wages an d hours ta k e n from th is re p o rt are published in th is issue of
th e M o n th ly L abor Review.
C e y l o n .— C ontroller of L abor.
A d m in is tr a tio n re p o rt fo r 1934C o lo m b o , 1 9 3 5 .
36 p p .
Gives wage ra te s legally effective N ovem ber 16, 1934, for m en, women, an d
children in th ree sections of th is island.
D e n m a r k .— Socialm inisteriet.
B e r e tn in g o m a r b e jd s - og f a b r i k t i l s y n e t s v ir k s o m h e d
i aaret 193 4 .
C openhagen, 1935.
139
S o c ia lt T id s s k r i f t , J u l i - A u g u s t 1 9 3 5 .)
F
p p .,
d ia g r a m s ,
illu s .
(S æ r tr y k
af
R ep o rt on facto ry inspection in D en m ark in 1934.
.-—Socialim inisterio.
K a n s a i n l i i t o n K a n s a i n v a l is e n T y ô j â r j e s tô n y le is e n
in l a n d
K o n f e r e n s s in , k a h d e k s a s to is ta i s t u n t o k a u s i G e n e v e ssa , v u o n n a 1 9 3 4 } T y o ttb m y y s v a k u u tu s j a m u u ty ô ttô m ie n h u o lto s e k a ty ô a i k a a u t o m a a t ti s i s s a i k k u n a la s ite h ta is s a .
H e ls in g f o r s , 1 9 3 5 .
69 p p .
A re p o rt on th e discussions an d resolutions in reg ard to u n e m p lo y m en t in
surance an d relief a t th e 18th session of th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Conference,
G eneva, 1934.
------ ------- Sosialinen T u tk im u sto im isto . T a p a tu r m a t il a s t o a : T y ô s s a s a ttu n e e t
ta p a t u r m a t , v u o n n a 1 9 3 1 .
H e ls in g f o r s , 1 9 3 5 .
61 p p .
A re p o rt on in d u strial accidents in F in la n d in 1931. P rin te d in F in n ish an d
Sw edish w ith a F ren ch tra n sla tio n of th e ta b le of contents.
F r a n c e .— B ureau de la S ta tistiq u e G énérale.
A n n u a i r e s ta t i s t iq u e , 1 9 3 4 P a r is , 193 5 .
872 pp.
C ontains statistic s of tra d e unions, w ages a n d hours of labor, savings a n d
in surance funds, and accidents, for different years, th e la s t y ear given in th e
m a jo rity of cases being 1932 alth o u g h in som e instances th e d a ta are as la te as
1934.
------ M inistère du T rav ail. R a p p o r t s u r l ’a p p l i c a t i o n d e la lo i d e s a s s u r a n c e s
s o c ia le s { s ta tis tiq u e s d u 1 er j a n v i e r 1 9 3 2 a u 3 1 d é c e m b r e 1 9 3 3 ) .
140 PP-
R eview ed in th is issue.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P a r is , 193 5 .
1434
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
B r i t a i n .— In d u s tria l H e a lth R esearch B oard.
R e p o r t N o . 7 1 : The
p h y s iq u e o f m a n i n i n d u s t r y , b y E . P . C a th c a r t a n d o th e r s .
London, 1935.
5 2 p p . , c h a r ts , i l lu s .
G
reat
Reviewed in this issue.
■ - * In d u s tria l H e a lth R esearch B oard a n d Illu m in a tio n R esearch C om m ittee.
T h e e ffe c t o f lig h tin g o n e ffic ie n c y i n r o u g h w o r k (t ile p r e s s in g ) .
1 2 p p . , d ia g r a m s .
L ondon, 1935.
T he stu d y shows th e im p ro v em en t in o u tp u t am ong sm all groups of tile pressers
following in stalla tio n of ad e q u a te illum ination.
—
M ines D e p a rtm e n t. S afety in M ines R esearch B oard. P a p e r N o . 9 3 :
T h e i g n i t io n o f f i r e d a m p b y c o m p r e s s io n , b y H . B . D ix o n a n d J . H a r w o o d .
L o n d o n , 1 9 3 5 . 2 3 p p . , d ia g r a m s , il l u s .
—— ■
—“
— —• T h ir te e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t, in c l u d i n g a r e p o r t o f m a tte r s d e a lt w ith b y
th e H e a lth A d v is o r y C o m m itte e , 1 9 3 4 .
L ondon, 1935.
1 3 4 P P -, d ia g r a m s ,
illu s .
T he re p o rt contains an a c co u n t of th e progress of safety researches in reg ard
to coal-dust explosions, firedam p explosions, a n d o th er p hysical conditions in
m ines, including v en tilatio n , m ine tem p e ra tu re s, d u sts, etc.
—
M inistry of H ea lth . S ix te e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t, 1 9 3 4 - 3 5 . L o n d o n , 1 9 3 5 .
( C m d . 4 9 7 8 .)
In ad d itio n to th e cu sto m ary re p o rts for th e c u rre n t y ear on p ublic health ,
m a te rn ity an d child w elfare, a d m in istra tio n of th e n a tio n a l health -in su ran ce
system , an d housing, th is re p o rt of th e M in ister of H e a lth contains a “ Jubilee
S u rv e y ” , giving a review of th e m ain developm ents in th e varied a c tiv itie s of th e
M inistry of H e a lth during th e 25 years of K in g G eorge’s reign.
350 pp.
I t a l y . — Is titu to
N azionale F a sc ista della P rev id en za Sociale.
N a t i o n a l F a s c is t I n s t i t u t e o f S o c ia l I n s u r a n c e .
R om e, 1935.
W o r k o f th e
31 p p ., illu s .
R eview ed in th is issue.
League
of
N
—-Economic Intelligence Service.
a t i o n s .-
1 9 3 4 —3 5 .
G en eva, 1 9 3 5 .
c a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
3 1 0 p p . , c h a r ts .
W o r ld e c o n o m ic s u r v e y ,
( W o r ld P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r i
Sections are devoted to th e m o v em en t of prices, th e a d ju s tm e n t of ag ricu ltu re,
recovery in in d u stria l p ro d u ctio n , an d th e w age-earner’s share in recovery, th e
la tte r section giving d a ta on real wages, unem p loy m en t, w orking hours, a n d th e
m ovem ent for sh o rter hours an d im proved w orking conditions.
------ -------- W o r ld p r o d u c tio n a n d p r ic e s , 1 9 2 5 - 1 9 3 4 .
c h a r ts .
M
alaya
G en eva, 1 9 3 5 .
( W o r ld P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , A m e r i c a n a g e n t, B o s to n .)
. — Labor
p u r, 1935.
Departm ent.
A n n u a l r e p o r t, f o r th e y e a r 1 9 3 4 .
146
p p .,
K u a la L u m
104 p p .
Statistics are given on number of laborers employed by estates, mines, and
factories, and wages paid on rubber and copra estates.
N
R ijksverzekeringsbank. V e r s la g o m tr e n t d e n s ta a t d e r R i j k s v e r z e k e r in g s b a n k e n h a r e w e r k z a a m h e d e n i n h et j a a r 1 9 3 3 .
T he H agu e, 1935.
268 pp.
e t h e r l a n d s .—
A nnual re p o rt on social insurance in th e N eth erlan d s during 1933, including
insurance ag ain st accidents, d isability, a n d old age, w ith re la te d legislation.
N e w S o u t h W a l e s ( A u s t r a l i a ) . — H e a lth D e p a rtm e n t.
R e p o r t f o r th e y e a r
1933.
S ydn ey, 1935.
1 2 5 p p . , c h a r ts , i l l u s .
Statistics covering disease prevention, maternal and child welfare, pure food
legislation, and related matters pertaining to health. A section is devoted to
industrial hygiene.
N
orw ay.
— Chefinspektqratet for Fabrikktilsynet.
og f a b r i k k t i l s y n e t , 1934■
O s lo , 1 9 3 5 .
A r s b e r e tn in g e r f r a a r b e id s r d d e t
80 pp.
A nnual rep o rt on th e a ctiv ities of th e L abor C ouncil a n d fa c to ry inspectors in
N orw ay in 1934, including re la te d legislation, sta tistic s on in d u stria l accidents
an d diseases, w orking hours of w om en a n d m inors, etc. T h e re p o rt is in N o r
wegian w ith a resum e in F ren ch a n d F ren ch tra n sla tio n s of headings.
S c o t l a n d .— Prisons
1935.
74 p p .
D epartm ent.
A n n u a l r e p o r t f o r th e y e a r 1 9 3 4 .
E d in b u r g h ,
{ C m d . 4 8 3 9 .)
A re p o rt on prison industries, a n d sta tistic a l d a ta on em p lo y m en t of prisoners
an d th e value of th e ir earnings, are included in th is a n n u a l review.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1435
PUBLIC ATIO NS RELATING TO LABOR
S
w eden
. — R iksförsäkringsan stalten .
1935.
O lycJ csfa ll i
a rb e te ,
dr
1932.
S to c k h o lm ,
49 p p .
A re p o rt on in d u strial accidents in Sweden du rin g 1932, by industries, occupa
tions, an d causes.
------ S ta tistisk a C en tralb y rän . S t a t i s t i s k d r s b o k f o r S v e r ig e , 1 9 3 5 . S to c k h o lm ,
1935.
388 pp.
T his general sta tistic a l a n n u al includes d a ta on p roduction, prices, cost of
living, unem ploym ent, strikes an d lockouts, collective agreem ents, wages, an d
a g ricu ltu ral and consum ers’ cooperative societies. T he re p o rt is in Swedish,
w ith F ren ch tran slatio n s of ta b le of contents, tab le heads, a n d footnotes.
S
w it z e r l a n d
.—
Caisse N ationale Suisse d ’A ssurance en cas d ’A ccidents.
p o r t a n n u e l et c o m p te s p o u r I’e x e r c ic e , 1 9 3 4 •
[B e r n e ,] 1 9 3 5 .
R ap
57 pp.
T he an n u al re p o rt of th e Swiss n atio n al accid en t insurance fu n d for th e year
1934, covering b o th in d u stria l an d n o n in d u strial accidents. T here were 127,948
in d u stria l accidents, 288 resu ltin g in death .
T
a s m a n ia
(A
u s t r a l ia
H o b a r t, 1 9 3 5 .
) . — D e p a rtm e n t
of Public H ealth .
A n n u a l report fo r 1934-
26 pp.
S tatistical sum m aries are given for th e m ain divisions of public h e a lth work.
T he d istrib u tio n of em ployees in factories is ta b u la te d by age an d in d u stry , an d
new legislation u nder th e w age-boards a c t a n d th e shops a c t is covered briefly.
U n i o n o f S o u t h A f r i c a .— Office o f Census an d S tatistics.
C en su s o f in d u s tr ia l
e s ta b lis h m e n ts : S t a t i s t i c s o f f a c to r ie s a n d p r o d u c tiv e i n d u s t r i e s (e x c lu d in g m i n
i n g a n d q u a r r y in g ) i n th e U n io n f o r th e y e a r 1 9 3 2 - 3 3 (s ix te e n th i n d u s t r i a l
cen sus, 1 9 3 4 ).
P r e t o r ia , 1 9 3 5 .
80 pp.
( I n E n g lis h a n d D u tc h .)
E m p lo y m en t is shown by in d u stry a n d by race, w ith to ta l am o u n ts p aid in
wages an d salaries, as well as certain o th e r costs including m aterials.
W a r s a w ( P o l a n d ) . — G lowny w W ydziale S taty sty c z n y .
R o c z n ik s ta ty s ty c z n y
W a rsza w y, 1933.
W a rsa w , 1935.
1 1 4 PP-> m a p s .
( I n P o li s h a n d F r e n c h .)
S tatistical an n u al for W arsaw for 1933, co ntaining in fo rm atio n on housing,
p o pulation m ovem ents, prices a n d cost of living, em ploym ent, in d u stria l disputes,
a n d social insurance.
Z ü r i c h ( S w i t z e r l a n d ) . — S tatistisch es A m t.
S t a tis tis c h e s J a h r b u c h d e r S t a d t
Z ü r ic h , 1 9 3 4 •
Z ü r ic h , 1 9 3 5 .
2 5 3 p p . , c h a r ts .
T his yearbook contains sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n in reg ard to econom ic a n d social
conditions in th e city of Zürich, Sw itzerland, including housing, em ploym ent,
unem ploym ent, an d unem p lo y m en t insurance.
Unofficial
A
A s s o c ia t io n f o r A d u l t E d u c a t io n .
A d j u s t m e n t S e r v ic e S e r ie s ,
R e p o r t V I I : C o m m u n ity a g e n c y r e l a ti o n s h ip s o f th e A d j u s t m e n t S e r v ic e , b y
L . S . H a w k i n s a n d o th e rs . N e w Y o r k , 6 0 E a s t 4 3 d S tr e e t, 1 9 3 5 .
80 pp.
m e r ic a n
In num erous instances th e A d ju stm e n t Service has been able to su p p lem en t th e
efforts of com m unity agencies in behalf of th e ir clients, an d in tu rn m an y of these
agencies have furnished educational, recreatio n al, a n d vocatio n al o p p o rtu n ities
for th e clients of th e A d ju stm e n t Service.
------ A n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e d ir e c to r , i n b e h a lf o f th e e x e c u tiv e b o a r d , f o r 1 9 3 4 - 3 5 .
N e w Y o r k , 6 0 E a s t 4 3 d S tr e e t, 1 9 3 5 .
43 pp.
In th e section of th is re p o rt w hich deals w ith w orkers’ education, some in te re st
ing sta te m e n ts are m ade on th e relatio n of such ed u catio n to general a d u lt
education.
P u b l ic W e l f a r e A s s o c ia t io n .
D ig e s t o f s o c ia l w e lf a r e le g is la tio n ,
1 9 3 5 , b y M a r i e t t a S te v e n s o n a n d S u s a n P o s a n s k i .
C h ic a g o , 8 5 0 E a s t 5 8 th
S tr e e t, 1 9 3 5 .
38 p p.
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
A
m e r ic a n
A
r c h it e c t u r a l
F
orum
.
c o m p le te w ith p la n s .
il l u s .
A
T h e h o u s e f o r m o d e r n liv in g : 1 0 7 s m a ll h o u s e d e s ig n s ,
N e w Y o r k , H a r c o u r t, B r a c e & C o ., 1 9 3 5 . 1 4 1 P P -, p l a n s ,
, E. B r i g h t . G le n ’s la w r e la tin g to u n e m p lo y m e n t a s s is ta n c e .
L a w & L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t P u b l i c a t i o n s , L t d . , 1934■ 1 7 6 p p .
sh fo r d
London,
An exposition of th e B ritish u n e m p lo y m en t assistance a c t en acted as p a r t of
th e am ended u nem ploym en t insurance acts, in 1934. As th e rules governing th e
a d m in istratio n of th e a c t h ad n o t been issued a t th e tim e of publication, v ario u s
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1436
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — NO VEM BER 1935
au th o rities are q u o ted on p o in ts involved in th e tra n sitio n from th e system s of
insurance benefits an d poor relief form erly in effect. T he te x t of th e U nem ploy
m en t In su ran ce A ct, 1934, is given to g e th e r w ith a circular issued by th e M inister
of H e a lth in Ju ly 1934 relativ e to c o n trib u tio n s by local au th o rities.
B
ear dsley
, A
rthur
S.,
and
Orm
an,
O sc ar
C.
r e la tin g to th e le g is la tio n o f th e N e w D e a l.
S to r e , 1 9 3 5 .
I l l pp.
( M i m e o g r a p h e d .)
B i b l i o g r a p h y o f se le c te d m a te r ia ls
S e a ttle , W a s h ., U n i v e r s i t y B o o k
n , G l e n U.
O c c u p a tio n a l a d j u s t m e n t i n A lle g h e n y C o u n ty : A r e p o r t o f
a n e x p e r im e n t i n e d u c a tio n a l a n d v o c a tio n a l g u id a n c e o f u n e m p lo y e d a d u lts .
P itts b u r g h , P itts b u r g h P e r s o n n e l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1 9 3 5 . 5 8 p p . , c h a rt.
Cleeto
C
I
o m m is s io n o f
n q u ir y o n
P
u b l ic
S e r v ic e P
.
C iv il s e r v ic e a b r o a d —
Y o rk , M c G r a w -H ill B o o k
erso nnel
G reat B r ita in , C a n a d a , F ra n ce, G e rm a n y .
C o ., I n c ., 1 9 3 5 .
275 pp.
N ew
An a n aly tical discussion of th e recru itin g , train in g , a n d te n u re policies an d
personnel relatio n s, in th e g o v ern m en t service of th e countries nam ed.
------ P r o b le m s o f th e A m e r i c a n p u b lic s e r v ic e : F iv e m o n o g r a p h s o n s p e c if ic a s p e c ts
o f p e rso n n e l a d m in is tr a tio n .
4 3 3 p p . , c h a rt.
N ew
Y o r k , M c G r a w - H i l l B o o k C o ., I n c . , 1 9 3 5 .
T he specific aspects covered in th is com pilation of m onographs, by different
w riters, on Federal, S ta te , a n d m u nicipal civil service are: R esponsible g o v ern
m en t service u n d e r th e A m erican C o n stitu tio n ; m unicip al civil service in th e
U n ited S tates; em ployer a n d em ployee in th e p ublic service, w hich includes a
discussion of em ployee organizations a n d m eth o d s; v e te ra n preference in th e
public service; personnel p ractices in business a n d g o v ern m en tal organizations,
w hich is a discussion of sim ilarities a n d differences in personnel problem s in
p riv a te an d public em p lo y m en t a n d m eth o d s of m eeting th em .
D
ie t s c h
, P
ie r r e
S i r e y , 1934■
.
D e la lé g a lité d e s s y n d i c a ts d e f o n c t io n n a i r e s .
159 pp.
P a r i s , R e c u e il
T he a u th o r discusses th e legal sta tu s of unions organized am ong civil se rv a n ts
in F ran ce. A bibliography is appended.
D
ü n ner
, J o sef.
des S tr e ik s .
D ie G e w e r k s c h a fte n i m A r b e i t s k a m p f : E i n B e itr a g z u r T y p o lo g ie
B a s e l, P h ilo g r a p h is c h e r V e r la g , 1 9 3 5 .
92 pp.
D eals w ith th e struggles of lab o r unions in various countries for th e b e tte r
m en t of lab o r conditions, including a histo rical sk etch of th e inception an d
developm ent of th e trad e-u n io n m ovem ent a n d co n trastin g th e free lab o r unions
w ith th e C om m unist an d F ascist lab o r organizations. A b ibliography is given.
F
e d e r a z io n e
N
a z io n a l e
m e r c a to e d i l i z i o .
F
a s c is t a
dei
R om e, I ta ly , 1 9 3 5 .
P
r o p r ie t a r i
di
F
a b b r ic a t i.
II
x iv , 1 7 9 p p .
C ontains d a ta on cost of building co n stru ctio n , including dw ellings; wages a n d
unem p lo y m en t in th e b uilding in d u stry ; re n ts; a n d cost of gas, electricity, an d
w ater services.
Jo h a n n es.
D e r f a m il i e n l o h n .
M u n ic h , S e lb s tv e r la g , 1 9 3 4 . 1 7 1 p p .
historical sketch of th e d ev elopm ent of fam ily allowances in v ario u s countries,
an d proposals for reform .
G a l l o w a y , G e o r g e B . , an d associates. I n d u s t r i a l p l a n n i n g u n d e r c o d e s .
N ew
F
ic h t e l ,
A
Y o r k , H a r p e r & B r o th e r s , 1 9 3 5 .
4 3 8 p p . , c h a r ts .
An acco u n t of th e experience of 15 leading or re p re se n ta tiv e in d u stries, from
th e view point of th e effectiveness of th e N. R . A. codes in p ro m o tin g in d u stry
planning, a sep arate c h a p te r w ritte n by a n e x p ert in th e field being dev o ted to
each in d u stry . T h e in d u stries covered are co tto n -tex tile, woolen a n d w orsted,
iron and steel, bitu m in o u s coal, p etroleum , lu m b e r a n d tim b e r products, chemical,
p ap er an d pulp, ru b b er, electrical m a n u factu rin g , m achine tool, autom obile, h a t,
an d construction, an d retail tra d e . A selected list of references to m aterial on
in d u strial plannin g is appended.
G
, R y l l is A ., an d O m a r P .
R ic h m ,an, p o o r m a n :
N e w Y o r k , H a r p e r & B r o th e r s , 1 9 3 5 .
8 5 p p . , c h a r ts .
o s l in
P ic tu r e s o f a p a r a d o x .
An econom ic p rim er show ing th e positio n of th e U n ite d S ta te s as regards to ta l
n a tu ra l resources, d en sity of p o p u latio n , p ro d u ctiv e cap acity , food a n d clothing
consum ption, a n d u n em ploym ent. Sections are also d ev o ted to econom ics,
trad e, w ealth, profits, savings, an d debts.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1437
PUBLICATIO NS RELATING TO LABOR
H o w a r d W ., M . D ., a n d G r e e n b e r g , L e o n A., P h . D .
D ie t a n d
'p h y s ic a l e ffic ie n c y : T h e in flu e n c e o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e a ls u p o n p h y s i c a l e ffic ie n c y
a n d i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c tiv ity .
N e w H a v e n , Y a le U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 . 1 8 0
p p . , c h a r ts .
H
aggard,
H
il l
R eview ed in th is issue.
, S id n e y .
H o u s in g u n d e r c a p i t a l i s m .
( I n te r n a t i o n a l P a m p h le ts N o . 4 6 ) , 1 9 3 5 .
N e w Y o r k , I n t e r n a t i o n a l P u b lis h e r s
39 pp.
A critical review of activ ities of th e F ed eral G o v ern m en t in th e field of low -cost
housing, and suggestions for a housing program .
H i l t o n , J o h n , a n d others, E d ito rs.
A r e tr a d e u n io n s o b s tr u c tiv e ? A n i m p a r t i a l
in q u ir y .
L o n d o n , V ic to r G o lla n c z , L td ., 1 9 3 5 .
349 pp.
T his is a stu d y to determ ine to w h a t e x te n t th e conditions im posed by B ritish
tra d e unions are responsible for “ failure to o b tain p ro sp erity co m m en su rate w ith
p ro d u ctiv e cap acity .” In th e effort to find th e answ er to th e questio n in th e
book’s title , th e a u th o rs analyze m in u tely th e policies a n d p ractices of lab o r
organizations in regard to wages, m ethods of w age p a y m en t, _hours, re stric tio n
of o u tp u t, efficiency, c ra ft jurisd ictio n , ap p ren ticesh ip re strictio n s a n d o th e r
lim itatio n s upon e n try in to em ploym ent, a n d collective agreem ents, in 13 basic
in d u stries in G reat B ritain.
H u t t o n , G r a h a m , E d ito r.
T h e b u r d e n o f p le n ty ?
L o n d o n , G e o rg e A lle n &
U n w in , L t d . , 1 9 3 5 .
158 pp.
H o u s in g a n d T o w n P l a n n in g . X I V I n te r n a
tio n a l H o u s in g a n d T o w n P la n n i n g C o n g r e s s , L o n d o n , 1 9 3 5 . P a r t 1 , P a p e r s
a n d g e n e r a l r e p o r ts . L o n d o n , W . C . 1 , 2 5 B e d fo r d R o w , 1 9 3 5 . 4 1 6 P P -, m a p s ,
c h a r ts , i l l u s .
I n t e r n a t io n a l F
e d e r a t io n f o r
P ap ers on various housing subjects, including p lan n in g of cities, zoning, an d
house building, in different countries, p rin te d in n a tiv e tongues of th e a u th o rs,
a n d sum m arized in French, G erm an, a n d E nglish.
e d e r a t io n o f G e n e r a l F a c t o r y W o r k e r s .
D ig e s t o f d a ta
s h o w in g th e d e s i r a b i l i t y a n d p r a c t ic a b il i t y o f a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e d u c tio n o f
w o r k in g h o u r s i n c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r i e s .
A m s te r d a m , M u s e u m p le in 17 , 1 9 3 5 .
20 pp.
I n t e r n a t io n a l F
K
, R a l p h S.
T h e e a r lie s t J a p a n e s e la b o r i m m i g r a t i o n to H a w a i i .
H o n o lu lu , U n i v e r s i t y o f H a w a i i ( O c c a s io n a l P a p e r s N o . 2 5 ) , 1 9 3 5 . 2 6 p p .
uykendall
A re p o rt on th e Jap an ese c o n tra c t laborers who cam e to H aw aii in 1868.
Leonard, J
onathan
N
orton.
T o o ls o f to m o r r o w .
N e w Y o rk , V ik in g P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 .
3 1 0 p p ., illu s .
An appraisal of th e p rese n t stage of technology a n d a fo recast of fu tu re develop
m en ts in th e field of applied science.
M
cC ord,
C. Stew
P ress, 1935.
art.
T h e r e n o v iz in g o f a s o c ia l o r d e r .
186 p p .
S e a ttle , G eo. E . M i n o r
“ Suggested rem edial tr e a tm e n t” for certa in u nsound phases of our econom ic
a n d social stru ctu re. In th e c h a p te r on lab o r an d wages th e a u th o r ad v o cates
th e estab lish m en t of tra d e (vocational) schools; an eq u itable w age ra te p a id in a
stabilized or m anaged currency, th e ra te to be d eterm in ed th ro u g h a wagereg u lato ry m echanism consisting of econom ic advisers from th e D e p a rtm e n ts of
L abor, C om m erce, an d th e T reasu ry in collaboration w ith rep rese n ta tiv e s of
organized labor an d others; a n d a system of social insurance, including old-age
insurance, w hich th e au th o r designates as a “ sales-tax-form -of-saving-for-oldage.”
M
, Leonard C.
E m p l o y m e n t r e s e a r c h : A n in tr o d u c tio n to th e M c G i l l p r o
g r a m m e o f re s e a r c h i n th e s o c ia l s c ie n c e s .
T o r o n to , O x fo r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ,
1935.
3 4 4 P P -, m a p , c h a r ts .
( M c G i l l [ U n iv e r s ity ] S o c ia l R e s e a r c h S e r ie s
N o . 1 .)
a r sh
T he research program described in th is volum e u n d ertak es to consider th e
problem of u nem ploym ent n o t only in its m ore im m ed iate b u t also in its p erm a
n e n t im plications.
M
e t r o p o l it a n
L
if e
Insurance
C
o.
N e w Y o rk , 1 M a d is o n A v e n u e , 1 9 3 5 .
T w e n ty - fiv e y e a r s o f
4 6 p p - , c h a r ts , i l lu s .
lif e
c o n s e r v a tio n .
An account of th e organized w elfare w oik of th e com pany covering its activ ities
in relatio n to h ealth an d life conservation during a q u a rte r of a cen tu ry .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1438
M
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — NO VEM BER 1935
G iu s e p p e d e.
W o r ld r e o r g a n iz a tio n o n c o r p o r a tiv e lin e s .
G eo rg e A l l e n & U n w in , L td ., 1 9 3 5 .
3 1 2 p p ., m a p .
ic h e l is ,
London,
T he au th o r advocates coordination of th e elem ents of pro d u ctio n — h u m a n
labor, land, raw m aterials, an d cap ital— along th e lines followed in Ita ly , as a
solution of w orld economic problem s.
M is s e n , L e s l ie R.
T h e e m p lo y m e n t o f le is u r e .
E x e te r , E n g la n d , A . W h e a to n
& C o ., L td ., 1 9 3 5 .
1 8 4 P P -, c h a r ts .
T he au th o r gives a n acco u n t of th e developm ent of organized society a n d th e
grow th of th e idea of a co n stru ctiv e use of leisure tim e, a n d review s th e w ork of
various organizations in th is field.
M u r p h y , J. T .
M o d e r n tr a d e u n io n is m .
L o n d o n , G eo rg e R o u tle d g e & S o n s , L t d . ,
1935.
199 p p .
A n exam ination of th e stru c tu re , functions, an d activ ities of B ritish tra d e
unions from th e view point of th e ir ad eq u acy to m eet th e “ w orkers’ co n tro l of
in d u s try ” w hich th e a u th o r forecasts.
M u s s o l in i, B e n it o .
F a s c is m — d o c tr in e a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s .
R o m e, “ A r d ita ,” 1 9 3 5 .
313 pp.
( I n E n g lis h .)
F ascist principles are p resen ted w ith a collection of th e basic law s of Fascism ,
including those on g o vernm ent provision for p rofitable use of leisure tim e, m a
te rn ity aid an d child welfare, a n d com pulsory old-age, tuberculosis, a n d u n em
ploym ent insurance. A bibliography of lite ra tu re on Fascism is ap pended.
N
A s s o c ia t io n o f W o o l M a n u f a c t u r e r s .
B u lle tin , V o l. L X I V :
A c ti v i t i e s o f th e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f W o o l M a n u f a c tu r e r s f o r 1 9 3 4 ; s t a t i s
t i c s o f th e i n d u s t r y a n d m a tte r s r e la tin g to th e c o d e o f f a i r c o m p e titio n f o r th e
w o o l- te x tile i n d u s t r y . N e w Y o r k , 3 8 6 F o u r th A v e n u e , 1 9 3 5 .
3 3 8 p p . , c h a r ts .
a t io n a l
Besides statistic s of th e w ool-textile in d u stry , th is b u lletin contains te x ts of th e
code, resolutions, E xecutive orders, an d re p o rts th a t affected th e h isto ry of th e
in d u stry u n d er th e N a tio n a l In d u stria l R ecovery Act.
E c o n o m ic I n s t i t u t e .
[ P u b lic a tio n ] N o . 1 2 : R e e m p lo y m e n t a n d
i t s c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r n a tio n a l w e lf a r e a n d p u b lic f in a n c e ; a c o n tr ib u tio n to th e
s t u d y o f p r i m a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y e ffe c ts o f p u b lic e x p e n d itu r e f o r th e c o n s tr u c tio n
o f a d u r a b le c a p i t a l g o o d (th e s e c o n d “ s t a t e n d a m ” ) ; b y H e n r i R e u c h lin . H a a r
le m , 1 9 3 5 . 6 8 p p .
( I n D u tc h , w ith E n g lis h t r a n s l a t io n o f th e t i tle , a t( d s u m
m a r ie s i n E n g lis h a n d F r e n c h .)
N
etherlands
N
ew
F
a b ia n
R
b y G. H .
esea r c h B u r e a u .
S o c i a l i z a t i o n o f th e e le c tr ic a l s u p p l y i n d u s t r y >
L o n d o n , V ic to r G o lla n c z , L td ., 1934■ 104mP P -, m a p , c h a r ts .
A d escription of th e existing o rganization for supplying electricity, a n d a rg u
m en ts for an d ag a in st large scale o p eratio n s a n d centralized ow nership.
N
il e s ,
H
enry
E .,
N
and
il e s ,
M
ary
C
u s h in g
h is r e la tio n s to p e r s o n s a n d to w o r k .
1935.
2 4 7 P P - , d ia g r a m s .
N ew
H ow ard.
T h e office s u p e r v is o r ,
Y o r k , J o h n W i l e y & S o n s , I n c .,
P lans, m ethod s, a n d personnel policies in h an d lin g office w ork a n d clerical
staffs, based upon p ra c tic a l daily experience of m en an d w om en who supervise
office w orkers.
P e a r s o n , S. V e r e .
T h e g r o w th a n d d i s t r i b u ti o n o f p o p u l a t i o n . L o n d o n , G eo rg e
A l l e n & U n w in , L td ., 1 9 3 5 .
P
4 4 8 P P -, m a p s , U lu s.
W h arto n School of F in an ce a n d C om m erce’
In d u s tria l R esearch D e p a rtm e n t. S t u d y o f P o p u l a t i o n R e d is t r i b u t i o n , B u lle
e n n s y l v a n ia
, U
n iv e r s it y
of.
t i n N o . 2 : M i g r a t i o n a n d p la n e s o f liv in g , 1 9 2 0 - 3 4 , b y C a r te r G o o d r ic h a n d
e th e r s . P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1 9 3 5 . I l l p p . , m a p s , c h a r s.
R eview ed in th is issue.
----------------------- S t u d y o f P o p u l a t i o n R e d is t r i b u t i o n , B u l l e t i n N o . 3 : I s i n d u s t r y
d e c e n tr a liz in g ?
A s t a t i s t ic a l a n a l y s i s o f lo c a tio n a l c h a n g e s i n m a n u f a c tu r in g
e m p lo y m e n t, 1 8 9 9 —1 9 3 3 , b y D a n ie l B . C r e a m e r . P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1 9 3 5 . 1 0 5 p p . ,
m ap.
R eview ed in th is issue.
P
r in c e t o n
U
n iv e r s it y
.
In d u s tria l R elatio n s Section.
d e p a r tm e n t s to r e s , b y H e le n B a k e r .
P r in c e to n , 1 9 3 5 .
P erso n n el pro g ra m s i n
85 pp.
T his stu d y of 50 rep rese n ta tiv e s stores covers th e ty p e s of personnel ad m in is
tra tio n , em ploym en t m ethods, train in g , m eth o d s of p a y m e n t, a n d salary sta n d
ards. D ism issal policies are also discussed, a n d m easures for v arious w elfare
featu res such as h e a lth services a n d re c reatio n al activ ities, benefit a n d insurance
plans, a n d savings a n d loan p lan s are described. A biblio g rap h y is given.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
R
ic h t e r
, L
1985.
G r u n d r is s d e r R e ic h s v e r s ic k e r u n g .
100 pp.
utz.
1439
S tu ttg a r t, W . K o h l h a m m e r ,
A brief review of social insurance in G erm any, including th e prin cip al changes
m ade since th e beginning of th e N atio n al Socialist regim e in G erm any.
R u s s e l l S a g e F o u n d a t io n .
L ibrary. B u lle tin N o . 1 3 0 : R e c e n t p a m p h le ts on
s o c ia l s u b je c ts ; a s e le c te d l i s t o f m a te r ia l is s u e d 1 9 3 4 - 3 5 .
T w e n ty - s e c o n d S tr e e t, A p r i l 1 9 3 5 .
12 p p .
N ew Y ork, 130 E a st
A m ong th e su b jects covered are: A dult education a n d v o cational a d ju s tm e n t;
housing an d slum clearance; lab o r an d in d u stry ; social in su ran ce; leisure an d
recreation.
R
, John.
T h e la w o f w a g e s a n d th e c o st o f i t s in f r a c tio n .
M i d w e s t B o o k C o ., 1 9 3 5 .
60 pp.
ustg ard
M in n e a p o lis ,
T he a u th o r holds th a t to reduce th e earnings of th e in d u stria l p o p u latio n in
line w ith ag ricu ltu ral earnings w ould stem m ig ratio n to cities, equalize conditions,
a n d p re v e n t depression a n d unem ploym ent. D isp arities in wages as betw een
organized an d unorganized lab o r groups are believed to p roduce b ad results, a n d
th e lim itatio n s placed on o u tp u t by tra d e unions are view ed as d isastrous.
R
utzebeck
, H
R e c ip r o c a l e c o n o m y : S e lf - h e lp c o o p e r a tiv e te c h n iq u e a n d
B a r b a r a , C a lif ., J . F . R o w n y P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 .
3 2 p p .,
ja lm a r .
m a n a g e m e n t.
S a n ta
c h a r t.
S d e d ., re v.
E xplains th e benefits of th e cooperative self-help m o v em en t am ong th e u n em
ployed (“ reciprocal eco n o m y ” ) in lessening th e cost of public relief a n d in
im proving th e m orale of th e unem ployed a n d assisting th e m to becom e selfsu p p o rtin g , an d describes th e b est procedures in organizing a self-help group,
th e essentials to be followed, a n d p itfalls to be avoided. I t em phasizes th e
necessity of cooperative m eth o d s an d of enlisting th e efforts a n d ab ilities of th e
w hole group, an d stresses th e ro u n d -tab le conference m eth o d as th e b est for
th ese purposes.
R
yan
, F
r e d e r ic k
L
yn ne
tie s .
N o r m a n , O k la .,
c h a r t.
.
T h e r e h a b ilita tio n o f O k la h o m a c o a l m i n i n g c o m m u n i
U n i v e r s i t y o f O k la h o m a P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 .
1 2 0 p p ., m a p s,
T his stu d y includes a histo rical survey of th e coal d istricts of O klahom a.
D evelopm ent of th e coal com m unities is tra c e d a n d proposals are m ad e for
re h a b ilita tin g them .
S e m a s h k o , N . A.
H e a lth p r o te c tio n i n th e U . S . S . R .
N e w Y o r k , G . P . P u t n a m ’s
S o n s, 1 9 35.
176 p p .
T he a u th o r describes th e basic principles a n d stru c tu re of Soviet m edicine,
th e m a n n e r in w hich h e a lth services have developed, an d th e various specific
p ro jects w h ich are being carried out.
a r t , M a x w ell S.
Y o u r m o n e y a n d m in e : A n a n a l y s i s o f o u r n a tio n a l i n
com e.
N e w Y o r k , F o r e ig n P o li c y A s s o c ia tio n , 8 W e s t F o r tie th S tr e e t, 1 9 8 5 .
p p . , c h a r ts .
Stew
20
A su m m a ry of official a n d nonofficial estim ates of incom e.
S t o c k h o l m , U n iv e r s it y o f .
In s titu te for Social Sciences. W a g e s , c o st o f liv in g ,
a n d n a t i o n a l in c o m e i n S w e d e n , 1 8 6 0 —1 9 3 0 : V o l. I I , W a g e s i n S w e d e n , 1 8 6 0 —
1 9 3 0 , p a r t 2 : G o v e r n m e n t a n d m u n i c i p a l s e r v ic e s , a g r ic u ltu r e a n d f o r e s t r y ,
th e g e n e r a l m o v e m e n t o f w a g e s i n S w e d e n .
L o n d o n , P . S . K in g & S o n , L td .%
1 9 3 5 . 3 9 3 p p . , m a p s , c h a r ts .
T
okyo
C
1935.
T
ham ber
of
C
om m erce
T okyo, 1985.
298 pp.
In d u str y .
T h e a n n u a l s t a t i s t ic a l r e p o r t,
{ I n J a p a n e s e a n d E n g l i s h .)
and
T he rep o rt includes d a ta on prices, wages, an d p roduction.
, S. P.
F r o m P e te r th e G r e a t to L e n in : A h is to r y o f th e R u s s i a n la b o r m o v e
u r in
m e n t w ith s p e c i a l r e fe r e n c e to tr a d e u n io n is m .
L td ., 1 9 3 5 .
217 pp.
L o n d o n , P . S . K in g & S o n ,
In a d d itio n to historical m aterial, th is book p resen ts a n analysis of tre n d s an d
c h aracteristics of th e Soviet m o v em en t a n d R ussian lab o r organization, based
u po n d o cu m en tary sources n o t previously used, an d upon th e personal exper
iences a n d p a rticip atio n of th e a u th o r in th e R ussian lab o r m ovem ent.
24361— 35------ 19
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1440
W
are
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — NOVEM BER 1935
, N
J.
orm an
L a b o r i n m o d e r n i n d u s t r i a l s o c ie ty .
5 6 1 p p . , c h a r ts .
& C o ., 1 9 3 5 .
N ew
Y o r k , D . C . H e a th
A com prehensive stu d y of th e place of lab o r an d th e v ario u s la b o r m ovem ents in
th e econom ic an d political histo ry of th e U n ited S tates, w ritte n , th e a u th o r
sta te s, “ from th e sta n d p o in t of la b o r.”
, F r a n k . H o u s in g p r o b le m s a n d p o s s i b i l i ti e s i n th e U n i t e d S ta te s .
Y o r k , H a r p e r & B r o s ., 1 9 3 5 . 1 0 0 p p . , c h a r ts .
W
atson
W
atson
, W
F o s t e r . M a c h in e s a n d m e n : A n a u t o b io g r a p h y o f a n it i n e r a n t
L o n d o n , G eo rg e A l l e n & U n w in , L t d . , 1 9 3 5 .
226 pp.
il l ia m
m e c h a n ic .
T he w orking-life histo ry of a skilled m echanic, in p la n ts of m an y ty p e s.
scrip tiv e of processes a n d different ty p es of m an ag e m en t.
W
il l ia m s ,
N ew
H
ubert
,
S o n s , L td ., 1 9 3 5 .
E d ito r.
M a n a n d th e m a c h in e .
207 pp.
D e
L o n d o n , G e o rg e R o u tle d g e &
T he book contains a n u m b er of articles by d ifferent a u th o rs tre a tin g in general
o f th e grow th of leisure a n d leisure-tim e p u rsu its, th e gen eral increase in p ro
d u c tiv ity , an d th e changes in m achine m ethods, as th e y affect em p lo y m en t in a
n u m b er of m ajo r industries.
W
r ig h t ,
H
enry
P ress, 1935.
.
R e h o u s in g u r b a n A m e r ic a .
1 7 3 p p . , p la n s , i l lu s .
N ew
Y o r k , C o lu m b ia
U n iv e r s ity
D eals w ith housing as th e focal p o in t for re h a b ilita tin g cities an d p resen ts a
s tu d y of recen t changes in housing tech n iq u es a n d a fo re c a st of a d v a n c e m e n t in
planning.
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o
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