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1il ltiiliiThi 0 . S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS ROYAL MEEKER, Commissioner MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE U. S. BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS VOLUME I—OCTOBER, 1915-N U M B ER 4 W ASHINGTON G O V ERN M EN T PR IN T IN G O FFICE https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 1915 SERIES OF BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. T h e p u b lic a tio n o f th e A n n u a l a n d S p e c ia l R e p o r ts a n d o f th e b im o n th ly B u lle tin has been d is c o n tin u e d , a n d sin c e J u ly , 1912, a B u lle tin h as been p u b lis h e d a t irreg u la r in te rv a ls. E ach n u m b e r c o n ta in s m a tte r d e v o te d to o n e o f a serie s o f g e n e ra l s u b je c ts . T h ese B u lle tin s are n u m b e r e d c o n s e c u tiv e ly in e a ch serie s a n d a lso c a rry a c o n s e c u tiv e w h o le n u m b e r , b e g in n in g w ith N o . 101. A lis t o f th e serie s, to g e th e r w ith th e in d iv id u a l B u lle tin s fallin g u n d er ea ch , is g iv e n b elo w . A lis t o f th e R e p o r ts a n d B u lle tin s o f th e B u rea u is su e d p r io r t o J u ly 1, 1912, w ill be fu rn ish e d o n a p p lic a tio n . W holesale Prices. No. 1. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1912. (B ui. No. 114.) No. 2. W holesale prices, 1890 to 1913. (Bui. No. 149.) No. 3. In d ex num bers of wholesale prices in th e U n ited States an d foreign countries. No. 4. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1914. (B ui. No. 181.) [In press.] (B ui. No. 173.) Retail Prices and Cost o f Living. No. 1. R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a rt I. (B ui. No. 105: P a rt I.) R etail prices, 1890 to 1911: P a rt I I —General tables. (B ui. No. 105: P a rt II.) No. 2. R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: P a rt I. (Bui. No. 106: P a rt I.) R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: P a rt I I —General tables. (B ui. No. 106: P a rt II.) No. 3. R etail prices, 1890 to A ugust, 1912. (B ui. No. 108.) No. 4. R etail prices, 1890 to October, 1912. (B ui. No. 110.) No. 5. R etail prices, 1890 to December, 1912. (B ui. No. 113.) No. 6. R etail prices, 1890 to F ebruary, 1913. (B ui. No. 115.) No. 7. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer. (B ui. No. 121.) No. 8. R etail prices, 1890 to April, 1913. (B ui. No. 125.) No. 9. W heat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer. (B ui. No. 130.) No. 10. R etail prices, 1890 to June, 1913. (B ui. No. 132.) No. 11. R etail prices, 1890 to A ugust, 1913. (B ui. No. 136.) No. 12. R etail prices, 1890 to October, 1913. (B ui. No. 138.) No. 13. R etail prices, 1890 to December, 1913. (B ui. No. 140.) No. 14. R etail prices, 1907 to December, 1914. (B ui. No. 156.) No. 15. B u tte r prices, from producer to consumer. (B ui. No. 164.) Wages and Hours o f Labor. No. 1. Wages and hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, an d silk industries, 1890 to 1912. (B ui. No. 128.) No. 2. Wages and hours of labor in th e lum ber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1890 to 1912. (B ui. No 129.) No. 3. U nion scale of wages and hours of labor, 1907 to 1912. (B ui. No. 131.) No. 4. Wages and hours of labor in th e boot a n d shoe and hosiery and k n it goods industries, 1890 to 1912. (B ui. No. 134.) No. 5. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e cigar and clothing industries, 1911 and 1912. (B ui. N o. 135.) No. 6. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e building and repairing of steam railroad cars, 1819 to 1912. (B ui. No. 137.) No. 7. U nion scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1913. (B ui. No. 143.) No. 8. Wages and regularity of em ploym ent in th e dress and w aist industry of New Y ork City. (B ui. No. 146.) No. 9. Wages and regularity of em ploym ent in th e cloak, suit, and sk irt industry. (B ui. No. 147.) No. 10. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e cotton, woolen, an d silk industries, 1907 to 1913. (B ui. No. 150.) No. 11. Wages an d hours of labor in th e iron an d steel ind ustry in th e U nited States, 1907 to 3.912. (B ui. No. 151.) No. 12. Wages an d hours of labor in th e lum ber, millw ork, a nd furniture industries, 1907 to 1913. (B ul. No. 153.) No. 13. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e boot a n d shoe an d hosiery and underw ear industries, 1907 to 1913. (B ui. No. 154.) No. 14. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e clothing and cigar industries, 1911 to 1913. (B ui. No. 161.) No. 15. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e building a n d repairing of steam railroad cars, 1907 to 1913. (B ui. No. 163.) No. 16. Wages a n d hours of labor in th e iron and steel in d ustry in th e U nited States, 1907 to 1911. (B ui. No. 168.) No. 17. U nion scale of wages and hours of labor, May 1, 1914. (B ui. No. 171.) No. 18. Wages and hours of labor in th e hosiery and underw ear industry, 1907 to 1914. (B ui. No. 177.) No. 19. Wages and hours of labor in th e boot and shoe in d u stry , 1907 to 1914. (B ui. No. 178.) fSs* a im th ir d p a g e o f m e a t. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis CONTENTS. Page. Department of Labor conference on employment, held at San Francisco, Cal., August 2 to 6, 1915.............................................................................................. 5-13 Federal employment work of the Department of Labor...................................... 14-16 Conciliation work of the Department of Labor, July 1 to September 15, 1915 .. 16,17 Movement for reduction of hours of labor in the machine trades........................ 17,18 Minimum wage rate based on cost of living for unskilled laborers of New York C ity ...................................................................................................................... 18-21 Recent important collective agreements............................................................... 21-35 Strikes and lockouts in the United States, January 1 to June 30, 1915.............. 35, 36 Immigration in June and July, 1915..................................................................... 36, 37 Labor provisions of the proposed constitution of the State of New Y ork......... 37-43 Retail prices of food in the United States in July, 1911 to 1915......................... 43, 44 Prices of food in various foreign countries: Austria (Vienna).............................................................................................. 44,45 Canada.............................................................................................................. 45, 46 Denmark........................................................................................................... 47, 48 Roumania......................................................................................................... 48, 49 Employment in various foreign countries: Canada.............................................................................................................. 49 Germany........................................................................................................... 50-52 Sweden............................................................................................................. 52 Compulsory reporting by employment exchanges in Germany........................... 53, 54 Unemployment statistics in foreign countries....................................................... 54-77 Strike insurance in Germany................................................................................. 77-85 Strike insurance in Scandinavian countries.......................................................... 86 Official reports relating to labor: United States............................. 86-91 Foreign countries...................................... 92-106 Periodical publications of foreign labor departments and bureaus.................. 106-108 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 3 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF T H E U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS vol. i —n o . 4 W A S H IN G T O N Oc t o b e r , m s DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CONFERENCE ON EMPLOYMENT, HELD AT SAN FRANCISCO, CAL,, AUGUST 2 TO 6, 1915. In response to a letter signed by Hon. William B. Wilson, Secre tary of Labor, dated April 26, 1915, a most successful conference between representatives of the municipal, State, and Federal employ ment agency officers was held at San Francisco early in August. In the letter which called this conference the Secretary of Labor stated that some of the department’s activities were “ quite similar to, and indeed in some respects identical with, those of various State and municipal organizations. Consequently it has been and is the policy and desire of the department to cooperate with such organizations and authorities, in such manner as to avoid duplication of work and waste of resources, by providing for efficient administration and uniformity of methods in accomplishing the aims of the governments mutually concerned. To one of the ways in which it is believed this department can be of special aid to State and municipal organizations I wish to direct your notice at this time. Recently, through the Division of Information of the Bureau of Immigration, distribution branches, or labor exchanges, were established throughout the coun try in order * * * to afford employers in all industries a method by which they may make application for and secure, ’without, expense, such help as they may need. “ In the effort to relieve congestion in the industrial centers the supply of labor for the farm and other rural occupations has been one of the specialties of the system. The Post Office Department, with officers in each town and city, and the Department of Agriculture, with representatives in every agricultural community, are extending to the movement great aid. “As the authorities of the States and municipalities come into closer contact with the people than is possible to Federal authorities, and as under our form of government the States and local govern ments have a wider range of power of the kind needed completely to effectuate the objects in view, cooperation with States and munici https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 6 M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BU R EA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. palities upon this subject of properly and beneficially distributing laborers is of paramount importance in efforts to approximate the maximum of success. “ I have therefore concluded that a conference between the execu tive officers of the department and representatives of the States and municipalities engaged in like activities is highly advisable; hence have decided to invite such representatives to meet those of this department as aforesaid at the city of San Francisco on the 2d day of August next. * * * “A full representation of all official organizations concerned in this matter is very much to be desired.” The representation from the various State employment offices, municipal employment offices, and the officials of organizations formed among these was very satisfactory. The conference met on the morning of August 2 and elected Hon. William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor, chairman; Mr. H. L. Kerwin, secretary; and Miss Hilda Muhlhauser, assistant secretary. A pro gram committee was at once selected from amongst the three branches and the conference took a recess to enable this program committee to report. The committee reported, placing the municipal employment agen cies and bureaus first on the program, thus giving them the oppor tunity to state their case and views on the proposed cooperation. Next followed the State employment bureaus and then the Federal employment systems. The municipal and State delegates occupied somewhat more than a day each and made all present thoroughly conversant with the situation and their attitude. The report of the program committee, as given below, was followed essentially, although the discussion on the floor under the municipal and State bureau heads occupied very much more time than the program would indicate. PR O G RA M . I. Report o f committee on program. T. V. Powderlv, chairman oí program committee. II. Municipal employment agencies and bureaus. Miss Hilda Muhlhauser, vice president, American Association of Public Em ployment Bureaus. III. State employment bureaus. J. P. McLaughlin, State labor commissioner, California. IV. Federal employment system s. (а) Clearing houses for labor distribution: Frederic C. Howe, United States commissioner of immigration, New York. (б) An interlinking system: Ethelbert Stewart, chief statistician, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. J. B. Williams, director of employment, Los Angeles, Cal. H. P. Corcoran, State delegate, "West Virginia. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y REV IEW OE T H E BU R EA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 7 IV. Federal employment system s—Concluded. (c) Distribution work and methods: 1 . Relations of distribution of labor to child labor— Miss Julia Latlirop, Chief Children’s Bureau, United States Depart ment of Labor. 2. Distribution of harvest hands— C. L. Green, general inspector in charge, employment and dis tribution, United States Department of Labor. 3. Methods of employment bureaus from the viewpoint of employers— Cator Wolford, of Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta, Ga. 4. Federal regulation of employment agencies engaged in interstate work— Hon. T. V. Powderly, Chief Division of Information and Employ ment, United States Department of Labor. 5. Development work, municipal, State, and Federal— R. II. Norton, supervisor of Los Angeles County, Cal. (d) Federal relations: Hon. William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor. Hon. Louis F. Post, Assistant Secretary of Labor. Hon. A. Caminetti, Commissioner General of Immigration. In preparing this program the committee has designated the delegates who will open the various subjects, which subjects and subdivisions will be open to discussion by all delegates immediately after the subjects and subdivisions have been introduced by the delegate designated, either by addresses limited to 10 minutes at the discretion of the presiding officer or by the submission of papers on the subject in question. Recommendations o f the program committee to the conference. (1) That the proceedings of this conference be printed and circulated among all municipalities and States. (2) That all resolutions introduced at this conference be referred to the committee ■ on program. (3) That a permanent advisory board, consisting of 12 members, be created, 4 to be selected by the municipal delegates here present, 4 by the State delegates, and 4 to be appointed by the Secretary of the United States Department of Labor. (4) That a Department of Labor conference on employment be called by the Secre tary of the United States Department of Labor annually. The recommendation of the program committee that an advisoryboard of 12 members be created was recognized as the pivotal and vital outcome of the conference, and on the last day the three sections were invited to name separately four members each for this permanent advisory board. The nominations made by each section and adopted by the conference as a whole were as follows: Federal representatives. Mr. C. L. Green, United States Department of Labor, inspector in charge, employ ment and distribution, United States barge office, New York City. Dr. P. L. Prentis, inspector in charge, United States Immigration Service, 845 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 111. Mr. Ethelbert Stewart, chief statistician, Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor, Washington, D. C. Mr..Henry M. White, United States commissioner of immigration, Seattle, Wash. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 8 M O N T H L Y RE V IE W OF T H E B U R EA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. State representatives. Mr. Charles B. Barnes, director, bureau of employment, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York City. Mr. Justin F. Denechaud, secretary, State board of immigration, New Orleans, La. Mr. Luke McCoy, secretary, bureau of labor statistics, State of Illinois, Springfield, 111. Mr. Edward W. Olson, State labor commissioner, Olympia, Wash. City representatives. Mr. H. J. Beckerle, superintendent, public employment bureau, Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. Harry Donoho, superintendent, municipal free employment bureau, 121 Mer chants’ Trust Building, Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. G. Harry Dunderdale, superintendent, city employment bureau, 8 Rneeland Street, Boston, Mass. Miss Hilda Muhlhauser, director girls’ and women’s bureau, State-city labor exchange, City Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. The advisory board met immediately after the conference and organized by electing Ethelbert Stewart, chief statistician of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as chairman, and Miss Hilda Muhlhauser, director girls’ and women’s bureau, State-city labor exchange, Cleveland, Ohio, as secretary. The paramount idea of the conference throughout seemed to be to get machinery in operation by which the unemployed of the coun try can be picked up in one place and put into places where labor is needed. Machinery which is big enough to handle the problem in normal times must first be constructed and then developed into an agency which can handle or at least minimize the difficulties in such abnormal times as 1907 and 1914. It was hoped that ultimately the industries can be so charted that it will be known just what the employing power of an industry is in the months of its maximum pay roll and also of its minimum pay roll and be able to know when in any industry the maximum and minimum will occur. It was sug gested that the seasonal industries could to some extent be pitted against each other, the off season of one industry being the rush season of another, thus one industry could be brought to take up the other’s slack. The magnitude of the normal unemployment was not ignored. It was brought out that, if we include agriculture, there are, based upon the reports of the Bureau of the Census, something over 3,000,000 people idle in the United States an average of 2 months; 2,500,000, an average of 5 months; 736,000 idle an average of 9 | months, mak ing a general average of 2,177,000 persons idle an average of 12 months in the year in normal times in the United States. The machinery which the Department of Labor expressed a desire to establish would set itself first to the relief of this normal unem ployment by seeking to move men from place to place and from https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 9 industry to industry, thus keeping them employed steadily for the year, as far as that is possible. There are already established State employment offices in 23 States, and these, together with the municipal employment bureaus, make 110 State and municipal employment offices. The machinery suggested would be to work cooperatively through all these and through the immigration officials stationed at all the principal points. Information and possibly ultimate assistance in distribution were tentatively proffered by representatives of the Department of Agri culture, which has an agent in each of the 1,301 counties of the United States. At any rate these agriculture agents could be de pended upon to cooperate with the Department of Labor to the extent of acting as signal stations for either jobless men or manless jobs. Representatives of the Post Office Department, with its 50,000 postmasters, were also present and stated that the Post Office Depart ment, in addition to what it was already doing, was ready to con sider the question of instructing all postmasters to act as information agents not only in the distribution of men but also as to the oppor tunities for work. A representative of the Interior Department sig nified the willingness of that department to contribute every assist ance possible through the Reclamation Service and the General Land Office. This cooperation of the various Federal departments could be arranged for by the Department of Labor itself; but to get the cooperation of the State and city officials it has been deemed necessary to bring them together, harmonize their differences, and effect some plan of cooperation. It was made clear that the Department of Labor realized that the city and State employment offices had. their feet on the ground and were in closer touch with the employing manu facturers and also with the unemployed individuals than the Federal officials could ever hope to be. On the other hand, the local city and State officials had to contend with the handicap of local restric tions. The Federal Government in cooperation with city and State officials would give them a larger outlet for the unemployed and a larger intake for the workmen when wanted. It was suggested that the Federal department would be in a measure to the local office wdiat the central Weather Bureau is to the local weather forecaster. It would chart the winds and barometer of employment and unemploy ment and be able to shift the men from one State to another as their services were needed, returning them to their homes when the in dustry of that locality was ready to reemploy them. As stated above, the permanent advisory board was appointed to begin at once the establishment of machinery which will take care of the unemployed in normal times. It was very generally conceded that in abnormal times the industries of the country would be power https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 10 M O N T H L Y RE V IE W OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. less to take up each other’s slack, and that every effort should be brought to bear upon city councils, State legislatures, and the United States Congress so to draft appropriation bills providing for public work that a minimum of work should be done in prosperous times, the appropriations to be stored, as it were, until periods of unemploy ment in general industry occurred. It would then be possible to have available appropriations to employ largo bodies of men on useful public works which had already been planned and provided for. In closing the discussion on the part of the Federal employment system, Secretary Wilson delivered an address which, besides being an authoritative statement of the department’s viewpoint, so com pactly expressed the general results and the general conclusions of the conference that it is given in full. A D DRESS M ADE BY H O N . W ILLIAM B. W ILSO N , SECRETARY O F LABOR, AT D EPA R T M E N T OF LABOR CO N FER EN C E H E L D AT SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., AUGUST 2 TO 6, 19X5. I want to express my great gratification at the many kind things that have been said concerning myself during this conference. But I am not egotist enough to believe that I am anything more than one of the units in this great movement toward bring ing the man and the job together and the man and the land together. A unit who by virtue of the opportunity that has come to him in the official position he occupies may through that official position have more influence than he otherwise would have. There have been a great many thoughts brought out as a result of the discussions in this conference, some of them that it does not seem to me it would be wise for us to immediately pass upon, to immediately come to a conclusion upon. It is better that when we do come to a conclusion it should be a right conclusion than that we should come to an immediate conclusion. That there is need for labor exchanges has been commercially demonstrated. The private labor exchanges came into existence because those who engaged in them originally believed that there was a field for a clearing house for labor, and these who followed the original people in that field have found that there is a field for labor exchanges, and they have found it a profitable business. There might never have been any movement for a municipal labor exchange if it had not been for the fact that private labor exchanges were susceptible to abuse and that they were utilized for purposes that were not legitimate. Tire suspicion that labor organizations have against all lands of labor exchanges—whether private or governmental—grows out of the fact that some of the private labor exchanges Avere used not simply for the purpose of fleecing the workman Avho is out of employment— and who is therefore least able to stand the fleecing process—but were also utilized for the purpose of furnishing strike breakers, wage breakers, and hour lengtheners to private concerns; and hence the antagonism of labor organizations and the suspicion that any governmental agency may be used for the same purpose. That might possibly be the case in a government where all power emanates from above. But it can not possibly be the case in that kind of a government where all power emanates from below. I do not care how progressive or how reactionary the administration of a govern mental labor distribution agency may be, with the power in the hands of the people to control that agency it can never be used as a strike-breaking or a wage-smashing machine. In the first place, it is not the proper function of any labor exchange, private or othenvise, to furnish workmen where there is already a sufficient supply of efficient https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 11 workmen to fill the positions; and where there is a strike in existence there is no ques tion about there being a sufficient supply of workmen there, and there is no question about their efficiency, because they have been used in the positions in the past. The question is not a question of a sufficient supply of work. It is a question of a disagreement between the employer and the employee as to the conditions under which the workers will toil, and in such a situation as that it is not the function of an agency or labor exchange to furnish more men to complicate the situation. It becomes the duty of a mediation board somewhere to step in and adjust the difficulty so that those who are there may be profitably employed. The Department of Labor is but a new administrative department of our Govern ment, and in that department there has been from the beginning the nucleus of a Federal labor exchange, used in a small way because the appropriation was not avail able to make it bigger in the Immigration Service before the Department of Labor came into existence. Since the Department of Labor came into existence we have sought to make its work nation-wide. Not for the purpose of superseding the State agencies in existence, or superseding the municipal agencies in existence, but for the purpose of supplementing those agencies and making their work more effective. If an organization of that kind was always properly administered, the ideal kind of an organization would be a Federal distribution agency with the branches in each one of the States and in each one of our large industrial centers, all responding to. the same central directing head. But such an organization would be a dangerous organization under some circum stances. Whenever the time arrived that the central directing head was opposed to the line of policy of labor exchanges then your entire machinery of labor exchanges would go out of existence. It is a safer policy to pursue, one that will lead to nearly as good results, to have your municipal labor exchanges, your State labor exchanges, and your Federal labor exchange each under a separate management but cooperat ing with each other. Then no one individual can destroy the machinery of labor exchange. After undertaking to establish on a nation-wide basis the Federal labor exchange, we had some experiences which led us to believe that a conference of this kind was advisable in order that we might be able to work out methods of cooperation to the greatest advantage. Our experience in the wheat fields, where the representatives of the department met the State representatives and formulated methods by which labor could be brought from distant points, gave us the impression that possibly in other parts of the country, in other lines of work, the same kind of cooperation could be inaugurated. We built up 18 zones with 18 zone centers, and those zone centers were almost invariably located in some municipality. In some of the municipalities there were municipal labor exchanges, and we found that when we had established those zone centers in a municipality where there was already a labor exchange that instead of centralizing, instead of there being but one governmental clearing house for labor, we had created a condition where there were two governmental clearing houses for labor. And we felt that some method should be devised by which there should be but one governmental clearing house in the same municipality. That was another reason why we felt that a conference of this kind should be held. It has been held. And I think that a great deal of good has come from its being held. I am satisfied that so far as the Federal department is concerned we will be better able to cooperate with the State and municipal branches, knowing their viewpoint, knowing their difficulties, than we would have been able to cooperate with them without knowing those difficulties. We have some agencies, agencies which have been referred to, which neither the State nor the municipal labor exchanges can utilize. The principal one of these is the franking privilege, which belongs to us as a governmental department and which https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 12 M O N T H L Y RE V IE W OF T H E B U R EA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. can be used by iis through the Post Office Department. We are able as a result of that franking privilege to receive a communication from a man who is out of em ployment and who has no means of buying paper or postage stamps telling us of his needs. We are able by means of that franking privilege to convey that information to those who may need the employment of such workmen without further expense to our department. It has occurred to me that possibly if in those cities where we have zone centers and municipal agencies exist we could carry on our business under the same roof and under a joint management, that we might be able to give them the advantage of our franking privilege wThen they operate through our agencies in the same offices. A municipal agency is to a very great extent limited by the boundary lines of the municipality. It may be that occasionally requests for help needed outside of the city are received, but that would be infrequent, so that its activities are to a large extent limited to the municipality itself. There might be an instance whore large numbers of workmen are needed in one city, and where there is a surplus of workmen in another city, and because of the lack of means of communication and because of the jurisdictional limitations the workmen and the jobs could not regularly be brought together. Hence, the need of a State agency. But that also is limited by its territorial jurisdiction. The Federal agency is needed to link these two up; and the one great purpose of this conference is to find a method by which we can link up those three agencies in a manner that wall make each of them most effective. I am concerned with the solution of the problem of unemployment; and I do not believe that the machinery we are endeavoring to build up wTill completely solve the problem of unemployment. But it will reduce that problem and reduce the number of unemployed to the minimum, and when we have reduced the number of unem ployed to the minimum, when we have found all the places that are to be found, and we have filled those places, and there is still a number of unemployed, then we can proceed to a consideration of the causes of that unemployment, and proceed to it unencumbered by the entanglements that otherwise would be around it. There are some things that we may do in that direction. One of those has been referred to by Commissioner Caminetti, a practical “ back to the land ” movement. There has been a surprising growth of our municipalities as compared with our rural communities. That growth comes from a number of causes, first of which is that there are more comforts, more conveniences for the man who is down and out, for the man who is unable to make good anywhere, even upon the streets of our municipalities, than are to be found in some of the homes in our rural communities, with their surroundings. In the second place, we have a large immigration. It has averaged about a million a year for 10 years back. The alien who comes to our shores is unable to go out upon the land. Even if the land were to be had under our homesteading laws with no original cost to him he would still be unable to go out upon tlie land. In the first place, he has not the means to acquire the land; in the second place, he has not the means to equip the land; and in the third place, he has not the means to live until he can get a return from the land. The average man who comes from foreign shores, the average workman in our cities, who has a knowledge of farming can not go out to the land for these reasons. And the same reasons would prevent him from getting credit at any of our banking institutions. Our banking institutions would not be safe; they would not be sound; they would lead us to panic if they were in the habit of granting credit to those who have no security; and so the banking institutions can not furnish relief. These people, then, are in a position where they must find some kind of employment that will give them speedy and regular, even though meager, returns, and they settle in our eities, in our large industrial centers. They remain there. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y RE V IE W OF T H E BU R E A U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 13 There is but one way, it occurs to me, by which that condition can be permanently removed, and that is by finding a way by which those who are familiar with agricul tural pursuits may find a credit that will take them out upon the land, equip the land for them, and give them the means of livelihood until there is a return from the land. We have, as has been stated, received from head tax from immigrants coming into the United States more than $10,000,000 in excess of the cost of operating the Immigration Service. Now, $10,000,000 is a mere bagatelle in handling the problem we have before us, but it is an item that can be used as a rotary fimd over and over again. It was never intended that that head tax should be a revenue. The tax was levied primarily for the purpose of providing the means of operating the Immigration Service; secondarily, for the purpose of protecting the aliens when they arrived here; but the surplus has grown up. If that surplus can be placed in the hands of the Department of Labor, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, to be expended under their joint direction in carrying aliens and others back to the soil, in colonies if possible, where community life can be established and maintained, and some of the difficulties removed that have surrounded our agricultural pursuits, then you are moving toward a solution of the problem. By taking that ten million and utilizing it, and taking these colonists out upon the land, you can secure or have the land primarily as security; and then, in addition to having the land as security you can take the notes of each of the individual settlers upon those lands. And then in the hands of a colony you can take the indorsement of each of them for all of them or all of them for each of them, and you will find a method of security for your investment; so that the Government advancing the money to purchase the land, advancing the money to equip the land, advancing the means by which the workers and colonists upon the land can live, has the security of the individual who goes upon the land and the security of the community of which he is a part. The money will come back and can be used over and over again. There is but one serious difficulty, it occurs to me, in connection with carrying out that method of “ back to the land ” and that is this: That just as soon as the Govern ment begins to carry large numbers of workers back on to the lands, possibly having to purchase the lands at low rates in order to carry out that policy, just as soon as it begins to carry those large numbers back upon the land just that soon the price of land begins to go up, and before very long you have placed yourself in a position where the holders of the land may be able to dictate high prices to the Government when it wants to secure land for settlers. This can be obviated by pursuing a policy, if it can be pursued—and I have not investigated that phase closely enough to know whether or not it can be pursued under our laws and our form of Government—by pursuing a policy that those lands must first be offered to the Government at a given price, stipulated at the time the sale is made to the individual; and if you do that then you prevent the concentration of those small holdings into large holdings, as has been one of the faults of our home steading. You keep the price down of large holdings so that speculators are unable to rob the Government. As I stated, to begin with, the most of the problems we have discussed here during the current week, the most of the thoughts that have been brought out, are of a char acter that requires us to give careful consideration; and my suggestion to you at this time is to go slow in arriving at any conclusions relative to a policy. Digest what has been said here, and wherever there is adverse criticism that you have been unable to answer one of two things exists: Either you have not given sufficient care to the analysis of the problem you are handling or there is something wrong with your method of handling it. Otherwise you would be able to answer the queries that are pro pounded. Take time to digest. Go slowly, but go sure. We are building not alone for time but for eternity as well. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 14 M O N T H L Y BE V IE W OF T H E B U B EA H OF LABOB STA TISTICS. FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. In the M o n t h l y R e v i e w for July, 1915, issued by this Bureau, a resume of the activities of ffie Division of Information of the Bureau of Immigration as a national labor exchange is given, covering the period from its organization to April 30, 1915. Beginning with February, 1915, the Division of Information widened its scope of activities. The work, according to data furnished by the division, is divided into 18 zones. Some of the more important of these are subdivided, and each of these offices is in charge of an immi grant inspector, who receives applications from employers and from those in search of employment and recommends or refers the latter to such vacancies as he thinks suitable and advisable. All the work is rendered without charge. A supply of application blanks for use of either an employer reporting a vacancy or a person making appli cation for work is deposited with every postmaster in the United States. These, when filled out by the applicant, are forwarded by the postmaster under Government frank to the officer in charge of the zone in which the post office is located. The following table shows the number of applicants for positions and the number of places filled, with the number of applications for position per 100 places filled,. February to July, 1915: T O T A L A P P L IC A T IO N S M ADE TO T H E D IV IS IO N O F IN F O R M A T IO N O F T H E B U R E A U O F IM M IG R A T IO N , F E B R U A R Y TO JU L Y , 1915, PL A C E S F IL L E D , A N D N U M B E R OF A P P L IC A T IO N S P E R 100 PL A C E S F IL L E D . M onth A pplicants for posi tions. Places filled. N um ber of appli cations per 100 places filled. F e b ru a ry ..................... M arch. .1 ................... A p ril................... M ay...................................... J u n e .......................... J u ly .................................... 19,474 17,780 12,587 12,132 14,448 18,061 307 849 1,536 3,565 4,682 6,035 6,343.3 2,094.2 819.5 340.3 308.5 299.3 T o tal........................ 94,482 16,974 556.6 The following table shows results of the activities of the division for the month of July, by distributing offices, totals in the various zones, and total for the entire service: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis •M O N TH LY REV IEW OE T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 15 ST A T E M E N T O F A C T IV IT IE S F O R M O N T H O F JU L Y , 1915. O pportunities received. Zone. A pplica tions for help. N um ber of persons applied for. A pplications for em ploym ent. A pplica tions received. N um ber referred to em ploy m ent. N um ber actually employed. No. 1. Boston, M ass........................................ 5 200 159 23 23 No. 2. N ew Y ork, N . Y ................................. Buffalo (subbranch), N . Y ............... 226 5 526 14 1,178 69 405 5 313 5 T o tal............................................ 231 540 1,247 410 318 No. 3. P hiladelphia, P a ................................. P ittsb u rg h (subbranch), P a ............ 20 8 127 12 408 365 73 26 38 17 T o tal............................................ 28 139 773 99 55 N o. 4. Baltim ore, M d..................................... 32 111 342 65 65 No. 5. N orfolk, V a........................................... 10 11 57 5 4 No. 6. Jacksonville, F la ................................. Charleston (subbranch), S. C .......... 83.va,nna.h (s iib b ra n c h \ G a__ B irm ingham , Ala. (su b b ra n c h ).. . . Mobile Ala. (su b b ra n c h )__ 2 1 1 2 i i 106 50 30 23 14 2 5 2 5 T o tal........................................... 4 4 223 7 7 No. 7. N ew Orleans, L a ................................. S ubbranches......................................... 5 287 142 922 16 18 1 1 T o tal............................................ 5 287 1,064 34 2 No. 8. G alveston, T e x .................................... E l Paso, T e x ........................................ A lbuquerque, N . M ex....................... 5 2 17 22 52 3 15 7 1 4 7 1 4 T o tal............................................ 7 39 70 12 12 No. 9. Cleveland, O hio................................... 14 92 181 34 111 No. 10. Chicago, 111............................................ D etroit (subbranch), M ich............... Indianapolis, I n d ................................ Sault Ste. Marie, M ich....................... 55 25 5 3,765 142 24 5,705 982 42 53 3,778 103 24 53 3,775 88 24 53 T o tal............................................ 85 3,931 6,782 3,958 3,940 No. 11. M inneapolis, M inn.............................. 69 72 238 72 72 No. 12. St. Louis, Mo....................................... K ansas C ity (subbranch), M o........ 20 35 25 154 99 302 14 66 14 65 T o tal........................................... 55 179 401 80 79 No. 13. D enver, Colo........................................ S alt Lake City (subbranch), U ta h . 10 10 47 3 6 3 T o tal........................................... 10 10 50 6 3 No. 14. H elena, M ont....................................... Moscow (subbranch), M ont............. 1 1 2 2 18 10 2 2 2 T o tal........................................... 2 4 28 4 4 No. 15. Seattle, "Wash...................................... Aberdeen, W ash ........................ ......... B ellingham , W ash .............................. Colfax, W ash ........................................ E v e re tt, W ash.................................... N o rth Y akim a, W ash ....................... Spokane, W ash.................................... Sum ner, W a sh ..................................... Tacoma (subbranch), W ash ............ W alla W alla (subbranch), W ash ... 43 10 14 94 3 155 20 45 33 17 156 61 65 152 11 259 119 256 111 41 1,054 242 123 256 45 312 179 260 190 321 153 64 65 140 15 259 84 256 111 41 117 64 61 140 14 259 81 256 98 41 T o tal........................................... 434 1,234 2,982 1,188 1,131 8159°—15- -2 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 2 16 M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U R EA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. S T A T E M E N T O F A C T IV IT IE S F O R M O N T H O F JU L Y , 1915—Concluded. O pportunities received. Zone. Applica tions for help. A pplications for em ploym ent. N um ber of persons applied for. A pplica tions received. N um ber referred to employ m ent. N um ber actually employed. No. 16. Portland, Ores?................................. 15 1,500 1,786 136 136 No. 17. San Francisco. Cal............................ Sacramen to, Cal.................................. Fresno, C a l................. E u rek a, C al.......................................... 78 137 103 73 1 1 608 4 1 21 1 1 79 138 634 104 74 174 575 463 6 123 99 T o tal.................................... No. 18. Los Angeles, Cal.................................. San Diego, Cal.................................... Tucson, A riz........................................ T o tal................................ G rand total for all zones........ 84 84 174 1,160 8,665 ' 1,044 123 99 18,061 6,360 6,035 CONCILIATION WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 15, 1915. Under tire authority contained in the organic act of the depart ment to mediate in labor disputes and to appoint commissioners of conciliation in his discretion, the Secretary of Labor, through the commissioners of conciliation, exercised his good offices in 15 labor disputes between July 1 and September 15, 1915. On September 15 negotiations were still pending in 6 of the disputes and in several others only preliminary reports of the results were available, so that the total number of men affected directly and indirectly can be stated in only a portion of the controversies. The employees involved in the controversies, the numbers affected, and the results secured, so far as the facts are available, are shown in the following statement: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y R E V IE W OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 17 N U M B E R O F L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R T H R O U G H IT S C O M M ISSIO N ERS O F C O N C IL IA T IO N , JU L Y 1 TO S E P T . 15, 1915. N um ber of m en J affected. Nam e and locality. Coal & Coke R. R. shopm en....................................................... S trike of p a tte rn m akers, Lake Torpedo B oat Co., Bridge port, Conn. Strike a t Becker Milling M achine P la n t, Boston, Mass . . . S trike a t K eystone Spinning Mills, P hiladelphia, P a ........ Controversy a t p la n t of General Process D ye W orks, Philadelphia, Pa. Strike, Colts Fire A rm s Co., H artford, Conn........................ Controversy a t textile mills of O’Keefe Bros., Philadel p hia, Pa. C ontroversy a t mills of John Brom ley & Son, P hiladel phia, Pa. C ontroversy a t P enn Mills, N orristow n, P a .......................... S trike a t Capewell Horse N ail Co., H artford, Conn, (reopened). Plum bers’ strik e a t Salem, M ass............................................... S trike of railw ay employees, R hode Island Street R y. Co., Providence, R . I. Southeastern coal m in e rs............................................................ Standard Oil Co., Bayonne, N . J .............................................. S trike a t Spinks Textile Mills, P hiladelphia, P a ................. Result. D i rectly. In d i rectly. 181 16 508 Amicable adjustm ent. Do. U nable to adjust. A m icable adjustm ent 200 Pending. Do. Do. 7.000 50 300 147 2.000 1,800 Amicable adjustm ent. Settled. (See note.) 3,000 8,500 1,500 Satisfactorily disposed of. A micable adjustm ent. Pending. Do. Do. N o t e .— Upon application, the department appointed two commissioners of con ciliation, and directed them to proceed to Providence, but upon arrival at that place they ascertained that the street railway strike had been called off and the men were ready to return to work. MOVEMENT FOR REDUCTION OF HOURS OF LABOR IN THE MACHINE TRADES. A movement for the reduction of hours of labor, notable for its rapid progress, is that which has taken place in the machine trades within the last few months. It has chiefly affected the firms having contracts for the making of war munitions, though not exclusively restricted to such establishments. The demands for reduced hours have usually come from the machinists, although other occupations have joined, and in most establishments all employees have received the benefits which have been granted to the machinists. Reduced hours of labor have in all cases been effected with no reduction in weekly wage and in many cases with increased wages. A partial list of the firms which have established the 8-hour day within the past two months has been furnished the bureau by the International Association of Machinists. The following firms have established an 8-hour day, these in most cases involving a reduction of 7 hours in the working week. These changes, it should be stated, were made without a strike except in five firms. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 18 M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E BU REA U OF LABOR «STATISTICS. Ansonia, Conn. O. K. Tool Holder Co. Bridgeport, Conn. American-British Manufacturing Co. Batcheller Corset Co. Bridgeport Body Co. Bridgeport Brass Co. Bridgeport Metal Goods Co. Bryant Electric Co. Bullard Machine Co. Burns & Bassick Co. Crawford Laundry. Electric Cable Co. Grant Manufacturing Co. Harris Engineering Co. Harvey Hubble Co. Hawthorne Co. International Silver Co. Locomobile Company of America. Remington Arms Co. Remington-Union Metallic Cartridge Co. Sprague Motor Co. Standard Manufacturing Co. Warner Corset Co. Wolverine Motor Co. Chicago, III. Automatic Electric Co. Plainfield, N. J. Bosch Magneto Co. Pond Machine Tool Co. Potter Press Co. Sauer Motor Truck Co. Scott Printing Press Co. Yitapbone Co. Hall Printing Press Co. Raleigh, N . C. Raleigh Iron Works. Springfield, M ass. Bosch Magneto Co. Westinghouse Co. Taunton, M ass. Call & Carr Co. Mason Machine Co. Miehle Printing Press Co. Toledo, Ohio. Bunting Brass & Bronze Co. Toledo Machine & Tool Co. Willys-0verland Car Co. Du Pont Powder Works of Wilmington, Del., and other points. The following firms have established a 54-hour week, reducing hours from 55, 58, and in some cases 60 per week: Springfield, M ass. Hendee Motorcycle Co. Taunton, M ass. Bell & Dyer Co. Evans Machine & Stamping Co. Lincoln & Williams Twist Drill Co. Vans Machine & Stamping Co. Toledo, Ohio. Acklyn Stamping Co. Advance Machine Co. Toledo Electro Plating Co. Derby, Conn. Dairy Machine Co. MINIMUM WAGE RATE RASED ON COST OF LIVING FOR UNSKILLED LABORERS OF NEW YORK CITY. The bureau of standards of New Yrork City has recently recom mended to the committee on salaries and grades of the board of estimate and apportionment a schedule of salaries for sweepers in the street cleaning department of from $720 to $840 a year, with increases of $24 after not less than one year in the service. This is the result of a study of the cost of living in New York City and of the rates of wages for unskilled labor prevailing in New York and other cities and in private employment, a study made for the purpose of determin ing the proper wage for unskilled laborers. The bureau reached the conclusion that it is impossible for an unskilled laborer’s family of https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y BEVIE'W EE T H E BUBEAU OF LABOK STA TISTICS. 19 five, consisting of husband, wife, and three children under 14 years of age, to live in New York City on less than $840 a year and main tain a standard of living consistent with American ideas. The bureau, in fixing the minimum salary at $720 instead of $840, pro ceeded on the theory that because of the age at which sweepers usually enter the service they have at the beginning little or no family responsibility. The almost uniform rate of $2.50 a day which the city of New York has paid for some years to unskilled laborers has not been based in any way upon minimum-wage principles or upon studies of the cost of living, although these elements have entered indirectly into the willingness of the laborer to accept the prevailing rate. The action of the bureau in recommending this new schedule is due to the belief, however, that employees should be paid salaries or wages which bear a proper relation to the cost of living for unskilled laborers in the city of New York. The present report covers 57 pages, all but 16 of which are appen dixes giving sources of information and presenting typical family budgets, together with summaries of several studies which have been made of the cost of living for laborers in New York City. Considerable data presented in the report were taken from litera ture prepared by authorities on the standard of living, with special reference to New York City. However, many suggestions, facts, criticisms, and much valuable assistance were obtained personally and by correspondence from different authorities, from public and private organizations and commissions, and from 20 members of the uniformed force of the department of street cleaning. From a careful study of these sources of information and following closely the average indicated by the 20 laborers, the bureau reached the conclusion that a salaiy of $840 is the minimum necessary properly to support or maintain a family of five. This is apportioned as follows: Housing........................................................................................... $168. 00 Car fare........................................................................................... 30. 30 Food................................................................................................ 380. 00 Clothing.......................................................................................... 104. 00 Fuel and light................................................................................ 42. 00 H e a lth ....'-.................................................................................... 20.00 Insurance........................................................................................ 22.88 Sundries: Papers and other readingmatter.................................. $5. 00 Recreation.................................................................... 40. 00 Furniture, utensils, fixtures,moving expenses............ 18. 00 Church dues.................................................................... 5.00 Incidentals...................................................................... 5.00 ------- - 73. 00 Total............................................................- ....................... https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 840.18 20 M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. A family of five people needs at least four rooms, which is slightly above the accepted standard of “ one and one-half persons to a room,” and rents in the tenement districts of New York average $4 per room per person. The amount given in the table is based upon one and one-fourth persons to a room. Car fare is based upon 10 cents a day for 303 working days. In arriving at the expenditure necessary to provide wholesome and nourishing food in considerable quantities, various places where unskilled laborers would naturally purchase food, such as municipal markets, push carts, cooperative stores and neighborhood groceries, were visited, with the result that $7.30 per week was established as the minimum. The clothing estimate was determined in the same manner. The fuel and light estimate is based upon facts submitted by the Consolidated Gas Co. and by public and private relief organizations. In estimating health expenditures no original investigation was made, but it has been demonstrated that the average expenditure resulting from illness and death in workmen’s budgets is $27 per annum, and the bureau adopted $20 as a fair average, based upon the fact that there are more facilities for conserving health in New York City than elsewhere. Insurance was found to be an almost universal item in the budgets of workmen’s families, and the estimate of $22.88 is based upon the assumption that the head of the family should be insured for $500, the wife for $100, and each child for the smallest amount of insurance that can be obtained. The amount allowed for recreation, reading, church, and other incidentals is thought to be sufficient to enable the family to maintain a happy and self-respecting existence. The following table is a summary of the family budgets obtained from members of the uniformed force of the street-cleaning depart ment. It will be noted that in several cases the expenditures do not check against income. Inasmuch as some of the data were obtained by letter, it is probably not surprising if a few of these laborers, not being subjected to examination by an interviewer, should make somewhat inaccurate statements of facts as to their expenditures. Moreover, the average person does not keep an itemized account of expenses and would, therefore, find it difficult to give absolutely reliable information. In general, men of various nationalities with families of five (three children under 14 years) are included. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 21 S T A T E M E N T O F L IV IN G E X P E N S E S F U R N IS H E D B Y 20 M EN E M P L O Y E D IN T H E N E W Y O R K C IT Y S T R E E T C L E A N IN G D E P A R T M E N T . T itle of position. Total in come.! R en t. H ouse T otal In Cloth Fuel Car m use fur expendi and H ealth. sur A fare. Food. ing. light. m ents. nish ance. ture. ings. Sw eeper....................... $776.60 $192. 00 $15.15 $520. 00 $220. 87 $50.00 D o ......................... 1,172.60 132.00 56.30 428.48 388.37 48.30 D o......................... 888. 60 264.00 10. 40 340. 08 204.65 34. 50 D o ......................... 756.60 144. 00 18.20 456. 00 146.90 45. 48 D o ......................... 756.60 174.00 46.80 429.00 224. 99 27. 00 D o ......................... 1,116. 60 144. 00 31.20 416.00 231.08 52. 00 D o ......................... 144.00 30.30 546. 00 245.50 44. 75 D o ......................... 851.60 200.00 15.60 479. 96 120. 72 58.27 D o ......................... 756.60 156.00 15.60 468. 00 223. 55 104.25 D riv er.......................... 776. 00 156.00 15. 60 463. 84 120.14 63. 80 D o ......................... 776. 00 190.00 62.40 488. 80 317. 00 50.00 D o ......................... 951. 52 162.00 546.00 244.10 77.30 D o ......................... 776. 00 156. 00 403.00 85. 00 42. 9o D o ......................... 791. 52 126.00 45.90 502. 70 233. 37 40.80 D o......................... 814. 80 204.00 2.40 520. 00 229.25 66. 30 D o ......................... 791. 52 180. 00 520. 00 233.55 43.90 D o ......................... 814. 80 180. 00 587. 60 250. 90 84.90 D o ..................... . 776. 00 180.00 30.30 616.06 183. 96 75.40 Stablem an................... 756. 60 120. 00 36.40 442.00 160. 30 40. 00 A ssistant stable forem a n ........................... 982.92 228. 00 67. 60 438.36 137.00 29.80 A verage............ 841. 01 171.60 6 31.26 480. 59 210.06 53.98 $53.00 $69.24 30.00 14.00 20. 001____ 15. 00 51.00 20. 00 12.00 40.00 10. 00 32. 40 13.75 27.60 27.00 46.00 3. 00 33.20 20.00 22.40 73. 80 25.00 49 00 30.00 8.00 75. 00 41 00 23. 00 12. 00 9. 00 19. 00 25.00 35.80 15.00 36.40 2.00 77.08 $6.00 $32.70 $1,158.96 25.5C 51.00 1,173.95 13.10 886. 73 2.00 10.00 2 966.58 12.00 945. 79 12.00 50.00 976.28 15. 00 1,067.95 2.00 16. 45 934.35 10.40 25. 00 1,075.80 855. 58 10.00 50.00 1,210. 60 5. 00 1,108.20 12 00 25.00 797.96 21.00 15.00 1,022.77 11. 40 31 ,159. 35 30 00 1 042.45 40. 00 1,171.40 2.00 10.00 «1,176. 72 20.00 22.50 892.60 5.00 10.00 994.84 8 23. 46 6 36.66 8 10. 66j 8 23.37 11,030.94 1 E ach of six m en rep o rted sources of income aside from salary received. 2 This is tak en from th e report; th e correct sum of th e item s is $888.58. 3 This is tak en from th e report; th e correct sum of th e item s is $1,149.35. 4 This is tak en from th e report; th e correct sum of th e item s is $1,158.52. 6 This is th e average of those actually reporting an ex p en d itu re. 8 This is tak en from th e report, b u t is no t a correct average of those actually reporting. T he am ount should be $23.98. 7 This is ta k e n from th e report- th e correct average is $1,025.62. This, how ever, is no t th e sum of the averages, since those for re n t, food, clothing, a n d fuel an d light are based upon 20 m en who reported, while th e others are based upon th e nu m b er actually reporting an e x p en d itu re for each specific purpose. In this connection the report quotes the conclusions of two econo mists concerning the minimum expenditure of a typical unskilled laborer’s family of five persons in New York City. Prof. Howard B. Woolston, member of the State factory investigating commission, states as a general opinion that “ a single man requires at least $1 per day to live. Upon marriage this budget of $365 is necessarily increased by $200. With each child $100 should be added.” Prof. Walter E. Clark, head of the economics department of the College of the City of New York, says that “ $800 is the minimum upon which a family of five persons (three children under 14 years) can maintain a decent standard of living in Now York City. To provide for any legitimate luxuries, or careful savings, $1,000 per year would be abso lutely necessary.” RECENT IMPORTANT COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS. Some of the collective agreements recently signed are of unusual importance as involving large numbers of employees, or as settling seriously disputed questions, or as bringing under the terms of agree ments employees which heretofore have had no agreements. Three https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 22 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR ;STATISTICS.' such agreements are given in full in the following pages. These are the agreements of the employees of the Chicago street railway sur face lines, of the Chicago carpenters, and of the longshoremen of Greater New York and vicinity. The first of these agreements, that of the Chicago street railway employees, is the result of certain demands on the part of the employ ees which were resisted by the companies and finally referred to an arbitration board which determined the terms which were written into the agreement. The agreement, while as of June 1, 1915, incor porates all the details of the arbitration award which was handed down July 16, 1915. The scale of wages prior to the award and the scale as determined by the award are shown in the following state ment: F IR S T Y E A R OF CONTRACT. Old First-year men: First three months................................................................................. Second three months............................................................................. Second six months................................................................................ Second-year men : First six months.................................................................................... Second six months............................................................................ Third-year men............................................................................................. Fourth-year men........................................................................................... Fifth-year men.............................................................................................. New S . ^ 23 26 25 28 26 29 27 28 29 30 31 31 32 31 33 35 23 25 26 27 29 30 27 28 29 32 32 SEC O N D Y E A R OF CONTRACT. First-year men: First three months................................................................................. Second three months.................................................. Second six months..................................... Second-year men: First six months.................................................................................... Second six months........................................ Third-year men............................ Fourth-year men.......................................................................................... Fifth-year men.............................................................................................. Snow-plow and sweeper men...................................................................... 30 34 30 33 34 30 30 M onth. Car-repair foremen (day)................................................ $125 Car-repair foremen (night)...................................................................................... HO Receivers...................................................................... IO5 Tunnel and bridge men.......................................................................................... 75 Flag and crossing men............................................................................................ 05 Mechanics in west-side shops not under union contract will get a 3-cent-an-hour increase. The text of the three agreements follows: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 23 M e m o r a n d u m o p A g r e e m e n t b y a n d B e t w e e n t h e C h ic a g o S u r f a c e L in e s a n d D iv is io n 241 o p t h e A m a l g a m a t e d A s s o c ia t io n o p S t r e e t a n d E l e c t r ic R a il w a y E m p l o y e e s o f A m e r ic a . This agreement, made in duplicate, as of the first day of June, 1915, between the Chicago Surface Lines, representing the Chicago City Railway Co., Chicago Railways Co., The Southern Street Railway Co., Calumet & South Chicago Railway Co. (hereinafter for convenience called the company), party of the first part, and Division 241 of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America, of Chicago, 111. (hereinafter for convenience called the association), party of the second part, witnesseth: S e c t io n 1. The purpose of this agreement is to provide the best and most satisfac tory service to the public, to provide the best possible working conditions for the men, at the same time having due regard to the economical operation of the company’s cars. S e c . 2. The company fully recognizes the association as provided in this agree ment, and will not directly or indirectly interfere with or prevent the joining of the association by any men employed by the company, and it will be entirely satisfactory to the company if they should so join. The company will neither discharge nor discriminate against any employee because of his connection with the association. The association agrees that it will not in any way interfere with or limit the right of the company to discharge or discipline its employees, where sufficient cause can be shown, except for membership in the association. S e c . 3. It is hereby agreed that the properly accredited officers of the company shall meet and treat with the properly accredited officers of the association, on all questions and grievances that may arise in the future, and should there be any that can not be amicably adjusted between the properly accredited officers of the company and the properly accredited officers of the association, same shall be submitted to a temporary board of arbitration, to be selected in the following manner: One arbitrator shall be chosen by the company and one by the representatives of the association. The two arbitrators so chosen shall endeavor to meet daily to select the third, and the three arbitrators so chosen shall then likewise endeavor to meet daily for the purpose of adjusting said grievances, and the decision of a majority of said board submitted in writing to the company and the association shall be binding upon both parties. In the event of the failure of either party to appoint its arbitrator within six (6) days after arbitration is decided upon, the party so failing shall forfeit its case. Each party shall bear the expense of its own arbitration, and the expense of the third arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties hereto. S e c . 4. The company shall endeavor at all times to maintain an adequate and proper extra list. S e c . 5. The company agrees that any employee who upon investigation is found to have been discharged or suspended unjustly shall be reinstated and reimbursed for all time lost from such discharge or suspension. S e c . 6. The company agrees that the officers of the association shall be granted leave of absence on organization business, when so requested. It further agrees that any member of this association who now holds office or shall be elected to any office in said association which requires his absence from the company’s employ shall, upon his retirement from said office, be placed in his former position. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 24 M O N T H L Y RE V IE W OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. The company shall place in the office of each depot of their respective lines an open hook, in which the men can register the particular day or days on which they want to get off, and the men so registered first for any particular day or days shall have the preference. I t is agreed, however, that officers and committees of the association shall be entitled to get off in preference to others when doing business for the associa tion. Said book shall be dated five (5) days ahead, with the understanding that the privilege is not to be abused by either party. S e c . 7. Car repairers, motor repairers, inspectors, dopers, terminal men, car clean ers, car placers, body repairers, and janitors shall have the right to be absent from duty every other Sunday, provided those who desire to exercise this right shall register such desire three (3) days before the particular Sunday so desired in open books to be kept by the company for this purpose in the various car barns; and the company shall not require any such employee so registered to work on any Sunday so registered. In all cases when men are laid off to reduce the force they shall be laid off according to seniority primarily, but consideration may be given to their capacity and fitness, and when men are put on they shall be reinstated according to their seniority standing at the time they were laid off, giving weight to the same consideration. Trainmen shall be allowed to pick runs quarterly, so as to become effective on the 1st day of January, April, July, and October, and all tables shall be posted not less than two (2) days before the quarterly picking term, or any special picking, except in any emergency picking, in which case the tables shall be posted so as to give the men as much time as is practicable before picking runs. When men report to their regular stations and are then required to report to a sta tion other than the station at which they are regularly employed they shall be paid for time going to and returning from such other station, and, if not receiving work at such other station, they shall be paid for an eight (8) hour day, which shall include the time in going from and returning to their regular station. The wage scale hereinafter established shall not operate to reduce the wages or change the conditions of any employee of the company not mentioned or expressly provided for herein below the rate now paid to such employee for the class of work performed by such employee. All trainmen shall be paid their regular scheduled runs and shall not lose any time on account of shortage of cars, breakdowns, etc., or any condition over which they have no control. S ec . 8. The hours of service of trainmen shall be on a basis of a maximum of eleven (11) hours and a minimum of nine (9) horns, (except Sundays); it being understood that all runs shall be made as near ten (10) hours as possible; the company shall not operate any runs of less than nine (9) hours, and in case any such runs shall be less than nine (9) horns, the company shall pay nine (9) hours time therefor. This, how ever, shall not apply to baseball extras, special trolley parties, church extras, or to emergency trips. All week-day runs shall be scheduled for completion within sixteen (16) consecu tive hours. Within one year from the date of the signing of this agreement, the straight runs shall constitute not less than forty (40) per cent of all runs, and within said year, not less than eighty (80) per cent of all runs shall be scheduled for comple tion within fourteen (14) consecutive hours. The company will earnestly endeavor during the life of this agreement, to decrease still further the consecutive hours for the runs above mentioned. The company shall have the right to fix the number of cars running at all hours, and the length of time they shall be on the street, endeavoring at all times to make the work as agreeable to the men as will be consistent with the foregoing. The company agrees that men held for baseball extras, special trolley parties and church extras shall be paid from reporting time until relieved from duty. When https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y RE V IE W OF T H E B U R EA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 25 regular men are detailed for any of the above work and thereby lose their regular day’s work, they shall receive their scheduled day’s pay therefor. All runs on Sunday shall be straight time and shall be paid for actual time only, and shall not exceed nine (9) hours. Trainmen shall be allowed a fall-back for meals on an average of twenty-five (25) minutes. Fail-backs shall be provided on all streets where terminal facilities permit. Where terminal facilities do not permit a fall-back, the men shall be allowed a relief for meals, and shall be paid therefor up to, but not exceeding thirty (30) minutes, it being understood that no runs shall work more than seven (7) consecutive hours wi thout a fail-back or relief for meals. Trainmen will be required to make extra trips after completion of the day’s work only in extreme emergencies and while on such trips shall be paid therefor at the regular rate. All trainmen shall be allowed ten (10) minutes when commencing the day’s work, ten (10) minutes for the second pull-out, and seven (7) minutes after finishing the day’s run, for preparing themselves and their cars, making reports or performing such other duties as may be required by the company in the preparation for, or the com pletion of the day’s work. Ten (10) hours per day, except as hereinafter stated, shall constitute a day’s work for all employees mentioned in this agreement, outside of the train service, and all overtime shall be paid for at the regular rate. (The finding of the arbitrators is as follows: The existing system now in force in regard to “ hours of service on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, for employees other than trainmen,” shall be continued, except as herein changed or modified.) S ec . 9. The company agrees to pay the following wage scales: (1) During the life of this agreement all trainmen now and hereafter in the service of the company shall be paid in accordance with the following wage scale: During the first year (beginning June 1, 1915,) of this award and this agreement as follows: During the first three (3) months of service at the rate of twenty-six (26) cents per hour. During the second three (3) months of service at the rate of twenty-eight (28) cents per hour. During the second six months service at the rate of twenty-nine (29) cents per hour. During the second year of service at the rate of thirty-one (31) cents per hour. During the third year of service at the rate of thirty-two (32) cents per hour. During the fourth year of service, at the rate of thirty-three (33) cents per hour. During the fifth year of service, and thereafter, at the rate of thirty-five (35) cents per hour. During the second year of the time of this award, and the contract, all trainmen now and hereafter in the service of the company shall be paid in accordance with the fol lowing wage scale: During the first three (3) months of service, at the rate of twenty-seven (27) cents per horn*. During the second three (3) months of their service, at the rate of twenty-nine (29) cents per hour. During the second six (6) months of their service, at the rate of thirty (30) cents per hour. During the second year of their service, at the rate of thirty-two (32) cents per hour. During the third year of their service, at the rate of thirty-three (33) cents per hour. During the fourth year of their service, at the rate of thirty-four (34) cents per hour. During the fifth year of their service, and thereafter, at the rate of thirty-six (36) cents per hour. (2) Motormen on sprinkler, cinder, supply, or other cars shall, during the first year of this contract, be paid at the rate of thirty-one (31) cents per hour. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 26 M O N T H L Y REV IEW OP T H E BU REA U OF LABOR STATISTICS. During the second year of this contract they shall be paid at the rate of thirty-two (32) cents per hour. (3) Trolley boys or conductors on sprinkler, cinder, supply, mail or other cars shall be paid at rate of two dollars and thirty cents ($2.30) per day. (4) All men working on snow plows and on snow sweepers and track sweepers shall be paid at the rate of thirty-six (36) cents per hour. Any regular man detailed for the above work who loses his scheduled day’s work shall be paid not less than what his regular run calls for. Trainmen shall be paid for actual time in making out accident reports, and shall receive twenty-five (25) cents per day additional while instructing students. (5) Wages of day foremen of car repairers shall be at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125) per month. Night foremen of car repairers shall receive one hundred and ten dollars ($110) per month. (6) Receivers shall be paid one hundred and five dollars ($105) per month. j (7) Tunnel and bridge men shall be paid seventy-five dollars ($75) per month. ; (8) Flag and crossing men shall be paid sixty-five dollars ($65) per month. (9) All mechanics employed in the West Side shops not covered by contracts with other unions shall receive an increase of pay amounting to three (3) cents per hour. (10) Watchmen employed in the West Side shops shall be paid at the rate of sixtyfive dollars ($65) per month. Conditions as to working hours of the particular watch men affected by this provision are to remain the same. During the life of this agreement the following employees shall be paid in accordance with the following wage scales. (1) Car repairers, motor repairers, inspectors, dopers, and body repairers during their first year of service shall be paid at the rate of two dollars and forty cents ($2.40) per day; during their second year of service, at the rate of two dollars and seventy cents ($2.70) per day; and during their third year of service, and thereafter, at the rate of three dollars ($3) per day. (2) Car placers during their first year of service shall be paid at the rate of two dollars and forty cents ($2.40) per day, and thereafter at the rate of two dollars and seventy-five cents ($2.75) per day. (3) Car cleaners, janitors, terminal men, car washers, grademen, switchmen, switch tenders, switch cleaners, groom men, watchmen, and other men working around sta tions shall be paid during the first year of service at the rate of two dollars and ten cents ($2.10) per day, and thereafter at the rate of two dollars and forty cents ($2.40) per day. Men operating night cars shall receive three dollars ($3) per night for eight (8) hours or less. All-night car runs shall be straight and not more than eight (8) hours. Night-car wages and schedules shall become effective not later than January 1 , 1916. S ec . 10. This agreement shall take effect as of the 1st day of June, A. D. 1915, and shall remain in force until the 1st day of June, A. D. 1917. A greem ent W o r k in g R u l e s B e t w e e n t h e C a r p e n t e r C o n t r a c t o r s ’ A s s o C h ic a g o a n d t h e C a r p e n t e r s ’ D is t r ic t C o u n c il o p C h ic a g o , C o o k a n d V ic in it y , in E f f e c t J u l y 10, 1915, to M a y 31, 1918. and c ia t io n o p County PREAM BLE. We, the members of the Carpenter Contractors’ Association of Chicago, and the mem bers of the Carpenters’ District Council of Chicago, Cook County and vicinity, for the purpose of lawfully promoting our mutual interests and in order to maintain our present peaceful, just, and equitable relations, and in the future to promote and better the conditions in the carpenter trade and the building industry in general, do in good faith, through our officers, enter into the following agreement: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M O N T H L Y REVIEW OF T H E B U REA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. 27 1. This agreement, made this tenth day of July, 1915, by and between the Carpenter Contractors’ Association of Chicago, party of the first part, and the Carpenters’ District Council of Chicago, Cook County and vicinity, party of the second part, for the purpose of preventing strikes and lockouts and facilitating a peaceful adjustment of all griev ances and disputes which may from time to time arise between the employers and employees in this trade: 2. Witnesseth.—That both parties hereby agree that there shall be no strikes, lock outs, or stoppage of work without the sanction of the joint conference board, of which parties hereto are members, and that they will by all lawful means compel their mem bers to comply with the arbitration agreement and working rules as jointly agreed upon and adopted, and that where a member or members, affiliated with either of the two parties to this agreement, refuse to do so, they shall be suspended from mem bership in the association or union to which they belong. It is understood that in all buildings or jobs under construction, alterations, and repairs, no member of the second part shall be deprived of his right as an individual to refuse to work in immediate conjunction with any one in his own trade on any con struction work which is not proceeding in accordance with the terms of the joint arbi tration agreement and working rules mutually agreed on in the trade, and with the terms of the joint agreement in force between the Building Contraction Employers’ Association and the Chicago Building Trades Council. 3. Principles upon which this agreement is based.—Both parties hereto this day hereby adopt the following principles as an absolute basis for their joint agreement and working rules, and to govern the action of the joint arbitration board as hereinafter provided for: 1. That there shall be no limitations as to the amount of work a man shall perform during his working-day. 2. That there shall be no restriction of the use of machinery or tools. 3. That there shall be no restriction of the use of any manufactured material except prison made. 4. That no person shall have the right to interfere with workmen during working hours. 5. That the use of apprentices shall not be prohibited. 6. That the foreman shall be the agent of the employer. 7. That workmen are at liberty to work for whomsoever they see fit, but they shall demand and receive the wages agreed upon by the joint board in this trade under all circumstances. 8. That employers are at liberty to employ and discharge whomsoever they see fit. 4. Arbitration board.—Both parties hereto agree that they will at their annual elec tion each year select an arbitration committee to serve for one year, or until their successors are selected and qualified. In case of death, expulsion, removal, or dis qualification of a member or members of the arbitration committee, such vacancy shall be filled by the association or union at its next regular meeting, party of the first part being conceded the right to elect members of the committee in accordance with the constitution of their association. 5. Number of members.—-The arbitration committee for each of the two parties hereto shall consist of five (5) members, who’shall, within thirty days after the com pletion and signing of this agreement, meet and form the joint arbitration board by electing a president, secretary, treasurer, and umpire, and thereafter meet not later than the third Monday of January in each year in joint session when they shall organize a joint arbitration board for the ensuing year. 6. Qualification of members of the arbitration board.—No member who is not engaged in the trade, or holds a public office, either elective or appointive, under the munic ipal, county, State, or National Government, shall be eligible to act as the representa tive in this trade joint arbitration board; and any member shall become disqualified https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 28 M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U R E A U O F LABOR STA TISTICS. to a^t as a member of this trade joint arbitration board and cease to be a member thereof immediately upon his election or appointment to any public office of employ ment. This clause, however, may be waived by unanimous consent of the joint arbitration board. 7. Umpire.—An umpire shall be selected who is in no wise affiliated with this trade. In the event of any umpire for any reason being unable to serve, any unsettled dispute within the jurisdiction of this agreement shall be settled by the joint conference board and its decision shall be final and binding upon all parties to this agreement. 8. Joint conference board.—Both parties to this agreement hereby agree to recog nize and abide by the decisions of the joint conference board created under the terms of the joint agreement between the Building Construction Employers’ Association and the Chicago Building Trades Council of which the parties to this agreement are mem bers. Should a dispute arise between either party to this agreement and any other body of employers or employees and the parties in controversy are unable to adjust the same, said dispute will at once be taken up and decided by the joint conference board. 9. Power of board.—The joint arbitration board shall have full power to enforce this agreement entered into between the parties hereto and to make and enforce all lawful working rules governing both parties. No strikes or lockouts shall be resorted to pending the decision of the joint arbitration board or the joint conference board. 10. Time of meeting.—The j oint arbitration board shall meet upon seventy-two hours’ notice to transact business, upon written request of either party hereto, unless other wise provided for in this agreement. 11. Rules of procedure.—When a dispute or grievance arises between a journeyman and his employer (parties hereto) the question at issue shall be submitted in writing to the presidents of the two organizations, and upon their failure to meet within fortyeight hours and agree and settle it, or if one party to the dispute is dissatisfied with their decision it shall then be submitted to the joint arbitration board at their next meeting. They shall hear the evidence and decide in accordance therewith. All verdicts shall be decided by majority vote, by secret ballot, be rendered in writing, and be final and binding upon both parties. If the joint arbitration board is unable to agree, the umpire shall be requested to sit with them, and, after he has heard the evidence, cast the deciding vote. In the event of any dispute or grievance arising between the officers, business agents, or individual members’of the party of the second part and their employers, party of the first part, or their officials or individual members for any cause whatsoever, there shall be no cessation or abandonment of the work on the part of either party to this agreement or any of their members, individually or collectively, but such grievance or dispute shall be settled as provided for in articles 2, 8, and 11 of this agreement. 12. Power to summon members.—The joint arbitration board has the right to summon any member or members affiliated with either party hereto against whom complaint is lodged for breaking this joint arbitration agreement or working rules, and also to appear as witness. The summons shall be handed to the president or secretary of the association or union to which the member belongs, and he shall cause the member or members to be notified to appear before the joint arbitration board on the date set. Failure to appear when notified, except (in the opinion of the board) valid excuse is given, shall subject a member to a fine of twenty-five dollars for the first default, fifty dollars for the second, and suspension for the third. 13. Salary.—The salary of a representative of the joint arbitration board shall be paid by the association or union he represents. 14. Stopping of work and penalties.—No member or members affiliated with second party shall leave his or their work because nonunion men in some other line than that of building construction work are employed on the building or job or because nonunion men in any line of work or trade are employed (except on building construction https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 29 work) on any other building or job, or stop, or cause to be stopped, any work under construction for any member or members affiliated with the first party except as pro vided in this agreement, under penalty of a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars. Any member or members affiliated with the first party, except as provided in any part of this agreement or the working rules established by the joint arbitration board, shall be subject to a fine of from ten to two hundred dollars, which fine shall be collected by the president of the association or union to which the offending member or members belong, and by him paid to the treasurer of the joint arbitration board not later than thirty days after the date of levying of the fine. 15. Collection of 'penalties and suspension.—Ii the fine is not paid by the offender or offenders, it shall be paid out of the treasury of the association or union of which the offender or offenders were members at the time the fine was levied against him or them, and within sixty days from date of levying same, or in lieu thereof the association or Union to which he or they belong shall suspend the offender or offenders and officially certify such suspension to the joint arbitration board within sixty days from the time of fining, and the joint arbitration board shall cause a suspension decree to be read by the president of both the association and the union at their next regular meeting. No one who has been suspended from the membership in the association or union for neglect or refusal to abide by the decision of the joint arbitration board can again be ad mitted to membership except by paying his fine or by unanimous consent of the joint arbitration board. All fines assessed by the joint arbitration board and collected dur ing the year shall be distributed as provided for in article 14 of the working rules. 16. Abandonment of work.—The abandonment of work by the individual members of the party of the second part, either separately or collectively, by concerted or separate action, on any building or buildings, being constructed by or for any member or party of the first part, will be considered a breach of this agreement, unless the party of the second part, upon demand, furnishes within twenty-four (24) hours an equal number of competent men for such work. 17. Scarcity of help.—If after forty-eight hours’ notice to the party of the second part they are unable to furnish to all members of parties of the first part a required number of mechanics, then the party of the first part shall be entitled to procure and employ the men required. Such men shall be affiliated with the international union of whom the party of the second part is a part and shall be amenable to the rules and regulations of the local union of the party of the second part. 18. Quorum.—Two-thirds of the members present (but not less than two of any one party) shall constitute a quorum in the joint arbitration board, but the chairman of each of the two arbitration committees shall have the right to cast a vote in the joint arbitration board for any absent member of his committee. 19. Foreman.—The foreman, if any, shall be selected by and be the agent of the employer. He shall be a competent mechanic in his trade, and subject to the terms of this agreement and its working rules, and decisions of the joint arbitration board. 20. Steward.—The steward, if any, shall represent the journeymen. He shall be elected by and from among the men in his trade working on the same building or job, and shall, while acting as steward, be subject to the rules and decisions of the joint arbitration board. No salary shall be paid to a journeyman for acting as steward. He shall not leave his work or interfere with workmen during working hours. He shall always, while at work, carry a copy of the working rules with him. 21. Rights of presidents to visit jobs.—The presidents or their representatives, carrying proper credentials, shall be allowed to visit jobs during working hours to interview the contractor, steward, or men at work, but shall in no way hinder the progress of the work. 22. Handling of tools, etc.—The handling of all tools, etc., working machinery, and appliances shall be done by members, parties to this agreement, and helpers in the trade, who are using the same in their work. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 30 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 23. Holidays.—The following days (or days celebrated as such) shall he recognized as legal holidays: New Year’s Day, Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. No work shall be done on these days, except to protect life or property. 24. Affiliations.—Both parties to this agreement hereby agree that they will not affiliate or connect themselves with any other body whose rules or by-laws, now or in the future, conflict with this agreement. 25. Conflicting rules.—No by-laws or rules conflicting with the arbitration agreement or working rules agreed upon shall be passed or enforced by either party hereto against any of its affiliated members. 26. Termination of agreement.—It is agreed by both parties that this agreement shall remain in' full force and effect from the date of the same to May 31, 1918. Parties to this agreement further agree that the joint arbitration board shall meet and complete a new agreement on or before February 1, 1918. WORKING RULES. , A r t ic l e I . —Hours. Eight hours shall constitute a day’s work, between the hours of 8 a. m. and 5 p. m., except on Saturday, when work shall stop at twelve o’clock noon, with four hours’ pay for that day. A r t ic l e I I . —Overtime and holidays. Double time shall be paid for all work done after the regular workday and there shall be an intermission of not less than thirty minutes before resuming work, unless other wise ordered by either of the two presidents. Double time shall be paid for all work done from 12.30 Saturday noon until Monday morning, 7.30, and the following six holidays, or days celebrated as such: Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Sunday and holiday time to cover any time during the 24 hours of said calendar day. No work shall be done between 12.30 Saturday noon and 7.30 a. m. Monday and all holidays without a permit from the carpenters’ district council on Saturday morning. Party of the first part shall at once be notified by both telephone and letter of the issuing of any such permits and they shall also be reported at the next regular meeting of the joint arbitration board, giving the names of employer, location of job, and number of men employed. A r t ic l e III. — Extra shifts. When work is carried on in two or more shifts, the second and third shifts shall receive eight hours’ pay for seven hours’ work; any less than seven hours to be consid ered as overtime, unless owing to bad weather or conditions beyond the control of the contractor. The same men shall not work on more than one shift. Double time for all Sundays and above-mentioned holidays. A r t ic l e IV.—Labor Day. No work shall be done on Labor Day, except by written consent of the two presidents. A r t ic l e Y.—Wages. The minimum rate of wages until May 31, 1918, shall be 70 cents per hour, payable in currency of the United States. The party of the second part shall receive the wages agreed upon by the joint arbitration board in this trade under all circumstances. It is further agreed by the parties of the first part to hire no one in this trade except to whom he or they shall pay the wages agreed upon by the joint arbitration board. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY EE VIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOE STATISTICS. A r t ic l e Y I .— Pay 31 Day. It is agreed that the workmen shall be paid on Tuesday of each week, except when the regular pay day is a legal holiday, in which case the contractor shall pay the day before or the day after the regular pay day at his discretion. Contractors may have the privilege of paying on Saturday by making a written appli cation to the joint arbitration board, the wages to be paid on the work in full up to and including the Thursday night preceding pay day. When paying on Tuesday, •wages to be paid in full up to and including Saturday night preceding pay day, in all cases no later than quitting time. When the workman quits of his own accord he shall receive his pay on the next regular pay day. When a man is discharged, or laid off, if he so requests he shall be paid either in cash on the work, or given a time check, with one hour extra added for traveling time, said extra hour to be added by the person giving the time check, which shall be paid upon presentation at the office of the employer, and if it is not paid promptly upon his arrival at the office, and if he remains there during working hours he shall be paid the minimum wages for such waiting time, Sundays and holidays excepted. Every contractor shall provide a reasonably safe place for storing workmen’s tools on each job, and if any complaint comes from the steward on the job it shall be investigated by the two presidents, or their representatives, and if they can not agree, same shall be at once taken up by the joint arbitration board. After notice to the contractor, either by the two presidents or their representatives, or the joint arbitra tion board, that a safe place has not been provided, then the contractor shall pay fifty per cent of any loss sustained by workmen by reason of loss sustained for stolen tools. A r t ic l e YII. No contractor, party to this agreement, will sublet, piece, or lump outhis carpentry, or any part thereof, except millwork or stair work. Where stair work is sublet, it is to be let directly to the manufacturer. Nor will any journeyman, who is affiliated with the party of the second part, work for any person who takes piece or lump work in any shape or manner, neither will any journeyman work for any employer at carpentry who is not a member of the original parties to this agreement, unless such employer shall have come to the joint arbitration board and shall have read and voluntarily signed this agreement, as party of the first part and agrees to be bound thereby, the same as any member of the first party hereto. Upon doing this the joint arbitration board will issue a certificate for 12 months, which shall be renewed upon application every 12 months, and for which a fee of $6.00 will be charged for each period of twelve months, to be paid to the treasurer of the joint arbitration board to help defray expenses of the joint arbitration board, and if there should be any left at the end of the year the same is to be divided equally between the Carpenter Contractors’ Association and the Carpenters’ District Council. All employers will post conspicuously the name and address of the employer on the building or job where any member of the second party is employed. I t is agreed that no contractor, or any member of any contracting firm, parties hereto, will use tools on any job except for the purpose of superintending or laying out work, or for the purpose of demonstration, the correction of construction errors, testing, etc., or Avhere the contractor is primarily engaged in job work. Nothing in this article shall apply to city, county, State, or maintenance men. A r t ic l e V III. Any member of the second party to this agreement who is, or desires to become a contractor, shall first sign this agreement in duplicate, as party of the first part, and shall then obtain a certificate from the joint arbitration board to such effect, without cost to him, which certificate shall be surrendered upon such member going back to work as a journeyman. 8159°—15— 3 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 32 MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. A r t ic l e IX .—Carpenter work described. It is mutually agreed that the party of the first part will furnish all the material, and party of the second part will furnish all the labor required for the carpenter work in the erection and completion of any and all buildings and jobs (the erection of the staging and scaffolding for masons and plasterers and boxing for concrete footing may at the option of the employer be considered carpenter work); all other false work, all wood floors and framing, wood centers for all arches (except hanging centers for tile fireproof arches, without reinforced concrete), all sidewalk and building pro tection, boxing for concrete walls and piers, fitting and hanging of wood sash, tran soms, and doors, including wardrobes and china-closet doors, cutting and fitting all butts, weather strips, coping and mitering base, chair rail and plate rail, cutting and nailing in all stops, building and erecting all stairs. This agreement covers the manufacture of and erection of all stair work, including all bench and machine work; also all soffits, paneling, wainscoting and railing, all seats, beams, columns, and pilasters connected with the stairs. The setting and erection of all metal-covered trim or doors, and all hollow steel trim or doors, stripping for metal ceilings, boxing for metal cornices, all cork floors, all millwright work, transite asbestos wood, beaver board, and asphalt shingles shall be covered by this agreement. A r t ic l e X.—Working conditions. The party of the second part will not work with carpenters except they are affiliated with the Carpenters’ District Council. No member or parties to this agreement shall work on any building or job where laborers or any other trades are permitted to do carpenter work of any kind. A r t ic l e X I.—Steward. Wherever two or more journeymen, members of the second party, are working together a steward shall be selected by them from their number to represent them, who shall, while acting as steward, be subject to the rules and decisions of the joint arbitration board. The steward’s book shall be open to inspection by the presidents or their repre sentatives. The steward shall not be discharged for the performance of his duties as pre scribed in this agreement. A r t ic l e X II.—Meetings. The joint arbitration board shall meet to transact routine business on the first Thursday in each month, but special meetings shall be called on one day’s notice by the presidents of the two organizations, or upon application of three members of the joint arbitration board. A r t ic l e X III.—Fines as result of arbitration. Any person, firm, or corporation, parties hereto, violating any part of the agreement or working rules established by the joint arbitration board shall be subject to a fine of from ten to two hundred dollars for each violation. Other parties to this agreement shall pay fines direct to the treasurer of the joint arbitration board. In no case shall the parties hereto be permitted to employ or work for any one who has been found guilty of violating any part of this agreement, if said fine is not paid to the treasurer of the joint arbitration board within thirtv davs. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. A r t ic l e 33 XIY. The joint arbitration board shall have the right to pay any necessary expenses out of the treasury of the board. The treasurer of the joint arbitration board shall, if required, make a report to the board of the funds in his hands at any regular meeting. The treasurer of the joint arbitration board shall, at the regular meeting of the board in June and December, pay to the Carpenters’ District Council such fines that have been collected from its members during the preceding six months, and likewise the treasurer of the joint arbitration board shall pay to the Carpenter Contractors’ Associa tion of Chicago such fines as have been collected from its members during the pre ceding six months. All other funds in the hands of the treasurer, after deducting the expenses of the board, shall be divided equally between the Carpenters’ District Council and Carpenter Contractors’ Association of Chicago. The treasurer of the joint arbitration board shall, before entering upon his duties, file with the president of the joint arbitration board a bond of indemnity from a surety company, to be paid out of the funds of the joint arbitration board and payable to the joint arbitration board, for an amount to be determined by the joint arbitration board. A r t ic l e XV. No person, firm, or corporation, parties hereto, will work on or take a contract for any building or job where there remains money due to any member of either party to this agreement (or on which there is any unsettled dispute affecting any member of either party to this agreement without written consent of the joint arbitration board). CARPENTER APPRENTICES. Apprentice rules adopted by the joint arbitration board, the Carpenter Contractors' Associa tion of Chicago, and the Carpenters' District Council of Chicago, Cook County, arid Vicinity. A r t ic l e XYI. S e c t io n 1. Each responsible party to this agreement shall have the right to teach his trade to apprentices, and the said apprentices shall serve four years, as prescribed in the apprentice rules as agreed upon by the joint arbitration board, and shall be subject to the control of the said arbitration board. S ec . 2. Apprentices shall be under the jurisdiction of the joint arbitration board, which has the authority to control them and protect their interests subject to approved indentures entered into with their employers and the rules adopted by the joint board. S e c . 3. The applicant for apprenticeship shall not be more than 17 years of age at the time of making application, except under conditions satisfactory to the two presidents. Applicants more than 17 years old must bring satisfactory proof of having worked at the trade. S e c . 4 . The contractor taking an apprentice shall engage to keep him at work in the trade for nine consecutive months in each year and see that during the remaining three months of the year the apprentice attends school during January, February, and March, and a certificate of attendance from the principal of the school attended must be furnished the joint arbitration board as a compliance with this requirement before he is allowed to work during the coming year. Sec . 5. A contractor taking an apprentice shall keep him steadily at work or school; failing to do so. he shall pay him the same as though he had worked for him. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 34 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Sec . 6. In case an apprentice at tlie end of Ms term of four years, for want of proper instruction in the trade, is not a proficient workman, and if after a thorough investi gation the joint arbitration board finds the contractor to whom he was apprenticed did not give him proper instruction and an opportunity to learn his trade, he may be required to serve another year, with whom he and the joint arbitration board may determine, and at a rate of wages (less than the minimum) in his trade they may determine, and the difference between that rate and the minimum scale in his trade shall be paid him through the joint arbitration board by the contractor to whom he was apprenticed. S ec . 7. A contractor entitled to an apprentice may take one on trial for two weeks, provided that applicant holds a permit from the joint arbitration board, and if after said trial conditions are satisfactory to both parties they will be required to sign indentures agreeable to the joint arbitration board. If not satisfactory, the con tractor is not bound to indenture him, but he will be required to pay the boy $6 per week for the two weeks. No boy will be allowed a trial with more than two contractors, or a contractor with more than two boys consecutively. S ec . 8. The rate of wages of an apprentice at the date of indenture shall in no case be less than three hundred sixty-four dollars for the first year, four hundred forty-two dollars the second year, five hundred and twenty dollars for the third year, six hun dred and seventy-six dollars for the fourth year, payable in lawful money of the United States, and shall be paid in fifty-two weekly installments at the following rate per week of: Seven dollars for the first year, eight dollars and fifty cents for the second year, ten dollars for the third year, and thirteen dollars for the fourth year. S ec . 9. The issuing of permits for an apprentice to work for another contractor when the one to whom he is apprenticed has no work shall be left to the joint arbitra tion board. S ec . 10. The contractor shall not have more than two apprentices at any one time. S ec . 11. Contractors shall be allowed apprentices on the following basis: Yearly average of four journeymen, one apprentice. Yearly average of ten journeymen, two apprentices. S ec . 12 . The apprentice upon completing his indenture shall report to the joint arbitration board and shall, after furnishing said board with, satisfactory proof of his competence as a skillful mechanic in his trade, receive a certificate approved by the board which shall entitle liim to a journeyman working card. A rticle XVII. It is further agreed by and between the parties hereto that power shall be vested in the joint arbitration board to interpret the spirit as well as the letter of this agreement, and in order to maintain justice and equity between the parties hereto, the joint arbitration board is hereby given power to enforce the spirit as well as the letter of this agreement. A r t ic l e X V III.— Termination. It is agreed by the parties that this agreement shall be in full force between the parties hereto until May 31, 1918. M em o ran d u m op A greem ent. This agreement made and entered into by and between the steamship agents and stevedores of the port of Greater New York and vicinity and whose names are hereto atttached, as party of the first part, and the International Longshoremen’s Association and its affiliated locals, as party of the second part, and is meant to cover the loading and unloading of ships in the port of Greater New York and vicinity. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY KEVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 35 1 . Members of the party of the second part to have the preference of all work per taining to the rigging up of the ships as is done at the present time and the discharg ing and loading of all cargoes under the following terms and conditions: WAGE SCALE. 2. Day work, 7 a. m. to 12 noon; 1 p. m. to 6 p. m„, thirty-five (35) cents per hourNight work, 7 p. m. to 12 midnight; 1 a. m. to 6 a. m., fifty (50) cents per hour. Legal holidays, fifty (50) cents per hour, except Sundays, Christmas, and Fourth of July, which shall be sixty (60) cents per hour. Meal hours when worked, sixty (60) cents per hour. Meal hours shall be as follows: 6 a. m. to 7 a. m.; 12 noon to 1 p. m.; 6 p. m. to 7 p .m .; 12 midnight to 1 a.m. Men shall receive sixty (60) cents per hour for work performed on Good Friday on the Jersey shore. 3. Double time shall be paid men when handling munitions and explosives. Time to start from the time of leaving pier until the time of return to pier. Meals to be fur nished by the company. 4. All disputes, grievances, or controversies arising under this agreement shall be settled by the representative of the party of the first part and the representative of the party of the second part. If it can not be settled by them, then it shall be sub mitted to arbitration, one man to represent the party of the first part and one man to represent the party of the second part, these two to choose a third disinterested man, the finding of a majority of this board to be final and binding, both to abide thereby, and work shall continue uninterrupted pending arbitration. The matter in dispute must be submitted within five days after the occurrence of same. 5. There shall be no beer or other intoxicating liquors brought upon the property of the party of the first part. For a violation of this clause the guilty party may be discharged and given no further employment by the party of the first part. 6. The party of the second part will not try to uphold incompetency, shirking of work, pilfering or poaching of cargo. Any man guilty of the above offenses shall be dealt with as party of the first part sees fit or as the circumstances may require. 7. There shall be no discrimination by the party of the first part against any mem ber of the party of the second part, nor shall the party of the second part discriminate against the party of the first part. 8. When the party of the second part can not furnish a sufficient number of men to perform the work in a satisfactory manner, then the party of the first part may employ such other men as are available. 9. All conditions not herein mentioned to remain as heretofore. 10. This agreement to go into effect and remain in full force and effect until dis continued by either party. Signed for employers. Signed for International Longshoremen’s Association. Goes into effect September 1 , 1915. STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN THE UNITED STATES, JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 1915. The number of strikes and lockouts in the United States during the first six months of 1915, including those which began prior to January 1, 1915, and remaining unsettled on that date, was 658, according to data compiled by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics from newspaper and other sources. This number is but slightly larger than that shown for the first half of 1914, namely, 646. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 36 M O N T H L Y REV IEW OF T H E B U R EA U OF LABOR STA TISTICS. The 12 groups of industries in which the number of strikes exceeded 10 included 536, or 81 per cent, of the whole number of strikes and were as follows: N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O F S T R IK E S IN 12 G R O U P S O F IN D U S T R IE S E A C H R E P O R T IN G M O R E T H A N 10 S T R IK E S . In d u stry . B uilding trad es.......................... M etal tra d e s................................ C lothing in d u strie s................... B a k in g ln d u stry ........................ T extile in d u s try ......................... M ining in d u s try ......................... N um ber. P er cent. 155 124 50 44 36 31 23.6 18.8 7.6 6.7 5.5 4.7 In d u stry . N um ber. P er cent. T ran sp o rtatio n ........................... L u m b e r.................................. .. T eam sters.................................... Brew ery in d u s try ...................... Glassworking in d u s try ............ Theatrical stage e m p lo y e es... 23 22 16 13 35 3 3 2.4 2.0 1.7 1.7 u n IMMIGRATION IN JUNE AND JULY, 1915. Data furnished by the Bureau of Immigration of the Department of Labor continue to show a marked decrease in the number of im migrants admitted to the United States. In the August issue of the M o n t h l y R e v i e w comparative data were published relative to immigration showing the number of immigrant aliens admitted to and of emigrant aliens departing from the United States for the first half of the years 1914 and 1915. The decrease there noticed con tinued through July and August, 1915. The table which follows shows the movement in June and July, 1914 and 1915, by races, while preliminary figures for August, 1915, furnished by the Bureau of Immigration show that the number of aliens arriving during the month at all ports was 30,762. Compared with similar data for August, 1913 (147,350), and August, 1914 (56,287), a decrease of 79.0 and 45.3 per cent, respectively, is noticed. IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D TO , A N D E M IG R A N T A L IE N S D E P A R T IN G FR O M , T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S D U R IN G JU N E A N D JU L Y , 1914 A N D 1915. A dm itted. Races. African (b la c k )......................................... A rm enian................................................... Bohem ian an d M oravian....................... B ulgarian, Servian, M ontenegrin........ C hinese....................................................... C roatian an d Slovenian......................... C u b an ......................................................... D alm atian, Bosnian, H erzegovinian.. D u tch an d F le m ish ................................ E a s t In d ia n ............................................... E n g lish ....................................................... F in n ish ....................................................... F re n c h ........................................................ G erm an....................................................... G reek.......................................................... https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis June. D eparting. July. June. 1914 1915 1914 1915 1914 1,060 230 590 ' 798 185 1,465 388 200 784 12 4,173 882 1,170 5,816 3,040 487 41 77 258 293 78 432 4 288 6 3,099 368 889 1,034 998 1,003 226 592 627 228 669 722 78 737 16 3,247 622 1,060 5,271 2,551 486 30 54 419 357 54 454 12 548 11 2,787 341 834 798 2,314 225 190 174 526 89 2,203 94 91 316 5 1,331 537 452 1,705 1,207 July. 1915 243 152 4 59 115 8 191 76 18 1,054 79 300 72 519 1914 197 82 94 313 174 1,361 119 44 228 1,356 256 375 991 859 1915 210 58 4 50 4 109 1 39 4 578 48 48 30 185 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 37 IM M IG R A N T A L IE N S A D M IT T E D TO , A N D E M IG R A N T A L IE N S D E P A R T IN G F R O M , T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S D U R IN G J U N E A N D JU L Y , 1914 A N D 1915—Concluded. A d m itted . Races. June. 1914 D eparting. Ju ly . 1915 1914 1915 H eb rew ....................................................... 10,113 Iris h ............................................................. 2,586 Ita lia n (n o rth ).......................................... 1,733 Ita lia n (so u th ).......................................... 9,012 '807 Japanese..................................................... K orean ....................................................... 18 L ith u a n ia n ................................................ 1,710 3,002 M agyar....................................................... 654 M exican...................................................... Pacific Isla n d er........................................ P o lish .......................................................... 6,827 1,022 P ortuguese................................................ 1,031 R o u m a n ian ............................................... R u ssia n ...................................................... 2,290 R u th e n ian (R u ssn ia k )........................... 2,119 Scan d in av ian ............................................ 2,789 1,720 Scotch......................................................... S lov ak ......................................................... 1,483 '658 S panish....................................................... 186 Spanish-A m erican................................... 558 S y rian ......................................................... 54 T urk ish ....................................................... 199 W elsh .......................................................... 120 W est In d ian (except C u b an )............... 244 O ther peoples............................................ N ot specified.............................................. 811 2,648 485 2,358 722 8 36 44 1,076 12,182 1.481 1.482 6,684 793 26 1,634 2,158 820 1 5,092 489 634 1,383 L 591 L840 1,163 1,320 611 118 492 61 156 125 212 1,357 1,530 423 1,913 903 11 35 64 1,121 2 350 758 41 330 160 1,027 937 42 420 143 40 20 96 84 198 T o ta l.......... ............................. 71,72» P er cent decline, 1915............................. 22,598 68.49 60,377 21,504 64.4 229 848 37 308 144 1,875 1,125 12 747 199 69 21 99 115 230 July. June. 1914 1915 1914 1,073 57 236 236 3,570 90 6 16 12 14 671 621 832 5,841 69 1 498 1,137 52 3 3,949 180 338 2,093 482 676 458 804 371 78 180 1,371 6j276 77 5 720 1,919 144 1.53 40 3 846 1915 12 141 457 4,649 69 6 4 6 26 5,802 154 548 2,794 762 1,200 431 1,653 425 74 123 109 52 58 111 2,611 76 70 5 606 353 226 19 381 61 6 8 33 36 50 1,488 28 71 59 2,600 44 30 1,481 38,413 10,830 28,601 9,861 229 168 6 179 42 22 1 7 LABOR PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The constitutional convention of the State of New York, recently adjourned, considered a number of suggestions bearing upon the industrial interests of the State. Those affecting labor that were ultimately adopted by the convention are reproduced below. Matter contained in the present constitution is printed in roman type, amendments and new sections being printed in italics. A r t ic l e I .—Civil rights—Protection of workmen—Compensation for injuries or disease. S ec . 18. Except in the cases provided for in the next section, the right of action now existing to recover damages for injuries resulting in death shall never be abrogated and the amount recoverable shall not he subject to any statutory limitation. S ec . 19. Nothing contained in this constitution shall be construed to limit the power of the legislature to enact laws for the protection of the lives, health, or safety of employees; or for the payment, either by employers, or by employers and employees or otherwise, either directly or through a State or other system of insurance or other wise, of compensation for injuries to or occupational diseases of employees or for death of employees resulting from such injuries or diseases without regard to fault as a cause thereof, except where the injury is occasioned by the willful intention of the injured employee to bring about the injury or death of himself or of another, or where the injury results solely from the intoxication of the injured employee while on duty; or for the adjustment, determination and settlement, with or without trial by jury, of https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 38 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. issues which may arise under such legislation; or providing that the right to such compensation, and the remedy therefor shall be exclusive of all other rights and remedies for such injuries or diseases or death. But all moneys paid by an employer, by reason of the enactment of any of the laws herein authorized, shall be deemed a part of the cost of operating the business of the employer. A r t ic l e III.—Legislature—Power as to prison labor—Tenement house manufacturing. S ec . 28. The legislature shall, by law, provide for the occupation and employment of prisoners sentenced to the several State prisons, penitentiaries, jails, and reforma tories in the State; and on and after the 1st day of January, in the year 1897, no person in any such prison, penitentiary, jail, or reformatory shall be required or allowed to work while under sentence thereto at any trade, industry, or occupation wherein or whereby his work, or the product or profit of his work, shall be farmed out, contracted, given, or sold to any person, firm, association, or corporation. This section shall not be construed to prevent the legislature from providing that convicts may work for, and that the products of their labor may be disposed of to, the State or any civil division thereof, or for or to any public institution owned or managed and controlled by the State, or any civil division thereof. S e c . 29. The legislature shall have the power to regulate or prohibit manufacturing in tenement houses. A r t ic l e YI.—State departments—Labor and industry. S e c t io n 1 . There shall be the following civil departments in the State government: -x- * * (13) labor and industry, * * *. Sec . 2. * * * * * (13) The head of the department of labor and industry shall be an industrial commission or commissioner, as may be provided by law. Commissioners shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. * * * * * * * A r t ic l e XY.—Cities and villages—Power over employees. Sec . 2. The legislature may regulate and fix the ivages and, except as otherwise provided in this article, the salaries, and may also regulate and fix the hours of work or labor, and make provision for the protection, welfare, and safety of persons employed by the State, or by any county, city, town, village, or other civil division of the State, or by any contractor or subcontractor performing work, labor, or services for the State, or for any county, city, town, milage, or other civil division thereof. [The exceptions contained in the article, referred to in the foregoing section, relate to the self-government of cities, which includes the power “ to regulate the powers, duties, qualifications, mode of selection, number, terms of office, compensation, and method of removal of all city officers and employees ” ; also “ of all employees of coun ties situated wholly within a city,” except those connected with the local judiciary.] The full list of amendments offered in this field, as summarized in the index of the convention, is reproduced herewith, with some abridgement, as of interest in setting forth th e propositions under consideration. Commissioners o f labor, election, appointment. By Mr. B e r r i .—Amending sections 1, 2, 3, article 5, and adding a new section 10, by providing that the legislature may, in 1918, and not oftener than each fourth year thereafter, provide for the election of any or all of these officers: Secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, State engineer and surveyor, superintendent of public https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 39 works, and commissioner of labor. If such provision be made, they shall be elected at the time the governor and lieutenant governor are elected, and shall hold office for two years. If in each fourth year no provision is made for their election, then and on January 1,1917, they shall be appointed by the governor, to hold office until the end of his term. The commissioner of labor shall be charged with the execution of all laws relating to labor, and shall acquire and diffuse among the people useful information on subjects connected with labor -and the means of promoting their material, social, intellectual, and moral prosperity. Commissioner o f labor, elected by people. By Mr. B o o l i n g . —Amending section 1, article 5, by providing for the election of a commissioner of labor and industries in 1916. The terms of office of the secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, attorney general, and State engineer and surveyor, together with the commissioner of labor and industries, is made four years. Conspiracies, acts singly, in concert. By Mr. C u r r a n for Mr. D a h m .—Adding new section to article 1, reading: “ Any act which any person may legally and lawfully do shall be held to be legal and law ful when done by two or more in concert. Department o f labor. By Mr. P a r s o n s .—Adding new section to article 5, establishing as a branch of the executive department a division of industrial relations known as the State labor department, and in charge of a secretary of industrial relations who shall be chair man of a State industrial council consisting of the chairman and four other persons appointed by and removable at the pleasure of the governor. This division shall consist of these departments, each under the direction of a commissioner to be chosen by the State industrial council from its own membership: Department of statistics and publications, of inspection, of workmen’s compensation and insurance, and of mediation and arbitration. The legislature shall prescribe the powers and duties of the several departments and offices. Eight-hour day, public work. By Mr. C u r r a n .—Adding a new section to article 1, reading: “ In all cases of employment by and on behalf of the State, or any political division thereof, or in any contract for labor or for supplies, by or on behalf of the State, or any political division thereof, not more than eight hours in any twenty-four consecutive hours shall constitute a day’s work. The power of the legislature to regulate hours of labor under any provision of this constitution shall be exercised subject to the provisions of this section. Employees, protection, laws for. By Mr. P a r s o n s .—Amending section 19, article 1, and adding a new section thereto, by providing that “ Nothing contained in this constitution shall limit the power of the legislature to enact laws which the legislature declares to be necessary for the protection of the lives, health, safety, morals, or welfare of employees.” By Mr. A. E. S m it h .—Adding new section to article 3, reading: “ The legislature may delegate to any State board or commission, agency, power to make rules and regulations, supplementing, modifying, adapting, or otherwise applying according to varying conditions laws passed for the protection of the lives, health, safety, or welfare of any class or classes of persons or the public generally.” By Mr. A. E. S m it h .—Amending section 19, article 1, and adding a new section to article 1, reading: “ Nothing contained in this constitution shall be construed to limit the power of the legislature to enact laws for the protection of the lives, health, safety, comfort, or general welfare of employees, or to delegate in its discretion to any duly constituted commission, board or administrative agency, power to make rules https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 40 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. and regulations supplementing, varying, modifying, adapting, or otherwise applying such laws to existing conditions.’’ Industry, State department of, establishing. By Mr. P a r s o n s .—Adding new section to article 5, creating a State department of industry headed by an industrial board of five members appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, for 10 years each, except that the first members shall be appointed for 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years, respectively. Not more than three members at any time shall belong to the same political party. Their salary shall be $6,000 a year. They may be removed only by impeachment. They shall have jurisdiction of all matters now comprehended within the labor and workmen’s compensation laws and of the administration and enforcement of all laws relating to cognate subjects. No bill shall be passed devolving such jurisdiction on any other authorities, but the legislature may enact laws for the organization and general direction of such board and confer powers and regulation thereon. Labor and industries, department of. By G o v e r n o r a n d O t h e r S t a t e O f f i c e r s ’ C o m m it t e e .—Repealing sections 1 , 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of article 5 and adding a new article 5 reorganizing all the civil depart ments of the State government. There is to be * * * a department of labor and industries administered by an industrial commission. * * * The attorney general and the comptroller are to be elected at the same time and for the same term as the governor. The heads of all other departments, except the department of education, are to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate. The legislature is to provide for the appropriate assignment of all the civil, administrative, and executive functions of the State government to the several departments provided for. No new department may be created by the legislature. Labor disputes, armed forces. By Mr. C u r r a n .—Amending sections 4, 6, and adding new section, article 4, by providing that the governor shall be commander in chief of the military and naval forces of the State, and as such commander he alone shall have power to call out the whole or any portion of said forces or either of them in time of need. There shall never be a State constabulary or similar body. The employment of private armed forces for labor disputes shall be forever prohibited. Labor not a commodity. By Mr. W a g n e r .— Amending section 6, article 1, by adding at the end thereof this new matter: “ The labor of a human being shall not be deemed to be a commodity or article of commerce, and the legislature shall not enact a law, nor shall the courts construe a law, contrary to this declaration.” Labor unions, formation of. By Mr. L. M . M a r t in .— Adding new section 15 to article 8, reading: “ I t shal be the privilege of persons employed by any other person, firm, corporation, or employ ing body to form a union of their own to deal with their employers as a unit in matters of mutual interest. But no such unions shall have the right to punish in any way a member for noncompliance with union rules, or for speaking his mind, or for acting individually in the case. Nor shall it lie lawful to form a union that comprises employees of more than one employing body. ’’ Manufacturing in dwellings, regulating. By Mr. A. E. S m it h .—Adding new section to article 3, reading: “ The legislature may prohibit in whole or in part the manufacturing of any article in structures used for dwelling purposes.” https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 41 Manufacturing in dwellings. By Mr. P a r s o n s .—Adding a new section to article 3, reading: “ Nothing contained in this constitution shall limit the power of the legislature to enact laws prohibiting in whole or in part manufacturing of any kind in structures any portion of which is used for dwelling purposes.” Manufacturing, unreasonable laws. By Mr. D u n m o r e .—Adding new section to article 3, reading : “ The legislature shall not pass any bill under the police power of the State nor shall any State board, com mission, or officer adopt any rule or regulation thereunder, unless there is a reasonable necessity for the exercise of such power to protect the general interests of the com munity.” M inimum-wage laws. By Mr. A. E. S m ith .—Adding new section to article 3, reading: “ The legislature may directly or through any duly constituted administrative agency prescribe the living wages that shall be paid to women and children employees.” M inimum-wage laws, prohibiting. By L e g is l a t iv e P o w e r s C o m m it t e e .—Amending article 3 by adding a new sec tion prohibiting the legislature from passing any bill granting hereafter to any class of individuals any privilege or immunity not granted equally to all members of the State; providing for or authorizing the expenditure of any public money to be paid to any person except in pursuance of a judgment or for property or services rendered upon employment by the State or a civil division thereof or in recognition of such services; establishing a minimum wage for service to be paid to any employee by a private employer. M inimum-wage law s, prohibiting. By Mr. B a r n e s .—Adding new section to article 3, prohibiting the legislature from passing any bill granting to any class of individuals any privilege or immunity author izing the expenditure of public money to be paid to any person except for services rendered upon employment by the State or a political division thereof, establishing a minimum wage, * * *. Occupational diseases. By I n d u s t r ia l I n t e r e s t s C o m m it t e e .—Amending sections 18 and 19 of article 1, by including occupational diseases among the subjects of compensation to workmen. I t authorizes the legislature to enact laws “ for the protection of the lives, health, or safety of employees; or for the payment of compensation for injuries to or occupational diseases of employees or for death of employees resulting from such injuries or disease without regard to fault as a cause thereof; or for the adjustment, determination, and settlement, with or without trial by jury, of issues which may arise under such legisla tion; or providing that the right to such compensation and the remedy therefor shall be exclusive of all other rights and remedies for such injuries or diseases or death. But all moneys paid by an employer by reason of the enactment of any of the laws herein authorized shall be deemed a part of the cost of operating the business of the employer.” Pressure, steam, gas, etc., regulating. By Mr. F o g a r t y .—Adding a new section to article 3, reading: “ The legislature shall, by general laws of uniform application throughout the State, provide for the licensing and inspection of steam boilers and of all vessels subject to gaseous pressure and prescribe standards for the manufacture thereof.” https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 42 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Products o f prison labor, sale. By Mr. T ie r n e y .—Amending section 29, article 3, by providing that the provision prohibiting the sale of the products of prison labor shall not prevent the sale of elec tricity or water to the inhabitants of villages of the fourth class situated within 1 mile from any State prison. Public work, labor on. By Cities Committee .—Amending article 12 generally by providing for home rule for cities. Every city is to have exclusive power to manage, regulate, and control its own property, business and local affairs subject to the constitution and general laws of the State applying to all the inhabitants or to all cities or counties of the State with out classification or distinction. This power is to include among others (a) the power to organize and manage the departments, bureaus, or division of the city government and to regulate the number, powers, duties, terms, compensation, and mode of selec tion of all city officers and employees and all police and health officers and employees and nonjudicial officers and employees attached to courts not of record ; and to regulate the compensation of employees of counties situated wholly within a city with certain exceptions; * * *. Stockholders’ liability for. B y Mr. B a y e s .—Adding a new section to article 8, reading: “ The stockholders of all corporations shall be individually liable for all labor performed for such corporation, and no legislative enactment limiting the time within which an action may be begun for labor so performed, at a shorter period than applicable to contract actions generally, shall be valid.” Strikes, lockouts, regulating. By Mr, R osch .—Amending section 9, article 1, by providing that “ strikes, lock outs, and similar forms of industrial differences, affecting the relations between employ ers and employees in which the rights and interests of public utilities or industrial operations, or the welfare of the people of the State generally may suffer, are declared subject to regulation by statute, and the legislature may provide for the establish ment of councils of conciliation and boards of arbitration for settlement of disputes between employers and employees.” Supervision, commerce and labor department. By Mr. E. N. S m it h . —Amending section 2, article 5, by providing that the legis lature shall create by law a department * * * of commerce and labor, to have supervision over labor, manufactures, agriculture, and public utilities, and in which there shall be a bureau of research; * * * The heads of said divisions or bureaus in any department shall be named by the governor, with the consent of the senateThis section shall be in force January 1, 1917. Unemployed, relief of. By Mr. Cu r r a n .— Adding a new section to article 8, reading: “ The State or any political division thereof may undertake such public works and engage in such indus tries as they deem necessary to the public welfare for the purpose of relieving distress from unemployment or other extraordinary emergencies; and nothing contained in this article shall impair such authority.” Workmen’s compensation, labor department, separate. By Mr. O’Co n n o r .-—Adding new section to article 5, by providing that the State department of labor and the workmen’s compensation commission shall be separate bodies. The department of labor shall be in charge of a single commissioner, whose term shall be fixed by the legislature at not less than six years. There shall be five members of the workmen’s compensation commission, whose term shall be fixed by the legislature so that the term of one shall expire on January 1 of each odd-numbered year after the commission is established. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 43 Workmen’s compensation laws. By Mr. P a r s o n s .— Amending section 18, article 1, by providing that this section which prohibits the abrogation of the right of action to recover damages for injuries resulting in death shall not affect legislation providing compensation for injuries to or occupational diseases suffered by employees or for death resulting from such injuries or diseases. Workmen’s compensation laws, etc. By Mr. Cu r r a n .-—Amending section 19, article 1, and adding a new section thereto by providing that “ Nothing contained in this constitution shall be construed to limit, the power of the legislature to enact laws for the protection of the lives, health, safety, comfort or general welfare of employees.” TVorkmen’s compensation, unemployed, laws. By Mr. P a r s o n s .—Striking out section 19, article 1 , and inserting in place thereof the following: “ Nothing contained in this constitution shall limit the power of the legislature to enact laws for the payment or furnishing either by employers or by em ployers and employees or otherwise either directly or through a State or other system of insurance or otherwise, of compensation benefits, without regard to fault, for in juries, illness, invalidity, old age, unemployment, or death of employees, or for the adjustment, determination, or settlement with or without trial by jury of issues winch may arise under such legislation.” Workmen’s compensation, State insurance. By Mr. Cu r r a n .—Adding a new section to article 3, reading: “ The legislature may provide by law for insurance by the State of workers against accident, sickness, in validity, old age, and unemployment.” By Mr. O ’Co n n o r .—Amending section 19, article 1, by providing for a State in surance fund as the exclusive method for securing the payment of workmen’s com pensation. RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES. Reports to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of retail prices of 17 of the principal articles of food for July 15, 1915, covering 44 im portant industrial cities throughout the United States show a de crease of 1 per cent in the price of all articles combined from July, 1914, to July, 1915. According to previous reports to the bureau, retail prices had been gradually increasing from 91 per cent in July, 1911, to 100 jier cent in July, 1914. The price of all meats was lower in July, 1915, than in July, 1914. The price of lard, eggs, potatoes, and milk was also lower in July, 1915, than in July, 1914, while only flour, corn meal, butter, and sugar showed an increase in price. The increases in flour and sugar, how ever, were quite marked, being 26 per cent and 33 per cent, re spectively. A table showing the relative price of each of the 17 articles in July, 1911, to 1915, is given herewith. The relative prices of the 17 articles combined and weighted according to the average consump tion in workingmen’s families is also shown. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 44 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. R E L A T IV E P R IC E S O F 17 A R T IC L E S O F FO O D IN JU L Y O F EA C H Y E A R , 1911 TO 1915. [Average price for 1914=100. ] July— Articles. 911 Sirloin steak.......... R o u n d ste a k ......... R ib ro a st............... C huck ro a s t.......... P la te boiling beef. Pork c h o p s........... B acon, sm o k e d ... H am , sm o k ed ___ L ard , p u re ............ H e n s....................... F lour, w h e a t........ Corn m e a l.............. E ggs........................ B u tte r.................... P otatoes................. S ug ar....................... M ilk.......................... A ll articles, w eighted according to consum ption. 1912 1913 81 76 82 94 88 95 102 98 99 81 91 90 85 89 96 89 76 85 182 104 93 88 88 90 95 91 105 99 80 93 118 104 96 91 94 1914 1915 99 102 103 102 100 97 94 85 96 102 92 98 104 103 102 102 100 102 100 102 99 101 95 98 86 94 144 88 99 103 101 101 97 97 96 99 96 94 95 120 103 79 95 78 117 98 98 100 99 PRICES OF FOOD IN VARIOUS FOREIGN COUNTRIES. AUSTRIA (VIENNA). The prices quoted in the tables below are in the case of meats from the Central Meat Market and those for other articles are from the public markets. They show the general advance of prices in Vienna between July 25, 1914, and July 24? 1915. As a fair basis of comparison in calculating the per cent of increase in the prices of articles mentioned below, the lower prices for the respective dates have been used. All meats show a marked advance; beef, fore quarter, 248.6 per cent; beef, hind quarter, 250.6 per cent; steak, 247.1 per cent; veal, 248.6 per cent; pork, 132 per cent. Butter has advanced in price 82.8 per cent; eggs, 140.3 per cent; potatoes, round, 30 per cent; lentils, 221.1 per cent; peas, 129.2 per cent; sauerkraut, about 200per cent. All fruits show a very sharp rise in prices. The increase in the prices of vegetables, while not so great as in meats, etc., is of considerable moment. R E T A IL P R IC E S O F FO O D IN V IE N N A M A R K E T S JU L Y 25, 1914, AN D JUIAT 24, 1915. [Source: N eue F reie Presse, V ienna, Ju ly 26,1914, and Ju ly 25,1915.] A rticles. Beef, fore q u a rte r................................................................ per pound Beef, h in d q u a rte r......................................................... do B e e f s t e a k . .................................................................... do V eal....................................................................................................¿ o ___ P o rk ................................................................................................... d o . .. . Cabbage, w h ite ............................................................................... each. C ab b a g e ,red ............................................................................... do. . Cauliflower........................................................... do H ead le ttu c e ........................................................................... do E n d iv e ..................................................................................... do Cucum bers....................................................................................... d o ... https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Ju ly 25,1914. SO. 0740-S0.1660 .0810- .1930 . 1380- .2300 . 0740- . 1980 .1470- .2030 .0230- .0284 .0284- . 040o .0408- .1015 .0081- .0162 .0081- .0203 .0244- .0731 Ju ly 24,1915. SO. 2580-10.4790 .2840- .5060 .4790- .5520 .2580- .3680 .3410- .4420 .0284- .0812 .0325- . 0812 .0244- .1218 .0102- . 0305 .0081- .0244 .0284- .0812 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 45 R E T A IL P R IC E S O F FO O D IN V IE N N A M A R K E T S JU L Y 25, 1914, AN D JU L Y 24, 1915— Concluded. Articles. Ju ly 25,1914. Corn on th e co b ....................................... ...................................... e a c h .. P u m p k in s................................................. ...................................... d o ___ L em ons...................................................... ......................................d o ----O ranges..................................................... ......................................d o ___ Potatoes, new , ro u n d ............................. ...........................per b u s h e l.. Potatoes, k id n e y ..................................... ......................................d o ___ O nions...................................................... ...........................per p o u n d .. M ushroom s............................................... ......................................d o ----Spinach.................... : ............................... ......................................d o ___ Beans, g reen..................................... ....... ......................................d o ----S a u e rk ra u t................................................ ......................................do___ T om atoes.................................................. ......................................d o ----A pples........................................................ ......................................do___ P ears.......................................................... ......................................d o — Cherries..................................................... ......................................d o ___ W ild cherries........................................... ......................................d o----A pricots..................................................... ......................................do----W ild straw berries............ ...................... ......................................d o ----R aspberries.............................................. ......................................do___ B lueberries............................................... ......................................d o ___ Gooseberries.............................................. ......................................d o ___ C u rran ts.................................................... ......................................d o ___ Greengages................................................ ......................................d o — H azelnu ts.................................................. ......................................do ___ W a lnuts...... .............................................. .....................................do ___ L e n tils ..» ................................................. ......................................do ___ Peas............................................................ ......................................d o ----B u tte r........................................................ ......................................d o ___ Peas, green, u n sh elled ........................... .............................per q u a r t.. Eggs, fresh................................................ .............................p e r dozen.. 80.0203-80.0325 . 0528- . 1015 .0102- .0142 . 0203- .0325 1.1050- 1.3260 1.3260- 1.5469 .0276- .0368 .3683- .4419 .0184- .0368 .0221- .0460 . 0147- .0239 .0184- .0442 .0442- .2762 .0258- .1031 .0626- . 1289 .0737- . 1473 . 0276— .0737 .1473- .2762 .1105- .1473 .0405- .0516 .0442- .0516 .0405- .0737 .0368- .0663 .1031- .1363 .1105- .1326 .0516- .0884 .0442- .0884 .2357- .3830 .0671- .1342 .1563- .1949 Ju ly 24, 1915. 80.0284-80.0406 .0812- .2842 .0365- .0508 .0325- .0447 1.4364- 2.0994 1.7679- 2.3204 .0497- .0608 .6445- .7366 .0534- . 0663 .0405- .0644 .0442 .0405- .0589 .0479- .0737 .0442- .1326 .0810- .1841 .1105- .2209 .0958- .1841 .3315 .1105- .2209 .0737- .0884 .0737- .1105 .0663- .1105 .0516- .0644 .1473- .1694 .1399- .1768 .1657- .2026 .1013- .1841 .4309- .5524 .2236- . 2683 .3756- .4060 CANADA. The Labor Gazette for August contains a somewhat extended review of the effect of the war upon Canadian prices; the situation is reviewed somewhat generally as far back as 1900. Following the depression of 1908 there was a steady increase in prices, coupled with a considerable degree of industrial activity, up to early in 1913. In the beginning of 1914 food prices had, however, fallen from the high level reached in 1912, as the result of bountiful crops in 1912 and 1913. With the outbreak of the war grain, flour, bread, oatmeal, tea, sugar, and meat rose in price; cotton fell, while prices in the metal market fluctuated irregularly. Flour reached a record price in February and in May, since which time it has dropped considerably. Con siderable advance in price occurred in metals in February, notably in zinc and antimony, quicksilver, lead, tin, copper, and brass; drugs and chemicals had risen sharply at the outbreak of the war. Carbolic acid increased from 10 cents per pound in August to $1.50 in Feb ruary. However, by the beginning of the summer of 1915, apart from commodities used in war or unobtainable on account of the war, the markets began to show comparative steadiness, although, with a few exceptions, price levels were considerably higher than before the war. A table is here added to show the relative wholesale prices of certain more important foodstuffs. It is noticeable that all groups rose in price immediatelv on the outbreak of the war and remained on a https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 46 MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, level higher than the year before, except meat, fish, fruits, and vege tables, the supply of which was not reduced seriously by war condi tions and the demand for which was curtailed. IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S , B Y G R O U P S O F C O M M O D ITIES A N D B Y M O N T H S, JA N U A R Y , 1914, TO JU L Y , 1915. [Average prices 1890-1899=100.] 1914. Commodities. G rains a n d fodder................. A nim als and m eats............... D airy p ro d u cts....................... F is h ........................................... F ru its a n d vegetables.......... M iscellaneous food a rticles.. T extiles.................................... H ides, leath er, etc ................. M etals....................................... Im p lem en ts............................. F u e l an d lig h tin g ................. L u m b er.................................... M iscellaneous building m a terials................................ P a in ts , oils, e tc ...................... H ouse furn ish in g s................ D rugs an d chem icals............ F u rs, ra w ................................. L iquors a n d tobaccos........... S u n d ries................................... All com m odities......... Jan. Feb. Mar. A pr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. N ov. Dec. 140.9 194.2 179.9 153.9 125.2 112.9 135.2 168.1 114.7 106.6 113.6 183.5 142.8 193.8 169.6 154.8 127.8 112.8 134.4 168.1 115.4 106.6 114.4 184.2 145.8 196. 2 162.9 156.1 139.4 112.5 133.8 169.9 115.3 106.6 114.2 183.0 145.4 194.8 148.6 157.4 136.8 112.6 133.6 172.6 114.7 106.6 113.7 182.4 149.8 193.1 129.5 166.9 144.4 113.2 135.2 173.3 110.8 106.6 110.0 183.6 151.3 196.6 129.6 168.2 131.6 112.7 135.4 172.8 109. 7 106.6 110.2 183.4 150.4 195.7 131.3 148.9 131.2 112.5 132.8 173.6 109.2 106.6 109.0 183.2 161.3 199.9 140.5 154.8 116.7 119.3 138.7 171.3 113.6 106.6 108.6 182.1 169.9 200.1 147.1 159. 7 123. 7 136.0 135.0 172.6 123.5 106.6 109.3 180.6 167.1 187.6 162.6 159.7 111.6 133. 5 134. 2 173.0 114. 5 106.6 108.9 180.8 175.9 177.9 171.5 157.4 111.3 133.0 129.0 171.4 112.5 108.2 108.5 178.4 178.5 174.2 180.1 160.0 114.2 132.2 124.6 175.6 113.4 108.2 109.1 179.5 114.0 140,2 128.8 111.1 226.5 138. 8 109.3 114.1 141.3 128.8 111. 1 230.3 138.8 109.9 113.8 140.2 128.8 111.1 236.0 138.8 108.2 113.3 '112.7 140.8 140.6 128.8 129.0 111.6 111.6 241.3 241.3 133. 4 138.4 108.4 108.9 111.3 140.1 128.8 111.6 230.9 138.4 106.8 110.8 140.6 128.8 111.6 235.0 128. 3 106.2 109.8 140.4 128.8 121.4 208.6 128. 3 106.5 110.5 140.6 132.3 137.3 208.6 138. 3 109.1 109.9 142.4 132.6 141.1 172. 5 138.6 107.8 108.1 139.5 132.6 140.2 137.5 138.7 110.0 108.6 142.9 132.6 139.7 96.1 138.3 111.5 136.5 136.6 137.0 136.7 136.3 135.3 134.6 136.3 141.3 138.7 137.5 137.6 1915J Commodities. Jan. Feb. Mar. A pr. May. G rains a n d fo d d er.................................................... A nim als an d m eats................................................. D a iry p ro d u c ts......................................................... F is h ............................................................................. F ru its a n d vegetables............................................. M iscellaneous food articles.................................... T ex tiles...................................................................... H ides, leath er, e tc ................................................... M etals...................................................................... Im n lem e n ts............................................................... F u e l a n d lig h tin g ..................................................... L u m b e r...................................................................... Miscellaneous building m aterials........................ P a in ts, oils, e tc ..........T............................................. H ouse fu rn ish in g s................................................... D rags an d chem icals............................................... F u rs, ra w ................................................................... Liquors an d tobaccos............................................. Sundries..................................................................... 191.7 178.2 178.3 160.0 114.9 127.1 126.5 178.1 113.8 108.3 108.9 180,7 108.3 141.4 132.6 139.6 121.8 138.3 113.6 211.1 176.4 174.0 160.0 117.1 138.3 132.5 181.6 124.0 106.8 107.8 181.3 108.3 133.8 149.5 128.1 138.2 110.8 209.3 181.0 163.7 153.9 116.9 141.1 136.5 186.2 138.2 106.8 107.6 181.1 110.1 147.0 136.1 155.4 133.8 137.8 116.0 204.3 185.7 161.0 145.1 115.3 142.7 145.4 179.5 146.5 110.5 107.6 177.5 111.2 150.6 136.6 156.3 133.8 137.8 115.8 200.0 188.1 194.5 193.8 142.2 147.0 148.5 144.8 116.6 118.1 142.2 141.6 143.9 141.3 176.1 176.1 153.5 2 159.5 111.2 111.2 105.5 105.6 177.5 176.1 111.1 114.0 154.6 153.5 136.3 136.3 159.5 159.5 133.8 142.0 135.0 135.0 117.2 117.2 191.5 191.9 142.2 141.7 114.7 136.7 151.2 175.6 2160.5 113.0 106.5 175.0 120.6 153.0 136.3 159.5 144.0 135.0 116.0 All com m odities............................................ 138.8 143.8 145.9 147.0 147.6 2 147.1 June. 2 147.3 July. 1 P relim inary figures. 2 Including abnorm al rises in prices of zinc a n d spelter, th e in d ex num bers for Ju n e a n d Ju ly for all com m odities w ould be 149.5 a n d 149.7, respectively, a n d for m etals, 184.2 a nd 194.6. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 47 DENMARK (COPENHAGEN). Since the beginning of the war the Danish statistical office has from time to time received reports of prices in certain localities through the local committees organized under the act of August 7, 1914, for the regulation of prices of food products and other commodities. Returns from these committees up to July indicate that the prices of many of the principal articles of consumption have shown a tend ency to advance during the year July, 1914, to July, 1915. This increase in prices, however, varies considerably in the different classes of commodities. During this period the price of bread has increased 33 to 50 per cent; meal, cereals, peas, and similar products as a class have increased about 75 per cent; in meats, pork, and provisions the range of increase is from 33 to 50 per cent; butter and oleomargarine, 20 to 30 per cent; sugar, oil, and many of the colonial products, on the other hand, have not substantially increased in price. The prices of the ordinary kinds of fish and vegetables have not been appreciably advanced; this is not true, however, of potatoes. As an indication of the advance in prices of articles of household necessity the table following, which shows relative prices, has been prepared: R E L A T IV E P R IC E S O F 10 A R T IC L E S O F H O U S E H O L D C O N SU M PTIO N F O R T H E Y E A R E N D IN G JU L Y , 1915, B Y M O N T H S, B A SE D ON P R IC E S IN C O P E N H A G E N . [Prices, July, 1914,—100.1] 1914 1915 .A.rucies. Aug. Sept. B read, ry e (,foreign r y e )___ 133 B read, ry e (cooperative 134 b a k e ry )................................ Flour, w h eat........................... 127 Beef........................................... 100 P o rk .......................................... 100 91 Loin (te n d e r)......................... Eggs, fresh............................... 100 B u tte r...................................... 107 105 O leom argarine....................... C oke.......................................... (200) Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. A pr. May. June. July. 146 146 146 146 152 152 152 152 152 152 152 127 113 100 100 82 112 98 111 120 127 113 100 110 75 150 114 116 120 131 113 100 110 80 175 118 116 120 131 113 100 no 85 185 122 116 128 131 113 100 120 89 199 127 116 132 134 118 104 122 89 171 125 116 147 134 134 121 121 112 105 126 2 136 90 no 136 no 115 117 116 130 176 176 134 124 125 136 no 115 117 130 176 134 127 141 136 no 123 118 130 184 134 130 149 136 120 140 122 130 217 1 S tatistisk e E fterretninger u tg iv e t af d e t S tatistisk e D epartem ent. 2 M axim um price. 8159°—15- 4 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Voi. 7, No. 18.) 48 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. The following table shows the actual prices of some of the more important articles of household consumption at different periods between July, 1914, and July, 1915: R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L C O M M O D ITIES O F H O U S E H O L D C O N SU M PTIO N IN D E N M A R K , A T IN D IC A T E D P E R IO D S IN 1914 A N D 1915. Articles. Milk, unskim m ed, per q u a rt......................... B u tte r, cream ery, per p o u n d ........................ Oleomargarine, per p o u n d ............................. Eggs, fresh, D anish, p er dozen..................... Potatoes, p er b u sh el........................................ Peas, yellow, p er p o u n d ................................. R y e m eal, p er p o u n d ...................................... W h eat flour, A m erican, per p o u n d ............. O ats, hu lled , cleaned, per p o u n d ........... R ice, per p o u n d ................................................ R ye bread, loaf, p er p o u n d ........................... M ixed broad, w h eat an d rye, per p o u n d . . B read, ry e flour, best, p er p o u n d ................ B read, French, w heaten, per p o u n d .......... P ork , fresh, shoulder, brisket, per p o u n d . . P ork , salt, per p o u n d...................................... L ard , spiced, p er p o u n d ................................. H erring, fresh, each......................................... Plaice, m edium size; p er p o u n d ................... Sugar, brow n or m oist, p er p o u n d .............. Kerosene, p er gallon........................................ Coal, household, p er bushel.......................... Coke, crushed, per bushel.............................. Coffee, Santos, m ix tu re, cheapest, per p o u n d .............................................................. Beef, fresh, forepart, p er p o u n d ................... Beef, steak, p er p o u n d ................................... Veal, forepart, per p o u n d ............................... P o tato flour, per p o u n d .................................. Decem May, ber, 1915 last week, (aver age). 1114. June, 1915. Cents. 4.5 32.9 16.7 46.5 51.0 8.3 Cents. 4.7 31.5 17.2 27.5 36.2 Cents. 4.8 31.6 17.4 29.4 34.8 Cents. 5.6 1 32.6-33.7 17.9-21. 4 1 36.0 ___ 7.1 7.9 4 5.1 7. 3 7.0 4 5.2 7. 4 7.1 4. 7- 5.5 7. 5- 8.9 7.4 66.2 5.0 5.0 5.1 18.8 19.2 23.0 14.6 14.6 18.2 2.4 4.6 5.3 15.0 12.8 20.0 21.5 22. 6 22.6 6 24. 2 1.5 17.5 4.8 19.6 17.4 14.2 14.3 4.4 14.2 16.1 12 .2 12.9 4.4 13.5 25.3 16.0 4.4 20.3 31.6 25.6 26.7 15.7 27.2 27.1 18.1 1 20. 7-30.4 23. 7 lsl 1 " "1"20." 7-23." i 8.3 8.9 Ju ly , A ugust, Octo ber, first last last ■week, week, week, 1914. 1914. 1914. Cents. 4.8 28.6 15.7 23.3 142.8 5.4 3.0 3.8 4.8 5.6 5 1.8 s 2.9 s 5.6 13.4 15.2 12.8 1.7 24.5 4.4 16.8 16.0 11.8 Cenis. 5.0 26.8 16.4 23.3 61.2 6.3 s' 4. 5 4.4 5.6 6.7 5 2. 4 Cents. 5.0 31.0 17.9 40.2 48.2 9.1 4.5 4.1 5 3.0 56.2 12.2 1.7 24.5 4.4 16.8 (7) (7) 6.2 8.4 2.3 6 3.3 1.2 10.6 6.0 1.0 4.4 13.5 25.1 14.8 21.2 16.7 7.7 6.1 1.1 July, 1915. 2 94.8 9.8 2. 4- 2.8 6.1 1 Grade n o t specified. 2 Old. s Price Aug. 15. 4 Pillsb u ry ’s best. 6 R eported from a single cooperative bakery. 6 N ot spiced. 7 Prices in A ugust very irregular; increases as high as 100 per cent. ROUMANIA. The table which follows shows the variations in the prices of six of the leading cereals in the markets of Roumania by months. Without exception, but in varying amounts, the prices of each class were lower in the first half of the year, while in the second half of the year there was, generally speaking, an increase as compared with the corresponding months of 1913. For the purpose of comparison an average price for each grain is shown for the months January to June, and July to December, as well as the variations in prices from those of the corresponding period of 1913. A marked decrease is noticed for the first period, and a material increase for the latter half of the year. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY EE VIEW OF THE BUBEATJ OF LABOR STATISTICS. 49 P R IC E S O P S IN C E R E A L S IN R O U M A N IA 1914, A N D IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E IN P R IC E S C O M PA R E D W IT H C O R R E S P O N D IN G P E R IO D S O F 1913.1 [W holesale prices per 100 pounds.] Corn. W heat. M onths. Price. Ja n u a ry ....................... F e b ru a ry .................... M arch.......................... A pril........................ .. M ay.............................. June... J u ly .............................. A ugust........................ S eptem b er.................. O ctober....................... N ovem ber.................. D ecem ber................... In crease ( + ) or de crease (-) com pared w ith 1913. 81.485 - $ 0 . 169 1.536 - .136 1.532 - .155 1.498 - .206 1.584 - .102 1.65F-J- .038 1.571 - .025 1.511 - .018 1.608 + .127 1.674 + .245 1.769 + .309 1.729 + .267 Price. In crease ( + ) or de crease (-) com pared w ith 1913. $0.950 —$0.200 .997 - .075 1.036 - . 134 .989 - .042 1.027 - .060 1.045 + .027 1.056 + .028 1.116 + .106 1.138 + .121 1.134 + .137 1.192 + .263 1.208 + .240 Price. $1.064 1.096 1.162 1.151 1.195 1.222 1.162 1.055 1.116 1.484 1.868 2.010 B arley. Oats. R ye. In crease ( + ) or de crease (-) com pared w ith 1913. Price. -$ 0 . 213 - . 197 - .175 - .159 - .060 + .008 - .039 - .081 + .023 + .417 + .805 + .924 $0.922 .940 .968 .957 1.062 1.050 1.009 .942 .903 .942 1.083 1.008 In crease ( + ) or de crease (-) com pared w ith 1913. -SO. 354 - .436 - .365 - .389 - .227 - .094 - .039 + .013 - .020 + .039 + .186 + .076 Price. In crease ( + ) or de crease (-) com pared w ith 1913. $1.006 - $ 0 . 320 .993 - .323 1.003 - .332 .991 - .279 1.070 - .135 1.102 1.079 - .oi5 .980 - . 058 .959 - .049 1.031 + .079 1 .190¡ + .229 1.319+ .341 Average for year. 1.596 + .015 1.074 + .034 , 1.299 + .105 .982 - .134 1.060 - .069 Jan u a ry to Ju n e ........ July to D ecem ber. . . 1.548 1.643 + . 122 .151 1.008 1.141 + .081 .150 1.149 1.449 + .132 .341 .983 .981 + .311 .043 1.028 1.093 + .226 .088 1 B uletinul S tatistic al R om aniei, D irectiunea S tatisticei Generale. Seria III, Yol. X II, No. 38-39. EMPLOYMENT IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES. CANADA. The Labor Gazette of the Canadian Department of Labor for August, 1915, reports that industrial and labor conditions during July showed little change from those of June; there was the usual midsummer lull in business. The recruiting in Canada of some 1,700 mechanics for work in the munition factories of Great Britain caused a lessening of the supply of this class of workmen. The lum bering industry in eastern Canada continued fairly active, while some improvement was noted in the industry in British Columbia. In manufacturing industries war orders accounted for most of the con tinued activities. The building trades were much quieter than during the previous month, while machinists in the metal trades were in con siderable demand. No changes of note occurred in most of the industries. Unskilled labor was in much greater demand by reason of the call for farm help and the continued call for recruits. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 50 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS. GERMANY, JUNE, 1915.1 Reporting on conditions in the labor market for June, 1915, the Imperial Statistical Office notes that for the majority of industries there has been no change in conditions over those prevailing in the preceding month. The usual summer slackness in business has been more or less counterbalanced by the increased work demanded as a result of increasing army contracts. Conditions were particularly active in coal mining and in the iron industry, which were unable to supply the demand; a similar state of affairs prevailed in the machinery and tool industries, the machinery industry showing a high degree of activity in so far as the establishments had adapted themselves for the making of war materials. Activity in the textile industries decreased as a result of a decrease in army contracts, while, on the other hand, large sales were the rule in the food products indus tries. Those industries which to a large extent are dependent upon the export trade, such as potash, mining, and certain branches of the chemical industry, and those engaged in the production of luxuries, showed somewhat less activity than usual. RETURNS FROM EMPLOYERS. Returns from 340 employers of labor showed 322,974 workmen employed, as compared with 376,532 during the corresponding month of 1914, being a decrease of 14.22 per cent. The decrease in the number of male workers employed as compared with the preceding year was in June, 1915, smaller than in any month since the outbreak of tne wTar, while, on the other hand, the increase in the number of female workers employed was the largest of any month. The relative decrease in numbers employed in different industries in June, 1915, as compared with June, 1914, was as follows: Per cent. Mining and smelting.......................................................................... 19. 53 Iron and steel and metal industry.................................................... 2 7. 83 Macliine industry............................................................................... 17. 26 Electrical industry............................................................................ 35. 87 Chemical industry............................................................................. 36.60 Textile industry................................................................................ 4. 50 Woodworking and carving................................................................. 29. 58 Food products........................................................................................... 59 Clothing industry............................................................................... 15.01 Glass and porcelain industry............................................................ 39.14 Paper making and printing industry................................................ 37. 60 Miscellaneous (including building materials and navigation>........ 53. 72 1 R eichs-A rbeitsblatt, hrsg. vom K . Statistischen A m te, A bteilung für A rbeiterstatistik. 19152 Increase. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis B erlin July ’ MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 51 RETURNS FROM TRADE-UNIONS. Thirty-six trade-unions sent in returns as to the ratio of unemploy ment among their members on June 30. These had a membership of 1,057,137, although the information compiled pertained only to 998,563. Since the outbreak of the war the ratio of the unemployed to total membership reported stands thus: Per cent. August, 1914.......................................................................................... September, 1914.................................................................................... October, 1914......................................................................................... November, 1914................................................................................... December, 1914.......................................... ........................................ January, 1915....................................................................................... February, 1915.................................................................................... March, 1915.......................................................................................... April, 1915........................................................................................... May, 1915............................................................................................. June, 1915............................................................................................ 22. 4 15. 7 10. 9 8.2 7. 2 6. 5 5. 1 3.3 2.9 2. 9 2. 6 The percentage of unemployed in the six largest Social-Democratic trade-unions appears as follows: P E R C E N T U N E M P L O Y E D A T E N D O F EA C H M O N T H IN T H E S IX L E A D IN G SOCIALD EM O CRA TIC T R A D E -U N IO N S IN G E R M A N Y , A U G U ST, 1914, AND JA N U A R Y TO J U N E , 1915. Trade-unions. Metal w orkers........................................ F actory w orkers................................... B uilding tra d e s..................................... T ransportation w orkers..................... W o o d w o rk ers....................................... T extile w orkers.................................... M ember ship June 30, 1915. 272,127 110,748 102,670 92,203 89,000 80,130 1914 Aug. 21.5 16.4 16.3 10.8 33.0 28.2 1915 Jan. 3.0 4.8 13.9 3.9 13.4 5.3 Feb. 2.3 11.5 3.9 2.9 9.6 5.1 Mar. 1.8 7.3 2.5 1.4 6.5 4.1 A pr. 1.7 2.8 1.5 1.3 5.6 4.8 May. 1.5 2.3 1.1 1.3 4.8 5.5 June. 1.4 1.4 1.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 RETURNS FROM SICK FUNDS AND LABOR EXCHANGES. Returns from the sick funds show that the male membership, com pared with last month, has decreased 1.97 per cent, while the female membership has increased 0.34 per cent; the total number of employed members of both sexes decreased by 85,587, or 1 per cent. This de crease of the membership does not seem extraordinarily high if com pared with June, 1914, which showed a decrease of 0.21 per cent over that of May, 1914. Of the 1,132 exchanges in Germany regularly in touch with the' labor office, reports as to adjustments in employment were received from 924 exchanges. Compared with reports from the same ex changes for the corresponding month (June) of the preceding year there was a decline in the number of applicants for positions of 164,000 in round numbers. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 52 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS. For every 100 situations registered as vacant, the number of applicants during each of the indicated months stood as follows: Males. June, 1914................................................................................ May, 1915................................................................................. June, 1915................................................................................ Fem ales. 168 99 96 101 158 157 SWEDEN. As the system of public employment exchanges in Sweden has be come fairly well organized, the statistics furnished by them may be considered a rough measure of the movement of the supply of and demand for labor. And if we may judge from the comparative statis tics of adjustments in the supply of and demand for labor in Sweden 1 in June, 1914, and June, 1915, it would appear that there has been a considerable increase in the demand for positions in 1915 as com pared with 1914. The number of applicants for positions in June, 1915, was 22,442, as compared with 15,429 in June, 1914, and 21,387 in May, 1915. Stated in proportion, the number of applicants per each 100 vacancies in June, 1914, was 104, as compared with 135 for June, 1915, and 118 for May, 1915. Some employment exchanges reported a scarcity of labor in the iron and metal industry, in stone cutting, among tobacco workers, and, to a limited extent, in the sugar industry. Conditions in the building industry have improved slightly, while in agriculture there has been an active demand for labor. The percentage of unemployment in Swedish trade-unions showed a slight decrease from that of the preceding month; i. e., from 7.8 per cent to 7 per cent. A comparative table for each of the months of the years 1912 to 1915 is submitted. I t may be noted that the number reported as unemployed, on which these per cents are based, does not include those unemployed by reason of sickness or strikes or lockouts. The table follows: P E R C E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S W E D IS H T R A D E -U N IO N S ON T H E F IR S T O F EACH IN D IC A T E D M O N T H F O R T H E Y E A R S 1912 TO 1915. [Source: K om m ersiella M eddelanden u tg iv n a av K ungl. Kom m erskollegium , Stockholm , 1915, vol. 2, No. 15, p. 691.] Year. 1912..................... 1913..................... 1914..................... 1915..................... Jan. Feb. Mar. A pr. May. June. Ju ly . Aug. Sept. 8.5 8.4 7.5 15.0 11.1 8.9 10.4 14.8 8.4 7.1 7.5 12.0 6. 5 5. 7 6.5 11.1 5.2 4.0 5.1 7.8 3.7 2. 6 3.2 7.0 3.3 2.7 3.1 2.8 2. 5 3.0 2. 7 2.3 8.1 1 Sodala M eddelanden utgivna av K . Socialstyrelsen. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Oct. Nov. 2. 9 2. 2 7.7 Stockholm , 1915. No. 7. 3. 6 2. 6 8.1 Dec. 5. 7 4. 4 10.3 M O N T H L Y R E V IE W OE T H E BUREAU OF LABOR S T A T IS T I C S . 53 COMPULSORY REPORTING BY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN GERMANY. By a recent resolution of the Federal council (B u n d esra t ) in Ger many it has been made obligatory for all free employment offices to make reports of their activities to the imperial statistical offices.1 It is left to the Federal governments to execute this resolution and to make it effective by proper decrees on the authority of the law of June 2, 1910, regulating the procuring of employment. So far the following States of the Empire have issued during the current year the necessary decree: Prussia (May 26); Bavaria (June 8); GrandDuchy of Hesse (May 22); Duchy of Anhalt (May 21); Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (June 2); city of Bremen (June 2); and Alsace-Lorraine (May 29). The essential contents of these decrees are the following: (a) Not later than July 1, 1915, each individual employment office must furnish to the imperial statistical office, division of labor statis tics, the following information: (1) Name of the employment office; (2) name of the persons or corporations maintaining the employment office; (3) place of business (street and number); (4) name of man ager; (5) telephone number; and (6) office hours. Any change in the above data as well as the opening of new free employment offices must likewise be reported within three days. Blanks for this information are not furnished by the imperial statistical office. (b) All free employment offices, with the exception of those for mercantile, technical, and clerical help must on two fixed days of each week report on a card furnished by the imperial statistical office the number of those applications and vacancies which up to the time of the report could not be disposed of and probably can not be dis posed of up to the time of issuing the Labor Market Bulletin (A rb eits m a rk t-A n ze ig ei’). These cards must be mailed in due time so that they may reach the imperial statistical office, division of labor statis tics, with the first mail on each Monday and Thursday. From this obligation to report there may be exempted those em ployment offices which are already required to report to a local public employment office or to some other agency collecting the above data, provided that these report to the imperial statistical office the number of undisposed-of applications and vacancies. Employ ment offices which presumably do not fill more than 200 vacancies in a year may also be exempted. In Prussia applications for exemp tion from the obligation to report must be addressed to the govern ment presidents or police presidents; in the Grand-Duchy of Hesse 1 R e i c k s - A r b e i t s b l a t t h r s g . v o m . K . S t a t i s t i c h e n A m t e . A b t e il u n g f ü r A r b e i t e r s t a t i s t i k , B e r li n , 1915. Ju n e. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 54 M ONTHLY R E V IE W OF T H E BUREAU OF LABOR S T A T IS T IC S . through the district offices to the minister of the interior; in the Duchy of Anhalt to the ducal govermnent department of the interior; and in Bremen to the police committee of the senate. Each free employment office must appoint a business manager who shall be responsible for compliance with the above provisions. Noncompliance with these provisions is punishable with a fine of up to 150 marks ($35.70), or with imprisonment. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. INTRODUCTION. The activity of the labor market, the demand for employment, and the amount of unemployment are the subjects of periodical reports by nearly all the principal European countries. The original sources from which this information is gathered are generally five in number: (1) Monthly and annual reports of both public and private employ ment offices; (2) monthly reports on schedules by leading employers or manufacturing concerns; (3) reports from sick benefit and unem ployment insurance funds as to amount of unemployment among their membership; (4) monthly reports from trade-unions as to the number of their membership and the amount of unemployment therein; (5) general population censuses and occasional special un employment censuses, both national and municipal. In addition to these, perhaps, may be added the regular emigration statistics which from the earliest times have been a rough measure of the movement of the supply and demand for labor. These last-named statistics are very complete in practically all European countries. In this connection mention should be made of the annual reports issued by most European countries by their factory and mining, inspectors which give from year to year changes in the number employed, hours of labor, and sometimes wages. These present posi tive information as to the actual amount of employment, as distin guished from the amount of unemployment. Nonstatistical reports from local correspondents or from employers report the state of the labor market as quiet or active, or give other text statements. This is the case in Great Britain, Canada (only method), Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain (only method), New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands, Italy, and Sweden. The current reports on unemployment here indicated are found in all cases in the official periodicals of labor offices of the various countries. Annual summaries are found in the statistical yearbooks of the respective countries, while unemployment census reports are either contained in a general population or industrial census or issued as separate reports. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis M ONTHLY K E V IE W OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR S T A T IS T I C S . 55 Considerable of the material presented in the following pages has been compiled from a report by the German imperial statistical office on labor statistics in the most important industrial States1 and from the reports of the International Association on Unemployment.2 Ail reports of the various kinds indicated above have also been examined and the material brought up to date. A list of the titles examined is appended (pp. 74-77). This list has been cast into library cataloguing form in order to make the finding of any title easy; titles in foreign languages have been translated. GREAT BRITAIN. EM PL O Y M EN T EXCHANGES. The labor exchanges act of 1909 created a unified and coherent system of employment offices, or labor exchanges, as they are termed in the act. Central control is lodged in the Board of Trade, Labor Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Department. The coun try is divided into eight districts with a division head, and within these districts are the local agencies. The act provides for the taking over of all existing private and public exchanges consenting thereto. The system is therefore a national one; it is also uncon nected in any way with the poor-relief system; its services are free of charge, voluntary, and nonpartisan. Employees are assisted by securing an advance of their necessary fare to a place of work. For purposes of operation, two kinds of employment registers are kept: (1) A general register and (2) a casual employment register. Reports from the exchanges affiliating in the national system are published monthly and annually in the British Board of Trade Labor Gazette under the title, ‘‘Board of trade labor exchanges.” The tables are accompanied by explanatory text and are presented by trades and districts and separately for adults and juveniles and by sex. The tables show the applications on hand at the beginning of the period for which the table is made out, those received during this period and those still on file at the end of this period, the vacancies of which the exchanges were notified during this period, and the vacancies filled during the period. Special tables are prepared for casual employments (dock laborers, cloth porters at Manchester, and cotton porters at Liverpool) and for the activities of women’s employment bureaus not subject to control by the board of trade. The Salvation Army publishes monthly reports on employment procured by it. 1 G e b ie te u n d M e th o d e n d e r a m t l i c h e n A r b e i t s s t a t i s t i k i n d e n w i c h t i g s t e n I n d u s t r i e s t a a t e n . B e a r b . im K . S t a t i s t i s c h e n A m t e , A b t e il u n g f ü r A r b e i t e r s t a t i s t i k . B e r l i n , 1913 ( B e it r ä g e z u r A r b e i t e r s t a t i s t i k N r . 12). 2 C o n f é re n c e I n t e r n a t i o n a l e d u c h ô m a g e : C o m p te r e n d u d e l a C o n f é re n c e I n t e r n a t i o n a l e , P a r i s , S e p t . 18-21, 1910. 3 v o ls . P a r i s , 1911. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 56 M ONTHLY R E V IE W OF T H E BUREAU OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S . TRA D E-U N IO N STATISTICS. Monthly returns are made to the Board of Trade department of labor statistics by those unions which pay unemployment benefits. The returns relate to the number receiving unemployment aid on a certain day of the month plus those still unemployed who have exhausted their benefits. This number compared with total mem bership registered on that day gives the percentage of unemploy ment. Members on strike, locked out, and superannuated are ex cluded both from the count of the total membership and from the number unemployed, and sick members are excluded only from the last g'roup. All unions do not make reports, and therefore the information as to the state of the labor market as presented by this class of statistics is somewhat limited. On examination it will be seen that considerable changes in the membership on which the tables are based occur from year to year. Therefore the percent ages, being computed on different bases, are to be used cautiously. The trades represented in the trade-union returns are building, woodworking, coal mining, iron and steel, engineering, shipbuilding, printing, bookbinding, and paper, textiles, miscellaneous leather trades other than the boot and shoe trade, certain miscellaneous metal trades, woodworking and furnishing, clothing, glass, pottery, and tobacco trades. R ETURN S FR O M EM PLO Y ER S. The returns from employers in certain trades relate to the num bers employed, wages paid, and days worked per week. The increase or decrease for the month and over the year preceding is also given. In the pig iron, tin plate, and steel industries the returns include the number of works open and the number of furnaces and mills in operation. The returns as a whole are valuable because they relate to condi tions of the labor market for some trades not included in the tradeunion returns, e. g., iron, shale, and other mining, tin plate and pig iron manufacture, boot and shoe making, linen, lace, jute, hosiery, and silk trades, food preparation, dock and riverside seamen, and agriculture. D IST R E SS C O M M IT T E E R ETURN S. Up to the time the unemployment insurance act of 1911 came into force, reports of the distress committee were the best and only sources of information concerning the amount of unemployment among a class of workmen just able to keep themselves out of those conditions of living which would have brought them within the scope of the relief of the poor law. The class of workmen who may make appli cation for assistance to the distress committee includes “ the normally self-supporting workman in temporary distress;” it does not include https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS. 57 within its scope of relief, as a rule, trade-unionists or skilled workmen. The reports of the distress committees (published separately as well as in the annual report of the Local Government Board) may now be supplemented by the more reliable reports under the unemployment insurance act. The monthly table for reports from the distress committees under the unemployed workmen act, 1905, presents information classified by local districts as to (1) number of applicants given unemployment relief, (2) aggregate duration (days) of unemployment relief, and (3) total amount of wages paid, all shown for the current month, for the preceding month, and for the corresponding month of the preceding year. R E PO R T S U N DER T H E U N EM PLO Y M EN T IN SU RA N CE ACT, 1911. Under the unemployment insurance act every workman subject thereto must show a so-called unemployment book, and when out of employment he must register it with a labor exchange or other local office of the unemployment fund. Thus there are currently reported the total number subject to unemployment insurance and the number out of work, making it possible to calculate readily the percentage unemployed. The table shown monthly in the British Labor Gazette presents the information classified, first, by industries (including building work, shipbuilding, engineering and iron founding, con struction of vehicles, sawmilling, and other trades not specified), and, secondly, by geographical divisions or districts. Weekly percentages are shown and a comparison shown for all trades and districts for the month preceding and for the year preceding. U N EM PLO Y M EN T C EN SU SES. So far as ascertainable no special unemployment censuses have been taken for Great Britain generally. AUSTRALIA. The most satisfactory figures available are returns of labor unions. These records show the number of members unemployed at the end of each year, and do not take into account variations in employment throughout the year due to seasonal activity and other causes. A summary of these reports by industries and States shows the number of unions reporting, membership, number of members unemployed, and percentage of unemployment, and the increase or decrease over the corresponding period of the preceding year. These statistics are found in the yearbook issued by the Commonwealth bureau of census and statistics. Since 1913 these statistics have been published in the Labor Bulle tin (quarterly), showing the number of persons out of work three or https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 58 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. more days during the quarter, excluding persons out of work because of strikes or lockouts, and are tabulated under three heads: “ Lack of work,” “ Sickness and accidents,” and “ Other causes.” Similar data have been shown for each month since the outbreak of the war. While these figures are subject to certain limitations, the average percentages and index numbers computed may be taken as denoting the true course of events with substantial accuracy. The results of the State free employment bureaus are also pub lished in the quarterly bulletin, but as the scope and functions of the different bureaus are not identical, any deductions relative to the state of the labor market are necessarily subject to certain limitations. NEW ZEALAND. The New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1914, presents a summary of unemployed male persons in April, 1911. This summary is shown for 11 principal groups of occupations, and calculated percentages of unemployed of the total number of workers as determined by the censuses of 1906 and 1911 are also shown. Statistical information relative to the operation of the employment branches of the labor department shows only the number of persons for whom employment was secured, without reference to the number of applications for employment registered or of applications by employers for help. A special statement is made as to the women’s employment branches. AUSTRIA. LABOR EXCHANGES. The Austrian bureau of labor statistics publishes monthly in its monthly bulletin (S oziale R u n d sch a u ) statistics based on the reports of employment bureaus. In May, 1914, reports were received from 919 employment bureaus, among which were 292 of Provinces, dis tricts, and communes, 36 of trade-unions, 6 of employers’ associations, 117 of employees’ associations, 24 of societies for the procuring of employment, 24 of other economic societies, 9 of charitable societies, 8 of religious societies, 1 of national societies, 18 licensed employ ment bureaus, and 381 relief stations (N aturalverpjlegsstationen ). These monthly statistics show separately for men, women, and appren tices the number of applications, vacancies, and positions filled dur ing the month, comparing them with the data for the preceding month, and giving the increase and decrease. Other tables show the vacancies and positions filled per hundred applicants, and give the number of applicants, vacancies, and positions filled, by occupational groups and by classes of employment bureaus. Annual reports show the same data, and in addition there is shown the period of unemployment of the applicants for positions through https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY EE VIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 59 6 separate employment bureaus, and also for 1 group of offices. The period of unemployment is shown in one of the following classifi cations: (1) Less than 1 day, (2) 1 to 3 days, (3) 4 to 7 days, (4) over 1 to 4 weeks, (5) over 4 to 8 weeks, (6) over 8 to 13 weeks, and (7) over 13 weeks. These statistics show also the total number of appli cants who were unemployed when applying for a position and the number of days of unemployment. An extensive investigation of the organization of workmen’s asso ciations undertaken in 1900 included also employment bureaus maintained by these organizations. TR A D E-UN IO N STA TISTIC S. Since January, 1914, the Austrian bureau of labor statistics has compiled monthly unemployment statistics based on returns from trade-unions. These statistics show also the amount of unemploy ment benefits paid by trade-unions to unemployed members. A combined table for all federations reporting shows: (1) Number of members at close of the month; (2) number of members unem ployed at close of the month—(a) receiving unemployment benefits, (b ) not in receipt of unemployment benefits, (c) total number of unemployed, (d) number of members who were unemployed since the 1st day of the month; (3) number of days unemployed during the month—(a) with unemployment relief, (b) without unemploy ment relief, (c) total; (4) amount of unemployment or traveling benefits paid. Another table shows the state of unemployment in the individual federations, indicating (1) total number of members, number of unemployed, and number of aided unemployed on the last day of the current month; (2) total number of days of unemployment, number of days of unemployment for which relief was granted, and amount of unemployment relief paid; and (3) per cent of members unemployed. SICK R EL IEF FU N D S. Under the sickness insurance system special reports are made annually on their activities; these are also summarized in part 3 of the regular monthly journal of the office of labor statistics. There are also shown the number of members, classified by sex and by individual funds and by trades, the number of days lost from work, etc. CEN SU SES O F U N EM PLO Y M EN T. An attempt was made to combine the general census of December 31, 1900, with a census of unemployment; this attempt was however limited to 10 large cities and their suburbs. The questions as to unemployment were included in a special schedule relating to housing https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 60 M ONTHLY R E V IE W OF T H E BUREAU OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S . statistics. Workmen were requested to state whether they were at present employed, the name, address, and business of their last employer, how long unemployed, and the cause of unemployment—■ (a) sickness and (b) other reasons. The tabulation of the information obtained arranged the unem ployed according to sex, age, conjugal condition, religion, length of residence in the locality, nativity, legal residence, nationality, knowl edge of reading and writing, number in the family, occupation, cause and duration of unemployment. HUNGARY. The earliest data on the subject of unemployment in Hungary were obtained at the time of the census of 1890, in which those persons not having an independent status were requested to indicate the industry or establishment in which they were employed, and those unable to answer this question affirmatively were regarded as unemployed. In the census of 1900 two questions were introduced relative to the cause and duration of unemployment. The census of manufactures of 1905 indicated the number of days during which each establishment was idle in the course of the year. According to an item in Soziale Praxis,1 Budapest was the first metropolitan city in Europe to undertake a house to house census of the unemployed. This census was taken by about 7,000 voluntary enumerators on March 22, 1914, and determined the total number of unemployed by sex, industries, occupations, age, conjugal condi tion, and length of residence in Budapest. In addition, the number of days each unemployed person was out of work, and the amount of his loss of earnings, as well as from what means he supported himself while unemployed, were ascertained. Since 1895 the Hungarian Statistical Office has published data as to the monthly membership of the sick funds. As all workmen employed in industry must become members of a sick fund, these statistics permit conclusions as to the state of unemployment. However, on account of the numerous seasonal industries in Hungary such conclusions can not make claim to great correctness. BELGIUM. LABOR-EXCHANGE R EPO R TS. Monthly reports are sent in to the bureau of labor by the subsidized labor exchanges (Bourses du travail) and published in its journal (Revue du travail). These statistics show separately for each sex the number of applications for work, the vacancies, and the vacancies filled through the bureau, and the increase and decrease in these 1 Soziale P r a x i s u n d A r c h i v f ü r V o l k s w o h l f a h r t, v o l . 24, N o . 6- p p . 62 ff. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis B erlin, O ctober 1 5 ,1 0 1 4 . MONTHLY EE VIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 61 data as compared with a preceding date. The data are given sepa rately by exchanges and by industry groups. The same data are shown in an annual report of the bureau of labor but with the following additional: The age and conjugal condition of the applicants, to what union they belong, whether they can read and write, how many applied for work at least twice during the past year, and the form of wage payment both desired and offered and rates of wages of time workers. TRADE-UNION REPORTS. Monthly reports are published in the Belgian bureau of labor jour nal as to the amount of unemployment among trade-union members. These data are based on reports of the local correspondents of the labor office, to whose judgment is left the method by which they may obtain the required data. The schedule used for the district of Ghent contains the following questions: (1) How many members has your society ? (2) How many of these were out of work at the mid dle of the month? (3) How many of these received unemployment benefits ? (4) How many did not receive unemployment benefits ? The annual report gives these data in the form of a chart. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF FUNDS. Annually there is published in the journal of the labor office a statement as to the amount of unemployment among trade-unions granting unemployment benefits and receiving subsidies from the State board on returns made each month. Since 1908 this informa tion has been combined by the labor office with that from unions not subsidized. The large work on the organization of workmen (Rapport relatif a 1’execution de la loi du 31 mars 1898 sur les unions professionelles) gives for each year the number of societies granting unemployment benefits, the total amount of benefits granted by these societies and the average amount for each society, and the percentage of these benefits of the total expenditures of the societies. Another table shows the number given aid, both regular and participating members (d em im em b ers) , the average benefit received by each aided member, and the percentage of the benefits paid in the individual occupational groups of the total expenditures of the societies. UNEMPLOYMENT CENSUSES. Both general and special censuses or inquiries as to unemployment have been made in Belgium at various times. The general census of 1896 reported (a) the number of establishments closed at the time of the inquiry and (b ) the number of workmen who returned themselves as out of work. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 62 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. A local unemployment census of Brussels was made by the police authorities in 1894-95 and published in the journal of the labor office (Revue d u T r a v a il ) in 1896. Municipal inquiries were made by Ghent in 1892-93, November, 1896, December, 1897, November, 1898, October, 1902, and November, 1905. DENMARK. The statistical office has regularly published since 1899 returns from the Danish Federation of Trade-unions (De S a m virken d e Fagfo r b u n d ) regarding the amount of unemployment among union mem bership for each month. From 1899 to 1909 there was shown only the actual number unemployed and total benefits paid each year, but after 1910 there was reported the number of the membership and the per cent unemployed at the end of each month. The data are classi fied according to geographical divisions, according as reported from provincial towns or from Copenhagen and its suburbs, as well as according to the more important trades; also there is shown the total days of work lost and number lost per person unemployed. Special investigations concerning unemployment in the trade-unions were made recently—on August 22 and October 24, 1914, and on January 23 and March 20, 1915. Unemployment insurance has been organized in Denmark since April 9, 1907, and under the law regular reports as to the insured membership and the number in receipt of benefits at the close of the fiscal year (Mar. 31) have been issued. These statistics are classified by sex and geographical division. As the formation of these societies is voluntary the statistics are not complete as to unemployment. With the establishment of a sickness insurance system (law of Apr. 12, 1892) reports as to the number of benefit societies, the number of persons registered as sick, the amounts expended for pecuniary aid, hospital services, etc., have been regularly issued since 1893. The statistics show the number of days lost through sickness and are classi fied by sex and geographical divisions. Unemployment returns were also embodied in the general decen nial censuses of 1901 and of 1911. These show the number of em ployees in clerical occupations, the number of workmen in industry, and the number engaged in seafaring occupations unemployed at the time the census was taken. The census of 1901 included as unem ployed those out on strike and incapacitated by illness, while the census of 1911 expressly excludes them. These census reports show unemployment by causes, by industrial groups, by certain occupa tional groups, and by geographical divisions. Kesults are shown separately for Copenhagen and Fredericksberg, for provincial towns, for rural communities, and for the country as a whole. The data are also classified by five age groups of persons unemployed and by https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 63 sex for each occupation or industry showing both the number and per cent unemployed. The city of Copenhagen alone gives returns from its labor exchange. These reports give the ordinary data, classified by sex, as to the num ber of applicants for positions, available vacancies, and places idled. From this city returns are also available as to the number of unem ployed at a specified day in each month, classified under three occu pational groups: (1) Skilled workmen in industries; (2) building trades workers; (3) ordinary laborers; but only since 1910 have reports as to the relative number of unemployed been shown, together with the total number of days lost and days lost per workman unem ployed. An annual summary is, however, shown according to 11 industrial groups, showing the per cent unemployed, total days of work lost, and days lost per workman unemployed. FRANCE. EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES. Employment bureaus in France are regulated by the act of March 14, 1904, which among other provisions permitted the municipalities to abolish all private offices operating for profit and to establish mu nicipal exchanges. Four extensive official investigations (1893, 1901, 1907, 1909) as to the activity of employment bureaus have been made, chiefly to obtain data for legislation to stop the abuses of commercial employ ment agencies. The investigation of 1909 as to free employment bureaus covered all France and included communal bureaus, tradeunion exchanges, bureaus maintained by employers or employees, or by both in cooperation, and those maintained by mutual aid asso ciations, charitable institutions, etc. Thé results were published in the labor bulletin (.B u lle tin d u M in istère d u T ra va il ) in 1910 and 1911. An investigation made in 1910 was restricted to communal bureaus. The yearbook of industrial organizations, both employers and em ployees (.A n n u a ir e des S y n d ic a ts P ro fessio n els) , shows the results of the activity of the trade-union exchanges (B ourses d u tra va il ) and of their affiliated associations and members, indicating the number of applicants for work, number of vacancies, and number of positions filled; distinction is made between permanent and temporary em ployment in positions filled. The monthly tables are published in the bulletin of the labor office and the annual compilation of results appears in the statistical year book for France (A n n u a ir e S ta tistiq u e Generale de la France). REPORTS FROM TRADE-UNIONS. The French ministry of labor gives in its bulletin monthly unem ployment statistics based on reports of trade associations (syndicats 8159°—15— 5 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 64 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. ouvriers et m ixtes), to which are sent each month schedules with the following questions: (1) How many members in the association on -------- [date] ? (2) How many of them were on that date without work or unemployed (in this number are not to be included those who are out of work on account of sickness or strikes) ? (3) How many hours per week are generally worked at present? (4) Is em ployment more or less abundant than in the preceding month ? (5) What are the causes? (6) Has there been, since the preceding month, an increase or decrease in wages? (7) What has been the reason for such changes? (8) In your judgment is the condition of the labor market satisfactory ? On this schedule are also placed the requests for information from those union headquarters which act as employment exchanges, the information sought for being (a) number of applications for work, (b) number of requests for help by employers, and (c) number of places filled either as permanent positions or as temporary jobs. Based on these reports the bulletin shows each month by industries the percentage of organized workmen out of employment and com pares it with the percentage a month ago and a year ago. Annual unemployment statistics on a broader basis are published each February in the bulletin. They show first the general unem ployment by months compared with the general averages for these months during the periods 1904-1908 and 1908-1912 and for the corresponding month of the preceding year. Similarly there is shown separately the percentage of unemployment among organized workers in industry and commerce; and, finally, like data are shown by indi vidual industries. These statistics are followed by a comparison of the averages of unemployment with other economic index numbers, such as the average number of days worked per week in coal mines, the index number of prices, the exports, rate of discount, and the assets and the amount of coin in the Bank of France. Comparisons are also made with the current price index numbers for Great Britain and Germany. The bulletin of the French statistical office presents quarterly, under the title “ Unemployment” ( C hom age ), a compilation of the state of unemployment among organized workmen in France, Great Britain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, New York, and Mas sachusetts; the tables are accompanied by charts. REPORTS FROM EMPLOYERS. Employers in Paris transmit regular returns to the labor office, on the basis of which the number of establishments in each industry may be ascertained; also the number employed, the prevailing hours of labor, and the average daily wages paid. Employers from other parts of France report the general state of the labor market in nonstatis https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 65 tical statements characterizing the labor market as quiet, firm, active, etc. UNEMPLOYMENT CENSUSES. Since 1896 the general census for France has included a detailed industrial enumeration which makes it possible to classify according to occupations those persons who, while usually employed in a per manent occupation, are out of work on the day of the census. In the part to be filled in by employees and workmen the individual sched ules of the census of 1896 contained questions as to the causes of unemployment, (1) whether sickness or invalidity, (2) the regular slack season, (3) other causes; also questions as to the number of days the person concerned had been out of work. These data were classified according to sex, age, conjugal condition, occupation, and districts, and according to the causes and duration of unemployment in relation to age and sex. Unemployment according to occupations, localities, and causes was shown in relative figures. The general censuses of 1901, 1906, and 1911 also contained ques tions as to unemployment. In 1901, however, the question as to the cause of unemployment was omitted, and in 1906 the question was formulated thus: “ If out of work, how many days? Was sickness the cause?” EMERGENCY PUBLIC WORKS. Although statistics of emergency public works (travaux de secours ) should not be regularly classified among unemployment statistics, France, however, puts such special stress on them that they may be mentioned here. Statistics of emergency public works undertaken by communes to alleviate unemployment are annually shown in the bulletin of the labor office. According to a circular letter of the minister of commerce of November 26, 1900, the prefects must annu ally report on such emergency public works. Emergency public works of a purely charitable character are to be omitted in accordance with a circular letter of the minister of December 31, 1909, an order which has reduced considerably the material to be compiled. The material is tabulated by Departments showing the number of communes and amount of expenditures, and, whenever possible, the number of persons out of work, the number of days on which they were given work, and the wages paid to them. On the basis of these data the labor office computes the average duration of employment at emergency work, the average total earnings, and the average daily wages of each unemployed person aided. These data are shown by sex, age, and occupation of the unemployed persons aided. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 66 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. GERMANY. EMPLOYMENT OFFICES. Most of the large cities of Germany have public employment offices. Reports of the activities of these are summarized monthly in the journal (.Reichsarbeitsblatt) of the labor division of the imperial statistical office. The monthly statistics show separately for each sex: (1) The number of new applications received during the current month, the total number of applications on file during the current month, inclusive of those carried forward from the preceding month, and the number of applications received from nonresident and transient applicants; (2) the number of new vacancies, the total number of vacancies, inclusive of those carried over from the preceding month, and the number of vacancies outside of the district of the employment office; and (3) the toted number of positions filled and the number of posi tions filled in localities outside of the district of the employment office reporting. This information is shown in two tables, one giving the above data by individual employment offices, grouped by States and Provinces, and the other by industry groups and States and Provinces. A number of small tables inserted in the text under the title “ The activity of employment offices during the month ” show the following data: (1) Total number of applicants, vacancies, and positions filled, by sex, for the current and preceding month and for the corresponding month of the preceding year; (2) the number of vacancies filled, by sex, by the various kinds of employment offices, namely, communal employment offices or those subsidized by communes, other public or public-welfare employment offices, employment offices under joint management of employers and employees (pa ritä tisch e ), and offices maintained by employers, guilds, or workmen; (3) the ratio of appli cations to vacancies in individual industry groups, for individual occu pations, and by States and Provinces, all shown by sex, for the cur rent and preceding month, and for the corresponding month of the preceding year; (4) the number of short-term (k u rzfristig e ) vacancies, i. e., not exceeding a week, and temporary (a u sh ilfe n ) vacancies filled, classified by individual industry groups and sex. Separate data are also given every month concerning the procuring of employment for permanent agricultural help and migratory and seasonal workers. A table shows by States and Provinces the appli cants for permanent agricultural employment, the vacancies, and the positions filled. The data relating thereto are given by sex and States and Provinces for managing officials, higher-grade help, cow herders (single and married), and lower-grade help, i. e., domes tics living with their employer and independent laborers living by https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 67 them selves. Another table gives data by sex, States, and Provinces as to the em ploym ent of migratory workers. The table shows the number of workmen placed through the German central labor office (.D eutsche A rbeiterzentrale ) and through agricultural corporations, classified as native or immigrant workmen, b y race. The Reichsarbeitsblatt publishes quarterly reports as to the activity of em ploym ent bureaus m aintained for private salaried employees. These reports are similar in form to those dealing with em ploym ent offices for workmen. The annual results of the operations of the m ost im portant em ploym ent offices are published in the statistical yearbook of the Empire. TRADE-UNION RETURNS. Returns from trade-unions as to the amount of unemployment; among their membership have been reported each month since 1903—formerly quarterly—in the journal already mentioned of the imperial labor office. Only unions which pay unemployment bene fits are included in the reports, as only their reports are considered reliable as to unemployment. The schedule in use at present has been in use since 1911 and the different forms used for the second and third months of each quarter vary slightly from that for the first month, the latter containing more details. The reports for the second and third months of each quarter show the entire member ship, the number of unemployed members—giving separately those in receipt of aid and those who do not receive benefits—and finally the number of traveling members. All these data are given sepa rately by sexes. The quarterly report shows in addition the total number of days of work lost, the number of workers who received benefits, and the number of days for which benefits were paid and the total amount of benefits paid, all these data being given sepa rately for each sex, and for unemployed members in the locality in question, and for traveling members. Reports similar to the above are published quarterly as to the amount of unemployment among the membership of associations of private salaried employees. RETURNS FROM EMPLOYERS. These are in the nature of nonstatistical reports as to the condition of the labor market. Each m onthly issue of the imperial labor office journal, also contains a summary table for a group of 12 industries, indicating b y industry groups and by sex the number employed on the last day of the current month, the number em ployed on the last da}^ of the corresponding m onth of the preceding year, the increase or decrease compared with the corresponding https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 68 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. month of the preceding year, and the corresponding per cent of the year preceding. SICKNESS INSURANCE FUNDS. The accident insurance law of 1911 provides for a system of sick relief benefits for the support of which the employees are compelled to contribute through locally organized societies or sick funds as they are called. This means that practically every wage earner in Germany is enrolled, and when incapacitated by illness is entitled to receive benefits. Thus the number in receipt of sick benefits would show the number unemployed at any time by reason of such sickness. Monthly reports are presented in the imperial labor office journal showing their number of funds reporting to the labor office, the num ber of the membership, and those in receipt of sick benefits, together with the increase or decrease as compared with each preceding month. This information is shown by months of each year; it is also classified by geographical divisions and by kinds of sick funds (municipal, local, rural, trades, and guilds). The membership is also classified by sex. The conditions in certain special trades are shown in detail. UNEMPLOYMENT CENSUSES. An investigation of unemployment was combined with the occu pational census of June 14, 1895, and with the general census of December 2, 1895. The different cities of Germany have taken occasional unemploy ment censuses, to list all of which would be a considerable task. The most recent Berlin census was taken November 17, 1908. ITALY. The Italian bureau of labor publishes monthly and annual statistics of the operations of the employment bureaus. The publication of such reports by the bureau is irregular, and is made individually for the various employment bureaus. Combined reports of operations have been issued since 1912 only and have included only a small number of employment bureaus. The tables show the number of applications, vacancies, and posi tions filled, by sexes. The material for the tables is obtained from reports of the employment bureaus of various trade-union headquarters, from reports of the public-welfare bureau of the Società Umanitaria, from municipalities, and from several agricultural employment bureaus. The bureau of labor collected for the years 1904 and 1905 data reported by organized labor. These, however, are in many instances merely approximations, and are not considered of great importance. ' The trade-union bureau of Milan prepares monthly reports of the number of days of work lost by its members, and this presents a https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 69 continuity of data which since the establishment of an unemployment fund is more precise and reliable. The individual schedules for the general census of February 1, 1901, contained a question directed to workmen and domestic servants as to whether they 'were unemployed at the time of the census, how long, and whether from sickness or from some other cause. The data obtained was classified by sex according to two age groups (16 to 65 and over 65 years), and by occupations and Provinces. Percentages were computed for the individual occupations for persons over 15 years and were compared with those of the French census of 1896 and the two German censuses of 1895. The fifth general census of April 2, 1911, of which only the population section has been pub lished, will be more in detail, as far as it relates to individual estab lishments, and will give data from both employers and employees. Only one city, Milan, has made any general investigation of unem ployment. The labor bureau of the Societa Umanitaria made such an investigation in 1903. This called for data on unemployment from all causes, excluding those of sickness and slack season. These data have been collated under the following heads: Sex and age, length of unemployment, occupation, special conditions, and length of residence in the city of the persons affected. NETHERLANDS. LABOR EXCHANGES. The State bureau of statistics publishes monthly in its journal statistics as to the activity of the labor exchanges, both communal and other employment bureaus. These statistics show by sexes, and by adults (over 18 years) and juveniles (under 18 years), the number of applications for work, vacancies, vacancies per 100 appli cants, positions filled, and positions filled per 100 applicants. The statistics are given by localities and by occupations. Statistics of employment bureaus maintained by workmen’s and employers’ associations, of private employment bureaus conducted for profit, and of several public-welfare employment bureaus, in which are shown the number of applicants, vacancies, and vacancies filled separately for adults and juveniles, are published semiannually. TRADE-UNION REPORTS. The monthly journal ( M aa n d sch rift) of the bureau of statistics reports monthly statistics on unemployment based formerly only on reports of trade-unions which grant unemployment benefits, but more recently also on the reports of those unions which do not grant unemployment relief. The data are given by occupational groups and include statements of the average number of members insured https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 70 MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. during each month and the weekly average both of unemployed for each 100 members insured and of the number of days of unemploy ment for each unemployed worker, covering the current month, the preceding month, and the same month of the preceding year. The data are given separately for cities with 50,000 inhabitants or more. In addition, results are presented in chart form for all industries combined as well as for a few specially important industries (diamond cutting, printing, metal, building, engineering, and the tobacco indus try). A more detailed report is given for those societies which receive subsidies from communal unemployment funds, the data being fur nished by the communal funds. The data for the general report are furnished by the local tradeunions, which are required to report their total membership as of the first of the month and the number insured against unemployment. The tabulation includes the following subjects: (1) Number of unem ployed who receive benefits, (2) number of days on which unemployed received benefits, (3) amount of benefits paid, (4) number of insured members who were unemployed without consideration as to whether they received benefits or not, (5) duration (days) of unemployment (exclusive of Sundays). With respect to these unemployment statistics the statistical office states that many organizations are unable to give the number of those unemployed—and their days of unemployment—who have either not yet acquired a right to benefits or have lost such right, and the percentage of unemployment given must therefore be considered as a minimum. SICK RELIEF FUNDS. Reports are at present gathered only from those local relief funds which are granted a municipal subsidy for their partial support. UNEMPLOYMENT CENSUSES. Certain cities of a population of 50,000 and over were canvassed in December, 1901, as to the amount of unemployment. Other related sources of information are (1) statistics of those applying for relief to the special commission on relief appointed to ameliorate unemployment in Amsterdam in the winter of 1894-95; (2) reports of certain trade-unions in Amsterdam for the year 1898; (3) statistics of applicants for relief work at The Hague in 1907-8. A very comprehensive census of unemployment was ordered in 1909, but was not undertaken until the year following; it reported conditions as of April 15, 1910. The investigation was conducted through subcommittees, one for each of the groups of occupations following: (1) Building trades, public works and ways; (2) transpor tation and commerce; (3) offices, hotels, restaurants, and stores; (4) agriculture, etc.; (5) seasonal occupations; (6) factory industries, https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 71 including glassworks, pottery, paper industry, chemicals, textiles, metals, and shipbuilding; (7) other trades, as diamond cutting, print ing, flour milling, tobacco, distilling, etc. The schedules were placed in the hands of labor exchanges, aid com mittees, unemployment aid funds, employers’ associations, tradeunions, and agricultural associations. The data do not cover persons unemployed because of sickness, in firmity, old age, strikes, or lockouts, or those voluntarily idle, but du take into account any diminution (part time) of work, whether days of the week or hours of the day, due to decreased business. The report of the commission is a study and analysis of causes. It is issued in eleven volumes, seven of which constitute the reports of the separate committees, and the last three a combined report and statement of recommendations. NORWAY. Unemployment among Norwegian trade-union membership has been reported regularly since July, 1903. These statistics show, by locality, by certain industry groups, and by certain more important occupations, the number of members of trade-unions at the close of the month, the number unemployed by reason of lack of work, by reason of sickness, or on account of strike or lockout, or from other causes; also the total number unemployed for certain classified num ber of days, and the number of days of work lost by each person unemployed. Since 1911 there has been shown merely the total mem bership in the unions reporting and the per cent unemployed by prin cipal industry groups. A special report on the causes of unemploy ment in Norwegian trade-unions was made in December, 1905, and for each of the months of January, February, and March, 1906. Returns from some 200 to 300 employers as to the number of work men employed in their establishments have been available since October, 1903. These returns show the number employed at the close of the year, the per cent of increase or decrease as compared with the preceding year, and are also classified by locality and by industry (regular or seasonal work). . Reports from public employment exchanges have been available since 1898. These show the usual information as to the number of applicants for work, number of vacancies reported, and the number of places filled during each month; also the number of applicants for each 100 vacancies, and the number of places filled for each 100 appli cants. The data are also classified by sex and according to principal occupational groups. Returns from the unemployment benefit funds, available since 1906, indicate the number of such funds, their membership and https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 72 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. changes therein, and their financial condition. The data are classi fied by principal industry groups. The unemployment censuses of 1905, 1906, and 1910 cover the more important Norwegian towns and cities. Returns for 1905 cover the months of March, April, May, and December, while those of 1906 are for January and February. The returns for each of the cities show the total male population over 15 years of age and the number and per cent unemployed at the time of the census; the data are classified according to the age of the persons reported unemployed, their occupations, conjugal condition, and residence; but the data as to the length of time unemployed are classified according to the occupation of those reported unemployed. A summary of all these investigations as to unemployment in Nor way may be found in a recent report by a governmental committee appointed early in 1914 to study the problem. SWEDEN. The regular monthly periodical (S ociala M eddelanden ) of the Swed ish labor office (Socidlstyrelsen ) has published since 1903 monthly returns from the different municipal subsidized employment offices in the usual forms showing the number of applicants, calls for help by employers, and places filled, classified by sex, geographical districts, and occupations. The data concerning places filled is also presented by localities showing the increase or decrease for the current month compared with the month of the year preceding; there is also shown the number of applications for work for each 100 vacancies available; and the vacancies available are shown separately for agriculture and all other industrial groups combined. Returns from trade-unions in the usual form showing the percentage of unemployment in trade-union members have likewise been pub lished since 1911. Prior thereto, however, a limited investigation had been made during the winter of 1907-8 by means of a letter inquiry to local labor federations and trade-unions, supplemented by the use of trade-union periodicals. Two special investigations were also made for two of the larger trade federations, namely, the sheet metal and tin plate workers’ federation (1904-1906), and the iron and metal workers’ federation (January, February, and March, 1908). Since March 1, 1911, trade-union unemployment statistics have appeared regularly for each month. These data show the number of unions reporting for each federation included, the number of per sons classified as full or participating members, and as associate or so-called half members (those under 18 years of age, paying only half the prescribed dues); the number of members and those unemployed are classified according to sex. The causes of unemployment are classified as due to (1) slackness of work or (2) other accidental https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STA TISTICS, 73 causes; and the number reported does not include those without work by reason of sickness, labor disputes, military service, or other cause, who are classified separately under the indicated causes of un employment. There is also shown in the statistics the number of days of unemployment during each month. Inasmuch as a system of voluntary sickness insurance has pre vailed in Sweden since 1891, a very adequate account of the member ship of sick funds is obtainable, particularly as under the more recent law the funds are subject to careful Government supervision and inspection. These statistics show the number of funds in existence at any time, the number of members at the close of each year, and the receipts and expenditures for various purposes. There is shown the total paid for sick relief to all members concerned, also the average amount paid to each member, the total number of days of work lost through sickness, and average for each member. All results are classified by sex, by geographical divisions, and are also shown for each fund separately. Special unemployment censuses have been taken for Sweden as a whole on two separate occasions, the one covering unemployment conditions prevailing during the winter of 1908-9 and taken on Janu ary 12, 1909, the other taken on January 31, 1910. The same pro cedure was followed at both of these censuses, the material being gathered by a sort of polling system. Announcements were made by the Swedish labor office, in the press, and by circulars concerning the census, and polling booths were designated at which were enumerated on the specified date those found unemployed. The data when com piled showed the age, residence, conjugal condition, number of chil dren in the family, occupation, whether trade-union member or not, last place of work, length of unemployment, and cause of unemploy ment (classified as sickness, labor dispute, slackness of work, or other cause) of all persons enumerated. The material was further classi fied according to sex, industries, and locality of the persons reported unemployed. SWITZERLAND. No general census of unemployment has been undertaken by the State. Certain Cantons or important industrial centers, such as Zurich, Bern, Basel, St. Gall, etc., have collected and published unemployment data. Municipal unemployment censuses have been taken by Basel in 1888, Zurich in 1894 and 1900, and by both cities in 1910. The recent annual reports of Basel and Zurich on this subject are the most important. They present exact data relative to the trade conditions, and to seasonal influence on employment. Reports of labor exchanges found in the statistical monthlies of the respective cities cover only a portion of the work of securing employ https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 74 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. ment or of supplying help. Tlieir reports are summarized in the monthly periodical issued by the federation of municipal employment offices. LIST OF REFERENCES CONSULTED. A u s tr a lia . Bureau of Census and Statistics. Official Yearbook of the Commonwealth of Australia. 1908 to date. Melbourne, 1908 to date. ----- Labor and Industrial Branch. Labor Bulletin. Melbourne, 1913 to date. •—-—• Trade-unionism, unemployment, wages, prices, and cost of living in Australia, 1891 to 1912 . . . . By G. LI. Ivnibbs, Commonwealth statistician. Melbourne, 1913. 77 pp. (Report No. 2.) A u s tr ia . Arbeitsstatistisches Amt. Ergebnisse der arbeitsvermittlung in Oesterreich. 1905 to date. Vienna, 1906 to date. Annual. ----- Soziale Rundschau. 1900 to date. Vienna, 1900 to date. Handels- Ministerium. Statistisches Departement. Die Arbeitsvermittlung in Oester reich. Vienna, 1909. 304, 217* pp. Statistische Zentral-Kommission. Die Ergebnisse der Volkszählung vom 31. Dezember 1900. Die Zählung der Arbeitslosen in dem Gemeinden den erweiterten Wohnung saufnahme. Vienna, 1904. (Oesterreichische Statistik. Bd. 65, lieft. 4.) B e lg iu m . Office du Travail. Revue du Travail. . 1896 to date. Brussels, 1896 to date. D e n m a rk . Arbejdsl0shedsinspektor. Indberetning. 1907 to date. Copenhagen, 1908 to date. Statens Statistiske Bureau. Folketællingen i Kongeriget Danmark den 1. Februar 1901. Copenhagen, 1904. (Danmarks Statistik. Statistik Tabelvaerk, Femte Rsekke, Litra A, Nr. 4.) 77*-83* pp. ----- Folketællingen i Kongeriget Danmark den 1. Februar 1911. Copenhagen, 1914. (Danmarks Statistik. Femte Række. Litra A, Nr. 10.) 51*-53* pp. Statistiske Departement. Statistisk Aarbog. 1896 to date. Copenhagen, 1896 to date. Sygekasseinspektoren. Beretninger, 1893 to date. Copenhagen, 1894 to date. (Avail able only in summary tables in Statistical Yearbook (Statistisk Aarbog), 1896 to date.) F i n la n d . Arbetslöshetsförsäkringskomiten. Arbetslösheten inom Finlands politiska arbetareorganisationer under november och december 1908 samt januari och februari 1909. Statistisk undersökning af Oskari Autere. Helsingfors, 1910. 217 pp. (Its Publikationer II.) F ra n ce . Bureau de la Statistique Générale. Annuaire statistique de la France. 1878 to date. Paris, 1878 to date. ----- Bulletin de la statistique générale de la France. October, 1911 to date. Paris, 1911 to date. Quarterly. Direction du Travail. Annuaire des syndicats professionnels industriels, commer ciaux et agricoles en France et aux colonies. 1889 to date. Paris, 1889 to date. ----- Documents sur la question du chômage. Paris, 1896. 398 pp. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 75 Direction du Travail. Enquête sur la placement des employes ouvriers et domestiques à Paris, depuis la promulgation de la loi du 14 mars 1904. Paris, 1909. 200 pp. ----- Le placement des employés, ouvriers et domestiques en France. Son histoireson état actuel. Paris, 1893. 734 pp. ----- Note de l’Office du travail sur les sociétés privées d’assistance par le travail. Paris, 1896. 92 pp. ----- Note de l’Office du travail sur les travaux de secours contre le chômage. Paris, 1896. 99 pp. ----- Statistique des travaux de secours en cas de chômage pendant les années 1896, 1897 et 1898. Paris, 1899. 23 pp. Ministère du Travail et de la Prévoyance Sociale. Bulletin (formerly Bulletin de l’Office du Travail). 1894 to date. Paris, 1894 to date. Monthly. Conseil Supérieur du Travail. Les caisses de Chômage. Paris, 1903. 148 pp. G erm an y . Statistisches Amt. Statistisches Jahrbuch für das Deutsche Reich. Berlin, 1880 to date. ----- Die berufliche und soziale Gliederung des Deutschen Volkes. Berlin, 1899. (Statistik des Deutschen Reiches. Neue folge, bd. 111.) pp. 245 et seq. ----- Abteilung für ArbeiterStatistik. Reicharbeitsblatt. April, 1903, to date. Berlin, 1904 to date. ----- Die Regelung der Notstandsarbeiten in deutschen Städten. Berlin, 1905. 181 pp. (Beiträge zur arbeiterstatistik Nr. 2.) ----- Die bestehenden Einrichtungen zur Versicherung gegen die Folgen der Arbeits losigkeit im Ausland und im Deutschen Reich. Berlin, 1906. 3 vols. ----- Krankheits- und Sterblichkeitsverhältnisse in der Ortskrankenkasse für Leipzig und Umgegend. Untersuchungen über den Einfluss von Geschlecht, Alter und Beruf. Berlin, 1910. 4 vols. G r e a t B r i ta i n . Board of Trade. Labor Gazette. London, May, 1893, to date. Monthly. ----- Board of Trade labor exchanges. Statistical statement with regard to the work of the Board of Trade labor exchanges. London, 1911. 16 pp. (Cd. 5955.) ----- Manufactured imports and employment. Return showing . . . from 1860 to 1904, the average percentage of workmen returned by trades-unions as not em ployed. London [1906]. [4] pp. ----- Report on agencies and methods for dealing with the unemployed. London, 1893. 438 pp. (Cd. 7182-Cd. 7182-1.) —— State of employment. Report . . . on the state of employment in the United Kingdom. October, 1914-December, 1914. London, 1914 to date. ----- Local Government Board. Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905. Return as to the proceedings of distress committees in England and Wales and of the Central (unem ployed) body for London under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905. 1905-6 to date. London, 1907 to date. Annual. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Distress from Want of Employ ment. lst-3d report, together with proceedings of the committee, minutes of evidence . . . London [1895]. 3 vols. ----- Report from the select committee on distress from want of employment, with proceedings . . . London [1896], xlii pp. (Parliament, 1896. H. of C. Repts. and papers 321.) National Health Insurance Joint Committee. Report, 1912-13 to date, on the admin istration of the National Insurance Act, part 1 (health insurance). London, 1913 to date. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 76 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. H u n g ary . Statisztikai Hivatal. A Magyar korona orszägainak 1900 évi népszamlasà (General census). Budapest, 1902. ----- A Magyar korona orszägainak betegsegélyzo pénztarai 1898-ban Szerkeszti és kaidja a Magyar kir. központi statisztikai hivatal. [Die krankenkassen der Länder der ungarischen Krone . . . ] Budapest, 1901. (In Magyar statisztikai közlemények. Ungarische statistische Mitteilungen. Neue Folge. Bd. 25.) ----- Ferenzi, Dr. Emerich. “ Die Ergebnisse der Arbeitslosenzählung in Budapest 22. März, 1914.” (In Soziale Praxis und Archiv für Volkswohlfahrt, voi. 24, No. 6, pp. 62 ff. Berlin, October 15, 1914.) I ta l y . Direzione Generale della Statistica. Censimento della popolazione del Regno d ’Italia al 10 Febrajo, 1901. Voi. 4, pp. 250 and 274; voi. 5, pp. I li, cxvi, and 157. Rome, 1904. Ufficio del Lavoro. Bollettino. Aprii, 1904, to date. Rome, 1904, to date. Monthly. -----Bollettino. New Series. March, 1913, to date. Rome, 1913 to date. Semi monthly. N e th e rla n d s . Centraal Bureau voor de Statistieìc. Maandschrift . . . September, 1906, to date. The Hague, 1906 to date. Monthly. Staatscommissie over de Werkloosheid. [Verslag.] The Hague, 1913 to date. N e w Z e a la n d . Department of Labor. Report . Wellington, 1892 to date. Annual. Registrar General's Office. The New Zealand Official Yearbook. Wellington, 1892 to date. N o rw ay . Departementet for Sociale Saher, Handel, Industri og Fislceri. Sociale Meddelelser (Fortssettelse av Maanedsskrift for Socialstatistik). 1903 to date. Christiania, 1905 to date. (1903 to 1910 Arbeidsmarkedet udgivet af det Statistiske Centralbureau. Copenhagen, 1905 to 1912.) ----- Arbeidsledighet og Arbeidsledighetsforsikring . . . Tillaegshefte til “ Sociale Meddelelser” 1915. Christiania, 1915. 2 vols. Statistiske Centralbureau. Arbeidsledigheds-Taellinger i 1905 og 1906. Medfdlger “Arbeidsmarkedet” for 1907. Christiania, 1907. 32*, 24 pp. (Norges Officielle Statistik V:39. Socialstatistik VI.) ——- Statistisk Aarbog for Kongeriget Norge. 1904 to date. Christiania, 1904 to date. S w eden. Civil-Departementet. Registrerade Sjukkassors Versamhet ar 1892 to 1900. Stock holm, 1894 to 1903. Kommerskollegium. Afdelningen for Arbetsstatistik. Registrerade Sjukkassors Vers amhet ar 1901 to 1910. Stockholm, 1905 to 1912. (Later reports will be issued by the new office of labor and social welfare [Socialstyrelsen].) ----- Arbetslosheten i Sverige under Vinteren 1908 to 1909. Stockholm, 1910. 246 pp. (Arbetsstatistik. H :l.) ----- Arbetsloshetsrakningen i Sverige den 31 Januari 1910. Stockholm, 1911. 181 pp. (Arbetsstatistik. H:2.) https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 77 Socialstyrelsen. Den Oft'entliga Arbetsförmedlingen i Sverige 1902 to 1912. Stock holm, 1915. 232 pp. (Sveriges Officiella Statistik. Socialstatistik.) ----- Sociala Meddelanden. 1903 to date. Stockholm, 1903 to date. (1903 to 1912. Meddelanden frän Kommerskollegii. Afdelning för Arbetsstatistik.) Statistiska Centralbyrän. Statistisk ärsbok för Sverige. 1914 to date. Stockholm, 1914 to date. S w it z e r l a n d . (Zürich.) Statistisches Amt. Methode und Ergebnisse der Arbeitslosenzählung im Dezember, 1900. Zürich, 1902. (Die Ergebnisse der eidgenössischen Volkszählung vom 1. Dezember, 1900. in der Stadt Zürich. 2. Heft.) Bauer, Dr. Stephan. Die Bevölkerung des Kantons Basel-Stadt am 1. Dezember, 1900. Basel, 1905. 100 pp. Buecher, Dr. Karl. Die Bevölkerung des Kantons Basel-Stadt am 1. Dezember, 1888, Basel, 1890. 96 pp. STRIKE INSURANCE IN GERMANY.1 INTRODUCTION. The maintenance of strike insurance is an important phase of ac tivity on the part of employers’ associations in Germany; it has come to be recognized as a fundamental principle and not merely as a subordinate issue or activity on their part. According to Lefort (p. 26), cited in the note below, the practice of strike insurance has been more highly developed among employers in Germany than in any other country. The claim is made by German employers that strike insurance is necessary to counterbalance the advantages secured by the trade-unions which maintain a system of strike benefits for their members. In its present form strike insurance is carried either by mutual organizations among employers’ associations or establishments or by individual establishments which set aside their own fund; in the latter case resort is frequently had to reinsurance. In some instances insurance companies conduct the business as a department of their regular work. There are in general two forms of strike insurance, the first, which is real strike insurance (StreiTcversicherung), gives rise to a legal right or claim for compensation on the occurrence of the contingent event against the happening of which the risk premiums are paid; the other type of strike insurance (S tre iku n terstu tzu n g ) gives no legal claim, to be pursued by an action of law, but grants pecu1 There is very little literatu re available concerning th e subject of strike insurance; no w ork in E nglish on th e subject has been found. T he stan d a rd w ork on th e general subject of strike insurance is th a t of Saint Girons in F rench. In preparing th is article use has been m ade of: (1) L a greve dans 1’industrie privee; L ’assurance contre ses risques, p a r P a u l G onnot, Paris, A. Rousseau (1912), ix, 411 pp .; (2) L ’assurance contre les greves, p a r J. Lefort, Paris, Fontem oing e t cie, 1911, 125 p p .; (3) L ’assurance patronale contre la greve, Paris, L . Larose & L . Tenin, 1908, x ix, 412 p p .; (4) Die Berufsvereine von W . K ulem ann, Jena, Fischer, 1908, 3 V . Principally, however, use has been m ade of th e occasional official reports of the Im perial S tatistical Office of G erm any, as found in th e (5) R eichs-A rbeitsblatt, hrsg. vorn. K . Statistichen A m te, A bteilung fur A rbeiterstatistik, 1909, p. 768; 1910, p. 844; 1911, p. 848; and in the following (6) special supplem ents (Sonderbeilage), No. 6, p p . 16* e t seq.; No. 8, p p . 18 e t seq.; No. 11, p p . 14* e t seq. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 78 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. niary aid or support to the insured party on the occurrence of the risk (the strike), such aid being granted in the discretion of the directors of the association carrying the insurance. Under the first system of insurance premium payments are paid in advance by the employer to the insurance carrier, usually an annual level (uniform in amount) premium. These companies are subject to Government inspection; they must establish a legal reserve and guaranty fund for the protection of the capital and the reserve. It is said that because of this stringent Government inspection em ployers have preferred in many instances to adopt the second method of protecting themselves, namely, by levying assessments and paying strike benefits, but such assessments and payments are made payable at the discretion of a directing hoard and not subject to legal claim by the insured. This method gives convenience of control and of admin istration over the system. Under it the employers concerned agree to make an annual fixed contribution to a single fund, from which is paid the necessary assistance according to fixed rules. There are in reality two types of systems under which strike benefits may be granted. In one instance the form takes that of a liability society with a directing board as final judge as to the amount to be allowed; in all other respects the fixing of premiums and method of payment are the same as under real strike insurance, but the fact that the board is given discretion as to the amount of compensation allowed in any case avoids the control of the Government insurance office. The second form, that of the pure protective association, does not pretend to cover the actual risk involved; it recognizes no degree of strikes as caused by the employer, as is in the case of the liability society; but action is taken in each specific case whenever the general interest seems to require any action. The feature common to both systems is that of mutuality. HISTORY. Strike insurance is said to have been tried in Germany as early as 1880; in 1889 an association for insurance against strikes was formed in Westphalia. In 1897 an independent stock company (Industriei) was formed in Leipzig with a capital of 500 marks ($119) with shares having a par value of 1,000 marks ($238) each. Among the conditions giving rise to a claim for strike compensation, it was required (1) that an attempt must be made to settle the strike or dispute by reference to the industrial court, and (2) such agreement or settlement before the court must fail by reason of the refusal of the workers to settle the matter and without fault of the insured employer.1 This company very soon failed, July 8, 1898. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis i Soziale P rax is, B erlin, 1897, No. 8 (N ov. 25). MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS. 79 As reported by the imperial statistical office1 the real impetus to the movement for the maintenance of strike insurance in Germany was furnished by the Crimmitschau strike, which began on August 7, 1903, in the small town of that name in Saxony, and was not terminated until January 18, 1904. This strike involved the textile workers of that town who made demand for a 10-hour day and a 10 per cent increase in wages. The strike involved 83 establishments, employ ing some 83,000 workmen. The Social Democratic Federation of Trade Unions, through its official organ, Vorwärts, started a move ment for obtaining contributions for the assistance of the workmen involved in the strike. A counter appeal was made by the Central Federation of German Employers (Z entralverband deutscher In d u s trieller) on December 24, 1903, and actual pecuniary aid was given in proportion to the wage payments of the employers. The strike proved a failure after lasting for five months. The movement among employers, however, for the maintenance of strike insurance continued, more or less interrupted and haphazard, until the creation on April 5, 1913, of the Central Federation of German Employers’ Associations, due to the fact that the several employers’ associations differed very frequently as to the methods to be adopted, and this difference arose frequently on political issues quite aside from the matter of strike insurance. At the same time that the employers’ associations were thus drawing together, the two associations interested in maintaining strike insurance united into a single federation, which they called the Central Federation of German Employers’ Strike Insurance Associations (Zentrale deutscher Arbeitgeberverbände f ü r Streilcversicherung, B e rlin ). As the result of this combination there was a slight increase in the mem bership of the combined associations. M EMBERSHIP. Membership in this central federation is open to all employers’ associations and strike insurance associations which, through an employers’ association, are members of the federation of German employers’ associations mentioned above as having been established on April 5, 1913. As a condition for membership each association is required to pay a minimum annual contribution of $1 for each $1,000 paid out in wage annually to its employees reported as subject to the imperial accident insurance law. Local branch federations of employers or strike insurance associations established by such local branch federations are entitled to membership as determined in each individual case. 1 R eichs-A rbeitsblatt, B erlin, 1915, Sonderbeilage, N r. 11, p . 14; L ’assurance patronale contre la greve, P aris, 1908, p. 82 et seq. 8159°—15---- 6 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 80 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. DUES AND BENEFITS. The annual membership contribution, as already indicated, is com puted according to the wages actually paid each year to the persons subject to accident insurance as shown on the books of the trade accident associations, or, in case there is no trade accident associa tion, according to the average annual wages paid out. The member ship contributions are graded for the following three classes: (1) For members claiming compensation from the beginning of a strike or lockout, 75 pfennigs (18 cents) for every 1,000 marks ($238) of wages paid out; (2) for members claiming compensation for strikes or lockouts lasting longer than 6 workdays, 50 pfennigs (11.9 cents); and (3) for those claiming compensation for strikes or lockouts last ing longer than 24 workdays, 30 pfennigs (7 cents). Compensation is not paid until at least three months have elapsed from date of admission to membership up to the beginning of the strike or lock out for which compensation is claimed. The compensation for each workman on strike or lockedout, or for each workman who, during the labor trouble, has been discharged on account of lack of work, per each day of duration of the strike or lockout, is graded as high as up to 10 per cent of the average daily earnings of the workman affected. The time from which compensation is to be paid is gov erned by the time limits set for the above-mentioned three member ship classes. NUMBER OF MEMBERS. At the beginning of 1914 the new central federation had 13,337 mem bers, who employed 807,787 workmen, while the incomplete corre sponding data for the two former central organizations show a total of 11,282 members, who employed 761,738 workmen. The total amount of the wages reported at the beginning of 1914 by the members as paid was 901,000,000 marks ($214,438,000). The financial solidarity of the new central federation was assured through the taking over by it of the capital of two former reinsurance associations. Like its predecessors the new central federation accepted the prin ciple that strike insurance must be organically connected with the general interests of employers’ organization and that secondary objects of a business character must be excluded. By means of strike insurance members are compensated according to rules deter mined in advance for each strike which, without the fault of the employer concerned, affects his establishment. Employers consider it of special advantage that the strike insurance features adopted by their individual associations make reinsurance with the central federation possible. This reinsurance permits the best apportion ment of the risk on the broadest basis, and gives assurance of the financial stability of the system. Employers claim to see in this https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 81 consolidation of the system of strike insurance a strengthening of employers’ organization which goes far beyond the real purpose of strike insurance. In January, 1914, soon after its foundation, opposition arose to the central federation. This opposition originated with the German Industrial Protective Federation (Deutscher Industrie-^,chutzverband ) in Dresden, which claimed that the risk apportionment of the central federation was less favorable to the members of the German Indus trial Protective Association, whose members are engaged for the most part in manufacturing industries, than to the members of its own strike insurance system. Nothing is known as to how this contro versy ended. STATISTICS OF STRIKE INSURANCE. At the beginning of the year 1914 the imperial statistical office ascertained the existence of a total of 19 strike insurance associations. These may be divided into 3 groups: (1) The newly founded central federation discussed above, having the character of a reinsurance association; (2) 8 reinsured associations; and (3) 10 associations which do not reinsure their risks. Three strike insurance associations which in the preceding year were included in group 2 are now classified under group 3, as recent data relating to them have shown that they do not reinsure their risks any longer; on the other hand, another associa tion which formerly was included in group 3 is now classified under group 2. The 19 strike insurance associations reported in 1913 had 34,333 members, as compared with 32,082 members in 1912. The number of workmen covered by strike insurance increased from 1,394,900 in 1912 to 1,654,218 in 1913. The total amount of wages reported as covered by insurance was 1,268,445,000 marks ($301,889,910) in 1913, as compared with 1,122,204,000 marks ($267,084,552) in 1912. On account of the incompleteness of the reports made by the indi vidual associations the data as to the total number of claims for com pensation made and approved and the amount of compensation paid are very unsatisfactory. The first table which follows shows the number of members in em ployers’ associations and the number of workmen in the employ of such members; also the number and per cent of members of employers’ associations and workmen covered by strike insurance during each of the years, 1910 to 1913. The second table shows similar data for the year 1913 according to industry groups, while the third table shows the available data as to compensation paid, wages insured, and receipts and expenditures of those associations which saw fit to report those facts. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 82 MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. ST A TISTIC S OF S T R IK E IN SU R A N C E IN G ER M A N Y , 1910 TO 1913. E m ployers’ associa tions. Year. N um ber covered b y strike insurance. Members. N um ber N um ber of of m em •workmen bers. employed. N um ber. P er cent. 1910................................................................ 1911................................................................ 1912................................................................ 1913................................................................ 127,424 132,485 145,207 167,673 4,027,440 4,387,275 4,641,361 4,841,217 47,328 49,781 61,973 72,121 37.1 37.6 42.7 43.0 W orkm en. N um ber. P er cent. 2,315,159 2,637,637 2,873,469 3,081,551 57.5 60.2 61.9 63.7 The table following gives the membership of employers’ associa tions and the number of workmen employed, together with the num ber and per cent of members and workmen covered by strike insur ance in Germany in the year 1913: N U M B E R O F M E M B E R S IN E M P L O Y E R S ’ A SSO C IA TIO N S A N D W O R K M E N E M P L O Y E D , T O G E T H E R W IT H N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O F M EM B E R S A N D W O R K M E N C O V E R E D B Y S T R IK E IN SU R A N C E IN G ER M A N Y , C L A S S IF IE D B Y IN D U S T R IE S , 1913. [Source: Die V erbände der A rbeitgeber, A ngestellten u n d A rbeiter im Jahre 1913, bearb. im K . Statistischen A m te, A bteilung fü r A rb eiterstatistik . B erlin, 1915, p. 16* (11. Sonderheft zum R eichs-A rbeitsblatte).] Em ployers’ asso ciations. In d u stry groups. N um um ber of ber of Nworkm en mem employed. bers. A griculture, gardening, and fishing................................ M ining..................................................................................... Stone and p o tte ry w a re ..................................................... M etals..................................................................................'.. Chemicals................................................................................ Textiles................................................................................... P a p e r....................................................................................... L e a th e r................................................................................... W oodworking........................................................................ Food and d rin k s .................................................................. C lothing.................................................................................. B uild in g ................................................................................. C leaning................................................................................. P rin tin g a nd publishing..................................................... T rade and tra n sp o rta tio n .................................................. H otels, restaurants, e tc ....................................................... N ot specified.......................................................................... N um ber covered b y strike insurance. Members. W orkm en. N um Per N um ber. Per ber. cent. cent. 4,497 240 4,620 16,374 103 2, 778 1,188 3,820 9,734 14,951 12, 634 48,065 1,523 5,030 7,704 14,655 70,899 61,342 520,433 234,876 953,693 24,467 502,699 57,504 22,571 86,402 192,337 222,888 516,409 38,523 72,282 108,731 19,250 3,351,639 116 204 2,134 12,291 19 2,482 507 1,105 5,694 12,951 5,862 18,113 906 4,823 2,683 500 18,667 2.6 2,575 85.0 482,752 132,125 46.2 75. 1 890,640 18.4 16,319 89.3 481,993 42.7 43,478 28.9 3,734 58.5 75,829 86.6 102,477 46.4 153,009 37.7 310,818 59. 5 20,573 95.9 66,947 34.8 48,300 3.4 12,000 26.3 1,246,646 4.2 92.8 56.3 93.4 66.7 95.9 75.6 16.5 87.8 53.3 68.6 60.2 53.4 92.6 44.4 62.3 37.2 T otaD ........................................................................... 167,673 4,841,217 72,121 43.0 3,081,551 63.7 1 A fter deduction of duplications. The table following gives the financial statistics of individual strike insurance associations for the years 1911, 1912, and 1913: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 83 FIN A N C IA L ST A TISTIC S O F IN D IV ID U A L G ER M A N S T R IK E IN SU R A N C E A SSO C IA TIO N S F O R T H E Y E A R S 1911, 1912, A N D 1913 AS R E P O R T E D TO T H E IM P E R IA L S T A T IS T IC A L O F F IC E . [Source: Supplem ent 11 to th e R eichsarbeitsblatt, P t. II, p. 20, Berlin, 1915.] N um ber of claims for compensa tion. A m ount Ex R e N am e and location of association. Year. of annual Assets. wages ceipts. pendi tures. insured. Compensation paid. N um ber of lost Apwork Filed. prov A m ount. ing ed. days com pen sated. Reinsured Associations. Strike Insurance Association of th e General Federation of M anufacturers of th e Metal In d u stry , Berlin (Gesellschaft des Gesamtverbandes deutscher Metallindustrieller zur E nt schädigung bei Arbeitseinstel lungen, Berlin). E a s t Prussian Strike Insurance Association, Königsberg in Prussia (Ostpreussische Streik versicherungsgesellschaft, K ö nigsberg i. Pr.). S trike Insurance Association of th e B randenburg Provincial Em ployers’ Federation of the Building Trades, B randen burg on th e H avel ( Gesellschaft des Brandenburger Provinzial Arbeitgeberverbandes f ü r die Baugewerbe zur Entschädigung bei Arbeitseinstellungen, Bran denburg a. PI.). Strike Insurance Association of th e C entral Federation of Ger m an E m ployers in T ransporta tion, Commerce, a n d Traffic Industries, B erlin ( Gesellschaft des Zentralverbandes deutscher Arbeitgeber in den Transport-, Handels- u n d Verkehrsgewer ben zur Entschädigung bei A r beitseinstellungen, Berlin). Strike Insurance Association of th e Em ployers’ Federation, Low er Elbe. H am burg ( Gesell schaft des Arbeitgeberverbandes Unterelbe zur Entschädigung bei Arbeitseinstellungen, H am burg). German S trike Insurance Asso ciation, Berlin (Deutsche Sreikentschädigungsgesellschaft, Ber lin). Strike Insurance Association of South Germ an Em ployers, M unich ( Entschädigungsgesell schaft süddeutscher Arbeitgeber, München). 1911 1911 $235,584 188 187 $109,585 395,184 $1,123 $27 1,096 1 4 3 4 2 46 23 43 46 23 43 22,981 422,392 4,015 16,988 36,641 295,883 1912 1913 $653,786 677,824 2,394 1,131 526 944 1,868 2,096 1912 307,258 1,582 536 1,046 1911 1912 1913 31,629 31,316 13,023,598 26,364 12,362 13,513,6*0 27,325 44,746 2,706 18,828 10,001 1912 1913 7,032,424 11,48lj 596 1911 1912 1913 2,284,800 2,618,000 676 23 3,979 120 3,786 2,618 5,950 6,164 6,664 7,854 5 5 3,780 13,500 1912 10,710,000 11,331 11,186 21,581 31 31 10,548 28,987 1911 1912 1913 16,811 3,545 14,659 56,436 15,402 62 62 64,802 35, 700 4,475 4,475 50,140 975 3,568 53,277 202,510 Not Reinsured Associations. Strike Insurance Association of German Em ployers in the m etal in d u stry , Leipzig ( Gesell schaft deutscher Metallindustri eller zur Entschädigung bei A r beitseinstellungen, Leipzig). Strike Insurance F u n d of th e General G erm an Em ployers’ Federation of th e Clothing In dustry , M unich (Streikentschä digungskasse des Allgemeinen Deutschen A rbeiterverbandesfür das Schneidergewerbe, M ü n chen). https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 84 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. FIN A N C IA L ST A T IS T IC S O F IN D IV ID U A L G ER M A N S T R IK E IN S U R A N C E A SSO C IA TIO N S F O R T H E Y E A R S 1911, 1912, A N D 1913 AS R E P O R T E D TO T H E IM P E R IA L ST A T IS T IC A L O F F IC E —Concluded. N um ber of claim s fcr com pensa tion. Nam e and location oi association. N o t R e in s u r e d A s s o c ia tio n s — Ex A m ount R e ar. of an n u al ceipts. p en d i A sset . tures. wages insured. 1913 Compensation paid. N um ber of lost work ApFiled. prov A m ount. ing ed. days com pen sated. $714,000 $1,190 Concluded. General Strike Insurance Asso ciation for th e B uilding Trades, Strassburg in Alsace ( Allge meine Streikentschädigungsge sellschaft f ü r das Baugewerbe, Strassburg i. E.). German In d u strial Protective Federation, T>resäen(Deutscher Industrieschutzverband, Dres den). 1911 1912 1913 69,235,628 86,136,246 210 136 210 210 136 210 $62,192 393,038 33,675 187,374 31,006 BERLIN STRIKE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION. According to the report of the imperial statistical office the Berlin Strike Insurance Association was founded on February 26, 1913. The membership of the association is limited to employers in the metal industry in Berlin and in the province of Brandenburg; its present membership consists of 184 firms, employing about 150,000 workmen. Each employer member pays an admission fee of 1 mark (23.8 cents) per each full-time worker (hypothetical workmen em ployed 300 days in the year) and an annual contribution graded according to the number of full-time workers employed. For this purpose 11 graded rates have been fixed. In establishments em ploying less than 200 workmen, the annual contribution is 5 marks ($1.19) for each workman; in larger establishments it is proportion ately less, while in the largest establishments, i. e., those employing 20,000 to 30,000 workmen, it is 25 pfennigs (6 cents) per workman. The amount of compensation paid upon the occurrence of a strike is graded in per cent of the average daily earnings of the workmen. Thus, in establishments employing less than 200 workmen there is paid to the employer for each workman on strike or locked out, 50 per cent of said workman’s average daily earnings; establishments employing a larger number of workmen receive correspondingly less, down to as low as 2 \ per cent of the daily earnings where 30,000 full time workmen are employed. The payment of compensation begins in the case of small establishments on the sixth workday following the commencement of the strike, and in the case of large establish ments later, corresponding to the number of workmen employed; thus, for instance, in establishments employing over 5,000 work men compensation payments begin on the eighteenth workday. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 85 BY-LAWS OF THE GERMAN BUILDING TRADES EMPLOYERS’ FEDERA TION FOR STRIKE INSURANCE. [A dopted a t th e tw elfth general m eeting of th e G erm an B uilding Trades E m ployers’ Federation in N urem berg, Mar. 22, 1911.] 1. Concerning theformation and the extension of the general protectivefund of the Ger man Building Trades Employers’ Federation and its members, articles 27 and 29 of the by-laws of the federation provide as follows: A r t i c l e 27. The resources of the federation consist of the operating fund and of a specified share of the protective fund raised by the members of the federation as determined by special by-laws. A r t . 29. The general protective fund of the federation and its members is formed from and supplemented by extraordinary assessments. The general meeting is author ized to order such assessments and to fix the time limit for their payment. All mem bers of the federation are required to make these payments. The property rights in as well as the disposition and administration of the protective fund are regulated by special by-laws adopted by the general meeting. _2. Property rights.—Of the contributions to be made by the members of the federa tion, 30 per cent become the property of the German Building Trades Employers’ Federation and 70 per cent remain the property of the members of the federation. This amount or proportion (70 per cent) belonging to the individual members of the federation serves as a guaranty bond for compliance by its members with the resolu tions of the federation. 3. Administration.—The administration of both parts of the protective fund, of the 30 per cent as well as of the 70 per cent, is in the hands of the directors of the federa tion or of the executive board. 4. Investment.—Both parts of the protective fund are to be invested exclusively in 3J per cent registered Imperial Government bonds. Separate accounts are to be kept for the German Building Trades Employers’ Fed eration as well as for each member of the federation. 5. Interest.—The interest on the shares of the protective fund may not be withdrawn but shall accrue to the individual shares as capita, which shall be invested in 3J per cent registered Imperial Government bonds. 6. Disbursement offunds.—The signatures of two directors of the federation and that of the director of the district or local organization are required for the disbursement of amounts from the shares of the protective fund. 7. Disposition offunds.—The shares of the protective fund may only be used for the covering of costs caused by labor disputes, especially for the granting of aid in the following manner: The protective fund of the federation (30 per cent) may only be used in the case of general labor disputes, while the shares of the individual members of the federation (70 per cent) may also be used in the case of local labor disputes, provided, however, in the latter case, that the executive board approves it by a plurality vote with at least five taking part in the voting. Withdrawals from the shares of the protective fund are to be supplemented within a certain period determined by the executive board, together with the director of the district or local organization concerned, as follows: Fifty per cent of the withdrawal must be made good by the member of the federation who is benefited by said with drawal , and 50 per cent is to be made up from the interest of the shares of the protective fund of the federation and its members in proportion to the amount of such shares. 8. Forfeiture of bonds.—In case of withdrawal or expulsion of a member from the German Building Trades Employers’ Federation said member must pay one-half of his share of the protective fund (the 70 per cent share thereof) as a nominal fine for the weakening of the German Building Trades Employers’ Federation caused by his withdrawal. The other half of his share is paid to said member one year after his withdrawal or expulsion after deducting all his remaining obligations to the fund. If the withdrawal or expulsion takes place during a labor dispute affecting the member, or during a period in which, according to the opinion of the directorate of the federation, such a dispute was imminent, the withdrawing or expelled member must pay to the German Building Trades Employers’ Federation the entire share of the protective fund credited to iiim as a nominal fine. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 86 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. STRIKE INSURANCE IN SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES. In order to meet the growing power of the trade-union movement in the Scandinavian countries which have international agreements for the payment of strike benefits the employers in those countries claim that it is necessary for them to organize collectively on an international basis. With that purpose the employers of those countries entered into an international agreement to organize among themselves what is equivalent to a mutual strike insurance associa tion. According to a report from the Swedish labor office1 the association includes the principal employers7 associations in the three Scandinavian countries. Sweden is represented by the Swedish em ployers7 federation (S v e n sk a arbetsgivareforeningen), the Swedish, manufacturers7 association (Sveriges verkstadsforeningen), and the central federation of employers ( Centrala arbetsgivareforbundet ); Norway by the Norwegian employers7 federation ( N orsk arbeidsgiverfo ren in g ) ; and Denmark by the Danish employers’ federation (D a n sk arbejdsgiverog m esterforening). The basis of contribution to the common fund from which payments are to be made upon the occurrence of a strike is the number of work men employed by the respective groups of employers; the contribu tion or assessment amounts to 50 ore (13.4 cents) per week for each workman, but the maximum number of workmen to be included from any one country as covered by insurance must not exceed 80,000, and, as the maximum period during which benefits may be paid to an employer whose establishment becomes involved in a strike or lockout must not exceed five weeks, the total amount of payments made to the employers of any one country in any one year can not exceed 200,000 crowns (5 X .50 X 80,000) or $53,600. The benefits are payable, it appears, only upon the occurrence of a strike or lockout and upon special agreement or vote in each instance by all the associations concerned in the international agreement. Thus, presumably, there is no legal claim to compensation on the part of any employer; the support rendered to him is discretionary with the international association. OFFICIAL REPORTS RELATING TO LABOR. UNITED STATES. Colorado.—State Inspector of Coal Mines, 1913, 1914■ Denver, 1914, 1915. 2 vols. First ancl second annual reports containing information relating to coal production, including coke production; accidents; number of persons employed; number of persons rendered dependent by reason of fatal accidents; and number of days worked; also a directory of mines in tbe State, for the fiscal years ending December 31, 1913 and 1914. 1 Sociala M eddelanden u tg iv n a av K . Socialstyrelsen. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Stockholm , 1915, No. 7, pp. 775, 776. MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 87 Out of a total of 12,871 employees, the number of fatal accidents directly chargeable to mining operations in the year 1913 is reported to be 110, and the number of persons injured 354. The aggregate amount of compensation paid for death or injury was $33,593.63. For the year 1914 there were 10,596 persons employed, among whom there were 538 nonfatal and 75 fatal accidents reported. Of the nonfatal 182 were classified as “ trivial” (less than 5 days of disability) and of the remaining 356 chargeable to coal mine operations 144 were classed as “ serious.” Of the fatal accidents 71 occurred under ground and 4 on the surface. The number of persons left dependent by reason of fatal accidents included 40 widows and 92 children. Kentucky.—Department of Mines, Annual Report, 1914■ Lexington. 40 pp. Contains report of the department for the year and an analysis of the mining laws of 1914, effective January 1, 1915. During the year there were in coal mining oper ations 53 fatal accidents within the mines, 2 in shafts, and 6 at the surface. There were 3.02 deaths per 1,000,000 tons of coal raised, and 1.99 per 1,000 employed persons. Falls of or from roof were responsible for 56.60 per cent of all fatal accidents; riding on cars or motors, and explosives and blasting were each responsible for 11.32 per cent of all deaths resulting from accidents. The output of 270 mining companies operating 364 mines, employing when running at full capacity between 32,000 and 33,000 persons, was 20,168,150 short tons, valued at $21,391,144, or $1.06 per ton, based on the selling price of 90.86 per cent of total output. The amount of coke made and shipped from ovens in the vicinity of mines was 390,445 tons. Massachusetts.—Bureau of Statistics. Fifth Annual Report on Union Scale of Wages and Hours of Labor in Massachusetts. 1914■ Boston, 1915. 102 pp. (Labor Bulletin No. 107.) The material in this report is the result of a special inquiry relative to the time rates of wages and hours of labor prevailing in the principal organized trades in Mass achusetts in July, 1914. The time rates of wages and hours of labor are those found to have been agreed upon between the employers and employees in most instances, although in some instances, notably the case of house carpenters, the standard sched ules of wages and hours of labor are those fixed by the union practically, although there is no agreement in existence in the trade. The material relates to the following classified industries or trades: (1) Building trades; (2) domestic and personal service; (3) food, liquors and tobacco; (4) garment trades; (5) metals and machinery; (6) paper and pulp manufacture; (7) printing and allied trades; (8) stone working and quarrying; (9) teaming; (10) telephone service; (11) theatrical employment; (12) woodworking and upholstering; (13) miscellaneous trades; (14) Federal service; (15) municipal service; (16) steam railroad employees; and (17) street and electric railway employees. Both regular and overtime rates are shown and hours worked are classified by days of the week (Monday to Friday, Saturday, total for week, and holidays granted). Under each of the general industry groups are indicated special trades for which wages are in turn shown by localities. Wage data in the Federal service relate to the Boston Navy Yard, the Watertown Arsenal, and the Springfield Armory. Bureau of Statistics. Fourteenth Annual Directory of Labor Organizations in Massa chusetts, 1915. Boston, 1915. 58 pp. (Labor Bulletin No. 106.) This report will form Part III of the forthcoming annual report on the statistics of labor for 1915. The directory is classified under four heads: National and interna tional organizations; State, district, and trades councils; central labor unions and local councils; and local-trade unions. Under these heads are listed in alphabetical order the organizations included, for each of which is given the name of its secretary and his address. For central labor unions and local trade-unions the directory is further https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 88 MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. classified by locality. The information contained in the directory relates to Decem ber 31, 1914. New York (State).—-Fourteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor for the 12 months ended September 30, 1914■ Albany, 1915. 300, *359 pp. According to this report the total cost to the State of New York of the department of labor was $614,070.65 during the fiscal year 1913-14, an increase of $219,334.32 over the preceding year, the bulk of which increase is attributed to the item of salary. Increased salaries were made necessary by the fact that the personnel of the depart ment was increased from 196 on September 30, 1913, to 329 on September 30, 1914, an increase due very largely to the reorganization of the department, necessitated by the laws enacted in 1913. The department as now organized consists of the commissioner of labor as its head with seven subordinate bureaus: Bureau of inspection; bureau of statistics and information; legal division; administrative division; bureau of employ ment; bureau of mediation and arbitration; bureau of industries and immigration. There is also an industrial board, of which the commissioner of labor is chairman ex officio. The reports of this board and of three of these bureaus are given separately. The report of the bureau of factory inspection shows that 47,933 inspections -were made in 1914 as compared with 51,479 in 1913, although the figures of 1913 are not quite comparable since they include inspections now made under the division of home work. The division of mercantile inspection within the bureau of factory inspec tion reports the following data regarding the employment of children: N U M B E R O F C H IL D R E N E M P L O Y E D IN M E R C A N T IL E E S T A B L IS H M E N T S TO IN S P E C T IO N IN N E W Y O R K ST A T E . SU B JE C T N um ber of children illegally employed. Y ear. Inspec tions made. Total N um ber of n u m b er oí children children legally employed. em ployed. 14 to 16 years of age w ith ou t certifi cate. U nder 14 years of age. Total illegally em ployed. Per cent illeaally employed. 1909......................... 1910......................... 1911......................... 1912......................... 1913......................... 1914......................... 7,235 5,236 5 ,2S2 8,305 12,860 24,808 6,070 4,832 3,828 4,925 6,794 7,434 2,949 2,461 2,253 2,823 4,034 4,887 2,365 1,660 1,154 1,346 1,820 1,761 756 711 421 756 940 846 3,121 2,371 1,575 2,102 2,760 2,607 51.4 49.1 41.1 42.7 40.7 34.8 T o tal........... 63,816 33,943 19,407 10,106 4,430 14,536 42.8 During the year 717 proceedings were instituted for violations of the mercantile law, of which 8 wrere withdrawn and 51 dismissed) convictions were had in 611 cases. Of the 717 proceedings, 531 were for illegal employment of children, 40 for violation of the law prescribing hours of labor for women and male minors, while the remainder, with the exception of 2 cases, related to sanitation and the day of rest provision. The number of labor disputes reported was lower than in any year reported for the period 1902-1914, excepting 1904; in both years, 1904 and 1914, the number was 124. But the lowest number of employees directly involved in any year during the period under consideration was found to be 20,090 in the year 1908. The largest number of strikes during the same period was 282, and these occurred in 1907, wdiile the largest number of persons directly involved in strikes was found in 1913, being 286,180. There were 17 strikes wdiich, either by reason of the number involved or loss of working days, were responsible for 89.8 per cent of the aggregate working days lost because of labor disputes. Of these strikes 4 were unsuccessful, 6 successful, and 7 were partly successful. The following table shows the causes of labor disputes for the year 1914, by results: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY EEVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. C9 CAUSES O F LA B O R D IS P U T E S , P E R S O N S D IR E C T L Y IN V O L V E D , D AYS LO ST, AND R E S U L T S , N E W Y O R K ST A T E , 1914. Causes. N um ber of dis putes. W orking days lost by persons directly involved. Increase of wages.................. R eduction of wages.............. "Reduction of h o u rs............. Longer h o u rs......................... Trade-unionism .................... E m ploym en t of particular persons................................ W orking arran g em en ts___ Tn s y m p a th y .................. Miscellaneous..................... 45 6 5 1 47 390,955 17,249 84,213 '500 412,423 12 4 1 3 27,895 1,660 1,524 '370 T o ta l............................ 124 936,789 Em ployees directly involved in disputes, according to result. R esu lt of disputes. Com pro Failed. mised. Suc cess ful. 1 Figure lacking, ev id en tly 1. Suc cess ful. Com pro Failed. mised. 2.778 237 15,267 207 9C9 12,346 12 3 22 1 3 19 9 11 2 2 1 19 1 1 2 1 9 2 2 3, »55 400 212 67 38 48 19,195 (2) 1 38 2 P robably successful. Total. 18,072 2,120 200 490 100 3,266 20,165 644 1,4S9 100 33,6S4 92 70 1,208 72 70 4,455 542 212 137 34,707 7,526 61,428 The item s add to 37. In 51 disputes (30,828 employees) settlements were effected by direct negotiations, in 30 (25,655 employees) by mediation, in 5 (1,027 employees) by arbitration, and in 37 (11,491 employees) work was resumed either by the return of workmen on the em ployers’ terms or by the displacement of the strikers by other workmen. The settle ment of one dispute is not classified. The total number of men employed in tunnel and caisson work in 1914 was 14,075 and the number of accidents reported was 7,014, of which 3,380 caused a disability of 1 day or less, 2,991 from 1 to 14 days, 599 over 14 days, and 44 resulted fatally. During the year there were in mines and quarries employing 7,888 men 1,277 accidents, of which 23 were fatal. Part 2 of the report is a compilation of “ Laws, rules, and regulations relating to labor in force January 1, 1915,” and “ Opinions of Attorney General concerning labor laws.” Pennsylvania.—Department of Labor and Industry. Monthly bulletin. Harrisburg. 58 pp. May, 1915.—Accidents reported to the department during March and April, 1915; First-aid treatment of injured persons; National Affiliated Safety Organization standard first-aid jar; Proceedings of the second annual conference on welfare and efficiency. Philippine Islands.—Bureau of Labor. Fourth Annual Report for the Fiscal Year ended June SO, 1913. Manila, 1913. 73 pp. In 1913 the force of the bureau consisted of 23 officers and clerks, as compared with 21 in 1912. The total expenditures for 1913 were approximately 45,000 pesos ($22,500), as compared with 50,000 pesos ($25,000) in 1912. The operations of the free-employment agencies showed during the year that 8,300 had been placed, constituting prac tically 73 per cent of those registered for employment; in 1912 the per cent placed of those registered was 62. There were reported during the year 11 strikes, involving 2,880 persons, as compared with 20 strikes, involving 4,488 persons, in 1912. The report notes the passage of the Agricultural Colony Act in the islands on February 11,1913, the purpose of which was to create a Government fund of 400,000 pesos ($200,000) to be used for the establishment of agricultural colonies on public lands in order to increase the production of rice and other cereals in the islands, to equalize the distribution cf the population, and to afford opportunity for colonists to become land owners. The bureau gives somewhat extended tables on retail prices reported from 161 municipalities, representing 20 per cent of the total number of municipalities in the islands. No relative prices are presented. There are also presented certain wage https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 90 MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS. data,, according to which cooks, drivers, master carpenters, foremen, and carpenters in general seem to have secured wage increases over the year 1911, while cigar makers, copra workers, boatmen, calkers, nipa workers, slipper makers, carriers, blacksmiths, salt makers, farm hands, and wood gatherers suffered a decrease. The bureau recommends, among other things, the passage of a workmen’s compensa tion act, an amendment to the Employment Office Act so as to make possible the regis tration of mechanics and day laborers in the different municipalities, the enactment of a law limiting the activities of company stores, and the passage of an act making laborers’ deposits in postal savings banks compulsory. South Dakota.'—Commissioner of Immigration. Report 1914■ 20 pp. Illustrations. Second report of the commissioner of immigration, covering the fiscal years 19121914. A report of the activities of the office in securing farm labor, and in exhibiting farm products. Tennessee.—Department of Worlcshop and Factory Inspection. Second Annual Report. Nashville. 102 pp. Contains report for the calendar year ending December 1, 1914, presenting a list of code and statutory laws relating to labor, proposed legislation, statistics of inspection service, industrial accidents, wages, hours of labor, etc. The number of industrial accidents reported to the office January 1 to December 1, 1914, was 367,1 resulting in 7 1 deaths and 4211 nonfatal injuries. If the 14 nonfatal accidents reported for the year 1913 be added, the total cost of accidents to employees, excluding 8 fatal accidents one of which occurred in 1913, based on wage scale that would have been earned by the injured employees, would be $11,677.87. Including the fatal cases, based on expectancy of deceased employees ($40,000), the approximate cost to employees would reach $51,677.87. Of the 11 cases in which prosecutions were had by the department 7 were for violation of the law regulating the labor of minors. In response to reports of violations of labor laws there were 872 special investigations made. Two hundred and forty-seven minors were found illegally employed. West Virginia.—Department of Mines. Annual Report, 1913. Charleston, 1913. 82. 429 pp. This is the ninth annual report of the department of mines embracing the thirty-first annual report upon the conditions of coal mines. It gives detailed statistics of coal mining and coke manufacturing, including accidents, strikes, wages, inspections, and visits made to mines, and there is appended a directory of the mines of the State. In the chapter on accidents comparative data are given for the period 1883 to June 30, 1913, by year and by causes. The number of accidents reported connected with mining operations for the year ending June 30, 1913, was 976, of which 308 were fatal and 668 nonfatal; employees including cokemen numbered 70,321, and the gross tons of coal mined was 61,770,352, having a total value of $61,152,648. There were 2,521,800 net tons of coke produced, valued at $4,791,420. Wisconsin.—State Board of Industrial Education. Bulletin No. 11. Outlines of Lessons. Madison, 1915. 363 pp. with 5 statistical folders. Contains specific outlines of lessons on 29 subjects. This bulletin in connection with No. 12, September, 1914, represents constructive and suggestive work of directors and teachers employed in the Wisconsin public industrial, commercial, continuation, and evening schools. Figures are given showing cost, State aid, attendance at the different classes of industrial schools. 1 These figures are tak en from th e rep o rt; th e discrepancy is not explained. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OE THE BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS. 91 United States.—Bureau of Education. Report of the Commissioner of Education for the year ending June 30, 1914. Washington, 1915. 2 vols. Volume 1 of the report consists of text and volume 2 of tabular matter. The report comprises a review of the progress of education in the United States and of the more important phases of educational progress in foreign countries, together with recom mendations for the extension and improvement of the work of the bureau. A review of the progress in vocational education may be found on pages 9-11, while a more extended summary is found in chapter 11. Chapter 12 is devoted to agricultural education. On page 10 it its stated that— The most serious problem encountered by communities that have sought to enlarge their facilities for vocational training during the year has been that of procuring teachers who are proficient in the trade to be taught and at the same time with profes sional training or experience. Noteworthy in the cities is the tendency toward careful community study for the purpose of seeming a definite knowledge of conditions upon which to base an industrial education program. Mine Inspectors’ Institute of the United States of America. Proceedings Seventh Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, Pa., June, 1914■ [Pittsburgh, 1915?] 191 pp. The United States Mine Inspectors’ Institute was organized by a group of mine inspectors representing several of the States of the Union at a meeting on June 9, 1908, at Indianapolis, Ind., and held its first annual meeting June 7-12, 1909, at Scranton, Pa. According to its by-laws its membership consists of all men who are com missioned by the States or Territories as mine inspectors as well as those engaged in coal-mine investigation or inspection for the Federal Government. The objects of the organization are said to be “ to secure as far as practicable uniformity of mine legislation in all of the several States and Territories, more uniformity of enforcement of mining laws, and the dissemination of technical mining knowledge ” among its mem bers in order to secure greater efficiency in mine inspection, better protection for the lives and health of those employed therein, and “ to establish a closer union between the mining bureaus and inspectors of the coal-producing States in this country.” The report of the seventh meeting here listed deals with such subjects as booster fans in the ventilation of mines, first aid to the uninjured, organization and discipline in mining operations, control of mine explosions, and an account of plugging a gas well to protect a coal mine in Oklahoma. The account of some recent experiments pertaining to the control of mine explosions by the specialists of the United States Bureau of Mines summarizes the results reached in that particular line of investigation as follows: (1) The initiation of a coal-dust explo sion, the ease with which the coal dust is ignited, depends, other things being equal, upon its fineness, its purity (freedom from ash), and its percentage of combustiblevolatile matter (volatile matter excluding moisture and inert gases); (2) the percentage of ash in the coal dust, unless over 40 per cent, appears to have little effect on the veloc ity or violence of an explosion; (3) the humidity of the air has no appreciable effect either upon the initiation or the propagation of an explosion; (4) an explosion may be caused most readily in an entry heading without opening, i. e., beyond the last break through or room; (5) if inflammable or explosive dust is laid throughout an entry way, an explosion may proceed indefinitely through the entry as far as the dust extends; (6) sharp turns in the course of an explosion do not constitute a barrier to its propaga tion; (7) for the continuation of a dust explosion a strong-pressure airway is required to bring the dust up into suspension; and (8) ventilating currents appear to have little or no effect upon the ease of initiation or upon the propagation of an explosion. In discussing methods for the prevention of explosions, the writer states that “ noth ing has been developed in tests with wetted coal dust to destroy confidence in that method as an effective means of preventing dust explosions” (p. 174). I t is further stated that experiments by the Bureau of Mines with such incombustible dusts, termed “ rock dusts,” have been most favorable. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 92 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Denmark.—Arbejdsl0shedsinspekt0rens. Indberetning til Indenrigsministeriet for Regnskabsaaret 1913-14 (1■ April 1913-31. Marts 1914). Copenhagen, 1914. 14 pp. Unemployment insurance lias been organized in Denmark since April 9, 1907, under the act of that date. At the close of the fiscal year March 31, 1914, as reported by the unemployment inspector, there were in existence 55 recognized voluntary unemployment insurance funds, with a membership of 120,289; there was no increase in the number of funds over the preceding fiscal year. Of the total number 51 were organized for individual trades and are national in their scope, 3 were limited to certain trades within a district, and 1 was a purely local fund. The membership was so proportioned that 45.5 per cent were found in Copenhagen and Fredericksberg, 37.8 per cent in the towns of the provinces, and 15.9 per cent in rural localities. The total receipts of the 55 funds in the current year were 2,973,294 crowns ($796,842.79); the total expenses were 2,218,542.48 crowns ($594,569.38). Statistics for the fiscal year 1912-13 show that of the total receipts for that year, or 2,725,063.17 crowns ($730,316.93), 52 per cent was contributed by the members, 33 per cent was provided by State sub vention, and 15 per cent by municipal subsidies. The statistics of the fund show the number of members for the current year and for the preceding year, number reported unemployed and in receipt of benefits, number of days for which benefits were paid, total number of days lost by unemployment, and the relative number of days lost for which unemployment benefits were paid, all classified by trades and principal industry groups. The number of unemployed to whom assistance was rendered is also shown by occupation for a period of four fiscal years, according to classified number of weeks during which such members were unemployed. There is here presented a s u m m a r y table of data for the year 1913-14. N U M B E R O F M E M B E R S O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E F U N D S , U N E M P L O Y E D P E R S O N S R E C E IV IN G B E N E F IT S , D A Y S O F B E N E F IT S P A ID , A N D W O R K IN G D AYS LO S T , 1913-14. F unds. N um b er of m em bers of funds. Persons receiving benefits. D ays benefits paid. P er Total. m100 em bers. Total. 25,232 45,380 16,248 12,698 5,431 16,889 5,230 4,005 12,218 14,586 2,737 2,940 1,227 4,732 1,036 666 5034 18 24 23 29 20 17 437,569 518,501 94,020 90,559 36,784 123,861 50,602 21,049 All fu n d s............................................. 131,113 40,142 32 1,372,945 B uilding trad es a n d fu rn itu re m ak in g . D ay laborers.............................................. Food p ro d u c ts.......................................... Textile an d clo th in g ................................ L um b er a n d w oodw orking................... M etal w o rd in g ........................................... P rin tin g and b o okbinding.................... O thers......................................................... P er m em ber. 18 12 6 7 7 8 10 5 W orking days lost. Total. P e r cent of work ing days lost fo r which P er com pen mem sation ber. was paid. 848,109 977,087 151,672 158,452 72,192 222,517 70,258 59,716 34 23 10 13 14 14 14 15 49 46 54 51 47 48 62 35 11 2,560,003 20 48 Statistiske Departementet. Bolig- og Iduslejeforhold i Danmarks Kgbstseder i Aaret 1911. Copenhagen, 1915. 46,* 53 pp. (Danmarks Statistik. Statistisk Tabelværk. Femte Rsekke, Litra A, Nr. 11.) This is a very detailed and comprehensive report on building and housing condi tions, both rural and municipal, in the larger cities and provincial towns of Denmark, being the result of a canvass taken in connection with the general population census of February 1, 1911. The total number of dwelling houses (as distinct from hotels, public buildings, and factories also enumerated) comprised 16,434 in Copenhagen, https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY EEVIEW OF THE BTJEEAU OF LABOE STATISTICS. 93 3,572 in Fredericksberg, and 53,623 in the provincial towns. The data are classified according to the size and character of the dwellings, the number of occupants, size of rooms, number of rooms, and the character of the rooms whether used as living rooms or servants’ quarters, etc., according to the occupation and income of the occu pants, and according to their rental value. All the material is classified by geograph ical localities and by classified size of towns. Of the total number of houses covered in the census for Copenhagen 8.6 per cent were two-story dwellings; 10.7, three-story dwellings; and 80.7, four-story houses and over; while in the smaller towns and cities throughout the Provinces 54.2 per cent were two-story houses; 31.9, three-story houses; and 13.9 were four or more stories. For the country as a whole 39.8 per cent of the houses consisted of a single dwelling, 24 per cent contained two dwellings, and 12.7 per cent three or more dwellings. Out of a reported total of 114,295 dwelling apartments, the largest proportion, 37.5 per cent, were two-room apartments; the next largest proportion, 30.5 per cent, consisted of three rooms; 12 per cent of four rooms; and 6.5 per cent of one room. In Copenhagen 41.7 per cent of all apartments reported had two rooms; 20.9 per cent contained three rooms; 15.7 per cent, four rooms; and 9.9 per cent, one room. Egypt.—Minister of Finance. Statistical Department. Annuaire Statistique de UEgypte, 1913, 1914■ Cairo, 1913, 1914. 2 vols. These two volumes constitute, respectively, the fifth and sixth issues of the statistical yearbook of Egypt, the first issue of which appeared in 1901 in English, while the volumes for 1910 to date have been in French. Contains statistics of the kind usually found in yearbooks, i. e., concerning the population, territory and climate, commerce and trade, and transportation and finances of the country; but the latest volume of 1914 contains one section (chapter 19) concerning prices and wages, investigations of which were begun by the statistical department during that year. Introductory to this chapter it is stated that in the years 1903-1913 wages of laborers in the building industry, both native and foreign, have increased between 1 and 3 plasters (4.9 to 14.8 cents) per day; this increase reached its maximum during the years 1906-1908, and in some occupations has been maintained up to 1913. It is further reported that the difference in the wages of native workmen and foreign workmen has not diminished relatively, remaining in general somewhat over 50 per cent higher for the latter than for the former. The prevailing hours of labor in the building trades are reported as 10 or 11 during the summer and 9 or 10 during the winter, not including rest periods, which vary from 2 to hours during the summer and from 1 to 1J hours in the winter; that is, the hours of labor extend generally from 12 to 13 hours a day. During the period of rest the natives generally remain at the place of work while the Europeans usually spend the period at their homes or in the restaurants. Native workmen are found more generally employed in stonework, plastering, laying of asphalt, or as glaziers and rough-work carpenters, in general in occupations which ordinarily do not require specialized trade instruction, accuracy, or artistic sense; while on the other hand the foreign workmen are superior to the native workmen in the more skilled occupations, such as marble cutting, as painters or locksmiths, blacksmiths, cabinetmakers, tinsmiths, and electrical and gas workers. The following table is taken from the yearbook for 1914, page 376, and shows the average daily wages during the month of September of workmen in the building trades during the years 1903, 1908, and 1913, classified by sex and as native or foreign workmen, for the cities of Cairo and Alexandria. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 94 MONTHLY EEVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S I N T H E B U IL D I N G T R A D E S , I N C A IR O A N D A L E X A N D R I A , E G Y P T , D U R I N G T H E M O N T H O F S E P T E M B E R , 1903, 1908 A N D 1913. C a iro . A le x a n d r i a . O c c u p a tio n s . E x c a v a t i n g .................................................................... L a b o rers: M e n ........................................................................... W o m e n ................................................................... C h i l d r e n ................................................................. M aso n s: S to n e — N a t i v e ............................................... ............. F o r e i g n .......................................................... C o n c re te N a t iv e F o r e i g n .......................................................... B ric k — N a t i v e ........................................ : ................. F o r e i g n .......................................................... P la ste re rs : A d u l t s ..................................................................... C h i l d r e n ................................................................. S to n e d r e s s e r s a n d s c u lp t o r s : N a tiv e — A d u l t s ............................................................ C h i l d r e n ........................................................ F o r e i g n ................................................................. T i le s e tte r s : N a tiv e A d u l t s ............................................................ C h i l d r e n ........................................................ F o r e i g n .................................................................... M a r b le c ritte r s : N a tiv e — A d u l t s ............................................................. C h i l d r e n ........................................................ F o r e i g n ................................................................... A s p h a l t la y e r s : N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e i g n .................................................................... P a in te rs : N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e ig n .................................................................... G la z ie r s . 1........................................................................ L o c k s m ith s: N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e i g n ................................................................... S t r u c t u r a l i r o n a n d m e t a l v. o r k e r s : N a t i v e ................................................. F o r e i g n ................................................................... C a r p e n te r s a n d jo in e r s : N a tiv e — A d u l t s ............................................................ C h i l d r e n ......................................................... F o r e i g n ................................................................... C a b in e t m ak e rs: N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e i g n ................................................................... T in n e rs : N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e i g n ................................................................... E le c tr ic a l“a n d g a s w o r k e r s : N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e i g n ................................................................... M a c h in is ts : N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e i g n ................................................................... P l u m b e r s a n d g a s f itte r s : N a t i v e ..................................................................... F o r e i g n ................................................................... 1903 1908 1913 1903 1908 SO. 300 SO.325 SO. 300 SO. 300 SO.325 SO. 350 .300 .225 .2 0 0 .325 .250 .225 .325 .275 .2 5 0 .325 .2 5 0 .2 5 0 .325 .225 .2 5 0 .350 .250 .225 .9 0 0 1.175 .925 1.275 .875 1.300 .8 5 0 1.100 .875 1.175 .875 1.000 .8 0 0 1.100 .875 1.225 .8 5 0 1.225 .9 0 0 1.125 .9 5 0 1.175 .875 1.050 .800 1.150 .900 1.275 .875 1.300 .9 0 0 1.125 .975 1.175 .900 1.050 .7 5 0 .3 0 0 .825 .375 .825 .4 0 0 .7 7 5 .3 2 5 .8 0 0 .3 5 0 .875 .3 5 0 .850 .375 1.500 .8 5 0 .400 1.600 .8 0 0 .475 1.475 .8 7 5 .400 1.200 .9 0 0 .4 0 0 1.275 .9 0 0 .375 1.300 .8 5 0 .3 5 0 1 .2 5 0 .9 0 0 .375 1 .4 5 0 .9 0 0 .425 1 .4 7 5 .875 .375 1 .1 7 5 .9 0 0 .4 0 0 1 .1 6 5 .9 5 0 .3 5 0 1 .125 .875 .425 1.350 .925 .525 1.475 .925 .5 0 0 1.475 1.000 .500 1.250 1.025 .525 1.325 1.025 .375 1.275 .7 5 0 1.175 .7 5 0 1.200 .7 5 0 1.175 1.025 1.300 .9 0 0 1.200 .950 1.275 .700 1.075 .7 0 0 .725 1.150 .725 .7 0 0 1.100 .725 .800 1.000 .875 .875 1.100 .925 .800 1.125 .900 .675 1.050 .725 1.175 .775 1.200 .825 1.125 .825 1.150 .825 1.075 .825 1.175 .8 5 0 1.200 .825 1.150 .825 1.075 .8 5 0 1.100 .900 1.175 .8 0 0 .325 1.175 .8 0 0 .4 0 0 1.200 .8 5 0 .425 1.250 .950 .400 1.200 .875 .325 1.150 .9 5 0 1.500 1.025 1.475 .925 1.500 1.050 1.300 1.050 1.300 1 000 1.225 .8 0 0 1.150 .9 0 0 1.275 .9 5 0 1.375 .975 1.250 1.000 1.3 0 0 .925 1 .250 .9 5 0 1.375 1.000 1 .600 1 .050 1.600 .975 1.375 .975 1.400 1.025 1.400 .950 1.625 .8 5 0 1.375 .9 5 0 1.525 1.000 1.500 1.025 1.275 1.025 1.525 .8 5 0 1.475 .875 1.450 .8 5 0 1.425 .975 1.375 1 .000 1.400 .950 1.200 1913 . .925 .325 1.150 England.—Birmingham Health Department. Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1914. Birmingham, 1915. 132 pp. This annual report of the health officer covers his activities for the calendar year 1914. The population of the city is variously estimated as from 860,000 to somewhat over 880,000. Particular attention may he called to such topics as infant mortality, housing and town planning undertaken by the city during the year, ventilation of https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS. 95 working-class dwellings, and the activities of the health office in relation to the enforce ment of the early shops closing act and the factory and workshop acts. Under the shops closing act the work of inspection required the services of four full-time inspec tors, who in the course of the year made 42,838 inspections, as compared with 36,199 in 1913. There were discovered 667 infractions of the act (384 in 1913), but it was found necessary to prosecute in only 28 cases (42 instances in 1913). Under the factory acts 10,021 inspections were made, the work being carried on by four inspectors (2 men, 2 women), employing their whole time in the work, together with the assistance of the regular sanitary inspectors. No prosecutions were found necessary during the year under the factory acts. Germany.—Invalidenversicherung und Arbeiterwohlfahrt; eine Festschrift aus Anlass des 25. jährigen Jubiläums der deutschen Reichsversicherung. Im Aufträge der deutschen Versicherungsanstalten, Herausgegeben von Elle, Dr. Freund, Dr. Liebrecht, Von Schmid. Berlin, Ernst Wasmuth A. G., 1910, 99, XLII, pp., 100 leaves. Attention is called to this volume, which has been prepared under the direction of the national invalidity insurance institutes organized as the carriers of the national invalidity insurance system because, although published in 1910, it does not appear, so far as known, to have been listed in any bibliography of the subject. It was only recently obtained by this bureau. It is a volume of considerable bulk, consisting of folio sheets 19 by 12f inches in size, made up of 99 pages of text and 42 pages of index and brief description of the illustrations; the latter consist of 100 leaves of photo gravures, most of which are full-page illustrations, numbering in all 174. These illustrations consist of pictures of the buildings and surroundings of the different sanatoriums, interior views of the work and manner of life of patients; also views of the houses erected in various cities of the Empire by the aid of the funds of the insur ance institutes. It is a memorial volume, or so-called Festschrift, compiled on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the invalidity and old-age insurance system in Germany (act of June 22, 1889). The text consists of three principal parts, each of which is written by an individual author. Part 1 treats of the activities of the national invalidity insurance institutes in the establishment and maintenance of sanatoriums for the care of insured tuberculous wage earners, as well as those rendered invalids from other causes; part 2 describes the scope and extent to which the funds of the institutes have been employed to aid in the erection of workmen’s houses; part 3 describes certain miscellaneous welfare activities of the institutes. The work of the invalidity insurance institutes in the care of tuberculous wage earners has been extensively treated in Bulletin 101 of this bureau, and the extent of their housing operations has also been taken up somewhat fully in Bulletin 158. The amount of work and of funds devoted by the national insurance institutes to other welfare activities seems to be considerable, if one may judge from a mere enum eration of the different projects undertaken by them. Sanatoriums, for other than tuberculous wage earners, have been established and maintained by several of the national institutes; their funds have been spent for the support of visiting nurses in some localities, the maintenance of low-priced eating houses conducted without profit, the equipment and support of lying-in hospitals, free ambulance service, invalid homes, and even employment exchanges. This welfare work, it should be remarked, is generally carried on by a central welfare body, established exclusively for that purpose. Indirectly they have made loans to aid in the erection of hospitals, for the maintenance of popular recreation centers and educational institutes, such as primary schools, agricultural trade schools, specialized institutes for the defective, the blind, and the deaf, etc., refuge homes, workmen’s colonies, asylums and orphans’ schools. Some of their funds have been invested in providing cheap transportation facilities and in the repair and construction of roads and bridges and other public utilities; also for the establishment of mechanics’ institutes, mission homes, munici8159°—-15-----7 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 96 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. pal clubs, children’s homes, market halls for consumers’ leagues, and cooperative storage houses. Their funds have been used in agricultural propaganda, for the support of farmers’ institutes, and for loans to small proprietors. They have made loans for the building of chinches and chapels, for the erection of soldiers’ barracks in certain municipalities; furnished drill grounds and equipped soldiers’ recreation rooms, etc. India (Punjab).—Department of Industries and Land Records. Annual Report on the Working of the Indian Factories Act, 1911, in the Punjab, Delhi, and N. W. Prov inces for the Year 1914. Lahore, 1915. 13, xvi, 4, ni PPReport of labor conditions in the Indian Provinces on sanitation, lighting, safety precautions, hours of labor, wages, number of employees, etc., in factories, as de termined by inspections conducted by the factory inspector. Of the 201 (224 in 1913) factories inspected in the Punjab employing 31,243 per sons, 21 were government or local funds’ factories employing 15,379 persons. Of the whole number of employees, 26,362 were adult males, 3,749 adult females, and 1,132 were minors, 940 of whom were males. There were 227 accidents reported, 163 slight, 53 serious, and 11 resulted in death. There were 30 convictions of violations of the Factories Act. The report notes a depression in the cotton industry as a result of the war. The following table shows the average number of daily employees in industrial establishments, 1912 and 1913: N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D IN IN D U S T R IA L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN T H E P U N JA B 1912, 1913. 1912 G overnm ent and local fund factories.................................................................................. A ll other factories: T ex tiles............................................................................................................................... M etal w orking (foundries, e tc .)..................................................................................... T ransportation (railw ay, etc., w orkshops)................................................................ Food p re p a ra tio n .............................................................................................................. Chemicals a n d d y e s......................................................................................................... P ap er and p rin tin g .......................................................................................................... C arpentry, cem ent w orks, w oodworking, stone a n d tile m aking, e tc ................ H ides an d le a th e r............................................................................................................. M iscellaneous..................................................................................................................... 1913 14,805 2,476 331 0) 1,194 60 930 236 0) 10,525 15,070 2,668 249 C1) 1,360 45 1,077 '296 C1) 10,944 .......................................................................................................................... 30,557 31,709 A ll establishm ents: A dults— M ales............................................................................................................................. Fem ales....................................................................................................................... Children— M ales............................................................................................................................. Fem ales........................................................................................................................ 26,290 3,564 27,053 3,864 633 70 725 67 Total i N ot reported. Italy .—Ministero di Agricultura, Industria e Commercio. Direzione Generale della Statistica e del Lavoro. Ufficio del Censimento. Censimento degli opifici e delle imprese industriai al 10 giugno 1911. Rome, 1914- 4 vols. These four volumes constitute the manufacturing census of Italy of June 10,1911, the final volume of which was only recently received by the Bureau. An earlier census of manufacturing industries (Statistica industriale) was taken in 1903, and published by the Direzione Generale della Statistica, Rome, 1906. Volume 1 of the present work presents the data in summary form for all industrial establishments in the Kingdom, indicating number of persons employed and power used; 8 large industry groups are indicated, as follows: (1) Underground mining; (2) working up of agricultural products (exclusive of textiles and chemicals); (3) metal industries; (4) working up of mineral products https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 97 (exclusive of metals), and building and construction work; (5) textiles; (6) chemical industries; (7) printing and public service; (8) miscellaneous. The data are presented separately for the whole Kingdom by Departments, Provinces, districts, and communes. The same data for establishments employing not more than 10 persons are presented in volume 2 and for establishments employing more than 10 persons in volume 3; the data contained in tnese two volumes are summarized for all establishments in volume 4, showing total number of establishments, motive power used, duration of operation during the year, manner of operation, whether by individual owners, corporation, etc., and the number of persons employed according to sex and age, and whether salaried employees or wage earners. While volume 1 classifies the material according to the 8 large industry groups indicated, volumes 2, 3, and 4 have improved upon this classification to the extent of indicating 41 principal classes and 207 different subclasses of industries. The more important data of the census are presented in the two tables which follow: N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN IT A L Y A N D T H E IR U SU A L D U R A T IO N O F O P E R A T IO N D U R IN G T H E Y E A R A CCO R D IN G TO T H E C EN SU S O F MAN U F A C T U R E S O F JU N E 10, 1911. E stablishm ents— W hich usually suspend oper ation during— Total In d u stry groups. m ents. O perated the entire year. N ot more th a n 3 m onths. More th a n 3 a nd u p to 6 m onths. More th a n 6 m onths. U nderground m in in g ........................................................... W orking u p of agricultural p ro d u cts (exclusive of textiles and chem icals).................................................... Metal ind u stries.................................................................... W orking u p of m ineral pro d u cts (exclusive of m etals). Textile industries.................................................................. Chemical industries.............................................................. P rinting and public service............................................... Miscellaneous......................................................................... 3,570 2,483 838 192 57 135,461 41,109 17, 727 32,651 5,661 5,309 2,438 107,922 36,324 10,636 25,551 3,474 4,824 2,141 14,502 3,822 5,147 4,118 1,071 374 196 5,796 829 1,407 2,480 535 62 71 7,241 134 537 502 581 49 30 T o tal............................................................................. 243,926 193,355 30,068 11,372 9,131 P E R S O N N E L O F IN D U S T R IA L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN IT A L Y A CCO R D IN G TO T H E C EN SU S O F M A N U F A C T U R E S O F JU N E 10, 1911. In d u stry groups. Total person nel. Owners, directors, managers. Males. U nderground m in in g ................... W orking u p of agricultural products (exclusive of textiles and chem icals).................. M etal in d u strie s............................. W orking u p of m ineral p roducts (exclusive of m etals)................. T extile industries.......................... Chemical industries....................... P rin tin g and pu b lic service........ Miscellaneous.................................. Females. Salaried employees, no t m em bers of th e fam ily of the owner. Males. Females. Em ployed m e m bers of th e family of th e owner. Males. Females. 62,216 3,771 19 2,210 18 1,773 161 640,856 389,225 135,830 43,057 4,135 415 10,380 14,792 987 845 72,022 24,927 18,627 1,226 306,512 656,733 100,924 76, 788 71,184 19,229 26,217 5,989 5, 773 2,966 267 8,492 174 121 74 7,912 13,093 5,431 5,568 3,566 214 4,983 739 484 395 9,381 10,786 2,450 1,735 1,537 1,379 14,133 878 550 306 T o tal...................................... 2,304,438 242,832 13,697 62,952 8,665 124,611 37,260 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 98 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. P E R S O N N E L O F IN D U S T R IA L E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN IT A L Y A CCO R D IN G TO T H E CEN SU S O F M A N U F A C T U R E S O F J U N E 10, 1911—Concluded. W orkers. Total num ber. U nderground m in in g ..................... W orking up of agricultural products (exclusive of textiles and chem icals)...................................... M etal in d u strie s............................... W orking u p of m ineral p roducts (exclusive of m etals)................... T extile in d u stries............................ Chemical industries........................ P rintin g and public service.......... Miscellaneous.................................... T o tal........................................ Females. Males. In d u stry groups. 15 years of U nder 15 U nder 15 years of age. age and over. years of age. 15 years of age and over. 54,264 2,487 49,332 179 2,266 39S,875 303,963 46,796 26.016 288,609 260,112 9,194 2, 480 54,276 15,355 268,130 579,029 85,263 62,557 62,340 20,062 18,465 1,705 3,555 4,002 226,533 119,435 50,795 52,649 49,906 2,643 87,287 2,213 724 1,139 18,892 353,842 30,550 5,629 7,293 1,814,421 123,088 1,097,371 105,859 488,103 Ufficio del Lavoro. Statistica degli scioperi avenute in Italia negli anni 1908 e 1909. 'Rome, 1915. 376 pp. The Italian bureau of labor has just issued in folio form strike statistics for the years 1908 and 1909. The statistics are given separately for industrial and agricultural strikes. Strikes reached a climax in 1907 with respect to their frequency and the number of strikers involved, but a considerable decrease in the number of strikes and strikers took place in 1908 and in 1909. In the case of agricultural establishments the decrease in the frequency and extent of strikes was still more marked in these years. The following tables taken from the above report give certain data concerning strikes in Italy : S T R IK E S IN IT A L Y C L A S S IF IE D AS IN D U S T R IA L A N D A G R IC U L T U R A L S T R IK E S , 1900 TO 1909. In d u strial strikes. Year. N um ber. 1900........................................................................ 1901........................................................................ 1902........................................................................ 1903........................................................................ 1904........................................................................ 1905........................................................................ 1906........................................................................ 1907........................................................................ 1908........................................................................ 1909........................................................................ https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 383 1,042 810 549 631 628 1,299 1,881 1,459 930 A gricultural strikes. N um ber for which workers involved were re ported. W orkers involved. 383 1,042 810 549 630 625 1,269 1,813 1,409 910 80,858 196,540 197,514 109,327 124,834 110,832 264,029 321,499 197,958 140,452 N um ber. 27 629 222 47 208 87 342 377 286 132 W orkers involved. 12,517 222,683 146, 706 22,507 94, 756 43,695 117,065 254,131 173,425 46,569 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 99 R E S U L T S O F S T R IK E S AM ONG IN D U S T R IA L W O R K E R S IN IT A L Y IN 1908 AN D 1909. 1908 1909 Per cent of strikes. Per cent of num ber involved. Per cent of strikes. 20.0 13.6 14.7 12.9 33.7 5.1 18.2 17.3 12.6 15.1 33.7 3.1 21.9 12.8 15.7 13.8 33.2 2.6 Completely favorable to em ployees...................................... Generally favorable to employees......................................... E qu ally favorable to both p a rtie s........................................ G enerallv favorable to em ployers......................................... Completely favorable to em ployers...................................... R esult n o t certain ...................................................................... Per cent of num ber involved. 15.3 13.4 14.3 27.5 23.6 5.9 P E R C EN T O F S T R IK E S AND O F S T R IK E R S AMONG IN D U S T R IA L W O R K E R S IN EA CH O F T H E Y E A R S 1908 A N D 1909, B Y D U R A T IO N O F S T R IK E . 1908 D uration of strikes. Per cent of strikes. Less th a n 1 d a y ....................... 1 to 5 d a y s................................. 6 to 10 d a y s ............................... 11 to 20 d a y s ............................. 21 to 30 d a y s ............................. 31 to 50 d a y s ............................. 51 days and o v e r..................... D uration no t re p o rte d ........... 19.4 38.1 17.9 12.5 3.8 2.6 2.3 3.4 1909 Per cent of strikers. 10.3 37.7 20.8 18.3 3.5 2.9 5.6 .9 Per cent of strikes. 22.7 34.1 18.3 12.0 6.5 3.3 2.6 .5 Per cent of strikers. 13.7 24.5 27.7 15.3 6.1 8.8 1.5 2.4 Netherlands.—Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. Beknopt Overzicht van denOmvang der Vakbeweging op 1 Januari 1914. The Hague, 1914. 32, X L pp. (Bijdragen tot de Statistiek van Nederland, New Series No. 213.) Contains statistics of organized labor in Netherlands as of January 1, 1914. During the year the number of unions increased from 2,806 to 3,223, while the membership increased from 189,030 to 220,275. Classified according to a confessional or religious line of cleavage it appears that the membership of the unions of that class increased 21 per cent, while the membership of unions not organized on a religious basis increased 15 per cent. Of the 3,223 local unions in existence on January 1, 1914, 2,821 with a membership of 137,893, or 63 per cent, were affiliated with some one of 5 national federations, while 380 local unions and 22 national unions having an aggregate mem bership of 82,382 were not so affiliated. Outside of these organizations there were 603 laborers’ associations, not classifiable strictly as trade-unions, having a membership of 71,342. The following table shows certain statistics of the trade-union movement in Netherlands from 1910 to 1914: M E M B E R S H IP O F L A B O R U N IO N S, A N D P E R C E N T O F SUCH M E M B E R S H IP IN U N IO N S A F F IL IA T E D W IT H T H E C O N F E D E R A T IO N S O F L A B O R , 1910 TO 1914. N u m b er of m em bers in— Year. P ro testan t unions. 1910................................................. 1911................................................. 1912................................................. 1913................................................. 1914................................................. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 11,014 12,575 13,090 12,425 14,812 Catholic unions. 22,924 23,480 25, 758 30, 769 37,498 Nonsec ta ria n unions. . 109,912 117,634 130,296 145,836 167,965 M embership of unions. Total. 143,850 153,689 169,144 189,030 220,275 cent of Affiliated Per em bers in w ith con maffiliated federations. unions. 62,351 72,646 82,570 101,428 137,893 43.34 47.27 48.82 53.66 62.60 100 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistielc. Statistielc van de Berediting der Overtredingen van de Arbeids-, Veiligheids- en Steenhouwerswetten in 1913. The Hague, 1914. 54 pp. (Bijdragen tot de Statistielc van Nederland. New Series No. 214.) A report of infractions of the general labor law, the law relative to the health and security of employees, and the law for the protection of laborers in stoneyards during the year 1913, showing the number of establishments against which proceedings were begun, number of persons employed in contravention of the law, number of convic tions secured, classified by locality and industry and according to the provisions of law violated. The following table shows the number of violations of the labor and health and safety laws and the number of convictions secured, 1909 to 1913: N U M B E R O F IN F R A C T IO N S O F A N D C O N V ICTIO N S U N D E R T H E L A B O R LA W A N D T H E H E A L T H A N D S A F E T Y LA W . L abor law: Violations ......................................................................................... Cnn violions. ..................................................................................... H ealth and safety law: Violations ..................................................................................... Convictions........................................................................................ 1909 1910 1911 1912 (') 1,623 0) 1,990 (') 1,902 4,754 2,219 8,247 3,135 523 275 219 111 267 136 345 176 356 1S1 1913 i N ot reported. The more frequent violations of the laws arose in connection with working during prohibited hours, 2,916 in 1913; 1,314 in 1912; worldng other than scheduled hours, 1,811 in 1913; 1,273 in 1912; employees not in possession of worldng cards, 917 in 1913; 630 in 1912; and employment of children under 13 years of age or deficient in educa tional qualifications, 782 in 1913 and 531 in 1912. The law for the protection of stone workers came into force March 1,1913, and up to December 31, 1913, there were reported 14 infractions of it and 11 convictions. Hew Zealand.—Department of Labor. Awards, recommendations, agreements, etc., made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act for the year 1914' Volume 15. Wellington, 1915. clx, 1037 pp. Over 1,000 awards, recommendations, agreements, and other proceedings were handled by the court in the course of the year. Among the interesting decisions handed down was one involving the “ preference to unionists” clause of the arbitration act. This clause has been regularly interpreted by the court as permitting the unionists to insist upon the employers giving preference to union members in the h i r i n g of men; on the other hand, the union must be an open one, and the preference is to continue only as long as the rules of the union permit any journeyman of good character and sober habits to become and continue a member upon payment of the prescribed fees and contributions, which must be reasonable in amount. In the case in question (Otago and Southland Furniture Trade, p. 727), charging that an employer had wrongfully engaged nonunion men contrary to the preference clause, it appeared that a rule of the Furniture Trade Union provided that any member “ guilty of an offense that will bring discredit or disgrace on the union, or act in any manner detri mental to the interests of the union may be expelled or dealt with as the union may deem fit.” The court held this rule of the union to be inconsistent with the require ments of the award regarding preference to unionists, and commented on it as follows: By the provisions of the rule in question the union retains the power of expelling any member who may, I presume, in the opinion of the majority of the members of the union, be guilty of any offense which may bring discredit or disgrace upon the union, or who may do any act which, in the like opinion, may be in any manner https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 1 0 1 detrimental to the union’s interests. The question shortly put is, Does tins rule “ permit any journeyman of good character and sober habits to become and continue a member of the union ” so long as he pays the prescribed fees? Any man, whether in a partnership, society, or association of any kind, may, and often does, owing to his folly, rashness, or thoughtlessness, act in a manner detrimental to the interests of such partnership, society, or association, whilst nevertheless remaining unimpeachable both as to character and sobriety. The words “ disgrace” and “ discredit” used in the rule are likewise, though in a lesser degree, unfortunate, since among the meanings of the former word is “ lack or loss of favor or support,” and of the latter “ want of credit.” * * * The rule clearly fails to provide that any journeyman of good character and sober habits may continue a member of the union so long as he continues to pay the prescribed fees. On the contrary, it provides that, however good his character and perfect his sobriety may be, he may be expelled at any time when, in the opinion of a majority of the union, he may, through folly or thoughtlessness, or even for some proper motive or reason, have acted detrimentally to its interests, whether material or otherwise, or have brought it into disfavor or discredit, whether with the public or with other unions or persons (p. 729). Norway.—Departementet for Sociale Saker, Handel, Industri og Fiskeri. Arbeidsledighet og Arbeidsledighetsforsikring. JJtgit av Socialav delingen under Departementet for Sociale Saker, Handel, Industri og Fiskeri, Christiania, 1915. 2 vols. ( Volume I: Tillægshefte til Sociale Meddelelser,1915; Volume II: Sociale Meddelelser, 1915, No. 1.) Departementet for Sociale Saker, Handel, Industri og Fiskeri. Om Utfærdigelse av Lov om Stats og Kommunebidrag til Norske Arbeidsledighetskasser. [Christiania, 1915.] 41, 102 pp. (Oteltings Propositionen No. SO, 1915.) The first report noted above is that of a special committee of the department of labor and industry, appointed to inquire into the advisability of amending the exist ing laws on State subsidies and voluntary unemployment fund. The second report is that of a committee of the Government submitting a draft of a law on the same subject and containing a summarized statement of the findings of the first committee mentioned. The history of the movement for unemployment insurance in Norway is briefly stated. Voluntary funds established by trade-unions or other labor organizations had existed since 1899; in 1906 the Government passed a law (June 12) providing for sub sidies from the national Government and from the municipalities in certain propor tions. As the law was applicable for only five years and some three months, it ceased to be in force at the close of 1911. The amount of the Government subsidy under the act was one-fourth of the benefits which might be paid out; this proportion was increased to one-third in 1908. The law so amended was continued in force from the close of 1911 up to the end of the year 1914. The report of the committee (appointed Jan. 24, 1914) therefore relates to the enactment of a new law to take effect in 1915. As the basis for its recommendation the committee obtained reports on the operation of the existing law from 35 village presidents, 2 city mayors, 50 chairmen of parish boards, and 20 communal overseers of the poor. The Federation of Norwegian Trade Unions submitted a combined report from 12 public unemployment funds adhering to its organization, and 4 other unions in the federation, which conducted organized unemployment funds, submitted special reports; and 3 unemployment funds not members of the National Trade Federation made special reports. The investigations of the departmental committee include a survey of unemploy ment among Norwegian trade-unions from July, 1903, to December, 1914; statistics of the number employed according to industries as reported from about 300 large employing establishments; and the reports of the unemployment offices from 1898 to July, 1914. Tables are also presented to show the amount of unemployment aid rendered under the law and the relative amount of the subsidies granted by the State and by the municipalities. The second volume of the report is very largely a descrip tion of the administrative organization and relationship of employment offices and unemployment funds, and the work of trade-unions, organizations of agricultural https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 102 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. laborers, and others engaged in the work, together with a report of unemployment insurance in certain foreign cities and countries. The committee registers its approval of the continuation of the unemployment insurance system in force; it recommends a voluntary system as distinguished from the compulsory system in force in Great Britain since 1911. Among the changes suggested in the existing law are the following: (1) An increase of the subsidy given by the State and municipalities from one-third to one-half of the benefits to be paid; (2) shortening of the period of residence for foreigners who may wish to benefit by the law from five years to one year; (3) the payment of unemployment benefits from the second day of the period of unemployment, if several periods of unemployment occur within six weeks (hitherto unemployment benefits had only been paid after the third day of unemployment) ; (4) continuing the maximum period of 90 days for which unemployment support may be paid, but permitting a longer period as long as the war continues; (5) shortening the period of residence in a municipality to six months instead of five years, as hitherto, for acquiring the right of membership in a local fund. The committee emphasizes the necessity of a close relationship between both public and private employment offices and between all unemployment insurance funds, and to emphasize that connection recommends the appointment of an inspector to be head of the combined systems. The committee calls attention to the fact that this is the method employed in Denmark and urges that this is the secret of the success of any system of unemployment insurance. Ch r istia n ia .—Kredssykekasse. Aarsberetning, 1914; Sykestatistik 1913-1914. 4. Driftsaar. Christiania [1915]. 72 pp. This and previous reports on the operations of the local sick fund for Christiania established July 3, 1911, in conformity with the sickness insurance law of September 18, 1909, will be given somewhat extended treatment in the next issue of the M onthly R e v ie w . Ontario.—Department of Agriculture. Factory Inspection Branch. Twenty-seventh Annual Report, 1914. Toronto, 1915. 72 pp. Report of the operations of the factory inspection branch for the year ending October 31, 1914. During the year the office made 10,059 visits and inspections of factories and mercantile establishments employing 229,480 persons; there were found em ployed 94 persons under 14 years of age. Recommendations for improved sanitation, fire escapes and other fire protection, safety devices, etc., were made in 6,808 cases; there were 15 prosecutions during the year, all leading to convictions. The number of accidents reported for the year shows a decrease from that reported for the previous year. During the 10-month period ending October 31, 1913, 1,459 accidents were reported (54 fatal), and for the year ending October 31, 1914, 1,270 accidents were reported, of which 52 were fatal. Accidents are also classified as to causes. Included in the report are all factory rules and regulations drafted in pursuance of the law. Interim Report of the Commission on Unemployment, July 15, 1915. Toronto, 1915. 11 pp. Recommendations for reducing unemployment resulting from fluctuations in or temporary dislocation of business through a proposed department of labor in coopéra tion with other departments. A special inquiry on the subject of unemployment in 1913 and 1914 showed that the average number of steady employees during 1913 engaged in 651 manufacturing estab lishments was 78,077, which was decreased 14 per cent in 1914. Upon this basis it was estimated that the industrial unemployment during 1914 equaled the full work ing time of 20,000 persons, or an average period of unemployment for not less than 70,000 persons of about 15 weeks each. Seasonal employments are not included in https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 1 0 3 this estimate, and reports seem to indicate that the average number of idle days in these is about 83. Industrial education is recommended as of incalculable advantage. Other recom mendations are the establishment of a department of labor and a provincial system of employment offices. Sweden.—Socialstyrelsen. Arbetartillgáng, Arbetstid och Arbetslón inom Sveriges Jordbruk, Ár 1913. Stockholm, 1914. 119 pp. (Sveriges Officiella Statistik. Socialstatistik.) Lantarbetarnas Arbets- och Lónefórhallanden inom Olika Bygder och a Typiska Lantegendomar. Stockholm, 1915. 412 pp. (Sveriges Officiella Statistik. Socialstatistik.) These two volumes constitute a report by the Swedish office of labor on hours and wages and conditions surrounding the employment of agricultural laborers in that country. The first volume is an annual report for the year 1913, in continuation of a similar series dating from 1910, while the second volume is a more compre hensive investigation of agricultural labor in Sweden. The data in both instances were collected by means of schedules sent out to municipalities and agricultural associations. The report for 1913 covers data received from 2,170 rural communes. To call atten tion to some of the more important facts brought out, it is noted that the average pay for male laborers paid by the day is 2.54 crowns ($0.681) per day in summer, and 1.92 ($0.515) in the winter. Temporary labor is paid 2.97 crowns ($0.796) per day in the summer and 2.19 crowns ($0. 587) in the winter. In this connection it may be remarked that a large number' of women were employed in harvesting grain and in the culti vation of beets and potatoes, who received a daily wage of 1.77 crowns ($0.474), not including board, and 1.21 crowns ($0.324) with board. The data presented in the second volume listed above was very largely secured by means of correspondence. Schedules giving full data were received from 291 rural economic societies and from 2,400 communes. More than 1,000,000 persons are en gaged in farming in Sweden, of whom two-thirds are independent operators. Tire more level region of the east is the only section of the country where large farms are the predominant type. On these farms a considerable portion of farm laborers are work ing by the day for wages. The recognized type of farm laborers are: (1) Unmarried help found on small farms, paid both wages and in kind, with board and lodging; (2) those paid wages in cash, and part payment in kind, found on the large farms and generally married; (3) tenant farmers, who by their contract are permitted to farm a small area on their own account in return for a certain number of days of labor rendered for the owner; (4) day labor ers, strictly, who live very frequently in their own homes, the site of which may or may not be owned by themselves. In the north and south farm labor is performed by the second class indicated above, who are paid by the day. This class of laborers might well be classed with industrial workers. Seasonal laborers are employed very largely in regions where beets and potatoes are grown. The hours of work of farm laborers in Sweden have changed very little the last three years. Thus, in 1911 the hours worked per day, including rest period, were 12.7 and the same in 1912, but reduced to 12.6 in 1913. The net hours of labor, however, in the summertime, for which period these figures are applicable, were 10.5 in 1911 and 10.4 in 1912 and 1913. Socialstyrelsen. Preliminar Óversikt over Byggnads- Och Bostads/órhdllandena A de Orter, Som Berorts av 1912-1914 Ars Allmanna Bostadsrakningar. Sartryck ur Sociala Meddelanden 1915. [IVos. 3 and 7.] Stockholm, 1915, 92 pp. (Sveriges Officiella Statistik. Socialstatistik.) This report is a preliminary summary of the investigation of a commission appointed to inquire into housing conditions in Sweden which was combined with the making https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 104 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. up of the civil registration lists in 1913 and 1914. It is a reprint from Nos. 3 and 7 of the labor journal (Sociala Meddelanden) issued by the same office. In the localities included in the inquiry at the time the census was taken there were reported 89,627 houses containing 344,480 dwelling apartments. The number of dwelling apartments for each house was 3.8; this proportion was, however, 6.2 in the larger cities of over 40,000 inhabitants, and 2.2 in the smaller centers of less than 5,000 inhabitants. With regard to ownership, 42,492 apartments, or 12.3 per cent, were occupied by their owners, while 274,537, or 79.7 per cent, were occupied by renters, and 19,718, or 5.7 per cent, were occupied without any rental charges, or at the most for a small return, while 7,733 apartments, or 2.3 per cent, were for rent at the time of the census. These data vary greatly in the different towns and villages. The density of population in these houses is shown by the fact that in cities and towns there were 1.33 inhabitants for each room. In Stockholm this was 1.29, and 1.50 in cities in the northern part of the country. The greater density of population which would be indicated for cities in the north is only apparent as the rooms in the houses in that part of the country are generally larger. The houses included in the investigation for the 108 rural communes did not present a uniform character. Thus in a predominantly rural section there were found groups or collections of houses some 30 in number which presented all the characters as far as housing conditions were concerned which were peculiar to the city. These were, as a rule, industrial centers built up by an employer; thus of the 15,835 dwelling apartments in the localities in question, 56.6 per cent were of that kind. As to the size of the dwellings, it is noticeable that 23.6 per cent consisted of a kitchen alone, 55.4 per cent consisted of a kitchen and one room, 13.4 per cent of a kitchen and two rooms, and 7.6 per cent of a kitchen and three or more rooms. The houses in these rural communities contain 1.5 inhabitants for each room; for houses con sisting of not more than two rooms and a kitchen the density was 1.87 for each room. This is a density considerably greater than that reported for cities and towns. S tockholm .— Statistiska Kontor. Berattelse angaende Stockholms Stads Arbetsformedling jamte Statistisk Oversikt rorande Verksamheten dr 1913. Stockholm, 1915. 40*, 39 pp. (Stockholm Stads Statistisk. IX . Arbetsformedling.) This is a report of the activities of the public employment exchange of the city of Stockholm. This service was established in Stockholm on December 6, 1904, and is under the direction of a board selected by the municipal council and composed of a president and an alternate and of 10 members with 6 alternates, half of which members are representatives of employers and half of workmen. The office began operation on September 22, 1905, with a single exchange, and on May 2, 1911, a branch exchange was established. The actual management of the exchange and its branch was con ducted during the years 1912 and 1913 by 11 employees. The office is open from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. To coordinate the employment service cooperation is had between this and other offices of a similar kind. The expenses for the year 1913 covered by this report amounted to 57,593.94 crowns ($15,435.18) as compared with 55,897.33 crowns ($14,980.47) in 1912. In addition to its other activities, the exchange publishes each year statistics of its operations and also, in text form, statements collected from correspondents concerning the condition of the labor market. The number of positions filled in the course of the year 1913 showed an increase of 5 per cent over the preceding year; the per cent of places filled during 1912 and 1913 was approximately 78 for the men and 53 for the women registered. Its largest work was done in supplying male labor for agri cultural and forest operations. Among industries and handicrafts the largest num ber of places filled were for those in the metal and machine industries and in con struction work. In the woman’s division of the exchange the largest proportion of https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 1 0 5 places filled was that for domestic service. As to age, the largest proportion of those for whom positions were secured were between the ages of 20 and 30, while as to conju gal condition the largest proportion were unmarried. Seventy-four private employment bureaus reported to the central exchange in 1913 that they had placed 27,879 workmen; the municipal service in the same year had placed 25,059 workmen, or 47.3 per cent of all places filled. A summary table of the operations of the municipal exchange for the years 1909 to 1913 follows: O P E R A T IO N S O F T H E P U B L IC E M P L O Y M E N T E X C H A N G E O F T H E C ITY O F STO CK H O LM , 1909-1913.1 Year. 1909___ 1910___ 1911___ 1912___ 1913___ N um N um ber ber Va Ap of va of places can can plica Posi cies tions tions cies filled per for per re p o rt posi filled. 100 100 ap ap ed. tions. plica plica tions. tions. 14,993 17,791 20,000 24,724 23,968 10,077 7,353 10,248 7,615 11,120 8,861 15,467 12,053 16,115 12,542 Total. Females. Males. 148.8 173.6 179.9 159.9 148.7 73.0 74.3 79.7 77.9 77.8 N um ber of va Va Ap can plica Posi can cies tions tions cies for per re p o rt posi filled. 100 ed. tio n s. ap plica tions. 11,036 15,662 12,897 16,251 15,733 18,225 19,959 22,238 19,935 23,430 6,670 7,790 9,280 11,884 12,517 70.5 79.4 86.3 89.8 85.1 N um ber of posi tions filled per 100 ap plica tions. 42.6 47.9 50.9 53.4 53.4 V a can cies re p o rt ed- Ap plica P o si tions tions for posi filled. tions. N um N um ber ber of va of can places cies filled per per 100 100 ap ap plica plica tions. tions. 26,029 25,739 14,023 30,688 26,499 ¡15,405 35,733 29,345118,141 44,683 37,705 23,937 43,903 39,545 25,059 ! 101.1 115.8 121.8 118.5 111.0 54.5 58.1 61.8 63.5 63.4 i Including 1 b ranch a t Soderm alm , w hich in 1913 filled 3,880 positions. Victoria.—Chief Inspector of Factories and Shops. Report for the Years Ending Decem ber 31, 1913; December 31, 1914. Melbourne. 2 vols. Presents statistical data concerning accidents, employees, wages, and prosecutions for noncompliance with factories and shop acts, wage boards, and overtime work for the years 1913, 1914. The number of special (wage) boards has been increased, numbering at the present time 140. N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A C C ID E N TS IN F A C T O R IE S A N D W O R K S H O P S IN V IC T O R IA , 1912-1914. Accidents. N u m b er of employees. Year. N u m b er of establish m en ts reg istered. 1912 1913..................................... 1914..................................... 7,750 8,089 8,447 Male. 65,491 69,436 70,562 Fem ale. 39,255 41,051 40,098 Total. 104,746 110,487 110,660 Total. 389 407 391 N um ber per 10,000 em ployees. 37.1 36.8 35.3 F atal. 7 4 In 1910 there were 83,053 employees in registered factories and workshops, and 331 accidents reported, or 39.8 accidents per 10,000 employees; in 1911, 88,694 employees were found in registered factories and workshops, and 337 accidents were reported, or 37.9 accidents per 10,000 employees. No definition of what constitutes an accident is given, nor is the manner of counting employees indicated, whether full-time workers or average number. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 106 MONTHLY REVIEW OP THE BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS. During the year 1913, 317 permits for overtime work were granted to 226 factories for 2,006 weeks, involving an aggregate of 15,586 hours of labor by 9,552 women and 233 boys. In 1914, 296 such permits were issued to 201 factories, allowing 1,525 weeks with an aggregate of 12,652 hours of overtime work by 8,999 women and 463 boys. Government Statist. Victorian Yearbook, 1912-13, Thirty-third, issue. Melbourne, 890 pp. The general plan of this issue of the yearbook is the same as in former years, but with some changes. I t contains general statistical information concerning political and economic conditions and resources of the country, dealing with such subjects as the wealth and progress of the community, its population, trade, manufacture, etc. Concerning factories and other manufacturing establishments in the State there are presented figures showing the number employed, cost of production and value of products, power used, wages paid, etc. Statistics of friendly societies, immigration, production in agriculture, mining and manufacture, accidents in industry, railway accidents, prices of agricultural products, operations of the wages boards, development of the system of State loans to farmers and workers for the acquisition of their homes, and public employment offices, etc., are all included. PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS OF FOREIGN LABOR DEPART MENTS AND BUREAUS. In the pages following the various periodical publications issued by the foreign departments and bureaus of labor are listed and the tables of contents given. This list includes all the periodical publica tions received during the last three weeks of August and the first half of September, 1915. Some countries, it will be noticed, are not rep resented by any publications, while those of other countries have been somewhat irregular in their appearance since the beginning of the European war. Canada.— The Department of Labor. The Labor Gazette. Ottawa. August, 1915.—Special articles on the industrial disputes investigation act, 1907; Ontario commission on unemployment; British Columbia legislation affecting labor; Special meeting of union of Canadian mumcipalities; Mine accident at Coal Creek, British Columbia; Changes in rates of wages and hours of labor during the second quarter of 1915; Retail prices in New Zealand, 1891-1914; and War prices in Canada. Statistical and other returns during July, 1915, on wholesale and retail prices, Canada, during July, 1915; Fair wages schedules in Government contracts awarded during the month of July, 1915; Trade disputes during the month of July, 1915; Industrial accidents during the month of July, 1915; Immigration and colonization; Building permits during July, 1915; Recent industrial agreements; Reports of departments and bureaus; and Recent legal decisions affecting labor. Argentina.—Departamento Nacional del Trabajo. Boletin. Buenos Aires. April 30, 1915 (No. 30).—(Constitutes statistical yearbook, 1913.) Strikes in the Federal capital; Home work conditions (wages, ages of employees, etc.); Cost of living and incomes of wage earners; Labor conditions in Buenos Aires; Accident insurance; Noninsured industrial accidents; Accidents on public works; Deaths of persons over 10 years of age, by occupation, causes, age, and sex. June 30, 1915 (No. 31).—Indian labor on sugar plantations; Legislation; Attach ment of wages; Postal savings banks; Proposed legislation; General index to Nos. 1 to 30 of the Bulletin (Boletin). https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 1 0 7 Denmark.—Statistiske Departement. Stastistiske Efterretninger, udgivet af det Statistiske Departement. Copenhagen. July 24, 1915 (No. 16).—Crop conditions July 21, 1915; Births, deaths, and mar riages in Denmark; Retail prices July 1, 1915; Illiteracy among those subject to military service in Denmark and other countries. Denmark.—Slatistislce Efterretninger, udgivet af det Statistiske Departement. Copen hagen. August 7, 1915 (No. 17).—Crop conditions August 4,1915; Savings banks 1913-14; Literacy of those subject to military duty; Choice of vocation. Germany.—Reichsarbeitsblatt, Ilerausgegeben vom K. Statistischen Amte, Abteilung fur Arbeiterstatistik. Berlin. July, 1915.—Labor market in Germany; Labor market in foreign countries (Great Britain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, and British colonies); Employment offices and unemployment; The activity of employment offices of mercantile, technical, and office employees during the second quarter of 1915; Unemployment in German trade-unions during the second quarter of 1915; Unemployment in foreign countries (Denmark, Sweden, and Massachusetts). Economic conditions during the war: The handicrafts and small tradesmen and the war. Social Insurance: Results of workmen’s insurance in Germany for 1913 and the period 1885-1913; Principal results of the invalidity and survivors’ insurance for 1913; German social insurance during the war; Norwegian sickness insurance results for 1913; Decisions of industrial courts, Charlottenburg; Statistical tables of the labor market. Supplement: Building activity and supply of dwellings in German cities in 1914. Italy.—Bolletino dell’ Ufficio del Lavoro, Ministero di Agricultura, Industria e Com- mercio. July 16, 1915.—Memorandum as to economic and social measures proposed pending the war; Unemployment; Labor market by localities and industries; Labor disputes; Employers’ and employees’ associations; Conventions and congresses; Activities of the labor office; Decisions of courts affecting labor; Publications of the labor office. New South Wales.—Department of Labor and Industry. Industrial Gazette. Sydney. June, 1915.—Introductory matter; Industrial situation, May, 1915; Industrial arbitration and the war; Emergency legislation; Dislocations in industry; Employ ment and unemployment. Reports of inspectors for year ending March 31, 1915, on shearers’ accommodation act, 1901: Offenses against the law involving the status of master and servant; Early closing act; Judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings; Departmental records, May, 1915; Chief inspector of factories office; Gas examiner’s office; Industrial registrar’s office; Investigation office; Labor exchanges. Records of industrial boards; Awards gazetted; Industrial agreements. New Zealand.—Journal of the Department of Labor. Wellington. July, 1915.—Summary showing condition of trade and employment June 30, 1915; Conditions of employment and trade; Women’s employment branches (reports); Union reports. Recent legal decisions: Arbitration and conciliation act; Wages, protection and contractors’ liens act, 1908; Workers’ compensation act. Recent decisions affecting labor in Great Britain. Statistical: Persons assisted to employ ment during June, 1915; Cooperative works in New Zealand; Accidents in factories reported up to May 25, 1915; Accidents reported under the scaffolding inspection act; Unions registered and canceled under the industrial conciliation and arbitration act, 1908; Retail prices June 30, 1915, and 1891-1914. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 108 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Spaia .—Boletín del Instituto de Reformas Sociales, Publicación Mensual. July, 1915.—Report of the secretary’s office and of the special divisions; Strike statistics; Cost of living among workmen; Conventions and congresses; Current legis lation, laws, decrees, bills, etc.; Court decisions affecting labor: Strikes and lockouts in Great Britain. Sweden.—Socialstyrelsen. Sociala Meddelanden. Stockholm. State and municipal measures pending the war (reports of the State unemployment commission); War measures in foreign countries (Denmark); Preliminary summary of the census of building operations and housing, 1912-1914 (rural towns and villages); Statistics of manufacture in Sweden, 1913; Employment of women and children in industry in Sweden, 1913; Amended orders on the sale of alcoholic liquors: State subsidies to public employment offices, 1914-; Reports of the factory inspectors on fatal industrial accidents. Brief notices: Legislation for the settlement of labor dis putes; Agreement among Scandinavian employers for the payment of strike insur ance benefits; Administration of the pension fund: Reports of the State insurance institute, January-June, 1915; The labor market in England, May, 1915, and in Germany, May to middle of June, 1915; Emigration from Sweden, second quarter, 1915. Home ownership; Housing in Lund; Law on the control and sale of com modities in war time; Census of farm animals in Denmark, May, 1915; Retail prices of food in England, May, 1915; Public employment offices, June, 1915; Review of retail prices in Sweden, second quarter, 1915, and summary 1904 to June, 1915. Retail prices by localities, second quarter, 1915; Prices of farm animals in Sweden, 1904 to June, 1915, second quarter, 1915; Fish prices in Stockholm, June, 1914, to June, 1915; Reports from the Royal Pension Bureau. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis o