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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


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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.


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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


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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
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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.

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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.

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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

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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
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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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:


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•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


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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:


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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.


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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

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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............................................................- .......................

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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.


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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

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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:


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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.


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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

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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.

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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:

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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.

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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..........................................................


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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
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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


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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

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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

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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.”


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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.”


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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.

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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.


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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 ...


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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

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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.


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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


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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

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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.


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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.

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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.


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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

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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

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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

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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


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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.


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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.

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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

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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

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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
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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.


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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

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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


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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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

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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
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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.


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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.


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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.)


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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.


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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.


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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

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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

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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.


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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:


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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).


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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.

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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.


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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.


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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

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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:

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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


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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.


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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.

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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,


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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.


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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

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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

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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

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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


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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........................................................................


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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
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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.................................................


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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

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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


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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


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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


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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

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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

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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.


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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).


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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.


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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.


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