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U N ITED STATES D EPARTM ENT OF LABOR
F r a n c e s P e r k in s , S e c r e ta r y
B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isa d o r L u b in , C o m m is sio n e r
+
M o n th ly
Labor R ev iew
Hugh S. Hanna, Editor
V olum e 43, N u m b er 3
September 1936
U N IT E D ST A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F IC E
W A S H I N G T O N : 1936
F o r s a le b y t h e S u p e r in t e n d e n t o f D o c u m e n t s , W a s h in g to n , D . C . - - P r ic e 30 c e n t s a c o p y
S u b s c r ip tio n p r ic e p e r y e a r : U n i t e d S ta te s , C a n a d a , M e x ic o , $3 .5 0 , o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , $ 4.75
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Published under authority of Public Resolution No. 57, approved
May 11, 1922 (42 Stat. 541), as amended by section 307, Public
Act 212, 72d Congress, approved June 30,1932. This publication
approved by the Director, Bureau of the Budget.
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II
C o n ten ts
Special articles:
P age
Earnings and methods of wage paym ent in the fishing in d u stry _____
Collective bargaining in the hosiery industry, 1936________________
International Federation of Trade Unions, by W. Ellison C halm ers-_
551
558
573
Social security:
Status of old-age assistance in the U nited States, August 15, 1936__
584
Employment conditions:
Labor requirem ents on a railroad electrification program, by H erm an
B. Byer_____________________________________________________
586
Productivity o f labor and in d u stry:
Mechanization in British coal mines_____________________________
591
Cooperation:
Cooperative societies under the rural electrification program _______
Farm ers’ cooperative associations, 1934-35_______________________
593
596
Health and industrial hygiene:
Experience under industrial medical plan allowing freedom of choice
of physician_________________________________________________
Diets of low-income families, 1933_______________________________
598
600
Minimum wage:
Minimum-wage legislation in L atin America______________________
606
Women in industry:
Hours and earnings in Connecticut laundries, 1934 and 1935_______
Wages of women in laundries and dry-cleaning plants in Ohio______
Decrease in employment of women in mines of Ja p a n ______________
609
610
615
Labor law s and court decisions:
Provisions of Belgian labor legislation of 1936____________________
Canadian Federal labor legislation, 1936--------------------------------------Decisions of Canadian Supreme Court on recent social legislation---Provisions of French labor laws enac'ted in June 1936------------------- -
616
618
620
621
Workmen’s compensation:
Regulation of medical practice in compensation cases held constitu
tional_______________________________________________________
D eath of salesman shot by highwayman held compensable-------------Compensation disallowed for injury caused by constant jarring of
tru c k ________________________________________________________
In terstate bus employee awarded workmen’s com pensation-------------
625
626
627
629
Industrial disputes:
Trend of strikes________________________________________________
Analysis of strikes in May 1936__________________________________
Conciliation work of the D epartm ent of Labor in July 1936------------
632
633
639
Labor turn-over:
Labor turn-over in m anufacturing establishments, June 1936-----------Labor turn-over in the iron and steel industry, 1934 and 1935---------
644
647
National income:
N ational income in 1935-------------------------------------------------------------
451
Wages and hours of labor:
Earnings and hours in the iron and steel industry, 1933 and 1935----Hours, wages, and working conditions in air tran spo rtatio n -------------
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in
655
678
IV
CONTENTS
Wages and h o u rs o f labor—Continued.
Employm ent, wages, and hours in corrugated and solid fiber shippingcontainer industry_________________________ __________________
Em ploym ent and earnings in radio broadcasting, 1935_____________
Salaries in land-grant colleges before and during the depression_____
Farm wage and labor situation on July 1, 1936-----------------------------Germany— Wages in various industries in 1935___________________
G reat Britain— Wage increases for industrial employees of the British
Governm ent_________________________________________________
F am ily allow ances:
Expansion of French family-allowance system ____________________
Aid for large families in G erm any_________________ ______________
Family allowances in New Zealand, 193U-35______________________
E m ploym ent offices:
Operations of United States Employm ent Service, July 1936_______
T re n d o f em p lo y m en t:
Summary of em ployment reports for July 1936____________________
Detailed reports for June 1936:
Industrial and business employment:
Employm ent, pay rolls, hours, and earnings______________
Trend of industrial and business employment, by S tates___
Industrial and business employment and pay rolls in prin
cipal cities___________________________________________
Public employment:
Executive service of th e Federal G overnm ent_____________
Construction projects financed by Public Works Adminis
tra tio n _____________________________________________
The Works Program _________________________________
Emergency conservation w ork___________________________
Construction projects financed by Reconstruction Finance
C orporation_________________________________________
Construction projects financed from regular governm ental
appropriations_______________________________________
S tate road projects_____________________________________
B uilding o p eratio n s:
Summary of building-construction reports for July 1936___________
Detailed reports for June 1936:
Building construction in principal cities______________________
Construction from public funds______________________________
R e ta il prices:
Food prices in July 1936___
Fuel and light:
Electricity prices in July 1936_________________________________
Gas prices in July 1936_______________________________________
Coal prices in July 1936_______________________________________
W holesale prices:
Wholesale prices in July 1936____________________________________
Announcement of revision___________________________________
Wholesale prices in the U nited States and in foreign countries_______
C ost o f liv in g :
Money disbursements of wage earners and clerical workers in Boston
and Springfield, M ass_________________________
Cost of living of Federal employees living in W ashington, D. C ____
Cost of living of working-class families in Mexico C ity _____________
R e c e n t pub licatio n s o f lab o r in te r e s t_______________________________
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Page
685
691
692
694
696
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699
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703
709
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727
729
729
732
734
735
736
738
739
743
751
753
759
763
766
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779
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792
794
798
T h is Issue in B rief
About 120,000 'persons are engaged in the fishing industry, it is esti
mated. Because of the seasonal character of the industry, a large
proportion of these are only part-time workers. This fact influences
greatly the average annual earnings. A study made by the National
Recovery Administration showed that average annual earnings per
man in 1933 ranged from $184 to $1,389. Page 551.
More than three-fifths of the money loaned by the Rural Electrification
Administration has been granted to cooperative societies. Of 104 projects
approved up to the middle of July, for which the sum of $14,699,412
was set aside, 66 have been those of cooperative organizations. These
cooperative projects were designed to serve 33,187 customers, using
8,282 miles of line. Page 593.
There is considerable uniformity in labor conditions throughout the
union shops in the hosiery industry, due to the influence of the agree
ment with one large employers’ association and to the functioning
of the impartial chairman. The provisions of the union agreements
and the administration of these agreements by the impartial chair
man, in the various branches of the hosiery industry, are described
on page 558.
Labor at the site received Jf3 percent of the loan obtained from the
Public Works Administration and used by the Pennsylvania Railroad
in the electrification of its lines between New York City and Wash
ington. Slightly over 38 percent was spent for materials, 3.3 percent
was used to retire bonds and pay interest, and 15.6 percent was used
for insurance, engineering, and other miscellaneous items. The work
furnished 22,673,000 man-hours’ employment. Page 586.
By the middle of August 1936, the old-age assistance plans of 36
States, 1 Territory, and the District of Columbia had been approved by
the Federal Social Security Board and all but 3 of these had received
Federal grants. Of the States not yet operating under the national
act, 4 were making payments under State-wide acts and 2 under
county systems, 3 had passed legislation which was not yet in effect,
and 7 had no old-age pension laws. One State which had no law
had submitted a plan which had met the approval of the Federal
Board and was operating under that plan. Page 584.
v
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VI
t h is issu e
nsr
b r ie f
The International Federation of Trade Unions, formed in 1901, now
has in membership the recognized national federations of 29 countries,
including some 13,500,000 trade-unionists. The purposes of the
organization are (1) to serve as an agency through which to formulate
a common statement of policies, (2) to serve as labor spokesman on
an international scale, and (3) to collect and disseminate information
as to the trade-union movement and labor conditions in the various
countries. A description of this organization and of its 1936 congress
is given on page 573.
A striking correlation between sickness and economic status and sick
ness and unemployment was found in a recent study by the U. S. Public
Health Service (p. 600). It showed a consistently higher rate of sick
ness among low-income families than among those on the higherincome levels. The families of the unemployed had about 50 percent
more cases of disabling illness than was found in families having a
full-time worker. These results also corresponded with the situation
found in regard to food supply; at income levels of less than $3 or $4
per person per week there was a marked tendency toward poorly
balanced diets having less than the “safe” requirements of protective
foods.
Legislative action in regard to minimum wages has been taken in 13
Latin American republics. In several countries this antedates 1920
and in one country action was taken as far back as 1916. The sit
uation in each of these 13 countries is described briefly on page 606.
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U n ited S tates B u r e a u
Voi. 43, N o. 3
WASHINGTON
+
Published by the
of
L a b o r S tatistics
September 1936
E arnings and M ethods of Wage P ay m en t in th e Fishing
In d u s try
ISHING is one of the pioneer American industries, and it is still a
means of livelihood for a substantial segment of the population.
In 1930, according to the Bureau of the Census, 73,280 workers were
employed in the industry. The census figures, however, tend to
understate the importance of the fishing industry, as they do not
include the Alaskan fishermen; the members of fishing crews who
reported their occupations as engineers, cooks, radio operators,
seamen, sailors, and deckhands; and many of the persons with whom
fishing is an auxiliary occupation. With these workers included,
the Bureau of Fisheries estimates that in recent years the total working
force of the industry has been in the neighborhood of 120,000.
Despite the importance of the industry in the economic framework
of the country, comparatively little has been known about the earnings
of fishermen. This deficiency is supplied in part by an analysis 1
of the earnings of fishermen recently completed by the National
Recovery Administration. The study was originally undertaken in
connection with the minimum-wage provisions of the N. R. A.
fishery code. The main body of the data was obtained by means of a
questionnaire which, in August 1934, was sent to recorded owners
of fishing vessels of 5 net tons and over. Replies to this question
naire were received for 894 vessels in active use for commercial
fishing in 1933, but 392 of the schedules were defective and could not
be used in the analysis. Subsequently, through the medium of sup
plementary studies, comparable information was obtained for 65
additional vessels. The final analysis is, therefore, based on the
reports of 567 vessels. It is believed that this sample is reasonably
representative of the industry as a whole.
F
1 National Recovery Administration. Division of Review. Industry Studies Section. Earnings of
Fishermen and of Fishing Craft—Appendix to the Fishery Industry and the Fishery Codes, by John R.
Arnold. Washington, 1936.
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552
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Extent of Part-Time Employment
B efo re summarizing the principal results of the survey it is
necessary to consider briefly the extent to which the seasonal character
of the industry influences the earnings of the fishermen. This is an
extremely important factor in some branches of the industry. As a
result fishing is simply a supplemental means of livelihood for a
substantial fraction of the total working force. Statistics compiled
by the Bureau of Fisheries show that approximately a third of the
workers engaged in the boat and shore fisheries of the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts and the Great Lakes are “casual” fishermen; i. e., those
with whom fishing is a secondary occupation.
The part-time fishermen of the Eastern United States tend to be
found in larger proportions on the Great Lakes, in the Chesapeake
Bay area, and on the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. They are
chiefly small farmers or farm laborers. The combination of fishing
and farming in these areas is facilitated by the fact that some of the
important fisheries of the South and the oyster fishery of the Chesa
peake Bay are most active during the winter months.
The principal fisheries in the Northeastern States, when not afford
ing more or less year-round employment, tend to be concentrated in
the summer and early fall. Consequently, the New England fisher
men are unable to transfer to farming during the slack season as
readily as those in the Middle and South Atlantic coast regions.
Likewise, there are comparatively few industrial establishments in
the area that can offer employment to the fishermen during the off
season. To some extent fishing is combined with the resort trades
in both New England and on the Middle Atlantic coast, but here
again there is an occupational conflict.
No reliable statistics are available on the number of fishermen on
the Pacific coast who obtain a major share of their income from other
sources. The evidence indicates, however, that the number is not
large. The Pacific fisheries are for the most part carried on in deep
water and for the large-scale supply of canneries and reduction plants.
This type of enterprise is not easily undertaken by the casual worker.
Along the Pacific coast, moreover, the agricultural population—
the class from which casual fishermen are usually recruited in other
parts of the country—is not generally settled in close proximity to the
seacoast; but even in this area there are exceptions. Fishing is not
as a rule the sole occupation of either the salmon fishermen of the
Columbia River or the Alaskan fishermen.
Although it is clear that a significant proportion of the total working
force is employed only part time, no information was obtained by
the National Recovery Administration as to the extent the earnings
of fishermen were supplemented by income from other sources.
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EARNINGS IN FISHING INDUSTRY
553
Methods of Remuneration
A d is t in g u is h in g feature of the fishing industry is the wide variety
in the methods of wage payment. Compensation both by straight
wages on a time basis and by piece rates exists. In the marine fish
eries, however, by far the most common plan is to pay each member
of the crew by a share in the value of the catch. Under this plan the
compensation received by individual fishermen is primarily dependent
on the quantity of fish caught and the unit price received for them,
and secondarily on the items deducted from the gross revenue before
arriving at the crew’s share.
The arrangement whereby the value of the catch of a fishing craft
working on shares is distributed among the persons and interests
concerned is known as a “lay.” A share fisherman may receive a
wage or a bonus on a time or percentage basis in addition to or in lieu
of a share in a lay. This arrangement, however, ordinarily applies
only to persons with exceptional responsibility, such as the captain,
mate, or pilot, or to members of the crew engaged in specialized work,
such as the engineer, fireman, radio operator, or cook.
Straight wages on a time basis are usually restricted to the following
classes of vessel fisheries:
(1) The crews of most oyster dredges.
(2) The crews of the craft operating pound nets on the coast of
New Jersey.
(3) The crews of the menhaden fishing vessels operating out of
Reedville, Va. This was the home port of approximately a third of
the vessels actively engaged in this branch of the fishing industry in
1933. Some of the menhaden vessels working out of the Middle
Atlantic ports north of Virginia operate on a share basis, and a modi
fied share system is used by those operating on the Atlantic coast
south of Virginia.
(4) The crews of the paranzella net vessels working out of San
Francisco.
(5) On the Great Lakes, and especially on the upper lakes (Huron,
Michigan, and Superior), a straight time wage appears to be the
prevailing system. Of the vessels on the Lakes for which reports
were obtained, approximately two-thirds paid their crews straight
wages in 1933.
(6) The crews of one important trawling fleet working out of Nor
folk, Va., are paid on a time basis. The method is also used on some
shrimp vessels on the Gulf and in Alaska and occasionally elsewhere.
Piece rates are general among the fishermen employed by the salmon
canneries of Alaska. The piece rates may be accompanied, however,
by the payment of fixed sums, often referred to as “run money.” The
only other vessels whose crews are compensated on a straight piece
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554
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
rate basis are those in the Alaskan cod fishery, working out of Puget
Sound and San Francisco.
The compensation of fishing crews by means of piece rates, however,
frequently shades off into intermediate systems. Hybrid methods of
this kind are common on the menhaden vessels working off the South
Atlantic coast, in the shrimp fisheries of the Gulf coast, and in the
herring fisheries of Alaska. In these branches of the fishing industry
the catch is used by processing establishments which own or charter
the vessels, but buy the catch from the crews at prices fixed in advance.
The proceeds of a sale of this kind may be shared among the members
of the crew as an independent transaction, and the terms of the
distribution may not be affected by the unit price. Frequently,
however, the processing establishments pay the fishermen individually,
but on a sliding scale of so much per 1,000 fish caught by the whole
crew, according to the rank or occupation of each man.
The relative importance of the different methods of wage payment
in the fishing industry in 1933 is indicated in table 1. The propor
tions shown are not fixed, as there is a tendency to shift from one
method to another in the hope that the altered arrangement will be
more satisfactory to the owners or the crews. Changes have been
especially common on the Great Lakes during the depression, but
they have occurred elsewhere as well.
Table 1.— Relative Im portance of Different M ethods of Wage Paym ent in
Fishing Industry, 1933 1
Percent of total
M ethod of remuneration
Number of Number of
vessels
men
All methods___. . . .
Share basis______
Time rates_____________
Piece rates 2____
Value of
catch
100
100
100
79
19
2
72
25
3
74
24
2
1 Estimated from returns to N .R .A . questionnaire.
2 Includes piece-rate vessels owned or operated by salmon canneries in Alaska, which were not covered
by the original questionnaire.
The predominance of the share system in the fishing industry is
customarily explained by the need of providing a means of rewarding
the fishing crews adequately for the dangers and hardships to which
they are exposed. In the earlier days of large-scale fishing operations
it is claimed that attempts were made to substitute straight time
wages for lays, but the old method was revived when it was found
that the men were unwilling to make the exertion or to run the risks
necessary to recover fishing gear in bad weather. There is, no doubt,
6ome truth in this explanation; but the continuance of the share
system is probably due, at least in part, to the influence of habit and
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EARNINGS IN FISH IN G INDUSTRY
555
tradition on a very conservative class of workers. At all events
fishing is one of the few remaining industries in the country in which
the share system of remuneration is still dominant. The variations
in earnings which result and the extent to which the earnings of the
mass of the workers depend directly on fluctuations of commodity
prices have important effects on the status and mental attitude of
the fishermen.
Average Earnings in 1933
I n 1933 the value of the catch of the 567 fishing vessels for which
reports were received totaled $7,649,842. Of the total, 38.6 peicent
($2,951,695) went for wage disbursements. The earnings of the
5,051 workers employed by these vessels during the year varied
widely, but for the industry as a whole averaged $591. Earnings of
the California fishermen were highest, averaging $979. By contrast,
an average of only $242 was reported for the South.
On the Great Lakes and West coast, the earnings of the share fish
ermen exceed those of workers employed on a straight-wage basis by
a substantial margin. As against an average of $1,005 for the share
fishermen of Cabfornia, for example, those employed on a wage basis
averaged $874 in 1933. On the East coast and Gulf, however, the
annual earnings of fishing crews that were paid on a wage basis had
an advantage over the share fishermen. Thus, in the Middle Atlantic
region the wage earners averaged $717, as compared with $630 for the
share fishermen.
A better indication of the wide variation of earnings in the fishing
industry is given by table 2 which shows, by regions, the aveiage
earnings in 1933 of the fishermen engaged in each of the major branches
of the industry for which inforro.ation is available. In compaiing
these averages, it should be noted that as a general rule the members
of the crew of a lay vessel are allotted one share each, and that any
whose duties or responsibilities entitle them to additional or higher
compensation receive it in the form of a wage or bonus. For this
reason the averages given in the table closely approximate the actual
average of the ordinary fishermen and of other members of the crews
who did not receive special compensation.
A comparison of the ratios borne by the total crew share to the
value of the catch in the various fisheries with the average share per
man indicates a certain rough correlation. Both the New England
ground fishery and the red-snapper fishery of the South, but partic
ularly the latter, show low average earnings as well as low proportions
of crew shares. There are, however, exceptions to this relationship.
The crews of the New England mackerel vessels in 1933 received a
normal share of the gross, but because of low prices for their product,
the average earnings per man were comparatively low. Their total
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556
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
earnings for the year, however, were approximately 75 percent
higher than the average indicated in the table, as the realization,
from winter trawling operations in the South, of 10 of the 14 vessels
covered, were not included. As the prices received for the trawl
catch were relatively much better in 1933 than were those received
for mackerel, the excluded shares are believed to have represented
about half the earnings for the year of the crews of the 10 vessels.
Table 2.—Earnings of Fishermen in Im portant Branches of the Fishing Industryin 1933
Method of remuneration, region, and branch of
industry
Share vessels:
New England__________________________
Groundfish_________________________
Mackerel___________________________
Miscellaneous _ . . ___________________
M iddle Atlantic-----------------------------------Scallop__ - ______ ___________________
Miscellaneous_____ _________________
S o u th ..___ . ___ „______ ____ ____________
Red snapper_____________________ . ...
Shrimp____________________________
Miscellaneous______________________
Great Lakes______________ ______________
Lake Erie__________________________
Lakes Huron and M ichigan.................
California____ __________ ______________
T una__________________ ___________
Tuna and sardine________ __________
Sardine, M onterey__________________
Sardine, southern California_________
Miscellaneous__ ___________________
Northwest and Alaska__________________
H a lib u t............ ——_________________
Salm on._______ ____________________
Alaska herring______________________
Miscellaneous_______ ____ __________
Time-rate vessels:
N ew England, oyster____________ - ______
M iddle Atlantic___________ ______ ______
Oyster_________ ____________________
Pound net_______ _____ ____________
South_________________ ________________
Menhaden_________________________
Oyster and shrimp__________________
Great Lakes (Lakes Huron and Michigan^
California, paranzella n et___________ ____
Northwest and Alaska, miscellaneous.........
Piece-rate vessels:
California: Alaska cod__________ ________
Northwest and Alaska: Alaska cod........ .
Aver
Total
age
crews’
earn
earnings 1 ings per
man i
N um
ber of
vessels
N um
ber of
men
Value of
catch
105
67
14
24
29
6
23
57
37
11
9
21
5
16
58
24
12
10
6
6
160
69
65
19
7
1,355
1,067
169
119
185
42
143
407
296
24
87
102
29
73
613
289
124
110
57
33
985
465
339
132
49
$2, 530,332
2,191, 543
121,047
217,742
262,601
106,108
156,493
299,793
195,368
26,838
. 77,587
126,444
39,385
87,059
1,475,656
1,058,529
233,867
92,380
72,114
18,766
1, 233,384
808,558
225,637
144,600
54,589
$769,930
638, 533
50,669
80,728
116,186
47,073
69,113
97,378
54,455
13,798
29,125
67,254
19,746
47, 508
615,676
3 384, 500
3 121,970
55,311
40,996
12,899
637,305
398,371
111,820
100,772
26, 342
$568
598
2 300'
678.
635
1,121
490
239
184
575
331
679
681
679
1,006
3 1,330
3 984
503
732
391
657
857
345
763
538
16
30
21
9
27
18
9
42
14
3
125
154
100
54
674
636
38
173
75
7
417,518
378,632
316,780
61,852
279,966
224,519
55,447
205,000
302,679
9,450
88,127
107,612
70,773
36,839
163,056
143,255
19,801
94,901
104,166
3,675
711
717
737
682
243
225
582
668
1,389
525
2
3
77
119
41,229
87,158
28,313
58,116
368
488
1 Excluding percentage bonuses charged to gross stock or vessel share.
2 The data for 10 of the 14 vessels in the mackerel fishery covered only the mackerel season proper, and
not winter participation in the southern trawl fishery. Since the southern trawl was the more profitable
v operation of these vessels in 1933, and because of the omission the average earnings per man
should be raised about 75 percent for comparison w ith the other fisheries.
3 Including extra shares or half shares allotted to 4 captains in lieu of bonuses charged to the vessel share
or the operating expense.
In the Monterey sardine fishery in California and in the salmon
fishery of the Pacific Northwest also, normal ratios of the crew share
to gross stock were combined with low earnings per man, though the
discrepancy was less extreme than in the New England mackerel
fishery.
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EARNINGS IN FISH IN G INDUSTRY
557
Another factor that should be considered in comparing earnings in
the different branches of the industry is that allowance has to be
made for the fact that the cost of food for the crews of some of the
vessels has been deducted from the gross stock before arriving at the
crew share. On the Great Lakes, in the shrimp industry of the South,
and in the salmon troll fishery of Washington and Oregon, the vessels
reporting were not ordinarily out of port for more than a day at a
time and the men as a rule supplied their own food. In the Monterey
sardine and the Alaska herring fisheries, and in a few other branches
of the industry, the crew’s share was determined before deducting
the cost of the food. The individual shares for all of these fishermen
are somewhat higher than they should be for strict comparison with
the corresponding figures for the share vessel of the New England
and Middle Atlantic areas, for the California tuna fishery, for the
Pacific halibut fishery, and for some others. No data are at present
available for adjusting the individual share figures accurately to
offset this difference.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C ollective B argaining in th e H o siery In d u stry , 1936
NDUSTRIAL development as rapid as that in the manufacture
of hosiery is outstanding even in the swift pace of the present
century. From one particular class of consumers—women—came
the impetus for this change. Twenty years ago, almost all hosiery
was of the cotton, seamless variety. At the present time the fullfashioned silk stockings worn by women form more than one-third of
the total produced.
Since full-fashioned hosiery is largely manufactured in the North
where the American Federation of Hosiery Workers has its strong
hold, conditions within this branch of the industry are important in
an analysis of the provisions in the collective agreements now in force
throughout the industry.
I
Condition of the Industry1
P roduction figures tell the story of an industry striving to meet
the extremely rapid growth in the demand for a formerly minor prod
uct. Between 1914 and 1931, production of full-fashioned hosiery
quadrupled twice. This increase in output has continued since
1931, from nearly 29 million dozen pairs in that year to an estimated
35 million for 1936. During the early years of this phenomenal rise,
there was a shortage of mechanical equipment as well as trained
operators. As early as 1927, however, the steadily mounting pro
ductive capacity began to outdistance demand. By 1930 fullfashioned manufacture was estimated to be 30 percent overdeveloped.
The years of general depression since 1929 have merely accentuated
ills whose genesis lay in the youth of the industry, when an over
response to the shift in consumer preference resulted in an investment
proportionately excessive to realizable demand.
As consumer purchases failed to keep pace with expanding capacity
to produce, a secondary problem became formidable. Regional cost
differentials, unimportant as long as intra-industry competition was
at a minimum, have produced within recent years a geographic shift
in the growth of the industry. Philadelphia was and is the center of
the hosiery industry; but while this city had 33 percent of the total
productive equipment in March 1929, an estimate for April 15, 1935,
showed a decline to 27 percent. Over the same period, productive
equipment in the South increased from 7 to 17 percent. Since
southern machines, on the whole, are newer and more productive
than those in the North, the growth in capacity in the South is even
greater than the increase in equipment.
1 Figures appearing in this section are from the Census of Manufactures and from published and un
published estimates by Dr. George W. Taylor of the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University
of Pennsylvania, who is also impartial chairman for the organized section of the industry.
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In addition to the obsolescence problem northern manufacturers
are confronted with higher direct labor costs. These two factors
apparently outweigh the northern advantage in indirect labor costs
such as supervision and employee training. Although the difference
in the wage-rate structures of the North and South seems to be
diminishing in recent years, the tendency of the last several years
for new capital to flow chiefly into the South has not been checked.
Union Organisation
O rganization of workers in the industry began in the full-fashioned
branch of the industry. Sporadic efforts at unionization had occurred
from the early nineties, but a lost strike in 1899 effectively halted
the organizing for 10 years. By 1913 various local unions of knitters
formed the American Federation of Full-Fashioned Hosiery Workers,
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor as an autonomous
branch of the United Textile Workers. In 1915 all of the federation
except the Philadelphia local, the largest, withdrew from the Textile
Workers. The seceding federation was not reaffiliated until 1922.
A few years ago when the union began to extend its organization to
seamless hosiery workers and employees of separate dyeing and
finishing plants, the name was changed to the American Federation
of Hosiery Workers. Another change has been the inclusion of
auxiliary workers—those in occupations other than that of operating
knitting machines. The union constitution now provides that Any
worker, productive or nonproductive, engaged in the manufacture of
hosiery, excepting those in a supervisory capacity, shall be eligible as
an applicant for membership.”
The extension of union control lagged behind the rapid expansion
of the industry during the twenties. Although formal collective
agreements were not common, the union standards were effective in
a considerably larger proportion of the industry during the early
post-war period than at the height of the hosiery boom. In the last
few years, however, union influence has apparently increased.
The so-called national labor agreement for full-fashioned hosiery
is negotiated with a manufacturers’ association whose members have
a little more than a third of the productive equipment in the North.
The only other mills dealing with the union on a group basis are
seven dyeing and finishing plants operating in Philadelphia. Although
the remaining union mills negotiate independently, there is a great
deal of uniformity in labor conditions among the union shops. This
is due to the influence which the agreement with the full-fashioned
manufacturers’ association has throughout the industry and to the
functioning of the impartial chairman.
Part I of this article covers the union agreements and Part II
describes the administration of the agreements by the impartial chair
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man. Provisions of the agreements are discussed as they were agreed
upon during negotiations, although in some cases they have been modi
fied by rulings of the impartial chairman or in subsequent negotiations
between the parties concerned. Agreements in the various branches
of the industry—full-fashioned hosiery, seamless hosiery, dyeing and
finishing—are considered separately.
Part I.-—Collective Agreements in the H osiery Industry
Full-Fashioned Hosiery Manufacture
I n 1929 when the American Federation of Hosiery Workers signed
its first agreement with the Full-Fashioned Hosiery Manufacturers of
America, Inc., 53 mills were members of the association. The current
agreement covers 38 mills. A majority of these mills are located in
Philadelphia; the others are scattered throughout the North. In 1929
association members had 28 percent of the equipment in this branch
of the industry; now they have about 25 percent. The impartial chair
man estimates that another 10 percent of full-fashioned equipment is
covered by individual agreements signed with 20 companies operat
ing in six northern States. He also estimates that a number of
northern manufacturers, representing about 35 percent of the fullfashioned equipment, are maintaining union standards, although there
are no formally signed union agreements.
All but six of the full-fashioned-hosiery agreements expire on August
31, 1936. Four of these exceptions are special strike-settlement
agreements and two are of indefinite period, terminable at any time
upon 30 days’ notice. Three independent agreements and the associa
tion agreement provide for automatic renewal unless 60 days’ notice in
writing is given of intent to change or terminate. Four other agree
ments with renewal provisions shorten the notification period to 30
days. The remainder make no provision for automatic renewal.
Only one independent agreement has been in effect as long as the cur
rent association agreement; that is, since 1933. Three were signed in
1934, fourteen in 1935, and two early in 1936.
Wages and hours 'provisions.—From the inception of collective bar
gaining in the industry the union has been concerned with eliminating
any cost disadvantage to the union mills. It is significant that the
first association agreement, effective September 1, 1929, provided for
the first cut in union rates since 1924. These wage reductions were
coupled with a further attempt to lower unit labor costs through a
partial change from single-machine to double-machine operation.
Under the former system a legger operates only one machine, with
the result that he is idle part of the time. A legger operating two
machines is unable to keep the equipment in continuous operation,
but with a helper on the double job idle time for both men and
machines is reduced. Since this type of operation at once decreases
the number of skilled knitters needed and increases the number of
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potentially skilled knitters through the apprentice training, the change
represented a major concession on the part of the union.
Although the 1929 rate reductions were made in an attempt to elim
inate the wage spread between union and nonunion mills, the old
differentials were soon reestablished because of wage cuts which
immediately followed in nonunion mills. In view of this situation,
the 1930 agreement provided for further decreases in wage rates.
Doubling-machine operation was extended to all but a few machines
in union mills, though this practice was to be discontinued if styles
became more difficult to knit. Under this agreement intraunion
differentials in wage rates were eliminated for the first time.
The next year’s agreement, effective September 21, 1931, provided
for further wage reductions, bringing union rates to about 50 per
cent of the 1929 level. Because of the unusually low piece rates,
weekly minima were established: $20 for knitters, $16 for boarders,
$12 for other piece-work operators, and $14 for time workers. To
compensate for the severe wage reductions and to reduce the labor
surplus, the agreement continued single-machine operation, the return
to which was made by special negotiations during the previous Febru
ary. Hourly rates were also specified in this agreement for “dead”
time; that is, time lost while waiting for work, making samples, or
changing styles. The 1931 agreement was renewed without change
and redated to expire August 31, 1933.
On July 26, 1933, the labor provisions of the code of fair competition
for the hosiery industry went into effect. Minimum rates under the
code were somewhat higher than the minima provided in the 1931
agreement. The code also reduced the workweek to 40 hours. All
overtime work was prohibited.
When the 1933 agreement was signed on November 15 no decision
had been reached on the union scale of rates. The union had asked
for a 15 percent rate increase but was unsuccessful. It appealed to
the National Labor Board, which on December 16 granted a 5 per
cent increase retroactive to the effective date of the agreement,
November 15. The 1933 agreement provided for time and a half
for overtime if the code should be amended to permit such work.
Later provisions provided provided for a 40-hour, 5-day week except
for footers on a double-shift basis who were put on a 36-hour week.
(Operators on the 2-shift footing jobs received a bonus of 11.11 per
cent to make their earnings equivalent to the earnings of single-shift
operators on a 40-hour basis.) This 1933 agreement is still in effect,
having been renewed without change in 1934 and 1935.
Of the independent agreements three are identical with the asso
ciation agreement and six provide the same wage rates (in two of
these, lower than union rates were continued for 4 and 6 months
after the agreements went into effect). One agreement provides the
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same rates as those announced by manufacturers in the Reading
area in July 1933, which were virtually the union rates. Another
provides a special set- of rates somewhat lower than regular union
rates, but specifies that minima shall be not lower than those under
the N. R. A. code. Heven agreements set no wage rates.
The prevailing workweek in the independent agreements is also
the 40-hour week except for a 36-hour week for footers working on a
two-shift basis, and a 44-liour week for dye-house and shipping-room
employees. The time-and-a-half overtime rate is specified in eight
agreements, but in one of these overtime is prohibited for all but
dye-house and shipping-room employees, who may work 4 extra
hours a week.
In four independent agreements and the association agreement,
either party may demand a change in rates if there is a significant
change in cost of production, competitive conditions, cost of living,
etc. If agreement is not reached in 15 days the matter is referred
to a wage-rate tribunal composed of one representative of each
party and a third member selected by these two. This tribunal
may change rates by a majority vote. In three of the independent
agreements the questions are referred directly to the impartial chair
man if agreement is not reached in 15 days. In two others national
inflation or changes in hosiery prices are sufficient to warrant reopen
ing the wage question. Another provides that wage rates must be
discussed every 3 months.
Employment, discharge, and union dues.—Since 1930, when the
union secured a provision in the agreement requiring auxiliary
workers as well as knitters to be union members, a closed union
shop has prevailed in association mills. Of the independent agree
ments about half have a similar provision. In three a preferential
union shop is established, with the exception that provision is made
in one agreement that the shop status of less well organized depart
ments shall be settled on expiration of the current agreement. Three
provide that there shall be no discrimination for union membership
and in one the employer reiterates his adherence to the open shop.
Four independent agreements and the association agreement require
that the union shall supply new workers to the company within 48
hours of request, while one stipulates that a “reasonable” time shall
be permitted to fulfill such a request. If these requirements are not
met, employers may secure help from any source, but persons so
employed must join the union within 15 days or be replaced by
union members. In one case temporary help is exempted from
this provision. Nonunion apprentices must become members within
4 months of employment.
Available work must be divided equally insofar as practical,
according to six agreements. Four provide for the recognition of
seniority as the guide for lay-offs and reemployment.
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In seven agreements, including the association agreement, discharge
must be made in good faith and must not involve union discrimination.
Under 9 agreements appeals may be taken toj the shop committee,
the executive board of the local union, and finally to the impartial
chairman. The matter must be brought to tbfe chairman within 1
week of discharge and no more than 17 days’ back pay may be granted
on reinstatement.
In the association agreement and six others (one of these 6 months
after effective date), the check-off system of union dues is estab
lished, the employer deducting from all wages the amount due the
union and making payment each pay day to the designated repre
sentative of the union. This system was established in the associa
tion agreement of 1931 and at that time the union was also granted
access to the pay-roll records of any association member at any time.
In four agreements not providing for the check-off, dues must not
be collected during working hours, in three only company employees
may collect dues, and in one only the shop committee. Another agree
ment provides that dues may be collected on the premises, without
specifying further the mode of collection.
Disputes and grievances.—The association agreement prohibits
strikes, lock-outs, and “demonstrations, displays or advertisements
tending to excite sympathy or protests concerning the relations or
matters in dispute between the contracting parties.” The right is
reserved to either party, however, to use such devices if decisions of
the impartial chairman are not followed within 20 days. If an em
ployer finds it necessary to resort to a lock-out to enforce the chair
man’s decisions, the jobs affected remain union jobs and the union
may fill them with other members. Five independent agreements
have this provision, and seven others merely prohibit strikes and
lock-outs.
In cases of disputes or grievances which cannot be settled within
the shop, recourse to the impartial chairman or arbitration is granted
in all but two agreements. Dr. Taylor, the impartial chairman
under the association agreement, is also named in 14 of the indepen
dent agreements.
Other provisions.-—Precautions are taken in the association agree
ment and in some independent agreements to insure that the union
does not sign agreements with other mills containing terms more
favorable to employers. Each independent agreement must be filed
by the union with the secretary of the Full-Fashioned Hosiery Manu
facturers of America. Upon the association’s complaint the impartial
chairman is empowered to review such an agreement and order
adjustments.
If an association member acquires a nonunion mill, that mill must
abide by the terms of the agreement as soon as a majority of its em
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ployees have joined the union or have expressed their desire to have
the union represent them. If there is a strike in such a mill before
it is covered by the agreement, the owner is prohibited from finishing
goods partially processed in a mill already under an agreement.
In cases of failure on the part of a local branch of the union to
fulfill the obligations assumed in the association agreement, a com
pany so affected by such action may secure merchandise from other
mills, whether union or nonunion. The union, however, may have
5 days in which to remedy the situation and in case of failure to
remedy must be furnished with a statement of the amount of goods
so purchased.
Seamless Hosiery Manufacture
A greem ents with seamless mills are relatively few. On May 19,
1936, the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers, Inc., an
nounced its second failure to put into effect a voluntary agreement to
maintain N. R. A. code labor standards in seamless mills. The first
attempt resulted in acquiescence by only 22 percent of the seamless
branch of the industry; the second drive signed up only 33 mills,
representing 66 percent of capacity. (These mills were therefore
released from any obligation to adhere to code standards.) None of
these 33 mills has signed a union agreement.
Agreements covering approximately 3,000 workers are in effect with
7 seamless hosiery companies operating in Massachusetts, Pennsyl
vania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. These agreements were all
signed within the past 2 years and, with two exceptions, expire on
August 31 of this year. One exception is a special strike settlement
without provision for termination and the other is renewable every 6
months. Renewal is automatic in three agreements, one requiring
60 days’ notice of intent to change and two 30 days’ notice. Under
two agreements an annual option is given the employer for renewal
upon 60 days’ notice, the option expiring September 1, 1937.
Wages and hours.—Because of differences in process, rates are not
identical with those in full-fashioned manufacture, though they are
comparable. Minimum weekly wages are set in two cases and the
code minima specified in a third. In the latter case payment is on
the basis of a point system but a shift to piece and time rates was to
be made within 6 months or appeal taken to the State board of con
ciliation and arbitration.
In two agreements rate changes are made by decision of a tribunal,
as in the association agreement for full-fashioned hosiery. In two
others the rate question may be reopened in case of national inflation
or changes in hosiery prices. Two agreements referred rate changes
to arbitration, without specifying the nature of the arbitration, and
another granted the union the right to employ a certified public ac
countant to report on the financial justification for increased rates.
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The 40-hour 5-day week prevails in the agreements, but in one there
may be 8 hours of overtime work a week for one occupation (fixers)
only. In this case the time-and-a-half rate is not applicable until
after 48 hours of work. Two agreements specify the time-and-a-half
rate as payable after 40 hours, and in one of these union permission
for overtime work must be secured. Hourly rates for dead time were
specified in two agreements. In two cases six holidays were named on
which work may be done only in cases of emergency.
Employment, discharge, and union dues.—Four of the agreements
have a closed union shop, one makes no provision, and two others
merely provide for no discrimination against union members. One
agreement specifies that it is not effective in any department until
two-thirds of the employees are union members and signify in writing
their desire to have the union represent them. New employees are
to be secured only from the union in the closed-shop agreements, the
union to furnish them within 24 hours in one case and 48 hours in
two. In two agreements apprentices or learners need not be union
members but must join within 15 days after securing employment.
In three of the agreements apprentices work at a lower rate for 3
months before being granted full wages and in these three it is speci
fied that no more than 5 percent of the total force shall be employed
as substandard workers. (These same provisions were in the hosiery
code.)
The check-off method of dues collection is in force under two agree
ments. In one the employer, while not agreeing to the check-off,
agrees to consider each case with a view to using his influence to avoid
future delinquencies. The other agreements do not specify the man
ner of dues collection.
Four agreements provide for equal division of work when practical
or during the dull season. In one agreement seniority is to be con
sidered in case of lay-off and reemployment, provided efficiency and
the number of dependents are equal.
Disputes and grievances.—One agreement prohibits strikes until the
management has been consulted. Three permit strikes or lock-outs
to enforce decisions of the impartial chairman. In one agreement the
arbitration machinery is not described; most of the others name Dr.
Taylor as impartial chairman.
One agreement provides that disputes over rate changes shall be
referred to the impartial chairman during the first 6 months of the
term of the agreement and to the United States Conciliation Service
thereafter.
The special strike agreement specified in detail the procedure to be
followed in grievance cases. The shop committee is to meet the mill
superintendent each week to discuss complaints and grievances.
These must be submitted in writing to the committee by the com
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plainant not more than 24 hours after the complaint arises and after
the complainant has first registered the matter with the foreman of
his department. If the shop committee and the superintendent can
not adjust the matter, the company officials are to be consulted. In
case of continued failure to adjust, the matter is referred to the im
partial chairman.
Other provisions.-—Two of these agreements provide that the im
partial chairman shall review competitors’ agreements, that nonunion
mills acquired by union mills shall be brought under the agreement,
and that the purchase of merchandise from outside mills is permissible
in cases of local union violation.
Hosiery Dyeing and Finishing
A n e w development in the industry is the purchase of hosiery “in
the gray” from knitting mills, to be dyed and finished in separate
plants. To cover this branch of hosiery manufacture, agreements
are signed with companies which do only the finishing of hosiery
knitted elsewhere. Eighteen such companies are covered by agree
ments with the union, all effective since October or November of last
year, and expiring August 31, 1936. Seven of these companies,
however, are covered by an agreement signed February 15, 1936,
with a newly formed association, the American Dyeing and Finishing
Association. Eight other companies have signed agreements inde
pendently which are almost identical with the association agreement.
Although two agreements make no provision for renewal, the others
provide for automatic renewal unless written notice is given at least
60 days before expiration.
Wages and hours.—The rate structure in the 18 plants is fairly
uniform, but somewhat lower than that prevailing for dyeing and
finishing done in the knitting mills. Rates are to be reconsidered
every 3 months except in one case where the first reopening of the rate
question is eliminated. In case of disagreement all but two agree
ments refer the matter to the impartial chairman. These two pro
vide that the rates are to be brought up to the level of the full-fashioned
association agreement, but no higher. In the identical agreements
signed independently by the eight companies the rate structure is to
depend upon that in a specified Philadelphia company.
The prevailing workweek is the 40-hour 5-day week, except for dyehouse workers. The amount of overtime at straight pay for such
workers was to be determined under the association agreement by the
impartial chairman. The agreements with the eight independent
companies permit 120 hours of overtime within a 90-day period at
straight time for the dyeing of hosiery accumulated “in the gray”
during the slack season. In two agreements, 2 hours a day and 4 a
week of overtime at straight pay are permitted for dye-house em
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ployees. In another, 4 hours a week may be worked to complete
merchandise in process. For all other workers overtime must be
paid for at time and a half.
Employment, discharge, and union dues.—All of these agreements
provide for the closed union shop and new help is to be furnished by
the union within 48 hours of request. If the union is unable to
furnish workers, the employer may secure help from any source.
Such new employees must join the union in 15 days or be replaced by
union members. Apprentices need not be union members upon em
ployment, but must join within 4 months, under all but two agree
ments, which shorten this period to 8 weeks.
Reasons for discharge and appeal on discharge are the same as in
the association agreement, except in two cases which do not consider
this question. The check-off is in force in all but two of these mills,
where the dues collection method is not specified.
Disputes and grievances.—All of the union dyeing and finishing mills
are subject under their agreements to the decisions of Dr. Taylor as
impartial chairman. Two agreements contain no further provision
for the settling of disputes, but the others specifically prohibit strikes
and lock-outs. These agreements also refer to the chairman all cases
which cannot be settled locally, with the stipulation that the chairman
must render decisions within 10 days of request.
Part II.—Adm inistration o f Agreements by the Impartial Chairman
S in c e September 1 , 1929, the unionized section of the hosiery
industry has largely discarded the pressure devices of strikes and lock
outs as techniques for maintaining mutually satisfactory industrial
relations. Except when necessary to enforce decisions of the chair
man, the right to strike and the right to lock-out are waived under the
agreements. The basis of this method of settling disputes lies in the
obligation of both parties, in the words of the agreements, "not to
exercise their rights and functions oppressively in dealing with each
other.” In this manner a principle of equity is established to control
both the application of the basic industrial law established in the
agreements, and the extension of the spirit of the agreements to
matters not covered by specific provisions. The impartial chairman,
in his function of administrator, must maintain a just balance between
the rights of one party and the corresponding duties of the other.
The functions of the chairman were described in a 1930 decision as
follows:
[His authority] is obviously lim ited to the interpretation of the agreement, to
situations arising during the life of the agreement and not covered by the term s
of the agreement; to the finding of facts in a dispute covered by the term s of the
agreement; and lastly, it is his duty to enforce by decision the provision by which
th e parties agree not to exercise their rights and functions oppressively in dealing
w ith each other.
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Expenses of his office are borne jointiy by the parties. In case of
vacancy, three representatives each of the union and the association
must meet within 15 days to choose a successor. Dr. Paul Abelson, of
New York City, was impartial chairman from September 1, 1929, to
Septembers, 1931. Since that time Dr. George W. Taylor, of the
University of Pennsylvania, has been chairman, his jurisdiction
covering the newly organized branches of the industry as well as the
manufacture of full-fashioned hosiery.
Only when the prescribed procedure for local adjustment of differ
ences has failed may an application be made for a hearing. In the
application the charges are specified, on the basis of which the im
partial chairman sets a hearing date and invites all parties to attend
with their organization representatives. The hearings are open,
testimony being offered in the presence of all parties concerned. In
many cases agreement is reached during the hearing without the
necessity of a formal decision by a chairman. In other cases he
refers the matter back for local adjustment either before rendering
a decision or to work out the details of applying the principle stated
in a decision. Although most cases involve directly only the manage
ment and workers of one mill, the establishing of precedents by the
chairman’s decision leads to the application of a leading case in
similar situations throughout the jurisdiction of the chairman.
The following description of principles established in the chairman’s
decisions is under three general headings: The application of the
impartial machinery, wages and hours, and employment and discharge.
Application of the Impartial Machinery
P r eem in en t in the principles established for the application of
the impartial machinery for settling differences is the invalidity of
any local understanding, in the mill of an association member, which
is contrary to the word or spirit of the agreement. There is no local
option concerning the application of any provision. The chairman
has held that this applies even to modifications of agreements made
informally in joint conferences or adopted by referendum vote of
union and association members. This principle was so well estab
lished in early cases that a decision has not been required since 1931.
The application of this principle has affected all cases where there
has been a desire on the part of either one or both parties to make an
exception because of peculiar local conditions. In one case con
cerning wage rates, however, an exception was made when the
application of the standard rate would have resulted in throwing
earnings so far out of line that the intent of the parties to equalize
conditions would have been violated. This case was not to be
considered as setting a precedent.
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Although the chairman has invariably censured those guilty of a
stoppage of work, the penalties imposed have varied with the special
circumstances surrounding the violation of the agreement. Com
pensation for losses sustained by a mill is usually made by requiring
a specified amount of overtime work at straight pay.
In one case a fine was levied on the workers, payable if and when
a second stoppage occurred, and in another they were required to
forego one of the usual holidays. In cases of extreme provocation
no penalty was imposed for stopping work; in others the loss of wages
during the stoppage was considered sufficient penalty. In only one
case has the chairman ruled discharge to be the appropriate penalty
for a walk-out.
Two cases arose concerning the extension of the agreement to mills
owned in whole or in part by a company which had signed the agree
ment. The chairman ruled that in cases of partial ownership such
extension must be made insofar as the signatory company has the
ability to enforce compliance with the agreement. When any one
of a group of mills under common ownership signs an agreement,
however, extension to the other mills is not required and may be
made only if the parent company itself signs the agreement.
In a case concerning the application of an independent mill for
wage-rate reductions granted in the association agreement, a ruling
was made that the equalization-of-costs principle did not pertain in
this case since the union had received in exchange for the drastic wage
cuts equally drastic changes with regard to employer and employee
duties. The chairman therefore disallowed the rate reductions unless
the company would accept other changes which were substantially
those provided in the current association agreement.
Other decisions acknowleged the precedence of an agreement
provision over decisions made before such a provision was written,
and established a definite field within which administrative perogative
was to pertain, regardless of contrary rules by the union shop com
mittee.
Wages and Hours
H o s i e r y manufacture is a piece-work industry, with a complicated
system of rates depending upon the particular job content. Rates
vary with skills required, machine speed, amount of hand labor
involved, quality of silk, and an infinite number of other factors.
Since the original rate structure was not established according to
requirements of the operation, the cooperative attempt to determine
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and equalize rates was hindered by the unequal rates for equal work
which had been customary in various localities. Time and produc
tion studies, conducted jointly or by the impartial chairman, have
accordingly been the basis of most rates established since the signing
of the first full-fashioned association agreement. General changes
in the rate structure are made during negotiations by applying a
percentage increase or decrease to all rates without disturbing job
differentials.
Many decisions relative to wages and hours merely involve the
application or interpretation of the pertinent provision in the agree
ment, while others refer to precedents established in previous decisions.
In several cases the chairman has ruled that even in cases where
inequalities were inadvertently provided in the agreement, his
authority was not sufficient to alter rates so determined. Other
decisions, especially under the early association agreements, were
concerned with the elimination of regional differentials.
A large proportion of the cases considered by the impartial chair
man concern the setting of rates on new styles or processes. Many of
these are paid for as “extras”, a fixed bonus in addition to the piece
rates for each dozen of a specified style produced; other more general
changes require setting of new piece rates. Since the latter involve
more far-reaching changes, the procedure is to pay a style-develop
ment allowance equal to 98 percent of the employee’s average earn
ings over the preceding 5 weeks. As soon as a time or production
study has been made, a temporary piece rate is set, with an allowance
for increased production under piece rates. A final piece rate is set,
perhaps several months later, on the basis of experience under the
temporary rates.
For time lost in style changes, as distinguished from the develop
ment of altogether new styles, a definite hourly rate has been in effect
since the signing of the 1931 agreement. The chairman has ruled
that this applies only when production under the style change is less
than normal. An exception to this rule was made in the case of one
seamless-hosiery mill where its application would have resulted in an
undue increase in costs, the chairman recommending that the mill
obligate itself for a daily wage guaranty rather than the hourly mini
mum. In deciding whether or not an extra allowance should be paid,
the determining factors are the additional skills required and whether
production will be permanently reduced due to more time-consuming
operation. Since 1930 knitting on certain types of old and less
productive machines has been granted an extra allowance.
Several decisions concerned the application of minimum weekly
rates in effect under the agreement from September 1, 1931 to 1933.
The chairman ruled that these rates were intended to prevail in all
cases and were set at suitable amounts with that intention in view.
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Reductions of the minima for substandard work were accordingly
disallowed. Other decisions involved the payment of minimum
rates as such and prevented their becoming maximum standards.
Recently the minimum-wage guaranties for learners in certain occupa
tions were changed by the chairman’s decision from a fixed lower
rate for the first 3 months and a full wage thereafter to a series of
rates gradually increasing to the full wage during the first 4 months
of employment.
After the code with its ban on all overtime work was invalidated,
the chairman ruled that local arrangements for overtime work were
permissible, provided that such work did not exceed 8 hours a week
and 2 a day. Several rulings established the principle that work
done beyond the usual working hours should be paid as overtime
even though the daily maximum hours provided in the agreements
had not been worked.
Employment and Discharge
S everal differences arose under the agreement provision making
union membership a condition of employment. The chairman ruled
in one case that a member expelled by the union was not eligible for
a job in a union mill. In another concerning a union disciplinary
measure which prohibited three members from continuing to work
in a certain mill, the union’s right to discipline its members in such
a way was upheld.
The union’s right to refuse admission to membership when many
of its members were unemployed was granted, as were restrictions
on the training of learners in the face of a surplus of skilled workers.
The principle of equal division of available work was applied to day
and night shifts, but not to temporary employees, whose term of
employment was considered to be definitely limited. Temporary
employment was defined for this purpose to apply to anyone working
at a mill for less than 4 months in a year; if at the end of the 4-month
period the employer announced his intention to terminate the job
within 2 weeks, the job would not become permanent.
Decisions by the impartial chairman have established the em
ployee’s right to a job in another department of a mill when his own
job is eliminated or changed so that he cannot maintain his former
earnings. The employee’s right to his job after illness has been
granted, provided that notice of the probable duration of the absence
is given the employer. The chairman has ruled that eligibility for
promotion depends upon ability, seniority applying only when other
factors are equal.
In 1930 the union signed two independent agreements which did
not require organization of auxiliary workers. Several association
members requested that their agreement’s provision for organization
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of such workers be declared inoperative on the ground that all agree
ments with full-fashioned mills were to be substantially the same.
As this request was not made until about 9 months after the asso
ciation agreement was signed, the chairman refused to make such a
ruling. Acquiescence over such a long period of time was considered
as a waiver of the association members’ right to have agreements
similar to those with competitors.
If a discharge is not made in good faith or involves union discrim
ination, the chairman reinstates the dismissed employee with back
pay or with the opportunity of making up the time lost since the
discharge. In one case reinstatement of a temporary employee un
fairly discharged was considered impractical, and a specified amount
was paid him for time lost. Many of these cases involve a decision
as to whether the penalty of discharge is proportionate to the offense.
Even when a worker has been guilty of disobedience, poor work,
etc., the chairman has occasionally changed the penalty to dis
ciplinary lay-off or recommended leniency in reemployment. Exem
plary discharge of some workers when a whole department is sub
standard or negligent has been considered unfair. Since the union
is responsible for maintaining efficient production under the closedshop agreements, the chairman has ruled that the shop committee
should be informed of unsatisfactory work or conduct which might
lead to discharge. Under this procedure the union assumes direct
responsibility for improving substandard job performances and for
securing compliance with shop rules.
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In te rn a tio n a l F ederation o f T rad e U nions
By W.
E l l is o n C h a l m e r s ,
U. S.
D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r , G e n e v a O f f ic e
0 UNDERSTAND the International Federation of Trade
Unions and the program enunciated at its recent congress, it
must be considered as only one, though the most inclusive, of several
related trade-union organizations. Through years of experiment and
experience, the trade-union movement in the different countries
has built up a variety of international as well as national organizations
to deal with the economic problems of workers. For instance, when
a machinist in Great Britain joins a trade union, he automatically
becomes a participant in several larger trade-union organizations.
He signs the membership card and thereby becomes a party to the
privileges and obligations of the national union of his trade (the
Amalgamated Engineering Union). Through this organization he is
also affiliated to the national federation of all trades (the British
Trade Union Congress), and to the international organization of his
trade (the Metal Workers International Federation). Through the
national federation, he is also connected with a union of national
unions inclusive of all countries, the International Federation of
Trade Unions.
The division of functions among these organizations is relatively
clear. All the affiliations of the individual worker emanate from the
organization of which he is a member, and whose discipline he ac
knowledges. This national trade-union represents him both locally
and nationally in the adjustment of the industrial problems directly
connected with his job. But in those economic and industrial prob
lems of his industry which are international in scope, his national
union cooperates with the national unions in other countries through
the international union of his trade. In those problems that affect
all the workers in his country, his trade-union cooperates with the
national labor federation—the A. F. of L. of his country. By the
membership of this latter organization in the International Federation
of Trade Unions it cooperates in meeting the wider, international
problems of workers. All these organizations collaborate not only
in joint efforts to influence employers, governments, and the public,
but also, through a policy of mutual recognition, in keeping their
own organizations unified and disciplined and in assisting in their
expansion.
The most inclusive of these organizations, the International
Federation of Trade Unions (the I. F. T. U.) has a long history 1
1 For a full history and description of the International Federation of Trade Unions, see Lorwin, Lewis J.,
Labor and Internationalism, N ew York, The Macmillan Co., 1929. For an excellent recent summary,
see Report of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor to the 1935 Convention, pp.
134-138.
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dating back to its formation in 1901 (under the name of International
Secretariat of National Trade Union Centers) and its reorganization
after the hiatus caused by the World War. It was started in order
to serve as an international clearing house for trade-union informa
tion, and to provide an agency for the exchange of ideas between
national trade-union leaders. At first the organization did little
more than arrange periodic meetings between those leaders. Its
activities gradually increased, and it began to express the international
views of labor. Following the war it became an organized agency
with a continuous life and a considerable force in directing the inter
national program of its constituent members.
The American labor movement took an active interest in the devel
opment of the international trade-union movement, and between
1911 and 1919 American labor was represented at its meetings.
Although Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of
Labor, attended the reorganization meeting in 1919, the A. F. of L.
has never affiliated with the I. F. T. U. However, the report of the
Executive Council of the A. F. of L. to its 1935 convention dealt at
length with its relations to the international movement and the
meeting adopted a committee report declaring that “Unless there
can be created some effective vehicle for international labor solidarity,
the trade-union movement may be further seriously weakened in
those countries adjoining dictatorships. * * * The power of
international organized labor is perhaps the most effective instru
ment” to prevent war, and that the participation of American labor
in the International Labor Organization can be made more efficient
by cooperation with the I. F. T. U. whose executive committee
“serves as a steering committee on labor strategy there.” The
report therefore urged a reexamination of the problem of affiliation,
recommended that the executive council initiate a discussion to that
end with the I. F. T. U., and empowered the Executive Council to
affiliate if there proved to be “a basis of effective cooperation.”
The recognized national federations of trade unions of 29 countries
make up the present membership of the I. F. T. U. These represent
the free trade-union movements of all the democratic European coun
tries and those of Argentina, Canada, Dutch East Indies, India,
Mexico, Palestine, South Africa, and Southwest Africa. The organiza
tion also achieves, in varying degree, fraternal and cooperative relations
with the free trade-union movement of practically every other
democratic nation in the world. The peak of the membership of its
affiliated national members was reached shortly after the war, when
it totaled about 22 million. By 1933, it had fallen to about 8% mil
lion. This decline was sharp at first, and then was gradual until a
second precipitous drop in 1933. It is accounted for in part by the
decline in trade-union membership in almost all countries, following
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575
the gains that came with the war period, and in part by the loss to the
federation of the Italian, and more recently, the German and Austrian
movements. More important even than this recent loss of member
ship has been the loss of prestige to the I. F. T. U., which resulted from
the suppression of the free trade-union movements of Germany and
Austria. However in the past year, by the large increase in member
ship of some of its members, and by new affiliates, the total member
ship has increased to about 13% million. Although the movement
cannot claim to be so nearly universal as it was immediately following
the war, it still remains the international expression of the labor
movements of democratic countries.
It is quite clear, both from the pronouncements of its leaders and
the activities it has undertaken, that the I. F. T. U. is intended to
serve several purposes. It is an agency through which the tradeunion leaders of different countries can formulate a common statement
of their basic policies. This agency is then enabled to express to the
rest of the world the views and objectives of labor. This unity of
purpose also helps to concentrate the demands of the labor movements
of different countries, and thus to strengthen such demands within
each nation. It also serves as the spokesman for labor in dealing
with international organizations and movements. In this connection,
the I. F. T. U. has played a very active part in the functioning of the
International Labor Organization and has sought also to influence
the League of Nations and other international organizations. Another
international activity has been the mutual support of trade-union
movements. Not the least of its international activities has been the
collection and dissemination of information upon the trade-union
movements and labor conditions of the various countries.
Each national federation which becomes and continues to be a
member of the I. F. T. U. accepts the basic trade-union philosophy of
voluntary organization of workers and employers, collective bargain
ing and collective agreements directed toward the improvement in the
economic life of its members, and freedom from political domination;
but these principles, though basic, are very general. How they shall
be interpreted and applied so as to advance internationally the pro
grams of the national trade-union movements requires redetermina
tion periodically. The seventh triennial congress of the organization
met in London on July 8-11,1936, and brought up to date the applica
tion of these policies. A summary of its resolutions and reports gives
the clearest indication of the present program of the organization.
The 1936 Congress
I n t h e 1936 congress each affiliated n a tio n a l fe d e ra tio n w as given a
v o tin g s tre n g th p ro p o rtio n a te to th e size of its 1935 p e r-c a p ita con
trib u tio n to th e I. F. T. U.; 132 d eleg ates cam e fro m th e follow ing
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countries (arranged in the order of their voting strength): Great
Britain, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, France, Belgium, Spain, Denmark,
Holland, Switzerland, Poland, Norway, Rumania, Palestine, Finland,
Luxembourg, Canada, India, and Greece, with nonvoting delegates
from Mexico, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Danzig.
The 25 recognized international unions of trades had a right to be
represented there; these delegates may participate but not vote in
the deliberations of the Conference. Thirty-seven such delegates
represented the following 19 organizations: Building and wood workers,
civil and public services, clothing workers, diamond workers, employ
ees, factory workers, food and drink workers, hatters, land workers,
leather workers, miners, painters, postal workers, stone workers,
teachers, textile workers, tobacco workers, transport workers, and
typographers.
Practically all the other industrial and democratic countries of the
world were represented by fraternal delegates or visitors. Fraternal
delegates from Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and
South Africa spoke in a vein that suggested that their national federa
tions were in sympathy with the general policies of the I. F. T. U. and
that at least some of these might soon affiliate with it. In keeping
with the great interest displayed by its former president, Samuel
Gompers, William Green as president of the American Federation of
Labor sent fraternal greetings to the congress, and, referring to the
possibility of war and current “menaces to democratic institutions,”
said that “your interests are our interests, and we must cooperate in
making labor’s interests an effective factor in public opinion insistent
upon peace between nations.” Although the American Federation
of Labor is not a member of the I. F. T. U., two American tradeunion leaders visited the conference. David Dubinsky, president of
the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, attended the
congress in his capacity of an executive officer of the International
Clothing Workers’ Federation.2 Emil Rieve, president of the Ameri
can Federation of Hosiery Workers, visited the congress on his way
home from the International Labor Conference in Geneva.
The largest and strongest members of the I. F. T. U. are the
European national organizations, because, outside of the United
2 The term “international” may cause some confusion. The American unions are international because
they include workers of the United States and Canada. On the other hand, the “internationals” of the
I. F. T. U ., in particular industries, whose headquarters are in various cities of Europe, include the unions
in a particular industry of a considerably larger number of countries. Some American unions are members
of these larger international trade organizations.
These internationals again must be distinguished from the political internationals (First) International
Working M en’s Association (now extinct), the (reorganized Second) Labor and Socialist International,
and the (Third) Communist International. The international trade unions have no affiliation with any of
these latter organizations.
They must also be distinguished, of course, from the International Labor Organization, of which states
(nations), not labor organizations, are the constituent members. The annual session of the conference of
the latter completed its work just before the I. F. T. U. congress met in London. That session is described
in the August 1936 number of the M onthly Labor Review (p. 316).
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577
States, most of the trade unionists of the world are in Europe. In
addition to the membership of Canada, India, and Palestine, however,
both the new affiliations of Argentine and Mexico, and the presence
of fraternal delegates from the recognized movements in Australia,
New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa, demonstrated the world-wide
character of the organization, and made it obvious that it is the
organization best able to speak on behalf of all the free trade-union
movements.
Some of the problems with which the congress dealt had not ma
terially changed since its last session in 1933. For these, the congress
served as an opportunity for the international trade-union movement
to reaffirm and broadcast its previous decisions. Other problems had
so changed since they had been debated by the congress that it was
necessary to modify and redirect trade-union policy. Still other prob
lems faced by the congress are matters of its internal organization and
procedure. Under this classification, the action of the congress will
be summarized.
In an analysis of congress debates and action, it is necessary to bear
in mind the structure of the I. F. T. U. Its constitution does not
require either its national members nor the international unions of
specific trades to execute its decisions. In most matters, therefore,
the congress aims to “give a lead” to the policies of the labor move
ments of different countries by working out a unanimously accepted
statement of general principles. Of course, within the sphere of its
own organization, the congress can take direct action. The execution
of such decisions is entrusted to an executive committee, at present
composed of the executive heads of the trade-union movements of
Great Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, and Czechoslo
vakia. The general secretary of the British Trade Union Congress, Sir
Walter Citrine, is president of the I. F. T. U., and Walter Schevenels
of Belgium is its full-time general secretary.
Collective Security Against War
As the fraternal greeting of the president of the American Feder
ation of Labor stated, the most urgent problems before the tradeunion movement internationally are the interrelated threats of war
and of fascism. In the first years after the World War, the I. F. T. U.
had decided that the organized power of the workers, mobilized in an
international general strike, should be used to prevent any future
war. It was assumed that, since such a strike would paralyze the
economic life of all countries whose political leaders had declared
war, a war could be made impossible. Such a program assumed the
presence in each important country of a strong, peace-determined
trade-union movement which was independent of its own government.
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This last session of the congress reaffirmed its position that if war
threatened between countries where such trade-union movements
existed, an international general strike should be called by its executive
committee, for it “is unrelentingly opposed to war as an instrument of
policy” and will condemn nations which “refuse to submit their
disputes to international arbitration.”
But this congress also recognized that such a program was in some
degree outdated. “The lack of an independent trade-union move
ment in such countries as Germany, Italy, and Austria makes the
calling of a general strike against their governments an impossibility.
* * * A general strike under such circumstances could not possibly
be made effective by the trade unions in those countries.” If such
countries were involved in a war, a general strike in any other
country would merely leave it open to attack. Consequently, in
recent years a very different peace program has become accepted
among the national trade-union movements, has been enunciated by
the executive of the I. F. T. U., and was confirmed by the congress
this year.
The new program is based upon “collective security.” It depends
upon a strengthening and invigoration of the League of Nations,
because it concludes that the only way to prevent the aggression of
any nation is by mobilizing against such aggression the entire strength
of the peace-loving nations of the world. In such a mobilization, the
trade-union movement would urge the application of economic and
financial sanctions to the very limit in order to muster the maximum
pressure against an aggressor. Each peace-loving country must be
ready, acting under the leadership of the League, to restrain an
aggressor with military means, if necessary. The determination of
aggression, in the opinion of the federation, is to be made by the
League, and is to be applied to the present boundaries, not only of
the great powers but of all sovereign States, for “peace is indivisible.”
Once there is such an honest readiness to “use the military and naval
forces in support of the League in restraining an aggressor nation
which declines to submit to the authority of the League,” then
“sanctions (both economic and military) would inevitably mean
peace and consequent disarmament.”
In the execution of such a policy of collective security, therefore,
the I. F. T. U. urged each national member to impress upon its
government the necessity of an honest support for the principles of
the League, and a readiness to unite through it in the vigorous defense
of any nation which may be the victim of aggression. It went farther,
and urged that if aggression was declared by the League, and any
government does not accept its obligation, the trade-union movement
should insist upon a wholehearted support of the League program,
even by a general strike if necessary. The congress was aware that
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such a peace program was not easy to follow, but resolved that it “is
fully prepared to instruct its affiliated membership to shoulder the
risks and responsibilities thereby entailed.”
Only by an honest support of this program of collective security
could progress be made toward disarmament. It resolved that “the
fight must go on for that final stable system of disarmament which
can only be built upon equality of rights and duties and permanent
international supervision.”
Another measure designed to reduce the causes of war was voted
by the congress. Each member was urged to press for the “super
vision of armaments or the nationalization of the armaments indus
try,” so that the profit motive might be taken out of war preparation.
The elaboration of this program in the light of changing world
events remains in the hands of the executive committee, which in the
past 3 years has issued statements and called conferences of trade
union and political leaders at times of crises.
Fascism, Democracy, and Economic Planning
The I. F. T. U. had previously declared strongly against any form
of fascism, and renewed that opposition in 1936. The opposition was
based on the firm belief that fascism was a denial and a defeat for all
the aims as well as the procedures of the free trade-unions. In this'
connection, the I. F. T. U. “instructs its members to urge upon their
governments to offer the maximum resistance to fascist attacks, and
assures them of its cooperation and support in so doing.” Within
fascist countries the fight was to be carried on also. The executive
committee reported, in guarded terms, upon the extensive underground
work which was being carried on by trade-union groups within coun
tries where free trade-unions were prohibited. It was directed to
continue “to support all efforts to restore freedom of association wher
ever it has been abolished, curtailed, or for the time being withdrawn.”
To speakers at the congress it appeared that within countries at
present democratic, the dangers of fascism were not quite so great as
they had appeared in 1933. But there was general agreement that
within such countries strong fascist tendencies existed, and had to be
strongly resisted. Even more dangerous, however, appeared the
relation between fascism and war, for “fascism constitutes a constant
menace to peace, and an ever-present danger of war.”
The congress was greatly concerned with all tendencies to circum
scribe or even eliminate the freedom of action of workers and their
trade unions, whether or not these were called “fascist.” It expressed
as its basic belief that “the liberty and independence of the tradeunions constitute an indispensable condition for an effective represen
tation of the interests of the working class.” So it concluded that
“the free decision of the trade-unions cannot be replaced by an organi
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zation which workers are compelled to join, and by means of which
the trade-unions are made hopeless tools of the State or of the em
ployers.” For “the efforts to secure a corporate structure of the
State and a corporate organization of the workers are simply a
means of reducing or destroying the influence of the workers upon their
economic social and cultural conditions.”
The insistence upon the “right not to organize” was judged to be
an indirect method used by employers to combat union organization,
and so had to be watched. But not all forms of compulsion were
equally condemned. Compulsory arbitration seemed undesirable to
the congress, but it was noted that some national movements had
experimented with it.
On the other hand, the congress considered favorably the possi
bility of the compulsory application to the whole of an industry “of
a collective agreement freely concluded between the most representa
tive organization of workers and employers throughout the industry
concerned, thus also covering unorganized workers and employers.”
This is an idea not unfamiliar in America, for it was included in
section 7b of the N. I. R. A., and later was incorporated in somewhat
different form in the Guffy Coal Act and in the Ellenbogen textile bill.
Carrying farther this same principle of the representation of workers
through their free trade-unions, the congress reaffirmed its conviction
of the desirability of economic planning.
The I. F. T. U. makes a plea for all elements of the community to
strengthen and defend democracy. But a general defense of the
freedom of the individual and the desirability of progress through the
free choice of all members of the community does not appear to the
I. F. T. U. to be sufficient. Following up its earlier pronouncements
it reaffirmed in 1936 that economic planning is a wiser alternative
than fascism to the policy of “drift,” of laissez-faire. It sharply dis
tinguished economic planning from fascism because both, economic
and political organizations are to be purely voluntary. It also is dis
tinguished from State socialism because it places a greater emphasis
upon the voluntary participation of freely organized workers, em
ployers, and consumers. In this connection, it may be noted that in
its emphasis upon economic planning the I. F. T. U. shows its tradeunion outlook. A congress report states: “Our trade-union move
ment is not a party political movement, and guarantees its members
the fullest liberty of political opinion and individual philosophy.”
This in no sense indicates, however, that there is no cooperation
between the trade-union movements and the Socialist parties in
Europe. The congress gave a warm welcome to the president of the
Socialist International as a fraternal delegate, and its executive com
mittee has many times joined with the Socialist International in
declarations concerning international problems.
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The last congress, in 1933, formulated the general principles of
which the trade-union movement approved in the development of
economic planning. It was expected that each national movement
would deal with these general objectives by the formulation of a more
specific and concrete program for its own country. These plans have
been elaborated by a number of the most important national move
ments. The congress viewed each conscious attempt of a State,
with the participation of the free economic organizations, to give
direction and control to economic effort as a desirable experiment
toward an inclusive economic planning. It noted, however, that
such planning might become so nationalistic that it would represent
a further limitation upon international trade. To guard against
this, it instructed its executive committee to summon a conference
“to study the creation of some organ capable of formulating recom
mendations” for the international coordination of national plans.
The 40-Hour Week
As far back as 1931, the I. F. T. U. had declared in favor of an
international reduction of the maximum working week to 40 hours,
in order both to provide increased leisure for workers, and as an
attack upon unemployment. This campaign became a basic part of
the “struggle carried on by trade-unions against the crisis and unem
ployment, and against fascism, which is their corollary.” The con
gress reviewed world developments in the 3 years since its last session.
The national members of the I. F. T. U. had urged such a program
of hours reduction in their own countries. Such national efforts had
not been very successful before 1936, however, and the principal
campaign had been directed into the international field, in the hope
of securing action through the International Labor Organization.
There, over the years, the workers group, under the leadership of the
I. F. T. U., attempted to persuade governments and employers to
adopt a convention (treaty) specifying the application of the 40-hour
week to all industry. The congress noted that this effort had been
unsuccessful, and that since 1935 there “no longer appeared any
chance of a general convention.” The I. L. O., after the adoption
in 1935 of a convention of principle, had turned to the consideration
of separate conventions for various important industries.
When the congress met in July 1936, its executive committee
reported that only two conventions applying the 40-hour week had
been adopted, that covering public works at the 1936 conference and
that covering the glass-bottle industry a year earlier. It regretted
that more progress by separate industries had not been made, and
decided “that this method must be abandoned and efforts resumed
for the adoption of a general draft convention establishing the 40-liour
week for all workers without distinction.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
582
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
At the same time, the congress noted that in 1936 the national
movements in France, Spain, and Belgium had been quite successful
in the establishment of the 40-hour week in their own countries. It
therefore concluded that “it is up to the trade-unions to aim, with
redoubled energy, at getting the 40-hour week recognized as a trade
practice, even before the reform is incorporated in law.” It concluded
that after an extension of the drive by trades and by national move
ments, its international accomplishment through the I. L. O. would
be more likely.
Membership Problems
The sharpest debate of the congress centered upon a resolution
that would have instructed the executive committee to “take upnegotiations with the Trade Union Center of the Soviet Union and
the Red International of Labor Unions, for trade-union concentration
or collaboration.” In an extended debate, its advocates urged that a
united front of all workers in the world was necessary for the defeat
of fascism and the most effective use of the economic power of workers.
Its opponents contended that there was more danger than possible
advantage in such a united front, that the Red International had no
substantial membership outside of Russia, and that it would be a
mistake to unite in any way with any unions which were subject to
government or party control.
A compromise finally was adopted unanimously, the first part of
which commended the previous efforts of the I. F. T. U. to secure
trade-union unity. This referred to a long series of statements
issued by the I. F. T. U., and letters exchanged with the Red Inter
national in which the former had taken the position that unity could
be founded only on acceptance of the general principles of the free
trade-unions. It may be assumed that the I. F. T. U. will continue to
accept in membership only such national federations as accept those ‘
principles.
The resolution ended by urging “the I. F. T. U. to open negotia
tions with the national centers of America, Australasia, the Far East,
the U. S. S. R., and all other nonafliliated trade-union centers with a
view to establishing a united trade-union movement throughout the
world.” This modified form was in part designed to take account of
the views of a number of speakers who had indicated that their
primary desire was that the American Federation of Labor should
follow up the resolutions passed at its last convention by negotiations
that might lead to affiliation.
Other I. F. T. U. Activities
Some suggestion of the continuing activities of the I. F. T. U. is
given in the elaborate report of its secretary and executive committee,
which it received and adopted. It shows that during the interval
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INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS
583
since the last triennial session of the congress, the general council,
consisting of the executive committee and the secretaries of all the
trade internationals had met 6 times, and the executive committee
24 times, in order to bring up to date and apply international tradeunion policies to constantly changing world events. In order to
agree upon joint policies with other organizations, the executive
committee had also held meetings with the secretaries of the inter
national trade-unions, with the Socialist International officers, and
with the heads of various national federations. It had sent repre
sentatives to attend 18 conventions of different national federations
and 27 conventions of internationals of trade-unions.
The report indicated the extensive activity of the secretary’s
office in the release of press reports, the collection and supply of
analytical and statistical materials, and the publication of pamphlets.
The secretary’s office had also entered into friendly contact with
practically all the nonaffiliated national centers of trade-unions, had
cooperated closely with the international trade secretariats, and had
assisted in efforts toward amalgamation of several of the smaller
trade internationals.
This summary of the congress indicates that the principal activities
of the I. F. T. U. during the past 3 years have been directed against
fascism and war, for economic planning, and for the 40-hour week and
other reforms through the International Labor Organization. The
report makes it clear that these have also included support of workers’
education, and coordination of national trade-union efforts of women.
In carrying on these latter activities, special conferences on women’s
trade-union problems and on workers’ education were held in connec
tion with the congress.
The financial report to the congress indicates that the I. F. T. U.
has been loyally supported by its member labor federations, but that
during the trough of the depression, as a result of its own loss of
membership and the decease of the German and Austrian national
trade-union movements, the I. F. T. U. did not balance its budget,
despite substantial economies. In 1934 and 1935, however, it saved
some of its income, to the amount of about $58,000 in 1935, and
ended the year with assets of about $167,000. Some of these assets
consisted of the unexpended portions of the special funds already
collected.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SOCIAL SECURITY
S tatu s of Old-Age Assistance in th e U n ited States,
A u g u st 15, 1936
HE old-age assistance plans of 36 States, 1 Territory, and the
District of Columbia had received formal approval by the Federal
Social Security Board by August 15, 1936, and all but three of these
had received grants in aid from Federal funds. The status of the
various States with regard to their provision for the needy aged
through the medium of public allowances is shown in the accom
panying statement (p. 585).
It will be noted that New Mexico, which has no old-age assistance
act, nevertheless submitted a plan which was acceptable to the
national board, received a Federal grant, and put its system of aid
into effect.
Under the terms of the Social Security Act (Public, No. 271,
74th Cong.) the Board must “approve any plan which fulfills the
conditions” laid down in the act. The conditions include the
following: The plan must (1) be State-wide in effect and, if adminis
tered by political subdivisions, be mandatory upon them; (2) provide
for financial participation by the State; (3) provide for a State agency
either to administer or to supervise the plan; (4) set an age limit
not over 65 years (70 until 1940); (5) require a period of residence in
in the State of not more than 5 years in the past 9, 1 year of continu
ous residence to precede immediately the application for pension; and
(6) not contain citizenship requirements excluding any citizen of
the United States.
Hawaii, Kentucky, and Louisiana, as the statement shows, had had
no Federal grant. Hawaii, however, has had old-age assistance since
1934, first under an optional county act, then under a mandatory
Territory-wide system which was still in effect on August 15 (the
date of the compilation). Kentucky has had an ineffective countyoption act since 1926, whose greatest coverage was in 1935 when 7
of the 120 counties had it in force; this act was succeeded in 1936 by
a State-wide compulsory law effective July 1. The 1936 Legislature
of Louisiana passed an act which, however, cannot go into effect until
authorized by an amendment to the State constitution.
T
584
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
585
SOCIAL SECURITY
Only two States (Arizona and Nevada) still had a county system
on August 15, 1936. In Nevada, where the counties have borne the
entire burden, the act remained practically inoperative until 1935,
whereas in Arizona under a system of State aid all of the 14 counties
had put the system in effect by the end of 1935.
The effectiveness of the Kansas statute passed in 1936 is conditional
upon an amendment to the State constitution.
Seven States still remain without old-age pension legislation of any
kind, although as noted, one of these (New Mexico) is paying pen
sions under a “plan” approved by the Federal Board.
Status of Old-Age Pensions in the United Slates, as of Aug. 15, 1936
Under Federal Social Security Act:
Plans approved and Federal funds granted:
States w ith old-age pension acts:
Ind.
Ala.
Iowa.
Ark.
Maine.
Calif.
Md.
Colo.
Mass.
Conn.
Mich.
Del.
Minn.
D. C.
Miss.
Idaho.
111.
Mo.
States w ithout old-age pension acts:
N. Mex.
Plans approved but no Federal funds granted:
Hawaii.
Ky.
Under S tate acts providing for—
State-wide systems:2
In effect:
Hawaii.
Alaska.3
Nothin effect:
Fla.
County systems:
Ariz.
No acts:
Ga.
N. Mex.
K ans.1
Mont.
Nebr.
N. H.
N. J.
N. Y.
N. Dak.
Ohio.
Okla.
Oreg.
R. I.
Tex.
U tah.
Yt.
Wash.
Wis.
Wyo.
L a.1
Ky.
Pa.
W. Va.
Nev.
N. C.
s. c.
S. Dak.
Tenn.
Ya.
1 Act cannot become effective until validated by amendment to State constitution.
2 Includes those which either had submitted no plan to the National Social Security Board or whose plan
submitted had not been approved by it or which (although their plans may have been approved) had not
yet been granted Federal funds.
s Covers all white population, but excludes Eskimos and Indians.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
EM PLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Labor R eq u irem en ts on a R ailroad E lectrification
Program
B y H e r m a n B . B y e r , of t h e B u r e a u
of
L a b o r S t a t is t ic s
HE Public Works Administration loaned $37,000,000 to the
Pennsylvania Railroad Co. to be used in the electrification of its
lines between New York and Washington. During 1934 and 1935,
$31,900,000 of the loan was used by the company, 30-year serial
bonds of a like par value being sold to the Government therefor.
Of the money so obtained and used by the railroad, $13,705,000,
or 43 percent, was disbursed to labor at the site; $12,160,000, or
38.1 percent, was spent for materials; and $4,970,000, or 15.6 percent,
for miscellaneous items such as work-train expenses, hired equipment,
time keeping and accounting, workmen’s compensation, fire and water
insurance, and consulting and designing engineering; and $1,065,000,
or 3.3 percent was retained by the company to retire bonds and pay
interest thereon. The work was carried on in the States of New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the
District of Columbia. The main part of the work, however, was per
formed on the lines between Wilmington and Washington, inasmuch
as the program of electrification between New York and Wilmington,
with the exception of the freight lines between Liddonfield and New
York, had been virtually completed before the allotment of funds
by the Public Works Administration.
Work began during the latter part of January 1934 and employ
ment reached the peak in October of the same year, when more than
12,000 people were working at the site of construction. (See table
!•) Employment exceeded 10,000 in each month from August to
December, 1934. In Maryland and Delaware the employment peak
occurred in August 1934, with 5,810 and 1,338 workers, respectively.
New Jersey had more wage earners working in July 1934 than in
any other month, and Virginia in April 1935. The level of employ
ment in Pennsylvania was highest in November 1934, in New York
in May 1935, and in the District of Columbia in March 1935. (See
table 2.)
586
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
587
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
T able
1.— E m ploym ent C reated in R ailro ad E lectrification Im p ro v em en ts
F inanced by P . W. A. L oans, 1934-35, by M onths
M onth and year
Number of
wage earners
employed
Amount of pay
roll
$13, 704,614
22,673,039
773
2, 289
3,716
5,811
7,084
9,134
11,478
11,494
12, 060
11,806
10, 249
25, 887
116, 514
218,800
371,711
525,406
718, 505
1,009, 227
1,053,855
1,071.177
1, 227, 669
997,255
44, 328
210,252
405,381
665, 258
952, 098
1, 255,877
1, 757, 765
1, 815,468
1, 844,068
2,103, 513
1, 688, 718
9, 701
8, 587
8,392
8,288
7, 502
5, 738
3,925
2, 821
786
913
742
451
998,965
952,156
911,173
976,371
876, 086
627, 293
396, 686
319,947
96, 256
104,007
92,468
17,200
1, 635, 371
1,522,127
1, 441,484
1, 549, 976
1, 341, 845
920, 592
589,386
471,194
133,005
156, 577
141, 585
27,171
All States.
1934
February..
March____
April_____
M ay_____
June______
July______
August___
September.
October___
November.
December..
1935
January___
February..
March........
April......... .
M a y ..........
June............
July--------August___
September.
October___
November.
December..
T a b le
2.— E m p lo y m e n t
C r e a te d in R a ilr o a d E le c tr ific a tio n Im p r o v e m e n ts
F in a n c e d b y P . ML A . L o a n s , 1 9 3 4 —3 5 , b y S ta t e s
State
JVew "Y”n r k
_ _ ________________________________
N 6 w J ersey
________ __ __________
___ ___________
_ —
--------------P en tyl vania
_
Delaware
- ____________________ Maryland
_______________ __ ___________
District of Columbia________________ _______ _______ __________
Virginia_________________ ______________________________ __________
i
Number of
man-hours
worked
1
Total pay-roll
disbursements
Total number of
man-hours
worked
127
1,474
1,027
1,338
5,810
3,149
829
$47. 251
2,464, 537
765, 630
895, 575
6, 336, 606
2, 887, 944
307, 071
68,610
3, 917, 596
1, 245,879
1, 435, 856
10, 554,154
4,926, 756
524,188
Number of
wage earners
Data shown are for the month of maximum employment in each State.
Pay-roll disbursements for work at the site totaled more than
$13,700,000. Of this amount $10,427,000, or 76 percent, was earned
by employees working in Delaware, Maryland, the District of Colum
bia, and Virginia. In New Jersey total wages paid amounted to
$2,465,000, in Pennsylvania to $766,000, and in New York to slightly
less than $50,000.
The electrification program created more than 22,670,000 man-hours
of labor at the site of construction. In Maryland over 10,550,000
hours of work were provided; in the District of Columbia, 4,927,000
hours; and in New Jersey, 3,918,000 hours. The remaining States—
New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia accounted for
3,275,000 hours of labor at the site of the project.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
588
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW ----SEPTEM BER 1936
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM
Total
la b o r at
$31900,000
S ite
M a t e r ia l s
$
12, 160,000
bond Retirement
A nd In t e r e s t
M is c e l l a n e o u s
$
U S
B ureau
of
L abor S
4 , 97 0 ,0 0 0
t a t is t ic s
Wage Rates
I n table 3 data concerning basic wage rates are given by occupa
tion. As a result of agreements by railroad labor and management,
effective February 1932, a scale of earnings representing a 10-percent
deduction from the basic rates of pay was in force from the time work
started up to June 30, 1934. On July 1, 1934, wages were increased
by the restoration of one-fourth of the 10-percent deduction. On
January 1, 1935, there was a further restoration of one-fourth which
remained in effect until April 1, 1935, at which time the remainder
of the wage deduction was restored, and these rates remained in force
the remainder of the period during which this work was under way.
At the peak of employment in October, there were more than 3,900
common laborers employed on the project. During the same month
there were employed 587 carpenters, 909 signal and telegraph maintainers, and over 2,000 linemen and linemen’s helpers. Other occupa
tions employing more than 100 men were autotruck drivers, car
penters’ helpers, electricians, electricians’ helpers, labor foremen,
machine operators, signal and telegraph maintainers’ helpers, struc
tural-iron workers, structural-iron workers’ helpers, trackmen, and
watchmen.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
589
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
T able 3«— A verage B asic W age R ates on R ailro ad E lectrification Im p ro v em en ts
F inanced by P . W. A. L oans, b y O ccupations, 1934 an d 1935 1
Occupation
N um
ber of
em
ploy
ees,
Octo
ber
1934
Basic
rate in
force
Occupation
N um
ber of
em
ploy
ees,
Octo
ber
1934
P e r m o n th
Autotruck drivers— .................„
Foremen, bonders--..........- ..........
Foremen, carpenters----------------Foremen, assistant, carpenters.—
Foremen, laborers______________
Foremen, maintainers, signal and
telegraph____________________
Foremen, assistant, maintainers,
signal and telegraph—.............
Foremen, masons--------------------Foremen, painters_____________
Foremen, repairmen, mainte
nance-of-way equipment--------Foremen, assistant, repairmen,
maintenance-of-way equipment
Foremen, structural-iron workers.
Foremen, assistant, structuraliron workers................... ..............
Foremen, trackmen__________ _
Gang foremen, electricians._____
Gang foremen, linemen___ _____
Gang foremen, assistant, linemen.
233
9
14
5
131
$130.00
175. 00
200.00
170. 00
140. 00
56
250.30
80
9
2
235.00
195. 00
195.00
3
200. 00
3
19
170.00
200.00
22
36
15
27
34
170. 77
149. 29
240. 00
240. 00
200.00
P er hour
Assistant foremen, trackmen.
Blacksmiths______________ _
Blacksmiths’ helpers----------Burners, acetylene____ ____ _
Cable splicers.—................
Carpenters—______ ________
22
15
10
7
44
587
$0. 540
.820
.523
.540
.860
.695
Basic
rate in
force
P er hour
499
Carpenters’ helpers____________
Cement finishers. . —............... .
68
172
Electricians___________ _______ _
Electricians’ helpers______ _____
107
65
Engineers (work equipment)____
Firemen (work e q u ip m e n t).___
60
Laborers______________________ 3, 992
Linemen - ___________ ________ 1, 033
986
Linemen’s helpers_____________
143
Machine operators_____________
31
M achinists____________________
M achinists’ helpers - _________
19
Maintainers, signal and telegraph.
909
Maintainers’ helpers, signal and
telegraph__________________ .
569
49
M asons_______________________
24
Painters. ____________ ____ ___
3
Pipe fitters-___________________
5
Plumbers_____________________
Plumbers’ help ers_____________
10
Repairmen, maintenance-of-way
equipment___________ . . . _ .
46
Repairmen’s helpers, mainte32
nance-of-way equipment______
564
Structural iron-workers ______
327
Structural iron-workers’ helpers..
306
Trackmen __ . . ___ _______
167
W atchmen--------------------------- —
5
Welders, autogenous___________
$0. 522
.700
.822
.548
.760
.540
.409
.820
.571
.540
.820
.524
.821
.580
.704
.684
.820
.820
■ .523
.820
.520
.760
.521
.409
.418
.820
1
N ot all occupations are shown in the table; occupations omitted are chiefly supervisory, technical, and
administrative.
Expenditures for Materials
T h e value of material orders placed for use on the project was
$12,160,000. It is estimated that in fabricating these materials
nearly 4,500,000 man-hours of labor were required. This estimate of
man-hours is only for the labor required in final fabrication and._d.oes
not include labor created in mining, transportation, or in pré
fabrication plants.
The value of material orders placed, and the number of man-hours
of labor created in fabricating the materials used on the electrification
program are presented in table 4.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
590
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
T able 4.— W ork C reated in F a b ric a tio n of M ateria ls U sed in R ailro ad E lectrifica
tio n Im p ro v em e n ts, by T y p e of M a te ria l
Type of material
Value of ma
terial orders
placed
Man-hours
created in
fabrication
All types of material______________________________________________
$12, 159,750
4 , 494,860
Bolts, nuts, rivets, washers, etc____________________________________
Cement__________________________________________________________
Electric apparatus, fixtures, and supplies:
Circuit breakers and switches__________________________________
Conduit, fittings, and lighting devices__________________________
Frequency changer sets, generators, and motors__________________
Switchboards, relay and control equipment, measuring instruments
and meters_______________________________________
Transformers and current-limiting reactors____________
Wire, cable and potheads____________________________
Wiring devices and assemblies_______________________
Electrical equipment and supplies, miscellaneous______
Foundry and machine-shop products, not elsewhere classified.
Lumber and timber products____________________________
Sand and gravel________________________________ :_______
Steel-works and rolling-mill products_____________________
Tools, other than machine tools______ ___________________
All other materials______________________________________
124, 544
173, 755
65, 620
64,430
1, 592,804
360,697
97,980
507, 260
114,870
31, 210
855,966
1, 264, 533
3, 189,274
785,474
219,837
529, 692
169, 298
103, 594
1, 640,920
106,267
945,115
272, 600
402,720
1, 015, 690
250,150
70,010
297,160
186,830
82,620
616,890
60,860
455,940
Electrical apparatus, fixtures, and supplies accounted for $8,367,000,
or 69 percent of the total expenditures of $12,160,000 for materials.
In the fabrication of this material more than 2,664,000 man-hours of
labor were required. In this classification are such materials as
circuit breakers and switches; conduit, fittings, and lighting devices;
frequency-changer sets, generators, and motors; switchboards, relay
and control equipment, measuring instruments and meters; trans
formers and current-limiting reactors; wire, cable, and potheads;
and wiring devices and assemblies. The above figures include
expenditures for wire, cable, and potheads in excess of $3,000,000
and in the fabrication of this material more than 1,000,000 hours of
labor were required in manufacturing plants.
Purchases of steel-works and rolling-mill products required expendi
tures of $1,641,000; cement, $174,000; lumber and timber products,
$169,000; tools, other than machine tools, $106,000; bolts, nuts, rivets,
washers, etc., $125,000; foundry and macbine-shop products, $530,000;
and sand and gravel products $104,000. In fabricating these mate
rials 1,374,000 man-hours of labor were needed.
All other materials used on the program accounted for approxi
mately $945,000 of total expenditures and required over 455,000
hours of labor in fabrication plants. Among the more important
materials included in this classification were cast-iron pipe and fittings,
concrete products, copper products, cordage and twine, crushed
stone, miscellaneous hardware, marble, granite, and other stone
products, automobiles and trucks, nonferrous metal alloys, paints
and varnishes, petroleum products, rubber goods, and wrought pipe.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PR O D U C T IV ITY OF LABO R A N D IN D U ST R Y
M echanisation in B ritish Coal M ines
OAL cut, transported, and treated by mechanical processes
rather than hand labor has increased considerably in proportion
to the total product of mines in Great Britain since 1929. Output
cut by machine in 1929 represented 28 percent, and in 1934, 47
percent of the total tonnage; the proportion of total output conveyed
by mechanical means both at the coal face and elsewhere increased
from 14 to 37 percent in the same period; and coal-cleaning plants
handled 40 percent of the tonnage in 1934 as compared with 28
percent in 1929. These and other basic statistics of mine mechani
zation are included in recent reports of the Mines Department.1
Commenting on mechanization, a private British research agency2
concludes that technical improvement has been the chief factor in
making possible a decrease in the cost of coal production in recent
years. The authors of the study state that in an industry such as
coal mining, where labor costs comprise 70 percent of the total
outlay, productivity must obviously be the greatest influence in
determining total costs, and that in this case the output of workers
has been raised to such a point by use of machinery as to make
possible financial savings in total production costs in spite of the
fact that wage rates have remained constant and that there has been
a decrease in hours worked since 1930.
The table following shows statistics of mines in operation, total
production, and the total product mined by mechanical means in
1929 and 1934.
C
Progress of M echanizatio n of Coal M ines in G reat B rita in , 1929 and 1934
Item
Number of mines using cutting machines------------------ ---------------------Total production.......................................... - ...........- ...............................tons__
Cut by machine:
Amount_________ ______ - ........................- - - --------- ---------- -------Conveyed mechanically:
Amount............... . .............. .................. - ................................... -to n s..
Cleaned mechanically:
Amount...................................- ..................................................... ton s..
2,419
881
257,970,000
2,123
840
220, 726, 000
71.950.000
28
103,701,000
47
37,150, 000
14 1
81,493, 000
37
71.331.000
28
87,458,000
40
1 Great Britain. Mines Department. Annual reports, 1929 and 1934.
2 P E P (Political and Economic Planning). Report on British coal industry.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1934
1929
London, 1936.
591
592
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
The figures relating to coal cut by machine, showing an increase
from 28 to 47 percent of the total, in 5 years in a period when the
total number of mines and the number using mechanized methods
decreased, indicate that mechanized mines have succeeded in mining
an increasing proportion of the market requirement, and that the
change is due not so much to the installation of a large number of
machines as to the decline in output of unmechanized mines. While
practically the same volume of coal was cleaned mechanically as was
cut in 1929, mechanized cleaning in 1934 did not show quite so large
an increase as mechanized cutting, the percentages of the total being
40 and 47 respectively. Coal mechanically conveyed made up 37
percent of the total product in 1934, but the increase from 1929,
when the percentage was 14, has been more rapid than that of either
coal cutting or cleaning.
Use of mechanical picks and drills in producing coal has been a
long-established practice in European mines. In 1927 there were
in Great Britain 5,679 pneumatic picks and drills, increasing to 8,881
in 1929 and 13,789 in 1934. The use of coal cutters was fairly evenly
divided between the compressed-air type (1,590) and the electrical
type (1,305) in 1913; by 1929 the relationship was reversed, there
being then 3,574 compressed-air cutters and 3,787 electrically driven
cutters; and in 1934 electrical cutters were in the decided majority,
the total for that year being 4,451 as compared with 2,955 compressedair cutters. Use of electrical equipment for conveying coal has
likewise superseded that of compressed-air conveyors. At the coal
face there were 1,534 compressed-air and 1,064 electric conveyors in
1929, as compared with 1,942 and 2,148, respectively, in 1934.
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COOPERATION
C ooperative Societies U n d e r th e R u ra l E lectrification
P rogram 1
ITH the purpose of providing for a higher standard of living
for rural people, Congress, in its work-relief program, pro
vided that 100 million dollars might be spent for electrifying farms,
and on May 11, 1935, President Roosevelt by Executive order
created the Rural Electrification Administration as an independent
agency to “initiate, formulate, administer, and supervise a program
of approved projects with respect to the generation, transmission, and
distribution of electric energy in rural areas.” A permanent agency
with the same name was created by the Rural Electrification Act
(Public, No. 605, 74th Cong.), approved May 20, 1936, the President
being authorized to transfer to the newly created agency the property
and personnel of the agency created by Executive order.
W
Policies of the R. E. A.
T he controlling objective of the R. E. A. has been “to take electric
ity to as many farms as possible in the shortest possible time, and to
have it used in quantities sufficient to affect rural life.” To this end
it has granted loans for self-liquidating projects for the extension of
distribution lines into rural areas, to carry light and power to farm
homes and other farm buildings, and also for the wiring of such homes
and buildings. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 also authorizes
loans for the purchase and installation of electrical and plumbing
appliances and equipment.2 If necessary to protect the loans, the
Administrator is authorized, in the event of foreclosure, to bid for
and purchase property pledged or mortgaged as security, and to
operate or lease such property for not over 5 years, or to sell it.
Under the procedure as first established, loans could be made for
the entire cost of the project; they were normally for 20 years, with
i Data in this article are from Rural Electrification Administration, Rural Electrification News, Wash
ington, October, November, and December 1935, January-February and M ay 1936; Light and Power for
the Farm, Washington, 1935; What Every Farm Leader Should Know about Rural Electrification, Wash
ington, 1935; and unpublished data supplied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the Rural Electrification
Administration.
2
prior to that act funds for installation of electric pumps and the purchase of electric appliances and
equipment were obtainable from the Electric Home and Farm Authority, and loans for pressure water
systems, including modern kitchens and inside bathroom?, could be secured from the Federal Housing
Administration.
88869— .36---- 4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
593
594
MONTHLY LABOE K EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
interest usually at 3 percent, and were secured by mortgages on the
property. An Executive order of August 7, 1935, provided that not
less than 25 percent of the loan was to be spent for labor, and at least
90 percent of all persons working on the project should be taken from
the public relief rolls. The act of 1936 provides that loans are to be
self-liquidating within a period of not over 25 years and bear interest
at a rate equal to the average rate of interest on United States obliga
tions with a maturity of 10 years or over issued during the preceding
fiscal year.
It has been the practice of the R. E. A. from the first to give pref
erence to public, cooperative, and nonprofit organizations. This
policy is continued by the act of 1936, which authorizes the Adminis
trator “to make loans to persons, corporations, States, Territories,
and subdivisions and agencies thereof, municipalities, people’s utility
districts, and cooperative, nonprofit, or limited-dividend associations
organized under the laws of any State or Territory of the United
States, for the purpose of financing the construction and operation of
generating plants, electric transmission and distribution lines or sys
tems for the furnishing of electric energy to persons in rural areas
who are not receiving central station service,” and directs him to
give preference to public, cooperative, nonprofit, and similar bodies in
the granting of loans.
In order to obtain a loan for a rural electrification project a coopera
tive association must represent a sufficient number of homes in the
area to make the project economically feasible, must have acquired all
possible easements, and have a contracted source of wholesale power.
Sources of funds for loans.—The 1936 act provides that funds for
financing loans for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1937, are to be
obtained from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which is
authorized to make loans to the Administrator, on approval by the
President, up to an aggregate of 50 million dollars. For the suc
ceeding 9 years, an annual appropriation from the Treasury of 40
million dollars is authorized. Costs of administration and of making
studies, reports, etc., are to be met by annual appropriations.
Each year half of the annual sums made available are to be allotted
“for loans in the several States in the proportion which the number of
their farms not then receiving central station electric service bears to
the total number of farms of the United States not then receiving such
service.” The remaining half is to be loaned as the Administrator
may direct, no State, however, to receive more than 10 percent
thereof.
Loans to Cooperative Associations
E x i s t i n g and newly formed cooperative societies have taken an
active part in the Rural Electrification Program. In many States
cooperative organizations of farmers have obtained loans from the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
595
COOPERATION
Rural Electrification Administration to build and operate their own
light and power lines and thus obtain electric service which they had
not previously been able to secure.3
The first loan contracts were signed on November 4, 1935. By the
middle of July 1936 there had been loaned, or finally earmarked, the
sum of $14,699,412, for 104 projects. These loans made possible the
building of 13,120.8 miles of power lines,-to serve 50,312 new rural
customers. More than three-fifths of the money loaned was advanced
to cooperative associations, as the following table indicates.
R . E . A. P ro jects A pproved up to Ju ly 14, 1936, by T y p e of O rganization
Number of
projects
Loans granted
Customers
Miles of line
Type of borrowing organization
N um Per
ber
cent
Amount
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
Number
Per
cent
Cooperative associations__________
State corporations__ _____________
M unicipal corporations___________
Power districts__ _ _____________
Private nonprofit corporations_____
Private u tility companies_________
66
1
9
7
5
16
63.5
1.0
8.7
6.7
4.8
15.4
$9, 477, 676
542, 328
531, 958
2,054,000
747,000
1,346,450
64.5
3.7
3.6
14.0
5.1
9.2
33,187
2,128
1,839
4,838
2,992
5,328
66.0
4.2
3.7
9. 6
5.9
10.6
8,281.8
511.9
540. 9
1,835. 0
637.0
1,314, 2
63.1
3.9
4.1
14. 0
4.9
10.0
Total______________________
104
100.0
14, 699,412
100.0
50,312
100.0
13,120.8
100.0
Some very successful small rural electric cooperatives had been in
operation for many years, but their business had been conducted so
quietly that few had been aware of their existence. The preference
given in the granting of loans under the R. E. A. program to public
bodies, cooperatives, and nonprofit groups has stimulated greatly the
growth of cooperative action in the electrical field and many new
societies have been organized for the purpose of obtaining R. E. A.
loans. Of the first 11 projects authorized, 5 were obtained by county
electric cooperatives, 2 of which operate under State-wide organiza
tion, and 1 other was in effect a cooperative.
A serious obstacle to the formation of rural electric cooperatives in
some States has been the absence of laws permitting the formation of
cooperatives, and in other States the existence of legal provisions
which handicap or forbid their organization in the electrical field. In
* It has been estimated that only about 11 percent of the farms and 27 percent of the rural nonfarms,
including villages of 150 people or less, are electrified. Because of the lack of electricity and of electric
pumps, the majority of rural residents have not been able to obtain the sanitation and living comforts
coexistent with household and farm water systems. Of the 32.7 million persons in this country who live
on farms, it has been ascertained by national surveys (according to Light and Power for the Farm, p. 1)
that—
73 percent must carry water from wells or other sources of supply;
77 percent must put up with unsanitary, inconvenient outdoor toilets;
93 percent have neither bathtub nor shower;
76 percent must depend upon kerosene or gasoline lamps; apparently about 10 percent use candles or
are entirely without light;
33 percent heat their homes partially or entirely with fireplaces, and 54 percent with stoves;
48 percent are compelled to do their laundry work out of doors.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
596
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW ----SEPTEM B ER 1936
some States where there is no existing legislation for organizing coop
eratives, it has been found possible to organize under the general
State corporation law and yet include many cooperative features.
F arm ers’ C ooperative Associations, 1934-35
N JULY 1935 there were 10,700 farmers’ cooperative marketing or
purchasing associations in the United States, and they had a
total estimated membership of 3,280,000, according to a recent
report of the Cooperative Division of the Farm Credit Administra
tion.1 The largest percentage (70.1) of these associations, as well as
of the total membership (63.6), was in the 12 North Central States.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois led all the States in number
of associations, and Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri
led in membership.
About 30 percent of the associations marketed grain, more than
21 percent manufactured and marketed dairy products, and about
18 percent were engaged in purchasing farm supplies for their mem
bers.
During the 1934-35 marketing season these associations did an
estimated business of $1,530,000,000, the important States in volume
of business being California ($180,910,000), Illinois ($141,700,000),
New York ($124,520,000), Minnesota ($122,450,000), and Iowa
($106,830,000).
I
Cooperative Purchasing Associations
C ooperative purchasing of supplies by farmers has been practiced
for many years. One association is still in existence which was
organized in 1863 at Riverhead, N. Y.; another, located in Kansas,
was formed in 1872.
In 1905, there were 82 farmers’ cooperative purchasing associations,
according to available data. The number of associations has increased
steadily from that time, except for a slight decline between 1923 and
1925. In 1913 the purchasing associations formed only 3.6 percent
of the total farmers’ cooperative associations, and their business
amounted to 1.9 percent of the total cooperative business done by
the farmers. In 1934-35 the proportions had risen to 17.8 and 12.2
percent, respectively. The number of farmers’ associations whose
principal business was that of cooperative buying of farm supplies,
their membership, and the value of business done by them during
the period from 1913 to 1934-35, are shown in table 1.
i U. S. Farm Credit Administration. Cooperative Division. Bulletin N o. 6: Statistics of Farmers'
Cooperative Business Organizations, 1920-35, by R. H. Elsworth. Washington, 1936.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
597
COOPERATION
T able 1.— N um ber, M em bership, an d B usiness of F a rm e rs’ C ooperative P u r
chasing A ssociations, 1913 to 1934-35
E s t im a t e d m e m
b e r s h ip
A s s o c ia tio n s
E s t im a t e d b u s in e s s
Y ear
N u m ber
1913
______________________________________
1 9 1 5 ___________ ______________________________
1921 ________________________________________
1 9 2 5 -2 6 ______________________________________
1 9 2 7 -2 8 _____________________________________
1 9 2 9 -3 0 ______________________________________
1930 -3 1
____________________________________
1 9 3 1 -3 2
__________ ________________________
1 9 3 2 -3 3 _____ ________________________________
1 9 3 3 -3 4 ______________________________________
1 9 3 4 -3 5 ______ _________________________________
N um ber
P e r c e n t1 of m em
b ers
111
275
898
1, 217
1 ,2 0 5
1 ,4 5 4
1 ,5 8 8
1 ,6 4 5
1 ,6 4 8
1', 848
1 ,9 0 6
3 .6
5 .1
1 2 .2
1 1 .3
1 0 .6
1 2 .1
1 3 .3
1 3 .8
1 5 .0
1 7 .0
1 7 .8
P e r c en t2
59, 503
9 .1
2 4 7 .0 0 0
3 9 8 .0 0 0
4 7 0 .0 0 0
3 9 2 .0 0 0
5 3 3 .0 0 0
5 4 2 ,7 0 0
6 9 2 .0 0 0
7 9 0 .0 0 0
9 .1
1 3 .3
1 5 .2
1 3 .1
1 6 .7
18. 1
2 1 .9
2 4 .1
A m ount
P ercen t *
$ 5 ,9 2 8 ,0 0 0
1 1 ,6 7 7 ,0 0 0
5 7 ,7 2 1 ,0 0 0
1 3 5 .0 0 0 .
000
1 2 8 .0 0 0 , 000
1 9 0 .0 0 0 .
000
2 1 5 .0 0 0 .
000
1 8 1 .0 0 0 . 000
140, 5 0 0 ,0 0 0
1 5 2 ,0 0 0 , 000
187, 000, 000
1 .9 '
1 .8 '
4 .6 '
5 .6
5 .6
7. 6
9 .0
9 .4
1 0 .5 '
11. 1
1 2 .2
1 Percent of all marketing and purchasing associations listed by Farm Credit Administration.
2 Percent of total estimated membership for all associations listed.
3 Percent of total estimated business for all associations listed.
The number of cooperative purchasing associations, their member
ship, and business in 1934-35, by geographic divisions, are shown in
table 2.
T able 2 .— N um ber, M em bership, and Business of F arm e rs’ C ooperative P u rch as
ing A ssociations, 1934—35, b y G eographic D ivision
Active associations
Estimated mem
bership
Estimated business
Geographic division or State
Number
United States______________ _________
East North Central______. . . _____ _
East South C en tra l... ___________
Middle Atlantic_____ _____________
M ountain... ____________ . ______
N ew England ______ _ . ________
P a c ific...
______________________
South A tla n tic ___________________
West North Central____ ________
W est South Central_______________
Percent Number
Percent
Amount
Percent
1,906
100.0
790, 000
100.0
$187,000.000
100.0
418
53
244
87
76
82
83
784
79
21. 9
2.8
12.8
4.6
4.0
4.3
4.4
41. 1
4. 1
244,000
15,800
64, 200
22,960
71, 600
23, 540
39, 900
283, 900
24,100
30.9
2.0
8.1
2.9
9.1
3.0
5.0
35.9
3.1
44, 550,000
2, 010,000
39, 600,000
4,030, 000
19,800, 000
17,200,000
7,830,000
46, 900, 000
5,080, 000
23.8
1.1
21. 2
2.1
10.6
9. 2
4.2
25. 1
2.7
Besides the associations (included in the preceding table) which were
organized principally for cooperative purchasing, approximately 40
percent of the farmers’ cooperative marketing associations did buying
for their members of such supplies as fertilizers, dairy and poultry
feeds, seeds, containers, coal, and petroleum products. The value of
such purchases in 1934-35 is estimated at $90,000,000. The estimated
total amount of purchasing done by both purchasing and marketing
associations was more than $250,000,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H EALTH A N D IN D U STR IA L HYGIENE
Experience U n d e r In d u strial Medical P lan A llow ing
Freedom o f Choice of P hysician1
NDUSTRIAL group-medicine plans which allow freedom of choice
of physician have not generally been regarded as feasible, but the
4-year experience under the “Spaulding plan” 2 which was started in
Binghamton, N. Y., has shown that a mutual-benefit society can
operate such a plan and at the same time preserve the personal relation
between physicians and patients.
The plan, adopted in 1932, 2 years after the organization of a
mutual-benefit association among the employees of Spaulding Bakeries
Inc., resulted from the disinclination many employees felt toward
giving up their family physicians in order to benefit by the medical
service offered by the association. The basic feature of the plan,
therefore, is the ability of the members to be attended by physicians
of their choice while receiving the benefits provided by the associations.
The plan, briefly summarized, provides that members may receive
both medical and surgical care, including major and minor operations;
eye, ear, nose, and throat treatments; X-ray examination; dental
service limited to X-rays and extraction; and laboratory and ward
service in the hospital, not to exceed 30 days in any one year at the
rate of $3 per day. The allowance for a major operation is fixed at
$100 and a limit of $50 is placed upon office and house calls for any
one member, while the total expenditure per year is limited to $350
per person. The benefits paid to members are based on the rate of
dues, which is determined by the wages of the members. The em
ployees are divided into four wage classes, the dues ranging from 20
to 45 cents per week and the weekly cash benefits from $7.50 to $20.
The plan is in effect in plants of the Spaulding Bakeries located in
Binghamton, Elmira, and Oneonta, N. Y., and Wilkes-Barre, Pa.,
and a division is being organized in a plant of the company at Mid
dletown, N. Y. Similar plans have been adopted by two other
plants in Binghamton—the Agfa Ansco Corporation, manufacturers
of cameras and photographic supplies, and Truitt Bros., shoe manu
facturers.
I
1 Data are from Journal of the American Medical Association, June 6,1936; Freedom of Choice of Physi
cian in Industrial Medicine, by M . S. Bloom, M . D .
2 See M onthly Labor Review, August 1933 (p. 295).
598
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
599
HEALTH AND INDUSTKIAL H YG IENE
The county medical societies in the cities in which these plants are.
located have approved the plan and have cooperated with the asso
ciations. During the 4 years the plan has been in operation there has
been an increased accumulation of reserve funds, so that the plan
seems to be financially sound. It has been investigated by the
general medical director of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey,
and that company is offering a plan to its employees based on the
principles of the Spaulding plan. Dr. Bloom states, “With almost
4 years of experience in this pioneer project, I am more convinced than
ever that the plan is not only practicable, workable, and highly desir
able, but necessarily the mean between the extremes of complete and
uncompromising laissez faire and an equally complete and uncom
promising State medicine.”
Largely on the basis of the success of the Spaulding plan, the
medical society in the county in which Binghamton is located has
gone on record as favoring the prepayment plan for medical care.
It seems, therefore, that if the medical society can work out a satis
factory project for the community, or for a section of it, at least a
partial solution of the problem of medical care could be arrived at—
a solution which would take into consideration the interests of the
doctor, the patient, and the community.
A classification of the expenditures by the companies shows the
percentage distribution for physicians, sick relief, hospitalization,
and dentists for the 3-year period April 1, 1932, to April 1, 1935..
Dental care, including only X-rays and extractions, is provided by
only one of the plants of the Spaulding Co.
P ercentage D istrib u tio n of E x p en d itu res for M edical C are U n d er Specified G ro u p
P la n s
Fiscal year
ended—
Fiim
Spaulding Bakeries, Inc.:
Binghamton
_ __________________________ - Mar. 1,1933
Mar. 1,1934
Mar. 1,1935
3-year average-------------------- ------------- .............. .
Physi
cians
Sick
relief
Hospi
tals
8.2
13.8
8.2
7.9*
7.7
9.6
11.2
10.1
8.4
8.8
4. 6
23 5
13.4
73. 2
66.2
71.0
IQ. 7
12 3
11.0
70.1
Jan.
Jan.
1.1935
1,1936
67.7
■82.0
74.8
6.7
18.4
N ov.
Jan.
1,1935
1,1936
73.0
67.5
5.2
3.3
21.8
29.2
Agfa Ansco Corporation...................................................... - Mar 1,1935
Mar. 1,1936
63.8
75.8
20-5
11.5
15.7
12.7
69. 8
16. 0
14.2
68.1
24.8
Flmira
_ _ ___________________________
2-year average_ - ---------------------------------- - ...........
Wilkes-Barro
______ ______________
2-year average- --------------------------------- -----------
Truitt, Bros
_ _ ___________________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ay
1,1935
D en
tists
1
7.1
—
600
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW ----SEPTEM BER 1936
No limit is placed upon the amount which can be paid to any one
physician, since there is absolute freedom of choice and the amount
of work a physician gets depends, therefore, upon his reputation as a
doctor, just as it does in regular practice. As the reserve increases
to a point where it is felt that it is large enough to take care of any
risks likely to arise, it is planned to provide additional services for
members.
D iets o f L ow -Incom e Families, 1933
HE adequacy of the food supply of families at various lower income levels was the subject of a survey 1in the spring of 1933 in
nine localities—Baltimore, Birmingham, Cleveland, Detroit, New
York, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, a cotton-mill area in South Carolina, and
a coal-mining district in West Virginia. This study was part of one
covering the health of low-income families which was made by the
United States Public Health Service in cooperation with the Milbank
Memorial Fund.2 The food-supply records were taken for the period
of 1 week for about 100 families in each locality with the exception of
New York, where 276 records were secured. Although food consump
tion for a 1-week period does not afford sufficient information as to
the adequacy of the different elements of the diet, it does show in a
general way the proportion of certain foods or food groups used, such
as milk, meats, bread, vegetables, fruits, etc. Even for this short
period, however, the averages of the food supply for groups of families
of comparable economic status, the report states, are reasonably re
liable, so that it is possible to, draw certain conclusions as to the type
of dietary in these low-income families and the nutritional deficiencies
presented by such a diet.
The families covered by the study were selected from those in
cluded in the general study of illness, and were chosen so as to have
approximately equal representation at the different income levels.
The families supplying information regarding their food consumption
were also questioned as to the amount of wages or other funds avail
able during the week of inquiry. The average quantities of various
foods or groups of foods were computed for families in each income
class in each of the localities. As there were no basic differences in
the food habits of the families in Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit,
Pittsburgh, and Syracuse, the data were combined into one group of
472 families, which, it was considered, was fairly typical of lowincome families in the large industrial cities of the North. But since
the inquiry extended to the end of June in New York, while the in
formation for the other localities was secured between April 24 and
i U. S. Public Health Service. Public Health Reports, Jan. 24, 1936: Diets of Low-Income Families
Surveyed in 1933, by Dorothy G. Wiehl. Washington.
s See M onthly Labor Review, September 1935 (p. 634).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND IN DU STRIAL H YG IENE
601
May 19, and also because food costs there were slightly higher, data
were presented separately for that city. In the South the diet was
basically different, containing large amounts of fat meat, biscuit or
corn bread, and sirup, which are typical of the diet of the low-income
southern family. In the three communities, however, there were
recognizable differences in the type of food consumption, so that they
were considered separately.
Energy Value of Food Supply
T h e quantity of food needed to supply the energy needs of individ
uals is expressed in terms of calories and has been calculated for in
dividuals of specific age, sex, and body weight. For the present
study a daily supply of 3,000 calories was taken as adequate for the
moderately active adult male, and using this as a base, the energy
needs of persons of each sex and age are expressed as a percentage.
Therefore, for each 100 percent or equivalent of an adult male
there should be food yielding 3,000 calories. This amount, it is con
sidered, is desirable in order to assure full provision for growing chil
dren and protection of the health of adults, although more nearly
marginal requirements which have been set by nutritionists yield
from 2,600 to 2,700 calories per day per adult male unit.
In the five northern cities it was found that when the income
for the week was $3 or more per person, the food supply in these
families averaged something over 3,000 calories per equivalent adult
male, while with incomes of $2 to $3 per person the calories averaged
2,800 and for families with less than $2, 2,470 per day. Families on
relief, whether receiving cash or work relief, food supplies, or more than
one form of assistance, were grouped together. The food supply of
these families averaged 2,700 calories per day, which met the mini
mum requirements and was higher than that of the lowest-income
nonrelief group. The percentages were somewhat heavily weighted
by the families having 3,400 calories or more per person per day. In
the group of five cities, however, 57.1 percent of the families on relief
has less than 2,700 calories per day per adult male unit; of those havingweekly per capita incomes of less than $2 and between $2 and $3, the
percentages having less than 2,700 calories were 61.3 and 51.7 respec
tively, while for incomes between $3 and $4 and $4 and over the per
centages were 21.7 and 21.5. The percentages of the families in the
different groups having 3,400 calories or more were 17.5, 7.8, 20.0,
37.0, and 45.5 in the order named.
In New York City three groups had a high percentage of the fam
ilies getting less than 2,700 calories per person per day. These were
the work-relief group with 74.0 percent under this figure, those having
less than $3 with 71.1 percent, and those with from $3 to $3.99, with
60.0 percent. Of the families having $4 to $5.99 per day, 25.0 percent
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
602
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
had 3,400 calories per day or more, and of those with $6 or more in
come per week, 37.5 percent. Families on home relief—that is, re
ceiving food orders—reported a more adequate amount of food than
those on work relief or those with an income of less than $4. The
calories per adult male unit in these groups averaged 2,790, which is
a little higher than the energy value of diets planned by nutrition
experts to provide a limited or marginal diet that will prevent serious
undernutrition if a proper choice of foods is made.
Increase in the number of persons in the families was accompanied
by a reduction in the number of calories per person. Home-relief
families of two to four persons had an adequate number of calories,
but larger families were below the marginal standard. However,
among the families with less than $4 per person the smaller families of
two to four persons had slightly less food than families of from live to
seven persons, the explanation being that the small family with a
total income of $6 to $10 has to use a relatively large proportion of
the income for rent.
In the Birmingham survey the incomes were relatively higher than
in the other cities, except New York, and all income groups except the
relief group had an average of more than 3,000 calories per day, the
average for the relief group being 2,960 calories or approximately
reaching the standard.
In 4 cotton-mill villages in South Carolina all of the 102 families
scheduled had some earned income, though 3 families received flour
from the Red Cross. In each income group of these families the
calories averaged more than 3,000 per day, and families with an
income of more than $3 per week per person and the 27 families
owning a cow had more than 4,000 calories.
The records of 101 coal miners’ families in several towns near
Morgantown, W. Va., showed that none of the families were living
entirely on relief, but about one-half of all the families and threefourths of those with incomes per person of less than $2 per week
were given flour or milk or both. In one relief group, those receiving
flour only, the calories averaged 2,910 but in all other relief and income
groups the average was over 3,000 ranging from 3,150 to 4,070.
Adequacy of Dietaries
A n adequate diet necessitates a proper balance of essential nu
trients, especially of the mineral elements and vitamins which are
necessary to insure health and proper growth of children. It is
essential, therefore, that there should be an adequate supply of milk,
vegetables, fruit, and eggs. In order to judge the approximate
adequacy of the food elements in the dietary of these families, the
amounts of the different foods reported were compared with a mini
mum-cost adequate dietary and also with a more restricted diet which
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL H YG IENE
603
is designed to furnish “approximately the minimum requirements of
the body for the various nutrients, but allows little margin for safety.
* * * It represents quantities of ‘protective’ and other foods
below which it is not safe to reduce the food supply.” The average
amount per week per adult male unit which is used as the standard
for the minimum-cost adequate dietary was computed from the
requirements for each type of food to supply persons of each sex and
different ages with an adequate diet at minimum cost, given by
Stiebeling and Ward.3 The average amounts in the restricted dietary
were computed in a similar manner.
In the five cities, families with $3 to $4, and $4 or more, income per
person per week had as much as, or more than, the adequate standard
for all foods except dried legumes, dried fruits, and milk. Their
diets had an excess of meat, fish, eggs, and sweets, and might have
been more satisfactory from the standpoint of calcium and vitamins
with the substitution of milk and fresh vegetables for some of this""
excess, and also less expensive if more dried fruits and legumes had
been used. The lower-income families had the same type of diet,
but in smaller quantities, and their diets were deficient in milk,
dried legumes, dried fruits, and cereals. The average milk supply
for every income class was less than the adequate standard per adult
male unit, although for families with more than $3 per person per
week the supply exceeded the restricted standard. The shortage of
milk was found to be the most serious lack in the dietary of these
families.
In New York City for all income groups the average supply of all
foods except bread, cereals, potatoes, dried legumes, and dried fruits,
with minor exceptions, equaled or exceeded the adequate standard.
In the lower-income groups smaller amounts of meat and fish were
purchased, but the average amount of these foods was slightly above
the adequate standard. The diet of work-relief families was similar
to that of the lowest-income nonrelief families, but those of the homerelief families more nearly approached the standard. The average
milk supply of families of $4 to $6 per person per week almost reached
the adequate standard, and the average amount consumed by the
lower-income families and both relief groups equaled or exceeded the
restricted standard. The proportion of families with less than 3
quarts weekly per child was small and at every income level fewer
families were inadequately supplied than in the “five cities.”
In Birmingham the diets of families in each income class except the
relief families were high in fatty foods and in sugars and moderately
high in cereals. Relief families and those with less than $2 per person
per week had only slightly more vegetables on the average than the
3 Diets at Four Levels of N utritive Content and Cost. B y Hazel
U. S. Department of Agriculture. Circular No. 296, p. 4.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
K .
Stiebeling and Medora M. Ward-.
604
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
restricted standard calls for, while lean meat and fisli were below the
averages for the northern cities in all the income groups, although
only the relief families had less than the restricted standard. The
milk supply of families with less than $4 per person per week averaged
less than the restricted standard and above that income the average
was a quart a day for the children but less than the adequate standard.
The average dietary of these families, therefore, contained approxi
mately minimum amounts of the essential nutrients, the excess
amounts of fat and sweets and limited quantities of milk and vegeta
bles making for poor nutritional balance in the diets.
In the South Carolina cotton-mill villages large quantities of flour
and corn meal, lard and salt pork, and sugar were used by all income
groups, and eggs were used in approximately adequate quantities by
the low-income groups and in very large quantities by the higherincome classes. In families with incomes of less than $2 per person
per week only 0.44 pound of lean meat, fowl, or fish per adult male
unit was used, or 20 percent less than the restricted standard. Among
the lowest-income families the quantities of fruit used were much less
than the standard, but the fresh and canned vegetables were nearly
adequate. The milk supply was inadequate except in those families
owning a cow. A comparison of the food supplies of these families
with a study of the relation of diet to pellagra incidence made in
1916, covering a larger number of villages and households, showed a
•considerably increased use of the protective foods by the mill-village
families.
Families in the coal-mining towns of West Virginia used relatively
large amounts of cereal foods, fats, sugar, potatoes, and dried vege
tables, and a liberal supply of eggs, but in the lowest-income and relief
groups the supplies were far below the restricted standard for fresh
and canned vegetables and fruits. Families in higher-income classes
also had less than the restricted standard of vegetables, but the supply
of fruits equaled or exceeded this standard. The average supply of
milk was below the restricted dietary for all income groups.
Sickness and Food Supply
No attempt was made to correlate the diets of these families with
the sickness records obtained for the 3 months immediately preceding
this survey, but the incidence of sickness as shown by that study
indicated “a consistent correlation with the economic status of the
families, the lower the income the higher the sickness rate, and also a
striking association with unemployment, families with no employed
workers having about 50 percent more cases of disabling illness than
those with a full-time worker.’’ These results are consistent with the
situation found in the food supply, which, at income levels of less
than $3 or $4 per person per week showed a marked tendency to be
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
HEALTH AND IN DU STRIAL H YG IENE
605
poorly balanced, to include less than “safe” requirements of milk and
other “protective” foods, and to be insufficient in quantity. Sickness
rates in the early spring of 1933 were highest in families with less than
an annual income of $150 per person in 1932.
Specific food deficiency diseases were not found among the ill
nesses reported by the families surveyed in these cities, with the
exception of some cases of pellagra in South Carolina. The relation
ship between the diet and sickness, if it is accepted that there was some
association, would seem to be more a matter of lowered vitality and
reduced resistance to disease.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ill
: IINIM UM W A G E
7:1
M inimum -W age Legislation in L atin A m erica
HIRTEEN Latin American republics (Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico,
Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela) have taken some legislative
action fixing minimum wages in one or more industries, setting up
machinery for the fixing of minimum wages, or authorizing such
legislation in their constitutions. The minimum wages fixed are to
be in force not to exceed 1 year in Chile, Costa Rica, and for home
industries in Argentina; for 2 years in Mexico and for home industries
in Uruguay; and for 3 years in Brazil. Commissions are authorized in
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela,
Costa Rica and Cuba have one commission each, but in Cuba the
members of this commission work through subcommissions for various
industries. In Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela the commissions are
industrial in scope, while in Brazil and Mexico they are geographical,
for major divisions of territory in Brazil and for municipalities in
Mexico.
In Argentina a law of October 8, 1918, authorized wage commis
sions for the Federal Capital and National Territories, to fix minimum,
wages for all home workers (except domestic servants), regardless of
sex. By decree of December 30, 1918, regulations under this act
were made for the Federal Capital.
In Bolivia, by a decree of June 1, 1936, minimum wages for office
workers, manual laborers, and domestic servants were established.
Separate action is to be taken regarding night work by the above
classes and for agricultural labor.
The Constitution of Brazil, adopted July 16, 1934, assures equal
wages for equal work, regardless of sex, and provides for the estab
lishment of minimum wages. The equal wage for women was decreed
on May 17, 1932, and. on January 14, 1936, there were authorized for
the major geographical divisions of Brazil wage commissions, which
are to fix minimum wages for a term of 3 years, revision, however,
being provided for if living conditions change materially.
In Chile, the Labor Code of May 13, 1931,‘authorized, the estab
lishment of wage commissions for each industry. A regulatory
decree of September 12, 1932, provided that the wages fixed by the
T
606
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MINIMUM WAGE
607
commissions should be in force not to exceed 1 year. For the nitrate
industry the minimum wage was temporarily fixed by a law of
January 8, 1934.
For Costa Rica, minimum-wage-fixing mac tery was authorized
by laws of November 21, 1933, and Decembd i9, 1934. The com
mission provided for was to study the cost of ) ing and on the basis
of that study to fix wages for not to exceed year. A temporary
minimum wage for agricultural labor was fixed by a law of August
21, 1935.
In Cuba, women are to receive the same wages as men for similar
work by virtue of a decree law of October 16, 1934, which also fixed
minimum wages for home work. A resolution of June 27, 1935,
authorized the establishment of a commission to fix minimum wages
for home work. The general minimum-wage commission was estab
lished by decree law of November 30, 1934, which has been amended
and clarified by subsequent legislative action. Working through sub
commissions, the commission was to fix minimum wages in industry
and commerce, subject to revision upon the request of either em
ployers or workers. Temporary minimum wages were established by
the act.
The Constitution of Ecuador, adopted March 26, 1929, authorizes
the establishment by law of minimum wages in relation to the cost of
living in various regions of the country and under various conditions.
A minimum wage for farm workers in the Department of Alta
Verapaz in Guatemala was established by legislative action on
January 28, 1936.
In Mexico, the constitution adopted February 5, 1917, made provi
sion for minimum-wage legislation, which was included in the Federal
Labor Code of August 28, 1931, and amended October 6, 1933. The
municipal wage commissions authorized were to fix the minimum
wages every 2 years, with the approval of the central boards of con
ciliation and arbitration (Juntas Centrales de Conciliación y Arbitraje).
The right of women and minors to receive the minimum wage was
specified in orders of January 26 and February 28, 1934.
In Panama, provision was made by law of December 28, 1932, for
the payment of minimum wages to office workers, the minimum wage
to be fixed in each case by the Executive through the labor office,
taking into account the current minimum of subsistence.
A minimum wage for native workers in Peru was established by
law of October 16, 1916, and by supreme decree of May 11, 1923.
Wages were to be fixed each year by the provincial councils. The
constitution adopted April 9, 1933, authorized minimum-wage legis
lation which should take into account age and sex of the worker, the
nature of the work, and regional conditions. A law of July 16, 1936,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
608
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
provides that woman school teachers are to receive the same pay as
men in the same rank and class.
In Uruguay, a minimum, wage for agricultural workers was set by
law of February 15, 1923, as regulated by decrees of April 8 and
June 20, 1924. The minimum wage fixed for port workers on
November 18, 1926, and regulated by decree of February 14, 1927,,
was extended by law of June 25, 1930, to include workers in refrig
erating plants who load and unload boats. Minimum wage for
those persons employed in public works was set by resolution of
June 7, 1927. By a law of January 23, 1934, the Superior Labor
Council (Consejo Superior del Trabajo) was authorized to fix a mini
mum wage for home industries every 2 years, which was not to be
less than that paid in nearby factories. The constitution approved
April 19, 1934, provides that just remuneration and length, of working
day are to be fixed by law, with special regulations for women and
minors.
In Venezuela, the labor law of July 16, 1936, authorized the Federal
Executive to name wage commissions for the various industries to fix
compulsory minimum wages as well as piece-work rates.
S o u r c e s : U. S . Bureau of Labor Statistics Buis. Nos. 467, 510, and 569;
M onthly Labor Review, August 1935 and July 1936; In tern atio n al Labor
Office, Geneva, Legislative Series 1923, Uruguay 1, 1924, U ruguay 1, 1931, Chile
1, 1932, Brazil 5, 1932, Panam a 2, 1933, Costa Rica 3, and 1934, Cuba 6 and 10;
consular reports from Bolivia, June 8, 1936, Costa Rica, Aug. 29, 1935, and
Peru, July 21, 1936; Diario Official (Rio de Janeiro), July 16, 1934, Supplement;
Boletim do Ministerio do Trabalho, Industria e Commercio (Rio de Janeiro),
February 1936; Diario Oficial (Santiago, Chile), Oct. 1, 1932, and Jan. 8, 1934;
La Gaceta (San José, Costa Rica), Dec. 22, 1934; Gaceta Oficial (Habana, Cuba),
July 1, 1935, ex. ed. No. 118; Registro Oficial (Quito, Ecuador), 1929, No. 138;
Diario de Centro America (Guatemala), Feb. 15, 1936; Diario Oficial (Mexico),
Oct. 11, 1933; Nueva Ley Federal del Trabajo (Mexico), edited by Enrique
Calderon, 3d ed., Mexico, 1934; Oficina Internacional del Trabajo (Geneva),
Legislación social de America Latina, 1928-29, vol. 2; Constitución política del
Peru, 1933, Lima 1933; Diario Oficial (Montevideo, Uruguay), Nov. 22, 1926, Feb.
24, 1927, June 13, 1927, July 22, 1930, and Feb. 2, 1934; Proyecto de Constitución
(Uruguay) sancionada por la Convención Nacional Constituyente el 24 de marzo
de 1934 (adopted Apr. 19, 1934), Montevideo, 1934; Gaceta Oficial (Caracas,
Venezuela), July 16, 1936, Extraordinary number.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
H o u rs and E arnings in C o n necticut L aundries, 1934
and 1935
A LTHOUGH average hourly rates and earnings of woman laundry
j [ \ _ workers in Connecticut showed virtually no change between
1934 and 1935, the number of women receiving low hourly rates
was greater in 1935 than in 1934, according to findings of the mini
mum wage division of the Connecticut Department of Labor and
Factory Inspection.1 The decline in earnings was particularly pro
nounced in the smaller communities, being as much as 11.1
percent in the 10,000 to 25,000 population group. Hours of work
were practically unchanged, except that the proportion of women
working 40 hours or more decreased, while the number working be
tween 30 and 40 hours increased, and the number working 50 hours
or more was materially reduced.
In large laundries, employing 100 or more workers, median hourly
earnings increased 2.9 percent without materially affecting weekly
earnings. A substantial increase in the median hourly earnings in
laundries employing 50 to 100 workers was not reflected in weekly
earnings, and in other size groups weekly earnings fell. Median
hourly and weekly earnings by size of laundry are shown in table 1.
T a b le 1 .— M e d ia n H o u r ly a n d W e e k ly E a r n in g s o f W o m e n in C o n n e c tic u t
L a u n d r ie s for 1 W eek in 1 9 3 4 a n d 1 9 3 5 , b y S iz e o f L a u n d r y
Median hourly earnings
Laundries employing—
Under 10 workers-------------------------------10 to 25 workers_______________________
25 to 50 workers_______________________
50 to 100 workers______________________
100 workers and over ___ --------------- ---
1935
1934
C e n ts
C e n ts
(9
27.5
27.8
30.2
28.8
27.8
27.8
27.8
27.8
28.0
Percent
of change
- 1 .1
0
+ 8 .6
+ 2 .9
Median weekly earnings
Percent
of change
1935
1934
$10. 63
9.33
10. 62
11.90
12. 06
$11.04
10.05
10. 69
12.12
12.05
- 3 .7
- 7 .2
-.7
- 1 .8
+ .1
i Less than 35 cases.
The same general tendency for earnings to decrease with the size
of the unit is shown when the size of the community is considered.
While median weekly earnings decreased somewhat in towns of all
i Connecticut Department of Labor and Factory Inspection, minimum wage division.
Earnings in Connecticut Laundries, Fall, 1935. Hartford, 1936. (Mimeographed.)
88869— 36----- 5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Hours and
609
610
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
sizes, the smaller communities showed the greatest shrinkage, although
in the smallest group (under 10,000 population) earnings decreased
less than in the next larger group. Median hourly and weekly earn
ings by size of community are shown in table 2.
T a b le 2 .— M e d ia n H o u r ly a n d W e e k ly E arriin gs o f W o m en in C o n n e c tic u t
L a u n d r ie s for 1 W eek in 1 9 3 4 a n d 1 9 3 5 , b y S iz e o f C o m m u n ity
Median weekly earnings
Median hourly earnings
Population
Under 10,000.. ______________________
10,000 to 25,000________________________
25,000 to 100,000_______________________
100,000 and ov er.--___________________
1935
1934
C e n ts
C e n ts
27.5
27.9
27.6
29.1
Percent
of change
30.5
i 29.0
27.7
27.9
1934
1935
- 9 .8
1—3.8
-.4
+ 4.3
$9.46
10.42
10. 08
11. 67
$10.00
11. 72
10.44
11.94
Percent
of change
- 5 .4
-1 1 .1
- 3 .4
- 2 .3
1 Based on 29 cases.
| Classified weekly earnings and hours for the week covered by the
study in 1934 and 1935 are shown in table 3.
T a b le 3 .— W e e k ly E a r n in g s a n d H o u r s o f W o m en E m p lo y e d in L a u n d r ie s in
C o n n e c t ic u t, 1 W e e k , 1 9 3 4 a n d 1935
1934
1935
Item
Number of
employees
Percent
of total
Number of
employees
Percent
of total
W e e k l y e a r n in g s
Total reported____
________ ___________________
1,688
100.0
1,682
100.0
Less than $4_____________ ________________________
$4 and less than $6______ _____________________
$6 and less than $8____ __ ____________ __ _
$8 and less than $10______ ___________
$10 and less than $12_____ ____________ ________
$12 and less than $14............. ..............................
$14 and less than $16.......................... .......
$16 and less than $18_____________
$18 and over_________ . . _______ .
50
74
149
280
542
375
157
35
26
3.0
4.4
8.8
16.6
32.1
22.2
9.3
2.1
1. 5
43
77
150
291
440
432
165
58
26
2.6
4.6
8.9
17.3
26.2
25. 7
9.8
3.4
1. 5
1, 563
100.0
1,294
100.0
23
52
192
669
618
9
1. 5
3.3
12.3
42.8
39.5
.6
15
49
191
400
569
70
1. 2
3.8
14. 7
30.9
44.0
5.4
H o u r s w orked
Total reported______________ _________
Less than 10 hours________________________________
10 hours and less than 20_______________ ______ _____
20 hours and less than 30___________________________
30 hours and less than 40_____________________
40 hours and less than 50___ _______________________
50 hours and less than 60...................... ................ _
Wages o f W omen in L aundries and D ry-C leaning P lan ts
in O hio
AGES of women employed in laundries in Ohio increased 36
percent between May 1933 and July 1934, and those of
women employed in cleaning and dyeing plants in that State in
creased 39 percent between May 1933 and October 1935. Federal
regulation through the President’s Reemployment Agreement with
W
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
611
regard to laundries and the N. R. A. code for cleaning and dyeing
establishments, and the fixing of a minimum fair-wage rate under the
State minimum-wage law, are credited by the Women’s Bureau of
the United States Department of Labor for this material improvement
in the wage rates and earnings of women in those occupations. The
Women’s Bureau recently published an analysis of the wage and hour
records of the division of minimum wage of the Ohio Department of
Industrial Relations covering laundries and dry-cleaning plants, to
determine the effects on earnings of minimum-wage orders dealing
with those industries.1
For the purpose of determining action under the minimum-wage
law, the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations made a survey of
wages paid to women and minors in laundries throughout the State
in the week including May 8, 1933, just prior to the date on which
the President’s Reemployment Agreement became effective, and in
the week including September 18, 1933. Laundries of various sizes
and types in 37 cities and towns were investigated, and pay rolls for
the selected weeks were copied. Later the same method of determin
ing earnings of women was applied to the cleaning and dyeing indus
try, when 453 establishments in 89 cities and towns were visited and
wage data were compiled for 864 women.
Because these surveys suggested that the women employed in
laundry and in cleaning and dyeing establishments were not receiving
“fair” wages commensurate with the service rendered, as contem
plated by State law, minimum-wage boards were created to deal
with the situation. The minimum-wage award for laundry workers,
effective March 26, 1934, established a minimum rate of 27H cents
an hour, or $11 for a 40-hour week, with an increase of 10 percent,
to 30% cents an hour, for a week of less than 20 hours, and time and
one-third. (36% cents an hour) for all work in excess of 45 hours a
week. The original directory order was made mandatory on July 26,
in accordance with the provisions of the law and without opposition.
The minimum-wage award for the dyeing and cleaning industry,
effective September 10, 1934, set 35 cents an hour as the minimum
rate, with a 40-hour week for production workers and a 48-hour
week for woman employees in the retail shops. The latter group was
granted time and a half for all hours worked in excess of 48. This
order became mandatory on January 7, 1935.
The United States Women’s Bureau analyzed the data compiled
by the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations in its preliminary
wage studies and the reports of employers submitted to the State
agency under the minimum-wage ruling, to determine the effects,
in weekly earnings, of the mandatory wage scale.
i U. S. Department of Labor. Women’s Bureau. Bulletin N o. 145: Special Study of Wages Paid to
Women and Minors in Ohio Industries Prior and Subsequent to the Ohio Minimum-Wage Law for
Women and Minors. Washington, 1936.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
612
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Earnings in Laundries
M e d i a n earnings in 60 identical laundries were $8.15 for the se
lected week in May 1933; $10.80 in April 1934 under the directory
order; $10.15 in the week of August 22, the first reported under the
mandatory order, and $11.40 in April 1935, after the mandatory order
had been in effect about 9 months. In May 1933, 76.6 percent of the
woman workers employed in these laundries received less than 27%
cents per hour; under the directory order 2.1 percent received less
than the minimum rate of 27% cents per hour and at the time of the
first report under the mandatory order (August 1934) this percentage
had been reduced to 0.7. In April 1935, none of the women employed
by the 60 laundries received less than the minimum, and 40.7 percent
were reported as earning more.
T a b le 1 .— W e e k ’s E a r n in g s o f W o m e n a n d M in o r s E m p lo y e d in 60 O h io L a u n d ries
Women and minors employed
Earnings
Before wage or
der (Survey of
M ay 8,1933)
N um
ber
Percent
1 1,131
100.0
Directory period
(Report, Apr. 25,
1934)
N um
ber
Percent
Mandai ory period
First report Aug. Second report Apr.
22, 1934
27,1935
N um
ber
Percent
N um
ber
1,889
100.0
$10.15
1.806
Percent
W e e k ’s e a r n in g s
Total.......... ............
Median earnings.........
Under $1___ . .
$1 and under $ 3 ...
$3 and under $5___
$5 and under $ 7 ...
$7 and under $9_____
$9 and under $11___
$11___ _ _
Over $11 and under $13
$13 and under $15___
$15 and under $17...
$17 and over___
Under $11___
$11_______
Over $11_________
$8-15
5
34
1,835
100.0
$10. 80
10 0 .0
$11.40
0. 4
123
°62
244
215
15
114
74
27
18
883
15
233
23.2
21.6
19.0
1.3
10.1
6.5
2.4
1.6
78.1
1.3
20.6
14
36
83
307
531
97
540
132
49
46
971
97
767
0.8
2.0
4.5
16.7
28.9
5.3
29.4
7.2
2.7
2.5
52.9
5.3
41.8
21
30
125
377
657
52
423
118
44
36
1, 216
52
621
1.1
1.6
6. 6
20. 0
34.8
2.8
22.4
6.2
2.3
1.9
84.4
2.8
32.9
18
27
81
163
466
101
627
193
67
61
757
101
94S
3.4
41.9
5. 6
52.5
Total__________
Median earnings (cents)___
1 1,131
100.0
1,835
100.0
1.889
100.0
1.806
inn. n
10 and under 1 2 )4 cents____
1 2 3 ^ 2 and under 15 cents
15 and under 1 7 )4 cents
1 7 )4 and under 20 cents___
20 and under 22>£ cents
2 2 ) 4 and under 25 cents. . .
25 and under 2 7 )4 cents___
2 7 ) 4 cents_____________
Over 2 7 )4 and under 30 cents.
30 and under 32) 4 cents___
323^ and under 35 cents___
35 cents and over _.
Under 2 7 )4 cents__________
2 7 )4 cents___________
Over 2 7 )4 cents.........
38
47
70
151
240
124
196
1
87
57
61
59
866
1
264
3 .0
10 .9
10
1.5
4 5
9. 0
25.8
5 6
34. 7
10 7
3 7
A v e r a g e h o u r l y e a r n in g s
22.9
2 27.5
3.4
4.1
6.2
13.4
21.2
11.0
17.3
.1
7.7
5.0
5.4
5.2
76.6
.1
23.3
6
4
2
26
1,184
182
215
79
137
38
1,184
613
2 27.5
.3
.2
.1
1.4
64.5
9.9
11.7
4.3
7.5
2.1
64. 5
33.4
2 27. 5
5
.3
9
1,141
261
180
106
187
14
1,141
734
.5
60.4
13.8
9.5
5.6
9.9
.7
60.4
38.9
1, 071
' 182
196
113
244
59. 3
10 1
10 8
6. 3
13. 5
1,071
' 735
40.7
5 9 .3
1 Sample.
2 Note that in these distributions the median can be interpreted only as the middle case; see summary
at bottom of table for proportions earning more and less than 2 7 ) 4 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
613
W OM EN IN INDUSTRY
In the week of May 8, 1933, 59.2 percent of the women and minors
employed in the 60 laundries studied, worked less than 40 hours,
24.8 percent worked 40 but less than 48 hours, and 78.1 percent earned
less than $11, while 20.6 percent earned more than that. More than
half (51.4 percent) worked less than 40 hours a week in April 1935,
47.4 percent worked 40 but less than 48 hours, and 1.2 percent
worked 48 hours and more. By that time the percentage earning
less than $11 a week had fallen to 41.9, and more than half (52.5
percent) were earning more than $11.
Details of average hourly and weekly earnings are shown in table 1.
Earnings in Cleaning and Dyeing Establishments
F o r t h e cleaning and dyeing industry as a whole, median weekly
earnings for the specified pay periods were: May 1933 (unregulated),
$10.65; September 1934 (under directory order) $14; January 1935
(under mandatory order) $13.90. More definite data are given for
114 identical establishments in table 2, which shows median hours
worked and median hourly rates as well as weekly earnings.
T a b le 2 .— M e d ia n E a r n in g s a n d H o u r s o f W o m en a n d M in o r s in 114 I d e n tic a l
O h io D y e in g a n d C le a n in g E s ta b lis h m e n t s
Median
AT@dian nf the week’s warnings_____________________
Median nf thp, hours worked
_____________ ___ Median of the average hourly earnings (cents) ______
M ay 1933
Directory
period,
September
1934
$10. 90
41.6
28.1
$13.95
40.6
35.0
Mandatory period
January
1935
$13.95
37.3
38.4
October
1935
$15.15
40.3
38.6
The average hourly and weekly earnings of women and minors
employed in all dyeing and cleaning establishments reporting to the
State agency are shown in tables 3 and 4.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
614
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
T a b le 3 .— A v e r a g e H o u r ly E a r n in g s o f W o m en a n d M in o r s in all D y e in g a n d
C le a n in g E s ta b lis h m e n t s R e p o r tin g t o O h io D iv is io n o f M in im u m W a g e
Average hourly earnings
Original s t u d y M ay 1933 (173
establishments)
Directory period—
September 1934
(362 e s t a b lis h
ments
Mandatory peri
od— J a n u a r y
1935 (445 estab
lishments)
Number
Number
Number
Percent
Total______ _____
Median earnings (cents)____________
610
1100. 0
27.4
10 and under 1 2 H cents___________ .
12H and under 15 cents___
15 and under 1 7 H cents__
1 7 Vi and under 20 cents______ ____
20 and under 22J-Ì cen ts... _
2 2 Y i and under 25 cents________ _
25 and under 271i cents______ ._
27ki and under 30 cents___
30 and under 3 2 }4 cents___
32ti and under 35 cents___________
35 cents_______
Over 35 and under 40 cents..
40 and under 45 cents____
45 and under 55 cents____
55 and under 60 cents___
60 and under 70 cents___
70 and under 80 cen ts...
80 cents and over___
5
12
49
31
82
36
94
46
102
27
21
35
41
23
2
1
2
1
Under 35 cents____ ___ _
35 cents__________ ____
Over 35 cents___
484
21
105
Percent
2,005
1 100. 0
35 .0
1,910
1 100. 0
3É.4
2
4
1
4
20
7
96
175
324
112
435
309
280
178
15
24
14
5
79.3
3.4
17.2
Percent
2
5
16
10
11
740
614
294
172
18
21
5
2
745
435
825
37.2
21.7
41.1
44
740
1,126
2.3
38.7
59.0
1 Percentages shown for significant groups only.
T a b le 4 .— W e e k ’s E a r n in g s o f W o m en a n d M in o r s in a ll D y e in g a n d C le a n in g
E s ta b lis h m e n t s R e p o r tin g t o O h io D iv is io n o f M in im u m W a g e
Week’s earnings
Original
stu d y M ay 1933
(173 estab
lishments)
Directory
period—
September
1934 (362
establish
ments)
Mandatory
period—
January,
1935 (445
establish
ments)
Total________________
Median earnings______
610
$10. 65
i 2, 051
$11. 00
1,910
$13.90
Under $1______ ____
$1 and under $3..........
$3 and under $5........ .
$5 and under $7..............
$7 and under $9_______
$9 and under $11...........
$11 and under $13........ .
$13 and under $14..........
$14__________________
Over $14 and under $17.
$17 and under $19...........
$19 and under $21____ _
$21 and under $24..........
$24 and under $27........ .
$27 and under $29_____
$29 and under $31...........
$31 and under $33_____
$33 and under $35...........
$35 and under $40_____
1
6
26
77
86
134
101
42
21
66
24
12
4
5
1
19
37
67
116
205
270
313
111
513
186
98
54
39
8
5
6
1
2
9
56
57
78
141
189
298
144
110
573
143
56
38
12
1
2
3
3
1
1
^Includes 46 for whom hours worked (and average hourly earnings) were not reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
615
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY
Decrease in E m ploym ent of W omen in M ines in Japan
IX of the 102 Japanese mines which employed women in January
1935 ceased operation during the year, leaving only 96 mines
active in December 1935, according to figures recently published by
Japanese Bureau of Social Affairs and quoted in Industrial and
Labor Information (Geneva) of July 1936.
The accompanying statement records the steady decline in the
number of women employed in mines, this decrease resulting from
the promulgation of an order amending the regulations relative to
the employment and relief of miners in 1928. These regulations,
with some exceptions, prohibited the employment of women in mines.
A period of 5 years’ grace, however, was allowed. In 1928 there were
36,510 women employed in mines and in 1935 the number had shrunk
to 4,779.
S
N u m b er of
w om en
e m p lo y e d
N um ber of
w om en
e m p lo y e d ,
1928
1929
1930
1931
______________ 36,
______________ 29,
_____________ 16,
_____________ 8,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
510
174
579
147
1932_________ ________
1933_________ ________
1934_________ ________
1935_________ ________
6,020
5,306
5,281
4, 779
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
Provisions o f Belgian Labor Legislation of 19361
WIDESPREAD strike movement which developed in Belgium
in the early part of June resulted in concessions by which the
workers were granted vacations with pay, freedom from deductions
from wages, a minimum wage established by agreements between
employers and workers, liberalization of unemployment-insurance
provisions, and the establishment of the 40-hour week in certain
industries.
An announcement of Government policy on various economic and
financial questions read by the Prime Minister, M. Van Zeeland,
before the Chamber of Representatives on June 24, 1936, stated that
upon the intervention of the Government, negotiations between
employers and workers had resulted in the adoption of a minimum
wage of 32 francs for 8 hours’ work for adult, able-bodied industrial
workers. This minimum will be paid also to workers employed by
the Government and to those employed by contractors working for
the Government.
In regard to unemployment insurance the Government announced
that the allowances would be increased 5 percent; the waiting period
for the payment of benefits was fixed at 12 days per year (formerly
there was a 3-day waiting period at the beginning of each 6 months
in addition to the regular waiting period of 1 day a month) ; the right
to registration in the unemployment funds on the first day of work
was granted as was also payment of benefits to children up to the end
of the school year in which they reach the age of 16; and the deduc
tion from unemployment allowances equal to 25 percent of the wages
of the wife of the unemployed person was discontinued. It was also
announced that a royal decree would be issued lowering the pension
age in industries hazardous to health.
A law of July 7 rescinded the law of August 16, 1887, by which
deductions from wages were allowed for wastage or spoilage of work
materials or products, for payments to welfare and assistance funds,
and for advances made upon wages, including building loans made
by the employer to the worker. The law does not affect certain
deductions, however, notably those for pensions.
1 Bulletin du Comité Central Industriel de Belgique. Brussels, July 1, p. 973; July 15, p. 1022; July 22,
p. 1058.
616
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR LAWS AND COURT D ECISIONS
617
The bill establishing the 40-hour week, which will apply particu
larly to port workers, metal industries, mines, and certain chemical
industries, was introduced in Parliament following a conference between
the Prime Minister and representatives of employers’ and workers’
organizations. The law was given royal assent July 9, 1936. It pro
vides that the King, upon the proposal of the Cabinet, can progres
sively reduce the hours of work to 40 per week for workers engaged in
industries or branches of industries where the work is carried on under
unhealthful, dangerous, or difficult conditions. The law provides that
the reduction in hours of work may be put into effect progressively by
the Government, after consultation with the joint commissions of
employers and employees or the employers’ or workers’ organizations
in the different industries. Agents will be designated by the Govern
ment to see that the decrees putting the law in effect are carried out.
These agents will have free access to all establishments covered by the
decrees, and employers, managers, etc., are required to furnish them
with information regarding the observance of the law. Fines or impris
onment may be imposed upon employers for failure to observe the law
or upon employers or workers who put any obstacle in the way of
those entrusted with the enforcement of the law.
The law of July 8, 1936, relating to vacations with pay, covers
workers in mines and quarries; manufacturing and commercial enter
prises; building; public works; public utilities; shipbuilding; warehous
ing and loading at ports, stations, etc. ; land, air, and water transpor
tation within the country; theaters, hotels, restaurants, etc.; hospitals
and insane asylums; public services; and maritime fishing; and to all
related services in the different industries. The law at present applies
only to establishments employing at least 10 persons, but it is pro
vided that it may be extended by royal decree to establishments or
enterprises employing at least 5 persons.
Employees are entitled, after 1 year’s service with the same employer
in the specified industries, to at least 6 days’ vacation with pay, and
a special decree will be issued providing for vacations in industrial or
commercial branches where the work is of a seasonal character.
The King may, upon the proposal by the Cabinet and depending
upon decisions of the joint commissions of employers and employees,
provide for compulsory vacations of more than 6 days or make other
changes or grants of leave than those provided for. He may also,
with the concurrence of the Cabinet, extend the act to cover indus
tries not specifically included.
Employees will receive their customary remuneration for the vaca
tion period, calculated according to regulations which will be issued
later. The worker has a right to the vacation notwithstanding any
agreement he may have entered into, and he cannot surrender his
right to the vacation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
618
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — -SEPTEM BER 1936
Agents will be appointed by the Government to see that the law
is enforced, and a system of fines is provided for failure to grant the
vacations or for putting obstacles in the way of the enforcement
officers.
C anadian Federal Labor Legislation, 1936
EVERAL laws of special interest to labor were enacted by the
Canadian Parliament during its session from February 6 to June
23, 1936. Included in this legislation were an act providing for the
setting up of a National Employment Commission; an act to aid in
the relief of unemployment, in promoting agricultural settlement,
and in conserving and developing natural and other resources; and
an act to further the employment of World War veterans. A pro
posed amendment to the Combines Investigation Act was introduced
but did not pass. A brief review of Dominion labor legislation for
1936 is published in the Canadian Labor Gazette (July 1936), from
which the following information is taken.
Unemployment;—The act for the establishment of the National
Employment Commission of not more than seven members was as
sented to April 8, 1936. These members were appointed by the
Governor in Council on May 14. The duties of this new body are “to
carry out, in cooperation with Provinces, municipalities, and private
and public bodies, a national registration and classification of persons
on relief and to investigate, report upon, and make recommendations
concerning the following:”
S
The conditions to be complied w ith by Provinces obtaining grants for relief
purposes from the Dominion Government; means of mobilizing public and volun
tary relief agencies and so coordinating their work as to avoid overlapping and
abuses and to secure, when necessary, effective supervision and auditing of ex
penditures; measures respecting proposals for public works programs and projects
of the Dominion, the Provinces, municipalities, and other agencies to provide
employment so as to mobilize and coordinate their activities; measures of coopera
tion w ith commercial and industrial groups in devising means to m aintain and
increase employment; plans for the establishm ent of an apprenticeship system in
industry; means of providing employment for disabled persons and efforts to
secure suitable em ployment for ex-soldiers in cooperation w ith the V eterans’
Assistance Commission to be set up under the act to assist in the employment of
war veterans; comprehensive measures constituting long-range plans of national
development which may be proceeded w ith or discontinued from tim e to tim e as
conditions may determine.
The duties of this body also include the supervision, under the
Ministry of Labor’s direction, of the expenditures of funds appropri
ated by Parliament to afford relief and provide employment, and such
administrative activities in connection with relief and unemployment
as may be designated by the Governor in Council. This official is
authorized to select the members of a National Advisory Commis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
619
sion, including representatives of industrial, occupational, philan
thropic, and social-welfare organizations, whose services shall be
gratis but who will be allowed travel and subsistence expenses. The
Minister of Labor may appoint from the members of the National
Advisory Commission special committees to deal with the employ
ment of women and youth. The National Employment Commission
may appoint, with the Minister of Labor’s approval, local advisory
committees.
Under the Unemployment Relief and Assistance Act, which re
ceived Royal assent on May 7, 1936, the Governor General in Council
is authorized to carry out such projects as he may consider in the
general interest of the Dominion. As far as practicable employment
shall be accorded to relief recipients in the Province in which the
project is being undertaken by the Dominion Government.
Under the new statute the Governor General in Council may enter
into agreements with corporations, partnerships, or individuals en
gaged in industry, concerning the extension of industrial employ
ment, consolidate or renew “advances, loans, or guarantees made
under previous relief acts, and make regulations which are to have
the force of law for carrying out the Unemployment Relief and
Assistance Act.”
A report must be submitted to Parliament within 30 days after the
expiration of the act, concerning the moneys loaned or expended and
the obligations contracted under the law. If, however, Parliament
is not in session, the report shall be published and made available
for distribution by the Dominion Department of Labor.
The Veterans’ Assistance Commission Act, assented to June 23,
1936, provides for the appointment by the Governor in Council of a
Commission of three members to be connected with the Department
of Pensions and National Health. The membership term is 1 year
and may be extended for 6 months. This agency is to inquire into
the extent of unemployment among Canadians who served in any of
the Allied forces during the World War and “to classify those who
are unemployed, according to their physical and mental capacity to
undertake gainful employment in restricted and unrestricted occupa
tions and in any other categories which the Commission may consider
applicable.” The Commission is also authorized to investigate and
report on the existing methods of providing veterans with employ
ment, especially those who are disabled or handicapped; on plans for
additional schemes and agencies to make provision for their rapid
return to employment; on the possibility of returning to gainful
occupation disabled or handicapped veterans who cannot be absorbed
in industrial employment, by developing small holdings, community
centers, and such other schemes as may be regarded as practicable;
and on present facilities for the care and maintenance of veterans
when they have no jobs.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
620
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Upon the expiration of the commission’s term of office its power will
be vested in the Minister of Pensions and National Health.
Unlawful associations.-—Amendments to the Criminal Code, which
were assented to on June 23, will become effective September 1, 1936,
including the repeal of section 98 enacted in 1919. According to this
repealed section, any association was unlawful “whose professed pur
pose was to bring about governmental, industrial, or economic change
within Canada by force or violence or by threats of force.”
Seamen.—Many of the amendments made to the Canada Shipping
Act of 1934 were designed to clarify the power of pilotage authorities
to make regulations and impose penalties.
Economic Council.—The Economic Council of Canada Act of 1935,
providing for a council of 15 members serving without remuneration,
was repealed.
Resolutions.—On March 9, 1936, a resolution was agreed to which
read in part as follows:
Therefore be it resolved, th a t the Government consider the desirability of
investigating the broad question of the reestablishm ent of the young men and
young women of Canada;
And be it further resolved, th at, in the conduct of such investigation, attention
be given to the possibility of making available to those of our youth who are
adapted for such training and who would otherwise be denied it, technical training
in various branches;
And be it further resolved, th a t, in the conduct of such investigation, considera
tion should be given to the feasibility of setting up and m aintaining a N ational
Youth Reestablishment Commission.
On the same date agreement was reached on a resolution to extend
pensions to blind persons.
Decisions of C anadian Suprem e C o u rt on R ecen t Social
Legislation
N June 17, 1936, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its
decision relative to social legislation embodied in various stat
utes enacted by the Dominion Parliament in 1934 and 1935, including
the Employment and Social Insurance Act, the Weekly Rest in
Industrial Undertakings Act, the Minimum Wages Act, and the
Limitation of Hours of Work Act.
These acts were referred to the Dominion Supreme Court to obtain
judicial decisions on whether or not they were beyond the powers of
the Canadian Parliament. Hearings were held before the Supreme
Court between January 15 and February 5, 1936. The decisions of
that court on these acts were summarized in the July 1936 issue of the
Canadian Labor Gazette, from which the data here given are taken.
O
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
621
On June 17, 1936, the Dominion Supreme Court held, by a vote of
4 to 2, that the Employment and Social Insurance Act was unconsti
tutional. This act established a commission to set up a national
employment service, insurance against unemployment, aid to unem
ployed, and “other forms of social insurance and security.” As to
the constitutional validity of the acts relative to the weekly rest in
industrial enterprises, minimum wage, and limitation of hours of
work, the court was equally divided. These statutes were designed
to give effect to draft conventions adopted by the International
Labor Conferences of 1919, 1921, and 1928, respectively. The
question of their constitutionality therefore depended chiefly on the
interpretation of the treaty-making power of the Dominion and was
considered highly important. On July 8 the Dominion Government
announced its intention of applying to the Privy Council for leave to
appeal from these judgments.
P rovisions of F ren ch Labor L aw s E nacted in Ju n e 1936
IVE laws having a wide application and profoundly affecting
working conditions of industrial and commercial workers in
France were passed in June following the change in the Govern
ment under which M. Leon Blum became Premier. These laws
established the 40-hour week, vacations with pay, and provisions
governing collective agreements, and rescinded the decree laws
relating to deductions from the pay of Government employees and
the tax on pensions of war veterans, issued in 1934 and 1935. They
modify and complete the sections of the labor code on these subjects.
With the exception of the provisions relating to the pensions of
veterans, the new legislation is summarized below.1
F
Forty-Hour Week
H ours of labor, under the law passed June 21, 1936, may not exceed
40 per week. This applies to every type of commercial and industrial
establishment, whether public or private, secular or religious, includ
ing establishments of an educational or welfare character, hospitals,
and insane asylums. Decrees will be issued later by the council of
ministers, after consultation with the competent sections of the
National Economic Council, fixing the method of application of the
law and its coverage.
In underground mines the time underground of each worker may
not exceed 38 hours and 40 minutes per week; the Cabinet is to
determine the method of application, particularly the method of
calculating the time underground.
i Data are from Le Bulletin Législatloz (Paris), no. 12,1936, pp. 397-412.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
622
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
The law is not to affect cases in which shorter hours are in effect,
either as a result of custom or established by collective agreements
in any of the establishments or industries covered.
The application of the law may not carry with it any lowering in
the standard of living and it may not be the determining cause, there
fore, for a reduction in the remuneration of the workers either in
wages or in other payments.
Vacations With Pay
A n n u a l vacations with pay amounting to 15 days, 12 of which
must be working days, are established for industry and commerce
and the liberal professions, by the law of June 20, 1936. All workers,
salaried employees, or apprentices in such employment, or employed
by cooperative societies or as associates or apprentices in artisans’
workshops, are entitled to the vacation after one year’s continuous
service. If the usual vacation period in an establishment occurs
after 6 months’ continuous service by a worker, he will be entitled
to a vacation of 1 week. Longer vacations which have been in
effect either as a result of custom or collective agreements are not to
be affected by the law.
All persons covered by the law will be entitled, if they are time
workers, to the wages which would have been earned during the
vacation period; or if they are paid on another basis, to the average
pay which would have been received for an equivalent period in the
year preceding the vacation. In fixing the amount of the payment,
allowance must be made for family allowances and other payments,
including payments in kind, which the worker does not receive during
his vacation.
Any agreement made by any worker by which he gives up his
vacation, even if he receives compensatory pay, is prohibited.
In the professions, industry, and commerce in which the workers,
salaried employees, associates, and apprentices are not normally oc
cupied continuously during a year in the same establishment, the
council of ministers will determine the method of payment, notably
by the establishment of compensation funds by the employers con
cerned.
A regulation by the public authorities, made after consultation
with the agricultural associations and the joint agricultural unions
or workers’ unions, will determine the method of application of the
preceding regulations to agricultural workers. A similar regulation
will determine the method of application of the law to domestic
services.
Agreements may permit fractional vacations.
Violations of the administrative regulations will be investigated
by officers of the courts of justice.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
623
Collective Agreements
O n t h e demand of an employers’ or workers’ organization, the
Minister of Labor or his representative is required to appoint a joint
committee for the purpose of conclnding a collective agreement hav
ing for its purpose the regulation of relations between employers
and employees in the branch of industry or commerce concerned,
either for a specified district or for the entire territory. This law
was passed on June 24, 1936.
If the joint committee cannot reach an agreement upon one or
several of the provisions to be included in the agreement, the Minis
ter of Labor shall intervene upon the demand of one of the parties, in
order to assist in reaching an agreement after securing the advice of
the interested professional section or sections of the National Eco
nomic Council.
The collective agreement reached by the joint committee must
specify whether or not it is concluded for a definite period and must
contain provisions concerning (1) trade-union freedom and freedom
of opinion of the workers; (2) the appointment, in establishments
employing more than 10 persons, of delegates elected by the employ
ees to represent them in claims relative to the application of rates of
wages, the labor code and other laws and regulations concerning
workers’ protection, safety and sanitation (these delegates may de
mand the assistance of a representative of their trade-union); (3)
minimum wages by class and by district; (4) notice of dismissal;
(5) the organization of apprenticeship; (6) the procedure to be fol
lowed in enforcement; and, (7) the procedure by which the agreement
may be amended or changed.
The collective agreements may not contain provisions conflicting
with the laws and regulations in force, but may provide more favor
able conditions.
Agreements thus concluded may be made compulsory by the issu
ance of a decree by the Minister of Labor for all employers and em
ployees in the district, in the industries to which they apply, for the
period provided for in the agreements. Before the decree is issued the
Minister shall publish a notice in the Journal Officiel relative to the
provisions and requesting the filing of comments and advice within a
period which he shall fix but which shall not be less than 15 days.
The provisions of the decree will cease to be effective when the
contracting parties agree to terminate, revise, or modify it. Also the
Minister of Labor can rescind the decree, after securing the advice of
the interested parties and the National Economic Council when it
appears that the agreement is not in accord with the economic situa
tion of the industry in the district concerned.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
624
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Any trade-union which is not a party to the agreement may become
so by notifying the secretariat or the clerk's office when the agreement
has been filed.
Salaries of Government Employees
V a r i o u s decree laws were issued in 1934 and 1935 affecting the
pay of Government employees. These laws provided for deductions
from the salaries of the employees, postponed the regular promotions
of civil servants, and abolished the double household bonus which
had been paid in many instances to husbands and wives employed in
the Government service. The law of June 20, 1936, repealed the de
cree of July 16, 1935, which had affected the advancement of em
ployees and had abolished the second household or lodging bonus, and
the decree of June 30, 1934, which had reduced family allowances.
The allowances established by the law of April 16, 1930, are now re
stored. The present law also provides for an increase in the minimum
salaries and pensions of employees and agents of the public services,
State, Departments, communes, and similar services, under which
they are not subject to the deductions instituted by the decrees of
February 1934 and June 1935. Above this minimum the deductions
will be established according to a progressive scale. The receipt of
more than one pension (cumuls de retraites)—such as a veteran’s
pension, the regular old-age annuity, or the survivor’s pension—is
prohibited as being contrary to the good administration and financial
management of the State.
The decree of June 25, putting the law in effect, provides that the
promotions may be retroactive as regards their effect upon pensions,
but the increase in pay will be effective only as of the date of the
enactment of the law. The general deduction from salaries, which
was fixed at a minimum of 5 percent and a maximum of 10 percent by
the decree law of April 4, 1934, was reduced to a minimum of 3 percent
by the decree law of July 16, 1935. The present law provides that
salaries below 12,000 francs shall not be taxed, but above that amount
the taxes range from 2 percent for salaries of 12,001 to 15,000 francs
up to 18 percent for employees and agents earning more than 80,000
francs per year.
These four laws apply to Algeria, and decrees will be issued deter
mining the conditions governing their application in the French
colonies and protectorates.
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
R eg u latio n of Medical Practice in C om pensation Cases
H eld C o n stitu tio n al
HE attempt by the State of New York to limit medical practice
in workmen’s compensation cases to certain authorized physicians
was upheld by the Supreme Court of that State. (Szold v. Outlet
Embroidery Supply Co., 289 N. Y. Supp. 411, decided June 2, 1936.)
A 1935 amendment to the State workmen’s compensation law (ch.
258, Acts of 1935) provides that the industrial commissioner shall,
upon the recommendation of medical societies, authorize physicians
to treat compensation cases, and prohibits such medical care by
other persons (unless authorized by the commission) except in cases
of emergency or when the employee is a patient of a hospital. Fees
for such medical services are payable only to a physician authorized
to render such service.
Dr. Eugene Szold, the plaintiff in this case, was engaged by the
Outlet Embroidery Supply Co. to render medical aid to an injured
employee, but the employer refused to pay for the treatment. Dr.
Szold thereupon brought an action to recover payment for the
services rendered, but failed to state that he was authorized by the
industrial commissioner to render medical service in accordance with
the provisions of the amended law, that there was an emergency, or
that the employee was treated in a hospital.
In the opinion of Mr. Justice Shientag of the State supreme court,
the failure of the plaintiff to include such an allegation in the com plaint rendered it so defective as to entitle the defendant to a dis
missal. The court said that the requirement that only authorized
physicians may practice in compensation cases “is reasonable and one
within the power of the legislature to make in the interest of the
health and welfare of injured employees and in order that the em
ployers and the community may receive the full benefits of the
humanitarian law the costs of administering which they bear.”
Dr. Szold contended that he had a common-law right to proceed
against the employer for the collection of his bill, and that such
common-law right was not subject to the limitations of the amended
law. The court rejected this contention, and said that “even if
some of the common-law rights of the plaintiff have been abrogated
or restricted, the provisions of the amended statute do not offend
against any vested right.”
T
88869— 36----- 6
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625
626
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
The practice of medicine is a property right, b u t one which is subject to the
m ost stringent regulations. The right to practice medicine m ust yield to the
param ount right of the S tate to protect health by any rational means. * * *
The rule is well established th a t a State may, w ithout violating the constitu
tional rights of an individual, prescribe reasonable regulations for the practice of
medicine within its boundaries.
In view of this well-established rule, the court reached the con
clusion that the State may impose additional requirements as a con
dition to permitting a physician already licensed as such to practice
and to treat employees under the workmen’s compensation law.
Mr. Justice Shientag, in his decision, called attention to the fact
that the amendment was passed to do away with “the cut-throat
competition and commercialization of compensation medical practice,
the improper ‘lifting’ of cases, and the inadequate and inefficient
treatment of injured workers.”
U nder the am endm ent if an employer furnishes medical treatm en t to an
employee he m ust provide an authorized physician, since no other may legally
tre a t compensation patients. To hold otherwise would be to circum vent and
render nugatory the salutary amendments which those interested in the proper
adm inistration of this beneficent sta tu te have striven so long to obtain.
In holding the amended statute valid, the court decided that the
legislature has power to abrogate in whole or in part the common-law
rights of physicians who treat workmen’s compensation cases; that
the requirement that only physicians who are authorized may treat
injured employees is a reasonable one; and that no physician is per
mitted to treat compensation cases or entitled to be paid therefor
unless he is “authorized” by the industrial commissioner.
D e ath of Salesman S hot b y H ig h w ay m an H eld
Compensable
N A decision June 5, 1936, the Supreme Court of Nebraska held
that the death of a traveling salesman who was shot by a high
wayman while driving from one town to another was compensable as
“arising out of the employment.” (Goodwin v. Omaha Printing Co.
et al., 267 N. W. 419.)
Russell Goodwin had been employed by the Omaha Printing Co.
as a traveling salesman for a period of 15 years. It was his duty to
call on and sell to various county officers in Nebraska, using his own
automobile in so doing.
On September 6, 1934, after conferring with the officers of his
company in Omaha, he started in his automobile for Columbus for
the purpose of interviewing officials of Platte County. He had with
him in the car his personal baggage and supplies belonging to the
Omaha Printing Co. About 10 miles west of Omaha, he permitted
I
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
627
one Harold Malmberg to ride in the car with him. When he reached
a point near Schuyler, Malmberg got out of the car, held him up, shot
him, and left with the car. Goodwin died from the injuries.
His widow brought suit to recover compensation in the district
court of Douglas County. In that court compensation was awarded,
and the Omaha Printing Co. and the Employers’ Liability Assurance
Corporation, Ltd., of London, England (the insurance carrier),
appealed to the Supreme Court of Nebraska.
The defendants admitted that Goodwin died as a result of an acci
dent within the meaning of the statute, and that the accident was in
the course of the employment. The question to be determined was
whether the accident arose out of the employment.
After citing several cases of a similar character and quoting from
them, the court said:
In the case a t bar, the duties of the deceased required him to travel the highway
where the accident occurred. He was killed while being robbed of property, a
p art of which was his own and a p art th a t of the employer. A salesman who is
required to travel from town to town for the purpose of selling his employer’s
goods is as much within the employment in so doing as he is when selling goods
a t such towns. Highway robbery is a hazard of the highway and a hazard of an
employee whose em ployment requires him to travel the highways in the service
of his employer.
In answer to the contention that the deceased brought the injuries
upon himself by inviting Malmberg to ride with him, the court said:
“While it is true that highway robbery and murder are sometimes
committed on the highways, yet it cannot be said that such acts are
so common that the inviting of a ‘hitchhiker’ to ride in the car is
anything more than a charitable act.” The court also called attention
to the fact that the record did not disclose that Goodwin disobeyed
any directions or instructions of his employer in permitting Malmberg
to ride with him.
A traveling salesman in inviting a “hitchhiker” to ride in his automobile, under
such circumstances as are shown in this case, does not step aside from his employ
m ent and act for himself on business or pleasure of his own. He is still within
the scope of his employment. After a consideration of all the facts, and in view
of the authorities cited, we are constrained to hold th a t the accident arose out of
and in the course of his employment.
The Supreme Court of Nebraska therefore affirmed the judgment
of the lower court, awarding compensation.
C om pensation D isallow ed fo r In ju ry Caused by
C o n stan t Ja rrin g of T ru c k
HE Court of Appeals of Ohio in a recent decision held that
an organic disease sustained by a truck driver in the course of his
emplovment was not compensable, since the condition was not the
T
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628
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
result of an accidental injury, and, though occupational, was not
enumerated in the statute as a compensable occupational disease.
(.Industrial Commission of Ohio v. George, 2 N. E. (2d) 10.)
A. R. George was employed by the board of trustees of Henry
Township for a period from about April 10, 1930, until about Novem
ber 1, 1930, as a truck driver, hauling stone. In August 1930, while
employed by the board, George suffered an attack of hematuria of the
kidneys. He did not immediately stop driving the truck, but con
tinued working for 7 or 8 weeks. He was totally disabled from April
1931 to November 1933.
In April 1931, he filed a claim with the industrial commission, but
after a hearing and a rehearing the commission refused to award him
compensation. He appealed to the court of common pleas of Wood
County. The appeal was heard by the court, a jury having been
waived, and resulted in a judgment in favor of the claimant. The
industrial commission then carried the case to the court of appeals.
In the petition filed in the common pleas court, George alleged that
the injury was sustained while he was employed in driving the truck
above mentioned. Pieces were broken out of the solid rubber tires
on the truck, he stated, and it was the resulting excessive jar that had
resulted in a traumatic injury to his kidneys.
The court of appeals, in considering the case, first called attention
to the fact that it appeared from the claimant’s own testimony that
in 1926 he had a similar attack during his employment on a corn
shredder which vibrated considerably while in operation. “It
appears, therefore”, said the court, “that he was perhaps unusually
susceptible to kidney difficulty when engaged in work that vibrated
or jarred the kidneys.”
The court of common pleas had found that the disability “was
brought about by the continuous bumping of the truck, and resulted
in an injury”, but the court of appeals did not agree with this finding,
because ‘‘this court and the Supreme Court have repeatedly held that
there can be no recovery where the disability arises from occupational
sources, that is, heavy work, lifting, jarring, straining, gases, fumes,
weather conditions, etc., unless there was an accident, a specific
physical injury, an unusual and unexpected occurrence on a specified
occasion different from other occasions.”
Finally, in holding that George was not entitled to a recovery, the
court of appeals said:
His injuries were occupational, not accidental, and the workmen’s compensa
tion law compensates only certain occupational diseases enum erated in the
sta tu te (of which hem aturia of the kidneys is not one), and all other claims m ust
be based on physical injury accidental in its cause and origin occurring on some
specified occasion or occasions.
The court reversed the judgment of the court of common pleas,
with directions to enter final judgment for the industrial commission.
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W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION
629
In te rsta te Bus Employee A w ard ed W orkm en’s Com
pensation
HE Supreme Court of Ohio recently rendered an interesting and
far-reaching decision in a case involving the payment of work
men’s compensation to an employee injured while engaged in inter
state bus service (Hall v. Industrial Commission of Ohio, 3 N. E.
(2d) 367). This is a case which has occupied the attention of the
Ohio courts for several years. Woodford Hall was injured on August
22, 1932, while employed as a porter on a bus owned and operated by
the Great Eastern Stages, Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio. The injury
was sustained in Michigan while the bus was making one of its inter
state passenger trips between Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Mich.
The bus company had regularly employed more than three em
ployees and had paid premiums into the Ohio State Insurance Fund
for the coverage of its employees engaged in the interstate bus
business, its payments being computed on the basis of two-thirds of
a salary of $120 a month. As the distance from Cleveland to Detroit
is 180 miles, the proportion in Ohio was fixed at two-thirds of the
entire mileage. Although Hall’s salary was reported as stated above,
he in fact was furnished a room in Detroit for his own use and was
paid $1 a month which was applied to the purchase of a uniform
until paid for. Hall relied upon tips from the bus passengers for
the main part of his income. The contract of employment was made
in the city of Cleveland, the home of the injured employee.
The Industrial Commission of Ohio denied compensation to Hall,
under the State Workmen’s Compensation Act. He thereupon
appealed to the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga County and
judgment was rendered against him, and in favor of the industrial
commission. The court of appeals reversed the lower court in a
subsequent appeal, and the supreme court of the State was asked
to make a final decision. The main question for consideration was
whether Hall could recover compensation for an injury sustained
outside the State while employed as a porter on an interstate bus
line. Judge Williams, after reviewing the pertinent sections of the
Ohio workmen’s compensation law, referred to a former case,1 and
said that while this case considered a different question, it never
theless contained “instructive language bearing upon the subject of
inquiry.” The language used by the court in the cited case is worthy
of mention, as the Ohio Supreme Court approved the doctrine there
given, in its entirety.
T
The legislative in tent is quite manifest th a t the provisions of the act shall
apply to all those employed within the State, and also where, as incident to their
employment, and in the discharge of the duties thereof, they are sent beyond the
1In d u s tr ia l
518, p. 361.
C o m m is sio n
v.
G a r d i n io ,
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164 N . E. 758. See also U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No.
630
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
borders of the State. U ndoubtedly an injury received by an employee of an Ohio
employer is compensable under the workmen’s compensation law, though the
injury was actually received in another State, if the service rendered by him in
such other State was connected with, or p a rt of, the duties and service con
tem plated to be performed in Ohio.
The court, speaking through Judge Williams, held that the injured
employee was entitled to compensation unless he was barred because
of his interstate employment at the time of his injury outside the
State of Ohio. Numerous cases were cited by the court to indicate
that a State may provide compensation to a person engaged in inter
state commerce, “so long as the Congress of the United States, acting
under its constitutional power to regulate commerce among the
States, has not preempted the field.”
In opposition to the payment of the award, it was argued that the
payment of insurance premiums was an unwarranted burden on the
employer and hence on interstate commerce, since the right to regulate
commerce was granted solely to Congress by the United States Con
stitution. The court agreed that no direct burden may be imposed by
a State; however, the court also pointed out that in a case in which
Congress has not acted, the “State power may be exercised within
certain limitations. If the matter is such as to require a general
system or uniformity of regulation, the powhr of Congress is exclusive.
In situations which admit of diverse treatment due to peculiar local
conditions, the State may act until such time as Congress legislates
on the subject.”
The court cited the Minnesota Rate Cases (230 U. S. 352) in which
the United States Supreme Court said in part as follows:
B ut w ithin these lim itations there necessarily remains to th e States until
Congress acts a wide range for the permissible exercise of power appropriate to
their territorial jurisdiction although interstate commerce may be affected. I t
extends to those m atters of a local nature as to which it is impossible to derive
from the constitutional grant an intention th a t they should go uncontrolled
pending Federal intervention. * * *
Where the subject is peculiarly one of local concern, and from its nature
belongs to the class w ith which the State appropriately deals in making reason
able provision for local needs, it cannot be regarded as left to th e unrestrained
will of individuals because Congress has not acted, although it may have such
a relation to interstate commerce as to be w ithin the reach of the Federal power.
The court thought that, upon the decision in this case, it must be
concluded “that a direct burden is not imposed by providing com
pensation to those injured outside the State in interstate commerce
and that such legislation is a matter of peculiar concern to this State.
The provisions for compensation can hardly be said to be unreason
able or to transcend the bounds of proper local need and protection.”
The industrial commission in assessing premiums for part of the
work performed by employees engaged in interstate commerce while
in the State, recognized the right of such employees to compensation;
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION
631
but when the employee was engaged in the same employment in
another State the commission assumed that he was not entitled to
compensation. The court said:
Such a construction of the law would place employees who are compelled to
cross the State line in commerce in an unparalleled position. In businesses
located in Ohio along the S tate border the employees are frequently required to
deliver goods sold into adjoining States. Are these employees to be left w ithout
protection because they are engaged in interstate commerce? This query points
em phatically to the peculiar necessity for local action until such tim e as Congress
steps in.
The commission also argued that the claim was not compensable
because section 1465-98, of the Ohio General Code, provided that
the act applied only to employers and employees for whom “a rule
of liability or method of compensation has been or may be established
by the Congress of the United States.”
In explanation of the section quoted, the court stated that the
words “may be established” referred to Federal legislation that
should thereafter be enacted. Since Congress had not acted with
reference to employers and employees engaged in interstate commerce
in the operation of bus lines, up to the time of the claimant’s injury,
the court held that the statute had no application to the present case.
It was finally shown by the court that compensation'liability “is
neither contractual nor tortious, but grows out of a status which in
turn springs from the hiring by operation of law.” After citing
several cases tending to prove this statement, the court concluded:
The contract of hire, having been entered into in Ohio by an employer, having
its principal place of business therein, and an employee resident thereof, for
service within and beyond this State, gave rise to a legal status which did not
end when the employee crossed the S tate line in interstate commerce as porter
on the bus. In performing the required service he w ent beyond the border
clothed w ith his rights as an employee. By holding the claim compensable
this court does not give extraterritorial effect to the workmen’s compensation
law b ut rather to the status arising from the contract of hire by virtue of the
constitutional and statutory provisions. The contract and resulting status are,
however, always subject to the right of Congress to preem pt the field by appro
priate legislation.
The Supreme Court of Ohio in affirming the right of the claimant
to compensation thus safeguarded the rights of innumerable employees
engaged in interstate bus service who have hitherto been considered
unprotected in their rights for compensation on account of injuries,
because the Congress of the United States had not preempted the
field by appropriate legislation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T re n d of S trikes
RELIMINARY information indicates a reduction of approxi
mately 14 percent in the number of strikes beginning in July 1936
as compared with the number in June ; the July strikes were small on
the average and involved only a little more than half as many workers
as were involved in the June strikes. Many of the strikes beginning
in June and prior months continued into July, however, so that the
number of workers involved in the strikes in progress during July was
only 10 percent lower than the corresponding number for June. The
number of man-days of idleness in July was less than in June by
about 15 percent.
P
T r e n d o f S tr ik e s, J a n u a r y 1935 t o J u ly 1936 1
Workers involved
in strikes
Number of strikes
Year and month
Con
In
In
tinued Begin prog
Ended effect
from ning in
at
in
ress
end
of
pre
during
month
month
ceding month month
month
1935
January _________
______
February___________ _______
March_________________
April____ ____________ _
M ay______________________
June_____ - _______ ____
July______________ _____ — August____________________
September_________________
October_________ ______ . .
November ________ _______
December . . . ____ ______
Begin
ning in
month
In
progress
during
month
Mandays idle
during
month
73
83
102
114
133
130
133
138
149
142
132
120
140
149
175
180
174
189
184
239
162
190
142
90
213
232
277
294
307
319
317
377
311
332
274
210
130
130
163
161
177
186
179
228
169
200
154
126
83
102
114
133
130
133
138
149
142
132
120
84
81,194
64, 238
53,089
67, 857
102, 491
48, 917
70,046
74,313
453,820
48, 223
38,279
14, 746
92, 630
96, 533
98, 457
124,174
151,163
129, 784
141,829
150,835
514,427
133, 742
100,732
61,782
720,778
836, 498
966,980
1,178, 851
1, 697, 848
1, 311,278
1, 297, 730
1, 191, 663
3,027,040
1, 562, 908
1,003,852
660,911
84
98
117
118
115
104
120
161
142
174
163
188
185
160
245
240
291
281
303
289
280
147
123
173
166
199
169
155
98
117
118
115
104
120
125
31,819
63,090
74,875
62,785
71, 625
60,000
33,000
58, 566
89,701
122,025
92, 648
120, 332
129,000
116,000
632, 285
747, 362
1, 327, 734
687,904
977, 905
1,262,000
1,075,000
1936
January_______
_______
February.......... .
- _______
March_____________________
April_________ ____________
M a y .--____________________
June 1__________________
July 1---------------------------------
1 Strikes involving fewer than 6 workers or lasting less than 1 day are not included in this table, nor in the
following tables. Notices or leads regarding strikes are obtained by the Bureau from 670 daily papers,
labor papers, and trade journals, as well as from all Government labor boards. Schedules are sent to repre
sentatives of the parties in the disputes in order to get detailed and authentic information. Since there is
delay in the return of some of these schedules, the figures given for the late months are not all-inclusive and
are, therefore, subject to change as additional information is received. This is particularly true with
regard to figures for the last 2 months, and these should be considered as preliminary estimates.
632
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633
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
As compared with July a year ago the number of strikes in July
1936 was lower by about 13 percent; the number of workers involved
in the strikes beginning in the month was lower by about 53 percent;
and the number of man-days of idleness during the month was lower
by about 17 percent.
An analysis of strikes in July 1936, based on detailed and verified
information, will appear in the Monthly Labor Review for November
1936.
A nalysis o f S trikes in M ay 19361
HE following analysis is based on detailed and verified information
obtained on 188 strikes which began in May 1936 and 115 strikes
which began prior to but continued into May, making a known total
of 303 strikes in progress during the month. These strikes involved
120,000 workers and resulted in 978,000 man-days of idleness during
the month. Newspaper notices have appeared concerning 18 strikes
beginning in May on which detailed information has not yet been
obtained and which are, therefore, not included in this report.
T
T a b le 1 .— S tr ik e s in M a y 1 9 3 6 , b y I n d u s tr y
Beginning in
M ay
Industry
All in d u str ies__
. . . _ _ _____________________________
Iron a n d steel a n d th eir p ro d u cts, n o t in c lu d in g in a c h in e r y ________________ . . . . . . --------------------------- . --Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills_____________
Forgings, iron and steel__________ _____________________
Hardware____ _ „ _______________________ ______ - Stoves_______ . _ . . .
____________________ _______
Structural and ornamental metal work_____. . .
Tin cans and other tinware________________ _______ . . .
Tools (not including edge tools, machine tools, files, and
saws) (hand tools)_____ ____ ____________________ - . . .
Wirework___ ______ ____ . . _______________
M ach in ery, n o t in c lu d in g tr a n sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t,..
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies___________
Engines, turbines, tractors, and wafer wheels__________ _
Foundry and machine-shop products_____ . . . --------------Radios and phonographs._____________________________
Typewriters and p a r ts ____________________________ —
Other
_ __
__________ _______ __________
T ra n sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t---- -------------------------------------Automobiles, bodies, and parts___ . . . . . ---------------------Shipbuilding
_________________ __ ______
N on ferrou s m e ta ls a n d th eir p ro d u cts_________________
Other__ .
.
___ . ____________ .
_______
L u m b er a n d allied p r o d u cts__________________ . --------Furniture____ _____________ ___________ _
. . ..
Millwork and planing___________ . . . ----------- ------ ...
Sawmills and logging camps___
. . . ___ . . .
Other
_
_____ _ ______________
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p r o d u cts_________________________
Glass_______ . . . ____________ _ .
______________
Other__________ _ . . . _ . ----------- --------------------- . .
In progress
during M ay
Mandays
idle
during
N um Workers N um Workers
M
ay
ber involved ber involved
188
71,625
303
120,332
977,905
9
1
1
6.277
5,500
35
3
1
1
156
349
115
13
3
1
1
4
1
1
7. 640
6,697
35
31
291
349
115
59,391
51, 401
105
186
3,363
1,047
2,070
1
1
8
2
65
57
8,356
507
4
1
1
703
146
7, 000
1
1
10
2
1
4
i
i
i
1
22
22
3
1
1
1
14
5
5
4
11
11
10,401
281
1,905
8, 215
3
3
27
11
6
3
389
229
160
3
2
65
57
9,191
507
635
703
146
7,000
200
722
22
700
242
242
13,571
1,765
2,085
8,632
1,089
389
229
160
1,105
114
56,907
9,916
8, 890
1,439
3,212
33, 250
200
15,394
44
15,350
2,741
2,741
182,539
26, 027
20,170
124,300
12,042
3,164
1,724
1,440
2
1
1
2
8
2
1
1 Since schedules on all strikes have not yet been received (see footnote 1 to preceding table), the following
tables do not include data on all strikes beginning or ending in this month. Data on missing strikes will
be included in the annual report.
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634
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
T a b le 1 .— S tr ik e s in M a y 1 9 3 6 , b y I n d u s tr y — C o n tin u e d
Beginning in
M ay
In progress
during M ay
Industry
N um Workers N um Workers
ber involved ber involved
Textiles a n d th eir p ro d u cts__ - _ - _ . . . _____ ____ _____
Fabrics:
Cotton goods____ _____________ ____________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles________________________
Silk and rayon goods_______________________________
Woolen and worsted goods__________________________
Wearing apparel:
Clothing, men’s ____ _______________________________
Clothing, women’s_________________________________
M en’s furnishings__________________________________
Hats, caps, and millinery_______ ___________ ____ _
Shirts and collars._________ _ ______ ___________ . .
Hosiery____________________ _______ _______ ______
Knit goods___ _____________
________________
Other___ _ . . . _ ______ _____i __________________
L eather a n d its m a n u fa c tu r e s ____________________ _ _..
Boots and shoes_______ __________ _______
_ _______
Other leather goods___ _ ________________
Food a n d kindred p ro d u cts. __________________________
Baking____________ ___________________ _. _____. . .
Canning and preserving_______ .
_ _ ___ _________
Flour and grain m ills__________ _ ____________________
T obacco m a n u fa c tu r e s __________________________ _____
Cigars___________________ _ ______ __________________
Paper a n d p r in tin g __ . .
Boxes, paper____________
_ __. _________________
Paper and pulp_________ . _ _______________________
Printing and publishing:
Book and j o b ..._________ _____ ____________________
Newspapers and periodicals________________ ______
Other____ ___________________________ __ __ _______
C hem icals a n d allied p r o d u cts._ _ _ _____ ____ ______ ___
Other____________________ ____ _______________ . _ _
R ubb er p r o d u c t s . . ______ _ __________ ___ ______ ____
Rubber tires and inner tubes_____________ _ _________
Other rubber goods_____________ _____________________
M iscella n eo u s m a n u fa c tu r e s ___________________________
Electric light, power, and manufactured gas_____________
Furriers and fur factories___ _______ ____________________
Other____
_________ ___ _ __________
E xtraction o f m in er a ls____ _ _________ _ . . . _______ __
Coal mining:
Anthracite_________________________ ____ _________
Bituminous________ _______________ __________ _.
Metalliferous mining_________ __ . . .
__. . ______
Quarrying and nonmetallic m in in g ___________________ _
T ra n sp o rta tio n a n d c o m m u n ic a tio n ___________________
Water transportation________ _
_
___ _ ___
Motor-truck transportation.. . . . _______
________ .
Motor-bus transportation____________ ________________
Taxicabs and miscellaneous_______________ ______ ______
Electric railroad.......................................
_ _ . _________
T rad e______ __ _____________ _ _____
Wholesale____________________ _ . __________________
_______ ._ _____ _____ ... .
___ _
Retail. . . .
D o m estic a n d personal service__________________________
Hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses____ . . .
Personal service, barbers, beauty parlors.._ _ .
. ...
Laundries______________ _______________ ___ _______
Dyeing, cleaning, and pressing______ _________________
Elevator and maintenance workers_____________________
Profession al service___ ________ _______________________
Recreation and amusement___ __________
___ _
Professional____
______. .
. . .
Semiprofessional, attendants, and helpers______ ______
B u ild in g a n d c o n s tr u c tio n ____ _ _____________
Buildings, exclusive of P. W. A . . ______ _
_______
All other construction (bridges, docks, etc., and P. W. A.
buildings)___ _______ ____________________ . . ______
A gricu lture, e tc . . _______ _ _ ____ _ _ ___ .
_.
Agriculture_______________________________ . . .
Fishing_____________________________________________
B elief work a nd W. P. A _
_ _______
O th er n o n m a n u f a c t u r in g in d u s tr ie s __________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Mandays
idle
during
M ay
25
4,045
61
12,168
176,290
3
1,084
6
2
607
680
10
1
15
3
5,368
41
1, 604
795
94, 569
328
30,861
6, 735
1
6
1
2
1
1
1
1
3
3
57
483
121
600
165
150
20
78
592
592
9
6
3
2,766
573
2,193
1
1
4
15
15
137
2
10
1
4
4
4
3
4
7
6
1
13
9
3
1
1
1
10
1
1
125
1,230
121
807
633
945
77
422
1,172
1, 022
150
3,136
883
2,193
60
15
15
1,154
800
125
511
7,435
242
8,807
3,488
18, 070
1,477
3, 767
12,081
8,331
3,750
15,364
8, 226
5, 278
1,860
'285
285
11,210
6, 400
2; 625
1
1
2
2
2
3
2
1
9
1
5
3
12
14
10
113
211
211
7,620
7, 500
120
889
100
122
667
9,813
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
1
11
1
5
5
17
53
18
158
211
211
7, 620
7, 500
120
944
100
122
722
16,160
498
58
1, 629
2; 254
2,254
8,600
8,000
600
7,989
300
1,112
6, 577
1*3,870
4
4
2
2
17
6
7
1
2
1
18
5
13
13
8
1,065
2, 654
2,094
4,000
4,850
522
3,742
14
512
60
4,004
'717
3,287
960
562
2
2
1
2
1
295
38
65
295
225
1
23
13
70
6,176
4,730
5
7
2
3
21
10
7
1
2
1
24
7
17
18
10
2
3
2
1
3
1
1
1
37
17
1,315
8,051
2,094
4,700
6,018
1, 690
3, 742
14
512
60
4,464
1,126
3,338
21,277
593
20,235
'346
38
65
304
225
9
70
7,453
5,170
16, 787
48, 589
2,094
56,400
3*, 237
10,826
20, 095
14
3, 062
240
38,659
12,186
24,473
141,573
1,977
137,305
1,696
140
455
2,782
2,475
27
280
51,017
32,480
10
4
3
1
3
4
1,446
3,437
2,737
700
186
173
20
6
5
1
5
5
2,283
4,037
3,337
700
2,264
180
18, 537
27, 087
22,887
4,200
4,612
1,859
635
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
The industry groups with the largest number of strikes beginning in
the month were textiles (25), building and construction (23), trade
(18), transportation and communication (17), lumber and allied
products (14), domestic and personal service (13), and extraction of
minerals (12). There were more than 50,000 man-days of idleness
because of strikes during May in each of seven industry groups:
Lumber (183,000), textiles (176,000), domestic and personal service
(142,000), mining (124,000), machinery manufacturing (57,000), iron
and steel (59,000), and building and construction (51,000).
Approximately half of the strikes beginning in May were in five
States. There were 29 in Pennsylvania, 21 in New York, 17 in Ohio,
16 in California, and 10 in Washington.
Five of the strikes beginning in May extended into two or more
States. The most important of these were the Remington Rand
strike in New York, Ohio, and Connecticut, which was still in effect
at the end of the month, and the strike of loggers in the Columbia
River Basin of Washington and Oregon, which also continued
into June.
T a b le 2 .— S tr ik e s in M a y 1 9 3 6 , b y S ta t e s
Beginning in M ay
In progress during
M ay
Workers
Number involved
Number
State
Mandays idle
during
Workers
M ay
involved
All States ________ _____________________________
188
71,625
303
120, 332
977,905
Alabama _____ ______________________________
Arkansas_______________________________________
California. ____________________________________
Colorado __ ________________________________
C o n n ecticu t__
____________________________
District of C olum bia___________________________
Illinois________________________ _______________
Indiana ______________________________________
Iowa___________________________________________
Kentucky
.
_________________________
Maine
___
_____________________ ______
Maryland
. . _____________________
Massachusetts__________________________________
Michigan ______ ______________________________
Minnesota
_______________________
Missouri_____________ ___________ ____ ______
Montana
__________ ___________
Nebraska
.
____________ __________
N e v a d a ____ ______ ________ ______________
N ew Hampshire
________ _________ _____
N ew Jersey
____________ _______ ___
N ew York.
__________________________
North Carolina
________________________
Ohio
________________________
Oklahoma
____________ ___________
Oregon . . . ___ ______________________ _______
Pennsylvania__ _______________ ______________
Rhode Island.
_ ___________________ .
. .
South Carolina
_______________________
Tennessee
_ ________ _______
__ - __
Texas . . _____________________________________
Vermont - ____________________________
Washington
_______
_______
___________
West Virginia_________ ________________________
Wisconsin
.
.
_____ _____ _ . .
Interstate .
_______ :.
__________ . . . . . __
2
1
16
2
2
1
9
2
2
1
1
2
3
4
9
3
1
1
2
3,064
2,500
3, 234
1,055
321
350
1,297
2,100
195
400
60
461
432
339
3,075
2,425
34
100
69
7
21
2
17
2
6
29
4
3
3
7
212
1,266
84
18, 597
91
1,248
6,171
1,417
1,084
179
714
10
3
5
5
3,280
398
783
14,590
7
1
26
2
6
1
14
3
2
2
1
2
6
6
10
4
1
1
2
1
15
43
2
25
2
7
51
5
9
4
10
1
15
4
6
6
5,098
2,500
5,306
1,055
1,203
350
2, 230
2,130
195
5,400
60
461
1,997
599
3,135
2,493
34
100
69
225
552
22,788
84
20, 659
91
1,526
12,143
1,426
3,152
249
1,037
700
4,381
510
804
15, 590
35,832
15,000
45,625
6,330
8,979
6,300
24,918
36,475
1,190
34, 744
240
3,776
26,204
7,349
29,154
14,440
170
200
147
2,700
4, 683
159,322
428
103,855
1,490
13,131
123,881
8,714
58 749
2, 379
9, 736
8,400
33,385
2,641
3,964
143,374
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
636
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
The strikes beginning in May in each industry group are classified
in table 3 according to the number of workers involved. The average
number of workers involved in the 188 strikes was 381. More than
half of the strikes involved less than 100 workers each and only
four involved as many as 5,000 workers each. These were (1) the
Wheeling Steel Corporation strike at Portsmouth, Ohio; (2) the
Remington Rand strike in New York, Ohio, and Connecticut; (3) the
loggers’ strike in the Columbia River Basin of Washington and
Oregon; and (4) a one-day sit-down strike of employees in one plant
of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. at Akron, Ohio.
T able 3 .— Strikes B egin n in g in M ay 1936, C lassified b y N u m ber o f W orkers
In v o lv ed
N um b er of strikes in w hich th e num ber
of workers in v o lv ed was—
Industrial group
A ll industries___________ .
_
T otal
188
6
20
500
1,000
100
and
and
and
and
and
under under under under under
100
500
5,000
20
1,000
19
82
63
6
3
1
2
4
4
1
13
6
2
11
2
3
10
10
5.000
and
under
10.000
4
M a n u fa c tu r in g
Iron and steel and their products, n ot in clud in g m a
chinery____________
M achinery, n ot including transportation eq u ip m en t..
Transportation eq u ip m en t___ ____________ _________
Nonferrous m etals and their products________________
Lum ber and allied p rod ucts. _______________________
Stone, clay, and glass p rod ucts____ _______________ .
T extiles and their p ro d u c ts._________ _______________
Leather and its m anufactures________________________
Food and kindred p r o d u c ts _______________ _________
Tobacco m anufactures_________________
Paper and p rin tin g__________ ____ _ ________________
C hem icals and allied products_______________________
R ubber products____________________________________
M iscellaneous m anufactures_______ . . . __________
9
8
1
1
14
3
25
3
9
1
4
2
3
9
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
1
5
2
1
3
2
10
5
8
1
12
1
2
2
5
3
8
2
1
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
N o n m a n u f a c t u r in g
E xtraction of m inerals______
. . _______________
Transportation and com m unication . . _____
Trade _____ _______________ . . .
D om estic and personal service_____ _ . . __________
Professional s e r v ic e ________ ____ ___________________
B u ild ing and construction_____________________ .
A griculture, etc__________________________________
R elief work and W . P . A . . . . ___________ . . . .
Other nonm anufacturing in d u s tr ie s _______________ .
12
17
18
13
2
23
4
3
4
2
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
2
1
2
1
Union organization matters were the major issues in 47.4 percent
of the strikes beginning in May 1936 and wages and hours were the
major issues in 38.3 percent. The organization strikes included 63.4
percent of the total number of workers involved and the wage-andhour disputes 24.9 percent. The 22 strikes classified in table 4 under
“other” were disputes over such matters as seniority rights, “speed
up” in work, wage-payment methods, and work assignments.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
637
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T ab le 4.— M ajor Issu es In v o lv ed in Strikes B egin n in g in M a y 1936
Strikes
Major issues
Number
Workers involved
Percent of
total
Number
Percent of
total
All issues_____________ _________ ___________
188
100.0
71,625
100.0
Wages and hours_________ _ . . . _________ ____
Wage increase... . ______ _ _______________
Wage decrease _. .. .. ... ________ ________
Wage increase, hour decrease.. ...........................
Wage decrease, hour increase_________________
Hour decrease________ . . __ ___________
72
34
11
23
1
3
38.3
18.1
5.9
12.2
.5
1.6
17,845
10,885
1,842
4,835
121
162
24.9
15. 1
2.6
6.8
.2
.2
Organization. ________ ___ _ . _____________
Recognition.. ___ __ . . .
__ ......
Recognition and wages.. .. . _______________
Recognition and hours______________________
Recognition, wages, and hours_______________
Closed shop____ _ ... . _________ _______
Discrimination___ ________ . . . __ _______
89
8
20
1
32
16
12
47.4
4.3
10.6
.5
17.1
8.5
6.4
45,388
520
16,476
120
8,121
12, 306
7,845
63.4
.7
23.1
.2
11.3
17.2
Miscellaneous._______________ ___ _____ ____
Sympathy_______________ ____________ ..
Jurisdiction_______________ ______________
Other__________________ ______ . . . _____
Not reported____ ___ .
_____________
27
2
2
22
1
14.3
1.1
1.1
11.6
8,392
11.7
.1
10.9
99
200
8,051
42
.5
.3
11.2
.1
T able 5 .— D u ration o f Strikes E n d in g in M a y 1936
N um b er of strikes w ith duration of—
Industrial group
A ll industries_________________________ __
Total
Less
than 1
w eek
199
72
7
7
1
2
14
2
33
5
9
1
8
1
3
7
1 week
1
and
m onth 2 and
and
3
less
and
less
less
than than
than 3 m onths
less
1
or more
than
2
m
onths
m onth
m onth
m onths
49
40
25
8
2
1
3
1
2
1
2
3
2
1
6
2
3
2
1
10
1
4
4
2
1
3
3
3
1
2
4
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
7
2
2
1
1
i
5
M a n u f a c tu r i n g
Iron and steel and their products, not including
m achinery .
M achinery, not including transportation equip
m e n t____ _______________________________ _
Transportation eq u ip m en t
_ ............................
Nonferrous m etals and their products _
L um ber and allied prod ucts. _______________
Stone, clay, and glass p rod ucts.
T extiles and their p r o d u c ts ________________ ._
Leather and its m anufactures. . _____________
Food and kindred p rod u cts.. __ ___ . . .
..
T obacco m anufactures .
Paper and prin tin g_____ _______________________
C hem icals and allied products
R ubber p rod ucts.
.
.
...
.
______
M iscellaneous manufactures
4
1
1
1
2
1
2
4
7
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
2
N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g
E xtraction of m inerals _
Transportation and com m unication . .
T rade .
D o m estic and personal service
.
Professional service
B u ild in g and construction .
___
Agriculture, etc
R elief work and W . P . A
Other nonm anufacturing industries
____ _
. ____
. .
11
16
15
15
3
29
2
4
4
5
12
7
8
2
7
2
5
3
1
11
2
2
1
There were 199 strikes which ended in May 1936, with an average
duration of approximately 19 calendar days. In table 5 the strikes
in each industry group are classified according to their duration.
Thirty-six percent of the 199 strikes lasted less than a week and 60
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
638
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
percent were terminated in less than one-half month after they began.
There were 5 strikes, however, which had been in progress for 3
months or more. The most important of these was the strike of
more than 1,500 workers at the Lincoln Mills in Huntsville, Ala.,
which began on February 12 and was settled on May 20. The others
were small strikes against individual firms, none of them involving as
many as 200 workers.
Of the 199 strikes ending in May 1936 the largest group (42.8
percent), including 56.9 percent of the workers involved, were settled
directly by the employers and representatives of the organized
workers. In 28.1 percent of the strikes, including 30.8 percent of
the workers, Government conciliators or labor boards assisted in
negotiating the settlements. In most of these, union representatives
were also present. There were 39 strikes, as shown in table 6, which
were terminated without formal settlements. In these cases the
strikers simply returned to work and dropped their demands or they
lost their jobs when their employers discontinued operations or hired
new workers to fill their places.
T able 6 .— M eth od s o f N e g o tia tin g S ettlem en ts o f Strikes E nd ing in M ay 1936
W orkers in volved
Strikes
N egotiations tow ard settlem ents carried on b y —
N um b er
T o ta l______ __ _
_ _ _ ____
_ _ _ _ _
Em ployers and workers d irectly_ _ ___ ______ _
E m ployers and representatives of organized workers
directly___
_ _ _ .
-------------- -- _ _ ----G overnm ent conciliators or labor boards______________
P rivate conciliators or arbitrators. _ ____
- __
T erm inated w ith ou t formal settlem e n t_____
____
N o t reported_______
_
____
______
Percent of
total
N um b er
Percent of
total
100.0
199
100.0
51,643
9
4.5
1,344
2.6
85
56
8
39
2
42.8
28.1
4. 0
19.6
1.0
29,392
15,891
3,268
1,528
220
56.9
30.8
6.3
3.0
.4
More than half of the workers involved in the 199 strikes which
ended in May obtained substantially what they demanded through
their strike action. About one-fourth of the workers obtained little
or no gains, while 20 percent of them obtained partial gains or com
promises. This information is shown in table 7 which classifies the
199 strikes and the workers involved in them according to results.
Table 8, which shows the relation between the major issues in
volved and the results of the 199 strikes ending in May, indicates that
the workers were a little more successful in winning the strikes over
union organization matters than the strikes over wages and hours,
having won 57 percent of the organization strikes, as compared with
46 percent of the wage and hour disputes. However, 30 percent of
the organization disputes and 26 percent of the wage and hour
disputes were lost by the workers. Only 13 percent of the organiza
tion strikes, but 28 percent of the strikes over wages and hours, were
compromised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
639
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
T a b le 7 .— R e s u lts o f S tr ik e s E n d in g in M a y 1936
Strikes
Workers involved
Results
Number
Total________ ________ ______________ _____
Substantial gains to workers_____ _________________
Partial gains or compromises___________________ Little or no gains to workers-. _____________________
Jurisdictional or rival union settlements_____________
N ot reported__________________________________ _
Percent of
total
Number
Percent of
total
199
100.0
51,643
100.0
95
40
62
1
1
47.7
20.1
31.2
.5
.5
27, 486
10, 426
13, 514
175
42
53.3
20.2
26.1
.3
.1
T a b le 8 .— R e s u lt s o f S tr ik e s E n d in g in M a y 1 9 3 6 , in R e la tio n t o M a jo r Issu e s
I n v o lv e d
Nu mber of trikes re suiting ii —
Major issues
Total
All issues________________ _______
Sub Partial Little
stan
gains
or com or noto
tial
gains to pro gains
workers mises workers
199
95
40
62
Wages and hours... . _______ . _
..........
Wage increase_______________
____ . . _
Wage decrease ___________ _____ . . . . . . .
Wage increase, hour decrease. . .
______ . . .
Wage decrease, hour increase. .
_
_____
Hour decrease______________ _______ . . . . .
79
32
21
22
1
3
36
13
7
13
i
2
22
8
7
7
21
11
7
2
Organization____
________ .
_
. .
Recognition____________ _ ________ . .
Recognition and w ages... _____________
Recognition and hours__ ________ .
Wages, hours, and recognition_________ _
Closed shop. _______ ______________
Discrimination_______ _________ . . _ .
51
6
12
3
15
10
5
12
1
3
_
... ...
.
90
13
21
4
25
14
13
3
3
2
27
6
6
1
7
1
6
Miscellaneous____________________________________ .
Sym pathy____________________ _______ _______ _
Jurisdiction. ________________ . .
__________
Other___________________________
______
N ot reported___________________ ______________
30
4
1
24
1
8
1
6
1
14
2
_. _
_ __ .
7
Juris
dictional N ot
or rival
re
union
settle ported
ments
1
1
1
1
1
5
12
1
1
C onciliation W ork of th e D ep artm en t of Labor in J u ly
1936
URING July 1936 the Secretary of Labor, through the Concili
ation Service, exercised her good offices in connection with 68
disputes, which affected a known total of 32,635 employees. Of these
disputes, 38 were adjusted, 3 were referred to the National Labor
Relations Board, 1 was settled by the parties at interest, 1 could not
be adjusted, in 1 mediation was not desired, and 24 were still pending.
The table following shows the name and location of the establishment
or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature of the dispute
(whether strike or lock-out stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement, the
date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly
and indirectly involved.
D
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ci
L a b o r D is p u t e s H a n d le d b y C o n c ilia tio n S e r v ic e D u r in g t h e M o n t h o f J u ly 1936
O
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of
settlement
Commis
sioner
assigned
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Threatened
strike.
1 936
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
July
2
July
7
115
15
July
1
July 20
10
2
July
52
___do___
3
July
7
July 28
60
17
July
6
July 10
400
60
7
23
100
15
___do___
July 11
210
25
June 29
July 14
0)
132
4,008
___do___
July
July
Aug.
3
400
8
July
5
July 15
94
26
July
8
July 27
30
5
300
30
July 11
July
2
M ay
4
July 20
225
0)
July 14
July 15
594
July 11
July 14
60
300
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
1936
Bedspring makers.......... Asked 45-hour week and check-off. Adjusted. Signed agreement pro
viding 45-hour week, check-off,
and wage adjustments.
Structural Glass Co., St. 'Controversy. Glaziers and marble Jurisdiction of structural-glass A djusted. Satisfactory agree
setting for exterior wall.
ment; glaziers returned.
setters.
Louis, Mo.
Bailey Warehouse, Philadel Strike_____ Warehouse workers___ Wage increase and shorter hours.. Adjusted. Allowed increase of $2
per week and 44-hour week.
phia, Pa.
Illinois Art Industries, Inc., Threatened Picture-frame workers.. Asked wage increase and renewal Pending— ................... ...............
of agreement.
strike.
Chicago, III.
Taxicab Drivers, Dallas, Tex._ Strike______ Drivers______________ Wages, union recognition, and Adjusted. Accepted arbitration
and returned.
collective bargaining.
I. J. Fox Co., Cleveland, Ohio. ____ do_____ Fur workers. .................. Wages, working conditions, and Adjusted. Signed agreement pro
viding increase of 10 percent, 40closed shop.
hour week, and improved con
ditions.
Hudson Lumber Co., San ____do_____ Pencil m akers............... Wage increase and union recog Pending...............................................
nition.
Leandro, Calif.
Eagle Ottowa Leather Co., Controversy. Leather workers______ 4 men discharged______________ Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement.
Whitehall, Mich.
Pending........... .................................. .
Asked union recognition.
R. Veal & Son, Albany, Oreg. Strike_____ Furniture workers.
Adjusted. Allowed increase of 5
Working conditions____
Gulf Oil Corporation, Port Controversy. M achinists______
percent to hourly workers.
Arthur, Tex.
Pending...............................................
Asked union recognition.
Box-board makers.
Ohio Box Board Co., Ritt- Strike.
man, Ohio.
Alabama & Jefferson Packing Threatened Packing-house workers. Overtime, back pay, and dis Adjusted. Accepted award of ar
crimination.
bitrator.
Co., Birmingham, Ala.
strike.
Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Strike.......... Building-trades work Asked that stone be cut by local Adjusted. Returned with satis
factory agreement as to fabrica
unions.
ers.
St. Louis, Mo.
tion of stone.
M etal workers________ Wages and working conditions... Pending..............................................
Lewin M etal Works, East St.
do
Louis, 111.
do_ _ __ Shirt makers_________ Dispute relative to payment of Unclassified. Mediation not de
Duratex Shirt Co., Roseto, Pa.
sired.
wages.
Lumber Operators, Omak,
do_____ Lumber and sawmill Asked 50 cents per hour, 40-hour Pending........... .............. ............. ......
workers.
week, and collective bargaining.
Wash.
Sawmill workers_____ Asked wage increases and changes A djusted. Strike withdrawn and
do.
Mengal Plant, Baton Rouge,
all returned.
in working conditions.
La.
Nicholson Universal Steam
do_____ L ongshorem en... . . . . Asked union recognition and Unclassified. Referred to N a
tional Labor Relations Board.
signed agreement.
ship Co., Buffalo, N . Y.
Vincent McCall, Kenosha,
Wis.
Assign
ment
com
pleted
Work ers involv ed—
Wage increase.
........do_____
M achinists__. . . ___
........do_____
Candy workers_______
Wages, working conditions, and
agreement.
Asked union agreement.................
____do_____
Steel workers_________
Wage increase............................—
____do ____
Toy m a k e r s .________
Working con d ition s......................
Threatened
strike.
M achinists______ ____
Wages, agreement, and condi
tions.
Traction workers, Indianap ____do_____
olis, Ind.
Concrete companies, Seattle, Strike-------Wash.
Traction workers_____
Asked wage increase.......................
Poultry workers, Sacramento, ____do_____
Calif.
Enamel workers, Belaire, ____do_____
Ohio.
Sharon Coal & Ice Co., ____do___ Sharon, Pa.
Yellow Cab Co., Philadel Controversy.
phia, Pa.
Poultry workers______
88869— 36-
National Copper Co., Cleve
land, Ohio.
Bennett-Hubbard Candy Co.,
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Bubbard Steel Co., Pitts
burgh, Pa.
Anchor T oy Co., Coudersport, Pa.
Chandler & Price Co., Cleve
land, Ohio.
Concrete-pipe workers. Wages, hours, and Union recogni
tion.
Wage increase and union recogni
tion.
Wages and working conditions----
Adjusted. Allowed increase of 10
percent, union recognition, and
signed agreement.
Pending.......................................... .
Northwestern Barb Wire Co.,
Sterling, 111.
I. Stephenson Lumber Co.,
Escanaba, Mich.
Consolidated Laundry, San
Jose, Calif.
Fox Park Timber Co., Lara
mie, W yo.
Pejepscot Paper Co., Pejep- Threatened
strike.
seot, Maine.
Oscar Mayer Packing Co., ControversyMadison, Wis.
Central Foundry Co., Holt, Threatened
strike.
Ala.
Roum Shirt Co., Harrington, Strike
Del.
Fumigators, Greater New ____do_____
York.
Parcel Post Building, Boston, Threatened
strike.
Mass.
Shell Petroleum Corporation, Strike_____
Wood River, 111.
i N ot reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Paper workers________ Asked restoration of 10 percent
wage cut.
Packing-house workers. Alleged violation of agreement___
M achinists___________
Asked wage increase------------ -----
Shirt m a k e r s ._______
Wages, hours, discharges, and
collective bargaining.
Wage increase from $25 to $35 per
week and 40-hour week.
Objection to nonunion workers__
Fumigators__________
July 17
130
20
75
July 16
Adjusted. Agreed to accept terms June 11
to be arranged in conference.
Adjusted. Increase of 5 percent July 14
and union recognition.
Pending......................................... .......
July 28
50
10
July 23
660
120
Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement June 20
providing seniority rights and
working conditions.
Pending.------------- ------- ------------ July 16
July 30
200
July 10
July 25
65
June 18
July 28
350
July 14
July 16
13
5
July 13
Aug.
6
900
100
July 16
July 30
1,100
700
July 17 -._d o-----
310
15
35
8
Adjusted. Wages now ranging
from 60 to 80 cents per hour, 40hour week, and improved condiditions.
Pending___________________ ____
Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement
and work resumed.
Teamsters — _______ Asked closed shop______________ Unclassified. Settled before ar
rival of commissioner.
D r iv er s..--------- --------- Alleged violation of agreement----- Adjusted. Allowed new bonus
system, 40-hour week, and closed
shop.
Adjusted.
Increase of 10 percent
Wages
and
collective
bargaining..
Strike-------- Iron, steel, and tin
and collective bargaining.
workers.
Unclassified.
Referred to N a
Asked
increase
and
new
agree
____do_____ Lumber workers______
tional Labor Relations Board.
ment.
_ __do___ _ "Laundry workers_____ Asked union agreement covering Pending........... —................................
wages, hours, and conditions.
__do___ _ Timber workers______ Wages and agreements_________ ____do________ ______ ___________
Enamel workers______
July 14
55
150
17
June 22
July 20
July
1
Adjusted. Allowed increase of 10 July 18 July 24
percent on Oct. 1, 1936.
Adjusted. Satisfactory Settlement- . .. d o ----- -__do___
Adjusted. Strike averted; agreed
on further conferences.
Unclassified. Referred to N a
tional Labor Relations Board.
Pending.___ _________________ . .
July 20
July 29
July 21
July 25
140
7
38
300
500
75
53
1,153
50
430
July 20
Adjusted.
Satisfactory settle June 30
Building-trades workment; union workers employed.
ers.
Pending------------- ------------------- July 1
Working
conditions........................
Machinists and others..
14
IN D U STRIA L D ISPUTES
Furniture workers _.
Crescent Furniture Co., War ........do_____
ren, Pa.
July 28
300
8
2, 200
200
Oi
642
L a b o r D is p u t e s H a n d le d b y C o n c ilia tio n S e r v ic e D u r in g t h e M o n t h o f J u ly 1 9 3 6 — C o n tin u e d
Company or industry and
location
Nature of
controversy
Craftsmen concerned
Controversy. Leather workers______
Clark Trucking Co., Syracuse,
N . Y.
Threatened
strike.
Teamsters........................
Terperson Dress Co., Steelton, Pa.
Homer G. Phillips Hospital,
St. Louis, Mo.
Theaters, N ew York C ity-----
Strike____
Dress workers________
Strike........
Garment workers_____
Controversy. Lime workers________
__ do...........
Carpenters__
Lock-out___ Mechanics___________
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Threatened
strike.
___do._........
Engineers____________
Assign
ment
com
pleted
1936
1936
Working conditions and dis- P en d in g......... .......... . . _________ July 23
charge.
Wages, hours, and working con- Adjusted. Satisfactory settlement- June 1
ditions.
Wages and working conditions... Unable to adjust_______ _______ _ July 28
Prevailing wage for carpenters... Adjusted. Scales to be continued
on this job; future jobs to be $1
per hour.
Discharges for union affiliation— Adjusted. Reinstated discharged
teamsters with union recogni
tion.
Piece-work rates and discharge of Pending__________ _ ____ _____
worker.
Working conditions_______ . . .
Adjusted. Satisfactory settlement.
Wage increase and working con- ____do_________________________
ditions.
Packing-house workers. Wage increase, shorter hours, and Pending_________ ________ ____
seniority rights.
Lock-out___ Engineers____ ________ Discharge in violation of agree- ____do___ ___________ _____ ____
ment.
Threatened Electrical workers_____ Working conditions and dis- Adjusted. Satisfactory settlementcharges.
strike.
Controversy. Teamsters____________ Wage increase._____ _________ Adjusted. Increase of 10 cents per
hour and improved conditions.
Fish handlers________ Price of fish___________ ________ Adjusted. Allowed 3 cents miniStrike
mum per pound with sliding
scale, union recognition, and
check-off.
Truck drivers, Waterbury, ........do_____ Drivers______________ Wages and conditions........ ............. Adjusted. Wage increases rang
ing from $1.50 to $6 per week in
Conn.
2-year agreement.
Caloric Stove Co., Topton, Pa. ........do............ Foundry employees___ Asked agreement w ith union Adjusted. Signed agreement covering union recognition.
recognition.
Pocketbook makers, Bethle- ____do_____ Pocketbook makers__ Working conditions____________ Pending_______________________
hem, Pa.
Continental Stove Co., Iron- ____do_____ Stove mounters_______ ____do_________________________ Adjusted. Allowed agreement to
December 31,1936.
ton, Ohio.
FRASER
Upholsterers, St. Louis, M o .. Lock-out___ Upholsterers._________ Wages and working conditions---- Pending............. .............. ....................
Waldock Packing Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
Sonneborn Building, Baltimore, Md.
Patterson Manufacturing Co.,
Urichsville, Ohio.
Northside Lumber Co., Milwaukee, Wis.
Florida Fish Producers Association, Fort Myers, Fla.
Commis
sioner
assigned
Workers in
volved—
D i
Indi
rectly rectly
70
July 24
80
Aug.
3
118
July 20
Aug.
1
6
30
July 12
July 27
7
21
19
12
July 25
Aug.
7
18
200
July 16
July 20
1,000
July 24
75
July 28
4
July 13
July 15
July 31
July 28
July 30
July 13
Aug.
34
13
32
4
3, 000
4, 000
July 28 ___do___
300
July 27
Aug.
6
July 24
July 29
—do____
600
10
(>)
July 31
170
130
300
75
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM BER 1936
Henry Halle Tanning Co.,
Newark, N . J.
Ladies’ Garment Workers,
San Jose, Calif.
Gager Lime Co., Sherwood,
Tenn.
Eckert Eair Construction
Co., Waxahachie, Tex.
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of
settlement
Building trades, Avalon, Tex.
Controversy. Building-trades workers.
All States Freight, Inc., and
others, Akron, Ohio,
Marshall Transportation Co.,
Baltimore, Md.
Strike.
.do
Singer Transfer & Storage Co.,
Baltimore, Md.
do.
do.
.do.
> N ot reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Working conditions.
W ages.......................
.do.
Steel-car workers.
Asked wage increase___________
Teamsters______
Wages and union recognition___
Ironworkers____
Wages and schedules___________
Laundry workers.
Asked union agreement covering
wages, hours, and conditions.
___ do........................................... ......
....... do__________
Adjusted. Continue 75 and 80
cents per hour this job, future
jobs $1 per hour.
Pend ing................................ ..............
July 20
Aug.
1
July 31
6
33
1,200
July 30
13
1
Aug.
3
25
4
Aug.
8
600
2,000
July 30
22
74
July 24
375
25
.do.
July 16
18
6
.do.
do.
35
10
18, 734
13,901
Adjusted. Allowed 30 percent July 10
increase and closed-shop agree
ment.
Adjusted. Allowed 35 percent . .. d o ___
increase and closed-shop agree
ment.
Adjusted. Allowed $7.10 per day. July 29
Adjusted. Allowed $26 per week
of 48 hours.
Pending______ ____ __________. ..
July 28
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Pressed Steel Car Co., M c ___ do_____
Kees Rocks, Pa.
Nathan Rosenblum & Co., ....... do_____
Sharon, Pa.
Lancaster Iron Works, Lan Threatened
strike.
caster, Pa.
St. Clair Laundry, San Jose, Strike_____
Calif.
Red Star Laundry Co., San ___ do..........
Jose, Calif.
T otal__________ ____ _
Drivers
Prevailing wage rates.
C5
OO
LABOR T U R N -O V E R
Labor T u rn -O v e r in M an u factu rin g Establishm ents,
Ju n e 1936
DECLINE in the lay-off rate and a rise in quit and discharge
rates as compared with May characterized the labor turn-over
reports received from manufacturing establishments reporting to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics for June.
A
All Manufacturing
hiring rate for all manufacturing increased from 4.05 per 100
employees in May 1936, and 3.18 in June 1935, to 4.49 in June 1936.
This is the highest accession rate reported in June since 1933. The
quit rate increased from 1.06 in the preceding month to 1.13 in June.
The discharge rate (0.23) was slightly higher than for May and for
the corresponding month of last year. Although increases were shown
in the quit and discharge rates, the decline in the lay-off rate from
2.06 in May to 1.92 in June caused the total separation rate (3.28) to
remain below the rate for May (3.32). The total separation rate
was also much lower than for the corresponding month of last year.
The entire study covers more than 5,000 representative manufac
turing establishments in 144 industries. The turn-over rates repre
sent the number of changes per 100 employees on the pay rolls during
the month. Approximately 2,200,000 workers were employed by the
firms reporting to the Bureau in June.
Table 1 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation, and
accession rates in all manufacturing for 1935 and the first 6 months
of 1936.
T he
T a b le 1 .— M o n t h ly L a b o r T u r n -O v e r R a t e s (p e r 100 e m p lo y e e s ) in R ep résen ta*
t iv e F a c to r ie s in 144 In d u s tr ie s
Class of rate and
year
Jan Feb
uary ruary March April M ay June July
Quit rate1936________ 0. 71 0. 68
0.86 1.16
1935
___________
.93
.75
.73
.76
Discharge rate:
1936
_ .20
.21
.19
.17
1935
_ . 18
.20
.17
.18
Lay-off rate:1
1936
_ 2. 66 2. 21
1.83 1.92
1935
_ 2.10 1.88
2.32 2.60
Total separation
rate:
1936
_ 3. 57 3.06
2.88 3.29
1935
_ 3.04 2.79
3.24 3.73
Accession rate:
1936
______________________
3.97 4. 46
3. 65 2.95
1935_________ 6. 33 4.23
3. 79 3. 63
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sep
■N o D e
tem Octo
cem
ber vem
ber
ber
ber
A v
er
age
1.06
1. 21
1.13
.83
0.90
0.86
1.05
0.89
0.77
..69
0.86
.20
.17
.23
.20
.20
.21
.19
.21
.20
.18
.19
2.06
3.00
1.92
3.46
2.57
2.70
1.95
2.03
2.58
2.89
2. 51
3. 32
4. 38
3.28
4. 49
3. 67
3. 77
3.19
3.13
3. 55
3.76
3. 56
4. 05
3.01
4.49
3.18
4.17
4. 60
4.95
5.23
3. 63
3. 30
4.17
i Including temporary, indeterminate, and permanent lay-offs.
644
Au
gust
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR TURN-OYER
645
646
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Thirteen Industries
In
to the information for manufacturing as a whole, de
tails of labor turn-over are available for 13 separate manufacturing
industries. For these industries, the Bureau’s sample covers firms
accounting for at least 25 percent of the total number of wage earners
employed.
a
d
d
i t
i o
n
T a b le 2 .— M o n t h ly T u r n -O v e r R a t e s (p er 100 e m p lo y e e s ) in S p e c ifie d In d u s tr ie s
June M ay June June M ay June June M ay June
1936 1936 1935 1936 1936 1935 1936 1936 1935
Class of rates
Automobiles and
bodies
Quit, rate
Discharge rate
T,av-nff rate
Total separation rate.
Accession rate
.
1.23
. 29
2.99
_ 4.51
3.08
_________
1.58 0.99
.29
.22
2.06 9. 64
3.93 10.85
3.84 2.01
1.10
. 18
_ . 2.16
3.44
7.69
1.34
.32
2.43
4.09
7.78
1.64
.37
4. 26
6. 27
4. 22
0. 55
. 15
5.98
6. 68
7.91
2.17
.21
6. 43
8.81
4. 35
Foundries and
machine shops
Quit rate
Discharge rate____ _
Lay-off r a te ... .
_
Total separation rate
Accession ra te... _
.
_ _ __
____
_ . ______ _
__ __________
_
____
1.17
.41
1.49
3. 07
5.25
1.59
.28
1. 65
3. 52
4.74
0.86
.39
3. 55
4.80
3. 47
M en’s clothing
Quit r a t e . . . _______
Discharge rate______
rate
Total separation rate
Accession rate____
T /av-nff
_
__
_______
__ .
0. 94
.07
3. 45
4. 46
6.87
0. 92
.05
3.88
4. 85
5. 64
0. 74
.07
3. 73
4. 54
4.12
Slaughtering and
meat packing
Quit rate
Discharge rate
Lav-nff rate
Total separation rate.
Accession rate
1.03
.29
4.10
5. 42
8l41
1.12
.25
4. 96
6. 33
9. 21
1. 76 0.82
.42
. 17
2.91 11.95
5.09 12.94
5.12 2.90
Cigars and
cigarettes
Bricks
Quit, rate
Discharge rate___ - ___ ______
Lay-off rate_____. . .
_____
Total separation rate,
.
______
Accession rate
Automobile parts
0. 58
.20
4.90
5. 68
5. 66
1. 50
.23
1.13
2.86
2.68
1. 51
.18
.51
2.20
3.47
Furniture
1.18
.34
1.98
3. 50
8. 58
1. 73
.37
1.97
4. 07
7.27
0. 53
. 17
2.64
3.34
4. 55
Boots and shoes
0.74
.33
2. 86
3.93
3.49
0. 76
.07
2.31
3.14
3.53
0.51
.13
1.27
1.91
3.52
0. 59
.15
2. 36
3.10
6.15
Cotton manufac
turing
1.43
.26
1.60
3.29
4.70
1.22
.29
3 25
4. 76
3. 46
0. 97
.25
6.44
7.66
3. 46
Iron and steel
1.00
.10
.46
1.56
4. 61
Petroleum refining
0.56
.12
2.31
2.99
4.82
0. 75
. 16
2. 64
3. 55
1.34
0.97
.09
.61
1.67
3.99
0.86
.15
1.59
2.60
1.10
Sawmills
2.68
.42
4.76
7. 86
6.13
1.89
.35
3. 65
5. 89
8. 51
3. 43
.30
3. 53
7. 26
8.19
All industries
1.13
.23
1. 92
3.28
4.49
1.06
. 20
2.06
3. 32
4.05
0.83
.20
3. 46
4.49
3.18
In 8 of the 13 industries the accession rates exceeded the total sep
aration rates. Furniture registered the highest accession rate (8.58),
automobiles and bodies the lowest. The highest quit rate (2.68)
occurred in the sawmill industry, the lowest (0.56) in petroleum refin
ing. Sawmills registered the highest discharge rate, men’s clothing
the lowest. The highest lay-off rate (6.43) was indicated in cigar and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
647
LABOR TU R N -O Y ER
cigarette manufacturing, the lowest (0.46) was shown in iron /and
steel. Cigars and cigarettes also reported the highest total separation
rate and iron and steel the lowest.
Labor T u rn -O v e r in th e Iro n and Steel In d u stry , 1934
and 19351
HE annual labor turn-over rates in the iron and steel industry
in 1934 and 1935 were lower than the rates for manufacturing as
a whole. The annual total separation rate in iron and steel in 1934
was 30.00 per 100 employees as against 22.88 in 1935, whereas in all
manufacturing the separation rates were 49.17 and 42.74, respectively.
The annual accession rates were 33.98 in 1934 and 29.58 in 1935 in
the iron and steel industry, as compared with 56.91 in 1934 and 50.05
in 1935 in all manufacturing. In 1934 the annual quit rate in the
iron and steel industry was 8.92 per 100 employees, the discharge
rate 1.07, and the lay-off rate 20.01; the following year the rates were
9.42, 1.02, and 12.44, respectively. The number of quits represented
29.49 percent of the total separations in 1934 and 43.07 percent in
1935. Discharges reported were 3.67 percent of the total in 1934 and
4.62 percent in 1935. The large decrease in the lay-offs indicated in
1935, compared with 1934, is of particular interest. This class of
separations declined from 66.84 percent of all separations reported in
1934 to 52.31 percent in 1935.
Table 1 shows the number of firms, number of employees, quits,
discharges, lay-offs, total separations, and accessions in 98 identical
iron and steel plants, by rate groups for the years 1934 and 1935.
These firms employed an average of 219,173 workers in 1934 and an
average of 224,444 in 1935.
T
T a b le 1 .— C h a n g e s in P e r so n n e l in 98 I d e n t ic a l P la n t s in t h e Ir o n a n d S te e l
I n d u s tr y , 19 3 4 a n d 1 9 3 5 , b y R a t e G ro u p s
Quits
Number of
establishments
Number of
employees
Number of quits
Rate group
1934
Under 2.5 p e r ce n t________________________
9 5 and Under 5 percent
_______
5 and under 7.5 percent
________________
7 5 and under 10 percent. ________________
10 and under 15 percent
____________
15 and under 20 percent______________ _____
20 and under 25 percent ________________
25 and under 30 percent___________________
20 and under 35 percent _________________
36 percent and over----------------------------------Total
____________________________
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
371
3,499
2,372
1,172
3,114
2,956
2,530
93
0
3,732
262
1, 436
1,781
5,976
4,246
2,729
3,962
307
885
849
19, 839
22, 333
16
26
16
8
15
5
3
3
0
6
17
17
8
16
16
9
7
2
4
2
25,396
78,813
38, 222
13,084
27,129
17,389
11, 570
343
7,227
15,341
35,775
26,188
73,072
35, 515
16, 410
17,178
758
2,662
1,545
98
98
219,173
224, 444
0
1 This is the second article published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on labor turn-over, in the iron and
steel industry. The first appeared in the M onthly Labor Review, June 1934 (pp. 1393-1396).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
648
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SE PTE M B E R 1936
T a b le 1 .— C h a n g e s in P e r so n n e l in 98 I d e n t ic a l P la n t s in th e Ir o n a n d S te e l
I n d u s tr y , 193 4 a n d 19 3 5 , b y R a t e G ro u p s— C o n tin u e d
Discharges
Number of
establishments
Number of
employees
Number of
discharges
Rate group
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
Under 0.2 percent ________________________
0.2 and under 0.4 p ercen t................................ .
0.4 and under 0.5 percent__________________
0.5 and under 0.8 percent___________ _______
0.8 and under 1 percent____________________
1 and under 1.5 percent_________ . _______
1.5 and under 2 percent __________________
2 and under 3 percent_____________________
3 and under 5 percent__________ ___ _______
5 percent and over____ _____ ______________
23
9
6
17
3
9
9
6
9
7
21
16
4
10
7
10
6
15
4
5
41,072
34, 361
9, 343
54, 470
5,277
22, 296
20, 563
8, 331
11, 309
12,151
28,438
67, 867
6,431
12, 745
24,695
20, 269
12, 995
42, 111
6,562
2,331
14
102
38
285
42
274
330
202
474
707
4
208
27
73
205
249
200
959
267
204
T otal------------------------ ---------------------
98
98
219,173
224,444
2,468
2,396
Lay-offs 1
Number of
establishments
Number of
employees
Number of lay
offs
Rate group
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
Under 5 percent_____ ____ ________________
5 and under 10 percent_____ _______________
10 and under 20 percent........ ..............................
20 and under 30 percent___________________
30 and under 40 percent___________________
40 and under 60 percent.. _________________
60 and under 90 percent.. _________________
90 and under 120 percent__________________
120 and under 150 percent__________________
150 percent and over______________________
18
14
19
11
9
11
7
2
0
7
34
20
21
7
5
4
2
1
2
2
50,046
63, 631
40, 818
17,126
15,894
22, 840
5,689
600
0
2,529
81, 610
60, 704
47, 952
18, 722
3,861
8,843
576
256
300
1, 620
717
4, 554
6, 543
4, 389
5,474
10, 788
4, 572
601
0
7,331
1, 408
3, 705
6,884
5,189
1,339
3, 762
469
274
394
3,704
T otal_________________ _____________
98
98
219,173
224,444
44, 969
27,128
Total separations
Number of
establishments
Number of
employees
Total separations
Rate group
1934
Under 10 percent_____ ____ _______________
10 and under 20 percent.____ ____ ____ _____
20 and under 30 percent___________________
30 and under 40 percent___________________
40 and under 60 percent___________ ________
60 and under 90 percent___________________
90 and under 120 percent__________________
120 and under 150 percent.. . . . ___________
150 and under 180 percent__________________
180 percent and over______________________
T otal_______________________ _____ _
1935
1935
1934
1935
13
15
23
9
16
8
6
1
1
6
17
29
20
11
11
3
1
3
1
2
47,005
54,926
50, 799
19, 025
21,377
17,946
5,428
138
145
2,384
43, 461
94, 268
37, 327
18, 660
26, 296
1,659
450
447
256
1,620
3,689
7,245
13,145
6, 502
10, 571
12, 503
5,787
187
246
7,401
2,894
13, 647
8, 942
6,085
13, 786
1, 263
475
585
394
3, 786
98
98
219,173
224,444
67, 276
51,857
1 Including temporary, indeterminate, and permanent lay-offs.
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1934
649
LABOR TURN -OY ER
T able 1.— C hanges in P erso n n el in 98 Id en tical P la n ts in th e Iro n a n d Steel
In d u s try , 1934 a n d 1935, by R a te G roups— C ontinued
Accessions
Number of
establishments
Number of
employees
Number of
accessions
Rate group
1934
1935
1934
1935
1934
1935
Under 5 percent_______ __________________
5 and under 10 percent,. --------------------------10 and under 20 percent-, --------- -------- -- ,
20 and under 30 percent-----------------------------30 and under 40 percent-----------------------------40 and under 50 percent,. ___________ , , , ,
50 and under 70 percent------ --------- ----------70 and under 110 percent___________________
110 and under 150 percent------------- ----- ,
150 percent and over------ ------ --------- -----------
3
6
19
22
8
8
11
10
3
8
8
4
23
15
11
9
11
9
4
4
1, 925
10, 930
51,811
77,148
18, 619
18, 854
27, 568
9,133
387
2, 798
17,800
8,137
81, 608
31,916
37, 158
15,136
22, 054
6, 531
2,230
1,874
62
614
7, 360
19, 883
6,420
8,401
15, 630
8,084
492
7, 592
298
487
12,155
7,806
12, 947
6,580
14, 030
5,203
2,718
5,002
Total-----------------------------------------------
98
98
219, 173
224, 444
74, 538
67, 226
The number of quits reported increased from 19,839 in 1934 to
22,333 in 1935. More than two-thirds of the firms employing 71
percent of the workers during 1934 and 58 plants with 67 percent of
the employees on the pay roll in 1935 had a quit rate of less than 10
percent. Only nine firms in 1934 employing 3.5 percent of the work
ers and eight firms in 1935 with 2.2 percent of the employees regis
tered a quit rate of more than 25 percent.
In 1934, 59.2 percent of the firms with two-thirds of the employees
reported a discharge rate of less than 1 percent. The same percent
age of firms with 62.5 percent of the workers had a discharge rate
of less than 1 percent in 1935. Seven firms with 12,151 employees
on the pay roll had a discharge rate of more than 5 percent in 1934
and five plants employing 2,331 persons were in the same rate
group in 1935.
The lay-off rate in the iron and steel industry decreased from 20.01
per 100 employees in 1934 to 12.44 in 1935. There was an actual
decrease in lay-offs from 44,969 in 1934 to 27,128 in 1935, although
the average number of employees increased from 219,173 in 1934 to
224,444 in 1935. In 1934, 32.7 percent of the plants with 51.9 per
cent of the employees, and in 1935, 55 percent of the firms employ
ing 63.4 percent of the workers, had a lay-off rate of less than 10
percent. Nine plants in 1934, employing approximately 3,000 per
sons, and five firms in 1935, with nearly 2,200 employees on the pay
roll, had a lay-off rate of more than 90 percent.
In 1934 a total separation rate of less than 20 percent was reported
by 28 firms employing more than 100,000 workers, and in 1935 by
46 plants with 137,000 workers. The percentage of firms keeping
the separation rate down to 20 per 100 employees rose from 28.6 in
1934 to 47 in 1935. In terms of employees, the 20-percent separa
tion rate was not exceeded in establishments employing 46.7 percent
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650
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
of the employees in 1934, and 61.4 percent of the employees in 1935.
There was, therefore, a marked improvement in the separation rate,
whether tested by the number of establishments or the number of
employees.
The 98 firms reported 74,538 accessions in 1934 and 67,226 in 1935.
Approximately two-thirds of the firms with 18.2 percent of the em
ployees in 1934 and 28 plants employing 14.6 percent of the workers
in 1935 reported an accession rate of more than 50 percent. Less
than one-third of the plants, employing 29.5 percent of the workers,
had an accession rate of less than 20 percent in 1934. In 1935, 35.7
percent of the firms employing 47.5 percent of the workers showed
an accession rate of less than 20 percent.
Table 2 shows the comparative turn-over rates in 98 identical
establishments in the iron and steel industry for the years 1934 and
1935, by size of establishment.
T able 2 .— C o m p arativ e R a te s in P la n ts w ith Few er th a n 1,000 E m ployees and
in T hose w ith 1,000 or M ore
Plant having—
Class of rates
Quit rate___________________
Discharge rate________ . . . .
Lay-off rate__________
Total separation rate_____ ___
Accession rate_______________
Under 1,000 1,000 or Under 1,000 1,000 or
employees, more em employees, more em
ployees,
ployees,
1934
1935
1934
1935
11.04
1.97
37.95
50. 96
50.05
8. 86
1.04
18.79
28.69
32.42
12.40
1.45
20.61
34.46
48. 50
9.70
1.03
11.21
21.94
28. 05
The quit, discharge, lay-off, and accession rates in firms that had
an average of fewer than 1,000 employees on the pay roll were higher
in both years than in the plants having an average of 1,000 or more
workers.
The total separation rate in the smaller firms in 1934 was 50.96
compared with 28.69 in the larger firms. This rate decreased to
34.46 for the smaller firms in 1935 and the rate for the larger firms
dropped to 21.94. The decrease in the accession rate in the 2 years
in all firms was less than in the total separation rate. The accession
rate for the smaller firms was 50.05 in 1934 and 48.50 in 1935, and
for the larger firms 32.42 in 1934 and 28.05 in 1935.
Forty-eight firms had fewer than 1,000 employees per establish
ment and 50 plants had 1,000 or more. The smaller firms had an
average of 19,713 workers on the pay roll in 1934 and 20,889 in 1935,
while for the larger firms the averages were 199,460 persons in 1934
and 203,555 in 1935.
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NATIONAL INCOME
N ational Incom e in 1935
ATIONAL income produced in 1935 increased to almost 53
billion dollars, according to preliminary statistics issued by the
Division of Economic Kesearch, United States Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce.1 Per-capita income of all employees, including
salaried workers and wage earners, rose to $1,201 after reaching a low
point of $1,097 in 1933. These estimates also show that income pro
duced in the year just past was more nearly equal to income paid out
than at any time since 1929, the deficiency having been 628 million
dollars as compared with nearly 9 billion dollars in 1932, when the
difference between the amount produced and paid out was greatest.
All 12 industrial divisions covered by the survey shared in the rise in
income produced; agriculture, electric light and power and gas,
communications, and the service industries have made the greatest
recovery in terms of the level of 1929 and construction has remained in
the least favorable position.
N
Income Produced and Paid Out
T a b l e 1 show s n a tio n a l incom e p ro d u c e d a n d p a id o u t b y y e a rs
for th e p e rio d 1929 to 1935 acco rd in g to so u rce.
T able 1.— N atio n al Incom e P ro d u ced a n d P a id O u t, 1929 to 1935
Amount (in millions of dollars)
Item
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Income produced_________________________ 81,034 67,917 53,584 39, 545 41,742 48,397
Total sa v in g s________________________ 2,402 -5 ,015 -8 ,1 2 0 -8 ,8 1 7 -3,198 -1,776
Corporate savings_________________ 1,423 -3 ,9 0 9 -5 ,8 7 7 -6 ,3 6 6 - 2 , 796 -2,340
Business savings of individuals_____
979 -1 ,1 0 6 -2 ,2 4 3 -2 ,451
-4 0 2
563
Income paid out_______ _____ _____ 78,632 72,932 61,704 48,362 44,940 50,174
1935
52,959
-628
-1,443
815
53, 587
Percent of 1929
Income produced________ _____________ _
Income paid out_____ _____ ______________
Bureau of Labor Statistics—cost-of-living
in d e x ...______ ________ . _________. . .
Bureau of Labor Statistics—wholesale-price
index__________ ______________________
83.8
92.8
66.1
78.5
48.8
61.5
100.0
97.9
89.5
80.8
76.2
78.7
81.1
100.0
90.7
76.6
68.0
69.2
78.6
83.9
100.0
100.0
51.5
57.2
59.7
63.8
65.4
68.1
1 Department of Commerce. Survey of Current Business, July 1936, p. 14: Expansion in the National
Income Continued in 1935, by Robert R. Nathan.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
651
652
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SE PTE M B E R 1936
Between 1933 and 1935 the gain in income paid out amounted to
8.6 billion dollars, or 19 percent. This means that more than onefourth of the decline between 1929 and 1933 has been made up in the
subsequent rise. Of this increase approximately 600 million dollars
was accounted for by work relief. While the total income produced in
1935 was more than one-third below that of 1929, the original study
here reviewed calls attention to the fact that the real income in 1935
was much higher than shown by the dollar return, owing to the decline
in prices.
While negative business savings, that is the difference between
income produced and paid out, amounted to almost two-thirds of a
billion dollars in 1935, the marked decline that has taken place in dis
bursement from previous savings since 1932 is of particular significance.
In 1932 only 82 percent of the national income paid out accrued from
the productive efforts of that year, as compared with nearly 99 percent
in 1935. The more favorable position in 1935 resulted in part from
the increased valuation of inventories incident to the advance in
prices but is believed to reflect basic improvement.
Compensation of all employees increased over 7 percent in the
1-year period between 1934 and 1935 and 23 percent from 1933 to
1935. The total paid out to employees was 70 percent of that in
1929. If wages in selected industries are considered separately, it is
found that the total paid out in 1935 formed a slightly lower propor
tion of the total as of 1929 (59.0 percent) than did salaries (60.3
percent). However, the gain in wages between the low point and
1935 was greater than for salaries, which never dropped to the same
extent.
Wages for work relief were lower in 1935 than in 1934, the totals
paid out having been 1,313 million and 1,389 million dollars, respec
tively. This is attributed to the fact that the pay rolls of the Civilian
Conservation Corps and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration
were insufficient to offset discontinuance of the Civil Works Adminis
tration.
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653
NATIONAL INCOME
Labor Income
I ncom e p a id o u t, b y ty p e s of p a y m e n t, is g iv en in ta b le 2 follow ing.
T able 2 .— N ational Incom e P a id O ut, by T ypes of P a y m e n t, 1929 to 1935
Amount (in millions of dollars)
Item
Total income paid out____________________
Total compensation of employees
Salaries (selected industries) 1______
Wages (selected industries) 1 - ___
Salaries and wages (all other indus
tries) ________________
Work-relief wages 2
Other labor income - ............
Total dividends and interest3 ___ _____
Dividends________________________
Interest _ ______________ _______
Entrepreneurial withdrawals__ ________
N et rents and royalties______ - _ _ ___
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
78,632
51,487
5,663
17,197
72,932
47,198
5, 548
14,251
61,704
39, 758
4,606
10,608
48,362
30,920
3,387
7,017
44,940
29, 420
3,048
7,189
50,173
33,528
3,250
8,944
53, 587
36,057
3,417
10,149
27, 690
26,409
23,461
19,417
937
11, 218
5,964
5,104
12, 503
3,424
990
11,302
5, 795
5,305
11,666
2,766
1,083
9, 764
4,312
5,169
10,086
2,096
1,099
7,980
2,754
4,975
7,992
1,470
17, 591
619
973
6,969
2,208
4, 592
7,306
1,245
19,046
1,389
899
7, 211
2,549
4,569
8,052
1,382
20,173
1,313
1,005
7,303
2,830
4,422
8,701
1,526
63.8
65.1
57.4
52.0
68.1
70.0
60.3
59.0
Percent of 1929
92.8
91.7
98.0
82.9
78.5
77.2
81.3
61.7
61.5
60.1
59.8
40.8
57.2
57.1
53.8
41.8
Total in mm e paid out
Total compensation of employees______
Salaries (selected industries)1______
Wages (selected industries)1_______
Salaries and wages (all other industries) .
_____________ ___
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
95.4
84.7
70.1
63.5
68.8
72.9
Other labor income _
_________
Total dividends and interest3________
Dividends
_ _______ - _____
Interest _ __
___ -- ------------F ntreprenp.nrial wit.hdrawals__________
N et rents and royalties _ _____________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.7
100.7
97.2
103.9
93.3
80.8
115.6
87.0
72.3
101.3
80.7
61.2
117.3
71.1
46.2
97.5
63.9
42.9
103.8
62.1
37.0
90.0
58.4
36.4
95.9
64.3
42 7
89. 5
64.4
40.4
107.3
65.1
47.5
86.6
69. 6
44. 6
1 Includes mining, manufacturing, construction, steam railroads, Pullman, railway express, and water
tr n n clu tdes°pay rolls and maintenance of Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees and pay rolls of Civil
Works Administration, Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and Works Progress Administration
work projects plus administrative pay rolls outside of Washington.
a Includes also net balance of international flow of property incomes.
Per-Capita Income
T a b l e 3 gives the number and the per-capita income of employees.
The increase in per-capita income of all employees that occurred
in 1934 was continued in 1935. In the latter year the per-capita
income was $1,201, the highest level for any depression year since
1931, when the figure was $1,336. For all three classes of employees
making up the total, 1935 was a year of improvement in per-capita
incomes. The greatest absolute increase between 1934 and 1935
was for wage earners in selected industries, the figures being $1,024
and $1,117.
In interpreting the figures the original study states that they do not
represent the average income of all employable persons, or even the
average income of those who worked at any time during the year.
Rather, they approximate the average earnings of employees engaged
throughout the year.
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654
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
T able 3.— N um ber a n d P er-C a p ita Incom e of E m ployees, 1929 to 19351
Number of employees (in thousands)
Item
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
34,485
32,373
28,943
25, 308
25, 358
27, 325
28, 094
2,212
Salaried employees (selected industries)3___
Wage earners (selected industries)3_________ 12,247
Salaried employees or wage earners (all other
industries)___ ___________ _____________ 20,026
2,183
10,751
1,911
8,930
1,594
7,300
1,503
7,740
1,610
8,734
1,643
9,085
19,439
18,102
16,414
16,115
16,981
17,366
A ll employees 2__________________________
1935
Per-capita income of employees
A ll employees _______ _____ _______ ______
Salaried employees (selected industries)3___
Wage earners (selected industries)3-. ______
Salaried employees or wage earners (all other
industries)_____ ____ ___________________
$1,466
$1,427
$1,336
$1,178
$1,097
$1,143
$1,201
2,560
1,404
2,542
1,326
2,410
1,188
2,125
961
2,028
929
2,019
1,024
1,383
1,359
1,296
1,183
1,092
1,122
2,080
1,117
»4
1,162
1 The estimates of the number employed are averages for the year and represent full-time equivalent
numbers for industries in which data permit such adjustments.
2 Does not include employers and self-employed persons, such as farmers, merchants, independent pro
fessional practitioners, etc.
3 Includes mining, manufacturing, construction, steam railroads, Pullman, railway express, and water
transportation.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
E arnings and H o u rs in th e Iro n and Steel Industry^
1933 and 19351
N March 1935, the average weekly earnings of wage earners in the
iron and steel industry were $24.24. These employees worked on
the average 35.7 hours per week, and their average hourly earnings
amounted to 67.9 cents. The above figures cover both male and
female employees in the 21 manufacturing departments of the industry
included in the recent survey made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Comparable data covering the month of March in 1933 and 1935
are available only for 10 departments of. the industry. In those
departments, the average earnings per week of wage earners of both
sexes increased from $11.71 in 1933 to $24.68 in 1935, a gain of 110.8
percent. This very large rise is attributable about equally to longer
weekly hours and higher hourly earnings. The increase in average
weekly hours, due to improved business conditions, was 47.9 percent,
or from 24.2 hours in 1933 to 35.8 hours in 1935. The gain in average
hourly earnings, which was the result of higher wage rates under the
code as well as of greater tonnage production, amounted to 42.1
percent, or from 48.5 cents in 1933 to 68.9 cents in 1935.
I
Scope of Survey2
T his is the fifth article relating to earnings and hours in the iron
and steel industry in March 1933 and March 1935. The preceding
articles dealt with figures for the 21 individual departments, whereas
here summary data are presented for the industry as a whole.
As previously indicated, this article deals with two sets of data,
namely, one covering the 21 departments included in the March 1935
survey, and the other embracing the 10 departments for which com
parable data are available for both March 1933 and March 1935.
The figures based on the 21 departments give a more comprehensive
picture of the industry than has heretofore been available. On the
other hand, the data for the 10 departments provide a basis for
determining the changes that took place between 1933 and 1935. It
1
Prepared by Edward K. Frazier, of the Bureau’s Division of Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions.
2 For the methods employed in collecting the data in this survey, see April 1936 issue of the M onthly
Labor Review (pp. 1027-1029). Data on earnings, hours, and coverage for each of the 21 departments were
given in the April, June, July, and August 1936 issues. A bulletin will be published later containing in
detail all information obtained in this survey.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
655
656
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
will be noticed, however, that, as far as the 1935 figures are concerned,
there was very little difference in the average hours worked per week
in the 21 departments and in the 10 departments. Average hourly
earnings in the smaller sample were 1.0 cent an hour higher than in
the larger one, a condition which explains the fact that weekly
earnings were 1.8 percent higher in the smaller sample. Table 1
presents a summary of the coverage of both the 1933 and 1935
surveys by district and divisions of the industry.
T able 1.— C overage of 1935 a n d 1933 S urveys of Iro n an d Steel In d u stry , by
D istric t
Year
Eastern
district
Pittsburgh
district
Great Lakes
and Middle
West district
Southern
district
N um
ber of
de
N um
N um
N um
N um
N um
part
um ber of N um ber of N um ber of N um ber of N um ber of
ments N
ber of
ember of em ber of em ber of
em
ber of emplants ploy- plants ploy plants ploy plants ploy plants ployees
ees
ees
ees
ees
All districts
19351.................. .......
1933 2____________
19353____________
21
10
10
280
200
182
92, 626
53, 335
67, 724
62 11,908
35 5,189
39 8, 040
90 38, 994
68 25, 712
56 28, 174
92
71
60
32, 962
19,122
24,804
36
26
27
8, 762
3,312
6, 700
1 The figures for the number of employees include plant and oflice workers of both sexes.
2 The figures for the number of employees include plant workers of both sexes. Office workers were not
covered in this survey.
2 The figures for the number of employees include only plant workers of both sexes. These figures refer
to the number of employees reported in 1935 in the 10 departments covered in 1933. However, they also
embrace rail mills, plate mills and sheet mills in the South and sheet and tinplate mills in the East, which
were covered in these areas in 1935 and not in 1933.
The 21 departments 3 included in the 1935 survey covered a total
of 92,626 employees of both sexes, including oflice workers attached
to these departments, and were found in 280 plants located in 20
States. The coverage of the 10 departments 4 in the 1933 survey
included 53,335 wage earners in 200 plants located in 16 States. In
1935, the data for the same departments covered 67,724 employees in
182 plants.
Owing to the small number of female workers found in iron and
steel plants, the previous articles were limited to male wage earners.
In the ensuing pages, separate figures are presented for male and
female plant workers. Separate data pertaining to office employees
of both sexes are also presented.
As regards occupational data for male wage earners, the figures for
the occupations peculiar to each department have already been
published,5 and therefore the present data deal only with the occu
pations common to all departments.
3
The 21 departments are blast furnaces, Bessemer converters, open-hearth furnaces, electric furnaces,
blooming mills, rail mills, structural mills, plate mills, billet mills, bar mills, puddling mills, sheet-bar
mills, rod mills, wire mills, sheet mills, tin-plate mills, strip mills, skelp mills, lap-weld tube mills, butt
weld tube mills, and seamless tube mills.
* These 10 departments are blast furnaces, Bessemer converters, open-hearth furnaces, blooming mills,
rail mills, plate mills, bar mills, puddling mills, sheet mills, and tin-plate mills
5 The figures on common labor were also included in the discussion under each department, but in this
article they are summarized on an industry basis.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
657
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABER
Male Wage Earners
Average Hourly Earnings
The industry.—The 90,484 male wage earners reported in the 21
manufacturing departments in March 1935 earned an average of
68.1 cents per hour. A distribution of these employees, shown in
table 3, reveals that approximately one-third received under 55 cents,
another third 55 and under 70 cents, and the remaining one-third
70 cents and over.
The effects of the code and improved business conditions in the
industry are shown by a comparison of the 1933 and 1935 data based
on the 10 departments. In these 10 departments the average hourly
earnings of male workers rose from 48.6 cents in March 1933 to 69.2
cents in March 1935, which is an increase of 20.6 cents, or 42.4 percent.
T able 2 .— D istrib u tio n of M ale P la n t W age E a rn e rs in all D istricts, by A verage
H o u rly E arn in g s, 1933 a n d 1935 1
[Based on 10 departments]
1933
Average hourly earnings
Under 20.0 cents______________________
20.0 and under 22.5 cents..............................
22.5 and under 25.0 cents_______________
25.0 and under 27.5 cents_______________
27.5 and under 30.0 cents_______________
30.0 and under 32.5 cents_______________
32.5 and under 35.0 cents___________ --35.0 and under 37.5 cents...... .............. .........
37.5 and under 40.0 cents................... ...........
40.0 and under 42.5 cen ts.______________
42.5 and under 45.0 cents__________ ____
45.0 and under 47.5 cents..............................
47.5 and under 50.0 cents_____ ____ _____
50.0 and under 55.0 cents............ .................
55.0 and under 60.0 cents_______________
60.0 and under 65.0 cents.......... ....................
65.0 and under 70.0 cents_______________
70.0 and under 75.0 cents------ ---------------75.0 and under 80.0 cents_______________
80.0 and under 85.0 cents_______________
85.0 and under 90.0 cents________ ______
90.0 and under 95.0 cents------- --------------95.0 and under 100.0 cents------ ------ -------100.0 and under 110.0 cents-------------------110.0 and under 120.0 cents_____________
120.0 and under 130.0 cents_____________
130.0 and under 140.0 cents_____________
140.0 and under 150.0 cents...........................
150.0 and under 160.0 cents_____________
160.0 and under 170.0 cents_____________
170.0 and under 180.0 cents-------------------180.0 cents and over___________________
Total
_
_________________
Number
of wage
earners
Simple
percent
age
491
367
356
889
1,110
2,435
3,748
3, 111
6,576
5,180
3,803
3,668
3, 271
5, 111
3, 592
2, 334
1,849
1,235
860
702
462
348
225
465
310
189
127
76
45
29
21
20
0.9
.7
.7
1.7
2.1
4.6
7.1
5.9
12.3
9.8
7.2
6.9
6.2
9.6
6.8
4.4
3.5
2.3
1.6
1.3
.9
.7
.4
.9
.6
.4
.2
.1
.1
1
(2)
(2)
53,005
10C.0
1935
Cumula Number
tive per of wage
centage
earners
Simple
percent
age
2
3
5
33
190
266
227
289
348
1,401
1,984
3,011
5,295
7,945
7,911
5,924
5,111
4,282
3, 479
2,716
2, 292
1,735
1,493
2,005
1,008
792
549
411
311
252
181
422
(2)
(2)
(2)
0.1
.3
.4
.4
.5
.6
2.3
3.2
4.9
8.6
12.7
12.7
9.6
8.3
6.9
5.6
4.4
3.7
2.8
2.4
3.2
1.6
1.3
.9
.7
.5
.4
.3
.7
61,873
100.0
0.9
1.6
2.3
4.0
6.1
10.7
17.8
23.7
36.0
45.8
53.0
59.9
66.1
75.7
82.5
86.9
90.4
92.7
94.3
95.6
96.5
97.2
97.6
98.5
99. 1
99.5
99.7
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
Cumula
tive per
centage
(2)
(2)
(2)
0.1
.4
.8
1.2
1.7
2.3
4.6
7.8
12.7
21.3
34.0
46.7
56.3
64.6
71.5
77. 1
81.5
85.2
88.0
90.4
93.6
95.2
96.5
97.4
98.1
98.6
99.0
99.3
100.0
1 The 1935 data in this table relate only to the 10 departments covered in 1933 and therefore they do not
include rail, plate, and sheet mills in the South nor sheet and tin-plate mills in the East, as such departments
were not covered in these districts in 1933.
2 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
8 8 8 6 9 -3 6 -
-8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
658
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — SEPTEM BER 1936
The upward shift in average earnings per hour between the 2
years is also brought out by a comparison of the distributions covering
these 10 departments (table 2). It will be seen that the percentage
of employees in every class below 47.5 cents decreased between 1933
and 1935, with the reductions particularly noticeable in the lowest
classes. Thus, in 1933, 36.0 percent of the male workers received
less than 40 cents, as compared with 2.3 percent in 1935. The per
centage paid less than 47.5 cents dropped from about 60 in 1933 to
approximately 13 in 1935. At the same time, every class beginning
with 47.5 cents showed an increase in the percentage, the gains being
from 32.8 percent in 1933 to 58.8 percent in 1935 in the classes from
47.5 and under 75 cents, and from 7.3 percent in 1933 to 28.5 percent
in 1935 in the classes of 75 cents and over.
Regional differentials.—An examination of the averages in the
4 districts,6 based on the data for the 21 departments in 1935, seems
to indicate the existence of two or three distinct wage levels in the
industry. The lowest average earnings per hour were found in the
Eastern (62.7 cents) and Southern (64.0 cents) regions,7 while the
highest earnings occurred in the Pittsburgh (69.1 cents) and Great
Lakes and Middle West (69.9 cents) districts.
Although the average hourly earnings in the Eastern and Southern
districts'* were nearly the same, there were important differences
between^the two distributions. (See table 3.) The Eastern district
does not contain so large a proportion of low-wage labor as the
Southern district. In the Eastern district less than one-half of
1 percent of the male workers earned less than 37.5 cents per hour,
whereas 15.5 percent of the Southern workers were found in that
group. The Eastern district shows a preponderance of workers in
the intermediate wage groups, with 83.1 percent of the workers
receiving 37.5 to 80.0 cents an hour, as compared with 64.2 percent
in the Southern district. However there are relatively more highwage workers in the Southern district; the number of Eastern employ
ees receiving 80 cents and over was 16.5 percent, as against 20.3
percent in the Southern district.
There was very little difference in the distributions between the
Pittsburgh and Great Lakes and Middle West districts. In each
area, approximately one-third of the employees earned under 55
cents, another third 55 and under 70 cents, and the remainder 70 cents
and over.
6 See footnote 7, p. 1029, of the April 1936 issue of the M onthly Labor Review for an outline of the territory
included in each district.
7 The figures for the 10 departments in 1935 reveal a somewhat different situation, as the Southern average
was 58.7 cents as compared with 61.7 cents in the Eastern district.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
659
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 3.— D istrib u tio n of M ale P la n t W age E arn ers, by A verage H o urly E arnings
and D istrict, 1935
[Based on 21 departments]
All districts
Average hourly earnings
Eastern district
Under 25.0 cents _______
14
25.0 and under 27.5 cents__
38
27.5 and under 30.0 cen ts.. .
262
30.0 and under 32.5 cents, __
301
32.5 and under 35.0 c e n ts ,..
324
35.0 and under 37.5 cents__
555
37.5 and under 40.0 cen ts.._
851
40.0 and under 42.5 cents__ 2,076
42.5 and under 45.0 cents. . .
2,937
45.0 and under 47.5 c e n ts ... 4,977
47.5 and under 50.0 c e n ts ... 7, 652
50.0 and under 55.0 c e n ts ... 11,840
55.0 and under 60.0 c e n ts ... 11, 808
60.0 and under 65.0 cents__ 8,884
65.0 and under 70.0 c e n ts ... 7, 574
70.0 and under 75.0 c e n ts ... 6,131
75.0 and under 80.0 cents__ 5, 025
80.0 and under 85.0 c e n ts ... 3,916
85.0 and under 90.0 cen ts.. . 3,131
90.0 and under 95.0 cents . . 2, 343
95.0 and under 100.0 cen ts.. 1,947
100.0 and under 110.0 cents. 2, 683
110.0 and under 120.0 cents. 1, 408
120.0 and under 130.0 cents. 1, 041
130.0 and under 140.0 cents.
732
140.0 and under 150.0 cents.
524
150.0 and under 160.0 cents.
400
160.0 and under 170.0 cents.
341
170.0 and under 180.0 cents.
217
180.0 and under 190.0 cents.
167
190.0 and under 200.0 cents.
116
200.0 cents and over_____
269
T otal. . . . _ ______ 90, 484
(i)
0)
0.3
.3
.4
.6
.9
2.3
3.2
5.5
8.5
13.0
13.0
9.8
8.4
6.8
5.6
4.3
3.5
2.6
2.2
3.0
1.6
1.2
.8
.6
.4
.4
.2
.2
.1
.3
100.0
0)
0)
0.3
.6
1.0
1.6
2.5
4.8
8.0
13.5
22.0
35.0
48.0
57.8
66.2
73.0
78.6
82.9
86.4
89.0
91.2
94. 2
95.8
97.0
97.8
98.4
98.8
99.2
99.4
99.6
99.7
100.0
i
i
7
4
33
520
1, 090
943
675
868
1,379
1,202
1,044
806
692
517
368
319
217
213
316
176
92
69
38
54
30
15
3
3
18
11,713
(>)
(1)
0.1
(')
.3
4.4
9.3
8.1
5.8
7.4
11.7
10.3
8.9
6.9
5.9
4.4
3.1
2.7
1.9
1.8
2.7
1.5
.8
.6
.3
.5
.3
.1
0)
G)
.2
100.0
Great Lakes and Middle
West district
Average hourly earnings
Under 25.0 cents_________________ _____
25.0 and under 27.5 cents_______ _____ _
27.5 and under 30.0 cents_______________
30.0 and under 32.5 cents_______________
32.5 and under 35.0 cents_______________
35.0 and under 37.5 cents_______ _____ _
37.5 and under 40.0 cents____ ____ ______
40.0 and under 42.5 cents____________ ._
42 5 and under 45.0 cents_____ ____ _____
45.0 and under 47.5 cents______________
47.5 and under 50.0 cents____________
50.0 and under 55.0 cents_____ ________
55.0 and under 60.0 cents_____________
60.0 and under 65.0 cents___________ . . .
65.0 and under 70.0 cents________ ______
70.0 and under 75.0 cents___ _________
75.0 and under 80.0 cents_______ ______
80.0 and under 85.0 cents_______________
85.0 and under 90.0 cents. . . .
_______
90.0 and under 95.0 cents_______________
95.0 and under 100.0 cents. ___________
100.0 and under 110.0 cents_____________
110.0 and under 120.0 cents_____________
120.0 and under 130.0 cents_____________
130.0 and under 140.0 cents____________
140.0 and under 150.0 cents_______ _____
150.0 and under 160.0 cents_____________
160.0 and under 170.0 cents_____________
170.0 and under 180.0 cents_____________
180.0 and under 190.0 c e n ts.._____ ______
190.0 and under 200.0 cents_____________
200.0 cents and over___________________
Total ________________ ______
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent,
Pittsburgh district
N um
N um
N um
Cumu
Simple Cumu
Simple Cumu
ber of percent
lative ber of percent
lative ber of Simple lative I
wage
percent wage
percent wage percent percent
age
age
age
earners
age
earners
earners
age
age
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Number
of wage
earners
Simple
percent
age
1
1
2
3
6
20
29
349
917
1, 509
3,042
4,187
4,202
3,493
2,791
2,330
1,989
1,462
1,139
991
819
1,006
506
472
278
183
132
134
98
74
42
121
32,328
0)
(0
G)
G)
G)
0.1
.1
1.1
2.8
4.7
9.4
12.9
13.0
10.8
8.6
7.2
6.2
4.5
3.5
3.1
2.5
3.1
1.6
1.5
.9
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
.1
.4
100.0
0)
0)
0.1
.1
.4
4.8
14.1
22.2
28.0
35.4
47.1
57.4
66.3
73.2
79.1
83.5
86.6
89.3
91.2
93.0
95.7
97.2
98.0
98.6
98.9
99.4
99.7
99.8
99.8
99.8
100.0
3
5
20
21
13
16
65
81
781
2,547
3, 295
5,313
5,713
3, 621
3,347
2,640
2,179
1, 713
1, 449
951
744
1,110
581
367
300
237
173
146
92
81
58
96
37, 758
0)
0)
0.1
.1
G)
0)
.2
.2
2.1
6.7
8.7
14.1
15.1
9.6
8.9
7.0
5.8
4.5
3.8
2.5
2.0
2.9
1.5
1.0
.8
.6
.5
.4
.2
.2
.2
.3
100. 0
0)
0)
0.1
.2
.2
.2
.4
.6
2.7
9.4
18.1
32.2
47.3
56.9
65.8
72.8
78.6
83.1
86.9
89.4
91.4
94.3
95.8
96.8
97.6
98.2
98.7
99.1
99.3
99.5
99.7
100.0
Southern district
Cumula Number
tive per of wage
centage
earners
Simple
percent
age
Cumula
tive per
centage
10
31
239
270
301
486
237
556
296
246
447
961
691
726
630
469
340
373
224
184
171
251
145
110
85
66
41
31
12
9
13
34
8, 685
0.1
.4
2.8
3.1
3.5
5.6
2.7
6.4
3.4
2.8
5.1
11.0
7.9
8.3
7.3
5.4
3.9
4.3
2.6
2.1
2.0
2.9
1.7
1.3
1.0
.8
.5
.4
.1
.1
.1
.4
100.0
0.1
.5
3.3
6.4
9.9
15.5
18.2
24.6
28.0
30.8
35.9
46.9
54.8
63.1
70.4
75.8
79.7
84.0
86.6
88.7
90.7
93.6
95.3
96.6
97.6
98.4
98.9
99.3
99.4
99.5
99.6
100.0
G)
G)
G)
G)
G)
0.1
.2
1.3
4.1
8.8
18.2
31.1
44.1
54.9
63.5
70.7
76.9
81.4
84.9
88.0
90.5
93.6
95.2
96.7
97.6
98.2
98.6
99.0
99.3
99.5
99.6
100.0
660
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
The changes in the average hourly earnings between 1933 and 1935
by district may be seen from the data based on the 10 departments.
In the Eastern district, the average earnings per hour increased
from 43.0 cents in 1933 to 61.7 cents in 1935, a gain of 18.7 cents, or
43.5 percent. As a result, there was an important shift in the dis
tribution of employees between the 2 years, which may be seen by
an examination of table 4. Every class under 40 cents showed a
decrease in the percentage of workers, the number in that group
declining from 51.2 percent of the total in 1933 to 2.8 percent in 1935.
On the other hand, there was an increase in the percentages in all
classes of 40 cents and over between the 2 years. Thus, the number
paid 40 and under 75 cents rose from 44.4 percent in 1933 to 80.9
percent in 1935, while the number receiving 75 cents and over ad
vanced from only 4.4 percent in 1933 to 16.3 percent in 1935.
The average hourly earnings in the Southern district increased
from 39.9 cents in 1933 to 58.7 cents in 1935, which is a gain of 18.8
cents, or 47.1 percent. The general improvement of wage conditions
in this district is shown by the fact that the percentage of employees
under 30 cents declined from 41.1 in 1933 to 5.2 in 1935. This was
accompanied by an increase in the number paid 30 and under 60 cents
from 45.8 percent in 1933 to 59.1 percent in 1935. Likewise, those
earning 60 cents and over advanced from 13.1 percent in 1933 to 35.7
percent in 1935, the number paid 75 cents and over having increased
from only 5.2 percent in 1933 to 18.5 percent in 1935.
The average earnings per hour of workers in the Pittsburgh district
rose from 50.4 cents in 1933 to 70.3 cents in 1935, an increase of 19.9
cents, or 39.5 percent. The effect of this gain on the distribution of
employees was as follows: First, a decrease in the percentages of each
class under 47.5 cents, the decline being from 58.3 percent in 1933 to
9.0 percent in 1935; second, an increase in the percentages of all
classes earning 47.5 cents and over. The number paid 47.5 and under
75 cents advanced from 33.4 percent in 1933 to 61.6 percent in 1935.
This left only 8.3 percent with earnings of 75 cents and over in 1933,
as compared with 29.4 percent in 1935.
In the Great Lakes and Middle West district, the average hourly
earnings advanced from 50.0 cents in 1933 to 71.1 cents in 1935, a
gain of 21.1 cents, or 42.2 percent. As in the Pittsburgh region,
there was here a decrease in the percentage of every class under 47.5
cents and an increase in every class of 47.5 cents and above in the
distribution of employees between the 2 years. The number earning
under 47.5 cents was reduced from 56.6 percent of the total in 1933
to 8.2 percent in 1935. On the other hand, the percentage paid 47.5
and under 75 cents increased from 36.3 in 1933 to 59.8 in 1935, while
the number receiving 75 cents and over rose from 7.1 percent in 1933
to 32.0 percent in 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
661
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 4.— D istribution of Male P lant Wage Earners, by Average Hourly Earnings
and D istrict, 1933 and 1935
[Based cn 10 departments]
Pittsburgh district
Eastern district
Num
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Under 20 0
______
20 0 and under 22.5_____
22 5 and under 25.0______
25.0 and under 27.5--------27 5 and under 3 0 .0 _____
30.0 and under 32.5______
32.5 and under 35.0,_ _ 35.0 and under 37.5--------37.5 and under 4 0 .0 ------40.0 and under 42.5--------42.5 and under 45.0______
45.0 and under 4 7 .5 ----47.5 and under 5 0 .0 ------50.0 and under 5 5 .0 ------55.0 and under 6 0 .0 ------60.0 and under 65.0_____
65.0 and under 70.0______
70.0 and under 75.0______
75.0 and under 8 0 .0 .-----80.0 and under 8 5 .0 ------85.0 and under 90.0 _ - 90.0 and under 9 5 .0 ------95.0 and under 100.0_____
100.0 and under 110.0___
110.0 and under 120.0___
120.0 and under 130.0___
130.0 and under 140.0____
140.0 and under 150.0____
150.0 and under 160.0
160.0 and under 170.0_
170 0 and under 180.0
180.0 and over__________
Total
i Less than
10
24
36
332
407
490
464
420
478
550
272
264
231
410
242
145
114
73
98
34
18
10
9
9
35
6
1
1
3
2
1
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
5,189 100.0
o of 1 percent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cu
mula
tive
per
cent
age
0. 2
.7
1. 4
7.8
15.6
25.0
33.9
42.0
51.2
61.8
67.0
72.1
76.6
84.5
89.2
92.0
94.2
95.6
97.5
98.2
98.5
98.7
98.9
99.1
99.8
99.9
99.9
(>)
99.9
«
.1 100.0
100.0
«
100.0
100.0
(9
0. 2
.5
.7
6.4
7.8
9.4
8.9
8.1
9.2
10.6
5.2
5.1
4.5
7.9
4.7
2.8
2.2
1.4
1.9
.7
.3
.2
.2
.2
.7
.1
1933
1935
1933
Average hourly earnings
(in cents)
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
i
6
4
21
126
713
414
292
415
729
620
594
434
363
211
125
127
71
89
109
53
35
24
16
36
12
9
12
5,661
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
Cu N um
m ula ber of
tive wage
per earn
cent ers
age
Sim
ple
per
cent
age-
34
74
81
219
300
1,033
1,639
1, 379
3,465
2, 687
1,989
1,917
1,620
2,305
1,733
1,164
994
672
440
382
272
189
112
205
178
120
93
52
31
19
15
10
0.1
.3
.3
.9
1.2
4.1
6.4
5.4
13.7
10.6
7.8
7.5
6.4
9.1
6.8
4.6
3.9
2.6
1.7
1.5
1.1
.7
.4
.8
.7
0)
(>)
0. 1
0.1
.2
.1
.4
.6
2.2
2.8
12.6 15.4
7.3 22.7
5.2 27.9
7.3 35.2
12.9 47.1
11.0 58.1
10.5 69.6
7.7 77.3
6.4 83.7
3.7 87.4
2.2 89.6
2.2 91.8
1.3 93.1
1.6 94.7
1.9 96.6
.9 97.5
.6 98.1
.4 98.5
.3 98.8
.6 99.4
.2 99.6
.2 99.8
.2 100.0
0)
.5
.4
.2
.1
.1
.1
0)
25,423 100.0
1935
Cu N um
mula ber
of
tive wage
per earn
cent ers
age
0.1
.4
.7
1.6
2.8
6.9
13.3
18.7
32.4
43.0
50.8
58.3
64.7
73.8
80.6
85.2
89.1
91.7
93.4
94.9
96.0
96.7
97.1
97.9
98.6
99.1
99.5
99.7
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
i
2
5
19
20
12
11
63
77
662
1,624
2,350
3,856
3,988
2,529
2,442
1,938
1,577
1, 280
1,130
768
630
954
481
311
253
217
151
131
78
194
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
(0
(0
Cu
mula
tive
per
cent
age
0)
(i)
(0
(>)
0. 1
0)
0.1
.1
.2
.2
(>)
.2
(>)
.2
.4
.3
.7
2.4
3.1
5.9
9.0
8.5 17.5
13.9 31.4
14.3 45.7
9.1 54.8
8.8 63.6
7.0 70.6
5.7 76.3
4.6 80.9
4.1 85.0
2.8 87.8
2.3 90.1
3.4 93.5
1.7 95.2
1.1 96.3
.9 97.2
.8 98.0
.5 98.5
.5 99.0
.3 99.3
.7 100.0
27, 754 100.0
662
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Table 4.— D istribution of Male P lant Wage Earners, by Average Hourly Earnings
and D istrict, 1933 and 1935— Continued
Great Lakes and Middle West
district
1933
A v e r a g e h o u r l y e a r n in g s
( in c e n t s )
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Under 20.0________ _
20.0 and under 22.5...
22.5 and under 25.0...
25.0 and under 27.5...
27.5 and under 30.0 ..
30.0 and under 32.5...
32.5 and under 35.0...
35.0 and under 37.5...
37.5 and under 40.0...
40.0 and under 42.5...
42.5 and under 45.0. _.
45.0 and under 47.5...
47.5 and under 50.0. _.
50.0 and under 55.0...
55.0 and under 60,0...
60.0 and under 65.0...
65.0 and under 70.0...
70.0 and under 75.0...
75.0 and under 80.0...
80.0 and under 85.0._.
85.0 and under 90.0...
90.0 and under Ò5.0...
95.0 and under 100.0...
100.0 and under 110.0.
110.0 and under 120.0.
120.0 and under 130.0.
130.0 and under 140.0.
140.0 and under 150.0.
150.0 and under 160.0.
160.0 and under 170.0.
170.0 and under 180.0.
180.0 and over_____...
T o ta l.
9
21
58
113
134
763
1,467
1,141
2, 465
1, 777
1, 443
1,391
1,263
2, 172
1,510
905
655
434
266
258
162
134
96
231
77
52
29
21
11
8
6
9
Southern district
1935
Cu N um
Sim mula
Sim Cu
ple
ber of ple mula
tive
per per wage per tive
cent cent
earn cent per
age
ers
age cent
age
age
(»)
0 .1
.3
.6
.7
4.0
7.7
6 .0
13.0
9.3
7.6
7.3
6 .6
11.4
7.9
4.7
3.4
2.3
1.4
1.4
.8
.7
.5
1 .2
.4
.3
.2
.]
.1
(>)
0 )
(»)
19,081 100.0
0 )
0 .1
.4
1.0
1.7
5.7
13.4
19.4
32. 4
41. 7
49.3
56.6
63. 2
74.6
82.5
87.2
90.6
92.9
94.3
95.7
96.5
97. 2
97.7
98.9
99.3
99.6
99.8
99.9
10 0 .0
10 0 .0
10 0 .0
10 0 .0
0 .1
1
2
3
6
19
23
250
743
989
2,355
2, 976
3,068
2, 542
2,014
1,807
1,591
1,187
955
840
704
844
409
423
245
159
113
106
88
196
(')
0)
0 )
0 )
0 )
0 .1
.l
1 .0
3.0
4.0
9.6
12 .1
12.3
10.3
8 .2
7.3
6.5
4.8
3.9
3.4
2.9
3.4
1.7
1.7
1 .0
.6
.5
.4
.4
.8
24,659 100.0
1
(>)
(>)
(b
0 )
(>)
C)
0.1
.2
1 .2
4.2
8 .2
17.8
29.9
42.2
52.5
60.7
6 8 .0
74.5
79.3
83.2
86.6
89.5
93.9
94.6
96.3
97.3
97.9
98.4
98.8
99.2
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
438
248
181
225
269
149
178
171
168
166
99
96
157
224
107
120
86
1933
1935
Sim Cu N um
ple mula ber of
per tive wage
cent per earn
age cent
ers
age
Sim Cu
ple m ula
per tive
cent per
age cent
age
13 2
7.5
5.5
6 .8
8 .1
4.5
5.4
5.2
5.1
5.0
3.0
2.9
4.7
6 .8
3.2
3.6
2 .6
56
56
28
1.7
1.7
10
15
.3
.5
8
20
20
11
.2
.6
.6
4
.1
.1
2
.8
.3
20.7
26.2
33.0
41.1
45.6
51.0
56.2
61.3
66.3
69.3
72.2
76.9
83.7
86.9
90.5
93.1
94.8
96.5
97.3
97.6
98.1
98.3
98.9
99.5
99.8
99.9
10 0 .0
\ J
5
26
169
237
205
238
136
361
165
106
175
384
235
259
221
174
100
124
80
56
70
98
65
23
27
19
u
3
6
20
10 0 .0
3,312 100.0
1
0 .1
.7
4.4
6.3
5.4
6.3
3. 6
9.5
4.3
2 .8
4. 6
10 .1
6 .2
6 .8
5.8
4. 6
2 .6
3. 3
2 .1
1. 5
1 .8
2 .6
1. 7
.6
.7
.5
J5
1
J2
«
Ò)
0 1
.8
5^2
1 1 fi
16 9
28 2
26 8
36 3
40 6
43 4
48 0
fi8 1
64 3
71 1
76 9
81J5
84 1
87 4
89 fi
91 0
92 8
95 4
97 1
97 7
98 4
98 9
QQ 2
QQ 3
9Q 5
.5 1 0 0 . 0
*—
3, 799 100.0
1 L e ss th a n H o of 1 p e r c e n t.
Occupational differentials.—In each of the several departments of
the iron and steel industry there are certain occupations in which
the work is essentially the same. For this reason, no separate figures
will be shown by departments for such occupations, the data being
piesented only on an industry basis. These occupations cover
primarily mechanical, transportation, and service workers.
According to table 5, the occupational averages for all districts
combined, in the 21 departments included in 1935, ranged from
47.9 cents for plant service workers to 86.8 cents for bricklayers. Of
the 28 occupational classes shown, 1 averaged less than 50 cents,
11 between 50 and 60 cents, 9 between 60 and 70 cents, and 7 above
70 cents. The last group includes such skilled occupations as black
smiths, bricklayers, locomotive engineers, power engineers, motor
inspectors and repairmen, machinists, and roll turners.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
663
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 5.—Average Hourly Earnings of Males in Mechanical, Transportation, and
Service Work, by Occupation and D istrict, 1935
[Based on 21 departments]
All districts
Occupation
Blacksmiths_________ __________
Blacksmiths’ helpers____________
Boilermakers___________________
Bricklayers_____
_____________
Bricklayers’ helpers. __________
Carpenters_____________________
Cranemen, m iscellaneous_______
Crane followers_____________ . .
Electricians____ ________________
Electricians’ helpers_____________
Engineers, locomotive............ ..........
Engineers, p ow er..__________ _ .
Firemen, locom otive..__________ .
Firemen and water tenders, power.
Inspectors and repairmen, m otors..
Machinists____________________
Machinists’ helpers______________
M illwrights____________________
M illwrights’ helpers_______ . . . .
Oilers and greasers, equipment____
Pipe fitters. .............................. . .
Pipe fitters’ helpers..._________ _
Pumpers__ _____________ _______
Riggers. ______________________
Roll turners___________ ______
Service workers, plant . . . ____
Switchmen, locomotive. _______
Welders________________________
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
194 $0. 704
.512
149
73
.694
550
.868
286
.502
227
.665
?>, 121
.609
1,656
.539
698
.682
.544
135
.732
538
176
.701
102
.614
427
.585
582
.705
1,195
.731
253
.535
1,175
.679
709
. 558
1,156
.537
500
.660
207
.534
142
.592
224
.594
330
.850
721
.479
738
.663
446
.686
Eastern
district
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
Pittsburgh
district
Num
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
Great Lakes
and Middle
West district
Num
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
40 $0. 646
69 $0. 740
65 $0. 710
25
.532
.463
53
54
.540
.731
32
.697
28
0)
(0
57
.664
.889
185
271
.879
111
35
.435
.515
115
.517
23
.644
.681
89
97
.673
.561 1,351
337
. 603 1,140
.634
157
.465
634
.523
737
.571
.628
191
163
270
.705
.690
.454
.562
16
44
.569
46
.588
180
.774
56
258
.748
10
.656
.704
86
54
.714
•3)
.652
33
.716
46
(i)
.502
33
193
.617
128
.589
.614
10
275
.686
267
.735
166
.680
400
.751
556
.738
41
.460
.566
46
156
.557
.716
.654
.658
454
177
465
92
.584
349
.554
207
.579
454
.542
469
.549
116
.505
60
.633
.677
203
.664
206
.550
100
87
.526
(')
0)
59
. 595
55
.595
(O
(0
.572
14
90
.602
101
.577
.730
.874
98
.857
28
153
94
.429
.491
317
265
.497
82
331
.679
274
.701
.515
66
.634
162
174
.702
.691
Southern
district
N um
ber of
wrage
earn
ers
Aver
age
hour
ly
earn
ings
20 $9.673
17
.431
10
.597
37
.991
25
.446
18
.566
287
.588
128
.514
74
.689
29
.533
44
.659
26
.681
21
.375
73
.536
30
.645
64
.671
10
.347
79
.633
61
.465
117
.502
31
.574
16
.488
19
.608
19
.653
51
.829
.373
45
51
.578
44
.679
i N ot a sufficient number reported to present averages.
The occupational averages in each district, based on the data for
the 21 departments in 1935, ranged from 42.9 cents for plant service
workers to 73.0 cents for roll turners in the Eastern district, from 49.1
cents for plant service workers to 88.9 cents for bricklayers in the
Pittsburgh district, from 49.7 cents for plant service workers to 87.9
cents for bricklayers in the Great Lakes and Middle West district,
and from 34.7 cents for machinists’ helpers to 99.1 cents for brick
layers in the Southern district. In general, there was very little
difference in the corresponding averages for the various occupations
between the Pittsburgh and the Great Lakes and Middle West regions.
With the exception of bricklayers, pumpers, and riggers, every one of
the 28 occupational averages was lower in the Southern district than
the respective figures in either the Pittsburgh or the Great Lakes
and Middle West areas. However, the Southern region had higher
averages in 15 of the 24 occupational classes for which comparisons
can be made between the Southern and Eastern districts. It will
also be seen that in only one instance (millwrights’ helpers) was the
average in the Eastern area greater than in either the Pittsburgh or
the Great Lakes and Middle West districts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
664
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
According to table 6, which presents a comparison of the occupa
tional averages between 1933 and 1935 based on the data for 10 de
partments, the increases varied from 10.9 cents for plant service
workers to 28.5 cents for roll turners in all districts combined. By
individual districts, the range of gain was from 4.8 cents for plant
service workers to 22.9 cents for millwrights’ helpers in the Eastern
region, from 10.1 cents for machinists’ helpers and plant service
workers to 36.0 cents for bricklayers in the Pittsburgh district, from
7.2 cents for plant service workers to 29.1 cents for roll turners in
the Great Lakes and Middle West areas, and from 8.2 cents for
machinists’ helpers to 30.6 cents for roll turners in the Southern
district.
Table 6.—Average Hourly Earnings of Males in Mechanical, Transportation, and
Service Work, by Occupation and D istrict, 1933 and 1935 1
[Based on 10 departments]
All districts
1933
Occupation
N um
ber
of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
hour
ly
earn
ings
Eastern district
1935
N um
ber
of
wage
earn
ers
1933
Aver N um
ber
age
hour of
wage
ly
earn earn
ings
ers
1935
Aver N um
ber
age
hour of
wage
ly
earn earn
ings
ers
1 The 1935data cover only the 10 departments included in the 1933 survey.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1933
Aver N um
ber
age
hour of
wage
ly
earn earn
ers
ings
Blacksm iths.. ________
112 $0. 505
134 $0. 698
19 $0. 424
23 $0. 621
Blacksmiths’ h elp ers___
102 .361
111 .512 (2)
17 .460
(2)
Boilermakers. ............. .
60 .511
59 .684 (n
(2)
(2)
(2)
Bricklayers____________
263 .571
513 .863
28 .448
48 .637
Bricklayers’ helpers_____
150 .372
263 .503
16 .361
31 .431
Carpenters_____________
92 .485
173 .665 C)
11 .621
(2)
Cranemen, miscellaneous. 1,859 .431 2,112 .602
184 .375
234 .541
Crane followers_________
570 .365 1,003 .533
25 .311
69 .467
Electricians____________
325 .499
528 .674
68 .471
135 .624
Electricians’ helpers____
65 .395
106 .542 (2)
10 .465
(2)
Engineers, locomotive___
578 .506
514 .733
61 .420
48 .582
Engineers, power _______
71 .529
147 .690 (3)
(3)
(2)
(2)
Firemen, locomotive____
68 .404
94 .610 (3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
Firemen and water tenders, power________ .
394 .421
353 .594
19 .330
22 .511
Inspectors and repairmen, m otors._______ _
438 .530
462 .706
10 .506
10 .614
Machinists ___________
655 .541
824 .731
102 .681
39 .506
M achinists’ helpers_____
155 .405
203 .536 (2)
31 .478
(2)
M illwrights____________
753 .500
904 .677
134 .421
143 .646
M illwrights’ helpers
352 .391
528 .551
33 .348
65 .577
Oilers and greasers, equipment .............................
658 .385
873 .530
50 .361
86 .495
Pipe fitters______ ____ _
357 .483
416 .652
33 .422
49 .625
Pipe fitters’ helpers_____
111 .388
170 .531 (3)
CÌ
(3)
i2)
Pumpers___ _________
175 .465
125 .594
19 .375 (2)
(2)
Riggers________________
138 .425
176 .586 (2)
10 .575
(2)
Roll turners____________
122 .565
226 .850
14 .577
12 .805
Service workers, plant___
343 .376
496 .485
81 .390
41 .438
Switchmen, locom otive..
636 .439
710 .662
78 .368
75 .515
Welders ..............................
164 .473
310 .682
28 .412
56 .629
2 N u m b e r r e p o r t e d n o t s u f f i c ie n t t o p r e s e n t a v e r a g e s .
3 N o n e r e p o r te d .
Pittsburgh district
1935
Aver N um
age
ber
hour of
wage
ly
earn earn
ers
ings
35 $0. 528
33 .381
16 .572
78 .520
33 .367
38 .495
907 .440
298 .373
83 .518
26 .443
277 .502
36 .526
11 .498
Aver
age
hour
ly
earn
ings
43 $0. 731
40 .536
21 .723
252 .880
98 .519
65 .668
857 .597
419 .519
169 .699
27 .562
245 .745
78 .688
27 .723
155
.445
166
.619
237
118
28
320
228
.533
.549
.469
.508
.407
229
263
34
339
262
.685
.748
.570
.651
.546
317
145
53
59
41
63
122
250
45
.394
.496
.393
.464
.429
.578
.392
.437
.486
343
163
76
50
79
109
230
311
87
.535
.660
.542
.600
.595
.877
.493
.674
.610
665
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 6»-—Average H ourly Earnings of Males in Mechanical, Transportation, and
Service Work, by Occupation and D istrict, 1933 and 1935— Continued
Great Lakes and M iddle West
district
1933
Southern district
1935
1933
1935
Occupation
N um Aver N um Aver N um Aver N um Aver
age
age
age
age
ber of
ber of hourly
ber of hourly
ber of hourly
wage hourly
wage
wage
wage
earn
earn
earn
earn
earners
ings earners ings earners ings earners ings
Blacksmiths___ __________________
Blacksmiths’ helpers ________
Boilermakers _ _________
Bricklayers____________________ .
Bricklayers’ helpers ____________
Carpenters. ___________________
Cranemen, miscellaneous__________
Crane followers__________ _____
Electricians____________________
Electricians’ helpers______________
Engineers, locomotive. __________
Engineers, power______________ _
Firemen, locomotive___ ___
Firemen and water tenders, power
Inspectors and repairmen, m otors...
Machinists______ ____________
M achinists’ h e lp e r s._______ ____
M illw rights... ________ _________
M illwrights’ helpers.............. ..............
Oilers and greasers, equip m ent____
Pipe fitters ..
_________________
Pipe fitters’ helpers........ ......................
Pumpers___. . . ____________
Riggers--------------------------------------Roll turners_____________________
Service workers, plant ___________
Switchmen, locomotive___________
Welders____________ ______ ______
43
49
33
136
82
41
703
225
144
21
188
28
36
151
178
453
113
233
74
251
174
54
75
87
34
118
216
78
$0. 535
.398
.531
.612
.418
.498
.438
.372
.501
.392
.548
.584
.503
.457
.535
.554
.398
.525
.394
.393
.486
.399
.490
.432
.564
.433
.508
.521
49
39
26
176
109
83
799
450
161
46
177
39
46
96
200
415
128
351
148
357
177
77
48
73
71
184
273
129
$0,715
.544
.695
.875
.519
.687
.639
.573
.691
.562
.777
.697
.652
.604
.741
.740
.558
.723
.573
.547
.663
.527
.595
.585
.855
.505
.702
.719
15
11
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
21
19
10
65
22
30
15
52
21
69
13
45
12
66
17
40
22
11
22
92
13
$0.478
.252
(2)
.758
.260
.406
.387
.246
.501
.362
.481
(2)
.259
.361
.457
.463
.265
.538
.327
.336
(2)
(2)
.481
(2)
.463
.211
.356
.401
19
15
(2)
37
25
14
222
65
63
23
44
26
21
69
23
44
10
71
53
87
27
15
19
14
34
41
51
38
$0. 673
.424
(2)
.991
.446
.554
.548
.413
.670
.518
.659
.681
.375
.548
.657
.666
.347
.639
.480
.470
.561
.502
.608
.547
.769
.378
.578
.651
2Number reported not sufficient to present aveages.
Common labor.—The average hourly earnings of common laborers
based on the data in the 21 departments in 1935 amounted to 45.0
cents for all districts combined, with 36.7 cents for the Southern, 41.5
cents for the Eastern, 46.7 cents for the Great Lakes and Middle West,
and 47.3 cents for the Pittsburgh districts. An analysis of the dis
tribution of common laborers for all districts combined, which ap
pears in table 7, shows that 9.8 percent received less than 40 cents,
30.1 percent 40 and under 45 cents, 53.7 percent 45 and under 50
cents, and only 6.4 percent 50 cents and over. Those earning under
40 cents were found almost entirely in the Southern and Eastern
areas. In the Southern district, 58.8 percent earned under 40 cents
(these were scattered in the classes from 20 to 40 cents), with 32.4
percent receiving 40 and under 45 cents, the remaining 8.8 percent
being in the class of 45 cents and over. By contrast, in the Eastern
district, 26.3 percent earned under 40 cents (all of these were in the
class of 37.5 and under 40 cents), 64.1 percent were paid 40 and under
45 cents, and 9.6 percent 45 cents and over. Only a few individuals
earned less than 40 cents in the Pittsburgh and the Great Lakes and
Middle West districts, the great majority of the common laborers in
each case being found in the classes of 45 and under 50 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
666
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W —-SE PT EM B E R 1936
Table 7.— D istribution of Common Laborers, by Average Hourly Earnings and
D istrict, 1935
[Based on 21 departments]
Average hourly earnings
N um Simple Cumu
N um Simple Cumu N um Simple Cumu
ber of per lative
ber of per lative
ber of per lative
per
per
per
wage cent cent wage cent cent wage cent cent
earners
age
earners age
age
earners
age
age
age
1
20.0 and under 25.0 cents________ _
15
25.0 and under 27.5 cents__________
27.5 and under 30.0 cents _
87
30.0 and under 32.5 cents__________
73
32.5 and under 35.0 cents. ________
186
35.0 and under 37.5 cents________
13
233
37.5 and under 40.0 cents_________
40.0 and under 42.5 cents__________
872
42.5 and under 45.0 cents.
963
45.0 and under 47.5 cents____ _____ 1,932
47.5 and under 50.0 cents__________ 1,349
389
50.0 cents and over.. . . ___. . . . . . .
Total
Pittsburgh district
Eastern district
All districts
6,113
(0
0. 2
1. 4
1.2
3.0
.2
3.8
14.3
15. 8
31.fi
22.1
6.4
(')0.2
3
5.8
6.0
9.8
24.1
39.9
71.5
93.6
100.0
100.0
228
461
95
47
17
19
26.3
53.1
867
100.0
11.0
5.4
2.0
2.2
Great Lakes and Middle
West district
Average hourly earnings
20.0 and under 25.0 cents_______________
25.0 and under 27.5 cents__ ___________
27.5 and under 30.0 cen ts.. . . ____ _
30.0 and under 32.5 cents____ _ ______
32.5 and under 35.0 cents__ _ _________
35.0 and under 37.5 cents__
________
37.5 and under 40.0 cents__ ____ ________
40.0 and under 42 5 cents_______________
42.5 and under 45.0 cents_______________
45.0 and under 47.5 cents _____________
47.5 and under 50.0 cents_______________
50.0 cents and over_________________ . .
T otal_________________________
Number
of wage
earners
1
1
1
1
1
1.6
2.8
Simple
percent
age
0)
190
456
755
583
152
8.9
21.3
35.3
27.4
7.1
2,137
100.0
26.3
79.4
90.4
95.8
97.8
100.0
0) 0)
0)0.1 (9o. l
.1
22
(9
(9.9
407
1,124
724
194
16.4
45.5
29.3
7.8
2,478
100.0
.1
1.0
17.4
62.9
92.2
100.0
Southern district
Cumula Number
tive per of wage
earners
centage
Simple
percent
age
Cumula
tive per
centage
1
14
86
72
183
12
4
199
5
25
24
0.1
2.2
13.6
11.4
29.0
1.9
.6
31.6
.8
1.0
4.0
3.8
0.1
2.3
15.9
27.3
56.3
58.2
58.8
90.4
91.2
92.2
96.2
100.0
631
100.0
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(98.9
30.2
65.5
92.9
100.0
6
1 Less than Jdo of 1 percent.
In view of the fact that the minimum rates of pay assigned by the
code to the various regions applied to common labor only, it is sig
nificant to note the changes in the data (based on 10 departments)
for this class of labor between 1933 and 1935. The increase in the
average hourly earnings for all districts combined was from 32.6 cents
in 1933 to 44.9 cents in 1935, a gain of 12.3 cents, or 37.7 percent.
The effect of this rise upon the distribution, which may be seen from
table 8, was to reduce the 4.1 percent earning under 25 cents (the
lowest code minimum for any region) in 1933 to none in 1935. In
fact, whereas 97.3 percent of the common laborers received under 40
cents in 1933, there were only 9.8 percent in that group in 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
667
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 8.— D istribution of Common Laborers in All D istricts, by Average Hourly
Earnings, 1933 and 1935 1
[Based on 10 departments]
1933
Average hourly earnings
15.0 and under 20.0 cents .
20.0 and under 22.5 cents.. __
22.5 and under 25.0 cents
25.0 and under 27.5 cents _
27.5 and under 30.0 cents, __
30.0 and under 32.5 cents
32.5 and under 35.0 cents
35.0 and under 37.5 cents
37.5 and under 40.0 cents
40.0 and under 42.5 cen ts.,
42.5 and under 45.0 cents
45.0 and under 47.5 cents
47.5 and under 50.0 cents. .
50.0 cents and over .
T otal___ ___
1935
N um
Cumu N um
Cumu
ber of Simple lative
ber of Simple lative
wage percent percent wage percent per
age
age
earners
age
earners
centage
2123
29
41
276
221
821
1,415
359
1,382
69
32
9
5
14
2.6
.6
.9
5.8
4.6
17.1
29.4
7.5
28.8
1.4
.7
.2
.1
.3
4,796
100.0
2.6
3.2
4.1
9.9
14.5
31.6
61.0
68.5
97.3
98.7
99.4
99.6
99.7
100.0
10
53
73
179
13
155
786
819
1,435
1,136
276
0.2
1.1
1.5
3.6
.3
3.1
15.9
16.6
29.1
23.0
5.6
4,935
100.0
0.2
1.3
2.8
6.4
6.7
9.8
25.7
42.3
71.4
94.4
100.0
1 The 193-5 data relate only to the 10 departments covered in 1933.
2Includes 5 whose earnings were less than 15 cents.
The increases in average earnings per hour of common laborers
between 1933 and 1935 by region (based on the data for 10 depart
ments) were 60.8 percent in the Southern (from 22.7 to 36.5 cents),
47.0 percent in the Eastern (from 27.9 to 41.0 cents), 37.2 percent in
the Pittsburgh (from 34.4 to 47.2 cents), and 36.0 percent in the Great
Lakes and Middle West (from 34.4 to 46.8 cents) districts. The effect
of the above increases upon the district distributions is shown in table
9. In the Southern district, the number earning under 25 cents dropped
from 60.3 percent in 1933 to none in 1935, with only 10.9 percent
receiving under 30 cents in 1935 as compared with 95.2 percent in
1933. In the Eastern district, the percentage paid less than 37.5
cents was reduced from 91.8 in 1933 to none in 1935. The decrease in
the Pittsburgh district in the number earning under 40 cents was from
97.3 percent in 1933 to less than 1 percent in 1935, while in the Great
Lakes and Middle West district it was from 96.7 percent in 1933 to
one-tenth of 1 percent in 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
668
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Table 9.— D istribution of Common Laborers, by Average Hourly Earnings and
D istrict, 1933 and 1935 1
[Based on 10 departments]
Pittsburgh district
Eastern district
20 0 and
22 5 and
25.0 and
27.5 and
30 0 and
32.5 and
35 0 and
37.5 and
40.0 and
42.5 and
45.0 and
47.5 and
50.0 and
under 22.5
under 25.0
under 27.5
under 30.0 _ .
under 32.5 .
under 35.0 _
under 37 5
under 4 0 .0 ___
under 42.5 _____
under 45.0
. _
under 47.5
under 50.0_ _ .
over______ _
T o t a l___
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
Cu N um
mula ber of
tive wage
per
cent earn
ers
age
1
4H
144
153
43
2
2
28
2
1
0. 3
0. 3
1. 1
1. 4
37. 9 39. 3
40. 2 79. 5
11.3 90.8
.5 91. 3
.5 91.8
7.4 99.2
.5 99.7
.3 100.0
380
100.0
150
434
38
17
12
9
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
Cu N um
mula ber of
tive wage
per earn
cent ers
age
52
23
456
727
163
927
35
12
6
2
10
22.7 22.7
65.7 88.4
5.8 94.2
2.6 96.8
1.8 98.6
1.4 100.0
1933
15.0 and
20.0 and
22.5 and
25.0 and
under
under
under
under
2 0 .0 __ __
22.5_____
25.0______
27.5.
27.5 and u n d e r 30 0
30.0 and under 32.5
32.5 and under 35.0.
35.0 and u n d e r 37.5
37.5 and
40.0 and
42.5 and
45.0 and
under
under
under
under
40.0__ ___
4 2 .5 _____
45 0. .
47.5 _ .
47.5 an d u n d e r 50.0
50.0 and o v er,.. _ _ ___
T o ta l
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
2
7
10
319
682
191
426
31
17
2
3
4
0.1
0.1
.4
.5
.6
1.1
18.8 19.9
40.4 60.3
11.3 71.6
25.1 96. 7
1.8 98.5
1.0 99.5
. 1 99.6
. 2 99.8
. 2 100.0
1,694 100.0
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
i
140
429
566
548
127
0.1
7.7
23.7
31.2
30.3
7.0
Cu
mula
tive
per
cent
age
2.2
2. 2
3.2
1.0
18.9 22.1
30.0 52.1
6.8 58.9
38.4 97.3
1.5 98.8
.5 99.3
. 2 99.5
. 1 99.6
.4 100.0
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
i
i
3
1
1
21
347
846
554
132
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
Cu
mula
tive
per
cent
age
0.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
1.1
IS. 1
44.3
29.0
6.9
0.1
.2
.4
.5
.6
1.7
19.8
64.1
93.1
100.0
1,907 100.0
Southern district
1933
1935
Cu N um
mula ber
of
tive wage
per
cent earn
ers
age
Cu N um
Sim mula
ber of
ple
tive
per per wage
earn
cent cent
ers
age
age
Cu
Sim mula
ple
tive
per per
cent cent
age
age
2 123
26
37
73
0.1
.1
35
.l
3
.1
4
.1
3
.1
1
1
7.8
2
31.5
1
62.7
93.0
100.0
39.9 39.9
8.4 48. 3
12.0 60. 3
23.6 83.9
11.3 95. 2
1.0 96. 2
1.3 97.5
1.0 98. 5
.3 98.8
.3 99.1
.6 99.7
.3 100.0
1935
Sim Cu N um
ple mula ber of
per tive
wage
per earn
cent cent
ers
age
age
Sim
ple
per
cent
age
2,413 100.0
660 100.0
Great Lakes and Middle West district
Average hourly earnings
(in cents)
1935
1933
1935
1933
Average hourly earnings
(in cents)
1,811 100.0
309 100.0
9
52
72
176
12
4
191
5
6
22
8
1.6
9.3
12. 9
31.6
2.2
.7
34.4
.9
1. 1
3.9
1.4
1.6
10.9
23.8
55.4
57. 6
58.3
92.7
93.6
94.7
98.6
100.0
557 100.0
* The 1935 data relate only to the 10 departments covered in 1933.
s Includes 5 whose earnings were less than 15 cents.
Weekly Hours
*
In 1935, the average weekly hours of male wage earners in all
districts of the iron and steel industry, based on the data for the 21
departments, amounted to 35.7. The averages differed very little
among the various districts, the figures being 36.2 in the Southern,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
669
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
35.0 in the Eastern, 34.9 in the Pittsburgh, and 36.8 in the Great
Lakes and Middle West districts.8
The code limited the workweek (with certain exemptions) to 48
hours in any one week, with an average of 40 hours in any 6 months’
period. The effect of this provision is brought out in table 10, which
shows the distribution of male employees according to weekly hours
in 1935. Only 1.1 percent of the workers had a week in excess of
48 hours, with 15.5 percent working over 40 and under 48 hours.
On the other hand, the number of employees having a workweek of
exactly 40 hours amounted to 40.9 percent. The remaining 42.5
percent worked less than 40 hours, most of these working 24 and under
40 hours. A more or less similar distribution was found in each of
the four districts.
Table 10 . — D istribution of Male Wage Earners, by Weekly Hours and D istrict,
1935
[Based on 21 departments]
All districts
Weekly hours
Under 16 hours — _____
16 and under 24 hours______
24 and under 32 hours _
32 and under 40 hours___
40 h o u rs____
Over 40 and under 48 hours48 hours_______
Over 48 hours______
Total ___________
Eastern district
Cu
N um Sim
m ula
ber of
ple
tive
wage
per
earn cent per
cent
ers
age
age
4,429
5,486
10, 383
18,057
37,037
4, 097
9, 960
1,035
4.9
6.1
11.5
20.0
40.9
4.5
11.0
1.1
90,484
100. 0
4.9
11.0
22.5
42.5
83.4
87.9
98.9
100.0
Pittsburgh district
N um Sim
ber of
ple
wage
per
earn cent
ers
age
Cu
mula
tive
per
cent
age
437
950
1, 667
2,738
4,233
611
904
173
3.7
8. 1
14.2
23.4
36.2
5.2
7.7
1.5
3.7 2, 108
11.8 2, 592
26.0 4, 288
49.4 8, 543
85.6 15, 239
90.8 1,465
98.5 3, 106
100.0
417
5.6
6.9
11.4
22. 6
40.3
3.9
8.2
1. 1
11,713
100 0
37, 758
100.0
Great Lakes and M iddle West
district
N um Sim
ber of
ple
wage
per
earn cent
ers
age
Cu
mula
tive
per
cent
age
5.6
12.5
23.9
46. 5
86.8
90.7
98.9
100.0
Southern district
W eekly hours
Number
of wage
earners
Under 16 hours_______
16 and under 24 hours
24 and under 32 hours_______ ______
32 and under 40 hours____ ____
40 h o u rs________
Over 40 and under 48 hours_______ ____
48 hours_____________ . . . .
Over 48 hours. . . . .
T otal. ____
Simple Cumula Number
percent tive per of wage
age
centage
earners
1,269
1,463
3,650
5,382
14,023
1, 688
4,457
396
3.9
4.5
11.3
16.6
43. 5
5.2
13.8
1.2
32, 328
100.0
3.9
8.4
19. 7
36.3
79.8
85.0
98.8
100.0
Simple Cumula
percent tive per
age
centage
615
481
778
1, 394
3, 542
333
1,493
49
7.1
5.5
9.0
16.1
40.7
3.8
17.2
.6
8, 685
100. 0
7.1
12.6
21.6
37.7
78.4
82.2
99.4
100.0
8 The 1935 averages for males in the 10 departments covered in 1933 were 35.8 hours for all districts com
bined, and 35.6 hours for the Southern, 34.2 hours for the Eastern, 35.6 hours for the Pittsburgh, and 36.5
hours for the Great Lakes and the Middle West districts. Similar data for these departments in 1933 are
not available. However, since there were only 330 females reported in that year out of a total of 53,335
workers, the 1933 averages for males and females may be accepted as representing males for comparative
purposes. These figures were 24.2 hours for the country as a whole, and 33.1 hours for the Southern, 25.1
hours tor the Eastern, 25.0 hours tor the Pittsburgh, and 21.2 for the Great Lakes and Middle West districts.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
670
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
The average hours per week in 1935 among the mechanical, trans
portation, and plant service occupations for all districts combined in
the 21 departments ranged from 31.8 for bricklayers to 40.3 for
carpenters. (See table 11.) Of the 28 occupational classes for which
figures are shown, only 3 averaged below 35 and 2 above 40 hours.
By districts, the spread in average weekly hours was from 32.2 for
plant service workers to 41.3 for locomotive engineers in the Southern,
from 28.1 for bricklayers’ helpers to 41.2 for firemen and water
tenders in the Eastern, from 28.6 for bricklayers to 40.2 for machin
ists in the Pittsburgh, and from 35.6 for oilers and greasers to 42.2
for carpenters in the Great Lakes and Middle West districts.9
Table 11,:—Average Weekly Hours of Males in Mechanical, Transportation, and
Service Work, by Occupation and D istrict, 1935
[Based on 21 departments]
All districts
Occupation
Blacksmiths_______________
_
Blacksmiths’ helpers ______________
Boilermakers_______________________
Bricklayers___ __ __________
Bricklayers’ helpers______ ____ _ . _
Carpenters____________________
Cranemen, miscellaneous— —
Crane followers_________
Electricians- _______________ .
Electricians’ helpers______
________
Engineers, locomotive_________ _____
Engineers, power ___.......... .............
Firemen, locomotive _______________
Firemen and water tenders, powerInspectors and repairmen, motorsM achinists____________ ____ ________
M achinists’ h e lp e r s ____ ____ _______
M illwrights__ ______________________
Millwrights’ h elp ers_______ ______
Oilers and greasers, e q u ip m en t_____
Pipe fitters_____________ ___________
Pipe fitters’ helpers_______ _______ Pumpers______________________ ____
Riggers------------------------------------------Roll turners________________________
Service workers, plant______
Switchmen, locomotive_____ _______
Welders____________________________
N um
ber
of
wage
earn
ers
194
149
73
550
286
227
3,121
1, 656
698
135
538
176
102
427
582
1, 195
253
1,175
709
1, 156
500
207
142
224
330
721
738
446
Eastern
district
um
Aver Nber
age
of
week wage
ly
earn
hours ers
38.3
38.4
35t 9
31.8
33.9
40.3
35. 7
37.5
38.3
35.4
34.6
37.9
38.9
37.6
36.9
38.9
37.1
38.0
35. 2
35.0
38.9
37.9
37.9
37.6
40. 1
35.8
35.6
37.8
40
25
(9
57
35
23
337
157
163
16
56
10
(‘ )
33
10
166
41
177
92
116
60
0)
0)
14
28
94
82
66
Aver
age
week
ly
hours
Pittsburgh
district
N um
ber
of
wage
earn
ers
37.3
69
38.3
53
32
(!)
33.2
271
28. 1
111
35.0
89
35.0 1,351
34.3
634
38.1
270
36. 6
44
35.0
258
39.4
86
33
(9
41.2
193
36.8
275
37. 1
409
36.0
46
39. 7
465
38.1
349
454
37.3
37.2
206
100
(9
59
(9
33.1
90
39. 5
153
33.0
317
32.9
331
162
35. 1
Great Lakes
and M id
dle West
district
um
Aver Nber
age
of
week wage
ly
earn
hours ers
37.1
65
54
38.1
32.5
28
28.6
185
32.3
115
39.8
97
34.6 1,146
37.2
737
38.6
191
31.8
46
30. 6
180
37.0
54
39.2
46
37.0
128
37.8
267
40.2
556
36.7
156
36.3
454
33. 5
207
34.2
469
38.6
203
36.9
87
38.9
55
36. 7
101
38.8
98
34.6
265
274
32.9
37.4
174
Southern
district
um
Aver Nber
age
of
week wage
ly
earn
hours ers
39.9
38.8
39.9
35.7
37.2
42.2
37.0
38.2
38.3
36.1
38.5
39.0
39.2
38.0
36.0
38.4
37.4
39.0
36.6
35.6
40.2
39. 1
36.8
38.5
42.1
38.7
38.9
38.7
20
17
10
37
25
18
287
128
74
29
44
26
21
73
30
64
10
79
61
117
31
16
19
19
51
45
51
44
Aver
age
week
ly
hours
38.7
38.4
40.8
33.2
33.9
39. 1
36.6
39.3
37.8
39.3
41.3
38.0
39.8
36.9
35.7
39.6
38.7
38.8
36.1
33.0
36. 1
37.7
39.6
41. 2
40.4
32.2
40.1
40.2
1 N ot a sufficient number reported to present averages.
Common laborers in the 21 departments for the country as a whole
worked an average of 32.2 hours per week in 1935.10 Among the
district averages, the lowest was 29.4 hours in the Pittsburgh area
# Comparable data for the 10 departments between 1933 and 1935 not available.
io The weekly hours of common laborers in the 10 departments covered in that year averaged 19.7, as
compared with 32.5 in 1935.
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671
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
and the highest 34.4 hours in the Eastern region. The averages
in the Southern and the Great Lakes and Middle West districts were,
respectively, 33.2 and 34.1 hours.
The distribution of common laborers according to weekly hours
in 1935 (see table 12) shows that for the country as a whole 20 percent
worked under 24 hours. Slightly less than one-third had a work
week of 24 and under 40 hours. The largest group, 37.1 percent,
were employed exactly 40 hours. Those having a week of over 40
hours comprised 10 percent of the total, a large part of these working
48 hours. In each of the four districts, the largest percentage of
common laborers in any class were those working exactly 40 hours,
with relatively few working in excess of that figure.
T a b le 1 2 .— D is t r ib u tio n o f C o m m o n L a b o re rs, b y W e e k ly H o u r s a n d D is t r ic t ,
1935
[Based on 21 departments]
All districts
Weekly hours
Eastern district
Pittsburgh district
Cu N um
Cu
N um
ber of Simple mula ber of Simple mula
per
tive
per
tive
wage
wage
earn cent per earn cent per
age
cent
age
cent
ers
ers
age
age
Under 8 hours..__________________
78
8 and under 16 hours___ __________
496
16 and under 24 hours_____________
651
24 and under 32 hours___ ____ _____
855
32 and under 40 hours_______ _____ 1,154
40 hours___________ . .
2, 267
Over 40 and under 48 hours________
195
48 hours____ ______ _
._
402
Over 48 hours__________________
15
1.3
8.1
10.6
14.0
18.9
37.1
3.2
6.6
.2
T otal.............. ............................ . 6,113
100.0
1.3
9.4
20.0
34.0
52.9
90.0
93.2
99.8
100.0
8
49
75
93
143
389
56
48
6
0.9
5.7
8.7
10.7
16.5
44.8
6.5
5.5
.7
867
100.0
Great Lakes and M iddle West
district
0.9
6.6
15.3
26.0
42. 5
87.3
93.8
99.3
100.0
Cu
N um
ber of Simple mula
per
tive
wage cent
per
earn
age
cent
ers
age
45
235.
359
449
589
691
38
69
3
1.8
9.5
14.5
18.1
23.8
27.9
1.5
2.8
.1
2,478
100.0
1.8
11.3
25.8
43.9
67.7
95.6
97.1
99.9
100.0
Southern district
Weekly hours
Number
of wage
earners
Simple
percentage
Under 8 hours____ _______
8 and under 16 hours______
16 and under 24 hours_____
24 and under 32 hours_____
32 and under 40 hours_____
40 hours...................................
Over 40 and under 48 hours
48 hours_________________
Over 48 hours____________
21
149
171
262
310
886
88
244
6
L. 0
7.0
8.0
12 3
14.5
41.4
4.1
11.4
.3
T otal..................... .......
2,137
100.0
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cumula- Number
tive per- of wage
centage
earners
1.0
8.0
16.0
28.3
42.8
84.2
88.3
99.7
100.0
Simple
percentage
Cumulative percentage
4
63
46
51
112
301
13
41
0.6
10.0
7.3
8.1
17.7
47.7
2.1
6. 5
0.6
10.6
17.9
26.0
43.7
91.4
93.5
100.0
631
100.0
672
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Weekly Earnings
The male wage earners in the 21 departments for all districts com
bined earned on the average $24.30 per week in 1935.11 On a district
basis the averages amounted to $23.15 in the Southern district,
$21.94 in the Eastern district, $24.12 in the Pittsburgh area, and
$25.68 in the Great Lakes and Middle West region.12
The distribution of male employees according to weekly earnings
in the 21 departments in 1935, which is presented in table 13, shows
that for all districts combined 11.2 percent earned under $12, 15.8
percent $12 and under $18, 28.8 percent $18 and under $24, 20.7
percent $24 and under $30, 15.4 percent $30 and under $40, and 8.1
percent $40 and over. On a district basis the number receiving
under $12 formed 16.6 percent in the South, 12.1 percent in both the
Eastern and Pittsburgh regions, and only 8.5 percent in the Great
Lakes and Middle West area. The percentages paid $12 and under
$24 were 54.5 in the Eastern, 44.5 in the Pittsburgh, 42.2 in the Great
Lakes and Middle West, and 42.4 in the Southern districts. Those
earning $24 and under $40 were 40.3 percent in the Great Lakes and
Middle West, 35.6 percent in the Pittsburgh, 31.9 percent in the
Southern, and 28.3 percent in the Eastern districts. Lastly, the per
centages receiving $40 and over amounted to 9.1 in the Southern,
9.0 in the Great Lakes and Middle West, 7.8 in the Pittsburgh, and
5.1 in the Eastern districts.
The average earnings per week by occupational classes for the 21
departments in 1935 appear in table 14. The spread for all districts
combined was from $17 for bricklayers’ helpers to $34.03 for roll
turners. The latter occupation also had the highest average in each
district, while the former occupation showed the lowest average in
three districts, the lowest average in the South being for plant service
workers.9
8 Comparable data for the 10 departments between 1933 and 1935 not available.
» The 1935 average for males in the 10 departments in the country as a whole amounted to $24.76, which
is only 8 cents greater than the average for males and females combined. In view of this, the 1933 average
of $11.71 may be accepted as representative of males only, even though it includes the earnings of a small
number of females. No comparable data for males in 1933 are available.
12
The district averages for males in 1935 for the 10 departments were $20.87 in the Southern, $21.12 in the
Eastern, $25.00 in the Pittsburgh, and $25.94 in the Great Lakes and Middle West. The 1933 district
averages for males and females were $13.19 in the Southern, $10.77 in the Eastern, $12.55 in the Pittsburgh,
and $10.60 in the Great Lakes and M iddle West.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
673
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b le 1 3 .— D is t r ib u tio n o f M a le W a g e E a r n e rs, b y W e e k ly E a r n in g s a n d D is t r ic t ,
1935
[Based on 21 departments]
Weekly earnings
Under $4_________
$4 and under $6__
$6 and under $8__
$8 and under $10. _
$10 and under $12..
$12 and under $14.
$14 and under $16.
$16 and under $18.
$18 and under $20.
$20 and under $22.
$22 and under $24.
$24 and under $26$26 and under $28.
$28 and under $30.
$30 and under $32.
$32 and under $34.
$34 and under $36.
$36 and under $38 _
$38 and under $40$40 and under $44.
$44 and under $48.
$48 and under $52.
$52 and under $56.
$56 and under $60.
$60 and under $68 _
$68 and over___ _
Cumu- Num- Simple Cumu
Cumu
N um Simple lative Num- Simple
lative
ber of perof perber of per
per ber
wage cent- centwage cent cent- wage centearners
age
earners age
earners age
age
age
1,540
1, 652
1.946
2,192
2,823
3,258
4.947
6,025
8, 872
8,428
8, 921
7,287
6, 233
5,160
4,414
3, 211
2,606
2,062
1,595
2, 397
1, 364
875
716
501
694
765
Total______________________ 90, 484
1.7
1.8
2.2
2.4
3.1
3.6
5.5
6.7
9.7
9.3
9.8
8.1
6.9
5.7
4.9
3.5
2.9
2.3
1.8
2.6
1.5
3.0
.8
.6
.8
1.7
3.5
5.7
8.1
11.2
14.8
20.3
27.0
36.7
46.0
55.8
63.9
70.8
76.5
81.4
84.9
87.8
90.1
91.9
94.5
96.0
97.0
97.8
98.4
99.2
100.0
" 172
132
304
399
412
679
1, 065
1,405
1, 207
1,039
'959
782
640
553
444
310
225
223
146
213
122
83
61
34
64
40
1.5
1.1
2.6
3.4
3.5
5.8
9.1
12.1
10.4
8.9
8.2
6.7
5.5
4.7
3.8
2.6
1.9
1.9
1.2
1.8
1.0
.7
.5
.3
.5
.3
100.0
100.0
Weekly earnings
_______
TTrxip.r $4
$4 and under $6 _ _ ____________
$6 and under $8
_ ________ _______
$8 and under $10
_ _ ____ _____
$10 arid under $12
_ _ _ _ _________
$12 and under $14
_______ _____ ___
$14 and under $16
_______ _____
$16 and under $18
___ ___- ___
$18 and under $20 _
_________
___
______________
$20 and under $22
$22 and under $24 _ ___________ -- $24 and under $26 ______ _____ - - ____
$26 and under $28
__ __ ____ _ ____
$28 and under $30 _ ________ - ___
$30 and under $32__ _____ ____________
__
_ ________
$32 and under $34
$34 and under $36
-- - -- -- ______
$36 and under $38
_ __ ___ ___
$38 and under $40
_______ - - _____
$40 and under $44
_ _ ____
- ___
$44 and under $48
________ ____
$48 and under $52
_____ _ - ____
$52 and under $56
________ _
$56 and under $60 _ ________ _______
$60 and under $68
___ ________ ___
$68 and over—----------------------------- ------ -
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
664
760
899
932
1,282
1, 245
1,986
2,289
3, 837
3, 561
3,897
3,035
2,711
2,132
1, 772
1,299
1,125
790
591
950
555
333
273
204
298
338
1.8
2.0
2.4
2.5
3.4
3.3
5.3
6.1
10.2
9.4
10.2
8.0
7.2
5.6
4.7
3.4
3.0
2.1
1.6
2.5
1.5
.9
.7
.5
.8
.9
37, 758
100.0
1.5
2.6
5.2
8.6
12.1
17.9
27.0
39.1
49.5
58.4
66.6
73.3
78.8
83.5
87.3
89.9
91.8
93.7
94.9
96.7
97.7
98.4
98.9
99.2
99.7
100.0
1.8
'Ó. 8
6. 2
8.7
12.1
15.4
20.7
26.8
37.0
46.4
56.6
64.6
71.8
77.4
82.1
85. 5
88. 5
90.6
92. 2
94.7
96.2
97.1
97.8
98.3
99.1
100.0
1
Great Lakes and M iddle
West district
8 8 8 6 9 — 36-------9
Pittsburgh district
Eastern district
All districts
Number
of wage
earners
Simple
percent
age
399
538
514
518
780
754
1, 286
1,583
3,316
3,131
3,538
2,899
2, 377
2,043
1, 884
1,269
1, 041
839
666
979
542
357
297
207
267
304
1.2
1.7
1.6
1.6
2.4
2.3
4.0
4.9
10.3
9.7
11.0
9.0
7.4
6.3
5.8
3.9
3.2
2.6
2.1
3.0
1.7
1.1
.9
.6
.8
.9
32, 328
100.0
Southern district
Cumula Number
tive per of wage
earners
centage
1.2
2.9
4.5
6.1
8.5
10.8
14.8
19.7
30.0
39.7
50.7
59.7
67.1
73.4
79.2
83.1
86.3
88.9
91.0
94.0
95.7
96.8
97.7
98.3
99.1
100.0
Simple
percent
age
305
222
229
343
349
580
610
748
512
697
527
571
505
432
314
333
215
210
192
255
145
102
85
56
65
83
3.5
2.6
2. 6
3. 9
4.0
6. 7
7.0
8.7
5. 9
8.0
6.1
6.6
5.8
5.0
3. 6
3.8
2. 5
2.4
2.2
2.9
1.7
1.2
1.0
.6
.7
1.0
8,685
100.0
Cumula
tive per
centage ,
3.5
6.1
8.7
12.6
16.6
23.3
30.3
39.0
44.9
52.9
59.0
65.6
71.4
76.4
80.0
83.8
86.3
88.7
90.9
93.8
95.5
96.7
97.7
98.3
99.0
100.0
674
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
T a b le 14 . — A v e r a g e W e e k ly E a r n in g s o f M a le s in M e c h a n ic a l, T r a n s p o r ta tio n ,
a n d S e r v ic e W o rk , b y O c c u p a tio n a n d D is t r ic t , 1935
[Based on 21 departments]
All districts
Occupation
N um
ber of
wage
earn
ers
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings
Blacksmiths___________ _ _ _ _ _ _
194 $26.92
Blacksmiths’ helpers ___
149 19. 67
Boilerm akers______
__ _____
73 24.89Bricklayers_________ _____ _
550 27. 60
Bricklayers’ helpers_____________
286 17. 00
C arpenters______ ________ _ _
227 26.81
Cranemen, miscellaneous. __ _ __ 3,121 21.73
Crane follow ers________
1,656 20. 22
Electricians__________
698 26.11
Electricians’ h e lp e r s,_____
135 19. 26
Engineers, lo co m o tiv e____
_ __ 538 25.31
Engineers, power __ _ _____ _
176 26. 57
Firemen, locomotive___________ _ 102 23.91
Firemen and water tenders, power. 427 22. 00
Inspectors and repairmen, motors __ 582 25. 99
M achinists. . . _______
1,195 28. 43
M achinists’ helpers____
253 19. 83
M illwrights___________
1,175 25. 78
Millwrights’ helpers____ _____
709 19. 63
Oilers and greasers, equipment. _. 1,156 18. 78
Pipe fitters.. ________ _
500 25. 70
Pipe fitters’ helpers_______ ____
207 20. 24
Pumpers . . ____ _ _ ..........
142 22. 45
Riggers_________
_________
224 22. 33
Roll turners______________
330 34.03
Service workers, plant. ._ .
721 17.15
Switchmen, locomotive_______
738 23.63
Welders_____ ______
446 25. 96
Eastern
district
Pittsburgh
district
N um Aver N um
age ber of
ber of week
wage
wage
ly
earn earn
earn
ers
ers
ings
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings
Great Lakes
and Middle
West district
Southern
district
N um
N um Aver
age ber of
ber of week
wage
wage
ly
earn
earn earn
ers
ers
ings
69 $27. 47
40 $24.13
65 $28. 32
25 17. 76
53 20. 26
54 20. 94
32 23.75
28 27. 79
(0
(i)
271 25.47
185 31.38
57 22.00
35 12. 22
111 16. 63
115 19.23
23 22.51
89 27.10
97 28.44
337 19. 64 1,351 20. 85 1,146 23.44
157 15. 94
634 19. 44
737 21.81
191 26. 43
163 23.91
270 27.24
16 16.60
44 18.09
46 20. 27
20.
58
22.89
56
258
180 29.79
54 27.83
10 25. 84
86 26.07
33 28.06
46 25. 53
0)
(0
33 20.69
193 22.81
128 22. 38
275 25. 96
267 26. 49
10 22.61
409 30. 20
166 25. 24
556 28. 30
41 16. 55
20.
77
46
156 20.82
454 27.91
177 25. 95
465 23.86
92 22. 25
349 18. 53
207 21.18
454 18. 56
469 19. 53
116 18. 83
60 23. 53
206 26.12
203 26.69
100 20. 27
87 20. 56
(0
0)
23.14
59
55 21.89
(>)
(0
14 18. 96
101 22.18
90 22. 07
153 33.87
98 36. 05
28 28. 80
94 14.16
265 19.25
317 17.01
82 16. 96
331 22.33
274 27. 27
162 25.86
174 27.15
66 22.23
Aver
age
week
ly
earn
ings
20 $26.04
17 16. 56
10 24.37
37 32.93
25 15.10
18 22.12
287 21. 50
128 20. 21
74 26.04
29 20. 92
44 27. 21
26 25. 90
21 14. 95
73 19.81
30 23.04
64 26.55
10 13.45
79 24. 56
61 16. 79
117 16.57
31 20. 73
16 18.40
19 24.04
19 26.90
51 33. 48
45 12.04
51 23.19
44 27. 25
1 N ot a sufficient number reported to present averages.
The average w e e k ly earnings of common laborers for the 21 depart
ments amounted to $14.48 in March 1935.13 In the Southern district,
common laborers earned an average of only $12.21 per week. Low
as this average was, it was only $3.69 less than the highest, $15.90,
in the Great Lakes and Middle West district. In the Eastern district,
common laborers earned an average of $14.29, which was slightly
more than that of $13.91 in the Pittsburgh area.
The distribution of common laborers according to weekly earnings
in the 21 departments is shown in table 15. For the country as a
whole, approximately one-third earned under $12, another third $12
and under $18, and the remainder $18 and over, with very few workers
earning as much as $24. The distributions by district vary con
siderably. In the Southern district, where the average was the
lowest, 42.0 percent earned less than $12, as compared with 22.9
percent in the Eastern, 26.3 percent in the Great Lakes and Middle
West, and 38.9 percent in the Pittsburgh areas. The percentages
receiving $12 and under $18 amounted to 49.9 in the Southern, 63.1
13
The average weekly earnings of common laborers in 1933 for the 10 departments covered in that year
were only $6.42. This figure may be compared with $14.59 in the same departments in 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
675
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
in the Eastern, 23.5 in the Great Lakes and Middle West, and 29.8
in the Pittsburgh regions. Lastly, the number paid $18 and over
was only 8.1 percent in the South and 14.0 percent in the East, as
compared with 50.2 and 31.3 percent, respectively, in the Great
Lakes and Middle West and the Pittsburgh districts.
Table 15.— D istribution of Common Laborers, by Weekly Earnings and D istrict,
1935
[Based on 21 departments]
W eekly earnings
N um Sim Cumu N um Sim Cumu N um Sim Cumu
ple
lative
lative ber of
ple
ber of
lative ber of
ple
per
per
per wage
per
per
per wage
wage
earn cent cent earn cent cent earn cent cent
ers
age
age
age
ers
age
age
ers
age
475
Under $4_________________________
586
$4 and under $8 . __ _____ ______
238
$8 and under $ 1 0 __ _ - ____
690
$10 and under $12_______ _
--383
$12 and under $14_ ________ . ----836
$14 and under $16______ __ ---------882
$16 and under $18_________________
1,422
$18 and under $20. . . . ______
517
$20 and under $24 . . . . . . . . ------84
$24 and over___________________ Total
Pittsburgh district
Eastern district
All districts
6,113
7.8
9.6
3.9
11.3
6.3
13.7
14.3
23.2
8.5
1.4
7.8
17.4
21.3
32.6
38.9
52.6
66.9
90.1
98.6
100.0
100.0
45
59
66
29
96
171
279
86
28
8
5.2
6.8
7.6
3.3
11.1
19.7
32.3
9.9
3.2
.9
867
100.0
5.2
12.0
19.6
22.9
34.0
53.7
86.0
95.9
99.1
100.0
232
313
54
364
81
407
250
609
141
27
9.4
12.6
2.2
14.7
3.3
16.4
10.1
24.5
5.7
1.1
2,478
100.0
9.4
22.0
24. 2
38.9
42.2
58.6
68.7
93.2
98.9
100.0
Great Lakes and Middle
West district
Weekly earnings
____________ ___ ____
Under $4
$4 and under $ 8 ___________ ___ ___ _
$8 and under $10__ _______ ________
$10 and under $12___ ______ _____ ____
$12 and under $14
_ _____
$14 and under $16__ _____ _
-- __
$16 and under $18 _ _ _ _ _
___
$18 and under $20____
__
$20 and under $24__
_
____
$24 and o v e r ___
__ _____
Total
Number
of wage
earners
Simple
percent
age
138
151
37
236
47
223
232
715
324
34
6.5
7.1
1.7
11.0
2.2
10.4
10.9
33.4
15.2
1.6
2,137
100.0
Cumula Number
tive per of wage
earners
centage
6.5
13.6
15.3
26.3
28.5
38.9
49.8
83.2
98.4
100.0
Simple Cumula
percent tive per
centage
age
60
63
81
61
159
35
121
12
24
15
9.5
10.0
12.8
9.7
25.2
5.5
19.2
1.9
3.8
2.4
631
100.0
9.5
19.5
32.3
42.0
67.2
72.7
91.9
93.8
97.6
100.0
Female Wage Earners
Average Hourly Earnings
T h e nature of the work performed in iron and steel plants does not
lend itself to the employment of woman workers except in the assort
ing section of the tin-plate department. In 1935, out of a total of
91,121 wage earners in 21 departments, only 637 female employees
were found. Of that number 610, or 96 percent, were in the tin-plate
department. The occupation of assorters included 540, or nearly
90 percent of the females employed in that department. In 1933,
out of a total of 53,335 wage earners in 10 departments, only 330
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676
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
were females. Furthermore, all of these were found in the tin-plate
department, the occupation of assorters covering 295, or nearly 90
percent of the total.
The average hourly earnings of the 637 female plant workers in
1935 amounted to 41.6 cents, as compared with 30.1 cents for the
330 in 1933, an increase of 38.2 percent. The distribution of these
employees according to average hourly earnings shows that, whereas
59.1 percent earned less than 30 cents in 1933, only 0.9 percent were
in that group in 1935. Those paid 30 and under 40 cents amounted
to 24.1 percent in 1935, as against 36.4 percent in 1933. On the
other hand, 75.0 percent received 40 cents and over in 1935, as
compared with 4.5 percent in 1933.
Female assorters in 1935 were paid an average of 41.1 cents per
hour. These earnings had risen from 29.4 cents in 1933, a gain of
39.8 percent.
Weekly Hours
The average hours per week of female wage earners in 1935 were
36.2. According to the distribution, 18.4 percent worked less than
32 hours, and 5.5 percent over 40 hours. This left 76.1 percent work
ing from 32 to 40 hours, inclusive, most of whom had a workweek of
exactly 40 hours.14
In 1935, assorters had average weekly hours of 36.3, as compared
with 39.0 in 1933.
Weekly Earnings
The average weekly earnings of female plant workers were $15.05
in 1935. The distribution shows that 19.3 percent earned under
$12, and only 7.4 percent $18 and over. The remaining 73.3 percent
received $12 and under $18.14
In 1935, assorters received an average of $14.92, which represents
an increase of 30 percent over the 1933 average of $11.50.
Office Employees
In
to the 91,121 wage earners of both sexes reported in
the 21 departments, the 1935 data also cover 1,134 male and 371
female office employees.15 No information was collected on the
earnings and hours of office employees in former years.
a
d
d
i t
i o
n
Male Workers
In 1935 the average hourly earnings of male office workers for the
country as a whole amounted to 75.1 cents. The distribution of
employees according to average hourly earnings shows that 10.4
14 Comparable data for 1933 are not available.
45 Excluding auditors, chief accountants, salesmen, supervisory and clerical forces in general offices,
supervisory and clerical forces in plant offices not directly chargeable to the departments scheduled, and
some higher plant office supervisory employees whose salaries were carried on private rolls.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
677
percent received, un der 50 cents and a like percentage $1 and over.
The latter group was not confined altogether to supervisory workers,
as 9.0 percent of the nonsupervisory employees had earnings of $1
and over. The group receiving 50 to 75 cents constituted 42.8 per
cent, as compared with 36.4 percent earning 75 cents and under $1.
Male office employees averaged 38.9 hours per week in 1935. A
distribution of the workers shows that 50.5 percent worked a week
of exactly 40 hours, and an additional 19.7 percent one of over 40
hours. The remainder, 29.8 percent, worked a week of less than
40 hours. Of this latter group, very few had less than 4 days, or 32
hours, of work.
The average weekly earnings of male office employees amounted
to $29.24 in 1935. The distribution of employees shows that 15.1
percent received less than $20, and 11.6 percent $40 and over. The
number paid $20 and under $30 amounted to 43.2 percent, compared
with 30.1 percent with earnings of $30 and under $40.
Female Workers
The 371 female office employees earned an average of 53.6 cents per
hour in 1935. About one-third of the women received less than 45
cents, another one-third 45 and under 55 cents, and the remaining
one-third 55 cents and over.
In 1935 the female office workers averaged 39.0 hours per week.
Only 2.4 percent of the women worked less than 32 hours, and none
worked as much as 48 hours. The most important group were those
working exactly 40 hours, as 58.2 percent had a week of that length.
The remaining 39.4 percent fell into two groups, namely, 15.1 percent
with hours of over 40 and under 48, and 24.3 percent with hours of 32
and under 40.
The average weekly earnings of female office workers amounted to
$20.87 in 1935, which was $8.37 less than that received by males.
The distribution of employees shows that approximately one-third
of the women were paid less than $18 per week and another third $18
and under $22. The remaining one-third received $22 and over.
Only four employees in this latter group had weekly earnings of
$40 and over.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H ours, Wages, and W orking C onditions in A ir
T r anspor ta tio n
URTHER appraisal of existing limitations of air pilots’ and
copilots’ flight-hours and of the possible need for other limitations,
including total hours on duty and mileage, an adequate system of
training and further licensing of ground-service employees in the
interests of safety, the establishment of permanent machinery for
the collection of labor statistics, and the development of machinery
and procedures for collective bargaining in the industry are recom
mended in a recent report by the Federal Coordinator of Transporta
tion,1 from which the following data are taken.
The recommendations are based on a detailed study of all available
sources of information pertaining to scheduled domestic air trans
portation.2 The study was “part of a broad survey intended, among
other things, to throw light on competitive relationships in several
branches of domestic transportation and to lay the basis for such
suggestions for legislation on such action as might be required in the
public interest, particularly with respect to safety.” Similar studies
have also been made or are under way in motor bus and truck, water,
and petroleum-pipe-line transportation, as well as a general compara
tive study of rail transportation. The report under review covers
the duties, licensing, hours, and mileage of the flight personnel; the
pay rates and earnings of the flight personnel; the hours and earnings
of the ground-service personnel; the relation of flight-hours and mile
age to fatigue; wage controversies and collective bargaining in the
industry; and conclusions and suggestions in regard to these subjects.
F
Hours, Mileage, Pay Rates, and Earnings of Flight Personnel
A fter the termination of Government operation of the air-mail
service in 1927, pilots’ flight-hours increased considerably, from an
aveiage of about 43 per month during the period of Government
operation to 85.5 in July 1933. No data are available as to mileage
flown for any period previous to July 1933, but in that month the
• United States, Federal Coordinator of Transportation: Hours, Wages, and Working Conditions in
Scheduled Air Transportation, Washington, 1936; also Senate Document No. 208, 74th Cong., 2d sess.
- 1 he first comprehensive field survey of wages and hours in commercial air transportation was made by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1931 (in its Bulletin No. 575). The data obtained covered the month of
October, embracing 95 percent of the total number of employees in the industry. In 1933, at the request of
and with the cooperation of the Federal Coordinator, the Bureau made another field survey, which covered
the month of July and included approximately 98 percent of the workers (see M onthly Labor Review,
March 1934, pp. 647-664). While these surveys, especially the 1933 study, constituted the chief source’
of factual data concerning wages and hours which were used in the Federal Coordinator’s report, information
collected by the N . R. A. through a mail questionnaire from the members of the Air Line Pilots’ Associa
tion in 1933, the testimony before a fact-finding committee appointed in connection with an arbitration case
before the National Labor Board in 1933, current data on pilots’ hours and wages furnished the Coordinator
by the airlines, etc., were also utilized.
678
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
679
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
mileage was 9,919 for the 462 pilots included in the field study of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.3 It is reasonable to assume that, due to
the increased efficiency of both the ground and flight equipment, this
average increased even more than the average flying hours per month.
Information obtained by the N. R. A. from members of the Air Line
Pilots’ Association showed that in July 1933 pilots were averaging 54
minutes of required ground duty for every 60 minutes of flying time.4
Pay Rates and Earnings of Flight Personnel
I n J u ly 1933 the average earnings of the 462 pilots for whom data
were obtained amounted to $621.33, which was at the rate of $7.25
per flight-hour or 6.3 cents per mile. The range was considerable,
1.7 percent earning less than $150 and 7.1 percent more than $1,000
during the month, with 23.2 percent, or the largest single group,
receiving between $600 and $750. Those in the employ of com
panies with mail contracts averaged $644.36 (or $7.52 per flight-hour
and 6.6 cents per mile), as compared with only $264.47 (or $3.07
per flight-hour or 2.3 cents per mile) for those in companies without
mail contracts.
When the Bureau of Labor Statistics made its survey in the fall of
1931, the prevailing method of wage payment consisted of a monthly
basic rate, plus mileage varying with the hazard of the terrain of
flight—a method which had been carried over from the days of
Government operation. By July 1933, however, a number of com
panies, while retaining the monthly basic rate, had changed from the
mileage to the flight-hour or trip-hour 5 system, and shortly after
wards all of the larger carriers of mail had adopted this change. The
Air Line Pilots’ Association immediately charged that each increase
in the speed of the equipment used under the flight-hour system
would mean an automatic reduction in its members’ earning capacity.
On October 1, 1933, five of the largest mail carriers adopted a
uniform pay scale, which consisted of the following:
1. Initial basic pay of $1,600 per year, to be increased $200 for each year of
service up to a maximum of $3,000 per year.
2. A dditional p ay p er flight-hour, as follows:
F lig h t speed (miles p er hour) of—
D ay
125 or less________________________________ $4. 00
126 to 140______________________________
141 to 155______________________________
156 to 175______________________________
176 to 200______________________________
Over 200________________________________
4.
4.
4.
4.
5.
20
40
60
80
00
N ig h t
$6.00
6.20
6.40
6.60
6.80
7. 00
a B y way of contrast, the findings of the N . R. A. for July 1933, based on reports from 311 members of
the Air Line Pilots’ Association, indicate an average of 93 flight-hours and 10,795 miles of flight. These
higher figures are due to the smaller coverage of the N . R. A. report, which included a greater proportion
of full-time pilots.
4 This ratio is higher than that derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data, based upon an exami
nation of pay-roll records and conferences with various company officials.
s The number of hours the trip should take, as estimated by the management on the basis of past experi
ence, the pilot being paid for that time irrespective of the actual flight-hours consumed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
680
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
One of the companies also provided for a bonus varying with the
character of the terrain and according to whether day or night flying
was involved. The other companies, however, abandoned all terrain
bonuses.
The adoption of this scale and the speeding up of plane schedules
led to a wage controversy. The pilots proposed payment on the
mileage basis, with initial base pay of $1,800 per year plus $200 for
each year of service up to $3,000, and an additional rate per mile of
4 cents during the day and 7 cents at night for flat terrain and 5 cents
during the day and 9 cents at night for hazardous terrain; they pro
posed, also, that each individual’s flying time any 1 month should
be limited to 80 hours or 10,000 miles. The matter was carried to the
National Labor Board which announced its decision on May 10, 1934,
as follows:
1. Initial basic pay of $1,600 a year, to be increased $200 for each year of
service up to $3,000.
2. A dditional p ay p e r flight-hour, as follows:
Flight speed (miles per hour) of—
D ay
Under 125_______________________________ $4. 00
125 to 139______________________________
4. 20
140 to 154______________________________
4. 40
155 to 174________________
4. 60
175 to 199______________________________
4. 80
200 or over______________________________ 5. 00
N ig h t
$6. 00
6. 30
6. 60
6. 90
7. 20
7. 50
3. Additional pay per mile for m onthly mileage flown,6 as follows:
C e n ts
Under 10,000 miles. ____________________________________
10.000 to 11,999 miles__________________________________
12.000 miles and over______________________________ ____
4. M aintenance of existing differentials (as of Oct. 1, 1933) for
hazardous terrain.
2
1%
1
flying over
The effect of this decision was to raise considerably the earnings of
pilots. According to an inquiry made by the Coordinator, covering
October 1935, in which information was received from 15 companies
employing 454 pilots, their average earnings increased to $663.93
per month and $8.97 per flight-hour, representing gains of 6.9 and
23.7 percent, respectively, as compared with July 1933. The October
1935 average for mail-carriers was $668.48 per month (a gain of 3.7
percent) and $9.02 (an increase of 19.9 percent) per flight-hour,
while for non-mail-carriers it was $373.27 (a gain of 41.1 percent)
per month and $6.24 (an increase of 103.3 percent) per hour.
Copilots have always been paid a straight monthly salary, regard
less of the hours worked or miles flown. The 210 copilots included
in the July 1933 field survey earned an average of $226.81 for the
month or $1.82 per hour on duty. The mileage flown by them was
not available at that time. Copilots are often given the chance to
6 This was limited to flight speed in excess of 100 miles per hour.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
681
augment their earnings by acting as first pilot, for which service they
receive the flight pay of a first pilot.
Hours and Earnings of Ground-Service Personnel
S a f e t y of air travel depends in no small measure upon the efficiency
of the ground-service personnel. This is especially true of the me
chanics, both shop and service, who are either themselves licensed
by the United States Department of Commerce or work under the
direct supervision of persons so licensed.
The report emphasizes the long hours and low wages of certain
workers of the ground-service personnel. In July 1933 the 3,079
employees scheduled in this department averaged 49.7 hours of labor
per week, the average earnings being 60.6 cents per hour and $30.15
per week. However, 18 percent of all employees worked 54 and under
60 hours; in the individual occupations the proportion working these
hours was 43.7 percent for dispatchers, 26.2 for radio operators, 23.3
for chief mechanics and crew chiefs, 13.8 for other licensed mechanics,
and 12.4 for radio mechanics—all of which are important from the
standpoint of air safety. There were 8.6 percent of the total number
of employees earning less than 35 cents per hour, and 16.2 percent
received less than $20 per week; these percentages do not, however,
include very many of the skilled workers, most of whom receive pay
comparing favorably with that in other industries. It should also be
remembered that most of the workers in this industry obtain fairly
steady employment throughout the year.
The code of fair competition for scheduled airlines, prepared under
the National Industrial Recovery Act, became effective late in No
vember 1933. This code did not apply to pilots or copilots, who were
considered professional workers, but it did cover the ground-service
personnel. The main effect of the code was to change the industry
from a 50-liour week to a basic 44-hour week. No minimum wage was
established by the code, except that every employee in the industry
was guaranteed at least $15 per week. Says the report: “The results
of the code cannot be appraised with any degree of accuracy. It
had been in force for only two months, of seasonally low traffic and
poor flying weather, when the airmail contracts were canceled.
Emergency arrangements at once resulted, as to both personnel and
pay roll.”
Flight-Hours and Mileage as Related to Fatigue
C o n s i d e r a b l e attention has been given to pilot fatigue as a safety
factor. Present regulations emphasize the limitation of flight-hours,
whereas mileage is stressed by the Air Line Pilots’ Association, which
states that “pilot risk varies directly with the amount of exposure
and * * * the unit of exposure is miles and not hours.” On
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682
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
this basis, the Pilots’ Association proposed a limitation of 10,000
miles per month. However, it is evident that both factors bear on
fatigue. The Aero Medical Association of the United States recom
mending a limitation of flight-hours to 85 per month and 900-1,000
per year, at the same time recognizing that increased operating speed
involves “additional human stresses” and a tendency to augment the
cumulative fatigue of the pilot. The decision of the National Labor
Board in 1933 fixed an 85-hour maximum.
The Secretary of Commerce, under authority of the Air Mail Act
of 1934, set the monthly hours at 100 for pilots, simultaneously
inserting for the first time a yearly maximum of 1,000 hours. This
reduced the monthly hours from the previous allowable maximum of
110, and the 100-hour limit also became applicable to copilots.
However, consideration of speed was omitted from the regulations,
even though the average had advanced from 108 miles per hour in
May 1933 to 150 and over in September 1935, as reported to the
Bureau of Air Commerce.
The fatigue factor is of great importance, however, and the Co
ordinator’s report mentions three current developments, as follows:
(1) The introduction of the “automatic pilot”, a gyroscopic device
intended to free the pilot and copilot from many of the purely me
chanical duties of flying.
(2) Downward revision of the maximum allowable flight-hours by
the Department of Commerce.
(3) An investigation to be pursued by the medical examiners of the
Bureau of Air Commerce of the effect of flight on airline pilots.
Unionisation and Wage-Rate Controversies
O ne of the immediate results of the general pay-rate reduction in
the spring of 1931 was the formation of the Air Line Pilots’ Asso
ciation. This association soon included more than three-quarters of
the actual air-line pilots of the United States. It is affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor and works in close cooperation
with the Railway Labor Executives’ Association.
Ground-service employees, being more diversified as to trades and
callings, are not well organized. While several carriers have company
unions of mechanics and shop workers, many of the mechanics are
members of the International Association of Machinists, which reports
the existence of 10 aircraft local unions. A number of the radio oper
ators are members of the American Radio Telegraphists’ Association.
In the early days of commercial aviation, a number of the large
companies received heavy financial backing and could afford to be
generous with their operating budgets. The financial and industrial
crash of 1929, however, brought about a quick curtailment of certain
activities, and in the spring of 1931 a country-wide reduction was
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
683
made in pilots’ pay rates, as noted above. Again in January 1932,
one of the lines announced a further reduction of its pilots’ wages.
The next general wage controversy was in the fall of 1933, when the
operators changed from the mile as the basic unit to the flight-hour
or trip-hour.
Early in 1932, a bill was introduced in Congress to amend the Rail
way Labor Act, so as to extend its provisions to air transport com
panies and their employees. This bill was reported favorably to the
Senate, but it did not reach a vote. This bill was again introduced
in 1935 and was passed by the Senate on June 25, and after the
release of the report it was passed by the House of Representatives.
Conclusions and Recommendations
T he Coordinator’s report contains four principal recommendation8
which are elaborated in the last chapter.
Because of the need for further scientific determination of pilot
fatigue, the report suggests studies in cooperation with the Army,
Navy, Public Health Service, Weather Bureau, Bureau of Standards,
Society of Automotive Engineers, Aero Medical Association, and
National Safety Council, as well as with the carriers and pilots them
selves. It is pointed out that, although the present standards for
pilots and copilots are high, the subject of fatigue has not been
approached on a scientific basis. The accomplishments to date are
not minimized, however, notably a 14 percent reduction in pilots’
average flight-hours from 86 per month in July 1933 to 74 per month
in October 1935. A study of other fatigue factors, such as noise and
vibration, type of equipment and planes, visibility, navigation aids,
terrain, altitude, temperature, and the effects of lay-overs and ground
duty is also recommended.
With respect to the ground-service personnel, the report criticizes
the increasing ratio of unlicensed to licensed mechanics, the growing
burden upon supervisory shop and service employees, and takes note
of allegations that repair work has been performed by learners and
students. The establishment of qualifications and requirements in
other safety branches, such as radio, weather observation, and plane
dispatching, is also recommended. The subject of regulation leads
the report to suggest more rigid enforcement methods. The function
of safety regulation by the Department of Commerce and the promo
tional interest of the Post Office Department are mentioned, together
with the fact that 98 percent of all air-line employees are in the serv
ice of mail-carrying lines, which should normally simplify the regula
tory problem.
Labor statistics relating to air lines are fragmentary and incom
plete, according to the report, so that it is often impossible to make
conclusions and suggestions that should be based thereon. The dif
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684
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
ficulty of the National Labor Board, which had to set up its own
fact-finding machinery in the controversy of 1933, is mentioned. Sta
tistics are gathered by the Departments of Commerce, Labor, and
Post Office, the Interstate Commerce Commission and others, but
generally according to their own plan and immediate needs and with
out sufficient regard for broader analysis and interpretation. Com
parative data with other transportation industries, as well as standard
ization of titles and occupational terms, are desirable correlative
features.
In view of the public-service nature of air transportation, the avoid
ance of strikes, industrial disturbances, and friction between employ
ers and employees in this industry is a matter of public concern and
interest. The Federal Government is, therefore, justified in setting
up agencies to assure the settlement of disputes concerning wages and
working conditions in a manner similar to its position as mediator in
railway transportation under the Railway Labor Act. The report
points out that the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board
is here circumscribed, whereas the extension of the Railway Labor
Act to the air lines and their employees would lend much assurance
against the possibility of interruptions in service. The present wage
scale for pilots and copilots is effective by a series of expedients which
have virtually established rates of pay by statute. Hence, there arises
a responsibility to the balance of employees, whose earnings and
working conditions are not clearly defined, in conjunction with the
responsibility of maintaining an even flow of service in the public
interest.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E m ploym ent, Wages, and H ours in C orrugated and
Solid F iber S hipping-C ontainer In d u stry
B
ETWEEN April 1933 and September 1935, according to a report
based on a questionnaire survey by the National Container
Association,1the corrugated and solid fiber shipping-container industry
showed a gain of 41.6 percent in employment and 82.1 percent in pay
rolls. During the same period, the average hourly earnings increased
38.7 percent, the average weekly hours declined 7.3 percent, and the
average weekly earnings rose 28.6 percent.
Scope of Report
T his report deals primarily with data covering the week of Septem
ber 16-21, 1935, with comparisons for April 1933, March 1934, March
1935, and September 1935.
The code in this industry became effective on February 5, 1934, so
that the April 1933 figures reflect pre-code conditions and those for
March 1934 and 1935 include the changes resulting from code pro
visions. On the other hand, the data for September 1935 represent
post-code conditions, the code having become inoperative with the
Schechter decision on May 27, 1935.
The corrugated and solid fiber shipping-container industry 2 is one
of several branches of the converted-paper-products industry. Unlike
the folding-paper-box and set-up paper-box branches,3it manufactures
outside boxes used in the packing and shipping of goods. Owing to
the wide geographical demand for corrugated and solid fiber shipping
containers, the plants in the industry are fairly well scattered over the
country. Moreover, this industry has recently undergone con
siderable expansion, due in a large measure to a shift from the use of
other packages to corrugated and solid fiber shipping containers.
There are no separate census figures available concerning this
industry, but the association has estimated the total number of
i
The report was published by the trade practice committee of the association on Mar. 9,1936, at Chicago.
It consists of two parts: No. 1, covering the week of Sept. 16-21, 1935, is called “ Percentage Distribution of
Employees by Wage Brackets and Occupations”; No. 2 is entitled as follows: “ Summary and Comparisons
of Employment, Hours, and Wages”, covering 1 week of April 1933, of March 1934, of March 1935, and of
September 1935; “Summary and Comparisons of Hourly Earnings by Occupations”, covering 1 week of
March 1934, of March 1935, and of September 1935.
2
This industry was defined by the code as including “the manufacture of corrugated and solid fiber
board and/or the fabrication of the same into shipping containers, packing materials, and other similar
products.”
3
About the same time the association made the survey under review, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
made field surveys of the folding-paper-box and set-up paper-box industries. For a detailed discussion of
the wages and hours data of the folding and set-up paper-box industries, see respectively the June 1936 (pp.
1588-1615), and the August 1936 (pp. 411-434) issues of the M onthly Labor Review.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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686
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
employees during September 16-21, 1935, as 18,000. The associa
tion’s survey in that period included 163 plants with 12,745 factory
workers, thus embracing about 71 percent of the industry in terms of
employment.
While the above coverage is quite large, including all plants report
ing, it should be remembered that it is practically limited to the
members of the association, and does not cover a few of the larger
plants in the country at large and a number of the smaller plants in
the metropolitan area of New York City that failed to report.
The report of the association is limited exclusively to statistical
tables. In all cases, the figures in the detailed tables are shown by
region (northern and southern zones as defined by the code4),sex,
type of plant, department, and occupation.5 The occupational figures
for March 1934 and 1935 and September 1935 cover average hourly
earnings, average weekly hours, and average weekly earnings. Fre
quency tabulations are also presented on an occupational basis.
Changes in Employment, Wages, and Hours
T h e following summary table (table 1 ), which is reproduced from
the report of the association, shows for 136 identical plants the
changes in production, pay rolls, employment, average hourly earn
ings, average weekly hours, and average weekly wages for April 1933,
March 1934, March 1935, and September 1935.
According to the figures of the association, all of the increase in
employment in the corrugated and solid fiber shipping-container
industry took place between April 1933 and March 1934. The gain
amounted to 44.8 percent. However, this was accompanied by a
decrease in average weekly hours from 43.9 to 35.7, or 18.7 percent,
which is attributable to the operation of the code. As a result, there
was a rise of only 17.7 percent in total man-hours,6 as compared with
an increase of 16 percent in production.
After March 1934 the report indicates a small but steady decline
in employment, which amounted to 2.2 percent by September 1935.
At the same time, average hours per week rose to 37.9 in March 1935,
an advance of 6.2 percent, and to 40.7 in September 1935, a further
increase of 7.4 percent. The gain in weekly hours more than com
pensated for the reduction in employment, so that total man-hours
increased 11.5 percent between March 1934 and September 1935.
During the same period, production rose 27.2 percent.
* The code included in the southern zone the States of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Caro
lina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma; the remainder
of the United States was classified as belonging to the northern zone.
5 The Bureau of Labor Statistics was glad to advise the association in the preparation of the schedules and
instructions as well as in the tabulation of the data.
6 Obtained by multiplying the total number of employees by the average weekly hours.
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687
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Taking the net changes for the entire period from April 1933 to
September 1935, the data of the association show a gain of 41.6
percent in employment, a drop of 7.3 percent in average weekly
hours, and a rise of 31.3 percent in total man-hours. The latter
compares with an increase of 47.6 percent in production.
The increase in pay rolls, according to the report, was continuous
throughout the entire period. Starting with a substantial gain of
54.2 percent between April 1933 and March 1934, there was a further
rise of 11 percent by March 1935, and still another of 6.4 percent by
September 1935. The total gain amounted to 82.1 percent.
T able 1.— C hanges in P ro d u ctio n , P a y Rolls, E m p lo y m en t, E arn in g s an d H ours
in C orrugated and Solid F ib er S hipping-C ontainer In d u stry , by Sex an d
R egion, for 4 Selected P ay -R o ll P eriods 1
[Prepared by the National Container Association]
Item
September 1935
March 1935
Production (square feet):
North
____ _____ ____
- _____
South
__- ________________
354,071,000
26,936,000
321,149,000
25,999,000
T otal_________ _____ _____ _____ _____
381,007,000
347,148,000
Pprop,nt of change since 1933 ______ ______
Percent, of change since 1934 _
_
___
Percent of change since March 1935 __________
+47.6
+27.2
+9.8
+34.5
+15.9
Males
Pay rolls:
North
South _______
Females
Males
Total
Females
Total
_ ___________ _______ $193, 538
_ --------------------------------- $14,591
$38, 653 $232,191 $181,897
$2, 606 $17,197 $13, 337
$36,794
$2,465
$218,691
$15,802
$41, 259 $249, 388 $195, 234
--------- ---------- ------- --
$208,129
$39,259
$234,493
Percent of change since 1933_____ __________
Percent of change since 1934 _
_________
Percent of change since March 1935 ________
Number of employees:
North
_________ ___ ______
South
_______________________
+78.8
+18.8
+6, 6
+100. 6
+14.7
+ 5 .1
+82.1
+18.1
+ 6 .4
+67.8
+11.4
+90.9
+ 9 .2
+71.2
+11.0
8,463
828
2, 529
219
10,992
1,047
8, 589
850
2, 574
214
11,163
1,064
Total------ ------ ---------------------------- ------
9,291
2,748
12,039
9,439
2,788
12, 227
Percent of change since 1933 _ ____________
Percent of change since 1934 ____ __________
+41.3
- 2 .1
-1 . 6
+42.6
- 2 .3
- 1 .4
+41.-6
- 2 .2
- 1 .5
+43.5
-.6
+44.7
- .9
+43.8
-.7
Average earnings per hour:
North
______ ________________
South
_ . _ _ _ _______________
$0.549
$0, 426
$0.402
$0.345
$0. 518
$0.411
$0. 547
$0.421
$0.400
$0.345
$0,515
$0.407
T otal_________________ _______________
$0. 538
$0.398
$0.509
$0. 536
$0.396
$0. 506
Average hours per week:
North
_ ___________________
South-------- ------ -----------------------------------
41,6
41.4
38.0
34.5
40.8
40.0
38.7
37.3
35.7
33.4
38.0
36.5
41.6
37.7
40.7
38.6
35.5
37.9
$22.84
$17. 64
$15. 28
$11.90
$21.13
$16.44
$21.17
$15. 70
$14.28
$11.52
$19.57
$14. 86
$22.38
$15. 00
$20.72
$20.69
$14, 06
$19.18
Total- -------
Total
- ___________ ___ _____ -
Average earnings per week:
North
____________________
South
____________ - —
Total
______ ___ ____________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
688
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW ----SEPTEM B ER 1936
T able 1.— C hanges in P ro d u ctio n , P a y Rolls, E m p lo y m en t, E arn in g s an d H ours
in C orrugated an d Solid F ib er S h ipping-C ontainer In d u s try , by Sex an d
R egion, for 4 Selected P ay -R o ll Periods 1— C ontinued
Item
Production (square feet):
N orth____ _ _____.
South _____
T otal___________________
Percent of change since 1933_____________
April 1933
278,488,000
20,980,000
236,386,000
21,740,000
299,468,000
258,126,000
+16.0
Males
Pay rolls:
N orth.............
........
South ____ _____ _ ___
March 1934
Females
Total
Males
Females
Total
$163, 500
$11,741
$33,339 $196,839 $108, 010
$2, 621 $14, 362
$8,370
$18,898
$1, 668
$126,908
$10,038
T otal. _________ _____
$175,241
$35,960 $211, 201 $116, 380
$20, 566
$136, 946
Percent of change since 1933-.
Number of employees:
N orth___ _____ _______
South___________________
+50.6
+74.9
+54.2
8, 545
950
2, 575
239
11,120
1,189
5,878
698
1,746
181
7, 624
879
6, 576
1, 927
8, 503
T otal________________
Percent of change since 1933-.Average earnings per hour:
N orth_____ ____________
South
_____ _ _
T otal_______________
9,495
2,814
12, 309
+44.4
+46.0
+44.8
$0. 518
$0.396
$0. 387
$0. 338
$0.490
$0.384
$0,402
$0.301
$0. 272
$0.236
$0.375
$0. 288
$0. 507
$0. 383
$0.481
$0.392
$0. 268
$0.367
Average hours per week:
N orth____ ___
South __________
36.9
31.2
33.4
32.5
36.1
31.5
45.7
39.8
39.8
39.1
44.4
39.6
Total ___________
36.4
33.4
35.7
45.1
39.8
43.9
$19.11
$12.36
$12 93
$10. 99
$17.69
$12.10
$18.37
$11.98
$10.83
$9. 23
$16. 65
$11.40
$18.45
$12. 79
$17.17
$17. 68
$10. 67
$16.11
Average earnings per week:
N orth______________ _
South_______ _____
Total - ________ _
1 Based on 136 identical plants.
As in the case of pay rolls, the figures of the association indicate
that the largest increase in average hourly earnings occurred during
the initial period. Thus, the average rose from 36.7 cents in April
1933 to 48.1 cents in March 1934, or 31.1 percent. This may be
attributed largely to the code. By March 1935 the average advanced
to 50.6 cents, which was a further gain of 5.2 percent. There was
very little change between March and September 1935, when the
average became 50.9 cents. The increase for the entire period was
14.2 cents or 38.7 percent.
Examination of the data shows that both the increases in employ
ment and average hourly earnings contributed to the large expansion
in pay rolls between April 1933 and March 1934. The gain in pay
rolls from March 1934 to March 1935, however, was caused by the
rise in average weekly hours as well as by the advance in average
earnings per hour. Lastly, the increase in pay rolls between March
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
689
1935 and September 1935 was due almost entirely to the further gain
in average hours per week, there being only a slight rise during this
period in the average hourly earnings.
The report indicates that in April 1933 the weekly earnings averaged
$16.11. In spite of the reduction in average weekly hours, the large
rise in average earnings per hour increased this figure to $17.17 in
March 1934. The gains in weekly hours and hourly earnings raised the
average to $19.18 in March 1935, and the further advance in weekly
hours was responsible for its increase to $20.72 in September 1935.
Percentage Distributions for September 1935
A n i n d i c a t i o n of the extent to which the industry was still conform
ing at the time of the survey to the minimum rates of wages and
maximum hours of labor established by the code is shown in table 2,
which presents for the post-code period of September 1935 percentage
distributions according to average hourly earnings, weekly hours, and
weekly earnings, with figures for the country as a whole and for each
regional group. The table is based on similar data compiled by the
association separately by occupation, sex, region, type of plant, and
department.
As regards the distribution according to average earnings per hour,
two points stand out in the figures of the association, namely, the
almost negligible number of employees receiving less than the code
minima and the concentration of workers in the classes containing
these minima. The minimum rates of wages provided in the code
were 40 cents for males and 35 cents for females in the North and
32 cents for males and 30 cents for females in the South, with the
exception that a limited number of minors in the office and substandard
workers could be employed at not less than 80 percent of these rates.
Employees earning less than the minima, according to the figures of
the association, formed 0.8 percent for males and 2.0 percent for
females in the North, and in the South formed 1.7 percent for males
and none for females. This is remarkable, as it indicates that at the
time of the study the industry was still conforming rigidly to the
code provisions as regards minimum rates. As the percentages of
workers earning below the code minima have been found to be much
higher in similar industries for which post-code information is avail
able, it leads to the belief that, while the percentages for this industry
may represent conditions in the plants of the members of the asso
ciation, they might have been much higher if the survey had included
the remaining 29 percent of the industry not reporting. The con
centration of employees in the classes containing the code minima
may be seen by the fact that in the North 24 percent of the males
earned 40 and under 45 cents per hour and 56.2 percent of the females
88869— 36------ 10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
690
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
received 35 and under 40 cents, while in the South 32.1 percent of the
males earned 30 and under 35 cents and 67.8 percent of the females
were in the same class.
T able 2.— P ercentage D istrib u tio n of E m ployees in In d u s try A ccording to
Average H ourly E arn in g s, W eekly E arnings, an d W eekly H ours, b y R egion
and Sex, Septem ber 1935
[Prepared by National Container Association]
Average hourly earnings, weekly hours, and weekly
earnings
Total,
United
States
North
Males
South
Females
Males
Females
Average hourly earnings:
TTndar HOrants
______ ________________
30 and under 35 cents___ - ----------------------35 and under 40 cents________________________
40 and under 45 cents------------ ---------------- --45 and under 50 cents----------------- - ------------50 and under 55 cents---------------------------- -------55 and under 60 cents________________________
60 and under 65 cents ______________________
65 and under 70 cents ______________________
70 and under 75 cents____ ___ ________________
75 and under 80 cents _______________ ______
80 and under 90 cents ______________ _______
90 cents and over _ ___________________ _____
0.1
3.9
13.8
22.9
15.0
14. 2
9. 1
7.3
4.4
3.6
2. 2
2. 2
1.3
T otal_______ - ---------------------------------------
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2. 1
2.6
7.4
21.9
47. 2
14.0
4.8
1.5
2.0
6.3
19.7
49.5
15.2
5.8
4.1
4.9
10.3
28.2
41.6
9.5
1. 4
1.5
1.8
4.4
24.3
46.8
16.0
5. 2
3.5
6.2
27.0
31.4
24.4
7.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1.0
2.3
5.7
16.2
26.5
20.8
12. 5
7. 0
4.1
1.9
.9
.6
.5
.7
1.3
2.4
8.3
25.0
25.3
16.8
9.4
5. 5
2. 6
1.2
.8
.7
2.0
5. 1
12.6
34.6
33.7
9.8
1. 6
.3
.2
.1
1. 1
1.8
8.2
38. 1
25.9
12.4
5. 0
3.3
1.9
.8
1.3
8.0
46. 1
31.4
9.7
3.5
100. 0
100.0
100.0
Weekly hours:
Under 16 hours----------- ------------- - --- -16 and under 24 hours--------------------- ----------24 and under 32 hours----------------- . . ----------32 and under 40 hours-— ------------------------ --40 and under 48 hours----- -------- -- ------------------48 and under 56 hours--. - - - - - - -------------- _
______
56 hours and over_____________ ___
T otal------- ------------------ ------ -------------- -Weelky earnings:
Under $4_____ ___________________ ____ ____
$4 and under $8 _
-- ---- -$8 and under $ 1 2 -----------------------------------------$12 and under $16.-- --------------- - . . . - . .
$16 and under $20.- ------------------------------------$20 and under $24_____________ - - ------$24 and under $28- _________________________
$28 and under $ 3 2 __________ _______________
$32 and under $36___________ _______________
$36 and under $40 .
____ _____________
$40 and under $44- __________________________
$44 and under $ 4 8 __________ _______ _________
$48 and over___ __ _ - _________ - - - _____
T otal______________________ ___________
(9
0.2
.6
24.0
17.0
17.5
11.8
9.9
6. 2
5.0
3. 0
3.0
1.8
0. 3
1.7
56.2
22.5
10.8
6. 2
1.7
.5
.1
0.7
32.1
19.9
16.9
9.4
7.5
5.2
3.1
1.1
1.0
1. 1
1. 3
.7
67.8
20.8
8.0
1.7
1.3
.4
.7
.6
.2
100.0
100.0
1 Less than 11o of 1 percent.
Attention has already been called to the fact that the industry
increased the hours of work after the discontinuance of the code.
This is brought out partially by the distribution of employees
according to weekly hours, although no definite conclusions can be
reached since there is no separation as between those who worked
exactly 40 hours and those who worked over 40 hours. It is inter
esting to note, however, that a considerable number of workers were
employed 48 hours and over, the percentages being 21.0 for males in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
691
the North, 10.9 for females in the North, 21.2 for males in the South,
and 7.5 for females in the South.7
As mentioned before, owing to the increase in weekly hours, there
was also a corresponding rise in weekly earnings, as the hourly rates
did not change materially after the abolition of the code. According
to the distribution of employees by weekly earnings, about one half
of the males in the North earned $16 and under $24 per week, about
two-thirds of the females in the North earned between $12 and $20
per week, more than three-fifths of the males in the South fell in the
same class, and more than three-fourths of the females in the South
earned from $8 to $16 per week.
E m ploym ent and E arnings in R adio Broadcasting, 1935
N 1935, an average of 14,561 persons was employed by 8 national
and regional networks and 561 broadcast stations, according
to an announcement made by the Bureau of the Census on July 21,
1936.8 The aggregate pay rolls of the networks and stations during
the year totaled $26,911,392. Only five of the eight networks
reported separate employment, the other three allocating their per
sonnel to affiliated stations. The 5 networks making separate em
ployment reports had 2,001 persons on the pay rolls in 1935 and their
wage and salary disbursements for the year totaled $5,420,279.
The 561 broadcast stations employed 12,560 persons, with a total
pay roll for the year of $21,491,113. About 92 percent of this sum
was paid to full-time and 8 percent to part-time employees.
A more detailed analysis of broadcast-station employment is shown
by the accompanying table, which gives employment and average
earnings for a single representative week in 1935. In this week
(October 26, 1935), 13,139 full-time and part-time ^workers were
employed by the broadcast stations. Of the total, 10,335 (78.7 per
cent) were men and 2,804 (21.3 percent) were women. Part-time
employees accounted for 21.7 percent of the total number and
received 9.6 percent of the wage and salary disbursements.
Station talent, consisting of artists and announcers, totaled 5,864
or nearly half of the total station employees. Of these, however,
2,309 were employed on a part-time basis. Station talent, including
both full-time and part-time artists and announcers, received 37.4
percent of the total pay roll for the week. Artists employed directly
by advertisers are not included in station or network personnel.
I
7 In this connection however, it is fair to state that the industry is a service industry; that for this reason
the code permitted averaging of weekly hours properly to supply seasonal demands of customers; and that
the week under survey happened to be the second highest peak week of the year.
8 This report is part of the census of business now being conducted by the Bureau of the Census, Depart
ment of Commerce.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
692
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
Em ploym ent and Pay-Roll Disbursements of 561 Radio Broadcast Stations for
the Week of October 26, 1935 1
All em ployees2
Full-time employees
Part-time employees
Pay rolls
Class of employees
N um
ber
Pay
rolls
N um
ber
Total
Total, 561 stations........................... ........... 13,139 $429,401 10,287 $388,068
Executives___________________ _____
476
Supervisors____
_____________
703
Office and clerical______ _____ _______ 2,149
Station technicians_____ _____ _ ___ 2,451
Station talent:
Artists_________ ______________ 4,169
Announcers_____________________ 1,695
O ther3______________________ ______ 1,496
Pay rolls
N um
Aver ber
age
$3S
Total
Aver
age
2,852 $41,333
$15
43, 537
43,197
50, 552
84,803
437
690
2,035
2,360
42,079
42,825
49, 349
83,609
96
62
24
35
39
13
114
91
1,458
372
1,203
1,194
37
29
11
13
114,270
46,412
46, 630
1,999
1, 556
1,210
82,026
45,027
43,153
41
29
36
2,170
139
286
32,244
1,385
3, 477
15
10
12
1 For some stations the week ending Oct. 26,1935, was not representative and another week was selected.
2 Does not include entertainers and other talent supplied by advertisers, nor employees of radio network.
2 “ Other” includes employees not otherwise classified. Persons performing a variety of functions where
no one function requires a major portion of the employees’ time and continuity writers are included in this
classification. The classification also includes salesmen.
Technicians engaged in the operation and maintenance of broad
cast stations were the second largest functional group. They ac
counted for 18.4 percent of all employees and received 19.8 percent
of the total pay roll for the week. Other functional groups reported
by the stations include office and clerical workers, supervisors, and
executives. Salesmen, continuity writers, and persons performing a
variety of functions have been grouped together as “other” employees.
The average weekly pay of full-time station employees in the
different occupational groups ranged from $24 for office and clerical
workers to $96 for executives. Supervisors received an average of
$62 a week, station artists averaged $41 a week, and station techni
cians $35 a week. The average weekly earnings of “other” employees
is relatively high because salesmen are included in this group.
The analysis for the representative week does not include network
personnel. In general, the average weekly salary is higher for persons
employed by networks than for those employed by stations. Full-time
station employees, for example, averaged $38 a week, as against
$53 for full-time network employees. Network technicians averaged
$60 a week, artists $91, and office and clerical workers $39.
Salaries in L an d -G ran t Colleges Before and D u rin g
th e D epression
EPORTS on salaries from 51 land-grant colleges and universities 1
„ for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1935,2
make possible a comparison of the remuneration of the full-time staff
R
i There are 69 land-grant institutions, 17 of which are for Negroes and are not included in this survey.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is also omitted, as only 1 report, that for 1934-35, is available.
2 Data were not collected for 1931-32, 1932-33, or 1933-34.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
693
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
members of these institutions before and during the depression.
One such college or university is located in each State and in Alaska,
Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
The membership of the combined staffs increased from 10,875 in
the fiscal year 1928-29 to 11,416 in 1934-35. In the last-mentioned
year these institutions enrolled 179,973 resident students (excluding
summer students), and 77,710 extension and correspondence students.
In 1934-35 the median (typical) salary of the 11,416 full-time staff
members was $2,698. One-third of these educators were deans or
full professors, the remainder being in the lower ranks. The median
range of salaries for the whole staff was $2,500 to $2,749, or $500 under
the median range for 1929-31. Minimum salaries under $1,000 were
paid to 97 persons, while 17 individuals had maximum salaries of
$10,000 or more.
In 1934-35 the percentage distribution of staff members by salary
groups was as follows:
P ercent
U nder
$3,000
$4,000
$5,000
$6,000
$3,000____________________________________________
to $3,999_________________________________________
to $4,999_________________________________________
to $5,999_________________________________________
or over_ __________________________________________
60
24
11
3
2
T otal_____________________________________________ 100
Since 1929 the proportion of full-time staff members employed on a
9-month basis has declined from 64 percent to 61 percent.
These findings are published in Circular No. 157 (February 1936)
of the United States Office of Education, which is the source of this
article.
Median salaries.—In addition to a regular annual salary, presidents
usually receive certain perquisites such as house rent, etc., which
are included, in the study under review, as a part of the salary.
For 1934-35 these perquisites ranged from $500 to $6,000 among 39
presidents; the remaining 12 received no extras. Nine received less
than $1,000; 17 received from $1,000 to $1,500; 9 received from $1,700
to $2,400; 4 received $2,500 each; 2, $3,000; 1, $5,000; and 1, $6,000.
The median salary for presidents of these institutions, including
perquisites, was as follows:
1928- 29________________________ $10,
1929- 30____________
11,
1930- 31______________________
11,
1934-35________________________
9,
720
000
500
000
The median salaries for staff members in the same years are shown
in the accompanying table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
694
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM BER 1936
M edian Salaries of Full-Time Staff Members of 51 L and-G rant Institutions for
Specified Years
Occupation and term
1928-29
Deans:
9 months_____
_________________________ ___
11-12 m onths________________________________ _
Professors:
9 months________ ___________________________
11-12 months___________________ _____________
Associate professors:
9 months________________ ____________________
11-12 months__________________________________
Assistant professors:
9 months_____________________________________
11-12m onths___ _____________________ _ _ ______
Instructors9 months___ _____ _____ ____ __________ _______
11-12 months__________________________________
1929-30
1930-31
1934-35
$5,193
5,071
$5, 089
5,244
$5, 036
5,457
$4,187
4, 647
4, 278
4,161
4,457
4, 225
4, 513
4, 293
3,775
3,682
3, 342
3, 207
3, 349
3,395
3, 362
3,414
2.903
2,906
2, 738
2,880
2,818
2, 936
2,837
2,957
2,449
2,516
2,005
2,134
2,060
2,208
2,066
2,168
1,769
1,960
F arm Wage and Labor S itu atio n on J u ly 1, 1936
ARM wage rates averaged $1.54 per day without board for the
country as a whole on July 1, 1936, as compared with $1.41 on
July 1, 1935. The rates on July 1 of this year ranged from 75 cents
in South Carolina to $2.70 in Rhode Island; on July 1, 1935, they
ranged from 70 cents in South Carolina to $2.55 in Massachusetts.
The supply of agricultural labor available for hire on July 1 was
lower, on the average, than had been reported to the United States
Department of Agriculture for any other date since December 1926.
However, at 88.9 percent of normal, the supply was greater than the
demand, which was only 82.7 percent of normal.
Table 1, taken from a press release dated July 15, 1936, issued by
the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, shows average farm wage
rates, supply of and demand for farm labor, and number of persons
employed per farm on July 1, 1936, as compared with April 1, 1936,
and April 1 and July 1, 1935, and for wages, with the annual average
1910-14.
F
Table 1.-—Average Farm Wage Rates and Em ploym ent in July 1936, as Com
pared with April 1936, and April and July 1935
Item
Farm wage index_____________________ _____
Farm wage rates:
Per month, with board____________ _______
Per month, w ithout b o a r d ___ _ _____ _____
Per day, with board.. ______ ________
Per day, w ithout board______________________
Supply of and demand for farm labor (percent of
normal):
Supply_____ _ . . . . . . . . . .
______ _.
Demand_______ _______ . . . . . . .
Supply as a percentage of demand
Farm employment i (persons per farm):
Fam ilylabor . . .
_ ______ _ . . . . . . .
Hired la b o r...
________
________________
Combined________________ ________________
1 On farms of crop reporters.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Annual
average
1910-14
Apr. 1,
1935
July 1,
1935
Apr. 1,
1936
July 1,
1936
100
94
99
101
108
$20. 41
$29.09
$1. 10
$1.43
$19. 11
$28.82
$0. 97
$1.34
$20.41
$30. 08
$1.05
$1.41
$20. 89
$30. 87
$1.05
$1.43
$22.07
$32. 21
$1.15
$1. 54
101 4
73. 4
138.1
95 7
80 5
118.9
93.8
82.1
114.3
88.9
82.7
107.5
2. 16
. 73
2. 89
2. 41
1. 00
3.41
1 95
. 89
2. 84
2. 23
1 01
3. 24
695
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
In the New England, Middle Atlantic, East North Central, and
Pacific States, the Bureau of Agricultural Economics reports, farm
hands were receiving on July 1 the highest pay in 5 years. The aver
age rates per month and per day, with board and without board, are
given in table 2 by geographic division and State.
Table
2 .— Average
Farm Wage Rates on July 1, 1936, by State and Geographic
Division
Per day
Per month
Geographic division and State
W ith board
United States _________________________ ____ ______
New England __________ _______________________
Maine _ .
_
. _________ ______
____
New H a m p sh ire.-______________ . _______ ____
Vermont
. . .
______
Massachusetts_____ _________________________
Rhode Island_______ ________ _____
___ _
Connecticut_____
_ _
_____ _
M iddle Atlantic.
.
.
.
. . __. . . .
N ew Y o r k ..__________ _______ __ ____ . . . .
N ew Jersey_______ ____________ ______
.. .
Pennsylvania. . . __________ ____ __________
East North Central.
.. .
. . . ___
__
__
Ohio_________
___________ _______ __________
Indiana________________ . _____ ____________ _
Illinois______ ______________ ___ ________ . . .
M ichigan... .
. . . . . .
Wisconsin__
. . . . .
_ .
..
West North Central____
__ .
Minnesota_____ __ __________________________
Iowa_________ . . . ________ . _____ ________ _
Missouri
___ _
. ______ . . . .
______
North Dakota________ ____ _ _______________ .
South D a k o ta _____ _________________________
Nebraska___ _
. . __________ ____________
Kansas________ . _______ ___________________
South Atlantic___________________________________
Delaware_______
___ ______ _ . _____ _ .
M a ry la n d __
__ ____ _
Virginia__________
________ __ _ ___________
West Virginia
. . . _____ - - - - - - . .
North C arolina______________________ ________
South Carolina
__ _________ . __________
Georgia_____
. ____ _ ____ ___________
Florida ____
. . . . _____ . . . ____________
East South Central. . .
__________ _____________
K e n tu c k y ___ .
________ ___ ____ ________
T en n essee____
.
...... ... ....................................
Alabama
..
_______
Mississippi___ _ .
_________________________
West South Central ........ .... .........................................
Arkansas__
__ _ . . _______ ____________ ___
Louisiana . _____ . ___________________ . . . .
Oklahoma.. . .
____ ____ _ _. ____ ___ _ .
Texas___ _
. . . _____ . . .
. ______ . .
M ountain__
. . . . . . . . __ ____ ____ ____ _ ..
M o n ta n a _____________________ . _____ _ ___
Idaho . .
.
Wyoming
_____ _____ ____ ______
Colorado
. . . .
.
...............
New Mexico _ . . ________
. ____ _____ _ .
Arizona_______ ______ ___ _
__________
. U tah ..........
. . .
N e v a d a ..
_____
_. . .
.
___
Pacific
____
_ ____ _
- ____ ____
W ash in gton __________________________________
Oregon
.
. . . . . __ ______ . . . .
California . ____________ . .
______________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$22.07
30. 27
29.00
28. 75
28. 50
30. 75
41.75
31. 50
26. 64
28. 25
28. 75
24.00
26. 40
23. 75
24. 25
28. 50
25. 50
29. 00
26. 29
30.00
30. 50
20. 50
26. 50
25. 50
26. 25
24. 50
15. 05
23.00
23. 25
19.00
20. 25
15. 75
11.00
11. 50
14.00
14. 22
17. 50
15.25
12. 25
12. 00
17. 52
14. 50
13.50
19. 75
19. 50
33.94
37. 25
40. 25
33. 25
29. 00
25. 50
34. 50
41. 50
39. 25
40. 33
35. 75
35. 75
42.50
W ithout
board
$32. 21
51.87
45.00
49. 00
45. 50
57. 50
67. 25
57. 25
41.94
43. 50
47. 75
38. 25
37. 16
34. 75
34. 00
37. 75
37. 50
41.50
36.07
40. 75
38. 50
29. 25
39. 00
37.00
36.50
34. 50
22.51
34. 50
35. 50
28. 00
31.00
23. 25
16. 75
16. 75
22. 75
20. 59
25.00
22.00
18.00
17. 50
25. 23
21. 50
19. 75
28. 25
27. 75
48. 86
52. 00
54. 50
50. 75
44. 50
36.50
53. 25
57.00
54. 25
61. 27
53. 50
53.25
65.00
W ith board
$1.15
1.70
1. 55
1. 65
1. 55
1. 90
1.80
1. 75
1.54
1. 60
1.60
1.45
1. 43
1.40
1.30
1.50
1.50
1.45
1.41
1. 55
1. 60
1.05
1.20
1.25
1.50
1.70
.78
1. 20
1.25
.95
1.00
.85
.55
.60
.75
.72
.85
.75
.65
.65
.90
.70
.70
1.05
1.00
1.61
1.70
1. 95
1. 60
1.40
1.25
1.55
1.95
1.85
1.83
1.80
1.80
1.85
Without
board
$1.54
2.41
2.10
2. 55
2.15
2. 65
2. 70
2. 55
2. 12
2. 20
2.15
2.00
1. 89
1.90
1. 70
1. 90
2. 00
1.95
1.89
2. 15
2. 05
1.40
1. 80
1.80
2.05
2. 10
1.04
1.70
1. 65
1.25
1.40
1. 10
. 75
.80
1.10
.94
1. 10
. 95
.85
.85
1. 18
.95
.95
1.35
1.30
2. 11
2. 40
2. 50
2. 15
2.00
1.50
1.90
2.35
2.60
2. 53
2.45
2. 30
2.60
696
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
Wages in V arious In d u stries in G erm any in 1935
HE State Statistical Office of Germany has published summaries
of gross earnings in 15 industries in Germany in December 1935.1
These summaries, based upon previous wage investigations under
taken by that office, are shown in table 1.
T
Table 1.-—Gross Earnings in 15 Industries in Germany in December 1935
[Exchange rate of mark (100 pfennigs) in December 1935=40.2 cents]
Industry and group of workers
Gross earn
ings per—
Industry and group of workers
Hour
Week
P i.
M a rks
Iron and steel production____ __ 86.5
Skilled workers___ ________
92.0
Semiskilled workers__________
87.2
Unskilled workers and workers’ helpers_______ ______
76.4
Metal-working industry:
Skilled workers, m a le..
.
96.4
Semiskilled wmrkers, male___
84.5
Workers’ helpers, male_____
65.8
Female workers____________
50.4
Chemical industry:
Skilled workers, male ___ _
104.3
Semiskilled
and unskilled
workers, male______________ 87.8
Female workers_____________
51.3
Building trades:
Masons __________ ____ _____
SO. 2
Carpenters,._ . . .
______
84.0
Building workers’ helpers_____ 68.0
Excavation workers.. _ _____
61.0
Lumber industry:
Skilled and semiskilled workers
57.9
Workers’ helpers________ ____
50.9
Building carpentry and furniture
manufacture:
Skilled workers____________
76.0
Semiskilled workers__________
63.4
Workers’ helpers_________
50.5
Paper production:
Skilled and semiskilled workers, male__________________
71.2
Unskilled workers, male_____
64.2
Female workers_____________
41.7
Paper-working industry:
Skilled workers, male________
97.5
Workers’ helpers, male____ .
64.4
Skilled workers, female_______
54.4
Workers’ helpers, female_____
40. 2
44.20
47. 40
43. 94
38. 40
47.81
41.43
32. 43
23.92
48. 68
39. 47
21.90
27. 57
23. 83
36.17
30.11
23.79
35. 38
31. 28
18. 76
51.54
32. 98
27. 27
19.18
Printing trades:
Skilled workers, male_________
Technical workers’ helpers,
male_____ __________ _____
Technical workers’ helpers,
female___ . ____ ______
Lithography, offset and stone
printing:
Skilled workers, male_________
Technical workers’ helpers,
male_____ __
............
Technical workers’ helpers,
female__ ______________ _
Textile industry:
Skilled workers, male____ . . .
Workers’ helpers, male_____
Skilled workers, female______
Workers’ helpers, female_____
Clothing industry:
Skilled and semiskilled work
ers, male______________ .
Skilled and semiskilled work
ers, female_________________
Shoe industry:
Male workers_____ _____ _____
Female workers . . . _________
Confectionery, bakery, and pastry
industries:
Skilled workers, m a l e . ____
W orkers’ helpers, male____ . __
Skilled workers, fem ale_____
Workers’ helpers, female______
Brewery industry:
Skilled workers_____ ______ _
Unskilled workers____ _ _
Salaried employees___________
Gross earn
ings per—
Hour
Week
P f.
M a rks
120.2
56. 94
98.8
47.31
51.5
24.52
112.9
53. 94
78.0
37. 92
44.3
21.16
69.0
53.3
48.7
37.7
27.31
22. 97
19. 56
15. 62
79.3
37. 36
45.3
20.88
76.0
49.8
30. 75
19. 89
86.4
67.4
50.2
43.0
43. 46
33. 69
23.89
21.00
104.8
91.0
105.1
43.99
38. 03
43. 82
Textile Industry
W a g e data are shown in more detail for the textile industry in
Germ my. The State Statistical Office investigation of earnings and
hours in this industry in December 1935 covered 644 establishments
in 243 localities, employing 197,108 workers, of whom 67,335 or 34.2
percent were time-rate workers and 129,773 or 65.8 percent were
piece-rate workers.
Gross earnings per hour averaged 54.8 pfennigs for all investigated
workers, 66.1 pfennigs for males, and 47.1 pfennigs for females. The
average weekly working time was 40.3 hours. Gross weekly earnings
averaged 22.09 marks per worker.
1 Wirtschaft und Statistik (Berlin), Apr. 1, 1936, no. 7, pp. 283-285.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
697
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 2 shows hourly and weekly gross earnings by branch of indus
try and group of workers.
Table 2.—Average Hourly and Weekly Gross Earnings in the Textile Industry
in Germany, December 1935
[Exchange rate of mark (100 pfennigs) in December 1935=40.2 cents]
Males
Skilled workers
Branch of industry
Per
hour
Females
Workers’ helpers
Skilled workers
Workers’ helpers
Per
week
Per
hour
Per
week
Per
hour
Per
week
Per
hour
Per
week
M a rks
P fe n n ig s
M a rks
P fe n n ig s
M a rks
P fe n n ig s
M a rks
P fe n n ig s
The ind ustry.____________
69.0
27.31
53.3
22. 97
48.7
19.56
37.7
15.62
Worsted s p in n in g ...______
W oolens.. . ___________ _.
Cotton___________________
Linen__
. . . _________
Silk__________ _____ _____
Velvet. ________ . . . . . . .
Ribbon______ __________
Lace and curtain.
_____
Knit goods.. . . . _______
67.5
71.9
65.8
58.8
71.3
77.5
75.4
77.3
77.1
26. 21
25. 76
28.14
24.10
28.92
29.65
33. 65
28. 23
29.47
58.1
55.9
52.0
47.6
58.2
55.3
49.9
51.8
57.5
25.33
21.88
23.00
20. 29
26. 20
22. 46
22. 52
20.53
24.62
46.3
53.0
49.8
43.3
55.7
55.4
49.7
42.9
44.8
18.17
19.23
21.13
17. 43
20.71
18.78
21.50
15. 43
18. 54
37.4
40.8
36.5
35.7
44.4
38.5
39.7
33.6
33.8
14. 93
16.28
15.75
14. 38
17.88
16. 55
17.82
11.90
15. 82
Iron and Steel Industry
T h e investigation in November 1935 of earnings and hours in iron
and steel production by the German State Statistical Office covered
112 establishments in 79 localities employing 151,158 workers.
Gross earnings for all investigated workers averaged 86.5 pfennigs
per hour per worker and 44.20 marks per week per worker. Average
working time amounted to 51.1 hours.
Table 3 shows the gross hourly and weekly earnings by branch of
production.
Table 3.— Average Hourly and Weekly Gross Earnings in Iron and Steel P ro
duction in Germany, November 1935
[Exchange rate of mark (100 pfennigs) in November 1935=40.2 cents]
Skilled workers
Semiskilled
workers
Unskilled work
ers and helpers
Total
Branch of production
Per
hour
Per
week
Per
hour
Per
week
Per
hour
Per
week
Per
hour
Per
week
P fe n n ig s
M a rks
P fe n n ig s
M a rks
P fe n n ig s
M a rks
P fe n n ig s
M a rks
92.0
47.40
87.2
43.94
76.4
38. 40
86.5
44. 20
96.4
120.3
126.2
90.6
84.0
53.29
65. 67
63.76
43.82
44.73
82.1
93.7
101.4
79.3
78.0
44. 68
49.41
50.69
38.27
42.24
78.6
81.8
82.3
69.9
69.9
41.29
41.73
41.60
33.82
35.37
84.9
94.0
93.1
80.3
81.9
45. 32
48.68
46.71
38.84
43.09
The industry___________
Blast furnaces. _________
Steel plants_____________ _
Rolling m ills.. ___________
Foundries________________
Auxiliary plants__________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
698
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Wage Increases fo r In d u strial Employees o f B ritish
G o v e rn m e n t1
KILLED and nonskilled workers in engineering trades employed
by the British Government were awarded a 3-shilling increase in
weekly wages by a recent decision of the engineering trades joint
council. The increase affects over 20,000 employees of Government
establishments and applies to both time workers and piece workers.
It is not immediately payable in full, however, as the award sets
three dates upon which a 1-shilling increase is to be made. The first
increase is retroactive to June 29; the second is due the end of Septem
ber; and the third, the end of December.
These terms are identical with those recently agreed upon in wage
negotiations between the Engineering Employers’ Federation and the
Amalgamated Engineering Union, which, in turn, affect many
workers employed on Government contracts.
Employees of arsenals and Government munitions factories, who
are not covered by the joint council, have been offered the same wage
increases by the War Office.
S
1 From report of Alfred N utting, clerk, American Consulate General, London, dated July 13,1936.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FAMILY ALLOW ANCES
E xpansion of F ren ch Fam ily "A llow ance System
HE number of approved family-allowance funds in France was
given as 222 in a report submitted to the Sixteenth French
Congress on Family Allowances, held at Strasbourg, May 20, 1936.
In January 1935 the number of such funds was 208. Excerpts from
the above-mentioned report are published in the June 1936 issue of
Bulletin Mensuel des Allocations Familiales et des Assurances Sociales (Paris), which is the source of this article.
The following statistics on the progress of the family-allowance
system were presented by the Director of the National Committee
on Family Allowances:
T
Increase of Family Allowance Funds in France, January 1935 to M ay 1936
[Average exchange rate of franc in January 1935 and in M ay 1936=6.58 cents]
Item
Number of family-allowance funds__ ______________ . .
Number of undertakings affiliated with funds___
_ _
Number of workers covered__________________________
Am ount paid in allowances_____ __________ _________
January 1935
208
157,000
3,750,000
F rancs
675,000,000
As reported to
Percent of
M ay 1936
increase since
congress
January 1935
222
218,000
4, 238,000
6.7
38.9
13.0
F ra n cs
780,000,000
15.6
If the 75 approved special services were included, the total number
of workers covered aggregated, according to the same report, 5,238,000
and the amount paid out in allowances 1,600 million francs. When
the figures for the public services were added, the number of workers
reached 6,038,000 and the amount paid out in allowances totaled
2,100 million francs.
An investigation conducted immediately before the national con
vention disclosed that the compulsory family allowance act of
March 11, 1932, had been applied by less than 50 percent of the
employers subject to the legislation. The delinquents were chiefly
medium-sized enterprises and smaller undertakings. The National
Committee on Family Allowance took the position that during an
industrial crisis it would be inadvisable to be too peremptory in
demanding a strict and universal application of the act, but at the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
699
700
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
same time expressed disapproval of defaulting employers and certain
bodies organized outside the law.
Notwithstanding the severe effects in 1935 of the industrial depres
sion, the social services of the family-allowance funds continued to
develop.
Among the reports made to the convention were those on the follow
ing subjects: Special conditions under which the family-allowance
system was instituted in Italy; the evolution of Belgian legislation on
family allowances; the development of noncompulsory family allow
ances in Switzerland; measures taken by the French administration
for the application of the law of March 11, 1932; results of an inquiry
on the demographic situation of families benefiting under the French
family-allowance funds; principles of jurisprudence relative to family
allowances; and the reasons for extending the French compulsory
family allowance act to rural sections, with a view to preventing an
increasing exodus to urban districts.
A id fo r Large Families in G erm any
HE German act of June 1, 1933, designed to remedy unemploy
ment and increase the birth rate, provides for loans without
interest to wage earners and employees who are married. It is also
provided that these loans be paid back at the rate of 1 percent a
month. However, at the birth of each child in a worker’s or em
ployee’s family, 25 percent of the debt is canceled, so that no reim
bursement is required after the birth of the fourth child. Further
details of the new scheme are given in the May 1936 issue of Bulletin
Mensuel des Allocations Familiales et des Assurances Sociales (Paris).
The loans authorized by the above-mentioned law average 600
marks, and the expense incurred by the Treasury is covered by a tax
on celibates.
A decree of September 15, 1935, provided credits amounting to
approximately 200,000,000 francs annually to meet the new expenses
resulting from the establishment of a system of allowances in kind
in addition to the loans already approved. These allowances are
granted only once and are in the form of purchase orders of 10 to 50
marks for necessary household articles at designated stores, the
Government thus assuring itself that such allowances will be used
for the purpose for which they are provided.
As the available funds are not sufficient to grant allowances to
all large families, such assistance is restricted to needy families of
pure Aryan race having at least 4 children under 16 years of age who
have no physical nor mental infirmity. The Ministry of Finance is
authorized to decide as to the eligibility of families for these benefits.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
701
FAMILY ALLOWANCES
The report calls attention to the fact that the German law provides
allowances only when the children are in excellent physical condition,
while French legislation prolongs the payment of family allowance in
case of infirmity or chronic maladies.
Fam ily A llow ances in N e w Z ealand, 1934-35
URING the year ended March 31, 1935, the number of claims for
family allowances handled in New Zealand under the act 1 pro
viding such benefits totaled 2,743. Of this number 2,166 were granted,
295 rejected, and 282 held over. Among the rejected claims were 135
that represented cases in which the family income, including the
allowances, exceeded the limit beyond which these subsidies are not
now paid. On March 31, 1935, the total number of families receiving
allowances was 12,321. During the year ending on that date the
total amount paid out was £152,818 2 and the total paid out for the
8 years ending March 31, 1935, during which the act has been in
operation, was £729,553. In the same 8-year period 19,063 family
allowances were granted of which 6,742 have been discontinued. The
above statistics and the following data are taken from the New Zealand
Year Book, 1936 (pp. 483-484). The number of children in the 12,321
families in receipt of allowances March 31, 1935, was 54,040, of
whom 29,398 were in families having more than 2 children. The
average number of children per family was 4.39. The number of
families granted allowances in the year 1934-35, according to the
number of children in the family is shown in the following statement:
D
N um ber of
fa m ilie s
3
4
5
6
children___________________ 1, 240
497
children___________________
children____________________
243
children____________________
101
N um ber of
fa m ilie s
7 children____________________
8 children____________________
9 children____________________
10 children__________________
54
22
6
3
The weekly incomes of 2,166 families whose claims for allowances
were granted in the year under review are given below:
N um ber of
fa m ilie s
£1 or under___________________________________________
Over £1 and up to £ 2 ________________________________ __
Over £2 and up to
£ 3 __________________________
Over £3 and up to
£3 5s________________________
Over £3 5s____________________________________________
178
983
642
337
26
T otal___________________________________________ 2, 166
1 The Family Allowances Act was passed in 1926, and came into force Apr. 1, 1927. The allowance is at
the rate of 2s. per week for each child in excess of two, the average w eekly income of the applicant and his
wife and children, including allowance, not to exceed £ 4 (reduced to £3 5s. by section 26 of the National
Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1932) plus 2s. for each child in excess of two. For the purposes of the act
the term “child” in general means a child under the age of 15. The application for the allowance is made by
the father, but in general the allowance is paid to the mother.
Pound at p a r= $4.8665; exchange rate varies.
2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
702
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
The number of these families receiving specified weekly allowances
was as follows:
N u m b er of
fa m ilie s
Is.
2s.
3s.
4s.
6s.
6s.
7s.
per
per
per
per
per
per
per
week_________________
week_________________
week_________________
week_________________
week_________________
week_________________
week_________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8
1, 249
8
497
3
233
2
N um ber of
fa m ilie s
8s. per w eek_________________
9s. per week_________________
10s. per week________________
12s. per week________________
14s. per week________________
18s. per w eek________________
94
1
48
18
4
1
EM PLOYMENT OFFICES
O perations o f U n ited States E m ploym ent Service,
Ju ly 1936
TOTAL of 435,445 placements in public and private employ
ment and on relief-work projects was made by offices of the
United States Employment Service during July. The field of public
employment continued in the lead over private employment for the
month of July 1936, in placements made by offices of the United
States Employment Service. Public placements showed a slight
decrease of 2.1 percent from June which had reached an all-time high.
Private placements decreased 4.5 percent from the June figure.
Placements on relief projects continued to decline, reaching the
lowest level reported in any month during the past year.
A total of 261,196 placements in public prevailing-wage employ
ment was made by the employment offices in July. This was the
second highest monthly figure reported by the Service, and repre
sented only a slight decrease from the preceding record month.
Activity in the solicitation of openings from private employers
resulted in 116,059 placements in private industry for the month of
July. While this total represented a decline of 4.5 percent from
the June level, it was the third highest in the past 2 years.
During July, 390,839 additional new applicants were registered in
the public employment offices, an increase of 7.1 percent from the
number reported for June. This total was the highest registration
in the past 6 months.
The Employment Service made 26,003 veterans’ placements during
July, of which 18,794 were in public and governmental employment
at prevailing wages, a 4.9 percent decrease from the number reported
in June. Private employment accounted for 4,341 of the veterans’
placements, while 2,868 placements of veterans on relief projects
were made.
During the month of July, 11,381 veterans were registered by
offices of the Employment Service, an increase of 67.7 percent from
the June total. At the end of July the applications of 382,910
veterans were reported in the active file of the Employment Service.
Offices of the affiliated and cooperating State Employment Services
made a total of 216,877 placements of all classes in July, 49.8 percent
of the total for the entire Employment Service. The State offices
led in the field of private employment with 81,994 verified placements.
A
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
703
704
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
This total was 5.3 percent less than that for June and comprised
70.6 percent of the aggregate for the combined services.
In the field of public prevailing-wage employment, the State serv
ices were responsible for 106,769 placements, a slight decrease *of
3.3 percent over the previous month. State offices played a much
smaller part in the total referral activity in this field than did the
National Reemployment Service offices, making only 40.9 percent
of the placements for the entire service.
State employment services reported 28,114 assignments of relief
persons during the month, a decline of 19.3 percent from the preced
ing month. This total represented 48.3 percent of the relief assign
ments made through the combined operations of both branches of
the Employment Service.
A total of 215,876 new applicants was registered and classified by
State offices, 55.2 percent of the total for the entire service and 1.5
percent less than in June. Active files of the State employment
offices increased 2.3 percent during July to a month-end total of
3,321,395—50.3 percent of the total for the entire Employment Service.
Offices of the National Reemployment Service made 218,568
placements of all classes during July, or 50.2 percent of the national
total. Public placement was the predominant field of activity of the
National Reemployment Service offices, with 154,427 verified place
ments made, or 59.1 percent of the combined total for the two branches
of the Employment Service. This number was 1.3 percent less than
the June volume. In the field of private industry National Reem
ployment Service offices made 34,065 placements, or 29.4 percent of
the combined total. Assignments on security-wage work numbered
30,076, or 33.7 percent below those for June.
Table 1.— Summary of Operations, State Employm ent and National Reemploy
m ent Service, July 1936
State employment services
Activity
Number
New applications________________ ____ _
215,876
216,877
Total placements______ - . . . . ___________
81,994
Private___ ____ _
__________ . _____
106, 769
Public__ _____ . . .
...
Relief
.
. _ _ _
28,114
Active file..______ ____ _ . ___
_ _ _____ 3,321, 395
National Reemployment
Service
Percent Percent
of
of
change United Number
from
States
total
June
-1 .5
-6 .8
-5 .3
- 3 .3
-1 9 .3
+ 2 .3
55.2
49.8
70.6
40.9
48.3
50.3
174,963
218, 568
34,065
154,427
30,076
3, 283, 030
Percent Percent
of
of
change United
from
States
June
total
+15. 0
- 7 .9
- 1 .7
- 1 .3
-3 3 .7
+ 1 .5
44.8
50.2
29.4
59.1
51.7
49.7
During July, 174,963 new applicants registered with National
Reemployment Service offices, which represented 44.8 percent of
the total for the entire service. This was 15 percent more than for
June. At the end of July, 3,283,030 active applicants were regis
tered with the National Reemployment Service offices. The active
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
705
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
files of the National Reemployment Service offices contained 49.7
percent of the total active registrations with the Employment Service.
Table
2 .— Operations
of Offices of Combined S tate Employm ent Services and
National Reemployment Service, July 1936
N ew applica
tions
Placements
Private
Public
Per
cent of
N um change
ber
from
June
Per
N um cent of
change
ber
from
June
State
Total
Re
lief i
Per
N um cent of
change
ber
from
June
Active file
July 31
Per
cent of
change
from
June 30
- 4 .5
261,196
- 2 .1
+ 7.1 6,604,425
+ 2 .3
255
1,021
929
15,732
1,710
- 8 .6
+25.0
+52.5
+ 5 .0
-2 6 .0
4,463
2,015
3,253
18,381
2,094
-1 9 .7
-1 8 .5
+32.1
+31.9
-1 2 .6
1,053
237
2,488
6,793
792
6, 763
1,910
6, 279
29,863
4,866
+27.6
- 3 .1
+37.6
+ 3 .2
- 5 .3
100,881
31,774
84,421
230,027
75,569
+ 2 .2
+ 4 .6
+ 9 .4
-4 .9
+ 8 .2
4,480
1,546
5,543
6,721
4,872
1,629
615
1,042
1,093
673
- 8 .1
-2 0 .3
+ 1 .3
- 2 .4
-1 3 .9
2,404
835
3, 702
4,846
2,618
- 5 .5
-2 4 .6
-.6
+29.8
+13.1
447
96
799
782
1,581
4,684
660
4,864
10,304
3,006
+• 0
-2 6 .8
+ 7 .6
+55.0
-2 2 .7
56,441
10,997
68,853
111,443
21,492
+ 6 .7
-.3
+ 9 .1
+12.9
- 6 .8
Illinois.........- ......... 26,345
Indiana------------- 11,492
Iowa--- ------------- 11,295
11, 666
Kansas----------5,370
K entucky----------
12,193
4,262
3,409
1,294
931
-1 .3
-1 .8
+ 4 .7
- 9 .2
- 4 .7
12,276
7,142
7,678
9,762
4,152
- 7 .2
+ 8 .7
-2 5 .8
+38.9
-5 .2
1,876
88
208
610
287
26,802
11,998
8,072
7,525
5,533
-1 4 .4
+ 7 .3
+ 7 .9
+76.9
+31.1
395,619
186,958
64,548
85,743
139,602
+ 6 .7
+ 3 .0
+ 9 .2
+ 6 .6
+ 5 .7
3,543
2,871
3,216
4,971
13,558
489
62
462
1,083
2,167
+ 5 .8
-4 6 .1
-1 7 .1
+12.7
+25.3
3,010
1,947
2,340
2,815
8,196
-3 5 .3
-2 3 .9
+ 4 .3
+14.9
+ 8 .5
44
862
414
1,073
3,195
9,095
1,557
3,231
7,513
12,907
+47.4
-3 1 .1
-2 .0
-1 2 .6
+29.2
88,332
28,845
96,742
312, 006
190,901
+11.6
—1. 5
-j-1. 2
+ 1 .6
+ 5 .1
M innesota--------- 15,436
M ississippi--------- 5, 302
Missouri------------ 11, 676
7,202
Montana_______
Nebraska----------- 8,098
4, 777
3
1,807
836
1, 461
-0
-9 5 .4
-1 4 .5
-6 1 .8
+ 7 .3
9,014
3, 825
8, 875
5,783
6, 418
-1 4 .3
- .6
-7 .9
-1 5 .4
- 1 .9
1, 645
1, 474
994
583
219
8,768
6,458
11, 743
3,792
4,537
- 6 .8
+35.4
+22.6
+32.4
+22.1
139, 262
105, 830
246, 591
30, 768
42, 238
+ 4 .9
+ .7
+ 4 .7
+ 6 .4
+ 8 .7
1,843
Nevada_____ . . .
N ew Hampshire.. 1, 695
6, 058
N ew Jersey-------N ew Mexico------- 4,246
N ew York______ 29, 362
185
365
3, 368
1,330
11, 432
- 1 .1
+65.9
-2 2 .9
+ 7 .0
-1 0 .4
1,490
955
1,318
2, 007
13, 366
+11.4
- 8 .4
-3 7 .0
-2 3 .9
-1 2 .7
168
375
1, 372
909
4,564
694
1, 554
11,419
1,881
24, 717
-1 4 .4
+ 8 .4
+ 6 .0
-1 .2
+ 7 .6
5,145
26,493
249, 050
52, 331
545,516
+0
—2.1
+ 2 .7
+4. 3
—1.9
North Carolina— 9,491
4, 872
North Dakota---Ohio __________ 24, 296
O klahom a._____ 5, 901
Oregon-------------5,913
2,428
1,288
9, 371
1,439
1,267
-4 3 .3
+77.7
+ 2 .3
-2 0 .8
-5 .9
6,439
2, 541
11, 913
3, 854
4,112
-1 4 .2
-2 0 .0
+ 6 .3
-4 .0
-1 .8
624
1,043
3,012
608
534
9,480
6,882
24, 545
5,315
3,457
- 6 .7
+69.4
+ 3 .7
+ 4.3
-.7
109, 798
46, 859
347,185
157, 763
75,094
+ 6 .3
-|-38. 5
+ 5 .0
+4. 5
+ 5 .1
Pennsylvania----- 22, 749
967
Rhode Island___
South Carolina... 5,546
South Dakota___ 4, 575
6,153
Tennessee______
3, 767
397
643
664
895
-1 4 .7
+44.9
-1 5 .2
- 9 .4
+ 6 .2
11, 662
475
4, 519
3, 359
4, 753
-1 3 .7
+35.3
+35.7
-1 9 .0
- 5 .5
7,320
95
384
552
505
26,854
1,119
4, 530
3, 471
8,485
-1 4 .8
+ 1.0
+20.0
+28.1
+34.8
965, 219
52, 492
90,069
35, 989
178, 350
-7 .4
—14.1
—
{—
¿5. 8
-{-2Ò. 3
+4. 9
Texas ................... 27, 634
4,556
U tah___________
Vermont________ 1, 990
8,054
Virginia________
W a sh in g to n .___ 9,510
4,999
1, 503
352
1, 549
1,107
- 3 .7
-1 .5
+ 5 .7
- 3 .1
+31.2
20,582
2,732
1, 504
6,157
6,381
+ 9 .7
+ 7 .8
- 6 .4
- 8 .3
+18.3
2, 053
321
134
348
2,022
15,953
1,954
1,140
5, 606
5,010
+18.9
+11.2
-1 4 .5
-1 2 .7
+ .7
217, 941
27,518
11, 035
84,482
94,096
+ 9 .2
—
|—-LÒ.2
+5. 5
+ 1 .9
+ 4 .7
4,417
W est Virginia___
W iscon sin______ 12, 901
W yom in g.. . . . .
3, 127
D ist. of Columbia. 3,170
1,038
4,304
565
1,868
+16.0
-2 .4
+ 9 .7
- 3 .6
3,258
7, 334
1, 754
887
-1 5 .6 .
-1 .2
-2 3 .9
- 6 .5
121
1, 263
808
415
5,298
13, 307
1, 871
3, 567
- 4 .0
+21.5
- 4 .1
+11.4
114, 503
129,099
9,878
32,637
+ 7 .5
+ 6 .4
+10.1
+16. 5
United States__ - 435,445 116,059
Alabama________ 5,771
3,273
Arizona. ---------6,670
Arkansas_______
40,906
California............ 4,596
Colorado_______
Connecticut------D elaw are---------Florida_________
Georgia-----------Idaho— .............
Louisiana----------M aine__________
Maryland---------Massachusetts—
Michigan-----------
58,190 390, 839
1 Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
88869— 36------ 11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
706
MONTHLY LABOE R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Table 3.—Operations of Offices of State E m ploym ent Services, July 1936
New applica
tions
Placements
Private
State
Total
Active file
Public
Percent
of
Percent
Percent R elief1 N um change
of
of
ber
from
N um change N um change
ber
ber
June
from
from
June
June
July 31
Percent
of
change
from
June 30
All States_______ 216, 877
81,994
2 -5 .3 106, 769
2 -3 .3 28,114 215,876
2 -1 .5 3,321,395
2+2. 3
Arizona- .............
1,186
California_______ 31,610
1,834
Colorado_______
Connecticut_____ 3, 217
1,546
Delaware_______
613
12, 846
792
1, 304
615
+33.8
+ 6 .3
+ 8 .2
-1 .6
-2 0 .3
478
12, 766
638
1, 582
835
-2 8 .7
+58.0
-2 0 .5
-1 2 .4
-2 4 .6
95
5,998
404
331
96
867
23,898
2, 563
3, 745
660
+28.1
-.2
-1 3 .0
-.1
-2 6 .8
14,039
179, 579
44, 274
41, 633
10,997
+ 7 .4
- 7 .5
+ 5 .5
+ 7.1
- .3
5,543
Florida_________
Idaho- _______
3,167
Illinois_________ 18, 632
Indiana_________ 11,492
Iow a___________ 11, 295
1,042
418
10,852
4, 262
3,409
+ 1 .3
-1 6 .6
- 4 .5
(3)
(3)
3, 702
1,438
6, 210
7,142
7,678
-.6
+38.3
-1 3 .9
(3)
(3)
799
1,311
1, 570
88
208
4,864
1,803
19,121
11, 998
8,072
+ 7.6
-2 0 .9
-1 5 .7
(3)
(3)
68,853
10, 586
281,140
186, 958
64,548
+ 9.1
-1 5 . 2
+ 6.9
0
0
2,462
3, 543
2,868
5, 396
3,341
713
489
934
2,916
1,439
-2 6 .5
+ 5 .8
+ 8 .4
-2 .2
- 3 .6
1,606
3,010
1,242
2,196
1,487
- .5
-3 5 .3
+25.1
+18.8
-2 4 .5
143
44
692
284
415
1,219
9,095
4,335
3, 803
5, 383
+21.5
+47.4
-1 2 . 1
-1 0 .8
+ 2 .6
22,661
88, 332
145,769
75,998
93, 261
+ 2 .8
+11.6
+ .4
+ 2.1
+ 8 .0
N evada_________ 1,138
New Hampshire-.
685
N ew Jersey_____
6,058
1,962
N ew Mexico____
N ew York______ 18,120
145
177
3, 368
507
10,101
- 2 .0
+45.1
(3)
-1 4 .8
-1 0 .1
919
346
1,318
1,118
6, 284
+21.7
+11.6
(3)
-2 2 .1
-2 2 .6
74
162
1,372
337
1,735
509
969
11,419
1,163
16,644
+17.3
+37.4
0
+ 9 .5
+ 4 .0
3,493
14,820
249,050
25,681
290, 200
+ 1 .2
+ 8 .6
0
+ 8 .9
-2 .2
North Carolina—- 9,491
North Dakota___
941
Ohio................ ....... 15,429
Oklahoma______
2,459
O reg o n ................. 2,727
2,428
517
7,070
1,171
759
-4 3 .3
+53.4
- 2 .1
-2 1 .4
-1 3 .1
6, 439
309
5,669
1,076
1,740
-1 4 .2
- 1 .9
+13.0
+52.0
+ 1 .5
624
115
2, 690
212
228
9,480
1,022
17, 714
1,321
1,976
- 6 .7
+27.1
+ 9 .7
-1 4 .5
+ 5.3
109, 798
5,524
230, 763
27, 572
49,051
+ 6 .3
+18.0
+ 4 .7
+ 1 .4
+ 5 .8
Pennsylvania___ 12, 704
832
Rhode Island___
South D akota___ 4,080
3,499
Tennessee_______
Texas. ________
7,710
2,868
362
445
648
891
-1 2 .9
+50.8
-2 8 .6
+28.1
«
5,424
383
3,154
2,610
6,253
-1 4 .1
+41.9
-1 9 .1
-1 0 .2
0
4, 412
87
481
241
566
17,835
992
3, 259
3,808
5, 660
-1 6 .1
- 2 .8
+28.7
+11.5
l4)
550,000
47,181
33,169
62, 628
81,592
0
-1 3 .5
+25.9
+ 7 .5
0
Vermont________ 1,990
Virginia________
1,263
West Virginia___
980
W is c o n sin ..____ 12, 901
W yoming_______ 1, 606
D ist. of Columbia
3,170
352
668
320
4, 304
381
1,868
+ 5 .7
+ 8 .6
+ 4 .2
(3)
+30.5
- 3 .6
1,504
550
636
7,334
806
887
- 6 .4
+14.3
-4 2 .0
(3)
+ 2 .4
- 6 .5
134
45
24
1, 263
419
415
1,140
726
966
13,307
973
3,567
-1 4 .5
-1 0 .5
-2 8 .8
0
- 4 .1
+11.4
11,035
11,112
23,910
129,099
4,452
32,637
+ 5 .5
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .8
0
- 2 .5
+16.5
Kansas (unaffiliated)_________
Louisiana- _____
Massachusetts _.
Minnesota ..........
M issouri________
1 Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 Coverage S. E. S. extended to entire State, July 1,1936.
* N ot comparable due to transfer of 14 counties from N . R . S. to S. E. S.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
707
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Table 4.— Operations of Offices of the National Reemployment Service, July 1936
N ew applica
tions
Placements
Private
Public
Per
cent of
N um change
ber
from
June
Per
cent of
N um change
ber
from
June
July 31
Per
cent of
change
' from
June 30
2 -1 .3 30,076 174, 963 2+15. 0 3, 283,030
a+1. 5
State
Total
All States_______ 218, 568
Active file
Re
lief i
Per
cent of
N um change
ber
from
June
34,065
2 -1 .7 154,427
-1 9 .7
-1 4 .7
+32.1
-4 . 1
- 8 .5
1,053
142
2,488
795
388
6, 763
1,043
6, 279
5, 965
2,303
+27.6
-1 9 .4
+37.6
+19. 2
+ 4 .9
100,881
17,735
84, 421
50, 448
31,295
+ 2 .2
+ 2 .4
+9. 4
+ 5 .9
+12. 3
+11.2
+29.8
- 7 .4
+ .9
116
782
270
306
(3)
939
10, 304
1,203
7, 681
(3)
+• 5
+55.0
-2 5 .1
-1 0 .9
14,808
111,443
10,906
114,479
(3)
+ 5 .7
+12.9
+3. 2
+ 6 .0
Alabama_______
Arizona_______ Arkansas_______
California______
Colorado________
5, 771
2,087
6, 670
9, 296
2,762
255
408
929
2,886
918
- 8 .6
+13.6
+52.5
- .3
-4 1 .9
4,463
1,537
3,253
5, 615
1,456
Connecticut_____
G eorgia..............
Idaho __________
Illinois____ ___
1,263
6,721
1, 705
7, 713
325
1,093
255
1,341
-2 7 .5
- 2 .4
- 9 .3
+36.0
822
4,846
1,180
6,066
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
9, 204
5,370
2,871
3, 216
581
931
62
462
+27.7
- 4 .7
-4 6 .1
-1 7 .1
(3)
8,156
4,152
1,947
2,340
+50.7
- 5 .2
-2 3 .9
+ 4 .3
(3)
467
287
862
414
(3)
6,306
5, 533
1, 557
3,231
+94.0
+31. 1
-3 1 .1
- 2 .0
(3)
63,082
139,602
28,845
96, 742
+ 8 .0
+ 5 .7
■ 1, 5
+ 1 .2
2,103
M assachusetts...
Michigan___ . . . 13, 558
10,040
M innesota____ .
5, 302
M ississippi ------M issouri________ 8, 335
149
2,167
1,861
3
368
+50.5
+25. 3
+ 3 .6
-9 5 . 4
-4 0 .6
1,573
8,196
6,818
3,825
7,388
+ 7 .9
+ 8 .5
-2 1 .3
-.6
- 3 .6
381
3,195
1,361
1,474
579
3,178
12,907
4,965
6,458
6, 360
-1 3 .2
+29.2
- 3 .5
+35.4
+46.9
166, 237
190,901
63, 264
105,830
153, 330
+ 2 .7
4-5.1
+ 8 .5
+. ¡
+ 2 .8
M o n t a n a ...____
Nebraska_______
N evada___ _____
N ew Hampshire..
7, 202
8,098
705
1,010
836
1,461
40
188
-6 1 .8
+ 7 .3
+ 2 .6
+91.8
5, 783
6,418
571
609
-1 5 .4
- 1 .9
-2 .1
+ 6 .7
583
219
94
213
(3)
3,792
4, 537
185
585
(3)
+32.4
+22.1
-5 0 .9
-1 9 .8
30,768
42,238
1,652
11,673
(3)
+ 6 .4
+ 8 .7
—2. 2
—13. 0
N ew Mexico____
New York______
North Dakota___
Ohio....... ...............
Oklahoma______
2,284
11,242
3,931
8,867
3,442
823
1,331
771
2,301
268
+27.0
-1 2 .5
->-98. 7
+18.5
-1 8 .5
889
7, 082
2, 232
6,244
2, 778
-2 6 .2
- 1 .6
-2 2 .0
-1 6 .0
572
2, 829
928
322
396
718
8,073
5,860
6,831
3,994
-1 4 .6
+16.1
+79.8
- 9 .1
+12.5
26, 650
255,316
41,335
116,422
130,191
+ .2
—1. 5
+41. 8
+ 5 .5
4”5. 2
3,186
Oregon. _______
Pennsylvania----- 10,045
135
Rhode Island___
South C arolina... 5,546
495
South D akota___
508
899
35
643
219
+ 7 .4
-2 0 .2
+ 2 .9
-1 5 .2
+99.1
2, 372
6,238
92
4, 519
205
- 4 .1
-1 3 .3
+13.6
+35.7
-1 8 .0
306
2,908
8
384
71
1,481
9,019
127
4, 530
212
- 7 .7
-1 2 .1
+46.0
+20.0
+19.1
26,043
415, 219
5,311
90,069
2,820
+ 3 .9
—15. 6
—18. 6
+ 3 .8
+18.8
2, 654
Tennessee______
Texas___________ 19,924
4, 556
U tah. . _______
6, 791
Virginia________
247
4,108
1,503
881
-2 6 .7
(4)
-1 .5
-1 0 .5
2,143
14,329
2,732
5, 607
+ 1 .1
(4)
+ 7 .8
-1 0 .0
264
1,487
321
303
4, 677
10, 293
1,954
4,880
+62.3
(4)
+11.2
-1 3 .0
115, 722
136,349
27, 518
73,370
+ 3 .5
0)
+15. 2
+ 1 .9
W ash in gton ____
West Virginia___
1,107
718
+31.2
+22.1
6,381
2,622
(3)
948
+18.3
-5 .2
2,022
97
(3)
389
5,010
4,332
(3)
898
+ .7
+ 4 .0
94,096
90, 593
+ 4 .7
+ 8 .8
- 4 .0
5,426
+23.2
Kansas________
Kentucky______
Maine . _______
M aryland_______
( 3)
W yoming_______
9,510
3, 437
( 3)
( 3)
(Z)
1, 521
( 3)
184
-1 7 .5
-3 7 .6
,i Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
2 Computed from comparable reports only.
3 Discontinued as N . R. S. July 1, 1936.
4 N ot comparable due to transfer of 14 counties from N . R. S. to S. E. S.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
708
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Table 5.
Veterans’ Activities of Offices of Combined State Employm ent Services
and National Reemployment Service, July 1936
New applica
tions
Placements
Private
State
Total
United States_________ 26,003
Active file
Public
Percent
Percent
of
of
Percent
Percent R elief1 N um
change
July
31
change
of
of
ber
N um
N um
from
from
change
ber
ber change
June
June 30
from
from
June
June
4,341
- 8 .4
18, 794
- 4 .9
22 +144.4
34
+ 3 .0
41 +28.1
739
- 7 .0
54 -1 6 .9
308
155
163
2,009
215
-1 6 .8
- 2 .5
+17.3
+32.7
+12.6
33
9
67
662
33
147 +40.0
95 +115. 9
139 +131.7
1,465 +57.0
174 +102.3
4, 506
1,557
3,243
17,181
3,901
- 2 .3
+ 2.3
+ 6 .2
- 5 .1
+ 5.8
+10.9
-2 4 .1
-2 2 .4
+ 7 .0
-2 7 .0
186
46
162
172
150
- 8 .4
-3 0 .3
- 4 .7
- 9 .5
-1 8 .0
20
10
25
22
38
164 +76.3
11 +22.2
115 +94.9
145 +116. 4
n o +71,9
3, 651
499
2,879
4, 739
908
+ 1.1
- 5 .0
+ 7.8
+ 7.1
-3 2 .0
+ .9
-.7
+ 8 .3
-4 4 .1
-3 1 .3
923
578
630
671
313
-1 1 .8
-.2
-2 6 .9
+36.7
-2 0 .2
80
9
17
22
16
786 +35.1
351 +81.9
253 +60.1
215 +133. 7
142 +47.9
25,437
11, 641
3,982
4,705
7, 326
+ 3 .7
-1 .2
+ 9 .2
-.1
+ 4.3
179
208
219
365
693
18 -1 4 .3
2 -8 0 .0
24 -1 7 .2
46 +142.1
77 +30.5
161
143
167
272
489
-3 6 .6
-1 8 .3
+ 1 .8
+12.9
+11.1
0
63
28
47
127
231
61
109
338
423
+92.5
-1 7 .6
+45.3
+24.3
+87.2
5,290
1,894
6,173
19,046
10,192
+ 5.3
- 4 .1
+ .1
- 6 .7
+ 1.1
Minnesota_________
M ississippi.._ _
Missouri__________
M ontana_______ _
Nebraska.......... .........
1,004
127
764
486
426
168
+1. 2
0 -100.0
68 -1 8 .1
70 -6 4 .5
65 +32.7
752
97
644
389
348
-1 7 .1
-2 1 .8
- 9 .9
-2 4 .0
-1 3 .9
84
30
52
27
13
240 +19.4
87 +81.3
397 +125. 6
132 +103.1
116 +52.6
10,068
3,931
16,161
1,384
2, 574
+ 3 .1
-.4
+12.7
+■4
-1 .2
Nevada______________
New Ham pshire... _ .
N ew Jersey___________
N ew Mexico
N ew York....... ....... ...
123
107
235
240
1,494
10
7
78
52
292
-2 8 .6
+16.7
-3 5 .5
-2 4 .6
- 6 .1
109
80
101
161
984
+ 9 .0
+ 5 .3
-3 9 .5
+18.3
-1 5 .8
4
20
56
27
218
30
56
265
60
540
+50.0
+30.2
+55.9
+46.3
+61.7
297
1,733
15,186
2,967
32,460
+ 1 .7
- 1 .5
+ .7
+ 5 .7
- 3 .1
North Carolina
North D a k o t a .._____
O h io _________
Oklahoma. _ _____
Oregon.____________
352
213
1,504
389
439
59
31
351
66
59
-4 1 .6
0
+10.4
-3 5 .3
-1 0 .6
272
151
1,054
292
347
-2 4 .7
-1 0 .7
+ 9.1
- 9 .3
-1 5 .8
21
31
99
31
33
183 +71. 0
160 +122. 2
619 +92.2
129 +118.6
185 +134. 2
3,830
1,796
19, 535
8, 340
6,843
+ 3 .5
+28.9
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .5
+ 4 .5
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island. . . . .
South Carolina ___
South Dakota___
Tennessee
1,367
71
227
340
310
105
9
21
47
28
-3 0 .5
0
-4 0 .0
+ 6 .8
- 3 .4
891
54
186
263
268
-1 4 .1
+58.8
+ 8 .8
-1 7 .3
- 1 .5
371
8
20
30
14
623 +29.5
30 +11.1
63 +34.0
114 +171.4
191 +89.1
63.032
3, 308
3, 360
1,955
7,588
+21.5
-1 0 .5
- 1 .4
+24.9
+ 1 .7
Texas________ ___
U tah. . . . . . _
Vermont___ ____
Virginia_______
Washin e-ton
1,372
351
85
362
596
169
57
8
42
55
-1 0 .6
+42.5
+60.0
-3 2 .3
+17.0
1,147
267
74
310
466
+ 1 .6
+15.1
+17.5
- 6 .6
+12.6
56
27
3
10
75
367 +92.1
46 +91.7
28 +40.0
113 +23.0
134 +106. 2
9, 271
1,576
404
3,106
6,408
+ 6 .9
+ 8 .7
+ 5 .2
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .7
267
937
219
186
26
155
16
58
0
+ 9 .2
+33.3
0
234
678
168
94
-1 3 .7
+ 4 .8
-1 7 .6
-5 4 .6
7
104
35
34
130 +51.2
516 +136. 7
111 +152.3
242 +100. 0
6, 000
8,248
529
2, 270
+ 3 .8
+ 2 .0
+ 11.8
+38.2
Alabama_________ .
Arizona_______ _____
Arkansas_________ .
California____________
Colorado_________ .
363
198
271
3,410
302
C onnecticut._________
D elaw are________ .
Florida_________ .
Georgia______________
Idaho. _______ .
257
78
232
240
215
51
22
45
46
27
Illinois_______________ 1,460
Indiana ___________ _
725
I o w a .......... ..........
870
Kansas______ _____ _
750
Kentucky..................
375
457
138
223
57
46
Louisiana _________
Maine . _____
Maryland.
________
M assachusetts... . .
Michigan____________
West Virginia..
Wisconsin.
W yoming__ _______
District of Columbia___
i Includes only security-wage placements on work-relief projects.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2,868 11,381
+67.7 382,910
+ 4 .3
T R E N D OF EMPLOYMENT A N D P A Y ROLLS
Sum m ary of E m ploym ent R ep o rts fo r Ju ly 1936
MPLOYMENT gains from June to July in 52 of the 90 manu
facturing industries surveyed and 9 of the 16 nonmanufacturing
industries offset the declines in the remaining industries sufficiently
to result in a net contra-seasonal gain of 2,500 workers.
Pay-roll gains in 40 manufacturing industries and 6 nonmanufac
turing industries were not sufficient, however, to prevent a decline
of approximately $2,200,000 in weekly wage disbursements. The
net pay-roll decline was due largely to inventory taking, repairs,
and vacations, but was less than the usual sharp recessions in July.
Class I railroads also had more employees on their pay rolls in
July than in June according to preliminary reports of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
Public employment reports for July showed substantial gains in
employment on construction projects financed from regular govern
mental appropriations and by the Reconstruction Finance Corpora
tion. A moderate increase in the number of workers employed in
July compared with the previous month occurred on the emergency
conservation program.
E
Industrial and Business Employment
A
increase in employment from June to July was shown in
the combined manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries sur
veyed, but weekly pay rolls showed a decline of approximately
$2,200,000, due largely to inventory taking, repairs, and vacations.
Although the employment gain amounted to only 2,500 workers, it
was significant because it was a continuation of the expansion that
had been shown each month since March and was in contrast to the
sharp recessions usually shown in July. The pay-roll decline was also
significant in that it was much smaller than the decreases usually re
ported at this season of the year. A comparison with July 1935 shows
nearly 1,000,000 more workers on the pay rolls of these industries in
the current month and approximately $42,000,000 more in weekly
wage disbursements.
Factory employment showed a contra-seasonal increase of 0.9 per
cent from June to July, continuing the succession of gains which had
s l i g
h
t
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
709
710
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM BER 1936
been shown each month since January. The July employment index
(86.8) is higher than that for any month since October 1930. Factory
pay rolls fell 1.1 percent, due primarily to inventory taking, repairs,
vacations, and the July 4 holiday. During the preceding 17 years,
1919 to 1935, for which information is available, decreases in employ
ment and pay rolls from June to July have predominated, gains in
employment having been shown in only 3 years (1919, 1929, and 1933),
and in pay rolls in only 2 (1919 and 1933). It may be added that the
pay-roll decrease this year was smaller than the decline in July of any
of these preceding years, due in part to the spread in the practice of
granting of vacations with pay. With the exception of the 2
months immediately preceding, the index of factory pay rolls for July
(77.8) was higher than that of any month since October 1930.
Employment in the nondurable-goods group of manufacturing
industries advanced 1.9 percent to 94.4 percent of the 1923-25 level,
but the durable-goods group showed a decline of 0.3 percent, the
employment index standing at 79.7 compared with 100 for the 3-year
period 1923-25. With the exception of June 1936, the durable-goods
employment index was higher than that of any month since Septem
ber 1930.
Fifty-two of the 90 manufacturing industries surveyed showed gains
in employment and 40 showed increased pay rolls. The increases in
employment in July in several of the industries raised the employment
levels to the highest points recorded in any month since 1930. Blast
furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills reported more workers in July
than in any month since July 1930 and employment in foundries and
machine shops exceeded all levels since August 1930. Employment in
the machine-tool industry was above the level of any month since
December 1930. In the petroleum-refining industry, employment
was higher in July than in any month since October 1930 and in the
electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies industry above the
level of any month since June 1931. The cast-iron pipe, steam fit
tings, structural metalwork, brick, and aluminum, industries employed
the largest number of workers since the latter months of 1931.
The most pronounced employment gains between June and July
were seasonal in character. Canning and preserving firms reported an
increase of 37.7 percent over the month interval. The beverage
industry showed a gain of 10.5 percent and beet-sugar establishments
an increase of 9.2 percent. Employment in the cottonseed-oil-cakemeal industry showed a gain of 8.7 percent and the flour industry
increased the number of its workers by 7.4 percent. The typewriter
industry showed a gain of 14.7 percent in employment, and the slaugh
tering and meat packing and the locomotive industries reported gains
of 5.9 percent. A gain of 4.7 percent was shown by reports received
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
711
from establishments in the ice-cream industry and an increase of 4.6
percent was reported by rubber boot and shoe firms.
Other increases in employment in industries of major importance
were 6.7 percent in boots and shoes; 4.4 percent in furniture; 4.0 per
cent in silk and rayon; 3.7 percent in structural metalwork; 3.1 per
cent in petroleum refining; 3.3 percent in chemicals; 3.1 percent in blast
furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills; 3.0 percent in cotton goods;
2.4 percent in men’s clothing; 2.3 percent in electrical machinery; 1.2
percent in woolen and worsted goods; 1.3 percent in book and job
printing; and 1.3 percent in foundries and machine shops. The gain
of 2 percent in the machine-tool industry continued the succession of
increases which had been shown each month since October 1934.
Seasonal influences caused sharp recessions in employment between
June and July in a number of industries. The silverware and plated
ware industry reported a decrease in employment of 14.2 percent;
millinery, 12.6 percent; agricultural implements, 10.7 percent; wom
en’s clothing, 8.3 percent; confectionery, 2.5 percent; and stoves, 3.5
percent. The automobile industry showed a decline of 4.1 percent
in employment coupled with a decrease of 7.1 percent in pay rolls.
Other industries in which substantial declines were reported were
engines-tractors-turbines, 5.4 percent; electric and steam car building,
5.2 percent; lighting equipment, 4.0 percent; and cutlery and edge
tools, 3.8 percent.
Nine of the 16 nonmanufacturing industries had more employees
on their pay rolls in July than in June and 6 showed larger pay rolls.
The gain of 1 percent in employment in wholesale trade represented
the return to work of approximately 13,000 persons and increases of
1.4 percent in telephone and telegraphs, 1.5 percent in light and power,
and 0.9 percent in electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and
maintenance were equivalent to an estimated gain of 11,000 workers.
The 3.7 percent advance in laundry employment indicated the addi
tion of over 7,500 workers to laundry pay rolls and the remaining
four nonmanufacturing industries which showed gains in employ
ment (quarrying, crude-petroleum producing, insurance, and private
building construction) added approximately 7,000 workers to their
rolls. These gains, however, were not sufficient to offset the declines
in the remaining industries. The 2.7 percent shrinkage in number of
workers in retail trade was seasonal and indicated 90,000 less employ
ees in retail stores. Anthracite mining showed a decline in employ
ment of 5.6 percent or 4,000 workers, and the remaining five nonmanu
facturing industries accounted for an additional decrease of 4,500 in
number of workers.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
712
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Preliminary reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission
showed 1,072,780 workers (exclusive of executives and officials)
employed by class I railroads in July, as compared with 1,065,548 in
June. This indicated a gain of 0.7 percent. Corresponding pay-roll
data for July were not available at the time this report was prepared.
The total compensation of all employees except executives and
officials was $145,726,645 in June and $144,819,909 in May, the gain
over the month interval being 0.6 percent. The Commission’s
preliminary indexes of employment based on the 3-year average
1923-25 as 100, were 60.7 for July and 60.3 for June. The final
May index was 59.8.
Hours and earnings.—Average hours worked per week in the manu
facturing industries surveyed were 1.7 percent lower in July than in
June, the July figure standing at 38.5. Average hourly earnings fell
0.4 percent to 57.2 cents and average weekly earnings dropped 2.1
percent to $22.39.
Only 4 of the 14 nonmanufacturing industries for which man-hour
data are compiled showed gains in average hours worked per week and
7 showed increased hourly rates. Six of the 16 nonmanufacturing
industries covered showed increased average weekly earnings.
Table 1 presents a summary of employment and pay-roll indexes
and average weekly earnings in July 1936 for all manufacturing indus
tries combined, for selected nonmanufacturing industries, and for
class I railroads, with percentage changes over the month and year
intervals except in the few industries for which certain items cannot
be computed. The indexes of employment and pay rolls for the manu
facturing industries are based on the 3-year average 1923-25 as 100,
and for the nonmanufacturing industries on the 12-month average
for 1929 as 100.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
713
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 1.—Em ploym ent, P ay Rolls, and Weekly Earnings in All M anufacturing
Industries Combined and in M anufacturing Industries, July 1936 (Preliminary
figures)
Percentage
change from—
Industry
Index
July
1936
All manufacturing industries
combined_____ _______ ____
Class I steam railroads 1............
Coal mining:
Anthracite................- ...........
Bitum inous...... ....................
Metalliferous mining________
Quarrying and nonmetallic
1- mining________ _________
Crude-petroleum producing 3_.
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph..
Electric light and power
and manufactured gas...
Electric-railroad and mo
tor-bus operation and
m aintenance._________
Trade:
W holesale______________
Retail__________________
General merchandisi n g ---------------------Other than general
merchandising_____
Hotels (year-round) 4________
Laundries_______ _____ _____
Dyeing and cleaning________
Brokerage_________________
Insurance____ . . _________
Building construction..______
June
1936
July
1935
+ 0 .9
+ .7
+ 8 .9
+ 6 .5
48.4
75.5
61.3
- 5 .6
-.4
- 1 .1
- 2 .1
+ 7 .8
+35.5
54.4
75.4
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .4
+ 6.9
- 2 .5
Index
July
1936
Percentage
Percentage
change from— Aver change from—
age in
July
1936 June July
June July
1936
1935
1936
1935
(1 9 2 3 -2 5 =
100)
(1 9 2 3 -2 5 =
100)
86.8
60.7
Average weekly
earnings
Pay roll
Employment
+20.1 $22. 40
(2)
(2)
- 2 .1
(2)
+10.2
(2)
37.2 -1 1 .4
-.9
62.6 + 1 .9 +74.4
46.1 - 4 .5 +48.0
22. 37
21.02
23.38
- 6 .1
+ 2.2
- 3 .4
+61.8
+ 9 .3
43.9
60.7
20.24
29.26
- 2 .1
+ .6
+19.2
+ 3 .9
77.8
(2)
- 1 .1
(2)
(1 9 2 9 =
100)
(1 9 2 9 =
100)
- . 4 +27.5
+ 3 .0 + 1 .2
73.1
+ 1 .4
+ 4 .0
79.9
+ 3 .3
+ 5 .6
29.18
+ 1.8
+ 1 .5
91.7
+ 1 .5
+ 8 .2
89.8
+ 1.8 +10.1
31.74
+ .4
+ 1 .9
72.4
+ .9
+ 1 .4
66.5
- .5
+ 4 .8
29.88
- 1 .4
+ 3 .5
85.4
83.2
+ 1 .0
- 2 .7
+ 4 .0
+ 4 .9
69.0
65.1
+ .8
- 1 .9
+ 6.8
+ 7 .6
28. 74
21.43
-.1
+ .8
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .6
-5 .9
+ 6.1
77.3
- 4 .9
+ 7.4
18.48
+ .9
+ 1.1
- 1 .7 + 4 .6
-.8
+ 3 .7
+ 3 .7 + 7 .2
- 2 .3 + 4 .6
(5) +21.1
+ .3
+■ 4
+ .8 +20.7
62.6
66.0
79.0
64.8
(2)
(2)
(2)
- 1 . 2 + 7.7
- .9
+ 6 .3
+ 4 .2 +11.5
- 6 .4 + 5.4
- . 4 +28.9
+ 1 .2
-.2
- . 2 +34.8
23. 57
13.96
16. 26
18. 62
37.45
37.99
27.04
+ .5
-.1
+ .5
-4 .2
-.4
-.4
-1 .0
+ 3 .0
+ 2.6
+ 3.9
+. 8
+ 6.4
+. 8
+12.0
90.7
81.2
83.3
90.5
85.5
(2)
(2)
(2)
1 Preliminary; source—Interstate Commerce Commission.
2 N ot available.
3 Data for March, April, M ay, and June 1936, revised as follows:
March employment index, 70.9; percentage change from February +0.1; from March 1935, —4.2; pay-roll
index, 56.0; percentage change from February, +0.5; from March 1935, —0.1; average weekly earnings, $29.79;
percentage change from February, +0.4; from March 1935, +4.4.
April employment index, 71.3; percentage change from Macrh, +0.6; from April 1935, —4.7; pay-roll index,
57.1; percentage change from March, +1.9; from April 1935, +0.7; average weekly earnings, $29.98; percentage
change from March, +1.3; from April 1935, +5.7.
M ay employment index, 72.7; percentage change from April, +2.0; from M ay 1935, —4.4; pay-roll index,
58.0; percentage change from April, +1.6; from M ay 1935, +0.3; average weekly earnings, $29.53; percentage
change from April, —0.4; from M ay 1935, +4.7.
June employment index, 73.7; percentage change from M ay, +1.3; from June 1935, —3.9; pay-roll index,
58.9; percentage change from M ay, +1.6; from June 1935, —0.4; average weekly earnings, $29.65; percentage
change from May, +0.3; from June 1935, +3.5.
4 Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
> Less than Ho of 1 percent.
Public Employment
than 347,000 workers were employed, on construction projects
financed from Public Works Administration funds in July, a decrease
of 0.6 percent compared with the 350,000 employed in June. The
gain of over 11,000 in the number of employees working on nonFederal construction projects financed from funds provided by the
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 was offset by losses in
employment on Federal and non-Federal projects financed from
M ore
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
714
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
funds provided by the National Industrial Recovery Act. Total pay
roll disbursements for July, however, amounted to $25,969,000, an
increase of 0.5 percent over June.
Employment on projects financed from regular governmental
appropriations registered a substantial gain in July as compared with
the previous month. The 126,000 employees in July represented an
increase of 23.2 percent over June. The most marked gains occurred
in the construction of naval vessels, public roads, and river, harbor,
and flood control. Pay-roll disbursements for the month amounted
to $12,425,000, an increase of 44 percent over June.
Construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation employed 9,843 workers in July, an increase of 16
percent over the 8,501 employed in June. All types of projects
showed gains in the number of persons employed. Total pay-roll
disbursements of $1,064,000 were 13 percent greater than in June.
In July employment on projects financed by The Works Program
was somewhat below the level of the previous month. The number
of workers engaged on this program in July was 150,000 less than in
June.
On Federal projects employment totaled 452,000, a decrease of 0.3
percent compared with June. Employment on projects operated,by
the Works Progress Administration decreased from 2,561,000 in June
to 2,412,000 in July. Total pay-roll disbursements of $145,474,000
were $5,406,000 less than in June.
Increases were reported in the number of persons employed in the
executive, legislative, and military branches of the Federal Govern
ment, but a decrease occurred in the judicial service. In the execu
tive service, employment increased less than 1 percent in July com
pared with the previous month. The level of employment, however,
was 12.9 percent higher in July 1936 than in July 1935. Of the 831,000
employees in the executive service in July, 116,000 were employed in
the District of Columbia and 715,000 outside the District. The most
pronounced increase in employment in the executive branch of|the
Federal Government in July occurred in the War Department. Sub
stantial gains were also reported in the Post Office Department, the
Treasury Department, the Interior Department, and the’ Tennessee
Valley Authority. On the other hand, there were appreciable
decreases in the number of employees in the Resettlement Adminis
tration, the Veterans’ Administration, and the Department^ of
Commerce.
Employment in emergency conservation work (Civilian Conservation
Camps) in July totaled over 404,000, an increase of 21,000 compared
with June. Employment gains were shown for all groups ohumployees with the exception of supervisory and technical workers. Pay-roll
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
715
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
disbursements for the month increased $449,000, compared with June
pay-roll disbursements.
During the month 186, 700 workers, the highest level of employment
recorded since October 1935, were employed on the construction and
maintenance of State roads. Of the 186,700 workers employed in
July, 12 percent were working on the construction of new roads and
88 percent on maintenance work. Total pay-roll disbursements
amounted to $11,839,000 in July, compared with $11,488,000 in the
previous month.
A summary of Federal employment and pay-roll statistics for July
is presented in table 2.
T able 2 .— Sum m ary o f F ederal E m p lo y m en t and P a y R olls, Ju ly 1936
(P relim inary figures)
E m p loym en t
Class
Ju ly 1936
Federal service:
2 830,861
E xecutive 1___________________
1,867
J u dicial_______________________
5,137
L eg isla tiv e.-------------------------- 299,314
M ilita r y ______________________
Construction projects:
4 347,346
F inanced b y P . W . A ________
« 9, 843
Financed b y R . F . C _________
F inanced b y regular govern126,176
m en tal appropriations_______
T h e W orks P rogram :8
451,570
Federal p r o je c ts ---------------------Projects operated b y W . P . A . . . 2,412,462
R elief work:
E m ergency conservation w o rk .. 9 404,422
June 1936
Per
centage
change
824, 626
1,947
5, 043
297,433
+ 0 .8
-4 . l
+ 1 .9
+ .6
8 349, 572
? 8, 501
-.6
+ 1 5 .8
P a y roll
Ju ly 1936
June 1936
$129,066,193 8 $129,467,175
469, 743
494,414
1,187, 815
1, 202, 281
22,041,326
23,464, 766
4 25,968,991
8 1, 063,728
Per
centage
change
- 0 .3
+ 5 .3
+ 1 .2
+ 6 .5
8 25,840,926
i 941, 680
+• 5
+ 1 3 .0
102, 376
+ 2 3 .2
12, 424, 667
8,631,104
+ 4 4 .0
453,012
2, 561,307
-.3
- 5 .8
22,699, 760
122, 774,427
22, 657,507
128, 222, 740
+ .2
- 4 .2
1» 383, 279
+ 5 .5
« 18, 417, 986
ii 17,969,256
+ 2 .5
1 D a ta concerning num ber of wage earners refer to em p loym ent on last day of m on th specified. Includes
em ployees of C olum bia In stitu tio n for the D eaf and H ow ard U niversity.
2 Includes 919 em ployees b y transfer p reviously reported as separations b y transfer n ot actual additions
for July.
2 R evised .
_
. .
< Includes 188,076 w age earners and $12,277,476 p ay roll covering P . W . A . projects financed from E . R.
5 Includes 176,184 w age earners and $11,435,825 pay roll covering P . W . A . projects financed from E . R.
A . A . 1935 funds.
_ _ _ _,
_
6 Includes 280 em ployees and p ay roll of $19,663 on projects financed b y R . E. C. M ortgage Co.
J Includes 157 em ployees and p ay roll of $13,265 on projects financed b y R . F . C. M ortgage Co.
s D a ta covering P . W . A . projects financed from E . R . A . A . 1935 funds are n ot included in T h e Works
Program and show n on ly under P . W . A .
s 41,507 em ployees and p ay roll of $5,676,556 included in executive service.
10 42.035 em ployees and p ay roll of $5,877,050 included in executive service.
11 R evised; 42,035 em ployees and p a y roll of $5,877,050 included in executive service.
D etailed R ep o rts fo r Ju n e 1936
HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employ
ment, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the
month of June 1936. The tabular data are the same as those pub
lished in the Employment and Pay Rolls pamphlet for June, except
for certain minor revisions and corrections.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
716
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Industrial and Business Employment
M o n t h l y reports on employment and pay rolls in industrial
and business industries are now available for the following groups:
90 manufacturing industries; 16 nonmanufacturing industries,
including building construction; and class I steam railroads. The
reports for the first two of these groups—manufacturing and non
manufacturing—are based on sample surveys by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, and in virtually all industries the samples are
sufficiently large to be entirely representative. The figures on class I
steam railroads are compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission
and are presented in the foregoing summary.
Employment, Pay Rolls, Hours, and Earnings in June 1936
T h e indexes of employment and pay rolls, average hours worked
per week, average hourly earnings, and average weekly earnings in
manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries in June 1936 are
shown in table 1. Percentage changes from May 1936 and June
1935 are also given.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T ab le 1 .— E m p lo y m e n t, P a y R olls, H ours, and E arnings in M an ufacturing and N on m an u factu rin g In d u stries, Jun e 1936
E m p lo y m e n t
M ay
1936
June
1935
In d ex,
June
1936
M ay
1936
June
1935
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
June
1936
June
1936
June
1936
M ay
1936
A v e r a g e h o u r ly
e a r n in g s 1
M ay
1936
June
1935
M ay
1936
June
1935
June
1935
M a n u f a c t u r i n g (in d e x e s a r e b a s e d o n 3 - y e a r a v e r a g e 1 9 2 3 - 1 9 2 5 = 1 0 0 )
C e n ts
All m an u factu rin g industries...... ...................
86.0
+ 0 .4
+ 7 .9
79.6
+ 0 .4
+19.9
$22.92
+ 0 .1
+11.2
39.3
- 0 .1
+10.6
57.5
+ 0 .1
- 0 .2
Durable goods..... .........................................
N ondurable goods_______ ___ _______
79.9
93.6
+ .9
-.1
+14.6
+ 2 .3
76.5
83.5
+ .5
+ .1
+32.8
+ 7 .6
25.83
19.88
- .4
+3
+15.9
+ 5 .3
41.1
37.2
-.4
+ .3
+14.2
+ 5 .9
61.8
53.1
+ .2
-0
+ .7
—1.5
D u r a b le g o o d s
Iron an d steel and their products, n o t in
cluding m achinery.___ ________________
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills.
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets___ _______
Cast-iron pipe___________________ _____
Cutlery (not including silver and plated tutlery) and edge tools____________ _____
Forgings, iron and steel___________ _____
Hardware_______________ _____________
Plumbers’ supplies_______________ .___
Steam and hot-water heating apparatuf and
steam fittings___________________ ___
Stoves________________________ ____ _
Structural and ornamental metalwork— ___
Tin cans and other tinware_________ ___
Tools (not including edge tools, ma bine
tools, files, and saws)____________ _ __
Wirework___________________ .... ___
82.4
+ 1 .6
+14.8
78.5
+ 2 .1
+40.9
26.17
+ .5
+22.8
41.6
+ .1
+21.1
61.9
+ .5
+ 1 .1
83.2
87.7
60.2
+ 1 .3
+ .4
+ 3 .4
+ 1 4 .9
+ 13. 5
+ 1 8 .3
84.0
79.0
41.9
+ 1 .8
-3 .6
+ 2 .9
+ 4 7 .8
+ 3 7 .7
+ 4 4 .8
27. 86
23.24
19.26
+ .5
- 4 .0
-. 5
+ 2 8 .7
+ 2 1 .2
+ 2 2 .3
41.7
41.0
39.4
- .3
- 4 .0
-. 1
+ 2 7 .6
+ 2 2 .8
+ 2 3 .4
66.7
56.6
48.4
+ .9
+ .5
+ .3
+ 1.2
- .9
- 1 .6
76.9
69.0
54.6
95.3
+ .4
+ .5
- .3
+ .5
- .7
+ 1 9 .8
+ 6 .2
+ 1 5 .8
65.8
54.7
53. 1
65.5
+ 5 .2
- 2 .4
- 1 .2
+ .9
+ 1 0 .9
+ 3 1 .8
+ 2 3 .6
+ 3 0 .1
21. 23
25. 30
22.94
22.81
+ 4 .7
- 2 .8
- .9
+ .4
+ 1 1 .7
+ 10.0
+ 16.3
+ 12.3
40.4
41.1
40.5
40.3
+ 4 .1
- 2 .4
- 1 .0
+ 1 .5
+ 1 1 .7
+ 1 0 .3
+ 1 4 .0
+ 1 0 .6
53.0
61.5
57.2
56.6
+ .1
-. 6
+ .4
- 1 .2
+ .8
—. 2
+ 1 .2
+ 1.2
62.5
110.7
72.6
102.7
+ 1.2
+ 4 .2
+ 5 .0
+ 4 .1
+ 2 1 .4
+ 1 2 .4
+ 2 9 .7
+ 6 .9
48.1
93.4
65. 1
102. 1
+ 3 .8
+ 6 .8
+ 7 .3
+3. 5
+ 3 9 .1
+ 2 7 .2
+ 6 0 .0
+ 8 .8
24.67
24. 03
25.03
21.90
+ 2 .6
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .1
- .6
+ 14.5
+ 1 3 .0
+ 23. 5
+ 1.8
42.0
41.9
43. 1
40.4
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .4
+ 1 .7
+ .9
+ 1 4 .3
+ 1 2 .2
+ 2 5 .3
+ .5
58.6
57.6
58.2
54. 1
+ .1
+ .9
+ .6
-1 . 1
- .5
+ .4
- 1 .0
73.8
144.3
+ 1 .9
+ 1 5 .4
+ 1 7 .9
75.5
143.3
+ 2 .1
- 3 .9
+ 2 7 .0
+ 3 4 ,3
23. 30
22. 73
+ .3
+ 10.2
+ 13.7
43.3
41.2
- .2
+ 1 0 .9
+ 15.7
53.8
55. 1
+ .4
-.3
+ .9
- . 9
- 2 .2
- 1 .8
- 2 .7
TREND OP EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
In d ex,
June
1936
A verage hours w orked
per w e e k 1
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
In d u str y
A v e r a g e w e e k ly
e a r n in g s 1
P a y r o lls
+ ( 2)
S e e f o o tn o t e s a t e n d o f t a b le .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I—1
^4
T ab le 1.
E m p lo y m en t, P a y R o lls, H ours, and E arnings in M anufacturing and N on m an u factu rin g In d u stries, June 1936— C on tin ued
E m p lo y m e n t
In d u stry
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
M ay
1936
June
1935
In d ex,
June
1936
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
M ay
1936
J 'u n e
1935
A verage hours w ork ed
per w eek
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
In d ex ,
June
1936
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
June
1936
M ay
1936
A v e r a g e h o u r ly
e a r n in g s
June
Î935
P e r c e n ta g e
c h a n g e fro m —
June
1936
M ay
1936
June
1935
M ay
1936
1
1
June
1935
M a n u f a c t u r i n g { in d e x e s a r e b a s e d o n 3 - y e a r a v e r a g e 1 9 2 3 - 1 9 2 5 = 1 0 0 )— Continued
D u r a b le g o o d s
—Continued
Machinery, n o t including transportation
equipm ent......................................................
Agricultural implements_______________ _
Cash registers, adding machines, and calcu
lating machines_____________________
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and sup
plies______________________________
Engines, turbines, tractors, and water
wheels_____ _____ ___ ______________
Foundry and machine-shop products........ .
Machine tools_____________ ____ ______
Radios and phonographs______ _____ ___
Textile machinery and parts____ ________
Typewriters and parts__________________
T ransportation e q u ip m e n t...___ ________
Aircraft_____________________________
Automobiles__________________________
Cars, electric- and steam-railroad_________
Locomotives___________________ ____
Shipbuilding____________________ _____
Railroad repair shops..... ........... ............... .......
Electric railroad_______________ ________
Steam railroad________________________
Nonferrous m etals and their products..........
Aluminum manufactures________________
Brass, bronze, and copper products________
Clocks and watches and time-recording de
vices______________________________
Jewelry______________________________
Lighting
equipment_______ ____________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
100.3
132. 6
+ 1 .2
-4 . 2
+ 1 9 .1
+ 1 9 .8
90.6
156.5
+ 1 .1
-7 .3
113.2
-6 .6
+ 10.6
102.0
79.1
+ 2 .6
+ 1 3 .6
120.4
87.0
109. 8
242. 5
-. 1
+ 17.2
70. 8
78. 0
104.5
537.1
114. 3
64. 6
36. 8
95. 8
60.6
65. 6
60. 2
89. 7
87. 5
87. 9
+ 1 .0
+ 1. 9
+ 12.6
+• 6
—26. 8
—.9
—1.3
—1. 2
+3. 9
+5. 9
—2. 9
+ .8
—. 5
+ .8
+. 8
+3. 5
+ .3
-j-iy. t)
+ 2 9 .0
+46. 6
+ 10. 8
- 1 9 .0
-j-ii. 5
+ 2 9 .1
+6. 6
+ 3 4 .1
+ 2 9 .4
+44. 8
+ 1 2 .6
_ ( ï)
+ 1 3 .8
+ 9 .7
+ 1 4 .8
+ 11. 5
91.7
+ . 4 + 13.6
68. 8
+ 1. 6
+5. 0
82. 7 1 + . 4 1 + 2 0 . 0 1
+ 3 5 .4
+ 2 2 .8
$25.55
24. 14
- 0 .1
- 3 .2
- 5 .3
+ 2 0 .9
29. 56
73.0
+ 2 .7
+ 3 0 .0
25.34
92.0
79.6
104.2
162.0
61.4
69.8
108.9
439.4
119. 6
71. 9
18. 2
91. 8
62.3
61. 9
62.4
76.1
80.9
73.2
+ .3
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .5
+ 1 4 .2
- 3 .5
-2 8 . 2
- 2 .9
+ 1 .3
- 3 .6
+ 4 .9
+6. 5
-4 .0
+ 1 .1
-1 . 3
+ 1.2
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .7
- .2
+ 2 3 .4
+ 4 1 .5
+ 4 5 .2
+6 0 . 6
+ 17.5
-1 0 . 2
+ 3 2 .2
+29. 1
+ 2 8 .0
+ 5 4 .4
+ 4 3 .6
+ 6 5 .3
+ 2 2 .2
+ 4 .8
+ 2 3 .5
+ 2 1 .0
+ 2 5 .3
+22. 1
81.7
54. 1
80. 9
+ 2 .3
+2. 5
+ 2 1 .5
+ 9 .4
+ 3 5 .3
+ .6
C e n ts
+ 1 3 .6
+ 2 .7
41.7
39.8
+ 1.3
+ 9 .3
42.3
+ .6
+ .1
+ 1 4 .2
41.0
_(2)
27.80
25.84
28. 45
20. 69
23. 70
22. 84
29.79
26. 55
30. 58
23.28
25.42
27. 65
28. 79
28.47
28. 85
22.60
22. 79
24. 04
+ .4
+ .5
+ .6
+ 1.4
-4 .0
- 1 .9
-2 .0
+ 2 .6
- 2 .5
+ 1.0
+ .5
-1 . 1
+ .3
- .7
+ .4
+ .4
- .7
- .4
+ 5 .3
+ 1 8 .3
+ 12.4
+ 9 .8
+ 6 .2
+ 1 1 .0
+ 1 8 .5
0
+ 2 0 .1
+ 1 5 .0
+ 1 3 .9
+ 8 .4
+ 4 .9
+8. 7
+ 1 0 .3
+!V 0
+ 9 .6
40.4
43.0
44.7
38.7
39.7
39.9
39.5
42.9
39. 7
38. 6
39.4
36.7
42.5
44.3
42. 4
40.4
40.3
40.9
+ .6
-. 6
+. 1
+ 2 .3
- 4 .5
-1 . 7
- 2 .4
+ 1.9
- 3 .2
+ 1.9
+. 1
+. 5
+ .2
-1 .2
20. 76
21. 16
22. 93
+ 1.9
+ 1.0
+ 6 .9
+4. 2
+ 12.6
40.4
37.0
41.2
+ .2
+11.1
- 0 .4
-2 .6
+ 1 3 .2
+ .8
60.7
61.0
+ 0 .2
- .7
+ 0 .4
+ 1 .5
+ 7 .3
70.7
+ 1 .0
+ 2 .2
+ 15.2
61.4
-. 1
- .3
+ 1.7
+ 17.5
+ 1 0 .9
+1 4 . 7
+ 6 .4
+10. 1
+ 1 6 .8
+5. 1
+ 17.8
+ 18.9
+ 13.9
+ 1 4 .2
+ 7 .4
+ 2 .4
+8. 5
+ 1 0 .5
+ 4 .3
+ 8 .9
69.0
59.8
63. 6
53. 5
59. 7
57. 3
75.3
64. 5
77. 1
60. 3
64. 5
75. 4
67.8
62. 5
68. 2
55.7
56. 5
58.6
—, 1
+. 9
+ 5
-. 8
+3. 6
+. 8
+ 1. 5
-4 . 7
+ ( 2)
+2. 1
+ 4 .0
+ 1 .3
+9. 7
- . 2 1 + 14.5
51.4
56. 1
56. 1
+ .5
+ .3
+ .2
- .2
-.6
+. 5
- 2
+ .5
+
+•
-.
+
—
7
7
9
5
3
+ .1
+ 3
"f 1
+ .2
—4
-, 2
+• 5
-. 3
+ 1. 0
+ 1 .6
-2 . 5
+2. 6
-2 . 9
—2. 8
+ 1. 6
+ (2)
+. 8
—. 1
+ .6
+4. 1
+ .3
+ 2 .6
-1 .4
- 1 .9
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
In d ex ,
June
1936
A v e r a g e w e e k ly
e a r n in g s
P a y r o lls
Silverware and plated ware________________
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and
zinc____________________________________
Stamped and enameled ware---------------------L u m b er a n d allied p r o d u cts...............................
Furniture--------------- ---------------- ------ --------Lumber:
M illwork_________________ ___________Sawmills______________________ ____
Turpentine and rosin_______________ ____
S to n e , clay, a n d glass p r o d u c ts _____________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta....... ...........................
Cement------------------------------------------------Glass____________________________________
Marble, granite, slate, and other products---Pottery----------------------------------------------------
64.0
-1 .8
-1 2 .8
47.3
- 3 .3
-1 7 .1
20. 94
-1 .6
- 5 .1
36.0
-2 .2
-6 .4
57.7
+ .6
+ .8
89.4
112.3
57.5
74.4
+ 1 .6
+ 1.3
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .0
+ 9 .3
+9. 5
+17.6
+10.9
66.8
98.8
49.4
59.3
+ 3 .0
+ 1.6
+ 2.7
+ 4 .6
+25.6
+27.3
+36.1
+22.3
23. 99
20. 92
19.45
19.01
+ 1.4
+ .3
+ 1 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 15.3
+ 16.2
+15.8
+10.0
42.3
40.8
42.1
42.0
+ 1 .7
-.5
+ 1 .0
+ 3 .1
+ 12.6
+ 15.8
+10.5
+ 11.4
56.7
51.4
45. 7
45.2
-.3
+■ 8
+ (2)
+ (2)
+ 2 .7
+ •^
+ 3 .7
-.3
51.7
38.5
+ 3 .9
+ .2
45.9
31.4
+ 4 .7
+ .5
+45.6
+50.2
20. 49
19. 64
+ 17.0
+ 11.4
46.0
47.2
-.6
+ .3
+. 5
+ 8 .9
49.5
31.4
45.5
91.9
26.7
50.0
+ 6 .5
+ 3 .3
- 1 .2
- 2 .5
- 5 .4
+22.2
+62.8
+ 13.5
+12.0
+39.9
+ 8 .4
21.21
19. 17
22. 47
22.11
24. 73
19. 62
+ 18.1
+20.9
—2 2
+12.1
+23.6
+15.4
+ 9 .7
+16.6
+ 6 .0
+ 1.3
-. 1
+ 1 .5
+ 5 .9
+ .9
-(2 )
+ 6 .8
-2 .9
+• 8
+ .4
—4
-i.i
+ .6
+ 2 .4
-1 .2
- 8 .7
-2 .6
44.5
41.9
60.7
42.3
58.9
97.3
33.1
68.2
+23.4
+24.5
4- 9
+ 9.0
+31.7
- 1 .9
+ 2 .2
+20.1
+ 2 .1
38.9
42.9
39.4
36.6
38.0
38.5
-.5
-. 3
,+ l. 1
-.8
- 7 .6
+■8
+13.9
+24.9
+14.5
+ 5 .0
+19.7
+13.4
55.7
44. 8
57.1
60.6
65. 2
54.9
-.4
+• 5
+ 1 .2
-. 6
—1. 5
—. 5
+ .8
—1. 2
+ 1 .2
+ 4. 6
- .9
—. 4
93.2
90.6
80.4
90.7
82.8
104. 1
84.0
112.3
61.5
87.0
95.2
91.5
119.7
83.6
113.4
f)
105.9
82.4
79.7
93.5
100.4
115.9
184.9
79 fi
91.3
67.5
70.8
86.4
84.2
43.4
80.8
- 1 .1
-. 1
+. 6
+ .4
-2 . 1
- 2 .8
+ (*)
- .9
+ 1 .6
+ .3
- 2 .8
+ 3 .6
- 9 .7
- 1 .3
- .7
12
+ .9
- 1 .8
- 2 .1
-.8
+ 4 .3
+ 3.1
+ 1 .3
- 1 .0
+ 6 .6
+ 2 .0
- 3 .0
+12.5
+ 3.9
-2 .6
-1 0 .1
+ 7 .4
+ 5.7
+10.4
- 4 .4
+13.0
3
+ 7 .6
-.7
- 1 .1
+ .7
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .4
+ 8 .8
4-3 2
+ 2 .0
- 6 .8
- 4 .1
+ 2.1
+ 3 .5
+ •1
- 3 .0
75.7
76.5
68.2
77.9
71.9
83.5
83.3
104.1
51.0
67.7
69.6
70.2
77.0
79. 1
73.8
43 3
99.7
66.7
58. 2
94.6
95.8
106.0
198.6
0
100.3
58.6
65. 5
71.7
80.2
43.3
71.8
+ 6.8
+ 6 .3
-1 1 . 1
+18.8
+ 9 .1
+ 5 .9
+23.4
+11.1
- 1 .1
-1 2 .0
+ 7 .7
+10.3
+ 8 .0
+ 5 .3
+16.7
ft 2
+ 5 .2
- 5 .9
-1 0 .0
+ 3 .9
+ 5 .4
+ 6 .5
+14.5
15.95
15. 64
18. 77
13. 53
16.71
18. 82
23. 24
15. 98
15.17
17. 84
16. 86
18.27
17. 01
15.12
13. 51
- .6
+ .2
-1 .5
+ .4
-. 5
-2 .0
+ 7 .0
-.4
+ 1 .5
+ .4
- 3 .1
+ 7 .0
-1 0 .3
-2 .5
+ 1 .7
ft 7
-3 .0
+ 3.1
+4. 6
-.6
-.9
+ 1 .0
-.3
+ 3.6
+ 4 .8
-1 0 . 2
+11.5
+ 7.1
+ 8 .8
+ 9 .7
+ 7 .0
+ 1 .6
-2 .2
+ .3
+ 4 .3
- 2 .0
+10.1
+ 3.1
—8 2
-2 .4
- 5 .3
-9 . 1
+ 3 .3
+ 3 .8
+ 5 .0
+5. 2
-j-3 5
- 4 .3
-.6
+ 8 .5
+2. 5
+ 3 .5
+ 6 .0
+ .8
35.2
36.0
33.7
36.9
37.3
36.6
34.8
34.8
35.2
35.8
33.2
32.1
33. 6
34. 3
38.2
+ .1
+ .3
-1 .3
+ .4
-.6
-.8
+11.8
-.6
+ 1 .3
+ .6
-.3
+ 4 .8
- 3 .3
-.8
+ 5.1
+10.0
+ 9 .2
- 7 .4
+16.0
+7. 2
+ 9 .7
+11.3
+11.1
+ 8 .9
- 3 .6
+12.8
+12.9
+14.7
+11.9
+29.0
45.3
43.6
55.7
36.7
44.9
51.0
67. 2
46.8
43.0
50.0
49.1
56.2
47.8
43.1
34. 2
- .4
—. 3
—. 2
+ ( 2>
+ .2
—1. 5
-1 .2
—.3
+ .1
—. 2
—. 4
+ 1 .6
-3 .6
—2. 6
-.4
-4 .6
-2 .9
+ ( 2)
-3 .0
—. 5
—i. i
—1.0
- 3 .4
—6. 4
"j-i. 3
-9 . 6
—5. 9
—13. 6
—2.4
-1 8 .3
34.2
34.3
33.0
38.6
41.1
42.7
41.7
- 2 .3
+ 5 .5
+ 7 .7
-.6
-.6
+ .7
+ ( 2)
+10. 5
- 5 .6
- 7 .7
+ 1 .9
+ 3 .2
+ 5 .5
+ 4 .7
37.1
51.3
50.0
55.6
53.6
54.0
78.2
+ .7
-.1
-. 1
-.3
- 1 .3
+ .4
—. 4
-1 1 .9
—1.5
—2. 8
+ 1 .0
33.7
37.1
43.8
48. 2
42.4
39.8
38.0
-7 .6
-. 1
+ 1 .9
-.6
+ 2 .2
+ .2
-2 .8
- 3 .1
+ 1 .7
+12.4
+ 3 .7
+ 5 .0
+10.3
- 5 .3
39.5
43.3
53.5
52.5
56.0
60.7
58.7
-5 .0
+ .8
-.7
. -1 .3
N o n d u r a b le goods
Textiles a n d th eir p r o d u c ts ........... .
Fabrics_______________________
Carpets and rugs________ _
Cotton goods_______ ____ _
Cotton smallwares_________
D yeing and finishing textiles.
Hats, fur-felt__________ ____
Knit goods------------------------Silk and rayon goods_______
Woolen and worsted goods...
Wearing apparel..............................
Clothing, m en’s ...... .............. .
Clothing, women’s_________
Corsets and allied garments..
M en’s furnishings................
M illinery_________________
Shirts and collars__________
L eather a n d its m a n u fa c tu r e s ...
Boots and shoes__________ ____ _
Leather_______________________
Food a n d kin dred p r o d u c ts .........
Baking......... .....................................
Beverages............. ..........................
B utter_____ ____ _______ _____ _
Canning and preserving...............
Confectionery_________________
Flour--------------------- --------------Ice cream____________________
Slaughtering and meat packing..
Sugar, beet.------- ------------- -----Sugar refining, cane------- --------See fo o tn o te s a t end o f tab le.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 3 .3
-j-fi 3
+34.1
- 2 .3
+ .5
+ 5 .3
+ 1 .7
+10.7
- 1 .1
- 1 .7
+ .1
-.9
+ .8
- 2 .6
- 4 .7
+ 7 .0
- 1 .3
+3.1
+ .7
- 5 .7
+10.9
-1 9 .1
- 3 .8
+ 1.0
20 2
- 2 .2
+ 1.2
+ 2.4
- 1 .4
+ 3.3
+ 1.9
+ 3 .0
4 o fi
+17.8
- 2 .3
+ 3.3
+ 3.4
+ 9.8
- 2 .9
+ 0 ft
- 2 .3
-7 .5
+ 4 .1
+ 4 .8
+ 7 .2
+ 6 .3
-2 .4
12. 45
17.40
16.11
21. 63
21.94
23. 09
32. 37
91
5f )
13.28
15. 86
23. 57
25. 54
23.70
23. 63
22. 52
+ 2
-1 2 . 1
0
-. 1
-1 .9
+ 1 .7
-.9
- 1 .8
-.6
-1 .9
+ 1 .8
-.3
—. 1
O
*4
hj
S
J
o
+ 1 .1
+• 4
-2 .8
- 2 .9
-2 .0
-1 .8
-4 .8
“{-4. 8
-I
O
T able 1.
E m p lo y m en t, P a y Rolls, H o u rs, an d E arn in g s in M an u factu rin g a n d N o n m an u factu rin g In d u stries, Ju n e 1936— C o n tin u ed
Employment
Industry
Percentage
change from—
M ay
1936
June
1935
Index,
June
1936
Percentage
change from—
M ay
1936
June
1935
Average hours worked
per week
Percentage
change from—
June
1936
M ay
1936
Average hourly
earnings
Percentage
change from—
June
1936
June
1935
Percentage
change from—
June
1936
M ay
1936
June
1935
+ 1 .8
-4 . 1
+ 2 .7
- 1 .2
M ay
1936
June
1935
40.9
44. 4
40.4
70.0
48.9
53.9
+ 0 .2
-1 .9
+ .5
+ .3
-. 1
+ 1 .0
-
M a n u f a c t u r i n g (in d e x e s a r e b a s e d o n 8 - y e a r a v e r a g e 1 9 2 8 - 1 9 2 5 — 1 0 0 )
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s —Continued
T obacco m a n u fa c tu r e s ........................................
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff___
Cigars and cigarettes_____________________
Paper a n d p r in t in g ........ .....................................
Boxes, paper_____________________________
Paper and pulp______________ ______ _____
Printing and publishing:
Book and job___________ ____ ________
Newspapers and periodicals______ ____
C h em icals a n d allied p ro d u cts, a n d p etro
le u m r efin in g ,................. ......................................
Other than petroleum refining______ ____
Chemicals___________________________
Cottonseed—oil, cake, and meal_______
Druggists’ preparations.______________
Explosives__________________________ _
Fertilizers___________________________
Paints and varnishes__________ _______
Rayon and allied products____________
Soap_________________________________
Petroleum refining____________ ___________
R ubber p ro d u cts________________ _________
Rubber boots and shoes___________________
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tubes_________________________
Rubber tires and inner tubes__________ ____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
56.9
64. 3
55. 9
98. 3
84. 8
110.3
+ 0 .4
—, 4
+ .5
-.7
—. 3
-. 6
-1 .6
—3. 5
-1 .4
+ 2 .8
+2. 0
+ 1 .1
48.3
63.1
46.4
90.5
79.8
95.8
+ 3 .2
-6 .2
+ 4 .9
- 1 .5
-.5
-1 .2
+ 3 .2
- 6 .1
+ 5 .0
+ 8.5
+ 7 .2
+ 9 .7
$15.15
15.14
15. 15
26.04
19. 21
22. 06
+ 2 .9
-5 .8
+ 4 .5
- .8
-.2
-.6
+ 4 .8
- 2 .8
+ 6 .4
+ 5 .6
+ 5 .0
+ 8 .3
36.7
34.2
37.1
38.8
39.5
40.9
88.8
102. 6
-1 .2
—. 5
+ 4 .3
+3. 5
80.4
98.1
-3 .2
-.8
+ 6.3
+ 9 .8
28.17
35.16
- 2 .1
-.3
+ 1 .6
+ 5 .7
38. 1
36.9
108.3
107.8
111. 7
34. 4
96. 5
88. 4
68.1
115. 3
342. 0
98. 0
110. 7
83. 7
57. 4
- 1 .5
—2. 1
+ 1 .2
-1 4 . 1
—. 3
+ 6 .4
—38. 5
+ .7
+ .2
4". à
+ 1 .2
+. 8
—2. 6
+ 1 .0
+1. 3
+ 3 .3
-2 0 . 6
+• /
+ 2 .2
—14.0
+2. 5
+ 4 .9
-1 .6
+ .1
4~3. ò
+ 8 .6
102.6
101.7
108.9
35.2
93.3
87.6
67.1
106.6
262.4
96.7
105.6
79.0
53.2
- .3
+ 1 .8
-1 1 .8
- 2 .7
+ 8 .9
-4 1 .0
+ .6
+ 1 .3
+ 1 .0
+ 2.1
+ 2.9
+ 4 .4
+ 8.0
+8. 5
+11.1
-1 6 .2
-.4
+20.6
- 3 .0
+13.4
+ 9.1
+• 9
+ 6.3
+21.7
+27.3
24.86
22. 88
26. 56
10. 22
21. 65
27.81
15. 25
25. 67
20. 28
23.81
29.43
26.86
20. 51
+ 1 .3
+1.1
129.1
72. 6
-1 .4
+ 3 .7
+ 7 .1
-.4
119.1
70.9
+ ( 2)
+ 4 .0
+21.9
+20.3
21. 24
31. 86
-
1.0
C e n ts
- 1 .8
+ 4 .0
- 4 .8
+ 5 .4
+ 4.3
+ 7 .2
+ 7 .6
-1 .4
-.7
+ 2 .6
+ .9
74.2
92.3
—. 7
+ .7
+ 2 .6
- 2 .3
+ 2 .4
- 4 .1
-, 1
+ 1.1
+ .5
+ .9
+ 2 .1
+ 7 .3
+ 6 .9
+ 7 .0
+ 7 .5
+ 5 .5
- 1 .1
+18.1
+12. 5
+10.7
+ 4.1
4-2.6
+ 6 .3
+17.7
+17.2
39.2
- .7
40.3
- .7
40.7
-.7
43.5
-.5
39.0
+ 2.8
39.1
+ 1 .2
39.0
- 8 .5
43.3 « - . 5
38.8
+ .8
39.3
+ 1.0
-.2
36.2
38.1
+ 1.0
39.4
+ 6.3
+ 5 .5
+ 5 .0
+5. 1
+13.4
+. 2
+13.8
+11.0
+ 7 .5
+2. 5
+ 2 .6
+ 5 .6
+15.3
+17.8
63.9
57.3
65. 3
23.6
56.1
71.1
39.0
59.3
52.2
60.8
81. 8
70.5
52.0
+ 2 .5
+ 2 .7
+ 1 .3
-j-4. 2
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .2
+5. 7
+ .4
+• 3
—. 5
+ i. 1
+ 1 .6
+ .9
+ 1 .4
+ .3
+13.9
+20.7
40.5
35.9
+14.2
+16.1
53.2
88.9
+. 7
+ 1 .0
-(2 )
+ 1 .9
- .9
0.1
-
+ 2 .7
0
)
+ 1.0
1.6
+ 1.1
-
-1 .7
+ 2 .4
+ 2.2
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .7
-7 .7
+ 1 .5
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .4
+ 3 .2
+ 1.8
-.3
+ 1 .3
+ 1 .5
-.6
+• 6
+ 3 .9
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Index,
June
1936
Average weekly
earnings
Pay rolls
<1
N o n m a n u f a c tu r in g (in d e x e s a r e b a s e d o n 1 2 - m o n th a v e r a g e 1 9 2 9 = 1 0 0 )
51.2
75.7
61.9
53.5
72.9
-6 .7
-.7
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .7
+ .6
- 9 .7
- 2 .7
+34.8
+ 6 .0
- 4 .9
42.0
61.5
48.2
44.0
58.5
-2 5 .4
- 1 .1
+ 1.1
+ 4 .4
+ 1 .0
-3 6 .4
- 5 .0
+53.2
+30.2
- 1 .1
$23. 81
20. 47
24.43
20.46
29.05
-2 0 .1
-.4
-.7
+ 1.6
+ .4
-2 9 .5
- 2 .3
+13.7
+22.7
+ 3 .9
29.2
25.5
40.9
43.5
38.6
-1 6 .9
-.2
-1 .5
+ 1 .2
+ .4
-2 9 .5
-1 2 .5
+16.3
+24.3
+ 6 .8
83.2
80.2
59.2
47. 2
75.3
-0 .8
-.1
+ .9
+ .5
-.2
+ 0 .5
+11.0
-.7
-1 .6
-4 .0
+ 3 .8
72.1
+ .7
+ 2 .7
77.4
- 1 .5
+ 4 .0
28.79
- 2 .1
+ 1 .2
38.3
-3 .2
- 2 .3
77.9
+ 1 .0
90.4
+ 1 .6
+ 7 .8
88.1
+ 1.3
+10.4
31.61
-.3
+ 2 .5
40.6
+ (2)
+ 4 .5
77.8
-.2
-1 .2
71.7
+ .3
+ (2)
66.8
+ 1.0
+ 4 .5
30.15
+ .7
+ 4 .5
46.8
-.2
+ 3 .6
63.6
+ 1 .1
+ 1 .8
84.6
85.5
96.4
82.6
83.9
87.2
87.5
(5)
(5)
(5)
-. 1
+ .5
+ .9
+ .4
-.2
+ 2 .0
+ .2
- 1 .9
+ 3 .0
+ 4 .0
+ 5 .6
+ 3.5
+ 3.3
+ 6 .0
+ 4 .7
+23.0
+ 1.0
+21.3
68.4
66.4
81.3
63.3
66.6
75.8
69.2
(5)
(5)
(5)
+ .2
+ .9
+• 6
+ 1.0
-.5
+ .3
- 4 .0
- 1 .8
+1.1
+ 5 .5
+ 5 .9
+ 6 .2
+ 6 .0
+ 6 .5
+ 4 .8
+11.1
+ 5 .4
+31.2
+ 4 .4
+38.5
28. 81
20.71
17. 43
23. 43
13.90
16.13
19.23
37. 59
38.26
27. 26
+ .3
+ .4
- .3
+ .6
-.3
-1 .7
-4 .2
+ .1
+• 7
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .2
+. 3
+ 2 .9
+ 1.7
+ 4 .8
+ .8
+ 6 .7
+ 3 .4
+14.5
42.9
43.5
40.7
44. 4
47.9
42.7
43.9
(s)
(5)
33.2
H“«1
+ .3
+ .9
+ .2
-.4
-1 .2
- 2 .4
(5)
«
-.2
+ 3 .1
+ 3 .9
+ 7 .3
+ 2 .9
+ 1.1
+ 4 .4
+ 1 .8
(5)
(5)
+11.6
67.1
52.1
46.0
53.9
28.8
37.3
44.5
(5)
(5)
81.9
+ .4
+ .2
-.5
+ .4
+ .3
-.4
-1 .9
(6)
(5)
+ 1 .2
- 1 .0
- 1 .3
- 5 .3
—. 5
+ 1 .4
+ .7
+ .2
(5)
(5)
+ 2 .6
+ 4 .3
1 Average weekly earnings are computed from figures furnished by all reporting establishments. Average hours and average hourly earnings are computed from data supplied
by a smaller number of establishments as all reporting firms do not furnish man-hours. Percentage changes over year are computed from indexes. Percentage changes over month
in average weekly earnings for the manufacturing groups, for all manufacturing industries combined, and for retail trade are also computed from indexes.
2 Less than Mo of 1 percent.
3 M ay data revised as follows:
Employment index, 89.0; percentage change from April 1936, +1.1; from M ay 1935, +6. 8.
Average weekly earnings, $31.67; percentage change from April 1936, —0.1.
‘ Cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed.
5 N ot available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
88869— 36-
Coal mining:
Anthracite______________________________
Bitum inous. . _________________ ______
Metalliferous mining--------------------------------------Quarrying and nonmetallic mining------ ---------Crude-petroleum producing___________________
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph________________
Electric light and power and manufactured
gas 3___________________________________
Electric-railroad and motorbus operation
and maintenance________________________
Trade:
Wholesale_____________________________ -Retail______________ _______ _______ _____
General merchandising-------- ------------Other than general merchandising______
Hotels (year-round)4------------ ------------------------Laundries____________________________________
Dyeing and cleaning__________________________
Brokerage____________________________________
insurance________ __________________________
Building construction_________________________
to
722
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Indexes of Employment and Pay Rolls, January 1935 to June 1936
Indexes of employment and pay rolls are given in tables 2 and 3
for all manufacturing industries combined, for the durable- and
nondurable-goods groups of manufacturing industries separately,
and for 13 nonmanufacturing industries including 2 subgroups under
retail trade, by months, January 1935 to June 1936, inclusive. The
accompanying diagram indicates the trend of factory employment
and pay rolls from January 1919 to June 1936.
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from returns supplied by representative establishments in 90 manu
facturing industries. The base used in computing these indexes is
the 3-year average 1923-25 taken as 100. In June 1936 reports
were received from 24,870 establishments employing 4,227,007
workers, whose weekly earnings were $96,877,320. The employment
reports received from these establishments cover more than 55
percent of the total wage earners in all manufacturing industries of
the country and more than 65 percent of the wage earners in the 90
industries included in the monthly survey of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
The indexes for nonmanufacturing industries are also computed
from data supplied by reporting establishments, but the base is the
12-month average for 1929 as 100.
Table 2.— Indexes of Em ploym ent and Pay Rolls in all M anufacturing Industries
Combined and in the Durable- and Nondurable-Goods Groups, January 1935
to June 1936 1
[3-year average 1923-25=100]
Manufacturing
Total
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1935
1936
1935
1938
1935
1936
1935
1936
1935
1936
1935
January_____________
February______
March_________________
A p r il..._______________
M ay__________________
June__________________
78.8
81.4
82.5
82.6
81.2
79.7
82.9
83.1
84.1
85. 1
85.7
86.0
64.3
69.1
70.8
70.8
68.5
66.4
72.7
72.7
76.3
77.9
79.3
79.5
66.2
69.4
71.0
71.8
71.4
69.7
74.4
74.4
75.7
77.6
79.2
79.9
52.5
58.6
60.5
61.8
60.1
57.6
65.1
64.7
69.7
73.8
76.1
76.5
92.4
94.2
95.0
94.2
91.8
90.6
92.1
92. 6
93.2
93.1
92.7
92.6
79.3
82.6
83.9
82.4
79.2
77.6
July.......................................
August________________
September_____________
October________________
November ____________
December...................... .
79.7
82.0
83. 7
85.3
85.0
84.6
65. 4
69. 7
72. 2
75.0
74. 5
76.4
69. 4
70. 5
71.2
74.9
76.1
75.7
55. 6
58. 9
60. 6
66. 3
68.1
69.7
90.8
94.3
97.1
96. 4
94. 6
94. 2
77. 9
83. 4
87 1
86 2
82 7
85.0
82.2
70.3
71.4
60.9
93. 8
82.3
A verage............... .
1936
82.4
82.8
84.9
83.3
83.4
83.3
1 Comparable indexes for earlier years will be found in the February 1935 and subsequent issues of
the M onthly Labor Review.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
723
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 3.— Indexes of Em ploym ent and Pay Rolls in Selected Nonm anufacturing
Industries, January 1935 to June 1936 1
[12-month average 1929=100]
Anthracite mining
M onth
Em ploy
ment
Pay rolls
Bitnminous-coal
mining
Em ploy
ment
Pay rolls
Metalliferous mining
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
Em ploy
ment
Em ploy
ment
Pay rolls
1936 1935 1936
1930 1936 1935 1936 1935
Pay rolls
1935
1936
59.6 70.6 44.3 54.2 30. 1 41. 7 36.9 39.4 20.8 25.5
57.5
64.3
38.9
49.9
49. 5
54.4
76.7
42.6
28.6
56.3
66.0 42.0
80.0
81. 1
81.6
74.3
75.3
77.9
49.4
38.7
46.0
58.8
46.6
57.3
37.5
28.3
38. 2
55.9
28.4
55.4
70.0
73.4
77. 1
74.3
76.1
79.1
35.9
45.8
60. 1
69.8
65. 5
69.5
45.2
46.3
48.9
51.6
52.6
53.5
31. 1
33.4
35.4
38. 7
39.6
43.2
50.9
51.0
50.0
50.0
46.7
43. 1
34.4
36.3
35.4
36.5
32. 1
29.7
Average. 53.2
47.5
76.7
58.2
47.3
33.9
46.0
30.7
January...........
February____
March...............
A pril......... .......
M ay..................
June_________
62.9
64.4
51.4
52.6
53.5
56.8
J u ly ............. .
A u gu st.......... September___
October______
November___
December____
59.1
61.2
52.5
49.8
54.9
51.2
Crude-petroleum
producing
M onth
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
55.5
54.9
56.0
56.7
57.8
59.2
66. 1 78.4 44.3 55.5 29.9 42.8 37.3 36.9 22. 2 23.9
67.5
45.0
49.1
64.7
70.2
62.6
62.2
61.5
Telephone and
telegraph
Em ploy
ment
Pay rolls
45.0
46.0
44.4
46.0
55.7
55.7
55. 9
56.9
58.0
58.5
70.5
70.0
69.8
69.7
70.0
70.2
70. 1
69.9
70.2
70.8
71.6
72. 1
73.9
72.9
75.3
73. 1
73. 7
74.4
55.9
57.5
60.8
61. 9
30.9
31.8
31.4
31.5
45. 1
45.5
47.7
48.2
40.5
45.3
49.5
50.4
42.2
48.4
52.0
53.5
24.9
28.9
32.8
33.8
30.9
36. 1
42.1
44.0
Electric light and
power, and manu
factured gas
Electric-railroad and
motorbus
opera
tion and mainte
nance 2
Em ploy
ment
Em ploy Pay rolls
ment
Pay rolls
1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936
1935 1936 1935
1936 1935
71. 1
70.8
70.7
71.2
72.5
72.9
79.8
80.2
80.4
77.5
76.2
75.7
75.0
76.2
77.2
76.0
78.5
77.4
82.7
82.2
82.3
82.6
83.3
83.9
71. 2 70.7 62.9 65.0
86. 1 78.0 84.
86. 1 78.3 84.7 71.0 71.7 63.1 68.3
86.8 79.4 85.9 71.3 71. 2 63.4 67.8
January. .
February.
March__
April____
M ay____
June____
74.9
74. 2
74.0
74.9
76. C
76.7
J u ly - ........
August----September.
October__
November .
December.
77.4
76.3
75. 1
74.7
73.0
71.9
59.9
58.9
60.9
57.9
57.2
59.9
70.3
70.5
70.4
70.0
69.8
69.6
75.7
75.5
73.8
74.9
74.9
75.6
84.8
71. 5
71.2
71.0
71. 1
71. 1
70.5
63.4
63.3
64.0
64.1
63.8
66. 1
Average - 74.9
57.9
70.1
74. 5
84. 8 ____ 8 1 .4 ____ 71.2
63.7
88.0 79.0 8 6 .2 71.4 71.3 63.3 65.9
389.0 79.8 87.0 71.6 71.5 63.6 66. 1
90.4 79.8 88. 1 71.7 71.7 63.9 66.8
86.9
87.4
87.6
81.5
82.8
84.5
84. 4
83.4
86.8
86.0
86.8
1 Comparable indexes for earlier years for all of these industries, except year-round hotels, w ill be found in
the February 1935 and subsequent issues of the M onthly Labor Review. Comparable indexes for yearround hotels w ill be found in the September 1935 issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
2 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing: see transportation equipment and railroad
repair-shop groups, manufacturing industries, table 3.
3 Revised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
724
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Table 3.— Indexes of Employm ent and Pay Rolls in Selected N onmanufacturing
Industries, January 1935 to June 1936— Continued
[12-month average 1929=100]
Wholesale trade
Month
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Total retail trade
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Retail trade—gen
eral merchandising
Retail trade—other
than general mer
chandising
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
Pay rolls
1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936
January_____
February.........
M a rch ....____
A p r il........... .
M ay_________
June..................
84.2
84.6
84.0
83.2
82.5
82.1
J u ly ..................
August...........
September___
October............
November____
December____
82.1
82.7
83.7
85.7
86.4
66.9
86.8
Average. 84.0
85.6
85.0
85.6
85.7
84.6
84.6
63.9
64.6
65.2
64.8
64.6
64.6
66.6 79.5 80.4 59.7 62.1 87.3 88.2 73.5 76.4 77.4 78.4 56.9 59.1
66.6 79.2 79.7 59.3 61.6 86.2 85.1 72.3 73.9 77.3 78.3 56.6 59.1
69.0 80.2 81.9
67.9 83.5 85.2
68.2 82.2 85.0
68.4 82.2 85.5
60.4
62.5
62.0
62.5
68.6
79.3
78.0
81.8
83.8
84.6
92.9
60.5
59.3
62.5
63.2
63.4
69.3
65.6
82.3
62.1
64.6
64.8
67.2
66.8
63.5
65.3
65.8
66.4
88.6 90.9 74.1 77.3 78.0
94.4 97.4 77.5 81.0 80.7
91.3 95.5 76.3 80.8 79.8
91.2 96.4 76.7 81.3 79.8
85.5
83.1
92.2
97.1
Employ
ment
131.7
77.7
76.7
79.1
80.3
80.1
82.7
58.1
57.2
59.4
59.8
59.6
62.0
94.2
78.0
79.1
58.8
101.6
Pay rolls
57.
59.4
59.0
59.5
72.0
69.5
77.2
79.8
82.0
104.5
Year-round hotels
Month
79.5
82.0
82.3
82.6
Laundries
Employ
ment
60.7
62.1
62.7
63.3
Dyeing and cleaning
Pay rolls
Employ
ment
Pay rolls
1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936 1935 1936
January..
February.
M a rc h ...
April___
M ay____
June........
80.3
81.1
80.8
81.1
81.6
81.3
July...........
August___
September.
October__
November.
December.
80.3
80.7
81.1
81.6
81.5
SO. 8
62.1
62.0
63.1
64.3
64.8
64.2
84.4
84.2
83.0
81.9
81.3
81.1
70.9
69.2
67.9
67.1
66.7
67.5
81.7
79.4
82.1
80.4
76.3
73.4
61.5
58.2
63.1
61.1
55.4
52.9
81.0
63.4
81.5
66.9
77.5
57.9
Average.
81.9
82.8
82.8
83.2
84.1
83.9
62.2
63.5
63.9
63.6
63.7
63.5
64.9 79.6 81.5 63.9
66.5 79.6 81.2 64.1
66.0 79.7 82.1 64.6
66.3 80.0 83.2 65.5
67.0 81.1 85. 5 66.6
66.6 82.3 87.2 68.2
68.3
67.8
69.9
70.9
75.6
75.8
70.3
69.6
72.5
79.9
80.9
83.6
71.5
70.3
74.7
81.8
87.3
87.5
50.4
49.8
53.5
61.9
61.7
65.7
51.6
49.0
56.4
64.1
72.2
69.2
Trend of Industrial and Business Employment, by States
A
of employment and pay rolls, by States and geo
graphic divisions, in May and June 1936 is shown in table 4 for all
groups combined, except building construction and class I railroads,
and for all manufacturing industries combined, based on data sup
plied by reporting establishments. The percentage changes shown,
unless otherwise noted, are unweighted—that is, the industries in
cluded in the manufacturing group and in the grand total have not
been weighted according to their relative importance.
c
o
m
p a
r
i s o
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
n
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
725
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
726
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
T able 4 . — C om parison of E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls in Id en tical E sta b lis h m e n ts,
M a y -Ju n e 1936, by G eographic D ivisions an d by S tates
(Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but are taken from reports issued by
cooperating State organizations]
Total—All groups
Geographic divi
sion and State
Manufacturing
Per
Per
Per
Per
N um
cent Amount cent N um
ber Numbe
ber Number cent Amount cent
on pay
age of pay rol
age
age
age
of
of
on pay
roll
change
change
change of pay rol change
estab
June
from (1 week) from estab roll June from (1 week) from
lish
1936
1936
M ay June 1936 M ay lish
M ay June 1936 M ay
ments
1936
1936 ments
1936
1936
N ew E n g la n d ___ 13,835
Maine_________
782
New Hampshire.
625
Vermont_______
466
M assachusetts... 2 8 ,6 1 4
Rhode Island___ 1,217
C onnecticut___ 2,131
D o lla rs
824,245 -0 .5 17,867,274
53, 565 + 1.] 1,016,96C
34,28S +3.0
672, 205
16, 635 + (')
350, 65C
4 5 7 ,5 0 5
83, 747
178, 500
M iddle A tla n tic .. 34,160 1,927,094
New York___
22, 587 874, 799
New Jersey____
3,263 270,099
Pennsylvania__
8,310 782,196
E ast N o rth C entr a l________
19,832 2,013,331
Ohio . . .
8,182 563, 637
Indiana_______
2 ,3 2 6
2 2 7 ,4 4 2
Illinois______ _ « 4 ,6 7 5 5 4 0 ,4 S I
Michigan___
3, 656 504,134
Wisconsin______
« 993 1 7 7 ,6 8 7
W est N o rth C entr a l________
11,659
Minnesota_____
2,162
Iowa__ ____
1,763
Missouri_____
3,073
North D a k o ta ...
508
South D a k o ta ...
514
Nebraska___
1,568
Kansas______
8 2 ,0 7 1
- .4
- 1 .3
- 1 .4
1 0 ,1 7 9 ,6 7 3
1, 677,OOe
3, 970, 77S
+ .3 47,494,500
- . 5 22, 492, 633
+ 2.1 6,628,49!
+ . 6 18, 373,368
D o lla rs
-1 .5
-1 .7
+1.1
-1 .4
3,327
266
192
128
549,841
43,04'
27, 29C
10,20C
- 1 .3
- .8
1 ,6 3 3
25 9 ,1 7 4
- .8
5 ,3 1 9 ,2 2 6
398
710
- 2 .2
65,051
145,07S
- 1 .5
- 1 .5
1,220, 743
3| 106,023
—1. 1
-1 .2
- 1 .2
-.8
4,960 1, 111, 082
- . 6 8 1 ,9 0 9 4 0 4 ,1 2 3
+ 1 .7 < 735 2 3 2 ,4 4 6
- 1 .8 2 ,3 1 6 474, 513
—0. 11,133,845
+ .4
772,043
+2.8
507,983
207,827
-1 .
+ .8 26,399,926
+ 1.1
- . 9 1 0 , 1 0 4 ,3 7 2
+ 2 . 1 5 ,4 7 7 ,9 3 0
+ 1 . 6 1 0 ,8 1 7 ,6 2 4
- .4
+ 1 .7
+ 2 .2
+ . 5 51,374,027
- . 3 14,333, 586
+ .3
+ 3 .1 5 ,3 7 9 ,7 9 1
+ ■ 9 1 3 ,1 0 4 ,1 6 6
+ .4 40,197,161
- . 8 10,610,005
+ .1
+ .4
908
2 ,2 3 2
962
739
1 8 9 ,0 2 6
3 5 5 ,1 5 2
4 5 1 ,6 8 5
I 4 2 , 715
+ 3 . 6 4 ,5 0 5 ,2 1 6
+ 1 . 6 8 ,5 5 9 ,9 5 2
- . 8 1 3 ,1 5 2 ,0 6 2
7 + 1 .4 3 ,3 6 9 ,9 2 6
+ 2 .5
+ 2 .6
- 3 .6
7 + 1 .4
2,202
366
382
749
42
33
155
190,427
36, 277
30, 942
81,039
693
1,734
11,188
+ 1.1 4,295,271
+ 3 .2
855, 540
+ 1 .4
691,139
- . 2 1,752,041
+ 4.1
17,838
+ 5 .9
41,342
+ 1 .7
259,240
+3.1
+2. 5
+ 2 .4
+1. 4
+ 3 .3
+ 9 .0
+ 3 .9
+ 1 .6
+ 1. 8
7,148 1,543,609
2,307 405,031
+ 1 .2
4 ,1 5 8 ,1 6 5
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .9
- 2 .4
+ 1 .6
398,063
83,090
58,051
156,150
5,837
7,590
32,241
+. 8
+ 2 .3
+ 1 .2
-.3
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .4
+1.1
9,120,887
1,982,314
1,274,874
3, 561,320
132,333
193,853
730,990
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .0
+ .7
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .2
+ 1 .7
5 5 ,1 0 4
+ 1 .0
1 ,2 4 5 ,2 0 3
+ 2 .2
475
2 8 ,5 5 4
+ 3 .6
2,649
77
492,863
9, 357
+ 1 .5
535
7 4 ,7 2 0
- . 4 14,398,31£
S o u th A tla n tic .. 11,075
Delaware_____
222
Maryland______ 1 ,5 6 9
District of Colum bia_____
1,072
Virginia_____
2,213
West Virginia__
1,277
North Carolina.. 1,416
South Carolina..
769
Georgia___
1,440
Florida______
1,097
40,922
-.2
97,653
+ .2
146,605
+ .6
144,374
-. 1
66,986 + 0)
101,012
- .4
34,322 -1 0 .5
1,018,377
- .2
1,852, 497 + 1 .6
3,310, 512 + 1 .7
2,077,457
+ .9
936, 630
+ .8
1, 590,258 - 0 )
649,295 - 7 .4
41
435
240
579
201
361
180
3,826 + 3 .6
64,113
-. 1
55,479
+ .7
132,910
+ .1
59,478
+ .2
76,956 -(>)
16,024 - 2 .9
E ast S o u th C entra l___
K en tu ck y...
Tennessee..
A labam a..
Mississippi___
4,615
1,521
1,296
1,235
563
264,892
81,456
90,039
77,845
15,552
4,653,058
1,613,331
1, 555,831
1,254, 012
229,884
+ .2
- 1 .2
+ 1 .3
+ .5
+ 1 .0
914
261
334
227
92
4,389
» 531
1,013
1,393
172,819
+ .3 3,631,330
+ 1 .2
982
42, 302
40, 644
- 1 .5
3 8 7 ,1 3 4
- 1 .0
+ .9
- .5
209
16, 639
801,805
933, 347
- 1 .1
+ 1 .3
211
138
1 ,4 5 2
6 6 ,6 3 2
+ 1 ,5
1 ,5 0 9 ,0 4 4
+ 2 .8
424
W est S o u th C entr a l_________
Arkansas___
Louisiana. .
Oklahoma..
Texas_____ __
759,549
13, 730
1 1 3 ,9 4 5
2 3 ,2 4 1
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 1 .7
-2 . 6
+• 9
—3. 8
- . 4 14,290,176
+ 3 .6
317,278
+ .3 2 ,6 3 7 ,8 7 2
+ 1 .0
+ .8
+ 1.1
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .8
6 7 8 ,1 3 1
+ .3 8,456,179 + 1.3
+ 5 .8
206, 702 +5. 5
7 - . 3 1, 64 1 ,7 5 1 7 + 1 . 2
126, 278
1,188,941
1,268,836
1,875,879
795,660
1,085, 264
266,868
+2. 6
+2. 5
+ .4
+ 1. 1
+ 1 .0
+ .2
+ .2
159,345
31, 600
66,259
52,258
9,228
+ 2 .0 2,662,196
+ 2 .9
642,656
+ 1.4 1,108, 362
+ 2 .2
795, 002
+ 2 .2
116,176
+ 1.9
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .8
+1. 2
+2. 3
86,820
20, 731
10,977
+ .3 1,729,946
-.7
2 5 9 ,8 1 6
- 1 .9
344,144
+ 2 .2
241,118
3 8 ,4 7 3
+ 1 .3
884, 868
+.
+ .3
-2 . 2
+ 2 .3
->-2.0
i
727
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Table 4.— Comparison of Em ploym ent and Pay Rolls in Identical Establishm ents,
M ay-June 1936, by Geographic Divisions and by States— Continued
Manufacturing
Total—All groups
Geographic divi
sion and State
Per
N um Number cent
Amount
ber
on
pay
age of pay roll
of
change (1 week)
roll
estab June
from June 1936
lish
M ay
1936
ments
1936
Per
cent
age
change
from
M ay
1936
Per
N um
ber Number centage ofAmount
pay roll
on pay
of
(1 week)
estab roll June change
from June 1936
lish
1936
M
ay
ments
1936
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
856,928 + 3 .3
129, 647 +4. 6
75, 551 -|-lö. 2
•50, 205 + 4 .6
—. 1
353,446
—. 4
12,382
64,055 +5. 4
146, 886 + 3 .9
24,756 +4. 2
35,193
4,924
3,120
1,742
14,320
651
2,778
6.791
867
+1.4
+ 2 .9
-, 1
1,990
477
255
229,215
50,879
26,809
+ 2.6 5,873,312
+ 2.3 1, 252, 263
608, 861
-|-4. /
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .8
—.7
+ 1 .1
1 ,2 5 8
1 5 1 ,5 2 7
+ 2 .3
4 ,0 1 2 ,1 8 8
+ 1 .6
122,049
19,551
9,248
8, 365
40,435
6,518
14,792
20,024
3,116
+ 1 .6 2,935,750
517,817
- .8
219,616
+ 3 .3
219, 292
+ 1.0
957,401
+ 1 .7
133,608
+ 1 .2
355,103
+ 2 .8
447, 703
+ 2 .9
85, 210
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .4
- 1 .6
+ 7 .7
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .3
+ 2.5
+ .2
+ 2 .7
+ 2 .3
6,466
Pacific
. ____
Washington........ 3, 037
O r e g o n ..______ 1,340
California______ io 2 ,0 8 9
422,940
94,582
47,950
+ 2 .1 10,795, 179
+ 3 .4 2,342, 755
+ 3 .3 1,144,839
+ 1 . 4 7, 3 0 7 ,5 8 5
2 8 0 ,4 0 8
+ 4 .4
+ 4 .0
+ 6 .8
+ 1.5
+ 2.0
+ 2 .7
+ 7 .9
+ 8.8
+ 3.3
550
82
52
40
183
29
40
102
28
4 ,43«
722
457
331
1,243
324
527
619
213
M o u n ta in __ _
Montana______
Idaho__________
W yoming______
C o lo r a d o ..____
New Mexico___
Arizona___ ____
U tah__________
Nevada............
Per
cent
age
change
from
M ay
1936
1 Less than Y io of 1 percent.
. . ,
.
.
,
2 Includes banks and trust companies, construction, municipal, agricultural, and office employment,
amusement and recreation, professional services, and trucking and handling.
s Includes laundering and cleaning, water, light, and power.
4 Includes laundries.
,
5 Includes automobile and miscellaneous services, restaurants, and building and contracting,
e Includes construction, but does not include hotels, restaurants, or public works.
i Weighted percentage change.
8 Includes financial institutions, construction, miscellaneous services, and restaurants.
» Includes automobile dealers and garages, and sand, gravel, and building stone.
10 Includes banks, insurance, and office employment.
Industrial and Business Employment and Pay Rolls in Principal Cities
A c o m p a r is o n of June employment and pay rolls with the May
totals in 13 cities of the United States having a population of 500,000
or over is made in table 5. The changes are computed from reports
received from identical establishments in both months.
In addition to reports included in the several industrial groups
regularly covered in the survey of the Bureau, reports have also been
secured from establishments in other industries for inclusion in these
city totals. As information concerning employment in building
construction is not available for all cities at this time, figures for this
industry have not been included in these city totals.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
728
Table 5.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Comparison of Em ploym ent and Pay Rolls in Identical Establishm ents
in M ay and June 1936, by Principal Cities
City
New York, N . Y ................
Chicago, 111..........................
Philadelphia, Pa______ _
Detroit, M ich__ ____ _
Los Angeles, Calif.........................
Number
of estab
lishments
Number
on pay
roll June
1936
Percentage
change
from M ay
1936
Amount of
pay roll
(1 week)
June 1936
Percentage
change
from M ay
1936
$18,426,934
10,365,861
5, 271, 630
10, 243,437
3,358,511
-1 .2
+1.1
+ .8
-2 .4
+ 2 .0
+ .8
+ 1 .2
-.2
-.9
+ 2 .5
+ .9
-0 )
+ 3.0
17, 777
4, 232
2,608
1,572
2,808
700, 541
397,074
214,170
342, 308
133,052
Cleveland, O h io ,..................
St. Louis, M o_________ . _
Baltimore, M d_________
Boston, Mass_____ _____
1,809
1, 596
1,324
4, 928
134, 516
126, 293
88, 290
170, 237
-.2
3, 517, 547
2, 960,427
2,022,367
4,036, 356
Pittsburgh, Pa________ _
San Francisco, Calif________
Buffalo, N . Y_____ . .
Milwaukee, W is______ _
1,480
1,443
1,112
705
200, 355
77, 967
79, 529
73,194
+ 2 .4
+ 2 .0
+ .6
+ 1 .4
5, 228,055
2,051, 742
1, 954, 826
1,826,179
- 0 .7
+ .6
+ .8
-
1.0
+ 2.1
-.3
+ .4
1 Less than ^io of 1 per cent.
Public Employment
E m p l o y m e n t created by the Federal Government includes employ
ment in the regular agencies of the Government, employment on the
various construction programs wholly or partially financed by Federal
funds, and employment on relief-work projects.
Construction projects financed by the Public Works Administration
are those projects authorized by Title II of the National Industrial
Recovery Act of June 16, 1933. This program of public works was
extended to June 30, 1937, by the Emergency Relief Appropriation
Act of 1935.
The Works Program was inaugurated by the President in a series
of Executive orders by authority of Public Resolution No. 11,
approved April 8, 1935. Employment created by this program
includes employment on Federal projects and employment on pro
jects operated by the Works Progress Administration. Federal
projects are those conducted by Federal agencies which have received
allotments from The Works Program fund. Projects operated by
the Works Progress Administration are those projects conducted
under the supervision of the W. P. A.
The emergency conservation program (Civilian Conservation
Corps) created in April 1933 has been further extended under author
ity of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
729
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Executive Service of the Federal Government
S t a t is t ic s of employment in the executive branches of the Federal
Government in June 1935, May and June 1936 are given in table 6.
Table 6.—Employees in the Executive Service of the United States Government,
June 1935, M ay and June 1936 1
[Subject to revision]
District of Columbia 2
Outside District of
Columbia
Entire service2
Item
Perma Tempo Total
rary
nent
Number of employees:
June 1935_____ _______ 92, 727 11,250
M ay 1936____________ 107,812
9,417
June 1936____________ 107,913
9, 557
Percentage change:
June 1935 to June 1936.. +16. 38 -1 5.05
M ay to June 1936_____
+ . 10 +1.49
Labor turn-over, June 1936:
Additions 5___________
1,639
1,385
Separations5. . . _____
1, 561
1,107
Turn-over rate per 100____
1.45
11.67
Perma Tempo Total
rary 3
nent
Perma Tempo Total
rary 3
nent
103, 977 516,166 98,093 614, 259 608, 893 109, 343 718, 236
117, 229 600, 274 100, 725 700,999 708, 086 110,142 818, 228
117,470 604, 503 102, 653 707,156 712,416 112, 210 4824, 626
+12.98 +17.11 + 4.65 +15.12 +17.00
+.21
+ .7 0 +1.91
+ .88
+ . 61
3,024
2,668
2. 27
11,973
8,964
1.49
21, 976
18, 377
18.07
33, 949
27, 341
3.88
13,612
10,525
1.48
+2. 62 +14. 81
+1.88
+ .7 8
23,361
19,484
17. 53
36,973
30,009
3.65
1 This table shows employment on last day of month specified.
2 Includes employees of Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Howard University.
3 N ot including field employees of Post Office Department or 24,178 employees hired under letters of
authorization by the Department of Agriculture with a pay roll of $1,173,469.
4 N ot including 566 employees transferred but not reported by department to which they were assigned.
5 N ot including employees transferred within the Government service, as such transfers should not be
regarded as labor turn-over.
The monthly record of employment in the executive departments
of the United States Government from June 1935 to June 1936,
inclusive, is shown in table 7.
Table 7.—Employm ent in the Executive D epartm ents of the United States
Government by M onths, June 1935 to June 1936
[Subject to revision]
Month
Outside
District District
of
of
Columbia Columbia
Total
M onth
718,236
735,881
770,123
787,426
797,700
801, 401
816, 226
January__________
February_________
M a rch ___________
April...... .................. .
M ay......................... .
June _______ ____
1935
June_____________
July________ ____ _
August - ...................
September________
October__________
November________
December________
Outside
District District
of
of
Columbia Columbia
Total
1936
103,977
104, 747
107,037
109,197
110, 585
111, 199
112,091
614, 259
631.134
663,086
678, 229
687,115
690, 202
704.135
111,800
112,708
112,739
115,422
117, 229
117,470
689,499
687,626
693,665
695, 345
700, 999
707,156
801,299
800, 334
806,404
810, 767
818, 228
824, 626
Construction Projects Financed by the Public Works Administration
D e t a il s concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked during June 1 on construction projects financed by Public
Works Administration funds are given in table 8, by type of project.
1
Data concerning projects financed by Public Works Administration funds are based on month ending
June 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
730
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Table 8.—Em ploym ent and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed from Public Works
Funds, M onth Ending June 15, 1936
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum
num ber
employed
W eekly
average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All projects 2, .......................................
3 108, 609
101, 927
$9, 578,180
12, 903, 359
$0. 742
$9,829,016
Building construction 2„ ...................
Forestry________________________
N aval v e s s e ls __ _ _____________
Public roads4_____________ _____ _
R eclam ation,.______ ___________
19,176
9
26, 406
(8)
12,826
16, 021
9
25, 863
27, 789
12, 251
1, 550, 227
1,194
3,309,959
1,394, 231
1, 288,010
1,829, 549
1,032
4,042,159
2, 567,010
1, 811, 587
.847
1.157
.819
.543
.711
1,875,986
81
2, 509,281
2,300, 000
1,328,195
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads ______________
Water and sewerage, _______ ____
Miscellaneous_________________ ,
19, 087
2,125
153
1,038
17, 002
1, 875
134
983
1, 861,101
95,310
8, 546
69, 602
2, 327, 631
216,353
15, 671
92, 367
.800
.441
.545
.754
1,662,793
106, 552
18,130
27, 998
Non-Federal projects—Financed from N . I. R. A. funds
All projects .........................................
63,300
53,050
$4,883,891
5,495,026
$0. 889
$8,285, 985
Building construction,____ _______
Streets and roads, ...............................
Water and sewerage______________
Miscellaneous______________ ____ _
30,306
9,826
20,122
3,046
25,118
7, 885
17, 386
2, 661
2,445, 383
607,445
1, 627,015
204,048
2, 506, 730
797,433
1, 852,859
338,004
.976
.762
.878
.604
3,748,804
1,186,047
2, 227, 217
1,123,917
Non-Federal “ Transportation Loan” projects—Financed from
N . I. R . A . funds
All projects .........................................
8, 559
(6)
Railroad construction____________
Railroad-car and locomotive shops..
Operated by railroads________
Operated by commercial firms.
6, 307
2, 252
1,763
489
5,987
(6)
1, 729
(«)
$513,181
917, 810
$0. 559
248,407
264,774
148,857
115,917
546, 516
371,294
215, 091
156,203
.455
.713
.692
.742
(6)
224, 979
(0)
46,458
(6)
Non-Federal projects—Financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds 7
All projects,......... .......................... .
169,104
15,101,842
$0. 719
$19,978, 981
Building construction,___________
Electrification____ ____ __________
Heavy engineering______________
Reclamation.......................................
109,789
685
1,043
816
90,481
572
885
693
7, 212,071
44, 989
90,001
54,723
9, 520,075
61, 552
121, 580
94, 727
.758
.731
.740
.578
13,237,814
159,618
447,960
98,448
River, harbor, and flood control.,Streets and roads, ............ ...............
Water and sewerage_____ ____ ___
Miscellaneous___________________
455
16,911
38, 133
1,272
402
13, 241
32,265
1,013
32,679
919, 676
2,440, 990
70, 545
39, 438
1,475,253
3, 687,969
101,248
.829
.623
.662
.697
109,958
1,634,408
4,184, 348
106,427
139, 552 $10,865, 674
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes a maximum of 7,080 and an average of 5,830 employees working on low-cost housing projects
financed from E. R. A. A. funds, who were paid $570,151 for 741,923 man-hours of labor. Material orders
in the amount of $475,233 were placed for these projects. These data are also included in separate tables
covering projects financed from The Works Program.
3 Includes weekly average for public roads.
4 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
8 N ot available; average included in total.
i Data not available.
7 These data are also included in separate tables covering projects financed by The Works Program.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TKEND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY KOLLS
731
Federal construction projects are financed by allotments made by
Public Works Administration to the various agencies and departents of the Federal Government from funds provided under the
ational Industrial Recovery Act. The major portion of the lowost housing program now under way, however, is financed by funds
provided under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
The work is performed either by commercial firms, which have been
awarded contracts, or by day labor hired directly by the Federal
agencies.
Non-Federal projects are financed by allotments made by the
Public Works Administration from funds available under either the
National Industrial Recovery Act or the Emergency Relief Appropria
tion Act of 1935. Most of the allotments have been made to the
States and their political subdivisions, but occasionally allotments
have been made to commercial firms. In financing projects for the
States or their political subdivisions from funds appropriated under the
National Industrial Recovery Act, the Public Works Administration
makes a direct grant of not more than 30 percent of the total labor and
material cost. When funds provided under the Emergency Relief
Appropriation Act of 1935 are used to finance a non-Federal project,
%s much as 45 percent of the total labor and material cost may be
furnished in the form of a grant. The remaining 55 percent or more
of the cost is financed by the recipient. When circumstances justify
such action, the Public Works Administration may provide the grantee
with the additional funds by means of a loan. Allotments to com
mercial enterprises are made only as loans. All loans made by the
Public Works Administration carry interest charges and have a
definite date of maturity. Collateral posted with the Public Works
Administration to secure loans may be offered for sale to the public.
In this way a revolving fund is provided which enlarges the scope of
the activities of the Public Works Administration.
Commercial loans have been made, for the most part, to railroads.
Railroad work financed by loans made by the Public Works Adminis
tration falls under three headings: First, construction work in the
form of electrification, the laying of rails and ties, repairs to buildings,
bridges, etc.; second, the building and repairing of locomotive and
passenger and freight cars in shops operated by the railroads; and
third, locomotive and passenger- and freight-car building in com
mercial shops.
Monthly Trend
A summary of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
projects financed from public-works funds from July 1933 to June
1936 is given in table 9.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
732
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Table 9.—Employm ent and Pay Rolls, July 1933 to June 1936, on PFinanced from Public Works Funds
[Subject to revision]
M axi
mum
number
of wage
earners1
Year and month
July 1933 to June 1936, inclusive 2____
Monthlypay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
of i
Average Value
man-hours
terial ordì
worked dur earnings placed dm
per
hour
ing month
mont* ~
$703,377,099 1,100,752,000
July to December 1933, inclusive_____
January to December 1934, inclusive...
January to December 1935, inclusive 2.
.639
$1,288,754,991
32,941,335
308, 311,143
254,176,118
61, 718, 911
523, 561, 666
371, 352, 552
.534
.589
.684
3 75,453, 114
3 610,051,090
3 417,321, 441
14, 399, 381
12, 220,479
13, 981,176
18, 915, 663
22, 590, 878
25,840, 926
19,195, 535
16,404,771
18, 519, 649
25, 203,010
30, 377,869
34, 418,037
.750
.745
.755
.751
.744
.751
22,796,818
23,460,743
29,068, 402
32,459, 393
* 39, 778, 571
38, 365,419
193 6
January 2.
February :
March 2_._
A p ril2___
M a y 2___
June 2___
197,820
176, 764
202, 236
264, 427
315,393
349, 572
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work. Includes weekly average for public-road projects.
2 Includes wage earners employed on projects under the jurisdiction of P. W. A. which are financed from
E. R. A. A. funds. These data are also included in tables covering projects financed by The Works
Program.
3 Includes orders placed by railroads for new equipment.
4Re vised.
The Works Program
A d e t a i l e d record of employment, payrolls, and man-hours v u i k e d .
on projects financed by The Works Program in June 1 is shown in
table 10, by type of project.
T able 10.—Employm ent and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by The Works
Program, June 1936
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum W eekly
number
em ployed1 average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
V alue'P “'
orders
placed
during
month
Federal projects
A ll projects________________ _____
453,012
399,851
$22, 657, 507
50, 680, 511
$0. 447
$14,431,802
Building construction____________
Electrification___________________
Forestry . . ___________________
Grade-crossing elimination_______
Heavy engineering_______________
Hydroelectric power plants__ ____
Plant, crop, and livestock conservation . . . ______________ . .
Professional, technical, and clerical.
Public roads____ _____ __________
Reclamation_____________ .
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and roads________________
Water and sewerage____ _______
Miscellaneous___________________
38,772
1,083
20, 910
28, 777
225
2,233
34, 037
962
19, 765
23,352
202
2,065
2, 210, 571
66,944
1,030,745
1, 601, 280
15, 330
51,126
3, 774,926
111, 258
2, 509,136
2, 784,909
25,917
211,864
.586
.602
.411
.575
.592
.241
1, 759, 930
’ 163,990
389,333
2,338,366
33, 933
85, 326
51,310
26, 620
129,874
89, 017
44, 567
8, 746
683
10,195
44,123
26, 600
106,017
83,934
41, 298
7, 822
544
9,130
1, 568,204
2, 007,896
6,077,080
3, 627, 713
3,411, 623
429,511
39, 782
519,702
6,179,873
3,320, 787
13,136,805
8,936, 696
7, 510,979
963, 709
81,636
1,132, 016
. 254
.605
.463
.406
.454
.446
.487
.459
67,928
107', 039
4,082,104
1,347,965
3,533, 594
' 201, 440
2,989
317,865
See footnote at end of table.
1 Data concerning projects financed by The Works Program are based on month ending June 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
733
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
10.—Employm ent and Pay Rolls on Projects Financed by The Works
Program, June 1936— Continued
[Subject to revision]
-6^
=79‘
in .
rf.t
Wage earners
Type of project
Maximum Weekly
number
employed average
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours
worked
during
month
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Value of
material
orders
placed
during
month
P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds 2
All projects3______________ _____ -
176,184
145,382
$11,435, 825
15,843, 765
$0. 722
$20,454, 214
Building construction 3___________
Electrification.. ________ ________
H eavy engineering_______________
Reclamation___
. . . _________
River, harbor, and flood control___
Streets and road s...______________
Water and sewerage______________
Miscellaneous.......................................
116,869
685
1,043
816
455
16,911
38,133
1,272
96,311
572
885
693
402
13, 241
32, 265
1,013
7,782, 222
44, 989
90, 001
54, 723
32, 679
919, 676
2,440, 990
70, 545
10, 261,998
61, 552
121, 580
94, 727
39, 438
1,475, 253
3, 687,969
101, 248
.758
.731
.740
.578
.829
.623
.662
.697
13, 713,047
159,618
447,960
98, 448
109, 958
1, 634,408
4,184, 348
106,427
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
All projects 34___________________
2,561,307
Conservation__________ ________
v road, and street________
124,475
818,223
5, 902
174, 298
262, 885
224, 337
217, 063
254,434
73,695
298,849
51, 755
55, 391
.mth Administration 3. .
il, technical, and clerical.
, .u .ii,
ding_____________ __
Publicly owned or operated utilities.
Recreational facilities 7___________
Sanitation and health____________
Sewing, canning, gardening, etc___
Transportation... _______________
Not elsewhere classified........... .........
$128, 222, 740 281, 504,372
5, 675, 546
38,371, 224
382,656
2,807, 543
18, 730,836
13,083, 855
11,349,167
15,190, 565
3, 268,233
13, 756, 805
2,847, 329
2, 758,981
14, 608, 733
93, 479,938
663, 504
7,269,943
31,109,190
23, 993,977
24,444, 708
28, 757, 603
8,674, 939
36,194,314
5,957,656
6, 349,867
$0.455 5 $22,674, 265
.389
.410
.577
.386
.602
.545
.464
.528
.377
.380
.478
.434
493,783
7, 750,101
5,066
126,105
667,892
4,967,891
3,411, 237
2,429, 685
780, 620
569, 825
757, 624
714,436
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 These data are also included in separate tables covering projects under the jurisdiction of the Public
Works Administration.
"Oata for a maximum of 44 and an average of 44 employees who were paid $798 for 2,105 man-hours on
Aition work at site of low-cost housing projects are included both under P. W. A. projects financed
irom E. R. A. A. 1935 funds and under projects operated by W. P. A.
'"Includes data for 22,653 transient camp workers who were paid $542,165 and subsistence for 2,696,217
van-hours on conservation work, etc.
J The value of material orders placed, excluding those for National Youth Administration projects, is
for the month ended June 30, 1936.
6 These data are for the month ended M ay 31, 1936, and exclude student-aid projects.
2 Exclusive of buildings.
Monthly Trend
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on projects financed
by The Works Program from the beginning of the program in July
1935 to June 1936 are given in table 11.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
734
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
T able 11 . — E m p lo y m en t an d P a y Rolls, Ju ly 1935 to Ju n e 1936, on P ro jects
F in an ced by T he W orks P ro g ram
[Subject to revision]
Value of
Maximum M onthly pay Number of Average
material
man-hours earnings
number
roll disburse worked
orders
dur per hour
employed 1
ments
placed dur
ing month
ing month
M onth and year
Federal projects
July 1935 to June 1936, inclusive...............
$126,600,182
288,800,477
$0,438
$98,822,198
July to December, 1935_______________
30,077,743
65,915,609
.456
32,116,942
11,179, 541
12, 529,207
14,431,789
16,563,885
19,160,510
22, 657,507
25,955,820
29,173,914
35, 243, 886
38,563,300
43, 267,437
50,680,511
.431
.429
.409
.430
.443
.447
8,988,622
9,684,578
8,028,299
12,903,903
12,668,052
14,431,802
1936
January_____________ ______ _______ _
February______________ ______ _______
March______________________________
April_______________________________
M ay________________________________
June____________ ____ _______ _____ _
248,929
298, 589
325,505
375,865
401, 298
453,012
P. W. A. projects financed from E. R. A. A. 1935 funds 2
September 1935 to June 1936, inclusive.September to December, 1935................
$33,501,024
47,819, 374
$0. 701
$80,110, 204
661,283
996,091
.664
2,025,494
1,128,635
1,794,866
3,032,280
6,346, 433
9,101,702
11,435,825
1,621,349
2,609,270
4, 525,546
9,211, 679
13, Oil, 674
15,843,765
.696
.688
.670
.689
.700
.722
3, 632,378
8,611,717
10,548,343
14,725,726
20,112,332
20,454,214
1936
January_____________________________
February__________________________ .
March______________________________
April___________________________ ____
M a y .......................... ...................... . . . .
J u n e _______ ____ ___________________
23, 740
39,848
64, 223
112,345
149,334
176,184
Projects operated by Works Progress Administration
August 1935 to June 1936, inclusive.
$980,320, 084 2,225,588,429
August to December, 1935............... .
January..
February.
March__
April___
May........
June____
$0. 440 $165, 714,142
170,911,331
367,589,041
.465
46,042,303
127,054,184
136,276, 680
142, 827,306
143,492,350
131, 535, 493
128, 222,740
310,755,226
331,916,478
338,477,216
330,771,776
294,574, 320
281,504,372
.409
.411
.422
.434
.447
.455
19,860,772
17,896,597
17, 592,687
19,586, 594
3 22,060,924
22,674,265
1936
2,755,802
2,900, 645
3,044, 685
2,856,508
2,563,185
2,561,307
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 These data are also included in tables covering projects under the jurisdiction of P. W. A.
3 Revised.
Emergency Conservation Work
S t a t i s t i c s concerning employment and pay rolls in emergency
conservation work in May and June 1936 are presented in table 12.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
735
T a b le 1 2 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in E m e r g e n c y C o n se r v a tio n W o rk , M a y
a n d J u n e 1936
[Subject to revision]
Number of
employees
Amount of pay rolls
Group
M ay
June
M ay
June
All groups___________ _____________________________
383, 279
407, 621
$17,947,251
$18, 610,245
Enrolled personnel__ - ______ _____________________
Reserve officers____________________________________
Educational advisers L .___________ ________________
Supervisory and technical2_________________________
332,041
7,666
1,974
3 41, 598
357,022
7, 762
1, 975
* 40,862
10,341,860
1, 579, 639
340,037
3 5, 685, 715
11,121, 242
1, 620,971
340,067
« 5, 527,965
1 Included in executive service table.
2 Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
2 40,061 employees and pay roll of $5,537,013 included in executive service table.
4 39,535 employees and pay roll of $5,410,283 included in executive service table.
Employment and pay-roll data for emergency conservation workers
are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the War Depart
ment, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce,
the Treasury Department, and the Department of the Interior. The
monthly pay of the enrolled personnel is distributed as follows:
5 percent are paid $45; 8 percent, $36; and the remaining 87 percent,
$30. The enrolled men, in addition to their pay, are provided with
board, clothing, and medical services.
Monthly statistics of employment and pay rolls on the emergency
conservation program from June 1935 to June 1936, inclusive, are
given in table 13.
T a b le 1 3 .— M o n t h ly T o t a ls o f E m p lo y e e s a n d P a y R o lls in E m e r g e n c y C o n se r v a
tio n W o rk , J u n e 1935 t o J u n e 1936
[Subject to revision]
M onth
Number M onthly pay
of em
roll disburse
ployees
ments
December____ _________
Number M onthly payof em roll disburse
ments
ployees
1936
1935
June
July .
August
fip.ptfvmhp.r
October
M onth
430, 226
483, 329
593, 311
536, 752
554,143
546, 683
509,126
$19,816, 204
22,133,513
26,293, 526
24,455,343
24,886, 623
24,009, 372
21,949, 480
January_________ ______
February____ __________
March_________________
April__________ ________
M ay____________ ______
June___________________
478,751
454, 231
356, 273
391,002
407,621
383, 279
$21,427,065
20, 484, 379
17, 251, 772
18,058, 235
18, 610, 245
17,947, 251
Construction Projects Financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
S t a t is t ic s of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Cor
poration in June 1are presented in table 14, by type of project.
l Data concerning projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation refer to the month ending
June 15.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
736
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
T a b le 1 4 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls on P r o je c ts F in a n c e d b y th e R e c o n s tr u c
tio n F in a n c e C o r p o r a tio n , b y T y p e o f P r o je c t, J u n e 1936
[Subject to revision]
N u m b er of
man-hours A verage
w orked
earnings
during
per hour
m on th
V alue of
m aterial
orders
placed
during
m on th
N um b er
of wage
earners
M on th ly
pay-roll
disburse
m en ts
A ll projects_____ ______ _____ ______ ________
8,501
$941,680
1, 252,193
$0. 752
$2, 527,262
B r id g e s __________ _____________________
B u ild ing construction 1................. ..................... ..
R eclam ation_______ _______________________ .
W ater and sew erage. ______________ _______
M iscellaneous................................... .........................
986
805
22
5, 754
934
155,021
50,467
1, 572
651,037
83,583
133,139
92,767
3,039
898,469
124, 779
1.164
.544
.517
.725
.670
13,162
1,434,803
163
1,050,503
28,631
T y p e of project
1 Includes 157 em ployees; pay-roll d isbursem ents of $13,265; 11,991 man-hours worked; and m aterial orders
placed during th e m on th am ou nting to $5,856 on projects financed b y R . F . C. M ortgage Co.
A monthly summary of employment, pay rolls, and man-hours
worked on construction projects financed by the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation from June 1935 to June 1936, inclusive, is given
in table 15.
T a b le 1 5 .— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls o n P r o je c ts F in a n c e d b y th e R e c o n s tr u c
tio n F in a n c e C o r p o r a tio n , J u n e 1935 t o J u n e 1936
[Subject to revision]
Month
Number M onthly pay Number of Average Value of ma
orders
of wage roll disburse man-hours
earnings terial
worked dur per
dur
earners
ments
hour placed
ing month
ing month
1935
June_____________ ____ _________ .
July------------------------------------------------August. ____________________ ______
September______ __________________
October 1________________ ________
November >____________________ .
December i__________________________
11,901
9, 581
9,415
9, 301
9, 204
9, 802
7, 792
$1,191, 336
1,001,653
1,020, 208
957, 846
953,383
1,002,151
870,129
1,592,744
1, 349, 064
1, 367, 071
1, 271,475
1, 269,897
1, 344,959
1,161,473
$0. 748
.742
.746
.753
.751
.745
.749
$3,998,576
1, 495,108
965,174
1,016, 202
1,238,053
1,411,729
1,383,330
7,560
7,961
8,134
10,021
10,988
8, 501
850, 271
905,455
916,059
1,133,880
962, 280
941, 680
1, 093, 350
1,179,431
1,193,145
1,479,182
1,244,097
1,252,193
.778
.768
.768
.767
.773
.752
1,355,520
1,436,119
1, 385, 640
1,292,063
1,441,248
2,527, 262
1936
January_______ ______________
February_______________ _
March___________________ _
April______ _______ ______
M ay________ ________________
June____________________________
1 R evised .
Construction Projects Financed from Regular Governmental Appropriations
W h e n e v e r a construction contract is awarded or force-account
work is started by a department or agency of the Federal Government,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics is immediately notified on forms sup
plied by the Bureau, of the name and address of the contractor, the
amount of the contract, and the type of work to be performed. Blanks
are then mailed by the Bureau to the contractor or Government agency
doing the work. These reports are returned to the Bureau and show
the number of men on pay rolls, the amounts disbursed for pay, the
number of man-hours worked on the project, and the value of the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
737
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
different types of materials for which orders were placed during the
month.
The following tables present data concerning construction projects
for which contracts have been awarded since July 1, 1934. The
Bureau does not have statistics covering projects, the contracts of
which were awarded previous to that date.
Data concerning employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
construction projects financed from regular governmental appropria
tions during June 1 are given in table 16, by type of project.
T a b le 1 6 .— E m p lo y m e n t o n C o n str u c tio n P r o je c ts F in a n c e d fro m R e g u la r G o v
e r n m e n ta l A p p r o p r ia tio n s , b y T y p e o f P r o je c t, J u n e 1936
[Subject to revision]
Number of wage
earners
Type of project
Maximum Weekly
number
average
em ployed1
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of
man-hours Average
earnings
worked
per hour
during
month
Value of
material
orders
placed dur
ing month
All projects........................................
2 102, 376
98, 622
$8,631,104
13, 692,884
$0. 630
$12, 347,453
Building construction__________
Electrification_________________
Naval vessels_________________
Public roads 3_________________
Reclamation ________________
9,679
3
21, 634
(4)
1,197
8,157
3
21,100
53, 693
1,130
734, 224
169
2, 774, 504
3,732, 400
169, 967
1,068,697
216
3, 260,856
6,842,168
227,458
.687
.782
.851
.545
.747
1, 342,702
14
3, 549, 315
6,157,172
301
River, harbor, and flood control..
Streets and roads______________
Water and sewerage____________
Miscellaneous- _ _____________
12,963
1,875
95
1,237
11, 701
1,677
82
1,079
1,086,820
81,955
4,315
46, 750
2, Oil, 660
196,589
7, 252
77,988
.540
.417
.595
.599
967,171
72, 636
52,664
205,478
1 Maximum number employed during any 1 week of the month by each contractor and Government
agency doing force-account work.
2 Includes weekly average for public roads.
3 Estimated by the Bureau of Public Roads.
* N ot available; average number included in total.
Employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on construction
projects financed from regular governmental appropriations from
June 1935 to June 1936 are shown, by months, in table 17.
1 Data concerning projects financed by regular governmental appropriations are based on month ending
June 15.
88869—36------ 13
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
738
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
T a b le 17 . — E m p lo y m e n t o n C o n str u c tio n P r o je c ts F in a n c e d from R e g u la r G o v
e r n m e n ta l A p p r o p r ia tio n s , J u n e 1935 t o J u n e 1936
[Subject to revision]
Number
of wage
earners
Month
M onthly
pay-roll
disburse
ments
Number of Average
man-hours
worked dur earnings
per hour
ing month
Value of ma
terial orders
placed dur
ing month
1935
June................................
J u ly ...............................
August........................... .
September...... ...............
October.................. ........
November___________
December......................
26,191
25, 788
36, 491
45, 592
59, 091
63, 912
56, 780
$1, 904,454
1,890, 209
2, 694,822
3,199, 785
4,193,129
4, 077, 395
3, 707,963
2,842, 470
2, 752,801
4,137, 008
5, 066,873
6, 716, 798
6, 559, 665
5,980,118
$0. 670
.687
.651
.632
.624
.622
.620
$2,960, 270
3, 079,618
4,459, 551
5, 801,445
7,181,155
6, 690, 405
6,155,840
46,895
43, 915
47, 538
60,107
79, 789
102, 376
3,990, 725
3, 619, 025
3, 674,896
5, 205, 353
6, 242, 763
8, 631,104
6, 246, 418
5, 545,115
5,814,569
8, 375,190
10, 262, 637
13, 692,884
.639
.653
.632
.622
.608
.630
5,584, 611
6, 669, 016
7,185, 019
9, 861, 378
12, 559, 367
12, 347, 453
1936
January___________
February__________
March____ ___ ____
April............... ...........
May_____________
June..... ......... ............
State Road Projects
A record of employment and pay-roll disbursements in the con
struction and maintenance of State roads from June 1935 to June 1936,
inclusive, is presented in table 18.
T a b le 18 . — E m p lo y m e n t o n C o n str u c tio n a n d M a in te n a n c e o f S ta t e R o a d s,
J u n e 1935 t o J u n e 19 3 6 1
[Subject to revision]
Number of employees working on—
M onth
N ew roads
June...........
J u ly ..........
August___
M ainte
nance
Total
Total pay
roll
1935
September.
October...
November.
December.
30,823
35,826
40,130
40, 431
40, 390
32, 487
27, 046
138, 253
148,575
163, 960
156,187
147, 324
139,138
121, 690
January..
February.
March__
April........
M ay.........
June........
14,358
10, 256
8,150
11, 339
16, 566
20, 773
105, 795
119, 777
• 133,386
143,305
164, 356
165, 363
169, 076
184, 401
204, 090
196, 618
187, 714
171, 625
148, 736
$7, 079, 793
8, 232, 589
9, 063,104
8, 435, 225
8,150, 299
7,156, 025
6,139, 581
120,153
130, 033
141,536
154, 644
180,922 .
186,136
7, 481, 502
7,572, 614
7, 689, 770
8, 918, 024
10,560,866
11, 488, 253
1Excluding employment furnished by projects financed from Public Works Administration funds.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUILDING OPERATIONS
S um m ary of B uilding-'C onstruction R ep o rts fo r
Ju ly 1936
B
UILDING construction activity declined moderately in July
1936 as compared with June. The estimated value of building
construction for which permits were issued in July was $156,328,000,
a decrease of 1.8 percent from June 1936. New residential buildings
and additions, alterations, and repairs registered considerable gains
in July, but the sharp decrease in the value of building permits issued
for new nonresidential buildings was sufficiently great to bring the
total for all building construction slightly below the June 1936 level.
Compared with July 1935, however, the value of building construc
tion for which permits were issued was substantially higher. The
value of construction permits in July 1936 was 89.1 percent greater
than in the corresponding month of 1935. All classes of construction
showed decided improvement.
Data comparing June and July 1936 are based on reports received
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1,469 identical cities with a
population of 2,500 or over. Data comparing July 1936 and July
1935 are based on reports received by the Bureau from 759 identical
cities with a population of 10,000 or over.
Comparisons, July with June 1936
A
of building construction in 1,469 identical cities, for
June and July 1936, is given in table 1.
s u
m
m
a
r
y
T a b le 1 .— S u m m a r y o f B u ild in g C o n str u c tio n in 1 ,4 6 9 I d e n tic a l C itie s , J u n e a n d
J u ly 1936
Number of buildings
Class of construction
All construction_______ _________
N ew residential buildings____________
N ew nonresidential buildings________
Additions, alterations, and repairs------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
July 1936 June 1936 centage
change
57, 559
11,426
10,068
36,065
58,989
- 2 .4
11,143
10,842
37,004
+ 2 .5
- 7 .1
- 2 .5
Estimated cost
July 1936
June 1936
Per
centage
change
$156,327,916 $159,181,990
-1 .8
77,133,828
51,868,431
30,179,731
+13.7
-2 6 .7
+ 1 .2
87,737,483
38,043,199
30, 574,234
739
740
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
The number of buildings for which permits were issued in July
1936 decreased 2.4 percent compared with the previous month. New
residential building was the only class of construction to register an
increase in the number of buildings for which permits were issued.
A moderate curtailment in number was apparent from the permits
issued for new nonresidential buildings and for additions, alterations,
and repairs. The estimated cost of building construction as measured
by the value of permits issued was $2,854,000 less in July than in
June. Although new residential buildings and additions, alterations,
and repairs registered increases of $10,604,000 and $395,000, respec
tively, the decrease of 26.7 percent in new nonresidential buildings
was sufficiently large to cause a reduction of 1.8 percent in all classes
of construction for which permits were issued in July.
A summary of the estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the
number of families provided for in dwellings for which permits were
issued in June and July 1936 is presented in table 2.
T a b le 2 .— S u m m a r y o f E s tim a t e d C o s t o f H o u s e k e e p in g D w e llin g s a n d o f t h e
N u m b e r o f F a m ilie s P r o v id e d for in 1 ,4 6 9 I d e n tic a l C itie s, J u n e an d J u ly
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Number of families provided
for in new dwellings
Kind of dwelling
Per
Per
centage July 1936 June 1936 centage
change
change
July 1936
June 1936
$86, 334,473
$76, 704,144
+12.6
21, 015
19, 487
+ 7 .8
1family____________
44, 265,113
2fam ily1. ......................... ......................
2, 687,085
Multifamily 2........ .................................
39,382, 275
45, 810,321
2,458, 216
28,435, 607
-3 .4
+ 9 .3
+38.5
10, 204
917
9,894
10, 324
813
8, 350
- 1 .2
+12.8
+18.5
All types_________________ _____ ____
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Measured by the value of permits issued, the estimated cost of
housekeeping dwellings in July increased 12.6 percent over June.
There was a pronounced gain, 38.5 percent, in multifamily dwellings
and a more moderate increase in two-family dwellings. The esti
mated cost of one-family dwellings for which permits were issued in
July, however, showed a decrease of 3.4 percent. An increase of
more than 7 percent occurred in the number of families provided for
by all types of dwellings in July as compared with June. Marked
percentage increases took place in the number of families provided
for by two-family and multifamily dwelling units. One-family dwell
ings, however, provided for 1.2 percent fewer families in July than in
the previous month.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
741
BUILD IN G OPERATIONS
Comparisons, July 1936 with July 1935
A s u m m a r y of building construction in 759 identical cities in July
1935 and July 1936 is shown in table 3.
T a b le 3 .— S u m m a r y o f B u ild in g C o n str u c tio n in 759 I d e n tic a l C itie s, J u ly 1935
an d J u ly 1936
Estimated cost
Number of buildings
Class of construction
All construction____________________
Now residential buildings____________
N ew nonresidential buildings__ ____ Additions, alterations, and repairs.........
Per
July 1936 July 1935 centage
change
52,565
9,856
9,029
33,680
41,090
5,188
6,838
29,064
July 1936
+27.9 $141,812,185
+90.0
+32.0
+15.9
July 1935
Per
centage
change
$74,995,810
+89.1
27, 736,057
24,882,491
22,376, 262
+182.2
+38.2
+30.4
78, 257,417
34, 386,158
29,168, 610
Significant gains occurred in all classes of building construction for
which permits were issued in July 1936 compared with the correspond
ing month of 1935. The most pronounced gain, a percentage increase
of 90.0, occurred in new residential buildings. The estimated cost
of new residential buildings in July 1936, measured by the value of
permits issued was over $50,521,000 greater than in July 1935. New
nonresidential building increased $9,504,000 over the same period;
and additions, alterations and repairs, $6,792,000.
Table 4 presents, in summary form, the estimated cost of new house
keeping dwellings and the number of families provided for in such
dwellings, for the months of July 1935 and July 1936.
T a b le 4 .— S u m m a r y o f E s tim a t e d C o s t o f H o u se k e e p in g D w e llin g s a n d o f t h e
N u m b e r o f F a m ilie s P r o v id e d for in 759 I d e n tic a l C itie s, J u ly 1935 a n d J u ly
1936
Estimated cost of housekeeping
dwellings
Kind of dwelling
July 1936
July 1935
Number of families provided
for in new dwellings
Per
Per
centage July 1936 July 1935 centage
change
change
All types.............................- .........- ............. $77,920,917
$27,005,332 +188. 5
19,158
7,289
+162. 8
37,092,338
2,482,624
38,345,955
20,333,270 +82.4
1, 294,616 +91.8
5,377,446 +613.1
8, 724
838
9,596
4,843
450
1,996
+80.1
+86.2
+380.8
1-family
________________________
2-family 1
_ __________________
M ultifamily 2_______________________
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
2 Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Measured by the value of permits issued, the estimated cost of all
kinds of housekeeping dwellings increased 188.5 percent in July 1936
compared with July 1935. Pronounced increases in expenditures
were indicated for all types of dwellings. Over 162 percent more
families were provided with dwellings in July 1936 than in the corre
sponding month of 1935. Multifamily dwellings provided for 7,600
more families, an increase of more than 380 percent over July 1935.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
742
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Important Building Projects
P e r m it s were issued during July for the following important building projects: In Binghamton, N. Y., for a school building to cost
nearly $500,000; in New York City—in the Borough of The Bronx
for apartment houses to cost over $5,000,000, in the Borough of
Brooklyn for apartment houses to cost nearly $2,000,000 and for
factory buildings to cost nearly $600,000, in the Borough of Queens
for apartment houses to cost over $2,000,000; in River Forest, 111.,
for a mercantile building to cost over $600,000; in Columbus, Ohio,
for factory buildings to cost nearly $500,000; in Washington, D. C.,
for apartment houses to cost over $400,000 and for warehouses to
cost $880,000; in Miami Beach, Fla., for apartment houses to cost over
$400,000 and for hotels to cost over $800,000; in Galveston, Tex., for
an institutional building to cost nearly $500,000; in Boulder, Colo.,
for a school building to cost nearly $500,000; in Los Angeles, Calif.,
for school buildings to cost over $1,400,000; and in San Francisco,
Calif., for amusement buildings to cost over $1,000,000. Contracts
were awarded by the Public Works Administration for the following
low-cost housing projects: In Boston, Mass., to cost over $5,000,000;
in the Borough of Manhattan to cost nearly $3,000,000; in Chicago,
111., to cost over $4,000,000; in Jacksonville, Fla., to cost nearly
$900,000; in Columbia, S. C., to cost nearly $600,000; in Louisville,
Ky., to cost over $1,000,000; in Nashville, Tenn., to cost over $1,500,000; and in Oklahoma City, Okla., to cost over $1,700,000. A con
tract was awarded by the Procurement Division of the United States
Treasury Department for a post office and Federal court house in
Fort Smith, Ark., to cost nearly $300,000.
D etailed R ep o rts fo r Ju n e 1936
ETAILED figures on building construction, as compiled by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the month of June 1936, are
presented in this article. The data are the same as published in the
Building Construction pamphlet for June, except for certain minor
revisions or corrections.
D
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
743
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Building Construction in Principal Cities
B u i l d i n g activity as measured by permits issued showed a decided
increase in June. The aggregate value of all building construction
for which permits were issued during June was 34.0 percent greater
than during May.
The increase in June of this year was widespread, eight of the nine
geographic divisions showing gains. The gain in residential buildings
was especially pronounced. Reports from 1,362 identical cities show
an increase of 45.0 percent in the value of residential buildings, of
41.0 percent in the value of nonresidential buildings, and of 7.0 per
cent in the value of additions, alterations, and repairs to existing
structures. (See table 1.)
Compared with a year ago, June building activity showed an even
more pronounced increase. The value of residential buildings as
measured by permits issued in June 1936 showed a gain of $39,800,000,
or 142.0 percent, over the corresponding month of 1935. Indicated
expenditures for new nonresidential buildings increased $21,000,000,
or 81.0 percent, and the value of additions, alterations, and repairs to
existing structures increased more than $9,000,000, or 51.0 percent.
The increase in total constuction amounted to approximately $71,000,000, or 97.0 percent.
T a b le 1 .— S u m m a r y o f B u ild in g C o n str u c tio n in 1,3 6 2 I d e n tic a l C itie s , M a y
a n d J u n e 1936
Number of buildings
Class of construction
June 1936 M ay 1936
All construction_________________
New residential buildings.----------N ew nonresidential buildings_____
Additions, alterations, and repairs..
67,416
10, 787
10,409
36, 220
Percent
age
change
Estimated cost
June 1936
M ay 1936
Percent
age
change
66,366
+ 1 .9 $155,598, 042 $115,762,883
+34.4
9,893
10,302
36,171
+ 9 .0
+ 1 .0
+ 0 .1
51,825,363
35,854,631
28,082,889
+45.2
+40.6
+ 6 .5
75,268, 266
50,422,323
29,907,453
The figures for building construction activity for May and June are
based on reports received from 1,362 identical cities having a popula
tion of 2,500 or over. The comparisons with the corresponding month
of 1935 are based on reports received from 708 identical cities having a
population of 10,000 or over.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
744
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW — SEPTEMBER 1936
The information concerning permits issued is collected by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics direct from local building officials, except in the
States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, and Pennsylvania, where the State departments of labor
collect and forward the data to the Bureau. The cost figures shown in
this report are estimates made by prospective builders on applying
for permits to build. No land costs are included. Only building
projects within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are
included in the Bureau’s tabulation. The data, however, do include
the value of contracts awarded for Federal and State buildings in the
cities covered. This information is collected by the Bureau from the
various Federal and State agencies which have the power to award
contracts for building construction. The data on public building are
then added to the information concerning private construction
received from local officials. In June 1936 the value of Federal and
State buildings for which contracts were awarded in these 1,362
cities amounted to $10,084,000; in May 1936, to $3,250,000; and in
the 708 cities which reported for June 1935 the value of public build
ings for which contracts were awarded amounted to $16,158,000.
Index numbers of indicated expenditures for each of the different
types of building construction and for the number of family-dwelling
units provided in new housekeeping dwellings are shown in table 2.
The monthly trends for these major classes of construction and for the
number of family-dwelling units provided during the period January
1933 to June 1936 are shown graphically in the accompanying charts.
The index number of total building construction is higher than for
any month since April 1931, and it is the first time since that month
that the index number based on the monthly average of 1929 has
reached 50.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
BUILDING OPERATIONS
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
746
T a b le 2 .
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
In d e x N u m b e r s o f F a m ilie s P r o v id e d for a n d o f I n d ic a te d E x p e n d itu r e s
for B u ild in g C o n str u c tio n
[M onthly average 1929=100]
Indicated expenditures forMonth
Families
provided
for
N ew resi
dential
buildings
N ew non Additions,
residential alterations,
buildings and repairs
Total
construc
tion
1930
M a v _______
June______________
59.6
54.4
48.5
45.1
51.7
43.4
39.8
33.4
A4
'
ll. 7/
11.3
10.6
7.9
7.9
11.9
12.3
on
yu. i
84.5
69.3
63.3
53.0
48.8
39.4
90 O
9
oy.
9
/f 0
R
Z4.
27.3
28.2
23.3
17.3
8.1
8.8
99 Q
oo.
o
29.8
33.3
21.7
13.8
10.2
7.2
7.3
OO
A
ZU. 4
36.4
34.4
16.7
12.4
20.0
20.8
14.2
16. 1
OA 4
A
Z4.
iy. y
47.2
43.6
22.0
24.3
19. 0
19.6
28.1
30.9
31.6
46.8
16.6
19.1
OR
zo. zO
23 1
41.0
36.2
47.9
53.9
59.1
62.9
24.9
24.5
36.0
39.6
38.7
52.0
oZ. O
1931
M av— _____
June_________
_ ___
1932
M av...............
June__________
1933
M ay_______
June_______ _____
11 0£
11.
1934
M av_______
June___ ______
12 6
1935
M av_______
June_______________
1o o
1936
January____
February____________
March_________
April______ _________
M ay________________
June______________
AA 4
A
44.
AK 0
K
40.
90
K
oy. 0
55. 5
During the first 6 months of 1936 permits were issued for buildings
valued at nearly $610,000,000, a gain of 76.0 percent as compared
with the corresponding period of 1935. (See table 3.) Over the
same period the value of new residential buildings showed a pick-up
of 121.0 percent, the value of new nonresidential buildings a gain of
-69.0 percent, and the value of additions, alterations, and repairs an
increase of 34.0 percent.
T a b le 3 .
E s tim a t e d C o st o f B u ild in g C o n str u c tio n , F ir s t H a lf o f 1935 a n d o f
1 9 3 6 , b y C la ss o f C o n str u c tio n
Class of construction
All construction____
New residentialNew nonresidential .
Additions, alterations, and repairs
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Estimated cost of building
construction—First half of—
Percentage
change
1936
1935
$609, 714, 689
$346,173, 501
+76.1
256,781, 551
216,198,175
136, 734,963
116,233,832
127,982, 291
101,957, 378
+120. 9
+68.9
+34.1
747
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Comparison W ith Previous Month
T h e June increase in building construction was widespread, eight
of the nine geographic divisions showing increases ranging from 4.0
percent in the Pacific States to over 61.0 percent in the Middle Atlan
tic States. (See table 4.) Eight of the nine geographic divisions also
showed gains in residential construction. In the Middle Atlantic
States the pickup amounted to 130.0 percent. This was accounted
for largely by the issuance of a large number of permits for apartment
houses in New York City. It is expected that within the near future
a new building code will be adopted for New York, and this may have
been a factor in the rush for building permits during June.
New nonresidential buildings were higher in seven of the nine
divisions, the gains being especially pronounced in the South Atlantic
and East South Central States. Contracts awarded for an addition
to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and a new building for the
Bureau of Economics, Department of Agriculture, in Washington,
D. C., to cost approximately $5,000,000, were a determining factor in
the large increase in the South Atlantic Division.
Indicated expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs were
greater in six of the nine divisions.
T a b le 4 .— E s tim a t e d C o s t o f B u ild in g C o n str u c tio n in 1,362 I d e n tic a l C itie s, M a y
a n d J u n e 1936
N ew residential buildings (estimated
cost)
Geographic division
Percent
age
change
June 1936
M ay 1936
All divisions........................—
$75,268, 266
$51, 825,363
N ew E n g la n d ___________
M iddle A tla n tic -------- . . .
East North Central---------West North Central—..........
South A tla n tic __________
East South Central..............
West South C e n tr a l..........
M ountain________________
Pacific___________________
2,469,345
33,194, 259
13,191, 704
3,757,248
8,558,680
928,397
3,057, 956
1, 316,941
8, 793, 736
2, 250,925
14,444,100
10, 608,227
3, 404,765
7, 377, 249
1,089,687
2,932,536
1,277, 595
8,440,279
June 1936
M ay 1936
+45.2
$50.422, 323
$35,854, 631
+40.6
+ 9 .7
+129.8
+24.4
+10.4
+ 16.0
-1 4 .8
+ 4 .3
+ 3 .1
+ 4 .2
2,033,404
14, 253, 328
10,820,448
1,395,529
8, 567,023
1,680,001
3, 930. 203
1,069, 288
6, 673,099
2,122, 705
12,448,346
6,691,639
1,905,192
2, 320,585
839,863
2,692,866
686,976
6,146,459
-4 .2
+14.5
+61.7
-2 6 .8
+269. 2
+100.0
+45.9
+55.7
+ 8 .6
Per
centage
change
, 907,453 $28,082, S
All divisions---------N ew England-------Middle Atlantic----East North CentralWest North Central.
South Atlantic------East South CentralWest South Central.
M ountain------ ------P a c ific ..................... .
M ay 1936
2, 328,684
9, 886, 790
6,475, 023
1,643,447
3,791, 414
682,086
1, 204,004
624,062
3, 271,943
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1, 943,156
8, 593,445
5, 294,169
1, 728,019
4,754,050
565, 569
1,157,160
607,932
3,439,389
Total construction
June 1936
M ay 1936
N um
ber
of
Per
cities
centage
change
+ 6 .5 $155,598,042 $115, 762,883
+34.4
1,362
6, 316, 786
35,485,891
22, 594,035
7,037,976
14,451, 884
2,495,119
6,782, 562
2, 572, 503
18,026,127
+ 8.1
90
333
302
128
162
57
96
54
140
+19.8
+15.1
+22.3
- 4 .9
-
Percent
age
change
June 1936
Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)
Geographic division
New nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
20.2
+ 20.6
+ 4 .0
+ 2 .7
- 4 .9
6, 831, 433
57,334, 377
30,487,175
6, 796, 224
20,917,117
3, 290,484
8,192,163
3,010, 291
18,738, 778
+61.6
+34.9
- 3 .4
+44.7
+31.9
+ 20.8
+17.0
+ 4 .0
748
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Living quarters will be provided for 19,128 families in the new
housekeeping dwellings for which permits were issued during June.
This is a gain of 48.0 percent over the previous month. Increases in
the number of family-dwelling units provided occurred in one-family,
two-family, and multifamily dwellings, the most pronounced gain
being in multifamily dwellings. (See table 5.)
T able 5 .— E stim a ted C ost and N um ber o f F a m ily -D w ellin g U n its P rovid ed in
1,362 Id en tical C ities, M a y and June 1936
Number of families provided for in
new dwellings
Estimated cost
Type of dwelling
June 1936
May 1936 Percentage
change
June 1936
May 1936
All types______________
19,128
12,916
+48.1 $74, 593, 470 $50, 567, 230
1family____ _________9,942
_________9,233
_________ +7.7
43, 937, 677 40, 216,699
2family i_____
873
727
+20.1
2, 542, 311
2,014, 570
Multifamily 2__________
8, 313
2,956
+181. 2 28,113,482
8,335, 961
Percentage
change
+47.5.
+9.3
+26. 2
+237. 3
1Includes one- and two-family dwellings with stores.
2Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
Analysis by Siz;e of City, May and June 1936
T h e small cities as well as the large ones shared in the June increase
in building activity. While the largest gain occurred in the cities
having a population of 500,000 or over, the next largest pick-up was
registered in the group including cities between 2,500 and 5,000.
Only two groups registered decreases in the value of new nonresidential buildings and only one in the value of additions, alterations
and repairs.
The estimated cost of building construction in 1,362 identical cities
having a population of 2,500 and over, by size of city, is shown in
table 6, for the months of May and June 1936.
T able 6 .— E stim a te d C ost o f B u ild in g C on struction , b y Size o f C ity , M ay and
June 1936
Total construction
Population group
Total, all groups.._____
500.000 and over.______
100.000 and under 500,000.
50.000 and under 100,000.
25.000 and under 50,000..
10.000 and under 25,000..
5.000 and under 10,000__
2,500 and under 5,000__
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Num
ber of
cities
June 1936
May 1936
1,362 $155, 598, 042 $115, 762,883
14
78
89
145
388
296
352
71,975,110
31, 778,350
12, 661, 094
11, 693,354
15,504,510
7, 339,944
4, 645, 680
43, 395,452
25, 526, 354
9, 667,397
12, 025, 637
13,828,520
7,857, 755
3,461,768
New residential buildings
Percent
age
June 1936
change
May 1936
+34.4 $75, 268, 266 $51,825,363
+65.9
+24.5
+31.0
-2.8
+12.1
-6.6
+34.2
39,148,186
10,886, 469
4,793, 226
4, 796,377
8,359, 980
4,816,401
2,467, 627
18,317,940
9,945. 200
4, 010, 319
4,709,578
7, 693, 645
4,869, 673
2,279, 008
Percent
age
change+45. 2.
+113.7
+9. 5.
+19.5
+1. 8
+8. 7
-1.1
+8.3
749
BUILDING OPERATIONS
T able 6 .— E stim a te d C ost o f B u ild in g C on struction , b y Size o f C ity , M a y and
June 1936— C ontinued
Additions, alterations, and repairs
New nonresidential buildings
Population group
June 1936
May 1936
Percentage
change
+40.6
$29,907,453
$28, 082,889
+6.5
+57.3
+44.8
+78.1
-9.7
+25.1
-31.8
+112.6
11,496,383
7,356,364
3,304, 695
2,754, 014
3,321,160
1,196, 212
478, 625
11,516, 584
6, 236, 538
3, 095,116
2,730, 660
3, 077, 601
1,042,860
383, 530
-0.2
+18.0
+6.8
+.9
+7.9
+14.7
+24.8
June 1933
May 1936
Percentage
change
$50,422,323
$35,854, 631
500.000 and over_______ 21, 330, 541
100.000 and under 500,000. 13, 535, 517
50.000 and under 100,000... 4,563,173
4,142,963
25.000 and under 50,000...
3,823,370
10.000 and under 25,000...
1,327,331
5.000 and under 10,000--1,699,428
2,500 and under 5,000-----
13,560,928
9,344,616
2,561,962
4,585,399
3, 057, 274
1,945, 222
799, 230
Total, all groups......... .
The number of family-dwelling units provided in the 1,362 identical
cities having a population of 2,500 and over, by size of city, is shown
in table 7 for the months of May and June 1936.
T ab le 7.— N um ber o f F am ilies P rovid ed for in N e w D w ellin gs in 1,362 Id en tical
C ities, M a y and June 1936, by Size o f C ity
Population group
Total, all groups.................
500.000 and over_________
100.000 and under 500,000...
50.000 and under 100,000---25.000 and under 50,000___
10.000 and under 25,000----5.000 and under 10,000-----2,500 and under 5,000--------
Num
ber of
cities
Total number
families pro
vided for
2-family
dwellings 1
1-family
dwellings
May
1936
June
1936
May
1936
June
1936
May
1936
June
1936
May
1936
19,128
12,916
9,942
9,233
873
727
8,313
2,956
14 10,136
78 2,829
89 1,209
145 1,243
388 2,018
296 1,115
352
578
4,838
2,483
1,018
1,151
1,843
1,018
565
2, 576
2, 221
900
1,089
1,792
831
533
2,511
1,921
857
992
1,668
758
526
249
238
101
78
84
106
17
222
163
90
68
107
56
21
7,311
370
208
76
142
178
28
2,105
399
71
91
68
204
18
1,362
i Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings with stores.
June
1936
Multifamily
dwellings2
»Includes multifamily dwellings with stores.
All seven groups showed increases in the numbr of family-dwelling
units provided, the most pronounced gain being in the cities having a
population of 500,000 or over. While the greatest increases occurred
for the most part in apartment houses, there were also decided gains
in units provided in one-family dwellings.
Comparison W ith a Year Ago
T h e value of new residential buildings as recorded by permits
issued in June 1936 was 142.0 percent greater than during June of the
previous year. This increase was spread over eight of the nine
geographic divisions. In three geographic divisions the gain
amounted to more than 100 percent. There was a pick-up of nearly
81 percent in the value of new nonresidential buildings comparing
these 2 months, all nine geographic divisions registering increases.
The estimated valuation of additions, alterations, and repaiis to
existing structures also showed gains in each of the nine geographic
divisions, the highest increase occurring in the East North Central
States. The permit valuation of total construction increased 97.0
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
750
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
percent, two geographic divisions showing gains of more than 100
percent. (See table 8.)
T able 8.
E stim a ted C ost o f B u ild in g C on struction in 708 Id en tical C ities,
June 1935 and June 1936
New residential buildings (estimated
cost)
New nonresidential buildings
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
June 1935
Percentage
change
June 1936
June 1935
$67,820, 564 $28,034, 023
2,385,245
1, 717, 735
31,426,081
8,597,574
11,191,427
6, 534, 594
3, 259, 516
1,960,465
7,079, 222
3,452, 569
725, 281
772, 299
2,661,136
1,458, 551
1,139,091
649,420
7,953,565
2,890,816
+141.9
$47,391,864
$26,161,916
+80.8
+38.9
+265. 5
+71.3
+66.3
+105. 0
—6.1
+82.5
+75.4
+175.1
1, 863, 819
13, 654,067
10,178, 650
1, 313,935
8,023, 235
1,638, 393
3,365,327
977, 283
6,287,155
1,448,669
6, 240, 568
2, 735,618
796,824
7,904, 747
426, 350
2,169,983
309, 969
4,129,188
+28. 7
+118.8
+272.1
+64.9
+1.5
+284. 3
+55.1
+215. 3
+52.3
June 1936
All divisions.........
New England_____
Middle Atlantic. _
East North Central...
West North Central.
South Atlantic..
East South Central
West South Central
Mountain____
Pacific______
Additions, alterations, and
repairs (estimated cost)
Total construction
Geographic division
June 1936
All divisions............
New England..........
M iddle Atlantic________
East North Central_____
West North Central
South Atlantic____
East South Central.
West South Central.
M ountain...... ............
P a c ific ......................
June 1935
$28,151, 281 $18,594,850
2,315,149 1, 743, 214
9,463,016 6,117,122
6,223,187 3, 582,390
1, 519,287 1,128, 490
3, 374, 737 2,046,976
624, 602
393,259
1,089,800
938,406
536,495
476, 212
3,005,008 2,168,781
Percent
age
change
Percentage
change
June 1936
Num
ber of
Percent cities
June 1935
age
change
+51.4 $143, 273, 709 $72,790, 789
708
+32.8
+54.7
+73.7
+34.6
+64.9
+58.8
+16.1
+12.7
+38.6
78
166
170
68
75
26
45
22
58
+96.8
6, 564,213 4,909, 618 +33.7
54, 543,164 20,955, 264 +160. 3
27, 593,264 12,852,602 +114. 7
6, 092, 738 3,885, 779 +56.8
18,477,194 13,404, 292 +37.8
2,988,276 1,591,908 +87.7
7,116, 263 4, 566,940 +55.8
2, 652,869 1,435,601 +84.8
17, 245,728 9,188, 785 +87.7
The total number of family-dwelling units and the estimated cost
of the various types of housekeeping dwellings for which permits
v ere issued in June 1935 and June 1936 are given in table 9.
Table 9.—Estim ated Cost and Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in
/()« I ri pnfiool Pifioc.
Type of dwelling
1fam ily.........
2family i ___
M ultifamily 2.
' Includes
t
_
Number of families provided for in
new dwellings
June 1936
All types.
Tii«» i nor _
_
_
_j
June 1935 Percentage
change
17,431
7,186
8,539
754
8,138
4, 406
442
2, 338
and 2-family dwellings with stores.
Estimated cost
June 1936
June 1935
+142. 6 $67, 545, 718 $27, 616,473
+93.8 37,426,505 18, 708,888
+70.6
2, 333, 281
1,263, 545
+248.1 27, 785,932
7, 644,040
2 Includes
Percentage
change
+144. 6
+100.0
+84. 7
+263. 5
multifamily dwellings with stores.
Decided gains are shown in the number of family-dwelling units
piovided in one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and multifamily dwellings, comparing June 1936 with the corresponding month
of 1935. The gain in multifamily dwellings was especially pronounced
amounting to nearly 250 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
751
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Construction from Public Funds
I n fo r m a tio n concerning the value of contracts awarded and forceaccount work started during May and June 1936 on projects financed
from the Public Works Administration fund, from The Works Pro
gram fund, and from regular governmental appropriations is shown
in table 10.
T able 10.— V alue o f C on tracts A w arded and F orce-A ccoun t W ork S tarted on
P rojects F in anced from F ederal F u n d s, M a y and June 1936 1
governmental
The Works Program2 Regular
appropriations
Total
Type of project
All types........ ............................
Building....... ...................-.........
Electrification-------- -------........
Heavy engineering---------------Hydroelectric power plants-----Naval vessels---- -----------------Plant, crop, and livestock con
trol-----------------—
.
Professional, technical, and clencal projects----------------------Public roads:
Grade-crossing elimination..
Roads_________________
Railroad construction and repair.
Reclamation----------------------River, harbor, and flood-controlStreets and roads 6---------------Water and sewerage systems---Miscellaneous---------- ------------
June 1936
May 1936
D o lla r s
D o lla r s
June 1936 May 1936 June 1936 May 1936
D o lla r s
D o lla r s
D o lla r s
D o lla r s
131,601, 592 5104,850,982 26, 329, 269 531,804, 721 54,328, 544 522,107, 542
42,448,824 33,896,793 920,977 5 1,597,808 17, 290, 518 55,942,486
783
33, 983
2,996,427 673,400 2, 686,080
778,673
0
0
2,458, 647
3, 798,169
0
0
10,
859
0
2,058, 200
2,076, 793
401, 700
40,000
0
40,000
0
19,397
21,011
» 19,397
21,011
12, 595,994
28, 203,408
0
917,692
17,935,188
5, 585, 553
13.824, 223
3 , 376,064
401, 700i
13,311,037 12,460, 703 513,311,037
28, 982,183 11,464,078 513,386,265 15, 220,962 J 14, 242,157
2, 274,074
155, 600
164, 539
861,625 576,802 5516,464
5994,197
5 28, 250 17, 795, 828
1,113, 344 135,899
37,244
221,027
0
0
4, 089, 726
9,884
449,984
0
3, 560
12, 823,718
323,
491
32, 839 «259,420 1,093, 503
1,611,452
Public Works Administration
Non-Federal
Type of project
Federal
N. I. R. A.
All types.............. ......... ......... .
Building.--------------------------Naval vessels.--------------------Public roads: _
_
Roads-----------------------Railroad construction and repair.
Reclamation--------------------- River, harbor, and flood controlstreets and roads 6---------------Water and sewerage systems---Miscellaneous----------------------
June 1936
May 1936
D o lla r s
D o lla r s
E. R. A. A. 1935 2
June 1936 May 1936 June 1936
D o lla r s
D o lla r s
D o lla r s
May 1936
D o lla r s
52,003, 885 10,877, 742 516,185, 558 834, 742,190 <«32,749,276
; 410,899 4,612,064 5 7,073, 003 316, 644,768 <518,872, 597
2,980,497
309, 564
71, 290
3, 798,169 52,458, 647
5 10,859
0
0
18, 593
0
135, 291
1, 518,368 5 1,353,761
0 5 2, 274, 074
19,187
0
s 170,374
176,351
69, 877
0
21,020
3,461
6
3,470,
595
4,399,
526
s
534,
886
598,100
47,001
366,900
0 3,916, 695 5 5,958,653 9,303,984 5 6,855,181
150, 000
682,
769
389,162
5
344,942
1,
750,883
830
109, 677
5,323,847
_ 1 D^es'n^include3data°for^hat*part of The Works Program operated by the Works Progress Admin^ In c lu d es $17,615 low-cost housing projects (housing division, P . W. A.).
‘ Includes $521,145 low-cost housing projects (housing division, P. W. A.).
« Other Ilian those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
Not included in The Works Program.
^
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
752
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
The value of contracts awarded to be financed from Federal funds
rose appreciably, comparing June with May. The increases were
more pronounced in building construction; heavy engineering; naval
vessels; river, harbor, and flood-control work; and water and sewerage
work.
Among the more important construction projects to be financed
wholly or partially from Federal funds during June were: Sewerage
projects in Buffalo, N. Y., to cost over $4,600,000; airport improve
ments in Allegheny County, Pa., to cost over $600,000; dock ter
minal, dredging, and bulkhead construction hear Bayonne, N. J., to
cost over $3,500,000; county road work in Mississippi, to cost over
$2,500,000; sewer work in the sanitary district of Chicago to cost
over $2,800,0000; water and sewerage work in Little Rock, Ark., to
cost over $1,500,000; and irrigation and power project in Maverick
County, Tex., to cost nearly $1,500,000.
The value of public-building and highway-construction awards
financed wholly from appropriations from State funds, as reported
by the various State governments for June 1935 and May and June
1936 is shown by geographic divisions in table 11.
T ab le 11 . — V alue o f P u b lic-B u ild in g and H igh w ay-C on stru ction Aw ards
F in an ced W h olly by S ta te F unds
Value of awards for public
buildings
Geographic division
June 1936
May 1936
Value of awards for highway
construction
June 1935
June 1936
May 1936 June 1935
$986, 580 $1, 263,868
$3,896,811
$6,273,456 $1,799, 341
All divisions.......... .
$4, 361, 733
New England,........
Middle Atlantic___
East North Central.
West North Central.
South Atlantic____
4,000
129, 681
59,892
68,000
965, 533
7,867
167,111
189,941
18, 387
189, 250
28, 200
227,782
710, 283
127,525
52, 672
134,810
347,436
1,414, 303
84, 659
911,487
736,204
1,806, 316
351,362
10,859
219, 261
29,986
18, 914
283,968
135,955
242,098
East South Central.
West South CentralMountain.............. .
Pacific......................
3,126,755
0
7,872
15,000
222,360
31,800
144,864
56,052
21, 693
39, 661
0
83, 612
136,139
784,365
0
621, 301
88,012
2, 440,141
89,035
234, 525
219, 522
545, 338
The value of public buildings financed wholly from State funds for
which contracts were awarded in June 1936 was more than three
times greater than the value of such awards during either June 1935
or May 1936. The value of highway-construction work undertaken
during June 1936, while greater than for June 1935, was considerably
less than during May 1936.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES
Food Prices in Ju ly 1936
ETAIL food costs in the larger cities of the United States were
* 0.3 percent lower on July 14 than on June 30. This decline was
caused by an increase of 13.5 percent in the cost of potatoes, which
has been showing marked increases since March. If potatoes had
been omitted from the index, food costs would have been 1.1 per
cent higher on July 14 than on June 30.
The costs of fresh fruits and vegetables and of beverages and choco
late declined during the 2-week interval while all other food groups
advanced. The prices of 53 of the 84 foods included in the index
were higher than on June 30, prices of 29 foods were lower, and for
2 they were unchanged.
The composite index was 84.0 percent of the 1923-25 average on
•July 14. This is 4.8 percent above the level for the corresponding
date of a year ago. Comparable indexes of food costs for July of
earlier years are 80.2 in 1935, 68.3 in 1932, and 106.5 in 1929.
The group index for cereals and bakery products, which remained
unchanged from June 16 to June 30, advanced 0.3 percent from June
30 to July 14. Wheat flour, with a gain of 2.1 percent, showed the
most significant price change in the group. Increases for this item
were reported from 30 of the 51 cities and were most pronounced in
cities of the New England area. White bread, the most heavily
weighted food in the group, declined 0.1 percent as a result of lower
prices or increased weights of the loaf in four cities. Prices of both
corn meal and macaroni were higher on July 14 than on June 30, the
gains amounting to 1.0 and 0.7 percent, respectively.
Meat costs advanced 0.5 percent, due in large part to continued
increases for pork. The advances for the pork items ranged from 0.4
percent for chops and salt pork to 2.0 percent for whole ham, and
2.4 percent for sliced ham. Beef costs were also higher, averaging 0.6
percent above the level for June 14. The largest gain in the sub
group, 1.3 percent, was reported for both round steak and plate beef.
Prices for all the lamb items were lower. The smallest decrease was
1.9 percent, reported for rib chops and chuck, and the largest was 2.7
percent for leg of lamb.
Higher prices for ail of the items in the dairy-products group
resulted in a 2.6-percent rise in the group index. The average price
of butter advanced 7.0 percent. Increases, which were reported
from every city, amounted to more than 5.0 percent in 45 of the 51
88869— 36—■ 14
753
R
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
754
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
cities. The price of fresh milk rose 0.3 percent, largely due to an
advance of 1 cent a quart by most of the reporting dairies and stores
in Cleveland. Cream was also 0.5 percent higher. Higher prices
for cheese were reported in 49 cities and the average increase was
2.9 percent. Evaporated milk was up 1.7 percent.
Egg prices continued the seasonal advance. From June 30 to July
14, the average price per dozen rose 4.3 percent. Prices were higher
in all but one of the 51 cities. In Scranton, egg prices were 0.6 percent
lower.
The combined index for fruits and vegetables declined 5.1 per
cent. The most significant price change during the period, from
the standpoint of its effect on the index, was the 13.5-percent decline
in potato prices. Decreases for this item were reported from 42 of
the 51 cities. If potatoes had been omitted, the group index would
have shown an advance of 1.0 percent. Lemon prices rose sharply
and were 21.6 percent above the level of June 30. Advances were
reported from all but 2 of the 51 cities. Lower prices for apples in
24 cities resulted in an average decline of 3.4 percent. Price changes
for other items in the fresh fruits and vegetables subgroup ranged
from a decrease of 8.5 percent for celery to an increase of 15.2 percent
for sweetpotatoes. The cost of canned fruits and vegetables ad
vanced 0.6 percent. Increases were registered for 6 of the 10 items
in the subgroup and were greatest for corn, 2.5 percent, and for
tomatoes, 1.1 percent. Dried-fruit and vegetable costs also showed
an advance, being 0.7 percent higher than 2 weeks ago. On July 14,
prices of navy beans were higher than they have been since October
1935; between June 30 and July 14, they showed a gain of 1.7
percent. Prices of lima beans increased 1.1 percent.
The cost of the beverages and chocolate group fell off 0.2 percent.
The average price of coffee had been declining steadily for some
time and from June 30 to July 14 showed a further decrease of 0.1
percent. Prices of tea and chocolate were also lower, but cocoa
prices were 0.5 percent higher.
Lard increased 0.6 percent, following the trend of pork prices for
the period. Prices of the other shortenings, lard compound and
vegetable shortening, were lower by 0.5 and 0.8 percent, respectively.
Both salad oil and peanut butter were 0.8 percent higher, and oleo
margarine advanced 0.5 percent. Mayonnaise prices remained
unchanged.
An increase of 0.2 percent in the cost of sugar and sweets was due
to a gain of 0.3 percent in sugar prices. Slight decreases were reported
for the other items in the group.
Indexes of retail food costs by major commodity groups in July
and June 1936, are presented in table 1. This table shows also the
comparative level of costs in July 1929 and other recent years.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
755
RETAIL PRICES
T able 1.— Indexes of R etail Food C osts in 51 C ities C om bined,1 by C om m odity
G roups
Ju ly and Ju n e 1936 and Ju ly 1935, 1932, an d 1929
.
[1923-25=100]
1936
1932
1935
1929
Commodity group
July 14 June 30 June 16 June 2 July 30 July 16 July 2 July 15 July 15
All foods_________ _______
84.0
84.2
83.8
82.1
79.0
80.2
80.6
68.3
Cereals and bakery products...... .............. ... ............ .
Meats___ _______________
Dairy products___ ______
Eggs---------------- . -------Fruits and vegetables___
Fresh___________ ____
Canned___
_______
D r i e d .. . ____ . ___
Beverages and chocolate__
Fats and oils.
_______
Sugar and sweets_________
90.7
94.9
79.6
67.8
80.8
81.9
78.8
59.3
67.0
73.0
64.9
90.4
94.4
77.5
65.0
85.1
87.0
78.4
58.9
67.1
72.8
64.7
90.4
94.0
76.5
63.0
85.2
87.1
78.3
58.4
66.9
73.0
64.5
90.7
94.4
75.5
60.6
78.3
79.3
78.3
58.2
67.3
73.4
64.3
92.2
97.8
72.6
70.6
57.1
54.5
84.2
62.8
69.7
82.7
66.3
92.1
98.1
72.7
08.8
62.6
60.6
84.5
63.2
69.9
82.1
66.2
92.0
97.3
73.3
67.4
65.3
63.7
84.7
63.1
69.9
82.1
65.6
75.6
79.3
63.8
49.3
62.6
62.4
72.7
55.1
74.2
49.8
56.5
106.5
97.9
125.9
101.6
91.3
107.2
108.3
98.5
103.5
110.6
93.3
72.6
i Aggregate costs of 42 foods in each city prior to Jan. 1, 1935, and of S4 foods since that date, weighted to
represent total purchases, have been combined with the use of population weights.
Average prices for each of the 84 foods for 51 large cities combined
are shown in table 2 for July and June 1936 and for July 1935.
T able 2.— A verage R etail Prices of 84 F oods in 51 L arge C ities C om bined 1
J u ly an d Ju n e 1936 an d Ju ly 1935
[‘ Indicates the 42 foods included in indexes prior to Jan. 1, 1935]
1936
1935
Article
July 14 June 30 June 16 June 2 July 30 July 16 July 2
Cereals and bakery products:
Cereals:
‘ Flour, wheat_____ ..............pound..
‘ Macaroni________ ................. do___
‘ Wheat cereal_____ 28-oz. package..
‘ Corn flakes_______ -8-oz. package..
‘ Corn meal________ ............. pound..
Hominy grits_____ 24-oz. package..
‘ Rice_____ ________ ..............pound..
‘ Rolled oats_______ ________ do___
Bakery products:
‘ Bread, white_____ ............___do___
Bread, whole-wheal ________ do___
Bread, rye________ -------------do___
C a k e..___ _______ ..............__do___
Soda crackers_____ -------------do___
Meats:
Beef:
‘ Sirloin stea k ........... ........ .........do___
‘ Round steak____ ________ do___
‘ Rib roast.................. ________ do___
‘ Chuck roast............. -------------do___
‘ Plate__ __________ ________ do___
Liver..................... .................do___
Veal:
Cutlets.-^................... ............. ..d o ___
Pork:
‘ Chops___________ ................. do___
Loin roast_____
-------------do___
‘ Bacon, sliced_____ -------------do___
Bacon, strip______ ............. _.do___
‘Ham, sliced______ ........ .......do___
Ham, whole......... . ------------- do___
Salt pork_________ ................. do___
Breast___________
Chuck........ ............
‘ Leg-----------------Rib chops________
............. -_do___
................. do___
-------------do___
.............._.do___
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
4.6
15.1
24.3
8.1
5.0
8.9
8.7
7.4
4.5
15.0
24.2
8.1
4.9
8.9
8.6
7.4
4.5
15.1
24.2
8.1
4.9
8.9
8.6
7.4
4.6
15.0
24.2
8.1
4.9
9.0
8.5
7.4
4.9
15.6
24.2
8.2
5.1
9.2
8.4
7.6
4.9
15.7
24.2
8.2
5.1
9.2
8.4
7.6
4.9
15.7
24.2
, 8.2
5.1
9.2
8.4
7.6
8.1
9.3
9.0
25.3
18.1
8.1
9.3
8.9
25.4
18.1
8.1
9.3
8.9
25.2
18.1
8.2
9.3
8.9
25.1
18.1
8.3
9.3
8.9
23.6
17.9
8.3
9.3
8.9
23.5
17.4
8.3
9.3
8.9
23.5
17.2
37.6
34.0
28.9
21.6
14.6
26.0
37.2
33.6
28.7
21.7
14.4
25.9
37.0
33.5
28.8
21.6
14.8
25.9
37.1
33.4
29.0
22.0
15.2
25.6
40.6
37.0
31.3
24.5
17.0
24.9
41.3
37.5
31.8
25.0
17.4
24.8
41.4
37. 5
32.1
25. 1
17.6
24.8
C e n ts
C e n ts
40.6
40.8
40.9
40.8
38.4
38.7
38.8
34.7
29.2
40.8
35.4
49.8
32.6
23.7
34.6
28.7
40.5
35.1
48.7
32.0
23.6
34.4
28.5
40.5
35.1
48.1
31.6
23.5
35.0
29.2
40.4
35.3
47.3
30.8
23.7
39.2
33.0
42.4
36.7
46.8
30.1
26.6
38.2
32.3
41.2
35.8
45.7
29.0
25.8
35.9
30.0
41.0
35.4
45 2
28. 5
25.8
12.0
20.6
25.9
33.0
12.4
21.0
27.1
33.9
12.3
21.3
27.3
33.4
14.2
14.2
14.6
24.9
24.7
25.0
31.4
31.3
32.0
39.3
39.3
39.0
’Prices for individual cities are combined with the use of population weights.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C e n ts
13.8
24.4
30.6
38.5
756
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
T able 2-— A verage R etail Prices of 84 Foods in 51 L arge C ities C om bined— C on.
Ju ly an d Ju n e 1936 an d Ju ly 1935
vindicates the 42 foods included in indexes prior to Jan. 1, 1935]
1935
1936
Article
July 14 June 30 June 16 June 2 July 30 July 16 July 2
M eats—Continued.
Poultry:
“Roasting chickens. ..............p ou nd..
Fish, canned:
Salmon, pink.......... ........16 oz. can..
“Salmon, red............ ________ do___
Dairy products:
“Butter__________ _______ pound..
“Chfeese.____ ______ ________ do ___
Cream...................... ______ p in t..
M ilk, fresh (delivered and store)2
quart..
“M ilk, fresh (delivered)_____ do___
“M ilk, evaporated.. ...14^i-oz. can..
“Eggs------------------------- _______ dozen..
Fruits and vegetables:
Fresh: •
Apples...................... .............p o u n d ..
“Bananas____ _____ ................. do___
Lemons__________ _______ dozen..
“Oranges__________ ................. do___
Beans, green______ _______pound..
“Cabbage........ .......... ________ do___
Carrots..................... ..............bunch..
Celery............... ....... ................. stalk ..
Lettuce............. ....... ________ head..
“Onions...................... .............p o u n d ..
“P o ta to e s................. ________ do___
Spinach__________ ................. do___
Sweetpotatoes____ ................. do----Canned:
can..
Peaches.................... ___no.
Pears......................... .................do___
Pineapples............... ________ do___
Asparagus........... . _____no. 2 can ..
Beans, green______ ..................do___
“Beans with p o r k ... ____ 16-oz. can ..
“Corn..................... _____no. 2 can..
“Peas....................... -1 ..................do___
“Tom atoes................. ...... ...........do___
Tomato soup........... ...1 0 ^ -o z . can ..
Dried:
Peaches.................... .............pound..
“P ru n es.................. ................. do___
“R aisins.. ............... 16-oz. package..
Black-eyed peas___ ______ pound..
Lima beans_______ ____ ____ do___
“N avy b e a n s........... ___........ ..d o ___
Beverages and chocolate:
“Coffee______ _____ ___ .............p o u n d ..
“Tea................... .............. . .................do___
Cocoa................................ _____8-oz. can ..
Chocolate____________ _S-oz. package—
Fats and oils:
“Lard____________ ____ ............p o u n d ..
Lard compound______ ............... _do___
“Vegetable shortening... .......... .......do___
Salad o il______ ____ _ ................. p in t..
M ayonnaise_________ ............. y>. pint—
“Oleom argarine........... . ______ pound..
Peanut butter................. ________ do___
Sugar and sweets:
“Sugar________ _____ ________ do___
Corn sirup___________ ____ 24-oz. can ..
Molasses ------------------ ____18-oz. can..
Strawberry preserves... ______ pound..
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
33.7
33.6
31.8
32.1
29.7
29.8
29.4
13.1
25.6
13.1
25. 5
13.1
25.5
13.1
25.5
13.1
21.3
13.1
21.2
13.1
21.1
40.0
27.5
14.7
37.4
26.7
14.6
35.8
26.7
14.6
34.3
26.5
14.7
31.1
26.3
14.4
30.9
26.3
14.4
30.7
26.2
14.4
11.6
11.8
7.5
35.3
11.6
11.8
7.4
33.8
11.6
11.8
7.4
32.8
11.6
11.8
7.4
31.6
11.6
6.9
36.8
11.6
7.0
35.9
11.8
7.2
35.1
6.4
6.4
39.5
35.5
8.6
5.9
5.0
8.8
9.2
4.1
4.1
7.1
6.4
6.6
6.2
32.5
34.9
8.7
6.0
5.2
9.7
8.3
4.1
4.8
6.5
5.6
6.4
6.3
32.9
34.6
10.0
5.4
5.5
10.1
8.5
4.0
4.9
6.0
5. 1
5.8
6.3
33.2
34.1
11.5
4.1
5.5
9.9
7.8
4.0
4.3
5.8
4.8
5.3
6.2
32.7
32.6
7.1
2.6
4.3
7.9
8.8
4.4
1.9
7.6
4.5
6.3
6. 1
30.1
31.7
7.2
2.7
4.8
8.6
9.6
4.9
2.2
6.1
4.8
7.5
6.1
22.5
31.3
7.2
3.3
5.1
11.2
7.7
5.8
2.1
5.4
4.6
17.7
21.9
22.3
26.3
11.5
6.9
11.7
15.8
9.3
8.3
17.7
22.0
22.2
26.3
11.5
6.9
11.4
15.9
9.2
8.2
17.7
22.0
22.3
26.1
11.4
7.0
11.3
15.8
9.2
8.2
17.6
22.1
22.3
26.1
11.4
7.0
11.2
15.8
9.2
8.2
19.4
22.9
22.6
25.5
11.7
6.9
13.0
17.3
10.4
8.1
19.4
22.8
22.5
25.6
11.7
6.9
13.0
17.7
10.4
8.1
19.3
22.9
22.5
25.5
11.9
6.9
13.1
17.3
10.4
8.1
17.0
9.7
9.7
8.9
10.9
6.0
17.0
9.7
9.7
8.8
10.7
5.9
17.1
9.6
9.7
8.8
10.7
5.7
17.1
9. 5
9.7
8.8
10.7
5.7
16.6
11.4
9.8
8.6
9.9
6.3
16.7
11.4
9.8
8.7
10.0
6.4
16.8
11.5
9.8
8.6
9.9
6.3
23.9
69.3
10.7
16.4
23.9
69.5
10.6
16.5
24.0
67. 7
10.6
16.4
24.1
67.8
10.6
16.4
25.2
68.6
11.0
22.2
25.3
68.6
11.0
22.0
25.3
68.7
11.0
22.0
15.6
14.4
21.2
24.8
16.8
17.5
18.6
15.5
14. 4
21.3
24.6
16.8
17.4
18.4
15.5
14.4
21.3
24.7
17.0
17.6
18.5
15.7
14.6
21.4
24. 7
17.0
17.7
18.6
19.6
16.4
21.8
24.7
17.1
19.1
22.6
19.3
16.4
21.7
24. 7
17.0
19.0
22. 5
19.2
16.7
21.8
24. 7
16.9
19.1
22. 5
5.7
13.5
14.3
20.1
5.7
13.6
14.4
20.1
5.6
13.6
14.3
20. 1
5.6
13.6
14.4
20.3
5.8
13.7
14.2
20.5
5.8
13.8
14. 3
20.5
5.7
13.7
14.4
20.5
Average prices of milk delivered by dairies and sold in grocery stores, weighted according to the rela
tive proportion distributed by each method.
7 2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
757
RETAIL PRICES
RETAIL COST OF FOOD
1923-25=100
1929
1930
J. S BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
758
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Details by Regions and Cities
B etw een June 30 and July 14 retail food costs declined in 26 of
the 51 cities included in the index. Higher costs were reported for
22 cities and 3 cities showed no change.
The largest decrease, 3.5 percent, was reported by Salt Lake City,
where potato prices fell 25.8 percent. Mobile and Little Rock, with
advances of 3.1 and 3.0 percent, respectively, showed the greatest
increases. In these two cities fruit and vegetable costs were higher,
contrary to the general movement for the group. Considerably
higher prices for potatoes and cabbage were reported in both cities.
Index numbers of the retail cost of food in each of the 51 cities are
given in table 3 for July and June 1936 and for July of earlier years.
T able 3.— Indexes of th e A verage R etail C ost of All Foods, by C itie s 1
Ju ly and Ju n e 1936 an d Ju ly 1935, 1934, 1933, 1932, a n d 1929
[1923-25=100]
1936
1935
1934
1933
1932
1929
July
15
Region and city
lu ly
14
Average: 51 cities c o m b in e d ..
84.0
N ew E n g la n d ..........................
Boston___________________
Bridgeport................................
Fall River................................
Manchester_______________
N ew Haven_____________
Portland, M aine_________
Providence____________
M iddle A tla n tic ........ ..................
Buffalo________ ______
Newark_______ ____ _____
N ew York.............................. .
Philadelphia...___________
Pittsburgh...................... .........
Rochester____________ ____
Scranton________________
E ast N o rth C en tra l_________
Chicago.____ ____________
Cincinnati................................
Cleveland________________
Columbus, Ohio__________
D etroit..................... .............. .
Indianapolis........ ....................
M ilwaukee_____________ _
Peoria________________ . . .
Springfield, 111____________
W est N o rth C en tra l________
Kansas C ity______________
Minneapolis______________
Omaha......................................
St. Louis_________________
St. Paul__________________
See footnote at end of table.
82.9
81.4
86.7
83.7
85.9
86.8
84.3
82.1
84.2
86.0
84.5
83.9
85.9
82.1
86.4
80.6
85.4
84.7
90.1
84.8
89.1
85.2
86.1
87.1
86.7
84.4
88.2
87.5
91.9
84.6
89.0
87.3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June June June July
30
16
2
30
84.2
83.8
83.0 82.6
81.5 81.1
86.5 85.9
83.7 83.3
88.1 87.3
87.2 86.5
84.5 84.0
81.4 81.8
84.8 84.6
86.9 85.2
84.7 84.2
84.2 84.2
86.7 86.8
83.6 82.7
86.9 86.8
80.9 81.4
86.0 85.1
85.1 84.3
90.1 88.1
85.8 84.4
90.2 89.4
86.0 85.5
87.8 86.8
87.5 86.2
86 7 88.1
83.8 84.3
87.9 87.3
86.6 85.4
90.9 89.9
84.2 83.9
89.2 89.3 |
87.7 I 86.2 |
July
16
July
2
July
17
July
15
July
15
82.1
79.0
80.2
80.6
73.6
71.0
68.3
106.5
80.0
78.4
84.3
80.7
83.2
83.7
80.9
79.5
83.1
81.6
83.6
83.3
85.3
80.8
83. 1
79 5
83.0
83.1
88.0
81.7
83.9
82.6
83.5
83.7
84.2
81.9
86.0
85.9
87.0
82.4
88.4
82.6
78.1
76.4
82.9
78.8
80.7
81.7
79.2
77.5
79.6
79.1
83.2
80.0
80.3
76.4
80.3
76.0
79.5
79.9
83.5
78.3
82.6
77.8
77.9
81.5
80.9
77.3
81.7
80.4
85.0
79.7
82.0
81.3
79.2
77.8
84.0
79.5
81.8
82.0
80. 5
78.4
80.8
81.5
83.5
80.9
82.0
78.0
80.8
77.6
81.0
80.5
83.5
80.2
83.1
80.9
78.9
82.2
82.9
79.9
83.7
80.2
86.3
81.5
85.8
83.6
79.1
77.7
82.8
78.5
81.8
82.8
80.3
77.7
80.8
81.4
83.2
80.3
82.2
79.5
80.3
78.2
81.9
81.2
84.6
82.1
84.5
81.7
78.1
83.0
84.2
81.6
84.6
81.5
87.3
83.4
85.8
84.8
73.9
72.3
77.8
74.0
75.7
77.9
75.0
72.9
75.4
73.8
76.7
76.2
77.6
71.2
74.8
71. 2
73.1
72.4
74.9
72.4
75.5
72.8
72.5
75.5
75.8
71. 2
75.6
75.1
79.0
73.0
74.6
78.8
71.6
70.6
73.6
71.7
75.3
73.7
74.0
71.7
71.0
72.7
70.7
71.5
70.6
68.5
73.5
71.4
73.2
72.5
73.4
71.8
73.8
69.7
74.4
75.3
73.9
72.8
73.3
72.1
76.3
69.1
74.1
74.8
68.9
67.9
72.3
66.9
68. 3
72.2
70.3
67.8
70.1
69.7
73.8
72.0
69.6
65. 2
69.0
66. 9
68.7
71.0
69.0
67.0
68.4
65.3
69.8
71.7
67.1
64.6
66.3
65.4
68.0
63.0
67.2
67.9
106.4
106.1
106. 6
106.2
107.4
107.2
110. 6
106. 3
106.2
108. 2
104.9
105.2
106. 4
107. 7
108. 2
107 1
109.3
109. 5
111. 5
107.0
106.8
109.5
110. 7
112.2
104.8
108. 5
108.3
106. 2
109.0
103.3
112.2
106.5
759
RETAIL PRICES
Table 3.— Indexes of the Average Retail Cost of All Foods, by Cities— Continued
July and June 1936 and July 1935, 1934, 1933, 1932, and 1929
[1923-25= 100]
1935
1936
Region and city
S o u th A tla n tic______________
A tla n ta .________________
Baltimore________________
Charleston, S. C_________
Jacksonville______________
Norfolk__________________
R ich m o n d _______________
Savannah___ . . . . .
_.
Washington, D . O ......... .......
E ast S o u th C entral_________
Birmingham_______ ____ _
Louisville________________
M em phis..______________
M obile____ _ . _________
W est S o u th C en tra l________
Dallas___________________
H ouston.. . . . ___________
Little R o c k ._____ _. ._
New Orleans____ _______
M o u n ta in __________________
Butte ___________________
D enver__________________
Salt Lake C ity____________
Pacific___________________ . .
Los Angeles______________
Portland, Oreg____________
San Francisco___________
S e a ttle __________________
1934
1933
1932
1929
July June June June July
14
2
30
30
16
July
16
July
2
July
17
July
15
July
15
July
15
79.4
77.3
82.5
79.0
77.3
77.0
75.0
79.7
82.9
75.7
72.1
84.1
78.8
74.5
78.1
78.4
74.5
77.2
82.5
83.9
77.5
86.6
81.3
75.1
70.1
76.5
80.0
76.9
80.3
77.0
85. 1
78.3
76.9
77.9
75.2
78.9
83.8
75.7
72.1
85.5
76.5
75.1
78.2
77.5
74.6
78.3
84.0
83.7
79.1
85.6
81.8
76.3
72.8
77.2
79.6
78.1
80.4
76.8
85.6
79.2
76.6
78.5
75.7
78.9
83.3
76.7
72.6
87.1
78.3
75.6
78.1
78.1
74.2
75.6
83.7
87.3
79.6
90.0
85.0
77.3
73.4
78.8
80.6
79.8
71.9
69.1
74.4
70.5
70.4
71.6
69.5
71.5
73.9
67.2
63.1
75.7
71.1
67.7
71.5
72.0
71.0
66.4
72.3
72.1
70.5
74.1
69.3
69.7
65.5
70.6
73.8
71.4
68.5
67.2
70.4
66.2
65.9
67.6
65.5
69.8
71.2
67.9
63.6
76.6
68.9
65.2
67.3
66.7
66.1
60.3
71. 1
73.8
69.2
75.5
72.1
69.0
65.1
69.1
72.6
71.3
67.0
65.1
69.8
67.6
61.8
68.6
63.5
64.9
70.1
62.3
60.1
66.0
63.5
62.5
62.5
61.8
59.8
60.2
68.0
67.3
65.5
69.8
63.7
66.4
61.0
67.7
71.3
69.6
104.9
106.7
105.5
100.0
100.4
109.6
98.8
106.1
108.2
104.7
101.9
109.4
107.2
103.4
103.4
104.4
101.5
102.1
105.0
108.2
109.9
107.2
109.6
Ì02.5
99.6
105.0
104.6
104.5
83.4
81.2
87.0
83.4
82.3
82.5
79.2
84.4
85.6
81.2
76.8
91.2
81. 7
80.9
80.9
78.3
80.7
80.6
84.8
88.7
84.9
90.7
86.1
79.6
74.5
84.4
83.3
83.0
82.7
78.9
88.0
82.2
80.3
81.7
78.1
83.5
85.3
79.6
74.7
90.0
81.3
78.5
79.1
76.5
79.4
78.3
82.7
90. 1
83.9
91.5
89.2
80.0
74.5
85.8
83.3
84.5
82.4
78.2
88.6
81.1
78.9
81.0
77.9
82.3
84.8
78.5
73.6
89.6
79.3
76.7
78.4
75.2
78.9
77.8
82.3
90.1
85.3
92.4
87.3
80.3
75.0
85.5
83.3
85.6
81.0
77.2
86.5
79.6
76.9
79.7
76.2
80.4
84.7
77.6
72.7
87.4
80.9
75.4
77.4
75. 1
76.8
77.2
81.6
86.0
80.6
87.5
84.9
79.3
74.2
84.8
82.3
84.1
Aggregate costs of 42 foods in each city prior to Jan. 1, 1935, and of 84 foods since that date, weighted to
represent total purchases, have been combined for regions and for the United States with the use of
population weights.
F u el and L ight
E le c tric ity P rices in J u ly 1936
ESIDENTIAL rates for electricity are secured, quarterly from 51
^ cities. These rates are used for computing average prices and
typical bills in each city for the quantities of electricity which most
nearly approximate the consumption requirements for the usual
domestic services for a five-room house, including living room, dining
room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. The blocks of consumption which
have been selected as representative of average conditions throughout
the country are 25 and 40 kilowatt-hours for the use of electricity for
lighting and small appliances alone; 100 kilowatt-hours for lighting,
small appliances, and a refrigerator; and 250 kilowatt-hours for the
addition of an electric range to the preceding equipment.
R
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
760
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
The technical specifications which are used as the basis for the
application of these rates are:
Floor area (1,000 square feet).
Connected load:
W a tts
Lighting and appliances___________________________
700
Refrigeration___________________________________
300
Cooking______________________________________ 6,000
Measured demand:
Lighting and appliances_________________________
600
Refrigeration____________________________________
100
Cooking______________________________________ 2, 300
Outlets: Fourteen 60-watt.
Active room count: In accordance with schedule of rates.
Typical bills and average prices per kilowatt-hour for the various
blocks of consumption in each of the 51 cities are shown in table 4.
Table 4.—T otal N et M onthly Bill and Price per K ilowatt-hour for Specified
Amounts of Electricity Based on Rates as of July 15, 1936, by Cities
[P =private utility, M =m unicipal plant]
N et monthly price per kilowatthour
Total net monthly bill
Lighting and
small appli
ances
Region and city
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
refrig
erator,
and
range
Lighting and
small appli
ances
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
refrig
erator,
and
range
25 kilo 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo 25 kilo 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo
wattwattwattwattwattwattwattwatthours hours hours hours hours hours hours hours
New England:
Boston__________________ p__
Bridgeport________________P__
Fall R iv er.____ _________ P_
Manchester
P
N ew Haven__________
p
Portland, M aine__________ P__
Providence_________
P
Middle Atlantic:
Buffalo________________
P
N ewark.__ ___________ _ P_
N ew York: i
Bronx________________ P .
B rooklyn...................... P .
M anhattan_________
P.
Queens___ ______ _____ P__
P__
Richmond____________ P__
Philadelphia__________ . P
Pittsburgh
P
Rochester. __________
_P _
Scranton___ ____ _________P .
East North Central:
Chicago__________________ P_
Cincinnati__________
_P .
Cleveland____ _________ P_.
M ._
Columbus.................. ........._P _
M_
D etro it2 3________________P__
Indianapolis______________ P_
Milwaukee______________ P_.
Peoria..... ................................. P .
Springfield, 111_____ ____ . P__
M__
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C e n ts
$1. 55
1.31
1.75
2.00
1.31
1.88
1.87
$2. 30
2.05
2.60
2. 80
2.05
2. 63
2.81
$5.10
4.87
5.20
5.00
4. 87
4. 73
5.60
C e n ts
$9. 60
8. 90
9. 35
8.00
8.90
7. 73
9. 63
6.2
5.3
7.0
8.0
5.3
7.5
7.5
5.8
5.1
6.5
7.0
5.1
6.6
7.0
1.13
1. 92
1.70
2. 60
3.06
4. 50
5.31
8. 75
4.5
7.7
1.80
1.80
1.80
1.80
2.17
2.19
1.50
1. 25
1.59
1. 63
2.56
2. 56
2.56
2. 56
3.26
3.17
2.25
2.00
2.26
2. 45
4.92
4. 92
4. 92
4. 92
6.38
5. 62
4. 25
4.00
4. 56
4.85
8.26
8.26
8. 26
8. 26
13.01
9.09
7. 50
8.50
7.81
9. 35
1.51
1.13
1.00
.88
1.25
1.00
1.43
1.44
1.41
1.50
1.25
1.25
2.04
1.58
1. 60
1.31
1. 95
1.58
1.99
2. 30
1.90
2.01
1.90
1. 90
3. 75
2.88
4.00
3. 05
4. 50
3.80
3. 65
4. 80
3. 60
3. 57
3.90
3.02 1
8.02
5.88
9. 88
7. 40
8. 50
8.30
7.12
8. 53
6.48
6.32
6. 90
4. 80
C e n ts
5 .1
C e n ts
4.9
5.2
5.0
4.9
4.7
5.6
3.8
3.6
3.7
3.2
3.6
3.1
3.9
4.3
6.5
3.1
4.5
2.1
3.5
7.2
7.2
7.2
7.2
8.7
8.8
6.0
5.0
6.4
6.5
6.4
6.4
6.4
6.4
8.2
7.9
5.6
5.0
5.7
6.1
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
6.4
5.6
4.3
4.0
4.6
4.9
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.3
5.2
3.6
3.0
3.4
3.1
3.7
6.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
5.0
4.0
5.7
5.8
5.6
6.0
5.0
5.0
5.1
4.0
4.0
3.3
4.9
4.0
5.0
5.8
4.8
5.0
4.8
4.8
3.8
2.9
4.0
3.1
4.5
3.8
3.7
4.8
3.6
3.6
3.9
3.0
3.2
2.4
4.0
3.0
3.4
3.3
2.8
3.4
2.6
2.5
2.8
1.9
761
RETAIL PRICES
Table 4.—Total N et M onthly Bill and Price per K ilowatt-hour for Specified
Amounts of Electricity Based on Rates as of July 15, 1936, by Cities— Con.
N et monthly price per kilowatthour
Total net monthly bill
Region and city
Lighting and
small appli
ances
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
Lighting and
ances,
small appli
refrig
ances
erator,
and
range
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
and
refrig
erator
Light
ing, ap
pli
ances,
refrig
erator,
and
range
25 kilo 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo 25 kilo 40 kilo 100 kilo 250 kilo
wattwattwattwattwattwattwattwatthours hours hours hours hours hours hours hours
West North Central:
Kansas City A __________ P Minneapolis_______ _______ P ~
O m ah a ..____ ____________ P -.
St. Louis 3 4_______________ P P.
St. Paul__________________ P South Atlantic:
Atlanta:
Immediate____________ PInducem ent5__________P .
B a ltim o r e ..._____________ P .
Charleston, S. C.:
Immediate____________ PObjective 5____________ P —
Jacksonville______________ M .
Norfolk __ .
_________ P .
__ . . P _
Richmond_____
Savannah________ ____ .P .
W ashington..
____ __
.P .
East South Central:
Birmingham:
Immediate_____ _____ P ..
Objective 5 ____ ____ _P —
Louisville_________________P.
M emphis______________ _ P
Mobile:
Present_______________ P —
Objective 5 ................... _P—
West South Central:
Dallas____________________ P - .
H ouston ._____ ___________ PLittle R ock:1
Present....................... — P —
C entennial5_______ . _P.
New Orleans_____________P ..
Mountain:
Butte_________ - _______PDenver 1________ .
... P .
Salt Lake C ity :1
Present_______________ P -Objective5 _______
P_
Pacific:
Los Angeles. __________ P...
PM • Portland, Oreg__________ -P —
P -.
San Francisco____________ P -.
S e a t t le .._______________-P
M-
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
$1.65
1.66
1.19
1.20
1.08
1.60
$2.32
2.18
1.90
1.73
1.44
2.15
$4.04
3.80
3. 88
3.16
2. 88
3.85
$7.83
6.79
7.78
6. 28
5. 76
7. 00
6.6
6.6
4.8
4.8
4.3
6.4
5.8
5.5
4.8
4.3
3.6
5.4
4.0
3.8
3.9
3.2
2.9
3.9
3.1
2.7
3.1
2.5
2.3
2.8
1. 62
1.45
1.13
2.37
2.12
1.80
4.57
3.95
3.90
8. 32
6. 57
8. 20
6.5
5.8
4.5
5.9
5.3
4.5
4.6
4.0
3.9
3.3
2.6
3.3
1.60
1.50
1. 75
1. 38
1. 38
1. 62
.98
2.50
2.25
2.70
2.10
2.10
2. 37
1.56
5. 35
4.20
4. 95
4. 65
4. 65
4. 57
3.40
8.85
6.82
7.95
7. 65
7. 65
7.97
5. 67
6.4
6.0
7.0
5.5
5.5
6.5
3.9
6.3
5.6
6.8
5.3
5.3
5.9
3.9
5.4
4.2
5. 0
4.7
4.7
4.6
3.4
3.5
2.7
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.2
2.3
1.45
.98
1.10
1. 38
2.20
1.56
1.70
2.20
3.95
3.20
3.60
4.25
7. 50
6.95
7.10
8.75
5.8
3.9
4.4
5.5
5.5
3.9
4.3
5.5
4.0
3.2
3.6
4.3
3.0
2.8
2.8
3.5
1.45
1.20
2.13
1.80
3.95
3.50
6.58
6.13
5.8
4.8
5.3
4.5
4.0
3.5
2.6
2.5
1.25
1.20
2.00
1.80
4.40
3.83
8.20
7.08
5.0
4.8
5.0
4.5
4.4
3.8
3.3
2.8
1.99
1.84
1.88
2.88
2.63
2.85
5.20
5.10
5. 50
8. 67
8. 67
10. 25
8.0
7.4
7.5
7.2
6.6
7.1
5.2
5.1
5. 5
3.5
3.5
4.1
1.55
1.53
2.38
2.45
4. 43
4.90
7.93
9.49
6.2
6.1
5.9
6.1
4.4
4.9
3.2
3 8
1.92
1.63
2.99
2.30
4.92
3.83
7.85
7.14
7.7
6.5
7.5
5.8
4.9
3.8
3.1
2.9
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.38
1.38
1.40
1. 25
1. 25
1.66
1.66
1.66
1.95
1.95
2.00
2.00
2.00
3. 04
3.04
3.04
3.39
3. 39
3. 50
3.20
3. 20
5.27
5.27
5. 27
6.09
6.09
7.15
6. 08
6.10
4.4
4.4
4.4
5.5
5.5
5.6
5.0
5.0
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.9
4.9
5.0
5.0
5.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.2
3.2
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.4
2.4
2.9
2.4
2.4
i Prices include 2-percent sales tax.
» Prices include free lamp-renewal service.
3 Prices include 3-percent sales tax.
4 Prices include 1-percent sales tax.
5 The “inducement” rate in Atlanta, the “objective” rate in Charleston (S. C.), Birmingham, Mobile,
and Salt Lake City, and the “centennial” rate in Little Bock are designed to encourage greater use
of electricity.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
762
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
Reductions in residential rates for electricity between April and
July 1936 were reported in six southern cities. In Baltimore, cus
tomers using small amounts of electricity received the greatest bene
fit. The decreases in the monthly bills ranged from 6.7 percent for
100 kilowatt-hours to 10.0 percent for 40 kilowatt-hours. The
reduction for Savannah affected bills for only the largest-use classi
fication and amounted to 4.2 percent.
Substantially lower rates in Louisville resulted in decreases of
12.0 percent or more for three services. For a consumption of 100
kilowatt-hours, the decline was 5.3 percent. In Mobile, the former
objective rate was established as the present rate on May 1. The
adoption of a new objective rate resulted in bill reductions under this
schedule, ranging from 6.8 percent for 250 kilowatt-hours to 17.2
percent for 25 kilowatt-hours.
In the West South Central area, Dallas and Houston reported
lower rates. In Dallas the rate changes were graduated so as to give
a proportionately greater reduction to the consumers who use lighting
and small appliances alone. In Houston, the opposite was true.
The rate reductions favored those consumers using electricity for
cooking and refrigeration in addition to lighting and small appliances.
The percentage changes in the net monthly bills for specified
amounts of electricity from April 15, 1936, to July 15, 1936, are
shown in table 5. Data are given in this table for only those cities
for which price changes were reported during this period.
Table 5.—Percentage Decrease in the Total M onthly Bill for Specified Amounts
of Electricity, by Cities
July 15, 1936, Com pared W ith April 15, 1936
[P=private utility, M =m unicipal plant]
Percentage decrease April 15, 1936, to
July 15,1936
Region and city
25 kilo
40 kilo
250 kilo
100 kilo
watt-hours watt-hours watt hours watt hours
South Atlantic:
Baltimore______________
Savannah..
_____________
East South Central:
Louisville
Mobile:
P r e s e n t..................
..........
Objective________________
West South Central:
D a l l a s .. _____ ____ _____ _________
Houston___ ____ _______ ______________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
p
p
9.6
0
10.0
0
6.7
0
8. 7
4.2
p
12.0
15.0
5.3
14.5
p
p
6.5
17.2
7.4
15.5
2.5
11.4
13.4
6.8
P
p
9.4
7.7
9.1
5.3
4.3
10.9
2.4
14.5
763
RETAIL PRICES
Gas P rices in J u ly 1936
R e s i d e n t i a l rates for gas are secured from 50 cities. These rates
are used in computing average prices and typical bills for each city for
quantities of gas which approximate the average residential consump
tion requirements for each of four combinations of services. In
order to put the rate quotations upon a comparable basis it is neces
sary to convert the normal consumption requirements used for com
puting monthly bills into an equivalent heating value expressed in
therms (1 therm= 100,000 British thermal units). This procedure is
necessary because of the wide range in the heating value of a cubic
foot of gas between different cities. The equipment and blocks of
consumption which have been selected as representative of average
conditions throughout the country are based upon the requirements
of a five-room house, including living room, dining room, kitchen, and
two bedrooms.
These specifications are:
T h erm s
Range____________________________________________ 10.
Range and manual-typewater heater___________________ 19.
Range and automatic-storage or instantaneous type water
heater____________________________________________30.
Range, automatic-storage or instantaneous type water
heater, and refrigerator____________________________ 40.
6
6
6
6
Typical net monthly bills and prices per thousand cubic feet and
per therm for these services for each city are shown in table 6.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 6.—Total N et M onthly Bill and Prices per Thousand Cubic Feet and per Therm for Specified Amounts of Gas, Based on R ates as
of July 15, 1936, by Cities
M onthly consumption in cubic feet and net m onthly bill based
on specified numbers of therms 2
Region and city
per
Kind
cubic
of
foot
in
gas 1
British
thermal
units
Range, 10.6
therms
Manual, 19.6
therms
Cubic
feet
N ew England:
Boston 4__________
Fall R iv e r .______
M anchester______
N ew H aven____ _
Portland, M aine___
Providence________
M iddle Atlantic:
Buffalo___________
Newark__________
N ew Y ork:4 «
Bronx_________
B rook lyn... .
M anhattan____
Queens________
Richmond____
Philadelphia.. . ._
P ittsburgh_______
Rochester_________
Scranton....................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Bill
Cubic
feet
D o lla rs
B ill
Automatic,3
30.6 therms
Cubic
feet
D o lla rs
Bill
Range, auto
matic 3 water
heater, and
refrigerator,
40.6 therms
Cubic
feet
D o lla rs
Bill
N et monthly price based on consumption of specified numbers of
therms 2
Per thousand cubic feet for—
Per therm for—
Range and wa Range,
Range and wa
ter heater of
ter heater of
auto
indicated type matic 3
indicated type
water
Range,
heater, Range,
10.6
10.6
and
therms M an Auto refrig
therms M an Auto
ual,
matic,3 erator,
ual,
matic,3
19.6
30.6
19.6
30.6
40.6
therms therms therms
therms therms
Range,
auto
matic 3
water
heater,
and
refrig
erator,
40.6
therms
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
535
535
528
525
528
525
510
1,980
1,980
2,010
2,020
2,010
2,020
2, 080
2.48
2. 28
2. 53
2. 85
2.41
3. 03
2. 57
3,660
3,660
3, 710
3, 730
3,710
3,730
3,840
D o lla rs
4.16
4. 21
4.06
4. 82
4.11
5.16
4.16
D o lla rs
D o lla rs
5, 720
5, 720
5, 800
5,830
5,800
5,830
6,000
5.70
5. 63
5. 94
5. 67
6.20
6.51
6.10
C e n ts
7, 590
7. 590
7,690
7, 730
7,690
7,730
7,960
7.19
7.12
7. 64
6. 92
8.09
8. 03
7.86
C e n ts
C e n ts
1.25
1.15
1.26
1.41
1.20
1.50
1.24
1.14
1.15
1.09
1,29
1.11
1.38
1.08
1.00
.98
1.02
.97
1.07
1.12
1.02
0.95
.94
.99
.90
1.05
1.04
.99
23.4
21.5
23.9
3 26.8
22.7
«28.5
« 24.3
21.2
21.5
20.7
24.6
21.0
26.3
21.2
18.6
18.4
19.4
18.5
20.3
21.3
19.9
17.7
17.5
18.8
17.0
19.9
19.8
19.4
X
M
900
525
1,180
2, 020
.77
2. 69
2,180
3,730
1.42
4.31
3,400
5,830
2. 21
6.06
4,510
7, 730
2.93
5 7. 30
.65
1.33
.65
1.16
.65
1.04
.65
.94
« 7.2
25.4
7.2
22.0
7.2
19.8
7.2
18.0
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
N
N
N
M
M
540
540
540
540
540
540
540
530
1.130
1,100
1,100
537
520
1,960
1,960
1,960
1,960
1,960
1,960
1,960
2, 000
940
960
960
1,970
2,040
2. 30
2. 34
2.44
2. 58
2.30
2.30
3.10
1.80
2 1.00
1 1.00
2 1.00
1.97
3.10
3,630
3,630
3,630
3,630
3,630
3, 630
3,630
3, 700
1,730
1,780
1,780
3, 650
3, 770
4. 26
3.80
4.05
4.37
4.26
4.26
5.10
3.25
1.04
1.07
1.07
3. 65
4. 97
5,670
5,670
5, 670
5, 670
5, 670
5,670
5,670
5, 770
2, 710
2, 780
2,780
5,700
5,880
6.65
5.25
6. 03
6. 56
6. 65
6. 65
7.08
« 5.01
1.63
1.67
1.67
5.56
7. 08
7,520
7,520
7, 520
7, 520
7, 520
7, 520
7,520
7,660
3,590
3,690
3,690
7, 560
7,810
8.82
6.42
7.82
8. 54
8.82
8. 82
8.69
6. 61
2.15
2. 21
2. 21
7.05
9.01
1.17
1.19
1.24
1. 32
1.17
1.17
1.58
.90
1.06
1.04
1.04
1.00
1.52
1.17
1.05
1.12
1.20
1.17
1.17
1.40
.88
.60
.60
.60
1.00
1.32
1.17
.93
1.06
1.16
1.17
1.17
1.25
.87
.60
.60
.60
.98
1.20
1.17
.85
1.04
1.14
1.17
1.17
1.18
.86
.60
.60
.60
.93
1.15
21.7
22.1
23.0
24.4
21.7
21.7
29.3
17.0
9.4
9.4
9.4
18.6
29.2
21.7
19.4
20.7
22.3
21.7
21.7
26.0
16.6
5.3
« 5.4
« 5.4
18.6
25.4
21.7
17.2
19.7
21.4
21.7
21.7
23.1
« 16.4
5.3
« 5.4
«5.4
18.2
23.1
21.7
15.8
19.3
21.0
21.7
21.7
21.8
16.3
5.3
5.4
5.4
17.4
22.2
D o lla r s D o lla rs
C e n ts
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW — SEPTEMBER 1936
Range and water heater of
indicated type
Heat
ing
^
East North Central:
Chicago___________
Cincinnati________
Cleveland_________
Columbus 4............. .
800
865
1,100
1,050
1,050
530
570
520
1,000
1,000
1,330
1,230
960
1,010
1,010
2,000
1,860
2,040
1,060
1,060
1.94
.91
i. 75
h 75
h 75
1.71
1.67
1.73
2.12
1.91
2,450
2,270
1,780
1,870
1,870
3,700
3,440
3, 770
1,960
1,960
3. 33
1.63
.89
1.03
.90
3.16
3.10
3.03
3. 64
3.36
3,830
3, 540
2,780
2,910
2,910
5, 770
5, 370
5,880
3,060
3,060
4. 69
2. 45
1. 43
1.60
1.40
4. 93
4.83
4.61
4. 67
4. 66
5,080
4,690
3,690
3,870
3,870
7, 660
7,120
7,810
4, 060
4,060
5.39
3.16
1.93
2.13
1.86
6. 55
6.41
6. 02
5.57
5. 56
1. 46
.74
.78
.74
.74
.86
.90
.85
2.00
1.80
1.36
.72
.50
.55
.48
5.86
.90
.80
1.86
1. 71
1.23
.69
.51
.55
.48
5. 86
.90
.78
1.53
1.52
1.06
.67
.52
.55
.48
.86
.90
.77
1.37
1.37
18.3
8.6
7.1
7.1
7.1
16.1
15.8
16.3
20.0
18.0
17.0
8.3
4.5
5.2
4.6
16.1
15.8
8 15.4
18.6
17.1
15.3
8.0
4.7
5.2
4.6
16.1
15.8
15.1
15.3
15.2
13.3
7.8
4.8
5.2
4. 6
16.1
15.8
14.8
13.7
13.7
N
X
M
X
M
1,000
800
555
800
550
1,060
1,330
1,910
1,330
1,930
8 1.36
1.90
1.53
2.03
1.74
1,960
2,450
3, 530
2,450
3,560
» 2 .18
2. 97
2. 42
3. 31
3.20
3,060
3,830
5, 510
3,830
5,560
3.12
4. 27
3.51
» 4.87
5. 00
4,060
5,080
7,320
5,080
7,380
3.98
5.41
4. 50
6.17
6. 64
« 1.28
1.43
.80
1.53
.90
1.11
1.21
.69
1.35
.90
1.02
1.11
.64
1.27
.90
.98
1.06
.62
1.21
.90
8 12.8
17.9
14.4
19.2
16.4
11.1
15.2
12.3
16.9
8 16.4
10.2
13.9
11.5
15.9
8 16.4
9.8
13.3
11.1
15.2
16.4
N
M
M
M
M
M
M
X
980
500
550
535
530
525
575
600
1,080
2,120
1,930
1,980
2,000
2,020
1,840
1,770
1. 78
1.80
2. 70
4. 03
2. 40
2.63
2. 30
1.53
2,000
3,920
3, 560
3, 660
3,700
3,730
3,410
3,270
2.70
3. 33
4. 98
6. 34
4. 36
4.78
4. 26
2. 73
3,120
6,120
5,560
5,720
5, 770
5,830
5,320
5,100
3. 77
4.78
« 7 .19
8.20
6.62
7.43
6.65
4.08
4,140
8,120
7,380
7,590
7,660
7,730
7,060
6,770
4. 38
6.08
5 9.01
9. 88
8.51
9. 82
8.83
5. 25
1.65
.85
1.40
« 2. 03
1.20
1.30
1.25
.86
1.35
.85
1.40
1.73
1.18
1.28
1. 25
.83
1.21
.78
1.29
1.43
1.15
1.27
1.25
.80
1.06
.75
1.22
1. 30
1.11
1.27
1.25
.78
16.8
17.0
25.5
38.0
22.6
24.8
21.7
14.4
13.8
17.0
25.4
5 32.4
22.2
24.4
21.7
13.9
12.3
15.6
23.5
26.8
21.6
24.3
21.7
13.3
10.8
15.0
22.2
24.3
21.0
24.2
21.7
12.9
M
X
N
534
900
980
1,990
1,180
1,080
1.59
.89
1.51
3,670
2,180
2,000
2.94
1.39
2.48
5, 730
3,400
3,120
4. 58
2.00
3.60
7,600
4,510
4,140
6.08
2. 56
4. 21
.80
.75
1.40
.80
.64
1.24
.80
.59
1.15
.80
.57
1.02
15.0
8.4
14.3
15.0
7.1
12.7
15.0
6.5
11.8
15.0
6.3
10.4
N
N
960
960
1,100
1,100
2. 25
2.05
2,040
2,040
3.43
2.99
3,190
3,190
4. 75
4.06
4, 230
4,230
5.43
4.69
2.05
1.86
1.68
1.47
1.49
1.27
1.28
1.11
21.2
19.3
17.5
15.3
15.5
13.3
13.4
5 11.5
N
N
N
N
1,050
1,000
1,000
950
1,010
1,060
1,060
1,120
1.26
1.19
5 1.11
1.26
1,870
1,960
1,960
2,060
1.84
1. 77
1.61
2.10
2,910
3,060
3,060
3,220
2.54
2.49
5 2.23
3.15
3, 870
4,060
4,060
4,270
3.19
3.14
*2. 79
4.09
1.25
1.12
1.04
» 1.12
.98
5.91
.82
1.02
.87
.81
.73
.98
.82
.77
8. 69
.96
11.9
11.2
10.4
11.9
9.4
8 9.1
8.2
10.7
8.3
8.1
7.3
10.3
7.9
7.7
» 6.9
10.1
N
N
N
850
845
865
1,250
1,250
1,230
1.11
2.14
2.12
2,310
2,320
2,270
1.59
3.30
5 3.27
3, 600
3,620
3, 540
2.17
4.15
5 4.16
4,780
4,800
4,690
2. 70
4. 78
4.86
.89
1.71
1.72
.69
1.42
1.44
.60
1.15
1.17
«. 57
1.00
1.04
10.5
20.2
20.0
8.1
16.9
8 16.7
7.1
13.6
13.6
6.7
11.8
12.0
N
M
N
M
1,100
570
1,150
500
960
1,860
920
2,120
1.26
2.34
1.27
5 3.10
1,780
3,440
1,700
3,920
1.82
3.98
1.82
5 5. 36
2,780
5,370
2,660
6,120
5 2.43
5. 96
2.49
4 5.32
3,690
7,120
3,530
8,120
2. 97
7.63
3.10
5 6.45
1.31
1.26
1.38
« 1.46
1. 02
1.16
1.07
« 1.37
8 .88
1.11
.94
.87
.80
1.07
.88
.80
8 11.8
8 22.0
12.0
5 29. 2
9.3
20.3
9.3
«27.3
5 8.0
19.5
8.1
17.4
7.3
18.8
7.6
15.9
1 Different kinds of gas are indicated as follows: M , manufactured; N , natural; and X , mixed manufactured and natural.
2 Typical m onthly consumption for each service for a 5-room house (1 therm equals 100,000 B. t. u.).
3 Automatic-storage or instantaneous water heater.
4 Revision affecting all prices. 3 Revised. « Prices include 2-percent sales tax. 2 Minimum charge. 8 Prices include 3-percent sales tax.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
» Prices include 1-percent sales tax.
RETAIL PRICES
D etro it8__________
Indianapolis______
M ilwaukee________
Peoria____________
Springfield_____ _
West North Central:
Kansas City 9..........
Minneapolis______
Omaha 4 _________
St. Louis 9 ________
St. P a u l................
South Atlantic:
A tlanta....................
Baltimore____ ____
Charleston, S. C___
Jacksonville_______
Norfolk___________
Richmond________
Savannah__
Washington, D . C_.
East South Central:
Birmingham______
Louisville_________
M em phis_________
Mobile:
Present_______
Objective______
W est South Central:
Dallas 4______ ____
Houston.
_ ____
Little Rock «__ _
N ew Orleans______
Mountain;
B utte..........................
Denver 48___ ___
Salt Lake City 6___
Pacific:
Los Angeles_______
Portland, Oreg___
San Francisco..........
Seattle 8__________
X
X
N
N
N
M
M
M
N
N
OT>
Ox
766
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Reductions in residential gas rates between April 15 and July 15.
1936, were reported for two cities, Indianapolis and San Francisco.
The change in Indianapolis reduced the bills for each of the four
services by the same proportionate amount, 5.3 percent. In San
Francisco the rate changes were so graduated that a proportionately
greater reduction was effective for those customers using larger
amounts of gas. The decreases in the net monthly bills ranged from
7.8 percent for the range alone to 13.9 percent for the range, auto
matic water heater, and refrigerator.
Percentage changes in the net monthly bills for specified amounts
of gas from April 15, 1936, to July 15, 1936, are shown in table 7.
Data are given in this table for only those cities for which price
changes were reported during this period.
Table 7.— Percentage Decrease in the Total M onthly Bill for Specified Amounts
of Gas, by Cities
July 15, 1936, Compared W ith April 15, 1936
Region and city
East North Central: Indianap
olis____________
Pacific: San Francisco................
Kind
of gas
M
N
Heating
Percentage of decrease from Apr. 15, 1936, to
value per
July 15, 1936
cubic foot in
British ther
mal units
10.6 therms 19.6 therms 30.6 therms 40.6 therms
570
1,150
5.3
7.8
5.3
11.0
5.3
12.9
5.3
13.9
C oal P rices in J u ly 1936
A v e r a g e retail prices of coal in the larger cities of the United
States showed rather sharp decreases between April 15 and July 15,
1936. The average decline for bituminous coal in 38 cities combined
was 5.1 percent. The index fell to 149.6 (1913 equals 100). This is
still 0.2 percent above the level of July 1935. Prices of Pennsylvania
anthracite decreased 4.3 percent for the stove size and 3.9 percent for
the chestnut size. Compared with prices for the corresponding date
of last year, prices of stove and chestnut sizes are higher by 4.2 and
4.8 percent, respectively.
Retail prices of coal are collected quarterly as of the 15th of the
month from each of the 51 cities from which retail prices of food are
obtained. Prices of bituminous coal of several kinds are received
from 38 of the cities. Of these 38 cities, 12 also report on stove and
chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite and 6 report on anthracite
from other fields. In addition to the 38 cities there are 13 cities
which report prices for Pennsylvania anthracite alone. For each city,
prices are shown for those coals sold in considerable quantities for
household use. Prices are for curb delivery of the kinds of coal sold
to wage earners. Extra charges for handling are not included.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
767
RETAIL PRICES
Table 8.—Average Retail Prices of Coal in Large Cities Combined
July and April 1936 and July 1935
Average retail price per
ton of 2,000 pounds
Relative retail price
(1913=100)
Percentage
change July
1936 compared
w ith—
Article
1936
1935
1936
1935
1936
1935
July 15 Apr. 15 July 15 July 15 Apr. 15 July 15 Apr. 15 July 15
Bituminous coal (38 cities)________
Pennsylvania anthractie (25 cities):
Stove_____________ _________
C hestnut____________________
$8.13
$8. 57
$8.12
149.6
i 157. 6
149.3
- 5 .1
+ 0 .2
12. 57
12. 43
13.13
12. 94
12. 06
11.86
162.7
157.1
169.9
163.5
156.1
149.9
-4 .3
- 3 .9
+ 4 .2
+ 4 .8
1 Revised.
Details by Regions and Cities
L o w e r prices for bituminous coal were reported from 33 of the 38
cities. The decreases ranged from 0.4 percent in Charleston and
Savannah to 15.0 percent in Atlanta. Cities showing increases
were scattered. The largest advance, 4.9 percent, was reported for
Birmingham. Average retail prices in each of the 38 cities on July
15 and April 15, 1936, and July 15, 1935, are shown in table 9.
Prices of Pennsylvania anthracite were lower in 23 of the 25 report
ing cities. These lower prices reflect the usual seasonal reductions
in addition to other factors affecting hard-coal prices. In Scranton,
stove and chestnut sizes were both higher on July 15 than on April 15
and in Pittsburgh the stove size only was higher while the chestnut
size remained unchanged. The range of price changes was from a
decline of 8.6 percent in Baltimore to a 2.8-percent increase in Scran
ton. The only change recorded for anthracite other than Pennsyl
vania was in Little Rock where the price of Arkansas egg decreased
7.3 percent. Average retail prices of anthracite in each of the report
ing cities on July 15 and April 15, 1936, and July 15, 1935, are shown
in table 10.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
768
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Table 9.— Average Retail Prices of Bituminous Coal per Ton of 2,000 Pounds
by Cities
July and April 1936 and July 1935
1936
1936
1935
Region, city, and grade
and size of coal
July 16 Apr. 15 July 15
Middle Atlantic:
Pittsburgh:
Prepared sizes............
East North Central:
Chicago:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile...........
Cincinnati:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Cleveland:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile..........
Low volatile_____
Columbus:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile........ .
Low volatile_____
Detroit:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile...........
Run of mine:
Low volatile....... __
Indianapolis:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
Low volatile_____
Milwaukee:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile........ .
Low volatile_____
Peoria:
Prepared sizes______
Springfield, 111.:
Prepared sizes—........
West North Central:
Kansas City:
Prepared sizes .
Minneapolis:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile_____
Omaha:
Prepared sizes............
St. Louis:
Prepared sizes......... .
St. Paul:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_____
Low volatile......... .
South Atlantic:
Atlanta:
Prepared sizes______
Baltimore:
Prepared sizes:
Low volatile_____
Run of mine:
High volatile_____
$4. 21
$4. 38
$4. 02
7.94
10. 39
8. 29
11. 22
8.12
10.28
7.91
8. 20
7.86
5. 73
7.73
5. 85
7.86
4. 98
6. 66
6.93
9. 21
6.91
9.80
6.82
8. 75
6.10
7.71
6.11
7.69
5. 97
7.57
7.12
8.13
7.40
8. 63
7.06
7.79
7. 34
7. 92
7.34
5.82
8.00
6.21
8.45
5.91
7.92
7. 21
7.28
6.84
8.30
10. 73
8. 42
11.43
8. 21
10.53
6.98
7.34
6.98
3. 70
4.31
4. 53
5. 53
5.85
5. 74
10.34
13. 23
10. 72
13. 38
10.44
13.04
8. 62
8.74
8. 34
5.19
5.76
4.95
10. 26
13. 29
10. 49
13.41
10.15
13.11
6.41
7. 54
6. 23
8. 56
9.19
8.50
7.11
7. 29
7.18
1936
1936
July 15 Apr. 15 July 15
South Atlantic—Con.
Charleston, S. C.:
Prepared sizes
$9. 29
$9.33
Jacksonville:
Prepared sizes______
9.81
10. 25
Norfolk:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile
7. 50
7. 50
8. 93
Low volatile_____
9.50
Run of mine:
Low volatile_____
7. 50
7.50
Richmond:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile
7. 50
8.08
Low volatile...........
8.83
9.33
Run of mine:
Low volatile
7.15
7.40
Savannah:
Prepared s iz e s _____ i 9.24
i 9.28
Washington, D. C.:
Prepared sizes:
2 8. 50
High volatile
2 8. 94
Low volatile_____ 2 10. 37 2 10. 87
Run of mine:
M ixed..
2 8. 00 2 8.02
East South Central:
Birmingham:
Prepared sizes
6.03
5.75
Louisville:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile
5. 41
6.02
Low volatile
7. 50
8.13
Memphis:
Prepared sizes
6. 87
7.49
Mobile:
Prepared sizes______
8. 21
8. 76
West South Central:
Dallas:
Prepared sizes______ 10. 29
10. 29
Houston:
Prepared sizes______ 11.29
11.50
Little R ock:
Prepared sizes______
7.94
8. 44
N ew Orleans:
Prepared sizes
9. 60
10.60
Mountain:
Butte:
Prepared sizes
10. 05 3 10.00
Denver:
Prepared sizes______
7.28
7.75
Salt Lake City:
Prepared sizes............
6.68
7.48
Pacific:
Los Angeles:
Prepared sizes............ 16. 48
16. 74
Portland, Oreg.:
Prepared sizes
12. 05 3 11. 89
San Francisco:
Prepared sizes........... 15. 28
16. 38
Seattle:
Prepared sizes______
9. 62
10.11
1All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made.
additional charge has been included in the above prices.
*Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
*Revised.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1935
Region, city, and grade
and size of coal
$10. 00
9. 56
7. 00
8. 50
7.00
7 58
8. 62
7.15
i 8.78
2 8 50
2 9. 72
2 7.16
5. 80
5 42
7. 21
7.19
8.19
10.21
11. 29
8.22
9.60
9.76
7.73
7.15
16. 36
12.10
15.11
9.97
This
769
RETA IL PRICES
Table 10 . —Average Retail Prices of Anthracite per Ton of 2,000 Pounds, by
Cities
July and April 1936, and July 1935
1936
Region, city, and size
of coal
1936
1936
1935
Region, city, and size
of coal
July 15 Apr. 15 July 15
P e n n s y lv a n ia
New England:
Boston:
Pt-OVft
$12. 55
12. 55
Chestnut
Bridgeport:
12. 25
Stove . __________
Chestnut
12. 25
Fall River:
13.00
S tove... __________
Chestnut12.75
Manchester:
14. 50
Stove--- __________
Chestnut
14. 50
New Haven:
12. 75
S tove... __________
Chestnut
12. 75
Portland, Maine:
13. 75
Stove _
______
Chestnut.
_____ 13.75
Pr ovidence:
Stove
13. 75
Chestnut
_____ 13 75
M iddle Atlantic:
Buffalo:
Stove______________ 12.15
Chestnut
12.00
Newark:
11.30
Stove.. _________
11.05
C h e stn u t.__ ______
N ew York:
Stove
11.48
Chestnut ________
11.31
Philadelphia:
Stove
10 21
9. 96
Chestnut. _______
Pittsburgh:
Stove
12.88
12.88
Chestnut__________
Rochester:
Stove
11. 69
11.51
C h e stn u t.________
$12.90
12. 90
$11.90
11.90
13.00
13.00
12.00
12.00
13. 75
13. 50
12.75
12. 50
14. 83
14.83
14. 00
14. 00
13. 55
13. 55
12.15
12.15
14. 50
14. 25
13. 50
13. 25
14. 75
14. 50
13.75
13.45
12. 50
12.42
12.05
11.80
11.45
11.20
10. 00
9. 74
11.83
11. 58
10.81
10. 56
10.92
10. 63
9. 25
9. 00
12.75
12.88
12. 75
12. 75
12.09
11.84
11.61
11. 38
1936
1935
July 15 Apr. 15 July 15
a n th r a c ite
Middle Atlantic—Con.
Scranton:
$7. 74
Stove_____ ________ $7.85
7.49
7.83
Chestnut__________
East North Central:
Chicago:
14. 50
Stove______________ 14.08
14.25
13.92
Chestnut__________
Cleveland:
13. 65
S to v e _____________ 13.31
13.39
13. o;
C h e s tn u t.._______
Detroit:
12.66
Stove........................... 12.31
12.40
12.21
Chestnut__________
Milwaukee:
14. 25
13.46
Stove______ _______
14.00
13. 28
Chestnut.
_______
West North Central:
Minneapolis:
16 20
15.46
S to v e...
________
15.95
15. 26
Chestnut__________
St. Louis:
14.46
Stove______________ 13.67
14. 21
13.42
Chestnut__________
St. Paul:
IP. 20
Stove______________ 15. 46
15.95
15. 26
Chestnut__________
South Atlantic:
Baltimore:
11.75
10. 75
Stove . . ________
11.50
10. 50
Chestnut__________
Norfolk:
13. 50
Stove______________ 12.44
13. 50
12. 44
Chestnut__________
Richmond:
13. 50
13.00
Stove .
______
13. 50
Chestnut___ _____ 13.00
Washington, D. C.:
Stove___ __________ i 12. 45 i 13. 50
Chestnut__________ i 12. 25 i 13. 20
$7. 78
7. 53
13. 58
13. 33
12. 36
12.10
11.55
11.29
13.17
12. 92
15. 23
15. 00
13.22
12. 97
15. 25
15. 00
9. 75
9. 50
12.50
12.50
12.00
12. 00
i 12. 05
» 11.75
Other anthracite
West North Central:
Kansas City:
Arkansas, furnace__ $10. 61 2$10.61
stove
12.12 12.12
West South Central:
Dallas:
Arkansas, e.p-g
13.25 13.25
Houston:
Arkansas, egg_____ 14.33 14.33
Little Rock:
9.50 10. 25
Arkansas,
i Per ton of 2,240 pounds,
s Revised.
88869— 36------ 15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$10. 50
11. 75
13.00
13. 83
10.71
Mountain:
Denver:
Colorado, furnace__ $15.81 $15. 81
stove___ 15.81 15.81
Pacific:
San Francisco:
New Mexico, egg__ 23. 69 23.69
Colorado, egg__ ___ 23.69 23. 69
$15.81
15.81
25.75
25.24
770
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W — SEPTEM B ER 1936
Coal Prices, 1926 to July 1936
R e t a i l prices of coal have been collected from the cities covered
in the retail-food-price study. For the years 1913-19 prices were
collected semiannually on January 15 and July 15. From June 1920
to July 1935 prices were collected on the 15th of each month. Be
ginning with July 1935 it is planned to collect these prices on the
15th of January, April, July, and October of each year.
Table 11 shows, for large cities combined, average prices of bitu
minous coal and of Pennsylvania white-ash anthracite, stove and
chestnut sizes, on January 15 and July 15, 1926 to 1933, and quarterly
from January 15, 1934, to July 15, 1936.
The accompanying chart shows the trend in retail prices of stove
and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite in 25 cities combined
and of bituminous coal in 38 cities combined. The trend is shown
by months from January 15, 1929, to July 15, 1935, inclusive, and
qua: «erly to July 15, 1936.
Table 11.— Average Retail Prices of Coal in Large Cities Combined 1
January 1926 to July 1936, Inclusive
Average price,
2,000 pounds
Year
and
month
Bitu
minous
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
Stove Chest
nut
Relative price
(1913=100.0)
Bitu
minous
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
Stove Chest
nut
1926: oan. $9. 74 (2)
179.3 (2)
(2)
July 8. 70 $15. 43 $15. 19 160. 1 199.7
1927: Jan. 9. 96 15. 66 15. 42 183.3 202.7
July 8.91 15. 15 14.81 163.9 196.1
1928: Jan. 9. 30 15. 44 15. 08 171. 1 199.8
July 8. 69 14.91 14. 63 159.9 192.9
1929: Jan. 9.09 15. 38 15.06 167.2 199.1
July 8. 62 14.94 14.63 158.6 193.4
1930: Jan. 9 11 15. 33 15. 00 167.6 198.4
July 8 65 14.84 14. 53 159.1 192.1
1931: Jan. 8.8, 15. 12 14.88 163.2 195.8
July 8.09 14.61 14. 59 148.9 189.1
1932: Jan. 8. 17 15.00 14.97 150.3 194.2
July 7.50 13. 37 13. 16 138.0 173.0
(2)
191.9
194.8
187.1
190.6
184.9
190.3
184.8
189.5
183.6
188.1
184. 3
189. 1
166.2
Average price,
2,000 pounds
Year
and
month
Bitu
minous
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
Relative price
(1913=100.0)
Bitu-
Pennsyl
vania
anthracite
nous
Stove Chest
nut
Stove Chest
nut
1933: Jan. $7. 46 $13.82 $13. 61 137.3 178.9
July 7. 64 12.47 12. 26 140.7 161.3
1934: Jan. 8.24 13.44 13. 25 151.6 174.0
Apr. 8.18 13.14 12. 94 150.5 170.1
July 8.23 12. 79 12. 60 151.5 165.5
Oct. 8. 35 13. 32 13.11 153. 6 172.4
1935: Jan. 8. 37 13.21 13.01 154.0 171.0
Apr. 8. 24 12. 67 12.47 151. 7 164.0
July 8. 12 12.06 11.86 149.3 156.1
Oct. 8.41 13.04 12. 83 154.7 168.8
1936: Jan. 8.58 13.17 12.96 157.8 170.4
Apr. 8.57 13.13 12.94 2157. 6 169.9
July 8.13 12. 57 12. 43 149.6 162.7
171.9
155.0
167.4
163. 5
159.2
165.7
164. 4
157.6
149.9
162.1
163.8
163. 5
157.1
1The prices in the table are unweighted averages of quotations from 38 cities for bituminous coal and
(row 25 cities for Pennsylvania anthracite.
1 Insufficient data.
1 Revised.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-1
W HOLESALE PRICES
W holesale Prices in Ju ly 1936
HARP advances in wholesale market prices of farm products and
foods were the main factors contributing to the increase of 1.6
percent in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ index of wholesale com
modity prices in July. The advance brought the all-commodity
index to 80.5 percent of the 1926 average, or within 0.1 percent of the
high for 1936 reached during the months of January and February.
By the middle of August, continued advances in these two groups
forced the index to rise to 81.1, the highest point reached since
November 1930. The composite for the month is 1.4 percent above
that of the corresponding month of last year.
Market prices of farm products rose 4.1 percent during the month.
Foods advanced 1.9 percent as did also miscellaneous commodities;
chemicals and drugs increased 1.8 percent; textile products, 1.1 per
cent; building materials, 1.0 percent; metals and metal products,
0.8 percent; and fuel and lighting materials, 0.1 percent. Hides and
leather products, on the other hand, decreased 0.4 percent and house
furnishing goods declined 0.2 percent.
With the exception of foods, all of the major commodity groups
show advances over July 1935. The increases range from 0.4 percent
for textile products to 5.4 percent for farm products. Food prices, on
the contrary, show a decline of 0.9 percent.
Changes within the major commodity groups influencing the trend
in the composite index in July are summarized in table 1.
S
Table 1.— Num ber of Commodities Changing in Price from June to July 1936
Groups
All commodities_________ _____
Farm products. ___________ _____
Foods ____________
Hides and leather products__________
Textile products_______
Fuel and lighting materials_____________
Metals and metal products_____
Building materials_________
Chemicals and drugs_______________
House-furnishing goods___________
Miscellaneous________________
772
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Increases
Decreases
No change
243
87
454
45
70
3
39
8
22
20
16
9
11
16
20
11
15
7
4
5
4
4
1
6
32
27
58
9
81
84
69
48
40
773
WHOLESALE PRICES
During the month interval, prices of raw materials rose 2.8 percent
and now stand 5.3 percent above July 1935. Semimanufactured
articles are 1.8 percent above the June level and finished products
1.1 percent higher. Compared with last year, semimanufactured
articles have advanced 3.3 percent and finished products declined 0.5
percent.
All commodities other than farm products (nonagricultural) increased
1.1 percent and the index for this group—80.3—is 0.6 percent higher
than July of last year. The large industrial group (all commodities
other than farm products and foods) recorded an increase of 0.9
percent during the month and an advance of 1.9 percent during the
12-month interval.
A comparison of the July level of wholesale prices with June 1936
and July 1935 is shown in table 2.
Table 2.— Comparison of Index Numbers for July 1936, with June 1936 and
July 1935
[1926=100]
Commodity groups
July
June
1936
1936
All commodities--------- ------ ---------------------------------
80.5
79.2
Farm products______________ ____ ______________
Foods____________________________________ _____
Hides and leather products---------------------------------Textile products-------------------------- ---------------------Fuel and lighting materials-------------- -----------------Metals and metal products---------------------------------Building materials________________ ____ - ................
Chemicals and drugs................................................. .......
House-furnishing goods--------------------------------------Miscellaneous commodities------ --------------------------Raw materials^_________________________________
Semimanufactured articles----------------- ----------------Finished products---------------------------------------------All commodities other than farm products------------All commodities other than farm products and foods.
81.3
81.4
93.4
70.5
76.2
86.9
86.7
79.4
81.2
71.0
79.8
75.2
81.6
80.3
79.5
78.1
79.9
93.8
69.7
76.1
86.2
85.8
78.0
81.4
69.7
77.6
73.9
80.7
79.4
78.8
Change
from a
month
ago (per
cent)
July
1935
Change
from a
year ago
(percent)
+ 1-6
79.4
+ 1 .4
+ 4 .1
+ 1 .9
-.4
77.1
82.1
89.3
70.2
74.7
86.4
85.2
78.7
80.4
67.7
75.8
72.8
82.0
79.8
78.0
+5.4
+ 1.1
+.1
+• 8
+ 1.0
+ 1.8
- , 2
+ 1 .9
+ 2.8
+ 1.8
+ 1.1
+ 1.1
+.9
-.9
+4.6
+• 4
+ 2.0
+.6
+ 1.8
+ .9
+ 1.0
+ 4 .9
+5.3
+3.3
- . 5
+• 6
+ 1.9
Index numbers for the groups and subgroups of commodities for
June and July 1936 and July of each of the past 7 years are shown
in table 3.
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774
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Table 3.
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups and Subgroups
of Commodities
[1926=100]
July June
1936 1936
Groups and subgroups
All commodities.............................. .............
Farm products...................... ......... ............
Grains__________________________
Livestock and poultry___ _________
Other farm products................... .........
Foods______________________________
Dairy products_______ _____ ______
Cereal products___________________
Fruits and vegetables__ ____ ______
Meats__________________________
Other foods______________________ ’
Hides and leather products___ ___ _____
Shoes_________________________ Hi
Hides and skins___ ___ ___________
Leather_________________________ '
Other leather products_____________
Textile products_______ ___ _________
Clothing.___ ____________________
Cotton goods_______ ____________
Knit goods___________________ HH'
Silk and rayon____________________
Woolen and worsted goods__________
Other textile products______________
Fuel and lighting materials_____________
Anthracite_____ ___ _____________
Bituminous coal______________
Coke___________________________
Electricity_________
HII
Gas______________________ IIIIIII'
Petroleum products________________
Metals and metal products__________ HU
Agricultural implements____________
Iron and steel_____________________
Motor vehicles____________________
Nonferrous metals______
HI
Plumbing and heating..___ ________
Building materials______ ______
Brick and tile_____________________
Cement____________ ____ _____
Lumber_____________________ IIIII
Paint and paint materials______
Plumbing and heating_____________
Structural steel_______ ___ ________
Other building materials___________ I
Chemicals and drugs...________________
Chemicals_________________ HI IIII
Drugs and pharmaceuticals______ IIIH
Fertilizer materials________________
Mixed fertilizers_______________ IIIH
House-furnishing goods______________
Furnishings________________ HH
Furniture_____________________ HII
Miscellaneous____________________ H ill
Automobile tires and tubes_______
Cattle feed______________________H
Paper and pulp_____ _______
HI
Rubber, crude___________________H
Other miscellaneous_____________
Raw materials_______________________"
Semimanufactured articles____________"
Finished products_____________________
All commodities other than farm products...
All commodities other than farm products
and foods_________ _____ _______
July
1935
July
1934
Julv
1933
July
1932
July
1931
July
1930
July
1929
80.5
79.2
79.4
74.8
68.9
64.5
72.0
84.4
96.5
81.3
88.9
82.0
78.2
81.4
83.8
84.4
79.7
84.9
73.4
93.4
99.3
87.8
83.0
95.4
70.5
80.7
78.7
59.3
30.7
82.0
66.8
76.2
78.5
96.0
93. 7
0)
(>)
58. 1
86.9
94.2
87.6
92.9
70.4
76.5
86.7
89.2
95. 5
83.7
80.4
76.5
97. 1
90.2
79.4
85.9
73.0
65. 2
68.7
81. 2
85. 1
77.2
71.0
47.5
107.9
80. 6
34.3
80.8
79.8
75.2
81.6
80.3
78.1
73.0
83.2
75.8
79.9
77.6
81.6
82.0
85.1
72.3
93.8
99.7
89.0
83.2
95.4
69.7
80.9
75.4
60.3
29.3
82.6
66.9
76. 1
77.0
96.5
93.7
83.4
88.0
57.7
86.2
94.2
86.3
92.9
70.0
73.8
85.8
89.2
95.5
82. 1
79.5
73.8
92. 5
90. 1
78.0
84.3
73. 2
64.0
66.0
81.4
85.2
77.5
69.7
47.5
80.7
80.6
33.0
80.8
77.6
73.9
80.7
79.4
77. 1
78.3
82.8
72.9
82.1
74.0
92. 7
65.1
93.3
76.7
89.3
97.8
79.8
80.2
84.4
70.2
80.7
82.0
59.9
27.9
76.4
69. 1
74.7
77.0
96.5
88.6
87.8
94.0
52.9
86.4
93.6
87.0
94.7
66.1
68.8
85. 2
89. 1
94.9
81.7
79. 1
68.8
92.0
89.7
78.7
84.6
74.0
65.7
68.6
80.4
84.0
76.8
67.7
45.0
78.6
79.7
25.0
80. 1
75.8
72.8
82.0
79.8
64. 5
74.8
48.8
70.5
70.6
74.8
88.9
68.2
63.4
64.5
86.3
98.0
66.6
75. 1
86.8
71.5
81.9
85.1
59.5
24.5
80.7
69.6
73.9
78.6
95. 7
85.6
92.4
99.2
51.3
86.8
92.0
86.7
94.6
68.8
75.0
87.0
91.3
93.9
85.3
79.8
75.0
92.5
90.9
75.4
78.5
73.0
67. 6
72.8
81.6
84.8
78.5
69.9
44.6
83.8
82.4
29.9
82.3
68.3
72.7
78. 2
76.9
60. 1
73.4
47.4
63.7
65.5
66.1
83.3
75. 6
50.8
63. 7
86.3
88.3
88.7
78.0
80.0
68.0
70.6
80.2
55.2
37.9
72.3
76.7
65.3
77.9
81.0
76.0
89.4
100.2
41.3
80.6
83.0
77. 7
90.4
67.6
69.4
79.5
78. 2
88.2
75.9
77.9
69.4
81.7
83.3
73.2
80.3
56.8
68.6
63.3
74.8
75.1
74.6
64.0
41.4
82.4
78. 1
16.3
76.3
61.8
69. 1
72.2
70.7
47.9
36.7
54.1
48.4
60.9
58.2
65.7
59.7
62.0
58.5
68.6
84.4
33.5
60.0
83.7
51.5
60.9
50.0
47.8
26.2
53.6
66.5
72.3
84.5
81.6
76.3
105.8
108. 3
49.7
79.2
84.9
77.2
95.3
47.0
67. 1
69.7
75.9
77.3
56.9
66.8
67. 1
81.7
77.9
73.0
78.9
57.6
68.8
68.8
74.0
75. 1
73.0
64.3
40.1
42.2
76. 2
6. 1
84.5
54.7
55.5
70.5
68.0
64.9
49.0
63.0
71.3
74.0
80.6
71.5
74.2
73.4
70.6
89.4
93.5
72.7
89.8
101.4
66.5
76. 1
66.8
60.0
43.8
67.4
75.2
62.9
90.8
83.5
81.5
97.9
103.5
30.3
84.3
94.2
82.7
94.7
61.4
86.8
78.1
83.4
75.8
67.2
79.6
86.8
84.3
83.7
78.9
82.4
62.1
78.7
80.2
85.7
82.8
89.1
69.7
46.0
55.8
80.6
13.2
88.6
64.3
69.3
76. 1
73.5
83. 1
74. 1
81.8
86.9
86.8
91.8
80.6
95.2
91.8
77.4
100.8
102.9
94.0
100 1
105.6
79.7
86.6
83.9
81.3
54.3
79.2
84.2
78.0
86.5
88.8
84.0
98.3
99.7
61.0
90.8
94.5
88.4
100.7
75.4
83.6
88.5
88.6
91.7
83.6
91.5
83.6
84.3
91.9
88.3
92.9
68.0
84.3
93. 1
93. 1
92.4
93.9
76.6
50. 1
94.8
85.4
23.6
94.5
81.1
79.8
86.6
84.6
107.6
102. 2
114.9
104. 5
102.9
103. 2
91. 2
105 8
116. 7
93 0
109 1
106 1
114 5
112.1
106 1
89 6
89 2
98. 2
87 9
78.3
87. 7
92. 2
83 3
89 1
89 9
84. 7
94 1
94. 4
73.3
101 0
99.0
95, 3
107 8
105.7
93. 6
95.1
92.9
94.6
93. 3
94. 5
93.6
99. 6
97.4
93.3
98. 2
70. 8
90. 7
97. 1
94. 3
93.3
95. 5
82.8
54.5
120. 5
88.9
43.9
98.8
99.1
93.4
95.6
94.1
79.5
78.8
78.0
78.4
72.2
69.7
73.9
84.5
91.7
1 Data not yet available.
Weekly Fluctuations
T h e rise in prices which began the middle of May continued
throughout June and July with one exception; namely, during the
week ending July 18, average prices declined 0.2 percent. During
the 10-week interval, the index advanced from 78.1 to 80.2, an
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
775
increase of 2.7 percent. The net advance for the month of July was
1.0 percent. Wholesale prices of raw materials followed an almost
similar course to that of all commodities. From the last week in
June to the first week in July there was a decline of 0.1 percent and
from the second week in July to the third week in July a decline of
1.2 percent. Since the middle of May, the index for raw materials
has risen from 75.1 percent of the 1926 average to 79.5, an increase
of 5.9 percent. Semimanufactured articles, though not showing so
great an advance as raw materials, increased more steadily, with no
recessions since the first of June. The rise for the finished-products
group has been less noticeable. The index for the group has risen
only from 80.4 to 81.6, an advance of 1.5 percent.
The index for the large group of all commodities other than farm
products (nonagricultural) has shown a steady upward movement
since the first of June. The level for this group advanced the second
week of July, remained steady the third week and then increased
fractionally the fourth week of the month, closing at 80.0 percent of
the 1926 average. The index for the large industrial group of all com
modities other than farm products and foods shows a rise of 0.9 per
cent since the middle of May, rising from 78.8 to 79.5 for the closing
week in July.
Farm products prices remained unchanged during the first week of
July compared with the last week of June. For the week ended
July 11, the index for the group rose 2.9 percent from 80.2 to 82.5,
but virtually all of this advance was lost during the third week when
the index fell to 80.8. In the fourth week, however, the index for the
group rose to 81.4. For the month as a whole prices of farm products
averaged 4.1 percent above the June level, due largely to an increase
of 21.7 percent in grains. Livestock and poultry, on the other hand,
declined 1.5 percent because of sharply falling prices for calves, cows,
sheep, and live poultry. Other farm products, including cotton, eggs,
lemons, oranges, hay, hops, peanuts, seeds, and dried beans advanced
3.1 percent from June to July.
Wholesale food prices declined slightly the first week of July to
80.8 percent of the 1926 average. During the second week the index
for the group rose sharply, but fell slightly during the third week. A
minor recession also occurred in the fourth week and the month closed
with the index at 81.0. Individual food items showing marked price
increases during the month were butter, cheese, milk, rye and wheat
flour, hominy grits and corn meal, macaroni, canned corn and toma
toes, coffee, copra, glucose, lard, oleo oil, edible tallow, and vegetable
oils. Fresh lamb and veal, dressed poultry, canned and smoked
salmon, pepper, granulated sugar, and canned string beans showed a
decline of 3 percent or more during the month.
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776
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Tlie continued weakness in prices of hides and skins and leather
caused the hides and leather products group to decline 0.4 percent
during the month. Average prices of shoes showed minor reductions
and other leather products remained unchanged.
From an index of 69.5 for July 4, textile products advanced steadily
to 70.2 by July 25. The increase was largely due to higher prices of
cotton goods and silk and rayon. Knit goods declined 1.6 percent
and woolen and worsted goods and clothing were slightly lower at
the close than at the beginning of the month.
Fuel and lighting materials showed virtually no change during
July. Average prices increased slightly the second week, but de
clined during the third and fourth weeks of the month. This group
has shown very little change for several months.
A slow but steady advance was characteristic of the metals and
metal products group, the index increasing from 85.6 to 86.2 from
the first to the last week of the month.
A course similar to the metals and metal products group was fol
lowed by the building materials group. The level for this group rose
from 85.7 to 86.8. The increase for the group was largely due to
higher prices for certain lumber items, paint materials, and other
building materials. Cement and brick and tile remained steady
throughout the month while plumbing materials rose sharply.
Maintaining the firmness which has been characteristic of the
chemicals and drugs group, the index advanced from 78.3 to 79.1
during July. Mixed fertilizers rose 4.2 percent and fertilizer ma
terials 2.0 percent. Drugs and pharmaceuticals, on the other hand,
declined 0.3 percent. Increases of 5 percent or more were reported
for inedible tallow, manure salts, muriate of potash, tankage, and
sulphate of potash.
Both furniture and furnishings contributed to the 0.2 percent
decline for the house-furnishing goods group. The slight decrease
followed a corresponding advance during the month of June.
A sharp upturn in prices of cattle feed, showing a rise of more than
30 percent, was largely responsible for the 1.9 percent increase for the
miscellaneous commodities group. Crude rubber advanced 4 percent.
Table 4 shows index numbers of wholesale prices for the main
groups of commodities for each week of June and July 1936.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
777
WHOLESALE PRICES
Table 4.— Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodities
[1926=100]
July
18,
1936
July
11,
1936
July June June June June
20,
4,
27,
13,
6,
1936 1936 1936 1936 1936
80.2
80.1
80.3
79.5
79.4
78.7
78.7
78.4
81.4
81.0
94.0
70.2
76.8
86.2
86.8
79.1
82. 6
71.3
79.5
75.5
81.6
80.0
79.5
80.8
81.3
93.8
70.1
76.9
86.1
86. 1
79.0
82.5
71.4
79.3
75.2
81.4
79.9
79.4
82.5
81.8
94.3
69.6
77.0
86.1
86.1
78.6
82.4
70.7
80.3
75. 0
81.4
79.9
79.2
80.2
80.8
94.2
69.5
76.4
85.6
85. 7
78.3
82.6
70.3
78.7
74.4
80.9
79.3
78.9
80.2
81.0
94.4
69.5
76.4
85.4
85.6
78.0
82.6
70.1
78.8
74.2
80.8
79.3
78.8
77.4
79.7
94.4
69.4
76.4
85.5
85.6
77.6
82.9
69.6
77.0
74.1
80.5
79.0
78.7
77.4
79.4
94.6
69.3
76.6
85.7
85.8
77.3
82.9
69.3
76.9
74.1
80.4
78.9
78.8
76.5
78.7
94.6
69. 1
76.7
85.7
85.7
77.3
82.9
69. 0
76.3
74.0
80.4
78.8
78.7
Commodity groups
July
25,
1936
All commodities________________________________
Farm products ________________________________
Foods
- - ___________________________
Hides and leather products______ ___ ___ _____ ___
Textile products
_ __ __________________
Fuel and lighting materials______________________
Metals and metal products
___________________
Building materials
______ ____ ____________
Chemicals and drugs
____________________ ___
Hnn.se.-furnishina goods
________ _________
M iscellaneous
______________________________
Raw materials
_ . _________ ____ _________ _
Semimanufactured a r tic le s.______ ___ ___ - - ___
Finished products
_ __ _________
__ ___ —
All commodities other than farm products------------All commodities other than farm products and foods-
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices, by Commodity Groups
numbers of wholesale prices by commodity gioups, by years
from 1926 to 1935, inclusive, and by months from January 1935 to
July 1936, inclusive, are shown in table 5.
I
n
d
e
x
Table 5.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices, by Groups of Commodities
[1926=100]
Period
Hides Tex
and
Farm
tile
prod Foods leather prod
prod ucts
ucts
ucts
Chem HouseMisFuel Metals
furand Build
celicals nishing
and metal
lanelight prod mate and
ing
ous
drugs goods
rials
ing
ucts
All
com
modi
ties
B y years:
1926
_______ 100.0
99.4
1927
______
1928
________ 105.9
1929
_____ 104.9
1930____________ 88.3
100.0
96.7
101.0
99.9
90.5
100.0
107.7
121.4
109.1
100.0
100.0
95.6
95. 5
90.4
80.3
100.0
88.3
84.3
83.0
78.5
100.0
96.3
97.0
100.5
92.1
100.0
94.7
94.1
95.4
89.9
100.0
96.8
95.6
94.2
89.1
100.0
97.5
95.1
94.3
92.7
100.0
91.0
85.4
82.6
77.7
100.
95.
96.
95.
86.
1931
____
1932
___
1933
1934
1935____________
By months:
1935
January____
February___
M a rc h -____
April------- -M ay_______
June ---------
64.8
48.2
51.4
65.3
78.8
74.6
61.0
60.5
70.5
83.7
86.1
72.9
80.9
86.6
89.6
66.3
54.9
64.8
72.9
70.9
67.5
70.3
66.3
73.3
73.5
84.5
80.2
79.8
86.9
86.4
79.2
71.4
77.0
86.2
85.3
79.3
73.5
72.6
75.9
80.5
84.9
75.1
75.8
81.5
80.6
69.8
64.4
62.5
69.7
68.3
73.
64.
65.
74.
80.
77.6
79.1
78.3
80.4
80. 6
78.3
79.9
82.7
81.9
84.5
84.1
82.8
86.2
86.0
85.4
86.3
88.3
88.9
70.3
70.1
69.4
69.2
69.4
70.1
72.9
72.5
73.0
72.8
73.1
74.2
85.8
85.8
85.7
85.9
86.6
86.9
84.9
85.0
84.9
84.6
84.8
85.3
79.3
80.4
81.5
81.0
81.2
80.7
81.2
80.7
80.7
80. 7
80.6
80. 5
70.7
70. 1
69. 2
68. 7
68.7
68. 4
78.
79.
/9.
80.
80.
79.
July_______
August -----September. _
October. . .
Novem ber..
December__
1936:
January____
February----March
April_______
M ay-----------
77.1
79.3
79.5
78.2
77.5
78.3
82.1
84.9
86.1
85.0
85.1
85.7
89.3
89.6
90.9
93.6
95.0
95.4
70.2
70.9
71.8
72.9
73.4
73.2
74.7
74.1
73.0
73.4
74.5
74.6
86.4
86.6
86.6
86.5
86.9
86.8
85.2
85.4
85.9
86.1
85.8
85.5
78.7
78.6
80.2
81.1
81.2
80.6
80.4
80.5
80. 5
80. 6
81.0
81.0
67.7
67.3
67.1
67. 5
67.4
67. 5
79.
80.
80.
80.
80.
80.
78.2
79.5
76.5
76.9
75.2
78.1
81.3
83.5
83.2
80.1
80.2
78.0
79.9
81.4
97.1
96.1
94.9
94.6
94.0
93.8
93.4
71.7
71.0
70.8
70.2
69.8
69.7
70.5
75.1
76.1
76.2
76.4
76.0
76.1
76.2
86.7
86.7
86.6
86.6
86.3
86.2
86.9
85.7
85.5
85.3
85.7
85.8
85.8
86.7
80.5
80.1
79.3
78.5
77.7
78.0
79.4
81.4
67.8
68.1
81. 5
68. 3
81.4
68. 6
81. 5
69. 2
81. 5
81.4 1 69.7
71.0
81. 2
80.
80.
79.
79.
78.
79.
80.
July_______
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
778
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
The price trend since 1926 is shown in table 6 for the following
groups of commodities: Raw materials, semimanufactured articles,
finished products, commodities other than farm products, and com
modities other than those designated as farm products and foods.
All commodities, with the exception of those included in the groups
of farm products and foods, have been included in the group of
“All commodities other than farm products and foods.” The list
of commodities included under the designations “Raw materials”,
“Semimanufactured articles”, and “Finished products” was given
in the October 1934 issue of the Wholesale Prices pamphlet.
Table 6.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices, by Special Groups of Commodities
[1926=100]
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
All
com
mod
Fin
ished ities
prod other
ucts than
farm
prod
ucts
Year
Semi
anRaw na
ufacm ate tured
rials arti
cles
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
96.5 94.3 95.0 94.6
99.1 94.5 95.9 94.8
97.5 93.9 94.5 93.3
84.3 81.8 88.0 85.9
1931.....................
1932 _________
1933 _________
1934 ________ _
1935 _________
1935:
January____
February__
March..........
April............
M ay.......... .
All
com
mod
ities
other
than
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
Month
100.0
94.0
92.9
91.6
85.2
1935—Continued.
Ju n e.. ____
July-----------August____
65. 6
55. 1
56.5
68.6
77.1
69.0
59.3
65.4
72.8
73.6
77.0
70.3
70.5
78.2
82.2
74.6
68.3
69.0
76.9
80.2
75.0
70.2
71.2
78.4
77.9
76.6
77.4
76.6
77.5
77.6
71.2
71.7
71.8
72.3
73.5
80.8
81.5
81.7
82.3
82.4
78.9
79.4
79.5
79.9
80.0
77.7
77.4
77.3
77.2
77.6
September. __
October_____
N o v em b er...
December___
1936:
January____
February__
V rch______
A p t!_______
M ay_______
June_______
July________
SemiRaw manufacm ate tured
rials arti
cles
All
com
mod
Fin ities
ished other
prod than
ucts farm
prod
ucts
A11
commodities
other
th n
farm
prod
ucís
and
foods
76.4
75.8
77. 1
73.9
72.8
73.2
82.2
82.0
83.0
80.0
79.8
80.6
78.0
78.0
77.9
77.3
77.1
77.2
77.7
74.4
76.3
76.2
75.2
83.1
82.7
82.7
83.1
80.8
80.9
81.1
81. 3
77.8
78.3
78.8
78.7
78.1
79.1
77.4
77.0
75.8
77.6
79.8
74.8
74.6
74.4
74.5
74.1
73.9
75.2
82.4
82.2
81.3
81.6
80. 5
80.7
81.6
80.9
80.7
80.2
80.1
79 2
79.4
80.3
78.8
79.0
78.9
78.9
78.8
78.8
79.5
M onthly Average Wholesale Prices and Index Numbers of Individual
Commodities
T h e table showing monthly average wholesale prices and index
numbers of individual commodities formerly appearing in the monthly
pamphlet is now published semiannually instead of monthly. The
June 1936 issue showed the average for the year 1935 and information
for the first 6 months of 1936. The monthly figures will be furnished
upon request.
A n n o u n c e m e n t o f R e v isio n
W h i l e meeting current demands for wholesale price information,
the Bureau in cooperation with the Central Statistical Board and
other Federal agencies has mapped out a program of revision covering
every phase of its wholesale-price reporting service. The purposes
of the revision are to round out the list of commodities in the interest
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WHOLESALE PRICES
779
of more balanced coverage, to establish and follow more detailed
description and specification of the items included in the price index,
to modify the basis of quotations in accordance with changing market
ing methods, to determine methods of index construction and weight
ing appropriate to defined objectives, to develop methods for dealing
with geographical variations in prices, to improve on the classification
of commodities and industries, and to determine means of increasing
the effectiveness of the published results.
The surveys for the following industries have been finished or are
nearing completion: Farm machinery, underwear, lumber, box board,
leather and leather products, chemicals, soap, cement, brick and tile,
sand, gravel and slag, rubber manufactures, small hand tools, and
paper and pulp. Work has been begun or is planned for the immediate
future covering automobiles, motor trucks, textiles, and iron and steel
products. The results of the farm-machinery survey were published
in the August 1935 Monthly Labor Review and in reprint form.
Separate reports for other industries will be issued from time to time
as the surveys are finished.
The effective cooperation of the industries being covered is con
tributing greatly to the success of the revision program.
W holesale Prices in th e U n ited States and in
Foreign C o u n trie s
N THE following table the index numbers of wholesale prices of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor, and those in certain foreign countries, have been brought
together in order that the trend of prices in the several countries may
be compared. The base periods here shown are those appearing in
the original sources from which the information has been drawn. In
certain countries the base is the year 1913 or some other pre-war
period. Only general comparisons can be made from these figures,
since, in addition to differences in the base periods, and the kind and
number of articles included, there are important differences in the
composition of the index numbers themselves. Indexes are shown for
the years 1926-35, inclusive, and by months from January 1931
through July 1936.
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
780
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign Countries
United
States
Argen
tina
Aus
tralia
Bureau
Labo
Computingagency of
Statis
tics
Bureau
of Eco
nomic
Re
search
Bureau
of
Census
and
Statis
tics
Federal
Statis
tical
Bureau
M inis
try of
Labor
and
Social
Welfare
General
Statis
tical
Bureau
1926
(100)
1926
(100)
1911
(1,000)
JanuaryJune 1914
(100)
April
1914
(100)
1926
(100)
Commodities____
784
105
92
47
(Paper)
125
(Gold)
55
1926 ____________
1927 ____________
1928____________
1929_____________
1930_____________
100.0
95.4
96.7
95.3
86.4
100.0
98.1
98.5
96.4
92.2
1,832
1,817
1,792
1,803
1,596
123
133
130
130
117
744
847
843
851
744
100.0
102.4
109.8
117.0
94.6
100.0
1931_____________
1932_____________
1933_____________
1934_____________
1935_____________
73.0
64.8
65.9
74.9
80.0
89.0
89.5
85.6
98.2
1,428
1,411
1,409
1,471
1,469
108
112
108
110
110
626
532
501
473
537
79.1
70.3
61.8
63.6
65.1
January_________
February________
M a rc h ... ______
April____________
M a y _________ __
June. ...................
72.2
73.6
73.7
73.3
73.7
74.6
97.2
96.4
96.6
96.0
97.2
98.3
1,456
1,452
1,459
1,471
1,456
1,463
109
110
113
112
110
110
484
483
478
474
470
472
July____________
August___ ______
September. ______
October________
N o v em b er... . _
December_______
74.8
76.4
77.6
76.5
76.5
76.9
99.2
101.6
100.6
98.7
98.5
98.6
1,483
1,500
1,493
1,493
1,470
1,459
110
110
108
108
109
109
January_________
February________
March__________
April____________
M ay _______ ____
June_____ _______
78.8
79.5
79.4
80.1
80.2
79.8
97.7
96.8
97.1
96.6
96.5
96.1
1,459
1,451
1,443
1,444
1,458
1,466
July------------------August__________
September_______
October.. ____ _
N o v e m b e r ...___
December.. ___
79.4
80.5
80.7
80.5
80.6
80.9
95.6
95.7
96.6
98.5
98.5
98.7
80.6
80.6
79.6
79.7
78.6
79.2
80.5
98.9
97.9
96.4
96.2
96.0
Country__ _____
Base period
____
Austria Belgium Bulgaria Canada
D oit in
ion
Bureau
of
Statis
tics
Chile
China
National
General Tariff
Com
Statis
mission,
tical
Bureau Shang
hai
1926
1913
1926
( 100 )
( 100)
( 100 )
567 1
(Paper)
(Silver)
155 2
100.0
86 .6
195.5
192.4
166.
104.4
101.7
104.5
114.8
72.1
66.7
67.1
71.6
72.1
152.2
230.4
346.0
343.6
343.3
126.7
112.4
103.8
97.1
96.4
59.1
62.6
61.7
61.6
63.0
64.2
70.7
72.1
72.1
71.3
71.1
72.0
328.6
331.4
336.9
342.6
343.1
351.7
97.2
98.0
96.6
94.6
94.9
95.7
471
474
470
467
466
468
64.2
65.7
65.5
66.2
64.8
63.8
72.0
72.2
71.9
71.3
71.1
71.1
352.5
354.1
352.6
344.2
343.3
341.8
97.1
99.8
97.3
96.1
98.3
99.0
110
109
109
109
110
111
472
466
464
531
552
555
64.5
64.3
64.2
66.0
64.7
64.3
71.4
71.9
72.0
72.5
72.3
71.4
346.7
340.3
336.7
334.9
339.3
339.6
99.4
99.9
96.4
95.9
95.0
92.1
1,479
1,498
1,495
1,499
1,479
1,460
112
111
110
109
109
109
553
552
560
574
582
579
64.2
64.0
64.4
66.6
66.9
66.7
71.4
71.6
72.3
73.1
72.7
72.6
342.4
343.3
346. 2
348.7
351.5
350.1
90.5
91.9
91.1
94. 1
103.3
103.3
1,475
1,466
1,485
108
107
107
108
108
109
110
581
582
578
65.8
65.2
64.7
72.9
72.5
72.4
72.2
71.8
72.3
74.4
353.3
355.2
359.5
359.8
104.3
105.4
106.4
107.3
105.8
106.1
107.2
97.7
96.4
95.6
1934
1935
1936
January_________
February_______
M arch__________
April___ _______
M ay_______ ____
June...... ..................
July____ ________
1 Revised for commodities since January 1934.
2Quotations, 154 since January 1932.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
574
569
66.0
781
WHOLESALE PRICES
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign
Countries— Continued
Country
Czecho
_____ slovakia
D en
mark
Finland
France
Ger
many
India
Italy
Japan
Nether
lands
Central Statisti Central General Federal Depart
Bank of Central
Bureau cal D e Bureau Statisti Statisti ment, Riccardo Japan, Bureau,
Computing agency. of Sta
Bachi
of Sta
etc.,3
of Sta cal Bu cal Bu
part
Tokio
tistics,
reau Calcutta
tistics
reau
ment
tistics
July
Base period______ 1914(100)
Commodities.......
(Gold)
69
1931
(100)
1926
(100)
1913
(100)
1913
(100)
July
1914(100)
1913
(100)
161
120
(Paper)
126
400
72
(Paper)
140
October 1926-30
1900(100) (100)
56
269
(plus)
1926 ____________
1927 ___________
1928_____________
1929 ____________
1930 ____________
0
« 968. 0
<959.0
* 913. 0
118.6
143
134
134
132
114
100
101
102
98
90
695
642
645
627
554
134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
124.6
148
148
145
141
116
602.0
495.3
461.6
445.3
383.0
236.7
224.6
226.1
219.8
181.0
105.8
102.8
102.2
99.7
89.6
1931_____________
1932 ____________
1933_____________
1934 ____________
1935
107.5
99.5
96.3
83.9
85.9
100
103
110
119
122
84
90
89
90
90
502
427
398
376
338
110.9
96.5
93.3
98.4
101.8
96
91
87
89
91
328.4
303.7
279.5
273.0
153.0
161.1
179.5
177. 6
185.5
76.3
64. 6
62. 9
63.0
61.5,
Jan u ary
F e b ru a ry
TVTarch
Ap r i 1
TVTa y
June
94.6
94.3
«81. 1
«80.8
« 80. 2
«80.5
117
118
118
117
117
116
90
90
90
89
89
89
404
400
394
387
381
379
96.3
96.2
95.9
95.8
96. 2
97.2
90
89
88
89
90
90
275.7
274.6
275.2
273.1
272.6
272.2
175.5
177.5
176.3
176. 9
176.2
174.5
July
«85.1
« 83.9
«84.0
«83.8
«84.2
«84.2
117
121
123
123
123
122
89
90
90
90
90
90
373
370
365
357
356
344
98.9
100.1
100.4
101.0
101.2
101.0
89
89
89
89
88
88
269.8
271.4
269.9
271.8
274.1
275.9
174.1
176.9
179.2
181.8
181.1
181.1
January_______ _
February _____
March . ______
A p ril... ._
__
M ay. __________
June ___________
«84.5
« 85.1
«85.3
«84.9
« 85.7
« 86.1
122
122
119
120
120
120
90
90
90
90
90
90
350
343
335
336
340
330
101.1
100.9
100.7
100.8
100.8
101.2
94
90
87
88
91
91
277.2
278.4
288.3
296.1
302.3
307.8
181.5
184.1
183.5
182.3
182.4
180.2
61.7
61.6
60.6
60.9
60.9
60.9
July____________
August__________
September_______
«88.0
« 86.0
«85.9
«85.6
«86.2
«86.2
120
123
124
126
126
126
90
90
91
92
91
91
322
330
332
342
348
354
101.8
102.4
102.3
102.8
103.1
103.4
91
89
89
93
92
93
310.1
322.9
329.6
180.2
182.9
188.9
194.0
193.6
191.9
60.6
60.8
61.8
63.3
62.7
62.5
«86.7
«85.8
« 86. 0
« 85. 6
« 85. 7
« 85. 0
« 85.3
126
126
126
126
126
125
127
90
91
91
90
90
90
359
372
376
371
374
103.6
103.6
103.6
103.7
103. 8
104.0
92
91
91
92
90
90
91
191.8
191.0
190.7
192.4
192.4
193.6
197.4
62.4
62.0)
61.5
61. 1
61.0>
61.6
* 944.
1934
Aiignst.
S ep te m b er
O ctober
1935
O ctober
1936
Jan u ary
F e b ru a ry
M arch
April
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
Department of Commerical Intelligence and Statistics.
Paper revised.
New gold parity.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
782
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in the U nited States and in Foreign
Countries— Continued
Country.
New
Zealand Norway
revised
Computingagency.
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
Base period.
1909-13
1913
( 1 , 000 )
( 100)
( 100)
( 100)
Commodities.
180
95
(Paper)
58
238
(vari
able)
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1,553
1, 478
1,492
1,488
1,449
1931.
1932.
1933.
1934.
1935.
Centra]
Bureau
of Sta
tistics
Peru
Poland
South
Africa
Sweden
Switzer United
King
land
dom
Yugo
slavia
Centra]
Bank
of Re
serve
Central
Office
of Sta
tistics
Office
of Cen
sus and
Statis
tics
Board
of
Trade
Federal
Labor
Depart
ment
N a
tional
Bank
1910
1913
( 1, 000)
( 100)
July
1914
1913
1928
( 100)
203.2
160
77
96.3
85.5
1,387
1,395
1,354
1,305
1,155
149
146
148
140
175.1
170.3
180.2
188.1
188.8
74.6
65.5
59.1
55.8
53.1
1,119
1,032
1,047
1,143
1,066
111
109
107
114
116
57.8
57.6
57.3
56.8
56.0
55.8
1,193
112
123
123
123
186.8
186.6
184.1
187.4
187.8
189.8
1,171
113
113
114
91.8
91.4
90.9
89.6
89.0
89.0
1.336
1,342
1.337
1.338
1.340
1.338
124
127
126
127
126
125
188.8
191.4
190.9
187.9
187.0
185.3
55.9
55.8
55.0
54.4
53.6
53.4
1,102
114
114
114
114
115
115
89.8
89.1
89.6
89.4
89.0
January_________
February............
M arch__________
April____ _____ _
M ay__________ _
J u n e......... ...........
1,345
1,361
1.365
1,367
1.365
1,374
125
125
126
125
125
126
186.3
188.2
191.2
190.6
190.4
191.5
52.7
52.2
52.1
52.2
52.7
52.5
1,074
J u ly ____________
August__________
September..............
October_________
November_______
December_______
1,386
1,393
1.419
1,431
1.419
1,414
127
128
178
52.8
53.5
54.1
54.4
54.4
52.7
1,069
10
190.7
188.6
186.7
188.0
188. 1
189.3
1,405
1, 381
1,386
1,393
1,391
131
132
132
132
132
132
134
191.1
191,9
191.2
192.5
192. 1
191.3
52.1
52.2
52.1
53.0
53.7
53.8
202.6
191.9
185.7
178.0
100.0
1,346
1,297
1,308
1,330
1,385
122
122
January...................
February............ .
M arch....................
A pr.]......................
M a y .........................
J u n e ..................... .
1.336
1.339
1.340
1,332
1.340
1.337
120
July______ ____ _
August__________
September_______
October................
November_______
D ecem ber.............
124
127
1930
1926
( 100)
( 100)
200
157
149
137
122
Board
of
Trade
122
144.5
142.2
144.6
141.2
126.5
109.7
96.0
91.0
89.8
«
200
55
100.0
103.4
106.2
100.6
100.0
86.6
87.8
85.6
85.7
72.9
65.2
64.4
63.2
65.9
88.1
1934
122
122
112
112
1,109
87.7
87.2
87.9
62.9
63.6
63.3
63.0
64.1
65. 6
87.3
89.0
88.4
87. i
87.5
87.8
62.8
61.1
63.2
63.6
62.7
62.3
88.3
64.5
63.9
63.0
62.9
64.0
63.9
89.2
88.2
1935
130
131
1,080
115
115
115
115
115
116
88.3
87.6
86.4
87.1
116
115
115
117
118
118
91.4
92.2
93.3
92. 8
92.1
118
118
118
118
118
118
119
91.1
91.0
90.9
91.9
92.0
91.9
93.1
88.0
86.9
87.5
88.3
88.5
88.5
89.6
91.2
91.3
91.5
63.3
64.8
67.8
70.0
71.2
71.6
91.8
91.7
91.7
91.9
91.9
92. 6
93.6
71.1
70.0
70.0
69.1
67.0
65.4
65 6
88.1
1936
January_________
February________
March__________
A p ril...____ _____
M ay____________
June___________
Ju ly .............. ..........
6 Revised for commodities since January 1930.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,120
1,122
COST OF LIVING
M oney D isbursem ents o f Wage E arners and Clerical
W orkers in B oston and Springfield, Mass.1
HE general similarity of spending among employed wage earners and lower-salaried clerical workers in large cities in different
parts of the United States becomes increasingly apparent as more
figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ study of the current
expenditures of this group become available.2
Within this general similarity, however, there are significant dif
ferences in the averages from city to city. They are due in part to
differences in costs from one city to another and in part to variations
in average size of family and average income, in the physical situa
tion of the cities studied, in State and municipal regulations affect
ing consumer purchasing, and in the traditions of their workers.
Changes in the distribution of expenditure with changes in eco
nomic level among the Boston and Springfield families studied are
similar to those shown for the families in the cities for which reports
have previously been published. The percentage spent for food
declines rapidly with increase in consumption level. The percentage
spent for clothing, housing, household operation, personal care, and
community welfare, remains virtually unchanged. The percentage
spent for furnishings and equipment, transportation, medical care,
and gifts and contributions to persons outside the family, increases
significantly with the consumption level of the family. The per
centage spent for education is irregular depending on the number
and age of the children in each group.
1 Piepared by the Bureau’s Cost of Living Division, Faith M. Williams, chief. The field work in Mass achusetts was supervised by Alice C. Hanson, assistant chief of the Division, assisted in Boston by Esther
C. Nelson, and in Springfield by M. Eileen Leach, both of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey in
Boston was made in cooperation with the Consumers’ Council of Suffolk County, Margaret Wiesman,
chairman; and the Boston Emergency Relief Administration, Col. T. F. Sullivan, administrator.
The following persons constituted an informal advisory committee for the purpose of assisting the Bureau
in solving problems connected with the selection of the sample: Elliott Boardman, Federal Reserve Bank
of Boston; Theodore Brown, Harvard University, School of Business; Mary A. Clapp, Research Bureau,
Boston Council of Social Agencies; W. L. Crum, Harvard University, Department of Economics and
School of Business; Elizabeth Gilboy, Harvard University, Economic Research Committee; Roswell F.
Phelps, Director of Statistics, Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries; and Sumner H.
Slichter, Harvard University, Depart mem of Economics.
The survey in Springfield was made in cooperation with the Economics Department of M ount Holyok c
College, Prof. Am y Hewes, chairman; the County Consumers’ Council of Hampden-Hampshire Coun
ties, Mrs. James A. Seaman, chairman: and the Springfield Emergency Relief Administration.
2 Previous reports on the study of expenditures of wage earners and lower-salaried workers will be found
in the following issues of the M onthly Labor Review: March 1936 (pp. 654-663); April 1936 (pp. 889-894);
M ay 1936 (pp. 1457-1464); and June 1936 (pp. 1744-1753).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
783
784
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
Table 1.— Annual Current Expenditures a t Different Consumption Levels, White
Families in Boston and Springfield, Mass., 1934-35
Families with specified annual expenditures per
consumption unit in—
Boston
Item
Springfield
$300
$400
$500
$600
Under and
and
and
and
$300 under under under under
$400
$500
$600
$700
$700
and
over
Under
$450
Number of families - . ___
95
100
117
85
51
68
117
Average number of members in economic
fam ily___
_ __ _
6.06
4. 44
3.85
3.44
2. 77
2. 35
4.67
Average number of consumption units per
family. _ . . .
_____
5.35
3.98
3.48
3.18
2.58
2.24
4. 25
Average total current expenditure.
$1,323 $1, 388 $1, 559 $1, 728 $1, 661 $1,943 $1,393
$450
and
over
131
2.93
2.73
$1, 706
Percentage distribution
^Expenditure for—
Food . _________
C lo th in g ____ ________
H ousing............
Household operation ____________
Furnishings and equipment____ . _
Transportation_________
Personal care.. . ________ _ _
M edical care
... _
Recreation______ ____ ____
Education__ _____ _
V ocation_____ _
Community welfare ______
Gifts and contributions to persons outside the family ___
Miscellaneous items___
. . . . ...
Total current expenditure_______ _
42.9
9.5
20.1
12.8
1. 2
3.9
1. 7
1.7
3.6
.5
.2
1.3
39.0
9.4
20.5
13.4
1.9
4.5
1.7
3.0
4.0
.2
JJ
1.4
36.9
10.2
19.4
12.6
2.6
5.1
1.8
3.2
4.7
.5
.3
1.3
33.8
9.5
2Q. 7
13.0
3. 1
5.1
1.5
3.8
4.9
.7
.2
1.6
30.8
10.5
21.0
12.0
3.4
7.5
1.6
3.4
5.2
.4
.4
1.6
29.0
10.1
20.8
12.0
3.7
8.9
1. 7
3.4
5.1
.3
.5
1.5
39.4
10.7
18.1
12.4
2.3
4.8
1.9
3.1
4.2
.3
.2
1.5
31.9
10.0
18.3
12.0
3.4
8. 5
1.9
4. 3
5.1
.5
.3
1.6
.5
.1
.6
.1
.9
.5
1.6
.5
1.6
.6
2.4
.6
.9
.2
1. 7
.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Average distribution of expenditures is shown in table 1 for the
516 families studied in Boston at 6 levels of consumption and for the
248 families studied in Springfield at 2 levels of consumption. In
order to take account of the effect on the distribution of family ex
penditures of differences in the amount of the total fund available
for current expenditures, and the number, age, sex, and occupation
of the persons dependent on that fund, the families studied have been
classified by annual expenditure per consumption unit. Classifica
tion by the total expenditures of the family without regard to the
number and type of consumers sharing the goods purchased would
be confusing, as economic level necessarily depends on the number of
consumers in the family as well as on the total amount spent. For
example, a family of 2 adults, a father in factory work and a mother
at home, and 2 children, with an income of $1,500, may save $50
during the year, spending $1,450 for consumers’ goods, and will have
relative freedom in spending, at a level of $401 per consumption unit.
On the other hand another family with an income of $1,500, but with
8 members, including a father in factory work, a mother at home, a
sister in clerical work, and 5 children, also saving $50 in the year and
spending $1,450 for consumers’ goods, will be considerably cramped
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
785
COST OF LIVING
in its spending at a level of $208 per consumption unit. The relative
demand of each individual in the family is figured on a composite
basis, which was described in the Monthly Labor Review for
March 1936.
Expenditure for Transportation
T h e distribution of average annual expenditures by the groups
studied in the two cities, shown in table 2, brings out the fact that
Boston families are devoting 5.7 percent of their total current expendi
tures to transportation, and Springfield families, 6.9 percent. These
figures are considerably lower than the averages for the families
studied in the two Michigan cities of comparable size. The Detroit
families spent on the average 10.7 percent of their total expenditures
for transportation, the Grand Rapids families, 11 percent.
Table 2.—-Annual Current Expenditure, W hite Families in Boston and
Springfield, Mass., 1934—35
Item
Boston
Number of families studied .
______ ___ ____
Average number of members in economic family___ .
Average number of consumption units per family____
Average total current expenditures____ . _______
516
4.00
3.62
$1,571
Springfield
248
3. 75
3. 45
$1,559
Percentage distribution
Expenditure for—
Food_ ___________________ _____________ _____
Clothing______________ __________
- _ _ ..
______
H o u sin g ____ ______ _
Household operation. __ _
___ _ _ ____
_______ __ .
Furnishings and equipment
Transportation- _ _ ___ _ - _____ _ ___
Personal care___
.
. _ .
Medical care. ___
__
_____ _ ______ .
R e c r e a tio n -..____ _ _______ - - - - - - Education -. ________ _ ____ .
___
Vocation __ __________ .. -_ __ . .
_ ___
Community welfare .
_ __ ___ . .
Gifts and contributions to persons outside the family.
Miscellaneous it e m s ___ - . ________ __ _ _ -Total current expenditure________ -
- ____
35.7
9.9
20.3
12. 7
2.6
5.7
1.7
3.1
4. 5
.4
.3
1.5
1.2
.4
35.0
10.3
18.2
12.1
3.0
6.9
1.9
3.8
4.7
.4
.3
1.6
1.4
.4
100.0
100.0
The relatively low percentage spent for transportation in these two
cities is immediately connected with the relatively small percentage of
families owning automobiles. The average annual expenditure for
transportation by families owning automobiles was $268 in Boston
and $216 in Springfield, as compared with $60 for the Boston families
and $43 for the Springfield families not owning automobiles. Appar
ently families owning automobiles actually travel a good deal more
than families not owning automobiles, either to and from work, for
shopping or other family business, or for pleasure. No attempt
was made to secure data on the division of automobile expense among
the various purposes for which the car is used. Most families do not
88869— 36------ 16
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
786
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
keep account of expenditures for the family automobile in terms of
the uses to which the car is put, and it was decided that estimated
figures on this subject would be of little value.
The proportion of families owning automobiles was 14.3 percent
among the group studied in Boston, and 37.1 percent among those
studied in Springfield (table 3). In Detroit the proportion was 68.3
percent and in Grand Rapids 75.4 percent.
Table 3.— Ownership of Automobiles by Families at Different Consumption
Levels, in Boston and Springfield, Mass., 1934—35
Families purchasing cars in the year covered
City, and annual expenditure per
consumption unit
Boston:
Under $300__________________
$300 and under $400 _________
$400 and under $500__ _______
$500 and under $600__________
$600 and under $700__________
$700 and over.
____________
T otal_______________ ____
N um
ber of
fami
lies
r amines
owning cars
New cars
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
95
100
117
85
51
68
4
8
14
11
14
23
4.2
8.0
12.0
12. 9
27.5
33.8
Second-hand
cars
Total
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
0
0
0
0
1
1
2.0
1.5
1
1
3
2
1
6
1.0
1.0
2.6
2.4
2.0
8.8
1
1
3
2
2
7
1. 0
1.0
2. 6
2. 4
3.9
10.3
Per
cent
516
74
14.3
2
.4
14
2.7
16
3.1
Springfield:
Under $450__________________
$450 and over _ _____________
117
131
29
63
24. 8
48. 1
0
3
2.3
4
8
3.4
6. 1
4
11
3.4
8.4
T otal_____________________
248
92
37. 1
3
1.2
12
4.8
15
6.0
There are several reasons for the relatively low proportion of families
with automobiles among the group studied in the Boston area. In the
first place it is an old and densely settled community. The area in
cluded in the Boston survey covered the district within the city limits,
and the suburbs of Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Somerville,
Medford, Arlington and Cambridge. In this entire area there is a
population density of 15,593 persons per square mile as compared with
11,738 persons per square mile in the area covered by the Detroit
study (the incorporated cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland
Park). Parking an automobile in the streets overnight is not allowed
within the Boston city limits although it is legal in many other cities,
and garage rents are necessarily expensive because of the high land
values in the city. In addition, rates for public liability insurance are
relatively high in Boston and such insurance has been compulsory in
Massachusetts since 1928. Separate figures on the expense for this
type of insurance are not available, as many families have policies
combining automobile insurance of several types. Average expendi
tures for automobile insurance of all types by families having auto
mobiles was $54 for Boston, $40 for Springfield, and $6 for Detroit
where public liability insurance for owners of automobiles is not
required by law, and many owners do not carry such insurance.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
COST OF LIVING
787
Expenditures for Formal Education
T h e percentage of total expenditures devoted to formal education
is exactly the same in the two cities, 0.4 percent, a proportion slightly
smaller than the proportion spent for education by this group in all
but one of the large cities for which figures are available so far, 0.6
percent in both Detroit and Grand Rapids, 0.6, 0.5, and 0.4 percent
in Richmond, Birmingham, and New Orleans.
However, the percentage of families with children 18 years old ard
over continuing their education after high school is higher among the
families studied in Boston than among those in Springfield. There
were 161 families in the Boston sample, including children 18 years
of age and over, and of these 29 or 18.0 percent included children
continuing their education beyond high school. The number of
families including children 18 years of age or over in the Springfield
sample was 68, and 7 of them or 10.3 percent included children con
tinuing education beyond high school. A similar but smaller dif
ference between the samples studied in the two cities appears in the
number and percentage of children having completed high school.
The percentage of families with children 18 years of age and over,
which include children having completed high school, is 65.2 percent
in Boston and 50.0 percent in Springfield. The percentage of families
having children 18 years of age and over in clerical workers’ families
having finished high school was considerably higher than the per
centage of families in which a wage earner was the head of the fam
ily—75.0 percent as compared with 60.6 percent in Boston; 72.7
percent as compared with 45.6 percent in Springfield.
The percentage of families, with children over 18 years of age, who
had children continuing their education beyond high school is 15.7
percent for Detroit and 15.4 percent for Grand Rapids. It would
appear that children in the families of wage earners and lower-salaried
clerical workers in Boston are making good use of the exceptionally
large number of educational institutions in the Boston area.
The Families Studied
T h e study of the money disbursements of wage earners and lowersalaried clerical workers in these two Massachusetts cities forms a
part of the nation-wide survey made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
for the purpose of revising its cost-of-living indexes. It covers
average expenditures of the families of employed workers in Boston
and Springfield, Mass., in the year ending February 28, 1935. The
families studied were carefully selected to represent a cross section
of the families of employed white wage earners and lower-salaried
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
788
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
clerical workers in the two cities. All the families included had one
or more workers who worked a minimum of 1,008 hours in at least
36 w'eeks during the year.6 Since the data were being obtained
primarily for the purpose of providing a basis for indexes of living
costs, it was important that they should not reflect the distorted
spending of families whose incomes had been abnormally low or
irregular. On that account no data were included from, families
whose incomes were under $500 a year or from, families who received
relief during the year (table 4).
The number of persons in the families from, which complete figures
on receipts and. disbursements were secured averaged. 4.00 in Boston
and. 3.75 in Springfield, as com.pared. with, a median size for all white
families of two persons or more of 3.75 persons for Boston and 3.46
for Springfield, as shown by the census of 1930. The number of
workers in these families who were gainfully employed at some time
during the year covered by the investigation averaged 1.36 in Boston
and 1.46 in Springfield. The average size of families of two or more
persons on the relief rolls in Boston in May 1934 was exactly the same
as the average size of the families in the group of employed, workers
studied. In Springfield the size of white relief families was not avail
able for May 1934; the average for October 1933 was somewhat higher
than the average for the families of employed white workers studied
for the year 1934-35. In the year covered by the data secured for
the employed families, 21.5 percent of the white families in Boston
and 19.2 percent of those in Springfield were on the relief rolls in
February 1935, the month in the period covered when relief was at
its height.
Table 4.—Annual Income and Expenditure of Families in Boston and Springfield,
Mass., 1934-35
Item
Boston
area i
Population, 1930____________________________ ____
1, 386, 654
210,000
516
4.00
3. 62
1. 36
$1, 573
$1,302
$1,571
248
3. 75
3.45
1.46
$1, 565
$1, 270
$1, 559
Number of families studied_____________
_____
Average number of members in economic fa m ily ........Average number of consumption units per family____
Average number of gainful workers per family_______
Average net income of family_______________________
Average earnings of chief earner
............... ....................
Average expenditure per family_____________________
Springfield
area2
1 Includes the incorporated city of Boston, and the suburbs of Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Somer
ville, Medford, Arlington, and Cambridge.
2 Includes Springfield, West Springfield, and Chicopee.
6 An exception was made in the case of families in which the chief earner was employed in an industry
distinctly seasonal. Such families were included if the chief earner had employment for 316 8-hour days
in each of 30 weeks.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
COST OF LIVING
789
Housing Facilities
As i n the other cities for which reports are available, the figures for
Boston and Springfield show a general improvement in housing facili
ties as current expenditures per consumption unit increase (table
5). Boston is the first city, for which the figures have been sum
marized thus far, to show every family from which information was
secured as having a flush toilet inside the family dwelling.
The figures for home owners show more irregularity as regards
housing facilities than the figures for renters, partly because of the
relatively small number of cases and partly because, apparently, a
family buying a home may be willing for the sake of having an invest
ment in a home to sacrifice facilities which renters at the same eco
nomic level demand. For example, a smaller percentage of the home
owners in the expenditure-per-consumption-unit group $400 and
under $500 have running hot water inside their dwellings, electric
lights, and mechanical refrigerators than the renters at the same level.
On the other hand, a higher percentage of the home owners in this
group have gas or electricity for cooking, telephones, and central
heating than those in the corresponding group of renters.
In Springfield there is a definite tendency for the families studied
to accept somewhat less complete equipment as home owners than
as renters.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
790
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Table 5 .— Household Facilities and E quipm ent of Renters and Home Owners at
Different Consumption Levels, in Boston and Springfield, Mass., 1934-35
B o s to n
Renters
Families with annual expenditure per consumption
unit of-
Equipment
$300
$400
$500
$600
Under and
and
and
and
$300 under under under under
$400
$500
$600
$700
Number of families__________________ ____ ______
80
Percent of families having—
Inside flush toilets___________________ ______ _ 100.0
Running hot water inside dwelling___________
75.0
Electric lights______________________________
98.8
Gas or electric cooking fuel. __________ _____ _ 75.0
Mechanical refrigerators____ ________________
0
Ice refrigerators_____________________________
96.3
No refrigerators______________ ______ ■_______
3.7
T e le p h o n e ..________________ ___________
10.0
Central h e a tin g ____ _ ___________ ____ _
35.0
Inside flush toilets, running hot water inside
dwelling, electric lights, and gas or electricity
as kitchen fuel____________________________
57.5
and
fami“
lies
85
93
62
43
51
414
100.0
81.2
98.8
80.0
4. 7
94.1
1.2
9.4
51.8
100.0
81.7
98.9
84.9
14.0
86.0
0
17.2
65.6
100.0
91.9
100.0
93.5
' 29.0
72.6
0
38.7
75.8
100.0
90.7
97.7
93.0
34.9
65.1
0
37.2
86.0
100.0
94.1
100.0
100. 0
52.9
47.1
0
62.7
94.1
100.0
84.3
99.0
86.0
' 18.6
80. 7
1.0
25.1
64.0
67.1
69.9
85.5
83.7
94.1
73.7
Home owners
Number of families_______________________ _____
Percent of families having—
Inside flush toilets _ ______________________
Running hot water inside dwelling. '._________
Electric lights____ ____ ____ _________________
Gas or electric cooking fuel .
____
___
Mechanical refrigerators_____________________
Ice refrigerators__________________________
No refrigerators___________________________
Telephone..
________ ____ _____ _
Central heating__ _______ ____ ______
Inside flush toilets, running hot water inside
dwelling, electric lights, and gas or electricity
as kitchen fuel_______________________ .
15
15
24
23
8
17
102
100.0
86.7
100.0
80.0
13.3
86.7
0
33.3
80.0
100.0
93.3
86.7
100.0
40.0
60.0
0
33.3
80.0
100.0
79.2
95.8
95.8
' 8.3
95.8
0
58.3
91.7
100.0
91.3
1C0.0
95.7
26.1
73.9
0
43.5
91.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
37. 5
62.5
0
75.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
47.1
52.9
0
88. 2
100.0
100.0
90.2
97. 1
95.1
' 26. 5
74.5
0
53.9
90. 2
73.3
86.7
75.0
82.6
100.0
100.0
84.3
S p r in g fie ld
Equipment
Renters
Home owners
Expenditure
per consump
tion unit
Expenditure
per consump
tion unit
All families
Rent Home
ers
owners
Under $450 and Under $450 and
$450
over
$450
over
Number of families__________________________
Percent of families having—
Inside flush toilets________________ _____
Running, hot water inside dwelling____________
Electric lights____ _
_____________
Gas or electric cooking fuel___________________
Mechanical refrigerators________________ .
Ice refrigerators _______________________
No refrigerators__________________________
Telephone______________________________
Central heating_______ _______________
Inside flush toilets, running hot water inside
dwelling, electric lights, and gas or electricity as
kitchen fuel...........................................................
86
96
31
35
182
66
100.0
69.8
97 7
91.9
14.0
82.5
3.5
17.4
59.3
100.0
86.5
97 Q
92.7
30.2
67.7
2.1
36.5
82.3
96.8
83.9
97. 1
94.3
100.0
78. 6
97. 0
89.4
64.5
3.2
93.5
3.2
19.4
80.6
91. 4
42.8
54.3
2.9
77.1
94.3
92. 3
22. 5
74. 7
2. 7
27.5
71. 4
78 8
24. 2
72. 7
3. 0
50 0
87 9
68.6
83.3
51.6
85.7
76.4
69.7
'Includes 1 family with both electric and ice refrigerators.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
791
COST OF LIVING
Radios
percent of the families studied in Boston and 77 per
cent of those studied in Springfield had radios (table 6). On the
other hand, 6 percent of the Boston families purchased radios during
the year, as compared with 9 percent of the Springfield families. The
percentage owning and buying radios is somewhat higher at the
upper expenditure levels than at the lower, but the percentages are
irregular.
E ig h t y - s e v e n
Table 6.— Ownership of Radios a t Different Consumption Levels in Boston and
Springfield, Mass., 1934-35
Families own
ing radios
City and annual expenditure
per consumption unit
N um
ber of
fami
lies
N um
ber
Families purchasing radios in the year
covered
N ew radios
Per
cent
Second-hand
radios
Total
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
Boston:
Under $300_________________
$300 and under $400__________
$400 and under $500__________
$500 and under $600__________
$600 and under $700__________
$700 and over............. ....................
95
100
117
85
51
68
77
87
96
91
43
63
81.1
87.0
82.1
95.3
84.3
92.6
5
8
5
5
1
6
5. 3
8.0
4.3
5.9
2.0
8.8
0
0
1
0
0
0
0.9
5
8
6
5
1
6
5. 3
8. 0
5.2
5.9
2.0
8.8
T otal_____ __________ ____ _
516
447
86.6
30
5.8
1
.2
31
6.0
Springfield:
Under $450__________________
$450 and over.................................
117
131
86
106
73.5
80.9
7
12
6.0
9.2
1
1
.9
.8
8
13
6.8
9.9
T otal...........................................
248
192
77.4
19
7.7
2
.8
21
8.5
Savings
I n f o r m a t io n on additions to and withdrawals from savings and
on increases and decreases in liabilities was obtained from all the
families interviewed. In both Boston and Springfield about onethird of the families reported net decrease in assets or net increase in
liabilities or both (see table 7). It is of some interest to note that in
both cities a higher percentage of the families in the upper expendi
ture groups reported net withdrawals from savings or net increase in
liabilities.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
792
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Table 7.—Annual Savings and Deficits Among W hite Families in Boston and
Springfield, Mass., 1934-35
C ity and annual expenditure per con
sumption unit
Boston:
Under $300_________ ____ ___________
$300 and under $400----------------------- _
$400 and under $500 ___ ____________
$500 and under $600 ______ . __ _
$600 and under $700________________
$700 and over............ .................... .............
Total________________ _________
Number of
families
Families having net
decrease in assets or
net increase in liabil
ities or both
Families having net
increase in assets or
net decrease in liabil
ities or both
Number
Number
Percent
Percent
95
100
117
85
51
68
30
23
36
32
31
28
31.6
23.0
30.8
37.6
41.2
41.2
59
69
79
52
30
36
62.1
69.0
67.5
61. 2
58.8
52.9
i 516
170
32.9
325
63.0
Springfield:
Under $450________________________
$450 and over____ _______________ .
117
131
33
44
28.2
33.6
74
83
63.2
63.4
T otal______________________ _____
248
77
31.0
157
63.3
1 For 21 families there was no change.
Cost of L iving o f Federal Employees Living in
W ashington, D. C.
HE average cost of the goods purchased by Federal employees
and their families living in Washington, D.C., increased gradually
from March 1933 until January 1936 and then dropped between
January and April 1936. Indexes of all items purchased by all
groups of employees, based on costs in the first 6 months of 1928 as
100, increased from 82.7 in March 1933 to 88.5 on January 15, 1936,
then dropped to 87.8 on April 15, 1936.
The study on which these figures are based was conducted by pric
ing a list of the goods most important in the spending of Federal
employees and their families in the first 6 months of 1928 as de
termined by a study of the expenditures of 336 families of Federal
employees and 123 single individuals made in the fall of 1933.1
Indexes have been prepared for four groups, as well as for all groups
combined, three groups of families including those of custodial em
ployees with basic salaries less than $2,500, other employees with
basic salaries less than $2,500, and employees with basic salaries of
$2,500 and over, and employees living as single individuals. The
following tables present these indexes for the several groups of Fed
eral employees and for each of the major groups of items purchased
by them.
T
1 Details of this study were presented in articles which appeared in the March and July 1934 issues of the
M onthly Labor Review (pp. 511 and 213).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
793
COST OF LIVING
Indexes of Cost of Goods Purchased by Federal Employees in W ashington, D. C.,
M arch 1933 to April 15, 1936
| First 6 months of 1928=100]
A l l e m p lo y e e s
Group
March Decem
June
ber
1934
1933
1933
Nov.
15,
1934
Mar.
15,
1935
July
15,
1935
Oct.
15,
1935
Jan.
15,
1936
Apr.
15,
1936
All items________________
82.7
85.0
86.4
87.3
88.0
87.8
88.2
88.5
87.8
Food __________________
C lothing.-. ______ _______
Housing_________________
Household operation_____
Furnishings and equipmentTransportation___
...
Personal care____________
Medical care_____________
Recreation. - __________
Formal education.. .
Life in su ra n ce.._________
Retirement f u n d . ______
70.9
67.0
91.6
87.2
71.3
87.7
89.9
96.0
91.4
107.8
105.3
100.0
72.8
83.5
87.9
88.0
87.3
88.6
88.5
95.9
91.9
108.1
105.5
100.0
75.5
84.7
88.2
86.5
91.3
92. 2
85.2
96.0
94.3
108.1
106.1
100.0
78.6
84.7
88.8
88.0
91. 2
90.6
82.9
96.9
92.2
108.2
106.1
100.0
81.9
83.2
88.8
86.8
91.1
91.2
82.6
97.2
91.7
108.2
106. 7
100.0
82.0
82.9
89.0
84.4
91.2
91.1
82.4
97.1
91.3
108.4
107.4
100.0
82.5
83.0
89.3
86.6
92.4
90.6
82.0
97.0
91.3
108.5
107.4
100.0
82.4
83.6
89.7
86.5
■ 93.6
91.8
81.3
96.6
91.4
108.5
108.3
100.0
79.8
83.5
89.9
85.8
94.0
92.4
81.3
96.5
91.4
108.5
107.9
100.0
E m p lo y e e s liv in g i n f a m i l y g r o u p s
Custodial employees with basic salaries of less than $2,500
All item s...
____________
Food.. _________________
Clothing._____________ . .
Housing_________________
Household operation _____
Furnishings and equipmentTransportation________ .
Personal care ____
Medical care
. .
.. _
Recreation.. ___________
Formal e d u c a tio n ..._____
_____ . .
Life insurance
Retirement fund_________
78.8
82.8
84.0
85.6
87.3
87.0
87.8
87.5
86.1
64.8
65.5
90.4
87.5
70.1
93. 1
92.0
98.4
94.4
110.1
105. 3
100.0
69.6
85.0
88. 1
88.5
87.3
94.8
93.1
97.9
94.4
110.1
105. 5
100.0
72.4
88.6
87.5
86.1
91.2
96.9
86.6
98.2
97.4
110.1
106.1
100.0
76.7
87.8
87.2
88.3
91.0
97.4
82.6
98.4
96.8
110.1
106.1
100.0
81.9
87.0
87.2
87.3
90.9
99.6
82.1
98.4
95.6
110.1
106.7
100.0
81.9
86.7
87.9
83.0
91.1
99.3
81.8
98.4
95.4
110.1
107.4
100.0
83.3
86.9
87.9
85.8
92.4
98.2
81.2
98.2
95.2
110.1
107.4
100.0
82.3
87.3
87.9
85.7
93.8
99.1
80.3
97.5
95.4
110.1
108.3
100.0
78.6
86.9
88.0
85.3
94.3
99.7
80.4
97.5
95.3
110.1
107.9
100.0
Other employees with basic salaries of less than $2,500
All items____ __________
82.1
84.7
86.3
87.1
87.9
87.9
88.1
88.4
87.6
Food_______ ___________
Clothing
_ _ . . . ______
Housing_________________
Household operation_____
Furnishings and equipmentTransportation___________
Personal care____________
Medical care__________ _
Recreation _.
_________
Formal education________
Life insurance.. ________
Retirement fund_________
68. 7
66.7
92.1
87.2
71.5
86.5
89.4
95.7
91.3
108.1
105.3
100.0
71.6
83.2
88.4
88.0
87.3
88.0
87.8
95.8
91.7
108.7
105.5
100.0
75.5
84.6
88.6
86.5
91.2
91.8
84.2
96.0
93.8
108.7
106.1
100.0
78.0
84. 7
89.0
88.0
91.1
90.4
81.9
97.0
92.0
108.8
106.1
100.0
81.7
83.0
89.1
86.8
90.9
91.0
81.6
97.3
91.4
108.8
106.7
100.0
82.6
82.7
89.2
84.5
91.0
90.8
81.5
97.2
91.0
109.1
107.4
100.0
82.5
82.8
89.6
86.4
92.2
90.3
81.1
97.1
91.0
109.3
107.4
100.0
82.0
83.4
90.4
86.3
93.4
91.6
80.4
96.7
91.1
109.3
108.3
100.0
79.1
83.3
90.7
85.8
93.7
92.3
80.3
96.7
91.1
109.3
107.9
100. 0
Other employees with basic salaries of $2,500 and over
All ite m s... _____________
F o o d .. . ___ _____________
Clothing______
___ . . .
Housing—
. -------------Household operation.. . .
Furnishings and equipmentTransportation______ . . .
Personal care______ . . . .
Medical care_______ . . .
Recreation_______________
Formal e d u c a tio n ..._____
Life insurance____ . .
Retirement fund...................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
82.0
67.9
67.3
91.5
85.8
71.3
84.4
90.6
95.7
89.9
107.1
105.3
100.0
84.7
70.6
83.9
88.0
86.5
87.2
86.4
89.7
95.3
90.3
107.1
105.5
100.0
86.1
87.4
88.1
87.5
88.2
88.7
87.8
72.7
85.1
88.9
85.1
91.3
90.7
86.5
95.5
93.3
107.1
106.1
100.0
77.4
85.2
89.7
86.9
91.2
88.1
83.9
96.3
91.2
107.2
106.1
100.0
80.7
83.8
89.7
85.6
91.1
88.7
83.7
96.6
90.8
107.2
106.7
100.0
79.5
83.5
90.0
83.2
91.2
88.6
83.5
96.4
90.3
107.2
107.4
100.0
80.8
83.6
90.2
85.9
92.4
88.1
83.1
96.3
90.3
107.3
107.4
100.0
81.5
84. 1
90.7
85.7
93.6
89.6
82.3
95.9
90.4
107.3
108.3
100.0
78.4
84.0
91.0
84.7
93.8
90.1
82.3
95.9
90.4
107.3
107.9
100.0
794
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
Indexes of Cost of Goods Purchased by Federal Employees in W ashington, D. C.,
March 1933 to April 15, 1936— Continued
E m p lo y e e s l i v i n g a s s in g le i n d i v i d u a ls
Group
All items_________ . _
Food„_ _____________
Clothing_____________
Housing_______________
Household operation_____
Furnishings and equipmentTransportation.._____
Personal care______
Medical care. . . .
Recreation
. _
Formal education___
Life insurance____________
Retirement fu n d ...
March Decem June
ber
1933
1934
1933
Nov.
15,
1934
Mar.
15,
1935
July
15,
1935
Oct.
15,
1935
Jan.
15,
1936
Apr.
15,
1936
88.3
88.0
88.6
88.8
88.9
88.9
88.9
89.0
89.0
86.5
67.9
90.7
94.7
70.2
98.4
89.2
96.2
93.1
108.1
105.3
100.0
82.4
82.6
85.8
95.2
87.9
94.6
86.9
96.5
93.7
108.1
105.5
100.0
83.1
82.4
85.9
94.9
92.7
96.3
85.3
96.6
95.7
108.7
106.1
100.0
83.9
82.4
86.9
94.9
93.2
95.7
83.8
97.7
92.8
108.8
106.1
ICO.O
85.0
80.9
86.8
93.1
93.4
96.0
83.6
98.0
92.5
108.8
106.7
100.0
85.2
80.6
86.9
93.0
93.6
95.8
83.4
97.8
92.1
109.1
107.4
100.0
85.3
80.7
86.8
93.3
95.3
95.6
83. 1
97.7
92.1
109.3
107.4
100.0
85.4
81.5
86.1
93.3
96.6
96.1
82.5
97.4
92.2
109.3
108.3
100.0
85.3
81.5
86.4
92.4
97.4
96. 5
82.5
97.4
92.2
1C9.3
107.9
100.0
Cost o f L iving o f W orking-Class Fam ilies in Mexico C ity
HE household account books kept by 281 working-class families
in Mexico City from July 9 to September 9, 1934, revealed that
the average family income was 22.42 pesos 1 per week, and the
expenditures 21.96 pesos, leaving a surplus of 0.46 peso.
The 281 families included 1,443 persons (631 males and 812
females), of whom 868 were over 15 years of age and 575 were under
that age. Of the average family income, 88.2 percent was derived
from labor of members of the family and 11.8 percent from other
sources, including loans and credit. Of the weekly expenditure the
two largest items were 56.4 percent for food and 9.7 percent for
housing. The investigation which disclosed these facts was made
by the General Statistical Office of Mexico.2
T
Composition of Family
F a m il ie s of from four to six persons each were selected, with the
cooperation of the workers’ unions and the employers, from among
workers employed in 32 industrial enterprises in Mexico City; selec
tion was made in such a way as to assure, as far as possible, the
inclusion of a suitable number of skilled, semiskilled, and unskilled
workers in each wage group.
The average number of persons per family was 5.14 as compared
with 5.15 persons per family in the Federal District, as shown by the
census of 1930. According to the American scale of adult equivalents,
which was the standard adopted, there were 1,127.75 consumption
units or an average of 4.01 units per family.
1 Average exchange rate for Mexican peso, July-September 1934=27.74 cents.
2 Mexico, Secretaria de la Economía Nacional, Revista de Economía y Estadística, November 1934 (pp.
20-23): El costo de la vida de la clase obrera, by Federico Bach; and El Trimestre Económico, vol. 2, no. 5
(pp. 12-49), Mexico, 1935: Un estudio del costo de la vida, by Federico Bach.
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COST OF LIVING
Source of Income
F o r purposes of the investigation the economic head of the family
was defined as the chief source of its support. Of the 281 legal heads
of families 185 were also economic heads, while 96 were not. Women
were found to be legal heads in 111 and economic heads in 105 families.
The sources of family income are shown in table 1, from which it
appears that 88.2 percent of the income was derived directly from
wages and 11.8 percent from other sources, including loans and credit.
The largest item, 65.4 percent, was from the wages of the economic
head of the family, while the next largest was 17.3 percent from the
wages of other members of the family.
Table 1.—Sources of Income of 281 Working-Class Families in Mexico City
[Average exchange rate of peso, July-September 1934=27.74 cents]
Families with specified
source of income
Average weekly
income
Source of income
Number
Percent
Percent of
total income
Amount
P esos
Total income............................................................. _..........
281
100.0
22.42
100.0
Income from wages________________________________
Wages of economic head________________________
Regular___________________________________
Supplementary_____ ____________________
Wages of other members of fam ily______________
Income from other sources_________________________
Outside sources___ - ________ _______ _____ ___
Loans, credit, etc______________________________
281
281
281
86
145
139
54
111
100.0
100.0
100.0
30.6
51. 2
49. 5
19.2
39.5
19.78
15.89
14. 66
1. 24
3.88
2.64
.89
1.75
88. 2
70. 9
65. 4
5. 5
17 3
11.8
4.0
7.8
Table 2 shows for the 281 families, classified by type of work done
by the economic head, the number of persons in the family working
for wages. While in 60.9 percent of the skilled workers’ families only
one person worked, in only 37.8 percent of the unskilled workers’
families was this true. On the other hand, while only 7.3 percent of
the skilled workers’ families had three persons working for wages, this
was true in 15.5 percent of the families of unskilled workers. The
semiskilled workers showed a tendency intermediate between those
of the skilled and the unskilled workers.
Table 2.— D istribution of Families by Number of Wage Earners in Family and
by Type of Work Done by Economic Head
Families
Families whose economic heads were classed as—
Number of wage earners
in family
Skilled workers
Semiskilled
workers
Unskilled
workers
Number Percent
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All families___ ____ _______
281
100.0
110
100.0
126
100.0
45
100.0
1 person. ..................................
2 persons________________ _
3 persons___ ____ _________
150
104
27
53.4
37.0
9.6
67
35
8
60.9
31.8
7.3
66
48
12
52. 4
38.1
9.5
17
21
7
37.8
46.7
15.5
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
A distribution of the families according to the weekly wages of
the economic head of the family is shown in table 3, from which it
appears that the most common income from wages for unskilled and
semiskilled workers did not amount to more than 12 pesos per week
but for skilled workers it was more than 15 pesos per week.
Table 3.— D istribution of Economic Heads of Families by Wage Groups and by
Type of Work Done
[Average exchange rate of peso, July-September 1934=27.7 cents]
Economic heads
Number of economic heads
classed as—
Weekly wages of economic head
Semi
skilled Unskilled
workers workers
Number
Percent
Skilled
workers
All wage groups. ______________________ ________
281
100.0
110
126
45
Less than 9.00 pesos_____________________________
9.01 to 12.00 pesos___________ ____________________
12.01 to 15.00 pesos_______ ______________________
15.01 to 20.00 pesos______________________________
20.01 pesos and o v er..______________ _________ .
17
104
59
60
41
6.1
37.0
21.0
21.3
14. 6
15
18
37
40
5
65
34
21
1
12
24
7
2
Expenditures
A g e n e r a l summary of expenditures is presented in table 4. Be
cause of the brief period covered by the study, the director of the
investigation considers that only the amounts used for food, culture
and amusement, and personal expenses may be taken as representative
of general practices among typical workers’ families. Certain items,
as clothing and rent, are less satisfactory than would have been the
case for reports covering a longer period.
Table 4.— Weekly Expenditures of 281 Working-Class Families in Mexico City
[Average exchange rate of peso, July-September 1934=27.74 cents]
Weekly expenditure
Item of expenditure
Per family
Amount
Percent
P esos
Per
Per unit of
member of consump
family
tion
P esos
P esos
Total weekly expenditure__________________________
21.96
100.0
4. 26
5.47
Food. ______________________________________
Clothing_____ __________ . _______ _
Housing.
. _________________
Fuel and light___ _______ _______ _______
Culture and amusement............... ..........
Personal expenses_______ ______ _______
Extraordinary expenses__________________________
12. 38
1.46
2.13
2. 08
. 79
1.01
2.11
56.4
6. 6
9. 7
9.5
3.6
4.6
9.6
2.41
.28
. 41
.40
. 15
.20
.41
3. 09
.36
. 53
. 52
. 19
.25
.53
The International Labor Review for May 1936 (pp. 740-742) gives
a further analysis of the expenditure for food. Table 5 shows for
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797
COST OF LIVING
income groups the quantities of certain foods consumed per family
per week. It is noteworthy that for all the foods listed there is an
absolute increase of quantity with increase in family income.
Table 5.— Quantities of Certain Foods Consumed per Fam ily per Week, by
Income Groups
Quantity consumed by—
Item
Families having a weekly income of—
Unit
All
families Under
20 to
25 to
Over
15 to
15 pesos 20 pesos 25 pesos 30 pesos 30 pesos
Bread and cereals.......................... ........... Kilograms. . 22. 504
P o u n d s ____ 4 9 .6 1 2
3.886
Kilograms. .
8 .5 6 7
P o u n d s .........
Milk, milk products, etc :
M ilk.......................................... .......... Liters______ 9.479
Q u a r t s _____ 1 0 .0 1 6
.888
Butter____ _____________________ Kilogram s..
1 .9 5 7
P o u n d s ____
Eggs__________________________ U nits______ 7.6
Vegetables, etc.:
Vegetables.............................. ............ Kilograms... 3.440
7 .5 8 3
P o u n d s ____
Beans, peas, rice, e tc ........................ Kilograms—. 4. 583
P o u n d s ____ 1 0 .1 0 3
Sugar____ _________________________ Kilograms... 1.964
P o u n d s ____
4 .3 2 9
M eat__________________ ___________
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20.183
21.482
21. 876
24.381
25.974
44- 495
4 7 .3 5 9
4 8 .2 2 7
5 3 .7 5 0
5 7 .2 6 2
3.273
7. 215
3.832
4. 666
5. 779
8 .4 4 8
1 0 .2 8 6
1 2 .7 4 0
2.484
5 .4 7 6
5.479
7.941
9.235
12.353
13.941
5 .7 8 9
8 .3 9 1
9 .7 5 8
1 3 .0 5 3
14. 731
.613
.775
.850
1. 088
1 .0 5 1
1 .7 0 8
1 .8 7 3
4.2
6.4
7.6
2. 960
2 .3 9 8
10.0
1.213
2. 674
10.6
3.440
4.320
4.720
6 .5 2 5
7 .5 8 3
9 .5 2 3
1 0 .4 0 5
.916
4.310
4.583
4.910
5.354
2 .0 1 9
9 .5 0 1
1 0 .1 0 3
1 0 .8 2 4
1 1 .8 0 3
1.536
1.875
1.893
2. 071
2.643
3 .3 8 6
4 .1 3 3
4-. 113
4 .5 6 5
5 .8 2 6
2. 320
5 .1 1 4
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR
INTEREST
A u g u st 1936
Consumer Education
o f i n f o r m a tio n o n c o n s u m e r e d u c a tio n a n d o r g a n iz a tio n .
Washington,
U. S. Agricultural A djustm ent Administration, Consumers’ Counsel Division,
1936. 33 pp. (Consumers’ Counsel Series, Publication No. 1.)
S ou rces
Cooperative M ovement
Washington, U. S.
(Serial No. R. 401, reprint from
A c tiv itie s o f c o n s u m e r s ’ c o o p e r a tiv e w h o le s a le s o c ie tie s i n 1 9 3 5 .
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 10 pp.
June 1936 M onthly Labor Review.)
C o o p e r a tio n i n a g r ic u ltu r e : A se le c te d a n d a n n o ta te d b ib lio g r a p h y w ith s p e c ia l r e fe r
e n ce to m a r k e tin g , p u r c h a s in g , a n d c r e d it.
Compiled by Chastina Gardner.
Washington, U. S. Farm Credit Administration, Cooperative Division, May
1936. 214 pp. (Bui. No. 4.)
The m aterial is arranged according to authorship, and there is a detailed index.
C o o p e r a tiv e f a r m - m o r tg a g e c r e d it, 1 9 1 6 - 1 9 3 6 . By W. J. Myers. W ashington, U. S.
Farm Credit Administration, 1936. 24 pp., maps, charts, illus. (Circular
A-8.)
S t a t i s t i c s of f a r m e r s ’ c o o p e r a tiv e b u s in e s s o r g a n iz a tio n s , 1 9 2 0 - 1 9 3 5 .
By R. H.
Elsworth. Washington, U. S. Farm Credit Administration, Cooperative
Division, 1936. 129 pp., maps, charts. (Bui. No. 6.)
D ata on cooperative purchasing and business services provided by farm ers’
cooperative organizations, taken from this publication, are given in this issue of
the Monthly Labor Review.
A c c o u n tin g p r i n c i p l e s f o r c o o p e r a tiv e c o tto n g in a s s o c ia tio n s .
By Otis T. Weaver.
Washington, U. S. Farm Credit Administration, Cooperative Division, 1935.
92 pp. (Bui. No. 2.)
O r g a n iz a tio n a n d o p e r a tio n o f th e I l l i n o i s L iv e s to c k M a r k e tin g A s s o c ia tio n .
By
H. H. Hulbert. Washington, U. S. Farm Credit Administration, Coopera
tive Division, 1936. 140 pp., maps, charts. (Bui. No. 5.)
S t a t i s t i q u e d e s s o c ié té s c o o p é r a tiv e s , 1 9 3 4 .
Sofia, Bulgaria, D irection Generale de
la Statistique, 1936. 87 pp. (In Bulgarian an d French.)
F in la n d , th e n e w n a tio n .
By Agnes Rothery. New York, Viking Press, 1936.
257 pp., map, illus.
Contains fragm entary data on various types of cooperative societies, men
tioned in discussion of Finnish social and economic development.
S w e d e n , th e m id d le w a y .
By M arquis W. Childs. New Haven, Yale University
Press, 1936. 171 pp.
A description of the Swedish cooperative movement and its accomplishments,
in relation to the whole Swedish economy.
S a v in g s p la n s a n d c r e d it union.< i n i n d u s t r y .
New York, N ational Industrial
Conference Board, Inc., 247 Park Avenue, 1936. 72 pp. (Study No. 225.)
Discusses various types of employee thrift plans. One chapter is devoted to
credit unions formed among employees of industrial firms, and gives d ata on the
experience of 157 such unions.
798
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799
Economic and Social Problems
s t u d y o f th e e v o lu tio n o f A m e r ic a n i n d u s t r y .
By
A rthur Robert Burns. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1936.
619 pp., charts.
A detailed factual study of the decline of competition in American business
enterprise, a description of public policies from the Sherman an ti-tru st law to the
N ational Recovery Administration, and a discussion of objectives and available
m ethods of social control in the field of enterprise.
D e f ic its a n d d e p r e s s io n s .
By Dan Throop Smith. New York, John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., 1938. 234 pp.
;
This book analyzes public finance, largely in a theoretical manner, as one of
m any factors in the study of depressions. The author holds th a t w hat is needed
is “a revival of balanced spending and production” , w ith production developed
along the lines of m ost efficient productive facilities and spending directed to
meeting “ continuing effective dem and.”
E c o n o m ic w e lfa r e : A p la n f o r e c o n o m ic s e c u r ity f o r e v e r y f a m i l y .
By Oscar
Newfang. New York, Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1936. 187 pp.
A plan which includes compulsory am ortization of farm and home m arkets
through publicly controlled rentals; a partnership system in industry with limited
dividends to capital and distribution of surplus to labor under a system of auditing
by workers’ representatives; and a more rigorous lim itation of inheritance.
T h e m o d e r n e c o n o m y i n a c tio n .
By Caroline F. Ware and Gardiner C. Means.
New York, H arcourt, Brace & Co., 1933 244 pp.
Analyzes the modern economic system with its distinctive characteristics of
th e factory and the corporation, and contrasts it with the earlier economy.
The changing basis of the relation of government to economic life is emphasized.
The status of labor and labor’s role in making industrial policy are discussed in
chapters 2, 7, and 9.
T h e f a t e o f th e m id d le c la s s e s .
By Alec Brown. London, Victor Gollancz, Ltd.,
1936. 288 pp.
The author holds th a t the interests of the middle classes, whose income is
not primarily from investments, are similar to those of the wage-earning classes
and are such as to call for collaboration between the two groups.
S t a t e in te r e s ts i n A m e r ic a n tr e a tie s .
By Nicholas Pendleton Mitchell. Richmond,
Va., G arrett and Massie, 1936. 220 pp.
A study of the treaty-m aking powers of the Federal Government in relation
to m atters affecting the jurisdiction of the States. Few treaties and conventions
in the past have involved questions directly concerned with labor, b u t the
au th o r’s discussion has a bearing on various proposed agreements of this nature.
A c e n tu r y o f m u n i c i p a l p r o g r e s s — th e la s t h u n d r e d y e a r s .
Edited by Harold J.
Laski and others. Published under the auspices of The National Associa
tion of Local Government Officers. London, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd.,
1935. 511 pp.
This survey of the development of municipal government in England con
tains chapters on the health of the people, housing, and civic planning, and relief
of the poor.
T h e d e c lin e o f c o m p e titio n : A
A tti del
C o n g r e ss o d e lla
P r e v id e n z a S o c ia le , B o lo g n a , I t a l y , O c to b e r 1—3 ,
1935.
[Rome?], Istituto Nazionale Fascista della Previdenza Sociale, 1936. 307 pp.,
illus.
Proceedings of the Social Welfare Congress held a t Bologna, October 1-3,
1935. Subjects discussed were invalidity, tuberculosis, and social welfare of
the m other and child.
Education and Training
New York, American Book Co., 1936.
208 pp.
Answers the question “ Why go on learning?” , describes the functions and
processes of adult education, and discusses the public schools, national public
programs, Federal emergency programs, university extension, and other avenues
through which the work is being carried on.
E d u c a tio n a l q u a lif ic a tio n s i n th e e n g in e e r in g p r o f e s s io n .
Washington, U. S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 16 pp. (Serial No. R. 400, reprint from
June 1936 M onthly Labor Review.)
A d u l t e d u c a tio n .
By Lyman Bryson.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
W ash
ington, U. S. Division of Labor Standards, 1936. 78 pp. (Bui. No. 6.)
The training course was conducted by the Division of Labor Standards of the
U. S. D epartm ent of Labor, in cooperation with the School of Hygiene and Public
H ealth of Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Md., February 10-20, 1936.
T h e c o lo re d s itu a tio n .
By Faye P. E verett and others. Boston, Meador P u b
lishing Co., 1936. 312 pp.
W ritten in the hope of meeting the needs of Negro high-school and college
teachers who are concerned w ith the problem of improving the vocational statu s
of their race. The volume includes considerable occupational inform ation and
outlines various measures to be taken in making an intelligent approach to a
vocation.
K u V tu r n o e s tr o ite V s tv o S . S . S . R . ( U . S . S . R .) v. t s y f r a k h , 1 9 3 0 - 1 9 3 4 .
Moscow,
Central Office of the People’s Economic Accountancy, 1935. 163 pp.
(In Russian.)
Deals with the cultural development of the Soviet Union during the period
1930 to 1934, including elem entary education, training of laborers, factory schools,
various technical courses, etc.
R e p o r t o f p r o c e e d in g s o f a t r a i n i n g c o u r s e f o r S t a t e f a c t o r y in s p e c to r s .
Employment and Unem ploym ent
By C. Law
rence Christenson. Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936.
11 pp. (Serial No. R. 416, reprint from July 1936 M onthly Labor Review.)
E m p lo y m e n t a n d e a r n in g s i n c o m m e r c ia l m i l k d i s t r i b u ti o n , 1 9 2 9 -3 4 ■
D e r E in f l u s s d e r M a s c h in e a u f d ie A r b e its lo s ig k e it: E i n B e itr a g z u r W ir ts c h a f ts u n d S o z ia lr e f o r m .
By H erm ann Hagen. S tu ttg art, Boorberg-Verlag, 1935.
303 pp.
A study of the connection between labor-saving techniques and volume of
employment, w ith a discussion of proposals such as prohibiting the use of m a
chines a,nd imposing taxes on machines for the purpose of preventing an increase
of unem ployment resulting from technological changes.
R e p o r ts o f th e o p e r a tio n s o f th e E m p lo y m e n t R e s e a r c h C o m m itte e , N e w S o u th W a le s .
Sydney, M inistry of Labor and Industry, 1936. 117 pp., chart.
Contains reports on subjects related to the em ployment situation, and recom
mendations, including proposals for reduction of hours of labor.
Employment Offices
J a n u a ry 1934~ D ecem ber 1935.
Madison,
Wisconsin Industrial Commission, 1936. 36 pp., map, charts.
Summarizes the activities of public em ployment offices in Wisconsin and pre
sents statistics on sex, age, education, m arital status, occupation, and period of
unem ployment of new applicants. D ata on relief-project and agricultural place
m ents and registration and placement of veterans are included, and some figures
are furnished which show, by age groups, the average num ber of dependents of
applicants for the last 6 m onths of 1933.
E m p l o y m e n t s e r v ic e s i n
W is c o n s in ,
Family A llowances
a llo c a tio n s f a m i l i a l e s — o r ig in e s , r é g im e lé g a l.
By Jean Pinte. Paris,
Librairie du Recueil Sirey, 1935. 286 pp.
After an analysis of the social and economic bases for th e granting of family
allowances, the author traces the origin and development of these grants. Six of
the 12 chapters of the volume deal with the French Compulsory Allowance Act
of 1932 and its application.
L es
Housing
C i t y p l a n n i n g — h o u s in g :
By Werner Hegemann. New York, Architectural Book Publishing Co., Inc., 1936. 257 pp.,
maps, plans, illus.
The thesis is developed th a t the United States had its staçt as a planned country
and th a t the tradition of planning established by W ashington, Hamilton, and
Jefferson should be continued in order th a t slum conditions m ay be abolished.
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By
Beatrice Greenfield Rosahn. New York, N ational Municipal League, Inc.,
309 E ast 34th Street, 1935. 32 pp.
The experience of Octavia Hill in managing houses for those of low incomes in
England is cited, as well as the adaptation of her methods in the U nited States.
The importance of m anagem ent is discussed and methods used in a few outstand
ing projects a t present are described.
H o u s i n g m a n a g e m e n t, i t s h is to r y a n d r e la tio n to p r e s e n t- d a y h o u s in g p r o b le m s .
Income
Washington, Brookings
Institution, Institu te of Economics, 1936. Various paging, maps, charts.
An abridged class-room edition of the four volumes constituting the results of a
study of “the distribution of wealth and income in relation to economic progress”—
America’s C apacity to Produce, America’s Capacity to Consume, The Form ation
of Capital, and Income and Economic Progress.
S t a t i s t i c s o f in c o m e s a n d in c o m e ta x , N e w Z e a la n d , ta x y e a r 1 9 3 4 - 3 5 .
Wellington,
Census and Statistics Office, 1936. 21 pp.
Income statistics are shown by class and source, and a break-down is made for
earned income as differentiated from other income.
T h e d i s t r i b u ti o n o f in c o m e i n r e la tio n to e c o n o m ic p r o g r e s s .
Industrial Accidents and Health
T r a n s a c tio n s o f th e T w e n ty - f o u r th A n n u a l S a f e t y C o n g r e s s , N a t i o n a l S a f e t y C o u n c il,
L o u is v ille , K y . , O c to b e r l J f - 1 8 , 1 9 3 5 .
Chicago, 20 N orth Wacker Drive, 1936.
2 vols., 544 and 124 pp.
Condensed records of the proceedings. Volume 1 covers the general sessions,
the special subject sessions, and the industrial section sessions, and includes a
list of officers and directors. Volume 2 deals w ith street and highway traffic,
child education, and home safety.
R e c h e rc h e s e x p é r im e n ta le s s u r le s c a u s e s p s y c h o lo g iq u e s d e s a c c id e n ts d u tr a v a il.
By
J. M. Lahy and S. Korngold. { I n Le T ravail Humain, Revue trimestrielle,
Conservatoire N ational des Arts et Métiers, Paris, M arch 1936, pp. 1-64;
charts.)
S t a t i s t i q u e d e s a c c id e n ts d u tr a v a il, 1934■
Sofia, Bulgaria, Direction Générale de
la Statistique, 1936. 50 pp.
(In Bulgarian and French.)
Contains data regarding accidents in Bulgaria in 1934, classified by industry,
and giving causes, kind of injury, num ber of working days lost, and extent of
disability.
P r o c e e d in g s o f th e A n n u a l C o n fe re n c e o f th e N a t i o n a l S o c ie ty f o r th e P r e v e n tio n o f
B l in d n e s s , D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 5 . New York, 50 West 50th Street, [1936?]. 173 pp.
The subjects covered included sight-saving activities of various official and
volunteer agencies, the problem of fireworks accidents, sight-conservation work
of public-health nurses, and the Social Security Act as it will affect public-health
nursing.
T h e s i z e d i s t r i b u ti o n o f i n d u s t r i a l d u s ts .
By J. J. Bloomfield. W ashington,
U. S. Public H ealth Service, 1935. 9 pp., chart. (Supplement No. 115 to
Public H ealth Reports.)
Shows th a t the method used in enum erating dust particles provides a valuable
and practical index of the hazard of dust inhalation.
R e p o r t o f th e M e d i c a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c il f o r th e y e a r 1 9 3 4 - 3 5 .
London, 1936.
183 pp. (Cmd. 5079.)
The work of the Council in the industrial field during the year covered by
the report included studies of industrial pulm onary disease and the toxicity of
industrial solvents.
S ix te e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e I n d u s t r i a l H e a lth R e s e a r c h B o a r d , to J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 6 .
London, 1936. 34 pp.
During the year the studies of the Board covered environm ental conditions,
including lighting, noise, dust, toxic solvents, and heating and ventilation;
physiology and psychology of work; sickness absence, labor wastage, and occu
pational sickness; vocational suitability; and accident proneness.
8 8 8 6 9 — 3 6 --------- 1 7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
802
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW— SEPTEMBER 1936
London, Industrial H ealth Research Board,
1936. 62 pp., diagrams. (Report No. 75.)
The first p art of the report, on a study of absenteeism from sickness among
different occupational groups, shows th a t influenza and colds accounted for
between 30 and 40 percent of the lost time. The second p a rt deals w ith the
labor wastage resulting from sickness and death, and the waste resulting from a
high labor turn-over.
S ic k n e s s a b se n c e a n d la b o r w a s ta g e .
T h e w a r m th f a c to r i n c o m fo r t a t w o r k — a p h y s io lo g ic a l s t u d y o f h e a tin g a n d v e n tila
tio n .
By T. Bedford. London, Industrial H ealth Research Board, 1936.
102 pp., diagrams. (Report No. 76.)
The study was carried out in 12 factories having different types of heating and
ventilation. An equivalent tem perature of 62.3° F. was found to give maxi
mum comfort and to be the degree of w arm th m ost suitable for workrooms in
which the occupants are engaged in sedentary or very light work.
Industrial and Labor Conditions
R e p o r ts o f c o m m itte e s a n d
I n d u s tr ia l P ro g re ss.
r e s o lu tio n s
a d o p te d
M arch
1 2 , 1 9 8 6 , b y C o u n c il f o r
Washington, U. S. Coordinator for Industrial Cooper
ation, 1936. 53 pp.
Contains final, progress, and m inority reports of th e seven committees making
up the Council.
R e g io n a l s h if ts i n th e b i tu m in o u s c o a l i n d u s t r y — a s u m m a r y .
By W ilbert G.
Fritz and Theodore A. Veenstra. P ittsburgh, U niversity of Pittsburgh,
Bureau of Business Research, 1936. 40 pp., maps, charts.
Traces the extent, causes, and effects of regional shifts in the bituminous-coal
industry, and discusses the governm ental measures for control th a t have been
introduced in recent years. The pam phlet summarizes the detailed report pub
lished in 1935 by the same agency.
R e v ie w o f th e A m e r i c a n m a c h in e r y i n d u s t r i e s .
By R. E. W. H arrison and Charles
O. Thompson. W ashington, U. S. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce, 1936. 54 pp., map, charts. (Domestic Commerce Series No. 93.)
Analyzes the economic position of an industry th a t employs approxim ately
half a million workers and pays roughly 500 milïion dollars annually in wages.
A bibliography is included.
T e x tile i n d u s t r i e s i n th e f i r s t h a lf o f 1 9 8 5 : P a r t I , T h e c o tto n te x tile i n d u s t r y
i n c l u d i n g th r e a d , c o r d a g e , a n d tw in e ; P a r t I I , T h e w o o le n a n d w o r s te d te x tile
in d u s tr y .
W ashington, Federal T rade Commission, 1936. Various paging.
Statistics are presented to show the effects upon to ta l operating costs of an
increase in labor costs if not accompanied by a com mensurate rise in producti
vity.
Rome, Confédération Fasciste
de Travailleurs de Commerce, [1936?]. 48 pp. (In French.)
A comparison of conditions secured through legislation and collective agree
m ents in behalf of office workers in Italy w ith those in other countries, especially
w ith regard to social insurance, sick and dismissal benefits, paid vacations,
em ploym ent service, hours of work, and minimum wage.
L e s c o n d itio n s d u tr a v a il d e s e m p lo y é s e n I t a l i e .
Industrial Relations
A w a r d s 1 to 4 0 0 o f F i r s t D i v i s io n o f N a t i o n a l R a i l r o a d A d j u s t m e n t B o a r d , C h ic a g o .
W ashington, U. S. N ational Railroad A djustm ent Board, 1936.
2 vols.
U n io n - m a n a g e m e n t r e la tio n s i n th e w o m e n ’s c lo th in g i n d u s t r y , N e w Y o r k i n d u s t r i a l
a rea , 1 9 3 6 .
Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 10 pp.
(Serial No. R. 410, reprint from July 1936 M onthly Labor Review.!
International Labor Relations
C o n f e r e n c ia d e l tr a b a jo d e lo s E s ta d o s d e A m é r i c a m ie m b r o s d e la O r g a n iz a c ió n
I n te r n a c io n a l d e l T r a b a jo , S a n tia g o d e C h ile , 2 a l
d e e n e r o d e 1 9 3 6 — a c ta s
d e la s s e s io n e s .
Geneva, International Labor Office, 1936. 410 pp. (In
14
Spanish.)
Proceedings of the Labor Conference of the American States, members of the
International Labor Organization, held a t Santiago, Chile, January 2 to 14, 1936.
An account of this conference was published in the M arch 1936 M onthlv Labor
Review (p. 690).
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
803
Labor Day
Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor S ta
(Serial No. R. 408, reprint from August 1936 M onthly
O r ig in a n d s ig n if ic a n c e o f L a b o r D a y .
tistics, 1936. 6 pp.
Labor Review.)
Labor Legislation
By E thel M. John
son. Geneva, Switzerland, International Labor Office, 1936. 28 pp.
(Reprinted from International Labor Review, June 1936.)
R e p o r t o f th e N e w Y o r k S ta te I n t e r s t a t e I n d u s t r i a l C o m p a c ts C o m m is io n .
Albany,
1936. 48 pp. Legislative Document (1936) No. 68.
Describes the need for and the nature of interstate cooperation in the field of
industrial legislation, and outlines its history. Also discusses the advantages and
disadvantages of participation in interstate labor compacts, and suggests that,
the value of achieving uniform ity in labor legislation justifies continued coopera
tion w ith the representatives of other States through the In terstate Conference
on Labor Compacts. The text of the New York act creating the commission
is given.
I n te r s ta te c o m p a c ts o n la b o r le g is la tio n i n th e U n ite d S ta te s .
By Richard E. G roettum . W ashing
ton, E ditorial Research Reports, 1013 T hirteenth Street NW., 1936. 18 pp.
(Vol. 1, 1936, No. 21.)
Among the decisions covered in the pam phlet are those concerning the Guffey
Coal Act and the New York minimum-wage law.
C o n g r e s s , th e C o n s titu tio n , a n d th e S u p r e m e C o u r t.
By Charles W arren. Boston,
Little, Brown & Co., 1935. 346 pp.
The author presents a revised and enlarged edition of his work on the Con
stitu tio n and the Supreme Court which is intended to make possible a clear under
standing of the C onstitution of the U nited States and the functions which the
Supreme Court was designed to exercise in relation to it. The book describes
the historical origin of the power of the Court, including a detailed discussion of
the views of members of the C onstitutional Convention and of the early Con
gresses on the subject. Proposals to modify or abolish the power of the Court
are considered, the author giving in detail his reasons for opposing any change.
Of special importance is the description of the cases affecting labor which have
been decided by the Supreme Court.
A p u n t e s a c e r c a d e la le g is la c ió n s o c ia l d e P u e r to R ic o .
By Vicente Géigel Planaco.
San Juan, D epartam ento del Trabajo, 1936. 28 pp.
A well documented historical account of social legislation in Puerto Rico
through M ay 15, 1936.
D e c is io n s o f th e S u p r e m e C o u r t, 1 9 8 5 - 3 6 .
Labor Organizations
By Franz Neumann. { I n New Frontiers,
New York, League for Industrial Democracy, 112 E ast 19th Street, June
1936, pp. 4-61.)
An analysis of the function of trade-unions within the State, and a review from
the au thor’s viewpoint of the absorption of those functions under fascism. A
bibliography is included.
L a b o r p l a n s — C z e c h o s lo v a k ia ,
G reat
B r ita in ,
H o lla n d ,
L u xem bu rg.
Paris,
International Federation of Trade Unions, 1936. 40 pp.
Economic programs arid demands of the Joint N ational Trade Union Center
of Czechoslovakia, the British Trade Union Congress (plan for socialization of
the cotton industry), the Joint Congress of the D utch N ational Trade-Union
Center and the Social-Democratic Labor Party, and the Luxemburg N ational
Trade-Union Center. This compilation is supplem entary to a previous publica
tion of the International Federation of Trade Unions, “ Economic Planning and
Labor Plans,” which covered plans of the International Federation of Trade
Unions and the central labor organizations of Belgium, France, G reat Britain,
and Switzerland.
E u r o p e a n tr a d e u n i o n i s m a n d p o l itic s .
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804
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
Leisure
Edited by William Boyd. London, New Education
Fellowship, 29 Tavistock Square, W. C. 1, 1936. 229 pp.
A compendium of speeches and discussions a t a conference of educators and
social workers in G reat Britain and N orthern Ireland, attended by visitors from
a num ber of other countries. The common question was, according to the
editorial foreword of the book, “ W hat contribution can education make to the
tentative effort being pu t forth everywhere to make the world’s ever increasing
leisure a blessing and not a curse to mankind? ’
The m aterial is classified under the problem of leisure from different angles,
the foundations of leisure, and the organization of leisure. A bibliography is
appended.
T h e c h a lle n g e o f le is u r e .
Migration
m ig r a tio n : A s t u d y o f i n te r n a tio n a l m o v e m e n ts .
By Donald R. T aft.
New York, Ronald Press Co., 1936. 590 pp. (Sociology Series, Roderick
D. McKenzie, editor.)
Considers immigration problems from various angles, w ith special emphasis
on recent immigration to the United States, as the book was prepared prim arily
for American students. Discusses the background of modern m igration—growth
of population, population quality, influence of nationalism; the effects of m igra
tion—economic, pathological and biological, assimilation and cultural contribu
tions; regulation and control of migration; and agencies dealing w ith m igrants.
M i g r a t i o n o f i n d u s t r y to S o u th A m e r ic a .
By Dudley M aynard Phelps. New
York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1936. 335 pp.
Includes a factual and theoretical discussion of the supply and efficiency of
labor employed by foreign companies, characteristic labor disturbances, and
social legislation enacted, in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.
H um an
N u trition
By D orothy G. Wiehl. Washing
ton, U. S. Public H ealth Service, 1936. 21 pp. (Health and Depression
Studies No. 3; reprint No. 1727 from Public H ealth Reports, Jan 24, 1936.)
Reviewed in this issue.
D ie ts o f lo w - in c o m e f a m i l i e s s u r v e y e d i n 1 9 3 3 .
N u t r i t i v e v a lu e o f d ie ts o f f a m i l i e s o f w a g e e a r n e r s a n d c le r ic a l w o r k e r s i n N o r th
A t l a n t i c c itie s , 1 9 3 4 - 3 5 .
By Hazel K. Stiebeling. Washington, U. S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936. 10 pp. (Serial No. R. 409, reprint from
July 1936 M onthly Labor Review.)
A fo o d bu dget f o r V e rm o n t f a r m fa m ilie s .
By D orothy Emery. Burlington,
Vt., Agricultural Experiment Station, 1935. 24 pp. (Bui. 393.)
N u t r i t i o n a n d f o o d s u p p l i e s a n d w o m e n i n offices.
Reports of Standing Joint
Committee of Industrial Women’s Organizations to National Conference of
Labor Women, Swansea, May 1936. London, Labor Party, Transport
House, Smith Square, S. W. 1, 1936. 46 pp.
Discusses the state of nutrition among workingmen’s families and the unem
ployed, cost of a proper diet, the effect of Government action on food consumption,
and the policy of the Labor P arty for long-term planning of food production
and imports. The second section of the report covers the employment of women
in offices, salaries in different industries, health conditions, and insecurity of
employment.
P o v e r ty a n d p u b lic h e a lth .
By G. C. M. M ’Gonigle and J. Kirby. London,
Victor Gollancz, Ltd., 1936. 278 pp., charts.
The wide extent of m alnutrition among men, women, and children in Great
Britain is pointed out. A detailed study of family budgets a t different income
levels shows a positive ratio between income and diet and also th a t the death
rate of a com munity is related to its income level.
W o r k e r s ’ n u t r i t i o n a n d s o c ia l p o lic y .
Geneva, International Labor Office, 1936.
249 pp., charts. (Studies and Reports, Series B, No. 23.)
A comprehensive review of the results of available studies in the United States
and foreign countries on nutrition and occupation, workers’ diets, and agricultural
production and food consumption. I t also contains chapters on the socialeconomic aspects of nutrition, social legislation and nutrition, and agencies and
methods to improve nutrition. An appendix gives a series of tables showing
the characteristics of food consumption in a number of countries.
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
805
Occupations
O c c u p a tio n s : A te x tb o o k f o r th e e d u c a tio n a l, c iv ic , a n d v o c a tio n a l g u id a n c e o f b o y s
a n d g ir ls .
By John M. Brewer. Boston, etc., Ginn and Co., 1936. 622
pp., illus.
L a f e m m e d a n s le s p r o f e s s io n s lib é r a le s et le s c a r r iè r e s s o c ia le s ; L a f e m m e d a n s
le s p r o f e s s io n s in d u s tr ie lle s et c o m m e r c ia le s ; L a f e m m e f o n c tio n n a ir e .
By
Marcel Schulz. Paris, Le Musée Social, 1935. 3 pam phlets; 55, 47, 46 pp.
These three pamphlets discuss the qualifications, preparation, and training for
work, and the advantages, disadvantages, and opportunities for woman workers
in the fields specified. The first deals w ith the professions of law, medicine,
journalism, and social work (in which factory inspection is included). The
second covers industrial and chemical engineering, architecture and industrial
arts, and various commercial activities, including banking, salesmanship, and
stenography, and gives a list of training schools in industrial arts in France.
The third takes up public adm inistration and teaching.
Old-Age Pensions
C o m p a n y a n n u it y p l a n s a n d th e F e d e r a l o ld a g e b e n e fit p l a n .
By M. B.
( I n H arvard Business Review, Vol. 14, No. 4, summer number,
Folsom.
Boston,
1936, pp. 414-424.)
Joint hearings, M archand May 1936, before a subcom
m ittee of the Committee on Finance, U nited States Senate, and a subcom
m ittee of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives,
74th Congress, 2d session. Washington, 1936. In 2 parts; 57 pp.
O ld -a g e p e n s io n p l a n s a n d o r g a n iz a tio n s .
Hearings before the Select Committee
Investigating Old-Age Pension Organizations, House of Representatives,
74th Congress, 2d session, pursuant to H. Res. 443, authorizing the appoint
m ent of à select committee to inquire into old-age pension plans w ith respect
to pending legislation. W ashington, 1936. In 5 parts; 980 pp.
P r iv a te p e n s io n s y s te m s .
T h e T o w n s e n d c r u s a d e : A n i m p a r t i a l r e v ie w o f th e T o w n s e n d m o v e m e n t a n d th e
p r o b a b le e ffe c ts o f th e T o w n s e n d P la n .
New York, Tw entieth Century Fund,
Inc., Com mittee on Old Age Security, 330 West 42d Street, 1936. 93 pp.
Presents a brief description of the Townsend Plan, an analysis of the probable
effects should it be p u t into operation, and the conclusions of the committee as
to the wisdom and practicability of the proposals.
W i l l th e T o w n s e n d P l a n w o r k ? Findings of the Committee on Old-Age Security
of the T w entieth Century Fund, Inc. New York, 330 West 42d Street,
1936. 9 pp.
Personnel Management
P e r s o n n e l p o lic ie s i n
Washington, U. S. Bureau of
(Serial No. R. 398, reprint from June 1936
th e c o tto n -te x tile i n d u s t r y .
Labor Statistics, 1936. 19 pp.
M onthly Labor Review.)
By Wendell White. New York, Macmillan
Co., 1936. 256 pp.
This book is designed for people in general, b u t it contains suggestions th a t
may be of especial interest to those engaged in promoting harmonious industrial
relations.
R e v i ta l i z i n g th e w o r k in g f o r c e .
By Everard Stubbs and others. New York,
American M anagement Association, 330 W. 42d St., 1936. 43 pp. (Produc
tion Series 101.)
A collection of papers presented at a meeting in Cleveland in April 1936 of the
Production Division of the American M anagement Association. The problems
discussed are those involved in changing plant operations from a depression to a
production basis.
T h e p s y c h o lo g y o f d e a lin g w ith p e o p le .
Prices
By H erbert F. Taggart. Ann Arbor, Uni
versity of Michigan, Bureau of Business Research, 1936. 307 pp.
Deals w ith the development of N. R. A. policy regarding minimum prices and
the methods of application under the codes. A bibliography of pertinent m ate
rial is included.
M in im u m , p r ic e s u n d e r th e N . R . A .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
806
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW--- SEPTEMBER 1936
R elief Measures and Statistics
T h is b u s in e s s o f r e lie f: P r o c e e d in g s o f th e D e le g a te C o n fe re n c e , A m e r ic a n A s s o c i a
tio n o f S o c ia l W o r k e r s , W a s h in g to n , D . C ., F e b r u a r y l J j - 1 6 , 1 9 8 6 . New York,
American Association of Social Workers, 130 E ast 22d Street, 1936. 179 pp.
Includes papers on: The m yth of work refusals; The Social Security Act as a
relief measure; The need for a perm anent program for national relief statistics;
The Works Progress A dm inistration; M ajor problems of a medical-care program;
Absorbing the transient. Appendixes give an outline for a Federal-assistance
program, and statistics on the current relief situation.
W . P . A . p r o je c ts s e le c te d f o r o p e r a tio n , th ro u g h A p r i l 1 6 , 1 9 3 6 .
Washington,
U. S. Works Progress A dm inistration, 1936. 122 pp., maps, charts.
A c ti v i t i e s o f th e I o w a E m e r g e n c y R e li e f A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , 1 9 3 6 . Des Moines, 1936.
164 pp., charts, maps.
In addition to reports on th e regular activities in connection w ith unemploy
m ent relief, there are brief accounts of such special programs as service for tra n
sients, student aid, leisure-time activities, emergency education, self-help coop
eratives, etc.
P e r s o n s i n r e c e ip t o f p o o r r e l ie f ( E n g la n d a n d W a le s ) o n J a n u a r y 1 , 1 9 3 6 .
London,
M inistry of H ealth, 1936.' 37 pp., chart.
The to tal num ber of persons on poor relief in England and Wales on the night
of January 1, 1936, was 1,387,720—421,729 men, 505,961 women, and 460,030
children. This is a decrease of 5.8 percent from the num ber on relief on the same
day in 1935. Of the total number, 180,295 were receiving institutional relief and
1,207,425, domiciliary relief.
R est Periods in Industry
By Eric Palmer. London, Chapman & Hall,
Ltd., 1936. 37 pp.
Concerns largely the value of rest periods in industry.
T h e h u m a n f a c to r i n i n d u s t r y .
Social Security
W ashington, 1936. 6 pp., mimeo
graphed.
Outlines the functions of the Board and gives a brief review of its activities for
the period between August 23 and December 31, 1935.
I n t e r i m r e p o r t o f th e S o c ia l S e c u r i t y B o a r d .
T h e o r g a n iz a tio n a n d s o m e o f th e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o b le m s o f th e S o c ia l S e c u r i t y
B oard.
Address by H enry P. Seidemann. W ashington, Social Security
Board, 1936.
19 pp., mimeographed.
Hearings, April 14-17, 1936, before the Committee on Educa
tion and Labor, U. S. Senate, 74th Congress, 2d session, on S. 3475, a bill
to provide for the establishm ent of a nation-wide system of social insurance,
Washington, 1936. 177 pp.
This bill, which is called the “ W orker’s Social Insurance Act” , would provide
generally higher benefits than those established by the Federal Social Security
Act passed in August 1935.
S o c ia l i n s u r a n c e .
S o c ia l s e c u r i t y : S e le c te d l i s t o f r e fe r e n c e s o n u n e m p lo y m e n t , o ld a g e , a n d h e a lth
in s u r a n c e ( p r e l i m i n a r y ).
Prepared by Helen Baker. Princeton, N. J.,
Princeton University, D epartm ent of Economics and Social Institutions,
June 20, 1936. 25 pp., mimeographed.
W h a t w i l l s o c ia l s e c u r i t y m e a n to y o u i
By Bion H. Francis and Donald G.
Ferguson. Cambridge, Mass., American Institu te for Economic Research,
1936. 64 pp., charts.
R e p o r t o f G e o r g ia S ta te D e p a r tm e n t o f P u b l i c W e lfa r e , f o r th e y e a r s 1 9 8 2 to 1 9 3 6 .
A tlanta, 1936. 102 pp.
Includes data on homes for the aged (including almshouses), Federal relief
program in the State, and a discussion of measures to p u t into effect the socialsecurity program.
C o m p te r e n d u d e s o p é r a tio n s e t d e la s i t u a t i o n d e la C a is s e G é n é r a le d ’É p a r g n e e t d e
R e tr a ite , 1 9 8 5 .
Bruxelles, 1936. 92 pp., charts.
This report of the Belgian General Savings and R etirem ent Fund for the year
1935 covers savings, workers’ pensions, life insurance, workmen’s com pensation,
and veterans’ pensions.
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
V e r s la g o m tr e n t d e n s ta a t d e r R ijk s v e r z e r k e r in g s b a n k e n h a re
h et J a a r 1934■
The Hague, 1936. 259 pp.
807
w erk za a m h ed en
in
Annual report of the S tate Insurance Bank in the N etherlands f o r th e fiscal
year 1934, including information on insurance against accidents, disability, and
old age, and on pertinent legislation.
Subsistence Homesteads
Frankfort on the Main, International Housing Associa
tion, [1936 ?]. 113 pp., maps, plans. In English, French, and German.
Descriptions of the subsistence homesteads programs in various countries, sup
plied for the consideration of the International Housing Congress in Prague in
1935, in compliance w ith a questionnaire issued by the In tern atio n al Housing
Association.
N e b e n b e r u f s s ie d lu n g — w ir ts c h a f tlic h e G r u n d la g e n u n d F i n a n z i e r u n g .
By Alex
ander Mahr. Vienna-Leipzig, Reinhold Verlag, 1935. 88 pp.
A discussion of the problem of subsistence homesteads and their importance
in meeting depression conditions, w ith attention to general economic and financial
questions.
S u b s is te n c e h o m e s te a d s .
Unem ploym ent Insurance
Presented
by New York A ttorney General in the form of an “ Economic brief for re
spondents” in New York Court of Appeals M arch 19, 1936. Albany, 1936.
140 pp., charts.
In addition to the argum ents upholding th e validity of the law, the volume
contains a resume of the operation of the British unem ployment-insurance system,
a summ ary of unem ployment-insurance laws in the U nited States and foreign
countries, a statem ent of the adm inistrative costs of unem ployment insurance in
the State of New York, and statem ents by American business men in favor of the
insurance. A bibliography is included containing references to works on unem
ploym ent insurance and related subjects.
[ F a c tu a l b a c k g r o u n d o f N e w Y o r k S ta te u n e m p lo y m e n t in s u r a n c e la w .]
Wages and Hours of Labor
By John R. Arnold. W ashington,
Office of N ational Recovery A dministration, Division of Review, 1936.
170 pp., mimeographed. Work m aterials No. 31 (appendix).
D ata from this report are given in a special article in this issue of the M onthly
Labor Review.
E a r n i n g s o f f is h e r m e n a n d o f f is h in g c r a ft.
E a r n in g s a n d h o u r s i n b lo o m in g , r a i l , s tr u c tu r a l, p la te , a n d b ille t m ills , ir o n a n d
s te e l i n d u s t r y , 1 9 3 3 a n d 1 9 3 5 .
Washington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statis-
tistics, 1936. 24 pp.
Labor Review.)
(Serial No. R. 403, reprint from June 1936 M onthly
. . . . .
E m p l o y m e n t a n d e a r n in g s i n c o m m e r c ia l m i l k d i s t r i b u ti o n , 1 9 2 9 —3 4 • By C. Law
rence Christenson. W ashington, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1936.
11 pp. (Serial No. R. 416, reprint from July 1936 M onthly Labor Review.)
H o u r s a n d e a r n in g s i n C o n n e c tic u t l a u n d r ie s , f a l l , 1 9 3 5 .
H artford, D epartm ent of
Labor and Factory Inspection, Minimum Wage Division, 1936. 20 pp.,
mimeographed.
Reviewed in this issue.
S p e c i a l s t u d y o f w a g e s p a i d to w o m e n a n d m in o r s i n O h io i n d u s t r i e s p r i o r a n d s u b
s e q u e n t to th e O h io m i n i m u m w a g e la w f o r w o m e n a n d m in o r s .
Washington,
U. S. Women’s Bureau, 1936. 83 pp., charts. (Bui. No. 145.)
Presented as a brief in support of minimum-wage legislation, w ith detailed
statistical data treated as an appendix to the main report. Comparisons are made
w ith wage rates and earnings in other States, particularly New York. _
D ata dealing w ith the laundry and cleaning and dyeing industries in Ohio, as
presented in the bulletin, are summarized in this issue of th e M onthly Labor
Review.
L e v a r i a z i o n i d e i s a l a r i a g r ic o li i n I t a l i a d a lla f o n d a z i o n e d e l R e g n o a l 1 9 3 3 .
By
Paola M aria Arcari. Rome, Istitu to Centrale di Statistica del Regno d’ltalia,
1936. 754 pp. (Annali di Statistica, Serie VI, Vol. XXXV I.)
A detailed examination of the sources of inform ation concerning agricultural
w ages in Italy from the beginning of the kingdom up to 1933, an explanation of the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW — SEPTEMBER 1936
statistical methods used in the preparation of tables of index numbers and rates
of wages, and statistics of wages of agricultural labor (men, women, and children)
from 1905 through 1933, classified by locality and agricultural process.
Workmen’s Compensation
By W alter F. Dodd
New York
Commonwealth Fund, 41 E ast 57th Street, 1936. 845 pp.
The results of a study carried on over a period of six years, bringing together
™ dmgs, both published and unpublished, of various students in this field, to
which the author adds his own analyses and conclusions. Developments in b oth
common law and workmen’s compensation are traced historically, p articu lar
attention being directed to adm inistrative practices and court decisions.
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f w o r k m e n 's c o m p e n s a tio n .
R a p p o r t r e l a ti f a la e x é c u tio n d e la lo i s u r la r é p a r a tio n d e s d o m m a g e s r é s u lta n t d e s
a c c id e n ts d u tr a v a il p e n d a n t les a n n é e s 1 9 3 0 - 1 9 3 1 - 1 9 3 2 .
Bruxelles, M inistère
du Travail et de la Prévoyance Sociale, 1935. 277 pp.
Report of the operation of the workmen’s compensation law in Belgium for the
years 1930 to 1932. The law covers all workers under a labor contract, including
house and farm servants.
By Léon Pollet. Paris, Société
Anonyme d ’Editions Médicales et Scientifiques, 27, Rue de l’École de
Medicine, 1935. 334 pp.
A critical medical-juridical study of the French law on workmen’s compensation
for occupational diseases. A brief survey of similar laws in G reat Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland is included.
L e s m a la d ie s p r o f e s s io n n e lle s , le u r lé g is la tio n .
Y outh Problems
Hearings, M arch 1936, before the Com mittee on Education
and Labor, United States Senate, 74th Congress, 2d session, on S. 3658, a
bill to provide vocational training and em ployment for youth between the
ages of 16 and 25; to provide for full educational opportunities for highschool, college, and postgraduate students; and for other purposes. W ash
ington, 1936. 279 pp.
A m e r i c a n y o u th a c t.
th o se o u t o f sc h o o l.
By H arry D. Kitson.
Washington, U. S. Office of Education. Com mittee on Youth Problems,
^ 1936. 81 pp. (Bulletin, 1936, No. 18-IV.)
The fourth of a series of brief bulletins on the occupational problems of youth,
which are designed to help communities, with the assistance of the young people
themselves, to work out the best possible programs.
Y o u th — V o c a tio n a l g u id a n c e f o r
General Reports
Prepared by Labor Research Association. New York
^ International Publishers Co., Inc., 1936. 223 pp.
The general heads under which the m aterial is classified include: Some “ New
D eal” legislation; W orkers’ conditions; Strikes and labor boards; Trends in the
labor movement; Professional workers; Farmers and farm workers.
L a b o r f a c t h ook I I I .
A n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r o f R h o d e
I s la n d , f o r
th e n e a r 1 9 3 5 .
Providence, 1936. 207 pp., charts.
This first annual report of _the new D epartm ent of Labor of Rhode Island,
created by an act of May 1935, brings together the reports of the D epartm ent’s
various branches -the divisions of labor relationships, industrial inspection, and
personnel and State employment, and the bureaus of boiler inspection, coal and
coke inspection, firemen’s relief, weights and measures, and census.
A n n u a l r e p o r t o n th e w o r k in g o f th e F a c to r ie s A c t, 1 9 3
i n B u r m a f o r th e y e a r 1 9 3 5 .
Rangoon, Chief Inspector of Factories, 1936. 30 pp.
D ata are given on wages and hours of labor; employment of women, adolescents,
and children; housing; sanitation and health; safetv provisions; and industrial
accidents.
By
Pablo Arturo Suarez. Quito, Ecuador, Tip. L. I. Fernandez, 1934. 109 pp
illus.
’
A stud}’’ of the wages, cost of living, and health of certain urban and rural
workers in Ecuador.
C o n tr ib u c ió n a l e s tu d io d e la s r e a lid a d e s e n tr e la s c la s e s o b r e r a s y c o m p e s in a s .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
809
d u T r a v a il, tr e n te - n e u v iè m e s e s s io n , n o v e m b r e 1 9 3 5 .
Paris,
M inistère du Travail, 193G. 304 pp.
The proceedings of the 39th session of the French Superior L abor Council.
The questions considered included fines and penalties imposed by the labor Jaws,
vacation w ith pay, and the need of legislation w ith regard to non-paym ent of
wages when the labor contract is dissolved.
C o n s e il S u p é r i e u r
S t a tis tis c h e J a h r e s u b e r s ic h te n d e r S t a d t F r a n k f u r t a . M a i n f ü r d a s J a h r 1 9 3 4 - 3 5 .
Frankfort on the Main, Statistiches Amt, 1936. 67 pp.
A municipal annual for the fiscal year 1934-35, including d ata on employment
service, unem ployment relief, housing, and social w elfare work.
T h e s t a t i s t ic a l a b s tr a c t o f th e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F o r e s tr y , J a p a n , 1 9 3 4 ~ 3 5 .
Tokyo, 1936. 217 pp., chart.
Includes statistics covering cooperative societies for the years 1925 to 1934;
wages, by sex, of worker s on farms, in sericulture, and in raw-silk production,
1923 to 1933; and em ploym ent and wages in the fishing industry, 1926 to 1933.
L ie tu v o s s t a t i s t ik o s m e t r a s t i s , 1 9 3 5 .
Kaunas, Lithuania, Finansy Ministerija,
Centralinis S tatistikos Biuras, 1936. 302 pp. (In Lithuanian and French.)
General statistical annual for Lithuania, covering population movements,
production, prices and cost of living, unem ployment, wages, cooperative societies,
construction, and m any other m atters, in 1935 and earlier years.
A n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e L a b o r D e p a r tm e n t, M a l a y a , f o r th e y e a r 1 9 3 5 .
K uala Lumpur,
1936. 120 pp.
The report contains wage rates paid on rice, rubber, and coconut estates;
em ploym ent statistics, by race, for estates, mines, and factories, and for govern
m ent departm ents; and data on industrial disputes, workmen’s compensation,
and legal action by and against employers and laborers.
T h e o ffic ia l y e a r b o o k o f N e w S o u th W a le s , 1 9 3 3 - 3 4 . Sydney, Bureau of Statistics
and Economics, 1936. 906 pp., map.
Inform ation is given on employment, industrial arbitration, wages, labor con
ditions in mines, cost of living, and general social conditions.
A p e r ç u s u r l ’i n s p e c ti o n d u t r a v a il e n P o lo g n e e n 1 9 3 4 •
Warsaw, Ministère de
l’Assistance Sociale, 1935. 69 pp. (In French.)
Report on factory inspection in Poland during 1934, including pertinent legis
lation and inform ation on protection of women and children in industry, employ
ment, wages, industrial disputes, and industrial accidents and diseases and their
prevention.
A B C o f Q u e e n s la n d s t a tis tic s , 1 9 3 6 . Brisbane, Bureau of Industry, 1936. 281 pp.
Industrial accidents, industrial disputes, num ber and membership of tradeunions, em ployment and unemployment, unem ployment insurance, wages, retail
and wholesale prices, and rents, in 1935 and earlier years, are among the topics
covered.
A n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e G o v e r n m e n t M i n i n g E n g in e e r , U n io n o f S o u th A f r i c a , f o r y e a r
en ded D ecem ber 31, 1935.
Pretoria, D epartm ent of Mines, 1936. Various
paging, charts.
The report contains data on wages and industrial accidents and a section on
miners’ phthisis.
F o r ty - s ix th a n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e T r a n s v a a l C h a m b e r o f M i n e s , 1 9 3 5 . Johannesburg,
1936. 186 pp.
Statistics of employment, wages, and industrial accidents are included.
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