New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-09
STATE LABOR ACTIVE
Bulletin Shoes Decrease in Percent
age of IdleneSS.

ganzed wage earners in the state, which at the end
of March. 1903 was S57 per cent. the highest on
record for that date since 1896 at the end of
March this year 21 per cent the returns represent
ing over $4,000 wage earners. This years figure is
still higher than the March percentage for most
the other years prior to 1908 back far the de-
partment records go 90 1885, but the with
several of those years is not The returns as
of idleness show that in the first quarter
of 1909 in 1908. the dominant cause was lack of
work. due to the general industrial situation
There very few of the thirteen industries or
groups of trade represented in the returns and
of those which at all severely affected by
the depression of 1905. which do not show marked
Improvement over last year. The building industry,
in which is about one-third of the states union
membership. shows reduction of the percentage Of
idleness at the end of March from So 20 1858
this year, and returns OF building operations in
principal cities show a remarkable improvement in
the outlook ahead in that industry In the trans
portation industry, with nearly one-sixth of the
union membership. the March percentage of idle
ness declined from 256 to 1876 from 1905 TO 1899
Clothing. metals and printing. which the lead
ing manufacturing industries represented in the re-
turns and which together contain about One-fourth
OF the unionists in the state. show similar decreases
from 467 TO 142 for the clothing trades. from 31s
TO 1873 for the metal trades. and from 17.9 TO 10
for the printing trades.
The improvement in the condition of the labor
market between 1908 and 1909 NAV be seen not only
IN the decreased amount of idleness but in the
steader employment Of those not entirely idle Thus
735 per cent of the organized workmen employed in
the first quarter of 1893 worked two-thirds of the
time or better, as compared with only 673 per
who made much time as that in 1906 and the
219iS2 who were returned employed averaged for
the quarter $50 days. against an average of Ga
days in 1898 The natural result of the better state
OF employment thus indicated was higher quarterly
earnings. Thus. 756 per cent of those employed
earned S5O this year. as compared with
$40 per cent in 1915. and the average quarterly
earnings Of those reporting employment this year
were 500. against 500 for the first quarter OF
1905
EARLIER YEARS COMPARED.
Comparison with earlier years, however SHOWS
that. Notwithstanding the increase over 1893 in most
cases, almost universally in the larger industries
quarterly earnings this year averaged lower than
in 1896 or 1907. comparison OF average daily
ings in this and former years. taken Indicator
Of the course OF wages a. g. wage rates.. reveals
only strong evidence that the general level of union
wages was maintained through the Industrial
depression Of 1885, at least up 10 the end Of March,
1893
The fall I'm number OF unions and union members
in the state which accompanied the Industrial de-
preston Of last year continued I'm the six months
from September. 1905. 10 March. 1893 hut great
ly reduced rate. The number Of unions decreased
in that period IS and their total membership 1866
This is as large a decrease in number OF organi-
cations as occurred in the preceding six months
tMarch 10 September. 1873, but the decrease IN
membership is less than one-seventh Of what II
was in that period and only one-hfth much as in
the first six months after the panic of 1877 (Sep-
TENDER 1907, 20 March, 1859. The decline since 1907
therefore. was very largely checked IN the six
months ended March 81. 1874
Among tho different industries represented losses
in union membership appear IN seven and gains In
SIX. The largest loss OF over 400 In the
building trades. There was a decrease OF nearly
400 in the metal trades and 700 in the transporta
ton trades In other Industries the losses were
small.
The number of disputes recorded by the Bureau
Of Mediation and Arbitration for the first quarter
OF 1859 was no larger than for the first quarter OF
is0Ss5i In 1893 compared with "a 1909 but the
number Of employees directly concerned was nearly
against lslD. Much Of this difference is explained
by two strikes OF pants makers in New York city.
in which 5000 were directly concerned In
the three months OF March. April and May repre-
sentatives OF tho Bureau % Mediation and Arbl-
traton interviewed IN 81 disputes. as compared with
p I'm the period last year. and brought about
settlements Immediately in ? cases. as against
last year
entered into between employers and employees. "a of
which contain some provision for the settlement %
disputes.
REGULAR FACTORY INSPECTIONS
Regular inspections Of factories. shops mines and
tunnel workings in the first quarter Of 1879 num-
ter of 1898 O4,92O. larger number Of inspections
Of factories chiefly accounts for the differ
ence. Investigations Of various sorts numbered
7.Ssl compared with e.sl4 the year before the
increase being due to 1000 Investigations Of
with orders. Applications for licenses
for manufacturing tenements were about $50 less
this year than last (4sl compared with S34l and
Of unlicensed buildings numbered only
300 as against l70l in the first three months Of
1903. Prosecutions under the factory law we're 20
Cd yVit Last
In New York City the number Of children's en-
ployment certificates issued including both fac
tory and mercantile certificates. 1lI5 for the
first three months of 1909 which is nearly 50 per
cent greater than the number In the same months
of 1904 and nearly twice the number for the first
quarter of 1907 In the other first and second class
cities of the state the numbers also. with but
one or two exceptions much larger this year than
last. but compared with 1907 less IN four
cities and greater in four. There a notable
increase over 1907 in Rochester from 1S5 pa
A total OF 21s9 regular inspections made
by the Bureau of Mercantile Inspection I'm
January. February and March. compared
with 1859 in the last three months OF 1875
Observations and Investigations similarly in
creased respectively from i92 and al Ia
1149 and 1456. Complaints received were just
about the same. 50 and 65 Prosecutions in the first
quarter Of 1909 numbered 123. than three
times the number in the preceding quarter (3s)
The number OF children found illegally employed.
however. though still considerable (S45D lower
than in the last quarter of 1908 (3.S).
The general labor laws Of 1909 which repro
duced In the Bulletin. include six protective labor
laws for a special investigation OF a labor
problem OF vital importance and one which indi-
rectly concerns labor in connection with compul-
sorry education OF the protective acts. two
mark substantial steps forward TO somewhat now
ground. One desgnates number of occupations
in which children under sixteen may he en-
ployed. This law. which carried a specific rec
of the Governor. recognizes the prln-
ciple of special regulations for dangerous trades
which are the logical supplement of the existing
general rac1atinns for Ill trades Ills game nrin