The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-06
.U.S.MAKES Study OF Cloth
INDUSTRIES OF new YORK
Statistics Compiled BY Government
Show Wide Range in Number of
Employees and Wages at Different
Periods OF the Year

Washington, D. c., April 6.-Bul-
letin No. 147, just issued by the Blu.
reau of Labor Statistics of the U. s..
Department of Labor, is devoted to a
study of employment conditions in the
cloak, suit and skirt industry, and the
effect of those conditions upon the an
nual earnings of the workers. This
study was undertaken jointly by the
Cloak, Suit and Skirt Manufacturers ;
Protective Association of New York
City, representing the employers and
the Joint Board of Cloak Makers ,
Unions of Greater New York and the
International Ladies Garment Work
ers Union representing the employees,
it was made under the immediate su-
pervision of the board of arbitration
established by the protocol agreement
OF September 2, 1910. The special
purpose of the study was to secure ac
eurate information in regard to earn
ings and amount of employment in the
industry in New York City, which the
board required in order to act upon
the questions brought before it.
The bulletin is divided into two
parts, the first dealing with season
a! fluctuations of employment in the
industry, as shown by pay rolls of es-
adjustments in New York City and
Boston,; the other comprising a study
Of occupations in the industry and
the presentation of plans for the ap-
premiership of cutters and the educa-
tion of workers.
Pay roll data for all productive
labor is seventy-fve shops in New
York City show two busy seasons;
one lasting fourteen weeks, from the
end of july until the end Of October;
and one twelve weeks from the end of
January until the middle of April.
During the busiest week (the last
week in February the total amount
paid to employees was almost four
times as large as that paid during
the dullest week (the second week in
December). Data for week workers in
twenty-one occupations in ninety New
York shops show similar busy and dull
seasons, the total paid them being al
most three times as great in the max
imum as in the minimum week.
Exact conclusions as to the proper
tion OF workers permanently employed
could not be arrived at, but it was
found to be small. Individual sched-
ules covering sixteen occupations in
New York City showed total of
1858 employees on the pay rolls at
some time during the year. OF these
only 1852 were at work during the
week of greatest employment and this
may be considered as the maximum
number needed to meet all the de-
mands of the work for the whole year.
Only $50 employees were employed
permanently, that is, forty weeks or
over.
The small number permanently en-
ployed, as compared with the highest
number needed during any week and
with the much larger number on the
pay roll at some time during the year,
indicates that a considerable propor-
tion of the employees do not receive
from the industry an adequate amount
during the year for their support. In
the ease of cutters, it was found that
the highest average annual earnings
that could ibe hoped for, namely, those
based on the maximum number em-
ployed during any week and the total
annual amount paid for wages as
shown by the pay roll, would be $S37,
while comparison of the annual pay
roll with the total number actually
employed at some time during the
year indicates average actual earnings
of only $415.