The Washington times., 1915-12-17
half MILLION MEN
GET BIG INCREASES
Fourteen Per Cent More Opera
tives Employed Last Month
Than in November, 1914.

NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Wage increases
from q to II per cent among the 100000
employees of 1900 representative manu-
featuring plants In New York State In
dicate the rising prosperity Of the work.
ingman here. according to the NoVcm-
Der report of the bureau Of statistics OF
the State industrial commission.
Every industry group in the state en-
ployed more operatives and paid more
wages In November of this year than IN
November, 1914. the total factory, pay
cent more operatives and % per cent
more wages than did the pay roll OF the
same month last year.
The most marked Improvement, ooth
In comparison with the preceding month
ana in compa rison with the correspond
ing mont h of last year, was shown by
the metals, machinery. and conveyances
group. In comparison with November.
1919, ~ per cent more operatives were
employed and Al ner cent more paid In
wages. Within The group the most
marked Increases were in the ship-build-
ing industry, the firearms industry. the
jewelry and silverware industry, the
steel industry, and the machinery indus
try.
In COMPARISON with November. 1914,
marked Improvement was shown by
the automobile industry and the brass,
COPPER and aluminium industry.
III oIOVpS'
Increase in manufacturing activity
nearly as marked as that shown by
the metals. machinery, and conveyances
group was recorded by the smaller In
dustry group comprising furs. leather,
and rubber goods. This group in No
vember employed IS per cent more
operatives and paid 81 per cent more
wages than a year ago. The Industries
showing the greatest improvement were
the fur the boot and shoe. and the rub
Der goods.
The wood manufaCtur group show
cd material increase in November. both
| over the preceding months OF this year
aud over the corresponding month OF
, last year. Greatest strength was shown
by the piano industry: the furniture
and cabinet working industry and the
lumber industry, although showing no
marked changes during the fall months,
compared most favorably with 1914,
when business was falling Off during
this period.
The textile group, although show ing
| but slight improvement from october
to November. still retained its gain of
! p per cent in EageS over 1914 The
| important clothing. millinery and
! laundering group, although employing
| no more operatives and paying pcr
cent less wages in November than the
previous month. showed greater actlV-
| ity than in November OF last year. due
primarily to the fact that in 1914 bust
ness fell off rapidly after September.
Clothing Industry Better.
Within this group substantial i'm
| provemcnt was shown both in com.
| Parison with the preceding month ard
! in comparison with last year by tho
mems clothing industry and the wom-
| ems underwear and furnishings IT,
| dustry and the miscellaneous sewcd
| furnishings industry
| On the other hand. the womcn'S
| clothing industry and the millinery in
| dustry. although doing more business In
| November. 1876 than in November, 1874
| recorded less activity in November than
in October.
| Although a decrease in activity rom
October to November was recorded ir
the stone. clay, and glass group, tnIs
decrease was less marked than that re
| corded a year ago. The glass industry
| was more active in November of this
! year than in the preceding month ol
the corresponding month of last gear
| In the brick and tile industry and ir
| the miscellaneous stone and minera
| products industry business was more
| active in November OF this year thar
| a year ago.
! The food, liquors. and tobacco husi
nesses although somewhat less active
in November than in October. showed
greater strength in November OF thii
year than in the corresponding montt
OF last year. The paper industry
showed a slight increase between Octo
Der and November, both in the numoe
OF men employed and in wages paid
recorded slight Improvement betwceI
October and November, now showing
substantially greater activity than tn
| ccrre spending month of last year.