The Washington times., 1917-01-01
WORKERS GET HALF
BILLION IN BONUSES
Five Million Wage Farmers
Share in Prosperity Melon
of Year lust Closed.
GIFTS IN VARIOUS FORMS
Salary Increases Average 10
Per Cent, Gifts From S to
so Per Cent.
GIFTS IN VARIOUS FORMS

NEW YORK, Jan. Although 1917
is very little chap and only few
hours old he was able to totter IN this
morning with a load of gold for Mr..
Average Man estimated anywhere be-
tween $500. 900, 900 and $500, 900, 900.
This is the young gentleman's answer
to the high cost of living and his
proof that prosperity is abroad in the
land.
According to the Department Of La
Dor more than 100000 wage-earners
will share in the cutting of his ire
mendous melon in the shape Of salary
increases, bonuses and holiday gifts.
Never before has there been anything
like this voluntary sharing Of in
creased profits and this serious effort
on the part OF firms to aid their en-
ployes in meeting the unusual living
conditions.
Everywhere throughout the coun-
try business concerns have announced
definite wage advances OF their equiv
aIent in the form of bonuses, holiday
gifts, profit-sharing plans or tnsur-
ance benefits. Government reports in
dictate that the straight salary in
creases will average 10 per cent, and
the bonuses from. s to so per cent.
Cash Bonuses Most POpuIrr.
Fortunately the general prosperity
OF the country has advanced almost
step by step with the increased cost
of living, so that firms are now able
through their augmented profits to
help their employees solve the Ques-
ton OF high prices. To many big con-
Germs the popular method has been
one of cash bonuses ranging from two
weeks additional salary to q half OF
the total years wages. This has been
favored no doubt because bonuses are
less inflexible than wage advances
and carry no promises for the future.
A favored method being used now
for the first time to any extent is the
giving of insurance policies on the
group insurance plan. While this is
not q direct answer to the solution of
increased living expenses, II takes
care of a necessary expenditure and
relieves the ordinary employee OF at
lsast one additional burden. 1t IL es-
timated that many millions OF dollars
worth of life and accident insurance
has been given out BY firms the past
week.
Joy Also for Stockholders.
The general prosperity OF the coun-
try is also reflected in the fact that
hundreds OF thousands of stockhold-
ers will share in extra dividends.
Scores Of corporations have ANNOUNCE
ed the dividing OF big profits. in some
cases amounting to 100 per cent of
share values. In the month OF De-
cember alone more than $350.O00. 900
in stock dividends were announced;
the amount may have aggregated
$500, 100000. This means that alto
getlfer the stockholders and employees
in the United States will receive as
their share in the years profits some
where around $500, 100000.
The record for wage increases dur
ing the past year goes to the United
States Steel Corporation, whose $780,
600 employees have shared in three
salary increases, aggregating $4,000
900. The American Telephone and
Telegraph Company probably takes
second place, with a distribution of
$6.000,0OO. Then there comes the
Bethlehem Steel Company with 10 per
cent wage increases to its 10000
workers.
New England mill workers have
had no less than $10,0OO,0OO voluntar
fly added to their annual wages.
Miners, steel workers, cigar makers,
and the employees in almost every
branch of industry in the country
have been rewarded by either wage
increases or substantial bonuses.
Banks, railroads, express companies.
hotels, insurance companies, and COM