The Washington herald., 1921-08-07
American Industry Still
Struggling to Get Back
80. To Normal.
SUBNORMAL STATE
Statistics Show Decreased
Employment in Thirteen
% Industries.

havo passed since the world war
armistiee, American industry is still
struggling to get back to a nor
NAL condition wherein factories
boomed and there was plenty of
work for all.
Employment conditions of the
country arc not only subnormal,
but IN June, 1921, they were worse
than they were in the same month
in the year before. according to the
latest figures oft he Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department
of Commerce and Labor and with
the reduction of forces wage re-
auctions have been general.
Statistics Compiled.
The carefully compiled statistics
for thirteen selected manufactur-
ing industries and in bituminous
coal mining. show that there was
decreased employment in all lines
except in the wool industry as COM
pared with June, 1920. There was
in the wooden industry an increase
Of 50 per cent in the number of
persons employed in June, 1921,
than in June, 1920.
The most important decreases in
employment shown by these COM
paratiVe figures were 4.6 per cent
in car building and repairing: 59.6'
per cent in iron and stel and S1.5
per cent In automobiles.
When compared with June, 1870
the amount of the payrolls in June.
1921, shows decreases in thirteen
OF the fourteen industries The
one increase reported-s.3 per cent
appears in the woOlen ldustry'
The largest decrease appearing dur
ing this period are IS per cent IN
iron and steel, All per cent IN
paper, 40.6 per cent in leather and
39.7 per cent in automobiles
Comparative data for June, lS2l'
and May, 1921, show that in ten
industries there were increases In
the number of persons on the pay
roll in June, as compared with May
and m four a decrease. The lars-
est increases. SO per cent, T.Z per
cent and per cent are shown IN
mems ready-to-wear clothlhs'
leather and bituminous coai, re-
spectiyeIy. A decrease OF o. per
cent appears in iron and steel ana
one of "a per cent in car bulldlnS
and repairing o,
when comparing June, lSZl with
May, 1921. eleven industries sho"
an increase inthe amount of money
paiJ to employees and three sho"
decrease. The most important IN
,.rsases are lis per cent IN COAL
o. per cent in mems ready-maoe
rlothinc and s.S per cent in leather.
Iron. and steel show a per cent de-
crease of IFS.
Wage Changes
,urinr the period May Is to
,,,a IL there were wage changes
made by some of the estaollsn-
,,,.nts m eleven of the fourteen IN
dustries. T.,
TronIaud Steel-An the men IN
- establishments were REDUCED
approximately 81 per cent in wages
IN twenty-five plants wage reduc-
lions of 20 per cent were reporteu'
Erecting the entire force in twenty
one plants and "a per cent OF the
foroe in the remaining piahIs'
E,i1ht mills reported a general wage
rats cut of Is per cent. In one con,
r.rn the fcremen were reduceo
ss.a per cent in wages. while the
odaee force was reduced 10 per cent
A decrease of IL per cent aHectihs
% pcr cent of the force was re-
norted by one plant. In two estao-
IiSbments a decrease OF u per cent
as made affecting all employees III
onsi establishment. Payment CT
time and one-half for overtime after
.ight hours was discontinued pS
three concerns. Increased business
s.nre.sson is reported throughout
theiindustry.
Autonobiles-A wage rate DE :
crease Of 10 per cent was reported
nv three plants, affecting all en-
pIoyes in the first plant, IS per cent
of the employees in the second
nlaut and IS per cent of the en-
nl,T YES in the third plant. One fac-
,ory made a 7.2 per cent decrease
10 40 per cent of the force. when
ronnarjnz the per capita earnings
for I.s.e with those for May de-
crease Of rs per cent is shown.
Car Building and Repairing
More time was worked during the
eayrof1 period and the per capita
earnings show an increase Of 81
per cent when May and June figures
sre compared
Cotton Manufacturing-T wages
Of al, employees in one plant were
decreased s% per cent. The per
capita earnings for June show an
h;crease Of 1 per cent when COM
nared with the per capita earnings
for Nay.
Hosiery and Underwear-An in
crease Of 10 per cent was granted
by two mills. affecting rs per cent
OF tue employees in the first mill
and 4 per cent in the second mill.
A decrease of 22h per cent was re-
portedr by one concern. but the
number affected was not stated.
The Entire force of one plant was
reduced 10 per cent in wages, while
about ss per cent Of the force In
another plant was reduced 81 per
cent.
wooien-There were no changes
In ratss OF wages reported for this
lndnstry.
siIk-A decrease of 10 per cent to
50 per cent of the force was reported
by one mill. The per capita earn
ings for June are Is per cent less
than those for May.
Mems Ready Made Clothing-Four
per cent OF the men In one plant
we're granted an increase of 10 per
Cent lAll of the men In another
plant-tere decreased is per cent.
Leather-A decrease Of IS per cent
Was reported by one tannery. but the