The New York herald., 1921-03-14
Progressive Falling Off in
Pay Beginning in Sep
tember Shown to Be
Nationwide.
MAXIMUM 33 1-3 PER CT.
Slashes in Some Cases in
Excess of Drop in Cost
Of Living or Prices
in General.
LABOR SURPLUS A FACTOR
Wage Decrease and Per Capita
Earnings in Score Of Lead
ing Industries Listed
by Labor Department.

Special Despatch 10 THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., March IL.
Wages are on a decline throughout
the United States in practically every
industry. Reports to the Department
of Labor show a progressive decline
which, beginning in September, has
followed business depression and price
recessions.
The fun scope and extent of the re-
ductions so far made are not known.
The Department of Labor has been
getting isolated reports for many
months, but these have not been cor
related, as general wages reduction
surveys are outside of the usual line
of statistical tabulation by the Bureau
Of Labor Statistics.
Reports received show wage reduc-
tions running as high as 33 i-3 per cent.
In the hosiery and underwear industries
IN February. Ethelbert Stewart, chief
of the Bureau of Statistics, stated that
wages pra actcally throughout the coun-
try would be moved down in the general
business and industrial readjustment.
He declared, however. that the slashes
so far made were far in excess OF the
drop in the cost OF living or In prices in
general. This should not be the case"
Mr.. Stewart declared. Wages should
follow prices and cost OF living in the
down hill slide. as they did in the up
ward climb. instead of being precips-
iated at this time
Conditions of employment have had
much TO do with wage reductions. Three
million men or more are idle in the
United States. That 100000 repre-
sents wage earners. wiling workers who
are out of a job. and the labor surplus
has figured largely in the wage reduce
,ions.
Lack of Orders n Cause.
In the period from October 10 TO No
vember il last estimates in ten of the
fourteen industries classified by the
Labor Department showed reductions in
wages. due to general lack of orders
Iron and steel wages increased dur
ing the period. Those in the automobile
industry struck balance, both slight
increases and decreases being reported
The car building industry was likewise
on the turn at that time. In the cotton
industry a small number of mills re-
ported 10 per cent. increases. but the
majority reduced wages 20 per cent
Slight decreases were made in hosierS
and underwear Wages in the woollcn
Industry were decreased. The silk in
dustry was on the turn.
Since that time large corporations like
the General Electric have reduced wages.
The United States Steel Corporation,
however, has stood on the existing
wage scales and has reduced neither
wages nor prices. but many OF the in
dependents have cut wages.
Latest reports to the Department OF
Labor, covering conditions in January,
show that during the period December
is, 1920, to January Is, 1921. there
we're wage changes made by establish
mcnts in thirteen of the fourteen indus
tries. In each OF these industries one
establishment granted an increase to EN-
ployees.
Iron and steel: Wage rate decreases
ranging from 20 to % per cent were
made to all employees in one establish
ment. Three plants reported q decrease
Of 90 per cent. affecting all employees in
the first plant and 80 per cent. in the
second The number affected in the
third plant was not stated. A reduction
Of 10 per cent. was made to the entire
force in three mills. while another mill
reduced the wages OF all employees IL
per cent. In two plants time and one
half was eliminated, resulting in de-
crease In earnings Of 1871 per cent. In
ono plant, while the approximate de-
crease was not reported BY the other
plant