worker is obliged to travel to and from his work in the same condition. Furthermore the problem of training beginners on building work, in certain lines at least, is essentially more difficult than in those trades carried on in a shop. There are as a rule fewer grades of work in the building trades and a smaller range of operations upon which to adjust the learner's capabilities, and skill must be acquired in direct work upon the finished product.

It is in these trades that the charge of undue and injurious restriction of the numbers of learners on the part of the unions is most often made by the employer. The returns on this point from employers in the different trades are given below.

The figures indicate that the restrictions are felt by the employer most severely in the case of bricklaying, electrical construction, steam and hot water heating, and tile setting. In the majority of cases in the remaining trades union restrictions are reported as not preventing the employment of as large a number of apprentices aзs would otherwise be employed. It should be noted in this connection that only in plastering and plumbing among these trades do a majority of firms report the employment of the full number of apprentices allowed by the union rules. In the remaining branches of carpentry, painting, and structural iron work, obviously influences quite apart from union rules must be accountable for the small number of young learners in the trade.

BRICKLAYING.

The bricklaying trade is one in which the apprenticeship system is still maintained and one of the rare instances in which a form of indenture is still in use.

Helpers in the bricklaying trade form a distinct adult class of unskilled labor.

Returns were obtained from nineteen establishments, all of which are in New York City. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 12,520 males, the smallest 4,080 males.

The length of the working day is uniformly reported as 8 hours.

The total number of adult employees of high-grade skill is given as 8,327 males. The nationality of 8,057 of these employees is noted as 50.6 per cent foreign born and 49.4 per cent American born. The prevailing rate of wages per day of adult employees in this high-grade class is uniformly reported as $5.60, or $33.60 per week.

No employees under 16 years of age are reported.

Thirteen firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 111 males; of these 37 males are bound by contract or some form of indenture. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 14 years to 18 years; of the sixteen firms reporting eight give 16 years and four give 18 years the preference. The weekly wage paid apprentices during the first year varies from $4.80 to $9.00; out of fifteen firms reporting ten give $6.00; during the second year the wage varies from $7.50 to $15.00, eleven out of fifteen firms reporting wages that range from $9.00 to $12.00; in the third year the range is from $9.00 to $24.00, eight out of fourteen firms reporting wages from $12.00 to $18.00. Twelve firms report that systematic instruction is furnished apprentices; three firms report the contrary. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from 3 years to 6 years; out of sixteen firms reporting twelve give 4 years. Four firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for apprentices and eleven firms report in the negative.

Two firms report that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; nine firms report that all and eight that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by eight firms as trade unions and by seven firms as application. Five firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; thirteen firms report no difficulty.

Six report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; eleven firms report the contrary; eight firms report that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is because of restrictions of the number of apprentices allowed by trade unions. Twelve firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; seven firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; ten firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules. Nine firms report in the negative.

Sixteen firms representing 11,577 employees report that the efficiency and future opportunities of their employees would be increased if they were given a training between the ages of 14 and 16 in a general public industrial or preparatory trade school, which should aim to give a knowledge of materials, shop mathematics and fundamental industrial methods, and some ideas of industrial organization, but not teach a special trade; two firms representing 443 employees answer this question in the negative. Thirteen firms representing 10,542 employees state that practical day trade schools giving a specialized training of one year or more after the age of 16 would help to meet the problem of skilled employees in their business; four firms representing 1,236 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of twelve firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advantageously administered by the State or community at public expense and operated on a non-commercial product; representatives of four firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of seven firms state that in their judgment such schools would be practical if conducted by industrial establishments or a combination of such establishments and operated on a commercial product; representatives of ten firms answer this question in the negative. Sixteen firms report that practical evening, or part time, trade schools would be of value in helping unskilled workers, or those of low-grade skill, to advance to positions requiring high-grade skill; three firms answer this question in the negative.

CARPENTRY.

In the carpentry trade also an apprenticeship system is maintained but indentures are rarely used.

Returns were obtained from twenty-seven establishments, all of which are in New York City. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 2,476 males, the smallest, 542 males.

The length of the working day is uniformly reported as 8 hours.

The total number of adult employees of high-grade skill is given as 1,812 males. The nationality of these employees is noted as 61 per cent foreign born and 39 per cent American born. The prevailing rate of wages per day of adult employees in this high-grade class ranges from $3.75 to $5.00, or from $22.50 to $30.00 per week, twenty firms out of twenty-seven reporting wages of $30.00.

Three firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 8 males. Thirteen firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 30 males; of these 2 males are bound by contract or some form of indenture. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 14 years to 21 years; of the fifteen firms reporting nine give 16 years. The weekly wage of said apprentices during the first year varies from $2.00 to $10.50; out of thirteen firms reporting nine give $4.00 to $5.00. During the second year the wage varies from $2.50 to $12.00, eight out of twelve firms reporting wages from $6.00 to $7.00; in the third year the range is from $3.00 to $18.00, nine of the twelve

firms reporting give wages from $8.00 to $12.00. Six firms report that systematic instruction is furnished apprentices; eight firms report the contrary. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from 3 years to 8 years; out of seventeen firms reporting eight give 4 years and three give 5 years. Six firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for apprentices and eight firms report in the negative.

Sixteen firms report that all and eleven that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources than training in their own establishments; these other sources are reported by twelve firms as trade unions, by one firm as advertising and by eight firms as application. Eleven firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; sixteen firms report no difficulty.

Seven report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; thirteen firms report the contrary; nine firms report that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is because of restrictions of the number of apprentices allowed by trade unions; one firm reports the reason is in inability to secure good material as apprentices. Eight firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; thirteen firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; nine firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules; twelve firms report in the negative. Nineteen firms representing 1,965 employees report that the efficiency and future opportunities of their employees would be increased if they were given a training between the ages of 14 and 16 in a general public industrial or preparatory trade school which should aim to give a knowledge of materials, shop mathematics and fundamental industrial methods, and some ideas of industrial organization but not teach a special trade; seven firms representing 505 employees answer this question in the negative. Sixteen firms representing 1,189 employees state that practical day trade schools giving a specialized training of one year or more after the age of 16, would help to meet the problem of skilled employees in their business; eight firms representing 297 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of thirteen firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advantageously administered by the State or community at public expense and operated on a non-commercial product; representatives of seven firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of ten firms state that in their judgment such schools would be practical if conducted by industrial establishments or a combination of such establishments and operated on a commercial product; representatives of eleven firms answer this question in the negative. Twenty firms report that practical evening, or part time, trade schools would be of value in helping unskilled workers, or those of lowgrade skill, to advance to positions requiring high-grade skill; six firms answer this question in the negative.

PAINTING AND DECORATING.

Apprentices are also taken in the painting and decorating trade but no indentures are reported.

Painting and decorating is a strongly marked seasonal trade, painters and paperhangers sometimes being out of employment for three and four months in the year.

In the painting trade the complaint is most frequently made that apprentices will not remain at the trade until the completion of the term of apprenticeship.

Returns were obtained from thirty-seven establishments, all of which are in New York City. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 1,628 males and the smallest, 375 males.

The length of the working day is uniformly reported as 8 hours.

The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 1,505 males. The nationality of these employees is noted as 43 per cent foreign born and 57 per cent American born. The prevailing rate of wages per day of adult employees in this high-grade class ranges from $3.50 to $4.00 or from $21.00 to $24.00 per week, twenty-four firms out of thirty-seven reporting give wages of $21.00.

Three firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 4 males. Nine firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 19 males; of these no males are bound by contract or some form of indenture. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 14 years to 18 years; of the twelve firms reporting nine give 16 years the preference. The weekly wage paid apprentices during the first year varies from $3.00 to $9.00; out of ten firms reporting eight give $4.00 to $7.00; during the second year the range is from $4.00 to $12.00 and the distribution is too regular to indicate significant figures; in the third year the range is from $6.00 to $15.00, and six of the ten firms reporting give wages within the group $9.00 to $12.00. Six firms report that systematic instruction is furnished apprentices; four firms report the contrary. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in highgrade work is reported as from 3 years to 6 years; out of fourteen firms reporting five give 4 years and five give 5 years. Eight firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for apprentices and six firms report in the negative.

Twenty-five firms report that all and twelve that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources than training in their own establishments; these other sources are reported by fourteen firms as trade unions, by one firm as advertising and by twenty firms as application. Nineteen firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; seventeen firms report no difficulty.

Six report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; sixteen firms report the contrary; one firm reports that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is because