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; one firm representing 15 en ployees answer this question in the negative. Nineteen firms representing 1,294 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; two firms representing 135 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 three 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 eight firms answer this question in the negative. Twenty-one 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.

PLUMBING.

In the plumbing trade the apprenticeship system has given place to a rather loose helper system.

By the agreement recently entered into between the Master Plumbers Association of the City of New York, Manhattan Borough, and Local Unions of the United Association of Plumbers and Gas Fitters of New York City, Manhattan Borough, the registration of the junior or improver and the helper class ceased on January 1, 1908. One helper is allowed to one plumber but no term is specified during which the helper must serve. He may when deeming himself competent, apply through his employer for examination before the joint Examination Board of Plumbers as to his fitness to be rated a first-class man and to become a member of the Journeymen's Association.

Returns were obtained from twenty-two 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 1,254 males, the smallest 495 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 656 males. The nationality of 631 employees is noted as 17.9 per cent foreign born and 82.1 per cent American born. The prevailing rate of wages per day is uniformly reported as $5.00, or $30.00 a week.

One firm reports employees under 16 years of age with a total of 17 males. Nine firms report helper beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 52 males; of these none

are bound by contract or indenture. The preferred age for beginners varies from 15 years to 19 years; of the twenty-one firms reporting ten give 18 years and seven give 16 years the preference. The weekly wage paid such beginners during the first year varies from $4.50 to $9.00; out of twenty firms reporting fifteen give $5.50 to $7.50; during the second year the range of wages is from $5.50 to $10.50, ten out of nineteen firms reporting wages of $7.50; in the third year the range is from $6.50 to $14.70, eleven of the nineteen firms reporting wages from $8.70 to $9.85. Two firms report that systematic instruction is furnished apprentices; seventeen 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 nineteen firms reporting seven give 5 years and four give 41⁄2 years. Ten firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for apprentices and twelve firms report in the negative. Two firms each report 1 employee under 18 years of age with no opportunity to learn a trade.

One firm reports that all and four that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; two firms report that all and fourteen that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by six firms as trade unions and by eleven firms as application. Six firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; fifteen firms report no difficulty.

Six report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; fourteen firms report the contrary; one firm reports that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is because of restrictions of the number of apprentices allowed by trade unions;` four firms report the reason is in inability to secure good material as apprentices: five firms report the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause. Six firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; fourteen firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; fifteen firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules; five firms report in the negative.

Eighteen firms representing 964 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 210 employees answer this question in the negative. Sixteen firms representing 950 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 224 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of seven firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advantagecusly administered by the State or community at public expense and operated on a non-commercial product; representatives of eleven 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 establish

ments or a combination of such establishments and operated on a commercial product; representatives of eight firms answer this question in the negative. Fifteen 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; five firms answer this question in the negative.

STEAM AND HOT WATER FITTING.

In the steam and hot water fitting trade a helper system controlled by union rules as to age, time of service and wages prevails. Under these rules candidates over 21 years of age may be admitted to the Helpers Union by passing an examination. One such helper is allowed to every fitter. Helpers may take an examination for admission to the union after working five years in connection with the trade.

Younger boys are sometimes employed about the shop for general help. Such boys learn the names and uses of tools, sizes of pipe, etc., and may become helpers if accepted by the union.

Returns were obtained from twenty 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 1,504 males, the smallest 816 males.

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

The total number of adult employees of high-grade skill is given as 808 males. The nationality of 793 employees is noted as 17.2 per cent foreign born and 82.8 per cent American born. The prevailing rate of wages per day of adult employees in this high-grade class is reported uniformly as $5.00, or $30.00 per week.

No employees under 16 years of age are reported.

Two firms report beginners under 18 years of age with a total of 4 males; of these none are bound by contract or indenture. The preferred age for beginners varies from 18 years to 21 years; of the ten firms reporting four give 18 years and four give 19 years the preference. The weekly wage paid helpers 21 years or over during the first year is reported by seventeen firms as $18.00 and by three firms as $21.00; wages of $18.00 a week are reported by eight firms as paid to helpers during the second and third years; the two firms reporting shop boys under 18 years of age give $5.50 and $7.62 respectively as the wages paid during the first year. Seven firms report that systematic instruction is furnished apprentices; fourteen firms report the contrary. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from three years to five years; out of fourteen firms reporting ten give five years, twelve firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for helpers and six firms report in the negative.

One firm reports that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; fourteen firms report that all and six that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other

Fifteen firms report

sources are reported by twenty firms as trade unions. that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; five firms report no difficulty.

Two report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; fourteen 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; three firms report the reason is in inability to secure good material as apprentices; 2 firms report the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause. Thirteen firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; three firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; thirteen firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules; one firm reports in the negative.

Seventeen firms representing 1,449 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 fundan ental industrial methods, and some ideas of industrial organization but not teach a special trade; two firms representing 41 employees answer this question in the negative. Seventeen firms representing 1,246 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; three firms representing 262 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of fourteen 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 two firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of twelve 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 four firms answer this question in the negative. Seventeen 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; two firms answer this question in the negative.

TILE SETTING.

A helper system strictly regulated by union rules prevails in the tile setting trade. Helpers must be at least 21 years of age. They are required to serve four years as helpers at a definite wage and then at the request of the employer they are put on trial for thirty days as "improvers." If satisfactory to the employer at the end of this period the candidate is examined by the union and if passed is bound to the employer for two years as an improver. During this period he is not allowed to leave his employer with

out the sanction of the union. At the end of two years he is eligible for admission to the journeymen's union.

Returns were obtained from eighteen 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 920 males, the smallest 247 males.

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

The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 585 males. The nationality of 574 males is noted as 31.4 per cent foreign born and 68.6 per cent American born. The prevailing rate of daily wages of adult employees in this high-grade class ranges from $4.25 to $5.00, or from $25.50 to $30.00 a week; sixteen firms out of eighteen reporting give wages of $30.00.

No employees under 16 years of age are reported.

No firms report beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill. The preferred age for beginners varies from 17 years to 25 years; of the seven firms reporting four give 21 years the preference. The weekly wage paid helpers 21 years or over during the first year is reported by thirteen firms as $18.00; one firm reports the wages of improvers as $21.00 and two as $24.00. No firms report that systematic instruction is furnished helpers; five firms report the negative. The time given for helpers to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from three years to six years; out of fifteen firms reporting seven give four years, three give three years and three give five years. Six firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for helpers and seven firms report in the negative.

Nine firms report that all and nine that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources than training in their own establishments; these other sources are reported by sixteen firms as trade unions. Thirteen firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; four firms report no difficulty.

Five report that the apprenticeship (helpers) system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; seven firms report the contrary; seven 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. Ten firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ three firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; seven firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules; three firms report in the negative.

Fourteen firms representing 707 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 120 employees answer this question in the negative. Fifteen firms representing 772 employees state that practical day trade schools giving a specialized