484 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



might have stated with equal validity that the officials in California 

 industries received in nine tenths of the cases over $1,300 annually. 



The figures showing the service incomes of inferior officers on the 

 railroads appear in the form of averages only. The section foremen, 

 of whom there were 44,466 in 1911^'^ received an average daily compen- 

 sation of from $1.92 to $3,17, varying with the part of the country in 

 which they were at work. The average daily compensation of general 

 officers ($13.99) and of other officers ($6.37) has already been com- 

 mented on. Apparently the railroad foremen receive a wage approxi- 

 mately the same as that paid to semi-skilled wage-earners. The com- 

 pensation paid to officers is considerably greater. 



One report^^ contains data of real importance in this connection. 

 The most available figures in this report relate to the Bell Telephone 

 System, from the 1908 pay rolls of which they were taken. Among the 

 Bell employees there were 614 foremen, one fifth of whom received less 

 than $80 per month ($960 per year), and eleven twelfths of whom re- 

 ceived less than $135 per month ($1,500 per year). Of the total num- 

 ber, only 51 received more than $135 (the last class appearing in the 

 report). The rates of pay for assistant foremen (39 in all) were much 

 lower. Half fell below $80, and all but one below $135 per month. 

 The pay of general foremen was higher. Of the 21 listed, half (10) 

 received $135 or over per month. The managers and assistant man- 

 agers were p'aid at approximately the same rate. Two fifths received 

 less than $80, and four fifths less than $135. The pay of superintend- 

 ents is much higher. There were only three under $80, and nine 

 under $135. Three fourths (32 out of 41) received $135 or over. 



The New York Public Service Commission reports upon the in- 

 come rates of 635 foremen and assistant foremen employed by gas and 

 electric utilities in the First District of New York. Only 3 per cent, 

 received less than $750 ; 22 per cent, received less than $1,000 ; and 58 

 per cent, received less than $1,250.^^ 



These figures are given rather because they emphasize the paucity 

 of the data than because they serve any useful statistical purpose. So 

 far as the figures go, they suggest that foremen, assistant superintend- 

 ents and assistant managers are paid salaries about equal to those of 

 the best-paid tenth among the wage-earners ($1,000 to $1,500 per 

 year). Superintendents, general superintendents and general man- 

 agers usually receive more than $1,500. It is to be hoped that before 

 another income study is made there will be some authoritative state- 



10 Statistics of Railways, 1913, op. cit., pj). 26 and 28. 



11 Investigation of Telephone Companies, United States Bureau of Labor, 

 Senate Document 380, 61st Congress, 2d Session, Washington, Government 

 Printing Office, 1910, pp. 273-89. 



12 Eeport of the Public Service Commission, First District of New York, 

 1911, Volume III., p. 275. 



