dustrial communities. If these figures are to be used as a basis for readjusting wages, local studies must be made of changes in rent, which have shown marked differences in different communities. Thus, if in a given community rent had advanced as much as 70%, the increase in the total cost of living would range from 60% to 65%. The estimate of 45% as in the rise in the cost of fuel, will also have to be increased for some communities; but this would have only a slight effect on the increase in the budget as a whole because of the relatively small expenditure for fuel. Following consideration is given the items individually listed in above table. FOOD All articles of food show a considerable increase in price since 1914. Exceptional advances were recorded in prices of flour, lard and corn meal. Hhe most sensational advance occurred in the case of potatoes, which, in spring of 1917, were quoted at more than three times the 1914, price; in 1918, however, the greater part of this advance had been eliminated. There have been investigaitons on cost of living made by a number of agencies and institutoins; among these, besides the Department of Labor at Washington, are the Ship Building Wage Adjustment Board, the United States Railroad Wage Commission, Bankers Trust Company of New York, and others. In general there was a marked agreement among them that the increase in the cost of food from the outbreak of the war to the spring of 1918 was 50% to 55%. Since it is known that some further increases in food prices have been made in recent months, the National Industrial Conference Board accepts the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics figure of 62% as the total increase which has occurred from the outbreak of the war to the middle of June, 1918. RENT Changes in rent showed such wide variation that no general average applicable to all sections of the country could be reached. However, it is estimated that 15% is sufficient to cover the increase in this item up to the early summer of 1918 for a very large proportion of industrial communities. It is predicted that a further increase in rent may be looked for this fall. CLOTHING Information secured from retail stores in cities well distributed throughout the country indicate increases in prices of the most common articles of wearing apparel ranging from 50.5% for women's dollar blouses up to 161% for men's overalls. Striking increases occurred in the prices of certain yard goods, where advances in cost over 1914 prices amounted to more than 100%. Men's hosiery, selling for 15 cents in 1914, cost in June, 1918, usually not less than 25 cents, and women's hosiery selling for 25 cents four years ago, brought 45 cents in June of this year. Women's shoes of a standard kind increased 88.5%; men's 69%. Women's kid gloves which in 1914 cost one dollar average more than two dollars in June, 1918. The average rise in the total clothing budget, since 1914, is 77%. FUEL AND LIGHT Prices secured from coal dealers in different localities frequently showed advances of 20% to 40% up to June, 1918, for ton lots of anthracite, and more marked increases in the cost of bituminous coal, which is extensively used for domestic purposes in some sections of the country. Manufactured and natural gas used for household purposes showed but slight change from the 1914 rates up to April, 1918; a number of communities reported a decrease. It is estimated that an average allowance of 45% of increase in the cost of fuel and light within the last four years is not only sufficient, but probably liberal for most communities. Inasmuch as fuel represents only 5% or 6% of the total family budget, a further increase of as much as 20% in the cost of fuel and light would add 1% to the increase in the total cost of living. SUNDRIES Food, rent, clothing, fuel and light constitute 80% of the family budget, where we find an average increase of 52%. For sundry items the increase is 50%. Sundries represent expenditures for living rather than for necessary cost of living, and there is a great variation in the amounts expended under this head. Hence all figures under this item are mere estimated. Under this head we may include such things as carfare, insurance, theatre tickets and tobacco. The following taken from a bulletin published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor, is a specific instance of articles of diet which will show price conditions and cost of living: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING Retail Prices of Food in the United States Retail prices of food as reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for July, 1918, show, for all articles combined, an increase of 3% as compared with June, 1918. The prices of several articles decreased. The five cuts of fresh beef show a decline of 1%, each. Of the other articles which decreased in price, navy beans were 2% cheaper, and lard, lamb, and coffee decreased less than five-tenths of 1% each. Bread, flour, and corn meal did not change in price in the month. A comparison of retail food prices for July 15, 1918, with those for July 15, 1917, shows, for all articles combined, an increase of 15%. The greatest increases shown were for fresh beef and hens. The cheaper cuts of beef, plate boiling beef and chuck roast, advanced 36% and 33% respectively. These cuts advanced more than sirloin steak, which increased in price 29%. Hens were 36% higher than a year ago. Lard, pork chops, bacon, ham, and lamb show increases ranging from 19% for lard to 25% for lamb. Five articles-beans, potatoes, flour, coffee, and bread-were cheaper than in July, 1917. Average money retail prices and per cent of increase or decrease July 15, 1918, compared with July 15, 1917, and June 15, 1918: 1 Decrease of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent. 2 Increase of less than five-tenths of 1 per cent, 316 ounces, weight of dough. No change in price. PART IV The Work of the Department of Labor "Life's success is what you make it; No matter what others have to say, What can successfully be done today. And the yesterday has gone to stay; The idea has been floating in the minds of many people that the chief function of the Department of Labor was to gather and compile statistics on labor and the labor problems in the state, and to print these in bulletins and the biennial report. If, indeed, this was its only function it would have little cause to exist. It does, to be sure, attend to all this kind of work, but this is one of the least of its duties. In addition it takes an active part in the distribution of labor over the state when and where it is needed and in this work the Department cooperates with the Labor Department of other states and these in turn receive help from the Nebraska Bureau as will be seen later in this report. Following we give an account of some of the activities of the Department of Labor. To begin with it has been instrumental in helping collect wages for men and women whose employers are sometimes forgetful of their obligations. From May 1st, 1917, to December 1st, 1918, wages to the amount of $12,678.00 were collected through the help of this department. Adjustments of wage disputes were also made between the railroads, packing houses and others and the employees. A great many complaints have been made for the non-payment of wages by employees, and it is gratifying to know that settlement in all cases has been made satisfactory to employee and employer. Our whole aim is to be fair and just in all our settlements because by this means we gain confidence and so are able to render more efficient service to the state. There have been a number of complaints for violation of the 9-hour female labor law and several others for violation of the 8-hour child labor law. A number of complaints have also been made of unsanitary conditions in factory or shop. In all these cases the spirit and the letter of the law have been enforced in the interests of the social well-being of the laborer and the employer as well, for it is now almost axiomatic that the physical comfort of the employee is a financial asset to the employer. During this biennium, 3,749 factory inspections and inspections of other lines of business have been made. There are three things which merited special attention: Safety appliances, dressing rooms, and sanitary conditions generally. By reverting to the law in another part of this report, it will be seen that it is very clear and specific in its demands upon the employer to provide safety for his employees and proper sanitary conditions as well. In quite a few instances, dressing rooms and toilets have been required as a result of these inspections. We are glad to note that hearty co-operation of employers has been accorded our recommendations. In most instances, they have been glad for suggestions and have willingly complied with them. With these introductory remarks, we will now consider the activities of the State Labor Bureau during 1917 and 1918, especially emphasizing its handling of the labor situation throughout the state, such |