The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
OUR ENGINEERING LEADS.
ITS SUPERIORITY TO EUROPEAN
AND THE REASONS.

Us TO EHcei asa Their Relation to the
EnEineers' strihe-Unions ana Tyranny.
A conversation which had a special interest
In England because OF the engineering dispute
In that country, and has a kindred interest
hero because conditions in England and the
United States are directly compared or con-
trasted In 1t, rs instances arise. was published
in tho London Times OF Sept. %. 1t led tc q
discussion which was continued in tho Times's
columns UP to the issue OF that journal re-
ceived hero on last Thursday. The converse
ton was between an English engineer and a
member OF a largo American firm OF manufac.
turing engineers" Shorthand notes Of It were
sent to tho Times for publication. The Amcri-
can was answering direct questions, and gave
and expressed his views with a
divectnoss and explicitness that, after q weeks
incubation, brought a two-column reply from
John Burns, NJ. Pa reply longer than tho
whole printed conversation. Mr.. Burns was
answered by another correspondent, who
shivered some of Mr.. Burns's hippant objeo-
lions to tho Americans assertions, although
he as well took q fling for himself at Americans
In general, just, apparently, for his own lingual
fabrication.
The Americans firm has been established
here since 1920, SO even conservative Britishers
could listen to what he had to say without
necessary'loss of.dignity. and the firms business
ub buCu II us pay jill dlnOull3 ~ lTuln pEt,VOO
to $4,000 week in wages. He touched upon
the fact that in his establishment the mon re-
ceived from 81 to 1926 q day of ten hours,
working nine hours on Saturday, and therefore
hfty-nine hours a week, and received a percent
age extra for overtime. Coming to the ques-
ton OF stoppagcs for meals. no said that he con.
sidered that Americans had q great advantage
In that particular over the English, the men
here working as they do in two stints Of five
hours each.
1.-THE beginning at g. o'clock In tho morning
seems to me absurd" he said, referring to tho
English way. "Iu the first place, the men como
to work without any breakfast, and in no very
cheerful condition during tho cold winter
months, certainly not 1T to commence any job
requiring close attention and energetic troat-
ment. After working two hours on an empty
stomach they stop for half an hour for break
fast, after which they-recommence. and by the
time they are again working at full speed the
bell rings for dinner, and commences break
No. 2"
The break in the day, he said, destroyed the
even flow Of work, 1t being always difficult, with
out loss of time. to take up o job at tho precise
point where 1t was left of. Asked for his opin.
ion of the prospects of the English manufac-
Jurors under the present conditions, he said:
"Tconsider that it is impossible for any man to
do business here in this country as An engineer
ahu. uidnuldCbuTtT u lhdCllucty OI HOOO quality
working eight hours per day. and compete with
like machinery made either In France, Germany,
or America, even if he pays the same rate of
wages per hour as is paid in those countries.
Perhaps, were a choice to be made, 1 would not
hesitate to go to Paris, or the neighborhood, and
establish works there in preference to England.
In the first place. one might have a good class Of
active and intelligent mechanics"
The British questioner. in inquiring about
rtn ,,,-A, - L.r-
consequent ability to export, remarked that
there was no doubt as to the excellence Of the
Workmanship and no doubt as to the ability Of
the United States manufacturer to export machin-
cry TO all parts Of the world, England included.
American locomotives would be found every
where and american machine tools in all
this success was attributed.
We pay higher wages in the United States"
~ in excess Of that in France, Germany, and, as
you say, 20 TO % per cent. in excess Of that in
forced the masters, their toremen, and even the
men, to devise means by which labor cum be
derstand the situation, or are unfortunately ig-
norant, otherwise they would never permit the
trade s oi thS COUNTRY p,ie I 70 o be ruined ,vdnss , Py arbitrary aTant AIRY
been steadily increased bylaborsaving machines,
so that, although, at this moment our plant is
more than doubled, our staff OF men has only in
creased about SO, per cent, with the result that
our output, which Is IN proportion. roughly
speaking. to the number and efficiency OF the
machines. is doubled, but our wages bill, in pro-
portion TO that output. is % per cent. less. The
natural result is ability to compete in tho mar
kets OF the world, and at the same time to pay
the workmen a higher rate OF wages per day
than II they were working under the previously
existing conditions. This fact speaks for 1t.
sell; II means the success of free and intelli-
Now, l understand by this" said the cues.
TONER. that In the United States q manufacturer
Is master IN his own shop, which is moro than
can be said OF the British manufacturer at the
present moment, and l understand from you
that the trade unions do not interfere with him
IA M hat man ma small hi Innn n cart lin unn-
chine or how many machines that man shall
work II he choose to do so with a view to earn
We'll, the labor organizations have tried to
Introduce the ~leyelling system, such as obtains
man carry the inferior one, and consequently
Kills a mans ambition To excel in his parAcu-
will not allow him to do more than a certain
amount Of work. In America the men are ire
chanio will lead a gang and take Charge Of q
group OF machines with youngsters ana la
S sDssrs u f TSaSs h h a. G SST w YSst 4 happens t4,slrst IN
energetic fellow. put TO work on a lathe. lie
sets a piece OF work and starts it; he then sits
down and that work goes on the whole OF the
both mentally and bodily. Now that man
suppose 1 go to him and say. There are three
lathes more. II you keep them going, which
you double wages he will refuse because his
Trade union=wil not allow it. He imagines,
Door fellow, that he is protecting his industry.
and. by refusing to do more than a certain
amount OF work himself, is making work for
others. Mover was a greater mistake made;
he Is simply killing the industry upon which
his own, existence and the existence OF his
fellows depend"
To both the superiority of the men in Amer
ica as individuals and the nou-interference OF
the trades unions, whose rules here did not
crush out OF "a man the spirit OF emulation, tho
American attributed American success. HIS
remarks TO this effect, especially his disparage-
ment OF the British wurkmen, Ranked some.
what in British breasts, as Burns's reply in
particular showed. Concluding with some
remarks upon the future. based upon impress
eions gained during his experience in England,
the American said:
VIVA is happening in your country is this:
Your Government has made AN enormous in
crease IN tho navy; you are spending millions
which have kept and are keeping your ship
yards, your engineering establishments, your
steel works and your gun factories busy-al
money which Ii supplied by national taxation.
Your men, are taking advantage OF this and
striking. During this period, while your at
tenuon Is being devoted to working for the
Government and bathing with strikes, you are
permitting the markets OF your great national