Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-06
STEEL TRUSTS NOTED MOVE.
How Sunday Work Is to Be Cut Down
to the Minimum.

How Sunday Work Is to Be Cut Down
to the Minimum.
Two hundred thousand workingmen
are affected potentially by decisive
position taken by the executive ON
GERS of the United States Steel corpo-
ration with respect to seven day work.
Exceptional and unnecessary Sunday
work is to be cut TO the minimum.
and there is to be at least twenty-four
hours interval during each week In
the production of ingots. Seven day
work in the continuous processes is
not as yet done away with, however.
Progressive action In this direction is
in line with practical judgments long
held by some of the broadcast men in
the industry. Officials of the corpo-
ration are authority for the statement
that equally serious consideration is
being given to the question of the COM
pulsory six day week for the men in
the continuous processes.
E. 81. Gary, chairman of the finance
committee Of the United States Steel
corporation. has sent a telegram to
the presidents Of the constituent COM
panies which should radically curtail
Sunday work at all steel works, roll
ing mills, shops, quarries and docks
controlled by the corporation. AS the
corporation has 100000 men on its
payrolls, the change Is national and
sweeping in effect. Acting with Chair
man Gary in the matter are President
W. E. Corey and Vice President w. B.
Dickson. The telegram reads:
March q, 1910
Mr.. Corey, Mr.. Dickson and 1 have
lately given much serious thought to the
subject matter Of resolution passed by
finance committee April %. 1907. concern
Ing Sunday or seventh day labor. Mr..
Corey has written you on the subject
within day OF two. The object OF this
telegram is to say that all OF US expect
and insist that hereafter the spirit OF the
resolution will be observed and carried
into effect. There should and must be no
unnecessary deviation without first TAX
ing up the question with our finance COM
mittee and asking for a change OF the
views of the committee, which probably
will not under any circumstances be Sc
cured. 1 emphasize the fact that there
should be at least twenty-four continuous
hours interval during each week in the
production of ingots. E. H. GARY.
Some of the leading men in the steel
business have long favored the elm
ination of seven day work, and this
resolution referred to in Mr.. Gary's
telegram was passed by the finance
committee April %. 1907.
On motion it was voted to recommend
to all subsidiary companies that Sunday
labor be reduced to the minimum; that all
work, excepting such repair work as can
not be done while operating. be suspend
ed on Sunday at all steel works. rolling
mills. shops, quarries and docks; that
there shall be no construction work. load
Ing or unloading of materials.
1t is understood that it is not at present
practicable to apply the recommendation
to all departments, notably the blast fur
naces, but it is desirable that the spirit of
the recommendation be observed to the
fullest extent within reason.
The executive heads of the steel in
dustry are to be congratulated on call
ing for an implicit observance of the
resolution Of 1907. That single tele-
gram means a more normal working
week for thousands of men.