Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-14
OUT ERRORS
Gen. Crozier Sees Mistakes by
House Committee.
CONCERNS TAYLOR SYSTEM
Some Features Approved Have
Caused Trouble, He Declares.
USE OF CHECKING METHOD
Stop-Watches Not Meant to Urge
Workmen, He Says, But to In
sure Fair Price for Labor.
USE OF CHECKING METHOD

While Brig Gen. Crozier, chief OF the
bureau of ordnance of the War Depart
ment, declared in statement today that
ne found that the department in most
points was in accord with the report Of
the House committee which has been in
vestigating the various scientific systems
Of management, nevertheless he pointed
out instances where the installation of
parts Of systems which the committee APP
proved had been the cause OF much trou-
BILE.
He said that 1t was difficult to under
stand why the committee mentions its
dtsapproval of certain undesirable prac-
tees sometimes found in industrial work,
which are strongly condemned by the
Taylor system and are just as strongly
condemned by the War Department, which
has no intention of employing them.
Gen. Crozier cited many instances where
the committees report follows closely
and supports his statements before the
committee, one OF which was that neither
the Taylor system nor any other should
be imposed upon an unwilling working
force, as it was the desire of the War
Department to have its relations with the
workmen harmonious.
Nearly Caused Strike.
feature Of the system which the commit
tee commends was responsible for much
trouble and q threatened strike, at one
Of the arsenals. The plan of standardiz-
ing machines, tools, nuts and bolts, spe
officially mentioned by the committee as
desirable. Gen. Crozier explained. was
opposed at the same arsenal The general
expresses the opinion that the reason for
the objection to the features introduced
<Sn04 ~ IT. <hAry
parts Of q system, other parts Of which
they would not like
1t is denied by the chief of the ord
nance bureau that stop-watch time
stimulate the workmen to increased activ-
ity. He declared they were made to
afford knowledge which might afterward
be used to measure the commodity which |
the workman has to deliver, namely-his |
labor-sO as to insure him a. fair price |
for what he delivers"
In repetition. Work-that Is, work where |
numbers OF the same articles are made
piecework scale is maintained at the
arsenals. and the general satisfaction |
from the fact that, owing to the ease |
and accuracy of measuring and paying |
for what is delivered, the earnings Of the |
workmen are always considerably greater |
than the wages paid to men of similar |
skill working upon a day-wage basis |
Where there is no repetition work, he |
points out the measure OF labor delivered |
furnishes a more involved process. Said |
Gen. Crozier: |
Has Increased Workmen's Wages.
'Tt Is here that the time study comes |
wages OF the workman over his day |
where 1t has been applied has been the
same as that of the piecework method. |
namely, a considerable increase in the |
wages Of the workman over his date |
rate. It has in no case been used as a
driving process, or as means of requir- |
ing a man to work at disagreeable |
speed"
It is further pointed out by Gen. Gro
zier that the description of the bonus
system in the committees report will not
we'll fit that In town at the Watertown
arsenal, and he added that he did not
see why the committee made reference to
the fact that the interests of the en-
ployer and employe begin to diverge when
1t comes to division Of the product of
the establishment, which does not apply
to the government, where there are no
profits to share.
In concluding, Gen. Croker expressed
regret that the committee did not take
occasion IN Its report to bestow some
words Of praise upon the officers at Wa
tertown arsenal for efforts in promoting
the interests of the government as well
as the employees.