Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-29
Disregard Human Life.

k1lS comment SHOWS 10 lie tHC ullcT
inability OF large corporations to regard
human life." said Mr.. Brandeis. Judge
Gary says that II the twelve-hour day is
excessive, the corporations would be quick
to change it,
'"rhink of that situation, that the men,
berS OF the steel corporation ana Its emil
nent chairman are unable to recognize the
hardships undergone by human lives in a
twelve-hour work day, seven days week,
alternated only by Neutrality-suspicious.
working day every week or two weeks"
He referred to Mr. Gary's explanation
that the blast furnace processes required
continuous operation each day and every
day in the week. In other industries, Mr.
Brandes asserted, where continuous Oper-
ployed to give other men relief. That
much of the Sunday labor in the steel
works is unnecessary he asserted, and
three years ago the steel corporation
much of 1t, but it has gone on practically
ever since. except recently in isolated in
stances owing to public criticism
Better in England.
Mr. Brandeis declared that while
Judge Gary is waiting to hear what the
authorities of the United States say
should be DONE the steel industry in Eng
land has been able to eliminate entirely
all these Objectionable features
You don't mean," Chairman Stanley
interrupted. that England has been able
to do anything for labor that we can't do
i'm this country? Surely you must be mis-
taken.''
unfortunately, in this case 1 am not
mistaken" Mr.. Brandeis replied.
In England the average working week
of steel workers was .j.o hours. while IL
per cent of the workers In this country
have an average week of Y hours.
Lives Are Shortened.
Discussing the effect of the long and
continuous work of steel workers. Mr..
Brandeis asserted that investigation had
! shown it to he responsible for short life
and physical degeneration. The average
| steel worker was unable to labor after
| forty years of age.
| mr. Carnegie has said the steel busi-
ness was a case of feast or famine.
prince or pauper, in the early days. To-
day, with the steel corporation. it is a
| case of prince and pauperiztng, MIR.
Brandeis continued.
do you mean to state it as fact that
these men generally break down at the
Young of Michigan.
Not as a general fact" Mr.. Brandeis
| replied, but thousands of them become
| old men at forty. and it is appalling to
me tnaL SO many VI thciu W HOt uTedk
| down earlier"
| The Eoston attorney charged that the
steel workers wee worse than slaves.
| Worse Than Slavery.
| THE slave owners were human" he
said, land slaves came into personal con-
! tact with their owners. On the other
hand. the owners of this steel corpora
ton are In the position exactly similar
to the absentee landlords in Ireland, and
| through their stock distribution scheme
| to employees, have brought about con-
| dition exactly comparable to the appall-
/ ing rack-rent conditions in Ireland"
| The idea that the steel worker is we'll
| paid, he said, is one of the fallacies with
| respect to his condition. At the present
| time 10 per cent Of the steel workers are
unskilled and the amount Of pay they re-
ceive. he said. is such that no one could
/ call it good pay Referring to data con-
| cerning about 25.OO0 employees at 16s
| blast furnaces Mr.. Brandeis showed that
! 1928 per cent earned between II and Il
+! cents an hour; 1896 per cent earned be-
/ tween IA and Is cents an hour; 81. 7.5l Der
| cent earned from Is to Is cents an hour
I 1907 per cent earned 1S to 20 cents.