Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-13
Findings and Recommen-
dations to be Present
cd to Congress.
COOPERATION ADVISED
Need for Closer Relations of
Bosses and Men Rather Than
Watch Checking on Work.
Especial TO The Argua)

Washington, d. C., March l3.-Foi
lowing is the complete report of the
special committee to investigate the
Taylor and other systems OF shop man
agement:
Your committee, appointed under
house resolution 80. adopted Aug. 81,
1911, respectfully submits the follow
ing report:
BY the provisions of the resolution
under which it was appointed your
committee was directed TO investigate
the Taylor and other systems of shop
management, which investigation shall
include its applicability 10 govern
ment works, It's effect on the health
and pay of employees, its effect on
wages and labor cost, and such other
matters connected Herewith as may
give a thorough understanding of the
results Of the installation Of this sys-
TEN.
We have examined a number of wit
nesses relative To the various systems
OF shop management which have been
worked out and are being introduced
in a limited number OF establishments
throughout the country, but We have
given especial attention TO an investi-
cation Of the Taylor system because
we found that this system is being in
troduced in part in two government ar
senals and its extension into other gov
ernment plants being seriously consid-
cred by. the U1nErs s-faWBsrge OF the
ordnance bureauNof the war depart
ment.
All Of these systems, including the
Taylor system. have become known by
the general term scientific manage
ment" and are referred TO as such
throughout the hearings, a copy OF
which accompanies this report.
FOR GRADUAL CHANGE.
A great amount OF good work has
been done by Mr.. Taylor and others in
working out the details of scientific
methods Of shop management, but
neither Mr.. Taylor nor anyone else has
presented to this committee system
SC complete and perfect as 70 justify a
recommendation that IL be imposed in
its entirety in any government shop.
Any radical change in factory man
agement should be a gradual evolution
out of that which has preceded. The
present systems, or lack of systems.
with their good and their bad points
are themselves the result of long evo-
luton. No drastic or radical change in
them should be suddenly or even
quickly imposed by fiat from above.
Men have become accustomed alike 10
the good and the bad that are in the
systems under which they work. They
know and approve the good; they
know how 20 combat the evil. They
are naturally and properly suspicious
that motives purely selfish may be be-
hind the sudden change. Confidence is
plant of slow growth. Neither the
Taylor system nor any other should be
imposed from above on an unwilling
working force. Any system of shoI
mutual conference and mutual consent
and that takes time.
Government in mill should be like
government in a state-'with the con
sent of the governed"
II appears 10 your committee that NJ
one can seriously object, and as a mat
ter OF fact no one has objected. TO any
system which so standardizes and sys
temRtizes the work TO be performed
that a greater amount Of production is
secured with the same expenditure oi
labor. Employer and employe alike
and the public generally are interested
in securing the largest amount and the
best quality OF production that can pos
sibly be secured by the amount OF la
Dor expended. All men have a mutua
interest in the accomplishment of thai
end. IL Is only when Il comes to {
division OF that which has been produc
ed that their interests diverge. II
therefore. follows that any system o
management. which has a tendency {,
destroy the power OF employees, indi
vtdually or collectively. TO secure tn,
equivalent OF the production whicl
properly belongs TO them must be look
ed upon as being dangerous 20 the wei
fare OF the community at large.
MUST CONSERVE HEALTH.
Efficiency must not be had at tn
cost Of the men. women, and childrel
who labor and who should be the pr
mary beneficiaries from efficiency. w
should study how TO produce the bes
results in output while also produciEi
conditions to make the most effcien
men and women 10 produce that out
rut and this must be done by conserV
ing in every way not only their healtl
and physical and nervous yigor, bu