The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-04
LABOR NOTES OF
WIDE INTEREST

Returning to the question of limita-
ton of output, it should be remembered
that mans industrial life may be
shortened, not only by Fastening his abb
solute deterioration, but also by raising
the standard OF efficiency AS the pace in
creases, the number of men that can
maintain it diminishes. Men little
past the prime of life, who would be
able for years yet to do effective work.
find themselves forced out of the indus
trial field because they are no longer
capable of the intense application and
the rapidity of movement which exist
ing standards require.
1t may be that broader economic ideas
have the greatest real influence in deter
mining the limitation Of work. These
ideas have as their center the desire to
maintain and to increase wages. There
arc several ways in which the limita-
ton is thought by some workmen to
contribute to this result.
If a few individuals increase their
speed their pace tends, it is declared,
to become the standard pace in the trade.
If the work is by the day, there is no
tendency to a corresponding increase of
wages The workmen assert that the
case is nearly the same, in the long run,
if the work is by the piece. Under piece
rates there is. of course, an increase OF
daily wages at first, if the pace is in
creased. But every employer has in his
mind a more or less definite standard of
just wages for each kind of service. If
the piece worker begins to earn more
that he considers fair, he will cut down
the piece prices. In the end the men will
work harder than before and will get
no more for it. Here, Therefore, as well
as under the daywage system, the
standard rate is best maintained, the
workmen think, by keeping within GER
tain standard limits of performance. in
a less direct way. the limitation of out
put is conceived to affect wages by pro-
viding work for the unemployed. The
competition of the unemployed is the
great obstacle in the way of raising
wages. If work can be found for them,
Jobs may be made to hunt men, instead
of men hunting jobs. If those who are
employed work excessively, it is claimed,
they selfishly take to themselves work
which ought to be left for the less fortu-
nate. To state the case in the converse
form, if the output of those who arr
employed is restricted, room may be
made for all those unemployed. This is
a proposal of kindness and charity under
existing conditions, but it is also pro-
posal of good policy for those who are
already at work. If the masters knew
that there were no idle hands to take
the place for those they have, they would
be anxious to keep their men, and the
men. rather than the employers, would
be the dictators of wages. The aggre-
gate share of the profits which goes to
the wage workers would be increased at
the expense of the share which goes to
other classes.
The senatorial investigation into the
matter of the Titanic disaster has
brought out the fact that government
transports are no better equipped with
life-saving apparatus than was the III
tanic. A Washington paper gives the
following schedule, which is interesting:
Capacity in passengers, transport and
crew, Sheridan, 1897; lifeboat capacity,
1856; transport Sherman, passengers and
crew, 1879; lifeboat capacity, 766;
transport Logan, passengers and crew,
1875; lifeboat capacity, 1850; transport
Thomas, passengers and crew, $50; life
boat capacity, 1855; transport Fitzpatrick,