The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-30
Condition Is Absolutely Els
sential to Health Of
Workingmen
URGED AT LABOR
CONFERENCE
Speakers Favor Work in
Eight-Hour Shifts at A.
A. of L. l.. Meeting

Columbus. O., Dec. 30.--0ne day Of
rest in seven and eighthour shifts il
industry were the measures for social
bcttermert to which the American AS
ISOLATION for Labor Legislation devoted
the morning session yesterday.
John A. Vol. president of the Ohio
State Federation of Labor, who pre-
sided, opened the session by declaring
81. is impossible to measure the harm
inflicted upon society by the brutalizing
influence Of laboring seven days week
Social groups of all descriptions should
work in unison for the reform that
means so much spiritually. mentally and
physically to the human family. Profit,
material welfare and interest must not
be allowed to stand in the way of prog.
ress and the preservation of mans soul
and body
John A. Fitch, editor of the industrial
department OF "The Survey" in his adj
dress on some Day of Rest in Seven by
State and Federal Legislation" declared
that "our campaign should be for week
ly rest day, not alone for the workers
in the continuous industries, but for all
workers in all industries"
He said: "The British government,
some months ago, in order to increase it's
fighting efficiency, appointed commits
sion to inquire into the health OF mu-
milton workers. The committee report
ed that the evidence has led them
strongly to hold that if the maximum
output is to be secured and maintained
for any length of time, weekly period
of rest must be allowed. Except for
quite short periods continuous work, in
their view, is profound mistake, and
does not pay-output is not increased
If Great Britain, in order to win war,
finds that it can't afford seven-day la
Dor, it is reasonable to inquire how any
one else can afford it,"
"The most oppressive condition under
which modern industry is carried on are
found in iron and steel and similar estab'
lishments which work day and night sew.
Ell days week" according to Professor
John r. Commons of the University OF
Wisconsin, formerly member of the
industrial commission of Wisconsin, and
of the United States commission on in.
dustral relations In his discussion of
Eight hour Sits by Federal Legisla-
ton" he said:
-Four years ago the United States
Steel corporation took vote of its stock
holders to determine whether they should
change to three shifts of eight hours,
six days week. The sixday PROPOSE
ton was adopted but the three shift sys.
tenn was overwhelmingly defeated. To
change from eighty-four hours week
to forty-eight hours week, paying the
same wages for the shorter hours, means
an increase of seventy-five per cent in
the cost of labor. Even the change from
seven DAYS to six days means an increase
of 10 per cent in labor cost. The only
possible remedy is natural law that
will put every competitor, in the same
business on the same level"
Professor Commons announced that the
American Association for Labor Legis
laton has drafted bill to be introduced
in Congress requiring the eight-hour day
in those parts of the iron and steel and
paper industries which work day and
night continuously. The products of es-
Establishments working more than eight
hours are excluded from interstate COM
merce. Two years time are to be allowed
to the industries to work out the change.