Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-14
n, WAGE COMPLAINTS
RECEIVED BY OFFICER
FEDERAL RESERVE
,,,sda Of Many Industries Join
o'1, IRON and Steel Men in
Attacking Present
Condition
.prrNpANcE OF ORDERS

Il
N. .,ore IN the iron and steel INDUSTRIES
NJ. phIladelphia district are ispot coh-
.scs s,ich as to hamper seriously sne ue
lament Of American business ot,,rsrs ~,
q liews wsAs II commercial activity put in
several otifer manu-
sa,sIon Is reported, "a, s .,o
pn1is'V,, y, ,,os,ailty of wages paid ana the
ny sIained for the product is the cniet
prices op'e,,,ss ~ stba operators in the several
Frsyany ~ heir reports to the Federal Re
helos ra,ts of this district local mill ana
fl,e ., enroprletors do not hesitate to Jay
H. y nschliar condition prevailing 10 these
nuses .,, Or. nIenty. they de-
.,srs and their establishments ar, al .sn.s
e,,l time, with prospect OF goou oIueLs s..
Isi pnt the wage demands of the oper-
An.- is-s. .re asserted to be SO high that they
~ ~ ,r,o nrofltR to an extent that, many
e,sacturera maintain, threatens the en-
nAnuiA nsn Lii loss in the midst of overflow
W stor continues scarce in the face OF
=. rensraI demand, and the complaint OF
Reasonable demands by the WORKERS, COUP
IA with an Impairment OF eInclenSs ~, AZ
s.rnant absence is loudly made py the
operators, .. .,,,,,,,,or,,ad hv
80 ~ industry, are thus presented by the
FEDERAL reserve agents
ssfha anthracite coal companies have
....1ls,ad an agreement with their en-
ssras covering wages and working condi-
,oss for the four-year period ending March
!, 1870 Wage increases to all classes OF
sbor average 10 to IL per cent LABOR
1 scarce. with no relief In sight.
nAIH hn A.
,nn "a unsettled, and the miners are rest
- dissatisfied and seem glad of an ex-
.,ssl,o out their Jobs. The amount of coal
~rad is below normal. but the operators
sesn and difficulty in disposing of the ton
,sra nroduced. since the railroad embar-
sos nreyent shipments to so many inn
rortant manufacturing plants.
syvIth demand for cement hardly nor
ral and with manufacturers competing
~ mechanics and laborers at any price,
tha cement industry is in difficult posi-
;one
ports:
aThe price we are getting for our product
soss not warrant the wages we are paying
ma situation that confronts us, however,
4 such that there is nothing left for us but
q nav the higher wages and get out the
Al way we can. Our men do not strike,
nsS simply disappear. l do not see how
Il viii be possible for our industry in the
fsst to 20 on without increasing the price
q our product to our customers
LEATHER AND SHOES
labor conditions are more unsatisfac-
tory than for months, and growing worse
avery day. Ammunition plants have taken
away many workmen and factories can
not secure enough men to keep production
Nd TO normal output. There does not
seem to be enough good men to go around
and many plants have only three-fourths
ss many workers as they require"
One interesting report states, that:
'This increase in the cost of labor is
wholly unwarranted, as we have been un-
sble to advance our prices fast enough to
take care OF the advance in labor, materials
md raw stock, all of which are abnormally
high The prices Of raw stock and mate
RAILS are changing almost daily, and ii is
most difficult to figure on any absolute
basis, which it is necessary to do in our
branch of the business" ..,t .
textiles (worsted spinning and worsted
g1nz silk. underwear and hosiery.
sp1nlng and yarn mills report enough
efdaIs 10 run at capacity for some time, but
liability to operate more than two-thirds of
nsf pants on account of the shortage and
ldspmdence of help. With curtailed pro-
dncton, 1t has not been possible to keep
eveihead expenses at a minimum, and prof
n have been and will continue to be cut
psupoTtionately unless the price of the
Product is increased. The demand of
heor in the silk industry has come at a
Moa unfortunate time, because sales have
ALLEN on. Although the introduction OF.
sheeney methods has increased the earn
ns capacity OF help in many mills, yet
movement for nine-hour working day is
HFeading.
One large mill writes:
LABOR conditions are getting worse
sssry day and the continual increase in
hlNe ol all kinds of materials entering
mo me manufacture of merchandise Is
pacing the manufacturer in a very SER
nes and embarrassing position. Fluctua-
pahs occur from day to day, always high
! never lower, and the manufacturer who
- soid mis- product in advance for the
~ lslo' while his plant may be in steady
Yeiation' will certainly find when he
a1lhes balance at the end of the year
~ nus profits viii foot up with minus
4sa IN tront of the figures"
Another e eoncegn says that:
~ nave ample business on our books |
run US full capacity for the next six
mouths but are unable to operate more than
sso-laHds Of our plant on account of the |
~ M. and independence of our help.
phaer these conditions, while our sell
= pi'ga may show us a fair margin of
~ ps are unable to realize same on |
!. Hssns any el not being able to run our plant |
- sapaclty' thereby keeping our over
~ espensss at minimum.
a. onaes these conditions we do not feel
szss,aN N turther advances in wages or |
-, Wofklng hours would be possible |
- ls = ehlaiilng considerable loss 10 our
- sai complaint is made that selling |
4 - nave not been advanced suficiently |
s.sbssS me raises In wages and the un- |
zzisrisi' 'aise ul increase in the cost of raw |
7=1''f'-a all along the line.