Evening journal., 1917-11-19
U. S. ARMY BUREAUS
TO Protect LABOR
Ordnance and Quartermaster
Departments Issue War
Work Orders
EIGHT HOUR DAY
FOR WOMEN WORKERS

WASHINGTON, Nov. i9.-Fair wage
scales. reasonable hours and good
working conditions are suggested to ar
senal commanders and manufacturers
executing orders for the Bureau OF
ordnance and Ouartermaster Depart
ment Of the army In general orders
made public last night by those DC
partments.
Attention is called to the fact that In
the haste TO deliver needed war mate
rails care must be exercised lest the
safeguards with which the people OF
this country have sought to protect
labor should be unwisely and unneces-
ssrily broken down"
Industrial history proves That rea-
sonable hours, fair working conditions
and a proper wage scale are essential
to high production" said the statement.
''During the war every attempt should
be made to conserve in every way pos
sible all OF our achievements in the
way Of social betterment.
rThe department wishes to be as
aured that schedules Of hours obviously
excessive, or wage scales distinctly I'M
fair, OF working conditions such as
should not be tolerated, will certainly
be brought to its attention
The statement says circumstances are
not such as to render appropriate the
issuance Of definite orders on this sub
iect at this time and that mo effort Is
made to establish or even 10 suggest,
definite rules Of conduct"
Il Is recommended that standards Of
wages already established In the indus
try and the locality should not be low
cred and that the minimum wage rates
should be made in proper relation to
the cost Of living. The length Of the
days work, II Is pointed out, should
not exceed the customary hours In the
particular establishment or the stand
ard already attained in the industry
and in the community. Ten hours Is
suggested as the maximum for an adult
workman. and eight hours per shift
IN continuous twenty-four hour work.
Manufacturers are asked to guard
against unnecessary overtime. TO give
half holidays on Saturday. TO allow all
employees at least one day Of rest in
every seven and 30 give them all ma
tional holidays.
AS to negotiations between employer
and employees, the departments suggest
that existing channels should be pre-
served and new ones opened II rquired,
as thir need Is especially great in the
light Of critical points Of controversy
which may arise in time like the
present"
Efforts should be made TO restrict
the work Of women TO eight hours, the
statement continues. and employment
of women on night work should be
prohibited las a necessary protection,
morally and physically"
Where women are employed to do the
work heretofore performed by men Il
= Is suggested that the standard Of wage.
not be lowered, and that the hours be
no longer than were those Of the men
replaced.
In the case Of children. the order
says, the federal child labor law must
be strictly observed and that both
boys and girls under IS years Of age
should have the same restrictions on
their hours as outlined for women en-
ployes.
Existing legal standards TO prevent
danger from fire, accident or other haz-
srds and to provide good light, yentila-
ton, sufficient heat and proper santa
ton, the statement continues, should
be observed as minimum requirements.