New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-14

usually subject to regulations such as
the installation OF lifting machinery.
"All these relaXations have had eN-
ceedlngly bad effects, even for the
short time they have been in operation.
That is why | say that. had we known.
we should have fought even harder
against any relaxation Of rules. II is
now generally admitted by all that this
increased pressure has been exceed
inely harmful. SO much so that night
work Is becoming rare; Sunday work
only very occasional fact; hours have
become shortened and overtime les
sened. IL is almost unbelievable, but |
worked for thirty continuous hours.
Such thing could not happen now.
Bad Results of Long Overtime
at has also been found that the eff
fects of this overstrain are likely 20
have permanent results. and its future
bearing upon married workers and
young women is a serious considera-
ton. Such strain has been felt not
only by women doing mems work. but
also by women doing women's work.
Then the need for new workers has
led TO awful housing conditions, both
AZ new works and in new areas. The
efforts 20 provide temporary housing
on the barrack or hut system have
been of. doubtful value. :eel that a
great opportunity for a great COM
munal housing experiment has been
lost. And for young girls there has
been the added disadvantage of losing
the care and thouehtfulness Of home.
Against this must be counted the
efforts of the Health OF Munitions
Workers Committee. which have i'm
proved the conditions of work. the
cleanliness of surroundings. provided
rest rooms and dining rooms and seen
to the provision of proper meals. They
have made welfare workers perma-
nent institution in this country and
done much TO improve industrial con-
dltions generally.
I'VE also had small difficulty at
the start in regard to social relation
ships in factories at time when I'M
trained women of the upper and upper
middle class were pouring into them
Such difficulties are unlikely TO occur
in the United States.
But / well remember one inciden,
which occurred at very big mum
tion factory A wealthy worker drove
up to the gates in a luxurious automo-
! bile. attended by her maid. She stood
up in the car while the maid removed
her rich fur coat. took off her boots
and replaced them by shoes. helped hei
on with her overalls and cap, and
| finally took charge OF her jewelry. The
several thousand girls who had watched
the proceedings were in such state
! of indignation by the time they were
ended that it took a couple of hours te
| get them in to work.
Increase in Cost of Living
Then as to wages. In order TO pre-
! vent the creation of class of sweateC
| labor, and 20 avoid a sex war by intro
, ducing women into work at wages thai
men would not even look at, we have
had to fight all the time for ADEQUATE
payment. Increases. of course. have
varied There is scarcely a trade IN
which a war bonus, at least. is not be-
ing paid, although this does not cover
| the increase in cost of living.
But in the majority of occupations
wages have been increased, while IN
some-or instance the fuse and powder
trades they have been revolutionized
However low the pre-war rate Of pay
ment, it is a rarity now to find