Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-19
FAIR WAGES
Reasonable Hours and
Good Conditions
General Orders from Ordnance Bureau
and Quartermaster's Department of
Army Urge That Safeguards for
Protection of Labor Be Kept Up

Washington, Nov. 1S.-Fair wage
Gales reasonable hours and good
working conditions are suggested 10
arsenal commanders and manufacture
erS executing orders for the bureau Of
ordnance and qnartermaster depart
ment Of the army in general orders
made public tonight by those depart
inents Attention is called to the fact
that IN the haste to deliver needed war
materials care must lie exercised 'lest
the safeguards with which the people
OF ms country have sought to protect
labor should be unWisely and unneces-
sarily broken down"
industrial history proves that r4a-
sohable hours, fair working conditions
ana a proper wage scale are essential
TO p Production said the state
ment. During the war every at-
tempt should be made to conserve in
every way possible all of our achieve
inehtS in the way of social better
nleut.
Ihe department wishes TO be assllr-
eu llat schedules Of hours obviously
excessive or wage scales distinctly nm
4alr' or working conditions such as
should not be tolerated, will certainly
De rough to its attention.
Inc statement says circumstances
are not such as TO render appropriate
me Il OF definite orders ON This
SUBJECT at inns time and that NO effort
- AIMEE 10 establish, or even to sue-
seSl, deflnlte rules Of conduct"
~ IS recommended that standards az
wages already established in the in
duStfE and the locality shonld no+ ho
lowered and thai the minimum waoa
rates should be made in nrona. ,oIa
ton to tho cost Or living Tha ,en.t1
81 the days work, it is pointed o,it
H'Io'lH not exceed the customary our
II Viz particular establishment o. the
a'ahuard already attained in the IN
n"St'N ahu ~ me community. Ten
hours is suggested as the maximum
ioF an adult workman, and eight lonrs
Per Shl1t IN continuous "a hour work
manufacturers are asked to guard
against unnecessary overtime. to piya
hali holidays on Saturday. 40 allow
al employees at least one dav Of rect
IN every sevenand to give them All,
national HOLIDAYS.
AS TO negotiations between emnloy-
or ana employees the departments sup-
sest mat existing channels shouId he
preserved and new ones onened if 20
CURED as their need is especiauv
great IN the light of critical points Of
controversy which may arise in n time
like the present"
hlofts should be made to restrict
iHe work of to eight ho,,rc
Tue statement continues, and the en-
pioEment of women on NIGHT worl-
should be prohibited. AS a necessary
plotection' morally and physically."
Nhere Wome are employed To do
me work heretofore performed by me,
u IS suggested that the standa r5 If
wages not be lowered and thar the
hours be no longer than those of the
men replaced.
IN the cases Of children. the order
says. the Federal Child Labor law
must be strictly observed ana HON
y and girls under Is years of apa
should have the same restrictions IN
thelr hours as outlined for women
employees. Existing legal standards ~
prevent danger from fire, accident Dr.
other hazards and to provide good
llght. ventilation. sufficient heat and
proper sanitation. the statement can
tlnlieS. should be observed As rninimun,
requirements.