Evening star., 1917-10-12

fHsnt Is now seeking 10 gain from All
government departments all intorma-
tion available about conditions in this
country. Much OF this information is
to bf had in Washing ton because of the
facts submitted by leaders of industry.
but il needs to be correlated.
Virtual Agreement on Points.
Upon some points there is a virtual
agreement among members of the ad-
ministration. Illustrative of these
policies are the following:
From now on it will be necessary to
train large numbers of women in in
dustrial work. and the government al
ready has embarked on this policy by
the avowed intention of the Navy De-
partment to employ more women in
navy yards, and to encourage their en-
ployment in plants which are doing
war work.
ANY possibility for recommen ndins
as was suggested at the beginning OF
the war and has been pressed since
now is declared to be nil.
For one thing such conscrfption
would not result in increasing the sup
ply of labor, and that is the problem
facing the government now, and it is
expected to become a still more serious
one as the extent of work on govern
ment account is amplified and more
men are called into the National Army.
Range of Exemptions Considered.
1t is not expected that the range of
exemptions from military conscription
will be materially broadened. The re-
port of the British labor mission on
this point is that the eleven or more
causes for exemption in that country
have served only TO add to the COM
plesity of the problem and have mill
tated against the full operation of the
,r;, h "a
benefit in the industrial field.
These three policies are nowhere out
lined in a formal manner, but they s'a7
up the feeling of the heads of the Ws,f,
Navy and Labor departments. the three
most deeply concerned in
a solution of the labor problem.
Amazed by Facts Developed.
Oficials stated today that they We're
by the facts laid before them by
the British visitors regarding the high
degree of efficiency of woman indus
trial workers. They were known 70
have proved efiicacious in England as
substitute for men. and in some fields
formerly considered exclusively riascu-
line they have given proof of efficiency
that betokens 4 far-reachinG economic
readjustment after the war is over.
One of these fields is that of tool
making. In France women have been
most successful at that work. in Eng
land they have attained q degree of
proficiency equal 10 the men they sup
planted, and in certain speciaities they
have proved superior TO their brothers
and husbands. Women have been per-
forming the DELICATE work of making
six-inch guns, calling for the utmost
precision, in a way that has been a
revelation to the British government.
The comparative merits of men and
women in such lines was summed up
Lx- Srit ;Ch i., al WIN In
fields where an aIl-round knowledge is
required, and capacity for graspine
many aspects of problem, men still
hold pre-eminence-
But in many specialties. requiring a
high degree of efficiency in a restrict
ed field, women have shown themselves
better able to withstand the monotony
than men.
To Avoid Freak" Employments.
Now. one of the things to be avoided
in this effort to utilize the nations
woman power. il was stated at the De-
partment OF Labor. is that Of avoiding
the FIRE ak empioyments, such as
cleaning locomotives. for which women
are not adapted, and are not especially
demanded.
But England need not be called upon
to furnish examples of successful work
of women in mems fields In New Eng
900 of them, highly delighted with
their performance. AS street car con-
ductors and as elevator operators. and
TO some extent as taxicab drivers, they
are considered valuable.
This indicates one way in which the
government may maintain its indus
trial standards without impairing the
operation of the conscription law by
wholesale exemptions. There are other
ways now under consideration but not
ready to be announced
"Dilution of Labor" Discussed.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt today stated that the ''di-
luton of labor" as practiced in Eng
land is one point under discussion, and
legislation may be asked to permit
such "dilution" in this country
An example Of the operation of tfis
scheme is afforded in the case of one
factory working on government con-
tracts which has a high percentage of
skilled labor, while another factory,
similarly engaged, has a low percentage
of skilled labor. Under the "dilution"
method the government would have
power to readjust this condition to OBJ
tain the highest possible efficiency at
both plants.
One field in which 1t is believed that
women may be found useful by the thou
sands is aircraft making.
IHry may bt ibiilil tlul TO Il married
extent in navy yards, and they have dem
onstrated their efficiency in munitions
plants, the Navy Department believes
a first step in the effort to take care
Of the labor situation III the future Is
indicated by an announcement OF the
Labor Department that, through the
United States public service reserve, a
limited survey IS being made from the
information at hand in Washington OF
the requirements for additional men likely
to be needed in the near future by various
branches OF the government and concerns
holding important war contracts"
May Make Nationwide Survey.
This survey is being conducted with
a view to determining whether ma,
tion-wide survey is needed. and Labor
Department officials believe that tn.
preliminary inquiry will indicate tha
such survey would be feasible ant
necessary.
II the complete survey is made tn.
information would then be used by tn.
United States employment service ii
helping to place men where they ar,
needed.
No further legislation is needed L
accomplish that. Already that servic,
has been of marked service TO the GOV,
ernment in aiding firms holding WA
! contracts to obtain labor.