The sun., 1918-12-14

day work, for which double wages had
been paid. 1t is estimated that IL
meant reduction OF $b80,000 week
to 10000 war workers, or an average
OF 1880 man. That the cut was
not ruinous Is suggested by the fact
that the savings banks received in Mo-
vember the largest deposits in their
history and made a record OF net gain
over Withdrawals OF S1,S7S,143. De-
spite the emphasis the workers lay on
the cost OF living there is q suspicion
that a great many OF them have laid
by out of their swollen wartime wages
enough to tide them over q consider
able period OF slackness II IL comes.
Similarly the manufacturers profits
have been abnormally large, and they
too are prepared for the worst.
The Bridgeport branch of the United
States Employment Service and the
War Community Board seems to be
doing a good job in its effort to make
the transition period as easy as poss
BILE for everybody. 1t has nothing to
do with wages: II places men and
women where II can at whatever pay
Is offered It finds that the demand
for workers now is about as large as
it was in wartime, but that the wage
offered is usually lower, and that q
good many workers who have lost
their Jobs are holding of in the hope
that some miracle will nullify the law
of supply and demand and make per-
manent wars artificial standards.
real rest 'e' I" Oo"'
The service is directed by A. w. Bur-
rift, a man of large lumber and bank
ing interests, who has devoted himself
to the Government during the war and
who has the confidence Of the public
far Bridgeport has been able to absorb
all the workers who have to change
JOBS, admlts that the time LOT real
test OF its powers mas not yet arr4Feu
The majority or the released work
ers are not from the great war rae
torres but from the myriad shops OF
sub-contractors Whlcn. maze TOOLS
gauges and other essentials TOT the
great factories. "hen war contracts
were suspended the nrst thlng the ois
manufacturer diu was 10 suspend ms
contracts with the snalier iry' which
III turn laid OH their employees VIM
were on war WORK lhese employees
are mostly machinists and TOOL makers
VINO were getting the top lapor prices
They Will be needed again IN tne re-
Vamping OF factories ror peace prouuc-
ton, ana can IN iact ma "orh Iish'
now AT lower pay imam they nave ueei'
getting
cancellation Oh war contracts saIu
sam LaNltt' business agent vi the ma
chinists uhloh' mas practicailS eioeeu
the small SHOPS winch iaiu OH d ma
tority OF their men TWO UT 'hIee "e1Ne
ago. Ihese men can get olneF JoOs
but won't take EN-. -,
why not IHE StN repoI'er asNeu
Because the war stahuaru Oh WAGES
must be maintained sdlu MI Lay 49,.
'The manufacturers WANT 10 pay W
cents an hour 10 'ooiliahers "lio nav
Deen SetlhS irohi oV u ~ eeh.s, an"
10 or oo cents an hour 10 ihachiiiis o es
who nave been settihg from oo 10 oo
cents. IHe manufacturers are ns
TO UeaK down the stahuaru anu TIC
men won't stanu lot H.
we nave programme that "ouiu
prevent poth wage cuts ana iaSons'
That Is let the manufacturers con
unue to pay the same wages thes
have been paying and II necessary re-
duce the NUMBER OF hours 50 tna'
everybody could keep WORKING at 'he
old wages until we get ADJUSTED 10
peace production ana the hours couiu
be increased. Suppose factory mas
1000 men and now has work FOR only