Arizona republican., 1918-05-09
A Milder Form of Sabotage
Indefinitely

It is almost unbelievable yet it is that there is in the naval appropriation bill the following clause
 That no part of the appropriations made in this act shall be available for the salary pay of any officer, manager, superintendent, foreman or other person having charge of the work of any employe of the United States government while making or causing to be made with stop-watch or other time measuring device a time study of any job of any such empoye between the start ing and completion thereof of the movements
 of any such empoye while engaged upon such
 work; nor shall any part of the appropriations made in this act be available to pay any premiums or bonus or cash reward to any employe in add-
 ton to his regular wages except for suggestions
 resulting in improvements economy in the
 operation of any government plant"
 The foregoing was inserted rider, having been introduced by representatives of organized labor It is not we understand, the first time such clause has been attached to national legislation. but it is surprising that it should be allowed to attach at this time. Its purpose only be to limit the output at a time when the demand for output is a crying one
 In other except work, objection may be made perhaps properly to an efficiency system which unusual strain upon them. Proper objection may be made to a system of bonuses which inspires men to unusual exertions, greater than their fellows can make. Organized labor long ago set itself against the piece system calculated to discriminate among workers and to dissatisfaction within the ranks of labor.
 From the point of view of labor, such a restriction in private employment is wrong and the outsider may not regard it wrong But the work to be paid for from appropriations under the naval bill is not private work. It produces profit for the govern ment. The efficiently it is done the more there is saved of public money
 And now too and that is bigger thing than or sanized labor there is special need of output and Of that greater efficiency which contributes to out put Organized labor, every other class must sub init to unusual drafts upon it at this time
 Nearly all the work done is done in large part by machinery and the machinery must be run to full capacity. It not be limited to the manipulation of the slowest workman. The slow workman need not be deprived of employment because he is slow but he should not be allowed to become a drag on his skillful and rapid brother.
 We have now come to point in war work where the appeal from Europe, from our own officers and representatives and from officials of the allied gov ernments for ships. munitions food and soldiers is increasing in nsstency To decrease the efficiency of the government shops and reduce production. is not only criminal but seditious
 We cannot conceive what kind of an argument be offered in support of the restricting clause which proposes sabotage and obstruction in only less violent form than that proposed by the l. w. w. To lessen the capacity of machinery by legislation is to produce in smaller measure the effect that would follow the wlful destruction of the machinery Either will lessen the output