Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-19
ARSENAL FAULTSLAD
TO SHORTAGE OF FUNDS
Col. Montgomery Declares
Conditions Are Being Rem
edied Rapidly as Possible
EXAGGERATION CHARGE
Some of Things Complained of by
Miss Sanville Were Requested
by Workers

Florence L. Sanvile secretary treas
urer of the women's Trade Union
League. In a statement published over
her signature today, makes charges of
mismanagement of the Frankford Ar
senal in regard to the working condi-
tons of women. .-
Colonel George Montgomery, com
mandant at the arsenal. today made a
statement in which he explained the
conditions existing, laying the blame
for many conditions to the lack of
money available He said that the con-
ditions complained of had been rene
died as quickly as money could be OBJ
tained and that this process had been
going on since they were first brought
to his attention some time ago
Miss Sanviiles statement first COM
plains about night work among the
women employees of the arsenal She
points out that women work from 80
p. M. to 4:30 A. NJ. for five nights a
week. On Saturday. it is complained.
the women must return to work at
ll;so A. M. and work until $3.50 p. NJ.
80 MINUTES FOR LUNCH
II Is next complained that only thirty
minutes is allowed for lunch instead of
the forty-five minutes provided by the
Pennsylvania State laws. IL is also
stated that the ten minutes rest period
IN every four-and- -haif-hour work
period is not observed.
The lack of lunch rooms is the next
point OF criticism. The statement de-
ciares that the food of the employees
becomes favored with the r. NST. and
other poisonous materials
Inequality of pay, with discrimina- =
tion against .-the .wunIen workers, Is
charged. Cases are pointed out where
women instructors are paid less than
the men they instruct In the work.
In regard to the article, Colonel
Montgomery said:
''In the first place. we must reme,n.
Der that the country Is at war We are
all working with all our might up here
at the arsenal to beat Germany and
pring' victory to the United States War
u not an ordinary affair and ordinary
conditions do not prevail in war time.
This is especially true in regard TO
iapor. Under war conditions we must
get munitions and supplies out as quick
~ as possible. When the work Is abb
solutely necessary we must work wom-
en- at night. Laws of ordinary times
cannot be allowed 10 conflict with the
success of our operations against Ger
many.
SACRIFICES NECESSARY
In times like these we must all
make sacrifices There have been heat
less days In which the manufacturing
plants sacrificed time and money. There
are meatless days and wheatless days
and porkless days All these are the
sacrifices of the people; When we go
out to buy little wheat -four. we must
buy a little leaven to go with IL to
4 Itaat
the result of war. We would not do
those things in times of peace and
under ordinary conditions. We do them
now so that our armies may be sue
ccssful in their fight against Germany.
so II is with labor laws and work
ing hours and all such things. The
workers must make sacrifices just as
all others must.
"It is rather amusing to see the COM
plaint that the women lose sleep on
Saturdays because we make them come
& In at 1880 a. m. when they have to quit
work at $3.50 a. m. The amusing part
Of II is that we ourselves tried to remedy
this condition by making the Saturda y
hours from 80 to $3.50 .. m There
was such a storm of protest from the
workers themselves that We had 10
change back to the old plan.
"The same Is true of the thirty-minute
lunch hour instead of a forty-five-minute
d period. The employees themselves asked
for the thrty-minute period. AS re-
CARDS the ten-minute rest period, we are
trying that out in one department now
IN the others the greater part OF the
work allows the workers TO sit down
throughout the working day and the
work is not heavy. With them II Is
rather an inconsequential matter.
~; LACK LUNCH ROOMS
"It is true that we have inadequate
lunchroom facilities for the employees
( This matter Is entirely up to Congress
and must be met with appropriations
CONGRESS has always been very liberia
K win US. and ] believe that we will be
Y able TO get the money to improve the
facilities as we plan.
- ut has been complained that there
\, serc no towels or soap. IL there was
( not. II was not asked for. We are per-
r fectly willing to give the workers all oi
hat sort OF thing that. they require. We
3. nre having the entire arsenal equipped
N with hot water. so that there will be
adequate facilities Tor, all
M arc now epdeavoring 20 obtain Q
I. - 600 appropriation for refrigeratinf
1n1t which will supply cool water &C
~ 1n sutiros plant feel confident thai
~ vim be able 10 get this money and
a ~ urill Be 4 great benefit to the workers
T.. IN rsgsrd to pay. y.sthere may be iso
~ tases Of injustice. With such {
rs body of employees Il is hardly pos
10 keep such things from creeping
NJ are aiming for Justice TO all and
f1onI 10 We, see best with all casel
1h IN preper channel
to1c I|1aln bpainePp here u to keel
~ work uzolrink war on German:
~ 1npy - nome few iyolate'