Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-04-12
Labor Conservation Recognized
by Those in Authority as a
Necessity.
REGULATE HOURS OF LABOR
OverWork Has Been Found to Mitigate
Against the Securing of Maximum
Output-No Restriction of Existing
Standards for the Employment of
Women.

Labor conservation, as a necessity
accentuated by the war, was given no
table recognition in general orders is
sued recently by the chief OF the bu-
reau Of ordnance to arsenal command
ers and manufacturers filling war con-
tracts, calling for the maintenance cf
advanced protective standards for the
workers. A similar order was issued
by the quartermas general
The standards specified are in virtll-
ally complete accord with both the
spirit and the letter of the "Outline OF
minimum requirements" for the pro-
lection of the industrial army in war,
issued by the Association for Labor
Legislation last year, when the war ap-
peared inevitable. Their observance
is commended by the chief of ordnance
and quartermaSter general TO "the
careful consideration" of persons in
charge of war industries, in the inter-
est both of conserving human resources
and securing maximum output.
Briefly. the standards outlined in
these government orders include the
following:
Hours of IabOr-Day's work not to
exceed hours already customary; GER
tainly not longer than ten hours for
adult worlSmen. Adapt daily hours TO
age and sex of workers and nature OF
occupation. Overtime to be restricted.
Eight hours per shift to be maximum
in continuous industries. Half hol-
days on Saturday throughout the year
and all national and legal holidays to
be observed, in order to "give appor-
tunity for rest and relaxation, which
tend to make production more satisfac-
tory" One day of rest in seven to be
the universal and invariable rule"
Standards in wOrkrooms-"EXisting
| local standards to prevent danger from
| fire, accident, OccupatiOnal disease or
other hazards, and to provide good
light, adequate ventilation, sufficient
heat and proper sanitation should be
observed as minimum requirements"
Wages - Standards already estab-
| lished in the industry and in the local
! ity not to be lowered. Minimum wage
rates to be fixed with regard to the
great increase in the cost of living.
Negotiation between employers and
MISUNDERSTANDING methods Of joint
negotiations between employers and
employees to be preserved and new
ones created, if required, to provide
easier access for discussion between
employers and employees over contro-
versial points.
Standards for employment of wOm-
en-Existing legal standards to be
"rigidly maintained" and, "even where
the law permits a nine or ten-hOur day,
effort should be made to restrict the
work of women to eight hours" Night
work to be prohibited. Special precau-
tions to be taken regarding rest peri
ods and seats, time and place for
meals, Saturday half holidays, and
lifting heavy weights. Hours for wOm-
en- who replace men not to be longer
than those formerly worked by the
men. 'When it is necessary to en-
ploy women in work hitherto done by
| men. care should be taken to make
sure that the task is adapted to the
strength of women. The standards OF
wages hitherto prevailing for men in
the process should not be lowered
where women render equivalent serv'
ice" No tenement house work.
Standards for employment of minors
No child less than fourteen to be en-
ployed at any work under any condi'
tions. All provisions of federal chic
labor law ''must be strictly observed
Restrictions for woman workers to be
applied to minors of both sexes less
than eighteen.