New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
SHALL WAR EFFICIENCY BE
LIMITED!

Inc nlSncSt pOSSlDle einclency IN
every department of the Government.
and in every branch of work under
such departments, is requisite at this
time to achieve the greatest attainable
expedition in the Nations preparation
for war.
The standard efficiency methods ap-
proved by long experience and practice
in large private industrial plants by
time studies, by premiums, bonuses
and cash rewards to workers in addi-
tlon to regular wages have been pro-
ductive of marvellous results in the in
crease of the output, and have given
remarkable rewards to capable work
ers, who by greater natural or ac-
quired skill were able to outstrip the
laggard and less efficient workers.
But the walking delegates mandate
is that the output of the capable and
efficient worker shall be no greater
th--n that of the incompetent. and,
therefore, all time studies, bonuses
and like inducements to efficiency are
forbidden wherever trade unions die
tate and the efficient man is held IN
check and to the pace fixed by the in
efficient.
In the CID, esd and Gath Congresses
the walking delegates influence pre-
vailed and provisions enacted in the
various naval, military and sundry
civil bills forbade the adoption of any
efficiency methods affecting employees
engaged on Government work
The walking delegates, with head
quarters at the National Capital, ere
supporting the following provision in
the pending Naval Appropriation bill,
viz:
"1hat no part of the appropriations
made in this Act shall be available for
the salary OR pay of any officer, man
ager, superintendent, foreman or other
person having charge of the work of
any employee of the United States
Government while making or causing
to be made with a stop-watch or other
lme-measuring device time study Of
any job of any such employee between
the starting and completion thereof, or
OF the movements of any such en-
ployee while engaged upon such work;
nor shall any part of the appropria-
tlons made in this Act be available to
p. any premiums or bonuses or cash
reward to any employee in addition to
ms regular wages, except for sugges-
tlons resulting in improvements or
economy in the operation of any Gov
ernment plant"
In February, 1917, the House Of
Representatives bv a vote of ia TO
lo5 attached similar provision to the
Army Appropriation bill in defiance of
the adverse report of the Committee
on Military Affairs, the protest of the
Secretary of War and the Chief Of
Ordnance.
That was before the United States
had entered the war 1t was repre-
kenslbie then, but approaches treason
now and is reasonable to the extent
that it will give aid and comfort to
the enemy by hampering efficiency and
diminishing the output of material i'm
peratlvely needed to supply our Army
and Navy with the means with which
to fight.
On Thursday last the U. s. Senate
by vote of "a to 25 rejected an
amendment to the Sabotage bill, which
had been introduced in the House, and
reported by the Conference Commit
tee of the Senate, which would have
exempted trade unions from the pro-
visions which imposed heavy fines and
Imprisonment.
press despatch from Washington
says that II Democratic and 23 Re-
publican Senator'S voted against the
proposed exemption of trade unions
while 4 Republican Senators voted for
such exemptions, so that party lines
were broken on the question. Several
senators pointed out very definitely
that under. the guise of striking for
more wages trade unions might easily
be persuaded by pro- German agitators
or l. W. w. to stop work in vital war
industries. A number of Administra-
ton Senators denounced any policy
that would permit interference with
war work at the very time when Amer
ican troops are going into action in
the battle of Picardy and asserted that
strikes would be a direct blow at the
soldiers.
1t is quite as manifest that if all
efficiency methods shall be forbidden
by Congress as proposed in the pro-
vision Of the Naval Appropriation bill
that we have quoted, and if the pace
of our war work is to be gauged by
the pace and capacity of the indolent
worker and no advantage can be taken
of the possibilities of the capable and
the efficient it will constitute direct
blow at the soldiers quite as disas-
trous in its effect as a strike.
ALTHOUGH che walking delegates are
responsible for the introduction of the
pending anti~efticiency provision of the
Naval Appropriation bill. it, neverthe-
less, will not be enacted unless COW
ardly fear and selfish political consid..
erations prevail with Senators and
Representatives in Congress over
patriotism and the performance OF
clear duty to our fighting men at the
front and to the Nation.
In this attitude towards the peading
provision the loyalty of every Senator
and member of Congress is on trial.
The issue is clear. Its support will oe
from selfish motives and disregard
of the vital war situation.
We therefore very earnestly appes.
to Senators Wadsworth and Calder ana
to every Representative in Congress
from this State to oppose by their M
fuence and their vote the passage =.
the above quoted provision OF tue
Naval Appropriation bill. end eweiy
other proposed measure which YOU'D
operate to limit the efficiency OF shy
employee of the Government s1As
hamper tho prosecution Of the wars