Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1919-09-05


1t remains to the credit of this Of
fcer that he accepted the situation on
this basis. The situation eventually
so developed that the employees were
permitted to select their own former.
The men had confidence in what was
going on; they stepped into the breach
and began to produce, and everybody
began to breathe freely and act ent-
husiastically.
"For instance, it has been the Gus
tom to reimbures individuals for sug-
gestions which resulted in improved
processes of manufacture. However,
since these new relationships came
into existence the men refused to ac-
cept these bonuses. They even went
so far, as to recommend reductions In
these prices when earnings became
excessively out of proportion due to
improved methods of manufacture.
A letter to the Secretary of War
from the arsenal unions representa-
tives, R. L. Cornick and James L. Nc
Cort, continues:
we, who are now in Washington
with the Arsenal Orders Branch, rep
resenting the employees of the manu-
featuring Arsenals of the Ordnance
Department, have taken the liberty
of preparing this letter in the hope
that we may adequately convey to
you our sincere appreciation of the
terms which you have made possible.
The employees no longer feel like
mere employees, simply bent on hold
ing down job. They are beginning
to see that they are on their way
towards becoming partners in large
enterprise, that is manufacturing
useful things for their Government
1t has been very gratifying to note
that the necessity on the part of the
men for economical production is well
understood For instance, at Water
vIiet Arsenal recently during the
MONDAY rallies which were being
held the appeals of the speakers, who
were from the workers, were for eff
cheney.
"a striking instance of the splendid
spirit of cooperation which automat'
ically develops when the employees
are given an incentive and chance
for self expression, recently occurred
at the Frankfort arsenal. The Post
Office Department was in the market
for large order of dials for register
ed mail locks, for which they haC
previously paid $45.O0 per thousand
Frankfort Arsenal submitted an esti
mate of $38.0O per thousand, so wher
| the committee on estimates informed
the employees that they had figured
very closely in order that this work
could be secured for them, the en-
ployees were very eager to express
their appreciation of this new condi'
ton and volunteered to work during
lunch hour if necessary to live up tt
their committees judgment as tC
direct labor costs.
An instance of increased efficiency
brough about by this new interest is
expressed in a letter from Colonel H
X. Rutherford, Artillery Division tc
Captain o. S. Reyer, Jr., Aresena
Orders Branch, Ordnance Depart
ment:
Regarding the optics for the
Azimuth instruments, Model of
1918, we asked Frankfort Arsenal
for an estimate covering the
manufacture of 450 sets of these
optics. In reply they offer to
make them at the cost of $20.74
per set.
"This estimate is very crafty
ing compared to the CONTRACT
price being paid to the Spencer
Lens Company of $500 each"
"This is the way things work wher
the employees are enabled to partici
pate in the management of the shop
1t is true that there is still much thai
must be done before We are down tC
bed rock. We are and will for 3
long time suffer from the heritage Of
the conditions we are now on the way
twards eliminating. We especially
recognize our limitation in problem:
of administration and attribute oul
very pleasing success to the interes'
and ability of Captain O. S. Boyer
Jr. One million three hundred thous
and dollars worth of work has beer
secured for the Arsenals through this
branch up to date and we believe we
have proven your good judgment II
creating this branch. Captain Beyel
has remained in the service the past
several months because of his Interest
in utilization of surplus manufactuI