New-York tribune., 1919-09-04


cured for them the employees were very
eager to express their appreciation Of this
new condition ard volunteered 70 wor,
during lunch hour, if necessary, 10 live =,
to their committees judgment as to direct
labor costs
An instance of increased efficiency
brought about by this new interest is ex.
pressed in a letter from Colonel Fl I
Rutherford, artillery DIVISION to CAPTAIN
O. S. Boyer, jr., arsenal orders branch
ordnance department:
captain 0. S. Boyer, ir..
Chief, Arsenal Orders Branch.
Dear Sir: Regarding the OPTICS fo-
the azmuth instruments, model Of 1o1e
we asked Frankford Arsenal for an est,
mate covering the manufacture Of Asa
sets of these optics. Il. reply they offer
to make them at the cost Of S2OT4 set
This estimate is very gratifying. corn
pared to the contract price being paid 70
the Spencer Lens Company Of $50 each.
(Signed) al. (. RUTHERFORD
Colonel. Ordnance Dept, L. S. A."
There is attached hereto a statement
concerning the way things work when the
employees are enabled to participate in the
management OF the shop This is but
mere indication of what really can ba
made possible in large way throuyhou.
all the arsenals. In short,>a spontaneous
efficiency is in the making, which, We sin
cerely feel, will before long produce rec
ords of production that will make -ha
most ardent Taylor system advocate en-
vious. And this viii all be because tho
employees want to produce, not because
they are obliged to do so.
We find as whole that the attitude
of the local management is conducive
toward the development of this new spirit.
Where Misunderstanding have existed o-
still exist we hope to help straighten
them out by education and the demon
stration Of our unalloyed sincerity and
loyalty to all the interests at stake
1t is true that there is still much that
must be done before we are down to bed
rock" Indeed, as you undoubtedly appre-
ciate, the opportunities for improving
production coincidently with finding work
from other departments of the govern
ment suitable for manufacture at the
arsenals are unlimited. We are and will
Tor long time suffer from the heritages
OF the conditions we are now on the wav
toward eliminating. 1t is our conviction.
more now than ever before, that before
long the opportunity viii be ripe for Us
to secure outside talent in the form of
competent management engineers and
production experts to advise us as work
ers what we can do to help improve
things, what the management can do. and
hnally what we and the MANAGEMENT can
do jointly. We are not unaware Of onr
own limitations in this respect. and. when
the time comes, We hope sincerely that
you and the chief of ordnance VIII gladly
extend to US the opportunity to have our
technical experts cooperate with the ar
senal management and their experts for
the purpose of doing everything possible
to warrant the fullest utilization Of the
arsenals as centres Of production. The
time viii be ripe fer this as soon as the
basic spirit Of cooperation and mutual
confidence all through the arsenal organi-
cations has been created
We especially recognize our limitations
IN problems OF administration and attrib-
ute our very pleasing success to the in.
terest and ability of Captain O. 5. Beyer
Jr. One million three hundred thousand
dollars worth Of work has been secured
nor the arsenals through this branch I'd
TO date, and we believe we have proven
your good judgment in creating this
branch. Captain Boyer has remained in
the service the last several months be-
cause of his interest in utilization Of
surplus manufacturing facilities in arse
nais, and it is our desire to express the
deepest appreciation OF his sacrifice.
In conclusion, We take pleasure in ad-
vising you OF our sincere desire to do
everything possible to raise the relation
ship between the arsenal employees and
the War Department management to the
highest level, so that as industrial estab
ilshments we hope the government ar
senals Will become a worthy object lesson
Tor the industries Of the nation as
whole
We hold ourselves in readiness in case
you wish 70 discuss thls matter with Us.
K. L. CORNICX.
JAMES /. MCORT,
Employees Representatives,, Arsenal Or
ders Branch.