Milford chronicle., 1920-01-02
BLAME HIGH WAGES
FOR SHORT OUTPUT
From n. Y. Times)

VI A0AA ~ E. AAANaY
The unwillingness of the individual
TO work. the uncertainty of labor and
the inability OF ex-service men TO re-
gain their normal habits of work after
their return, are some Of the reasons
given by manufacturers for the de-
creased production of labor These
statements are based on normal con-
ditiOns and do not refer to strikes
shortage of raw materials, or other
conditions beyond control. Their effect
on prices is apparent, and few spe
cific instances of decreased production
per man as reported to the Industrial
Bureau OF the Merchants Association
by manufacturers follow:
A prominent manufactures writes
that production on certain class of
his machines decreased % per cent be-
tween January and June, 1919, and
that on another class of machines it
decreased S2 1-S per cent during the
same period.
A clock manufacturer states that the
most important reason for decreased
production in his plant is "the unwill-
ingness of the individual to work" He
adds that due to the "inefficiency of
labor" individual production has be-
creased Is per cent during a period
when wages have been increased 100
per cent.
Another large manufactures writes
as follows: Before 1914 our factory
operated on a ten-hOur basis and pro-
duced per hour about 10 per cent more
than it produces today per hour, on
nine-hour basis, ten-hours' pay"
Referring to the restlessness of
labor, the manufacturer says: THE
uncertainty of labor is one of the worst
problems that we have to deal with;
in other words, the floating labor that
applies for work usually is hunting for
a specialized job where it will receive
excessive compensation with a mini
mum of effort"
Another manufacturer has reduced
his working hours from fifty-four to
forty-nine per week, a reduction of a
little less than 10 per cent Produc- 1
tiOn per man has in the meantime fall
en- off 80 per cent.
In another plant, where 1,500 articles .
was normal days production four
years ago, 1000 per day is a record .
now seldom reached Taking into
a reduction of 20 per
cent in working force, the reduction in .
output per employee still amounts to
l3 l-3 per cent. The manufacturer at
tributes his decrease in output mainly
10 Overpayment OF wOrkmen A great
ieal of his work is done on the piece
work basis. In order to get men he is
to pay high rates per piece
An operation, for instance which cost
IS cents in 1915 now costs 5S cents.
One manufacturer states that de-
'ided falling off in individual produc-
ion has occurred in all his hOur-work
departments. Many of the men en-
llOyed in these departments are ex-
iervice men and he attributes the de-
creased production to the fact that it
'equires four or five months for an ex-
ervice man to regain his normal
labits of work
A. J. County, vice president of the
Railroad. recently stat
ID that the output per man in the
shops does not exceed
% per cent of what it was immediate
y before the war. Mr. County saws
his decrease is due to labor's inefi-
iency. a reduction in the working day
rom ten to eight hours. and abolition
Il piece work, so that ten men are now
equired to do the same work that six
nen performed before the war.
President A. H. Nichols of the Ma
ional Hardware Association, told a
Meeting of that association at Atlantic
'ity that the hardware trade has
ound through the cost sheet that the
nen are not more than go per cent as
as before the war
Numerous reasons are given by the [
Employers, the most common being {
hat there is a shortage of labor. r. {
espective of the desirabiity of short :
T working hours in industry, either ,
rom labOr's point of view or as a mat .
er of interest to the entire public, a
ecrease in working hours in almost
very case compels the manufacturer
D make a substantial addition to the
elling price of his product The re- ,
ult is material addition to the high
ost of living