Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-06-09
NOTES BIC VAST:
IN j. 6. INDUSTRY
Campaign to Cut Losses Opened
by American Engineers.
MISMANAGEMENT BIG FACTOR
Five Million Workers Idle Because Of
Lack of Proper Management
Less Than 25 Per Cent Cred
tied to Labor Unions.


for more than 80 per cent of the
waste in industrial processes, which is
causing enormous annual losses TO the
nation, can be placed at the door OF
the management, and less than % per
cent at the door of labor, declares a
report of the American engineering
councils committee ON elimination Of
waste In industry made public at d
meeting of the councils executive
board. The committee was appointed
by Herbert Hoover, secretary of COM
merce, when he was head of the coun-
Gil.
The report showed that the margin
of unemployment amounts to more
than 100000 men; that billions of
dollars are tied up in idle equipment,
that high labor turnover is a rough
index of one of the commonest wastes,
and that waste of time and energy and
money through Implications and esti-
mates and bids in building trades run
into millions annually.
Output Is Restricted.
Both employer and employees re-
strict output, it is said. Both capital
and labor are blamed for existing
abuses, but the annual losses through
waste by conflicts between them Is
much less than popularity supposed.
From four to five million workers
were idle during January and Febru-
airy of this year. In 1921 half bill
Ion dollars will be lost in wages in
the building trades, it is said.
The waste inquiry is in charge of a
committee of 16, headed by ]. Parke
Charming of New York as chairman,
and L. w. Wallace of Washington,
executive secretary of the American
engineering council Of the Federated
Engineering Societies, as vice chair
man. This is the beginning of a move
ment by the cOuntry's organized en-
gineers about 100000 III number to
bring about better industrial condi-
tons and more harmonious relations
between capital and labor.
The committee outlined the follow
ing proposed program of governmental
assistance to eliminate waste
"NatiOnal industrial information
service should be established to fur
nish more timely, regular and COM
plete information covering current
production and consumption and
stock of commodities national sta
tistical service should be established
covering employment requirements; u
national policy regarding public health
should be fOstered and encouraged;
the national program for industrial re-
Mobilization should be encouraged and
should offer opportunities for educa-
ton and placement to those having
physical defects as well as those
handicapped because of industrial ac-
cidents; nationwide program of in
dustria Standardization should be en-
couraged in conjunction with indus
trial interests"
"OrganiZed labor should develop O
policy for increasing output" 1t was
stated. 1.-THE attitude of opposition or
Indifference to proper standards for
production<sshould be changed to a
frank and aggressive insiStence on
such standards; there should be
scientific examination of the basis for
wages"
Disease and Death Losses.
Declaring that the annual economic
loss in the country through prevent
oble diseases and death amounted to
Sc. OOO, 100000 the report urged
more general use of safety methods
already perfected II was asserted
that IS per cent of the deaths and
serious accidents In industry could be
thus prevented.
In regard to the number of days
lost, the report said: "Forty-fve mil
lion persons lose 100000 days from
illness and disease and nonindustrial
accidents annually; AZ per cent of the
waste Of ill-health is preventable; in
1919 there were 100000 Industrial
accidents resulting in an economic loss
TO the country Of about 1858, 100000"
Plant idleness came in for it's share
of the blame for waste. In the print
ing industry alone, the report said, an
investment of more than 100000 900
In stocks of paper carried to meet
trade requirements could be cut in
half through standardizing in the
brands Of paper.
The building industry was said to
be about 60 per cent efficient In the
shoe industry the waste is put at
about 81 per cent.
In the clothing industry, it should
be easy to save three-quarters of a mil
lion dollars a day.