Bisbee daily review., 1922-08-06

kett, general manager or the GHelpS Iodge Corporation recently spoke be- fore a joint session of the Copper Queen Senate and House of Eepresen-l tatives A part of Beckett's remarks follow:
 July 1, 1922, marked the first an niversary of our Employees Represen- tation Plan. The time seems to have passed very quickly since this plan was adopted almost unanimously by the employees of the company. At tie time the plan was inaugurated, none of us knew how it would work out, but now after twelve months trial, we can see what has been accomplish and hat remains be done.
 Huge Sums Spent Here
 "The representation plan could not have been launched at a more unfav- orable time, for the past year has been a very trying one in many re- spects. It has been "a year in which we have experienced curtailments or operations, reductions of force, demo- tions, wage reductions, and discon- tinuance of production. all of whic1 has had the effect of creating turmoil and feeling of insecurity and unrest
 During this period of depression the management could not make def mite announcement as to the com- pany's plans or policies. We could not state that there would be no fur ther curtailments of operations, re- ductions in force or wages. There was no market for the company's pro duct nor was there ready money with which to continue operations. It was difficult to decide just what the poli- cy of the company should be, whether all construction and development work should be discontinued, or whether we should keep as many em- ployes as possible at work and at tempt to weather the storm. The board Of directors decided upon the latter course. This policy necessitat- ed large expenditures at time when the company did not have ready cash. In Bisbee alone five and half mil lion dollars were spent by the com pany in 1921 on operating and con struction work
 During this trying period I feel that you have all done your share. The members of the senate and the house of representative took 9 sensible and reasonable view of the situation and have handled the many trying prob lens of the past twelve months ex- ceedingly we'll I want to give you all possible credit for the splendid work you have done from start to finish and for the excellent progress which has been made.
 Wants Good Conditions
 sThere. are certain policies which. it seems to me. we all want, and these we may divide into three groups first, good working conditions; sec ond continuous employment; third, provision for old age after we have given the best years of our life to the company, or, in other words, a satis- factory pension plan.
 "The term good working condi- tions' covers. a number of points. pro- per supervision and fair treatment sanitary and well ventilated working places, safe working places, safe min ing methods, fair wage, a bonus plan by which an employee may earn more money by increased effort and efficiency-not by harder work alone but by better planning and head work and an opportunity to bring up and ed
 
 and in a modern community.
 Continuous employment is. more difficult of attainment During de pression in the copper industry no company can guarantee work for all of it's employees. This company has not had the large fluctuations in labor that are common to many companies. In other words it is not our policy to hire large number of men one year and lay them off the next year. In the future a,s far as is possible, We will try to do development work dur ing periods of depression and during periods of prosperity transfer these men to stoping operations. We hope in this way to develop policy of con- tinuous employment.
 "In regard to the policy of provid- ing for employees after they are super 'annuated. I met with your pension committees a few weeks ago. At that time l told the members of the com mittees that the proposed pension plan appeared to me to be very thoughtfully worked out and repre- sented an excellent piece of work. | believe the proposed pension plan is a good enc, yet we want to make sure that it is the best possible plan, and for this reason I have submitted your plan to several experts for study and criticism. These men may give us some good ideas and valuable recom- mendations. after which we hope to reach a definite conclusion within al reasonably short period of time. Il want you to know that all of us real ize the shortcomings of our present pension plan and the necessity for al new plan-one which is better adapt ed to our needs.
 Wants All Treated Fairly .
 AS you all know, it is the function of any company to make money. It is the function of any manager to see that the operations of company are conducted so as to show profit to the shareholders, and at the same time pay fair wages and insure good working conditions to it's employees and thus keep a satisfied group of workmen. It is necessary also toI place the company in a position whereI ,,