The New York herald., 1922-02-12

at the end OF three months. instead of
five years. as formerly" MIR. Levy ex-
plains. This inevitabl was felt in
great increase in accidents. as we'll as
in Increased thefts from the cars.
Thousands were forced into life of
fdleness. especially at small stations.
where the personnel was doubled TO
handle two trains. This condition in
duced many to obtain several hours OF
work elsewhere to supplement their in
come, and as a result, when 1t became
necessary to take on an early morning
shift they arrived tired and unable 70
perform tn cir duties satisfactorily.
At the same time, the projects of
the agricultural regions have complained
that actually the eight hour law is drain
ing the farms Of workers. dangerous
situation for any country.
by forcing the stations to close for
two hours at noon, the law has broken
down the formerly successful system OF
handling freight to such a point that
some OF the largest Partisan department
stores have ceased soliciting rural
orders. as they cannot guarantee when
the parcels will arrive at their destina-
tion.
The direct financial consequences Of
all this may be estimated at 1900 900
francs extra for personal expenses and
an equal sum for maintenance and new
material. and for additional lodgings
necessitated by the increased staffs."
Mine Output Less.
In the mines NJ. Levy finds there has
been steady diminution in production,
the Central Mining Committee placing
production to-day at only four-fifths of
the pre-war amount, or a reduction of
~ rxrl,; til,
must purchase elsewhere. In the metal
lurgical. industries the effective personnel
has had to be increased so per cent,
while lit is definitely established that
the reduction In the working day has
been wholly without influence upon the
hourly output"
AS far as the textile industry is con-
ccrned, as the output is limited by the
number and speed of the machines ised,
the diminution of production naturally is
directly proportional to any reduction in
hours that intervenes. Therefore France
Is forced to face the competition of ma
uons which do not adhere to the eight
hour law, especially the South American
States, Japan and India
There has been another Industrial re-
percussion which must not be over
looked" M. Levy told the correspondent
Tor THE NEW YoR HERALD. "As the in
dustrial output cost has increased, the
cost of agricultural products likewise
has increased, with the result that the
workers seeing the purchasing power Of
their salary decreasing. demand more
thus lending further instability to world
conditions. Some factories, for instance
IN the Vosges region, actually have had
to shut down owing to this, as when they
are compelled to employ three shifts the
overhead charges became prohibitive.
"A similar situation has resulted In
starting depreciation in our merchant
marine, as it is unable to compete with
that OF other countries as long as the
law makes us keep the bridge personnel
on small freighters equal to that of ves-
sells four times as large. To-day only
two fourmasters out of what once was a
large feet, are seeking freight from
North and South America, while fish
ing vessels from England and Holland
bring their, catch to French markets.
knowing that the eight hour law will
give a balance in their favor above the
extra expenses incurred in crossing the
chanel"
M. Levy insisted there is only one
cure Tor this economic malady, namely
return to policy for the fullest
liberty OF labor. which will enable work.
ers to earn more and bring down the
cost Of foodstuffs and clothing by in
creasing production and removing the
present premium on idleness.