Evening star., 1923-08-25
BY ROGER w. BABsON.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass, Au-
gust 25.-Ever since the manufac-
turo of steel became an industry the
workers in certain portions of the
United States Steel Corporation
have had twelve hour day. The
reason for this is obvious. The fur
naces in a steel plant must be Kept
in constant operation at a white heat
They cannot be shut down like the
furnaces in a shoe factory or WOODEN
mill. Working hours were longer
when the first steel plant was built
than they are today. Consequently
as there are twenty four hours in a
Gay, the shifts were set at twelve hours
each.
Behind other Industries.
After recent investigation the
steel mills reported that they would
continue on this schedule in spite OF
the fact that hours in other indus
tries had been shortened. rms
brought down storm OF criticism,
and protest from both working men
and the general public. Early this
month Judge Gary announced ina
the steel corporation had reversed itS
policy and this week one or more OF
the furnaces start on an elShl nout
basis 1t is interesting to note tna'
I'm the announcement made on Au-
gust ., Mr.. Gary gafe the creult ~
President Harding. who had urseu
him so earnestly to make TINS chdnSe.
OF course, the shift must be mace
1ustment of the whole process, IN
GLIDING basis of pay
Great Results Expected.
The event is of more than passing
Interest. because 1t Will serve as q
great labor test, and the results VIII
ployers and labor leaders. President
Harding and Secretary OF LABOR
Davis told Mr.. Gary, the president
of the United States Steel corpora
tion. that he would get better re
suits per hour on an eight-hour basis
tnan on twelve-hour basis. or
course. no one expects the men TO
do in eiEht-hours what they did IN
twelve, but their efficiency per hour
Should increase if the eight-hour day
will do what is claimed for II.
Careful tests will be made and the
results will be studied with great
interest. 1t is sincerely hoped that
labor will make good in its claim
that the shorter hours definitely in
crease the output per hour. Slmul-
taneously with Mr.. Gary's announce
ment word came from sydney. Nova
Scotia. stating that the big strike or
-
had been called off by the strikers.
and work has been resumed.
Wage Increases Pass Peak.
Meanwhile wage increases are con-
stantly taking place on the railroads.
The Delaware and Hudson has grant
ed an increase of cents an hour to
two thousand shopmen. and the New
York Central and certain other roads
have granted various increases The
railroad labor board is still holding
that private contract work. such as
the Western Maryland and certain
other roads are doing, is in violation
of the law, and that the Erie railroad
IS liable for suits for recovery of re-
duced pay. On the other hand. the
president of the Locomotive Fire
men and Enginamens Union says
that the government has allied itself
with the railroads in seeking the
open shop. All of this means that
the railroad labor board is granting
some increases and is refusing others,
which is healthy condition.
The general feeling is that wage
increases have passed their peak for
this period and that the labor situa-
tion is improving. Certainly the rail-