The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-10-12
ENGINEERS FOR SHORT DAY
ADOPT REPORT OPPOSING 12-HOUR DAY. COMMITTEE FINDS
THAT 8-IOUR SHIFT IN CONTINUOUS INDUSTRIES MAKES
FOR BETTER AND MORE PRODUCTION
Most Important Investigation
taken in This Country Deals Wall Street Profit
Policy Body

Washington, d. C.-Discontinuance
of the 12-hour shift and development
of the three-shift eight-hour day in
steel and iron and other continuous
industries of the country was voted
by the executive board of the Ameri-
can engineering council, delegate body
of the Federated American Engineer
ing Societies, at meeting in Boston.
The vote stood 20 to after hot
debate in which reactionary interests
opposed the adoption of the report.
Its acceptance will, engineers say,
greatly influence the general labor
situation and will eventually result in
far-reaching changes in labor hours
in the steel industry.
Dean Mortimer E. Cooley, of the
University of Michigan Engineering
School, president of the council, urged
the adoption of the report, calling it
remarkable contribution of the en-
gineering profession toward the adj
vancement of mankind.
Most Important Investigation Work
Professor Samuel McCune Lindsay,
of Columbia University, representing
the Cabot fun, cooperating with the
American Engineering Council, said
the report is "The most important
investigation of any industrial situ-
alton ever undertaken in this coun-
try" He quoted Professor Henry R
Seager, of Columbia, president Of the
American Economic Association, as
sharing his views generally.
The majority of managers and ex-
ecutives of steel industries, with whom
the matter was discussed, believe
says the report, that the good of the
industry can be better served by
eliminating the 12-hour day than by
increasing dividends, provided by
means of labor saving devices and in
other ways this step can be taken
without serious injury to the indus
try
1t is not expected, however, that
Wall street will welcome this blow al
| the god of profits and dividends or
| behalf of the good of the industry
| The best engineers, the foremost stu
dents of economics, and the mos
prominent managers and executives
in the industrial world are on the side
of labor in the campaign for the
eight-hour shift. Eventually the II
hour day will be matter of history
in the opinion of the engineers.
Increased Product With Decreased
Hours
"In almost every continuous indus
try" says the report, there ar
plants which are operating on al
eight-hour shift basis in competition
with 12-hour shift plants"
| In practically every major contin
uous industry, plants that hav
changed from IL hours to eight hour
have increased the quantity of pro
duction per man up to as much a
% per cent.
i In few cases, the report states, tn
increase has been much higher. /
the steel and iron industry, it wa
found that "the change from the /
to the eight-hour day has secure
results sufficient to compensate i
whole or in part for the extra costs.
| Other advantages of the eight-hou
day in the steel and iron industry ar
described as increased efficiency, bet
ter morale, elimination of the "float
| ing gang" which is maintained t
give 12-hour men day off week