San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-03
Change From l2-hour
Shifts Made at Sugges-
tion of Harding.
PAY TO BE ADJUSTED
Shorter Hours and Higher
Z Wages Will Boost Price
of Steel.


New York, Aug. 3.-Elimination of
the twelve-hour day in the steel in
dustry will begin Immediately and
wages of employees whose hours are
reduced from twelve to eight hours
will be SO adjusted as to afford earn
ings equivalent to a 20 per cent in
crease in hourly and base rates, d.
rectors of the American Iron end Steel
Institute decided yesterday.
Ebert II. Gary, president of the
institute, and chairman of the United
States Steel Corporation, in making
the formal announcement at the con-
clusion of the conferences, said the
change would be effective as rapidly
as the supply of labor would permit.
He said it was impossible to say when
the changes would be completed, but
declared there would be no unneces-
, sary delay on the part of anyone.
It is estimated that the shorter
working day will necessitate the en-
ployment of between 10000 and Co.
900 additional laborers and will add
approximately 100000 to the an
nual payroll of the industry.
Employees in the continuous process
departments, who now receive $3.50
for q twelve-hour day, will receive 81
for an eight-hour day under the plan.
All other workmen, it was announced,
will be on ten hours or less and their
present hourly and base rates will e
continued.
Officials Of both the independent
steel companies represented in the in
stitute, and of United States Steel Cor
poration subsidiaries departed for their
homes to begin at once the work of
effecting the shift in hours.
Harding Started Move.
The action by steel officials repre-
scented substantially the entire indus
try in this country, brought to ia
vorable conclusion a series of con-
ferences and study Of the industry
which began when President Harding.
| at q White House dinner, requested
Mr.. Gary to undertake an investiga-
ton to ascertain the feasibility of
! eliminating the long hours.
A committee, appointed by Mr..
sary, reported at the May meeting
T~the American Iron and Steel In
sfitute that it would be impossible to
reduce hours in the immediate future
because of the shortage of labor. Pres
ident Harding publicly expressed his
disappointment at the report and sub
sequently Mr.. Gary wrote to the Pres
ident that the industry would begin
the elimination of the much criticized
twelve-hour shift "as soon as prac-
ticable.-
The first formal conference on the
subject was~held in New York last
Thursday, when heads of the manu-
featuring subsidiaries Of the United
States Steel Corporation met with
Chairman Gary, and on the follow
ing day directors Of the American Iron
and Steel Institute took up the mat
ter for the industry as a whole.
Both meetings adjourned over the
week end to permit the presidents Of
the various companies to return to
their homes 10 learn. If possible, the
attitude of the employees who would
be affected. Presumably, officials
found a majority Of the employees
agreeable to the changed rate of pay
for the shorter hours, although no an
nouncement to that effect was made
today.
Gary's Formal Statement.
The formal statement by Mr.. Gary
follows:
sFollowing the correspondence be-
tween President Harding and the steel
institute, and as a result of the most
painstaking investigation, manufacture
ers Of iron and steel, representing sub.
stantially the entire industry Of the
country, will now begin the total elm