Evening star., 1923-05-25
STEEL MEN OPPOSE
. ENDING 12-HR. DAY
Gary Holds Labor Is Too
Scarce and Output Demand
Too Great at Present.
By the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 25.-The commit
tee of the Iron and Steel Institute ap-
pointed recently to investigate the
feasibility of abandoning the twelve
hour day in the steel industry, re-
ported today through Ebert H. Gary.
chairman of the United States Steel
Corporation, that it could not at this
time recommend such a step.
Mr.. Gary made it plain that the
committee did not consider it's report
conclusive or final, but under present
conditions, he said, the shortening of
the workday would create an acute
situation in the industry due to the
dearth of labor and the extensive de-
mandS for steel and iron products.
tie said at least 10 per cent would be
added to the cost of steel and iron
production and the industry would
require $4,000 more employees.
The committee found he continued
that the tWelvehour day was not of
ltSelt detrimental to their employees
physically. mentally or morally.
The report on the twelve-hour day
was the first public statement of the
committee named by Mr.. Gary, with
himself as chairman, after a dinner
with President Harding at the White
House, where the subject was the
CIiiel toplC OF discuss on.
Reason for Inquiry.
Apparently the underlying reason
for the agitation which resulted in
the appointment Of this committee
was based on a sentiment. not created
CT Endorsed by the workmen them
selves, that the twelve-hour day was
an unreasonable hardship upon the
employees who were connected with il:
Inat II was physically injurious to
r. q Of rlNnz
that 1t fnterferred with family as
sociations essential to the welfare of
the children; that for these reasons
II was. IN a sense, opposed to the
public interest" the report began.
Because the steel industry is
largely a continuous process, there
must be three eight-hour shifts or
two twelve-hour shifts, the committee
believes. The workmen, as a rule,
prefer the longer shift because it
there is less physical work. as a
total per day, and less fatigue from
the work of twelye-hour day in the
steer industry than pertains to the
large majority of eight-hour men"
The committee asserts that no con
Germ connected with the iron and steel
industry would urge or willingly
permit employees to exert themselves
70 point where they would be in
Jured physically, mentally or morally"
Labor Shortage Noted.
AT present the United States and
all other nations are especially inter
ested in large production" the report
continues.
But it would be impossible under
the existing conditions to obtain u
sufficient number of men to operate
the plants on a three-shift basis M
to capacity which would supply the
present necessities of the purchasing
public. There are not now under the
two-shift practice at the furnaces
enough men to meet the demand for
iron and steel"
The responsibility for earnings Of
the employees is one between them
ana the purchasing public and is for
the investor between these two TO
declde fairly for both interests"
The responsibility for the numbers
or employees is partly with the Amer
!can Congress. because affected hv
immigration" the report continued
There should not be permitted too
much immigration. and certainly
there should be none of the danger
GUS or injurious quality; but there
ought TO be enough to keep our nro-
auction of foodstuffs, of metals and
OF manufactures up to the necessities
OF the consuming public, and sum
clent TO meet demands of the nationaI
Weliare, which embraces the exnort
trade" "Apolt