Evening star., 1923-06-26
REPORT CONDEMNS
12-HOUR SHIFT
Research Committee Flags
Views of {. H. Gary as
Leader in Steel Industry,
BY the Associated press

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June 26.-"When in
dustry employs men twelve hours a
day it is committing a moral tres
pass and challenges the churches in
their own field" declares the Rev.
F. Ernest Johnson, head of the re-
search department or the Federal
Council of Churches, today in max
ing public report on The Twelve
Hour Day In the Steel Industry"
research bulletin on the long work
day.
The entrance of the churches once
again into the twelve-hour day con-
troversy means that We have been
forced to take seriously the state
ment made by Judge E H Gary
the acknowledge ed leader OF the steel
industry in America. that he is less
concerned over the tWelve-hour day
itself than over what the public
thinks about it. We feel IL our duty
to keep the public informed about
conditions in the industry until the
public demands that they be changed.
Apparently the manufacturers respon-
sible for the recent report issued by
the American Iron and Steel Insti-
tute are not. impressed with the
weight of public opinion on this sub
ject
Action "OnIy Gesture
1T was assumed that the appoint
ment of an investigating committee
a year ago meant that the industry
was about to yield 70 the urgent
request of the President Of the Unit
ed States. 1t now appears that this
action was only a gesture. We do not
accept the Iron and Steel Institutes
aS ta ~ fi,n 1ta ny1
the twelve hour day. We believe the
public has a strong conviction about
II when brought face to face with
the facts.
The problem Of the twelve-hour day
is. briefly. problem of providing three
shifts Of men to do the work now done
in continuous operations by two shifts.
1t means more men and ii means higher
average wage rates. but we have found
the Steel Institutes estimate that the
three-shift system will mean an increase
in cost of . per cent unsupported by
the facts. Experience shows that, in
general. men so greatly appreciate the
added leisure that they will compromise
on wages. The Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company raised hourly. tonnage and
piece rates 10 per cent and the presi-
dent of the company testified that the
nell were quite willing to accept that
arrangement in order to shorten their
day. The change was actually accom-
pilSHed without loss, lot pTOuuctlDIl was
increased. A similar achievement is
recorded for other establishments.
Way 10 Improve Conditions.
"A major difficulty in the way of in
stalling three shifts would be overcome,
as the present report shows, if the steel
industry as d whole would improve IT'S
labor policy. The provision of some
method of conference and agreement
and orderly negotiation over wages.
hours and conditions of work would go
far toward bringing about the co-opera
ton necessary 10 a successful demon
stration. So say competent engineers
and SO the experience of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company proves. We
hold no brief for any particular type
of collective bargaining machinery, but
we are 100 per cent against a regime
in which the men have no voice.
THE data recorded in our bulletin
are not complete since we do not know
how many men are at the present time
working twelve hours day in the steel
industry The report of the American
Iron and Steel Institute, given out May
%, while claiming credit for past eff
forts toward reduction i'll the number of
as to the present tendency in the in
| dustry,
Report Called DisquietinG.
The Iron and Steel Institutes extraor-
dinary defense of the twelve-hour day
is very disquieting Is it possible that
with the revival of business the Steel
Corporation has abandoned all pretense
at reducing the number of twelve-hour
workers?
The public is forced to the conclu-
sion that. as has been pointed out be-
fore, any considerable reduction In the
number of twelve-hour men waits on a
ieSSened demand for steel .