Evening star., 1948-12-19
S3,392Average Bonus
Paid 10 1907 Workers
By Cleveland Firm
Nv the A,soe;o,ed Press


BY the Asseeiotsd Prsss
CLEVELAND, Dec. 18.-Employes
at the Lincoln Electric Co. went
Christmas shopping today with an
nual- payment checks av-
eraging $3,3s2 per worker.
The company handed out total
OF $3,821,973 yesterday to its 1,097
workers. It was the largest amount
paid since the company started the
unique plan back in 1884 and dou-
hled the employees 1s4s earnings.
Under the program, a Lincoln
spokesman explained, all company
proceeds are put into an incentive
kitty after deductions for taxes, ex-
penses, wages, dividends and reserve
funds.
Workers shares in the kitty are
determined by ratings made three
times annually on basis of guam
tity and quality Of work performed
and skill and cooperation shown.
s3,s00,O00 Paid Last Year.
Incentive bonuses last year TO-
tailed $4,000, 600 for 1,155 workers.
j. r. Lincoln, president of the
company, said the plan has not
only increased wages. but also has
reduced the selling price OF company
products to less than half that OF
comparable products on the mar
ket."
The average product output per
worker this year was $29, TAB, COM
pared with $685. for employees of
three other large electrical manu-
facturers, he said. +
IF all industry should adopt a
comparable incentive system" MIR.
Lincoln added. "and it was as sue
cessful as in the case of our COM
pany, the standard of living Of all
people would be quadrupled.
"Al friction between so-called
labor and management would dis
appear. The threat of Communism
'' would be entirely removed and
the satisfaction of all workers would
be greatly enhanced"
Bonus Payments Grow.
The volume of Christmas bonus
payments to employees Of many
firms across the country increased
sharply.
J: c. Penney Co. announced that
more than $4,000 employees in 1901
stores were being paid bonuses of
up to two weeks salary. i
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea
Co. planned to distribute more than
$2,100,000 in bonuses before Christ
mas.
Workers in the Cleveland and
Painesville, Ohio, and Covinston,
Va. plants Of Industria Rayon Corp.
received a total of $500, 900 In yule-
tide extras.
Bemis Bag Co. of st. Louis planned
a holiday distribution of about
$500 900 to more than !, 400 workers
Production employees of Burlington
Mills Corp, Greensboro, N. c., will
share in year-end bonus fund
of $685. 900.
Singer Workers To Get Bonds.
Most of the Singer Manufacturing
Co.'S 5000 workers at the plant at
Elizabeth, N. j.. will receive $25
United States Savings Bonds as
Chritmas bonuses And at Fisher
vile, Mass, the Fisher Manufactur-
ing Co. announced bonuses rang
ing up to $50 for 800 workers.
Observation-Disclosures Co. is pay
ing holiday specials of two weeks
salary to all workers not on a
commission or bonus basis who
worked II of the last 18 months,
and TO those who retired during
1948.
The New York Curb Exchange
authorized bonus of one weeks
salary to all employees with at least
a years service, and lesser amounts
for others. Christmas extras also
we're announced by the New York
Cotton Exchange, to be paid from
voluntary contributions by exchange
members, and by the New York Cot
ton Exchange Clearing Association,
Inc.
Dean Whittier & Co., New York
Stock Exchange members, planned
to distribute bonuses of one months
salary to workers with more than
10 years service, and proportionate
amounts for those with less. War
wick & Legler, Inc, paid holiday
extras ranging up to three weeks
salary.
j. Henry Schroeder Banking Corp
and Schroeder Trust Co. announced
payments ranging up to 10 per cent
Of annual salaries depending on
length of service. Conde Mast Pub
lications, Inc, planned to disburse
year-end bonuses reaching the max
imum of three weeks salary for
those with Is years or more service.
Ritter g. Co. paid bonuses of
about one months salary. More
than 1000 employees of Jackson Wit
rified China Co. received holiday
specials at the company's annual
Christmas dinner at Duboise, Pa.
The Horn g. Hardart Co. of New
York distributed Christmas bonuses
aggregating $55o,500 to its 4,7oo