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https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  cD  COPY  September 4, 1918 Dear Mr. Frankfurter: I am writine, this letter in order to call ettention to the very serious situation as regerus labor supply in connection with the munitions production et, Eethlehem. This is the one great source of supply of the American Army at the present time, in its need for guns and carriages and all major artillery The condition is exceedingly serious, es for instance two items equipment. The output on 75 mm. field guns alone will evidence in significant manner. and carriages, -1.itish model 1917, is running less than fifty per cenl of the k roduction which is required to supplement the large production which we Un the 75 mm. field gun, American model, are securing from foreign sources. for which Bethlehem had contracted to furnieh 436 cerriages bj September 1, it has actually furnished only three. Instances of this sort miht be multiplied, but of course it is desirable not to have this data public nor to have it amtlified more than the I sim,iy cite the fact that the emergency is so great that necessary. the taking in delay day's a even by national program is likely to be impaired the u,on largely ondent dei is which proper measures to correct a situation Of course the ;resent labor supply will be still lack of supply of labor. further impaired by the new registration under the man-power Lill. While such an emergency is existent literally hundreds of machines within the Pethlehem plant are idle, which could be utilized if the labor restrictions in regerd to the employment of women sheuld be removed. Major Tully further reports, whet is perhaps still more vital, that a multitude of machines in other munitions plants are dependent upon 3ethlehem for their supply of materials, and are idle because of the incapay bility of bethlehem to meet the great prtsent need, which will constantl ly decrease. increase, while the supply of lanor will necessari It seems obvious to me, therefore, that no theoretical objections, nor even generally accepted standards, ought at this time to stand in the way of immediately embarking on a program at Bethlehem for the utilieation of woman labor, under the provisions which have been recommended by the Women's Service Section of the Ordnance Department and by the Director of the Women In Industry Service of the Department of abor. This is a need so great that it cannot be overemphasized. hope that we may count on your immediate help in the matter. Yours very sincerely, L. Hopifins Assistant to the Secretary of War Mr. Felix Frankfurter, Chairman, War Labor Policies hoard, Department of Labor.  https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  I  J  6.1  tember  • 1918.  Tiois r. Rantoul, .;omen's Branoh, Industrial Servioe Section, Washinpton.  To:  Major B. H. Gitchell, Chief Industrial :)ervice Section, Washington.  s'ubj cot:  Supplementary Repart and recommond,,Ltion, on request Of Bethlehem tel Company for per ,d1ssion to emc4oy waten on thre ttgh1iour 3hifts  Report is rolLtive to chops v..h.ere vonon xe now working, and to be employed. For ,.:-reater detj.1, uce .tta ailed r eoar t IT 7 11E1E3 Cornell. 1.  VI6IT TO 2LANT August 27th and 28th by Mrs. Rantoul in cooperation Could L;si on of Labor. with Itr• Palmer, 2ennsylvania Sti  2.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  , OF VISIT ..14.3011 Consultation with General Diokeon and further utudy of si tuation. •sOil6 I. General Diokson r. Bent - Vice-president Bethlehem Jteel company. Major O. C. Illickols - Shop Eo. 4. 0. Bernhardt - Shop lio. 5. 1. - Test Sho .., Browne (.1.4.1 -tain 4. laoss, 6-apt. Stop No. . 0. .:Aiefer - Asst. Jupt., hop o. 4. .‘o. 5 • 0. Hencsey, Supt., Shop , duperinteadent 2rojeotile hOp 1.1o. 2 -u.perintenitent Post shop ri!o. 1. Jupervisor of omen. Etas Kassing 'Nelve men working in shop No. 4 '2v,e1ve men working in shop No. 5  L..ajor T-1. 3i.  4•  - 9/2/1918  OUT 2U-J2  TJIRLNTS -  LBRiems  (See memorandum attached.).  Output is far below requiregtents to date, and dates for fulf illment of contracts on finished. guns ;.ere recently changed from January 1919 to June 1919. 5.  OH4NGS I! ' .-7.:()•, TR.:?ION Ll.i11.2:4().',)6 U. :?roc.luction Officers are in charge of shops, and are iristailing modern system of planning. Work is to be planned ahead by planning depa.rtment in each shop. Shop charts of progress are now installed. shop operations are to be simplified. with a view to greater production by eliminatiir small contracts previously assumed, which cause individual gun shops to work on too great a variety of viark. Work is to be concentrated on special type and model of guns. Balance glso being improved. between forp.e shops and finishing shops.  6.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  RA.OH (a)  1. VIOUd ANA) PRNT LACK Oif Overturn of Labor due to (1)  general restlessness of labor in m:zhinists trade all over the country.  (2)  Attitude of 3ethlehem Steel Company towards labor, which CallS08 bitterness and consequent loss of ;:yroduction force p.ained by cooperation.  (3)  Lick of special night rate.  (4)  Thirteen-hour shift at night.  (5)'age bonus system (see War labor Board findings).  (b)  (6)  Lack of proper housing facilities.  (7)  Lack of canteen service far men, both day and. night, coupled 7::ith long shifts.  Plant  4ystam  (1)  Total lack of centralized planning department. (Plant employs 25,000 men). -2-  nujor  (Atohell - 9/2/1918  (o)  German Propoganda (1)  (d)  LBR/ems  Great number of kustrians and other alien enemies employed by company with no apparent discrimination used. This has resulted in sabotage and the usual system of false rumors causing unrest.  Soldiering Caused by  7.  8.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  (1)  Previous sudaen cuts in 9ieoe rates.  (2)  Lack of coo,)eration between com2any and employees.  (3)  Long shifts.  LABOR SUPPLY (1)  General shortage of skilled labor becoming rrenter.  (2)  Special shortage of skilled labor in Bethlehem Steel Company, due to attitude of company towards trade unions which causes a higher .)eroentage of unskilled foreign labor.  (3)  General shortage of unskilled male labor, becoming greater.  FACTS RMATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMEXT Ub ,;OMBN AT NIGHT (a)  NeeesalAy (1)  Urgent requirenent of overseas farces for artillery -emus. (See attached report of !rogress section).  (2) Present shortage of male labor which will be greatly increased by new draft law. (3)  Neoessity for concentrating a lessening mule fore* on operations unfit for women, thereby drawing men in many instances from present machine operations.  jor B. H. Gitchell - 9/2/1918   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  (b)  _,BR/ems  Idle Machines  Asps Bo. 4 and No. 5 are 80 far the only shops *WO Wften are um.ently needed for night wort—  (0)  (d)  (1)  Skop No. 4 - Number of idle machines at light approximately 300. Approximately 250 could be operated by women, which would mean a gain of 12,000 hours a leak (6 days) in maohine operating in shop No. 4, on the basis of three eight-hour tshifts of zomen.  (2)  shop No. 5.Number of idle mchines at night approximately 200. ApproximLltely 200 could be operated by women, which would mean a gain of 9,600 hours a week (6 days) in maohine operating in shop No. 5 on the basis of three eight.hour shifts of warner.  Training (1)  Shop :o. 4, aelhod of training, is to put women immediately on m4chines and have one foreman, or teacher to every eight women.  (2)  Slop No. 5, method of training, is to put w:men as helpers, or apprentices -t ma. chines operated by men, gradually breaiang them in to use of mIchine.  (3)  Training school. An excellent, well-equipped school is attached to the plant, at present, graduating about 100 women a month into the shop. with a shorter period of tuition it would be cable of ,maduating 200 or 300 a month.  Alution Dilution will have to be governed entirely by the rapidity with which facilities can be installed for the health, comfort and safety of the increasing farce of women, the number of machine* whisk are ca able of being opera. ted by women and The ability of the women to learn.  t-4  ajor . Li. .'itohell • 9/2/1918  9.  ATTU'ITDE (1)  10.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Two represanta tile groups of men were talked. with The grave nece ssi from 1-;hops ro. 4 end No. 5. attention in their to brought for production was its relation to the refusal of men to go on night shifts, thereby necessitating night work for women. The consensus of opinion among the men was, that mare men should. work at night, no matter how clistastefu.1, in order to reduoe the number of women required at night, and, if possible, defer their working at night for the immediate present. They also stated they had not had the matter of night work presented to them in its relation to women before. ThEr wished to take the matter up at their meetings and asked to have a representative of trie omen's„ Branch tUk tbs matter over with the local 'business agent of the machinists' anion. This ves agreed to.  OPINION OF ;31r &INTEND NT6-IN RE. NIGHT „ORK FM WOMEN (1)  11.  laRiems  The superintendents of shops No. 4 and No. 5, projectile shop No. 2 and Test shop TU). 1, were talked with. They all expressed obje ctions to night work for women, but realized the necessity of it, owing to the decrease of male labor and the urgent necessity of it, and the urg:ent necessity for prod.uotion. :al stated that tf present night shifts could be fully maintained, by men, necessity for women at night could be deferred.  ROTATION On a basis of three eight-hour shifts for women, rotation  biomass essential, primarily becau,le of the health of the women, and secondly in order to maintain production on the shift between 11 P. 11, and 7.00 A. . The problem of rotation at Bethlehem will be difficult to solve, owing to the fact that many of the wellien live in adjoining towns, which will TA,ke ixanspartatiOn a probLem. The keeping of shift - 7.00 A. L. to $.00 2. U. as a stationary —lift, and the rotating of the two night shifts every Iwo weeks should be considered.  Major B. H. Gitdhell - 9/2/1918  12.  IJB  OMB  ..›Urildek Y The National ';iar Labor Board is handling the entire question of indystrial relations in the plant, which have been so emphasized in this report in their direct relation to curtailment of production. There can be no doubt that rapid improve:lent of the industrial relatione will take place; but the whole situation facing the Govi..rnment in this plant is at present a very serious one. The nermal output is not being maintained, and at this time of war emergency a normal output should be exceeded. The ',J. J. Goverment, repreented by General Ackson, and 6taff, have in the short time they have been there sucoeeded in increasing production through more efficient management. There is still, however, a greet loss to production tirough the present labor situation in its relation to ni0.t work, and. Llso tlrougi shortage of labor, it being estimated that the plant is short 5,000 men. The z)oesibility of the men being willing to change from the day shift to the night shift, in order to file up the night shift and leave the day shift for the women, if it became a fact, might defer the immediate need for women on a night shift. It could only defer, however, and with the great shortage of skilled and unskilled labor it can only be a short time bz:lore the use of men will hnre to be concentrated on the operations and occupations absolutely impossible for women. The fact must be faced. that women will have to be used in greater and greater numbers and that in some instanoes where the emergeney is greatest, as in the case of artillery guns, they will hays to be used nt night where the mintaining of a balanced production requires it. This would a -pear to be the case at the plant of the Bethlehem steel Comm. pany now, and in order that the Goverment may benefit by an increased output, arid in order that General Dickson and the company may commenoe atking the c1ian.,7es necessary for the heulth, comfort and safety of an increasing force of women the following recommendation, contingent upon certtin conditions is made:  13.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Ri3COMI.ATION That the Aar Department take steps to make )ossible the emoloyment of women over eiptteen years of age, between the hours of 10. )0 . 7. and 6.00 . in order 6..  Major B. H. Gitohell - 9/2/1918  LBR/ems  to allow the operation o three eight-hour shifts, provided the conditions, hereinafter recommended are established: 14.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  COADITIONS RECOMM211VIID (1)  That the Bethlehem Steel Company build up the efficienoy of the night shift of men through cooperative adjustments of was and hrs.  (2)  2hat no shift of women shall be Liner than eight hours Ath an allowance of thirty (30) minutes for lunch in the middle of each working period.  (3)  That the uages of the ‘,omen now working on a nine.. hour basis be adjuk;ted to the same earning capacity on the eight-hour basis.  (4)  That there be rotation of shifts, the method to be established by General Dickson and the Company.  (6)  That transportation facilities be made adequate to meet the problem of women working on the rote,ting shifts referred to in parazraph  (6)  That conditions surrounding the plant be made safe for women going to and coming from work, at all periods of the day and night.  (7)  Thot adequate facilities for the heal h, comfort and safety of women be provided in each shop in proportion to the number of women employed. These conditions to be subject to the approval of the Board of Labor and Industries of the state of Pennwlvan.ia.  (8)  That canteens be installed to meet the needs of the men and women employed on day and night shifts. Such canteens to supply hot drinks and such other nourishment as .a:y- be found to be desirable.  (9)  That proper and adequate supervision in the rest rooms and in the shops be give the 'Iomen, both dily and. fliiHt  (10)  That a repreentu,tive of the men's Branch of the Indust_ial Service 6ection of the Army Ordnance be temporarily assignLd to insure and aid in  -7-  Major B. H. Gitchell - 9/2/1918  the establishment of these resamendations and to work cooperatively with Miss Kaesing novi in charge of the ,:omen's laployment De»artment of the Bethlehem teel Company.  1,ois B. :Ltntoul, Assistant Director, :omen's Branch, Industrial service .ection. 2 Incls. koopg.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -81..  FROM  June 18, 1918. Braneh, Industrial Service Section, Women's Astriet.  70:  General Diokson, •)rdnenee Department. Bethlehem !-3tee1 '0., Bethlehem, Pa.  SUBMTs  Introduction of Woman in Mealtime Shops of Bethlehem steel 00.  Attention is ovlled to the appended rerort on working conditions 1. af?oeting women employed in machine shops of ?ethleban Steel lo. The following sumestions are offered as a guide in introC.uoing a 2. ismer number lf women workers:   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  1. That a study be made by the Tireetor of Trairir, Zassir, '3upervisor of , omen's Yr. Tweibe1, ari Work, to show processes for which women cmn easily be traimeLi, Ind for whiah their physical strenzth and their dexterity fits them. 2.  That in oach ease where a job now performed by a skilled worker be :iver to air unskilled worker, the Skilled worker be first made to feel that his services are more vaIuAble at tl"A other week.  3. That the prenosed Trairing Oftwees be adapted to fit unskilled or sami-ekillrd mmn and semen for processes on Which workers ar,?. moat ne.elod. 4. !'ht women be seleetel for work with specil attention to their physical emr,Avlity to endure unavoide,le standing Or strain. 5. That where standing is involved in processes which momem are performing, a rest period of at least ten minutes morning and afternoon be made obligatory. • 'h't Immer or unskilled workers doings,* previously nerformed by a man, or a skilled wore be paid a rate commrsurate with work pevformed. VMS la no ease the total wage for WOMB and their supervise?* be less than that prid to dkilled workers previously producing equal output.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  41111..,•••••  7. That Pro0uotion Leoords be kept to show the relation between output as produ0e4 by ma alone, and as produced after the introduction Of selesk, tl serve as a basis for egilalization of per for women and 8. That toilet and rest room facilities be enlarge& to include: 1 locker for every womaL ami,layed - women eml:dayed 1 toilet for every 21) 9.  Mat a lunah counter servin,; Lot and oold drinke:.:adhina „lhop- be as at present o2erqted lu arranged it other  10. That all moving belts and wheels near which women are employ& be guarded against possibility of accident.  LOUISE CORNELL Industrial ..ervioe Woman's rauch  r0"M  rm Timus7TY smtvicr  ISITRANDUll for MAjof S uauel J. ilosersohn, 14r, Orfize of t},e S‘?.crt Zr. reply to your relnorandur of July 12th enoloei.ng corrunicatione fron Dean Schneider and General W.ckson of the Oednftnee Departvent, we havm alrowly hmd informal conference*. ing OW* r.nderstinding  Th:6 is 4,1 con—  that final dertisio2 in this , 4tter e:loolcibe  Ivetponed until the 1-'ar. Ittbor 'Board detormA:leF, its ward Li..1 of the -3et;hlehem Steol Comany.  c3gle  The material is therefore being Ilsid  rado in tanio r,ffic, until the x:ard of the .7,.- Libor 3oard s   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Director, "cren in LIJustry SorvLce,  WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,  July 12, 1918.  MEMORANDUM for Miss Mary Van Kleeck, Division of Women in Industry, War Labor Policies Board. Annexed hereto is a communication from Dean Schneider of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, as well as one from General em Steel Dickson, the officer in charge of the work at the Bethleh Company.  Can you let me know the general policy of your Board towards  requests of this sort? In view of the necessity for urgent to let me have your report as soon as soon  action, may I ask you as possible.  Samuel J. Posensohn Major, J.A.G., P.C., detailed to the Office of the Secretary of War. Room 490 State, War & Navy Bldg.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  July 12, 1918.  MEMORANDUM for MiSS Mary Van nmeok, Division of Women in Industry, Aar Labor ?nlicies Board. Annexed hereto is a comlunication from Ce:A.n )ohneider of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, as well as one from General Dickson, the officer in charge ot' the wor.4 at the Bethlehem fAeel Comi:Any.  Can you let me know the zeneral ,olicy of your 30arl towards  reruesta of this sort? In view of the necessity ror urgent to let me have your report al sor:n a3 .ioon  action, may I aek you as pos3ible.  .amuel J. Roaensohn Vajor, JA.]., e.c., detailed to the 0 Tice of the 3ecretary of Aar. Room 490 3tate, war It Navy  1dg.  ;11 communiCations should be addressed to "The Chief of Ordnance, U. S. Army, Washington, D.C."  WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE  HS/mjf  ARMY AND NAVY BUILDINGS, GROUP B SEVENTH STREET. BETWEEN A AND B STREETS NW.  WASHINGTON  In replying refer to No.  July 9, 1918  Sc3 From:  H. Schneidpr, Office of the Chief of Ordnance.  To:  Stanley King, Assistant to Secretary of Sotoialw, Navy 71dg.. State, 'Val' Washington, D. C.  Subject:  Employment of women at night at Bethlehem Steel Company.  Hereto attached is letter from General Dickson 1. with certain enclosures, asking that the Secretary of War request the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania to permit the employment of wamen by the Bethlehem Steel Company on night shifts. 2. I have conferred with you from time to time on this queution pointing out,first,the decision of the Judge Advocate General onthis subject, and secandly, the pending deYou will recall that we have cision of the War Labor Board. not deemed it advisable to present the case tc the Governor of Pennsylvania until the War Labor Board had acted, since we had reason to believe that the War Labor Board had under consideration the appointment of a director of Industrial Relations for the Bethlehem Steel Company. It was expected that the decision of the lar would Le available before this date, but this has Board Labor and as I am leaving Washington to be gone case the not been time, I am transmitting General Dickson's comof for a period munication to you for such action as may be desirable after the Taft-Walsh Board has made its findings. I have pointed out to you the difficulties in 4. the labor situation at Bethlehem, particularly the congestion and the necessity of using the woman labor of the town to work at idle machinesl aelLto get out the very important program of I see no other way of handling the Bethlehem Steel Company. the situation at Bethlehem except by having women do night work   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  To:  Stanley King,  7/9/18.  Page 2.  of a character suitable to their strength and under conditions which would be approved by the Women% Branch of the Industrial Service Section, Ordnance Department, and of the Department of Labor of the State of Pennsylvania. Should the decision of the Taft-Walsh Board 5. be such as to permit the Secretary of War to make this request of the Governor of Pennsylvania, my personal knowledge and investigations lead me to believe that such request is warranted and should be made. If, however, a Director of Industrial Relations is appointed and the appointment is made effective, I believe the Secretary of War should unite with General Dickson in urging the Director of Industrial Relations to establish night work for women under the usual safeguards and restrictions.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Respectf  y yours,  H. Schneider, Office of the Chief of OrdnancP.  •  I•  ALL COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED,BY CARBON COPY AND ADDRESSED TO  WAR DEPARTMENT TO INSURE PROMPT ATTENTION IN REPLYING REFER TO  OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE WASHINGTON  NO. ATTENTION OF  ii0M..  Bethlehem Steel Co., SouthBethlehem, Penna. 6-20-18.  Officer in Charge all Work, Bethlehem Steel Co. Acting Chief of Ordnance - Attention 1Jear Schneider'  k]ubject:  Labor Conditions -Bethlehem Steel Company  There is enclosed herewith letter of the 14th inst. 1. from the Bethlehem Steel Company setting forth the labor conditions in its plant. 2. A survey shows that 5,000 employes are immediately ,aed in the prorequired in those shops that are exclusively eriE, duction of ordnance for the U. S. Army, U. .5. Eavy, Prance and (Ireat Britain. While it is possible that rooms might be found in the vicinity for about 800 workmen, the obtaining of board sufficient convenient to these rooms to be acceptable to employes However, the Company is making an effort to persuade is doubtful. utilize these facilities. to new employes 3. It is estimated that about 2,000 women who are already provided with accommodations in this vicinity can be obtained. Batchelor-hotel barracks are now being constructed 4. for 960 men which should be available by .111 ust first next. .Jean Schneider stated that Mr. Eidlitz was planning to erect 1500 individual houses for married employes for the Bethlehem Steel Company, but that these houses would not be available until next winter. The production by the Bethlehem Steel Company of 5. imperatively needed artillery is now dependent upon the output that can be obtained from existing facilities, lnd therefore upon obtaining sufficient employes to fully man present plant The foregoing shows that an immediate increase in equipment. the number of employes of this Company can be mEl,te only by the employment of all women now in the vicinity who are willing and capable to work in the plant, of w,ich it is estimated there are about 2,000.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  •  10  Acting Chief of Ordnance - Attention Dean Schneider:  TCD:mc 6-20-18  6. There are sufficient operations on ordnance that are of a character that can readily be performed by women to give employment to about 2,500 or more women. To obtain the full producing capacity of the plant it is necessary to work day and night. Experience shows that greater contentment among employes results from having women perform the same operations on both the It is not practicable to use all of the day and night shift. women available in the vicinity on the day shift. 7. Miss Cornell, of the Industrial Service Section, made a personal investigation of conditions of employes in the plant of the Bethlehem Steel Company and has submitted a favorable report thereon. Dean Schneider is also familiar with the conditions. 8. The State law prohibits the working of women in factories after 10 P.7,1., but it is believed that if the Honorable Secretary of War recuested the Governor of the State of Per4,sylvania to suspend this law during the present emergency, that the reouest would be L;rantel. 9. It is a fact that the guns and carriages now under manufacture by the Bethlehem Steel Company are imperatively needed; that the only way in which the production of these guns and carriages can be immediately accelerated toward the maximum producing capacity of the plant is by increasing the number of employes; that the required increase in employes can be promptly made only by the use of women on the night as well as on the day It is therefore recommended that the facts in this case shift. be presented to the Honorable Secretary of , ar with the recommendation that he request the Governor of the State of Zennsylvania to permit the employment of women by the Bethlehem Steel Company on the night shift, i. e., to work after 10 P.M. until such time as the needs of our army for artillery shall have been met. 10. j, careful study of 411 conditions relating to production in the ordnance shops of the Bethlehem Steel Company shows that thc maximum output of guns and carriages therefrom during the next six months can be approximated only by the use of women available in the vicinity on the night shift; the importance of prompt and favorable action to the attainment of this object needs no further comment.  Attached-letter   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Brig. General, Ord. P. A.  C.:C.:  _I_  ri. •3outh J3et-.1(hern, :a. Aoting Cief cr. Ordnance, 7t1 ard  C.-  'Arcot's, Nashin ton, J.  Attention  can  le rhen Mr. period  ehneider  idlitz will start  Please take u  Plea,ie uncertain and advise  eriod  ri on fifteen hundred houses  :it1. Judge Advocate 3eneral tondo-canine;  of land for barrac4 hotel   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  ACJISCM  0  4  tia41 e 1) BETHLEHEM PLANTS  G. T. FONDA. SUPERINTENDENT BUREAU OF  je//41eW/,, /Kr.  LABOR AND SAFETY  June 14th, 1918. IN REPLY' REFER  TO  Dear Sir:Pursuant with our conversation of yesterday, as a result of conference with Mr. L. R. Palmer, Acting Commissioner of Pennsylvania Department of labor and Industry, and Dean Snyder of your own division, I wish to bring to your attention certain facts which have a direct bearing upon our present labor situation and particularly upon the use of women in our various departments, especially on our night shifts. As was brought out in the conference referred to above, it is impossible for us to house workmen in any considerable numbers in this vicinity, owing to the lack of suitaule accomodation.  It is true  that we have a large number of rooming accomodations of various grades scattered about the city, but the boarding accomodation is rather poor and is not located conveniently with respect to the rooming accomodations.  It might be  possible for us to persuade skilled male mechanics to accept these accomodations, but it would practically be  https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  4  4  0  4 7 • 21 / / / 6 / • 4/01;//  - 2 -  June 14th, 1918.  a matter of persuasion in individual cases, and it is more than likely that we would find it very difficult to house this class of workmen under these circumstances. In accordance with your request, a classified iist of skilled mechanics has been placed in the hands of Dean Snyder, this list calling for approximately eighteen hundred (1800) skilled men for various types of machine operations, and in addition some eight hundred (800) men of the lesser skilled type. This is in excess of the number of men we could house and feed within the limits of reasonable accomodations In the immediate vicinity of our Works, in view of the existing conditions as mentioned above.  The housing,  however, of at least a thousand of these mechanics will be well taken care of when the barracks, which you are now planning to install, are completed and ready for use.  It will be a decided advantage, from a labor  standpoint, to be able to offer respectable living accomodations, including rooming and boarding, and this is going to help us to keep our men contented, once having brought them here and placed them in our shops. As I view the whole problem, it is going to be very difficult to obtain the class of mechanics that we need most, and it is also going to   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  /7  e  /0 7 i i41/ /feel/r02 7 )( i  - 3 -  June 14th, 1918.  be increasingly difficult to draw these men from groups who will not require accomodations for their families. The barracks, as now being developed, will not take care of a man with a fam  and from a community stand-  point, it is absolutely impossible for us to offer any ii .•  in the city for the family man, due to  the lack of suitable houses, which I am sure has been forcibly brought to your attention through other sources. The most logical way to meet this problem is through the utilization of women in our various shops, these women being already properly accomodated in the immediate community, in so far as housing and feeding is concerned. The women are available for use in our shops in consideratle quantities, and if we could arrange to utilize them on both day and night shifts, we could immediately give the shops quite some relief, and would be able to meet the present crisis, resulting from shortage of labor, with fairly good results. As was brought to your attention by Mr. L. R. Palmer, the utilization of women in industry is limited in the State of Pennsylvania by certain laws, and it would be, therefore, necessary that some srecial action be taken to set aside these laws, if possible, and make the necessary adjustment whfch the present emergency demands.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  The Laws of Pennsylvania, as now in existence,  //i f  4  lb  A  •  - 4 -  4 ,  / ///• . ,/ i 4( / /  r 6 ' ' ,1007/7  June 14th, 1918.  will not allow women to be employed in industry between the hours of ten P.16. and six A.M., nor in excess of ten hours in any one day or in excesE of a total of fiftyfour hours in any one week.  These provisions prohibit  our using women on any of our night shifts, but I believe that it is quite within the limits of possitility that some adjustment can be made for the duration of thtwar at least. As you know, the present labor situation Is very acute, and it is now practically impossible for any employer of labor to "scout labor" in any district except through the Federal Labor Department.  The Federal  Labor Department has recently advised us that we cannot bring labor from the Philadelphia District to Bethlehem, since we are outside of the limits established by the Department, and I might add tiv-t this Philadelphia District just excludes Lehigh and Northampton Counties, which, it seems to me, should be brought into the Philadelphia District immediately, if this is the technicality which is preventing us from bringing labor from Philadelphia, as we have been able to do up to this time.  The whole situation is most  serious, and, of course, has a very direct bearing upon the production of our shops, and,therefore, it is to be expected that some action will be taken immediately when these facts are properly understood.  https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  p  .  a(yr/./4d((,)//0,wly June 14th, 1916.  - 6 -  I will be glad to take up any of the desire, above points in detail with you, if you so with and trust that the information furnished here may meet your immediate requirements. Yours very truly, 104 SUPERINTENDENT BUREAU OF LABOR AND SAFETY General Dickson, U. S. Ordnance Department, Bethlehem, Pa.  GTF:EDR  Copies to Yr. I. R. Palmer, Mr. 4uincy Bent. A. Lewis. 11±,   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Angust 13, 1918. PROM:  Louise c'ornell, Industrial Servioe Seotion, 7:ome1 in Industry Branch, T'hiladelphia 'flistriot.  TOs  Industrial Service Section, -wen in Industry Branch, Ordnanoe OfPioe, 7ashingtor, D. C.  =MOT:  Request of aklagluguaitslOcpQany for persdssion . to employ omen on three eight-hour shifts  1.  VISIT TO PLANT 'Rantoul of -amen'l August 12, 1918 by Jiss lornell and ::rs. tment of Branch, rald Kiss Siebert. of Pennsylvania "Jepar Labor a Industry. of same date by Liss Oornell nd Second visit at 10 Misa Aebert.  2.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  PER331IS General Dickson 1,71ptair Lazar Mr. Levis - leneral LAIperirLendent M. 7"or,la - Diroctnr of .iploy.aent . 'ielfare Lia 7111}3a1S -1.1M.OTZT,; 850 women 25,000 men.  4.  PLAN 07 OP 11,0"117: Proposed JcIledulo for “omuc Three 8-hour shifts: 7-3; 3-11; 11-7 awithout rota'4iJa. Present Hour Schedule Women: 6.40 A.M.- 5.10 P.M. Dtv: 6.40 A.M.-5.30 P.M. 11-2;nt:S.30 P.M.-6.30 A.M. It is the sense of the manajement that while three 8-hour shifts were imInram`171 for men, because of ahottage of skilled workers, the that three Ihifts of women woull work in satisfactorily with present schedule for men.  ..uisust 13, 1918.  Pethlehehm Steel lo. -2-  5.  ROTATICET OP 'H121-13 7iomen's force has been in -orocess of building since Tovember, 1917. Women are workirk3 who come from Quakertown and Allentown. Many girls are at work who would not be permitted by their parents to work at ni:ht. It Jas believed by Liss Kassing and by the Women's Branch that if rotations were iLsisbed upon, muoh of the work of trainin3 of the past months weuld be lost.  6.  TRE HIM MIFT Nen are workin4 at present a 12 7/12 hr. shift. (On duty 13 hours) Many machines are idle for want of workers. A plan for paying a special tonus for night worx is under consideration. 'reat efforts are goinc to be made to build up the night Shift. The impression was 3athered that between 12 Pal. and 6 AA. many men slept, and com-Garativoly little is actually accomplished. The type of wen on.the ni3ht shift is naturally less hiGt. thar on day work, as the best workers (ire said to leave ra,h(q. !Alan take nI6ht work. There 13 moreover a lesser number of foremen and shop superintendents to supervise effioiel_',v. This impression was supportea 14 a brief survey of ic).LJ #4 at 10  7.  PHYSICAL 7:ORKIT1 i!oT—ITIors NO obvious points were noticed which Toulu Prter into the dccision on hight work. Illans fnr rest rooms and canteens in eaah ahop are well urder way. '17hting, general and local, is good.  S.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  \ . AMMON  Pi\  \714oduction recor are inadequate, but in elate lat: components nase behi planning system. schedu.Le--Ohers finUhed Ahead of t ie. ayeteM\is being overhsiaed by Government Production Officor  1 " 1 1'  All communications should be addressed to "The Chief of Ordnance, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C."  WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE WASHINGTON  wrist 13, 10i.;.'-; In replying refer to No.  11,  geute, but tallest° are inao PreasetiMS Sees lag disessexisei fimisher=1; 4. BM : ere Wits. flee. eyStem is being overhauled by Govern lant Ito4,lottln Officiorc.  It is believed Vat pro-ser o)nditions exist to permit the eniaoyment of volen at night. It iu lone s work al)ne will thought, however, that wo, not go far in building up night shift =lees better production methods, shorter hours and night bonus for men are installed. -77)  1`). 1  Mat to 3tilte .Atpartnent of Labor and Industry be urged to -)ernit the eqployment of mean ever and riot liter then 18 years of 4:Te after lO in order to .1(1,ke 7ocoliblo two Shifts 11 between 7 .A.F:f.aMU.t.-.; t at as soon as eon. ditions oh3w Vat the necessar improvekents have been Ai.de. and t at te brWIng of a third shift of women is praotio2.bie, pokission be grantel to woe: woren three continuous eight-hour  24  That the Bethlehem Steel 00-Ipsny setablieh the )f bringing up nroductiou on neeeiritru, parte on a two-shift basis, before determining the neeessity of employing a thirel Eilft of women tarlag the leafi produotive part of tiAl night.  S.  Met the Bethlehem Steel illelAkey be urged to build ep efficieney of the night shift of men b!f tills study at to same tine t•e vooen are Intro euesd.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  11`  All communications should be addressed to "The Chief of Ordnance, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C."  WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE WASHINGTON  ugust 13, 1918 In replying refer to No.  4, l'ast the rotation oa: suitto be not required for two ebfgts„ but that the posoibiiiti of rotation be considered before the exemption for a third shift is granta44   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  (signed) LOUIS. paraciaa Supervlor. Y41!en in Industry Branob  June 14, 1918. industrial Zorvioe ,eotion, Astriat.  FROM  Yrmroh.  Ordasmos Office, Industrial oervico 3sotion, Wooloa** Branch. Report of voektng f.'.onditions in Lehigh lant of Palladino Steel co., Bethleboa. ?114,- Junelo-11-12,1918.  1.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  REMIT FOR VISIT Verbal repast frost Clearrel Dickson three* Dem 40,:asidar thm* representative of Womists Prandh advise en intsaftettes of gam, P5230115 /511ENVInaMi UMW ?ray nasal- arintalee nepertiamdt• .S. T. nada- ..vyt. Dept. of safety sad Welfare Miss bath Itassise- espervisor of Penile labor Dietraitor of Training Sri Shop elperintendentes Ur. SimOft t2 *whim Mr. Blois #4 Sr. Aare,0 lembine Mr. Ilrekey #5 Ihiebase . --,1011111Iff 0IP Vint IS IMP SOW :bout 475 wags= were employed as mehine shop work ea Jim 10,1918. They were distributed in dope of Lehlt* Plant as follows: ft kimal,tion Mop* WO wInen (asking 75 n/a direpecil and 5? Ws shellsfor Prim* °averment) ahoy- GS mem (asking gem aid gni %law 't U. S. 3overnment) ter parte p (101 masa) (parts for missies 1asSe #5 for U. 3. t)overnment) and lbri norebiszt Alls Machias Shop (4 wisma) mohislas teat bars for proving steel) ,;4netruosion of Bait Item sad toilet realities has boas bogs in #2 Mehl.* Shop (nagibiabg parts for gins) 0.  ter 15 girls has Wm made bylt_eashine Mope Aire large gum are bored (Girls will use fteilitiee for present in #2 Meinitien Sop *lab Is oentigams)  Juno 14, 1918.  4.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  :12J,I'7" "PVT'  .  - 7,PLOTIESIT OF /MEM  A. 'ogee 29st per hour for =whims it 254 per hour in training school Rek0 per hour- foreignism 250 per tour oleaners ..tt !stool ,vomoats plow, rates are figured is iiiis of output on thismoomptlom that she km bad Is hove Map in NNW's sp work, eta. Mies flared on basis of 290 per hour plus ISS Oa amilds• shop work. On shell work, "loader- gots lY for eta *ell girls umder him turn out. Girls' rates average 20% loos thorn mom's rates, but group wag, said to equal mese et peep as formerly oonstituOfQ. Be  •  NM WORM 6.40 A.W.•• 11.86 U. 5.10 P.M. 12.40 flaturdoy- 6.40-11.55. !Mal daily: 91 hrs. ?Mal mookly: 54. 1640 /a.- 12.00 mi. 124,011 PA.- 5.30 P.11. left& daily: 10 5/12 hrs. light  5.80 P•11.-6•30 Ala.- 25 min. for Laub Tetal nidht shifts 12 7/12 hrs.  C. Volepmeee Naiseglaria erement hires mmd disebeigee 3 Oostralisei 110. MOOMoister In charge of eqpilepesse all empl of men; :ass XISSOIMg. of WOMOM6 Requisitions for vtors sent daily by shop imperialtomdomts stating lumber wanted, type of work and ramp of logoo. Adjustoros In sea shop is statism* a ass from Apploymmt DepertmeeN to herr all grievem000 mai oomplsints to adjust same- sad If Rll elms falls to reeemmeed transferal a disdhorge. (Adjusters have been in movies sine, Jan. 1st, with marked reoults in elimination of leavings sad diss sent by ()harps. Adjusters also reooivo aow worker forams. t).eir . Omit direct and Smployarnt Department   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Jame 14, 1918. Labor ?anew Analytieal vecordo hop, shod* southly tummy/sr olaopei woman te Ohm eiii isms* of leaving. i4nons.- (aise, lievoiber) #5 Iliddia• Sep- Wed 2110 101 Prosiestft Ammemittos hired 210 200 70 hired #4 atialaelb At preesstSO Broke. time Reeeemis kept Ls individual shops IMMO, Usk persists. attomiamos aiwaw lima is higher %has among masi asooples #1laellibie Shop Jumo 6 Tomos SO 004 lies SIAS 5160% June 7 'Amos SO% so% Mos  mkt 57% (DUI  reetdemt sum are employed at yeeeemt)  P. Plains for ?rafting mothers Mr. zwelbel, for several years in Charge of continuation vosablemol training in BothlehemP1i Sehools, has bees IMINgel by Steel (%). to take 'harp of training mew'Mom Shop has bees twitted over to trainine department- 11111 be equipped with umehAine tools sod bemohee.As foliages 18" lathes 10 20 18" z IP lathes 14" z 4' lathes 10 20 Milling **Chines- Universal rv Vertical $0"x30"x8' ?lowers2 2 ',avers 2 aotvoro universal Grinding Mlashise 1 Thread Milling ;,!aohine lun berina lath* 40-.40 Benches Miry swag emplepedwans,aali wen aufkilled MD will be taught POSIDOO SO Ala be is D4061440 and later brought balk Is sehool for further training. All will be taught to set tools, grind tools and set up work. Paid SOO per hour while learning.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -4June 14, 1918. 0. Hospital :,'entral hospital building with fall equipment; two doctors, five nurses and three orderlies are emplojed. Three ambulances are connected with Safety Department for emergency calls. H.  Special Adjustments for gomen 3mployees 1. Sarly dismissrll at noon and night to avoid crowded cars. 2. One elevator in #4 Shop set aside for use of girls between certain hours. 3. Chairs with backs near most machines girls operates. 4. Uniforms (see Unibverall and Kenilworth) furnished without cost- but subject to return. 5. Forelady in each shop. 6. Individual steel lookers, poicelain basins and rest roam with matron in ober', in 3hops #44542 12 Projectile Mop WO women) 78 lookers 8 toilets 14 Machine Mop (100 women) 100 lookers 12 toilets #5 Machine Shop (90 women) 200 lockers 25 toilets 7. Lunch Room in Shop 14 with sandwiches, tea, milk and dessewt Undwiohes 101I 'le 5 O Coffee 0,* Cake 50 Milk 5,/ :andy  I.  Safety 'Ark Well organised Safety Department from April 1 to August 1. First aid teams- practice 1 hr. per week on company time, and have one lecture a week on emergency treatment, dressings, etc. Teams are chosen frea lis-do of applicants in each shop. Leader of each team had course last year. On "Yield Day" thews kOnms meet, with their perm-nent "p-Alentn, and before Julies colapete for a tropby and two other prises. ?ese ambers are considerod active reserve for next yearand year after, inactive reserve. Safety leader is appointed in each shop to hand out all notices, and to work with reservists in reporting practices and conditions liable to lead to accidents.  -5-  I  June 14, 1918. 5 orkilv conditions and general praotices favorable for intelligent introduction of women. 6.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  3MP13r. If vows aro employed in increasing numbers, it is reasonmended that the following procedure be followed: A. 3e1eotion of work for vhich additional workers are mosimi and which is adapted to women. B. Care taken to displace no man just because a mama den bo used, but booms* he emu be node more valuable in smothor position. Training oourses adapted to fit unskilled men and women for these Jobs. P. Selection of vows with special referenoe to phrasal powers, and probable ability to endure standing or necessary strain. roduotion records to show atemiag independence of women workers S. , as basis for constant ogeolIsimg of pay of men and women. F. Installation of Aul,ment 1. Increased present capacity for Root Roos =_.nd toilet facilities. 2. Physical oxsualusttiou of all malamute. 5. Lunch room in evm ahop.  LOUISB CORNELL Industrial Service section Wements Brandb   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  AL.2-(  October 28, 1918.  MEMORANDUM FOR;  Mrs. Clara M. Toad, Women's Branch, Ordnance Department.  SUBJECT;  Eqployment of women in specified processes at the Bethiihem Steel Co ?any.  The attached copy of a memorandum received by this Service fro:n the Trainink and Dilution Service is sent to you with the request t-at you give us the benefit of the rscom-endation of the Women's Branch of the Ordnance DepartIont on the employment of women in the specified processes at the Bethlehem Steel Comnny.  MVK:IMP   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Miry Van Kieffer, Director, Woman in Industry Service.  Areet. october :44, 1918. A •,A21.1  kr ,  .• •  ,  k•i .  IL  The Bethlehem :,tioel Company, at Bethlehem, ka., is planning opening two new Training Departnumts, one on the top floor projectile shot.' number two  0.  the other on the thiru flour of  projeotile lhop number one. in the shop i'irst consicereo, the need for training is iadioated by an annual turnover between  and  nuiAber o.neet,ati wor ers.  330 per cent, and a ounside  r te o. pay in trainina is twouty-ei4it and one-half cents an hoar and thc, Illiniiqum hourly rate in ,;,e Lihop rate being paid women a  men.  oehts higher, the said°  the memorandum of our officer indicates  thtit rest roos and toilets are being installed on the floor wiWi the Training Department; that instr.,ation is given by ekilled workers takeii fro  th6'reL;ular shop force; that machine tools used are WI sae as  those erlpi*yed on the ti or; tnat the hours of wor  are the Mme  as  in the shop; that regular Shop pruuot is used as an instruent of instruction, thtt Lim) keepin as in the reg...1..nr sfto,  job tic ets Lald accounting is the ..ame  tut people nro out: moo  or tT.:Aninz,  the .pioy out Offioe Lnd sent, when tr: bleu to prouactive cu.pacity, back to the  mploy ent Office to be oiled on iN)r fiA.ing requisitions  :ra. the production flor for workers.  euiar ano  insneetors ex:.ine  product and the fro6uctiun itself is under the regular snap foleman. it being planned that this training roa,; shall turn out at last 75 to 100 trained people per )ionth and suggested that 70 per cent of this new labor should be female intr,:dAced by way of diluting the   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -2-  supply of male labor in the shop, the -aAer is bruught to yoar attention. ...he situation in shop number one differs in these particalars: -earners rate be ins wita ;,;() cent; per hour and is advaneed to 40 cents as ,1 Dil'ition of ai l'er cent is donte- ited by tae managwent. 1100  ale workers are o:41oyed in this -hop th:.t percentage  would indicate over 800  omen as intended  Le sabstitted for men.  -1!no ioint to be considered by yo4r or Lnization is the question of - olicy, rei, tine to the introcaction of three illah sc.rapnel, base plao ana  'female labor in the -anufncture shells.  t.e ,;cman in indastry "ervice, as a matter of health, morals _iad general proteotion of women in indastry, feel that dilatLcin in this rarticular kind of indlstry is e;yarneuablo tais organisation would desire to be so advised.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Direetor:  ana  Lervice.  •  411.•  U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TRAirviNG AND DILUTION SERVICE X.:4301WatiTtlICTLISL. VLUC WASHINGTON  OCT 26 „.04,  618--17th Street. October 24, 1918. MEMORANIM FOR THE DIRECTOR, WOLLLII IN ILDW- Tiff E,E1AVICE:  The Bethlehem Steel Company, at Bethlehem, "'a., is planning opening two new Training Departments, one on the top floor of projectile shop number two, the other on the third floor of projectile 111,)  numier one.  In the shop first considered, the  need for training is indicated by an annual turnover between 222 and 330 per cent, and a considerable ShortE;ge in number of needed worl,ers. The n.te of pay in training is twenty-eight and one-half cents an hour and the minimum hourly rate in the shop five cents higher, the same rate -being paid women  men.  The memorandum of our officer indicates  that rest roor;s and toiiets are being installed on the floor with the Training Department; that instrction is given by Skilled workers taken from the reollar  hop force; that machine toois used are tne same as  those erap:ioyed on the floor; that the hours of worL are the same as in the shop; that regu_;.ar Shop product is used as an instrument of instruction, that time keeping, job tickets and accounting is the same as in the regu'Lar shop; that people are obtained for training through the a:dployent Office and sent, when trained to productive capacity, back to the Employlqent Office to be called on for filling requisitions froff. the production floor for workers.  Regular Shop inspectors examine  product and the production itself is under the regular shop fo]eman. It being planned that this training room Shall turn out at least 75. to 100 trained peorle per month and suggested that 70 per cent of this new labor should be female introduced by way of diluting the   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -2-  supply of male labor in the shop, the matter is brut to your attention. he situation in shop number one differs in these particulars: earners rate beins with 20 cent:: per hour and is advanced to 40 cents as a minimum. Dilution of 80 per cent is conteulated by the management. As 1100 :Jade workers are employed in this shop that percedtage would indicate over 600 women as intended to be substitted for men. The point to be considered by your oranization is the question of policy, relating to the introduction of female Labor in the manufacture of three inch shrapnel, base plugs and A. P. Shells. If the Woman in Industry Service, as a matter of health, morals and general protection of women in industry, feel that dilution in this particular kind of industry is commendable this organization woalu desire to be so advised.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Director  ,:raining ansi-Bilution 1-ervice.  •  Mel  October 24, 1918. MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRFCTOR. N$,-)e:AN IN INDUSTRY SFRVICE: The Bethlehem Steel Company, at Bethlehem, Pa. is planning opening two now Training Departalents, one oa the top floor of projectile shop number two, 'he othar on the taird floor of orbLet.tile  shop nwiber one.  In the snop first oonsidered, the  need for tIaining is Indicated by an arinual turnover butween 222 and 330 per cent, an a consid4rab1e shortage in nitaber of needed lorkers. The rate of pay in training is twenty-sight and oneu.half cents an hour and the minimum 11;urly rate in the shop five cants higher, the same rate using paid ao.ien  men.  The memorandum of our officer indicates  thiit rest rooms and toilets are being installed on the floor with the Training Department; thst instruction is given by skilled workers taken fre,m the regular shop force; that machine tools used are the same as Viols employed on the floor; 'bat the hours of work are the same as in the shop; that regular shop product is used as an instrument of instruction, that tine keeping, job ticlrets and accounting is the same as in the  regular shop; that people are obtained for training through  the Employment Office and sent, when trained to productive capacity, back to the EMployment Office to be called on for filing requisitions from  the production floor for workers.  Regular shop inspectors examine  product and the production itself is under the regular shop foramans It being planned that this training room shall turn out at lealt 75 to 100 trEinal people per month and suggested that 70%  of  this new labor should be female introduced by way of diluting the   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  supply of male labor in the shop, the matter is brought to your attentIon. The situation it. shop nrImber one differs in these particulars: Learncrs rata begins with n cents per hour and is advanced to 40 cents as a minima. Dilution of PO :er cent is conteated by the management. As 1100 male workers are smployod it this shop thitt percentage would indicate over 8t)0 women as intended t  be zUhstituted for man.  The point to be considered by your organization is the  ciaestion  of policy, relating to the introduction of female laaor in the manufacture of three inch shnrpnel, base lug  tn  A. P. shells.  If the Woman in Industry Service, as a matter of health, morals and general protection of women in industry, feel that dilution in this particular kind of industry is sommendable this organization would desire to be soAdvised.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  (Signe4)  C. T. Clayton, Director, Training and Dilution Service.  WOMEN IN THE MUNITIONS InUSTRIES  be Within a few months, the United. 'States must s of Groat re::.dy to supdy, Athout the aid of the faotorie Britain or  leanoe, all the guns, all the chells, all the  Lai_ the other aeroplanes, all the clothing, all the food, s away, and equipment, needed for Aarmy three thosL,nd mile whioh the country larger sevoral hundred fold tan any army day more men has ever before Aatotained. Meanwhile, every is nneded for are bent ac ves the seas, and more ammunition same time, fewer Perrkiag's growing force. Naturally, at the war supplies. :very strong and efficient mon are loft to make dependence of da:/ makes olearor the signs of the increasing ultimate success the country upon the work of women for the of the war itself. iias a A factory in the Nast making shells now inteplan',1* to inforce of whioh one in nine is a woman, men to 50 or 60,4 about one in crease the proportion o, nment Arsenal in the two, within the next few months. A Gover shops to women to..est will open the doors of its machine history. The urantkAut: orrow morning for the :drat time in its about to em by women Department of the thlitod states Army is munitions men as itlepectore of the quality of the instead ry. nufaotured in plants throughout the count merely chance illustrations.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  The changer  These are  -rom 1)r',mrr  .2-  t that ch that no-one oan doub The war program is su ale, will become st now en a small sc fe ni ma , es si en nd to e thes e new order order in industry. Th w ne a of s er nn ru re tIle fo is to guide and shows haw vital it 1gl '.1 in d he is bl ta es already oan bethe moment the first wo o,2 fr s ge an ch e es th l and contro  plaees.  gins to operate  man's machine.  ke al not only for the sa A.00 guidance is esenti e is one; but d the roup of Which sh an f, el rn he n ma wo e th of m of the Goverillent's progra pm -0 inguro tho sucess of oe,- the st share in the guidan mu po ou 7r ee hr 'T . on rroducti to be kept the workers. The aim d an s er oy pl em e th , qovornment vidual production, not for indi se ea cr in to is ew steadily in vi ic ideLls for iumph of the democrat tr e th r fo t bu , it of pr onterocl to war. which the United states oy, was nxt a OiVi1ir11 aceh Ouriously enough, it the o Ordnance Department of th , on at ist a or ry but a milita Women'e tj,(1 first to organise a s wa h .c wA , my Ar United States beginning% in BraneY, which ticl its o e en om o Th . ch an Br whosc al 3E11.vioe Section, ri st du In e th of rt pa January, 1918, is in helping o ordnance Departmont tk t en es pr re to is purpose maximum bor which shall insure la of ns io it nd co h to establis to ubtless it wtls the need Do r. wa e th ng ri production du ened industrial th strikes and threat wi y tl en ig ll te in deal the Ordnanoe me to the officers of ho t gh ou br h ic wh es disput Industrial the ereetion of the r fo y it ss ce ne e th Departmr-t   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -3Lervioe 6eotion, but from its inception mediation hiJs been only one of its functions.  It has had a housing branch, to  plan housing in communities where it is inadequate for munitions makers.  Its em-aoyent management branch has aimed to  establish in the plants employment management departments to organize efficiently the task of hiring workers, assigning them to the jobs for which they are fitted, and in other ways seeking to insure oonaitions making for a stable working force. An expert on s fety and tv.nitation, working in co-operation with state dopLl.rtments of labor, is responsible for lessening the dangers to which munition  workers are exposed.  Nor are  conditions outside the plants neglected, since a community organizer is bringilr together voluntary groups,- churches, clubs and similar erganisatiofis, and official agencies such as departments of health and school bArds,- to prepare for the problems brought by rapid increase in the population. Finally, the women's Branch is charged with responsibility for conditions afeoting women in the Government la-snals and in plants working on contract for the Ordnance Department. The urdnanoe Department is to division of the  ar Departmon  responsible for supplying the army with cannon, rifles, cartridges, shrapnel, high explosives, and many otLor -t:oro of ammunition, awl also with many oter articles of equip :wilt needed by the soldier in the field, including helmets, lether belts, and -arness for horses in the artillery service.  The  production needed for tile Ordnance Depart. ont is the largest   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  .04.11  of any division in the  tir. lotirtmant.  No-one can doubt thvt to women of the oountry are eager to do their full share to produce those supplies and all others needed by the army and navy. fish oonsiderations.  This is no time for sel-  But it is also no time for the kind of  self-sacrifice which can bring no good to the nation.  The  need now is to spend enersjes in tho wisest possible way. more goods can ho made through a  If  long period of time in nine  hours a day than in ton, it is sheer folly to permit ten or eleven or twelve hours. As it is the aim of VA:: Ordnance Department to insure maximum proluction for the war, the Women's Branoh interprets its task as that of setting free the best energies of women workers so that they tnay he able over a long period of time, if necessary, to do their full share in munitions needed for a growing brmy.  aking the  Setting free the best  energies of the workers means, first of all, finding out what arc the obstacles to satisfaotory production.  ,Ingland has  alrcak; discovered (wale o-z them,- ten hours a day or longer, work seven days in the week, lack of nourishing food at lunchtime, crowded street oars, orowded homes, a sense of injUstioe among the workers, men and women, because of the introduotion of women into men's places at lower rates of pay, und other difficulties long familiar to women who havo been leliers in the labor movement.  4xperience in the United Stutes shows  already that theke obstacles to production, not because of any   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -5disposition to shirk, but booause laws of ffitigue set limits whieh  nnot be disregarded. These are facto which have not boon widely reoog-  nised either among emaoyers or workers.  seqUet6 have come  tion to the Ordnanoe Department, from plants in Which produc laws must be increased, asking for exemption Tro..1 state labor to make loner hours possible for women.  On the other hand,  w: Es in some o; our efforts to shorten hours, even though it the interwit of oroduction, have met with opposition  rom the  workers who fe-red that it might mean lower wa'es for piece workers. To the  Trade Unionists are familiar with this attitude.  omen's Brsnoh it shows the need for a demontiqation to  length errloyers and to workers of the kind of shop prautioe, the of hours and other oonditions whioh will aotually proftce desired results. The time is not long past,- before the wr,- when this emphasis upon inca'eing production would have seemed labor. almost an evisenoe of disloyalty to tLe interests of reThis is booause the making of more goods has so often the sulted merely in the individual profit of a few, while ed. burdens of the many were inorw.ued rather than loosen That thtnger is by no means at an end.  But this war, which is  f ti.e whole people, Zaught in the faith that true  a  to the .ocraoy is Possible for all nations, is a ohallenge as its army United 6tate8 to organise Ito industries as well equipment of in united effort for one aim, and that aim the   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -6-  the nation, both opiritually and matiJrially, to play its part in tho now intorhational relationships.  Voluntary limitation  of output, on the one hand, and exoessIve profits on the other, must both be done away with beoauce they are obstaolos to united, national effort.  Between the omosing interests of  omployero and workers, the Government, representing tie Whole people, must serve not only as mediator, or as an agency to enforce laws., but as a vttal force to make industry curve the national good with the spirit and ietI Of a damsoratic nation. In the relation o-S: Government to ineastry, incredibly radioal changes have tae' arm since the United '..;tates joined its allies in the war.  Governmental control and oper-  ation of industries has been greatly extended.  To regulate  the relations between emplgyere and workers in private industrive, an agreement drawn  ur tretwesreatp  by ropresentatives  of tl,e organised workers, the orgavlized employers, and the public &Al boon of.Zirlially rer!ueoted and then sanctioned by tke Federal Government.  This report forms the basis tor the  work of the Industrial Oervice Jeotion, including the .oen's Branch.  It affirms the right of workors and employerv to or-  ganise anl bargain collectively, declares that ma,xim.Li produotion of all war industries sho7-1d be maintained; and that "minimum rates of pay shall be cotv:dished which will 1-6sure the subsistence of the wor;:er and hie family in health and reasonable comfort."   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Of women in industry, the report has  -.7-  this to say: "If it shall beeoiae neoessary to employ women on 'Work orainarily performed by men, they must be allowed equal pay for equal work and iP.ust not be allotted tasks disproportionate to their strength." It is this irroad polidy, expressed, also, in more detail I. General ()raters No. 13, issued by the Ohief of urdnance last November, which forme the platform for the '4amen'13 Branch.  General Orders No. 13, which are not orders  but suggestions to arsenal commanders and manufacturers, confirm the necessity for reasonable working hours, fair working oonaitions, and a proper w n,() scale as "ousentiii to high production."  They encourLge provision for "joint nef7o-  tiations between employers and groups of employees," and in the spirit of the report of to . 41x. Labor Board isuued five months later, they declare that if women are intro:imcod into the plaoes of wen "the standard of wages hitherto prevailing for !en in the process should not be lowered where worien render equivalent service." These standards have no legal status. laws rerr1atin7  conditios ()  Ho federal  women's work exist at  presont wlAch can be invoked by the Women's Ilranah. -:11tIT:7,1WW -Wkor1-ty I g tlist af..the-Owdnanee Dnint as a ',machete? -of goods, eo-ArCrIlingtftrongh-prirCirr-inftri.  But  back c)-: the formal legal statur of the Industrial Service section of the Ordnance Departnt and any other federal agency is Vie labor policy of tile present administration.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Repetedly, the President oT the United StLItes, the 1;ec.J:etary that of .,ar, and the Count:al of National Defense nave decla:coa of the war must not he made the occasion for breaking aown any the standards neoesaary to sueguard the health of women and children.  Inspectors sent to iunition8 plants by the :omonts  Branch uro expeoted to see th&,t reaswiable working conditions are maintained for women. ospeoially  This demands detailed study in oz-Alh when conditions are changing so rapidly.  :11.- pose, for example,  that women are doing mu's Jerk under slightly different conditions.  Suppose that four women operating Aaohineo .;:eed the  services of a :an to sot up the Aaollines.  How should the rates  of pay be deterlained in coperison with the wa-es of the Aen who formerly both operatod tola set up their *won maanines? These and mcmy qtcations iLa) them are th,) detvils to be dework. termined in applying the policy of equal pay for equal Similarly the beet soAedule oi hours, the boot seating arrangemonts, the best methods c).. trainin-, the proper care of the health, are all subjects which need to be considered in raki, - lant is engaged. tion to the particular processes in wThich the : It is this !PATi of indstrial counselling whic lranoh  the  omen's  to give in tho interest aliko of tA) women  workers and of the needs of ti.lo country at war. The headquartore of the Womon'e Branch iu in the Ordnance Department in the Army and Navy Buildinfro, 7th a7:,:t. 13 ',Areetc, WashiAlgton, j).j.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  The Department hay alJlo district  -9.  offices in 2hilde1hia, New York, Bridgeport, Conn., Boston, Rochester, U.Y., Detroit, Eieh.,  Chicago, Cleveland, 'din-  cinnati, cLnd Pittsburch; and as raoo  t.s possible the  Branch will be represented in all c)_ them.  At present *.pr..  Braneh are in three cities,- Amy  senttives of the Hewes in Chicago  onion's  (600 ,:eat Jackson Boulevard); Louise Cornell  in Philadelphia (1710 Market ;6treet); and Olga 6. Halsey in Becton (19 Portland 6treet).  Those women are responuible for  the plants in their districts. In spools' problems they will have the help of J.embors o-.7 the 'ashitoll staff,- Ciara M. Toad on emploF.Iont manage:lent, Dr.  gannon health,  and a member, not yet aproi.ted, on methods of train**g.  In  Frankford Arsenal, viLioh lo of course controlled by the Ordnance Department, another member of the  ouen's Branch,  Nellie M. Reeder, is stationed for an indefinite period to esta)lieh there tie oonditions which are desired in all privte plants.  This o.nnot be done in a moment, but step by  sten in order tat tere fliay not be even a temporary lessening oT production urgently needed for to army. It is the 'ork of Ma-rgrefAest personal interest to  .Adorson which is of the  readers of Lifo and Labor.  Her appoIntment itself is an indioation of the need for oonstunt couns lling by tratTenilon latmon in the diffioult problems bro-up7bt by the war. t;:e women's unions.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  ;he is our connecting link with  To the men's unions she is an interpreter  -10of the Goveraffient'a policy in doalig with the new conditions which the introluction of wo .on into mon's trade3 are 1.3.3-Ing. The jomon's Branch lc sooki  throu3h her work to  ,e ]:repared,  and to -avo the unions prepared, so that the sub3titutien of woen for men, whon it b,00ilas necesaary, shall not result in a disastrous lowering of standards, or LI bitter industrial disputes. It lc, of (sours°, tie Do-,)artnont of Labor which is responsible for tl'e aliListration of tie natioYial lior policy.  The Indiletrial 2orvioe  oc.1- ons of several departments  responsible for production, including the Shippinp Board, te Quartermacter'ls: Department, the ;ignal Corps, and the Ordnance Department, are co-ordinating their work in te Department of Lahr. The plans for tkle roort7anizaLtm of the Labor Department provide for a division for women in industry.  Those  pleno were drawn u. by an advisory council in which Agnes 1  -!tor repreHonted the women workers.  Unfortunately, at this  wrtting, tic divisJon 1 . 70 not yot been created.  At prevext  the ':ioment o Branch in the Ordnunee Department and tinn special work done by Mario Obenauer in the '613nal Corps roprecent the only work Aor women in 1:11111.1try established in Federal departments. either of them.  c)  the m.r work is outside the scope of  By -no time thio issue of Life and Laor  reacites its readers, it Is 1:oped that the Departnent of Labor will have its women's division, and its work will oi course be   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  more important than that o -T7 any industrial branch for women in any other department.  Their work, It is hoped, will supple-  ment and strengthen the Department of Labor. The labor problems now confronting the United 6tates oannot be solved by the govermaont alone. lortant part which women  Booause of the int-  mot play in them, they uro a challenge  to the organized women of the country to be le dere in their solution.  The Goverment cal) give voice to policies, and  eatablieh machinery for negotiation, but the success of the Government in a liberal program depends upon the wiA.om and idealism 0. the viorhor mailitit  to  cii-o•eratino tciarde which  list  vvr :pro7ram orl the basis of  industrial peaeo.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  ' ;OK. In 1iargo of .ol:en's Branoh, Industrial Liervice Ordnance De-nartmcnt.  *11E10110  Form No. 2660  WAR DEPARTMENT  OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE INTRAOFFICE MEMORANDUM FOR USE WITHIN THE ORDNANCE OFFICE ONLY  1 42  FROM:  NAME  TO:  DATE  SECTION  BUREAU OR DIV.  Avdt //1/Vk NAMI  SECTION  BUREAU OR DIV.  SUBJECT:  ovit  NO CARBON COPY AND NO RECORD REQUIRED. PEN OR PENCIL MAY BE USED.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  _5  ,opto.lher 2, 191,3 vrom:  Ordnance ur.i:1co, ?:tErt toy,. ton Erogress  20  2re* Loic B. Rantoul, :A*01,1otton D;v1u1 ,n, .oflenio 6ervioe tlotion  lieqUi re:milts DI.v  1  75mm, Produotion at Betilehem Steel Compalv, -outh Bethlehem, Pa. reu ated figures arc, snbmitted. L4.) fon,TIT... in connootion Ath t..1) ltoiAl .oing raanufaetuced at Bethlehem, whio'r ...vo [fiuch nooHeq. 7  Pi4 GmcLalid jforiarIy, B i .ici40., 19.7 n trio *say part of yBrig.Qen. Iraoy .;. Diokson was of the opinion that the output oi Bethlehem in thie noiel swaYLId. be 125 per month or more. The aotuhl output for July wE) . 61 for August about 80.  75 itikt Fie  d 9 omp et on to a e on the gun are 499 and o. the oa.crie on whio)- tbo gun is to be mounted 70. Bethlehem has oontruota for 436 of thee Garriages and it was expeetell that by L.,ptember lo$ they would'have eoLlIplete all of these. The aotull oompletiops by Teptember let at Bethlehem were 3. :vrery effort should be Ygut forth to inoreape produotien of carriages, to keep naoe with the .ruris t,n4 thus provide for eomple*e firing unite. At this st.ge of the mot probably no gun is more nee4ed in Plunge that the 75mm. field sun. Requirements have been reoently laseeseed and while the Swank bale furnished the AmeA.can troope with a consiaorable dumber of these guns, we E,re still about 25oo mIne 1)0!110 tle roquimients sohednle as ol deptmmber lati   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  atinford son Maj)r, Ord* .Dept. u. . •  f,  ;Apt. 114 1918. From:  lieut. 7. u. _ird, Office oi the Uhier of Ordnance.  To:  Lajor r. . Tully, Office or the ecretary uf - Lavy Bld,., ashington, .  Subject:Dilution and night work for v,omen at Bethlehem Steel Corpany. lor your information regarding the proposed in1. stfalation of three 8-hour shifts for women at the Dethlehem Ctcel Companw, the following data are presented: 2. It is estimated that 2,UCC female machine operators worICug on a three shift basis cLn be utilized in the immediate future. IA viuuld be possible to takt on romen &s machine operators durine the neLt three or four , eeks at the rate of tenty-five a day and alter that, LA the rate or rirty a day. A vestibule suhool has been e;ltablished at the Eethlehem Steel !y_Lny Which is traL.Ing <bout one hundred women a montil 't the present time, but it is hoped to increase the output of the school materially. it is pliJined to trLin the rest of the women in the shops by the use or instructors who Li:I explain the process to them as they v,ork at the machines. ;a, 1,.t the present tine there is bal estimated ehortage ot 5,000 employees at the Bethlehem ,Jteel Company. The GovernmenM dormihousing fauilities are wholly exhausted. tories which will be finished thiu month will pro7ide for t_e houtsing of 2,000 employees, but there will still be housing faces lacking for 6,0, ehiployees. The GorrerLment has another hausing project und r way, but it vAll not be completed until next spring. It is estimit4id that there is a potential 4. of about 2,000 wJp4en in Bethlehem and vicinity already housed who can be pat to r4rk on a three shirt basis It is evident   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  ,Aaus  To:  Major Tully  kBAB/mjf  9/12/18  that although prottuetion would undoubtedly be materially increased if harmonious industrial relations could be established b the bethlehem 2.tee1 company, under the most ideal conditions, there would still be an absolute shortage of about „000 men. It is to ausiet in the overcoming of this absolute shortage that the three 8-hour shift plan for women his been proposed.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  By direction of the Chief of Ordnance:  Is. 11. Ord .1 ept Lt., 2nd  REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS LOYALL A. OSBORNE C. E. MICHAEL W. N VAN DERVOORT D. L. WORDEN F. C. HOOD   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  REPRESENTING LABOR  WILLIAM H. TAFT FRANK P. WALSH JOINT CHAIRMEN  FRANK J. HAYES WILLIAM L. HUTCH ESON THOMAS J. SAVAGE  W. JETT LAUCK, SECRETARY  VICTOR A.()LANDER T A. RICKERT  NATIONAL WAR LABOR BOARD WASHINGTON  ft  '  Mr,TICATAL 7;AR LA30"- BOARD Locket  No, 22  MACHINISTS AIM ELECTRICAL INKv;:KTTS AND OTHER ENPLOYEES Vs. BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY.  The case of the Machinists and Electrical Workers vs. Bethlehem Steel Company is of unquestionable importance from the standpoint of the war.  It appears beyond doubt that the dissat-  isfaction among the employees of the Company has had and is having a seriously detrimental effect upon the production of war materials absolutely necessary to the success of the American Expeditionary Forces.  This was clearly developed in the testi-  mony of the officials of the Ordnance Department. The main cause of the dissatisfaction is a bonus system so complicated and difficult to understand that almost ore-half of the time of the hearings was consumed in efforts to secure a clear idea of the system.  The absence of any method of collec-  tive bargaining between the management and the employees is another serious cause of unrest, as is also the lack of a basic guaranteed minimum wage rate. After having carefully reviewed all the evidence in the case, the Board makes the following findings: 1. PIECE RATES  BONUS AM..' 313 C HOULY  - JACHIiE SHOPS.  (a) That the bonus system now in operation should be entirely revised or eliminated; that piece-work rates should be revised also, and that a designated, guaranteed minimum hourly wage rate be established in conformity with one of the scales now being applied by the :1 :ar or Navy Department as most nearly fits the conditions in this particular case.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  (b) That any necessary revision of piece-work rates shall be made by an expert ir cooperation with the Ordnance Department, the plant management and a committee from the shops, such export to be selected by the National War Labor Board and with the approval of the Secretary of Tar. (c) That the piece rates thus established shall not be reduced during the period of the war. 2.  OVERTIME. That the principle of daily overtime should be compensated  at the rate of time and a half and double time on Sundays and holidays.  Thnt in the fixing of piece rates provisions be made for over-  time payment such as are now provided in the case of time workers. The application ns to the definition of what days constitute holidays and the division of the weekly work periods can in the opinion of the Board be best settled by conference between committees hereinafter provided and the management of the plant.  3.  Ca2arTEES. The right of the employees to bargain collectively is recog-  nized by the National War Labor Board; therefore the employees of the Bethlehem plant should be guaranteed this right. Bethlehem plant should use the same method of  The workers at the  electing committees as  is provided in the award of the National 7:ir Labor Board for the workers of the General Electric Company at Pittsfield.  ELTLOY1T O  WOMEN.  That on work ordinarily performed by men, women must be allowed equal pay for equal work and must not be allotted tasks•disproportionate to their strength.  .:ILITARY EXEMPTION. That the evidence relative to the complaints of the workers that foremen and other subordinate officials of the plant have made   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -2.,  the War improper use of the Selective Draft Act shall be referred to and the Department for such action as may be warranted by the facts law.  ELECTRICAL MRKERS.  6.  The Board finds in the case of the electrical workers that the following rates should. be established: First class, sixty-seven and one-half cents per hour; Second class, sixty-two and one-half cents per hour; Helpers, forty cents per hour. Overtime provisions should be the same as hereinbefore specified.  7.  ()THEP LEPARTMENTS. That wages and working conditions of other departments and  crafts shall be considered and adjusted by the committees provided for in paragraph "b", sub-section 1.  8.  LOCAL BOARD. That a local board of mediation and conciliation, consist-  ing of six members, shall be established, three members of which shall be selected by the Company and three by the employees, for the purpose of bringing about agreements on disputed issues not covered by this finding.  In the event of the local board failing to bring  about an agreement, the points at issue shall be referred to the National War Labor Board.  The members of the local board shall be  compensated for their services by the parties whom they represent. This board shall be presided over by a chairman who shall be selected by and represent the Secretary of War.  9.  NO REDUCTIONS. The revision of wages or earnings provided for in this  award shall in no case operate to reduce the wages or earnings of any employee,   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  -3-  10.  DISCRIMINATION. The Examiner hereinafter provided for shall investigate  the charges of discrimination, and shall report his conclusions with recommendation in each unsettled case to the National War Labor Board and to the Company.  11.  EXAMINER. The National War Labor Board shall detail an Examiner to  supervise the application of this finding.  The Examiner shall hear  any differences arising between the parties in respect to this finding, and shall promptly render his decision, from which an appeal may be taken by either party to the National '::ar Labor Board.  Fending  the appeal the decision of the Examiner shall be enforced.  12.  DURATION. This finding is to take effect August 1, 1918, and shall be  effective for the duration of the 1=, except that either party may reopen the case before the Board at periods of six month intervals for such adjustments as changed conditions may render necessary.  13.  The Board desires to point out to both parties to this  controversy that the questions raised and for which the Board has endeavored to find solution have largely to do with matters which will require a reasonable time to satisfactorily adjust, and that in view of the vital importance of the output of the Bethlehem Steel Company both sides should address themselves with patience and; good spirit to finding fair and reasonable adjustments of the matters to which the Board here directs attention.  Attest: W. JETT LAUCK Secretary. Washington, July 31, 1918.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  W. H. TAFT FRANK P. WALSH Joint Chairmen.  All communications should be accompanied by carbon copy and addressed to  WAR DEPARTMENT  To insure prompt attention, In replying refer to  OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE  PRODUCTION DIVISION WASHINGTON  No, Attention of  .3-6845  lass Mary Van Eleeck, Director V:omen iu Industry Service Department of LOor Washington, D.C. 1.1y dear lass Eleeck: :inclosed please find copy of the third and fourth pages of the Bethlehem report, as revised after the conference this morning.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Sincerely yours,  Alice P. Loomis Secretal7 to .iomen's Branch Industrial Service Section.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  WAAN IN INDUSTRY SEFVICE :a,,t, 16 1)13. iku, mEw)RAUDUA FRU:  Wa.11Nn In Industry Service j  D. C. Sea..c..rsve, JffIce of t'-,e Chi9f  )rinAnce.  F:TutUCT! Ni-ht work of women st BethLehen.  In ulcori,ince itith the re .::ue8t of tile 'foman in im.lustry Service, two re?rement3tivei..; of the 'ioaen'd pr!,,nch of the Jrn.nce ',.;e:J.rtlent and one repre3ont tivo of the rlennsylTrAnia In(;A:Arial Board have gone to bethLehem to1r4. Director of the  Tmorrow afterno,n the  in Iniu6try Iervice will  o to ?hi.adelphis  to leet with the Commissipner of Labor 'Lod the Advisory Cu Attee of the lrolient  r'iviaion of ele  isclesion A' the findint;e.  ?ennsyvni -. 1.  '4.osrd flr  :1-5 fully arrare of the env...it  irk)ortance of prod.,;ction in the 6ethAlem 6te.J1 Plant, and we exoect to relch a. prompt deci;Aun.  4ALY VAN KLEK4 Director, WOM4.13 in Inlustry  verMrt,  •r „ 1-"=•1  eterz ott.:(•7. adrial.n  reHue3t,irit:r.  -trice .yf' the  reforri . t.  omit ,.1,•-3y 1- .)r r  ig0.1.1.1try  ;Ian rt-= ently Jecided ty-y.:n.  th,3 Atriee ,  n ,-ht, it wiLl Le nece.;t4 ,ry f..:r the Seqr--t....ry ..)f* •   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  b•:.;  t,  t be  been folioweil, it  -.:f  to re ue.t  It 1.3 \ robaule, Vtat VI!, In  tet .n .  will rer-Ir th .8  th'4  trp2,  tne r'Annaj v  *,1.-.8 In 'Istri  i4  2IJoeiur  F  r‘ikey Cievier . .. fir 4. it—  \ Abert sidt. a ,r.-.4c.e •\-\ t-,-ot exceerithiky  P.t.,-ts  uer r-,  ti.".  • f  )I  t.; the .-,ffice  in h',.n  :70  tnc) 68%;ret -try  The W,zi.n it. at 1...otry !  •Jr:In-rIce De)Pirti ont  •ar.  4571efe,...,7  .  • ‘,  "  4' •  •  'I  • .,  t  •tt3 ‘:••  n ..bt ,  thei  • te  ri- f  -  in Airy :1  in vioc, .f  •L,  f  t tn t th.1Iriiri  Le.til, it, them.  t  .  t  i •  :.., r  .  .::t, .711  t)(7',.• • ) "r ••;• :i '. 1 t f'.•Jre  ir  nzyt  eth:eht3.;, e fi)r  ';er )n 7.;  13  un  he  t.  -to.  te.•i  .t  ,   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  j.h•-• ve  t;'.:, 7) 4  f7:  r  .r Lh r ,• „Lr. rc, be J_J•le  iT  tiat h)  &con  I 1.  n•i--  re t ,  Jf tfletir t.-3n  t.'••i•r.h  t  .  no—operittin  # ••  t  •Lr ,.  ev,31-11..  un ;tar _ •n  .  t  I  n in in  tr.;  in the Virit  , re2)rt.  VAN Lir ot•ar,  '311  ;rvice.  INDUbTktY kimivitol; 101b.  ”FICCIRMIDLIf. for Urs. PeAdt Siitce the creation of the Womon in induetry War has adorte1 a definite Service the office of the Seore ary of labor laws affisoting tions froceduoa 1-‘ar:iirva requests i.cr exemp tho ;:e0r,31:44.ry of -4r all such wAnon. .34ore uot-.,..on is takon or r000kved tn the requests will be referred de Soon 48 they industry 5ervici4 Will then 'Thrien in Imiustry Service. The '"or.vn in department isitation tc, via to refer them immediately for invest final the nakinr, the vequest, and hay i rrr. cOntrfte to with the firm of '.;ar will .16:- ‘3,1ki recornrendation and the advice or the Secretary - ry. uron tYie results of such in12.t is the 1ionen.3 Br,anch of the Ordnance Department ti•id i:rocodw.o td LcatOd ani prepared to handle theoe carry this Oar further to be satisfactory? It would seer deslrable t...'-omr;.•tly ohould ad &greet that the oiorren in inclustry Service en1 aØ that rrtm nce advised of all requests received by the Ordna :s fron tho moment that they ihe may be. kort informed of zdl ;:onuing cas, are referred to any of the departmen-ts. A request for exemption from the niTht werk law of of the Secretary of ":ar Pennsylv,nia has been reoeiveci in the office the Ordnance Department. from Dnan 'Schneider and leneral Dickson of Board refers its decision Labor 77ar the ur Actor is ben n a few days immediate withi that ble regarding the award, but it Le proba You will be informed ch. Brlos n's inquiry will be neceseary by the '-yome "'lir Labor Board. the from ved rror-ptly as soon as final word is recei Since-ely yours,  Direc tor, Women in Industry Service. Mrs. Clara M. l'ead, romen's Branch, Industrial Service Section, Ordnance Depa.rtront, Tashinc-ton, D. C.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  WOMEN rri INDUSTRY SERVICE  July 24, 1918. My dear Mr. Lama: To confirm our conversation of yesterday afternoon I am writing to Gall your attention to the request for an exemption from the Pennsylvania labor law prohibiting nia,ht work for women, sent to the office of the Secretary of War on behalf' of the Bethlehem Steel Company.  In accordance with recently established procedure  this request has been referred to the women in Industry Service for recommendation.  The Women in Industry Service will make no recommenda-  tion until the award of the War Labor Board in the case of the Bethlehem Steel Comrany is announced.  We shall appreciate it if you will let us  have the necessary information as soon as it is avtilable so that our recomrendation may be based on full knowledge of the facts, not only as affecting the possible- empleysent of women, but in its influence on the labor policy to be  lopted in these plants.  Sincerely yours,  Dir,4stor, Tomen in Industry Service. Mr. W. Jett Laud, ;Mar Labor Board, Labor Department, Washina;ton, D. C.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Jfficial Government Te.egram, Government rates. DAY ,ETTEh  DAY -ETTEF Goll.Assioner Li. R. ?almer, Board of Labor Industries, Harrisburg, Pa.  August 1Q, 1918.  CAN Yid SEND ALISS SIEBEIT 1, -EET CoRNE,,, AT BETHLEHE., STEP', P_ANT DA)NDAY MJFNING FiF JUIN1 IN LIFY INT) 'ENDING FEcJEST.  NJTIFY CJRNEL— AT 3ETI-1_,EHE  STEEL :3 AN1 WhEN SIEBEFT CAN  JAN HER. mary Van Kleeck.  Appropriation, "liar -aty'r Administration, 191j, Women in Industry"   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  If yes, at what branch  rrirrn3.1 a s ip uilding, shipyard, or dry-dock experience 9 of such work, and how long? Shipwright ? _  Ship carpenter ?  Joiner?  Fastener ?  Boat builder ?  Can you lay out work ? Can you read blue prints ? Do you understand calking?  What experience ?  How soon could you resi3ond after being asked to go to a shipyard for the Government ?  What experience in superintending work ?  Can you instruct men and get along with them ?  Please send•here the names and addre,sses of two or&nii men, not members of the Brotherhood, who have experience that might, under training, qualify them in some branch of shipyard work ?   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  0 14--I297  D. C." All communications should be addressed to "The Chief of Ordnance, U. S. Army, Washington,  WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE ARMY AND NAVY BUILDINGS, GROUP B El STREETS NW.  SEVENTH STREET, BETWEEN A AND  WASHINGTON  :.lugust 10, 1918.  In replying refer to No.  From:  Office of- the Chie.L oi Ordnance.  To:  Miss Mary Van laeeck, Woman in Industry Service, Ouray Building, Washington, D. C.  subject:  Night work of women at Bethlehem.  Lieutenant Bird reports that the .,yoman in in1. dustlsy 6ervice has requested the omen's Branch o the Ordnance Department,in co-operation with the Pennsylvania Industrial loarat to report on conaitiolAs which shoula be established to safeguard the employment of women at night at the Bethlehem St,e1 Uo pany. The Ordnance Department will co-operate in every 2. way to fauilitate and expedite this investigation. Attention is called to the extreme importance of he increasing output immediately at the Bethlehem Steel .lant. that ive imperat it makes plant that existing shortage of labor at women should be employed on the night shift as boon as possible. 6.  Prompt action is urged on the pext of the differ4. ent authorities, Federal and state, making -Lae investigation of women's conditions at Bethlehem,in order that a night shitt for women may be established at the earliet possible date.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  C. C. Williams, Kaj.Gen.,Chiet of Oranance,U.S.A.  D. C. Sea6rave, Lt.Col, Ordnance o„.  07  P;t3a   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  :A.,:RE  C1-1 T  August 10, 1918.  Prom:  Offioe of the Chic' of Ordnance.  Tes  Miss Wiry Van Kleeok, Um' in industry 3ervice, building,  i• 71 .  ::Ington, I. %;., Subject:  Might work Of women ut zethlehem.  Lieutenant Bird reports that the .oman in In1. &Retry Service has requested the oiaen's 43ranch of the Ordnance° Depertamolt+in oo-opsratio with the 2ennsylvania InCustrial Boare. to report on conditions which should be established to safeguard the employment of women ut night it the Bethlehem 3t el Co pany. keThe Oedemass bepartmeut will co-operate in every way to facilitate and expedite this investigation. 3. Attention its (palled to the extreme importance of increasing output immediately at the bethlehew Steel :lant. The existing shortage of labor at that plant slakes it iperutive that women should be employed on the night shift US peon as possible. 4. Prompt action is urged on the part of the different authorities, Federal and State, making the investigution of isemenis coalition, at Bothlebenv in order that a nidlt shift for ions* may he established at like earliest possible dtcte.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  Co Co Williams, labGen.,Chicif of Ordnanoe,U.S.  By D. G. Seacrave,  A:  July  liz-LcoR Docket No.  il, 191b.  BOLED.  .  MACHIEISTS .L.ND LLXTRICAL ).iORBIERS vs. ST_LL 'FIEDINGS The case of the Lachinists and Llectrical ..,orkers vs. (;o,.pany is oI unquestionable importance from the Steel Bethlehem It appears beyond doubt that the dissatwar. the standpoint of isaction amo„Ag the employes 0.1 t he Company has had and is having a seriously detrimental eiiect upon the production oi war materials absolutely necessary to the success of the American This was clearly developed in the testiIxpeditiolJary ,orces. mony ot the oiticials oI the Ordnance Department. The main cause of the dissatisfaction is a bonus system so complicated (-no, difiicult to understand that almost one-half oi the time ol the hearings was consumed in efiorts to The absence of any method secure a clear idea oi the system. and the effployes the ganagement between bargaining oi collective o a basic the is also as unrest, oi cause serious is another rate. wage guaranteed minimum ftter having carefully reviewed all the evidence in the case, the Board makes the following findings: 1.  PILC1; RLTLS'i BONUS AND BASIC HOURLY RL.TE -  SHOPS. (a) That the bonus system now in operation should be entirely revised or eliminated; that piece work rates should be revised lso, and that a designated, guaranteed minimum hourly wage rate be established in conformity with one oi the scales ilow being applied by the . ar or Navy 1.epartment as most nearly fits the conditions in this particular. (b) That any necessary revision of piece work rates shall be made by an expert in cooperation with the Ordnance Department, the plant management and a committee from the shops, such expert to ue selected by the National War Labor zward and with the approval oi the Secretary oi War. (ct That the piece rates thus established shall not be reduced during the period 01 the war.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  2. OVERTI1, That the principle of daily overtime shauld be com-  the2nte of time and a half and double time on undays pensated and holidays. That in the fixing of piece rates provisions be made for overtime payment such as are now provided in the case of time workers. The application as to the definition of What days constitute nolidays and the division of the weekly work periods can in the opinion of the board be best settled by conference between committees hereinafter provided and the management of the plant. 0. L:01.1,1ITE,ES. The right of the employes to bargain collectively is the National War Labor Board, tnerefore, the emy t 0recognized Bethlehem plant should be guaranteee this right. the of ployes The workers at the Bethlehem plant dioald use the same method of electing committees as is provided in the award of the Nauional War Labor Board for the wor_ers of the General Electric Company at .&ittsfield. 4. LI.TLOYMENT OF .wC)1,LE men, women must That on work ordinarily performed be allowed equal pay for equal work and must not be allotted tasks disproportionate to their strength. b. MILITLRY ELTION That the evidence relative to the complaints of the workers that foremen and other subordinate officials of the plant have made improper use of the Selective Draft ot snail be referred to the ',,ar Department for such action as may be warranted uy the facts and the law. 6. IlLECTRICL WORKERS. The Boara finds in the ease of Ine electrival worers rates should be established: following the ghat First class, sixty-seven and one-halt cents per hour. Second Olass, sixty-to and one-half cents per hour. Helpers, forty cents per hour. Overtime provisions anoild be the same as hereinbefore specified. OTHILR DEPART1L1NTS 7. That wages and working conditions of other departments and crafts shall be considered and adjusted uy the committees provided for in paragraph "b" sub-section 1. LOu.ia BOARD 8. That a local board of mediation and conciliation, consisting of six members, shall be estaulishea, three members of which shall be selected by the co_ipany and three by the employes, for the pur ose of bringing about agreement on disputed issues not   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  covered by this finding. In the event of tne local board failing to bring about an aL7reement, the points at issue shall be referred to the National ar Labor Boaru, the memoers of the local board shall be compensated for their services by the parties whom they represent. _Lillis board shall •be presided over by a chairman who shall be selected uy and represent the secretary of ar. NO REDUCTIONS 9. The revision of •, ages or earnings provided for in this award Shall in no case operate to reduce the wages or earnings of any employe. 10. DISURIMINATION The Lxaminer hereinatter provided for shall investigate the charges of discrimination, and shall report his conclusion with recommendation in each unsettled case to the National '"ar labor Boara and to the L;ompany. IIILR. 11. a,;ar Labor Boaru shall detail an ilaxaminer 7= The Nati the Examiner shall to supervise the application of this finding. between the arising parties in respect to this differences hear any render his promptly decision, from Which an apfindibg, and shall pa4:ty to the National .4L.as l'apor Board. peal may be taken uy either Pending the appeal the decision of the .,:JJ(aminer shall be enforced. l. DUlt.L2I0 This finding i., to take ef_ect ugust 1, 1918, and shall oe effeutive for the duration of the war, except that either party may reopen the case before the board at periods of six month intervals for such adjustments as cnan6ed conditions may render necessary. the board desires to point out to both parties 1:-J. to this controvelsy that the Questions raised L.,nd for which the Board has endeavored to find solution have largely to uo with matters which will require a reasonable time to satisfactorily adjust, and that in view of the vital importc,nce of the output of the Bethlehem steel Company uoth sides should address themselves with patience and good spirit to finuing fair and reasonable adjustments of the matters to which the Board nee uilects auuenuion. (Signed) (signed.) 21ttest ". Jett Lauuk secretary "ashington, July ..)1, 1918.   https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  I.J.Savage 0.0suorne.