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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
‘61t-Ge
CO
Form 1201
CLASS OF SERVICE SYMBOL
Telegram
Day Letter
Blue
Night Message
Nite
Night Letter
NL
If none of these three symbols
appears after the check number of
words) this is a telegram. Otherwise its character is indicated by the
symbol appearing after the check.
UNION
WESTE
WESTERN UNION
AM
TEL
GEORGE W. E. ATKINS. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
NEWCOMB CARLTON. PRESIDENT
RECEIVED AT WYATT BUILDING, COR. 14TH AND F STS., WASHINGTON, D. C. Algtr
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11100
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
—
I
;
4 -4
L.
CLASS OF SERVICE
SYMBOL
Telegram
Day Letter
Blue
Night Message
Nite
Night Letter
N L
If none of these three symbols
appears after the check (number of
words) this is a telegram. Otherwise its character is indicated by the
symbol appearing after the check.
%
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r.
. 21rector, Wo an in T7-,7ry
F172,7,Jt!rt
tas
7.),:xany
.
reci_a,„ for night shift
:j rpt of t'rIc rarorts and raco,..ahlat
, it
AAS not finally
etie
s verbally raported z.o us trat the cilatter
-;
1 er
_ere lifurwed, also verbally, by
Tead, that the Comflany had withdran its request. NO reanU
oy
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
was filed therefore with the Office of the 2ecraLary of War.
August 24, 1918.
FRO1:
Woman's Branch, Industrial Service oection, Ordnance Dept.
TO:
Woman in Industry Service of the Department of Labor.
Re'uest of U.S. Cartri40 Co.xi,owell,,Mass.for Permit
to Employ Women at klzpit,_
The Womens Branch of the Industrial Service Section,
1.
in accordance with your request of August 5th, made an investigation
of the situation regarding the request of the U.E. u_rtrilge Company
of Lowell, Mass, for a permit to employ women at night.
Visits to the plant have been made by Mrs. Tead, Miss Tunder
2.
and Mrs. Hoskins. Major Lyford of the Production Division; Mr. CArlin,
representative of the Production Division assigned to the plant, Mr.
Cahill, General Superintendent of the U.S. Cartridge L'o.) and Mies
Sleeper, Executive Secretary of the Women's Lodge International Machinists'
Union, have been consulted to secure additional data and their respective
opinions of the question (see attached copies of the reports and interviews.)
3.
Attention is called to the following facts of the situation:
(a) Schedule proposDi in the request is "a 10 hour shift
(10 working hours) six nights i week and then rest two nights."
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(b)
Present working hours:
Total_
Women
7:)0 A.M. to 12: noon
1:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.
9-1
2
52,1
2
hours daily
•
weekly.
For Men on Night ?Ilift,_
0:00 F.M. to 12:)0 P.i.
12:30 A.M. to 5;30 A.M.
Hours in Priming Dept, 7A3pen.
let Shift:
7:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
I-hour for lunch
2
11
55
hours daily
weekly.
•
7
42
hours daily
weekly.
"
-2-
2nd Shift:
2:30 P.M. to 10. P.M.
1 hour for lunch.
2
7 hours daily.
42 "
weekly.
(c) Present production, about 3,300,000 cartridges per day.
It seems to be generally agreed that the capacity of this pl,nt is
5,000,000 per day; culd that war necessity demands this capacity rate
be attained at the earliest date possible.
(a) it is the belief of the Women's Branch, after a careful
consideration of the facts of the case, and the experience of other
manufacturers under similar circumstances, that the schedule of hours proposed in the request is not Ldvisable from the point of view of meeting
these production needs. The following reasons are submitted in brief:
1. , A 10 hour night shift (total period 10 and a half or 11
flours) is too long a period for women to work with maximum physical efficiency.
2.
Amount of absenteeism and lost time on a night shift of
the :_ength proposed would be so great as to be a serious menace to continuous production.
3.
It is believed that it would be practically impossible
to maintain a 10 hour night shift of women adequate in numbers in Lowell
where there is an increasing amount of day work available for women
(f) There is an increasing body of opinion expressed through
Federal and State Departments, that 8 hours is the maximum period women
should work at night.
RECOMMENDATIONS
On the basis of thene facts :arC of those presented in the
reports, the Women's Branch recommends:
(a) That the following schedule of hours be put into operation
for women (driming Department excluded):
1st Shift
6:00 A.M. to 2:0 P.M.
1 hour for lunch 11-11:30
F
2nd Shift
2:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.
1 hour for lunch 6 4 6:30
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8 Wours daily)
48 "
weekly)
Total homen on
Two Shifts.
)
)
8 hours daily )
48 "
weekly)
16 hours daily
weekly
96 "
-3-
(b)
That the two shifts be alternated.
(c)
That on the night shift (11P.M. to 6:PP A.M.) the operations
performed by women on the two day shifts should be performed by men, so
long as they are available, carefully selected for the work. (For instance,
special effort could be made to secure men in the limited service class;
rvice; and men now in non-essential industries.
men with relatives in
(d)
That there be an immediate revision of rates for men and
women who are affectl by the schedules of hours recommended above. It
will be essential in making this revision to set hourly rates which will
insure the same total weekly earnings under the new schedule as were paid
under the old schedule.
Note:
Present hourly rates for men and women employees of
the u.S. uartridge Co., have been set by Major Tully
of the Office of the Secy. of War in conference with
the International A3socition of Machinists and the
management of the U.S. Gartrilge
(e)
That dre,sing rooms for women be provided in order to insure
privacy in changing from working clothes to street clothes.
Th t f ci1iti
kf)
for the night shift.
1. , inf?talled
for furnishing hot coffee or milk )
That upon the request of the firm or of the Boston District
(g)
Production Office, a person be assigned by the industrial Service Section to
advise with and assist the firm in this matter of putting on the two day
shifts of women, and of securing an adequate and effective force of men
for the possible thitd night shift, and to test out in actual practice and
in terms of the production records, the glue of thesc, three shifts; and
the availability of men for the third shift.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CLARA M. TEAD.
Acting Director Womenis Branch
Industrial Service Section
Boston District Ordnz;nce Office.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3O, 1218.
kjh:
Ciara U. Tead, oien's or—inch, iniustrial Service Section.
)rin,nce Depirtaent.
F
Van Kleeck, Directlr, iman in Indu9try
cur3JI3CT:
U. S. t;artril,e Cowyin ,
Reue,t fir ten ,ur nit-ht shift f,)r
O... •
Y.,ur report and rJcwienditions reurdiai the
re',uw,t
f the U. S. CIrtridgo Comp.iny Jf
for peTmissiin t
ald
nd,o). Amen it nirjit h
iwi, itszicnusetU,
oeen received,
the recoa,iendatiins .proved by this 3i)rvioe, with the
ctipuLttiin thnt the pernit shall be crinted fJr. three
74)nths, to be recon6iJered 't the aril
necessity f)r extensi.)n exists.
thdt tine if the
1,.1 wi,i Liso note thit
ht; h've omittai rdur paragriph G 6inco we wJuid prefer to
dut int:, effect -L dlIn )f h.vin6 the feieral t„overn.nont itseit
Jesi,,
,
roste a sudervlsor wh
suebt.
iiLt carry Jut the pL7Ln which
VA
If the Wur DevrtJlent requests the KJaan in Ind4sty
Service t.) 4,4-e ouch
desiellatiJn, ho sh4li expect to cal1
upon the fAteals Irinch if the Drdmince Dep.Irtaient to haddretke
it for this ?lint.
Ne .re therefore sonlin, the enc,osed
letter to i.jJr !.3,11uel J. Fisensohn.
Mary VnKieeck,
Director, C,)a:in
Ir1lu5try Service.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
August 50,
Pr C., Office of
Fat
M,jor Saaluel J. Rosoasohn,
the Secretlry of Atr.
F1)14:
M,Lry Van Kieeck, Dirctor, Woman in Indu6try Servis.
6UBJEGTI
U. S. Crtrij e Coay,Lny, Lowell, Mazie.
Fecuset f)r ten h'ur al ht shift for womn.
tht,
In respnso to TAIr reuebt 3f Ju y
we aaks a recomAendatiom ret...rdi
the ;1,rtintin
of m permit
by the Mnsnachusetts War Smergency Industrial Gogullsoioft to
the U. S. Cartride Compl.my for a night shift of --p.oaen, we
,tske3 the iuomen's branch of the jrdnance Devirtaent to make
— thorough investie.tion.
Their report )f Auvt 24th is
Attchod and the recoulendations ‘pi;royed
tho te.dded
folLows, with
tiutfin thm.t the permit should be aTnted fr
period of tree
ths, t
be reconstdere.i at the en1 of
that tine if the noceseity r r extension ttxisto.
A. That the following schedu e of hours be )ut
rto.t excludel)t
into oper9.tiot:. for. '4::Ten (primin
Shift
1st!
iroen on
8 hourb dal]y ) Toted
6800 A.41. to WO P.A.
weekly,) ,Two Shifts
to 11i3c1, 48 "
,l/Z hour ior,lunch,
18 hJur? 1 iiy
,g6 hours weF,X.y
t.xli Shift
3 hour
213) P.M. to 11130 ?.X.
4/? hour for,lunA, 6 to 8133 ,43 "
,t1-41y
)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
_2-
S.
That the t%o ahift; ee alterrv.ted.
t;. lhat on the nioht ahift ("1 i".g. to 6100 A.A.)
the two d4s ohifts sh,),ILd
the ot)erations r)erforwed by Iven
be ?erf3rmt by men, so long '16 they . re IvAlable, c-irefu,ly
eff_rt could be
seecteu
tht, oirk. (Far inetence,
service cL_-.es; Len with
me.:e to secura :aen in tbe
relatives in service; In,1 :ten clei in n,_)n-eo,seng.3.1 industriev.)
D. Thii.t there be an itlicliete revision ,f rAey. f,r
mon end women who !tre affected by the ichedules f hurE, r-eommencied
mAing thls revi3lon to st h.z,urly
Move. It will ee eesenti%.1
rites which will inure the eate total weekly orninrs un(ier the
unier t.ho ol sehe,';ue.
wer.
new scheAe
NJtez ?resent hc)urly ratec for aien and women
em,,loyees of the J.S.Cartrtigo Co. h,..ve
jr.)1' TuIy of the Office of
been sot by
the Secret ry of 'ar- in conference with the
International Associbtion Jf :,f;.tchiniete
the alanagelent of the U.S.C.1rtri4e Co.
E. That dressing rooms for eomen be ;1-,..vided in order
: clothes to stroet
to inoure priv%Acy in changing fr::m woririn:
clothes.
F. Ihet f,cil ties for furniehinr hot eolfee 3r
zilk be inst%lled for the night shift.
Inasmueh .e this recom-ond:Ltion will permit the
eavloyzent
zen until 11
ehJil,1 be a,ie-;utite
of women's work.
it is
thet than.,
e3ntinu3us ,u?ervision _f the ceniltine
In eccorince, therefore, witi the plAn n)%
under discussio:.: f3r regulation and sudervieion of
it ie suggested that the lex Department 3113',
ht *oric,
nailer the
o.dvisability of aeking the Aoaan in Iniustry -ervi e of the
Departilent Jf Labor to de3iEnate a eu,,3rvic.,Jr fer thi.3 plcnt
durine: th3 ,)eriou %hen ni,ht work ie ?emitted.
if authJri7ar-
tion for this actian is 6iven a suyerviaor will be ?romdtly
Aesignated.
Arector, WAraisi
inj„lutry oervice.
and addressed to
All communications should be accompanied by carbon copy
WAR DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE
To insure prompt attention,
rn replying refer to
PRODUCTION DIVISION
WASHINGTON
No. _
Attention of
August 24, 1918.
3--5S45
Miss Mary Van Kleack,
Women in Industry Division,
Department of Labor,
Washington,D.C.
My dear Miss Van Kleeok:
Pursuant to your raquest of August 5th, the
1.
Women's Branch has made an investigation of the advisability
of the request of the U. S. Cartridge Co. for a ten-hour
night shift of women.
2.
enclosed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A report with recommendations is herewith
Czaoick A /e
CLARA M. TEAD,
ACTING DIRECTOR WOMEN'S BRANCH;
INDUSTRIAL SERVICE SECTION
BOSTON DISTRICT ORDNANCE OMCE.
am"
•
;
All communications should be accompanied by carbon copy and addressed to
WAR DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE
To insure prompt attention,
in replying refer to
PRODUCTION DIVISION
WASHINGTON
No.
Attention of
0 3-5845
_
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Auelplt r4, 1918.
omen'F3r.nch, Inustrial Service
ection,
.
TO:
iolvIn in Industry Service of the Depertment of Labor.
7,U6JECT:
Re-,uest of U.S,_CrtrictEe (;o,.. Lowell. Mass.for Permit
to Emloy
onn
t NiAlt.
The *omen's Branch of the Imjustrial Service 3ection,
1.
in -,ccori5ince with your re ue,t of August 5th, ma!e an inve,774tion
of the situation regardinE, the re;ueEt of the U.S. U'a-trile Com?any
of Lowell, Mass. for h permit to emdloy women A niLht.
Visits to the ,1-Jit hive oeen mhie by Mrs. Te,,d, Miss rurrier
2.
nd Mrs. Hopkins. Lijor Lyfor(i of the Production
Ar. C rlin,
re;re,,-entative of the ProAlction Division as icned to the :1,nt;
r.
Cahill, Generl Su-rintendent of the U.S. C:J.trie ‘'o.) 'n Miss
Sleept,r, Executive Secretary of the Women's Lodge Internation'il Mftchiniet'
Union, hv€ been con ulted to .securt, u!ditionhi d ti 'in) their respective
inion7 of the -,uestion (see attacheJ co-cies of thf- reoorts ind interviews.)
3.
Attention is c:11& to tbe follo-ing fNets of the situ-tion:
(a) ScheAat i:ropos.0 in th,. reueF.t is "L 1T; hour shift
week rC then rclt two niEhts.w
(10 waking hours) six ni, hts
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(b)
corking hours:
omen
7:)0 A.M. to U: noon
1:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.
9-1
Dtll'S
521
iLy
reekly.
For Men on NiTht shift,
o:00 P.M. to 12:J0 P.I.
12:30 A.M. to 5:30 A.M.
11
55
Hours in ?riming 1.4),A.
men.
let Shift:
7:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
7
1-bur for lunch
42
hour
,aily
weekly.
hours J1-i1y
"
weekly.
•
2nd Shift:
Z:70 P.M. to 10. P.M.
1 hour for lunch.
7 hours
42 "
(c) Prepent production, bout ',300,)00
rtri,:ges ptr (lay.
It seems to be generally agreed that the cap_city of this plant is
5,000,)00 per day; 'n that war necessity lwazInis this capE4city rte
be A
nt the earliest .date possiole.
(a) it is the belief of the Women's 3ranch, ,-.fter a cs_rttul
c•-;n9ideration of thc facts of the c,Lse, .rid the ex?erience of other
mAluf,:.cturers under similF.,r circumstances, that the chelule of hours pro—
osed in the re.;ue:t is not ,Hvisable from thc coint of view of meeting
the
- ro-iuction needs. The followinE reason
re :ubmitte:i in brief:
1. , A 10 hour nii.ht shift (tots]. ,-;%,riod 10 _nu
hours) if too lone; a period for
men to work Jith m:xximum
i, ncy.
h,lf or 11
hyt,ic .1 effic—
2.
Amount of -A) cnte,i.:'m -1r2. lost time on
niLht Lhift of
the enf th ,r..);-.0 'el woulcl be E.:: 0-eA i to be
us mensce to con—
tinuous .ro'..uction.
3.
It is believeJ that it wou d be rctic3lly impossible
to maintslin a 10 hour night shift of 'omen adeuate in numbers
in Lowell
where there is an incr-%sinc -,7nount of
ENt,ilble for women
(f) There is 'in incre-sini. body of opinion exdressz.. throueh
Federal tind State DepartmentF!, thvt 8 hours i the maximum period women
should work at night.
R:C-IMMENPTIONF
On the bn.sis of these facts ar. of those prernted in the
reports, the 'Aomen's Branch recommsnds:
(a) Th t the following schedule of hours be ,ut into operation
for women (: riming lie r:artment excluded):
1st Shift
6:00 A.M. to 200 P.M.
1 iur for lunch 11-11:30
8 Mourc.,
it
48
ily)
eg41y)
8 h_ur 48
ily )
tidy)
Tot,.1 *omen on
Two Shift-.
2nai511ift ,
L:30 P.M. to 11:)0 P.M.
1 hour for lunch 6 k 6:30
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
"
wee‘ly
(b)
Th_t the two ehifte be eltern .ted.
(c)
Tht, on the nieht aaift (11P.M. to 0:PF A.11.) the operations
performet! 5y women en the. two *ay shifts shoul be ?erformed by men, so
long as they are availa lc, carefully selecte' ror the work. (For instance,
secial effort could be male to .,ecure men in the limited service class;
men with rele:tive in - rvice; and men no in non—essential industries.
(d)
That. there be
immediate revie.n of ratec for men and
women who are affectet by the schedules of hours recommended eb::ve. It
eill be essentikl in riekine thie re7is1en to ?et hourly rates which will
in ure the swile total weekly earnings under the ne-4 che..11.11.e as wer eAd
un:er the oJel sche -lule.
Note:
Pr, 5ent hourly rates for men :AIL women employees of
the u.S. certridge Co., heve been S6T, oy Major Tully
cf the Office of the S.cy. of 711.r in conference with
the International Association of A chinits -n,1 the
men...gement of the U.S. (i rtri]e o 6o.
(e)
nut !- re e_ne r-ems fer ,mcn be provided in oreer to insure
)riv cy in chaneine frAl working c1otht7b to ,treet clothes.
kf)
Th,t f cilitie
for the niOit
fr furnishing hot coffee or milk -)e* inetellea
Thet ueon the request of the firm or of the Lioston Dictrict
Pro 'uction Office, e person be assigned by the industrial Service Section
2:1:vise with and assist the firm in this matter of putting _n the two day
shifts of Yomen, ant! of securing en adequate %rvl effective force of men
for the eossiele thttd nic ht ehift, an.. to teat out in actual pr ctice nd
in terms of the proucti ,n records, the glue of thee three 'hifte; end
the v ilability of men for the third shift.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CLARA M. TEAS.
Actine Director W men's 3reach
In_luetrial Service Section
3oston District Ordnance Office.
August 24, 1918.
MEMORANDUM- Interview with Miss Ethel Sleeper, Secretary
of the Women's Lodge of the International
Machinists' Union, Lowell, Mass,
Miss Sleeper was interviewea on the question as to
whether the girls would prefer a day shift and night shift
to two day shifts,which would make them start at an early
hour in the morning. Although she had not talked the matter
over with the girls to any extent, and was giving 1ar6e1y
her own opinion on her contacts with the girls and the
plant in the past three years, she was very decided in saying that she felt tile girls would prefer two day shifts to
a day and a night shift.
In support of this she gave the following arguments:
That the girls were fairly used to early starting hours,
since the mills in town began work at an early hour; that
the two two day shifts in the primer and finish shell departments are so successful that a large number of g_r1s desire
to be transferred from other departments to these, where
they can go on a two shift basis; finally, that there are
many women with children or homes to take care of who would
like to work under some such arrangement, since it would give
them time for their housework.
Miss Sleeper expressed the opinion that the two day
shifts should be made rotating. She admitted that she had
not discussed this question with the girls, but would be glad
to put the matter before them at their meetings. The Union
is composed of about two thousand girls. Miss Sleeper agreed
that the attitude of the Men's Union toward the short shifts
would be important, but did not have any idea as to just what
that attitude would be.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
PAUL T. BEISSER,
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY SECTION,
BOSTON DISTRICT ORDNANCE OFFICE.
.')
141511 C 42
Beaton Naas 2402 lug 28 1916
Mies 0101
Indestrial, Servias 30011600 Ord.rit.aeo ‘-lopt•
*IA
Stalk
Wftshj nit** DO.
Cahillsosopimo proposal
simpt!on en ti
arse eigilt in rou r a fts
basis pe riot sill
fell we plying I:Lour* of
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
61111110itno
DA
revi
par.! od
rb,attinger
245-PT7
viTOTtl
•-e cu.e.;te
Oh
ta
p
cif Letter
_ugust 19, 1918.
2rom:
,o_ton Disriot Ordnance Office.
1,20:
.14 'i:ead, Areator, Women in Industry
;)ranch, ashingtan, . O.
•e.
'Let: U. 6. t;artridge :;ompany -
omen on Uirht Shift.
1. On mi rotlIrn io oston this morning 1 learned
of your request that r. Carlin send you a statement of the
conolusion of this oifice relative to the application of
the U. 3, L;artridee Company to employ 'Mem on 10 hour night
shift. Ur. Carlin did not know juot vihat was wanted, and I
have discussed the r.tto.4 dth him at same lewth this afie
ternoons The situation may be aummed up as follows:2. The ..r.my ,ichedules eall for more cartridges
than the existing cartrid.F,e plants can possibly produce.
It is therefore neoessar to provide additionla manufacturing facilities and Also to utilize the existing fa3i1ities
Cartrido) Compr,ny's
to their maximum capacity. The U.
:X) hours per day.
least
operated
at
be
plant must therefore
3. The
two short shifts
the capaelty for
not be
over
Primer Department is able to operate with
as the capaeilw of primers is grouter than
complete cartridges. Two short shiltu hcr,sufficient :;:or the main operations.
4. Four alternatives appear to be open for cone.
sideration, ‘s follows:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
( )
iftv,
xtend the present practise vith two
day
the
on
20i
totaling
hre, and employ women
ehift and men on the night shift.
(b)
Two shifts totaling 20. hrs.with women on
the day shift and as many men as possible
on the nicht shift v.ith the balance of the
night siAft made up with women.
0.41,-1,:a
.2.
Um, C. MA Toad*
(e)
Two shifts totaling 2
hr:24 with women o4
both day and night Shift.
(d) - chance to throe - 8 hr. shifts
or voL..
4
6.
21an (u) involves openine up the whol
tion again. .verybody ia now satisfied with e labor situathe
conditions and it t7ould be a mistake to disturb present
them in any
•
The men want tora pay than they can get or
1113.1. 2hey therefore prefer the two shift piLln an 8 hr.
. if however the oomvny had ':Imen ror;zing on thre
e - 8 hr. shifts,
it woild be nocer,.ar/ to h ve ren rerkinp thro
C4 hours, to balance production and keep the w:hout the
order. :;et arc advised that there are or soonmachinery in
will be plenty
of women ready to 3perate the 10 hr. niht
shif
t if permission
is given. 'he doubt whether it woul be as
easy to keep women
steadily at work on the 8 hr. basis as it
woLla be on the 10
hr. basis. This however is only v surmise.
seems advisvble to aeiopt the 8 hr. shift only In any event it
as a last resort*
6,
hethor pImns (t), (b), or (c) shou
seems to us to depard entirely on the nuub ld be adopted
or of men that
therefo.,:v _ro uf thJ opinion th.,t a very are
satiufaotory solution .Zor
thIs probler
recult ii v.e Gaul* noours from Commissioner ;..lalroloW An order
tnIA the ,,artridge
Company shall employ men on th nicht.
shift as long us men
Jan be sawured, and tA- t th, balance
up with women, Uniker amuh an order of the force may be made
the
from plan (a) to plan (c) ) the output procedure will eevelep
of the plant increases
, rid the men become o.,;r(g),
7. I have no doubt vs clan uct up UUMQ
to ‘;emmissioner Mulrcady by which ho may be bt,;.is satisfactory
intent of the suggested ruling shall be carrsatisfied thl.t the
ied out.
b. The
is prepared to provide 'ik tau colsi,
•
,k1() additional so
and whatsver other rovi ione yol
section mmy oonsider neoeosury.
9. If you concur in the above conc
luoion it is
that the recommendation be passed to
;,:om
missioner 4...41rL
through the military channels Lnc this
offi
ce be advisee
Liotion taken.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0. i. LYFORD
Llajor, Ordaamee
Produstiasi M..
SAT-I DP
August 10, 1918.
From:
Mrs. C. M. Tead
To:
Jajor 0. 3. Iyford
Subject:
LI.
VISIT TO T77 IT. G. CARTRITr7 COMPAYY, I07E
1. REASON FOR VISIT.
ridge Compat
'Ass Wunder visited the TT. S. Cart
sent to Commissioner Multo inquire into reasons for a request
n.
ready to peridit nljat employment of wome
2.
p7li3o3Ts irruwiT4T,D.
of Cie proCarlin, Yr. Ziegler, Mr. Cluin
h,
assistant
Lync
:Ir.
nt;
duction Division, Ordnance Departme
nt; Mr.
ende
rint
supe
ral
gene
eLiployinent manager; Mr. Cahill,
enson,
Stev
Mr.
t;
Plan
d
tfor
Newton, Supt. of the Bigelow-Har
and Yr. Rogers at So. Lowell.
3. PRODUCTION.
cartridges.
5,000,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0 - .30
Present dilly production 3,300,00
1st, ary
7stimated ddly production by Janu
4. SALIENT FEATn7S.
(a)
7orking Force.
PIC710"/
Yale (Day)
1849
t)
Female
3100
Male (:±
1645
Female
1209
Male (Night)
1501
Female
920
Male (Eight)
497
IA7VRENCTI: .3TirriTTT
Male (Day)
1650
SO. 107FLL
1,Lale (Day)
314
Total - 12,685
-2-
(b)
SA7-LDP
Labor Supply.
:a.. Lynch and zIr. Cahill stated that the supply
of female labor was ample, fie majority of the ronen who seek
employent living at home in Lowell. The supply of male labor
is insufficient and unsatisfactory, the majority of the men
who now seek employment there beirrr rnerely floaters.
force.
The draft and enlisted men reduce their male
Last week they lost 90 rrom these causes.
(c)
IThdployment Mana4aemerlt.
They have a centralized employment department,
but Mr. Smith, employment manager, has charge also of the
garage, and devotes his time to various duties so that he
ives but a small amount of it to the employment work,
leaving Mr. Lynch in charge. Miss Mower interviews the
women applicants and ha.s charge of matters pertainini; to
. of 40 clerks in the employment
the women force. A forc,,
department .0:ivs the impression that much more emphasis
is placed on record keepinr:: than on following up employees.
Miss Mower was on her vacation at the time Miss Wunder visited the plant
(d)
Fours
for won:
Present daily hours - 7:00 - 12:00;
1:00 - 5:30
Gaturday
52
Total weekly hour,
Hours for men:
Present daily hours - 7:00 - 12:00;
- 5:45
Saturday
Total weekly hours
53i
Present nightly hours 6:00 p.-, - 12:00;
12:30 A.M. - 5:30
5 nights a week
Total weekly hours
55
(c)
Wages_- hour rates.
Women - 26/ - 28/ per hour
Yen
- 33% - 36/ "
Mr. Lynch gave no definite description of the bonus
which is paid in some instances for aood rrroup work. The basis
of this bonus should be deteruined.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
SAW-LDP
-3-
At 3outh Lowell the operatives are paid 2% per hour
extra, to cover carfare, ve-lich is 16% per da7. A 21 bonus is
paid inspectors for all work over 600 lbs.
(f) Renlacemont of,men_b2.7omen.
The company wishes to employ women nights on the following?, operations, which are done by —omen daytimes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
3.
9.
10.
Head Trimming
Head Ganging
Mouth Annealing
Reducing
Vonting
Neck Annea1in7
Pod v (uuging Inspecting and 'rid Trimming
Capping
.z.,5 Colt Loading
.30 Government Loading
These last two they will do after the South Lowell
t.
plant has been moved into the Bigelow-Hartford
1g) Occupations_Af Women.
'illen are now aaployed on inspection, on machine
feedinc;, and on loading. A very small namber of woLien who
have been employed longest are being trained as machine fixers.
.
ukaa.
(h) Trai
All instruction is given by foremen and operators,
the women learninF; in a few days what it takes men weeks to
learn.
Cost of trainin7, new operatives is estimated at n5
- t40.
.ons.
(i) Trade Ulli
The operatives are for the most part unionized.
j) Fire Hazards.
Fire protection is rood - excellent sprinkler system,
exists well marked, floor kept moist in department where powder
is used.
(k) Accident Hazards.
All machines are well safeguarded, practically "f)ol
proof."
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-4-
(1)
SAW-LDP
Workroom conditions.
7orkroolas are light and well ventilated, and
clean.
(m)
Health provision.
1. There is a First Aid roum in each of the three
plants, with a corps of 13 nurses and 19 matrons under Miss
Curren, head nurse. Yale nurses are on duty after 10:00 P.M.;
the women nurses working on day shifts.
2. There are no rest rooms other then the First Aid
rouw.
3. There are no locker or dressing rooms. The girls
who change their clothes so as to wear aprons during working hours have only the small area in the toilet rooms and
the 1Pork rooms themselves for doing this. Many of them,
therefore, use the latter.
4. At Lawrence St. and at South Lowell are two small
. The space allotted
lunch rooms operated by Yr. IT
to then is insufficient for the number they are supposed to
serve, .trid the laenu is to varied to be prepared satisfactorily under these conditions. A few Food articles on the
menu would be more satisfactory.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(n) Sanitaarovisions.
Toilets and washing facilities are good.
5.
117ASON3 FOR_NIGHT TMPLOYMENT OF 1.i0Tr112T.
(a) Scarcity of satisfactory male labor.
(b) Tie draft, affecting the majority of their
men w,,o are within the draft age.
(c) TTigh turn over among the men of the night
shift who find the work monotonous. This work consists
chiefly of machine feedin, which is done satisfactorily
by women daytimes.
6.
Pit-731NT 131111.:IT
They have at present one permit to employ two telephone
operators at night.
7.
IniVESTU P7R7TIT
.
.
(a) They wish a permit to employ women nights on the
following operations done by women da7times.
1.
3.
Head Trimming
TTead Gaugin
Youth Annealing
0
-5-
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
SAW-LDP
Reducing
Venting
Neck Annealing
_Body Gauging Inspecting and 7nd Trimming
Capping
.45 Colt Loading
.30 Government Loading
These last two they will do after the south
Lovell plant has been moved into the Bigelow-Hartford plant.
(b)
Hours for Night Mmplqyment of lbmen.
They will probably wish to employ them 6 nights
a week on a 9 hour shift or 5 nights a week on a 10 hour
shift.
(c)
Wares for Women on Niy,ht Shift.
Are still undetermined. Present wage of women
employed on these operations days is 26/ to 73/, present
ware of men on these operations nights is 33/ to 36/. rr.
Cahill wishes to P.ive the women MI increase over the day
rates if employed nights.
(d)
Plans for ,v.placement of men b
women nights.
Mr. Cahill said that plan would probably not
Fo into operation for some time yet, that women would be
put on in a whole department at a time with a matron in
charge of each department. Practically 3,000 men will be
replaced by women in tine, averaginA, from 150 to 300 to a
department. This number might be increased later, due to
the fact that Yr. Cahill estimates that the total working
force will probably be increased by 3,000 before the estimated 5,000,000 daily production can be secured.
(e) Because the work is chiefly machine feeding
women stand the ,aonotony of it better than men, and Yr.
Cahill feels that the output of women nights on these
operations will be far uore satisfactory than that of the
men at present.
(f) 'Tr. Cahill said that if women were employed
nights he would expect to make space for providing hot
coffee or milk, but that no other food could be provided
unless the company could be given the space now occupied by
the Red Cross, a two story building, in one end of which is
the First Aid room of the company. This would allow practically 36,000 scuare feet to be devoted to dressing room,
rest room, and luncheon room. He stated that he could not
ask the Red Cross to move, since they had been 7iven the
space by the Bigelow-Hartford Company, that it would have
to be done at the request of the government.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(Signed)
Suzanne Wunder.
August 9, 1918.
Mr. h. L. Cluin, "roduction Division.
Liss Suzanne Wunder, Produvtion
19 Portland St., Boston, Mass.
ublect;
INFOhMATI0- FGANDING THE E."t'LlY1MENT Ui
NOMEN FiR NIGHT AOro !T 9=37,
RIDGE CO.: ANY, LO'LL,
The following information wns given the
1.
writ -r by Mr. Hay Lynch, of the Lnbor Department of the
He stnted in his conversation
Cnrtridge Connny.
thnt the Comrsnv would Attempt to 111-e nnd employ on
night work 4,0 women, 3000 of thene be!ng nctusl work-,
ors, nnd 1,000 being held in rsorve so as to tnke the
place of operntives who might become dissntisfied with
night work, or would be discharged becnuse of freluent
absences from their work.
The hours of these workers would probably
2.
be 91- hours for five 'ights n meek, or 9 hours for six
The workers beginning at 8 or S.30
nights a week.
r. M.
The U. S. Cnrtridge Ccr(rnny will atbempt
3.
to start the women on night worl, graduslly, thnt is,
start pt the different depnrtitents, beginning with the
se,luence,
capping operation nnd going n1on7 tYln
he-d trImmlnr, bon d cruaptng, venting, body gnur,1n7 nnd
Inspecting, havin7 30 operntives to each operation.
While the Company have asked. for the per4.
nights, they have not as yet nny
women
mit to work
how they will c(krry out this work.
to
as
definite plrins
red the qustion of rt rooms,
conside
They have not
Yeestnurant, rolice protection or discirline in any way.
As the Labor Department of the Company arronr
F.
to e handlinr this matter, it is suggested th^t sore
representntive of the Froduction Division work with the
representative of the Labor Department on all aluestions
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-2-
pertaininp: to the night employmont of worw.n.
Should there he any further informntion
6.
or nssistence that the writer enn -ive, T woule 1-0
r1r,-se to h,,.nr from you.
FmC/VR
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cluin.
Production JAvisions
YOMF,NI
INDUSTRY STRVICE
Auost 5, 1913.
My
deur Major Rosensohnt
Your letter transritting communicalicns from the
Masourhusetts Tar Emergency Industrial Cormissior r6gardinl,
the
petitions of the U. S. Cartride CGmpany and the Sterling Motor
Car ComTany is received, and is being referrer, to the Women's
Branch of the Orinance Derartment for tmesediate inquiry.
Sincerely yours,
Nrldtor, Women in Industry Service.
Major. SAmuel J. Rosensohn,
War DerArtment,
Ushington, D. C.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
•
WOMEN /N INDUSTRY SICRTICE•
August 5, 1918.
My dear Urs. Toad:
The attached letters from the Massachusetts
War Vmergency Industriml Commission and the Tar Derartmert
'Avg been ref3rred to the Women in Industry Service for
iwediate attention and report. will you riotse have the
necessary information gathersi by the 'Inman's 3ranoh and
a report with recommendation sent to us as anon as possible!
Sincerely yours,
Director, Toren in Industry Service,
Mrs. Clara V. Tette,
Women's Branch, Ordnance Ilf”,artment,
Inductrital Service Sectic)n,
Ushington, D4 CO
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAR DEPARniENT
Washington.
July 31, 1918
Miss Mary Van Kleeck,
Div. of Women in Industry,
Wax Labor Policies Board,
My dear Miss Van Kleeck:
Will you kindly give the attached letters from
Mr. Edwin Mulready, Chairman, War Emergenc* Industrial Commission, Boston, your immediate attention and make a report
on sane.
Cordially yours,
•
(Signed) Samuel J. Rosensohn
Major, J. A.3., R.C., detailed to the
Office of the Secrettstry of war.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
•
COPY
WAR EMERGENCY INDUSTRIAL CO—MISSION
New Albion Building
1 Beacon Street,
Boston, July 26, 1918.
Hon. Stanley King,
War Department,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
The Unitdd States Cartridge Company, Lowell, Mass.
presented a petition before this Commission yesterday, seeking
susrension of the law in addition to suspension already granted,
to allow night employment of women on a ten hour shift, six
nights a week, and then rest two nilhts. Before granting a permit
of such a nature to this corporation the Commission felt your
opinion should be sought 1.710...arding the necessity for employing
women on such a long night shift, as this Commission has not yet
granted permits allowing employment of women at night on such
a long schedule of hours.
I trust we may receive an early reply.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) Edw:n Mulready,
Chairman.
@FedFRASER