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Show APPEAL I0 II BEHALF Of nn JKEIS Fair Wage Scales, Reasonable Reason-able Hours and Good Working Conditions Suggested. INTENTION IS TO PROTECT LABOR Law Regarding Employ- ment of Children to Be Observed ; Safeguards Must Not Be Broken. WASHINGTON, Nov. IS. Fair wage scales, reasonable hours and good working conditions are suggested to arsenal commanders com-manders and manufacturers executing orders or-ders for tlie bureau of ordnance and quartermaster quar-termaster department of the army in general gen-eral orders made public tonight by those departments. Attention is called to the fact that in the haste Lo deliver needed war materials care must be exercised "lest the safeguards safe-guards with which the people of this country have sought to protect labor should be unwisely and unnecessarily broken down.". "Industrial history proves that reasonable reason-able hours, fair working conditions and a proper wage scale are essential to high production," said the statement. "During the war every attempt should be made to conserve in every way possible all of our achievements in the way of social betterment. better-ment. "The department wishes to be assured that schedules of hours obviously excesr sive, or wage scales distinctly .unfair, or working conditions such as should not be tolerated, will be brought to its attention." No Orders Issued. The statement says ci rcu instances are not such as to render appropriate the issuance is-suance of definite orders on this subject at this time and that "no effort is made to establish or even to suggest definite rule of conduct." It is recommended that standards of "wages already established in the industry and the locality should not be lowered and that the minimum wage rates should be made In proper relation to the cost of living. The length of the day's work, it is pointed out, should not exceed the customary custo-mary hours in the particular establishment establish-ment or the standard already attained in the industry and in the community. Ten hours is suggested as the maximum for an adult workman, and eight huurs per shift in continuous twenty-four hour work. Guard Against Overtime, Manufacturers are asked to guard against unnecessary overtime, to give half holidays on Saturday; to allow all employees em-ployees at least one day of rest in every seven and to give them all national holidays. holi-days. As to 'negotiations between employer and employees, the department suggests tha.t existing channels should be preserved and new ones opened if required, as their need iu especialb' great "in the light of critical points of controversy which may arise in a time like the present." Efforts should be made to restrict the work uf women to eiwt hours, the. statement state-ment continues, 'and employment of women on night work should be piohibiled "as a necessary protection, morally and physically." Where women are employed to do the work heretofore performed by men. it is suggested that the standard of wages not be lowered and that the hours be no longer than were those of the men replaced. re-placed. In the cap1 nf children, the order says the federal child labor law must be strietlv observed and that both boys and girls under eighteen years of age should have the same restrictions- on their hours us outlined for women employees. Kx is ting legal standa rds to prevent danger from five, accident or other hazards haz-ards and to provide god light, ventilation, sufficient heat, and proper snnitntion, the scaiement continues, should be observed. |