Eight Hours for Laborers on Govenment Work, Report by the Hon. Victor H. Metcalf, Secretary, Department of Commerce and Labor, on H.R. 4064 (Eight Hour Bill), Submitted by Resolution By, April 13, 1904 Volume 11 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...by the reduction was 12,819. Only 10 of these establishments were engaged in manufacturing for the United States Government, and only 7 exported a part of their product. The establishments engaged on Government work were 1 in the building trades, 6 in stone quarrying and cutting, 1 in foundry and machine shop products, 1 in iron and steel (architectural and ornamental), and 1 in flour and grist mill products. Th e establishments exporting a part of their product were 1 in the boot and shoe industry, 3 in flour and grist mill products, 1 in iron and steel (architectural and ornamental), 1 in stone quarrying and eutting, and 1 in tinsmithing, coppersmithing, and sheet-iron working. The amount of the reduction in these cases varied all the way from 3 hours to 24 hours per week, since the reduction was made from a 51-hour week or a 72-hour week to a 48-hour week. The number of establishments from which reports were obtained making the reduction of each specified amount was as follows: NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS REDUCING HOURS OF LABOR TO 48 PER WEEK MAKING A REDUCTION OF EACH SPECIFIED NUMBER OF HOURS. In the following table is shown the effect of reduction in hours upon cost of manufacture, in establishments having reduced their hours of work to 48 per week, for the establishments making each reduction. Where an increase in cost resulted, the per cent of increase is also given. In certain establishments changes in method of operation, increased speeding of machinery, or improved machinery, or other changes modifying the effect of the shorter hours were made, along with the reduction of hours and the change in the wages which in some cases occurred. Such establishments are not included in this table. EFFECT OF REDUCTION IN HOURS PER WEEK UPON COST OF MANUFACTURE, ..