Business: Shorter Hours

The completion of the first year since the twelve-hour day was "abolished" in the steel mills brought forth last week a number of surveys of the results. The conclusions arrived at, although different, of course, for different companies and localities, were roughly these:

1) That the twelve-hour day in the steel industry has almost completely disappeared.

2) That there are still a great many men, however, who work more than eight hours.

3) That the seven-day week is just as common as formerly, if not more so, especially where the eight-hour day has replaced the twelve-hour day. However, in most cases, the men are allowed to take one day off a week if they desire.

4) That the increase of personnel required and of cost has been slight, due to the superior efficiency of men working shorter hours.

5) That in many cases the same amount of production has been maintained with no increase of workmen, although hours are shorter.

6) That shorter hours have aided in improving morale.

7) That in some sections men complain because the amount of work offered is inadequate.