The combined employers in the cotton industry have issued their
proposals for recovering prosperity. They first make various suggestions for financial reconstruction, saving overhead charges and improving marketing, some -of which have merit, but in the mass do not come within view of the thorough reconstruction which is notoriously necessary. When they reach the subject of wages and hours they suddenly become extraordinarily precise. They propose that the hours should be increased from 48 to 521 a week, and that the standard piece rates should be reduced by 25 per cent. This reduction on the rates being paid at present would mean 121 per cent. As the men would earn more by working longer hours they are in effect being asked to work -longer hours for the same wages. The proposed increase of hours would violate the standard of the Washington Eight Hours Day Convention. For that reason we regard it as most regrettable.
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