THE STORY OF COSTUMES 



number of coats or suits that should be completed 

 each week. 



This overseer obtained his goods from the manu- 

 facturer, and was held responsible for them, and during 

 times of prosperity both he and his workmen received 

 reasonable remuneration. But when times were hard, 

 and labor correspondingly plentiful, the manufacturer 

 frequently cut the price paid the contractor, compelling 

 him to work for less money or remain idle. The over- 

 seer would then in turn state the condition of things 

 to his employees, offering them their choice of working 

 for reduced wages, or of increasing the weekly out- 

 put by working more hours. Almost invariably the 

 employees chose the alternative of longer hours, with 

 the result that while receiving only the same pay as 

 before, they sometimes produced more than double 

 the amount as when working under the older system. 



INCREASING DIVISION OF LABOR 



The task system was the beginning of specializa- 

 'tion in the clothing industry. By that system five 

 persons worked on a single garment, each perfo ming 

 a specified task and completing it considerably^more 

 quickly than at the rate of five to one, as against each 

 person finishing an entire garment. But this system 

 was so obnoxious on account of the many hardships 

 imposed upon the workmen by the manufacturers 

 and sub-contractors, that very soon what is known 

 as the "Boston" system or "factory" system became 

 popular. 



VOL. IX. 6 [8l ] 



