Progress in elimination of waste,

This report by Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover highlights efforts by the U.S. Department of Commerce to eliminate waste in business and government. It ties together many topics central to the consumer economy of the 1920's. Among its concerns are the so-called "War on Waste" in business and government; increasing wages; support for scientific research beneficial to industry, usually conducted with assistance from social-science research organizations; dissemination of research information; standardization of parts and simplification of production processes; and greater efficiency among manufacturers, distributors, and consumers. It includes charts showing recent reductions in the number of varieties manufactured in several product areas, including paper grocery bags (4,700 types instead of 6,280), street lights (6 different sizes instead of 120), and sterling-silver flatware (62 types instead of 190).


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