Mechanics', operatives', and laborers' advocate., 1836-12-19
THE TEN HOUR SYSTEM.


 the Ten Hour System on the Government works, respectfully report that they have collected the in formation as far as lay in their power, believing at the same time, with trihing exception, that it is perfect exposition of the subject matter under their consideration.
 It is matter of regret, the Committee are bound to acknowledge, that our Government which should foster the weak and protect the helpless has, under every administration, pursued different course, and required more from the laborers in her employ than has been required by private citizens, which fact has been exhibited in the late difficulties between the authorities and the national workmen in the city of Philadelphia Nor are the committee prepared to censure or condemn any particular officer or branch of the government being convinced that if the aborers throughout the country would resort to the same measures of redress the same results would follow, which has happily been experienced in Phil adelphia. At the last sitting of the National Trades Union, committee were appointed to draft a me morial to Congress, asking for the establishment o the ten hour system on the government works At- ter the memorial had been signed and forwarded to the Hon. Eli Moore, that gentleman took occasion to offer it; but unlike the memorials of individuals for large donations of money, or the advance of off, cers' salaries, 1t noticed, if noticed at all, only to receive the insults and of the honorabe-he peoples servants. From motives con- cealed from the American people, no action was ta- ken on the subject, and the memorial now lies on their table, probably never to be acted upon. The system, however, was not abandoned. It was agi- tated with vigor by tie members of the Philadelphia Trades Union as well as the Unionists of other places. In the month of June, the shipwrights, joiners and others, engaged in the National Navy Yard in Philadelphia, met in great numbers, and passed several strong resolutions against the sys tem--they having previously struck for the hours
 All their resolutions and appeals to government, however, remained unanswered. In the month of August, town meeting of citizens, mechanics and workingmen were called, when a committee of workingmen were clothed with power to ask, as a right of the President of the United States, orders for the adoption of the system, which had the desir ed effect, and which was communicated to the con- mittee by the Secretary of the Navy. Ten hours labor was and is, consequently considered and &C., knowledged su6ciency for one day, by the govern ment in Philadelphia. This measure, intended by the workngmen of Philadelphia to become univer- sal in aH the national works, has been given only to those who have claimed it. On the Government works in Brooklyn, the old system is still pursued In the city of New York the system is established and the government in the erection of custom hou ses, or other public buildings works must con form to the custom. In the city of Baltimore, or the public works Tn progress, the hours have beer given after the mechanics had positively refused t( be governed by the old system At Annapolis an( other places throughout Maryland mechanics re ceive the hours In the District of Columbia, Cos port, Norfolk, and throughout the Southern States 12 and IA hours are still claimed by the Govern ment also throughout all the States north and eas of New York; Government work is generally con fined to the States of New Hampshire, Massachu setts Rhode Island. New York, ennsylvania, Ma rvland, Virginia, North Carolina, and the DistnC of Columbia, out of which the hours are given l New York, Pennsylvama, and Maryland, the onl three States out of the eight in which Trades Uno exist. In addition to their duty, the committee wi take the privilege of inquirng for the most efectu plan to establish the system. It is contended many of our friends, and those the most enl ghtey ed, that Congress has no right to egisate on tn sub ect at all-hat it properly belongs to oursevt that we have the exclusive right to labor as lon as we choose, for what wages we please and th an interference on the part of Congress would be assumption of power derogatory to us as freeme and destructive to our liberties as citizens. Wit out differing with them in opinion, the Committt will observe others declare 1t unwarraned stret( of power iii the executive to interfere in the matte while others again contend he IS the only source redress-that he in the character of the ENecuti Officer" only discharges his duty when redressil the known grievances of any portion of the comm nty, particularly when there is no statute to the co trary, and when the redress mterferes not with t rights or just privileges of others.
 fthe President, or Congress, (the same princiT would be involved with both) were to interfere wit out the application of the people, or their represe tatives, then the case would be vastly different f if either were allowed gratutousy to add to t price of labor, by the same precise rule. they cot reduce it, and thus mould us to their wishes at pie Rrtcu ic +ho boch ,lo by the conduct of Government The C0mmitt who addressed the President asked for the extensi of the ten honr system, hat believing it was not il tiabe in so doing. or thHt the sane chanrel W open to others, it will probably be withheld TIT they do as have done, claim for themselves. T committee are decilel in their or;njon, that C. gress has the sane r"ht to redp@e .ire hours of
 bor on public work, or advance their wages, as tl have to settle the terms of soty:Hp in the arriy