New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-11
The Rights Of Labor.

The following ara the resolutions submitted 10
the Assembly by Mr.. WALSH Of this City, on "hlcn
the House has raised Select Committee. OF when
the mover is Chairman
P,soloed. That the number OF hours iaoor per cay
which NAV be exscted from Apprentices and onef hi
pors ought 10 be limited and declared oy law. a.,
Pssolr.d That the number Of hours labor per gay
which shall legally satisfy ana iuni eo % ~ f,,ber
for any specified term in the absence OF any iaii
sgreement between the parties ought also 10 De oee
mined and declared by law. ..4 =.
Resolrsd That selec, Committee be appointed 70
oonGer Generally the subject Of the rights Of the labor
ar d tho interests Of the State with regard 10 tne hous
Labor 10 take testimony fthey may deem II eHPed
emf and 10 report thereon by bill or otherwise
Although the expedency Of legislation on the
subject here suggested may be said to be obvious
we vet hope that all who feel an interest IN the
rights and welfare of the Laborer, and especially
Of the large class Of Minors bound to service as
Apprentices or Hirelings, will be prompt IN collect
ing testimony tending to show the necessity OF
legislative action aud in transmitting 1t postpaid
10 the Chairman Of the Committee at Albany.
The resolutions, it will be seen propose no In
reference with the contracts which any man
NAV choose 10 make for the sale OF his own labor
He NAV agree 10 work twenty out OF every TWEEN
~ four hours if her sees fit But when man SIM
nlv stimulates TO labor week, month, year
without condition as to hours, II is proposed that
the Law OF the Land, which specifies the number
of cents which shall be equal 10 a dollar and oil
quarts which shall constitute bushe, shall stpu-
late also the number Of hours labor which shall
constitute a day work, and which shall legally sat
isfy a contract to work so many days or months
Asto Apprentices and other Minors, the necess
~ Of some legislation in their behalf is most paipa
bic They are bound out, often against then viii
and by persons who feel little interest 10 their well
fare IN give faithful service for many months
or wears great many things which they shall
do or refrain from doing stipulated IN the inden
lures. But how many hours per day are they UNI
dor obligation TO work The Indentures arc ST
lent. the Law is silent, on this point some work
less than ten hours others more than fourteen and
MIR Walsh SAYS he has personal knowledge OF ca
ses in which they are made TO work siJteen hours
per day That this # persisted in' must be great
" injurious alike to body and mind, cannot be
questioned. Yet the Apprentice or hired Minor
has no choice but obedience unless the Legislature
.hau come 10 his relief Just and humane masters
will not object to a legal limitation OF the hours OF
labor for their apprentices and any opposition IRON
different class will be but an additional argu
ment for the passage Of such an act as this inquiry
contemplstes.
- Young America speaks OF these resolutions
rs in favor OF limiting the Hours OF Labor Z"
Corporations. It as presumed. We conclude that
paper had no accurate knowledge OF the bearing o
these Resolutions or it woald have presumed nc
such thing The Editor evidently supposed thai
the proposition was to forbid all labor beyond Ger
tain number OF hours where the laborer being al
eduu should fairly and openly contract to labor io
a longer period But we protest against any dis
tinction whatever IN the bearing OF such law as 4
contemplated on individuals and ON corporations
Several OF the most extensive Manufactures IN TIN
State are owned by single individual who is wort
some -Four Millions OF dollars. Would 1t not b
beautiful legislation to restrict the Hours oil Lsoo
in factories owned each by score or two OF con
paratively poor men, yet leave this mans numerou
! Embellishments utterly unaffected BY IL