New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-09-14

The Legislature of New Hampshire as our read
ers are aware has seen TT 70 enact, that from and
after the 18th inst ten hours labor shall constitute
a legal days work, in the absence OF an express
agreement between the parties varying the terms
That we believe such law emlDenty pohtlc,
beneGcent and necessary, while others bold con
trary opinion. is also well known We 90 nor say
that precisely ten bosrs should constitute day
work under all circumstances we think II probable
that eleven hours for the four months from May 10
August inclusive counterbalanced by nine only Tor
November and the three succeeding months would
be more satisfactory and advantageous Tor persons
engaged in Agricultural employmehts In tins la'i'
tnIs This and the question Of the precise number
osbonrs are matters of detail the vital principle
a. e.- being the rightfulness and urgent ex-
pedisncy OF regulation ana iim'tasion Oe 49,
Hours Of Labor That the usual days work in
many avocations especially in the great msnufac
tories 10 generally too long and that the exaction
of twelve or thirteen hours constant devotion to
toll the year round is prejudicsl to health and
vigor and often perilous to life. has we believe,
been abundantly established Why. then. should
such exaction be persisted in
In cases of imperative necessity or imminent
peril like that which impels the fireman to expose
himself to the fury OF the elements through the
day and night, this is of justiiisble bat in
the factory machine shop store, etc the occasions
where excessive labor is requisite OF rare oc-
cuuence and should be the subject Of special and
voluntary agreement
We are told. indeed, that working men can take
care Of themselves and that Legislation does not al
ford the proper remedy tor the evils complained of.
Al, l.l.~ kox 10
their free choice to work ten hours only the
twelve or thirteen usually required, there is moth
ing farther TO be said il they choose badly. As to
Legislation. the friends OF Labor Reform cheertaly
admit that if the change they seek can be effected
without the aid of law they would prefer TO have 1t
So But suppose the fact to be that the employers
OF labor In certain vacations say, We choose
to have our works kept in motion twelve to
thirteen hours per day by the same hands be
lisving our interest will thereby be promoted II
the men who now work for us will not do our bid
ding in this respect we will discharge them and
hire others instead; and there are so many n
want OF employment that we shall have 40 dith
Guilty in obtaining many as We want, even
though we see III 20 exact fourteen hours worn
per day what is 10 be done Shall private Gu
pidity be permitted to override the dictates Of pub
lie health. the claims OF intellectual culture. and o
social relaxation aud enjoy ment-to undermine th'
constitutions Of the Laboring Glass and visit dis
ease and deformity ON generations yet unborn ?
Can a respectable medical authority be cited VIII
aHarms the heslthiulness. as TO children and youn
women especially Of twelve to thirteen hoars con
s,ant and monotonous labor per day What bene
lit can result from such labor to compensate tor it
evils
The New Hampshire law is poor affair in tsel
but the ends it contemplates are good We sha
see how /, is dealt with We understand that, in al
tcpation gifts taking effect papers have been oircT
lated through many OF the mills and machine shops
soliciting the signatures OF the workmen to cor
tract to labor as many hours the employers thin
proper, or something to that effect So far there
nothing Objectionable Ii man chooses to agre
10 give as many dimes TO the dollar as many quart
10 the bushel, or as many hours to the day as an
other man chooses To exact OF him. We NAV thinl
him serf or ninny, ba, We have no r,eh, 10 IN
terierc with his bargain. Bat it. as we have hear
we hope untruly-some otthe employers or ,hei
agents are beating up for signatures with the syow
al tina, all who do not give in shall be discharged
that pats different face the matter entirely -
cnoolS any suSu PVttSS &c fNS~~f ~ ~" '"eiN NJ
NECESSITY for stringent law and ensur
the passage OF such alsw-
That the owners and agents Of factories shon
see this whole matter in different light from th'
mwsar to u.s. we deem unfortunate bat not unn
tural Iii, hard work to convince most men that
change which they think will take i've hundred
Thousand dollars out Of their pockets respectvel
10 necessary or desirable. Wemust exercise cha
ity for the inhrm'ties Of poor human nature b.
we have regretted To in two or three OF Il
Wing journals Of New Hampshire indications
hostility to the TenHour regulation, which we @
hardly believe dictated by the unbiased judgmsn
Of their conductors Some OF them read az if the
went against the grain Of their authors. As the
we'll might What show Of argument they ooossi
u of the regular Free Trade stripe. and quite oct
plsce in journals favorable to Protection Con
plants Of Legislative intermeddlIng with privs'
sossssss and snssg smspss. -voc'isrss'o0s that l