The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-17
The Valuo cf Labor.

W arc aMdiS ltiaI, SciiSiaiiS SPSah-
ing, no regular standard has been
established by the various trades and
professions as rccompensc for services
rendered. 'Iis true physicians, at
least those entitled to be regarded as
such, recognise the existence Of u
;tec bill;' SO too among practitioners
at the Bar; which lee bills are strictly
observed by those who have made
these different professions their per
mancnt vocation.
Among the different trades, how
ever, we find competition carried to
such an alarming extent that in many
cases parties making contracts have
fixed the amount to be received, as
rccompcnsc, at SO low standard, i'll
order to get job, that they have, in
their failures, i'll some cases, inflicted
serious injury upon their creditors OF
cndorscrs.
1t is to be regretted that labor in
our country has been So lightly re-
garded that the white mechanic in
very many eases, is compelled to
work in competition with other classes
ut such prices that serious losses are
sometimes sustained, and his family
compelled to reinuuisll the enjoyment
! Of the common nccessarics of life, in
order to meet his liabilities.
Among that class who labor ut
the Press, or case, throughout tllc
cutirc South, there has been Il Uniform
standard fixed rs compensation, for
the services of journcymcn. lii suilc
instances, we arc aware, that en-
ploycrs have dcviatel from II rigid
compliance with these established
prices, and taken advantage Of the
wants Of the journcyman; hence, by Il
certain class who conduct the Press
''ratisnt," is boldly encouraged Such
characters We dctcst, and Wllcsi,ating-
~ assert, that no man who has served
lawful apprenticeship to the Prin-
ting business and finally succeeded III
becoming proprietor OF Il press, should
be entitled to the countcnancc Of gen
tlemcn, if he be guilty Of the practice
above specified.
''Labur is money" is Il proverb
admitted by all. But notwi;hstand-
ing common custom, and we may
say almost universal habit, has fixed
the standard for advertising through
out the South, as well rs the length
constituting square, yet one or two,
or perhaps half dozen cases, may be
found among the conductors OF the
lrcss who appear to regard their
services less ruiuaJic than their
fellows, and arc willing to labor for
half price. We arc not of that class.
We are totally opposed to every
thing which may tend to infringe upon
the prices established in this State by
every Press Of responsibility, either
as regards compensation for services
rcnde' cd, or tho standard fixed upon
and strictly observed since we first
entered Il Printing Office, for the
insertion OF Advertisements, and We
earnestly call upon the conductors OF
the Press. generally, to maintain aud
carry out strictly the rules and usagcss
OF every we'll regulated and respectable
Printing establishment, and aIiiX their
seal Of disapprobation upon any who
may ~" Sui'J ol Ill '!iiriilSclnc!it ol
those wholesome and long established
rules, for soon rs Il Press Of Influence
suffers its advertising columns to
be bought up ut less than the u,ll-
al price, Il general disposition will
soon be manifest to complete, and
Bankruptcy must necessarily follow.
Would it not he well for the
Conductors Of the Press throughout
the State to hold Convention in
Columbia, during the next session OF
onr Legislature, 10 consider tlli,
subject, and adopt such general rules
as may he thought advisable. We
throw This out rs i~c!rr. What
say the Press fairfcM N~'uIGi