Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-02
The Hours Of Labor in The Gsyernmsp,
Printing Office

The following Official decision Of the First
Comptroller Of the Treasury, the Hon. Elisha
Whittlcsey, upon the Typographical society,s
proposition to reduce the hours Of labor In the
Government printing office, will be read with
Interest ey the craft in Warrington city:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Comptrollers Once, Nov. ., 1861 {
JoAs ID. Defriss, Esq,
Superintendent Of Pmblie Prin,ing.
Sh: Your favor Of the Goth was duly received.
anu deeply regret .bat have been SO constantly
engaged, day and mig ht, CT subjects brought T.
my attention before your letter was written, that
have not been permit II 20 investigate the sub
Ject az fully az desire Tor my own satisfaction
and to avoid doing any injustice to the EN- poyeps
generally.
The prOvisO In the third section Of the ic.p,
resolution In relation to the public orinting'
dated June %, 1850, is az follows: uProrid,5
ho'csUsI, That said Superintendent shall mot be-
allowed credit at the Treasury for payments on
account or services rendered In said printing
estaoEshment, at higher prices than those Maid
TOT similar services In the private printing and
olnding establishments Of the city Of Washing.
tn
services In the private establishments In this city
congress was not, probably, Informed that ma
Jorly OF the hands in the private establishments
WORK 6y the piece, and not by the week or dav
In the table you kindly furnished at INV request
the whole number of hands employed is II 81
whom ~ work by the week, and 81 by the piece
gata number In not accounted for byI
Inc basis given for your government can there
iore avail yon nothing, as the act nowhere CON.
.shsas' that YOU are to pay by the piece. The
colect OF Congress in passing the act was to have
Ine printing executed in better style and at re-
ouced price When il sought economy the act
alo not intend to injure nor interfere with the
Ioufneyman printers in this city; but on the con-
vary thereof, the prices given by private printing
establishments was TO regulate the prices Of tbs
Ssnoaai establishment; but the prices in the pri-
huenced, regulated or controlled by the work
men In the national ofSce
The Columbia typographical Society I. com.
Possa Q. t1ose woo work hy the piece and by the
week, including thcse or many of those who are
IN the national ONCE. The whole number in
private orices who work by the week il as and
tne number In the national office 10 49, and in
cIoolng the binding, Isl. IL their views and
wishes to control the prices. IL i, ,ubmi,.inS
70 them how much they are willing IN receIve
when the law refers the price to the private pint.
ing esaohsnments To those who work by the
piece II Is OF no concern how much or how little
is palo 10 those who work by the week
Inc proposition submitted 10 you by com.
mlt'ee appointed by the compositors and press
men OF the National Bureau Is to reduce the
houis Of labor from ten to eight hours from the
month Of October TO the month OF March. This
In my opinion, you have not the power to do
Under the present law. have read the memo
able paper. " "e
IL the clerks In the public Offices, an a general
rue, are required 70 perform only six hours labor
mere are these who laber from eight 70 twelve
hours exclusive Of any time for refreshment 80
WITH CLERKS in stores, mechanics in their shore
ana various other classes Of laborers The Presi-
dent and heads Of Departments have labored
almost continually without participating in sny
OF The pleasures Of social intercourse with
friends and the endearments Of the family circle
az Rome or sbTOad. The soldier and the sailor
have no tine for eultvating ssocial ipt.rcour.e ,,
ana at teis time all these people are bound not 10
lhhoVate on long established rules and principl
Ia CRAFTY personsl enjoyment.
The ght Of petition to Congress 10 unimpaired
enc, Il seems to me, the gentlemen can only find
redress In that body.
(signed) ELISHA WHIrrLEsKY, &c &c.