Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-24
Hearing on the Hour, Of Labor.

Ihe nearing on the hours OF labor before the
COMMISSION appointed for the purpose Was
resumed AZ the State House last evening
A statement was first made by Mr. LesudeY
Wetherell, in the interests of the farmers. The
nunoeI nun OF nonrs empIoyed upon the farm, he
twelve. For six months, from first OF Aprfl
until first Of October, IL was fourteen hours
10 much greater extent was IL true with the
farmer that owns bis farm The rule amons
FARMERS was that they expect their help, in the
stason, 10 WORK from sun TO sun. They know
no such thing as an eight or ten hour rule.
many OF these farmers are in debt, and conse-
quenuy feel constrained 10 work as many
houIs As tney can. and exercise all the econ
Ums pG1siSe, pie Win regard to the time OF
meals, IN nay tme, about an hour Is used
Many of the farmers keep dairies ana nsn.Ilv
desire that twelve hours shall pass between
the milkings; and II the eieht-hour ,y,tem
were adopted it would bring the two miis,ns.
within the eight hours, and tins vould tend
10 ruin their business. The farmers have
found It necessary to work long hours in
have reference TO fancy farmers. The en-
ployment Of children on the farm was 70
considerable extent as pickers Of berry fruits
ana with various things connected with
farm. Those boys on the farm that 20 to school
about six months in the year, and work half
Inc time, made as good IL not better men than
engaging in any work. 1t had been said with
r great deal OF force, that the boy who had
Tee n sent TO school all his time exhibited a
great dlstaste for business. Education did not
consist merely in poring over books The
occupation of women on the farm was as COM
mon in many States as il was to employ men
however, he did not approve ofit such Were
mostly foreigners. who would do as much
labor as the men. II was not practiced in New
England He considered it, however, lust as
honorable for woman to take care of flower
garden as IL was for a man 1t was better Cor
h1r health and tended to make home happy
IL was lamentably true that women in stores
do as much work as mfn, at a lower price II
was so, too, with female teachers IN Boston
schools, many of whom were superior in point
OF ability than many Of the male teachers but
who receive comparatively small paw MANY
farmers, he said, oyerworked Themselves. VET
he could speak Of tens that suffered on ac
count OF underworld where there was one that
oNerworked. Farmers will endure much
more work when working for themselves than
they would If working for others The farm
er's work is unlike that of indoor or shop work
and consequently induces a different set of
muscles, and has IN view different interests,
which enables him TO prosecute his various
works without languor, although IL was all
hard work. He dad not think overwork had
any tendency to blunt the mind. Take the rank
OF business men, he thought, from observation
that tnere was more general intelligence
among the farmers than all others. This was
an independence that gave great charm TO their
character. He had a wider field in which 70
improve his mind. and in this connection hs
could account for the fact why so many young
men leave the plough for the store and count
Ing-room. Farming would be made pleasant
by resolving TO be farmer, and once making
TINS resolve he is contented. 1t was so with
farmers who love their business. The average
wages of farm labor was varied. Before the
war laborer received about $40 a month
which included boarding and washing
Since that time from 81 TO IS more
has been paid. Agricultural machinery
had greatly reduced the amount OF
labor and was making them independent al
though itrequired more attention and produced
more WEAKNESS TO tend such machinery than IL
old TO swing the scythe. In regard to over
work, he thought the women on a farm Uera
more apt to indulge in overwork than those
elsewhere. The wife should work no more
hours than the husband. With regard TO en-
ploylng the leisure time OF the farmers, in most
OF the towns OF the Commonwealth there are Ii
braries and farmers clubs, which are among
the opportunities 10 improve the mind bar
with many there was no want of desire TO read
especially matters pertaining 20 the prosec utson
OF their own pursuits. The increasing tenden
cy TO read agricultural newspapers, however,
was noticed.
The effect of law legalizing eight hours an
q days labor would be ruinous TO the farmer
IL the labor was curtailed the supply would be
ana eonseq 1ently the price Of farm
products would be much higher than at pres
ent. he could not see how an eight-hour law
could cure the disease. Those who ara
ta.ff e, ,'bad with the capitalists as it
was with the employees.
In answer to a question, Mr.. Wetherell said
that in all he had expressed he spoke as a work
ingman. He thought any attempt TO nx
given number of hours for days labor would
work to the injury of the workingmen- Labor
was in the market like any other commodity,
ard the man owning IL mao perlect rlgnt 10
dispose of il as he might see fit. No species OF
legislation, in his opinion, could better the con-
dition of the laboring classes.
Mr.. F. Crofut, halter, said men of his trade
were earning large wages at present, and
worked about eight hours a day-they mostly
worked by the piece. Hatters were proyerbial
for earning good wages II was so through
combination, and he thought that combination
instead of legislation would be better for the
mechanic and laborer. They had no rules con-
trolling the hours Of labor. Most hatters i'm
prove their leisure hours and own their homes.
The batters, as a class, he thought, were more
intelligent than most classes Of mechanics.
Their opportunities gave them this advantage.
The system of mbination was explained. No
interloping was allowed; no man was allowed
10 90 TO work in a shop unless he could show
his certificate. If a halter desires work he gets
employment through the hatters, not the en-
ployer.
The subject was further continued, when the
commission adjourned Till next Wednesday
eyening.-BostOq Post