New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-07
REDUCTION OF THE HOURS OF
LABOR TO EIGHT PER DAY.

4
REDUCTION or The HOURS OF
LABOR TO EIGHT PER DAY.
What is TO be the influence the effect, of the
continual increase Of the efficiency of Human
Labor, through the progress Of Invention and
MACHINERY, on the condition of the great mass OF
Labcring Mepf Are they to experience an
incidental benefit through the cheapening OF
products, and that oulyi II is probable that
the great body Of skilled laborers in this coun-
try produce double the amount per man of the
articles conducive to human sustenance and
comfort that the labor Of the corresponding
class did seventy to ninety years ago. AS q
consequence Of this, mechanics and artisans
dress more cxpensively, fare more generously,
have richer furniture, ard give their children
better education, than their grandfathers did or
could; but is improvement 10 end here When
the effectiveness of Labor shall have been once
more doubled, shall the workman 60 OH toing
from dawn to dark--at least, for ten hours per
day-as hithertof On tie contrary, is 1t not
reasonable and proper to anticipate and advo-
cate further curtailment and limitation OF the
Hours of Daily Toll, as natural, legitimate
beneficent consequence of the increased and
continually increasing efficiency OF Human
Effort 7 rYf IN
This question has OF late been widely dis
cussed among the Mechanics aud Artisans of
our sesboard cities, but especially by those OF
Massachusetts, who were enabled at the last
session of their Legislature to command its en-
phatie attention. A Joint Committee was ap-
pointed to consider the subject, before whom
the Eight-Hour advocates appeared with facts,
arguments, documents; and tho result was
unanimous report in favor of the Eight-Hour
system. That report-barely noticed at the
time Of its appearance, because of the pressure
of momentous events--we now present in full,
and ask for 1t the thoughtful attention OF all
readers. We do not print it because we indorse
| its views, but because We deem the subject
of the highest Importance, and the delib-
crate Judgment Of such Committee,
based on a patient, pains.taking inquiry,
worthy of most respectful, emphatic
consideration. And the fact that Gov. Andrew
has appointed in obedience to a vote of the
Legislature, an unpaid and most influential
4 Commission, composed of Rev. Edward L.
Hale, Hon. Charles Il. Russell, Hon. Joseph
White, DIR. Fl. l. Bowdtch and +. b. Sanborn,
ESD, to pursue the inquiry, collect testimony,
4 aud report the facts and their conclusions to
the next Legislature, encourage the hope that
the truth, whatever it be, will DO developed and
| cd @bn E;rhf Uouv Svcte,p jf IL
be proved correct and benefcont, receive legis-
lative Endorsement and sanction from that State
which, though widely reviled and hated, has
nobly won her title to be considered second in
intelligence and enterprise, in emerge and in
dustrial efficiency, TO no other in the Union.
We beg those whose attention may be drawn
to this subject to heed rather the calm, states
msnlike and well-consdered positions Of the
Committee than those of the more especial
champions of "the Rights Of Labor" whose
bar-room. and stIset-eornsr harangues they may
ftfully be doomed to undergo. The assump-
tons that Capital stands in necessarily hostile
relations tor Labor-that the Eight-Hour sys-
tenn In practice would increase the daily wages
"Hho diminishing tuo VII VI ''N wa"
man-that the daily press is controlled by Capt.
tai, and therefore dare not discuss the Eight
Hour question nor advocate the just claims OF
Labor-all this, with mnch more like it, is in
substance what must be borne from ignorance
and selfshness, contemplating great question
from the standpoint Of personal interest. But
it by no means follows that a cause is bad be-
cause there are these among its champions who
seek to advance 1t by groundless assumptions
and bad logic; and the facts embodied in the Re-
port herewith printed are certainly deserving Of
grave consideration. .-,..- ------.
For our own part, we have never yet been
able to limit our own hours of labor to sixty per
week, and should contemplate their reduction
to that number as welcome solace to advanc-
ling years and waning physical energies; yet
wa cannot realize that our work is less arduous
or less deserving than that Of mechanics or arti'