New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-07
The IIeurs ef Gnber- Eight per cny
1iuClcisu

CoMNovy-r ,Lru OF MASSACHUSETTS,
UousE or EErErsEATAnlLs. Alii u. le,a
The Joint Special Committee on tho Apprentice
System, to whom was rufcfred the Order of
March 8. instnoiing The Con E.iitcc 20 inquire
as to the prorrie,y Of reducing the hours OF
labor submit the following
prPORr:
Tie subject cf reducing tie bonrs Of labor u BY no
mans nes one, nor ish CO. f. el solely TO
land In Eneland 1t was ogisied for msny yeai'. both
by capitalists md nbacis. and ns earl, ~ the year
iso9 1t became the suec, Of legislation bv at Act Of
Parliament for tie preservation 81 the health ard
morals" II those mployed Ia cvtn and other ss"r''.
In lS3 t further legislation was indeed b, an Act I'm
Fling the hoors 81 lnhor 20 ,i-r 70 hours per
day need scarcely be sad tBf the subject We fully
discussed md Tat 4 WIS denounced as IN nr"r"'i1
alike dapyertns 10 the wealth anu eoyrIDieit 81 the
conriry Notwifhsts nding the ehs,mv predictions ex
rr s,cd the law wrs 'end Ia No ~dnrnl,!, pr NC.
irg marked rn impfovement ID IN the condition
hafhcrr Of the oIrr.tive, ard hr nh NJ ~ thu
work a, coin riise ed. tat vE further sGsaDre uns
taken in lrgisnIion md IN is<7. ~ Aet0 ri,ment
was pnsseo. st further hunting tLc tme " work a.
II unnecessary IN this connection TO give history
Of the movement In Encl-rd, Other THAI tosy that the
cOrdit. Of IN. sboier low 10 r scale f sor
and raj ktRDIard thrt thry rc fast vrrgny into
the I'd ,hgerius cl1ssrs Of sc.e, md that ~ trG
Ieret ~ the large mnDufci urers con, inced by
exDeTence thai IL ore Ir'fiabe Ia woik 10 ous
than II war longer p'r.uj VI tine Jle~xei cnrt he
success, and i'todsy the standard ~ time IN
England raviug am aIly 10 the nston nill,ols "
/, tIeasn md I'll. u-spIs of lives. t.
In our own country. NE sui cct hns, for pnny veaa
occupied the attention o. tie rntc nore parc' larry
I. G wors then siyrs We ere h,wtrr. behind
Il gard in Legislation and rcrafs Il, pablo opinion.
uun the subject; ceririn,. IN Massachusetts We have
rad legislation In regrrj ~ it. In lfJ. IN soas
uuence " agitsi ion COMMITTEES appointed By the
L'gIsatrrr TO inquire and rep n what rgi.l.ion Was
necessary for thr limitation Of tie hour. vi labor par
ticuyly IN the manufacturing companies rcorp.ihtrd
b, the state. The majority Of the r"nmiif,e reIu,trd
''ih, IpeGient 10 iegisInic- a minority rresetsd
vr,y able report. accompanied ny bill Inning the
Tours 81 noi 70 Charters .,fp."."s r 10 "e rs,
20 fen hours per dsv. 1ke Hi passed tke li'Ese alter
,om~~ hat snimsted dscBssinn but was Gef-ated IN
The Senate This was tie orlr attempt at limiting o.
defining a @ hours II iahnr with the C,mncnwe,hh.
hut thoagh there bias been no iegisht.oi, Jet there
have be. sei ad radical changes IN regard Ia ue
hours Of lsb.T. A marked CHI ,nfe srd imrr"veneht
has already taken place. In lr5Dthe dsnnnd wms for
Ten hours bee the operatives worked fr, X Is
hcnrs daily aud though VIZ attempt at a~ fui-d vet
owing tie denauus II labor. AID tine Enlightenment
II nIlic opinion. TIE present system VI " hlps WIS
secured I lis k now yer! generally Ia us --tse r'iy
exceptions being III Manufacturing towns md oor1ra
tans-w here they now require mer. women md ch,
dieb 10 work n hours d. s -0he honr mtfe than Ia
Ii sl nd dsg-ace. an epiatos, 10 MassacAtssas
and an errsSr On AI"arhE '-i ...' r
In the henrings before Or Committee the testimony
ard tue demand wen unanimous fr still furti " de
OF the bours VI labor; praying for limitation
Wv law Of eight hours as . " gal Days Labor. II will
thus be sren that chs movement ~ progressive, |
or , as same may think. Aggressive. Arerds.
In this country some four hours have been
strel rp from daily toll; and ct IL sought TO It'll
further tDrb upon The industry III TIE MUMMY. ty
taking from II hours vi tmr sBd prvauctipn. W
III Industry 81 ibe land tenr this ne les imo,y ~
tnse Who appeared before aud who represented ard
tpoke the sentiments 81 thousands If their fellow
craf,smer. demonstrated. U our Satisfaction. that
not only could ths productive Industry of the
more they claim that IT will add ~ the produc. |
tire naustry producing grrater quantity. and better
qnsy snI they have produced wegity rviden ce ou,
tie experience u the pact IN support Il IT, From tho
evidence produced before the Committee. salts
fled that not only will labor lie bsneGued by the
change. bat ,tal aso. II VAS shown by test mouy
If very strong character. that many and great In
vemeuts were losi " indvsuI and wealth BY Hh
solute waat of tine on tire pnrt II meehsres 70 develop
inventions and prov hich would bc Of incal
culabc value TO the world. The unanimous testimony
Of every person who appeared bef0te the Cinnittee
some thiIty or forty wi,hcssey " whom aore
~ sses ~ naustry. was that Instead
u this change VI being loss injury to Industry
or wealth IL would be eertain and speedy gain to
both. From Q careful csusIderHtinD Of the su Ject
youI Committee have arrived ut The conclls on
But thers 10 another view oi the subjert wt,ch ia
even important " Us rs people that the u.eIe
ncr ease Of wealth. the perfection Of tho
aIts-ihe prpiectop preseIvatioD aud advancement OIL
r1sn In this view We feel that there 10 solesu duty
and responsibility Resting upon ps. an that nia
called ulOn atre for our apathy OF The pat by errly
and earnest action Of tue iutr--. We have been su
pIsed at the dev eop1ens witch the investigation has
H. l.f-