Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-03
Hearing on the Hsur. Of Labor,
lfrom tne Boston Post, Noy.2l
Tho Stair Commission IN fha ..,A.s.. a

The State Commission on the su h,ect Of a re
duction of the hours Of labor, gave a third hear
ing TO those interested, al t,s State House, last
ling, OF the Commission, were present
Frederick Mackenzie, stone-cutter, frat ad-
dressed the Commission. He said that the
stone-cutters worked ten hours q day, for
winch they received in the Summer 80 or S3.So
per cay. In the Winter, on account Of a reduc-
Ion Ion OF hours, the pay was half-a- dollar less.
Inc business Was considered unhealthy, and
men were seldom found al work who were
more thah ~ or - years Of age. He represented
an Ask0eiauoh IA ION OF Brown stone cutters, and they
were all IN fsvor OF q law 70 prevent any man
working more than eight hours a day He
thought the majority would Improve the two
hours winch they gained TO their advantage
al any rate they would have the time for rest
Mr.. Wright asked II an eight hour law was
passed, whether men would not come IN and
work ten hours day on piece work.
Mr.. Mackenzie replied that there were no
worEmen in the city except those that be-
ionged to the Union, and they would not be al
lowed 10 do so.
J. ii. Garland, Of Boston. spoke for the black
smiths. He said the members OF the trade work
uniformly ten hours a day, except on Satur-
day, when they work nine hours. Some OF the
bosses require an extra ten minutes each day
through the week to make mp for this allow
ahce. There was much cause Of complaint
teCause there was ho regular apprentice sys-
en-; The wages average s3.25 or $3.50 per day.
lie Knew many blacksmiths who had driven
tb' mselVes into the grave by over-work. In
many establishments there has been extra
wolk on account of the war, for which An ex-
IRA rate OF pay was generally given. Men
were usually willing 10 work overtime when
asked TO do so. He would consent 20 have his
wages cut down The eight hour system was
adopted. II the two hours were taken of be
would have time TO attend lectures, which he
could not do now; or TO market, and make a
considerable G saving in the family expenses.
He thought nearly all the men OF his trade
would use the time TO good advantage. III they
wanted 10 get drunk, il wouldn't take much
tune Tune with the KIND Of liquor they get now. He
believed caf
eight-hour rule they would get the best work
men and the bestwork by a.
James TulliE, iron moulder, also addressed
the Convention. and spoke OF the value to the
worklngman of the two hours that IL il proposed
10 give him. The interests Of the laboriug man
should be consulted before the interests Of the
Chester r. Merrill. machinist, stated that by
close application TO his trade he impaired his
eyesight so that he could not see by lamp
light. An absence Of year at sea restored his
eyesight. There were days common 10 am
machlnists called "unlucky dave" when thew
would spoil nearly everything they undertook,
and the employers had better paw them TO stay
at home. These were all caused by over
work.
ID. N. Smith, also a machinist, said that
many mechanics We're unable TO attend public
worship on the Sabbath on account of being
too tired TO keep awake.
A. Mackenzie, blacksmith, related his ex-
nerience TO show the injurious effect of a long
days work upon the system.
Mr.. Kelly, OF South Boston, an iron -moulder,
said he should be opposed TO the eight-hour
system if he believed man would do as much
work In eight hours as in ten. He wanted the
hours OF labor reduced so that all workmen
wonld have constant employment. In his
business after the long days of summer work
became dull, because too much had been done,
and he was compelled TO discharge men and
leave them without employment. There would
be partial remedy If young men would stay
at home on the farms instead of coming TO he
city for work.
In further discussion with MI Wright,
Mr.. Kelly said he did not ask for much Iegis-
lauon. If the city and State would declare
that eight hours should constitute a legal days
work for men employed by them, the system
would become universal in a very short time
AT the conclusion of Mr.. kelly's remarks the
Commission adjourned for one week, when
workers in leather and textile fabrics will have
the preference.