Daily national Republican., 1865-11-30
AatiunaI gepnblifau
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woRKrNeNEN's CONVENTIONAL meeting
Of the working mems convention was held last
evening In the Council Chamber, at the City Hall
the President, Darius DGughton, in the. chair,
and Jos. W. Msttingly, secretary. The rolf
were represented typographical Society, Ship
Carpenters, Bookbinders, House Carpenters,
Typographical Engineers, Granite Cutters, Stone
House Builders, Tin and Sheet Iron workers,
Harness Makers, Bricklayers, Laboratory Work
men, Gun Carriage Makers, and Iron Moulders
Mr.. Q. B. Hough, Chairman Of the COMMITTEES
on the Address 70 the workingmen Of the Coun-
try,submitted a report stating the number Of
copies which had been printed and distributed
The committee in their report returned their
thanks to the editors and proprietCrs o. the ma
Neto York Tribune, Ffncher's Trades Revfeio,
and the Daily Era, those papers having pub
llshed the report in full, thus giving 1t a wide
number Of letters were read from Working.
mems Association Throughout the country,
giving accounts Of their progress,
Mr.. Davidson presented tho following resolu-
tion which was adopted:
Resolved, That the chairman Of each delegation
is hereby instructed to solicit Of the tradesmen
whom his delegation represents monthly con-
this city the same TO be paid into the treasury Of
Mr.. J.w. Mattingly, secretary Of the conven-
tion, rendered his resignation; which was laid
Mr.. g. b. Hough was chosen assistant secrs.
tary Of the convention
The COMMITTEES on the mas meeting reported
that they had settled up all their business, and
the committee was discharged.
The secretary Of the executive committed was
instructed to distribute TO the chairman OF each
Of the associations the following resolutions and
memorial to Congress, which had been adopted
Re,oiusd, That this convention recommend to
the several trade associations represented therein
the appointment Of committees to procure sigma
lures TO q memorial to Congress, urging the
adoption Of eight hours as days work, where
mechanics or laborers are employed directly by
the Government Of tho United States.
Resolved, That the corresponding secretary
communicate copies Of the above resolution to
the proper officers Of the several associations Of
the District.
Resoived, That the corresponding secretary
also eommunicate copies Of the hrst resolution to
all trade assemblies In the several States, rec
ommending the preparation Of like memorials,
for the same object, one Of the means likely 10
be efficient In furthorlng the general adoption Of
eight hours as days work In all the Industries
TO he Honorable the Senate and House of Rep
resentdtfues Of the United States:
Your memorialists, mechanics and working.
men Of the District Of Columbia, respectfully
represent to your honorable bodies, that years Of
toll aud their results have satisfied them that the
labor Of ten hours per day, heretofore and now
eonyentionally established in all employ ments
-
tion Of time and such wear and tear Of body ~
preclude mental cultiyationkaud proper physical
recuperation, to say nothing OF higher and holier
objects connected with moral well l-bsing, nor
those domestic ties which all men, aiming to be
useful aud stable citizens, sooner or later con :
tract Satisfied that the mere statement Of these
necessities, free from argument, Is convincing,
we respectfully inform your honorable bodies
that the mechanics and workingmon Of this Dis
trict, in connection with their brother mcdaniel
throughout the States, are engaged In an effort to
procure from State Legislatures statutory recog-
milton Of eight hours as days work in all en-
ployments
They have no wish to suddenly disturb the in :
dustrial arrangements Of the country, or impair
general production, but desire change at u Pc
Rod sufficiently future to disembarrass contracts
and ward of contingencies. As we have no doubt
Of ultimate success from the justice Of our de-
mand, based upon moral, physical, and mental
your attention the condition Of mechanics and
iAboring men In the employment Of the Gevern-
ment In the several departments OF the public
wo,fs Who are stringent
each day to sedulous employment Of exhaustins
character, at prices rather below than above
those paid by private Individuals for germain
pursuits, the only incidental advantage being
greater certainty; while In the Executive De-
psrtments, at mere clerical duties, not requiring
higher order Of educated labor, fewer hours are
exacted, with higher compensation. We forbeaI
further contrast Of amount and quality OF labor,
or remark on the more exhausting nature OF the
former than the latter, or on the facility Of fur
loughs during the heat Of summer, or on the easy
industry with which duty Is performed in The
public Offices. While all these matters present
strong contrast to the hardships and exactions ol
our employ ments In severe labor and rigid time.
keeping, we rather use them to secure justice u
ourselves than as foundation for complaint
at the easier lot Of others, and ask this Justice
at the hands Of Congress, with whom the
power Is Elodged, to make regulations for the
public service. ...
five rightly spprehend the object Of the Gov
ernment In establishing workshops, &C., to man
.ufacture articles consumed or used In the public
service, II is not that production may thereby be
cheapened, 80 much as that the quality may be
reliable, and not fall when the time for tesl
comes. This precludes all idea Of profit from
the labor Of employees. II we are right here,
we hazard nothing in saying, that a relaxation
Of the severe rule as TO hours OF labor In the em
ployments Of the Government cannot fail to Sc
cure the primary object as efficiently as now, In
sure It against loss In production, tighten the
burden Of those whose lives are lives Of inces.
SAINT toll, and aid materially in that ameliora.
tiou 50 much needed by the class OF which your
memorialists are representatives.
And as In duty bound, We will ever pray.