, 1866-03-10
THE EIGHT HOUR QUESTION.


4 NAA AUNfaAG EeGuOkt 0l kuR III N1AG3AENQ8&fl
Legislative Committee.
The Special Commission on the hours O
labor md the condition and prospects of th
Industrial classes, appointed under resolv
Of the last Legislature of Massachusetts,, hav,
made their report, of which We lnd the fol
lowing summary In the Boston Daily 4drsr
liHr:
The report states that nearly all the en-
ployes heard by the commission favored re
duction Of the hours Of labor, while nearly
al the employers opposed . reduction. j
bt1ci digest OF the arguments on both eides
Of the question 1s given IN parallel columns
Those fnyoring reduction we're not all agreed
as to the wtadom of m eight hour law. There
WIS also difference Of opinion as to the ma
ture OF the proposed law, some Of the work.
men desiring statnte making 1t penal ia
woTk more than eight hours. But the great
\ nntnimity, asked only that 'seieht hours''
should be regarded as legal day IN the ab-
sence Of a special contract. While the COM
mittee consider there are insupegablc objcc.
tions to penal statute, they give the opinion
that law not obligatory would be worth
less.
The commission zee TO possibility OF fimpar-
tlal legislation On the subject, except by fixing
different hours for different emp1oyments; and
such nice adjustments they say would be too
dencaten matter for legislators TO attempt.
None but The wotkmen themselves, or those
WHO make the subject special study, would
be qualified to Judge in such matters. The
commission therefore are opposed to the
adoption Of an eight hour law
I. Because they deem It unsound In prin-
siple TO apply one measure Of time to all
kinds Of labor-
.. Because il adopted as a general law In the
way proposed 1t would be rendered void by
special contracts, and 50 add another to the
dead laws that cunltcr the statutes.
\. 8. Because very large proportion Of the
industrial interests Of the country would not
1. Because. If restricted, as some p.opose.
to! the employees of the State, it wonfi be
manifestly partial, md, therefore, unjust.
The report discusses at some length the re-
latlons OF capital to labor, the employment
OF capital, the evils OF overwork, and kindred
subjects, and returning again to the question
ofthe hours Of labor, the commission express
belief that the change desired can be better
State House, than BY Legislators inside. The
progress made by the general movement thus
far they say has been almost wholly fndepend-
ent Of legislation.
In considering what legislation may do to
promote the interests OF workingmen, the re-
State "to secure to children Of the working
men the proper means Of mental aud physical
development; to regulate the system OF ap-
prrnticeship, that the young may be properly
instructed In their chosen vocation, ald work
saved from deterioration and To care for
those who, through in0rmity or sickness, or
misfortune Of any kind, are unable 10 care
for themselves. Legislation may also lay
checks on the tendency of IN arfstocracy Of
wealth. The commission also recommend
the passage OF d law for the annual collection
ofstatistics In regard to the condition and
wants Of the industrial elaEses.
In conclusion, the report considers what
may be done By laborine men for their own
elevation, by temperate and industrious hab-
lts, ambition III workmanship, and the prac-
tice Of economy "Let them" says the re-
port, "proys thus, by logic that no sophistry
can refnte or evade, that workiDgmen are
bent on elevatfre labor by the elevation of
themselves, md The widespread distrnst Of
the proper use Of leisure hours will speedily
disappear. Ths workmen will take tue
honorable position that belongs to them;
they will have no need. to ask of any
one how many or how few hours they shall
labor; for they will be masters OF their own
time and their Own terms, md increase or re-
duce hours Of labor AZ the real interests Of
each and all may rcquire-conyfncing capital
lists BY the only rnanswerable arguments-
intelligent and htghmindtd tcorkmen-that CAP
i'al IS dependent On labor as labor upon
capital and that it is only as both work to-
sether IN harmony that the Industrial inter-
ests of the country are most truly promoted,
and the greatest good Of all secufcd.''