The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-05-02
LABOR AND LIVING

kAHuh AND
TIE eight hour law of Illinois took effect |
yesterday in that State, and from the excite
ment at Chicago, one might suppose tina. the |
law would work social revolution in twenty. |
four hours. No doubt it will produce tempo.
rary commo,ien, and partial and local
changes, and it may in the course Of time,
if found TO work we'll where itgoes into prac-
ticsl operation, commend itself to more
general adoption, and in the long run,
make very considerable change in affairs.
In this country statutes are often enacted
under the pressure of combinations and lob
by influences, in advance Of public sentiment,
and ut the demand Of small aud interested
minority. Whether such be the case in ref
erenee to the present statute in Illinois or
not, Il is very clear that the subject had not
been fully csnvassed by the public generally,
and that there is consequently great lack of
information amongst very large proportion
Of the people upon whom the law is to opes
rate.
NJ For the benefit of our readers in Illinois, as
well as for the information Of our readers in
Iowa, upon topic of growing interest, and
rapidly extending influence, we quote the
general provisions Of the statute passed by
the Illinois Legislature, lsstswinter, which
took effect yesterday:
SECTION /. THAT on and after the hr.. of May
1857, eight hours Of labor, between the rising aud
the setting of the SUM- in all mechanical trades.
arts and empoyments, and othef eases Of labor
and service by the day, except in farm employ
ments, shall constitute and be q legal days work
when there is no special contract or agreement to
the contrary.
SEC. 2 4" This act thsll not apply TO or in any
way affect labor service by the year month or
week nor shall any person be prevented BY any
thing herein contained from working a. many
hours overtime or extra hours as he or she NAV
agree and It shall not in any sense be held TO ap-
ply TO farm labor"
The law affects only such cases as come
within the meaning Of employment by The
day, and has no bearing upon the hours of
labor, where employment is by the week,
month or year, or by the piece nor does it
apply to farm labor and any person may
waive the provision by special contract.
Without any special investigation OF the
matter, or any preparation, or disposition to
take one side or the Other, upon q question
ofso great importance, without further inves.
ugaton; it strikes us that there is likely to
grow cut OF the movement, if il should be-
come general, one very serious disadvantage
to the entire community. 1t is mere dems-
gogueism, or aHectation, to talk about labor
ing classes, in community where there are
no hereditary classes aside from the laborers.
and where the largest fortunes are possessed
by those who made them by their own
efforts
The skilled mechanic is no more a lsborer
than the professional man. The stone. cutter
labors no more than the sculptor; the painter
OF houses, than the painter of portraits the
maker Of plows than the agricultural editor
All earn their living, or make their forum s.
by their own efforts and attheir own expense
and risk, as a general rule. All must live.
too, and pay for their living Now, if the
pnces Of all commodities are enhanced
those who have accumulated least by their
previous efforts, must have a harder time to
purchase food, clothing and the like, than
those who have accumulated and saved more.
1t follows then, that if the reduction Of the
time Of labor, reduces the amount of its pro
ducts, the quantity of manufactures, aud
whatever else makes up a mans living, then
the prices will advance in consequence Of
the decrease Of supply. And if laborer
gets precisely as much wages for eight hours
labor, as be used to get for ten hours. the
price OF the products oflabor being advanced
IN the same proportion, it will cost him TWEEN.
ty per cent more to live than it did when he
worked ten hours day, and got the same
wages as be now makes in eight. So, after all
ms labor saving, it may turn out that he will
Ind himself at disadvantage of twenty Per
cent in providing a living for himself and
family; or more or less, just in proportion to
the extent that the new programme prevails,
or diminishes the amount of the products Of
abor, and thereby enhances their cost.