Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-11-28
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 90, 1867.
The Ten Hour Law.

has been much agitation upon the ques-
ton OF "ten hours" as q legal days |
labor, but in Vermont the subject has
received but little attention-not sutii.
cient to have 1t known in some sections |
OF the State, that any movement had
been made at all. Just before the annual
election in September, several meetings
were held at Burlington and Winooski,
which resulted in the nomination OF
what was termed Workingman's can
dldate for the Legislature in each Of
those places, and in the town OF Colches-
ter, in which is embraced the flOurishing
manufacturing village OF Winooski, Mr..
McGregor was elected representative on
the Workingmen's ticket. He presented
the question before the General Assem-.
bly,, by introducing bill to make
legal days work ten hours, which was
followed by petitions for the enactment
OF the law. This was referred to the
general committee, who had full hear.
ing ard made a report after its appear
ance the managers of the Burlington
Wooden Company, and several citizens OF
Winooski, became convinced that misrep.
reservations had been made in reference
TO the employment Of persons in their
mills, and requested that they might ap-
pear before the committee to correct the
false impression that had been conveyed,
which resulted in the presentation o!
the second report, which entirely vindi-
Gated Mr.. Kennedy, the Superintendent
from the accusations alleged in the
overworking Of the persons employed
in the Burlington mills, and the bill en-
titled ITO regulate the hours Of labor "
was discussed. We give below the two
reports as the summary of the history
Of the labor movement In this State
FIRST REPORT.
That so Ear the statements Of individ.
uals who appeared before the committee
developed the fact that the different
mill owners and corporate establish.
ments now work their operatives from
ten to fourteen hours per day. That in
most instances twelve to thirteen hours,
varying somewhat between summer and
winter, seemed to be the rule. That
very little, If any, complaint in the main
was made, and most gentlemen who ap-
peared expressed the opinion shat no
legislation was called for. There was,
however one exceptional case, repre-.
sented to be that OF the Wnooski
wooden factory, in the town of COiChes'
ter, 1t was stated that the factory en-
plOys from six to seven hundred hands
they work fourteen hours; that the Oper.
atives have asked repeatedly for shorter
hours aud have been refused that their
pay is small and that from seventy-iVe
to one hundred 0! these are under twelve
wears OF age that the bill herewith re-
ported was Introduced at the solcita-
tiOn Of these operatives and that the
representative from the town, now on
the floor of this House, was elected on
this issue There were also variety Of
petitions from different towns, praying
for such legislation; but it appeared
that these petitions originated in the
action of the member elect from the
town of Colchester, by furnishing blank
petitions to very many of the members
OF this body and requesting their circu-
latton. The opinion was also generally,
and In some instances very decidedly
expressed by gentlemen who appeared,
that such legislation would operate ad-
versely to agricultural interests, aud
that therefore the remedy for this indi-
vidual instance should be sought in
some other manner than by general en-
aCtment. Your committee therefore
report the bill back without expression
Of any opinion, and ask leave to be ex-
cused from its further consideration.
SECOND REPORT.
From the general committee to whom
was referred House bill, regulating the
hours OF labor, as follows; .,
That they have 8 second time had said
hill under consideration, and find that
the statement of facts as set forth in a
former report of the committee in rela-
tioO to the WnOoski WoOlel Factory
located In Colchester, are not sustained
At the meeting of the committee, when
the hill was frst considered, the member
NJ this House from the town of Colches
fer anpeared, and it was from his state
rnert that the committee obtained wha'
.rnears in their report relating to tht
hsrsher statements and putting the oth
ers In their mildest form. No othe
nerson then appeared before US from th'
towu of Colchester or from any othe
mace, who claimed to have any know
edge Of the facts -..
At the second meeting Of the commit
tee. F. C. Kennedy, the Superintendent
bat min and or other gentlemen
CITIZENS of Colchester, appeared oeior
the committee, and severally, unde
oath, testified in relation to the Winoos
HI Mill, and the management OF th
same; and also as to the condition
the operatives. From other testimon
it appeared that the mill is owned by
Company in Boston; that the propefI
including the mill and machinery,
valued at $500, 900; and that there a.
about 500 operatives in and about tt
business of the mill that about 30 p'
cent. of these operatives are adult male