The New York herald., 1867-03-15
REVIEW OF THE LABOR MAnxef.
Movenenss or Mer,..n,,..

classes make movement OF some kind. Last year. at
the same Period the great subject which engrossed their
attention the Eight Hour question. The bin intro
duced into the Houss OF Assembly at Albany was well
backed throughout the interior OF the State, well
In this city, Petitions numerously signed expressed the
desire OF the working classes for the passage Of law
making eight hours legal days work; and although
well understood that the passage Of such an
act would have very little practical effect
upon the action Of private establishments firms,
still the moral effect Of It's working on State work
and the employment Of labor for such work regard
ed as a matter Of some moment Following close upon
the introduction OF this Albany followed the
Annual State Trades Assembly Convention At this
meeting the eight hour question and national labor
congress important subjects OF debate Early in
the spring commenced the movements OF the several
trades towards reduction in the hours OF labor COM
mencng with the painters and terminating with the
caulkers who for three months maintained con-
which enailei much personal loss suffering and
privaton upon tho majority of those engaged in II.
The building trades were general thing, all en-
ployed and whatever concessions they sought were OBJ
taIncd but the disruption of business in the shipping
trades during the early portion of spring and continu
Ing until summer productive of the most injurious
consequences The rigeers who were among the nu NJ
Der who demanded reduction of hours Obtained The con-
cessiou which they sought but the employed
by the hour In place Of being engaged previously by
tho day or week. This proved most unwccoms as
wei! As unpr'dtabe arrangement for the journeymen,
ana ey have every reason to regret the for
reducing Their working hours Summer came and with
III most unusual duness all tbngs taken into consd-
GRAFTON, In tho shipping trades while corresponding
activity was permeatng the building interests. Fall and
winter brought comparatively little change in these
back the house5uildng trades were never SO brisk,
while the men engaged at shipbuildng suffered from
dsarh OF at that business so mnch SO that
joiners carpenters and others who could obtain anything
TO do and encouraged by the activity displayed n the
housebnding line, took whatever employment pos
soie Tor them to work at In many instances the sys
TEN Of quitting work four p NJ Saturdays was in
augurated during the fall and II has been found TO work
to such advantage that employers exhibit no dis
position to return to the Old system. This
circumstance will be made OF by those trades the
members Of which have yet enjoyed the privilege OF
dsconinung work at an earlier hour on the last day or
the week. At the present time the agat among
workngmen presents verv curious aspect Heretofore
men were inclined 10 regard the approach of sprng
more particularly, the proper time to make prepara
tons FOR an advance of wages the remedyng Of
an advance is con empated by some; others have
already obtained partial advance bnt tho great major
y, fearing reauctionsor attempted reduction by the
employers are preparing themselves for such result
FIGHT QUESTION
whch SO attracted the attention OF the WORKING classes
the orsanzed portion OF them at least, during last
spring, 10 comparatively unnoced at present. and the
idea OF It's attempted enforcement is not contemplated
by OF the trades Even the eight hour bill at Albanv
does not by attract the attention which ii did
last year. Petitions in its favor less numerous In
this city a least though in the interior Of the State the
mechanics are in every respect as vigilant
THE TinnRs
were the first tradesmen upon whom a reduction Of
wages tried The movement by means gen.
era three four houses only attempting to put rhe
cnrialment in force. In some instances it was sub
miited To bv men wto general thing were not
members OF any trade union, Init Others, who we're
fused to work at the rates offered, and consequently
struck Up TO the present time the rade hss been
sually dull bit the approach OF spring will proa
improvement and the ourncvmen d. not anticipate that
any very extensive curtaimeat wilt take place In the
present rae of wages Tho work Is all done ny The
pece. and on good work, with The assistance OF a
ing machine and an OPERATOR tailor can make from $50
to $50 per week.
THE rurLprSG rRsprs
Unusual activity prevails throughout every de-
rarfment OF the building interest. Tho sound Of tho
stonemasons hammer the tap Of the brickayer's vel
or the grating or the carpenters he heard IN
every street. Old buildings. which years previous
perhaps deemed models of architecture torn down
and their places beng supplied with others in
keeping with the improvements of tho times Destruc.
tive rcs too numerous OF late, have also helped 10 add
to the demand for houseoom As consequences there
prospect of plenty Of work and good pay for time
PLAsrERERs
generally at this season Of the are not actively
aud the prospect OF its continuance is good In the
say par. o. he year the question Of demanding eight
spoken Of by the most prominent OF this trade II
was aatated among the rank and le and meetings were
held to ascertain the views Of tho In this regard
The subject however, laid over for final action until
the last of tho present month Il is not altogether i'm
substituted for the eight hour syscm and possibly
movement nav be made in any direction The wages at
present received Oy ourncymcn pasterers - - 0O per
day.
rHR BsIcKLAYERs
regulated much nv The rules and regulations
those which govern the plaserer The number Of hours
worked per dnv Ia ten, With the exception Of Saturday
on which cay labor Is suspended at four NJ The
amount OF activity prevails with tho brickavers
with the plaserers Four dollars day is tho stand
ard wages Of the society," bat and after the 18th OF
March is the intention Of the men 10 demand "a so
From the fact that Of the men have been
celving that amount, owing 10 the unusual demand.
IL s argued by the journeymen that they will not have
much difficulty In obtaining the increased scale.
THE HOUSE CARPENrEns
have resolved upon demanding increased paw on and
after the first Monday IN April and have notified their
employers accordingly Acting on the belief that the
demand exceeds the supply, and that tho state Of the
made Tho carpenters, not only Of this city but those
Of Harlem, North New York, Brooklyn and Morrisania
expected on the part OF the employ the proposed
demand but general strike Ia not contemplated by tho
journeymen In case Of their refusal 70 comply The
rur uousx PAINTERS
have also decided upon higher scale OF pricea With
many Of them the demand went into effect the 4th
instant The wages paid during the fall and winter
Gently about thirty agreed 70 pay the demand Of the
men, and this 10 the remarkable from the fact that
business is very dull end there s quite number Of men
ever, are not unanimous in making the demand. as
number Of the trade have resolved to wait until aftor
April before they take any action.
nnd good employment at rates varying from "a to $5
uay. len nOuT5 c0nstltute n uay WOrk. auu elkHt
hours on Saturday II not yet been decided TO ad-
vance the wages though that course Is not at all Nm
probable.
receive about SIS a week, but their weeks labor is
often broken by wet and stormy days, VIII ch causes
elimination in their pay. Those who wait brick
layers, masons and pasterers have had an excellent
season, with good prospects for It's continuance.
TRADES
have not yet realized thing like condition OF AFFAIRS
similar TO that short time previous TO the eight hours
strike last spring. The
CAutKBRS
especially have suffered from dearth OF emplo- ment
and notwithsi anng that OF the men OF this
trade have emgrated to other cities and have thus
reduced the numbers seeking employment, still an
unusual degree OF inactivity exists The wages received
vary from SO 20 TO "a SO at present but reduction Is
anticipated. Quite q large number Of the
SUR JcIsEas, se. 8M
not willing 70 await the result OF the strike FOR eight
hours last year, went TO work at house carpepering
The numbers of men who thus nockod into this branch
OF the building trade had tendency 70 keep tho wages
Of the house carpenters fully twenty per cent less than
the brckay ers paaterers and other trades which may
be cassed - those composing the building interests.