Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-05-09
EIGHT PLUS NOTHING EQUALS
TEN. =

- II
The absurdi,y of regulating the price
Of labor by legislative enactment is
just now being demonstrated in CALI
~fornia, as has already been the case 10
Illinois. To every rejecting mind, un-
biased by aspirations for the SURFACES
Of the deluded advocates of an eight
hour law, or unawed by the clamor OF
the u%nthinking, it was apparent from
tho beginning of the agitation OF the
question that the success of the agitn-
tors would distract industrial produc-
ton aud ultimately react against them
selves. When, by tho laws that regu-
late the relations between supply and
demand, certain rates Of compensation
had been adopted by employer and en-
ploysd, on a basis Of ten hours labor
per day, it was Inevitable that the same
laws would proportionasely reduce the
per diem il a day "a reduced from ton
hours to eight, and the lsborOr would
be employed at such ratios AS tho rolS-
tons of supply and demand should JUS
tify, on the eight hour basis. The only
question for wise aud conscientious leg
~islators was one which lessons drawn
from experience aud observation alone
would solve.
Can an average laborer endure for ten
hours to perform the services ordinarily
required in usual svocations? If so, it
is too palpable to require argument that
it is e his interest to havo wage rates
fixed on that basis. For, il a man eau,
without do,rimsnt to his health, labor
for ten hours, all who are ambitious to
rise above the condition Of employe,
will prefer to employ their full time and
strength to that end, and will want to
realize the full benefits Of their oxer-
tions. But il eight hours is held to be
q legal day, aud tho wage rates are fixed
on that basis, employers will make their
calculations accordingly, employ tho
number Of hands required by the eight
hour figures, and rarely mako provision
for extra work for those who are willing
aud anxious to employ themselves for
ten hours.
The lesson of experience teaches
clearly that able-bodied men can perform
tho duties usually required Of laborers
in this country, for ten hours, and thrive
on it. The buncombe humanitarian
plea that the two extra hours Of recre-
alton will be employed in mental i'm
provement, is the most transparent dem
agogusry. We oil know, that in eighty
cases out Of . hundred, at least, either
with merchants, mechanics, professional
men or laborcrs, two more hours Of leis-
ure means two more hours in n saloon
or at n billiard table, two more hours Of
sell out" two moro hours Of ener-
waiting dissipation. Ten hours for labor,
three for rest and social enjoyment, and
seven for sleep, leave four subject to
appropriation according to inclination.
Four hours each day devoted to study,
would soon insure u degree Of mental
improvement far in excess Of that ex-
hibited by our average gentlemen Of the
largest leisure.
These remarks were suggested by the
following in this mornings San Fran
cisco dispatches to the Enterprise:
"SAN FRANCISCO, May 8.-A number Of
contractors met last night to adopt measures
for their own protection, and passed 4 resolu-
ton that ten hours should constitute = days
work for men in their employ, and that the
following scale Of prices be adopted as a
standard: Day men to be paid 20 cents an
hour |; monthly men to be paid liz cents per
hour and that 40 cents per hour DO paid for
man, horse and cart.
A number Of laborers struck this morning,
and gangs Of them have been going about the
city sndsayoring to coerce other laborers to
Join them. Patrolmen were appointed BY the
Police Department, and thus far there has
been no serious disturbance"