The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-29
The WORKING people.

In New York, the manufacturers OF
clothing on a small scnle-that Is, those
who receive work from the large shopsS
and employ from three to six hands
have organized an association to effect
an increase of their own and their en-
ployes' pay to the extent of twenty-five
per cent. The present pay of the work
men ranges from IS to S12 per week.
The Housesmiths' Association of New
York, numbering 600 members, reports
that the wages paid to that trade vary
from 81 to 81 so for ten hours labor.
The strike of the varnishers and pol
ishers of New York is for an advance
of two dollars on the present rates of
SIS to $I8 week. The carpenters Of
Newark, N. j., who have struck for an
advance from IS to IS IS day, report
that thirty-seyen shops have agreed to
the terms demanded, fourteen have re-
fused, and nineteen have given no an.
swer.
The German Working Mems Union
of New York, an association composed
Of delegates from different German
trade organizations in that city, has
contributed funds for the purpose Of
changing the Arbeiter Union (the
Workingman's Union) from a weekly
to daily paper. The Union will have
control of the labor department of the
newspaper, and will direct its policy
upon all questions relating to the inte-
rests of the working men.
In reference to the eight-hour law
passed by Congress- and approved
has recently furnished to the Secretary
OF the Navy an official opinion, In
which it is commended that the statute
under consideration must be construed
in connection with the Act of Congress
of July Is, 1862, which provides that
the hours of labor and the rate of wages
of employees in the United States Navy
Yards shall conform with those of pri..
vate establishments in the immediate
vicinity of the respective yards. Mr..
Hoar states that he has arrived at the
same conclusion as his predecessor,
Mr.. Evarts, who decided, in a letter
dated November 20, 1868, that when the
period of daily labor was reduced from
ten hours to eight, there must be cor
responding reduction in the wages for
merly paid for the longer time.
On the other hand, however, Senator
Wilson, of Mass, has under date of
April goth, written to the Secretary of
War, letter on the subject of the
Eight. law. After mentioning the
gradual reduction of the hours of labor
during the last thirty years, Mr.. Will
son places construction upon the
atotI1In ga 6nr1Vp6 frOm the ODiOiOU10 X.
pressed upon it in Congress-, and from
the explanatory amendments rejected
by the Senate. Mr.. Wilson stated that
the bill under the lead of Gen. Banks,
with little debate and slight opposition,
passed the House in 1865. On the Oath
of June it was taken up in the Senate,
and passed by vote of &c to IL. Mr..
Sherman then moved to amend the
bill so AS to provide that the rate
of wages paid by the United States
should be the current rate for the
came labor for the same time at the
place OF employment. Quoting ex-
tracts from the speeches made during
the discussion which ensued, Mr.. Will
son asserts that no Senator suggested
that the passage of the bill reducing the
hours of labor one fifth reduced the
wages of labor One-hfth; but that, on
the contrary, all admitted that it re-
duced the hours of labors, without re-
ducinG the rate of wages. He says, in
conclusion, Mr.. Sherman's amendment
was intended to reduce the rate of wages
in proportion to the reduction of time.
Sixteen Senators voted for it, to accom-
plish that avowed purpose. Twenty
one Senators voted against If, to defeat
the accomplishment of that purpose.
Tho action of officers of the Government
is in direct opposition to the declara-
tions OF Senators, and in opposition to
the vote of the Senate.