New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-24
THE EIGRT HOUR QUESTION.
OPINION OF ArToRNEY-GENERAL HoAR, AN

OPINION OF ATToRNEY-GENERAL HOAR, AND
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS OF SECRETARY BORE.
1s, o. Ap a. 1889 in aepS to eer
from the Secretary OF the Navy, gives the following
don. A. C. BORE, Secretary ot ne Macy.
SIR: have the honor TO acknowledge the receipt OF
your LETTER oi b ne 20 p OF meaning and eject Of the act Of
Congress approved June as $685. which nxes the number
and mes6enics IN the employment Of the United States
taken connection with the &C: OF July TO- 1852 which
efficiency OF the Navy, approved December a. 1861, DO
amended 80 as TO read as follows:
bt the hours Of and the rate Of of.mpoye The
ss a SS.. private :S sh
Yards subject 70 the approval Of the Secretary the Navy
In reply have the honor to State that the whole sub
ss' ESs 1S ths en- the 18th
to which beg to refer you and from the conclusions OF
be Be pad to ISS leaves
1881 The provision that eight hours shall constitute
days labor has tendency whatever to show whether
or higher rate than day OF ten hours labor az the
The rate Of Pen ra, Is stu leg the
statute Of July 49, 1862 so as to conform as nearly as con
@ the II hs with 1cn Of hc M
spectve yards TO be determined by the OF
Secretary Of the Navy II private esta6sSmeSts In the
neghborhood employed their hands hye hours .
In NavyYards eight 90 the amount paid by day
in private establishments and the law lnended no suon
which requires You the same price for eight hours
which private establishments pay Tor ten or tWve
hours The amount OF service rendered or quality OF the
work make the fewer hours in Navy equivalent In
value to the longer time hired in private establishments
or for other mako consistent with the pub
lie interest Very respectfully your obedient servant
L. r. HoAR, Attorney General
In consequence Of the above opinion the Secretary OF
the Navy sends the following circular letter TO Com
mardants of Navy-Yards and Stations
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON d. c.
April. "a, 1882 5
SIR: The act Of Congress approved June 25 1865 con-
stutes eight hours days work for all abOrers work
men, and mechanics employed on behalf OF the Govern
men While thus establishing the length OF days work.
requiring the wages OF employees IN the TO
conform as nearly consistent, with the public interest,"
with those OF private establishments In the immediate
vicinity OF the yards Until tbese laws are repealed the
Department must abide by them. The Department has
no authority 10 extend the hours OF labor by making
20 employ mechanics, workmen and laborers on extra
hours and pay them pro rata for such extra labor
Where therefore, necessity exists for extra labor you
ara at liberty discretion In the matter
40 "a assist the working classes and at tho same time
10 do Justice 20 the Government. Very respectfully,
A. u. BoRIE, Secretary OF the Navy.
Senator Wilson has addressed letter TO the Secretary
of War dissenting from the official construction placed
upon tho Eight Hour law 10 maintains. FIra That
the law was passed to tho numerous petitions
OF mechanics and workngmen employed In the Govern
ment establishments Secondly: Thatit was the inten
ton OF Congress fully meet their views and Ihdiy
The law was plain upon the subject Inc letter VIII
probably DO published