Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-12-24
The Eight Hour Law.


In the =. S. Senate, Thurstgy, D,c. l6h.
On motion Of Mr. Morrill,. the Senate took up
the joint resolution regulate the hours Of labor
for Government lsborers, which provides that
the joint resolution reducing the hours OF labor
of Government laborers. approved jane 5,lsGS,
shsll not create a reduction of wages
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, moved an amend
nent repealing the act which declared eight
hours to be days labor.
Mr.. Morrill, made long speech in support Of
his motion. He endeavored to show, first, that
the Eight-hour law, applied only TO those in the
employment Of the General Government, is anti
republican, and offensive to ali other laboring
men; second, that such law, universally ap-
piled, would be inconsistent with the highest in
teresis Of American Workingmeu; third, that it
will not afford any additional leisure which viii
be made available for mental OF moral improve
ment; fourth, that ii is untrue that mankind
will or can perform much labor, and Of equal
value, in eight hours as in ten or more htth,
that the measure if adopted nov 10y our whole
country, would prove imIaeazurbe national
disaster; sixth, that there are other means
whereby labor has been and can De much more
efficiently encouraged and protected National
legislation on this subject, he said. csu only
reach those employed in the Government Print
ing Office, the Navy Yards and armoTies ard ar
senals. Al its effect beyond this will D. as an
example TO be copied or Stunned by STATE Legis-
lature-, and to put forth such az example would
not be wise II adop ed by tie State or their
people it would not only cripple private and pub
lie revenues, but breed 1iscontent ani -ongte-
gate unemployed men in the haunt- of sport
ing men and pleasure seekers. Dissipation viii
be cheapened. not the necesssries Of life Ii
would not promote the permanent wel.-utlng Of
even those who, being in the empl yment OF
the General Government, will be az once reach
el. II they got "A foil days pay for tF5 hours
less Of work than those no. 50 employed, they
would AZ once become political pi--emeu, de-
pendent upon precarious party success, aui their
places would he eagerly Sought aiic- By out
siders, and through persons Of Influence iuces-
sanity knocking al the national gaje~ i~ admis-
sion, while votes would necessarI y ue ia the
market. or be said to be, for the party Offering
equal pay for the smallest number OF working
hours
Rotation would be the order Of the day auj q
new .' Tenura-of-O Oifce Act % would b- needed
20 prevent frequent and untimely dsp.lcsmeuts.
Nh Morrill, then enumerated the many t-4les
and professions in which men were obliged 20
labor more than eight hours day uJ ,le very
nature OF their NorS, ana thus ende''oiei 70
show that the hours OF labor could nlt possibly
be satisfactorily regulated 10y law ln sNe'AlA-
Of the INJURY winch would be sustained 1y the
manuiacturIns interests 'hrongh 'he Ieiue'.'u
OF 'he hours oI .AooT' tAe 9ieaAei IeN'IAeI 'AA.
the prolucts oi MAssach husetts' IN conSe iehce OF
the au1lilAry power OF machinery may ir e''-
msted 10 nave ueen more thAu 4'HN.ri' anu
possibly quadrupiet To restrict The hours o.
action OF all Their ureiess giants OF steam ani Oh
water would De- To make n.hnuiAcinfr- ana tnr
mechanic arts unproh'Hn.e pursuits Neni'-
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