New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-09
SOCIAL SCIENCE.

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION OF LABOR.
The new Social Science Society of New-Y York
held its second guur melting last evening In the Plimp
ton Building Nnthst., President Charles Moran in
the chair and ably discussed the question: "Can Govern
men N accordance with the Of social science reeu
late the hours owages Of labor 2" About thirty gentle
men we're present. Mr.. r. l. Dugdale opened the de-
bate and that the rate OF includes both the
amount that a receives and the time that he
works This rate depends upon the ratio Of the fund
20 the number OF labOrers. out Of the total
Drodnction OF a country part is wasted, part
goes for rent and part for interest and insurance, while
Tie goes 70 the remuneration or labor ara Is the
acorease of this fund depends the in which
the distribution Of the capital stock takes place. II too
much is paid for interest for rent the fund will be
diminished and the other hand. it VIII be increased
n lie efficiency OF capital Of labor is increased, ana
Der OF iabOrers become fewer desire to satisfy a
greater number OF wants leads TO increased
efficiency IN the investment aud management OF
rapiial. and IN the performance Of labor
Competition, whether between capitalists or between
wOrkngmen equaZes distribution. between capitalists
reduces interest; between workingnen II reduces
creased exertion and efficiency increases the fund and
competition equaliLes the rate among the different
trades Legislation cannot regulate the rate of wages
but it interfere with IT, and that Is quite different
thing. Improper egsaOns apt TO get us into vicious
circle by requiring other legislation which hampers us
still For instance, protection goes upon the theory
that the labOrer needs TO be protected from
ever II consumed IN a country should be pro.
duccd ia a country To accomplish this laws are passed
goods In this country md at first OF impetus
gwen 10 manufacturers by this means but the capitalists
and wOTEmcu who have been engaged IN these busi-
uesses IN OTe countries have, WILL hnd their
way this country and then will be only fair for the
MOrkmen 10 say, II yOuk keep out the product TO protect
the capitalist you must keep out the foreign mechanic
20 protect the native labOreT." Again, i'm the
eigbt.houF law the workman asks ten hours
wages for eight hours work. but the capt
talist cannot stand this, and will 10 other cOun
tries unless prevented 10y law. which would be grossly
unjust Government may be likencd TO great national
company, ~ which member OF society
stOckhOdei ana lhe prCmiGn Tor Insurance what we
call A government IN which this rate Is very
much raised necessarily takes just much from the
wages fund, and in tins way legislation Interfere
with the rate OF wages. Mr.. Buckle makes "A distinction
between positive legislation. which makes certain re.
0uremenTs aud negative legislation. which repeats those
requirements. Some OF this negative legislation might
have good effect Oh the rate Of wages fOr repeating the
laws that interfere with the free exchange labor would
do away with the disabilities caused Wy those laws and
relieve both capitalists and labOrers from burden the
removal OF witch must increase the efficiency Of both
In tins manner legislation may DC beneficial though
M controlling power, the great laws being the coiupet
titiOn OF capital on the side aud labor on
the other, and the Increase 81 tile wages fand
by increasing the efficiency Of both capital aud labor.
President Moran considered that labor Is brst regulated
Of useful commodities which ID prOAaces
and their CXcbaugcable value. II man can produce
twice as much dd, 10 h impossible 10 keep ms
sage do vi where they we're before. The prevailing
error AZ the present day the abOIiug CLASSES the
dea that the rate Of wages depends upon The VIII OF The
elnnOyer whereas s not 10 the pOwcrOf even Tie most
detDiic Government To alter permanently the 1ust rea
sAG between wages and labor. Competition u the great