The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-07-02
SAN FRANcIsco, Jnne IL, 10


To the Editor OF tAs woaErsszAss ADvocArs.
MECHANICS STATE CoUNCn OF CALIFORNIA.
The labor cause in this State like
every other has its many difficulties to
contend with. At the last session of
the Legislature we secured the passage
of a law requiring all public work to be
done by the day, SO as to prevent con-
tractors from evading the Eight Hour
Law, by hiring their men at any number
Of hours their necessities may compel
them to make. There is a constant
effort being made by Regents, Com
missioners &C., Of public buildings to
get out of the poor man all that he will
bear by taking advantage of the hard
times that forces him to accept any
terms. The Regents of the University
insisted that the building was not
public one in the meaning of the law,
but the Council kept up the fight until
al last they saw we would enjoin them
if they went on with the work by con-
tract, and asked the Acknowledgement
for his opinion, who answered in our
favor now the work is being carried
on by J. w. Duncan, President of the
House Carpenters Eight Hour League,
as the superintendent, all the men are
working by the day, and Duncan is
giving satisfaction.
The Board had advertised for bids
to have the work done by CONTRACT,
this gives them data as to what the
building could have been done for by
contract. The grading is the first; the
work so far, shows that it will be done
for less than half of the lowest bid,
which is the result of Duncan's in
genuity, by useing labor saving APP
pliances in removing the earth; ALI are
working in harmony.
The Deaf and Dumb Asylum is a
public building coming under the law !;
but unfortunately we have a snperin-
tendent that plays into the hands of
our opponents, and is working his men
more than eight hours day in viola
ton of the law. The Council now have
committee attending to his case.
We have a number of Just such cases
in this State; all will be attended to
as soon as the Council can have it
DONE.
There are great many persons
making preparations in the East for
moving to California, many are me-
chanics, those that come to cultivate
the soil, can do as well here as in any
other country, but as to mechanics,
there are more than half, Of many
trades, idle all ship and house building
trades are over run with hands, men are
offering to work at any price, and
could not get employment. Some OF
the trades have suspended their rules
as to wages and hours, and are doing
the best they can.
The House Carpenters, Plasterers,
Bricklayers, Stone Cutters, and Ship
Joiners are still working at eight hours
a day, though many of them have no
work to do.
I We have too many mechanics for
the work to be done, and that is the
case all over the civilized world. Ma
chinery does so much Of the work that
but comparatively few men are re-
CURED. The men that 90 back to ten
hours day, do not seem to understand
that the more hours they work, the less
men can be employed. Until they have
tried it short time, when they find to
4 UtIrfr S0rr0w Tess men employed than
there were at eight hours a day.
The Chinese are still pouring IN
upon US, in numbers that even over
whelm the indignation Of the working
people, So much that they can see no
hope for redress of their wrongs. The
Chinese have no one but their in
dividual selves TO provide for, no family,
no children, they can live on compare
lively nothing. Our people cannot
live that way.
What is to become of us is hard to
tell. can see no hope short of abolish
ing the treaty with the fiowery king
dom, and say to them, "you cannot
come among us; we don't want you
here" Our people are very patient,
but there is a point beyond which for
bearance ceases to be virtue. Times
are very hard upon the poor, while the
rich increase their riches more than
ever. Yours truly,
A. NJ. VIM,