The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-11-04

,,,ont Grant and the Labor CUES.
PItsI" tIOn,

o..,ilrnt Grant nhu 'he A""V' S"S'
F'e'' tIon'
f ,,,,1I. .Ty Handbook of Politics
~ ,0.s" lives a concise statement OF the
ioI W., congress in respect 10 the Eight
G1loa ~ aud the course pursued by
IlJlf L.1TG Grant IN enforcing It's provi-
rfe,'aegE' Vim was reported IN the House
'irr' ,SasCntstiVcs in March, 1857, Constl.
d ci"bL hours u days work for all
iliIIs ~ smployed by the Government.
81, SisOI6Ii lI, though 1t passed the House,
il -sl C O adoption by tho Senate, AT the
'A'Isa ,O.s;on Of Congress 1t was passed by
1tii i1 sS sgain; and, after some delay in
"a. t. L was approved, and became
NY SS 10 me Presidents signature on the
~" ri r. ,Iupe, 1868. When the subject
w n W discussion in the Senate, the
w. w. D Henry Wilson, now tho candidate
y 1l' ne Republican party for Vice Presi-
Dt ~, FIN I'M matter OF manual labor ! look
10 ihe rights aud interests OF labor.
%2 XIX country and ia this age, as III
W ,,a w." Countries aud ages, capital needs no
Cs. .rr Il will take cure Of Itself, and
Cl aI 'icrre Il not the lions share, at least,
NJ W." Mi share Of profits IN all departments
" " ministry On general principles l am
", Hnxiolls to stimulate labor in this
' y, The departments Of productive
;,Jnstfy are open 10 all and oiler incen-
,;s"S 10 toll. We arc made for some
MIA. higher and better III this country
, han 10 bile up ANNUALLY ono billion dol
NT What we want " grow in this land
4 lneinstitutions Is 4 strong and healthy
~ are ii men and women with cultivated
t'als and hearts and conscienCcs."
The passage Of tue law through the
senate without any reduction OF wages
m proportion to that Of hours, was earn.
%,ty advocated by Senator Wilson. The
AVS itself read thus:
"B il enacted, ETC., That eight hours
hail constitute a days work for all lab.
otrrs workmen and mechanics now en-
nisycl, or Who may be hereafter employ.
j Nv or on behalf Of Tho Government
oi the United States and that all acts
sDl rarts oil acts inconsistent with this
aale aud the same QrG hereby repealed"
lI,rr the passlge of tho law, the ques-
lion was raisGtF%hcthcr, under the act Of
inv 10Th, 1869. the rate OF wages, as
c,mmred with the rate paid in private
Establishments under the ten hour system,
should not be reduced twenty per cent.
SlCl reduction was made Tor 'a7time;
and against 1t tho wurkingmcn protested,
without any relief, until General Grant
c,mc into Office, The point oil law was
submitted to Attorney. General Hoar, who
ave it Ms his opinion that "the provision
mt eight hours shall constitute days
'llor has no tendency whatever to show
whether the days labor thus established
,Aall he paid alta lower or higher rate
than day Of ten hours labor, or at the
sane rate" President Grant settled this
question authoritativcly, by issuing, on
helOth Of May, 1850, the following pro-
l4natiOn:
Whereas the net CT Congress, approx.
eli June 25th, 1868, constituted on and
a,,rT that date eight hours days work
nrall lObOrers, workmcn and mechanics
employed by or on behalf Of the govern.
mcnt Of the United States, and repealed
all acts and parts Of acts inconsistent
Herewith,
Nov, therefore, l, Ulysses S. Grant,
President Of the United States, do hereby
direct that from and after this date no
reduction shall he made in the wages paid
the government by the day 10 such
Aborer, workmen and mechanics, on &C
count Of such reduction of the hours OF
labor.
In testimony whereof I have hereto
Sc, my hand aud caused the seal of tho
United States 10 be Affixed"
In respect to the worlimen employed
by the government whose wages had
been reduced twenty per cent, Congress
At its last session passed the following
law:
"Thst the proper accounting officers
he and hereby are authorized and re.
CURED, in the settlement of all accounts
ior the services of laborers, workmen and
mechanics employed by or on behalf OF
Tie Government of the United States, be.
tween the sjth day Of Juno, 1868, the
'hie Of the act constituting eight hours q
lays work for all such labOrers, work.
men and mechanics, and the 10Th day Of
Way, 1862, the date OF tho proclamation
OF tue President concerning such pay, to
,etIe and pay for the same without re.
!iction on account Of reduction OF hours
u labor by said net, and sufficient sum
ior said purpose is hereby appropriated
Oh! Of any money in tho Treasury not
Otherwise appropriated"
We submit the above statement, as
showing the attitude OF President Grant,
Senator Wilson and tho Republican Con.
MSS Of the United States toward the
working classes in the employment Of
lie Government. The facts speak fol
themselves without any comment. They
certainly Cntitlo Gen. Grant aud Henry
wilson to be regarded rs the working
mans friends. lH
VERY few expressions are so often call