The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-30

- - - N''s'N' - wi NHl'phNhto thot
"a reduction Of the hours Of labor would
have a tendency to reduce the laborer to
the condition Of paupers by correspond
my reduction IN wages That il would
render profits impossible, and drive capital
out Of the State; that all the profits is in
the last hours work
II We entertained the remotest idea that
the reduction Of the hours of labor would
have a tendency to Pauperise the working
classes, We would he among its most
strenuous opponents. Having, however,
a firm faith IN the opposite opinion, we
Will still continue To- advocate less hours Of
labor, not As a measure q policy only, but
On the broad universal principle of right,
justice and humanity. In our previous
article We proved how the aggregate
wealth Of the country had increased, IN
proportion {" the population IF the coun-
try, since the adoption If the ten hour
system under the Van Buren, administra-
tiuu
For the benefit az our opponents We
make few extracts from the fourth an
uual report nt the Bureau Of Statistics of
Labor fur the State of Massachusetts,, 1873,
under the heading Of Hours Of Labor,
Returns 10 Blank g." II says, last
year the single return of this blank proved
Ahat 4 reduction al per cent III work
my time resulted ia an increased quantity
and value Of goods produced an increase
ga wages paid, together with decreased
waste. cnst ri lighting, and amount paid
IA salaries The cost Of production being
ont t~u per cent greater, winch would
seem IA w. more than compensated in the
better quality, increased quantity and
value Of the goods
There were two returns this year: The
drst from MiddlcseN Co., Lowell and
The second from Warren. The return
rom Lowell shows reduction IN time Of
about rs, lG per cent, gain in speed of
- per cent or in other words, that as
many revolutions are made IN 10 hours
and = minutes as were made IN Is hours.
About the same number " persons are en-
ploycd. The cost for repairs is probably
..Iveu tpr the total number Of years under
zach system. Showing an annual saving
u heating uf ~. uSl 81. ana Of lighting
rl = 80 - and an increased cost produc-
non 1T 20 per year.
THE second return shows redu,tiou of
one hour pyr day, or 90 per cent The
speed Is mot given. Two and one third
times as many persons are employed under
the present y stem the ratio # men to
women under the - hour system being as
y w q, and under the I hour system as Il
ro III the per ceutage az young persons
ami children remaining the same an in
crease IN the value of the products Of
80 80, and IF total wages 81, 80.
Tie wages per day Of men we're increased
- per cent. women - per cent, young
j.yrspus lur per cent. and children ~ per
rrut.
The only deductions to bc made are as
tn value Of product aud wages Of an in
crease ot ? times, pr 233 per cent. of
the number # persons employed, gives an
increased value IF " ur $50 per cent, and
tins with a reduction of . per cent work
my time, an increased total payment III
wages Of IA or 5-24 per cent.
''On our visit To- the Pacific, Atlantic,
Washington, and Pemberton Mills, Law
renee, Ne found all parties agreeing that
they ana got want t. return Ia the ola sys-
TEN. While in the spinning room Of the
latterwe observed armed man walking
through the room, apparently taking down
upon slate some statistics. Upon asking
the uverseer, he Informed us that they took
the amount Of every half hours work,
ana upon inquiry Ia the relative pro-
duct uf the different hours work, he assu-
red as that the last hour was the least pro-
ductive. ''Since
our last report, the factories Of Lowell
Lawrence aud Fall River have adopted the
saturday half holiday, running the mill 90 }
hours per week, ana the universal testi-
mnny OF agents overscers. and operators
Is that it is beneficial We could multi
ply these facts al u,Gait,fm did We deem it
necessary, but sufficient is gwen to meet
all the objections Of our opponents 1t is
"A well known fact that the reduction IF
the hours from 1 to 10 IN manufacturing
textile fabrics was not injurious either to
the employer or employee 1t is am
equally we'll established fact that the re-
duction from to 10 hours in the mechan-
zeal branches has been no drawback 90 the
enterprise Of the manufacturer, nor has
Il Increased the pauperism of the laborer.
The reduction Of the hours Of labor in
Australia has not III any way impaired the
social relations Of the working masses of
Australia, nor has the reduction from Ii
to hours demoralzed the workmen, OF
rendered our government less secure
Our opponents, one and all, oppose our
doctrines purely from DOLLAR AND CENT
standpoint. The duty Of the State is to
her citizens, not to money to the health,
body, brain, and mind Of men, not alone
to securing Of dividends aud interests on
bonds and stocks. The State has too long
pandered to the interests Of money
changers, to the detriment Of the working
toilers Of the Republic took more active
part IN the legislation Of the country.
PiTTS2URGH LABOR ITEMS.