New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-04
THE EIGHTHOUP LAW.

When the Eight Hour Law was pdSSeu SOHlc
six years ago, it was constantly urged by its
advocates that, practically, the Government
would lose nothing by the act. The labOrer,
it was said, would devote his two spare hours
to self culture" and would in this way rem
der himself more ready and efficient. And
then none of the WEAKNESS brought on by
one days toll would be projected INTO the
next. Besides this the labOreT would
be stimulated by gratitude and sundry
other beautiful emotions, so that he would
certainly accomplish at least as much work as
his oppressed fellow, who only enjoyed four
teen hours out of twenty-fOur for rest and
culture. OF course, the fact that these neatly
constructed theories broke down under the
weight of actual experiment, Or in other
words, the fact that the favored toiler for the
Government did not achieve % per cent
more in an hour than the man who worked by
his side under the smaller pay OF other
employers, has nothing to do with the true
intent and purpose of the statute. That pur-
pose, according to the opinion OF Attorney
General Devens, telegraphcd TO yesterdays
TRIBUNE. was that the Government should
nav for eight hours of manual labor the high
est price which other employers pay for ten.
Possibly the Attorney General Is right. And
yet, now that the subject has once more been
thrust upon public attention by resolution of
Congress, it cannot be amiss to notice again
some of the pernicious tendencies of this legis-
latiOD.
In the first place the fact that Government
pavs more for manual labor than other en-
ployers, while it steadily refuses to pay its
Judges and others who require special educa-
ton and intellectual aptitude as much as the
same grade of service commands elsewhere,
is direct concession to the notion that there
is some occult and mysterious virtue in labor
of the hands which ought to compel special
recognition and privileges. This notion is one
of the seminal principles of Communism
Brains have been quite as important a
factor in human progress as hands, and it
looks like step toward barbarism to make a
discrimination in favor of irresponsible mus
Gle and against accountable mind. Certainly
no one but a demagogue who is bidding for
votes can see any justifying excuse for paying
| laborers, who have no care, higher wages than
their foremen or superintendent receive,
when the latter are burdened with the heaviest
responsibilities. Again, when Government
DAYS for its labor according to some arbitrary
or fanciful standard which is much higher
than ruling market rates. it must aggra-
vate the discomfort and restlessness of
other labOrers, especially in large cities
and manufacturing centres, where busy
and berry agitatOTs are constantly playing
upon their prejudices and passions. making
hot appeals to them to " stand up for their
| rights
But not only do these things suggest to the
laborer that he is deprived of his rights by
capital or monopoly or some other tyranny /;
| worse than all, he is instructed to look di-
rectly to the Government for a redress of
these grievances, and for aid in his struggle
for Elevation and equality" In the eight
hour law, and in appropriations for public works
which are voted for the avOwed purpose of
! furnishing large wages for little work, Gov
| eminent appears as a charitable "home
or shelter" or snug harbor," or "refuge"
of some sort, for ali who think they
need more leisure than they have here
tOfore been able to earn. To the Gov
eminent, therefore, they look for aid. In
| other words, if they cannot or will not secure
for themselves such a competence and
social position as they think they deserve
they will call upon their more thrifty or
more fortunate Deighbors, the Taxpayers, TO
divide up among all hands the savings Of
their industry and prudence. This surely is
Communism in an advanced stage, but it is
the legitimate growth of the seed which has
been sown by this genuine class legislation,
and fortified abundantly by party platforms
and speeches in Congress and out Of it. There
is no need of looking very far beyond these
influences for the efficient causes of the labor