, 1879-07-20
A Demagogue On the Eight Hour Question
tn the Editor Of The Tribune.


"A Demagogue On the Eght-Hour Question
tn the Editor Of The Tribune.
CHICAGO, July 19-On the 30th of June tn,
Common Council passed the following order:
Resolred. That the Commissioner Of Publ
Works ia hereby directed to comply with resolu
tion passed b. the Common Council OF this cit.
Sept 10. 1866. viii n makes eight hours !cga
cay's work for all the employees OF said Depart
ment.
They also passed an order to pay the men en-
gagged in laying water-mains So per day, both 0
said orders being approved BY his Honor th'
Mayor. The Commissioner OF Public Work
then asks for an opinion from the Corporation
Counsel upon series OF questions entirely for
eign and irrelevant to the order OF the Council
The Corporation Counsel gives an opinion o.
answer to the questions asked. and the Com
missioner concludes that the order Of the Coun-
Gil is Illegal, and cannot be complied With b,
him. The press Join him in saying, ''The eight
hour question is settlcd,' etc.
At the risk of being called a demagogue,
beg leave to take issue with Mr.. Waller, Mr.
oAdams, and the press on TINT matter, as don't
consider the subject has been fairly treated by
either. The questions, if properly presented,
arc:
!. Can the Council provide that in the works
which are under the authority Of the city, eight
hours shall lie the standard OF days worka
2. Can the Council tix the compensation ot
persons in the Gu ploy OF the city at its discre-
tion, or is 1t limited by the market rates ot Ia
bor!
3. in case Of continuing contract, not yet
expired, between the cily and all emDioye not
ho!df1E saaried office, can the city voluntarily
modify the contract so that the hours Of labor
shall be reduced aud the rate OF compensation
increased?
In answer to the first inquiry, 1t is enough to
say that the law nowhere prescr'bes tile dura-
tion OF days labor, except the lazy passed III
1853, which says, " Eight hours sha!! constitute
legal days work. nor is there an invaflahIc
custom fixing such duration which has tile elect
OF Law.
The time which a person shall work each day
Is fixed by agreement. either expressed or 1ln-
piled, between the empo'er and employe:
l KNOW OF no limitation on nc power u the
City Council to f1 any period it may prefer as
the standard Of a days work for its own en-
ploycs; in this matter tits as Tree as private
person or corporation.
In answer to the SECOND inquiry, will simply
say that know OF no law tliat comoels the CITY
to follow the market price IN compromising Its
employees. or that places any restrictions upon
tile amount which shall be PAID, except IN tue
case OF Aldermen. Il there is such q IL" we
WILL be happy to have it shown u.s.
Fl'e City Council have the power to NJ the
salary o. the Mayor Q. any otlef .5 emptGE pro a.
sponsibls simply to public opinion in the e1er-
else OF that discretion.
In regard TO that class OF persons who are not
strictly apDointees under the City Government,
and whose salary is not fixed in the ordinances
which le7ics tie approoriaiion @ on the taxable
property OF the city, different rule exists, for
their compensation may be increased or oun'n-
ished Without violating the law. It is matter
OF agreement that may be CHANGED at ans a1 t.ne,
below the market rates; aud it equally has the