The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-05-21
THE EIGHT HOUR LAW,

On Wednesday the 18th inst, on the
question of the passage of the Eight Hour
Bill, on second reading, Hon. NJ. Cassidy OBJ
tanned the floor and said:
"MR. SPEAKER From the manner in
which this bill was treated when it was last
under consideration in this House, feel it
incumbent on me, representing in part, as |
do, laborng constituency among whom
there is very little division of sentiment in
regard to the provisions Of this bill, that |
will endeavor, in few words TO voice their
sen timents. | have taken but little of the
time OF the House this session, but when a
matter of SO much importance TO my con-
sttuents as this, is under consideration,
believe | should say something. know that
the laborng people ofCarbon County are in
favor of its enactment, and | believe that a
vast majority of the people of this Common
wealth are desrous of its passage. Mr..
Speaker, what are the provisions ofthis bill ?
The first section says: "That eight hours
manuel labor shall constitute q legal days
work throughout the State of Pennsylvania"
Eight hours faithful work by the toiling
thousands in our Commonwealth is more
than ample recompense for the paltry re-
muneration they receive, and besides this
law of this kind will be positive benefit to
the whole people of the State. Were the
times any better, or were men in better
condition few years ago when they work.
ed eleven hours for one days pay? | say
most emphatically they were not. Were
times better, or was the country more pros
porous IN the years gone by when they
went to and from work by starlight en- a
day of over fifteen hours sun? say no, and
every fair minded man will cancede that as
the hours of labor have been shortened the
country has grown in wealth, prosperity and
happiness. Let me illustrate some of the
advantages to be derived from the enact
ment of this law. 1t would give employ
ment TO five men instead of four, or in place
of eight months work, land sometimes less)
in the mining regions of this State, we
would have work at least ten months and
perhaps the whole year. Corporations drive
men into enforced idleness TO regulate de
mard for products and to increase the value
of the same. Why not regulate it in this
way which would be just and fair 10 all
concerned. l would not think it wise to
make eight hours work the maximum in all
cases without exception. There are times
when it is absolutely necessary to work
more than eight hours, as for instance, to
repair machinery or gather the harvest.
|
for all this in the second and third sections.
The second section says, "Any corporation
contractor, lessee or employer who shall
compel the employed to labor more than
eight hours for days work shall for the
first ofiense be fined not less than one hun
dred dollars and for the second offense the
fine shall not 10 less than two hundred
dollars" Now the third section is very iail
and qualities the whole act as follows
"This act shall not apply tonor in any way
effect farm or agricultural labor or service
by the year, month or week, nor shall any
person be prevented by anything hereir
contained from working as many hour
overtime or extra work as he or she may
see Gt, the compensation to be agreed upor
between the employer and the employed
provided, however, that in computing tim,
for hours Of labor that no employer shal
have a right to compute more than eigh
hours as days work."
, Now, Mr.. Speaker, what could be NOR
fair than this. 1t does not impair the righ
of contract nor interfere with the gathering
of crops, nor does it prohibit any man from
working as many hours as he may agree +
by special contract or otherwise. 1t simpl,
: legalizes eight hours as days work an,
fixes it as the unit of measure in the com
|
f very distinct recollection of seeing over
thousand men from Summit Hill, Lsnsfor,
and Nesquehoning, twelve years ago, in ou
county parading for the purpose of agtat
5 ing this question of eight hours labor, an,
during that time they had the hours de
creased from eleven to ten hours. / know
Mr.. Speaker, they are just as unanimous il
favor of the passage Of law of this kim
now as they were then. Mr.. Speaker W
are here to legislate for the many and nc
, for the few, and there are no better Judge
of the wants of the people than the peopl
= themselves. We have no right to oppos
D their will, and no man can say land spea
, truthlully) that vast majority of the pee
pie Of this Commonwealth are not in favo
$ Of this measure. There is no denying th
z fact that labor saving machinery (whic
should be blessiug), combined with lon
hours and vast number Of unemploye
laborers, has been one.of the great causes {
/ suffering and disturbances among the pee
: Pile. There is no denying the fact, eithe
n 1 that laborers do not receive what they al
u entitled 70 for their work. If they di,
+ corporations could. not fill up their million
G while the people are living in poverty an
v wretchedness. phese are some ofthe cause
= Of strikes, communism and socialism. W
should do something TO remove these cause
IS and think this is a step in tke right d
II rection. We know, Mr.. Speaker, that me
who amassed colossal fortunes at the e,
pense Of the bone and sinew and brain an
'r blood of the toiling laborers, disdain to ass
Of eiate with him or even deign to utter
r. kindly word Of encouragement, and why
Because they say he is ignorant, uncut
J. waited and not refined. If he is it is N
m his fault. He has not the time he ought
Of have to improve his mind or conditio
40 But shorten the laborer's hours and gi'
them fair remuneration and they viii
T. no longer the minions of corporations, b
y. what a great many Of them now are h
of best, most useful and intelligent citizens
the Commonwealth. We here think eig
4' hours enought spend at our work, and
't- is. But what is eight hours here to Gig
b. hours hard work among the noxious ga.
y in coal mine. ] have he'd experience
different kinds Of manual labor, and neN
ng found any of it so light that could J
ii, tire every muscle in eight hours MT. Spea
cir er, hope this bill will pass. Eight hol
IA for work, eight hours for sleep and eil
" hours for recreation and cultivation,
Ire strictly followed would make this coun
the happiest, most enlightened and m
he prcslerJus;natio the world ever saw.