National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-18
The Eight-Hour Law.

Statute-book providing that In the various
places where mechanics and laborers are
employed by the Government eight
hours shall be deemed a days work.
From 1869 to 1877 this law was enforced
by presidential proclamation. The Ex-
ecutive order had its origin in the at
tempt of some Government officials to
nullify the law. General Grant very
properly held that the making of laws
rested with the Congress and that the ex-
ecution of them rested with the Presi-
dent. After his retiracy different views
prevailed, and for four years this law has
been set at naught. The question of the
wisdom of the law cannot properly be
discussed except in advocacy of its re-
peal. While it remains in force the oath
of the President requires that he shall
" see that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted."
The advocates of the eight-hour system
embrace all the mechanics and working
men of the United States. Some of the
employing class deprecate it, and say /:
" We must pay in proportion to the length
of time given in each day" This IS all
right in private employment. But the
employers and employed both appealed
to the peoples representatives, in the
election of whom all had participated,
and the verdict was that, while private
employers could not be controlled by any
law. but must have the right to whatever
number of hours could be agreed on with
the employed, the Government should,
as an employer, pay days wages for
eight hours work. This decision has for
four years been evaded. Vain efforts
have been made to induce the passage of
another law declaring that the first one
shall be obeyed.. We never could see
much utility in this. Those who would
disregard one law could as easily disre
gard two.
A new administration has now been
inaugurated. The Secretary of the Navy
has been waited upon by delegation of
Boston workingmen and their friendsan
urged to enforce the existing law. Judge
Hunt is a lawyer and gentleman. He
is rated as high-minded man, who will
take no refuge in subterfuges or evasions.
If the law of 1868 was improvidently
passed, let it be repealed or modified. 1t
had its origin in desire to appease the
discomfort among American working
men, who deemed their lot hard one,
and who believed that if the Govern
ment would, as an employer, set the ex-
ample, as it had the undoubted right to
do, of limiting a days work of its laborers
to eight hours, private employers would
find it profitable to follow suit. 1t is an
insolent and unbearable piece of arro-
gance for officials to defy this law,
whether they believe it wise or
otherwise. The workingmen of this
country may some day be ap-
pealed to to maintain laws distaste-
full to them. 1t is unstatesmanlike as it
is unsafe for the Government to set the
bad example of multiplying a law
because it is distasteful to private
employers. The Government must
keep as near the people as posi-
ulSs IOuuCCIS ttilu ldDO1-
ers in the cities can at any time shake
the foundations of society and make a
new Constitution, as well as new laws,
whenever they shall be greatly aroused.
1t is midsummer madness to give them
real cause for complaint. Wise rulers in
quire into the causes of discomfort,
and, whether those causes be deemed just
or not, they aim, by all reasonable meth
DDS, to remove the discomfort. The eight
hour law was a concession to the discon-
tented workingmen, and its enforcement
gave them the assurance that the Govern
ment was their friend. The withdrawal
OF this enforcement has been deemed by
them unfriendly. Their strong arms are
necessary to the maintenance of authority.
Let them not be taught that laws may be
set tasidein in obedience to executive caprice
or in difference to private opposition. We
hope and believe the Secretary of the
Navy will do his whole duty in the prem
ises by rigidly enforcing the law.