New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-31
LABOR ON STREET CARS.
AN EFFORT TO REGULATE A DAYS WORK.

BILL IN BEHALF OF CONDUCTORS AND DRIVERS
DISCUSSED.
lFRox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRrBUEEI
ALBANY, Jan. 3O.--The Assembly to-day debated
hoty for two hours the hours Of labor OF the con-
ductors and drivers of street cars In cities; hr'
Earl, Of Brooklyn, having introduced bill making
1t unlawful for the street railway companies 10
exact more than twelve hours labor daily. At
present, it was alleged, the conductors work
seventeen hours day. The bill drew oue
comment from the leading as well as the
minor members of the Assembly, even inducing
Speaker Sheard to enter into the debate before IL
closed. The Speaker, who is a woolen msnufac-
turer at Little Falls, on Monday night introduced
bill making ten hours of labor legal days work IN
the manufactures of the State, although with o
proviso that this provision shalt preclude manu-
facturers from making bargains with their em-
ployes for extra compensation for extra hours OK
work. The Speaker was thus led to support
Mr. Earls bill as q sort of ally to his own.
Members from the cities. like Brogan. Taylor ana
Earl, described the hard labor done by the con-
ductors. Mr.. Roosevelt thought that the Dill was
actually against the interests of the wOrkingman.
II taught him to lean upon the State for protection
against the cap aist when he should trust to his
own efforts. Moreover the laws OF supply
and demand regulated the payment OF labor
and its hours. The only effect OF
the bill in his opinion would be to lessen the wages
of the conductors If the companies complied with
such law they would merely employ larger num-
Der of conductors and pay them all less Mr. Little
John argued that the State ought not To interfere
between aborers and their employers In closing be
said that if workingman did not like his pay or
his hours of labor there the boundless West"
to which he could go and seek more pleasant en-
ployment. Speaker Sheard thereupon entered the
lam in favor Of the bill Had drawn il would have
mad he h0ur q instead
agree with my friend Mr. LtteohD, even II nc does wns
per per b nere IN ~ my y emnove % @ down 70 sS Will say al
right, If that is equally applicable and my eonps,o,'
have no advantage over me Ia tnat respect avn coen
Mr.. Litteiohn ntcrrupting said: " My friend
has referred to jest in private conversation. 1
think his own sense of propriety will tell him 1t was
improperly DONE" Speaker Shcard repiied
man 'iiRS' has stated 1 have therefore NO Win.
% Hydr TO Of Tase s b aRa no is perfect
thero worlnsmen in this country who are 1Sngea
hours a day maintain their families i have talKed
with drivers and conductors Upon Iaes ~
teen hours q day think from our knowldge OF ihese
they do not live sumptuousy, and say If there is any
corporation, railroad company that cannot aord 70
pay their help sufficient amount TO be obtained through
twelve hours OF labor, to earn competence for their
family that the Legislature ought to egsate such cor
pOraons existence. am in favor OF protection 10
the workngmen not only from the demoraizng effect
and influence OF the panper labor OF Europe Out tue az
grandizing power and efect OF cofporauohs'
Mr. O'Neil said
Stripped of a mass OF irrelevant discussion this is
simple, plain proposition 1t simply this;
Should state by law interfere In the conduct OF prva
afairsl That is the question TO decide to-day. ~
you answer in the Affirmative by passing this Dill
departments. You can 90 ouS tho farms ana
say that the farm aborer shall only labor speclned
number OF hours YOu a. all brakemen aud con-
dctors on the railroads and all the factories and 10 all
the sawms and say that they shall work only certain
number of hours You can go O step further and say
they shall receive therefor only certain compensated
You may 90 even step further stl and say that every
product factory and the farm shall be sold Tor
given sum- III fact you may praceed IN that direction
| without Limit
Speaker Sheard then presented an amenduent,
which was accepted providing that the street rail-
way companies may give extra compensation for
province of the State to interfere with the hours OF
labor of those employed by corporations chartered
by the State.
The bill was ordered to third reading by
vote of SO to %. All tho negative votes were
given by Republicans.