National Republican., 1884-05-17
LABOR AND ITs PAY.
Argument OF Gen. ButIer Before tn
Senate Committee on Education an,

Argument OF Gen. ButIe~ Before the
Senate Committee on Education aud
Labor.
Gen. Butler J. NJ. Davis, and Richard
Emmons, the last two representing commit
toes of employees in navy yards, arSenals,
aud upon public works, were before the
senate committee on education and labor
yesterday. advocating the passage of tho bill
now pending In congress which authorizes
the court Of claims to adjudicato claims of
government employees for extra pay for work
performed in excess Of eight hours day.
Con. Butler addressed tho committee at
considerable length, the discussion broaden
ing out to include tho general features of tho
labor problem. Tho contract with the work.
man, he said, had been that eight hours was
days work. and the government should
keep its contracts.
But there was another aspect of tho case
which Gov. Butler urged with some EN- mphasis.
Tho oight-hour law should be strictly en-
forced and accurate accounts kept of
tho results reached under IL as COM
pared with tho system of longer hours
prevailing in the community at large.
1t was important to ascertain tho relativo
effects OF the two systems, not only upon the
health and longevity of the working classes,
but upon their productive power. Persistence
in work beyond whatever was within a wise
limit for health and strength produced physi-
cal and mental degeneration to tho worker.
and did not in tho end benefit the employer.
1t was becoming q necessity of our industrial
development that this limit should bo ascor-
taincd and respected. 1t had been found
in other countries that reduction from
| ten or eleven hours per day to
gross result to tho employer, because of
tho greater attention and concentration
which the worker was able to give to his
work. The introduction of machinery, he
maintained, had made it necessary that the
working hours of tho laborer should be
shortened. Tho man who worked by himself
with tools which he could handle as it suited
him could favor himself. There were
opportunities for rest. He who
was an attendant OF q feeder
to n machine must meet its requirements
moment by moment. The Chinese, ho said
claimed to have solved the labor problem
| long ago. They had destroyed every labor
saving machine but one.
what one is that ?" queried Senator Blair.
"The praying MACHINE" answered the gem
eral. They pin paper to q windmill, and
every time it revolves they count it prayer
said"
Referring to the compensation of govern
ment employees, Gov. Butler said they got
about % per cent, moro than they could get
outside. Everybody in government service,
except congressman, got well paid for the
labor they performed. In reply to question
as to whether he thought government en-.
ployes generally got more pay than they were
worth, he said he did not believe in leveling
down, but in leveling up. The pay given by
the government enabled 1t to command high
skill, and it should have none but the best.
One reason why he favored the passage of
the bill for over time was that heads of de-
partments might see that their little dodges
! to evade the law and secure economy at the
expense of the workingmen would be brought
to naught by congress, and that the law
should be executed in the spirit in which il
was enacted. Referring to political influence in
securing positions in government service :
Gov Butler alluded to what was done when
"our" party was in power. When asked &c
what party he alluded he promptly replied
Both parties" This sally was greeted with
| laughter, in which the governor heartily
joined). Gen. Butler asserted that the
| present difficulties were due to over pro
duction. We had, he said, years crop o.
grain on hand, and were within three month.
ofanotbor crop. Nearly ayears crop of cottor
was now stored in warehouses. After referring
to other commodities which were in stock II
excess of current requirements, he said
"Why, we have twenty years supply o
whisky on hand"
He was facetiously reminded that this wa'
delicate subject, and admitted that for one
who was supposed to be presidential candi
date it was necessary to be cautious.