New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-20
HOLIDAY FOR LABORERS.
SUCCESS OF TIE PLAN IN IRON WORKS.
'rlMoNY OF THOMAS +. ROWLAND AFTER AN
EXPERIENCE OF FOUR YEARS.


While the idea of making Saturday afternoon
hafholday throughout the year here as in England.
is oraby received in all circles, there are those who
seriously question the possibility Of putting 1t into sue
cessful, practical operation in this country II tho re-
form, they argue. is to benefit all classes. as
its projectors intend it shall, 1t must become
general, aud this involves not only the closing OF the
stores and other places OF business at Saur
days but the shops and factories well and to do all
this seems 10 many impossible IL was clearly shown
last summer that the be closed the last
afternoon Of the week, without loss to the merchants
Inconvenience TO the public, and tho majority OF people
are satisfied that the weeks business may with compare
lively little exertion, be- transacted In five and ahalf
just well in six days. But is tho true III
gard to manual labor Will mechanic or laborer who
bas half day each week for rest diversion be bene
flied sufficiently by it that he will be able to do as much
work IN the other five and half days as he does
under the present system the most intelligent think
the labor problem maintain that he will and argue
conyincngy in support OF this view, but good exam
pie OF its praccabiiity will be interesting than
these arguments, and perhaps will prove as eicacious
The illustration referred to ia afforded by the Continent
tai Works of Greenpont, where the famous Monitor
built. These works owned principally by Thomas +.
Rowland and at times furnish employment for over
500 Tho Saturday half-hoday practice
has been In vogue for four years
aud has proved complete success For the purpose Of
examining the workings OF the system TRIBUNE re-
porter called the office OF the works yesterday and
found Mr.. Rowland, who in response to inq ry re.
garding the reform said:
"since May. 1881 we have never done n stroke OF
OF work after II o'clock Saturdays. except in cases
of absolute necessity and then the men always paid
extra for It, Just MS though were night rsundywork
was led To adopt this systen from my forty years
perience with w"rkinsmen began my career as nm
cmpoye. Ny first position that ofilreman and later
engineer on "A locomotive. While thus employed ]
never even had sunday TO myself and then resolved
that II ever became an employer would never ask
map to WOTK an hour on sunday except 10 save LIE or
tncwAr we hula great many Government contracts
winch required us TO work every day III the week
but Of course this nstfable under the crcumsan
In visiting the old country had frequently noticed
the excellent workings Of the Saturday halfdoliday
and four years last spring determined To try
IT In my own establishment. Accordingly on May rs,
lsSI the following notice posted up through the
- During the commencing with the third week
I'm May aud ending the second week OF ptembcr the
Continental Works will close It's shops Saturdays AZ
ut which time the men will he paid
instead OF sixty, heretofore. The rate OF per
hour will be increased in such ratio that each cmployc
Will the same compensation for hitysX hours
labor he formerly received for sixty
Well the experiment. proved 80 completely satisfac-
tory all around that In september Informed the hanhs
that nftr--IN hours would constitute weeks work In
further notice has not yet been gwen. nor do
I see any reason at present Tor serving IT,
contemporaries aud others mat II was likely to prove
mrractcabe and mat would certainly prove an ju-
We are not nnd that we get Just rs much work accom-.
pscd aud that Il makes real difference IN the cost
of the work done. All tho employed here paid
by the hour. ono seemingly potent Oblec-
ton 10 the scheme raised about the
foundry hands. They claimed that 1t would
be impossible 10 cast and clean mp their shops In half
day therefore could only cast nVo days In tho
week. butt somehow wo manage 70 cast on Saturdays
when ncccs-ary.
All hands 20 OF and enjoy themselves In the after
noon. meet the men with their families on the eXcur
sion boats and the pleasure rcsOrts during the sum
w.r and Quo cannot but feel that the half
holiday every week f. great bcuent them physical y,
than tho employees of shops they OF all shades
OF religious beliefs and uaonaieA hut tn the -FOUR ana
a half year. since the system introduced | have
never seen one drunken the result OF IT, There
has mover been strike with us since the War. In our
dull ,-ou- compelled to lay of hands ard,
Of course. they seek employment elsewhere, but they
always come back when we start up again.
showing that they fully appreciate the weekly
ha.f.hollday. Yes. ! am heartily in favor
~ making saturday afternoon legal half-hoiday
throughout tie year. Every man, no matter what ma
accurate n needs recreation, and thiuk that every
intelligent person who has given tho subject any careful
Thought will agree with ne IN saying 'hnt NorhlnEm'u
who THIS opportunity 20 rest and enjoy himself
viii do moro better WORK In less time than the one
who never gctH outside the routine OF daily work.
There iuduafrcs. such a. gas works ana some
iron furnaces etc. whore the reform could not De
mt IN puriicc, bat these exceptional. The
movement has met with great success, ENGLAND. aud
can conceive of substantial reason why II should not
prevail IN ih. country. Let every man have AT least
half q day each week for employment or some kui oil
diversity AMI SUNDAY 10 spend In religious exercises or
with his family Capital IL increased by labor; why then
should not the lahOrng share the enjoyment that
comes with THIS prosperity The Inauguration OF The
Saturday hafholilay will In my opinion tend To- solve
the problem ~ opening the museums on sunday II