The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-04-28
THE EIGHT-H0UR LAW.
Boston Builders Opposed to the Reduction Of
Days Working Hours.
Speculation About the Settlement of the
Lake shore Strike-DepressiOn IN the
Kanawha Valley Coal Trade
Strikers Prepared for a
Fight-NOtes.


serious portent is about to begin in this
vicinity over the eight hour movement. The
hope of the Central Trades and Labor Union
of speedy acquiescence by large proper
ton OF employers in the experiment proves
groundless. In accordance with plans made
a year ago, the demand for eight hours was
to be enforced on May L. In view of the dis
turbed condition of labor throughout the
country, it was recently determined to limit
the demand to building trades, including
carpenters, masons, painters, decorators, etc.
The Central Trades aud Labor Union recently
made public many favorable replies which
were received from employers in answer to
questions sent out. This has resulted in an
address published to-day, signed by 125 en-
ployers in building trades. The address
states:
Employers of labor, having read in the public
press that the sentiment OF the builders favored
the eight hour movement. and mindful of the IN
teress of the public as well as the needs and we'll
being OF their employees, desire to say that they
are not prepared to indOrse the question OF eight
hours a. the measure OF days work. Its results
are too far reaching to permit a hasty judgment
and the advance OF p per cent in cost of labor in
The several occupations represented by us is too
sweeping in its consequences to be adopted by
any community without delibeTation on the part
question of q reduction OF the number OF hours
which constitute a day from the present standard
of ten hons To standard of either nine or eigAt
ion The principal argument in favor OF such
a change, as far as we can learn, appears TO
be rased upon the general ground of over pro-
duction ms argument IN our mind, has no
application TO our branches OF labor and can not
fairly be distorted to meet them. There is no
over-stock. and can be no over-stOck OF .he goods
produce. We simply work up To the demand
and never beyond it. The supply is not, and can
not be, beyond the demand as far we are con-
cerned. The argument that there is an over sup
ply OF men does not obtain and has, in our mind,
no weight for the reason that reduction in the
hours of labor would in no way put into employ
menta larger number OF men it would simply
keep the same number of men that it is now pos
sible to employ al work greater number OF days.
and so that argument falls to the ground. The
great and supreme objection to the reduction OF
the hours of labor as far as it shall affect
the well-being and good OF all wOrkmen in
our lines of employment is, in our opinion, that
the prosperity of the country is not great enough
at the present time to grant such change. For
quite number OF years the margin OF profits in
the general business of the country has been
small, and upon these profits we, builders. de-
pend for the opportunity TO use our skill and Ia
Dor. If, by taking off one or two hours per day
from the present accepted standard, we increase
the cost of building 10 to 20 per cent i'm the item
OF labor. then we work against our own interests
as laborers, for we drive out Of the market work
that would be done but for this increased cost.
In this wear, in our own city, already under the
agitation of tho question, enterprises which
would involve the expenditures OF hundreds of
thousands OF dollars, employing the very labor
we have to offer, have been abandoned because
under cOndl-
| tiOns referred to would make returns unproit-
able. The interests OF the class mu-
tuslly represent have then been injured
beyond computation. Capital has been with
drawn from the undertakings. and that means "A
loss for the lab0reT every time II is painfully
evident that we will be Short OF work before the
year is two-thirds over, and no one is to blame
for this condition but those who are to suffer
most, and yet have been the very ones to urge on
this crisis. We believe that Jim all the pushing.
wherever it has taken place, for n reduction of
hours OF labor and increase of wages beyond the
nf Nhaf lnofr
that the increased cost of every purchasable item
Will pull from the pockets of all grades OF work
men a pIoportionately larger amount, which VIII
affect the increase OF pay received, while the lie
preston OF business will create great want and
distress among the very classes who hope to be
The first formal demand was made by tbs
Bricklayers' Assembly Knights of Labor TO
the master masons. The Master Builders
Association sent long reply yesterday, of
which the following is the substance:
We believe that the attempt to set limit to the
minimum hours would be as abOrtive a set a
limit TO the maximum wages particularly in
calling, where so much depends upon skill and
ability Yet, if one limit is fixed, the other
should be fixed also. Labor is the most import
ant item in estimating the cost of buildings The
stock is comparatively easy to figure but in the
estimate for labor the Judgment which has been
gained 10y experience is the only guide. In what
position, then, is the contractor placed when
ne is told TO throw aside his experience
and judgment and figure his labor in a basis
OF a level price right through for every man
plOyeu. be ne good. Dad Indifferent? The
tempt TO set fixed price in advance for an article
the value OF which can lie known by testing it,
puts at defiance the first law which governs the
estimation of work, well as the first law of cx-
cellence in Workmanship, and would at one blow
dfSintegrate the whole structure of comparative
worth among wOrkmen, discouraging any attempt
to excel We believe then, that the attemDt TO
shorten the hours OF labor in line of business
is entirely uncaled for and unwarranted at the
present time; that the prosperity of the country
is not great enough to permit it, that the agitation
OF the question has already shown its baneful
effects in the withdrawal of an immense amount
OF work from the market transforming what was
a time OF depression, great scarcity of
work, and. we fear, period OF
much distress for the very classes
who have been the most active in the agitation.
We therefore suggest that the whole question of
the hours Of labor be abandoned until more
prOpitiOuS time for the good of all concerned and
more especially for the good of the lsboring ass
OF which we claim to be part. Our conclusions
then are summed up in the following recommen-
datons: The hours OF labor the rate OF wages
and the time of weekly payment to remain at
present, but that OH Saturday eight hours shall
be accepted as days labor"
There is good reason for believing that the
other building trades will take similar ac-
tion. 1t is equally probable that the en-
ployes will decline TO yield any point in
their demands, and that they will resort to
strike. The painters and decorators voted
so yesterday.