Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-12
CITY AND DISTRICT
TEN HOURS PAY FOR EIGHT
HOURS WORK.
Is the Demand Reasonable
WHO BEARS THE LOSS?

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
VIII you allow me to make to the working
men who are striking for eight hours few sug-
gestions which think worthy of their careful
consideration. l am not a "buider'' or a
master mechanic" and am no party to the
dispute which separates the workman from
his employer. But it happens that was about
to begin the erection Of a residence in the
northwestern part OF the city; had purchased
lot, and in part prepared my plans for the
structure, when the strike arrested my project
desire, therefore, to address the workingman
fro1! the standpoint of the employer of both
"builder" and ''journeyman," that is, Of the
man on whom the cost of the change
that am not capitalist of the class usually
denounced by the iaborsng mans oratorical
loaned money on usurous interest. But it
happens that have some money tor which it
Is my duty to seek n safe investment. Accord
lngly, had decided to erect a house-perhapS
two houses, here-as such investment 1 had
already observed that the cost of building DE
cause of high wages, was greater in Washing
ton than in any other cities but thought there
were some other advantages to set Off against
that fact, notably that as yet Wash
fore, fair, though not extravaganza, rents
could be obtained. was willing to build my
house on the basis OF existing wages for ten
hours work and to pay these higher prices.
Now comes the strike, and my plans are
rested Of course, l do not question the work
lngman's right to say that he will only work
eight hours. He can Justly fix his own hours of
labor. But the point OF inquiry is: Should he,
III case he determines to work only eight hours
hours work? AS Il matter of right and justice
1t cannot be said that he earns as much wages
by working eight hours as he would earn by
working ten hours, for he cannot possibly rem
der the same return of value by one-tifth, since
he works one-fiftn less OF time If his claim
that he should get the same wages for eight
~ 1,ar x-.,I 10
and right, 1T can only be on the ground that he
was entitled to more than he actually got for
the ten hours. In other words, that he was not
PAID FAR wages for the longer period. This
must besO II the same wages are fair pay for
eight hours. And if those wages were fair pay
for ten hours it cannot be that in eight hours Il
man, without special advantages. can earn the
same. The demand on which this strike is
based, Is, therefore, simply u demand for one
nth more wages for the same amount OF work.
This implies that workingmen up this time
have not been receiving fair pay for their
work.
Now know of only one law by which this
can be tested-and that is the old law of supply
and demand. Ii workmen are abundant and
work scarce, wages will he low; if work be
abundant and workmen few, wages must rise.
This law controls the world, and no devices OF
trades unions other combinations can
special conditions be defied for /, time but the
self Interest of men and the struggle for exist
ence at last compels obedience to It,
Have WOrkingEien, then, in this market been
receiving less than fair wages for ten hours
work: Special causes, am told, have made
the wages OF skilled labor higher here than in
most other cities. know that the cost Oh liv
ing here Is not greater; in fact, counting all
things 1t is rather less than in most OTHER
cities. Think, then, it may be fairly said that
by the best American standard Uhc highest in
the world, the wages paid here for ten hours
work have been, and are now, Il reasonable
compensation Tor the work done. Let us look
at them in some detail. III the estimates made
Tor my projected house l am furnished with
these hsures as the wages TO be paid TOR work
at ten hours.