The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-01-16
HOURS OF LABOR.

Mechanics and laOOr1ng men Af0 s~sA,o
and unremitting in their Efforts IN tnis
country to bring about a reduction OF tne
number of hours Of labor. Everywhere
this question is discussed among the pro-
ducine classes, and in many places organi-
cations have been formed TO advocate a re-
cuctiou in the time of labor, and to lniiu-
ence legislatures to enact laws Iegaiizlns
eight hours for q days work. Twenty
vears ago there war no custom regulating
the hours of labor, and the time usually
devoted to it was twelve hours in
manufactures, and from sunrise 10
the going down thereof in various mechanl-
cal occupations and in all other depart
ments OF labor. Laboring men finally pro-
tested against such long hours, n they
enlisted the sympathies and support OF
MANY other classes in their Efforts TO
have the hours of labor lessened in order
that they could spend more time with tne'r
families and engage in studies TO improve
their intellects. These efforts were crowneo
with success, for a few years afterward Ten
hours became the standard time CONSTITUTE
ing a days work, except in agricultural
nnrsuits. and in some others where special
agreements were made Tor greater Oh 'eSe
time.
workinpmen in some departments OF
labor. since they came out victors in the
former struggle, have been c~ontendlng ior
q. further reduction, so as to reduce the
time to eight hours for a days work. AS
this demand has not met with the SANE
hearty encouragement from other classes,
and is not generally approved Of by all
w~orkingmen, notwithstanding it is strenu-
ously advocated by a powerful nnu
ential organization, knbwn as the knights
of Labor, it has not up to this time met
with the success it's friends so sincerely
hoped. and for which they have
a~ssiduously worked. Congress, some
seven or eight years ago, resolved
that eight hours should constitute
a. davis work in Governmental shops and
navy yards, but Republican secretaries 81
the navy, for some years, rendered this act
n~ugatory, by deciding that while workmen
were privileged to work eight hours they
would only be paid proportionately' but
that they could put in ten hours il they de
sired to do 80. In other words he gave
them to understand they were o tentltled'
nor would they receive ten hours wages for
eight hours work. The workmen had no
other alternative but to continue under
the old system. Congress, however, has
made the act more definite and now
- IL. Do.ooroks, administration.
workingmen in the Government employ re-
ceive ten hours pay for eight hours work.
That ia, their wages are the same under the
new as they were under the old system.
Mechanics and others doing days work
in Europe. taking their cue from the sue
cess which their American brothers met
with, are moving forward in the matter OF
securing some concessions ron their en-
ployers in regard to the hours OF labor.
In many parts of Europe the hours Of
labor are not less than twelve, and in
many instances, as high as sixteen hours
per day. A working man who is COM
PEELED tc devote sixteen hours out OF every
t~wenty-four to labor cannot possibly have
any time for recreation or enjoyment,
nor for intellectual improvement. With
out the latter labor cannot be ele-
waited to a higher plane than that which
it occupied during the feudal system,
when the condition of the producing
classes was on a par with serfdoh Or slav-
cry. A poor man, under such circumstan-
ces, cannot reap any enjoyment in this lie.
Even his family, those whom God has
committed to his care and protection, are
deprived of his company and counsel,
for as soon as he leaves his forge,
hammer or workbench he must hurry
home, eat a hasty, scanty meal, and then
seek repose in sleep to refresh exhausted
nature. In their struggle, for it will be a
r~esolute one, they have the s~ympathies of
the entire American people.
In Germany workingmen have taken a
determined stand for their rights. Organi-
cations of mechanics, artisans, operatives
and laborers nave been formed in various
parts OF the Empire to promote their OWL as
well as their children's happiness andwelfare.
These societies, through their committees
are petitioning the German Reichstag to
limit to ten the present hours, which are
usually twelve and frequently sixteen.
Their petitions take the form of support OF
the bill for the protection of the working
people first introduced last year. This bill
has been reintroduced and, with certain
notifications, agreed upon by its o%rigina-
tors (the twenty-five representatives OF
the Workingmen's party. It forms the
point OF a flood OF bills presented. !
are bills forbidding work on Sun
day; bills f%orbidding the employment OF
children under fourteen years Of age in fac
tories; bills limiting the employment of !
women in mines and factories, and bills pro-
instituting investigation into any |
Or all of the evil conditions brought about
these various sorts of employment.
Workingmen in the whole empire are
aroused, and are diligently striving to Sc
cure the legislative relief asked for. In
Berlin one petition has over eight thou
sand signatures in a single ward. If the
'ame sentiment spreads throughout other
European empires, kingdoms and princi-
which throbs in the hearts of Ger
a workingmen, the time will soon ar
i've when the condition of the producing
lasses will compare favorably with that
II American workingmen.