Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-04-20
4rice J Gents


prime importance, in order that neither
seller nor purchaser should incur loss
We have long been engaged in fshmon-
gcring, and the rules originally formed
having become partially obsolete, we
now remodel them to meet the changes,
hoping that both dealer and purchaser,
being upright, these regulations will
ever after be conformed to-"
The unions Of the mechanics are
usually composed of the masters and
journeymen. Where the journey
men are very numerous they have
their own organization, but such in
stances are exceedingly rare.
CHIN EsE BLACKSMITUS' UNION.
Is composed of masters and work
men, who work harmoniously to-
gether, and very often convene for
the purpose of regulating the prices
Of manufacturing, Very recently
they called a meeting at Pellalum
Temple, and agreed during a theat-
rlcal entertainment, etc. J, on u new
tariff of wages and prices for the
manufactured wares. At all times
such means are readily conformed to
by the manufacturers, very few
cases being on record where the
wage earners have not been triumph
ant. 1t may be supposed that such
dictatorial proceedings on the part
of the union would have Il tendency
to dcspotism, laying the manufact-
urer open to the optional demands
of the union. Such, however, is far
from being the case, as the mer-
chant or manufacturer has the pro-
lection of the magistrate or the en-
peror. They form their own COM
binations to keep up prices and nou
tralI2e the tendency Of unrestrIctiye
competition. They fix Il uniform
value on the products of manual la
Dor, while the combination of the
laborers checks the sordidness of the
manufacturer in regulating mini
mum of wages,
CHINESE MILLERS UNION.
The Chinese MiIlers' Union has,
in preamble, seen fit to regulate
m ore strictly, for the better govern
ing Of the craft, u uniform standard
of combination prices and wages,
thus restricting the ravageB of COM
petition and bettering the condition
of the wage earners. An infraction
of this rule lays the culprit subject
to the cost of a play and feast-the
usual penalty.
GENERAL REMARKS ON CHINESE
TRADE UNIONS.
:HOURS OF LABOR. The union
men have the hours Of labor regu-
lated, and are not allowed to work
beyond the specified time. They
are paid by the amount of labor per-
formed. Weaving is not allowed
after nine o'clock at night. Gus
tom regulates the hours of work Of
those who are working by day. Car
pentcrs work eleven hours in sum-
mer, while but nine hours in win
ter. Masons work half an hour
longer.
The laboring classes of the lowest
order toll necessarily throughout
: the whole year, Sunday being no day
of rest for them. Perhaps at the
end of the year they may get few
days rest, but that is all; never
raising riots or insurrection, strik-
ing, or asking for shorter hours or
more pay.
ApPRENTlCEs.- The majority of
: unions have very imperative and
severe apprentice laws. The gold
beaters at Wenchow prohibit any
, from learning the trade but the sons
and nephews Of the workmen or
masters. The western unions
! strictly debar and prohibit women
of any class to work at occupations
where men are employed. Perhaps
this is to teacu the women to cult
, yate domestic duties, leaving the
, manual labor for the men. Needle,
l workers make an exception in favor
of allowing the daughters and wives
: of members of the craft to acquire
l tie art Of drilling eyes. None
are allowed to marry outside Of the
= union. Apprenticeship varies ac-