Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-07
HOURS OF LABOR.
An INTERESTING COMPARISON MADE
BY AN ENGLISH PAPER.

the house Of Lords ON the laws affect
ing the hours Of adult labor in vari-
Gus continental anu other countries,
we gather large amount Of infor-
nation on this deeply interesting
question, and we are confirmed
in our opinion that the aver
age British workmen are bet
Ter of all around than those
in any continental country. We
subjoin a few notes dotted down in
the course Of the perusal Of this
paper, thinking they will be read
with interest by all those who, Ike
ourselves, are personally interested
in problems relating 10 the hours
and conditions Of labor. In Austria
Hungary the law limits the dura-
ton Of work in mines to n shift
Of twelve hours, ten only OF
which must be spent in ac-
tual labor. For factory hands
the limit is eleven hours, exclusive
Of hours fol rest and meals. Sunday
rest is 10 be observed. These pro-
visions may he subject 10 mod
ificatiOns in certain specified cases
OF emergency. In Hungary there
is no general law affecting the
hours Of labor, and in some cases
consequently they are excessive. a
days work Of ten to twelve hours Is
the normal, but in some industries
and localities the working day ex-
tends from twelve 10 fifteen and
even eighteen hours Sunday rest
is not prescribed, and the factories
working on Sundays and holidays
are IS per cent Of the whole.
There is no law in Belgium reg
ulating or limiting the hours Of adult
labor, and great variations exists in
consequence. In the mining dis
tricts the average day is twelve
hours, but women are often en-
ployed thirteen or fourteen hours in
loading trucks and similar heavy
work. Cabinet makers at Client
and Brussels often have to work
seventeen hours a day. Railway
guarLs are often on duty for fifteen
or even nineteen and Il half hours at
a stretch. Brussels tramway driv-
ers work frOIh fifteen to seven
teen hours daily, Bremen from
ten to seventeen, and often half day
SUNDAYS. Brickmakers sixteen
hours in summer. In sugar re-
fineries from twelve TO thirteen
hours. Eleven hours is considered
the average days labor in the ma
iority Of trades in Belgium. There
are a number Of labor DEGREES in
France, but as they mostly affect
particular trades, no brief general
statement can be given. But the
report states that, as rule, it may
be said that Frenchmen in factories
are present at least fourteen hours
out Of every twenty-four in the
shops. And il must lie borne
in mind that there is no
compulsory observance OF sun
day, and no day Of habitual rest.
Neither in Germany, Spain, Swe-
den, Turkey, nor in Denmark or
Russia are there any laws limiting
the hours Of labor. In Russia il Is
stated that they vary from six TO
twenty hours, but in the majority Of
cases, estimated at 50 per cent, the
hours Of labor are twelve and under.
Manufactures with twelve hours
daily labor number 3j.S per cent
those with eleven hours 20-S per
cent, those with ten hours ISL per
cent, with eight hours l.6 per cent,
with seven hours GA per cent, and
with six hours % per cent Night
work is pursued in pa establishments,
But the majority open at sam. and
| -. 80 l. Hmm D.
In SaXOny there are no laws af,
fecting adult labor, but the normal
working day consists Of eleven
hours, exclusive Of meals. InSwit
zerland the law limits the normal
working day TO eleven.hOurs, reduced
TO ten on Saturdays and holidays
There are numerous laws in th'
United States affecting the hours o
labor, subject TO various exceptions
We can only summarize n few o
these. In New York mechanic
work eight hour; in most cities o
the State nearly all mechanics an'
all connected with the building
trade work nine hours, eX
cept on Saturday, when eigh
, hours is the rule. On tn
street and elevated railroads and ii
, cities Of over 500, 600 inhabitants tel
hours is the normal day. In New
jersey hours range from fifty-threl
to sixty hours per week, in RhOd
Island ten hours daily, in Marylan'
an average of ten hours, and tn
same in Virginia, North Carolina
Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana an'
Mississippi, where there are, how
ever, no legislative enactments. Ii
California eight hours is the da.
limit by statute, which statute, how
ever, is constantly evaded, so tina
some trades that are unOrganize'
work twelve or fourteen hours daily
These examples are selected from
a large number given In the repor
and they take no account Of eNcsp
tional cases which are recognized b
the statutes. They also apply OnlI
to adult labor, but there are a larg'
number of statutes regulating
women and child labor, which il
some countries is very severe. On
the whole, the organized trades o.
this country may congratulate
themselves on holding the best posi-
ton among the European work
men, and second to none in th'
matter Of hours Of labor, second only
in remuneration 10 that Of the work
ing men in comparatively new
countries like the states and Oul
Australian eOlOnies.-LOndon World