The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-01-15
woRKINo-MEN ABROAD.


80
i Europe Consists OF.
| A return just issued in pursuance Of
an address from the House Of Commons
throws considerable light on the cues
tion Of working hours In Europe, sayt
the st. James Gazette. M v A B'
In France the hours Of adult labor are
regulated by o series Of decrees, Of
which the earliest, promulgated Sep
tember, 1s4s, enacts that the working,
mans day in manufactures and mills
shall not exceed twelve hours Of .sef.
fective' or actual labor. A decree Is.
sued In May, 1851, made exceptions, 50
that more hours might be worked in GER
tain trades. Practically, the legal time
is made to exclude rest. This makes the
working day 80 much the longer. Thus,
one OF the French inspectors states that
the hours Of attendance in factories
under the act of 1s4s are from FIVE In
the morning until seven in the evening,
or total Of fourteen hours, out Of
which there are twelve hours of "etfect-
i've labor" But the same authority also
states that effective" time often ex-
tends to thirteen and fourteen hours in
many weaving establishments. Finally,
we are told that, cas- rule,p It NAV
be taken that Frenohmen employed in
factories are present in the shops at
least fourteen hours out Of every twenty
four. ' ~"
Among the countries having no laws
affecting the hours OF adult labor Ger
many is conspicuous. Employers, how
ever, can not force their servants to
work on Sundays and feast days, EN-.
ployment of youthful or female labor in
certain kinds OF factories, which is at.
tended with special danger to health OF
morals, Is forbidden or made condi-
tional on certain regulations, by which
night labor for female workpeople Is
especially forbidden. In Germany, as
in other countries also, women may not
be employed in factories for certain
time after childbirth. In Hesse- Darn
stadt the medium duration of labor Is
from ten 10 twelve hours; the cases In
which the latter time Is exceeded be-
ing, however, more frequent than those
In which the former Is not exceeded.
The normal work day throughout Sax.
ony in all the principal branches Of indus
try is from six q. m. to seven p. M, with
half an hour for breakfast, an hour for
dinner and half an hour for supper. In
the manufacturing industry there are
departures from these hours, the period
Of work In spinning and weaving mills
not infrequently being twelve. i'"
In Austria the law provides that the
duration Of work for factory hands shall
not exceed eleven hours out Of the
twenty-four, exclusive" of the periods
OF rest. These are not to be less In the
aggregate than an hour and half. The
rule can be modified by the Minister Of
Commerce, in connection with the Min.
lister Of the Interior, allowing longer
hours. The hours have been 80 extended
to twelve hours in certain industries,
such as spinning mills, and even TO
thirteen in silk manufactures. Sunday
rest is enforced. In Hungary there IS
no limit laid down by law, but the hours
are not generally longer than in Austria.
Concerning the actual hours OF adult
labor In Belgium, some difficulty is said
TO be experienced in getting at the facts.
The evidence given before Belgium
royal commission showed that railway
guards are sometimes on duty for fifteen
and even nineteen and half hours at
stretch, and the Brussels tramway
drivers are at work from fifteen TO seven
teen hours daily, with rest of only an
hour and half at noon. Brick-makers
work during the summer months sixteen
hours day. In the sugar refineries the
average hours are from twelve to thir-
teen for men and from nine TO ten for
women. The cabinet-makers, both at
Ghent and Brussels, assert that they
have often to work seventeen hours
day.
In Switzerland the law provides that
q normal working day shall not exceed
eleven hours, reduced on Saturdays and
public holidays to ten. Power is re-
served for prolonging the working day
In certain circumstances. Except in
cases Of absolute necessity Sunday labor
Is prohibited, and in establishments
where uninterrupted labor Is required
each working hand must have one free
Sunday out Of two. Women can not
under any circumstances be employed
In night or Sunday labor. Italy has not
legislated for adults, but has made reg
for child labor. Sweden is in
the same position. Spain and Portugal
have done nothing. The general rule in
the latter country, applying 10 old and
young, is 10 work from sunrise TO sun
vet, an hour and q half being allowed for
meals. In the Netherlands law was
recently promulgated TO prevent ex-
,essive and dangerous work by grown-up
women and young persons. In Turkey
she working day lasts from sunrise 70
sunset, with certain intervals for repose
Ind refreshment. In Russa, where
here are no laws affecting the hours Of
ldult labor, the normal working day In
Industrial establishments averages
,welve hours.
Powerful Water wheel.
The largest ouartz-nof1l In Tho ,,,o,ld