The Indianapolis journal., 1890-01-29
THE ElGHT.HOUR MOVEMENT.
Builders Adopt Resolutions on the Subject,
Recommending Payment by the Hour.

ST.. PAUL. Jan. 2S.--At a meeting of the
National Builders Convention to-day the
executive committee. to whom had been re-
ferred the subject of the eight-hOur day,
submitted the following recommendation
as its report:
Resolved. That in view of the fact that the
national government and many State and mu-
nicipal governments have enacted that not more
than eight hours OF labor may legally be required
in the limits of a day. and In view OF the fact
that in many of the building trades in various
cities of the country this standard number of
hours is already established, the National AssO
citation OF Builders, In convention assembled.
recommends all its affiliated bodies TO advise all
contractors in their various memberships TO SO
arrange their affairs and make their estimates
and contracts that they may safely meet in the
near future the altered conditions which gen.
eral adoption of this standard number of hours
work would entail.
Resolved, That in view of the fact that the
only safe method OF changing the recognized
limits OF days work is through the system Of
payment by the hour for all labor performed,
reduction of the prevailing hours until this sys-
tenn Is more universally established. but advises
and urges its affiliated bodies to secure the adOp-
ton OF this system OF payment by the hour that
they may, through that also, be In a safer condi-
ton to meet the change in number of hours,
should the Conditions by which they find them
selves surrounded in their various localities
make Ii advisable for them to do SO
The National Association again declares chat its
purpose is and always has been not to interfere
with or attempt 20 control dictate to its afil-
lated bodies In any of their specific actions or
the assumption that they are the best judges of
the situation and conditions which surround
them, but 1t desires elways to give its member
ship the amplest opportunity for information on
ali subjects in which they are concerned, and in
which the experience and judgment of each may
strengthen and benefit all in the setting up of a
general policy for the guidance of all.
A warm discussion followed the reading
of the report, and the situation on the ques-
tiOn In their respective cities was planned
by the delegates. After these expressions
had been called forth it was moved to re-
fer the resolution back to the executive
committee for further consideration. but
the motion was lost by vote of 81 to 40,
and the resolutions were adopted.
Following are the questions discussed this
afternoon: "The Lien Law; Shall the Ma
tional Association Recommend that it be
Encouraged" "Sub-cOntracting; Shall the
National Association Recommend it to be
Encouragedp Mr.. G. 0. Prussant, of Chi
cago. read very able and interesting paper
on the former question, after which gen.
eral discussion followed. The two ques-
tlons are of vital Importance to every con-
tractor, and the debate was doubly inter
eeting on this account.
The eight-hOur discussion will be taken
up again Tomorrow morning, and during
the interval the various delegations may
be seen collected in groups throughout the
building showing by their faces and ges-
lures how important the matter is consid-
cred by them.
Resolutions on the lien laws were laid on
the table until next year. The matter of
sub-contracting went to the committee on
resolutions. after a short debate. The as
sociation authorized the committee on a
builders surety company to proceed with
its organization on the basis proposed by
them