St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-29
EIGHT HOURS LABOR.
Lively Discussion on the Day
Labor Question.

Labor Question.
"Shall the national association recon-
mend the adoption of the eight-hour day
in the building trades?" came up for
discussion. Secretary Leonard, of the
national association, opened the discus
sion with statement that all over the
country there were different methods
and practices in vogue. The matter of
hour reduction was being widely agi-
tated, and the idea of the executive
committee in thus bringing the matter
before the convention was to allow of
an expression of opinion on the matter
from all over the country. 1t was not
meant by the presentation of the Ques-
tiOn thus that the committee took any
particular ground in the matter, but he
thought it was time that the association
expressed itself on the question one way
or another. A better wording of tine ques-
tion would perhaps have been whether
or not the hours of labor should be re-
duced from the present status,
The following recommendation from
the executive committee was read and
submitted to the convention for dis
cuSsiGn:
AN EXECUTIVE VIEW.
In view OF the fact the national govern
ment and manv state and municipal govern
ments have enacted that no more than eight
hours labor may legally be required in the
limits of 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
Association of Builders. in convention as
sembled, recommends all its filial bodies to
advise all contractors in their various mem
berships to so arrange their affairs and make
their estimates and contracts that they may
safely meet, in the near future. the altered
" a oral Q6 Of aiS
standard number of hours Of labor would en-
aill.
And in view of the fact that the only safe
method of changing the recognized limits of
days work is through the system of pay
ment by the hour for all labor performed,
the national association can not recommend
any reduction of the prevailing hours until
this system is more unanimously established;
but advises and urges tilial bodies to secure
the general adoption Of this system of bay
ment by the hour. SO that they may through
that, also. be in a safer condition to meet
change in number of hours, should the con-
ditions by which they find themselves sur
rounded in their various localities make it
advisable for them so to do.
The national association again declares
that its purpose is, and always has been, not
to interfere with or attempt to control or
dictate to its affiliated bodies in any of their
specific actions, in the assumption that they
are the best judges of the situation and con-
ditions which surround them; but it desires
opportunity for information on all subjects
in which they are concerned, and in which
the experience and judgment Of each NAV
strengthen and benefit all in the setting up
of general policy for the guidance of all.
THE FUN BEGINS.
The announcement was made that the
delegates from the different cities would
be each called upon for an expression
of opinion as to the situation in their
respective localities. w. F. Deyin, of
Baltimore. stated tnat in that city the
prevailing hours were nine each day,
except Saturday, when eight was the
rule. He offered motion that the en-
tire matter be laid on the table. A
chorus OF protests greeted this PROPOSE
tiOn. and G. w. Boggs, of Wheeling,
announced with emphasis that he was
there to make speech and would not
be squelched. Mr.. Prussing, of Chi
cagO, thought that this was not matter
for sentiment but for hard fact. That
was what the convention wanted. Mr..
Sheery,. of Boston, announced that
the nine-hOur rule prevailed in
Boston. E. NJ. Hage. of Buffalo. said
the nine.hour rule prevailed there, and
men in the shops worked ten hours and
were paid by the day. E. V. Purring-
ton, of Chicago, said all mill and factory
men worked ten hours, and were uni
versally paid by the hour. Mr.. Blair,
of Cincinnati. said the system there was
nine hours and payment by the hour,
except One-fourth of the carpenters and
planning men, who worked ten hours.
A. McAllister, of Cleveland, said mat
tiers in the hour system were mixed in
Cleveland. Almost all mechanics
worked ten hours. but plasterers worked
nine hours. Mr.. Ripley said things
WE'RE BADLY SHAKEN
up in Denver. Most trades worked
nine hours in that city, but mill men
worked ten. Payment was by the day
universally. w. J. Devan, of Detroit.
said stonecutters and others worked
nine hours, most other trades ten. with
payment by the hour. John Ralston, of
Grand Rapids, stated, with the except
ion of few trades, the rule was eight
hours, with payment by the hour. In
Louisville, all except the bricklayers
worked ten hours. they working but
nine. Payment was partly by the day