The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-21

| cannot be now given. COionei SulSha" i"-
.osms US. however that before the hall IS
finished he will make up astatementin when
This. and every other material fact, VIII APP
near In detail. He cannot himself
answer the question now, and cannot
answer il without several weeks or work, but
twill be fully and satisfactorily answered IN
time. Meanwhile we may say this Before
the erection OF the hall was commenced a
Boston contractor made written offer to the
Grounds and Building Committee to erect
the hall according to the plans and specihca-
tons Tor S5i6.O 900. This man IS commercially
rated as a wealthy man. and no offered to put
up Government bonds as security that no
would perform his contract.
The Mayors message of March 18th informs
us that there had been spent ON the hsH up
to February list SSG9.i37. and that IL was
estimated .5i6.47l more would be necessary
to complete it. Therefore the hall Will cost
US Sl,4i5.93l, having been erected Dy Gay
labor. while it would only have cost US S'io'-
900 if erected by contract. Day LABOR must
therefore bear its share of this S5J9,141 IN
necessarily spent.
We have not taken this subject up with TIE
design os dropping it here We propose 10
submit few remarks upon the general suo-
iert of labor by the day aud by tho piece.
| 10 our mind there is nothing palmer than
that the labor unions Of America tie them
selves 10 a vicious principle in making the
contests that they do make for employment
Of labor b. the day rather thsu by the value
.I.oa. .fsf.ar
principle is vicious in extorting from inc
employer money often not fairly earned aad
in SURPRISING the enterprsing workman
and pulling him down to the level OF the
| lazy or incompetent workman. 1t hurts both
the employer and the labofer.
There are undoubtedly employ ments which
must be filed by persons employed by the
dav. All persons in domestic employment.
and otherwise engaged IN services which can
not he measured but by time, must be PAID
for time or for day labor. 30, equally
there are many other employments to which
day labor is not at oil suited, aud III when
piece or contract work gives the employer lar
better results and the industrious laDorer lar
better wages Labor unions have been IN eX-
stence IN England much longer than IN
America. and higher order of intelligence
aud very much greater experience guides their
movements there than here
BY the processes of experience and eyolu-
ton. they are there bringing the matter into
much more Of system and order than 1t has
here, and there the arbitrary postulate that
they must aim a. securing TO the laborer en-
ployment by the day is wholly discarded.
/ George Howell il q very distinguished advo-
cate OF the rights of labor in England. In
bis recent work on the Conflicts OF Labor
and Capital" we find the following statement,
page 257 I'd edition:
In a speech delivered by Mr.. Mundells, NJ.
! F., at the meeting of the National Association
! for the Promotion of Social Science on March
| 20, 1876 he is reported TO have said that no
less than 90 per cent of the manufactures
Of this country was paid for by the piece"
Mr.. Howell thinks this large esti-
mate, but he seems 10 think it would be safe
to put it at rs per cent. This Is the result,
then. where labor unions have been a long
! time the rule, directed by high order o. in
telgence.
IL is safe. then. to say that the true object
of labor unions should be encouragement of
| the idea that the laborer should have the full
est and freest opportunity to rise in his call
ing by securing employment that will enable
him TO demonstrate his capacity, his sobrlety,
his industry ana his thrift This is what ex-
perionce has taught the English labor unions
to be their true function, and this is what
common sense teaches every one to be their
true functions. Arriving at this end they are
a blessing to both employer and employe.
Endeevoring to force al employers TO hire by
the day at common rate fixed by the
union they simply suppress the energies OF
the efficient and industrious and bring all
down to the level of the lazy and inefficient.
In keeping with the movement for day
labor is that Of the labor unions which fixes
the price for which laborers shall do piece
work. and the amount OF 1t to be done in Il
day. The laborer should be perfectly free to
make the best contract with his employer
that he can aud thus the energetic and indus
trious secure an opportunity TO make their
energies tell An employe recently told us
a striking incident illustrative of this matter
A very good mechanic came to work late one
day and evidently under tho influence Of
liquor His trade was finishing up the large
bells used on railroad engines, and his
union prescribed one bell as all that
workman should turn out in a
day. The foreman told this man that he was
both late and drunk. and that he should not
work that day. The mechanic protested that
he was all right for work and said If you
will pay me twenty-five cents extra III turn
you ont two bells today and he did 1t,
though his union raised great row with HIM
for dong it, Now here is a case in which the
union was keeping that man in state Of &C
tual slavery, because it was denying him AL
opportunity to use his powers in a way that
would secure the best possible results 10 him
self.
THE LOUISIANA ELECTION.