The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-02
NINE H0URSA WORK DAY
Meeting of Contractors and Builders
Last Night.
PAPER BY SPENCER B. HOPKINS.
Alter Considerable Discussion it Was
Voted That, After March 4. 1893. Nine
Hours should Constitute a Days Worn
Those Affected by This Action.

A me ting of contractors and builders
was held last evening in the rooms Of
the Builders aud Traders Exchange. It.
b. Ross presided and w. r. Cady acted
as secretary.
The subject TO be acted ON was: ION
and after May J.. 1898, we grant our men
nine hours a day."
After considerable discussion It was
unanimously voted that after March 1.
1893. nine hours should constitute a days
work. IL was further voted that over
time should be charged time and one
half. and holidays be charged double
time.
Spencer b.. Hopkins presented a paper
on the subject. He said hat a number
OF different trades had already adopted
nine hours as a days work, and the
workmen OF other trades not so fortunate
no doubt felt that they had as good
grounds for believing that their trade
can be placed in the same category with
put little disturbance to the public well
fare.
IL the change could be effected with but
little friction on the part of everyone in
terested, Mr.: Hopkins wanted to know
why 10 would not be just and proper for
the members of the exchange aud othe rs
who are not members, but employers of
labor in similar occupations, to take the
initial steps in bringing about this much
desired change. That there is a spirit or
feeling OF unrest and uneasiness prevail.
ing among the entire building trades, a
sort of an underlined idea that their
rights to a certain extent are not taken
into consideration, was beyond arqu-
ment.
Action on the part OF the employer.
Mr.. Hopkins thought, would promote
confidence between him and the employee.
In concluding he said:
III ar M uIanpn for N vnApnAD N-u Il
side of the em%ployer-to him belong GER
tain rights as inalienable as those Of the
empioye lie has the right to enter bus.
ness, ami 10 conduct that business with
out dictation, to employ his capital In
buying labor. whenever and wherever he
likes to conduct his business operations;
TO ~ that labor OF any person VINO has
~ Tor sale, and At such a price per day or
hour as they may mutually agree upop:
the right TO discard labor that is not sat
isfactory,, or up to the required efficiency.
These and many other rights or less i'm
porJance constitute some OF the more IA.
lient features OF the employers side,
which no doubt some Of you who are
here tonight TOR that purpose will more
fully elucidate ans expatiate upon. IKE
question that will not down. but is ever
arising. like Banquo's ghost. to narass
and perplex both sides is one OF compen-
sation.
mo fixed rules, regulations or laws,
whether by Individuals, unions, corpora
tlobS, or states, can ever settle this Ques-
tion, from the very fact that it is a vary
ing quantity, ana Is entirely and abso-
lutely based upon the great law of sup
ply and demand, To illustrate, il a
contract is to be performed within a
specified time. and it requires a certain
mount Of labor to perform it, then it
devolves upon the contractor to secure
such labor, and if there happens to be a
scarcity of that which he desires, then he
must offer higher prices as an induce
ment for labor to come to his relief. On
the contrary, il double the quantity OF
labor wanted is available, thea he gets it
on terms to suit himself.
Therefore, whatever decision is ar
rived at regarding the number of hours
for a days work that of compensation
must in n great measure be left as u mat.
ter TO be settled bet ween employer and
employed. No doubt If some plan could
be devised aud generally adopted,
whereby all labor could be paid for by the
hour, 1t would be the most satisfactory
solution TO all parties concerned of that
part Of the labor problem"
Messrs. Hayward. Murphy and
O'Reiliy also discussed the subject after
which "a vote was taken with the above
result. 1t was thought that March 1
would be better than May /, and it was
voted 10 select the latter date.
Mr.. Cady, sc ,retary OF the Builders
aud Traders Exchange, said this murn-
lng that the ~roofer,, carpenters aud ma
sons were affected by this change. The
plumbers, stone cutters, Spainters and
plasterers have had II nine-hour day
since last spring.