Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-02
EIGHT HOURS In ENGLAND.
"rowing Popularity of the Moveueu
I'm That Country.


Claude Meeker, consul at Brndford pns.
land. has contributed an interesting chapter
to the history OF labor legislation I'm a re-
port to the Department of State upon ar
periments with the eight hour system by
English employers OF labor. He. SAYS that
though attempted legislation in that dirsc-
ton has been several times defeated. the
nght Is to be renewed and the eight hour
Dill VIII be soon before parliament The
navy and war departments are now ex-
per1menting with the system and other
branches OF the government service VIII
soon try It II Is fast achieving public pop-
ularity. and, In Bradford, a majority OF the
corporation employees. including the police.
are working but eight hours daily An
important test was made by the Stafford
Iron Works. near Manchester where the
system was tried for one year without solici-
tauon either by employees or trade unions
a. a. tne nrm's own risk. to prove how far
tne widespread desire for shorter hour Of
work might be met without injury to the
mechanical trades and to ascertain wheth>r
AZ must be resisted in the interest Of al
The full complement OF men A / 2oo ana
.he wages paid for forty-eight hours were
tne same as for fifty-three hours under the
oio system. About one dozen trades were
ceeding depression. when the prices obtained
~, ,or tne output were the lowest on record
put the invoice value OF the goods pro-
1oSeo amounted to the average rate Of
yaIue OF the six preceding years. This vas
regarded as an unfavorable condition for
the TEST One-third OF the men employed
We're on piece work wages and that system
weekly wage system. The production dur
ing tne trial year was actually greater but
tne turn over" on account OF cheap price,
was somewhat less.
Increase I'm Labor COST.
f1A g.
communicable OF one per cent IN ,ah.e
cost. but 1t was a remarkable fao> th.s ~.
economy in the shorter hours for bun,,r
gas ana fuel. for wear and tear Of tool.
nacninery SC, amounted to q savfns a
iour nundredths Of one per cent, thus O.
acuy equalizins the increased labor oost
In the hfty-thres and nfty-four hour vcrH
ltne Old systemo the lost time amoumtsA -
80 per cent while In the forty-sixht houv
IL amounted to but "a The result on uleoe
WORK was looked forward 10 with snter,.t
less than r rs s,a realized we're La Per ceaS
manner showed . steady adaptation 10 ~
etereo conditions and made A evi6erx skae
enti sne wSrx preceded the difference would
We're not advanced In the year.
me euperintendent urged the adopefon A
me system by the government hoidinr fAs1
OF me ma, nave better homo lifs By sts1ktng
on ene Two hours before brsakfnst IA
says; "One years trial has conyfnoss -
that We have found a happy medfun N
men ,ns number OF hours during which only end
resoIv ano , one stoppase are needed and sAis
me foremen's reports show that Shs -
meSe more steady at work more chssvfI
s less given to insobristy under a. SlsA1
cheerful. $40 HsosS
Another important test was made ov c,s
that the cost OF wares for bofh ~. 60 ~
I'M, ,he material smelted and the ounce Of oui-
non produced was slightly less under TIRE
new ecneme- The men had been frsshov snI
prgnter. showed an increased chserftIine.S
ana interest, as manifested IN both 90
quantity and quality OF theip work.