The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-13
WAGES AND HOURS IN GOLD AND
SILVER USING COUNTRIES.

SILVER USING COUNTRIES.
The Boston Advertiser has been max
ing some interesting Investigations into
the difference between the hours OF WORK
and the wages in countries having the
gold standard and the silver standard,
and we reproduce part of its article Dc
low. All laboring men should study ana
ponder on the figures it presents. 1t
says.
"Regarding the hours Of work a week,
il is worthy of notice that in Australia
and Australasan colonies, the general
rule is that workmen are employed ~
hours in each week. In Belgium the
time of weekly labor ranges from OF 10 20
hours. 90 hours being the average Inc
Canadian workman labors for 20 hours
a week: the Danish workman for y,
hours; the French workman Tor ~ hours
the German for 60 or Sc hours; the Amer
lean for 60 hours; the Spanish lot "
hours. and the Swiss for to hours. These
nationalities enumerated are all classed
under the head Of gold-usng countries
Austria might be included in this list II
It were not for the fact that the change
from q silver to a gold basis has been
made only within the last two years, ana
no figures are obtainable for that period
While Austria was on the silver basis
however, the general average OF work
ing time in a week in that country was
Y hours. In China the working hours are
from daylight TO dark, with an hour for
the MONDAY meal, and a few minutes in
the morning and evening for tea and rice;
but the general average Of working hours
in the week Is not far from 10. In the
IL. HH.4aIHlH
from sunrise 10 sunset, or about 20 or
- hours a week The rate or the work
ing hours in the week IN the Spanish
American countries varies from 90 TO II
hours. In Persia the laborers work from
sunrise to sunset; but the occurrence or
religious festivals interferes with any
attempt 10 fix the working hours in a
week precisely. In Russia the average
laborer works 72 hours in week. Alto
gether. the working man In a silver-us-
ing country is expected TO keep decidedly
longer hours than the working man IN
any of the countries whose currency Is
based upon gold.
A comparison Of the weekly wages also
shows that generally speadng) the work.
nan Is paid far more in the countries
where the currency is based upon gold
than in those IN which a silver currency
is the base. For example. in the build
ing trades. a bricklayer I'm Australasia
gets from $3.50 10 more than SIC n week
in Belgium. he is paid $3.50 a week: IN
Denmark. he is paid 81; in France, from
1915 10 $50. in Germany, Si25; in Eng
land, $50, in Ireland, $50: in Scotland.
$7.55; in Holland, $3.50; in Italy. $40; IN
Canada, SIS; in the United States. SH.
The same class of labor in Austria get
$3.50 per week: in China, Sl.2O TO Sl.64; in
4. L.. L.. 81
$50; in Japan, 81; In Mexico. SO; in Per
STA, $40; in Peru, 50; and IN Russia,
s4.30.
The mason In a gold-using country gets
from IS to 81; in a silver-using country,
from $3.50 TO $40. the average being below
ST. a plasterer in a god-using country
gets from s. to SIS a week, the average
being considerably over s.. In a silver
using country the wages run from $50
TO $3.50 the average being about s. or 81
a week. The average baker in silver
using country gets possibly 50 or 81 a
week and in a gold-using country his
wages are near 81 n week. a black
smith who is paid in silver gets about
$3.50 a week; but he who is paid on a
gold basis gets 81.
The comparison might be carried
through nearly every class Of skilled la
Dor, but it holds good right through the
list OF course it would be impossible
in the brief limits of this article 70 give
any detailed list of wages in every trade
and every country; but any working man
who feels disposed 10 investigate the SUBJ
ject further viii find all the data he needs
in the statistics which have been col
lected and printed by the State Depart
ment at Washington in this very connec-
ton. II wages depend upon a currency
system, gold basis means high wages
and silver basis means low wages