The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-16

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t is noticed that the city attor-
ney and that of the school board have
given their opinions as to the law passed
by the last legislature, making eight
hours a days work for certain employees
of cities. The conclusion reached from
those decisions make it appear that Of
fees employing help in many depart
ments would be expected to pay the same
wages for the eight hours as formerly for
the ten hours, but the question arises in
the minds of many, how Is this increased
expenditures met, as well as many others.
Is the street commissioner or any otner
officer of the city at liberty and will
they be considered as acting for the city's
welfare, or promoting proper sentiments
of justice, in paying for such service
twenty or more per cent. extra because
the late law makes eight hours a day S
work, and possibly the next legislature to
oblige some friendly politician may re-
duce the hours to five for days work?
Then 1t is a we'll known fact that the
money appropriated for street purposes
in the outlying districts has long past
been used to pay for labor that gave but
little value to the streets, but the amount
paid for it has been far in excess, and
now we are to have a further reduction,
Has the street commissioner the legal
right to increase the taxes, or must he
reduce the time of labor on the streets
two-tenths for the year, and still leave
the main thoroughfares to the city in the
bad condition they have been in for years
1t is we'll known that the street depart
ment pays much larger wages than is
paid in a general way in the city and
vicinity, being a dollar and fifty to sixty
cents per day for such as employed,
while plenty of better help is obtained
| for a dollar or one twenty-five per day
as Ii is in many other cities and towns
| Can we expect a healthy growth in busi-
ness and encourage new industries
when our authorities are excessive in eX.
penditures, without usual prudence and
| consideration that men in business should
| act upon? l have long held the opinion
that the eig'ht-hour period was a reason.
| able one for the division of time in the
| employ of men and women, manual anG
| mental labor, rest and sleep, although ir
| the experience of life of seVenty-hvC
| years wherein much of the time l found
| it necessary to spend twelve or eighteer
hours of the twenty-four at labor | be
| lieve 1 have not suffered much in so do
| ing, yet cannot believe that the people
| of this country can adopt eight hours fol
| labor and sustain the position We nov
occupy, much less can we go forward II
| production and compete successfully ai
| we are just now beginning to do, in ou
| exports to foreign countries, in which tn,
| hours of labor are much longer.
| Honest labor, whether with the hands
or brain, is commended in this countr,
and it is hoped always will be, and it hat
its value as we'll as commodities or tn
| coin. But we must be able to use all tim
to advantage Of the family and the com
monwealth. Rather than to waste mucl
of II in idleness and at places where earn
ings can be spent and wasted to the in
jury of the man and the family, It woul,
be far better to be at labor much longe
hours. My design, however, was to draw
attention to conditions, as being shown II
| decisions as to recent laws, and I trust
Mr.. Editor, the matter may be discusse,
in your and the other papers. Your
truly, William II. Richmond
Scranton, Sept. 10, 1897.