Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23
FOR A SHORTER WORKING DAY.

The recommendation of the Industrial
commission in favor of al eight-hour
working day and the fact that the ON
mlttee on labor is giving hearings on a
bill limiting all work on government
contracts to eight hours a day, has re-
vived interest in the subject. particu-
larry in labor circles. 1t is a very i'm
portant question, as all must realize who
will intelligently consider its relation to
production and therefore to the general
well being. The commission, it is stated,
had greater difficulty in formulating def
mite opinions in behalf Of the whole
membership on the labor question than
on any other, for the obvious reason
that it is more complicated than others.
Those who look at the matter solely
from the labor point of view find no
difficulty in concluding that an eight
hOur working day would be conducive to
the general welfare. They eason that a
greater number of workers would be en-
ployed, that labor would have more leis-
ure for intellectual improvement and
that production would not necessarily be
much If at all reduced.
On the other hand, those who study
the question more comprehensively and
from all economic points of view find
reasons for doubling whether such
shortening Of the working day would be
of general benefit. The report Of the In
duofrtoI communication aova. stTbnro ooo -
little doubt that in the long run the in
terests Of all classes viii best be pro-
NOTED by making the aggregate pro-
duction Of wealth as great as possible
so long as the workmen are not crowded
beyond their strength" 1t is recog-
nized by the commission that a reduc-
ton of our industrial efficiency would
impair our ability to compete with other
nations, that our industrial efficiency IL
due in part to the energy of the work
men and that "that high degree of en-
ergy and skill is the cause, at least In
part, Of the higher wages which the
American workmen usually receives'
These are very important considerations.
In the fierce competition for trade In
which ali the nations are now engaged,
can we afford to do anything that might
reduce u Industrial efficiency and
thereby impair our ability to compete
with other nationsl II 1t could be
c~onclusively shown that such would be
the effect of shortening the working day
probably a large majority Of intelligent
workmen would oppose the movement,
since the greater interest Of labor is In
industrial expansion that assures con-
slant employment at good wages. ANY
narrowing Of production would Of course
injure the producer equally with the rest
Of the community. ANY impairment Of
industrial energy and efficiency must
affect ~unfavorably all classes.
The eight-hour day has been very gen.
orally adopted by state governments
and municipalities, as well as by the
federal government so far as relates to
persons directly employed in public
service. But the immediate object upon
which the labor forces are concentrated
is the demand for an eight-hour day in
all branches Of work performed In pro-
ducing commodities for the government.
1t may not be expedient at present TO
comply with this demand. Some Of the
testimony before the house committee
on labor was strongly against the propO-
sition. But that sooner or later an
eight-hour working day win become gen.
eral may be confidently assumed.