The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-17

tensity and efficiency of labor? \. Yes,
sir. q, Have you had experience to jus
| tify that? "A. Yes. sir. O. Have you no
| ticed the publication in today's newspa-
pers in New York of an additional esti-
mate of the cost of some work there by
reason of the reduction of the hours of
| labor from ten to eight, showing that the
increased cost is p per cent? A. have
not seen that. Q. Would you be surprised
to learn that employers of labor in very
many cases have etimated their loss at
as much as 30 per cent. by reason of the
reduction OF the hours of labor from ten
to eight? \. | do not know what the en-
ployers have estimated It at; 7 know the
experience in coal mining, what effect
it has had.
Additional Cost of Work.
Q. Do you know what the chief OF the
bureau of construction in the navy depart
ment officially reports as to The addi-
tonal cost of wor: IN government navy
yards where the eight hours system pre-
walls over private yards where the ten-
hour system prevails? A. No. | do not
know 9, Would you not be surprised
to learn that 1t Is 81 per cent" A. | would
not be surprised to learn "a considerable
difference in any line of employment in
the amount paid by the government and
some private concern. G. Nor |. All'the
| ernment in reducing the hours of labor OF
its employees as an argument in favor OF
the reduction of the hours of labor in cca
mining? a. Yes, sir. q. You see that an
gument is not valuable: \. | do not see
whore there is any comparison between
my statement and the fact that the in-
creased cost of government work.
Q. AS the world has gone on through
these long years of stress aud strife has
any industrial community in its history
been efficient and successful in competing
for the markets of the world upon "A day
of eight hours labor A. think the most
prosperous and most highly civilized ma
tions on earth have the shortest hours of
labor.
Q. That Is not an answer to my Ques-
tion. | asked in the long course of hui
man history whether the laboring classes
have ever succeeded in competing for the
commerce and business of the world on
an eight hour day? l do not mean to say
they may not do so in the future, l am
asking only whether there is such IL rec
ord or whether this is new step We arI
asked to take? A, do not know that the
eight hour day has been established for
sufficient number of years TO enable me
to say what its effect will be- l do know
that the most prosperous industries In
American are those that are operated
under the ght-hour day.
Mr.. MacNeagh here read from the
New York Evening Post the following
excerpts from an article on the consti-
tuition of the Operative Plasterers' as
sociation, of New York;
The Foreman's Duty.
"rhe duty of the foreman is primarily
to see that all men working under him
are in good standing in this society; the
foreman, should he employ IA nonmember
becomes Immediately responsible for his
initiation fee. Should he fail to report IA
Eoll-member put upon job the same
penalty applies. But the most grievances
which foreman can commit is In
sisting on rushing the men, or similarly
bringing about a condition of affairs
that would be detrimental 10 the men,
bers of this society This. if proved
against him, is punishable by fine, sus-
pension, or at the second offense by de-
gradation to the ranks. 1t shall not be
allowable for members to work single
handed at any part of the trade of pas-
tering where two men can work To ad-
vantage Foremen Will be held strictly
responsible for the violation of this rule