New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-26
BUSINESS MEN PROTEST.
OPPOSING LABOR BILLS.
Eight Hour and 4nti-InjuuctiOn
Measures Denounced.
rFRom THE TRIBUNE BuREAr.I

Measures denounced.
rFRoM TRIBUNE BUREAU.l
Washington. Feb. 25.-"Do you mean to say
that the scotch the Irish or the English Iaborers
in the shipyards at Glasgow can do 60 per cent
more work with the same tools and in the same
time than can be done by American shipyard
workers. demanded James O'Connell president
OF the International Association OF MachInists
OF Wallace Downey, a Nev-YorlS shipbuilder
and representative o. the New-York Metal
Trades Association. in the hearing to-day the
Eight Hour bin before the House Committee on
Education and Labor.
4 do mean 10 gay that most euphatlcaly"
answered Nj Downey. And am not making
the statement from hears-y. Il has cost ire
SJ0OoOO IN the last FIVE years. IN addition 20
gray hairs 10 find Il out. I spent $4,000 IN
purchasing the best tools. IN acquiring knowl-
edge of methods in Glasgow. and tried for three
years TO show American worlzrnen that by doing
pieceyvork they could accomplish more. They
would not sec t. and tho shipbuiding interests
have suffered. In turn the laborers have suf-
fered FOR the weekly payrolls have been de-
creased"
Mr O'Coaueu declared that he had no belief
in the statement Of Mr.. Downey. and expressed
the opinion that American workers IN the ship
yards were far superior 20 those % other coun-
;-!es
Mr. Dowucy responded with a challenge that
Mr. O'Connell make an investigation or consult
other builders whose words would be accepted
bv the world. lie said he hoped that when the
rysteus employed IN English yards are brought
20 bear iu this country would he able 20
sLrpass the foreign yards IN the amount and
quality OF work produced. but declared that
such legislation as IS proposed in the Eight
Hour bll & cutting the throats OF the working
people.
An arbitrary eight hour day. which would
proh bit overtime O: any kind would place
handicap on the American shpbuilder that
uoulG lose FOR him all opportunity Of partici-
patiug lr for.ig:- trade" said Mr.. Downey- He
predicted tha- under such restrictions the ship
building OF this country. except government
work voulG be disgrace 20 the name OF ship
building.
Loss TO EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE.
Mr. Downey earnestly protested against the
passage or the bill. lie held that II such Iegis-
Iation should be enacted il would mean an ap-
railing los sto botn employer and employe.
If the working day we're limited by law to
4S0 minutes. both capital and labor would ma
,eriaIIy be crippled he said. The workmen.
however. would Of necessity be the greater sur
ferers. their injury approXimating go per cent
and the employers 20 per cent
He argued that n the labor interests would
20 beyond a superficial Investigation Of the sub
,ect they would be convinced that the time Is
not vet ripe Tor Al eish: hour day. and would
find that they could rot AFFORD 70 make the eX-
pertinent.
Il firmly believe" said Mt. Dowrey. chat the
eight hour working day will come. and l viii
welcome, hs advent but It should come by evo-
1u,ior quietly and naturally. as not 20 pre-
cInitata n tremendous upheaval Of our business
interests II this measure should become a law
and employers be compelled to adopt an eight
bour system the workmen would nave TO pay a
terrible price. They must assume the burden. Tor
the employers cannot do so and maintain their
busiress" He declared that the length OF a
davis work could not be properly governed by
larisIation for any limitation whether 1t be
eight nine or ten hours would be go injurious
~ manufacturing Industries that employers rep
-eeentinr millions OF dollars and employing an
army II vorkmen were unalterably opposed
to it.
Manufacturers have been reaching out for
o,r oxrort trade" said Mr.. Dovney. nd unless
q be secured thousands of factories VIII have
~ close / believe that this country has reached
the summit Of the great wave of prosperity and
Is now settling down TO normal conditions. For
this reason. trade with foreign countries is an
absolute necessity. r. by the passage Of a
measure Of this kind. the cost OF labor is in
creased 20 per cent, the margin Of profit, already
close would disappear, and il would absolutely
kill our export trade. We need that trade now.
and in the future shall stand in desperate
need Of it, IN order to continue our various
business enterprises. The balance Of foreign
trade in our favor is now approximately $500
100000 Eighty per cent Of this amount repre-
sents the earnings Of the workrnen. II this
were Of necessity abandoned, K would mean
loss Of $500 to the laboring classes Of this
country. These figures are enormous. and they
are as true as they are appalling
SAYS IT WOULD RUIN SHIPBUILDING.
speaking specifically Of the shipbu.ldine in
dustrv Mr.. Dowrey asserted that II this bill
we're to become q law. that business would he
ruined beyond hope Of redemption. and he ear
nestIv hoped the committee would be governed
pv facts and hard common sense rather than By
enthusiasm and sentiment
Representative Hearst inquired If IL were not
Conffnued ON third nara