The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-11-11
EIGHT HOUR WORKOAY
IS BEST FOR BOSSES
Duluth Job Printers Would
Lose Nothing BY Adoption
of Eight Hour Workday
Every Eight Hour Test in
Large and Small Work
Has Proved Successful.

1t is indeed unfortunate that the
boss printers of Duluth should join
with the open, avowed, and profess
sional enemies Of union labor in OPP
posing the eight hour day, asked for
by the typographical union. 1t 1t
was merely profit and loss question
the presen trike would assume a diff
ferent form. Experience has taught
that the eight hour Workday has
worked no hardship on any industry,
Men are capable Of producing as much
in eight hours, working by hand. as
they can in nine and ten hours. This
is economic truth.
The purpose Of the typothetae is to
destroy the influence of the Typ
dustry, and how such former union
lists who have received favors in abb
undance from union labor, as Seipel
& Huntley and Fred Lounsberry, can
conscientiously enter into con-
spiracy against the union is beyond
our comprehension.
We are impressed with the follow
irg editorial from the pen of Samuel
Gompers entitled: Eight Hour Work.
day Tests Prove Successful" and we
reproduce it for the benefit Of the
honest members Of the Typothetae
who perchance may think that a re-
duction in the working hours may in
jure their business.
Interesting facts are being con-
stantly demonstrated relative to the
economic advantage resulting from
the movement to reduce the hours of
labor to eight per day. It is clearly
diminution in the quantity produced,
nor has the quality of work deterior-
ated by reason of the shorter work.
day.
A Berlin Germany publication, the
Hilfee, has recently had a symposium
of articles contributed by persons
qualified to discuss the question from
the standpoint of the employer.
1t is shown that in 1894 the work.
ing time of about forty-three thou
sand men employed in the English
government works was reduced to 48
hours per week, the war department
contributing nearly 10000 men, spe-
cially employed by it at Woolwich,
the shorter work time aggregating
five and threequarter hours weekly.
After more than ten years Of this ex-
pertinent the official report is now
made.
Some time ago the French govern
ment enacted a law, which goes into
operation January 2, 1905, by which
the nine hour day limit for men work.
ing under ground is prescribed. The
time Is counted from the descent of
the last man into the shift until the
arrival of the first one upon the sur
face. On and after January 2, 1908,
the time will be eight and one-halt
hours, and after January 2, 1910, eight
hours will constitute a days work.
This rule will be absolute Exceptions
will be allowed only after a public in
vestigation has been had to Demon
strate it's necessity.
In connection herewith it is interest
ing to note that the contractors en-
ploying Workmen and performing work
for the federal government Of the
United States are governed by the
eight hour law. By reason of the Pc
culiar Interpretation given it by several
attorney generals, this law does not
extend to the private shipyards.
However, the building Of the two
great battleships, the "Connecticut'
and the louisiana" bear out labor's
contention, despite the protest Of q
number Of manufacturers who claimed
that the eight hour day would endang-
err industry, is uneconomical, an6
would raise the cost Of production
The connecticut was built by the
United States federal government al
it's navy yard at Brooklyn, N. Y, it,
sister battleship, the louisiana" be.
ing built by private contractors a!
their shipyards at Newport News, Va
The construction of these two ships
has demonstrated the wisdom anc
economy and advantage Of the eight
hour day. Upon the privately built
ship, the louisiana the workday
was 10 hours; on the connecticut
built in the Government navy yard
the hour limit was eight. The officia
report shows that after 528 days. SAX
per cent. of the hull of the Louisiana
work was accomplished, while thu
"Connecticut" showed $3.50 per cent
after $40 days. The material wrought
in the Louisiana" shops weighed 49,.
216,154 pounds, and the aggregate
workingtime amounted to 2,413,8S{
hours. The corresponding figures fol
the "Connecticut" work were 1881,
040 and 1,S0S,240. During the 10 hour
day 50,60S pounds were consequently
wrought in one day, and lmost JUS
as much, or 50,396 pounds, under the
eight hour limit.
The above facts, absolutely demon.
strated beyond question, is anothe,
commentary upon the wise" actor
of the last House Committee on La.
Dor in propounding it's unanswerable
questions to the Department Of Com.
merce and Labor.
Time and circumstances will only