The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-15
(continued from Page one)


''The city is progressive in many things;
and why should II not be progressive In
this matter OF an eight-hour day? Mas
sachusetts has established an eisht-hour
day: and. though the question OF the
legality of establishing 1t was matter
OF contention, IL would seem TO be settled
by the decision OF the IT, 8. Supreme
Court In a Kansas case. which affirmed
that the passing OF an act 10 create an
eisht-hour day was legal. II hope II the
committee refers the question Of legaliio
to the city solicitor Il will call his atten-
ton TO this decision
The speaker then read long list or
Massachusetts towns and cities that nave
the eight-hour day, and called attention
TO the fact that the city is supported by
the 'populace and the populace Is made up
largely OF the working men, many or
whom own their homes.
Councilman T. r. Flynn said: II desire
20 speak not as a representative OF labor
union nor as councilman. but simply as
a sympathizer with the men VINO make
this request.
IT see no reason why the eight hours
cannot be granted, from my knowledge
OF the finances of the city. IL is reason
able that IL an eight-hour day is estab-
lisfed. the city will not lose, as II a man
worked one hour less. by reason OF his
doing 40 he will have more physical en-
curance and do as much work In the
eight hours as he now does I'm nine.
why cannot the poor man get as much
consideration as the men working in city
departments? In justice, II seems 10 him
that the petitioners should be given the
consideration they ask for"
Thomas r. Carney OF the Carpenters
Union spoke as follows:
Mr.. cARNEY's STRONG PLEA.
"Organized labor welcomes the oppor-
tunity given by the lawmaking body or
our city TO publicly endorse the resolution
requesting the commissioners OF public
works and the board of park commission
srs TO establish at the present scale OF
wages an eight-hour day for the em-
ployes OF the department OF public works
and OF the park department engaged IN
municipal work outside OF the city hall.
I'VE favor the eight hours without re-
duction OF pay for the city employees for
the reasons: That the present rate OF
wages Is barely sufficient for existence;
that even now many wage-earners are
forced to deny themselves a full allow
ance OF the necessities OF life; that lower
wages would lower the standard of living
below the physical welfare and self-re.
spect OF the American workngman; and
believe that the present margin OF pront
is so large that the city should bear the
entire additional labor cost, II any.
1T Is quite generally known from ex-
perience In Industries where the eight
hour day already prevails that the shorter
day Increases production and lessons It's
cost so that there is no need for lower
wages; because the refreshed workers
who through the opportunity given TO re-
gain vigor lost will welcome the sound OF
the morning whistle, because the man
hood OF the worker will spur him to do his
utmost for those who grant the short
hour day; because the short workday is
OF the same public policy as the public
schools and the statutory regulation OF
child labor; because socially and morally
fewer hours OF toll point TO better, bright
or. more attractive homes. an uplifted
citizenship and consequent national pros
perity. made possible only in the enjoy
ment OF a reasonable amount OF leisure.
Long hours mean ignorance, poverty.
drunkenness and a degraded citizenship.
The Massachusetts bureau of labor In
1851 investigated the reduction OF the
hours OF labor TO 10 hours and the follow
ing nay De pead m tesr reISr Iss.acbuse
with 10 hours produces Az much per man.
or per spindle. equal grades being con-
sidered. as other states with IL or more
high II not higher. than In the states
where the men run longer time
when the coal miners worked IL or
the days worked was a little over three
tons. Today. In the same time. same
height Of coal, with the same tools. and
with an eight-hour day the same men
average over four. tons. Under the long
hour system the miner had TO take his
small sons to help him. Under the short;
sends his sons 10 school.
II do not pretend TO analyze the mental
process which makes man reader TO
attack a large and difficult piece OF WORK
when he knows that he will not have TO
toll from sun to sun, and the hesitation
and disinclination the same man exhibits
when he attacks similar tasks when he
knows that he must toll from the rising
OF the sun until the going down Of the
same. But the fact exists. and the cheer
ful and hearty manner In which the short
4. 4.
20 work more than overbalances the ad-
vantages he gains from the same pay.
THE short-hour man is rested; his mus
Giles and 81 brain % have become & refreshed; he
attention, and Is able, from physiological
reasons, to give II better attention
The long-hour man has not recovered
from the tolls OF the previous day. He is
stiff and sleepy, unconsciously careless.
Ills body has not fully recuperated from
the exhaustion of the previous days toll;
therefore he Is not as fit TO render the
same services as the short-hour man.
THE overwhelming fact In favor of the
short-hour day, the one that clears away
all doubt as 10 whether hours lessen pro-
duction, is the fact that the pieceworkers,
like pick miners printers machinists and
bricklayers are the most urgent I'm the ue-
mand for shorter days.
"If these men were not fully convinced
they could earn more under the short
hour system they would not advocate n.
II a printer could set 10000 ems during a
10-hcur day. the natural deduction is that
he would set but 1000 during nine hours,
but the fact remains that since the nine
hour system has been adopted he sets
nearer 1l,000 ems.
Again. when the pick miner with the
aid of his son could dig and load little
over three tons per day during the l2
ruurs II seems a mathema tical fact that
he would mine and load little over two
I ,ns With the hours reduced to eight. Yet
the fact remains, impregnable 10 success
full assault. that reduction OF hours In
creased his output
,tNNfrp & man a machine CApahle of be-