The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-05-19 00:00:00

THE SWEATING SYSTEM.

The Rev. Mr. Adamson, vicar of Old Ford, ap.
peared on Tuesday before the Select Committee of the
House of Lords on the sweating system, and asked
leave to correct his evidence. He said he had stated
that the Salvation Army had by means of competi-
tion been the means of reducing the wages in the
match-box and laundry business. That statement
was made by him in perfect good faith without any
ulterior motive, and on the basis of long, widespread,
and uncontradicted statements. The Salvation Army
had given these statements an explicit denial in the
columns of the Press. He was, therefore, glad to
have an opportunity of correcting his evidence after
this authoritative assurance from the Salvation Army.
Mr. Lyons, a machinist, was examined. He gave
a long list of the names of firms in the West-end
and various other parts of London who employed
sweaters. When the witness spoke of these firms
employing sweaters he meant that the firms gave the
work out, and that the person to whom it was given
subdivided it among other people, who did the work
for him at low wages and in unhealthy dens. The
work was generally very badly done under this
system of division of work. He produced a number
of sketches of sweaters' dens, which the committee
looked at from curiosity, but which, the chairman
said, could not be received as evidence. In answer
to the Chairman, the witness expressed an opinion
that the Government work should be carried on in
factories.

Mr. Thomas Jelleffs was recalled, and said: I should
like to call the attention of the committee to the
payment of the small sweaters by cheque. The
cheques paid by the large dealers in Curtain-road are
cashed at the London Apprentice, a public-house in
Old-street. The publican charged as a commission
6d. per cheque, and expected the man who cashes it
to spend something in the house. That not only
encourages intemperance, but is a heavy tax upon the
man who was paid by cheque. The cheques were
paid late on Saturday, and the men have no option
but to change them at public-houses. I think the
men ought to be paid in cash or in time to change the
cheques at the bank.
Mr. Harry Ham, secretary of the Affiance Cabinet
Makers' Association, had been, he said, 34 years in the
cabinet-making trade. He did not think " manufac-
turers " should palm off on the :public goods repre-
sented to be made at their own premises, but which
were, in reality, manufactured by " garret-masters "
or sweaters. He quoted one instance of what he
termed a trade fraud. He saw a piece of furniture
marked up as a "brown oak sideboard." It was not
a natural brown," continued Mr. Ham, "but was
made so by an artificial process. That was lie
number one." Then the witness said the sideboard
was described as "our own 'manufacture "—another
fraud on the public, as it had been made by a" garret-
master. Witness had known a case where an Ad-
miralty contract was carried out by sweating—the
contractor who undertook the work made none of the
articles on his premises, but put the work out to
sweaters. Less men were employed by manufac-
turers now than used to be case.
Mr. Geo. Elcock said he was a manufacturer of
carved cabinet work. He had watched the gradual
deterioration of the cabinet trade from the time when
men could earn good wages to the time when they
could hardly earn enough to live on. He complained
that the work was not done by the large firms on
their own premises. It would be better for the public,
for the workmen, and for the large firms, if the mid-
dlemen were got rid of. He was a middleman him-
self. He always had plenty of work without seek-
ing it.
The Committee subsequently adjourned until after
the Whitsuntide holidays.

A COMB is somewhat like a man, because in its old
age it loses its teeth and hair.
A LirrLE girl describes a snake as "a thing that's a
tail all the way up to its head."
THE astronomer is not an actor, but he spends his
nights playing star engagements.
A LIVE dog may provoke admiration, but a dead
one is more likely to prove a scenter of attraction.
NEVER ask a crust of a crusty man. Ask him for
meat, for he'll give you a cold shoulder with pleasure.
A MAN who is naturally a genius can conduct him-
self in such a manner that be may be considered a
chump.
Air, speaking of the responsibilities of matrimony:
"Would you be a afraid to marry on a thousand a
year, Tom ?" Tom: "Not a bit, if I could only find
a girl with an income of that amount."
Hosr (something of a musician, who is entertaining
a country friend at dinner) : "Would you like a
sonata before dinner, squire ?" The Squire: "Well,
I don't mind. I had two on my way hero, but I can
stand another."

DINKIIIYI.FIIENYLOXTPIIITAGOI i$ said by the Hos-
pital Gazelle to be good for rheumatism. We'll take
the rheumatism.

THE latest theory relative to the object of the
Pyramids of Egypt is that they were built for
toboggan slides.
"I cANsor employ r ou, sir. No Socialigt shall
ever "-- " But not a Socialist. I'm entirelv lot
myself. I'm an Individuajiat."