The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-21

lar as aooot onehslf Of tho girls in the factories here
come mlo inc account The remaining portion OF
these seven Or eight thousand girls are "pece," or
jog hands They receive for The same s,1uai u
cork Performed the smallest pay that has ever been
paid-the Lowest prize paid in le4l and 1872. For
weaving the same coarse cotons, per piece. as tbey
now get u cents, Immediately preceding the time
OF their being cut down in 1871 and 1872 they re-
ceiVed for weaving them III cents per piece. These
are ne rates upon one corporation; but the differ
ence Is sun greater upon some of the others. On
another corporation we are informed that for weay-
ing the goods that in 1870 rs cents per piece was
paid, but III cents are now paid. Different prices
are paid according TO the hneness Of the goods
utaetured. The reduction will probably average from
- TO ~ per cent. Il 10 true the sob hands" make
more per wteh than they did portion of the time
IN is4l and 1872 But they are obliged to do
much more work. They still mahs less than they
did IN lo40, though they, toe, are obliged 10 do
nearly 90 much more work than in 1910 as the
week hsnds are. We may as well say here, that
the average wages Of tho "between 1000 and 8 900"
girls here IN the mills arc 6ss than 81 50 per
week, exclusive Of board, for regular vort The
average wages OF the "betweeH 1000 and 5000
factory Eris here will not come up TO three-fourhs
OF Mr.. Lawrence's statement Of 50 pei week. The
JOB weasers" were made to do the additional work
required OF them, at a rsdusd pnce in this manner;
during the years "is4l and l542, (urd.r the pre-
lenee that the times were such TO compel H. the
Wages were rom ume 10 Time reduced; and after
beng got down 10 the lowest possible point a new
system introdueed--ibe speed was lowered, and
each gn required 10 tend three looms instead of
Two as hsd always been the cuSioH- The price
per piece, was feddcsd srtce more, We think after
the three-loom system was commenced or at the
time The price, per piece, has not been ruiSed but
after The girls got adapted to the new sy stem, ihe
speed vas, rom time 10 time, raised, aud the girls
compsled 70 do more and more work and conse-
qusnuy (as they worked by the piece) they got
more pay than they did at the name prices when
they DID ltss work, And now, rs the speed has
been raised to neatly where il was under the two
loom system, they make more than they did when
they were making this change but Boi because
lhoy get more pay for the sap,s amount OF work
done, but because they do much more work at the
losrek psy ever received.
In some Of the mills the plan Of operations we
haze described has not been pursued. But all may
rest assrsd Of tins factn no mill haps the ,oagss Of
'osek hands or he rasi for piece oork, been increased
Jrow ths I0tosa amounts paid at ass s bshceu 1910
aid ls46.
Now, il the tariff Of 1912 has been Of ad vantage
TO anybody but manufacturing capitalists, we can't
see II. Instead Of being content with reaping all
the advantages It gave them, by increasing the
prices OF their goods, and giving the operatives the
prices paid in $780, before the hard fines ofl64l and
1892 thai Mr.. Lawrence speaks OF, when he says
they 2ete Compelled TO reduce the wages or stop the
mills, they demand chat II least 80 per cent more OF
the sweat and blood Of the factory labor Of this city,
than they demanded in 1870, shall be added 10 their
pro6ts