New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-16

emaciated look procures ior the Hiehdiy ed'ice "
seek hospital, or recommendation to complain
OF herself to Police Justice as 10 vsgrsnt, and
thus procure for herself residence for couple
Of months on Blackwels Island. Should she
mention the fact that there is money due
her fro N Mr.. Smith or the original Jacobs she is
told with sympathetic shrug that they must be
great scOundrels
When Mayor Wood opened his complsnt-bO
last Winter there was host of complaints
BY starving sewing-girls against their employ
ers. The community, who had no idea until
then of tie yillainy and misery that existed were
shocked at those revelations. The Mayor also
established on Office in the City Hall under the
supervision of Mr.. Semler, where such cases were
referred. Mr.. Semler takes their statements
reports the facts to the Mayor and sends an officer
to their employer to try and bring him TO settle
ment, which is in the majority OF instances effected
Ia this silent, unobtrusive way gres. deal Of good
has been accomplished, athOughlaw gives no assist
ance. We do not remember of an instance where
the complainant had means to carry on suit, or
where their statements we're untrue, or where they
could have obtained their money, were it not that
their employers were ashamed Of such an exposure.
1t costs couple Of dollars to pay for summons,
service and tria.fee before justice, and usually
takes fourteen DAYS to obtain Judgment Can it
reasonably be supposed that one of these poor
creatures, whose life ia compromise be-
tween existence and starvation, can pay such
sum or wait so long for the trihing amount
due her. Consequently there are in this city
of this moment thousands of INDECENT labOring
persons beyond the pale Of civil justice and In
capable Of enforcing legal rights, and who,
if their employer is remiss in paying them at
the end OF the week at the rate of six or eight
cents shirt have no resort but charity or d
brobel TO procure food. 1t is no hyperbole to say
that the ranks of prostitutes in New-York are
annually recruited by multitudes Of defrauded sew
ing girls driven to despair by want.
1t is very laudable no doubt, TO civilize saw
ages abroad, but it is arrant hypocricy to do
so if at the same time we neglect enacting laws
for the preservation of virtue among ourselves.
The Moyor may establish as many Offices as he
pleases, and Mr.. Semler (who deserves much
better place. may scour himself to shadow by
perpetual motion, yet that does not altogether
meet the ease. We should have some Court
of Conscience for poor people, where the COM
plant judgment and execution can take place
on the same day, without cost Otherwise the
same disgusting scene of fraud misery and op-
preston will continue. One fruitful way en-
ployers have of defrauding their employees is
by an assignment, and which can be made perfect
as the law now stands before judgment can be
obtained. The rapidity of proceedings ia such a
Court would remedy this evil. The Courts
lished in London for similar purposes and objects
They heard all cases for debt not exceeding the
value often dollars, which they examine in sum-
mary way BY the oath of the parties and other wit
nesses and make such order therein as is cOnsO-
nant TO equity and good conscience. The time and
expense Of obtaining this summary redress, says
Blackstone, are very incOnsiderabe, which make
il great benefit to trade.
Our legislators who have recently enjoyed their
Christmas holidays, and have, we presume, the re-
collection of their roast turkeys and fat capons in
their minds will not we are sure, injure their d-
gcstion, it, as sOOn as they organize, they spend
some time in contemplating the elementary an
tithess thnt exists between the abundance which
they enjoy and the miserable condition of the poor,
whose circumstances debar them from the common
ton. to enable day labOrers to obtain their wages
in summary way without expense, injure them
in the eyes of their constituents.