The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-09
PHILADELPHIA, May s, 1868.

FROM PEMMxILvANlAs
PHILADELPHIA, May s, 1868.
Re the Editor of the wonKnexls's ApvsoArs.
Matters Of business that it would have in
me much to postpone, prevent
I'd my paying my respects to your readers
last week, but as I had noted very little Of
Importance occurring during the week, the
deprivation was very light There is com
paratively little stir 10 trade matters in and
around this city not near 30 much 40 one
would expect to see in city Of as great pro-
portions, ct this season of the year. Business
Is slowly reviving. The building trades are
picking up quite lively, and the times, for
them, at least, promise m active season.
During the month Of April 645 building per-
mits were issued, being 142 more than were
issued in April, 1867.
Week before last, the Carriage Bolt and
Nut Makers struck for IN increase Of wages.
The Bolt Makers demand an advance OF from
fifteen - twenty per cent. on the list prices,
while the Nut Makers ask only list prices.
do not know whether they have . union or
not. The firm Of VIM. Shields have granted
the advances asked for, and their men are
oil ut work. Having some little business 10
transact with one Of the employers ut this
branch Of business, in the west end Of the
city where the majority Of the shops are To-
Gated. yentured to ask his opinion Of the
strike. He informed me that even the ad-
v ance demanded was insufficient compensa-
ton for the quantity and quality Of the work
performed. In some shops where part Of the
" ork Is done upon second floor. the gas is
sitting, while the heat is 50 intense that il
seems almost impossible that man can ex-
list in it during the summer months, and it
10 then the greatest demand exists for what
they produce. The party refer to express
cd his perfect willingness to paw the increase
the moment the larger shops signiied SINH
lar willingness. He himself had worked ut
the trade and understood how it taxed mems
energies and undermined their health, to Ia
Dor amid 50 many su6ocating gasses. He
could, therefore, appreciate the condition Of
the strikers, and unlike many others who
had risen from "common mechanics" to oc-
cupy the "exalted" and responsible" posi-
ton Of empowers, he was willing to scknow-
ledge their justice. How much lessened
would be the privations Of the tcilers If all
were ae'en as this one" But while he was
thus willing to recognize the fact that the
laborer was entitled to just compensation
for his toll, be declared il would be an utter
for him to accede while the
larger establishments refused TO do so. They
backed up BY the mighty power Of concen-
trated capital could undersell him, and by
this means ultimately drive him from the
market. The strike still continues. The
men express determination to do their ut
most. Their wages without the increase will
average from $l2 to SIG per week.
The Carpet Weavers, who by the way, are
oil ut work again, met last Saturday evening
10 receive the report of q committee appoint
ed at previous meeting, to nix . scale OK
prices. The report was adopted as received.
The committee also reported their endorse
ment OF the agreement made with the three
ply weavers, that the plies should be paid at
the rate Of 13s cents per pair, clear Of the
winding. After adopting series OF resolu-
lions returning thanks to Mr.. Thos. Mulcahy,
who has officiated as chairman at all Of their
the meeting adjourned.
The Biscuit Bakers held q meeting last
evening, their object being the adoption Of
scale Of prices. A committee was appointed
to prepare q schedule and the meeting i'd
journed over to await its report.
A terrific boiler explosion occurred in our
city, on last Monday evening, at the extern
1--WE sheet iron rolling mill Of Messrs. Mar
shall, Phillips 4 Co., at Peach and MARI
borough streets. One Of the employees named
John Mccall, was insta ntly killed, and twelve
others were seriously injured by blows from
aying bricks, &c, and scalded. Three Of
the injured have since been carried 10 their
last account. How sadly true 10 |. that SIN
the midst Of life we are in death" The ma
ior part Of the numerous explosions Of recent
are caused by carelessness or In
The greedy rscklessness Of employers for
bids their paying competent wages 10 skill
full engineers, and the lives OF their en-
ployes are entrusted to the care Of some
awkward, half Matched lobster ut the science,
whose talents would be much better suited
10 his occupation were he employed at
yielding q white wash brush or q hod.
Boilers, old and 1nit for use, grown thin by
constant use, are patched and repatched un-
III at some unexpected moment the lives OF
! dozen or more men are sacrificed to the
greed of niggsrdly slave driver. II is but
murder under another name. Hundreds Of
Imailiss are yearly left, by the unparalleled
meanness Of this class Of grinding Shylocks,
without the protection Of that right arm
upon which had been placed their only
dependence for support. Hundreds Of
Iamilies are made wretched, reduced to the
point OF starvation and forced into the aims
house. Children are left uneducatsd, and
doomed 10 life Of toll, to exc QUE q
miserable existence, or driven prematurely
% the psu ,er's grave There Is no evil
which infests society that requires more inn
nsdiate remedy than the establishments Of
30 meet out punishment commen-
yurate with the enorlnity of the offence TO
hat class whose niggardliness 10 the primary
.ause of oil this misery. As remedy, ..
should be established, composed
n competent practical engineers, sslaried by
the citiss, to hold their Offices only during
such time a. there may occur no accidents
through csrelessness or incompetency on the
part 81 men placed in charge Of statiouAry
snkines. And where neglect Of duty can 20
need 10 any member Of the commissi0n,
By which IN acoident may BE- caused, . pun
ishment should be prescribed but one step
bslow chat meted out 70 ordinary murderers.
This commission, or another composed Of
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