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

FHHDERIcx HAKRIsOx, Esa.
Mr.. ALExAsDEK Med oSALD, Examined.
Is be appointed by the votes Of all tine
subscribers 7 He is not bat often appointed
for political purposes snd other purposes,
and the result is that there was distrus. ielt
| never found among the miners Of Scotland
or England-and my friends here viii be-
heve say the same-that there was any dis
position to object TO that the Law requiring
them to have medical adviser, for they
look upon it as benefit but they do think
they should have the power of appointing
him.
The real grievance that you complain of
the I. is, that the employer, or somebody
for hill, appoints the medical adviser, and
you think that all the persons who contrib
ought to votes Certainly. contend-and
not only |, but the men that represent also
contend-that if in a contract the mine own
or has q right to make it condition with
the men that he shall Appoint their medical
adviser, the men on the other hand have Just
an equal right to say, we will not work till
we appoint your medical adviser.
Lord Elcho-There il nothing to prevent
your doing so now, Is therey There Is
nothing to prevent their doing it; but think
that If they were to take such step there
Is not man in the country bat would call
out with the loudest voice that it was i'm
pertinence, insolence, ami outrage upon the
liberty Of the subject.
Do you msan that you want the LegislA-
ture to say 10 a matter Of contract on such
questi n as tlat who should be the medical
adviser, that the master can only appoint
. man who Is recommended by the men
We say 80. We thIak that no msn should
have the power Of advising the medical ad-
wiser to, our families.
The object of the master l suppose In ap-
pointing the doctor at all is to cure the men?
He is desrous to get the best he can and
probably he is able to get more informaton
as to who is the fttest man an is open
to the men themselves IL IS . ossibly 80
but perhaps you would be surprised were
to tell you that it is fact within my know
ledge that there is traffic made in the medl-
cal men.
DDu mean by that that the medical man
pays 80 much to the employer | mean
that the employer draws so much from the
men, and that he pays the medical man
50 much less.
Can you pat in any proof Of thatf have
it from the authority Of medical gentlemen
themselves.
Mr.. Mathews-Do your observations ap-
ply generally, or do you m AN to apply them
to particular c0llierIes that have come under
your Obseryationi Ny observations apply
generally to Scotland and sEnglsnd, where
medical men are appointed 10y the employers
and they charge the men as q matter Of
course, where q method man, as happens in
some cases in NorthunberlAn and Durham)
10 appointed aud no charge il made, then
the workman Is ut perfect liberty to call him
ia 0r not But whea charge is made the
case is different Take for instance the Irish
1 pOpuiation, which forms . very large pro-
portion Of the mining population Of Scotland,
they have very strong predictions for their
own medical adviser.
Lord Eicho-Taking the last tairty years
since you have had experienos Of the mines
u Scotland, what do you suppose was the
proportion Of Irish at che begiDni7g Of tha
time to what it is no~f Il IS 100 Der cent
more should think now.
Should you be surprised to hear that in 4
small town IN the east Of Scotland, OF 4,OOC
inhabitants, where thirty years ago there
was one Irish family. there are nov seven
handred Irish peoplef Not as all. VA
saying that they hare very strong views il
favor Of their own medical adviser, anc
tbs result is, that among them that matter
continusl source Of annoyance and griev
ICE, and until it is removed have %,
hesitation in saying that though il 10 on,
Of those things that may be regarded ~
quite triHs, yet 1t 10 . tribe 20 large thar i
will irr.tase their minds and keep them in
continual state Of annoyance.
Earl Of Litchfeld What legislation a
you propose That men should appoin
their own medical adviser.
Lord Elcbo-Ws have bad the points q
weighing and doctors. is thsre anythin,
else that yoa think needs lsgpslatirs action
Yes, there ii poundage. s,r,t,s .,as. NJ. N.
4 What ID Aak That = particular faul
connected With Scotland II am not awar
that Il extends to EaglanI D that is to cav
they give men advances every day, and fo
which they charge shilling a-pOund; an
! BY giving Q maa a advance onoe . wesk
thai is 250 per cent thsy charge lor thsi
money. .-,sy -
. They eAazes, > shillisg PEI poaad for pay
ing wages - their men sooner than the
otherwise would havs bssn paid. Il Ii,
whaf yoa mesn They pay sgwy fortalgh
! SupposlDg that | q snia 6akafdny. aad Ii
l0a. from - s1ploEsrn, II pay for that 10
Cd, or u y ~ Pesads ef cssras ths ehasa
! ~. Mathsssv-Ars Ioa av,ss whssh'
' there 10 Any 6coteh ~. aeaipss Anpp gpin
.safpr9 Che pt<t naoisfEl>e aad eh1aiping q
whole Of ~ npafY DE- ~ m swiaeoat "a
rsduction - ~ 1ApsaNara ~ the vsI
7 opposite. have been Interested in -
Z whmrp ID Waa uima sand homn. o 4 wns = ~