The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-06-03

lar meeting Of the Trades Assembly was held ii
their Hall, on Monday evening, May 92nd, 1871.
Pres. Bradford in the chair. Minutes of pre-
ceeding meeting read and approved.
Credentials we're received from John Fl.
BrusmaA, dslegaas. from Iron MouIders Union
No. 3, in place Of Daniel Thomas whose term
had expired. He vas duly obligated, and took
his seat as e member Of the Assembly.
The Committee on Picnic reported having
secured Parker Grove for June 10th, and that
all arrangements we're being made. Jas. Smith
Treasurer Of the Assembly was made Treasu rer
of the Picnic funds.
IMPORTS OF TRADE.
Machinists and Blacksmiths-Still dun
Coopers Getting little better.
Cigar AAkers-ImprOving slowly.
Machine AouIders-Dull for the season.
Stove Moulders-Shops al closed but one
K. O. s. C.-Mschine branch, &c ting dull ;
custom branch brisk.
Harness Aakers-F,ir
Mr. James Smith stated that the reduction
made IN wages Of rolling-mill men amounted TO
Is per cent that they had been idle seven
months, and had held out against the reduction
for nearly two mouths more, but were finally
compelled to 60 to work. There is no Union
among rOlIins-mill msu in Cotiugton.
Mr.. Walls read the following extract from
the DAILY Enquirer"
MATTERS AT TIE woRKHousE were
Sll prisoners 1t the work house yesterday-96
females Il6 S:ales. OF these over a hundred
are employed IN the various woPkshopa The
work turned out by the prisoners will compare
fAvorably with that of skilled mechanics owing
to the system of discipline INTRODUCED. In
Green woods feunderv the men we're noticed
particularly for their diligence and the rapidity
With which they do their work. Seventy-6ve
tasks are considered days work, but quite q
number Of the prisone lave turned out a.
high as one hundred ana sixty a day each, and
for this excess over the average, the contrac-
tor allows the prisoners two cents q piece for
each flask. The prospects Of their earning a
moiety stimulates the prisoners to renewed ac-
tiVity, and one prisoner is said to have taken
away with him, At the expiration Of his sen
tence, over thirty dollars thus earned"
M. Walls argued that if Mr.. Greenwood was
able to pay two ceats apiece for all TASKS made
over seventy-6ve, he was equally able to pay
the same price for the seventy-6ve. THIS
would be one dollar and a half per day for the
labor Of each prisoner, whereas he is only pay
ing thirty cents for such labor, and is oonss-
quently beating the city of Cincinnati out OF
one dollar and twenty cents on the labor OF
each convict daily.
II - al
House of Refuge we're about to run out, and
that the Directors Of that institute did not de-
sire to renew them, until they had frat heard
from the Trades Assembly what substitute they
had to offer for contract labor. The Director,
know that the system was wrong but they were
in the dark As to the proper remedy for the
wrong, and signi6ed their wish to obtain such
inform alton as the Trades Assembly had to give
n the matter. Mr.. Walls thought that it wa,
time that those who had been fighting this sys-
TEN of contract labor, to come out publicly
and declare what plan they proposed in lieu
the present one. He thought the members o.
the Assembly should consult together and ma
ture q plan, to be made public, 90 that it could
no longer be said shat they proposed to over
turn the existing order Of things without being
able to suggest a new one.
! Mr.. RCrea thought the " mouse in the me al
bag was that Hitchcock, the shoe contractor
in the House Of Refuge was getting tired Of hi
! contract, because his work was not made good
enough to compete with work made outside
He had no doubt that the probability Of Hitch
cock not renewing bis contract led the Direc-
tors to seek information as to some other wa,
Of making the Refuge remunerAtive.
The following report was read by the Secre-
tary as serving to show that an institution sim
liar to that proposed BY the Trades Assembl,
vas already in operation.
Prom T. r. Brock way, Supt. of the Detroi
House Of Correction.
l. The contract system Of labor is not in 10,
in this prison.
T. The number Of hours during which GU
prisoners work varies with the season OF tn
year; in Summer, they work ten hours; il
WiEter, eight nd half
8. The amount Of work performed BY the in
mates Of this prisou is equal, man by man, 4
that which would be performed by the sam
, | GLASS; NOthiuB BbOFb peFlOde OuLsOc
, the quality Of their work 10 equal to that o
free laborera; and the prices obtained for
are about the same.
r l. The industries Of the Detroit house Of cor
reotion are managed by its Superintendent, q
he would manage any ordinary manufacturin
enterprise.
8. We dispose Of the goods produced BY ou
4 inmates, BY sales 70 dealers We seek to des
directly With retailers, and We obtain the sam
prices for TIL are paid for the same kin
and qsslity 0. .oods made outside.
. q. The pecuniary advantages of our syster