The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-02-22

CALIFORNIA.
SAN FRANCIsco, Cal. Feb II. 1873.
r. The Editor uf TIE WoKAlNeAANs ADVOCATE
Money is very scarce with the poor in
this city, ana plenty among the rich. which
We lind ont when man gets So hard run
he is willing to sacrifice his homestead or
pay an eXorbitant interest for the means
10 live upon. have heard Of even five
Per cent. month being paid for small
amounts on short time The bank inter
est ranges from ten To fifteen per cent. per
annumn, and II takes the very best Of
SECURITY
To get ID the fact Is those who have plenty
are about the only persons who can give
the security, and, Of course, they don't
want It. The last year has been very hard
on the psor mechanic ; many are out q
employment even now though times have
improved very considerably Much IF
tins. however grows out IF the fact that
many mechanics have left here for other
cities, tnus making the number less 10 be
employed in nearly All the trades The iron
workers ARE more generally employed than
any others.
rHF ORDER or UNITED MECHANICS
has increased since ! wrote you last, but
there D. not enough enthusiasm among
them yyt Thr dues Are very small. only
twenty nvr CENTS pcr month put that y
considerable money when a man has none,
and No. work To make 1t. We have now
three >Hor~ IF United Mechanics and one
SENATE NJ the Order. Other petitions FIR
charter, are uut, iu the hands NJ different
trldysmcn. with some prospect uf success /.
hut times must be better before We can
expect much excitement.
AMONG MFrHANIrs.
They ary always very liberal when they
have trw dollars III their packets. but
uuw there Is a great amount of fear rvinccd
by luurnrymcu: many of them believe
they Will bee discharged if they are known
to hrluu. ~ trade unions Ii is very hu-
initiating tu think VT. bur u Il lameutahly
true. durn. such hard times. M when
there are more hands than are wanted to
10 the work The order of United Me
chanics Will enable many 10 h.de the tact
that they are members.
THE WAGES
arc about the same NY last reported and
| published ia your paper from the can
That Is. hrcklaycrs. - for eight hours
work. plastercrs the same House-carpen-
tcrs -. for ten hours, except on public
work. then It i - for eight hours. Stone
lnasuns -ct 81 tnr ten hours not much
doing iron workers ret from 81 % To 81,
ana few III the finer wurkmeu get more.
! The laborers get from twenty to thirty
dollars per month and found, all paid in
gold.
LABOR SCHOOLS
Are now agitatng the public mind. Cur
great number III IDLE boys, called hood
| ums. present question Of serious con
sideration, and parents begin to think Of
/ the necessity of their sons learning trade
while being taught AZ school. 80 far as
am concerned. | am decidedly in favor Of
making every boy learn trade, both rich
and poor Then they viii start on a com
mon level. and nothing but superior intel
! lect and industrious habits will excel In
the race of life with the next generation.
THE ME,HANICs
propose to organize 4 committee ~ lawyers,
tcachci and mechanics. to discuss the sub
| Jet and prepare bill I" be presented to
| the next legislature. with view To having
the law put m force next year. All are IN
| favor Of some plan to give the boys trade,
| Tut they differ a. I'D details All the pa
pers have expressed themselves III favor Of
| the measure. and some with great enthu-
siasm. am inclined to think something
will he done the coming session of the
| Legislature.
the FINANCES
~ the country begin To assume good
shape in the minds IF the people and elic-
its conversation upon the subject. Many
| ideas advanced are crude and impractical
| bic. but that very fact causes discussion.
Mind rubbing against mind, sharpens
I the understanding, and will no doubt de-
| velop something worthy ~ consideration
| You have several very good articles upon
/ the subject The method Of getting money
ON SIX per cent bonds. Is startling when
worked out to a conclusion Of what can
be done by their purchase and deposit
with the United States Treasurer.
THAT MILLION
Of dollars could be deposited, and $500,
! 900 in greenbacks drawn out, was very
simple. but when it is deposited twenty
| TIMES, and makes half million, out Of the
| one million ia the course If a year it was
\ rather more startling, and looked incred-
/ lille until made the calculation and even
now | can scarcely credit my understand
ing, but anybody can determine it for
themselves am pleased with the plan
proposed BY senator Cole. In fact, there
is no reason why the Government should
not furnish the currency, take up the
bonds and stop the interest.
CONVERTIBLE BONDS
would be great convenience for as cur