The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-02-17
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1875.
An Apprentice System.

iurg few days ago, enhOdicd It's views "a
to what would constitute perfect apprentice
hip system in bill and presented it to til,
legislature for its consideration and favorabl,
action. We have not seen the bill but cart
that among its provisions is one holding the
master employer TO a strict accountability fol
the skill of his apprentice, another holding
the apprentice accountable for the faithful
performance of duty, and another fixing q
definite period for which both apprentice and
master will be obligated to each other,
all interspersed with penalties to ensure full
flment of the apprentice contract. We can
conceive of nothing more important to rising
America than some change from our present
bastard system apprenticeship, which seems
TO obligate no one, but allows both master
and apprentice free scope to learn or not, to
keep covenants or not, or treat all bargains
null and void whenever either chooses to feel
himsclf agrieved at the conduct Of the other.
In fact our present system seems to have re-
solved itself in mere hreing at will, and to
confer no obligations either to teach or to be
set TO teach himself, subject to all the
damnings and jawings which his honest
ignorance or the BOSSES irritability may
draw upon him, and, in the end is turned
out upon the world, after four or five years of
almost gratuitous labor, poor miserable
botch, or so lily instructed in the mysteries of
his calling as TO prove but half hand and
subject to any imposition.
And this, in part, is the why and where
fore of the anlagoniSm of Trades Unions to-
arprenticeships in the different mechanical
industries, not that they fear skilled competi-
rion, but, because the encouragement ofI
botching tends to reduce prices and spoil the
business Of skilled workmen. Experience
teaches that bosses are not, as a general thing
so conscientious that they will refuse to avail
themselves of an apprentice who costs them
hut little, or a botch who cost them but little |
luore, in prelerenc to skilled mechanic whose
services are worth double and quadrupe the
f1rmcr. The most interested in the work to
lie done would be most justly benefited by the |.
employment of the latter, but the Boss makes |
most off Of the apprentice and botch, and as
the man for whom the Boss is doing the job |
j. generally ignorant Of the workmanship, he /
necessarily falls q victim to the ayarice Of
him who has the work in hand 4 proper |
apprenticeship law would remedy this evil, |.
and as a consequence our houses would be !
Letter built, our machinery more truly answer
the purpose intended and cur clothing. /
furniture, and. indeed, all our mechanical /
1acessities vastly better supplied. Under the .
improved system Bosses would be held 1ecun- !
larry responsible in damages for the work
oaen they foisted upon the world. and ap-
rrentices responsible to the Bosses for faith /
tul performance Of duty. There would be
fever drones in the world, fewer mechanics /
20 abandon their calling because apprentice
ship would mean more than cheap labor to /
the Boss and something besides the disacrec-
able groping in the dark and studying how
not to do it to the apprentice These are
considerations which force themselves upon
one when contemplating this question and
are assuredy worthy Of the earnest thought
Of all.
Bat there are other matters worthy Of note
in this regard. We are all apt to boast OF
the excellence OF American mechanism, and
American mechanics of our reapers
and mowers, our locomotives looms and sew
ing machines. our safety locks, watches, and
what not 1t must be conceded that young |
America is not a whit behind the youth ofaDy
o,her land in intellectual or mechanical
capacity, and that elder America Is sharp as
a steel strap, and as full Of invention as 4 nut
i Of meats. But IS 1t not mortifyirg in view
of these unnistakable facts that the most
important positions in our large establish /
ments are filed with foreigners who acquired
their skill abroad. aud that even our, nov
ing machines, our sewing uiachinos, our loco |.
motives, our looms. &c, which won our
premiums in worlds fairs are bat speci-
mems Of the handiwork of Scotchmen. /
Eugiislimen and Germans employed on
American soil. Take almost any town in (
visit them and see whence comes the skill Of
which we boast-take our own Ianite Com
pany and Wooden MiiI as examples, and the
workmeu Of which the hands beast mostla largely
and ha!y are Germans and Hnglishuen. This
rule is not without its exception. but the ex-
ceptioas are al! too few for our credit az pos
SCISSORS OF mechanical skill We speak in
no disparage Of the employmeut Of Eng'ish-
men, Germans or 5cotchmen; il dispagage-
meut OF the American Mechanical capacity
but we speak the truth when We say that
where real skilled labor, in almost any
mechanics! branch, is desired, oar en,erpris-
lug factorymen are compelled to look outside
of the American crowd Ger men to fiji the cald |
These facts are extremely mortifyiag aud
would be cause for unailoyed deSpondency
we're it not that the remedy Of the evil is with
our legislators and easily applied; IL is only