The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-29
THE WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

EFFoRTs OF THE HEWITT COMMITTEE TO
LEARN WHAT CLOGS THEM-APPEARANCE
OF MR. JOHN ROACH - THE COMMITTEE
ApJoURNs TO MEET IN PrTTsBUEG.
When the proceedings in the labor Investigation
commenced at the Post ONCE yesterday Messrs.
Hewitt and Thompson, OF the committee, were pres
cut MT. Rice having been called homo TO Massachu-
sets on a business engagement. Mr. Charles Willis
Elliott first took the witness THAR. Before proceed
ing with the evidence Mr.. Hewitt stated that the
committee had received vast number OF letters,
many OF which would 90 into the report Of the CON-
mittee, but which had not beeu read Tor the
that uch time would have boon required for the
purpose. To show that these communications con-
tanned information of Importance Mr. Hewitt read
two specimens. one OF which urged now statute Of
limitation to take the place Of the Bankrupt Law.
Mr.. Elliott then began TO address the committee.
He said he living in Nebraska. but had been
gagged ut one time in manufacturing household goods
in Boston He had studied the subject OF capital and
labor for some years, both In this country and in
Europe. One OF the principal causes Of the dspres-
SION now existing he believed to be the Introduction
OF machinery, assisted by steam, which produced
yearly much more than could possibly be consumed,
provided the people worked ten hours day. The
results. apparent in England and America,
overstocked market and no prices. Labor had been
rendered almost vaiueIess and capital itself
almost valueIess. He had heard that in ono manu-
featuring town In the State OF Massach usetts
able bodied men received only seventy cents
day. M. Hewitt said this contrary
10 the evidence OF manufacturers OF that State who
had been before the committee. Witness expressed
the opinion that il seventy cents day offered
Tor 10, 600 In the city Of New York the demand
would soon be filled. The witness then went on ut
great length to describe what he considered to be
other portant factors in the stagnaon of business
Nearly all oil them took the form OF monopoly, but
the evidence too oretca 10 10 Of real
10 the committee Among other things the witness
advocated restraining all kinds OF Immigration.
LIGHT
When, as occurred frequently, exceptions
taken by q member OF the COMMITTEES to . statement
Of fact made by witness the would tho
exception and then proceed to argue on tho
original basis though nohng HAD been disproved.
This novel method OF argument provoked great deal
OF merriment. while there were tow who supported
the witness by occasional Indications OF applause At
ono time whom the committee took lhs liberty OF
smiling communisuc appearing individual among
the spectators exclaimed
81 understand that dses committee was appointed
by sunrases OF 70 people u seems 70 mo Eat dey are
re minstrels OF ~ governmental
Mr.. Hewitt responded :-"Pcrsons who have not
been invnedto address the committee Will please
Mr.. Elliott continued to the end of his address, with
alternating Interruptions OF laughter and signs OF APP
provA. slgaF aa ae
Mr.. John Roach, the ship builder, OF Philadelphia,
was the next witness He said he appeared as q
worked as journeyman, IN the times when days
labor from tue rising TO the setting of the
Out OF tho savings OF these fifteen years. at
81 60 per day Tor his services, he was enabled 10
start business. DIR. Roach related how he
receive IN part pay at the end OF week orders
for clothing prov isions that he wanted He said
the old style Of workingmen wore not those who sui
ierca by hard times; 1t was the next generation,
those who wont 10 work at the time when skilled
labor received 3d. "a and SIS per day. Such the
people we had now 10 LOOK the lace, ana they de,
four when he FIRST started IN business. but since
then he mad $500 men In his employ. He
divided labor into three classes:-First those VINO.
utter two three years. employment will And u
necessary go thsr employer oget an advance Of
money to pay the burial expenses Of one OF their
children; second. the Incorporate Glass; third, the
dustri0us saving class, who are struggling 10 gain
on to show Ina. there was much suffering at
the present time among this last named worthy class
That the world aid not near OIL That very morning,
he sald, workman came TO him with TWO papers
his hand Ono was dispossess warrant turning his
widowed mother into the street, and the other drove
him his home, and this iaborer and his lam.
iy were worthy people, saving ana industrious. They
had invested Their earnings In homestead when
property high and when II toll to hfty cent Of
the value they pa1 Tor II they found themselves de-
prvcd OF the savings OF years Yet these people had
no complaint only that they had been unfortunate
Mr. Roach argued that there great deal OF this
unknown suffering among tho laooring classes
oRIGIy TROUBLES. % l'i' e
Then Mr.. Roac went into a briei analysis Of what
no considered were the causes oil our troubles. Ho
began with the "a the first cause, anu traced tho
history OF the perfod OF inflated values down 10 the
collapse. The hour o. valuations came, when
wero to come back 10 our original condition rs
listed before the war. In 1865 he SAID. had gone
largely INTO railroad interests and between then and
1870 in the country 49, 900 miles of
Railroads, crsting $500, o0O, 900
Mr.. Roach believed IN me inrod lou OF
chinery. Ho said he ma been farmer at time
when moving and reaping machines were unkaown,
aud farm Iaborers then got about IS per month Tor
their services nov these machines ana macy others
In use, and iaoorers were PAID twice much
tnan Ut the first period; tue I'm provements IN
machinery went aud in hand with the prosperity OF
worHingmen; NO better example OF this could be cited
shaD England
EsGLASps PROGRESS
Mr. Roach said E"glaad naa been successful because
she had bsen praet'cai when her land was owned ny
lords and dukes sue put II protection on until
her whole territory was made agardsn by tnis means
she had cheap bread and could afford to develop her
Mines when that tame arrived me protection on
corn vas removed; next were introduced her
tion laws aud they were only removed when navy
ana merchant marine were developed aud her supc-
riorily - the sea was established.
Mr. Roucn said his interests were larger as ship
owner tnan u shipbuildsr lie wanted to reply
statements that had been made to the committee by
Mr. Charles H. marshall on The subject OF shpbuIld
ing Mr.. Marshall had ga that wooden ships cos. Tor
building In his country about $50 per ton, about
the same as iron sh ps cost IN England. Mr.. Roach
said that wooden shipUulldng was cnsaper hero IN
ever and could he done Tor $40 even So7 per ton
He agreed WIN Mr.. Marsnai TO great extent MS
views OF the navigation laws lie described tue rise
aud decline vi American sui pm, aud said IN At when
the war broke out, Ii order 10 protect iGc
lis ., 505 tons Of shippns we're taken iron the
msrc. marine service, anu England, without any
Opposition, stepped u to supply the deficiency.
Mr. Roach at considerable length described the
manner IN which he nauguratcd tue line oil steamers
to Brazil nirtosy that Is hmilar TO nearly every
one. He concluded by an argument IN favor OF pro-
lection aud sub id.es to mail lines.
Mr.. US Busscy, cotton merchant Of New
Orleans, addressed the favor Of the ex-
tension OF tho steamship service wherever practicable
Mr.. George A. Potter, "a merchant, spoke on the
financial issues and attributed all our troubles
ovor rcuistion oil currency.
Mr.. Hewitt then idjourncd the committee, saying
they would uext convene IN Pittsburg, than ia Cnic-
ngo, ana hold another sittiDg IN New York tmo
IN October. He expressed a hope that leaders OF
unions would give their views TO the mittee
before the limo arrived Tor making up their report