The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-15
CAPITAL AND LABOR.


the sun, and expect to confirm the discovery
by other observations.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
Meeting Of the Congressional Commit
tee ON the Labor Question.
The Committee of the National House
of Representatives to consider the financial and
labor depression question met in New York City,
on the LIST. There were present Messrs. A. 3.
Hewitt IN. W. J. NJ. Thompson (Pa.). w. w.
Rice lMassl and Thomas 4: Bpyd Hl1 Word ord
be able to serve until after the October elections
After an executive session. the Committee de-
Saed to cit daily ana 6sar su th as
Thomas Rock, WIG Represented ed the stone stone
thst mi ,sns see work. should be Same by
people Of the place in which the Government
buildings are being erected. He spoke against
ment work. a. the contractor made the profit
ing the workmen direct. He did not intend to
not advise the Government to regulate wages.
Much Of the want Of employment has arisen
from the use of machinery. the saving OF stone
machinery. the society might compel men to
work only for wages fixed by the society. -.
Hugh McGreeor; one Of the self-constltuted
Brunor and himself. addressed the Committee
on the subject of the Government collecting
sn they eona b readily
He said it was the duty of the United States
to examine into every mandatory, take
question. inquire into their sanitary condition
and do everything necessary for the welfare OF
the laboring classes. He charged that the use of
ment for men, and said the maintenance
of families now devolves on the wom-
and children rather than the h. msn
willing to take an oath rs to the truth of what he
stated, and he answered he did not take an oath.
and did not believe in what was called the Eyer
he could expect the Government to enforce upon
Others what he had refused to do: force Others to
testify. under oath, as to the way they conducted
their private business.
The representative of the granite-cutters at
tributed the depression in his trade to the con-
charged from Government work in Albany for
ventilating his views, and that men were kept at
work there who were not skilled wOrkmen, and
who were paid as much rs skilled labor. Mr..
Hewitt said if the witness embodied his state
ment in an affidavit he would forward it to Sec'y
Sherman and have the matter investigated.
BARToLOMEE, Chairman of the
"Social Democratic party stated before the
Committee, on the I'd, that the times are now
worse than they were in 1870. He urged the es-
tablishment of Labor Bureau similar to that in
Massachusetts. and that no politician should be
allowed to have anything to do with it. He
would have no accumulation of capital in private
hands. but under the control of the Government
tor the beneht OF the people.
Isaac Bennett cigar-maker advocated the reg
ulatiOn of the use of machinery, not its destruc-
ton. He wanted machinery regulated to such
ness of workmen. He said the reduction of the
time of labor to eight hours per day would in
crease wages; but did not reply to a question as
NrNf dnNy'o lab
hours would not then still further increase wages.
Adolph DOuai, of the Socialstic Labor party
next appeared. and maintained that the Govern
ment ought to provide land for every man and
woman in the United States. He claimed that
the Government should enact a law to prevent
day.
any occupation that would be injurious to their
health or constitution.
Greenback party, ascribed the depression in Ia
Dor to the bond system, saying that the people
take their money out Of manufactures and in
He denounced the railroad land grants, and
thought the Government should have built
their own, railroads The great means,
the isborine classes '' was ' for the Gov.
eminent to assist them to settle on the public
lands, and insure them support until they reaped
Congress were in favor of large manufacturers
and dealers and tended to crush out the middle
and small classes.
views were similar to those given, the Committee
invited the manufacturers, business men, etc..
to give their views.
The workingmen's representatives
were on the stand again. on the Sd, and they laid
the blame of the depression in business to Ma
tiona and State legislation. the granting of lands
to RAILROAD and other corporations and the grant,
ing of large interest on bonds. They advanced
the idea that the Government should assist men
to settle on the public lands.
W. A. A. Carsey who said he was bricklayer
and an editor, declared that, in his opinion, the
pubic-school system was bad. The Government,
he claimed. should establish schools where me-
chanical trades and arts would be taught. He
denounced the contract system, under National,
State and City Governments. and said that UNI
der that system the work was of the worst posi-
bic construction, and it gave an opportunity to
| and employ Chinese and others, against
whom American labOrers could not compete,
because the latter cannot live as the former do.
He thought it bad policy for any Government to
| encourage swarns of foreigners to drive out the
native latorers. Knowing the temper and needs
Of the Morkngmen he felt certain that. if Con
| liOrating legislation, the coming winter could
| not pass without trouble, and without a repeti.
| ton of the labor riots of last summer. good
movement would be the institution Of a compre-
hensive system of internal Improvements, and
the imitation Of the currency to carry on the i'm
George W. Maddox, of the Congress of HUI
manity." wanted the Government to Issue
$l4 Goo, 0C0 Ool to New York to build docks
| to other cities to be expended in public works
When these works would have made sufficient
returns. then let the Government be paid back,
Mrs. Myra Hale who announced herself a
member Of the Congress of humanity of the
World said the first step necessary to bring
frage to women. Give women the ballot and ev-
| erything would be lovely and perfect.
James U DOnnell, who announced that he rep
resented only his sovereign SELF said the non.
sense of previous speakers the past two days had
panied him. He wanted neither greenbacks no!
| want some satisfactory manner of arbitration
between master and man, restriction of the
rights of patentees, and the right to work wher-
ever and whenever he could get it, and for as
many hours as he chose.
SEVERAL "labor reformers'' were
before the Committee on the 9Th. Among them
| was one named Robb, who read a lengthy state
| ment and said no man had right to give title
| for land, for God says. "Ye shall not sell the
land forever" We have violated the laws Of
God, and fraud and perjury prevail everywhere
Maurice Cohen, formerly q manufacturer Of
ed him out and were crowding out all the small
| Dealers and he requested the Committee to at
! tend to these matters.
Union. held that we do not desire the outlaws
Government. He did not intend to denounce
|
nounced railroad monopolies and the raising Of
prices of provisions. ETC., by stock jObbing AND
speculation. Reduce the tariff and stop sectional
legislation. Stop railroad jobs and give the
| country the benefit. Our shipping has beer
driven off the seas by foreign steamers. HI
would tax steamers in favor of freight. He be
ieved the large unemployed population in cite:
ought to be sent to the prairie lands and settled
thereon by private enterprise.
Mr.. Hewitt asked Mr.. Marshall. large ship
owner, to give his views. MIR. Marshall said h
did not want any protection against steamers
He thought the removal of taxes as much a,
possible consistently with revenue necessitie,
would revive trade and the abolition of the pro
hibitOry law preventing Americans from buy
ing their vessels abroad would revive the ship
ping trade.
Horatio D. Shepherd, of the National Reform
Association, attributed the present depression
to mistakes in the currency QuestiOn-tOO mucl
imitation and not enough taxation:
The President of the Cigar Makers Unior
spoke of the cause of the depression in tn,
cigar trade only. He said while the number q
cigars manufactured steadily increased tn,
condition of the cigar-makers got worse
The trouble has been caused by the Genera
Government by q system Of taxation which
throws business into the hands Of large manu-
facturers. The first cause il the introduction o
5000 Coolies into the trade in San Francisco ant
IN New York the tenement-hOuse system causet
ruin. The system is q shame and disgrace. Tn
whole family. man, woman and children. worl
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