The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-07
LABOR REFORM.
Startling Propositions Made to the
Congressional Committee.
GREENBACKERS DISOWNED.
The Enforcement of the Eight-Hour
Law Demanded.
ABOLISH WHITE SLAVERY.
4 Clothing Manufacturers Views on Sew
ing Women's Wages
ADJOURNMENT OF THE COMMITTEE.
GREENBACKERS DISOWNED.
ABOLISH WHITE SLAVERY.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE COMMITTEE.

dDJOU nv MENl OC IHE OOuMi 41I,s
very large number Of witnesses were examined
yesterday BY Mr.. Hewitt whe Tor the greater part Of
the day, was himself the committee. During large
portion Ut tho examination the audience, whe were
more numerous than ever before, laughed uproar-
iously.
Mr. George E. Mcneil was the first witness called BY
Mr. Hewitt member Of the audience arose and said
sxcitsdly, 'Mr Chairman the clerk Informs me that
am the hrss witness this morning"
Mr. Hevitt-The Chairman informs you now that
Mr. Mcneil Is the first witness
Mr. McNs, said he was the President Of the Interna
tional Labor Union. body OF 1000 to 1000 mon, and
bad tho honor OF serving as deputy Of the Massachu
sets Labor Bureau He resided West Somerville,
Mass
Mr. Hewita-what 10 your businessf 4. am
taxi ne charge of some unproductive property Of q
broken nk-tiaughser}-and am also interested ia
tho manufacture Of agricultural machinery.
NJ. Hewitt asked Mr.. McNc 70 explain the
causes Of the present distress OF workiagmen.
Mr. McNeii-The cause Of this distress began when
the laborsr lost his power sell tho product Of his
labor and
Mr. Rice-Whsn did he lose thats A. Well there
are different opinions about that. Some say that Il
began In Italy about the fourteenth century. sup
pose began, for all It's practical purposes with the
congregation Of laborers 10 England abou. hundred
years ago.
Mr. Hswitt-You think the wage system 10 at the
bottom Of the dspressien2 A. Yes, l do; the wage
system - we'll the excess Of production by ma
chinery.
O. Was the system before that bsstsr9 A. No, sir;
u
q Thsn the wage system is really an improve
mont A. II u better system-it is o step to some
thing better; the power to consume has also not
kept pace with the powor to produce; do not want
70 and fault with machinery, and, therefore, put II
mat way.
@. Was there glut Of goods in 1871
Mr.. Mcneil thought there was, but Mr. Hewitt in.
Iisted that In 1872 there excessive demand
instead Of an excessive supply. Mr. Mcneil then ad-
nisted that the glut Of goods In 1872 was only inter-
mittent. II was this intermittent condition Of
over production which he desired to cure Mr.. Mcneil
urged the stringent enforcement Of the eight hour
Law. All work for tho government should DO oone
on the eight-hour principle.
Nr. Hewitt am Interested In iron mill which
might take contract for government building.
Eos, would va compel me to 30 back to the miners
va dug my to ascortain whether they work
Ing more than eight hours day In digging the ore?
l. Yes I would.
Q. Well, how could separate tho ore intended for
hc government work from shat destined for private
purposesP A. know there would DO many difculttss
and l would have the Law entorssd only 20 far a.
practicable. '.' @"S,- 100 80 ~ 81
DIFFICULTIES sUGaxsfxH ss; ~
Q. You know that in rolling iroawoodsn patterns
used and In making these patterns glue has 10 BE-
used which 10 made OF waste material got mostly from
tho butcher shops Now, would you have mo, %
government contractor, compelled TO 70 back and nd
out whether this butcher In sIaughsering hrs cattle
only worked his men eight hours per Day A. Iwould,
most undoubtedly. loud laughter.)
Mr. McNoil said the eight hour Law should he 30
amended that the issue OF every patent should In
voIvs the obligation TO work the patented machine
eight hours . day and NO more.
Mr.. HOwitt-supposs l employ In my mill 1000
men who, though they not well paaa, least
mill runs day and night Now this law which ysu
suggest passed and the patented machiues OF the
discharge q large number Of my men. VINO would
then s0ncr more the employer or the smploy6sY A.
DO not say that every Mill must b. run only Sigh.
hours II u isn't practicable to do II I wouldn't
MI Hewitt suggested other difficulties, and Mr..
Mcneil admitted that there were many difficulties
overcome. he dad not pretend 10 have answers Tor
snswcr them 10 the future. fhe great difficulty was
that this question had altogether bees considered by
View. Mr.. Hewitt asked MIN il no had ever heard Of
Thornton, Mill, Fawostt Hughes, Harrison; bot Mr..
Mcneil insisted That these few men were only sxesp
items.
MI. Hewitt-ws. then, how many political econe-
MI McNeil-Every member OF Congress, whom no
goes before bis district prctends to be political
economist, anxious 10 reform the condition Of tho
MI. Hewitt. witt assure you that whom they 20. to
Congress they ali deny being political economists, SO
shAt We have nons shsrs. G.aughterl
Mr. Reeve mention these difncuitiss In order TO
oifnocisses, Tor even ssntismss Who hes gwen as
much STUDY 70 the subject a. you Is nos able to
MI. Mcneil again promised 10 answer those quss-
tions in the future but insisted At the that
these difficulties would In the end turn out 10 DO
Mr.. Hewitt have doubt that every man In
snis room could suggcst another dnlcuty his own
particular branch OF business.
Mr.. Rice--Of course, We all agree with you In con-
siderng IL most desirable that working nen should
have TO work less hours and have time for their
instruction and Improvement Just show US how
Congrofs cau eject this change by legislation IL Il
the gradual co-opcra,on OF The two classes Of
Mr.. Mcneil thought that tho committee could 10 a
good deal toward solving this question. "rhs Is the
most important coinmltteo sitting the planet
sarth.n loud applause
Mr.. Hewitt modsstIy urged that a committee OF
also o nation Of forty millions.
Mr.. MeNeiEone thing you certainly can agree
establishment OF a labor bureau.
SUGGESTION HEWITT.
Mr.. Howitt-Don't you think that II would DO I'm
possible lsr us 10 dispose OF such nm
lion brief recess OF Congress, and that, there
iors, and Mr. Rice ought TO DO sent back to Con-
gresaf loud iaughtcL)
Mr.. Mcneil, In conclusion, urged that this working
mons move ment had nothing Whatever In common
with the greenbnck movement.
Mr.. A. T. Peck was next called, but member Of the
audience rose and declared that he desired to submit
somsthing entirely new, and sweep away "tns scrub
oak OF details" HIS hearing was postponed, aud
then Mr. Peck explained that the true remedy Tor the
present distress was for the government 10 Dcnd
everybody S. 900 IN paper money Tor building HIM
sell Homestead Tho announcement OF this remedy
was greeted with loud hiIarity. Mr. Peck, who came
n m fha tuhla m IN nla N
continued that N tho government could lend three
hundred millions to 100 900 national bankers without
interest ~ could cnd inc same TO the work.
ingmen free OF interest,"
MI Hewnt-Iow would you redeem the notesr A.
In mortgage bondsl
And how would you redeem those mortgage
bondsf A. with terrific blow upon the table, which
tent all the pencils OF The stsnographer nyiDg)-How
10 you redeem your bank notesY When you answer
this question III unswar voura.