The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-02
HEARING THE W0RKINGMEN.
MOURNING INTO THE CICSEs OF BUsI-
NESS DEPRESSION.
Mr.. \. =. Hewitt mud Three Other Conrress-
men Receive Testimony and suggestions
The Grievances orStonc Nasons and Cutters

Mr.. 4. =. Hewitt mud Three Other Conrres.-
men Receive Testimony aud sugyestion.-
The Grievnnc~sorStonc Nasons and Cutters
The committee Of the House Of Repro
sentatives appointed ito inquire into and ns-
certain the causes Of general business dcprcs-
zion. especially Of labor. and to devise and pro-
pose measures Of relief" began its sessions in
Postmaster James's private ofllco yesterday.
The members present were Abram s. Hewitt Of
New York. W. W. Rice of Massachusetts.
j. NJ. Thompson of Pennsylvania. aud
It. A. Boyd Of Illinois. They decided to
hold daily sessions. beginning Mt IL A.
NJ. for the purpose OF hearing testimony and
suggestions from such citizens rs desire to adj
dress them. Mossrs. Rice. Thompson and
Boyd are lawyers. Justus Schwab. with his as
sociatcs. and the representatives Of several
trnde organizations appeared promptly. The
first grievance presented was that Of Thomas
Rock. representing tho stone masons.
His complaint was that the Govern
mcnt OF tho United States. while erecting
buildings in this city. has its stonework
cut elsewhere. lie thought that tho stone should
be brought here in tho rough and the work
done here. He also wished to have American
citizens preferred as laborcrs on public works.
He asked for u law to compel all tho work on
public building to be done. MS far as possible. in
]
The Eight Hour law ought to be enforced on
Government work.
Mr.. Rcc-Thc law requires tho work TO he
done by contract TO the lowest bidder. Would
you have that law abolished II not I do not
see how you can prevent the contractors getting
MIR. Rock thought that the contractors might
be required 10 do the work in any part Of the
| country whore building was To h. erected
| H. wanted the abuses of tho percentage system
| abolished.
Mr., Hewitt said that the immense cost Of the
sV.t 4 e, fItn
| allowance OF percentage to the contractor: but
| no knew that there WIS no such method now,
| ana thr system OF contracts had tnken lis place.
-, Mr. Rock was asked whether he would have
W. ne, dovSrnmcnt prevent private individuals
| could be executed In tho city. and he replied
starving; that about 500 stor@cutters were ere
had to pledge their tools ' 10 get pass ass.
axe from here. liz thought that the old
| wages ~ 1928 Tor nine hours work was
hetter ply thnn SO For eight hours work now.
| Mr.. Rock further expressed the opinion that
many stonecuiiers out OF employment. hut he
would not hnye any legal interference with
machinery liz thought the machines COM
| pctlng with each othor would rain the owners
| of the machines. Some men he knew were
working as lowas 80 per day.
| Mr.. H"wiu-Then you nave learned that there
Is some force at work greater than the power OF
Yes sir; the power Of starvation" was the
MIR. Hugh McGregor. IA iourncyman jewellcr
gave his views OF what should be- done. He
| thought that there should be q bureau estab-
! shed To secure all the data with reference to
| the social condition Of the people. and then to
| suggest remedies by legislation Mr. McGreror
said that thero exists among work inginen u
| smouldering discomfort. ready to burst out
at any moment. that could be removed only by
| radical change. The necessity has sprung up
| Of finding how people are TO get work. and the
| revoution.sts have formulated It into a demand
| Tor the right 10 labor.
| Mr.. Hewitt-Do you think II would reduce the
| price OF the Shoes thnt you want II the Govern
| ment should reduce the number Of shoes pro-
dueed or the number Of persons EMPLOYED
Mr., MeGregor replied. No" He held that
| mankind have been benefited by the Use OF ma
J chinery. but that benefit would be- derived by
/ reducing tue hours OF Mhor 10y legislation. In
reply 10 Mr.. Rice. he said that he thought fewer
| men Were working az any branch ot industry
| where machinery Is employed than were re-
CURED before. He was certain that a greater
amount Of work was done by women and chill
| dren than ever before.
Suppose we could bring about this state ~
things-that We could have eycrythingw ithout
When that is done" Mr.. McGregor said.
the people, will get the benefit OF the use Of
lie explained that he was a Socialist. not a
Communist. lie believed IN proper and iair
MI. Hewitt said that the Government was
working Tor M Greatest good ot ne greatest
number and Mr.. McGregor said that he was
worrying for the good OF the whole.
That" Mr. Hewitt retorted ' is only another
way OF saving the same thing
Mr.. Hewitt summarized McGregor's speech
by saying. Then | presume your practical
suggestion Is that We must seek all the infor-
matlon, we can on very important subleuY'
Mr. McGrcgor-Nes. and demand that you
suggest appropriate legislation.
| Mr.. Cornelius OSullivan OF the Granite Cut
ters' Union. who said that he had done duty ms
soldier. next appeared. and on behalf Of his
society opposed tho system of letting out Gov
| eminent work To contractors. because he he
lleyed that the work mcn were poorly paid un-
der that system. His remedy would be- 10 have
the Government do its own work exclusively
Itself. ana allow no politicians TO control Il.
| Mr. Hewitt How are we TO stop thcml
| Mr. O'Sulllvan-Thuts very strange ques-
ton for man OF your Legislative experience.
Mr. Hewitt never had man appointed and
Iwant TO ilnd, out how To stop the other fellows.
| lLhughterI 1T the Government docs It's own
work would i not bring about the very evil you
complain Of?
Mr. O'Sullivan-I will agree with you when
you say there are no honest men in the coun-
Mr. Hcwitt-Oh. did not say that.
| Mr.. OSullNun lurlneI complained Of tho om-
ployment, Of unskilful men on Government
work and repeated his proposition Of Keeping
| the swndllng politicians Out OF power.
Mr.. BOyd-l understand your proposition 10
BE- To- give the politician the control Of the labor
ers, insteud OF the contractors.
| Mr.. O.SulllVun had personal grievance for
having been dismissed from the service Of tho
Government for speaking. his mind. but Mr..
| Hewitt referred him 10 the member OF Con-
grcss from his district for redress. He was
| specially Rggrevrd NJ the Bodwell Granite
| Company for getting Government work. and
said that the principal man in it WAS an Old
Several Of the witnesses questioned the com
| mittee IN their turn, ana Mr.. H"wlit good
| nAturedly replied that he was not there 10 be
| Mr.. Justus SchWah WAS offered AN opportunity
10 address the committee but he declined and
tho committee adjourned until to-day.
| Among those who will address the committee
| are G. W, MADDOX, II. KOmpe. and J. II. Hobart
Ward. Olher speakers more widely known will
follow.