Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-02

Meeting of the Congressional Committee
to Inquire Into the Condition of the
Laboring Men--A Lot OF Impracticable
Comm unists State Their Grievances
Machinery lhe Great Bane Of the w ork-
insmen.
NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE committee of the
House of Representatives to consider the labor
question, met to day in the postoffice building.
There were present Messrs. a. s. Hewitt, of
New York; ]. M. Thompson, of Pennsylvania;
VIM. W. Rice of Massachusetts, and Thos. A.
Boyd, of Illinois Word was received that Fl. l..
Dickey, of Ohio, would not be able to serve
until after the October elections. A commune
cation was also received from the clerk of the
common accounts of the House of Representa-
tlves detailing what expenses incurred by the
committee would not be allowed. Among
these We're the services of clerks stenogra. ,her
and sergeant-at-arms. The clerk of accounts
said he would have conference with the clerk
of the House regarding the matter, and would
let Hewitt who had written the subject,
know. When the letter had been read the com
mittee went into executive session 80 consider
whether they would go with their work and
take the risk of the outlays being repaid.
At the close of e executive session the
committee decided by resolution to sit daily
and to hear such persona as may appear.
Thomas Rock, who represented the stone
masons, wished the committee to recommend
that all government work should be done by
the people of the place in which government
| buildings are being erected. He spoke against
giving ont con- racts for government work, as
contractors made profit which the government
might save by employing workmen direct. He
did not intend to apply the rule to private ~
civlduals, and would not advise the govern
ment to regulate wages. In answer to the com.
mittee, he said the Chicago fire had brought
many stone masons to this country,
bat most of those had gone back
again. Much of the want of employment has
risen from the use of machinery. saving of
stone being now done by machine. During
hard times the society has to wink at members
working below the full rates. If there was no
| machinery the society might compel men to
| work only for wages fixed by the society. Mr..
Rock asked if the government should not en-
| force the eight hour law, and was answered
that the government should enforce all laws
| on the statute book. Some dis
cussion ensued on the advantages
and disadvantages of the eight hour
| law, in which Rock became often worsted, and
one member of the social labor union said his
committee would be present tomorrow, when
many questions not fairly answered by Rock
would be answered to the better satisfaction
| of the committee and workingmen. Hugh
McGregor one of a .elf-constituted committee,
consisting of Justus Schwab, T. Drummer and
himself. then addressed the committee on the
subject of the government collecting statistics
of the laboring classes and SO arranging them
| that they could be readily referred to. The
chairman thought McGregor should look over
| the census and see what was ommitted, and
send his suggestions to the superintendent of
| The census. McGregor said it the duty of
the United States to examine into
every mandatory, take testimony under
oath as to the labor question, inquire into their
| sanitary condii ion, and do everything necessa-
ry for the welfare of the laboring classes
| McGregor then charged that the use of ma
for ner, and said the maintenance of families
now devolves on women and children rather
| than men. The committee asked McGregor if
ne was willing to take an oath as 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 ever living and true God. He was
then asked how he could expect the government
to enforce upon others what he had refused to
/ do-to force Others to testify under oath as to
| the way they conducted their private business.
McGregor then retired, and Justus Sch,gab.
communist, said he would present his case to-
morrow.
/ representative of the granite cutters at
| tributes the depression in his trade to the con-
! tract system and machinery. He said he was
| discharged from government work in Albany
! for ventilating his views, and that men were
! Kept at work there who were not skilled work.
men, and who were paii much as skilled
! labor. Mr.. Hewitt said if witness embodie q
his statement in an affidavit he would forward
/ 1t to Secretary Sherman to have the matter in
-yestigated. The committee then adjourned til
| tomorrow.