The daily gazette., 1878-08-07
FIFTH EDITION.
The Labor Question lnvestiga-
tiOn,

New YORK, Aug. 6.-This being the
last day of the. congressional labor investi-
CATION committee the attendance was un-
usually large. The majority of "volun-
taers" carried copious documents, ready
to be heard individually OF collect velly,
and were somewhat clamorous.
Geo. e. McNeill, president Of the Inter-
national Workmens Union, residing in
West Somerville, Mas, was the first
witness. The whole difficulty, in his opin-
ion, Is the wages system of labor; or, in
other words, that the wage system aud
steam engine are contemporaneous, and
that productive power has exceeded the
power of consumption. He favored the
eight-hour law throughout tho country.
Mr.. Peck, Of Bowling, Coppeencut,
followed. He thought that instead of
lending hundred of Millions of dollars to
banks the government should lend seme
few hundred millions, free of interest, to
the worKnen. He read long petition to
Congress asking the government to lend
any man $1,000 to build a house with, the
amount to be paid back by installments.
Mr.. M. Sellick was for abolishing the
y nited States Senate; restricting the
power of Congress and the President;
issue SOB per capita; curtaIibg the hours
OF labor to SIX, and allow no one outside
OF the labor bureau to employ laborers.
Mr Kemp believed the cause of the de-
Preston WAS, the war over, the issue of
currency, extravaganza caused by the
short period OF infiatlon, and hgh pro-
ttctive tariff, all of which ought to be
remedied.
Mr.. Hewitt read the following ques-
tions, which the committee submit to the
public.
The congressional committee earnestly
request the cooperation of the public Ia
al sections OF the country in obtaining
Information TO aid in practical solution
OF the important questions submitted to
~. 1t especially invites suggestions from
representative men in all departments of
business. 1t proposes the following
questions to employers of labor through
out the country.
"First.-What were the selling prices
OF your products in 1850 and In each sub
sequent year down to 1873, inclusive?
Second. were the wages paid
by you In each Of these years for the
employed?
"Third.-Where the persons furnishing
Information are willingly to do so, the
committee invites them to state the per-
centage Of profit made by them In each
OF these years upon the capital employed
in their bust ness.
| "Fourth.-what were the wholesale
and retail prices of the leading articles OF
family consumption during each OF these
years in your vicinity?
| "Ffth.-What is the difference, IL any
between the rents of tenAments occupied
/ W operatives in the years 1866 and 1878
in your vicinity?
! "Sixth.-What was the comparativ ve
amount OF the products of your busines'
and 1887
I "Seventh.-State the comparativt VI
steadiness of employment of operatives
between the year 1860 and 1873, Inclu
sive."
The committee Invites suggestions from
employers and employed az to the exten
ana causes OF the present depression o
business, and as to any special fedora
legislation which in their opinion, woul,
tend to relieve the same.
, The committee will hold their mex
| session IN the New York postoffice, O
Tuesday, August 20, at IL A. NJ.