The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-05
LABOR QUESTION.
Congressional Committee at New
York,

N0tN
New York, August 3.-The Congres.
sional Committee on the labor question
continues It's session to day. The Work.
ingmen's representatives. were on the
stand again, and they laid the blame Of
depression in business to National and
State legislation, granting Of lands TO
railroads, and granting OF large interest
on bonds. They advanced the idea that
the Government should pass the home.
stead law, and throw the public lands
open to settlement, and assist men TO set
tie there.
W. A. Corsey, who said he was brick.
layer and editor, declared that in his
opinion the public school system was bad.
The Government, he claimed, should es.
tabish schools where mechanical trades
and arts would be taught. He denounced
the contract system under National, State
and city governments, and as conse-
Quence the work was OF the worst possible
construction, and il gave opportunity to
men to grind the laboring class and EN-
ploy Chinese and others against whom
the American laborers could not com pete,
because the latter cannot live as the
former do. He thought il bad policy for
any Government 10 encourage swarms OF
foreigners 10 drive out native Iaborers.
Corsey appealed 10 the committee 10 i'm
press on their fellow Congressman the
necessity OF some legislation this winter
which will bring relief to the working
class. Knowing the temper and needs Of
working men, he felt certain that il Con.
gress did not step in al an early day with
amellorating Legislation, this winter could
not pass without trouble and without a
repetition OF the riots Of last summer. A
good movement would be the institution
Of comprehensive system OF internal
improvements and initiation OF currency
to carry on those improvements. He
said he would have strong central Gov
ernment, which would issue it's notes to
assist it, people, and looked upon by
people as the real government OF the
country, strong, popular and protecting.
He would have seamen work on shore,
and the army sent TO the plains, where
they are needed. He advocated the green.
back System, but said, let Congress- give
the country Homestead Act, with assist.
ance to settle on the public lands, and
comprehensive Internal Improvement
Act. The workingmen would fight out
the initiation question at the polls. He
did not believe the laborlng classes were
willing to starve for eight or ten years to
prevent a panic.
J.O.borne Ward, who said he was an
organizer OF the SOcialis,ic party in
Brooklyn, advocated grand co'opera.
ton Of Christian society, in which ever.
thing was 10 be equal and in common.
George w. Maudux, OF the Congress OF
Humanity, wanted the Government to
issue fourteen thousand million dollars
or 40 to New York, to build docks, &c.,
and comparatively similar Sums to other
cities, 10 be expended in public works.
When these works would have made
sufficient returns, then let them be paid
back, and the notes destroyed, az can
celIsd bonds are.
J. Osborne Ward. organizer, in Brook.
lyn OF the Socialist Labor party, advocates
grand co operative Christian Society,
embracing all the people Of the United
States with the Government as Il nucleus.
In this Society everything was 10 be equal
and IN common.
Mr.. Ward kept the audience in
laughing humor by his peculiar answers
to the questions OF the committee.
Mrs. s. Myra Hall, who announced
herself member OF the Congress Of HUI
manity OF the World, said the first step
necessary to bring back prosperity TO the
was 10 grant woman suffrage.
Give women the ballot and everything
will be lovely and perfect.
Robert Rheum characterized as wrong
the present financial system, and said the
laws should be amended to allow the
issue OF paper money to much larger
volume than at present.
James J. 0'Donnell, who announced
that he represented only "his sovereign
self" said the nonsense Of the previous
speakers Of the past two days has panied
him. He wanted neither greenbacks nor
nor an eight hour Law. He
did want Eome satisfactory method Of ar
between master and man, a re-
stricIion Of the rights Of patentees, and
the right 10 work wherever and whenever
he could get it, and for as many hours
an he choo
Adjourned till Monday.