New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-28
THE PROCEEDINGS.

"In my official capacity have given specal attention
20 labor statistics and the author OF the recent re
port which has been given 10 the public through the
Yewspapers and otherwise. have compared That re-
port with the census Of 1875, and find the two entirely
in harmony. The number out Of employment Is about
the in 1875 though the census Of 1870 does not
take into account the abOrDg men out Of employment
In il there Is column of those never eploYed-persOns
of lelspre Roth reports exclude those almshOuses
it1nay be that there are few than in 1879
but the difference is very little In 1873 there were
434O receiving indoor assistance in the amshouses OF
Massachusetts,"
@Aftor the panic Of 1873" continued the witness,
''tbere was an increase the number OF paupers all
through the country; this has since been decreasing
steadily have made very extensive inquiries through
out the United States and have found no such cond
ton OF things as has been represented before this COM
mittee have doubt the reports Of destuon IN the
coal region correct but 1t is diminishing cannot
tell the causes Of this any than can tell how an
apple grows; have found great difficulty in account
ing for periods prosperity of suffering do not
believe that the relief has very greatly from The
removal Of the unemployed to other places you cannot
make a State prosperous by depOpulating IT,"
Mr. Hewitt-But II labor needed 1000 miles away,
might not money spent in feeding paupers here
be more profably expended moving laborers theref
Alt would II you could select the right men, but you
would not make it advantageous Any interference ON
the part of the Government would be only unpToht
able bat disastrous The same principle works in this
the South; offer these unemployed men such farm IN
the West Oh condition that he TIL it, and many win re-
fuse to CO. They prefer the city, find the same i'm
provement in other States and in all branches OF trade
except the IRON industry, that have noticed in Massa-
chusetts
Mr. Hewitt can speak for the IRON trade; the diff
cues in that are the increase and do not see how
any bas-fu1naee can be run at profit u is probable
that all of furnaces are considering whether or
not to close their works.
Mr. Wright said that the shoe manufacturers Of Massa
chusets were eDargng their works, and the Anoskeag
Print Works, at Worcester, n. H., was putting in 900
extra looms. Mr. Crompton, the loom manu-
facturer, had more orders than ne could fill. Mr..
Wright examined the statement in regard to the
unemployed presented TO the committee By
BIr. Moody, on Saturday. He said the figures
were correct, but false deductions had been
drawn from them. Carrying MoOdy's assumptions out
20 logical conclusion" he said eve should have TO
claim that machinery had taken the place OF human
labor entirely Last year the work OF laDOrers in Massa
chu boots and shoes averaged eight hours day.
that Of operatives in cotton mills from nine TO ten hours
day. and that OF carpenters and JOners about nine
hours a day Machinery does not take the place OF
labor it calls for higher class OF labor The wages OF
carpenters have increased from 81 rs IN 1859 to SO so
in 1865 aud thence have fallen 20 81 in 1873 The pur
chasing power OF the wages not quite so great now
it was IN 1852 The wages aud the moral intellectual
steadily improved during the last 100 years by the
Of machinery. In Massachusetts it would require a
population Of 100000 do the work without machin-
cry which is done with a population OF 100000;
the accumulated property Of the State wOad be used
by this extra population in less than two years and the
condition would then be than il China and India
now"
Mr. Hew1tt-The mathematical result Of this is, that
by machinery every person in Massachusetts, has the
productive power OF than five persons while only
one has to be fed A-MachinerY enables men to sub
sst with less labor and them forward to higher
state Of civilization. We suffering from disarrdnge-
ment OF values arising from the rapid transportation OF
goods from part Of the world, where labor cheap
to where il Is dear. There must be readiustment OF
values and while this taking place, there must be
distress in some places Tue readjastment of wages
will not be from the highest TO the lowest but the high
est and lowest viii find meeting point I am satisfied
that wages have been adequate, but am not pre-
pared 70 say that luneraon Of capital engaged
in industrial enterprises has been too great LaDorers
are not support their families and lay up money!
# money is saved, It by the labor Of women and chill
dren in the family; this to Is the saddest feature OF
tie labor question; whenever child goes Into mil 10
work. uterferes with the regular rate Of wages Of
adults.
THE DUTY or CONGRESS.
Mr.. Hewtt-HOw wages IN Massachusetts be
adjusted so to compete with the cheap labor OF BEL
GUM If you prohibit tho women andcldren from work
ingi Al don't think the rate of wages can be forcbly
adjusted Il is of more importance that the State and
Nafional Legislatures enact Just and equitable laws
than that they pass special acts for the workngmen
The question Of taxation Of the most vial OF the
present time.
Mr. Hewltt-Can you name any other way in
which Congress can benefit the worhngmen than
through laws relating taxatiOnf A-They might ad
s0urn perhaps. lLaughterI
Q-But do you not know that the expenses 90 on when
Congress Is not in session. Ayes but we might better
pay the members $685. coo not to meet at ALL
o-Is there any othor direction in which Congress can
benefit the wOrkngmen than through the taxing power
Alt can maintain currency as is its duty, always at
mar with gold and silver the currency If the commercial
world: it can refrain from dsafrangng values by arb
trary legislation 1 not opposed TO an income TAX
theoretically, but perhaps there are such difficulties
connected with the collection that would not H.
Mr. Rice-Is there any way in which the tendency OF
nercommunieatoD etc, TO reouce wages In this coui-
try can be adyantageously checked Al know OF no
way.
o-suppose we had a protective tariff which really
protected industry would t that efeetf Al can
state NY own belief; industry should be protected
until It is able stand alone. Then the protection
should be removed thus the wages would be for time
kept up.
Mr. Hewitt-would It be more than for time-wonld
xaRcs not tan ultimately A.-WeI, let them fan ;
provide the remedy when the trouble comes In the
meantime no harm would be done to any one, If the
tariff were wisely aC1ustoo. SEQ no IeasOh AVi 0H0
4ar,a on wool, and think the very wOrkingnen en-
ployed 10 woOlen mills to-day suffering for the tariff
on raw WOOL would protect labor and not the soil
TIE SHOE AND LEATHER TRADE.
J. II. Walker, Of Worcester, a manufacturer OF
boots and shoes In that city, and OF leather at Chi
cago was next called. and was examined by Mr. kiee
He said: employ 497 mon, and do business OF about
s2OOoOOO year. ! began life working at the bench,
and have built up my business, and made ell the
money possess The boot and shoe business is consid
cred next in importance that Of agriculture In the
United states have before me the statisties OF the
shipmeu OF eases OF boots shoes and rubbes from Bos