Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-09
The Labor Question.

VIEWS OF THE "HoRNY-HANDED THEORISTS. -
The Congressional committee, appointed
by the last House, to inquire into the con-
dition and causes of the depression in labor,
has been in session for several days in New
York city. They have called before them
and heard the views Of number of repre-
sentatives of the laboring classes, and are
accommodating a curious stock of opinions.
The first of the professors of political
economy heard by them, was Thomas Rock
representing the stone-cutters union, who
came to say that he thought the Govern
ment of this country was rich enough to
afford every Ian living, and whose remedy
| for the depression in business was law re-
curing all the cut-stone used in New York
to be cut in that city. He also wanted
prices regulated so that no man should be
allowed to do work outside of New York
city any cheaper than it could be done in
New York
Another philosopher was Robert ii. Bar
tholomee, chairman of delegation from the
''sOclalistic labor party Of America, who
wanted incomes equalized by law. lie was
asked whether if man earned SO, 900 he
should not be paid that amount. The
answer was. Certainly" "Then surprising
he doesn't spend but $4,000, what is he to
do with the other SCOOP" divide it up
between the different cooperative societies."
answered Bartholomee Then" said the
committeeman, "if he If to give up Sc 900,
what Is the use of his trying to earn $l0,-
00O?' Whereat Bartholomee subsidized.
One Hugh McGregor, a jeweller, wanted
Department Of Industry to collect stats
ties. When informed that the census sta
tistcs covered most Of the particulars
specified by him. he appeared to have learn
ed something new hut lie objected to such
statistics that they were not obtained under
oath. Before he got through he avowed
that he himself would not take an oath, un-
der any circumstances, as he did not believe
in God
A. A. Carsey, who described himself as
"a bricklayer, and sometimes an editor"
thought that the Government should I'M
mediately pass a homestead law throwing
all the public land open to settlement, assist
men to settle there, and purchase them farm
ing tools and implements, etc., for one year.
1t would cost the Government nothing e1-
eept the expense of printing the greenbacks.
lie also wanted the Government to institute
extensive public improvements, and print
greenbacks enough to pay for them lie ad-
mitted that such an initiation might be fol-
lowed by another panic, but did not believe
that the laboring classes were willing to
starve for eight or ten years so as to prevent
panic. lie would not do 50 and, if re-
lief could Gene no other way, he wanted the
workingmen to take up arms as the o.
pressed people Of other countries had done.
A woman, Mrs. Myra Hall, went before
the Committee to say that what was wanted
to restore universal prosperity was woman
suffrage. Give women the ballot and all
would be lovely.
George w. Maddox wanted the Govern
ment to issue, say, Sl4 600 900 or so to New
York to build docks, etc., and similar sums
to other cities, to be expended in public
works. When these works have made suf-
icient returns, the Government can DO paid
back and the notes destroyed, as cancelled
bonds are. If man could not get work, it
was the duty of the Government to furnish
him with work. lie was for doing away
with all private business enterprises, and or
ganizing vast cooperative society of the
whole people, the Government to employ