Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-02
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Meeting at New York Of the House Com
mittee Appointed to- Consider the
Labor Questionable Employ
ment of Machinery
One Cause OF Low Wages and Depression
in Trade-Stupid COmmunistic Ideas
Advanced by the Witnesses,
M'GregOr and Rock.

New YORK, August 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. ).
Hewitt, j. NJ. Thompson, of Pennsylvania;
w. w. Rice, of Massachusetts, and Thomas
A Boyd, of Illinois. Word was received
that Ii. L. Hickey, of Ohio, woold not be
able to serve until after the October elections.
A communication was also received from the
clerk of the committee on accounts of the
house of representatives, detailing what ex-
penses incurred by the committee would not
be allowed. Among these were the services
OF clerk, stenographer and sergeant at
arms. The clerk OF accounts SAID ne would
have conference with the clerk of the
house regarding the matter, and let Hewitt,
who had written on the subject, know. When
the letter had been read the committee went
into executive session to consider the question
as to whether they should go on with the
work, and take the risk OF the OUTLAWS being
paid.
At the close of the executive session the
committee decided by resolution to sit daily,
and to hear such persons 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 erected. He spoke against the
system of giving out contracts for govern-
ment work, as the contractors made the
profit which the government might save by
employing workmen direct. He did not in
tend to apply the rule to private individuals,
and would not advise government to regulate
wages. In answer to the committee, he said
that the Chicago fire had brought many
stonemasOns to this country, but most of
those had gone back again. Much of the
want of permanent employment has arisen
from the use of machinery, the saving Of
stone being now done by steam. Owing to
the hard times, the society has to wink at
members working below full rates. Ii there
were no machinery, the society might compel
men to work only for wages fixed by the
society.
Mr. Rock asked If the government would
not enforce the eight hour law, and Was an
swered that the government would enforce
all laws on the statute book. Some discus
sion ensued on the advantages and disadvan-
tageS of the eight hour law, aad one member
of the social labor union SAID his committee
would be present t.-lHOrr0W, when many
questions not fairly answered by MIR. Rock
would be answered to the better satisfaction
of the committee on worklngmen.
Hugh NJ 'Gregor, one of the self-constituted
committee consisting of Justus Schwab, F.
Bruner and himself, then addressed the COM
mittee ON the subject of the government COL
Letting statistics of the laboring classes, and
so arranging them that they could be readily
referred to.
The chairman thought that Mr.. NJ Gregor
should look over the census aud see what was
omitted, and send his suggestions to the su
perintendent Of the census.
Mr.. M Gregor said that it was the duty of
the United States to examine into every man
ufaotory, take testimony under oath as to the
labor question, inquire into their sanitary
condition, land do everything necessary for the
welfare of the laboring classes. Mr.. M 'Gregor
then charged that the use of machinery was
the cause of lack of employment for men,
and said that the maintenance of families
now devolves on women and children rather
than men.
The committee asked Mr.. M'Gregor If he
was willing to take an oath as to the truth of
what he stated, and he answered that he did
not take an oath, and did not believe in what
was called the everything and true God. He
was then asked how he could expect the gov
eminent to enforce upon others what he had
refused to do-foree others to testify under
oath as TO the way they conducted their pri-
Vate business.
Mr.. M'Gregor then retired, and Justus
Schwab, communist, said he would present
his case tomorrow. The representative Of
the granite cutters attributes the depression
IN his trade to the contract system and ma
He said he was discharged from
the government work in Albany for venti-
lating his views, and that men were kept at
work there who were not skilled workmep,
and who were paid as much as skilled labor
ers Mr. Hewitt said if the witness embodied
his statement in an affidavit he would for
ward 1t to Secretary Sherman and have the
matter investigated
The committee then adjourned until to-
morrow.