The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-22
TENEMENT HOUSE CIGAR MAKING.

INDIGNATION MEETING OVER THE REJECTION By
TO THE REVENUE LAWS.
About five hundred cigar makers. many of them
accompanied by their wives and daughters assem-
bled last evening in Cooper Union Hall to protest
against the rejection by the United States Senate.
Tuesday last of the proposed amendment to the
internal revenue laws providing that no cigar
mandatory should be used dwelling
or for any other household domestic
purpose. The manufacture Of cheap cigars in tene-
ment houses where whole families often engaged
at the trade eating sleeping and working in the same
apartment has long been of trouble to others
of the same calling, who are employed in factories
aud are members Of the Cigarmakers International
Union of America. These tenement house operatives.
il is claimed compelled TO work from sixteen to
eighteen hours day for starvation wages. and live
under the rod of oversccr unrelcnting any
who ever stood over plantation of slaves. The In
ternatonal Union has for years been fighting tho
tenement house system and at length brought the
matter to the attention of the government The
meeting last night enthusiastic one in its de-
nuncation the action of the Senate in refusing to
amend the laws so as TO give the proestants
the relief they seek.
Mr. l.. Berliner was chosen chairman. and in his
opening address declared that the amendment had
been rejected by a trick; that every senator who
voted against il had committed a crime. Ii was the
continuance and perpctuatfon OF the ineanest kind
of slavery the world ever knew and were the honor
able trial before him for the act he would
ask greater sentence upon them than that they be
condemned to the life OF tenement house cigar
maker. IL their firm purpose to denounce and
expose that stem until Americans would blush to
own its existence in their country.
Mr.. Bertiner then introduced a Mr.. Palda q Boz
hemian, who spoke at length in his native tongue.
A Mr. Taylor followed with an address in German,
following mp the position OF Mr.. Berliner.
SYSTEM.
Mr.. Gompers spoke In English ut some length. He
ONLY hat fha
should know the evils of the tenement house
system to its abolition. He was informed
by an agent of the union In Washington
that at ten O'Clock on Monday night last the pro-
posed amendment was adopted without dissenting
by vote of - to 20 on the yeas and nays His in
fornan added in his letter that the lobby was active
in the interest cf the tenement house Manufacture
ers and that money was freely used. After present.
ing the worst phases of the obnoxious tenement house
system of cigar manufacturing. Mr. uompus &C.
cused the Board OF Health of completely with the
capitalists who maintain them. and asserted that the
inspection of those places by the Sanitary Depart
Incnt was only a farce. the having been
notified in advance 20 prepare for the ordeal This
proceeding he denounced infamous. and wanted
to know what the pablo would think Oh . police
of his intention to raid upon 10.
There several other addresses. and the speak
frequently aud loudly spplauded.
RESOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions were unanimously
adopted by vote which made the walls of the hall
Whereas the senate Committee approved
Statutes improved description of what should
stituc factory and better for collecting the
revenues aud Whereas the Senate of the United States
first unanimously said report upon the day
subsequent then defeated the said amend
nent whereas this said amendment would only
the United states but also materially
improve the condition ~ thousands who employed At
the trade aud give the honest manufacturer fair chance
In the market, therefore, be II
Resolved That the employed in The trade ~
cigar making In meeting Cooper Institute in the
city York assembled demand, In the interest ct
and the trade except the fee traeker in
this SYSTEM that House OF Representatives do adopt
the aud insist It's agreement
by the senate
Resolved That will until this mel arous
tenement house system OF cigar manufacturing Is forever
abolished. -,
Resolved That hod in grateful remembrance all
no have done anything TO promote inc
passage OF the above Amendments
Resolved That hold public contumcly contempt
those who have opposed the passage OF the above
amendment.
Resolved That Of these resolutions be immedi-
atcy forwarded the President OF the United states 70
the tho senate the speaker OF the House OF
Representatives the Jniied states senators from New
yok state members % Congress from this city and TO
| the Com m issioncr of Internal Revenue
After further routine proceedings the meeting sd-
| journed.