, 1879-03-02

o1,oU5 women with the old machines. The WOrt
now done in this mill By Isl persons was don't
five years ago By 302. In weaving cotton fabrics
| girl with an improved machine loom did thu
| work OF 100 women in former days. In the de-
partnent Of woolcn fabrics, machines had dis
placed 90 per cent OF all hand labor :
III the department Of building trades, one
man could now do more in the matter OF wood
work with the circular-saw Than ten men with
! the old hand-saw. The result was the same
With the moldiug- machine, and with the plan
formerly done hv twenty. With mortising and
teronins machinery, one man now did the work
Of ten, with a gig-saw that Of eight, With q
band-saw that OF twelve, so that noK ten men
could do the work that LOO could fifty years
ago.
The department Of boots and shoes was next
considered. Fifty years ago the most that q
shoemaker could DO WAS to make 200 pairs Of
boots and shoes year, working fifteen hours q
daS- At that time onlV nien worked. Thirty
making shoes BY machinery, working twelve
hours day, and the number of boots and shoes
per hand per year had increased from 200 to 455
pairs. Twenty years ago the number had in
creased to 579 pairs, thirteen years ago to G03
pairs, and three years ago to 2,5B pairs per
hand per year. and still there appeared
California inventor with machine that would
save 70 per cent IN buttoning boots and shoes,
turning out from thirty to forty pairs per
hour.
OL Wal OE 1dH AESSUh
to be drawn from these facts machinery
had practically displaced manual labor,-hr.
Morgan quoted literally from Fairbairu, Hu1-
lcy, Gladstone, Mil, Tynda1l, Louis Blanc, God
win Moody, and the first and second [1S761 re-
ports Of the Commissioner OF the Bureau OF
that the average wages Of skilled labor in Ohio
for 1875, Der week, we're $10,08; unsSilled.
$7.32; bovs, 1928; and girls, S3.S4. The earn
inss per worker ncr year were s3l65Q, and the
average yearly earnings, divided By the number
OF living days in tile year, 305, gave 81 cents per
day to each worker.
Dir. Morgan also quoted from the report for
1878 OF the Illinois State Board OF Charities,
showing the expenditures per capita in the
various State charitable Institutions. The cx-
penditurc in the Asylum for Fceblc-Minded
Children was $3.50 per week, or ss43.12 per
rear; in the Elgin Insane Asylum, $3.50 per
week, or s23S per year; in the Central Insane
AsVium, s. per week.. or S266 per year; In the
Southern Insane : Asylum, 81 per week: or $28
per week. OF $1G5 per year. These figures,
moreover, we're Tor board only, and included
nothing tor expenses for grounds, buildings,
furniture, livestock, Implements, etc.
From the report Of the Massachusetts Bureau
ct Labor Statistics for 1878, tlr. Morgan quoted
the following statistics: In 1875 the females in
the cotton trade by 23s days' labor earned per
year S199. while the males BY 252 daysl tabor
earned SH3. In 1877 wages had decreased
per cent, aud the working time had Increased
five days, the average working hours being ten
and one-ha1f per day. The average earnings of
females in that year were S1S2, Of males s412,
aud of both, $215. The average yearly earnings
divided BY tile number OF ltslng days gave Is
cents DAY to each worker.
mittee would give the subject the consideration
which its importance demanded, and that they
would urge upon the Legislature the necessity
OF prompt action in this matter before it vas too
- H.
need Of IN increase in the army or the militia;
but should they refuse to properly consider this
question and allow the present condition Of
affairs to develop, md endeaVor only to sup
press the manifestations Of discomfort, then the
inevitable revolution would soon come though
the eapitallstic class placed an armed hireling
every workers side.
MR.. 1RURsDELL
asked Mr. Morgan what body be represented.
Mr. Morgan said he represented the Trade and
Labor Council at present, but when it came to
the matter OF applying remedy for nil these
stic Labor party.
Mr.. Trucsdcll asked II he based his hopes On
he action OF the legislature!
Mr.. Morgan said it was possible, though bard t
: probable, that the reform could be accom- |
3lished peaceab)y. There were bills in the |
legislature expressing Their desires, and, rs the
legislature acted, tho hopes Of the workers !
rou1d he raised or lowered. There was State |
aw for the reduction Of the hours Of labor, but ]
t was SO wordcd as to mean nothing.
Mr. Truc:dell asked what benefits would arise |
rom the adoption of an cight-hour law.
Mr.. Morgan explained that it would lessen |
production, of which there was now too much.
+ the hours were reduced, more men would t
lavc to be employed to supply the wants Of So
Iety.
Mr. TAYLOR asked why it Was, If the cight-hour
aw would salre all this, the workingmen didn't
ONE together and urge its passage.
Air. Morgan said that wages were SO 10y. that
was difficult to obtain even the necessaries of
lie, and they accordingly forced their wives and
hildren to work to get bare subsistence. Hc
;as sorry to say that the majority OF labortng-
1cn thought of nothing but self, but necessity !
Dmpclled them to 1t. United action was not, |
therefore,, practicable.
The Chairman asked Mr.. Morgan what he
bought of
TIE CHINESE QUESTION,
nd Mr. Morgan, speaking as an individual, said
G believed the Chinese should have the same
aht to come here as any other nationality, but
lat their habits Of living should not net to the
etriment Of the white workers.
Mr. Barry wanted to know If it Honld be con-
;itutional to pass law bringing white man
own to living on six cents worth Of rice day.
hite man down to the level OF Chiuaman, but
do the lereling in the opposite way.
Mr.. Trucsdell suggested that Mr.. Morgan
rite out the reforms he wanted enacted, and
+, MORGAN Ea1Q Iney were expressed IN tile |
solutions introduced into the House, and which |
ere published week ago. He proceeded to
ad some Of them, and got down to the con-
ct tabor system, when Mr.. Truesdelt asked |
N some further questions, aud Mr.. Morgan
ated his objections to the system, admitting |
cely, however, that be was not in favor OF |
:eptiig convicts idle, no more than Vas any
her laborer that he knew Of
at the request Of lir. Trucsdell, Mr., Morgan .
to read !" the demands" J" commenting
them Us he went along. ...... 1
Mr.. Truesdeli asked how, he would regulate I
spection Of houses owned by the occupants, | I
d s1r. Morgan said they ought to be bought :
, and wiped eff the face of the earth when
ey we're as filthy as some that the Committee !
i visited in the morning. He was obliged to | i
end a large portion OF his wages to keep his t
iItlren away from such surroundings and to | !
event them from becoming criminals before tile
G Of ruaturity. |
Mr.. Taylor asked Mr. Morgan If people /
,uldn't be apt to call him high-toned for en- /
rtaining such notions c
Mr.. Morgan said he thought his dress, his |
eech, and his habits would prevent anybodv's |
nging such an assertion against him:
Continuing, MIR Morgan said Lhat al, these !;
mands could be granted by the city, If it only J.
'u1d, and that, Il it didn't, he thought the :.
gisiature ought TO see to it that it did. !
Mr.. Trucsdell wasn't satisfied with the :
undncss of Mr.. MorEan's, position with re- !
IN ha f1n5orrnnYfan hv fttrc | 4