Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-06
THE LkBON QUESTION.
CoDgreesman hewitt of New York
on she Wrongs aud Burdens Of
WrOkingmen.

Mr. Hewitt, in discussing the internal
revenue Dill last Saturday, referred to
the large number of wOrkmen through
out the country who were refusing to
work, and considered the causes which
led to the extensive strike now in pro-
gress. In but few cases had any reduc-
ton in wages been proposed. The
general demand was for an increase of
wages, and the ground on which that
demand was placed was that the work.
man found himself unable to support
himself and his family with the wages
he was now receiving. He OR. Hewett)
had personally given considerable atten.
ton to this grievance, and had discover
ed that it was W, Il founded The rise
in the price Of the necess 4ries Of life
during the last year had been so great
that the working people had found that
they were being reduced from condi
tion of comparative comfort to one of
comparative want. What was found
upon the other hand? While the demand
by the employees was a Just one, the en-
p.oyers were unable to cOncede it, They
would be glad to pay higher wages if
they were able. They refused because
concession would simply destroy their
capital. The conflict, then, was one
which it was impossible to settle either
by the action of the employe or the en-
ployer on any just principle of com
| promise. Relief must come from some
quarter. If Congress could show that
there was heavy hand, like the hand of
bandit, taking out Of the earnings Of
| labor and capital unnecessary c0ntribu-
tons; if it could find that such levy
was made on products of industry, and
that that levy was unnecessary, then so
| far as it had the power it should proceed
with speed, it should go on the express
train of legislation, in order to remove
the evils which were sapping the very
roots of the comfort and the peace of
| the people Congress was told by the
Secretary of the Treasury that more
money was coming in than was needed,
! and the gentleman from Pennsylvania
| (Mr. Kelley said that the surplus would
amount to $131, 900, 900. One hundred
and thirty seven million dollars dis.
tributed among the WOrkingmen would
relieve them of the evil which had
brought on all this trouble and disorder.
Who was here resisting taxation? The
Democrats bad come to Congress asking
reduction of the tariff, but that ques.
ton had been referred to a commission.
Then they had demanded reduction in
internal revenue taxation, and had been
presented with bill which took off ST.
O0O, 600 or 500, 200, 900, holding out the
word of promise to the ear, but breaking
it to the hope. Whom did this propo-
sitiOn relieve? 1t did not touch the
working man directly except in the single
article of matches. That was the relief
which the Republican party charged
with the responsibility of legislation,
offered to the workingmen, now on an
universal strike because wages were not
sufficient for their support. Ii was a
tub thrown to the whale. Tie demand
for a reduction in taxation had been
made: il must be Needed it would be the
issue in the fall elections. Let it be
noted that this proposition did not dis
pense with single OtticehOlder They
we've wanted as political emissaries in the
coming election. He appealed to gentle.
men on the other side to reduce eX-
penditur,s and to take the load of taxa
ton off the over -burdened energies of the
working people. There was but one
security for the tax payers, and that was
to keep the treasury poor. Poverty of
the treasury was the wealth of the
people. 1t would not permit of raising
money for jobs; it would not permit of
river and harbOr bills of ST., 900, 900; it
would not permit the payment of large
sums for finishing the worthless vessels |
in the navy yard.