Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-16
TIE SENATE COMMITTEES
Visit the Mills in Manchester and Con.
time the Examination Of Witnesses.

MANCHESTER. n n Oct. Id.
The subcommittee of the United States
Senate committee on education and LABOR,
tbi. morning, at seven visited the factories
Of the Amoskeag and Manchester companies.
They observed the process of cloth making
The vast extent and variety of machinery
were a wonder to Senator Pugh.
At nine the committee returned to the
Manchester House and continued the exami-
nation of witnesses. among whom were Will
Stearps. Father Chevalier and Father Mac
Donald of Manchester. Emery j. Randall OF
Great Fall. JOHN ID. Swain superintendent
of the Nashua Iron and Steel Works OF
Nashua, Timothy B. Crowley of the Coop
eratiye Iron Co., also of Nashua, and Thos.
Sands manufacturer Of ice cream freezers OF
Nashua.
Father Macdonald disputed the right of a
committee of Congress to come into New
Hampshire to inquire into the affairs OF the
people.
To this Senator Blair replied the citizens
Of New Hampshire were citizens of the United
States, and exercised their right as such by
voting for Quilted States Senator and Pres
ident: that the National Senate and House
of REPRESENTATIVES had always exercised the
right of sending committee anywhere
within the United States TO gather lnforma-
ton needed by either house, and that the
present committee was acting under res
CLINTON of the Senate. but it was not their
desire to compel anyone to state what they
preferred not to state, but if he knew of any
grievance that the laboring people suffered,
the committee would like to know them
Macdonald then went on to say that tene-
ment houses were very hot in the summer on
of the fiat roofs, and not properly heated III
winter. They did not exercise any super
cd hy boarding houSQ
keepers, which was often bad.
Other witnesses testified in regard to their
different industries.
Col. b. c. Dean, superintendent OF the
Manchester Print Works, testified that the
company employees $50 hands. including sew
eral engravers and printers of high skill.
Stretchmen receive S22 to S2S a week, en-
gravers S22 to S26 and printers S2o, the
hours of labor ten hours day. The most
skillful workmen are foreigners, but the
most Of the stretch makers are tanned in Man
chester shops.
Lillian MAYNARD and Lizzie Mcclure testi-
that the mill corporation treated employees
fairly and good feeling towards the EN-
ployers was entertained by the operatives.
Chas. A. Wason, master of the State
grange in New Hampshire. testified that
farmers living in remote places from towns
anu NildSes Bo"S oShihNf 'AO
market for their when they produced, hence
many left the State Farm labOrers COM
mand $40 to S25 month and board. If
manufacturing was stopped in0New Hamp-
shire the farmers would be ruined as they
would have to compete with the farmers of
the prairies. Politics are not known in New
Hampshire oranges. The farmers believed
that the patent laws work hard
ship to them owing to the difficulty of
ascertaining the patentee. The laws should
be passed holding the innocent purchasers
harmless in case of the purchase from in
frngers. The farmers also believed that the
railroad be restricted in the right to charge
rates at will. Taxation should be more ad-
justed and make the burden fall more on
land holders and mOneyed men and. less on
farmers and house owners.
Alphonso Crosby, journeyman carpenter,
said the rates of wages of all mechanical
trades were seriously affected by demoraliza-
ton, caused by drink and drunken mechanics
who were obliged to accept work at any terms.
The members of the committee resumed
taking the testimony at O'Clock and sat all
day till 10 o'clock this evening when there
laborers in Manchester closed. Tomorrow
they go to Boston.