The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-10
EDUCATION AND LABOR.
The Factory Towns of New England Fine
Field for Philanthropists.

The Factory Towns of New England Fine
Field for Philanthropists.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9,-The examination of
Frank K, Foster, of Massachusetts, was con-
tinued this morning before the Senate COM
mittee on education and labor.
Mr. Foster said the most of the tenement
houses in manufacturing cities of Massachu
sets were owned by mill owners and lessees
and were compelled to furnish so many oper-
atives. The houses were generally small, ILL
ventilated and uncomfortable, and the oper-
atives were compelled to live in the COM
panies' houses or be dismissed. Sewerage
and sanitary facilities are terribly bad, and
summer nights the stencil from cess-pools
was nearly overpowering The French Cana
dams are to New England what the Chinese
are to California and the Pacific coast. Their
morals are lower, their necessities fewer and
their only aim seems to be to see how much
money they can get to take out of the coun-
try. They do not wish their children to at
tend schools, and when compelled to send
them often move to another place. They
seldom accept the right of franchise. Out of
a population of 88 653 in thirty-two cities in
New England only 1896 are naturalized and
1859 property owners.
Mr. Foster spoke strongly against the en-
ployment of children of tender years, Little
cash boys and girls are employed in large
numbers in city stores, not old enough in
many cases to be out from under the eye of
their mothers, and work during the busy
season from s A. NJ. till and 10 p NJ The
weary look of these little ones toward the
close of their days work is truly pitiful. The
girls employed as shop-women are paid on
an average of 50 so Der week and ont of this
they are expected to board themselves and
provide for all the necessities of life and dress
themselves we'll Society demands that they
should be virtuous, yet with the meagre sti-
pend received, and the snares often thrown
around them by those over them, il is no
wonder that many fall. There are some
noble exceptions to the general rule concern
ing the treatment of employees One firm in
Boston provided large hall the commercial
rent value of which is 500, 900 per year, in
which the employees can meet in social way
for use as a reading-room, or give dancing
parties. Over year ago this firm estab-
lished fund, to which each week each en-
| ploye contributed very small sum. Last
summer they all drew lots, and the lucky
ones went to Europe under direction of a
member of the firm.
The condition of the mill-girlis to be de-
plored. Away from home influence and re-
straints, thrown often among the depraved
OF both sexes IN large tenement houses, what
wonder is it that their morals are too often
low? | speak advisedly, said Mr.. Foster,
when l assert that the city of Lowell Mass
| alone presents wide field for philanthropic
work. There is more need there and better
object than building places for decayed gen.
tlewomen or donating large sums to Howard
University. Large strides have BEEN made
in Boston toward giving working people the
benefit of art galleries and libraries by OPEN
ing them on Sunday.