New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-24
TuFoRlEs OF LABOR REFoRMERs.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE MYsTIFIED BY ALAwYER-
THE WAGES OF sToNE-CUTrERs AND cARpES

rup srSATE COMMITTEE MYsTIFIED BY ALAwYER-
THE WAGES OF sToNE-CUTTERs AND cARPEs-
TIERS.
THE object to be aimed at is to secure that here
after our communities shall avail themselves
adequately OF the peoples interest In franchises oy
way of assurance against or prevention OF tue
peoples absolute dependence upon wages was the
declaration with which Charles Frederic Adams,
BROOKLYN lawyer, began his ties imony before the
Senate subcommittee on Education and Labor
senator George looked hurredly over the top Of
his spectacles the speaker and then as IT feeling
assured that Mr. Adams Intended no personal
violence 10 the members OF the committee. settled
back IN bis chair and lsisurely lighted cigar. 10
bring about this desired end" continued the wit
ness tits necessary to secure 80 much OF inc peoples
interest in franchises has not already been sub
iected 10 private claims BY franchise mean an
exclusive privilege existing only by force OF law.
which guarantees to an 0rI lqaiy,dus tbs OF
exclusion of all Others The Government guaran-
tees protection to all men who possess these iran
chises This is not as 1t should be. The success or
failure of franchise should depend upon periodic
or fair competition only. The Universal tendency
of mankind to-day Is toward from hand-to-
mouth condition. The Capitalization OF wealth
and the monopoly of aud are the chief causes lead
ing to this tendency"
Gabriel EdmunsOn. of Washington, carpenter.
assured the committee that the wages paid to car
pepters in the employ of the Government are ire
quently smaller than those paid TO carpenters by
other employers. Why thus was so he could not
state. The organization OF the carpenters unions
has done great deal toward the increase OF wages
and the reform OF trade abuses carpenters, ne
said. are employed only seven months IN the year.
They are paid $3.50 year. or 81 40 per day for the
entire twelve months. The cost of boardin Washing
ten TO laborers about per week The carpenters
have no serious complaints TO make. and only de-
sire the legalization of theiriassoclatons by Con-
gress. -, -
John Rogers. a stone-cutter and member Of the
National Uuion of StOne-cutters not only took the
stand, but the floor also, and delivered an address
upon the condition OF his feow-craftsInen. At
tempts have been made in the past to better the
condition of etone-cutters he said, but they have
always been unsuccessful until an organized
effort was tried. The results have been exceed
ingly gratifying, for not only have wages been IN.
creased from rs cents to So 90 per day, but the
| number of working hours has been reduced. There
four general classes of Oh
| brown-stone, granite, free-stone and marble. The
| wages paid vary slightly in the several classes
| Edward King, a type-founder, said that the
labor movement in the United States Is several
| years behind the labor movement OF Europe. Work
| men are beginning to feel the power they hold in
| their hands-the power of the ballot. The amalga-
nation of races has been effectua in breaking down
| the old barriers of UNCONVENTIONAL prejudice.