Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-10
CAPITAL NOTES.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-The war department
has been informed of the capture of Capt.
Payne and his party of Oklahama colo
| nists. Gen. Sherman says he supposed the
captives will be taken to Fort Smith and
turned over to the civil authorities, who
will set them at liberty again, as already
done on more than one occasion. Gen.
Sherman thinks more stringent laws
should be enacted for the punishment of
this class of invaders.
THE LABOR INQUIRY.
+ The examination of Frank K. Foster, of
| Massachusetts, was continued this morn
ing before the senate committee on edu-
cation and labor. Foster said that most
of the tenament houses in the manufac-
turing cities of Massachusetts were owned
by the mill owners, and the lessees we're
compelled to furnish so many operatives
houses. They are generally small, ill-ven-
tilated and uncomfortable, and operatives
were compelled to live in the companies
houses or be dismissed. The sewerage
and sanitary facilities are terribly
bad, and on summer nights the
stencil from cesspools is nearly
overpowering. The French Canadians
are to New England what the Chinese are
to California and the Pacific coast. Their
morals are lower, necessities fewer, and
their only aim seems to be how much
money they can get to take out of the
country. They do not wish their children
to attend schools, and when compelled to
send them often move to another place.
They seldom accept the right of franchise.
Out of population of 1868 in thirty two
cities in New England, only 1896 are
naturalized, and 1859 property owners.
Foster spoke strongly against the en-
ployment of children of tender years.
The little cash boys and girls employed in
large numbers in city stores, not old
enough to be out from under the eye of
their mother, work during the busy season
from eight to nine and ten weary hours.
The look of these little ones towards the
close of a days work is truly pitiful. The
girls emdloyed as shop women are paid an
average of $2.50pe week. Out of this they
are expected to board themselves
and provide for all the necessities of life
and themselves. Society demands that
they should be virtuous, yet with the mea-
ger stipend received and the shares often
thrown around them by those over them,
it is not wonder that many fall. There
are some noble exceptions to the general
rule concerning their treatment by en-
ployers. One firm in Boston provided
large hall, the commercial rent
value of which is $4,000 per year,
in which the employees can meet in
a social way to use as a reading room or
to give dancing parties in. Over year
ago the firm established fund to which
each week each employee contributed a
very small sum. Last summer they all
drew lots and the lucky ones went to
Europe, all under the direction of the
firm. The condition of the mill girls is
deplored. Away from home in
fuence and restraints, thrown often
among the depraved of both
exes in low tenement houses,
what wonder is it their morals are too
often low. Il speak advisedly," said Mr..
Foster, when I assert that the city of
Lowell, Mass, alone presents wide field
for philanthropic works. There is more
need there, and better object than the
building of places for decayed gentlewomen
or donating large sums to Howard uni
versity. Large studies have been made in
Boston towards giving the working people
the benefit of art galleries and libraries by
opening them Sunday.