The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-22
LABOR AND EDUCATION.
Mr.. Thurber Thinks Steam and Electricity
Responsible for Labor Troubles.

NEW YORK, Sept. 21.-The Senate sub-com-
mitteee on labor and education had before them
as witness to-day F. B. Thurber. leader of the
Anti-monopOly League. Tho witness believed
the unsatisfactory state OF relations existing be-
tween labor and capital which prevailed to a
considerable extent in this country was due to
the enormous changes consequent upon the dis
cOvery and utilization of steam and electricity,
which. within comparatively few years, had
reyolutionized all departments OF production
and commerce, and to a great extent, the af-
fairs of society in general. Within the last fifty
years new forces had arisen for which the laws
were entirely inadequate. and these have
been allowed to be mOnopolized
by a few. With these forces had
come the tremendous development of machinery
and corporate organization, all Of which had con-
ferred great benefits upon humanity whole,
but development had taken place without proper
regulation, and a corps OF attending evils had
sprung up in consequence. He did not attribute
all the evils of society to the effects of this kind
of monopoly. There were many causes, as land
monopoly, currency monopoly, transportation
monopoly, tariff monopoly, combination in trade
monopoly. taxation, intemperance and ignor-
ance which have bearing upon the problem.
In regard to the carrying trade the worlds high
ways on land could be monopolized, while on
in check by competition. majority
of our lawmakers were interested
directly or indirectly in corporate enterprises,
and statutes were en- acted in that interest. Wit
ness also spoke of the use of money in infiuenc-
ing legislation in favor of corporations, and
said that so powerful was the influence they
possessed that offenders could not be punished.
The state, ii it had constructed the railroads,
would not have watered stocks discriminated
against persons and places, corrupted elections,
debauched courts and created enormous wealth
for a few at the expense OF the many. The
practice OF stock watering was forci-
bly, illustrated in the of the
Now York Central railroad; in 1867-68 the
stock Of the road was watered to the extent of
SAT 100000. Rates for transportation had
been imposed which had yielded regularly 8per
cent. dividends upon the watered stock, amount
ing each year to S3, ,76O, 000 and these dividends
about $s3, 900, ,OO0 Pooling, he thought was
not an unmix xed evil, for it did not assure
tain degree of stability and uniformity; but
pooling when there was no power above the
pool to decide what was reasonable charge
was apt to be arbitrary and exacting.
Mr.. Thurber said one OF the greatest difficulties
with which reformers had to deal was the
representatives in Congress and State Leglsla-
lures in the pay OF railroad and other corpora
t1ons. In the last Congress, Thurber asserted,
there were 264 lawyers. a majority of whom
were retained by corporations, or were directly
or Indirectly influenced by others In legislation
Senator Call thought the witness was wrong
in his statement, and greatly misrepreseuted the
standard of morality among public men. He
did not believe there were ten men in Congress
who were retained by any corporation, and he
did not know one.
Senator Pugh acknowledged that there were
alarge number of Legislators who were in
terested directly or otherwise in corporations.
He was not of opinion, however, although this
was the case, that the personal action of any
LEGISLATOR was influenced in legislation.
Senator Blair said he did not own a share of
stock in any railroad corporation, nor had he
received q single free pass from a railroad since
ne had been in public life.
Thurber explained that he did not mean these
legislators whom he had mentioned directly as
egislating in the interest of corporations, but
that whenever there was conflict of interest
between corporations and the people, they