The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-27
INDUSTRIAL.
Testimony Before the Senate Committee
Closing Proceedings of the Labor
Congress.


Congress.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20.
2. H. Mciogan, representative OF the
Chicago Trades and Labor Unions, in seS-
sion here, testified before the Senate sub
Committee that twentyfour trades were
represented in the Trades Assembly, en-
bracng 1900 workingmen: that he had
been really benefited by trades union,
and was now receiving dollar a day
more than before the formation of unions in
Chicago. The wages of the compositor
were lower than they were ten or twelve
years ago. Witness opposed the convict
labor system. In Chicago number of chill
dren are at work, he said, who should be al
school. Higher wages tends to produce a
better and more intelligent class of citizens.
There was a general feeling among labor
ing men that capitalists are trying to grind
them down. In answer to a question by
Senator Blair, witness said the disbelleyers
in evangelical faith largely outnumbered
the believers.
NJ. ID. Connolly, a printer, President OF
the Trades Assembly in Cincinnati testi-
fed. He spoke against the employment of
children of tender years. Trades unions
benefited not only their members, but all
engaged in them, and witness did not think
it an infringement upon the rights of any
one for trades unions to prevent him from
learning trade If all were permitted to
learn certain trades the result would be
highly injurious to every one working at 1t.
William c. Palmer, of Cleveland, cigar
l-gy- In psra a -al-
of Cleveland were getting from 80 to 81 a
week. The union organized and wages
We're raised to an average of 50 week.
Palmer did not think it for the interest of
morality that men and women should work
together in the same shop, and the trades
unions are now endeavOring to bring about
a reform in that respect. The hours of Ia
Dor should be reduced, and the workman
should receive the whole of the increased
value of the product OF his labor, deduCting
from it only the cost of the raw material
and fair interest on the capital invested.
| THE LABOR CONGRESS ADJoURNS.
| NEW YORK. Aug. 20,
! The Federation of Trades and Labo
| Unions held its last session Friday morning
| 1t was resolved that the Federation of Or
| gained Trades and Labor Unions cOnside
| the question of shortening the hours OF la
Dor as paramount to all questions at pres
ent; the Federation demands the enforce
ment of the eight-hOur rule on General ans
| State Government work.
! p. II. MGLogan, of Chicago, was elected
President of the Federation; Samuel Comp
ers, of New York, First Vice President
Gabriel EdmOnston, of Washington, SeconG
| President; NJ. ]. Connolly, of Cincin
natl, Third Vice President; Richard Powers
of Chicago, Fourth Vice President; H. Nc
/ Cleland, of New York, Fifth Vice-Presi
dent; Captain Slack, OF Columbus, O, Sixtl
| Nice-President; F. X. Foster, of Cam
bridge, Mass, Secretary; and Robert How
| A letter fecaiSfGa6f fffGGum yuun ourrett
President of the AmaImagated Association
Of Iron and Steel Workers, stated that tn
association would not connect itself Wit
the federation on account of the position 0
the latter on the tariff question, the iron an
steel workers being in favor of high tariff
! 1t was resolved to answer the letter, statin
that the tariff question should be ignores
entirely on account of the diversity Of opin
ion on the subject among different trade
! unions. The federation then adjourned.