The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-07
THE LABOR INVESTIGATION
Alienation of the Working Classes
An Elaborate Scheme Passed.
The Supposed Compensation o
Editors and Reporters.

NRw YORK, Sept. 6.--John Swinton appear
ed before the Senate subcommittee on educa-
tion and labor to-day. In regard to what legis-
lative measures could be introduced to alleviate
the condition of the working classes the wit
ness would recommend:
The revival OF the income tax as origin
ally in force.
2--The establishment of national board OF
industry empowered to collect labor statistics
OF every description and including power to
enforce the eight hour law.
3-The establishment of effectual boards OF
health, education and public works.
4-Industrial schools and colleges on the
French system.
5-Public ownership of railroads and tele-
graphs on the Belgian system.
6-Freedom Of patents.
7-Postal banks .nnder the British system.
S-Land laws which will prevent the hold
ing by private individuals of great tracts Of
land.
9.-Public ownership of coal, iron, gold and
other mines and all oil wells.
Everyone of these measures, he said. bad
been put in practice In one country or another
They were all capable OF enforcement by legis-
lation and have in every instance proved sue
cessful The general government had power
to take charge OF mines and oil wells by the
right of eminent domain.
Senator Call objected that these were under
State control and outside OF the Jurisdiction OF
Congress, but the witness thought this co ould
be done undar tho supreme power of the
federal government.
Witness was asked to give some facts in re-
gard to the compensation OF those who are
engaged in newspaper business, and replied
there are two branches OF the business, the
manufacturing and the editorial and reportorial
work. In considering each branch it may be
said that there is no more profitable industry
in the world than that which is carried on by
some OF tl9 great n0rnnratfnne
Some OF them pay as much as lib per cent on
capital invested. and there are editors who
are also preprietors whose salaries are at least
$oOO0OO or $6O0,0OO a year. In speaking of
reporters scompensation,S ,Swinton stated that the
minimum received was probably $1,000 year
and the highest $4,000, the latter salary was
only obtained in exceptional cases. Writers
Tor newspapers as correspondent, etc., received
from 5000 to S25, 900 year. There were 49,
600 persons in New York city engaged in news
paper work. In answer to q question from
Senator Blair, witness said that the press was
as rule unfavorable to the laboring classes
4 am convinced of that myself" said Senator
Blair, 'Since these investigations have been
In progress, and in my opinion such willful
Misrepresentation should be punished criminal
ly." "A newspaper never lies,', continued
swinton, "but frequently mistakes are made
unintentionally."
John Jarret, President of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers, of
he had been engaged for 25 years In the iron
industry OF Pennsylvania. The association Of
which he was the head, was composed of the
employees OF the iron and steel rolling mills.
The object of the organization was to secure
the moral, social, mental and financial i'm
provement of the members, and to bring about
conditions whereby the rights of workmen are
recognized, that they get fair days wages
for days work, There were many mills in
Pennsylvania which were not under the con-
troll of the Union. In these the rate of wages
was invariably lower than in the Union mills
There had been numerous strikes before the
supremacy OF the Union was acknowledged by
the manufacturer. Among the members of q
new organization there was always o tendency
to strike at the least provocation, Now the
method OF arbitration was pursued largely
with satisfactory results. Representatives OF
workmen aud manufactures met once year
and decided on scale of prices and wages.
He continued: All iron workers were in
favor of protection because it protected them
in their wages. Protection did not increase
the price of steel but if it did not exist there
would be no employment for the iron and
steel workers. In some mills which are not
controlled by Union workmen are paid the
same wages as in those in English manufac-
lures. Jarret in answer to Senator Call said a
man who sold his iron for $40 per ton less
than another, but disposed of three times the
quantity of his competitor would be able to
be to make him exercise his ability in this
respect. The lahoring classes, he sddeoA
should be compelled to attend school and be
educated, and the government should appro-
pirate means to carry out a system of public
education,