The Portland daily press., 1883-02-10
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
condition Of New England Mil Opera.
tives and Shop Girls

tives and Shop Girls.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9-The examination OF
co1fEs crank x. Foster of Cambridge, Mass was
mittaa I'd o5 this morning before the Senate COM
said that most 81 w ana iaoor. Mr. ostea
manufacturing cities ofeaas Iouses ~ sne
owned ny me owners, and that be 1es =, ware
compelled to furnish SO MANY opersfis.'s III T1io
Houses are generally small, i'll vent;,sted a,iS
uncomfortable, and the operatives arc = ,a.' aIu
pelled to live in the companies ho,sa.o ~ cViIl-
dismissed The sewerage and sanitalS foa;i. ~ 10
ties are terribly bad, and summer njShsSSv ~
stencil from the cesspools is nearly overpoNar .uo
ing. The French Canadians are to New Emo
land what Chinese are to California and the
Paclhc coast. Their morals aie lower. their
necessities fewer. and their only aim seems to
y, Ds 70 see now much money they can get to
take out OF the country. They do not wish
their children to attend schools, and when
saer place. They setaesm ettaesm often move to an
franchise. Out OF populatofsps tne oo right OF OF
cities in New England only 1885 ~ %
lied and 1859 property owners. taeurai-
Mr.. Foster spoke strongly against thee.
ployment OF children OF tender years. In
Massachusetts there is a law against the en-
ployment in mills of children under ten years
OF age, and providing that those from 10 to IA
must attend school 13 weeks in the year. The
law does not include the little cash boys aud
girls employed in large numbers in the city
stores. These little one are not old enoug in
many cases to be out from under the eye of a
mother, Hand are here employed during the
busy season from a. m. until ana 10 d. M
. The weary look of these little ones toward the
close of their days work is truly pitiful.
The girls employed as shop women are paid
Cd an average of about $3.50 per week, and
out of this they are expected to board them
selves and provide for all the necessities of life
and to dress themselves well. Society de-
mands that they should be virtuous, yet wit h
the meagre stipend received and snares Of
ten thrown around them by those over them it
is not a wonder that many fall. The firms of
Jordan, Marsh & Co., and Macullar, Williams
& Co., of Boston are shining exceptions to
most firms The former have provided large
hall, the commercial rent value of which is
800 900 per year, in which their employees can
meet in social way, use as a reading room OF
give dancing parties in, Over year ago this
firm established fund to which each week
each employe contributed very small sum.
Last summer they all drew lots, and tho lucky
ones went to Europe under the direction of the
firm.
The condition of the mill girl is to be de-
plored. Away from home influences and re-
straints, thrown often among those depraved
OF octh sexes, in low tenement houses, what
wonder IS it that their morals are too often low?
speak advisedly. said Mr.. sFoster, In saying
that the city of Lowell, Mass, alone presents
wide held for philanthropic work. There is
more need there and a better object than the
building OF palaces for decayed gentlewomen or
donating large sums to Harvard College.
Large strides have been made in Boston to-
ward giving the working people the benefit of
art galleries and Libraries by opening them on
Sunday.
Mr.. Fosters examination will be continued
tomorrow.