National Republican., 1883-09-07
Mr.. John Swinton Expresses His Views Before
tho Labor Committee.
He Wants the Government to Own All
the Mines, Railroads, and Oil Wells,
And 10 Prevent Capitalists from MOnopolizing Large
Tracts Of Land.
How He is Haunted by the spocter of n
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Facts.

was ~ years olu In ms professional con-
nection he had been more or less among the
laboring classes, and since 1874 he had
watched and studied all the varied move
ments of labor. In regard to what legisa-
tive measures could be introduced TO alle-
viate the condition Of working classes the
witness would recommend, first, the revival
Of the income tax as it was originally in
force second, the establishment of national
board of industry empowered to collect labor
statistics Of every description, and including
the power to enforce the eight hour law
third, the establishment of ehectual boards
OF health, education, and public works;
fourth, industrial schools and colleges on the
French system; fifth, the public ownership
OF railways and railways and telegraphs on
the Belgian system; SIXTH freedom of patents
seventh, postal banks under the British sys-
tenn eighth, land laws which will prevent the
holding by private individuals of great tracts
of land; ninth, the public ownership of coal,
iron, gold, and other mines and all oil wells
Everyso one Of these measures had been put in
practice in one country or another. They
were all capable reinforcement by legislation,
and have in every instance proved successful
Inc general government had the 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 witness thought this could
DC done under the supreme power Of the fed
eral government, and stated as his opinion
that the validity of state constitutions was
wholly overthrown in the war of the rebel
lion. The income tax, continued the witness,
was never repealed in this country; the act
by which it was claimed to have been re-
pealed not having obtained the required two
third vote in the senate. 1t was hurried
through at the close of the session and few
have ever questioned the irregularity of the
proceedings. 1t was the most popular tax
that ever was imposed, and even England has
adopted the system. national bureau of
industry, he said, was also necessary
for securing wise legislation, as there were now
no data of accuracy upon which legislators
could rely. The present system of boards of
health, he maintained, was not ehlectual, as
shown by the state of public health in all
large cities. In New York people in some
districts were crowded together like animals
and children grew up with unhealthy and
unfeeble constitutions This was notably tho
case among Bohemian cigar Makers indus
trial schools such as exist in nearly all Euro
pean countries should, the witness thought,
be instituted here and be under the control
of the government.
Mr.. Swinton said that the working of rail-
ways and telegraph lines by the government
in Berlin showed conclusively that it should
be adopted in this country. He thought that
also of the opinion that the government
should institute postal banks, where the
poorer classes could make deposits and obtain
an annuity The government could secure
all the measures which he advocated, and all
these industries could be carried on at vastly
less cost and greater public benefit by the
government than by private enterprise.
Witness also thought that the government
should work all coal mines and oil wells.
Under the constitution, as expounded
. by John Q. Calhoun, the government could
take control of these interests. His ex-
pressed views regarding patents and copy
rights. he said, were not ut all opposed to the
constitution which recognized private rights
III this kind of private property Witness
would have a system of compulsory educa-
tion adopted by the general government, rs
the general welfare of the whole people de-
pended on the education of each members of
Society. The rapid progress which has been
made in this country during the past
twenty years, not to say the present CEN
tury, shows the terrific forces which are
at work in this age. Fortunes are now
amassed through the instrumentGlity of
these forces which were formerly
impossible to secure, and there seems no limit
to the amount which may be accumulated.
Considerating the rate at which fortunes
have increased within the past few years,
witness thought the time not far distant when
there would be the first billionare on this
piunot. One iorUuue mas Increased SlncC 1871
from $SO,O00,OO0 to $3.50, 0,000,0 900, at least by
reputation, and within twelve years, accord
ing to this estimate, witness thought we may
look for the apparition of the first billionaire
In regard to the newspaper industry, there
were two branches of this business-the man
utacturing and the editorial and reportorial
work. In considering the first branch, it may
be said that there is no more profitable in
dustry in the world than that
which was carried on by some
of the great newspaper corporations.
Some of them paid as much as
115 sper cent. on the capital invested, and
there were some editors also proprietors
whose salaries were at least $500,000 to
100000 year. In speaking Of reporters
salaries, MIR. Swinton stated the minimum
received was probably $1,000 year aud
highest $4,000. The latter salary was only
obtained in exceptional cases. The news
paper correspondents received from $5, 900 to
$4,000 year. The average weekly salary
of reporters was from $40 to SIS. The
majority received $50. There were $4,000
people in this city engaged in newspaper
work. In answer to question from Senator
Blair, the witness said that the press as a rule
was unfavorable to the working classes.
II am convinced of that myself" said Sem
ator Blair, 'since this Investigation has been
in progress, and in my opinion such wilfu
misrepresentation should DO punished crimi-
nally.
newspaper, said the witness, never lies,
but frequently mistakes are made uninten-
tionaly. In closing his testimony MIR. Swim
ton urged the committee TO do all in their
power to suppress the threatened billionaire,
and raise and educate the lower classes If
these things, he said, could be accomplished
there would be no danger to the republic.
John Jarrett, the president Of the Amalga-
mated association of iron and steel workers
of Pennsylvania, was the next witness He
said he had been engaged for twenty-five
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 improve
ment of its members, and to bring
about conditions whereby the rights
of the workmsn are recognized, and that they
get a fair day's wages for a fair days work.
There were many mills in Pennsylvania
which were not under the control of the
union. In these the rate of wages was in
Variably lower than in the union mills. There
had been numerous strikes before the SUI
premacy of the union was acknowledged by
the manufacturers. Among members of a
new organization there was always tend
ency TO strike at the least provocation. Now
the method of arbitration was pursued largely
with satisfactory results.
The representatives of the workmen and
the manufacturers met once year, and de-
cided on y scale of prices and wages. he con-