Connecticut western news., 1883-08-29
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Some Interesting Statistics Given by Prac-
 cal Men.

Richard Pawers, of Chicago, General Superintendent of the Seaman's Union of the Lakes, was witness before the United States Senate Committee on Ed ucation and Labor. He testified that seventy-five per cent. of the sailors on the lakes were members of the organiza- tion. There are about seven thousand members banded together to ameliorate their condition, to shorten the hours of labor, and to increase their wages. They have improved under the operation of the society so that they are no longer run by the rum shop. They want the Government to supply some place of refuge like Sailors Snug Harbor for dis abled sailors. One abuse that should be corrected is the overlooking of yes sells, which makes voyages dangerous to the lives of seamen. The sanitary con- dition of the vessels also calls for re- form. The custom on the three thou sand-ton steamers is to carry six men. Many accidents occur because vessels are shorthanded. The owners depend more upon their machinery than they do on God. Probably the vessels are we'll insured. If the machinery breaks the ships have not sailors enough to save them. It is the same with passenger and freight vessels. Before the organiza- tion the wages were dollar 8 day. As to wages now the witness said:
 "We get g. day now. In short time we will get g.. 50, and for few days at the end of the season, $4 day. Some vessels we would not go on for less than ten dollars day, because they are not seaworthy. We raise the wages .ay refusing to work with those who do not belong to our organization. The mates, cooks, and captains need not be- long to the society. What we want is @ Piimson to look after the rotten vessels, and prevent their being used when they are unsafe.
 ! Of the seven thousand members of the society, the witness said, not five had saved one thousand dollars; about ten had saved five hundred dollars, ten had saved four hundred dollars, ten had saved three hundred dollars, and about fifteen hundred had saved one hundred dollars each. In 1878 not man had saved one thousand dollars, and not two men had saved one hundred dollars. | two thirds of the men are American citizens.
 George G. Block, representing the journeymen bakers, told the committee that the bakers began work at 2 p. m., and work along up to various hours in the morning, sometimes as late as 9 a. m. of the following day. Most of them are unmarried, because they cannot afford to get married. Much of their money goes for beer. Statistics obtained from 5O5 bakers showed that only 180 were married. Their wages average $S.20 g week. This is often paid partly in board at $4 week. They work in very hot atmosphere for long hours; few have decent sleeping rooms. MT. Block told the committee that there are 2,300 mer employed in the brewing business. swhe work long and irregular hours, like tht bakers, at wages ranging from $30 te $10O month. Only few get the larger wages. They formed union of 2,00( members. They were brutally treated and the foreman or boss made them vot' | to please himself.
 Adolph Strassar, President of the Olga Makers International Union, gave to thu committee an account of that organiza tion, which, he said, is protective, benev olent, educational and moral in its pur pose. Last year it paid $16, ,643.79 il sick benefits Workmen travelling iron place to place in search of work hay their travelling expenses paid, which in cludes actuel fares and 50 cents for meal in each place. For this purpose $19, 722.60 was paid last year. They hay had 8 trade journal eight years. Tn wages in one union averaged $5 weel for each workman; in A unions the wage were $1O week, in two unions the aver age was $1 6 week, and in 100 union from which statistics were obtained tn wages varied from $5 to $15 week. Tn cost of supporting family of five wa variously reported to be from $6 8 weel to $15 week. In most cases the so cieties reported that the workers did no earn enough to support them decently The hours of labor vary from AS to 6 ] per week; without the organization tn hours of labor are from 86 to 90 pc week. In the last eighteen years ther have been 363 strikes of cigar makers of which 137 have failed and 204 hay been successful. The cost of thes strikes have been $296, ,444, but the, have added $1,800,O00 Q year to tn wages of the strikers, and have prevente reductions estimated at $5O0,O0O Ther are 1850 persons employed in tenemen houses, making cigars in 1920 families There are 0,000 coolies employed mak ing cigars in San Francisco. There or 1855 branches of the International Union They have managed to equalize wages i the State of New York
 A CH1EF.-Ex- Mayor Hall says h
 once heard Thurlow Weed describe tn