The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-13
LABOR INVESTIGATION,
The President of the Amalgamated
Iron and Steel Workers Testifies.

ate committee on labor ann education
resumed its session to-day. John Swim.
| ton took the stand and testified at con.
| siderable length. He recommended
the revival of income taxes, the estab.
liShment of national branch of in
| duStry, empowered to collect labor
statistics of every description and in
Guiding the power to enforce the eight
hour law; the establishment of an
effectual board of health; education
and public works, and industrial
schools and colleges on the French
system; land laws which will prevent
the holding by private individuals OF
great tracts of land, and the owner
ship of coal gold and other mines and
oil wells. Every one OF these meas
ures had been put in practice in one
country or another, and were all capa-
BILE of enforcement by legislation, and
have in every instance proved sue
cessful. A national bureau of indus
try is absolutely necessary for secur-
ing wise legislation, as there was
now no data of accuracy upon which
Legislators could rely. The present
system Of the board of health was not
effectual, as was shown by the state
of the public health in all the large
cities. In New York the people in
some districts were crowded together
like animals and children grew up
with unhealthy and enfeebled consti-
buttons. Industrial schools, as in
nearly all European countries, could
be instituted here and be under the
control of the government. Working
of railroad and telegraph lines by the
government should be adopted in this
country. The government should in
stitute postal banks where the poorer
class could make deposits and obtain
an annuity. The press, as rule, was
unfavorable to the working classes.
81 am convinced of that myself"
said Senator Blair, "since the investi-
cation has been in progress, and in
my opinion such woful misrepresen-
tation should be punished criminally."
In closing Swinton urged the COM
mittee to do all in their power to sup
press threatened biIlionaires, and raise
and educate the lower classes.
John Jarrett, president of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron
and Steel Workers, of Pennsylvania,
said he had been engaged twenty-five
years in the iron industry of Pennsyl
vania. The association of which he
was the head was composed of en-
ployes of iron and steel rolling mills.
The object of the organization was to
secure moral, mental, social and finan-
cial improvement, so its members
could get fair days wages for fair
days work. There were many mills
in Pennsylvania which were not I'M
der the control of the union.
In these the rate of wages
was invariably lower than in union
mills. There were numerous strikes
was acknowledged by manufacturers.
Among members of new organiza-
lions there was always tendency to
strike at the least provocation. Now
a method of arbitration was pursued
largely with satisfactory results. Rep
reSentat1veS of workmen and manu-
facturers met once a year and decided
on scale of prices and wages. All
iron workers were in favor of protec-
ton because it protected them in their
wages. Protection didn't increase the
price of steel, but if it did not exist
there would be no employment for iron
and steel workers. In some mills
which are not controlled by the union,
workmen are paid the same wages
as those of English manufacturers.
Jarrett, in answer to Senator Cal, said a
man who sold his iron $40 per ton less
than his competitor, and disposed of
three times the quantity as his COM
petitor, would be able to pay better
wages, but the trouble would be to
make him exercise his ability in this
respect. The laboring class should be
compelled to attend school. and the
government should appropriate
means to carry out system of public
education. If the manufacture of tin
plate was carried on in this country
It would give employment to 10000
men. The ore could be obtained from
California and Australia as cheaply
as England could obtain it from her
own mines. Under the present tariff
tin plate manufacture could not be
carried Ton. The industry was con-
nected intimately with iron working.
Tin plate manufacture was attempted
years ago in Pennsylvania, but failed
on account of the reduction of the
tariff