Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-07
JOHN SWINTON
Tells What He Thinks Government Should
Do for the Labor Glasses.

Do for the Labor Glasses.
NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-The senate COM
mittee on labor and education resumed
Its session to-day. John Swinton took the
stand and testified at considerable length.
recommending revival of the income tax
as originally in force; the establishment
of national board of industry empower
ed to collect labor statistics of every
description and including the power to en-
force the eight hour law; the establishment
OF etfectual boards of health, education
and public works, industrial schools and
colleges on the French system; public
membership in railroads and telegraphs
and the Belgium system of freedom
of patents; postal banks un-
der the British system; land
laws which VII prevent the holding
by private individuals of great tracts of
land; public ownership of coal, iron gold
and other mines and oil wells. Every one
of these measures has been put in prac-
tiee in one country or another. They
were all capable of enforcement by legis-
lation. The national bureau of industry
is absolutely necessary for securing wise
legislation, as there was now no data of
accuracy on which Legislators could rely
The present system or boards of health is
not effectual as shown by the state of
health in all large cities. In New York
the people are crowded together like ami
mails and children grow up with unhealthy
enfesbled constitutions. Witness held that
industrial schools, sHch as are maintained
in European countries, should be maintain
ed here and should be controlled by the
ryCuQpppapt Tho xunrEincy rniIroo 1-
and telegraph lines by the government in
Berlin showed conclusively it should be
adopted in this country. He thought the
legislatures had power to do this. He was
of opinion the government should
institute postal banks where the poorer
classes could make deposits and obtain an
annuity. Speaking of the press, in answer
to the question from Senator Blair, said
the press as rule was unfavorable to the
working classes. I am convinced of that
myself, said Senator Blair, since this in
vestigation has been in progress, and in
my opinion such wilful Misrepresentation
should be punished criminally. In clos
ing the senator urged the committee to
do all in their power to suppress the bill
ionaires and raise and educate the lower
classes.
John Jarrett, president of the Amalga-
mated association of Iron and Steel
Workers of Pennsylvania, said he had been
engaged twenty-five years in the iron
industry. The Pennsylvania association,
of which he was the head, was composed
of employees of iron and steel rolling mills.
The object of the association was to Sc
cure the moral and social, mental and
financial improvement of its members,
and bring about conditions whereby the
rights of workiDgmen are recognized and
they get fair days wages for days
work. There were many mills in Penn
sylvania which were not under control Ct
the union. In these the rate of wages was
lower than In the union mills. There were
numerous strikes before the supremacy Ct
the union was acknowledged by
members of new organizations
There was always a tendency to strike
at the least provocatien. The new method
of arbitration was pursued largely with
satisfactory results. Representative work.
men and manufacturers will meet once O
year and decide on scales of prices and
wages. Iron workers were in favor of pro
lection because it protected them
in their wages. Protection did not in.
crease the price of steel, but if it did moi
exist there would be no employment fol
iron and steel workers. In some mills
which are not controlled by unien work
men the men are paid the same as
those in English manufactures. JANET
in answer to Senator Call, said the man
who sold his iron at $40 per ton less than
his competitor and disposed of four
times the quantity of his competitors
would be able to pay better wages, but the
trouble would be to make him exercise his
ability in this respect. The Iaboring
classes should be compelled to attend
school, and the government should appro.
pirate means for assisting public educa-
ton. Jarrett said that if the industry Of
tin plate manufacturers was carried on in
this country, it would give employment to
1000 men. The ore could be obtained
from California and Australia as cheaply
as England could obtain it from her OWL
mines. Under the present tariff rates tin
plate manufactures could not be carried
on. The interest was connect.
ed intimately with iron work. Tin
plate manufacturing was attempted a
year ago in Pennsylvania, but failed on
account of reduction of the tariff. Eng
land can produce plates at cost of 81 a
box. 1t cannot be done here at any such
price. Seventeen million dollars were
paid to English manufacturers last year
by American merchants for this commod-
ity. The plates are used in the manufac-
ture Of all tin utensils. The tariff should
be increased so that American nanufac
turers could afford the pay wages of men
engaged in the industry.
The Great Western Band