The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-05
LABOR AND TRADE.
John Roach, the Ship-BuiIder, Before the
Senate Sub. Committee.

JOnn KOach, the Snip-BullCiers DelOro INC
Senate Sub Committed.
New YORK, Sept. 4.-The Senate sub-com-
mittee on labor and education continued its
session to-day. John Roach, ship-builder
testified that he employed about 5000 men,
who represented about twenty-five different
branches, Witness began work at twelve
shillings week, but at that time wages were
very low. Since that time the condition of
the workingman had gradually improved,
and the hours of labor had been reduced.
He thought there was no reason why every
industrious workman should not own his
own home. He believed the government
was bound to legislate in the interest of the
workingmen. The payroll of his business
last year was 81, 5S7, OOO and he had men in
his employment who first started
with him in business. Now they
owned their own houses. Witness
said labor must cooperate with
capital. 1t would never do for labor to COM
bine by itself and become the dea dly foe OF
capital. The sooner the workingmen were
educated to a standard from which they
could realize the force of the maxim that
"a man who cannot make cannot own" the
better it would be for the laborer, as we'll as
for the nation. Over fifty of his men were
employed by him in former years in the
same workshop. Frequently men in his en-
ploy came to him and said they wanted
| five or ten pounds to send to some relative
| in Ireland, and asked him to deduct SO much
a week from their wages, and he always
| obliged them. Witness remarked that there
are millions of dollars annually sent out of
Al IL ho hopn
but which were sent to maintain landlord
ism in Ireland. The payroll for one
month of the Morgan iron-works aggregated
| $40, 500, and the average wages of the en-
ployes were $13 or $14 week. Witness said
| that at one time he was a tramp on the
| prairies of Illinois. withouta dollar in his
| pocket, and yet never fiinChed in his deter
mination. Ten years ago he bought the ship
yard at Chester and at the present time more
! than ], 500 men were employed there, whose
wages averaged $219 a day; of these 287
owned their own houses, the value OF which
ranged from 81, 200 to $4,000. In regard to
! free ships witness said in his mind it was i'm
portant that the building of ships should be
encouraged as a means of national defense.
! Mr. Roach said he was not OPP
posed to trades-unions. He did
not care how many men came into his
works. they would not be denied employ
| ment simply because they were union men.
At the same time he hired men individually,
and they were given to understand that ii
| they wanted to treat with their employers
on any subject they must come individually.
| While he would allow his men to amuse
themselves with their trades-unions just as
with their religion or politics, he would allow
no com bination of men to run his shop.
Mr. Roach continued his testimony in the
afternoon on the subject of free shipping and
labor, and advocated protection of the gov
eminent to shipping as the only means of
gaining supremacy on the sea. He stated
| that ship could be built in this country
cheaper than in England, and that the bur
after construction, which made it unproiit-
able for Americans to own vessels
He did not believe in bounties and sub
sides as such. A wise law he thought,
could be framed, which would cover all
difficulties.
Senator Call asked Mr.. Roach to state his
views more definitely, but without avail.
Tomorrow Jay Gould will be examined.