National Republican., 1883-02-10
How PooR FOLKS LIVE.

The Condition OF the Working People or
NIassacAusetts-Descri FOR the Infor-
nation OF 1Ir. B1nir's Committee.
The examination of Mr.. Frank X. Foster
was continued yesterday by the senate COM
mittee on education and labor. Mr.. Foster
said that most of the tenement houses in the
manufacturing cities of Massachusetts were
owned by the mill owners, aud that the lessees
were compelled to furnish so many operatives.
The houses are generally small i'll ventilated,
and uncomfortable, and tho operatives are
compelled to live in the companies houses or
be dismissed. The sewerage and sanitary
facilities arc terribly bad, and on summer
nights the stencil from the cesspOols is nearly
overpowering. The French Canadians are to
New England what Chinese are to California
and the Pacific coast. Their morals are lower,
their necessities fewer, and their only aim
seems to be to see how much money they can
get to take out of the country. They do not
wish their children to attend schools, and
when compelled to send them, often move to
another place. They seldom accept the right
of franchise. Out of population of SS,G53
in thirty-two cities in Now England, only
5,096 are haturalized and 2,S59 arc property
owners.
Mr. Foster spoke strongly against the en-
ployment of children offender years. In Mas
sachusetts there is n law against the employ
mentin mills of children underl0years of age,
and that these, from 10 to Ii, must attend school
thirteen weeks in the year. This law does
not include the little cash boys and girls en-
ployed in large numbers in tho city stores.
These little ones are not old enough, in many
cases, to be sent out from under the eye of q
mother, and are here employed during the
busy season from 8 a. m. until o and 10 p. M.
The girls employed as shopwomen are paid
on an average about $3.50 per week, and out
20 aN.1N
and provide for all the necessities of life, and
to dress themselves well. Society demands
that they should be virtuous, yet with the
meagre stipend received, and the snares often
thrown around them by those over them,
it is not a wonder that many fall. The firms
of Jordan, March & Co. and McCallar, Will
ans & Co., of Boston, are shining exceptions
to most firms. The former have provided n
large hall, the commercial rent value of which
is $4,000 per year, in which their employees
can meet in q social way, use rs a reading
room, or give dancing parties in. Over u
year ago this firm established fund to which
each week each employe contributed n very
small sum. Last summer they all drew lots,
and the lucky ones went to Europe under the
direction of member of the firm.
The condition of the mill girl is to be de-
plored. Away from home influences and re-
strained, thrown often among the depraved OF
both sexes in low tenement houses, what
wonder is that their morals are too often low?
81 speak advisedly," said Mr.. Foster, that
tho city of Lowell, Mass, alone, presents a
wide field for philanthropic work. There is
more. needed there and n better object than
the building of places for docayed gentle
women, or donating large sums to Howard
college. Large strides have been made in
Boston toward giving the working people the
benefit of art galleries and Libraries by OPEN
ing them ON Sunday.