Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-09-05
JOHN ROACH,
The Shipbuilder, Before the Senate
Subcommittee ON Education
and Labor.
The Relations That Should Exist Be.
tween the WOrkingman and
the Capitalist.

New YORK, September 4.-The Senate
subcommittee on Labor and Education
continued its session to-day. John
Roach, ship builder, testified that he en-
ployed 5000 men, who represented about
twenty-five different branches. Witness
began work with twelve shillings a week,
but at that time wages were very low.
Since that time the condition of the work
ingman had gradually improved and the
hours of labor been reduced. He thought
there was no reason why every industrious
workman should not own his own house.
He believed the government was bound
to legislate in the interest OF the working
man. The payroll of his business last
year was 81 ,5S7 900, and he had men in
his employ who first started with him in
business. Now they owned their own
houses. Witness said labor must CO.
operate with capital. 1t would never do
for labor to combine by itself and become
the deadly foe of capital. The sooner
workingmen were educated up to the
standard from which they could realize the
maxim ''that the man who cannot make
cannot own," the better it would be
for the laborer as well as for the ma
ton. Over fifty of his men were
employed by him in former years in the
same workshop. Frequently men in his
employ came to him, and said they
wanted to get G5 or e10 to send to rela-
| tives in Ireland, and asked him to deduct
SO much per week from their wages. He
always obliged them. Witness also re-
marked that there are millions of dollars
| sent out of this country which should be
invested here, but which was sent to main
tain landlordism in Ireland. The pay
rolls for one month of the Morgan Iron
works aggregated SAG, 800, and the average
wages of employees was S13 or S14 per
| week. Witness said at one time he was a
| tramp in the prairies of Illinois without a
| dollar in his pocket, and yet never flinched
in his determination. Ten years ago he
bought ship-yard at Chester, and at the
present time more than 1900 men were
| employed there, whose wages average
| 81 10 day. OF these 2S7 owned theil
own houses, the value of which ranged
| from $1,000 to 5000. In regard tc
free ships, witness said in his mind
it was important that the building
of ships should be encouraged as means
| of national defense. Roach said he was
I NOT -erfaasad- to -tzadas ssaiezs- He did mo-
care how many men came into his works
they would not be denied employment
simply because they were union men. Al
the same time, he hired men individually
and they were given to underst and that i
they wanted to treat with the employer OF
/ illubt NOlliC
| While he would allow his men to amust
themselves with their trades unions, JUS
as with their religion or politics, he would
allow no combination of men TO run hi!
shop.
Roach continued his testimony in the
afternoon on the subject of free ships anC
| labor, and advocated protection by thu
| government to shipping as the only mean.
| OF regaining supremacy on the sea. He
states that ship can be built in this coun
try cheaper than in England at the presen
day, and that burdens were only imposet
on the ship itself after its construction
which made it improbable for Americans
to own vessels. He did not believe il
bounties and subsidies,as such; a wise law
he thought, could be framed which would
cover all difficulties. Senator Call asked
Roach to state his views more definitely
but without avail. Tomorrow Jay GoulC
will be examined.