Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-17
THE SENATE COMMITTEE
On Education and Labor Calling 70
More UnfOrmaffnn


Senator Henry w. Blair, chairman of
the Senate Committee on Labor and Edu-
cation, having been authorized by the
committee to do so, has issued circular
inviting written communications from
| those who may voluntarily favofthem with
matter pertinent to be considered in their
investigation. 1--WE SHALL" he SAYS,
especially value tersely stated and
definite information statistical in form
when appropriate and convenient to make
it so, touching the actual condition of the
people in the respects covered by the reso-
luton at the present time in all parts of
the country, and also that condition as
compared with previous periods of our
history and with the condition OF the
people of other civilized countries. Com
munications from individuals (who should
give their residence, occupation, and
| means of knowledge, so as to guarantee
the authenticity and reliability of their
statementsl, reports OF working organi
| cations, OF oranges, and agricultural,
charitable, and other associations, of bu-
reaus of statistics, municipal and other
! corporate bodies, official documents, and
carefully prepared matter OF any de-
scription appropriate TO be considered
| by the committee will be received,
filed, utilized in this investigation, and
permanently preserved for reference in
future. 1t is thought that such matter.
much of which will be prepared with
great labor and ability, may be valuable
| if thus preserved by one of the standing
committees of the Senate, and it is hoped
that corresponding effort will be made
| by all who communicate with the com
mittee that their contributions be worthy
| of preservation. The suggestion, however
must not be construed as indicating a de-
| sire that anyone feeling a grievance or
| having in mind thought which ought to
be considered by the committee should
withhold it. Facts and opinions from
| those in the common. walks of life are
often the most valuable, and in free
! country nothing is more important than
that what all the people are thinking of
should be generally made known. The
only way TO safely suppress wrong or dam
gerous ideas is to refutc them. This can
be done neither by force nor ridicule.
Reason and justice alone can preserve the
republic. The wide dissemination through
the press of the testimony already taken.
| although the reports have been necessa-
| rily imperfect, has served TO indicate
| the general subject matter thought TO be
pertinent in this investigation. Without
| ignoring other topics embraced in the
resolution, We would specially invite facts
rs to the numbers OF our people who have
w OMl siiNl ueSGTlftlOn
thereof, extent of liens, if any, and other
membranes upon houses and lands,
with rates of interest and rents and taxes
paid which constitute an annual charge
upon the incomes and wages of those who
own or occupy them; the amount of
wages earned in all forms of labor, steadi-
ness of employment, and frequency OF
payment of wages, and in what payment
is made, and OF gross and net incomes,
with full particulars of retail cost and
quality of shelter, food, clothing, and all
necessaries of life, the sources, amount Of
distribution, and collection of taxation
and public burdens of all kinds among
the people, hours OF labor, employments
and wages OF women and children, sani-
tary conditions of homes and dwellings
and of shops, factories, and all premises
where labor is performed, and provisions
for the protection OF health and life in
all places of abode and labor, including
routes of transportation by land and
water; forms OF wasteful and ex,
travagant expenditure, including in.
temperate and hurtful habits and prac-
tices OF the people in foods, drinks, dress
fashion, personal habits, and in construc
ton OF public and private buildings, ETC.,
with suggestions OF savings and econo
mics which should be practiced for indi
yidual or the general good; the relation: