Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-09-08
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Its Ventilation Before tho kub. Sen
ate Committed.


before the Soma Sub b-Committee Ol
Labor and Education, and resumed hi
testimony. He said that the convict
labor system was very detrimental t.
the interests of the working classes Th
people would not object to it, however
If the competition were placed upon {
fair basis and the prison labOrers were
not allowed to work for a lower price
than was current in the market. Tht
labor Of convicts might be properly EN-
ployed in constructing better roads
throughout the country.
The "truck" system was another
evil which should he remedied by legis.
lation. Under this system the work
men of particular employer were OBJ
liged to take out their wages in prod uce
at a particular store, on penalty of be-
ing discharged. They were iE this
manner defraudea out ofa good portion
of their wages. The system was an in
fringement upon mans personal lib.
erty and was contrary to the genius of
American institutions.
The only hope for the lab0ring man
was to educate him and improve his
morals, and he would soon be able to
look out for himself. He believed that
the only way in which the condition of
labor could be improved was by organi'
cations like trades unions.
A great wrong had been done to the
iron manufacturers in this country by
the high prices which they were charg-
cd for ore. A reduction of ~ "A ton in
the price Of ore had been made lately,
but the owners of mines could make a
further reduction and still make hand
some profit.
The coal mines of Pennsylvania We're,
in great measure, owned by the Rail.
road Companies, which circumstance,
Mr.. Jarrett thought, was very, very
dangerous to the interest of the public
The condition oil tho 0O, 600 coal miners
of Pennsylvania was pitiable and mise
rable in the extreme. Their wages
were too low, they were subject to the
"truck" system almost universally,
and in consequence of their utter de-
moralization they spent at least one
half their earnings in drink. In Eng
land the coal miaers were in a much
better condition. Witness thought it
would be wise measure to establish a
National Bureau of Labor Statistics -
The press Of New York was subsidized
by large combinations of capital. This
feeling was gaining ground throughout
the country.
Regarding protection and the tariff,
Mr.. Jarrett thought the press was
bought, not only by monopolies in this
country, but by capital imported from
abroad.
Senator Blair told the witness that he
would observe that all these remarks
of his would be suppressed by a ! the
papers of this city that this had been
the usual course since the investigation
was begnn.
William Martin, of Pittsburg, the
Secretary OF the malgamated Asso-
citation of Iron and steel Workers, was
the next witness. He gave the COM
mittee an idea of its internal manage.
ment and it's different lodges. He
thought that if a system of arbitration
could be introduced in all the great in
dustries on all questions which arose
between workmen and employers many
of the difficulties resulting from the
present relations of the two classes
could be avoided. 1t would prevent
strikes and the consequent loss Of wages
and earnings Of capital, and be bene-
fit to both parties. He thought that
such system might be introduced by
means of proper Legislation.
The next witness was William Weihe
a puddler from Pittsburg, who is
member of the Pennsylvania Legisla-
lure and is also President elect of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and
Steel Workers. He said that in order
to ob"iate the evils of the truck" "sys-
TEN he thoughL that law should be
passed providing that wages in money
should be- paid to every workman once
in two weeks. He did not believe in
importing labor, but did not object to
voluntary immigration.
John j. Davis, of Plttsburg. Pa, also
an iron puddler and member of the
ANA gamated Union, testified that
wages Of iron workers are renumera-
tive and are regulated by a sliding
scale sy stem, Il certain rate of wages
being established ut the beginning Of|
the year, according to the selling price
of iron, provision being made for All
increase in wages proportionate to the
rise in the price of the product. The
wages of miners are not so satisfactory.
Coal miners receive sixty cents u ton
and are able to mine about three tons
lay.
They are only able to work, however,
about half the year, the mines being |
closed the other half. The same is Urue
Of iron miners, except that they receive
u little better pay. Witness was in
favor of compulsory education, of the
establishment of industrial schools and
of national bureau of labor statistics |
Further protection he thought neces-
sary for the interests Of his trade. The
establishment of postal savings banks,
he said, would be of great benefit to the !
working classes.
Thomas A. Miller, President of the
Atlas Iron Works of Pittsburg, was
next called. He thought the sympathy
of the manufacturers in his district was
largely with the men. He favored
trades unions, and thought if they ex.
listed at all they should bo general.
Miners would do better if they saved
more of their money ; there are not
thrifty AZ IA class. He thought the time
was coming when we could do without
II tariff on foreign competition. He did
not think ter hours labor day was too
much for strong, healthy man. The
combination Of skilled labor he belies.
ed detrimental to the interests of un.
skilled laborers who have no unions.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Miller's tes'l
timony the committee adjourned until
Monday.
Star, Star, Beautiful Star.