National Republican., 1883-10-15
THE LABOR INQUIRY.
A Call for Views and Information in
Writing.

Writing.
Senator Blair, chairman of the senate COM
mittee on education and labor, has addressed
a letter to the public in which, after setting
out tho resolution authorizing the labor in
vestigation, he says "The committee has
already taken tho oral testimony of many
witnesses, all, or nearly all, Of whom have
been of high personal character and unusual
intelligence, representing geographically all
sections and resident in eleven states and tho
District of Columbia. Forty-seven repre-
sentatives of working men, most of them
practical mechanics and laborers in twenty
two of tho trades and occupations, and at the
same time delegates and officers of tho various
labor organizations in all parts Of the United
States have been fully examined also twenty
Leading bankers, manufacturers, merchants,
and representatives of various corporations;
fifteen editors and writers; two lawyers both
of whom appeared by request in the interest
of labnring men two clergymen and thirteen
women who have testified chiefly to the pc
culiar disabilities and hardships which the
most enlightened and Christian nation on
ear tn inflicts upon women and children.
Most of these witnesses have testified in q
delegated representative capacity. They
have, as rule, been selected with great caro-.
Although large proportion have been poor
in purse, yet they have been exceptionally
intelligent and reliable nor can they be as
sailed without at the same time attacking
numerous bodies of American citizens who
believe and feel as they do themselves.
Often the most valuable facts have been
communicated by witnesses holding unusual
opinions, and sometimes in this world those
in the minority have also been in the right
In addition to the testimony already taken
orally many valuable written statements of
facts and remedial suggestions have been filed
with tho committee which will receive due
attention before their report is submitted to
the senate. The time that is available will
be devoted to its accomplishment, but il Is
impossible to carry out the purpose of the
resolution by hearing orally all the impor-
tant witnesses who have manifested desire
to submit facts and opinions to the commit
tee. This is especially true of the great mass
Of the people of the country who are en-
ployed in agriculture and in tho smaller
centers of population. Yet upon their con-
dition primarily rests that of all other mem
bers of society.
The committee has therefore instructed me
to issue this circular inviting written COM
munications from those who may voluntarily
favor us with matter pertinont to be consid-
cred in this investigation. We shall 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 COW
cred by the resolution at the present time in
all parts of the country, and also that con-
dition as compared with previous periods of
our history and with the condition of tho
people of other civilized countries. Commu-
| nications from individuals (who should give
their residence, occupation, and means of
knowledge, so as to guarantee the authen-
ticity and reliability of their statements),
reports of working organizations, of oranges,
and agricultural, charitable, and other asso-
Citations, of bureaus of statistics, municipal
and other corporate bodies, official documents,
and carefully prepared matter Of any
| description appropriate to be considered
by the committee will be received,
filed, utilized in this investigation, and per-
manently 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 u corresponding effort will lie
made by all who communicate with the COM
mittee that their contributions be worthy of
| preservation. This suggestion, however, must
not be construed as indicating desire that
any one feeling grievance or having in mind
| "a thought which ought to be considered by the
committee should withhold 1t. Facts and
opinions from those in the common walks of
life are often tho most valuable, and in free
country nothing is more important than that
what all tho people are thinking of should
be generally made known. The only way to
safely suppress wrong or dangerous ideas is to
refute them. This can be done neither by
force nor rdicule. Reason and justice alone
can preserve the republic.
The wide dissemination through the press
of the testimony already taken, although the
reports have been necessarily 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 as to the numbers of our people who
~ Ill. u. ".
thereof extent of liens, if any, and other in
cumbrances upon houses and lands, with
rates of interest aud 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 steadiness 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 peo-
pie, hours of labor, employment, and wages
of women and children, sanitary conditions
of homes and dwellings, and of shops,
factories, and all premises whore 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
WHSlclul anu OAJIuNdBuiO OApouulVuIoi
Guiding Incorporate and hurtful habits and
practices of the people in foods, drinks, dress
fashion, personal habits, and in construction
of public and private buildings, &C., with sug
gestions of savings and economics which
should be practced for individual or the gen,
eral good; the relations and duties of the gov
ernments, both state and national to the sub.
ject matter of the resolution questions Of
police administration and reform, convict
labor, of the relations of producers to the de-
fciont and delinquent classes, with sugges
tions of remedies, educational or otherwise
for public evils
Written matter furnished the committed
should be directed to the chairman as below
! and reach its destination as early after the
opening of the session in December as possible
Communications of value will be preserved
whenever received. The committee will thanl
the press for any courtesy extended by th
) general distribution of this circular in ever,
state and territory. HENRY w. BLAIR,
' Chairman Committee on Education aud Labor
a Washington, ID. @,
I Found Drowned.
T. L nnt ...l