New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-07
THE CONDITION OF LABOR.
WHAT CONGRESS SHOULD DO TO HELP IT.
. NEWSPAPER MANS SCHEME LAID BEFORE THE
BLAIR COMMITTEE.

BLAIR COMMITTEE.
Johr swnton WAS the first witness before the
Senate Snb- Committee on Education ana LABOR yes
fertiay He began his test mony by saying that there
are nine measures which should be adopted by
Congress for the Improvement OF the CONDITION Oh
the Iaborng classes. These are:
u) The revival OF the income tax by Congress =.
i2j The establishment of National Board OF
Industry. empowered to collect labor statlstlcs OF
ali xmas embracing the data of cooperation, the
eight-hour question, the toll OF factory women
and Children and other things underlying the well
fare of the country's workers. T.,
49, The establishment in the Government Nv
Congress of efficient boards of health, as oil euuca
ton and public works. under comprehensive Sys-
IA The establishment Of Government industrial
schools and colleges in the French system ....
(5.l The public ownership OF RAILROADS anu ''i'
graphs as IN the Belgian system.
49, he freedom OF parents, as IN HoNahu anu
Switzerland, but with royalty system; III, III
10 The establishment OF postal eSs ate Win "'
49, The enactment OF such lana laws as VIII ptto
vent the holding OF or at tracts OF our US
corporations and individuals, inciudihg ioreign
t11 The public ownership of coal. iron, gold and
other mines, and petroleum wells. ".
In support of the first OF these measures M.
Swinton said that when the income tax was. IN
force during the war 1t was considered the MOST
ment He said that should the tax be again
restored it would be possible 10 1sv. RAISE
of the county from less than one-twenteth Of the
population. The great body the people would mus
be relieved from the burden OF ta1atI0D under
, Ton ot'e of board of Statistics Of which Mr.
Swinfon considered the Senate Committee to be the
germ, would give to the world an accurate idea OF
fhe Condition of all classes. The census had failed
10 do this and could not, therefore, DC reled upon
for information. In speaking of the third measure
which he had proposed, the witness said;
al am aware that there rs at the present time
Board of Education, and remember the rumpus
which ao,Ts on made Board isw Of Hea BUT
these are only the shadows of things; we need the
real article. In 1881 the number OF deaths IN this
city was II 494 greater than the number OF births;
in 1882 there were 10 So more deaths than births
One-half of this number were undrr i've years oil
age. OF the 1880 persons who died that year
only g. 500 had reached the age of fifty. This
record is an appalling one The death rate In farls
is 10 per cent Of its population IN London about ~
per cent? but in New York ii is 81 per cent! lhere
are 10000 people who die every year from starya-
ton in this city alone. Of course 1t isn't put down
that way in the reports for such cases are disguised
under such names as cOnsum pton, fever, etc
Ia support OF bis last propa sItion Mr.. SwlntOn
SAID that no man had the right to control the
caorc of the world. All mines, he asserted, should
be worked by tine Government and the products
John jarrett, of Pittsbure, president of the Anal
camated Association of Iron and steel workers, was
the next witness. He said that the object OF the
association to which he belonged was the moral. So
cal and financial Improvement of its members
The condition OF the wOrkmen in those mills which
were under the control of the association was far
better than that OF those employed else
where, Icy not only received better wages wages
per week. Every a conference between man.
ufacturers and members OF the association was beld
at which schedule OF pr ces for labor was arranged
for the following twelve months Mr. jarrett
affirmed that strikes ever occurred IN those mills
in which these prices paid All iron and steel
worker, were in favor OF protection because only in
tins way could heir wages be kept up 10 the pres
eni figure Protection did not increase the price of
steel rails Tue working men here had no reason to
complain OF the wages paid to them Tor they re-
ceIved twice much Tor their IaDcr as English
workmen. The great trouble on this side the water
was thar comfortable houses could not be hIre1 ex
cept at high prices. Something, he maintained,
should be done 10 provide better homes Tor the men
who do the great bulk of work.
Mr.. HUGHES AT TIE STOCK EXCHANGE.
PLEASANT WORDS ABOUT ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
Thomas Hughes was given a cordial reception at
the Stock Exchange yesterday: He was taken to
the rostru by tne president, A. S. Hatch. who had
no intention of Interrupt ing the proceedings 20 ln
troduce the visitor III was soon learned. however,
that MIR. Hughes was present, and the brokers col
lected crowds front of the rOstrum. MI. Hatch
then presented Mr. Hughes. alluding to tho Amerl;
eau appreciation of Tom Brown" at Rugby and
at Oxford. Mr. Hughes received With cheers
He SAID that the American people mad way. when
he came to the country. OF treating MN win de-
gree of riendluess and cOrdiallty which was some
whai OF a suIIrse to HIM;
81 have been greatly interested In what
Exchange" SIR. Hughes continued Gem
ing up the bay from Sandy Hook l noticed
lot of your little boats putting out for our vessel
and some of your officials boarded 1t. Your news
papers were distributed ana l noticed that your
citizens all turned TO one column OF the paper
was talking with fellow at the time ard didn't
want to break of the conversation. But L noticed
in casually glancng over the shoulder OIL some one
that the every one was Interested III was
headed Prosperous Bills thought of course that
this referred to my own country but found out
afierward that II referred TO your dOmgs on this
floor (Laughter.l So concluded that the Ameri-
can people regard as of the first Importance what
takes place here"
Mr. Hughes sand that America was the only coun-
try in the world III which to make money but Eng
land was the best country to spend money In his
was proved by the fact that Americans were going
over to England ana Uuyng mp all the finest hodseS
He had two sons, nephew and other relatives over
here but he thought that by-and-by they would all
GO back to England. In fact lie thought
that eventually everybody the other
side would come over to America to make money
and everybody here would go there To spend
1T In conclusion, Mr.. Hughes expressed bis graft
fcatrn at the increase of business intercourse be-
tween the two countries and the growth of raterDal
feeling and he hoped TO this perpetuated.
Mr. tia ch said that next TO their own country
men Americans esteemed Engshmen who love
America, and he thought thai Mr.. hughes belonged
to that class. The visitor teft the Exchange after
receiving further hearty applause.
DISIfRAG PLANTS. BUT NO CROP.
Samuel Blakesey, who has figured under various
aliases, was arrested by detective in Newark
Yesterday on charge of swIndling by selling seeds
on false representations. lu February of last year
numerous complaints were made to the police of
swIndler who was going about selling seeds for a