The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-09-14
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
BY TELEGRAPH AND MAIL.

Strike and Labor Investigation.
Session in New York City of the United States
Senate subcommittee on Labor and Edu-
caton.l
Before bhe committee on the 9Th John
Swinton recommended the revival Of the in
come tax as originally In force: the establish
ment Of National Board of Industry en-
powered to collect labor statistics of every
description, and including power to enforce
the Ei9ht-hOur law; the establishment of eff
fectual Boards Of Hea tn, Education
and Publ Works; industrial sch ols
and colleges on the French system; Bel
gium system of freedom from patents;
postal banks under British system; Ian
laws Which viii prevent holding by pIl-
Yate individuals Of great tracts Of iand PUBIC
ownership Of coal iron gold and other mines,
and all oil wells Every one OF these measures
has been put in practice in one country or
another and they were all capable OF enforce
ment by legislation and have in every in
stance proved successful. He was also OF the
opinion that the Government should institute
postal banks where the poorer classes could
John Jarrett, ox-President Of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel Workers
Of the United states, testified that the object
of the association was Improvement Of MEM
bers soc ally, morally, mentally and financial
ly. In such mills as were controlled by the
association he said the r~eu were better paid
more industrious and more temperate He
the employment of unsldled aborers, but
said the more intelligent man was the more
work he could do. He was decidedly opposed
TO strikes and thought they could be done
away with by arbitration.
The testimony OF Mr.. jarrett was resumed
on the nth. He said convict labor was detri.
mental to the interests Of the working classes,
but people would not object to it if compe-
tition was placed on a fair basis. The only
nope for the labOring man was to educate
MN and improve his morals. Most of the
coal mines in Pennsylvania, he said, were
owned by railroad companies, which fact was
dangerous TO the interests OF the public. The
condition OF the ninety thousand coal miners
OF pennsylvania was pftiable and miserable
IN the extreme; their wages were too low;
they were subject to the truck" system al
most universal y, and in consequence OF their
utter generalization they spent at least one
half OF their earnings In drink. The press of
New DIRK Is, in witnesses opinion, subsidized
by large combinations of capital
William Martin of Pittsburgh, Secretary Of
the Amalgamated Association of Iron and
Steel Workers, thought if the system of arb-
trauon could be introduced in all the great
industries on all questions which arose be-
tween workmeG and employers it would pre-
vent strikes and be OF benefit to both parties.
William Weike, puddler from Pittsburgh,
President-eect of the same association, said
that in order to obviate the evils of the
truck system he thought law should be
passed providing that wages in money should
He did not believe in importing labor but did
not object to voluntary immigration.
paper was submitted by James K Ingalls,
on the 10th which he had prepared on the rela-
tions of labor to land. In his opinion, the hold
ing of large tracts of land by single individuals
was dangerous to the interests of society and
labor. The effect of the absorption Of land by
single ownership had also produced injurious
effects in the agricultural districts. No man
should possess an absolute fee of the land, but
should only own the use OF so much land as
was necessary to his comfort during his life.
George Blair, a manufacturer of packing
boxes, VINO Tor many years has been con-
neoted with the labor movements ia this city
and state, was the next witness. He stated
that, although he was manufacturer and had
Deen In business Tor himself since 1874, he still
took great interest in all labor questions.
lie now had in his employ sixty men, who re-
celVet on an average Shopper annum. One Of
the most important measures in the power of
Congress TO establish was the revival of the
income tax. All incomes under $40 900 should
be exempt, but al above $40 900 should be
taxed so heavily that q millionaire would be
an impCs ibl ty He thought that S2h 0)0 a
year was as large an income as any man
should possess, and with this he could live
handsomely. Government bonds should also
pc taxed, as well as bonds Of other corpora
tons. One of the greatest needs of the times
was general system of education under Gov
ernment supervision The people should
Pc DC educated Aha i,,,, In the r political du-
this subject. He thought the best and most
economical method was to hire labor by the
day. Witness thought that, whenever the
state of trade would admit of it, workmen
should take the right OF demanding a fair
share of the profits.
Edward King printer, recalled, said that
he found the views of Henry George on the
land question were making rapid Roadway
among the working classes He was opposed
TO free grants of land or owning OF large
tracts OF land by any one individual or COR
poratlon.