New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-22
FACTORS IN THE LABOR PROBLEM.

WRONGS OF SAILORS ON THE LAKEs-THE WORK OF
BAKERS AND BREWERS.
Richard Powers, of Chicago. president of the Sea-
mems Union of the Lakes stated 1ciore the senate
snh-C Committee ON Education yesterday mat tno
organization to which he belonged has for It's Oh
iect the protection and elevation OF lake seamen;
IL numbers over 1000 members, ana Is composed
of the best sailors the great lakes Since It's Or
oanization The union has been instrumental In re-
forming many Uf the abuses to which the sailors
were subjected. There we're, however several eslis
which required the interference OF higher power.
MI Powers said that since there are no lave govern,
ing:he loading ofavessels the lakes, captains and
ownprs oft en- overload their vessels and thus run
In. risk of hay ing them wrecked on tho dangerous
rocks along the shores. When asked why they
we're willing to take such risks. Mr. Powers replied
that the owners preferred TO PIT tlelr lrust 10
machinery rather than IN God. He explained this
abatement by saying that many OF the VESSELS were
tow ed about the lakes by tugs. Seainen are PAID
50 dav the first month of the season, this amount
belne gradually increased during the summer until
November when 1t reaches 81 Captains ne tn
sisted should be compelled TO employ American
rather than foreign sailors Mr. Powers assured the
committee that rot moro than i've out oil the 900
members of the union have accumulated @l,oOV
In conclusion Mr.. Powers stated, That owing 10 tho
moor sanitary arrangements on many OF the lake
vessels consumption among the seamen is largely
ON the increase. An inspector, he said should 1e
appointed BY the Government 10 examine 'n'
George Il. Block, REPRESENTATIVE OF the journey
men Bakers and Brewers Unions was the next wit
ness The journeymen bakers OF this city are. ne
said, In very degraded condition, both socially
and morally owing to tho unlimited number OF
hours that they are obliged TO Work. and the man
nor in which they arc compelled 10 live. They
begin work at p. IN. and continue until or o
o'clock the following morning: Because OF their
| limited incomes few are married. Ihey hve Win
their employers and often obilged TO sleep IN
| the cellars in which they labor. When unem-
Moved. they spend the most Of their time in so
| called bakers homes" whore they are 1eeced OF
| their money and are otherwise imposed upon.
The Brewers Association, the witness said. owes
ts existence to an accident which occurred In Peter
| Doeluer's brewery In 1881. Three workmcn with
lighted candles in their hands entered huge vat
| for the purpose of cleaning II. The gas which II
contained took fire and burned the men to death.
| Had the men been provided with safety lamps tho
accident would not have occurred. The thirty
| five Lreweries IN Hew-York employ about $500
| men, The wages range from $50 to PlO0 month.
| There is much suffering among brewers from rheu-
| matism. The hours Of labor often run as nigh as
| sixteen day. 80 49,
A. Strasser presid snt of the Cigar Makers Inter
| pationsl Union, outlined the growth OF his and
| similar organizations from 1856 to the present
| time. During It's existence the International Union
| had expended 1885, 44 81 i'll the payment OF sick
b.uetits tho support of striking members, and III
extending the general interests of the organization.
There are four evils against which cigar makers In
| the United States are compelled 10 contend: tene-
ment-house labor. coolie labor. convict labor aud
female and child labor. In speaking OF the latter
| Mr., Strasser SAID That the number Of women aud
| children now employed in this unhealthy oecupa-
] ton Is not less than 10000.