Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-07
the LABOR COMxIrrEE.
What 10 to be Done to Help the Work.
ing Glasses.


regard to what legislative measures colud be
introduced to alleviate the condition of the
working classes. the witness recommended,
first, the revival of the income tax as orlgl-
ually in force: second, the establishment OF
a national board of industry empowered to
collect labor statistics of every Description,
including power to enforce the eight hour
law third. the establishment of an etfectual
board of health. education and public works;
fourth, industrial schools and colleges on the
French system; fifth, the public ownership
of railroads and telegraphs according to the
Belgian system: sixth, freedom of patents !;
seventh the establishment IF postal banks
under the British system; eighth. land laws
which will prevent the holding bv private
individuals of great tracts of land; ninth,
the public ownership of coal, iron, gold and
other mines and all oil wells. Every
one of these measures has been in practice IN
one country or another. They were all cap
able of enforcement by legislation and have
in every instance proved successful. The
general government had power to take charge
of the mines and oil wells by right of eminent
domain. Senator Call objected that they
were under State control and outside OF the
jurisdiction of congress, but the witness
thought this could be obviated by the supreme
power of the federal government.
Witness was asked to give some facts in
regard to the compensation of those who are
are engaged in the newspaper business and
replied:
There are two branches of the business,
the manufacturing and the editorial and the
reportial work. In considering the first
branch it may be said that there is no more
profitable industry IN the world than that
which is carried on by some of the great
newspaper corporations. Some of them pay
as much as Is per cent on the capital III
vested and there are some editors, also pro-
prietors, whose salaries are at least $500, 900
or 5000 900 year.
In speaking of the reporters compensation
Swinton stated that the minimum received
was probably $1,000 year, the highest $1,000
The latter salary only obtained in ex-
ceptional cases. Writers for newspapers as
correspondents, etc, received from $4,000 to
$50, 600 year. There were $4,000 persons
IN New York city engaged in the newspaper
work.
In answer to a question from Senator Blair
the witness said that the press was as a rule
unfavorable to the laboring classes,
am convinced of that myself said Senator
Blair, since this investigation has been in
progress and in my opinion such wilful mis-
representation should be punished GRIM
nally.
A newspaper never lies, continued Swim
ton, but frequently mistakes are made un-
Intentionally.
John Jarrett, president of the malgamated
Association of iron and steel worker of Penn
sylvania. was the next witness. He said he
had been engaged for % years in the iron in
dustry of Pennsylvania. The association of
which he was the head was composed of the
employees of the iron and steel rolling mills
The object of the organization was to secure
moral social, mental and financial improve
ment of its members and to bring about COZ
ditions whereby the rights of workmen are
recognized, that they get fair wages for a
days work. There were many mills in
Pennsylvania which were not under the con-
troll of the union. In these the rate of wages
was Invaribly lower than in the union mills
There have been numerous strikes before the
supremacy of the union was acknowledged
by the manufacturers. Representatives of
the workmen and manufactures met once a
year and decided on scale of wages. He
said that all iron workers were in favor of
protection because it protected them in their
wages. Protection did not increase the price
of steel, but if it did not exist there would be
no employment for iron and steel workers.
In some mills which are not controlled bv
the union the workmen are paid the same
wages as tnOSe III England.
Jarrett in answer to Senator Call said that
man who sold his iron for $40 ton less
than another, but disposes of three times the
quantity of his competitor would be aDle to
pay better wages, but that trouble would be
to make him exercise his ability in this re-
spect. The laboring classes, he added.
should be compelled to attend school and be
educated. The government should approp-
rate means to carry out system of public
education.
BosT0N, Sept G.
The subcommittee of the United States
Senate committee on education and labor,
consisting of Senators Adrich of Rhode
Island, and Pugh of Alabama, l. kimball,
Jr., secretary of the committee, and Judge
Davis, stenographer, made visit to the man
featuring centres of Rhode Island TODAY
The party made their first stop at Woonsock-
ct, where they were met by l.. w. Ballou, +.
&. Jillson, II. A. Jencks, Esq, Harry T.
Lippett, J. W. Ellis and others, and were
taken to the different mills. Of the opera
tives at these mills. 10 or so per cent of them
were French Canadians. number of these
have become citizens and own their houses,
and in some cases own several houses which
they rent
Mr.. Lippett, treasurer of the mills, testi-
fed that the best held were Americans, then
came English, Irish and Canadians in the
order given. From Woonsocket the party
went to Ashton, small factory village of
som six or eight hundred people. The oper-
atives here are English or Irish and were
found with comfortable homes and are very
happy. During the dinner hour several of
them were visited by the committee. They
were English and said they were much bet
ter off than in the old country. The average
4,
and children, is $50 IS for every four weeks
work. number Of these have money in
the bank. The houses rent from 81 to 81
per month.
From here the party drove to Amidon to
visit the Chase mills and from there to
Berkeley and Lonsdale. The committee, es-
pecially Senator Pugh expressed much pleas
ure over their visit. Tomorrow the commit
tee go to South Manchester and Williaman-
tic, Conn.
EnnclNAl McNAfC