New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-27
MIR. MEDILDS TESTIMONY.
LABOR TROUBLES AND THEIR CURE.
THE CURSE OF LouoR-oRowDED TENEMENT

! THE CURSE OF LloUOR-CRowDED TENEMENT
HoUsAs--PAiLRokD CHARGES.
Joseph Meiill Editor of The Chic,go Tribune tes-
titled before Srnator Blairs Committee yesterday
| upon the relations existing between capital and
labor, and kindred social topics lilo is below the
average height. has gray har md beard. and wore
| wel-httng suit of dark e. DDS; tie spoke IN
clear distinct manner but was obliged TO make use
of an eaI-trumpet when listening TO The questions
| propounded by the members of the committee.
al beeveD he said that the chiet cause OF the
impecunious condition of the weGe classes OF this
country is their proudneS' I'd lack OF thrift.
90 many people arc irving to get along without
work. Those who do toll squander the greater part
of their wages in drink and tobacco. On small wages
man can still something. The wisest political
thinker social questions the United States has
yet produced once said that a penny saved is
penny earued.' 1t was to the working casses, that
DIR. Franklin speaking and | must saw that
have never known workman. Nc matter what MS
earnings were. who if he spent his money for smoke
and drink, ever accumulated anything Those who
have closely examined the subject have stated that
WORKING men spend at least 500 OOO,O per an
nun for liquor, and nearly $20O0'O0O Tor cigars
during the last ten years would nave
been sufficient to provide comfortable
home tor every family IN this country.
Placed at interest this amount would to-day nave
reached the high figure of $5.0O0000 900 Drink.
affirm, the prOcenltor OF nearly all the Ills 10
which the poor men of the United States are sub
iected No trades unions or other combinations
can ever bring relief TO them IN the absence OF
temperance and economy. High hcense-the higher
aud the INCUBATION Oh the part OF the people to
visit them. have very little falth in ponJIcaI pro-
hibiton or schemes of that sort.
'rhe evil next to drink which destroys the lives
of vage-w0rers is the existence Of wretched tene-
ment-houses 1t is o significant fact that. in this
great city of Newly the number OF deaths ex-
ceeds the number of births by 10000 annually.
Premature deaths among, the .aborlng CLASSES OF
this and other cities due partly to the criminal
neglect of public officials, and parLy to
The rents hero are too high 1t is
standard oeef among trades unions that reduc-
tion in the hours of labor would eventually prove
remedy for all the ills TO which the laborlg classes
are now subjected. They seem 10 overlook the fact
that, this plan adopted, the country would soon
lie flooded with horde of foreign artisans and wages
would as natural result fall so low thatlt would be-
come almost impossible 70 earn living Education
might be made to remove some OF The dlthcultles,
but not with our present systems. The high schools
and colleges do not teach paul how TO doubts the
value of his labor. They bring up hundreds and
thousands of our youth TO get their living by their
wits. Every institution should teach pr%ctlca.
studies such studies will be OF use to the student
ia bis after-llfe."
Concerning railroad charges Mr. Medill said that
ths, eonsaaul nurtu&ticn OF rTeIgnI farms occa-
stoned great losses to mere. ants. AT present
nothing could be determ ne0 IN regard TO the future
shipments of crops Railroads bad IL IN their power
to destroy thousands OF dollars og raising OF 90
pressing freight charges. He thought that tnls
power should not be given to the railroads, OUT
should he confined usveiy to the Government.
"What is your opl ion OF the work II which tnls
committee is engagedp asked Senator Pugu.
"ruaHs delicate question:" SAID Mr. Medfil
with smile. -" However. VIII say tnat OeneVo
YOU will be able 10 recommend 10 Congress the
adoption OF such measures as will remove some OF
he diiicuies which COW exist, or you VIII ue a0ie
to declare to the peOplr OF this country that sucn
matters are outside the jurisdiction OF ioglslatlon
Reuben r. Carroll, who had been invited To give
to tie committee some info nation upon the Gil IN
teress OF Pennsylvania, took the stand In the al
ternoOn He had not PREPARED any notes upon that
subject but will do so and give MS testimony to-
day