The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-10
--------s-a'
INDUSTRIAL.
Inc Ex-fresident, President-E Elect and
secretary OF the AnaIgamated Asso-
citation Before the Committee.
THE SENATE ENQUIRY.

NEW YORK, Sept. o.
Before the Senate Labor Committee Fri
day John jarrett, ex-President of the Anal
gamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers, resumed his testimony. He said
the convict labor system was very detri-
mentai TO the interests of the working
classes. People would not object to it,
however, if competition was placed on a
fair basis and prison laborers were not al
lowed to work for lower price than the
current market rate The labor of convicts
might be properly employed in construct
ing better roads throughout the country.
The only hope for the laboring man was to
educate him and improve his morals, and
he would soon be able to look out for him
self. 4 great wrong was done the iron man
ufacturers of this country by the high prices
they were charged for Gre A reduction of,
two dollars a ton in the price of ore had been
made lately, but the owners of the mines
could make further reduction and still make
a handsome profit The coal mines of
Pennsylvania were in great measure
owned by railroad companies, which cir
cunstance, the witness thought, was
very dangerous to the interests of the pub
lie. The condition Of the ninety thousand
coal miners of Pennsylvania was pitiable
and miserable in the extreme. Their wages
were too low; they were subject to the
| truck" system almost universally, and in
! consequence of their utter decentralization
| they spent at least One-half of their earn
| ings in drink. The press of New York is,
in Jarrett's opinion, subsidized by large
| combinations of capital This feeling, he
said, was? gaining ground throughout the
| country. In regard to the protection and
| tariff system, he thought the press was
| bought, not only by the mon0polieS of this
country, but by capital imported from
! abroad.
Senator Blair told the witness he would
observe that all these remarks of his would
be suppressed by all the papers of this city
that this had been the usual course since the
| investigation began.
| William Martin, of Pittsburgh, Secretary
| of the Amalgamated Association of Iron
| and Steel Workers, was the next witness.
He gave the committee an idea of his
! society's internal management and its differ
| ent lodges. Nj. Martin thought if the sys-
ten of arbitration could be introduced in all
the great industries on all questions which
arose between workmen and employers
that many OF the difficulties resulting from
the present relations of the two classes
could be avoided. 1t would prevent strikes
and the consequent loss Of wages and earn
ings of capital, and be of benefit to boil
parties. He thought such a system might
be introduced by means of proper legisla
ton
William Weike, a puddler from Pitts
burgh who is also Presdent-elect of tbs
Amalgamated Association Of Iron and Stee
Workers said that in order to tobviate tn,
evils of the truck system he thought Law
should be passed providing that wages il
money should be paid TO every workman
once in two weeks. He did not believe il
importing labor, but did not object to vol
untary immigration.