New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-08
IRON AND STEEL WORKERS..
TESTIMONY AS TO THEIR CONDITION.
JOHN JARRETT WILLIAM MARTIN AND oin"i
BEFoRE THE BLAIR COMMITTEE.


JOHN JARRETT, WILLIAM MARTIN AND oihN"'
BEFORE THE BLAIR COMMITTEE
rso.o ,,oro loss than a dozen people present in
Room No 100 of the Federal Building YESTERDAY
morning when President jarrett OF ~ tl,G toolx
mated Association of Iron and steer Satnr
the stand To continue his testimony before senator
HAS, cnmn,ittee The witness began by say,
ing that the convict labor system was '
to the interests of the working CLASSES oton had
trv. If men within the prisons OF the nauou nau
TO be employed during the period Oh .non SCI ood
tude they should be engaged IN tue Wakt"k 80
roads. Mr.. Jarrett ma,ntained ' assocotions bad
resulted not only in the advancement vi ta,na
wages. but had also given them socia, oos sh,
which they never could have Obtained III any otnel
wav The first IRON workers union established III
this country was founded III 1905, anu was huo"n
as the Sons of Vulcan When he came 10 Aiier' t
i'm 1862 he immediately Interested nihsel III .'lo
welfare of the iron workers, aud dld mucu 10 iu,
prove their condition by bringing about concerted
action. One of the great principles which , hau
founded. was the impOrt ance OF letting liquor
drinking alone. Many of the men were now incin
bers of churches and took an interest IN INC soo'a
and economic qustions of the dar.
az" .Tbe condition of the coal aud iron miners OF
pcnnsylyania however, is pi table," continued MI
Jarrett They are poorly PAID anu hence h"n nH FOR
MANY years has kept them in state almost as pau
as slavery. have heard OF several men VINO naa
worked in the mines for one anu TWO wears W,V"uU
receiving single dollar OF their earnings III 'helr
own hands, Much OF their money go $ 10 tne
liuuoI dealer. There are better laws III hneIaniu
for te protection of this cl ass OF men IMAM Ill lnIs
country I'm Ter the laws there inspectors are ap-
pointed TO examine the mines every morning peIoIe
the labOrers enter them. The truck system Is pro
bIb,ted and unpriDcipled men are prevented from
taxing advantage of the dependent condition Oh
the miners The coal mines OF PennSyVahia arc
owned III q great measure by the raliroaI,' Inns
This consider a dangerous state OF affalIs 49,
Senator Call asked the witness II lie did not
think il would be good plan To establish puredu
of labor statistics i'll order that accurate htorp
ton might be Obtained cohcern'hK an '"''
matters. ..,- :. ,o,,d ho q wise nlan TO have
such bureau established" SAID the witness as IL
seems almost Impossible toODtdlh rellaoo shtst'o'
either from the census OF tue newspapers. 1t Is ths
general opinion OF the labOrlng classes tnat the
press of this country subsidized by capitalists
Protection or free trade is advocated according W
the dictates of native or imported cdpl'a,; :.
"You will observe" said senator D1ar IN
sarcastic tone, that your remarks Oh til5 poih.
will be suppressed by the newspapers-iinless Ihy
remark now make shall lead 10 their puOIlcdton'
William Martin, secretary OF the Ainalgana.eu
Associa ion of Iron aud Steel orhers, gave the
committee IA sketch of that Organlzatloh lie
asserted that the system OF arb lratOn when was
empoyed in settling the question OF wages ana the
difficulties which from time To tlhe arse pcl"een
| mtnufac turers and Their w0rhmeh hai, proven
efficient IN every instance Strikes and the suDsc-
ouent evils winch follow were rarely ever know" IN
those mills L. which tne system haa i r
was the next witness. The condition Ol tls men III
| his own trade he said. satisfactory. lbeY were
| for the most part well paid ana we'll Treated D'
| their employers. The coal miners. OF nhom ~
| knew large number, were poorly PAID - ccn,'
| a basket was they could g;t for mining the coal
| and seventy-iiye baskets were considered "a sool
| days work. r H. Ala
| Thomas n. Miller, superintendent oil the A'i ia
| Rolling Mills at IItsbLrg, said that IL wOulu d,
lar brte r for the manufacturers If the associations
| of workIngmen were more generally, dIstF'Ouioo
| throughout the country IL = Idct; nc Con.in
| ned. THAT the personal relations between en-
| ployers aud employees are not OF as intimate ia
ture as they formerly were. Manufacturers nov
treat with the organizations rather than WIN no,
| yiduils The criticisms winch have Dech maj
upon capitalists. or rather the manuisctuf er
throughout the country, IN REGARD 10 Tue noui' p"
are unjust There are many OF these men Wh
have thousands OF people III their employ, Wh
work more hours day than the lap'rciS inc"
selves" -, IA 49,. Ia
Mr. Miller said in conclusion that he did not be
lieye that a national eight-hour law could DC Ell
| forced throughout the country.