Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-28
Imported Italian LabOrerS.

OffkhS MADE TO FIRMS IN THIS GlTY-A LETTER
SECURED BY THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR, AND AN IN
VEsTlGATIoN GOING ON IN THE INTEREST OF THE
WoRKTNGMEN.
The Knights OF Labor OF this city have been
somewhat exercised over the discovery that firm
In New York has been writing letters to con-
tractors In this city proposing 10 furnish them
with Italian laborers. one OF the contractors who
received such letters is Mr. Andrew Gleason. who
is engaged In the work OF constructing the new
reservoir north OF the city. District Assembly No.
&c, .,I,c, r. OF l., appoRtsd committee, Including
and Mr.. John Fallon, to secure such evidence
or the attempt To introduce the Italian laborcrS
here as they could. Mr.. Gleason, who declared
himself opposed 10 doing anything to injure the in
tereSt OF the workngmcn here. surrendered TO the
committee the last ietter received from The firm
In New York, which is as follows:
ITALIA GENERAL EMIGRATION LABOR BUREAU
Nos. , AND MORRIS STREET.
NEW YORK. Sth February. 1884
To Gleason, Ardg esq, Contractor. Washington. %.
C., Care Of Washington Iqueduct Engineer
Sir:-We are near the spring. that is to saw 10 the
time I'm which the works OF any kind are To begin.
No doubt YOU Will have good works. and doubtless
you may neAd laborerS Tor them. Can We hope 10
do something with You:
We are disposed TO furnish the men, any kind you
may need not only. but also TO take care OF them
over the work. 10 make them the board the store
at those conditions yCu may like. and IL YOU want
him We can furnish you also with an excellent work
bookkeeper, who. speaking Italian and English. can
spare you the trouble not 10 be understood with
the italian laborerS- We can come to see YOU At
any time you may wish IL to set all the conditions
and TO receive the orders.
Our references, as We wrote to you before are, I'm
Washington, the Count Tullio de SuZZare Verdi OF
the board OF health. and the Italian consul I'm New
York You can help us as nobody can. and We are
watching for your favorable answer. because We
Will have manner To show you Our thankfulneSS-
Entirely TO your orders We remain thanking, sir,
Respectfully yours.
DE FILLIPo GENNARo EFT Co.
WHAT MASTER WORKMAN TANNING SAYS.
Master Workman Tanning said a STAR
porter to-day that IT was understood that con-
tractor here had negotiated for such labor but the
fact had not yet been proved. The letter given
above and such others could be obtained would,
he said, be submitted TO the House committee on
education and labor as testimony in support OF the
Dill TO prevent the Importation OF pauper labor 10y
contract.
81 have had experience with these Italian labor
erS In other places" said Mr. Tanning, "and sup
pose the laborers 10 be furnished by this firm would
be the same, and under the Same conditions as
others These laborers are not in New York. They
are In Italy. III Mr. Gleason had given them an
order. the firm would have cSUfd TO have the men
shipped here. The district assembly. I'm taking
action in this matter are considering not only the
interests OF the laborng clement but that also OF
the business community. Ii would be as great an
injury TO them as TO the wcrkingmen. for these
Italian laborerS would buy nothing OF them, and,
OF course. II work was taken from our own people,
they could not buy. Now. we extend a welcoming
hand to any honest workingman who comes from
Italy. Ireland or any other country and Joins our
ranks, but we object TO the Importation or this
pauper labor TO compete with our workinglnen."
MR.. JOHN FAILoN,
Mr.. Fannings colleague on the committee OF the
knighfs OF Labor. told a STAR reporter that as he
understood 1t, If contractor wanted these Italian
laborers he would have to pay the New York "bu-
reau" one dollar head: that is. 500 for 100 men.
LOGO for 900 men, and 50 on. He understood also
that letters like the given had been written 10
the District commissioners as We'll as 10 the con-
tractors