Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-09
The Labor Questfon.-The Fedora

portico Of the capital. Among the
number were Messrs. John Chambers
Christopher O'Brien, Max Hamilton
jr., and John Crosser, representing
the labor interests of this county.
The delegation was accorded care
full hearing by the legislative COM
mittees, each guild separately stating
the claims Of the different trades in be-
half of the legislation recommended by
the Governor.
John Chambers, representing the
carpenters, blacksmiths, and other
trades-unions of Cumberland, said
they were all in favor of the Govern
or's recommendations except the
privilege of extra hours. They claimed
that eight hours was enough, as it
allowed them time to hoy themselves
with their families. They were for
less work and more money. Eight
hours in the rolling mill would increase
the demand for labor. The wages
paid a frst-class carpenter in Cum
berland was dollar and a-half day !;
laborers from dollar to dollar and
five cents, and they worked from sun
up to sunset. In the winter season
both the force and the wages were re-
duced. He represented 1,8O0 people !;
they wanted eight hours, and nine
hours he did not think would suit.
Christopher O'Brien, q miner, thought
eight hours long enough for man to
work under ground in the dampness
for from 81 to So day. He thought
the same work could be done in eight
hours if the companies would make
better arrangements for carrying
away the coal as it is mined. Less
working hours would employ the sur
plus labor and cause the employment
OF more drivers. The majority of the
miners walked from two a.half to five
miles to their work. He had seen
them on their way by half-past in
the morning, and returning after 7.
He could not get work because he be-
longed to protective union.
In Washington Saturday last repre-
sentatives of labor organizations be-
fore the House committee on labor
argued against the importation of
foreign laborers under contract. T.
V. Powderly, ex-mayor of Scranton,
Pa, said he represented the knights
OF Labor organization, numbering
over 100000 men. This association
desire an eight-hour law, legislation
preventing foreigners purchasing large
tracts of public land in this country,
and preventing the importation of
foreigners under contract. He spoke
of the importation of Hungarians,
and said they returned home after
saving comparatively small sums of
money. One family of nine persons
was instanced that lived on $27 a
month. The diet was said to be mush
and water for six days, with meat on
Sunday. Hungarians, he said, were
fast becoming rs obnoxious in the
East as the Chinese in the West.
William Leach, of New Jersey, and
Z. Bullion, of Ohio, were questioned
regarding the importation Of Belgians
to work in glass factories. The form
or said that tho foreigners received
80 per cent. less than Americans.
Later intelligence reaches us from
Annapolis to the effect that Messrs.
Max Hamilton, jr. and John Chambers,
of this place, and John Crosser, of
Homecoming, appeared before the Com
mittee Of Judiciary of the House and
made able arguments favoring the re-
peal of the Coal and Iron Police law,
and asked for law providing for two
weeks pays.
At the meeting of the Committee on
Labor, held in the hall of the House
of Delegates Tuesday evening Mr..
Thomas G. Weeks, of Baltimore, de-
livered a strong plea for the enactment
of an eight-hour law. Messrs. Chris
topher O'Brien, of Barton, and John
Chambers, representing respectively
the organized miners of this region,
and the trade assemblies of Cumber-
land, spoke to the same effect. Mr..
Chambers said during his remarks that
the people he represented wanted eight
hours for day without any provision
for contract for longer hours. His
people wanted the bills recommended
by the governor passed just as they
are, with the exception of power to
contract for longer than eight hours
day.
Mr.. Chambers argument of nearly
an hour, as well as Mr.. Hamilton's
effort, upon the Coal and Iron Police
law, was highly spoken of by mem
sers Of tho committee. At the con-
clusion the chairman thanked them for
the information given and assured
them their views should receive the
fullest consideration at the proper time.
Chambers is now endeavoring to get
some measures before the Legislature