Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-06

Answer OF the District Commissioners
70 the WOrkinamen's COMMITTEE.

IMMIGRATION Il ACCORDANCE WITH THE ooSsrrru-
TIoN AND LAws-LABoR AND WAGES IN TfE DIS
TRiCT-THE COMMISSIONERS PowERLESs TO GRANT
THE REQUEST OF THE PETITIONERS, WHO SHOULD
APPEAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR THEIR REP
REsENrATIvEs IN CONGRESS-
The District Commissioners have sent 10 the
committee appointed at the meeting OF the work
ingmen held last Tuesday night for the purpose OF
protesting against the importation OF foreign labor
into the District the following answer TO the letter
OF that committee, which letter was published In
THE STAR OF Saturday last:
Aessrs: Joseph Fdnniao. Chairman, and others,
LABOR ConiInittee.
Gentlemen.-I am directed to say, in answer 10
your communication. received 4th instant. that the
Commissioners have given it the careful conSidera
ton 10 which IL is entitled. and that while they
would gladly do anything they might lawfully and
fairly 10 aid you and those you represent to greater
prosperity, they do not md that there has been
any Official neglect OF duty towards you, or that
your rights have been violated.
Your complaint, in brief Is that the price OF labor
Is too low, and is kept so by the influx offoragners
You need not be told that the Commissioners can
neither TX the price OF labor nor Its products nor
aeternne who may or may not come 10 the Dis
trict OF Columbia.
You are aware that the American people. exclus-
I've OF the colored, are composed wholly OF those.
land for liberty or 10 Improve their condition I'm
HE. and who have made IL their proud boast that
here they have founded welcome asylum for the
that many OF the states. indeed. pro-
vide vide by law for special agents 10 slim
uldJe Immigration or those classes by repre-
sensations OF the greater liberty better wages ana
Cheaper lands TO be found here. To these induce
ments are added the constitutional rights Of early
CitlzehSnlp and participation In framing laws FOR
The republic. as Illustrated by nearly thirty foreign
porn members who represent the people In the pres
ent Congress. Your objection TO foreign immigra-
tion is therefore an objection TO the constitution
laws, and tiine-honsred policy OF the American
people
Those laws both In letter and sr,,rt will he re-
Spected not only by the Commissioners but by an
good ci.izens, who VIII not attempt their evasion
or nullihcatfon. either directly or Indirectly.
AS TO price OF labor: one year ago common labor
was abundant in the District at 81 p per diem and
no formal complaint was made. Now there is a
greater and unSupped demand for labor, and
prices range from l25 10 81 60 per diem and labor
ers come here from other cities because wages here
are exceptionally high. You object TO their com
ing. and insist upon monopoly. We should not
forget that this District belongs TO all the states
alike, and that the first few thousand people who
come here cannot and ought not TO, exclude the
many thousands who may wish TO come later, even
though they come to dispose OF their services pro-
ducts or goods, at less than present rates. Such
exclusion Is attempted in 40 state or city, and
Should not be commenced 1T the national capital.
even though some or the present Inhabitants re
IuSe their services or goods upon such competition
The demand for labor Is now greater than usual
and beyond the supply ana at better rates, and II.
as you represent. some are idle IL must he because
they Will not work at current prices. The evils re
Sutlng from idieneSS and poverty. TO which you al
lude. are appreciated 10y all good citizens. who fail
dent necessity.
When, however, poverty results from that idle
II
sell foreigner to American ideas and finds but
little sympathy in this country where honest toll
Is honorable and Idle lands easily secured stil in
vlte enterprisng laborers TO homes and compe-
tence.
Your suggestion that the Commissioners shall
exact rigid performance OF obligations from those
contractors Who employ NONRESIDENT labor Is the
usual rule Tor them and all other contractors alike
for such Is the law. But 10 insert unauthorized
conditions IN contracts would be to usurp legisla-
tive authority. and to treat contractor who ful-
1s his Obligations differently from another would
be tyrranous unlawful and would bring reproach
upon any government as guilty OF unfair dealing.
The present contracts We're all made under an act
OF Congress, requiring the Commissioners TO invite
bids throughout the United states and to accept
the lowest, and there Is no authority to exclude
bidders for being foreign born.
Those contractors are free, under the law, to
bring worklIen with them or TO employ those they
may lind here. SO Worhmen throughout the Ii ited
States, wherever born, may freely come here and
oner their services at such rate they please. as
In any Tree country, and the duty devolyeS upon
the Commissioners TO see that the work be well
done according to contract, and that all lawabid-
Ing people are protected alike. This duty the CON-
miSSionerS. without hesitation and to the fun eN-
tent OF their power. will perform without G;scrimi
nation.
The suggestion that the Commissioners inform
the President and Congress that 'alien importation
has taken place" need not be adopted, tor the
double reason that such duty is not imposed upon
the Commits ionerS, and because no one is ignorant
that alien immigration has occurred TO the extent
OF many hundred thousands annually for a long
period, upon national invitation.
You Will therefore that you correctly antfci-
pated the reply or the Commissioners 70 Your me-
mortal. namely, that you ask what they are power
| less TO grant.
| AS you petition for new laws. you Will under
stand, as Intelligent men. that your proper appeal
Is 10 the American people 10 their representa-
tlVeS In Congress- though 50 radical change from
the spirit and genius or our Institutions. and 50
SubverSive OF the practice OF government since
Its foun tatloD, would not likely 10 find favor
at the hands OF the national legislature.
The COurts.
CIRCrIT COrPT SPECIAL VFR,J-Tsdpo Jon,oe
Saturday. Arnold agt. Boutwell,; Judgment not
withstanding plea.
EQUITY CoCRT-Judge James
saturday, Gerhard agt. Gebhard order appoint
Ing Mary Gerhard guardian ad Item. United
States agt Howgate, trustee; sale set aside Miller
agt. Miller: petition ratified and compensation OF
commissioner allowed Rupert agt Price; restrain
ing order granted
To-day, Mccoy agt. Jackson; Libby /. Mccoy ap-
Middaugh agt. Wilson; order OF June 18th set aside
and cause remandad Mitchell agL Mitchell re-
straining order continued
POLICE CoURT-Judge Smell
To-day, James Carter, assault on Annie Wallace.
S.. John Simms, colored, larceny; 30 days In Jail.
Cara Mitchell, colored, do; three months in jail
James Kline, assault, 80. George Williams. do;
s.. Turner Whitney, threats; personal bonds.
Ihos- Bowie, coored. carrying pistol; $50. Theo-
dore WALL Turner Whitney, David Davis George
each. John Lee, profanity; IS.
A BRIEF Chapter on the Value Of Slang.
From ST. Nicholas.
Slang has this value, that IL shows how language
grows. The English tongue is so vigorous that it
SEXES whatever it needs for growth just as it did
lp its infancy. At that period direct imitation OF
sounds were constantly made words. as the young
vandals OF to-day use 'chink" for money" Fur