National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-25
PROTECTION FOR LABOR.
Views Upon Legislation for Labor Expressed
by LabOring Man.
Toilcrs Want an Equal Share with Capt.
tslists In Projections BENEFITS.

1.-THE bill before congress to prohibit the
importation of foreign pauper labor under
contract is not rightly understood by many
persons" remarked Mr.. d. ]. Mum, presi-
dent of the Federation of Labor, last night
to a representative of The REPUBLICAN.
This bill is intended to protect both capital
and labor. Two million we'll organized work.
men signed q petition calling on Congress to
pass this bill, rs also the bills for the forma-
ton of bureau of labor statistics and the
enforcement of tho "eight-hour law" Nearly
every workmen throughout the United
States is in favor of high tariff, and they
want to have the benefit of that tariff
together with the capitalists. But they claim
that they don't share it on account of the
importation of foreign labor to-day.
can give you examples. A few
years ago eight large Photographic
album manufacturers in Philadelphia wore
compelled to abandon that kind of BUSH
ness owing to insufficient tariff protection.
The houses were Harding, Burlook, Rudder,
Miller, Yost, Altemus, Mcknight, and the
last l can't remember. That trade in this
country was supplanted by the factories in
Berlin, London. and Paris. In 1859, when
the Philadelphia factories were in good
running order, tho trade was inn
mense. Workmen were busy day and night
and the best hands received on an average "a
O day. In the few scattered factories Of this
kind now in existence in this country they
| only average $3.50 day. Since 1860 the
trade has been swamped by a foreign element.
If these factories were sufficiently protected
by tariff to-day American bookbinders
would get all the work they needed and be
busy all the year round. Another instance
is that of the La Sale glass-blowing factory,
where tho American glass-blowers were sup
plemented by Swiss glass-blowers brought
here under q signed contract by bosses to
work for 80 cents n day. The result was that
hundreds of skilled American glass-blowers
were thrown out into the cold. The laboring
\ classes don't want to stop immigration or the
coming to this country OF skilled labor. They
do object to allowing American bosses to 20
| to Europe and secure these workmen to labor
in this country at tho same pay they get at
home. 1t is this injustice that the American
workman kicks against President Arth III
by signing tho bill for the creation Of a
bureau of labor statistics will make
millions of friends for himself, and his
appointment of man to control its workings
| will be looked forward TO with much in terest.
This bureau tho workingmen feel assured
will establish the rights thoy have beon
struggling for 80 many years, and If rightly
conducted the wrongs of the American
laborer and mechanic will be properly
corrected. feel this much about it--that
the republican party can win thousands of
votes to itself by carefully considering the
needs Of the toilers."
Messrs. Il. W. Oyster, d. J. Mum, ]. w
Considine. L. L. Smith, and w. II. Stickell
legislative committee of the Federation Of
Labor unions, called on Hon. John s. Barbour
Wednesday night to urge favorable report
upon the bill introduced by Gov. Curtin, and
now before the house district committee
providing for mechanics lien upon build
ings which they erect, for the price of mate
rial furnished or for wages for labor. Mr.
Barbour assured the labor committee tha
the bill would soon receive attention.
Afterward the same committee interviewed
Chairman Scales, of the house committee on
labor, to urge favorable consideration of the
bill restoring the former rate of wages to the
bookbnders, pressmen, and printers in the
government printing Office. Before the
eight-hour law was passed these workmeu
got 81 q day, and continued to get it for q
year or more after the act passed. Seven
years ago they were reduced to 1920 day b!
a rider on the civil appropriation bill. which
virtually defeated, as far as they were con.
cerned, the eight-hour law, since they were
thereafter paid by the hour. Gen. Grant wal
obliged to sign the bill to get the appropria
ton. because congress immediately I'D
journed.
Mr.. Scales assured the committee that h
would do what he could in the matter.