National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-11


are employed by the government during
good behavior. Why this determinations
Ii Is not the fault of MIR. s. p. Rounds,
the popular public printer, who has called
the attention of Congress to the necessity
of granting leave of fifteen days to the
employees of his Office. | feel certain tho
request will be granted. Tho request is
reasonable and should be.
| have more than onco had occasion to
pay tribute TO Mr.. Rounds Ho Is a
hard worker himself, aud sees TO the COM
fort of those under him. With $500
working people oil the rolls, the sanitary
condition of his building was M object of
| his soliCtude, aud, in response to his urg-
ent appeal, Congress made n special APP
preparation for sanitary purposes in the
government printing office, and q radical
improvement for the better was the re-
suit. Mr.. Rounds is the kind of mon wo
need. He has shown conclusively that It
is only necessary TO let the representa-
tives of the people know what IL needed
and an appropriation follows.
Why cannot homes aud industrial col.
lcges be established for waRe-women?
This is q pertinent question. The homes
for working women in our country-what
few there arc.-were established and are
fostered by private charity. 1t seems to be
the settled policy of tho powers that ex-
ist to exclude the wage-woman--to os-
| chew her presence in all public institu-
lions. In the appointment OF medical
inspectors (there are eleven ia this Dis
trict aud not woman among thom), in
the officers of prisons, woman is left out
or forgotten.
Lave always contended that tho sani-
tary' condition of the factories, shops,
&C., whore women are employed should
engage public attention, and that woman
should have her share of patronage in all
the appointments to fill these positions.
Some Offices they could Ill better than
men, and give more satisfaction to tho
general public.
The census shows that in New York
city alone the excess of female over the
male population is more than 100000. 1t
is nearly as great in oil our large cities.
The prisons r, port or statistics Of crime
show very small percentage OF women
among convicts. This demonstrates that
women are less criminal than men. And
even that small percentage is due mainly
to tho fact that they were driven by want,
neglect, and hunger to tTansgress the
laws.
Two million five hundred thousand
dollars is required annually to support
the prisons in New York state. Au
equal amount appropriated for the estab.
lishment of homes for tho wage-workers
would lessen the percentage Of crime, and
accomplish an incslculable amount of
good, and relieve an untold amount of
suffering. Just think of it
The condition Of the dwellings Of the
poor should receive the large considera-
tion OF the state government aud private
individuals. Tho sanitary condition of
tho hntNaq nf thn mr. Ia nplI ha In 81
and thoroughly looked after. This is
as absolutely essential as food and
raiment, and Is the prime cause of the
large death rate in crowded tenementB.
! wish 1t to be distinctly understood that
] do not advocate the absurd idea that
the government should provide food and
employment for oil the poor in the land,
but | do maintain that our government
shall do as much as France for her WACO
women, and that the rights of labor, the
elevation of wage-wokers, and the happi-
ness and comfort Of that class should re-
ceive tho serious consideration of Con-
gress, and laws enacted TO protect them
from the unjust exactions of soulless cor
porations.
That Congress should pass such laws is
conceded by everybody, and a labor bu.
reau was established as an auxiliary.
tho amusement of Mr.. Carroll ID. Wright,
commissioner. He has informed the Sec
rotary Of the Interior that he has taken
possession of the bureau; that he hadn't
any ideas of his own, but has borrowed
/ some from Gen. Francis A. Walker. Upon
which foundation he has built his bu-
reau, and the devil shall not prevail
against him. He gives Gen. Walkers
advice to the public and then very coolly
proceeds to dispose Of the appropriation
of S25, 1000.
He gives himself $1,000, his chief clerk
$1,000 rents rooms, fuel. lights, station
cry, &C., $1,000 and reserves the $4,000
as a tourist or picnic fund for tho agents
| he will send over to Europe and elsewhe
| Such impudtnce is truly refreshing, and
stamps Mr.. Wright as very promising
commissioner of labor.
He says "this amount (of $25 ,0O0) il
ample to organize and equip his bureau.
but If they expect him to do anything
practical he" must have more money. He
also says his bureau is an Office pecu lar
to this country" Yes. very peculiar,
and more peculiar commissioner was
never seen or heard of before. He also
says that "the bureau of labor cannot
solve social or industrial problems, nor
can 1t bring direct returns in material
ray to the citizens of this country" In
other words be will do as he secs fit and
take $1,000 II year for his trouble. Ac.
cording to his map the office should here
after be styled the bureau of aesthetics.
Mr. Wright says his work will be clnssud
among educational efforts" Angels aud
ministers Of grace defend US! He has to
JOrrOW his ideas to start a bureau TO edu-
cate the country. He wishes to be consid-
l arnd nrh;t xykt 81
the labor element OF tho country may re-
volve.
What material benefit is this labor Blu.
reau destined to exertf None We need
not expect IT, and we may as well make
up our minds to this effect. He tolls us
SO in plain words. We must look else.
where for friends. Our appeal is to the
people to, Congress. In the meantime
we must not be idle. We have great
work TO accomplish. While it is sad to
think that the bureau of labor has been
diverted from its legitimate channel, tina,
II is Dead Sea fruit 10 ud, that the stuffed
monkey in the Smithsonian has as much
sympathy for US rs the commissioner OF
labor, yet we should take courage and
remember that tho American people are
lovers Of justice and fair play, and hard
work will obtain for US what we most de-
sire-a labor bureau having common
sense as basis-a common sense bureau
not organized on borrowed ideas, but one
having the interest of the wage workers
of our country at heart aud possessing
the ability to solve industrial problems
Mr.. Wright does not commence very
we'll as gatheror of statistics. 10 show
tho unreliability of information furnished
by Carroll ID. Wright commissioner o
labor IL is only necessary to road the re
port in reply to resolution of tho Senat,
of Dec. 81, 1851, by Hon. Joseph Nimmo
jr, chief Of the bureau Of statistics. Mr.
Wright makes the difference in the earn
ings Of tho English and American weaver
appear comparatively small in favor o
the American, while the price Of the neceS
saries Oflife is in favor Of the Englishman
This statement of Mr.. Carroll ID. Wrigh
Ia 1uflu cnntro1ictnd kv Han