The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-22

II
had line of railroad between these two cities. and
had monopoly OF the business It cost that
company gu per cent to run the road. Another
road was built alongside and there you have
got 100 per cent. of business and you have got
two 90 per cents OF expenses. If the thing could
be regulated SO that railroad should do the
business it would get not only fair return Of
its capital but it would be enabled to give lower
rates OF traffic and better wages to its employees
Mr. Burns-There being already two railroads
built, and being operated, is it better for the
| majority of the working people Of the country
| that there should be competition between these
two lines, or that there should be a pooling of
| their earnings?
The Witness-It would be better that all the
business should be done the one road at the
minimum of cost and that the benefits OF 1T
| should go not alone to the owners of the road,
| but to the country at large. In other words.
economy.
Mr.. Burns-Would you, then. suggest the
abandonment OF one line OF road, and the
| concentration of ali the business the other2
| The Witness-I certainly should
/ Mr.. Burns-That would reduce the number of
1 employees one-half.
| The Witness-Yes it would; but they would
| Immediately ind employment in other walks of
life, where they would not be living by tax
| upon the country. do not think there is a rail-
road In America which has been pressed to half
its carrying capacity.
| Mr. Parker-Does not the trouble arise
partly from competition of laborers9 Is not
that one of the bottom sources of all this
| trouble?
| The Witness-No; you will find that the great
est difficulty has not been demand for increase
| of wages.
Mr. Parker-I would like to hear your views
as to an adjustment of this competition in labor.
The Witness-The subject is very broad one,
and it is one which has been the subject of dis
cusson since these troubles began. One of the
pest suggestions that has been made to me on
the subject l would like to repeat 1t is that a
conference should take place between represent
alive men from the labor organization and rep
resentatlve men from trade organizations; that
1 they should meet and thoroughly discuss the
| whole subject. AS to these contests between
| capital and labor, look upon them as being nee
| essarily partners, as much as man and wife.
| Such discussion as that would be approached
| by railroad men in different spirit from that
which they would manifest in discussion with
| brakemen. In this way there would be gath
cred the wisdom of Solomon. don't feel that
| have had enough experience to be able to re-
| capitulate the results Of such q conference.
| The Chairman-Do you think that the time
| has arrived when this country will be compelled
| to say who may come to it and who may not
| come?
The WITNESSES does seem to me that our
capacity to absorb Christendom is somewhat
! strongly taxed
| Mr. Buchanan-We are troubled as much by
pagandom as by Christendom.
| MIR. Powderly was then recalled. and gave a
history of the origin of the Knights of Labor.
| The organization intended, he said. to take
| In not only the man who worked ut the bench or
| the mine, but every man who toiled. by hand or
brain, in any honest occupation. We left out
| one or two honest occupations-lawyers and
bankers-because we felt they were fully capable
| of taking care of themselves.
The Charman-How about preachers2
| Mr. Powderly-Once in while we get one of
| them. We will not take in a saloon keeper.
Even if a members wife begins to sell liquor we
| make him take div orce. not from his wife, but
| from the organization
! The Charman-In other words it is benevo-
| lent society, for the protection of all kinds of
| people who toll, and is entirely within the law9
Mr. Powderly-Yes; it is entirely within the
| law.
Mr. Parker-What is the number of the pres
| ent membership
| Mr. Powderly-Our present membership does
not exceed 500 0O0 although we have been cred
| tied with 100000
| The Charman-Are women members of the
| organization2
| Mr. Powderly-Yes; on an equal footing with
| men.
The Chairman-When were women first ad
! mitted2
| Mr. Powderly--In 1881. We claim that if
| women perform equal work, they should receive
equal pay. We have one assembly of women
| with membership of 300; and from the day of
! pulsion has never taken place They manage
| their affairs in such way to reflect credit
/ upon them, and to be pattern for the men.
| Mr. Crain-Do you make any difference as to
the admission of colored men into the organiza-
| ton?
Mr. Powderly-We make no distinction in re-
| gard to color, creed, SEX condition. We have
one assembly in New York, where the president
| is Roman Catholic, the vicepresident Pres
| byterian, and the man who occupies the next
position Hindoo. Colored men seldom enter
| the assemblies of white members They have
assemblies of their own, and are managing them
| very nicely.
| Mr.. Buchanan-Up to how lately have you
! worked at your trade?
| Mr. Powderly-Not since March, 1877.
| Mr. Buchanan-Since that time you have been
| engaged as you are nowg
| Mr. Powderly-Yes, principally. Iwork harder
| now than l ever did-sometimes eighteen hours
| a day.
| Mr. Mcdowell, upon being recalled and asked
as to his connection with the Knights of Labor
said that he had been connected with the organ
lzatlon about eight years; that he machin-
| list by trade, and that to-day he was at the head
| of one largest machine works in the country.
The Chairman-There is nothing that you
know of in the organization which is inconsist-
emit with obedience to law and with the admins
tration of governments
| Mr. MISUNDERSTANDING whatever On the
other hand, IL is perfect supporter of the law
| In every particular.
Mr. Buchanan-Your observation is that the
fairer treated. the better paid and the more con
tented the American workingman is, the better
/ citizen he makes?
| Mr. McDowell-That is exactly true.
| Mr.. Powderly-One of the things which a
member of the organization promises to do is
| this: eve shall, with ali our strength, support
4 laws made to harmonic with the interests of
| labor and capital"
The committee adjourned until III o'clock to-
| morrow, when, it is understood, the examina-
ton Of Mr.. Jay Gould will be commenced
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT.