Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-04-29
WASHINGTON.

The special committee appointed by
the House of Representatives to investigate the
labor difficulties in the Southwest commenced
operations at Washington with the testimony
of 7. V. Powderly. He stated certain abuses
along the Missouri Pacific Road in the way Of
exactions for hospital fund; declared
that nothing of violent nature was
ever counseled by the Knights Of Labor,
and thought he should soon be able to
suggest legislative remedies for existing evils.
Mr.. Powderly said that the discharge Of Hall
was not the sole cause of the strike under in
vestigation, and in proof of his statement he
read the declaration Of grievances published
by the st Louis Knights Continuing, Mr..
Powderly said:
While was in the West heard from the men
of little abuses which do not think the mana
ger of the Missouri Pacific Railroad knows any
thing about Along the Iron Mountain Railroad
from the wages OF n man who receives 81 day,
and GO cents from the wages Of n man
Eho pr oSSslySn for wSSt theS Usll on
hospital fund. Then the men claim that as
soon as they are taken sick they are discharged,
and are denied the right of entering the hos
pital. Then there are instances, which can be
proved whore men have made contracts TO buy
land from the company ON regular monthly in
last installments, they were discharged from
the employment Of the company. In that
section Of the country IL Is different from the
East
Witness said that the men had asked in vain
for redress, the General Superintendent Of the
Missouri Pacific Railway refusing to agree to a
conference. Continuing, he said:
am told, also, that along the Iron Mountain
Railway and along the other roads in parts Of
Texas, the superintendents and foremen are in
terested in company stores, and teat the men
are compelled to deal in those stores The en-
ployes are not told, In so many words, that they
must deal there, but they are reminded that II
is TO their interest TO do so. II murmur Of COM
plant IL TO reach the ear OF the President of the
Company IL must go through the superinten-
dent and man will be discharged as soon as
he utters word OF complaint The men whose
money is invested In the railroad know nothing
about this. In many places double prices are
charged I'm these stores.
Mr.. Powderly said that the committee would
find proofs Of all these things The men CON-
plain, also, he said, that convicts arc brought
from the penitentiaries in Texas TO work on
the railroads, and that striped suits may be seen
side by side with honest men engaged in track
|, repairing
William o. Mcdowell, q prominent
member Of the Knights Of Labor, appeared as
witness before the Congressional Labor Com
mittee At Washington, and explained the OBJ
jects Of tho organization. These are, 10 use
the witness own words:
To elevate the members by helping them Il
educate themselves, by helping them 10 save
that which the average workman has wasted
through bad babits 70 lift him from the condi
tion into which he has fallen through such
habits, and make him thereafter an employer
instead Of an employe: TO 30 educate him By
comparison OF ideas and by discussing ques
tons that help 70 educate that he is able TO dea
with and grasp the subjects which affect not
only himself but his employer; that he will be
come better workman, command better wages
and by cooperating with his employer help him
10 such pronts that he win be able to pay better
wages. ~ --