Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-08-11
IMMIGRATION.
me Question Investigated ey ne Compress
fonai Cdmntiffss.

me Question Investigated ey the Congress-
/ ionai CaaiDlifse
Nrw YORK. July 30--The immigrA'
ton committee called on J. b. Dyer, sec
rstary of the granite cutters national
union. He is o native OF England OUT
has been in this country eighteen year''
He knew of stone cutters having been
brought here under contract to work, lie
said that one George Barry, acting for Gus
Wilkie. a contractor employed by the
syndicate 10 build the new state capital At
Ausin, Tex, had brought over
a number of stone cutters under
contract to work ON this job, Witness had
received information that they were COM
ing and met them at Castle Garden, and
three Of them before United States District
Attorney. but that he refused to act,
and they were allowed TO 50 to
Austin. He presented to the committee an
affidavit made by Chas. Faleonsr,
one Of parties, who said Barry engaged
number Of Others at Aberdeen, Scotland, 10
come over here and wo k on the Austin
capital, he advancing three pounds ~
ten shlllings OF passage money, Seventy
eight OF them came over, and my i've Vi
them went TO Texas.
Robert Malllacd, another native OF ABB
erdeen, made similar affidavit, which Dyer
presented to the committee. Accompany
ing the affidavit was the following printed
circular, which he said had been gwen 10
him By Barry in Aberdeen.
AUSTIN, Tex, March II, lssG. I'D ne
StoRe Caters Of aberdeen; This ctTtide,
that George Barry Is In my employ, con
structing the capitol building at Austin,
Tex, and that he is fully authorized TO
engage and hire 100 granite cutters aud
bring the same to Austin. Tex, 10 eur
granite needed for the capitol building, At
the bill Of prices named below Payments
OF this work arc made on tho 18th dag
OF each month for all work la the month
preceding. II will require eighteen months
OF steady granite cutting 10 cut enough
stone to complete the building. BLACK
smiths are also needed Ia this work, and
their pay Is 30 cents per hour, OF 81 per day
of ten hours. Each blacksmith nharpens
tools for fifteen cutters. Tho faro Tor pas.
sage paid BY me is expected TO be returned
out OF earnings made BY cutting by tho
men 10 whom the fare 10 advanced
CTS WfLKIE,
Contractor Capitol Bui ding.
A large printed card cousigning Robert
Maitland to NJ. Wilkie, Austin, Texas, aud
another circular also accompanied the att
dRVit. The second circular contained a
printed certificate, signed By Gus Wilkie,
contractor, that board and lOdging al the
Burnett, where tbs stone yard was situated,
was from Sl6 to $50 per mouth. Another
page set-od over Wilkes siguat ire. tho
following bill applies for labor al Austin.
Beds and joints per superficial foot, q
cents; one inch drafts, per linsal foot, IL
cents; 5-inch cut work, per superficial foot.
IS cents; s-inch, 90 cents, and moulding.
per member, per liusal foot. IS cents. -
The circular stated that fair workman
can earn at these prices 81 per day, while
fast men earn So per day. Drer
stated that when he found
20 could not stop the men here
he notified the Knights Of Labor at Austin.
and they now have q suit pending 10 the
United States courts against Tue eaplt,,I
syndicate under the contract labor law
Witness said the government furnished
the contractors convict labor TO guufv
stone, aud that the granite eaters wsts
asked by tho quauymen not 10 cut granite
which was qnarrisd by convict Labor ami
then Wllkie sent out 20 sro,.
land for those men, lie said Senator
Farwell WAS the chief man OF the ,yndirats
and that Wilkie represents himself "A 40.
ing for the syndicate. Wituess would no,
swear that the senator knew OF WtlkIs's
action in importing contract labor. The
state OF Texas gave tho syndicate Z. 600 900
acres OF land and labor Of d o convicts.
David Dawson, ono Of tho contract ian.
orers brought over by Berry, was psYt
sworn. He is a blacksmith, but when H.
had talked with Berry aud saw wilkis's
circular he engaged to come over. AL
Berry's request tttce1 others agreed 10 gn
with him. Each Of tho fifteen a,Iyancr1
20 shillings az an earnest that they yorI5
come, but at tho last minute Berry decided
not 10 take two Of the rnrn and
they secured his arrest. lie settled for tcn
pounds and took the Others, some stgbtv
in oil, 10 New York Witness vent ~
Burnett. Tex, and worked there und.r
Wtikie fifteen to eiglitson.months. He IN.
derstoOd before he went there that Will,
had convict labor on the job. but was ,nl5
that tho convicts would be taken oil ay anon |
as he could get free labor 70 do tho worry
On the contrary, witness declared Wiki |
doubled the number of conyicts Wilkis |
paid witness " day, and at his reousa, |
witness wrote to friend in Aberdeen NJ who |
on his assurance that there was work n, 4
them, secured about fifteen Others. who
came out hero aud wero am.
Dyed by Wilkis. Witness asd
i was very common thin.
Tor people Of Aberdeen 70 come ovsr ~
VOTE during the sommer and return home
y inc winter Witness said that he could
nSke ". 20 hero. but In Aberdeen he could
snIy make Sl.25 q day. Skilled laborsrs
vno come over here for summer work are