The Washington critic., 1888-08-16
CIGARMAKgRs' TROUBLES.
Testimony Before the Congressional In
vestigating Committee.

vestigating Committee.
David Harris, cigarmaker, and president
OF the local Cigarnakors international Union,
was tho first witness yesterday in New York
before the committee which is investigating
the evils OF immigration. When he first
adopted the trade, In 1861, the percentage Of
foreigners was only from five TO ton but now
they were vast majority. American work
ingmen have been almost entirely driven out
of tho trade, as thcv cannot wofk for the
wages which the foreigners gladly accept.
The Bohemians were the first TO come over,
In 1869. Hungarians followed, and others
came after Tho manufacturers encouraged
this immigration. When the Russian Jews were
driven from Europe they were brought here
and taught to make cigars by machine This
influx of foreigners had the effect OF reducing
wages OF American cigarmakers nhout GO
per cent. In ~ years. In 1864 n goOd hand
cigarmaker could earn $50 n week, but now
$l2 is fair weeks wages.
Mr.. Harris then told the evils Of the tene-
ment-house system, where whole families
worked from IA to 1G hours day and only
earned $5 or SO week About so dgar man
ufacturers have tenement factories " this city.
Mrs. Vincenzo Veprek n Bohemian widow
cigarmalSer, was called. She has been four
teen years in this country, yet was 50 Ignorant
OF the English language that she had TO be ex-
amined through an Interpreter. Sbo earned
$l.50 in Bohemia at cigarmaking. At present
she earns SS. She has three children here and
one in Bohemia. One OF the children here was
arrested short time ago for begging. The
woman shed tears, and said that shewas com
PEELED to put the children to work I'd order to
save them from starvation.
Her yearly wages averaged 500. She is at
present employed in tenement factory,
whittier she was compelled to 20 before the
boss would give her any work Sho pays S1l
o month for her rent, and, in case her wages
do not exceed that amount, the whole Is re-
tanned by the firm. IL was at one of those
times that she sent her children out to beg.
The building in which she lives is occupied by
twenty families, all of whom are employed by
the same firm. Some of the families work In
their rooms.
Seigfried Pepper the interpreter, was next
examined. He is a mould cigarmaller. lie
said when work was slack in the cigar trade
the men were discharged and the women kept
at work. The Bohcmians learned the English
language, but very few of them became citi-
zens. They were with few exceptions densely
Ignorant. He did not consider that the worst
competitors were Bohemians. Russian and
Hungarian Jews caused the greatest trouble
among cigarmakers as well as The reduc-
tion Of wages. Cigarmakers, men and
women, receive the same wages at
present, an average OF about SO
week. Wages were double this figure few
years ago. In the winter Of 1888 and 1884 the
driven from their own countries, were taught
cigarmaiing here. Their entrance into shops
was followed by heavy decline in wages
The Hebrew charities organization placed
these people in the shops, aud when commit
tees called on that organization to complain
they received no satisfaction. These people,
he said, were filthy set. They saved SO out
OF 81 every week. Board and lodging was
secured by them for $3.50 week. They never
became citizens.
Thousands of Bohemians were being
brought to this city by their relatives and
taught cigar-malling. In nine-tenths of cases
of foreigners the father, mother and children
all work. The American workingman who
will not place all his family at work is pre-
vented making living by this competition
of the foreigners Notwithstanding that this
is the busy season in the cigar trade, there are
at present 10000 cigarmakers idle in this city.
Those In employment are receiving very low
wages.