New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-16
WRETCHED CIGARMAKERS.
THE GREAT MAJORITY ARE FOREIGNERS
TALES OF STARVATION WAGES TOLD TO THE
COMMITTEE on IMMIGRATION.

COMMITTEE on IMMIGRATION.
The condition OF tho c-qrmacrs In this city was the
subject for Investigation the morning session yes
tcrday of tho Congressional Committee on Immsra-
ton. Daniel Harris, joarncyman cissrmaacr' was
the first witness He had been engaged IN mas
Ing cigars for twenty -vo years. In 1su3 less 'hon
10 ,cr cent Of the c.armasors I'm this cv were aenS
while to-day 90 per cent were foreigners VI WIN"
onc-half women. These people were HunS''''"s'
Bohemians. Poles and Russians They dia not az
simulate with Americans and often lived here for years
without learning TO speak the EngiSh i"kush0
Americans had been driven out of employment oS inc
Bohcmians, tho BohcmaEs by the Huhea'anS' anu
these In turn giving place 10 MUSEUMS anu
Polish Jews. Wages bad been reduced by inc con-
tinuous influx Of ches. lshor over 90 ger cent tS'
pccfally siful who used TO earn as hieh az Soo
q week now found It dIfDcult 10 earn S12 lie knew OF
ope clcsr manufacturer who had subscribed $1,000 10
assist in bringing parper labor to this country The
prices of cigars had not fallen during this great ro
duetion In wages. II was the custom for manufaot-
nrers 10 own in which their employees
were forced 10 live At exorbitsnt rents Fully hity
manufacturers owned tenements There were 25,OOO
e,~aymasers in New-York CITY, and OF these even In
the busiest seasons between Two and three thousand
were idle.
The testimony Of viucencia vcyrck had TO be taken
through "a interpreter, she could not SPEAK English
though she had lived in this city fourteen years enc
is hollow checked sallow Bohemian. trying 10 sup
port herself and three children by making cigars.
sho had here from Bohemia, where she had worHed
twelve hours day for 81 80 a week AT first she had
earned Sl5 week, now, when employed hef wages
varied SO to 81 week She had been out OF EN-
ployment for weeks until three months AGO. "hen
she had only secured work tho condition that she
would live In teneme mt house owned By her employ
ess, Jacoby & Bookman, cigar manufacturers. az
Thirty -eighth-st. and First She pad I'll
month for three the fourth floor and THIS sum
deducted from her earnings. SO that often there
not only nothing due her on pa: da! but she owed
hor employers for rent When asked II she had not
two le girls out TO beg she began to cry and
said that .he had forced TO do this TO give them
bread. She was afraid that she would be discharged
on account of her mony, and did not know where
shs could find work.
AFRAID TO GIVE HER TESTIMONY.
Josephine Horn. bohemian. who had lived in this
country eighteen years yet could not speak English,
testified In paH to the effect. She seemed afraid
to say anything that might iniurc her with her en-
plo5ers, however. and was shortly dismissed Sig
fried Pepper, a Bohemian, also employed in cigar
factory, was examined in regard to the condition and
manner of living OF his countrynen IN this city. He
said that they did not learn the language or habits of
Americans focked together In miserable quarters and
lived on very little, Yet even they felt the COM
nstftion in the labor market OF Polish and Russian
Jews. He had worked for months by the side OF a
Russian Jew who had never eaton anything at noon.
He knew another OF the same race who out of
SIS q week saved 90. lie had seen children less
than seven years old making cigars in tenement
houses whore whole families. hucdlcd together In
couple of small rooms, engaged at the same
work.
few minutes were given to taking the testimony
OF Joseph Wherle. electrician. OF Newark who was
r member Of a Knights OF Labor organization in that
city Hc had investigated the case OF TOUR
japanners' brought from England under contract by
r p howell. a patent leather manufacturer OF
N.waxk He submitted copies Of The affidavit, OF
these feu- men to tho COMMITTEES. After the recess
James Rofke president Of the Irish Emicrant society
and an ex-ofico member Of the Immigration Commits
sion. took the stand. He was examined In r2gssi TO
the management Of Castle Garden. When asksd no"
It was that the privileges Of Castle Gsrden-'he pc
mission to keep Q reiieshmcnt stand there, change
Nancy transfer baggage etc.-now yielded much less
rsvs,ne than formerly he explained that lower tarln
rata had been established in all these cases BY inc
Commissioners schedule OF prices now was iol'
lowed whereas previous TO January OF the present
year those who enjoyed these privileges had charged
whatever they pleased
THE WORST CLASS COME IN THE CABIN
o.-Do you consider oil charges no" hiN'e a" ~
Garden rsssonsblef Al CO. 49,
oHaye cases never been discovered by you OF en-.
ployss demanding fees for the performance Oh 'ne'' uu
A.-Thers have not. n. w.
a hear Of such uig9, # qnsntiy, but an HVe'sapp"
.enaIally proves that there Ia no iounoaNp" ''' Wv
complaints . , ~.
Mr. Eorke advised that the present sySten Va
state management be retained. iie couu no, srp
low ,hiscs could be improved under Natohal MAJ,
. ssgemeat He thought that the most oblectlohabie
Immigrants did not land at Castle Garden bul can't
i scrondcIass in order to evsdo the inspection OF
Tho authorities Commissioner George j. foffes ,
VAS the last witness examined CHAIRMAN I Ton
nui most Of his questions IN way 10 iDeuce MI TOT
~, 20 give his opinion on the efficiency OF The pre-
am management OF Castle Garden. lie was rs'her
aon- comrnittal however ~
oDo YOU not think that aaars there would be better
managed undsr the control Of the General Goyernment'
AWeI the employees would not In that case % uhuer
The strict surveillance they now are
a ma vou think however, that they mind this vigil
su.s enough n make thorough examination OF immf
r,abss' A.--0h, yes, DO .
o-But Commissioner Stephenson says the examination
nov is perfect farce. A.-fhat Is not my op'h'on