The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-21
EVILS OF CONTRACT LABOR
General Master Workman Powderly Be-
fore the Congressional Committee.
He Testifes in Relation to Contract Labor in
the Pennsylvania Coal and Iron Regions.
and Gives His Opinion Of Trusts.

NEW YORK, Aug. ZU.-Coiector MhBoue was
the first witness examined to-day before the
congressional COMMITTEES on immigrant abuses.
The witness said he never uses authority IN
prohibiting undesirable persons from landing
unless the Emigration Commissioner call his
attention to the matter. He cited and read
sections of the Amendstory Law to support this
action. The witness had . report, some two
months ago. that some stone-cutters had ar
rived under contract He had notified the emf
grafton board and received q reply that the
stone-cuttses had.not come under contract The
witness claimed that the responsibility Of al
lowing immigrants to land rested entirely with
the Emigration Commissioners. The witness
thought the enforcement OF the law should be
left solely to tho federal authorities. The
witness had investigated Captain Bells stories
about false naturalization and found Thorn
false.
General Master Workman Powderly was next
sworn. He said that the order was in a flourish
ing condition. and numbers about GOO. 600 nem-
bers in the United States. He said it excludes
from its ranks bankers, lawyers, rum-sellers.
loafers and professional politicians. A proses-
sional politician, he said, was . man who 10 to
be seen on election day with his hand stretched
out for Doodle. On the subject of imported con-
tract labor. Mr.. Powderly said the system was q
most repreheneible one. Those foreigners who
com here under such conditions are grossly i'm
moral, and the Influences which ordinary foreign
ers meet in this country never reach these com.
petitors with honest labor. They are brought
here under promises Of lands aud great prosper
ity. which they never realize. Describing the
condition Of workers in the Pennsyl-
vania mines. Mr.. Powderly said
it was scarcely describable. In the
coal regions the native miners have been driven
out OF their employment by Hungarians and
other cheap foreign w0rkinemen who live IN a I'll.
thy state. They live on the cheapest kind of food.
80 that American miners cannot compete with
them. Their sleeping quarters are simply dis
eusting. Their immortality, the witness said,
was startling. He told of o conversation he
had with an abandoned woman, who acted as
housekeeper for eight Hungariaus. These
Hunearians, he said, never learn the English
language, aud herd together until they die.
or return TO their native country. They never
become Americanized. The universal opinion
of American workmen. said Mr.. Powderly. Is
that men who work along the line of the Penu-
sylvanis railroad-Hunearians and Italians who
are designated only by brass checks hung
on their pantaloons-are not desirable American
citizens. They bear TO names. and their checks
are frequently changed to cheat them out or
their wages. Germans, he found, took pride in
learning the English language He thought no
person should be admitted 10 citiZenebip until
he is able to read and understand the Declare
ton of Independence and the Constitution or
tie United States. OF course. foreigners should
not be kept out of the country until they were
able to do this, but our consuls abroad should
inquire and report on the character OF every
Ican who leaves foreign countries for the United
States. Reverting TO the Pennsylvania miners,
Mr.. Powderly said that many instances were 10
his knowledge of injury sustained by Hungari-
ans and other foreigners because OF their inahil-
ity to read danger signs. .''rhey live principally
on salt pork and corn meal" said Mr.. Powderly,
"and they have no scruples as to whose chickens
they steal. have frequently heard American
miners say these fellows first steal their situa-
tons and rob them Of their chickens"
Mr.. Powderly told |he committee of cases Of
imported contract labor occurring years ago,
which led the Knights OF Labor TO have the bill
drawn up, which. after amendment. was passed.
Violations and evasions of the law. he said.
should not be punished by fine, but by imprison-
ment. This would be the only effective way to
enforce il.
Mr.. Oates asked the witness to inform the
of cases OF the importation of labor
which came within his kuogledge, and he in
sfanced the Barbour nax-mills as q place where
it was in practice. All stimulated immigration,
no matter of what nationality, is Objectionable.
They work as horses do. because they are forced
to it A person who comes here OF his own free
will to better bis condition is perfectly salts
factory, no matter from what country be comes.
The only foreigners excluded from the Knights
Of Labor are the Chinese. We protect them,
but don't take them into our order"
What is the object OF your orderP asked
Mr.. Oates.
'sThe protection Of American labor" replied
Mr.. Powderly.
"As to wages. its conditions In workshops,
mines and mills, and its home circle. Further
more. to educate the workingmen to become
their own employers"
In reply to a question from General Spinola
Mr.. Powderly said that trusts in this country
are a menace to the welfare of the public gener-
ally, and are organized in the interest Of the
few to control the output, limit the production
and smother small sReregations OF capital in the
same business or crush them out entirely. He
had personal knowledge OF coal trusts, and
knew that an individual concern could no more
ship coal to this city from Pennsylvania than a
man could fly. He thought the strong arm Of
the law should be outstretehed to crush out this
evil
Then you dom agres.r said Mr.. Oats. shat
trusts are private concerns which legislators
have no right to %controli"
Decidedly not.' said Mr.. Powderly, I'VE re-
gard them IL the same way that we do highway
men,"
You think, then, that these trusts are detri-
mental to the general interests of the countryi'
asked Mr.. Spipola.
lut1 hIcs " u q Wlp6U Out Oh eAl6k
ence as speedily as possible"
The next witness was Gregory Weinstein, a
Russian Jew, and sanitary inspector. Of 1919
Henry street He told the committee of the ex-
odus of the people OF his place in 1882 because of
the religious prejudices Of the Prussians and
the Germans. Since 1881 to the present time.
be said, $50, 1000 Of these people we're driven
away, and on arriving in this country we're
obliged TO find work at low wages. He knew OF
an offer made by q Binghsmton cigar-makinc
firm to furnish homes and employment to these
immigrants. The Russian Jews were disposed
to better their condition BY organization. but
when efforts were made to do SO by the United
Hebrew Union. now out of existence, the cry OF
anarchy" was raised by the United Hebrew
Charities Organization. Many of the embers
of this presumed philarthropic organization,
the witness said, were controlled merely By
mercenary motives.
William Martin, q tin-smith now engaged as
sealer of weights and measures, testified that
the influx OF immigrants within the past half
dozen years has brought wages Of tin smiths
from So. 80 down to 81. IS q day. The witness
said he had read Of gardeners being brought to
this country under contract by Levi P. Morton.
"Have you any knowledge OF this in your of
fetal cspacityl" asked Congressman Guenther.
~ read it in the Star and Journal replied
the witness.
Have you heard it generally discussedY'
"Yes. it Was discussed in the Central Labor
Union
"Don't you think" said Mr.. Gueuther, "that
this was printed In the papers you mention for
political purposes2'
II don't know; the men are Knights of Labor
now. and In that way the matter came OUT
"Its merely idle gossip, printed by a parti-