Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-08-07
DEVELOPING THE FACTS
REGARDING THE BUSINESS OF IN
PORTING CHEAP LABOR.

Number of Italians at so Much a Head
Panic Stricken Padrones
New YORK. Aug The congressional
committee investigating the contract Labor
business began work again yesterday and oh,
tanned further evidence that the labor import
ers are practically driving coach and horses
through the law The first testimony heard
showed that George II Simmons, a special
agent Of the treasury department, had, under
an assumed name, agreed with on TrOie and
Joseph Sica to furnish him any number OF
Italian laborers at 81 70 per day, and the two
men acknowledged the truth of the testi-
mony. They had also provided the West
Shore road and firm of acqueduct con
tractors with men. The labor importers
bad made money out of the scheme by taxing
the men and by arrangements for boarding
them
Francisco Ironi testified that he is EN-
ployed as clerk in the office Of the Italian
Emigration society at a State street lie
said he WAS very well acquainted with the
affairs of the Italians in this city and else
where Among other things he said that he
was aware that some of his cOuntrymen were
compelled to pay $40 in order to procure a
job on the docks here. He was sure that
men in this city imported Italian Iaborers.
The committee has employed this witness 10
hunt up evidence in the matter thew are now
| investigating. To Ford the witness said
that th present system was a clear case Of
blackmail. Every month when pay dav
comes the men are expected TO chip in and
present the boss with a substantial purse
| Those who refuse to contribute TO the purse
are generally without employment shortly
| after their refusal His testimony went to
| show that very many OF his countrvmen are
constantly the victims OF sharp-rs aud mid
| diemen The witness said thst about half Of
| the Italians arriving here come here penni-
| less
"a man with a dollar in his pocket in the ir
| midst would he considered an aristOcrat, 50
suggested Ford
The witness said that dollar Is a good
deal of money 10 an Italian immigrant
The next witness was gool-looking Young
Englishman named ALERT Belford He has
caused the agents of the treasury consid4ra-
bile trouble. His employer, John $ Lees Of
| Bridgeport, Pa, accompanied him To the
Westminster hotel He Is - wears oil and
speaks with a decided Eaghsh accent Ford
/
cone drawer hv trade-that Is preparing
worsted. He worked at the trade in Norces-
tershire and received "a shillings a week sal
ary Witness sad that a man named Great
ridge who worked IN worsted mill at Kid
derminster, told nm that vacancy existed
IN thu firm Of Lees 4 son at Bridgeport, Pa
He landed here on last Thursday. On Satur-
d6v he went to the works and did some fix.
ing MP Of machinery He came here as al
intermediate passenger and with the under
standing that # he suited Lees Il Son hi
passage money would he returned by the
firm This was what GreatriiEe toll him
J l. BnweS an agent Of Lees n Son IN Liv
erpool, instructed witness how Ia land herr
and how IN reach bridgeport, Pa. Great
ridge had told him the job here was worth L
week 1he witness said he came To thi
country on Greatridge's representation tina
he would get work IN Lees mills at ~
week. GreatrIdge was the acknowledge,
agent of the Lees
Lees asked TO tie put on the stand. He sal,
he visited England very often, but never for
the sole purpose OF hiring men, He woui,
, not say if he would return the passage money
to Bedford or not if he suited
II H ColclaSer. Of The Philadelphia Rec
ord, was next sworn He had been depute,
D some time ago t,y his chef to go into the Goa
/ regions Of Pennsylvania ami gather som
g facts about contract Italian lsbnrers H
t gave it out that he was a railroad contracto
in search OF laborers man in Hszleton
h Pa, told him to call On one Gallo Of |
4 Marion street this city. and he would he ahb
4 to furnish all the men needed \ man name,
n Michael Angelo, in the lehiCh region, intro
duced HIM to the man IN HAzleton Witness
r told Gallo that he wanted 80 men on rail
: road in Pennsylvania Gallo offered to fur
! uish the men for a. 70 day He insisted
however, that a contract be made 50 that tn
men would he forced to buy taeir supple
from his agents or I've discharged
J. Witness told Gallo that such an agreemeu
4 would probably cripple his work Gall
L only laughed. and sand he could get NOR
5 men in twenty four hours, In order to il
d duce him to give him the contract he ofrere
J. the witness per cent on the supply hill,
; This would yield him about sta per month
: The witness was also to receive Vercsi tage
IS On the shan rents. Another man seen b
It Mr. ColclaSer was one Gdisseppa Arsslta, Is
Il Elizabeth street, who said he could furnIs
IS 900 men The next day WAS "Wednesday
the day after the investigation began Nhe
witness saw HIM he SAID the newspapers wer
bowling mad, and he could not procure =
y men at the time Gallo also weakened whri
. be read the newspapers, and refused 10 fu'
uISh the mcu be said he would At AIS h
= inquiry adjourned Tor the day