Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-02

could not well afford to have controversy
with his workingmen. 1t is very easy
thing to put wages up, but very difficult to
get them down again. But just now, no
one has any cause for complaint, and the
relations between capital ana labor are
quite friendly. Both have too much to DO
to quarrel"
THE RUSH is GENERAL.
"Are other trades as we'll on as your
own?"
Yes, some of them even more pushed.
Plumbers, painters, carpenters, blacksmitbs
and all that class are in demand, and al
though the average rate OF wages is nine
pence Us cents) per hour the work is so let
out by the piece that good mechanics make
much more than the standard price which
the unions fix. In fact, wherever it is pos
sible in this country, work is always let out
by the piece, and it is better for both en-
ployer and employed. But this wage ques-
tion is a very important one, and it will
probably never be solved to the satisfaction
OF those who have and those who want"
The London bus driver is great charac-
ter, and is in sharp contrast with men en-
ployed in the same pursuits in the United
states. No class of workingmen anywhere
OF that grade are so bright, well-dressed and
cockney as the men who guide omnibuses
through the busy thoroughiares OF London.
Many of them with their tall hats, kid
gloves, buttonhole bouquets and cigars or
pipes look more like passengers than like
drivers. Then if a stranger wants half an
hour of pleasure and good information he
can lind it better nowhere in this country
than in climbing to a box seat by the side
OF a Jehu and engaging him in conversation
while he is travelling on his route.
sHILLINGs FOR THEIR TALK.
Almost universally they are good takers
seem to study to be all this, and they get
many shilling that would never fall into
their hands were they surly. They quite
understand that, and make the best possible
use of their talents to Increase their revenue.
These bus drivers receive from the. great
companies who employ them six shillings
Isl 5O) day, and there is no day during
good weather when they do not add some
thing to it through their politeness to the
passengers who travel with them.
They work IA hours, getting rests between
each trip, and time for meals. Most of them
live within easy reach of the stables where
their work begins, and they live in a man.
ner quite in keeping with their appearance
on the box. For instance, man who has a
fair-sized family will join with some friend
house, for which they pay 12 or IA shIllings
(S3 or So 50) week and divide the rooms
and rent between them. Those who rent
floors or live in apartments only pay from
four to six shillings Isl to 81 50) a week
rent, but whether in houses or rooms they
have attractive homes to go to when theil
work is over, because dirt and unclean-
illness seems to he an unknown quantity in
those grades of English life,
CHANCE TO STEAL.
Horse cars cut yerv small figure in the
life of London except IN the outlying dis.
tricts and the prices paid to both conductors
and drivers are less than given to those who
drive the buses, but the drivers in either
case are the best paid of the two. The con.
ductors receive only four shillings (S1) a
day, but as they have the handling of all
the money, and there is very little check on
their taking what they want. it is probable
that they at least even matters up with the
driver, il not little more before the days
settlement is made.
There are many, very many dark phases
of life and of poverty dire and deep just as
we find them in the American metropolis,
which is but reflex of this, except that
New York is city Of tenements and this is
to great extent city of homes. "Sweat-
ing" is practiced here now and then Just as
it is with us, but the law watches it quite as
closely as in our country, and public senti-
ment is thoroughly aroused against this
class of wrong, and public sentiment is the
mighty factor and practically controls all
political life here. Parliament heeds a
strong impression of public opinion in q
flash and the voice of no community in En-
gland can be raised in protest without hear
ing. Therefore, the humblest has an equal
chance with the highest, to yentilate his
wrongs before the highest tribunal in the
land, and to get as fair a judgement
FRANK A. BURR.