Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15

-OOOs
the hours of days labor be shortened,
developed a strong sentiment in favor Of
eight hours. One suggested greater restric-
-tions on immigration, otherwise steamship
companies would be the chief gamers by
reduction of hours" One opposed reduc-
effect was passed. Another suggested that
the shortening of working time would
create a demand for a larger number of en-
ployes, and improve their health and in
crease their prosperity. One answered that
the matter should be settled between the
employer and the employed, and should be
governed by the amount of compensation.
The effect of a reduction Of hours would be
a few hours work and low salaries, while
many want high wages and nothing to do.
The question, sought the working day
be uniform in all trades, etc." mystified
many of those who attempted to reply to it.
Some answered that it should be uniform II
practicable, but many of them thought uni
formity would be difficult to reach. One
said: "Boshl Wait till the millennium
comes, and then ask that question"
Among the answers to the question,
"What legislation, if any, ought to be en-
acted tor the improvement and benefit OF the
working classes?" are the following:
SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS.
The factory inspection law should be en-
forced; employees should be paid weekly; taxes
should be placed on land values and no work OF
State or city should be done by contract.
Give us free trade.
A state Board of Arbitration: make the en-
ployment of American citizens compulsory on
all state, national or municipal work; Aus
tralian system of voting; alb clifton OF store or
The State to print and furnish all text books
for schools.
The prices for the necessaries of life should
be fixed by law.
Corporations to be prohibited from watering
stock; all surplus over per cent on capital in
vested to be paid into the State treasury; the
abrogatlon of all conspiracy laws; United States
to conduct all railroad, telegraph and tele-
As capital without labor will consume itself,
therefore labor should have a reasonable share
of the profit it produces.
Enforce what laws we have now and they will
remedy the complaints of the many wage
workers in their families.
A law taxing all income above a reasonable
home are as light as possible; a law to severely
punish all trusts and com binations that gamble
on the necessar1es of life.
Keep good stiff tariff on all articles that can
be produced in America.
Proper sanitary laws providing for inspection
of tenement houses and their surroundings;
contract labor ought to be abolished, and con-
victs should be employed in improving the
water ways of the State and roads IN boroughS
and townships.
The State to control all mines. and operate
them for the benefit OF the people.
Prohibiting the traffic of Intoxicating drinks
as beverage: the encouragement Of proper CO.
operative enterprises.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
A compulsory education law for children
until they are IA years of age; prohibiting the
bringing of detectives from other States to
force workingmer to submit to injustices at the
point of rifles and that the State settle all such
matters without the interference of Pinker-
toms men.
A reduction of the salaries of county and
State officers pr oportioned to the decline in
prices of farm products and labor and the
abolition of railroad passes.
Monopolies and monopolistic privileges
Repeal existing tariff laws and pass an act Of
Congress restricting the immigration to this
country of foreign workmen, thus giving to
the workingmen of this country the ADVANTAGES
which the manufacturers now enjoy: namely,
of buying where there IS free competition and
selling where competition has been shut out.
Compelling employers to pay women the
same wages as men for similar work and
making them responsible for injuries caused by
the carelessness or ignorance of their agents or
themselves.
We don't want any more laws, but we do
want more justice.
A law should be passed compelling employers
to recognize labor unions.
ManyI suggestions were made as to how
the apprentice system should be carried on,
but from them it would be difficult to evolve
an improvement on the existing condition
Of things.
The question as to how the prosperity and
happiness of employer and employe could
be best subserved, elected elaborate replies,
five of which follow:
SHOULD SET AN EXAMPLE.
Employers should set the example of doing
as they would be done by" and that would do
away with the feeling of discomfort that is born
of being despised and causes employees to act
dishonesty.
know of nothing which breeds SO much i'll
feeling between employer and employed as the
indifference the former shows when work is
scarce.
The Inauguration of system Of profit
sharing.
A great deal better feeling would exist were
employer and employed to become better ac-
quainted and they were on speaking and social
terms. where business or pleasure should bring
them in contact. a
Until some restrictions are placed on whole
sale immigration the workingmen of this coun-
| try will never have Justice done them.
Arbitration is suggested as the best means OF
| settling disputes between employer and en-
ployed BY many who answered the Chief Of In
/ dustrial Statistics questions.