Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-10-10
NJ r. PECK'S REPORT.
THE UNRELIABLE COMMISSIONER SHOWN UP
BY WAGE-EAREER&
Omplete and Final Answer to the Alleged Increase
ofWages in New York Slate-On the Contrary
There Has Been Big Reduction in Many
Instances The Dsadly Parallel
Column Works Destruction.


American Industries. The report Is
condemned by wage earners In nearly
all vacations, and the Commissioner
does not escape unscathed. The pur-
pose for which the report was padded
by Peck is as palpable as the report Is
| inaccurate, and american Industries de-
serves great praise for its course In
tracking down such Misrepresentation.
The most striking inaccuracies in Peck's
report lies in the fact that the tabulated
! forms do not agree with the summary.
The Americdn Industries has gathered
statistics from the employees OF all the
largest industrial establishments In
New York State and has placed the
result side by side with the report made
| by Peck. Where Peck shows decrease
| they have dismissed the matter and
! have only gathered statistics Of indus
tries In which an alleged increase Is
shown. american Industries figures
are given by the wage earners, who,
! Peck alleges, received Sc, 377, 925.09 in
1891 ia excess of the earnings of 1890
| through the operations of the Mckinley
| bill. in order to show that they are
dealing fairl, Anlertcdn Industries
prin the name and full address OF
every employe quoted, and gives the
name of his employer.
| Taking W the awnings, sails, tents,
etc. industry, Peck gives the wages OF
| fifteen people in 1890 and 1891, thirteen
Of whom be alleges have received in
creased wages. american Industries
| quotes an awning maker who denies
! that there has been any change ia the
! scale of wages for years. In the boot
and shoe trade, Peck reports 5S1 in-
creases in wages and 213 decreases.
The statements Of employees in the
largest manufactures is exactly con-
trary to Mr.. Peck's. The employees say
the average weekly wages in 1890 in
the children's shoe trade was
| SIS, while in 1891 1t was Sl3.
In 1891 there was a strik Q
against a reduction and the men lost,
their places being filed by non-union
men. The trade at Thomas 81 Co. is
poorer than In former years, owing to
the Cuban trade being wiped out entire
| ly by the Mckinley bill. At Gardiner,
Estes e. Co. there was no change during
1890 and 1891. This year the men
struck on reduction and compro-
| mise was effected, the men accepting a
slight reduction. AT Holzlnger & Bro.
there was slight reduction in 1891 over
1890. At p e. Il. Cousins the prices
have remained unchanged. There was
a reduction at Robert Dix 81 Co.
In the carpet industry Mr.. Peck
| shows 1,431 increases and " decreases.
Mr.. Higgins. of Higgins Carpet Co.,
acknowledged that there had been a
reduction. E. S. Higgins & Co. EN-
ploy $500 hands. The wages at this
factory practically rule those OF the en-
tire country. Here there were no
changes during 1890 and 1891, but
there has been large reduction in all
| departments since 1888.
The above firm gave its workmen to
understand in the Presidential cam
psign of 1883 that ii the Re-
publican ticket was unsuccessful
the factory would probably be
closed or wages reduced. The week
after election the firm posted a notice
of 10 per cent. reduction, and those
prices have continued until this year,
when several departments were reduced
and the hours of work heightened. AT
present there is a similar rumor Of a
shut down, fearful of Democratic sue
cess. or to intimidate the hands to vote
the Republican ticket. In the cotton
goods industry no change in wages Is
reported by uhe men. They say there
has been no change for several years.
There are over $4,000 persons engaged
in the wood working industry in New
York State. Mr.. Peek shows the result
affecting only 1913, Of whom 173 received
| increases and 20 decreases. The large
concerns in New York City all show that
there has been no increases in 1890 over
1891. Frank Glover, Master Workman
of the Mystic Tie Association Of Sash,
Door and Blind Makers, says: "Mr.
Peck's figures are wrong in every in
stance, for there has been no change in
our wages for several years"
In spite of the fact that Peck AYERS
that the wages of those employed in
breweries have been increased, the
statement is untrue. The wages are
| the same as in 1SSS-no more, no less.
Col. A. e. Seifert, secretary Of the
United States Brewers Association,
says that the wages are the same as in
1888, and there has been no change.
| John Connell, Master Workman Of La
Dor Assembly No. $500, says that the
wages and hours have not been changed
since 1856.
In the carriage and wagon industry
employees all affirm that there has been
no change in wages for three years.
! Although Peck shows an increase in
wages of 40 employees OF the stone aud
| marble industry and II reductions,
| there has been no change during 1890
and 1891.
Notwithstanding Peck authorized a
committee of laboring men to collect
the statistics Of working bakers, he re-
fused TO use their report when sent him,
but published a report showing an In
crease in wages, while the report OF the
! committee showed no increase.
In the industry OF burial cases, cas-
| kets, ETC., Peck showed 166 increases
and 81 decreases. Investigation shows
that there has been no increase for sew
eral years. Its the same way with the
button industry.
Peck reports 362 increase and 80 de-
creases in the silk and silk goods indus
try. j. n. Stearns & Co., employing
1000 hands, circulated among the
workmen, when the Mckinley bill was
before Congress, petition asking Con-
gress to increase the duty on all silk
goods. Three months after the bill be-
came law the wages Of the weavers,
twisters and spnners were reduced.
In the furrler industry Peck reports
GIG increases and decreases. The
cutters, nailers and operators have
strong organizations in New York and
the w0rkmen all say that no change has
taken place in 1890 and 1891.