New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-22
THE SWEATING SYSTEM INVESTIGATED.
r1-RTHER HEARING By THE COMMITTEE-Mi'

- WARMERS EXPERIENCES.
Washington. Dec. 2l.-Ihe suD-'ohnh'' 49,,
| House Manufactures Committee. Which j. "
| eating the sweating system. gave hcnri"N va"
| morning to several witnesses ron hroohHi '
| New.York. who were requested to appear ana 'ei'
what they knew OF the evils Of the sweating sN''"'
and what should lie done to modify or correct 'h'ih'
II was shown conclusively by the Witnesses 'o-"H
| that the evil not diminishing III any VI u"
large clothing centres with the exception OF l'oS""'
whore the state laws have been 80 cHcc"N'N ~"
forced rs TO lessen IT to a great extent Fhiiad'iP'a
and Cincinnati were said to he the great oc''''s -,
the country where the system was most pi'>"N''
orh vhere the conditions were most uniavorabic from
| a sanitary standpoint
1t was also shown by witnesses lha' 'H' '
laws OF Massachusetts were effective III thcr oP''"
tions and had resulted I'm abating the system o'S"
| out the state and in Boston particularly 10 Z" ihi'
num- The contrary the cas-, IN Newlo.h' o"I"s
in measure 10 the fact that the officials charged
| with the enforcement Of tie law were MOI pio ''
| povcs and consequently were not rs attentive -
their duties as those in Massachusetts. 10 correct
the evil it was suggested that the states We're l"H
! compcent 10 deal with the sanitary suTpn"Il-' III
the places where the businc>s carried on ana inc
municipal and police authorities Of the dtlcs sH'mu
| goo That the laws were properly enforced, but Nd'
! National legislation would not be out OF PH'''
Witnesses graphically described the coho'u'hS III
nearly all Of the large cities where clothing was maze
under the system
Jobn T.. Lennon. secretary Of the Tlilor~ Union.
composed Of custom taors stated That In 'Ie HE-''
cate Philadelphia and NcwYork did the larre>' bH-i
ness in the trade The work was done mainly b1
poor Russians and Italians and the sanitary conditions
were dcplrablo as rule. Charles !. hcl'"'I''
secretary Of the Garment Workers, gave similar '''u
mony Cne-haf OF the clothing made IN Newton"
City. he said was made under the sweating system
| and the highest wages averaged Sl3 n week ior
| -
oyer 20 cents or 81 week. The accommodations
OF the aforementioned workers hc described ~ up
railing IIc recommended system Of registry
license and inspection. and also lcGnlzaion II t"ne
label, attached TO goods. some Interesting St'"he"'s
| were made by him bearing on the large hlhuA o'
| Russian Hebrews 70 the country.
| II was stated that nearly MI the small clothing
| dealers who thrive by the sweating system SUD
scribe annually to the Hebrew immigration innH ana
each emierant received IN Europe amee1t Of money
| from this fund sufficient TO meet the requirements
# law and keep lin free from bci1s returned.
| These Hebrews, s,h Mr. Rcchers were brought over
In droves and received places In tie sweat shops
4 large storm ovcrcoat which retails at 81 10 WA
exhibited and testimony by Mr.. Reichcrs was given
to show that nineteen persons were employed 10 make
| all its parts, for which each received MS pf"
portlonac amount Of - cent, after the profit q the
sweating proprietor had been deducted one witness
said he knew Of case in New-Yorl where clol'ne
Inspectors had been brbcd by swcatshop proprietors
and he minated that arrests would follow This
closed the testimony, ana the committee Will begin
the preparation Of It's report Immediately.
| Representative John De Witt Warner, OF New-l ork.
the chairman OF the subcommittee wa asked 20 day
BY n reporter how the condition Of New York com
pared with that OF Boston and Chicago. NJ. Warner
said
"Thcy arc 50 similar as 10 be scarcely distinguish
able, except as modified by the different condition, o.
the several CI,ies In Chicago, for example. this
sweating business is carried in building, rotten
and disgusting as well rs inadequate and UNFIT FOR
human occupants. These buildings generally fam"
and two stories In height. Hence there Is nothing
like that crowding that there would be were tAoss
quarters closely and substantially built up. IN,
conditions OF the sweating industry there however,
are as disgusting and the liability TO contagious and
epidemic diseases as great as In NcwYoik In ro,tol
the industry IS carried in extremely old but fairly
substantial bindings I'm the most crOwd'd quarters
that while the municipal conditions better, the
result is an even greater liability to coAlaglln
| In Newly OrK the streets are n whole much
better paved and cared for than In CHICAGO; much
more spacious and AFFORD more breathing room than
. In boston A. 10 dangerous contaSon, there Is
equally little distinction.
I'VE have verified, not merely as instances, but as
general condition, the worst that has been alleged
| But. with exception. have met with proof
of immortality, and ] have the greatest respect Tor
tue manliness and the womanlncss Of the persons
employed FROM ihe testimony, taken we ind r..
pcated Instances where at and 10 O'Clock al night
The operatives SIN continuing their work. They
lad begun their work AZ or o'clock a. m, ana the
sO-caled sweater boss worked along with them
bringing work for them the next morning. Children
In every condition OF flth and health swnrmcd NJ
most % the shops. In the last one visited every
one had gone except two n-OIt fellows who lad
worked FOR fifteen hours. They had made Pile ~
the bundles OF goods ready 10 be made up up n
which. without bed clothes. they popaecc 10 sleci
without change Of the flty condition OF their per
| SONS their Clothes"