The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-22
THE asWRATINGp sYsTEAf.
Congressman werasr, Tells Of the Result
of the CommIktoSs InvostIsatlDns.

Congressman wsrnsr9 Tells Of tho Result
of the CemmlttsSs Inyostisa.lons.
Alike Everywhere. y.
WAsaNeroN, D. o., Dec. 2l.-Repre.
sentative Werner, Of New York, the
chairman Of the subcommittee Of the.
house committee on manufactures,
which was directed to inquire into the
sweating system. has just returned to
Washington after a thorough investiga-
ton OF the workings Of the system in
the cities Of New York, Chicago and
Boston. On being asked how the con-
dition Of the New York tactories com.
psred with that Of other cities, MIR.
Werner said:
"They are so similar as TO be scarcely
distinguishable, exceptas modified by
the different conditions OF the several
cities. In Chicago, for example, this
sweating business is carried on inc quar-
ters where the streets are practically
bottomless and the buildings are rotten
and disgusting as well as inadequate
and unit for human occupancy. These
buildings are generally frame and two
stories in height, with Easements gem
orally below the sidewalk. The con-
dltions Of the sweating industry there,
however, are as disgusting, and the liza
bility to contagious and epidemic dis
ease as great as in New York. In Bos-
ton the industry seems to be carried on
exclusively in extremely old but fairly
substantial buildings in the most
crowded quarters.
"The mombers OF the committee ar
rived here yesterday" continued Mr..
Werner, "and expect that they will
complete the taking OF testimony to-
day, and then will make its report at
the earliest possible moment,
"What Is the general result Of your
inyestisationT was;the next question
asked. v
ave haye,'' replied Mr.. Werner,
verified not merely Us instances, but
as a general condition the worst that
has been alleged. But, with one ex-
ception, we have imee eswithEno proof Of
immorality, and speaking for myself j
have the greatest respect for the manli-
ness and the womanliness of the per-
sons employed. From the testimony
taken we find repeated instances where
between 8 and 10 o'clock at night the
operatives were still continuing their
work. They had begun their work at
5 or 8 a. M, and the so-called sweater
or boss worked along with them,
bringing work for them the next
morning. Itwas not unusual to find
eight or ten people with their
machines, table, etc, crowded into q
u 2by is. foot room the majority of
cases the living room Of tamily was
connected with the shop, and garments
finished and unfinished were scattered
about Unfortunately. OF child labor,
q personally saw but few instances, but
] did see q little girl about eight years
;of age at $3.50 in the evening drag.
ging along bundle which she
was physically unable to carry, and
acting az a human express Tor the trans
fer OF goods. Children in every, condi-
tion Of filth and health swarned in
most Of the shops. 1nthe last ohewe Wis
tied everyone had gone except two worn
out fellows, who had made a pile OF the
bundles Of goods ready tolbe made up,
Upon which, without bed clothes, they
proposed to sleep without change OF the
filthy condition Of theirpersons or their
clothes. The sweater and the sweat
ed perfectly agreed as to the miserably
low wages paid"