The evening world., 1894-08-15
BROUGHT OvERBYCON1RAC1
Sam GOmperS Thinks Many Diamond,
Cutters, Recently Arrived, Were
Engaged Abroad.
EXPECTS TO PRESENT The EVIDENCE.
Big Damond-Cutting Firm Of the zilvers
Moves 10 New York Just a. the
Men Reach Here.
EXPECTS TO PRESENT THE EVIDENCE.

During the last month forty-six expert
diamond-cutters have come TO this coun-
try from Amsterdam. Holland. Samuel
Gompers, President OF the American
Federation of Labor believes these men
were imported into this country in de-
fiance of the Contract Labor law. and
has SO notified the Investigation Bureau.
But all the diamond-cutters deny that
they were engaged on the other side.
and swear they came here looking for
work. Acting Emigration Commissioner
insolvency at FIRST could learn nothing
TO the contrary.
But Mr.. McSweeney ordered his in
spectors TO make some inquiry among
diamond brokers concerning this sudden
influx OF diamond cutters. The in
spectors learned that diamond-cuttlng
had not been very brisk in this country.
There are only a few hundred expert
cutters here. but during the last Ave
years they have been iule about one
third OF the time Aside from this Iaci
their wages have decreased greatly. he
learned also thai the diamond house oI
Iilver Bros, on. of me wealthiest In
Amsterdam. had been bru.ght boally to
this country. The Zilvers did > big pusl-
ness with the United States. UhIer the
present tarin law there Is duty q: "
per cent. On the rough ulifllOHu anu u
duty of Is per cent. ON the polished gem.
Eeith d Oppenheirner. of No So Maiden
lane. 1t Is said. gave the Iiivers assur-
ances that they would furnish all the
Iilvers would bring their factory to this
country. Upon tins statement the III
verscam They have fitted upa factory
at ST., Marks place and tnuernln aye
nue, rooklyn, and Will be ready for
business this week.
OF course. II Is impossible for Mr.. Me
Sweeney TO find out whether any OF the
York worked fo" Mr.. Iilver in Amster-
dam. Mr.. Zilver said yesterday that ne
did no, Keep track of his workmen.
They came and went as they pleased,
hemer could explain how the men hap
pened to come here just about the time
the Messrs. Zilver are ready to open
came here when, they did is u mere
coincidence said MIR. Veith.
President Gompers said yesterday:
mir. Zilvrr comes to New York and
takes advantage OF the tariff we put on
diamonds. The men who have been EN-
gagged In the diamond-cutting trade here
have had very tough treatment. Their
wages have been cut so often that a
more than $3.50 per day, This Is n little
more, guess. than they get on the
other side. II Mr. "ilver had come here
and hired American workngmen il
diamond cutters here. He has brought
his own workingmen with him. At
least. he Will have no difficulty in get
ting them, and, | suppose, VIII pay The
same price he paid in Amsterdam. The
result will be thai the American da-
slice taken off his wages in the near
future. This being the case. the Labor
Contract law IL farce. II Is not the
fault OF MI. Insolvency.. He has done
all he could with the evidence we were
able to get, but we hope for better re-
suits soon"
Four more dlamond-cutte arrived
yesterday on the steamer . l.. Caland.
They tod the same story to Mr.. Nc
sweeney that was told by all the others.