Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-15
PRESENT LABOR SYSTEMS.

Rev. pr. McLane Delivers aa Interest,"
 ing Address Before the Central Lac
 bor Union.
 An address on the present labor systems, dealing with their evils and remedies, was made at the rooms of the Central Labor union last evening by Rev. Dr. W. W. Mo- Lane. The speaker said that injuries had resulted from the present power of rail roads and other corporations and quoted several instances where land grants had been made to railroads and then when the employees wished to buy the land and build their own homes, they were compelled to pay the commercial price. He said the tax on improvements must be diminished while that on land must be increased. The policy of the Hawaiian government Is to grant land in small tracts only to actual settlers, thereby preventing speculation by corporations. How poorer people are benefited by taxing only land, he said, was shown in Philadelphia, sometimes called the City of Homes. In that city there is . system by which workingman can pay land rent, and build his home, which he can keep as long as he plesses provided he pays the land rent, and can consider the home his as much as though he held the deed. : As many people in Philadelphia, 1t is said, own their own homes as there are in the state of Connecticut, while in New York city 93 per cent. of the people live in tenements, and to secure . comfortable home man must pay in rent one.half his income.
 Railroads are mediums by which mar kets are reached, and these often discrimi- nate in favor of large plscss and large shippers, thereby placing small manufsc- turers and shippers ct disadvantags and indirectly by this means injuring the em- ployes of the small msnufacturer.
 If no other way can be found to remedy this ey1l, then let the government assume control of the railroads. The government exercises sort of supervision over saviDgs banks e to now they shall invest moneys, and ever other corporations in regard to other regulations; then why can it not see that railroads are managed with justice to the publicf
 The speaker then stated three principles by which the condition of the working man and distribution of wages could bs benefited, namely:
 Cooperation on the part of workmen, bkao o4A04uA oOa40 Sy1s0kkSS oAA No-SHSAesASA4 between workmen and employers.
 He gave various instances where thsse systems are in operation, both In the United States and European countries, and in every instance the result, he said, is hixhly beneficial and aatisfactory.
 In New York state In 1890 there were 9,3S5 strikes, all caused by difficulty in determining standard of wages.
 The aforementioned methods would un- doubtedly do away to great extent with this difficulty and thereby benefit both lAborers and employer.
 Er. NcLane seemed to think that judg- ing the present condition of affairs from the past marked improvement can be seen. In the carly part of the century a working day was fourteen to fifteen hours, and even in 1888 law was passed making . working day from 6o'clock .. m. until 8 D. m. Thus can bs ssen . vast improve ment in sixty years.
 At the concluaion of the address . vote | of thanks was tendered to the speaker. | The president of the society announced | that another speaker would address tine | Central Labor union in the near future, and all Interested in the advancement of | labor intsrests were cordially invited to at- tsnd.