New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-01
STARVATION WAGES TRULY.
"A CLoAKMAKER WHO GOT ONLY SO 90 A
WEEK.

HE HAD TO WORK FIFTEEN HOURS DAY-RE-
MARKABIE TESTIMONY BY THE STRIKERS
BEFORE THE BOARD OF ARBITRATION.
The State Board of Arbitration resumed its ses-
sion yesterday at the Broadway Central Hotel
Joseph Barondess acting Interpreter FOR the
German workingmen who could not speak English
we'll The cloakmakers' strike was investigated
The first witness Samuel Eidelstein, NO az
East Third-st. He said that the prices paid were
not sufficient to enable the workngmen TO live.
c. Batmre. who worked for Silverman Brothers,
No. "a Greene-st.. for two years. testified that II
was a practice of the manufacturers to lower the
wages and increase the work of the men just be-
fore the began. The witness said he re-
ceved only % cents instead of 81 for making a
cloak. Commissioner Feeny asked If 1t was the
regular practice of the workingmen to bride the
foremen in order to retain their work.
1T practised almost every day." said the wit
ness; some gave them whskey. others wine. others
cigars When workingmen complained to the
bosses they declined to interfere in what they
themselves termed wholesale bribery
Max Myler, tailor who was with Meyer Jonas
son said he was employed as special garment
workman For one garment he received y %, and
for another requiring harder work he got only
$3.50
Joe" Fingod. No 225 Monroe-st., worked for
Crawford & Quigley. broadway. The worhingmen
were for week ana the manufacturers ac-
ceded to their demands.
Never Steltzer testified that he worked for DAVIS
Brothers, No. 456 Broome-st The firm signed con-
tract guaranteeing union wages to the men, and
after the lapse Of week the firm absolutely re-
fused to comply with the terms OF the contract
Steltzer left their employ and found work with
Joseph Steinberg. No. II Grand-st. where he was
subsequently discharged for not reporting for
work at a. m. when the union time was I
O'clock
The next witness Italian named Nandetti.
OF No. 10 hottest, who worked for Oppenheimer
Collins, in Greene-st. The numbers of the gar
ments denOting their grade, were constantly
changed. For garments involving the same amount
of labor. the price was reduced from 81 30 TO 81
apiece ard when he complained he was discharged
The next operator 10 testify was named Begulski.
He Rad been in the employ Of l.. Denkenspie CO..
No. S9i Broadway Incre the operators struck Tor
higher wages wnich the manufacturers consented
TO give. After d settlement mad been effected the
men returned to work. one week later the terms of
the agreement were violated and the wages Were re-
duced below the figure Oh which the men struck at
FIRST Harry Watton, another of the locked-ou; men,
read long pape. recounting the hardsnps which
lives at No. PIC Dvison-st. told his experience with
a contractor named Cole. VINO works for the nrm OF
s Rothschd & Brother. Coles SHOP, at No. 80
Ridge-st. is mere snanty in the rear Of stable.
The poor woI knen went on strike ana the con
tractor agreed TO advance the wages y per cent
After WORK had been resumed the contractor failed
TO keep mis- promise. Lac Wages were not saihcleht
to sustain life The witness worked from 4:i5 a. m
until 10 ociock at nsnt Tor weekly pa ian eo or
children and pay 81 per month for TWO squalid
His wife aided him IN the struggle Tor Ire
by doing odd outside work
After, further testimony. Joseph Barondess ad-
dressed the Board as follows: II want TO state 10
the Board my experience for the last four years.
was raised from rank and file to my present Of
lice as chairman of the Grand CloakmaKers Union.
Within these four years there was never an occa-
sion where d question OF honesty was involved that
] did not my every effort TO effect peace and
harmony between employer and employe. Meyer
JonassOn is the man who locked out seventy-nVe
men and. because they would not accept MS terms,
had 10cND the streets the next day. All
asked the recognition Of the union, and at
weeks. we.e it not for the kindness Of the press
and the people many would have died Of starvation
The manufacturers that were most friendly IN
c.ned toward organized labor are assisting 10 deal
the deathbiow the swea ing system. Those who
work under the week-work system are men, and
the man VINO works pecewOrk Is a beast and a
curse TO society. II the small manufacturers COM
pete against the large ones We VIII eventually
crush the sweating system. skilled operator Is
entitled to SD week. and the girl who works ten
hours a day should get $40 instead of s. as she
does now, with longer hours entailed
Henry Friedman manufacturer OF No. 4Oi Broad
way and A. Popkns of No. t6l Broadway who
have had the system Of payments by the week in
their workshop for six weeks spoke at length OF the
great advantage of the system. both TO the manu-
facturers and employees They refused 10 become
affiliated with the Manufacturers Association for
which they strongly censured ana their busl-
ness interests threatened. They were in favor OF
treating the workngman fairly The Board then
held a brief consultation with the members Of the
Amalgamated Board. The result Of this conference
they refused to make public. The investigation
closed and the result will be reported 10 the Legis-
lature