The Washington times., 1894-03-30
LABOR RAISES HER VOICE
Workingwomen Had Hearing Despite
the Majority Finance Committee.
WAGES HERE AND IN EUROPE
Members of the Minority Senate Committee
and Other Senators Listen to Tale Of Al
legged 0ncoming Destitution Under the
Operations Of the Wilson Bill

The wage workingwomen Of New England
were turned down by the majority members
OF the Senate Finance Committee yesterday.
That exclusive body would not grant them
hearing.
petition was then presented to the MI
nority members that they hold a hearing, and
the petition was granted. The mission OF the
ladies was thus successful, and they will de-
part this morning with a consciousness OF
duty done to themselves and those they repre-
sent.
The following petition was addressed to
Senator Voorhees,:
To Senator Daniel W. Voorhees, Chairman Sub
Committee, Finance Committee, United
States Senate.
SIR: Whereas by tho enactment of the Wilson
bill, now being considered by the United States
Senate, the wGges of mill and factory operatives
will be essentially lowered and general comfort
and prosperity materially reduced;
Therefore we women ard women wage-earh-
ers respectfully ask to be heard by Your honof-
able committee, that we may have an oppor-
tunIty TO show wherein the passage OF this bili
viii bring great hardship TO more than two mil
lion wage-earning women and those dependent
upon them and great distress to multitudes OF
others.
Direct representation not being granted 10
WOlen- VIC Iliht tuiss slttlai Eelucct. Ahc iASHe
of petition is our only recourse. With this we
come TO you.
Please indicate an early hour to-day or to-
morrow, and the place where, al your pleasure,
such hearing may he had
Signed, j. Ellen Foster. Iowa; Helen V. Boswell,
New York: Harriet Brancc, WOODEN sewer; L
Greenwich, Annie NJ Devereaux, ieweier Provi-
dence, X l.; Mary j Ryan. cotton weaver, Woon-
socket, H. T.; Minnie Spearin, cotton inspector,
Manvilie, II. L.; Hannah +. Ryan, spinner, New
Bedford, Mass; Emily 5. Young, iewelry, Provi-
u tisrbt nr
Boston, Mass; ElizaDeth Tyler, carpet weaver,
Boston, Mass; Florence Biggs, cotton weaver,
Anthony, r. J.: Mary Brooks, cotton weaver,
Fitchburg, Mass Agnes Pohlman, cotton weaver,
Fitchburg, Mass: Martha Haworth, cotton
weaver, New Bedford Mass; Alice Jukes, net
and twine work, Cambridge, Mass; Amy Lees,
cotton weaver, New Bedford, Mass; Edith VOL
stencroft, cotton weaver, Taunton, Mass; nat
tie Freeman, worsted sewer, Woonsocaet, X. i.
Mrs Foster saw Senator Voorhees, in the
Finance Committee room. She presented the
petition for the hearing with but few words.
The Senator was most considerate. and said
he regretted any seeming lack of considera-
ton for the appeal OF the women. but that the
committee had been obliged TO make rule
shutting of all hearings. He assured Mrs.
Foster that '.things would not be SO bad as
she feared"
Mrs Foster then appealed to the Republican
minority of the committee, and 1t was granted
To Senators Justin E Morrill,. John Sherman,
William b. Allison, and Nelson ID. Aldrich
minority members, Finance Committee,
United States Senate.
GENTLEMEN: We, your petitioners, respectfully
state that we came to the city of Washington
two days ago for the purpose OF showing TO the
Finance Committee of the United States Senate
the causes and the reasons which impel US tt
protest against the enactment of the Wilson
bill now being considered
We presented our written request in person tc
Hon Daniel W. voorhees,, chairman of the com
mittee, asking n hearing before the committee
4 copy is hereto attached. He courteously de
clined to hear us, because OF the committee rule
made sometime since We therefore now com,
10 you-ininority members Of this committee
and most respectfully ask that we may present
our cause TO you, and through you 10 the nitet
States Senate.
The interests we represent are great; the vel
fare OF the two million wage-earning women anc
the comfort of multitudes of homes are threat
ened by this proposed change in the American
industrial system. We await your reply. Re
spectfully, y. ELLEN FOSTER,
For herself and the other petitioners.
The women were then granted hearing
I by Senators Morrill,. Sherman. Allison, ant
| Aldrich in their conference room, Senator
Hoar Lodge. Hawley. and Others being pres
| ent, and full stenographic report was Off
| cially taken.
Mrs. Foster introduced each Of the signers
of the petition. aud they answered the ques
tions put by herself or by the Senators.
The occasion Was something of a novelty
| The witnesses were asked about what tnel
earned and how they lived, and nearly al
were obviously practical working bushes:
women. The testimony of all was TO the
| effect that they were earning less than they
| did last Summer and Fall. some on account
! of cuts in wages and some on account Of re
| duced time and mills shut down.
One or two of the women hac done similar
work in England. Scotland. and Germany. A
| Scotch woman said she earned dollars in thi
1 chill fy,
| land at similar work.
| Margaret Wright. a carpet setter of Rox
bury. had lived in Ireland and said she woul,
| not have gone into factory there because
| factory workers were looked down on. She
found nothing of that in New England, an'
argued that the passage of the Wilson bill
| would bring down the condition Of the peo
| pie and their self-respect. Ada Ryan. a cottol
spinner of New Bedford, remarked witt
asperity:
IF you don't kill the Wilson bill it will xii
| u.s."
Three widows with young children. severa
who cared for mothers, several who witt
| other brothers and sisters ''made home fol
mother" all said they could not live in Amer
lea on the wages paid in the old countries
verifying this statements by facts and figures
The women seemed to realize that they wer
! speaking not only for themselves. but for tn
| classes 10 which they belonged. One too
great care to say that she had been chosen b
the eighty girls of her room. Searching bu
| kindly questions were asked by the interests
| Senator'S