New-York tribune., 1895-05-12
URGED BY THE CONSUMERS.
THE swEAT-sHoP COMMITTEE AND THE
MERCANTILE INSPECTION BILL.

MRS. JOSEPHINE SHAW LOWELL AND OTHERS
SPEAK FOR THE MEAsURE-MR. REiNHARD
cRIrIcIsEs NORWAY wrLLIAMs-rEs-
rIMoNY AS TO THE MAKERS OF
PANTS AND CIGARS.
Before the Reinhard Assembly Committee on the
sweat shops system began work yesterday. Hamii-
ton Fish Speaker Of the Assembly. entered the
room and was engaged In conversation with As
sembyman H. F. Andrews, who Is a member OF the
committee Mr.. Fish said that he had merely
dropped In 10 have a chat with Mr. Andrews upon
private matters.
Mr. Reinhard announced that he would give
one hour TO hear persons who wished to speak IN
regard to the Mercantile Inspection BILL which
had been referred by the Assembly to the commmt-
tee.
Mrs. Charles Russell Lowell. president OF the
Consumers League. read a paper setting forth the
reasons why the league favored the Mercantile DILL
The State having adopted in theory and practice
the principle that the hours OF work OF girls or
women under twenty-one years should be regulated
In factories II would be equally for the public
good Mrs. Lowell argued to regulate ther en-
ployment In the distributing industries MIS- L"wen
said that the league did not approve OF the Dill
as amended, as to the hours between December
and January l. and on Saturday nlgH's. uhner
which the employers could work their employees a."
and ID, Mary Putnam jacob also spoke Mt con-
adorable length In support OF the original Dill
The latter said that the Avs for the bencht OK
employees had been dead letter laws on the statute
books and urged the committee to present anu
move the passage OF the Mercantile bill. whose
needs had already been recognized FOR the penent
OF employees In factories. Mr.. Rsnhard then took
occasion to speak OF Mr.. Williams saying that he
was more Of a dctriment than an aid TO sood
cause. This in answer to the remarks made
by Mr. Williams denouncing the committee for not
holding executive sessions. and suppressing tne
names OF the employees testifying.
The first witness Abraham Newman, manu-
facturer OF pants" at No. 637 Fifth st. who at
the last session testified that he paid his employees
from cents 10 10 cents for finishing dozen pairs
He was examined again yesterday at some length
Mr. Mayer, the committees counsel. asked Newman
a great many questions in the endeavor TO ma out
how much the Italian women earned In week. and
after considerable trouble drew out the fact that
81 rs was above the average. They made on an
average thirty dozen pairs OF trousers week
Nathan B. Weiss. an accountant or bookkeeper TOT
Newman said that Newman could read hgures' Dut
not English writing. He identified a number OF
work books kept by the employees OF Newman made
I'D when the workers finished each weeks WORK.
They were all written In Hebrew, and all the pages
in each book torn out except those 1or tne
last two weeks. 1t was estimated by Mr.. MAYER Sdn
that allowing for every expense Newman "uoe
Joseph ID. Klein. clerk employed py A5pana o5s IAN
33S East Nnety-eghth-st. who testified at the iast
hearing told yesterday about the money earned IN IN
a month fol a family consisting OF husband anu
wife and fve children; He said that the wages s,a
earned by husband and wife in 4 month was $5o
OF which SO deducted for rent by the employer
Johan Kroupa. foreman Of siiverthal q Co. sac sa,a
that a auicx worker with the aid OF his wite
should make s72 month. The firm paid from ~ 20 70
to Sc for 1000 cigars and one man ~, could
the lower grade in a week. Charles Rosen-
thai, OF No 35l East Seventy-third-st.. manu-
,laxo Gaf1 ha amn e1
eight families. some of the members OF which
worked In the factory. but the majority at their
ter home and with less expense to themselves IS
t;ermans Hebrews and Bohemians." The com
mittee adjourned until next Saturday at 10 o'clock
CITY Hall