The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-30
WILL INVESTIGATE


onico Repair shop Scandal Before tho
senRfo-senRtor Faulkner Wants 10
Consult HIr. Wilson and the Matter
Goes Federation OF Labor Inter-
estsd.
Special Dispatch to the IntellIGencer.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Jan. 29-ThO
resolution offered by Senator Kyle yes
terday calling for an investigation OF
the charges made by q Washington
newspaper against the management OF
the mail bag repair shop under the
postofIlce department came up again
to.day upon Senator Kyle'B motion, and
the discussion that resulted drew from
Senator Faulkner the appeal for days
delay Ia order that he might have an
opportunity to confer with Postmaster
General Wilson. Senator Faulkner ad-
mitted that the charges are formidn-
BILE. as read from the columns OF the
newspaper by the South Dakota sena-
tor. and he said It was but fair to the
head OF the department that he (Sena-
tor Faulkner) should be given an op-
portunity TO confer with him and make
a personal inquiry concerning the ac-
cusations.
Upon his request the resolutions went
over until tomorrow. but there Will be
an investigation. The charge as made
by the Washington Times is In part
that the working women employed in
the repair shop are paid starvation
wages, and that the mail bags, the
product OF q contract. are made in the
New York prisons by convict labor.
-phe-matter has been recognized here
by the Federation OF Labor as OF sutii-
cient gravity to require official inquiry,
and request TO that effect from the
officials OF the District Federation was
presented by Senator Kyle to-day.
The repair shop is under the immedi-
ate supervision OF Assistant PostmRs-
ter General Nelson. who has shown
some temper and good deal OF cool in
difference over the Developments, re-
ceivIng the appeal for reform OF his
methods with the remark that he could
get all the workers he wanted at the
prices paid, and declaring that II those
now employed in the shops did not want
to continue at work, they could quit.
The establishment referred to is de-
nominated here as the government
sweatshop, an opprobrtum which Il
seems TO well deserve. There Is an ad-
dItlonal charge that certain officials
have disposed OF old and worthless
mail sacks and have failed to turn in
This. Senator Kyle declared, was
quite suficlent OF Itself TO demand an
investigation, and he hoped there would
be no objection offered.
Mr.. Wilson'S term In the Office has
been 30 brief that he Is not charged
with originating the methods OF the
swentshop. nor In II believed that he
knew heretofore of the existence OF the
grounds for the grave accusations mnde
against his suboriinRtes, The most
that he Is criticised for Is for not caus-
ing an investigation on his own nc-
count as soon us the charges were made
public and thus giving the assistant
postmaster general the opportunity to
dIsprove them. II that Is possible.
Coming so soon after the develop
mentH concerning the comprehensive
''spotter" system employed In the de-
partment, alleged by discharged en-
ployes II begins TO look rs though tho
postoIllce portfolio is becoming hot TO
the touch. and may leave blisters on
somebody's hands.