Evening star., 1898-02-19

able conditions surrounding labor the same
as In New England
He was followed by ME-. J.H Walker OF
worcester. Mass, in a speech favorins the
Then Col. James l. Orr of Piedmon, q
C.. addressed the committee in opposition
to the bill.
Col. Orr pointed out the great confusion
TO which such an opening for specfal legis-
lation would lead He SAID that while we
all know that the measure is directed at the
cotton mills OF the south II Nevertheless
opened up the way for demands to be made
upoii congress In every sort Of manufac-
turing interest. II this was going 10 be at
tempted why should other interests be
omitted? Why not protect the farmer
against the encroachments OF mercantile
of labor. He believed that southern ad-
vantage consisted more in modest methods
OF living, modest salaries and closer econo.
my than In any advantage Of labor condi-
tons In the south He believed that all
things considered, the southern mill opera-
tive received more net money Tor labor than
those in the east.
Captain Elliosn A, Smythe OF Pelzer next
spoke He thought that the alleged advan-
tages OF the south in cotton manufacture
were largely overestimated and that much
had been said on the subject in New Eng
land Tor the purpose Of constraining legisla-
tlon IN the Massachusetts legislature and
to influence Massachusetts labor to accent
the proposed reduction in wages now pend
ing there He said that the southern cot.
ton mill companies contributed much to the
comfort and to promote the advantage and
advancement of the employe in other ways
than In wages paid. He said that ali the
south asked was to be let alone II per-
mitted she would work out her own saliva.
her people -
Mr.. ID. A. Tompkins of Charlotte. N. C
emphasized the remarks of Capt Smyth
relating to the extent of misstatement of
a ana,sA -
OF New England had formerly thought that
the south could not successfully compete
at an In cotton manufactures. Then there
was period IA which il was held In New
England that the south could make some
grades of coarse goods. but could not, with
her inefficient labor. go on to fine goods
In both these opinions the people of New
england had been mistaken. So the pres
ent ALARM about the breaking up of New
England mills was without a reasonable
foundation. He gave the names of a num-
per per OF New England mills which had in
1897 paid 10 to - per cent dividends He
stated that the cotton goods trade In gen.
eral was not In a prosperous condition. He
believed that the trouble came. not SO much
from competition Of the two sections as
from unsatisfactory general trade condi-
tions. He believed that the remedy lay in
the direction of improving domestic trade
conditions by revision of the currency sys-
tenn. He thought that the mills of this
country ought to cooperate to bring about
the further export OF manufactured goods
in place of the raw cotton.
Col William Elliott of South Carolina
went with the members to call on President
Mckinley TO pay their respects.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, Massachusetts said he
represented the mill operatives OF New
England: characterized the eleven-hour n
day employment a crime, stigmatized
all above per cent in the 10 per cent diyt-
dends. which the manufacturers stated the
mills paid. as robbery OF the operatives,
and said that with equal conditions OF
hours, the wage problem would regulate
itself. Representative Lowering Urged the
New England mills were not making money
and the wage reduction was necessary.
Representative Walker OF Massachusetts
also spoke.