The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-08
CASH PAYMENTS.
Anti Store Order Bill Passed
in the Assembly by a
Unanimous Vote.
SPEAKER WATKINSADDREsS
Measure Sent to the Senate
For Action on the Amend
ment Today.
Especial to .rhe Jersey city News."l

TRENTON, March s, 1s99.-An unusual
compliment was paid Speaker Watkins
yesterday afternoon. Every member
present voted for a measure he advocated.
AT the opening of the session he turned
the chair over to Mr.. Squire and took
the floor to advocate the passage of
Senator Stokes anti-store order bill,
which provided that all employers shall
pay their employees at least every two
weeks and in legal money of the United
States.
81 nave been requested to speak for the
bill, began Mr.. Watkins, although I
think the very title of the measure would
be sufficient to cause every member to
vote for it. 1t provides that every per-
son, firm, or company, or corporation or
ganized under the general corporation act
shall pay their employees at least once
every two weeks, and shall pay them in
cash. They can pay, them as much Of
tener as they please. 1t seems TRANCE
that in the year 1899 there should be any
necessity for such a bill, but the fact is,
there is a necessity for it.
THE southern part of New Jersey has
long been noted as the home of the glass
blowing industry. In fact, the industry
has been carried on to such an extent
in souther New Jersey that 1t has made
the State the grandest glass-produeing
State in the United States. That indus
try requires a peculiar style of skill. A
few years ago the n1en engaged in the
industry were protected by their union,
and they made good wages. BY some
means or other their order was thrown
down, the company store began it's exist
ence. in q small way at first, not sufh-
cient alarming to develop any 1egfsla-
ton or to show the necessity for any
legislation. But it grew, until now 1t
has amassed such strength that no NAL
working for these corporations dare ask
for anything excepting a store order book
in payment for his labor. These manu-
| facturers issue a book to their employees
at the very outset. 1t is issued in
amounts from 50 cents upward, and is
not transferable. AS soon as a man en-
| tiers the employ of one of the companies,
he is given one of these books and when-
| ever he wants a suit of clothes to cover
| his back, his wife wants n clothing
| whatever, whenever he wants any food
| or coal or even rent, he is required to
| AXE one. of these books to his employer,
and instead of having money turned over
to him the employer punches the book,
lust as a railway conductor punches a
ticket.
sThat system is kept up for an entire
! blast. beginning about the first of Sep
TENDER and ending the first of June. Dur
| ing all that time the only semblance or
money that the glass worker sees is the
| store order book. At the end of the blast
| he receives whatever is due him in cash.
| The company keeps his account. both as
| tn the amount he is entitled to in pay and
the amount he owes for order books, ana
F.! nave known of cases where at the emu
| of the blast men received but sixty cents
as a balance. This system is very COM
| mon in my own county of Gloucester ana
in the counties of Cumberland and Salem.
IT also exists In other parts OF the state.
| Mr.. QUAD is trying in another way 10
| get at the very same trouble in Middle
| sex county. This bill will cover all the
| trouble. 1t will compel the manufacturer,
| the corporation, the employer OF any one
| else employing mechanics to pay their
| men at least every two weeks, and by
| that means give them the right they
| should have as American citizens to zeal
| wherever they see fit.
81 am not standing here as a dema-
~gogue," Mr.. Watkins said, in concluding.
81 believe that 80 out of every 100 eorpo-
| rations in the State pay their men every
week. The bill is aimed especially at the
evil that exists in South Jersey. The Dill
has been amended in the House for the
purpose of exempting from its provisions
the agricultural classes. Their money is
paid to them usually in September, and
it would be a great hindrance to them
~ have to pay their help in accordance
with the provisions Of this bill, ana
on Notion Of Minority Leader Murphy, II
WIS sent at once to the Senate for ac-
ton upon the amendment, Ihe - up PPef
f',rther action was deferred until tomor-
row morning.