The times., 1899-09-22

A session Of the Industrial Commission
was held yesterday. the first since the
cessation Of the trust investigation last
week. Testimony concerning the bo5t and
shoe industry. from the workmen's stand
point. was given in the morning by Horace
N Eaton. Of Boston, Secretary Treasurer
of the Boot and Shosmakers' Union Of the
Unite1 States. and in the afternoon Will
liam Allen. of Brooklyn. presented some
interesting data On the subject Of immi-
grafton. The Commission expects 10 con-
TIME its sessions throughout the week,
r.. w. Sherman. of New York, being the
witness for today. Mr. Sherman is ex-
pected 10 inform the Commission in regard
TO manufacories.
Mr.. Eaton first took up the subject of
strikes. These movements he said, lave
bsen erratic, and without the sanction or
control OF the national union and failure
has attended most of such efforts
nstabie instance was the strike in Marl-
borough, Mass. where the men went back
10 work under worse conditions than when
they struck. During The course OF the
strike the men were anxious 10 submit
their case to The State board OF arbitration,
but the employers refused, and made an
alternative proposition that the difficulty
be left to the decision Of the ministers Of
the town. This the strikers refused. as it
was asesrta.ned that all the ministers,
with the exception or one, were prejudiced
against them.
Owing TO larger capitalization Of pants
keener composition. and the introduction OF
labor-ssviRg machinery, the witness said
that the wages Of the boot and shoe work
men are lower today than they We're ten
years ago The import duty cn Leather he
alleged as another reason for the lowering
OF wages. with the statement that the man
ufacturer generally manages TO get even on
this charge by taking it out Of the wages
OF his employees
in the shoe trade the middleman and
travelling sales agent have not as yet been
dispensed with, as has been the case in
some of the more closely organized indus
tries. and although there are several large
concerns which market their goods through
their O9n stores, the former is the usual
way Ct supplying the trade.
The shoe industry, according to MIR.
Eaton. dos net need q tariff 10 protect it.
On the contrary, the improved methods Of
manufacture IN this country have maae il
possible for American goods TO be sold
EIAuAAIAe III AN4Eitl l.lG4 EELS-
In references 10 the trust among marufac-
turers OF footwear that is bsing formed
al the present tine. according 10 reports.
1hes wi-nEss said ti.eI in the event il
should become fact, ii would doubtless
Close oae-hsh OF The factories now IL op-
Grafton il this country Ths present force
Of employees Is about 2l3.000. only about
,oDs-fIfih CT which is included in labor or
EsnizatiCaE-
In ths oDiaion OF the witness, the pres
enI system of dividing Up the work on a
pair OF shoes. SO thar II has to pass through
Il i2Ess z hundred hands before it is CON-
pletea. has done much to make organiza-
ticn among the laborars impossible, and te
discouLt the value Of mans labor By in
cspacitating him for all-round work The
extent 10 which child labor enters inc
the problem OF shosmaking was also dis
cussed rs ore OF the diseoar2ging features
OF the situation. In some cases the father
Of family would be discharged, and his
children employed in his stsad. the i'm
proved machinery making il possible &c
employ TIE child more proftably New
England shoe manufacturers were scored
heavily by the witness for fh-ir negligence
in looking after the well being OF their
employees, while the benefits of labor or
genizatiOns were emphasized.
hours Of daily labor from ten 10 six. and
suggested that this could be done By legis-
iatiol Consular inspection OF immigra-
1iOn al foreign ports was also suggested as
a means OF bettering the class Of work
men. he believed that cur present imnni-
grafton laws were largely inspired by the
owners OF steamship lines, and criticised
the pending Lodge bill, on this subject, as
not severe enough.
Mr. Allen, who concluded the testimony
for the day. is q specialist On economic
questions. and has made particular study
OF the immigration laws. and the effect
Of their operation on the wei being OF the
country. He believes IL the total restriction
of immigration, and said he did not adyo-
cate this from a labor point Ct view al
together. as there was a financial issue in
volved that had been generally overlooked
by the fnenciers CT the country. In this
connection he gave figures to show that in
the year 1893 there was $500 immigrants
in this country who were boarding up on
an average Of $3.50 year for the purpose
Ct sending il TO their old homes. This
amounted to q grand total OF S1lS 0e0, 600.
znd led the witness TO believe that il was
one OF the causes of the financial panic OF
that year The witness eaid he was aware
ahat MS position was not in accord with the
views OF the hnanciers Of the country. He
declared the Lodge immigration bill was
not restrictive enough. and expressed the
belief that the country would be in favor
OF an immigration law which was absolute
~ restrictive.