New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-14
INDUSTRIAL COMBINATIONS
VIEWS OF EX-MAYoR ABRAM S. HEWITT
ON TRUSTS
RELATIONS BETWEEN CAPITAL AND LABOR DIS.
cUssED IN A LETTER TO THE IN
DUsTRIAL COMMISSION.

RELATIONS BETWEEN CAPITAL AND LABOR DIS
cUssED IN A LETTER TO THE IN
DUsTRIAL COMMISSION.
Washington. April ls.-The Industrial Commits
sion recently requested ex-Mayor Abram s. Hewitt
Of New-York TO appear before II and give his Views
on industrial questions In letter of response Mr.
Hewitt writes. in part. follows:
am an old man practically retired from public
ests as still require attention The condition Of my
health does not admit OF absence from home.
was taken by Congressional committee in 1878. OF
which / was the chairman. You doubtless are
mittee The failure to make such repor, was due
TO the conclusion reached by all the members of the
sy made from the testimony w aSf SSao given
before the c9 9b 9ses This testimony disclosed
cross-examined invariably contradicted themselves.
the ns no which they had given that
ject. No human being could possibly evolve from
conclnsons whatever as to legislation in reference
to the relations Of capital ana labor except pos
s sO good and would probaby be mschieVoSs a'
ey hressa TO an the
Industrial business of the country, which is ca
sssement This is precisely the direction which
ana seems to me 10 oe IN mace the
ance with natural law. if there be natural laws
Nv own view Is that when industry has been sum
GENTLY centralized and the ownership widely diff
fused through the distribution of shares the work
man will gradually acquire these shares and con-
trol the property which they represent. In fact,
cannot see any other outcome for the present
movement toward the consolidation of industrial
Enterprises than the transfer of the control to
those who actually engaged in the work Of
operation. How far legislation can be made TO
promote this desirable end am unable either TO
nredict or suggest AS a general proposition re-
gard legislative interference with capital and labor
as pernicious. Women and children may properly
be protected from abuse. but think individual in
terests are best safeguarded by compelling the
parties concerned to settle their own differences
and decide upon their own interests The cor
eether advantageous to society. l do not doubt
that with time spread OF knowledge through tech
ncal education and the general Improvement IN the
intelligence OF men. who under our modern cond-
tions OF Industrial life have ceased to be machines
and have become operators of machinery. the
standard Of self-respect. OF comfort and or happi
ness will be permanently raised.
There question, however. with which So
ciety will probably have to deal and that is ;he In
crease Of population. l forbear TO discuss tfis
question for obvious reasons but II is quite evil
more danger from redundant population than from
any other cause The time. however, is far distant
when this question will become Of any practical
Importance although in some countries In the
world 1t presses for solution to-day In France the
standard Of comfort has been raised by the control
which the people voluntarily TO have exer-
cised in regard to the increase of population.
Whether the moral standard in France has been
degraded by this any other cause do not pre-
tend 10 Judge This is question for moralists.
and It may become question for legislators