The times., 1899-05-07
THE sWEATsHoP SYSTEM.
The Subject Discussed Before the In
dustriRl Com iss sion.

Henry White, of New York, Secretary of
the National Garment Workers Associa-
| ton of America, testified before
the Industrial Commission yesterday
regarding the sweatshops of New
York and the condition of the gar
ment workers OF the country gem
orally. The present association is the out
| growth of the Clothing Cutters Associa-
ton, organized in 1919. The present men,
| bership is 10000, one-fourth of whom are
women. In enumerating the causes which
| led to the sweating system of manufacture
| ing clothing Mr.. White said it was due,
/ first, to the contract system; second, be-
cause clothing could be manufactured as
cheaply in small shops as in large ones;
third, because Of unrestricted immigra-
ton, and, fourth, to the disorganized state
of the workers.
The factory laws of New York were su-
perior to those Of any other State, in Mr..
Whites opinion, but the factory inspect
ors, especially in New York city, he char
acterized as q class OF cheap politicians In
his position as secretary Of the Garment
Workers Association he came in contact
with the factory inspectors of the various
districts. They were in most instances
graduated saloonkeepers." as Mr.. White
put 1t, having obtained their official posi-
tions through their manipulation OF ward
politics while in the liquor business. Their
ignorance, even as 10 what they were in
tended TO accomplish through their inspec-
ton, was surprising. To the average cloth
ing factory employer the sanitary. license,
and factory inspector all looked alike, and,
from force OF habit, IS bill would be
thrust into the hands of the inspector the
moment a complaint was made. This, he
said, would usually settle all difficulty, and
also rendered the excellent laws practical
ly of no avail.
Commissioner Kennedy asked the witness
If New York's reform Governor had not
benefited these conditions. He replied:
THE Governor means we'll, and all that,
but he cannot supervise the workings OF
the departments of the State sufficiently to
remedy these evils II was not TO any
mans credit to accept an inspectorship in
New York, and for that reason radical
change would have to be made before a
higher standard of excellence and manhood
could be obtained to fill the positions. The
recent amendments to the factory law
which increased the number of inspectors
Mr.. White thought, would accomplish lit
tie good. II also increased the scope of
the work, and the additional inspectors
would be detailed TO industries not in as
bad a condition as those now under sur
veillance.
Some startling revelations have recently
been made to the public in New York city
as to where the igh-priced clothing
houses had their garments made. 1t Is a
fact, the witness declared. that the price
of suit of clothes ordered to be made OF
Fifth Avenue tailor did not signify any
thing as to where it would be made. and il
was also fact that the better grade of
clothing was made in the most squalid
tenements. In this connection the witness
called attention to the usefulness of the
union label, and said that its guarantee of
cleanliness and fair dealing was beginning
to be appreciated by the public The gar
ment workers are perhaps harder TO keep
united in union than any other industry,
said Mr.. White, and for this reason prog
ress in their ameIioratinn ie ,In,y