Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-07-27
Interesting Evidence Before the
Industrial Commission.
PEEEsYLVANIA's CHEAP LABOR.

New York, July PLAT yesterdays
session of the subcommittee of the
United States Industrial commission
Roman Dobbler, chief of the boarding
inspectors of immigration at the barge
Office, testified that his experience was
that clerks coming to the United
States in the second cabin with $40 or
$50 were the first to become public
charges. On such lines as the North
German Lloyd, Cunard, American, An
Choir and White Star lines the number
of saloon passengers almost equaled
the arrivals in the steerage. In vessels
from Mediterranean ports, however
the steerage passengers greatly exceed
ed the other classes. Mormons, he said,
ALWAYS come on vessels of the Anchor
line from Glasgow, in the second cabin.
While 2,0S3 passengers came from
Italian ports in the steerage, only %
came as cabin passengers
Mr.. Dobbler said many persons came
in the second cabin in order to avoid
the rigid scrutiny at the barge office
He believed many of the new arrivals
had been coached as to their answers
to questions put to them here
William Weihe, of the contract labor
bureau, who was formerly president
of the AmaIgamated Association of
Iron and Steel Workers, said so per
cent of all the cheap labor coming
here, Sloyaks, Polaks and Russian
Poles, went to Pennsylvania, where
they not only worked on railroads and
in the mines, but entered into com
petition in the industrial centers in the
iron and glass works.
at has been shown, said Mr..
Weihe, 'that the companies give the
preference to foreigners, even when
skilled American workmen offer to
work for the same wages. In 1897 a
tin plate mill at Harrisburg brought
to this country two roll Turner's from
Wales at $35 and 30 week, respective
Iy We had the letters sent to these
men, in which these salaries were
promised. They we're written on the
companys letter head by the man
ager. The men came here and went to
work. We could not prove that the
president had authorized the manager
to hire the men, and as the manager
was a hired man the company could
not be prosecuted"
DIR. Egisto Rossi chief of the Ital-
ian bureau at the barge office. said his
bureau was supported by the italian
government. His government did not
encourage emigration to this country.
The bureau had been established here
to regulate the padrone system and for
the purpose of keeping a record of
Italian immigrants arriving in this
country.
DO you still regard Italian immi-
grants in this country as colonists?'
asked Chairman Smythe.
I'VE consider as colonists all Italians
who have not taken out naturalization
papers and notified the Italian govern
ment that they had renounced all
legiance to King Humbert"
I'VE have been informed that certain
Italian government officials are in
terested in sending contract laborers
to this country, and share the profits
with the padrone,' said Major Far
quhar.
II do not believe it possible" said
DIR. Rossi Il should like the names
and data American foremen, acting
for American contractors, have been
employing the methods of the padrone
since we have been able to repress the
operations of the latter"
Commissioner insolvency was called
and examined on several minor mat
tiers, and the Investigators then ad-
iourned to meet in Washington in
September.
Before the commission on Tuesday
Assistant immigration Commissioner
insolvency made this statement in
answer to questions:
eff by the padrone system said Mr..
McSweeney, lis meant that immi-
grants are controlled by certain bank
ers after they come here; that the
commissariat Is regulated by these
men: that the money of the immigrant
is sent back to Italy by these bankers
If that is what we consider the padrone
system, it still exists The system
reputed to have obtained years ago,
whereby the bankers induced these
men to come here, ! do not think any
longer exists, because there is no need
for it. They now come of their own
accord. Before they come they know
that by going to a certain banker they
will find employment. My impression
is that the Italian immigrants prefer
to be under the control of the pa
drone"