The times., 1899-09-24
A DEFENDER OF TRUSTS.
Testimony Of T. J. Schaffer, a Promi
nent Labor Leader.

1 nent Labor Leader.
President Theodore J. Schaffer, of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers OF the United States and resi-
dent of Pittsburg. was defender of trusts
before the Industrial Commission yester-
| day. He declared that from the laboring
mans point of view. as indicated by past
experience syndicates and combinations
are more satisfactory TO deal with than
individual operators. and that if they are
| kept under proper control through Fed
eral or State laws. strikes will ultimately
| be avoided and fair wages obtained. He
believes that combinations do not eliminate
competition
Mr.. Schaffer testified to a marked change
of sentiment between employers and en-
ployes during the last two years. Their
| interests are beginning to be looked on
as more identical than in the past, and
the change viii ultimately result in great
good. he said.
immigration is the one thing, in the
1 mind OF the witness, that needs attention
more than any other. The class of immi-
grants brought into the country as con-
| tract laborers, especially in the iron and
steel industry, is working injury in every
way, he said. and as a remedy he advo-
Gated a head tax besides requiring the
immigrant to stay in the country and i'm
posing an educational qualification on him.
Mr.. Schaffer explained at length the
sliding scale of wages in operation in his
line of business. which is fixed according
| TO the profits made by the manufacturers
on the finished products. He believes the
| system is the best possible arrangement
/ for the settlement of the wage question.
He advocated the incorporation under State
| or Federal laws of labor organizations.
| Compulsory arbitration Is not favored by
| the witness. The employment of women
| and girls in factories he also considers to
be detrimental beth to morals and health.
At the afternoon session of the Commis
sion Elliot b. Norris, President of the So
/ dus On. " Grange, testified as to the agri-
/ cultural conditions in his State and Incl
dentally throughout the country. Accord
| ing TO Mr. Norris. the agricultural outlook
Of the country is very bright. He was op-
timistic as TO the development Of a great
! European market for American cereals and
/ fruit, saying that the country is producing
now more than ii can consume and that
with no restrictive legislation products can
| be sold in the markets of Europe cheaper
| than home production there, and at the
same time with a handsome profit to the
American farmer.
Mr.. Norris did not favor monopolies and
/ said that anything in that line should be
! legislated against. He stated that there is
a great distinction, however, between com
binatinns of producers for self-protection
! and organized monopolies to control trade.
Dealing in futures is great disadvantage
| to the producer. according to the witness,
as 1t Influenced the price of produce solely
| for speculation.
At its meeting yesterday the Indus
trial Commission appointed number of
experts and assistants; the chief of these
was Prof. Edward Dana Durand, of the Le-
land Stanford Junior University, San Fran
cisco, Cal, who was selected to coIIate and
prepare the data forming the basis of the
] Commission final report TO Congress; to
| brief ii, make the synoptical plan, and gen.
orally assist in the economical and stats
/ tical work of the Commission. Professor
Durand viii do his work at the offices OF
/ the Commission in Washington and IS ex-
pected 10 begin his labors on the 1st OF
/ October
At the request of the subcommission on
i transportation Prof. S. III. Lindsay. OF the
University of Pennsylvania, at PhiladeI-
| phia, was appointed TO investigate and re-
/ port on the subject of railway labor. and
] Prof Joseph French johnson, of Lands
downe. Pa, was named to Investigate and
report or the subject of the construction
and hnanciering of American railroads
Thomas f. Turner. OF Canton Ohio, was
named as special agent TO investigate the
4 subject of alien labor, especially in the
railway and mining industries IN the
mountain and Pacific States. His work
( win be especially to ascertain the effect of
! Chinese labor upon labor and industry in
/ the West.
The Commission has decided 10 invite
/ the following witnesses to appear before
4 il between October and IL to give testi-
| mony on transportation problems. They
| will be expected 10 talk specially about
freight determinations. railway labor, and
/ inanciering:
Martin A. Knapp. Chairman Interstate
1 Commerce Commission: Charles A. Prouty,
of the Interstate Commerce Commission;
1 John Reagan. Texas railway commission;
! A. j. Vallandigham, st. Louis Traffic Bu-
reau; David Bingham. Produce Exchange,
: New York; Frank Neall shipper. Phila-
: delphia; n B. Kelly. Secretary Trades
League Philadelphia; John X. Cowen.
I President Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; NJ
( e. Ingalls,, President big Four" Cincin-
4 natl, Ohio; Albert b. Stickney, President
! Chicago and Great Western; S. r. Gala
way, President New York Central and Hud-
4 son River Railroad