The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-20

ALL OR NONE
SAYS COOPER
Bridgeport Merchant informs
Committee That Business
Men Of Bridgeport Have
Nothing to Fear
Especial to the Farmer.)

Cooper of the Rowland Dry Goods
ly yesterday during the hearing before
the Labor committee on the resolution
which seeks TO investigate the mer-
camille establishments of Connecticut.
Mr.. Cooper said that if the commit
tee cared to do so he would welcome
them open handed to come to Bridge
port and visit the store which he rep
resented, and as far as he personally
was concerned he hoped that their
inspection would be as thorough as
they could make it, from the roof to
the basement
More than that, he knew no mer-
chant that was opposed to an investi-
cation providing that the inquiry was
made general and included other en-
ployers of labor, manufacturing as
well as mercantile establishments. He
said that the labor conditions in de-
partment stores depended a good deal
upon conditions in factories. If there
existed any substantial reasons for
probing into the conduct of the busi-
ness houses of this State. then let the
probing be complete and encompass
all establishments where women and
minors are employed.
Mr.. Cooper contended it was unfair
to make fish of one and flesh of an
other. He said the merchants asked
the Legislature not to become the ma
chinery for inflicting harm upon one
particular kind of business. He ia
vored the substitute resolution which
had been offered by Rev DR.. r. II.
Potter Of Hartford in behalf of the
Consumers League of Hartford which
broadened the scope of the original
resolution which many believe was in
1oTx
OF a labor difficulty in one store in
Hartford. The resolution follows:
''The Labor committee is hereby au-
thorized to appoint an Industrial COM
mission of five persons to investigate
the conditions of wage earning women
and children in the State of Connecti-
cut, who are employed in manufactur-
ing mercantile. contracting and pub
lie utility establishments, as to age,
physical condition, hours of employ
ment, homework, wages. responsible
ties, and competition with men, and
to report its findings and recommen-
dations to the General Assembly of
1913
"a sum not to exceed $1,000 per an
mum may be drawn from the State
treasury by said industrial commission
to pay the salary of q. secretary, and
the sum of $500 shall be appropriated
by the State to defray the cost of
travelling expenses
Senator Spellacy at the opening said
his resolution was aimed to prevent
conditions such as caused the recent
loss of life at the Triangle Shirtwaist
Company fire in New York and the
fire in New Jersey some months ago.
The Labor committee, he said, hasn't
time to go into the subject nor power
to subpoena witnesses, and employees
would be afraid to appear before it.
for fear of losing their places. The
special committee proposed would
have power to subpoena witnesses and
protect them and even have testimony
secret.
Senator Spellacy made some general
as to hours of employment,
in which he said women and minors
are made to work more than ten hours
a day and that conditions are unsafe
and unSanitary.
, Representing 81 dry goods stores of
Attorney Ralph Wells of
Hartford said his clients were agree
able to the substitute resolution intro
duced by DR.. Potter.
President Sol Sontheimer of the
hartford Central Labor Union opposed
carrying the matter over two years.
and also pitched into the Hartford
been presented, he said, but the Of
ficiai will not act because of biased
opinion. Violations of law have been
shown, he said, and employees Victim
lied, as he called it.
Senator Spellacy said the Hartford
strike had nothing to do with the in |
PRODUCTION of this resolution. If the
strike was settled now he would still |
favor the investigation
Representative Wilton OF New Lon |
don, member Of the board of media !
ton Standardization, suggested that |
that board had all the machinery for |
making the investigation desired, if |
the matter could be got before it.
The board had had nothing before it
since he was appointed by Governor |
Weeks, due in each case to the re-
;usal Of the strikers to arbitrate. and |
n his opinion professional agitation
was back of this effort to start an
Investigation.