The Washington times., 1912-03-08
HOUSE COMMITTEE
WILL ORDER PROBE
OF TEXTILE STRIKE
Investigation to Be Exten-
Sive and From Three
~ Angles.

Following the taking of testimony for
six days, during which conflicting stories
were told regarding the conditions in
the strike-ridden mill city of Lawrence,
Mass, the members OF the Rules Com
mittee OF the House, have determined
to order a Federal inquiry from three
definite angles.
The committee, II is understood, will
draft a resolution of it's own to be sub
stitutcd for the Wilson and Berger res
olutions demanding an investigation. It
has not yet been determined whether
the investigation shall be made by a
standing or select committee of the
House.
probably will be next week, will be a
searching one with particular reference
to the following phases of the strike
situation:
Charges hat The police OF Lawrence
prevented the interstate movement of
children whose parents sought to send
them to other cities where they might
he cared for. Involved in this allcga-
brutality Of the police in preventing
the children from boarding train at
the Lawrence depot.
The wages paid bv the American
WOOlen Company, known as the Nv ool
trust, TO its operatives at Lawrence
labor.
The stories of crueIties to which the
strikers swore they were subjected by
the police md state militia OF Law
renee. AID the refusal OF the authorities
10 permit parades accomplished Vir-
tnallY by placing the town under mar
tial law.
Wilson Speaks.
Hearings before the committee have
shown that a thorough House probe of
the whole Lawrence affair is urgent,
Chairman Wilson, of the Labor Com
mite, declared today. He said:
ut has been shown that the mill
workers are underpaid-are not re-
ceiving enough wages for even a rea-
sonable standard OF living-and that
they were deceived into continuing at
work until they received their first re-
duced pay, under the belief that there
would be no reduction in wages.
The testimony shows that the strik-
ers were Coolly mlsuscd and abused and
their constitutional rights invaded; that
restraint of trade have been violated
by the Lawrence authorities. and that
some constitutional rights have been
violated for which there is no remedy
now on the statute books.
''Further investigation by Congress OF
the entire situation is necessary to de-
vClop what Federal legislation is re.
ouired to conserve the rights grossly
denied the mill workers."
While the Rules Committee practically
concluded it's hearings on the Berger
and Wilson resolutions late yesterday
the socialist member of the House, who
is pleading the cause of the strikers, will
be given an opportunity to "sum up
before the committee takes final action
In view of the conflicting testimony
between the strikers and the city Off
Gals of Lawrence, Mr.. Berger will OFFER
to present still further testimony 70
uphold the stories of the strikers when
the investigation gets under way.
Mill Men Testify.
Representatives. of the mills who were
the last witnesses heard by the Rules
Committee in its preliminary probe, tes.
titled in substance that the average rate
of wages paid to mill workers in about
50 week. The mill representatives.
however, made no definite denlals OF
the charge of the workers that the wa
ter furnished by the mills was 50 warm
that 1t could not be used and that each
room had a "water Club,'' which pur-
chased ice and spring water at the CX-
penSe of the workers.
These mill representatives were re-
QuirCd to identify pay envelopes show
ing that many children and women
work tiftN-siX hours a week for wages
Of from 81 to Sc.