Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-01-21
CUGCENHE|M At
PROBE TELLS Of
PLANT REFORMS
Millionaire Smelling King
Tells About Conditions in
Plant Here Before ProberS
of Industrial Unrest.
JOHN EDWIN NEVINS
Omitted Press Staff Correspond

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
New York, Jan. 21:-Every work
er in the United States is entitled to
job and the government should
see that he gets it. AS a matter of
actual right the worker is entitled
in addition to sickness insurance, to
old age pensions, and above all to a
share in the profits resulting from
his labor.
This was the sentiment expressed
today by Daniel Guggenheim, mil
lionaire mining and smelter king, to
the federal industrial relations COM
mission in discussing industrial rela-
tions at his Perth Amboy plant
Guggenheim was an amazing witness,
so radical as matter of fact in GER
tain of his views as to cause audible
wonder from certain parts of the
audience as to whether he actually
meant it all
He openly characterized his own
views as socialistic, but insisted that
until some such plan is made the
fundamental law of the national in
dustrial unrest must continue. He
said he sympathized with the worker
who was envious because he saw so
much that he believed he should
have. The smelter king declared
that he favored trade unionism as a |
general proposition, although he
maintained the "open shop" in his |
own properties. But our doors are
always open to every employe who |
desires to be heard. We believe that |
the better we treat our employees the
better result we will have from their |
labor"
Because it was stated that his !
presence was needed in connection |
with the federal reserve board meet |
ing in Washington, j. P. Morgan was |
not interrogated by the Federal In |
dustrial Relations Commission today. |
1t was stated, however, that he will |
Ill ued later.
-sion plans to have him
Jaoob H. sehiHl sehaYl - } gane 2xs1 sffauhr h y
An interested spectator at todays
hearing was John d. Rockefeller,
Jr.. who Is under subpoena to testify
next Monday. Daniel Guggenhetm
was the first witness.
Insure Mems Lives.
HAS your company ever opposed
the adoption of compensation law?
asked Chairman Walsh.
mo" replied Mr. Guggenheim. 81
would not permit it. 1t is the busi-
ness Of our men to run the plants
and not to interfere with legislation.
At our Perth Amboy plant we are in
suring our mems lives as an expert
ment. We do this at our own ex-
pense and If the plan works out as we
expect we will make it universal. The
employe pays nothing for this tnsur-
ance. We have labor committee
made up of DR.. Neil William Loeb,
Jr., and two or three others. 1t was
created to bring about better rela-
tions between our company and It's
employees"
"You had a big strike at your New
Jersey plant in 1872 he was asked
Eyes sir"
WAS it not fact that at that
time the common laborers working in
your plant received only daily wage
Of s1.60?"
II cannot say"
"Did you know what your men
were being paid?"
II did not. When the strike came
/ sent Mr.. Willis r. Morse there to
cooperate with an investigator
named by Governor Wilson, and final
Iy the trouble was settled"
Does Not Know Pay of Men.
Mr.. Guggenheim said he did not
know what his laborers at the Perth
Amboy plant are being paid. Guggen-
helm denied that the majority Of his
employees at Perth Amboy are forced
to work twelve hours a day. His i'm
preston, he said, was that nearly all
the men work about eight hours a
day The plant works continuously
twenty-four hours day, but when
ever 1t is possible, Sunday work is
eliminated.
eve instruct our managers not to
permit our men to work longer than
is absolutely necessary, he said.
what do you believe should be
the standard rate for wages for day
laborers in New Jersey?"
81 could not answer that"
"Do you believe a man should
work twelve hours day?"
81 do not"
What has been the cause of the
strike at your Perth Amboy plant?'
High Cost of Living.
Generally speaking the high cost
CONTINUED on page 4)