 |
| Garment factory. |
FACTORY
INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Sweat
Shops Abundant in the Large Cities—A Remedy.
State Factory Inspector Daniel O'Leary has
completed his report for the year 1896.
The report shows a total of 27,425 inspections for the year, an increase of
6,240 over the previous year, the places inspected including manufactories,
bakeshops, mines and mining plants. In the establishments visited there are
reported employed 537,702 people, 159,226 of whom are women, of which number
53,997 are under 21 years of age. There are 12,100 children over 14 and under
16 years of age. There were 84 children under 14 years found employed as
compared with 211 for 1895, and only 185 illiterate children as compared with
310 for 1895.
Up to November 30, 1896, the department
received reports from the various health boards showing that 2,550 certificates
had been granted. The amended law is working beneficially for those children
whom it was designed to protect. The
inspector recommends a further reduction of the hours of labor for women under
21 and youths under 18 to 58 hours per week.
Fire escapes receive considerable attention.
Practical advice is offered to both the employer and the employee on the
intelligent use of this means of escape from high buildings in case of fire.
The sweat shop and sweaters are treated at
length in the report, which says in part:
"Nearly all ready-made clothing, no matter
of what grade, is now made up in sweat shops. The contractors, who operate
fairly good shops as a rule do not complete the garments but parcel out the
minor parts to sub-contractors or to families who do the work in tenement or
dwelling houses at prices which after long hours of toil will produce only a
few cents. The condition of the clothing trade in New York city in worse to-day
than ever before. We find men going to the employer and offering to work two or
three hours extra if only given a chance to work, thus voluntarily subjecting
themselves to a condition of slavery. Right here is where all the evils of the
sweating system come in, for all complaints are based upon the amount of wages
earned, and the laws of the state prescribe no remedy which can be applied at
this point.
"There are combinations of
manufacturers and combinations of contractors formed for the purpose of
protecting their own interests, but those who do the work, and judging from the
compensation offered, need protection the most, do not seem to understand the
need of combination in order to protect their interests. Whenever the sweating
system is spoken of, New York city is pointed out as the city where the system
best thrives and prospers, and where it can be seen to advantage by any
humanely disposed person who seeks light on the subject of human misery. But
this is a real mistake, which perhaps is accounted for by the fact that the
department of factory inspection of New York state has never ceased in its
efforts to expose and keep before the public gaze the awful conditions found
existing among the people working in the sweating localities in that city, and
while surrounding conditions in other localities may differ somewhat from those
found in New York city, yet the evils of the sweating system are there present
in as forceful a manner as in New York, for they are produced by the very same
causes—the 'jewing' down process or piece price system.
"The same conditions prevail in
Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse. Philadelphia, Boston. Chicago, San Francisco,
Hartford, Newark, St. Louis, St Paul and every other large center of population
and especially in cities or localities where the manufacture of clothing is
carried on to any extent."
The report says that congress can to a very
large degree solve the problem of abolishing the evils of the sweating system
by more stringent emigration laws, and by a tax system which would force the
workers out of tenements and into shop buildings where the conditions could be
fully controlled by state legislation.
PAID THE PENALTY.
JOHN
HOCH ELECTROCUTED.
Lewis
County Murderer was Game to the Last. He Walked Quietly to the Chair.
AUBURN, N. Y., Jan. 20.—John Hoch was
successfully executed in the electric chair at 12:08 P. M. to-day.
The madness produced by unrequited
affections is supposed to be the motive that incited John Hoch to shoot Minnie
Ingersoll at Martinsburg near Lowville, Lewis county, July 10, 1895. His
attentions were repugnant to her and her relatives forbade him the house.
Providing himself with a Winchester rifle he then lay in wait for her in a
stable where she was in the habit of milking the cows. As she passed the window
Hoch fired with deadly aim, the ball taking effect in her left breast and
penetrating the heart. She died without a word.
An inoffensive old man named Nicholas Strife
was close behind her carrying a pail of milk, and Hoch also sent a bullet from
his Winchester crashing through his left arm and side, but not touching a vital
spot. The man took to his heels, screaming for help. Hock fled, but was apprehended
in the farm house of a relative, where he attempted suicide by shooting when
his pursuers overhauled him.
Will
Exhibit for a Week.
The Cortland Athletic Association have made
arrangements for an exhibition in their hall of an Edison cinograthoscope. This
wonderful machine has been before the public under a great many names during its
perfection, but now a continuous entertainment can be given lasting for hours,
the room is darkened and a roll of film containing photographs of an
approaching train or any other moving scene is drawn before a stereoptican,
producing a life size view on the screen of all that transpires. For instance,
a train is seen to run into the depot, stop, take water and every move of the
passengers as they get off and on is distinctly shown. You can almost hear
their laughter and conversation as they move about.
Another scene is the schute at Long Branch. Here
you see it start with its load of people, move down the incline, disappear
beneath the water for a moment and then appear with everybody puffing and
blowing and wiping water from the head and eyes.
There are enough of these views given to
make a continuous entertainment each evening from 8 to 10:30 o'clock. The
machine will be here one week and the first exhibition will be given to-morrow
evening. Admission 10 cents.
PAGE
FOUR—EDITORIALS.
The
Tariff Hearings.
It is now nearly eight years since the beautiful
city of Washington has been visited by so goodly a number of highly patriotic
citizens, if we leave out of our calculation the members of the two houses of
Congress, as are at present making it their Mecca.
It is truly a touching spectacle to see these
patriots flocking to the city, from which emanates all of our national laws, unmindful
of the fatigue or expense of journeying, forgetful of self and self-interest, remembering
only that their beloved country is in distress and needs more revenue, and its
people suffering.
Day after day they kneel in the temple of
Protection and their petitions go up to the powers above them for help, and
that they may be able to bear the responsibility of the highest duty that may
be placed upon them.
Let no one question the patriotism of these,
who pray so fervently for country and honor; let no one doubt the unselfishness
of men who ask for themselves, nothing. For the people, for country and the
people only, do they pray. They do not ask for protection for the interests
which they represent, because they hope to profit by it, not at all, but only
that they may give employment
to the idle. Eight years ago the object of this same class of unselfish and patriotic citizens was that they
might make glad the hearts of their workmen by a liberal increase in rate of
wages paid. Now it is not so much a question of wages as work, for surely the
man who has no work at all should rejoice if employment is offered him, and not
stop to question what the rate of wages is to be.
The patriots will doubtless go home, filled
with greater love for the country that protects them than they had before, their
smile will be broad and bland.
The people? Well when these patriots smile
the people should smile also, for prosperity begins with them, and percolates
down through them, to all below.
Eight years ago they promised to the
workingmen higher wages, to the farmers a greater demand for their products and
consequently higher prices. What did they give them, what was the result? Almost
the immediate result, after the McKinley bill became a law, was cuts in the
rate of wages in many of the highest protected and most profitable industries in
the country, and lock outs and strikes were more frequent than they had been for
a long time, and the workingmen waited in vain for the increase in wages promised
them.
What about the farmers? A review of the
prices of the two leading articles of export, cotton and wheat, reveals the
following facts: The McKinley bill went into effect March 1st, 1890 and remained
in force until August 28th, 1894. The average price of wheat for the year 1890
was 89 1/4 cents. In 1892 the average price had fallen to 80 1/2 cents. In 1893
to less than 72 1/4 cents, and in 1894 to 57 3/4 cents. The decline in the
price of wheat during the life of the McKinley bill was 32 cents per bushel or
35 per cent in value.
What was the effect on cotton? The average
price of cotton for the year 1890 was 10 99-100 cents per pound, in 1891 the
average price was 8 62-100 cents, in 1892 8 34-100
cents and in 1894 the average price fell to 6 94-100 cents. Loss in value of
cotton during the time the McKinley bill was in force 3 96-100 cents per pound
or 38 per cent. That was the way the tariff legislation of our Republican
friends worked before, how will it work this time? We still have faith to
believe, however, that Abraham Lincoln was right when he said that. "You
can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the
time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
 |
| Clarence Lexow. |
Advance
of the Motor Vehicle.
Motor vehicles ("automotives" is
the name recommended tor them) have begun to be a matter for serious reflection
in England. Major Flood Page, who lectured about them the other day before the
London Chamber of Commerce, speculated as to the results of their introduction,
and named as among the industries that would be affected "petroleum,
secondary batter manufacturers, mechanical engineers, and allied trades; coach,
car, wagon, and carriage builders, and allied trades; agriculture in many
branches, railway companies and, last but by no means least, the war department
of every country in the world." He expects them as they grow common to
interfere more or less with trades connected with omnibusses, cabs, and horses,
but to provide more work for men than they displace, just as railways did when
they drove out coaches. He believes that in the country districts of England
they will do what canals have done in Holland, and make communication so easy
that the rush of perishable produce to market will be greatly quickened and
increased. They will change the whole face of war, he thinks, and be used to
move guns and do all transport work.
In Paris automotives are in use; in London
they are in sight; in New York they are still only in prospect. An automotive
fire-truck, to be run by a compressed air gas engine, has been devised by a
Brooklyn man, and has come so near real existence as to have its picture in the
newspapers. It is a terrific looking creation, and as an engine of destruction
it seems fit to make a cable car on a curve seem like a child's toy—From
Harper’s Weekly.
Resolutions.
A special meeting of the Cortland County
Medical society was hold at the office of Dr. F. W. Higgins last Friday
afternoon immediately after the funeral of Dr. A. J. White and the following
memorial tribute to Dr. White was unanimously adopted:
"The shadows on the dial fall,
But who can tell
How soon a cloud may end them all,
And life as well."
Dr. Asa J. White departed this life Jan. 12,
1897, at noon, aged 58 years. Thus in a sentence is recorded the ending of years
of fruitful energy. The deceased passed away at his home on Port Watson-st.
suddenly and unexpectedly, thus again giving occasion for the Cortland County
Medical society to convene in special meeting and adopt the following
resolutions:
WHEREAS, Dr. Asa J. White, an honored member
of this society, who up to the time immediately preceding his decease was
actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, has passed away.
Resolved, That in the death of Dr. White this society sustains the loss of one of
its most active and successful members; that his energy, independence of
character, faithfulness and bon homme endeared him to those he daily met
in the home and at the bedside.
Resolved, That the
members of this society recognize in this afflicting disposition of Providence
a personal loss to each of them, the departure from this life of a friend.
Resolved, That we
tender to the family of our deceased fellow member our sympathy, trusting that
a loving remembrance is left to console for the loss of a husband and father.
Resolved, That copies
of these resolutions be furnished the local press and recorded on the minutes
of our society, also that an engrossed copy be tendered the family of the
deceased.
H. T. DANA,
H. C HENDRICK,
S. J. SORNBERGER,
Committee.
HERE AND
THERE.
Regents' examinations will be held in the
Central school next week.
Taxes will now be received at J. A. Jayne's
shoe store, No. 5 Main St., on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Hoyt's ''A Trip to Chinatown'' drew a good
audience at the opera house Tuesday evening. It was a first class company.
The burlesque "Blue Beard" at the
opera house last evening was a very pleasant entertainment. They carry a number
of first class specialty artists.
Andrews' east-side cash meat market on Elm-st.
opened Tuesday morning for the first time. The stock includes groceries, bake
stuffs and confectionery.
Our thanks are extended to Factory Inspector
Daniel O'Leary for a bound copy of the Tenth Annual Report of Factory Inspectors
of the State of New York.
The January circular of Joiner's Business college
shows that the institution is giving first-class satisfaction to all its pupils
and that its graduates are much in demand when they enter business circles.
Mrs. Rose A. Pulford, who is the proprietor
of a drug store in Marathon, has taken the examination before the state board
of pharmacy and recently received notice that she had successfully passed and
is entitled to act as a pharmacist. There are very few lady pharmacists in the
state.
Mrs. Jane Pope was taken violently ill while
returning to her home about two and one-half miles from town on the McLean road
last week Thursday afternoon. Her grand-daughter, Mrs. C. Lamont, drove rapidly
home and Dr. Reese, who was summoned, pronounced it a stroke of apoplexy. She
passed away at 10 o'clock that night. The funeral services were held Sunday at
1 o'clock.
Our correspondents will all confer a mutual
favor by signing their own name to every communication, not for publication but
that the new management of the DEMOCRAT may become acquainted with them. Mr.
Jones knew every one and carried the names in his mind, but we have now two
calls for stationery and as no name was signed are unable to send it, not
knowing to whom it should go.
No comments:
Post a Comment