TEAMSTER: RAHWAY.-" I have never studied the labor questions."

STONE CUTTER: NEWARK" Foreign contract labor has injured us. We want cheaper fare between Newark and New York, and transfer tickets on the Orange street line. The condition of our drinking water is very bad."

HATTERS: PATERSON." Co-operation and education and, I think, government aid to enable people to reach the Western lands and thus relieve our cities from their surplus labor, would help to improve our condition. We are allowing ourselves to be robbed by the middlemen. In Paterson there are ten thousand families of working people, who earn in good times an average of $500 a year. That would make about $5,000,000 for all; and of this not less than nine per cent. is taken out of their pockets and put into those of the men who step in between producer and consumer. By co-operation we could save all that-enough to give four hundred and fifty a house at $1,000. In twenty-two years every family could be supplied with one. Owning their own houses, they could afford to save six dollars per month, and thus greatly increase the accumulated wealth of the nation as well as their own." NEWARK.—“ Abolish all State Prison work and have our shops in better and cleaner condition." 'We have incompetent and tyrannical foremen who make unnecessary trouble."

ORANGE. "I believe in less legislation for corporations and more for the people, and in the best educational facilities for our children. Totally opposed to convict contract labor, but want a protective tariff on all manufactured goods which can be produced in this country. Arbitration when practicable. Let there be organization of labor, but no strikes when they can be avoided. The child labor law should be enforced to the fullest extent." "If men could have steady employment and work by the day instead of on piece-work, and for only eight hours, they would be healthier and live longer, which is everybody's aim." "Reduce the number of years for which patent rights can be granted."

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ORANGE VALLEY.-"If the duty were taken off on raw material, we would be better off, because we could then compete with foreign countries." "Imported labor injures us because the foreigners work for reduced wages." It keeps us idle." "It makes too many hands for the work that is to be done." "It has ruined some of our shops by cutting the prices." "It has apparently had no effect." 'It has helped to pull down wages and made employment uncertain."

COTTON AND WOOLEN MILLS EMPLOYES: CAMDEN." The mills should not work overtime." Give us free reading rooms and shorter hours."

MILLVILLE." We will not be better off until our wages are largely increased. More time for ourselves." "Our wages are too low, and something should be done for the women, who have hard work to get a living." "A great deal must yet be done before women are protected in their rights."

PATERSON." Let the government aid the people in settling the public lands." "Eight hours." An apprentice law."

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RAHWAY." We are very poor." "Intellectually and morally, fair."

GLOUCESTER CITY." Two years ago the weavers in the gingham mills received 63 cents a cut of forty-five yards each, 20 cents being a beam. This was changed to 19 cents per beam, or forty-seven yards to a cut, for which they received 60 cents. A year ago a further reduction of 10 per cent. was made; this was followed by another of 15 per cent. on November 1st. The loom fixers, who formerly received $13.50, were reduced in the same ratio, and began a strike which has become general. The strikers demand that the prices before the last reduction of 15 per cent. be restored."

NEWARK." Co-operation, fewer hours of labor and universal organization." SEWING MACHINE EMPLOYES: ELIZABETH." Foreign labor cannot injure us, because even the Chinese would not work any cheaper." "Competition has reduced wages." There is great need of some kind of evening classes in connection with large factories. The best ship building yards in Scotland have them. Prizes are given for improvement. Industrial exhibitions might also be held every year." "Nationalization of railways, telegraphs, &c.; abolition of the banking system." More organization." "Some of the contractors in our works hire foreign labor and run out skilled labor." "Nearly all the work is done by machinery, and after a month's work a man will be as useful as he could with twenty years' experience." The sanitary arrangements are bad, especially as to the position of the water closets, which cause malaria and other ills. The Polish immigrants injure some of the departments." "Our drinking water is unfit to be drunk. The dust from the emery grinding department pollutes our air and we have to breathe it sometimes for days together. Ventilators should be put up. The greatest of evils is the steam heating." Let us have co operation, organization and shorter time for work." 'Our drinking water is unfit

for animals."

PAINTERS: PATERSON." Many of the foreigners work for $1 a day." ORANGE. "We are overrun with green hands from Castle Garden." NEW BRUNSWICK.—" It is almost impossible to give an account of how much time we lose, as we have rain, cold weather, dust and everything to contend against."

PRINTERS: JERSEY CITY." The State printing should be done by the State and not given to employers of 'scabs.' Boys should not be allowed in a printing office, for they are injuring our trade, as they work for little or nothing." "Job printing is injured by amateurs, or boys, who buy a cheap hand press and do cheap work." "More school room for our children." "" Cheap labor from the West is the only kind

that affects us." "Foreign labor does not materially injure us."

NEWARK. Do away with the 'subbing' business and piece work." "Rum should be kept out of printers' reach."

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PATERSON. Limit the amount of land which a single person can hold, and no one to be allowed to purchase unless he has declared his intention of citizenship; government ownership of telegraphs, railroads and telephones; interest to be gradually abolished Let the people go into co-operative enterprises and government assist deserving persons to settle on public lands; eight hours for a legal day's work; enforcement of labor laws and abolishment of the national banking system."

POTTERS: TRENTON." Teach the workingmen to pull together; stop overtime and bring up the young better." "I would like to do away with the piece-price system; I believe it is an injury to my fellow laborers." "Immigration of foreign labor has hurt us." "The promotion of good morals among the working classes is an important work. Employers are often thoughtless in that respect, but need only a healthy public sentiment to be brought to bear upon them. During an experience of twenty years, I never knew a single instance where the outhouses used by the employes, male and female, were located with any regard to privacy. They are only separate in name. These buildings should be placed on different parts of the premises, and as widely apart as possible. It would help morality a good deal."

CHINA DECORATOR: TRENTON.-" Nearly all foremen do well in wages, which rate from $18 to $60 per week. One foreman, being asked what he did for his wages: 'Don't I grind it out of the hands; that is what I am paid for.' The kilnman can

never know in the morning at what hour his day's work will be finished; it may be at 6 P. M., and it may not be until long after midnight. In the busy season, which is in the fall and early winter, to work until ten o'clock at night, four nights per week, is nothing unusual for women and girls.”

BRICKLAYER: NEW BRUNSWICK "The men are poor, and only about twenty per cent. own their own houses." "Some of us cannot write our own names."

JERSEY CITY.-" Trade schools."

HOD CARRIER: NEWARK." It is a very dangerous occupation. We should have a law to protect us."

BOILER MAKER: ELIZABETH.-" The compulsory education act is a dead letter. Weekly payments; store books are a sort of robbery." "Land ownership should be limited to actual cultivation of the soil."

RUBBER WORKERS: NEW BRUNSWICK.-" Weekly payments and restriction of immigration." "Our condition is pretty fair." "Some are as poor as church mice." "The working class should organize for their protection, and by a unity of action seek to redress their grievances. Arbitration and legislation in their interest, so far as justice demands, will accomplish much." "Weekly payment of wages would be a God send and worth ten per cent. increase."

ENGINEER: JERSEY CITY. "All stationary engineers should be required to pass an examination."

CONDUCTOR.- -" Railroad employes, as a class, are moral."

BRAKEMAN." It is very inconvenient to wait a month for wages, and sometimes longer."

FIREMEN."We are as bright as other laborers."

PEARL BUTTON MAKERS: NEWARK.-"Stop importation by a high tariff." "At present we must compete with Austrian convicts, and also with Vienna families, who work from 15 to 17 hours daily. If I had bought my own clothes I could not have lived at all." The trade is in a demoralized condition. Many are out of work and spend half their time on the streets."

SHOEMAKER: CAMDEN.-"We should teach our children the respectability of labor, and not to seek clerkship and the like. Many a good mechanic has been spoiled by putting him in a place for which he is not fitted." "Too little attention is paid to our physical condition." "I am not a grumbler, but take a very hopeful view of the future." "A home of my own and an eight hour day."

PATERSON.-"Abolish prison labor, which takes a good deal of work from the

shoemakers."

VINELAND —“Our organization, though not as perfect as it should be, is of great benefit." "We need a workingman's institute." Laws to protect labor in all its branches; let it say what shall be the lowest price for a day's work."

NEWARK" Our condition here is fair, but it would be improved by organization." "So far as wages are concerned I have nothing to complain of, but it is the want of employment that leaves me and others in the streets for days together. Eight hours are long enough. Most workmen now have only time to get up, go to the shop and go to bed again." Better sanitary regulations in our factories."

ORANGE -"No convict labor. Eight hours for a day. Railroad fare should be cheaper, for the poor man cannot afford to buy a commuter's ticket. Enforce our health laws."

BLACKSMITH: NEWARK.-" Skilled labor ought to be paid by the hour."

BURLINGTON.-"A law regulating the apprentice system would benefit the trade." "The wage system must give way to the co-operation system."

BRIDGETON." The prohibitory system would be a great benefit."

CAMDEN "Low-priced labor does not make low-priced goods; the quality must be taken into consideration."

NEW BRUNSWICK- -"In a small town like this a temperance crusade would do more good than anything else."

CARPENTER: ORANGE.-"An apprenticeship law, which would compel boys to learn for a few years before going out to compete with the older men. Immigration only can benefit us." "Eight hours both in winter and summer would be better for us all-employer and employed." We must have less hours or fewer apprentice boys."

JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS" Lower rent and more schools."

ELIZABETH—"A man who first goes to work in our shop has to wait six weeks for pay. Let us have weekly payments."

TAILOR: NEW BRUNSWICK.-"Good, clean and well-ventilated workshops are a benefit, physically."

PATERSON." The house work system makes us work thirteen hours daily; in the busy seasons we often work twenty hours. This would not be the case in work-shops; nor would contagious diseases be so liable to be disseminated." "Shorter hours and more wages. We must pay for our own light and fuel. Regular work shops would prevent a great deal of disease." "Organization." "Abolish tenement-house work." BAKER: JERSEY CITY." The boss bakers go to Castle Garden for help. A shop should not be in a damp cellar. The sewer pipes should not run through the bake house. More factory inspectors."

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BARBER: JERSEY CITY." We are as bad off as the street car conductors. The only time I see my children is at meals." "Italian cheap labor injures our trade." SATCHEL MAKER: NEWARK.-"Want the socialistic platform adopted, or the great mass will always be slaves of the few rich." "We work the greater part of the year eight hours daily."

PLUMBER: NEWARK.-" Physically, we are generally healthy. We want better sanitary regulations and cheaper house rent." Tenement-houses should have better sanitary regulations."

JAPANNER: NEWARK.-"Sub-contract work should be abolished." "Fewer hours and more ventilation."

HARNESSMAKER: NEWARK.-"Total abolition of convict labor." The prices paid are low, and only nine months' work. A man with a family cannot get along." "Prevent boys from coming into the factory."

CLERK NEWARK-"To be a clothing clerk is a hardship. The rent here is very high. A clerk gets $10 and $12 and up to $16 per week, although some of the inside ring receive a percentage. All, including the poorly-paid saleslady, have to be on their feet from 8 A. M. to 9 P M., and on Saturdays till 11 P. M."

MINER: PORT ORAM" Foreign labor has not affected us directly."

BRASS FINISHER: NEWARK.-"Most foreigners work for one-third to one-half less than a man who has learned his trade in this country."

PATERSON." The deaths in our trade occur between twenty-three and thirty." "Regulate immigration."

PLASTERER: PATERSON.-"The condition of the people here is bad." "Do away with contract work."

"

First enforce the present labor laws."

PAPER STAINER: NEW BRUNSWICK.—“ Less hours of daily work." FELTER: CRANFORD DRIVER: JERSEY CITY." Close stores up early and thus give us poor drivers less work."

SHIPPING CLERK: NEWARK.-"The financial condition of the file workers is very poor, their wages being low, and most of them have families. Physically, they are not up to the mark. The same, intellectually and morally. The passage of a law to enforce weekly payments would be a blessing; so would co-operative stores and factories. Trade and technical schools and compulsory education would benefit future workingmen."

TELEGRAPH LINEMAN: NEWARK -"Workmen who must go to New York daily, if they can save enough money, can get a yearly commutation ticket for $55, and save at least $17 on what they would have to pay if they bought one every month. We have to go to New York to work and pay our railroad fare out of our wages, which are but $2 to $2.50 per day. That is robbery. We ought not be required to pay more than ten cents each way. We cannot even save enough ($6) a month to get a commutation ticket."

DRESSMAKER: VINELAND." When the rights of women are as fully recognized as those of men, their condition will be greatly improved."

STEAMFITTER: JERSEY CITY.-"Organization is what we require. Without it, men and women will remain in ignorance."

BUTCHER: PATERSON.-"Shorter hours would greatly benefit our trade."

METAL SPINNER: NEW BRUNSWICK.-"All in good health and intelligent; as for the morals, I cannot say. My fellow workmen have all got a little money. Think co-operation would help us more than anything else."

CHAIRMAKER: NEWARK.-"It should be made a criminal offense for employers to impose as condition of employment that their workmen shall not belong to labor organizations. Coin 4,000,000 in silver per month, issue silver certificates and provide for the retirement of national bank notes."

ELECTRIC LIGHT APPARATUS: NEWARK.-" The wages for men vary from $1.50 to $2. Toolmakers get from $3 to $3.50 per day. Boys are paid from $1 to $7 weekly." DYE HOUSE HELPER: PASSAIC.-" Abolish all overtime and piece-work." PEN FINISHER: CAMDEN.-"We want justice and not charity, and then we can help ourselves."

JEWELER: CAMDEN.-"I could get along before the war, making anywhere from $15 to $20 weekly. Now I get but $6 or $7."

HOSTLER: PASSAIC.-"Shorter hours would be a good thing. The majority of hostlers at the hotels in Passaic county work for their board and for whatever may be given to them in 'tips.''

SOLDERER: NEW BRUNSWICK." The foreigners run us down in our prices. We are all poor in pocket and some can hardly read their own names. If we had less hours to work, we would have a better chance to educate ourselves and our children."

POLISHER (FRUIT JAR TRIMMINGS): NEW BRUNSWICK.-" Fair physically and morally, but intellectually and financially poor. Enforcement of an eight hour law would do us good. The State should furnish us with good child-labor inspectors. Free libraries, open every day, would decrease crime and drinking. Our condition is getting better, but very slowly."