This petition is from two thousand citizens of West Virginia. laboring men. setting out the fact that the contractors in Government employment in the construction of works on the Great Kanawha River. in West Virginia. are employing Italians and other European pauper labor to the exclusion of American labor. The petitioners pray Congress to investigate the matter and pass such a law as will prevent the contract system upon such improvements carried on by the General Government. and that such work may be prosecuted directly by the Government. thereby securing to the American people the right to furnish skilled and unskilled labor upon their own public improvements. I move that the petition be referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.
Identified stereotypes
Italians and other Europeans are described as 'pauper labor' taking jobs from American workers.