New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-14
TIE RIGGERs, STRIKE.

For the past day or two the business portion
of the City has been excited by strike
among that class of wOrkmen tamliiarly known
as ong-shOre men, embracing those who are
engaged in rigging, loading and unloading, and
in performing various other work upon ships in
port. For some time past dissatisfaction with
their wages has existed among them, and the
riggers addressed the merchants who employ
them through the public prints asking an in
crease In some instances this has been granted
but in most withheld, until on Monday strike
was commenced This seems to have been rather
spontaneous affair, not conducted by any
general organization, and accordingly not so
unanimous and universal as ordinary attempts
Of the kind. This made it necessary for the
chief movers in the matter to make the circuit
of the wharves on Monday and Tuesday, in
order personally to see and converse with such
men as remained at work, and induce them TO
join in the strike. OF course, persons who
were having ships discharged, or loaded, object
ed to these visitors while the latter, not accus-
toned to affairs beyond the routine Of their
ordinary employment, went blunderngy to
work. This, together with the heated feeling
natural on both sides in such proceedings, led
TO alterations and squabbles, so, that on Tues
day, serious riot was unprecedented, and the
Police were out in force Some disturbances
took place, but nothing Of much gravity. Yes
terday there was no difficulty whatever, the
employers generally having agreed to theterms
sidered at an end.
One of the demands of the workmen was
that the bosses, or middlemen who engage
them and oversee their labor, should no longer
be allowed to levy tax upon their wages as
they have done hitherto. From each mans
daily pay, the practice has been for the boss to
deduct one shilling for himself This has
been done, rs it has been understood by
way Of commission, aud to cover his response
bility toward the employer The wOrkmen
contend that this is unjust; that they ought
themselves to receive the entire amount of the
wages paid by the employer, and that if the
services Of the boss are worth more than is al
lowed him, the deficiency should be settled be-
tween him and the employer, and not BY max
ing levy on their earnings.
We believe that they are right in this. We
cannot see the justice of the tax thus laid on
them. The shipping merchants of New Orkare
generally high minded and generous men, who
will ever be just to any class Of aborers in their
employ What has been objected to has been
the mode taken to make them accede to the
proposed changes They object to being forced
into them, and that the more decidedly because
OF the riOtOus appearances Of Monday and
TUESDAY. Stil even this objection they have
not pressed, but with liberal kindness have
overlooked the unpleasant circumstances of tho
case, ard by generally aeceeding to the wishes
Of the wOrkmcn have removed every cause 0r
difficulty.
We have no friendship for strikes, anl hOld
that wOrkmen ere more apt to injure them
serves than to gain their point BY re's,stns to
them We have ever counseled an )saer and
peaceable mode OF settling and avoiding such
disputes. But on he other haol it must bs
remembered that the workmeo have often no
other means OF gaining attention and exam
ipstiop Tor their demands; in the pr. case
the public appeal of the riggcfs had not
produced any general action ,.mong the Nm
rloycrs, While TO individual workmen, with