The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-23

ing the merchants having come to resolution not to
pay higher amount of wages than twelve shilDgs day
net for laborers and fourteen vngs rggers after
Thursday 2lst inst anAhs having recorded their
resolution not to work for less than thirteen and fifteen
shilngs the important question was which party would
receds As early six O'Clock in the morning all the
old hands the docks apparently ready to work.
but also in mood Of determined resolve The sevedores
were there and upon their applying to gang the gene
Iai reply was What Is your wages 20 or Have you
heard resolutions ~ report was very prevalent to
the effect that the boss stevedores determined to
strike themselves for advance and this seemed to
have given additional determination to the men The
shpowner perhaps dreadng the result fusion Of the
twonterests, held meeting and determined to adhere
the now new rate adopted fixed by them at previous
meetings AT the same time, II thought necessary
to take measures OF precsuton for ensurng the public
peace Accordingly Captain Morgan late of The victoria
and now connected with the firm of Griswold & Go
waited upon the Mayor and made statement TO him,
Wnch caufed his Honor to resolve of the
police reenforcem Five hundred officers were
called In pom the different wards and aggree aed in de-
scbments OF thirty and forty points along the East
and North rivers The stevedores seemed anxious at
eight O'clock to employ the usual aud upon their
hands and colored men The old men did not interfere
and the newly employed went to work Many packets,
and some steamers loading for Mobile New Orleans and
Savannah had the work done by the Of the
so far other duties would permit This seemed to be
the state Of affairs early in the morning, along
THE EAST RIVER
The members Of a vigilance commit tee appointed the
In order to enforce the observance of law order
and temperance travelled from the Battery up Clinton
street in execution OF this duty This advice was
accompanied in each by recommending parties
not to go to work and upon this being given to party
about to be empyed foot OF Pine street by Mesrs
Griswold Co.. long conversation cnsued, but dis
turbance took place An alteration Of pretty angry
nature observed the Wall street pier and
passes made by the at each other but
our reporter could learn actual hight took place
was any person wounded in any manner particularly
seriously to have eye gougedr out. stevedore,
in Depeyster street threw pail Of water upon
man was merely in jest AMI the strikers went away
lest the circumstance would be looked upon q a
riot 1t is said that many of the leading firms de.
ermned to advertise for Germans in order to have the
work DONE and house had many forty employed
on Wednesday and Thursday but we understand they
discontinued at early hour Of yesterday The
strikers retired from the piers pretty neraly at two
o'clock in the afternoon and thing quiet and
likely to remain At the hours Of four and six In the
evening there nothing to be but order aud
At pier 81 and foot of Clinton street. hands
hired at rate of pay for the hour, and tor half
day the old workmen did not interfere AT pier n
sevedoe In conversation with knot strikers and
said that they unable to meet advance In the
and thas hsy a
profuson. He also recommended reduction of their
scale Of dietary to molasses and cake They asked
how long they could handle railroad iron. in hold,
when living upon this - and the parties separated
laughing The men insist that with the term Of days
they employed the nature Of their work the high
average Of sickness which from it, and the scale Of
city rents, their demand is moderate and the
chants say thty pay quite enough and that they owe
dare fail to fulfill This seems to be the question
Al nine o'clock at night the city was peaceabe upon
the East river side The report OF the day from the
THE NORTH RIVER SIDE
On this side of the city there has been disturbance
whatever large number of the strikers employed
but the maj GRITTY of them not; they will not for
less than thirteen shlipgs net that is exclusive of the
head stevedore's fee, which is shilling The mer-
chants willing to give them thirteen shngs per day,
including the head stevedore fee The strikers will not
work for less than they and the merchants will not
advance their wages; go here is pretty predcament
The merchants that if they raised the wages the
strikers would be better paid in proportion than any
other class Of The strikers in this quarter of the
city ale resolved not to resort to any violence for by
middle classes Their intention is not to work unless
they receive the advance thereby compelling the
merchants IN course OF time to acqucsce to them In
the different station houses In those wards that con-
guous to the liver stationed patoons Of police to
be ready In case OF an emergency
THE MEETING IN THE EVENING.
meeting Of the committee appointed to act for the
held in Depeyster street. in the evening when
the following card adopted and sent for pub
LEGATION Although it arrived at late hour give it
at length in order that the public may have oppor
tunity ofudging the question dpassionarey and folly
JAMES GORDON Bennett, ESQ -
SirIn order that the public may understand our po
stion and that correct estimate may be formed of the
merits of the respectfully solicit the publication
in the columns of the HERALD Of plain statement Of
facts in relation to this matter Many persons imagine
that the wages which demand viz 13s per day. net
is btant that the merchants have shown great
day. Such persons sure have correct notion
OF the nature OF our employment If they had they
would we satisfied take different view Of the mat
ter. IT will not be denied that the most hard
working class of men in the community. We gene
rally exposed to the inclemenoy of the weather
fined In the dungeon hold of ship from morning to-
night, when employed. Many Of number, from the
hazard attending the business meet with accidents
which lay them up for weeks and months and often re
suit in the loss Of life Ours very precarous
tain sort of employment there is nothing constant
steady about 1T cannot at the highest average
than four days work in week from years end years
end The larger number, say With the confidence of
men who know they speaking the truth do not
rage much bullet it 60 Mt that and find ourselves
at the end Of the week, with little dollar day in
our pockets that is ut The wages demand -Four days
at lss per day is So So with rents 70 to 80 cent
higher now than they four five years ago, and
provisions of all kinds proportionaby advanced in
price We leave it to the community at large,
and to the merchants themselves, whether this
sum is even sufficient for fsmily to exist upon
We are mostly married men, having families; say
there is average of five persons in each family,
they place Of residence and cannot get any place
fit TO live in for less than dollars per month
many more) That's per week deduct that
from $500 the average weekly at the rate claimed
and you will have left for the support Of fsmy of five
persons the enormous sum Of 81 IS Is this too much
10 our utUanu unreafOnhDle! Is bne COnIuct OF the
merchants of New York. marked with that liberality
which should distinguish just and humane employers
when they absolutely refuse to pay such remuneration
for our labor will barely enable to keep body and
soul together We have, many amongst us devoted the
best OF days to their services hay0 enabled them
TO enlarge their capital and extend their business We
of it. but cannot but feel that there is want
both ofustce and humanity in casting old, capable and
welltred servants off for the paltry of shilling
per dsy-insgpifcant our employers but fmportance
to 1t IL bad policy too; the merchants must lose by
1t as well as They that the damage which
in IF
olkmen will be much than the difference in the
vnges paid to them and that which demand amounts
tcsetting that consideration aside their labor will at
all events cost than because Elk men, under
standing the business and capable of doing it, will do
work in given time than nine unacq uaintcd
with 1t do But those they say will learn; admit
lose by them while they In process OF training but
In six or twelve months time they work well old
hands--they will be qualified by that time. Well, sup
pofe they do by the end Of that time they too will