The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-18
generally swindIea out of fifteen or twenty per cent.

/ would not have so much TO complain Of. While en-
ployed at his work, he is paid account, perhaps
four or five dollars week with the understanding
that the remainder shall be paid when the job is
done. At its completion, however, the employer in
stead of paying him according to agreement, dis
covers that the work is badly done although he may
have watched it during its progress and refuses to
| nav him. unless he consents to make whatever
reduction he may consider fair in the language Of
the trade, he must throw of SO much upon the
job" The workman having no other alternative,
unless he goes to law process which is too tedious
and expensive, is generally compelled to submit to
the imposition, and receive the amount offered. This
is about two thirds Of the price which was at first
agreed to- and about onehalf the real value of the
work. The system is called e" knocking down. and
is held in general detestation among honorable en-
ployers.
EFFECTS OF STRIKES AND EMIGRATION
ON THE CABINET MAKERS.
We do not know Of any class Of workmen in New
York who have been more injuriously affected by
strikes and emigration than the cabinet makers.
Twenty or thirty years ago an ordinary tradesman
could make ten or twelve dollars week, while at
present it is impossible for him to make more than
six or eight at the utmost. This is as we have said
attributable to the strike system which preva
lent among the cabinet makers previous to the tinan
cia revulson Of 1887 and to the large emigration Of
German tradesmen which followed, and which was
produced by the policy OF the employers. In the
year 1882 or $50 the manufacturers, having hitherto
been compelled to accede to the terms of the work
men, determined on adopting plan which they be-
leved would have the effect of preventing future
strikes and reducing the rate of wages They
caused an immense number of placards to be posted
up in the principal manufacturing towns of Ger
many, informing the cabinet makers that they
would receive better wages in the United
States, and particularly in New York No
names were signed TO these posters, and no guaran
tees were given, but the announcement was I'M
derstood to come from the employers in this city,
and we believe it was stated that good cabinet
makers could make three dollars a day. This was
shameful imposition, for the very highest wages
made at the time by the best workmen did not ex
coed fifteen dollars, while the average was about
ten. However, the Germans put full confidence in
it, and in few years after several hundred arrived
This produced an immediate and injurious effect
upon the American tradesmen, but the manufacture
ers themselves did not escape. The Germans were
content to work for less than cabinet makers
received because it was considerably more than
they could make at home, and in few years the
number was so augmented by emigration that they
were glad to make even five dollars week. The
competition among the workmen, however, extended
to the employers, the Germans who possessed Of
any pital entered the field against stores which had
before almost complete monopoly of the business,
and by employing their own countrymen, at re-
duced wages, were enabled to undersell them. The
cof fha fncfr had tn bp tn
enable them to contend with any degree of success
against the new corners, for the public would buy
only where they could get the cheapest articles.
Large numbers of cabinet makers still continue to
emgrate to this city although they hardly everreceive
their arrival more than four five dollars week.
These, however, are an inferior class of workmen,
who come from the small towns of Germany, and who
enter into contract with employers here work for
certain amount OF wages for one OF two years. The
employer sometimes visits the vessel before the pas
sengers are landed, engages all who willing to
work for two three dollars week and their board
if single, and, if married. for four fve without
board The emigrant contrasts this with what he
was formerly accustomed to work for, which was
much less, thinks he cannot do better, signs the
contract, which is legally binding, and finds,
peIbap, when too late, that his labor could
command one or two dollars per week more.
This class Of workmen employed by the week,
aid therein differ from the majority who paid &C
cording to the quality and amount of work they are
capable of doing.
Before the German cabinet makers were invited to
New York, the workmen here had been invariably
successful in their strikes but every movement of
the kind has since resulted in their defeat Attempts
made at different times to establish uniform
rate Of wages; the difference in the ability and skill
Of the men themselves however, rendered this i'm
possible, except in few individual instances. Five
six organized strikes have taken place within the
last twenty years, all OF which have been attended
with the most disastrous results TO the men. book
list Of prices was agreed to, and those who worl
ed under the rates set forth therein, degraded
in the esteem Of their associates, by whom they were
called foul and "black men. They were, in fact,
held in such bad repute that no fair was allowed
by the society to work in the shop with them.
We must not be understood as saying that all the
German cabinet makers who to this city are in
ferior workmen that they willing to work for
less than our own tradesmen can earn there are
some who cannot be surpassed for skill, and who
their arrival procure as good wages as the best.
These men know their own value and cannot be im-
posed upon. 1t occasionally happens too that the
contract is broken after few weeks by the work
man Ascending for parts unknown Such instan-
ces are very rare, however, for he is generally
content with his bargain. The cabinet makers who
come from Berlin, Vienna Paris, and other princi-
pal cities in Europe, are generally the best, bit
there is very little inducement for them to emgrae
as the rates here are not much higher than they re-
ceive at home. But small proportion of first class
\ IL.
command high wages there as here and if steady,
there is 10 lack Of employment for them.
Theayerage weekly rate ofwages paid in New York
about tW enty five years ago was nine dollars while the
average row is not more than six. This reduction,
as we have shown was produced mainly by emigra-
ton aud the system of striking, which compelled the
manufacturers to resort to some means in their
defence. It would have been much better, however,
6 tf,a ITO Ind ipod Tho