Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-21
Local lntelligence~City Affairs, &c
THE WAGES OF I,ApoIIp

Inc vast deposites of gold found in California
ana Australia have materially affected the curren.
cy OF the civilized world, and are destined in the
opinion OF some of the ablest men of the sos
to bring about total revolution. Thi, seems to
10 the inevitable result of the causes nowIin oper-
alton. 1t is the part of wisdom, then. to eudeav
our so to shape our destinies as to harmopze with
causes over which we cannot, IN the nature of
'hngs exercise control, rather than to combat
Them Viewed in this light which we are per-
suaded Is the true one, we regard the recent de-
termination of the Proprietors of the Foupdries
and Machine shops in Baltimore, to resist the de-
minus OF their operatives for increased compensa.
'ion' Ms most unwise and unfortunate. Unwiss. be-
cause the increased cost of living forces the opera
tive to demand increased MEANS and unfortunate.
because both parties suffer by the misunderstand-
ing. The employer lsses the interest on the
capital invested 10 his business, whilst the opera
i've loses his weekly stipend.
We regard it as "fixed fact" that the wage.
Of labour are bound to go up, and employers
might as we'll accommodate themselves to this
complexion OF things once, for to this it mus
come at last. 1t follows as naturally as effects
follow causes, that as the standard of value be-
comes lessened, prices of property. of provisions
and OF wages, 60 up. Tons of gold have been
added during the past year to the standard Of
value-money he's therefore become plentiful,
and prices Of all descriptions of property have
steadily accelerated. And so long as the cause
exists, like effects will follow The whole merits
OF the question appear to to be compressed
within nutshell, and may be thus succintIy
stated Ii it costs mechanic now two-thirds
more to live than it cost him one year or two
years ago, is it reasonable to expect him to labor
tor the wages he then received ? No right
thinking man will hesitate to answer Mo-
The employers, then. ought to pay their work
men a fair huing price for their labour, if they
can afford to do so and if they cannot, then they
ought to shut up their shops and quit business
The example set by the employers in Norfolk.
il worthy of universal imitation; and that it may
serve as model, we proceed to state it here
On Monday evening last, large meeting of Me-
chanics and Laborers was held in Ashland Hall
for the purpose of taking into consideration the
best means Of obtaining an increase of wages to
the laboring classes, commensurate with the
ers present were several master mechanics, who
not only signifed their willingness to act prompt
ly and extend to those in their employment the
desired redress but spoke eloquently and ear
nesty in behalf of the objects of the meeting
generally This is the right .ssort of talk" and
this the spirit which ought always to actuate
employers when satisfied that the demands of
their employees enforced by reason and JUS,
tice.
BURaLART-A free fellow who calls himself
Scott Fleet, was arraigned before Alderman
Evans Saturday upon the charge of burgla rious-
ly entering the store of Morrelli & Cannpa on
Main street, between 2lst aud god streets, on
Thursday night last and stealing therefrom one
key butter, six hams and one shoulder bacon,
seven pair boots, together with drawer con-
tanning $l4 in money. The only evidence exist
ing againt the accused consisted of vague and inde
dnite suspicious, which may be thus summed up:
Mons Canapa deposed to the very internal fact that
on Thursday last, the ascused called at their store
tor the purpose OF procuring feed for his horses
Che being a teamster.) and spent about an hour,
looking around aud converting. The store was
closed as usual, Thursday night but upon going
there Friday morning, Nous. Canapa found, to
his indispensable establishment, the back door
open and the goods and money above enumera-
ted, gone! During the forenoon the accused
called at the store, when he was Informed of the
robbery, and Mons. Canapa incnes to the opinion
that when told of it, he looked confused, and re-
marked that he had stole nothing. As rain had
fallen the whole of Thursday night and as the
clothes of the accused we're wet Friday morn
ing as though he had been exposed to the rain
the whole night, Mons C. deduced therefrom
additional evidence Of his guilt and accordingly
applied for warrant of arrest. This, and this
alone, constituted all The evidence. Alderman
k,vans patiently heard it and then committed The
accused until Monday. under the hope that in
the meantime something more tangible might 90
devel oped
STEALING CnKE.-On Friday night the watch-
men arrested negro fellow who gave his name
as Lewis CottreI, because he had in possession
bag of coke which he had stolen from boat on
the Basin on which he was employed. On being
brought before the Mayor Saturday the dishon-
est fellow was ordered below for correction.
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.-A while man named
Henry Tucker was hauled up before Alderman
Evans Saturday and required to give security i'll
the sum of $50 for using abusive language day
or two previous towards Mordecai Cnrnel.
SINGULAR DEVICE OF RcBBER.-On Friday
evening last, about half past o'clock, while Mr..
r. f. Garlbarti, grocer, was seated costly in
back-room adjoining his store on Main, between
Gath and 25th streets, friend living opposite
called him aud impaired piece of intelli-
H.. cd tIa los. IA