New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-01
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
UNITED CARTMEN'S ASSOCIATION
ADDRESS by MAYOR WOOD.

A meeting of the United Cartmen's Protective AZ
socation was held last evening at No. l7s Wooster
street. for the purpose Of listening to an address from
the Hon. Fernando Wood As the call for the meeting
stated that there would be ono politics or religion
connected with it, some curiosity was manifested by the
caren to learn he nature of the feast to be set before
them snd liberal attendance was present al lhe up
pointed time. 49,
The meeting was called to order by Mr. A. f. Dater,
Chairman of the Association. song, written ny W.T.
A. j. Fl. Dnganne was then sung by the assem6lage
TO the air of the " Star Spanged Banner. Mr.. W ood
next introduced by the Chairman ana received
with tumultuous aPplaufe-tbree cheers and q Tiger
being given for Fernando Wood in style that dehes
description.
After long and elaborate survey Of the progress OF
the present age the special greatness OF the western
hemisphere, the American Republic, the Empire state
and the City of New-York, the woudrous power OF
commerce to advance mankind, the Importance OF the
cartmen connected with the success Of our mercan
tile interests Mr. WoOD arrived at the salient portion
of his address, which we give in his own language
Comparing the chances of the merchants to enrich
themselves with those Of the men who carried their
merchandise and sustained the heat and labor Of the
day, be said:
But, my friends, you are placed at disadvantage 10
this wise. Your rates of fare carriage are fired by
ar You not permitted under the law, to receive
beyond certain price within given distance for GER
tain classes of goods. When you transcend these
rates Of prices you liable to be ned-possibiy TO
have your licenses taken away from you. Now the
hardship il, and have hesitation in expressing it
SUCH that these rates are not in keeping with the
tmes-that 49, for instance, If from any extraornnary
combination of circumstances, houae rent and the Dec
essary prices Of living for yourselves and your horses
increased, your rates are the same. While you can
afford to carry certain class of goods certain dis
lance for certain sum- when your own expenses ere
of certain character you cannot afford to do 30 when
these expenses are doubled. ' No. Sir! Appliance.
Now, claim that capital and labor should go hand in
hand. hold that labor is essential to capital and cap
IL. LII ekakc h
occupation what it may Is entitled to receive just
comp saton for that labor 10 entitled TO receive N
accordance with the state of the times and expenses
of living, certainly entitled TO receive enough to pay
his expenses and is entitled also, man, to receive
enough pay, and provide for old age. Applause
Within twenty years the rates of carmens wages have
been raised but twice Tue first established rates upon
record made in 1899. These rates eomprehended
all the ordinary classes Of goods that were then cared
in the CITY. In l8i5 these rates were revised and
terially altered. Now those Of old myeef
will remember that in 1887 there a
tremendous revolution in this city. In 1885, the whole
business part of the city from Wall street to the East
River and all below that, was totally destroyed by
fire. was myself in business at the time. That was
the immediate commencement OF a severe panic and
great destituton and want. A great commercial rev.
oution followed. Everything had been pressed up
previous TO that time; every man was getting rich
except laboriDg The merchant, the banker, the
shipowner and capitalist, were amassing great for
tunes. Garments rates had remained stationary but
underlined In 1899 when everything was down
when articles of living of the cheapest kind
when you could buy beef for six cents pound and
-four for g so per barrel when you could get house
rent for 3I per cent of what it ia to-day; then the
merchants demanded a reduction of the carmens
rates. multiplication was made TO the Common Council
The carmen had little or no employment, and were
DESTROYS of doing anything by which they could sustain
themselves and their families. Consequently the reduced
rates thus for the first time established by law
They remained in that way stationary until l6i5
In 1S45, these rates revised but very little i'm
proved They remained go until 1856, when, during
the term of my previous Mayoraly, they were In. /
creased about 90 per the original rates of
1899. Now, whether these rates eompensating
whether they establish relative right in pro portion TO
the pense of subsistence il is not for me to say My
own removal from active mercantile life and means OF
obtaining knowledge these various subjects pToba-
bly, does not entte me to give opinion. will say,
however that where oats and hay have nearly doubled
their value to US consumers within few years and
where rents and clothing, and marketing, and all the
creased it ia a very obvious ~.
of meeting these increased expenditures should
be increased also. Applause.
At the conclusion of Mr. Woods remarks, three
cheers were given for the Mayor, after which
the CHAIRMAN stated that Mr. w. had promised to
pound the design and Of the Association to its
members at some future time. Votes of thanks were
rendered to both the Mayor and the reporters and the
meeting adjourned.