New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-11

SIR: Your Remarks" in THB TRIBUNE Of
this morning relative TO tho proposed increase OF
printer wages ss determined upon at the last meeting
Of the Printers Union. and the communication which
you publish Herewith have surprised many who have
long understood your principles and know you moro
intimately than through the columns OF your paper
They may also be sad-in justice to those BY whom Jon
think you will DO sgg-ieved provided you shall have To
pay their desired advance In wsges-to open the sub
ec Of the Justice or Injustice Of the proposed increase
In notice Of your correspondents assertions would
say oven less than you have that
the signature OF "A Journeyman Printer may have
been mistake for ID 10 impossible TO suppose that any
ourneymsn printer could have fallen into the mistake
II writing such letter. strange exhibition OF phi
lanthropic dsintcresedness indeed would 1t be under
any other explanation.
That technical subject may be Of general interest,"
perhaps you will allow TO state that the present ~
biographical Union established In 1850 Is not one OF
those associations Of workingmen. suddenly formod
under the influence Of some temporary depression OF
prices carrying their demands 10 exorbtance and In
Justice from momentsry advantage nor have they IN
any upon change OF prices except
upon careful consideration and due notice being given
to employers That they have always held on their list
Of members the far larger portion Of the best printers OF
the city,hc most skful workmen and the most intel
ngsnt mems fact Of which you ore perhaps better
aware than any other editor in this city.
Tho Soale Of Prices" "a 1t il styled was before
the war; on basis Of Is cents per thousand eus oom
position on a morning newspaper. The price since that
time has been twice advancedfrst from 80 TO 40 and
very soon again 10 81 The rate now demanded Is on
basis Of 60 cents per thousand for morning newspaper
work. or 81 cents for evening newspaper work.
which Is done In the daytime. The ratio OF
prices adopted allows employers as well the option OF
employing men TO work by tho week. ssoen hours 70
constitute days work-siSho Of them 10 ee done al n'Sh
and the fact Of working Sunday and sunday night
(Which Is very justly Objectionable feature to many
printers not accustomed ol SewYork looseness) not
considered at alla the rate Of only e26 per week Can
you Mr.. Editor specify how much less than this can
be made by respectable cartnan. longshoreman. or
fshmonger, who rarely works his ten hours per day.
and that by daylight and is compelled TO violate no
religious principle il he has any by working on the
Sabbath
Ii we've idle TO ask you to renembert would be cif
6cult TO suppose Won could forget--the great rregu
larity which is almost necessarily attendant upon morn
ing Newspaper work. which excludes from such work
tho hundreds OF printers who prefer to work by day at
much less rates and which does Its work in time upon
the strongest constitutions
Perhaps Mr.. Greeley, can also remembe making
speech In Tanmany Hail In 1852 at printers meeting
at which lie said that for his part he would be
willing 10 give 80 cents per thousand. If he does not
remember H. there are compositors working for him
now who do remember it 1t were trite TO AK
comparison Of the price current Of all articles man Of
family needs now 10 what il then 1t would also
be unreasonable 10 expect that the ratio should
be maintained in the payment Of wages. We all know
that these are times In which all must and should bear
part OF the National burdens. and do 80 cheerfuly
with a stronger faith In more hStln2 prosperity
hereafter But do you not well know. /, 1t not one OF
limited reading and narrow mind who does not know.
that the advantages nenly all with capital in the
deciding and apporioning OF how that burden shall be
borne II comes down slowly but surely 10 those who
do labor and produce at the first. You make the old
av@ment that Labor Is worth what II will command.
DO you In the same spirit assert that Government Sc
curites arr worth what they will command os do you
rather count II duty and patriotism to make them
conmand as high price possible that good cause
may be sustained' Do you count Jso that principles
are worth what they will command Has 1t not always
been a distinctive feature Of THR TmpUN. to assist
Labor everywhere to command the most advantageous
rates feasible to advocate is interests. aud assert ts
dgniiyf Has exalted devotion. Mr.. Editor TO the
great objects for which it is known you are devoting
your lfo blinded yor Dyes to the direct application OF
those principles in your own printinghouse For
you have waived the question OF the worth Of the labor
required and base your position on the ground that you
can get men do your work at such prices 80 you see
proper to psy them for their services.
As the proposals which Jon may receive nom those
st present in your employ to work at the old rates. 1t
but justice to them to state thus publicly thOt they are
ignoran. Of any information which you may have in re-
gard to their derection to their principles to Justify
ron In Offering them such proposal
Most unhappy. also. do deem your protes. against
mi. 4. evident from the fact that cannot and
average shsn four days work Per week but The
rs.rdsr Of the time al their pisces with substituted
a. ti,t large bin one week followed ny email tho
q xesk or r-rhsps at ALL Your foreman, whom you
.,m ss hiend no lees than You value workman,
any dsuts.s,ed printer soqaAa,ss With Viz saassss, vii
a.syIs ysu Of Tia