New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-12
TTFTHf r| Ly F 80
Theatrical Salaries,

presept so directly before the public to warrant its
particular examination. cannot be understood that
the relations between managers and their employees
remain matters Of purely private concern when legal
factions for tho settlement OF their disputes are IN
vogue when particular theatrical department. enters
into combined opposition against system OF pay
ment which It regards as unfair and when calls ARE
Issued In the name Of the theatrical community at
large Tor tho Immediate establishment Of protective
Reorganization The question of the remuneration Of mu
ccians is comparatively simple and can be easily
disposed Of That OF the remuneration Of actors and
actresses Is more serious and very properly opens Ger
ltain important topics for discussion The meeting
OF the profession which was held yesterday at the
Astor House may bring about some good results in this
direction although Its somewhat informal and rrespon
sible character naturally deferred considerable num
Der from participating in it, AS the d.st Indication oil
purpose on the part Of actors to secure unity OF their
interests II OF courso attracts attention. II any har.
monious course Of action should spring from it, other
more regular and more substantial conventions viii
, probably be attempted --a.,'I ..
Among the complaints brought BY actors against
managers the most particular appear to be that any
advance in salaries at oil proporonate to tho Increased
professional and personal expenses OF the past two
years peremporiy refused and that nm unfair scheme
for the sudden and premature discharge Of actors
that ofirrcgulary closing the season-has of late been
put into frequent practice In regard to the first OF
these It is stated that at the outbreak Of the war; the
New York managers generally insisted upon redue
ton Of salaries anticipating serious decline OF bnsi
ness aud that the actors acceaed hut that although.
contrary 20 expectation theatrical enterprises have
never been so profitable during the past few seasons
the salaries have not been restored to their orig
ina level In regard 10 tho second 1t Is shown pretty
clearly that at any period 10 the early Spring
when managers find they longer need the services
Of part Of their company they abruptly announce
the termination Of their season. discharge everybody
and rsengage such persons as are OF immediate use 10
them. always continuing performances without inter
r,p,ion Sometimes IL IL said. there Is not even the
pretense Of dseharging the entire company only the
: superauous few being shufied Of We can
, NOT speak positively, but We believe tiat these
the only two important points raised By actors
Admitting that they are correctly stated II does not
appear that q combination Of action Is the method
needed 10 adjust them. The technical theatrical sea-
son" Las legal limit and II that limt DO eyaded by
the caprice Of manager legal redress may easily be oh
taned. There is little occasion for uniting In moral
resistance TO Injurious practice the effects Of which
can DO legally repaired In every individual And
is difficult TO foreses the advantages OF association In
settling the veISd queston o. salaries. At the present
time really good actors of shall speak pres
ently) can obtain such salaries their services
fairly worth Many actors In Now York arc we'd salts
fcd with Whist they receive. II hardly Be ex.
poctsd that they wiz join organization for tho ben
sht OF the multitude Of tho dssattsncd And Jet 1t Is
u their IAhaenoe alone tAt would have weight with
u ayers Every actor over has his private estimate
OF his own value which may not be precisely Identical
with the estimate bis associates pat upon IT, and there
= would be little hope OF arranging to general sasfio
al ~ ha Aat al
At the meeting Of yesterday it first proposed that
tho managers be petitoned 10 raise their prices Of
admission IA very sensible suggestion but that Is
already under consideration at tile different theaters
more significant proposition was to this effect; that
THE members Of ths profession should again convene
agree upon minimum rate Of wages IA gold for each
line OF business ard refuse 20 accept anything below,
. that rate It Is difficult how any such arrange
nent can be carried into effect next season. Many
I engagements are already made. without reference TO
payment in gold and managers would therefore be
: independent Of attempt TO establish general rule OF
this kind Tho action OF this meeting however. was
quito Informal and the only business transacted
vas the appointment Of commi,e Of five 20 draw reso
utons etc. which will DO presented for the Judgment
1 Of tho next assembluge
There is one branch OF the subject Of theatrical pay
ments which appeals strongly than any other to
our sympsthies bit which not noticed yesterday,
and we spprehend Is not likely 10 receive much con.
sideraton from protective meetings held BY the profs
sion. This Ia the unjust and cruel dssipetion made
between actors aud distinction not wholly
pecuniary but which be looked at cny in its pc
cuuary phase 1t is almost Incredible fact that the
conditions under which women are engaged at New
Q York theaers reduces their payment TO ahont one
hall Of that resolved by men holding equal professional
rank. Suppose that particular actor Is paid eiO or
$50 week An actress Of exactly corresponding POSI-
ton is paid s25 600 But the difference Is greater
than would appear from this. The theatrical expenses
Of actor are merely nominal compared with those Of
an actress. His drsses not necessarily an impor
tant item; those Of an actress inevitably are More
over. his dresses are rule provided by the
sgers She Is compelled 10 provide all for herself A
statement has been published that the dresses Of
even vel paid actresses above one fourth Of
their regular salary, and wien il il considered that
managers grind down some Of their female employees
the miserable starvation wages Of ten do9rs week
and then force them into positions whero scfrespeot
compels them to array themselves becomingly can
only wonder how patience has been strained hong In
submitting to IT, silently. Complaints are sometimes
made In newspapers Of the infeority in drss Of subor
dinate actresses Whenever this inferiority oeca
stoned by the parsimony of managers. the actresses
should Justify themselves by openly stating the amount
OF their salaries They might thus bring their employ
ers to public shame IL they could not convert them TO
tprivate humanity. lH- s.T. 'a'm lt'l
This treatment is imposed upon women solely because
OF their weakness 10 resent resist It, They de-
MED the independence and the freedom Of action which