The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-02
Pr,nters, Readers, AssociatIon,

A public meeting of printers readers was
held on the nth ult, at the Salisbury Hotel,
Fleet street, London, for the purpose of adopt
ing memorial to employers on certain points
connected with the hours OF employment and
rate OF wages of printers readers in the
metropolis. Mr.. Charles Dickens occupied the
chair.
The business of the meeting resolved itself
into TWO resolutiOns-one expressing the opinion
of the meeting that the services of the London
readers we're not adequately remunerated; and
the other adopting the memorial to employers
asking for an increase of ten per cent. on the
present wages, and stating, in eXtrem ely tair
and moderate language, and to the effect givea
above, the reasons why the application was made.
confidential circular, issued to the members
OF the association, contains summary of the
grievances under which the printers readers
conceive themselves to labor The points under
investigation are hge-the number OF readers,
the wages, the hours OF labor, the payment OF
overtime, and the effect on readers of the COM
positors' advance. 1t appears that the number
Of readers in London IS nearly 400; the average
number Of hours work per week Is So; the holt
days only consist o, few davs in the year; the
average per hour paid for overtime is 93d.; the
OF compositors has been, it is considered, un-
favorable; and it is believed that the chief
points in which the position OF readers requires
improvement are the amount of wages and the
length of time they are required to work The
readers consider that f2 55d.-the average of
their weekly paymen.s-is too small; that 53
hours week are too much; and they therefore
determined to present memorial 10 the masters
asking for an increase OF salary, to which they
confine themselves.
Mr.. Dickens, in opening the proceedings, said
that, as the meeting was convened not to hear
him, but TO hear a statement OF facts and hgdreS
very nearly affecting the personal interests of
the great majority OF those present, his preface
need be very brief. or the details of the lues-
tion he knew, of his own kno Wedge, absolutely
nothing; but he had consented to occupy the
chair on that occasion at the request of the
London Association of COTrectors of the Press
fp. kurA hiTacf hlnn hn fh1,Va rhN
that openness and publicity in such cases were
a very wholesome example very much needed at
this time, and were highly becoming to body
of men associated with that great public sate-
guard-the press (hear); secondly, because he
knew from some slight practical experience
what the duties OF correctors of the.press were,
and how their duties were usually discharged;
and he could testify, and did testify that they
were not mechanical, that they were not mere
matters of manipulation and routine, but that
they required from those who performed them
much natural intelligence, much superadded
cultivation, readiness of reference, qaickness
of resource, an excellent memory, and clear
understanding. (HeaT, hear) He most CRATE
fully acknowledged that he had never gone
through the sheets of any book that he had
written without having presented to him by the
correctors of the press something he had over
looked, some slight inconsistency into which
he had fallen, some little lapse he had made-in
short, without having set down in black and
white some unquestlonable indication that he
had been closely folio wed through the work by
Tatent and trained mind, and not merely by
skiltul eye. (Hear, hear.) And in this de-
claration he had not the slightest doubt that
the great body of his brother and sister writers
would, as plain act of justice readily concur,
CLEAR, hear) For these plain reasons he was
there; and being there, he begged to assure them
that every one present. that every speaker, would
have patient hearing, whatever his opinions
might be. (Cbeers.)
The first resolution was moved by Mr. Hooper
and seconded by Mr.. Harris, both of whom
pointed out the claims which the readers have
to the moderate rise they petition for and de-
scTlbed in humorous terms the hardships and
difficulties under which they labor.
MIR. ChSllOner described the object of the as
soclation, which, he said, was not at all in the
nature OF a trades union, had no intention to
force the masters by combination, and only
desired that their case should be fully and fairly
aid before the employers.
The second resolution was moved by Mr.. Begg
and seconded by Mr., Forrest, who dWelt upon
the insufficient accommodation that Is but too
frequently found for readers, and their conse-
quent suffering in health and comfort.
The third and last resolution had respect TO
tho appointment of q committee TO sign and
prese0t the memorial to the master printers of
London. This resolution, having been moved
and seconded, was unanimously agreed 10.
The proceedings concluded with very cordial
and hearty vote OF thanks to Mr.. Dickens for
taking the chair on the occasion
Mr.. Dickens briefly returned thanks, and ex-
pressed belief that their very calm and tenn
perate proceedings would finally result in the
establishment of relations of perfect amity be-
tween the employers and the employed, and
consequently to the general welfare Of both.