The New York herald., 1869-01-27
THE LABOR MOVEMENT.


udtS suCi MtCiSst ut ucdIt 10 oS ySt uh"ootSus
and. judging from present indications, the swindng
agents who have done SO much during past years to
render poor Jacks life so miserable viii come TO
grief much than they expect There are among
the seamen--who are naturally enough very strongly
opposed to the reduction In their wages or the in
crease OF the agents commissions which are de-
Quoted from their months pay-many who
are acting very unwisely in their opposition 10 the
agents by doing everything that lies in their power
to make trouble OF serious kind between the
sailors as class and the respectable shipping mer
chants These malconrents, not satisfied with the
energy displayed by the majority OF the seamen In
presenting q formidable front against swndlng
agent monopoliss think 1t necessary TO unite their
fellows against every person who is known to
be an agent for the employ OF sailors, and
as a consequence great many OF the merchants
who at first felt very well disposed toward the
movement inaugurated by the tars are being grad
ually dragged; despite themselves into the ranks Of
that class Of employers who exerting their very
best to grind Jack down to the lowest level Of
degradation. The great majority of the strikers,
however, to their credit be 1t sald are peaceable and
orderly in all their organizations which look. for
ward to the crushing out OF the monOpolles and
ny s'r3 tha be N
by the less prudent and the Unwise OF their number
AS far as the furnishing OF vessels with crews by
captains OF vessels who have been spoken to on the
subject contend that they are very much in favor OF
They all agree that the system like most other sys-
tens In which money has an all-powerful influence,
has greet many defects which might be very readily
DO; but that, other things being equal,
1t Is about as good could possibly be devised under
the circumstances. II they do not approve OF the
extortons reaorted to by the majority OF the keep.
era BY which the sailor is made to work for month
81 "A n
that boarding house keepers and other agents Of
the same kidney are very necessary evil which
greater or less degree, according 10 their wants. AS
an Illustration OF TINS assertion they bring
Of ten vessel on arriving at this port nom
abroad loses her crew almost Immediately after she
has been moored to the wharf. The men composing
the crew, as general rule having been employed
and paid for the voyage only, feel that tney are
more bound TO remain with The vessel after she
arrives and therefore scatter themselves about the
city 10 enjoy oil the delights which terra iYlpJ
give 20 sailor appel ties whcted by long fasting at
sea-. AS matter OF course, 1t follows that the
masters could not, II they endeavored to-
exert any control over their movements.
In such cases-whicb are the majority of cases,
new crews the best way they can, and the agents
men TO load and unload the ships the best way they
know how. They contend that, when placed IN
these tight corners irhey were TO depend upon The
chances of seanen calling at the ships Tor employ
ment or on their own exersions In "druminih" up
new hands they would have to wait for days upon
days, not TO say weeks upon weeks, before they
could obtain all the assistance they desirei. Under
these circumstances they find the agents aud board
ing house heepc very valuable aid from the TACT
lat all they have to do is to call upon one oI them at
certain hour, aud they are pretty certain OF having
full crew OF seamen or full complement OF workmen
furnished them within an hour afterwards. What
commissions the agents charge they say Is an
affair with which they have nothing TO do. There
are. they actually believe, many ol the boarding
house keepers who are honest and mean wei by the
sailors but who are always looking out little too
strictly for their commissions and the advances on
the pay Of the tars in consideration Of yalue re-
celved In the shape OF board and lodging during
.rainy days" wh.ch are, unfortunately, SO frequent
Tee masters OF vessels express themsclves-at
least the great ma GRITTY OF them express themselves
ae thoroughly opposed to the reduction proposed by
the agents, who desire TO turn dishonest penny at
the expense OF poor Jack, who, OF all men In the
world can little afford any reduction In his wages
according to the present standard. The ship.
Ping agents in good standing are almost a unit
against the grinding, short sighted policy which the
small fry agents are endeavorng to make practicable
in their negotiations with the sailors, and, as far
talk is concerned, seem to DO as anxious for
the destruction Of the sailors enemies IN
this particular as the seamen are themselves. They
are however, opposed TO anything ike violence by
tue senl1en ~ thelr organized opposltion and con-
tend tet II IL but fair that the questions IN dispute
between the two parties should be fairly and pcacea
lily discussed, ana that Ii that Is done, the seaman
future OF damaging character TO his interests, as
the good and solid men Of the commercial marine
are with him in his efforts TO show that lie IS as well
as any other laborer, .worthy OF his hire"
IL may be said, in conclusion, that the Sailors
Boarding House Keepers Association has SO far
done its utmost to sustain Jack in his rights and 10
defeat the plans OF the sharpers who. by a little
sharp practice have endeayored to sell the seamen
out for sixteen dollars month, when respectable
shippers are willing 10 give them individually thirty
dollars month FOR European voyages and for other
trips in proportion.
Inc sailors on the strko held an informa, meeting
In South street yesterday afternoon at which II was
determined TO oraaniZe society which would In
every respect deal fairly by the seamen, ana 60 1t
that they obtained their wages direct from recog-
Ezed agents OF vessels and not through sharpe.s
wGo pocketel 0ne-huli az net prohts.
Thc following communications IN reference TO this
sailor question viii prove OF intercss to those con-
cefned--
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 1892.
TO THe EpTTcE or THs EERALD:-
sIg--As you have been SO Kind to lay some OF the
grievances or the sailor before the public wish you
would be Kind as to insert what now propose
remedy for The part alluding to shipping agents.
propose that legislation is ncceasary--a law abol-
ising shipping Offices aud establishing alone In
each port under the sanction or the Board OF Trade
some ogher legally constituted body. the shipping
rent 10 receive stated yearly salary; in fact, after
he model OF things In England. Any American
seaman III London must notice the striking contrast
presented by the two different systems. while the
seaman md captain IN England each pay one shil-
ling as expenses for shipping. 1 myself, III the
spring of 1854 In London, paid Jew clothing store
Keeper "a Willy Fascal tho sum OF one pound sterling
to get chance 10 ship In the Great Republic, and
believe ione paid less. Such state Of aiiairs Ii D
blot on The character Of such great commercial
nation as this. and can assure ycu raniies In the
mind Cf every sailor. We have among men OF
good education. whp, having chosen a seafaring fe
IN Doy ood, are now unified Tor any other employ
ment, and yet we do not receive The wages OF CoB-
mon i4b0rer. | could wrftc more OF length on the
subject but VIII not tcspass your valuable space
So hoping you Will see nt 10 make this public and
that one person OF influence may adopt my sug-
essiou, remain, your obetilent servant,
J. J.. BECTNITH.
NFw YORK, Jan. - 1859.
To TiiE EDITOR or rHR llERALD:-
There has been deal said upon the subject ol
sailorss rights IN different institutions N this city
bu, all with no success to our rights, and we would
~ obliged TO YOU to take the subject into consIdcra
lion. We have to suffer deal q, sea-prcbaby much
more than some Of you are aware Of and there Is no
law in any merchant shipping act whereby a sailor
mas obtain his rights in this port and there never
win be unless the government take II into consldera-
ti,n aud establish shipping offices TO be controlled
bv officers under government. But We have over
tnirtv shipping Offices In this port, who oil obtain
ii INF hs sss..taring persons You may 20 down
South street ansl visit those shipping onlcTs when
ehp Il signing articles 0f agreement and there yo1
viii see che men paying as much % uve aud ten
.x...s ~. .f.4..