The New York herald., 1870-03-10
THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE.
The Present Condition Of Thing-Is the Mercan-
tile Marine Being Weakened I = The
Opinions Of an Old Salt and q
Sriker-The Wave Of Public
Opinion-Ship-a-hoy!

The Seamen's strike still continues and Involves
the livelihood OF more than 1900 gallant and hardy
men, who, by exposure to all elements and climates
are believed to be the best hands that employed
In the mercantile marine Of America Some over.
lures have been made either hand bu, no den.
mite settlement has taken place. The effect OF tho
movement is to bring dsstltuuon and suffering 70
many families in the city and to those who Will feel
1t most being IS they are In the hands OF merciless
landlords and at the disposition OF tradesmcn who
know no other principle than ''cash down.
Yesterdays HERALD contained the main points
OF the strike and the sudden reduction wages on
the part Of the vessel ownerA There has been no
Abatement In the determination Of the sailors to
demand their rights, though. OF course the com
binaton may fail for want OF funds 1t Is to be DO.
plored that the vessel owners should resort to such
measures since their crews Will naturally have to
be enlisted from inferior seamen thus putting pas
sengers and freight at . risk, which the insu-
rance companies should not allow. Even now
many Of the coastwise steamers employ In.
sufficient men to man the boats In case
OF disaster, and these men, notorlously small In
number, should not ne weakened In efficiency by Q
needless reduction OF wages The reporter yesterday
met regular old salt, who had eaten sharks on
many o sea and had shouted HAUL taut, mainsail
haul" when General Grant was putting on his first
pair OF boots. He looked as If he could consume the
vessel owners ana proceeoed 10 give his opinions IN
true nautical style.
REroRTER-Good morning, Jack. How aoout the
saiiors striker
JACK (Iakng the reporier's band)-How's your
nipper. Come and pplice the NAN brace.
REPORTER lsmingl-rhat drives our ideas 10 sea.
JAcK-We, then, about these vessel owners aud
their shippers; they're all on lee shore read the
HERALD'S account this morning The shipping
agents have lots OF trouble to get men. as you can
see by going along South street.
REroRTER-Why did the seamen striker
JACK-Bccause no man with family can live
thirty dollars per moalh without he starves his wife
and children. The owners VI the steamship Cres-
cent City and George Washington without any warn
ing whatever cut down wages ten dollars q month,
ut one slap, with the consoling alternative take or
leave 1t.
REroRTER--what is the seamcn's Benevolent
Association, its powers. 6ci
JAcK-it numbers among Its members over 5000
seamen, the majority married mea, VINO make the
interests OF the men the interests OF the society.
RePoRTER- How does the action OF the vessel
owners oppress youY
JAcK-By giving us only thirty dollars month to
support our families, ior accidents sickness dlsas-
ter5 Why, we pay ten dollars a month Tor our rent,
leavin. only twenty dollars for living expenses.
REroRrER.i suppose most OF the seamen have
been blueJQckets.
JACK-Yes most of US. We have honorable dis
charges, aud can prove It.
REPogTER-l suppose national service Is not con.
sldered.
JAcK-No 1t is very hard that the men who
served their country in ITS time OF need be
perseded by green German Heamen, get only from
ten TO twelve dollars per month IN ther country
salps, and when they come here to New York In
German and other foreign ships boarding masters
ana their runners walt on them and tell them they
are fools TO stop in their ships while such high
wages are given 10 scamen here; consequently they
rul away from their ships aud the boarding master
wh snip them as soon es possible, not caring
now many dollars taey got per monln. o0iy caring
now many dollars he viii get for ineln IN the shape
OF advances. These are tue KIND OF men, SIR, that
shipping masters can get at the present time. There
la aiso another class ct seamen who sail In tho
lnman and National lines OF English steamships
running the blockade during the recent war, They
also run away rom their ships here not intending
10 remain in the United States permanently, only
until they can save up 500 or 5000 when tney up
stick aud square away for the cnalky cliffs OF hold
Hengland.
REPoRTER-Namc your remedy.
JAcS.-CongreSs should take this matter IN hand
and establish government shipping oniccs and each
seaman should have a certificate of ability TO pre-
sent on shipping, and also have one TO prove MS
ctizenship, as there are plenty OF seamen here In
the United States, without having our ships ll.ed
WIN foreigners. When tney make suHlclcnI money
they clear for their country. II these tn.ng5
are done l think, and 90 all seaAen tAat 20
down 10 the sea in snps that sealnens wages win
regulate themsciyes.
iae reporter now squared away, scuddin- under
BRISK breeze nom JacA's presence.