The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-05
U. s. Court HOUSE AND POsr OFFICE. \
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT,
Portland. Nav T. 1871 !
To the Editor of the Press:

~ Tue Luat0T ~ tne ffeSS:
Permit me to inform you that the statement
In your locals OF this morning regarding the
recent strike at this work is in some respects
slightly incorrect, viz:
First, No workman employed in the furni-
ture division was ever detailed, induced or in.
vited by myself to Join it, with single excep-
ton, that OF workman who had been dis
charged from the construction division whom
invited to take place in the division when
1t should be organized.
Second. No workman employed in the latter
division was ever promised by me, nor by 9TH
ers acting under my authority, any other than
the regular wages of the construction division
Some weeks before arranging the furniture
gang contemplated inviting two men from
each work to join it, and if accepting the trans
fer to make an increase of wages for ten hours
work during such time as they might have had
employment in the eight hour construction
division. The men selected by me were never
informed OF my intention. Two of these re-
main to-day in the construction division; two
have been discharged, one of the latter being
employed afterwars as already stated, hence
the transfer never took place, and the work.
my foreman who selected them, volunteered
to join the furniture division and perform ten
hours labor for the same pay they had been re-
ceiving, in consideration of obtaining longer
term OF employment.
Third, No agreement was presented them to
sign. A pay roll was presented and signed by
the entire division, precisely the same as was
done for the month of March, when no COM
plant was made or misunderstanding in resa.d
to wages alluded to. tt
Fourth, If there is in the whole statement
one falsehood Of greater magnitude than its
fellows, it is wbt n stating that "as Mr.. G CHI
rane cou'd give no satisfactory reason for
breaking his promise, they struck" No init
nation was made to me that any such prom
Use ever existed. No such question was asked
Of me, and, therefore, no reasons" either sat
lsfactory or unsatisfactory were given by me-
was requested on Tuesday morning last to
increase their wages to $325 per day; 1
declined to accede to it; they then worked
through the day, received their pay aud quit.
Yesterday was waited upon by one of their
WHO stated that he was authorized to
say to me on the part of the division that they
were satisfied with their pay, and satisfied with
the hours OF labor, and would be willing to re-
sumo work if allowed to proceed under certain
conditions regarding supervision of the work.
This gang was organized to provide employ
ment for men who must otherwise have been
discharged. No one was obliged to enter it nor
to stay in it. No deception, or occasion for
any mas ever existed, ana no misunderstanding
has occurred between the workmen and my
self, as all the employees are well aware, even
to the one who furnished the information from
which your article is compiled.
One thing further, if such matters are of
public interest, as seems from the publication
Of tho item 10 question, to be the case, have
to state that my office is SO near your publca-
lion rooms that your reporter can always OBJ
tain facts whom they ore dceieca.---