New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-04
PIANO AND FURNITURE MAKERS.


the export intercS'
PIANO AND FURNITURE MAKERS.
CONTINUED DEPRESSION IN THIS BRANCH or ~
INSTRUMENTATION REDUCING EMPLOYEE
AND WAGES
The cabinet, furniture, and piano manufac-
tnrers stu ompain Of continued depression in their
branches of industry Busigess with most all In these
branches trade has decreased ~ such an extent that
reductions IN the number Of employees. In tho wages
paid have been made Beces' airy In many instances;
others are only running on short time, ana SOHO
firms are mentioned having for the present.
entirely suspended work IL seems 70 be the general
innression that within the next week or two all win
have made material reductions IN the force employed Or
wages paid a measure necessary 20 save them from
loss IL has been the general custom at this time 10 CO.."
sderaby reduce the force employed. ms the period ron
November to April Is considered The duh season. In"
year. It is very probable, reducon1n wages as VIC" a.
In force viii be found necessary.
Messrs DeGraat & Taylor furniture nanuiacturo"
and dealers No 81 Bovery stated that they had ~ yes
made no reductions wages paid nut prooa"p
should with the beginning OF another weeA ana |" Wa
generally understood that most OF the large manniae
turers who had not already made such reductions woo
then. reduction Of 10 per cent would prooao 10 oe'
termined upon in the Of all perhaps sons
what moro with the uphosterers who had receiving
very large salaries. THIS firm employs i50 men IN
their factory In city and over 400 In that at Bridge
port Conn 1t would b. dlcu one Of the partners TO-
markcd 70 forete how this action would be viewed By
the men, but with them this was matter OF inhner-
ence The dull season had now opened ana undr
present circumstances with large stock or gooos on
hand it might be Just profitable TO suspend work for
time The men must see the necessity OF the measure.
and nrohably rather than remain idle through hard
Winter would gladly accept less wages sich ne sAia.
was the impression gaiued In conversation with some Oh
their number.
Messrs POTTER Symus, at their large furniture man
nfactory on LexngtOn-ave., between Forty-nrst ana
Fortysecond-st reduced the wages OF their workmen
some four weeks ago. reduction OF 10 per cent was
then made in every department. At first the men no
fused 90 accept the situation and for two weeks work
was suspended altogether. During this time ample OF
porunty was afforded the men to see the utter impes
siblty OF gaining work elsewhere and they then re
turned IN body resumed work. since which lime no
complaints have been made. IL was hardy proDtDW on.
Of the firm stated. that any trouble could ne
from the mechanics tins business on account oI re
duced wages. as they very generally acKno"e,grn .no
on the S dRea @ men Shs they kaSe been sa
blowing nearly 500 It the general custom 70 cVuoS
mo force al nils season OF the year. As 10 business
plenty OF received but panic prices were de
handed Little cash business was offered ana theI na
rng the present tiled state OF tAe money
market TO I'LL out large orders on time.
Derleih Brothers OF Sixthave, between FOrty-slheh
and state that yet they nave MADE
no reduction in tue number Of men employed, or IN
wages paid with the single exception that as tue lays
have become shorter they have essened the days WORK
TO nine hours They do propose move further IN
this direction. until actually compelled TO- was 70
marked also that there was no lack OF orders guy mostly
on such conditions that they did not care 10 MI tne IN
fact there money coming in IL had always Ooee
their to lessen the days work at TINS season "
the year. and for the time 10 make corresponding TO
Ar the mannfactory OF Irving & Son in East Twenty
seyenth-st, between Second aud Thrdayes no reduc-
tons have yet been made except IN SOME lndiyidan
cases Tho firm state that they do not propose u esses
the force than mas been their custom al the opening
of the dull Iney stated tnaI tncr DushcSs had
improved considerably or late.
The piano-fOrte mandatory Of Messrs. Seinway &
Sons is still running full time. Dir. Steinway stated
10 a reporter yesterday that they have in their
employ the factory in NewYork about 700 mon, ana
abnut 100 in tine saw-rnl iron and and
machne-shOp In Astoria. They have been running iuH
tme with the exception of one or two minor depart
meuts Business had fallen OFF nearly 80 per cent or
account financial disturbances, and great d1culty
was experienced IN making COLLECTIONS Snouil TINS
Of affairs last muen longer without doubt they
would be compelled To work on reduced time but no re-
ducOn would be made In wages except 10 last resort
would be difficult. he said u tell what another fort
night might bring about.
Mr. Decker of Messrs Decker & Barnes, piano manu-
would be Obliged either 20 make reductions In time
close up for tDe put they hau not decided
which course TO pursue. They now running on
half time. They were anxious 10 keep their OH man
rather than engage new men, when business should
aud little demand. &c would be necessary 10 tako
some step toward reducing expenses He believed that
any would be accepted without complaint Dy tho
men, rather than be thrown out OF employ ment al no
when they could secure none elsewhere.
The Haines Brothers, at their mandatory In second
ave- are working only Onehaf OF their force and thn
ON threeOurths time. No reduction, however, has been
made in wages They have considerable stock
hand and with only few sales, have no occasion Ia
keep up their fu 1oree Ihey nave uo" NJ "oiA oous
155 men. q, 81, ,,,- l.. ~,
ave il temporarily closed. reduction OF Is per cent
was made In paid and the hands refused TO con
tnue work IL Is stated however That they nave recon-
sdered tins determination, and VIII resume WORK soous
probably to-day.