The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-08

to meet their engagements with the public. He
stated that the reports OF the strike Aad oeen
mainly sensational, and, IN referring to tine tsne OF
the press, said it was singular that the strikers
here seemed to have the entire sympatny ., In. .ne
newspapers while In London, during tne same
ton of the gasmen.- He apprehended no serious
embarrassment rem the present csna"'on VI
Affairs They had obtained
A LARGE FORCE OF THE ITALIANS
state and these subjects had gone readily to FORK.
The company had provided them with quarters ana
food, and would pay them reasonable wages: VI
m nslas Of labor where they were completes
aptitude for the business. An interpreter
was kept on hand IN the gas works e., 70
instruct them in all their duties. Gas making did
not require skilled labor, only certain amount OF
tact. the men worked in benches Of six, with
brennan and their duties were to Ill the retorts
tracted to remove the refuse and cart it away.
No. danger attended any OF these operations,
and lew days would sufice to teach the
Italians were kept secluded from the strikers and
ss sy ss psnsss sn oue
violence or interference. To-day we thought less
than onehalf Of the usual quantity OF gas would be
increase, and by the middle of the week the public
would suffer no further Inconvenience. The COM
pany would not under any circumstances again
former strikes their action had been curious
when the company gave the men
THE EIGHT HOURS
they demanded, 1t did not operate satisfactorily,
and q jealousy existing among different gangs Of
workmen made it easy for the company to come
back to twelve hours and the same wages. Nearly
every company in the city had tried the eIght-hour
system, but III all attempts 1t had been Ruthless
reform. Mr.. Everett stated, furthermore, that It
was not contemplated to encourage these
movements in the future by any acquiescent &C
ton on the part ofthe company. The present exper
iment mad proven that It was not necessary to run
would probably be a salutery lesson to them. Up
to the present time the strikers had been orderly
and quiet. rs ., -e
Statement Of the secretary OF the Metro
politan Company.
HERALD representative called at the Metro
potan Building, Forty second street and Broad
way, and found the President out, but was
answered by the Secretary and superintendent
that all was working quietly and as
usual in their gas district The men
were satisfied with the terms OF their
employment and not the slightest symptom OF dis
content was visible. The fremen received SO so
per day and the helpers SO per day. The Metropoli-
tan Company had tried the eight-hour system but
and the men had willingly returned to
their former status. The Superintendent
Jolly little man Of Teutonfc origin, had
Just arrived from the works, and so happy was he
with the state OF affairs there that all the radiance
that could be produced by full gasometer was
beamlng on his face. 1t was thoroughly evident,
from the conversation on the subject, the gas
are all pulling together and are deter
mined TO fight the men with all the power OF their
huge monopOlles.
ELS Statement OF the Gasmen.
A HERALD representative endeavored to procure
q statement from the idllug gasmen on First ave-
nues in front OF the works. during the afternoon OF
yesterday. One highly excitable striker waved or
The reporter with great Importance and demanded
to see hts badge.
81 have no badge"
s'Then you're no reporther!"
"But amp
81 say every reporther in York has q badge, and
ye'll get no statement
Another man, with the green sprig in his hat, was
more con1ding and conducted the HERALD repre-
to the Gasmen's Hall, corner of Twenty
second street and First avenue where he found
about tive hundred men locked in, celebrating in
a very quiet manner upon their future plans. The
Secretary, very intelligent man, came to the
end OF the hall and made the following statement
1--WE ARE NOT CONG TO WORK
again, except under the eight hour system, ana
have decided upon the point. No circumstances
will make US waver. We can stand strike OF
months. and we intend to do it. We are now
holding meetings. quietly discussing our plans,
aud we intend to act like law-abiding
citizens, while firmly maintaining our rights
to be adequately compensated for our
severe and exhausting toll. This Is a duty we owe
as much to our wives aud children as we do to our
selves. A man has Just made a powerful speech
against violence, and as we are thoroughly or
gained and as the men are serious and sober
you need fear no disturbance OF the peace. The adj
vice OF the HERALD this morning counselng us to
commit no acts which can be conde mned will be
strictly followed. The entire responsibility OF the
strike intend TO place the ghOu lderg of the
company. We claim and we prove that we have
been badly treated; thus while zealously and
exacting ana unhealthy, the company has failed
to keep its promises and has maintained that q
gasman aid no skiiied anor; we ar , mat the
end OF twelve months o man could not do more
then than the brutal part. The companies are
them. To show you how the New York
have been out, ali day treating, German
inside the works, and then not permitting them to
leave. Those who have struck number 1872 and
sy ws tey nav s Italians It win now
take three men where it formerly took two men to
accomplish the same work. Our labour was very
exhausting. Many died, and new many OF
THE OLD HANDS ARE SICK,
and when sickness comes the sufferer Is almost
sure to die. TO work twelve hours IN gas factory
twelve hours; some times reaching as high as thir
teen hours day. When we go home we eat our
QlQQeTb 8uu bne0 10 W Dtu, uub dIc LOU tIcu W
sleep. This gstng on from day to day wears us out
till we finally come to our melancholy fate.
glance at the gasmen in the hall confirmed this
story, for the faces Of the men were naggard, SAD
and disconsolate.) For long time we have been
planning among ourselves practical measures
OF relief. Last Spring delegates from all
the works assembled and organized this
panies granted us the eight hours and
we resumed labor The Manhattan Company
had employed cid men to do the sweeping and
light work, and the company promised these men
81 a day extra II they would not strike. Other
men were bribed, and even some OF the employees
VINO were getting old were assured that
they would be Kept for life. The mems
feelings were worked upon and when 1t
came to q decision on the sth or June
the company carried its point. The President
them 81 q day extra for o year. In the
New York Company after the strike of the sth OF
June the men were finally induced to relinquish
their eight-heur system by promise or extra pay
OF 81, but the extra pay was not continued.
THE MEN WERE OPPRESSED
BY the foreman, and the companies boosted that
they would spend 81 000 900 to break up all strikes
among gasmen. 1t was February when we were