The New York herald., 1874-11-16
HoBoKEs ,LoxGsHoREnES,s GRIEVANCES.
HoBoKBN. N. J., Nov. Il 1874.

HoBoKEN, N. J., Nov. II 1874.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Allow me to address few lines to you in behalf
Of the rongshoremen OF Hoboken, who are at
present, as you are aware, on the eve Of difi-
Guilty with the agents OF the North German Lloyds
and Oelrichs & Co., Of Bowling Green, New York.
The publication OF this letter In your esteemed
paper will, hope bring tho true state Of things
before the public.
Up to the midsummer Of 1872 the long
shoremen worked for thirty cents per hour,
and 1t was not until tney saw that It
was impossible for them to support themselves
and their families at that rate OF wages, that they
asked for an increase OF ten cents per hour. the
agents of the Hamburg and Bremen lines of
course refused to grant the increase. The men
then struck for forty cents per hour for day and
sixty cents per hour for night work, which,
after one days resistance, was granted
to them But the agents must have
have ielt very uneasy about this arrangement,
having for years only paid thirty cents per
hour. and as the majority OF the men consist OF
Germans and lrishmen, by careful management
they divided the two and kept q constant hatred
and jealousy between them Now, all this changed; !;
for the Old hatred about nationality vanished, and
a unity and cordial feeling sprung up between the
men: They reorganized their HoDoxen Long
and within the space OF three weeks every man
working on the docks in Hoboken was q member
OF the association, pIeOgeQ TO support the main.
tenance Of the wages.
The agents, however, thinking the CORDS OF unity
not strong enough 70 last, resolved to reduce the
the stevedores OF the respective companies were
instructed 10 inform tncir men that the companies
would not pay more tnan thirty cents per hour
Although this new blow came Unexpectedly to the
men, they at special meeting held the next day
resolved TO resist and maintain their wages
morning COmnAD1e8
OF their docks. On the second day, the agents OF
the Bremen line having Jailed to induce the
German born members OF the association to leave
their fellow aborers and resume work by promts-
Ing them that none but Germans should be employ
WORK under ali circumstances ito ali which the
only reply was, 1--WE are not Germans, but citizens
OF the United states OF America, and II you don't
give our fellow labOrers work we can't work for
you either'1, they entered into negotiations with
the President OF the Association Mr.. James Mar
last came to an agreement that the men should go
to work for forty cents per hour, the agents
pledgng their word OF honor never TO feduce snls @
agents OF the Hamburg line resisted day longer,
employing, IN the meantime, fresh laborers. but
done could not be accomplished for this kind OF
work requires strength, skill and endurance.
Of qualities n 1o ms SO n so 10 oe
to pay their men orty cents per hour, and pledged
their word that this arrangement should not oe
altered, which promise they have kept up TO thls
day, as is becoming to men.
This state OF things has continued until now,
when the agents OF the Bremen line, seeing that
the agents OF New York we're trying to reduce the
wages OF their men, made the same proposition TO
their laborers; but at special meeting, neld on
Friday evening. the men resolved to MAINTAIN
their wages at all hazards.
There are now four lines Of steamships landing
in Hoboken-viz., the Hamburg, the Bremen the
Eagle and the Baltic Lloyd, and OF these
the North German LLOYD Is the only one
trying to reduce the wages. The majority OF
their men have faithfully worked for them Six or
seven years. and Is IL not painful to see company
consisting OF men OF great capital and wealth try
ing to take the bread from the mouths OF the poor
knowing wen that Is IL an impossbllity
for them to live with their famfes at thirty cents
Der hour when even now, at forty cents per hour,
Ihe average rate OF wares amounts only to about
80 week. In this way the capitalist will solve
A 'LONGSHOREMAE.