The New York herald., 1874-11-14
LABOR TROUBLES.


There Is not the least doubt that the major-
fty Of the steamship companies. both foreign and
coastwise, Will on Monday next carry into effect,
through their stevedores, the proposed reduction
OF the longshoremen's wages, paying them after
that date thirty cents an hour for day work and
forty-fve cents an hour for night labor, in
lieu OF their present pay, forty cents and eighty
cents respectively, Come what may "a the result
OF this determination, the steamship men are ear
nest in the matter and will not be moved from
their position either by menace or the prediction
that their business VIII materially suffer in conse-
quence OF this action. On the other hand, 30 far
as can be learned, the 'longshoremen viii not
tamely submit to the reduction OF prices,
but resist it by ''strikiug" ana letting
the companies get their work done as best
they can, and In this manner hope to bring the lat
ter to terms sooner or later Thus o serious ques-
tion between the owners and agents OF our large
steamship lines ana tuy 10 600 laborers at issue
and but few can tell now many OF the latter may
suffer because Of the antagontsm.
A tour among the various companies who have
signed the agreement and WIN pay none other
than the new rates after Monday, found their
authorized gentlemen running over with po-
should 60 into effect Said one In the once or q
European line 1--WE have been paying war
nos il s ses
OF wages paid 70 load and unload our steamsnips.
a0ns e We s6as s1 Obtain s9 II 9a
premium Of $500 and over. but now We are selling
similar. tickets for $50 in gold, winch Is
day. and other values have surs red pr0portionate
depreciation; yet the wages OF our laborers are
Sens se Ga Der
gree OF reservation, that there are upon our dock
ol them hasins Desn with Us for years I Many 1S Of
them are 'skiled' laborers. y such term
@
perlence: We 90 not think, however. that !he
men VINO roll casns wheel trucks up and down
routine work should % put on the same footing as
those who use their heads as well as
are careful in the unloading OF vessels.
But all are society men. and as such
same and the worst greennon In rne world, who
knows but little else than how to wheel truck,
as his fellow workmen whose services are worth
securing and retaining. There should be differ
.e me y
be made TO suffer by the society rules, ana
Il is their right 70 take advantage Of the competi-
forty cents hour Tor rolling casks or wheel
ing truck, when they can get the work done as
world. and they have been bino to tneir own in
teresss 70 stand y as long as they have.
are r ssns are On San tue & 0c1 was waS
and what viii decenty support themselves and
families, but that ls owing TO the fact that We
time Of sailing on saturday. Should thev, on the
would have coming to shem nom sac 70 $40 Tor
the weeks labor rather too muoh under the cir
sn6 M @ aon oSec 10 Mst
some % q - our men AR are now earning but
steamship attache satd:-"We don't hegrudge the
mon fair wages; We think they are entitled to
them, but We DON'T want them to get wealthy at
the onicers Of another prominent European Ire
the same story as the above was received. he ad.
mltfed that the company to which ne 70 attached
se 10 the
railroads, such as the Erie, Pennsylvania. and the
fast reignt freight lines DO not pay but seventeen
the labor OF the rairosds Is done with greater de.
ehects Of the troublous times Of SIX and eight
years ago: ana NJ ssink .,onS sna, the prices
pre- Precedent s'sf for those ee Of % sSe present % Our
iIongshoremen have received too much for the
labor done and and We are now n Seserm1sd s % e equal
90 who rule the rest and sometimes ruin them, too
listen to the steamship men, but fight
them on their own ground. Don't work ior them,
tnsn Wen get our % own wages I'VE can stand is sSs as
SnS e. they a. the s0%
these are used, and SO the Ignorant fellows follow
the designing ringieadsrs.n In answer 60 q ques-
tion II the lines would % able to get
ala ne aSSres he arslno
representative was assured they wonld have no
trouble AZ st an One good foreman 70 escn gang Of
belong to the society, and so do not care who
The manager also said that II the 'longsnoremen
strike on Monday they would not do their work
n m n a nrnn nh 4 AOrun aOv
the Union at lair wages by the week or month,
treat them well and protect them ID every pos.
sibie manner. There might be some trouble at
nrst, such as delays Of day or two In the depar-
ture OF steamers, but that at this season would
not very heavy and the rrcights not OF great ac.
count
the agent OF another line said, sIt,s all nonsense
to raise the cry that we will not be able TO have
our work done properly Il the 'longshoremen In
body quit work. Just at present the bulk OF the
cargoes consists OF cotton and grain, the latter
being put into the ships BY elevators and the ior
mer can be handled by Italians az well as the
regsrdnr The rsF WHICH, Vessel msT
run IN having cargoes slowed BY 1nexperienced'
men. but the majority Of them are unworthy OF
They will fail TO produce the effect intended"
Still another manager OF an important line in-
snoremen viii ail in tneir Intention OF forcing the
steamship companies to continue the old rates.
"We cannot afford It, he said, 'and that's reason
por,ng the afternoon it was rumored in steam
ship circles that Walsh Brothers, the steveaores
star lines. have made contracts with the above
companies to continue In their old positions and
have the work performed at the reduced rates
Tne lines VINO have signed the notice Of the IN
tended REDUCTION q wages are the folIowing;-
YSsIiss:e3 g II Iia., q. ;; Jane. 9s. cSsssd