The New York herald., 1874-11-15
THE "LOCK.OUTs."

The 'Longshorcmen To BE Ousted ToA
Morrow-They Win Refuse to Work
Below the Union Prfces-Lots Of Money
In the Treasury--Continuati tion of the
Coopers' TrOuble-Bosses ana Mem All
Still ResOlute.
The threatened reduction OF the ,longshore-
mems wages is certain to be put in eject tornor
row. strong determination to accomplish their
purpose characterizes the movements OF the
agents OF the companies whose signatures have
been given to the resolution in Iavor OF the pro.
posed change OF rates. These gentlemen are
pretty concise In their explanation as to the rea-
sons which have induced them to come to their
present decision, and are well united in
saying tnat they cannot afford to nav.
They also persist in explaining that the
idea Is not new to them, as they have
been for some few years OF opinion that
they were paying the majority OF the men more
than the business done by the companies war
ranted. II the times were bad, they say, or likely
to become worse, the burden would fall and con.
tnue TO fall on them as well as on others, so that
self protection compelled them to cover their ex-
penses. They allege that they have held no formal
meetings, in public or in secret, and the resolu-
ton to reduce the wages was simply conse-
quence OF the acknowledged inability to continue
to pay as they were doing. 1t is proposed TO in
form the men tomorrow morning, through the
stevedores, OF the rates TO be paid In future, and
then act In accordance with their settled plan OF
employing any man who works for their prices.
The companies which have not yet signifled tneir
intention OF loining the movement against the
men are presumed to be independent about the
"lock-Out' either on account OF their not doing
any business Just now, or because they are wait
iLg to see how things will turn out.
WHAT THE MEN SAY. HN#s
In conversation with several OF the prominent
members OF the unions yesterday HERALD re-
porter was informed that beyond all DOUBT the
men would not work below the old prices-forty
cents an hour for day work, and eighty cents an
hour for night work. u was all very well TO say
ers had TO live and work hard for a living, and
when you were sure not to have work SIX davs in
tne week some allowance , sn0n'd 2 De maze lor sne
employment. The hos ses said that they could not
pay expenses, and alleged this as a reason for tile
proposed reduction; out the truth was that they
were taking advantage OF the rumors that were
circulated among the working classes and bust
aSsS very sn hare hard e one ' aad that that tSousan1s
q men would Be idle. They calculated
coad w,s vet ali the hands % they wantea and there
fore, they would begin to crush even before the
winter became very severe The unions had
among tnem over 100000, and other organizations
would also help in case OF need, so that the men
were not altogether unprotected; but still 1t was
wnile standing on the sidewalk. The bosses
thought, perhaps, that 1t required no experiences
except IN very limited part OF the labor, it was
trade in Itself, ior which some men only were es+
pecially fitted. Those who knew The labor and the
skill 1t required knew That the bosses would lose
more than they gained by the 'locklng out" Ol
the men. and the companies would soon fnd that
quietly and to act aiterward peaceably, nor would
they interfere with any man, no matter who he
was or where he came from. whom the companies
would employ.
la answer to some questions as to how the men
stood in regard to negotiations for an amIcable
settlement they stated tnat to the present hour
they had received no intimation at all either from
the companies or the stevetores IN regard to the
one steved0re had made a contract with an agent
and that his men were gong to work, but no GER
tain Information the matter mad come to the
knowledge OF The society men. In lact except
what information they got from the newspapers,
they mad heard OF nothing. But If the threatened
reduction took place on monday morning then the
societies would form into regular working order
adopt al "a nat ney nom
Friday evening was ior the purpose OF getting the
men together so that the action OF the bosses
should not come with surprise upon any member.
THE COOPERS
The coopers in the downtown district are still
oughly united IN their action and are CONFIDENT Of
gaining their point. The bosses continue their
%esS Sonnd To Wn this strike the QUESTION Is not
one so strictly OF wages the bosses say, as one OF
not being arbitrarily dealt wita oy rues OF Coop
S24 a week TO each man, and the men would be
willing to take that amount II It were guaran teed
tnat it would come every week. But the htch is
work week and, therefore, they say, that when
there is . break IN the week they must get
s4 so day. The men iurtner say that tney
have been well Treated in regard TO funds, and
the stlocK-Out,'' except to about twenty men, who
had had steady work, does NOT amount to SO much
as the bosses would try to make 1t appear 1t does.
REDUCTION ON RAILROAD.
orders have been given by the pennsylvania
Railroad Company to discharge all hands engaged
on new CONSTRUCTIONS. TO reduce the track gangs,
to reduce the men on bridge repairs to cut down
the hours from ten TO nine and the wages from
fourteen to twelve cents an hour.