New-York tribune., 1874-11-10
STRIKES OUT OF SEASOT..
,LoNGsHoREMEN THREATENING B,4slsr.


ANCE.
TIE ACTION OF THE STEAMSHIP COMrANIEs IN CUT |
TING DOWN WAGES BIrTRRLY oPPosED-IABoR
so CHEAP THAT RESISTANCE. WILL PROBABLY BE
FUTILE
Previous to the pas,e two years whenever
vorkiugmen became carorous for more pay or reuseu
10 work unless their mands complied wltn tney
usually chose that OF the year when IL was cA
pected business <ould be better ana empowers III con
dition to comply with their requests Employers now
sav that there Is Of strikes as they occur all
,ne year ;ound The demands OF the workingmen' en-
,overs saw are made when business is dull ana wheh
prr sions and rents falling; and they eApee' W ~
ar high prices for labor when materials are oheap
a. Shen theyiare dear As consequence ouiders ana
architects afraid to make new contracs' ana inc
putoo,; for the Winter is very discouragng AT the
resrt time there are two classes Of workingmen In
san,sSouism with their employers One branch OF the
xoopers is on strike. and serious strike among
the 'lopgshe remen impending and will probably occur
in few dsys.
Afew dys ago the officers Of all the European steam
shin companies and most Of tho coaswise lines pub
aished q statement that after Nov. 16 deduction would
be mado in the wages OF the ongshOremen The society
paid cents hour Tor day WORK and eo
cents an hour for night labor The companies stated
that they would reduce the TO 35 and 10 cents re-
epecevely The managers Of the various lines unto In
saying that reduction is rendered necessary oy inc
decrease in receipts and their charges 10
merchants and consgnces. and is in proportion 10 the
general depreciation In values In nearly every Az
stance the officers told TRIBUNE reporter thas 'hcy
were fully determined TO make the reduction ana ii the
employees should accept the situation they would
never employ them in the future. They express the
opipon that they can find plenty OF men who Will be
glad TO work at the reduced wages, and they thlnR
that the hands will be able to do the WORK IN very
short time as we'll the old hands The members OF
the Lougshoremen's Union have held seVerai secret
meetings since the announcement OF the intended re-
duction. The last one held on Sunday night at
James-st and New Bowery. 1t was then determined
not to take any until the members had been in
formed by the stevedores that the deduction wouid
actually take place II urged that the determlna-
ton OF the steamship companies had not come TO then
in any official FORM and that it would be premature to
act upon the notice which had appeared in the newspa
pers A few OF the members composing executive
committee yesterday afternoon and decided to call
convention for next Sunday night, and to recommend
TO the meeting occasion the necessity OF strike
If the stevedores should cut down the wages on Mon
day. In conversation with several members or the
Union yesterday TRIBUNE reporter was informed that
there WAS q well settled determination to resist the
efforts OF the stevedores to down their wages Tne
officers Of the steamship companies are quite as de-
iermined down the prices, and the result Will
undoubtedly be a long strike.
TRIBUNE reporter visited the offices OF the principal
ocean steamship companies yesterday. and conyersed
with the agents regard the matter. Mr. Nicholson of
the Inman line said that the steamship companies had
determined 10 the paid to the sevedores,
who compelled to reduce the wages OF the
.oprshoremen He said that the laborers actually
receiving wages than some OF the ONCE CLERKS.
sometimes they made 81 day, and from Sc to IS night
and the paid them out Of proportion to the
va ue of their the ability OF the Company. The
1uman line determined TO adhere TO their determn-
ntOn and would under circumstances. continue 10
pay the present wages after next Monday They
srf,r Yhot nf
anxious TO work the rates. and every day many
laborers offered their services for oncthrd the prices
now paid They would much rather have the departure
of the delayed for two days than suceumb to
the unreasonable demands OF the longs1oIene&h. en- ou
Mr. Henderson Of the Anchor line said that they were
determined to enforce the new rule on Nov l6 ana he
had doubt they could get plenty OF men at the re-
duced prices. He spoke OF the determined attitude OF
MI the Companies and said that there would be no com
promise Inc agent Of the Empire line of Savannah
steamships said that would be ioily for the men 10 re-
4e SoS CsS work nGa % Tny ne SSe Msoy Of
the and Key West line OF steamers SAID that
thou ght the charges Some of the men had
worked for the lie for many years ana wneR Ihes rs
take less wages. The agents OF the other steamship
the members OF the Union on the other hand express
their ability hold Ou;, and believe that their strike
w be successful They have SIX lodges which they as
ser have aggregate surplus fund OF s6O,ON They
over sl2 week which insufficient to support tnelr
families. hard Winter with little work is before them
Whe thr oug ghout summer they have been working
only on half time. They state that several OF
The firms whose names are appended to the advertise
ment do not employ society men nor pay the
established rates. They charge that the change is due
10 sleyedoTe who is hostile TO the interests OF
the 'LongsbOremen's Association, and who having
agreed with the steamship companies 10 unload at low
figure determined 10 make the loDGshoIeDen pay for
u, They that there about 10000 men engaged In
their business in this city, Brooklyn, HobokeD and
Jersey City, most OF whom nave done such WORK for
years that requires considerable skill and expe-
rience TO handle goods properly so as not TO damage
them aud at hesame time to hasten the Loading ana un
loading OF vessels They profess 10 De eohhdehI that
Ihey'will gam their point III the end.