The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-24
LABORERS' PETITION.
They Call Upon the City AutIori-
ties for Work.
4 Wall OF Distress is Heard in the
Land.
The Mayer and the Administrators
Have the Halter Undeg
Considerations

yhe Yo6Ey in eho Council CYaf4Ses and
the hall leading thereto WAS filed yesterday
during the session OF Size City Counci, with a
multitude 0S anxio1s ans earnest Yaborerss
who appeared there 20 see what action would
be taken relative to tho subjoinei petition
ls Will We seer by this document. the full
tex 81 which We give below. That the distress
OF these men os great, and sheir condition
deserves the moss serious consideration OF
the city authorities. Aae Zone of the petit
tioo is aos threatening. but earnest and Arm
Petition.
NE% OhIEANsO March 29, 1875.
I" 40 Major ?, !. Rurkr, Administering as I'm
ploytments ana the City CoGncLS
We, the undersigned laborers Of siis city.
are now II extreme want, which may bring US
to the verge OF desperation if not relieved
promptly We now one and all do pray the
Council to relieve our distress and want by
giving Us cur shar. q. the city work, and
not having work for ali we believe ourselves
entitled to equal share OF the work now going
ono and would ls content with a wee x OK a
month about
We think it feasible way az pYoqnps Pellet
without extra expense - our city. We have
consulted some OF those row working regard
ing tllrn-about, and also the suggestion of
his Honor, the Mayor OF half pay and double
forcee and they have concurred in oug view,
which As our protest Of half pay; and nos only
they. but every working man Of the city and
state indignantly protests against half paw
We therefore hope tina. " ljor Barke and tie
City Council Will not et,q any Objection to
that simple and easy way of reflex.
Th;S 10punaDt roy. a, -.
lA.oriny men.
Administrator Burke addressed the Gourcs!.
and. alluding to the petition referred to the !
by Mayor Leeds, sad that the !
to employ !&hor.rs shilty days !
and change would scarcely accomplish the !
object sought, a, there we're about five thou !
sand persons out Of employment. If q Yaboror !
should rely upon pro ,ata OF ely labor, !
after receiving work Tor one month his family |
would staSSs bsfoSe Ais tUI& would ..t;,ils be /
reached
Concerning Tie proposition 20 reduce
wages Mr.. Burke ssatet. tLae he considered
5he present rate OF pay 81 .. per day. quit.
as low as any mar could pay .ase gent and
support /. family upon. but h was .ltisiied
nat the laborers now employed in the Depart
nent OF improvements would make sacrifices
md consent TO some reduction if necessary
~ alt eu~ SulAcsiAs HEtsuseB E0N AUlt4S-
,loyed
aIr. Burle stated thae TIE officers q his
department. had assembled ana authorized
llm 20 reduce thtiy salaries aud apply the
moua: to the employment. Of an additional I
lumber OF laborlng men, and in doing so, he
eemed 1t bus asst to those who voluntarily
proposes the reduction. that the reduction
Mould be pro rata throughout all the depart
aents OF the city government.
The Mayor said that, far from raising any
ELECTION to any plan that would give relief to
ao distressed laboring classes. he was in
agor of prompt action 70 the extent of the ,
blllty Of the city, Ii it was deemed proper q
, adopt the suggestion OF the II tyo- to re- c
uce all laborers to one dollar per day. in /
rder to employ larger number, he had no d.
oubt but that several thousand men would =
3cept that pay to save their families from l
aryatlon. L
The petition was referred to the Committee O
the Whole. Immediately after the adjourn y
tent Of the Council, the said committee was
'nyened IN the Mayors parlor, and the mat
Is taken under consideration. No action will a
3 taken upon it until next Thursday. O
The petitioners and scores OF those in :,
rested remained in the hall during the SEES Il
on of the Council anxious to know what a
,urse the authorities meant to pursue After Ii
lie adjournment of the Council the office of !,
e Administrator of Improvements was be-
eyed by the crowd, some OF whom were "
amorouS for immediate action, IL