The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-06

think banks can hold back men from what they
must havea Marx my Wo oi9s ont ,n WORK FIX pe
will be hi to pay here before the summer ls
out"
| this society was armed or not.
THAT is neither here nor there said he.
pretty soon 5you Wa3 h to know th an ehe
much more until you ioin 1t; that's all can
| say.
He stated that he had heard in q vague way Of
such societies, but could never hear of any OF
their meetings. He recognized the fact, though,
that the labor movement in the West was a
most significant thing. and he would not pe
SURPRISED # our militia did not have t some
large number of Idle men here, but as yet had
not received any intelligence of an active or,
ganizaon here If there We're any Signs nsc ef
at any cost. rather than let 1t go on and gather
force. It would require the heroic treatment
and the sore if 1t broke out. would have 10
have tho knife of the surgeon used on it at
once.
MAYOR P1LsBURy.
The question being broached to the Mayor he
replied that at n rough guess, ana exclusive OF
those who are natural born idlers, and those
persons who do absolutely. need occnpa-
sand SAND unemployed 0I people in New Orleans,
He has now on file from two to three nun
dred applications Tor admission 1n ,, on me ns
whom are in necessitous circumstances ana are
willing TO work at anything. 1t was with this
! condition of affairs in his mind that he was de-
sirous that our drainage canals should be
cleaned: It was q necessary work ana Wouli
have afforded occupation to quite a number OF
| labOrprs, but il was now, unfortunately, too
late In the season. on sanitary grounds: to
do 80. In his opinion. however. the con
dition of our tgorkingmen, although precarious
Is not Desperate and at all events not compar-
able to their destitution two years ago. In 1876.
This opinion :. bases on the number OF appii-
cations made fth work now, which are feW In
comparison to tho period referred to. He enter
tains strong hopes of an early business season
this fall and bright prospeGts Tor the future re-
When the city is reimbursed by Congress the
amount outlayed for the hydrogpraphic sur
yey OF the Mississippi, some sl6ooo or s8 900
ated may bs ~ APPLIED Ito to necessary Works Of
IMPROVEMENT, which will give work to II large
number Of the mechanes not now employed a.
be in the Mayors parlor at the time,
gave his views. in answer to our, ques-
tions-in a general sense. however In his
In winter. there is not enough work Tor
the homes, and willing laborers, WHO are
negro laborers. q, large number of whom
arc lazy. and willing to work only as long
as n fhe Thes
says, have no families, and nobody to care for:
after spending o triile for something to cat
which our levees are infested. There for five
cents they can stand no all night. or Tor u dime
can ct a cup of coffee in tho morning. At that
rate they care to do very little work.
Don't these barrel houses pay a regular bar
room license?' we asked,
Ans No, they do not, on the score that they
draw their liquor direct from the barrel. Why
It is that they are not made to pay regular
license, do not know they are a new insti u
ton that has sprung No with Repnbchnls,n.
They are generally resort for thieves. and tho
proprietnrs know it their influence on tho
community is very baneful.
ADMINISTRATOR M'cAFFREY.
In answer to our questions Administrator
M Caffrey said:
The condition of the working classes in this
city at present. as compar d to the past. is even
worse than can be surnlsed by casual obser-
yer.
became well acquainted with the elements
known as clerks, statesmen. warehousemen and
soerd tog heg With t nG var9ns asses who
steamboat levee. Five years ago these people
were mostly all employed at their respective
callings SO as to earn good living for their
families. Year by year our business interests
have been declining. In consequence OF its di-
yerrgence by other routes to the markets then
tributary to New Orleans. First we lost the
Alabama and Georgia trade for -four, meats
etc then Texas followed. and now even the
their principal supplies from Western markets
This shrinkage in trade caused a proportionate
IN me tbe aa ,an rs 10
not succeed in one branch OF trade he can divert
his CAPITAL t. other eanay pr2flta5 ?l II iny S
becomes stagnant. the employee must suffer
until other enterprises are established by tho
use Of capital hence our city having lost her
former prestige as a competitor for the patron
age of the points named. the working classes
, must suffer more or less until she assumes i'm.
portance in her new role of an exporting and
manufacturing city.
TIE shrinkage referred to has been going on
s ap 5 Th ho sJsry tine R9 n
, was the year before. Large business houses
who last year employed five clerks, now get
, along with two and the other three are idle
ment or how to provide for their families dur
ing the coming dull summer In my own circle
J / know as many ia fifty good, sober. Intelligent
men with families, who were always able tt
provide. ordinary comforts, md are now
alarmed by the fear that they will be unable tC
provide food for their children during the com.
, ing summer and dull fall.
, Some of these men have called upon me. So
Letting labor even at 81 per day, who two years
ago were earning good wages in business cir
ces and never dreamed of being forced to So
ljcit work from the city
ADMINISTRATOR DIAMOND.
In the opinion Of Administrator Diamond the
ca of the workingmen generally is bad one
AS to mechanics. he said | am mechanic
myself. and constantly among them; Ii you
r such shont notice could take you around In
: my own neighborhood, and not only point out
) have most probably come under your notice
) but would introduce you to the mon them
selves, whe would tell you their own story. As
to the existence of any organic alton among tn.
workngmen. / have no knowledge. but would
most probably know If there were: nor can,
$ say that any measures are being adopted by tho
workingmen to remedy the condition Of affairs
Another indication Of the need Of work is the
number of applications that are made to me
/, daily for positions in my department by good
: intelligent and sober men from the levee, the
3 cotton presses and other quarters seeking
? something to bridge over the summer months
; ADMINISTRATOR CAvANAC.
Mr. Cavanac was, unfortunately, i'll whom he
, was met. and was about retiring 10 his home
( and therefore could not speak at any length OF
, the subject. He said. however that there were
, a great many men unemployed in the city an(
, that applications are made daily to him fol
, work. At another time. should tho question
i recur. he might give IA fuller account of his OBJ
, Servations
ADMINISTRATOR RENGsTORFF.
, This gentleman was interviewed particularly
regarding the German portion OF our pOpula
ton. Said Mr.. Rengstorff: As far az can se'
there is no distress among tho German people
Of lie cit. rLnSn achn q Z in GOOD hnalth