Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-17
COHEN IND COMPANY.
A Call on tie District Commissioners.
Demands and Threats.
Visit to Secretaries Sherman and Schurs

Visit to Secretaries Sherman and SEIZURE.
About IL o'clock this morning one hundred
or more men, principally colored, appeared or
AZ street, opposite the Columbia building, and
ranged themselves on the east curb, while q
delegation Of some twenty, headed by Cohen
the nightly haranguer on the City Hall and
Capitol steps, entered the rooms of the Dis
trict Commissioners and handed Commission
er Dent paper, which he proceeded to read
and afterwards handed to Commissioner Twi
ming, while the delegation waited in silence
until ne had concluded. This was quite long
paper, and the tenor of it was that the labor
ing men desire the money appropriate by
Cor gresS expended, and that they demand
$50 per day for labor.
COMMISSIONER DENT STATED
that as to the matter of contract work, the
law fixes how work shall be given out.
1t saysit shall be given out to the lowest bid
der, and the District Commissioners have
nothing to do with establishing the pay of the
.aborlng men employed by contractors. AS
far as the District labOrers are concerned they
are paying them sl-25 per day: AT this rate
the Com miSsiOners believe they are doing
more good to the laboring men and their
families than by paying sl.5O, as they are
limited as to their expenditures, and by pay
BENEFITS to a larger number of idle men than
they could by giving $50 to a necessarily
smaller number.
Here Cohen stated that the Commissioners
were the servants of the people, and it was
their duty to obey the wishes of the people: A
they thought that 81 50 was not too much and an
how can men with families support them on
81 25? 1t was not possible. They now desire
for unskilled labor. The District authorities,
as well as the contractors, have right to Sc
lect the best men from among the laborers;
aga a ta Se all the Ssv hack
propose to demand $50 per day. They pro-
posed 10 see the other departments of govern
me ment !. where s work is being done They claim
right to say how it shall be disposed of, and
they don't propose to have a less rate Of pay
fixed for unSkilled labor.
Commissioner Dent said they could have no
controversy, and it was useless TO eXpend
words. The Commissioners were governed
by law IN tits matter OF giving out work, and
they have no control OF the rates of laborerS'
pay.
Cohen Gnterrupting) said they had, and
claimed that the rates could be fixed in the
contract just as well as any other terms of the
SpeciEca tons.
Nj. Dent differed. and said finally that the
District officials are doing all they can for the
Interests of the Idle men. They are limited in
means, and desire to give the benefits to the
greatest number in their power. They can do
no more than that.
One of Cohen's aids, white man. here in
timated that this was not satisfactory, and
Cohen echoed this, and said something in an
incOherent tone about the Commissioners
inning no difficulty about paying their attor-
ney literally.
Mr.. Dent said that was not then question
under discussion.
COHEN THREATENS THE COMMISSIONERS.
and they 1.-THE Commissioners would hear
from them very soon. All here turned to
leave, a general murmur OF disappointment
icing kept up as they left the room. and the
delegation filed out to the lines drawn up
opposite and taking their places in the ranks
the word of command 10 march was given and
the party marched OFF up Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
The rumOr was current about the street that
they had gone to stop wOrkmen employed on
the public works, and that the excavation for
the bureau OF engraving and printing, at the
corner of 18th and b streets southwest, was to
be the initial point for the conflict to COM
mence.
THE POLICE ON THE ALERT AGAINST AN OUT
BREAK.
Major Morgan was this mOring notified of
the incendiary language used at a meeting of
these men last night at the east portico of the
Capitol, and that they were going to make
some overt demonstration to-day or very
soon. The police will be ready to act if it is
necessary at any moment.
Before they left Cohen handed to Commits
sioner Dent another paper, which, after scan
ming and handing to Major Twining, he re-
turned TO Cohen, remarking that they had no
use for such papers as that. The Commits
that this was very offensive and insulting
paper, charging the Commissioners with be-
ing nypOcfiieS, ana everything that IS vile and
Corrupt.
A CONSULTATION.
The District Commissioners, Majer Morgan,
OF the police, and District Attorney Wells, are
to have consultation upon the subject of I'M
lawful gatherings, for the purpose Of agreeing
upon the best and most summary way of en-
forcing the existing laws to preserve order III
the city.
The Call on Secretary sherman.
Isaac Cohen, at the head of about three
hundred men, nine-tenths of them colored,
halted at the east front, of the Treasury,
shortly after IL O'Clock today. He faced his
followers, who were in two ranks, towards the
building. With some thirty-five of them, most
OF whom were white. and wore red rOSetteS
and seemed to be his lieutenants, he marched
up the Treasury steps, and proceeded to
Secretary Sherman's room. The party was
admitted Cohen seated himself in chair on
took one on the left aD Cohen presented @n5sd
to the secretarya set of resolutions adopted
by the workingmen's relief association, de
handing that not less than $50 per day be
paid by the government to laborers
WHAT SECRETARY SHERMAN SAID.
The Secretary read them over and said: Il
have read the resolutions which you have sub
mitted to me. There is no one in the country
more in favor of paying good wages for an
honest days work than am
A DISCUSSION.
Cohen said something about the down
trodden labOring man, and asked the Score
tary what he was paying labOrers who were at
work on the bureau of Engraving and Print
The Secretary replied that he did not know
whether the Treasury department had any
men employed there or not. The work under
The department was given out by contract, as
the law directed.
Cohen asked what the Treasury paid labor
ers in the department?
The Secretary said they were paid in the
same way that the clerks and officers of the
department, from himself down, are paid He
did not know exactly what was paid to labor
ers, but would send for Architect Hill He
dispatched a messenger for MIR. Hill.
Mr.. Welsh told the Secretary (Whie Mr.
Hill was coming) that the officers of the gov
eminent did not know how the wOrkingmen
suffered. The officers lived well and enioyed
themselves and were ignorant of the misery
existing in the working classes. Though they
were not suffering from the yellow fever, like
the people south, still they suffered badly for
the want of bread.
COhen.-"Ye they have the yellow fever
down there, but We have
THE BLUE FEVER
up here'
Everybody laughed, the Secretary included,
and Cohen the lOudest.
when work would be commenced on it ? Win
ter, he said, was coming on, and there were no
prospects of the work being commenced
Secretary Sherman replied that as far as he
knew the completion Of the monument was in
the hands Of a commission which, he beloved
desired to finish the work at as early date as
possible.
Mr.. Hill having arrived, the Secretary asked
OF engraving and printing building?
MIR: Hill replied that there were but two.