Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-24
THE LABOR QUESTION.
The Strikers Reject the Report of
Their own ArbItratoFs steam
ships and Railroads Handling
Their own Freights.

The Strikers Reject the Report OF
Their own ATbItratOrs - steam"
ships and Railroads Handling
Their own Freights.
On Thursday afternoon communication
was addressed by the strikers to several
prominent gentlemen in Savannah
soliciting their aid in bringing about an
amicable adjustment Of the differences
between them and their employers, and
promising to abide what these gentlemen
might recommend, aHd faithful service
when again at work. They based their
claim upon the advance in rents and pro-
visions, and other expenses Of living, as set
forth in the following communication;
SAVANNAH, September p, 1881.
To Msssrs. ". " Gordon, Il GilHleT. 4
Minis, @. L Cope, Robert Faaiganf; yoa"
Scrsz,esR. J. 4 Rally, s. g. Haynes & Bro,
JR. West. Riclards0n & B1rHGTd, and any
other Cd CITIZENS:
GKSTLEMES-As old citizens Of Savannah,
interested in her welfare as well as our
selves, we come to you in the dilemma that
IS row surrounding the business OF the city.
We would be very much gratihed TO have
YOU confer IN our behalf with the Central
Railroad authorities, for whom We have
been working, and see II some smicable ar
rangement cannot be made TO bring the
present surroundings to a close We would
state that we are not IN favor OF any turou-
lence 81 all, but we simply ask q consid-
Grafton OF what may be our claim.
Last year we worked for 81 ., 81 % and
81 90 per day. This year the cost Of living,
including groceries, meat, house rent, etc,
--e@erg1f1u aH-auNaG and find IL
impossible TO care for ourselves and
families at old prices, and we would respect
fully ask YOU gentlemen 10 intercede for
"a and have us allowed 81 co. 81 80 and
50 90. Any action you may take for US
would be very much appreciated, and we
promise faithful service under such pay as
nav be mutually agreed on for US.
Yours respectfully,
VI. Jackson, ROBERT Brown,
Z. FIELDING, W. COLLINGTON,
II. WILLIAMS, THOMAS HAYES,
DENNIS SAUssI, BROwN CARTER,
A. SQUIRE, NJ. TOSsELL,
r. Y. RUTLEDGK, Chairman and Secretary.
To this appeal the subjoined reply was
made, but owing to the fact that a meeting
Of the strikers was TO be held at o'clock
the conference did not take place:
SAVANNAH, September %, 1881.
r. " Rutledge, Secretary and Chairman,
and others:
SIR+The writer's have had conference
concerning your communication TO US and
others, citizens Of Savannah, aud we have
requested the other gentlemen named by
YOU 70 meet at the Office Of VIM. Hunter T.
Son, At $50 o'clock this evening.
If you and others Of your signers can be
there at the same hour, we shall be glad to
confer with you. We are, respectfully,
WIN w. GORDON.
VIM. HUNTER.
Wishing, however, to do all they could
20 carry out their wishes, Messrs. Hunter
and Gordon, in behalf Of the gentlemen
whom the laborers called upon, sent the
colored committee the following note:
SAVANNAH, September %, 1881, DAN.
r. " Rlltledge Secretary and Chairman, Sd-
Uanndh:
sIR-The citizens requested by you have
met and deliberated and had conference
with the railroad auth critics. They are to
meet again at the Office Of VIM. Hunter 81
Son, at $50 a. m, for further de.iberstion.
We desire that you and the other signers OF
your communication to US meet US at the
above named office at 10 O'Clock promptly.
Respectfully, WM. W. GORDON.
WA. HUNTER.
The gentlemen addressed formed them
selves into q committee together with the
committee who had acted on Thursday,
VIM. Hunter Esq. in the chair, Capt. Robert
Fslligant acting as Secretary. They had q
long conference with the committee from
the COlored Longshoremen's Association, Of
which the strikers are members, and gave
their claims and statements a patient hear
iug, and ELECTED much information from them
by well directed questions They also heard
the side as represented by the officers Of the
ships and road, and, after due consider
alton, recommended to the strikers and the
ships the following:
SAVANNAH, September %, 1881.
The undersigned, having carefully con-
sidered the matter submitted to them, do
recommend that the men return to work at
two O'Clock D. m. today, at PIC. per hour
advance on present rate d y work. and DC.
per hour advance on night arr Sunday
work, and we further recomra nd that
these rates be accepted and pad by their
employers.
WIN HUNTER, Chairman,
VIM W. GORDON,
JOHN FLANNERY,
JAS. B. WEST,
EDW. &. RICHARDSON,
JAS NJ. BARNARD, Jr.,
J. f. MINIS,
J. K. REILLY,
]. II. EsTILL,
q. NJ. SORRRL,
J.. II. DE MOETMOLLIN,
This was rejected by the strikers in a
note from their Secretary, addressed to the
committee of gentlemen referred to, in
sisting upon their original demand of 50 90,
81 50 and 50 90 per day, as will be seen by
the following note:
Nessrs. Gordon, Hunter and others:
We return you our sincere thanks for the
kindness you have done US, and present this
in answer.
We fully appreciate your good work and
the interest you have manifested in our
behalf
We submitted the report we received
from you to a meeting of our constituents,
and It was rejected. They say that they
have not demanded but have asked for 81,
81 80 and 50, and will not accept less.
Very respectfully,
RICHARD n. RUTLEDGE,
Secretary Committee.
This the steamship and railroad compa-
mics contend they can not afford to pay,
and have begun to strengthen and
perfect the system they started upon
In the beginning of the emer-
gencY, that of doing their own work. This
will, Of course, cause some inconvenience
| aud delays to the passage of freights through
| this pOr'; but can be OF only short duration,
as great energy will be brought to bear to
| bring the service up to an efficient standard
as rapidly as possible.
The position taken by the strikers Is that
| their pay Is the same as 1t was months ago,
/ nh he avuauca cf Ifvinor hos warn Fnofa