New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-29
" THE WoRLD" CoMPoSIToRS on STRIKE


on BOTH SIDES REFUSED.
The compositors IN the Office of The Uorld strnck
last evening at $50 o'clock. The story OF the
cause of the strike as told by the men. IL as fol-
lows: After William II. England, the son OF l. W.
England became business manager of me Vortd,
abont three weeks ago. he made reduction IN the
wages of the compositors from DO to 40 cents
thousand ems The men claim that the first notice
they received Of the reduction was on
Friday, March IT, after they had worked
one night Thursday of the now week IN that
Office and it was applied to the work done on that
night. Considerable discomfort was excited by the
reduction aud this was increased when orders were
given to set the paper in solid BREWER type, except
ing the market reports, which were to be in nom
parel This change went into effect a week after
the reduction TO 40 cents, and also was made, ac-
cording to the statements of tho men, without pre-
vious notice. The effect of it was largely to lessen
the amount of matter that could be put
in type for each issue of the paper,
and consequently to curtail considerably the
wages which the men could earn. The
reduction is said to have decreased by more than
so per cent the compostors' pay. Men who for
merly earned 81 or 50 a day could only earn under
the new rate and with the new tyne, 50 or SO. In
the great majority of cases il is claimed. 50 day
could not be exceeded.
The men expressed complaints at this large re-
duction, which, they say, certainly reached Mr.
England. They took no formal action to resist it,
however, until yesterday, being disposed to
wait for tho appearance at the Office of
Mr.. Cypiot, the foreman. Mr.. Cypiot has
been sick and unable to attend to his business
for some time past Yesterday he went to the Office
and was waited upon by committee of three from
the men, the members of which represented to him
their allegations OF the injustice OF the reductions
protesting that the, new, wages were not living
wages Mr. Cypiot laid the matter before Mr. Eng
land. The latter refused ia restore the old is cent
rate but suggested as a compromise that the
accep a regular salary and work seven days week
The proposition was accompanied by q condition
that the working force be reduced from about
fOrty-One to thirtythree men, the best ones to be
chosen from the entire number. The men replied to
this that seven days work was too exactlng, and
that even if they worked seven days their salary
wonld be much below the earnings of good COM
positors elsewhere They declined to accept Mr.
Engands terms, whereupon he left the office pving
the men until to-day to accept his proposal leave
the paper. At $50 p IN. the conpositors decided to
strike unless the old rate of 10 cents a thousand
ems was restored and composition work guaranteed
for seven hours day.
About o'clock w II. Hurlbert, the Editor of The
World went to the office and was informed of the
strike aad of the mems demands He refused to ac-
cede to them, and insisted that the men should re-
turn TO work or leave the Office All but three of
with the paid by the week. were all of the reg
ular force who worked to get ont the paper this
morning. Few outside compositors could be OBJ
tanned.
TRIBUNE reporter sought Mr.. Uurlbert, who,
however, coud not be seen. Mr.. Speed, the manag-
ing editor after consulting with Mr. Hurlbert said
that all that the latter desired to state as coming
from The World office was that the first lntimaton
he had received of the dissatisfaction demands of
the compOsitOrs was when he reached the office |
about O'clock. At that hour, and under such cir
he could not consider any proposition !
from the men, and he had required them to resume
work or leave the Office.
Late in the evening Mr.. England Mr. Cypiot and |
several OF the men, acting committee for the |
rest, held conference at The World office. MEM
Der of the committee subsequently, said: After |
posed to put back to work at the former Ascent
rate, and think he would have done so had not |
Hurbert refused to allow it. Mr.. England said that
ne had no idea that the rate which he had put |
INTO force with the new type would scale down the |
wages so greatly. That looks TO me rather thin.
Mr. England must know perfectly well how much |
nen can earn at 40 cents Thousand. We would |
have gone To- work tonight at tho new rate. if we
had been promised chance 10 have our old rate Tt
stored But Mr.. Hurlbert would not let US go to
work on any terms"
Mr.. England declined to make any statement |
further than TO say 1.-THE matter is simply this the
nen struck, and knew nothing of tho strike until
was sent for at 10 O'Clock. 1 heard of no PROPOSE
ion from themen to work AZ the old rate before the
trike and made no proposition to the men to give
hem regular salary"
About ten policemen were stationed IN The UOrld
,fce TO guard against any possible damage being
lone by the men. The compOsItOrS, however were
ntiTely peaceabe and gentlemanly, and while eX-
PRESSING themselves with feeling in tho matter,
howed no desire to commit any act OF violence.