New-York tribune., 1884-12-30
CUTTING ACTORS SALARIES.
WHAT TIE MANAGERS SAY.
DEPRESSION IN BUSINESS MAKES RErhEScnMEsr

DEPRESSION IN BUSINESS MAKES BErRENcHMhNr
NEcrssAnY-AcroRs fAiD TOO Mucn.
That theatrical business throughout the
country has been extremely poor during the present
season fact about which there can he no question
trnn ali part ~ the country reports ~ the break
inenp of companies. owing to meaeie business III
Kew. Yoih there Is haflly theatre the infringement oi
which bas not thought iisalf lhrhy when ~
tho end ~ wrrt tho Income tlhhilph Nle
outlay, " Ia not unnatural, therefore, Wat man
aspis "a . hnif hath hrrh casting ai"l'
f,t baans whereby ihnf tr,nsas u=ht ip materially
reduced without nipnirhs ihe diaoins attractions ="
l,er proturiions u 10 quite natural mat Tho hist
expense Whion II occurred 10 ihrh 0nshl w. ~ nhe'
Was the salary st ior The isl inW Years lh'sa ~ 'p
profession who have considered hr hllnhl"h WIN ANY
degree of rational foresight have agreed maj "'l"'S
salaries were out of proportion t0 their earning powers
More than twelve month. aso1nl Thbl 81 phblah''"
series OF interviews hearing upon lma question:
which showed that the consensus OF managers oP'h
ions even at that time, was that actors Nt9o hh'"
ovrpad and that the burden lay un the shoulders "l Tue
manager aud not OF the public. since then Nha ohahso
has taken place for the worse, ana II II not 10
he wondered AZ that Wholesale reduction or salaries
has already taken place and will no DOUBT
a, far A. possible become general. IL mas
been sarlonically remarked that among the hr''
10 reduce their actors salaries have been snhdry
managers who have been paying no salaries "t al VIII"
much regularity bat though this may be true IL u non"
have been compelled 20 ask all their com
pauics to accent a reduction Of certain per
ccntagc. in some eases high rs 20 per cent,
from their existing salaries As majority OF theatrica
contracts made for specified tme usually Tor lhe
entire season any reduction must be agreed TO Dy Dom
contracting parties company may be dlsDanded ana
then reformed, but rs long II continues It's uhiof-
ptcd season the actor is entitled to what has been
agreed on.
VIEWS OF a. NJ. PALMER
Tn 70 the present time there has beon talk OF re-
dncng salaries in this city, the travelling combinations
alone having suffered in this respect The views Of some
Of the leading managers OF New York were obtained
Yesterday and for harmony seemed among
them \. ~ Palmer, or the Madison Square Theatre,
said
Bu-inc.. IS in n- depressed condition as have ever
seen it, The gculcmcn who 50 an Xious to sec the
election Of Mr. Cleveland promising In itapanacca Tor
all Ills ought 10 feel hugely pnlincd lou ask me II tne
proposed reduction Ia salaries is likely 10 become gon
tioI certainly il i- II must hll over the country you
hear of raj roads cutting down the salaries oT tcF ser
wants II merchants d,chargug some clerks ana fcduc-
up the salaries of Othcr--cyery the same story
II Is therefore an absolutely necessary move on
the managers part 10 do likewise; II u WcI9
bot for the onc-sdcd nature ~ theatrical coniracs
think the move would ha', been Innne pciyIei III,
have not made any reductions IN me sanrc' " 'i,
theatre hay" ~ bnainct7 mem been conpro 10 @ uut
down the cip,c. oi on, ot %! LOW, oo"l m @ ,oioy
have accordingly proposed 10 me actors ~ our 'n5
rrluct on In their salaries. so far We hnd that tho@e
drawing nedlum s"l'} nav p''n w ,rs @ w. and no.
force of onr reasoning lho hFh ntol ~" .,"d
trrsscs nrc those who make the most determined slnn
uropo,c outing down the salaries OF tho'o
Mo earn mere LIVELIHOOD At the beginning ot me
scnann nlnrcs were n1rd nj scale cOnmcnsuratc with
c,cccIifcly prosperous business and were hgh even
undor those circun,tanco. Well business has been the
vrry reverse of good and should think II only fair ~
those who play night after night small houses TO agree
to lirfru H. losses of those who week by week pay
Them regularly As said before. tho general theatrical
c.tracf =. a remarkably Onc--ded affair. The manager
R The ony one who held by IT, for the actor can break
n ot 81, rnlrss of CONSEQUENCES One thing IS quite
oi, and that 4, that ~ the beginning Of next season
actors will fad impossible t0reneW ther eohOac''"
the present rate.'