Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03
LAB0R'S Biz UPHEAVAL.
BITTER COMPLAINTS AGAINST
THE HUNGARIANS.

the Importation of Foreigners Under
COntract-The Crisis in France.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "A number OF
representatives of labor organizations ap.
peared before the House Committee or
Labor to-day and argued against the i'm.
pOrtatiOn Of foreign labOrers under con.
tract. T. V. Powderly, ex-Mayor of Scran.
ton, Pa, said that he represented the
Knights Of Labor organization, number
ing over 100000 men. This association
desires an eight hour law, legislation pre-
venting foreigners from purchasing large
tracts of public land in this country and
preventing the importation of foreigners
under contract. He spoke of the importa-
ton of Hungarians and said they re-
turned home after saving comparatively
small sums of money. One family of nine
persons was instanced that lived on $27
per month. Their diet was said to be
mush and water for six days, with meat
on Sunday. The Hungarians, he said,
were fast becoming as obnoxious in the
East as the Chinese in the West.
w. +. Barclay, also of Pennsylvania
and representing the coke regions, said
that only about 3 per cent. of the Hun
garians could read. Their earnings
average 81 % per day, and they work
from two to five days per week, beginning
work at l or 2 O'Clock in the morning, and
continuing until 7 O'Clock. The Hun
garians, Mr.. Barclay said, were most
filthy in their habits. and in some cases
as many as ten lived in single apart
ment.
William Leach, of New Jersey, and E..
Bullion, of Ohio, were questioned regard
ing the importation of Belgians to work
in glass factories. The former said that
the foreigners received 30 per cent. less in
wages than Americans.
John S. McClelland, of New Jersey, re-
ferred to the recent strike of telegraphists,
and said that the Western Union Tele-
graph Company had sent to England for
operators during the strike, but could not
secure them because they held life posi-
tions under the government.
EX-COngressman Murch, of Maine, was
present, and said that unless Congress by
legislation protected American laborers,
the men would conclude that protection
was a fraud.
The members of the committee asked if
the operators advocated strikes in order
that the price of coal and coke might be
raised. q ~ ssssssss
Mr.. Barclay replied that they did and
that he had been offered the privilege of
organizing the men for a strike. The
representatives of labor organizations who
are here have selected John S. McClel-
land, of New Jersey; John Murray, of
Ohio; Il. V. POwderly, James Campbell,
and John Schliecker, of Pennsylvania, as
a committee to remain in Washington
and urge the passage of Representative
Foran's bill to prohibit the importation of
foreign labOrers under contract.
THE FALL RIVER sPINNERs.
FALL RIVER, MASS, Feb. 2.-There
was a large attendance at the spinners
meeting tonight, over 700 being present.
1t was voted to strike in ten mills on
Monday, as follows: Three of the Union
mills, one of the Sagimore mills, one of
the Tecumsch mills, one of the Chace
mills, one of the Wampanoag mills, one
of the Slade mills, and two of the Borden
City mills. The following was adopted:
WHEREAS, In the face of improving markets
and the large dividends made in the year just
past, a reduction of wages has been an
nounced; therefore
ResolUed, That we resist the reduction by a
trike at ten mills.
ResOlUed, That it should be set forth to the
public that if corporations were in earnest in
believing a cut-down necessary they should
begin with the Treasurer, Superintendent and
Overseers.
ResoIUed. That we urge upon the 'weavers
working IN these mills not TO use filling made
by other mills.
ResoE0ed, That we appeal to the operatives
Of New England to aid us in this strike, as
the battle is theirs as well as ours.
There was considerable speaking at the
meeting and attention was called to the
present healthy condition of the print
cloth trade. Some said that they would
be willing to submit to a smaller reduc-
ton, but that contemplated was reduc-
tion Of nearly IL 1-9 per cent. in the SPIN
ners and II per cent. in weavers' wages
and was too much. The ten mills selected
to strike have a total of 1910 opera
tives and weekly pay roll of
$23,600. They produce weekly 1920
pieces of print cloth. Secretary Howard
said that he had heard from New Bedford
that the directors of the Acushnett mills
had voted to change to print cloths dur
ing the strike, and that the Grinnell mill
was contemplating similar action.
Single spinnerS will receive 81 each per
week from the union and married spin
ners $4 80 each, and % cents for each
child. Whether the manufacturers will
inaugurate lockout is uncertain. It
will probably be decided Monday. They
claim that in case of shut down vOlun-
tarily or If caused by strike, mills in
other places now on white goods would
change over to prints and thus reduce
the market for their own goods while at
the same time keeping the print cloth
market glutted. Both sides are deter
mined, and long struggle is expected.
THE SITUATION IN FRANCE.
PARIS, Feb. 2.-The Chamber of Depu-
ties to-day resumed the debate on NJ.
LanglOis' Interpolation regarding the
economical policy of the government and
questions affecting workingmen. The
house adopted an order of the day, pro-
posed by NJ. ROuvier, Republican, which
was supported by the government, de-
claring that the Chamber resolved TO con-
tinue the reforms already commenced,
and to examine propositions tending to
improve the condition of the wOrkingmen,
The question of appointing a committee
of inquiry was then discussed. M.
Ferry hoped that the House would give
priority to the resolution introduced by
M. Clemenceau for the appointment of a
committee, but trusted that it would not
be passed, as inquiry had already been
made regarding the condition of the in
dustrial and agricultural classes. He
said that the inquiry regarding the cOndi-
tion of the industrial classes Of Paris was
proceeding, and would soon terminate.
M. Clemenceau made speech in support
of his resolution, which was adopted by
vote of 254 to 249.
Placards were posted throughout the
city yesterday evening, melting disaf-
tected policemen and starving working
men to arms.
THE HANDS IN NEW ENGLAND MILLS AC-
CEPTING REDUCTIONS.
DOVER, n. H., Feb. 2.-The wages of
the operatives at the Landing Cotton Mill
at South Berwick have been reduced 10
per cent. Notice has been posted in the
COcheco Mills to-day announcing the
amount of the reduction in wages. The
weayers are to get 21L cents per cut, 81
yards long, AZ inches wide, print cloth.
The old price was 233<. The mule spin
ners cents per 100 skeins. The old price
was 32S. The operatives will accept the
reduction.
NEW YORK GLASS WORKERS APPEAsED.
PITTsBURG, PA, Feb. "A telegram
from Oneida, n. Y, to the officers of the
Window Glass Workers Association was
received this morning announcing a set
tlement of the strike there on the same
basis as that adopted in the West. All Of
the factories in the country will now re-
sumo work as soon as the furnaces are
heated.
NOT TO STRIKE.
LAWRENCE, MASS, Feb. 2.-The mule
spinners in the Atlantic Mill held meet
ing last night and voted not to strike, al
though formally protesting against the re-
duction. The decision gives general salts
faction.