Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-25

i0Hd 70 De KUN on pOuDl9 lime
Etc.
New YORK, Dec. 19.-The closing
OF the Singer Sewing Machine Works
at Elizabethport yesterday throws
three thousand five hundred men out
OF employment. The pay roll is $40,-
600 per week: The trouble has been
brewing for many months, and was
pTecipitated yesterday when Controller
Carlton and City Treasurer Wheelan ,tJt
ElIzabethport, went to the factory of
the company and made a levy for $780,
OO0 claimed to be due on last assess
ment for taxes. The controller select
ed for his levy two locomotives used
in the company's yards, stating that he
did not wish 10 cause any unnecessary
inconvenience. The information of
the levy was wired to the New York
office of the company, where it was
received at noon, and the order to close
the works was sent out during the
afternoon.
w. F. Proctor, vice-president of the
company, stated last night that the
Singer company, when Elizabeth was
In trouble, advanced 100000 on a call
loan, and then individual members of
the firm advanced a similar sum-: be-
sides the Singer company bought many
Elizabeth bonds, so that the city owes
the company nearly $l,500,OO0. The
demand of the company for the pay-
ment of the call loans and interest
have been ignored and the city virtual
ly tried to rerudiate her bonds. "Why.
in order to establish their validity"
said he, "We had TO GO into court, and
even after we obtained a decision, we
were offered only fifty cents on the
dollar, and they did not offer ever that
in cash. They rendered new bonds for
half the value of the old ones. Worse
than that, the legislature has gone on
helping them with all sorts of acts.
They appoint commissioners who as
sess us for taxes to keep up the town,
and refuse to assess the town to pay us
our interest. They also refuse our
offer to pay our taxes 10y allowing the
municipality credit il its debt to US.
That is the situation, and l guess we
car stand it just as long as they can"
Last night orders were issued to run
the shops of the company in Scotland
on double time in order that the bust
ness OF the company may not be inter
rupted.
Yesterday at Elizabethport, when
the truth became apparent the en-
ployes looked from one to the other in
alarm. The matter had not even been
limited to them; and they became
angry when they thought OF their fam
lilies and the coming cold weather.
That's what we get for working for a
firm that fights the city, the poor
nan always goes to the wall" and
similar expressions were frequently
heard. The employees quilted work at
an early hour, and sat gloomily about
the factory, awaiting the closing
whistle. Their actions were indicative
Of deep feeling; when the whistle
blew they put OF their coats,
and were walking gloomily away
when one shouted, 81 don't
hear anything about pay either"
Considerable confusion followed, men
began talking loudly, and angrily and
a panic might have ensued if a
messenger had not arrived from the
superintendent Office with the an
nouncement that the men would be
paid Monday. After that the men
filed quietly through the immense
building and across the broad grounds
to their homes. Some remained about
the streets talking,
City Controller Carlton said: "They
always close up about this time in the
year, and now they explain the matter
by throwing the blame on the city, |
think it is an admirable bluff, but |
did not give them an opportunity to
cavil to-day, l might have put them TO
$500 cost by merely sending a deputy,
l did not, however, l went myself. l
think, from the way they acted, they
wanted me to levy on something
like a load of half finished
machines, then there would
have been an opportunity for great cry
of persecution, but l was not going to
be fooled halfway. | levied on those
things and left them in their charge
and service. That is my duty as con
t%roller. They owe the city taxes. l
do my best to collect them. l am I'M
der bond to do exactly what l did"
The Singer company is assessed at
$750,000 and pays one-twelfth of the
taxes of the city. The employees have
been working about eight hours a day
this fall. Men with families have not
been able to make more than ten or
twelve dollars a week. They are paid
by the hour, fifteen cents an hour be-.
ing their usual wages. Several eln-
ployes say the wages paid are not suf-
icient to enable them to save money.
Nearly all have accounts at stores,
and grocers and other tradesmen will
not sell to any of the locked out work
men on credit.
A sentiment prevailed among the
workmen, as they walked from the
shops, that the city officers wilfully
and unnecessarily enforced the law.
They believe, also, that it will be many