The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-21
SAVANNAH'S GOOD SHOWING
Unemployed Labor SCaTCeT Here Than
In Other Sections.

Mayor McDonough Reviews the Stu
ation-Savannah Is Peaceful, While
other Cities are Having Riotous
Demonstrations - Laborers Here
Have Been Well Paid, and Have
Something to Tide Them Over the
Dull Season.
There appears to be less complaint in
Savannah on account of the enforced idle
ness Of working men than almost any city
of its size in the country.
From all sections come reports of the
distress Of the working men on account of
the enforced idlesness of thousands who
have been thrown out of employment by the
shutting down of mills and factories on
account of the hard times. Savannah APP
pears to be great deal more fortunate in
this respect than the northern cities,
where demonstrations on the part of I'M
employed working men are theorder of the
day. Especially is it so in the large cities
like Chicago and New York
Nevertheless, it is true that there are
very large number of unemployed people
in Savannah at this time. At this season
OF the year, before the busy season has
begun, there is always a large number of
unemployed men in this section.
RAILROAD FORCES CUT DOWN.
The number is probably greater this
year than at any previous season for the
last several years The railroads, as is
well-known, have cut their forces to the
lowest possible notch, and are employing
the fewest possible men to do the work
required This has thrown large mum
Der Of men out Of employment, and if
there is any distress in Savannah it is
probably among the former employees of
the railroads AT this season of the year
the railroads usually employ very large
forces in their shops getting in shape for
the fall business. This has not been the
case this year, however, and the effect is
generally felt
All employers, large or small, in every
section of the country like the railroads,
are employing as few men as possible,
and this contributes to increase the num-
Der OF unemployed.
NO GREAT COMPLAINT, SAYS MAYOR NC
DONOUGH.
Zone reason - said Mayor McDonough,
yesterday, in speaking of the labor situa-
tion in Savannah, why there has been
no great complaint on account of the lack
of employment, is that the large number
Of men who engage every season in work
ing cotton and all the various branches of
labor which the handling of cotton in
wolves, are now awaiting the opening of
the cotton season.
las rule these men receive very good
wages, and as they are provident and
saving as class, they always save a
large portion of their wages during the
busy season to tide them over the dull
season. Consequently there is very little
want among them.
1--WE have ample evidence here" con-
tinued Mayor McDonough, ''in the in
creased number of applications for aid
that there is larger idle class this year
than usual. The most noticeable fact
about these applications for aid is that
only about % per cent. of them are from
actual residents of Savannah, the large
majority being people who are simply
passing through or who have been here
only short time at most tramps and ad-
venturers from every direction who are
beating their way about over the world.
PEOPLE WHO WANT ASSISTANCE.
''They want assistance and usually ask
for transportation to some other place.
They are most persistent in their de-
mands and it requires the closest scruti-
ny to prevent the city from being de-
frauded every day. Our rule is never or
very seldom, to give assistance to any
persons who do not bring papers showing
themselves to be what they claim. We
usually compel them to identify them
serves by letters from people IN the city
who know them and consider them wor-
thy of assistance.
Another curious fact in this connec-
ton is that not one in twenty-five people
who apply for aid is colored They are
almost invariably white. The only colored
people who ask the city for assistance are
the old and enfeebled, the decrepit and
deformed, who are unable to work for
living. This is very creditable to the
colored people. 1t is true that it requires
very little for negro to live upon and
this little is very easily obtained, which
partly accounts for the small number ap-
plying to the city for assistance"
Savannah, it will be seen, makes a very
creditable showing in this respect. At
lanta, as is shown by Geographic reports,
is having trouble with restraining the
demonstrations of the unemployed. No
such situation confronts the people of the
Forest City. Her laborers have been paid
well and most of them have something
laid up with which to tide over the hard
times.
A meeting will be held tonight to ar
range programme for labor day, Sept. 4.
on which occasion Savannah will make
most creditable showing