The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-26
TO DEMAND A FULL DAY.
The Cotton Shippers Differences With
the LOngSlOTemen at a Focus.


The Loading OF the Steamship Glen
loig to Be Offered the Union Men
This Morning Under the New Scale.
If the Offer is Refused the Work to
Be Undertaken With Non-Union
Labor-An Effort to Keep Every
thing in Harmony.
1t is probable that the work of loading
cotton with non union labor win be under
taken this morning for the first time in
years in Savannah. The union men will
be offered the work, however, on the
condition that they are to do full days
work without regard TO the amount of
cotton slowed in a day.
This is the difference in a nutshell be-
tween the shippers and the lOngshorenen,
which has been the cause of al under
current OF excitement in shipping and
commercial circles for the last three
months
The vessel to be loaded is the steamship
Glenlolg, lying at the Gordon wharf. Mr..
X. +. Harmon, agent of the wharf, has
agreed 10 undertake the loading of the
vessel with union labor. if it can
labor, if union labor cannot be had
on the conditions laid down by the
shipping agents, Messrs. Wilder & Co.
TO ESTABLISH PRECEDENT.
This determination on the part of the
shippers is the result Of a lOng-continued
discussion between the shippers and the
unions, which has been carried on over
several seasons, but which has
been especially pointed dnring the
present season. About three months ago
the shippers brought the matter to the
attention of the union aud requested a
conference. Delegates were appointed
for this purpose by the white
and colored unions, who met
with a committee of the shippers. The
latter stated their position to the COM
mlttee OF the longshOremen, which was
in effect that the port was losing thou
sands OF bales of cotton annually be-
cause of the high charges for handling
cotton at the port, of which the cost Of
labor was the most important item. Fig
ures were submitted showing that the
longshoremen' charges at other
South Atlantic ports were less
than at Savannah, and that in
addition the longshoremen at other ports
put In full days labor, without regard
to the amount of cotton slowed, whereas
at Savannah, where higher wages are
paid, the gangs do not work more than
seven to eight hours day, and
I
1t has slowed its seventy-fve bales.
A FULL DAYS WORK WANTED.
The shippers told the longshoremen's
committee that they were willing to pay
the existing scale of wages, 50 and Sc per
day, but they demanded a fun days
work In return. They also proposed, if
the longshoremen preferred, to make a
rate by the bale, instead of by the day
The shippers argued that it was TO the
interest of the longshOremen to enable
the Savannah merchants to compete with
those of other ports in order that more
cotton might be brought here and more
men given employment. The longshore-
mems committee promised to bring the
matter to the attention of
the unions, which it did
After some days it briefly reported that
the unions refused to make any change in
| the rules governing their labor.
After long. continued conferences the
shippers decided to make a test of the
| matter, which Will be done to-
day. The union men will be of
fered the loading of the vessel
| at the usual wages conditioned upon a
full days work. If they refuse, MIR. Han
non will secure such labor as he can and
superintend the loading of the vessel
himself. The result of the eff
| fort will be watched with great
interest. If Mr.. Harmon succeeds in
loading the Glenloig with non-union labor
| 1t will furnish precedent for the future.
| If the unions accept the shippers terms
everything will 90 along smoothly
| 1t was reported on the Bay last week
| that Mr., a. f. Churchill, Brunswick's
hustling shipper and steyedore, had Sc
cured three of Savannah's gangs of long
shoremen to go to Brunswick to load a
| ship which he has there, on terms much
| more favorable than those demanded by
the men in Savannah