The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-26
THEIR OFFER DECLINED.
Boss SteVedOTeS Offer TO Stow Cotton
at 40 Cents a Bale.

LURES the brokers' O9CAlne TO accept
the Proposition-Both Sides Part in
Friendly Manner-The Longshore-
men Reiterate tn If Refusal to
Work Under Present Conditions.
A proposition was received yesterday
morning by the ship brokers from the
employing stevedores, in which the latter
proposed to take the work Of slowing cot
ton at 40 cents bale, the understanding,
OF course, being that the work would be
done with union labor.
Besides making the proposition in
writing the stevedores called upon the
ship brokers in person and discussed the
proposition. Each one of the brokers
was called upon. After the steve
dores had made their proposition
the brokers met for the purpose of consid-
ering it. The result was they unani-
mously decided to decline the proposition,
and so notified the stevedores.
The fact that the proposition had been
made and refused was kept very quiet
Neither of the parties to the conference
were anxious TO talk about it. Capt
John Reilly was seen by a MORNING
NEWS reporter He declined TO say any
thing.
DIDN'T WANT TO TALK.
The brokers were not inclined to dis
cuss the sub. ect. Capt. w w. William
son and Mr.. J, F. Minis, who were seen,
replied that proposition, as stated had
been made to the brOhers and had been
declined by them. Capt. Williamson said
that the steyedores mentioned that the
longshoremen were willing TO increase the
limit Of days work per gang from sew
enJy-hve to eighty bales, but Mr.. Minis
said this was not included in the PROPOSE
tion. II was at first intended TO give out
both the proposition and the reply
for publication, but the brokers decided
later in the day not TO do so.
1t will be seen that the proposition is
identically the same as that which it was
predicted in yesterdays MORNING News
would be made, IL is in line with the
oder made by the representatives of the
longshoremen at the conference at the
city exchange two weeks ago, and is the
first formal offer of compromise made by
the stevedores and longshoremen.
THE MATTER SETTLED so FAR.
Capt. Williamson, in speaking of the
con erence, said it was very pleasantly
condu> ted, and that both sides expressed
regret at their inability to reach an agree
ment.
W. lulOFul6u Jneul, SdlQ Capt. Will
hanson, that if such an offer had been
made last spring it would have been
gladly accepted, but as we had now
made other arrangements and secured
labor which has given salts action. we
could now see no reason for making
change"
1t is probably this proposition which
was discussed at such length by the long
shOremen at their meeting Monday morn
inn fsav.
mems Benevolent Association told a
MORNING NEWS reporter that he under
stood that the proposition had been made
and refused, as stated. He undersl God
the stevedores' proposition to be to accept
contracts at 40 cents a bale with the con
dltlon that the limit of a gangs work
would be fixed at eighty bales day
This arrangement, Mr.. Goette said. would
be sd isfactOry 10 the lougshoremell. as it
was belieeed that under this arrange
ment the wages of the men would be but
little, If any, less than the old wages.
DON'T PROPOSE TO GIVE IN.
Those who think that the long
shoremen will give way or
that the negroes will desert their union
are very much mistaken" SAID MIR.
Goette. This is evidently the brokers
calculation. Our men can get work at
other ports, and, in fact, a number have
already gone. IL Will be a long time vet
before Savannah cotton boosters get down
to slowing cotton at - a day. They are
in 100 much demand at other ports for
that. We DO not need to leave here, how
ever, The Unions have e,eral thousand
dollars in the treasury which will be ex-
pended in support OF the men, and besides
we have received an oder of aid from The
union at New Orleans. which has $4,000
in its treasury, and is well able to back
up its ers with the cash. The long
shOremen know their business we'll
emo Oh to know that the present labor is
costing the brokers more than the union
labor, and that 1t is only question of
time when they will return to US. They
must have experienced men to do the
work. Tney cannot get them except
from the unions, and it is only necessary
for the union men TO stand firm in order
TO win the battle"
Another longshoreman said the fight
would end by the longshoremen taking
the contracts directly, which would lea e
the stevedores out in the cold.
The men cannot ford to carry on the
steyedores' fight" he said.