The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-12
NO COMPROMISE REACHED.
The Conference Between LOngShOTemen
and Brokers Without Results.

OF an Agreement-The Brokers Had
No Proposition to Offer-They Pre-
sent Statement of Their Side of the
Case-Rebates on Stevedoring and
COMPRISING Discussed and Ex-
planned.
As was predicted in yesterdays MORN
ING NEWS the conference at the city ex-
change yesterday afternoon between the
ship brokers and the representatives Of
the longshOremen's unions virtually re-
suited in nothing. The situation was
discussed at great length by both sides
The lOngshOremen showed some DISPOSE
tion to compromise, but made no definite
proposition, while the brokers adhered to
the position already taken by them that
they had made their arrangements for
labor this season and had nothing further
70 say upon the subject
The conference, which was public. was
largely attended by the longshoremen,
and many business men from the Bay
were present. All the ship brokers in the
city were there. The representatives of
the longshOremen were as follows: Work
ingmen's Benevolent Association, Presi-
dent John Driscoll, Thomas keenan,,
Robert d. Charlton, John Carr. and
Secretary John \. Goette; Workingmen's
Union Association (colored), President
Sawney Wilson, Hosea Maxwell, Sandy
Rhett, r. II. Thomas, aud A. H. Grant.
AN OPEN CONFERENCE DECIDED UPON.
The conference was called to order at
clock. The announcement that the
meeting was to be public was at first OBJ
jected to by both sides. The brokers,
however, reconsidered their objection be-
fore the meeting began and concluded
that it was better that it should be pub
lie. President Driscoll moved Just after
the meeting was called to order that the
doors be closed and that only newspaper
men be admitted in addition to those di-
rectly interested. This motion, it is
understood, however, was made at the
suggestion of Mayor McDonough The
motion of Maj. Karow that the meeting
he public was carried.
Mayor McDonough, in calling the meet
ing to order, stated its object, and that
his purpose in bringing about the confer
ence was to arrive at some settlement Of
the existing difference between the long
shoremen and the ship-brokers, which
would be satisfactory to both sides and
for the best interests of the city The
mayor said he was anxious that a settle
ment should be arrived at.
After the meeting was announced open
for business President Wilson Of the col
ored society inquired if the brokers had
any proposition to submit. MIR. J. NJ.
Barnard, acting as spokesman for the
brokers, replied that they had none.
PRESIDENT DRIsCoLL's STATEMENT
AS the brokers evidently did not wish
TO make the first move, President Dris-
coll of the Benevolent Society took the
floor. He reviewed the situation and the
correspondence between the brokers and
the societies. The representatives of the
longshoremen had met with the brokers
at their request, last Deem
Der, he said, and listened to their
reasons for demanding either re-
duction in wages or more work
for the same amount of money.
They then reported back to the societies
at union meeting at which it was de-
cided that there should be no change in
the rules and the brokers were so notified.
The reason for refusing the brokers' de-
AAahNos WI. III AoCVll Sdlu, was because
they were unwilling that the brokers
'should make any more money by the
sweat of our brows than they were al
ready making They were afterwards
notified through the stevedores that the
brokers were willing to make a rate of
30 cents per bale for stevedoring, as
against as cents bale as formerly.
rs the wages of the longshore-
men, outside of the brokers' profits, had
amounted TO fraction over IS cents a
bale, they were unwilling to enter into
any such arrangement and so notified the
stevedores. President Driscoll said he
had seen no reduction in shipping rates as
the result of the cheaper labor which the
brokers were now using, which led him
10 believe that the reduction in the cost
OF labor meant additional profits for the
brokers' and not cheaper freight rates
and more cotton for the port
A COMPROMISE SUGGESTED.
In reference to a compromise President
Drlscoll said that while the representa-
atlves Of the lOngshoremen were not au.
thoriZed to make any such proposition he
believed the societies would be willing to
meet the brokers half way, and if a rate
OF 40 cents bale were offered for steve
dorlng that it would be accepted. Presi-
dent nr1sCOit did not enter into details
with regard TO the rate, but merely made
1t as a suggestion.
Mr.. Barnard said in reply TO President
Drlscoll that had such proposition as
that named by him been made to the
brokers' last spring, it would have met
with consideration, but as the brokers
had been compelled to take care of them
selves, and had made preparations for the
season and entered into arrangements for
loading their vessels. expended several
thousand dollars in the purchase of tools
secured la Dor, and arranged TO have the
work done at a rate about 40 per cent
less than that suggested by President
Driscoll, he did not well see how they could
make any change now. The work that had
been done, he said, was satisfactory to the
brokers, and 10 the ship owners, so far
as they were concerned. MIR. Barnard
said he regretted very much that the
brokers had not been met in this spirit
before. AS the general public seemed to
be IN ignorance as to facts in the case of
the difference between the brokers and
the longshoremen. Mr. Barnard said the
brokers had had statement prepared, Civ
ing the history Of the difference. This
statement he handed TO Mr. +. +. Re-
barer, secretary of the meeting, with a
request that il be read. which was done
The statement was as follows:
THE BROKERS' STATEMENT.