The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-10
LlBoR'S WAR ON THE LEvEE.
NrW ORLEANS SHIPPING AGENTS
IMPORTING NEGROES.

Ia Work for Lower Wages Ignored.
The shipping Agents Call on the
Mayor for Protection for the New
Wen.
New Orleans, La, March 9.-The troubles
which have been agitating labor on the
levee front are likely to reach a culminat-
ing point at once. owing to the iii ad-
vised action of the ship agents here in
importing negro labor. Notwithstanding
the fact that the white screwmen have
reduced their charges Is cents per bale
for screwing cotton the shippers interest
appears to prefer the negroes, and sent
an agent to Galveston to pick up all the
loose negro laborers at that point. He
employed a great number. Eighty-five of
these, whose transportation to this city
was paid by the ship agents, arrived here
this morning and without seeing what re-
suit would follow this large importation
Of foreign labor into a market already
confessedly overstocked, the ship agents
appealed to the mayor for police protec-
ton. The subjoned correspondence fully
explains the situation:
To Hon. John Fitzpatrick, mayor of the
city Of New Orleans: Sir We beg to no
tfy you that we are expecting about
fifty men to-day to arrive on the South
ern Pacific train due at 1850 O'Clock this
morning, and call on you to furnish these
men efficient protection on their arrival,
and while in this city, at work or other
wise.
We fear that owing to the excited state
Of matters on the levee front. and the in
1f IfVrr -.
publication of your letter to the board
of arbitration and conciliation, that those
men will not be allowed to peaceably
reach their work and places of living
until effective steps are taken to protect
them, and until satisfactory assurance
is at once given by you that this protec-
ton will be given, it is our intention to
apply to the United States court for the
same.
We feel constrained to make this de-
mand on you, as your letter above re-
ferred TO shows a misunderstanding on
your part of the present situation, which
we fear may further jeopardize the city's
business and other interests.
We understand that an investigation
and not arbitration is now going on by
the board Of arbitration and conciliation,
and for your Information we beg leave to
say that on Feb. Z the members of the
White Screwmen's Benevolent Associa-
ton, White Longshoremen's Benevolent
Association and Colored Longshoremen's
Benevolent Association simultaneously
QUIT work without assigning any rea-
son then, or as far as we are aware, since.
Ihey are not, as far as the undersigned
are concerned, IN any way asked to re-
uuce their wages or work other than Gus
tomary. Since that time, after Vainly
trying TO ascertain their grievance, or get
them to work, we have endeavored to
fnf T..E.a
caused to be brought here certain labor
from other places. In this we have acted
within our rights, and, as we believe,
10 the interest Of the city of New Orleans,
whose commerce has been so injured this
winter by the repeated strikes of the
members of these same associations, which
has fOrcd employers to unwillingly Sc
cure other labor. There is no change in
the statu quo, as you term it, as that
was a refusal of the men to work, and
an effort which has been going on ever
since on the part of employers to secure
other labor.
But we do draw your attention as may
or Of this city to the fact that there is,
as we believe, an unlawful conspiracy be-
tween the members Of these three organi-.
cations, apparently through their organi-
zauon, to create a monopoly of labor;
and further. that these oFganiza tons, or
sanlzed and chartered for benevolent pur-
poses, have undertaken commercial busi-
ness, contrary, as we are advised, to law,
or TO the purposes for which they were
chartered, and the object of which it is
oeheVed Is to perpetuate the monopoly
OF labor upon the city front, which has
80 greatly injured the commerce of the
city in its competition with other ports.
we repeat, we draw your attention
oInealy to these facts, and demand that
you take the necessary steps to have the
same Immediately dealt according to law.
very respectfully,
Rosse, Howe & Morrow,
A. X. Miller.
Meetta & Co.,
S. V. Fornaris q Co.
The following answer was sent:
Genuemen-I beg to acknowledge the re-
Celpt Of your notification of this date in
tofming me that fifty men are to arrive
oy lhe Southern Pacific railroad this day
~ work on the levees, and asking that 1
IuIhlsh protection to them on their ar
fval and while at work in the city or
1SI,nerwise. 1t appears from your extraor-
U'nary epfstle that the grounds upon
@hleh you ask for this protection are,
Ilsl the excited state of matters on the
.1Fee, and second, the increase of feel
lug mat has arisen from a letter which
aadressed to the board of arbitration
ana conciliation informing the said board
mat from information reliable, and now
assured, which had received certain par
Ees OF the city of New Orleans interested
a. tAe determination of the differences ex-
sung between employers and employees
Ie violating the condition of things,
gvHllhg action by the board, in this, that
was being imported from Texas
iour demand for protection for these
ien mat are to arrive is based on no
5ai loundation, to say the least of It,
,iH your communication, you have failed
v ailege one single, solitary ground which
ouo demand an exercise Of my power
mayor to call forth the police force
put this city in a state of turmoil.
lou alege fear owing to the existing
@s OF matters on the levee. Upon what
your fear based? You do not say. Have
ei teard threats, menaces, or anything
my 70 cause you fear. based on something
tangible than your Imagination?
would appear that you would ascribe
Ce increase of feeling by the publication
iNE letter to the board of arbitration
- eonciliation. Again l say, that you
iet. uIawing on your Imagination. The
NJ 3l which chose to send to the board
dIoltration and conciliation was a
f9per letter, sent for the purpose of in
di..lihs this board that one side Of the
in Pu.ants were acting. as 1 considered
oa4 Ialth, and instead of assisting and