Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-10
Now Looked for in the Trouble at .s. New Orleans.
IMPORTED NEGRO LAB0RERs
Bring Forth a Correspondence Between Shipping Agents
 and the Mayor.

F NEW ORLEANS, March 9.--The troubles which have been agitating labor on tue 1evee front are likely 10 reach culminating point at once, owing to the ill-advised ac- ton of the ship agents here in importing negro labor, notwithstanding the fact that the white screwmen have reduced their charges 15 cents per bale for screwing cotton. The shipping interest appears to prefer the negroes, and sent an agent 10 Galveston to pick up all the loose negroes at that point. He employed great num- ber. Eighty-fve of these, whose trans- portation was paid to this city by the ship agen S. arrived here this morning, and without waiting to see what result would follow this large importation of foreign la bor into a market already confessediy over stocked, the thip agents appealed to the mayor for police protection. The sub joined correspondence fully explains the situation:
 NEW ORLEANS, La., March 9, 1895. , To Hon. John Fitzpatrick, Mayor of the City oi New Orleans-
 DKARsIR: We beg 10 notify you that we are expecting aoout fifty men today to ar rive on the Southern Pacific train, due at 10:55 o'clock this morning, and call on you 10 lurL ish these men efficient protection on their arrival and while 1n this city at work or OlnerWlSe. We lear tndl OWiuB tO tuo excited state of matters on the levee front and The increase of feeling that will arise from the publication of your letter to the board of arbitration and conciiation that these men will not be allowed 10 peaceably reach the work and places of living untll effective steps are taken to protect them, and until satisfactory assurance IS at once given by you that this protection will be given iL Is our intention to apply 10 the United States court for same.
 We feel constrained to make this demand on you, as your letter above referred to shows nlisu nde rstanding on your part of the present situation, which, VIC fear, may further jeopardizs the cily's business and other Interests.
 We understand that an investigation and not an arbitration Is now going on by the board of arbitration and conciliation, and for your information beg leave to say that on February 2 the members Of White Scfewmen's Benevolent association, White Longshoremen's Benevolent association and Colored Longshoremen' g Benevolent association simultaneously quit work with out assigning any reason tuen, or, as far as we are aware, since. They are not, as far as he undersigned are concerned, in any way asked to reduce their wages or work other than customary. Since that tune, after yainly trying to ascertain their grievance or get them to work, we have en- ueayored to obtain other labor, and In thls effort caused to be brought here certain labor from other places. In this we have acted within our rights and, as we believe, in the interest Of the city of New Orleans, whose commerce has been so injured this winter by the repeated slfIkes of the members of these same asso- citations, which has forced employers to pnwillingly secure other labor. There IS no change in the sslatu quo,' as you term it, as that was a refusal of the men 10 work, and an effort has been going on ever since on the part of employers to ob- tam other labor.
 But we do>draw your attention as mayor of this city to the fact that there is, as we believe, an unlawful conspiracy between the mem bers of these three organizations, apparently through their organizations, to create a mon opoy of labor; and, further, that these organizations, organized and chartered for benevolent purposes, have undertaken commercial business, contrary, as we are advised, 10 law or to the purposes for which they were chartered, and the object of which, it is believed, IS to perpet- nate the monopoly of labor upon the city front, which has so greatly injured the commerce of the city in it's competition with other ports.
 We repeat, we draw your attention off,. ciaily to these facts, and demand that you take the. necessary eteps to have the same immediately dealt with according to law.
 Ross, HOWE & MORROW,
 A. K. MILLER,
 MHIETTO & CO.,
 8. V. FoRNARIs X Co.
 The following answer was sent:
 NATIONALITY OF NEW ORLEANS,
 CITY HALL, March g, 1895.
 Messrs. Ross, Howe & Morrow, A. K. Miller, Meletto X Co.,, s. V. Fornaris & Co.,, City
 GENTLEMEN: l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your notification of this date, in- forming me that fifty men are to arrive by the Southern Pacific railroad this day to work on the levees and asking that fur nish protection to them on their arrival and while at work in tho city or otherwise.
 It appears from your extraordinary epis- tie that the grounds upon which you ask for this protection are:
 l. The excited state of matters ou the levee; and
 2. The increase of feeling that has arisen from letter which l addressed to the board of arbitration and concilis- tion informing the said board that from information reliable and now assured which had received that certain parties of the city of New Orleans interested in the determination of differences existing be- tween employers and employees were vio- lating the conditions of things pending action by the board--in this, that labor was being imported from Texas.
 Your demand for protection for these men that are to arrive is based on no legal foun- dation, to say the lesat of it.. In your com munication you have failed to allege one single, solitary ground which would de- mand an exercise of my power as mayor to call forth the police force ard to put this city in state of turmoil.
 You allege fear, owing to the excited state of matters on the levee. Upon what is your fear based1 You do not say. Have you heard threats, men,