Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1896-05-15
Newport News Letter.
NEWPORT News. VA.
MAY 9TH, 1896.
Editor Fisherman G. Farmer


word from the "magic little city"
near the sea coast. It's equili
brum has been greatly disturbed
within the last two weeks. The
sinking of the Old Dominion
steamship, Wyanoke, was quite
a shock, and created much ex>
element and comment for few
days: fortunately there were only
a few lives lost. The bodies of
two colored women have REGENTS
ly been found afoat in the river
near the wrecked steamer. 1t is
supposed that a fireman was also
drowned. Several trunks, va
Uses and the pursers safe, with
probably other articles, have
been taken from the week. The
steamer was greatly damaged by
the collision but will probably
be raised again for repairs.
AS the excitement caused by
the great disaster had begun to
subside, our city was thrown IN
great co1nmotion on last Monday
night from the report that $500
of the employees in the shipyard
were out on a strike. AT an
early hour great crowds began to
assemble OH the streets, and by
8 p. m, the sidewalks were lit
orally obstructed by great masses
of living and discontinued hui
mainly; by lningling with them
we soon learn the cause of the
great asselnblages. A week or
so ago clocks were placed in all
the departments of the shipyard,
and notice was given that new
system of registering would go
into effect Monday morning. A
numbered key was furnished
each employee, and he was re-
quired to register by inserting
his key in the clock and turning
one quarter round which punches
the number corresponding to
the number of his key and also
of his name, which requires from
one to two seconds of time for
each man. This system of reg
istering was to be done four
times per day, before 7 O'Clock
in the morning, after the whistle
at noon, before the whistle at one
o'clock and after the whistle at
6 o'clock when they quit work
in the evening. This, the ell
ployees claim is an encroach-
1nent upon their time, and in
many instances they would not
have time to go out to their
homes and boarding houses for a
warm dinner.
Without trying the system a
few days to test its practicability
or appointing committee tc
wait on the superintendent tc
make known their grievance
they decided to try and nip the
new system i'll the bud at once
Indignation meetings were held
in two different halls, a commit
tee was appointed to wait On
Superintendent Smith.
a number OF speeches were
made by the leaders, and the fol
lowing resolutions were adopted
We, the employees of the va
rious departments of the New
port News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company, assembled, of.
fered and adopted the following
resolutions:
Whereas, the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Company have, by notice, given
their employees to understand
that they must hereafter ring UP
a clock for the purpose of keep
ing their tilne-frst. before 7 in
the morning; second, after II m;
third, before I2:45 p. m, and
fourth, after the whistle blows at
6 p. m, and
Whereas, the above notice no.
where states that they will pay
their employees for the extra
time which the notice involves;
therefore be it
Resolved, That we endorse the
action taken by the employees in
the different departments who
have turned in their keys.
Resolved, also, That we, as a
body assembled, refuse to ring
up these clocks or countenance
any system which will entail an
extra hours labor without an
extra hours pay.
Resolved, also, That copy of
these resolutions be sent to the
Daily Press and also one to the
superintendent, Mr.. Smith.
At this writing the employees
are still out, many have left for
other parts. They have gener-
ally behaved very orderly on the
streets. They have a strong
company to kick against. 1t is
to be hoped that they will soon
arrive at an anicable settlement
and return to their endowment