The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-19
THE MAYOR TAKES A PART.
MAKES a PROPOSAL TO THE BRO
kERS ron LoNGsHOREMEN.

The Union Offers 10 work for 1925
and 81 Per Day, But the Brokers
Say Nay-Are willing to Grant the
Union the Concession of the Quar-
tcr-Day system as Dcmanded-TIas
Is the only Point They VIII Com
cedc-NaHOr Meldrim Thinks But
Little Was AccOmplishcd-Ihc
Union Has Not Heard From Tie
Mayor:
The efforts of the mayor were enlisted
yesterday by the Longshoremen's Protec-
tive Union 10 act as it's representative in.
the presentation OF a proposition TO the
ship brokers. He called upon Mr.. ]. NJ.
Barnard, Jr.. of the firm of RICHARDSON &
Barnard. but nothing looking toward an
adjustment of the differences between the
brokers and longshoremen was effected.
Mayor Meldrim called upon Mr.. Barnard
about 10 o'clock in the morning. and sub
mitted the proposition of the union, saying
that he was taking part in the matter on
account of the interest he felt in the labor
Of the city and his desire to see the mat
ters at issue adjusted. He proposed, in be-
half Of the union, that the brokers allow
the men an advance of one-half the
amount they are demanding. In this way
the men would receive 1925 and "a per
day, instead of 81 and IS, as they have de-
manded.
The quarter day system of paying the
men for their work was also considered
In the proposal, the men sticking to their
demands that 1t be instituted in place
of the hour system that has been in eff
feet.
Mr.. Barnard would not accede to the de-
mands Of the union, in so far as the ad-
vance in the wages was concerned, but
he made no objections to allowing the
men to receive the reward for their la
bors by the system desired. Mr.. Barnard
said that there are natural objections to
the hour system, and that the men cannot
be blamed for wanting it changed to the
quarter-day system. He says that oppor-
tunities are offered the timekeepers to
take advantage of the men by the hour
system, and that the latter believe it is
done.
The union has received no report as yet
from the mayor of the result of his talk
with Mr.. Barnard, and the members do
not talk of the matter beyond maintaining
that they do not intend TO 80 to work for
less than the wages they have demanded.
1t does not seem likely, Judging from
what one of the leading brokers said yes
terday, that the union men will win in
the fight, The gentleman thinks that by
next Saturday all the men wanted will be
at work, and that there will be no place
for the strikers. If the new men are
secured, he says, as fast this week as
they were last, there is no reason to be-
lieve that there will not be as many at
work in the vessels as necessity demands
There was a large crowd of the new
longshoremen, black and white, on hand
at Col. Harmon's office in the afternoon to
receive their week s wages. The place
was crowded, and bore something of the
appearance it has had at the times when
the entire force of longshoremen was at
work.
Sixty white longshoremen, 1t is said, will
leave Savannah to-day for Charleston,
where they Will work for Street Bros.
throughout the season at $3.50 and IS a
day, by contract. 1t Is said the white
longshoremen are in sympathy with the
colored strikers. and desire to see them
gain their point.