New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-12
CIGAR STRIKE IN HAVANA ENDS.
THE MEN ACCEPT THE EMPLOYERS TERMS
AND RETURN TO WORK.

AND TO WORK.
Havana Feb. 1.-THE strike of cigarmakers
was settled this morning. The men asked on
what conditions they could return TO work, and
the masters replied that they could return on
the conditions existing before the strike. This
reply they accepted. and on Tuesday they will
return. The cost OF the strike TO the manufact-
urers mas been practically nothing. The strikers
themselves have lost 100000.
The -'Heraldo" tells Samuel Cfonpers to return
10 the United States, declaring that ne came here
with the intention Of creating disturbances.
a prominent Havana lawyer who numbers
among his clients many sugar planters says that
great scarcity of labor exists in the provinces,
and that many estates will probably be forced
10 stop grinding In the Province of Pinar del
Rio SO 30 day is paid for ordinary manual
labor in the tobacco fields, and this industry
cannot stand the expense. He suggests that
the means Of communication between the labor
centres be eheapened, and that immigration be
unrestricted, although this would be late for
the present crop. AS remedy for the evil the
"Dia,' Of Caibarien, suggests compulsory labor.
II declares that there are hundreds Of 1oafers in
the country towns, gambling and otherwise
wasting their time and that il is they who are
making the greatest cutlery against the Span
iards. General Rivera, Minister of Agriculture
discussing the subject observes:
Undoubtedly there is a scarcity Of labor. This
is due 10 the large demand for il. and this IT
turn S due 10 the fact that the tobacco crop is
the largest on record. and to the further fact
that more Land is being cultivated than ever be
fore IN all parts of the island. Moreover,
must take into consideration the large number
Of men VINO have been drawn from the country
districts into the towns in the expectation of
employment IN sanitary work and IN the con-
slructiOn OF new buildings. Now that the crop
is here and they needed in the country dis
tricts, they are not disposed TO return. Then, al
lOWance must also be made for the presence OF
cept the first offer Of work they get, however
small the pay, because the wage is much better
than they would receive in Spain.
In my opinion, 10 allow unrestricted imugTa
ton would really create a problem Even
assuming that this should bring abundant
labor, it would also bring a large number of
paupers and criminals. A better plan is to go
slowly and TO encourage the right Of i'm
migrants, modifying regulations rather than
aboNshing them altogether.
A commission has been gazetted, consisting Of
Mayor Lacoste. president; Senior Estrada y
Mora. e-president; Sehors Cancio. O'FarrilI.
Fonts Parraga, Nodarse and Casanova, and
Messrs Ernest Lee Conant and 0sgood Smith
with power TO draw W a charter for Ha-
vana. In the order of appointment General
Ludlow calls attention TO the prominence Of Ha-
vana as city and TO the fact that the exist
ing municipal organization is very defective.
The commission is instructed TO make a
thorough study Of the administrative and fnan-
cial conditions Of Havana, and to design a char
ter TO meet the requirements. A draft Of the
proposed charter is 10 be ready on or before
April /. and this will be submitted 10 the
Municipal Council for consideration.