The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-11


sailors boarding house. sells drink and
clothing to. his boarders, and contracts
with ship captains for crews. Naturally,
he makes up his list from those heaviest
in debt to him, driving them to the ship
ping office like cattle, with virtually moth
ing to say as to their destination or fate.
Crimp's Runners at work.
To carry on this trade in human flesh
the New York criIhp employs corps of
runners, or solicitors, who, armed with
TASKS of whisky, board each incoming
ship, seeking boarders. There is competi-
ton among these runners. but no quar-
rels. Quarrelling would be fatal to their
ends, and besides, they are but employees
or strongly organized association of
crimps, duly incorporated under the laws
of the state. This does not mean that all
crimps are in this association, or that
there are not ''scab" runners for "stab''
boarding houses; but such outsiders would
have small chance of further usefulness
should they dare interfere with the labors
of the legitimate thieves, The scabs,
therefore, confine themselves TO stray
glers on South street leaving the freshly
arrived. unshorn sheep to the wolves of
the pack. Before the ship is docked the
men are often so piled with liquor as TO
tender them inefficient in their duties; but
the runners are not molested by the cap
tain or mates.
Such action would make 1t difficult for
the ship to find a crew when ready to
sail; and the men--more or less intoXi-
Gated, excited by the proximity of land,
anxious TO quit the ship-surrender them
selves to the runners, and when free, ac-
company them to thex boarding houses.
Here they are given spending money
usually a S. bill apieCe-peuding the time
when they are paid off at the commits
sioner's Office, three days later. Then they
are dosed with more liquor, fed at Ia
Bile where the food. though of the plain
est, is beyond their criticism, and then,
after night of stupefication, they are in
formed Cor perhaps this is deferred for a
few days. that they have borrowed and
spent $40, SIS or $40, or any amount which
the crimp believes it safe to name. The
sailor, with aching head and hazy facul-
ties. cannot deny it, for he does not know,
and the crmp can produce his books and
witnesses When the sailor draws his pay
he is relieved of it by some one, providing
he can be made drunk; if he remains So
Der his chance for spending it as ne wish
es Is as good as that of the rest of sober
humanity.
Crimps and the Present Law.
On Feb. 20, 1899, a law went into effect
reducing allotment to one months wages
and this wrought CONSERVATION III lhe
camp of the associated and incorporates
thieves. For one months wages Oh a
deep water able seaman is only SIS, and,
as This was all that could be allotted to
the crimps, they foresaw the ruinaton
of a good business. So, strongly organ
izing themselves the crimps of the At
lantic ports inspired a strike for wages,
naming $50 a month as the falr pay OF
a good man and preaching loudly ana
widely of sailors rights.
Backed by the crimps, the strike was
succeSSfi1 and for a short time the ar
tiheial rate of pay was continued, nut IL
finally yielded. Lesser breeds without the
law'i conspired with panied and rebellious
shippers and ships began to go to sea
with sailors shipped at lower rates, though
possibly short handed, and manned with
''scabs' from "scaD boarding houses" To-
day wages are at The old low level, and
men are turned into the street more quick
ly-though still kept in touch with the
crimp for the proper disposition OF the
coming SIS allotment. Meanwhile the
crlmps are working with might and main
to establish a sliding scale; of wages, to
begin with $50 for the first month and de-
crease monthly so as to bring the total
to the normal four months wages-four
months being the accepted length of a
passage around the Horn or the Cape.
If the scheme should succeed, as is pos
sbe, should the United States shipping
commissioner forget the duties of his of
nee, the 0GSl InOnln wages Will uuuOuDt-
eddy be raised to $40, and then the crimps
will receive their old income, under the
law designed 10 lessen it. Success is hard
ly probable, though even with the concur
renee of the commissioner; for, though
the sailor would benefit and so try to help
the scheme the war will really be be-
tween the crimp and the shipowner, and
the crimp must yield. When the buzzard
fights the hyepa there is scattering of
fea here-and laughter.
Different Policy in San Francisco.
The crimps in San Francisco adopted
opposite tactics to defeat the purpose of
the present law. Instead of raising wages,
they combined with the shipowner to
lower them from $2), the normal rate out
of that port, to SIS a month. The differ
ence of 81 a month for four months-S20--
was paid to the crimp by fthe owner as
legitimate blood money" and this, with
the SIS allotment, made S35--only SIS less
than the old stipend secured from four
ellotments of 80 each. Thus the San
Francisco crimp is only mulcted of this
amount by the hostile legislation, the ship-
owner pays the same amount as before,
and the sailor receives S. more for four
months passage than before How beau
tifull o. f4ef S"qf
But this system can not be main
tanned Wages, depending on supply and
demand will seek their natural level, and
the crimp scheme as he may, will have
to be content with the months allotment,
plus the blood money which the skipper
or owner will be content to pay for men.
,al,a