The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-29
PARIS in TROUBLE.
Eight Thousand Washerwomen Are Out
on 0 Strike.
LABOR DISTURBANCE GROWING
Citizens Have Trouble About Getting
Their Laundry Back.
If THE STRIKERS SECURE ADHESION
Of Nou-Unon Workers Paris viii Be Forced
10 Go unwashed.
A GREAT LABOR CRISIS is MUCH FEARED
Thousands WIN no une.apIoyea
When Work Ceases en- Ex-
If THE STRIKERS SECURE ADHESION
Of Nou-unIOn Workers Paris VIII Be Forced
to Go unwashed.
A GREAT LABOR CRISIS is MUCH FEARED
Thousands VIII no unempIoyea
When Work Ceases en- Elk
position buildings.

Copyrighted, 1900, by Associated Prere)
Paris, April ga famine OF clean linen
is more disturbing the Parisians than tho
Incomplete condition of the exposition
grounds, Eight thousand Paris wash@-
women have struck for higher wages and
shorter hours. and serious Inconvenience
has already been caused, The hotel man
ayers and keepers of restaurants bitterly
complain that half their linen is not re-
turned from the wash. and private families
re also feeling the pinch. Tho strike
commenced at Boulogne sur Seine and
spread 10 several other environs where
laundries are situated The laundry work
people around Paris number between CO.,
600 aud $4,000. and u the strikers succeed
In securing their adhesion, tho mass OF
Parislans viii have 70 go unwashed. lhe
fact that the influx OF visitors to the ex-
position has begun necessltating heavy
demands oa tho laundries, gave the wash
erwomen an opportunity 20 put tho screws
on their employers. who naturally ara
much lncensed by this attempt TO force
their hands now, when they have already
concluded contracts In many cases with
hotels, restaurants and other establish
ments for the exposition season at de-
termned rates. The masters offered
partial increase Of wages. but the strikers
thus fer have refused to compromise,
Bands OF work people gathered 70 tho
neghborhood OF the isundries where work
Is still partially continued and tried 20
persuade the non-unlou workers to Join
them. No serious disorder has yet oc-
CURED, but the police are taking precau-
,ions ana detachments OF gendarmes have
been drafted to the districts whore trouble
is possible,
This ebulltson OF labor difficulties calls
attention to the serious possibility OF much
graver disturbance arising from tho throw
ing on tho labor market Of thousands OF
worbmen by the completion OF the exhI-
billion and of the central portion OF tae
now Metropolitan railway. These great
undertakings attracted to Paris vast nuns
bers OF provincial carpenters. ma1ons,
painters and unskilled laborerS, and the
problem the government has now TO face
Is the disposal Of these men through the
country or TO avoid a great tabor crisis IN
Paris, the consequences OF which would be
difficult to foresee. The FIRST measure OF
the government has been TO post at all
centers of work placards onumerating un-
dertakings In the provinces directed by the
minister OF public works. 1t is estimated
that the next three days will absorb about
1000. Free transportation will be given
TO the places where the men are required.
There still. however, remains large
number for whom Jobs are wanted. The
acting secretary OF tho labor union cal-
culAtes that $4,000 laborers came to Paris
last year. OF this number perhaps two
thirds intend to return TO their homes.
The secretaries OF tao several trades
unions take more pcssimistic view OF the
situation. The secretary OF the painters
organization, for instance, recognized that
the completion OF tho exposition will leave
900 painters alone unemployed, while
OF the unskilled laborers'
union claims that the number OF laborers
who Will be tlN1wn out on tho streets Will
reach 20. 900. few OF whom will consent to
30 10 the provinces, This latter reluctance
Is an important factor in the crisis, as the
countrymen, Intoxicated by the glitter of
the metropolis. are disposed to hang on 40
long as possible.
The fortnight's work on the exposition
since the opening has done much TO bring
order out OF the chaos which obtained
when President Loubet declared the expo
sltlon opened. Progress is being made
daily and sghtseers can hnd sufficient TO
repay them for the trouble OF visit. The
galleries are filing up with the exhibits.
which are being rapidly installed The
foreign sections in this respect are further
advanced than Frances own buildings,
and tho American exhibits are keeping well
abreast Of those Of other countries.
Two small fires within the exhibition
have caused ar cutlery from the
French and has brought home to the adj
uinistration the canger OF a contiagration.
In view OF the meaEer facilities for fgh.-
ing fre measures are now being taken u
remedy this situation. One outcome OF
this agitation has been the enforcement
this week OF the bylaws Of the exhibition
prohibiting smoking inside the buildings.
Several men have been arrested and prose-
cnted for this ofiense.