Year: 1869

Hetel waiters' Strike.


The strike OF the hotel walters may be taken a.
settled question. The Fifth Avenue Clarendon. 81.
Nicholas, Astor and New York hotels have entered
into sort OF holy alliance to resist the demands OF
the society men, and all emphatically declare that
they will not accede 20 the requirements Of the
Waters Union in any particular being resolved to
60 on with the forces now employed, and as they
assert, giving entire satisfaction to the guests.


THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL.


When the strike first took place at this hotel there
were employed seventy nine walters, and alL or
quite all. threw up their situations. BY Thursday
evening the steward had entirely filed his quota, and
his force now numbers seventy-sx men. not one
being the member OF any society. At the Fifth Ave
nue. the situation was not SO bad at some Of the
other hotels for with its twenty-five hallmen, who
constituted a reserve force OF walters. who were
familiar with these duties in all their de-
tails the tables were kept going by men
who were not raw, like a majority OF
the new recruits. The proprletors state with
great emphasis that no man while he is a member OF
the organization will be again received into the
house in the capacity OF waiter and they affirm that
while little incidental troubles occur with men
unacquatnted with the house, the guests make no
complaint ana everything goes on smoothly and
wel Order and neatness seems to prevail, and from
external appearances no one could tell that an entire
change had been made in the employees.
Most OF those now on duty in the
dining rooms came to the hotel, hav-
ing previously been walters, and not from
the other trades as has been asserted. One Of the
walters, named Henry Cook was yesterday morn
ing laboring under a strange hallu cinatlon, lmagn
ing that some one was constantly at his heels, seek
ing his hie. He struck with the rest OF his COM
panons but went back to his duty Wednesday
at the regular rates. Believing that his former as
sociates were incensed a his conduct and were try
n ~ m
inIurated that he made chaos OF everything WITHIN
his reach and became very unruly, SO mucn so that
Dodge, at Jefferson Market, in charge OF four
officers, and was by the decision OF the magistrate
turned over to the Commissioners or Charities ana
Correction, who viii find quarters for him at the
Asylum on Blackwelrs Island. Besides this episode
nothing has occurred to make the strike at TINS
hotel particularly noteworthy save that all OF the
strikers have conducted themselves III perfectly
exemplary manner, seeking only TO carry out their
plainly expressed intentions.


THE SITUATION AT THE CLARENDON.


This hotel, the resort OF aristocratic Engishmen,
you know, does not feel at all put out by the action
OF It's WATERS and the propriet0rs declare they Will
not, under any circumstances again receive So
ciety man into their employ. They pronounce the
morning paper that reioices particularly in the bril-
liancy OF its clashes here and there" as a 'pure
fabrication, q mess OF nonsense served up for the
relish OF porters and chambermaids, and beneath
our notice" No guests have left the house because
walters and 1t ls said that the new regime operates
Ike oiled machinery.


AT THE NEW YORK HOTEL.


Upwards Of forty men were discharged and paid
of at this hotel the very day they struck and new
set were at once set to work. the propretors decar
ing that they are perfectly satisfied with the cond-
ton of things and that their guests have ali exh
bited feeling OF strong sympathy. Tney say that
they have submitted long enough to the despotis
OF waters who had become stin in the
harness and utterly unmanageable II they wished
to discharge awater the society had first 10 be con-
suited; and without their action approved they
omaiy thew had now removed and they asserted that
no one IN the remotest degree connected with the
Union should hold any position In their house. As
TO all reports concerning the destruction crockery
and glassware and thet OF table furniture. they pro-
nounced them as simply false. They feel confident
that In two weeks the hotel Will be In good work
ing order. Though some awkward mistakes have |
occurred the supervision OF the dining room by the
the ludcrous phase OF the movement has been con-
lined TO narrow compass.


At THE ST. NICHOLAS.
The committee from the Union waited upon the |
keeper OF this hotel and several others yesterday
morning 10 propose terms OF compronise-at least |
tor refused point blank to treat with them IN their
ocial capacity. He said that they had taken their
course, and that they must abide by IL. They with
drew. At other hotels no terms were reached--in-
deed, negotiations entered into The guests
e. s anS up ae cause by $ IN o L The
old walters had habit OF furnishing guest at the
table with extra quantity nsS OF ,SsS
make exua Fee and this system entailed large
waste and heavy yearly loss 10 the hotel, entirely
needless. With new hands all round this swindle
has been eliminated.


AT THE AsToR HOUSE.


The situation there under the lead OF the patriarch,
Colonel Ste;son, has assumed ITS wOnted calnness,
and the machinery has settled down INTO the Old /
grooves. Though many valued walters, who had |
served FOR years under the veteran colonel de- |
serted the camp with the rest, the genial commander
marsnalled new host and feels that he has come
OF victorious.


There can be no doubt that hotel proprietors are
determined In the stand they have taken, and 1t re-
mains TO be seen whether the society can bear up
under the weight OF Its seli-imposed burdens.


correspondent writes complaining that hotel
proprietors are making so much money that they
ought TO divide some or the pronts among their
help, and cites as an instance the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, from which he declares large fortune is al
nuay realized.


Mr.. S. C. Johnson writes that he did not use the
language, 81 urge an unfiinching determination on
the part OF the members TO carry the strike through
all obstacles" at the recent meeting Of the Walters
Union, attributed TO him by the press; but was
opposed 20 anything Ike strike from the moment
the advance OF wages was agitated by the CnOn."