Year: 1873

In spite OF the resolution OF the employing ma
sons to adhere to the proposed reduction OF hfty
cents per day on bricklayers masons and hodcar-
rIsrs, which would give the mechanics So 90 and
the laborers So day. several builders are conced-
ing the demands or the societies, and pay the old
rates. At the Western Union Telegraph Company's
job the bricklayers are now to have $4 and labor
ess 81 rs, q reduction OF twenty-five cents day
on the latter class OF work. One other large en-
ployer on downtown job, who had given brick
layers but So SO till yesterday, took men on in the
morning at 81. Very few society bricklayers are
now ont on the wages dispute. few coopers,
some cigar makers and larger body OF hodcar-
riers are idle for the same reason.


Tailors and shoemakers through the city have
hardly more than hall employment; one-f0urth OF
the marble cutters have no work to do; third OF
the machinists and half the boiler makers, and
many in ali branches OF industry find no work for
their willing hands. On all sides the cry Of our
population s for work. meeting or the work
ingmen's Central Council was held last even
ing at Masonic Hall. East Thirteenth street,
near Fourth avenue, where propositions for
relief were discussed The same organization
nave made arrangements for mass labor meeting
IN Tammany Hall, Fourteenth street, on Saturday
night Mr.. Leander Thompson and other speakers
will address the assembly on the rights OF working
secure these rights No doubt there win be an i'm
posing attendance OF the hard listed men OF muscle,
VINO demand employment, not aims or public
charity relief Tor their distress and that OF their
families.


Delegates to the Council from the several trades
represented business as being at an unprecedented
low state Paper hangers said no paste was being
used. Painters think their trade have less work
Than ever before for long period, nearly all being
idle. Carpenters and Oiners, brass founders and
1nishers and plumbers made similar statements Of
depression.


In Brooklyn, westchester and New Jersey, as
well as in our city, thousands OF willing hands find
no employment. Public improvements wait for
want OF money and private enterprise Is at halt
from lack OF credit and confidence. Thousands
who should at this season be busy walk the streets
looking gaunt and apprehensve OF severe suffering
as the winter winds grow fierce and frosty. These
all look to the local and general governments to
take some steps to avert the dread disaster Presi
dent Grant Governor Dix, Mayor Havemeyer and
other public men hove been invited to attend the
mass meeting on Saturday evening, as well as to
take such executive action as will tend to give
lief to the threatened wholesale starvation OF
working men when the country Is full Of food.
The Brooklyn, municipal authorities have
iaborers at work, thus averting suffer.
action on this island could employ 10000 men on
works which quickly repay their cost by the in
creased value OF adjacent property. Between allow
ing 600 or So 900 industrious citizens to drift into
pauperism and crime or furnishing them employ.
ment to feed them through the winter is the ques-
ton our city government is now called upon
quickly to decide. II the decision be not prompt
and wise heavy responsibility will rest on those
whom the people have placed In power