British Whig (Kingston, ON), 13 Jul 1897

p.2

NO, NOTHING OF IT.

[Ogdensburg Journal]

"Yesterday afternoon the Empire State arrived in port with an excursion from Kingston, with the entire crew of the steamer on a strike. They had refused to don their white summer suits and been ordered to put them on or go ashore. These suits, which are the uniform of the men employed on the Folger steamers, are furnished by the company. The company proposes to charge $5.85 for each suit, and the men on the Empire State considered this too high a price for the articles and refused to accept them. Last year the suits were furnished for $4. The steamer went back with her excursion as usual, and the matter has probably been settled."

No complaint was received at the local office of the company about the occurrence mentioned. The men of the steamer were taxed $5.25 for two navy blue suits and a cap, about two dollars a suit, not a high figure for clothes. Last year the men were clothed in white. This year they will don navy blue, with wide spreading collars of white. In uniforming their crews, the company has in view the safety and well fare of patrons of the steamers. The fact is recognized that, in case of trouble, one man in uniform is worth more than a dozen in civilian clothing. The public generally respect the authority of a person in uniform. Besides this it educates the men to self-respect and civility. They feel they have a reputation to uphold and are more dignified. Any man not desiring to wear the uniforms provided by the company is at perfect liberty to make way for another who will comply with the company's rules.

MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

The tug Walker, with three light barges, arrived up from Montreal this morning.

The schooners Dunn and Albatross, Kingston to Toledo, light, passed through the Welland canal yesterday.

The steamer Blanchard, Toledo, arrived this morning with 40,000 bushels of corn consigned to the M.T. Co.

The steamer Clinton and consorts, Pine River to Garden Island, timber laden, are on their way down Lake Ontario.

The steamer Glengarry and consort Minnedosa, Chicago, is in port with 86,000 bushels of corn for the M.T. Co.

The tug Thomson, with barge Dunmore, coal laden, from Oswego, arrived at the M.T. Co.'s wharf this morning.

The steamer Elfinmere, Duluth, arrived today with 40,000 bushels of wheat, which was discharged at the M.T. Co.'s elevator.