The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-11-24
OWNERS AND PUDDLERS.
The Conference Committee Again Re
pOrt-The MIL Owners Proposition
Rsfused-An Interchange OF Opin.
iOn-AdjOurnment for One Week.
From the Pittsburgh Dispatch
From the Pittsburgh Dispatch.

AOu-AuJOurnIneut LOT One W eeks
From the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Another joint convention of manufac-
turers and puddlers was held IN the Iron
Association rooms, Saturday afternoon,
at which the Committee of the mill own
ers, appointed to attempt readjustment
OF wages, reported and considerable dis
cussion took place between employer and
employed relative to the points at issue.
The report of the Subcommittee was
presented to the effect that at the joint
meeting with the puddlers Committee on
Wednesday afternoon no agreement had
been made, and that an adjournment had
been carried to this afternoon. At this,
Mr.. Harris, President of the Puddlers'
Association, said that if any one had sug-
gestions to make looking to an adjust
ment of the difficulties that was the pro-
per time to submit them. To this Mr..
Jones replied that a proposition which
he thought fair and just to both parties
had been made by the manufacturers but
rejected. 1t was their utimatum and
there was the end of it so far rs they
were concerned, unless some one of the
party had q proposition.
Mr.. Bennett's View of the Situation.
Mr.. James l. Bennett then arose and
said that the matter had been pretty
thoroughly canvassed at the last meeting.
The manufacturers did not feel like max
ing any further offers. Wages We're fall
ing rapidly in the east, but the PROPOSE
tion of four dollars per ton would be
stuck to. The business had been paying
nothing for fourteen months, and 1t
would be foolish to keep on at work.
Mr.. Harris-It is not our place to
make propositions, rs we had nothing to
do with bringing about these meetings.
You have made proposition, we have
rejected it., which We have perfect
right to do, and don't think we will
have cause to make proposition this
week, because we see no necessity for Il
reduction. If the old scale was good II
year ago, it is good now, when the labor
ing men are in great need of work. None
Of the manufacturers can say that any of
our men complained when the scale ran
down, but always accepted the reduced
rate. We don't want to break the old
agreement now, nor to have fight over
it. If it is broken, the Lord only knows
when we will be able to get another one
as good.
The Mills Would Surely Stop.
Mr.. Bennet, in reply, said Mr.. Harris
was not fair about the sliding scale.
When that scale was made it stopped at
- nd hut
if iron ran below three or above five
cents, there was TO be new dcal-a new
arrangement must be made. You all
know, he said, that iron is selling at less
that three cents, not because the manu-
facturers want it to be so, but because it
couldn't be helped The manufactur ers
would not voluntarily reduce the price,
but if forced by the market, what could
we do? We will return to our old scale
as soon as ever iron goes above three
cents. Mr.. Harris says he cannot see
the necessity that demands this change.
Well, the manufacturers can feel
it, and that very sensibly, too.
We all understand that when iron
came down to 81 80, the scale would have
to be readjusted, for there was no proyl-
sion for it in the original contract. We
cannot pay from twenty-five to thirty
five per cent. more than other places, and
live. All know this. We meet with
cheaper iron everywhere in the market,
and have to compete with it. We must
do something, and it seems that this
proposition is indeed very liberal One.
We will be sorry to part company, be-
cause we have worked along harmOnl-
ously through the past and by so dong
thousands of men will be thrown out ot
employment. But ifthe present Is not
the proper time for the rcadjuStment "i
the scale, there never will be such one.
Mr.. Ryan, a puddler, said u great deal
had been said about the original contract.
Its signers understood perfectly that
when iron was three cents puddlers were
to have Sc per ton. He and the Others
were satisfied and wanted no change,
and until the card was put below thrc"
cents he did not see the necessity for II
new arrangement.
MIR. Jones-Mr. Ryan evidently does
not understand the agreement. II the
card price was reduced below three cents
-
then either party can, by giving th'r'E
DAYS notice, have meeting called to re-
arrange any matters of difference. Now,
if we had changed the card below three
cents, then we would nave no rates. The
manufacturers gave the notice and pro-
posed to jump down one dollar on three
cent iron and all below it, owning to the
hard times, and the prospect Tor an un"-
sually dull season.
More Propositions Wanted.
Mr.. Bishop, puddler, said they had
been trying to carry out the former con-
tract in good faith. The presence OF 50
MANY puddlers was an evidence OF that.
They were ready TO negotiate on new
terms when such were really necessary
but they couldn't see that they were
necessary now. The puddlers, too
thought the manufacturers had no rlgh'
TO expect proposition from them: IhCE
didn't want any struggle, and thought
propositions should be made until salts
factory one WAS reached.
Mr.. Bennett-Mr. Bishops plan makes
il no better, but rather worse. He wants
ne to hand them loaf and yet another,
until they get one that suits their taste.
Thus we might go on forever, but 1t
would be fruitless unless we should at
least give them all that they asked. Now