Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-06
THE NEWS CONFIRMED.
The First Step Taken, Looking 10 the
Reduction.


Later news from Pittsburgh confirms the
the article published yesterday morning.
There is slight difference in the result OF
the skirmishing by reporters Of the papers,
yesterday morning, but the general fea-
lures are the same. The Commercial Ga.
=ette says:
The first practical step looking toward a
general reduction OF iron workers wages
was taken yesterday by the Western Iron
Association. This time next week will
show a number of changes in this respect
barely thought OF now by the public. Since
the passage of the Tax and Tariff bill
a reduction Of wages has been spoken
| OF increasingly by the manufacturers and
made light off as perSistently by the officers
| and members of the Am algamated AsSocia-
! ton. But the plans were working right
along looking to this end and yesterday at
| the annual meeting, free discussion was
| had. a full representation was present
and after the election OF T. +. Jones as
president for the ensuing year. Jas. |. Ben
net vice president and J. ID. Weeks, seCrc-
tary and treasurer, the offensive and de-
| fenSive Association which crushed last
years great strike had a meeting of their
own. IT was secret, as are all the Iron
| Association meetings, out from a member
| the real business transacted was lesrned.
| 4 committee of this association has been at
work preparing figures on the trade, and
endeavorlng to arrange a scale on two
cent basis. Over their report liberal dis
cussiOn took place, the universal opinion
being that wages must come down, but no
definite action was taken ON making their
recommendation permanent.
The AmaiGamated Association has its
scale convention Saturday, and after the
| adoption OF q scale, a conference commit
tee 10 present it to the manufacturers will
be appointed. To meet their demands
! with uniform answer it was informally
determined yesterday that a reduction OF
! perhaps 10 per cent must take place,
! which a two cent basis will give. 1t is be-
! lieved the officers OF the Amalgamated As
ISOLATION have expected such a move
as they have never indicated what action
! their convention will take on the scale.
| The suppositiUn among the workmen has
! been that the present scale will be affirm
| ed. and but few among them have expect
| ed a reduction. Ii there is to be any
! change in the scale by the workmen, the
answer 10 the reports sent out March lst
would indicate its spirit, yet so far as it
| can be learned, these reports are mostly
! in favor of the present scale. The officers
refuse TO speak on the matter, preferring
| TO let time work out the problem.
The Conference Committee of the Anal
| gamated Association, when it lays its new
! scale before the manufacturers, will prob
! ably be confronted with the scale discussed
! yesterday. The manufacturers il is thought,
will propose a common basis with the
! prices down to two cent card instead of a
! two and oDe-half, as at present; that is to
! say, they want s per ton for pudding
when common bar is selling at two cents.
! This is the same ratio as the wages of this
! year, but at present the workman's card
does not go below two and half cents.
! Therefore, however low iron sells land it is
| selling now at two cents for common bar,
and has sold as low as one and sew en-
tenthS) the labor receives compensation
as though two aud half cents were the
market rate. A corresponding reduction
will take place in tinishers wages. 1t Is be-
lieved concessions will be made on both
sides in order to arrive at an amicable set
| Element but as the manufacturers are de-
termined on reduction, the largest con-
cesSion must necessarily come from the
! men TO avert strike.