The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-03-24

The sliding scale In force in 1883 was
adopted January IS, 1882. It provides
that the standard wages OF all classes nj
men working blast furnace shifts shall adj.
vance or decline ! percent with each ad-
vance or decline OF one shilling in the as.
certained selling price OF No. 5 pix iron.
When the price is between forty and forty.
two ahillings a ton the change is II Der.
cent. Tho selling price is to be ascer.
tanned, con6denlially, from the books Of
the eight firms which are mentioned in the
agreement, by three accountants. one
choaen by the men, one by the manufac.
safefs, and one by the Northeastern Rail.
way Company, and is to be the actual ne,
average invoice price at the works. In
case disputes arise, they are to be settled
by Committees representing each side. The
wage Of any spare blast furnaceman ia mi
to be lees than three shillings day.
CANCELLATION RATHER THAN ARBITRATION.
The methods by which agreements have
been reached in.this industry are those nj
Cancellation and-n OF arbitration. There
has never been formal arbitration Win
an umpire to decide upon the subjects in
dispute, but committees representing tho
employer and the employed come to an
agreement without the intervention Of a
third party. This method is always to be
preferred toarbitration, if it can be mcds
to work successfully. The danger. how.
ever, is that IN the absence OF this ultimate
appeal, the parties may separate withou,
arriving at a conclusion and q s,rlke or
lockout ensue. "
Tne sliding scale ia force las. year pro-
Vlded Tor Its Termination upon six months
notice, but such notice could no, be given
before June 80, 1883. 1t was given and
negotiations are now in progress for new
one. The men demand certain advances
and the inclusion in is provisions of ali
men connected with tho furnace who de.
elre to have their wages so regulated. They
also require that the blast be taken off
twelve hours on Sunday. The emplover,
have refused these demands, and at last
reports, no decision had been reached.
Since the above was written the uppolia.
tions Tor scale have failed, the operators
have given notice Of a reduction Of 5 per
cent, and this was met by notice of a
strike at the end OF February.
90 not propose to discuss the o1estion
OF sliding scales" at this tins, hu. il NAV
be well TO note here complaint epains.
the method Of aseertaining the selling
pres that IS quite common at the English
WORKS where this system io7 computing
wages obtsiue. Under the terms OF lhis
scale the actual selling prices OF pig iron are
ascertained, say October l, far The three
previous months, July, August and Sep
tember, and this price determines the
wages for the three following mouths Octo.
Der, November and December. It will thus
occur that iron sol1 July has de.ermin.
ing effect on the wages paid December 81
SIX months afterwird.V It frequently hsp.
pens that there is a decided change in sell.
Ing prices alter the rates arc fixed for
quarter, and, as this change is an advance
or decline, tho manufacturer or workman
is alta disadvantage. To overcome thai
Objection monthly determinations are in
IN some cases, made, bu. this is unnoyinu
and expensive. In some industries in the
United States, where the wages are raid
IN accordance with the terms Of sliding
scale, tho declared price or the card price
dxed by some associations is taken as the
basis and determines the wages, Az this
is always higher than the actual selling
price, it is to the advantage OF the work.
man that this method should be adopted
This will be discussed further in a subse.
quent letter, and is only referred 10 hers 10
call attention to the subject. NJ
uI lvst ]. D. MEEHs,