Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-04-21
Aaneaster .1ntelltgenccr
MONDAY EVENING. APRIL al. 1885
Iron workers wages.


Iron workers Wages.
The Pittsburg iron manufacturers and
their skilled workmen are about setting
the rates Of wages for the year beginning
with the first Of June, and though they
are apart in their views IL is likely that
they will come together, since the
demand Of the manufacturers is but for
q ten per cent. reduction, and the work.
men can hardly fail to see the necessity
for concession In the present condition
Of the iron trade. They will hardly ven
ture upon strike to preserve rate Of
wages which cannot be afforded. The
only argument upon which they can re-
slst a reduction with any show Of reason
is that reduction Of wages will not
profit the manufacturer, because it will
result in q corresponding reduction in
the price OF iron. This is consideration
for both parties to entertain; and the
further one connected with it as to
whether reduction in the price of iron
will not increase the demand for 1t.
The iron trade is depressed now not be-
cause Of the high price of manufactured
iron, but because of its over.production.
That an increased demand will be Sc
cured by reduction of price is very
doubtful, in view of the low prices that
have been for long time prevailing un.
der the slack demand. 1t is quite pro.
bable that a lowered cost to the Pitts
burg manufacturer and the lowered price
at which he will be thereby enabled to sell
tothe consumer will not increase his trade
or his yrofits. Unless it will stimulate an
increased consumption the Pittsburg
manufacturer will find his advantage in
1t only In the ability which it may give
him to take away the trade of other
manufacturers or keep them from taking
away his trade. The one who can make
iron cheapest will supply it to the con-
sumer. The Pittsburg makers pay
much higher wages than are paid on this
side of the mountains. They have, to
offset this, cheap coal, and railroad
competition which enables them to
reach out TO distant markets with
their products. At present, the conflict
between the railroads for Eas. bound
freights enables them to put their iron
into the seaboard markets at about the
same rates that are charged from this
section. There is not enough freight
Offering to keep all the carrying facili
ties employed, and consequently th'
carriers are fighting with each other 70
what there is, and will take any price
they can get. Pittsburg, with its i'm
mense output Of iron, and many railroad
hungering for it, can, in such times q
these, dictate terms to the railroads.
its manufacturers had like power
impose terms of wages upon their er
ployes they would command the ma
kets of the country and keep their mil
at work at fine profit. The aggreg
tion, however, of so many skilled worl
men gives them the power to dtcta
the terms OF their employment, and
secure the lions share Of the advantag
Of Pittsburg's location amidst mines ar
railroads. They get, as an addition
their wages, about all of the advanta.
Pittsburg has in the cost of its coal ov
Philadelphia. and yet the Pittsburg maj
ufacturer seems TO be able TO underse
the Philadelphia manufacturer in b
own market. II may be that in const
ering this the Pittsburg workme
will be unable TO see any ne
cessity for their submitting to
reduction Of wages. But 1t is tn,
general impression that the Pittsbur
manufacturer, in offering his product a
the prevailing prices, is selling belo,
cost, and just to keep his business goin
and to avoid winding up in bankruptc,
in the hope of better times ahead. 1t
difficult to see how he can be paying h
expenses, even under the advantages |
possesses in cheap coal and freight
with the wages he is paying. He h;
certainly got the cost of manufactuI
down to the lowest point in everythiu
but wages and that the wo,kmen ha,
been able to command from hi
the wages they obtain, is a nOtab
illustration of their power, since the
have arrayed against them not only Il
manufacturers but the railroads, whiC
could get better freight rates if thel
was anything left to pay them with aftt
paying the labor bills. If the wor
men conclude that the camel
back won't break, even thous
they concede nothing in Their wage
doubtless they will not submit to a
duction though only Of ten per cent.
business the rule seems to be every m,
for himself. 1t is rule the carryi
companies religiously observe. Il
manufacturers generally do the SAM
and workmen are not slow in yieldil
their obedience TO it. The Pittsbu
manufacturers no doubt will be made
pay for labor all that 1t is worth to ther
lT seems that after all, the tax an
tariff bill adopted last year will not d.
crease therevenues materially, and frol
the custom reports thus far, under II
hn