Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-04
LABORLIVING ON ITSWlTS
COUNTLESS THOUSANDS STILL
IN IDLENESS.

The Knights Banding the TOilers at
Philadelphia-EastOn Iron Workers
Working Under the Sliding scale-NO
Assumptions Reported, but More
Strikes Probable.
PITTSBURG, Dec. 3.-The wOrkmen en-
plOyed in the iron works of Jones &
Laughlins, numbering between 800 and
1000, who received notice of a 10per cent.
reduction in their wages to take effect
next Monday, have decided to accept it.
The laborers at the Crescent Steel
Works, who were reduced from 81 % to 81
per day, have also accepted.
Unless trade improves during the next
fortnight a general suspension will pro-
badly be ordered by Carnegie Bros. & Co.
in their numerous mills and quarries.
This would throw 5000 men out of en-
ployment.
ing several hundred men, this afternoon
posted notice of reduction IN wages OF
1213 per cent, to 90 into effect at once.
THE SLIDING SCALE.
EAsTON, PA, Dec. 3.-The GlendOn
Iron Company has shipped less iron this
year than it has in any year for several
years, and continues to ship less as the
present year draws to a close. AT this
time the company has over 10000 tons OF
pig iron in heaps upon its premises, and
unless there is big demand before long
it is PROBABLE that the greater part of it
will remain there until next spring. Most
of this iron is OF the best brand,
but still there is no sale for it at the prices
offered. The company has large stock
OF ore, coal and limestone on hand, and is
constantly increasing its stock. Before
the end of the present week No. furnace
will have to be blown out. The blast was
taken off last night. A reduction of about
per cent. in the wages of puddlers and
others employed in the rolling mills of
this city last Monday was made in ac-
cordance with the scale of wages adopted
in July, 1880, at the conference between
the wOrkmen and their employers. This
scale, said Secretary Swank of the
American Iron and Steel Association.
provides that when the selling price of
bar iron should be cents per pound
the total price paid for pudding should
be $4 per ton, and that with every adj
vance in price of One-tenth OF cent per
pound the price paid for pudding should
be increased 10 cents per ton. 1t was
also provided that if the selling price Of
bar iron should fall below 2 cents per
pound the price paid for pudding should
cOrrespondingly fall 10 cents per ton per
each One-tenth of a cent reduction in
price.
PHILADELPHIA'S SHOEMAKERS.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 3.-District AS
sembly No. 70 of the knights of Labor,
which assembly is composed entirely of
shoemakers, met tonight to consider the
request of the Shoe Manufacturers Asso-
citation for joint arbitration committee
to decide all disputes between employer
| and emplOye. A manufacturer stated that
unless the request was complied with by
Dec. all shops would be closed. After a
brief discussion this evening the assembly
decided that it would not consider the
| request in it's present shape, as it con-
| tanned a threat, and they refused to be
coerced. 1t is the general belief among
| the 5000 shOemakers that satisfactory
agreement with the manufacturers will
| be reached, and that the shops Will not be
| closed.
INITIATED INTO THE KNIGHTS.
The striking power loom weavers held a
meeting to-day. when 125 of their number.
| including 40 women, were initiated into the
/ order of the knights of Labor. The strik.
| ers are determined to hold out, and think
| that the manufacturers will accede tC
| their demands before Jan. 1. The loom
| fiXers at one of the mills joined the strik-
| ers this afternoon, saying that they "Wert
tired of teaching apprentices" to which
| duty they had been assigned by the mil
| owners. The manufacturers say that they
| are in no hurry to resume work, as the
market is in such condition that they d(
not care to start again unless prices take
| an upward turn.
1000 RAILROAD HANDS DISCHARGED.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. st is reported
that the Central Pacific Railroad COmpan!
have discharged l, 100 men within the las
three months, and that 400 more have beer
discharged at Sacramento during the las
three days. General Manager TOwne
interviewed by an Associated Pres
reporter, stated that majOrit.
were those who had been employed in tn
repair and reconstruction service, ant
were no longer necessary. A weedinj
out had been made in various depart
ments, and Othe rs had been dismissed be
cause but little freight is moving a
present. This is mainly due to the lov
price of wheat, which farmers hav
ceased to sell.