Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-16
A TEN Per CENT. cur
Reported Made by the Amalgamated
Association.
PREPARING eANEw COMPROMISE SCALE
Can't Stand the Old Rates---Discussing the
misunderstanding With
Employers.
SOME VERY LIVELY STATEMENTS

PITrsBURG, May l5.-The Chronicle
Telegraph this evening says
1t is learned on very good authority that
President Weihe and Secretary Martin, of
the Amalgamsted Association, are to-day at
work preparing new compromise scale
which is to be submitted to the manutac-
turers. The scale is ten per cent below the
scale of last year and this is the scale which
will probably be accepted by the manutac.
turers. The officers refuse to talk about the
scale or what they will do.
ut is duller and harder to make scales
now at any price than in 1875" said lead
ing manufacturer this morning. IF the
mills should shut down for six months or q
year il would be blessing to all who have
money invested in the production of iron.
There are no railroads building now and
the rigid economy Of the big railroad COM
panies has of course been severely felt ny
the trade. 1t has taken the largest and best
paying class of customers virtually out OF the
market. We have expected this, however,
and have not been taken bY surprise by the
absence of railroad trade. The most severe
blow which has been struck at the trade
this spring has come from the farmers all
over the country. The winter was so bad
that no blowing could be done, and compar-
atively little plowing has been done this
spring. The demand for agricultural i'm
plements has been smaller than fol. r.many
years. Farmers are using their old tools or
are doing without any. The low prices for
grain has been disastrous TO them. Those
who were poor had to sell for whatever they
could get in order to buy food. Those who
could hold their grain have done so, and in
consequence are short of ready MONEY.
Can't Stand the Old Rate.
81 do not see how we can get along at the
old rates of wages. l know that this has
often been said by some manufacturers when
it was not time, but it is certainly so now.
Ii is q cut throat race now between firms to
get trade. Some big concerns are selling At
much less than cost. One firm recently got
contract in western city for 500 tons o.
ship plates at 2! cents. Ship plates have
always been from FIVE to six cents. Manu-
facturers here are met with the statement OF
Brown, Bonnell 4 Co.'S receiver and the
interview of Potter, Of Chicago, neither Of
which are criterions. 1t Is to Potter s in
terest to have a row in Pittsburg. he does
not want to see wages reduced here. lie
does MOI paw as much as Pittsburg men do
and can afford to tald as he does 1t is just
as much matter Of business
for him to create trouble here as it is for
him to cry up his own wares at home, That
statement of the Brown, Bonuel u Co., re-
ceiver is not what it seems to be. Does the
receiver mean that he made money at the
rate of $l2j,000 a year and paid for mate
rial at market prices2 Not much. When
he went in as receiver he appraised
the pig iron he took at IS ton
and that was the figure it went to
him at. No wonder he can show profit
when he got his material at from fifty to
sixty per cent less than it would cost in the
market. have no idea what will be done
about the scale. As things 90 now it is a
matter which concerns the banks more than
the iron manufacturers. The banks are
running about hall the works in this city
and if the Lard times continue they will run
the balance. The manufacturers must stop
the strike cry for selfish purposes. They
have sent out travelling agents who talk
strike and frighten customers into buying.
When the order books are full and the
travellers report that they have got all they
can get, then comes the signing of the scale
and the mills start up. Customers are get.
ting tired OF this sort Of trickery, and it will
not work any longer"
Discussing the Situation.
The queGtion as to whether there is to be
general strike among the Amsgamated
men was being generally though quietly
discussed in LawrenCevllle this morning
The members Of the Amalgsmated Associa
ton were very averse to express their osiu
ions publicly, but quietly conversed among
themselves. One memoer OF Lawrence
vile lodge, however, was more outspoken.
he is q man whose opinion carries much
weight among his fellow-workmen. He
said briefly: mo, sir, l don't think the as
sociauon will agree to the terms as pro.
posed BY the manufacturers. You can Just
say that the Lawrenceville workmeu are
solid to a man against the scale rejected
yesterday, and there will be no back down
on their art"
Conferring With Employers.
A rumor was started this morning that an
important conference had been held Two
Gays ago he en- The representatives of Car
negie's Union Iron Works and a committee
of their workmen. The rumor was further
to the effect that proposition was under
consideration by which the employees would
accept 10 per cent. reduction, and in
case there was general strike
ordered by the Amslgamated Associa.
rion that the employees Of this firm
would withdraw from the Association.
A call was made at the Office of the firm to
ascertain what truth there was in the story.
4 representative ofthe firm replied: ut is
true we did have talk with a committee
Of our workmen. There is no truth though
in the rumor that proposition was consid
cred in regard to their withdrawal from the
Amslgamated Association. Our talk was
more Of the nature of advising our men
that under the circumstances reduction
should be accepted by them. They would
not express any decided opinion as to how
they felt in regard TO the question. bat said
they must be governed by their instructions
g. y, tba;- loS-o,B