The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-26

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Chicago. Transportation. iron-stone
and prices of all kinds have advanced
upon them in the meantime, and they
must therefore run for the bulk of the
year upon very small margins OF profit.
But the men noticing in the papers
the great boom in steel rails very
naturally demand their share OF
the advance, and under our existing
faulty arrangements between capital
and labor they have secured it The
employers, therefore, have grudgingly
given what they know under proper
arrangements they should not have
been required to give; and there has
been friction and still is dissatisfaction
upon the part of the employers. Re
verse this picture. The steel rail mar
ket falls again. The mills have still
six months work at prices above the
prevailing market, and can afford to
pay men higher wages than the then
existing state OF the market would
apparently justify. But having Just
been amerced in extra payments for
labor which they should not have
paid, they naturally attempt TO re-
duce wages as the market price Of
rails go down, and there arises discon-
tent among the men, and we have a rep
ettion OF the negotiations and strikes
which have characterized the begin
ming OF this year. In other words,
when the employer is going down the
employe insists on going up, and rec
UerSa. What we must seek is plan
by which the men will receive high
wages when their employers are re-
ceiving high prices for the product,
and hence are making large profits;
and, per contra, when the employers
are receiving low prices for product,
and therefore small il any profit, the
men will receive low wages.
THE BENEFITS OF A SLIDING SCALE.
Wages should be based upon a slid
ing scale, in proportion TO the net
prices received for product month by
month. And here ! gladly pay Mr..
Potter, president OF the North Chicago
Rolling Mill Company, the great COM
pliment TO say that he has already
taken a step in this direction, for to-
day he is working his principal mill
upon this plan. The result is that he
has had no stoppage whatever this
year, nor any dissatisfaction. All has
gone smoothly along, and this in itself
is worth at least as much to the man
ufacturer and to the men as the differ
ence in wages one way or another
which can arise from the new system.
The celebrated Crescent Steel Works
OF Pittsburg, manufacturers of the
highest grades of tool steel, pay their
skilled workmen by sliding scale,
based upon prices received forproduct
an important factor in the eminent
success OF that firm. The scale"
adopted by the iron manufacturers
and workmen is only an approach to
the true sliding scale; nevertheless it
is a decided gain both to capital and
labor, as it is adopted from year to
year, and hence eliminates strikes on
account OF wages during the year, and
limits these Interruptions from that
cause to the yearly negotiation as to
the justice or injustice OF the
scale As this scale, however, is
not based upon the prices actu-
ally received for product, but
upon the published list of prices
which should be received in theory,
there is not complete mutually be-
tween the parties. In dep 'essed times,
such as the iron industry has been
through in recent years, enormous
concessions upon the published card
prices have been necessary to effect
sales, and in thess the worsmen have
not shared with their employers. If,
however, there was added to the scale,
even in its present form, stipulation
that all causes of difference which
could not be postponed till the end of
the year, and then considered with
the scale, should be referred to arbi-
tration, and that in case of failure OF
the owners and woTkmen to agree at
the year conference, arbitration
should also be resorted TO, strikes and
lockouts would be entirely eliminated
from the iron business; and If the
award Of the arbitrator took effect
from the date of reference, the works
could run without days Interrupt
ton.
THE grEps TOWARD PEACEFUL RELA-
TIoNs.
Diminishing, therefore, for the pres
ent all consideration of cooperation
rs not being within measurable dis
lance, | believe that the next steps in
the advance toward permanent, peace
lul relations between capital and labor
are:
First That compensation be paid
the men based upon sliJing scale in
proportion to the prices received for
product.
Second-A proper organization OF
the men of every works to be made,
by which the natural leaders, the best
men, willeventually come to the front
and confer freely with the employers.
Third Peaceful arbitration to be in
all cases resorted TO for the settlement
of differences which the owners and
the mill committee cannot themselves
adjust in friendly conference.
Fourth-No interruption ever to
occur to the operations of the estab-
lishment, since the decision OF the
arbitrators shall be made to take effect
from the date OF reference.
Ii these measures were adopted by
an establishment several important
advantages would be gained
First-The employer and employed
would simultaneously share their pros
perity or adversely with each other,
The scale once settled, the feeling Of
antagonism would be gone, and feel.
ing OF mutually would ensue. Capt.
tai and labor would be shoulder To
shoulder supporting each other.
Second-There could be neither
strike nor lockout, since both parties
had agreed TO abide by Forthcoming
decision of disputed points. Know
ing that in the last resort stranger
were TO be called in to decide wha
should be a family affair, the case
would indeed be few which would no
be amicably settled by the origins
parties without calling in others b
| Judge between them.
-
A disease of 80 delicAt
a nature as structure Of the urethr
should only be entrusted to those q
large experience and skill. BY on
/ improved methods we have been on
, abled to speedily and permanentl