Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-07-16
THE SETTLEMENT
Reached by the Employees of the Home
stead MIL

stead Mill.
What promised to be the greatest battle
between organized labor on the one side,
and organized capital on the other, has
been declared of, and the differences ami
cably settled.
The Amalgamated Association, while il
made some few concessions, may fairly be
said to have won victory at Homestead,
for heretofore Carnegie has not been dicta-
ted to in the matter Of employing men or
paying wages.
The conference that has brought about
this happy termination Was held in the Of
fee of Carnegie. Phipps & Co., on Fifth
avenue, in Pittsburg. There were present
Chairman William L. Abbott, Superinten-
dent Schwab, G. II. M. Curry, represent
ing the firm, President Weihe, Secretary
Martin and Trustee James II. Mutt, Ma
tionsl Lodge officers Of the Amalgamated
Association, and the following COMMITTEES
of Homestead workers: John Elias Jones
(Chsirmsn), J. B. PArtington, John Hulse,
John Miller, J. NJ. Calgan, W. ]. Abbott,
Oscar Colhssh, Isaac ]. Jury. A. Z Hunt,
j. II. Dodge, David Lyrch, Harry Giugher
and L. E. Feltry.
After a conference that lasted all day
Sunday the following agreement was ar
ranged.
Memorandum OF fsgreement between Carnegie,
Phipps * Co limited and the Amalgamated Al.
ISOLATION Of Iron and Steel Workers, covering
the Homestead ST. el Works made this 18th day
Of July, A. D., 1889:
"First-The period OF time aSrefd to is FOR the
coming three years from July l, 1852 TO July /,
1892.
Second The rates when agreed to obtain for
six months from July /, 1889, 10 January /, 1890,
10 be the basis upon which wag shall be paid
for the next three months, the rate 10 change
every three months thereafter, based upon the
average selling price OF the preceding three
months.
''The standard grade 4xi Bessemer billets 10
be the basis of price. A committee 10 be appoint
ed, consisting OF three members OF the Amalga-
mated Association National Lodge officers and
three members OF the finn, to determine the av-
erage selling price for each period, and In the
event Of these six men not agreeing, a seventh
disinterested party 10 be chosen by them, whose
decision shall be final.
"All day labor, except common labor, TO be
paid the same rates as were paid prior to July l,
isS9, and not 10 be included in the sliding sca'e
The following classes OF labor TO be included In
the three years agreement az existing wages fOl
the whole term: All engineers, water tenders,
pressure pump men, travelling cranes, narrow
guage locomotive engineers, river pump men,
millwrghls, ga; heGtefs, stocking gangfor bloom
ing mill
"The wages scales for the dill rent depart
ments having been considered aud agreed upon,
copies Of the same are furnished herewith "a
each party.
The foot notes on last years scales are to be
appended to the new scales"
Repcrts from Pittsburg are TO the effect
that the committee of the national lodge ol
the Amslgamation and the Homestead
management are still busy arranging the
scale. While there is a reduction, it is not
nearly so much as was contemplated by
the firm, and the cuts came almost entire
ly on the high priced men, who can best
afford it.
The wages are based on $26 80 per ton
as the price of billets, and the minimum
price is $25. There can, therefore, only be
reduction of 81 so in the selling price q,
present and wages cannot be reduced al
auy rate until January l. The wages IN
the converting, blooming, armor, plate
and basic mills are not disturbed. They
will, therefore, be the same rs are paid by
Jones & Laughlins, junction Steel Com
pany and other concerns who operate the
same kind of mills and who have signed
the scale.
The firm made concession when they
agreed to insert the foot notes that ap-
pear in the old scale, but were not placed
in theirs. This is very important to the
workers.
1t was also agreed that all the men whit
were in the employ of the firm when the
mill closed, whether members of the asso
citation or not, should be given their ole
places.
The local lodge of the Association il
Homestead met yesterday afternoon and
ratified the action of the officials of the
National Lodge and all the repairs which
the company were executing will be com
menced again with renewed vigor. AL
departments of the mill will go on again
as soon as the repairs are finished.
Telegraphic reports received last night
are to the effect that the jolifcation of the
workmen held at Homestead yesterday wst
a grand affair and that all interested are
happy and contented.
Several prominent members OF the
Amalgamated Association in this city
were seen yesterday in regard to the mat
ter. and they all seemed eatisfisd that the
trouble had been settled with no material
damsge 10 them as an association. One
gentleman stated that had it not been for
a few hot-headed members, the conven-
tion of the association which adjourned a
few weeks ago, would have affected
similar settlement.