Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-30
OBJECT TOPLATESCALE
EOORHIAD, BRO. & o., o. PIlISBURs, WILL
NOT SIGN IT.
They Outline Their Position in q Gircular-ThsY
Have no Fight Agains. The Amalgamatsd As
sociAicn-Mil Nay Run With Non
Union Nsn-Wsihes Opinion.

PITTsBURG. July 29.-The dispute be-
tween the firm Of MOorhead, Bro. 81
Co. and the Amalgamated Association
has been definitely outlined and is now
made plain to all concerned. 1t is
authoritatively stated by the company
that they do not and never have recog-
nized the signature Of Mr.. D. B. Oliver,
as the manufacturers representative,
binding upon them as participants in
the contract contained in the memo
randum Of agreement to the scale.
This statement efTectually puts at
rest all the doubts that have been ex-
pressed as to the firms intention to re-
fuse to honor an obligation which the
workers officials insist was entered
into by the fact of Mr.. MOOrhead'S
membership on the manufacturers con-
ference committee. Mr.. M0orhead's
attitude in relation to the scale indi-
Gates that his attendance at one or two
Of the conferences is not regarded as a
sufficient reason why he should sign a
scale TO which he objects.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
The trouble at the Moorhead mill is
on the scale OF the plate-mill crew,
which the firm claims 70 be unreason-
able in comparison with the wages paid
to the best wages paid to other skilled
workmen in other departments. This
is the only objection they urge against
the scale, and II II is adjusted to con-
form 20 their ideas of what is equitable
the scale as a whole will be signed and
the mill will resume operations immedi-
ately. Since the difference Of opinion
became known Messrs. MOOrhead have
steadily refused TO talk TO anyone ex-
ceDt the employees OF the mill in regard
to the matter, but yesterday they issued
9 circular letter which states their case
in full and at the same time makes
positive declaration of their intentions.
TIE circular states that from the in
tsrviews held with the prominent work
mon In their employ, 10 is only waste
of tue b Try u arrive az more equit-
able scale to govoCr their plate mill,
end that undsv the circlcis'aEces they
have about determined 10 make their
mill nOO-uaioa.
No GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE UNION.
tits positively sta;sc Nat tho firm
has no grievance against che Amaigam-
ated Association, and II tho scale OF
wages for plate and tank-mtllS can oe
rearranged as special schedules they
would pr fer to wJ-x under the Associ-
alton scale. They assert that as present
O. - Lei 50 MI IN
IL impossible sCV them 20 continue &c
work and that they have been assured
that there eau DO no special arrange
ment for them.
The circular points out that when the
plate mill scale was made some years
ago the wages were fair because the out
put was small, say ten tons per turn,
with crude mechanical advantages. To-
day the output is from thirty 10 forty
five tons per turn, with no added labor
over the former production. Formerly
the manufacturer received from TO 5
cents per pound for plate iron, while at
present the rate is Is cents per pound,
or $50 per ton, delivered, allowing
$3.50 per net ton TO the manufacturer.
MIGHT GIVE HIM THE MILL.
The correspondent further says: 1.-THE
position Of roller on the plate mill was
paid, last year, $40, 29422. Think Of it?
Why, gentlemen, that was more, by
quite bit, than the firm made on this
mill, with all expenses, breaks, risks
and losses. Think Of it, one position Oh
the mill yielding more than the firm
makes. Why, is it not almost time for
the firm itself to take the rollers job
and give him the mill"
The statement asks for a proper con-
sideration and the men are assured that
what Is said is sot a bluff, and concludes
af follows:
eve have no fight against the Anal
gamated Association, and would be
willing TO sign their scale at once, pro-
vlded they make US q proper plate scale.
We prefer peace, but as we cannot pay
the present price, and as we intend to
remain In business, il our old employees
do not wish to help US out, they must
stand aside and let others, who are will
ing and anxisus TO do so, take their old
places" Appended Is table showing
the daily earnings OF the rollers on the
different mills aS follows:
THEIR DAILY EARNINGS.