The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-07-20

hotel In town Will 1eed one OF tneSe
men and skilled mechanics cannot be
induced to live in tents or shanties
inside Of the mill His conclusion is
that the only alternative left to the
Carnegie people is a settlement with
their old men.
PITTSBURGH, July 15.-The employees
in the upper and lower union mills of
the Carnegies, in this city, quit work at
noon Thursday and the gas was turned
off in the furnaces. The men struck be-
cause the company refused to confer
again with the Homestead men. 1t is
the most remarkable iron strike on rec
ord, the firm having signed the Anal
gamated scale for the ensuing year.
THE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATING COM
MITTEE AT WORK.
PITTSBURGH, July 13.-The congress
sional committee was prompt in getting
down to work last night. At the hour
set, 1880, Judge Oates, chairman Of the
committee, swore the first witness, II.
c. Frick. The number present was not
very large. The general officers and the
attorneys of the Carnegie Steel Com
pany, limited, were present. The work.
ingmen were represented by President
Weihe, President-elect Garland, ,eX-Vice
President Roberts and David Lynch, all
of the Amalgamated association and
few others
Mr. Frick after stating his name, res
idence and occupation, gave the names
of those composing the Carnegie Steel
Company, limited. Mr.. Frick then
named and located the mills, mines,
ETC., in which the company was inter
ested and the number of men employed
at each plant, maliinga total of 1900
$500 of whom were employed at Home
stead. Mr. Frick then read long re-
port tending TO show the earning capac-
ity of the company's employees, particu-
larly in the "ll9-inch plate mill" at
Homestead. The wages paid were based
on the provisions of the Amalgamated
association scale of July, 1889.
Mr.. Frick handed to the committee u
copy of the Amalgamated scale and at
tempted to enlighten the committee on
the workings of a sliding scale" Mr..
Friclt then touched upon the decline in
the price of products Making a com
parison between 1889 and 1902 prices he
said: 'Over-production and not the
tariff was the cause for the continuous
decline in prices" From this Mr.,
Fricl passed to detailed statement OF
the causes leading to the employment Of
the 300 Pinkerton men. The Pinkertons
were employed and all the arrange
ments pertaining to them were com
pleted between June oS and July 2
The correspondence between Mr.. Fricl
and Robert II. Pinkerton was intro
duced.
PITTSBURGH, July 14.-When the con
gressional committee resumed its inves
tigation yesterday Mr. Frick continued
his testimony, giving further details o
the employment of the Pinkertons. II,
evaded question as TO his direct re
sponsibility.
Capt Rogers detailed the trip +
Homestead and read the agreemen
with Mr.. Frick in relation TO the Pink
ertons. lie said James II. Gray accom-
panied the party as deputy sheriff.
Sheriff McCleary said he was notified
by the Carnegie people about July
that they would employ Pinkertons ant
was asked to deputize them. To thi
he did not reply. He told Of his unsuc
cessful efforts TO secure deputies by pre-
clamation and personal service, result
ing in the formal demand for troops Of
Sunday last 10 which the governor re
sponded. He said Gray was sent wit
the Plnkertons ito order them back
there was any trouble" The Home
stead men had offered TO furnish hir
500 deputies, but he rejected the offe
because he thought they would kee
everybody away.
President Weihe, Of the Amalgamate
association, was the first witness swor
for tho iron workers. He explained tn
workings OF the sliding scale" Of 'sE
and then pointed out the objectionabl
features of the new scale as prepare
by the firm. The men objected becaut
they could not stand the reduction
wages (averaging about IS per cent
and they did not want tho year to e1
pire in January. Other objections wor
that In some jobs the men were reduce
before they reached the scale Me
were taken out by the new scale an
other men were asked TO do the extr
work without pay. Allowances are a
ways made for improvements, an
where jobs are done away with no oil
lection Is made. Witness then told {
the conferences with Mr.. Frick, Stain
that the firm had set date after whic
no conferences could be had. Th
Amalgamated association has 25,0t
members; the objects Of the associatio
|, are TO obtain remuneration and SEQ tht
no advantage Is taken.
Z Mr.. Taylor-Why do tho workme
q think they are justified in taking po
, session Of the mill2
= 81 do not think there are any in Il
= association who do. / think the me
, would have protected the mills"
"Aro you willing that the state I
8 congress shall pass an arbitration bi
r to settle all questions Of this chara
' ter2"
4 "I cannot answer for the association
I The history OF most arbitrations hi
o been against the workmen.'
| "Is II advisable to establish compu
( sorry arbitration"
81 do not know whether compulsol
8 arbitration would be successful TT
o state trades unions have voluntai
tribunal, but II has not worked. tt
/ trouble In estimating wages Is that u
= | a.. Ill Mt ahovx nm what the era