Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-05
WILL CONFER AGAIN.
manufacturers and WOrkmen to
Hold A Meeting TO-Morrow.
OUTLOOK FOR A SETTLEMENT.
The Wage Question Discussed From 0p-
poSite Points of View.
WHY SOME FIRMS GET CONCESSIONS

The Conference Committee of the Anal
gamated Association and the iron manu-
facturers of Pittsburg will meet in the Fer
guson building tomorrow afternoon for the
fourth time. The object in view is the
settlement of the wage difficulty, but the
prevailing opinion is that after to-morrow's
session the differences in the scale will be
As wide and varied as ever.
The committee appointed to represent the
Amalgamated Association possess only
limited powers. They have received their
final instructions, and will therefore insist
upon the adoption of the scale as originally
presented by that organization. Yet if the
manufacturers show disposition to treat
with their workmen their propositions will
receive consideration before there is final
refusal or acceptance. From the stand
taken by the manufacturers since the last
Conference it is believed they will make
little If any concessions. The position they
took at previous meetings will be re-
affirmed
In IN interview with number of manu-
facturers during the last few days all
seemed united in a fight against the new
scale of the Amalgamated Association.
They state it is impossible to sign the pres
ent wage list because they cannot afford il.
They would sooner allow their mills to re-
main idle and pay the taxes.
From a Manufacturers Standpoint
One of the iron and steel masters said:
'Tknow positively that only very few out
of the large number of manufacturers made
any money last year. In fact, might say
that they have made no money for several
years past Here the question NAV arise
why do they continue in business which is
easily explained The manufacturers tor
quite a time have been Just about paving
expenses. They have been hoping against
hope for good year when the price of iron
and steel would go up and they could make
enough money to pay them for their losses
in the past But this good year is as far off
as ever, and from the way iron and steel has
been steadily going down it looks as
It the manufacturers would never redeem
themselves. Another reason why the
manufacturers are asking the Amalgamated
Association for reduction in the new scale
Is because they know the Amalgamation
has not treated every manufacturer alike in
the past year. Certain firms in the iron
and steel business have been given scales
which show reduction of from 10 to 20
per cent under other manufacturers. The
Pittsburg manufacturers are at last pre-
pared to assert their rights, and they will
light the Amalgamated Association, even if
they have to close down their mills for
ever"
When asked if it was true that the
Amalgamated Association had favored GER
tain manufacturers, President Weihe said
last night: ''No. it is not true. We never
favored anybody. Any manufacturer who
says SO is laboring under a mistake. will
admit, however, that certain firms receive
benefits in the scale that other manufact-
,.rre not given. Among the firms that
received reductions in the scale are the
insworet Steel Company and the Illinois
Eel Company.
Why Some Concessions Are Made.
"Certain concessions were made to them /
on account of improved machinery. The |
Illinois company have one of the most COM
plete plants in tine country, and through |
their labor-saving devices they receive ben
eft The plant of the Homestead COM
pany is new one and also very COM
plete. The same concessions are |
given to them. If the manufacturers
who object to these reductions will place |
the kind of improved machinery in their
works they will receive the same discrim-
ination from the Amalgamated Association.
The statement that the manufacturers made
no money last year can be accepted for
what it is worth. If they object to steel
and iron being so low, why do they bring
such a state of affairs about by glutting the
market? Why don't all of them shut down
for six or eight weeks and give the product
a chance to rise? The workmen are per-
fectly willing to lay idle for this length of
time, and consequently all would be bene-
fted."
President Weihe spent the afternoon of
yesterday in Homestead and upon his re-
turn home said: Everything is quiet up
1 bere. Most of the time was in the town
wAs spent at the headquarters of the Anal
gshnated Association. Nothing out of the
was taking place, and from the
present outlook L apprehend no serious
trouble"
No new signers are reported since the
Lookout Iron Company, of Hartman,
Tenn, signed on Saturday night.