The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-15
CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
THE INYEsqIGATIoN COMMITTEE
Resumes its Hoaring-General Manager
Tricks sTestimony- Homestead Placed
Under Martial Law.


hearing this morning. General Superin-
tendenr Potter was the first witness. lie de-
scribed the general details of steel-making
aud the work performed by the different
classes of workmen. He said that the
Homestead mills were the finest in the
world and workmen made so per cent. more
wages than ia any other plant. He said the
average reduction proposed by the COM
pany, which precipitated the strike. Was
II psr cent About three hundred men were
affected. This reduction was made because
laborers were getting more wages than IN
any other mill. and the introduction of i'm
proved machinery increasing the amount OF
product increased the wages. The trst
disturbance that occurred was before the
mill shut down. when he and Mr.. frick
were hung IN efligy. lie then went on 20
describe the events that took place up 10 the
time of the disturbance between the mill
men and tho Pinkertons. MIR. Potter tesh-
fed that the strikers began the attack on
the PinkertOns. He had instructions from
Mr.. Frick not 10 allow his men b commit
any overt act, and be 80 cautioned them.
STRIKERS FIRED FIRST.
Captain +. Kennedy, OF the steamer Little
Bill. was a watchinan on one OF the Pinkef-
ton barges. He detailed the arrival OF tue
Pinkerton guards and their trip up the Mo-
nongahela river. Near Homestead they
met the strikers river patrol. who bred
skY-rocket 10 give warning. Up at the
wharf. he said. men and women mingled
broke down the fence and fired on tue
barges. This party fired first. The Pinker-
tons held their fire until three OF their mum
Der were injured. The Pinkertons. he sala,
we're greatly frightened. II suspect they
were" agreed Mr. Oates.
In answer 10 Mr. Boatner. Captain Ken
nedy said that about fifty of the Plnkertons
were good shots and easily picked on Tue
strikers. The others were arrant skulkers.
The witness attempted TO initiate Mr. Boat
ner's Southern drawl and was fiayed IN his
examination for his pains.
W. l.. Danahy, a reporter on the Pittsourg
Lender was the next witness. lie arrived
at Homestead about O'Clock, after the irst
fqht. He heard some firing at that time.
but did not know where it came from. lie
could not get near enough TO ascertain. he
did not see the surrender OF the Plnkertons
William Weihe, president of the Amaa-
gated Association was placed on the stand.
He said that there we're 25,0OO skilled WORK
men in the Association. They were OF dli-
ferent nationalities. but the majority were
tenance an act of violation Of law on the
part Of It's members in keeping out non
union men.
MANAGER TRiCR TESTiFiEs.
Chairman II. @. Frick. of the Carnegie
Steel Company, was then quesuoned py DIT.
Oates who said that some OF the workmen
had testified that the poorest-paid men and
those who had the hardest work suffered
most under the reduction. He selected the
wages during the month of May. just before
the trouble, admitting though that wages
were a little large Out Of 300 men employed
on the ll9-inch plate mill only 81
were reduced. In 1882, 295 men were en-
ployed in the same department. and by the
change IN the scale then 1876 were affected ana
100 were not. More men were Affected by
the sliding scale than any other. The pay
roll at Duquesne is S2O0 900. Only 40 per
cent. of the men were affected by the slid
ing scale. These men produce 200 900 tons
of billets monthly. II billets we're reduced
Sl a tor this would mean loss OF go. 900
and this could be offset only by gain Of
80 200 in the Homestead mill. Mr.. Frick
said Mr.. Lucke was a poor financler.
He was asked why he proposed reduc-
tion Of wages. lie stated that the first rea-
son WAS reduced prices received for the
product. and second the increased tonnage
=
which increased the pay Of the men, they
being paid according to tonnage.
VERY MUM As TO PROFITS.
What proportion of steel billets do you
produce asked Dir. Oates.
About l2 per cent OF the total output in
Tire rnited States. We do not control the
market by any means
viii yOu state the approximate cost Of
producing steel bilets."
II declined to answer that question the
other night. ! do SO now. / do not care 10
20 into the question IF cost"
What is the cost of the entire platt at
Homestead
About s5 ,OOO, OOO possibly s6,OOO,OOO"
Your inokned, then, TO give US no idea
OF your profits -
Il think have gone far enough in cost"
BY Mr.. BOatner Major Mckinley said the
metal schedule in his tariff bill had been so
carefully constructed that no reductions TO
workmen would DO made We should have
the information given blr. Mckinley.
You must get il from Major Mckinley.
I do not think the tariff has anything to do
with this
But those details we're given when the
House passed bill giving you Government
protection. put in Mr Boatner.
we never asked the Government for
protection" =" retOrted Mr.. Frick.
This is surprising and Mr. Bostner
really looked surprised and Dir. Frick grew
hot
Mr. Bynum put Mr Frick through an ex-
animation MS to tho tables Of labor and cost
furnished the Ways and Means Committee.
and Mr.. Frick declared the figures were III
correct.
Being asked by Chairman Oates IL his
Wa Df
NOR plate contracts from the Government,
Mr.. frick refused to answer
THE ANSWERS UNSATISFACTORY.
Mr.. Oates pointed questions as 10 the
Carnegie concern trying 10 monOpoliZe the
steel business were met by nice answer
from Mr.. Frick that lie did not believe they
did. He denied that mis- company ever so
underbld competitors as 10 lose money
Their iron business WAS more depressed now
than at any other time IN his knowledge.
lie said he would have 10 90 into bank
ruptcy If adjustment of wages was not
made at Homestead. but within year the
men would be making lust as much money.
The examination of Mr. Erick was closely
pressed by all members of the committee:
IL was unsatisfactory to Messrs. Oates and
Bynum. who endesvored TO break through
Mr.. Fricks reserve and learn something
Of the expenses and profits OF the Carnegie
concern. While the latter was extremely
nervous he did not commit himself on this
point.
Charles Mansfield then testified. He was
at Homestead when the boat and barges
landed. He was representative of a Home
stead paper. He went 10 the river bank
when the alarm whistle of the strikers blew.
The first firing was from the strikers;
He saw the Pnkertons land and they fred
the first shots at that time. A man fell on
the bank. The strikers then returned the
FIRE.
A. j. Taylor went on the stand He saw
the fight on July 9Th. He thought the
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