Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-18
NO SECRETS GIvEN AWAY.
Reasons why Carnegia's Agents Desired to
Puzzle the Investigators.

Reasons why Carnegia's Agents Desired to
Puzzle the Investigators.
P1TTsBuRs, Pa, July IA morning paper
says: When the congressional committee
held its investigation last week, its chief OBJ
ect was to discover the exact amount of
money expended in the manu- tacture of a ton
OF steel On three different occasions while
Mr. Frick was tesufying he was asked this
question and as many times refused TO an
swer The Homesteau workmen who were
witnesses did ali IN their power to obtain
figures, but IL was useless, and the represen-
tatives of congress returned TO the capital of
the United States minus this valuable infor-
nation.
Great caution was exercised to prevent the
| publication of these figures, out even with
| the most vigilaut watch the cost of making
| ton of basic, open hearth, and acid, open
| hearth, has been secured. These grades Of
| steel are more expensive than the BeSsener
| AKA billets, but admitting this the reader will
| be enabled 10 discern for himself the vast
| profits In the manufacture OF steel aud par
tcularly at Homestead.
Further Facts and Figures.
The statement then gives the figures
which il says are taken from the books of
CGrnerlr, PhlpDS " Co TO show the profit
| per ton. The men at the time the figures
| were made were working under sliding
| scale of so ton. The reductions are well
| known, as there was drop every three
| months until ii reached the minimum,
| S2j. On July s. 1891, according TO the Pitts
| burg quotation OF the American Manufac-
turer, whose figures accepted by both
sides, acid open hearth steel was selling al
2ai cents per pound, or 500 ton, The first
| cost OF producing which was 500 9S.
| Then in order TO be just it Is easy to
| enumerate the expense attached of rolling
| ton of acId open hearth into plate and the
cost in the slaobing mil and the total cost of
| one ton reaches Sil. With the market quo
tatlOns at that time IT Is readily seen that the
| profit TO the Carnegie company Der ton runs
| exactly S4. The figures on the basic open
hearth vary but little; the cost per ton,
| quoted selling price, etc, would net prOht
| OF something like SIG ton.
Cost of Labor Now Less.
| AS previously stated, since then the miul-
mum basis mas dropped and deductions 10 all
| departments has made the cost Of labor
| much lower.
President William Weyhe of the Amalga-
| mated ASSOCIATION was shown the figures and
| said According TO the original agreement
| made in 1889 it was expressly stipulated that
| the basis of the scales should be regulated
| by tue quoted selling price of Bessemer
| AKA steel billets. Open hearth steel Is
| finer grade and commands a higher price.
| but the Homestead mills manufacture it of
| the Bessemer billet. The present price of
| AKA Dilets Is Si per ton, and for this reason
| the men, recognizing the coadition, agreed to
| COuG uUWu 10 u - IA SIS. MT, TICK
| made II S22 and then conceded S23
IF this rate were accepted just think Of
| the increased profits the company would re-
| ceive. In Julv 1899, Bessemer pig was
| quoted at Sl633. In the same month Of 1892
| II was quoted at sl4 a ton, showing de-
crease Of - IS. The average quotation OF
steel plate is SIS per 100 pounds. which
| makes SO ton. 1t must be remem 0cred
too that the men are paid on a basis Of . 24D
| pounds TO the ton. When a reporter visited
| Homestead ana displayed the figures 10 the
| leaders of the men they were almost dumb
| founded. At first they refused 10 believe
they were oona tide, but after scrutnizing
| the different items they admitted they were
truly tae figures"
Additional Testimony.
George Rvlands one of the best posted on
wage rates at homestea1 and who presented
| such strong testimony on behalf OF the men,
| said: tue only thing lacking is the cost of
| the Bessemer AKA bilets This would be
| immense and II once known would knock
! t'rick silly in his figures on wage paying
| during May
Otner leaders stated that they viii orooa-
bly, take action. This will probably consist
| IN giving an answer to the firm.
| Affairs in the Lawrenceville district, where
| the upper ana lower mills of Carnegie are
| located, are assuming a serious aspect All
| night the halls were thronged by worKmen
discussing the situation and speculating on
| the probable outcome. Tho skilled mechanics
| who struck on Friday were circulating
| among the Iaoorers and using every argu-
! ment 10 induce taem TO Join the strike
| These men are in sympathy with the move
| ment and in numerous cases they declared
| they would quit work. Even II they do not
they will be compelled 10 quit on Tuesday
| from LACK OF material.
Held IA secret Meeting.
A secret conference OF Amalgamated
| workmen and the labor!ng man was held in
| Labor hall this afternoon, but every effort 10
! learn the result was frujtless, as all said tuey
| were under pieuge OF secrecy IL is safe 10
say that none Of the men will accept the
| companys offer 70 return 70 work todav.
They say they will hold firm to the last aud
! moreover the mills will not DO operated by
nonunion men. good many guards have
been placed about the company's property
Hundreds of the Old workIren assembled
ABOUT the mill today but all were oruerly.
| The fonce about the upper mills is almost
! completed and as soon us il is finished one
| Will be built about the tower works The
| men are confident OF winning and claim there
are not enough skilled men in the country to
| Iii tce.r places.
A rUmor that the Order Of Railway Train
/ men had iYlued the movement ana q meeting
would be called early TO determine whether
they would handle the output where uon-
| union men were employed could not be con-
| rrmcd. Several members were seen aud al
/ stat ed that no order had been issued.
Appealing for Ala.
NEw YoRH, July T.-Today the central
labor union received an appeal for financial
a!i from the Homestead iron and steel work
|