New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-08
4 TALK WITH II. G. FRICH.
Jusr1FY1YG THE coMPANY'S COURSE.

THE TROUBLE NOT A QUESTION INVOLVING TIE
PROTECTIVE TARIFF-REAsONs FOR And
scorE OF THE PROPOSED REDUCTION
OF wAGES-wHY THE PINKER-
TONS WERE CALLED on
pIttebnrc. july I'll. O. Frick. chairman of the
Carnegie steel Company this evening gave the follow
ing Interview % George " Mccain, the correspondent
Of The Philadclpha PTcssT:
"what was the basis OF Tire differences existing at
present between the Carnegie Company and their men,
Mr. Frick!7
.'Thcre were three points upon which we differed.
The skilled worimen IN the Aaasamat'd Association
work under whit Is known as n sliding scale. AS
the price Of steel advances. the earnings Of tile men
advance as the prices fall their earnings decrease IN
proportion. While there IS no limit 20 an advance OF
earnings the scale, there Is point Mt which tile
decline stops. II l. known the minimum, ana the
figure heretofore has been so ton for AKA Eesso
mer blcts. VIC believe that IL earnings based on the
selling pr!ce Of steel can advance without limit, tile
workmen should BE- willing 10 follow the selling price
down to a reasonable minimum; and 50 this heIrc
was finally fixed by the Carnegie Company at the
rate OF 80 instead Of S25. Tie reason for asking
this npon orr part was that the Carnegie Company
has spent large OF money In the Introduction OF
new machinery in its Homestead plant by means OF
which the wor,rcn were enabled TO Increase the daily
output thereby Increasing the amount Of their own
earnings. We Lad originally asked reduction TO
s22 but subsequently agreed 10 promise the rate
a, $23. The Anaglmatcd Association was unwilling
10 consider n reduction below go on steel hllets,
notwithstanding the fact that the improved machinery
would enable their members. even Mt FOB. 10 earn more
than IS paid I'm other Amaleamated mills TlIis was
the first point at issue.
"ruder The present Amalgamated system the date
y tho expiration OF the sliding scale Is June so an
nually We asked that this date be changed to
December 81 same as of Edgar Thomson, for the
reason that the change would permit us to take our
estimate upon the wages that we must pay dnrn;
the year. beginning January /. so that we would
be enabled TO make contracts for the year accord
lngIy This point the Amalmmatcd Association r.
fused t. acccde, and demanded the Old date The
third proposition the reduction In tonnage rate
in those departments in the mills whore the improve
mcnS | have spOhen Of have been made and which
enable tho work!ngmen 20 Increase the output and
consequently their earning Where no such improve
ments had been made there was 10 request upon our
part for a reduction In tonnage rates. In other
words, asked reduction In any department
at which the output had not been greatly
incrcas cd by reason OF our expensive improvements
since the scale OF 1850 went into effect We are
prepared 10 show that In nearly every department
under our proposed reduction In the tonnage rates
the skilled workmen would make more money than
they did when the scale OF $50 went into effect
"As q rule the who making the largest
wages in the Homestead mill were the ones who most
bitterly denounced the proposed revision Of the scale
for ont Of the $500 men employed In every depart
nicnt. only 325 directly affected by this
iucton. Finding that It impossible TO arrive
at any agreement with the Amalgamacd officials, wc
decided TO close our works at Homestead"
"Wly did the Carnegie Company call upon The
Pinkcrons for watchmen to protect their property ~
"We did not sec how else would have pro
lection. We only wanted them for waichmcn to
protect property and SEQ that workmcn we would
tale TO IIomestcad-and we have had applications
from many mon TO go there to worli-wcro not in
erfcrcd WITH
odd you doubt the ability Of the sheriff to
force order at Homestead AID protect your property
Yes sir with local deputies
"why1"
"ror the reason that three years ago our concern
lad experience similar to this. We felt the ncces
,y OF a change at tie works that scale Should be
adopted based the sliding price Of blllcs. and We
asked the county authorities for protection. Tho
worImen began tactics similar 10 those employed In
the present trouble The sheriff assured the mem
bers Of the firm that there would be difficulty. that
he would give them ample protection. and see that
men who were willing TO work were not interfcred
with. What the RESULT The posse taken up by
the sheriisoncthlng 100 men--wcrc not per.
mittcd to land properly, were dri'.n of with
threats OF bodily harm. and II looked If there
going 70 be great destruction Of he ana property.
That frightened people, and agreement was
made and work resumed. We do propose this time
- be placed in That position
The Pfnherton mon, generally understood, had
been summoned and all arrangements made with them
to DO hand in Of failure by the sheriff afford
protection. l. that fact notl'
"The facts concerning the engagement Of the Pnker
ION are these From pnst experience, only with
the present sheriff. but with all others, have found
that he has been unable to furnish with a sufficient
Number " deputies 20 guard our property and protest
the who were anxious 10 work on CIR terms A,
the Amalgnmacl men from the lst Of July lad sur.
rounded our works. placed guards at all tho entrances
and nj all avenues or roads lending our establish
and Tor mites distant thcreirom we felt that
for the safety of our property and IN order protect
our workman, IL was necessary for us 10 secure our
own wrtchmen 70 assist the sheriff and We knew Of
othcr source from which obtain them than from
pinkeron agencies, aud 10 them we applied
What OF the future OF this difficulty %
IL is III the hands Of the authorities OF Allegheny
County. II they unable to cope with IT, II Ger
Ainy Is The duty OF the Governor Of the State TO see
that we are permitted 10 operate our establishment
lnnlocs;eh"
lou doubtless aware. Mr.. Frick that the
'ruIl,s ~ NE Homestead Bill have invited wide.
spread attention and ~ Il result Congress nrnuoscs