The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-07-15
THE INVESTIGATE YET.
The Congressional Committee on the
HOnestead Trouble.

The Congressional Committee on the |
HOmestead Trouble.
BY Telegraph to the State Chronicle.
PrrTsBURG, Pa, July 14.-The con-
gressional investigating committee re-
sumed its hearing this morning. Gen
eral Superintendent Potter was the first
witness. He described the general de-
tails of steel making and the work per
formed by the different classes of work
men. He said that the Homestead mills
were the finest in the world and the
workmen made fifty per cent. more
wages than in any other plant. He said
the average reduction proposed by
the company which precipitated the
strike was 10 per cent. About 800
men were affected. This reduction
was made by the laborers who were get
ting more wages than in any other mill
and the introduction of improved ma
chinery increasing the amount of product.
increasing the wages The first disturb
ance that occurred was before the mill
shut down, when he and Mr. Frick were
hung in effigy. He then went on to de-
scribe the events that took place up to
the time of the disturbance between the
mill men and the Pinkertons Mr.. Pot
ter testified that the strikers began the
attack on the PinkertOns. He had in
structions from Mr.. Frick not to allow
his men to commit an overt act and he
SO cautioned them
Chairman ii. G. Frick, of the Carnegie
Steel company, was questioned by 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 due the month of May, just
before the trouble, admitting although
that the wages were little large. Out
of 800 men employed on the 119-inch
plate mill only 80 were reduced. In
1882, 296 men were employed in the
same department, and by the change in
the scale then 1856 were affected and 100
were not. More men were affected by
the sliding scale than any other If
billets were reduced 81 a ton, this would
I mean loss of $40, 900. and this could be
e offset only by gain of So, 200 in the
e Homestead mill. Mr.. Frick said Mr..
e Luckie was poor fnancier
He was asked why he proposed reduc-
. ton of wages. He stated that the first
q reason was the reduced prices received
t for the product; and second, the in
r creased tonnage by introducing improved
S machinery, which increased the pay Of
: the men, they being paid according te
/ tonnage. "What proportion of stee
q billets do you produce" asked Mr.
l. Oates. "About IL per cent. of the tota
o output in the United States. We do no
e control the market by any means" "Wil
/ you state the approximate cost of pro
y ducing steel billets." 81 declined t
t answer that question the other night.
q do SO now. ] do not care to 90 into tn,
It the entire plant at Homestead 2
l. "About $5, 600, 900, possibly Sc, 600, 900.
.e you're inclined then, to give us nj
l. idea of your profts9" II think hav
% gone far enough in cost" By Mr. Boat
le ner: major Mckinley said the meta
a. schedule in his tariff bill had been s.
y carefully constructed that no reduction
d to workmen would be made. We shoult
K have the information given Mr.. Nc
'e Kinley." "You must get it from Majo
?. Mckinley" l do not think the tarii
at has anything to do with this. "Bu
to those details were given when the Hous
e. passed bill giving you protection" pu
n in Mr. Boatner. ''We never asked tn
er government for protection, "retorted MI
le Frick. This is surprising, and Mr.. Boat
r. ner really looked surprised and Mr.. Eric
n got left.
u Mr.. Bynum put Mr.. Frick through a
examination as to the tables of labor an
y cost furnished the ways and means CON
mittee, and Mr.. Frick declared the fis
all ures we're incorrect. Being asked if b
en- company was making money out of tt
r. armor plate contracts from the gover1
ment, Mr.. Frick refused to answer. M
be Oates pointed questions as to the Carn
'ct gle concern trying to monopolize Il
re- steel business were met by a nice answt
N. from Mr.. Frick that he did not belle,
"a they did. He denied his company ev'
to so underbid competitors as to lo
5ai money Their iron business was mo
ere depressed now than at any other time
en his knowledge. He said he would ha'
Try to 60 into a state of bankruptcy if I
ms adjustment of wages was not made
DIS, Homestead, but within year the m
would be making just as much none
. The examination of Mr. Frick W
closely pressed by all members of Il
nd committee. 1t was unsatisfactory
fer Messrs. Oates and Bynum, who G
ir deavored to break through Mr.. Fricl
We reserve and learn something of the {
ing penses and profits of the Carnegie &C
int cern While the latter was extreme
ice nervous, he did not commit himself
nor that point. And then came other W
at nesses which occupied the day.
md P1rTsBURG, Pa, July IA The Ho'
Ilso committee on investigation of the Hor
stead riots returned to Washington
night, leaving this city at o'clock.
REPUBLICANS SPLIT IN FIT
we
lew Settle Nominated by Four Count
hat Withdrawing From the COnventiO
was Special to State Chronicle.
her GREENSBORO, N. c., July IA
, of republican congressional convention
In this city to-day, Fifth district, wa
eve split, mingled with confusion. Thor
Mr.. Settle was nominated, receiving
by votes. His opponent, Rufus Amis,