Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-21
The Investigation Concluded.

BY y. m. the men in all departments
will be ont, and the mills will be shut
down.
The Investigation Concluded.
PITTsBURG. July 1.-THE inquiry into
the trouble at Homestead was resumed by
the congressional committee this morning,
and Chairman Oates said he would finish
to-day.
One of the committee said that the
present investigation would do much to
help the passage of a compulsory arbitra-
ton law, and also an anti-Pinkerton
measure, both of which have already
been introduced. Most of the committee
favor both of these measures, and the re-
port which the committee will submit
will, doubtless, contain favorable recon-
mendation for both measures.
Chairman Oates said: II wish to correct
an error. 1t was stated that this com
mittee was divided on this question, and
that there would be a minority report.
there will be no division on this question,
and we all look OH this matter in the same
way"
NJ. Taylor added. eyes, agree with
our chairman. We are united on this
question, and are here only to ascertain
the facts in the case"
SUPERINTENDENT PoTTERs TESTIMONY.
General Superintendent Potter was the
first witness, and he testified that the
Homestead mill was different from other
mills, in that the firm hired and paid the
men. There were no helpers hired and
paid by the men. By reason of machinery
there is less responsibility TO the men.
The witness said the Homestead mill was
the finest in the world, and by reason of
improved machinery the output was SO
per cent, greater than any mill in the
world The proposed changes in the scale
were in the minimum, which was to be
S23 the time of expiration and certain re-
ductions. The proposed reductions would
average IL per cent The company was
paying more than any competitors, and
by reason of improved machinery the out
put was increased and the labor lessened.
ave were paying more money than our
competitors for the same class of MATERIAL"
said the witness.
Well" said Mr.. Oates, "if by means of
the improved machinery. the company
could make the output for less money
should not it be willing to pay more ?"
IL do not know that that is fact"
NArIoNALITIEs IN THE AMALGAMATED Asso-
CITATION.
Oscar Colnesh, a workman, said that
under the proposed scale his wages would
he reduced S49.45 per month. Captain
Kennedy repeated the story of the battle,
and Mr.. Wiehe, president of the Amalga-
mated Association, was then recalled.
Chairman Oates said: MIR. Weihe, !
would like to ask you what nationalites
are represented In the Amalgamated Asso-
citation "
Irish, Scotch. Welsh and good many
Americans. Our organization is not secret,
except the password" .......
Mr. Boatner-"Does your organization
foster or countenance any such resistance
to employers as we are now investigating
mo, SIR
MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION.
GLOW many men who work in the
Homestead mill belong to your asso
ciationw
From 500 to i, 100; am not sure"
Mr.. Bfoderick-"Does your association
encourage violence
mo, sir"
MIR. FRIcK AGAIN TALKS ABOUT WAGES.
Mr.. Frick was recalled and said 'Wt
asked for Il reduction OF wages because the
reduction in price of our product on every
ton of blooms, billets ana slabs we sold
this year we lost money. Our Homestead
mill and the Duquesne produce II per cent
of all the steel billets made i'll the UniteC
States.
In our 23-inch mill our two rollers wert
palu IN May SEQ anu gag tne SIN netters
each got Sl30 and the heaters helpers, SIS
In this mill we ask no reduction. The
mortgages we hold on houses uf employees
are only to aid them in the erection ul
their homes We allow them to pay it of
by the month. We have never forecloseG
Il mortgage of this kind. We charge then
| 6 per cent, and allow them the same whel
they deposit with us. oar men at Home
stead have about Sl40,UO0 on deposit witt
/ 10 m NpItph and
hold mortgages amounting to s42,G
COST OF TON OF STEEL B1LLETs.
1.-THE market price of pig iron is SlI ant
| the cost of converting this into steel billet:
on an average is about $40 SO that on al
| average to produce q ton of steel billet,
costs S2l, this is leaving out the invest
ment.n
Mr.. Oates-"What does it cost at Home
stead tn produce ton of steel ?h
That / must decline to answer That j:
| going into private business. have givei
| you the average all over the United State;
to produce Il ton of steel billets."
| EFFECT OF THE M'KINLEY BILL.
| Mr.. Boatuer--''Well, then, the AIcKinleN
| tariff has caused loss in the price you ge
for your output and consequent reduc
ton of wages?"
Mr.. Frick-'No, sir; the Mckinley bill
does not have such an effect. The lowel
| prices were the result oil oyer-productlon.
Mr. oates-"l see by the papers youi
company has taken foreign contract fol
steel rails 81 less than the price abroad"
Mr.. Frick-"That is not true. We have
made no such contract"
Gould not your works be continued a
the old scale and your company still MAKE
fair protitT'
mo, sir; we could not. 1t would Ger
tainly drive us into bankruptcy if ther,
was no adjustment of wages"
THE TARIFF HAS No PLACE IN THE TROUBLE
Mr. Broderick-"You feel the tariff ha
no place in this trouble?" ...-=....
mo, sir; not in the least. Had tn,
duties on the goods We manufacture beer
reduced, it would have had q serious effec
! on our wages"
| THE FIRST SHOT,
Charles Mansfield, a real estate dealer
testified that he was positive the first sho
was fired from the boat. The men on tn,
boat said: Men, we are Pinkertons AMI