The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-08
CAUSE OF THE LOCKOUT.
Chairman Friok Explains the Split
over Wages.

over w ReEs
PrTTsBURG, July III. c. Friok, chair
man OF the Carnegie Steel Company, this
evening was interviewed as follows by
George N. Mccain, correspondent of the
Philadelphia Press:
"What Is the basis OF the differences ex-
isting at present between the Carnegie oom-
pany and their men, Mr.. Frickr
There were three points upon which we
differed. The skilled workmen In the ANAL
gamsted association work under what is
known as a sliding scale. As the price of
steel advances the earnings of the men ad-
decrease in proportion. While there
Is no limit to an advance
of earnings on the scale there Is a point at
which the decline stops. 1t is known as the
minimum and the figure heretofore has
been S25 per ton for 4 bessemer billets
We believs that il earnings based on the
selling price of sseel can advance wit hout
limit, the workmen should be willing to
follow the selling price down to a reasonable
minimum and SO this figure was finally fixed
by the Carnegie company at the rate Of S23
instead Of $25. The reason for asking this
upon our part was that the Carnegie
company has spent large sums of
money In the Introduction of new
machinery in its Homestead plant. by
to increase the daily output, thereby Increas-
ing the amount Of their own earnings. We
had originally asked a reduction TO $22, but
subsequently agreed to compromise rate
at S23 The amalgamet ted association was
unwilling to consider a reduction below S24
on steel billets, Notwithstanding the fact
that the improved machinery would enable
their members, even at $23, to earn more
than is paid in other amalgamated mills
This was the hrst point at issue.
CHANGE OF DATE WANTED.
"Under the present amalgamated sys-
tenn the date Of the expiration Of the Slid
ing scale is June so, annually. We asked
that this date be changed to Dec. 81 the
same as at the Edgar Thomson), for the
reason that the change would permit us o
taEe our estimate upon the wages that we
must pay during the year, beginning on
Jan l, 10 that we would be enabled to
make contracts accordingly. This point
the amsigamated association refused to ac-
ceds and demanded the old date.
"rho third proposition was reduction
in tonnage rates in those departments Ia the
mills where the Improvements / have spoken
of have been made, and which enable the
workingmen to increase the output, and
consequently their earnings Where no
such improvements had been made there
was no request upon our part for reduc-
tion in the tonnage rates. In other words,
we asked no reduction in any department
at which the output had not been greatly
increased by reason OF our expensive i'm
provements since the scale of 1889 went into
effect. We are prepared to show that in
nearly every department, under our pro-
posed reduction in tonnage rates, skilled
workmen would make more money
than they did when tho scale Of 1889 went
into effect
"As a rule the men who were making the
largest wages III the Homestead mill were
the ones who most bitterly denounced the
proposed revision of the scale. for out OF
$500 men employed in every department
only 325 were directly affected by this res
ducton. Finding that it was impossible to
arrive at any agreement with the ANAL
Ramated officials, we decided to close our
works at Homestead
WHY PINKERToN MEN WERE IMPoRTEDys
why did the Carnegie company call
upon the Pinkertons for watohmen 70 pro-
tect their propertyF
I'VE did not see how else We would have
protection. We only wanted them for
watchmen TO protect our property and see
that the workmen we would take TO Home
stead-and we have had applications from
many men to go there to work-were not
interfered with"
"Did you doubt the ability Of the sheriff
60 enforce order at Homestead and protect
your propertyp
Eyes sir, with local deputies"
"Whyp
"For the reason that three years ago our
concern had an experience similar TO this.
We felt the necessity Of a change at the
works; that a scale should be adopted
based on the sliding price of billets. and we
asked the county authorities for protection.
The workmen began tactics similar to those