Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-08

4 .sNO-uN10N MEN NEED APtLX.
The Determination OF the Carnegie Company
| Announced by Frick.
In an interview at Pittsburg yesterday after
noon H. c. Prick, chairman Of the Carnegie
Steel Company, limited, said:
The question ct issue Il . very grave one.
It ID whether the Carnegie Company or the
Amalgamated Association shall have absolute
control Of our plant and businessst Homestead.
We have decided after numerous fruitless con-
ferences with the Amalgsmsted officials in the
attempt to amicsbly adjust the existing diff
culties TO operate the plant ourselves. I can
| ay with the greatest emphasis that under no
circumstance will we have any further dealings
with the Amalgamated Association Is An organ
ization. This is final. The Edgar Thompson
| works and our establishment at Duquesne are
both operated by workmen who are not men,
beers Of the Amalgamated Association with the
greatest satisfaction to ourselves and TO the un
questionable advantage Of our employees.
AT both Of these plants the work in every
department goes on uninterrupted; the men
are not harassed by the interference Of
trades union officials, and the best evidence
that their wages Is satisfactory 10 shown in
the fact that we have never had = strike
there since they began working under our
system Of management"
THE SLIDING SCALE.
"What was the basis of the differences exist
ing at present between the Carnegie Company
and their men, Mr.. Frick?''
There were three points upon which we dif-
fered. The skilled workmen in the Amnlga-
mated Association work under what is known as
q sliding scale. As the price OF steel advances
the earnings OF the men advance; as the prices
fall their earnings decrease in proportion.
While there is no limit to an advance Of eain-
ings on the scale there is a point ut which the
decline stops. 1t is known rs the minimum,
and the figure heretofore has been s25 per ton
for 4x4 Bessemer billets. We believe that if
earnings based on the selling price of steel can
advance without limit the workmen should be
willing to follow the selling price down to =
reasonable minimum, and SO this figure was
finally fixed by the Carnegie Company at the
rate of s23 instead of S25. The reason
for asking this upon our part was that the Chr
negie Company has spent large sums OF money
in the Introduction of new machinery in its
Homestead plants. by means of which the work.
men were enabled to increase the daily output,
thereby increasing the amount of their own
earnings. We had originally asked a reduction
to s22. but subsequently, agreed to compromise
the rate at s23. The Amalgamnted Association
was unwilling to consider q reduction below S24
on steel billets, notwithstanding the fact that
the improved machinery would enable their
members. even at S23, TO earn more than is paid
in other Amalgamated mills. This was the first
point at issue.
"Under the present Amalgamated system the
date OF the expiration OF the sliding scale is
June 80. annually. We asked that this date be
changed to December 81 (thc same as ut the
Edgar Thompson works., for the reason that
the change would permit us to make our esti-
mate upon the wages that We must pay during
the year beginning Oh January /, so that we
would be enabled to make contracts for the
year accordingly. This poin. the Anialgamated
cd to nd Il t1,a
old date.
TONNAGE RATE.
The third proposition was the reducti on in
tonnage rates in those departments in the mills
where the Improvements have spoken Of have
been made and which enable the working men
TO increase the output and consequently their
earnings. Where no such improvements had
been made there was no request upon our part
for reduction in tonnage rates. Ino'her words
We asked no reduction in any department at
which the output had not been grearly increased
b. reason of o IT expensive improvements since
the scale of 1889 went into effect. We are pre-
pared TO show that in nearly every department
under our proposed reduction Of the tonnage
rates the skilled workmen would make more
money than they did when the scale of 1889
went into effect.
AS rule the men who were making the
hrgest wages in tie Homestead mill were the
ones who most bitterly denounced the proposed
revision OF the scale, for out Of 8. 800 employed
In everv department only l25 were directly at
fected by this reduction.
WHY THEY DECIDED TO CLOSE.
"Finding that it was ifcpogsible to arrive at
any agreement with the Amalgamated oficials
We decided to close our works at Homestead.
Immediately the town was taken posses ion Of
by the workmen. An advisory committee OF
fftv took upon itself The direction of the affairs
Of the rlace, the streets were patrolled by men
appointed by the committee and every stranger
entering the town became an object of sur
veiifancc; was closely questioned, and il there
was tle slightest reason to suspect him he was
ordered to leave the place instantly under q
threat OF bodily harm Guards were stationed
at every approach to Homestead by this self
organized local government. Our employees
were prohibited from going to the mills and
We, as owners Of the properly, were compelled
to stand by. powerless to conduct the affairs Of
our business Of direc. its management
This condition of affairs lasted till Tuesday,
when appealed TO the sheriff of Allegheny
county. stating the facts i have outlined
them The sheriff visited Homestead and
talked with the advisory committee. Its MEM
bers asked that they be permitted to appoint men
from their own number to act as deputy
sheriffs; in other words. the men who were in
terfering with the exercise of our corporate
rights, preventing US from conducting our
business affairs. requesting that thew be
cIothed With the authority OF deputy sheriffS to
take charge of our plant. The sheriff declined
their proposition. and the advisory committee
disbanded. The rest of the story is q familiar
one: the handful Of deputies sent up by Sheriff
McCleary were surrounded and forced to leave
town. and then the watchmen were sent up 10
be landed on our property for the protection Of
our plant"
WHY PISKERroSs WE'RE EMPLOYED.
"Why did the Carnegie Company call upon
the Pinkertons for watchmea to protect their
propersy?'
I'VE did not zee how else we could have pro-
lection. We only wanted them for watchmsn
to protect our property and see that workmen
we would take % Homestead we have had
applications from many men to 60 there to
work-were not inteyfered with"
ibid you doubt the ability of the sheriff to
enforce order at Homestead and protect your
property
Yes, sir; with local deputies"
"Why?''
''For the reason that three years ago our
arm bad an experience similar TO this We felt
the necessity for a change at the works; that q
scale should be adopted based on the sliding
price Of billets, and we asked the county author
tiles for protection. The workmen began tao
tics similar TO those employed in the present
troubles. The sheriff assured the members of
the firm that there would be no difficulty; that
ha vould give tharn annie urote>tios, aud 80