Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-15

drop of $33 to 1000 tons. Under the ole
scale on 1900 tons, at $25, he made
$141.45. At the reduction he would re
ceive $92
"How much is the labor cost of pro
ducing a ton of steelP asked Judge
Taylor.
"About $l.52. That is only for skilled
labor"
Captain f. Kennedy, of the steamer
Little Bill, was Waterman ON one Of
the Pinkerton barges. He detailed the
arrival of the Pinkerton guards anC
their trip up the Monongahela river
Near Homestead they met the strikers
river patrol, who fired a skyrocket tC
give warning. Up at the wharf, he said
men and women mingled, broke down
the fence and fired the barges. This
party fired first. The Pinkertons held
their fire until three of their number
were injured. The Pinkertons, he said
were greatly frightened Il suspect
they WERE" agreed Mr.. Oates.
In answer to Boatner, Captain Ken
nedy said about fifty of the Pinkertons
were good shots and usually picked off
the strikers. The others were arrant
skulkers. The witness attempted tc
initiate Mr.. Boatner's southern drawl
and was fayed in his examination for
his pains.
Andrew Huff was the next witness
He was on the barges during the fight
When the firing commenced from the
shore, only few Of the Pinkertons 5ried
to land. He came away on the Little
Bill when the wounded were brought tc
the city.
w. l.. Danahy, reporter on the
Pittsburg Leader, was the next witness
He arrived at Homestead about o'clock
after the first fight. He heard some
firing at that time, but did not
know where it came from. He could
not get near enough to ascertain. He
did not see the surrender of the Pinker.
tons
William Weihe, president of the
Amalgamated association, was then
placed on the stand He said that there
were %, 200 skilled workmen in the as.
ISOLATION, of which the majority were
Americans. The association did not
countenance any act of violence on the
part of its members in keeping out non
union men.
Chairman I'll. G. Frick, of the Carne.
gle Steel company, was then questioned
by Chairman Oates, said that some OF
the workmen had testified that the poor.
est paid men and those who had the hard
est work suffered most under the reduc-
ton. He selected the wages during the
month of May, just before the trouble,
admitting, though, that wages were a
little large. Out of 300 men employed
on the 119-irch plate mill, only eighty.
two were reduced
In 1882 29f men were employed in the
same department, and by the change in
the scale then, 1876 We're affected and
one hundred We're not More men were
affected by the sliding scale than any
other. In the armor plate mill, out of
1877 employees, fifty-seven are reduced.
He said that Burgess McLuckie had
stated that the company purchased the
Allegheny steel plant, so as to control
the price of billets and cut down the
wages of the workmen. This was alb
surd.
The pay roll at Duquesne is 100000.
Only 40 per cent. of the workmen were
affected by the sliding scale. These
men produced 100000 tons of billets
monthly. Ii billets were reduced 81 a
ton, this would mean a loss of $50, 900,
and this could be offset only by gain
of $4,000 in the Homestead mill. NJ.
Frick said Mr.. McLuckie was a poor
tinancier.
He was asked why he proposed a re-
duction of wages. He stated that the
first reason was reduced prices received
for the product, and second, the in
creased tonnage by introduction of i'm
proved machinery, which increased the
pay of the men, they being paid accord
ing to tonnage.
"What proportion of steel billets dc
you produce" asked Mr.. Oates.
about 10 per cent of the total output
in the United States. We do not con
troll the market by any MEANS"
"Will you state the approximate cost
of producing steel billetsY'
81 declined to answer that question
the other night. l do so now. l do not
care to go into the question of cost"
"What is the cost of the entire plant
at Homestead?"
About 81, 900, 600, possibly SO, DOC, 900. y
Mr.. Frick said one roller on the
twenty-six-inch mill earned in twenty
four days $685. o. and anotheri in twenty
eight days $247.
The six heaters on the same mill aver
aged $130 per month There will be nc
change in the wages of these men.
AS to the mortgages held on property
Of employees at Homestead, Mr.. Prick
said these papers were issued only to aid
the workmen in building homes, Never
once has mortgage been foreclosed.
The interest charged is per cent. The
men are allowed the same rate on
moneys deposited with the firm. These
sums amount to $40, 900 The mortgages
amount to $t2. 600.
The witness refused to answer definite
ly what basis was taken in averaging
the sliding scale, but said it was about
$24.
You are inclined, then, to give us nc
idea of your profitsY
II think 7 have gone far enough in
cost"
"Maior Mckinley said the metal
| schedule in his tariff bill had been SC
carefully constructed that no reductions
to workmen could be made. We should
have the information given Mr.. Mckin.
ley"
"You must get 1t from Major Nc
Kinley. do not think the tariff has
anything to do with this"
There were audible expressions about
keeping politics out of the investigation
| in these questions. Mr.. Prick declined
to give the labor cost of producing ton
| of billets.
81 don't think we should be asked the
details Of our business" he exclaimed,
"But those details were gwen when
the house passed bill giving You gov
eminent protection" put in Mr.. Boat
ner"
1--WE never asked the government fol-
protection" retorted Mr.. Frick.
This is surprising" and Mr.. Boatner
really looked surprised, and Mr.. Prick
grew hot.