Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-15
MIR. POTTER TESTlFIES.

The Superintendent of the Homestead
Works Says the Mills Are the Finest in
the worId-Dt scribing the Method of
Giving Out and Paying for Work.
The last of the testimony taken in this
CITY Yesterday follows below. Superin-
tendent Potter was the first witness called.
He said:
lam the General Superintendent at Home
stead. Have held the position for three
years. know the character OF the work
done and how the scale would affect the
men. The rolling at Homestead is different
from other mills. We do not hold rollers re-
sponsible. They do not hire or discharge
men. We do that In some mills rollers
hire their own men and pay them out of
their salary. We nay every man ourselves.
A slab is furnished each roller, and then he
reduces it to the proper thickness
and dimension. He is held respon-
sible that this is done right
If the piece is not cut to advantage he won't
be paid for it, On the shearing the piece is
run out on long line of rolls to the shears
The first shearman then passes it through
the shears. 1t is then inspected by the in
spectors. In the melting department. the
raw materials are placed in bins in the yard.
The material is then put into the furnaces
about q tons at time. 1t is boiled down
and the carbon taken out and again recar
bonized. The slab is run through several
rolls and reduced to the standard ingot.
Mr. Potter then described the process of
making armor plate.
The Finest Mills in the World.
oates-Have you worked in other mills
producing similar products?
A. Yes, / have worked in o.ber mills, but
mover in plate mill before.
do mil Wit
other mills; that is in which one can laoc-ers
make most money?
A. We have the finest mills in the world at
Homestead; most automatic. We can pro-
duce so per cent more than many mills. Our
slabbing mill has nothing of the kind in the
world like it, The plate mill is duplicated
in Pittsburg, but our facilities with it are
lar superior.
oates-what are the advantages that
Homestead possesses over other mills to
help men make more money?
A Power of machinery working automati-
cally. In proportion our open hearth pro-
duces more than any other mill in the coun-
try. The plate mill with the help or the
slabbing mill can produce so per cent more
thar other mills
Oate--Can you give me the cost of the
proda~ of ton of steel in the various
departments?
A. cannot. / am not familiar with the
labor cost. am not posted.
Oatcs-Do you know of the proposition
maOe TO the men Dy tne company Tor
change in wagese
A. Yes. The firm wants minimum price
of S23: expira ton of scale in December in
steady of July and some reductions in the
mills. The reductions amount on average
to l2 per cent
Oates-Is that high average?
A. A fair average.
An Equalization of Rates.
oates-Any employees affected except in
the four departments already named?
A. No, sir. In these departments about 500
men are employed. 1t is an equalization of
rates.
Oates-Give reasons for the reduction.
A We were paying more than our COM
petitors. The machinery increased the out
put and reduced the work; and we thought
we ought to have some compensation. The
real reason was we were paying more than
our competitors.
Oates-Was the income of the firm larger?
If that is true, why couldn't you go in and
pay the wages?
A. 1 don't know anything about the
profits.
Oates-when did works shut DOWN.