Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-17
FIRES IN FURNACES,
Jones & Laughlins Reach a
Satisfactory Settlement
With Their Men.
THE STEEL SCALE SIGNED.
twenty-five Hundred Workmen
Cheer the Announcement.
PUDDLERS ALREADY AT WORK.
B. & 0. Telegrarhers Preparing New
Schedule Of Wages.
THE STEEL SCALE SIGNED.
PUDDLERS ALREADY AT WORK.
NEWS OF THE GREAT WORLD OF LABOR

Wage scales for the steel and chain de-
partments of the Brownstown mills of Jones
& Laughlins were signed yesterday after
noon. As q result of the agreement be-
tween the firm and the workers the plant
will be in operation to-day, and before mid
night nearly $500 men will return to their
old positions
The news that the steel scale had been
signed spread rapidly, and few minutes
aftetward men were running toward the
mill from all directions These men could
hardly believe that the large gates
leading into the works were to be
opened and they were once more
privileged to return to their labor. On
reaching the gate where the notice was
posted the workers exhibited much eager
ness to read the proclamation. They gath
cred in mass around the gate, and few
minutes afterward, as if by given signal,
they burst forth with a wild hurrah.
As announced in The DISPATCH of Mon
day, the steel workers met in their lodge
room at Weber's Hall yesterday morning
at 10 o'clock to consider the new scale
offered by the firm. After much prelimi-
nary discussion the matter was put to vote,
and it was decided that the new wage list
should be adopted with the exception of a
few of the foot-notes
Another Conference With the Firm.
The committee representing the steel
workers then called upon the firm at the Of
fee on Carson street. B. T. Jones and G.
NJ. Laughlins were awaiting the men. The
steel committee reported that the scale had
been virtually accepted by the men, but
that the latter wanted few minor changes
in the notes One of the changes asked for
was that in the future when any improve
ments were made in the mill which in
creased or lessened the working force, the
Amalgamsted Association be empowered to
engage or discharge the employees affected.
The steel committee demanded that the
clause in the new scale governing this par
ticular affair should be entirely stricken out.
This the firm refused to grant When
their ultimatum was announced the steel
workers committee said they would have
to hold another consultation with the men.
When asked why the Amalgamated As
sociation desired to engage or discharge the
hands, a workman who has been in the en-
ploy of Jones & Laughlin's for nearly 20
years, replied: "When the firm recently
made the repairs in the plant they intro
duced new automatic cranes, which will do
away with from 16 to IS mold tenders on
each turn. There being three turns every
day, this move will affect about 30 men in
ALL The work of the mold tender is very
simple. His wages are about 50 9S for
every 100 tons, and as there is never less
than 800 tons turned out every eight hours
it can be easily seen that the tenders make
good money.
Taking Care OF the onioIals.
''Some of the mold tenders are officers
high up in the Amalgamated Association,
and it would not be right if they lost their
petitions This is the main reason why the
committee demanded that the firm allow
the Amalgamated Association to have
charge of the engaging of the men so that
they could more readily take care of the
officials who may be discharged under the
new regime"
Although the steelN committee promised
to return in half an hour when they left
o'clock when they returned. Major
Laughlins had grown tired of waiting and
had gone home. The steel committee went
to B. f. Jones' office and another discussion
ensued. Some 800 or 400 men were gathered
outside of the Office patiently waiting for
the first official intelligence of the progress
made in the conference. All of them were
arguing on the outcome and many wagered
money ON the result
Promptly at 4:35 o'clock one of the watch
men appeared at the gate of the mill with
large slate, upon which were written some
words in chalk. He hung the sign up on a |
nail outside of the mill Office. His action |
was noticed by many and everybody made a
mad rush for the place, some shouting: "An |
agreement has been reached" ''The scale |
Is signed" The committee and firm had at |
last reached settlement. The slate bore
The headline; "wednesday, August "
all on, and under it was written that pud- |
ding furnaces from No 43 to No. 45, from /
No. 53 to No, II and No. "a, in all % fur
naces, were on, as were also the bloom and |
'crap furnaces. Beneath this announcement |
was: BILLET mill will 60 on night turn"
Puddlers Go to Work This Morning.
This means that the puddlers working on /
The % furnaces mentioned would go to work |
1t o'clock this morning. Those employed
IN the bloom and scrap mills should 90 to
work three hours later while the hands en-
ployed in the billet department must report
1t o'clock tonight Two minutes after
he slate was posted up the watchman made
ais appearance with slip of paper which
be nailed against the fence The paper con-
,erned only the steel workers and was as
iollows "No. blooming mill will 90 on
It A. NJ. Wednesdays August Il, using B
furnace. No. blooming mill will go on
It 5 p. N. using A furnace"
At the same time the steel scale was
igned, which affects about 275 men, all
members of Excelsior Lodge, the scale for
he chain department was agreed upon. In
he latter department 60 men are EMPLOYED.
The chain scale remains about the same as
asst year. In the steel scale the only men
fected ara those who work on tonnage
ates The straightener, who is q tonnage
nan, works under last years scale. To de-
cribe the new scale briefly it might be said
hat it is similar to the Hainsworth scale.
NE items are different, but the prices in the
ggregate are the same. The tonnage men
uffer q reduction Of 8 per cent Both the
rm and the men are satisfied with the
erms of settlement
Another Firm in Line.
With iba s;cn.{uro nf the Euo1d Tror |