The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-21

of the bloodshed at Homestead, members of
Congress almost fell over each other in their
haste to move for Congressional investiga-
| ton. The investigators, headed by Oates,
of Alabama, took the next train for Home
stead, and summoned the mill-owners and
| the strikers before them There was much
evidence given, foi Doth sides talked freely,
but nothing of sensational nature was re-
vealed.
In the first place there was no revelation
of starvation wages" sweating" unrea-
| sonable hours, or other denominations Of the
manufacturing systems of other lands. The
pay rolls Of the Homestead mills were pro-
duced at the request Of the committee, and
showed that the pay of the rollers ran from
$3.50 to S275 per month heaters S155 to $50;
heaters helpers averaged $3.50; trainmen,
$97 to $3.50; lead shearers, 500; shearers
helpers, sos; CANCERS 49, and variety Of
| other men, averaging about S75 per month.
Hugh ODonnell, the leader of the strikers,
testified that he averaged S144 month,
working eight hours day. The new scale
proposed reduction of from 8 to Is per
cent.
The question whether the Carnegie Steel
Company was justified in making this re-
duction was the real point at issue, and this
is left unsettled. Mr.. Frick, the Chairman
of the company, claimed that the company
was losing money at the present rates, but
refused to give the figures rs to the cost of
producing steel billets. Whether he was
right in Withholding this information is
open to argument. On the one hand such
information is necessary to determine the
truth of the assertion that the company
cannot afford to pay the old scale of wages.
On the other hand, to make public such in
formation would probably be seriously detri-
mental to the company business. 1t is the
largest maker of steel bilets in the country,
producing about one-eleventh of the entire
output of the United States. The compe-
tition in this branch is exceedingly sharp,
and for the Carnegie Company to reveal the
cost of its methods might give rivals very
valuable information, and injuriously affect
the markets
Since the return of the Committee to
Washington Chairman Oates has said, in an
interview:
As Mr.. Frick had positively declined to
disclose to the committee the cost per ton
Of producing steel billets at the Homestead
mills, 1 cannot say whether the contention
Of the men that the company was making a
great deal of money at the present prices
was true or not. I am satisfied, however,
that the allegation of the men that the COM
pany had purposely produced an overstock
of steel billets in order to reduce the scale
of wages Of the workmen was untrue.
am inclined to the opinion that both parties
to the difficulty are at fault. IF Mr.. Frick
had been more patient and had taken pains
to explain to the men the exact situation as
to prices and profits, the trouble might have
been averted. So, ifthe Amalgamated Union
had been less contentious and had shown
disposition to do what was fair and just, the
differences might have been amicably settled
TO the satisfaction of all concerned. do
not see, however, how the Government can
take action in the matter It is, in my
opinion, within its jurisdiction"
The attempt to give the investigation
free-trade turn resulted unfortunately, the
workingmen witnesses all declaring their
belief that protection was necessary to keep
the work in this country and maintain
wages.
The result in the investigation is the de-
termination Of the fact that the whole
trouble rose out of business dispute be-
tween the Carnegie Company and its work
men as to amount of wages that should be
paid. AS these wages were largely in excess
of those paid in other branches of business
requiring the same amount Of skill and
labor, and would be still much in excess
after the contemplated reductions were made,
there is no call for public sympathy with COP
pressed workingmen" The shameful viola
ton of the public peace was as unnecessary
and inexcusable as would be battle in
Kansas between farmers and warehousemen
as to whether the price of wheat should be 81
or SIPS. The workmen had perfect right
to refuse to work for less wages than they
had been getting; they had the right to
organize among themselves against lower
wages, and to endeavor by peaceable means
to persuade others not to accept these, but
there their rights ended. Any sort of vio-
lence against those who wished to work for
the wages offered was distinctly criminal
and those committing or Offering it should
be punished to the full extent of the law.
That the Pinkertons are men of bad
character, and that the system of employing
A. No.. <. r;o;o,o n,o Joao NIT nr%ar II, ~