New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-07
PINHERTONS At HOMESTEAD.
MIR OATES'S INDIVIDUAL OPINION.
THE DETECTIVES OUTRAGEoUSLY TREATED
Mr.. FRICK TOO STERN AND AUTocR>1lC
THE STRIKERS RESPONSIBLE
TO THE COURTS.


Washington, Aug. 6.-Mr. Oates, chairman oi the
subcommittee of the House which investigated Hie
labor troubles at Homestead and the connection vi
the PinL,rton d,tcct'ves Herewith. submitted re
port Ia the c. mmittec which not agreed 10. NO
member questioned Its correctness, It's stlteinch'S
OF facts or conclusions OF law; but the Republican
members Of the committee would not assent to what
he said upon the tariff. and majority OF the Demo
cratic members OF the committee thought 1t I'm
polite TO make any report until the entire nvestlsa-
ton was completed, which could not be done bciore
the second session Of Congress. Therefore post
ponemcnt Of the report made until next wlntcT'
The report prepared by Mr.. Oates having been re-
jeclcd by the committee, he to-day gave 10 to the
public as his individual opinion OF the matters In
vestigatcd. The report begins with statement OF the
movements OF the subcommittee, followed by de-
scrlption OF the works at Homestead the number OF
employees; the OF wages the negotiations De
tween the company and the Amalgamated ASSOCIATION
preceding the outbreak, the contentious on po'h
sides and finally account OF the disastrous edlhB
of the attempt to land the Iinkortons 1t Is SAID
that the Irnkerons who surrendered WIRE brntally
and outragcouSly treated. principally BY women ana
boys. and Mr. Oates IS oath to believe that any Of
these women are native Americans. lie says that
tn lndisntes Ia which they were subjected we're
disgrace 10 civilization.
Mr. Oates nsks whether the Carnegie firm was
justified in equity and good conscience In proposing
the reduction IN wages. III bINWfI nc HhN1 bhl
Frick declined TO state the cost Of ton Of BcsseHer
steel blllcis and the labor cost. Tho men were phd
satisfactory wages, but the work much shortens the
natural period Of life and should De well paid for lie
think, that the company should have some Of tho
benefits OF the profits resulting from the use Of I'm
proved machinery. lie condemns the Mckinley law
for its failure to benefit the American workman and
says the promises made to the operatives have been
disappointing Had Mr.. Frck stated the bottom facts
fn ho tie. would have agreed that the
proposition to reduce wages was justiabc. but they
took is>ue with him In hi> conclusion that a." rln
did not cause decline In prices.
MIR oates finds further tlat the conduct Of the
company toward its employees was kind In many re-
spccts 1t loaned them money al low interest to build
homes and forccOsed mortgages but In the
negotiation the officers dd not exercise patience in
diligence and socitudc: and Mr.. Frick according 10
Mr. Oates. is business of great INTEL gcnce, bat
seems t0 have been too stern, brusquc and somewhat
autOcratc. Mr.. oates /, persuaded that II Mr.. fhck
had appealed to the of The employs and shown
them the state of the company affair the reduction
might have been made aud trouble have followed.
Mr. oates hnd, that th. Pcnn,ylvanis law contains
nothing prevent Mr.. Frcl from 'mpoying I1nk"rton
men wAichmen at Homestead. but says that under
the circumstance, he should not have done lie
made overture, the rinkcrton- before The uegoia-
tion, with the men were Interrupted. and did not
appeal to the county or state authorities IN the first
Instance for protection. lie that sheriff Ne
cary l. inefficient oihcer, but that had Mr. FTcf
aided him aud Joined I'm hi, appeal to the Governor.
Instead Of employing l1nhcrto,. III" stat" would have
furnished SUFFICIENT force to have protected the
property.
Colonel Oates condemn, a. unlawful the acts Of
the wOrkmrn In turning away the sheriff and ~. III
sulting In hanging In cgy Mcssrs Fhck and Potter.
lie sys 1t The purpose ol the Amaleamal'd Asso-
catlOn TO prevent the employment Of non union men.
nnd he declares that u" organization has rlght ~
enforce IT,, Wishes by strong handed dcnnnr" oi law
The had gal II shi To resist ID" coming ~ IN"
Iinkertons and cradle Ia th" PENNSYLVANIA
courts In conclusion Mr. OATES hnd, that toner",s
has no power over the questions Involved. The
enactment Oi satisfactory artrail N law l. well nigh
impossible As whether tongrrs- has the power in
regulate or suppress tnkvronisin. Mr. oates -ay' ne
has no conclusion 90 cAprrs, until the completion 81
ih. iuv,,figni ION utNf session.