Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-07

Oates, Chairman OF the Subcommittee
OF the House, which investigated the
labor troubles at Homestead and the
connection the Pinkerton detectives
Herewith, submitted report 10 the
committee which was not agreed 20. No
member questioned its correctness, its
statement OF fact or conclusions OF law;
but the Republican members OF the
committee would not assent to what he
said upon the tariff 40 a majority
of the Democratic members OF the COM
mittee thought il impolitic 10 make any
report until the entire investigation
was completed, which could not be done
before the second session OF CONGRESS.
Therefore a postponemeut OF the report
was made until next winter. The re-
port prepared by Mr.. Oates having been
rejected by the committee, he to-day
gave IL to the public as his individual
opinion Of the matters investigated.
The report begins with q statement or
the movements OF the subcommittee,
followed by description OF toe works
az Homestead, the number OF employees,
the rate OF wages, the negotiations be-
tween the company and the Amalgama-
ted Association proceeding the out
break, the contentious OF both sides,
and finally an account OF the disastrous
ending OF the attempt to land the Pink
ertons. The report says that
THE PINKEBToSs WHO SURRENDERED
were brutally and outrsgeously treated,
principally by women and boys, and Mr..
Oates is loathe TO believe that any OF
these women are native Americans. He
says that the indignities 70 which they
were subjected was disgrace 10 civil
Iization. Mr.. Oates asks whether the
Carnegie firm was justified In equity
and good conscience IN proposing the
reduction in wages. ansGeEae- ne
says, that Mr. Frick decllRed 10 stAeS.
the cost OF ton OF bessemer steel bihets
and tho labor cost Tho men were
paid satisfactory wages, out the work
much abbreviates the natural period or
life and should be we'll paid for. He.
thinks that the company should have
some OF the benefits OF the profits re-
sulting from the use OF improved ma
chinery. He condemns the Mckinley
law for its failure 10 benefit the Ameri-
can workmen, and says the promises
made 10 the operatives have been disap-
pointive.
Had Mr.. Frick stated the bottom
facts 70 the committee they would have i
agreed that the proposition TO reduce
wages was justifable, but they took is-'
sue with him In his conclusion that tho
tariff did not cause q decline In prieeS.t
Mr.. Oates further finds that
THE CONDUCT OF the COMPANY
towards its employees was kind Ia many
respects. II loaned them money At low
interest to build them homes and never
foreclosed mortgages. but In the negoti-
alton the officers did not exercise pa
thence, indulgence and soncitude, ana
Mr.. Frick. according 10 the report, who
who was business man OF great intel
ligence, seems TO have been TOO stern.
brusque and somewhat autocrstic.
Mr.. Oates Is persuaded that ~ Mr..
Frick had appealed 20 the reason OF the
employees and shown them the state or
the company's affairs, the reduction
might have been made and no troubles
have followed
Mr.. Oates Gnds that the Pennsylysnia
law contains nothing TO prevent Mr..
Frick from employing Plnkerton meh
"a watchmen at Homestead, but says,
that uuder the circumstances he should
not have done so. He made oyertures
TO the Pinkertons before the nogotia-
lions with the men we're interrupted,
and did not appeal to the county or
State authorities in the first instance,
for protection. He asserts that Sheriff
McClesry Is
A VERY INEFFICIENT OFFICER,
but says that had Mr.. Frlck aided him
and Joined IN his appeal 70 the Gov
ernor Instead OF employing Plnkertons,
the State would have furnished sufi-,
Gent force to have protected tho prop-
erty.
Mr.. Oates condemns as unlawful thu
acts OF the workmen I'm turning away
the Sheriff, and a. insulting In hanging
in effigy Messrs. Frick and Potter. He.
SAYS IL was the purpose OF the Amalga-l
mated Association 10 prevent the en-
ployment OF non-union men, and he de-
clares that no organization has q right
70 enforce It's wishes by strong-handet.
defiance OF law. The men had no legal
right 70 resist the coming OF the Pink
ertons and are answerable 70 the Penn
sylvania courts.
conclusion, Mr.. Oates finds that
Congress has no power over the ques-
tions Involved. The enactment or =
satisfactory arbitration law Is well nigh
, imnossible. As 70 whether Congress
has the power 20 regulate or suppress
Pinkertonism, Mr.. Oates says be has DO
| oonclnsfon m erpress until the com pie