Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-07-15
INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.

No Helpers Hired at the Mill-The
Amalgameted is Not a Secret Organ
izatfon-They Disapprove OF Resist
ance-One Witness Salary Reduced
$50 n MOnth-Over-PrOduc the
Cause of the Reduction I'm Prices-
The PInkertons to be Investigated
The Committee Left for Washing-
ton.
PIrTsDURG, July 1.-The inquiry into
the trouble at Homestead was resumed by
the congressional committee to-day. Su-
perintendent Potter of the Carnegie COM
pany, the first witness, testified that the
Homestead mill was different from other
mills, in that the firm hired and paid the
men. There were no helpers hired and
paid by the men. By reason of machinery
there is less responsibility to the men.
The witness said the Homestead mill was
the finest mill in the world, and by reason
of improved machinery the output was so
per cent. greater than that of any other
mill in the world. The proposed changes
in the scale were in the minimum, which
was to be $23, the time of expiration and
certain reductions. The company was
paying more than any competitors for the
same class of material, as by reason of
improved machinery the output was in
creased and labor lessened.
Well, said Chairman Oates, if by means
of improved machinery the company could
make the output for less money should not
it be willing to pay more?
81 do not know that that is fact"
Oscar Colhesb, a workman, said that
under the proposed scale of wages his
wages wonld be reduced $49. 45 per month.
Captain Kennedy repeated the story of the
battle and Mr.. Wiehe, president of the
Amalgamated association, was then re-
called. Chairman Oates asked Mr.. Wiehe
what nationalities are represented in the
Amalgamated association. Mr.. Wiehe said
there were English, Irish. Scotch, Welsh
and good many Americans. "Our Or
ganization," he eaid, sis not secret, except
the password"
Mr.. Boatner-Does your organization
foster or countenance any such resistance
to employers as We are now investigat-
ings
Chow many men who work in the
Homestead mill belong to your as
sociation?'
From 800 to !, 100, am not sure"
Mr.. Frick was recalled and said: "We
asked for q reduction of wages, because
the reduction in price of our product
caused US to lose money on every ton of
blooms, billets and slabs sold this year.
Our Homestead mill and the Duquesne
produce IL per cent. of all the
steel billets in the United States. The
mortgages we hold on employees are only
to encourage them to build. We have
never foreclosed a mortgage of this kind.
We charge them per cent. and allow
them the same when they deposit with us.
Our men at Homestead have about $140,-
900 on deposit with us on which we pay
per cent, and we hold mortgages amount
ing to $4,000.
The market price of pig iron is 81, and
| the cost of converting this into steel billets
on an average ia about $40, so that on an
| average to produce a ton of steel billets
costs S24. This is leaving out the invest
ment."
| Mr.. Oates-What does it cost at Home
stead to produce ton of steel?
| "That 1 must decline to answer. That
is going into private business. have
| given you the average all over the United
States to produce a ton of steel billets."
| Mr. Boatner-Well, then, the Mckinley
tariff has caused loss in the price you
get for your output and a consequent re-
duction Of ws9es7
Mr.. Frick-No, sir. The Mckinley bill
does not have such effect. The lower prices
were the result Of oyer production.
Mr.. Oates-I see by the papers your
company has taken foreign contract for
steel rails 81 less than the price abroad.
Mr. Frick-That is not true. We have
made no such contract.
"Could not your works be continued at
the old scale and your company still make
fair profits"
"No, sir; we could not. It would cer-
tainly drive us into bankruptcy"
Mr.. Broderick-You feel the tariff has
no place in this troubled
mo, sir; not in the least. Had the du-
ties on the goods we manufacture been re.
ducsd it would have had q serious effect on
wages"
The chairman announced that the COM
mittee had finished here, and added: eve
have the Fullerton system to investigate
in this connection, but will have to 60 to
other places" They left for Washington
this evening and tine report will be sub.
mitted to congress early in the week.