Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-02-21
WAGES REDUCED.
EMPLOYEES OF THE BELMONT NAIL DEPART
MENT ASKED TO ACCEPT A REDUCTION.
The Cold Machine Nailsrs Accept the Conpanys
Proposition and Go to WOrk-Whata
Manufacturer Says.

The nailers employed at the Belmont
mill, and all other employees OF the nal
department, have been asked to accep I
a material reduction in wages. The
nailers employed at the Jefferson mil
in Steubenville have been notified that
after tomorrow there will be reduc
ton of % per cent upon the presen
scale for fine three penny nails which are
taken as basis, and there is cores
ponding reduction upon other sizes.
The men working in the other mills in
this vicinity are also looking for re-
| duction.
Some time ago the cold machine nail
| ers at the Belmont were notified that
reduction in wages. upon the present
scale, would go into effect last Tuesday
| The men appointed a Committee TO
| wait upon the officials, and
after a conference decided TO go to
work. The cold machines were in OPP
Grafton all Of last week. The new scale
| provided for reduction of Is cents per
keg on fine three-penny nails, and Z
cents on common three-penny. There
was corresponding reduction on other
sizes, the least being . cents per keg on
six-penpy. The iron wheelers were also
reduced about 25 cents per day, and the
| head blacksmith and assistant were re-
duced S1.0O and so cents per week, re-
| spectively. 1t is understood that the
officials Of the company told the men
they could not operate the plant at a
profit, and off red to submit their books
| to a committee to prove that they were
not making money. One mailer, who
has charge OF 10 self-feeders running on
| picked non, in conversation with a
| REGISTER reporter, estimated that the
reduction would amount 20 So per day
upon his machines. He would lose that
amount himself, as the feeders would
not accept a reduction, as they are
receiving very low wages. The
officials have not yet arranged with the
hot machine nailers, but a proposition
was yes terday submitted TO them, and IL
| is expected that a conference will be
held between the officials and employees
tomorrow, at which the matter will be
adjusted.
A prominent nail mill official was seen
by REGISTER representative yesterday
and said. The Belmont Is equipptd
with facilities for manufacturing nails
as cheaply as any mill in this vicinity,
yet il is fact that other mills have
been running steadily and probably,
while the Belmont haze lost money.
Some OF these mills are handi-
capped by being compelled to buy
their steel, while the Belmont secures
it from the Wheeling plant, at the &C
tua cost Of production. Now, 1t ap-
peared strange that the Belmont could
not make money as well as its COM
petitors, but the secret has leaked out.
The mills which have been in continu-
Gus operation for long time, have been
enabled to do so by special agreement
with the nailers who have been receiv-
ing just the same wages as the Belmont
Company now asks its employees to ac-
cept. As the Belmont cannot compete
with other mills which pay less wages,
the men, it is claimed, will have to &C
cept the reduction, or the mill Will be
closed down indefinitely"