The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-07-15
The Congressional Committee at Pitts.
burg Examines Numerous
Witnesses.
Mr.. Frick Closely Interrogated and
Refuses to Answer Several Pointed
Questions.
He Claims Bankruptcy Stared the
Company in the Face at Wages
They We're Paying.

PITTsBURG, July ID. w. ID. Bynum,
of Indiana, was the only prominent
member of the congressional committee
on hand at the time for opening the in
vestigation of the causes of the Home
stead strike and riot. He was in the
committee room at O'Clock, and spent
half an hour waiting for his associates,
reading the papers.
The labor element was pretty well
represented III. G. Frick, chairman of
the steel company, and his attorneys,
were early on hand. Mr.. Frick carried
q huge bundle of data. Judge Taylor
discussed the doings of fcongress with Mr..
Bynum, and Chairman Oates compla-
Gently read his mail. Chairman Oates
announced in the opening that the COM
mite SO far had reached only for facts,
and We're not ready to make report. He
declared it likely there would be no
minority report.
General Superintendent Potter was
the first witness He described the
general details of steel making, and
the work performed by the different
classes of workmen. He said the Home
stead mills were the finest in the world
and workmen made fifty per cent better,
wages there than in any other plant.
He said the average reduction proposed
by the company which precipitated the
strike was 10 per cent. About 800 men
were affected. This reduction was
made because laborers were getting
more wages than in any other mill, and
the introduction of improved machinery
increasing the amount Of product, in
creased the wages. The first disturb
ance that occurred was before the mill
shut down, while he and Mr.. Frick
were hung in effigy. When one Of the
clerks OF the committee went to tear
them down ne was drenched with water
from hose. On the morning Of July 4
some Of his foremen and men were
stopped by others who tried ID keep
them ont Of the mill On July he left
the mill and returned on the boats Tide
and Little Bill, July when the Pinker-
tons were taken to the works. He was
accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Gray.
As they drew near Homestead
they saw the banks crowded with
people shouting and firing shots. He
cautioned deputy Sheriff Gray not to let
the men commit any overt act. The
crowd ran along the bank, following
them up. He thought that they would
go no farther than the fence of the Car
negie works. They landed the boats
within the works. The strikers broke
through the fence and commenced
firing on them. Deputy Gray pacified
the Pinkertons, until the firing became
heavy from the shore. When they
returned the shots he ordered them to
quit. Three or four of the Pinkertons
were wounded. The detectives then
began getting all of their arms. They
then held consultation and decided to
allow the barges to remain while they
took the wounded men away on the
boat, as they thought the crowd would
disperse and they could make peace
full landing in few hours. He did not
feel disposed to make forcible entry as
he had letters from Mr.. Frick telling
him not to commit any overt act.
David Lynch, boss heater in the plate
mill, was called up for conference
with Chairman Oates, who wanted
| technical information concerning the
plate mill.
Austin Colbfiesh, roller in the 119
inch mill, the next witness, was asked
by Mr.. Oates what reductions the com.
pany proposed and who it would effect.
He said that in the heating department
the greatest reductions were proposed
In one case the new scale proposed a
drop Of s33 to 1000 tons. Under the
old scale-en 1900 tons, at s25, he made
s14l.45. At the reduction he would re-
ceive s92. Shear helpers would moi
now make 81. .9S for eight hours and for.
merly their pay was one third more.
How much is that above cost Of pro
ducing ton Of steel?' asked Judge
/ Taylor.
About ssl.5s. That is only fo1
skilled labor.
| Captain II. Kennedy, of the steamer
Little Bill, was Q watchman on one o1
the Pinkerton barges. He detailed ths
arrival of the Pinkerton barges, also thu
arrival of the Pinkerton guards and
their trip up the Monongahela river
Near Homestead they met the strikers
river patrol, who fired skyrocket te
/ give warning. Up 1t the wharf, he said
men and women were mingled, broke
down the fence and fired on the barges
This party fired first. The Pinkertoni
held their fire until three Of their mum
ber were injured. The Pinkertons. hs
said, were greatly frightened.
81 suspect they were, agreed Mr.
Oates.
/ In answer to Mr.. Boatner, Captain
Kennedy said about fifty Of the Pinker
tons were good shots and easily picked
O6 the STRIKERS, The others were arxani
skulkors. The witness attem6ted X
initiate MI. Boatner's Southern dfawl
and was dayed Il bis examinatiou fol
his naiua