The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-08
GOO Pinkertons on the Way.
Carnegie's Head Man Tells the Comapany's
Side.

CHAIRMAN TRICKS sTOKY.
Carnegie's Head Man Tells the Company's
Side.
PrrrsBURo, July 8.-H. G. Frick, chair.
man of the Carnegie Steel Company, was
interviewed last evening ~ follows, BY
George n. Mccain, the correspondent Os
the Philadelphia Press:
"What was the basis of the differences
existing at present betwaen the Carnegie
Company and their men, Mr.. Fricks"
"Thers were three points on which We
differed. The skilled workmen In the
Amalgamated Association work under
what Is known as a sliding scale. Az the
price OF steel advances the earnings OF
the men advance; 40 the prices fall their
earnings decrease In proportion. While
there is no limit to An advance OF earn
ings on the scale, there IL . point 1t
which the decline stops.
1t Ia known as the minimum, and the
figure heretofore has been e25 per ton for
lx4 Bessemer billets. We believe that II
earnings based on the selling price OF
steel can advance without limit, the
workmen should be willing to follow the
selling price down to q reasonable mini
mum, and so this figure was finally fixed
by the Carnegie Co., at the rate OF $23 in
stead of f25.
"The reason for asking this upon our
part was that the Carnegie Company has
spent large sums OF money In the intro
duction of new machinery in its Home
stead plant, by means of which the work
men were enabled to increase the daily
output, thereby Increasing the amount
OF their own earnings. We had original
ly asked q reduction to $22, but su bso-
9uently agreed to compromise the rate -
"Ths Amalgatsd Association
was unwilling to consider Q red uotion
below ga on steel billets, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the improved mac hinery
would enable their members, even ut t2S,
gamated mills. This was the first point
at issue.
Under the present amalgamated system
the date of the expiration OF the sliding
scale is June 30, annually. We asked that
this date be changed to December 81
(same as at Edgar Thomson's) for the
reason that the change would permit 10
we must pay during the year, bog nning
on January 1, SO that we would be ena-
bled to make contracts for the year ac-
cordingly. This point the Amalga mated
Association refused to concede and de-
manded the old date.
uo tnlrO pIOpOsltlOu Wbb tuo xeouc-
tion on tonnage rates in those depart
ments In the mills where the improve
ments have spoken Of have been made
and which enable the workingmen TO in
crease the output and consequently their
earnings. Where no such improve ments
have been made, there was no requese
upon our part for reduction in to image
rates. In other words, we have no reduc-
tions In any department at which the
output had not been greatly increased by
reason OF our expensive improve ment0
since the scale OF 1889 went into effect.
"We are prepared to show that in near-
ly every department, under our proposed
reduction in the tonnage rates, the skilled,
workmen would make more money than
they did when the scale Of 1889 went into
effect. As rule the men who are making
the larges wages in the Homestead mill
were the ones who
Most Bitterly Denounced
the proposed revision Of the scale, for
out OF the $500 men employed in every
department, only 325 were directly al
fected by this reduction. Finding that
IL was impossible to arrive at any agree
ment with the Amalgamated officials, We
decided to close ouz works at Home
stead.
"why did the Carnegie Company call
protect their propertyf
"We did not see how else we would
have protection. We only wanted watch
men to pr otect our property and see that
workmen we would take to Homestead
and we have had applications from many
men to go there to work-were not In.
terfered with.
"Did you doubt the ability of the sher.
IN to enforce order At Homestead and
protect your property
Eyes, sir, with local deputies.
"Whyf
"For the reason that three years ago
our concern had an experience similar TO
this. We felt the necessity Of q change
at the works; that q scale should be
adopted based on the sliding price Of bill.
lets, and we asked the county authorities
for protection. The workmen began tao.
tics similar TO those employed In tho
present troubles"
"rhe sheriff assured the members Of
the firm that there would be no dificulty,
that he would give them ample protec.
tion and see that men who were W iling
TO work were not interfered with.