The morning call., 1892-12-15
THAT MILL TRUST.
Wages Cut and Millers
Discharged.
ALL-NIGHT WORK STOPPED.
The Workmen Feel Aggrieved, but
Say They Are Forced to
Submit.

Jormed q trust
In September they began to lay plans
for shutting d own mills.
In October they took the question of
wages under consideration.
In November they ceased night WORK in
many mills.
In December they cut down wages and
discharged many men.
In January
For two weeks past the men working in
the majority of the flourmills throughout
the State have been in q ferment of excite
ment, and matters are threatening TO be-
come more serious every day.
A big cut of wages has been made and
quite a large number of men have sud-
denly been thrown out of employment.
Right in the middle of the winter season
and just before Christmas this is severe
blow to many poor people, especially since
il came without warning and found most
of those concerned unpreparcd.
A CALL mans investigation made yester-
day brought out the fact that the end is not
yet and that more reductions of wages and
further dismissals of workingmen are ex-
pected this week.
The men working in the mills are divided
into skilled and unskilled workers, and as
spOndingly.
A practical miller's wages have for years
been from 81 to 81 so for days work of
twelve hours.
FloOrmen, sacksewers. drivers and la bOr-
ers were paid correspondihgly.
The first intimation OF q reduction came
in the shape OF an order that the sacksew-
ers, who were paid S. day, would only
receive So so hereafter.
Then came notice in many of the mills
that = m u for
Years running night and day without inter-
mission, would no longer continue TO operate
al night, and that all men working on night
shifts were discharged.
This latter order threw q large mum Der
of men ont Of work, aud is the cause of
much misery ana macOntent.
There Is absolutely no help for these
poor fellows" said -four bedusted emplove
in one of the mills in speaking of the
trouble, because there is a big combine
OF iiourmills. and they all act in harmony.
Only few smaller concerns are outside
OF the trust, and, therefore, If the combna-
ton decides 10 cut wages and abolish night
work we have to submit, because the only
other thing for us TO do would be to strike.
"a strike among mlimen is altogether
ont OF the question. because, In the first
place, we have no union and are not organ
lied. Besides we cannot afford to De out Of
work a this time OF the year"
Another mllman seen spoke In the same
manner, and declared positively that al
though he had been nineteen years in the
employ OF the firm be now works for. il he
received notice to-day that his wages here
after would only be one-half of what they
were in the past he would have to submit
and accept the situation.
I'VE are absolutely helpless and entirely
at the mercy of the combine" he put il.
Several owners and managers of mills
were also seen. but all of them declined to
speak on the subject.
They assumed the air of the naughty
monopolist, who does not care what the
public thinks of bis action.
Among the shippers and dealers in produce
there is no reason known why the mills
should reduce wages and hours just now.
There is no fall Of prices and no surplus
in the flour market. so that the action OF
the combine is considered quite arbitrary
and uncalled for.
Secretary ROxbury of the Federated
Trades was out investigating the millers'
troubles Yesterday. and on his return he
considered the situation serious.
at is strange fact that the trust should
take these steps Immediately after the cleo
tioD," said he, land / consider that the
orders Issued so far are only the predeces-
sors OF many more wsge-cu:tiDgs and dis
charges TO follow soon"