Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-21
CAUSES OF T+E TROUBLE.
Conclusion OF the Congressional In
Ytstigatiou at ritt>burs.


PIrrsatGi, Pa, July 1.-The inquiry
INTO tie trouble at Homestead was resumed
BY the congressional committee to-day.
General Superintendent Potter Of the Carr
regie company, the first witness. testified
that the homestead mil Was different from
other mills N that The ir.n hired and paid
tie men. There We're no helpers hired and
paid 10y the men. I}y reason of machinery
there is less -uspons btii5y to the men.
The witness said rha homestead mill was
tle fines, in the world and by repson Of im-
proved machinery, the outp-t was 81 per
cent greater than that of any other mill in
world The proposed aug-l il the scale
we're in the minimum, which was TO be %23,
the time Of expiration ana certain reIuc:
lions. The proposed reductions would
average - per cent. Inc company was
paying more than any company icompeti-
tor for the same class OF material, as by
ceason of improved machinery the output
was increased and the labor les7anol.
"Wel, said Chairman Oates, III by
means OF improved machinery tao company
rould make the output Tor less money.
should not it be willing to pay more
81 do not know that that is Il fac. -
Oscar Coihssh a workman, said that
Under the proposed scale his wages would
be reduced StJ.b) per month.
Capt, Kennedy repeated the story OF the
battle; and Mr.. Woi,b, presiIent 0: tn ,
Amaigamated association, was theu re-
called.
Chairman Oates asked Nr. Welsh what
nationalities were represented in the Anal
gamatod association.
Mr.. Welsh said there Nere English. Irish,
Scotch, Welsh, and good many Amori-
rams. 'Our oiganization he said, lis not
fecret, except the pass word.
Mr.. BoAtner-"Does your organization
foster or countenance auy such resis tanca
TO employers as We are now investigating =
''No air. -
chow many men who work in tho Horoa
ltead mill belong to your association ~
"From SEQ to 100, | am not sure.
lr. Prick was recalled and sand. awe
uIkeI for q reduction OF wages because thu
reduction in price Of our product caused II,
&c lose money ON every ton OF blooms, bil
lets ana slab, sold tAis year. OR Homo
lead mill and the Duqu.,ue p5utucs ! ! pei
rent Of all thu steel b.lists made ia the mi
ted States. The mortggE5s Ue bold on
houses OF employees arc only TO md them il
the erection Of their homes. We allow
them TO pay of by the month. Ne Inv,
never forecused mortgage Of this kind
W U charge llOh v pol cent Gili AliON lLCu
the same when they deposit Nilu us. Qua
meu at Homestead have about .llJ. 600 Or
seposit with us on which wo pay 6 per cent
and We hold mortgages amounting to 81
900. The market price Of pig iron is $ 4
and the cost Of converting tbls into stee
bilets on an average is about $40 so tina
Oh an average to produce ton OF steel bill
let's costs a2i. This is leaving out the in
Ye8tment. -
Mr.. Ostes-"What docs it cost at Home
stead to produce a ton of steel ~
That / must decline to answer That j
going into private business have giyoi
TO you the average all over the United State
10 produce ton OF steel biilsts.
MIR. BoRtner--' Well, then the McEinlel
tariff has caused loss in the price you ge
for your output and n consequent reduction
OF wages ?
Mr. FrcE-"No sir the Mckinley bill
does not have such am effect The lowe
prices were the result of over production.
Mr. Broderick 'Yo gu feel that the tsril
has no place in lhis trouble "
"No Dir, not in the least. Had the dutie
on the goods we manufactured been reduced
it would have had serious effect O.
wages, "
The chairman then announced that tn
rommittee had finished here, eud added