New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-16
TIE NEU THRIFT on WINDOW GLASS;
THE WAGES or 700 AMERICAN WORKING
MEN READItsTED oH THE DEMOCRATIC
basis AND WORK UNCERTAIN


Pntsburg Sept - (apeciaD-The settlement
las, week = The wage sca.- IN The window glass IN
lus;ry = a practical Illustration OF the disastrous
effects - the wDrkingmen ~ the new Tariff bill 1t
also reveals a rather curious condition Of rivalry
am ng the manufacturers. Tn" wage conference In
the western district hal fai,cl to agree the work
men declining 80 acc-p, cY' - p per cent on ac-
count 81 democratic asrend.ncy. but on The follow
ing day ihe3 hamhrrs Glass Company and the Phi.
Ups G.as- Company made deal with the window
Glass Workers Association Tor he acceptance OF
20 per cent cat. Recognizing the danger ~ losing
their trade. the remaining employers offered com
promise 81 zia per cent AMI 1t was accepted which
gives them the advantage over the Chambers com
pany which took the initiative las; year when James
\. Chambers deserted the Manufacturers Assoca-
ton. ~ which he president. effected a COM
promise with his own employees and prevented HIS
former associates from carrying out their idea OF
general lockout - bring the men 10 terms. The
manufacturers OF the eastern district Eastern Penn
syivania. Ncw-Jcrscy. Delaware and Maryland have
also settle! The basis u 22is per cent.
The "seti.-ment" effected by the Democratic Con
gress In Washington was on the basis OF a OF IS
per cent from the Mckinley tariff Neither master
nor man was consulted in this an ur. and both VIII
now suffer along with Other American Industries
that have been tinkered with dsaStrousy. The rep
reseniat,ves 81 the Window Glass Workers Union
who attended the eastern district conference ad-
mittci that the tariff had lowered the value OF
proportionate.y. which Is sad commentary on
Democratic unwisdom.
II also means the shutting down. or. rather. the
failure to bring about the resumption OF every
glass works In the eastern district except. per-
haps the Cohonsey at Hridgeton. y. j.. which has
a tank furnace. while the others use pots. and the
cost OF production with the former system Is less
There are practically the same conditions In the
West. Mr. Chambers has the tanks also: Even
still Tii nec s H. cheapcnng Of production OF
about 10 cents box by the pot system. and, ~
manufacturer said: This Is counting on the
closest kind Of work.
Very conclusive evidence OF the benefits Of the
late Mckinley tariff TO the worklngmen Is me
fact that the Window-tilass Workers Association
is one of the richest labor unions In America. \
year ago II loaned 5000 10 Mr. Chambers ana
smaller amounts to other firms accomnodations
which give the lie to the mas tha
not getting their share OF the tarin, SOW ,
slice of the earnings they have enjoyed for over
a quarter OF century. Those who are fortunate
VERY small minority-have already experienced
what the tinplaie workers must also undergo
The tinplate men are now voting on the question
of the amour; Of the reduction they VIII accept
cut in wages on account OF the new tariff. but
there is naturally dispute as TO the extent OF the
cut II Is a significant fact and one that the
Democracy must lie displeased with. yet cannot as
Gu ha the ~ p,sies rSn pon, blank
that the tinplate industry in America was an IS
abshed fact and h the w as ' aranst
ing the Idea that their lost trade was sure TO return
TO them even with the valuable sstance extended
by "A Democratic Congress In America
H. Sellers Mckee, OF the most proiHfleht
manufacturers OF widow glass hereabouts. has Just
returned from "A visit TO the European factories he
reports that 50 long skilled labor Is the chiet
element of the of window glass the forelgners
are likely 10 lead In Belgium very large proper
ton OF the work Is performed by girls VINO get ID
cents a day for eleven hours work, ana w3rk se.sn
DAYS in the week while an American girl for the
same service gets 81 n day OF eight hours. ioot
fnlsher In Belgium. working eleven hours a u,y
and seven days n week. gets s. % for his seventy
seven hours OF labor whereas a foot hnishrr IN
America gets s. 30 for day OF eight nouns. OF tx %
SAYS are not Isolated instances. but are typical
wages In the Belgian district