The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-25
WORK FOR 60, 1000 IDLE MEN
Fires Ordered in Iron and Steel
Plants Everywhere.
Amalsamnted Wage schedule signed by
Beth Committees, Putting an End to
Controversy that Has Lasted
for several Months.

Cincinnati, Sept 3.-The conference
committees of the Amalgamated Associ-
alton OF Iron and Steel Workers and OF
the manufacturers at $50 o'clock this
morning signed the wage scale that will
be effective until July, 1901.
II Is what is known as the yearly scale,
which takes effect usually in July Owing
20 the unusual fluctuations of the market.
the new scale had not been signed when
the mills shut down June 80 and the con-
ditions have been unfavorable ever since
June, so that the mills have been idle for
almost three months AS soon as the
scale was signed this morning messages
were sent in every direction before the
conferees breakfasted. ordering the fires
built at once. Some mills will start to-
morrow morning, and all others as soon
as possible
This decision means employment to-
morrow to over 60,eO workingmen who
have been idle since June In endeavor-
ing to arrive at this agreement the wage
conference committee of the Amalga-
mated Association OF Iron and Steel
Workers has had five different confer
ences with the manufacturers, meeting
at New York, Detroit, Indianapolis. and
been in conference here since Wednes-
day, and determined last night to sit un-
Ill they got together or agreed 10 disa-
gree. While neither side got what IL
wanted. yet 10th sides felt relieved when
the scale was signed, after an all night
session. and most OF the conferees
left without sleep so as to be at the
mills Monday morning. President
sehaefer. Secretary Williams. and others
remained to arrange some details with
Commissioner Mutt, and they retired
about S o'clock this morning, but the
others did their sleeping on the trains
en- route 10 their homes.
The reasons for the delay in adjusting
the wage scale, as well as for the frequent
prolonged conferences, are found in the
slump in the market and the fluctuations
during the past year from the highest TO
| the lowest price. The workers wanted s.
per ton. based on a one and four-tentliz
card rate. The manufacturers offered
$50 per ton on One-cent card rate for
boiling. and the differences were in abovt
the same proportion in other lines.
President Schaefer and Commissioner
Mutt jointly gave out the following state
ment to-day: The rate for boiling is
si.75 per ton, based upon one-cent card
rate, with the same basis running up to
one and two-tenths for the card rate, or
Sl.2o. But the price for boiling for Sep
tember and October shall be s. per ton,
based on card rate of one and one-four-
tenths cents. Muck rolling shall be one
seventh of the price paid for boiling
Bushelirg on sand bottom shall be S2.09
on a one-cent card rate. with the same
base running up TO one and two-tenths,
! card rate
The following scale was fixed for the
| finishing mills: "On bar mills the price 10
be paid is the same as last year. with a
| card rate of one and four-tenths cents
| graded down 10 a one-cent card. On guide
| Cen-inch and hoop mills), the base and
rates apply as they do on the bar and the
twelve-inch mills
Among the mills ordered started are
| those of the American Steel Hoop Com
pany al Girard, Youngstown. Warren,
Pomeroy. and Greenville, and Of the Re-
public Iron and Steel Company at Youngs-
| town, Ironton. Terre Haute, Birmingham,
Muncie, Franklin. Marion. Moline, New
Albany, Minneapolis, Covington, Ky;
Brazil Ind; Springfield. H.. and Alexan-
| dria. Ind
Birmingham, Ala, Sept. 23.-The news
! tha. an agreement had been reached BY
the conference committees Of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel
| Workers and the iron and steel operators
| at Cincinnati was receives here with
/ much satisfaction by the members of the
| Amalgamated Association. who assembled
| In large numbers 10 hear the result. The
| local mills are owned by the Republic
| Iron and Steel Company, one of the par
ties TO the agreement and the settlement
| affects between LOO and eco men in this
| immediate district The mills will resume
| operation within few days.