New-York tribune., 1900-09-24
STEEL MILLS TO OPEN.
SIXTY THOUSAND MEN WILL START
WORK TO-DAY

Cincinnati. Sept. 23-The Conference Commit
tee Of the Amalgamated Association 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.
1t is what Is known as the yearly scale. which
takes effect usually in July. Owing to the un-
usual fluctuations of the market the new scale
had not been signed when the mills shut down
on June so. and the conditions have been un-
favorable 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 confer
rees breakfasted Some mills will start to-rnor-
row morning. and all others as soon as possi-
BILE. This decision means employment to-mor-
row to over sixty thousand workingmen who
have been idle since June.
In endeavoring to arrive at this agreement the
Wage Conference Committee Of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel Workers
has had five different conferences with the man
ufacturers, meeting at New-York. Detroit, Indi-
annapolis and Youngstown as we'll as here. They
have been in conference here since Wednesday,
and determined last night to sit until they got
together or agreed to disagree While neither
side got what it wanted, both sides felt relieved
when the scale was signed, after an all night
session, and most of the conferrees left without
sleep, so as to be at the mills on Monday morn
ing. President Schaefer. Secretary Williams and
others remained to arrange some details with
Commissioner Mutt, and they retired about 8
o'clock this morning. but the others did their
sleeping on the trains on the way to their homes
The reasons for the delay in adjusting the
wage scale, as well as for the frequent pro-
longed conferences are found in the slump in
the market and the fluctuations in the last year
from the highest to the lowest price. The work
ers wanted So a ton based on a 1.4-cent card
a 1-cent card rate for boiling. and the differ
ences were in about the same proportion in other
lines.
President Schaefer and Commissioner Mutt
gave out the following official statement to-day
The rate for boiling is 81 10 a ton. based upon
a 1-cent card rate, with the same basis running
up to II cents for the card rate, or 81 20 But
the price for boiling for September and October
shall be So a ton, based a. card rate of ii
cents.
Muck rolling shall be one-seventh of the price
paid for boiling.
Bushening on sand bottom shall be 50 90 on a
1-cent card rate with the same basis running
up to ID cents card rate.
The following scale was fixed for the finishing
mills:
on bar mills the price to be paid is the same
as last year, with a card rate of II cents graded
down to 1-cent card.
On guide Q0-inch and hoop mills) the base and
rates apply they do on the bar and the p
inch mills
Among the mills ordered started are those Of
the American Steel Hoop Company, at Girard.
Youngstown, Warren, Pomeroy and Greenville
and of the Republic Iron and Steel Company at
Youngstown. Ironton, Terre Haute Birming
ham. Munce Franklin. Marion, Moline, New
Albany, Minneapolis, Covington, KY; Brazil
Ind; Springfield. Ill, and Alexandria, Ind.