The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-15

lhere is always a good demand for
checks. No difference between purchas-
ing power of cash and checks The sup
erlntendent decides on what are emer-
gency cases. | pay out on these emer-
gency checks from $3.50 to $500 a month.
have bought checks for myself and
officers Of the company to pay our gro
Gerry bills. We issue 81, 50, SO, IS and $40
checks About one-eghth of the checks
are in tens, one-fourth in fives Most OF
the checks are drawn by men who draw
check as often as they get one, two or
three dollars ahead
The rolling mill pays every two weeks
/ think it would take more clerical force
to have semi-monthly pay cay. 1 never
bought on my own account more checks
than enough to pay my own bill at the
store Some of the officers who run ac-
counts advance me money to buy checks
to pay their accounts. Birmingham city
stores deliver goods beyond Sayreton.
j. n. Adams.
j. H. Adams assistant district manager
of the Republic Iron and Steel company.
was the next witness produced by the
operators and testified as follows
The company operate rolling mills as
well as mines and furnaces We pay every
two weeks. Men draw store checks. We
benefit of the men, From June 16 to June
3d. 1903, the laborers at the rolling mills
drew 1913 per cent of their wages in
checks. At the Warner mine, owned by
the company, we pay once month. and
the men there drew 46 per cent IN checks
during the month of June 1903.
Mr.. Adams here read a long and care
fully prepared statement, a brief resume
of which follows:
Answering the first proposition of the
miners as to an advance of cents a ton
on both the maximum and minimum
price of mining coal and proportionate
advance in narrow work and day labor. L
would say that the coal we mine is for
coting and to supply our rolling mills at
Gate City and Birmingham. and the fall
in the price of iron makes a decrease in
the wage scale rather than an increase
necessary.
The large amount of iron on the yards
and lack of a market Forbes any advance
in the wage scale.
Eight-Hour Day.
AS to the eight-hour day we object be-
cause: First, all plant has been in
stalled on a basis of ten hours work at
the mines in order to supply our coke
ovens. A reconstruction to meet the re-
quirements of an eight-hour day would
entail great OUTLAY of time and money
2. Even If the change were practicable
we have so many eolored miners that it
could not be justified on the ground Of
the expenditure of a conservative ener-
gy, which is claimed for the white min
ers in the northern districts. The eight
hour day would mean that the output
would drop 20 per cent frcm what 1t now
is
3, The miner will. in any event, cut and
load just so much and no more. He reg
ulates his own time. The other men must
work longer in order that the miner can
work his full eight hours. The adoption
of the rule asked for would in ,roase tie
cost Of mining at least 20 per cent
4. With the adoption of an eight hour
day one-fifth more narrow work and mine
development would be necessary to pro-
duce the same tonnage as now, making
more yardage and requiring more labor
Pay Day.
As to the semi-monthly payday we OBJ
ject because:
l. Payday and the days Immediately
following mean days lost to the company,
so far as work is concerned. and make
reasonable calculations as to a supply OF
coal for the coke ovens impossible.
2. Such failure to supply and draw the
ovens regularly means great loss.
3. AS most of our coal is used to make
coke for our furnaces at Thomas, it is
necessary to make daily changes in some
of the $40 ovens at that point. No work
is done at the mines on pay day. There
is loss in output of 20 to 80 per cent on
the next day and loss of Is to 40 per
cent on the second day after payday
We are put to serious loss and trouble on
the present payday system and we don't
want to double it.
We have established our commssaries
for the convenience of the miners We
make no extortionate profit CA compare
tive list of prices at the companys stores
and Birmingham stores is attached to the
statementD
Out of 76S men working at the Warner
mine during February. 1903. Cribs is the
average number for the last year, five
men worked twenty-five days and over,
1856 worked twelve days or less when they
might have worked twenty-three DAYS.
This shows why the men draw so many
store checks. In real emergency any
miner can get from the superintendent
an order for cash advance on his wages
without discount and they frequently do
this
The number of men (using the average
of 76S for February who worked from
twenty to twenty-five days was thirty
five. Sixty-three worked from eighteen
to twenty days. Sixty-eight worked from,
sixteen to eighteen days lightweight from
fourteen to sixteen days and 1913 worked
from twelve to fourteen days.
Number of Days.
We demand that the men shall be oblig-
ed to work not less than twenty days in
a month. because we are Obliged to keep
our pumps and engines going. Our fixed
charges are running constantly and we
believe that justice demands that the men
should give us the months work that we
contract for. and man not giving 1t
should be subject to discharge.
AS to yardage. we believe that the miner
on narrow work gets too much. as his
work nets him 1873 per cent over room
work.
Some Examples.
For example. Lew Jones, working on
room work. earned 1921 net per day. and