The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-17
FURNACE WORKERS GO OUT ON STRIKE Steel Plant at EnSley is Practi-
 cally Idle. WAGES THE CONTEN TON Workers of open-Hearth Furnaces De- mand More Tonnage-Rail Mill
 Still In operation-strike
 Not Considered Serious.
THE CONTENTION

Ensley, March 16.-(Special )-Pending an agreement between the officials of the steel plant and the open hearth furnace workers the mill has practically closed down, Since the resumption last month the men have been dissatisfied with the reduction made in their wages Before the works were closed down last Octo- Der the open hearth men were getting SS. 40 a day and six cents tonnage on each ton. When the plant resumed the mems wages were fixed at B day. The con- tention now hinges on the question of tonnage The worl1men, it is understood, are contending for $S day and cents tonnage
 One of the prominent workers in dis cussing the situation tonight said: We have not struck. We have no organisa- tion. We couldn't work at the price we were receiving and decided to walk out and let the officials fill our places with other helpers. Before going out we left all the furnaces in good shape making out the tapes before leaving them
 The officials of the plant declined to discuss the status of affairs.
 Only sixty men are employed in the open hearth department, but as 1t was impos- sible to run the other departments of the plant with the furnaces idle the blooming mill had been closed down. The rail mill is in operation and will perhaps continue for the next two weeks. There is enough cold steel to keep that department in operation for several days
 The suspension of work is loked upon as merely temporary It is the general opinion that the differences will be satis- factorily adjusted and the mill resume in full blast in few days During the time the machinery is idle the company will have some improvements and repairs made.
 Will Elect New Alderman.
 The mayor and aldermen will hold one Of the most important sessions of the year tomorrow night. An alderman to fill the vacancy in the First ward caused by the death of Alderman Hardy White will be nar~ q. MT. White was shot on the nigh March by Glenn Tetherow. He died from the effects of the wound the day following. The trial of Tetherow will come up before Judge Abernathy of the Birmingham inferior court tomorrow.
 Several citizens have been mentioned to iiii MT. w Hite pldCe, Dut IL SeeiHS to pe the general opinion that P J. Rodgers will be named by the council In addition to this it is understood that several other important matters will come before the body.
 Hearing Postponed.
 The preliminary hearing or Dave Law, the saloon-keeper, charged with killing Nell Mullin, was called by Judge Mandy of the inferior court this afternoon at 2 o'clock. but on request of the attorneys on both sides the case was continued until March 30 at 9;30 a. m.
 When the court was called to order this afternoon the city hall was filled. and many were standing outside the door, un- able to gain admission. On account of the absence of Attorney Jesse Stallings of the defense and Frank s. White of the state a recess was taken, pending the arrival of the two lawyers. Court was reconvened at o'clock, MT. White and MT. Stallings having arrived. As all the attorneys In the case would be engaged in the Glenn retherow trial tomorrow. 1t was agreed after a conference to continuethe case un- til March 30.