Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-25
GOVERNMENT TAKES A HAND
PROBING PEoNAGE CHARGE AT
PRESSED STEEL PLANT.
Special Secret Service Agent and q
Committee Admitted to Works
at McKees Rocks.

PITTSBURG, August c5.-Agents Of the
federal government today entered the
plant of the Pressed Steel Car Company
at McKees Rocks to investigate the
charge that peonage has been practiced
there since the beginning of the strike
of the $500 employees of that corporation.
, Authority to make the investigation
was received late last night by John NJ.
Jordan, United States attorney for this
district. Mr.. Jordan explained the situa-
ton to officials of the Department of
Justice several days ago and requested
that special secret service agent be
sent here to aid in the investigation.
This was agreed to. the agent arriving
last night.
The district attorney states that all
parties directly interested would be al
lowed representation in the investigation
including officials of the Austro-Hunga-
rian consulate here and representatives
OF the strikers. District Attorney Jor-
dan said It would make no difference if
not vestige of peonage were found at
the plant now: If it is shown that it exist
ed at any time since the strike began
prosecutions will result.
Today's investigation grows out of the
complaint sworn to several days ago by
city, that President Frank Hoffstot of
the Pressed Steel Car Company and
Samuel Cohen labor organizer, had been
guilty of peonage.
No Further Rioting Expected.
The strike situation at McKees Rocks
has now settled down to the quiet that
prevailed several weeks before the Sum-
day night riots. 1t is generally conceded
that from now on trouble, If any, will
be of a minor character and rioting prac-
tically out OF the question.
1t is further conceded even by several
of the strikers executive committee that
the idle workingmen have all but lost
their cause, as the Pressed Steel Car Com
pany is in daily operation now and is
increasing the number OF imported work
ingmen daily. Few assertions OF men
brought in from outside cities are report
ed. Those discharged at the plant, It IL
said. are the men who have proved in
competent.
The county officiais have not as yet re-
ceived official notice concerning the find
ing of three bodies of strikers, reported to
have been found late yesterday afternoon
hidden away under railroad ties. Eye
witnesses to the finding Of the bodies de-
clare the men were taken inside of the
car plant stockade. An investigation COW
erfng this point will be made.
No additional deaths were reported. The
WOuHocO, DOM troopers ana strikers, at
the hospitals in McKees Rocks are all re-
ported as improving.
Every occupant of a car company house
has been ordered to vacate the premises
and today Sheriff Gumbert will serve no
tees of eviction on the remaining strikers
who yet tenant company residences.
Fire Policy for %, ZOO, 900.
The Pressed Steel Car Company is in
the market for a $4,000 600 fire insurance
policy. and the men who look after bust
ness of that character are doing their best
to provide the. corporation with the re-
quired protection. When the policies are
issued they will probably be over the
names Of no less than two hundred COM
panies and it will be the largest insur-
ance deal Pittsburg has known in many
years. If indeed it does not break the
record.
The car company has been carrying in
the nelghborhood of 100000 fire insur-
ance.
Strikers Petition Refused.
In a decision handed down by Judge
James A. MacFarlane today concerning
the petition presented by the striking en-
ployes of the Pressed Steel Car Com
pany. in which compulsory arbitration
was asked, the law is declared unconsti-
tutional and the petition refused. The
court says before action can be had both
r. It'll