Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1891 — STEEL RAIL COMBINE. [ARTICLE]

STEEL RAIL COMBINE.

HOW IT HAS REDUCED WAGES THIS YEAR. Meeting of tho Combine In Philadelphia to Arrange Particulars and Prepare lor a Future Boom—Free Trade In Labor Only—Plate Glass and the Tariff Socks tor McKinley. How It Works. The Iron Age, under the heading of “The Coming Boom,” says: “A discussion of the situation with many thoughtful and experienced members of the iron trade leads to the conviction that a notable rise in the prices in the leading lines of iron and steel must be expected. A consideration of the condition of affairs in the rail trade would point to the conclusion that a notable rise in prices cannot well be expected during the ba’ance of this year, but tho anticipation of requirements for 1892 may lead to the beginning ot a boom before this year is closed. " In order to take comp'ete advantage of the coming boom, the “Steel Rail Trust" hold a meeting last woek in Philadelphia, at which arrangements were made for the admission of the Maryland branch of the Pennsylvania Steel Company into the combi no. In conseauonce of this a new allotment was made. The year now drawing to a close has shown the great strength of the combine. It has been abie to maintain the combine prices of ?30 per ton at Eastorn mills and s3l per ton at the Western; without a break, and in spite of the fact that the price of rails has been maintained, and the raw material has fallen, it has been able to reduce wages. There are six companies in the trust,, which, in fact, embraces all tho mills in the country. Theso are the Illinois Steel Company, Carnegie Bros. & Company, the Cambria Iron Company,, the Pennsylvania Steel Company, tho Bethlehem Iron Company, and the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company, Since January last, all have reduced wages as follows: The Bethlebom Iron Company reduced wages 10 per cent. Feb 7. Tho Lackawanna Coal and iron Company reduced tho wages of its workmen an average of 20 cents per day, Jan. 1. The Rsnnsylvania Steel Company reduced wages on an average of 8 to 10 per cent. Feb. 1. Tho Illinois Steel Company reduced the wages of its workmen on March 6. A strike ensued. Carnegie Bros. & Company cut down the wages of their workmen 10 per cent Thus all but one member of the com Dine have cut down wages since Jam 1. Immediately after the meeting of the' combine in Philadelphia Carnegie Bros. & Co. published the following notice In. their mills: “To our employes: As provided In. our agreement, we hereby notify you that we desire to end it Dec. 31, 1891, and that we will be ready to make a new sliding scale agreement with you at any time after Oct. 10, 1891, to take effect Jan. 1, 1892. The contemplated changes are rendered necessary principally by the introduction of many mechanical improvements and advanced methods of manufacture, by which the output has been very much increased since our agreement wept Into effect. “(Signed) Carnkoie Bbos. ” That the above means a “sliding scale” downward seems evident It shows, also* that the trust is resolved that its workmen shall have no share In tho new boom anticipated by tho combine. Protected by a prohibitive duty on rails and closely united to maintain prices, the “steel rail trust” has absolute control of tho consumers of its products and of the workmen employed by It.