Connecticut western news., 1879-06-04

who is called the sback boy. This boy is paid eleven cents per mule each day for his services, and can attend to two, three, and sometimes four mules. Now, in the English mill towns, and in Lowell and other New England cities, the back boy is paid by the corporation. In Fall River he is paid out of the amount earned by the spinners, that is, twenty two cents per day is deducted from the wages of each spinner and given to the back boy. Again, in other towns some time if allowed to the spinners to clean their machines, and to take little rest once or twice day. Here, if spinner has occasion to leave his mules, if only for few moments, he is obliged to strike work for the day, as the overseer puts sick spinner in his place imme- diately."
 "How large stock of sick spinners is kept on hand ["
 "Well, each mill has from four to fourteen ln waiting." A sick spinner, be it known, is an uncommonly healthy spinner, without regular work, who at- tends at some mill daily in expectation of chance job.
 "The sick spinners are the best paid, I think" chimed in a haggard-looking committeeman. "They have pretty regular work, which is not as exhausting as our continuous weekly labor, and they really put in about as many hours week as we do."
 "You have an hours rest at noon, don't you?"
 "No; not fifteen minutes," all re- piled. GAS rule, we eat our dinners in ten minutes in the mill. Few spin ners ever have time to go home at noon. Our machines must be oiled, cleaned, and kept in order, and it is too risky to clean when the mill is running"
 How much can you earn in week ?
 The haggard spinner left his seat on the table edge and stood up in front of his audience.
 "Well," he said with some emphasis, "I was always counted above the ordi' nary, and five years ago would have run pair of mules with any man in this country"
 The others nodded assent 10 his ap- peal, and said in chorus, gravely "Very true, that is so." The Pinafore "plague has spared the spinners.
 "Now," he continued, suddenly droop. ing the corners of his mouth, 1T cant do it now am afraid not. Still, run pair of the biggest mules, and, work ing sixty hours week, I can earn about ten dollars"
 "That's about the average, sure, said young fellow with broad Eng lish burr, jumping off his table. "Now, I look like boy, don't I? but have been in mill nineteen years, and worked hard. I don't know that I shall ever do any better, and only get about eight dollars week as spinner
 "Td rather have your eight dollars and run pair of small mules, for 8 pail of big mules is too much for any one man. How far do you suppose I walk every day? We'll, it has been exactly computed in England that every mule spinner walks from twenty seven to thirty three miles in attending to his mules. That is not much of a pleasant day on country road, but tramping round narrow alley in a cloud of flying dust, and cotton waste, bending over whirling machinery with deafening racket about one's ears is another mat ter"
 "You remember" said Howard, s'that story about Lord Palmerston. Alter an interview with committee of spinners, his wife found him in his room, walking about measured space, and shifting two chairs from one end to the other. 'What are you doing, my lord ? said she. Why, said Palmerston, out of breath, I'm running two mules for the first time in my life, and I don't like it P"
 "Can the city mill owners afford to pay the extra one-sixth of cent per pound to the spinners
 ''Yes, with the profit which they are now making" replied Howard.
 "Suppose the mill owners refuse to submit the issue to outside arbitration, and refuse to grant the advance asked for?'
 Then," said all gravely, "we shal be obliged to play our last card, if all other means fail"
 "And that last card is ?"
 "Why, it is after twelve o'clock" re- piled member, as if surprised, and the committee adjourned with meaning smile.
 It was authoritatively stated later, however, that if no terms can be made with the corporations, strike will be made by the spinners in five mills simul taneodsly in different quarters of the city. Those mills will be selected 1T which the spinners think the ten.houl law is most frequently violated, and ir which the operatives are treated with the least consideration.
 Odd Home of Prairie Dog.