Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-29
LABOR TROUBLES,
Inc Advance in Wages on the Grand
Trunk Railway.
ne wages OF the Employees of the Bod =
well Granite Company at vinal
Haven Increased.
Cushman Il Co., of Auburn. Announce r.
Their Employees Their Profit
Sharing Plan.
The Strike of the Missouri Pacific Rail.
road Ended-rhe Matter to be Set-
tied by Arbitration.

LEWISTON, March 27.
station Agent Brown of the Grand Trunk
raliroad received letter today from Supt.
stephenson, in which he stated that from
April lst, the pay of the employees on the
line would be advanced % and 5 per cent.
FINALHAvEN via. RocKLAND, March 2S
committee from the Rockland board,
Assembly No. 1878. Knights of Labor. re-
Gently waited on Hon. Moses Webster, vice
president of the company, for the purpose of
ascertaining the day that the company would
hold their annual meeting leaving with him
to be brought before the stockholders. re-
quest Tor conference between any repre-
sentatives that the company might choose
and committee from the assembly, for the
purpose Of adjusting the scale of wages to
govern their employees for the coming year.
Mr. Webster courteously received the COM
mltsee and willingly consented to have the
request brought before the meeting. The
committee re ceived shortly after from Hon
j. R. Bodwell, president of the company, a
communication, in which he expressed his
appreciation of his employees desire to pro-
mote the friendly relations between the en-
ployed and employer, and stating that the
committee to represent the company would
be Moses Webster, Jno. Lowe and Edward
Russell, men who have been long connected
with the company and are thoroughly ac-
quainted with granite business in every detail
A committee from the assembly met the above
committee and were received in gentle
manly and friendly spirit. The interests of
the employed and employer and the neces-
slty of a mutually arranged scale of wages,
was discussed and agreed on to the satistac-
ton of all parties.
The Bodwell Granite Company employ
about 400 employees in this town, all engaged
in the granite industry. The new scale
which goes into effect April lst, will be an
increase over the present rates of from 10 to
l5 per cent, and reduction on Saturday of
the hours of labor from ten to eight, without
loss of pay.
Under the new scale, cutters are to receive
not less than $2.75 per day; sharpeners
50. 60 :<eamsters, from 81 So to 1925; quar-
rymen from Sl.75 to $500; laborers, $l.65 !;
boxers, S1.75; engineers and polishers, an
increase the same quarrymen over old
rates car men, 50, 90 per day. drag tenders,
81 20 to $3.50; paving cutters, an advance of
about 20 cents per day. Everyone is pleased
with the result, as the adjustment was brought
about without the use OF harsh word or loss
of days work.
LEWISTON, March 2S
The firm of A. Cushman & Co., Auburn.
Saturday evening, at Auburn Hall, announced
to their $50 employees the details of their
profit sharing plan. The help appointed a
committee to represent them in carrying the
plan into execution. The firm will pay as
high wages as their competitors and will di-
vide among the help the net profit in the
ratio that labor constitutes to the cost of the
shoe. The management will be in the firm
and the net proceeds be the balance remain
ing after paying all ordinary expenses and
proper salaries TO the management, deducting
a reasonable amount for wear and tear and
interest on the plant with reserve fund for
losses. After Mr.. Cushman had developed
the plan to the help dozen or more of their
number made brief addresses of thanks and
congratulations, taking the ground that the
plan would result in increased economy in
the factory and increased interest and energy
and that even if no dividends were secured
they would be as well off as under the old
system. Mr.. Cushman showed that it would
be easy to increase the profits five per cent
by increased economy in the processes of
manufacture and that whatever was thus
saved would be part of the profits to which
the wage earners would be entitled. The
large meeting adjourned amid marked en-
thusiasm and good-fellow
| New YORK, March 81.
Mr.. Jay Gould has decided, by the advice
of the board of directors of the Missouri Pa
cific railroad. not to meet the executive
board of the Knights of Labor. Following is
the correspondence which passed between
the executive committee and Mr.. Gould:
NOBLE ORDER X. OF l.. OF AMERICA,
OFFICE OF GESERAL SECRETARY,
PHILADELPHIA, March "a
Mr.. Jay Gould -
Sir-The general executive board would
be pleased to have an interview with YOU at
your convenience, today. for the purpose of
submitting the Southwestern difficulties to a
committee of seven for arbitration, three of
the committee to be appointed by yourself
and three by the general executive board, the
six TO select the seventh member of the COM
mittee, and their decision in the matter to be
| final. Should this proposition be acceptable
we will at once issue an order for the men to
/ go to work.
By order of the general executive board,
FREDERICK TURNER, Secretary.
MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY Co.,
New YORK, March %.
Frederick Turner, secretary, Philadelphia
| Dear sir-I have your note OF this date,
| -.>..;rrr oil, infaryiaw hpfWeen YOUR aXeCu.