The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-22
A go PER CENT REDUCTION PROPOSED
Fall River MIi Men Trying to Get New
England Mnnnfacturers Togcthcr.

England Manufacturers Together.
FALL RIVER. Aug 2l.-At meeting OF
| prominent mill treasurers. held this morning
| 1t was voted to appoint committee to go to
| Boston to discuss the trado situation with
| other New England textile manufacturers.
and also to cndeavor II possible to secure n
uniform schedule OF wages to be paid in tho
| cotton Industry. 1t is stated on the best au.
thority that reduction Of 20 per cont in the
| wages paid here will be made as soon as the
mills resume operations.
| This reduction has been under advisem ent
since the expiration OF contracts in July. but
was not advocated strongly. owing. 1t is said.
to n hope that work would improve as soon as
Congress met Instead Of an improvement
last week there was a marked decline In de-
mand, and the annulling Of contracts has be-
come daily occurrence. The time for placing
fall contracts is rapidly going BY and the
treasurers cannot possibly hope for an i'm
provement before the last OF the year.
Wages here are higher than in other manu-
featuring centres. and q REIMBURSEMENT has
been considered for many months. 1t Is not
possible. the treasurers say. to manufacture
regular goods at "a cents. an actual selling
figure to-day. and the only way they to
economic is in cutting Off wages in all de-
partments.
Ing from u to 49, cents per cut. and other
wages in the different departments will be cut
in the same proportion. Should business pick
up within few weeks action on this schedule
will be deferred. but sooner or later O read
justment will be enforced. To-day's meeting
lasted only halt an hour. but the outline Of
proceedings was pretty generally understood
before the treasurers convened;
The man ufacturers who voted to appoint the
committee say they do not care to
ter ter into into any revision Of the wage sched-
nished BY the spinners' union is in reality the
one under which most OF the large mills are
working, and, it has long been recognized.
This sea o is based on boom prices. To revise
the work schedule is the first purpose OF
most manufacturers Of influence here. They
effect on tho demand for their product
but it will reduce the cost Of production to a
price Of their Goods They do do not eyneet Elm;
operatives will take kindly to n reduction. but
II the mills are to be run. no better wages can
schedule goes into effect.
The factories that stopped did not close thei-
money, but because they could not dispose OF
their output at any figure. Some Of them
would have shut down had the spinncrs been
working for their board and weavers for ten
cents a cut
There is no assurance that they will com
been established, but ifthey are to commence
again on regular goods or marketable goods.
to he stored at the risk OF the manufacturers.
they propose to begin piling up goods on q
rock bottom basis OF wages
Representatives Of the big operatives in the
various trades take very 81 oomy view OF the
outlook. Secretary Howard OF the spinners'
union is spending his annual vacation at Hall
fax. hut two other officers agreed that it would
be useless to combat Il cut down under
present conditions. II a reduction went into
effect tomorrow they would be com.
openine they would demand an Increase and
would enforce their demands as far as they
were able. Officers Of the weavers' union hold
substantially the same views. but Join with
the manufacturers in saving that reduction
can in no way benefit trade throughout the
country.
1t is Understood here that six printing COM
panes with which Fail River mills deal are
now carrying 100000 pieces or more of
printed fabrics. There are half q million
pieces Of gray goods on hand for which there
Is no inquiry and no sale.